USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 33
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A loud burst of applause came from every part of the hall. Every one rose to look at the young girl, while the ladies showered down upon her wreaths of flowers. While her eyes were filled with tears, and she hardly realized that it was not all a dream, the illustrious naturalist camc and took her by the hand, and conducted her to the president, who bestowed upon her the prize she had so worthily gained.
" Oh, sir," said she, " how happy you have made mc."
" My child," said the illustrious naturalist, " this day is the most interesting one of my whole life."
This ceremony over, Cuvier took home with him, to his house, in the Garden of Plants, his lovely protegee; the young maiden dincd with the family of the member of the Academy, and that evening, just as she was about to leave, she re- ccived from his hands a small portion of green morocco.
" You have expended five thousand francs of the fifteen which you inherited from your mother; the Dauphincss has directed me to present you with this sum; you have therc, also, the papers of a pension of twelve hundred francs, which the King has presented to you. Thus you see, Maria, industry, virtue, and charity, are rewarded with happiness. Adieu; you will come cvery fort- night, on Sunday, to dine with my daughter, my wife, and myself."
We leave our readers to imagine the joy and happiness which Maria took home that evening. to her little household; what blessings came from the aged lips of Marguerite, and with what fervor the whole happy family addressed that evening their prayers to God.
The day succeeding this eventful one, which had seemed to her like a dream, Maria was em- ployed with her work near the window; in spite of herself, the rocellcetion of all that had occurred to her the last evening caused her to let her sew- ing fall from her hands, while she fell into a long and sweet reverie; all at once her eyes, which were wandering vaguely around, chanced to rest upon the opposite house. Some priests were coming out with a coffin. Before then came a young man weeping bitterly. He was following the cofin of his mother. Maria could not re- strain her own tears, for she felt moved with
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compassion, and shared the grief of the young man, reealling the day on which she had seen them carry out the coffin of her own mother.
Whether it was by chance, or whether Heaven willed that it should be so, the young man looked up and belield the tears of the maiden, and under- stood that they were shed for him. Her compas- sion made him feel less cast down and forsaken in his grief. He no longer felt deserted by all on the earth.
That evening, when he returned to his devo- ted chamber, where he found no more his mother to welcome him home, he opened the window, and sat down to watch, through the panes of glass, lighted by her lamp, Maria, who was still at work, with Marguerite and the two children about her.
A month passed away. One morning, Cuvier came to make his protegee a visit. As he came out, a young man, of good personal appearance, dressed in deep mourning, was standing by his carriage.
" Excuse me, sir, for the liberty I take; but may I crave the honour of conversing with you? It is something that concerns Miss Maria."
Cuvier desired him to step into the carriage and take a seat by his side. The young man in- formed him that his name was Philip T --; that he was a journeyman printer, and that he loved Maria, and desired to marry her.
" I am not without means," said he, " I have a small income, amounting to a thousand francs; -besides which I earn seven francs a day, by working for my employer. Besides, sir, I lead a very correct life, and have been well educated. I would make Miss Maria happy; at least I would do my best."
Cuvier left him, and re-ascended the stairs of Maria.
" A young man, your opposite neighbour, de- sires to speak with you."
A blush of scarlet covered the cheeks of the young girl.
" Comc, this is at least a good sign for him," added the naturalist; " I necd not tell you, I see, that he loves you, and asks your hand in mar- riage."
" My kind protector," replied Maria, recover- ing from her first emotion, after a few minutes silence, " such a proposal from a worthy man, who wishes to make me his wife, and who makes that proposal through you, can only be regarded as an honour. But before I give my answer, let mc tell you a few circumstances-or rather, when you have heard them, you will be so kind as to decide for me!"
" My father was a merchant; he dealt in fancy goods; he married my mother, who was well connected; the marriage met with much opposi- tion from the families of both. This led to much sorrow, and to many dreadful scenes. Both sunk under them, and left me an orphan and alone in . the world. Although thus descrted by my kin- dred, and although poor, sir, I hesitate to marry one who is only a journeyman. If it is wrong, sir, to feel so, I will overcome this feeling. I look to you, sir, for advice."
" I will report our conversation to Philip, and leave it to his decision.
He returned to the young man, and related to him the whole: he heard it with downcast head.
name of her mother and minc, who are watching their children from above. By that time I shall have won, I hope, a name and condition in life worthy of her."
