USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 58
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Tossing in a Blanket.
Nearly all my readers have perused the admi- rable work of Cervantes-Don Quixote-and most of them will distinctly recollect the blank- eting of Sancho Panza, his esquire. I venture to say, however, that not more than one reader in ten thousand-that being probably the propor- tion who have ever witnessed the tossing in a blanket of some luckless wight-has any accu rate idea of the exercise.
My attention has been frequently called to the subject by engravings and paintings refering to the scene in Don Quixote, in every one of which there was the same want of truth to nature, which satisfied me the artist had never witnessed a performance of the kind. The universal notion entertained on the subject, being that the victim is lifted from the ground on a blanket and thrown or tossed up by the flinging up of the arms of those who hold the blanket. The small- est amount of reflection, however, would teach that a man in this mode could not be raised more than a foot or two from the level of the breasts of those who conduct the exercise.
A few words will explain the operation. As large and stout a blanket as possible being ob- tained, and the victim laid on it and surrounded by as many as can possibly get hold of the edges of the blanket, thereby preventing his escape, the whole body holding on, make a quick and vig- orous pull from the common centre. It is this tightening process simply, which springs the cul- prit into the air, and the height to which he may in this mode be projected, is hardly conceivable to those who have not witnessed the exercise. The subject instinctively grasps the slack of the blanket, by way of resisting the impulse; an use- less and absurd effort. Useless because it serves not his purpose; and absurd because it is this very holding on, and nothing else, which produ- ces the punishment. By this grasp, his head and shoulders are the last part going up, and in the process of elevation, as lie turns over and over, he is sure to fall in some constrained and unnatural posture, which makes him feel, after a night's rest, as if every bone in his body was bruised: so much so that I have known individuals who have been kept too long under the discipline, groan under their pain, ypon turning in their beds, du- ring their night's rest after it.
I have known this exercise, during the war of 1812, resorted to by way of punishment to trou- blesome fellows in camp for getting drunk, or other minor offences. One of the culprits, who was undergoing it for the second time, had the sagacity as soon as the blanket began to tight- en, to bring himself to his feet. In this posi- tion he shot perpendicularly up, and enjoyed
what he afterwards spoke of as the pleas- antest exercise in his life, making finally & hole through the blanket, and thereby a close to the punishment, both for himself and others.
Etymologies.
It would be interesting, as well as instructive, to trace the sources whence our western towns derive their names. I shall take up the subject and apply it to Ohio, next week. At present I shall barely glance at Kentucky.
Lexington, in Massachusetts, gave name to its beautiful namesake in Kentucky, news of the first battle in the war of Independence, reaching the spot at the moment the settlers were deliberating on its proposed name. Cynthiana was given its name by the individual who laid it out, by com- pounding the names of his two daughters, Cynthia and Anna.
Frankfort owes its title to the following inci- dent, which I have from Ellison E. Williams, who bore a part in it, and who still survives, re- siding in Covington, Kentucky.
In the year 1780, Win. Bryant, who was one of the founders of Bryant's Station, Nicholas Tomlin, Ellison E. Williams, Stephen Franks, and others, were on their way from Bryant's Station and the fort of Lexington, to Mann's Salt Licks for the purpose of procuring salt, and while encamping on the bank of the Kentucky river, where the town of Frankfort now stands, were attacked by a company of Indians. Franks was instantly killed, and Tomlin and Bryant' were both wounded. The rest of the company esca- ped unhurt. From this circumstance-the kil- king of Franks-the place was calledr Frankfort.
Unpublished Historical Fact.
Publicity has just been given to an interesting fact connected with the repulse and defeat of the British at New Orleans, in 1814.
Those who are old enough to remember the war of 1812, may recollect a remarkable instance of bravery in the defence of the American priva- teer, General Armstrong, Capt. Samuel C. Reed, which was attacked while lying in the harbour of Fayal, in the Western Islands, by the boats of three of the enemy's ships of war, consisting of the Rota frigate, the Plantagenet 74, and the Carnation brig, on the 26th September, 1814-in which engagement, out of the attacking force, nearly four hundred strong, the British lost be- tween two and three hundred, killed and wound- cd, while on the part of the Americans, only two were killed and seven wounded. I remember the sensation which this news produced on its arrival in our scaport cities, as one of the most brilliant exploits in naval warfare.
