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' - ' ^ ""v- ' }. ' ' <? ' *>"' "X" "*: '5T'V!' -.""T- ^.>V-. -v-"-,-. -<?>} ,~s .... . ' ' ' ' " 'Y/'CJion0t,.. L- ? -** ;;;;' - Jg| ? ' BY HUGH WILSON AND H. T. WAKDLAW. ABBEVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1880. ; NO. 13. VOLUME XXVI. '^jjM ' - " I TiMPi.v Tapirs. f roR THE FAIR SEX. 1 Tho Cultivation of Forest Trees. FARM, WARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD, What Might Hare Been. t? n.:?k< hovn hflfln that the akv WP4 BTOOP. ' If Wishes Were Horses. " II wishes were horses," dearie, How fast and how far we'd ride On our beautiful snow-white chargers, Bounding with lite and pride; Straight as the flight ot an arrow, Swift as the flash of a spear, We'd travel forever and ever, " If wishes were horses," dear. To the tops of the sunset mountains E'er they flicker and fade away, To the dusky halls of the twilight, To the flash of the new bom day, To the silent stars of midnight, As they shine in the darkness clear, TVe'd ride like the flight of a fancy, " If wishes were horses," dear. Through billows of western prairies, And dazzle of Arctic plains, ^ Through perfume ol southern roses, I xxuu luiti ui uiu bwuui of>nug rums; Abreast oi the echoing thunder, With the quiver of lightning near, We'd ride in the van ot the tempest, " II wishes were horses," dear. And into the lives we cherish, To brighten their clouded skies, Bring smiles to the sweet, pale ?aces, And light to the saddened eyes; To bring them a message ot comtort, . And whisper a word ol cheer, Oh, how we would gallop and gallop, " Ii wishes were<liorses," dear. A Romance of the Mohawk, It was at the close of a warm Septem ber day, a little more than a hundred : years ago, that Herr Peter Rosbach sat smoking bis pipe in the doorway of his mill on the Mohawk river. The Mohawk is one of the most pleasant of streams. Although, with one or ; two exceptions, there is nothing rugged- ; ]y grand about the scenery, still there is a quiet loveliness surrounding it, captivating to the eye and soothing to the i sense. But the prosaic Dutchman regarded i the green and fertile meadows, or flats, tv- and the richly-wooded hillsides more j for their moneyed value than for their t artistic beauty. And on this evening, i as he sat there?his corpulent frame i clothed in long waistcoat and short i kne$-breeches, the fat calves of his legs 1 encased in silk stockings, his pudgy feet ; wearing low shoes with immense buckles j ?he was the complete personification of a placid, well-to-do Teuton. For Herr Peter Rosbach was unde- ] niably wealthy. Many of the broad 1 acres spread out belore him belonged to j the Rosbach possessions, to say nothing < : . of the mill itself, which in those days was a most valuable piece of property, because the facilities for preparing grain lor lamuy use were very iimitea, ana ior ] miles around farmers came with loaded < bags of grain, or "skipples," to be con- ] verted into flour, and great was the gain ] that found its way into Herr Rosbach's \ capacious pockets. ] But afler all?so declared the lads of j the Mohawk?the choicest possession ] owned by the fat old Dutchman, was his seventeen-year-old daughter Elsie. Although an only child and motherless at ] that?for Hen- Rosbach was a widower ] of many years' standing?she was as t sweet and gentle in disposition as she was comely in person. i She loved and was beloved by Hein- < rich Schell, a young man in the American army. But the course of true love . never runs smooth, and in this case the ] obstacle was the opposition of Herr ] Rosbach. j Now the old Dutchman loved peace i r better than war, because peace brought him plenty of profit, whereas war turned , everything upside down and made his 1 pockets suffer. Although not an adherent of the j . British cause, he was not enough of a philosopher to seek the reason of the rupture between England and America, , and he had made up Ins mind that the latter was making a great ado about ; numing. As for himself, he was equally will- : ing to grind corn for a Britisher or an American, and he would do it equally well for botti. He was getting old?he "needed help in his business. Who would be so faithful aa a son-in-law? But what aid could Heinrich Schell, a man eiven to war and fighting, be to himP Nothing! Consequently, handsome, gallant Heinrich ja ? was banished from the house, and Elsie was forced to accept the attentions of Ludwi? Gewartsam, a man nearly as old, quite as fat, and next in wealth to , [ Herr Ko3bach himself. \ j On the evening of which we speak, this aged wooer, attired in all the splendor of a blue coat and yellow breeches, had come to call on his inamorata. In obedience to her father's sommand, although her soul rebelled, Elsie had also put on her be3t dress?a crimson short-gown, looped over a quilted petticoat of black silk, short enough to display a pair of dainty feet, incased in high-heeled, red-tipped slippers. a -? A w^uctnau v/* vuou, ianu hr~ surmounted her yellow, braided hair, and about her white neck was folded a neat kerchief of the same spotless material, left open far enough to display a string of gold beads. But Elsie's cheeks were somewhat pale, and her soft, blue eyes had a sad, downcast look in them, as she sat on the step of the old-fashioned porch, infdustriously knitting a stocking, from which occupation she was occasionally called to attend some want of her father, such as filling his long-stemmed pipe or drawing mugs of the first new cider of theseason. Meanwhile the sky changed from pale amethyst to deep purple, and away in ths south a great silver star slowly swung into its place. Toward the western hills, where the last faint rays of the departed sun rested lingeringly, f Elsie chanced to direct her gaze. She suddenly started, the shining knitting needles fell from her hands, the ball of red yarn rolled down the steps tand was lost amid the broad-spreading leaves of the cabbages growing near the porch. . With all the grace and agility that his obese body would allow, Herr Gewartsam waddled after it. Searching a few minutes, lie iouna me yarn, anu men, with a red and perspiring face, with 1* ' many puffs and snorts after his unusual exertion, he restored it to Elsie, saying in tones of guttural sweetness: fgyff "Thy yarn I haf found, liebchen." At another time, Elsie would have observed and resented the affectionate familiarity, but just now her eyes were riveted upon the western hills. 44 What seest thou, Elsie?a thunderstorm coming?" questioned Herr Rdsbach. 44 No, my father; but tell me, did you .not fasten the sheep in the pasture?" 44 To be sure?even before 1 did come ',o mine supper." , I "Then tell me, what is that line of folack objects, like sheep or cattle, that is slowly stealing down the hillside? See, just to the right of the old pineree." "Where? I see nothing, charming Slsie," said Herr Gewartsam, straining V-& his bleared eyes in the direction Elsie hadp ointed her plump, white fineer. " Do vou see nothing, father?" she again asked. Without replying, .Herr Rosbach gazed long and earnestly. Suddenly, his ruddy face grew pale. He sank into & his armchair, dropping his pipe as he L did so, and uttering the brief word: "Himmel!" "What is it, mine friend?" inquired 9 Jlerr Gewartsam.. ''Is it sheep or S wolves prowling around?" i "Wolves, sure enough!" ejaculated | Herr Rosbach. "Wolves of the worst HL. . kind?two-legced ones! I moan In dians" and his clinched fist trembled a it res!ed on the oaken chair. Het had no iear of British soldiere Andmoreov er, he had a high regard foi his, mpjesty King George. But for th Indian allies of the same he had no love They bad robbed, cheated and impose* on him in a manner calculated to arous his fear and hatred. So that now, whei he saw them approaching in thi stealthy, deceptive way, on all fours like sheep, in single tile, he felt cerl aii they were bent on some mischief to him self"and property. Indeed, during the past month he hat been repeatedly warned by settler throughout the valley that evil wa< meditated against the mill; for, with thi exception of the fort, it was the mos useful and necessary building for mile around. "Mem Gott! What shall we