University of South Carolina Libraries
J*1 / - > * - - ** I . , !r,l . ' I ., :? * f b'. - * - S'.t . - , " ! . V.' f' . ' " f : . . .r, 1 | '' . --????==?^SHH=?BSBasa-asBaBssBBBasaaaaasaB-asEB-ss^s^^^B VOLUME XXXI. CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROUNA,THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1871. NUMB ER IX _ TIE CAMDEN JOURNAL. AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY PAPER, PUBLISHED BY JOHN KERSHAW. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. One year, in advanco $3 00 Six months 1 50 Three months 75 ADVERTISING RATES. SPACK. 1 M. 2 M. 8 M. 6 M. 1 Y. *TTsquares "1 6 00 ~ 91RT lTW"18 00 2G 00 8 squares 9 00 18 00 1C OO 24 00 35 00 4 squares 12 00 16 00 20 00 30 00 43 00 4 column 15 00 19 00 24 00 34 00 50 00 I 20 00 30 00 40 00 55 00 80 00 f column I SO OO] 50 00,1 CO 00| 90 QQllSO 00 All Transient Advertisements will be charged On'k Dollar per Square for the first and Seven ty-fiye Cents per Square for each subsequent insertion. Advertisements in the Local column will be charged Twenty Cents per Line, Transient Advertisements must be paid for in advance. JLIJ ISKSaBMBS [Miscellany. A Night of Terror?The Tornado of Fire in Michigan?The Experience of a Man who Staid to See it OutTaking Refuge in a Well. Allison Weaver, who reached Detroit from Port Huron on Wednesday, had a narrow and curious escape from being roasted alive in the north woods. Weaver is a single man, about 50 years old, and served nil through the war in an Ohio regiment of infantry. Up to two weeks ago he was at - J ...... work tor & man nameu unfair, icu muw from Forestville, as fireman for a shingle mill. Two or three days before the approach of the flames, which eventually destroyed that section, Bright and his family left for Forestyille, aud the next day all the men employed about the place cither followed his example or made hasto to reach their homes. On leaving Bright iuformed his men that the fire would sweep that way, and warned them to lose no time in making their escape.? Having no property to lose or family to care for, "Weaver determined, as he says, "to stay and see the circus out," meaning that he intended saving the mill if possible. He has a stubborn sort of a spirit, and the fact that everybody else went induced him to stay. As soon as the men left lie set to work and buried all the provisions left in the house, and during the day also buried the knives aud other light machinery of the miil as well as a stove aud a quantity of crockery ware. There was a plenty < f water in the vicinity of the mill, aud he filled several wells full, besides wetting down house, mill, stock, and everything which would burn, scattering several hundred pailfuls of water on the ground around the buildings. When night came, and the fire had not appeared, he began to jest his absent comrades. But his self-conceit soon left him. About 10 o'clock the heavens were so light that he could see the smallest objects around him, and there was a roaring in the forests, which sounded like the waves beating against rocks on the shore. He began to suspect that he would soon receive the visit predicted, and accordingly made preparations for it. In levelling up the ground arouud the shingle mill, earth had been obtained by digging here and there, and Weaver went to work and dug ono of these pits deep enough for him to stand up in. He then filled it nearly full of water, and took care to saturate the ground around it for a distance of several rods. Going to the mill he dragged out a four-inch plank, sawed it in two, and saw that the parts tightly covered the mouth of the little well. "1 calkelated it would be tech and go," said he, 'but it was the best I could do." At mid* U ? J nfunnrrAil ntlfl tKp nignt lie 11UU UVCIYHHIIq uuuiigvu, ---roaring then was awful to hear. 'J'ho clearing was ten or twelve acres in extent, and Weaver says that for two hours before the fire reached him there was a constant flight across the ground of small animals. As he rested a moment from giving the house another wetting down, a horse dashed into the opening at full speed, and made for the house, when he stopped and turned towards the fire. Weaver could see him tremble and shake in his excitement and terror, and felt a pity for him. After a moment the animal gave utterance to a snort of dismay, ran two or three times around the house, and then shot off into the woods like a rocket. Not long after this the fire came. Weaver stood by his well, ready for the emergeney, yet curious to see the breaking in of the flames. The roaring increased iu volume, !