Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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DR.. TALMAGK/S SI?IU10N. llclitml thc Coautor. "A certain womnti named Lydia, a Belier of pulido," oto.- ACM 10 :14. "Seest thou a nuia diligent in his busi ness? hu shall stund before kings."-Piiovr.uus ti : ::o. Titi: ihat passa go introduces lo you Lydia, ti Christian merchantess. H?r! business is to deal in purple cloths orl silks. Sho ia not a giggling nonentity, but ti practical woman not ashamed to work lor ber living. All the other women oC Philippi and Thyatira bavo been forgotten, but God has made im mortal ill our text Lydia, tho Christian saleswoman. Tho other text shows you a man with bead, and band, and heart, and foot all busy toiling on up until bo gains a prb.eely succoss. "Soest thou a man diligent in his business? ho shall stand before kings." lu these two passages there is great KNCOUHAG KM KNT IOU MUX AND WOMEN who will be busy, but no solaco for th oso who aro waiting for good luck to show them, at the foot of tho rainbow, a casket of buried gold. It ls folly for anybody in this world to wait for some- | thing to turn up. lt will turn down. Tho law of thrift is as inexorable as the 1 law of tho tides. I would like to Ibo the ambition of young people. I bavo no sympathy with Ihoso who would preparo young folks for lifo by whit tling down their expectations. Thal mau or woman will be worth bothlhg to Church or Slate who begins lifo cowed down. Thc business of Chris inobly ls not to quench, but to direct hutmill ambition. Therefore it is that I como out this morning and utter words of encouragement to those who ?ire occupied as OLKItKS IN T1110 STOUKS and shops and banking-houses of Ibo country, You .say, "Why select one class, and talk to one specially this morning?" Por the same reason that a surgeon does not open thc door of a hospital and throw in a bushel of pre scriptions, saying, "('onie, now, and get your medicine." Ho first feels tho pulse, watches tho symptoms, and then prescribes for that particular case, So to-day 1 must bo speedie. I. In tho fust placo, I counsel clerks to reinoniber that, for tho most part their CLKItKSIIil' IS ONLY A KC ll GOD from which they are to bo graduated. It takes about eight years to get one of the learned professions, lt takes about eight years to gel to be a merchant, Some of you will bo clerks all your livest hut the vast majority of you uro only in a transient position. After awhile, some December day, tho head men of the linn will call you into tho back oillec, and they will sn y to you, "Now, you have done well by us; wo aro going lo do well by yon. We in . : e v on lo have an inlorcsl in > ?ir . . ti ll i; i'h. " Voil \% '11 new lo tin' eli;:; von ?.?i woof nih. Kiiliei i:. ibo dor] or bank- whtyr.tt. yoi ; ard now, or i:< >-\n<: oilier ul oto/iir bank, yon wi 1 Inkt' b hight ii position iinij ihat which yin: ..OW O copy, .-o I luci ,. chi) Lluit JL inn htaudiiig .<uuic people who will yet have their bund on thc helm ot tho world's eoininerco, and you will turn it this way or that; now clerks, but lo bo bunkers, importers, insurance company directors, shippers, con tractors, superintendents of rail roads-your voice mighty "on 'Change" - standing foremost in thc great llnau cial and religious enterprises of the day. Por, though wo who arc in the professions may, on tho platform, plead for tho philanthropies, after all, the un i chants must como forth with their mi.lions to sustain tho movement, Thoioforc, UK PATIENT AND DILIGENT in this transition position. You are now whore you can learn things you can never learn in any other place. What you consider your disadvantages arc your grand opportunity. You secan a/Hu ent father someday comedown ona prominent street with his son, who has jost graduated from tho university, mid establishing him in business, put ting one hundred thousand dollars ol' capital in the store. Well, you aro en vious. Von say, "Oli, il' I only bad a chanco like that young man-if 1 only had a father to put ono hundred thou sand dollars in a business for me, then I would have somo chance!" UK xor ENVIOUS. Von have advantagesovor that young man which bobas not over you. As well might 1 como down to tho docks when'a vessel