Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-10

| Marriage and Death Notices fifty cents. ODitu-
aries will be charged at advertlsement rates.
Daily, one year, six dollars; sl1 montns' tnfee
dollars
The PEACOCK HALL OF DELH1.-A CORES
pondent in India writes from Delhi: The build.
! ing is very beautiful pavilion Of white marble,
supported on massive pillars of the Same mate
rial, the whole of which, with the connecting
arches, is richly ornamented With flowers of
inlaid mosaic work of different colored stones
and gliding. 1t is raised on a terrace four feet
high, the floor of which is composed OF flags OF
whito marble. Between each Of the front row
Of pillars is balustrade of marble, chastely
carved in several designs of perforated work.
TIE ton of the building is ornamented With
four marble pavilions with gilt cupolas.
&The ceiling Of the pavilion was originally
com mpletely covered with 6lagree work, but in
1899 the Mahrattas, after the capture OF the
city, took the silver down and melted it, the
value of the same being estimated at nearly
million dollars. In the cornioe at each end OF
the interior hall is sculptured in letters Of gold,
iu the Persian language "Ifthere is paradise
on earth, it is this" In this hall was the fam.
GUS peacock throne, so called from its having the
figures of two peacocks standing behind 1t,
their tails being expanded. and the whole so ln'
laid With sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls
and other precious stones of appropriate colors,
as to represent life. The throne itself is six
feet long by four feet broad It stood on Blk
massive feet, which, with the body, were OF
solid gold nlaid with rubies, emerads and
diamonds. 1t was surmounted by canopy or
gold, supported ty twelve pillars, all richly
emblazoued with costly gems, and fringe OF
pearls ornamented the canopy. Between tho
two peacocks stood the figure OF parrot, OF
the ordinary siz,, said to havo been carved out
of single emerald. On either side OF the
throne stood chatta or umbrella, ono OF tho
Oriental emblems OF royalty.
They were made of crimson velvet, rlohIy
embroidered and fringed with pearls. The
handles we're eight feet long, OF solid gold, and
studded with diamonds. The cost OF this su.
perb work of art has been variously stated at
sums varying from SIS 900, 900 to $50, 100000
The peacock throne, with nearly all the treas.
ures in the city. were taken away by Persian
coroueror in 1879. An American mind can
scarcely realiz, such boundless extravaganza,
but my Indian experience has caused me to
look with cool Indifference upon rows and
strings of Jewels that would excite my lady
friends to frantic pitch Of admiration.
FLYING Foxes. s.-The flying fox is q Very
curious iuhabtant of the forests near Moreton
Bay, 10 East Australia. 1t livos 10 aocks and
moves generally toward the dusk fthe evening,
and the noise produced by the heavy Happlng
of the 80 called wings is very Singular. The
hooks like quiet places, where there are largo
arsucarian trees, with an underwood OF scrub
and creepers. The foxes hang in vast numbers
from the horizontal branches OF the ping trees
When there is a clear space among the treos
an enormous number of tho ANIMALS may De
seen, and their noise can be heard, for directly
thew see anything unusual, they utter short
bark, something like the sound made by young
| rocks.
Often every branch is crowded, end the fly.
! ing foxes are seen either Tapping their wings.
| and holding on with their hind feet, and with
| their heads downward or snarliug and fighting
| for places. Suddenly the whole take to flight
| and ftp their furry, wing like sides, and Wheel
around like heavy birds. Many fly with their
young holding on to them. The creature ID
| not true fox, and there is fold Of skin whi,h
reaches from tho fore to the bind legs. This
| is called the wing, aud it enables the pleropus.
az the animal is called, to float and turn 10 the
air. -
I Kearney, the San Francisco labor agitaterl
went with deputation Of his followers to visit
the Roman Catholic Archbishop of that clty
the other day. After listening to little hsr-
angue the Archbishop replied as follows -
"Mr. Kearney, understand that you wish me
to mind my own business. Very good; perhaps
you know what my business is better than l
do. But, MIR. Kearuey, there is only one gen.
tleman who il at present authorized to show
me how TO mind my business, and that is the
| Pope ofRome. Perhaps, MIR. Kearney, If you
will write to him he will tranfer that dover to
YOU. And now let me tclf you q little story.
Mr.. Kearney. have lived here great many
years, and know the temper Of the people Of
California pretty we'll, and long time ago,
before you had come to America, went to
bed ono night leaving everything going on in
the city as usual. Well, Mr.. Kearney, after q
1 comfortable nights rest l arose and looked out
of the window, and there 10 the street was @
| poor EsAoW hanging by bis neck, quite dead
suspended from c lamp post. tic was poor
fellow who did notknow how to mind bis own
I business, Mr.. Kearney, and that was all. You
/ mind your business we'll, MF. Kearney, and
will mind mine. Good morning.
He PAID THE BILL--He was from the
country. In the course efa halfhour spont 10
a rest. .surant he had taken enc bottle Of beer
/ and callod for tho BILL" The ionscspt waiter
brought him the bill Of fare and laid it befor'
him With the-wine list up. He looked at i
and began to mutter: "Roederer, pints, 81. Sc
curacoa,- ,Bsss'ale,-. Good gracious !
said he; zig this the bi9" The waiter sail
lit was. "DMned if l pay itP' he exclaimed
! as ha pushed it oYer to q man on the opposit
side of the table. "Figger that up, will yo'
!, pease?" he asked. The stranger added up tn
various prices and made it. something lik
$500. ITS swindle." said be-, "a darne'
sRiudle; Ill never pay it," The stranger
= who had takenin the s!tuatien, remonstrated