University of South Carolina Libraries
4 m Mlloouing to tb( Pole. the same Two great scientific questions are now agitatirg the minds of some of the bal loonists in this country and Europe. One is the possibility of reaclung the North Foie in a balloon, and the other the practicability of Retting into the eas^xn current two miles above the earth and crossing the Atlantic. Com mander Oheyne has aroused so much interest in the first question that a com pany has been formed in London, On tario, for the purpose of organizing a balloon expedition to the North Pole. A reporter had a conversation a few days ago with Mr. Unmley, a well-known seronaut on the subject in question. “if Commander Cneyne had any ex perience in ballooning under adverse circumstances,” said Mr. Gnmley, “1 think he would see the impracticability of his views. 1 have no doubt that he may be honest enough in his intentions, but he is working at a thing he does not understand “Have you ever met him?” inquired the reporter, “No, but I know a good deal about him. 1 have becpi following the course of hut lectures, and I wrote to him some time ago asking him to give me an ex planation ol his proposed plan of over coming the difficulties in the way of readaug the Pole in a balloon, and he has not yet answered me. 1 know he has a very persuasive manner, and is a great euuiusiast in the possibilities of ballooning; but fie baa not been in the habit of reducing fiia theory to practice. It fie did, 1 think fie would talk differ ently.” “What, in your estimation, appears to be the impracticable part ol Cueyne's theory?” “He seems to disregard every essen tial connected with ballooning. 1 am quite tamihar with the whole history ol ballooning, besides having made over one Lunured assents my sell, many of them being quite sucoeesluL, and irom all my knewieuge and experience I have come to the conclusion mat a Polar ex pedition in a balloon is impracticable.” Mr. Grimley then entered minutely into the arguments, showing the alleged impracticability oi a Poiar balloon voy age, regretting at the same time that the proots were not all on Commander Chtyne’s side. *T assure you,” said the aeronaut, “if I could see any practi cability in it, 1 should have mace the experiment long ago, and would be only too happy to co-opeiate with Cominan tier Cneyne, U he would give me the chance, and convince me by scientific explanation that the thing is possible, lo go into particulars, then, about me possibility ol the entuprise, the intense coju is me hist great burner. The only good scientific point about Cueyne's Ifitory is ifiat tfie temperature would be lavoiabie lor cooling uuwu the gas, but this is only a small advantage when you come to make an ofiset ol the disadvan tages. 'Ifie place where he proposes to inhale the balloon is 7DO miles ixoin me Pole, ana the thermometer is ioriy de grees below Zero.’' “How would this cold interfere with the enterprise?” “in the first place, the balloonist would Lave to use oil-silk, because tfie objections to rubber are so numerous that 1 need not say anything about it Well, everybody knows that an oiled suriaoe in a temperature like that be comes brittle and almost impossible to handle. It would be easy to make the gas, if they could get a balloon to hold together until it was filled.” •‘And what would prevent it from holding together?” “Why, it would become stiff as a board and break ail up, so that tfie gas would escape.” “Suppose fie could oveioome this ob jection and lurnibfi material for tfie bal loon that would be impervious to the frost?” “Well, suppose he could. The rext difficulty would be in the gas. As I said, it could be easily made; but then tfie only gas—namely, hydrogen—that would be sufficient for inflating pur poses would in that temperature con dense almost as fust as it could be made, and consequently lose a portion of its elevating power very rapidly. It would become deteriorated in the ratio of the increase of cold. ” “Suppose the balloon was filled in a higher temperature?” • “Then all these objections wculd apply with eqflal force as soon as it reached tfie fngid regions, with the ad ditional objection that in making that distance a portion of the gas would be spent under circumstances in which economy in gas would be of tfie first im portance.” “Suppose Oheyne should overcome all the objections thus far, inflate the balloon, and soar heavenward at forty degrees below zero and within 700 miles of tfie Pole, what would be the new dif ficulties tfieu?” “The difficulties then, compared with the launch in an ordinary voyage are all seriously aggravated. So muen so that without something unknown to the scientific world they appear to be insu perable. To begin with, 700 miles is an enormous trip lor a balloon, under the most lavorable circumstances. There is nothing on record, I believe, to ex ceed that if we except the instance of the one that was caught m a gale during the siege of Paris and was blown a dis tance ol 1,600 miles to Norway, the two oocnpantu having a marvelous escape. Then, as i. understand him, Gheyne pro poses to go to the Pole by ea?y stages. He intends to stop, poised in mid-sir occasionally, awaiting lavorable breezes, just as a captain would lay to at sea. To my mind, however, there is no such certainty about terial navigation as this. “But suppose pJ! these difficulties were overcame «nd thtt he did reach the Pole,” said the aeronaut, this time put ting his own interrogatory,." what would he do then if he did not hud inhabitants there? How should he get back and cross that insuperable barrier of ice 450 miles