Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-12-28

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AFTER DINNER SpEECHEs-A Magazine
tells the following on Daniel Webster, while
speaking under the Influence of convivial DO
tations
AT public dinner, where Webster was to
speak, he had to be prompted by friend
and, on his making a pause, the friend behind
insnuated National debt. Webster at once
fired up: And, gentlemen. there's the Ma
topal debit should be paid; and, il it shant
be, I'll pay it myself How much is it?''-
Aud as ne made this query, with apparent Sc
riousDess, OF a gentleman uear him, taking out
his pocket book, which was always notoriously
empty, the absura'y was too much for the au-
dience.
Another Of his speeches is reported in full
as follows: ..
"Men of Rochester, am glad to see you,
and | an glad TO see your noble city. Gentle
men, saw your falls, which am told are one
hundred and fifty feet high. That is a very
interesting fact. Gentlemen, Rome had her
Caesar, her Scipio, her Brutus but Rome, in
her proudest days, had never waterfall
hundred and fifty feet high Gentlemen,
Greece had her Pericles, her Deuosthenes and
her Socrates; but Greece, in her paimiest
days, never had waterfall hupdred and fifty
feet high Men of Rochester, go on. No
people ever lost their liberties who had water
fall a hundred and fifty feet hight'
The CHRISTMAS SEAsoN-The children Of
our mother Virginia are not in such plight as
enables them to celebrate thisseason, as it used
10 be in our old flush times of peace and plen-
ty. 1t is now, perhaps, no longer possible to
mark it's advent with the same stately and
splendid rites of hospitality with which it used
to be honored among U.s. Many OF those
through whose doors and windows, siS years
ago, 4 mantng tide of light was streaming
from the scenes Of innocent gayely within, are
hardly able now to find roof to cover their
sorm-beaten heads. Those high times are
gone. They may never return to us Atleast
the figures who once stood most gally and
lroudy amid those bright surroundings, have
either long since been sealed with the signct Of
death, or else will no more forever be known
in the places that once knew them. The COM
ing generation, under the influence Of a new
social organization, and the influx Of new ideas
from without, may not preserve and exercise all
those antique, traditional Virginian customs,
appropriate to the day, But in one respect it
lies in our power, and ever will be alike our
privilege and duty, to honor this sacred day in
q manner, worthy OF legendary Firginian liber
atty, and in perfect accord with the spirit OF
our holy religion. And that way is, TO RE
MEMBER AND RELIEVE THE PooR.-Lynch.
Republican.
EFFECT OF a RUSSIAN BATH Pedestrians
in the Bowery, New York, on Wednesday
afternoon, were considerably excited owing to
the appearance Of man in an entirely nude
state running through the streets. 1t appeared
on inquiry that be had resorted to an establish
ment in the vicinity for the purpose of enjoy
ing Russian vapor bath, and while undergo
log the operation, which Is stated to have
somewhat of an exhiarating effect, protested
to the attendant that he could not stand It,
aud upon beipg urged by the attendant to en-
dure it, he Immediately dashed through the
basement window, demoIShing the sash and
lacerating his person in two places, and fed up
the street. a police officer procured bis
clothes and took him to the station house,
where he gave his name as George Scott, by
Cccunation brickayer, and stated that he was
utterly unable to bear thc bathing operation,
and tnst the man in attendance being lnclned
to detain him, he impusiVely sought this mode
of escape There being 20 evidence OF lntoxl-
cation or iosanty, he wasimmedlately released
PHoToGRAPHY.-S inventions and I'M
proyements upon old methods in photography
have recently been made public. ln Paris a
new process, called Periscopic Photography
has been introduced The published descrlp.
lions are meagre and confused but ne gather
from them that two portraits Of the sane per
son, pasted back to back, are placed in the
centre of small, angular cabinet, in which
there is a peculiar arrangement OF little mir
rors and that while in this position, the por-
traits combine and form figure of apparent
solidity. An Amcricau-Mr. William Flrliug
of Dorchester, Mass.-has invented process
of photographing in porcelain clay. He
claims for it the merit of entire novelty. MIR.
Rockwoods introduction ofthe photomedalion
process 10 n York. by Which camera produces
the effect Of sculpture, has already been
noticed.
COMMERCIAL. VALUE OF INSECTS. Great
Britain pays Annually $1,000, 100000 tor car
casses Of that tiuy insect known as cochlneal; !;
while another, also peculiar to India, gum
shelac, or rather its production, Is scarcely
loee ,,l,,ob Mora than I 200 600 human