PETER THE GREAT. "Immortal Peter, first of monarchs." trod upon a cambric needle, which entered half its length into the heel, although It was the custom of Peter the Great, the needle was extracted entire, and she to visit the different workshops and man- was able to keep about her work for two ufactories, not only to encourage them, days, before the pain arising from the but also to judge of what other useful es- puncture compelled her to send for medtablishments might be formed in his do- ical assistance. We mention this case, minions. Among the places he visited particularly, as a caution to females, in whom we have sometimes observed great frequently, were the forges of Muller at heedlessness in suffering needles to lie Istia, ninety wrests from Moscow. The Czar once passed a whole month there, where they have accidentally fallen or during which time, after giving due at carelessly thrown. tention to the affairs of state, which he never neglected, he amused himself with seeing and examining every thing in the Frenchman, has invented a light, by conmost minute manner,and even employing ducting oxygen through the burning eshimself in learning the business of a sence of turpentine, which is 30,000 times blacksmith. He succeeded so well, that as strong as common burning gas! He on one of the last days of his remaining proposes to erect a light house upon an there, he forged eighteen poods of iron, island in the river Seine, near the centre and put his own particular mark on each of Paris, and thinks he shall be able, by bar. The boyars and other noblemen of the aid of gas pipes, to render the streets his suite, were employed in blowing the of the city as light at midnight,as they are bellows, stirring the fire, carrying coals, at noonday. and performing the other duties of a 66 "Keep your ANOTHER INVENTION.-M. Gaudin, a blacksmith's assistant. When Peter had WOMAN.-O, woman! nature which finished, he went to the proprietor, prais- made you lair, made you loveliest in the ed his manufactory, and asked him how expression of her best feeling; and the much he gave his workmen per pood.-most perfect loveliness of a cold insensi"Three copeck's or an altina," answered bility becomes revolting and deformed, Muller. "Very well," replied the Czar; compared to that intelligence of beauty, "I have then earned eighteen altinas."- which rushes upon the countenance from Muller fetched eighteen ducats, offered the heart that is filled with a pure and arthem to Peter, and told him,that he could dent affection: then thought' breathes not give a workman like his majesty less upon the lip, independent of sound; and per pood. Peter refused. the eye images in a glance all that the ducats," said he, "I have not wrought bet-soul could feel in an age! ter than any other man; give me what HINDOO CONVENT.-Monsieur de Theuyou would give to another; I want to buy a pair of shoes, of which I am in great enot speaks of a Convent of religious need." At the same time he showed him: Hindoos at Lahore. They have a genhis shoes, which had been once mended, eral, provincial and other superiors; they make vows of obedience, chastity, and and were again full of holes. Peter accepted the eighteen altinas, and bought Poverty; they eat but once a day. The himself a pair of new shoes, which he chief tenet of their order is, to avoid doused to show with much pleasure,saying, ing to others what they themselves would “These, I earned with the sweat of my with patience, and do not return a blow. not wish to endure; they suffer injuries They are forbidden even to look upon a brow." One of the bars of iron forged by Peter the Great, and authenticated by his mark, is still to be seen at Istia, in the forge of Muller. Another similar bar is preserved in the cabinet of curiosities at St. Petersburgh. woman. DIALOGUE-between twa meenesters, of the gude Kirk of Scotland. One complained that he had got a ringing in his head! "Do ye ken the reason o' that?" asked his worthy crony. "Na!" "I'll CONSEQUENCE OF A PUNCTURE BY A tell ye: it's because it's empty!" "And NEEDLE. A case is reported in a late have ye never a ringing in your head?" number of the Medical Journal, of the" Na, never!" "And do ye ken the reaamputation of a foot of a lady, (rendered son? It's because it's cracked!" was the necessary to save life of the patient,) who retort; and the truth was not very off. the origin and unfitness of this unsightly monster, and it will soon cease to be the emblem of that Messenger whose visit is mercy to a christian heart. THE SKELETON OF DEATH.-How often has this, the imagined monster of the painter, terrified our boyish fears! And who has entirely recovered from the impression ORIGIN OF STARCHING.