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'ae People Pmees. l y Mer^ntO# and mia- Executed i»roirtjptly aftd In th< l etr lea uo thy*itoM.i Frene Yol. XV. Q — ■ i . IT. VOODimiB. attorneyat-law, Bamwell, ». C. Mo^et to tend <*n fanue —^ ; Town lot* a ml lin{'rnrrd fuTM iamla fttr sate. Will nc"0*l*t* ■note* «»f cteaml aird ifntlet -lamte and buy w*h«ol and ccen * BARNWELL COURT HOUSE, S. C., DECEMBER'S! , 1891. * **• v.%* No. I S Alliance Department. : Adoptwl a^ the County Organ by the Coun ty Alliance July 5th, 1S8U. > ' Hi, J. PATE, Associatx Editor, To whom all Communications on Alliance latter* should be addressed v 0Hirer* ef the Ceeaty AlUfaee. W. II. Duncan, President. 1^. II. Toole, Vice President. W. 8. llambrrjBf, Secretary. A. F. Free, Treasurer. W. O Britton, Chaidaj. _ (»eo. II. Kirkland, jx'eturcr and Organircr. W. A, All, Steward or Assistant IipCturer. W. E. Sadlcr^/Hoor Recjn'r. R, K. ItartP?*; Assistant Door Keeper. ~ D W. jtekliforti, Sergeant-at Anns; F. IL^Creeeh, Business Agent. " r Kxw'Utivc Committe*i—C. B. Frw, NN . ” • jftrick. W. A. Faust. Tra*le Comntitfee—C. M. Hunter, E; II. Dowling, J. M. Ulmer, W. A. All, Committee on (imxi of the Order—J. C. Me- AUllan, C. M. Kdcnflcld, W. T. Cave, J. K Siieljing, E. B. (iness. , Noticr. „ Bamrkrg, S. C. Dec. 12th 1801. To the Sub-Alliances of Barnwell County: M The rejfttlar quayterly meeting of the County Allianee \vTfl he helfl at. Ilarn- wHI. C. II , Friday, Jamiary 8th is:>2. at half past eleven <* , el<H*k, A. M. Snh- / lll«nces are entitled to one delegate for every ten member*. Secretaries will please *eml me »heir reports, a* early a* possible. AH Allianeemeii are invited to attend as business matters of importance to the members of the or der, will he discussed. \V. S. Uamukrg, Secretary. Bamberg, S. C. Do Not Leave (he Farm. When a young man abandons the 'arm for the factory, or-tbe carpenter’s neh, or any »ther business, li** runs a ^reat risk In some «if these occupa tions he may hamlle a little more money and wear better clothe* tha'i lie it • !» on the farm, hut in the long run he d**e* not accumulate anything and lie is al ways dependent on other* for h * daily bread. The mechanic i* often put out of a job, the More clerk is often di*. missed: the factory hand a* gei.ertl thing has m* opportunity for rising a In, ve a certain level, 'ilie' farmer always has a job and a home if lie is tlirifty. the meal tub is never empty.] Men u ho go to work on htruis with a will ami a pur|N»*c are tKUind to suc ceed.. They will not accumulate money ami property very rapWty, IhiI they will do as w *11 as other professions with equal In vestment*.*--4 arolina Spartan. 3^: Gheralftrjr on tlr« Farm. Many farmers bpr^h at the notion of ajiplyin^c the ppilctplos of chemistry on the farm, Cjdtfng shell an application of scdence^pfooling” and humbug. Yet fannefs »«e their sons grow up and drift 'ay because, having been educated in ^he public schools, the spirit of a scien tific and progressive age has possessed I tltem, and they seek elsewhere than tipon an old fashioned farm scoi»e for the edn- j cation which they have already gained i and for tho wider education which they crave. Now there is no field which offers more atnple scope for an educated ami scien-J tific mind than a g<x>d farm. The old- T fashioned farmer says. “What do I want j to know about chemistry? It’s enough , if 1 manure the ground and plant my ' aetxTrhathre wilTTitke c:irr of the rest.” ! But tiie application of inamire is “chemistry,” and if the farmer or liis j 1 boy understands thrgrpundworhof that T : science lie knows what kind of manure-i J is good for a certain field and what kind is good for another field, and his knowl edge may make for him or save for him 1 many dollars in a single year. A knowledge of chemistry will enable him to save the valuable properties of his manures for the soil, instead of let ting precisely those properties 1m eva»s>- ! rated and wasted, as tuey are in the case of most natural manures as jlow treated on tiie farms of this country. But tiie most important function of science on tiie farm, after all, at the pres ent time, is not the immediate material advantage which it,may bring to the farmer, but the means which it will Huje ply of interesting the young, of engaging , tlieir active ami eager intelligence, and ! keeping them from placet wlirre they will I*e very much worse off.—Youth's Couquunon. TIIETESTIYSt OF JANOS. ITS CELEBRATION AMONG DIFFER- ‘ . ENT NATIONS.' The Hindoo and<Chinese Way of Ohserv- lug the New Year—Gift* Atfimpg the Japanese—Dnitd <'u»toui»—The Mistle toe Hough. «s.. Among the Uomans the deity of the new year was Janus, the president of doors, gates and all new enterprises. Commonly represented with two faces, he was supposed J to took Iwttl ^rnto tlle iwst an l into the future. He was the lar^e packs of erttfekers, without whioh any ceremony is incomplete in China, lights the sticks of incense and burns the paper money and Other articles duly pro vided. The theory of this performance is that by burningithe mofck currency and other articles paper their reality will lx* transmitted to the friends in the other world for whom they are designed, and