The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-07-15
Notfs nf Gradfl.
For the Potter Journal
MORE ABOUT
EGYPT AND THE EGYPTIANS.

"The former treatise which | wrote, -"
| was obliged to quit in the middle, in
order not to exceed bounds, and now be
gin again. | said that the insects did
not kill the animals, but learned after
wards that | had made a misstatcment.
There is a little fly which comes only in
the Spring, known as the Buffalo gnat'
which sometimes kills horses. Three years
ago they were SO numerous as to do great
execution and damage, by creeping into
the nostrils and vitals OF the horses, and
so killing them. | could not learn that
they were fatal to other domestic animals
l spoke of bright spots in the dark land.
One incident will exemplify the state
ment. Riding in the stage ooh, such a
stage y over the indescribable calamity
called by courtesy a road, which operates
as sort of distinctive conjunction be-
tween ShawneetowD on, or rather just
now, IN the Ohio river, and GRANVILLE,
which bears the same relation to the Wa
bash, load of us were edited by the fire.
quent sight Of such farms and residences
as were heretofore described. After be-
ing jerked, plunged, dragged and shaken
over such distinctions as ornament roads
in Egypt generally, We were informed that
L" the slough" wasn't crossable and we
mustgo around so around we went, right
and left through the woods, dodging trees
and logs, and jumping, stage and all, over
good many Of the latter, came to re-
alize the oft vaunted fact that the west
ern woods are not so dense as ours, and
can be driven through, almost anywhere;
but anybody who thinks it a blessing
ought to try the experiment. For fear
of breaking the vehicle the gentlemen
alighted, but with an obstinate and im-
mensely uncomfortable gallantry, they re-
fused to let the ladies out, on the plea
that nobody without big boots could
achieve the crossing, supposing We pre-
ferred being pounded tender like beef
steak, and that at the risk OF breaking our
necks, to the alternative of getting our
feet wet, with the probability Of " Iniring
down and having to be pried out with
handspikes and rails, like g stGlled' oxen.
John drove to the brink Of junping-ofr-
place, and paused to. get " a good ready"
tor the Sam Patch-ish experiment before
US. Down Went the horses head foremost,
of course, and moment after we had be-
held their hinder feet on a level with
their heads, we were all pitched upon the
forward seat, in spite of our preparations
to the contrary. Before we had time to
recover ourselves We went against one side,
and as suddenly tumbled against the op
Dosite one, and then felt ourselves jerked
up nearly perpendicular ascent out of
the channel Of mud and water we had
crossed. After some miles of similar ex-
perences we came to some mparatively
good road, and soon emerged into the open
prairle-one Of the little ones which oc-
eur occasionally among these woods. A
large, handsome white school house, with
window shutters and play -ground-beau-
tlful farms neatl y fenced with well kept
hedges-a nursery OF Usage orange, and
neat farm buildings met our delighted
and astonished eyes.
" Hallo." cried one of the passengers,
" This is a Idnhee settlement ain 1t q
No-they were Ohio and Kentucky peo-
pie. But as we came opposite the school
house the mystery was solved, for there
was placard headed REPUBLICAN
MEETlNG"' p on the door. As one of
the passengers read it, remarked, That
explains it p whereat some smiled and
some frowned, but nobody said anything
contrary to it. | couldn't help feeling
triumphant, as long as the good road last
ed; to think how Democratic" Egyptians
had been endorsing the fruits of :" Black
Republicanism" without knowing it until
it was too late to retract- There is hope