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OUT OF THE BEATEN TRACK. Some Curious Facts. Unusual Happenings and Qut . Opinions. Doctors of Lansing, Mich., have or ganized against "bad-pay" people. John Bright, who has been improving lately, has suffered another relapse. Railroad commissioners in New York are abolishing railroad crossings at grades. In San Francisco each hydrant has a meter wich registers the amount of water used. At Parana, according to the Buenos Ayres Herald, textles made from rushes look like wool and silk. Delaware now has a big peach crop in soak. It is a pity her political orchard has a rotten shoot. Massey was defeated for the Senate in Delaware because he was a Pennsylvania railroad attorney. Senator Morgan has as poor an opinion of the negroes as laborers as Congress man Oates has of them as voters. The Herald has a slang chat. The very latest word is "biddle." This means, in aristocratic circles, "tip-top." The Democrats of Pennsylvania have come up smiling. There is nothing tougher than a Penns;v.:nia Democrat. The masculine heart weighs more and is larger than that of the fair sex, accord ing to recent investigations carried on in Germany. A Californian's will, disposing of $3, 000,000 is one of the briefest on record, being expressed in something over 159 words. The United States, in the last eight years, has spentabout $3,000,000,000 on new railroads and about $1,900,000,000 on new houses. The Connecticut Legislature haselect ed a governor of that State, an election by the people having failed. M. G. Bulkeley, Republican, was chosen. Nitro-glycerine bids fair, say the doc .tors.to become an important remedy for disease of the kidneys; and experiments are now making in cases of Bright's A.New York jeweller says he has just made a pair of garter buckles valued at $800. He refers to the fact as an illus tratioiro the extent to which the rage for pedona decoration has gone among women.. Dr. Friedberg has resigned the office of Prussian minister of justice in conse quente of the publication of the indict ment against Prof. Geffcken. The Rev. Henry White, of the Savoy Chapel, London, states that out of 1,000 couples whichheassistedto join together only one pair had found marriage a fail ure. Gen. Harrisen does not understand -why prominent men of his party embar tisahim by signing two or three recom mendations for different men for the same place. Senator Evarts advises a halt in the New York scramble for a cabinet place. Senafor Evarts wisely suggess that Gen. Harrison be allowed to fight it out by Six members of Harvard's of 1829 had a ieunion in Bostonlast last week. They -were: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Samuel May, Charles S. Storrow and the Rev. Drs. Stickney, Devens and S. F. Smith. Mr. Win. E. Barrett, who has been elected speaker of the Massachusetts House of Represenatives, is one of the -yo~n 's men ever selected for the speakership in that State. He is tut thirty years of age. -Th'e Boanoke News says that a little girl, when told for the first time of the identitjyof Santa Claus, looked up in a -disappointed surprise, and, with a tear in her little eyes, hesitatingly asked, "And is it a story about Jesus, too?" A New York Sun special says that Eri Gray, of Roxbury, N. Y., was un outdythe oldest voter in that State bwh'o a ll'oUt at the late Presie-tial eleetboiC if then lacked a few days ot being d0 years old, having been born in NVeson, Conn., Dec. 16, 1785. For three years past Massachusetts has been experimenting with the Scotch system of boarding out apart of the in sane patients of that itate. Naw York s About to test the same systom, and i; is also tobetrie'd in Canadr.. The system is said to have worked well wherever honestly tried. George Meaows, a negre, was hung Ly a mob at Pratt Mines, near Birming ham, Ala., on Tueadoy. He was aceced of anoutrage ona white lady, but she would not be quiteposi1.ve m identifying him. But it was shown that he had pre viously assulted a colored girl, and he was hung. -The prooseding was very quiet. Tie other day CoL A. K. McClure toldareporter for the-," York Graphic that Mr. Clevelanal Wa be a strong Presidential possiblity for 1892 if the next fighs'is on the tariff. He says he does not share she popular impression that Hill is the strongest Democrat in the pazty. Judge Adams instructed the grand jury in Savannah yesterday to inquire into the violation of the election laws. He said that it had come to his knowl edge through the newspapers, and through other sources,.that votes were purchased at both the county and city elections. The grand jury will make rigid inquiry into the charges. The dinner of the American Protective Tariff league at Delmnonico's, New York, seems to have been a success. Hon. William McKinley responded tothetoast "the tariff." Oter speakers were the Hon. Warner Miller, the Hon. T. B. Reed, the Hon. W. W. Morrow, the Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, and Colonel Hansozt, of Georgia. K. Realnh, editor of the Paris Be publique Francaise, in an article pub hahshed m that paestatesthat anumber of prominent Oreenists recently told the Duo d'Aumale that it would be to the party's interest to support Boulanger in the pending election in the department of Seine for member of the chamber of deputies. The Duc, the paper says, re phed that he did not know whether such spotwould be to the party's interest, buthwas sure it would not be to its A Danvill e(Va.) telegram says: Rail road building in this part of Virginia goes on at a lively rate. Track laying willsoonbeginonthis end of the Atlantic and Danville road, from Danville to Norfolk, and the directorsof the Roanoke and Southern road, from Roanoke City to Winston, N. C., are here to-day to let the contract for building a section of twenty-nine miles, which will comlete the line from