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a m't ?ar't i v! 11 a * j?V J?1 i .*' v: > '.; ,"w ' , ' ' .ft v i.AM lo niuai * 'ivtaiw <w ??j.j.woj ^ ,.: ; .' -!id v. Gtavr >s2l**?*? OO&IIo wr ? ?,? SJL BY W. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON ABBEVILLE,, S^';C^WEDNESIJAY, .,MAY,r lff,l i87^, .'? . *U *? : '/I ... , , . 1 ' . ... . ? /. ! ? ? ,-VyyL* S rfjl W .Ifl'IpfVt /iJ-i. i"} I Gone Before. Only a little bad, that faded ere it bloomed ; A little sunbeam, quenched in clouds toe sAdo; A bird, whose morning ohirrap cheered tbc heart; A summer day, darkened before the noon ! Only a little grave ! Ah, small indeed, Bat planted with a precious earthly seed? I needs mast look beyond this lowly field To where the harvest will requite my need. Ob! lone and sore the aching mother heart! Sorely, sweet infant-love, thou longest still To rest thee on my breast when ev'ning falls, To turn for guidance to my fostering will. All, me! with thoe ?here is no need of rest; No evening rounds the hours of thy day ; Thou needeet no guidance from my wiU'a be best^ _r /- , No earthly longing can thy spirit sway. Glad sammer day, I bless thy endless light! Oh, bird, whose chirrup swells to heavenly song! Warm sunbeam, ask to shine on griefs darl night! tv? Kl/uxtn fhim flnmr lnnnlvn*th alnnc? Scrtfffeary are the fairoet days below, That they who early die are highest blest; No false love stab? the hearts that quickly From babyhood to fall sweet life piofeesed And yet, I fain moat make the heart's wilt moan; 3 c How can I live?how bear my grief?so sore: Where we were two; how learn to trea< alone ? How R66 the light and see thy face no more Not with thee, bat long.after may I come! I am so lonely that I fain would die! Torn, little sweet, with thy tones oaQ mi home; Fair, guiding spirit, lead me safe on high. JANE'S LONG DAY. its of the plain. The pines and beeche of the glen stood mute, their voice hashed in heavy moisture. Far dowi the plain a jagged blnr ot' light showei where the city slept, and from eithe edge of this jagged blnr of light th river stretched like a silver belt with th city for a golden clasp. Inthe glen no Bonnd stirred the si lence, save when a dewdrop fell from i spray or bongh and shuddered throng] the f-leeping leaves to the ground. Th shadows of the trees filled the plaoe wit! curtain at the remoter lim ain fronting the glei 1 autumn moon. Tb< ith a silver hase tha unexpioraDie aareness. nan way uowj the glen a black parapet, reaching frou side to side, out the fleecy air. A furlong further up than the bridge and high above the shadow it cast, stoo< a large white cottage fronting the moon From the lower levels of the glen i looked like a cloud which had wandera from the sky and floated down the glei until it rested on the ledge. The silence of the place at leDgth wa broken, and footsteps approached by th path along the dry bed of the torrent Prom the shadow of the parapet two fig ures emerged slowly. As they dre\ near the oottage they looked blacl against the light; bat where the arm o the woman bent level with the mooi through the arm of tbe man, the sleev showed a sparkle of white friDge to th moon. The head of the man inclined a as almost to meet hers. Now and the: he raised her hand and touched it wit! his lips. Tlioy advanced until they were clos to the garden wall of the oottage. 1 the pulseless stillness of the hour thei voices floated wide and seemed t clothe the glen with mystio life. Th listening spirits of the verdurous arcade echoed their words in fine, faint tonef |* "The time won't be long comin round, darling." He put his arm abor her and brushed the hair back from he face. It " " And, Jane, when the day does com you won't'be soi ry, will you !" He pressed her closer and drew he bead down upon his shoulder. " You won't be sorry, Jane," he rt peated, "when the day comes and raise the veil and kiss my wife ?" She did not speak, but along treat Ions sigh floated into the night. H continued to speak: " And when you are my wife I wi not only do all I can to make you.happ while I am with you, but work hard t assure your future when I am gone ; foi Jam;, 1 am ten Tears older than yot and men are shorter lived than womei and I shall die long before my dai ling ? 1' Hash I Stop, Lake \ What do yo mean ? Why do you talk of dying ?" , " There! I will not again." 14 Bat, Lake?my Lake, yoa ai strong. Why do you put such though! into my head? It ha* always see me to me as if you oould never die." 8b clung to him and held him wildly, lool ing with distracted eyes into his face, i if she feared evil approaching from b< hind those mute, watchful trees. "Don't be uneasy, Janet Never fea: I shall live as long as ever I can for yoi Why, it seems to me as though I aha live forever if I am to have you# -I wt a tool to talk as I did. The moonligl made me melancholy; it always doei Sweetheart, do you not feel my arrr round yon ? What harm could com while we are thus! and as for ti " But you will go away now." "And in one short month you wi come away with me." " Oh, Luke!" "What?" 7ft? ' I dare not pay it, and yet I cannc keep it to myself." 'Tell me. Trust me." " A month seems so long. I know can't be sooner?bat a month, Yo will come to-morrow evening, won you r *^Yes; and every evening." "I must go now. You will be hei to-morrow evening, surely ?" "Surely." , "Good-night." .. r~? - " Good-night." "Tiumnimw AVflninC." " Tomorrow evening." "With a cry that was half a moan, si ran swiftly to the cottage, and he stroc fiercely down, breasting the moonligl and tearing his shadow into a tlionsan fantastic shapes among the tangle weeds and shrubs. * When sh a reached her room she kne she ooald not sleep. She drew back tt curtain of her window and let in tl moonlight. The moon was setting. wnjNd about au hour of midnight. TJ glen was silent, and, save when tl clocks of the city struck, no sour reached her. She could not dismiss h words. They made a tumult in h< brain. Do what she might, they can looping in uponJjer ears, like unbiddt guest". Over and over again she fade lo b> ninh them. She sought to stimula her imagination pleasantly about tl fatur6. .She stiove to think of her ne home and of the Jove between her an Luke daily deepening into a calm, ui broken, full-toned peace. All in vail Tom where she would, the vista end* at a tomb. At length, in despair, si cloned the curtains on the setting moo: and, with a plea for delivery from h< fear*, went to bed. - At two o'clock the moon set. A ligl wind rose and blew the vapors from tl plain and fanned the stars into trem bling flame. Soft mnsio wandered through the trees. Still she could not sleep. As she lay the striking of the distant clocks oame to her on the wind. Three o'clock drew near. The murmuring of the leaves and fatigue began to dull her hearing. She was growing drowsy at last. " I shall be asleep before three," she mused, dreamily, "and when I awake it will be day, and he will come in the evening." At half past three she awoke with a violent start; She had had a fearful dream which she was unable to recall But there had been great noises in it, great noises of bells and shoutings of despair.. V fl . \ * She sat up. The casement was now quite dark. She brushed back her hair and listened. All the clocks of the city were striking together. What a noise they made in the silent night 1 And how long they continued striking! She had been listening several minutes and they were all striking still! She pressed her hand over her faoe, and rose and went to the window and looked down at the city in the plain. The air was cool and clear. The sounds came fuller and deeper. No clocks now, but bells. The bells of the city ringing an alarm, and in the core of the city a red patch like the hectio 1 spot on a doll cheek. Something in the sotted of the bells ? and sight of til? fire sthiralated her 1 strangely. She drew back, dressed her self