* Karximo onnrpssivp a. clntld nf du9t jlllU (111 l/VVWUJV Vff>VWM* * ?? ? ? and cinders came showering down, and he could see the flames through the trees. It did not run along upon the ground, nor leap from tree to tree, but it came on like a tornado, a sheet of flame reaching from the earth to the tops of the trees. As it struck the clearing he jumped into his well and closed over the planks. He could not longer see, but he could hear. He says that the flames made no halt whatever, nor ceased their roaring for an instant, but he had hardly got the opening closed before the house and mill were burning like tinder, and both were down in five minutes. The smoke came down to him powerfully, and his den was so hot that he could hardly breathe. He knew that the planks above him were on fire, but, remembering their thickness, he waited till the roaring of the flames had died away, and then with his head and hands turned, them over and put out.the fire by dashing up water with his hands. Although it was a cold night, and the water had at first drilled him, the heat gradually warmed it up until he says he felt very comfortably. He remained in his den until daylight, frequently turning over the planks and put E ting out the fire, and then the worst had passed. The earth around was on fire in spots, house and mill were gone, leaves, brush and logs were swept clean away as if shaved off and swept with a broom, and nothing but soot and ashes was to be seen. Alter tho fire had somewhat oooled off, Weaver made an investigation of his caches, and found that considerable of the property buried had been Baved, although he lost all his provisions, except a piece of dried beef, which the fire had cooked as in an oven without spoiling it. He had no other resource than to remain around the place that day, during the night, and the greator part of the next day, when the ground had cooled enough so that he could pick his way to {.he ftfoe gf thg burned village. He was neartrees were falling, logs were burning, and the fallen timber had in some places heaped up a breastwork, over which uo one could flimh?Detroit Post. A Mammoth Broker's Office. If any of our readers wish to get an insight into the intricacies and profits of the brokerage business, tbey should secure a few claims against the various departments of State Government, and then present them for payment at Columbia. The first thing they will tell you here is "There's not a dollar in the Treasury." But in a short time some one will carelessly whisper in your car, "If you call on Mr. he will help you put it through." You call and Mr. . who is no State officer, looks wise and doubtful?"and afraid there's no chance? lots of such claims here?no money?Treasurer absent," &c., but closes with what will you take for it ?" Being hard up for money you propose a deduction of five per cent. You astonish Mr. , who informs you that money is worth 1* per ccut. ' i 1 a montn on gooa paper, ana it 13 uuuuuui when your claim will be paid, you must come down much better than that. Well, your necessities press hard and you propose ten per cent. "Can't promise you on that; have seen many like claims sold at 25 per cent." You study, perhaps say "cuss words," but he is as stolid as a rock. In a fit of desperation, with probably not five follars in your pocket, and hotel bills and ?vcling expenses to be met, you agree to the , shave, and hand over the elaim. Mr. , takes it, cooly telling you he will "try and 1 get it for you" next day, or on that afternoon at such an hour. You of course suppose he will go and sell it to some private i individual who has a little money to risk on such uncertain claims. Not so. Watch , Mr. close, and you will find hini | wending his way to the State House. You j cannot tell which room he enters; but wait , patiently. In a short time lie emerges.? ; Keep your eye on him,, or if you think he , suspects you of watching him, get a friend to do it for you. Sec him enter a certain bank and hand over the teller a check.? , Without hesitation the greenbacks transr/v.MA/] cnimlir A n rw?a 11 in \fr 'ft 1VI I t'U auu on Upij uw^ivoivwvt in . pocket before he gets out of the door. At the appointed hour you call, and are informed that after a great deal of maneuvering and much hard labor the claim has been sold?he don't tell you to whom?and you pocket the amount of your claim, minus the 25 per cent. The moral of all this is 25 per cent, discount will draw money from an empty Treasury.? Umonville Times. 