Winston to Martinsvle SMuch pasin and suffering may be avoid ed by child bearing woman by the timely use of The Mother's Friend. Sold by ali Druggish The French Canaunians are quite formal in their New Year's salutations, using this greeting: "We wish you a prosperons and happy New Year, and may you see heaven after yonr death." ONE HUNDRED AND NINE. A South Carolina Woman who has Reached a Good Old Age on Tobacco. (From the Atlanta Journal.) "I'm one hundred an' nine years old, sonny, but I'm still alive and doin' fine y." So said Mrs. Priscilla Scoggins to a Journal reporter this morning. She was a wrinkled faced, sunken eyed, toothless old woman. She sat in the gentlemen's waiting room at the union depot, surrounded by a number of her children and grand children. One of the former was a daughter seventy-nine years old. "I'm a South Karlna gal, an' if I am old," continued Mrs. Scoggins, 'I'm still able to crawl about an' let my tongue do the runnin'for me. I bin livin' in Gaines ville for twenty year, but I'm a gwine over ter Alabammer to end my days thar." "Mar does a little house work," put in the daughter, "such as washin' the dishes and sech like." "An' she k3 ards cotton an' looks atter the chickens," interrupted the grandson, a man of forty. "When and where were you born, Granny?" asked the reporter. "On the Catawba River, near Lancas ter, in the year, lemme see, the yea, wuz L780." "How far back do you remember?" "I remembers the old war 'bout 1812, ut then I haint been a warrin 'oman." "How many times have you been mar lied ?" "I haint been married but oncst, an' [ never expect to be married agin," and the old woman laughed at her own wit wd chucked the reporter under the chin with her bony hand. "How many children have you?" "I don't for the life of me know, son ay. I've been the mother of twelve, but [ don't know where but three of them Iir." "How many grand-children have "Law, sonny," exclaimed the old wo nan holding up both her hands. "I've got more ov them than you could count tween th:a and sunup, if ye air a eddi sated man." "You've got the advantage of moat of is in years?" "Yes, I've bin here 110 next 11th day )f March if the gobbleuns don't git me wixt now an' then. I have been a Methodist for 'bout ninety years, an' I'm nuther ashamed ter live nur afeeared :er die. My ole daddy raised me up in the fear ov the Lord, an' when he went sway he left a shoutin,' an' when I go ['m a gwinter clap my hands an' shout glory be ter God, if I kin raise these >ld withered arms above my head and ring e'm tergether agin. I bleeve we'll ill know our frens over yonder, don't ron? The reporter acquiesced in her belief, ster which she turned to her grandson ad said: "John, whar's that air pipe ov mine?" "Here it is, granny." -Do you smoke?" inquired the report "I hey smoked onost this mornin', for [was putty nigh dead fer a whiff at my ~ipe" "How long have you been smoking?" "Oh, I useter smoke a little fore I wuz narried, and that's been nigh onto ninety rears. or sech a matter." As the reporter arose to leave, thinking is he looked on this shriveled old woman iow strange it was that people would iontinue to use tobacco in spite of such Swarning shown in this old slave to the reed, the oli woman clasped his hand nd said: "Sonny, don't fergit to re nember an unworthy old critter in your. tworthy prars an' she'll do the same by Not to be Caught. The author of 'Afoot and Alone" gives Ln amousing account of an encounter with Sman of an uncommuu'estive nature, in e pi?.e woods of North Carolina. Approaching Fayetteville, 1 came upon L undioubted specimen of the North Caro ins clay-eater. I thought I would ask ui questions fast ernough and directly :noghi to .rce from him a positive answ. er >f "ys" "r "no"-at thing difilcult to attain n the pizsev woods. - is thene any t2Avern on the road to Fay-' "I' reckon you mout Snd onseof you ok. d in the right place.' "This is the direct road to Fayetteville, Esuppose?" "You'll be putty apt fur to git thar, ef iou keep goin' straight ahead." "Do you sell much wood in Fayette rille?" "I reck~on tha hyar jack thinks it has to -aul a right smart chance." 'Does wood bring a good price now?" "It's jest accordin'. Scme fetches more, mnd some agin not so much." "Oak fetches more than pine, I sup ose?" "'Can't say as it does, reg'lar. Mout; ;hen aain it moutn't. Green oak kinder seeds a little light 'ood for to set it goin'. eu got to hey both." "I believe you Southerners barn green Lood mostly?" "Ain't perticklar. Every feller to his likin'." "Now, may friend, if you were called upon in a court of law to give your opinion, y'ou would declare upon oath, would you not. that a hundred pounds of green oak are heavier than a hundred pounds oi dry pine? I am writing a book on the subject of wood, and I am endeavoring to acquire information in regard to it." He gave me one quick glance, and then looked steadfastly ahead, saying: "Well, now, stranger, you kin jest set down in your book, when you git to that place, that all the people of North Car'liny wuz sech derned fools you had to weigh it yerself." He Needed Rest. Firt Omaha Youth-What's the matter? Got a day off? Second Omaha Youth-No, I've re! signed. "What for?" "Nearly worked to death. The store was always crammed full of customer's and it just kept me on the jump all day. Couldn't stand it." "Bat~what are you going to 2o new?" "I shall try to get a place in some store that don't advertise. SLAVES. They are slaves who fear to speak For the fallen and the weak; They are slaves who dare not be In the right with two or three. The most liberal are oftener the most successtul. Under the Iowa laws a person mny set fire to a stack of oats with impunity; but let him lay the brand to wheat or hay, and he must pay the penalty of his rashness. A spring whose water is a perfect writ ing fluid has been discovered in