It now seems, and the fact is abundantly sus-
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tained by documentary evidence, that this en- gagement, with its results, delayed Admiral Lloyd, who had charge of the squadron above alluded to, ten days at Fayal, whence he sent the severely wounded home to England on the Thais and Calypso sloops of war. He then proceeded to Jamaica, where Admiral Cochrane and General Packenham had been waiting for him several days, who were highly indignant at both the loss and the delay, and loaded him with bitter re- proaches. Well might they have done so, if they could have foreseen the fruits of that ten days' delay! Cochrane's fleet of eighty-six sail of ves- sels arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi on the 6th December, 1814. Gen. Jackson had reached New Orleans on the 2d, only four days before. The Kentucky and Tennessee troops did not ar- rive until the 16th; nor were they fully supplied with arms, and especially gun-flints, until a later date. If, therefore, the invading fleet and army had arrived ten or twelve days sooner, say on the 25th November, what was there to interpose the slightest impediment to their conquest and sack of the beautiful city of New Orleans, destitute of military forces or defences, and a population hardly long enough a part of the American com- munity, to possess the requisite spirit and patri- otism for resistance?
If my limits permitted, I should like to have copied the evidence of these facts. The whole subject clearly points out an overruling Provi- dence watching over our national existence.
Church Livings at Auction.
Going down one day to the Auction Mart, Bartholomew Lane, I found George Robbins- the celebrated London auctioneer-in the act of commencing the sale of several church livings. " Now, gentlemen," said he, addressing the crowd of clergymen, " I have some prime things for you to-day. The church, let me remind you, gentlemen, is now become the only good specula- tion. It is the only line in which you can establish your sons like gentlemen, and with a chance of success. The church, my friends, that's the only genteel, gentlemanly, and 'certain' profession. And why certain? Because you can certainly ' buy' the best livings, you that have the money, and here's, in the first place, a specimen of what's to be had. Let me see-the income of this living is altogether £1,000; now the tithes are commu- ted, which are themselves, £1,000 and no bother about collecting. It's a rent, now, gentlemen, it's a rent and comes in cheerfully, easily, gra- ciously-almost of itself. It's within thirty miles of London, in a fine sporting neighbour- hood and -- "
" How old's the incumbent?" shouted a short, thick man, in rusty black, with a great bundle of papers in his hand.
" Old? why, my friend, you could not well wish him older. He is turned eighty."
" And means to live a hundred," cried another voice.
" Is he ill?" bawls another.
" Is he ill?" says Robbins. " That's a deli- cate point gentlemen. I do not like to enter into delicate matters; but my learned friend here," turning to a pale young man sitting under the desk, the legal broker of church livings-" my learned friend has seen him lately; I dare say he can tell you."
" Is he ill, old-
"Why, no, not ill exactly. I should not say ill; but he's not strong.
" My friend is cautious, gentlemen. The worthy old man, he says, is not ill, but he's not strong ; and when a man is turned eighty, and is not strong, why I leave you to judge for your- selves. Depend upon it he's soon for kingdom come."
The next presentation was knocked down for £1,000 .- Howitt.
Little Willie.
The nursery shows thy pictured wall, Thy bat, thy bow, Thy hat and horse, thy club and ball, But where art thou?
A corner holds thy empty chair- Thy playthings idly scattered there But speak to us of our despair.
Even to the last thy every word, Too glad, to grieve,
Was sweet as sweetest song of bird On summer's eve; In outward beauty undeeayed,
Death o'er thy beauty cast no shade, And like a rainbow thou didst fade.
We mourn for thee; when blind blank night The chamber fills,
We pine for thee, when morn's first light Reddens the hills!
The sun, the moon, the stars, the sea,
All, to the wall flower and wild pea, Are changed-we see the world through thee.
And though, perchance, a smile may gleam Of casual mirth,
It doth not own, what'er may seem, An inward birth ; We miss thy small step on the stair; We miss thee at our evening prayer; All day we miss thee, every where.
Farewell, then-for a while, farewell- Pride of my heart; It cannot be that long we dwell, Thus torn apart;
Time's shadows like the shuttles flee; And, dark howe'er night's life may be, Beyond the grave, I'll meet with thee!
Chronological Table.
Jan. 21st .- Louis XVI. guillotined, 1793.