do? Herr Gewartsam exclaimed, when hii hn<5t. linn pxnlninpd to him the danser il which they were from an immediate at tack. And he continued: "Ach! Un lucky was the moment that told me tx put on mine hat and come and see youi daughter, the Fraulein Elsie! Woulc that I were sate within the walls of th< fort!" "Would that we were all there!" said Herr Rosbach, gravely. "But, mim friend, whatever ill betides us, let us bear it manfully. Let the thought ol saving Elsie and the little childrer sleeping now so sweetly make us strong." " If I get away mit mine own scalp on, it will"be all I'll ask," muttered the other, as they entered the mill. When they were within, and the heavy door bolted and barred, Ilerr Rosbach inquired: "Canst thou shoot well, Ludwig?" "I?I did kill a partridge once upon a time," timidly eyeing the musket his host held out to him. " Let me take it, father," said Elsie, in decided tone3. Her father handed her the weapon, leoking considerably annoyed that his favorite had not turned out the man of valor that he supposed him to be. "Had we not better hide?" said Gewartsam. There is no place of safety except the fort, and in order to reach that we would have to run right in sight of the redskins. Oh, that I had not let Hans ?o away with the boat! If we only had that, we might row up the river, and in the darkness escape! But now the best thing we can do is to secure the mill, watch and wait. If an attack is made, Elsie and I will shoot through the loopholes. Still, it may be that no one tvill molest us. I hope not.'"1-vJr. uraro r\r\f roo 1 i7DfI A JL>Ub UIO UV/[;ca nwv uvu ivMjtuvui ** little while before midnight there were Footsteps heard without, low whisperings, and then there came a loud knock :>n the door. "Wer ist da?"HerrRosbach inquired. 41 Open!" was the stern command. And just here it was that the Dutchnan's regard for King George was ?reatly dimished. That he, an honest, trighly-respected citizen, should be compelled to throw open his doors to a certain enemy, and all In the name of the ring, was too much; and, as the saying is, his Dutch was up, and he retorted in loud tones: "Go to der tuffelP" Just at this instant there was a cornnotion outside, a musket-shot, and imnediately afterward a childish shriek in ;he room overhead. With light feet but heavy heart, Elsie, 'ollnaroH he lipr ran iinstairs. A startling sight met their eyes. The two twins, three-year-old cousins ?Bertha and Gretchen?whom Elsie had safely tucked in bed three or four hours previous, aroused by the noise, bad gone to the window, pushed open the wooden blind and looked out. They were much delighted with the strangers whom they saw below; for the moon, Shining brightly, revealed the gay scarlet uniforms of the British officers, as well as the gorgeous paint and fantastic feathers of the savages. Their exclamations attracted the attention of one of the Indians. He raised his musket, aimed and fired, but some angel arrested the ball, which only slightly grazed Bertha's cheek and carried away one of her long flaxen braids. She was much frightened, however, and set up a loud wail in which her sister, Gretchen, ioined her. Thankful that no greater calamity had befallen them, Herr Rosbach closed and fastened the window, while Elsie -> "* i-- a.- au- r-'-u* AJ proceeaea 10 suume mv mguceueu children and to dress them in case flight should be necessary. "Herr Rosbach! Herr Rosbach! They "be trying for to preak down de door! They liaf a pig peam and go bang against it! And de planks go cr-crack!" tremblingly called Gewartsam, from the loot of the stairs. Herr Rosbach listened. He heard the blows falling thick and heavy. " It is true," be said, turning to Elsie. " They will get in and perhaps kill us." " What shall we do, father?" " They cannot get in just yet my child. The door is strong and will not give waj soon. I wiK hurry down, and with Ludwig's aid will brace the table against it. Then I will fire on then] whenever I can; but they have now got under the shelter of the porch. And now, Else, do you get my money-baj and put the spoons and jewelry in it, Tie it, shut and fasten a stone to it. Then drag it to the little window in the corn-room that opens out upon th< river. Throw the bag into the water, The stone will cause it to sink and staj just there, and I can get it again if il please Gott to spare our lives." Elsie did as he bad p. her. Just as sh( opened the little window to throw out the bag, her heart almost ceased beat ring, for a dark object glided between h< ana the moonlight, and a heavy hanc was laid on hers. "It's Heinricti!"said liretciien, nrs to recognize her sister's lover. " Hein rich, hafyou done brought me some^ tings?" "Oh, dearest, is it you?" Elsie ex claimed, joyfully. "'lis I, liebchen, and right gladj an I to be here to help you out of you: trouble. But speak low; the onemj may be nearer this side of the mill thai we think. It was only by accident when I was out scouting, that I learnec of their coming here. Now we mus row up the river as quickly as we?" "But have you a boat!" interrupts Elsie, peering out into the darkness. "Yes, right here. It's large enougl to hold you all. Your fcfther wi] doubtless help row; there are fortun ately two pairs of oars." " But Hen- Gewartsam is also liere. "What! that fat old pumpkin! Well perhaps we can make room for him But, dearest, hurry and tell your father Let me first lift the children in the boat Come, Bertha, come, Gretchen. Ca you both hold your tongue for a: hour? If you don't, a big Indian wii cut off your scalp; but if you kee quiet, I'll see that he doesn't get you and I'll give you some maple-sugar,too. Elsie ran into the other room wher she found Herr Gewartsam blubberin like a terrified baby. Her father ws also frightened. " Child," said the latter, in low tones "the door will not last ten m ute longer. Put on your cloak and get tL children. We must go out the bac way and try to reach the fort. Seve miles with two children! May God lie) us! Oh. that we had a boat!" "We have one, dear father," sai Elsie, speaking quickly. " Heinric has come down the river, and is waitir for us at the little window. The chi dren are already in the boat, and let 1 also hasten there." " Heaven be praised!" exclaimed h father. "The warlike lad is of us How I have misjudged him. Com Ludwig," reproachfully, "come ar see the man who has risked his life save mine Elsie!" Reaching the window, Here Gewai ' I, - sam, in liis selfish eagerness to seet s safety, was the first to step out, but Heinrich's firm hand pushed him back, . and even Herr Rosbach said, sternly: r "Ludwig, for Bharne! Let Elsie go e first." " Now," said Heinrich, when all were i in the boat, "now we must be careful e and make no noise, for as we turn the i bend in the river, we are near the front s part of the mill; besides, the moonlight , falls right across the water. But 1 will i keep as'near the shore as I can, and per haps the trees wiil shield us. Herr Rosbach, here are the oars?dip very i softly with them. Il we are fired upon, s all get flat on the bottom of the boat, j Bertha and Gretchen, now is the time s to hold your tongue, if you ever want t to eat maple-sugar again!" ? With siient yet swift strokes the boat was swept through the waters. All ' waited in breathless suspense as they 3 neared tne dangerous place, but their i presence was unobserved, and in a few - minutes they were quite a distance up the river. ) When out of sight and sound, Hein: rich and Rosbach strained every nerve I to push the boat along, wiiiie liewart; sam fretted and grumbled, whined and wept, until finally he was reduced to [ silence by Herr ltosbach sternly com> manding him to be silent or he should i be pitched overboard. f When they had gone about two miles, i a lurid light began to gleam behind t them. " Is it the sun rising?" questioned Bertha. " No, little one, no," replied her uncle, sighing. " But I greatly fear me the red i devils have set fire to the mill! To think that I must sit and see it burn without lifting my hand to prevent it! Well, God's will be done! Thankful am I that we are all safe." " But, oh, woe's me! I left mine coat in the mill!" Herr Gewartsam suddenly exclaimed. " What made