Michigan. Now all that is needed is the discovery of a lake of writing paper, a mine of postage stamps, and a quarry of steel pens in the same vicinity to make that portion of Mich igan a "literary centre." Owing to the sprlnglike nature of the winter in England, birds are in full song, green peas have been gathered in an open garden at Ventnor, and ripe wild strawber ries, violets, cowslips, and primroses are THE GERMAN SOLDIERY. HOW THE ARMY OF THIS MILITARY COUNTRY IS CONSTITUTED. Liable to Service at the Age of 17-Half a Million Armed Men Always Ready for Service-Every Man a Soldier-How the People Take It. The German boy who reaches the age of 17 becomes liable to service in the army, and this liability continues until ho is 42. If he is not fit for active service he is relegated to a reserve force not called out unless there is danger of in vasion. For nearly his whole active life, therefore, the German lives in a species of militarv servitude that hampers him should he desire to emigrate, and many be full of petty annoyances to him i- he does not. Under ordinary circumstances the German lad steps into the ranks at the age of 20. For three years he serves with the colors, the next four years he is in the ress-ve, and the following five years he belongs to the Landwebr, another reserve more remote than the first. Of these twelve years the first three are occupied entirely in severe military work. The most stupid peasant under a system so thorough as Ger many's must bestupid beyond recovery if he does not turn - t an alert, obedient and well trained soldier. From the time he takes his oath of allegiance to his military superior, the kaiser, he renoun ces the civil responsibilities and rights of a citizen. With the loss of his vote he is taught that the sooner he forgets politi cal matters the better for him as a sol dier. His life is completely engrossed with barrack routine and military ideas. His only law is the law of court martial; his only duty is to wuey without ques tion, and the interpreter of his duty is the captain of his company. With the putting on of his uniform he becomes one of an army which in times of peacenumbers408,409 men, thoroughly equipped, admirably trained and ready to follow their officers anywhere, from the storming of a Russian redoubt to charging a mob of workingmen on strike. The soldier of the German em pire ceases to be a Bavarian a Wurtem berger or a Saxon when he steps into the ranks. His military service is personal to the emperor, from whom lie receives his orders, to the exclusion of all other authority. Everything that he sees and hears in the army is calculated to im press upon his mind that his particular state and its particular public men are of very little consequence compared with an emperor who has absolute power over an army such as he belongs to. He also learns that fidelity to his duties as a soldier is one of the few as well as sure means of securing later in life a position in that great class of men whose salaries come from the taxes of the people and whose appointments hang upon the fa vor of the government. Every soldier dreams of the day when he shall possibly be promoted as non commissioned officer, and at the end of his term be given a berth in the railway, telegraph or postofflce service, possibly on the police force. The peace footing of the German army, 468,409, becomes in time of war a fight ing force of nearly 1,500,000, commanded by 33,427 officers. A careful estimate made by Hugo Hinze in The Berlin Nation of Jan. 14, 1888, shows that Ger many has today 3,264,000 men trained to arms between the ages of 17 and 45. The experience of the Franco-German war has taught that to every 1,000 men there should be at least 24.5 officers in the active army and reserve, and from 20 to 21.7 to the 1,000 in the less responsible reserves ca!ital Landsturm and Ersatz trurpen-toops designed to rprovido home defense only. On this scale the German lighting force calls for at least 77,23 officers, making a gad total fighting force of 3,4,5 a army gre:ater in numbers than the population of all the United States when it became an independent power a century ago. To this must be added 27,000 more who are surgeons, paymasters, veterinaries, armoerers, saddlers, oilicials of various kinds and 312,000 horses. To raise the peace footing of the army, to treble its size in twenty-four hours, the most careful system is observed. Offi cials in every nook and corner of the em pire know exactly where they can find every able bodied man who has served his lirst three years and is now therefore in the reserve. Then they know just how many uniforms and accouterments are needed and where they can put their fingers on them at a moment's notice. These well drilled officials besides know every horse in their district, what be can do, and what he can be impressed for; they have a record of all the farm wa~cns that may be needed on the march; they have minute information as to the whereabouts of every truss of hay or bag of oats, as well as every pig, cow, or carT that might be needed. To illustrate: Not long ago (1888) at a certain smati town on the main -line be tween Berlin and Metz the station mas tr, who is also the head of the mobiliz ing district, received an order to prepare coffee for 2,800 men at 4 o'clock in the afterncon and dinner for an equal num ber at (::30 o'clock of the same day. This o;-der he received exactly three hours before the troops were to arrive and had no other warning. 