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VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL HEART. >?y. what is the wild sea's massage, It so eagerly bears to the land, That so fondly it croons to the pebbles, As it dries its sad eyes on the strand? Do the pebbles it dallies and kisses, And forsakes with a sob as they part, Alone know the echo that lingers, Like the voice of a fond, faithful heart? Si the pebble an exile, I wonder, Prom some sea-bedded cavern of yore? Are the waves but its couriers bearing 8weet tidings from grotto to shore? Does it hearken and send back its greeting? is the kiss on the wave's lips a part? AIBWUt tuiuos sun? wiiirs vuo From the voice of a fond, faithful heart Does the surf change forever, or ever Do those couriers pause in their chase? Are the depths of the sea ever broken By the tempests that wrinkle its face? Ah, no! And as strong and enduring, Though ocean and continent part, Are the whispers, heard but by the loved one, From the voice of the fond, faithful heart? Beep down 'neath the bosom of ocean, Unsounded by plummet or line; At peace from the storm and commotion, liat rago o'er its billows of brine, There are secrets that time shall not fathom There are jewels unknown to earth's mart. As deep, as true and as precious ; Is the voice of the fond, faithful heart. ?Jessie Birtiett Davis. SAVED ON THE BRINK. I was seated in my office one afternoon la October, 18S4, when an acquaintance, a merchant of this city, called. I 4ad then acquired a fair experience in my calling, but my income from that source had been quite limited; hence ?y extreme gratification when my visitor announced that the mirDose of his visit was "business." The gentleman said that a friend of %is. Mr. B., a merchant doing an extensive business on Lake street, had requested him to suggest the name of a jeliable man to undertake a private investigation; that he had promised to comply with the request, and therefore tame to me. I asked him if he knew anything about the character and details ?f the place. He replied that he did ot. At my instance the gentleman wrote a letter of introduction to Mr. B. L which he handed to me, and after reP* teiving my promise to deliver it, withyf tut a word he departed. I lost no time in communicating with Mr. B. I sent by messenger the letter ?f introduction enclosed, in a note of my own, re.-uesting an interview, and in reply was invited to call at his residence that i- .ening at eight o'clock. J was promptly on hand at the designated time, and was ushered into a comfortable and well appointed little library zoom. Mr. B received me cordially, but his lace wore an expression of much con - tern. "lor what specific purpose is my serv ?ice required?" I asked, miking a dive / .*t the business in hand. "i wish you to investigate a little aatter for me," he said, "and will give jou the cause and details in a few words." After a moment's hesitation, which jeemed devoted to deep thought, he said: "I presume you are aware of the *'.aracterof our business; we requiro a large clerical force in our counting room; jre reward efficiency and zeal with merited promotion, and many of our lerks have acquirod their present adtanced positions through this system. Among others in our counting room is ne who has secured his de<k by gradual promotion, a >oung man who seems possessed of the required qualifications and who has always, so far as I can Judge, properly performed his whole duty. I peak of our cashier. He is young, in telligent, with a kindly disposition, rompt at his post and indefatigable in sis work. Because of these qualities and the fact that he hasexerci'ed economy I kave felt myself gratlu illyorawn toward Biiu. x unc iatv.cn ucc|jc* iuiuicot iu him than in many othets in our employ, nd was much gratified to l'nd that he kad to his credit a neat little sum, saved aut of his salary. Recently, however, 1 have noticed that he wears a haggard xpression, and the dis;overy has disturbed me. When first I observed this hange it was but slightly depicted on &is countenance, but it has grown more pronounced fiom day to day, until now ie seems little more thau a shadow of 4is former self, and though prompt at kis post and in his work the old smile #eldom lights up his genial face. I have taken occasion to look int'> his personal tccount in the ledger, and fiud that from lime to time he has drawn upon it until now very little remains of the $lt>00 to kls credit a month ago." 'What is your idea of the cause of this condition 01 tilings*" 1 asked. ?^ "I have no fixed idea,'1 Mr. B. replied, ?nd then added: "What puzzle* and pains rre is tlie fact that, though he has uthority to pay out money standing to 1he credit of any employe's account and ias a right to draw his money, he has jeveral times invested in shares of building and loan associations, but never without tirst consulting me as to the advisability of doing so. Of course, I have ieen more pleased with this mark of lonfidence, and was so favorably impressed with his worth that I had already ietermined that he would be the nest to Ike admitted to a junior copartnership interest in our establishment. My recent iiacovcries and the cashicr's reticence k?ve made me uneasy. 