Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A Pacific Myatery, A 1j r .c»l KeutucKy scene was tne annu al bird dinner of tbe Sportsmen’s Club at Eminence, Kentucky, on the 23d of Nor emher. It is only once in a life time that one gets to see just such an assembly of Kentuckians enjoying themselves after just such a Kentucky fashion. Tbe best element in the State, the ablest politicisfns, the best speakers, the cleverest anecdote tellers in this or any other state were all there, and they spent *he time after the manner of the old days. Tbe spot selected for the dinner looked like a picture from a novel. It was about a mile bark of Emi nence, in a shady little hollow, with great oak and walnut trees looking away like sentinels over the undulating field and meadow, dotted with herds of fine cattle and horses. Beneath one of the sentinel oaks a dozen smiling, chattering blacks bad built an Immense fire, and healthy were the odors that came from a certain black cauldron of “burgoo” that boiled and bubbled over this fire. A fine spring of water spaikled away through the grass and its little stream wound its way around amomr the trees. From about the fire there came up the sound of laughter and wild negro melody, and as each buggy droye up the occupants were greeted with bashful bowing and scraping by the youn ger darkies and respectful bows by the older ones. The day could not have been finer, the sun never shone warmer, the air never felt balmier; it was a May day in November, with nothing t» remind one of winter save the changing leaves and here rnd tnere a withered patch of blue grass. The crowd was a large and a remarkably characters tic one. it is doubtful if just such a crowd as gathered about under these old trees could have been collected in any other State in the Union. Four fifths of those present were six feet and over, and their free and easy manners would para lyze a more fastidious people than Kentuc kians. But the most characteristic thing on the ground is that long, broad table with glasses spread along it here or there in the most reckless contusion, and these tall, overshadowing bottles filled with 20 year old Bourbon—fit drink for a king. Presently you will see these tall, strong fellows clinking these glasses and draining without visible efiect a burr per that would send to grass the sturdiest old Saxon that ever kicked his heels Under Alfred’s round table. Do you see that big, muscular fellow there leaning against tbis table with the crowd aiound him, slapping him on the back and familiarly calling him “Jim!” Well, that's'no less a personage than James B. Beck; but he is off for a frolic and a good time in the healthy air, and you will presently see when any fun is started that he enjoys it just as hugely as any one on the ground. And you may notice that dashing looking gentleman with his broad brimmed hat turned up on one side like a Spanish bull fighter? and his mustachios twirled out to a most prodigious length, In spite of his fierce air he is the hero of the hour and no toast is drank that “Joe” must not come in for his share. This gen ial Joe makes speeches sometimes that are marvels of eloquence and inspiration, and then he is mentioned in the papers as the Hen. J. C. S. Blackburn. Just how he is laughing till his face is red and bursting witn good humor. And that florid, portly Kentuckian, with the stuoble gray mous tache and his hat cocked knowingly over his left eye, which has a comical toon, mingled with such shrewdness as tells the poorest reader of character that he is a bom wit. When Jo. Blackburn has slightly recovered himself you will hear him allude to this gentleman of the florid face and stubbly moustache as “Prock’ but if you are a close observer you will not need to be told that the famous author of the Duluth speech and the Pennsylva nia avenue speech stands before you. V ou had better take a good hiok at Proctor Knott this time, for he is generally so be sieged with ciowds that you can’t come within ten yards of him. That palefaced man looking about him with the eye of a philosopher is the clearest headed man in Kentucky—that’s Fayette Hewitt, the Au ditor. Dick Jones is over there to one side, as gentlemanly, as urbane, as digni fied as only he can be. That portly man with the nose that shows he will fight if necessary is Col. J. Stoddard Johnston, and that neat little figure by his side, trim ano erect, is the Register of the Laud Office, Ralph Sheldon. Wat. Harlan, the Attorney General, is standing i ll there with Jim Morns, types of two different kinds of intellect. You must not be sur prised to be introduced to these gentlemen by their Christian names. You won’t find a man in this county who would call Sen ator Beck anything but “Jim” or CapUiu Blackburn anything but “Joe.’’ He don’t care a straw that Beck is a Senator with a natiouai reputa'ion. He is the proud pos sessor of a blue grass farm which he may be able to show you if j ou go to the top of the hill, and to which he will certainly in vite you if you go down u> the table below there and drink with him. He likes “Jim” Beck -ind he likes ‘ Joe,” indeed, the st udy men like everybody who don’t run counter totneir prejudices. But doubtless you have heard enough of all this and want to go down and mingle with the crowd, while the pertume of fried birds and oysters and coffee, and the chant of the negioes coming up from the hollow there beyond. The savory smell that was wafted from the hollow where the cauldron boiled and bubbled at the foot of the old oak tree grew stronger and stronger as the sun ap proached nearer the meridian Presently there was a bustle a little below where the coos mg was