'The 2.800 men came, had their coffee, and were off. A t 0:30 came another de tachmerLt of 2,800 men. These were serve.d with a dinner, consisting of boiled mut:cn. broth and vegetabies, all boiled in fo: eteen huxge pots,k-ept for the purpose close to ah station. Each of these pots coo:s enoL h for 200 men at one time, so that w;ith fourteen such the dinner for 2800 e:mn be served up in a short time after the materials are produced. When,. therefore, the order comes from the emp~eror that the troops are to be read y for the frontier, every able bodied man'in the cotuntry between the ago of 17 and 42 knows exactly what is expected of him; the provision trains with extra horses spring up as if by magic; uniform, weapons and forage appear from conve nien t places of concealment so rapidly and effectively that one almost suspects that tile part has been rehearsed many times. people respond to the demands made uon them by their kaiser. In spite of all this, however, there is much in this huge military organ ization that fosters cruelty or other unnatural :feeling. The fact that 18 per cent. of the suicides tabulated by the government are in the army is in itself very extraordinar. Do we ever hear of suicides at West Point or Woolwich, or any other well man aged training institution? Why should the German army furnish any apprecia ble quota to the general result' t 16is hard for us to answer this.-Poultney Bigelow in New York Times. Loyalty to best conviction is an impor tant duty. Jones-Do your ears freeze so easily that you have to wear ear-muffs? Smith-No. "Then why do you wear them?" "To avoid hearIng blamed fools say so much about the cold weather." Minister-I notice that you are much closer in your attendance at church in win ter than in summer, Mr. Jones. Jones Well there ain't much fun going fishing when the thermometer is at zero. A Michigan woman practiced with a re volver till she could hit a button at eight paces. Then there came a burglar into the hns. early one morning, and she sent a bulleti through her husband's heft ear. "rO WBAT B4SE USES." Fashionable Men About Town Who are Paid to Boom Tailors and Wine Dealers. NEW YonK, Jan. 15.-The suit now pending in the courts here against young Claggett, a man about town, brings to light a peculiar practice on the part of swell and shrewd advertising firms. Claggett, being something of a high liver and fond of expensive wines, had be come quite a figure about the uptown resorts for the fashionable young men to copy their manners after. His dress was faultless, unless exception be made to occasional gaudiness, and at one time he was in great feather as a rival of Berry Wall for the title of "the dude of New York." Claggett's income was not more than sufficient to keep him fashion ably dressed and well fed. Gradually he began to set the fashion in dress, and made a name as the imbiber of large quanities of wine of various grades. His occupation was an interest ing one. He was employed by a big tea importing firm, downtown, to taste and pass on the merits of samples of tea. His sense of smell was most accurate, and he could price a pound of tea with a few leaves placed a foot from his nose. Seemingly a trivial occupation, that of tasting tea is not only a profitable business, but a technical one, requiring an artist in the matter of smell to deter mine the purity of different grades of tea. Caggett got to be much talked of, and his name soon reached the ears of a firm which imports a certain brand of cham paigne not yet well introduced intro duced in this country. It occurred to this firm of importers that Claggett could be of service to them by making their champagne popular to the wealthy fellows with whom he associated in the evenings when not engaged tasting or smelling tea. A contract was made by the terms of which Claggett was to drink publickly no other brand of im ported wine, to praise up its qualities and to do all in his power to introduce the firm's article wherever he took a drink. For this he was to receive tie sum of fifty dollars weekly and as much of the firm's wine as he chose to consume himself in the presence of associates. The contract was signed by both parties and Claggett went to work to fulfill his side of the agreement. It appears, how ever, in the light of subsequent events that Claggett has undertaken th-e i )b for no less than two other.importing firms. He drank all three brands and is not known to have expressed publicly any preference whatsoever, and at least did not stimulate the sale of the particular brand which he had received fifty dollars a week to make popular with the boys. The firm politely wrote to Claggett that he had failed to keep the contract, and the tea smelling swell replied that he didn't care a farthing about the firm's wishes, and didn't see why they should bother him with letters. Now he is be ing sued in the courts here for breaking the contract. It is well known that for several years Berry Wall derived a comfortable income from an importing firm and a firm of tailors for drinking a certain brand of wine and wearing the clothes made by that particular firm of tailors. The pay of a member of Congress is said to have been Wall's income from these two sources up to the day of his marriage, and he might have continued to enjoy it had he remained single. He was an ad vertising sandwich for a firm of haber dashers as weal, and when any one was struck with Wall's new fad in neckties, he was promptly told where others like them could be had. T. Lous Onatavia, the latest ani most fashioiaable evolution of Gotham swell who has striven manfully to be con sidered the prince of g--od dressers and extravagant livers, is said to have been bagged months ago by two advertistng men, one of whom is the agent of an English firm of tailors, while the other represents a certain brai.4 of ale. Mary of the swells wno are talked about every where in New York have lent theinselves tothisdevice of advertising special wares, and in the futnre is may be necessary for every large tailor-store and wir.e-im porting firm to have in its emplc.' a, specia' a dverti- ng sandwich in the per sort of a swell spendthrift to lounge about clubs, hotels arnd saloon, privately working up a boom in champagne and trcowsers. The Smoky Town Vendetta. NEWEiRRY, Jan. f.2.