Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-06
suiOiae tra esrman-MeIancbOIy Result

huphSo Nt CIVIL IN bhlS cOuhbIgi anu tneI W
think, is the case. An instance, however
Of the remarkable power which superstition
wields over the minds Of those under its in
fuences occurred in this city yesterday; ant
from 1t we can form some conception Of it
effects upon an age in which its dominion
was universal, and when IT was entwined II
every department of science and literature
when it was interviewer with every feeling
and thought, and not only controlled tn,
popular religion, but was the popular re
ligion itself.
A young German named Conrad Walter
who resided with his parents, on Dunlap.
street, and who was educated in all the su
perstitions of the middle ages, which have
been little Modified among the p~easantry Of
Eastern Austria, was told, some two years
ago, by a rowing Gypsy, hat he would die
before be had reached his twentieth birth
day, and warned to prepare for a decree
which was irrevocable. The prediction
startled Walter; he at first doubted its cor
rectness, and asked the sorceress to consult
the stars again, but was assured that the
fates had ordained it, and that the decree was
Interchangeable. Every star that controlled his
destiny, the hour, the minute and the cir.
cumstances Of his birth, all pointed the same
melancholy, but certain conclusion, and he
must prepare to meet his destiny.
From that hour a feeling of sadness crept
over Walters mind, which, as the fatal time
approached, grew deeper and more deep,
until a settled melancholy had taken the
place Of his natural vivacity, and he seldom
uttered a word, even to his parents, save to
answer an interrogatory by a simple affirm.
alive or negative, and for months he has
never smiled, notwithstanding the efforts of
his friends to revive his depressed spirits and
renew his former cheerfulness. One hone,
however, remained. The day-and his
parents were inclined to view it, as, indeed
the fatal day, for their son only reflected
their own superstition-would arrive in less
than two months, and should there be a mig
lake in the prediction, it must soon be appa-
rent. -
The dread, entertained by Walter, of
death, in any shape, completely disarmed
his friends of any fears that he would at
tempt suicide; but while they were labor
ing to cheer and sustain him, until his
twentieth birth.da had passed, he was
meditating self destruction, and preparing,
with his own hands, to partially fulfill the
predictions of his tormentor. For three or
four days he neither ate, drank, nor took
any repose, unless in response to the most
urgent solicitations, and then not in a man
ner That would materially refresh his wasted
and wasting energies. He occasionally
walked out, usually accompanied by some one
but once or twice alone, and it was during
one of these solitary rambles that he pro.
cured the weapon-a revolver-with which
he hoped to rob the fates of a portion of
their triumph, for he had been told that his
death would result from a malignant fever
Night before last he appeared more COM
posed than usual, took some refreshments
and retired early to his room. His friends
were cheered by his demeanor, and believed
that they observed evidences of a speedy
recovery from his melancholy but it was
only that placid appearance which always
precedes settled determination, for at seven
o'clock yesterday morning, the explosion of
apistol was heard in his room, and when his
friends entered it, they found his lifeless
corpse lying beside his bed, his hand grasp
ing the deadly weapon.
On examination by the Coroner, it appears
that the ball had penetrated his heart, caua-
ing instant death and the jury returned a
verdict accordingly. He was sober and in
dustrious in his habits, and his friends
represent him as having been extremely
amiable.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR THE
MONTH OF FEBRUARY.-The following is a
summary of meteorological observations,
made at Cincinnati, for the month of Feb.
ruary, 1851, made by R. G. and j.. H. Phillips,
at the Water-works Office:
above 10y water in the Ohio River, 50 feet above
81. Creates, h,sn, 20.
Sih-Least
Mean tS@psratSrc q the @GntG.:..~.:.:-.1sioSss 81
" st3P M-".4S $3.50
wsImest day nth ""......5g $50
psrrsrd,cn,. dortt coolest o dSy:;;,.".:.:;:"; g $50
Perpendicular depth OF snow. ................. inch,
Number OF days Of rain and how"-"".,...""...-.
BAROMETER.
9th Greatest 20 rs inches.
lst -Leas hight-"""...-..-"....-"...28 % "
H'" 30
WEATHER.
Clear, 7 daJs; Cloudy, IS days Variable, 8 DAYS.
WINDS.
North."..."....... 0days South. .a........... 3 DAYS.
North.east..."m.3 " South east ........
West wos1."..." {" sSSSih.west..."".
,R~ENAgKs.-The month has been very pleasant,
the temperature equal, and considerably above the
mean Tor February, for many years. There was
south and south east prevailed for tWenty-one
days OF the twenty eight
The amount Of rain and snow-water is unusually
amount Of snow only Y of an inch.
Lilaes were budding out on the 10th.
LECTURE ON HAYTI.-Mr. J. D. Harris, who
did mol lecture at the New-street Church on
Sunday evening last, will address the peo-
pie at Humans Hall, corner of Sixth and
Syeamore-streets, this evening.
Additional Monetary.
Yesterdays st. Louis papers say of Mon
The Exchange market is rather easier,
with something of a tendency downward.
rates are nominally 81 on the East
and South, out some of the Banks of issue
sell at 8 on the East and 4@4X on New Or
The demand is small. The payments
for the I'D and Ath of March hain0 coIiactah1a