'Consider Me Smith." There is a very good story in the papers of the trick which was played by old Dr. Caldwell, formerly of the University of North Carolina. The old doctor was a small man and lean, but as hard and angular as the most irregular of pine knots. He looked as though he might be tough, but he did not seem strong. Nevertheless he was, among the knowing ones, reputed to be as agile as a cat, and in addition was by no means deficient in knowledge of the "noble science, of se f-defence." Well, in the Freshman class of a certain year was a burly beef mountaineer of eighteen or nineteen. This genius conceived a great contempt for old Bolus' physical dimensions, and his soul was horrified that one so deficient in muscle should be so potential in bis rule. Poor Jones?that is what we'll call him? had no idea of moral fore. A t any rate he was not inclined to knock under and be controlled despotically by a man he imagined he could tie and whip. At length he determined to give the gentleman a genteel, piivate threshing some night in the College Campus, pretending to mistake him for some fellow student. Shortly after on a dark and rainy night, Jones met the doctor crossing the Campus. WnlLin/y nn f/\ V>Im aViriint.lv ? Ti u^; w tnui uw? u^vy . "Hello, Smith, you rascal, is that you ? " And with that lie struck the old gentleman a blow on the side of his face that nearly felled him. Old Bolus said nothing, but squared him-, self, and at it they went. Jones' youth, weight and muscle mado him an ugly customer; but after a round or two the doctor's science began to tell, and in a short time had knocked his antagonist down, and was a-stradle of his chest, with one hand on his throat, and the other dealing vigorous cuffs on the side of his head. "Ah ! stop !?I beg pardon, doctor !? Doctor Caldwell?a mistake?for heaven's sake, doctor ! " groaned Jones, who thought he was about to be eaten up?"I?I really thought it was Smith !" The doctor replied with a word and a blow i alternately? "It makes no difference; for all present purposes consider me Smith." And it is said that old Bolus gave Jones such a pounding then and there as probably prevented him from ever making anoth-. er mistake as to personal identity, at least on the College Campus. Courting in Nebraska?Effeot of a Scarcity of Woman. A heavy dose of girls, none of your homoeopathic prescriptions, is what Nebraska needs. A party of us were duck hunting the other day on the Missouri bottoms.-? Night over took us before we were aware of it, and we were obliged to seek lodging at the first dwelling we could find. It was a small one-story structure of three rooms, and occupied by a family of six?farther, mother, daughter, and three sons. The sons were all unmarried, and from the calls that were made afterwards, wejudge the daughter was unmarried also. We handn't been in the house five minutes when some kind of a vehicle drove up and two young men were mother and daughter held a w)iw]jjer?*. consultation which closed with an invitation, to the sitting room for supper. It was evident the young men callers had been to tea, as tbnv Rtnid in the Darlor with "sweet six*- j teen." Scarcely had we taken our seats at the table when a howl from the dogs out-doors announced another comer. He seemed to avoid the front door, and knocked at that where our party was just sitting to supper. The mother rose to answer the summons, when we were surprised by the daughter opening the parlor door and rushing forward with, "Hon't git up, mother! It's one of my fellows! Come in, Jim; how do you do?" And Jim entered in response to the cheery salutation. He made himself as comfortable as possible till we had finished supper, when another whispered consultation proved that the "parlor is full as itort to be," whispered by Miss, in response to some motherly suggestion. The old gentleman solved the question by inviting us into the kitchen to smoke. It was evident that Jim didn't smoke, for he remained in the sitting-room. We should have doubtless enjoyed a quiet cigar, had not the old lady opened the back door, and shouted at the top of her voice, "Come round here to the back door!" It was another young man, and we fancied he looked as if he had come in rather late. t - l __ l'wo young men witnin tne parior, uu? m the sitting-room and one in the kitchen. ) What should be done? The courting busi- , ncss was getting hotl There was anohte t talk between mother and daughter. It was eaident their devices had beeu exhausted. The old gentleman was called into the corner. IIo settled the question by a whisper: "I'll be d?d if I'll move agaiu until the ' set tin-room is full." Into the sitting-room went numbor four , and we smoked. It was lull teu minutes . before the next disturbers came and they enfcrcd the kitchen with the air of old acquaintances. We look anxiously at the host. Taking his pipe from his mouth a singe sentence relieved us: "Them's the widowers. Stick!" And we "st ick" and smoked on. For the next half hour the girl must have been kept busy. The widowers had certainly a third of her time. It was 9 o'clock. We wished to go to bed, and the only bed we had discovered was in the parlor. The old gentleman divined our wishes, and said: "I'm sorry, gentlemen! But this is one of the regular courtin' nights! Them two fellows iu the parlor never leaves afore mid night, and the widowers alius stay all night. And that ain't the worst of it. Dan'll be here at 10 o'clock, I and the boys always sleep in the haystack Friday nights. Yer welcome to that!" The parlor, sitting-room and kitchen full, we retreatod to the haystack. In response to a question on the point the old gentleman said that? "Friday nights it'spurty bad. but Sundays it's wuss. Last Sunday night there was ten on 'em, and the girl is gettin' more and more pertikiler. The more she gets the more she wants!" On the hay stack, with a stiff breeze driving away the mosquitoes, we heard Dan drive up. One of the last remarks of the old man before we fell asleep, was, "Yes. gentlemen, courtin's hot in Nebrasky!" And we believed him.?Nebraska Correspondence Syracuse Standard. Printer's Proverbs. Thou shouldcst never read the copy on a printer's case, or the sharp aand hooked container thereof, or he may knock you down. ~~aC ?n Arllf/yp fnr fly/* I iievci UlUUliU blivu \JA UU VVtlV^A ?Wk O.tv news, for behold, it is his business at the appointed time, to give it to thee without asking It is not right that thou should'st ask him who is the author of an article for his duty requiretli him to keep such things to himself. "When thou dost enter into his office, take heed unto thyself that thou dost not look at what may be lying open and concerneth thee not, for that is not meet in the sight of good breeding. Neither examine thon the proof sheet, for it is nbt ready to meet thine eye, that thou myest understand. Prefer thine own town paper to any other, subscribe for it immediately. Pay for it in advance, and it shall be well with thee and thine. Mr. N. G. Palmer, travelling agent for a firm in New York, succeeded, on Saturday, n the Court of Common Pleas, in mulcting the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Kailroad in $3,000, for being expelled from a passenger train over that road, Beveral months ago. It appears that Mr. P. had a through ticket from New York to some disCaiG\\ On V?ie ronvr fV***r\r?rrVi Tin t til III/ puillb UUUlll. VII 1IID IIHj UllUU^il uv stopped in Columbia, without having, according to a rule of the company, provided himself with a "lay-over" check. On presenting the conductor's personal check, on resuming his route, it was not recognized by the conductor of that day's train, and Mr. Palmer refusing to pay tho local fare, was put off the train.?Phoenix. The Power of Love An English writer relates the following manner in which the quiet persistent love of a child was the redemption of a drunken father : "That night I was out late; I returned by the Lee cabin about 11 o'clock. As I approached, I saw a strange-looking object cowering under the low eaves. A cold rain was falling; it was autumn. I drew near, and there was Millie wet to the skin. Her father had driven her out some, hours before; she had laid down to listen for the heavy snoring of his drunken slumbers, so that she "Mfllr kaolr tn ko/1 Before she heard it, nature seemed exhausted, and she fell into a trouble sleep, with rain drops pattering upon her. I tried to take her home with i . a ??tllJl lJ I LU laitU," uti?struggled from me. and returned to the dark silent cabin.?Things went on thus for weeks and months, but at length Lee grew less violent, even in his drunken fits, to his self-denying daughter; aud one day when he awoke from slumber after a debauch, and found her preparing breakfast for him, and j singing a childish song, he called hor, and, with a tone almost tender, said: " 'Miilie, what makes you stay with me ?' " 'Because you are my father, and I love you.' You love me,' repeated the wretched man; 'you love me!' He looked at his bloated limbs, his soiled and ragged clothes. 'Love me,' he murmered, 'Millie, what makes you love me? I am a poor drunkard; every body despises me; why don't you?' " 'Dear father,' said the girl with swimming eyes; 'my mother has taught me to love you, and everv night she comes from heaven and stands by my bed, and says: Millie, don't leave your father, he will get away from that rum fiend some of these rtnwu onrt tVion hew bnrmv vnn will be.' ~'V"' ? ?rtv j ~~ ? "And he did get away from the rum fiend. The unfaltering affection of bis child, strengthened by the dying words of the mother, saved him and restored him again to his manhood." Extraordinary Appetite of a Boy. Fred Bowman, the boy who has given the Susquehanna Valley Home so much unplcaraut notoriety recently, was returned to the Home at Binghampton, N. Y., by Sheriff Matfin. The boy has boarded with the sheriff about three weeks, and his capacity [for devouring has been fully tested as a matter of curiosity. His