Ste. Genevieve Herald Ste. Genevieve, Mo. Saturday, Feb. 3, 1883 Our friend William HURST of New Bremen knows something of agriculture, to be sure. He believes in investing in hogs at the proper time, for he raised a fine lot this season which will be hard to beat. The other day he killed 14 head averaging 300 pounds a piece. The heaviest weighed 384. Hog raising is a paying business if rationally conducted, with a good breed, and if no sickness destroys the hopes of the husbandman. To morrow commences Carnival, or Carnevale, as the Italian calls it (Farewell to meat.). In the Southern parts of the United States the French name Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) has been extensively adopted to designate the feast. The festival is one of rejoicing and as the Italian name indicates, immediately preceeds the time of lent, when meat is prohibited for certain days in the week in the Catholic church. In Germany, Tuesday is the principal day in the series, when the young men march around the town with wooden pitch forks, upon which they string all the gifts they are lucky enough to get, consisting principally in sausages and other eatables, intended for the grand closing feast of Tuesday night, when a ball concludes the festival. William MUELLER, our old friend from Holstein, who has his solitary domicile on the creek, euphoriously named "Silly Boy", was very near losing his home by fire on New Year's day. He had provided a fine Christmas tree for his children, and, like a good old Christian from fatherland, had kept the same until New Year's day for the purpose of having his little ones enjoy again the glorious spectacle of the sacred branch laden with all that can tempt a child's fancy and lighted up with numerous tapers shedding effulgence upon the good gifts displayed before the admiring eyes. The Christmas tree was lighted up accordingly but a little more than what was desired, for the branch had become rather dry and catching fire, blazed up and filled the room with a sudden glare. However our old friend William being an old asilor and ready for any emergency, nothing dismayed, seized the blazing branch and sailed out of the house with it like a good fellow. His presence of mind and intrepid spirit undoubtedly prevented a great disaster. The audience at Union Hall on Saturday last, although moderate in size, was, as usual, composed of our most intelligent citizens. Only those who have cultured taste can appreciate the classic drama of Hamlet. To say that Dr. BRAHAM recited well, would fall short of his deserts. He is an actor, "to the manor born", his soul is fired with the passions he delincates, and as a consquence, time flies on meteor wings, when he is reciting. Those who miss his rendition of the dialogues in Hamlet, let slip an intellectual treat. seldom presented. At the request of many, whom the inclement weather prevented from being present at the Shakespearean recitations, at Union Hall on Saturday last, Dr. J.W. BRAHAM has kindly consented to repeat them, at the same place. On Thursday, Feb. 8, 1883, therefore commencing as usual at 8 o'clock P.M., the public will be afforded another opportunity to hear the doctor in his excellent declamations. Ladies especially invited. Admission 10cts. Prof. J. FLYNN will be the next lecturer. Subject - "True Education". A DARING FEAT On Thursday of last week, two men presented themselves at the Little Rock Landing, this place, and expressed themselves desirous of crossing the river. As the river was partly blocked up by ice, Capt. THOMPSON did not feel inclined to venture the risk; but the men being anxious to be ferried over by some means, the Captain's son determined to take them across in a skiff, and he did so, although he was obliged to pull his little craft over several large cakes of ice. The landing of the skiff upon the ice and its lowering again into the water were particularly dangerous, and the young man has undoubtedly earned for himself the well desreved title of a brave young man.