-The origin of made upon his mind by this horrific figure! this most useful art may not be uninterestFew, we opine, ever entirely free them-ing to the housewife, nor indeed to any, selves from the shackles, that this last relic whether lady or gentleman, as we are all of ancient, Gothic superstition throws over more or less dependent on its stiffening aid. our minds. We insensibly associate it We give it in the words of an ancient with our idea of dying, and it creates an chronicler. १ instinctive shuddering, when we permit “In the year 1564 Mistris Dinghen Van the idea of death to enter the understand-den Glass, born at Gonen in Flaunders, ing. It is a remarkable fact—a surpas-daughter to a worshipful knight of that singly strange fact, that this barbarous province came to London with her husmode of representing death originated in a band for their better safeties, and there proprofessedly christian era, and among a pro-fessed herselfe a starcher, wherein she exfessedly christian people.. How strange celled; unto whom her own nation presthe believers in the only religion that ently repaired, and paid her very liberally teaches the certainty of immortality, and for her worke. Some very few of the best that points with sure direction to a bright-and most curious wives of that time, ober existence hereafter, should be the first serving the neatness and delicacy of the to invest the closing scene of life with such Dutch for whiteness and fine wearing of un idea of horror, as is begotten by the fillinen made them cambrick ruffes, and sent thy skeleton of death! And yet, this is them to Mistris Dinghen to starche, and afthe fact. The ancients had no such per-ter a while they made them ruffes of lawn, sonification for death. With them, heath which were at that time a stiff most strange en as they were, the cessation of human and wonderful; and thereupon arose a genlife was elegantly denoted by a figure of eral scoffe or by-word, that shortly they Love, with a melancholy air, leaning on would make ruffes of a spider's web: and an inverted torch, whose flame naturally then they began to send their daughters and and gradually extinguished itself. How nearest kinswomen to Mistress Dinghen to beautiful, how fitting this figure: how ap-learne how to starche: her usual price propriate to our ideas of death, and how was at that time four or five pound, to teach to be regretted that christianity has not the them how to starche, and twenty shillings how to seethe starche." honor of its invention. But the anomaly between this descrip- FEMALE HEAD-DRESSES.-In China,the tion and the teachings of the gospel on the lady of fashion carries on her head the figsubject of Death, is explained when it isure of a bird composed of copper or of gold remembered that we owe this barbarous as the wealth of the wearer may permit. and hated personification to the dark ages. of the head and conceal the temples. The The wings spread out, fall over the front It is the creature of nionkish superstition tail, long and open, forms a beautiful tuft -one of those priestly inventions of a fal- of feathers. The beak covers the top of len age to enslave and bind the human the nose, and the neck is so fastened to the mind, and the only wonder is, that the de-tion of the wearer. body that it trembles on the slightest movice is not consigned, in the present free In Queen Anne's reign the head dresses and enlightened age, to the same oblivious of ladies in England formed a "sort of edifice three stories high," and a fashionable deep as its numerous kindred of the same lady of that age very much resembled "the unholy fraternity. Let the pious, the en-figure of Cybele the mother of Gods, with lightened and the virtuous unite to expose t three towers on her head." . THE LADIES' PEARL. VOL. I. Popular Sales. For the Ladies' Pearl. OCTOBER, 1840. MADELEINE DE ROUBERVAL. Nor. -- BY MRS. CAROLINE ORNE. Surely, sir, There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends: spider-like Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us The force of his own merit makes his way; Aber. I cannot tell What heaven hath given him, let some graver eye Pierce into that; but I can see his pride has he that? [King Henry VIII. NO. 5. one of the smaller of these apartments, whose windows looked down on a valley opening far to the south-west, affording one of those lovely and quiet prospects which not unfrequently has the power of imparting to the mind of the beholder, a deep and kindred repose. Several pictures adorned the walls of this little chamber, displaying the freedom of pencil and fine tone of coloring peculiar to the works of Velasques. But these productions of art, admirable as they were, could hardly have attracted the attention from the beautiful girl who sat near one of the windows.-Never did parting sunbeams brighten such a treasure of golden curls as those which clustered round the snowy brow and fell in rich masses down the neck of this fair, young creature, who with earnest gaze was contemplating the new and enchanting prospect before her. Her eyes, though deeply fringed with lashes bright and golden as her hair, were intensely black, and at times expressive of a deep and melancholy fervor of spirit; while at others, even It was during the first half of the seven- when no smile was perceptible on her lips, teenth century, that on the brow of a hill their light was so bland, so brilliant and of easy declivity, sheltered in the green so beaming, that all who beheld her felt bosom of the woods of Versailles, rose a that her young and innocent heart was modest chateau built of brick and coped basking in the sunshine of its own happiwith stone, which enclosed a small, quad-ness. And in truth, she had as yet, known rangular court, and was protected by a only the romance, the poetry of sorrow; fosse. This building, destined to become such as may come over the spirit on a silent the nucleus of the immense and imposing summer eve when shadows are resting on structure erected by Louis XIV, and which the bright places and the beautiful flowers soon became the centre of magnificence, it loves and the air is laden with far-off, luxury and refinement, was built by his fitful melodies, like these that steal