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j - ; 'T-:^;.- . ." ; , ' J "* ' ; ' i ' | ' " ABBEVILLE PRESS & BANNER.? BY HUGH WILSON AND W. C. BENET. ABBEVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879. NO. 31. VOLUME XXVI. |||j| Old and New. The old year eat beside the hearth In thoughtful mood ; the hour was late ; And ere he vanished from the earth The past he fain would contemplate. " I brought a wealth of Joy for tho#e Who had o'erburdened been with grief," lie ssiJ. " and for unnumbered woes Furnished the cordial of relief. " To some I gave a garden's bloom, Sweet pansiee and forget-me nots ; To some the cypress, and the tomb, The barrenness of desert spots. With love I tarried for a while, Breathing the sweet elvsian air ; And bidding hope serenely sruiie Across the threshold of despair. "I entered on my natal hour Burdened alike with bliss and bane, Commissioned by my Lord to dower Some hearts with tase, and some with pain. Where happiness had rich increase, I shall be honored long, I know ; But those I robbed of Joy and peace? They will be glad to have me go I " I've followed many a bridal train ; Hare watched by many a lonely bier ; With birth and death, with loss and gain, Made up the record of the year. And now beside December's gate Where hangs the year's alarnm bell, I paose to scan the past, and wait The sound of my own funeral knell. '' One! How the hours have slipped away ? Two! Some will weep with Bore regTet; Three! Could I still on earth delay? " Four ! Some good I might accomplish yet. Fire 1 An angelic song awoke! 8ix! 8urely are the fetters riven ; Seven! Soon I shall hear the final stroke? Eight) Chime sweetly with the clock of heaven ! Nice ! I am nearer to my goal! Ten ! Time must eternity begin ! Eleven ! Awake, immortal soul! Twelve I Farewell! and let the new ysar nl" i "I oome the old year's debts to pay ! I com<3 his promises to keop To walk upon the world's highway, And deck the graven where dear ones sleep. ' Where he gave smiles I may give t03rs, Life's path with good or ill bestrew ; For unto bim who views the years The new is old, the old is new !" ?Josephine Pollard. ?? i INDIVIDUAL PKIZES. I j "Nothing succeeds like success'': mentis, perhaps, apart from tho implied sneer, that acquired impetus sends us forward to new achievements. At any rate, I found it so when I applied the theory to Kate. It seemed to me that I had been in despair regarding the indifference of this bonny creature since time immemorial. In reality it was only about a year since the faot dawned upon me, as she eat in the stern of my boat, her dark hair darker, and all tier soft outlines olearlv cut upon a tender evening sky, her cheeks bright -with the breeze, her eyes bright with pleasure, that she was the most oharming object that ever skimmed the river, and absolutely indispensable to my existenoe. But I had never once attempted to let her know as muoh without meeting a rebuff sufficient to make one's blood run cold; and it was in one such instance that I had declared no man could hope for favor with the women of her set who was not the captain of a nine, the driver of a four-in-hand, or a walker against time. " You are quite mistaken, so far as I am concerned," said Kate. "For my part I don't believe in muscle at ail. Samson arid Goliath could do nothing worth while if they were on the earth to-day. I dou't believe a boat-raco, for example, was ever won by brute strength in the world." " By what, then ?" " By science and nervous pluck." I had occasion to remember Kate's words when a parcel of our fellows came into the office and began discussing the challenge lately sent to our club, the Cheviots, by t>ie Gaths. The Cheviots had become somewhat demoralized by their victories, and were, so to say, lying on their o??rs. . It had been a hot summer, and the club had really done no work at all; now and then some members taking out a party of ladies, r\T a nnlifavw mnn nnincinor a nfrAf/?h* V4 - ?o - , bat for the most wo bad oontentea ourselves by lounging over to the boathouse for a bath, and a gosBip and a gmoke on the balconies in the sunset. Onr beat men?those that had won in the previous oontests?were one in Europe, one in Australia, and the rest at the land's end, with the exception of Rogers, who was ill. Wo were certainly in no condition to accept a challenge from the Gath<*, yet still less could we refuse one. Holding the champion colors, as we did, we could hardly lower them to any, even to the Gaths. The Gaths, indeed, were in splendid trim; there was Converse, an Englishman, who had been stroke of a winning crew at Oxford, a magni6cent creature, one hundred and eighty pounds clear muscle; shonlders and chest that would have mado Hercules shed tears; there was Dunbar, another young giant, who had beaten professionals at single scull four times; there was? Well, there's no need to go through with them now: it made one's flesh creep to do it then. We hadn't a man left in the club that they oonldu't get away with. Realizing the situation, wo looked at each other blankly. "You'll have to get into the boat yourself, Geoffreys," said Harden. " Not unless I want to sink it." i ?. i _ . II "J cion c see wnac eise we cau uo. "We can't do that; we can't afford to do it. No, we must look about?not in a hurry." ".Oh. come, Geoffreys, you've been lying off long enough 1" oried Jersey. " What do they propose to row for ? Hang 'em 1" "Individual prizes." " Individual prizes I We can't afford to do that, either; it will stiok us for a oouple of hundred extra?another assessment, and the boathouse just paid for. It can't be done. Row as we always have?row for colors." Well, we looked about us, and the end of it was that they came on another day and took me by main force, and the crew was made up?Harden and Rogers, myself and little Jersey; I to pull stroke, little Jersey to steer; and he weighed, maybe, a hundred and sixteen ponnds. And that was the most we oould offer. The Gaths insisted on their individual prizes. I tell you, things looked dark; the whole thing seemed preposterous; ^and for about a week I didn't dare look a soul in the face. I C CI - 1L. rt-ll.' " oo yuu arts yuiug w bliuw tut) warns what we can do," said Kate one day; (or the girls whom we were in the habit of taking ont on sunset parties and at other times were all ardent Cheviots. There was another club in town?the Jasons?bnt the girls never seemed to know it. *' Or what we can't," said I. " Down-hearted ? Faint heart never ~ won,' you know," she said. 'Nor monstrous conceit either. We "can't refuse; we must row?that's all there is to it Oh, we've no show at all!" "I won't listen io such talk a mo* ^lac&t," cried Kate, stooping to gather her train, and bringing her bright 1 to her peachy oheek. " I have wag all my next winter's gloves on the 01 ots, and if you make me lose the Mr. Geoffreys, if the Oheviots don't I don't know that I'll ever speak to again I" And off she swept, the h on her lips, but a good deal of spa in her eye. ! " And that too !" I said ; and plui my hands in my pockets with a gr | for of course there was nothing but t failure before the Oheviots. ' " Still, all we can do is our b< I said Harden ; and we used his rei I for a catch-word every day prob ! during the following weeks, i Th3 thing being decided, we ordei new boat at once, and went into ti ing, messing together, and keepinf each other's spirits by stories of wh? j had heard of the Oaths' achievem< I We received a little encouragen | however, from the fact that we i j found ourselves pulling remarkably ! together ; but ttie Oaths had been ] j ing remarkably well together ! enough to feel themselves entitle : challenge us as the champions. "Boys," said I, fearing that, if state of mind continued, our d< would be our disgrace