Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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i r-irma wu II H II i i. _L. . .i. .- . - - - . ? E. A. WEBSTER. Editor and Proprietor. A Weekly Pape* Devoted to Temperance, Literature and Polities. VOLUME I. O RAN GEEUll G, SOUTH CAROLINA, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1S75. NUMBER 31. LEONA. UY JAMES U. OLABK. [Competent litorary critics have pronounced the followiDK poem unsurpiwd by any other produc tion of itt cluan in our language. It IR perfect In rhyme, licautlfr.l In Usuro and expression, Mid wo Know our readers will thauk UB fur ita reproduc tion.] ' J,cona, the hour draws nigh, Tho hour we've awaited HO long, Vor tho angel to open a door through tho sky. That my spirit may break from ita prison and try Its voice in an infinito song. Just now SH tho slumbers of night Cama o'er-ms with poaoo-giving breath, The curtain half lifted rovoaled to my sight Thoso windows which look on tho kingdom of light. That bordors tho river of death. And a vision foll Bolomn and Bweot, Bringing gleams of a morning-lit land ; I saw tho white Bhoro which tho palo waters beat, And I hoard tho low lull as ihoy broke at their foot Who walked on tho boautiful strand. And I wondered why spiritn should cling To their clay with a strugglo and sigh. When lifo's purplo autumn is bettor than spring, And tho Hon! Itioa away, liko a Bparrow, to Bing In a climato whore loaves never die. Leona, como OIOBO to my bed, And lay your doar hand on my brow ; Tho samo touch thal thrilled mo in dajH that aro fled, . And raised tho lost roses of youth from tho dead. Can brighten the brief monionta now. I thank tho Groat Father for this, That our love ?B not lavmhod in vain ; I'.aoh germ in tho futuro, will blossom tobUsB, And tho forms that wo love, and tho lips Lhat we kins, Novor nill i uk at Ibo shadow of pain, liv Ibo iigbtof tl UH failli am 1 taught That my labor ia oidy bognn ; In tho Btrenglh of UI?B hopo havo I struggled and fought Willi tho legioiiH of wrong, lill my armor has caught Tho glonrn of Eternity's san. Leona, look forth and behold. From headland, from hilletde, and deon. Tito day-king surrenders his handers of gold ; The twilight advances through woodlaud and wold. . And the dews aro beginning lo woop. Tho moon's Hilver bair lieu uncurled, Dowu-the broad-broaslod mountains away; Ere HUD ?el 's rod glories again shall be furled. On tho walls of tho wool o'er tho plains of tho World? I shall rise in a Iintitlosn day.'' O ! como not in leam lo my lomb, Nor plnut with frail flowers the Bod ; There ?H rent nmong roacH too sweet for its gloom, Aud ljce j^lwre the dite' Henially.blouru, -." "Tn tho ??inMiroTiuTii'g gardens of God. Y il deeply thoso meniorioH burn, Which bind mo to you and to earth ; And I Homotioio-i havo thought that my hoing would yr am lu tho bowers of its beautiful home, lo ro turn. And visit Ibo homo of its birth. "JL'W^uliI br> pleasant lo slay,. L\ And walk by your nido t? tho bvd. ; But tho land-brcczo of Hcavon is beginning lo play Lifo's shadow's are meeting Eternity's day, Aud its tumult is hushed in tho past. Leona, good-by ; should tho grief That ?H gathering now, evor bo Too dark for your faith, you will long for re lief, And remombor,'tho journoy, though lonoHomo, is brief Over lowland and river to mo. MISS ERISM'S CODICIL. Miss Rebecca Erism, a valetudina rian of sixty, lay dying at her house in town. ?She had held BO tenacious a grip upon life that it was difficult for the two young people to realize the end wns BO near. Those two young people were Gerald Erism, her 'nephew, and Miss Luane Williams, her companion and nurse. Gerald had Boen the' young woman every day for the threo yer -s sh? had lived with his annt, but never until this moment had bestowed a Berioua thought upon her. ' He did not even know the color of her eyes till bi? aunt gasped out a sentence that caused him to look at her attentively. Then he found them shining luminously'in the Bomber gloom of the sick chamber, and Home thing therein forbade him to hate her, although the sentence his annt had uttered was to the effect that she had left Miss Williams all her money. ** If you expect to pay for that horse for Emily Thorpe to ride with the money you got by my death," said tho dying woman, "you're mistaken." "You don't understand," began Gerald. . " It was an miamoon transaction, said the old lady, " and what *I call a post-obit. I found out enough about it to make me put a codicil to my will That rascally horse