appetite is wonderful, as well as the powers of his stomach. He would eat at first the amount of food doalt Tmt in the regular rations, and beg from the prisoners all that was loft on their plates. The sheriff did not exactly want the name of starving the boy, and gradually increased his rations until they were nearly doubled, but never did a scrap of victuals come back on his plate. Sometimes he would be given three rations at one time, and would eat it to the last crumb, but it was liable to make him dyspeptic if continued any great length of * .? i 'cc ia. time. Due cue suenn can bguquuu mcai ui censure for starving the boy, for when they took him out of jail to carry him to the Home his mouth was full of old tobacco quids that a prisoner had thrown up into one corner of the debtors' cell, and tlio poor lad was actually devouring them to sustain his physical organization. The double rations of substantial food that he was allowed during the day, and a panful of cookies extra at night pleased the youth better than the fare at tho Home, and for that reason he shed tears on being transferred to his former quarters. He did not get any old bones to gnaw at tho jail between meals, but he could make a lunch of old tobacco quids und was happy. What will become of him now is a matter of considerable interest. Breaking Red Tape.?A day or two after the great fire, a government traiu arrived at Chicago with stores, but as it was not consigned to any particular person, the railroad officials were puzzled to know what to do with it. As the cars were sealed with government locks, tho railroad officers would not allow them to bo opened, although they 1 1- J -J contaiued supplies tnat were soreiy necueu to appease the demands of hungry applicants. Mr. Keck, chairman of the Cincinnati Relief Committee, hearing of the state of affairs, demanded of the Superintendent that the cars be opened. "Can't do it, sir' without competent authority," was the reply. "The cars are sealed with the government locks, and it's a heavy penalty to meddle with a seal of that kind." "D?n the government lock," replied Mr. Keck, "I'll take all the responsibility. Here, you chap there! give me that axe." The axe was handed to him. the cars were smashed in, and soon cleared of their precious contents. Historical Retributions.?Jecker, the banker, who was one of the hostages murdered by the Commune savages during the assault on Paris, was the man whose Mexican claims Napoleon made one of his excuses for invading Mexico. Retribution for that great crime has singularly overtaken its authors and main instruments. Spain engaged in it, with General Prim as her leader. Spain hassincc been revolutionized, nnd fruncral Prim assassinated. The sad fate of Maximilian and Carlotta the world is familiar with.?Austria upheld it, and Austria has been terribly punished. One of its excuses was the revival of the power of the Jesuits, and the furtiier establishment of the Catholic religion on this continent. The pope favored it, and his power began to wane then, and is now in ruins. Napoleon may date the beginning of his fall from that ill-starred expedition. Every French General engaged in Mexico yet living has since been beaten on the battle-field and disgraced in the opinion of his own countrymen. And now Jecker has died by the hands of violence. The British statesmen that excused it arc cither dead or out of power. The rctribu1 tions of history arc stranger oftentimes th^n 60 called poetic justice.?Detroit Pott. Korn. Johnny kake is made oat of korn; so is hasty puddin. Hasty puddin and milk is quick to eat. All you hav got to do is to gap and swallow, and that is the last ov the poddin. Korn wasfamiliar tew antiquity. Joseph was sent down into Egypt after sum koru, but his brothers didn't want him to go, so they took pity on him and pitted him in a pit. When his brothers got back hum, and were asked were Joe waz, they didn't acknowledge the korn, but lied sum. T* Una Uaan nrnvol fhof lfc 1* wickffl teW AV UOO MeVU vmv?W - ? ? ? lie about korn, or cnny ov the vegetables. Thare iz the difference .betg?e_Q_lliJOg ?a on|^TVng'woo<l?it 11 easier to lie, espeshilly in the shade. Koru has got one thing that nobody else has got, and that iz a kob. This kob runs thru the middle ov the korn, and iz as phull ov korn as Job waz ov biles. I alwus feel sorry when I think ov Job, and wonder how he managed tew set down in a chair. Knowing how to set down square on a bile without hurting the chair, iz one ov the lost arts. Job was a card; he had more pashence and biles to the square inch than iz usual. One hundred and twenty-five akersov corn tew the bushel iz konsidered a good krop, but I've seen more. I havscen korn sold for 10 centsa bushel, and in some parts ov the Western