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m-i ; a i . pr * ,:;i^ ; - ' ' " ? ??*?? v '\v--: . Sv'j.^yV - * ;"--< T'-^ ?% ,^; c; %K }** *$*$<*?? ^.' -j eXt.'V'g&P- -J ? * v??^ Ljrrn^-^. . ????.??? ? ? ? ? - ...... ? ? ? ?III. I ?? ??- . ? ? ? FRANK p. BEARD, Publishor. 'i '<-? . <*+ BE JXJ8T AND FEAB NOT. ? ? ??? i" ?? TWO DOLLARS A VEAR. VOL. XI. CAMDEN, KERSHAW COUNTY, S; 0., THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1884. NO. 19. ? ? . THS FBOFLE* PAPSH. rUBLI?i?IO AT CAM OKI*, S. C. FRANK P. BEARD. Publisher To CormpoBdMto. All c? am?l?tton? for ffctl papor riiotiW bo aa eenu>anl?d by tha RDM o t the author, not aooo* ?artly for pnWlcalton, but m an irldwoi of gooi (Mill oo the part of the writer. Wrltaonty on one ?Uto of the paper. Be parti cnlartx careful la giving HON nd <Ut?? to lutro the letter* plain and dla Tkx Gamttb Job Piumtino . Optics :!"? It un? prepared than *nf other la lew*. * to?neot?Uth*ino?t*UnMltr?iM,1)MW|'Mri|p'' Mom of Job PrlnUug. ???h m PwinpHWO. U*M| ' mil IlMda, MWr nxl No** Head*. Law Vrtaflfc Puetora, Dodper*, oircuteM, Hud Btlte. WtiMUae. ? ??? Y1?:?ng*?a A<Wr??(VJ.<, ttu?lue?? UNrd* UMk a Work dun* la Bronx*, Ned, llhw mm BUck '7." Thepubltomu*! rvinomber that tt>? beet la ftlmv* the oheapokt. Wedowork at Charlorton PritN, and (owuM entire wttsfaotlou to our p?troiM. We keep constantly on hand the l**ceat itotk o? Cl(?rt and (Urds tn town . THS If EW YEAR'S WEtjCOMlt King, bell*, ring! for the King ia here; Ring, bell*, ring! for the glad New Tear. He mount* bis throne with a smiling face, HI* Kepter lifts with majestic grace. Ring for the joy hi* advent bring*; Ring for the happy songs he Mnga; Ring for the promises sweet and true With which we gla'.'.don our hearts anow. The new-born Year is a happy follow, His voloe lssweet, and low, aud mellow, With the Christmas holly, hi* head is crowned, . With tho Christmas blessings we'll wrap him Sv; round, " , Then ring, bell?, rlngl for the Joyous day? The Past lies silent, the Present is gay; Ring out your merriest, cheer after cheor, To wolcome the birth of tho Happy New %?' Yearl ? Mary D. Brine. A NEW-YEAR'S GHOST. The wind raccs wildly through tho town, making a weird, moaning Bound in desolate pluccs near tho coast, whero great, dark rocks cast their uncanny ?v shadows, arid around tho village gables. The fow. stare which glimmer betwocn tho heavy clouds look pale and shiver ing, but the village windows are red with light, and it is evident that an event <fi no small importance is at hand. Lan items gleam along the main street, foot er steps echo on tho ground, for there is only the lightest sprinkling of snow ovor ?Z tho rough bubbles. But lanterns and footsteps all wind towards the village store just now, whero every evening the sailor and (armor, and even the squire, tho y-vv aristocracy! as well as tho liumblor por tion of tho town, congregate to discuss the weather, tho crops, tho nows, and to relate thrilling stories of adventures at * sea. ? To-night conversation is unusually brisk and interesting. The parson him self is there, and condesconds to joke a little with tho coty group at tho back of the glowing stove, whilo waiting for his - -Jtorchases to bo weighed and tied up in . . ?m? <4vuvuuMiVU w w* a Miuutuu > told with the assurance that it is a solemn fact, bv a brown old sailor, who shakes his gold ear-rings as he proceeds in his recital, with a great deal of nervous energy. 44Now, this is ez truo as I sot in this oheer, gentlemen," he announces, gravely, at tho end of nearly every sentence. And though ho is not sitting at all, 'but leaning nis stalwart longth ovor a flour barrel, no ono seems to' doubt. Tho squtre looks as gravely interested as tho boys. Tho parson smiles, bu^ it . ' is noticeable that tho smile affcctfl only one side of his mouth, and is as lacking in amusement as is tho open mouth of the man who is waiting for tho forceps of the dentist in tho advertisement of the toothache modicino which adorns tho smoky -wall. The tellor seems to boas awe-stricken himself as his hearers. The effect of tho talo is heightened by tho dead silence of the place, the dimness of tho lamplight tho weird shadows in the ; > corners, and meandering wreaths of , smoko which curl up toward tho dingy i : rafters overhead, and cncirclo tho head ? ' of tho old story-teller, giving him tho look of ^n enchanter or a genii of old working over tho tire. * ; Outside third is tho troubled voice of the sea, the wailing of tho wind. Tho story ended, a long-drawn brouth goes around the olrclo. Tho parson gives ut teranco to a nervous little laugh, then, ?j'S suddenly becoming alive to his dignity and his duty, speaks oguinst tho folly of superstition, with Which ho declares the 1 wnole town to bo alive. ? "Wall, 'ta'n't no wonder, parson, when ghosts is neon walk in' these lioro streets on dark nights," spoke up another old fisherman. "I see John Norton's j- ghost last night as plain as I bco you this blessed minute. I went daown to my boat haouse there to the landin' - about eight o'clock, an1 a coipln' back, . jest ez I was against them tew tall pine trees afore you git to my haouse, there standi n' 'n' lookin' me in tho ^ moon shone, right onto his ,i . 'n* lor' 1 wnV't more viOlstalrtn' '?i*i than mistakin* my broth er',,. I didn't say notliin' I was bo kinder took aback, not beUovin' in ghosts afore, 'n' ho turned into the woods read that leads to tho old Norton place. He movod Spry ernuff, but t wa t . like walkin'. lie kinder glldod off like a shaddor, 'n' his coat lookod sorter thin 5SE7 J- % ^ i : ? ' " i ? i f lis naow, if Iha'n't dashed." ex looking farmer, rubbing , excitedly. 14 My wire 'n' hor sister declared to Moses that ? thoy'd seed the samo f oiler last night, Walkiri' past tho house 'bout twilight, but sence that spiritualist woman has OxWn here in the village, they've boen a i' 'n' hoarln' all sorts ?' things, 'n* 1 _4't ijiako no account of tholr ghosts, _ iriore'ri nothin' at sJl,". ,1';.:'' "Who was John Norton?". inquired, the parson, who was a new-comer. "A sea cap'in, who got wrecked some years ago, and as promising a man as wo ever raised in the " said tho squire, slowly. It waa Irst voyage as oaptain, and those who I saved say that he stood by the ship I tho very last minute. IIo was found *- to death on the wreck after tho whs over by a vessel whioh was for Boston. John was known by italn of this vestal, and he brought ly into port with him, and it was .. on here and buried." 