1 am determined if possible, to learn the c ause of th's hange, and therefore I have sent for you to look into the case for me. I deare you to ascertain what intluence has taused the change in his appearance, and what he has done with his money. The ?nly condition that I interpose is that you must make no move that will disturb iim until you shall have reported to me. Tou may adapt your own time and method to flip pnd in view, and you may call upon me for such assistance is you may require in the case." "Do you suspect financial trouble in ny form?" "i have no data upon which to ground s suspicion; his trial balance she.t made three days ago proves the books and aceonnts in good shape, and the cash b: lance on hand at that time was cor?ct." "Dors he complain of illness or overwork ?" "lie does ut.t: in fact, when I quos iioncd him concerning the cause of his appearance, his answers seemed rather evasive." After a few moments' further conversation I bade my client good night and departed. The next day I entered the counting room of Mr. B. and asked the lerk at one of the windows to give me ailver coin for a $20 note. Pointing to another window he said: "The cashier wili give it to you." I was about to have a view of the cashier. This was the purpose I desired to compass I had not *p to that time had a glimpse of that je-tleman's face. Approaching the aperture designated I asked: "Are vou the cashier?" Receiv Ir,g an affirmative response I requested change for my paper currency, which c request was silently granted. r The few seconds required by the t cashier in which to gather up the coin 5 and pass it through the window sufficed 1 me to "take in" that gentleman's face s that I m:ght know it whenever I should see it again. p "I spent several days in quiet investi- a gationand then sought a private inter- g view with the accused. After a few commonplace remarks I took up the 1 matter in hand. "I am a messenger appointed to watch you and gain information concerning j. your habits," said I, lookiug steadily in ^ his eyes. t The young man assumed a calmness, j but could not conceal his alarm and I ripen concern. I had fully determined 0 that the cashier was not a rogue at heart, j I believed that he was not confirmed in ^ an}' vicious practice, and if his conduct r during our interview warranted it I in- p tended to be his friend. I have always j felt that it was our duty, if possible, to B prevent crime. Wo effect a vast deal a more good in this world by preventing our fellowman from being a criminal j than by permitting the commission of $ crime in order to "detect" the criminal and punish him. How many lives and j happy homes might be saved if this were jmore frequently practiced! After a moment's pause my companion a asked: "Who s.-nt you to watch me." "One deeply interested in your wel- a fare. Can you guess who?:> I replied. "A lady?" he asked, much agitated. e "Xo," I answered, and taking the cue, c I added: "Miss of avenue, so ^ I far as I know, is not aware of my em- * ' ployment, and I presume she does not j even suspect that there is cause for it; i indeed, I would deeply iejret it if she \ idid-" . < He turned his face full upon me and I < there was a startled and puzded expres- r sioa resting upon it. "What do you j know about that lady, and why did you t mention her when I asked if your princi- f pal was a lady?" he asked, hastily. 8 ! "I know that you visited her at her a home this evening, and have reason to t 1 know your feelings toward the lady," j I was iuy ico^uuov. 4 I had been right in my conjectures, and now knew that I had sent a shaft to a tender spot aud felt assured that this , , hit would prove a valuable, though silent, adjunct to the successful execu- c j tion of my hastily formed plan. t With a deepsigh of relief he said: "I j. I am glad of it;" and then, after a pause, c asked again: "Whosent you!" 8 j "Who else can be so deeply interested : in your" said I. "I will tell you who ? authorized me to follow your movements while away from the office, but I will -] precede the iuformation by the state- ] inent that my employer is prompted by ? the deepest concern in your behalf. Mr. * j B. is the individual," I said, but the young man's alarmed countenance ^ , urged me to add: "Vet he does not sus- j ' pect what I have discovered; he is es- ?] pecially alarmed about the great change c . noted in your appearance, and commis- ^ j sioned me to adopt my own method and j time in making the investigation. To execute this commission I determined to ckeep you under my surveilance, i iiough I scarcely expected developments so ^ soon." "I presume you will report your dis- . covery to Mr. B. at once?" he interro- [ gated, with apparent alarm. "Not necessarily,'' I replied, briefly. j "Can my exposure be prevented!" he quil'iwij oorw^vA. ^ "That depends," I answered. The ^ cashicr impulsively thrust his hand into the breast pocket of his coat and drew f ! forth a roll of bills. Turning to me, g with extending arm, the money grasped in his hand, he said, excitedly, "You are welcome to this, but for God's sake ; don't expose me; it will ruin me for* ' ever." Restraining my indignation as much as possible, I said: "Your proposition t is au unworthy of you as it would be unworthy of me to accept it." My words i stunned him, and an expression of dejeci tion and lost hope overcast his countenance. Seeing the effect my speech had, f ' I added earnestly: "I will be your friend and save you if you will comply fu'.ly c with my demands." i A gleam of hope instantly shone on ( ' his countenance, and he added, rather demurely: "What do you demand?" j Looking him earnestly in the eye3 I answered: "That you tell me tiuthfully how you came to visit a faro bank, how . long the visits have been indulged in, j h-?w often and with what result." ' rf,/v Viia ofo fr omonf Krioflr Kilt i u oulu JUiJ OV..wvu.uu v mwvuj, i which he gave iii detail, he