Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-06-07

AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER,
For the Country
Published Regnla-iy on TUESDAYS THURS
DAYS and SATURDAYS, at Sir Doiiars pc,
ahinlNH.
\ PICTURE SOLD FOR $G4 600 Florence
correspondent Of the Pail Mall Gazette gives
some particulars Of the recent sale ofRaphael $
Madonna del Libro, long, one Of the chief
attractions of the city of Perugia for the artist
and connoisseur This diminutive painting,
measuring only seventeen centlmctreS IN diam
eter and known likewise under the denomlna-
ton of Madonna di Casa Concstablle, from
the name of its possessor, Marchese Constable,
is the ffty-second Raphael which has been dis
posed of to foreign purchasers out OF eighty
three which Italy former y possessed. The
Empress of Russia, desiring to present this
picture to her consort on his birthday. made
the Marchese Clan Carlo Constable an offer
of 100000 francs for it, Like many other
Italian noblemen of the present day, the pos
SCISSOR of this gcn---a wcll-known EtruScan
scholar-iS endowed with L personal fortune
far from adequate to the position he has III
herted, and therefore lent no unwilling ear 10
the tempting offer Nevertheless, being an
xiols possible to preserve his treasure within
the limits OF his native country, he requested
twenty-four hours reflection time and immc-
;liately communicated to the town council Of
Perueia the Intelligence Of the proposal made
To him, and his desire that the town itself
should have the preference, at the same time
offering 70 sell i; in this case at a reduction Of
10000 francs.
The council, after dclibcralion, however, de-
clarcd their inability to meet even this demand
upon which MarcheSc Constable, after Il good
deal Of difficulty obtained another forty
hours for consideration, and made use of this
time to offer his picture 10 the State for 800 OUu
francs in order that the Italian Government
might have the preference before a foreign
purchaser Corrent the Minister for Public
instruction, who is at loss to provide 900
francs for poor school MASTER had no sum
approaching to this to dispose of in favor of
work of art His colleagues, although ready
to contribute from their own funds as much as
they could possibly Afford We're unable, with
all their efforts, to reach the modest sum Of
$4,000 francs, lei alone 100000 francs which
it would be impossible to demand from Parlia.
ment there being no time allowed the Minis
ter for doing So and not the remotcst chance
Of its being granted. So the Empress rot the
picture after ALL
4 REMARKABLE voyage in point Of speed
is that which was recently made by the clipper
ship Elizabeth Nicholson, now lying at pier No.
{: North river, New York. This vessel, which
was built in 1863, at Anan, in Scotland, is of
y04 tons register tonnage, though with carry
ing capacity Of about 1000 tons, and Is 2Ol
feet in length, has 81 feet beam, and 2l feet
inches depth Of hold Her last voyage from
Foo choo China to New York, was accou-
plshed in 100 days, which is the fastest time
on record and her log shows that during that
voyage she made 4. 500 miles in 20 days, logging
Us high us 800 miles in one day. On I prior
voyage she accomplished the same distance in
lO4 days and she has made the voyage from
Shanghai in 9G days She also made the run
from Foo-choo to London in 80 days, and from
London to Sydney in G5 days. Sheis undoubt
,rdly one Of the quickest sallcrs aHoat, having
beaten, on one voyage from China, several of
ahe tea clippers more than thirty days on the
Kun The hull Of this remarkable vessel Is
! ujlt of English oak and teak and her lower
M Hts, topmasts, and yards are made of steel
Her appearance is altogether more like trim
and .legant man-of-war than merchant craft.
Ui, ,Mtngton Patriot.
v1srrvR to New York have often with
wonder looked IL pon that spider-like contrivance
which. N ,der the name of the 'elcvated rail
way, ru rs through Greenwich street and Ninth
avenue. from Cortlandt street, and up to the
Hudson river railroad depot Numerous ex
perimen Is have been tried upon this 'alr line
but all Apparently without success, and the en-
terprise has By outsiders and citizens generally,
been give up as failure. 1t would, however.
seem us if the company that own the road are
deterlnrled to try IT'S merits once more upon
new prr ciple, and they have now constructed
steam dummy or snail locomotive, and two
passeu ger coaches which carry passengers up
md. =.
uu the Hudson River railroad, for Il fare OF ten
cents Nine trips are now made by the tram
during the day, each capable OF carrying ninety
a,assel igers, aud running the whole distance
from Twenty ninth street to Cortlandt street.
labout three niles in fifteen minutes. 1t Is
also understood that the track will he completed
all the way down to the Battery, or the begin
ming of Broadway, which will add another mile
TO the length Of the road and seven way sta
tons will be established at various points con
yencnt TO passengers, while another dummy
and two more cars are IN course OF constructions
CANARY BIRDS Many persons have diff
Guilty in keeping their canry birds i'll health.
One who is experienced in their care says:
Place the cage SO that no draft OF air can
strike the bird give nothing to healthy birds
but canary and rape seed, mixed with water
cuttle6sh bone, and gravel on the floor of the
cage; ALSO occasionally, little water tor bath
ing; the room should not be ovcrhcatcd when
mouting shedding tcathossl avoid drafts of
air; give plenty Of rape seed, slightly moistcn-
ed little hard boiled egg and cracker grated
fine is excellent by observing these simple di
restions, birds may be kept in fine condition for
years Bad seed kills most of the birds that
die; to which might have been added, that
canary birds arc not only fond Of but benefited
by having often leaf of cabbage. pieces otap-
pie, or other green food, which serves TO keep
down the tendency to fever and prevent eonsti-
patton. Our birds usually bathe each day as
regularly as any one washes the face, with appa-
rent benefit too.