Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, February 26, 1874, Image 1
VOL. IV. NO. 21. POET KOYAL, S. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1874. {IWgflES
A Curious Relic.
The last number of the Historical Magazine (
has- tho following ingenious piece of poetry, ,
r which one of its eorrespondents vouchee to ,
havo bees circulated in Philadelphia during the
occupation of the British in the war of the .
Revolution. Its author is unknown. Its pe- (
cu!rarity consists in - the manner in which it ]
may bo read in three different ways, viz.:
(1.) Let the whole be read in the order in i
which It Is written; (2.) then read the linee (
downwards on the left of each comma in every
line; and (3.) in the same manner on the right
of each comma. By the first reading it will be \
observed that the revolutionary cause is depre- ]
cated, and Unded by the others:
Hark! bark! the trumpet sounds, the din of 1
war's alarms ,
O'er seas and solid grounds, doth call us to
arms;
Who for Kirig George doth stand, their honors
soon will shine;
Their rain is at hand, who with the Congress
Join.
The acts of Parliament, in them I much de- j
Hgbt; j
I hate their cursed intent, who for the Congress
fight. ' ? j
I'M ronoe or uie aay, tuev are iuj umuj mask, i
They soon will sneak away, who Independence
boast?
Who non-resistance hold, they have my hand
and heart; I
May they for slaves be sold, who act a Whiggish c
part.
Old Mansfield, North, and Bute, may daily
blessings pour; r
Confusion and dispute, on Congress evermore; '
To North?that British lord?may honor still be i
done;
I wish a block or cord, to General Washington. ,
JOHN' 00DEN'S LIST BET. ]
John. Ogden had contracted a very 1
bad habit?a dangerous and a sinful
habit. Had any one suggested to him \
a game of cards to be played for money, '
he would not have listened ; and yet he t
was growing to be a gambler, notwith- <1
standing. His sin was that of betting, *
and it had so grown upon him that he .
would bet npon the result of things |
most trivial or most grave. He was a \
yoUDg man, not more than eight-and- f
twenty, with a wife and two children?a j
wife trie and loving, and children j
bright and good. And John was a good,
kind hnsoand, and an even-tempered, ?
indnlgent father. He was a book- f
keeper in a mercantile honse, npon a e
salary more than sufficient for all his
proper wants.
John Ogden's betting had come to be
a matter of emphasis and determination.
The habit had so fastened itself a
upon him that he coald bet off-hand, 1
and pay a loss, or take a winning, as a 1
matter of course.
41 Susan," he said, one evening, with r
radiant face, 441 have won fifty dollars a
to-day."
44 How?" asked the wife, with a
shadow upon her face.
44?I bet fifty dollars that Popkins t
would be elected over Shumway, and 1
Popkins was elected, handsomely."
44 Whom did you bet with, John ?"
44 With Charles Ashcroft."
44 And.you took his fifty dollars ? " a
* u Certainly,?why shouldn't I ? He
fairly lost." ?
44 And you, I suppose, fairly won." a
44 Of course I did^"
44 And do you think Charles Ashcroft e
was able to bear the loss ? "
44 That isn't my look-out." e
441 am sorry, John. I wish you
would put away that habit. Only evil I
can come of it." i
44 Pshaw!"
44 Evil has already oome, John. Your
heart is growing callouB and hard, e
Time was when you could not have ?
taken fifty dollars from a poor and *
needjfef?mily without a feeling of shame v
ana compunction." a
44Hold on. Susan 1 I don't want an- a
other lecture. I know what I am up
to. You don't know so mnch of the e
world as I do." . '
And with this, John Ogden took his
hat and went out?went out like a coward,
knowing that if he entered into argument
with his wife, she would twist
him into a labyrinth from which he
could only escape by an angry bolt.
Half an hour later Peter Cartwright <1
came in. He was a year or two older j(
than John, and was Susan's cousin?
only a cousin by blood, but as they had J
been brought, up from early childhood
together tfcey were like brother and t
sister in life and love. Peter sat down,
and chatted awhile, and found his
cousin aot so cheerful as usual. f
" You are not well, Susan ?" ?
" I am well in body, Peter, but sore
at heart" t
"What is it?" t
" I fear not to speak to yon freely. I
am worrying about John. His habit of I
betting is taking deeper and deeper
root. To-day he has won fifty dollars
from Charles Ashcroft on the result of
an election. Last week he won forty
dollars on the race-course. I know his j
temperament. Ho is headstrong and t
!- ? n ?t ?? tu* j
impulsive, ^au jruu uui buo me uauger?"
" Yes, Susan, I have seen it this long <3
time, but have not dared to speak of it. i
If John were cold-blooded and calcu- a
lating, he might occasionally bet with c
danger only of doing wrong to those s
from whom he won money, but as it is,
with his impulsive, mercurial tempera- J
ment, there is other danger." 1
"I wish you could influence him, i
Peter."