-Solicitor Schumn pert, upon information', had warrants is sued by Trial Justice Girardeau yesterday for the parties chargel with the arson in Smoky Town, in this county, and for But ler Banks, charged with the shooting of James. C. Banks. Sheriff Riser went down yesterday and arrested Rush Banks on the charge of arson. Bu tler Banks has not been arrested. Solicitor Schampert thinks he will have Butler Banks arrested by tomor row night. Mrzs. Anne Bar'.s, wife of Butler, was arrested today as an acc'essory efter the facts in the shooting case. She was released this afternoon on her own re cognizance. .e sheriff had no trouble in Smok. Town in serving his papers and making the arrests. There are good people in that sec tion of the county, sad the feeling auwong these people is strong to have the guiity parties~ in both the shooting and arson cases brougiit to a strict - - :ount for their acts, and that justice shall be administered. No preliminary examination has yet been had, and possibly none will be asked. The five persons charged with arson are in jail now. James C. Banks, who was shot by Butler Banks, is still alive, and will probably re cover.-Special to News and Courier. A Woman with a Heart of Stone. James Redmond, a farmer of Lake B. u port, is dying from the treatment he re ceived from neighbors on Christmas Eye. He was driving home in a snow-storm and the temperature was twenty degrees below zero. Half way to Beauport he accident ally ran into another sleigh containing two men, who got out and beat Redmond with an iron bar till he was insensib.a Then they put him into his sleigh and alarted the horse off. Redmond regained conscious ness a few hours before daylight and found himself before a farm house. He dragged himself to the door and knocked. The woman of the house allowed him to enter the hallway, but, seeing that he was cov ered with blood and dirt, turned him out, saying that she didn't want her floors soiled.-Quebec Special. White Caps In Spartanburg. RAVENNA. -'an. 23.-On last Monday night a colored man named Wallace Little john, residing in this vicinity, was visited at his house by a party of masked men, who threw a bag over his head to stifie his cries for help, and dragging him a consid erable distance, administered a cruei whip ping. There is no elue as yet as to who the parties are, although a sharp lookout is being kept for them. Littlejohn states that the party consisted of five or six men, all of whom were closely masked and armed with pistols. Litttlejohn is a weak-minded negro, aud was married only a few weeks ago. No eause is assigned for the act on the part of the maskers.-Special to the Charleston World. Southbridge has the largest spectacle fac The Fred. When the eyes are i u:.ted fairly, they are strengthened, nct weakened, by work, says an article i-s a London jour nal. Just as the aras of a blacksmith grow the stronger for his trade, bo the eyes of watchmakers, who work under healthy conditions, are found to im prove, and not deteriorate, in vigor and quickness. It is the abuse of the eyes, not their use, which is to be avoided. If a man is aware either that his eyes need no artificial correction, or else have received the proper adjustment, and if his work, whether literary or mechan ical, is done in a light both steady and sufficient, and with a due regard as to ordinary sanitary rules, he may feel sure that he is strengthening his eyes, not weakening them, by hard work. Men of intellectual pursuits sometimes are afraid of losing their mental power in old age, because they have drawn so much upon it when young. The reverse is nearer the truth, and if they have not overtaxed their brains, the fear is also.lutely groundless. The man whose intellect goes first in old age is generally some farmer or laborer, vho has never strengthened and invigorated it by use not the politician, the lawyer, or the man of lettt'rs. So with the <.... Those h have strengthened their eyes by usi::g them properly keep been sight longer than those who have never trained them. In the case of the man who has neglected to give his eyes their full development, they will fail in power along with his other bodily functions. When, how ever, the man who, born with good eyes, has kept them in constant hard work, and yet never strained them, reaches old ago. he may find them capable of per foruiing their functions better than any other organ of his body. In short, if people will only learn to use their eves wiselv, there is no reason why mankind shoul not increase rather than lose their power of seeing. If, however, we are to make this possible, we must lose no time in saving the eves of the present genera tion.-Boston ]erald. The Hindoo Magician. Keller, the prestidigitateur, speaking of the famous Hindoo magicians to a re porter of The Buffalo Express, said: "A trick which puzzled me for a long time was making a pineapple grow under a handkerchief. The juggler lays a hand kerchief flat on the ground, and then be gins to sing and beat on the tom-tom, when in the center of the handkerchief something begins to stir and rise in pyra midal form, dilating until just about the size of a pineapple, when the conjurer inserts his hand under the handkerchief and pulls out a ripe pineapple. "I watched his trick several times be fore I could get a clew to it. The motion of life puzzled me. But one day I took a position on the side-the conjurers sit on one side of a circle, making the spec tators form the rest of the circumfer ence-where I could see the juggler's motion more clearly, and I noticed that one of the confederates put a bag, l-ke a sailor's bag, near the conjurer's hands. He sat there tailor fashion, and as he spread out his handkerchief on the ground I saw his hand make a trip swift as lightning