The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-04-08
RAvEsnA. OHIO
PENC1LL1NGs BY LAMPL1GHT.
An Army want

An Army want
Is thus set forth by correspondent of the
Musical, Review 2 who writes his experience
upon the topic: .ps19 *
The writer relinquished the quiet profess
sion of piano teaching. IN the little city OF
R., Maine, sometime last Summer and took
| up. arms in response to a call from. Father
abraham for three hundred thousand more.
He nlarchedsout of the State the latter part
of August in the full pride of straps, sword
and SASH, and since that time has experienc-
ed the varied vicissitudes of soldiers life.
including several long marches and partic-
patton in the battle of Fredericksburg. So
much by way of Introducing n nyself in. my
new<eharacter. 'Aspldieiss life IS always
gay This IS well known, and it needs.but .
few days march, heavily y laden, with blistered
feet and aching shoulders, toSmakei a soldier
very grateful that it is so, for if>it were not,
what hard life it would be. No one can
really appreciate any of the finer feelings 8un-
til he has himself experienced them. Inev-
er really felt the beauty of the melody, : Ny
lodging is on the cold, cold ground until my
first nights sleeping in swamp, during
furious rain Storm Its tones rang in
my imagination until sssasS lost in sleep,
which was, however, not long, as previous
hard marching had rendered it quite unneces-
sary to spend much time in 'courting . tired
natures sweet restorer.' q On awakipg the
next morning in a pool of water. concluded
that, with proper training, one could make a
very respectable fish. To commence serious
ly.with what I have to say, would remark,
that insmy opinion it was a great mistake dis
missing the bands from the service The
great lack of a soldiers life appears to me to
be recreation or amusement. A constant round
of the same duties with no variation, makes
life dull and. .insipid. The thought of COM
Portable houses and firesides comes up, MAX
ing men homesick, and this preys directly on
their spirits, and consequently their health
Now it seems to me that good military band
in each regiment would go far to correct this.
Gard playing and Whiskey drinking are now
the only resources, and surely good music
would be a more elevating and inspiring (for
good) entertainment than those"
Widowed by "a Drop Too Much!
Under this caption metropolitan journal
relates the following terrible catastrophe,
which oceurredgin Havanaa month or two
since at the Plaza Torres bull ring. =. =
Mr.. Farini. .the celebrated tigkt-rope walker
and rival of Biondin. advertised, among the
many wonders that he would perform on the
| ttght-rope, the carrying of his wife across the
rope stretched from one side Of the ring to the
other at a height of about sixty feet, upon
his back-a feat he had performed in other
places. He started with the lady upon his
back, and had nearly finished the journey
across, within about four feet, when the audi
ence applauded the daring act, it seemingly
being completed; and the lady, in acknowl.
/ edgment for that applause, loosened her hold
! upon her husbands neck, and waved hel
hands, and, on the instant of doing SO, she
discovered that she had lost fher, balance, and
called to her husband TO catch her, as she wa.
falling This he attempted to do, and caught
her by the skirt of herdress but the frail fab.
ric was not of sufficient strength to sustain
her with the impetus given to her descent BY
the fall, and the dress gave way, leaving
piece in the unfortunate mars hand as hs
hung suspended from the rope, sustaining
himself by the joint of his knee, by means o
which he had saved himself, and she wen
down crashing upon the seats that ascend from
the curb of the ring to the top of the enc.o
sure. She was taken up for dead, but sh,
Ikshowed after somelittle time, signs of return
ing life, and fingered, from Sunday linti
4 Thursday morning. when death put an end t,
her suffering. She was taken in hand by th,
ladies of the neighborhood, and severythin.
9 that could be done was DONE. The wealth.
est ladies of Havana were at her bedside, arlc
4 soothed her dying pillow. She was enlbalnf
4 ed and placed in one of the inches of the bu
u rying- ground. II is said that from ten Il