hastily, and stepped with great cau ? tion ont of the honse, and stood awhile at the low garden wall watching the throbbing spot in the plain. She turned her oyes inquiringly from right to left. 6 No foot of man or beast passed over the grass. Drawing her shawl tightlv around her she descended to the path and moved rapidly in the direction of the bridge. When she gained it she leaned over the parapet, t The clamor of the bells could now be more diatinctlv heard, and she oould sea that a great fire was raging in the most popular district of the city. A vague terror took possession of her. His words were still wandering through her mind. His talk of death now seemed a pertinent preface to a great catastrophe. Driven by the breeze the fire crept in the direction of the glen. His house lay straight in the way of the flames. Where was he now ? Had those awful bells aroused him? Was he, like her, look ing at the conflagration ??or was he sleeping in the path of the destroyer ? She turned her white face to the calm* 8tars and then glanoed round the glen. She felt half conscious that her alarm was exaggerated, that the risk was slight; but as often as she quieted her heart some silent specter seemed to point to the city, and some mysterious voice cried out she knew not what. Tear * less aua ternnea, sne graspea iae paru - pet and watched. Her nerves tingled J and her breath came quick and short. * At length a last volume of. smoke, and 2 sparks, and flame shot into the air. Then for a while the lire abated. Prea 3 ently bitter, eager tongues flew up to 3 wards heaven nearer to his house, closer * to where he, perhaps, lay sleeping and dreaming of her. The effect was elec v fcricaL She had no consciousness of bav :f ing moved until she found herself at the * end of the gleu beginning to crosj the 1 plain. For one brief moment she threw 0 herself on her knees and lifted up her 8 hands and heart. Then Bhe' rose and 0 ran onwariL without looking right or ? left ^ \X * */!*''* * ? * ? Lake had heard the first alarm. He had risen and gone ont. The fireiorigi nated in a large carriage manufactory. Fall' of inflammable substances, the place burned with amazing fair; noth ing oould save thai building. All efforts were directed to arresting the spread of the element. But, aided by the wind, it soon extended its lines until one whole side of the street was blazing. Luke had been among the earliest volunteers. The brigade was entirely insufficient to deal with so colossal an enemy. Therefore the rank and file of ' the briga le became captains of amateur bands. ; , rr ^ .> When ruin had reached the end of the street people thought it would travel no further. The flames were not long enough to bralge the roadway. A barrel of varnish, saved from the carriage manufactory, bad, with- other salvage, been thrust into au archway under a house on the opposite side. Suddenly, when all had begun to hope the worst was past, came a dull explosion from the archway, and "a roaring mass of flame broke out of it into the street and up t.TiA front of the honseJ^ike an ifiverted cataract. A wild cry of terror burst from the people as they dashed back in dismay. " My daughter 1" shouted an old gray bearded man, breaking from the general mass of the arowd and standing in front of the doomed house. "Any one in theret" demanded a fireman, standing by. " YeR; my daughter! My daughter Jane ! Halp, for Heaven's pake I Look ! She is at the window." All eyeB were turned upward, and at a window of a top floor the figure of a yotmg girl could be seen through the smoke and glow. "Break in the door!" shouted the fireman, seizing a pole that lay near by. She must be saved through the door. The escape would be burned before it could touch the wall." In an instant the door flew open. ^Bat the insidious flamiug liquid had found its way into the hall, and a pool o* fire barred the way. Through the waving banners of flame the staircase could be seen. Already the balustrade had begun to writhe and twist. "The roof!" roared the fireman. ' The roof is the only hope. To the roof 1" He gesticulated wildly at the girl, but she stood still as one frozen. "Will no one save my daughter? My little Jane I" wailed the old man. " It would be certain death to try the hall. Here, policeman, let no one go this way." . Ct -J i. X V Two polioemen placed themselves in front of the door. Then, crying "The roof! the roof!" the fireman burst in the door of an adjoining house and dis appeared, followed by a dozen volun teers. " It is no use. There is no trap door. My daughter ! My darling little Jane, good-bye I" mam Viia Kauri Kflnf. Kin jlud uxu man it?*cu juuj tin.iv?t head, and broke into sobs. "Boom!" shouted a voice from the heart of the crowd. " Room ! Way there!" The people reoeded from a point as if there had been on upheaval oi: the earth, and a tall, powerfully built man pushed to Hie front. He ran past where the old.man stood, saying : " I'll save your daughter?or perish." The police at the door drew olose to gether to bar the entrance. " Stand baok!" cried the man. " Baok 1" he shouted,in an excited voioe. " Baok !" and, without giving time for further combination against him, he sprung forward, and, clasping his hands before him so as to form his arms into a wedge, rushed with all his weight be tween the two policemen, drove them heavily aside, and disappeared in the flames. *' A faint wail passed through the crowd, followed by a deep sifcftibe, and far a to breathe. Then, as though ft tempest of wind prayed^a great cry went up and shook the pall of smoke and made the flying embers tremble. Behind the girl at the window stood the man. Bat up to this she had shown bright against a dark background. Now her figure and that of the man showed dark against red! For the glare of the fire had reached the landing and was flood ing the space behind. jj? - The man did not remain a second in active. He oommenoed knotting long strips of sheeting and oounterpane to gether. Again a shout went np from the multitude, and then ten thousand voioes were still, as thongh speech had never been known. All eyes were watching him and calculating the issue of the race between him and the flames. At that time the white figure of a woman came hastily along a distant edge of the crowd and approaohed the burn ing house. The woman was young, scarcely more than twenty. Her long light hair followed her mistily, half t M i j i-i Dome oy ine air, ana quic&eneu uiw vivid gold by the ruddy rays. Ere she reached the burning house the rope was complete. The man had tied it under the arms of the girl and was leaning out of the window counting the risk. Already the fury of the flam ing fluid was exhausted. There came but fitful flickers, still enough to destroy his rope. Now and then his eyes ex plored the room. Flames had by this time crossed the threshold. People be low cxrald Bee them- shoot round the ceiling. For a moment the man left his post, and was seen drawing some heavy piece of furniture towards the window. With the sublime patienoe of capable heroism he waited and waited, counting the chances. Volumes of smoke burst through the sash, and the glass fell with a sharp metallic clatter to the ground beneath. " My daughter ! My Jane I" cried the old man, in an agony of hope and fear. The man above bent over the sill and, making a trumpet of his hands, cried out: "In a moment you shall have her safe. Courasre I" The woman in -white looked up. " Luke!" she screamed. He passed his hand across his eyes and then gazed into the street. Onoe more he spoke: " Jane, stand back. The floor ia hot. Stand back. If the floor falls the walls may, too."