Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-20
GENERAL BREVITIES.

'cr lily, Utah.
SOME of the Chicago newspapers pro
pose to uniform the newsboys, each paper
purchasing uniforms for certain number.
The Des Moines Ladies' Dress Reform
Association have resolved to loosen or dis
card eorsets, abolish dress-trimming, and
adopt short skirts for walking-tlresses.
The total number of immigrants into
the United States for the quarter ending
December 81, 1872, was S9,227. or very
nearly LOCO per day, including Sundays.
1883 were from Germany. I4,229 from
England, and 1865 from Ireland.
n YOUNG man in Peoria sought to Sc
cure his sweetheart by strategy; so he took
her out for boat ride and threatened to
jump overheard into the lake if she
wouldn't marry him. IL did not work.
She offered to bet him a dollar that he
daren't dive i'm.
WE are curiOusly reminded that the new
world Is becoming an old world by the re-
cent discovery of ruins of three Spanish
cities in the mountains of Talamanca, Cos
ia Rica. A century has passed since those
cities We're inhabited, and among the ruins
Is fort with cannon all decayed and rusty.
The remains Of the first white settlements
IN America should be as interesting to
American antiquarians as the beggar-in-
tested relics of ancient Rome.
CoCHIsE, the noted Apache chief, it is
said recently gave strong proof of his good
Will toward the whites. Mr.. Charles Mil
Ter, a large stock owner, stopped at the
reservation several days to rest, and turned
three thousand cattle and seventy head of
horses and mules loose. When ready to
start again the band of Cochise gathered i'm
his stock, not one animal being lost. They
did not even ask a bonus, as most white
men would have done.
A SECULAR reporter AYERS that g some-
body took advantage of Mr.. Beecher's alb
sence from Plymouth Church last Sunday,
to distribute circulars among the worship
ers extOlling the virtues OF a certain patent
corn-plaster." "This must be an error"
remarks friend who has read the item to
us, and suggests that the reporter probably
IS not extensively familiar with theOlogic
literature, and mistOok an advertisement of
a well-knOwn and highly esteemed relig-
ious classic for an announcement of cure
for "Bunions on the Pilgrims Progress"
A LADY writes as follows, and as she
probably belongs to one of the two classes
of women she last mentions, she probably
knows whereof she speaks: at appears
in this age that an eyquisitely neat taste is
acquired Girls under twenty are rarely
tidy. They may desire TO look neat, but
they do not attain TO exquisite freshness.
Old maids anu women happily married are
the ones who learn the refinement and
quintessence Of neatness. The former
naturally incline that way, and the latter
have the incentive TO excite and retain the
husbands admiration"
AN Oregon paper draws attention to the
TACT that the shade trees planted around
several blocks of buildings in Portland.
preserved them from destruction during
the recent great fire In that city. 1T was
observed, !" 1t remarks, ION the day of the
fire what wonderful protection our maple
and other trees planted along the streets
afford. Many buildings. among them the
First Congregational Church, were saved
by the thick foliage in front of them.
Were trees planted along our business
thoroughfares they would afford such a
cover that building would not easily kim
die from burning structure on the OppO-
site side of the street. Fire thus could be
prevented from spreading. The trees are
cheap insurance and worth as much for
health and comfort as for defense against
fire.
A WRITER i'm Land and Water testifies
that he long knew pointer and grey
mound that formed a partnership, to which
the first contributed his power of scent,
and the other his swiftness of motion. as
their respective capital. Every few days
they would go out rabbit hInting-the
pointer seeking the game and indicating
where it was, while the greyhound would
run it down. They would then enjoy their
game dinner and return to their several
homes. The same writer records similar
arrangement entered into between terrier
and collie. He also gives an account of a
dog that hunted both sheep and rabbits,
and, to guard against detection and pun
ishment, washed himself i'm stream, and
wiped his coat on the grass before return
ing from his excursions.
LOOK out for pickpockets and robbers.
A skillful thief was once talking to a de
tectlve well known in New York. and the
latter asked the detective how on earth he
managed to steal stud from under mans
nose, "Oh, it's easy enough" says he.
Tor, like all thieves, he was well acquainted
with the detectives. EASY, but how?'
queried the detective. Rub that black
off your cheek" said the thief. as though
he had just discovered dirt there.
'.Wherer' said the officer. Taking out
his handkerchief the thief rubbed por-
ton of the detectives cheek, put his hand
kerchief back in his pocket, and handed
the astonished official flashy pin, which
moment before had adorned the bosom of
his shirt.
An Indian shieldisa rare curiosity. The
red warrior prefers, like the modern sol
der. TO fight with limbs unencilmbered. IL
is probable that shields and spears were at
one time in common use among all the
Western Indians, as among uncivilized
nations of other quarters Of the globe.
The Introduction of powder and ball has,
however, made the shield comparatively
useless. They are still occasionally to be
met with, though not as common as when
Catlin sketched with unequaled fidelity
the manneas and customs of Dakota tribes.
Among the Southwestern Indians, more
particularly the Comanches, shields are i'm
general use, being efficient to fend off the
Mexican spear. The editor of the Bryan
Crexas) Appeal describes one taken in a
fight last March. The shield was an exact
circle, eighteen inches i'm diameter. The
body was as stiff and unyielding as board
and five times as tough. 1t was made of
the thick hide of the buffalo's neck,