said that he I went with a friend one night out of cu- i riosity;that the game was fascinating; that he commenced by buying $3 worth r of checks: he won $10; visited the place i again a few nights after and tried his luck, but this time lost $25. He re- ( : peated his visit two nights following j with a like result, then the fascination ! and a determination to recover his small . loss impelled him to go again, each time 1 meeting with a loss and each succeeding 1 lo-s beins greater thau the last, until he visi'.ed the place almost nightly, and fin- i ally realized that he had drawn out 1 nca ly all of h's cash balunce in the office, a bes'des lwviug hypothecated 3ome shares < of "-toj'% owned by him. The loss caustd h'm much regret, but ho had spent many c s'ee >icoS nights becar.se of remorse when ; it fully dawned upon hitn that he was ] living a lie and thit the confidence re- 1 p>se.l in him by Mr. B. and Miss would be instautly withdrawn and summary dismis?al fr >m both follow, meining, of course, d sgrace. He had med j his owu nnney; he had not gone far ( enough in his recklessness to filch. "Are you satisfied now to cut sher*. , this recklessness?" I asked. j "Ves," he answered, determinedly. "Piedgeme your wo:d that you will j never again enter a gambling house or gamble, and I will agree to make a re- t port that will not expose your reckless- j ness. I believe there is ample chance for j 1 you if you will l?e wise as well as correct | in your character; but I will warn you ] that you will yet be watched, and if you } prove unfa thful to your pledge I will see < j to it tbat you do not escape the logical j consequences." I He extended his hand; which I ( grasped, and his moistened eyes, full of gratitude, told mc that he was in earnest | when he said: "I pledge my word to never again enter a gambling house or , gamble. I thauk you for your more j | than friendship. Your generosity will j make me a better and stronger man." j V> e parted on State and Madison streets. lh?: cashier going home and 1 to my < lodgings. I put a shadow alter him. llis ( conduct proved exemplary. I so reported , from time to time during the month following the above episode, aud finally re! portea to my client that I believed the i i young mau made a temporary loan to a friend who was in trouble; that he had rescued his friend, and that his friend had paid him back the loan. To conlirm my report the cashier had deposited the j money in the ollice and credited his ac- 1 | count with the amount, the haggard e.c; pression had vanished, and the old genial , j smile was again enthroned in its place. | My report was accented; I was thanked for.my services, and well paid for the 1 effort. - On the lat of January following tha :a8hier was admitted to a junior copartlership interest in Mr. B.'s extensive msiness, and in October of the same rear he led Miss ? to the altar, and a tappier couple never assumed the responib:litie3 of wedlock than did this one. I meet the cashier occasionally. "We ;reet each other cordially, but never .llude to his narrow escape from dis[race.?Chicago Times. The Swineherd Who Became Servla's Ruler. Milosh Obrenovich, a swineherd and irigand, liberated Servia from the rurkish yoke and beenme the founder of he dynasty now represented by King tfilan. If the visitors at Topohidar, a 9uburb if Belgrade, the capital of Scrvia, care, he old janitor of the palace will tell hem many interesting stories about the iresent King's famo.is ancestor. A rttinrt trioif A/) peasant iiumuu ixnuitu uu^o ? rlilosh and complained bitterly that his icighbor, Marich, refused to pay him n old debt. "Very well. I shall help you," said >Iilosh; "let U3 go to your neighbor lirectly." Marich fell upon his knees as soon as ililosh entered his house and began to >eg for mercy. 1 'Why don't you pay your debt?" isked Milosh, sternly. The frightened peasant could give no .nswer. "The reward of the ungrateful is this!,: ixclaimed Milosh, emptying the contents >f a pistol into Marich's he:id. Radich vus allowed to take of his debtor's >roperty as much as he thought sufficient o cover the debt. Milosh was informed once that a vilage priest refused to bury a peasant be:ause the dead man's son haa no money o pay for the burial. The sou was sumnoned to the palace. Milosh provided lim with money and ordered two graves o be prepared. At the hour appointed or the burial Milosh, accompanied by a trong detachment of soldiers, made his ppearance at the cemetery. The cerenouy was over. The body of the old jeasant was buried. Milosh approached he priest. "Have you any children?" he asksd. "Yes, illustrious lord," replied the >riest. 'S'ery well, then. In order that your :hildren may not be in the position of hat man who had no money to pay for he burial of his father, I wish to take are of your burial myself. Take him, o'.diers!" The priest wa9 thrown into the second ;rave and buried alive. One of his officers was killed by the Turks, and Milosh ordered fifty captured Turks to be beheaded on the officer's rrave. * Milosh was at the theater. A patriotic >lay was given. It wound up with a Turkish Sultan being killed by a Servian icro. The audience applauded fervently, ['he curtain rose, and the actors?the Jervian hero and the Sultan?appeared in the stage. Milo3h rose from nis seat n the box and exclaimed furiously: "A hero does not shoot like that. He loe3 it like this!" A shot rang out. Milosh's pistol :illed the "Sultan" instantly. Milosh learned that his brother Ye>hrem had attacked a peasant girl, ahd he offender was sent for. "Op.n your