going on, a long table was fixed up, covered wdth a dazzling white cloth, and m a very short space of time was groaning under the weight of goxl things that were put on it. Birds of all sizes and cooked in all styles; oyiters raw and oysters fried and oysters stewed; ten der lamb and deiicate beet; great rounds of bread—everj thinz was on that big style which is so essentially Kentuckian. Col. Barbour’s eyes fairly shone as he saw so many birds and thought how in days gone by li« hid trod hili and dale, gun on shoul der, Iiunting them. There was a keen appetite m the bueey air, an inviting look in the heaps of snugly cooked brown birds in tne game, in the bread, m tbe cleanli ness, and above all, m tbe jolly hearted crowd. But all things must have an end, and there did at last come a time when those around the board could e«t no more. Prom tnis time on til! three o’clock the fun went on merrily, and a jollier, happier merrier crowd could not be found in the longest walk in the longest day in the year. Then the crowd slowly dispersed, some going on cast bound tia ns and some cn we4 bound trams. They all united, how •ver, in saying that a pleasanter or happier day they had never spent. Life’s ups and clowns: Uncle Ned lost a dollar the other day and when he went home he called np his eldest son. “dome heah, boy, and set down. Dis am a queer worT, anyway, boy; ji»’ w’en yo’ think yo’ am layin’ ou feathers an’ walkin’ on roses—slap 1 an’ dar yo’ is, flat in de mud, playin’ a tattoo wid yo hsels on nex to Duffin'.” Far away in the South Pac.fie ocean, stretching from the coast of A si* for thousands of miles to tbe east, there ex tends a vast series of archipelagoes and island groups, partly, without doubt, the remains of a former continent now sub merged beneath the waves. In the far east, forming, as it were, the outpost of the South Sea group, is a soli tary volcanic Island called Easter island. It is 1,800 miles east of Pitcairn, the next island in the series, and,* with the ex ception of Sal. a y Gomez, a small rock without inhabitants or vegetation, there is no land between it and South America, which lies more than 2,000 miles to the east. Easter island is only eleven miles long by four broad; yet in this small space is crowded perhaps the most won derful and mysterious collection of re mains of a pie-historic people to be found on the earth. At the southwest end are nearly a hundred houses, built of stone, with walls five feet in thickness. The innde of the walls is lined with upright s'aba of stone, painted in black, white and red, with figures of animals and birds, and with other designs The houses are roofed in with overlapping slabs of stone. In some of tho houses numbers of uuivalve shells have been found. Near these won derful ruinp the rocks are carved into fantastic shapes or laces, most of the sculptures being now almost overgrown with bush and underwood. The present inhabitants know nothing whatever of these houses, which, existing as they do in such large numbers, seem to point in evitably to a former race of natives of fat higher civilization. We can understand that a former race may have erected the houses and curved the sculptures mentioned above, wondeiful as they are compared with the huts of the existing natives. What follows is,however, more difficult of explanation. On nearly every promontory are erected huge stone platforms, facing the sea, and presenting a front sometimes of nearly three hundred feet long and from twenty to thirty feet high. The stones composing these plat forms are often six feet long, and are tilted together with cement. Ihe top of the platform is generally about thirty feet broad; and the structures being built on sloping ground, the wall facing the interior of the island is only about a yard high. Another terrace, one hundred feet broad, is levelled landwards, and ends also in a wall of stone. On these immense platforms are great pedestals of stone, on which once stood gigantic statues, which, however, are now* all thrown down and partially mutilated, with tbe exception of those on the platform near the crater of Olouli, which are still erect. Borne of these im ages were thirty-seven feet high, but the average height was about sixteen or seventeen feet, other statues being much smaller. The heads of these sculptured images are flat, and were formerly capped by crowns of red tufa, a stone that is found only at a crater called Terano Hau, near which have been fonnd a number ot crowns ready for removal to the statues. The faces are square and are said to be of a disdainful expression, tbe lips thin, and the eye sockets remarkably deep, perhaps to admit of the insertion of eye-balls of obsidian, wnich is also found on the island. C'apt&in Cook, who daring his second voyage visited Easter island, remarks that the shade of one of these statues was bufficient to shelter all his party—nearly thirty persons. He believed them to be burying places for certain tribes or families* But whatever may have been the original intention of the sculptors, the present natives Ian have had nothing to do with the execution of these wonderful monu ments. They possess, however, small wooden carved figures, but totally differ ent in features from the stone ImaacS. W e are forced to the conclusion that the houses, platforms and statues are all relics of a remote age. The natives have a tra dition that they formerly migrated to their present abode from one of the islands in the Low Archipelago; but this throws little light on the subject. How, in any age, could a people, furnished only with a stone chisel—tor Polynesians are still in the stone epoch—have carved such statues by