from the Pole? Has he any reason to conclude that it would be easier crossed coming from the Pole than going toward it, if he should be able to sur mount the unknown difficulties that may intervene?” H the Arctic expedition is not found to be practicable, balloonists need not despair, tor it seems that a few of the most eminent of them have an enter prise on hand that they are convinced will be a grand success, and of equal importance to science and humanity. This is nothing less than a traus-Atlantic trip in the eastern current, and probably a Voyage round the world, in so short a . time tnat Phineas Fogg, with all his imperturabxlity, would stand aghast at the mere conception of it. Several ol the prominent aeronauts on both sides of the ocean have agreed to make an ex periment tbis summer that will settle current blows steadily in direction without veering. “This experiment will be made,” said Mr. Grimley, “by putting up two bal loons at the same time. One of these will rise to the attitude of the current, while the other will remain in the at mosphere below. By this means we shall be able to measure the velocity of the current, and to demonstrate the in- rariability of its course eastward.” “You have no doubt about its exis tence eastward?” “None whatever; upon that point I am folly satisfied, having been experi menting upon it at intervals for several years-” “Is it independent of stonps?” “Practically so. All the storms aris ing from electrical phenomena, occur in the lower atmosphere. Atgreatheight their influence, though philosophically appreciable, are not materially so as to interfere wi th the navigation of a bal loon.” “Where will the experiment start?” “From the Polo Grounds in this city, I believe. The London and Paris JEro can tic Associations have expressed their willingness to unite with us on this side in the experiment, and will contribute liberally in fitting out the balloons for the voyage. The Shoe Exhibition. Smoking a» a Science. “A medium mild cigar.” The busy ittle man whose place was behind the counter turned his vision to the mdd- eyed youth and scrutinized him studiously for a moment. “Fresh or dry?” “Medium.” “Another of those even-tempered tn6n. It’s a rule of this morning’s trade to take a mild cigar. May be it’s the glowing sunshine makes the men hght hearted; perhaps it’s a good week's work. My black-goods men all stay away.” The even-tempered man at this point concluded to hear out the story. “A man’s tobacco is his luxury,” con tinued the man who subsequently presen ted claims of being an anthropoloeist. “It is even more than his luxury. It is his confidential friend, bis constant, staid and devoted companion. He never for- gets it, and always treats it kindly. A side issue cannot spoil the friendliness. It goes on just the same when big things happen as when they don’t. A man’s ove for his tobacco becomes an intuitive instinct. His character and his cigar are controlled by the same influences of his bdng.” The mild-eyed young man. who had innocently stepped into the place on the trivial mission cf procuring a cigar, be came amazed at the wisdom of the disci ple of sone unhonortd redskin who lived down east at a time when Pennsrlrania Visitors to Paris, wno are well acquain ted with its permanent lions, will find many new sources of u erest and amuse ment in the temporary exhibitions now open. One of the most interesting is tne Shoe Exhibition at Cluny. One learns at it that in the early ages of the civilizations that have arisen, declined, and fallen the shoe maker aimed first of all at conveni ence. The barbarian chief who was obliged to rougn it did not trouble himself about ornamental foot-gear. Wliat he warded was to protect bis feet from thorns and sharp nones, and In doing this to se cure to them the utmost possible amount of liberty. Bog-trotting Celts invented a buskin admirably adapted to moor, mo rass, and stony mountain. Water exuded from it directly the entire foot ceased to be immersed. Ventilation was also pro vided for. The Celtic buskin was tough and elastic, and could be easily replaced wherever there were untanned skins at hand. When the chieftain ceased to be pedestrian, and went on horseback, his shoe became more ornate and less conven ient. Absurdity could not be carried further than it was m the time of Charles the Mad. The foot-gear was thin, long, pointed, and turned up at the toe. Beaux and belies had the points of their shoes connected by chains or ribbons to their girdles. Ladies have been ever ready to patronize shoe-makers prone to discard anatomical laws and indulge in freaks ot fancy. An exception was Catherine de Medicis. She was very active in looking after gardens, walking, riding, and overlooking her architects. It is easy to understand In looking at the boots and shoes of the seventeenth cen tury why the coach became an article of necessity to the grand seigneur and the Court lady. The heels were very high and the boot cumbersome. Moliere kept to tne square toed shoes fastened with a lace on the instep, which the bourgeois of Pans had worn for nearly a century and a half. Ha wss shoo pretty much as an Englisn Puritan, and was able to rove through France without needing the assistance of a chiropodist. In the reign o r Louis Quinze pedestrian exercise, except on the tut, hard terraces ot Versailles, became impossible. The extremity of the heel was placed under the sole of the foot, and the whole weight of the body was thrown upon the great toe. Mme. de Pompadour wore Asiatic slippers in the house, but she sacrificed to the fashion when she ap peared at