Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-31

serve to remind US Of the decay of life and the
"passng away" OF frail humanity from the active
scenes time, and read to us lesson worthy Of
improvement.
I" Dread winter spreads his latest glooms,
And reigns tremendous DER the conquered year.
How dead the vegetable kingdom lies
How dumb the tuneful! horror wide extends
His desoate domain Behold, fond man!
See here thy pictured life pass some few years,
Thy towering spring. thy summers ardent strength,
Thy sober autumn fading into age,
And pale concluding winter comes at last,
And shuts the scene"
Natural Curiosities.-Recently, there was on
exhibition in this city, young lady, with the
rotundity and dimensions of a hogshead, and
weighing over six hundred pounds, or, as much as
three barrels of -four; while, an accompan-
ment to the show, there was another lady, of
diminutve statue, prehaps the size of key with
quart measure on the head oft
In neighboring city, petrfed man is ex-
hbited, (perlect we are told in all his parts the
body having been found the coast of Africa, inn
bedded in guano, where he had lain for more than
one hundred and twenty-five years.
In New York. Barnum has bearded woman,
with brace of whiskers and chin tuft 10 excite
friend assures us that he recently saw colored
woman in this city, with as fine a crop of hair on
the face as the most ardent lover of hirsute fetal
decorations could desire.
As in patriarchal days, there giants in these 4;
seven-foot high gentleman from Belgium, re-
Gently in this city, attesting to the fact.
As to dwarfs they are without number; but
"Tom Thumb is the best moulded in form, and
perfec. in comparison with his less distinguished
rivals, and has passable intellect for one of his
SIZE" The great mass ofpigmies being idiotic, as
were the dwarls professionally prepared, to minis
Ter, during the more corrupt days of the Roman
cmperors, 10 vitiated tastes.
In addition to such natural curositics as these,
there others exceedingly repulsive; but their
exhibitors thrive by the public demand for such
objects of interest, which seldom fail TO secure
patrons in an age when the Athenian cry of
" show us something new" is SO loudly vocif-
Grated.
Banking.-Several days ago we published n
synopsis of a bill introduced in the Senate, having
for its object the suppression of all small notes
under the denomination of five dollars, as cur
rency in the District of Columbia; and now have
gave notice of his intention to introduce bill to
authorize the business of banking, and to regulate
the issue and circulation of notes in this District.
There is already law in existence for the sup
preston Of small notes, but ever since its pas
sage, sixteen seventeen years. ago, IL has been
violated. The bill now pending however, is cal
culated TO be more efficient for eradicating the
illegal issues.
The District banks issuing bills Of five dollars
and upwards are not chartered by Congress; the
business being conducted after the manner of a
joint stock company They enjoy the confidence
of the community but yet il is due TO them and
the public that both parties should be properly
protected by law.
Sport Spoiled.-The heavy fall of snow yes.
terday gladdened the lovers of sleighing, who pur
sued their pleasure TO the sound of the clear and
merry bells. But gentleman who had set a large
store box on runners, and lined it with buffalo
robe, while driving proudly in the vicinity of Lou
isana avenue and Seventh street, met with a
misfortune which at once terminated his sport
BY sudden turn the sleigh was capsized and its
contents emptied on the snow and, worse than
ALL one of the runners was crippled that the
citizen, without uttering word of complaint
though his face was considerably elongated, and
his countenance bore unmistakeable evidence ofhis
"fondest hopes decay returned TO the point from
which he set out, trampng foot deep in the snow
over which he had but so recently smoothly glided
Arrest for Alleged rsrcach Of Promise
Under this caption the New York Day Book Of
Thursday says, that Deputy Sheriff Pollard, OF
Jersey City, arrested VIM. X Hall, superintendent
ofthe Harlem Railroad Company, while at the res
idence ofhis mother in West Hoboken, at an early
hour on Monday morning last, on writ issued
out of the supreme court of the State of New Jer
sey. The charge against him is breach of promise
in not having married Miss Annie Howard, aged
seventeen years, ofthis city. Damages are laid al
100000; an inconsderable sum- in view of the in.
iuries inflicted Hall is held TO bail in the sum OF
$4,000
Snow commenced falling early Yesterday morn.
ing, continuing throughout the day. The boys
usually the first TO take advantage Of the means
of enjoyment afforded by nature, out in full
force with their sleds, deaf TO the remonstrances
Of their eanxious mothers" against such exposure
to colds and damps. Snow-balling, too, was in
dulged "a by both boys and girls, while the wild, gay
laughter Of childhood resounded through the air
no fearful anticipaions of the future interposine
10 check their innocent hilarity. Sled-ride and
SNOWFALL while We are young, lest, in after ye ars
We shall not be privileged 10 indulge in such
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