you take it offP" asked Rosbach. " I wanted to see how much money I had in the tail pockets. The coat was tifirht and I couldn't get at mine pockets without T did take off mine coat. And now the redskins haf mine coat!" "Well, well, they haven't your scalp!" It was not long before Heinricli had conveyed the little party safe inside the fort, and glad enough were they ali to find themselves protected by stone walls. Three or four years after this, when the Revolution ended, Elsie became the wife of Heinrich; the old mill was rebuilt, peace and plenty showered blessings upon them, and Herr llosbaeb dandled his grandchildren on his knee, and told them the story we have just told you. Swan Legends. In northern legends swans play a most romantic part. Two separate currents mav be distinguished in the swan myths of Teutonic and Scandinavian countries. To one current belong the various stories of swan maidens; to the other those concerning the knight of the swan. Here., again, both traditions oi beast worship and images of nature poetry may play a part; though it is not clear that the swan maidens ol the north had any other origin than the obvious one which would lie in a process of imaginatire reasoning like this: Swans are beings all softness, grace and purity; so are some rare maidens; therefore, some rare maidens are in reality swans. At any rate, there was no question that such supernatural beings existed. They were both fairer and wiser than mortal women. They could change lrom one shape to the other at will. To assume the human shape they doffed their robes of down or " swanshirts," but re tained invariably a goia or suver cuain about their necks. She whose swanshirt was carried'off by a mortal could no longer, while he kept it safe, become a bird again or resume her freedom. On t ie other hand, she from whose neck in her human shape the chain was taken immediately became a swan again, and could not recover her humanity until she got back her chain. Sometimes a hunter approaching a forest pool would descry a damsel of more than mortal beauty bathing in its waters, would notice the chain about her neck and the robe of down hanging lrom a tree, would seize the robe and bear the damsel home, to live with him in happiness until one day he should forget the key ; which kept her magic garment from her, and return to find her flown forever. Or swan brides would consort of ' their own accord with warriors who had surprised them at dawn as they sat ; spinning in human shape beside the margin of a mountain tarn; until after ' seven years their hearts would change, ' and they would fly away, leaving their husbands to sally after them over the , snows in vain. Another Icelandic story ' tells how Helgi and Olaf fought on the ice of a frozen lake, and how Kara, the ; mistress nf Helsri. hovered over the heads of the combatants in the likeness of a great swan, and by her magic \ blunted the weapons of them that fought against Helgi, until by mischance he [ struck off a leg of the swan with his ' sword, and immediately the fortunes of . the battle changed. i The other great swan myth ol the ; North is that of the injured damsel, to whose aid in. her extremity there comes ' sailing a knight in a boat drawn by an ; enchanted swan, and who, after the ; knight has rescued and made her his ' bride, destroys her happiness by insist'r ing that he shall tell who he is and . whence he comes. We are all familiar u with this tale as it is told by W olfram , von Eschenback,' and has in our own : day been recast by Wagner, concerning \ Elsa of Brabant, and Lohengrin, the son | of Percival. The same story is comI bined with the myth of the swan maidens in the well-known romance of Helias and Clarissa of Boullion. This Helias is an enchanted knight, whose mother Beatrice has borne him to Oriant, king of Lillefort, along with six other swan children. Among these Helias alone escapes the wiles by which their wicked grandmother Matabrun divests the other six , of their chains and their humanity to[ gether. At last he is able to redeem all his brothers except one; and that one, } ?r> tfio omise nf a swan drawinc a shal 1 *** -- C t lop, by-and-bye guides him alone; the Rhine to the court of Otho, where he j champions the Duchess Clarissa, wins her hand, and repeats with her the story of Lohengrin and Elsa. These are but i one or two out of the many stories of swan maidens, knights of the swan, and swan children, which tilled the imagi? nation of Northern Europe in the early I middle age. Others add to the element ' of magic and romance an element of [' monkish legend; like that Irish story of .* the children of Lir, who were trans? " formed by their stepmother into swans, and in that form compelled to abide ij until the spell wjis broken at the sound of the lirst oell ringing in those countries tp for Christian muss. 1 ??? e Novel Use of Wood Shavings, g From wood shavings and paper, Herr is Heilemann makes plates, dishes, etc., as follows: Selected plane shavings are 3, bound into bundles and steeped in a bath ;s of weak gelatine solution about twentyic four hours, then dried and cut into suitk able lengths. Plates are cut of strong n paper or thin pasteboard of the size of p the objects to be produced. These are moistened with a liquid consisting oi id weak gelatine solution with sodium sh waterglass and pressed in heated metallic ig molds. After drying, the pressed paper 1- objects are coated on both sides with an is adhesive material maae 01 live pans Russian gelatine and one part thick turer pentine, the shavings are applied tc e. them, and the whole is subjected Ic e, pressure. Wood shavin/zs alone would, id because of their unequal thickness, pre' to sent uneven surfaces. The objects-ar< now cut, . necessary, dried and var rt- -nished. * ", IXew worK's iiangmun. The executioner wiio served at Balbo's hanging is considered the most successful of his profession in existence. He has heen more than a quarter of a century in the business, and is very proud of his skill. lie may claim, indeed, that no failureor difficulty has occurred in any case that came under his hands. J This man is Deputy Sheriff George W. Isaacs. It is said that the name is assumed in order to protect the family from notoriety, but I do not believe the statement. He was Deputy Isaacs before he became the hangman, and the last-mentioned servicc came to him in direct connection with his official duty. He did it so well that he was employed on the next painful occasion, and in this manner he has been retained until the present day. Isaac's first execution indeed gave him a reputation. Two river pirates (Howlet and Saul) were to suffer, and the case was one of great imTha nrionnflro wprp Wp] ] fJl/l l/.bllV.Ct 111V yjL iouuui o ?? v*w known desperadoes, and had, while attempting to rob a vessel at midnight, murdered the watchman. They had also been political bullies, and at the scene of execution shook hands with Tom Haver, Bill Poole and other old associates. Beginning with Howlet aud Saul in 1853, Isaacs has assisted in executing the following murderers: James L. Hoar, John Dorsey, James Rocers, James Stephens, John Crummins, Nathaniel Gordon, William Hawkins, John Reynolds, Bernard Friery, George Wagner, Jerry O'Brien. John Real, John Thomas, William Foster, Micliae, Nixon, John Dolan and recently Cox and Balbo. All of these suffered in the Tombs except Gordon, who wa3 taken to Bedloe's island,-as his crime was punished under Federal law. Isaacs has also been called to superintend executions in other places, and one of his most important jobs was theOteromurderers. He has told me some of the facts connected with these, painful scenes, each of which is deeply impressed on his memory. His fee is from S150 to $250, which may seem large, but when the sheriff receives $1,500 the chief functionary may claim a handsome fee. He adopts the method practiced by Marwood, the famous London hangman, of placing the knot under the chin instead of at the ear, since (as he claims) it is more effective, producing death by instantaneous strangulation. Isaacs always interviews the prisoner in time to estimate height and weight, and provides a rope of corresponding strength. His favorite