A FEW WORDS ABOUT BEARS. IN what we are going to say about bears, we dis claim any sort of allusion to certain varieties of the human kind; we speak only of veritable bears animals more sociable at times than their brothers by metaphor. And as we are not writing their natural history, we shall not pause to describe them, but shall merely observe that the savans have given to the bear and the monkey an origin in common with ourselves. We are, in fact, according to the authorities above mentioned, bears-only a little advanced. They suggest that, in his manner of fighting, the bear erects himself upon his hinder feet, like us; and, to carry the semblance still further, that he hits with his fists, throws stones dexterously, licks his paws, loves dancing, and is susceptible of education. Our present purpose is to say a few words concerning some celebrated individuals of the bear family. We shall have occasion, in a few minutes, to speak more at length of the bear of Saint Ghislain. Meanwhile, we will notice the bear of Saint Vaast, Bishop of Arras, an animal which that holy prelate trained so well that it rendered him eminent service, in memory of which the monks of Saint Vaast had always a bear in their abbey. Saint Corbinian obliged a bear to carry him instead of his ass, which this bear had eaten. Saint Martin of Verton did the same thing. The devil has often taken the shape of a bear -a distinction, duly appreciated by the bear, no doubt. Saint Ghislain (or, as some call him, Guillain) is monastery was suppressed, an eagle and a she bear were constantly kept there, in memory of the Saint, who died in 670. But before dying he desired to visit Saint Armand, said to have been of Greek origin, and was Bishop who was preaching the true faith at Antwerp, and on of Athens. He was despatched into the province of his way thither, Saint Ghislain stopped for a time Hainault from Rome by Pope Honorius; but we near Brussels, in a part of the forest of Soignes, prefer thinking he was a Belgian, as his name indi-which now forms part of the city. He there effected cates. However that may have been, he retired many conversions, and built, to the honor of Saint from the world in 648, and built himself, near Mons, Peter, a small chapel; the road which conducted to little hermitage, where he lived in such sanctity it, and which now leads from the Rue des Tanneurs that the example of his virtues, as well as the unction into the Rue Haute, is still called the Rue Saint of his discourse, decided Sainte Valdetrude and Sainte Ghislain. Aldegonde to embrace a religious life. He made, it is said, a multitude of conversions. a a One day, as King Dagobert, who reigned over both in prayer. Soon after, a Saint Ghislain turned at the noise made by the The city of Brussels was then in its infancy, being almost entirely enclosed within the Grande Ile of Saint Gery. By the side of a bridge, defended by a wooden gate, which led into the city, stood, just where the Marche-aux-Eufs now stands, a small house, built at the edge of the Senne. An old man, whom Saint Gery had brought over to the true faith, and whom he had baptised under the name of Etienne, lived there. This Etienne had a daughter, pretty, pious and charitable, with whom the buyers and sellers of fish, &c., placed the alms which the early Christians were wont to devote to the relief of poor pilgrims and travellers. One day a renowned brigand, named Stock, having seen the young maiden, was so smitten with her that he resolved, during the night, to force an entrance into her father's house, to carry off the treasure We read in the Reverend Denis-le-Chartreux, that which he knew was kept there for the help of the a Norwegian hermit passed many months in the poor, and to possess himself of the beautiful girl— society of a bear, with whom he now and then con- that which he had solicited; and after embracing with violence even, should she resist; a common him, and praying him to rely upon him for counte-exploit with the ferocious villain, who was the terror nance and support, he retired and left the Saint with of the country, and whom no one had ever been able versed, and in whom he found much more upright ness than in the common run of men. Bears have done many good actions. Of these we note one performed in the service of Saint Columba, who was protected by a she bear against the evil designs of a brigand. Formerly there were great numbers of bears in the forests of Belgium. A large one, pursued by the Emperor Charlemagne, took refuge in the church of Saint Gudule, at Morzèle, and, miraculously affected by the sanctity of the place which had given him an asylum, he would not afterwards leave the innocent virgins, with whom the bear lived like a lamb. So say the old