is about to sail for Val paraiso, and say, "Lot mo pilot this ship out of tho Narrows." Why, I would sink crew and cargo before 1 got out of tho harbor, simply because I Know nothing about pilotage. Wealthy sea captains put their sons beloit) thc mast for thc reason that they know that it is thc only place whore they can learn to bo successful sailors. It is only lintier drill that people got to un derstand pilotage and navigation, and 1 want you to understand that it takes no moro skill to conduct a vessel out of tho harbor and across tho sea than to steer a commercial establishment clear of tho rocks. Von seo every day tho folly of people going into a business they know notb. ing about. A man makes u fortuno in one business-, thinks thoro is another occupation more comfortable; goes into it and sinks all, Many of tho commer cial establishments ol' our cities aro giving to their clerks a mercantile edu cation as thorough as Yale, or Har vard, or Princeton aro giving sciontille attainment to tho students matricu lated. Tho reason thoro uro so many men foundering in business from year to year is been ilse their early mercantile education was neglected. Ask tlieso men high in commercial circles, and theg will loll you (hoy thank (Jed for this severo discipline of their early clerkship. You can afford to enduro tho wilderness march, if it is going to end in tho vineyards and orchards of tho promised land. Dut von say, "Will the WOMANLY ( ?.Kit KS In our stores have promotion?" Yes. Time is coming when women will be as well paid for their toil in mercantile cir- I ! oles as ?icu are now paid for their toil. 1 hue is coining when a woman will he allowed lo do anything sim eau do well. lt is only a littlo while ago when wo men knew nothing of telegraphy, and they wore kept out of a great many commercial circles where they aro now welcome; and tho timo will go on until tho woman who at ono counter in a store sells ten thousand dollars' worth of goods in a year will got ns high a salary as tho man who. at tho other counter of tho same storo sells ten thou sand dollars' worth of goods. All hon or to Lydia, tho Christian saleswoman. And iii passing, I may as well say that you merchants who have femalo clerks in your stores ought to treat them with great courtesy and kindness. When they aro not positively engaged, let them sit down. In England ai.d tho United Slates physicians have protested against tho habit of compelling tho wo manly clerks in tho stores to stand when it was not necessary for them to stand. Therefore I add to tho protest of physi cians tho protest of * tho Christian Church, and in tho name of good health and that Cod who has made her con stitution moro delicate than man's, 1 demand that you let her sit down. II. The second counsel I have lo give lo the clerks is that you seek out what aro tho L AWFUL KKOULATIONS. of your establishment, and then submit lo them. Every well-ordered house has its usages. In military lifo, on ship's j deck, in commercial life, there must he order and discipline. Those people who do not learn how to obey will never know how to command. 1 will tell you what young man will roach ruin, finan cial and moral ; it is tho young man who thrusts his thumb into bis vest and says, "Nobody shall dictate to me, I am my own master ; L will not submit to tlie regulations ol' this house." Be tween an establishment in which all tho employes are under thorough dis cipline and tho establishment in which the employes do about as they choose, is the dillorence between success and fail ure-between rapid accumulation anil utter bankruptcy. Do not come lo the. store ten minutes after tho time. He lhere within two seconds after. Do not think anything loo insignilicent lo do well. Donotsay, 'Tt's only just once. " Fi'?iri the most important transaction in commerce down to the particular style in which you tie a string around ii bundle, obey orders. J>0 Not' O KT KASII.Y J) I Sill'ST Kl>. While others in the store may lounge, or fret, or complain, you go with ready hands and cheerful face and contented spirit lo your work. When tho bugle suunds, the good soldier asks no ques tions, but shoulders his knapsack, Mils his canteen, and listens for tho com mand of "March I" Do not gel thc idea that your interests and those ol' your employer aro anlagen isl ie. His success will bc your honor. His em barrassment will be your dismay, Ex pose, none of the frailties ol' (he linn. ? Tell no -ao.v ";ei -ts. I lr, jj ; |!;},. ?ilh.d.?uli.' Uiosi'?pv-rsons who com i > lind ; on! (iou! clo ilk s what ought' .