Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-12

At any rate his heart appears to have been taken
by surprise.
The dinner, which in those days was earle
meal than at present, seemed all too short. The
afternoon passed away like dream. Bishop
was punctual to the orders he had received on
hating; the horses paved al the door, but Tor
once Washington loitered in the path Of duty.
The horses were countermanded, and II was not
until the next morning that he was again in the
saddle, squirting for Williamsburg. Happily the
White House, the residence Of MIR. Gusts,
in New Kent County, at no great distance from
that city, SO that he had opportunities of visiting
her in the intervals of business. His time for
courtship, however, was brief. Military duties
called him almost Immediately TO Winchester;
but he feared, should he leave the matter in sus-
pense, some enterprising rival might supplant
him during his absence, as in the case of Miss
Philipse at New York. He improved, therefore,
his brief opportunity TO the utmost The bloom
ing widow had many suitors, but Washington
was graced with that renown ennobling in the
eyes of woman. In word, before they separa-
ted, they had mutually plighted their faith, and
the marriage was to take place the
campaign against Fort Duqnense was at end
Natural History OF the Locust.
The following information concerning the
habits of the fourteen year locust, given by a
writer in the Boston Advertiser, will be found
interesting at the present time In calling atten-
tion to it, we would suggest to students of natural
history, the propriety Of making accurate obser-
vations Of these curious insects, during their
present appearances:
The locust S favorte resort is that of copss
of young and rather thin oak wood, where the
soil is rather soft and light. They first dis
covered in the ground near the surface, in the
form OF a large White grub or worm. and quar-
| ter of an inch in diameter. Where or in what
mode they pass through the crystals state and
become fully invested with wings and other mem-
bers, ! do not know; but they are soon found in
vast numbers, and in full chorus of sonorous
voices, among the branches of the small trees
They have distinctly marked w found on the
back. In this stage of their lives they do not
seem to feed. On opening one, the body appears
to be mere hollow SHE'LL without any feeding or
digesting organs They continue in this state, /
believe, about six weeks or two months.
Shortly before their disappearance, many Of
the small twigs of the young oaks appear to be
girdled and partially cut off, and hang suspended
from the extremity of the branches. The leaves
turn red as when touched by frost in autumn
On examination these twigs appear to be sawed
about two-thirds off and girdled, SO that the cir
culation of sap being cut off, it soon dies, and
probably falls to the ground during the ensuing
winter by the action of wind, rain, and snow.
The general belief is, that by a curious and
remarkable instinct, the insect is led to deposit
its eggs in some mode upon their small
twigs, and then thus partially to sever them from
the parent stock, SO that by their fall the eggs
shall be borne gently and safely to the ground,
into whose bosom they are in some form received
and cherished, to re-appear in the form Of full
grown locusts, after the lapse of seventeen years
| am not aware that this fact Of the deposit Of
eggs upon the falling twig has been verified by
actual observation; it is one of the points which
require careful examination.
H. The Democratic triumph in New Haven
is glorious, Alfred Blackman, the Democratic
candidate for mayor, had ,57l votes, and is
elected by LOG majority on one of the largest
votes ever thrown. The Wing candidate had
but 200, and the 1865 rest were thrown for the
temperance Know-nothing candidate. The %,
Sd, and 4th wards were carried by our friends,
who have every thing in the city except one al
derman and two Wing and two Know-nothng
councilmen in the first ward. The secret, black
and midnight party is completely PROSTATE. All
honor to the Democrats of New Haven, who, in
the language of the Register, have g driven the
bigots Of know-nothingism back to their caverns
lash IF