Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-09
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE Q, 1859.
POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS--TH
CHESS CARNIVAL.

ttVli ~ ~
no spice of the Attic salt. In Europe they
are called cheroiieys d'indpStrie. possibly
because they despise anything like labor.
Here we have no.speeial name for them;
their WAYS of living and their positions Ill the
community being SO widely various as to
render the application of o generic designa-
ton a matter of impossibility. But there
is one class of imposters who trade chiefly
upon the public confidence, and manage to
keep their names in the journals by arttully
scizing upon and turning to account the
leading tOpic-whatever it may bc-of the
day. This morbid anxiety for n%otorlety OF
any kind, and at whatever cost, is caused by
our general tendency as a people to run al
ter the last new thing, whatever 1t ls-a
prima donna or a politician, Il work OF art or d
racing horse, Il puglist ora parson--ltl Is all
the same. Adventures find that by placing
themselves at the head of a popular move
ment they can easily claim to have origina-
ted it, and secure by the force of impudence
the honor and profit accruing from it. Then
there are always certain respectable and
w~ell-intentioned citizens-promineGt men ut
the bar, in the pulpit, or in trade-who can
not forego a certain amiable weakness for
seeing their names in print. The reporters
say fine things Of them; call them learned,
eloquent, witty or pertinent. and the next
morning they are an inch taller, and lind
Broadway too narrow for their increased d-
mansions. For the sake of this small drink
at the cup of fame these persons give the
weight of their influence to help along the
little schemes of the adyenturers. Over and
over again, this metropolis has been the
scene Of many such foolish demonstrations of
which that given the other day to MIR. Paul
Morphy was the last and the most absurd.
Absurd in it's inception, and particularly alb
surd in the way in which it was carried out.
Mr.. Morphy, who has received more honors
than we have ever given to our noblest
statesmen, our best authors, our finest artists.
or our bravest generals, is only 4 successful
PLAYER at chess, a game through which a
great many lazy people in this country and
in Europe waste a great deal of valuable
time, and by which certain patriotic per-
sons manage to make a good bit of money
now and then. Mr.. Morphy went to Eu-
rope, and we believe was victorious over
those of the leading chess players who con-
tended with him. 1t may as well be under
stood that Mr.. Morphy's games were played
for money, and so came under the rule OF
gambling. as much as a match at whist or a
game of ecarte or p'q"et. We may as we'll
call things by their names in plain English.
In these days of gasconade and charlatanry
a little candor will do no harm.
When the celebrators, and welcomers, and
ore tors, and demonstrators are tired OF Paul
Morphy, and have returned him to his own
charming bayous, who else will they parade?
They must have somebody. Suppose they
look about the clubs and pick out the stron-
gest hand at whist, or journey to the land OF
49, l-.Io. o-l ,kz,ok & rbto Cor a s1usbar M
poker, or a conaueror at cut-throat euchre,
or a successful profes sor at high-low-Jack-
and-the-came? Or if they wish to honor
one who is really a great public benefactor,
as we'll as q modest, amiable and estimable
gentleman, in the best circles of the highest
colored society, let them give a demon
~stration to our old friend Downing, the
greatest oyster purveyor in the world
There are no such bivalves as Downing 5 Sad
die Rocks in London or Paris. Let Ostend
or B%illingsgate compare shells with him, and
see if American institutions will not be again
victorious over the effete and broken down
systems of the old world. We will wager two
dozen on the shell on the issue. And Us we
could do without chess, but would be ruined
without oysters, Downing certainly deserves
to be demonstrated as much as Morphy.-
.New York Herald.
GREAT BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.
CARsTAyG vs.. SmAw.-The defendant i'll
this suit, Just decided at st. Louis, is MIR.
Henry Shaw, of that city, an old and highly
respected citizen, of immense wealth. aged
about sixty-fve years, and the plaintiff Is
Miss Efie Carstang, Il young woman under
thirty years of age, the daughter OF Il deceaS-
ed Methodist clergyman. OF respectable char
acter. but in comparatively humble clrcum-
stances of life. 1t was in evidence that MIR
Shaw, during a period of two years, continu-
ed those particular attentions to the young
lady which are understood to be significant
IL an engagement, aud which, unless on this
supposition. would be manifestly improper.
lie visited her constantly, to the virtual ex-
clusion other other acquaintance; was treated
as a privileged guest by the other member
of the family; was admitted to her private
apartments, and in all respects was placed
upon the footing of an accepted lover. lie
made her costly presents-among others,
an elegant piano-and was in the habit of
sending her. almost daily, such delicate
tokens Ofhis affection rs the choicest bouquets
of flowers. His distinct admission, to her
sister, of engagement, was also proved. As
the time of marriage approached, for which
the wedding-dress had been procured, he sud
denly without warning or any excuse of a
quarrel, discontinued his visits, having first
removed the piano to his W residence, on
the pretence that it was wanted for Il musi-
cal party. How much Miss Carstang suffer
ed in feeling we are left to conjecture; but
her reputation was somewhat compromised
by the abrupt di~scontinuance Of Mr.. Shaw's
visits, leaving the impression that their pre-
vious intimacy was open to a suspicion. The
defence was lame and inconclusive. An at
tempt was made, somewhat indirectly, to inn
peach her character, but it was unsuccessful,
and probably aggravated the damages. The
decided weight Of testimony was to the effect
that she was "a prudent, chaste. and vlrtu-
Gus girl" The verdict in the case was for
the plaintiff. and awarded the full amount of
damages claimed-one hundred thousand
dollars--one of the heaviest verdicts ever
given in this or any other country for a breach
of promise of marriage. The wealth of the
defendant was proved, on the trial, to be
over a million Of dollars.
EXCELSIOR FRUIT CANS.