St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-09-06

/ tIob bul tiltlc IL HO tldlJ VI tclIutll
cy thereof recorded in history whicl
does not find more OrlCss development
now. No one could observe the scene
at Jones' Wood, last week, when g
famous pugllist received an ovation
and purse Of ten thousand dollars
without recognizing the same instinct
which once filled the Roman amphi-
/ theatres and now makes bull-fght
the Spanish holiday. The epoch Of
gladiators has not passed away for
ever ; the exhibition of any kind OF
superiority is welcome to the mass
and not few share the feeling Of a
gifted artist who excused himself for
going to the show, by urging the rari-
ty Of manly physical development and
the pleasure of seeing a man that
can lick cverybody.'
Have you an Institution in our lat
ltudc called "Thc Sons Of Malta ~
IT 50, You will acknowledge that clab.
crate practical Jokes are not obsolete
even in this grave, mattcr-of-fact and
busy land. 1t has been noticed in the
towns where this association flourish
cs, that those admitted are sin suIarly
mute about the ceremony of initiation,
which has been generally attributed
to conscientious scruplcs as to the
oath there administered. But it has
leaked out that modification has much
to do with this reserve. \ fine old
gentleman, digniiicd, respectable and
proud, was induced to join the Sons of
Malta in ncighbOring town, because
he was assured it was the safest me
dium Of political advancement. He
has since related his experience, which
is a curious mixture Of the wonderful
and the ludicrous. lie tells Of knights
in armor, a black-drapcd stage, dim
lights and solemn music, Of an aggra-
waiting process of attempting to go
up an inclined plane composed of roll
crs, of bliudIold contact with sharp
swords, Of trials made upon the
strength of his teeth, in case he should
be called upon to swim ashore with dcs.
patches in his mouth, when the Sons
invaded Cuba, of swimming for dear
life on a polished table, of answering,
under oath, questions from masked in
lnisitors touching his most private
concerns, and, in theology, from a
voice So like his own minister's, that
he quakcd in fear Of compromising
his orthodoxy. These details, with
accounts of extraordinary machines,
appalling visions, mysterious gongs
and spectral midnight professions,
make up programme which prove
that badimagc, quiz, superstition and
ingenious humbug have most patient
and persistent followers among us,
and not few eminent but tacit vic
/ Tins.
Our citizens have appointed large
committee, consisting Of the most
prominent men of all vocationS. to re.
ccive and entertain the Prince OF
! Wales. The present arrangement is
not only the wisest but the most com
plimcntary course. 1t is greeting
from the citizens of New York, as
such and from the names of the ac-
tive participants, we have reason to
believe the arrangements will be car
ricd out in the right spirit and witt
good taste. Doubtless the British
residents will cooperate with our OWL
citizens, 50 as to vary the entertain
inent.
More than the usual number of fata
catastrophcs among bathcrs on the
Jersey shore have occurred but few
cr cases of death from exposure tC
heat in this city, and comparative
immunity from the cpidemics incident
to the season mark the recent sanitary
reports here. Foreign news contin
ucs to excite the lvclicst interest
and the names Of Louis Napoleon
Palmcrston, Victor Emanuel, Cavour
Francis Second, and, above all, Carl
baldi, are "familiar in our mouths a
household words S.