Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-02
VOL. LXXIV.

l.
DAYS and SATURDAYS, atF1vE DOLLARS
PsR AENUM, payable in advance.
IRELAND-THE "GEM OF THE Sea. AS
seen by the tourist, it is most beautiful coun-
try, possessing every variety Of surface and soil,
from rugged mountains to lovely valleys and
expansive plains. The streams are everywhere
bright and clear, and generally swift running.
For so small territory there are remarkably
large rivers and lakes. With the exception of
one or two in Switzerland there are larger lakes
10 Ireland than can be found elsewhere in Eu
rope The Shannon is larger river than any
in Great Britain and navigable for longer
distance. The harbors are among the finest in
the world. The climate is remarkably temper
ate and equable. Many plants which can only
flourish in hot-houses in England, flourish in
the open air in Ireland, while the great moist
ure which prevails is so favorable to vegetation
that the country Is carpeted in almost perpet-
ual green. This verdure extends to the noun
tain tops where there is a particle of earth, and
on the sea shores right down to where the
ocean breakers dash against the rocks. From
what | had heard before visiting Ireland | sup
posed it was nearly treeless country. But
such IS not the case. Every rod square almost,
which is unfit for cultivation, is covered with
trees Trees abound on the mountains and on
the steep hill-sides, and along many of the
roads and lanes; and they may be seen any
where standing singly or in clumps Where
one tree is seen in Illinois from the windows of
the train, fifty may be seen in Ireland. The
hedgerows add greatly to the beauty of the
landscape. The foliage of the thorn is very
dark green, and those live fences can be distin-
guished for long distances. subdvidiDg the face
of the country into squares like those on
obaeo boord Too MoJtU I'M Ireland
DESTRUCTION OF SHEEP BY DOGs.-We
shall appeal to the Legislature, and We hope
every farmer 10 the State may do the same to
pass some sort of law to protect the raising
of sheep. There is not State in the Uuion
better adapted to sheep raising than Virginia,
snd there is not State We are sure, more
cursed with worthless dogs than Virginia.
Every negro hut in the State has supply OF
from two to halfa dozen half fstarved raw-boned
curs These worthless whelps starved by day,
make their mid night marauding expeditions
on the sheep-fold of neighboring farmer; kill
ing and cripling more sheep than would pay tor
feeding the owner of the worthless brutes for
twelve months. What farmers want not
those who make living by huntiugl is law
passed to protect them in most honorable and
profitable industry, and one which will do as
much to build up the resources OF the State as
any other one branch of business. 1t seems to
us that the members of the Legislature and
the representatives of the people, and hence IN
terested in the material welfare of the State,
should see the necessity OF passing laws to pro-
tect the farming interest. law was passed
by the last Legislature giving the Boards of Su-
pcrvisors authority to levy tax on dogs; the
tax TO be applied to public school purposes
This law proved to be unsatisfactory and was
repealed by the last session Of the same body
that passed it. A general law should be passed
to tax dogs, and the proceeds be used to pay
for losses to owners who have their sheep des-
troyed By dogs, and ifthere isa remainder OF
tax, let it 20 into the school-fund. The law
should be 80 framed that if the tax on dog Is
not paid that such dog shall be killed by an
officer, and the officer be paid for SO doing out
of the dog tax Let law of this sort be pass
ed and it will be popular with the people, and
worthless dogs will decrease and mutton and
wool will multiply. y.-Manassas Gazette
TIE CHAMPION Hoa.-- From the Troy
Press, Nov. 15 We have on one or two oc-
casions given an account of the extraordinary
feats of the famous eater employed in the brew
cry Of Fitzgerald Brothers, of this city. The
first feat of which public notice was taken was
his consumption, for bet of $25 of an eleven
pound boiled ham, four pounds of corned beef
two loves of bread, dozen cups of coffee, and
three pies, which feat he accomplished but an
hour and half before partakng of his usual
dinner He afterwards offered challenge to
any man in the States of Massachusetts, Yer
mont, Connecticut, and New York to eat more
of any kind of food for bet of $780, but had
no one to take him up with the exception OF
man 10 Southern Massachusetts, who boasted
that he could eat twice as much as the brewery
man, and afterwards swallow our home cham
pion besides; but this Massachusetts man never
made his appearance.
The brewery man now offers to eclipse all
his former efforts by the following feat: There
will be double wedding party from North
Adams at the Mansion House on the / TIN inst,
and the champion offers 10 wager $lOO that ne
can eat, at one sitting, the TODD prepared on
that occasion for the entire party
INTERNAL MACHINES. 1t was once thought
that the governments called Imperial en-
joyed monopoly Of the threats OF 'inferoal ma
ehines" The two Napoleons were repeatedly
10 danger from conspiracies that used machine
ry to kill them, and were willing, II the prime
object could be achieved, to risk any number OF
Incidental murders. But in these latter days
the Internal machine comes into use against
individuals as we'll as princes, for New York
vas but the other day excited over the dscove-
ry that loaded box, filled with powder and ar.
ranged with friction matches and emery paper
and pistol cartridges, had been sent to Mr.
Green, comptroller Of finances, and would pro.
baby have been opened but for the caution OF
asubordinate in that officials Office, who soak
ed it 10 water first aud then opened it.
Mr. Green has long been known as pow
erfu enemy of the ring whose chief has been
sentenced to Biackwell's Island. .-No1Jok
Frgaian.