as most of these goods arepnx'nrable only from the priests, the reason for the perpetuation of. the fiction i* quite ap parent. Worship of the household gods is next performed with somewhat similar genuflections and bowings, after which comes the adoration of tho ancestral tab- lets. t t <a Duty having been done to the dead— for all Chinese deities are but de;id men father of the new year, and on his statue —reverence to the living follows;* all was inscribed the famous enigma, children ary brought in to adore thoir “There is one father, who' has twelve j parents, all servant^ to do obfisance to sons; each of these li.as sixty daughters, I their master). Presents are made both of whom thirty are white and thirty ' to children and to servants, all money black; nil are tmTtttjrml ami vet all imiKt * dsl VPU at this season l>eing 7 strung on a die.” In Rome M.irch 1, formerly th< , ; ^ cord for gi,ol luck, while the pres- T * ^ * nnrs •nv> wrunixxl in n*l fnr Ailiaare Haliday-Sperial Nullce to all Alllaarea. The sii|ireme Council in *<*«*ion at |n,liaua|x»li« uuaiiiiii»u*ly pa*sei tin* * Resolved that the hfethren of tiie rutlre Order !*<• request*-*! I** *e| aside and observe the tlr»t meeting in Jan uary each >ear In e*erv siili Alliatie * In (lie United States »• National Alliaiu*' I»av.ami (hat u|nmi that «lay ib » rea*! and di'Ciis* Uie national «teuian*|s t and the auh-Alliance le,Hirer ami others de liver a<ldre«*e« in iN-tiaif of the \ati<-u- nl Pnqiagaiitla Fun«l for the distaihu- tinn of a [•proved Alliance literatim*, ami that the suit-Alliance Secretary take up a (**,|lecti<Hi in I.ehalT of (lie said Propaganda Fund ami Ionian! same to the Na*ioiial S«ircUry at W a-hiiigton, l». t V* — • 4^ • — A f.ood Plaa. Mr. A. 11. Shep|*eisou, of New York, famous a* a (*oti4,u statisth'hiu, siigg**«ts a plan of reducing cotton pr<M|m tion and raising price* that deserves careful ciHtsideratloN.* II** says; “An indefinite agreement to reduce cotton acreage will not* Iwgin to meet the ca*e. I beg to suggest that a pract ical plan, nml one aliu**>t errt>«»u *»f sucrose fill re sults. would he for tne factors ami mer chant* of each place to ngri*e with each other not t<> make advance* to any piatt- ter upon the next crop unices U|mmi the pooitive MiiderstamUug that such plan ter would plant 10 per cent. J»*s* oon« u and devote the deerra-ed acreage to, corn in addition to his previous acr«*ag** in grain. Then have the planters of ; each election precinct f«irm “Ten Per j Out. t’luhs,” agreeing with each «)tlier to'put 10-per e* ut. Us- acreage in cot ton ami to put in corn every acre thus taken from cotton, for the next season. With only a fair season, hi crop of 8,«'1X1,00! 1 hales <if cotton can ho gTbwn upon the present acreage. A re*10*t,i*m «»f 10 per cent, would probably reduce the next crop k» ah*tut, 7:’-VM),ixxi hales t»r less, anti the. markets of the world would lie relieved of the pressure of the im mense stocks. A large reduction of acreage would not be advisable, a* it would tend to stimulate, production in other countries, while a sinalier reduction would not be sulliciently radical to accomplish the desired result. * The visible supply of the world is to day 1.1’Ja.ooO liales greater than for the corresponding time last year, I .T20,<mo more than in IXSI), and 1.015,000 more than in 1888. 'I'his letter is prompted l>y my sense of the gravity of the situadon ami an earnest desire to suggest ,‘om** practi**Hl (dan of relief, which, with the weight of your approval, would meet w ith aceept- Jinec by the merchants and planters of the Soutli. Flat,Ine* The in«i*t nniqne l<M*ality to lie fonnd by the sportsman is probably that sur rounding the town of LinkviUe, in Kla math county. Ore. The town nestles at tiie f«iot of a large mountain, and lies right on the Itank of what is l<**al!y Inown as Link river. This stream— which is quite large and connects the up per and lower Klamath lakes—is alive | with thousand* ami probably millions of large fish, whifh are constaiHly passing to and fro AirfWef* the tw*> lak»*s, and are ns c**ystamly jumping *mt *>f water insight of the town. They are of all aorts ami size*. S*nie **f tliem njqwar to is* cutting tip those nttti<*tt for tho fun of the thing, ami a*>1110 to slutke *<>tn*‘ kiml of nu odlike looking creature which attacks them in the water ami becomes attached to tlieir ►id* s, cansiug tiie fish spjwrently much suffering. It is tm nm*<«Rtnon thing for large fi h to be taken there whose side* are all scarred upittcuni«*qnetKX*uf these attacks. a . . It wmdd not lw* sniqineing if tnanr fish w**re # thn# (hwtruye*!. I*rol»ahlv there are not in the world two lakes more ntinier*>usly stork***! with trout than tiie upp-r find lower Klam.Uh hikes. .Ipdging by map tneasureiiictit, they et'*l» average thirty tnil**s in length by te!