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F r V^ VOL. XLII. WINNSBORO, S. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1886. NO. 39. 4 ? After the Fall of Troy. Troj- ha* fallen; and never ~iil be vV?.r 'fihc thr> war that was vajred for mo. Could I but bar- these ton vertrs back again, ^ With the love an'i the plorv. the pleasure lifce nam. The clash of arms and thA din of thefiffht. The ferslin; aji-1 mnsic. the color and lizht! Yet, m!sod with it all, there sounder! to me Ever a moan from the far off ?ea. There still remain* this for all time to be: The Trnr of the Tvorld "xr.s fousrht for me. vine lucm nn pur wfio <3ic<i Tor me inerc; H<'n c?n nevermore die for ft face so fair. An<! what Ooes it matter that now they lie, Suict and silent, beuenih the bky? emeniber that none evermore can be " Back for those years In Troy with m?. WL ?Florence Peacock, in Academy. Under the Snow. June. ith !?r iojxvv went Ion? a^ro; To-night the w.rth's lying (Jeep under th? ' ** ox>e's richest treasures, like roses of yore, .re fw\ttero<J ftnd vanished, to come nevermors. < jg inc urc-.i,n ot s&y bios SO ie?, V. iovo-naumea ^ The *>n-iighhip zephyrs, thy birds' tender -? Tby far-away gay lands, so blue and ro fair, fij| The mists or Jiy mornings, rose-tinted and .^sjggBimec m*ft*thy music, its silcnce l.? pain; gj||s|^ ;^P^cc face made thy beauty, 'twill come ne'er Big TfWlo chtl! T.'linls are blowing I wc In my O'er the lore that lies buried deep under the frW ?Boston Transcript. w STORY OF A RECLUSE. In on* cf the mountainous counties of Wjvsh. thrre lived for'many years a hermit^ of whom no one had any knowl* His abode was a cave, in a wild region; and he never appeared among: his \Ael low-beings except to obtain such ne-1 paries as his hermit life required. *fie would never, while l^ing, rev*. *?:s name, nor place of birth, nor the . '' cause which had led him to seclude hmi. self from the world. One day a couple of travelers, passing through that region, visited the cave, and found ihc hermit not only dead, but in a state of decomposition. on . ^ - rx I J. I1C OOvlJ, .llier HU lU^UUSL, ?iU> buried, and some garments and a few trifles, which belonged to the deceased, were deposited at the nearest magisIrate1 s oflice, with a full statement of the facts. In a pocket of one of these garments was found a manusciipt, supposed to have been written by the deceased, and which, as it tells its own story, we here transcribe without a v?*ord of comment: T < ? (I T T1 Af T*(X_ [ JL n win ILX <*. wai A emu* cord, in s place 1 shall not reveal, and under a name I shall not disclose. For many long years I have been dixul to the world, and my desire now is that the waves of oblivion shall roll over me and leave me as if I had never . , been. And yet there are some facts in my ^ life which I wish to set forth, k; Why? kWell, I doubt if I could tell anyone why. ^ I only know that the impulse is on \ me to write them down, perhaps to de * strov the record when done. Wf > Mv yonih passed pleasantly. F ' I had kind, indulgent, and" pious pargL ents, who sought- to make my life a hapry one. I was scut to school at an early age, ar,d kept there till I had acquired a W od English education. Then, ?.t my own request, I bccame UI1 UUUCtViCilv ill tuc iitlgc ?r tablisliiiient of a prosperous merchant Bv strict integrity and diligence 2 gradually rose to a first position. At two-and-lwenty 1 had the confidence cf my employer, and was often invited to his dwelling. At tirst this made me very happy, and as I iboked forward then, the future seemed very bright. But, alas, nnd alas! this w:ts the ocginning of a borrow which will never end while I re- " juain on earth. * employer had a daughter?a kind, * jp gei. e. lovely being?who, to my en-4-^ xa ^red vision, seemed .in angel just coine down from Paradise. Frorr. the moment I first behold her my whole soul went out to her. and from that time forth I could conceive of no enjoyment in which she had no part. As 1 am confessing this to myself, or to a worid that will never know inc, I will say that I loved hcr'to a degree of vrorship which made her a something above and beyond my' reach; and though naturally easy and fluent in conversation, I could not speak to her without changing color and choking, and appearing more like an idiot than a man of sense. This made me avoid meeting her when alone, or pressing forward to take my chance with those who were seeking her at every opportunity, perhaps because of a liking for herself, perhaps because of a liking for the money she wou-d inherit I do not think she ever suspected me if having any regard for her beyond ,'iat of her being the daughter of my (employer, whom I was in duty bound !to treat with respectful deference, and certain I am that she had no conception the holy love and worship I secretly fe.vve her. As I have said, I avoided as much as ? possible coming in contact with her? would have gone a mile out of my way ;rather than speak to her. and yet her presence, in my company of which I formed a part, was a flowing joy, and -ier absence a denressmfr void. Among hor numerous suitors was a fellow-clerk, who held a position of con5dence under our employer similar to my own, and who, when we were alone together, was always praising her sweetness and beauty, and proclaiming his own undying lore. "Oh, fancy the golden moment when I shall be able to dasp her dear little hand in mine, and call her by the enduring name of wife!'' ha would sometimes exclaim, or use words of similar import; and when I would as often turn aside, to conccnl the feelings that would Sg almost overpower rue, he would mis tii-SW my iicuou IVl a UiSiiivo vu. tuv ou ject. wAh," he one day said to me, "I perceive my darling linds ncf favor in jour sight; and she knows vou do not like her; but for my sake, t trust you will ? not let her s?e that you absolutely hate the sight of her person, and the mention of her name.'' This to mo. whose execss or ioto iot the object in question wu consuming nic like an inward fire! "ManT' cried I. turning upon him with the glaring fun* of a "wilci beast, "if tou loved llfat being with one tenth of the passion that is destroying me. j you "would cut vour wagging tongue j from your gaping mouth ero you would 1 permit so flippant a mention of so sacred j .a name." He started. and stared at me, while I i walked indignantly away. Did he unc.er^tand my words? Did | - he comprehend them in their breadth j and depth? On'y