Cuvier once more ascended the four pair of stairs to Maria, to report the answer of Philip.
" This, time, Monsieur Cuvier," said she, after a few moments reflection, " I will myself deliver my answer to Philip. Do you not advise me- do you not think I would do well to place myself under the protection of one who has so noble a heart?"
Marguerite went to invite Philip to come in. " Sir," said Cuvier to him, "let me present to you your future bride."
Tears started to the eyes of the young man, and, for a moment, he was overcome with emo- tion.
It was not three months after this that the wedding supper took place, at the house of their benefactor, in the Garden of Plants.
At the present moment, Philip T- is one of the most celebrated, as well as one of the most wealthy, of the printers of Paris. Maria has furnished him with efficient aid, in praiseworthy endeavours to acquire an independence.
In the parlour of the young wife stands a mar- ble statue of Cuvier, and a bunch of dried flow- ers. Need we add, that it is ever with feelings of deep emotion that she contemplates either the bust or the BOUQUET OF FLOWERS.
Fair of the Mechanics' Institute.
The Eighth Annual Fair of this institution is just now in progress, and appears to have lost none of the variety, excellence and attractive- ness of its predecessors.
The place of exhibition is at the corner of Pearl and Walnut streets, in what is usually known as the Assembly Rooms.
Here are displayed specimens of the useful, the ingenious and the ornamental to supply every want and please all tastes-almost. The limits of the Advertiser permit only a brief notice of some of the articles which grace or give value to the present Fair.
Glenn & McGregor, with locks of all descrip- tions; Miles Greenwood & Co., with butt hinges and malleable iron fabrics in every variety; and Teasdale with his dyeing hues of every shade and tint, and others, are back again paying their re- spects to visitors. Their specimens cannot be beat. Lard oil from six or seven establishments, fancy boots from two or three, and ploughs from a dozen shops, are here competing for superiori- ty in the judgment of the spectator as well as in that of the respective committees.
A variety of fine painting, daguerreotype and statuary, generally by Cincinnati artists, deco- rate the walls and the tables of the exhibition. The usual display of articles of fancy work gives variety to the scene.
Of curiosities there is an ample store. Among them, an enormous Morocco skin, large enough
" Sir," said he at lengtli, "entreat Maria to wait for me two years, before she thinks of mar- rying another. I beg of her that favour, in the ! to form a carpet for some rooms; the niastodon
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relics lately dug up on Main street, near the court house; a set of open work iron steps, which must be of great value where light is wanted to the basement; a type casting machine, which is at work every evening; and a printing press which daily throws off "The Artist and Artisan," the periodical of the Institute, are novelties as well as curiositics to the mass of visitors.
Let me say to my readers of every description, pay a visit to the Institute; you can hardly pass an hour more profitably. The mechanic and manufacturing interest is the right arm of Cin- cinnati, which is building us into population, wealth, physical and moral importance; and if you would cherish the industrious and enterpri- sing artisan of our city, manifest the interest you take in their prosperity and your own, by an early visit to the Fair of the Institute.
Next week I shall go into details on the sub- ject of articles exhibited at this time.
Steamboat Andrew Jackson.
I notice from time to time steamboats built here, merely for the purpose of marking the pro- gress our unrivaled mechanics are making in the beautiful art of building naval craft. The AN- DREW JACKSON, the last trophy of Cincinnati skill, left our landing on Saturday last for New Or- leans. As she has been built for a packet to ply between that port and ours, a description of her distinctive features may interest my readers.
The hull of the Andrew Jackson was built by Burton Hazen; joiners, Swain & Green; en- gine bnilder, David Griffey. Bell weighing five hundred pounds, from Coffin's Buckeye bell and brass foundry. Her measurements and equip- ments as follows :- length one hundred and sev- enty-six feet, breadth of beam thirty-one fect, water wheels twenty-five feet diameter, length of buckets ten feet and twenty-four inches wide. Her hold is but seven fect, as she has been built with as light draft as possible. She has three boilers twenty-six fect long and forty-two inches diameter. Her engine has a twenty-six inch cylinder and eight fect stroke. The boat draws three feet four inches light, and seven fcet six inches with her freight on board. There are forty-eight state rooms and consequently ninety- six berths, all for passengers, the boat officers be- ing supplied with state rooms in the pilot house. The mattrasses in the ladies' cabin are hair, and bed posts are supplied to all the berths for the purpose of hanging curtains to exclude flies, musquitoes and gnats. To the ladies' cabin there arc permanent sky lights, by which the supply of warm or cold air is regulated at pleasure. Every thing is of the best quality and highest finish, convenience, strength, and ele-
gance being every where apparent. The floors are covered with the finest carpets, and the chairs of a novel pattern, equally remarkable for ease and neatness.
