The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-05-18

I W ~ ~ ftcCP utltSsec uC u1s S0lilCUOdI6 D60(
in bis: sleep is SO mnch like death, he says
Young Alexander Dumas has got the kink in
to his head that he is diving of consumption
although, as somebody saws she is in as good
health as the Ponf .Nsuf. and has the consti.
tution of the Vendome Columns" his health
is the only thing he thinks about: be gets up
| at seven. breakfasts at ten rides from, twelve
to three sleeps from three to fise. dimes atsix.
goes to bed at nine. and reads himself to sleep.
Another Class Of Mem.
In contrast with the above NAV he mention
ed another class Of men. eminent IN heli,erary
world whose energies and talents shone bright.
ly frem more humble positions in life: Frank.
lin was journeyman printer MassiIlon. as
well as Fletcher. arose amidst the humblest
socatious. Niebuhr was peasant. Sixtus
" was employed in keeping swine Rollin
was the son of cutler. Ferguson and Barns,
Scottish poets. were shepherds R4op was q
slave. Homer was abeggar Daniel zDefoe
was apprenticed TO hosier Demosthenes
was the son of cutler Hogarth an engra-
yer of pewter pots. Virgil was the son of
baker. Cav was an apprentice to silk rner-
Ger. Ben Jenson was bricklayer Porson
was the son of "a parish clerk Prideaux was
employed 10 sweep Exeter College Akenside
was the SOL of butcher. Pope was the son
|of merchant. Cervanfes was a common
soldier Clifford and Bloomfield were shoe
makers Howard was appreuticed to gro
Ger. Haley was the sor of soap boiler
Richard Arkwright was barber for number
of years.
Carpet Lore.
The origin Of carpets is unknown. They
were in use, at least in some kind. as early as
the days of Amos. about 500 B. c. They
were spread on the ground, on which persons
sat who dwelt in tents; but when 6rst used in
honses, even in the Fast, we have no record.
In the twelfth century, carpets were articles
Of luxury; and in England it is mentioned as
an instance of Beckett sspIendid style of living.
that bis sumptuous apartments were every day
in winter strewn with clean hay or straw,about
A. D. 1160 The manufacture of wooden car.
pets was introduced into France from Persia
the reign of Henry the Fourth. between 1899
and 1910. Some artisans who had quilted
France in disgust. went to England and es
tablished the carpet manufaciu ure about 1850.
With US, as with most nations. Persian and
Tnrkey carpets, especially the former. are most
priced. The famous Administer Wilton, and
Kiddermiiister manufacture is the growth of
the last hundred wears TIE weayer's, other
wise called the Dutch loom engine was
brought info use in London from Holland 10
or about the year 1875; since when, the gen
eral principle of the loom has been infinitely
varied by mechanical ingenuity. There are
about two hundred and City thousand hand
looms in Great Britain and seventy five thou
sand power looms, each being equal 10 three
hand looms. muking twenty two yards each
per day. The steam loom was introduced in
1907.
Where we first got Fans.
tbs a matter of question whether the fan
came direct to Us from the East during the
Orusades in the reign of Richard the Second.
or was imported from Italy in that of Henry
the Eighth, more than century afterwards
At any rate, it is not until the time of Eliza
beth that we find it popularly used; but at this
period both sexes wore it; and young gentle
men, who would have thought it shockingly
effeminate to be seen in coach, made nc
scruple of carrying fans and feathers in Their
hands, which. in war, continues our authority
fheir ancestors wore on their heads In the
i Book of Table Talk IA modern work we
learn that men in the south of Italy continue
TO use them; and that it is no nnusual thing
linsultry weather, to see captain of dragons
mustached and bearded like the pard. tanning
himself with all1he graces and dexterity of {
young coqrette.
The Gaming Mania
II Walpoie, in his works, gives Us some &C
count of the rage for gaming in the last cen
, tmy, which shows an extravagancez for thi
f passion then, quite as great as at the presen
J, day. or the times of which he writes b
Says:
] AS the gaming and extravaganza of tn
young men of quality was now arrived at
ifpitch never heard of, it is worth while to Civ
3 some account of it. They had club at on
Il Almacks in Pail Mall. where they played onl
# for rouleaus of ESQ each rouleau; and gene
e ally there was 10000 in specie on the tabl
t LORD Holland bad paid above 100000 for b
y two sons Nor were the manners of the gam,
Q sters. or even their dresses for play, undeser,
It ing notice. They began by pulling off the
v Embroidered clothes and put on frieze grea
e coats, or rturned their coats inside outwards f,
!; luck. They put on.pieces of leather (sueh
d worn by footmen when they clean the knive
, to save their lace ruffles; and to guard the
l. eyes from the light and to prevent tumblir
}; their hair, wore high-crowned straw hats wit
p broad brims. and adorned with flo 1ers al
,s ribbons; masks to concsal their emotions VIII
a they played at quiuze Each gamester h,
stl a small neat stand by hlm with large rim,
m hold their tea, or wooden bowl with an ed
a of ormolu to hold their rouleaus. They bc
10 rowed great sums of Jews at exhorbilant pl
q 'ntu"o OuaTieS roA Caiicu nIs outcr rOo
~ where those jews waited till be rose. the .
lis rMsaiem Chamber His brother Stephen "
it. enormously fat; George Seiwyn said he v
it. in the right to deal with Shylocks. as he co,
ad give them pounds of Hesh.' . In three nig1
IS / the two brothers, the eldest not twenty fl
lis lost e32, ,000'' ..,
rot ------ ------>. - -- f.
nldl SPRAYS OF WISDOM.
me- Men ,sna :,