dealer'll lose his money after all, and Emily Thorpe shall Haunt none of her finery at mv expenso. I've left my money to imane Williams !" It wes then that Gerald looked at Liliane ; but his annt suddenly stretched out her hands to him pleadingly, and finding a gray pallor spreading over her face, ho knelt down by her bedside and took her cold withered hand in his own. " If tho horse had been for any one but that Emily Thorpe I " faltered tho poor old lady. " Oh, aunt," Baid Gerald, " if you'd let me explain-" "I would if I had time," ?he flaid ; "but I must die now." In ten minutes it waa all over, and Gerald wen tr out of the house with a great ache at hi? heart, He was,, yery Korrf for his aunt; ahehad be'?n very kind to hun-too kind, for she had reared him for the useless life of a drone, when new it appeared he murat work for a living liko, aU^fcbe. rent o?, the- beoev ^Itr, had hitherto ueen something^01 a t>?re~ to him merely to spend money, and tho faot *>egan to dawn unpleasantly upon his'mind that to earn it must be in finitely more wearisome. Walking eimk-udy on his, feat took mechanically a familiar direction, _ and ho found himself pausing before a line house in a fashionable quarter of the city, from which shambled a somewhat bent and awkward fignre that presently disappeared in a brougham before tho door. Gerald recognized tho man as Mr. Badger the millionaire, and involun tarily contrasted his condition with that ot the fortunate Boap dealer. Ho was, liowever, so absorbed with the direful news be bad to tell Emily that before she came into the parlor lie had forgot ten Badger's existence. It was singular that her remarkable beauty and brilliant toilet did not ap pall Gerald at that moment ; that the fact of Iiis no longer being able to grace that lovely hand with befitting gems did not prevent bim from seizing it in both his own, and kissing it raptnrons . ly. But for an enchanting moment be was allowed to forget the gloomy cham ber where his aunt lay dead, and the woman who waited there for the money ho had been taught to consider hi? own. "It seems to me that you aro very beautiful this morning," was all that he could say. Emily drow her hand gently away from his carosB. " Gerald," Bhe said, " I have sonio tbing to tell you." Her accent was cold. There was something in her manner that cairned him to step baok and look at ber with a dim premonition of what was to come. " You know," BIIO .continued, " how bitterly opposed is your aunt to your af fection for mc. Sho huB told mo herself that she will never consent to our hap piness. Gerald, I am too fond of .you to wreck your whola life. Thoro was but one way to cud it all-" She panned. Ho leaned forward, and Btill kept bis eye, now wan and haggard, upon her face. Then Hbe Hank.palo and trembling into a chair, and coverod hor eyes with ber hand. Sho WBB moved with'pity, perhaps, or a1 Vague * regret. At last BIIO Bpoke. " I have just accepted au offer oi marriage." "From Badger,v cried Gorabi, and walked to the door, ff Your prudence," ho added, Btauding upon thu threshold, " has Served you well. You havo just got rid of mo in Ijtue. My aunt died f hiB mor?)iiig, ?n?Vfhaa left overytbing to her nurse and eompaniou." Thou he got into the street, and walked along with a _faltering? etaggor ftig .step. " ?IfB*ej^?a were .wild hiB face ?lividly pale. People turned to look al him an ho wont by, and two or three wondered what was sending that mau tc the devil. Ho went homo aud stood by the bod\ of hid aunt. There was a ?tingle fasci nation about thin death-something -ery wonderful nud tempting in thal 'mysterious ?ind absolute rest. Sudden ly be bocamc muster of himself, of till bitterness and despair of the moment, He walked firmly to tho door, but a stet followed him, and, turning, he saw th< pale, perturbed face of Miss Williams, Then ho remembered ber presence ir tho room, but his madness and grie: had prevented him from realizing it. " Just one word, Mr. Erism," sh? said. " Of course 3 011 know that I wil not touch oma peuny of this money 1" " It doesn't matter now," be replied "It might ns well bo yours as any lady's 1" " But it is yours," she said. "Oh, as for me," said Gerald, " shall not want it " He walked througl tte hall. Miss Williams followed hit stealthily. He entered tho room, bu when th? door Rhut him in Luana re mai II ed, haggard a nd trembling, her en glued to the cold panel betweeu thoa A grim silence reigned about her. Sh could hear the clock tick in the dea woman's room j below. Bndtlenly