The weekly union record., 1865-06-03
A Contraband Museum.

had caught bad cold and just as | lifted
up my head TO sneeze saw through one of the
windows of the Partisan Mayors office, in the
twelfth aTrondissement the body of negro
hanging by the neck. At the first glance. and
even at the second took it for human being
whom disappointed love, or perhaps an expe
ditious instice had disposed of SO suddenly
/ but | soon ascertained that the ebony gentle
man in question was only kind of doll as large
as life. What to think of this did not know;
! so | asked the doorkeeper the meaning of it.
This is the contraband museum" was the
answer 4; and, on my showing curiosity to
examine it, be was kind enough to act as my
cilerone
In huge dusty room are scattered over the
floor, on the walls and along the ceiling, all the
inventions of roguery which have been confs
Gated from time TO time by those guardians of
the law, the revenue officers. 1t is a complete
arsenal Of the weapons Of smuggling; all un
fortunately 10 complete confusion. Look be
fore you, there is hogshead dressed up a. q
nurse, with a child that holds Just two quarts
and half On the other side are logs hollow
as the Trojan horse, and filed with whole
armies OF cigars. On the floor lies huge boa
constructor, gorged with China silks and be
yond it pile of coal. curiousy perforated with
spools of cotton. The coored gentleman who
bad excited nv sympathy so much OF first, met
with his fate under the following circumstan-
ces He was built Of tin, painted black, and
stood like heyduck or Ethiopian chasseur, on
the footbOard Of carriage fastened by the
feet and hands. He had frequently passed
through the gates, and was well known by
sight TO the soldiers, who noticed that he was
always showing his teeth, which they supposed
to be the custom of his country One day the
carriage he belonged to was stopped by
crowd at the gate. There was, as usual,
grand chorus OF oaths and yes, the vocal part
being performed By the drivers and carmen,
and the Instrumental by their whips. The ne
gro, however, never spoke a word. Z good
behavior delighted the soldiers. who held him
up as an example to the crowd. Look at
the black fellow" they cried; ." see how well
he behaves! Bravo. niger, bravoi" He
showed perfect indifference TO their applause.
." Ny friend" said a clerk at the barrier, jump
ing up on the footboard, and sapping our
sable friend on the shoulder, " we are really
much obliged to YOU - Oh, surprise the
shoulders ratified. The officer was bewidered
be sounded the footman all over, and found he
was man of metal, and as foil as his skin
would hold of the very best contraband liquor
The jnicy mortal was seized at once and car
ried off in triumph The first night the reve
hue people drank up one Of bis shoulders, and
be was soon bled to death. 1t is now six years
since he lost all the moisture in his system, and
was reduced TO dry skeleton.
! How many strange stories these inventions
of roguery might tell Only ask that empty
mattress that lies there by the steve. That
mattress came from Vaenciernes. One morn
/ ing, two citizens left the town, with swords in
hand, and seconds by their side. The solemn.
mournfu gait Of their companions indicated
clearly the deadly character Of the promenade,
which took place before the eyes of the reve
nue officers. The angry principals were so
anxious to get to work, that they drew almost
as soon as thew were beyond the walls. The
crossing of their blades. and the clatter Of the
duel, would easily be noticed from the guard
house. After i desperate contest, the uose
ceased. a cry of distress was heard and If
both the contendng parties had preserved their
honor untarnished, the person Of one of them
could not boast Of the same immunity.
wide wound across the forehead. and scienti
fic thrust into the region of the sternum, which
blend proiGsely, were easily seen. In mo-
ment, hand barrow, with the aforesaid mat
tress upon il, were transformed into a litter.
and the procession re entered the town by the
same gate amid the sympathies of the guards.
/ 1t happened that one Of the soldiers had
dabbled a little 10 medicine, and been sur
geonis mate 10 regiment. He took pity on
I the wounded man, and followed him home TO
offer him bis services. This generous behavior
won him all hearts in NaleneienDes. except
those Of the seconds, who were at loss how
10 get rid of benefaetor whose presence
would be fatal to the success of their daring
fraud. At last, the most ingenious Of them
took the soldier aside, and begged him to wait
few moments 10 another room till be got the
sick man ready to receive bis disinterested
physician. The surgeon soldier readily agreed
10 this the friend availed himself of the in
terval, aud whispered in the patients ear, as
he lay Oh the mattress, q" We are lost y
Sacre5lus and Why p asked the wounded
mau.
Speak lower one OF the custom house
guards wants TO dress your wounds"
MY wounds ?" be shant do i'll want to
keep them as they are, and you go and tell
him So"
He won't believe it" was the answer.
But suppose don't want to be cured |
presume l am my own master, and besides,
have reason for it,
Il know that, but the fool viii insist 90
Ia,