to the bag and back under the handkerchief, and. I thought I saw something like the tail of a snake ac company it. That gave me an idea, and afterward, by pretending to understand the trick, and by paying one of the Hin dloos four rupees, I got him to confess how the trick was done. "The conjurer does take a snake from the bag placed conveniently at his elbow. When the cobra is put under the hand kerchief, he naturally coils himself up. Then the conjurers begin their music and the cobra raises his head, and this gives the lifting motion to the handker chief. One of the first things a cobra does when excited is to swell out his neck and this makes the ivranmidal shape. Wh1en the juggler puts his bana under the handkerchief lhe takes with it a hollowed pineapple and removes the cobra inside of it, concealed by his hand. That is one of the cleverest tricks I saw in India." Pelts in a Legal Tender. From 1774 to 1784i the territory now known as Tennessee formed a part of North Carolina, anid in 1785 the Ten nesseans, becoming dissatisfied with their. government, organized a state govern ment under the name of "Franklin," which was maintained for some years. The state afterwards disbanded and ter ritorial Tennessee was again annexed to North Carolina. The following' are among the laws passed by the legisliature of the state of Franklin. We copy it as found in a speech by Daniei Webster on the currency of 1838: Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Franklin, and it is hereby enactedl by the authority of the same, that from the 1st day of January, 1780, the salaries of the officers of the com monwvealth be as follows: His excellency the governor, per 'an num, 1,000 deer skins. His honor, the chief justice, per an num, 500 deer skins. The secretary to his excellency, the governor, per annum, 400 raccoon skins. The treasurer to the state, 430 raccoon skins. Each county clerk, 800 beaver skins. Clerk of house of commons, 200 rac coon skins. Members of the assembly, per diem, three raccoon skin5. Justices' fees for signing a warrant, one muskrat skin. To the constable for serving a warrant, one mink skin. Enacted into the law the 18th day of October, 1786, under the great seal of the state.-Buffalo News. A String Tied t:> It. The son of a real estate dealer of St. Paul was married a short time ago. The real estate man owns some proey -im self, and, like some other "wvell fixed" citizens, 1e has his peculiarities. The niariage occurred in the east at the home of the lovely bride, and the ('vent was celebrated there with appropriate rejoicings and the giving of presents to the young couple. Amiong the presents was a very valuable one from the bride groom's fond parent, being nothing less tan a deedl, duly signed, anud wit nessed according to law, trans fe rring to them severan p ieces of gilt edged real estate. This was displayed to the wvedding guests among the other preents, ranged alon" thme top of the piano) in the parlor. \ 'hen the ha ppy young man returned home with hi hid huis generous fhather had himi re-' tar' the dleeds to him and tore them up. They had fully perf ormied the part they were i:te'nded to performi, of imupressinug u'{-on the bride's relations the fact that si;(e wa:s muarrving into a family of walthu, to whichi the parting with a few corner lots was a matter of no great con er en. All1 this actually occurred, strange a; it ;mv seem.-St Paul Pioneer Press. Fweddy-Cholly, I was the angwiest man this mawning you evah saw. I took a little "want" to the newspapahi office lahst night, stating that I desired a situa tion-some light, pw ofitable job, you knew -and I found it this mawning undehi the head of "Flats to Let." Cholly-What did you do, chapple? "I went and told the editahi I thought it was a grievous insult. I said it weal loud, too Cholly. I told him he'd bettah get a new foahman," "And what did he say?" "What did he say, "What did he say, Cholly? Bahi Jove!' He-he said he guessed he'd waise the foahman's wages!" To keep the head warm in these frigid days, it is to be assuned, there is nothing bette than a stoepihe hat. THE SIN OF OMISSION. It Isn't the thing you do. dear. It's the thing you leave undone Which gives you a bit of heartache At the setting of the sun: The tender word forgotten, ThA letter you did not write. The flower you might have sent, dear. A re your haunting ghosts to-nighr The stone you might have lifted Out of the brother's way, The bit of hearthstone counsel You were hurried too much to say; The loving touch of the hand, dear, The gentle and winsome tone That you had no time or thought for, With troubles enough of your own. These little acts of kindness, So easily out of mind, These chances to be angels Which even mortals find They come in night and silence, Each child reproachful wraith, When hope is faint and flagging. And a blight has dropped on faith For life is all too short, dear, And sorrow is all too great, To sufrer our slow compassion That tarries until too late; And it's not the thing you do, dear. It's the thing you leave undone Which gives you the bitter heartache At the setting of the sun. -Margaret E. Sangster in Boston Globe. Presidents' Names. It is a singular coincidence that there is only one exception to the rule that candidates for president whose names end in N are elected. Tilden is the only exception. There have been a surprising number of presidents with the N on the termination of their names-Washing ton, Jefferson. Madison. Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Buchanan, Lincoln and Harrison. The Republicans had a double chance, because both of their candidates' names end with N. while the Democratic candidate for vice president, Thurman, could not overcome such heavy odds. The presidents elected without an N at the termination of their names were not pitted against the unconquerable N. The president-elect, according to superstitious traditions, was lucky to have only one given name. This recalls the fact that fifteen of our presidents, and Harrison will make the sixteenth, have had only one given name.