Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-10-20
THBODAUX, LOUISIANA SATURDAY, OCTOBER 90 1855.
Dan Rice's Gratitude

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Dan Rces Gratitude
An interesting incident is related Of Dan Rice,
the celebrated circus performer, in late number
of the Reading Gazette. 1t appears that some
fourteen years ago Dan left Reading with an ex-
hibirion of some sort, which turned out badly and
involved the proprietor in difficulty. Judge Hel-
denreich, of Berks county, found him in this con-
diton, gave him suit Of clothes, anu tent him
horse and wagon, in order that he might pursue
his business. Dan was still unsuccessful, and des-
titution soon overlook him again, wh.:e, to add to
his distress, his wife was taken sick. In this
dilemma he was forced to sell the horse and wagon,
which the Judge had only loaned him, in order to
raise means to take his wife home to Pittsburgh.
Not long after this he obtained situation in one
of the theatres in this city, where the Judge one
night saw and recognised him, and in the morning
called at his lodgings. Dan was still poor and
seedy, and fully expected reproaches, if nothing
worse, from his old patron, but instead Of these
the Judge insisted on his going second time to a
tailor's and being fitted out at his expense. To
this however, Dan would not consent, and they
parted, never meeting again until one day last
week, when his company was performing at Read
ing, and the Judge came down to attend Court.
uIst uuty WdS w uuAt up olu tailu
invite him to take short drive about town, to
which he consented, and horse and vehicle were
soon at the door.
Dams equipage, like that of his profession gen.
orally, seemed pretty stylish turnout. 1t con-
sisted of bran new carriage of elegant make, a
cream colored Arabian pony, and spick and span
new set of glistening harness-worth, when you
come to estimate such things by dollars some $400
or $780, The drive was taken and enjoyed. and
time flew swiftly by, as the two friends talked and
laughed the ha-forgotten events of old times.
Dan drove the Judge back to his lodgings, stepped
out upon the pavement, and, before the Judge
had time to rise from his seat, handed him the
reins and whip, with graceful bow, and said ::
"These arm yours, Judge-the old horse and wagon
restored, with nterest-take them, with Dan Rices
warmest gratitude!" The Judge was stricken
dumb with amazement for few moments, but soon
recovered his selfpossession and began to remon-
strate. But Dan was inexorable-he closed his
lips firmly, shook his head, waved polite adieu to
his old friend in the carriage walked off to his
hotel, and left the Judge to drive the handsome
equpage now really his own, to the stable. An
honest man, and man Of honor, is Dan Rice, the
Circus Clown!-Philddelphi Sun.
MILK OF INDIA RUBBER-The astonishing in
=
which has reached the past year consumption Of
8, 10000 lbs., has given this Brazilian product
commercial importance, emitting it to our notice
and the rapid advance in the price of the raw
material from 90 to 25 cents per h.. naturally sug-
gests inquiry as to the cause of such RISE which,
unless checked, theatens to very materially reduce
its usefulness.
For several years past the price has ruled from
80 to 10 cents for article which ten years ago,
was supplied at Is cents
The reply which importers give to our inquiry
is, "short supplies at Para" But why should
supplies be short Of the established demand for an
article Of spontaneous growth, and throughout the
tropics most abundant?
From the best information we can obtain, we are
led to believe that this is mainly owing to the in
dolence of the natives, want Of inland communica-
ton, and the great amount of labor necessary to
dry and smoke the milk after it runs from the tree
and all attempts made to ship the fluid rubber,
have totally failed of SUGGESTS the product curdles
and seperateslike the milk of animals, becoming in
very few hours offensive and nearly valueless.
Persons interested in the fabrications of India
rubber, have, for many years, been experimenting
with view to obtain the limpid rubber, in order
to work it without machinery and sulphur, and for
more delicate purposes and uses than could be at
tanned with the ordinary article. All attempts,
however, have failed Of success until in the summer
Of 1852 our Consul, resident at Para, succeeded by
a chemical combination, in preserving it sweet and
limpid, and in sending it in its pure, white, milky
condition to his friends in this city. Since then an
agent has been placed in Brazil to superintend the
preparing and forwarding of this new and valuable
product, and several shipments have been received,
all in perfect condition. fully establishing the entire
practicability of the enterprise
Consumers may now look for regular and abun-
dant supplies, and although the first shipments Of
the milk have commanded higher price (having
been sold at 81 so per h. from its decided
superiority for many purposes over the dried ar
ticle; yet from the fact that it can be produced
without the tedious labor Of smoking, and that the
natives can consequently collect ten times the
amount in dav-and from the circumstance that
an incorporated company, with a chartered capital
Of one million Of dollars, have purchased the letters
patent for this country, and are about embarking
extensively in the importation of the article, in.
tending to turn their attention to all the States Of
Central America, as well as to Brazil and British
India, for supplies; we have no doubt the supply
will soon equal the demand, and that the price will
recede in consequence with the increased supply.
NeU York Journal Of Commerce.
ANCIENT LUxURY-TO enjoy the scent of roses