Northern Star, And Warren And Bristol Gazette

Curious Amusement. The Thracians, as Seleucus in Athenaeus informs us, had a custom of playing at hanging, for the diversion of their guests, which was done in this manner: A large stone was placed in the middle of the room, over which a rope hung perpendicular from the beam above. Several of them cast lots who should hang, The man on whom the lot fell mounted the stone with a large bill-book in his hand. When he had properly fastened the rope about his neck, one of the company went forward, pushed the stone from under his feet, and left him hanging. In this situation, he was dexterous enough to cut the rope, all was well; otherwise he continued capering until he was hanged and dead, to the great entertainment of the spectators.

Gratitude.—A correspondent of the New-York Commercial Advertiser says: "I remember once, that a Philadelphia merchant many years ago, whose wealth and importance were only equalled by the goodness of his heart, and the purity of his principles, rescued a mechanic from the clutches of poverty, and what was worse in those days, the bands of the sheriff. The son of the mechanic was young, but old enough to know his father's benefactor. Many years after this the merchant fell into difficulties, and at a most trying moment, when all his former friends had forsaken him, the mechanic's son, now comparatively wealthy, stepped forward to his relief, "I am much indebted to you." said the reduced merchant. "By no means," said the other, "I have only paid the debt which my father contracted at the corner of Chesnut street, thirty years ago, when I was just old enough to understand the cause of my poor mother's tears.' The merchant grasped his hand, and burst into a flood of tears."