'Then there is no doubt but what the ? is really dead," said the parson. "Sailors have somotimes the faculty of lug to life again, ^ou know; that la," added, with due seriousness "there false reports of their death. Mow , iy sailors have come back, to^JpM month safo and sonntywai# have been reported drowned?" ? * * . "Never but ono sencc I've been old enough to remembet." said an old man, >< who hrtd hitherto been silent^ '""hat Wilis JiWko Uiggins, 'n' he'd 'a* done hls solf 'n* tho taown both a favor if he hed V died. It's them kind o' chaps what dew turn up, not starlin' good foUorslIke John. John, he was a drotful loss." "Oh, there's no possibility of John's He was engaged to my daughter. Elsie, and she, poor girl, has doho nothing but mourn for him all^lheso years., % I ob ' ted to tho mitch at first, but before went away on his last voyage I b?<> ^As a^b^ve?manW fefi[ow!,,<lUft1it'M ' r Mm. BlVgg, t2e wife of a flsher aite out ST breath.and looking alive. I com? right face to face with John Norton comin' through the field from our house to the main road. ? I tee him just as plalu as I seo you folks naow, but I didn't wait to soe him long, I ken tell ye, but just scud by him like lighting 'n' run intew the squire's, 'n' told Miss Elsie all about it. I wuz drot ful scart.but I thought she'd ortc knoow about 4t, so I kep up till I got there, 'n' then I went off intew a kinder faint. Rein' sorter weak after a fit . er phthisic, I couldn't stan' it." Ilaow did ho look?" inquired one man, under his breath. '?Dretful nateral, only kind'a white 'n' peaked, 'u' he kinder halted V looked straight at me kinder wild 'n' s'prised. Thoy say ghosts don't never like to bo overtook, ~n' I don't s'poso ho spcctod to mcot nobody ir that lonesome field." "But how could you see his face so distinctly on so dark a night?" said the squire, seeming considerably disturbed. "Good grasnus, you don't s'sposo I went through that thero field without no lantern? Still, after giving him one good look, I wuz so flustered that I dropped the lantern on the spot, 'n' run serecchin' along as fast as I could. You'll liov to git that there lantern, Lemuel, fur 't wouldn't dow to loso it, nohaow; wo can't afford tew git a noo one." "Well, good people," said tho squire, "wo mustn't lot ghosts interfero with our Now Year's festivities. It is tiino that all invited guests should bo at my house; and here I am, the host, away from home." And tho squiro hurried out of the store, and alone; the dusky wood until he camo to a brilliantly-lighted old mansion on tho hill. It had long boon his custom to give a houso warming, as ho called It, on Now Year's Eve. Nearlv all the town wero bidden tcttheso festivities, and they wero enjoyed hugely by young and old, rich and poor. Some of tho old families thought tno squire somewhat democratic in his way of giving entertainments, and rathor turned up their noses at tho small sailor's and fishermen's families; but neither the sailors nor tho fishermen took it to hoart, and everything went merry as a marriage bell, as a general thing. Tho squiro ontorod tho houso, greeted a few guests who ? had already arrived, and then sought Elsie, his daughter, v/ho was stauaing by tho window at tho end of tho long hall, looking palo and distressed. Donlt be troubled by Mary Jane Blagg's nonseuso, dear," ho said, "she is a foolish woman, and is always imag ing all sorts of mysterious things." "But, father, I'vo had such strange dreams of late. I don't believo in such things, of course, but they say several other people have seen tho ? apparition." "Nonsonsol it is all imagination. May be ono of tho Port Nortons is about here just now. Thero ia a strong family re somblanco between them all, you know. The myBtory will bo explained in a few days, I am sure." Elsie cleared her brow, and entering tho parlor, greeoted tho coming guests with her usual quiet cordiality, Sho waB a tall, handsome girl of twenty-seven, with tho brow of a madonna, and large, dark eyes, which, even when sho smiles, are intensely sad, though filled with a warm, kind glow, which cheered ouo like a fire on a frosty night. The largo, square'rooms ore soon filled. Ileartsomo tiros leap on tho wide hearth stones. There is gossip in tho cornors, playing of gaii^H by the young peoplo; thero aro quiet flirtations on tno stairs and in the halls, and after supper thero is to bo a dance in the great dining room. "Elsio looks paler 'n sobor 'n ever to night, don't she?" asks ono of tho gos Bips in tho corner, of her crony. "Yes, she duz. I was a hopin* that she'd quit thinkin' o' John Norton, 'n' Sivo Torn Rollins, that 's worn to a shad or waitin' fur her, some encouragement. Thoy did sav, jest boforo John wont away, that sho 4 was ruthor turnin' tho cold shoulder on him, 'n' favorin' Tom : but, lor', thero warn't no truth in it, fur I see sho and John part tho day he went away, V though thoy was both quiet ernuff, thero warn't no coldness between ??^m, I kin tell ye." "Did you hoar heow John Norton's ghoat hod been soon raund lioro by four or five different persons?" Bays another gossip in a mystorious whisper. "Elilo'B eera on it, and she's terribly out about it" "Spoakin' o' ghosts," says Captain Riley, an old sailor who had had more strango experiences, known more mysteri ous happenings, than any other man in the town, and that was saying a good deal;, "I saw a dreadful strange appari tion out tew Bea abeout twenty years I ago." "Potellus about it," said several of i the young people in the same breath, leaving their games tad joining the circle around tho Are, for Captain Riley's stories wore famous in tho town. 14 Wall, naow, I s'pose I've told the story a hundred times over at one time V another in this plaoe, but if you are anitloUB to hoar it I can tell it again." Nearly all the p^oplo in the room were anxious to hear it. and after tilting to and fro in his ohair several times, and clearing his throat with a great deal of Vigor, ho commenced to relate tho thrill ing tale of a ghost which appeared on shipboard during ono of his foreign voy ages?the ghost of a sailor who had been wronged by the former