Court. Marie Antoinette's heels were lower, but the toe of her shoe formed a sharp point. She was g ad, at her rustic T nan on parties, to lean on the crooked staff of a ahephenleas or on the arm of a courtier. There are sh ea at the exhibition said to have been worn by her and the Pr neesse de Limbuile. If they were only manufactured to he ! looked a: they would hare Some Pet Superstitions. “I think there are more idle, silly superstitions in the popular mind on the subject of physiology than any subject I know of,” said an eminent physician. “Why doyoasav that? Tell about some of them.” “Take the popniar notion in regard to hydrophobia. If a healthy dog bits aohild aud years afterward go mad, the child will go mad too. You’ll find that sentiment is almost incrediable. Credit to the nineteenth century, isn’t it? So is the corollary from the proposi tion, that when a child is bitten by a dog tne beast must be killed to keep the child from going mad. Then there is that time-worn bnt ever new scare that oats snok. babies’ breaths. What a oat could do with a baby’s breath is a deep and unfathomable mys tery to me. I suppose they get into cradles where there are children be cause of the warmth, and superstitions people are not in love with cats, and especially black ones. They twist the vampire story around till they get the breath-suoHng story. “Another mediaeval anatomical ro mance is that a man has twelve ribs and the woman thirteen, because God took a rib from man and made woman from it. Yon will laugh at the idea, but I have heard men vehemently declare that it was true, and were p rfectly astound ed when they found out they were mis taken. “Tne most common superstition is the charming away of warts. Sensible white people gill do all sorts of little silly hoo-doo tncks to get rid of warts. They will tiy to get people to bay them from them; they will cut as many not ches on a stick as they have warts and hide the stick, in the hope that some body will find jt who will get the warts which have been charmed oft The no tion if a toad tonches a person warts will come at the place of contact is so strong that I venture to say that there is not one in twenty bat is as afraid of touching a toad as a rattlesnake. Millions of toads are killed annually on thia account, when they are really the farmers' and gardeners’ best friend, as they feed upon the oags and worms tnat destroy thoii- plants. “Tite must of these superstitious are harmless, but one of those wart myths is probably the most dangerous super. sU&ou extant. Tney say that if a horse hair (it must be a oiack one) be tied tightly about a wart it will disappear. It will, usually. Also, usually it is re- piamsi by a cancer, which is hardly a desirably exchange. More cancerous growths are caused by this eruy idea sold for a copper kettle; and he could , ltt _ a de- only ou the ground that it offset feet in the btacd, or thst wo mock money had t*een pai i, and in*: the clerk was trying to make up by a gratuity of information whs; he held back m change. •It's twenty years now since I began to sell tobacco, and in that time I hare closely studied the characters of my patrons, forming my conclusions from, the kind of company they keep. I mean by the kind of cigars they smoke. I can always tell. An even-tempered, quiet fellow never goes to an extreme m choosing a tobacco; a nervous man wants something strong and furious; a mild man. something that smokes and no more. The same conditions run through chewing > tobacco. Then there is a great deal m the way men handle their cigars. Very few can smoke ou one side as well as cn, the other. Men come in here every day | who have been smoking for thirty Tears, and if they' were to place a cigar on the { wrong side of the mouth they would ap pear as clumsy and green as a boy who was trying his first weed The muscles of the face become set lo one position. Any change requires a reorganization of the lace, tjo it ain’t by the way the cigar is embraced in the mouth that you can esti mate the man. “If a man amoks his cigar only enough to keep it lighted, and relishes taking it from between his lips to cast a whirling eurl of blue smoke into the air, set him down as an easy-going tellow, who cares litt'e for how the world goes and no more lor himself. He has keen perceptions and delicate sensibilities. He will not create trouble, but is apt to see it out when it is once begun. “Beware of the man who never releases the cigar from the grip of his teeth, and is indifferent to whether if burns or dies. He is cool, calculating, and exacting. He is seldom energetic physically, but lives easily off of those who perform the labor. “A man who smokes a bit, rests a bit, and fumbles the cigar more or less, is apt to be easily affected by circumstances. He may be energetic, careful, generous and courageous, out he is vacillating and liable to change on a moment’s notice. “if the cigar goes out frequently the man has a whole-souled disposition, is a devil-may-care sort of telltfw, with a lively brain, a glib tongue, and generally a fine fund of anecdotes and yarns. “To hold half of the cigar in the mouth and smoke indifferently is a lazy man’s habit. They are generally of little force and their characters are not of the higher strata. “A nervom man, or one under exciting influences, fumbles his cigar a great deal. He is a kind ot popinjay among men. “Holding the cigar constantly between the teetb, chewing it occasionally, and not caring whether or not it has been lighted at all are characteristics of men with the tenacity of boll dogs. They never forget anything and never release a hold. “A fop stands his cigar on end, and an inexperienced smoker either points it straight ahead or almost at right-angles with his course.” “W hat per cent of smokers understand the art of nolding a cigar?” “A very small per cent. A cigar should be held with the tip between the incisor teetb, should extend horizontally and incline from the nose at about 15 or 20 degrees. Very few men know how to light a cigar, and especially a Havana, it shculd be heid over a flame to force the nicotine and natural flavor out of the wrapper into the filler of the cigar. It then smokes easier and gives out a sweeter perfume.” than cimsm from any other cause. I they would hare been charm- : coo.