- f Then, casting one more glance into the room and one more at the windows, throngh which the flames shot now bnt seldom, he lowered the form of the girl from the sill and paid out slowly. When all the rope was gone she still hung several feet from the ground. Re tiring into the room he undid the rope. He advanced gradually to the window. Still the rope was some feet short. Strong men stood below with out stretched arms to receive the girl. With * 1__ i_n :_j.? ...me OUt warning HUB leu mvu uicu Muim The rope fell with her I All looked up. In his hands were a few feet of the rope. Despair"had taken possession of his faoe. A blade of flame had shot out of the window below and cut off his only means of reaching the ground. Another rope 1 Make another rope ! Quick !" shouted a man of the brigade. The man above paused a tnoment ir resolute. Then he moved back into the room, and those who stood far off in the crowd saw him tearing up something. All at once he shot downward from their view. A mighty crash followed; a flight of glittering splinters swept into the air and hung in a pall of dusky red over the four bare walls. With a cry thnt was half a groan, half a yell, the people swayed hither and thither; and then, as if by some univer sal impulse, they bowed their heads and stood still. * * * * ? * * The glen is famous for its blackber ries, and often in the holidays children go up there with baskets on their arms. They all know Jane, who wanders up and do^r*i by herself. She does not speak unless she is addressed, bnt then she answers very oivilly and in a sweet low voioe that makes the eyes of the children open wide. Once a saucy boy asked her if she did not feel lonely all by herself in the glen. But she said: "Yes, dear. A little lonely now. But evening will soon come, and Luke will then be here. He promised. If you meet Luke, dear, as you go home, tell him you saw me, and ask him to come early; Say mother died, But I am wait ing still. The reason I want him to oome early is because he frightened ine last night with his foolish talk. Do you hear all the bells of the city ringing? But it's not for our marriage, dear. WaVa not tn be married for a month. The bells are ringing all day. It's some one's marriage. The bells are so loud I can't hear the birds sing. Bnt in the evening, when Luke comes, it will be quiet, and no bells will ring, and it will be dark. Oh I I wish it was evening I It's a long day?a long day?a long day." And then she raised the ruddy boy in her arms and kissed him, and went away. ' As soon as the boy got home he told his mother. She took him up and kissed him and wept, he knew not why. When he was in bed she came and sat by hl??ide, and bent over him until he was asleep. "She looked," the boy said ai&erwaxuB, - aa u duo woo b*j+ug prayers for Jane with her eyes. ' Does it Pay to be Boss 1 A young contractor in one of the large* Springfield manufactories, in company with his wife, a sad looking little woman in threadbare clothing, entered one of the town meat markets one recent Saturday evening, and, after gazing around for a moment, the man ordered a soup bone for Sunday. While it was being wrapped up, a tpruce look ing cnnno man trif.li ft mflflsive Cold 4U6 ? ? ? ? , w watch chain, attired in a suit cnt m the latest fashion and 860 overcoat, entered, and pompously ordered four pounds of sirloin steak at twenty-five oents per pound. The little woman looked wist fully at the tender, juicy Bteak as it was being cut off, and then at the bone which was to famish her dinner the next day, and, turning to her liusband, said: "George, why can't we have as good meat as that man : he works under you at the shop ?*, "I know it, Jenny," re plied the contractor, drawing himself up to his full height, " but he's only a poor bench workman and I'm boss, and it's worth something to boss, you know." " Y-e-a," Baid the wife with a sigh, which said plainly that she would much rather be a poor workman's wife and * ' * ' a* Ji. . a _ oat siruon bvpok man me who ui ? "boss" and live on sonp. .;1 The Wicked Story Teller, There was a wicked story teller who went to a doctor and-said: " 'I'm ft wicked story teller, and though I'm a good and pnre young man in every other respect I can't get over this dretul ful habit." "Ill cure you," said the doctor. "Take this capsule and chew it up. Don't bo afraid; chew away like any thing. You'll get used to the flavor after the first bite or two, and then I dare say you will find it very pleasant " By all that's filthy!" cried the pa tient, as he came over deadly Bick, " it's >r oil1" it's no lie I" said the dootor. A Slippery Place to Pop the Question. She came tripping from the chnroh door, her face flashed by emotions awakened by the just uttered discourse, and eyes bnght wit i loving expectation. He shivered on the curbstone, where for an hour he had waited impatiently with a burning heart fairly palpitating in his throat, and frozen fingers in his pockets. They linked arms and started lor tne residence of her parents. After a few moments' hesitating silenoe he said: " Jane, we have known each other long. Ton must know jast how I feel. Yon mast have seen that clear down at the bottom?Oh, Moses!" He had slipped down on the ioe with so mnch force that his spine was driven np into his hat, and hisnat was tipped over his nose, bat. ahe was a tender hearted girL She did not laugh* bat she carefully lilted him to his Jeet, and said: M You were saying, John, when yon slipped that the foundation?Oh, good ness I" She slipped herself this time, and saw little stars come down to dance before her eyes, but he palled her ap ia haste and went on. " Yes; just as I said,clean down atfSe bottom of iny heart is a fervent love, on whioh'I build my hopes. That love has helped me stand face?Thunder!" He was down again, but scrambled up before she could stoop to help him, and she said, breathlessly: "Yes, yes, John. You remember, you just said a love which helped you stand and face thunder. And thai you found ed your hopes on?This pesky ice I" There she sat. John grasped the loose part of her sack, between the to her feet, as one wou^lifi; a kitten from a pail of water by the back of the neck. Then he said-witn increased earn estness: "Of oonree, darling, and I have long ed for an opportunity to. tell my love and to hear those sweei lips whisper? Whoop I" Somehow John'-s feet had slipped from tmder him, and he had come "down like a capital Y with his head and feet point ing skyward.. She twined her taper fin gars in Ida coiling locks and.'raised:him to the statnre of a man, set his hat firm ly over his eyes with both hands, and cried in breathless haste: "I understand, and let me assure yon, John, that if it is in my power to lighten yonr cares and make brighter your journey through life to-^-Jernsa leml" . ' , John stood alone, and said, with breathless vehemenoe: "Oh, my precious! and thus shall it be my lifelong pleasure to lift you from the rude assaults of earth and surround you with the loving atmosphere of? Taxas.l" jg \ t \rt; ^ f? And there they both sat together. They had nearly reached the gate, and, hand to hand, and with hearts overflow inc with the bliss of young love's first confession, they crept along on their knees np the front steps, and were soon forgetful of their bumps on the softest cushion of the parlor sofa. The Quaker's Hat, The first occasion on which the Quak er's hat came publicly and officially into trouble was at the Launceston assizes, in London, in the' year 1656, before no less a, person than Chief Justice Glynn, "When we were brought into the comrt." says Fox, "we- stood a ^pretty while with our hats on, and all was quiet, and I was moved to say : ' Peace be amongst you!' 'Why do you not pnt your hats oSi' said the judge to us. We said nothing. 