mouth!" commanded Yephrem obeyed. Milosh took a re olver from the table and fired it into his mother's mouth. Yephrem was killed. This very Yephreua was the grandather of Milan, the present King of Jervia.?Chicago Herald. TTcnful If Into 1 limit rinvoil R!rd? Feed no hemp. Give your bird a name. Keep your pet3 tame, but do not fondle hem. Don't forget the bird's bath during tot weather. Let the floor constantly be strewn with jravel or sand. Two-thirds of the canaries in the :ountry are called "Dicky." Never put birds in painted cage3. Jilt cages cost very little more. Hand-raised mocking birds always nake hardier cage birds than trapped >nes. A piece of copperas the size of a pea, n the drinking water, makes an excelent tonic. "Watch that pet cat of yours. Cats and >et birds never have iron-clad bonds of xiendship. American-bred canaries are not. as a * ** - ? ii 4 jfi r\ uie, asnne singers as me imported uernan vurieties. Never feed "bird manna" or any other patent applied for" foods. Plain diet s what they want. The Goldfinch is a sweet singer, havng a clear metallic ring with modulated )0wer, and vrry soft. The varieties of canaries are the Gernan, American, Cinnamon, Norwich, French, Scotch Fancy, Belgian, Yorkhire, London Fancy, Lizard and JUan:hester Coppy. The varieties of parrots are the Mari:aibo, Blue Hock Macaw, Yellow-he id Mexican, Cubin, Gray, Cockatoo, Blue Mountain Lory, King Lory and Blue.exd Amazon. ?Guile and Friend. India-Paper. India-paper, which the Chinese call ehi, is made fiom hemp, mu'berry-bark, otton, bamboo, rice-straw, barley-straw md from the interior membrane of silkworm cocoons Sometimes the whole of -L - f knml\a/\ r\ f n ttao w'n r?r*attj f V* ,J1& 5Villus ui uamuuu ui a o gi\j n tju ti e used. 1 he pulp is mixed, after it has jeen prepared, with a given portion of a vegetable gum called hotony in China. The paper is molded in molds of fine aamboo filament. Those sheets, sixty feet in length, -which the Chinese are said io make, are supposed to be fabricated jy artfully joining several smali sheets it the moment of laying the paper. VVhen taken from the molds, the paper is stretched upon a wall, hollow inside md heated, tne surface of which has been coated with very thin mastic. The lpplication of the mastic is made with a brush, and this accounts for the streaks md roughness that appear ou the wrong side of this paper. India-paper, being too thin to bear handliu"or any strain, is mounted on vellum, which serves as a lining to it, and the white borders of which set it off as a franis would do. The sheets thus prepared are kept in a 3ry place, far away from the fire, and may be preserved for years.?Popular Scicnce M-nt'dj. A Metrical Aid to Memory. An uptown woman has cured her husbands of forgetting her orders by writing them out in verse and making him commit them to memory. Ho may be seen marching down State street occasionally, humming the following to the tunc of "Yankee Doodle:" Butter, cocoa, raisins, eggs, Molasses, baking powder, Vanilla, sugar, cheese and beans, Salt pork and fish for chowder. ?Sprinjflelcl (Haas.) Union. Too Great a Risk. "Well you seem to be in first rata physical condition," said the insurance medical examiner to an applicant. "I think you will do. Mr. Smith (turning to the agent) I think I can report this risk a good one?oh, by the way (to the applicant) do you know how to play baseball?" * "Why certainly." "Do you think you know enough about it to uqipire a game?" BUDGET OF FUN. HUMOROUS SKETCHES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. A Dignified. Courtship ? Another Day Begun?A Check was What He Wanted?His First Trip, Etc. A pretty Boston school ma'am And a youth of mien sedata Were parting in the evening Beside the garden gute. His hand aurl heart he'd offered In a grave and sober way, And she with quiet dignity Had named the happy day. He lingered at the gate with her And said in accents low: "There is a little favor I would ask before I go. Sweet maiden, it is this: A lover's privilege, that is all, A sweet batrothai kis3." "If you wait," the maiden whispered, With her color rising high, "Till I remove my spectacles I'll willingly comply." ?Boston Courier. Another Day Begnn. "Hush!" he whispered, with a warning gesture. "Isn't that the night watchman's rattle." "No, Mr. Sampson," replied the girl, suppressing a yawn, "that is the cook grinding the coffee for breakfast."? Time. A Check Wag What He Wanted. Irate Father (to his wild son)?"Your extravagance, sir, must be checked! Son (smiling his gratitude and satisfaction)? "Thank you, father. Sit right down and write the check now.? Hi/tings. His First Trip. At a hotel hop?Young lady to dude ?"Have you clanced much this even-1 nig?" "Ah, no; this is my first trip." "So I see," remarked the young Indy as the dude tripped over a long train ! and sprawled on the floor.?Hold Mail, j The Sign Was Right. Long Island Farmer?"Don't you seel that sign, and what it says.'" Pat Chogue "How can I, when it's out ov me soight?" Farmer?"it says: 'No Fishing on These Grounds.'" Pat?"Be gobb?, it's roight! Nary a wan have I caught at all." She Got One. Angelica?"Tell me, Augustus, what are those funny little boats the fishermen have?" Augustus?"They are smacks." "How cute they are! How I should like to have a little smack." Augustus?"Your wishes are my law. Lower your sunshade a trifle and you shall have a dozen." A Shattered Idol. Gus?"Only a day or two ago, Jack, you were in raptures over Miss Gushington-, you spoke of her ethereal style of beauty, her sylph-like figure, her transcendent eyes; and now you say that all is over between you, and that you are going to Australia to begin life anew." Jack (sadly)?"Ah, yes, Gus, dear boy; I saw her sucking an orange."