so far. perhaps, as a shallow : brain and & sr.periicial feeling could ! reach, for he ytjw one entitv, and I an- j L From t^at moment, however, he ceased to _tjeak of her in my presence, and I, feeling that she was lost to me for ever, only secretly worshipped her from afar. So matters drifted on for a time, and I became miserable over my solitarv brooding; and while I wished myself far enough from the scene of a rival's trinn-ph, I shrank irom tne inougm, 01 goiug where I should never look upon my idol again. "One ni^ht, having forgotten something at the store, I procured the kev from the porter and entered the builcfing. To my surprise, I soon perceived the glimmer of a light in the countingroom; and on approaching it cautiously, thinking there might be a burglar at work, I was still more surprised to see the safe-door open, and my rival seated on the floor, apparently counting a large roll of bank-notes. "Well, this looks like singular nightwork!" said I. With a startled cry, be rainy leapou to his feet,"letting the money fall around him. and turned towards me one of the moss gnastiy laces i erer Deneia. After looking straight in my face for a few moments, during which he shook and trembled, and his very lips quivered, he stammered out: "Wh-wh-why, is it you? Wha-whawhat do you want?*' "Suppose in turn I ask you what you are doing with that open safe and money at this untimely hour?" "Oh, that?'1 he answered, glancing j down at the scattered bank-notes, and evidently recovering himself with an effort* "Ha, ha!" he affected to laugh. "Do you know, my dear fellow, I took you for a burglar!'' "Instead of yourself, eh?" "The fact is, you see, mv dear friend "Suppose you leave the 'dear friend1 out?" I interrupted. "Well, then,' he coolly went on, "tho fact is that, after going home, the idea came mto my neaa tnat i nau mauo & mistake in my money report; and as the governor, you know (meaning our employer), is very particular about trifles, and might discover it before I should get a chance to make a correction. I thought I had hotter attend to it at once.'* "And doubtless you found an error, which you were about to set right!" I said, with a sneer which ho seemed not to notice. "Oh, yes, I think there was an error; but I am not quite sure, because of your inlwrrmtmri- T shall have to <7*0 all over the money again. And now that I have accounted for my presence here, suppose you do the same," he added, giving me a searching look. "Well, I came in to get " Here it occurred to me that I, an honest man, was being interrogated by one who was perhaos a thief, and I suddenly broke off and added: "That is my business." 'Oho!" he exclaimed with a peooliar look and leer. "And I came in by the porter's key," I sharply continued. "Aha! yes, yes. Just so!*' "And by what key did you come in?" "1 suppose you are not ignorant of the fact that there is ?. private key?" he answered. "Which belongs to the governor." "And which his daughter could get for me." "Having everv confidence in your integrity." "At least she ought to have in her future husband, you know." This allusion to his coming marriage with my worshipped angel nearly drove me wild. I controlled myself as .well as I could, and merely said: "I hope you will find your money affair all correct, and not hare to take away or add anything!" ? "fhank you! I hope I shalir..he iiandly answered. I turned away abruptly to seek what I came-for and leave the building. As i was about to aepart, in no enviable frame of mind, he ealied out: "' I suppose you will report what jou have discovered, and as much to my injury as possible?" "Probably you arc now judging me by yourself, 'I angrilv replied; '-but I w'ill thank you to understand that I am too much of a gentleman to be a talebearer." ' Ail right, then, and good-night!" he said. Bein^ too angry to respond I hurried out and locked the door without saying another word. 1 returned the key to the porter; but I did not mention to him, nor to anyone else, the fact of my having met my fellow-clerk in the building, under circumstances so calculated to excite suspicion of bis being thure for an evil purpose. In this I am now certain I did wrong; but I was young then, without experience in the evil ways of mankind, strict ly honest and honorable myself, and possessed too much pride to demean myself to the low condition of a talebearer. 1 reasoned, too, that if my rival had originally designed to rob his employer, he would" not do it after what had occurred, and that I really had no right to injuro his reputation merely bceause he had been chosen from all the world by the fair being who was all the world to me. Ti .i.: i:i 4.U ju was ftumcuiiug jiku a luwmu dira this event, thnt 1 was one day fearfully startled and shocked at suddenly finding myself under arrest for stealing money from my emplover. Notwithstanding that I knew myself to be entirely innocent, - the very fact that I should be suspected of such a nefarious transaction nearly crushed me with shame. Judge of my unbounded amazement and horror, then, on being assured that marked money had been found in my trunk, t&at the amount of a thousand pounds had been abstracted within the last few weeks, that my fellow-clerk and rival had suspected mo ever since the night (so he swore) he had jecn me coming out of the store, and that the porter had already given evidence of i : i ~,l L:. v llij uaviug uunurv cu nia the building at an unseasonable hour. I comprehended at once that this was a most fiendish plot of my rival to get me out of the way and shield his own J dishonesty, for he alone had robbed his employer, and profited by it What could I do? My statement of the fact that I had entered the premises for another purnose was not believed: and when I add ed the whole truth of what I had seen there, I was simply regarded as a coldblooded rascal, who was trying to involve an innoccnt young man in my own ruin. All my previous life of probity went for nothing, or only stooG out, whiterobed. to make my later acts appear more dark and damning. Well, to be brief. I was tried, and convicted, and sent to penal servitude for a term of years. OUt^ WUV VVH5 Uijr lUOl, WW pTCftUlb i when the awful verdict "Guiltv" was pronounced byt^e jury; and I shall' never forget the mournful look of pity with which she regarded me for the last time, as she passed by in the felon's dock, leaning on the arm of my wicked rival and destroyer. Well, I was, as I have said, oonvi'cted. and