USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 18
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"You are quite wrong, my good friend. I never allow any one to be master here but my- self; and in the present instance I cannot blame Clotilda. The secret of her refusal lies in a herring pie."
"A herring pie !" exclaimed Van Grote.,
" Yes, a herring pie. You may remember it was a favorite dainty of mine, and that my wife could not endure even the smell of it: Well, during the first years of my marriage, I must confess that I was, a little-a very little- jealous of Clotilda. My situation obliged me to keep open house, and among the young sparks who visited, us, none gave me more uneasi- ness than the handsome Colonel Berkenrode .- The reputation that he had already acquired for gallantry was enough to create aiarm, and the marked attention he paid my wife convinced me it was well founded. What could I do? It was impossible to forbid him the house, for he had it in his power to deprive me of the gov- ernment contracts; in other words, to ruin me. After pondering deeply on the subject, I deci- ded on doing nothing until the danger should ' become imminent; all that was necessary was to know how things really stood; having just purchased this house, I caused a secret closet to be made behind the stove here. It commu- nicates with my private room, and from it I could overhear every thing that passed in this apartment without risk of being discovered .-- Thank God I have had no use for it for the last twenty years, and, indeed, I do not know what has become of the key. Satisfied with this pre- caution, I did not hesitate to leave Clotilda, when any of her admirers paid her a visit, though I promise you that some of the Col- onel's gallant speeches made me wince."
"Upon my word," interrupted his friend, "you showed a most commendable patience . In your place 1 should have contented myself with for- bidding my wife to receive his visits."
''There spoke the old bachelor. But as I did not want to drive her headlong into his arms, I went a different way to work. Day after day I was forced to listen to the insidious arguments of the seducer. My wife -- I must own made a stout defence -- at one time tried ridicule, at an- other entreaty, to deter him from his pursuit of her. He began to lose hope in proportion as I - gained it, till one day he bethought himself of
threatening to blow ont his braing if she would not show compassion. Moved at this proof of the strength of his passion, she burst into tears, and pleaded that she was not frec -- in short, she gave him to understand that I was the obstacle to his happiness. Berkenrode was too well skilled in the art of seduction. not to see that he had gained a point. He raved, cursed me as the cause of his misery, and tried to obtain a pro- mise from. her, in case she should become a widow. She stopped him peremptorily : but I never closed an eye that night. and Clotilda, though she did not know that I watched her, was as uneasy as myself. On the following day a circumstance occurred that increased her agi- tation. While at breakfast, a message came from the cook asking to see me alone. I de- sired him to come in 'as I was not in the habit of interfering in domestic affairs? and commu- nicate his business in my wife's presence: - When the man entered he was pale as a ghost, and scarcely seemed to know what he was a- bout. At last he told me that he had received a packet containing a small bottle, three hun- dred guldens, and a note, in which he was re- quested to put the contents of the former into the first herring pie he should prepare for me. He was assured that he might do it without fear as the contents of the bottle were quite harm- less, and would give a delicious flavor to the pie. An additional reward was promised if he com- plied, with the request and kept his own counsel. The honest fellow, who was much attached to me, said he was convinced there must be some. thing wrong in the affair, and should not be happy till bottle and money were out of his hands. I poured a few drops of the liquid on a lump of sugar, and gave it to my wife's lap dog. It fell into convulsions, and died in a few minutes. The case was now plain; there had been an attempt to poison me. Never shall I¡for- get Clotilda's pale face as she threw herself weeping into my arms-"Poison ! A murderer!" she exclaimed, clasping me as if to shield me from danger: "Merciful Heaven, protect us both !" I consoled her with the assurance that I was thankful to my unknown enemy, who was the means of showing me how much she loved me. That day Berkenrode came at the usual hour; butin vain did I take my seat in the hiding place; he was not admitted. I af- terward found that she had sent him a letter, threatening that if ever he came again that her husband should be informed of all that had passed. He made many attempts to soften het resolution, but to no purpose, and in a year af- ter he married. No acquaintance has ever ex- isted between the families; and now you know why my wife refuses her consent to our son's marriage with Berkenrode's daughter."
"I cannot blame her," said Van Grote. "Who would have thought that Berkenrode, a soldier, and man of honor, could have been capable of such a rascally deed ?»