chroniclers. In many ways the bear has been held in honor. Without speaking of the two constellations which shine in the heavens under his name, we may men tion that a Swedish family (as you may read in Olaus Magnus) prides itself upon its descent from the warrior Uphon, son of a bear. Don Ursino le Navarino was proud of having been suckled by a bear. Two Swiss cantons have taken the bear for their arms; and the Emperor Frederick II. founded at Saint Gall the Order of the Bear. We read in Saint Foix, who cites his authorities, that when the Ostiacks have killed a bear, they make him the humblest excuses possible for having taken his life, representing to him that, in point of fact, it was not they who had taken his life, because they had not forged the iron by which he had been pierced; than which, it must be confessed, nothing could be more polite and convincing. When the Canadians have killed a bear, one of the hunters places a pipe between the animal's teeth, in sign of reconciliation. his bear. No sooner was the King departed than the bear charming and picturesque one, afterwards called name to Hainault. As the bear had calculated, Ghislain followed her; but, impelled by the desire to join her little ones, she went so fast that the Saint in a very short time lost sight of her. He found himself bewildered in the midst of the vast forest, where the foot of man had never yet traced a path, when an eagle appeared before him, fluttering to attract his attention. Ghislain, seeing something extraordinary in all this, suffered himself to be guided by the eagle, and presently arrived at the Grove of the Bear. to vanquish. By chance the good Saint Ghislain, on his return the house. Before thinking of looking for the money The maiden awoke, terrified, and scarcely conscious of what was passing before her. The bear of Saint Ghislain, carrying the stifled brigand, opened a window at the back of the house, which overhung the Senne, and threw him into the river, which bore his body helplessly away towards the sea. This spot he found to be so attractive and convenient, that he transported thither his dwelling. His new friends, the eagle and the bear, never The fair girl, after falling on her knees, and quitted him. Numerous anchorites, drawn by the reports of these marvels, came and placed themselves rendering thanks to heaven, went and aroused her under the discipline of the Saint. They built a grand father; and at break of day the Saint, blessed by all, monastery, around which, in process of time, grew a departed with his faithful companion the bear. town, which was called Saint Ghislain. It is two leagues from Mons and four from Condé. The Abbots of Saint Ghislain were lords spiritual and temporal. Above old Etienne's door was sculptured the figure of the animal which had at once saved his daughter and delivered the country of the horrible Stock. At the present time, the same house, many times reUp to the end of the last century, when the built, is an estaminet, the sign of which is a bear. TETE-A-TETE, WITH READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. MADA gave no clue to a solution of the question. At last THE best of arguments, logical and con- AT a place of public amusement the other evening, we saw an excellent illustration of the superior power of coolness over passion. A bullying, blustering fellow, for some cause or the other, had taken offence at a gentleman near him, and began to swear at and threaten him. The gentleman eyed him very quietly, and replied to him in a few cool There has been no prima donna amongst us lately so generally popular as Madame Thillon. Her singing may not be brilliant, but it has expression, while her acting is perfectly fascinating-genial, hearty, and overflowing with an abundance of animal spirits. She is en voyage for Europe. It is to be hoped that she will yet relent of her purpose to visit this country no more, and once again let us enjoy the warm sun-words. light of her smile and the eloquent glance of her eye. PEACHES! Melons!! "Well, sir, when will you begin?" was the provokingly cool rejoinder, as the speaker slowly and quietly rose from his seat. This reply brought down such a laugh upon he of the pugilistic accomplishment, that he calmed down at once, virtually confessing himself conquered. vented formerly the successful operation of his plan have now been overcome. Well, we shall see what we shall see, and believe when we have seen. But what has become of his other plan of making combustible the "casing air?" It would seem as if he had a perfect passion for merging the three great elements into one, viz., fire: which fondness for an article possessed so extensively in other regions, looks as though he might be an emissary of the Evil