I served out mv time: but be fore I left that place of misery and degradation, I had the satisfaction of seeing my hated rival there, in the convict garb, justly brought there by his ovil deeds. After my release I learned that his angel wife, my - worshipped love, had died of a broken heart That was the end of life for me. All since then has been only the dull, dreary round of a mechanical existence, with no hopes no fears, no passions, [ I101U1I1<? UUl lilC LllCU nmiuug ugic Liu. the Master shall call me hence. I am as one dead?I am as one buried ?and the world and all that live in the world are dead to me. Why do I still exist? Because it would bo very sinful to lift my hand against the life the Master gave me. Let Him work His will,. how and when He will; and let me humbly bow before the awful mystery that I cannot understand. no, who has a purpose in all things, placed me here for a purjxwe, afflicted me for a pr.rpose, ana win worK out a purpose through my sufferings; but what that purpose was, or is, or is to be, is known to Him alone. I only wait for the end, and resign I myself to say: "God's will be done 011 earth as in heaven.;1 The Great Pyramid. Mr. J. B. Bailey writes to the St James Oazeite as follows, with reference to the desirability of exploring the great pyramid: "Now that Great Britain is dominant at Cairo, would it not be a good plan to clear away too sana ana rubbish from the base of the great pyramid right down to its rock}* foundation and try to discover those vast corridors, halls and temples, containing priceless curiosities ami treasures .with which tradition in ail ages has credited the great pyramid? The wonderful building, of such exquisite workmanship, was erected many years before any of the other pyramids, which are only humble imitations.built by another nation, and also for other purposes; for neither King Cheops nor anybody else was ever interkr?r>^0f mirrhtTf mocc rrf UK, uvuua tiiio VJ vxThe smaller pyramids also exhibit neither the nicety of proportion nor-the exactness of measurement, both of which characterize the firat pyramid. From internal evidence it seems to hare been built about the year 2170 B. 0.; a short time before the birth of Abraham, more than four thousand years ago. "This?one of the seven wonders of the world in the days of ancient Greece ?is the only one of them all still in existence. The base of this building covers w 4 k I T.f Art n PAllflro nf Uiuru llliXII k II i i. LV/V^ 11 OVjUiU \?/ IVV1VU v* ground. Its four sides face exactly north, south, ea3t .and west. It is situated in the geographical center of the land surfacc of the globe. It was originally 435 feet high, and each of its sides measures 762 foct. It is computed to contain 5,000,000 tons of hewn stone, beautifully fitted together with a nacre film of cemcnt. And these immense blocks of stone must have been brought from quarries five hundred miles distant fr&m the site of the building. The present well known king and queen chambers, with the various passages, might also be thoroughly examined by means of the electric or lime lights. The astronomer royal of Scotland some rears since ciosely and laboriously examined all that is at present known of the interior of this enormons building.He states that measurements in tho chambers, etc., show the exact length of the cubit of the Bible?namely, twenty-five inches. This cubit was used in the building of Noah's ark. Solomon's Temple, etc. He also maintains that the pyramid shows the distance of the sun from the earth to be 91,810,000 miles. A Dakota Man's Mistake. A man from Illinois got off the Northwestern train at Estelline the other day and met an old friend now living in Dakota. "How's old Jim Stanford prospering out here?"' asked the Illinois man. "Jim's gittin1 'long poorly, very poorly. You see Jim made a mistake and it set him back." "How'd he make a mistake?" "Set his house on the ground with no underpinin' under it." "Well, s'posin' he did, I don't see what hurt it would do." "Of coursc you don't?you live in Illinois.'" "Well, what hurt did it do?" "Why, han? it all, pardner, this Da koto sile is so darned fertile that the house took root and ojowed!" "It did? Well, admitiin' it's so, I should think it would have been better; he'd had a bigger house.1' "Yes, that's what Jim 'lowed at first He had a nice two-story, then a threestory one, and pretty soon a five-story one." "I don't see anything bad about that" , - .. 4 . r j. _ "STo, course not; but when he got up there, instead of headin' out with a French roof and a lightnin'-rod, the blamed houso took to branchin' out with bay windows and piazzers, and pretty soon the whole thing bio wed over ana killed x yoke of brindle oxen for Jim. I tell you, you can't build houses in Dako ta without underpinniaV' ? Estellint {Dakota) Bell. Made to .Fit the Coffin. I * A farmer from Ahnapee __in the city a short time since, and told one of our merchants of a case in that neighborhood illustrating how moan persons can become who make money-getting the object of their existence. Xhe story is as follows: A family residing near Ahnapee and worth about $6,000 in cash ana lands arc notoriously stingy ana live like misers on a mere pittance. Recently the old woman was taken very sick, and came nigh unto dr.vth. She called her son and told him not to go to t/>r> /vrnrMTsft in arran<rincr the ""*r" - o rt "? funeral, and that a pino board box would be good enongh for a coffin. Under her directions the iwn took measurements and nailed four pine boards together, making a not very elaborate coffin, but recommending itself on account of its cheapness. After this the woman decided not to die and recovered. But her husband was taken sick and soon went the wav of all flesh. Now the son was in a quandary,aa he did not wish to go to the expense of making a new coffin, and tie one air- :dy made was too short by several inches. He finally hit upon a plan, however, and taking an old S3W amputated the limbs jnst aoovc the ankle. This made every?U:?? ,? nnrnon flfturl tKA VlAY IH1U? WHO VVXI/CV/ 41H.VU w*+\s w? nicely, and the burial proceeded without a further hitch.?Green Bay (TTts.) Gazette DELICIOUS EELS. Tho Japanese mode of Maicfng the Serpentine Fish a DelifhWnlvil?rRel. A Jajwr - coo-espond cc &. of" -the San Francisco Chronicle writes:" One afternoon in April I was strolling about the streets engaged in watching the interesting occupations of th epeople, when I met a young Japanese who had been educated at Harvard, and who appreciated a slice off tho breast of a canvas-back duck and a tenderloin steak as perfectly as "one of the manner born." Having politely saluted me, he remarked: "I am on my way to Manoki's. Would you like to join me in a feast of broiled eels?