The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-09-02
CURIOUS DECEPTION.

ment what seemed TO be the body Of a nc
j gro hanging by the neck at the first glance
and even at the second, whom disappoinl
ed love, or perhaps an expeditions Judge
had disposed Of so suddenly, but | soon a.
ceftaned that the ebony gentleman il
question was only doll as large as life.-
What to think Of this did not know; SO
asked the door keeper the meaning oi it,
l.Th's is the Contraband Museum was tn
answer, and on my showing curiosity 4
examine it, he was kind enough to act a
! my cicerone.
in huge dirty room are scattered owe
the floor, on the walls, and along the cell
ling all the inventions of roguery which
had been confscated from time to time BY
those guardians of the law, the revenue OF
fcers.
II is complete arsenal Of the weapons
i smuggling; all, unfortunately, in com
lpletc confusion.
Look before you; there is hogsheat
dressed up as nurse, with child tina
holds two quarts and half. On the 9th
er side are logs hollow as the Trojar
horse, and filled with armies Of segars.--
On the floor lies huge boa constructor
corced with China silks; and jus, beyond
ii, pile Of coal curiously perforated witt
spoos Of cotton.
The coiored gentleman who excited ;ny
sympathy at FIRST, met with his fate unde
the following circumstances. He wa
built Of tin, painted black and stood like |
hey duck or Ethiopian chasseur on lhe foo
board ofs carriage fastened by his feet an,
hands. He bad frequently passed through
the gates, aud was well known by sight I,
lthe soldiers, who noticed be was alway.
showing his teeth-whieh they supposed
10 he The custom of his country.
One day the carriage he belonged te
was stopped by crowd at the gate
There was as usual, grand chorus o
wells and oa,hs, the vocal part being per
formed by the drivers and car,men, and
the instrumental by their whips,
| The negro. however never spoke sin
Gle word. His good behavior delighted ,ht
soldiers, whe held him up an example te
the crowd.
sL.ook a, that black fellow they cried
see how we'll be behaves! Bravo, niggcr
bravo"
He showed perfect Indifference to ,hei
applause.
INV iriend,' said clerk at barrie
jumping upon the foo, board, aud slappin'
our sable frsnd on the shoulder, I'VE ar
really much obliged to YOU
4 Oh, surprise!th the shoulder ratified Tb
officer was bewildered; be sounded III
foo,man all over and found be was made o
metal, nd as full as his skin would hold o
the best contraband liquor, drawn out o
his foot.
The juicy mortal was seized at once
and carried off in triumph.
The first night the revenue people dranl
up one of his shoulders, and he was soor
bed to death. 1t is now six years since
he lost all the moisture OF his system, aud
was reduced to dry skeleton.
SHELLEy's PAPER BoATs.-Shelley took
great pleasure in making paper boats, ane
floating them on the water. The New
Monthly has the following curious anec.
do,c on this subject $50 long as his paper
tasted, he remained riveted to the spot
fascinated by this peculiar amusement.--
All waste paper was rapidly consumed
then the covers of letters, next letters oi
little value; the most precious consrIbu
,ions of,he most esteemed correspondents
although eyed wis,fulIy many times, and
often returned to his pocket, were sure to
be sent at las, in pursuit of the former
sauadrons. Of the portable volumes
which were the companions of his rambles
and he seldom went out without book
The fly leaves were commonly wanting. he
lhad applied them as our ancestor Noah ap.
piled gopher wood. Ba, learning was 50
sacred in his eyes that he never trespass-
ed further upon the integrity OF the copy
the work itself was always respected. Il
has been said that he once found himself
on the north bank Of the Serpentine River
without the materials for indulging those
inclina,ions which the sight Of water inva
rably inspired, for he Ind exhausted bis
supplies on the round pond in Kensing,ou
Gardens. No, scrap Of paper could be
found, save only bank note for fifty
pounds. He hesita,ed long, but yielding
at last. He twisted it into a boat with the
extreme refinement of his skill, and com
mi,ted it with the utmost dexterity to for,
tune, watching its progress, il possible
with still moro intense anxiety than usu
al. Fortune often iavors those who fully
and frankly trust her; the northeast win6
gently waited the costly skiff TO the south
bank, where during the latter part Of the
voy age the adventurous owner had waited
its arrival with patient solicitude.
An Englishman and Frenchman were
travelling by railroad. They were alone
in the same car. The Frenchman, always
polite, asks permission to smoke; his com
|panion made no reply, drew cigar from
Ibis pocket and smoked also. At the frs
station;
Sir said the Frenchman, 'your cravat il
awrv.'
The Englishman silently arranges hi
cravat. A little farther:
Sir said the Frenchman, 'your cap i
falling off,
The Englishmen, without even sayin!
lhauk you,' secured his cap. A few min
ntes after:
'Ah, sir cried the Frenchman, 'tak
care the hot ashes have fallen on you
~ Al