The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-25

A TERRAPIN BRooCH.-How the follow
ing characteristic French story has found
it's way out of poor unfortunate Paris the
American exchanges now circulating it do
not say, but Of its Gallo origin there can
he no critical question, and its evident anti
German tendency Is in keeping with the
| social policy of city beleaguered by Prus
| slams. Among the persons of foreign brit
now shut up in Paris are the Count X
and his Countess, who are supposed to be
eXiles from the tyranny of the Hohenzol-
lens, and, consequently, make continual
pathetic appeals to France against the DIES.
pot from over the Rhine.
The story, although involving chiefly the
experiences of the eXpatriated husband,
concentrates it's romantic lustre in the
| usual gallant French style upon the lady,
who gives occasion for its effective dram
| attic opening by wearing a certain eXtraor-
binary brooch. This ornament is composed
| OF Il ground of fine lapi> lazuli, surrounded
by Il frame Of magnificent brilliants worth
| 81 900, and containing, under crystal, 4
star formed Of four ordinary brass pins.
Behind such piece OF incOngruous jew.
| elry Us that there must needs be roman re
| as tiDtastical rs itself, and French society
gives the ensuing Interpretation
In 1913, the Count X, who, although
| q nobleman, favors certain liberal principles
of government, became involved in certain
political troubles which Prussia could only
remove by the strongest represSive mea.
SUES. The incipient revolution was sup
pressed with an iron hand, and not with.
| out bloodshed, and, while plebeian cap.
| iives suffered death, the Count was con-
veyed TO distant fortress and therein con-
signed to dungeon dark and damp enough
| to give rheumatic opthaImia to the very
rats.
Days, weeks, and months did the Count
pass in this living grave. deprived of every
>uccor, and vainly hoping for trial. AT
last, feeling not only that his physical
strength was departing, but also that, in
| mere vegetation, his mind was losing its
normal balance, he became desperate fol-
some means Of exercise both bodily and in.
tellectually. The hopelessness of such at.
talnment at first drove him to mediate
suicide; but in the moment Of his widest
despair came the thought destined for his
| salvation.
Four pins, which happened accidentally
| to be in Il lapel Of his coat, had, fortunate.
| ~, escaped the scrutiny of the jailor. Those
were TO be the means Of deliverance to his
spirit. He threw the pins upon the bare
| earth forming the floor of his dungeon, and
then employed himself in seeking fol
them in the darkness. When, after tire.
some search, he had succeeded in finding
them all. he threw them down again. and Sc
again and again renewed the task which was
to save him from going melancholy mad
All daV long, sitting, lying, or kneeling, be
CROPPED about with his hand on the earti fol
the pins thus Intentionally scattered; and
the fearful yet beneficent toll served fol-
no less than six long years to preserve him
from paralysis and insanity. At last, in
1866, his prison doors were thrown open,
and he was given his liberty on condition
of his Immediately leaving Prussia forever
Glad to be free upon any terms, the Olsen.
tombed nobleman only paused to collect for
the last time his saving pins. and then,
taking them with him, Joined his devoted
wife at an appointed place, and hurried into
France. The Countess, upon hearing his
story, besought the pins as precious gift
holy memento-and having caused them
to be set in brooch, wore the latter thence
forth as the most precious ornament ever
decking the bosom of true wife.