also, "I It heard competent authority declare brute strength never yet won anywt If that was all we had, we'd lose race anyway, the Gaths have so n more than their share. Science ?scie gentlemen, tells in the long-run, where the lion's skin falls short, must eke it out with the fox's." J " Shakspeare," said little Jersey. " Just leave this out to me," sai | " and we'll see what can be done." | Accordingly I had outriggers attat j to the shell full four inches longer I i any wo ever had before. Our oars i I the heaviest made, but I had t 1 plugged with handles an extra lengt ; It wanted only a week of the i , when a dreadful whisper stole thro fchA filnb that Rogers was falling off. I was too true ; be had trained too 1 j and?Job was a joke to bim. Tbe w! I club turned out in force, and tbere \ a dozen men at one time in our quar bringing up reinforcements of hot p ; tices. It was of no use, Kogers ba< lie by, and we bad to do the best could again, gnash our teeth, and 1 Devlin for what he was worth in place. "Give it to him gently," Harden on the first night; so we pn I at a gooil and reasonable gait dow the turuing-point, rested under the gi shadow of the great hills there that half across the river, and made i transparent that we seemed to bo sw ing in a bubble, the face of the ri far and near, still as a crystal exi where our keel had rippled throng' imd we went back at a little livelier i and Devlin was very well pleased 1 himself. The next day we quickt matters considerably ; but on tbe tt as we stepped in, I said, " Now, Dei look to yourself," gave the stroke, we shot away. Before we reached ! shadow of the hills Devlin was sw ing abont his seat and rowing al loose ends. " Hold hard, old boy !" muttered sey behind him. "I'm nearly bl I myBelf, but I'll never say die I " De picked himself up for the time, bx moment or two after we turned oried, or rather gasped, " Qentleme this is the way you row, I must get of this boat. What's more, you d ; need mo." i "Sick of it?" said Jersey, encon ; ingly.' "So am I. Should lik< , throw it up myself." i <t T*? i-:? ^ 1:14.1,* " HiUbO X11IU UU u lit Lie, ucuuic said Harden ; and we came in leisai ! Bat after one or two days' further li j there was no complaint frora Dej " I'm going to put it through if it br ' things," said he ; and he rowed as ; rest did?as if he wo had but one 1 j in four bodies. The day before the race the Qatb ' rived. Of course we had to rec ! them, do the honors, and show there | town and the girls and the river. 1 them came their boat- a swell thii ! can assure you, covered to the nose j linen, and in charge of their own J tor. As we hadn't any designs on 1 I boat, and although expecting thei ' win, only meant to make them < I their honors, we didn't object to | janitor. But when we went up to ; boathome and saw him sitting tl ! the picture of gentle pity and con I cent contempt for all boatmen in < j tion bnt Gaths, we knew what good i son he had for his complacency ii ! prond possession of his giants, and | it slightly exasperating. "How's the water?" eaid I, as : -.tepped down the slip, for the wind j blowing through the hiils in gUBts, ' * - i -V xl tnere was a gooa cur>p on iuh over, i " Calm's a pond," saiil he placidl j We looked at each other aud gro inwardly?the Oaths had always r< on the bay, about the same a? j water, and we had rowed on a am I inland surface ; a chop and swell ! would annihilate us would be v | over which they would skim lil J many Camillas o'er the plain. Bi : went off quietly, serenading the | tor with " Weel may the boatie ro as we went. Our new bo it had c ; and waited for us, outriggers ana | and we had taken her down to a j secure from observation, and given a thorough trial. She was a bei and from the moment she took \ answered to our will not merely li steed beneath its rider, but as j breath does in one's nostrils. We j in after our breather on an easy j and there Bat the janitor aB we had ! him. " I say," said he, with the r ! keeping the sad secret from our su i ors, as I came up the slip?" I say | that the best you can do ?" i "Best?" I answered. "I can'l j that it is. We weren't on our ix ; just now, you know. I suppose thi | could do a little better on a spurt. ! perhaps that is a fair average." j "I'm sorry for you," Baid he, j really compassionate condescensiou I that we were to be simply beaten j that we were to be beaten out of s But I had heard that in diplomacy sometimes what is not said that co and there were certain things to be between the lines of my reply. The first thing that we looked f the morning was the water: it w smooth as a baby's cheek, and as in the sunrise that stole over it bet the dewy shadows of the steep woody shores. Later in the fore some of the olub went to the rai station, I happening to be with the meet certain friends of the Gathe e _ il. J iU/ | came over ior iae uaj, uiuuiig im some wonderfully pretty girls, 01 whom I knew Harden would rather in Jericho than on the boathous cony that afternoon to see the C come in best men. Kate and sever her companions were there too?al acquaintances had made the affair own, and there was to be a general holiday in the town that afternoon. I took Kate's band a moment, c ing her a little apart, and she walk* with me a few paoes. "' Vox po vox Dei,'" I said. "You see, ] even the dogs would cry whippi they""' Vox, et prseterea nihil,' I've 1 you call that ' vox populi' a hui times, and I don't see anything ol sort, moreover. If you can't whip 1 great"? " Goliaths. Goliaths of Gath." " Your oars are jast as much we* beams as theirs," v. ; ; v-;- . / k- . . . - v V / - f luBh "They don't row with the Bun ir ered faces, Kate, as I do. And the stakei levi- are more to me than those of all th< ? races ever rowed in Christendom. I; fin. you mean never to speak to me"? you "Oh, is it there? I had quite for mgh gotten"? irkle " What! you were not in earnest ?" '' Never more so." iged | "Kate?" oan, i "Well?" [lead ? Give me something to row for, mj f> girl," and I Btopped short and looked 39V down at her with the color rising on hei nark | lovely cheek. ably i ??i will give you a signal." j " How shall I know what it means?' reda ! "You will know." rain- ??j believe you would send a man ? UP into a den of lions for your glove." it we ??i never blamed the woman who did,' mts. saj(i Kate, with a gay laugh all at once, lent, because, as I saw, her eyes were actualBoon iy full of tears, " and never thought well weU l of the man in that story." pull- i g0 we parted. Kate's tears?thej l?ng | angured ill. Pitying me?burial before rt to | death ! A sudden flash of anger swept through me. If she would not give me this something to row for, I would give her jfeat something to cry for. I would win, 01 itely j WOuld break a blood-vessel. that j went to my office for the mail, on the tere. way back to quarters, and found it full this of smoke and Cheviots. "Tell us the mch truth, Geoffreys," they oried. "These nee, Gath people are up here with fists full and of money, ready to wager thousands on we their crew. Say, shall we take them up ?" _ "I can't advise you, boys," said I. d 1, ? They are mighty men. They row to , , win. I never saw anything so hand'v some in my life as their morning exern cise. No?don't bet on us. We won't disgrace the Cheviots. It'll be a close j D1" thing, perhaps, but it's out oi tne ques!? tion to suppose we can win from them." aay, << that's as it may be," cried Brand. " But I've taken the offers of the Philis, At tines to the last dollar in my pocket." r1?' And a cheer greeted him that fairly bole slammed the door behind me as I left, *ere and told what the rest meant to do; and of course it didn't lighten our hearts any to know how they were going to lighten 1 their pockets. W6 kkg Well, it was a big