Ample provision is made for the security of the boat in the employment of safety guards, wire tiller and bell rope, sheet iron roof, a store of water casks on the upper decks, and one hundred and sixty fcet hose, which is sufficient in case of necessity, to carry water the whole length of the boat. Nearly five hundred doors and shutters which lift from the hinges will supply floats for as many persons in any emergency that may occur.
The whole building, finishing, and furnishing interest at Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Louisville, or St. Louis, may be safely challenged to exhibit a boat of fincr model or equipment. She is indeed worthy of her great name.
I close this statement in which I have briefly seized on the more important statistics, by adding that a beautiful stand of colours, and a splendid portrait of the OLD CHIEF, a copy by a Cin- cinnati artist of Healy's picture painted cxpressly for Louis Philippe, has been presented by the citi- zens of Cincinnati to the boat in honour of her name.
Thomas F. Eckert is captain, and G. R. Dud- ley clerk of the Andrew Jackson. Capt. Eckert I believe is the oldest Cincinnati steamboat cap- tain in the service, having made one hundred and sixty-two entire trips on the Ohio and Mississippi.
Second Ward -- Cincinnati.
The second ward is one of the oldest and most compactly built wards in the city; and late im- provements have generally been made, as they must hereafter also be effected, by the removal of existing buildings. Its enumeration of dwel- lings, &c., follows:
Public buildings 29; store houses, workshops, offices-brick 931-frames 212. Total, 1143.
Of the public buildings there are four banks- Lafayette, Franklin, City, and Citizens'; Classi- cal Academy, on Longworth st .; Peter's Orphan Asylum, Cincinnati and Medical Colleges, En- gine Houses, on Fourth, between Walnut and Vine, and corner of Race and Centre streets; Ma- sonic and Odd Fellows' Halls, District School House, and Mechanics' Institute. Fifteen church edifices as follows :- the First, Second, Sixth and Central Presbyterian Churches-brick-at the corner of Plum and Fourth streets; the Unitari- an, Universalist, and Restorationalist Churches; St. Paul's, Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, As- sociate Reformed and Burke's Churches; Ncw Jerusalem Temple, African Churches, on Baker and Third streets. All these are of brick except that last refered to, and Burke's Church, which is
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not only the oldest cdifice of the kind in Cincin- | nati, but probably older than any other building here, Mr. Wade's house excepted.
Of these buildings there were at the close of the year 1842 --
Brick. 721
Frame.
200
Total. 921
Built in 1843,
27
6
33
1844,
97
5
102
" " 1845,
86
1
87
931
212
1143
No ward in the city has received such an ac- cession of fine buildings, especially of a public character, during the current year, as the second ward. Among the public buildings may be no- ticed in the order of magnitude and beauty, the Cincinnati College, Masonic Hall, Odd Fellows' Hall, and Central Presbyterian Church, the first and last being ornaments to their respective neighbourhoods. The two Engine Houses are also erections of 1845. A block of nine stores, corner of Walnut and Fourth; two store houses at the corner diagonally opposite; a spacious ho- tel at the corner of Walnut and Sixth, and two or three blocks of private residences are among the more important improvements of the second ward, among store houses and private dwellings.
Stultz the Tailor.
Every body has heard of Stultz who is among tailors as Rothschild among bankers-preemi- nent. The following from a German Zeitung, gives a graphic narrative of his progress to fame and fortune. It is so true to nature that it vouches its own authenticity.
In this region and throughout Germany there is now a passion for rebuilding old castles. This aristocratic fever has been raging ever since the King of Prussia removed the castle of Stolzen- fels, where he is, at this moment, receiving the Queen of England. With the ruins disappear the old chivalric legends, which are replaced by very prosaic modern chronicles, like that which I gleaned on the railroad, passing by the lately re- built castle of Ortenberg.