* miles in w idih. Many large streams «*mpty into them, affording^ splendid fishing and apawning fr<•rik.Iii^, Lrioj* east *»f the (’aacude range of inoniitainH. «m« re geuuiiM* wiiit«*r prevails in fh» s**ason for it, the water is U*tt**r nn*l ?he fish healthy an*l ixihd—features winch do n*»t prevail on the western side of the nionntains, vvb**re an almaiia** hits to lie c-ms id ted to ftscertsin nrcuratcly tiie ocaisoii **f the year. —Forest an*] Stream. opening day of the year,was signalize*! by sacrifices; white steers were offere*! that the yeac hiight be fortunate for tho state, the Consuls made oblations and libatioipv-nt the same time assum ing the duties of their offices; offerings were presented at the shrine of Juno. ! ami friends made each other gifts at find of republican simplicity, such as baskets of dates or figs, pots of honey or > clusters of grapes, hut with Increasing wealth the gifts Itecame 'more and more mostly, until complaints w«*re made that young men were sometimes Ix^ggnred by I the mifssity of satisfying the demands of their female acquaintances. The enafTan of celebrating the new year in some esjxx-ittl way probably had it* origin fu the crndleof the human race. The Himhx) religion being among the Dj«l<*st form* of established worship, it is somewhat retnnrkable t«»Tind among the praplv of India the sjime reverence at- Lwlnxl to the day a* exists aiming our selves. All spire* and office* are cloned ami the day—indeed most of tli? month —is given np to religions observances and social festivities. Band* of singers, from two to six In nnmlier, make the rounds of the hot!*** in thHr districts and an' nxfived with eonshleratiou. invariably obtainiugalms. large or small. f*»r on this da/ to refiw* to give is accounted a sin. TTii'y do not ask for char *y as on other d ays, for it ii b.kon for i .uit*sl that *m thi.y^Mky <d days" the Iwarts and pnr«c ctrtng* *f all will be oj*e i. So everyl>vjy gives, but wheth«*r to gratify a charitable impulse ents are wrapped in re*l p;i}ier for th<* same cause. Visiting is common, and all unmarried men are presented at each house with watermelon see<ls done up in red paper. A married man must visit his wife’* relatives, provided they live within a half day's journey, though he need not give them presents. As all courts and tribunals are closed on this day, it is commonly known in China as the “Feast of the Closing of Seats," and during the New Year’s festivities, which last among the poor for three and among the rich for thirty day*, procession*, with mock dragons, kite flying and pa per lion fighting are common modes of diversion. , The New Year day observance* of Jhe Japan***** in many respect* resemble those practiced by the Chinese. The gift* are THE OLD YEAR AND YOUNG YEAR. Said tho year that was old— **I am cold. I sm cold. And m> breath hurries fast * * On the wild winter blast ■** Of thin thankless Decetnlivri | Ah, whn will remember. As 1 sliivertikK go, Th« warmtbjand the glow That arose like a flame . When I raink*, when I came? For I hrimuiit In my hands ' From Utopian lands. Golden jjifts and the schemes That were fairer than dreams. Ah. never a kinx Of a twelvemonth will bring Bm h splendor of treasure o Without stint or measure. Triumphant and gay. But alas, and alas. Who will think as I pass. 1 was ohee gay and bold?” •Said the year that was old. Bald the year that was young— And Ms light laughter rung— "Come, hid mo good cheer, F**r I hrfny with me here Sueh gifts as the earth Never saw till my birth; All the largess of life. Bight royally rife ~ With tiie plans and the schemes Of the world's highest dreams. Thcn--llo|ie’s chalice filled up To tiie hrlm of thecup-r _ , - Let us tlriuk to the |st^t, Tiie isair pitiful past.” Sang tlie*year that was young. While his light laughter rung. —Nora Perry in Youth’s Uomiiantoa. • AN ANXIOUS NIGHT. I hn«l, when m hoy, always an inclina tion to lx* a soldier, and as 1 grew np this desire increa****! with my growth. - My parent* were not wealthy enough to send me to a military college, so 1 de cided to enlist and endeavor to obtain a K,. r r»lly »ll,. K ,.rieal. «..,1» favorite Now ! cra „ In ,„ iml fn)m tlw • Al th „ tiin „ \ears present 1* a nco cake surmounte*! f . * « „ , . . , < \ * * * * * enli«t**d England was on the verge of a by a crawfish, an orange and an artificial , , *.* » cabbage. Tho aignificanoo *if these ar- •*»'» recruiting was ticlcs among the Japanese wa* formerly 1 very great -the crawfish symbolizing tin* returning year, since its claws, when broken, grew forth anew, and tiie whole animal was lielieved to be capable of re- iuomnoUous. Aue pnvates ucmey»* mia* ■ -***»•«J»» *• , turns of “sentry go,” the sentry living tho orderly offlceyv IJlf.hair siooil ftpoij. relieved every two hours, arc able to iret I ,u y head lik<? »!tflFtjj!}0|ter*piratioa rolled vldwii'gny ^ice. or to get rid of I Us The latter motive the music of tile beggar* con* ist* roum* i* a <*«>nundnHii. is not impossible, for waiid**niig hind* of if drum*, rattle* and small cymlwtl*. tli***** ■rcc anp imc«l by e ir whi* h in any oth**r instrument* ls*ing splitting scr-xx'he*, roantry would en- imnuxlinte incariNTt- n. But tin* Hindoo ear can stand a good deal of noise, and a* the words of tiie hymn sung by tip* mendicants are tirie t! ti le sin •r to * up ipeil * not Tlx* fiRMC/S F. CARROLL, Jr, Attor ney-at-Law, BAMRKRU, S. C.