"Ha! ha! ha !" laughed Brounker; "and do you really think it was the general who sent the poison ?"
"Why, who else ?"
"Myself to be sure! The whole was my own contrivance, and it cost me three hundred gul- dens in a present to my cook ; but was money well laid out, for it saved my wite, and got rid of her troublesome lap dog at the same time."
"Do you know, Brounker, I think it was
rather a shabby trick to leave Berkenrode under such an imputation; and now that your son's happiness depends on your wife's being unde- ceived-"
"I am aware of all that, but to undeceive her now is not so easy as you think. How can I expect her to disbelieve a circumstance in which for the last twenty years she has put implicit faith."
He was interrupted by the entrance of Vrow Brounker. Her cheeks were flushed, and she saluted Van Grote rather stifflv.
"What! not at the ball, Clotilda ?" asked her husband.
"No! I had a bad headache," she replied and Maurice has promised to take charge of his sis- ter. But I have come to tell you that I have been thinking over his marriage with Mina Ber- kenrode, and have altered my mind on that sub- ject. In short, I shall withdraw my opposition to the match."
The friends looked at each other in astonish- ment.
"By the by," she continued, "here'is a key I found some time ago; I think it must belong to- you."
"Well, Clotilda," said her husband, striving to hide his confusion as he took the key, :this is good news about the marriage -- "
"Suppose you and your friend celebrate it by a supper. There is a herring pie in the house, and you need not fear that it is poisoned."
She left the room. Brounker looked foolish, and Van Grote rubbed his hands as he exclaim- ed, "Caught in your own trap! He who digs a pit for his enemy shall fall into it himself."
"Nevertheless," replied Brounker, "I think I have got well out of mine."
Thomas Hood.
Hood whose death may be noticed in our late papers, was one of the wittiest writers of the age. His candle burned bright to the last. The following is one of his latest.
"Mrs. Gardiner is a widow, devoted to the cultivation of flowers in her door yard garden, who has the peculiarity of identifying herself with each variety. Hood, standing at the little gate, compliments her on the appearance of her carnations; to which she replies,
'Yes, I've a stronger blow than any one in the place, and as to sweetness, no body can come high me. Would you like to walk in, sir, and smell me?'
Accepting the polite invitation, I stepped in through the little wicket, and in another mo- ment was rapturously sniffing at her stocks, and the flower with the sanguinary name. From the walls I turned to a rose-bush, remarking that there was a very fine show of buds.
' Yes, but I want sun to make me bust. You should have seen me last June, sir, when I was in my full bloom. None of your wishy-washy pale sorts-[this was a fling at the white roses at the next door]-none of your provincials or pale pinks. There's no maiden blushes about me. I'm the regular old red cabbage !"
And she was right; for, after all, that hearty, glowing, fragrant rose is the best of the species --- the queen of flowers, with a ruddy enbonpoint, remaining one of Rubens' beauties.
: And there's my American creeper. Miss Sharp pretends to creep, but Lord bless ye ! be.
fore ever the gets up to her first floor window, I . shall be running all over the roof of the villa .- You see I'm over the portico already."
Dueling:
I am glad to perceive that this senseless as well as wicked practice is falling silently into contempt. A man who in Chio were to chal- lenge another to a combat of this nature would expose liimself to general ridicule.
The duel still lingers in some parts of the country, and certain neighborhoods, which af- ford facilities to evade the laws on fashionable murder, are much annoyed with the evil. The neighborhood in Delaware which adjoins Phila- delphia, or rather Pennsylvania ; is a retreat of this species. A late meeting of the young bloods from Philadelphia at this spot has furnished the Governor of Delaware with a plea, and a motive to demand the offender from the Governor of Pennsylvania for the purpose of being tried for the violation of the laws of the State.
They have a punishment in Delaware that is just the thing for duelists. They mount the of- fender on a platform 20 feet high, with his wrists and neck fastened in holes in a board. After remaining in this position an hour for the a- musement of the bystanders, lie is fastened to a post and receives thirty-nine lashes, well laid on.
One or two administrations of this discipline would probably guard against a repetition of the offence. It would lower a peg or two the dig- nity of broadcloth offenders against the laws to receive "forty stripes save one," at the hands of the public hangman.