master of tho vessol, and was mysteriously murdered on shore after the ship reached port. Elsie, hot dark, largo eyes ditating with interest or emotion, joined the listening circle, though she usually either laughed or frowned at the Captain's weird recital*. "Let us take the lamps out of the room, the story will seem ever so muoh mAre real," says ono of tho laughing girls, who onjoy nothing so muoh as the blood curdling which arlses^frota the contem plation of the supernatural. So tho lamps are removed and tho glory of the scarlet coals and flickering Brought only half lilnmine the lari>o room with its dark waimwatings and doep window embrasures. As the tale goos on tho flro grows lower and lower. Shadows gathor in the come* and creep In among the silent group of listeners. The old man's voioe has a strango, weird quality In it, like that of tho sea when it whispers to sands whero there are graves, or around rocks whore thore have been Wrecks; like that of the Wind when it j moahs in the chimnoys, of haunted houses, Or in ghostly woods where some murder has vleen committed in years gone by. Porfoct silence roigns. But just as the interest of the tale is at its height, Land the young people art clinging to l each other with awo-?trick?n looks, the ? . church !n ihi? ol.d1?raT?-y*rd behind the church nearly eight years. The eye* are with an eager, searching and then tho -flam? PliL L u?gother lnt0 tho darkness. Elsie, who has met the glance with her own eyes, utters a wild, XSdcry rnn/ ? Anting into the arms of her companions. Shrieks souud from dif ferent portions of tho room. mv H?? w??DlI1/,OVOr 1 800 Wm in daylight " i ?? wa9 118 l)lain aa ayjignt, is heard in awed whisocrs from every side. wuwpert The squiro, who has been drawn to tho room by the screams of tho women on learning tho state of affairs rushes immediately to the front door, andthore kKnh ifC.? P> With his hand upon tho ^0imN^rtod?0,0r'b?11' ?* ?l.o? Tho squiro involuntarily takes a few steps backward, and stands in speech less amazement and fear 1 New Year, ' squire 1 You ?rom fh?m l?r-v g-,ad t0 800 mo," came ShS*& 4K Oat lu a heart v, most un *"C' i ,lI.nm ufraid Ifright j [I t v n ,!he, Parlor- n was so seen " ' th,nk 1 should bo tho'tmSr? !heJ0r,d aro y?u?" inquired the squire, looking somewhat relieved I rh? ^01i W, John Nort?n? Have eight &nr?r "wognitiou iu theso pnlflBt,Ly,U,~"l>Ut Jo)1" Norton is dead," *aid tho souire, with chilling romem ?X!?!?0f ,il -hc had about ma mi. Ic spirits m his mind. The ghost laughed merrily. A. i "/ a? deud- 1 am profoundly ignor ant of the fact," said he, "and f am surely John Norton." Elsie, who had recovered from her fainting fit, at the sound of his voico folded into n? hft"' a"d '8 immcdiately lolded into his warm, strong arms. says 8 ?r ma"' Y0U aiV' my John?" sho D0?ntVeIS^hi?8 beC?m.C hy8terical at this rssfifisuss4 acroM his flnlnVha7 18 *ho mattcr?" inquired John "Sf1 Jhu T?P?^ from ombrac"' I I. ?r TinB hcr Cl08c,y by tho hand. "I know that I was renorted comnn?h ' l?"1 ^?W many 6ailor* ^ve "ndl>r.,h0 8""M .JnfBU/ *?>" aro buried this town. I ^our- ?od??8tHftmy8?lf nnd identiflcd John stared at tho squiro in blank amazsment. manir -'No, I can't say that I have. A mnn docsn t ofton sen such a sight. What do you moan?" s 'vnatcio tv '' Why a body wns pickcd up from tho wreck of your ship/ which fcantS yourg58' 'Tho know very weU, took to bo & faco was disfigured a good deal, but the body had on a coat ^ilh jour name at wed into the lining. It had tho samo mark on tho left hantf and tho hairr complexion, height and sizo cor. responded exactly with your own. " n must havo been poor Thompson Everybody took him to bo my brother' lie was very much like mo certainly T was savod by a miracle, and wns taken Mb0.nl ? sll|? bound for A,Jr?lta "But, John, why did vou not com? hlff If Raid K,8ic.' loosening her hand from his grasp, and regarding him with reproachful dignity. "Bocauso I hoard that Klsio Newell was married to Tom Rollins. I heard it fi?M n8 brother> whom-1 saw ofton whilo Melbourno. Tom has known that I HeVffV nR nU tho time' tho scoundrel} ile loft town as soon as ho heard that I was on a,y way homo. I hoped to fiJd wUh him."?r ftn ftCC0Unt t0 80tt,? PJ?e ,!?? indeed, a scoundrel," says Elsio, but John, this is New Year's him Bn j ?T0 aro 80 haPPy, lot us forgive wm paiJful !t !rgiV(? everything that was painful in the past, now that we aro to commonco tho New Year together Surely, it cannot fall to bo a happy one ? "Amen 1" exclaims John. . A Bigr BiiBlneBS In Stuffed Spiders. If thore Is any ono feature for which Southern California is specially noted, it is her spiders. When it comes to a real Hvo. energetic, ugly, vicious, poisonous ^?iuor, Bout horn California can onter prize animals at any fair. . The most firecious trophios tho tourists bear away rom this coast are, in all probability, tho noat cards decorated with theso mon sters of the insect world. Every one is familiar with tho trap door and nest of this eunning but ugly creation, and of which strango littlo habitations every adobe ranoh is full. Ho donsoly popu lated with these honutifully-lincd tun nels are somfc of tho sunny, quiot valftys among the foot-hills that close inspootion will rovcal their almost invisible trap doom hardly a foot apnrt. Yet, in spite of this, hardly a living animal will bo soon. There is a logltlmato demand for pro pared Bpoclmcns, both at wholesale and retail, when first brought in by tho quick- eyed, dexterous young Spaniards who supply most of them, they are de prived of whut-lifo is loft in their bodies dv poisonous fumes or other application of poison. After tho tnxidormist has maao euro they aro quito dead, a wlso precaution, ho cuts them open on tho under sido, and removing the looso mat ter thorefrom, carefully stuffs them with cotton. Tliis stuffing process is quite" a delicate operation, and requires no little knack to perform neatly and successfully without injuring tho animal and bring ing it back to its normal shape and size. A numming-bird would soem to bo about as small an object as could ensily be put through this painstaking operation, lot alono an insect oveh of the she of the tarantula. This having been completed, tho spider is placed upon a board ana proporly hold in position by pins, one through the