The North-Carolina standard., 1850-01-16

tribe would abolish all such practices to settle amongst
them otherwise, he would retire to Mauritius, where
he was educated, and visit them no more. His elo-
! quence was persuasive; the people were ina moment
dismissed, and that evening the simple marriage
emony of Matatana was celebrated. Rene settled in
the place, was very happy, and lives there for aught
know to the contrary, up to this day. He made
Rakar happy woman, and found a deep satisfaction
in having been the instrument of aboshing trial By
cainaan?# (P. B. ST. John.
'The above scene is no fiction; it was witnessed by
Lequeval de Lacombe.
GENERAL JACKSON. The little circumstance mar
rated below, which is said to have occurred after the
battle of the 9th OF January, 1915, strkingly char
acterzes Gen. Jackson. 1t reflects credit, not only
on himself but on the country:
In the year 1915, our informant met at the table
of Sir George Airy, many distinguished Englishmen
then In Paris. The conversation turned upon the
then pending presidential election and fears were
pressed that, should Gen. Jackson be elected, the
amicable relations between the two countries might
be endangered, in consequence of his high-handed
exercise of power, evinced during his command
at New Orleans. The necessity on the part of our
informant, of replying to these observations,
perseded by the prompt and generous outbreak of
of the guests, Colonel Thornton of the Sth officer
well known for his gallant character and whose reg
ment suffered severely in the attack of the 9th Of
the conduct of Gen. Jackson, an amicable and
faithful commander that occasion, and declared
that, had he not used the power conided to him in
the high-handed way alluded to, New Orleans would
infailibiy have been captured As to the charge of
implacable hostility, COL T. declared that in all the
intercourse by flag and Otherwise between the hos
tile commanders, Gen. Jackson had been peculiarly
courteous and humane and preceded to stat that on
the day after the battle, the British permitted to
bury their dead lying beyond certain line, hun
dred yards in advance of General Jacksons en,rench
ments-all within that line being buried by the Amer
leans themselves As soon as the melancholy duty
performed, the British General was surprised at
receiving flag, with the swords, epaulettes and
watches of the officers who had fallen, and a note
from General Jackson couched in the most courteous
language, saying that one pair of epaulettes was
missing, but diligent search wss making, and when
found they should be sent in. These articles
always considered fair objects of plunder-were res
cued by Gen. Jackson and thus handed over, with a
request that they might be transmitted to the relatives
of the gallant officers to whom they had belonged.
This anecdote, and the frank and soldierke sty le
in which it was given, turned the whole current Of
feeling in favor of the General, and drew forth an
expression of applause from all parts of the table,
For myself, said our informant, felt flush on my
cheek, and thrill of pride through my bosom, and
in my heart, thanked the old General for proving
by this chivalrous act, that the defenders of our
country were above the sordd feelings of mercenary
warfare.
BOYS GAMES. In the current number of Copper
field, Dickens introduces Mr.. Micawber, who is
described as always being IS on the lookout for a
turn up" Did Micawber live in these fast times he
would prepare for an evil that is daily increasing.
We allude to the recently introduced practice which
the boys have almost unanimously adopted, of stand
ing the head in the centre of the sidewalk, and
throwing the feet first against the house and then to-
wards the curb. Pass along what street you may,
boys will be seen employed at this ugly game. Boys,
this practice is injurious to your health and should
be discontinued.
This paragraph, which we cut ws0k Or two since
from the Baltimore Sun, reminds US curious fact
in the history of boys often before observed namely,
the mysterious distribution, in point of time, by
which the sports and games of boys appear to be
ulated for, just about the time when the paragraph
appeared in the Baltimore journal, we were daily
lar among the New York boys also, and we have no
doubt that about the same time, it was in course of
practice generally throughout the Union. How do
the boys thus universally become advised that the
proper time has arrived for taking up, they annually
do, particular kind of diversion! What hidden
agency communicates the warning, from village to
village, and city to city, that particular sport feat
is the g. order of the day." We have often ponder
ed upon this question.
For it is to be observed that there is regular sue
cession Of games throughout the year. There is a
specified or at least deternnate not only for
be governed by the state of the weather, but for ball.
marbles, kites, pitching coppers, .hyspy," ' num-
ble-the-peg," hoops, tops and all the rest of the
boysh recreatons; you always all the boys pitch
ing coppers or whipping tops, or whatever else may
be the game of the day-not some boys at one and
some at another. At the season of kites the blue
vault above is thickly sprinkled with these paper
highfyers, and mothers and sisters all over the land
are simultaneously pestered for twne and for rags
wherewith to make tails; then kites suddenly dis
appear, and every urchin is spinning top, or kick
ing up his heels at the sunny side Of brick wall
anon the side walks with knots of eager game
sters intent upon the accurate aimingof sschany-a-
eys and more ignoble plain pellets presently bows
and arrows the mode and goes on, year after
year, in regular and universal succession. How is
all this matter governed By instinct, by wond-
erfal boyish free-masonry? N. =. Com. ado. =
The MEss1eE. The Boston Daily Times says Of
he message: s.Wehaye our doubts whether the ques-
ton to the authorship of the message will ever
excite much discussion has arisen about that of
Juniuss Letters. It is heavy and dull enough, ta-
king it clear through to be from the pen of Clayton,
while the fppancy of some portions Of il have the
Ewing stamp: the piety. probably, comes from the
Secretary Of War, and the tariff passages are so very
stupid, that they could have from no other per-
son than Mr.. Meredith, who was made Secretary Of
the Treasury because he knew nothing about public
affairs. Mr.. Preston, from his belonging to one Of
" the 6rst families of Virginia, undonbtedly took
charge Of the passage slavery that don't appear
while tho thing being good for ttle and exhibiting
plentiful lack Of knowledge Of matters generally
understood BY statesmen would seem to asten it MP
on the veritable Zachary"