They manage this subject admirably in Mex- ico. There, the man who kills his antagonist in a duel is bound for his debts. Hence it is a va- lid reason, a's well as a cogent one, to refuse a meeting, where the challenger cannot show that he is clear of pecuniary obligations. It would soon put down dueling in the United States, if no one was privileged to fight a duel unless he was out of debt.
MARRIED,
On Tuesday the 29th ult., by the Rev MR. GURLEY, Mr. THOMAS FARIS to Miss RACHAEL DOERRER.
DEATHS.
At Wooster, 'Ohio, July 10th ult., Rev. THOMAS G. JONES, aged 67 years. Mr. Jones was a Pioneer in Ohio and formerly took an active part in the public business of the State.
In this city on Monday August 4th, MARGARET, con- sort of Peter Bell, Esq .. in the 79th year of her age.
On Sunday 3d EUNICE wife of Jas. Myrack, aged 65 years.
At Cummingsville July 30th, of Congestive Fever, MISS RACHAEL RUHAMAH CLOPPER youngest daughter of Nicholas Clopper, deceased.
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The Buckeye.
Mr. Cist .- The remarks made in your paper ef 6th August, on the Seal of the Territory of the United States, northwest of the Ohio River, suggests an origin much too respeetable for the offensive nickname of Buekeye, now fastened on our State.
You say that " the seal presents the Territorial coat of arms, -- the device being a buckeye tree, with timber eut up into logs. The motto, Melio- rem lapsa locavis," which you consider as doubt- less the origin of our state appellative of Buckeye.
My copies of the seal are less perfeet than yours, being impressions after ten years longer use, and I have never been able to deeiplier the motto. The device is distinet, but I find no buek- eye tree. In the foreground is a forest tree fell- edby the axe, the trunk yet resting on its stump, and the branches all cut off. In the rear and close by is a fruit tree, which, from its shape and the large round fruit, is doubtless the apple tree, and to this the motto alludes: " A better than the fallen takes its place;" or, more literally, " He (the pioneer) has set a better than the fallen." The motto is without meaning if the tree be con- sidered a buekeye, as it eertainly would be with- out truth, for it is the most worthless of all trees.
The buekeye served to indicate the existence of good soil, but to the early settlers it was a most useless tree: it could not be used in building, nor for fenees, nor even for fuel. As a tree it eonse- quently stood very low in the estimation of early settlers, and by a figure of speech very foreible to them, it was applied to lawyers and doetors whose capacity and attainment were of a low grade. If some of the juveniles of your bar had laboured in their profession only thirty years ago, they would have been little apt to eovet the name of Buekeye, as some of them have done in later time, and had it been conferred on them by others they would have repelled the name.
The first I ever met with the name in any other than an opprobrious sense was in 1823, when reading Long's Expedition to the Yellowstone. In speaking of Cineinnati, he says. (as I remem- ber now, for I have not seen the book since) that the natives were called Buckeyes, in eontradis- tinetion to emigrants, who were generally called Yankees. This was laughed at then as a piece of amusing information, entirely new to the in- habitants. But, tempora mutantur, the mistake spread, and in a few years more the art and tal- ent of your city were combined to assume the name of Buckeyes or Leatherheads, and to ele- vate the opprobrious epithet into dignity. In the fostering of the name they have been sufficiently successful, and if they will persist in being Buek- eyes it is to be hoped that they will cause the 13
name to be duly honoured, meantime their elder denizens will eoncede the name to the native born. J. H. J.
August 14, 1845.
My correspondent who furnishes the proof of his being a professional gentleman, in the ability with which he presents one side of a subject, seems not to have read, or if he has, appears un- convinced by, the able and witty argument of Dr. Drake, presented at our Pioneer Celebration of 1833, in favour of the Buekeye. In order that both sides may be heard, I present that article. It is of some length, but none the less valuable on that acconnt, and deserves a more general peru- sal than its original publieation allowed.
MR. PRESIDENT AND YOUNG GENTLEMEN:
Being born in the East, I am not quite a na- tive of the valley of the Ohio, and, therefore, am not a BUCKEYE by birth. Still I might claim to be a greater BUCKEYE than most of you who were borne in the city, for my BUCKEYEISM belongs to the country, a better soil for rearing Buckeyes than the town.