* It is said that this month the unagi is a fit morsel for the gods." I replied, with a somewhat dubious shake of tho head. "I never was very fond of those mirine snakes." "Probably you have never tasted them prepared by my countrymen,1' ho. slyly returned. "1 remember once eating some at DeJmonico's (shuddering.) They wero soft, flavorless morsels, mcloscd in a quivering jelly. Come along with me." "Are the eels good to-day?" patronizingly inquired my friend of the proprietor. "I have heard that their flavor is not quite what it used to be. Do you * " iv - procure tnem irom tne cnj canaie. 01 are they.from the Sumida river?" The j proprietor bowed, then twitched the left , corner of his mouth, after the fashion of J a Japanese- uttering a joke, and an- ^ swered: "Honorable sir, do you for a moment J imagine I should offer canal-bred eels to , such a judge as yourself? No, no! ' You know that 1 have a high reputation and buy nothing but the most beautiful i eels that come from the Sumida. Re- 1 membering that the time was near for : you to pay us a visit, I have saved some ( of the finest fish you ever saw. Would , you like to come into the kitchen and inspect them?" 1 ' Hnl.'1 trpntlv added his wife, who ! had listened to his speech with downcast eyes, "that is so. We have some eels fit for a daimio." "What do you say?" inquired my companion. "Would you like to visit the culinary department?'' 1 "Not until I have dined," I answered j sniffing suspiciously at tho faint odor of , pickled radish that issued from a rear dpnarfmpnf-. Tho waitress auicklv ai> peared with some trays containing ( square, black, lacquered boxes, bearing ( the signs of the house and a number. Placing one before each of us, she re- . moved the tightly-fitting lids and revealed the contents, which were sec- j tions of nicely-browned, broiled, split . eels, skewered together, that gave out a : most appetizing odor. The girl smiled as she watched my looks, and replen- ! ishing my saucer, placed it near me, . murmuring: "I think you will find the unagi very pleasing to your taste." "I took my chopsticks in my right ' hand, inserted the points in the flesh, ] broke off a morsel and ate. Ye gods! 1 It was delicious! rich, tender, delicately flavored, and boneless! I drew my box j toward me, nodded approvingly at the , attendant, and enjoyea the delectable . food. The smiling girl brought in box , after box, the contents of each.being . nicer than the last I have partaken of ; fried oysters at home, broiled fish in all ! "countries, and the delicacies of every | clime, but havo never more thoroughly enjoyed any dish than I did those eels, j At last I laid down my chopsticks, and, 1 glancing at my friend, exclaimed: , "You were right in saying that this is j a dish for the gods. We ought to intro- < auce it at tiome." I The waitress bowed in acknowledge ment of my praise, and inquired if we would like to eat some rice. "Yes," nodded my companion, "I think I could empty a bowl or two.1' Away went the girl, who, after a brief ( delay, returned, bearing a large tray on , which was a covered wooden tub, con taining hot rice, two lacquered bowls, a \ teapot, and some tiny nips. I contrived to eat one portion of the I lighted my pipe and watched my friend, who had his bowl refilled a dozen ' times, and moistened his food by satnr- < atins: it with tea. i "How do you contrive to render the 1 skins of the fish so tender!1' I asked the < girl. "I do not know," she answered, 1 glancing timidly at the mats, "ine J cooks never permit us to learn their < secrets. If you like to visit the kitchen 1 they will no doubt explain everything to 1 you." < "Now for tho bill," said my compan- 1 ion, refilling his pipe. "Altogether, you 1 have given us a very tolerable meal." 1 In a few moments she came back. < carrying a small scoop-like tray, in I which was placed a slip of paper con- _j taming a reckoning, xrus sne pusneu along'the mat toward him; she then J bowed and remained with her face close * to the floor, while he minutely scruti- 3 nized the document Taking nis purse { from his sleeve he dropped some money ] into the tray, and remarked in a low < tone: " 1 "You may beep the change'1 (10 < cents). His munificence almost over- J powered the waitress, who bowed re- < peatedly, and gratefully murmured: * ."Your. generosity resembles that of a foreigner. Anvone can see that you have traveled.'1? After we had smoked awhile he asked whether I would like to ; i 3 1 visit ine Kitcauu, ituu va kjj rcpijiug m , the affirmative summoned the landlady, j who said: "Yon honor us too greatly, j My husband shall show you how we ( prepare the eels." We rose, quitted the | room and descending the ladder-like stairwav, the steps of whifh were | polished smooth as glass, slipped on our i loot-coverings and entered tne kitchen. } On the hard earthen floor wero rows of j little charcoal furnaces, provided with iron rods that served as rests for the j skewered eels. Maroki, whose only failing was a weakness for bowing and ooliteTv suckinsr in his breath between | 1 Jiis speeches, le<i the war, and \ra3 ex- j ceedingly attentive. Pointing to a ^ range of tubs containing fine specimens j of fish, he remarked: "Theso were caught this morning; j thoy arc the most expensive fish in the } Nippon Bashi markot. Are they not j worth looking at?" 1 "How do you contrive to so com- j pletely extract their bones?" I de- T mandcd. ,4Our cooks can not aceoni- | ulish that feat" Motioning a lightlyclad servant to approach him, he said: ( "Some customers have just come in. ^ Prepare an eel in the presence of these ^ gentlemen." The man, who evidently j took great pride in his work, selected a i vigorously squirming fish, struck its t head smartly upon a wooden block j upon the floor, and kneeling by it ? f rasped the creature's neck, inserted a ( nife in the left side of tbtr vertebrae, and dexterously ran it down to the tail; then rapidly applied his instrument to . nthpr qirJp r?f 'h*r>V1wnp *mr? ta. 1 peated the process, leaving the eel split ' open. Holding up the head, to which was attached the vertebra? and lateral * oone inclosing the intestines, he bowed and>said: "T^iere is not a splinter