"I wish I could ; but I fear he would a
not listen." 1
Cartwright took out his watch, and ii
said he must be going. He had left a
friend at the Ashton House, and must I
go bock to him. s
"I came down," he added, "to get i
John to call up with him. You remem- t
berFrank Powers?" a
"Certainly," said Susan, with a
brightening eye. " I was reading of (
him in the paper last night. He has 8
been made a colonel." 1
"Yes," returned Peter, "and has
come home minus an arm, lost at An- a
tietam."
"I should like to see him," a
" He shall call. He will be glad, I c
know." V 9r^ j ll
L ; 4 -f " r.
Peter bad arisen, and got as far as the
loor, where he stopped and turned.
" Susan," he said, " I hare an idea,
isn't John saying up money with which
o pay off the mortgage on his house ?"
" Yes. He has almost enough. The
mortgage is eleven hundred and fifty
lollars, and he has a thousand of it in
jank."
" Don't say anything to him that I
lave been here, and say nothing about
Jolonel Powers."
" But?Peter?"
" Trust me, Susan. I think I see a
ray to give him a lesson. Hold your
peace, and await the result."
On the following day Peter Cartvright
met John Ogden in the store,
tnd informed him of the arrival of Col.
Powers.
"And he wants to see you, old felow.
Will you go up with me this
jvening ?"
"Certainly I will," replied John,
jladly. " How is he ?"
" Comfortable, considering. He has
lad a hard time of it, though. You
cnew he had lost an arm ?"
"I heard of his being wounded at
tmtietam. And so the arm had to oome
>ff?"
" Yes "
" Which-"
" Excuse me, John. 1 nave an apx)intment
to keep at the bank. I will
sail for you this evening."
"All right. Ill be ready."
And in the evening Peter called, and
ogether the two went to the hotel.
They found Ool. Powers in his private
oom, seated in a big easy-chair, and
ooking somewhat pale and worn.
"Frank, my dear fellow, how are
rou ?" cried John, advancing.
" John, old boy, I am glad to see
rou. You'll excuse me not rising. I
im pretty well, but not so strong as I
save been."
" Keep your seat, Frank. I am glad
o see you back alive; and I'm sure
you'll pick up in time."
The empty coat-sleeve, dangling over
he arm of the chair, was eloquent, and
Tohn's eyes moistened as he fixed his
gaze upon it.
And yet the conversation flowed
fieasantly after a time. The colonel
lad much to tell, and his hearers were
rilling to listen.
John arose to depart first. He had
old his wife that he should not be out
ate. Cartwright would remain a while
onger.
On the day following this visit Peter
Aid John met in the street close by the
iank where the latter had come to detosit
for his employers. Peter had
ividently been waiting and watching.
" Are you going to lunch, John?"
" Yes.* Will you come with me ?"
"I will if you'll lunch with me."
The lunch-room was near at hand,
nd while they eat they talked of Frank
'owers and his adventures, and also of
lis mishaps.
"He ought to be thankful, though,"
emarked Peter, " that it was his left
rm that was taken instead of his right."
John Ogden looked up curiously.
" Eh, Peter ?"
" I say, Frank ought to be thankful
hat they took his left arm instead of
us right."
" You mean that for a joke ?"
" How?"
"Why,?Frank has lost his right.,
im, to be sure."
" You are mistaken, John. His right
,rm is safe and sound. It is the left
rm that is gone."
"Peter, are you in earnest? Do you
aean it?"
"Are you daft, John ? Of oourse, I
aeau it."
"Do rou mean to say that Frank
'owers has lost bis left arm, and that
lis right arm is intact ?"
" I do say exactly so."
John pressed the ends of his fingers
ipon his brow, and called up to mind
he picture as he had seen it on the pre*
ions evening. He remembered just
rhere the empty sleeve had dangled,
,nd he remembered that the opposite
,rm had been whole.
" Peter," he finally said, slowly and
mphatically, " Frank Powers has lost
lis right arm!"
" You are mistaken, John."
" Do you think so ?"
"I know you are mistaken."
" I'd like to bet you something on
t," said John, with a decisive gesture.
" I'll bet you anything you like, my
lear fellow, so that you make it an obect."
"And I'll bet anything you like,"
'ohn answered.
" You ain't sure enough to bet a
housand dollars ?"
" A thousand?"
" I thought it would shake yourconIdence
in yourself," nodded Peter,
pith a smile.
John Ogden started to his feet, and
>rought his hand down with a slap upon
he table."
" Dare you bet a thousand dollars,
>eter?"
" Yes. "
" IOU 11 1086 It.
"Iam able."
" I'll go it! Tho bet is made. Will
'ou hold here while I go and and get
he money ?"
" Yes.
John hurried away to the bank and
Irew out his thousand dollars,and with
t returned to the lunch-room flushed
md excited. A mutual friend was
sailed, to whom the case was plainly
tated.
