The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-12-25

their gentle activity and moderate elevation,
formed fine raised amphitheatre for the as
sembled multitude, who might be said, al
most without hyperbole, to comprise the
whole Cherokee nation- for both sexes, all
ages, and every condition of life, had gather
ed TO The common point and stated period OF
annual re union. .... .....-...,
Ny glance was attracted from the aggre.
gatve mass OF human forms by vision Of
individual beauty brighter than anything
had previously seen, or even conceived, save
in the starlight drapery,of dreams. Seated
among several older persons in q carriage,
on the summit Of the mound, only few
PAGES from where stood, was yourg girl
whose pppearauce realized to the senses, all
my Imagination had ever painted to itself in
revery, as'Ihe TossibleSp perfection of femule
loveliucss. In addition to the charms, for
the most part hereditary to the quadroons
of her trlbe-grace OF figure, harmony in
every feature, and melting sweetness of
smile-this bcwitching creature possessed a
transparent and intellectual beauty of coun-
| tenance peculiar and irresistible, yet thor
ouRhly indesCribable. | have essayed q
thousand times since to profile the face and
daguerreotype the lustre Of those beamy
black eyes, whose rays seemed to emanOte
from sumo unknown and measureess dis
tance in the depths of the soul, or, per-
chance, out the heights of heaven, but al.
ways have been forced TO cast down my
powsrless pen in despair. t.... 49,.
"That is Emma Star" said my friend
Paschal, observing the direction of my ad,
miring gaze, ''the most beautiful woman in
the nation"
ain the world!' added mentally.
"And yet" continued he, "her six broth
ers are the most notorious desperadoes and
duellists west of the Mississippi, although
she herself is as tender hearted and innocent
as a child; and, what is still more stranger,
no contemplate dcvotee to the muses."
"What pity" remarked with increas.
ing interest, "that such an angel could no
be removed from associations SO uncongenal
to noble nature"
My friend replied with piece OF informa-
tion that darkened to me, forever, a whole
| streaming galaxy of nebulous hopes.
"She was to have been welded some six
weeks ago, to the eloquent young lawyer,
Horace Jordan. You have heard of him
But her bold bad brothers, for what reason
am not apprised, broke off the match, and, it
is said, threatened her lovers life. But
see him youder."
And Judge Pasclal pointed out with his
finger a tall slender form, leaning against
one Of the pillars near the arena.
Suddenly the hsralds buee pealed a
clear piercing note, and every eye was fixed
instantly on the ring, into which fifty braves
might be seen lcaping by single bounds, over
the ropes, high as the waist. These cham
pions were all dressed alike in leather pan
falcons, fitting tightly TO the skin, and reach
ing not more than half way down the thigh.
Such was their only garment, the rest of
their bodics being completely bare and shin
ing from a recent and copious anointmeut
Of yellow colorcd oil. Chocer specimens
of athleticism could not well be found,
should you search the wide world over
Volumes of swelling muscle, and sharp
ridges of naked nerves, literally qaivering
with pure excess Of strength and redundant
vitality, all revealed distinctly in the vivid
light of cloudless May sunbeams, gave am
pie assurance how desperate must be the
coming contest. -' g..
Thousands Of spectators on the natural
amphitheatre of mounds could see them ell,
and commenced betting furiously on their va
'rious favorites. All around me could see
heavy wagers proffered, but mostly refused I,
that some one of the "Stars," especially
"Big Jim," would win the hundred scores
which were to be counted before the termin-
alton of the play.
Again the bugle sounded, and then the
chief marshal advanced to one side of the
arena, holding in his hand ball covered with
leather, and of ordinary dimensions but load
ed with several bullets, to give it greater
force. By means of strong string he hurl-
ed the little Kissing globe high up ip the all,
as nearly as possible over the centre OF the
ring. The gladiators, in their singular com.
bat, scattered at different points round the
enclosed space, and each one touching the
ropes, followed with their eyes, the ascend.
ing missile to watch the course it might take.
1t rose half thousand feet, slower and
slower, seemed TO rest an instant like a
small speck in the sky, and then began to
fall, faster aud faster, in. the ratio reversed
Of it's upward flight. Tremendous then
was the rush of the athlete to gain the line
OF its decent before it should again plumb
the earth. The shock Of fifty men running
at full speed from opposite positions, and
meeting in common focus, embodied in mere
idea the extreme of danger. Phe peril Of
life and limb was rendered more fearful by
the rules OF the game, which permitted eve.
ry one to, toss out Of the way, by any act OF
violence short of direct blows, all competi-
tors whether friends or Ioea Il shutldaredt