( I be s known .mijido tho sVoyn !> i?o li? i among tlidie young UKI \\ he t o ;i mysterious tiii win;) son ;t. hiii l> : .i ?' ' liga ins) ! Urin ' lint ? ,> ?? em, i\ . much as to say, "I could tell you o things it [ would, but I won't." Do not ho among those who iVnugiuo they can build themselves up by pulling somebody-else down. Ho liol ashamed to be a subaltern. III. Again, I counsel clerks in this house lo search out what aro tho UNLAWFUL AND DISHONEST DUM.VXDS of an establishment, and resist them. In thc six thousand years that have passed, there has never been an occas ion when it was one's duty to sin against God, It is never right to do wrong. If tho head men of tho linn expect of \ou dishonesty, disappoint them. "Oh," you say, "I should lose my place (heil." Hotter loso your place than lose your soul. Hut you will not lose your place. Christian heroism is al ways honored. You go to the head man of your storo and say, "Slr, I want to servo you ; I want to obligo you ; . it is from no lack of industry on my part, but this thing seems to me to be wrong, and it 'is a sin against my con science, it is a sin against God, and I beg you, sir, to excuse me." He may Hush np and swear, but ho will cool down, and ho will have moro admir ation for you than for those who sub mit to his evil dictation ; and while they sink, you will rise. ?no NOT GIVE \:v voun CHAHACTHH, young man, because- of seeming tem porary advantage. Coder God, that is tho only thing you have to build on. Give ii]> that, you give up everything. That employer asks a young man to hurt himself for timo and for eternity who expects him lo make a wrong entry, or change, an invoice, or say goods cost so much when they cost .'ess, or impose upon tho verdancy of a cus tomer, or misrepresent a stylo of fabric. How dare he demand of you anything so insolent 1 There ls one stylo of temptation Hutt comes on a great many ol' our clerks, and that is upon those who arc engag ed in what is called "Dltt'.MMIN'd." Now, that Occupat ion is just as honora ble ns aiiy other, il' it bo conducted in accord with one's conscience. In this clay, when there are so many rivalries in business, all our commercial estab lishments ought to have men abroad who aro seeking out for opportunities of merchandise. Thorn can bo no objec tion to that. Hut there aro professed Christian merchants in Hie. week-night prnyer-mceting who have clerks abroad in Now York conducting merchants of Cincinnati and Chicago and .St. Louis through tho debaucheries of tho great town, in order to .secure their custom for the store. There are in stores in New York and Brooklyn drawers in which lhere are kept moneys which the clerks are to go and get whatever they want to conduct these people through tho dissipations of the city. The hoad men of tho firm know it and in some places actually demand it--professed Christian merchants. Ono would think i that the prayer would freeze on their I lips, and they would fall back dead af the sound of their own song. What j chance is there for young men when I commercial establishments expect such things? Ol?. young men, disappoint ilk ti expectation of that firm--disapp"':o'. tiloso customers, if those things ave. i . peeled of you! Von may sell an e i! i ease or goods; you may sell Rik extra ri . of silk; but tho trouble is, ?j??) muy /mec to throw your soul to boot iii tho barga di. IV. Again. I counsel all clerks to conquer the trials of their particular po sition. Ono great trial for clerks is I lio INCONSIDKHATION Ol' CUSTOMKllS, There aro people who aro entirely polite every where else, but gruff and dicta!