material is Italian hemp, and the cord (which is usually half-inch) is saturated in a chemical fluid prepared by himself. It is then slushed so as to be as pliable as a silk thread. These facts show how closely Isaacs has applied himself to this fearful trade. No Jew has ever suffered the death penalty, but Isaacs once had great expectation of hanging Rubenstein. The latter, however, died in his cell a few days before the day fixed for execution. The Jews are not combative or murderous, and the ciimes which may be laid to their charge are chiefly for the sake of gain. Isaacs told me that the mos reckless men he ever saw under such circumstances were the Spaniards Gonzales and Pcllicier, who murdered Otero in order to obtain his money. One of them exclaimed, as he approached the gallows: " Me no care." James Rogers was the youngest person he ever hung, ins age neing oniy eigne en. ne murdered a man whom he had never seen before in a street brawl. Amqng the most thoroughly depraved cases that came under his hand were the wife murderer, William E. Foster, the carhook murderer, and the above-mentioned river thieves, Howlett and Saul. New York Correspondent Troy Times? Smoking in the Washington Departments. Under some administrations smoking is not allowed in the government buildings. Under the present administration the blue cloud of tobacco smoke hovers everywhere, except at the White House, where Mrs. Hayes will not permit it. Secretaries Sherman and Schurz are great smokers. General Key is the only cabinet member who does not use tobacco. He used to be an inveterate user of the weed, but broke cflTTOrnl xmuvQ ncm 111LL1SU11 UJL CUV iiauxu ov v w i?* j ?hV. I/)t Morrill, who was Secretary Sherman's predecessor, was a great hater of tobacco. He could not even endure the whiff of a cigar. When he entered the treasury department he issued an order forbidding tobacco smokiDg in the department. Violation of the order was punished with dismissal. Huge placards, bearing this order in large letters, were hunz all over the department during Morrill s time, and the secretary looked actively alter the rigid enforcement of this order. A whiff of tob icco apparently could not enter the huge building without his discovering it. The morning Secretary Sherman entered the building to take possession of it a'' its chief he came in puffing a huge black cigar. He lazily walked through the corridors, smoking quietly, and finally disappearing in his private office. Not a word was said by anybody, but Morrill's anti-smoking placards instantly disappeared. Matches were scratched, * ^ 2 flllQ, I1VC UllliUies {libui kjutiuiiiu o entrance, the hard-worked clerks were puffing away at cigars all over the building. A tobacco story is related of Secretary Graham, who was once in charge of the navy deoartment. He went upon the day or his accesion to take charge of the building, smoking a cigar. When he came to enter the building a watchman stopped him. Said he: "No smoking is to be permitted in the building." "Ob," said Mr. Graham, tossing away his cigar without explaining who he was. Passing rapidly up to the office be seated himself at his desk and took out a fresh cigar from bis pocket, deliberately lighted it, and then, instead of revoking the obnoxious order that had met him at the door, he merely wrote out another directing that from that date there should be smoking in the building. It is the only ca3e on record where an affirmative order of this kind has been made.? Washington Letter to the Chicago Times. Strengthening the Voice. Signor Alberto B. Bach has recently devised and introduced in London a simple appliance called a "resonator," for increasing the volume and power of the human voice when singing. In the ?? ~ f Iflnfntin CinmAT* T) n r?Vl UUUI3K l?l lacub inximc described the mechanism of the vocal organs, and explained the modts in which their power could best be developed, and among other points he directed attention to the office performed by the hard portion of the palate, this acting as a kind of sounding board when the mouth is open for singing. It is for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the palate in this respect that the resonator has been designed. The instrument consists of a gold plate fitted to the roof of the mouth, close above the upper teeth?much in the same way as the gold palate of a set of artificial teeth?the plate having attached to it another gold plate which is convex downward in both directions. A hollow sounding board?as it may be called?is thus formed, which has a remarkable efl'ect on the volume of sound produced by the person wearing the ini strument. The resonator appears to : have no prejudicial efl'ect upon the distinctness of articulation, and Signor Rnr>h stfitps that it can be used without the slightest inconvenience after a inodi erate amount of practice. It will not i give a good voije to one who does not already possess that gift, nor will it ? eradicate any faults in singing, but, > properly used, it is reported to have s , remarkable effect in increasing the power of the sound which a singer car ) produce, and this without deterioratinj its quality or increasing the effort re squired. A San Francisco woman does a lucrative business at driving devils out of persons who lire possessed by them, or at. least by pretending to do so. She < holds that most persons considered insane are merely incited by imps inside. , "I have expelled hundreds and hundreds," she assured a*"eporter.. "One case I had last fall was")1, gentleman living in the country?a tfian of fine intel- 1 lect and cultivation,~w&o was regarded by his friends as on this sure road to a ] lunatic asylum. He was impelled to go days and nights without food; to take , long tramps which his formal strength would not have been sufficient for. He would talk brilliantly, stod as if inspired. ? one moment, and the nfcxt use low and vulgar language. He rame to see me c six times, and the last! time I sat with him from five o'clock t^eleven o'clock, t when my band of spjiits effected his final release. Anotheraise is that of a voune daughter of ope of the most prominent and wealthy families in tlie city. She is highly educated and re- 1 fined in her natural state, but, under the strange control to whichsshe is subjected, i will swear or appear ;'m the greatest agony of mind and bodjfc." Certain in- f cantations seldom faifed, the woman added, to make the devils get out. j At Voronesh, one of the great Russian r provincial criminal depots, whence convicts are periodically conveyed in ^ batches to the different penal settlements of the empire,^ the unmarried state prisoners of both sexes have re- * cently developed a surprising predilection for the matrimoDial state. This f phenomenon is attributable to the fact that the Russian government permits jmarried convicts under sentences of hard labor to settle in Saghalien, a lo- y cality in many respects preferable to Siberia. As, however, those desirous of qualifying themselves for the enjoy- ? ment of this privilege are only allowed ^ to select their future companions from among their fellow-criminals, some t1 quaint alliances have resulted from the n benevolent dispositions in question. For instance a military homicide, con- D demned to twenty years' penal servi- h tude for siaying his superior officer on the parade "round, was only the other t day united to a muscular dame who a ? short time previous had become a widow by her own act, having dexterously split her first husband's head in B two with a hatchet. Tne antecedents of ' this happy pair scarcely promise long duration to their respeclive existences, b They, probably, deem a short and merry o life of wedlock in Saghalien more desirable than the attainment of celibate old age in Siberia. 