? New York Dispa'ch. Al\ava Gn aiJnt AH Officer?"Look'r here, you! What are ye doin' 'round here this time o1 inornin'?" Stranger (boldly) ?"I'm tendin' to me bisness! Wat yer s'pnse?" Officer?"Oh, ye are! Where did that chicken come from?" Stranger (with more under his coat, savagely)?"It come from a neg, av corse! What'n blazes did yer tink it come from? A sody-fountin'<" A Daily Horror. Hussband (hurriedly swallowing his ! breakfast)--"Anything new in the paper ! this morning, my dearf" Wife?"Yes. Tnere was a terrible riot ' on the nolo grounds yesterday." Husband (choking with excitement)? "You don't say so! What wai it?'' Wife?"During a ball game they knocked the pitcher out of the box and pounded hira all over the field, flnaiiw ininrinrr ?. nlnver so he died on third!1?Time.? The Age "We Live In. ! American (itizen (fifty yfears ago)? i "My wagon's broke clown and ain't ! worth mendin'. How long will it take you to build another?" Wheelwright?"Wall, lerame see, I 'bout six weeks, I guess. I ain't got much | to do to-morrow; come around and we'll talk it over." j A. D. 1888.?American citizen frush' ing in)?"Got any locomotives in stock?" Builder?"Not one." "We must have another as qu'ck as possible. How soon will it be done." "In sixteen hours."?Omaha World. A Wife's Little Joke. She?"I'm so glad you can s'ay to tea. : Such a joke as I'm going to have on my husband. He's always grow.ing about : my cooking, and to-day his mother liapI pened to drop in and I got her to make some biscuit. Won't he feel cheap i when he begins to criticise and then j finds out his mother made them herself." HALF AN HOUR LATER. I He?"My dear, you're becoming an ! angel of a cook. These biscuits are as ! fine as my mother makes."?Detroit Free j Press. A Rmispwiro. | She (before marriage)?"Ye?, John dear, I think that cleanliness is certainly j next to godliness. NeatDess is a passion : with me. A speck of dust or an untidyj looking room affects me very unpleas! antly. , He (rapturously)?"Ah, darling, what j a wife you will make!" j She (after marriage)?''Now, John ' Smith, I've just got the parlor to rights | and the hall swept and the stairs dusted down, and if you cxpuct to come into i this house with those muddy boots on, ! you'll find yourself mislatou."?1\<w i York h. An Inverse Courtship. He Loved His Brother. ? "Mabel," said Henry, and in spite of hi t efforts to control himself his voice was tremulous, and he spoke with the air of timid desi peration which marks the elocution of a j man about to ask for the loan of $>5. I "Mabel, I do not kneel at your feet (and he wasn't, he was sitting bo'.t upright on the sofa) to plead for myself. I come here only to think of rqy brother George. He?he love3 you dearly, Mabel, and should you refuse his plea, I tremble for the consequences. He is all alcne in the world and he wantsasister-in law. "Will you not be one to him?"?Burlinglm HavTteye. "Xes, l C0U1U umpire tt game, uuu? Mr. Smith, take him away. Company can't have anythiug to do with him."? Merchant Traceler. An Indian's Contempt for Soldiers At the club the other night, a group of Western men were telling anecdotes of frontier life. Here is one which struck me as being particularly good. Those who have been in the "far West" and have lived among frontier men will appreciate it, I dare say. In the course of the Indian war of 1882, it seems, General Sherman paid a visit to Camp Apache, in Arizona. While there, a huge red-skin, who was captain of the scouts, followed the Geueral wherever he went, and frequently begged as a present one of the small cannons standing on the parade ground. Finally the General impatiently turned to the Indian, exclaiming: "What do you want with the cannon, anyway? Do you want to kill my soldiers with it?" " No,'' replied the Indian in his guttural voice; "want to kill cow-boys. Kill soldiers with a club."?New York Tribune. Force of Habit. "Does the razor hurt you?' Mo reply. "Is the draft too strong?*' No reply. "Shall I shut the door?" No reply. "Think Cleveland will be re-elected?" No reply. "Awful lire in New York last night!" No reply. Shave you pretty close?" No reply. "Getting very warm now?" No reply. ' "Thut was a heavy thunder storm last ni<jht!" No reply. "Shampoo?"' No reply. "Trim your hair up a little?" No reply. "Brilliantine on the moustache!" No reply. "Bay rum?" No reply. Then the country barber, who was all alone in the breezy shop, sat down greatly refreshed. He had been shaving himself.?Puck. ? Preparing Potter's Clay. It is well known that the pots used by the glassmakers must necessarily be of the best material, but what that material is, or where it is found, is not so generally known. A gentleman connected with one of the largest houses in New York city dealing in glassware, who is also interested in the manufacture, said - ir_:7 bU u AUUIU unit, JUA/Jf! CO'J iv|/vikvt "For a long time no clay was found that equaled that found in Stourbridge, England, but now no gla3smaker in this country need import any, for in the immediate vicinity of St. louis a clay company produces from its mines an artijle fully^qual ixi every respect to the English clay, ancl this is now in general use throughout the United States, The process of preparing it for use is mo3t interesting. "The clay is taken in carts from the mines to the works, and there shoveled through au opening in the wall directly into