sh put both'her hands about the knob an opened the door. Geraki turned quid ly ; there was an ominons click ; th Eistol fell a little as it went off. Th lood soaked through his coat an trickled ont upon the floor. Just 1 L?nne was about sinking at bis fee Gerald put out Ida band to her. " An accident, Miss Williams," h said. " PJeoso sond AdamH for th doctor, and thou help me off with m coat." This brought Luane to herself. Sh hastened to elo his bidding, dispatche Adams, and returning ogam to G?rait stanched the blood with strips of th pillow-case from a bed. When tb doctor came she held tho light for hil wiiile he probed the wound and e: tracted the bullet. " An bach or so higher," said the do tor, "and yon would have beep burie on the same day with your aunt." "lt was a lucky thing, then, tin Miss Williams had an errand to n room when Bhe did,", said Gorah "As she opened tho dobr my hand fe and tho pistol wont, off.^ "ShchoH unconsciouHly saved yoi lifo," said tho-doctor. Then as Luai left tho room he added, "She's tl finest young woman I know, and won make a capital nurse in my hospitt Do you know what she think H of doh now that your aunt is gone ? " M No," Baid Gerald, with a gri smile; "but I fancy she'll think Bometbing livelier than that." " She bas Bitch an excellent physiqi and splendid nerve," said the docte " But I must - go., Keep as quito you can, and havo Adams within call That night Gerald awoke with an i tolerable thirst ; his temples t-hrohbe his eyes burned. Looking over Adams, he lound thai he waa som p.sleep. This of itself was offensive. Gerald. What business had tho mi to sleep when he wa? raftering? He terribly oppressive the stillness wt thin Btmi-iiarkneRH and lonelinea I that moment a ponderous (more 1 sounded from tho thront of the ?tur Adams, aud Gerald almost leaped from his bed. It was like a stab to him ; it was unendurable. He stretched over his sound arm, and reaching a pillow, threw it with all his might at tho un conscious Adams. But in spite of the agony the movement cost him, it was a futile one. The pillow fell far Bhorfc of the object on the floor, and Gerald sunk back with a groan. But suddenly tho soft touch of n woman's hand fell tenderly upon his forehead, the sweet tones of a woman's voice fell soothingly upon his ear. " It is time for your medicine," said Luane, and put tho cup to hiB lips. Gerald drank as if it was nectar. Then she arranged his pillows for him, and was about retreating from the room when he faintly called for a drink. Then he thought his head was too high, or perhaps a trifle low ; every move ment caused him intolerable agony, and he hated to be alone with Adams again. She must have really divined his motivo, and como to save bia life. She was again about to leave him, bu hi put his hand upon hers to detaint her, and found that it trembled a little beneath his touch. .* Your hand did'ut tremble when you held the lamp for tho doctor," said Ger ald. 44 Ho wants you for a hospital nurso, but I told him you'd prefer something moro cheerful." 44 Why, I thiuk I'd like it," said Im ane. 4? You know I must do some thing." 411 don't soe tho necessity," said Gerald; "you have my aunt's monoy, and it will occupy all your time to enjoy it," " Your aunt's money is your own," said Luane, 44 and you insult me by thinking I would take advantage ol* a poor old lady's weakness; I never will touch a ponny of it. And, Mr. Erism, you must not talk. " 44 Ono word, only ono," pleaded Ger ald. 41 But for you I might havo boon like-like our poor old friond below.' Gorald shuddered and turned palo. 4'1 am cowardly enough," he wont on, 44 tc hate oven thc thought of it now. HOM eau I thank you, Miss Williams V" 44 By taking what is your own, and tuiiug it nobly and well,'' said Luauo, and vanished from his sight. But ns she left him he felt a sudden throb in tho hand beneath his own, um! uaw a quick flame leap into her cheek, r glow to her eyes. li .Three lour* yp.Br?," m-iniMuc*1. aid, 44and I never know her till now." Gerald was youug and strong, am Ibo fourth day, tho one appointed foi the funeral, ho was ablo to bc up ant dressed, aud welcomed Luauo wanui; as sho entered his room. Sho looket paler than ever in her black dress, bu Gerald thought ho had never seen H< sweet and noble a face. 44 How I would like to go down, Misi Williams," ho said, 44 and enjoy th surprise of tho good people below ! I'< like to see them bow and ?milo to tb heiress of my aunt's fortune. I'm a bad aH the rest of them, I suppose, fo I feel like making all ciorts of prett; speeches." Gerald paused, and his fae grew Buddouly grave and tender. 