Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-11-23
Freaks Of Walter Savage Landor.

Late 10 1903 Landor, in sudden freak, went
to Spain to fight against the French Landing
at Coruooa, he gave 10000 reals to the nhab-
itants OF a town which had been burned, and
proposed to equip and pay Thousand vouu-
ieers, with whom be would go on foot, aud
fight with theu under the command of auy
brave Spaniard who had taken up arms in de.
tcnse Of religion and liberty" He returned to
England IL few weeks, without seeing service
10 the ii Id. 5us this escapade, perhaps, was
OF service 10 him 10 the composition of his
tragedy of Count Julian" work not un-
worthy Of the author Of "Gebir," begun ABOUT
this time, and completed three years later.
he DOW set bis heart upon the purchase of
L'aothoDy Abbey, an estate upou the border
Of Wales. He sold the estate which had
already fallen to him, and which had been 10
the family seven huudred years. His mother
,s20,0O0, and gave him the money, subject to
an annulty OF e45O; more money was borrowed
for improvements; 10 ali abou. $500 was
expended. "Llauthony," be wrote loug after
ward, lis noble estate. 1t produces every
thing but herbage, corn aud money 1t is
about eig BIT miles Ioug, aud | paoted about a
million OF trees on il. [ lived there lit lie more
than eight months altogether, aod built house
10 pull it down again." OF the million of
trees, however, more than ulne out Of ten ex-
listed ouly 10 his ina ginatop.
Landor's experience here was anything but a
pleasant one BY his own account never was
meek and long-sutfering landlord so bullied
'nd cheated by his arrogant tenaots. They
WA not pay their rent. cut down his trees,
poached bis game, insulted him at bis own
door, aod mcnaced him with violence. One of
them had threatened some mischief; Landor
posted haDdbill accusing him of meditaing
felony, was prosecuted for libel. and cast in
damages He was not on good terms with his
ueghbor$. He applied 10 vain to the lord
lieutenant OF the County to be appointed on the
commission Of the peace. although there was
10 magistrate within ten miles OF him. Within
three years from the time Of the purchase,
Landor Was thoroughly disgusted He would
sell 1t, IT he could for les, than half of what it
bal cot him. Aud 10 the meanwhile he would
leave Eng land aud go to France Hence arose
new aud still worse trouble
Three years before be had suddenly fallen 10
love. by no means for the first time Il have
touod,' he wrote 10 Southey, "a girl without a
sixpence, and with very few accomplishments
She Is pretty, graceful aud good tempered
three things indispensable to my happiness. -
He seems never to have thought that good
temper on his part might be indispensable to
her happiness. After turning his back upon
LlapthoDy he tsrried a little while on the is.
land OF jersey, accompanied by his wife and
her sister He had made up his mind to re-.
side 10 France she had made up her mind to
the contrary. He disIiked to have any talk
ABOUT It; she would tllk of nothing else He
begged her oct to drive him to distraction !;
she retorted that things had come TO foe
pass if he must never be contradicted, and
hnay called him something like an old brute.
he was a most forty, perhaps twice her age.
Before day break he was up aud off alone for
france, taking passage 10 an oyster boat, no.
tody for month Knowing what bad become
OF him.-The Galany for December.
y MORNING IN ORAlBI-Io Scribner for
December Is an interesting paper by Mai n
Powell, descriptive OF the Province of Tusa-
yau,' in Arizona. We take from the article
the following account uf Indian worship at
daybreak:
AT the dawn of day the governor of the
town goes up to the top Of his house and calls
IN the people to come forth. In few mo-
lneuts the upper story of tbs town is covered
witt men, women aDd children. For few mo-
meots he harangues them on the duties of the
day. Then, as the suu is about to rise they all
SIT duWO, draw their blankets over their heads
PSSA
Tor he sun. As tue upper limb appears above
the hor z1nevcry person murInurs prayer and
co0tlnueS vi til the whole disk is seen, when the
prayer ends and the people turn to their vari-
Gus avocatlons The young men gather 10 the
court aoout the deep fountain stripped naked,
except that each one has belt to which are
attached bones, hoots, horns, or metallic bells,
which they have been able to procure from
white men. These they lay aside for a mo-
mebt, plunge into the water, step out, tie on
their belts, and dat away on their morning
faces over the rocks, iug as if for dear life
Then the old men collect the little boys, some
times with little whips, and compel them to
90 through the same exercises When the ath-
lets rtturo, each family gathers in the large
room ior breakfast. This over, the women as
cend t. the top of their houses to dress, and
the meo depart to the fields or woods, or gath.
er 10 the kva to chat or weave.
A SCENE IN CAIRO. As We sit 10 our hotel
widows awaiting the moment Of departure,
We enjoy last tableau of Cairo. A long train
OF cameis files BY, each one attached to the tail
OF The one preceding. They march on erect
beneath the large building stones with which
they are laden. They look innocent, even sad;
yet they are said to bristle with rage if pro
Voked beyond measure. These have hardly
passed when there follows wedding process
s'on. At the head pipes piper upon reed,
which squeaks nightly; then two drummcrs
supply with great volume what the reed lacks
10 sweetness Now follow long lines of Arabs
arm 10 arm across the highway; then the bride
groom, bestraddling donkey. Througs kiss
Ills hands, and prophesy happiness. Now fol-
10" women; Tricky yelled walks the bride be-
tween two bridesmaids, who support her, aud
seem to address her with much gesticu ation,
aaslt to tease her; but perhaps they are giving
1er lessons 10 marital matters Four gayiy
uecked boys bear canopy over her head, and
sne moves with the air Of stage queen. Be-
nlnd these. with much talking and shouting,
come the rabble; and the vile little donkey
oIys' consregating 10 plumbers ~before tho ho-
su w, ~hen not besiegiug some easy-goug ex-