body and one in each foot, and sot In tho sun to dry. The salo of them in this city Is carried on both at wholcsalo and retail, sovcral parties hero carrying on tho business. The retail 8 rice Is fifty cents apioco, ono merchant isposing of ss many as a dozen a yo^r in that way. -?KanUt Jfortxira ( (Ml. ) Indt ? v .:, _ Thankful For Past Blessings. One of our city pastors was attending the spring meeting of ft ministerial asso ciation in the Northwest. A certain minister, noted alike for his versatility and warm real.Wft? opening tho session with prayer. The day, which he forgot for the moment, was about as inclement BUS could be ? rain, hftil, and stormy wind. He prayed, "Oh, I^ord.we thank Thee for this gathering, for tho privilege of moot ing with each other once more, for the beautiful wcfttho?v-Jwhich wa had last all Adtam, ; ? ? ? HUMOROUS SKETCHES. The Uoluj iriaa. Un a certain Uon'lay morning, a Banker in his chair, Uazel vacantly upon his cafe; hts Cashier wa\n't thero." And thus iu peovUh, fretful mood, with Much uneasy air, Tho banker heard a foot-fall a Coming up the sta r. The door was opened and he saw tho Cashier's wife in team ? "Oh, tell me, where's my husband! Pray, Ease my anxious fears." He took tho situation hi, with f>ym ra'lietio look*. Paid &ho, "Pray, tearvh tho river." Said lie, "i'ray, Msareh tho books! ' ? }\tul J*ry, in Z/C/e. It Wai In There Though. A drummor on his first trip was seated in tho same car with an old experienced knight of the road, and their conversa tion turnod on their relative daily ex penses. "I always manage to include in my expenses," said the elder, "hats, boots, overcoats, e^c, and every drummer who has any respcct 'for his npblo calling ought to do the 6ainc. Make tho Arm stand 'oin." Tho young man thought that a very good idea, and, on Ids return from his trip ho included among other items of cxpenso ono fltrfr of boots, $12. Ilis employers oxpressed themselves as well pleased with his success as a sales man, out objoctod to pay for tho boots. On his next trip ho was fortunato enough to moot his former Acquaintance. "How is it?" he asked, that your firm will stand overcoats as legitimate ox Eonso when mine kicked on a pair of opto?" "You didn't put boots down in your exponse account, did you?" "Certainly," said tho young man. "Well, 'you aro a chump. Youshould have dovetailed tho price of tho boots into the postago stamps and sundrios." When tho young man again submitted his account his firm remarked : ' "Wo don't see any memorandum for ?boots,' or anything of that nature, Mr. So-and-so." "No," Mr. So-and-so said, softly, to himself. "You don't seo it, but there is a forty-dollar ovorooat thore, just tho same." ? Philadelphia Call. "A Little Close," In ono of our hotels recently, says tho Portland (Mo.) correspondence of th\> Boston Globe, a resident of ono of the country towns in this Stato told several stories in regard to his townsmen, and of one family in particular, all tho members of which have tho reputation of being "a littlo close." One of the sons at last made up his mind to be married, and concluded, 'after long thinking, that he ought in Homo way to make a chango in his usual apparel, but* could not decide exactly what tho change should consist in, and at last con luded to consult with his fathor, and the old man, after hearing him through, thought the matter over, and at last said : ' wJoe, what have you been paying for your hat?" "A dollar," replied the son. "Then," said tlie old man, giving Joo a Blap on tho shoulder, ' 'I'll tell you what to do. Li z is a good girl, and you'd bet tor do tho thing in stylo. Get a dollar and-a-hnif lmt, Joe." Tho members of tho family wero ftot too close to invest in fancy stock, and tho fathor and sons owned a very valuablo Jersey cow in common, and "tho Jersey" seemed to bo ahvayB present in tho thoughts of each ono of thom. One morning, after Joo had settled down on a farm of his own, a youngor brother made his appearance at his houso and said, half crying: "Joo, we're in trouble at homo." "Tho Jersey isn't dead, is she," shrieked the alarmed Joo. "Not quito as bad as that," replied tho brother, wiping his eyes; "grandmothor's dead." Tho Iilniolciln Club. " I)ar am seb'ral things dat (loan, look 'zactly right to rac," said Brother Gardner, as ho rubbed his bald headwith one hand and oponed tho meeting with tho other. " It doan' look 'zactly right to seo ono man wuth ten millyon dollars an' anodor wuth only ton cents (applause by Samuol Shin), but yit if I wuh do ten millyon dollar man I wouldn't kcer whodor it lookod right or not." , [Suddou ' end to tho fM)plause.] " It doan' look zactly right to see ono man hold offls all do timo, whilo anoder man has to shovo a lack-piano fur a libin' (great rustlo in Pioklo Smith's corner), but he who shoves do jack-plane has do respeck of do community an' keeps outer jail." (Rustlo dies away], "It doan' look 'zactly right ftu; ono | man to havo a big brick hoxise an' atioder ! man a rough bo'd shanty, but 'long bout tax-time ao man in do shanty kin sit on do fenco an' chucklo over do fack dat ho haint rich. ?'It doan' look 'zactly right to seo one man go pushin' an' swollin' an* crowdin' everybody olse off do sidewalk to let de public know dat he am a king-bee, but such men havo to barry do anxioty of bein' in debt to do tailor, an' of dodgin' do groccr an' of Bubscrlbin' $25 to build a onuroh widout a hope of bein' ablo to pay ton cents on do dollar. "In fack, my frens, dar' am heaps an' heaps o' things dat doan' look 'zactly right to us at fust glance, but when vo come to Agger it up an' divido an' subtract wo've all got a heap to bo thankfnl fur an' to oncourage us to git up airly in do maw nin'. A man kin brac? his logs an' lay back like a mulo, an' kick away at do hull world, an' hato oberybody an* bo hated In return, or, he kin piok up sartln crumbs o' consolaslmn. crowd inter a seat in de back cand of do wagin, an' take a heap o' comfort, knowin' dat somebody is wuss off dan himsolf. T.et us accumulate to biznoss." "Did I understan' do cha'r to mako use of do word accumulatet" inquired Klder Penstock, as ho suddenly rofco op. "Von did, sahl" "Yes? ah? -Jew so ?jcm so. Do cha'r understands, I presume ? ? " "Krudder Penstock, it am lie mv power to fine you $7,000 fur diftturbin' do