"1 bet a thousand dollars," said
[ohn, " that Colonel Frank Powers has
ost his right arm, and that his left arm
s whole."
" And I," said Peter, "bet the same
.mount that Colonel Frank Powers has
ost bis left arm, and that his right arm
s whole."
The money was deposited in the
Lands of the mutual friend, with intruotious
that he Bhould pay it to the
rinner. And then they agreed that the
hree shonld go at once to the hotel and
lettle the matter.
Twelve months before this time John
)gden would not have bet so large a
mm under any circumstances; bat the
iabit had indeed grown upon him.
Arrived at the hotel the three were
idmitted to the colonel's presence.
44 Ah. boys, I am glad to see you. I
im feeling much better to-day. John,
>ld fellow, I can get up for you now.
low ere you f' .
p r ft w ' ?
And Colonel Frank Powers arose, and
extended his hand?his right hand?
and when John felt its grasp he found
it true flesh and blood, warm and pul- c
sating. He staggered baek witn a a
groan. n
" You will excuse us, Colonel," said _
Peter; " but John and I had a little dispute.
He thought you had lost your 0
right arm." b
" O, no," returned Powers, smiling, r
"Thank Heaven, my right arm is ^
spared me,"?extending his good rijrht ,
hand;?"but this poor stump is all that
is left of its fellow," pointing to the s
empty sleeve that hung by his left side. *
John got away as soon as he oould. tl
In the lower hall the two thousand dol- o
lars was paid over to Peter Cartwright. a
"I am sorry you lost your money, b
John," the latter said, as he put the
bank-notes into his pocket-book, " but e
I think I tfon it fairly." v
"It's all right, Peter." And John si
tried to smile as he said so, but he f<
could not do it. n
A miserable man was John Ogden r<
that afternoon: and more miserable ?
was he when he went to his home in the a;
evening. His wife asked him what was v
the matter, but he wonld not tell her;
and when she pressed him he was angry, a
He conld not?he dared not?tell her p
that the savings of years?the money a
that was to have paid for their precious y
home?had been swept away in a mo- li
ment?swept away by an act of his own w
sin and folly. g
That night he slept not a wink. On u
the following morning, pale and shak- tl
ing, he started to go away from his li
home without his breakfast. On his tl
door-step he was met by Oartwright's tl
clerk, who handed him a sealed paoket.
" It is from Mr. Oartwright, sir." tl
"Do you wait for an answer?" ci
" No, sir." ri
John went back into his house, and g
broke the seal, and opened the packet, a
He found within one thousand dollars a
in crisp bank-notes and a foHed letter. V
He opened the letterj and read : ii
"Dear John?With this I send you tl
back your thousand dollars. I won the g
money as honestly as gambling bets are o:
often won, and yet I did not win it
fairly. Frank and I deceived you on ti
purpose. On your first visit his right tl
arm was hidden beneath his ooat,
his wooden left arm was strapped on. b
As he did not rise from his chair the w
deception was porfeot. You found him h
on your second visit as he really was, ci
only the wooden arm had been laid b
aside. w
" Forgive me, John, aud believe that p
I had an aim in this, whioh God grant
may be fulfilled. " Peter. si
" P. 8.?I should like that this sub- ft
j ect should never be referred to between tl
us. Please me in this, won't you ? w
" p " u
" Dear John, what is it ?" a
Susan had come in, and as shs spoke q
she put her arm abound her husband's V
neck and kissed him. He returned the m
kiss. c<
"Not now, SaBan," he said huskily. y<
" I will tell you some time." h
" But you will oome and eat some s<
breakfast ?" e<
" If you won't ask any more questions?yes."
ir
The blow had been a severe one, and fli
the effects of the shock did not quickly tl
pass away. But Jonn Ogden revived fi
in.time ; and when he told to his wife le
tire secret of his trouble on that un- ci
happy night, he was prepared to give d>
her a great and lasting joy by adding
that he had made his last betLedger.
The Riderless War-Horse.
In almost the last letter written by ^
Lieutenant-Colonel Pemberton from ol
seat of war before his untimely death, ^
there was a passage describing one of ^
the most pathetic of all incidents of the ^
Franco-German war, though the pathos ^
of it relates, not to the human belliger- ^
ents, but to their only active ally in the 10
animal world, the horse. A Prussian ^
huzzar, who had got on his horse to ^
carry water to the wounded and dying jy
comrades, was killed, with the poor m
soldiers he was relieving, by a shell, in ^
the very act of pouring the water down p(
the throat of one of them ; and just
then his regiment moved off, his empty fc
horse following in the ranks; where- 0I
upon Lieutenant Colonel Pemberton 0j
remarked: "Only those who have seen
a battle-field can form a notion of the ^
extraordinary way in which the horses, gj
as long as they have a leg to crawl on,
will follow the regiment to which they ai
belong. I saw what evidently had been c
sergeant's horses keeping their position m
in rear of their squadron, wheeling with /v
it, and halting exactly as if their riders ^
were on their backs, and all the time ai
streaming with blood. Poor creatures! ^
they are indeed to be pitied ; for they tj.
have neither Yaterlond, promotion, nor g,
the coveted medal to think of, whatever ^
may be the issue ; and few indeed are C?
there, who have not some honorable te
scars to show." Again, The German C?