huge vats when it: is dissolved in w^ter. from that moment the cleansing process begins. This is the most important thmg in the whole proceeding and for this reason the carts are not allowed to enter. "Not only are the carts kept out, but strangers are rigidly excluded, and some influence is necessary to secure permission to visit the building. When one enters he is requested to clean his shoes very carefully, as the introduction of the most minute particles of dirt will injure the clay. Employes are required to wear wooden shoes while at work, for the sake of c leinliness, and they wil.ingly comply, becau^c leather shoes are soon dect-i-nrpfl tTio nnila liflinorniilnklv dastroved U,"VJ v%%> v~w " a ~ / -\ by coming in contact with the clay. Iron will not staud the contact and brass is consequently used instead of iron in all the raa hinery which is touched by the clay while it is in a state of solution. "Clay, when it is stirred up in water, will remain in solution for a long time, and tbe particles of sand, gravel or iron which may be in it will ieitle to the botj torn of the liquid as it is carried from the large vats through sluices to the tanks where it is allowed to settle. As it passes through this sluice it is screened or run through a fine wire netting, and at this point it is constantly and carefully watched by two workmen. "In the tanks it remains for about a week until the clay has settled to the bottom and the clear water is drawn off to be used again. The clay is thea taken to the evaporating room and placed in shallow pans, the sides and bottoms of which are covered with coils of steam pipes. A uniform temperature of seventy degrees is maintained as nearly as possi1 b!e in the room. A large force of work1 men turn the clay over and over with i v _i i-M u s_ _ c ii ; ^c I snoveis uniu it is ui me cuusisieu^j ui putty ready for the glazier's U9C. "Thence it is taken to another room where is n powerful block molding machine which presses it into a slab which is cut into blocks by a boy. He uses a sort of a bow with a wire string, and as he cuts hp stamps each block with the factory mark. Then in the dryingroom they are baked slowly for five days, when they are ready for sale in that shape, or for reduction to powder, which is sold in barrels." A Unique Kind of Dumb-Bells. An Augusta boy who we it regularly to the Young Men's Christian Association gymnasium last winter became much interested in developing his muscle. He had beeu told the best way to do this was to swing Indian clubs, beginning with a light pair and gradually increasing the weight as he became stronger. , As 1his would necessitate the purchase i I of several pairs of clubs, which iie could . I ill aiTr>f/l lio liit unnn tha followina* , i.. _r?. 0 , schemc: He was the owner of two pups j which, though 9raall in size, possessed j to a remarkable degree that tenacity of1 grip for which the bulldog is justly cele-1 brated. He easily taucht each of theso j to tix his teeth in the end of a short; stick, and then taking one of the sticks ! in each hand he waved them about his head in some of the simple movemonts. As the dogs grew his streugtli increased, and now he may be seen in easy posture performing all the graceful gyrations of an expert club swinger with two wooden handles, to the ends of which a couple of 18-pound bull dogs hang by their teeth with a death-like grip.?Levoistown f Mo.) Journal. ? TALKING BY TICKS. I DETAILS OP THE WORK DONE IN TELEGRAPH OFFICES. Great Accuracy and Clearness Rr quired of Telegraphers?Their "Wonderful Sign Language? Sending Cable Messages. More than 2000 telegraph operators an jmployed in this city, says the New York Commercial Advertiser. Thei work ia essentially skilled labor; the\ themselves style it a profession. The greatest degree of accuracy and clearness a rumiiro^ in ihoir wnrlf. Tllfl OmiaSlOIl jf a single letter in transcribing, the iddition of a letter too many, may sometimes involve a suit for damages, and ?ost more than a year's salafy. Operitora must, therefore, be thoroughly jxpert, they must be steady, Jsober and reliable, in order to retain their positions, Though 1g9s than a century old, the principles at least of the electric telegraph are known by every schoolboy. It is in the detail of the business that the public is ignorant. There are several classes in the pro fession: Ordinary line hands, cable opertors, those who know more than one code of communication, those competent to keep books and take charge of a branch office, possessing more than the ordinary requirements, are competent for more than ordinary positions. It is not essential for an operator to be a walking dictionary, or to know anything about the spelling, or other matter of a telegram. His only duty is to send and receive messages letter fo; letter as they come to him. In cypher messages this is especially essential. In receiving this must be done by sound, by listening atte..tively to the little instrument as it clicks out in long or short ticks, dots and dashes, as they are called, the various combinations that represent letters and figures. The sense of hearing in this way is developed to an almost abnormal quickness. The receiving operator, by the very tone of theinstrume t, can tell whether it is a familiar or unfamiliar hand that is on the other end of the wire, aiid can even recognize a friend's touch almost the minute he grasps the key. Goad telegraphers can read or send their sign language by almost any means. It is employed in army service lor signaling on the field by means of sunlight flashel