-a lal and, contemptible when they conic into a store to buy anything. There arc thousands of men and women who go from store to storo to prlco things, with? out any idea of pinchase. Tiley at e . satisfied until every roll of goods brought down and they have poiid I out all tho real or imaginary dofeel They try on all kinds of kid gloves, and stretch them out of shape, and they pul on all styles of cloak and walkie 'hoi mirror to see how it would look, und then they sail out of the store, Savin'] MI will not lake it lb-day,?' whiel moans, "I don't '.vant it tit ?hV* leaving ! the clerk amid a wreck of ribbons, and laces, and cloths, lo smooth out Uv! hundred dollars' worth of goods--ind ono cent of which did that niau or Wi man buy or expect to buy. Now I call that dishonest on the paid of tho ciislb mer. Then a great trial comes lo clerk- ii Un1 fact that they see THU I'AllSIMOXlOUS SI DH of human nature. You talk about : i behind the counter-there aro jus1 many lies before Ibo counter. Augu.-i tine siieaks of a man who advertised that bc would, on a certain occas tell tho peopie what waa in their henri A great crowd assembled failli he sup ped to thc front and said, "I will (oil you wind' is in your hearts; lu buy cl and sell doa ri" Oil, people ot Brdoli lyn, lay not aside your urbanity wli you como into a si ore. Treal tho cl' like gentlemen and ladies, proving y< self to beti gel il loman ora lady, member that if tho pri?es arc high . I your purse ls lean, (hat is no faur the clerks. And if you have a son ni ii ?laughter amid t hose perplexities of com mercial life, und such a one comes lu lill worn out, bo lenient, and know 1 ilio martyr at thostnke nu more certain! needs thc grace of Oed than our yoi people ?unid the seven-times healed . y aspcrations of a clerk's lifo! Then lhere aro all the trials wine I come to clerks fruin the treatment of 1 N'COXSipi?ltATK KM PLOY KUS. There are professed Christian men iii Ibis city who have no more regard their clerks than (hey have for the sen. blt which thc sugars aro weighed. \ clerk is no more Utah so much Storo f . . niture. No consideration for th rigid s or their Interests, Not one \v< ii of eiic?urag?ineiil from sunrise to si set, nor from January to Dccenib ti Hut when anything goes wrong- ?1 streak of dust bli the counter or a, 1 1 .y??h lin nf? fb!-"d. :. Sh \Wi rs ' . iiui. \l : ..iii rime .-..i.u-icio. l il t heil- . lei i-.; ?uiir whole ; e.. i u -i ?. n i: li 1 io sax, -' All the in 1 iii ?I ! ;iVi ..>.";. i II >.; To'.see what I ctn : '; hen i'a ri an .l-l tl.e llii IS of l.S'U?.?l. J.? i..N 1 ? AO KS. Somo ol' you remonibcr when thc war broke oiit mid all merchandise wont lip, and merchants were made million; 1 six months by tho simple raise in Ul va lue ol'goods. Did the clerks i-i ! vantage of that rise? Sometimes, not always. 1 saw ?slales gathered ii lin finies over which thc curs? of G< has hung over since. Tho cry of unpaid men and women in those stores read ed (lie Lord of Sabaoth, and the indignai io) God has boen around those estai menta ever since; rumbling in the eui riagc wheels, (lashing in the cha nd< glowing from the crimson upln I thundering in the long roll of t ie ?.< ii pin alloy. Such men may build iv 1 aces ot merchandise heaven high, bbl nfter awhile a disaster will como al.. and will put ono hand on this pillar, another hand on that pillar, and throw itself forward until down will com.' 1 la w-hole st mclure, crushing the worship, pet's like grapes in a wine-press. Then there arc boys in establlshn cul who arc ruined-in prosperous . tal, lishniOnls-ruined by their lack 1 peiisation. lu how many prosperous stores it has bein for the last lwcni> years that boys were given just < nungil money to teach them how to steal! Some were seized upon by the polka Thc vast majority ol' instances web ?ipi known. Tho head ot Hie firm asked. .'Where is George now?11 "Oh, he isii'i herc any more." A lad might UKTTHII STA ii y K TO DEATH on a blasted heath than take cia from his employer. AV oe lie to thai ? ployer who unnecessarily puts a temi la (ion in a boy's way! There hivv? been great establishments in j liest eil ie. building marble palaces, (heir iiwue dying worth millions ami millie) and millions, who made a vast ainouul 1 '? their estalo out of the blood ?md iii ? li and nerve of half-paid clerks Suca ? men as-well, I will not mention : name; but 1 mean men who have tilth oreti 111 > vast ?slales at tho exp'. tho people who were ground und -, lin ii heel. "Oh," say such merchants, you don't like il hero, then go ?lid jj< : belier place." As much as lo sa.