Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-03-03
From be N. Y. O6serper.

from the diary OF London Physician, that
were published few years since, willremem-
Der one tale under the title OF "Death at the
Toilet" Although it was asserted by the
writer, that those narratives woge the records
of fqcis, few. | presume, were wiling to be-
lieye that real life could furnish matter Of such
romantic interest. Especially Gid the one alu-
ded to strike my own mind as quite unnaturaL
and j read it as others, admiing the genius
more than the veracity Of the writer.
Perhaps some who have seen the words at
the head this article may imagine that they
are about to be treated to passage from the
dream of fancy; but they are mistaken.
have q sad and solemn tale of truth to relate,
and when it has been read, there will be no
hesitation in believing that @trath is stranger
than iiction.' No coloring shall be laid on
the story no art of establishment shall heigh
ten its interest it shall be told to others as it
was told to me, and you shall be convinced
that there is nothing more than truth in the
story Ofthe corpse that wentto ball.
You recollcct the first day OF January, 1e40.
II was bitter cold day. 1t was cold as far
south as the city of N. York, and up here in
the country, where am writing, it was terri
bly, severe. You could not ride far against tie
wind without being exposed to freezing. !
have heard of two cases of death by cold on
that day in this region, and of another case in
which the sufferer was saved by great exertion
when the point perishng.
The night of that day was TO be Observed.
as is usual here, by New Years ball. Inyi-
tations had been extended for many miles a.
round, and great gathering of the young, and
gay, and thoughtless was expected. Exten-
slve preparations had been made for an evening
Of merriment and glee, and merry hearts beat
quickly in anticipation Of the pleasures of the
scene. None was happier in the thought of
coming JOY than Miss -, who took her
seat in the sleigh, by the side of her partner
for the evening. and set out for ride of some
twenty miles, to join the dance. She was young
and gay, and her charms of youth and beauty
never were loveler than when she dressed for
that New Years ball. OF course too thinly
clad for the season, and especially for that
dreadful day, she had not gone far before she
complained Of being cold, very cold; but their
anxiety to reach the end oftheir ride in time to
be present at the dance, induced them to hur-
ry EDWARDS without stopping by the way. Not
long after this complaining, she said that she
felt perfectly comfortable, was now quite warm
and that there was no necessity for delay on
her account. They reached, at length, the
house where the company were gathering I;
the young man leaped from the sleigh, and ex-
tended his hand to assist her out, but she did
not offer hers he spoke to her, but she an.
swered not; she was dead--stone dead
froze stiff-a corpse on the way to "a ball
WILLIAM TELL OUTDoNE-We learn by
the stage driver from Elkton, that on christmas
day, party of hites and blacks assembled at
a shop or store about two and half miles
from that place, where, as is customary on such
occasions, after Furnishing the ardent for some
time, they had trial of skill at target-shoot-
ing. After this was over, two OF the best
~shots" among them, a white man and black
man, declared that they could shoot the hats
from each others head, without injury to their
/ person. Accordingly they agreed to make the
trial. 1t was settled that the black man shoot
first, which he did, shooting the hat from the
white mans head without injurng his person.
It was now the white mans turn to try his
skill; and both having taken their stations, he
levelled his gun, and blew the brains out Of
his more skillful but unfortunate rival There
appears to have been no malice between them
to have prompted the deed, but may be regar.
ded as one ofthe many exercises committed by
men when under the influence of intoxicating
liquors-Pa. Sentinel.
-eGe-
Shaving and sioindling are now the order
Of the day, and blame no man for playing
his hand; indeed he were fool else"
We clip the above precious paragraph from
4 the ~Southern Reporter" an out and out de-
mocratic journal, published at Grenada, in this
State. The times are sadly out ofjoilt truly,
when such sentiments find an utterer and en-
advocate in the conductor of public Journal
Time was when the press was the advocate o.
the cause of honor, virtue and Justice. Time
was that mighty engine was devoted to The
dissemination Of corrupt principles, whenitwas
the friend ofvirtue and the foe of vice, when
the weak found in it defender from violence
and outrage, and corruption, fraud and villany
met in tits eternest enemy. But why Shouts
we be astonishedl When those who fill The
high places Of the land, those whom the peo
pie have clothed with the purple Of authority
and elevated 70 the most exalted stations in The
State, forget the high responsibilities of the
D Office, and the sanctity of the oath which theI
take to support the constitution, and see tina
: the laws are faithfully executed, and gravelI
: propose to the peoples Representatives i
I make crime a virtue, and legGtize forgery, it j
not strange perhaps, that the press should b
I found uttering sentiments SO revolving as tn
one we have quoted. ltls but anothev among
j the many evidences which we daily see of thu
: downward progrees Of every thing like honor
virtue and honesty since the present corup
party came into power. 1t Isl melancholy re
q Election, but one which however unpleasant
i must force itself uponthe mind of the most ca
: ual observer ofthe signs ofthe times Vicks
burg Wing.
4 TaE BIcIsLAruRE.--This august assem-
!, blage has been in session near two months
! have done very little business. We are fre
! quently asked "what has the LegislaturI
|. donegp and really we feel little touches
with shame at the laconic answer we are com
PEELED to give-nothing. Not only touched o.
4 our own account because we fear such an
4 swers may be attributed to ignorance. but d
account Of the Legislature itself It is sureIl
3 no ordinary matter, that the wisdom Of q proul
y State should tribe away their own time. I'd
I gether with about thirty thousand dollars Q
: the people money in their own dull speeches.
4 subjects about which legislation could do b
4 good, wero they to talk and enact until adoom
: day" Ifthey had turned their attention L
I the substantial interest of the country, enacte
what laws would have conduced to the pene
! al good Of the people and tho State and ia
: Ii empfed to have forestalled public opinion {