left in the fish." "That is so," proudly remarked 'the proprietor. "I only employ the most skillful men and cooks." The operator washed down the block, chopped the flattened ell into three-inch lengths, and shouted to a cook, who advanced to remove it on a dish. The nest process was a mysterious one and was performed behind a screen? from whence the plstter of eels was presently handed out to one of the boilers. My opinion is that the fish had simply been plunged into boiling water to make the skins tender. We advanced to a range and saw a cook skewering the pieces of eel on lon? bamboo splinters. Then he placed them on the rods over the glowing coals, and when one side was browned, dexterously pickcd them up with-a pair of iron chopsticks and turned them. After + 1? Att lift the fish with the same instrument and j plunged it into a vessel containing old j shoyu, which was thick and- dart as : molassc.1. The steaming unagi was then drained, placed in a lacquer box; and sent up-stairs to the customer. A Chinese Millionaire. Hu Hsueh-von, the great Chinese banker and millionaire of Ilangchow, is dead. In some respects, says the Shanghai News ho was one of the most rem ;rkablc men in his country. His father was a merchant, and ho himself began life from a pretty low run^ on Hif? 1;irMf>r Imvincr hr>(>n oriinnallv a * {5 - -- -- 0 _ V simple clerk or "purser/* as the Chinese sometimes say, in a commercial hong. But by dint of his extraordinary talents for business he rose rapidly in wealth find fame, and for some years past has been recognized as the leading merchant of China?the representative of China's financial and commercial interests. To borrow a phrase made familiar to us by Mr. Edward Jenkins, Hu Taot'ai was,, in no far-fetched sense, a true Paladin of finance, and when he died had already been honored by the emperor with "a button of the first grade (fou p'in tmg-t'ai), a yellow ridingjacket, and the rank of provincial judge. His beautiful palace at Hangchow was one of the show places of China. The Chinese say that his career was scarcely like one of real life?it was a "spring dream." Advancement from so low a tv* JrrVi hrm/tre o rwl nnlmnnfl W IV/ (.UC Ulgii UVUVl^ Ml?\* MW vvv>..v. cd wealth which he afterward attained is a phenomenon less common in China than in Europe and America. There liave been many miners and gulch laborers in the United States who have risen to be bonanza kings. Mr. Gilead P. Beck does not stand alone in the annals of the far west. But in China such freaks of fortune are rare, and Hu Taot'ai may fairly claim a place as a successful merchant beside Tzu Kung, tiie disciple of Confucius, who, when engaged in business, always made a profit. In this, however, the sage was more fortunate than the millionaire, though he nover amassed much wealth, for the losses sustained oy nu in nis celebrated silk speculation wore simply fabulous, and thure wore probably few merchant" in the whole of China who ever owned as much a6 wao then sacrificed. Hu died at midnight a few days ago at Hangchow, age something over 30 years. He was not .5- Particularly cultured man, but his in5ue"h66^was ^reat, and he was renowned for the cx^ Lensiveness and liberality of his charities. The Hu Pao, in its obituary notice, says: "He has saluted the world; and, ao\v that he has gone, having died in impoverished circumstances, wno is ihere who will not look back upon his career and accord him a sigh of regret?" A Novel Enterprise. A Halifax, Nova Scotia, correspondent of the New York Evening Post writes: B. B. Barnhill, of Joggin's Mines, Cumberland county, has under construction an immense rnft for the purpose of carrying to New York about 3,UW,UW supermini xuui/ ux puco. iu^s, spars, hardwood timber, and boards, [ts dimensions arc, length 410 feet, width 55 feet, depth 35 feet, and it will draw 21 feet of water. The raft is being built upon a well-constructed cradle, ivhich will be launched with the raft ind removed from it in the water, leaving the raft with its chains and binders to support itself. The structure is torpedo-shaped at the bow and stern, and i cross-section amidship will be of the form of an ellipse. When completed it will weigh 8,000 tons. The weight is so distributed over the four set of launchways as to exert a pressure of SO pounds io the square inch, which is about two:hirds of the pressure allowable on ordinary launchwavs. About one-sixth of i i? i _j. j cne cargo mis uuuu sivwcu. ??nun wujpleted the cost will be about ?20.000. the raft is to be towed to New York by in "ocean tramp," or by two tugs, as joon as launched, which will be about midsummer. Should Mr. Barnhill's engineering skill prove equal to his enterDrise and courage in planning and uniertaking so nov ! an operation he will lave provided a cheap method of water carriage for the products of the forest Many persons view the scheme with in;redulity, and predict that it will be a lailure. Wealth and ita Annoyances. A gentleman familiar with tho millonaire congressmen tells me that they ire not really to be envied. Thev have nueh trouble, and some of their clearest lopes, beyond the roach of gold to remjdy, have been destroyed. This genJeman added: "I tell them I would not, poor as I am, but young and happy, exchange places with them. They say I im right; that they are prona 01 meir Achievements, bat much money has Drought them mach sorrow. In matters >f moment, where their personal pride a concerned, they are munificent In ordinary affairs they are close, so much ;o that they will sometimes take a bobail car to save 5 ccnts fare or walk and >ave 5. And yet I know that one man, without the world's knowledgo, isspendng manv thousands of dollars yearly in i grand charity, and I predict, if he eaves a will, the public will be amazed it his superb benefactions. i asseu ny companion if he thought he would De stingy in case enormous wealth came x> him. He replied: "I dare say my rrhole nature vrouid be changed and ;hat I should become narrower than some of these men. Just now, if I were >pulent I would go to a poor artist in :his city, who. alone ana unaided has jecome a superior painter, only needs lelp, patronage, culture, instruction it Paris, and Rome, to be distinguished md comfortable. Without these aids le can barely support himself, his wife, md eleven cfiiiOren.?Augusta i Chroniclc. The life of the British army In Egypt 5 described as "all beer and skittles." "Two years ago," says the Boston Transcript, "it