About forty years ago, a young workman, named Stultz, born in the village of Lahr, near Ortenberg, left his country to seek his fortune in England. Stultz was a youth of good gifts; he joined to German patience and sagacity a finesse and ingenuity very rare in the land of his birth. The wily German is like a cold Southron; he has a great chanee in succeeding in what he under- takes. Fortunes ought thus to smile on the young Stultz, who ehose a profession of which his com- patriots are fond-that of a tailor; lie learnt of the best masters, then took for himself a little es- tablishment, in which he succeeded well. He was soon in good circumstanees, as to money, but this did not suffice his ambitious mind; he dreamed of wealth and glory, and wanted to be the first tailor in London. His employers were citizens, merchants and attorneys' cleks; while |
doing justice to these good people, who paid him well, he felt himself worthy to clothe those of another quality. His shears trenibled in his fin- gers as he thought of the brilliant gentlemen who set the fashions in Hyde Park and Regent street. " That," thought he, "is the custom to make a tailor illustrious and rich. But how can I cver obtain it."
At this time the famous Brummel was the king of fashion, master and model of the gilded south of London. His tailor was the only one employed by men who had pretensions to ele- gance. Stultz turned the whole force of his mind to the work of supplanting this unfortunate tailor, who was named, I believe, Thos. Gibson. To dispossess Gibson and assume the same posi- tion, was the aim to which he directed all his pa- tienec, sagacity and finesse.
Brummel was his hero; his object of atten- tive and laborious idolatry. Stultz followed him n the streets, went to all public places to watch. His justness of eye and memory served him well in his study. If he had been a painter or sculp- tor he would have made from memory a portrait of this great man, being a tailor, he made cxactly to his measure a delightful coat, on which he ex- hausted all the resources of his talent and the graces of his imagination.
When this master-piece was finished, Stultz waited one morning on Brummel, and after wait- ing three hours in the antc-chamber obtained tlie honour of an audience, on which he entered, coat in hand.
" Ah! ah!"' said Brummel, " a new coat which appears charming. You are, then, one of tlic men of that rascal, Gibson."
"No, my lord," replied Stultz, who thought this title would propitiate the dandy.
" You are his partner, then."
" Not so, my lord, I am a tailor, little known, as yet, who expects from you his reputation and offers you this sample of his talent."
" I am in despair, my good fellow, that I can do nothing for you. If I were to wear a coat of which Gibson is not the author, it would cause a rupture between us."
" But observe, my lord, what a perfect fit it is."
" It is so, and I am astonished at it, as you have never taken my mcasure."
" I took it on the statue of Antonius."
" Oh! oh! flattery! that suits me very well. I receive a well deserved compliment and am wil- ling to repay it. The coat is delightful; it has originality in its cut; grace in its details. But I cannot wear it on account of Gibson."
" Gibson would not do the same. He is grow- ing old, falling into routine, but, my lord, I am young; I have the sacred fire, and, with a hero like you, could go far on the path of innovations."
" I believe it, but honour forbids my breaking with Gibson. Think that he has dressed me gratis for ten years."
" It was for his own advantage; the merit is not great."
" He docs not, however, fail to give himself airs upon it when I receive him into audience."
" What impertinence! it is in fact he who is in your debt. I should act more conscientiously. Please, my lord, to keep my coat and examine it with care. I will return to-morrow for your definite answer."
It is well known that the delicacy of Brummel was not excessive. Wholly without fortune he lived on his position. All kinds of trades, peo-
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ple furnished whatever he wanted for the honour of his patronage. Stultz, knowing this, had ven- tured a step further and left in one of the pockets of the coat a hundred pound bank note.
Next day he returned boldly. Brummel re- ccived him graciously, observing with a perfect a'plomb,
" I have examined the coat, and it cannot be excelled; especially the trimming pleases me."
" I am enchanted to meet your approbation, my lord."
." Decidedly as you said yesterday, Gibson grows old; he has no new idcas now; he never would have thought of that trimming. But, tell ine, Mr. Stultz, do you intend to make the same additions to all your coats?"
" Only to those I have the honour to make for you."
" Truly ; but do you know that I may require many suits ?"
" I will furnish you every month a coat likc this in every respect. As to other clothes, you will order them at your pleasure on the same terms as with my predecessor."
"Very well; I accept your offer. From this moment you are my tailor, and I promise you the custom of all my subjects."