My first remembrances are of a Buekeye cabin, in the depths of a cane brake, on one of the tri- butary brooks of Lieking River ; for whose wa- ters, as they flow into the Ohio, opposite our city, I feel some degree of affeetion. At the date of these recollections, the spot where we are now assembled was a Beeeh and Buckeye grove; no doubt altogether unconseious of its approaching fate. Thus, I am a BUCKEYE by engrafting, or rather by inoeulation, being only in the bud, when I began to draw my nourishment from the deptlis of a Buckeye bowl.
The tree which you have toasted, Mr. President, has the distinetion of being one of a family of plants, but a few species of which exist on the earth. They constitute the genus Esculus of the botanists, which belongs to the class Heptandria. Now the latter, a Greek phrase, signifies seven men; and there happens to be exactly seven spe- cies of the genus-thus they constitute the seven wise men of the woods; in proof of which, I may mention that there is not another family of plants on the whole earth, that possess these talismanic attributes of wisdom. But this is not all. Of the seven species, our emblem-tree was discover- ed last-it is the youngest of the family-the sev- enth son ! and who does not know the manifold virtues of a seventh son!
Neither Europe nor Africa has a single native species of Æsculus, and Asia but one. This is the Esculus Hippocastanum, or Horscehestnut. Nearly three hundred years since, a minister from one of the courts of Western Europe to that of Russia, found this tree growing in Mos- cow, whither it had been brought from Siberia. He was struck with its beauty, and naturalized it
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in his own country. It spread with astonishing rapidity over that part of the continent, and cros- sing the channel, became one of the favourite shade trees of our English ancestors. But the oppressions and persecutions recounted in the address of your young orator, compelled them to cross the ocean and become cxiled from the tree whose beautiful branches overhung their cottage doors.
When they reached this continent did they find their favourite shade tree, or any other spe- cies of the family, to supply its place in their af- fections? They did not-they could not-as from Jamestown to Plymouth the soil is too bar- ren to nourish this epicurcan plant. Doubtless, their first impulse was to seek it in the interior; but there the Indian still had his home, and they were compelled to languish on the sands of the sea board. The Revolution came and passed away : it was a political event, and men still hovered on the coast ; but the revolving year at length unfolded the map of the mighty West, and our fathers began to direct their footsteps thitherward. They took breath on the eastern base of the Allegheny Mountain, without having found the object of their pursuits; then scaled its lofty summits-threaded its deep and craggy de- files-descended its western slopes-but still sought in vain. The hand of destiny, however, seemed to be upon them; and boldly penctrating the unbroken forests of the Ohio, amidst savages and beasts of prey, they finally built thicir " half- faced camps" beneath the Buckeyc tree. All their hereditary and traditional feelings werc now gratified. They had not, to be sure, found the Horscchestnut, which embellished the paths of their forefathers; but a tree of the same family, of greater sizc and equal beauty, and, like them- selves, a native of the New World. Who, of this young assembly has a heart so cold, as not to sympathise.in the joyous emotions which this discovery must have raised? It acted on them like a charm,-their flagging pulses were quick- ened, and their imaginations warmed. They thought not of returning, but sent back pleasant messages, and invited their friends to follow. Crowds from every state in the Union soon pres- sed forward, and, in a single age, the native land of the Buckeye became the home of millions. Enterprise was animated; new ideas came into men's minds ; bold schemes were planned and exccuted; new communities organized; political states established; and the wilderness transform- ed, as if by enchantment.
Such was the power of the Buckeye wand; and its influence has not been limited to the west. We may fearlessly assert, that it has been felt over the whole of our common country. Till the time when the Buckeye tree was discovered,
slow indecd liad been the progress of society in the New World. With the exception of the Re- volution, but little had been achieved, and but little was in prospect. Since that era, socicty has been progressive, higher destinies have been unfolded, and a reactive Buckeye influence, per- ceptible to all acute observers, must continue to assist in elevating our beloved country among the nations of the earth.
Every native of the valley of the Ohio, should fecl proud of the appellation, which from the in- fancy of our settlements, has been conferred upon him; for the Buckeye has many qualities which may be regarded as typical of a noble character.