<i goon for hoars at a time on these The wcrkmamhip. sc.far as nttchuu I meoiosc sopereatiou*. u 1 had time to Bn the | relate them, or yoa had to iistea to i feet most have been dreadruJy sq .eeseu me. j them. Marie AsiomeK*, acconfiag to j | tradition, had s sujxro gatt Ciromciers : ’ of her time tixened aer to a goddess ■one | zlocu xi cixiija. as she was brought in j in a simpie legman wav. and taugat eary to dance bai ets. she may aare been, rela tively to the dames about her, graceful m I her increments wnen she wa.ked. The ana.es of the Dttcnease tie Bern went in. and deformed her toes. Her smswomao. the Empress Mar.e Louise, had the same defect. The ladies of die Bonaparte ramtiy had remarkaoiy ana., and wetl- shaped feet, and wor. their anoea otratgru. The Sevciunoa swept away high oeets and pruuted toea. convenience ueing greatly thought if- As *uo«nao.j» dramas were hems played in hue arms, there was a lema.nl tor -awy-iu.ng muea. wtnen would enao e their wearer* to man about in searrff of ;xmung *peemc:t» Lades' boots and moes altered iu.ts from the oegianimz of ton cenriry tc the last had of the Second Empire, wpea there was a revivai ot tae Louis '^*unse chauosure. Bit for twenty-two years gentlemen imitated auiitary aeroest Small clothes, stockings, anil sires came in with the Bourbons, who broueiit mem from England. A light, eiegact, and con venient boot was patronized by the dan dies of Louis rihilippe's reign, danced a great ileal and were fond of those light fantastic steps which went by the names of entre-chats and ades de pigeon. A pointed shoe was introduced (for gentleman’s wear) as the Second Empire was declining, and has held its own against an attempted revival of square toes of the Moliere cut. Perhaps this is the reason why dancing has be come rather a fatigue-duty to ball-room exquisites than an amusement. The Ger mans are the most dancing nation m Europe, and they have the besi shoe makers. OL-Ax* It may be that mmag and shaving nay for the rime increaiM .he acrion of the growth, bat is oas no permanent effect eitiler upon tne naix-boib or the Hair sac, and wiii out in any way add to tie Jfe off the hair On. the contrary, cutting »m» shavm? vni cause the hair ao grow longer for the tune being, bat in the end. will mevira uy shorten its term of Life by exh lasting the nu.tr.rive scBun af me jair forming apparatus. "When rile aaus will usually oea the oeanrifni gteea off the due teiicare imra. The pigment wui .ike-wise mange—ornwo. rcur instance, oecoming measaut. uni mack riiangnvr to a darx irown. In uidltma. the emla of very many wui oe sout uni ragged, present- mg a nrian-dke sppearu.ee. If the naira ippear -ini .uai in tneir growth •UH.o. persona ot the scalp it beam, or ma eeii in gray naira trip i? Here uni there, the { the steel • A Boy Bandit. At Dallas,Texas, recently two officer's lodged iu jail Lewis Miiien, a beardless youth of some sixteen snmmers whom they arrested at his home, two miles west of that place, on -the charge of robbing J. F. Snell, the agent of the Texas Central Road. The clock in the freight office of the depot marked the time 8:30. The south-bound passenger train had just palled out and the agent, W.F. Jones andD.W. Heel,clerks, were chairing, awaiting the arrival of the north-bonna passenger train, dne one boar afterwards, bnt the rattle of the out-goiug tram bad not g4t out of sight before a boy walked boldly into the of fice, and, leveling a cocked English ball dog pistol on the agent, remarked in a decidedly dangerous tone of voioe : “Here, d—n you, pace up here and pony up your money, or by the eternal I’ll shoot the top of your ooooanut off. ” As He spoke be stepoed a few paces backward, so as to get tbe three men in range, and commanded them to hold np their bauds which they did with alac rity. The boy bandit then ordered the ageut to tom his pockets inside out, rifle the safe and put all the money in to a shot bag that lay on the counter. The agent gianoed down the barrel of the pistol and readily complied, putting *18, every cent he had, into the bag. The other two men were instructed to show up, and when they exibited empty pocket books, lie tusde them shake them, bnt finding he hail made a waterhaul so far as they were concerned, he becked to the deor with his pistol still leveled on them with the remark, “I never saw so many'empty pocket-books and sc little money, and lifting his hat with a grace that would have done credit to a Chesterfield, he stepped out into the darkness oi the night, and before the agent and his companions had rime to recover from their surprise, he was gone. The boldness of the beardless youth completely unmanned them, taken as they were by surprise. He wore no mask, and every movement he made was so qnick and lull of detemnna riou that the robbery was committed before they realized the true situation of affairs, and their amazement at the auda