Pout relates "that after the slaughter ?
at Vionville, on the 18th of August, a ^
strange and touching spectacle was presented.
On the evening call being aj
sounded for the First Regiment of
Dragoons of the Guard, 602 riderless j1(
horses answered to the summons, jaded
and in many cases maimed. The noble
animalB still retained their disciplined v
habits." 1
n<
Beauty and Dress.
A clever writer says : " Providence
meant woman to make the world beautiful
as much as flowers and butterflies, ta
and there is no sin in tasteful dress, but
only in devoting to it too much money
or too much time." This is a most
sensible view, and is the true medium y,
between the one extreme of straight 0
and rigid simplicity and the devotion ai
of the best energies of a lifetime to
vanitj and frivolity. But, after all,
what is this rage foi dress but an effort tt
after the beautiful ? The reason why tt
the beautiful is not always the result, is aj
because so many women are ignorant m
or merely imitative. They have no h
sense of fitness. The short wears what
belongs to the tall, and brunettes sao- it
rifioe their natural beauty to look like tl
blondes, and well they may, for blondes h
teem generally preferable. si
ff
Winter.
The North has broken loose. Don
ome the fierce winds with frost-teet]
nd rush and riot around the house lil
ayriad wolves ! Ah, yes?bean tif
rinter! Bat what aboat poor driver
at sixteen hoars a day, on an omnibn
ox, or crossing a wind-swept sta<
onte ? What aboat poor little errai
oys, half-clad, without mittens, at
toles in their shoes? What does
ewing-girl enjoy of the sublimities i
rinter np in her garret, with tl
hermometer at zero, and the coal a
at, and clothes thin, and work scan
nd friends far away, and ahalf-ft
odv too feeble to trenerate mnch heal
A&, yes?splendid weather I says tl
ngineer, snag in the machind-rooc
rarm and sheltered. Fine weathei
ays the blaoksmith, at his glowii
Drge ; says the miner, as, like a ma
lot, he dives into the mine ; says tl
38V old fellow, made round and rc
rith beef and port wine; says tl
pectacled matron, looking from h<
ind-tight parlor.
Bat- what do crying children, hnngi
nd half-clad, tnink ? What do the
arents, made cross by too little mei
nd too mnch whisky, think ? What c
ou think, Robert, when you make
ttle burst on the road against tk
ind, it blowing two-twenty and yo
oing two-seventeen ? What do wel
itentioned folks think that arranged i
ae mild afternoon to start before da;
ght the next morning, and wake to fin
le thermometer almost bottomless, bt
le start to be made, nevertheless?
What do tender-eyed LeahB think <
le brilliant white snow, from ever
rystal of whioh the sun shoots shai
iys of light into her eyes, as if tl
round was an infinite paper of pii
ad needles, and every breath of win
bowman shooting them into her eyes
That do school-boys think that slee
1 the attio, and bounce out of bed i
le breakfast call, to squeal in the pui
ent air, and rush into their clothes i
ne-tenth the time required in sommei
What do crooning hens and ostenti
ous roosters think a? they huddle o
ae south-side of sheltering hedges, <
aras, and stand hungry rather than I
lown about by the tail-dishevelin
ind ? And poor shivering horse
alf-fed and wholly unoombed? an
rumpled-up cows, that hump thei
aoks and cower under any oovert tht
" - AS A i AS J ...
in Dreas tne snarp iutubwj ti mo uci
otic wind ?
Ab, what splendid weather! say tl
leep, coddling together in welts <
ne wool. What glorious weather I sa
ic gulls, sailing high up, and sportin
ith the wind as if, like an old frien
om the far North, it had come i
take a friendly call, and renew the m
uaintance of last summer. And 1
Thy, 1 rejoice in winter because
>akes the thought of summer sweet;
jats my windows with etchings b<
and any artist's skill; it gives to m
ome, and hearth, and corner, a swe<
jcurity and jeyous peace, which neet
1 the cold out-doors as a backgrounc
Nevertheless, letters have just oom
i from Florida. They are pickin
owers?there is no csld in their skyle
gardens are all aspiout, the air :
agrant with bursting buds and ne
a; es, birds shower the air with del
ous notes t Yes, I do love the winte
early, but had rather take it in Floridt
H. W. Beechek.
His Reasons.