'Pat off your hats,' foid the judge, again. Stifi we said nothing. Then said the judge : ' The court commands you to put off your hats;'" George Fox, with amazing sim f/v?? anrnn .Q n'nf.nral in puUiVJ) aoauu ava uvauv ... stance of any magistrate commanding pi isonera to put ofl' tlieir hats. He next asked to be shown, "either printed or written, any law of Eagland that did command such a thing." Then the judge grew very angry, and said: "I do not carr? my law books on my back." "But," said Fox, "tell me where it it printed in any statute book, that I may read it." The chief justioe cried out: " Prevaricator I" and ordered the Quakers to be taken away. When they were brought before Mm again the chief justice asked Fox wheth er hats were mentioned at all in the Bible? "Yes," said the Quaker, "in the third of Daniel, where thou mayst read that the' three children were cast into the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnez zar's command with their coats, their hose and their hats on !" Here was a proof that even a heathen king allowed . men to wear hats in his presence. : " This plain instance stopped him," says Fox, "so he cried again-: 'Take them away, gaoler;' accordingly we were taken away and thrust in among the thieves, where we were kept a great 1 while." ' * M ' After nine weeks' imprisonment "for ; nothing but about their hats," aa the chief justice-told them, they wore again brought before him, grimly wearing the offending headgear. "Take off their i hats," said the judge to the gaoler. " Whioh he did," says Fox, " and gave them unto as; and we put them on again. Then the judge began to make a great speeoh, how he represented the lord Erotector's person, and that he had made im lord chief justice of England." The Quakers were incorrigible. They were sent baok to prison, but not really so much for the wearing, of. their hats as for the suspicion that they were roy alist emissaries affecting religious sin gularity in order to win their way among the extreme Puritans. ed the latest inoendiary device in con ? " f'U 1 flr? * J company lately unearth Machine. neotion with an $1,800 barn loss in Schoharie oounty, New York. It is to be hoped that the machine will form a part of the underwriters' Centennial exhibit. The apparatus consists of a board covered with sandpaper that faces another board filled with matches, so that the sulphur of the matches can rub againBt the sand. Thege were set against a hay mow, and with the match filled board attached to a ten foot lever with its bearing in the middle. At the end of the lever is a tin milk pail, and set aboro fhe pail was an ordinary fun nel/supplying the bottom to a bushel box filled with fine sand. This sand vm nllntrod in mn intn nan and when the pressure was sufficient to move the lever, a string unloosed the fannel, and the balance of the sand, dropping suddenly into the pan, moved the lever, and so the board ignited the matches, thus firing the barn. A belated traveler passing discovered the thing in working order, rushed in, and saved it, and pre sented it to the insurance adjuster as an evidence of the ingenuity of man* Sensational. ? The San Francisco style of advertising is rather sensational. Here is a late specimen from one of the journals of that city: "Away from the laDd of her birth and loved of her youth she met the relentless oonqueror, bowed her lovely head to his stroke. Other hands smoothed the long, brown tresses; other fingers closed the blue eyes, and folded the gentle hands cpon the peace ful, Binless boeom." " Fqgci .pork sait sages?sir -p*rt?dfl lotMzit.William & Cook's, under Exchange.""' t "I ihtrK THE PRIZE KING. 1 Reformed Prize Fighter Telia Something Abont It. Just think how cruel and beast like a ihing it is to be a professional fighter, lays Howell Gardner, onee in the busi iess, now out of it. Suppose here are nyself and another man., both in the iusineas, and he is the best friend I lave in the world. We love each other ike brothers. Well, some night a man lays to another man: "111 bet $1,000 lowell Gardner <Jan whip so-and so," ny friend, mind you. " I don't believe le can," says the other. "Dollars albs," says the first man, and, to make a ong story short, they make up a match >r us to fight, we not knowing anything tbont it, and having no reason for fight ng. The next morning we are tola of t, and put in braining, and all the while re are in training we meet every week, ike enough, and have a talk over it? ?"i.'ll ?An ft?/l tffO Ofl/ih HUlXUa ObLU, IIIIIIU JVU HUU . ttw teek to get ourselves in the best possi )le condition, for what? Why, each to >eat the life oat, or nearly oat, of the >est aad dearest friend he has got. Gardner goes on to say: When men some to enter the ring they find roles or everything there, and all the forms >f etiquette already provided. Each nan comes forward, we'll say, in perfect sondition, clean as a whistle, in the lighest health, with an eye Hke a hawk, "?* ? ? an if ho tnui franH fitli of i bandbox. There are two rings, an in ler and an outer one, made of ropes. Outside the latter are the spectators, rhe referee's and timekeeper's places ire between the ropes. One man comes lp and throws his cap over into the rag, as his challenge like, and follows it limself. Thai the other throws in his jap?an acceptance of the challenge? ind follows it, amid the shouts and sneers or tne miumuue?iur uy unu iime, let me tell you, everybody around a pretty full of exoitemept. The four leoonds next enter the ring, two for each nan. Generally each man's trainer is lis head seoond. When "time" in sailed the men about to fight walk for ward to the center of the ring and shake lands. The two head seconds also step 'orward, and, crossing their hands ovet ihose of their principals, go through the tame friendly form. Then aU step jack to corners, choice for whioh has seen decided by a toss; each head sec Hid kneels on one knee and takes his nan on the other, and there he sits until "time" is called. A timekeeper, a referee,, and a doctor are chosen by mn ;ual oonsent. Suddenly " time" is jailed, and each fighter, leaving his jecond's knee, advances to the center of /he ring and puts his hands np. If ihey only wouldn't hurt each other, the prettiest sight a man ever saw, of an; rind of machinery, is to see two men, well trained and stripped for battle? jach with eyes liko a hawk's, looking as if their keen, concentrated gaze would pierce through his antagonist; each with finely-developed muscles and skin like satin?sparring for an opening. Great caution is exercised here, for often there is a great deal of money bet on first blood, as on first knock down and first fall; and the least incautious loot Dr movement, and yon are gone. Thai is why the opening ia always so slot* md the men stand so long, moving theii irms with the precision and grace oi beautiful machines, bat after* first blood, Eind first knock down, and first fall are decidcd, then the battle, the quick, des perate, merciless hard work com mences. Then there is not so much beauty. Then it is give and take, swifl and cruel, from the moment " time " it called until one or the other man is fell ad to the earth. As quick as a man fallf bis seconds step forward and pick him up, with on6 hand under his shoulder, the other under his thigh, and earn him back to his corner. He is not al in mmjfi a hnrtrf fn hfiln himself. ill his strength must be reserved foi bhe combat. He is handled as if he waf a child. In his oornerthey have brandy, Linen, a sponge, and some water. If nu Bye is badly braised it is lanced, and perhaps the clotted blood sncked oufcbj one of his seconds. They , sponge him 0$ give him a little water if hiu throal is parched, and if the fight is going hard with him a little brandy. Now the fighl is horrible in its brutalities, and I need Qotpnrsne the subject farther to th< last moment, when a sponge tossed in the air is the confession of defeat of one or the other poor battered, disfigured, hideous, bloody wrecks of the two beau fciful machines. I saw in a paper the other day that two men had fought e battle of eighty-seven rounds. Well, that must have been a desperate fight. It is sickening to think of it. I kno\i one of these men. He's an unfortunate fellow?never wins; serves him right, h? has no business to