AMERICAN ITEMS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IX, Issue 549, 22 March 1876, Page 5

AMERICAN ITEMS.

CUBE FOB TBAMTS.

A tramp cure is not an easy thing to find, but tbe example of Sussex county .New Jersey, is likely to be, followed extensively next tramp season. Sussex county lessened tbe number of these predatory idlers within its borders by furnishing them with stones to. break when they asked for bread, and finally giving them "cheap but wholesome food" when they had broken the stones, Like the nouveau riche of a hundred years ago who took his first ride in a bottomless sedan chair and thought it was very much like walking "except for the look of the thing," tbe trampß would just as soon work for a living as break stones for their breakfast ; hence they gave Sussex county, N. J., a black mark in the "Tramp's Own Guide Book." A STBAffGE WEDDING FEE. Says the Hartford "Courant":— " A clergyman who was formerly | located in this city, but is now in New York, married a little over a year ago a couple who at once started for Europe and have recently returned. The bridegroom was a gentleman of wealth, and before he presented himself before the bridal altar he placed a hundred dollar greenback in his vest pocket to give the parson for his marriage fee, and did pay it to him as he supposed. While crossing the ocean he discovered, greatly to his astonishment, the bill in tbe pocket where he placed it, and could account for its presence there only on the theory that he must have had another bill of a different denomination which be had donated to the clergyman by mistake. On getting back to this country be determined to solve the mystery, and waited upon the reverend gentleman, who did not recognize him, and inquired if on a certain date he did not marry a certain couple. The clergyman remembered the occasion perfectly. " I know lam about to ask an impertinent question," said the visitor, " but I should like to be informed what fee you received for performing the ceremony ?" The clergyman was not prepared to make any disclosure, naturally being astonished that his interviewer should propound such a question, but upon an explanation being made that the gentleman himself, whom he then recognized, was the one be had married, be said that he would, of course, gratify him, since he was so anxious to know. " I received," he then went on to say, " a very email quantity of fine cut tobacco, folded in a very small piece of paper." That was enough ; the only thing remaining to be done was to apologize, laugh heartily, shake hands, and make the 100 dol. deposit good. A BOY THAT BEATS ALL THE SMOKERS.

A correspondent of the " Cincinnati Gazette " writes as follows of the queer case of a youthful smoker : — I submit herewith a case well-known in Bradford Junction, Ohio, which, while exhibiting probably the earliest age at which a taste for tobacco-smoking has been acquired, may suggest something as to the relationship existing between appetites natural and acquired, and at the same time prove of interest to those disposed to observe the hygienic effects of tobacco on the human, system. A bady boy was weaned - with considerable difficulty at the age of two years. All the usual substitutes provided to bamboozle urchins in such cases were refused, and what with hunger and constant fretting suffered nervously and his health failed to such a degree as to occasion serious alarm. He suffered, too, from an excess of saliva on his little stomach, a disease which mammas probably more fully understand than does your bachelor correspondent. For the purpose of temporarily pacifying him, bis father, an inveterate smoker, pccasionally yielded to the child's entreaties by withdrawing the cigar from his own mouth and allowing the boy to puff at it for a short while at a time in his own way. It was observed from the beginning that the new-found substitute for the maternal fount invariably gave entire satisfaction; the stomach complaint disappeared: the child acquired an appetite for food, and began to thrive. But the appetite for smoking increased more rapidly. From a few little imitative puffs at the beginning, the child grew into smoking a whole cigar a day, and increased the number until in a year or so he comsumed from ten to twelve cigars daily. It was noticed then that he suffered in health, suffered nervously and lost flesh, and that mentally he had little of the healthy curiosity or fresh interest in the little things around him characteristic of children of his age. The quantity was gradually reduced to four or five cigars a day, and he continues now at that number, with every appearance of good health and bodily growth. A BALTIMOBE SCHOOL GISL TS GERMANY. . Katie Gaul, the little Baltimore girl who went abroad four or five years ago to finish her musical education, is now Miss Cecilia Graul, the i accomplished pianist of tbe Liszt j school, who has entered upon her professional career in G-ermany, and is I announced, through a recent cabla despatch, for an engagement at the Gwandbause, Leipsic. On the 23rd of November last Miss Gaul was the greatest attraction at the third concert of the Euterp&, given in the grand saloon of the Booksellers' Exchange. Miss Gaul played the "Es dur Polonaise," frqin Chopin, and tbe concert (G dur) for pianoforte, by Beethoven. The Leipsic journals say that' the " Polonaise of Chopin " created an intense furore, her style combining such vigor, such colossal dramatic force, combined .with delicate contljat tbe audience' was electri-