city o! the“kid”and their fear oi the fire arm was supplanted by chagrin when all was oyer. When the news reached the city yesterday morning. Sheriff Smith and Deputy Lewis repaired to the scene of the robbery, and th? result of the investigation was the arrest of Lewis Miller. When tbe officers ap proached his house he ran, but they polled down on him, bringing him to a a stand, and when they took charge of him an English boll-dog pistol was found on his person. He was taken to Hutchins and was. identified by the parties, and was afterwards brought to the city and lodged in jail, as before stated. As he was being carried through the streets to the jail, three young countrymen galloped up on horseback and spoke to him. After the jailer had finished searching him, a Herald reporter nad a talk with the prisoner. He insisted that he was innocent of the crime with which he was charged, and said that he could readily prove an alibi, as be was at home at the time the robbery was alleged to have been com mitted. He stated that he was free to confess for two past months he bad been evading the officers on account of a fight AGRIOCLTCTBS. Many persons overstock their pastures and the animals fail to gain as mnoh as they would with a better range. Dar ing May and Jnne the grass seems so abuhd nt they purchase more stock to keep down the growth, and the resnltis the cattle daring Angust and September frequently gain nothing. The farmer most recollect that he cannot depend upon much growth of any gnrn except red clover from the middle of July until fall rains set in. With plenty of rain in the latter part of summer the grasses do not grow half as fast as during May ami June. These things must be con sidered bv the bleeder of cattle i* be ex pects the largest gain in weight, and hia pastures must be at all times such that the cattle can readily and quickly find sufficient grass. Hop plants can be used for various pnrpoaea. Thus, the wires or twigs are of service for basket or wicker work,and the leaves furnish food for farm stock and sheep; t om the tendrils a vegetable wex n obtained, and from their juice a coloring matter. The reuuig shoots, too. are eaten, tasting, when boiled, hue asparagus, and when bleached they can be made into strong paper and card board; from their fibre in Sweden yarn and hnen are spun, and the ashes are need by makers of Bohemian glass; while from the fiowerw, which give an agreeably bitter taste to beer,a tincture is derived and a medicinal extract; and a pillow filled with hops will often cause sleep, and is a great specific for old country dames, Hsaves.—If yon want to have no trouble with heave* iu your horses be sure that they are fed no dusty and dir ty hay, which is the prolific source of this annoyance. Ordinary clean hay can a w-ys be fed with sabty if p operly ent up, moistened, and mixtd with ground grain; but to feed the musty or dirty sorts is very injurious. Clover, owing to its liability to crumble, often gets dirty,even after storage.aud should never be ted wiriiont being previously moistened. Tax orchard should be cultivated at least eight years, or rill it comes well into bearing in any hoed crop, or sown to buckwheat and let fall back on the ground; care should be taken not to plow too near or too deep near the trees When yon sted nse red clover. It is advisable to shoiten in the the branches two-thirds the last year’s growth, for the reason that the tree has lost room in being taken up, and that equalizes the top and roots. In order to have successive cropps of green food for stock, small pieces of land should be sown at intervals for that purpose. Some sections will not produce in abundance, bnt such diffi culty may partially be avoided by sow ing peas and oats mixed, mustard, rad ish, oollards, kale or anything else that comes in early. Though the quantity may not be large, the green staff will answer for the change of diet, and serves an excellent purpose in that re spect. he had with Pate Bass, who forced him irequenriy cut. tney . to '.fight; and whom he stabbed twiie uten losing with a knife. The quarrel was about a young lady whom Bass objected to his jjouig to see. Hr wss, and is, still en gaged so her, and expects to marry der. soice the stabbing affray, he spent the moat of hia time in Archer ani Ciat counties, where he worked for Al ien Palmer, herding cattle. When the jailer opened the door, he stalked into a dogged manner, and when bolls closed with a clash he method of cupping off the ends of tne anon naira, of yt untiag out the ragged, withered, and gray hair?, wiU allow them to grow ascdiger, .oeger and Clouds and Su%ddno. Bed Lion Inn. On the site of what is no w the Red Lion Inn, at Putney, on the Thames, Morgan Williams, a Welshman, and Catherine nee Cromwell, his wife, carried on business from 1490 to 1511 as ale' brewers and inn keepers. They were tbe great-great-grand father and grandmother of Oliver Crom well and John Hampden, and Catherine’s brother Thomas was the famous minister of Henry Y1I1., created by him Earl of Ems, and duly beheaded in course of time A new receptacle for loose music is i ade of wicker, and oontaiua two com- ps-tmenta. Mounted upon round feet, it is decorated on either side with plash Rainy days in the country would be robbed of half their terror to adults if a little provision were made for the chil dren. When it is gloomy outside we must create artificial brightness within. Every country house has a large spare room, an attic or at least a good corner in the barn; any of these will answer for tue purpose of a playroom, which, If provided, will