Soon after the ilrst inauguration <
overnor Seward as Chief Magistral
I New York State, says Harper\
irus W. Smith, then and for man
Bars afterward a potential man in th
Thig party of Onondaga oounty, wrol
> Mr. Thurlow Weed, requesting hii
> call upon the Governor, and ask hii
> appoint a certain man as India
gent for the Onondaga tribe c
idians. The person recommended b
[r. Smith was well known to Mr. Wee
i one of those fussy, meddlesome
lal-adroit, pestilent fellows, nuisance
i any party, whose only power is
swer for mischief. He was therefor
* ?i if. v.;.
II priDCU Ult iUii UUiiuu a uxgiug uu
ir the position, and thought it coal
lly have been done through ignoranc
[ his character or misrepresentation o
le part of others. Mr. Weed accord
igly replied, expressing regret at Mi
mith's request, in view of the objet
onable character of the candidate
id begging him to suggest a more ac
iptable name. Next day Mr. Wee
entioned the matter to the Governc
rho was equally oognizant of the man'
laracter), and remarked that he ha
lswered the letter, and that action fc
le present would be delayed. It wa
lought that this would bring Mi
mith to Albany to look after the mal
r, as it did. On arriving he promptl
illed upon Mr. Weed, who expostuli
id with him as to the character of hi
indidate. " Nevertheless," said h<
if you make it a point that he mm
ive the place, why, have it he must.
" Well, Mr. Weed, I am very anxiou
joutit."
"But you know what a bad fello
B is."
" Can't help it; he's my man."
" But can't you give some reason fc
jur urgency ?"
"No," replied Mr. Smith; "Id
ot care to do that"
"But the Governor thinks bad c
lis fellow, and certainly some explani
on is due to him."
" Well, it's something I don't wish t
dk about"
"Why?"
" Do you really want to know ?"
" Certainly."
" Then, if you insist upon it, I'll te
du. You know there are among th
nondagas two parties, the Christian
_ ii -?
ju me pttgauo s
" I am aware of it."
" Well, my man is a lettle in favor c
te Christians. The pagans have foun
lat ont, and what is more, they hav
jreed among themselves that the mc
lent he oomes among them they'll hi
im!"
" Vims," as he was popularly oalle
i Onondaga, finally ooncluded, i
le interest of humanity, to withdra
is candidate, and there was no assai
nation by the pagans of Onondaga.
A Contented Farmer.
to The Merrimack County (N. H.) Agrih,
cultural Society celebrated its semi- th
te centennial anniversary, and atone of its pi
al meetings Gen. McCutchina said that th
s, thirty-two years ago he bought a farm re
s- of Gov. Colby for $2,150. It was situ- th
je ated on that oold ridge of land which th
id was as famous for oold as any except ri(
id those farmed by Dr. Kane. He had ra
a tilled the farm since, and it had paid, th
0j He was surprised to hear suoh gloomy
talk as he bad heard from men who haa
*" made fortunes on a farm. Bucn staledl
ments as were made by them needed
J analyzing. They might be truth, but 80
~ they were not the whole truth. It is on
of no benefit to the farmer to always e"
16 talk about oppression, for people know
it is not true. There may be inequali- fls
' ties in taxation, but there is no oppres'8
sion, and when he heard suoh talk, he ^
r* asked himself, Would these same farmJ?
era change places with merchants or ^
'd bankers, or the men shut up in the ed
16 shops ? He thought not " Why, e"
3r gentlemen," said the General, ' I P
would not quit farming to be mado <
7 Governor of New Hampshire." He
F onoe got uneasy and went West to Kani
sas He found there unharvested crops
10 late in November, a lack of barns, and
a almost ef houses. He thought it a a0
16 lazy, shiftless'oountry. The men who 81<j
>n emigrated thither from the East were
workers, but their children were lazy. W1
? They would ride into the towns from aJP
T' their farms, and sit, as if they were too
ld lazy to dismount Let grumblers go
" West; but, as for him, he never loved J11!
. New Hampshire Hills so well as when 'Q
>r he returned from that Western journey,
7 and he felt like singing, "Give me 8"
P back my native hills, rough and rugged aP
16 though they be." "Cheer up, farmers," ?'
18 he said; " get out from under the 1!?
7 clouds. If you can't get a living here, ol<
1' oome up to New London hills; you can on
P flourish there. We shall never get our ?P
" rights by grumbling." The General, oa
in reply to a question, said that when W1
^ he bought his farm it cut fifteen tons of
' hay, and now fifty yearly.
n Rats as an Article of Food.
'5 The utilization of rats as an article of .
10
g human food having been suggested by
s, a writer, there promises to be an inter?
estincr discussion of the Qualities of the
. too familiar rodent aa an article of diet.
An old United States naval officer gives m
bis experience in China. He first tasted
rat at Canton, and fonnd it a deoided in'
f relish, and one of bis brother officers ^
who tested it at the same time with him ..
S'y became so enthnsiastio ovet his flr.it rat "
meal that ever after, when ashore, he ?
invariably had his rat stew, with curry
sauce. Apropos of this subject, we ?T
^ may say here thni Canton and New
York are Dot the only places where sa- 1 ,
it vor7. ra^8 can 'oun<^* West ?.