22d .- Massacre on the River Raisin, 1813. Lord Byron, born, 1788.
23d .- Wm. Pitt, died, 1806.
24th .- Frederick the Great, born, 1712.
25th .- Robert Burns, born, 1759.
26th .- Brazil discovered, 1496. Jenner, died, 1823. 27th .- Mozart, born, 1755.
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Narrative of John Hudson,
A Revolutionary Soldier, and now resident in Cincinnati.
I have been induced, from my long acquaint- ance with Mr. Hudson, as well as the high opin- ion of his uncommon mental and bodily ener- gies, with which that knowledge has inspired me, to take ample notes from his own lips, of one of the most important events in our revolutionary struggle-the entire movement of the French and American forces, which led to the investment of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, and his surrender there, which virtually put an end to the War of Independence. Mr. Hudson's reputa- tion for intelligence and veracity is such that im- plicit confidence may be placed in his narrative, and a degree of interest is confered upon his state- ments by the uncommon circumstance, that he is amply qualified to make that statement, by the fact that he was actor in his own sphere throughout the principal part of the scene, and eye witness to all in which he did not participate. Most military narratives are taken from the lips of general officers, the mere soldier being rarely competent to give an intelligent history of pas- sing events, of which, however, his personal knowledge is greater than that of his officers.
I deem this narrative of the more importance as there is no circumstance in the revolutionary struggle so little understood as the whole history of the events connected with the surrender of Cornwallis. I give the narrative in Mr. Hudson's own words.
" I was born in Westchester, New York, on the 12th June, 1768, and am now, of course, nearly seventy-eight years of age. In April, 1781, there was a levy raiscd for the defence of the state from domestic enemies, to enable the regular troops of the New York line to march to such points as might be required. In this levy I enlisted, in what was then called King's district, Albany county, and is now Canaan, in Columbia county, marched to Saratoga, where having been drilled onc week as a soldier, I enlisted in the Continen- tal servicc, in which I remained to the end of the War of Independence, mounting guard repeat- edly over the very graves of those who fell in our battles with Burgoyne. I remained at Saratoga until the middle of July, 1781, when Col. Van Schoyck's regiment, to which I belonged, was di- rected to join the combined armies at Dobbs' fer- ry, on the Hudson river, under the coinmand of Gen. Washington and Count Rochambeau. On the march I carried a British grenadier's musket, as much longer and heavier than the old-fashion- ed Continentals, as these would outweigh and out- reach with their bayonets, the modern article made at Springfield or Harper's ferry. On this
musket I carried a bayonet, which never left it only when it was taken off to be cleaned and polished, for it had no scabbard. Besides this weight I bore a cartouch box, with forty rounds ball cartridge, and knapsack with twenty rounds more, and my clothes, blanket and four days provisions. After reaching the grand army, we started up the east side of the Hudson river to Verplank's Point, and crossed over to Stony Point, memorable as the spot where Gen. Wayne retaliated on the British troops-the surprize and massacre of Paoli. I helped to draw cannon up into that very fort, which it became necessary to fortify when we were about to leave for Virginia. We carried on our march boats so large that it took a wagon and eight horses to draw them, and two inch plank in quantities, by the same convey- ance. These were to enable us to form flotillas to cross our troops upon the water courses which lay on our route. In this way, after passing the Hudson, we crossed the Delaware, at Trenton, N. J., and marched by the way of Brandywine creek to the head of Elk river, now Elkton, but then nothing but an old framc warchouse there. Here we lay three days, and during this period I received the only pay I ever drew for my servi- ces during the war, being six French crowns, which were a part of what Robert Morris bor- rowed on his own credit from the French com- mander, to supply the most urgent necessities of the soldiers. My comrades received the same amount. Those three days were spent in get- ting our heavy munitions from the Delaware across the Elk river. Here the cannon, &c., were sent by water to Baltimore, and thence by the Chesapeake Bay into Virginia. The army marchcd-crossing the Susquehanna at Havre de Grace, on their way-to Baltimore, where they encamped at Howard's hill, where six hundred head of cattle were slaughtered and salted for our use. Thence we sailed to the mouth of James river, encountering an cquinoctial storm of re- markable fury, which lasted eight days, check- ing our progress that entire period, sweeping our decks fore and aft, and drenching us all to the skin. To crown our troubles we had nothing to eat but coarse barley bread, baked for the horses, which had become mouldy and wormy, but we were fain to use it, as an alternative to starvation. On the 25th Sept. we reached our place of debark- ation, 40 miles up the James river, six miles from Williamsburg, the then seat of government of Virginia. The object of our expedition was to capture the English army under Lord Cornwallis, which lay entrenched at Yorktown on the York river, southeast of the point we had struck, which enabled us to gain the rear of his position. The Marquis de la Fayette we found stationed at Wil- liamsburg, expecting our arrival and support."