\ "I've got you in my grip, and f 1 lean io hold you; you can't get any oilier p|i ce.'' Oh', what a contrast we seo lu I ween stich men and those Christian men haul; of Hrooklyn and Now York win lo are sympathetic with their clerks v\ Iii they pay tho salary, aiding in th; way. "Tills salary that 1 give yunis aol all | hiv interest in you. You are an iuitiv tal man; you aro au iiuinortal woman: I nm interested iii your present mid ymir everlasting welfare; I want you i<> dersland thal, if 1 am a lillie higln i| Iii this store. 1 am beside you In <'li ii Uah sympathy." fie back foi to AUTIIl'tt TA VP H X'S STOll I in New York- a man whose wee I ene mies hover questioned lils honesty; Kvci y i morning lie brought all the ck -' nd accountants and tho weighers im . room for devotion. They.sang. 1 ' prayed. They exhorted. On Vb ndii; morning tho clerks were asked they had attended church ox th? |i)'? dus dav. and what the sehnen ,\ore ahmt. 11. mus!; have sounded strahg? ly. 0)itl yoice of praise atong tlie streets whore HIM devotees of mammon were ..(emtin;: their golden l>esids. You say, \\ ''nu Tappen failed. Yes; lie wa? unfortunate, like a groat many good (rion; hm 1 understand Ito met all his oWJgution? before ho left this world, stud I 'mow he died in tho peace of tho Cos pel, and that ho is before tho throne of i ?od to day. If that bu failing, I wish l?ja? you might all fail. Hiere aro a great many young menin Ibis Oil) yea, in this house-who want ti word of encouragement, Christian en I i ragen . ont. ON K SMir.K OK (SOOI) CIIKtiR Would he worth moro to them to-morrow monihig in their places of business than . pt eiil of fifty thousand dollars ten sears hence. Oh, I remember tho ap prehe isioti and tho tremor of entering a profession! I remember very well tho lim who greeted nie in tho ecelcsiasti onl couti with tho tip ends of tho long ii' |-.? ol ibo left hand;and I remember tim other man wdio look my hand in holli of bis and said, "Cod bless you, m ?noll ie?| you have entered a gun ions pi ; ; bo faithful to Cod and lie v ill sec . ?ti through." Why I feel this ail [ho thrill of that hand-shaking, t hough Ibo man who gave mo the Chris ens been in heaven twenty-live year: T icro aro old mon to-day who ? lt buck to forty years ago, when Otile on< said a kind word I?) them. N nw i old men, payback what you got then, ! Is a '.. real ?u t for old men lo he abb; em '. ago tho young. There are man) voung people in our cities who ? ( "ne; from Inland counties of our . "..e. "'ah -from tho granito hills of tho ..?ii ; i. m thc savannas bf tile South, from ? [m prairies ot tho West . They aro ' . !; their fortune. They are. in ?aldin;! houses where everybody seems lo he thinking of himself. They want eMiiipanioiisjiip and they want Christian neut. (Jive il lo them. M\ '.\ "id is to all clerks in this house, i fi Tl Kit THAN' YOU lt TKMl'TA TIONrf. \ . ii [Wieb Islander used to think jew an eiueny all the istrength roi lim i' .'uiy caine into his own right v nd I have to tell you that every in i you conquer is so inlicit led lo our moral power. With nul lor a lever anti tito throne of U?d i ; fulcrum, you can move earth ni Whiio there ure. other .ion putting the cup ot sin to Hip stoop down anti th ink out of stains of Ced, ami you will rise l? thresh the mountains. Tho its 'ito to think that pearls were, i len ni ii drops, which, touching flin Ibo sea, hardened into gems, \1 lion dropped to tho bottom. I have to . lay that storms of trial have imperishable pearl into liinny n's lap. Ch! while you have sell, remember you have a soul ' ; Ki ve. .. .' hospital a Christian captain, few days bofore, got dcliri I ;i" add n igh t li??v ho sprang: j ... lodi of tiid hospital^thinking I lr4 i;> in.;jlio baiitloj t'i'yiligj '< '.Moe op', '.);, .: I'm wurdi C!Marget"' Ah' ne wa.4 . j^tjlliig spotT?