along predecessor as a hunting seat, and to a per- the dark-browed cliff or linger by the son of his melancholy temperament and haunted stream. During an hour like this, fondness for seclusion it exhibited an invi-though Madeleine's fancy-woven webs ting contrast to the stately grandeur of St. might take a sombre hue, yet had they evGermains. Though so simple in its exter-er circling through them some radiant nal appearance, the apartments displayed thread; and even her tears caught a gleara a gorgeousness of decoration scarcely e-from men ory's starry light or the golden qualled by that subsequently bestowed on sunshine of the future, ere they fell. No those furnished under the eye of the Grand real grief had ever cast over her its dark Monarque himself. and chilling shadow to blight and wither The last sunbeams of a long, bright day her heart. Vague and unconnected tho'ts, stole through the foliage of the tall forest beautiful as the clouds that were floating trees and shed a softened splendor through along the sunset sky, were passing through 98 Madeleine de Rouberval. . her mind, when the quick tramp of horses those on whose de su tion he had deterfeet broke in upon her reverie Through mined. It was not long before the feeble the openings of the forest she caught glimp-minded Louis became nothing more than ses of several horsemen, and as they ap-an instrument in his hands, and the measproached nearer, one of them she knew telares necessary to effect his purposes were be Louis XIII. There was another too of pursued with an energy and steadiness the number whom she recognized, and the from which compassion towards the numesight of him sent the blood to her cheeks, rous victims whom he knew must be crushcausing them to glow with a richness of ed in his path, could not for a moment altint unrivalled by the opening rose buds lure him. Before the banishment of the enwreathed with her hair, who, as the queen mother, the king at her request had King and his cortege were sweeping along granted Madeleine a short residence at Verunder the window, in order to gain the sailles, till her guardian, now in Spain, principal entrance of the chateau, fell back could determine whether to procure her in the rear of his companions and raised admission into the convent of Charlot, or his eyes to the window where she sat.- take her with him to that country. Altho' The other horsemen being now some pa- residing under the same roof, she had not, ces in advance, and trusting to the confu- as yet, even seen the all-powerful minister; sion and bustle resulting from the arrival but she knew, that if he did not condeof the King, he ventured to address her in scend to personally act the spy, he had a low but distinct voice. emissaries planted in every nook and cor"Your brother is in danger," said he.-ner of the kingdom, who appeared to pos"Name some place where you will meet sess an almost preternatural facility in deme tonight at eleven o'clock, and I will teeting and bringing to light whatever might thwart his plans or in the slightest degree militate against their success. tell you more. She hesitated a moment, and then point ing to a cluster of trees, told him that she would meet him there. "As you value your brother's life, do not fail," he replied, and spurring forward his horse he was again mingling with his comrades without having been missed. The last sound of the clock, as it struck the hour of eleven, was still reverberating through the dim aisles of the forest, as Madeleine groped her way to a postern, which opened near the spot she had indicated to Devigne. She lingered a moment at the threshold and raised her eyes to the heavens. The moon shone beautifully clear, throwing a shower of radiance over an open space near the chateau. This she quickly passed to a place darkened by the shadows of the trees, and soon gained the appointed spot where Devigne was already awaiting her. "You bring tidings from my brother," were her first words. "Yes," he replied, "two days since I saw him-was with him an hour." "Has he not then departed for Spain? What can occasion his delay ?" Long did it appear to Madeleine ere the gathering shades of night closed over the Solitude of the greenwood, and she would have hailed it as an auspicious omen, had clouds arisen to veil the moon now in its first quarter; for she was aware that, at a time when conspiracies were so rife, that two lovers could not meet to interchange their vows without arousing suspicion, unless her contemplated interview with young Devigne were concealed from the inmates of the chateau; his safety and probably her own would be endangered. The more caution was necessary as Cardinal Richelieu, who by his vigilance and "I would that I could spare you the pain promptitude had succeeded in detecting of informing you, dear Madeleine. and crushing every plot which threatened brother is in prison. Instead of proceeding his own power, as well as in identifying to Spain as he anticipated when he left the persons concerned, was at this time you, he was induced to join the standard residing in his apartments at Versailles, of the Duke of Montromency in Longuewhich had been assigned him by the King doc. The Duke was defeated at Castelimmediately after the abortive attempt of naudarg, was taken prisoner, and must Mary de Medici to effect his fall; and it was die." well known if Devigne and Madeleine's brother were not her personal friends, that they were on familiar terms with Montromency