was all acarc and batilea" Pea Sanders. Old man Pea Sanders is probably the most notorious "moonshiner" in north' Georgia. He has been in Fulton Countv jail eight times on the same charge. We saw old man Pea on Saturday night's north-bound train. He was just out of jail and on his way home. The Toccoa people will appreciate the old man's appearance when we say that he would remind you forcibly of "Grip Scott" With an old, flabby wool hat, rim turned close against the corner on the left side and a keen, searching eye that was never dazed during his 76 years of life, old man Pea is the perfect ima^e of some civilized independence. Nothing abashes him. He is afraid of neither man, woman, or beast. He is an incessant talker and lores to teli of ins tncfcs on trie revenue officers. His latc?L dodge. Just before his last arrest an officer got off the train at Belton, near which town lie lives, and started over to old Pea's house. He met an old man in the road. "Old man, do you know Pea Sanders?'' "0, yes; bought many er gallon er lieker from him.11 "Where does he live?*1 "Ri^ht down thar.11 "Is ne at home?" "Guess so; ii ho ain't the old 'oman [ is.*' "Good day, sir," said the officer. "Good luck Lo yc," said the old man. The officer marched on to old man Pea's house. Old man Sanders turned around as the officer went on and muttered to himself: "Guess you won't lind him toi day. mister." We said to the old man, "Mr. Sanders, do you intend to keep on moonshining?'1 Said he: "Them fellers in Atlanta axed me (here and I told 'cui I never made any lacu Guess, then, you mean to make some more 'mountain dew.'11 "Let 'em prove it if I do.1' The old man seemed very well satisfied with his imprisonment and among other things said he had been "boarding at lha United States hotel in Autlanter. They treated me very well, but I like er froze up in that cold spell." A young Hour merchant from Atlanta engaged him in conversation. Said he: "Mr. Sanders, did you buy a still before you left Atlanta?" ? "Oh! when I want another one, I thought I would come around and get you to make it for me." The old man's ticket gave out at. White Sulphur and the conductor started to put mm off. Col. E. Schafcr, of Toccoa, stopped forward and paid the fare. The old feiiow chuckling to him self said: "Good friends is better than money."?Toccoa (Ga.) Xcics. ??? -cTesting Sends. The plan of testing seeds by seedsmen before sending out is more and more appreciated. In fact, before ordering the year's supply, seedsmen new generally test samples?at least the better class of them do. It is no less essential that buyers test seeds before planting. This is frvirly accomplished by placing the 1 seeds between folds of flannels or blotting-paper and keeping theui moist and at a temperature of Go to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. For testing seeds in a lanre and critic * vCal way, however, many di^p^^Hans h^^bccn devised. the most completOrrrrtTffagjn'oper warmth and at the same time constant moisture, is that of a prominent seed firm of England. It may easily be applied to the testing of seeds on the farm, where a considerable number < samples is required to be tested. The arrangement consists of a wooden frame with sloping glass cover, inside of which is fixed a shallow tank of water. In this tank are placed bricks of the ordinary size and of a porous nature, the surface of which stands well above the water, but in a position to absorb sufficient moisture to cause germination: and on these bricks the seeds being tested are laid. The surfaces of the bricks are divided into spaces sufficient to contain one te^t of from 200 to 300 seeds, and numbered for the sake of accuracy in registration. The temperature is kept at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and* at this point tests of clover and some of the grass seeds can bo completed in from two to thj^e days, its advantages arc that seeds can be watched in the acturl process of germination, and non-germinta ing seeds examined lor tlie cause. me ease with which a humid atmosphere and even temperature can be obtained and preserved when the bricks aro once heated is apparent. The regular supply of the exact amount of moisture without its having to be applied by hand at almost haphazard, as in the case of tests of soil, also speed, accuracy, and simplicity in working, are also apparent. A Mysterious Piece of Mechanism. J. A. Lonfr. of Akron. 0.. told me yesterday of a peculiar thing similar in I character to Planchctte, with which the little manufacturing citv in which he lives is bewildered. Its introduction there is something he does not know about, but he has a large family of children, and as the bewitched and mysterious piece of mechanism made them all so nervous that they could hardly sleep at night he does know where one particular machine went to. He smashed it up for kindling wood. "The affair," said Mr. Long, "consists of a rectangular board, which may be of any size, but was usually about two feet by eighteen inches, on which were placed all the letters of the alphabet. A little table with three legs on small rollers goes on the top of this board. Two persons sit down with their finger tips on this table. One of them asks a question to which an answer is desired. Then they wait the action of the little table, to which their fingers arc glued, as it were. It is certainly curious how th.it table will fly around at times. As the legs point out different letters on the board sentences are formed, which constitute the answer to the question propounded. You would not believe it unless you should operate it yourself, what wonderful and strikingly pertinent answers are made. The whole town has been filled with machines, but I smashed the one at my house."