Weekly Minnesotian and times., 1859-12-31

NEW oRh, l,eC. IL, %.
You have doubtless heard of matrimonial
advertisements. Formerly. it was only now
and then that these economical man-trapS
were TO be seen, but of late, hardly day
passes in which one or another of our papers
does not contain the stereotyped announce
ment that some beautiful, accomplished,
amiablc and wealthy young lady," or ''pre-
possessing young bachelor, very rich and
very lonely" desires to correspond with
some equally, tender hearted individual OF the
opposite sex. with a view to matrimony. "A
good many of these advertisers are simple
hearted boarding school girls, who are never
50 much in their element as when III mischief,
and who no more expect to get husbands by
such means than to be struck by lightning;
but by far the largest number are, to use
plain language. nStisated by the old serpent
himself. and avail themselves of this medium
10 >windle and ruin every foolish individual
they can invcigle into their meShes.
The following incident in this connection,
which was related to me as a fact, give you
AZ a specimen number" The gentleman
in the case, whom shall call Capt. N, is an
ex-otiicer of the Nicaraguan army under
Walker-a well-read, courteous, gallant South
erncr, perfect stranger to fear, and one with
al who. in the course of his travels, has seen
the elephant" trunk and tail, in his most
lofty proportions. Sometime during the sum-
rner the Captains attention was attracted by
one of these matrimonial advertisements, as
usual mounted in brass. Lady-young, re-
fined, repossessing-par dead--her guar
dian a grabbed old uncle, &c, &c. The Cap
tain nibbed his pen, and in the usual otto-of-
rose style, wrote reply. 1t was successful,
and the next day brought letter from the
fair advertiser, stating that his note was the
only one out of some sixty, she had received
which she thought TO be prompted by the sin
ceritv of well-bred gentleman.
Now, iattery is a good deal like Cham
pacne-it goes straight to the head, and our
friend was by no means an exception TO the
rule. He liked his letter in every way 1t was
couched in well-chosen language, written with
that graceful carelessness so peculiarly femi-
nine. and the gilt edged note-paper and dainty
sea- was a very compliment in itself. The
captain nibbed again. A correspondence set
in. Friendship led to love, love to a great
many foolish calculations, as usual and their
mutual devotion on paper, at the end OF two
or three months, terminated in a personal in
terview. lie was invited to call at her own
residence lie thought that was certainly a
mark of sincerity so he went-found brown
stone editice, lace curtains, genteel neIghbor-
hood, respectable exterior, and everything
apparently all right. Ringing the bell, he was
ushered into the parlor, and, all tremulOus
with emotion, awaited the happiness he had
SO gorgcously anticipated in the society of his
fair correspondent A moment or two of i'm
patience, a feminine rustic, and she appeared
not the picture of his imagination, but a
large, greencyed, gross-looking woman, ap-
parently about thirty-fve years of age, and
with no more sentiment in her homely face.
10 use the description | received, than in a
pile of brick. Entering into conversation in
4 easy, off:hand manner, after few premi-
narieS, she stated that she had commenced the
correspondence from pure love of adventure,
that she had carried out all she had inten-
ded, and being a married woman, had told her
husband of the whole affair. He with a friend
was in an adjoining room, and they had deter
mined that if her correspondent came to the
house, he should either pay sum of money,
or take a thrashing within an inch of his life
for his ''impertnent familiarity" At the same
time. she went to the door which led into the
hall, and, locking it, put the key in her pocket.
Here then was the animal with all his feath-
ers off
As you may suppose, the Captain was con-
siderably surprised, but having faced death
more times than he has fingers and toes, was
by no means alarmed. Fastening a pair of
keen, gray eyes upon her, he quietly told the
woman, who and what he was,-that he was
acquainted with black mailing in all its forms
and drawing revolver) would be very hap
Ply to see the individuals who intended to
thrash it out of him. Moreover" said he,
81 waste no more words on you. Give me
that key, or take the consequences of your
rascality' The woman hesitated, calling
civilian, Wiam' but click of the pis-
tol told her there was no installing that des-
Of ho;pn
thus foied, she reluctantly threw the key
upon the table, and, receiving the cool "good
afternoon of the Captain, had the mortifica-
ton of seeing him unlock the door, and leave
the premises with his money all in his pock-
cts, and "sounder on the goose" than ever.
Since then he has been rather shy of matri
monial advertisements, and firmly believes,
with the poet. that sin wedlock a species Of
lottery lies"
But have been longer than intended land
must serve up my remaining dish Of items
in small bits.
\ Charity Fair, under the auspices of the
Sisters of Mercy, is now open at the Acade-
my of Music Among the objects on exhibi-
ton is an autograph book containing sigma
lures of Queen Elizabeth, William Penn,
George I'LL, George w., several of the Lou
ises, nearly all the Presidents, and great
number of the most eminent names in royal
ty, religion, literature, art, politics, and sci
-ence. There is an old Bible, written in man.
uscript 500 years ago,-before the invention
of the art of printing! curiosity for which
$500 has been offered.
The poor this year seem poorer and plenti-
or than ever, and Notwithstanding the sys-
tematic measures which have been adopted
for their relief by all denominations, many
will doubtless suffer from the want of food
and raiment
Fodder of every description is enormously
high. Meats range from twelve to fifteen