hundreds and built such enormous platforms ? And the difficulty is im mensely increased by the small size and complete isolation ot the island. At present Easier island remains the greatest mystery of the Pacific—one of the great mysteries of the world. The rums of Ponape, however, are scarcely more easily explained than those we have been describing. Ponape is one of the Caroline Islands, and is about four teen miles long by twelve la width. On t-he banK of a creek m the Metalamen harbor stands a massive wall three hundred feet in length and about thirty-five feet high. It is built of basalt, the stones being in some cases twenty-five feet long. On passing through a gateway in this wall a court, enclosed by walls thirty feet high, is reached. This court is now almost hidden In parts by luxuriant vegetation ; but on investigation a terrace eight feet high and twelve broad is found to run round the inside of tho enclosing wall. Low walls running noath and south divide the court into three paits, in the centre of each of which is a closed chamber roofed over with basaltic columns. The labor of building there structures mnst have been enormous, for there are no basaltic rocks within ten miles, with an intervening country thickly wooded and precipitous. Such an exhibit is evidently eutiiely out ot the power of the present savage inhabitants. The theory that the buildings were the wofk of Spanish bucca ueers is also untenable. The past history of the South Seas is veiled in deep ob scurity. Could we but gain an insight into the remote past of this quarter of the globe, perhaps a picture could be revealed by the side of which the tales ot Monte zuma and the Incas of Peru would sink into insignificance. threw m One. -GKJClLTLKlt A ncmbsk of the leading farmers of Ly coming county. Pa,, are looking toward the organization cf a company having for its ooject the improvement of farm live stocK. Tide is a very wise step, and we hope to hear of the successful organization of the company. A company of farmers with this object in view, properly organ .zed and wisely directed, cannot fail to prove dinctly remunerative, not only to the stock-holders, but to every live-stock owner in the community in which it con ducts its operations. Individual effort is not equal to the task of making the uni versal improvement in our farm stock which the best interests of the farmers de mand, but there is scarcely a township, certainly not a county m ihe country in wh.ch there could not be formed a com bination of enterprise and capita), drawn entirely from the farmers, with strength to’ accomplish speedily this much to be desired end. To be able to chronicle the advent of such an organization In every county in the laud, would be to chronicle a long step in the real advancement of agricultural interests. LPME3VIO. Tbe Double Heacue. Michael Angelo and J alias II. Gabdxnino.—A thoughtful writer re commends to every man, especially is the autumn of his life, to take to gardening, if he has not already experienced its pleas ures Of all occupations in the world it is the one which best combines repose and activity. It is not idleness, it is not stag nation, and yet it is perfect quietude. Like all things mortal it has its failures and its disappointments, and there are some things hard to understand. But it is never without its rewards, and perhaps if there were nothing but successful ciltivation, the aggregate enjoyment would be less. It is better for the occasional shadows that come ovor the scene. The discipline, too, is most salutary. It tries our patience and it tries our faith. Loaa by Sheep Ticks,—It is rare to find a flock of sheep that is not annoyed by these pests; and the sheep are constantly nibbling in their fleeces to allay the irrita tion caused by them, Yet, sheep-owners do not seem to realize their looses. Lambs have been known to be so pestered with ticks after the sheep have been sheared and the ticks, deprived of shelter, have left them, and gathered upon the lambs, that have have died in consequence. And yei there is an effective remedy, viz: Dipping the lambs early ia the season, or both lambs and sheep later. 'Ihe most effective dip is an infusion of tobacco and sulphur. A Connecticut farmer, having worked his horses for three years without shoes, declares in iavor of leaving them off. He says they work better, are more sure-laoi- ed. and far less liable to lameness than shad, and ho is well satisfied that for ordi nary work his horses' leet as nature made them are all-sufflcieat. The roads where he lives are rough hilly and stony, but the sole becomes so hard and callous as to be non-sensitive to small stones, and the ani mals sre thus far less liable to stumble. To prevent the hoofs from chipping the toes should be kept slightly rounded by a coarse file. Thebe is more money to be made by breeding and maturing finely-bred horses for use than in traming and racing them. We mean from the farmer’s standpoint, He must be alive to the progress of breed ing, and procure the blood that tells, but it is not necessary that he should make it tell. When he inspires confidence in bis stud,and can sell green youngsters at |200 or $500, he is on the high road to wealth; but when he undertakes to win races he goes in the other direction. The race track is in the hands of sporting men now adays, and they laugh at competition, even trom blue-grass farmers. K«E» STOCX OFf THE FIELDS IN W2T Wkathek. — Pasturing ground in wet weather makes it solid and cloddy and in poor condition to furnish nutriment to plants and to sustain their life. It takes very little ‘.rampiug oi muddy ground to make clods and much labor to pulverize these