crowd that lined the shores and the building-tops, that gaj j hung along the banks in boats and skiffs when we went down to the boathouBe, n ^ and seemed only like one vast animal reen ' c01111^668 eyes an^ tongues. The balconies were filled with ladies, the j. B0 stake-boat was set, the tugs were ready to follow us, and suoh a tumult of exv0y citement as there was in the boathouso j nothing but a menagerie just before dinner-time could rival; old Keed wan ,ate' | kicking through the panels of his dressing-room door because he had dropped ;uecj his key, and young Smythe was taking ^ his fist and smashing every pane in a ?lin' sash because he couldn't open a window; an(j they were yelling here and running there?the blood of all the Cheviots was in a- the confusion, there, 1 at on a heap of sail-cloth under one of the balconies, the Oaths lay stretched at jer- their ease like a nest of young lions, and own as I looked them over I wondered if four as superb gladiators ever fought in a ^ a Roman circus. They had a deuced pretty jj0 uniform, too, snow-white, with a deep n if crimson handkerchief knotted on their ,QUt heads. " Come up here," I cried, leanjon>{. ing over?"come up and--survey?tire course, and see the crowd, and be introduced to some "? rag- "Thank yon, Geoffrey," answered 0 Converse. "It's very clever of you, ? Geoffreys, you know; but we're very 'y?* well as we are." And when time sounded, and they rose and "strode down tc a,. r their boat, I was not surprised at the ?* shouts of admiration that rent the air? fthe 'u *ac5' we 8^on'i6^ ourselves. iear^ j I never want to enuuro another i moment like that in which I grasped my oar, waiting for the start, after places B. were taken. I glanced baok at Harden :eJ7e and the rest, and then across at the V th ?such white, sot faces 1 My pube , stopped for one second; there was a dead silence; then a word, a dip, a . . bound, a yell?I was all myself again, heir ^eart beat at my oar's blade, mj soul went out of me at every stroke, a Harden and Devlin were one with me, Mtle Jersey steered her to a hair, m\ T" dejection bad vamsnea liKesmoKe. J meant to win that race or die. We were ieje' aide by side, we were creeping on, w? J gave them onr wash, the swift tremen' !reft* dons strokes seem to come like oui r^a" breaths; I heard nothing but one con 1 5H? tinous roar along the banks the whole oi the way, I saw nothing bnt those fellowt laboring after; and as for them, thej i we never saw us again without turning theii was heads over their shoulders. As w< an(J rounded, they seemed to be losing forn i a moment, although they rallied; and ai 7. | we entered the quarter, I asked the mei aned j they had anything left to call for. i i / A i _. i. i ?it ?> -rrr^vi j '' J\ lilbb UrCUl.ll, UCIDCJ. ! sea " Let them have it," I cried. Audw< tooth came in two lengths ahead, in the midsl that of a deafening tumult, wild women anc rater yelling men, that might have waked th< :e so dead. i t we Of course we paddled aside to let th< janl- I Gaths enter at the landing first. But ai W ! " ; we came up ourselves, eight great arm: ome, j were reaching out to seize me; power ' aN? less to struggle, wo were carried up th< spot; slip by Gaths and Cheviots together her just as I pasr>ed under the balcony ii iuty, that triumph, I looked up. There wai vater Kate leaning fur over. Upon my word 'k0 a for that instant, that one instant, I hai ' the forgotten that Kate existed. And ther came she stood with the otlierB, framed in thi j?K? ! sunset, her disordered hair gilded like i [ left. ; nimbus, laughing, crying, flushed, love lir of j ]y anJ half divine ! As her eye caugh peri- | mine, she extended her hand impetu . Ia ! ously, kissed the spray of flowers sh j held, and tossed it down to me. It wa t 8a7 i a spray of orange flowers.? Harper' lettle ; weekly. it we : ______ But "I Goess I'll Walk." with j i, not I " She's pretty hot, ain't she ! " said i ,' but i backwoods passenger, addressing th ight. I engineer of a Mississippi steamer tha it is ; was racing with another boat. " So-so, unts, ! responded the engineer, as he hung ai read i additional wrench on the safety-valv j cord to stop the steam from escaping or in | "I reckon we'll overtake that craft soon,1 as as I pursued the stranger. "That'B abou rosy | it." refcuraed the engineer, giving th ween ; ??rd another twitch and hallooini and | through the trumpet to the firemen t noon | " above her up." " One hundred am [1 way | ninety-five," hummed the passenger m, to ! looking first at the gauge and then a i who the boilers. " That's about where she* > rest rusticating," put in the engineer. Th ie of ! passenger ran his fingers through hi have j hair nervously, and walked about th ) bal- ' decks for a few minutes, when he cam Stoths j back to the engineer and observed al of " Hadn't you better leave that boat go?' 1 our ' " Can't do it. Must pass her." " Bu their j s'posen we should blow up ?" " Well, [ half said the engineer, as he peeped over th j guard to Bee how fast he was going Iraw- it is the will of Providence for th ;d on ! boat to blow up, we'll have to stand b; ,nnli ' it." Then he hallooed to the fireman t' late] coal, and give a little more turpentin g(j jf and oil. The next moment there was splash in the river ; but before the yaw leard could be lowered the man had succeeds idred in reaching the shore, and hallooed out f the "Q? 0Q the race. I guesB I'] those walk." At a reoenfc sale of ostrich feathers ? ivera' South Africa, a pound of thai oommodi ty brought $888.75. ' >'? St ^ :. i FOR THE FAIR SEX. 3 3 Paahlon Notes. f M'tifc sacqnes are again in vogue. Tiio French t wist is on the decline. The feather trade is on the inorease. Feathers of all kinds are in demand. Squirrel look is still the popular fur! liniug. Undressed kid gloves are worn on'all J ocoasions. Sealskin sacque? are still the favorite fur wraps. Chatelaine braids, worn down the back, ' are revived. Mixed fancy feathers will be mucn worn this winter. , It is no longer necessary for gloves to match the costnme. Far-lined garments bid fair to take | the lead this season. Furriers recommend the skins of the - squirrel for fur linings. i Seal sacques without borders are pre; ferred by choice purchasers. 1 Buff or gold-colored kids are worn with maroon or garnet costumes. Sealskin sacques are from thirty] three to forty inches in depth. Black ostrich tips are again the lead* | ing full-dress feathers for either hats or i bonnets. Feathers of the finer and more delicate kinds are used to ornament opera hats and coiffures. Mink lining and bands form a very elegant wrap, with sicilienne or amure for the outer covering. Six buttons are de rigueur for dressing toilets, while the coat sleeves are ' ? 