- Office over II. C. Folk «fe Co.’s store, lar 20-t <«ko W. Croft, Aiken, S. C. * B. Rr ItCKII Al.TITR, Bam well, 8. C. A C om* cut lonul <'H»tnin. One of the simplest instincts «if g«xxl manners would seem to lie that a man should ntwover his head while eating his dinii**r with his familyi yet it is pretty certuin that the first gentlemen i f En«g- land two crfitnries ago habitually wore their hats during that ceivinony, nor is it known jnst when or why tiie practice was changed. In IN-pys* faumns Diary, which is the lx*st inaniial of manners for its ixrifxl, wc read, under *late of Sept. 22. ll’ifil, “Home UTlied, having got a strange cold in my head by flinging off my hat nt dinner and hitting with the wind in my neck.” In LqiaTClarendon’s essay on the d(*cay af respect paid to ago In* says that in hi.- y«innger «lavs ho nev**r kept his hat on b«*fore those older than himself except it dinner. Lord Clarendon died in 10*1. That the English momliers of parlia ment sit with their ha^s on during the sessions is well known, and the same practice prevailed at the early town meeting* in New England. The presence or alisenre of the hat is t herefore simply a conventionality, and so it is with a thousand practices which are held, so long as they exist, to be Jho most un changeable and matter of course affairs. —Harper’s Bazar. When a Man Is Thirty Y+ars of Ajje. All men who employ animals in work know how tlieir spred falls off with increasing ago. Race horses are with drawn from tho track shortly after they have arrived at the full possession of their force; they are still good for eom- petithais in bottom, and are capable for uia|ay years yet of doing excellent trot ting service, but they cannot run tu trials of sjiced. % •'Man** capacity to run likewise ih*- cr»*.xv s after 1m* has pass*xl thirty years; and the professional couriers who are still seen in Tmiis, running over large distances in an incredibly short time, •re obliged to retire while still yonng. Those who continue to run after they are forty years old all Anally succumb with grave Imart affections.—Popular Science Monthly. r Croft & Burckhalter, .A.TXOI1NILVH y%Tl,A.W HARXWELL C- If , 8 C. Will pracZjee in all die t’ourt* of this 8ute and iu tin* L'nitcd States t ourt*. 'P»wi»«*«l. a_F1v« Dollar Dill. A man who iiosaeased a five dollar bill, and wanted to blow it in liadly, hit upon a n*>vel (dan the other daj by which tc save and . epend .it both. The bill was given to hita by a friend, and he wasde- terwiued not; to part with it After a lengthy debate with himself he ovotvi the brilliant scheme of pawaiug the M r. t ’roft will aUcid the, 4 smh-u of «?*• He paid a visit to hisuiuto, raised Barn w ell County and all maiftere im- on tl1 ** wu - A> ' 1 *I^ n t** according (Mirunce will receive ihe j>erMmal at**. 10 I****- VYben farther fond* camo tviitton of each iUtUibcr uf the uim. ~ **» re-leemed theorigiual note.- -Phila- iiiej' -*-U VrA • i«k-4*hm UcconL, purely devoteMial, **v**ry Hmdoi l.i f*»r himself tr»*axuro iu heaven by ing In* (►•x*k'‘tlxsik. But the oltotcrvanco of day d<s U*gin and «*n*l with aim*giving. Id*»ls an* to lie wash** 1. pitch**rs and other Vessels and foi<l are to be «>ff<*re 1 at lh*t sacred shrines; every family inii->i fisxl at i hast on** Brahman, and every woman invibf* to h**r hotis** at l<*ast «*ne |**r*ounl f«*m tie friend, wlexx* hair so** dresses and atloms. B;ring tb** day th**re is, tlwr**- fore, lunch running t«>and fro, for Ihe w*iman who ha* just r**ct*iv*sl and **nter- tain** I a gn**st gm** li<*m*lf to b«* euter- I t.ain*sl elsewlierc, and thus tin? social Ixilaiice is k *pt cv»*n.. No nation on earth welcomes th«* new j year with more elalxirat** ceremonies! tiimi the t "nines**. On t!io last day of the ) old year all accounts must lie close«l, all | debts paid, foi* he who allows an indebt- | ednes* to go over th<* New Year’s day j must seek f ir his debUir with a lighted laiit»*ru. an indispensable ttccompani- l. ment, by which ho (iroclaiin* his an'ii thrifik*ssn**ss. aud without which th** ! debtor is justified in refusing to pay any thing. Tin* last day of the old yetr is by tin* Chinese reckon**d pt*cnli irly unlucky, for during its hour. th*» g iddess «if smallpox wanders about seeking whom she uia inf*s*t with the Mire diseas?*, and it ; highly imjxirtant that slie should be con ciliated, or at least deterred from inflict ing injury on persons against whom she may cherish a gru Ige. There are severe I ways of compassing this end. I j S*>me persons deem it wise to gain lier good will by leaving presents of f«sil i «nd dainties outside their doors for her use, nml as these arricles are al ways gone iii tin* morning, of course the deity must have taken them ami passed by tho house where sin* was so well treated. ! But as it has sometimes been noticed that she returned and brought the dis- i ease even where *ho was well fe*l, it rs ! considered the safer plan to frighten her ; away. Her only object in causing infec ; tion is to make hatiiSome clnldnm ugly, and if she can lx*deceiv«*d into believing them already so, tiie end is gained. S<i ; on the last <lay of the old year all hand some children are-fitted out with gro tesque masks to delude the malevolent i deity into the lx*lief that they are homo- j ly, while at the same time great quanti ties of fireworks are discharged and ■ crackers lighted, it lieing well