Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-01
American Travel.

of great resolution and conslderable dar-
inc. He once told the following anecdote
to friend of ours. Travelling. in early
manhood, IN public conveyance IN South
Eastern State, he found himcelf in the
company of three other persons, consisting
of young lady and gentleman, her hus-
bsnd, and of an individual mufled up in a
cloak, whose countenance was concealed,
and who appeared to be indulging in a
tete-a-tete with Morpheus. Suddenly a
big, brawny Kentuckian got into the coach
smoking cigar, and trowned fercely a
round, as much as to say, 'Pm half horse,
half alligator the yaller flower of the for
est, all birthstone but the head and ears,
and that's aquafortis. In fact, he look,
ed as savage as meat-axc, and pulled
forth huge volumes of smoke. without
reference to the company within, especial
ly of the lady, who manifested certain
timid symptoms of annoyance. Presently,
after some whispering, the gentleman with
her, in the politest accents, requested the
stranger not to smoke, as 1t annoyed his
companion. The fellow answered, 81
reckon I've paid my place. I'll smoke as
much as / darn please, and all hell sha'nt
stop me no how" With that he looked
dangerous, and rolled his eyes round as
6ercely as rattlesnake.
1t was evident he had no objection to a
quarrel, and that if it occurred it was like
ly TO lead to deadly struggle. The young
man who had spoken to him shrunk back
and was silent. Clay felt his gallantry
aroused He considered for a moment
whether he should interfere; but expe-
rienced natural reluctance to draw upon
himself the brutal violence of his gigantic
adversary. In that lawless country, he
knew his life might be sacrificed unaveng-
ed. He knew himself physically unequal
to the contest, and he thought, after all, it
was not his business Quixotically to take
up another mans quarrel. Feeling pity
for the insulted and disgust toward the in
sulter, he determined to take no notice
when, very quietly indeed, the cloaked
figure in the corner assumed an uplight
position, and the mantle was suffered to fall
from it without effort or excitement. The
small but sinewy frame of man, plainly
dressed in tightly buttoned frock-coat.
with nothing remarkable about his appear
ance, was seen, and pair of bright gray
eyes sought the fierce optics of the fero-
cious Kentuckian.
Without word, this clay figure" passed
his hand under his collar at the back of his
neck and slowly and deliberately pulled
forth long-extremely long-and glitter
ing knife from its sheath in that singular
place. stranger" he said, "my name is
Colonel "James Bowie, well known in
Arkansas and Louisiana. and if you don't
put that cigar out Of the window in quar-
ter of minute, I'll put this knife through
your bowels, as sure as DEATH" Clay said
he never forgot in after life the expression
of the ColonePs eyes at that moment. The
predominant impression made upon him
was the certainty of the threat being full
filled, and apparently the same conviction
impressed itself ere long upon the offender
During two or three seconds his eyes mel
that of Bowie. He was the weaker, and he
qualed. With curse, he tore the cigar
from between his teeth, and flung it, scowl-
ing, but downcast, out of the coach window
Upon this, Colonel James Bowie as delib.
erately replaced his long knife in its eccen-
lric hiding place, and, without saying q
word to any one else, or even vouchsafing
a glance at any one, refolded his cloak a.
round him, and did not utter another syl.
liable to the end Of the journey.-Nea
Quarterly Reuieso for January.
WISDOM OF BABEs.-The other day, DR.
SIS three children, while playing in the
nursery, decided to have railroad ercur
sion. So they all mounted up into the crit
and commenced rocking fill speed. Aftel
awhile it was proposed to have an accident
thinking, suppose, it would be unfashion
able to travel without one. So they al
took hold and tipped the crib over by mair
force, and little Mary broke her arm shor
off.
Miss B went to see her, and was pi
tying her very much with her helpless ant
bandaged arm. when Mary said:
"Well, if / ever get well Ill sue the
company for $4,000 damages | thinl
that will be enough, for father says it ain
any great affair after all"
The same little young one, (seven years
old, once said to her little brother Joe, who
is great teaze, that she wished out Hea
venty Father either hadn't made her or he
brother Joe-it didn't make any difference
which.-Propidence Journal.
EFFECT OF Snow UPON THE EYEs.-In
an account by Jacques Balmot, of the eff
fects produced on the eyes by the glare Of
the snow, when he and DR.. Paccord were
ascending Mount Blanc, they had not the
green wells on them which had been recon-
mended, and he states that when he arriv-
ed at the grand plateau, he was so dazzled
that he was nearly blind, apd whichever
way he looked he only saw big drops OF
blood. He sat down and closed his eyes
for half an hour and was then able to go
on. They passed the night in the snow
On the following mornhg DR.. Paccord ex-
claimed, 81 hear the BIRDS singing, and it
is quite dark" but his eyes were open, and
he was blind for the4lme, and only recov-
cred after careful management for consid-
cradle period.
AN EXTREME jfEsT.-If you wish to as
certain the temper of young lady, look at
her nails, and he tips of her gloves. If
they are jagged ard much bitten, you may
be sure she js peevish, irritable, quarrel
some, and TO ready to show her teeth at
the smale5t provocatlon. This is an infal-
libe test.hat every ill-tempered young la
dy cards at her fngers-ends
@s-jfhe following horizontal musings of
loafhg tipler deserve 10 be perpetrated.
Hearhls wall:
Leaves have their time to fall,
Ands likewise haye |,
The reason tontc tbo Ge.n,o