THE LAND OF LIBERTY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 22 August 1872, Page 9

THE LAND OF LIBERTY.

Some of the forms religion takes in America are only adapted for a peculiar people in a land of perfect liberty. At Imlay, Michigan, there is, says the New York Tribune, an' unfortunate old gentleman who thinks it religious to sleep out of doors all through the winter with nothing to cover him but a thin blanket. As his penance is entirely voluntary, no one pities him, but the old saint has a faithful dog whose case excites the utmost commiseration. This animal conceives it to be bis duty to share his master's discipline, and has consequently, during the last season been upon "several occasions nearly frozen to death. Another religious character "in a wild state" is also mentioned by the Colusa Sun, whose proceedings must, to say the least, render him a disagreeable neighbor. He goes by the name of " Chapparal Joe," and is by profession a recluse. Joseph resides in a dense thicket, dividing Colusa and Tolo counties, and has been serious from his boyhoods He speaks with an Irish accent, and carries for his personal protection one double-barrelled shotgun, one breech-loading carbine, two six-shooters, and an assortment of knives. When hungry, which is often the case, he goes to some farm house and demands food, and such is the influence he gains over all who come jo, contact with, him, that his demand, is

invariably complied Jwith, though occasionally «ome weak vessel utters a fuint remonstrance. Joseph is not altogether an ascetic— he is passionately fond of tobacco ; and so far from concealing this weakness, he always prefers a request that this article may be supplied to him when he pays a visit to the farmhouses. He is not sociable — indeed rather the reverse, for if a wayfarer meetf him more than once, he informs that wayfarer not to come across his path again under penalty of instant death. Nor is he entirely faultless. There are temptations to which the strongest succumb, and Joseph is no exception to the rule. His particular weakness is the appropriation of the property of others — in fact, he takes whatever he needs; and not even the high character he bears for general piety saves him from criticism in this respect. A sacrilegious party lately started to capture him, but, although they discharged eight guns at him, he escaped apparently unharmed, and remained master of the position. It will hardly be credited that even this good man has enemies, yet, according to the Sun, the settlers are organising another campaign against " Chapparal Joe."— Pall Mall Gazette.

New Caledonia seems likely to acquire a very unpleasant reuutation. The treatmenjof the political prisoners is described as perfectly horrible. The Governor, M. G-auntier de la Eicherie, formerly of Cayenne, has drawn up special regulations, which are represented as being frightfully severe. There was no necessity for Sir George Vernon to have dreacled that any of them would have escaped to the mainland of Australia. They never do. A naval official, examined upon that question some time ago at Paris, replied, " The convicts never succeed in getting away. The lasjb men who tried it were not retaken, but their remains were fortuuately found some time after!"— " Leader." A man at Exeter ha?, says a local paper, sold his wife for £50. It appears that the purchaser was smitten with the charms of his friend's wife, who did not live on the best of terms with her husband, having too much " dash ",for him. Negotiations were entered into, an offer of £50 was accepted, and the man took the woman to Plymouth, where the couple are now residing. Hollowaifs Ointment and Pills cannot be tx> highly commended for the favourable influence they exercise over the skiu. In all eruptions, inflammations, and ulcerations the detergent qualities of this unguent render it so efficacious in the first cleansing and purifying the diseased part, then inducing renewed and healthy action, as to ultimately leave the surface in the highest health. Holloway's Ointment works the moet wonderfully beneficial results in bad legs, chronic sores, &"., by improving and quickeuing the sluggish and imperfect circulation, removing all corrupt matters and increasing the disposition to heal. Holloway's Ointment throws no deleterious drawback on the function of the skin ; it manifestly augments its evaporation and perspiration, whereby softness and pliability supplant its previously harsh and dry state.