reflected by a mirror, in which the sight, instead of the ear, is employed. Thj same idea is used in transm.tting across an ocean cable, the length of which does not permit of sufficient electrical power to work a "sounder" instrument, but merely gives a little electric flush of exactly the sa ne character as the most miniature flash of lightning, the series of whi.h are read by observation in a dark room, the duration of the flashes corresponding to the dots or dashes that constitute the letters ou the "sounder." All cable messages must be repeated by more than one operator; they are always handled by an ordinary operator first and sent to a special cable office for transmission across the sea. This is essential as a rule, for while the Morse code of telegraphy is used almost invariably through America, the Continental system is prevalent in England and Europe generally, and is used now on most of the cables. The, chief difference between these systems is that the Morse plan utilizes space, or brief intervals between certain dots or dashes to constitute certain letters, while the continental system has no spaced letters and is, ! therefore, a little "longer and more cum! bersome. The letter C, for instance, in j the Morse system, is represented by two ; dots, a space and a dot, and the letter It j by a dot, space and two dots, the letter T I by two dots, a space and two dots, the ! letter 0 bj a dot, a space and a dot, etc.; j while in the continental system these j letters are represented by a greater numI ber of dots or dashes combined without I space. It is said that a person with a natural ear for music <?an most Quickly become an expert telegrapher. Members of the profession can communicate with each other by a simple pressure of the Angers of one upon the baud of the other acj cording to the intervals of dots and j dashes, which, together with other ways | that naturally suggest themselves to an I ingenious mind, constitute systems of communication readily usable in church or anywhere else within seeing or hearing, if not ol feeling distance. The motions of a fan can convey the language as distinctly as writing. In j sending messages, every letter coni tained in them must be faithfully reI peated. For an hour or more at a time the receiving operator will have to write message after message, interrupted j only by the signal "ahr," something | this way: . ? signifying "another message." This is contin ed until the j long series is ended by a full point. , Then the receiver is obliged to make 1 sure that he has made no errors, and I sends the acknowledgement "0. K.," I sounding: . . ? . ? This signifies "all j right," to wh'ch he adds his signature I ot one or two distinguisning letters I which are also put ou each message j under the space on the b'.auk "sent by" i and 'received by," so that eachmessage i can be traced, No two operators in the i sameollice can have the same signature. The average pay of an operator is about $75 a month for men aud *30 a month for women. This can be frequently augmented by extra work time. Cable operators and those in exposed positions in the West get higher salaries. Ho>v to Care Hiccoughing:. A company or young people, who had I j evidently visited thu Wild West exhibition on Staten Island, boarded the tiain at the South Ferry station. They I were a jolly set, and passed the time in laughing and joking until the train reached Grand street, when one of the young women was sei/ed with violent I hiccoughing. The attack was so aggravated That it seemed as if the giri would choke. Various suggestions as to methods of relief were otiered. One told her to - - * .11 Hold ner Dream as ioug ?? wmu, , She attempted it and did as directed until she bee ime actually livid, but she J could finally hold out no longer, and ( gave vent to a mighty hiccough which j sounded like an explosion. I've got a sine cure," interjected one of her companion"and if you'll follow my advice I will guarantee its e.licacy. Will you do it?" She hiccoughed an emphatic assent. lie then stood iu the aisle and bade , her to face him She obeyed implicitly, i Next, he raised his arms straight above [ his head and placcd his hands so that thj tips of the fingers on one hand barely rested on the finger tips of the other. The blushing but desperate maiden did likewise, much to the. amusement of the people in the car. ! But the cure was effected, for a moment j after her finger tips had touched the spasm passed, and had not returned when the party alighted at Twenty-, third street.?New York Telegram, 1 - " --m . V \.A CUBIOUS PACTS. The first watches were made in 1476.j Printing was iatroduced into England in 1474. Many of the interior towns of Oregon are raising money to import song birds; from Germany. Bearing dogs for their skins is practised in Manchuria and Mongolia just assheej^ farming elsewhere. An instrument of torture, termed "thd boot," was used in Scotland upon the( Covenanters about 1606. It was not an uncommon practice for the poor in the Middle Ages to sell themselves into slavery or to become *lavef by debt. Betwean Christmas, 1752, and the same day, 1762, it is estimated that no less than 71,115 slaves were imported into Jamaica alone. James II. succeeded to the throne of England February 6, 1685; abdicated December 11, 168b; died in exile September'16, 1701. I Twenty out of twenty-four sheep be- v longing to Mr. Edwards, of fluildford county, Va., were killed the other day by a stroke of lightning. r ' * The Dutch made the first settlement in wnat is now the city 01 ixew lorKut 1(314, but