Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-06


some quarter or half hours talk, the stranger
politely asked the gentleman if he would take
cigar. at the same time holding out two cigars
one looking like Regalia, the other smaller,
such as is usually called London size The
gentleman happening to take the larger one,
being the nearest to him as presented, the
stranger recommended him to take the smaller
one. remarking that be thought it was of better
flavor. After smoking about quarter to a
third of the cigar, the gentleman discovered
that he was suddenly becoming dizzy. A sus
gar was not all right. He Immediately threw
it away but his giddiuess increased so much
that it was with the greatest difficulty that be
preserved his seif.possession. In few min
utes most copious perspiration started from
every pore of his body and the water fairly ran
OF his person.
The stranger meanwhile was apparently
sound asleep on the other end of the seat On
his arrival at New York the gentleman with
great difficulty got out Of the car and took o
carriage for his hote', where be was soon after
violently attacked with vomiting, and passed Q
very sick night. He had been for several years
a resident OF Cuba, a great smoker, and is fully
convinced that the cigar was drueged and
that this IS new dodge to entrap the unWary
for the purpose of robbery. lie attributes his
escape to the fact of his smoking but little of
the cigar, and to his very robust constitution.
Our railroad managers will he obliged to issue
supplement to the notice sometimes seen
in the cars :-"Beware of well-dressed men
whosask you to play euchre,' cautoni6g the
public to beware of we'll. dressed men who
offer you cigar. Boston Traveller.
JAMES FORBES was recently fined six dollars
in Troy, N. Y, for drunkenness, and then de-
livered the following oration in the police
court :-"Ladies and gentlemen, here Assem-.
bled--it has never before fallen to my lot to
speak to 80 numerous and diversified an audi.
ence. Here behold all classes represented,
and here look upon faces that beam with in
telligence. l see around me representatives of
the bar, OF that great iplcrum, the press, and
look upou the guardians of the law, to whom |
am indebted for the safety of my 500 bill.
Before you, MIR. Justice Donohue, 1 am
brought to answer the charge OF having viola.
ted the laws OF my country. l acknowledge my
respect the laws of nv country. To me she is
the persoui6oation of liberty and justice. I
am thankful she has such 6ue servants as took
charge of me when my mind was besotted and
saved my 500 bill. Here is that precious
treasure take out what you want tor keeping
me all night, return the change, and use m
like mar. I am glad this morning to find
my own dear self in such good condition, and
you, gentlemen of the police, have my thanks.
Another time I will iquidate your services.
My name is James Forbes. live in North
whereof ia at Johnstown. l an not ashamed
of my name, nor of my parents. though they
are dead and gone this quarter of century.
You have used me like man, and guaran-
tee to do the same by you. Charge me what
is right, and let me go and get my overcoat,
umbrella, pair of boots, and led handkerchief,
with lot Of crsnberries tied up in it.
WHIsKEY AND MILK-In 1852 Houston,
then a United States Senator. had aSpirs!lo
to the Presidency. The delegates stopping in
Washington on their way to Baltimore (among
whom was your correspondent were invited to
meet him at his rooms a: his hotel. % one
of those occasions some one asked Houston:
General, you say you have been very hard
drnker; how IS it, then, that at your present
age, and all you have passed through, you
present SO strong and hale an appearauce?"
Are there any Wings prcsent?" responded
the General. NO." replied the gentleman
who had interrogated him" there are none."
'TheD," said Houston, Il will give the paDa-
oea against drink for the benefit of the rising
or do for the Wings to learn it. 1t is quart
the w. Columbus (Ga.) Enq7:srer.
THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE is one of the
most curou-lv interesting branches OF the gov
ernment, and the cause of it, or the necessity
for such an institution, is a mystery. 1t is i'm
possible almost to conceive Of the carelessness,
stupidity and ignorance by which more than
fourteen millions Of letters were entrusted to
the Postofhce in single year, for which DO
designation could be found, in consequence of
inaccuracies, imperfections and fatal omissions
in direction-upwards of 5000 having no ad
dress whatever. And the mystery is the more
remarkable when it is considered that these
letters contained money to the amount OF at
least 100000 in small sums generally, and
checks, drafts, etc., to the amount OF $1,000
600 more.( This property was OF course re-
turned, or most OF it, upon information OBJ
taiued by opening and examining the letters
at the Dead Letter Office.
A WILD CAT.-The Wytheville, Va. Dis
patch reports that: "One of those vicious
Cats was killed near this place on Monday
night last by party of gentlemen who were
out hunting Opossoms. The beast was treea
upon large oak, and fired upon with small
bird shot, which brought his catship down in
double quick time in the midst OF TWO hard
hahting dogs, who had it up and down tor
some time; and when the cat was about to
whip the dogs the hunters came to the rescue,
and with the aid of 40 axe killed the beast.
lie measured more than three ieet in length,
and is the largest that has been bagged 10 this
section for years"
T. L. BARNUM, promises to place upon the
road next April the most unique and colossal
travelling exhibition ever seen. 1t will be
more than double 10 extent the great "Barnum
Show" of 1851. at which ten elephants, hsr-
messed to the car Of Jugpernsut, led the i'm
mense:oortege. The promised exhibition will
consist Of combined museum. menaeerie and
circus, to be exhited uoder three spacious pavii-
ions, so connected that visitors can pass
thronoh the entrs establishment for one en-