not only keep the little ones still, but happy. Those dreamy delightful days for reading are rescued from the intolerable noise and fuss that invariably follow the imprisonment of juveniles. If we are gomg out of town let us give up a few ruffljs, if need be, and make the fittings for the little folks. To cover walls choose plain, coarse cotton cloth for a foundation. The bes' covering will be found at tbe paper hanger’s, where nursery rhymes are pictured m most be witching form, and the “frog that would a-woolng go” becomes only one of the favorites that are followed along the spaces. The foundation can be win pletely covered, and should be one yard in depth, it can be attached to the wall by tiny steel nails. Above the dado thus formed Japanese pictures can be placed, and their bright, quaint grouping always pleases children. Wall rolls can be pur chased, or made of bright cambric, and pictures pasted on. The tops can be attached to a cane or old broom handle painted red, Tne file of bright pictures will fuimstunalerial for stories and afford amusement lo tbe children, who can do all the pasting necessary with a little help. A small folding table is easily transported for this room, and boxes to hold playthings can tie covered with chmtz. A beautiful room ot this kind is fitted with turkey red made to cover the entire wall, attached to the top of tbe wall by tiny hooks, the border finished with a row of coarse German lace. Arranged m pretty groups are figures from old fashioned plates, and anything that pleases from the illustrated papers, the arrangements should be studied, in order to place the large group at the base, and when the distance of three feet from tbe base Is finished tbe remainder can be done at random with good effect. If the ceiling is tinted a light Dlue and the floor painted chocolate color, it gives good effect. Tkev i riuemir, Mixiers, in rearing their efifidrea, kfiduid act ent toea hair at certain pertoda eff the year i luring the s ipersti- ooos nencH of foil moon, in order to increase iu .en.la and iaxami.ee as they bloom into worn inhood and man hood. To a nabit of emting tbe hair of cnildren brings evil in place of good and is also condemned by tbe distinguished worker in tnis department. Professor fca.o-i, of Vienna, who states tnat it is well known that the hair of women who possess luxuriant locks from the time of girlhood never again attains its original lensth after haviug once been cat. Pinctis has made the same observa tions by frequent experiment, and no adds that there is a general opinion that frequent cutting of the hair increases its length; but the effect is different from that generally supposed. Thus, upon one occasion he states that he cut off' circles of hair an inch in diameter on the heads of healthy men, and from week to week compared the intensity of growth of the shorn place with the rest of the hair. The result was surprising to this close and careful observer, as he lound in some eases tne numbers were squal, but generally the growth became slower after cutting, and he {has nevei; observi I an increase in rapidity. 1 might also add tuat 1 believe many beardless faces and bald heads in middle and advancing age are often dne to con stant cutting and shaving in early life. The young girls and boys seen daily upon onr streets with their olosely- cropped heads and the young men with their clean shaven faces rre year by year- by this fashion having their hair- ioming apparatus overt trained. gaz?d defiantly at the jailer for some time and then sat down, as though he won id ponder over the affair. It is said that the young man comes of a good family. domestic. Scbap Baser.—Select a medium sized Japanese umbrella, one with * .Jain ground and gilt figures is prettiest. The knob or pint is to be securely glued into a large square or circular block, which it will be necessary to have made by a carpenter, as it must be smoothly finished to look well after it has been painted. This block must also be heavy enough to act as a stand for the um brella to hold it steadily in its upright K iition, that it may not be easily ooked over. The block is tben to be painted the color of the umbrella, and decorated like it with gilt figures. To prevent the umbrella from falling open the points of the ribs which project beyond the paper covering are inter laced with satin nbbon. Either several shades of the narrowest ribbons are turned in and out of the ribs like basket work, or a wide ribbon may be used. Sew the seama with silk to match the shade of the ribbons. The umbrella should not be quite half open. A piece of gilt paper is to be out to tit round the inside of the umbrella to cover tfie sticks, and thus prevent papers and scraps from falling through to the point from whence it is difficult to remove them. • If narrow ribbons are used for the lacings, tie a bunch of thorn round the handle with long Ixips and ends, and their many colors make a gay trim ming; or shonld the wider ribbon be used, tie a full bow of it round the han dle. The gilt paper which is used as a lining to cover the sticks and hold the scraps must be glued to keep it in place. This can easily be done without injuring the covering of the umbrella by touch ing each stick with a little strong glue or gnm, and press the paper againta it. When it dries the paper will adhere and keep in place nicely. They are very odd and pretty scrap baskets and are not difficult to make. Baked Cob, Haddock or Shad.