One. In the olden time the greatest of impossibilities was setting the North River on fire. Now, however, the possibility of it is strongly claimed, and with this possibility the power also of firing the atmosphere. Just think once of the danger of this last idea. Supposing it to be demonstrated beyond doubt, think of us momentarily imbibing a something that might suddenly make us a very hot oven, and do us very brown. But really if the air should turn out to be combustible, ought it not to be rated extra-hazardous? And wouldn't it be the duty of our city fathers to pass an edict compelling it to be stored outside city limits? Will somebody tell us ?" WE came across a young lady in the cars the other day, who amused us considerably, if not more, in spite of ourself. She was one of a small travelling party. She sat facing her friends, and riding backwards. A book was in her hands, and her head was bent over to it busily. She was deep in the story, we knew it was a novel,-and going it at as swift a rate as the train itself. Her lips moved fast, fashioning the words on the page with their ruby outlines. While the words were "I'll break your head for you!" thundered out the smooth and small, especially while there was a pretty now furious bully. steady run of monosyllabics across the printed leaf, she made quite pretty work of it; but the moment she tripped out from these, and began to flounder about among big-jointed words, gnarled and twisted at their huge roots, and entangled all up with adjectives, prepositions, and hitherto unknown proper nouns, we actually feared for the dislocation of her SAYS the "Boston Post :"-" There jaws. Her lips were twisted in a way we couldn't are thirteen thousand marriageable girls now in the describe, if we were to try a week. And, finally, factories at Lowell. It is pleasant to know, in she was obliged to give it up as a bad job, and bite this world of misery, that there are thirteen thou- | her lips for as much as ten minutes, to hold them toand men yet to be made happy. (?)" gether. But to see her open her mouth to get off Now we want to inquire of the " Boston Post" the big, long words! It was real fun. what it means by that note of interrogation (?) at the close of the above paragraph? Does the "Post" mean ironically to insinuate against the certainty of such happiness? Does it mean a sly sneer against any kind of matrimonial happiness? Is the "Post" indulging in an underhand sarcasm at the sex generally? These questions we propound gravely, and we expect replies solemn and truthful. A score of ladies, at whose instigation we speak, demand an What a conjunction, to be sure, have we here! Ah, yes, indeed, what a pity it is now that one cannot see the rich, red, crisp heart of the melon laid open before him, but what straightway grim visions of the cholera must start up to fright his soul from its propriety. How confoundedly provoking it is to be unable to contemplate the glowing, dappled cheek of the luscious peach, but dreams of cramps and spasms and collapses must thrust themselves between you and your happiness. And then the pear, too, even the golden vergalos, why must it too be thrust into such disagreeable company? What, O beneficent and all bountiful Pomona, who from thy willing hand scattereth such rich treasures upon the earth what hast thou done that this shame should come upon thy offspring? Why must the apple, the pear, the plum, the peach, and the melon be but the precursor, the herald, the ally even of that dark and dread monster, who strides now over the earth striking down and blasting the human kind? Oh, Po-answer. mona, let thy gifts be to us as they were wont ! Let them confer no more sickness and sorrow upon us. Let them be to us, as of yore, full of gladness and of pleasure a boon and a blessing to all the earth. The meaning of that note of interrogation they are resolved to know. They think that they snuff in it a wholesale contempt for them, and an outright pity for those bearded ones who are succuessfully netted in the great matrimonial web. And if their suspicions prove true, let the perpetrator of that paragraph, and the author of that note of interrogation, beware. A NEW Solomon hath appeared. Our exchanges tell a story of an instance of Solomonania that occurred in a Western town, well worth passing from hand to hand. A stranger had arrived at the PAINE, whom we thought was sunk into hotel of the town, whose youthful and femenine-like | oblivion deeper than ever plummet sounded, has sudappearance led to the suspicion that he possessed no denly turned up again with his grand invention of legitimate right to the breeches. It was a delicate making water burn. Some of the press are again pufmatter to assert, and his manner and