Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-05-25

OpeCtal NOLlC6S or Items lOc. De
line Tor the first insertion, and eight cents pc
line for each subsequent insertion
ALEXANDER Fl. STEPHENS. letter from
Charlottesville, Ga, the home of Hon Alexan
der H. Stephens, says:
Il spent the day recently with Mr. Stephens
at his residence here, (Liberty Hall) This i
an unassuming country house--a white frame
building, erected with an eye to comfort anG
convenience, which end it's proprietor has'mos
successfully attained. 1t is the cosiest, coolest
most inviting bachelor retreat ever visited
opening upon grassy lawn, unusual in thi:
State, and shaded BY number of pretty oaks
locusts, &c. I jound Mr.. Stephens looking
very pale and emaciated, reclining 10 his in-
valid chair, and intently discussing scme law
points in a murder case with legal friend.
Though extremely feeble, when interested OF
excited he would sit up erect, his remarkable
eye would sparkle with its old fire. and he
would address his hearers in an animated and
always convincing strain. 1t is his custom,
when the weather is fine, to sit in his easy.
chair in his verandah, and as he conVerses,
wheels himself slowly back and forth by con-
Venent arrangement which costs him but little
effort, and, as he says, exercises and strength
ems his arms and chest. When the sun gets
low he calls for his crutches and hobbies slow
ly over the lawn and through his we'll kept gar.
den, in which he seems much interested Hav-
ing but partial use OF his legs, Mr.. Stephens
walks with difficulty on his crutchcs tlc says
bis hip is dslocatel, and thinks be will never
be able to lay his crutches aside.
ASSERTING CoLoRs ladies who make Gun.
ming use of color, not by painting their faces,
but by a deep and subtle study Of toilet, will
fad tl, oE ~ -
TO test their taste, for they cannot be worn in-
discriminatory. If ladies would study the re
lation that colors bear to each other they would
not only avoid gross errors in dress, but in
house furnishing and al! other matters 10
which color is concerned One Of the simplest
methods OF learning to make practical apph.
cation OF these principles is to take different
colored skelns OF Berlin wool, or collection of
flowers, and place them side by side, and see
what effect they have upon one another, there
by determining the complementary or contrast
ing color, keeping apart those that cannot come
together without quarreling. In this way 1t
would soon be discovered that the pink OF the
complexion is best brought out by green set
ting in bonnet, aud that any lady OF u tair
complexion can make effective use OF delicate
green Grape, while black haired beauties with
olive compilations increase the freshness OF
theirs by yellow. Blue is the standard color
for blondes, but as there happen to be TWO or
three shades this season it will require nice dis
elimination to select the exact one The rose
red grapes should Do worn by brunettes or pale
complexions, not by those who already have
rosy ones, because this color has the effect TO
heighten the rose tint.
MANIToBAH LAKE, which has given title
to the province formed out of the Red river
region, derives its name from small island
from which, in the stiffness OF night, issues q
mysterious voice." though there is no rea
mystery" about it. On no account will the
Oiibways opproach or land upon this island
supposipg it to be the home of the Manitobah
-s'the Speaking God" The cause OF thl;
curious sound is the beating of the waves on
the ''shiugle,' or large pebbles Inning thf
shores. Along the northern coast of the lsIanc
there is long low cliff of fine grained compact
limestone, which, under the stroke OF The ham
mer, cinks like STEEL The waves beating OF
the shore at the foot of the cliff cause the taller
fragments 10 rub against each other, ana :! t(
give out sound resembling the chimes OF dis
tant church bells.-This phenomenon occur
when the gales blow from the north and then
as the winds subside, low, waling sounds, llE
whispering voices, arc heard IN the air.
4 New TuoRNLEss BLACKBERRY.-C
7ators have not been quito satisfied with tn
blackberries called thorDless which have NTH
erto been propagated. 1t is matter OF som
consequence to have plants which can be ap
proached without danger OF tearing the skin o.
clothes ofthose who gather the truit,;; but thl
Quality iin the blackberry has hitherto been ac
companied with inferiorlty 10 the fruit Itself
A DewRariety has been obtained BY Rulus T.
Fletcher, OF Groton Junction, in MASSACHUSETTS,
called tho ew Ehornless WaehHsst 3 lack s Ssr M r
~. which according TO the testimony OF " r
Daniel Needham, Secretary ef the Ne" EinR
land Agricultural Society, and Others, is OF yer
hich nromise. It. described as perfectly nal
du vervgproductiye. and Of a6ne, high flavor
and as to the thorns, though not without then
they are so short as to occasion no lnconVen1
ence, Mr.. Necedtam calls It :hs best biacS
berry he has ever tasted.
A FLORAL CURIOSITY.--A gentleman lroi
the country, whose name we did not lcarl
brought to Williams & Moore, to day, nor
freak which we have no doubt vii! astonlS
the most profound botanist. 1t IS white ros
which grew on an apple tree. The tree an
rose ash grew close together, and 1t ls suppeo
cd that the latter so imprcgnated the tendt
Ind as it was about to bloom as to transfor
# into a rose. So complete is the transform
,;on. that the stem, and even the tlaVor,
similar to that OF rose, some OF the nm
ne,als % onlv having the tint OF the apple bio
som. son. The effect is somewhat novel, to see &c,
tnll. blown white rose actually growing ID I'll Il
midst of cluster Of large apple leaves.
curiosity was sent to San Francisco Tor tne !
snec,ion and comment OF some OF the sclentr
societies. California Herald.
WHITE AND RED srkA" AAl'lA,
Another supply received this dsy-one yaI
ohotiol Spt.S aaI naand q hslfYards wild