(?? id his own j hriui): H.it it 'y jib limigiui?ry ? in (I let hieb I call > ou, yomii; man. lbj hero aro ten thousand spiritual . it would capture you. In Ibo na H of G otu up and at them. After ! isl storo lias been closed, after the . uk has gone down, after the shuf m ibo quick feet on thc Custom House steps has stopped j after Hu; long ila il merchantmen on the sea have i! . ? ail of Hame, after brooklyn, and Ney i'ork,-' and London, and Vienna one down in.o tho gravo whore. ' chi ami Babylon' and Tyre lie buried, ic great lire-bolls of tho Judgment i l)a%\ ! ..vo lolled at tho burning of a on that day all tho affairs of :? houses ami stores will come I T I OU lNSl'KLTIOW 'hat ail opening of account books! side, thc (dorks and tho men who v od them--tho people who owned . . ind-necdle stores on the sume . .otii |5 with thc Stewarts, and tho l)e IInd thc Abbotts, ?md the Bar ings ICvery invoice made out-?ill tho >f goods ?di certificates ol' stock . ali lists of prices- ?ill private marks ol the finn now explained so everybody . 'It.Tsland them. All (he maps ol' eil a .; Huit were, heyer built, but in wini h lots were sold. All bargains. VII goiiging?. All snap judgments. All false entries. All embcz/lcniCiit.s of ii. i 'unds. All swindles in coal, ?iud iii . nd silver, and stocks. All S wa i' ll lid Huntingtons, ?md Kctchums. 'H. ?it day, when the cities of this arc smoking in tho last conllagra 'tion. ?nu: 'rm A i. Vi ii: g?i on; and down in ?tn avalanche ol' . dion will go those who wronged man "i* woman, insulted God and,deficit iii ?il Igment. Oh, that will bo a great, dav lor you, honest Christian clor kl .Nh " King up carly; no retiring late; walking around willi weary limbs; hm ?i mansion in which to live, and a ronlo i ot' light, and love, anil joy -over wilie I to hold everlasting dominion. hoi?! him up from glory to glory, and I rup ung to song, and from throne to tlirnimr for while, others go down into Ihi e?t with their gold like a millstone liaiigiijg to their neck, this one shall Om i ie tip the heights of amethyst and al abaste)*, holding in his right bund the poa ri >f great price in a sparkling, glit M. , Haming caskel. (. (lund Water has done a useful ?Ol v.co in pointing out the value of tho wide-spread boliof that ivy trained ugalnit tho walls of a dwelling-houso is productivo of damp walls and general unhealthiness. Tho very opposite of Hil l? really tho case. If anyone will i. rel illy examino an ivy clad wall after a :d; >\ver of rain, ho will notice that While tho overlapping leaves have eon II i - d the water from point until it has .?ached tho ground, tho wall be? neal h is perfectly dry and dusty. Moro ti.?in this, tho tho thirsty shotts which foi co their way into every crevico of the structure which will afford a firm hold, act Uko suckers In drawing out HUN partido of moisture for their own nourishment. Tho ivy, in fact, n?,ls like a groat coat, keeping tho houso from wot and wann into tho bargain. Om- moro virtue lt has, in giving to tho ugliest structure an evergreen beauty. OH IG IN OP FASHIONS. Mau'd and Woinnit'N Slavery to ?ho Whim's ot'th os?) High tu Social Station. Cu observing tho characteristics and changes of. fashion it is impossib'o not to ridiculo thom. Wo may become familiarized with a prosent fashion and so soo nothing preposterous in the at tire in which humanity may clothe itself; but when wo look back historic ally to tho many devices which bavo been used for her occasions wo lind abundance of amusement in tho records of luxurious folly. Tho queen of fantasy has been denounced with tho anathemas of tho church, Stigmatized with tho ridicule of tho stage and apparently crushed by sumptuary en actments; but "nsiirgam" ls written on her brow and she stalks triumphant In every ago. Many of tho fashions of former days wero invented to conceal somo deform ity of person. Hoops, cushions, pan iers and other monstrous devices wero substituted to make up for certain un kindness of Nature, who had not graced all ber creatures with thu ?oiii?s to which they considered themselves en titled. Thus patches were invcntcd'in England in the reign of Edward "Vi. by a foreign lady, who concealed with one an erupt ion on ber face, and to such a height was (ho fashion carried that tho ladies cut their black patches into div ers grotesque forms, such sis rings, crosses, crowns, etc. In a book pub lished ?it tho time tho author bas pre fixed a picture of Yirtuo and of Vice, in which virtuo is modestly represented tis wearing a plain black dress and hood, with a'korchief covering her neck; and Vice 'with a low-cut dress wears no 'kerchief over the parts which modesty should hide, and with a face variously figured with patches most