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Gallery of Indian Portraits.
So many catchpenny exhibitions have been paraded before our citizens, and so freely have our city editors puffed every thing which was ad- vertised in their columns, that it seems difficult to press the claims of modest merit to an audi- ence or a visit.
Mr. Stanley, the painter of this fine collection `of pictures, has employed the last three years of his life in the praiseworthy effort to collect and perpetuate the likenesses of distinguished chiefs, orators and warriors of our aborigines. He pro- poses in April next to resume his interesting em- ployment in other and yet unexplored fields of labour, and now opens the exhibition for the pur- pose of testing the interest the American people are disposed to take in the enterprise.
For my own share I can say with truth, that while these paintings as works of art, in my judg- ment, will sustain the criticism of connoiseurs, they especially commend themselves to the sim- ple taste of the mass, who in the language of Sterne, " are pleased they know not why, and care not whercfore," in my opinion always the true test of excellence.
This is not only a collection of portraits, but of far west scenery, and of incidents in Indian life. It is an exhibition of costume and charac- ter, and a museum of specimens of art and fancy work of the most interesting nature, and well calculated to illustrate the pioneer history of Ken- tucky and Ohio.
No man who feels any interest in such sub- jects should neglect to visit this Gallery of Por- traits.
Derivations.
Besides those names of things which have un- dergone so little change as to furnish palpable evidence of their origin, there are a few which have been traced out of less obvious character, which are very curious. Thus curmudgeon-a miserly fellow-is from the French Coeur Me- chant-bad heart. John Dory-a fish of this name-from il janetore, the door keeper-this fish being called in Italy, also, San Pietro, after the Apostle of that name, popularly supposed there the door kecper of Heaven. Jerusalem Arti- choke derives its adjectival name from a corrup- tion of Girasole, Italian-turning to the sun, it being the sun-flower variety of that plant. Cur- rant is a corruption of Corinth, or grape of Cor- inth, as damsons, properly Damascene, of the plum of Damascus.
The Geneting apple is derived from Jeanneton, or Jane of Navarre. in France, who gave it her name. The Mayduke cherry is a corruption of Medoc, in Burgundy. Asparagus is termed by
many persons Sparrowgrass. Tuberose, which is neither " tubes" nor " roses," is derived from the adjective botanical title Tuberosa, that is tu- berous. In the same manner gilliflower takes its name from the season of its flowering in England -July.
I will add andiron to this list, the name changed from end iron-an iron to receive the ends of logs. The term bankrupt is from the Italian phrase bancorotto, broken bench, which refers to the state of things during early ages, in the banking or money changing community there. In the bourse or exchange halls in Lom- bardy, the money changers had stalls or benches, whence the title bank or banco, at which they transacted their business. When any one of these gentry failed to meet his engagements or became insolvent, his bench was broken and thrown into the street, and the name bancorotto or bankrupt given him. Our old English drama- tists use the orthography bankerout, from the the same source. It is both purer English and of clearer significance.
I was forcibly reminded of this term as well as its derivation, during the mob riot which resulted in the destruction of the Exchange Bank, at the corner of Third and Main streets, some three years since. After the rioters had destroyed or mutilated everything else within their reach, they seized the counter, which they carried into the street and broke into picces there.
Equivoques.
I gave an instance or two in a late paper on the subject of proper emphasis, and now add one or two more. Appropriate gesture is equally im- pertant.
An anecdote is related of an English clergy- man who was tormented by a termagant wife. By and by, she paid " the debt of nature." Her husband personally officiated at the funeral. His speech was devoted in part to the " thousand ills which flesh is heir to," and was concluded by a scripture quotation. Extending his right hand toward the grave, he said, " There the wicked cease from troubling"-and then placing tlie same hand on his heart, he added, "and the weary are at rest."