meet in*." "Yes, sah, but?" "An' I shall perceed to do so onless you sot down wld concurrent energy. If dis clm'r makes uso of words an' phrases dat you can't understand do propor way fur you am to waft till jrou git homo an' den consult do geography or arithmetio fur oxplananhuns. Sot down, sah sot down befo' you am financially wrecked and mentally engendered!" Tho elder turned the color of a gray gooae as he stood for ft momont with his mouth '6a noli in a way to jur everybody in the room. ? Free Preu. Duped by Dumas. Tho following story from the life -of , M. Dumas, tho elder, says a Parisian paper, has never boeu published before. Ono day tho grout novelist had to nay a draft of 5,000- francs. If ho could not pay it tho doors of tho prison at Clfchy were open for him. Walking along tho boulevards -md meditating on his posi tion ho caul# across ono of his fellow workers, as yet unknown, who had only a few days ago been admitted into tho society of Dramatic Authors. His clothes were shabby, his hat of advanced age, ho himself was long and thin, with flat feet, aud a walking stick in his hand. " I am saved," thought Dumas, and to tho man he said : "Do you want money ?" " Of courso." "Come along, then, and do as I bid you." They took a cab and drove to Scribe's, wlioro Dumas instructed his companion to walk up and down the jMivcnient while h6 went into tho houso. On arriving, Dumas dashed into Scribe's room, oxclaiming, "They have caught me; I must go to Clinch."" "Im possible. How mucn money is it?" "A mere nothing ? 6,000 francs. Look down there." Scnbo stepped to tho window and saw tho stranger keeping guard near tho whicle. IIo gave Dumas tho money, and tho lattor took his doparturo In frcat haste. Hi* companion received 00 francs and tho rest he kept himself. A few days later a meeting was hold by tho society of dramatio authors, at which Scribo presided. There wero only a fow members present, and Dnmas, with his fellow-workers, sat in tho first row. On rising to open tho meeting, Scribe recognized the shabby fellow, and angrily called for tho servant to throw tho nolico officer out ot the room. "Sucn persons had no" business there." In the midst of tho general confusion Duma? approachod tho president's chair, and whispered something into Soribo's ear. Tho latto^burst into a loud laugh, and then composing himsolfj said: "Pray pardon me, it is a. mistake; you may Btay." ? St. James' Gazette. Tricks of Smugglers. "Wo do not examino many innocent people, although occasionally a mistake is made," said a Now York custom-house officer to a World roportcr. I have had soven womon examinod this week, and every one of thom had smuggled goods conccalod on their person. A woman who was caught a week or so ago had $0,000 worth of stuff obout her. IIow did wo como to suspect her ? Why, you 600, her movements were suspicious to say the least. 8ho stepped on tho gang-plank with a largo bundle in her hand and a hoavy cloak over her arm. Half way down she was met by a woman to whom she handed tho things. All this might, perhaps, have been dono without attract ing tho uttontion of the officers had it not been for a certain nervousness displayed. Sho wnfe requested to Btcp into a room, and Mrs. F., tno inspoctress, was called in and asked to oxamine her. "Yes," remarked that talented lady, l<and you have no idea of the amount of goods I took from her. In the first j>lacc I found the lining of tho cloak had been removed and between it and the outside wero sowed row after row of tho most ex quisite lace. It was marked 120 francs per yard. Next I found concealed in her ample bosom a lace shawl, several yards of laco and some fancy trimming. Sho had basted on an undergarment more lace, but you should hnvo seen her petticoat. It was a marvelous construction. Pieces of rich silk were folded into twice tho proper length aud passed over a hoavy cord which encircled her waist. Tlioro wero sevoral pieces of silk put on in this fashion, the edges being tacked together, and more lace was sowed on this. Sho modo a great fuss about being examined ; said it was outra geous that Tier person should bo so violated. Pretty smugglers always "do this if they have anything on them. "This making tho goods Into a skirt is a favorite wav of disposing of them. Diamonds ahd dilforont articles of jew elry aro easier to concoal. A woman and her nurso and ehil'd wero sent in to mo onco. It was thonght that their fig ures wore too well rounded ? and. indeed, the bodices of their drosses fell In some what looser folds after I had taken sev eral watches, with chains, pins and brace lets, from each of them.1' "Did you hoar of that very funny caso we had," asked another of the officers, "whero tho man had a lot of diamonds so cunningly hidden? I havo forgotton iust how It was wo camo to^ suspect him, but I- imagine it was becauso tho gentleman was so remarkable straight. At all ovents, wo had him searched and oh his" back, right next to his skin, and hol(l on by a porous plaster, wo found tho stones. Another ingenious gontle Lian had diamonds sown into his liver pad." "Do you find womon moro clever at smuggll) g than'mon)" ifskod tho reporter. "Well, yes, I l>eltevo thoy aro; but some of tho mon aro pretty sharp. The favorito dodgo with tho women Is to b?w laco on their soiled, linen or to roll it up in it The, linings of their cloaks is an other hiding place. Wo found n woman tho other day who liad on no less than four wraps with tho edges so neatly sowed together that the imposition was by no means easy to detect. Tho Fronoh womon hro tho smartest,* I bellovo. Many of thom inako their living by gotting goods through tho oustom-houso. Thoy socm to know oxrthtly what to do, and I am convinced thoy aro instructed boforo leaving homo." Tho FbIro Prophet. . El Mahdl, tho. fulfto prophet of the HoudAn, in his boyhood waa Apprenticed to ? bofttmnn. Ilunning away, ho wont to Klmrtoum and Attended a free school. IIo mAdo considerable progress in religious knowledge, but wm backward in Acquir ing the Arts of reading And writing. After being ordnined a whelk or faki ho took up his aIkmIo in a cavo on tho Whito Nile, And by f Rating. prAying And incenso burning extended his f?mn far and wide. Ho beeamo woAlthy, collected disciples nnd marrlod several wives. In 1881 ho nnnouneed thAt ho wAs tho MAhdi fore told l>y Mahomet, thAt ho had a divino mission to roform IhIiuti, establish uni versal efinnlit y a universal law, a univer sal religion and a community of goods, And thAt All "who did not l>olievft in him should bo destroyed. This is tho origin of the movement which" is shaking tho East to its foundations, El Mahdl is un doubtedly a innn of groat naturAl Ability And tact, And is a born orgAnizer of men. ?I/mdon T?l*grapK, , During the late operations agAinst Tamatavo by the French East Indian squadron the greatest terror vu pro duced upon the Hovaa by the use of the electric light. A mill! net wants to know If, when a vowel la f 4 trimmed," the la not bound to GREAT SNAKES. Huge Reptile* That Swnllow ft Deer ? 