Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-17

cophagus of Alexander Severus. (so-called) which
appeared In the star of the Sd instant beg leave
to offer brief account of the importation of that
| relic Of antiquity, together with few facts aud
| figures which seem to justify your correspondent
i in his opinion that the said sarcephagus never
/ contained the bones Of that Emperor
/ Twenty-Five years ago the sarcophagus recently
/ removed to the Smithsonian Institute from the
Patent Once. and another of about the same
dimensions, taken from the hei hts near the
1 town OF Beirut. In Syria, and brought thence to
| the United States by the late Commodore Elliott
In tne irigafe Constitution The coffin last men
TONED was presented to one Of the literary insti-
tutions OF Pennsylvania, think to the college at
Carilsle: 1t had on one side Of 1t the following
| inscription:
| IvLIAMAMMAEA
vIxIT AMOS xxx,
In Roman characters, expressing, according to
the Roman custom, the number OF years the de-
funct had lived, and avoiding any allusion to
death.
The Empress Julia Mammaea and her SON Al
| exander Severus were both natives Of Phonecia,
hence 1t was concluded that a sareophagus found
| in that region, and inscribed with her name, had
contained her remains. By holder and less
plausible stretch Of probability the nearest empty
| sarcophagus, without any inscription whatever,
was decided to have been that of her imperial son
This hypothesis appears to us remarkable non
seqHifEr. 1t Is as IL stranger visiting a cemetry
in jamestown and seeing tombstone there I'M
scribed with the name Of Smith, and near it an
other with no name ON 1t at ali, should decide
that the latter marked the remains of the renowned
Captain John Smith, who was saved by Pocahon-
tas. Upon the whole 1t Is probable that the
wish that the coffin might be imperial was
father to the thought
SO much for facts, concerning which Canning
once said there 10 nothing % fallacious, except
figures" Nevertheless let us try the figures
Alexander Severus was proclaimed Emperor I'm
the fourteenth year Of his age and had feigned
thirteen years and few days when, during
campaign in Germany his soldiers becoming ex-
asperated at his strctness a disciplinarian and
excited by the intrigues Of Maximinus, who as.
Pired to the throne, fell upon Alexander and
murdered him in his tent They killed his mother
at the same time and place. Now IA plus 1877
The inscription on the sarcophagus found at
Beirut informs US that the Julia Mammaea who
occupied 1t lived thirty years Consequently If
We subtract from this sum Alexander's age when
he died we have 30-21-3 and thus are forced
to the conclusion either that this sarcopharus be-
longed to a younger namesake Of the Empress or
that that lady was but three years old when the
Emperor was born, tohieh seems tn1pyobabs
ltiswell understood that no one connected with
the Smithsonian Institute is in any degree respon-
sible for blunder, which for twenty years no one
has taken the trouble TO correct an yonr contribu
tor Of the Sd justly remarks however II sbould
not be Perpetuated in an institution established
for the diffusion of knowledge among men We
nope, therefore, II the Legend as it stands hasn't
been patented, 1t will undergo suitable correction
before the relic Is formally added to the museum
of the Institute. Yours. OK.
ALEXANDRIA MATrBRs.-The weather YESTERDAY
was delig htful, and, as a consequence the numef-
Gus churches of which Alexandra can boast were
all well attended. At the Methodist Protestant
church Rev Mr.. Biting, Of the Baptist church,
oficiated in the evening-Rev. Mr. Ward the
regular pastor Of the NJ. p. church, filling the
pulpit Of the Baptist church. Mr. b. chose for
his text the following words, contained in the
1lth verse, 5th chapter Of Second Corinthians:
. The love of Christ cOnstraineth us' We regret
that for want of space are unable to give
more detailed notice Of this very excellent dis
course. The choir OF this church. under the lead
ership Of Mr.. Mccormick, is certainly one of the
best, If not the best, in the city
The attention of the proper authorities Of Alex
andra is called TO the fact that persons are in the
habit Of cunning in the different cemeteries of the
city, much TO the annoyance Of those who fire.
quent the Settles of the dead" This is not as it
should be; and we feel assured that proper steps
will be taken to prevent the nuisance from being
further INDUCED in
The annual meeting Of the stockholders OF the
Orange and Alexandria railroad will be held I'm
Alexandria on or about the LIST Of the coming
month.