known that all evil spirits despise tho sight and i smell of all kinds of pyrotechnics. When j the children are sent to lied a gourd is placed over the head of each, that tho goddess may pour into it the seodsmf the distemper, and in case all these preoAn- tions fail, a Urge package of vije smell ing herbs and charms is g*Ured iu the | bedroom in the hop** thaUtue deity’* n<*e may have a cchscigAtia tliat will warn her awa}'. Before dawa^on the first day of tho ‘‘new year ev^ry Chinese family of means mikesinofferings to the deities. Fivu or ten liule howls of vegetables, rice, ine, oil and meats are placed in tho cor ridor of the dwelling, and over the t**4M- teau of the bowl* incense and salt are sprinkle*!. Large packages of paper or' “mock money" are prepared„ai also gar- metita, Imuses. boats, animals and do- j mewtic uteiirils, all uf pa]**r. Tiie liea*l • of too buuaeuold comes out. sets tiro t j ‘ newing itself from a riugle atom; th*’ : orange signifying prosperity ami tho cabbage wealth. Among the Perziani th«* favorite New Year’s gift was for- ! m**rly an egg, p iiute<l. gilded, or otherwise oririm<‘iite*l t*> the taste of , tiie donor. Toe egg. ^hetu, waa tho -ymliol of inimortnlity, and also of the , year, einre out of in* appm-nt death came real life. The t**g>nniug of the year in Persia, a* well as in aeveral other countries in Asia. w;u* also celfi- brat**«\ by airricnltnral o n monies, in China tl»e plowing or opening of the fnr- row lieing done by no less a juTsonage than tiie emjx-ror HTinself, who thus lent hi* royal aid ami c**uut« uanee to agri- 1 culture. In Siam th«* hist three days of every year are time** of terr*»r, for during that pcriisl all th«* evil spints*»f the kiu^hmi are supisresl to walk abroad, while g«x>l angi lx are nnd<*r a rhuid and dare not sh«iw tlieirselvea, since during this sea- ] sou th** i-acth is wholly given np t«i th** doiuiuioii of demon*. All th** business of the year must lx* closed np liefnre the ls%riuuiug of the third day from the end. aud during thl* dread time, when every city and habitation is beleaguered by myriad* of evil spirits, no Siamese dare venture forth. Around tin* king’s pal ace seventy-seven priests weave a net work of 7,000 Imllsof thread, each thread having seven fibers, and an inc«‘Msant cannonading is kept np in tho capital for the purjititto of driving away tin* demons, or r ttt least, of rend**ring th«*m cantioiis iu their attacks on the royal peace. But the cannonading is not *U*- (iend<’(l on, for in front of every dwell ing is placed a platter containing a por tion of pig’f head and a little rice, in order that tho demons may l*e f»*d and ! so n pi wised. Those gbsmiy appr**hen- « hi*His give way.on the first day of tin* new year to wild rejoicings, for then the danger U past for another year. ’ According to tin* l**st avmlahle infor mation. the Druidsalso relehrate*! the in coming of the year \Aith the most im- posing festivities in their ritual. They were sun and fire w**r.shiis*rs, and tin* new year to them was the season of the return *>f their deity to his dominion over the day. At the New Year's festival tho sacred mistletoe was gathered with j»e- culiarly im poising ceremoni**s. For days, if not weeks l**fore, search had lx*en in.*ule for the mystic plant, which must lx* found on tin* saered-oak, and itis now suspected that the priests understood thp modern and well approved methods of propagating this plant, ao aa always to recure its pres**nc** in the desired situa tion. After it had lieen fonnd, «nd the first day of the uev&yeur hud com**, tho Arch Drnid, in n white relxj, Ms nrow encircled with » gr<*«*n fillet, ascende*! tfn* tr****, and with a golden knife severe*! the mystic plant from it*connection with the oak. The mistletoe fell and was caught iu a white cloth held by four priests. Two white heifers, which had never Ixirne a yoke, were then Sacrificed on a stone altar erected before the oak* and a procession was formed around the tree. First came tho Druids, then the nov ices, each bearing some emblem, and af ter them, came the worshijierH. The sa cred lire which had been brought from the ever burning altar was laid On the* massive stones erected liefore the tree and tho sacrifices ‘were burned to ashes. In Ireland, where the tarred fires were kept •burning in tho famous round tow ers, all Area aud lights were extinguished on the last night of the year, to be re kindled from the holy flame. To the Druids this, was the greatest festival of the year, mid fellos of v -tt are still seen both in EnglMri, Wales. Ireland ami France in severe*!, popular observances peculiar to the seibswi. In England tho j reverence for the mistletoe still has a | hold.on the minds of the people, though i this reverence lias taken a social tuhi; | in Waloe the common people still visit their betters, wishing thecaa liappy New Year and expecting alms, as they did very Iwisk. I had no difficulty In past ing the medical ordeal, and waa allowed to choose my regiment. 