8lorle? of Their l'ower*. "There's a snake," said a gentleman, who had acquired some fame as a trav eler, "that gave mo tho narrowest find tightest soiieeze I ever had. Originally it was twenty-thrco feet long, but tho ants got at the skin and destroyed juirt of it before I could get it away. I'he adventure camo about in this way : I was in tho western part of B^a^il ? a wild . country it is, too? and being extremely anxious to secure a big snake, they told mo on tho coast that tliore were snakes thirty feet long in tho interior, that I would swallow a full-grown ox. But^ I took it as wo take fish stories here; in fact, I didn't take it in. Tfound, how ever, that there was a very general belief in tho big yarns, and in timo I learned their truth. In April of 1870 I 6truck a littlo villngo called Aperto, where I learned that, tho peoplo wero in a great state of excitement over a water boa that had carried off a woman. 8ho and a companion were down at a stream bathing, when suddenly a snako dropped or Bwung from a tree, wound about her, and carried her off light before the eyes of tho other woman. Of course. I as sumed tho role of avenger, from not al together valorous motives, and started out with three or four beaters. We boat nearly all tho immediate country without success, but tho next day I suddenly? camo upon a spot near which the natives would not go. A great hole had been hollowed out, and pieces of snake-skin lying around showed that there had beon ono thero at least. Determined not to give it up, we formed into a lino of skirmishers, radiating out from tho tree, or snake's nest, and then started out, the agreement being that if one of them discovered the animal ho should signal to the ono next him, and so on around, so that in a short timo wo could all rally to any given place. Iii this order wo set out, beating the bush and keeping a sharp lookout. - "Wo had gono about a thousand yards from the tree when the signal from tho circlo to tho south was heard by tho whole party, who made a rush for the spot. I was the farthest away, and as I came nearer I could hear the yells and shouts of tho natives, who were evi dently jubilant over something. Making through tho underbrush as fast as I coulu etioumbercd with a rifle and several speci men cans, I suddenly came upon tho rest of the party, who wero standing upon a rock about ono hundred feot from a tall cocoanut, and the object of their atten- 1 tion was immediately obvious. Coiled in an immenso heap was a serpent whoso body was twice the size of a man's, while its tail was coiled around tho tree in throe or four coils. The ground around was torn up, small trees, reeds and grass crushod to the ground, with all the evi dences of a life-and-death struggle. A second glance Bliowcd what it had been. 'J'he snake's head was j stretched upon tho ground, und from its enormous mouth protruded tho head and horns of a goodly-sized stag, which gave it tho appcarance of having liornB, while tho body of tho deer that had been suc cessfully swallowed expanded tho crea turo so that it had lost all semblance to a serpent, looking more like some non descript fearful dragon. It was evident that tho animal could bo easily captured with such an immenso load. It was ap parently exhausted, having swallowed the animal up to tho horns, and then, finding itself caught, had evidently | Htrugglod terribly and ineffectually to get rid of tho feast. "Wo closed in on it, and I actually lassoed the horns, and taking a turn about a tree, held tho monster while tho natives pounded it to death. No, w-o never found the woman eater. This was probably its mate, and was about twenty-thrco feet i i length, and one of tho starngest sights I over wit nessed. Peoplo aro apt to doubt these tremendous yarns, but big snakes do oxist, and there is plenty of evidenco be sides that which I can supply. In Bor neo Professor St^ John captured a snake the samo length as tho ono I havo men tioned, and Mr. Bates, tho well known and prominent naturalist, measured sov oral over the samo ground that I havo boon that wore over twenty feet in length. "The largos^ authentic snako, however, waB observed by Dr. Gardner. It was forty feet long, and had fallowed tho ontlro body of a horse, which had made it bo unwioldy that it had boon drowned in an overflow, and when found by tho doctor it was hanging in tho branches of a tree. Theso aorponts aro ofton called tomacnllcahnilia, meaning 'fighting with fire men.' A skin of ono formerly In tho British museum is thirty-five feot long. A naturalist observed a snako in Senegal that was fifty feet long and two and a half in diameter, whilo Waterton tells us that a Spaniard Bhowod him at An gostura a skin that from its thickness ho 'Judged to havo boon that of a sorpont soventy feot in length. Baldaona, tho author, found serpents in Coylon thirty six feet long, and in Java he saw ono that swallowed a stt*g ontlro. Owen, In , hie 4 Natural History of Serpents,' givos i tho length of ono aa fifty feet, and Father Gumilla, in hid ' History of Ori noko,' refers to sorponts forty foot long, so that it would seem fair to suppose that snakes 'do attain what might bo called gigantic dimonaiona. On tho Rio Branco tho tradora and nativos roport that snakes swallow full-sized cattlo, and this oan readily bo con coivcdL tho snakes lying in a lethargic condition until tho horns drop off. Mr. McLeod, the historian 61 tho 'Voyago of the Alceste.' who was capturod and kont a prisoner for many montha at Whidau, on the ooast of Africa, atatea that ho ob served snakea noarly aixty foot