Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-20

uarlos will De charged at aoVerIlsement ra1es
for notices over four lines
AN HISTORICAL PHENoMENoN.-Just be-
fore Major Andres embarkation for America,
he made Journey into Derbyshire, to pay
Miss Seward visit, and it was arranged that
they should take a pleasure ride to the Park
Miss Seward told Andre, that besides enjoying
the beauties of the natural scenery, he would
there meet some Of her most valued friends,
among them Mr.. Newton whom she playtully
called her minstrel" and Mr.. Cunningham,
the curate, whom she regarded as very ele-
CANT poet.
81 had very strange dream last night.
said Mr.. Cunningham 10 Mr.. Newton, while
they were awaiting together the arrival of the
party, land it has haunted me all day, seem
ing, unlike ordinary dreams, to be Impressed
very wildly uron my mind.
II faucied myself to be in great forest.
The place was strange to me, and while look'
ing about with some surprise, saw hors'-
man approaching at great speed. Just as ne
reached the spot where | stood, three men
rushed out Of thicket. and sezing his bride
hurried him away, afer closely searching his
person. The countenance of the STRANGER was
very interesting and impressing one seem
70 see IL now. MY SyWpdbuy ulll "oo oo
great that awoke. But presently fell asleep
again, and dreamed that was standing near
strange city, among thousands of people, and
that saw the same person had seen 10 the
wood brought out and suspended to the gal
lows. The victim was young, aud had courtly
bearing. The Influence and the effects OF this
dream are somewhat different from any that l
ever had.
Presently Miss Seward arrived with the
handsome stranger Mr.. Cunningha turned
pale with a uaneess horror as was present.
ed to Andre, and at his first opportunity said
to Mr.. Newton:
That sir. was the face I saw in my dream.
Tile Gazony for February.
WRITERS AND TALKERs.-The Baltimore
American says:
"We are apt to imagine that good writer's
arc fluent conversatioDalists, but this Is not al
ways the case DR.: Blair's mind was 80 chained
to his pen that be was called "Dr. Speak-none."
Scott was the most genial 10 conversation, and
the pleasant description of the author reading
his.poems and novels to his family and their at
fectonate sympathy is truly delig httul. Dickens,
too, was gifted to speech as we'll as pen, and
perhaps had he enlivened the home circle with
bis genius his married life might have been
happier Col"ridge and Wordsworth were great
takers,an though they professed to delight in
each others society, they always avoided meet
ing becau 9 neither liked to listen. Contempt
rary with them was Mr.. Talfourd, of whom
Miss Milford says His conversation is so
glitteriug, 80 dazzling, that listening to him is
like looking at the sun, it makes ones mind
ache with excessive brilliancy.' But he did not
possess tue secret of pleasant conversation, tor
his talk was more like an harangue. Humor-
Gus and witty people are always delightful COM
pany, but those who use sarcasm are seldom
popular Some writer says of sarcasm ut Is
an easy talent, for the worst vine makes the
best vinegar" Poor Goldsmith was often the
target for the sarcastic wit OF his friends. lie
once said to Beuclerk, II am determined to
leave off prescribing for friends Do so, dear
DOCTOR whenever you undertake to Kill let II De
your enemies, was the reply.
POKER PLAYING IN WAsHINGToN.-Poker
is the game in Washington, although s,me of
the staid old gentlemen prefer whist. John
Chamberlin bought the residence formerly oc
cupied by the British legation, on the corner
Connecticut avenue, | and Seventeenth streets,
two years ago, and rumor says -Johu wont
tcll-that he paid $l50,000 for it. 1t is an
elegant brick building, with broad bay VIII.
dows Mansard root, turreted towers and
massive gables The house stands back short
distance from the street, and the intervening
space is filled with evergreen trees, shrubs,
h,wers aud English ivy, the latter climbing up
the porlico which surrounds the front door,
aud shading the greater part OF the front OF
the building. The upper story of MIR. Cham.
chambers These chambers are furnished
with black walnut tables. There are drawers
in the tables containing the necessary imple.
meuts for poker playing. 1t there Is playing
10 progress one or Two negroes, tray 10 hand,
will be seen ready to execute whatever de-
mands for drinks may be made. Every Dlght
at II o'clock lunch, excellent but less magnl-
hcent than the one spread on the opening
night is served to the players-Neao York;
World.
EFFECT OF CROOKED WHIsKEY.-G. B.
Bingham, brother of John w. Bingham, and
one OF the noted distillers of Evansville, who
are in the meshes Of the Whiskey Ring, died
at Patoka, Iud., last Saturday.
He was evidently deranged all day Sunday
aud told his friends that he was going to lDdi
annapolis Tuesday to be sentenced, when he was
merely summoned as witness in the further
prosecutions of the Ring. He bsde several
farewell. AT ten o'clock Sunday evening be
took dose of chlora, and slept till four o'clock
Monday morning, when he Wakened, and at
his request his wife gave him . teaspoontul of
choral again. She afterwards tried to awake
him, but he had been stricken with apoplexy,
superinduced by extreme nervous prosratioD,
and was unconscious He fingered until six
o'clock, and died without making sign.
There is a very general impression that Cor
don Bingham was forced into the Ring against
his will, falling through weakness. His life is
monument of business integrity and honor,
and his death is the result of shame. He died