0 A gossipy New York correspondent eives some interesting information I about the great city's free baths and o methods of -lighting the streets. He h says that " next to the Croton in point of public benefit is the free bath sys- t tem. This city has eight of such baths g in operation, one having been added t la3t year. The entire cost of conducting each of these baths during a season was $534, and the aggregate number of ? bathers was nearly 3,000,000. These 1 lilUUJ lib UliUe ouun tut iiuuituov iiupui x ance ol such institutions. Lighting the streets i^ another interesting feature in r public benefits. New York has 860 "v miies ot gas pipes in use, and contracts t are held with ten companies. The en- i tire expense for illuminating the streets and public buildings last year was nearly $500,000. During the wasteful . expenditures of the ring it was ?1,250,- r 000, but since then a degree of economy 1 at least has been maintained. The I number of public lamps in use is 23,500. f The [annual cost of lighting the court- J house alone is ?3,674. The city hall ; . Art rir. 8 C0St9 52,.JOZ. U Ituuiugiuu luiuncu^Axi. Center and Fulton markets form an 1 aggregate of $2,300. The gas bill for J the public buildings reaches $26,122, s and a publ'c clock, which is illuminated 1 all night, is billed at $187. Lamp- * lighters themselves form a costly item, since the city paid last year for their work alone the handsome amount of . $421,000." j The peach originated in Persia and { Northern India, and is of the same t genus as the almond. The nectarine { differs from the peach only in being , smooth, while the peach is downy. It x is a mere variety, probably produced r and assuredly preserved by cultivation, t The free-stone psach of the French is j their peche, while the cling-stone is \ their pavie. A remarkable variety, of c Chinese origin, has the fruit compressed s and flattened with almost evergreen \ leaves. The peach is cultivated widely 1 in Southern Europe, in many parts of c the East, in South America and Aus- f tralia, though it has never, it is be- j lieved, attained the perfection 01 ine s fruit in the United States. New Jersey, { Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Ohio have often peach orchards contain- n ing from ?0,000 to 25,000 trees. The J quantity of dried peaches is reported to be steadily increasing, while peach brandy is diminishing. Peach water, 1 obtained by bruising the leaves of the a tree, mixing the pulp with water, and i distilling, is not only employed for flav- s oring, but in medicine as a sedative and i vermifuge. The stone of the fruit is f very like the bitter almond in its prop- ( erties, and the blossoms exhale an odor ( of bitter almonds. Both the stone and < blossoms are used in the facture of a < liqueur called Persieo. In the old and i new world there are, it is said, more < than 100 varieties of the delicious fruit 1 ______' Comparisons are Odious. Before the days of cholorform there ! was a quack in San Francisco who advertised tooth-drawing without pain. The patient was placed in a chair and , the instrument applied to his tooth with , a wrench, followed by a roar from the unpleasantly surprised sufferer. "Stop!" cried the dentist. " Compose yourself. I told you I would give you ' no pain, but I only just gave you a twinge as a specimen, to show you the , r'oi.furvinrht-'a mpf-hnrl nf nnfirfltinir." V-/",l UTTllg,..- " ? ? r J, Again the instrument was applied? another tug, another roar. "Now, don't be impatient; that is Dumerge's way; be seated and be calm; you will now be sensible of the superiority of my method." Another application?another tug, another roar. "Pray be quiet; this is Parkinson's mode,and you don't like it; no wonder." By this time the tooth hung by a thread, and, whipping it out, the operator exultingly exclaimed: "This is my mode of tooth-drawing without pain, and you are now enabled to compare it with the operations of Cartwright, Dumerge and Parkinson.' Absence of Mind. ' " Speaking of absence of mind," said the Rev. Sidney Smith, "the oddest instance happened to me once in forgetting my name. I knocked at a door in London, and asked if Mrs. was at home. 'Yes, sir; pray what name shall I say?' 1 looked in the man's face astonished?what name? Aye, that'is the question?what is my name? I believe the man thought me mud, but it is true that during the space of two or three minutes I had no more idea of who I was than if I had never existed. I did not know whether I was a dissen ter or layman; I felt as dull as Sternhold or Jenkins. At last to my relief it flashed across me that I was Sidney , Smith. I heard'also of a clergyman, ; who went jogging along on a road until ; he came to a turnpike. 4 What is to , pay?' 'Pay, sir; for what?' asked the l turnpike man. ' Why, for my horse, to 5 be sure!' 'Your horse, sir; what i horse? There is no horse, sir!' 'No \ horse! God bless me,' said he, sud denly looking down betwe2n his legs, ' I thought I was on horseback.'" Fashion Notes. ^ All out door dresses are made short, f Fluffy crimps and bangs are out of t 3 ate. xJerbys never go entirely out of f ashion. s Jersey co3tumes will be worn soon. f Plaids will be revived in lall mil- t inery. j Tlie Pilsrim polonaise has reached c tfewYork. t Pompador silks are growing in popu- < ar favor. { Dotted and sprigged dress fabrics ! prow in favor. Many narrow ruffles appear on fall j iresses. Beaded silk jerseys will be worn in j he fall. i The nightgown with shirred waist is i l new fancy. 1 Ostrich tips and plumes will be in J ligh favor this lall. ! It is admissible to go anywhere now ] vith a short dress. \ White evening bonnets will be as < ashionable as ever. t Side combs of shell, jet, coral ana vory are used again. Plush will take the place of velvet ii nillinery next winter. Chinese Corah silks in llowered d igns will form parts of fall toilets. Many ruffles or flounces on skirls will >e a feature ot fall fashions. * Spikes, balls and tassels are used to inish the ends of Surah sashes. Redplaitings around and under the >ottom of dresses increase in number. Wide canvas belts are more fashiona>le than either leather or ribbon ones. Black Surah silk sashes are some!moo linpH with red. old cold, or r leliotrope Surah. ~ v Gold lace, eold ribbon, and gold braid J rill be used to excess in early fall i aillinery. s Fancy and tinsel ribbons will be used . Qore than Surah silk or satin for winter ' lonnets. ? The fashionable evening color takes g be name of Ophelia; it is a dark shade c f heliotrope. c Corah washing silk in naturalundyed ii hades of cream or ecru is found among r all novelties. & The riding habit ol the fall season ^ ias a cutaway coat basque buttoning ver a striped waistcoat. Marguerite sleeves, puffed in the armlole and at the elbow, appear on some p f the lately imported Parisian cos- / ume3. " c Black silk poplin is again in demand, o t is used for skirts of black costumes s f Surah silk, cashmere, or camel's t i air. b The Pilgrim polonaise loosely defines 0 lie figure, and is bound with a heavy t ilk rope, finished with cones, balls, ^ W9 nr tassels. C ?? Bells of cream white, black, or gray triped saddle girthing, from two to ? bree inches wide, are worn, fastened J vitli leather straps and buckles. : When black toilets are made with t ound waists a black Surah sash is i 7orn with them, the ends of the sash t >eing gathered and finished with a v >lack jet ball. " t The American Girl. The defects of the American girl may J >e done away with by giving less promnence to the purely intellectual or J lurely practical side of her education. Tor while one class of them are striv- i ngto solve the problems of life by edlcating women intellectually, there is J mother class which i3 shouting for ed- r ication in domestic matters. Wnile the [ )rofeasors at Harvard are rejoicing over j ome girl who can take in their philoso- i >hies or their mathematics, the netvs)aper editor sings the praise of her who c :an roast a turkey, bake bread or make ler own dresses. * Neither <?ives the Door eirl anv chance * o exist, but only to work with hand or i Drain. No one says to her: "You are ; lot only yourself, but possibly the fu- J ,ure mother of other beings. l)o not, * hcrefore, allow yourself to be driven J )y either school of apostles beyond what * ?ou may do easJy, comfortably or pleas- ? irably. The healthy balance of your f lervous system is far more important f o you and your future family relations ban all the mathematics or dressmak- ? ng, or even roasting of turkeys. Oc- J iupy yourself steadfastly, but without F itrain, without hurry and without emu- f ation. An the apostle said (and it must J lave been meant expressly for Ameri- T :ans), 'avoid emulation.' Finding out irst what you can do best, and even if t does not come up to somebody else's itandard, learn to content yourself with hat."