same clods and get the ground into suitable order again But the evil is not to be measare t by expenditure of labor alone—the loss of fertility to the soil should be taken into account; for it is not the amount in an available form. We can make our farms less fertile by allowing the stock to tramp them when muddy. Potash is a fertilizing element whose restoration to the soil is indispensable, and it is carried off by crops in considerable proportions. The restitution becomes the more imperative when plants of the leeu- minous family, such as clover, disappear, to be replaced by moss. Unwashed wood- ashes, cental ,mg six to eight per cant, of potash, and three to four phosphoric acid, often produce marvellous effects; the moes disappears, end the clover and similar plants take its place. If you want to transform a wild heifer into a well behaved and well trained cow, you must be patient and exhibit no temper. Never strike her; she must; first of all, get acquainted with you and learn that you will nor hurt her. She must learn not to feai )ou. If, in winter, it is best to milk m the stable, make as lit tle fuss and as few alarming motions as possible; handle her very gently. There is a grocer in a certain small town in ibis State who has always been called tbe stingiest man in Michigan, and many ttories are afloat about his breaking crack ers in two and taking out pinches of flour to make exa> t weight, it seems, however, that he has been harshly fudged. A few days ago he Lad a lot of cranberries dis played at the door, and a lady pedestrian hailed and asked: “Are those fresh f” “Oh, yes.” “How much a quart?” “Twenty cents, madam.” ‘ That’s ten cents for a pint, five cents for a gill, two and a half for half a gill, one and three—’* “Do you want a quart ?" “Oh, no. I was reading that corns could be cured by binding on a split cran- l»erry. I have two corns and one beiry would answer for both. I’ll give you a cent for a single berry.” “Very well—take it along. Hold on I Let’s see—let’s see- yes, I can do it. I’ll throw in an extra berry, madam, and do both up in a parcel. 1 am bound to please my cuitonura it I don’t make a cent ” Give rich foods like clover, oats, beans, peas and linseed cake. The stomach qf a horse is small and should be replenished often. Regularity is an important point. Digestion will be helped and the general health improved by giving a few cut swedes daily. Experienced fenoc-builders and others who use wood in the rough for posts, ties, etc., unite in the opinion that timber cut in summer, while the bark will yet peel frtely, is much more durable than that felled during winter. There is less of so luble sap in the trunk and limbs to absorb moisture, ferment, ane induce decay. In raising hogs, no matter what the breed, it is always best to keep & record oi tbe time at which each sow is bred, in or der that suitable provision may be made for her and the pigs.' The period of ges tation in swine is 112 days, with but lit tle variation. • Kansas holds its t eputation for large re turns to the toiler, with the extraordinary average yield of 12.5. The couutiy north of the Ohio river, in the great wheat belt, averages nearly 16 bushels. Ken tucky and Missouri promise about 14 but h- els, and California 13 bushels. The corn crop of Texas this year is es timated at 140.000,000 bushels. The value of the agricultural products of that State is $94,071,008. One hundred and fifty to 400 bushels of strawberries may be raised from one sore of land, —A matt by the Fopa costs $200iand sometime* more. Common salt is a special manure for asparagus beds •"hen used with rich barn- yam compost. The best of Uia Jerseys are being brought to this country. Pleasant Remedy fob Toothache.— Dr. T. O. Osborn, in the Medical Brie/, states that his cook came to him with a swollen cheek, asking for something to relieve the toothache with which she had been Buffering.all night. He was ou the point of sending her to a dentist when it occurred to him that there was in the house a vial of compound tinc ture of benzoin. “After cleaning tbe decayed tooth,” he says, “I saturated a pledget of cotton lint with the tincture, and packed it well into the cavity, hop ing this would suffice for the time, and told her to oome back in two or three hours if she was not relieved, I was turning away, when she said it might not be necessary, perhaps, as the pain was already gone. Supposing her faith had a large share in the relief, I would not allow myself to think that the med- cine had anything to do with the cure any more than so much hot water would have had. But when I arrived at my office two other patients were awaiting me with the same affliction, and I de termined, by way of experiment, to use the same remedy. To my agreeable surprise, both patience declared them selves immediately relieved, and begged a vial of tbe tincture for future use. During the winter a number of similar cases applied, and were instantly re lieved, with the same treatment, all ex pressing mack satisfaction with the remedy. In December I told my drug gist of tbe discovery, and recommended him to sell it to any person applying for ‘toothache drops,’ This, he reports, he has done, and that every one seems de lighted with the medicine. ” The reader should remember that benzoin is a re sinous substance obtained from the Styrax bensoin, a tree of the Epst In dies, having a fragrant odor and an aromatic taste. It should not be con founded with benzole, benzine or any preparation from petroleum. • Woolhn in 'Winter. —So far as it is possible it is a good plan to discard all woolen table spreads, and lambrequins from the sleeping rooms, particularly in winter; they