the settlement was captured by the English half a century later. Collegiate decrees are coeval with uni? versities. Masters and doctors existed A. D. 828. Those in law are traced up to 1140, in medicine to 1384, in music to c 1463. ,.: The first naval screw vessel was the ; Archimedes, built for the English navy in 1840. She was so successful that comparatively few ocean paddle steamers were afterward constructed. . j A Georgia man has a mule that is \ driven to school on week days and to church on Sundays, and is so intelligent that if given the reins he will go straight to his destination according to the day. . As late as 1820 there were as many as 3000 persons confined lor debt in thq prisons of Massachusetts, 10,000 in New York, 7000 in Pennsylvania, 8000 it Maryland, and a like proportion in other States. The editor of an Oneida (N. Y.,) paper was shown a curiosity in the ' I ? * -1- - TV.;. Ja th* suapt; vi a acvcu icai uui?>, <uvu.y only one he ever saw, ana it brought to mind the saying: "Find a seven and prepare for Heaven." Most of our coffee comes from Brazil. The grains are in the inside of a berry, the size of a cherry. In Java, after thfl grains have been removed, they are placed in a shed, where the wind dries ana cures the plant. When it is ready for market the coffee is brought to the shipping ports on mules. A farmer at Adairsville, Ga., while near a spring the other day, observed a rattlesnake l?ing at full length, with head erect, and only a few feet away was a full grown rabbit, evidently under the charm of the snake. The latter was quickly killed, when the rabbit fell over and in a few moments was dead. Professor Angelo Motta died receutly at Turin, Italy. He had for years been at work upon a proce <s by which, with the aid of electricity, he hoped to^ bo able to convert the human body "into solid metal. He had succeeded with tho arm of an .infant and with various nm?l!ftr animals. His secret died with him. , ' ^ ^ In the Mediterranean regions the steep mountain slopes and hillsides an terraced for the culture of oranges, lemons and olives, and these terraces are held in place by rough stone walls, laid up without mortar or cement. Behind these loose walls, trees, shrubs and vine* are grown with the greatest success, as the.? have bsen for centuries. A silver crown piece, known as "the petition crown" of the reign of Charles II., fetched $1775 at a recent sale in England. At the latest previous sale a similar coin had broght only $1125. A. sovereign of Edward VI.'s time brought' $5.2.j, a fifty shilling piece of the Cromwell era $700, an Oxford crown $385. A penny of Ethelbald brought $230, and *" < other old pennies $90 and $80 each. H^ir Storms are Made. Our earth only receives a small frac tional part of-the sun's heat; but, whatever that may be in the year, more or less than the average, the entire surface of our earth must feel and be subject to the effects. And oae thing is certain? namely, that a year or series of yearo, of excessive sun-heat will inevitably bo years and seasons of atmospheric disturbances, because increase of heat wilj produce excess of evaporation, excesq of electric action, and, necessarily, excessive precipitation; and, during a prev%j lence of this sun-heat, there must bq over limited areas violent storms both summer and winter. When very large areas of the atmosphere have been, by excess of heat, brought into an unequal state, as largj} areas of lower stratum of highly-heated air and vapor, which is also intensely electric, the conditions to produce sandspouts, water-spouts and tornadoes, ar$ fully ripe. The upper and colder layer of the atmosphere cannot cool the lower highly-heated and vapor-ladened s:ratum so even and quickly as to prevent venta in the form of funnels forming from the i tv,A Viiorlipr stratum. I 1UWCI Oil atULU fcv M?oMv. ? ? ? J _ and causing a rupture which takes upward in a pipe form, just as water in a tank or basin, having a Dottom means of discharge by a pipe, flows out with a whirlpool motion?m our northern hcmispere always in the direction of the hands of a clock?and so heated, highly elect ic aud excessively vapor-laden atmosphere breaks into the cold atmosphere above when at the level of the ' dew point" invisible vapor becomes visible, parting with its latent heat, ' which so rarifics the air as to force some of the condensed atmosphere in visible cloud, mounting thousands of feet above the condensed dew point and into a region above the highest peaks of the highest mountain. To feed this pipe, or, as in some cases, pipes, the lower stratum flows]in from all sides to rotate and ascend witli tne intense velocity of steam power, su'ticient to produce all the disastrous effects of the wildest tornado, there being almost a vacuum at the ground or water line, as the phenomena may be on the land or over the sea. On the land trees are twisted and uprooted, houses are unroofed, solids of various kinds are lifted from the earth, and human beings have been blown away like dead .leaves. There are, also, records of railway wagons having been blown o!T the rails. In deserts entire caravans have been buried beneath a mountain of blown sand?camels, horses and men; while in ligypt there are ruins of cities, massive temples and monuments deep buried in the adjoining desert sand. At sea many a good ship caught by a tornado has been overwhelmed and sent to the bottom whole.?Pull Mall Gazette. Miss De .links?"Are yon musical, Professor Jorkins?" Professor Jorkina?. "Yes; but, if you are going to play, don't mind my feeling?.1' 1 j