Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-24

it away, their persons being sacred in the
midst of warning armies. They come
and 60 at will under the laws of war as
held sacred by the Samoans.
'' Throughout the Navigator Islands
woman holds higher social position than
elsewhere in the South Pacific. Drudgery
and slavery are not among her occupations.
The men do all the hard work leaving the
women the more coujugal occupation Of
making useful ornaments, articles to adorn
the household, etc. In color the native
woman are dark olive, but those of mix
ed blood, having European or American
fathers, are of light olive color. with
clear transparent skin. Sever.l of the
leading foreigners have intermarried with
native women, and their families are re-
markable for intelligence and beauty"
OLD New ENGLAND.-At a meeting in
Boston, on Wednesday, of the New England
Historic Genealogical Society, Hon. Amasa
Walker of North Brook field read an inter-
esting paper on " The Household Manufac-
lures OF New England in the OIden Time"
We copy from the Adosrtiser's report:
Thearticle embodied the experience of
his own boyhood when he had grown to
that particular size and age requiring
surtout. He told with what eager alacrity
he performed the immense amount of drudg-
cry attendant on getting the material for
the cloth, and its subsequent conversion
into the garment of that glorious thing-a
human boy-a man in the germ. His
numerous journeys with his horse " Jen-
nle," throug cold freezing weather, and the
cold patient spirit with which he bore all
disappointments, were worthy of better
cause. He said after he had obtained the
wool and carried it long distance to be
carded, he found the parties overwhelmed
with business. Every body desired their
wool carded as well as he and the lad was
obliged to wait the natural course Of events,
which meant two weeks. / Ireturned home,
he said, and when the two weeks had elaps-
ed again presented myself at the mill and
inquired for the wool. 1t would be done
in less than another week. 1t was done
when next visited them, and | took my
possession home. My mother was quite
delighted on my arrival, and at once set
to work to spin it on the great wheel. Flax
at that time was spun on foot wheels as
they were called. At the appointed time
be made another journey on "Jennie" with
his bundle bound behind him to the cloth
store in Knoxville. He was obliged to
content hlmself with receiving promise
Of the cloth in three weeks. When that
period had elapsed he went again. He
had to wait a long time, but finally obtain
ed his treasure and started home. After
three weeks delay and disappointment
Uncle Daniel gave him the cloth for his
surtout, and Aunt Debby the taloress had
to be engaged to make it. Aunt Debby
could not come for some days, but at last,
after more hardship in going for the for
bidable creature at ear y sun rise on cold,
frosty day, aud waiting for her to finish a
| job, she was obtained and the hard y-earn-
ed garment was at last completed, as we'll
as his brothers clothes. Mr.. Walker spok e
Of the altered state of affairs since that
comparatively late period. He said that
complete and much better suit would now
be earned by boy of twelve years while
he was going for his, which necessitated
eighty miles of horseback riding. He men,
| toned the increased facilities for acquir-
ing the comforts OF life, and concluded by
saying that great as had been our progress
IN the past. the next half century will be
more prolific in great achievements than
the last.
II A TO-.
rife battle between two BIRDS" says the
Virginia New Mountania of the l4th uIt.,
:. occurred between two large brown eagles
IN the vicinity of the lakes above Virginia
on last Wednesday evening.
| Wnen first noticed, the birds were soar
ing one aoove the other at an aItitu lie Of
perhaps three-tourth of mile, and seemed
on sail for pleasure. Presently the up
permost bird, closing its bro I'd wings, shot
downward for two or three hundred feet,
and with scream lit fairly upon the back
OF the other bird. Turning, the victim
clutched its adversary with talons and
beak, and fierce struggle ensued. The
yells, the striking of huge wings, anc
showers of falling feathers, gave unmis
taxable evi ience of the ferocity with
which the contest was waged.
As they fought they fell earthward
and when within five hundred feet of the
ground they became disentangIed, and
each swooped upward again. Now follow
ed an interesting trial as to which should
first gain sufficient altitude to make an,
other plunge. The circling Of the small
er was rapid and close, while that of biz
antag onist was made with greater limits
and his ascension was quick est accomplish
ed. The largest eagle was soon fully one
half mile hIgh. and some hundreds of feet
above his victim. lowering in mid-ail
for moment, as if making sure of his aim
he again darted down upon his enemy
striking HIM as before with a force that
seemed sufficient to kill of itself. Again
they grappled and fought, whirling, falling
and striking furiousy for the space oftwe
or three minutes. They were now near
the largest OF tre lakes, and gradually de-
scending to the water. The struggles o.
the smaller became less and less fierce ; ht
was getting weak, and was evidently near.
Iy vanquished, while his more powerful
aggressor seemed to wage the battle with
increased vigor.
| Another moment and the conquerinl
monarch loosed his hold, and with an ex
ultant shout of victory scared upward. The
battle was ended, his prisoner, limp and
lifeless, fell into the waters of the lak'
with splash and foated on the surface
, without struggle. Both birds were o
, very large size, the largest measuring w
think fully twelve feet from tip to tip
| The spectacle was exciting in the extrem'
and the victory tragically complete. Th'
battle had likely commenced before VI
discovered them, as it does not seer, pos