cateh the dust, aud re tain it and cause a great deal of useless labor besides being decidedly unwhole some. With the many beautiful fabrics now to be obtained, in linen and cotton, there is no need of a room having a chilly and cheerless look, if this sugges tion of using cotton or linen for woolen is carried out. Very pretty table covers are made of drab linen or cream colored; they may be ornamented by etchings in the corners, or may have a border all the way round, or pretty designs are worked in scarlet, in outline stitch, which will brighten the cover sufficiently. The mantel lambrequins should match, and the small amount of care required to keep them free from dust will be appreciated by the occupant of the room, particularly if she does her own work. A bed which is not in constant use should never be kept “made up.” When a guest is expected the room should be thoroughly aired and warmed, and the bed made up with freshly aired light cotton or woolen bedding and an extra blanket left within easy reach. The bed should be placed so that the morning light will not shine directly into one’s face upon awakening, or if that is impossible, the window opposite the bed should be closely curtained. Everything necessary for a careful toilet should be provided, especially a bath tub aud plenty of coarse towels. A soft fur or wool mg upon which te stand while dressing, and one or two easy chairs are comforts which will be appreciated A Nhw Dte.—The young growth of tha poplar tree yields a dye which may be extracted as follows: The young twigs and branches are bruised and boiled for twenty minutes with a solu tion of alum, 10 pounds of wood requir ing 1 pound of alum, in 3 gallons of water. The solution is filtered hot and allowed to cool, and, after standing some time, is again filtered from a resiuons deposit. On exposure to air and light it develops a rich good color, and may be used directly for dyeing orange and yellow shades upon all classes of goods. • Lhmon Preserve.—Put into a sauce pan one pound of sugar, quarter pound of butter, six eggs, leaving out the whites of two, and the jnice auct grated rinds of three lemons. Let these boil until they become as thick as honey, stirring all the while. Pour the mix ture into small jars aud tie paper wet in the white of an egg over them, aud keep in a dry, cool place. Satin can be renovated in the same way that velvet often is—that is, by taking a hot iron, placing a hot iron over it, and holding the satin in the steam, the wrong side nearer the heat. Of comae, when the satin is worn off this does no good, bnt when it is crush ed or wrinkled the effect is surprisingly good. A sidh dish, which will be new to many cooks, is made by siloing very thin some onions and green tomatoes, in about equal proportions, and frying them together jmst as you fry onions alone. Salt them well, and if there is any danger of their being greasy, drain before sarving. French Cass.—Four eggs, two cup fuls sugar, a half cupful butter, a cup ful mdk, three large cupfuls flour in which is sifted two teaspoonfnls of cream tartar and a teaspoonful of soda; add lemon. (Joosdes.- Two cupfuls sugar, a cup ful butter or nice drippings, two eggs, a oupfnl sour milk, a teaspoonful soda* flavor with cinnamon, nutmeg and a few caraway seeds, flour to roll; bake in a quick oven, but do not scorch them. Arne Rittxb,—Beat two yolks of eggs in half a pint of milk, cut one and a half slices of stale bread, pour over the slices the mixture, and let them steep one hour; fry in butter a light brown. Eat with jelly or lemon froth sauce. Caledonia Cream.—Two ounces of raspberry jam. two ounces of red cur rant jam, sifted loaf sugar, the whites of two eggs. .. at all into a bowl, and beat with a spool for three quarters of an hour. This is a "lixtnre that is much used in Scotland as a delicacy. A liimiB saleratns rubbed on with the finger or a bit of linen, will remove stains from cups and other articles of tableware. It will also remove spots trom marbleized oilcloths, and many stains from tinware, Tra Cake.—Ono egg; one cupful each of sugar and sour milk, a half cup ful shortening, a teaspoonful soda in two cupfuls floor. Use dark spice and add a half-cupfnl raisins. A tint of mustard seed put in a bar rel of cider will preserve it sweet for several months. A dreadful night— O, a dreadful night 1 ” murmured the young wife with a shudder, as screening the pane with her band from the bright firelight she attempted, but in vain, to penetrate the storm and darkness without. ‘ God grant he may dear,” and with this heartfelt petition she turned from the window, seated herself and took up her knitting. Cheerful, homelike was the sspect of that humble apartment. Near the Are, whose brisk blaze filled the room. with a ruddy glow, sang the waiting tea-kettle; while a neatly spread supper table oc cupied the centre of the floor. Slowly and distinctly the tall clock at the back part of the room told the hour of eight. The young woman put aside her task, and once more went to the window. The tempest had not in the least abated, but raged with the fury of a thousand uncaged lions, and seemea still increasing, Fearfull indeed was that eve ning’s elemental waafare over that bleak Canadian plain I “Yet he comes not—my husband.Merci ful heaven befriend me l” Tears gathered in the eyes of the gentle, devoted wife. Then Hope repeated her whisperings, and in imagination the wife beheld the sturdy Mrm of her beloved nobly breasting the storm, and step by step nearing his home in safety. Already she seemed pouring for him the fragrant, steaming beverage, aad listened to his expressions of thankful ness for surrounding blessings. About noon of ‘hat day he had left home on foot intending to transact business In a village five miles distant and return at nightfall.’ At that time no si 'ns of an immediate storm were apparent, but as the day drew near its close the clouds began to gather thick and heavy, and the snow to fall in huge, feathery flakes. Faster and faster it descended, till all the air seemed filled by one mighty avalanche. Three hours had passed, and the storm-god in all his terrible fury was yet abroad. Ai length calmness could be maintained 5y the waiting wife no longer. Hope and trust had died within her bosom. Vainly did she endeavor to persuade herself into the belief that the fierceness of the storm had prevented her husband from leaving the village—she would not be de ceived. He would never voluntarily abandon her thus to loneliness and awful uncertainty. No, the assurance was all too undoubted, that the cold and the tempest had overpowered him on br way, and he had sunk amid the drifting snows to per ish. Suddenly she ransed, while every fea ture speaks desperate resolve. See, she hurriedly envelopes herself in cloak and hood, and now with firm steps moves to- wa.d the door. Upon what is she deter mined? Surely she will not expose that frail form to the strife that rages without 1 But yes; she lifts the latch, aid uncloses the door. On the instant a furious blast drove a portion of the snow, which had accumulated against the panels, to the op posite side of the room. Unable to com pete with its rape,theagoniRed wife shrank back, and applying her wnole strength to the door forced it again to its place, be tween herself and the rough element with- out She waited but a moment, however, the next she had rushed forth, closed the door behind her, and was plunging wildly down the snow-filled path Ihe storm was over, the clouds were beginning to break, and let down the rays of the moon, whose broad disk had just risen above the horizon. But while the snow had ceased to fall, the cold had grown more intense, and the wrath of tho wind was nothing spent. Onward toiled the solitary female through the blinding, suffocating snow, which was constantly being hurled against her; and ever and anon a blast, fiercer than the others, compelled her to halt for a moment and bury her face in the folds of her cloak. It was a dreary waste over which she had to pass; no cottage window sent forth a cheering gleam; only a snow-covered plain and barren trees in the distance could be seen. And now, when nearly a mile lav be tween her and home, the wife felt herself exhausted and benumbed by cold to a de gree that, she could proceed no further. The sharp winds pierced her garments as if they had been but a role of munhn, and put to the torture every fibre of her frame, tier limbs refused longer to obey her will, her breath was gone, her vety heart’s blood seemad turned to ice She tottered and fell, and the same blast that bore her down wrapped her m a shroud of snow. Bpt exerting herself to the utmost, she rose to he r feet again, for her last glance had rested on a dark object a short distance In advance, and the possibility of it being him she thought nerved her to make one more effect. Fixing her eyes upon the ob ject which had attracted her attention, she struggled forward, and reached h just as her remnant of strength was expended. It was rndeed her husband! He had contended with the eleaents,until chilled, wearied, and almost breathless, he had sunk down in the path in order to recover himselt for a further effort. No thought of perishing had passi’d the strong man’s mind; but no sooner did muscular action cease than the lethargy which, but for timely breaking, would have ended in death, was upon him. All sense of suffer ing fled, gay colors floated before his right, and the sound of the angry blast seemed sweetest music. How long he had remained thus he knew not, when suddenly the voice of Ins wife exclaimed, “Thank God, we die to gether 1 ” sounded faintly in his ears; and the same instant he felt her prostrate form and encircling arms. These quickly aroused them to a sense warmed tbe cot- gealing life current, and sent it lighvnim - like through its channels. The knowledge of the danger—the cer tain death—to which his idolized com panion was exposed, and from which be alone could save her. at once raied himself above the power of faiigue and cold. SUrting to his feet, he folded her insenti- hle form to hta liosoui and bore at towaid their home, as if she had been the merest infant. The blast to him was hut a zephyr, the snowdrifts but unresisting air. He paused not until the cottage was reached, where the wife was presently restored to anima tion, aud botn to happiness. Each had saved thB other from a fearful death. 2?.« celebntai Gobelin Factory was originally intended f ir dyeing, and Giles and John Gobelin, the moet noted dyers of that time, were its founders. These two men appear to have become famous by reason of their having introduced into Pans a celebrated scarlet. Their work shops were established on the hanks of a small stream called ths Bievre, near to Pari?. Like many enterprises regarded by the people of that time as eccentric, these workshops received a nickname,and under the appellation of the “Gobelin Folly ” they continued till 1667, when the whole property and piaDt were purchased jy tbe King af the suggestion of Colbert. The works were then converted into a royal factory for ail kinds of artistic articles of 'laintmg, such as sculpture, designing and apesiry weaving. The era of the Gobelin I tapestriet, then began, and tbev rapidly ac quired dsaenred celebrity. immediately after this interval of painting