Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-16

memory the onEe devoutIy believed stories tf the
4rd5i0n Aiqltfs There dwelt many yeass ago,
in the island Of Bombay. a young Parsee, or fire.
nsclshipper, one of the poorest of his tribe. but
endowed with sagacity as great as that of the
more cultivated dame of Christendom, and with
as large and benevolent heart. This man began
life with less substantial grounds for hope than
the dreamer Anaschar possessed; for whereas he
of the Arabian story had basketball of glass
and earthenware, our modern Guebre possessed
but two old wine bottles! They were, to be sure,
of more value there than they are hero, being ar
ticIes held in great estimation in some parts OF In
da-as, for example, in Scinde, where, when 1t
was first occupied by the British, couple OF fowls
could be obtained for an old porterbottle. Still
it was decidedly small beginning" for mer-
chant; but he managed to sell them advanta-
geously bought more; again made profitable
bargain and became regular bottle ardl[ah-that
is seller of bottles. In a country where nature
so abundanty supplies the wants of her children
where a basket of charcoal and handful OF rice
form the cuisine of the poor, it is easier to save,
than in a land where many wants consume the
hard-earned pittance. Our Parsee accumulated
annas till they grew into rupees, and became
thriving trader. Then the opium-trade engaged
his attention Some doubtful speculation in it was
mentioned in his presence, and seeing with ihstlnc-
tive sagacty the probable profit, he closed with
the proposal unhesitatingly; and thus-for. 1t
proved most successfnlly-in the words of the
friend who told me his history, "he cleared 9lO,-
900 by stroke Of his pen" From that moment,
his rise to the summit of prosperous fortune was
rapid. Nor could it be called the work of chance,
or mere caprice of destiny. He studied to meet
the exigencies of his new position He learned
to speak the language, and understand in great
measure, the commercial policy of the European
strangers who rule the land He was industrious,
self-denying, and quick-witted. When we saw
him, in his advancing age, he possessed, as the
fruit of his own thought and energy, an income
of some hundreds of thousands yearly; and he
spent his wealth literally he had earned it
carefully. His charity scarcely knew bound.
In one year, he gave away in aims to the poor,
English and natives, the enormous sum of 800,
900, for which he received the thanks of the
Queen of England and her likeness set in dia
monds, besides the first title of knighthood be-
slowed on An Oriental since the days of Saladin
He founded noble hospital. His wife gave her
Jewels to form a causeway between the islands Of
Bombay and Salsette, many lives having been lost
among the natives in making the somewhat dan
gerous trGjet and he never drove out without car
ryng in his carriage bags Of small coin, to fling to
to the mendicants who thronged his path. twas
while seated at his own table-in bungalow he
had purchased on the Kandalah Hills, and which
he lent to our party as place of rest during the
ascent-that first heard the story of the achieve
mcnC OF LulS We;tLn, SiLlHS Oh Tie SpeHuOr
around us, the two bottles appeared little else
than an Eastern fable. The land for many mile
round was his; the plantations of roses, covering
whole acres, and sweetly clothing the wild
mountain-side, were but lovely portion Of his
merchandise-their essence but fragrant addi-
ton to his heaps of gold. And then the luxury
of this country retreat! The European fiIrni-
ture-the costly china dinner-servlce, manufactur-
ed for him. and bearing his arms and initials-the
Il. IL IL Ill
small beginning! 1t was marvellous as a fairy
tale
Sir Jamsetjee Jcejeebhoy is now no more; but
the memory Of his good deeds is sLi and will be
long cherished in the East.
We cannot conclude our sketch of "slnal be-
ginnings" without speaking of a certain singular
little republic which has some claim to be remem-
bered under such heading, though its history is
no modern instance, and will lead us some four
teen or fifteen hundred years into the shadows of
the past 1t is only be6tting the antiquity of the
tale, to say that, once upon time, there existed
certain peasant of Dalmatia, named Marine, who
was by trade mason-a worthy, honest, indus
trious man, and devout according to the light
vouchsafed to him. This artisan employed in
the PREPARATION of the town of Rimini and when
his task was ended, he retreated to neighboring
mountain, built for himself cell, and embraced
the life of a hermit. After time his sanctty
ana cnarlLy were TuIDOTCu 3DTOdQ ana the lazy
Of the land-the Princess of Rimini-visited his
hermitage, was charmed by his piety and intelli-
gence, and bestowed him a gift the high
and craggy mountain where he had fixed his
home; no very great bounty, if consider that
its summit, usually vailed in clouds, was covered
with eternal snow; but Marine, or, he was now
styled St. Marine, turned the barren land to good
account. He invited all whom lie deemed worthy
of sharing his solitude; many lowly and home
less peasant, many a wanderer seeking a precari-
GUS crust to dwell with him in this eagles aerie.
Nor did he, as might have been supposed proba-
BILE, enjoin a monastic life on them. On the con-
trary he assisted and directed their labor in the
construction of town. and in the cultivation Of
such parts Of the mountain as were capable of be-
ing rendered productive. A more useful saint
never lived As there was neither spring mol
fountain on the hill, he taught them to construct
huge cisterns and reservoirs which they filled with
snow water or left for the reception of rain. They
planted vineyards on the mountain-sides which
produced excellent wine, and became, i'll brie
space, furnishing colony.
San Marine gave them wise and just laws; liv
ed to see his poor brethren prosperous and happy
and dying became their tutelary saint, had
church dedicated in his name, and statue erect
ed to his honor.
| The miniature republic of San Marine existed
for centuries, free and unchanged amid all the
mutations of the governments of Italy; and AID
olson, in his Travels gives us pretty picture o
this tiniest of independent States to which there
was but one road, severe law prohibiting its peo
kha