44 G now," ho added, 44 and kiss my auu good-by for me ; tell her I am quit satisfied with everything." Luane went from the room and dow the stairs. For the last three days sh had been like ono in a dream, 1 seemed awful to be warm and happ even after she entered tho dark, gloom drawing-room, even after she had bet and kissed tho cold, stern face for Ge aid and for herself. i4I will not take it," she whisperer hot tears raining on the dead woman face-441 will not take a cent of it, bi it han given me such a gleam of happ ness. God forever bless you for it." Then the people began to pour i: and tho ceremony commenced. Luane were the only toara that were shed, ar tho most of the guests came from civi ity or curiosity. Miss Erism had tak< but little activo part in the world fi many a year, and tho poor lady was ve: soon put away and forgotten." The most important part of tho pr ceedings was wheu they returned fro the burial to hoar the reading of the wi Luane trembled when the pompoi lawyer unrolled tho parchment, and b gan in a sonorous voice : 44 In tl namo of God, amen !" What would they think of her-wh would they say of her? Oh, how gli she was that tho only ono she cn red f in the world know all about it ! Hr innocent she waB, and how ignorant ! But oven while she thought thus B heard tho lawyer read; 44 To my I: loved nephew, Gerald Erism, I gi and bequeath all my property, perflor and otherwise." Liliane could Bi-arct believe her earn. She listened to t end, and heard at hutt : 44 To Lua Williams, my faithful nurse, I givt mourning ring and tho sum of $00." Then alto went up stairs to Gerold, 44 Tho King shall have his own 1" H said. 44 Onlyon ono condition,"said Gera 44 I'll tnko your nionoy only on one e< ditiou." 44 You'll take my money?" colic Luane-44 my poor little fifty dol?an fm mic's face shouo willi a profound j " Your aunt, loft her money whore it longs, Mr. Eri^m. I have just hei you declared her solo tuirviving bei Gerald romaincd strmned and wildered. 44 Where is the codicil ?" ho cri?e tho lawyer, who stood at tho door. 44 aunt left her mono;, to Miss W il liai ?4he told mo so when she wna dyinj 44 Oh, that was when you bought horse f .1 v/as afraid there would tronble then ; but, bless your soul, got all over that." 44And tho money ia mino?" ex Gerald, "Of course it's yours, " anti the lawyer wout down tho stairs chuckling at his incredulity. Then Gerald hold out his hands to Luaue. "I was, going to bo magnanimous enough to marry you despite your money," he said ; "now there is no ob stacle to our bappiuess. Come, my sweet Imane, and bless tho lifo you have givon mo !" Inane became his wife. Mrs. Grundy said that be married her to spite Emily Thorpe. ?The lawyer chuckled still more, and thought of the codicil. But we know that it was love, and for love alone. The; Schoolmaster's Story. When I taught a district school, said he, I adopted as a principle to give as few rules to my scholars as possible. I had, however, one Btaudiug rule, which was: "Strive, under all circumstances, to do right," nud the text of right, uuder all circumstances, was the golden rule : " Al) things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even BO milo them." If an oiRrrso was committed, it was my invariable practice to ask: "Was it right ?" " Was it as you would be dono by V" All my experience and observations have couvincod mo that no act of a pupil "ought to bo regarded as an offense Ul - less it bo such when measured by the standard of tho golden ruin. During tho last yoar of my teaching tho only teds I over applied to an act of which it wns necessary lo judge were those o? the nbovo questions. By this conrao I gained many important advantages. Ju the first place, thc pica, "You have not made any rule against it." which for a long timo was a terrible burdon to mc, lost all its power. lu the second plaoo, by keeping con stantly befcro tho scholars as a stan dard of action tho single text of right aud wronglias ono which they wore to apply for tUVnieolves, f was enabled to cultivate in ?beni a deep feeling of per sonal responsibility. In tho tr . rd plaoo, I got a sliougcr bold on tho':, feelings, and acquired a new power m cultivating and directing thom. s I la the fouUth place, I had the satis faction of r hoing them become more truthfiil/sfc: Sat, trustworthy and mauly in their i>v<"? .jaree with mo, with their Once, \yj-r? fvev, I was sadly puzzled by an application of the principle by ono of ray si Ikolars. George .Tones was a largo boyl !?who, partly through a fain:! feeling of hojnor, and partly from a feel ing of stubbornness, refused to give mo some information. 