?X- Y. Tribune. ! -1J ?i A six-year-vm suii ui v.. iu. ohui il, ujl Sugar Grove, X. Y., swallowed a toy knife while using it as the dart of a blow-gun formed of a hollow metal penholder. The knife, which was open, measured an inch and five-eighths in length, and went into the stomach handle lirst. As soon as the boy's grandfather, Emri Davis, heard of the accident he prescribed a diet of buckwheat, having read just the night before how a young Californian had got rid of a knife whicn he had swallowed by eating heartily and frequently of half-cooked buckwheat The little bov was sriven i all the buckvrheat cakes he wonlcf eat and no doctor was called in. He recovered. A BANK'S INGRATITUDE. In 1S75, H. C. Warner and I published the Scottville Argus. Scottville is a Kentucky town and is principally noted for the activity of the town hog and the lethargy of the town constable. I was the editor, water-carrier, wood-chopper and rent-dodger. Warner was publish-! er, book-keeper, fire-maker, pressman j and refit-dodger. We did the most of our work separately, but in dodging the rent collector we worked with perfect concert of action. Our paper was six monfcis old when it died. Under different conditions it might have lived a few moments longer. Warner did not write anything for the Argus, yet he largely contributed to its collapse. This is the way it occurred: One day a prominent business man presented Warner with a pair of brogan shoes: Immediately after my friend put on the shoes I detected a foppish air about him. He took delight in greasing the shoes with a tine article of tallow and prancing in my presence. Having thus gained recognition at the hands of the capitalists, he began to withdraw himself from circulation and to cultivate an exclusiveness which greatly depressed me. I knew that those capitalists would be our ruin, ana, :uuck, now weu iiiy s>uspiuiuuj> were founded. "Good scheme on hand.*' said Warner one evening as he carne into the bedroom where our type setting, editing and presswork was done. "What is it?" "Well, several parties here want to establish a bank, and they want us to advocate the idea. What do you say?" "I am opposed to banks,1 I replied. "If a bank be started here it will dc us no good." JLLLliL 5 V\ liUlV JUUIU YYlUUg. V7Ui failure thus far can be attributed to the fact that we've had 110 bank. Why, sir, just think of it. All successful newspapers, all great journals are published in towns where there are banks. If banks were not conducive to the health of the newspapers, why the newspapers would move away. Now, what I want you to do, is to write an article in favor of the bank, urging the fact that our people take stock in it. Well, we advocated the establishment of the bank, and the bank was established. Shortly afterwards, Warner, wearing a thick crust of melancholy, camc into the office, sat down on our pinebed, and, with a sigh, remarked: "It was a mean trick.'' "What was a mean trick?" I asked. "Well, I'll tell you, even though you have nothing to do with the business department of this office, we are ruined!"1 "Ruined!" I exclaimed. "That's what I said. I know that you do not understand business, but I think that closer relations should be es i u ? ~ ,i j. luunsiiuu ueiwuwi tut; euituruu ueparimcnt and the counting-room. We are busted." "Explain," I pleaded. "Well, it was caused by the treachery of the bank men.'' "Have they run away with any of our money?" He looked reproachfully at me and continued: "This morning a fellow drew 011 us through the bank.. H&ij&es about fiftv miles from here, and wo -were all riffht until that infernal 'bank was started. Tl?seofflcialshav^j|jj|to^ i'uuKes me mad. The sheriff will be around pretty soon to take charge of our material. 1 am determined that he shall not have the type." "How can you help it?" "I'm going to put it into my pockets and stroll away with it" He did so, and is now running a paper in Argenta, Ark. I met him the other day. "How are you getting along?" I asked. "First rate," he replied. "Only the cattle pied my type. You see, during the recent cold weather, I had to move my office into the stock yards. I didn't get out a paper this week. A Texas steer hooked my press and broke it Ah, how fondly I remember those good old days we spent in Kentucky. See that mon nrnirirr w\rwlor*V W<?11 iUl?i ' ' V, "w O working against me. He's going to start a bank in my town."?Opie P Read, in New York Mercury. ^ ? Late Styles in Wall Paper. "There are two sots of styles in wall papers now," said a Pittsburg dealer recently. "One stylo makes soft colors in felt paper the proper thing, and the other favors raised, bronzed and silver decorations of gaudy tints; solid colors, such as the velvety deep reds, crimsons and blues. The soft colors mi?ht be called non-committal in their character. None of the shades are either positive or bright The tints of red, for instance, are dull and look like brick-dust wellwatered. The yellow do not glisten or shine, and look dead and lusterlcss. These felt papers are very effective for the drawing-room aud bed chambers, and are particularly so when used with a figured frieze. The frieze should be of a different color, darker in shade and very wide. The best hand-made goods of this quality come from England, and are beautifully done. American handmade goods are much higher in price." "Are Japanese stylos in much favor?" was asked, "Ob, yes. Everything that is Japanese goes just now. The imported Japan ese papers are made in imitation of raised leather of various hues, worked in odd flowers and grotesque figures. They are worth from $12 to Slo apiece, and can be used for dining-rooms, the hallway or library. A greater favorite, however, is the" Lincrusta-Walton wall decoration, but it is much more expensiva. It is made up in raised imitation of bronze, silver, gilt and all fancy woods, and is very durable.One advantage is that when the wall happens to crack the paper is rarely affected. The figures, if desired, can be made to stand out in bas-relief by a secret process, and panels for wainscoting or to cover the wnoie suriace 01 tne wan can oe maue wonderfully life-like and handsome. Some rolls of Lincrusta-Walton are worth $4o and over.'' "Are paints and plaster much used?" "Papier-mache is very frequently called for to be made into combinations with plain papers. Then there is comb-J * -l i. r_ ?i_: i.i ^ uu pamx, wmcn is uiixa.-i;ismuu:iuiu. The process consists in covering the wall thickly with paint of the desired shade, and then combing it before it dries into fantastic fan-shaped lines and curves. Plastcr-of-paris comes into use in the same way as papier-mache, only the figures are made heavier co<} more prominent" ? Pittsburg Commercial Gazette. The annals of modern diplomacy de scribe no event more important and unique than the spectacle of Queen Victoria and Mrs. Minister Phelps sitting in a cozy room at Windsor Castle drinking tea and comparing their respective views on establishing the autonomy of raspberry jam. This occurrence, says the Philadelphia Press, can- j not iau to draw me two groat .hngnsuspeaking nations closer together in the twnds of common sisterhood WIT AND HOIOR. An Ohio young man has been sound asleep for three consecutive weeks. His father emphatically declares that not another copy of a London comic weekly shall come into the house.?Drake's Travelers' Magazine. * It is somewhat strange that the Niagara View Hotel burned down for the lack of water. There is generally no lack of water at Niagara. The rumor that there was a scarcity is a Falls report?Detroit Free Press. Terrible Effects of Extension of the Elective System: First Freshman?"Say, old man, don't we want a bookcase?'' Second Freshman?"Xo; hang' the lux-* uries! We need a wine closet and some glasses."