Indies, in the old slavery time, that .
" variety of the rodentia known a3 the P1
J "cane-pieoe rat"?so called from its
i feeding principally upon the sugar cane n
?was very generally eaten bv the Afri'
cans, who brought the taste for it with r~
I them from their native land; and an
* aged planter who had once been induced 80
to share in a rat broil assured the writer J]1
of these lines that it was as nice a mor
sel as he had ever tasted, the flesh
' being remarkably tender, with the
, piquant flavor of game. Unlike our
' naval friend, however, he never asked
for " more." Perhaps he was not such
an epicure.?Exchange.
P?
.. ra<
}I A Savage Waste. ar(
* The voyage from San Francisco to un
Oregon is almost all the way in sight of ex
land; and as you skirt the mountainous
e coast of Oregon you see long stretohes
6 of forest, miles of tall firs killed by
II forest fires, and rearing their bear
n heads toward the sky like a vast as- ^
n semblage of bean-poles?a barren view, .
,f which you owe to the noble red man,
y who, it is said, set6 fire to these great '01
d woods in order to produce for himself art
5f a good crop of blueberries. an
>s When, some years ago, Walk-in-thea
Water, or Red Cloud, or some other .
e Colorado chief, assorted in Washington tic
n the right of the Indian to hunt Buffalo, sel
d on the familiar gronnd that he must ftg
e live, a journalist given to figures de- ha
n molished the Indian position by demon- aci
[. strating that a race which insisted on 8U
r. living on buffalo meat required about 0f
?. 16.CKX) acres of land per head for its Qf
subsistence, which is more than even 0X|
.1 we can spare. One wonders, remem
d bering these figures, how many riiillions f0]
,r of feet of first-class lumber are sacri- ref
B ficed to provide an Indian rancheria an
d with huckleberries. thi
?r wil
a He Knew About It. CQ
[ When, sixty years ago, a bank called Pe
t the State Bank was started at Trenton, ?ei
y tw;
k. the late Abner Reeder, a man of large
is wealth, but limited intellect, was asked th<
5? to subscribe. He refused to do so un- lig
^ less he should be appointed President, 'h<
When it was found, after repeated 001
18 efforts, that the amount could not be wo
obtained elsewhere, his proposition
w was agreed to. He subscribed largely
and became President, but wsb never
consulted about anything of impor- <
,r tance. He was kept busy, during the ^
few honrs of the day he attended at the ,
? bank, in signing bills. One morning,
on arriving st the bank, he was told
that the institution was about to fail, frc
** 11 Fail 1" he cried, "that it impossible I" tw
"Why impossible, Mr. Reeder?"
? " Why," he answered, " because I have
done nothing but sign bills for the last a 1
six months. How can a bank fail which ha
has so many bills ?"
hu
? ?- a tl 1 __
11 A WAR morse ?A genueman saia an
e that Nantuoket horaca were celebrated ga
is for their general worth]eaaneaa, imbe- th
cility, ana marvelous slowness. He fal
said a citizen sold one to a cavalry offi- be
>f cer daring the war, and warranted him hii
d to be a godd war-horse. The soldier he
e oame back afterward in a towering pas- pi
b sion, and said he had been very badly oh
U swindled. ca
" As how ?" said the Naritncketer. a*
d " Why, there's not a bit of go in him, to
n and yet yon warranted him as a good in,
w war-horse." . th
v- "Yea, I did. and by Joye he isag^od wl
war-horse?he'd sooner die than rag 1" th
- Different Kinds of Eyes.
No branch, ol> science has been more
orotighly mastered than optics, lhe '
inoiple of vision must be essentially j
e same in all eyes, bnt they deffer
markably, aooording to the habjle of y
e animal Birds of lofty flight, as i
e condor, eagles, vnltnres, and car- *
in-seeking prowlers of the feathered
oe, have telescopio vision, and thns (
ey are enabled to look down and digs f
ver their nnsnsDecting victims. As
ey approach noiselessly from above, C
e axis of vision changes?shortening S
that they can see as distinctly within I
e foot of (he gronnd as when at an c
ivation of one mile in the air.
This fact explains the balanoing of a ,
h-hawk on its pinions, half a mile t
ove a still pond watching for fish, t
hen one is selected, down the savage fl
inter plnnges, the focal axis varying
rays to the square view of hia intendprey.
As tney ascend, the axis is
mgated by a curious muscular arQgement,
so as to see far off again.
Snails have their keen eyes at the exunity
of flexible horns, which they
u protrude or draw in at pleasure,
r winding the instrument around the
ge of a leaf or stalk, they can see
w matters stand on the opposite
le.
The hammer-headed shark has its
oked-looking eyes nearly two feet
art. By will effort they can bend
b thin edges of the head, on which
b organs are located, so as to examine
b two sides of an objeot the size of a
11-sized codfish.