country itizso much that there ain't no good law ugainst stealing it. In konklushum, if you want tew git a sure krop ov kprn, and a good price for the krop, feed about 4 quarts ov it to a snsngm rooster, then murder the rooster immejiutoly and sell him for 17 cents a pound, krop a.id all.?Billinys. Sensitive to Oritioism. Newburyport Herald tells of a grocer who formerly kept shop there, and was noted for his grasping disposition. One day bo nailed up a salt cod on one of the shutters of his shop, and underneath it he wrote in chalk, "Codfish for sale cheap for cash here.". Presently in came an acquaintance, who said, "What do you have 'hero' on that sign about codfiish for? You don't sell codfish or any other goods any place but here. Any fool would know where you sold theui without that word."?"That s so," said the gocer; "boy, wipe out the word 'here' from the codfish sign."- The boy obeyed, and the next day another critic appeared.. Said he, "For cash 1 Who ever knew you to trust for any goods? Why do you say that you sell codfish for cash, when every body knows that you sell all your goods for casn'-You arc right," said the grocer; "boy, wipe out the words 'for cash' from the codfish sign." This was done, and shortly after a third critic came to the shop, objecting to the word "cheap." "Who ever knew you to undersell other dealers ?" said he; "you don't sell any cheaper than they. Your price is the same as theirs, and more if you can get it. Cheap? cheap? what do you have that word for?" "Well, it is not much use," said the grocer; "boy, wipe out the word 'cheap'from the codfish sign." Again the boy did as his master bade, and the same day i critic number four found fault with the phrase "for sale." Said he, "For sale! No one ever knew you to give away codfish. Of course you keep them for sale, there is no occasion for telling people what everybody knows " "There is something in that," said the grocer; "boy wipe out the words 'for sale' from the codfish sign." This left the salt fish and the single word "codfish" beneath. It was but a few minutes after that a customer, who camo in to buy some goods, remarked to the gocer: "What a funny sifi-n vnu've crot out here: what darned fool ""O" J * O ^ * wouldn't know that is a codfish nailed on your shutter?" "So they would," was the reply; "boy, wipe out the wprd 'codfish' from that sign." The boy obeyed, and the fish remained with no inscription. Yesterday morning a body found floating in the East River, off Atlantic street, was indentified as that of Theodore Bland Pryor, who has been missing since Sunday, the 15th- A Sun reporter called later in the day at the residence of Major-Gcneral Roger A. Pryor, father of the deceased youth, at 157 Willow street, Brooklyn. Gen. Pryor said that on the morning of the 15th young Pryor, who had been studying very closely, complained of feeling unwell. He was found to have a high fever accompanied with ague. The young man, however, clung to his books, and when at last he was persuaded to abandoned them he put on his hat, and left the house to take a stroll, so he said, and cool off. He was never seen until yesterday.?' Young Pryor who was about twenty years of age, possessed of brilliant attainments and | high moral culture. He entered Princeton ; College in 1868, and in 1870 graduated with such honors as had never been attained in that institution but by Aaron Purr, nearly a century ago. His grade was 90.9. and the examining which he had passed almott challenged belief. He gained the Jay Cooko Mathematical Fellowship, that alone being open to him. In September, 1871, ho went to the University of Cambridge, England, and in a single year won every prize and the only scholarship open to him. Younc Prior studied hard after his return from England, and it is thought that his too zealous application to his books impaired his reason, and that in a fit of abberration he drowned himself. A contusion was discovered on the body under the left eye. A Texas paper relates7that the Mayor of Groesbcck, a town in that State, was fined 850 the other day for carrying concealed weapons, and adds to the information a statement that the Mayor of Calvert, another lively town, is becoming "swaybacked" from I Jugging about "a bi^siMhooter " .. Jficcaliili. New England has an immense nut crop. The clergy of Wheeling, Va., recommend more simplicity in funerals. A deaf mute beggar in Detroit recently got drunk and suddenly recovered his speech. A barber of a statistical turn of mind asserts that there are 330 different hair dyes in circulation. " . o.? ? A young girl who recently married a mfllionare is now said to have an old head tm young shoulders. . A baby who kisses his mother and fights his father, may be said to be partial to his ma and martial to his pa. r i ?