and others who favored her cause. Mary, who refused to be reconciled to the Cardinal, was by his instigation banished Your "Auguste," said Madeleine, laying her trembling hand on Devigne's arin-must he share his leader's fate?" "Not if he can escape from prison." to the castle of Compeigne, and many of delayed a few days longer, and he were in her friends were removed from place or possession of, that which unlocks fetters, confined in the Bastille; even the royal draws bolts, and blinds the eyes of the ægis not proving broad enough to shieldsentinel." "You mean money," "Yes." He opened the door of one of them, and saying, "Monseigneur, the lady is here," "One hundred franks is all I have in the stepped aside to let her pass. Madeleine world, but I have jewels that are valuable: now, for the first time beheld the celebrayou shall have them all." ted man, who had long been well known Just as Madeleine pronounced these to her by fame, Armand du Plessis, Cardiwords, the shadow of some person fell a-nal Rochelien. He was seated in a large, cross a path which wound within a short luxurious elbow chair covered with rich distance of the place where they stood.- tapestry, and before him stood a table covThey both saw it, and remained for a few jered with loose papers, letters and packamoments fearing to speak or move, but not ges; some of them open and a part newly the slightest sound of any kind-not even folded bearing the impress of his own seal. the rustle of a leaf, betrayed the proximity He had dismissed his attendants, except a of any living being. Devigne searched single secretary, who stood at a small desk among the trees until satisfied that whoev-on which lay a blank sheet of paper. She er had been lurking near had made his es-had from habits of intimacy with those He, however, did not speak above who were disaffected towards him, been his breath, when he replied to the last prepared to behold him with feelings of words of Madeleine. unqualified aversion; but now in his pres cape. "I wish," said he, "that it were possible ence, there was something in his appearfor me to make a journey to my own home ance both repelling and attractive. His in season to procure the money. But that eyes were large and mild, and there was a cannot be done, and I must, however re-look of benignity lingering round his ample luctantly, take your jewels. In fifteen forehead shaded with a few thin locks of minutes more I must be on my way back."hair, which although he had not yet attain"Impossible! how can you pass the led the age of fifty years, were blanched to draw-bridge?" the whiteness of snow, that might have est. "I have a certain friend in the chateau inspired with confidence, could the eye who has taken care that I find no trouble have been restrained from descending to in that respect, and who has ordered a fresh the lower part of his face and marking the horse ready saddled to await me in the for-thin lips compressed so as to impart to his mouth an expression of sternness and rigThey lingered not to breathe vows of idity, and the short peaked beard which faith or words of endearment. They re-appeared to possess the quality of giving mained only while they fixed upon a plan to the countenance an air of subtlety and by which Devigne could obtain possession craft. of the money and jewels, and it was finally "Your name," said he addressing her, agreed that Madeleine should secure them while at the same time the secretary dipin a strong envelope and drop them from ped his pen in the ink, "is Madeleine de her window, beneath which he was to be Rouberval." in readiness to receive them. She regain- "It is, Monseigneur." ed her chamber without encountering any "I see the name of one Auguste de Rou person on her way thither, and soon had berval here, said he, casting his eye over a the satisfaction of transferring the package list of names which lay before him-"is he which she hastily prepared, to Devigne, your brother?” "Monseigneur, I have not a single sous." "Beware how you attempt to deceive me.' who, in order to break the noise of its fall, Madeleine replied in the affirmative. spread his cloak to receive it. She remain- "You have," said he, "a hundred franks ed at the window till he was lost to her and some jewels. For the present you view in the deep recesses of the woods, must resign them to the care of trustier and was congratulating herself that he had hands than yours." efceted his departure without attracting the notice of those persons in the chateau whom it might interest, when she heard footsteps in the ante-room, which were shortly succeeded by a low knock at her I door. On opening it, a page stood without "Go," said he to the page, who remainwho informed her that his master, Cardin-ed standing near the door by which Madeal Richelieu, desired her presence. The eine had en ered, "and tell the Chevalier color with which her recent agitation and Devigne, who this evening accompanied hurry had flushed her cheeks faded away, his Majesty to the chateau, that we would as with an air of trepidation she prepared speak with him." "I have not attempted to deceive youhave told the truth." to follow the page. He led the way with During the page's absence the Cardinal a gliding, noiseless step, which habit had remained s le t while Madeleine,so excesrendered natural to him, to apartments sit-sive was her agit tion, would have found uated on the opposite side of the chateau.it impossible to have remained standing, |