conversation | fing him, and saying that certain obstacles which pre A FRIEND is the authority for the following little anecdote. A certain reverend gentleman, upon one occasion, was accosted after service, by a member of church, a judge, who liked to be, on occasions, something critical. “Well, sir,” said the judge, “that was a very cloquent sermon of yours." "Yes, it was," was the reply of the parson, who knew his man. THERE is another new poet in England. A VERY wicked wag, who evidently But new poets in England, since the dawn of Alex-hunts through his Bible sometimes for something ander Smith, are of daily occurrence; and, what is else than sound doctrine with which to fortify himstrange, the young Scotchman's peculiar kind of self against temptation, lately came upon the passage gerius seems to have sprung up in a great many in the Old Testament in which is told the story of different quarters. His imitators are numerous, and Balaam and his ass. The miracle of the ass's speakthe imitations wonderfully like—so much so, indeed, ing astonished him, as it seemed, more than ever. that the reader is almost tempted to think that He puzzled over it a long time, but to no practical Alexander's style, after all, is but mere sham and purpose. At last light seemed to dawn on his sounding brass, it can be imitated with so much beclouded brain :facility. But the new poet of whom we wish to speak is called Bigg. Certainly the new school of poets does not afford us names quite so swelling and imposing as Shelley, and Southey, and Wordsworth. BIGG! "Phæbus, what a name!"-we all know the quotation. Bigg is full of all the extravagancies and absurdities of his school. He prates incessantly of stars, and moons, and suns; of mountains, seas, and lakes. His imagery exists only in the most magnificent, gorgeous, and gigantic things of creation. Everything with him is of the superlative; he is forever plunging into wild excesses; his Pegasus bestrides the world with gigantic leaps, And yet, with all his extravagancies, his talents are really of a high order. The following lyric is about the purest and the best thing in his volume : "Thou pleadest love, and all things plead ; “The earth yearns towards the sun for light, Life is an everlasting seeking, Souls seek, and pant, and plead for truth, Youth hangeth on the skirts of age, "And thus all cling unto each other; For nought from all things else is riven. "So, do thou bend above me, love, HERE is a scrap of excellent advice from And days are lost lamenting over days. THAT was an exceedingly keen repartee of Lamb to Coleridge, one day, when they were dining out together, and quite as genial, too, as it was keen. "Did you ever hear me preach, Lamb ?" asked the great talker. "Damme," interrupted the punster, "I've never heard you do anything else!” "What is it?" asked a friend at his elbow. "Ah! I have it—I have it!" said he, rubbing his spot in the country, thinks of trying, another season, hand. to raise a large quantity of snuff for market, from planting a great breadth of ground with "snuff beans." He has likewise written to an agricultural paper to know, if he can prevent his vines from running where he may not wish them to, by looking out sharp and nipping off their feet as soon as they appear. He is at the present time engaged in planting the seeds of fruit trees in boxes, in his wife's nursery, and hopes the children will amuse themselves with something besides digging them up before they come up of their own desire. Will the Committees of our Agricultural Societies please keep their eyes on him? A SCOTCH poet, scarcely known in this but fed upon it, until it consumed him. The follow- "No man e'er loved like me. When but a boy A CORRESPONDENT relates that he over a A FRIEND of ours, in conversation with balloonist, the other day, was speaking of the great improvements made in the matter of pistols. He liked the revolver well enough, yet he rather clung to a pair of old horse-pistols that had reached him as an heir-loom from many a generation back, and bespoke for them a kind consideration, "Yes, yes," said the balloon-man, appreciatively, "I think I understand the whole nature of your preference. I must confess I should entertain the same myself. I am quite partial, I believe, to anything like a pair o' shoot (parachute)!" HERE is a thrilling poem, which we advise our lady friends to read with salts at command: "I saw him bare his throat, and seize "He raised on high the glittering blade, "He heard me, but he heeded not, One glance around he gave, BLACKWOOD, whose opinions must be acknowledged to be entitled to great weight, uses the following language upon the subject of romancereading: "There is nothing good comes from the intellect alone. All true