Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-07-25
Aleta1l0rla 6ax&ttc
WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY Is.

A GlLpIN's RIDE-Ll Grange had a case Of
john Gilpinism day or two since, which, for
amount Of laughter it afforded and the destruc.
tion OF ministerial diguity which Involved, has
; never been surpasscd-in that village, at least
There was pleasant evening, and it occurred
to the rector Of the Episcopal Church, the Rev.
Mr.. Luson-lIcaycn touch his hairs lightly T.
that it would be good thing for him, spirit
ually aud physically, to take horseback ride.
Booted and spurred, he mounted fer the tii;r
and all went we'll until at the end OF somo time
he got off to pluck few wild flowers. 1t waa
an unlucky movement. In remounting be
frightened the horse little, and tho animal
SHE'D just enough to allow the reverend gentle
man to gain tho saddle, but did not permit hin.
to get bis feet into the stirrups, and he started
off at good pace while his rider was iu this un
prepared state. Mr. Luson found that he must
take some means other than the ordinary one TO
retain his seat, and forgetting his spurs, nc clasp
ed his feet tightly under the horse's body. The
horse Icaped as ifit had been stung by a snak kc,
and shot away at fearful rate. The faster he
went the tighter the lucklcss pa"tor clung TO him.
The spurs sank into his sides, and, maddcned
with pain, he went laundering up the street at
tho top of his speed. On the two went past
| the schoolhousc aud by residences. Children
and parents turned out to sec the spectacle. Thr
| wind blew off the minister's hat. His hair and
bis coat streamed back with cracking sound
His eyes started out like a beetles, and iI the
light of the setting sun his spcctacles shono Ike
the rcHectors of light house. "Whoa !!
"Whoa !" shouted the preacher. On, on went
| the horse, the rowcs deep in his flesh, and bis
side bleeding with the wounds. A great out
pouring Of the popuIacc only made the matter
worse, and the horse, as badly scared as thc
minister, plunged on, snorting and toamlng at
every jump. But the end came. corner ap
pcared and around the corner the lDturlated
beast went so suddenly that the dominic arose
into tho air, performed a series otbrllIlant gyra.
tory coavo!ulions, and landed on his !carued
and ministerial head in the ditch. The boys
who helped him out say that ho sHore like a
pirate, but this, although perfectly natural and
cxcusablc, is hardly probable. The reverend
! gentleman has, however, secured good black
| snake whip, and So soon as his joints arc linn
! bcred up agaiD, nc proposes to show tho horse
that there is God 10 Israel. .-ALegany Mail.
| Social GOssIp.-Thc engagement Of Miss
Chapman, Madame dc Potcstat's sister, to
Spanish noblcman, is announced The groom,
elect is OF no less cyaIt:d rank than that OF
| Prince cf Arrason, and is representative OF
the saugrc azul Of the country, his race having
held their lands and titles ior centuries. Apro
pos to this engagement mn incident IN The He
of Mrs. Chapman. the mother Of the two ladies'
above mentioned, rccurs to US; she was Miss
| Randolph, Of irgiaia, aud was u famous belle
and beauty; she was also rotcd for her reckless
| courage, and the fact that she never accepted
dare" no matter how dangerous the advcn'
| turc involved. On one occasion large party
! of beaux and bellies of the Old Dominion went
| to the Natural Bridge on horseback and, reach
ing the woDdrous curve Of which Nature has
fashioned tho arch and keystone, dismountcd
and sat enjoying the view, and recalling legends
and stories OF the spot; Just in front oil them
iuttcd boldly out from the brink Of the prcoI'
pice The stump of au old cedar tree, whose trunk
and branches had gone down before some iurl
Gus tempest i, Yeats gone bl, but whose roots
still clung to rock; it va. gltdy, rghtfu!
point, and or hung the chasm so Tar that
pebble dropped from il would stop only in the
waters below One OF the party looklng, at Il
Miss Randolph" and the others entering into
lhc Joke laughed, and one or two cried, 1--WE
dare you to!' shaking back her rich brown
curs, and laughing gay defiance, the bcauli.
| ful pir sprang to her feet, and before her hor.
riGed companions could stop her had stepped
out on the dizzy pedestal, and stood there with
oply 2 few inches Of wood between her and
horrible death. We remember once seeing
history of Virginia 10 which this mad freak was
illustrated, and the graceful figure with lls
brirht eyes and smiling lips It's tiny feet visible
boneath the folds of the habit, and one hand
raised waving handkerchief towards the white
terrified faces in the back ground made deep
impression on our childish imagination. But,
reTenous notrc belle After standing two or
three minutes on the old cedar, she turned and
stenpcd with firm tread across its gnarlcd roots
and the rough rocks, and rcjoined her compan
ions; the tension removed they gave way, se7c
raj iaiutiOg, aud, among the ladies', several Go
ing into violent bysterlcs. But she, why she
made light Of it, and that same week did some
tremendous ridiog at fox hunt that made her
the pride and boast Of the country till the day
: of her DEATH Wash. Critic.
OPENING AND CLOSING OF MAILS. Until
rnrther notice the following will bo the hour3
: tor tho opening and closing Of tho mails:
p, CLOSING.
Northern and Western mails, D:lo p. m Hht
go p. IN. o,
Manassas Division, 7:30 q. m.
Washington and Ohio, Alexandria {" Ro'!'I
Hill Va, 800 q. m.
Southern, via Fredericksburg and Rlchmo"!
Va, 515 y. m. and $50 p. m.
Night mail for Lynchburg and points bey"nd
at 9:CO p. m
L OPENING
| Northern and Western mails, $50 ~. IN. and
1870 and I p. III.
} Southwestern, via Lynrhb"rg ahd ""r'o''-
} vile, 7:0Op M. ~
| Manassas Division, go p. m.
| Washington and Ohio, Round Hill to Al"a-
sndris 500 p. m.
Southern mails, via Richmond and Fred"r-
ckspurg, Va, $50 H. III. and Loo p III.
as- General ,livcry window closes Ht S:on p.
> m Doors close at coop. NJ.
as-Open on Sundays nj a. m. and cloa'5 at
- 9.3D n.