Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-02-16

IHE lNDIANS.-lhc Friends appointed Gy
the President as Indian Agents have mad
their reports, and aside from the accounts
given of their work, done with view of bet
tering the condition Of their proteges, the re-
ports contain some interesting facts and Incl
dents which throw light upon the habits, char
acter and superstitions of TIN" Noble Savage
His mistrust of white men is thus illustrated
by an incident: IAN Indian chief brought !
young Indian, We are told before white COM
missioner to give evidence, and the commits
siouer hesitated a little in receiving part Of the
testimony, when the chief spoke up with great
emphasis: "Oh, you may believe what he
says; he tells the truth; he has never seen
white man belore!" Bishop Whipple relates
an anecdote OF one Of their great braves which
shows their indifference to death. One Of
them who had been concerned in the Mime
sofa massacre, on being visited in prison and
told that his hone of pardon was vain, said
"Well. don't care, am not afraid to die
when [ 70 to the spirit world, L will 60 TO
the Great Spirit, and look Him right
in the f&e, and tell him OF the multiplied
wrongs crueltics Inflicted on His red chill
dren by white man, and He won't scold me
much en- the eclipse in August took place,
they were, edulous about its occurring when
informed Il would disappear, In the even
inp; but as It Bean to grow dark they ran to
menced firing at the SUI, 10 kill the monster
they declared was eating the sun. Alter the
eclipse they attributed the suns shining again
10 their having killed the monster, although
they still thought the sun was sick. indians
regard it as unnatural that the whole family
should be hungry at once They never set at
table, but each one, when hungry, helps him
self And some little time ago, it seems,
child died, and they buried its grandfather
alive, with the child in his arms, at the grand
fathers request, in order that he might take
care of it in the spirit land. These facts were
given by Bcri. Haowcll in his recent lecture
TIE DRAGON Fly. But just now, on swift
wing, there fly past us troops OF most beautl-
lu insects. The elegance Of their shape aud
the gracetulness OF their movements excite our
admiration. Ii | were superstitlous L would
call them the spirits Of beauty who had chosen
TO display their rich dress in sportlVe gambols
IN this lovely spot
Now recongize them, aud tee sad az ! think
and sneak of the uncouth. reproachiul name by
which they arc generally known-the "Devils
Darning Needle" This name was gwen tins
insect on account OF its long and slender body,
by rude observers who had no eye Tor symmetry
ui fovm OF for the rainbow colors reflected irom
its clear and graceful wing. For the same rea-
=
ENGLAND from au erroneous belief that II stlngs
horses it Is called Horse Stlnger. The
French, attracted by the beauty and grace they
see in its form and movements, compare 1t To Il
yo,ur LADY OF rank clad liz her robes OF richest
six. and call it ''Demnselle The naturalist,
more truthful to fact, rs II to embrace IN IT'S
uamc its tastes and habits, callsit Dragon Fly:
One OF the most remarkable features III the
Dragon Fly is it's eyes They stand out on
both sides OF the head prominently, and are IN
SOME species bright emerald green. IN others
brown. or dark blue Each eye Is composed OF
lwclva thousand distinct lenses, so that them
sect has twenty four thousand eyes Is 1t any
wonder they arc SO prominent and give to the
head such a remarkable appearance? can
never look upon tho wonderful workmanship
displayeu in the construction Of TINS organ,
without being filled with admiration OF the Skill
and wisdom Of the Divine Architect. Each
one of these single eyes IL perfect organ,
having all the parts necessary to correct VISION
Here are the cornca, lens, humoIs and retlna.
Aud they are so set together that they make
the most accurate and beautiful mosaic, such
AZ no skill of man can initiate.
WONDERFUL. PLANT The Victoria Regina
IN the Botanic Gargen at Ghcnt has thriV
"a +, an unrrecedentcd degree during the paS
summer. Several leaves have attained I'll
amctcr of nine feet, and have supported
weight OF two hundred and fifty mounds, m mant
one even the enormous weight OF live hundred
mounds. Seven of the leaves completely cove
the basin Of lG4 cet square. Every four o.
five days fresh flower appeared, which !astc'
only two days, or rather two nights opening II
the morning OF q perfectly white color, dlftus
ing, about five or six y. ~, very powertu
odor of vanilla, closing the next morning a
eiuht or nine a. m., opening the same day to
wards evening, this time Of q beautiful carmine
and finally closing the next morning. Th
marnifcent leaves last through summer, tn
nIant begins to dwndlc in October, ard die
towards @ December. About this time the seeds
which have been obtained by artificial lccunda
t,on, % arrive at maturity. They are sown !
January, and appear above the ground IL appu S
tx weeks. Their infancy is very critcal pv
once pas, this period, the Young pIan';; ett tb
with astonishing rapidity. The plant IN th Ia
Ghent Botanic Gardens, unquesuonaoy 'n
finest that has ever been cultivated arr''eu
lis development in five months.
-, FOR SALE-A TWO-STOR1 bhlCl