The Nevada journal., 1858-05-21

What little good is in my power,
| To do it while can.
| If to be useful thus | try
| may do better by and BY
HUMBUG. The Cincinnati Sun is
down on certain species of humbug
which is becoming quite common in the
West. 1t gives an instance:
Suppose that an actress purchase a
gold brooch and ear rings from Cannon
& Co.. for FIVE hundred dollars, and is
to have them presented to herself on
some fine evening. The gentlemen
from whose pocket the money comes
viii be kept behind the scene, but some
body looking unutterable things win
stand on one side Of the stage, and ad-
dressing the lady, who will face him,
looking as innocent as if she didn know
what was coming, would say-"Mad-
anne, Your many, many cnraptured and
ardent admirers, appreciating in some
slight degree that wonderful talent which
has placed you at the most sublime niche
in your procession. and that initiative
talent which makes you such perfect
delineator of French, Yankee, Irish,
Scotch, English, kickapoo, and other
indiscriminatc characters, have appoint
ed me to request your acceptance Of this
slight token of their profound and uuut-
terable regard"
The lady, taking the brooch and ear
rings, will press her hand on her chest
near where the heart is supposed to be
located, and with intense emotion will
essay to speak. stammering forth, "decp
gratification-highly fattered-proud Of
Cincinnati-never forget-humble ef-
forts-kind reception" etc, will rush
from the stage, and throwing herself On
a bench will say, "what a bore, what a
humbug," and then burst into hearty
laugh at the gullabiIity Of the public,
We might show how politicians act on
similar occasions, but enough is as good
as feast, and for the present, we as
Mr. Lefingwell would say, "dry up"
a WIFE COMPRESSED INTO \ R!Nc.-
The following singular and improbable
story is going the rounds Of the newspa-
pers in the Atlantic States:
"a certain Russian noble, who lately
visited Paris, was noticed to be constant
ly plunged into deep sadness. He wore
on his finger a very remarkable ring,
large enough for bracelet, and extend
ed over his hand like a buckler for the
ring finger. 1t was Of a greenish color,
and traversed by red veins. It attract
ed the attention Of every body, but no
one was bold enough to inteTogate the
mysterious stranger, until one day a lady
meeting him in public parlor, vcnhred
to say, You wear a very handsome ring
The Russian made a movement as tho
he would conceal his hand, but that feel
ing gave way to a desire to unburden
himself. 1T is rot a ring he answered,
but a sepulchre!' 4 shudder passed
through the whole company. This
jewel, madam lie continued, is my
wife. | had the misfortune to lose her
some years since, in Russia. She was
an Italian, and dreaded the icy bed
which awaited her after this life. | car
ried her remains to Germany, where |
was acquainted with celebrated chem
;st, whom directed to make Of the body
a solid substance, which | could always
carry about me. Eight days afterward
he sent for me and showed me the emp
ty coffin, a horrid collection of instru-
ments and alembics. This jewel was
lying on the table. He had through
means of some corrosives INSTANCES and
powerful pressure, reduced and com
pressed that which was my wife into this
jewel, which shall never leave me-"
A newspaper skep.ic, in alluding to
the above says;
1--WE don't believe it-yet it is not
chemically impossible. The entire hui
man body, perfectly dried and reduced
to powder, would not more than fill
quart measure. This powder could, if
combined with little gum mastic and
white of egg, be easily reduced, by by
draulic pressure to a bracelet which
would be as hard as marble, and suscep-
tible of a beautiful polish. This reminds
us of the Carian queen, who, having re-
duced the body of her husband to ashes,
drank them up in winc. Despite the
story of I'iresias, we believe that this is
the only authentic instance of man
having been turned into a woman
10 Thomas F. Meagher has sailed
for Central America. In his card, pul
lished in the Irish Neacs, he says
| visit Central America-Costa Rica
especially-for the purpose Of ascertain
ing the true condition of things there,
and becoming familiar with a noble re-
gion, for which there inevitably ap-
proaches an evenful future. | 60 there
to collect materials for Lectures and
writing upon the country, and have the
good fortune to be accompanied by an
old school fellow of mine, Ramon Paez,
the eldest son of General Paez, of Ven
.,-Loco .n,..o aIo,,.a IL La q