-Cincinnati Enquirer. That Ended It. Some of the greatest orators the world ever produced have shone their brightest when some incident or impertinent ques tion drew them out. The eloquent and erratic Tom Marshall, of Kentucky, was once delivering an address in Buffalo, N. Y. As was usual, he began in a low tone of voice. Some one in the rear of the hall yelled "Luuder, louder," se- oral times. Marshall stood the interruption some time, then advancing to the front of the platform, he raised his impressive voice to a tone that everybody could hear, and said: "When the last great day comes and the angel Gabriel blows his trump to waken the quick and the dead, :en, I suppose, some d-d cuss from Buffalo will yell louder, louder." That ended further interruption.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Beauty of American Women's Feet. American women have made Paris their second home for so long that there is little to be said about their demeanor here. They are great favorites with dressmakers, and especially admired for their little feet. The French shoemakers say that they shave down the lasts of even the Spanish women to fit the beau tiful American foot. A well arched foot looks better in a boot than in a shoe, and it is sad to see a foct crumpled up in a tight slipper and a too high heel, a per fect piece of Chinese deformity. To do Americans justice, they do not have to squeeze their feet to make them look small, and the only advice to give them in to go to England for thoir walking shoes and to learn to walk more.-Paris Guide do la Mode. M'een's Dress Don't Suit Her. The Anglo-Indian official swelters in scarlet cloth under a tropic sun; the Jap anese wear's a tall hat under his tuli trees; the farmer of Illinois cuts hi wheat in a rusty surtout; the Italinn peasant perspires in a cheap ulster; the English statesman snores under a black chimney pot; they are all as ill clad and as thoroughly uncomfortable as men can be. Who will teach them the supreme truth that the man alone is well dressed who is dressed in keeping with his sta tion and his occupation, and that while male dress is as senseless, as ugly and useless as it at present is, it is absurd to ~ e of the taste or to boast of the wis omof civilization?-Ouida. A Real Live Zulu. In San Diego there is a man who is supposed to be a full blooded Zulu and who goes by the name of Stephens be cause no one can pronounce his Zulu name. He says he was a member of Cetewayo's body guard during the Zulu war, and was in the skirmish in which Prince Napoleon was killed. He shows numerous sears and relics in proof of his assertion and talks a hideous jargon that may be Zulu or Choctaw. for all any one here can tell.-San Diego Bee. The Wrong Woman. There is a legend told in a great York shire town to the effect that, after sev eral couples had been simultaneously married at the parish church. one bride found her bridegroom walking away with another lady on his arm. The curate, summoned to her aid, remon strated with the defaulter and besought him to take his proper partner. "Nay," said he, "aw was married to this 'un, and I loike her t' best." There is no reason why this should not be sober truth.-The Cornhill Magazine. Change In Terms. Miss Bliffers (readling)-There are thirtytwo factories in New York and Broolyn where veneering is done. Old Lady-Factorie's? W\ell, wvelli That's a neiw word. In my younger days we used to call 'em linishcing schoos. Philadelphia Record. Papa Was Growing Thin. "That baby of yours is growing fat,"~ remarked Merritt. " I guess he sleeps well" "No, he doesn't," replied Cobwigger with a weary sigh. "nor 1 either."-New York Evening Sun. "It's raining in L.ondon!" That's the word whzen ai N.'w York du'e' is seen goig u lroawaywih hL irousers News. Mary Anderson:m :: a:ne:g ' :'' ingtoni hW. At a Pennsylvania seance the Masonic grip was given to one of the sitters by a spirit who had lived on the earth about the time of the building of Solomon's Temple. If there were any doubts as to the antiquity of Masonry, they may as well be discar ded after this incontrovertible evidence. Two electric lifts will be employed In connection with the Ejiffel Tower in the forthcoming Paris exhibItion. They will convey the public from the second to the third floor of the tower, a distance of four hundred and ninety-two feet, and will make the trip in five minutes, and without any intermediate stoppage. The car of each lift will accommodate one hundred per NIAGARA'S. RIVAL. WONDROUSLY BEAUTIFUL SHOSHONE AND SALMON FALLS. A River Running In a Channel Which Looks Like the Grave of a Volcano Robbed of It6 Dead - An Entrancing Scene Poetically Painted. The lava beds of Idaho are a marked feature of that territory. Starting near the eastern boundary they extend south westerly for a long distance, and are from abeut 300 to 900 feet in depth. This mass was once a river of molten fire, the making of which must have succeded a convulsion of nature more terrible than any ever witnessed by mortals, and long years must have passed before the awful tierv mass was cooled. To the east of the source of this lava flow the Snake river bursts out of the hills, becoming almost at once a sovereign river, and flowing at first southwesterly and then bending westerly, cuts through the lava fields nearly in the center of the terri tory, .