Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-13

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THE SUPERSTITION OF JuGGERNAUr-A
letter from India contains the following :
There has been sad ending this year to the
Jugsernaut festival at Serampore. AS many
OF your readers know, there are three great
days Of the festival, which extend over tort
night aud is filled up in the main with simple
anuScments The first day is devoted to bath
ing the god in the holy Ganges water. Next
his huge car is drawn out from his temple to
that OF brother god, whom Juggernaut is
supposed to visit yearly, and remain with
week. There are now two cars In Serampore;
the large original one, thirty feet high, and
smaller, which has been set up as rival. The
large car this year was moved thriumphanty
and taken to the appointed place the smaller
one could not be moved probably because the
greater part Of the people were at the larger.
Yesterday was the return day. and IN the even
ing the large car was again drawn successfully,
watched by the station magistrate and the few
police of the place. The smaller car, untor-
tunately, was deemed by the authorities fix
ture, and, in any case, was in the place where
it was wanted. Each car has four strong ropes
attached, one at each front angle, and two ln-
side. At these ropes as many as thousand
people pull at one time, and as the great OBJ
jrct with every one is to touch the rope, and
one person gives way to another, many thous-
ands are privileged to pull the god during his
journey. On this last day of the festival, one
more attempt was resolved upon for the pur-
pose Of making the smaller car to, at least,
move and, unhappiy, the attempt was sue
ccSstul. and in moment two of the men near
est to the car were under the wheels. One
was literarlly cut in two !; the others thigh was
crushed nearly off, and there is little hope Of
his recovery. At first the report went abroad
that the disasters We're cases Of fsef.lmmolatlon,
but am glad to say that this was not So They
were pure accidents, arising from the pressure
and excitement of the crowd when the car
moved. The civil surgeon Of the station, DIR.
Greene, informed me that the wounded man
for long time after being taken to the hospi-
tai called loudly on the god. ''What have |
done that you should punish me p and he
asked for and drank gin, so tn at he could not
be fit subject for Hindoo sacrifice. The
deputy magistrate also, who saw the whole
transaction, says that there was nothing in it
at all like self.immolatiou. am sure the reli-
gious societies in England, who take so much
interest in Juggernaut, will be glad to hear
this. Indeed, believe there never again can
be selfimmoatcn on any considerable scale IN
India The priests dread it as putting their
own craft in danger. Besides, some of them
are too intelligent now to believe in it. Que of
the Younger priests of the car where this ac-
cdent occurred is secretary of literary society,
at which all manner ofquestions are discussed
and owns and superintends, altogether apart
from his ordinary work, female school, which
is visited by the wife OF a missionary.
AN ENRAGED PARENT EUcHRED.-Not a
thousand miles from Broadway and Third
street there lives gentleman, with his wife and
two daughters Several years ago ayoung gentle
man of our city became particularly attentive to
one of the young ladies, much to the annoyance
and dislike of her parents who used all their
persuasion with their child to stop, if possible,
any further attachment. This, as is the case
iu nearly every instance, only united then the
closer. Finally. the objection Of the mother
was openly spoken to the young man, to which
he seemed very readily to acqulesce, and his
department toward her was so gentemanly that
she felt sorry for her rash assertions. Still.
any other sphere nor form any other connection
Than that she had planned for her. The young
couple had then to resort to clandestlne meet
ings Thus two years passed; and the Intimacy
grew so bold that it was noticed by several
friends of the family, and soon reached the
cars of the old gentleman
About week ago he called his daughter to
him and learning from her sad state OF affairs
he immediately sought the young man at
his place OF business, and calling him aside told
him emphaticaly that he had trihed with his
daughters honor and grossly disgrace both her
and his family He then demanded that the
young man should marry his daughter or suf-
fer the Just punishment of an enraged aud out
ragged father This did not suit the second
party, and being somewhat averse to being
forced, he coldly told the father that he might
be coaxcd, but to be driven was against his
nature. This surprised the gentleman, for he
had thought the young man void of any great
courage, but seeing such was not the case, he
spoke more mildly, and in friendly but firm
manner proposed to deed to the girl a fine
house and lot, situated near Second and Col
lege streets, aud give the young man $4,000,
and if lie proved worthy Of the trust to advance
him in business.
'Well," said the incorrigble young man.
give me the papers to that effect IN my own
hands, and | will agree to any proposition you
make.
The gentleman said it should be done the
coming day, and the young man promised to
get his license and be married the same day, If
the old gentleman insisted. The day came,
and with it came the gentleman with his notes
.n1 d.o1 tha tuo mot ot q commission house