1 chose the Ninety-second (the (teirdon Highlanders), thinking that, lieing a crack fighting corps, it wnnld be most likely to be one of the first to be sent to the front. After joining my regiment ami passing through three mouths' recruit drill, the captain of my c*>ui|*aiiy, finding that 1 was Iwttcr educated than the general run of recruit*, and that I took great in terest in my duties, recommended me for promotion, and I was made a “lance cor- |»«»ral." my first step on tiie ladder of fame. I was proud of it. and wmteYo my parent* such letters of hope! I al m«Mt pk tnnsl myself with the queen's comimssion in my hand. But sa**h is not unusual with newly mude nonc«iinmis**i*me*l offic-TS. They don’t seem to think that they ora tike yonng twar*. with all tlieir trouble* be fore them. I found later that 1 had a great deal *»f responsibility to contend with, althongh my rank as yet did not amount to mnrli. N**veri lie less, the offb'en* spoke of lie* a* a promising “wotmrm" and np U> the tim«* Mi which my narrative la^gins I had given them no cans** to think otherwise. But on the night of Iter. 81, 188 —, I was within an ai-e of Unrig ranght tripping and of being put back for a court mar tial. Christmas In English regiments I* the day set apart for feasting and me-n tneut, but the 8c**tch celebrate tho new y**ar. Discipline is relaxixl to a great extent on that day, and soldiers may do things then for which at any other time tliey would U* severely punished. On the morning of (tec. 31 I was de- toib-d as cor]M»ral *»f a guard of thr«s* men. It was my first guard, and I mis trusted my ability to pull through this important duty without aasistance. One <»f th*? private* uf my guard was a v**t*T- an. He ha«l been yt*am in tin* service and iia*l U*en formerly a ookir sergeant, but through intemperate habits had gradually Uvn reduced to the ranks. This man volunteered to give me “point ers" and come to my assistance iu case of need. I accepted his kiml offer gladly, and resolved to Ik* ns indulgent as I p**s- s'bly could with him nml his couira*!*** daring. tho twenty-four hours that we would have to repiain on duty. At alHiut U o’clock iu tho afternoon— everything had gone on without a hitch until t hen—this man, McDonald by name, came to me ns I waa sitting by the guard- room tiro, and handing me a bottle, said: “Have a sup out of this* corporal. Don’t lx) afraid of it; it’s only whisky. It’ll do you good this cold weather and ' wann you np." “Why, McDonald," 1 replied; ‘'you ought to know liettertlwin to bring liquor into tbe guardniom. You know very well it’s against the rules, and that you are going the right way to get us all into trouble." “Not a bit of it," he answered. “It’s New Year's eve, corporal. When you've been iu |be regiment as long as 1 have you’ll^wbt lie so squeamish about such matters as that. jl’ve been eighteen, zyeai-s in the servitrte,liml when I was a ‘iioneoni’ on guard of a New Year’s eve, 1 never objected ,to* allowing the men have a wee taste, as long as they did not overdo it. Of course everybody know^ it isn’t allowed to the guard, hat bless your soul, corporal, it’s winked at on New Year’s.” „ J did not like to be more severe with the m**n than was absolutely necessary, as I though 1 might become unpopular among tlieih, so I asked him if that was the only liottle he had. “Yes,” he replied, “and it’s only three parts full at that. My churn as fetched the dinner down brought it along froo> the mess." “Well, if that’s the case," I said, “l rill allow you to have it 1 won’t take any myself, but yon must pnt it away until tonight, after the orderly officer has been bis founds and all is quiet." I knew I was not justified in giving this permission, and if it leaked <K>nt i stood a good chance of getting into seri ous trouble, but I reasoned wit]i myself that three (arts of a bottle of spirits be- tween three men on a bitterljucold night relieved every two hours, are able to get [ an honrortwo of sleep, bnt for the “hou- f com" this is out of the question. He has to post the sen tries in their turns, nttejid to the gate ami see to a hundred and one matters, more or less important, that helps to keep him employe*!. , There fa always something^stirring till 10 or 11 at night, but aftpr that the time liegins to hang very heavily. Tho only sounds that break fthe hocfurnal silence are the steady tramp of tho sen try at his post afid the fx-casi*mal snoriug of the other memliers of tho guard on the wooden guard lied. On this New Year's evo nil went welT until 8 in the evening, when, while parading tho relief sentry pijortp jxist- iug him, I tudiced that iiistejM^if hold ing. liimseU as.iMuIdkr should on parade he appeared inclined to make light of the matter and was grinning all over his face, I reminded him that ho was on parado and* not in tho regimental can teen, and also that there was a prisoner's room iu tl»e vicinity. This little hint had the desired effect, inducing him to keep a straight face. This incident, unimportant as it may appear,'made mo uneasy. I h-ul a pre sentiment that something was wrung, bnt what I could not tell. I fancied that the man, knowing it to bo my first guard, was inclined to take advantage of me. 1 determined, if such was the case, I would exercise my authority. At about 0 o’clock McDonald came to j mo for permission to fetch a bucket of ! water from the pump to drink. I gave him leave, requesting him to Ixj quick j about it, as the first “post" would sound in a few minutes and I would liuvo to t turn out the guard. He promim*d he Would lie back in a “jiff.” Ho did not come back In a “jiff." At 9:30 the “poat" sounded with no sign of i McDonald returning. Where had he ] gone? Ordinarily it required but five | minutes to go to tbe pump and liark and he had been away half an hour, Tliere ! was nothing to do but turn out what re- I mained of the guard, and to vow veil-1 geance on the abnentet* mi his return. Ten okdock and no McDmald. 