-:. mied from vast to west, and abo::t : amiles north of its southern ber.ca, and flowing thence. with great curves merges finally with the Columbia. The two rivers combined make one of the chief waterways of the continent, and here and there taking on pictures of great beauty. On the Snake there are several falls. The American falls, a few miles west of Pocatello, are beautiful. Some sixty miles below are the Twin falls, where the river, divided into two nearly equal parts, falls 160 feet. They are grand. Three miles further on, and nearly dun south, and twenty-six miles away from the town of Shoshone, on the Oregon Short Line railroad, are the Sho shone falls, and a few miles further on the Salmon falls. THE BRIDAL VEIL AND TRAIN. Never anywhere else was there such a scene; never anywhere else wasso beauti ful a picture hung in so rude a frame, never anywhere else on a background so forbidding and weird were so many glories clustered. Around and beyond there is nothing but the desert, sere silent, lifeless; as though desolation had builded there everlasting thrones to Sor row and Despair. Away back in remote ages, over the withered breast of the desert, a river of fire 100 miles wide and 400 miles long was turned. As the fiery mass cooled, its red waves became transfixed and turned black, giving to the double desert an indescribably blasted and for bidding face. But while this river of fire was in flow a river of water was 8ghting its way across it, or has since made the war and forged out for itself a channel through the mass. This chan nel looks like the grave of a volcano that has been robbed of its dead. But right between its crumbling and repellant aills a transfiguration appears. And such a picture! A river, as lordly as the Hudson or the Ohio, springing from the distant, snow crested Tetons, with waters transparent as glass, but green as emerald, with majestic flow and ever increasing volume, sweeps on until it reaches the point where the grand display be 'ns. Soddenly, in different places in the river bed, jagged, rocky reefs are up raised, dividing the current into four rivers, and these, in a mighty plunge of eighty feet downward, dash on their way. Of course the waters are churned into foam and roll over the precipice white as are the garments of the morn iing when no cloud obscures the sun. The loveliest of these falls is called "The Bridal Veil," because it is made of the laee which is woven with a warp of fall ing waters and a woof of sunliht. A bove this and near the right bank "The Bridal Train." The other channels are not so fair as the one called "The. Bridal Veil," but they are more fierce and wild and carry in their furious sweep more power. WREATHED [N A RANBow EALO. One of the reefs wich divides the river in mid-channel runs up to a pa, and on this a family of eagles ave through the years, may be through the centuries, made their home and reared their young, and on the verge of the abyss and amid thre full echoes of the re sounding roar of the falls. Surely the eagle is a litting symbol of perfect fear lessness and ox that exultation which comes with battle clamors. But these first falls are but a begin ning. The greater splendor succeeds. With swifter flow the startled waters dash on and within a-few feet take their second plunge in a solid crescent, over a sheer precipice, 210 feet to the abyss be low. On the brink there is a rolling crest of white, dotted here and there in sharp contrast, with shining eddies of green, as might a necklace of emierald shimmer on a throat of snow, and then the leap and fall. Here more than foam is made. Here the waters are shivered into fleecy spray, whiter and finer than any miracle that eve. e'' .m an India loom, while from the ' . 1-- below an everlasting va r risen-iie incense of the waters to e waters' God. Finally, through the long unclouded days. the sun sends down his beams and, to give the startling scene its crowning splen dor, wreaths the terror and the glory In a rainbow halo. On either sul en bank the extremities of its arc are anchored, and there in its many colored robes of light it lies outstretched above the abyss like wreaths of flowers above a sepulcher. Up through the glory and. the terror an everlasting roar ascends, deep toned as the voice of fate, a diapa son like that the rolling ocean chants when his ea 'er surges come rushing in to greet and ~iercely woo an irresponsive. promontory.-Salt'Lake Tribune. Required of a Doctor. Dr. W. F. Kier says: Of all the profes sions, I think the medical must be the most exacting. No one has any idea of the amount of work a physician of any practice must perform, and the strain he must be under. In the first place, he never knows whether he is going to get a night's sleep or not, unless he simply makes a rule that he will not take it unless it is very urgent. Then, when he gets up in the morning, he finds a half dozen or two dozen calls, from all dirc tious, which, in a large city like St. Louis, means a great deal of 'traveling. Starting out on these, he returns for office hours, works without a spare min ute there, and then is out agamt. Then comes dinner, more office houlrs, another round of calls, and night office hours again, the day being filled up from early until late without allowing a moment's pleasure, or even relaxation. Such a physician should never invite company. to entertain them, unless it is of frienils who will not feel bad if they have to dine alone.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat. A young and accomplished Chicago lady recently eloped, and a younger sister was questioned by her angry father, whom he suspected of knowing more about tbe af fair than she was willing to admit. "Were you aware that your sister was going to elope?" inquired the old man. "No, father she never told me anything about it." "Did you suspect anything?" "Nothing whatever," replied the girl. "Did she net make some preparation for the escapade?" "Not that I knew anything about." "Did you not see her make any arrangement for going away?" "'None, except to wash her feet." Somebody says that "the man who bor r'ows trouble." It was not supposed that