sentiment, all noble, all tender feeling, comes not of the understanding, but of the mind-or heart, if we so please to call it which imagination raises, educates, and perfects. Even feelings are to be made-and are much the result of education. The wildest romances will, in this respect, teach nothing wrong. It is not true that such reading enervates the mind; I firmly believe it strengthens it in every re heard the other day the following conversation in the spect, by unchanging it from a lower and cowardly caution. It encourages action and endurance. We have not high natures till we learn to suffer. I have seen the unromantic "Oh, Bill, Patty's dead, and the coffin drop like sheep under the rot of their calamities; while the romantic have been buoyant, and mastered them." 2nd. Boy. "I say, Joe, where do you buy your coffins? We buy our'n in the Sixth Avenue. They keep the pürtiest there; don't you think so?" We commend the above to the attention of all those people, whose habit it is to decry romantic fiction. simplify our explanations as much as possible, we now, therefore, refer to Diagram No. 1, which is a faithful representation of the Chess-Board, with the due order for the beginning of play: entire forces of the contending parties marshalled in In placing the Board it must be observed, as an invariable rule, that the white corner square should be at the right hand side of the player. the first rank are occupied by the King and Queen; In setting up the pieces, the two centre squares of the latter piece being always placed on a square, similar in color to her own. On either side of the two centre squares is placed a Bishop; next to each Bishop a Knight; and in each corner, in close proximity to the last named piece, a Rook or Castle. On the second rank are placed eight pieces of precisely similar construction, function, and capacity, called "Pawns;" distinguished from one another solely by the titles of King's Pawn, Queen's Pawn, King's Bishop's Pawn, Queen's Knight's Pawn, King's Rook's Pawn, &c., &c., according to the denomination of the particular piece before which it ma" have been first stationed. OUR CORRESPONDENT'S AFFECTING PARTING WITH HIS GRANDMAMMA AND SISTERS. OFF TO THE WARS! THE LAST HE SAW OF HIS COUNTRY. A game of Chess, it may perhaps be as well to premise, is a contest for victory between two players, to each of whom is assigned either by choice or lot, the White or Black pieces; consisting severally, of sixteen each; namely, THE KING. THE QUEEN. TWO BISHOPS. TWO KNIGHTS. TWO CASTLES, OR ROOKS. EIGHT PAWNS. CHESS MANUSCRIPTS. Some of the most interesting discoveries of modern times, in relation to manuscripts of medieval date, have been lately and almost simultaneously made in two old libraries in Florence. The manuscripts in question are beautifully and elaborately executed on parchment, and consist of a large number of chess diagrams, intricate problems, and curious ends of games; the majority of which were, most indubitably, not only invented but transferred to the very parchment on which they are now seen, so long since as the fifteenth century Of the entire number of these manuscripts, some seven or eight, that most important and practically interesting to the amateur, is an original Treatise, dated A. D., 1621, dedicated by the celebrated Greco to the King of Naples, magnificently ornamented and decorated with the royal arms. Signor Fantacci, by whom these relics of bygone days were disentombed from their dusty restingplace, has, with the permission of the Grand Duke of Florence, placed all of them in the hands of Mr. Staunton, the great English amateur and well-known chess author, through whose instrumentality, we doubt not, they will become a source of much instruction and amusement to the chess world. Secretaries and other officers, or members of Chess Clubs in the United States and British North America, are requested to put us in possession of such information as will enable us to publish the times and places at which their meetings are held. Communications on all subjects of interest connected with the game, from amateurs generally, will be always acceptable; and due attention to all queries as to the Laws and Customs by which Chess play is regulated, may be at all times relied upon. THE LAST HIS COUNTRY SAW OF HIM. (More Adventures in our next.) Being thus acquainted with the characters and denominations of the chess-men, our next step is to instruct the learner in the proper placing of the Board, and the preliminary arrangement of the Pieces, prior to the commencement of a Game. To NEW THE ILLUSTRATED YORK JOURNAL. PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK BY P. D. ORVIS, 130 FULTON STREET, NEW YORK. Monthly Parts are issued at 18+ cts. each. |