It is not merely a native of the West, but pc- culiar to it; has received from the botanists the specific name of Ohioensis, and is the only trec of our whole forcst, that does not grow clsewherc] What other tree could be so fit an emblem of our native population?
From the very beginning of emigration, it has been a friend to the " new comers." Delighting in the richest soils, they soon learned to take counsel from it, in the selection of their lands, and it never yet proved faithless to any one who confided in it.
When the first log cabin was to be hastily put up, the softness and lightness of its wood inade it precious; for in those times labourers were few, and axes once broken in harder timber, could not be repaired.
When the infant BUCKEYES came forth to ren- der the solitary cabins vocal and make them in- stinct with life, cradles were necessary, and they could not be so easily dug out of any other tree. Thousands of men and women, who are now ac- tive and respectable performers on the great the- atre of western society, were once rocked in Buckeye troughs.
In those early days, when a boundless and lofty wilderness overshadowed every habitation, to de- stroy the trees and make way for the growth of corn, was the great object-hic labor, hoc opus erat. Now, the lands where the Buckeye abound- ed, werc from the special softness of its wood, the easiest to clear, and in this way it afforded valuable though negative assistance to the first settlers.
Foreign sugar was then unknown in these re- gions, and our reliance for this article as for many others, was on the' abounding woods. In refe- rence to this sweet and indispensable acquisition the Buckeye lent ns positive aid ; for it was not only the best wood for troughs, but every where grew side by side with the graceful and delicious sugar maple.
We are now assembled on a spot, which is surrounded by vast warehouses, filled to over- flowing, with the earthen and iron domestic
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utensils of China, Birmingham, Sheffield, and I [ treated, it may be finally, though slowly, burned; should add the great western manufacturing when another of its virtues appears; as no other tree of our woods affords so great a quantity of alkali; thus there is piquaney in its very ashes! town at the head of our noble river. The poor- est and obscurest family in the land, may be, and are, in faet, adequately supplied. How different The bark of our emblem-plant has some strik- ing properties. Under a proper method of pre- paration and use, it is said to be effieacious in the eure of ague and fever, but unskilfully employed, it proves a violent emetie; which may indicate that he who tampers with a Buekeye, will not do it with impunity. was the condition of the early emigrants! A journey of a thousand miles, over wild and rug- ged mountains, permitted the adventurous pio- neer to bring with him little more than the Indi- an or the Arab carries from place to place-his wife and children. Eleganees were unknown, even artieles of pressing necessity were few in number, and when lost or broken could not be replaced. In that period of trying deprivation, to what quarter did the first settlers turn their inquiring and anxious eyes? To the Buekeye- yes, gentlemen, to the Buekeye tree; and it prov- ed a friend indeed, because, in the simple and ex- pressive language of those early times it was " a friend in need." Hats were manufaeted of its fibres-the tray for the delicious pone and johnny- cake-the venison trencher - the noggin - the spoon-and the huge white family bowl for mush and milk, were carved from its willing trunk; and the finest " boughten" vessels could not have imparted a more delicious flavour, or left an im- pression so enduring. He who has ever been concerned in the petty brawls, the frolie and the fun of a family of young Buekeyes around the great wooden bowl overflowing with the " milk of human kindness," will carry the sweet re- membrance to his grave.
Thus beyond all the trees of the land, the Buekeye was associated with the family eircle- penetrating its privaey, facilitating its operations, and augmenting its enjoyments. Unlike many of its loftier associates, it did not bow its head and wave its arms at a haughty distance; but might be said to have held out the right hand of fellowship; for, of all the trees of our forest, it is the only one with five leaflets arranged on one stem-an expressive symbol of the human hand.
MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: I beg you to pardon the enthusiasm which betrays me into continued tresspasses on your patience. As an old friend of the Buckeye tree, I feel, that to be faithful I must dwell still longer on its virtues.
In all our woods, there is no tree so hard to kill as the Buckeye. The deepest girding will not deaden it, and even after it is cut down and worked up into the side of a cabin, it will send out young branches-denoting to all the world, that Buckeyes are not easily conquered, and could with difficulty be destroyed.
The Buckeye has generally been condemned as unfit for fuel, but its very incombustibility has been found an advantage; for no tree of the forest is equally valuable for backlogs, which are the sine qua non of every good cabin fire. Thus
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