The Bowie Knife and Its Inventor.

This instrument was devised by Col. James Bowie, an American, and a man of desperate valor. He considered, and apparently with justice, too, that, in close fighting, a much shorter weapon than the sword ordinarily in use, but still heavy enough to give it sufficient force, and, at the same time, contrive to out and thrust, would be far preferable, and more advantageous to the wearer. He accordingly invented the short sword, or knife, which has since gone under his name. It is made of various sizes; but the beat, I may say, is about the length of a carving knife—case perfectly straight in the first instance, but greatly rounded at the end on the edge side; the upper edge at the end, for the length of about two inches, is ground into the small segment of a circle and rendered sharp; thus leaving an apparent curve of the knife, although in reality the upturned point is not higher than the line of the back. The back itself gradually increases in weight of metal as it approaches the hilt, on which a small guard is placed. The Bowie knife, therefore, has a curved, keen point; is double edged for the space of about a couple of inches of its length; and when in use, falls with the weight of a bill hook.—Bowie went to Texas during the troubles which preceded the independence of that country,—and was lying sick in bed at the fortress of the Alamo, when, on the 6th of March, 1836, it was stormed by Santa Anna and taken. Bowie was murdered there upon his pillow. The hand that formed the dreadful knife could no longer wield it.

Forests and Streams.

The remarkable man, Humbolt, has reduced it almost to a demonstration, that the streams of our country fail in proportion to the destruction of its timber. And of course, if the streams fail, our seasons will be worse; it must get drier and drier in proportion. Humbolt, speaking of the Valley of Araguay in Venezuela, says that the lake receded as agriculture advanced, until the beautiful plantations of sugar-cane, banana and cotton-trees, were established on its banks, which (banks) year after year were farther from them. After the separation of that Province from Spain, and the decline of agriculture amid the desolating wars which swept over this beautiful region, the process of clearing was arrested, and old lands grew up in trees with that rapidity common to the tropics, and in a few years the inhabitants were alarmed by a rise of the waters, and an inundation of their choice plantations.

Prussian Music.

The Boston Brigade Band has been presented with a copy of the collection of the celebrated martial music of the Prussian army. Prussia has long been famous for the excellence of its military bands, and the music which they have produced is of the highest order. We hope this attempt to introduce it into our city will improve the style of martial music here.

Philosophy.

"Uncle Jo," said an observing little boy, "our folks always put up the window when the room is filled with smoke, and the wind always blows in so as to prevent the smoke from going out that way: now where does the smoke go?" "It goes into the people's eyes," was uncle Jo's philosophic answer.

Polite Preaching.

A certain preacher, when treating on the subject of repentance, said, "My dear hearers, you must repent; if you do not, you will go to a place which it would be improper to mention in this polite assembly."

Mr. H. Longfellow of Cincinnati, has about one hundred acres under culture of grapes, strawberries, peaches and raspberries.