But there are equivocal expressions, which it is out of the power of either emphasis or gesture to illustrate; as a late advertisement in a New York paper, for two girls to feed on a double Adams power press. Or the case of the indi- vidual in Pennsylvania, in a neighbourhood where each farmer, in harvest, killed in turn for the common benefit, who observed that he did not know whether he should kill himself or cat a piece of his father.
The latest notice in this line is an advertise-
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ment of two sisters who want washing, and an- other of a maiden lady, particularly fond of chil- dren, that wishes for two or three, or other employ- ment.
More about Sausages.
When I was in Brussels, Mrs. Stratton, the mother of the General, tasted some sausages, which she declared the best things she had eaten in France or Belgium; in fact, she " had found but little that was fit to eat in this country, for every thing was so Frenchified and covered in gravy, she dare not cat it; but there was some- thing that tasted natural about these sausages; she had never eaten any as good, even in Ameri- ca," and she sent to the landlady to inquire the name of them, for she meant to buy some to take along with her. The answer came that they were called " Saucisses de Lyons," (Lyons Sausages, ) and straightway Mrs. Stratton went out and pur- chased half a dozen pounds. Professor H. G. Sherman, (the antiquarian,) soon came in, and on learning what she had in her package, he re- marked-
" Mrs. Stratton, do you know what Lyons sausages are made of ?"
" No," she replied; "but I know that they are first rate!"
" Well," replied Sherman, " they may be good, but they are made from donkeys!"-which really is the fact.
Mrs. Stratton said she was not to be fooled so easily-that she knew better, and that she should stick to the sausages.
Presently Mr. Pinte, our French interpreter, entered the room.
" Mr. Pinte," said Sherman, "you are a Frenchman, and know everything about edibles; pray tell me what Lyons sausages are made of."
" Of asses," replied the inoffensive professor, Mr. Pinte.
Mrs. Stratton seized the package; the street window was open, and in less than a minute, a large brindle dog was bearing the " Lyons sau- sages" triumphantly away! Mrs. Stratton was taken violently sick at the stomach, and kept her bed when I left Brussels, two days afterwards !- Burnum's Letters.
Apologies aud Excuses.
Some of these are remarkable enough. I an- nex a specimen of each kind:
1. The reasonable .- " Mrs. Grimes, lend m# your tub!" "Can't do it! all the hoops are off ! It is full of suds; besides I never had one, because I wash in a barrel.
2. The conclusive .- A distinguished clergyman of the Universalist denomination-now resident in New York-was accused, while in Lowell, of " violently dragging his wife from a revival meet- ing, and compelling her to go home with him." He replied as follows:
1. I have never attempted to influence my wife in her views, nor her choice of meetings.
2. My wife has not attended any of the revival meetings in Lowell.
3. I have not attended even one of these meet- ings, for any purpose whatever.
4. Neither my wife, nor myself, has any incli- nation to attend these meeting's.
5. I never had a wife!
3. The comprehensive .- A postmaster, acting as agent to an Eastern print, writes his employer as follows :- It would doubtless be well to erase the name of J. S. from your books, and give up as gone that $7.60. He says, in the first place, he never ordered the paper, and if he did he never got it, and if he did get it, it was as an agent; and besides he thinks he paid for it long ago, and if he didn't, he's got nothing to pay, and if he had, he could plead the statute of limitation, for the debt has stood nine years.
New Orleans Picayune.
They tell a good story at Northampton, Mass., about the editor of the New Orleans Picayune. He stopped at the stage house, with the intention of spending some days in that beautiful town. After a reasonable time he became dry, and called for a glass of brandy. " No," says the landlord, " we have no license to sell spirits-we don't keep the article." The editor visited the other public houses,-looked into the groceries and cel - lars, made close inquiries, but found them tetotal- lers. He returned to the stage house with a long face-" Landlord," says he, " tell me the nearest place where I can get a glass of brandy, for I'm too dry to stay here any longer."-" I guess you can get it at Greenfield, for they grant licenses there, and it is said they sell spirits." " How far is it?" "Twenty miles." " What time does the stage start?" " Twelve o'clock at night." " Well, landlord, book me for Green- field."
So it has grown into a proverb in that part of Massachusetts, that when one calls for liquor, he says, " Book me for Greenfield," and when he is. corned he is said to be " Booked for Greenfield."
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