-? AC tiAstiMA cai ij ? uiiutvu uviiiMD nvitii vi ^uoia^v stamps were in the Collector^ office in Chicago, and were destroyed by fire. It is a curious but incontrovertible fact that when a hirsute young gentleman pays his addresses to a lady, he invariably becomes hirsuter. t. / > A Richmond, Va., firm is filling an orcfe* for an entire outfit for the Chicago Democrat office, which was destroyed in the great fire. As the fleet bearing the Russian Grand Duke passes Trinity Church, New York, the national air of Russia will be played upon the chimes. Large numbers of people are said to have been driven insane by the northwestern forest fires, and to have committed suicide in consequence. A "city" ont in Nevada, called BobTailed (rulch. has seven dwelling-houses and thirty-seven saloons. There is talk of tcarr ing down some of the houses to make more room. Rattlesnakes will do well to avoid Georgia negroes hereafter. One colored man who was bitten experienced shme inconvenience, and had to incur considerable expense for sweet oil and whiskey. The snake died. A Little Mistake*?The postmaster at North Bennington was a little embarrassed the other day on being asked if there was a letter for my cow. Being disposed to treat her politely, he replied there was nothing for anybody'* cmc. The lady being equally euibarrssed and also disposed to be polite,. said she inquired for Mike Howe!?Troy Prcgg. A citizen of Janesville, "Wis., on a recent, trip to St. Louis, took a sleeping car berth on a through .express train. In the night' he got up, and clad only in his aleepmggai; ments, went out on the platform to :look at the moon. The door closed with a 'spring lock, and the porter of the car was asleep. He says he never enjoyed a fifty mile ride as he did that one. f r One Reed, a compositor on the Logans\ J-' 7. /i ? /-> .1 wA/iAvtfl?T mnntnzl a n>A pt?l b ^iuu.y j. iiiuua, icwoni/ijr naiticu w> off on a visit. The inventive genius he disflayed on the occasion by getting an outfit without money money is remarkable : ."He was seen harrying to and fro, borrowing a plug hat from one man, a swallow-tailed coat from another, a paper collar and a tooth brush from another, until he finally got a regular outfit. He laced his vest with a bed-cord, colore 1 his beard with lamp black, greased his hair with mutton tallow, buttoned his shirt sleeves with a pair of door knobs, and started for the rural districts." An Austrian Surgean has got into trouble in a singular way. A burgomaster named "XJT1in laft ol/ln KIT n Kn 11 JLL1J III WUO gWl CU 111 WHO tViW PIUU l/Jf U uuuj and the doctor who was summoned to attend the injured man wore a gold ring, which slipped off his finger daring the operation and remained in the wound. The loss was not noticed until after the wound had been dressed, and it was not thought proper to put the unfortunate in g.eater danger by endeavoring to recover the ring. The burmaster died and the surgeon has been arrested. on the charge that death had been caused not by the wounds, but by inflammation produced by the ring. There are many queer things taking place now-a-days. A correspondent tells the following ''wasp" story. While walking with a frieud "he saw a wasp riding on a green < worm, one and a half inches long. How far he had ridden he did not know, but after they saw him, they watched him until he had ridden all af twenty feet. Occasionally the worm would stop, lie motionless as though he was dead, when the wasp, after a little, would spur him up, and then the worm would go on. The wasp would keep the worm in as direct a course as he could. After a while the worm stopped, and the wasp dismounted and quickly ran and removed a little stone or piece of ground about two inches from where he lay, and then seizing the worm by the head drew it into the hole. Presently the wasp camo out, put I 011 the crave! top over the hole, covered the stone over, and seemed to be getting ready to flv, when they killed him and theu dug down about two inches and dug out the. ~ worm, which was dead." J J Better Imagined than Described.? / cf The feelings of a near-sighted man, who finds he has kissed his hand to the wrong lady. ^ ? The finding your pocket-book gone just as you are about leaving a strange hotel, with no time to spare to reach the cars. The rapidity with which fancy stocks decline when you go in, and rise when you sell out. The sensation from a lady's boot heel (present style) when she steps on your foot accidently. The prices charged at some of the hotels on the "European stylo." The skill with which the "gentlomanly barkeeper" gives you short change. Getting 011 horse-back for the first time in your life. , . Your mother-in-law's remarks if you do not go to the mountains or seashore during the season.