1 was obliged to relieve tho sentry with tiie re maining man out of his turn. On en- tering tho guardroom tin* man relieved J threw himself on tin* guard bod mini was soon snoring like a grampus. 1 took np a llook aud tried to read. I soon found this impossible. McDonald’* aK > senee puzzled and worried me. 1 felt iu I dined to rejiort tin* affair and hrtru a , seanii mads for him. The man had **• i frequently lieen in trnnlde that 1 best i tated Ixdng th«* cans** of hi* getting any furtlier (Mini‘hment. 8*» I r-t-dv***! to' give him a little more time to |mt in an appearance. I got np to walk alxmt and Tried to ' question the sleeper. Finally I uulici-d that the sentry Had n«>t 1k***u |MU‘ing hi* * Iient for stun • time: In*. 1 tlioughl, was ! taking too Haig a reM in tin* s**utry Ixjx. > I went out to ***** wiiat was tin* matt* r with him. iMi! li*>rT**r! Tln-re was ni) ! sentry ntretclied out on tin* ground <*■ his iMirk fast asl**ep, hi* rifle litre• feet j foe.u hint. 1 kicked him to wake him. l*ut to no purixiM*: he lay liko n log. I Then it dawned «»u me that my wlndc ! guard was drunk. 1 did nut know what to do. Tie* only j thing I could think of wa* to give tin.*, alarm and have the ftttard relieved. But hen* a difficult) anise. 1 wouhl myself U> made % prisoner and n*ceiVM heaviet punishment than the men for allowing liquor in the guardnmin. I was re spimsibl** for everything. If 1 di«l not nqiort the state of nfFain* it would lx* sure to Is* found out, as the colonel had not yet come into lK»rra*'k.s, and tlu* or derly «»flir« r must visit tin* guard that night. I quickly r*‘s**lv*sl to get this nian out of the way, [him tiie remaining one mid trust to lurk. I dragged him into tin* guardroom, pitched him into a corner jyid tri* d to Wak** his comrn»l**. lie was in the saine condithm. I could get no sens*? out of him, hut I could tell by the strong smell of spirits that came from him that he was a* laid, if not worse, than tho other. My last chance seemed to have slipjied away from me. Here was a pretty kettto of fish. Mc Donald away, 1 knew not where, leaving me with two helpless, drunken wretches, and uoone on the post. Somebody most go on sentry to let the colonel in and challenge the orderly qftieer. But who? In sheer desperation 1 caught hold of a rill**, and turiitujg hock the cuff of my great coat to hide the striixs, I went on th** [lost myself. After an hour's [gicing to and fro, I heard fixitsteps outside the gate. 1 challenged: “Halt! who comes there?" “Friend," was the answer. It was the colonel. I opened the gate, and getting into the shadow of it to pre vent him recognizing me, held it bpeutc let him pas* in. “Everything all right, sentry,” said he, ... “All right, sir,” I replied, disguising my voice a* weW as I eonhl, — “Good night, sentry, and a happy New Year to you." “The same to you, sir,” .1 answered, devoutly wishing 1 might have a happy one, but I had my doubts. One danger parsed. Ho bad not no ticed anything. But 1 bad a greater one staring, me in Ihe face—the orderly offi- cvf. He was certain to come,and it was his duty to visit flic sentry and insjxx't tbe guard. Tliere was no telling at wiiat time he might come around. My only chance lay in his copiing late, so as to give McDonald a chance to come back before-his visit, or the others time to sleep off the effects of their spree, I jiaced quickly to and fro, feeling like- u criminal awaiting his time to be led forth to the gallows. T felt i did not de serve this. 1 had always tri**d to do my duty, and had hreomo quite popular. But now everything had turned against me, l would Ur sure to Ibse my stripes, and the chances were would have to serve a term of iiapriaoumeui with thy wretch*j% who liad'brought Rhis tr**uble me. If tliat happen*-*] f mighl *. " Who. ponies plfDbft screanied. v» ... • • * » “Visiting rounds," replied preaching officer. , . ' .*>' - “<inurds, tnru out," I yelled, knoNffogV J alHhe time tliat was impo{**ible, . “Never mifid the guanH.? fa every,.« -_ thing Jill right* sentry?” “ “Ail right, «i»;” 1 replied, hardly able £. ; to believe my ears.. ; * * > •’ *.. Their I board hla fixdsstfps returning... towanl tho officers’meas, and I knew I*— w:is safe. It w;is the hiziest officer in * the regimentrOTTrhTmr" of tl.pdwwt, who - Lid taken the place of anotiicr, so us tu allow him to go to a dance in. the town, ami this exchange saved me. The officer , was too indolent to inspect *h« - Tiie strain on my nerves was terrible. I was obliged to walk about for an hour, even after all danger had passed, tu n>- .