Flies have immovable eyes. They
ind out from the head like half an
pie, exceedingly prominent.' Instead
smooth hemispheres, they have an
imense number of facets, resembling
l-fashioned glass watch seals, each
e directing the light direotlv to the
tic retina. That explains why they
Dnot be approached in any direction
thout seeing what is ooming.
Contented Yoke-Fellows,
A Polander and his wife hitched to a
rge sled loaded with firewood attrao3
some attention in Winona, Wis.,
cording to a local paper. The team
is well matched as to size, and pulled
th considerable steadiness and unamity,
but, judging by the nergetic
inner in which the woman " walked
bo the collar " when the vehiole came
a bare spot in the street, any imperil
observer would say that, in this inince,
" the gray mare was the better
irae." She never flagged or flunked
balked, no matter how hard the pull
One can see in Texas, says a writer, t
adroit horseman lassoing the stupid >
ef creature which he has decided to 6
,ughtcr. He drives it'a little apart
>m the herd; it tnrns upon him?a
irl of his sharp wrist, and he has
rown the deadly noose about its neck;
apid gallop of a few seoonds, and he fl
s tghtened the long rope. The horse 1
;ms to enjoy the sport; be braces
tnself as the animal makes a few 0
gry struggles; the rider once more
llops away. The poor beef is now in *
e terrible tortures of suffocation; he *
lis upon his knees, uttering hoarse j
llowing; he staggers blindly toward (
i adversary, brandishing his horns; (
i falls again headlong, and onoe more i
teously bellows as much as his l
oked throat will permit. The other l
ttle walk slowly and mournfully '
ray, huddling together as if for pr> 1
stion. At last the horseman, loosen* I
g a little the dreadful noose, foroes i
e subdued creature to follow him ]
lerever he wishes, sad so ttkes him to <
e slaughter.
- -v."*!* !
Items of Interest.
The greatest oil well ever struck is
;he Evans, on the Dougherty farm near
Petrolia, which produoed the first tweny-four
hours 4,800 barrels. 0
A hog was killed in Vermont last
reek whioh had eaten twenty-five twonoh
nails and other iron. His squealng
was regarddi^s ironical.
Phe pupils inSne Dover (N. H.) High
lohool are examined at regular intervals
in to pi os whioh involve a careful readng
of the daily and weekly newspapers.
The population of Nebraska was 28,100
in 1860. It is now estimated at (00,000,
and half this increase has
>eeu made sinoe 1870, when fche last ' v
tensus was taken.
A Oonneoticut paper knows of a man
rho can swim five miles, but what is'1' . '
hat to getting your girl's trunk out of
he second story window and running
.way to get married?
A mean little S3.75 bog waa the cause.
Che lawyers of New Albany, Ind., have
Jready got $500 oat of the contestants,
.nd enter gaily upon the new year, de- <
ermined to live off that hog for another.*,
welre months at least. .\ *
The differenoein natures was weM^
llnstiated at the Boston depot. Two
isters met. " O, my dear .sifcter I"
aid one, exhaustedly, as they em>
raced. " You've been eatinponions,"
aid the other, oalmly and fearjessly.
To tan a sheepskin with the wool on:?
Ls soon as the shin is taken from the
beep's beck scrape the flesh off and lay
t in a smooth plaoe. Pulverize one
tound of alum and the same quantity
it salt and oover the flesh side of the
kin with it, and let jt lie for a week or
wo, when it will?4 veil tanned.
The blue laws of Connecticut were
omewhat discouraging to young men
f enterprising oonnubial aspirations,
for instance" No man shall oourt i
aid in person or by letter without first
btaining oonsent of her parents ; ?5
>enalty for the first offence, ?10 for the
econd, and for the third imprisonment
luring the pleasure of the CourtT^'
A farmer living near Brookvuft atempted
to scare an old worthless dog
rom his plaoe; so he put a fuse near
he dog's nose apd a coal of fire near
hat; then, to oonnect the fire to the
>ile of powder, he oommenoed pouring
ome powder out of the born 'oq the
oaL An explosion oocurreai%&& he
issn't seen the dog sinoe; but with
nedioal aid and good care it is thought
le can see him in about three weeks.
