New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-11
PETRIFACTION.

We commend the following letters to GUr
readers for their careful reading and serieu:
consideration. The first, from the pen O.
an eminent Louisiana physician, who, Mr.
} ohnson, the Representative OF ;he parish
of Avoyelles, tells rs is so close SUDDEN
that he never has even heard Of him, no
only is a valuable contribution 20 science
but morally illustrates the danger OF any
one. especially young brides, aneddliDs
with things that do no: belong to them
This, after being published in the New
York .Susi, has been extensively copied in
our exchanges.
The second letter, We are torry to Sc.
displays an acrimony and petulence which
should be foreign to the nature Of so scien
ti1ic writer. Withou: attempting 20 ven
ture an opinion on the priority OF the disccv
cries of either physician, or 70 question the
veracity of DR.. Kollieker. we would sugges:
that if one Of these remarkable scientific
phen oms ne occurred, so might the other
and if one ia possible. il. is not Difficult: :oI
AZ unscientitc person to believe both nigh:
be true. Perhaps DR.. kollicker did
communicate his to DR.. Jorschk. bu. the
latter makes no mention OF il. The contrc-
versy between these gentlemen starts in an
almost identical manner with that OF Drs.
Morton and jackson on the discovery OF
sulphuric ether. which convuised Congress,
endless 'dissensions. The present dispute
will hardly become as important.
But We mus: deplore the petulance OF
DR.. kollcker. and regret his filings a: his
rival. Some excuse may be- offered for his
remarks on the retention of the little finger
by Mr.. Krinoid. which, as a scientific man.
he would naturally desire to posses: but as
he does not mention the receipt Of q fee for
his visit. i. may be inferred the lack OF that
influenced him not little.
His reference to the Cardiff Giant man
we regard as entirely inappropriate. Al.
though the possessor CT that humbug. on
its exposure. proposed to astonish the pub
lie with something more astonishing in a
year or two. it is utterly absurd to conclude
it has any connection with the letter OF DR..
Jorschk to the Sun.
The authenticity OF tho letter Of Dr..
Jorschk can not be dou bted, for it is i'm
possible that anyone in Marksville, Louis
lana, should have forged his name, the old
est inhabitant never having heard it or
seen him. We can add that the judges of
the courts are not acquainted with Mr..
Frederick Halter. the lawyer, and therefore
will not presume to deny his possession of
this modern Fatima. No denial being pos
sible. his letter. with that Of his Louisville
rival, stand. on its own merits. and must
stand or fal! III the credulity of a confding
public.
With these remarks we leave the further
OF these peculiar documents
to the reader:
4 Bride Turned TO stone.
To tie Editor Of the New York Sun:
SIs-There have been SO many comments
in the papers, and l receive SO many letters
which it is impossible for ME 10 answer. in
reference to the curious case OF petritaction
which recently came under my notice, that
| am constrained to write an account of the
whole affair, giving at tho same time my
y 70.
Mr.. Frederick Halter is by profession
lawyer. He early acquired, however, quite
a fondness for the natural sciences. espe-
ciaily geology. He has. perhaps, the largest
and most complete geological cabinet in
Louisiana. When he wishes TO relieve him
self from the dry details of law he with
draws himself into his 'rock study" as he
calls the apartment where he keeps hi. cab
met and books relating to the science, and
there passes many hours in experiment, in
reading and in manipulating the geological
and archaeological collections which,
through period Of nearly thirty years. he
has drawn together.
Having married early in life. some five
years ago be lost his wife and gave up his
household affairs to an elderly maiden sis
Ter. Something over month ago he mar
lied again, taking as his bride IL beautiful
and charming young girl Of sixteen. As
ohysician ia her fathers family. and an in
innate friend, l was an honOTed guest at
he wedding ceremony. 1 am sure l never
saw a more beautiful and happy bride.
No one could have dreamed of the strange
ate that awaited her.
On the morrow after the wedding Mr..
Halter took hi!k oung bride TO his residence,
splendid mansion in the suburbs of the
-ilage. She was accompanied by num-
per OF her female friends. who were to
pend the day with her, while he. having
business of Importance at his office in town,
promised to return as speedily as re could
dispose of his business. The bride, being
in her new home. cared to take
title notice of household matters FOX the
irst day of Matrimonial life, preterIing
o amuse herself with the friends who had
ome over with her, knowing that the do.
nestle affairs were in good hands.
A oh n'niA oh
II four OF her most intimate friends went
nto Mr.. Iialler's ''rock study" already
10 look over the cabinet of
uiosities. where they amused themselves in
frivolous sayety. such as young and
houghtless girls would engage in, harmless
nd innocent to ali appearance. Among
ne curiosi;ies which NJ. Halter had gath |
red were several round bOulders, brought |
rom Arkansas. These bouldess ON being
rolsen present in the central space a crys-
aline formation. and are usually not much |
irger than the double fists. Ono OF these.
owever. was unusually large. measuring |
wenty-one inches in circumference. Ere |
uently the internal surface, always hollow, |
ontalns water, or rather a concentrated |
olution of silica in water. This fact was |
nown to one of the young ladies, who |
lentioned il. AT once they all began to
-onder whether there was water ii the |
4rge boulder. Two OF the smaller ones
adj been broken, showing in the centre
urge crystals, and had contained water. ac-
Drdng to the assertion of the young lady.
ho had gained her information at some
her time. in a previous visit.
At once il was proposed to break the
rye one. and several Intellectual attempts
ere made by them with a geological
ammer always present. They called to
leir aid colored man, a servant on the
ace, who was requested to break open the
,ck, as they called it. He readily assented,
eng willing to thus render his first service
the new mistress. A pitcher being
aced underneath the boulder as the man
Id it, one sturdy blow of his stalwart
III cracked it, and the fluid within ran
1t and vas collected in the pitcher,
arcely losing drop, there being half