Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-04-09
Letter from PHILADELPHIA,

LetteF ATOm TnilaOeIp0las
PHILADELPHIA April 6.
Here IS q curiosity, illustrating the sad
truth that great gifts are sometimes coupled
with great vices: In the interior of our peni-
tentiary there are two cells, the interior walls
of which are painted in water colors, in a
manner so elaborately beautiful as to cause
an involuntary wish on the part of the visi-
tor that the chamber of his or her residence
| could be similarly adorned. The work was
! performed by a convict at odd intervals of
| leisure. The Gnly tools at his command were
ruler, lead pencil, and small brush, which,
1t is said, he made from his own hair. The
! pattern is Kaleidoscope, interspersed with
rich medalions; the effect of the whole being,
with the exception of transparency, very sim
liar to that of stained glass. The four sides
of the cell, and the afched roof are alike
covered. Over the brass water fawcet, which,
| by the way is FURNISHED like a mirror, there
is painted water cooler, and at the place
where his cot touches the wall is represented
the head of fashionable bedstead; all this is
executed in highly artistic manner, and
will bear close examination. Tho convict
who performed this beautiful work has al
ready served four years in this same prison;
and, strange to say, is now in Moyamensing
awaiting trial upon fifth serious charge
Rev. DR.. Stephens, the Rector of St An
drew's church, of this city, is about to pay
visit to Palestine, and for the expenses of
travel was presented with purse Of Sl,800
by several wealthy and liberal members Of
his parish
On Wednesday evening young man seem
| ingly about 25 years of age, arrived at the
Girard House from New York, and registered
his name as "H. j. johnson, Va" During
the evening he was in company with a GEN
tleman of this city, and at about | | o'clock
retired. \ short time after he went to his
room, a gentleman occupying the adjoining
chamber heard noise as if some one was in
great pain or distress. He went to the door
and found it was locked He knocked but
the person in the room did not unlock it,
when it was forced open by three persons
who had been attracted to the door On en-
tering the room, Johnson was found undres-
sed, lying across the bed, and apparently in
the greatest agony. On table was vial,
labelled in large letters, ''strychnine" The
occupant Of the room when asked if he had
taken the poison, said yes, but that he had
done so thinking it was morphine, he having
slept badly for several nights, and had taken
it merely to make him sleep well. A physi.
clan was in attendance, but nothing could be
done to save the patient, and he died almost
Immediately. The shirt worn by the deceas
Ell was marked j. Alfred IIalsey, and the
gentleman who was with him previous to his
retiring to bed, testified before the jury of
inquest, that llalsey was his proper name,
and that he was engaged in the carpet store
of Messrs. Brown Il CO., Courtland street,
New York. Tie father Of the deceased re-
sides in Petersburg, Va, where he is engaged
in the wholesale clothing business.
The entrance of Christ into Jerusalem was
{ En1 El,-l.- Al.
city on the 5th with the usual ceremonies
| The emblematc palm" was to be seen in
the hands Of the congregations Of those
churches at almost every step, and this will
constitute but the preliminary observances
of Holy Week" now current. The obser-
vance in some Of the churches of other de-
| nominations were also unusually interesting.
The Episcopal churches generally exhibited
some tokens Of the season of fasting and of
the passion" if in no other manner at least
in the greater apparent devotion Of their
members. The German Lutheran Church at
| Fifth and Cherry streets, was also the scene
! of an impressive ceremony on this occasion.
| $50 boys and girls, none under fourteen years
! of age, We're confirmed there yesterday morn
! ing The girls were dressed in white, and
| when around the altar responding to the
/ questions of the minister, presented a very
/ pretty sight. An appropriate sermon was
/ delivered. The children confirmed will have
/ the sacrament administered to them on Fri
day next. A large crowd assembled outside
to see the children as they came from the
! church.
The amount of grain measured at this port
/ from the lst of January to the lst inst is
thus given: Wheat, 9,l60 bushels; corn,
/ 5000 bushels; rye, ll,GI0 bushels; oats,
/ II ,275 bushels; barley malt 10, 400 bushels;
! seeds, 1900 bushels. Making total of
| 405, ,945 bushels. During the same period in
! 1856, the amount measured was sos, III
! bushels, being an excess of %, ,232 bushels
| over the first three months Of 1857