In fine, Gibson was dethroned. Stultz set up a splendid establishment at the West End; lords and gentlemen rushed to his shop; his fortune grew with the greatest rapidity; and he never failed to send Brummel every month a coat with the promised bank note, thus paying him in money thirty thousand francs a ycar, besides his clothes, which came to at least as much.
This was not the only ingenious trait that sig- nalized the career of Stultz. The monarchy of fashion is no less than others, subject to revolu- tions. Brummel, ruined by his cxcesses, was obliged to leave England. Stultz, with the tact of a statesman, knew how to bend to circum- stances so as to conciliate the dynasty. The monarch who succeeded Brummel was a yonng lord of one of the first familics of England. He would not have endured having bank notes put into the pockets of his dresses; nothing in the world would have induced him to make with his tailor an arrangement not to pay his bills. He merely omitted to pay them, which as far as his convenience was concerned, amounted to the same thing.
Unluckily his disciples imitated him in this also, and Stultz found himself creditor to the young aristocracy for large sums, whose recovery seemed lost in the shades of a doubtful future. This difficulty became alarming; it was necessary to put an end to it. Stultz found in his fertile imagination an expedient.
One morning the reader found in one of the most respectable newspapers of London, this notice.
" At the moment for setting out for Bath, Lord C. (the name of the reigning king of fashion was here printed in full,) has ordered coats of the newest taste, and paid the tailor's bill. It is the fashion now among our most elegant men to set- tle their accounts before setting out for the wat- ering places.'
This notice excited to the highest degree the surprise of Lord C. He sent for Stultz.
" What does this notice mean?" said he, show- ing it to the tailor.
" It means that I am paid," replied Stultz, with his admirable German sang-froid!
"Paid! Has my steward taken upon nimse to pay without consulting?"
" No, my lord, your steward is incapable of be- traying to such a degrec the confidence which you design to bestow upon him."
" Explain to me, then, this riddle."
"I know not how to reply, my lord, unless that, as the authority of such a journal cannot be disputed, the notice is the same as a receipt in full to you."
How do you mean, sir? I will, if I choose, remain in your debt all my life, but to take a re- ceipt without having paid -! Do you take me for a Brummcl?"
" Heaven forbid, my lord. I had not thought of wounding your delicacy ; it is simply an inno- cent ruse which will do you no harm and mne great good. People will believe yon have paid mc; what harm can that do you? This piece of originality will, without injuring you, lead all the men of fashion to do the same, and I shall be paid. Thus I have used your magic name to call in my friends, and I hope you will excuse it."
The successor to Brummel was a good Prince; he pardoned. The stratagem succeeded admira- bly. It was, afterwards, the fashion to pay Stultz's bill on setting off for Bath
After having realized a fortune of twelve mil- lions, Stultz withdrew from commerce and gave up his establishment to one of his nephews who bears his name. He wished to sec once more his birth place, and returned seven or oight years ago to the village of Lahr. The Grand Duke of Ba- den, who wished to keep this great fortune in his dominions, proposed to Stultz to buy the estate of Ortenberg, rebuild the Castle, and assume its lordship, with the title of Baron.
The tailor would thus have found himself in the first rank of the nobility of Baden. His vanity urged him to accept, his wisdom said no, and while he hesitated, Ortenberg was bought by a Russian, M. de Berkholz, who has restored it to its magnificence of the times of the Crusades, when it belonged to the sovereigns of the coun- try. Stultz, more modest, built a hospilal, he died shortly after its completion, and his coun- trymen have raised a monument to his memory. His nephew continuing his work, has already made a fortune cqual to that of his uncle; he, too, has founded, they say, a hospital for the old and poor tailors of London. The people of Lahr hope he, too, will finish his days among them; there are many old castles in the neighbourhood to rebuild, and the Grand Duke keeps the title of Baron in abeyance for him.
Life on a Steamboat.
One of the lower country papers narrates two or three amusing incidents of steamboat life. One was the case of a steamboat ploughing along at the rate of twelve miles an hour, and hailed by a man on shore, which on rounding to, ascer- tained it was merely to learn whether they could take his hemp to New Orleans next trip. The other refered to a boat which observed a man on shore, steadily looking at the vessel and making signals with one hand and then with the other. The yawl was put off accordingly, to receive a passenger, as supposed, but on getting ashore, the fellow explained that he had only been
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