'Die circumstances were these 'ry-' A scholar Bad played some t rick which interrupted ?io oxorolaoE. As was my enstom, I coiled on tho ono who bod done tho nih chief to como forward. Aa nc one atari.- d, -I repeated tho request, but with nc-guccess. Finding that the culprit woulfl not confess his guilt, I osked Georgi" if ho know who committed tho ofTenee. ! * " I did not do it," was the rpply. " But do you know who did ?" " Yes, sir. . "Who was it?" " I do not wish to tell." "But you must tell. It is my duty to ask and yours to auswer'tae." "I cannot do it," said lle-orgo firmly. " Then j ou must stop with me aftor school." Ho stopped os requested, but. nothing which I could urge would induce bim to reveal anything. At last, out of pa tit nee with what I boljeved to bo obsti nacy of tho boy, I said : "Well, George, I have borne with you aa long UR I can, and you must either tell me or be pnnibhed." Wi Mi a triumphant look, as though conscious that ho had tho better of me by an application of my favorito rulo, ho replied : " I can't tell you, because it would not be right. The boy would not like to have me tell of bim,* and I'll do as I'd bc dono by." A few years earlier I should have deemed a reply thus given me on in sult, and should have resented it ac cordingly ; bnt experience and reflec tion had taught me the folly of this, acd one of the most important of my oft quoted rule was-to judge of tho nature of others as I would have them judge of mine. Yet for tho moment I was staggered. His plea was plausible ; be might bo honest iu making it. I did not seo in what respect it was fallacious. I felt that it would not do to retreat from my position ond suffer tho offender to esoapo, nnd yet that 1 should do a great injustice by compelling a boy to do a thing if ho really believed it to be wrong. After a littlo pause I Haid : " Well, George, I do not wish you to do any thing which ia wrong, or which conflicts with your golden rule. Wo will le.ivo this for to-night and perhaps you will alter your mind before, to-morrow." T uaw bim privately before school and found him moro firm in his refunnl than ever. Aftor the devotional excrcisea of tho morning I began to question thc scholars, os was my wont, on tho va rious points of duty, and gradually led the conservation to tho golden ride. "Who," I asked, "aro the persons to whom, ns members of this school, you ought to do as you would bo done by ? Your parents, who support and Bend you here ; your schoolmates, who aro engaged in tho earno world with your selves ; the citizens of the town who, by taxing thomsolvos, raiso money to pay tho expenses of this sohool ; the school committee, who take so grent an interest in our welfare ; your teacher, or the scholar who carelessly or will fully commits some o't'enso against good ???.dc?- ? A hearty "yes" was responded to every question except tho last, at which they were silent. Then addressing George, 1 said : "Yesterday I asked you who had com mitted a certain offense. You refused to tell me because vou thought it would I now wish you to reconsider tho sub ject. On ono side aro your parents, yonr schoolmates, tho citizens of this town, school committee, and yonr teacher, all deeply interested in every thing affecting the prosperity of this school. On the other side is the boy who, by this act, has shown himself ready to iujuro all these. To which party will jon do as you would bo done by?" After a moment's pnuse he said : " To the first ; it was William Brown who did if?" My triumph, or rather tho triumph of priuciple, was complete ; and the lesson was as deeply felt by tho other members of the school as by him for whom it was specially designed. The Khedive's Ball. A Cairo correspondent describes a ball recently given by tho kh?dive ns follows: "It took placo"at tho Guc zireh palace, situated on the Nile. As one entered tho avenue leading into tho garden of tho palace, fairy land begun -Chinese lanterns suspouded along tho avenues, and glenming amid tho broad green leaves of lofty palms, giving them tin; appearance cf being covered with gorgeous Howers ; fountains sparkling like sprays of diamonds in f hn flashing light ; graceful statues draped with gar lands as if trying to conceal their love liness ; gas-jets placed close together round tho top of the palace, Riving tho client at a distance of an unbroken chain cf finnie; revolving lights in many col ors, so arranged as to bo reflected in tho river fer almost a mile, combined to form a sceuo of magical beauty un equaled by any in tho 'Arabiau Nights.' When tho invited guest reached the grand eutrauoe his eyes were dazzled by tho flood of light poured npon him from the richly gilt chandeliers in tho voslilmlo: tho marble pavement and thc broad marble steps woro covered with rich Persian carpets. As tho ladies stepped from tho carriages ushers dress ed in tho native costume offered thoir arms to tho cloak-room ; then up tho grauil -uttircnaO?