fight. Premature Burials. I pity tho stranger who dies withii the gates of Munich, says a writer Every one here is treated with equal in justice, be he high or low, friend or foe, The body of the deoeased is taken al most immediately to the cemetery, where there is a chamber of death for its re ception. A row of windows look in upoi the many couches, and almost everj hour there are anxious faces peering ii through these windows at the bodies that are laid in state, side by side, unti. the hour of burial. Each body is drees ed in its best; there are those who art borne to the exhibition hall in brida robes; some are attired tastefully anc some gaudily, for it is thought that theii bodies may yet breathe again, and everj precaution is taken to make this awak ening as agreeable as possible. Ther< are wires attached to the hands 01 breast, so that the least motion wil communicate with an alarm bell, and a this strange summons the watchmen are prepared to rush to the assistance of th( poor bouI that has not yet escaped th< trials of this life, but is delivered up t< new suffering and a second death. Tra dition says that onoe or twice this bel TTrafnVmra nrnrAfl IT 11EU3 XUUgj (U1U UUU TTMWMVAW terror to bear away the half oo& scion body, ore it had knowledge of its gloomy Burroandings. Care of the Child. A Chippewa Indian, a noble loolrinf man, by-the way, who lectured, somi time back, in one of oar large cities, ad vised all mothers who heard him to ti their babies, as soon as they were born to a board, bind them down tight, an< keep them there, most of the time, til they were ten months old. " Pnt i hoop around the head," he says, 14 am then, when the board gets knocked over it won't break ine omias nose. jx summed up other advantages as follows " You see, ladies," holding up a speoi men, " the child's hands .are tied down so it can't saratch its mother's breast; i can't wriggle about and get very tired it can't bend over, and must groi straight; when the mother goes one afte herbs, she can hang it on a. tree, an snakes can't bite it; when it'cries, th mother can swing it across her back an rock it, and carry it a great distance i this manner, too; she can set it up sid of the wigwam very handy; and whe canoe turns over, the child swims off o the board and don't drown; and its bac don't break aoross its mother's arms, b< cause the board supports it; the chil can't crawl into the fire and bum up, to< can leave it long, all safe. So I thin this much the best way, ladies?muo the best." The ladies gave in their a sent by a general laugh. . A CiTPS TRAGEDY. . ' " A Sad Cue of Dsmtftlc OahappliM In . Hnmble Life, ?e Told by the New York " Graphic." The great city is fttH of tragedies. Looked at with perychologio eyes capa ble of piercing. disguises, every street would be found draped with shadows. Amid this compact ddn of misery it is difficult to disengage the attention and fix it on a single case, however peculiar in its network of happiness and misery or however steep the descent. . - Bat an instance of sadden wayward ness and want in the very building in which the Graphio is printed prompts us briefly to outline its more salient points. ' o* On the fifth floor the little family lived, the mother and her two b&bee, in very humble apartments, to wMoh they were made to feel they Were welcome. The father of the family was formerly known for his excellent habits,.and .he officiated for some time as a sort of iani tor's assistant, but he became dissolute, stayed out late at night, and finally de serted his home altogether, and at the time of which we are speaking had not been seen by any of the family for months. The mother had heard that he had found a situation in one of the grain elevators, buf she knew he was no ranger '-ttrorthy'iif hoc respect, and -re solved fo maintain hSrBsL? and her little brood by her own unaided ^exertions. Bhe was a patient, sad eyed creature, never .complaining, but never hoping? one of the last in . the world that would naturally be suspected of anv desperate deed. She was always neatly but cheaply dressed, and had a grace and dignity of ' "--l il J. U.J 4/vmv.s?1tt Dealing uia& uuuwou two ^ou immunj been more happily oircturifltanoed. No body ever thought of inquiring into her history, and she seemed incapable of speaking of it. If a friend sought her oonflddncs, she appeared to say, it gentle deprecation : " No, no I Let us not talk about that." She made herself quite helpful; Bhe brodhed all over the building every morning and made her self a general favorite. . ;c > ...At last the little ones gotso that they could toddle about the building,Tommy leading his younger sistdr. - They were i not much in the way, and they soon be came, favorites among the workmen, who i liked to shore their lunches with the in fants, who opened their, wide gray eyes i at the novel world, and jgb&d cautiously . at the buzzing, machinery. i One day in the last winter month oc /vrttiwl' a' mtlarnifv wWfth' flnmfl of nnr i readers may remember, and that will i not be soon forgotten. The industrious 1 mother was ont earning the bread for ' the family and the little ones were in the i press-room watching the bright sheets fly from the ready fingers of our great four-cylinder, when horror seized on . the foreman. Little Bessie was in the t machinery! How she got caught wap ; always a mystery. Her pain was but for i a moment.. Her Jfaneral was simple, i but her loss was sinoerely mourned, ana ; the shocking accident left a shadow on i the establishment. . i Tommy was even more to his mother i after that. She seemed to cling to him " -? 1- * A .J Willi a UOapDHO lOdi, WIU ?wu?uuaiu apprehensive and heavy hearted. One evening of the very next week he was missed. He was scraght with passionate anxiety. A policeman had seen him in the company of another email- chap on the next corner. In the morning his re mains were found in thy dock. Els mother never epoke after that She was calm and tearless when the corpse was brought into' her apartment, and took no notice of it. She went about in - a mechanical way, eating lan guidly what was placed before her, but gating nothing and never smiling onoe. She was still beautiful She dressed as scrupulously as ever and had a wistful, fnKawiw lrthir. fts if constantlv waiting for somebody who never came. Onoe the janitor found her late at night in on .open window, as if abont to dash her self upon the pavement 6elow. In a week she was missing. Nobody seemed to be much surprised. Had she gone out in the night with the key that was always within reach ? Search was cautiously begun. A policeman had seen her walking on the roof with her hair floating in the wind and scarcely at alljarotected from the cold. . ' Her "body was found next morning, Stack and stiff, at the mouth of a sewer on the North river. . .. )/ ? Her fate was hard and her lot was pitiful, but she wtis a ' most tender,, motherly, faithful, and exemplary cat.' l ? " -i Fashion Notes. All new suits are composite. TTnlhftin work crows in favor. Sorties du bal are half dolmans. loile d*Alsace is a new dress fabric.'" . The. cuirass is still the popular cor sage. Spanish blond is the lace of the sea son. Lace capes and fichus are still in vogue. -j.L,r,, , ; r Linen parasols lined with brown are shown. " ?*' . j * . . r The reign of the basque and tunic is not over. ; wil !, i.: v; : Black promises to remain the favorite street dress. ! * ' QentlemeD's boots are square toed; ladies' round. v ' * The hair ia worn low on the forehead in large waves. v Oambrio suits are to be worn on the street this summer. Narrow cravats of figured pique are shown for gentlemen. Jean d'Arc belts, made or tortoise shell, are very elegant. OnnkAo ova of qnffe nillr. unfcli j . - OJWuyo ww miww w r heavily fringed ends. I - Blaok corsets are worn by some lies t when in mourning. 3 Checked foulards make very p tty 3 and inexpensive suits. 