The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-11-07
A Remarkable Brooch.

There wrs lately seen, at a jewelers. in the
Rue de la Paix, fantasticaI object that pro
v"ked inquiry. 1t was a small brooch of OBJ
10 1g shape, set with brilliants of considerable
value. Within it, upon an enameled ground
and protected by glass, was enclosed-what
think you A miniature likeness No =
A lock OF hair No What then Why,
something much more piquant: four pins,
four old brrss pins crooked and rusty
Such curiosity demanded an explanation.
We have taken special pains to get at the
truth, and this is what we have ascertained :
There are at this moment in Paris q count
and countess. Their country -, but
We cannot name it, and you will perceive the
reason. The count formerly devoted himself
to politics, infinitely more than suited the ex-
cessively absolute sovereign of this undesig-
mated country. 1t was for this dangerous
zeal that the said count was, one night, seized
in his bed by four agents Of the police and
thrust into cell on four wheels drawn by
post horses, which carried him - Heaven.
he, and 1 know where
The unfortunate nObleman was plunged in
to dungeon blacker than the soul of his
prosecutors. Days, weeks, months passed
away-and not sign of examination The
prisoner, thus snatched from the exercise of
his dearest affections, from his friendship,
from his interests, buried in silence and OBJ
security, soon began to feel bis body waste a.
way, and his mind wandering. He became
neutrality-suspicious. of himself more
than of his prince; but, being still sufficient
ly clear sighted to foresee the incalculable
danger of this solitude and of the gloomy
stagnation, he determined at all ha yards to
defend himself against the double torture
and this is the plan he hit upon.
Searched from head to foot by the ruffians
who had brought him there, it chanc cd that
in his dress were four pins which hal escap-
ed the overhauling. They suggested to him
mode of conquering the terrible void or the
dangerous arrest of his thinking powers, in
this solitude, this darkness, this silence You
could scarcely guess what benefit poor pris-
Oner OF State could derive from four pin S.
Well, you shall see. He threw them from
him hap-hazard in his dungeon and, once
found, he threw them from him again
and so on, and on, and on! He oft en- con-
sumed two or three days, sitting knceling, or
stretched out on the ground, before he sue
ceeded in picking them all up
This sport, this healthful torture, lasted
one scarcely dares 10 say it-lasted for six
years. grand political event then abruptly
restored his liberty to the prisoner. But the
count would not quit the cell without carry
ing with him these instruments that had saw
ed his reason. And when he re-entered the
bosom of his famil y-when he found himself
in the midst of his children-left at so tender
an age, that he recognized them only through
the eyes of his heart-he related his touch
ing story, and showed to them, all weeping
with joy and sympathy, the four pins to
which he was indebted for his reason-per-
haps for his life. His wife, so long wido wed
NOT by death, but by politics-took posses
sion of them more eagerly than Pope Urban
w. laid hands upon the four nails Of the YER
liable Cross
1t is then these wonderful pins, these at
oms of brass, lost SO often, and so often re-
found during six mortal years of desolate i'm
prisonment, that the Countess had set in ten
thousand francs worth of diamonds that she
may bear abort with her, in pious regard, so
strange and affecting memorial. Is not this
anecdote touching one, and one worth pres.
erva tion.-Paris Paper.