?Atlantic Monthly. ? t ["he Amount of Money Saved by Presi* f dents. i A Washington correspondent of the f 5h;inHflinh?n Times sava: Sneaking of c aving money in the White House. I t im reminded of a conversation I had i ome time ago with Fifth Auditor Ela, i who was formerly a member of Congress t rom New Hampshire, regarding Presi- t lent Pierce. Mr. Ela said that he knew 1 General Pierce very well, and there c :ould not be found a more courteous, i ligDified gentleman. He was the per- i ection of propriety, and during his term < jverything in asocial way in the White i [louse was of the highest order. His i jntertainments were of the most costly, 1 lis wines were of the costliest and the < svhole atmosphere of the White House s was liberal and becoming. Mrs. Pierce 1 was a capital housekeeper, and was j capable of superintending an immense 1 establishment like the White Hcuse. 1 Seneral Pierce's unfortunate disease was s the only bar to the perfect domestic ad- i ministration of the President's house. I His desire for drink c ime sometimes i once a month and sometimes it would 1 not come for six months. When it i came, however, he gave up to it entirely 1 Find remained concealed from the pub- I lie until he got over it. There was no i conviviality about his sprees. He i always went off alone, and at such times no one could manage him but his wife. No. doubt his absence from his reception-room day after day during his periods was accounted for by those ohmif tlip White House as such things have been accounted for in more recent days, by such exclamations as " a heavy cold," " cholera morbus," jaundice," etc. General Pierce's .great trouble, however, was a brother who would never stop sowing his wild oats. Tiie general had paid his brother's debts again and again, but it did no good. While General Pierce was President his brother was particularly reckless, and after the general's term expired and he returned to Concord he " made medicine," sis the Indians say, with his wayward brother ?in other words, he had a very earnest talk with him. At first the brother did not care to talk about it, but the general demanded tq, know of every dollar of indebtedness against the name of Pierce, lie explained their fither had left them an honorable name that should be respected everywhera. He said that on account of their father and on his (the general's) own account, it would not do to have unpaid debts. And there and then Frank Pierce paid out nearly $20,000, nearly half his fortune, to pay the debts of his brother. During his term as President General Pierce saved from the salary about ?12,000 a year. Mr. T.innnln did not save anvthine. Andrew Johnson saved about $50,000; General Grant saved nothing during his first term, but lie saved about $60,000 during his second. There is Jittle doubt that Mr. Hayes during his four years will save at least $160,000. or $40 000 a year. To make a good monkey wrench feed I I him on groen apples. J ^ vOh - ' Professor C. S. Sargent has underaken an enterprise in which he ought to lave the co-operation and support of all houghtful men?the collection and dissemination'of knowledge concerning ruit trees, and the promotion of their lystematic cultivation. The dwellers in >ur Eastern States, remembering the rast wooded tracts which yet lie at heir doors, are apt to smile increduously at the notion that the cultivation >f trees can be a source of much gain to hem, but they may be reminded that :ertain valuable kinds of timber, as jlack walnut, beech, butternut and jird's-eye maple, are nearly extinct on ;he Atlantic slope, while their value has ;reatly increased, a single log of figured ilack walnut from the Onio valley laving recently been sold for $5,000 vnd even then returning a handsome jrotit in the sale of veneers; and many lew s?ecie3 might be successfully in.roduced. But for the far West, from ;he Mississippi to the Rocky mountains, t may be said that forests are the one reat and crying ne*d. Not only as setements increase is the want of timjer severelv felt, but the terrible iroughts which now rob the fer,ile lards of Western Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado of half their ralue might be controlled by the simjlestkind of tfee planting, systematic :ally pursued, and a vast addition made ;o the wealth of the continent. How nuch may be effected even in a short irae by sucn woric, mouguuuny carried out, is shown by the example of a lesolate and sterile valley in the wild egion of Barcellonnette, in the Lower lips, which until 1868 was almost anlually devastated by the inundations >f the mountain torrent which flowed hrougli it. It reclamation was begun )y building dams of stone across the orrent, which, thus checked, expanded n time of flood into a series of lakes, delositing a line alluvium, in which grass 7as sown as the waters receded, folowed by bushes, which soon gained a told sufficient to prevent their being wept away by the now gentle current. ?he growth of these itself moderated he violence of floods by retarding the nelting of snow and the descent of water rom the slopes; and trees began to iourish, these multiplying in gemoetrial ratio as their own good effect inreased, until now the once bare valley 3 clothed with vegetation, the fitful torent has become a steady and quiet rook, and inundations have ceased.? I merican Arcnueci. A Land of Wonders. Nevada is a land ot curious natural ihenomena, says the Eureka (Nev.) Adder. Her rivers have no visible i utlet to the ocean. She has no lakes f any magnitude. She has vast trctches of alkali deserts, however, hat give every indication of having teen the beds or bottoms of either seas r lakes. Down in Lincoln county here is a spring of ice cold water that ?ubbles up over a rock and disappears m the other side, and no one has been ible to find where the water goes. At .nother point in the same county is a arge spring, about twenty feet square, hat is, apparently, only some eighteen >r twenty inches in depth, with a sandy >ottom. The sand can be plainly seen, >ut on looking closer it is perceived hat this sand is in a perpetual state of mrest. Wo bottom has ever been found o this spring. It is said that a teamiter, on reaching this spring one day, leceived by its apparent shallowness, :oncluded to soak one of his wagon vheels to cure the looseness of its tire. Ie, therefore, took it off and rolled it nto the, asiie thought, shallow water. 3e never laid his eyes on that wagon vheel again. Our mountains aac lull of if caves and caverns, many of which lave been explored to a great distance. Ipeaking of caves, a rodeo was held ast spring over in Huntington valley, during its progress quite a number of ? n-n/J 4r\o fimo tin. tuue Wl'iu rnisacu, luiu lui U tiuv ?u .vailing search was made for them. it last they were traced to the mouth if a natural tunnel or cave in the mounain. The herders entered the cave, and ollowing it for a long distance, at last ound the cattle. It appears that they lad probably entered the cave, which vas vei*y narrow, in search of water, t had finally narrowed so that they ould proceed no further. Neither ould they turn around to get out. They lad been missed some days, and, if hey had not been found, mus4; inevitably have perished in a short time. As t was, they were extricated from their iredicament with difficulty by the terders squeezing past and getting in ront of them and scaring them into a Gtrograde movement by flopping their lats into the faces of the stupid bovines. Origin of "A Wlld-tioose Chase." A writer in the Troy Times says: ' Wild-goose chase" was a term used o express a sort of racing on horseback ormerly practiced, resembling the flyng of wild geese, these birds generally ;omg in a train one after another, not in :onfused flocks as other birds do. In his sort of race the two norses, auer unning twelve score yards, had liberty, vliich horse soever could get the lead, otake wbat ground the jockey pleased, he hindmost horse being bound to folow him within