3 Many imported polonaises are con. ug j in with the new goods. Grasses gone to seed are very . ashion 1 able for hat trimmings. i The " Queen Elizabeth " is the name 3 of the new leather belt. f Smoked pearl buttons are shown in dark blue, brown and green. Broad black velvet bands arouy e neck have been revived. y Button holes on ladles' dresses this I season are worked, not bound. 0 ? 1 Mixed gray ciiuviuus uiv duu(jud unvi for gentlemen's oversacks. Centennial masquerades will be in vogue as soon as Lent is over. Pale blue and pale rose are favorite oolors for striped batiste suits. The most fashionable spring wraps have long, sqnare mantilla fronts. Bustles are made to throw all the full ness at tho bottom of the skirt. Bouffants, poufs and sash loops are worn still, but low down on the skirt. White Lisle thread stockings are em broidered with white or colored cilk. Very fine diagonals are fasmoname for frock coata and cut-a-ways. Cream oolored cashmere lace shoulder shawls will be worn in the gammer. Evening slippers or shoes for ladies are made of the same silk as the dress. Bog skin gloves with embroidered backs are shown in all the spring shades. Black silk continues to be the material for sacks, dolmans and mantillas. The favorite dress of the Princess Beatrioe is pale lilac, with seringee bou quets. Linoleum is the floor covering for haUff and kitchens; it is better than oil cloth. THE MERCHANT PRINCE. What u Old Tims Merchant Says of the Late A. T. Stewart. Henry C. Bowen, befoie he became publisher of the Independent, was an extensive dealer in silks and fancy goods, and held business relations with the late A. T. Stewart that continued for nearly a quarter of a century. " I was a clerk for Arthur Tappan & Company, at 122 Pearl street," said Mr. Bowen, "when I first made Mr. Stewart's acquaintance. That was forty years ago. Mr. Stewart was doing business opposite the park, somewhere near where the Independent offices are situated. I used to wait on him and sell Mm goods. Arthur Tappan & Company at that time controlled a line of "Frenchprints which were known as gros odiera. They had all cf them that were in the market at that time. I remember that it was in these goods that I negotiated my first large eale to Mr. Stewait. Even at that time Mr. Stewart was an extensive purchaser from tie importers. Ixemember that the late John Rankin, who was a large importer, declared then tht Mr. Stewart was the shrewdest merchant in New York. When Mr. Bankin had an arrival of goods, at -that time, it was his custom to invite the. leading buyers to his place and inspect them. The cases were opened, the prices of each line and quality of goods were determined upon, and then Mr. Bankin received the merchants. Many buyers always came, and among them A. T. Stewart, and while the others: went about the store feeling the fabrics* as to how thick this was or thin that was, and while they hemmed and hawed and de bated with each other the desirability of onq line over another, Mr. Stewart would take Mr. Bankin with him through the store, selecting the best of the stock and purchasing it at onoe." Mr. Rankin, who became Mr. Bowen's special partner, often referred to Mf. Stewart as being, in his opinion, the rihrewdeet, quickest and most intelligent merchant in the city. Mr. Bowen was then the head of: the well known house of Bowen, MeNamee & Company. \r V.I,recollect," continued .Sir, Bowen, after apause, " that Henry Sheldon, ah^ extensive importer of Frenohgooda, had at onetime sold Mr. Stewart goods to the amount of 826,000 or $30,000, and felt a little timid about increasing his credit with him. He informed the great merchant that he desired to know more about his capital and business than he then knew. In reply, Mr. Stewart said':' 'I regard Mr. Lewis Tappan, of the firm of Arthur Tappan & Go., as one of the most intelligent merchants, in New York, and as you sell that firm largely, and have confidence in them, if yon will be satisfied I will ask Mr. Tap pan fouoome hereand examine my books. He will then be able to tell yon all I know myself.' Mr. Sheldon con sented to this, and Mr. Lewis -Taonan spent several evenings in Mr. Stewart's counting-room studying his books. He reported, when his task was ended, that Mr. Stewart was abundantly good and worthy, and was worth about $70,000. Mr. Stewart did not ask the usual long time of six or eight months in which to make his payments. When he asked credit it was for a short time, but even then his aggregate credits were consid erable, and it was necessary for him to stand well among merchants. He was never questioned after Mr. Tappan's re port went abroad. Mr. Stewart's great store down town was not erected all: at once. A land owner in Chambers street asked too high a price for his lot there, and Mr. Stewart built around it. erect* ing six story structures, so that the prop of the stubborn Landlord was injured and rendered insignificant, and at last, a few years ago, he was obliged to sell it at Mr. Stewart's price. "Daring the late war Mr. Stewart's contracts with the government, directly and indirectly, formed an enormous -business. Besides Ms own contracts, he filled large orders for other houses who were obliged to go to him to carry out their promises. Wherever Mr. Stewart reposed confidence he sold unlimited amounts, and has thereby assisted ener getic merchants in different sections of the .country into prosperity and promi nence. Potter Palmer, of Chicago, and John Shiletto, the rich Cincinnati re tailer, benefited largely by Mr. Stewart's oonfldencein them." Mr. Bowen regarded Stewart as the "king of buyers in an auction room." If he succeeded in obtaining a good bar gain, the quantity of the goods on hand never frightened him. No other man had the means to buy as he did... ' Early in his business prosperity Mr. Stewart frequently managed to oontrol certain styles of goods, as, for instance, the Alexandre glove, compelling all to purchase of him and at his own price. In the olden time, before the days of the telegraph, he was frequently known to have sent agents through the market quietly with orders to learn just how m?ch of certain styles of goods could be found in New York, Boston and Philar delphia. He purchased all that oould be bought, and controlling the market, advanced the price of the article, never exorbitantly, but simply to a controlling Hcmrfi. The New Tariff Bill. The committee of ways and means of the United States House have added t6 the free list of tho Morrison Tariff bill the following named articles : Window glass, painted or stained, im ported by and for tho use of educational, literary, benevolent and religions asso ciations, and not for sale; books in other languages than English, Greek or Latin ; balsam, copper ore, castor oil. The following named artiolea have been stricken from the free list: Drugs, medicines and other crude -?1 CUemiCttltf liUt UUiClTTiOQ JJiUTAUUU AVA) paring tile, coal, including slack and bituminous. The following changes have been made: Collodion of ether of all ki' <?, fifty cents a pound ; the present u is $1 a pound. Opium prepared .or smoking, and all other preparations of opium not otherwise provided for, $9 a pound ; it is, under the present law, ?6 a pound . Licorioe in paste or rolls, five cents & pound. The committee have added the follow ing : Champagne and all other sparkling wines, in bottles, each containing not more than one quart and more than one pint, $9 a dozen bottles ; containing not mere than one pint each and more than one-half pint, $4.50 a dozen bottles; containing one-half pint each, or less, Aft nr _ J- 1?TV>;? in on 4n mo U UU^CU uuuiuco# AMMi au uu am crease of one-third over the present rates. Emery grains, one cent a pound; emery ore, 83 a ton; emery, manu factured, ground or pulverized, one-half cent a pound. This a redaction of one half of the present rates. Turbot a tja Creme. ? Take five {jounds of halibut or cod; boil thorough y in salt and water; when done, drain it, and, when cool enough, flako it, tak ing out all the bones. One quart, of cream set in a saucepan of hot water, half of an onion, some sprigs of parsley, two tablespoonfuls of corn staroh; cook it until it is flavored, then strain out the parsley, add a half pound of butter to the or earn; take the dish you serve it in, and put first a layer of fish, then a layer of cream, a sprinkle of cayenne pepper, then a lajer of cracker crumbs, and so on until the dish is fall; put the last lay er of cracker crumbs; bake it one hour at least; garnish with parsley. THE FINANCIAL PROSPECT. The Failure* thus Far la 1876?A Large Ii erease for tbe First Qaarter. The statistics of failures throughoi the United States, for the three montl ending with March, are furnished t Messrs. B. G. Dnnn & Oo.'s agency, an indicate a very disheartening resul The figures show an increase in merotu tile casualties, which, though expectei is larger than was anticipated. T1 number of failures s-re set down at 2,80 with liabilities of $64,000,000. Compa ed with the same quarter in 1875, j which the number was 1,733, with li bilities of $38,000 000, the increase very mamea?amounting to x,vio ; number, and $26,000,000 in liabilitie But as compared isith the statistics f< the previous quarter, or the last thri months of 1876, the shpwing is not i bad. In order to present the figures: more intelligent shape for oomparist we group them as follows: t f li'i ;<?r' * ' ZUUiUi first quarter in 1876..... ..2,806 t&LOOOJi First quarter in 1875.......1,783 88,000,0 Last quarter in 1875.......2,406 70,000,0 r While, therefore, there is a slight i crease in the last quarter over that ju previous to it in number, there is a poe tive decrease in liabilities. Still, for tl last six months the failures have bee exceptionally numerous, and do not gii much encouragement to the hope thi the return of a prosperous condition any nearer, except in the passage time, than it "was a year ago. The qua tedy circular, from whioh the foregoir figures are taken, remarks : "The business of tbecountry, in every a p&rtment, oontinuos to be restricted to tl narrowest limits; without a corresponding r duction in expenses, and in the ftoe of dedi ing prifcea of all staples, the poeaiblhtlw profit have been slight indeed. It is, therefoi not a matter , of surpriseUhat so many ha1 suocumbed to tbe preesure of the times; tl wonder rather is, that'with all thodiscourag monta which' In the past two or three yes have been experienced; so many survive in ooddftion of apparent stability. When all tl drctmntanoe* are considered it should n create surprise that tbe statistics of failar show a marked increase in seasons like tl present. A condition of expansion, such the large expenditures of the warinduoed, ai which a vastly increased currency caused to perpetuated, oould not take plaoe witho stimulating trade unduly, and causing su Ia.rirA nnmhflt* to enter commercial nursuits to era?rd til avenues of business with mo than an adequate number even when tra was at its beet. Bat >A)W that there is b little business to be done beyond eupplyii the restricted wants of the people, the exoe aivo number in trade moat be lessened, and the struggle for existence the doctrine ef survival of the fittest receives a fresh iiluatr tion. It isto be deplored that the large am of traders, whose servioes are no longer r quired, cannot , retire from the field, exoe through failure. The voluntary withdraw* from business are in f?r less proportion thi they should bo, in yle w of the great redacts in its exfceht." ' . :. r~ i Although failures are generally r garded as the moot marked indication < a bad oondition of trade, from the for going it appears that this is the on] process by which the number engage can be lessened, so that those -who r main may make profit enough to yie (hem a living. Yet, even from this pr cess there seems very little prospect of lessened number in business, owing' the facility with which compromise after failure are effected. In relation i this the agency remarks: "The very men who' have demons trafc their lack of success are those only who mal money in these hard times. By porchasii their assets from their oreditors at a low Agar a sufficient capital i¬ onfreqaently yield* to continuo in business, bat always to ti detriment of those who are endeaToring 1 discharge their obligations in foil In th view it is a national calamity that the baokru; law is in its present condition. The wise ai liberal principle which this law is intended maintain, is abused by the mistakes in i enactment, and the faoility which it affords the debtor, by jadiclonsjmanipulation, to di tato terms to the [creditor, wno*therebj?loa control of his own property, ana a dispositu is not onfreqaently made of it, entirely foreij to his jriahee and opposed to ma oonviouoc The many cDnuideratione which cause credito to yield to the solicitations of .debtors for compromise of .their indebtedness are auf ciently strong to keep the ranks fall Of tho who hate failed to succeed; but enoourag ment to fraudulent failures, and.well-defln< attempts to make money by this clas? of mi fortunes, were oertainly never ottatemplafr by the law, Such, however, is the teeult, an added to all the liirutations and difficulties bosiness of the present 'time, is this misfc tone, that while failures are numerous, the c eeeeive number engaged in a restricted tra lessen slowly, fraud is encouraged, and t chances or success tor upngm ana caput merchants are diminish* d Ly the failure a: sijbgeqnent settlement at a trilling dividend the weak in capaH tv an d the poor in capita With regard id the general conditit of trade and the prospect for the futui the circular before us does not sh< much light beyond the photograph ft nished by the valuable figures above pi sentecL It is to be presumed the agen people have gol; tired predicting a revi al of trade with each coming season, ai wisely refrain from dealing in vain d lusions. As to what is needed to pz dace a better condition of business, tl circular says : " Notwithstanding that all the ability of tl great nation of inventors has for the pi three years been intent upon the discovery some plan whereby trade can be restored U DO/mal condition, no theory has yet been fon tnat exactly hgb uie duo or bouuui^uouoD * result. The progress toward a proepero oondition, which at firat was thought might rapid, it is now generally considered most exceedingly gradual. Still farther, it is a gro ing conviction that & bettor and safer oc dition of trade can only be bronght about bj reduction of values to their lowest possii points, and henoe there are those who hail a good sign every quotation of lower prices 1 dicating a possibility of economy in living, a a return to rates for ail staples such as pi vail in other quarters of the globe. How fai restricted currency, and an approach to spe< payments, will ooutribute to this result, it needless to say; bat evon la anticipation that most desirable consummation tho te tency to lower prioea for evory thing is to ma the most hopeful sign of the times. To show to what extent prices ha been reduced, an interest table is give with quotations in April of 1873, as coi pared with those in April, 1876, of uev< al leading artioles, for which we ha not spaoe. Notwithstanding a redact! in the price of numerous staples entx ing into the every-day wants of the pe pie, the agency pertinently asks : "Yet, in the face of all this decline, what the real percentage of decrease in living < penses in 1876 as compared with 1873 ? It c tainly onght to be much more than It is. 1 profits of retailers continue to bear the sa relative high percentage that they did in bet times; and, indeed, it looks as if a reus trie! trade was ataoed for by higher profits, as ii certain ttiat goods are bought at wiiolee much