-KU J, l*\ i hoy- (lOnl'i act- ?. speak English nor most foreigners Arabic, they could not present tho Indies whom they escorte.!, but now and thou n gctitleman who had been prciionted and who understood French conducted tho iitraugors to the room where tho khedivo stood alono, receiv ing his guests like any cidinarv Ameri can gentleman. When introduced he shook hands and smiled pleasantly. AH he, too, could not understand thuso who did not speak French, ho remained silent till another group enme up. The next thing in order was to walkthrough the various rooms, particularly admir ing Ihoso occupied by the Empress Eugenie, of France, when here cn a visit some lew years since. They were elegantly fitted up in blue, lt would be impossible to fully describo their mnguiticont beauty. When we entered the ball-room, which was superbly dec orated and lined with mirrors, a single set had been formed for the 'Lanciers.' Tho gentlemen in the set where Prince Arthur, two princes (sons of tho kh? dive), and the duke of Mecklenburg. Tho ladies were very handsome ami maguiticiently dressed. Tho dresses of tho women in general nt this princely fete woro surpassing in thoir splendor. Glittering coronets, necklaces of pre cious stones, and on their arms, in their hair, and oven around their waists and ou portions of their dress wore some of the largest diamonds that were over seen outside of palaces when the court jewels were displayed. Weary of tho glitter of the bnll-room we passed out on tho balcony to there revel in the panorama spread before us. Ifc was beyond description, and still (though the hour was lute), for as the eye could reach carriages could bo seen coming up the illuminated avenue as though bringing guests from the uttermost ends cf the earth. Thc khedive's bufibb was next in order. Hero there were all kinds of refreshments for tho gentle men, with.a profusion of rare wines. All through the evening waiters carried around irays of ?COB, wine, lemonade, and sherbet. Half an hour after mid night supper was announced. Tho guests wore all teated at tablea glitter ing with crystal, silver and gold, and laden with all tho luxuries cf i lio east." Tho Shah's Strong Box. Tho f-trong box cf tho Shah of Persia consists of a small room 20x11 feet. Here, spread upon carpets, lie jewela valued at ?7,000.000. Chief among them in tho Kninian crown, shaped like a flower pot, and topped by an un cut ruby as large as a hen's egg, and supposed to have como from Siam. Near tlio crown aro two lambskin cap? adorned with splendid aigrettes of diamonds, und before them lie trays of pearl, ruby and emerald neoklaceo, and hundreds cf rings. A Mr. East wick, who is reported ko have been allowed to ex miine the collection, states that conspicuous among the gauntlets and belt-j covered faith pcarlo and dia monds is tho Kaiatiian belt, about a foot deep, weighing perhaps eighteen pounds, and one complete mass of pearla, diamonds, emeralda and rubies. Ono or two noabbards of swords aro said to bo worth a quarter of a ?oillion ??ach. There is abo the Ant st turquoise in the world, three or four inches long, and without a flaw ; and an emerald as big as a walnut, covered with thc names of kingu who havo pesessod itt FACTS AUD FANCIES. -"I'd liko to give something to tho poor," remarked n Toledo lady. " It's hard times and they mimt bo suffering, but I'vo got to use this ?40 to buy an other switch." - " Hellen wan proud," said an Indi ana widower of his late wife, " and sho was a great worker. Yon ought to have stood by and see her jerk a bed stead down and go for bogs ! " -A woman recently died in Alabama leaving to somebody, it is said, an inher itance of no less than 287 hoop-skirts. That woman was ns well hooped as an imported barrel of French brandy. -A good many young men would be content if they were only astronomers, but when a man sets out to be really great ho will never stop until peoplo