occurred that encounter of two of the most notable men of their time which gives a striking and humorous pkgo to the history of ar‘,, Julias II, probably soma years after his accession to the Papacy, took the great sculptor whose temper and character were not un like his own, into his employment, in order that he might glorify himself with a tomb worthy his own estimate of his greatness—a most wise precaution for all who share the impulse of posthu mous vanity. The Pope and the artist were a fit pair to meet in that great old Rome, so fall of memories; and the warlike narrative of their friendship and qnarrels. hot on both sides, yet on neither without a mixture of genuine regard and liking, is full of interest and character. Its beginning, however, was not of an agreeable kind. Excited by hopes of a splendid work, not less honorable to himself than to Pope Julias, Michael Angelo had first to betake himself for eight dreary proba tionary months to the_marble country of Carrara to choose the blocks for his statues, and to get them painfully con veyed to the sea, to be sent off to Rome. In tbis exile, during which it is easy to imagine the eager anticipation of the great sculptor, held, as it were, in the leash, and unable to get to work, though with such wealth of virgin material round 1 im, he had hard ado, Yasari tells us, to keep himself from striking out, with those fiery vehement strokes of his, some huge abozeo in the white rocks of a cave, as a memorial of hi m- self and his weary vigil. What pil grimages we should all have made to that powdery waste had he left some such vast mysterious image as the un completed “Day” of San Lorenzo to keep the world in mind of the long days he passed there among the rough marble of those precious caverns. The blocks which ho sent to Rome half filled the piazza of St. Pietro; and as soon as the artist was released from the labor of collecting them, ho rushed at his more congenial work con grande animoi Such was the eagerness of both artist and patron that a communication, “a bridge,” as Yasari calls it, w.is made between the Vatican and til: ; ut shed iu the piazza which h 11 o j 11 e rected over the sculptor an 1 tho marble which he attacked in a sacred fury of creation. It is not difficult to understand how the perpetual intrusion at any moment, however critical, of such a visitor as the fiery cld Pope, with the license of age added to that of absolute power, inquiring, criticising, praising and blaming with more zeal than knowl edge, must have gone fax* to drive the equally fiery young sculptor half fran tic by times, when he had to suspend his chisel, and snbdne his furia, and listen to all his Holiness might choose to say. Perhaps an impatient word bursting from him at some especially unpropitious visit, which nettled Julius; bnt at all events, when a new arrival of marble, from Carrara made it necessary for the sculptor to get money from the Pope, his Holmes j was busy and could not see him. This was repeated two or three times, at first to his surprise, and afterward to the furious indigna tion of Michael Angelo, who feit him self as great and independent as either Prince or Pope. “You dont know who it w to whom you refuse admittance,'* a wondering by-stander said at last in Lis bearing to the lackey who shut him oat. “1 know him very well, but I am here to obey my orders,” said the man. Michael Angelo turned away, breathing fire aud flame, and bidding the lackey tell the Pope that if he wanted him he must send for him, went off to his house, where he gave his servanis orders to sell every thing to the Jews, and left Rome instantly, riding all through the night ia hot haste, and never drawing bridle t : li he reached Tuscan soil. As it proved, he had taken the only wise course; for he had scarcely reached Poggibonsi, on the Florentine frontier, when no less than five couriers arrived one after tho other, with letters from Julius recalling him. But the sculptor was no less proud than the Pope; all the messengers could get from him was a brief note of repL, proudly in forming his Holiness that it was im possible for him who had been “cac- ciato via come un tristo,” to go back again; after which he made his way to Florence, settling down in his old quar ters, it would seem with all the haughty sadness of an injured man t » • Excuse. “When I was a young man,” said au old lawyer, “I spent several years in the south, residing for a time at Port Gibson on the Mississippi river. A great deal of litigation was going on there about that time, and it was not always an easy matter to obtain a jury. One day I was turn mi ne 1 to act injthat capacity, and repaired to court to get excused. On my name being called, I informed his honor the judge that I was net a freeholder, aud tnerefere not qualified to serve.” “You board at tbe hotel, I presume,” said the judge. “1 take my meals there, but have" rooms at another part of the town, where I lodge, ” “So you keep bachelor’s hall? ’ Yes, sir. “How long have you lived in that manner?” “About six months.” “I think you are qualified.” grave y remarked the judge, “for I have never known a mau to keep bachelor’s hall the length of time yon name who had not dirt enough m ins room to make him a freeholder. The court does not excuse yon.” It ia repcied chat Mi. Werderman has succeeded in dispensing with the voceum m incandescent elictric lamps by usmii crystalline silicon in place ot c or boa Tne silicon cam be fused into ban which may be heated to whiteness in the air without undergoing any change. Tbe Tumble Weed of the Pimlree. A startling story is told by the vera cious Western mau of a party of Eng- l.sh tourists who