curiously devised of till manner of fan tastical concolls. Full-bottomed wigs were invented by n French barber named Dttviller for tho purpose of concealing ii deformity in tho shoulder of tho Dauphin ol' France, and, while tho beau monde 111 Kngland, wore their hair luxuriant, the bench and tho bar were seen with the enormous wig, ?ind (he physicians ? ap predated conjointly the magical effect that was paid to it by the world. To hide his ill-made legs, Charles V11, o? France introduced long coats, reaching to tho ground, and Henry, Duke of Anjou, wore shoes, whoso points extended fully two feet, to con ceal an excrescence on one ot bis toes. So, also, when Francis I. was obliged to wear his hair short on account of a wound ho had received on his head, it became tho prevailing fashion of tho time. Conceive, if you can, a beau and hello of tho ti nie of Queen Elizabeth, tho beau dressed in his starched doub let, his luxurious curls, mustache and beard starched to a point, his enor mous breeches pushed out to a most laughable excess, being stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, or other light ina f, ; i to nj I of which was attached a . pier bi about four b?bi in length, s(M '-inv limul horizontally freya bis side; tho 1 . !k-. With li ?i i li mt lug Ul!:' ?'i.':- j lng above her headher.?Uiyn oe bodice i so loii^-wn isled thal lt reached b> her . j knee* \.\ ? ? : t a iary.t hoop j'itrihiiigalo that extended around l?r like ;> capa cious tub, milking it impossible for her beau to impress lils lovo upon ber distant lips, and which allowed him only to como in contact with extended hands. Yet such was tho dominion of fashion that theso creatures walked the earth, not with tho commiseration of mankind, but With tho same envy that tho world now looks upon ber disciples who parado together ns tho mincing monkey and tho divinely drooping kangaroo. Tho Russian Soldier. Ile is, under ordinary circumstances, n soft-hearted, good-natured fellow, but there aro savage instincts in his semi barbarous mitiiro which render him Capable of any brutality, if lie is once thoroughly excited. Tho awful tittro cilies committed during the late perse cut.ons. of the .lows are still?fresh in our minds, and bear witness lo the savagery of the Russian peasant, and the treat ment experienced by tho Turcomans, both after the capture of Khiva and thc fall of Ceok Tope, show that, at all events in Asia, tho authorities oven encourage tho worst passion of the soldier. Perhaps Skoboleff's greatest quality as a successful general was his thorough appreciation of tho peculiarities or thc men ho commanded. Ho had a wonderful hold on their sympathies, and ho enjoyed a popularity with tho rank hud lile such as no other Russian general has ever acquired. It was Sko beloff who conducted the pursuit and harrying of tho wretched Yomud Tur comans after Khiva, so vividly described by bis friend and admiror, tho Ameri can correspondent Mac.Gahan; and it was Skoholoff who, after the storming of Gook Topo, and the ronlo of its brave Tokko defondors, gavo 23 hours' com pleto liberty lo his excited soldiers to work their wicked will on tho persons and property of tho defenseless famlllos of tho dispersed Turcomans. Skoholoff thoroughly understood his mon, and re established his control hs deliberately as he permitted unbridled license. For exactly 24 hours tho captors of Gook Topo were uncontrolled; within six hours of tho termination of that period two soldiers wero shot for trilling crimes. This circumstance, coupled with tho fact of Skoboleff's great popu larity in tho army, gives a striking indication of tho character of tho Rus sian soldier as judged by tho man who knew him best. As a tinlsh or covering for walls and collings pulverized steatite is coming Into use quito satisfactorily. It ls simply soapstone, lt takes a high pol ish, ls pearl gray In tint, is said to pro sent tho host possible surface for paint ing, either In oil or water-color, and. What ls very desirable, it will neither crack nor chip. It is claimed for it that it Isa non-conductor and non-absorbent; that lt can ho washed without injury; nails can bo driven into lt without dam? age. Whoa subject to boat, moisture and chemical fumes lt gi vos no smell, and it does not