— g.iin my com[xmure. Wliefi l had r<-stored mys* lf to some thing lik*! CHlinueMS 1 went to the pump, ami fctcliitig a bucket uf ice cold water, brought th** two men to a sense of duty with a |>ortion of it. I then ushered them into the prisoners' nxnn. At 3 a. m. McDmald pnt in his np* penrance.' I sent him to Join the others and turned the key oh them idl. After frightening tliem out of th«*ir wits for* “Hitlbur <*r no, they la gging and praying of me to give them a chance, I let them out on condition that they would hand mo over wlrti remained of the liquor. What was my astonishment wh»*n they exposed to my view seven full bottles and one half empty. 1 don't think 1 ever enjoyed anything -half u* much in my life as hi breaking those lx»ttles and seriug tiie liquor dto- ap[M‘nr in tho turf in the rear of th-* guardhouse. Tho remaining few honr-t paiw*-*l away •mootliiy until I was re lieve*!. It wouhl la* needless to add that ever afterward when, after this experience, I was placed iu charge of a anard I never neglected to search every R*x>k tml cor ner of tin* guar<Ih*Kise in search uf oun- oealed 1 iq nor.—Ebu i nTT *-l«-grum. RMie-rstltlirH* nt Z)m* R#w Year. SnperHiititRM f.*jv'ies c*Mic*-ruing tho new rear have )**»*»i as nnnieroos as thus*- wtib r*sr*rd to C^irixtmas. In gen eral »Im* first actuals of tiie year are re- gjnl«-*1 a* in some degree »yiulx>lizin/ wiiat is la cotne durtug t^*\ remaining days. Items* iIf* idea tliat w’.ie.i you sweep«mi New Year's yiss should sweep towanl and not fnmi the hou%e, teat your gixid luck be swtq* *w.»y. A similar n-.tson exists Aw the fancy that if you do not hnva something new •*n the ftret day rnsi will barn nothing new dyrin; th-* year. H~ii net fffflA'fiTt to afeodtjt for Oh* snperstitioo that a light most not L- tak<-n out of the house on that day l*-*t tUt-n* bn a •kvtli in th«i famil*, but why ti s!hm»M bo more anlm*ky < » iu*N-t a woman titan a iajhi is mio uf tho cnri«*Nlttes of sn|x«ratiti*Ri. In g**n*-ral Oie jid.ig-** arc against anything bolng taken (Hit uf tbo bou»* L-fure MMiiething Is br*sight in, lb** r**us<Hi being sufil- eimtlY njqtnreut. 8»*venil «im*ma which biive gr »wn *»ut of *.ho day are extrenndy curious an 1 unai'C’Hititable. Iu tin* Ulo uf Man Oh* bmiscwifoL spre-sls anle-s be- f«»rH th** d«xir and iu tliu m *ruiijg l x>ks for n bxitprint. If it points inward, that anticipation ts uf np oddiLhai to 0m* fam ily L# birth or |x*niLv.ient nt*idruc**; if, howe**er, it [»>i4uU outwjird, tho ouma is uf death. In Scotland — If New Yeareve nlglp wln.| »8.»w suutk. It liei«ik«w wurmtli au<l growth; If ru'U-lt milk smt Q«h Iu the wa: If iH>rth, muel* •'•>t«i and Mtoniv* will 1st; If <*!»**. the ire—* wilt l» • w in c h fruit; If u<>rlliuast. flee It. uimii aud brute. • Iu many cuuntries the w*-atlpr uf Oto day Is indicative of wiiat is to cause. Tli** “Blwpbwrds* I*Lakm*lar" declares, “If N«-w Y«*rir'N *iiv in th»* morning open with dusky red c'omK it denotes strifo among great men aud many rehberieNt*> | eonio that year." Dviu.ition on New Year's day by open hi t tho Bible with a knife mid r*iding f!ie first [Ketsage on which the eye lia;»;»ehs to fall was a fav orito means of foretelling the future uf our English forefathers. In regard to the superstitions of conduct it i-i general ly agr*-*-*l that the day should lx? tqieut iu giMsl d**eds, for ill ln«*k is certain t*i ful- low any and nil frivolity ua this day.— Mail .and Expr*-ss. in the times of the early Britons, and iuj ’ 7 1 g*xRmy to thmrfiaacmaia oat Franca a popular Salntatioo owe* ita i ^‘ibl not Ik- Ukely to-jnut 'thflbKond ^ | waa tBinltin* «i|9mHl » origin to the mystic plant.—St. Louis r there won no pomimlit/ df Ba ^ e,n ®iu^ipe phem 1 #o* smlfle’l ^jtolj^iijcrat. I . , 4 1 P»Rkl Clank! Clank!-Tbe out. geotiul routine uf a gtuni lb verp N * , pu nA ml New Ycar'i* Kv«*. UinnI old «lo\n dcur olil days When my heart beat high and l*sld— When Ihc'tUJngs «tf earth s-enml full of mirth An«l the future a h::ze of Kohl! Ob, merry was I that w!mcr hTi-ht, And gleefgl <mr little oms’ din. And lender iho fxrm-e of my tlarling’s faco As we watrirsl th«; New Yeat in. • Bnt n voiee—a kjxs-tor's, tioit mocked at lovo— t'nmeout of the y*m*ter hall; **Tiek-fo« k,tie’:-to*-k M —*twns the boleciu cluck Thtit ruefully croukf-d to nil. Yet. what knew we of the itriefs to lie Iu the year that we ioren-d to greet? Love love wus the theme of the sweet, sweet ■ ■” ■ ;t -- dn-ma ^ ~~—; I famdt'*! might never floeft ”~ But I hi* n si-ter stood in that yonder ghjotu. Ah*! these were the w*>ids it s|inke— • “Tick-tock, tu k-bwk"—iiixl they seemed tu mock A heart ulxint to break. Th* New Year’s eve, and again I watch In the old familiar phut-, And I’m thinking ngninxif tlmt old time when I l<N»k<-<l on a dear-one*s f.’U-e. Never a little om- hugs my knee And I hear no gleeful slu it - 1 am i»i;ting alon<J hy the old hcarthstuue* Watching the old jearout. i Bnt I welenine tho voice iu yonder gloom Tlittt'lxueiiinly calls to me; 1 “Th-k-tfiek, tlckgiK-k"—for so the clock 1 Tells of a life to lar; “Tl* k-t«a-k, t tek-toclfc"—'Its so tbe dock , TelL of eternity. —Eugene Field. TiCM<lhig n Better Life. , I ^esiiJve the coming year That t will not drink any nr.h-sg I afn—thirsty. That if 1 cannot find a man after my own heart, I will seek a woman.