in length. Talcs of fabuloua snakes aro common in hiatory. Valeriua M&ximua, quoting Livy, refers to tho alarm into w hich tho Roman army Was thrown bv an enor mous aerpent that had its lair on tho banks of thoBagradua, nearUtica, which animal, according to Pliny, waa ono hundred and fifty foot long. Bon tjus rofora to anSkcs in the Asiatic Islands that oxcceded thirty-six feot in length, ftnd mentlona that ho has soon persona eating the flesh of largo hogs captured by and takon from snakes. "The grfat Catnoudl snakes of South America havo a habit of hanging irom trocs over the water ?tylth portiona of their bodies concealed, \ so, that thoy Would easily be taken for the groat vinoa that grpw SO luxuriantly in these forest*, and in this way thoy obtain much of their proy, that comes )lnauspiclOus1y along, oven human game not being ncg glected. When thoy are gorged with food they coil up closely ana resemblo a stump, and a case is known fef a native having made tho mistake of sitting down upon one, with results astonishing to both seat and sitter. Waterton, in re {erring to the Catnoudl snakes, says that specimens from thirty to forty tft long havo bwn killed, and that the Spaniards of Brazil noeitively affirm that in tho un frequented districts these serpents some times attain a length of seventy foet, and will destroy tho largest and strongest Dull. Thoy call thorn matatoros, which uieons literally 'bull-killers. ' 80 you sco large snakes aro not very uncommon. " Almanacs. Almatiac is an Arabic word, and means a diury, wivs tho New York correspond ent of tho Troy Times. This fact sug gests tho origin of productions. There aro a number of MBS. almanacs extant dated as early us the fourteenth century, and among the earliest fruits of tho art Wft8 I>urhack's almanac. In 1474 Kcgio Montanos began a series of almanacs which was continued for a third of a century, the price being ten crowns of gold. What a contrast with the present time, when every druggist io glad to give them awav to his customers! Nostradamus, who died in 1500, is said to have been the first to enrich tho al manac with predictions concerning tho weather, and this custom had obtained in England in .tlio days of 'Shokcspearo, who died forty-fivo years afterward. Enobarbus (in Antony and Cleopatra), when disrobing tho Egyptian queen, says: "Her passions are made of tho finest parts of puro love. We cannot call hor winds and waters, or sighs and tears* thoy aro greater storms than almanacs can report." Tho same idea is thus re peated in "Midsummer's Night's Dream pl?yJlg?I*>th ,he moon 8mn? th? night we Bottom? Look in the almanac? find out moonshine. Quince-Yes, it doth sL!iio the night Considering the present deluge of al manacs, how strange it seems that this publication should ever have been a monopoly ! Such, however, was the case in England from the days of James I. to tho oponing of the American revolu tion?a period of 175 years? and to effect its abolition it required all tho elo quence of Erskinc. Bonjamin Franklin began his "Poor Ricnard" almanac in 17o2, and continued it for twenty-flve years. The salo was enormous, and yet at tho lapse of a century it was found impossible to obtain a comolctc set. Tho late John Daggett, of this citv, *vho wished to republish the work, succceded, after four years of search, in getting eighteen numbers, and after his death thoy were sold at $20 apiece. It is said that I< ranklin ^ deeply regretted tho discontinuing a work in which he took such a deep inteiost, but public duty required it. He is said to havo beon the first American to mako use of a 110m do plume, and, in issuing his I10 Prc/orrcd the ideal character of Richard Saunders to plain Bon Frank lin. " Poor Richard" was certainly a lioppy thought, and it proved one of the most popular hits of that age. One of tho longest series of American almanacs was issued by Isaiah Thomas, and was continued for nearly a half cen tury, but a still moro remarkable instance is found in the " New England Almanao and h armor's Friend," issued by I). M. Daboll, of Oroton, Conn. This publica tion has been continued in the family for 113 years, and is now hi the hands of the third generation. It retains the old fashion of weather predictions, and might have been good authority for Bot tom and his dramatic associates. The Great City of London. Thcro is but one city on earth par ox cellenco, and that is London. Btrango, old, homely London? built up of yellow brown bricks, mile after mile; nothing regular; nil quadrangular and triangular and ro-entraut, irregularities, beggaring description and defying reproduction else whore on earth. Nothing seems laid out beforo hand; but, as if tho city's growth ever came unon its builders with a wild surprise, so that they struck out vaguely and indefinitely, anywhere to get out of its way, yet always in irregular panic, scattering N. E. 8. W. in lanes and alleys and cresconts, courts, etc., just ns the fathers flod apaco in tho olden timo from the rapid growth of tlioir days, doing tho best thoy could only to get out of its mFghty way as it marched on fulfilling its gmnd destiny. Tho only way to go about in it is to grapple the problem in "main strongth and awkwardness, " and go on getting yourself lost and finding yourself again, until by repeated experiences you get ahoad of it. A street that starts as Cornhill runs a little way and becomes Ohcapside, then in a little timo is metam orphosed into Ludgnto hill, only noeds 100 yards further to lwcomo Fleet street, and winds up ns tho Strand, without any con ceivable reason, is not a reassuring featuro to a stranger anxious to tret anywliero No directions on lamp""posts*to aid " the bowilderod sojourner, as in our cities. Tho namo is put up at tho beginning of a street, on tho corner house, and happy aro you if ever you sco it again. As a general thing, tho street changes its namo bo soon that there would not be much use in ropeatlng it. Mag nificent blocks of suncrl) busmora houses, ?s In Chicago since the firo, you :00k for irr London in vain. Miles opon miles of stately residences in brown stone, as in Now York, you nowhero see". Isolated magnificence, dotted hero and thcro, you <*?