1 L J rainer uuuri. uuu very ugub. Colored and white silk handkerchiefs formed into diagonal bows are worn by fashionable women as opera coiffures. Elderly and sedate women prefer the plain gray squirrel skins for oloak linings to the white and gray locks and backs. One, two or three broad black ostrich tips, held down by a flat, fancy, mixed feather, form the dressiest of all hat or ! bonnet trimmings. Long polonaises made last year and J slightly worn may be easily rejuvenated by turning back the front corners and fastening them below the waist with a large bow. Birds are fastened on some of the new fans in such a way that the bird seems perched on one side when the fan is folded, but lies in the middle when it is opened. Ilarrlur, Marriage places woman in the sphere where she may attain the greatest happiness; so does it advance her to a station of power and responsibility. Her power over her husband's happiness is almost absolute. By wisdom and steadiness, by forbearance and weakness, she may be to him a tower of strength; but no tongue can tell the way she may annoy him and render him wretched. Then oultivate and exhibit, with the greatest care and constanoy, cheerfulness and good humor. Tbey give beauty to the finest face and impart charms where beauty is not On the contrary, a gloomy, dissatisfied manner is an anti *lote t<raffection; and though a man may not seem to notice it, it is earning aim repulsive to bis feelings, and he will be very apt to seek elsewhere for those smiles and cheerfulness which he finds not in his own home. Endeavor to make your husband's habitation inviting , and delightful to him. Let it be to him , a sanctuary to which his heart may . always turn from the calamities of life. Make it a repose from his cares; a shel, ter from the world; a home, not for his . person only, but for his heart. He may , meet with pleasure in other houses, but let him find happinesB in his own. j Particularly shun what the world calls ( "curtain lectures." When you shut your door at night, endeavor to shut out at the same moment all discord and contention, and look on your chamber as a , retreat from the vexations of the world, a shelter saored to peace and affection. How sweet is the society of a beloved , wife when wearied with the labors of the day. She shares his burdens and J alleviates his sorrows, for there is no ( difficulty so heavy or insupportable in life which may not be surmounted by . the mutual labors and the affectionate | concord of that holy partnership.? j Emma., Harridburg, Ohio. i [ Cp Among the Planets, j Neptune, the most remote of the x planets in the solar system, is about , 2,700,000,000 miles from the sun. It is . suDDOsed that Mercury has mountains higher than our Himalayas, and volcanoes in a Btate of activity. Out of all 3 the myriaid lights in the heavens, the t earth is only visible to the moon, Mars, 1 Mercury and Venus. The earth iB 749 ? times smaller than Saturn, whose main distance from us is over 91,000,000 3 miles. Uranus can never see us at all, 3 as it is 1,753,000,000 miles from the 3 sun. The temperature in Mercury is . supposed to be seven timeB hotter than 3 our torrid zone; therefore if it is inhabited it must be by people very difj ferently constituted from ourselves. It 3 is believed that Venus has an atmosphere much like ours, and mountain | I peaks five or six times higher than the Q j Teneriffe, their sides bright with flowers 0 I aud birds of brilliant plumage. The a ! moon never leaves our globe ; therej fore it is called our satellite. Though t j to us it appears larger than the stars, it . | is really smaller tnan any 01 mem, uui B j much larger to us. Astronomers have g calculated that the mountains and ex8 tinct volcanoes in the moon are higher than any on our earth. If there were any one on the moon to see it, the earth would appear to them a magnificent ball. The plants and sun would move behind it in brilliant succession. Our i globe appears to Mars as the morning e and evening Btar. fc ? a What Law Can Do. 6 Four men in India, partners in busi* ness, bought several bales of Indian rags, and also some cotton bales. That ^ the rats might not destroy the cctton e they purchased a cat. They agreed tbat ? each of the four should own a particular ? leg of the cat, and each adorn with beads * and other ornaments the leg thus ap. > portioned to him. The cat, by an accit dent, injured one of its legB. The 8 owner of thai member wound aroand it 0 a rag soaked in oil. The cat, going too 8 near the hearth, set this rag on file, and 0 being in great pain, rushed in among 0 the cotton bales where she was accus1 tomed to hunt rats. The cotton and rugs thereby took fire and they were * burned up?a total Iobs. The three other parties brought a suit to reojvcr 6 the value of the goods destroyed '? against the fourth partner, who owned 6 that particular leg of the cat. The Y judge examined the case and decided 0 thus : " The leg that had the oiled ras? 6 on was hurt; the cat could not use that a leg ; in fact, it held up that leg, and ran J away with the other three legs. The ^ three unhurt legs, therefore, carried the : fire to the cotton, and are alone oulpable. The injured leg is not to bo blamed. The three partners which owned the three legs with which the cat ran a to the cotton will pay the whole value i- of the bales to the partner who was the proprietor cf the sjnred leg," " I lIllllHl 1 8 7 8 . i _____ Important Brents ol tte Year, from Beclnnln* to End. JANUARY.?I. New York legislature organized. John Bonner, a New York broker, misappropriated about $1,000,000 and fled... .2. Seven men killed by explosion of nitro-glycerine at Negaunee, Mich 6. Many vessels disabled byBevere storm on Atlantic coast 7. Failure of Edwin Dunning, a New York broker, for over $1,000,000... .8. Fifty persons killed by mutineers at Sandy Point, Straits of Magellan. New Hampshire Republican State convention. Anniversary of battle of New Orleans 9. Humbert I. proclaimed king of Italy, as successor to Viotor Emanuel 10. United States Congress resumes its session after holiday recess. Turkish army of 28,000, defending Sbipka pass, surrenders to the Russians. Meeting of woman suffragists in Washington 11. Turkish garrison at Nish, numbering 8,000, surrenders to the Russians. Several heavy failures in New York, and defalcation of H. M. Cutter, I cotton broker 13. The House of Con I ?TesB passes a rtJBoiutiuu tu njvt>su^mt> I all departments of government. Railroad bridges washed away by floods in Virginia 15. George B. McOlellan inaugurated governor of New Jersey. Thirteen lives lost by railroad aooident near Hartford, Conn ?16. New Hampshire Democratic State convention. I Secretary Sherman calls for new fonr j per cent, loan 17. Funeral of Victor I Emanuel in Eome. British parliament opens and queen's speeoh read 20. Russians occupy Adrianople 23. Marriage of King Alfonso XII of Spain, to his oousin, the Princess Mercedes, at Madrid 24. Turkey accepts Russia's peace conditions... .25. Sena- 1 tor Matthews' resolution declaring the right of government to pay the bonds in silver passes the Senate 28. Antisubsidy and Matthews' silver resolu! tions pass the House. Arrest of the | Louisiana returning board members in I New Orleans 29. New York senate [denounces the Bland silver bill 30, The proposed new tariff duties of United States made publio by ways and means oommittee of Congress 31. Great storm on Atlantic coast, and loss of about eighty lives by wreck of steamer Metropolis on Oarrituck beach, N. 0. FEBRUARY.?1. 129 failures reported in preceding month in New York city, with liabilities aggregating $7,113,039 and $1,438,839 in assets. Mass meeting in New York addressed by General Ewing in favor of silver money and repeal of resumption act 2. Nine millions people reported suffering terribly from famine in Northern China.. . 3. War between Russia and Turkey practically ended by signing of peace preliminaries at Adrianople 4. Two thousand women and children burned to i i* 1 -i. m~ ueam 1U HQ uu^ium Ul ABltJLl-ABlClJ, China 5. New Tnrbiah ministry formed and grand viziership abolished.... 7. Great war excitement in London. General Anderson, of Louisiana returning board, found guilty of falsifying election returns by a New Orleans jury 8. Five English war vessels ordered to Constantinople and 830,000,000 voted for war purposes by British house of commons 9. Large protective tariff demonstration in .Pittsburgh.- The Turks evacuate several important fortresses 11. Turkey refuses to allow English ships to come to Constantinople, and Gortschakoff announces the Russians will occupy that city 13. Exciting debate Over the West Point appropriation'bill in the Houbo at Washington 14. Russians occupy outer lines of Constantinople, and English fleet within thirteen miles of the Turkish capital 15. Silver bill passes the United States Senate 17. Body of Mis, Pitman rremated at Washington, Pa 18. Peace conference at Baden-Baden de..'J ?