speak of him aa a pisciculturist. -A Troy fool got a beef's heart, put a golden arrow worth S75 through it, and sent it to a Troy young woman for a valentine. The fair creature gave the heart to her poodle, but will keep tho arrow. -A silly fellow whoso oars were un usually large once Bimperingly asked a witty lady : "Will I not mnko a lino nngol?" "Well, no," she replied, pointing to his enrs, "I think your wings aro to lri?h." -New England scemB to bo drying up. At Brattloborougb, Vt., water costs thirty cents a barrel, and at Graf ton, N. H., ono man asks fivo hundred dollars for tko pnvilego of drawing water from II?H well. -'I UK total receipts of tho trans atlantic steamship companies plying between New York aud Europe wore only 830,153,885 in 1871, against 857, 577,350 in 1871, a dcoronHO of ?27,423, 365. -Murderouii affrays, burglaries, and afKHHsinatiouH arc of constant occur rence in Fort Said, Egypt. Tho roni denta aro hardly anio in their own houses, and a lady scarcely dare vouturo to appear in the streets for fear of insult. -A very flexible tomperauco plcdgo is this, which is circulated among Bos ton fashionablo Indien : "I promiBo that, no intoxicating liquor ?hall bo used iu thin house for cooking purposes^ aud in BicknesH that it shall bo given conscientiously." --Tho Pall Mall Gazetted correa p?V?'eiii wt rierhii repot cs .that .tho Ger mau government nae received a menjo rial from tho Protebtant olorgyof Spain, complaining that th?) liberty of worship ?H threatened. SimimV-momorinlH have been forwarded to^ other Protestant powers in Europe and to tho United Skates. Hj'T Ivor Ion-e. nvnc -Uer 'eico.- - , .. ? .?il ow my old (jrHmhnotliiu' unod to npank too, Over lier knoo, over hor knee. When I waH imito a HITIHH hoy ! It wm? ni>ank, ?punk, upank '. Ko OHO wan it kicking, for on nho went lick ing. With spank, femnlc, spank! Tho thing HIIO mod to enjoy! Ohorns-Then it'H ovor knoo, otc. -A wealthy and eccentric woman in Springfield, 111., contributes 8500 a year to the support of one of the churches there, but cannot be induced to attend a single service. Nor will she allow its pastor to euler her house. She naya that ho " means well," and that ?H why she gives the money, but abe doesn't desire to " hear any of his can't." -They have a good deal of wind in Holland aud the people make a good deaf of monoy out of it. Thero aro 12,000 windmills in operation, each do ing a six or ten-horse power service, through tho twenty-four hours. These mills aro kept up at an annual cost of $4,000,000, and they perform all tho servico required of steam engines at one-twentieth the cost.. -For tho yenr rn^inp: September 30, the pi o plo .o' Ibo United States con sumed 580,000.000 bushels of peanuts. Tennessee furnished 185,000 ; Virginia, 225,000; North Carolina, 60,000; and tho balance, 125,000 bushels, was im ported from Africa. The maturing Virginia crop ia said to bo largo, prob ably about ?150,000 bushels, while the North Cco-olina eron in estimated at 120,000 bushels. -The compiler of foreign gossio doenn't often give us anythiug so ro mantic as thi? : Tho will of an old man, who died recently in Brussels, tells how he once found a valuable diamond in Asia, which he concealed in a cut in tho calf of his log, where ho had made nu intentional wound. Tho apparent mis fortune procured Iii? release from tho mine, anti ho wno made immensely rioh by the salo of the gem, which is now ono of Russia's crown diamonds. -Old man Wheeler of Minnesota wants a divorce from his wife. Sho sent him down tho cellar ono night laBt week after a bottle of yea%t. Ho got it and was trudging along up stairs, think ing of nothing in particular, when the bottle exploded, scaring Wheeler so that ho foll with ono prout whoop down in a soap barrel under the ?taiT. When they pulled him out ho pranced around yelling " CUBS a wife ; CUBII yeast ; cuss tho whole of ye I" And the lawyers say ho haB got. a good caso. -lu making dresses for this season nearly every lady can havo a stylo of her own, tho ouly points in which fash ion is inexorable being a long ovor-skirt and a high corsage, except for full dress. After conceding these points a dress may be short or demi-trained with a plain or draped apron front, or no apron ; may bo puffed full at the back, or draped gracefully or loft to hang perfectly plain. It may be caught up at one nido or at both. Tho waist, may bo sin#lo or double breasted, and tho sleeves of rigid plainness or covered from shoulder to wrist, with puffs, pleat* jug? and rufUegj