— Take a fish woighing.ti/e or six pounds, keep head on; do not have it opened too deep, make a filling of one-halt pound of breadcrumbs, one teaspoonful of finely divided parsley, one teaspoon of salt, one saltspoon of black pepper, one-half teaspoon of dried thyme and marjoram mixed, two eggs, a teaspoon of batter. Beat all well together and fill in fish; if necessary, tie up with cord; bake slowly, larding with a little butter from time to time. About one and one-half hours will cook fish. Steam Thrashers. hangings, handsomely embroidered in the question as to whether the eastern raised designs. A French Crystal Palace. A Ohrystal Palace is soon to be built in the park of St. Cloud, near Paris. This park is celebrated for its picturesque beauty; and for the ruins of its magnificent chateau, which was destroyed in the Commune. It has been decided to poll down what remains of the chateau and to erect a building similar to the Crystal Palace in Lon don. It will contain art galleries, museums of curiosities, reading-rooms, gymnasiums, panoramas and a cosmo politan theatre, where the dramatic works of all civilized nations, ancient and modern, will be produced. Tbe building will cover eighteen acres of ground, —A lady in Norwich, Conn., 72 years of age,* has just begun to take lessons on the pianoforte. Sir William Thompson follows Dr, Thomas Reid in ascribing to man six senses instead of five, namely, the sense of force, m heat, of soond, of light, of taste and of smell. In a memoir read before the medical society of Florence Dr. Bellini rec omended starch as an antidote for poi sons in general. In cases of acute poi soning an emetic should be given be fore tne antidote is administered. The fanner is getting the advantage of the inventive faculty of the present age. Steam thrashing machine r are slowly but surely displacing the old method of thrashing by horse power. It takes more help to keep the machine running up to its fall capacity than it did by horse power, but tben a much steadier motion is given, and the ifiach dreaded “thrashing days” are shortened by one-half, which is a great boon to the termer and his wile. There is only one team needed, and that the thrashing men furnish themselves, and use it for hauling water for the steam engine. Wnere the thrashed gram has to be taken any distance, of course teams have to be used for hauling it away. The steam t hrasLing'machines are ma^e ex tra large, with a big cylinder al which two meu stand to feed i These ne cessitate two baud cutt s and and ex tra two men to pitch b iem. These steam threshers, com aed with the improved machinery lor putting the grain into the ground m the spring (we refer to the screw pulverizer) and the self-binding reaper, make the farmer practically independent of the hired help, for a crop of 100 acres of small gram can be sown, reaped, and thrash ed as ea sy as 20 acres could by the old and slower methods. This is a very important item in the farmer’s economy, for in some sections help cannot be obtained daring the rush of harvest at any price, and where it can be got it is generally of an in ferior character and has to be paid the exorbit ant price of frt m *2.00 to $3.00 per day. Tue steam thrasher is ot im- mensu benefit to the farmer, and the day will soon be here that every neigh borhood will be supplied with a ma chine. Farmers can use the steam power that it takes to run the thrashing machine .for all the necessary purposes of grinding grain, shelling corn, an d cutting hay with a chaff-cutter, when the machine is not in use for thrash ing. Suitable arrangements mast be, how ever, provided for guarding against fire. Where possible tbe engine shonld be placed far enough away .from the farm baildings so there will not be the remotest chance of fire. The best way to carry this power from the engine to baildings is by a wire rope, as a belt cannot be used to carry power as far as a wire rope; and then, too, the belt, when used in wet weather will get wet and slip. In a Deadwood church, the othe? day, tbe large congregation were devoutly kneeling in prayer, when an irreverent joker qnite audibly whispered: “Here comes an eastern detective.” In seven teen seconds ail that congregation ex cept the chief elder had slid turoogh the windows. It is a common remark that the cher ry must be grafted early—a very inde finite term to most people. In the months of April and May applications to the nurseries for scions are frequent and no such orders can be honestly sup plied at such a time. An amateur gar dener brought with him from Germany a man skilled in several departments, one of which was grafting the cherry, and ne claimed that curliness was the cardinal point. He said that they most be gratted in February. Well-packed batter, if it is good to start with, and is packed in good oak firkins, scalded and brined as every dairyman knows how to do; solidly packed, headed and filled with strong brine, so that every particle of air is ex cluded— such will keep a year, and will be rosy and sweet ana marketable: but the butter must be good. Balt will not keep poor butter. The failure of all the patented milk ing machines is ascribed to the fact that they all aim at a stronger method, imi tating the sacking of a calf rather than the manipulations of hand-milking. This last is essential to getting tne lar gest secretion of the in ilk, and unless some machine can nval the hand for milkingTthe old way must be followed a while longer. Cows when first turned to grass will eat and l eed Cont idera le dry feed dai- iy. Even straw will be eaten at this time, the grass not having substance enough to it to satisty the animal. If the cow is giving milk the meal ration shonld be continued until June, or lon