-1 ttnn A ^ nnTr'a vdnnaaf I'lUCU UjJUJJ* an viciuiuuj ? AV\^UUOV Ruesia renounces her intention to occupy Constantinople... .19. Prince Bismarck and the Austrian prime minister explain Iheir position on the Eastern complicaiions. Conclave of cardinals begins at | ltome for the purpose of nominating a now pope 20. Cardinal Pecci elected pope and assumes title of Leo XIII. Indiana State convention 21. Silver bill, as amended by United States Senate, passes the House 22. Washington's birthday. Formation of National party at Toledo, Ohio. Russia renews threats to occupy Constantinople... .23. General Anderson, of Louisiana returning board, sentenced to two years' imprisonment 24. Out of a population of 96,000 in one district in China, 80,000 reported to have died of starvation 25. Russia demands an indemnity of $1,120,000,000 from Turkey. Silver bill signed by Vice-President Wheeler and goes to the President. MARCH. ?1. Lord Napier appointed commander of English army, and Sir Garnet Wolseley chief of staff....2. Treaty of peace between Russia and Turkey signed at San Stefano... .3. Pope Leo XIII. crowned in Rome 4. Fatal tornado in Kentuoky. Peace proclamation issued in Cuba 5. Mardi Gras festival opens in New OrI leans. Great fire at Hot Springs, Ark. | Congratulating dispatches upon the reI *im? r\t noofl Vtaftxroan Rnacrifi j lUlii Vi |/uou muviivvu awuuw.m m^v* I Turkey 7. New Hampshire Greeni back State convention 8. Fivo huni ?red Circassians lose their lives by burning of Austrian steamer ntar Cape Elia 9. Large railroad bridge over Raritan river at New Brunswick, N. J., burned 11. Senator Blaine attacks tho Halifax fishery award 12. Destruction of powder buildings at South Acton, Mass., by an explosion. Over forty miners killed in a colliery near Bolton, England. New Hampshire State eleotion 14. Thirty-six pereons drowned by the upsetting of a barge at Brest, France 15. The European powers agree to have each two representatives in the peace congress. Suppression of the Greek insurrection I against Turkey 17. Run on Boston savings banks. Biot in Montreal on | St. Patrick's day, consequent upon atI tempt of O'Donovan Bossa, of New j York, to lecture 18. Jury's verdict declaring General Anderson, of Louisiana returning board, guilty of forgery, set aside by State supreme court and discharge of prisoner ordered 19. CI - ? ? OUawmaam afnlaa f a flartnfa OoUI CI PUPi III?I.I nuui^D iv/ Muiinuv finance committee that resumption of specie payment iB practicable. The river Danube reported ap;ain open to I commerce 20. Rhode Island Greenback State convention 21. Formaion of a new Italian ministry. Rhode Island Republican State convention 22. Conference between New York bankers and House committee on finance in regard to resumption of specie payments. Five persons killed and several wonnded by bursting of boilor in a sawmill near Richmond, Ya 93 "Rnrst.inc of steam chest on I Hadson river Bteamer Magenta and tbree persona killed. Daniel O'Leary wins the six-days' international pedestrian contest in London. Over 300 lives lost by capsizing of British training vossel Eurvdico on coast of isle of Wight....24. England refnses to participate in peace Congress unless Russia makes known the conditions o? peace 25. Three men hung at Bloomsburg, Pa., for killing a mining superintendent in 1868....26. Large fires in Philadelphia and New Terk.... 27. Suspension of New York Six-penny savings bank... .28. Lord Derby resigns from British cabinet and 48*000 troops called out, Now Scotch hiendhy Dominated by the pope 81. The n< torions Madame Restell commits suioic in New York. APRIL.?1. Marquis of Salisbui succeeds Lord Derby; and other Britia cabinet changes. British governmei issues circular complaining of;tern imposed by Russia upon Turkey. Bte^ art's hotel for women opened in Ne York. Earl of Lei trim assassinated i Ireland 3. Election in Rhode IsIue Mobilization of more Russian tro'oj ordered 5. .Seven men killed by e: plosion of oil tanks at SlatiDgton, Pi 6. Explosion of boiler at Can bridge, Mass., and several persox killed 7. Sixteen inmates of Steube county (N. Y.) poorhouse burned 1 death ? 8. Exciting debate in Horn of OoDgrees over election of doorkeep< 9. Prince GortschafeofTs answer 1 British circular made public 10. Se< retary Sherman confers with New Tor bankers in regard to resumption of sp< cie payments 11. Illinois Democrat: State convention 13. Oxford defeal Cambridge in annual boatrace on th Thames 14. Three hundred persor killed by an earthquake in Oua, Vex eznela 16. Funeral of Wm. M. Twee in New York 18 Change in TurkiB ministry 20. Large meeting in oj position tc tariff reduction'at Ohestei Pa. A number of banks and faotorie throughout the United States begi paying out gold 21. Departure < first colony of 260 colored persons froi Charleston, S. C., for Liberia, Afric 23. Many persons in Texas kille by Indian raiders from Mexico... 25. Great loss of life and heavy damag to property by severe storms in Wet and South 26. Passage of bill repea ing the United States bankrupt law i the House 28. Geneml Todlebe succeeds the Grand Dake ^Nicholas s commander of the Russian army i Turkey 30. Opening trip on ne' rapid transit road in New York. MAY.?1. Opening of the Frenoh it tgrnational exposition in Paris 5 Diplomatic relations between Russi and Turkey resumed 8. Heavy loss ( life by explosion in a flour mill at Min neapolis, Minn 4. Trip of the stag* coaoh "Tally Ho!" from ftew York t Philadelphia 7. State convention c Pennsylvania Greenback party { More than 500 lives reported lost by tornado in Canton, China 10. Seven lives lost and many persons injured b destruction of steamer Sardinia, in hai bor of Londonderry 11. Attempte assassination of Emperor William ( Germany in Berlin, Toy Hoedel 15 Fruit crop in United States badly don aged by heavy frosts 13. Beginnin of deadlock in House of Representative! caused by introduction of resolutior calling for investigation into the preB dential election in Florida 14. Coi tinned oold weather 15. Hanla defeats Plaisted in international boa race at Toronto. Pennsylvania R< publicans hold their State conventio 16. Break of deadlock in House, an Florida investigation resolutions passe 17. Messa7e of President in regar to Halifax fishery award read in Congrei 22. Exciting debate in the Hons over Florida election investigation. Ii diana Greenback State convention... 23. Pennsylvania Democratic and Ye; mont Republican conventions. Fati iiraia HafHatdy-Qoan*?National Den ocratic committee meets in Washingtoi iintroi UUU XUUUiOUO IUU X AVAAUU U1VVV1UU AAA* V? tigation 24. Large loss of life an property by tornado in Wisconsin 1 Chairman Potter writes a letter in regai to object of the Florida election invest gation by the House 28. Alexand< H. Stephens writes a letter in respont to Mr. Potter, and Postmaster Key pul liahes a letter to the Sooth in regard \ the Florida election investigatioi Prince Bismarck signs a call for tl European powers to attend the pea< congress 29. Details of the agreemei between England and Russia made pul lio 80. Deooration day in the Unitt States 31. German iron-clad Gross* Kurfnerst sunk in British channel ar more than 300 lives lost. Five workme killed on Oonev island (N. Y.1 railroa* JUNE.?1. About twelve persoi killed and many wounded during a hu ricane at Richmond, Mo. Begining < House investigation into Louisiana ar Florida alleged presidential electic frauds. Emperor of Germany wound< in Berlin by Dr. Nobeling 3. Fori al invitation to Berlin peace congre made publio 4. Election in Orego 5. Republican State convention Indiana and Greenback conventions i New York, Maine and Michigan. TraL begin ranniDg