fled. ; Chopin's music demands delicate touch and peculiar, tender sadness, and the delicacy and artistic freedom with which Liszt has left his favorite pupil as a priceless inheritance won all hearts and hearers. Miss Gaul is described as possessing a fine spiritual looking face that holds, while playing, continually a look of intensity, and that the arms, beautiful wrists and hands, seemed to be possessed with the spirit of the great work as toward the finale those intense climaxes are reached. Her whole frame fairly quivered with the excitement, and yet, with face livid and intense, the fingers were most perfectly the slave of her /will. Miss Gaul has been overwhelmed with tributary praise in Germany, and her success opens the vis^a of great possibilities in Europe as well as in her own country, to which she will in a year probably return. A BUSINESS MAN'S PLTJCK. Tears ago Chauncey Pilley, formerly of Troy, took up his residence in St. Louis and engaged in the manufacture of stoves. Honest, industrious and enterprising, he rapidly made his way in the world and became possessed of an ample fortune, He was an excellent citizen, established a reputation among his fellows, annd. eventually, became postmaster of the great city of the West, a position he still retains. At the time of the President's visit to St Louis Mr. Filley entertained him sumptuously and with splendid hospitality. Engaged in the mining business with a friend, who had plenty of enterprise but little money., Filley had unbounded confidence in him, and when the friend wanted an indorser for his notes, Mr. Filley became his surety whenever requested, without keeping any record of the, amount of money he was holden for. EAentually the mining friend failed, and these notes were presented to Mr. Filley for payment. Of course, bis surprise was great, but the fact gave him no anxiety, for he did not think the endorsements would amount to over 100.000d015., and he could easily pay that out of his ample fortune. One hundred thousand dollars of notes were soon presented and promptly paid, but they did not stop coming until they amounted to 990,000d015. To pay this would make Mr. Filley a bankrupt. In fact, he had not the means to pay the entire claim, and he saw no way out of this dilemma at first but to go into bankruptcy, and this he decided to do. Pride restrained him, however. He had a business reputation second to that of no one in St. Louis, and after mature deliberation he decided tbat he would ask for a chance to pay his full indebtedness. He told hia creditors that he could make more out of his property than if it waß disposed of ut auction, and he was given an opportunity to prove his assertion. He paid 500,CKX)dols. down and resumed business with renewed vigor and energy, and to-day the full amount, nearly 1,000,000d015., lost by overconfidence in a friend, has been paid, with the exception of abont 50,000d015., and Mr. Filley is abundantly able to pay that. The result shows what indomitable energy, pluck and perseverance can do when employed in the right direction.

The American; Indian. — "Wendell Phillips delivered a lecture recently at the Academy of Music on the " American Indian." He said, among other things, that — " Though you cannot get our people to listen to the argument that the Indian is a rude, brutal savage, with no element of grand humanity about him, yet the treatment this nation has given the Indian is the most lamentable chapter of American history, and except the African, the blackest. Bloodthirsty, rude and revengeful as they may be 1 said to be, they could turn to the white man of to-day and say, ' We've but copied your example.' During the past hundred years 1,000,000,000 dols. have been expended by this Government in dealing with the Indian and she is no nearer the end of the riddle than ever. On the Canadian side there has been no rebellion to speak of, no massacre, and the expenses for that same period would be covered by 100,000, dols. certainly by 500,000 dols ; and yet we stand and laugh at such conservative fossilism. Their treatment of the Indian is a bright chapter in history, but ours is covered with darkness." A SafePkofessiow. — Snooks overheard two scientific gentlemen in a private conversation. One says, " Doc, I see you have your shingle out as a regular family physician ; how is that? 1 thought you were intending to practice the veterinary." "Well, I'll tell you, colonel. I did practice at that, and expected to keep on at it ; but it's so awkward, sometimes, you know ; a valuable horse dies on your hands, and} there's a devilish sight of talk about it — everybody speculates upon what the horse is worth, and how he might have been saved, and there's a chance for a suit of damages — malpractice, and all that ; but in this family line, if a child slips the hooks or somebody's' wife or mother-in-law dies, the ground is turned up and dug over on the whole story, and there's none of that foolish talk." A great deal has been said about female extravagance iii drese, but a correspondent of the New York " Evening Post " gives us figures to show that the white women over eighteen years of age in the United States spend yearly, upon an average, for silks, laces, velvets, feathers, &c, only about eight dollars each. And now let the wretch who complains of female extravagance read this, " and with a blush retire." He didn't look like a beggar, but he had bis plans all laid beforo he struck Vicksburg, and he cleared a hundred dollars there hi two days. He didn't go around whining: — "Please sir, for the love of God," ac mo»t of them do, but ho walked up to a man , called him " General " to start off with, and tbe shin plasters came in faster than he could take them. The only five men in town who didn't contribute were men whom be inadvertantly called " Captain " Women and Devils.— Old "Winston was a negro preacher in Virginia, and hia id'jas of theology and human nature were often vory original. A gentleman thus arco*ted the old gentleman one Sunday :— ." Winston I understand you believe that every woman has Beven devils. How can you prove it ? " " Well, sah, did you never read in ac Bible how seven debbles were east ;ut'er Mary Magalin ? " „ Oh. yeg I've read that." "Did you ever hear of 'em bein' cast of any oder woman; sah ?*» No, I never did." " Well den all de adere got 'em yet."