ger, if eaten readily. As soon as an orchard or single tree is pruned the brash shonld be gathered in bes ps to be burned when dry. Leav ing it under the trees, as dropped, Is a very slovenly practice, and when over- growp with grass or weeds in midsum mer the labor of gathering it np in heaps is much increased. Tr^. clover plant is so impatient of shade that we have never found an ad vantage in covering it with coarse ma nure, as ihe large clods destroyed as much clover as the finer manure bene- fitted. Bnt great improvements have been made in spreading manure,so that this difficulty is overcome, and with fine manure theie is no better place for it than the clover field. The high price of clover seed this Bpring is likely to permanently injure the fertility oi many farms whose own ers are too poor or too penurious to make the necessaiy outlay to secure this renovating erop. A field that should be seeded «ith clover this Spring will always be less fertile if timothy or other grass is substituted. The cultivation of the mask melon is an important industry in some parts of New Jersey. Its prohtablenese may be guessee by the fact that some New Jersey farmers for this crop expend *800 for manure. Farmers never take such risks as this unless they have learn ed by expc'ence to be reasonably sure that it payc, Squashes and all kinds of vines grow and yield the best by aorface culture; manure as you would for corn; drop the seed in rows; cover lightly; stir the soil often, and eternal vigilance is death to bugs, with a good sprinkling of insect powder. Fob house linen or dresses even bet ter than a wardrobe is a long, low otto man box that auy carpenter can make of pine wood, and which can be covered with tbe pretty cheap cretonnes so as to add to the furniture of the room. The dresses, Ac., can lie at full length, which is much better than hanging them up, for summer dresses especially. One or more trays of webbing fitted inside, will enable yon to store quite a variety of articles without crushing. Bard corns may be treated as follows: Take a thick piece of leather or felt; out a hole in the centre. Upon going to bed at night fill the hole in the cen tre with paste made of soda and soap; wash it off m the morning. Repeat the same process several nights, and the corn will be removed. . To make pmel for babies sift the best of fine ground, unbolted wheat fionr into boiling water, stirring it until it is of the consistency of gruel, cook it for fifteen or twenty minutes, then reduce it with the best of milk to a thin grnel, thin enough to sack through a teittle if necessary, strain it while hot through a fine sieve or straining cloth. Dishes for dessert are handsomely made in majolica, and the style now is to have every one a different shape and design. Some take the form of oddly shaped baskets; ott ers are upon three leet; others again, fiat Plites for ice cream are of glass, strawberries, rasp berries and grapes figoring on them in relief as decoration. Square Trays.—The oblong, sqnare- oornered, Japanese trays, of papier maohe, are much more convenient for an invalid’s bedside service than the ordinary oval “waiter” of lacquered metal They are mnoh lighter than metal trays and more roomy by their shape for the breakfast or dinner dishes required. No one will go back to an oval after using a square-cornered tray. An occasional table for a lady’s boudoir is very peculiar, being of brass with three shelves of painted porcelain,' and surmounted by a small beveled mir ror in a frame of wrought bronze. Upon the upper shelf is a box, lined with tufted satin, which, when shut, forms the top of the table. A VKRY lovely effect is produced in a . screen which is mounted iu bronze by the use of semi-transparent blue silk for the panel, upon which a view of a lake amid Alpine scenery is worked in long stitch in shaded silks. Tne effect of snow upon the mountains Is most hap pily conveyed. Fashionable lamp shades are in every variety of material and style. Foremost in them are those in tinted silk, shaped to the size of the lamp and painted in water color designs; others are of paper, made np in imitation of flowers, roses tulips or dahlias in delicately shaded papers. Picture frames are mnch liked now in plain, severe style. Deep oak bor- derings have a finish of wrought bronze and an’inner bordering of gilt. Occa sionally designs in bronze relief are placed in each corner. Pillow shams are regaining favor A favorite style now is to make them of the finest cam brio, with narrow insertion edge, with drawn work and finished off with a bordering of lace to match in sertion. A new chair specially adapted for the ooming season is of light wicker work and is deep seated; above it is a large hood or shade, also of wicker, into which a window is introduced either side. upon A New York farmer declares that an aers of the Hubbard squash will fatten more hogs than the corn that can be ra. ied on the same ground. He has gathered from six to eight tons from an acre. A novelty has been introdneed m parlor curtains in the application of col- f red designs upon lace. In a very hand some pair of white curtains Hying birds in natural colors are appliqued on to the material. -- a New fashioned book rests have the ends richly carved fn deep relief, a pre ference being given to animals' heads in some oases the ends are formed of polished steel in the shape of anchors. A novel inkstand presents a carious combination, having a stand behind tbe ink bottles for paint brashes, and at the back of that again, compartments for plaques, cards, etc. i 1 4 > *•- ^MbSSL GiJSla LL