on elevated railroad New York oity. Tariff bill killed House. Senator Matthews demands committee of investigation 9. Tt hundred lives lost by explosion in mine at Haydock, England. Destrn tive tornadoes in the West and Sout 11. Bloody collision in Quebec b tween strikers and military 12. Oh Republican State convention... .13. E ropean peace congress assembles. Sta conventions of Democrats in Nor Carolina and Republicans in Michiga 14. Resolutions declaring the Pre; dent's title Becure pass the House. W liam Cullen Bryant's funeral in N( York.... 16. German national sbootii festival begins at Union Hill, N. J.. 18. Maine Democratic 8tate conventio 19. Centennial celebration of evac ation of Valley Forge. Iowa Repnfr can and Missouri Greenback State co ventions 20. Vermont Democrat Sfofn pnnvflntion. Conerres3 adiour for the session 21. Six men hung : different parts of West and South 2 Mrs. Jenks testifies before the Pott committee 23. Mrs. Tilton excor municated by Plymouth ohurch 2 Fatal explosion of gas in now municip building, Brooklyn 25, Battle b tween hostile Bannocks and Gener Howard's troops. Ohio Democrat and Illinois Republican State co: ventions 27. Harvard defeats Yale boatrace, at New London, Conn 2 Cornerstone of monument to commem rate centennial of battlo of Monmoul laid at Freehold, N. J 29. Branch House investigation into alleged pre? dential election frauds begins work : New Orleans 30. Fatal light betwee rival police factions in East St. Loui Great French national festival at Par exposition. JULY.?1. Bessarabia ceded to liuss by peace congress 2. Terrific nitn glycerine explosion near Paterson, I J. Greek ministry resigns Benji min Hunter found guilty of Armstrong murder, in Oamden, N. J 4. Ind pendence day. Columbia and Sho wae-cae-mette crews win trial heats i Henley regatta. Ten persons killed ar many injured by fall of a tree near Pitt burgh, Pa. Alabama Republican Sta convention at Montgomery 5. Arkai sas Democratic State convention. Treal between England and Turkey mat public. Columbia crew wins a raci and "Shoes" defeated, at Henley r gatta 8. Fifty volunteers at Willo Springs, Oregon, defeated by Indian 1 A tT/wnnv/? /Iflfcflfa Tnrliflr in Oregon. Democratic State convei tioDB in Michigan and Missouri. Hoi del, Emperor William's would-be assa sin, sentenced to death.... 11. Secretai Sherman tells New York bankers he wi renew payments AugnBt 1. Angl< Turkish alliance announced in Oonsta] tinople 12. Close of Berlin pea< congress and signing of treaty. Orang excitement in Montreal 13. Enthns astio reoeption of Beaconsfleld in Enj land.. .16. OnpreoedentedJyhotweafchi MnfiM flfty*four deaths in St, Loot > 16. Funeral of Qaeen Mercedes in le Madrid 18. The "heat-wave"reaches Eastern and Middle States 19. Stormy scene in House of Commons. 7 Democratic State conventions in CJol. orado and Texas 21. Destructive storms in New England and New York. 22. Failure of Boston Belting and " Packing company 23. Greenback State convention/3 in New York and , Ohio 25. Secretary Sherman testi' fles before the House presidential election committee at Atlantic Oity, N. J 29. Eclipse of the sun, Maine 7* Republican State convention SO. Arg rival of dory Nautilus on English ooast. ox. jaamau aeieaus xvobh iu uuuiupiuu!** ship rowing match, at St. John's, N. B. j* AUGUST.?1. Vermont Republican ^ and South Carolina Democrats conven!~ tions. Election in North Carolina " 2. Lord Hartington's vote of censure C against the government rejected in British parliament. Terrific storms in porr" tions of the West Kearney, the Cali; fornia labor agitator, addresses Boston workingmen 5. Insurrection against Austrian occupation of Bosnia. Elec'* tion in Alabama 6. Democratic State j conventions in Loueiana and Delaware. , Bogardus wins championship pigeon match in England 7. Fifteen persons killed by railroad accident at New Steu; benville, Ohio 8. South Carolina and Colorado Bepublican State conventions. ^ AuBtrians in Bosnia defeat insurgents ? 9. Many lives lost by tornado at Wallingford, Conn.... 10. Victorious j Columbia college crew enthusiastically received in New York International * monetary conference begun in Paris ? 11. Twenty-four victims cf Wal| lingford tornado buried... .12. Yellow J" fever reported raging at New Orleans and Grenada, Miss 13. End of Indian war n in Oregon announced 14. Greenback 18 conventions in Colorado, Nebraska and n Connecticut... .16. Democratic convenw tion in Tennessee. Yellow fever panic in many Southern towns. British parl" liament prorogued by the queen. Hoe! del, Emperor William's would-be assas& sin, beheaded 17. Terriflo powder )f ATnlnninn npar Pntfcsville. Pa... . Grena l* da, Miss,, filled with de&d and dying J* ... .21, Vermont Greenback convention 0 25. Over 2,000 cases and 601 deaths " from yellow fever in New Orleans np to ' date 28. New Jersey and Tennessee ? Greenback conventions 31. Several " nnndred lives lost by a tornado in HunJ gary. j SEPTEMBER.?1. Bankrupt law be. comes inoperative Vermont State , election 3. Arkansas State election. * Over 600 lives lost by steambost ool' lision on the Thames near London 8 4. Minnesota Republican and Kansas ' Democratic State conventions 6. * Minnesota Democratic convention. New " Hampshire Greenback convention " 8. Mehemet Ali Pacha, Turkish gen, eral, assassinated... .9. German parlia ment opened. Eleetion in Maine. New Hampshire Republican convention... 11. j Greenback and Prohibition conventions j in Massachusetts. More than 300 lives j lost by explosion in a Welsh colliery 12. New Hampshire Democratic convention 15. Muoh damage done by heavy storms throughout the country ... .17. Connecticut Democratic State * convention. Uutler nominated in MasJ sa8husutts 18. Massachusetts RepubJioan State convention... .24. Oonneoti} cut Republican State convention 25. ' Democratic State conventions in New ^ York and Massachusetts. Ten men killed by explosion in St. Gothard tun'S nel, Switzerland 26. New York Republican State convention, disastrous explosion on steamer Adelphi, near Sonth Norwalk. Conn. Nebraska Dem ^ ocratic coovention. to OCTOBER.?1. Eleotien in Colorado i. 2. Failure of Bank of Glasgow. 16 Texas Republican convention 3. Je Great boatrace between Hanlan and at Courtney at Lachine, Canada 5. 3. O'Leary dofeats Hughes in champion(d ship pedestrian match, New York 6. Br Outbreak among Indians in Kansas and id Colorado 8. State elections in Ohio, m Indiana, Iowa and West Virginia. 3. About twenty-five lives lost by railroad is accident near Boston 9. Missouri Rer. publican State convention. Canada of government resigns 10. Thirty-seven id lives lost during a panic in a Liverpool >n theater 13. Disastrous storm on New England coast. About 225 buildings in Q. Edenburg, Pa,, burned 14. Three bs out of a crew of twenty-five saved from n. wreokof bark Susan, from New Bedford, in Mass 17. Greenback convention in n Delaware 19. Glasgow Bank manag08 ers arrested 21. Ameer of Afghanin istan defies Eugland. Completion ol in new Canadian cabinet announced. Frost a causes abatement of Yellow Fever in the po South. Distribution of Paris exposition a prizes. Failure of Dodd, Brown & Co., o- largest dry goods house in St. Louit h. .^..23. Terrific storm m eastern ana ie- Middle States... .25. Attempt to assassiio nate the king of Spain in Madrid 27. n- Huge robbery of Manhattan savings ,te bank, New York 28. Beginning of th six days' international pedestrian tourn. nament in London. 3i- NOVEMBER.?1. President Hayee il- issues national thanksgiving preclamaJw tion 2. End of sir days international 3g pedestrian tournament in London 5. Election in thirty States?7. A. T. n. Stewart's body stolen in New York? a- 9. Destructive fire ct Cape May, N. J. [i 10. Puris exposition closed 15. n- Marquis of Lome, Canada's new govic ! ernor-general,leaves Liverpool lor Canals i da 17. Attempt to assassinate the in king of Italy in Naples 22. Eight 2. men killed by explosion in a coal mine er at Sullivan, Ind. British troops enter n- Afghanistan. Halifax fisheries .