a certain distance agreed )n by the articles, or else to be whipped n by the triers and j .dges who rode by, tnd which ever horse could distance thj >ther won the race. This sprt of race wis not long in common use, for it was bund inhuman and destructive of good lorses when two such were matched together. For, in this case, neither was ible to distance the other till they were Doth ready to sink under their riders; md often two very good horses were both spoiled, and the wagers forced to 3e drawn at last. The mischief of this jort of racing soon brought in the method 30w in use. of only running over a cer;ain quantity of ground, and determining the wager by coming in first at the winning post. The phase " wiid-goosn ihase" is now employed to denote a fruitless attempt, or an enterprise underjaken with little probability of success, such as May, an early dramatist, thus pleasantly described: Ah, me! throughout the world Doth wickedness abound; And well I wot, on neither hand Can honesty belound. Thft wiapst. man in Adiens About tho c.'tv ran, With a lantern in the midst ot day, To find an honest man. And when at night ho sat him down To reckon on his gmns, lie only tound?alack, poor man? His labor lor his pains. What Writers Receive. Turning from the remuneration of the authors for their volumes to the compensation of writing for the press, the light and the shade arc not as strongly marked The struggle in the case of papers and magazines is not so much for a high rale of payment its for the acceptance of a manuscript. The rate of payment is settled, and, except for special reasons, is the same for each article. The rate in the principal magazines and reviews is about a cent a word for prose, although articles of exceptional value or especially noteworthy authorship are paid at a much his her rate. The rate in most weekly journals (most of which are of a religious character) is slightly more than one cent for two words. During the last three years a young writer known to the author of this paper has published fourteen articles in seven of the leading magazines and quarterlies. For them he has received $426.50?an average of $30 for each paper. lie has also published twenty-seven articles in five religious weeklvjcurnals. For them he was paid $192.50?an average of slightly more than $7 for each. This example indicates the general rate of payment for i ordinary articles.?Independent. M&L' Bone Food for Poultry* Lewis Wright, of London, in his " Book of Poultry," makes special mention of the value of bone dost and bone meal, and considers it one of the most valuable of all known aids to the successful rearing of poultry. Laying fowls need bone constantly, as it is largely made up of material which enters Into the composition of eggs and shells, and besides contains animal matter of great value to the lowls when freshly ground. For old birds bone may be fed in the form of finely-ground meal mixed with soft food or coarselv ground into bits the size of a kernel of corn, or smaller. In the latter form the hardest fragments perform a double purpose by assisting the gizzard for a time with its grinding operations. For this purpose, ground oysttir shells are also exceedining valuable, and the very hard and flinty fragments do good service from the time they are eaten until fully digested. Bone matter contains a jpreat deal uf real nutriment, and paves its value (when bought at reasonable rates) in other j food. The large fowls, Brahmas, Cochins, etc., are subject to leg weakness, and every breeder of the Asiatics knows how thi3 difficulty has often troubled his best docks, and puzzled his brain to learn the cause, prevention and cure. Wright states that bone dust (bone meai) is almost *j, sure prevention for the difficulty, and should always be used as a preventive. But by far the most important use for bone meal is one that interests alike all who raise fowls for market, and on this point Wright is very positive in his statements. He performed careful experiments to ascertain the exaat facts, and always with the same results. From these experiments he learned that all kinds of domestic poultry, and even hogs and other tour-footed stock, may I be made to grow to a larger she by the use of bone meal, and that the difference is very material. The cause he explains thus: The bone supply must come from those kinds of food largely made up of bone making materials, and when fed in considerable quantities, as when pure raw bone meal is used, has the effect to keep the bones of the fowl or animal in a soft or growing condition longer than without its use, and therefore to postDone the period of- the bones setting or becoming hard. After the bones are hard the increase in size of the fowl may be termod development; previous to that it is actual growth.?Farm Housekeeper. Farm IVotca. Horses hate solitude, and are made savage by being kept alone. Wooden covers should not be used for crocks holding milk. They give the cream a wooden taste. In finishing up the cultivation of fields leave the land as level as possible, as it will facilitate the gathering of the crops. A teaspoonful of ammonia to one quart of water sprinkled every other day over plants will caus<? lice to disappear, and not injure the plants. When the first brood of grub3 from the potato beetle have made their appearance, is the time to apply paris green. Mix with plaster till it has a greenish appearance. Harrowing is the best way of cultivating small corn, because the teeth go right through to admit the air .and to enablethe soil to absorb moisture from the air for the benefit of the rootlets of the corn. fnr hnrspq fn VsUl'll lo CAWxicuu ?v* work on, but not for fast driving. As soon as i horse gets used to eating corn there is no danger of its producing any internal disarrangement. Three or four ears of flint corn are all it should have to begin a diet of this food. Peaches require a warm, light soil. If the people would take pains to raise seedling peaches they would gradually get a race of trees much hardier than those brought from a more southern climate. A few rubbing-posts set up in pastures will save injury to the fences. Cattle , will use these conveniences very often; and it is worth all the trouble, says an agricultural writer, to witness the enjoyment of the animals in the use of them. Fat makes hens lay. There is much refuse fat from the kitchen that can be turned to good account by feeding to the hens. Everything that is not wanted for cooking purposes, should be boiled up with the vegetables for the fowls. A correspondent of the Country Gentleman keeps his fowls out of the garden ?and raises winter food for them at the snmp time? bv Dlantine a sunflower hedge, seed a one or two inches apart. Household Hint*. To Take Bust Out of Steel.? Cover the steel with sweet oil, well rubbed in. In forty-eight hours, rub with Unely-powdered, unslacked lime until the rust disappears Washing Black Stockings.?Wash in a cool lather of plain white soap and rain water,with a little ammonia mixed in it. Keep from the air while drying, by rolling in a cloth; do not wring, but press the moisture well out. Epsom raits and water form a good rinse. Washing Ties.?The best mode of washing gentlemen's neckties is to let them soak a little, then wash with hot soap and water, rinse in cold water slightly blued, dry them, dip them once more in cold water, starch, and wring them thoroughly; then iron. To Select Nutmegs.?Prick them with a pin. If they are good the oil will instantly spread around the puncture. Something Abont Coney Island Charges. The following extract, from a corresDondent's letter, gives in a humorous way a scrap of interesting information about some of the prices which prevail at this great watering place: Last Sunday afternoon a solitary man was wading through the sand between Manhattan and Brighton, not down bv the shore, where the sand is packed, but up near the railroad track, where it is soft and loose. It was hard work, but he plodded along, counting as he went, one, two, three, and so on. He was evidently pacing off the distance be[ t^een some two points. The work was as slow ns it was hard, but he kept bravely at it. At first he would not answer any questions. Afterward, instead of answering them, he asked some of his own. "What is the fare," said he, "over this remarkable railroad P" There was only one answer,of courseit was five cents. "Five cents," he repeated; "correct. And the road is just a trifle under three blocks long. I've been figuring, and I'm .