Says an exohange newspaper: 14 This
pen winter, with its mud and dther
Uscomforts, is yet the most fortunate * '
hing for our friends in the oountry . T-.
rbo are short of fodder. Cattle will
ret grass and herbage enough to ma-*
erialiy affect the sharpness 01 their ap- *
>etite for the more substantial ' regular
curses' of corn-stalks, hav, etc., while
beep, with their usual industry and
rugality, will pick up a pretty respeoable
living without drawing, to any apiponiahlfi
extent, noon the oommissary
g, while the male animal bj her side, t
mast be confessed, occasionally show- j
a disposition to shirk his share of c
e load. It was a beautiful sight, this n
stare of mutual oonnubial helpful- f
as, as well as a good, practical lllus- t
ition of the theory that the sexes are p
turally equal, and that a woman can d
i a man's (or horse's) work a little betr
than the man himself. Here was a
asible woman of a practical turn of
ind, who, instead of scolding the pubi
about her " rights," simply said
thing, but went in and took posses- *
>n of those rights without the slight- a
b objection on the part of the "tyrant c
in." At least this was the mental r
mment of our reporter on ths soene
the well-matched, happily mated *
ir, cheerfully tugging at their com- e
>n burden of life, slowly disappeared s
?und a corner, caused him, almost s
oonsoiously, to drop into poetry, and d
claim: 1<
Two bouIb with bnt a single?Bled. ?
a
rhe Bodies of the Siamese Twins. a
c
What the proposed final disposion of j.
9 bodies of the Siamese Twins is to t
, says a correspondent, I am not in- 1
:med, but report here says that they 8
) to be embalmed and disposed of at j
enormous price to some museum or a
sdical college, or placed on exhibi- '
m at a sum equivalent to the value a
; upon them by the Mount Airy man- j
ers, who, of coarse, will realize a l;
ndsome percentage out of the trans- .
iion. All of this, however, is to bo
bject to the deoision of the members
the families, who havo been notified
the death of their parents, and are
pected home at an early, day.
No eflort whatever was made to per- r
m an operation on the ligament with t:
jard to ascertaining whether there was t
artery passing through it or not, as f
it would have materially interfered 0
&U prospective gievuuauao, nuu j/.ud- J
t speculations would have been nip- 0
d in the bad. Embalmed and pre- j
rved as they are, the bodies of the ^
ins will have a market value from g
iich money can always be realized by 0
)se having possession of them. The ?
ament out in the interest of science, a
i cariosity woald be destroyed, and e
Qsequently the separate dead bodies ^
aid be of no valae. 0
3
Catching Cattle. "
a
[apartment of the mow or oorn-crib.''
???m *? *
A Gossip's Panlshment. ^
In a small society like that of Edin*
mrgh there was a good deal of scandal
nd gossip ; every one's character and
ondnct were freely criticised, and by
tone more than by my aont and hear
riends. She used to sit at a window - . ?
mbroidering, where she not only oonld
ee every one that passed, bat with a
mall telescope could look into the
Iressing-room of a lady. A spinster,
ady of good family, a oonsin of oar*
arried her gossip so far, that she waft
ried for defamation, and oondemned to
. month's imprisonment, which she
ctnally underwent. in the Tolbooth,
the was let oat jusfcbefore the king's
tirthdsy, to celebrate which, besides
he guns fired at the Castle, the boys
et off squibs and craokers in all the
treets. As the lady in question was
talking up the High street, some lads
n a wynd, or narrow street, fired a
mall cannon, and one of the sings
rith which it was loaded hit her mouth
nd wounded her tongue. This raised
, universal laugh ; and he one enjoyed
t more than my uncle William, who ais*
iked this somewhat masculine woman.
-Mra Somerville'a Autobiography.
*
The Siamese Twins' Old Tricks.
The Salem Gazette of August 10,1881,
eoords the following incident in rela- .
ion to the Siamese twins who were in
his vioinity at that time : " Chang and
Sng, the Siamese twins, were arrested
n a warrant for breach of the peace at
jynnfleld, on Monday last, ana bound
ver to their good behavior and to keep
he peace in the sum of 822. They had
ieen stopping for a few days at Lynn*
eld Hotel, enjoying themselves fishing
n the pond and shooting in the woods,
rith a young Englishman as an attend*
nt They were much annoyed by the
ager curiosity of visitants, who dis*
arbed their intended seclusion. Col*
nel Elbridge Gerry and a Mr. Presott,
of Stoneham, went towards them
a a field, but were warned to keep
way. Irritating words followed, and
he twins,* after firing a blank cartridge,
truek the Colonel with the butt of a
an. Hence the attest, trial, and senI?
*
ence. ' v
' fmim *
Pork Paeklig.
Ths Chicago Bulletin gives the third
Dnual statement of thejpOrir packing of
he West. ? V
Returns from 389 points^ and twentymo
additional estimated, gives the total
>aoking of hogs 4,700,000; estimated for
he season, 5,804,0004 packed at these
>oints last season, 5,526,000; hogs
lacked this season equal to 4,774,000.
)f last year's average weight tip est],
nated decrease in average weight is ten
>er oent, showing a decrease of 175,- .
XX),000 pounds in the aggregate weight,?
The decrease in the production of '
isms, shoulders and sides is estimated/
it 106,000,000 pounds. The falling off
n the yield of lard is estimated at seven
pounds per hog, being an aggregale
lecrease of 45,000,000 pounds, etfttivlant
to 148,000 tisroes. V'.
.? I
*v. *. jg .
n v