-.ward of 4. $5,500,000 paid over to British go vernal ment by Minister Welsh 23. Afghans e- defeated in first engagement by the al British. Arrival of Canada's new govic ernor-general, tho Marquis of Lome, at u. Halifax 24. Marquis of Lorne sworn in into office at Halifax.... 25. Ocean steam 8, ship Pommerania sunk in English chano'. nel end about fifty livos lost 28. th Thanksgiving day celebrated throughout of the United States 29. Canada's now ii. governor-general received in Montreal. in 30. Fierce fight between rival fao>n tions in Breathitt county, Ky. 8< DECEMBER.?2. United States ig Congress convenes and President's mes! sage loceived. International dairy fair . j opens in New York. Victory of the Britia ish over Afghans at the Peiwarpass 1 Formation of new Turkish ministry ...5. Opening of British parliament and queen's speech read.... 7. Close of 8 international dairy fair... 8. Failure e* of West of England and North Wales e" District bank for 817,500,000 10. a' Heavy storm on Atlantic coast. Soath ld Carolina's governor elected to United States Senate and has his leg amputated te 11. Great damage done by storm in J1* Eastern and Middle States 12. Mr. j.v Edmond's electoral bill passes the 10 United States Senate. Motion to cen3? sure British government's Afghan poli^ cy defeated in house of commons 14. " lireat Britain mourns tne aeatn or rrin8 cess Alice, Qneen Victoria's daughter 18 17. Senator Blaine's resolution of inquiry into eleotion practices passes the Senate 18. Heavy bank failure 8" in Cincinnati. Great distress in England 7 reported 19. Loss of 150 lives by ^ sinking of steamer Byzantin in tbo sea of Marmora, l- ?? :e >e The coach is of Frenoh invention. In i- the reign of Francis L there were only two in Paris. Other nations soon borjr rowed the idea, and they became ocm?, mon elsewhere, especially in England, TIMELY TOPICS. The value of property in the United States has increased during the last thirty years from $18,000,000,000 to $30,000,000,000. The house of representatives in Massachusetts contains among its members thirty-seven mechanics, thirty-six merchants, thirty-three manufacturers, twenty-nine lawyers and twenty-seven farmers. Three colors?red, white and greenare used as signals by the railroads, and engineers oomplain that in bright sunlight the red appears green. The Pennsylvania railroad company is thinking of ' ?A* mav^'AI <t^nniva UltUUiJg a ^mvuu tuuugvi A Louisiana newspaper reports that there are now fifty cases of leprosy in Lafourche, all originating from one perodp^too, some twenty years ago, settled lower part of Bayou Lafourche. Legislative inquiry is asked for. A curiosity in typographical blundering is noted in connection with the official list of awards made to British exhibitors at the Paris exposition, whioh claims to have been " issued by order of His Royal Highness the Prince of Males!" A lawsuit for a small piece of woodland, which was claimed by both branches of a family, has just been settled at Aix, France, after lasting fiftysix years. The loser had to pay the winner's costs, which amounted to *1A AAA 914,UW V The making of horse-hair rings and chains by the convicts in the Kentucky penitentiary has been prohibited, be cause of the manner in which they levied campaign assessments on the tails of horses driven into the yard, sometimes seriously disfiguring the animals. Prof. Schiff, the great vivisector of Florenoe, sacrifices on an average two dogs a day in the interests of science. It being reported that he had thus destroyed 14,000 dogs in the last ten years, the humane society has interfered, and now buy up all stray ours and puts them to death painlessly. A postal card has been around the world from Chemnitz, Saxony, in 117 days. The card contained six different addresses of the German consuls at Alexandria, Signapore, Yokohama, San Francisoo, New York, and that of the sender at Chemnitz, besides a polite request that the card be sent on without delay, and the exact time of receipt and dispatoh noted on the card ; an explanation of the circumstances of the case be lllg at ine same time kivbii. xucdo mBtructionfl seem to have been promptly fulfilled, and the card made its appearance again at Chemnitz, 117 days after it had been dispatched, covered with the stamps of the various stations. It is stated that it would have gone around in ninety-six days if it had been posted an hour earlier, and probably if it had been an American instead of a German postal card it would have made the circuit in much less time. When the British naval ship Emerald sailed for Western Australia last summer, she received orders to call at the island of Tristan d'Acnnha, to learn how the small colony fared, and to inquire for some shipwrecked passengers; also to land a score of cats sent out by the admiralty in consequence of reports that the island was improverished by swarms of mice. The islanders received their visitors cordially, and the books and newspapers brought were most welcome; but the present of nata caused amubement and dismay. It was true the island was overrun by mice, but it also swarmed with cats, and it was doubtful which was the greater plague. The mice destroyed every green blade on the island, but the cats live on friendly terms with the mice, and disdain to eat them, preferring to prey on young sea birds and chiokens, therefore cats are trapped and destroyed by hundreds. A Deeply Taxed Country. Italy is, perhaps, to-day the worst taxed country in Europe. The heaviest taxation is that e laoted from owners of real property. On an average the charge for the Predlali, or the aggregate ! impost, is thirty per cent, on the income ; of the landholder. This is unequally I laid, being most heavy in some provi inces, such as Modena, while it is less in , the Neapolitan provinces and in Piedi mont. This tax, however, is not gen[ erally derived from the cultivation of the . soil, as peasant proprietors seem to be very rare in Italy. On movable proi perty the fundholders and traders are subject to a charge of something over . thirteen per cent, on their income or aotual profits. The peasant, who is sini gularly abstemious, pays, in indirect taxes, a very small sum to the Italian ATfthfinnfir. as he uses but little tobacco. Theresa one tax however?the maciato, or grist tax, which is perhaps the most UDnatnral of all taxes. This amounts to two centimes per kilogram on wheat, and one centime on Indian oorn. In the j cities and towns this falls hardest on the laboring classcs. In the country, thongh 11 bread forma a portion of the dietary, it ; j is not the main constituent. In Tuscany i kidney beans supply the use of flour, bnt in Upper Italy polfnta made of Indian corn is the main article of diet. This tax, in a family of ten consumirg wheat and Indian corn, produces some nineteen shillings of taxation annually. It is the conscription which weighs moat heavily on the Italian peasant. Italian advocates of this military system declare, however, that, although it renders the means of subsistence anions the peasantry much more difficult, it is the only method of cementing the unity of me nauou. Afghanistan ana Its People. The people of Afghanistan are not given to trade nor to manufacturing. They leave to the Persians, the Arabs, and the English all snoh occupations. They live a free, easy, unsettled life. It is more truly a pastoral country. The inhabitants are divided into tribeB find sub-divisions; some live in the valleys and others on the plains, and others guard the mountain passes and demand toll