?Harvard Lampoon. , A new natural history says, "When a lion becomes old and unable to injure man his mane falls out" This is a valuable hint If you happen to meet a lion any time you can tell by examining _ _? his mane whether to run or not?Nev) Haven News. In a restaurant after the "Mikado." He?"Well, I suppose it will be fried oysters as usual." She?"Don't say fried oysters; call them 'something lingering in boiling oil.' " He (failing to catch on, aside)?"Great Scott! She's going to order one of them expensive dishes."?New York Tribune. "Go back and tell your people to send an immediate invitation to the Angel , Gabriel," was the reply of a prominent divine to the committee from a Meriden church, after they had stated the qualifications which the pastor must possess to be eligible to a call from their fastidious congregation.?New London Telegraph. Mrs. Ross has complained to the Mayor that a two-storv brick house belonging to her has been stolen and carried away. It cannot be too earnestly impressed on the people of Louisville that, as they live so near to Ohio, it would be a w'se precaution to take their houses indoors at night?Louisville Courier-Journal. "This paper says a German professor has discovered a way to make good, nutritious bread out of wood." "Pshaw! there's nothing curious about that" "Nothing curious? Why, just think of it?good, nourishing food from wood." "Certainly; the poorest kind of board, vnn Irnnw frmfains hrnnd."?TSinnham ton Republican. "What is your name?" asked the Sheriff of an old negro who had come in to pay his taxes. "Jim Fiy, sab, fodder o' de late Mr/Fry." "How long has your son been dead?" "He ain't dead, de late Mr. Fry ain't" "Then how can he be the late Mr. Fry?" "Case he's neber on time?alius late, salt."? Arkansaw Traveler. Cremation is evidently making he*.dTr J "J - n 1 1 -VV_ J i.1 _ way. li naictue couia nave kiiiku mis method of disposing of the dead it would have succumbed to the cartoon printed some years ago, depicting a small boy with a tin can in his hand standing" at the open door of a crematory and asking of the proprietor: _r-? * ' Please, sir, is daa done yet?"?Boston -r?-*r "Hemld- , , ^jS^Tebster to his employer, ail Austin merchant "What is it?'* "De bookkeeper kicked me, sah. I don't want no bookkeeper ter kick me." "Of coarse he kicked you. You don't exrjct me to attend to everything, do you? can't look after all the little details of the business myself."?Texas Siflings. "I wish I were yon star," he said dreamily. "So do I," she returned promptly, heroically sw allowing a yawn. "And why, dear one," he asked impul? sively, "why do you wish I were yon brilliant orb?" "Because," she replied in cold, matter-of-fact Bostonese tones, "because yon brilliant orb is just 11,760,971 miles away." And he faded silently out like a mist before a summer sun.A very pretty little girl, only 3 years old, attracted the attention of passengers in a New York train for this city thp. ntVipr dftr. and finallv one gentle ~ w' "" ~~~~J ? W o man succeeded in getting her upon his knees. "Where are you going, sissy?" he inquired. "I'm doin1 to Hartford,"' said the child; adding eagerlv; "I've dot on a new pair of flannel drawers! Did you ever have a pair of flannel drawers?"- Further inquiries were smothered in the laughter of everybody within hearing.?Hartford Times Here is a o;ood election story from the East End, which has not, I think, been reported: Col. Cowan (of the Volunteers) was reminding the independent electors of Mile End that he had "done the State some service." Then, with virtuous pride, the gallant Alderman put the question to nimself. "What have I given you?" Before he could reply, a voice'from the distance shouted, "You guv me three months, Mr. Haider man.:r?Lojidon Truth. Last Sunday, as Parson Bledso passed down Austin avenue, he noticed Uncle j Mose hard at work in his front yard mending the fence. "Don't yer know dis am aer Lord's day?" "Yes, parson, but I kept yesterday sacred for Sunday." "Dar was no church sarvicesyesterday." "Ob course not I means I went fishin\ an' cotched de biggest string ob fish yer ebber saw. Yer don't expect a man ter obsarve de Lord's day twist, does yer?"?Texas Siftings. rri. _ r_: ? j c ~ !.;? JLUC lriuuua ui it ueiuiiu HIULL IU tuij city, who occasionally lingers with the wine-cup far too long for his own good or that of his family, are just now having a laugh at his "expense. His son, poor little innocent, chanced to hear some older people talking about sleep, and piped in his_ childish treble after tlxis fashion: "JPa gets awtui sleepy sometimes; he came home the other night and was so sleepy he couldn't get in the house, but just laid down by the wood-pile right out of doors."?Portland Orcgonian. Miss Jones?I do so wish to go to the De Veres' dinner next Tuesday. You are going, Mr. Dumb, are you not? Mr. Dumb?Ah, tell the truth, I don't care for that sort of - thing, you know. Deucedly slow. Miss Jones?Yes, but they are going to have a new style of candelabra, on the table, I hear. " That surely ought to tempt you. Mr. Dumb ?Well, you see, Miss Jones, fact is, I don't care for candelabra much, vou know. Miss Jones?You don't? Mr. Dumb?Xaw; all kinds of canned fruit disagree with me.?2*cw York Mail. One of the passengers on the Katahdin on her recent memorable trip was a Allccorchrk n cn<x. v?u\.tu; viuviui ?' uv uiibuu ?A cialty of a remedy for seasickness, which he has recommended very frequently to his friends, and in the efficacy of which he had the most unlimited confidence. The Massachusetts doc tor uses that remedy no more. As the steamer went into Portsmouth Harbor he came on deck, and in a sorrowful tone of voice spake thus to one of the officers: "If I ever take any more of that villainous stuff I hope I may be hung and quartered. It made me sicker than a horse.1 ?Rockland Courier.