cheaper, and sold at retail almost high as in 1873. All this most, howev right itself in time. Competition and 1 lessened expense of retailers themselves > accomplish the result of adjusting the cost living to a proportionate cost of prodaoti When this is reached, an important step ward a healthier condition of things will hi been attained." Respecting the future there does i appear much in the present outlook encourage the hope of immediate revi of business. The circular from wh we have quoted (and wluch is prepa] with the usual care and ability), c< eludes as follows: '' The spring trade generally has been v disappointing both in extent and profit, a the backwardness of the season retards a mand for goods whioli it was thought mi follow the regular season's purchases. Th is, however, a steady realization from p ducers for their staples, indebtedness is gra ally being reduced, and economy is every wh the feature of the hour. There is a gene conviction that bottom has been touched, i that with the permanent opening ol ni gation and the necessary activities of the C tennial year, a new start will be made whi though not accomplishing great results wit a short time, will yet be hopeful in indicate for the future." I j Friend, i The friend who holds a mirror to myfaoe, And hiding none, is not afraid to tr&oe My faults, my smalleet blemishes, within; Who friendly warns, reproves me if I sin? Although it seems not so?he is my friend. Bat he who, ever flattering, give me praise, Who ne'er rebukes, nor censures, nor delays To oome with eagerness and grasp my hand, Aqd pardon me, ere pardon I demand? He is my enemy, although he seem my friend. ?Bcribntr. / Items of Interest. Thirty-four ^overnmente will be rep resented at Philadelphia. The Texas cattle drive will this year be in excess of 300,000 head. ' When a man is so busy that he cannot mind his own business he should nave assistance. Thirty-five thousand seven hundred and fourteen dollars in silver are said to weigna too. The man who popped the question by starlight got . his sweetheart's consent in a twinkling. There are 60,000San day schools in the United States, with 600,000 teachers, and 5,000,000 pupils Happy thought of the Springfield Re publican: A bioentennial State will be wanted in 1976. Sato New Mexico lot that! An Edinburgh jeweler will exhibit at the Centennial a showcase which, with its contents, will be worth upward of $100,000. " Fll scratch your eye out," liissedan inoensed female passenger in a horse car, who imagined that the gentleman u? (.? nrflfl arnirur one eve on her. UO* D4Wv ,,w" 0*7*0 T " Ob, scratch away, madam I he quietly responded, " it's glass." Publican?'" Your dog's veij f at, six. Pray what do you fegd him on t" Traveler?" Well, he has no regular meals; but whenever I take a glass of ale I give him a biscuit, you know I" The man who painted Patience as a healthy looking female perched on a chunk of sandstone, never saw an editor chewing the end of a pencil, while three compositors stood in the background yelling for copy. ' As an evidence of hard times it may be mentioned that a young man in New York State wrote to every bank in. De troit offering to "be your kashoerfor $20 per month and board j" and no bonk could give him a place. When a man detects a missing button after getting on a clean shirt, no one in the house is awareof the fact He takes nft flu* shirt and Duts on another, quiet Ij smiling all the while. He never, never speaks of it to a souL In Volcano, CaL, the other day, a la borer found a piece of quartz rock among the rubbish he was -wheeling in a barrow. On the rock being broken up it was fo and to contain pieces of gold, theaggregate value of which was about $1,000. The new fans are very airy. They have an edge of feather and lace and ? foundation of pearl or coraL They ore moderately large, and there is a brass Hp where ladies will please nibble when they want to appear diffident or in a nr mr other man's study. They are absurdly cheap?only fifty-five dol lars a fan. An old farmer says of his boys : " From sixteen to twenty, they mew more than I did; at twenty-five they knew as much; at thirty they were will ing to hear what I had to say; at thirty five they asb my advice, and I think when they get to be forty they will ac knowledge that tne old man knows, something." A man popped into the poet-office and wanted to know how much merchandise he could send in one parcel " Four pounds,"' was the reply. Then he bland ly said he thought he would send to Arizona four pounds of those red toy balloons, inflated; bat he had difficulty in getting out of the door in time to dodge a mail bag. They were talking about emrgencieqe, and somebody asked a mild looking stran - aftr what he would do if suddenly plaoeu in great periL He said he hardly Jrnew. thought he should follow his usual practice and crawl under the bed. The ladies in the party thought he must be afraid of thunder storms, but the men knew he was married. An exchange says: Because we hap pen to take our shotgun and start out for a Sunday afternoon's gunning, it is no reason why a half dozen impudent persons should inquire if we were on a tour for collecting subscription money. The times are hard, and ammunition rw miwh monev to be wasted on WOW W\/ AUMVM ? v delinquent subscribers just now. This ia how a sufferer tries to define chronic rheumatism: Swallow two quarts of carpet tacks, take a running jump bare-legged into a barrel of broken beer bottles, let a swarm of enraged hornets roost on your head, and then roll into a bed of fishhooks, and youH get a .faint idea of the nature and sensation of a first-das: rheumatism when it gets hold -* ? ? manna VlllfrinttBL Ui JTUU OJ.IU The other day a Lee (Mass.) man, while arranging his combination safe look, missed one or two small pieces that he liad taken out and laid on the floor, and for a while he sought*vninly for them everywhere. He finally oon cluded to administer a dose of ipecac to his dog who was standing innocently by, and, snre enough, the missing property came to light. Devioes for cheating in games of chance aire extensively advertised. The circulars; sent out describe the goods. Marked cards are made in great variety, the backs showing to the initiated what is on the faces; also cards cut in slight ly varying lengths, so that advantage may be taken in outting. Faro boxes for unfair dealing, loaded dice, and ap plicanceii for holding extra cards, are offered. The president of a paper oompany o Connecticut, arrested for a $60,000 for gery, hasn't had a very good time sine* -'??j io<4 Tnno He savs he HO Uicait;u uuii, mow ?-1 had jnflt two dollars when ho left, and has since been very destitnte and has spent mnch of the time in tramping. He traveled about New York and Dela ware, part of the time picking peaches at seventy-five cents a day, and part of the time doing odd jobs as a carpenter. ? '"""-'a nroooncfl of mind saved All ClJ^iUOCl O a train on the Southern California rail road the other Jay from a fearful dis aster. The train was crossing the bridge over the San Gabriel river, when the engineer felt that it was giving way, and at once crowded on a full head of steam and slipped across just before the water came on the jails. The shock of start ing the train shook the passengers up considerably, and a brak?man was thrown the whole length of the car. In the town of Hartland, some twelve or fifteen years ago, lived an old fellow who was not noted for his fondness for good books; he liked good liquor better. An agent called one day and asked if er J the house was supplied with the Bible. >ral I "Oh, yes," he said, " they always hart it" The agent was a little incrednlous, and decided to see it. The old n^an searched the house through, ami at Ja;<t produced a few stray loaves, fwyiitp, " ho bad no idee they wore so lu-ar out of Bible." lot to val ich red an ery .nd do ght ere ind ivi en ob, bin 3D 8