* But boyond tliis the everlasting rows of brownish yellow bricks, with no pretentions to anything like elegance out side, and not even tho spotless red and whito of tho Quaker primness of the City of Brotherly Lovo. Yellow-brown and brown-yellow bricks and chlmndV pots by tho aero, tho mile, tho million, till ono wonders If tho wholo island bo not built over in this dinglly-solld wa y.- lCrarweL ist 11arn?%. The Chinese Legation. Tho Ohlneso embassy to tho United States comprises thirty persons, more or less, who occupy two houses on 11 streot, near Fifteenth, Northwest. Ono of the houses is tho residence of tliemlnistor and his wifo, tho othor l>eing tho domicilo of the sovcral secretaries, clerks and servants ?U young men. It is a Ohinoso establish ment in'nll respects, the customs and ners of China boing faithfully observr Washington (tfuf.it n. III ? inu j Imujfl vn^M Hie Smallest Iloy. Cameron, Mo., claims to have tho smallest. l>oy in tho United States. IJlif' | namo is Auby Park, son of B. W. Pafk. Ho is si* yoars old, and only weighs six teen pounds; is strong and healthy, and actlvo ns a squirrol. Th tho last two {'ears he has gained but one pound. He 1 a remarkably-bright little fellow, and ope of the greatest curiosities In tho country.-?^. Globs- Democrat. ' 1 1 ? Mi?Mill <ii 1 In 1800 thetp were but two total ab stainers In the house of commons, tho late Sir John Balnea, M. P,, for Leeds, and Mr. 'Whit worth, for Droghada. At present there are thttty-alx. , I 'MM WE MAY BK HAPPY YET. take good heart, though tempests lewer. And thy bright hopes all fado away, Faith still exerts tho gracious power, To gild with raliauoe each day; 80, take good hea '.?God roigns abc v* ? His sun oan neither wane nor pet. Lot nature grow in grace and love? W e may be happy yet. What though dark clouds obscuro the light, And sunny hours of day are past; "What though tho sable shrouded night, Is closing in all naturo fast; Wo who have loved through doubts and fears, And ne'er gave i*ar to sad regrot, Shall find some solaeo for our tears? We may be happy yet What though unhappy years havo oast, Since vows wero laid eu love's pure shrine, Thoui h severed wide, wo meet at last, Beyond the stormy verge of time; Now spirit- for ins seom waiting near, And thoir soft whisperings linger yet, Though earth's sweet flowers are dead and sero, Wo may be happy yet. Tho stars that gem heaven's azure dome, In whisjxjrs low speak peace to mo: They tell of a delightful Homo, Across lifo's heaving, storm-tossed sea; And though on earth wo meet with low Of kindre.l hoarts, whom we have met, We need not harbor thoughts morose? We may be happy yet. Ay, by tho wandering birds that find A home beyond tho rolling wave, Though oft tho wind aud storm combine, Though oft tho wiud and storm combine, To swallow thain in some dark grave; By Bummor suns, that bright arise, Through seas of tears, in whloh thoy set; By love's unfailing prophoeies? Wo may bo happy yet. ? Luther O. Riggs. PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS. Asageromark: "A little moro of the dressing, please." Tho farmer's wife should wear gros grain silk. ? New York Commercial. An old yellow dog in Cologno Kan away with an old woman's bogno; But the wrathful old crogne Hit him twice with a stoemo, And it was dreadful to hoar tho dog grogne. ? New Orleans Timcs-Utmocrat. Poor George: Mrs. Brown ? "Why, I thought Washington was dead." Mr. B. ? "And so ho is; ho diod beforo the Centennial." Mrs. B. ? " Why, I see hero in the paper a heading : ' General Washington Dispatches.' " ? Tho Judge. And yet one wonders at crimo: "I am going to plant my foot down," said the lady of tho house in wrathful tones. "What 'yer going to raise, corns?" in terrogated thu man of the house from be hind liis paper. ? Rockland Courier- Ga zette. It is caitl that ono cent's worth ol ergot ine will kill a cut instantaneously, and that a millionaire by investing his entire fortune in tho drug might become the owner o* but we don'ti aire living 000 cats. ? j A teacher other day us on the was tho tho teachoi; through til at this out?" the "pupil^ A poet, "In" nays, ' ' I miss you, my darling, my dar ling," "I want you, my darling," "r call you, my darling, darling," "I noea you. my darling," and that " tho blank of the dumb air is bitter " without hor. IIo evidently tiocs miss her ? quito con siderably ; but whether ho wants hor to sew on a suspender button or pull off his boots, he fails to state. rniNTKii's INK. Little drops of printer's ink, A little typo ''displayed," Mako our merchant bosses And all their big parade. German ongff how to make ton comprises lat of Shakes Not lose than <1 are found In " alone. Thewfkabulary of eight thousand words peare flfyen thousand seven thouean Aihro hur North jPaolflo whs WM 11, BOO barroli a of bono, and 8K CV Vl ! Littlo bite of stinginess. Discarding printer's ink, Busta the man of business, And soos his credit sink. ?l'eoria TrantoripU How BanannH nro liaised. Asovcrybody knowB who has oaten ? banana, the lucious fruit is seodleea, Tho plants fyo propagated from other plants, so that tho stock is not likoly to run out. Tho plant requires for vigor* ous growth a doop, rich soil, abundantly watered. With these conditions present . thore is said to bo no risk for a crop lb 'i! hot regions, whoro alono tho fruit is pro? s duccd. Nino months after a cutting has botn planted a purplo bud appears in the conter 1/ tho unfolding leaves that shoots out froi. ho head of tho parent "tfpttl.' . . The stem on which tho uud appears grows rapidly abovo tho main st&lk, As jo bud incroftses in weight tho stem bends -downward by a graceful curve, on tho extremity of which this btid continues to grow still; tho purplo blossoms falling off, littlo shoots appear as tho embryo fruit* Koch fruit has a yellow blossom at its outward oxtromity. At tho ond of three or four months tho fruit has grown to maturity, and is picked long onough before it is "dead ripo" to preserve it in marketablo condition. From tho roots of tho paront stock other roots appear, , which are trimmed out or loft to grow, as the cultivator may deem best. A. sin gle stalk, tlioroforo, bears only ono bunch or crop as its lifo's work. Spaniards havo a religious rovoronce^ for tho banana, bolloving it to be * fruit of which Adam partook Tho fruit 1ms long bcon extremely nutritious. Jt/ abovo all others for ablo to swallow timato b pounds tho "