The new era., 1860-02-02
From our Kentucky Cores
pondent.


ITSELF The wind is blowing from the
Northwest, cold as if il came from the
"Nodes Of the moon" During last night
the snow fell to the dep:h of nine or ten
inches, and ice has formed three or four
inches thick. Yesterday the thermom-
eter gave US the true evidence of the
cold state ofthe weather. The mercury
stood three degrees below zero. The
Darkies made premature Christmas
fires, and have given up all idea of emf
grating further North for the present
Not all the eloquent fustion Of the Abe
litionists could draw them one foot from
their comfortable log fires and sheltering
cabins.
While | am writing, "Miss Mary" is
penning an African love epistle, dictat-
ed to her by shady damsel, for her alb
sent lover, who is one Of the bed-makers
on the steamer Paytona. The letter
would be curiosity in amatory litera-
ture, and does honorto the darkey Sap
pho, VINO stands near, with skinner
in her hand, showing her ivory and her
tender affe ction at every fresh avowal.
1t was decided this morning by my
wife that there must be an execution on
the place. The seriousness which set
tied on every face proclaimed that there
was grave work on hand fer some one
A certain black cat, an old afender,
had been adjudged by an impartial jury
of the household, white and black, as
meriting death. From parts unknown,
he had strayed Into our neighborhood,
and finally iuto the castle. His manners
were not such as to make a favorable
impression with the inmates thereof =
His crimes were many, and prejudice
and truth had united to make up a long
catalogue against him Of grim offences
He had been caught stealing pieces of
elegantly cooked steak from the break
fast platter while the cook was looking
behind her. He had quenchcd his
thirst out of the family water bucket;-
he had lurked about in unseemly places;
he made unearthly noises nndcr the ne
gro's cabin, greatly exciting their aston
ishment and fears; he wore but half
tail, which old aunt Hannah said had
been cur-tailed by the evil One-So the
cat was caught, and Goodwin, whose
religious zeal and superstitous procliv-
tiles are proverbial was called on to ex-
ecute the sentence Of the law. The
Congonien's black face turned a shade
lighter, if sooty darkness is susceptible
of such change. Ii was an unwel-
come summons. With every mark of
CONSERVATION depicted on his ebon Gea-
lures, he respectfully declined the office
Of executioner. Raising his old lop
sided hat, he stammered out-''Lord
bless you, Miss Mary, | hope you'll ex-
cuse me. would not sleep one wink
all dis night long with dat black cats
blood on desc here hands" 3" holding out
those huge members before him. OF
course like request was made of 9TH
ers, but with like results. Not a soul
of the sooty croud could be induced to
take the black cat s life. | was Obliged
to become the executioner myself and
flinginging the defunct into the middle
of the yard, | bade some one Of them to
remove it from sight, but all avoided it.
and there it remained till the going
down Of the sun, an object of horror to
those superstiiious children of the Eaua-
tor. Forced to become sexton also,
deposited the stark remains of grimal-
kin in an open ditch at the bottom ofthe
garden.
1t is impossible to account for super
stitions. They are, however entitled
to our regIet. The exhibition Of the
one above mentioned, has even the
grace and sanction of History The
curious reader will find the effect Of this
whim on a Roman gentleman, recorded d
in note on page sos, Decline and Fall
Of the Roman Empire, Vol. Ist, New
Edition 1850.
might offer you something touching
tne HdDIS anu peCulldrItieS OF the A1fl-
can, as he appears in his everyday
dress in Kentucky, stripped of the un-
natural and unbecoming tinselry which
unprincipled or fanatical book-makers,
Negro-romancers, have made use Of to
cover up his true character. But will
reserve it for future letter, having
already drawn this out beyond your
patience and the limits had prescribed.
| II would be unbecoming in me not to
mention here the magnificent entertain
ment given on the evening of the 18th,
by Mr.. James Weir, at his noble man.
sion at Waveland, near Owensboro' -
The beauty and shivalry Of Kentucky
have wide renown, but dare say
they were never better represented than
on this occasion. The rarcst flowers
are indigenous to our soil: but they re-
present only in the floral kingdom the
charms and superlative loveliness of our
own fair sex, who on this occasion ap-
peared constantly rejecting new attrac-
tions like the combinations of natural
beauty seen in revolving kaleidoscope.
L