from the trading caravans. In appearance they are savages, arming themselves with any weapon, dressing in aDy clothes, roving from place to place. The cities are usually found settled by the side of some, high mountain with a vast and open plain stretching out before them. The houses are generally of mud, low, flat-roofed, and plain". Cabul is the city of most importance. It rests nearly at the foot of Baba peak, eight thousand feet above the sea level. From here one may look npon the high, deserted, cold peaks of the Koonh range, j while southward extends an open and | fertile plain. The Cabul river is picI turesquely crossed by three bridges, the one leading westward to Khyber pass being strictly guarded. The houses of the oity are of sun-baked bricks,low nDd devoid of beauty. There ore mosques, bazaar8,and a citadel in the eastern part oontains the governor's palace. The climate is severe in winter, from October to Maroh, bat in summer is delightful, ?Btoton TronwripU Items of Interest. What kind of an ant is supposed to work the hardest? The serv-aafc of VvSM course. He who is the most slow in mal:h\ga ; promise is the most faithful in the pet* formanoe of it. To keep apples from rotting put in a cool place?where there is a large / '^B family of children. English reporters are no longer ad* mitted to see garrotere flogged and mnrderers hanged. In Trenton, N. J., there are nineteen * :' > potteries 111 upaouuu, ??*?? ? white granite, cream oolored and posoe- :'|jjw Mrs. Whitney's "Key to the Oook- jM Book " is a good work, but it is not half * " as satisfying, when a man is hungry, m he key to the pantry. The repartee of a mnle is said to be unequaled, and the way to draw him $ ont is by pulling out one little hair from J|S the tip end of hiB stumpy taiL Nearly "a million and a half of gotpeli . ' ? and New Testaments, printed in twenty. {f-_ two languages, were given away at the Bible stand in the Paris exposition,~ ."-ijag " Mamma, are all vessels called sheT* " Yes, my dear." "Then how are aUJul national ships called men-of-war?** " T iUof AMM iw, W ? ":'iM "UttllO, JTUU uiaj JIU? nu?? inmi UI uwi ''tflS "Say, what Ib & lass?'' Mi email brother in* ?? And the youth, with a smile Out mi mL'tosH Made answer, as if by the qaertion mspird^L " A lass is alas to a lad." The young man to whom the world " owes a living " has been turned oat of v . doors, his landlady not being willing to take the indebtedness of this world Oft -?|ber shoulders. The horse Ouster rode to his maaaaeryj^B a sorrel with one white foot and a star in its forehead, is new owned by Trader ; Dent at the Spotted Tail agency, who .'*? taught it of an Indian who saw Custer . A large mushroom is said to hare, forced its way through twelve- inches ci" concrete covered with a thick layer of , J asphalt, in the floor of the savings banfr^'^M department of the general poetoffice in %J. A very curious plant is the iJemw- .i dium gyrane, or moving plant. It is a iSj native of India, and is curious from the rotary movement of the leaves, which, . *; durincr the heat of the day, are in OOwMM atant motion. It was formerly believed that the feffl/p|St blossomed and seeded only on a midsummer night, and it was thought tint the seed must be caught on twelve pew- VvJ ter plates, through eleven of which it ;||| would pass, resting only on the twelfth. Jgw "Give me a cure for the toothache -*yi quiofc?Sufferer." Place the aching -Wl tooth near the heels of a mule, and then VlpB touch off the mule. One touch of mule sets all nature achin, and relieves the ;.>T| patient too immediately sadden to think about,?htokuk Constitution. Funny things are often found in life insurance proposals. Here is one who j says he uses liquor '' only in mince pie?*; ;; another wants his insurance paid to "his ,>? legal Bisters;" this one says his brother was "dwroundedin the Thamaa;" and yet another defines his occupation to be a "Hater." We uw a man, the other day, Who never yet?strange thing to say? 'i*S9 With wistfal gaze has looked upon Another's wealth, who ne'er was knows To utter oath, io wrath to cry? Who never told e'en whitest lie. This man, by the way, We'd forgotten to eay, From birth a deaf mute, Is stone-blind to boot. An Ohio woman who died recently willed Tier local paper $125. That woman's chances of heaven are very zj&Bk good, but if a person wishes to make aure of a happy hereafter, the amounthe or she leaves to a newspaper shonld not be less than 810,000. Now is the time to make up cl? that is wills for this paper.?Norristcnon Herald. EM-miirra ^ionnvarioa nf TW,rifflntff)IM are reported from Colorado, near >$|? Pueblo. Perfectly-formed cocoanuts, . but larger than the ordinary fruit, with 7? 7 the inside of the shell lined with white I crystal quartz, were found imbedded in mounds of loose sand and shells, besides several huge petrified sea turtles, suoh < as now frequent the Paoifio ocean. A young man sat down at the piano ^ and began singing for the physician'* daughter, " There's a sigh in the heart" Just then the old gentleman came in? " Young man," he said, severely, "you are entirely mistaken. It isn't a sigh, ^3? There may be a sigh from the lungs, v^jj but from the heart, never. You have ? ^ made an error in din gnosis. What are the symptoms?" *; ^ We are heartily in- favor of girla learning to danoe, and paint, and sing, ' and play the piano, but we are also firm in the belief that a large number of our r?> yonng ladies could be profitably em' ployed in learning how to sew buttons T ] on the back of a fellow's shirt, and v f 1 * ' ? ? 1 ? L ~1 also now to iry Duunwueat untco wivu- ?. out burning them as black as a newly- . ^ polished stove-lid A man will sit up nights for a week, and do an enormous amount oftiiiliking^ \' in the daytime, and after penning his thoughts on paper and rewriting them about half a dozen times, will burst into .; . i an editorial room about a half hour fore going to press with "I dont't know?? ^ whether you can make it oat or not, it : * was a little point that I hadn't seen.. . noticed, and I just thought I'd sorateh - < it off. Get it in this issue 1" A poor man at Rochester owed a rioh man some money, and was unable to ' $ vl pay. The rich man obtained a judgment and an execution, but there was nothing v on which the sheriff couM levy. The poor man had two large pigs, but the law allows a man two, and the sheriff could not take them. The rich man then bought two little pigs, and had them presented to the poor man, and ' thereupon took his two large ones, & A Landlord's Error* A few days ago, during one of his si rounds through his partial hotel, the landlord of a Qhicaco hotel entered a - room suddenlyPfcd discovered a windowwasher leisurely' engaged in reading a ; newspaper. Being very active himsalf, he had no nse for a lazy man, or one . . y who slights his work. He discharged . the washer on the spot, and ordered him to go the office for his pay. The man obeyed, got his money, went to his rooflh v". on the upper floor, arrayed himself inhis Sunday suit, packed up his duds, f / and descended to the servants' apart-' * ' ment to take leave of his former asfiociates. About this time Mr. PaJmer entered, but didn't recognize his quondam employee in his store clothes. " Here, my man, yon look as though there was good work in you; do you want a job?" The ex-washer, somewhat surprised, I admitted that he stood in need of one. ' i " Can yon wash windows ?" I The mau allowed that he oonld. " Well," said Mr. Palmer, " I've just discharged a mau who had been doing ' that sort of work. I paid him only $20 ? a month, but if you take the place and go right to work I'll pay you $22." The position was quietly accepted, and- ^ in half an hour the discharged employee was scrubbing away in the same old i room, t