were out on the plains on a shooting excursion. They had been out the greater part of the day without meeting with any game, and were repeating for the hundredth time that their luck was “beastly,” when one of them noticed a large animal some distauce away, which was approaching them in a leisurely but apparently in quisitive manner, for it pansed occas ionally as if to study them. The Eng lishman pointed the animal oat to his companions, and they agreed among ’ themselves that it mnst be a bison, though its movements were different from thoflfc of any four-legged creature they had ever seen before. However, they did not make much of that fact, ae a breeze that had apraug up had raisi d considerable dust aud made it impissi- ble to sec very clearly. It was so evident that the bison—if such it were—was attracted by curiosity, that one of the hunters determined to beguile it by a device he had heard spoken of as very successful with the antelope. Accordingly he lay upon hia back and kicked kin heels in the air, while the crack shot of the party pre pared to shot when the proper time came. The creature was so far away and approached so slowly that the de coy grew “>ed and had to be relieved. It was so evident that they were draw ing the creature toward them, however, that each in turn cheerfully and even enthusiastically kicked himself tired. The breeze had grown raomentarily stronger, and though it was fortunately blowing toward them, it created so much dust that it was not easy to get good aim. However, the animal had in creased its pace and with an occasional bound into the air was rapidly approach ing them. It was impossible to male out which was bis head and which his side, so the appointed hnntor, with as careful aim as the strange character of the game rendered possible, fired. The animid bad been hit, for they could see the fur fly, but it paid no at tention to the shot, unless it was to bound into the air and increase its speed so ranch that in a lew moments it wa* near enough to be easily distinguished. It was an uncouth monster of huge pro portions, and progressed not in the usual way, but by a series of prodigious leaps. The hungers were greatly startled by tbe appearance of this un known animal, but they realized that they mast Jose no time in shooting if they hoped to keep it from them. They all fired at once; bnt whether wounded or not, the monster only ip^d the swift - er. They paused ia amazement for a moment, but were ronsed into sudden activity when one of their number skouted that a whole herd of the mon sters v as upon them. True enough all over the plain they came with frightful rapidity, nuking such tremendous leaps that there seemed as many in the air as on the ground. The hunters lingered no longer, but with the haste of terror throw everything from them, aud ran to such purpose that they distanced their pursuers and found shelter late in the afternoon in the town from which they skirted. Their story created a great sensation, but not of precisely the kind they hid expected. The next morning it was found that the tourists had leit for Sau Francisco. Tho story, if not true, at least serves well to illustrate the peculiar habit of the great tumbb weed. This strange growth, which be.ougs te tho pig wee d family, is very abundant in the great Arkansas vailey, and varies in size irom the largest specimen shown to one foot or less in diameter. It grows upon a disproportionately small stem, which, however. i 8 of sufficient stoutness to sustain the mass until it has npentd aud dried, when a slight gust cf wind will suffice to blow it over and snap the brittle standard. It now rolls over and over at even* puff of wind, aud being both light and elastic will perform a series of bounds over anj impeding bowlders or bushes. In a high wind tbe fantastic spectacle produced by a number of these bails of varying sizes can easily be imagined. And as the English tourist with his store of wonder adjectives and odd ex pletive. is tho stock bu tof the Western man, it is not strauge that he should be brought into service to illustrate the most striking feature of the tumble weed. Aside from its spectacular phase, this habit of the tumble weed may be viewed m an even more interesting light. Man sees everything from the standpoint oV ntihty to himself, and he may not com- prebend tbe necessity for the existence o; the tumble weed at all; but in eveiy created thing there seems to be inher ent a continual effort to propogate its Rind. Examples of the working of this spirit cannot be necessary, for even m tne cities, the trees—the ailanthns, for example, with its winged seeds—mve evidence of it. Tk j fantastic and seen - mgly senseless whirling, rolling, and bounding, of the tumbleweed, when un derstood, Ml the story of a unique plan for distributing seed. 37-s breakfast we take in winter will determine om* efficiency for work m the day, and will so influence our whole beimr for that period of time that no altermeal can correct it. The breakfast m winter must contain more mtrogerous food than in summer, it is absolutely needed. You must store hi at to furnish material for ab sorption and for maintaining vitality; add to this nitrogenous food something that will disengage heat from the blood and keep up temperature, and you may defy the coldest day. Your face may feel U - your hands may feel it, but your body wii’i he impervious to tt, and go on liiseng^mg that inward heat which can alone stanu D ow ? red twnpoMHure without. dP,i h L wv* meal h “ ***“ pr0 P erI y attca- ded k, wa may presume that vital action can be maintained in full force for five hour* at .east heforc it needs leplcnishing. ' .‘.ii ' .CM