-Four Of the Adams & Co.'s express wagons.
loaded with specie, passed through Alexandria
yesterday
The steamer Monticello arrived at her wharf.
In Alexandra, at o'clock this morning Her
passenger and freight list are light.
That laughter provoking individual, WymaD,
opens his budget Of fun at Liberty Hall, Alexan.
dria, tonight. OF course everybody will 90 to
see him.
WRONG PARTY TO COMPLAIN Saturday
afternoon man named John o. Brien entered the
office of Justice Dom and asked for a warrant
m.
had abused and beat him. at a house on second
street, between aud G. He had evidently been
considerably pecked about the face, and he ex-
hibited cash in his right thigh, where he had
been cut with knife or other sharp instrument
He stated his case as plainly could be expected
Of man about half tight, with tongue laden
with foreign brogue; and in the course of his
statement, In order to make 1t impressive he used
the emphatic expression ''by Cd sirn about
twenty times, though ordered by the Justice to
stop 1t, and promising at every time to desist He
got through with his complaint, however aud a
warrant was placed in the hands of officer Yeat-
man, who proceeded at once to make the arrests
The parties were brought up, and the result W. 8
decision against the complainant, with a suspi-
clon OF his not being entirely gultless himself
The AFFAIR grew out OF whisky The cash in
John thigh was not satisfactorily explained by
himself, there being no evidence Of ii having
been done by cut through the pants The case
was dismissed, and John started off without the
Satisfaction he swore he would have.
MUSICAL CHANGEs.-Prof J. p. Caulaeld. thu
accomplished music teacher Of Georgetown Col
lege, and organist Of st. Pstrick's Church I'm this
city, has received most hattering engagement
to take charge Of the Cathedral organ al CharIes
ton, ). G and conduct the Musical Association
OF that city, and has, in consequence, resigned
6otn The above positions here. During a resi-.
aenee OF i've years In the District of Columbia,
Prof C.. has filled with signal ability his musical
duties at the College, and worn wide and envi-
able reputation az an organist, and made hosts of
inends AS teacher he stands at the head Of
riValed In this or any other American CITY He
leaves Tor his new post this week, and we recon-
mend him to the especial consideration of the
Charlestonians.
Prof +. N. Caulfeld, brother of the above. late
chapel organist and slant teacher at the Col
iege, and organist at St. Matthew's Church. has
received proposition to take charge Of an organ
In Albany, and thus Washington Is again to be
lsr without first class performer on the organ.
w no VIII NIL their places! Prof Schwinp Of
Baiumore, succeeds the latter temporarily at st.
Matthew'S Church 49,
We learn, ALSO that DR.. Perebeau, organist of
~ Aloysius Church, Is about to resign that post
In consequence Of a more advantageous engage
ment which he has received in Baltimore Tbus
the organist's place in the three princl pal Cath
ole churches In this city, (St. Patrick's St Mat
thew's, and st. Aloysius,) will shortly be vacant
ALEXANDRIA MANUFACTURES. - The Gazette
continues It's abstract Of the manufactures and
mechanic arts Of Alexandria, in existence on the
LIST day Of June, lc60, as reported to the Census
Bureau. No establishment Ii mentioned in the
census which does not produce manufactured
articles to the value of $500 annually.
BdkerS.-Five establishments, capital invested
SIG 600 consuming $50 barrels Of Hour, estimated
at S4l 500; employing 81 hands, and producing
90 600 pounds Of bread, and s, 700 bounds Of
k.ra 49, mn