^reat at figures. At the same rate, what do you suppose would be the eight-mile ride by norse-car from New York city hall to'Harlem bridge. You won't believe it, of course, till you reckon it up for yourself, but it's true as gospel. The fare from the city hali to Harlem at this rate would be exactlj $3.75. If you faint, drop over then where the sand's soft. I could have fig ured this out quicker, but I'm a littK muddled?I've just had a twenty-five cent steak for ?115, and it went to m] head. And then I was frightened, com ing down, but I've got over that. I hac what you might call a financial shock I came down in a parlor car for twenty five cents extra. I fizured again on that for I'm a great hand at figures, as I tol< you. This is what I figured out: If i costs twenty-five cents extra to comi these six miles, what would be a pur lor-car fare from New York to San Fran ciscoP Take hold of the fence, you loo) pale. It would co^t just 8120! Yes that's the exact figure. Next time 1 come down here I'll just buy a train an( engine to save money. I'm not wealthy ana I have to be economical." and the grass serenely bine; T~'; ' It might have been that grapes on thorns and figs on thistles grew; , "-x ' ,'j- =' It might have been that rainbows boioro ttu. 7 -'t showers came; s It might have been that iambs were fierce - and bears and lions.tame; ft might have been that cold wonld melf, and summer heat would freeze; .. * ' " It might have been that ships at sea wpold > sail against the breeze? V And there may be worlds unknown, dear! where we would find the change ,h * -y a From all that e have seen or heard/ to* . i ;, - 8 others just as strange? ^ ( Bat it never conld be wise, dear in haste to act or speak; ,*#5 It never coald be noble to hann the poor and It never could be kind, dear, to give a nee<V ' j less pain; ^ It never could be honest, dear, to aia lot . greed oi (tain: f '% And there conld not be a world, dear, while . J God is true above, , M Where right and wrong were governed by an .? law but love. ? Wide Awake. ITEMS OF INTEREST* - ^ A prickly pair?Needles and pins. Law'n order?Keep off the grass. A,pigeon in the pie is worth twJ squabs in the nest.?New York News. - -'7' ipj Ancient hieroglyphics are found in ;*j which farming implements are promi- . It is estimated that there are 3,500 miles of street railways in the United ? The Chinese Six companies fn. San Francisco own property valued at $32,290,000. A (ierman cuemiat uiu uibm??bu practicable method of manufacturing ' :j nrtificial indigo. It is a contradiction of natural philo*- ^ ophy, but cold, cold ice cream will warm up her heart.? New Haven Register* An Ohio sheriff who lately assisted at r & a wedding/snapped his fingers and called * out: "Tne condemned will now step * -sffiE this way." >. . Just bear this maxim in your rtllnd and hefore you get very mad: It's easy enough to spark a girl, but hard to spark her dad .?Omego Record. The French government has allotted ' M. Parteur 50,000 'ranc3 to enable him , T-J to carry out hi^ researches on <the oOa* tagious diseases of animals. ^ . An exchange regrets the decline of th spinning-wheel. It forgets that all the women of the present day are clothe* ' ?$? pinners.?Philadelphia llem. ATerre Haute mnle has been pro* vided with overalls to keep from demol* >. ishing the surrounding neighborhood . in attempting to keep off the fiies. 1 ' -oj Microscopists have found that mosquitoes frequently carry filaria in their proboscis, and infect the human subject ? with that znnch dreaded worm parasite. Sangamon county, 111., boasts of >a veteran, now eighty-two years old, who . , a short time ago went hunting and in nineteen shots killed twenty Bquirrels l'(iO out, young man, sue a uur u?k. said a preacher in the midst of hit sermon, to a vouth whom Ijc saw atandlj? . hesitatingly at the portal.?RochesUr ' Expre i3. ' * yr " This world is all a fleeting but it takes mighty lively work for some . pf us to keep a grip on our tickets of ad mission, however poor the show is- ' Boston Globe. The average time consumed by sailing 7? , iY vessels in making the voyage from New ** . J York to San Francisco, via Cape Horn, is 125 days. Returning, the average time is 140 days. ; , ^ " If you feel like sneezing," savs an English physician, "throw yourself flat on your back." And yet there are peo- ^ r. nle who sav that they can sneeze just as well standing up. Jaraes C. Green, of Stillwater, Minn , _ shot Albert C. Savage, at St. Paul, because he would not drink with him and then walking to the station-house sat on the steps until a policeman came along to arrest him. Ludwig Shroeder, of Chicago, Had a queer experience during a thunder storm. The lightning struck his frame * 1 -i cottage, and passed through the bed in which he was sleeping, but simply burned his limbs and feet. It is estimated that there are now in the United States about 900 miles of bridges upon our railroads, of which, * perhaps, one-third are permanent structures of stone and iron, and two-thirds at least are temporary structures of * . wood. . A handsome girl of Indianapolis, Ind., who habitually used arsenic to improve her complexion, has not only nearly lost her eyesight, but her comtemplated marriage with a wealthy and reputable physician is indefinately post poned. 'uv A fashionable New York corset maker aava that women by no means have a monopoly of that article of wearing apparel. She makes a great many corsets . for men, but she prefers not to mention" the names of her male customers,as some prominent gentlemen might not like the. notoriety. A young man ol Woodford county, 111., has died of the effects of taking too severe a shock of electricity while attending a circus. He was strong and wanted to show the other boys present how much he could stand; therefore the full force of the battery was turned on and in a few days the quiet village cemetery received an occupant. There are five thoroughbred studs in ' England, belonging respectively to the Duke of Westminister, Ix>rds Falmouth and Rosebery, Mr. F. Grefton, and Sterling Crawford, each of which may be safely put down as being worth, in. eluding stallions, brood mares, young stocs, and horses in training, from a quarter to a half million dollars. The chief cities of Iowa now rank as follow: DesMoines 22,696: Dubuque, 22,276; Davenport, 21,812; Burlington, 19,000; Council Bluffs, 18,000; Keokuk, 12.176; Cedar Rapids. 10,176; Clinton, 9,068; Ottumwa, 9,018; Muscantine, 8,*294; Iowa City, 7,200; Sioux City, 7,246; Marshalltown, 6,345; Waterloo, 5,660. Eleven others have from 3,000 to 5,000 each. Recent observations upon the habifs . of the woodpecker have shown the i curious fact that the sounds made by i striking its bill against trees constitute a performance taking the place of song s in other birds, and have no connection r with its quest for food. It carefully sei lects the spots on partially decayed fmm toMpIi the most sonorous i ki uuno uvu* *f Mtvaa - f sounds may be produced, and frequents 1 the same places day after day. This is r probably the only case among the feathJ ered tribes in which vocal is replaced by instrumental music. 2 The ceremony had been performed ft. - a Sacramento wedding and the 1 guests were about to sit down to dinner. The bride had discarded an old lover to 1 accept her present husband, and to the ; former she allotted the place of honor - at the head of the t; ble. The husband , was made jealous by this preferment, i " If that cuss goes to the table I don't," t he said. This remark gave rife to a e lively quarrel. The officiating cleigy m.in endeavored to effect a reconcilia tion, but in vain. :v d the party dis? persed without eatins the dinner. Then , the bride fainted and her family drove the husband out of the bouse. He rr1 turned in the night, drew a pistol and , tried to force his way to her presnce. ' but reached a poiice-etaion instead.