turn yellow with age. lt ls thought to bo especially adapted for I 03pltals, factories, cellars, markets, etc. NORTHERN APPETITES. Something; About the Tahiti Cu.iloiw* of People of tile Aretitr Oli?le. In appearance an Esquimau some what resemble? a Chinaman, but bas a darker skin, said au Arctic traveler to a reporter. Ho is short, stout, lull faced, very olly, and rather odorous, but genial and full ol hospitality. To a stranger some of their customs seem strange and, perhaps, a little bar barous, but as one becomes acquainted with them these notions gradually fado away. Their food, perhaps frout choice, but also from necessity, is raw ilesh, be ing that neals, walrus and reindeer, chiefly; but sea and land birds and am occasional polar bear also contribute to the Esquimau's larder. To a sensitivo person 1 have no doubt that it would, bo a repulsive sight to seo, for instance, two or tliree(Esquimau children enjoy ing what would here bo called a apiece.** This would probably bo a newly killed ditch, which, after being stripped of a few of tho larger and more indigestible feathers, would bo torn to pieces and disposed of so quickly that, if it wero not for a certain per centage of blood and feathers which re main about tho mouths of the con sumers, ono could scarcely toll what became of it. When an lCsquiiuau family gather around to enjoy a meal, their food is treated in tho samo way, but perhaps on a larger seato. A sent would probably replace tho bird, bul from it the skin would first bo cut anti laid down to form a dish for tho recep tion of tho liquid abd litest highly val ued part ot tho animal. From this basin the members ot tho family dip with skin cups, or very often some of my old meat can*, and from the car cass hack and carve with their knives, not until they have had. su die lent, but, as a rule, until lhere U nothing lett bivi tho skin and cleaned bonos. t have soon a family of four sit down about n newly-killed seal und in about Len min utes dispatch tho whole of it. Th is vms nota finio when they vyeio hiihgVy', bul when they wero being welt fed noni storehouse. You may think that thi^ does not speak well for my liberality hi dealing out supplies, but t asmir.e y ?rn that au Esquimau eau cat almost un unlimited amount at any time. ? whaling captain who wintered about seventy milos west of where 1 was stationed told mo (these never exag gerate) that a quarter ot* reindeer formed a very average lunch for an ISsifuiimvu. On one occasion of which [ know of, when a largo number of natives wero engaged in a groat feast on the skin -ot' a whale, ono old lady atc to snob excess that she soon became helplvss. and, as her friends thought, soon died. They, out of respect Lo tho old lady, trailed her out to a convenient plac? and covered her up with snow. Tho time when this happened was about vite middle of May, so that tho frost Wit* not very severe, but I should think would bo sn ll ic lo nt to causo rheuma tism. Whether it did or not I do not know, but after having lain dormant tin ... div Mir? corpse kicked off Hie snow aiid caine- ott! mady to tum; her th :>mioh. V. ...?ot. i Ole fd'l'o In Um l?vcr;?/iiOe>.. The Everglade*, say-- i.h'-^;?,?rres{.Kuub ' out, present ? world ot yog?ta.o?e bb- of a semi-tropical character/ Tho India rubber tree abounds ia sufficient growly to suggest its subjection to utility. Many of the trees are o? largo sive., varying from twenty to fifty feet i?i height, and having diameters often ?K deeding two feet. Their growth is sug gestive of many purely tropical spec rn?, the limbs bending over and taking :.wt**? in tho soil. When notched they cuit? a white fluid in large quantities, w Ute it gradually thickens and becomes dark ic color. The cabbage-palms aro the most, conspicuous objects throughout tyla regions. They grow on all islands anti on tho outskirts. Their appearance 'rn a windstorm is very much like ii cluster of inverted umbrellas braced against a gale. Tho cypress presents the sain? peculiar appearance hero as elsewhere. Its roots bond over, above ground unit water, with an appearance not unlike & human knee when doubled. These iw numerable projections, appropriately termed "cypress knees,V aro iindoubL* edly tho culmination of an effort on th? part of nature lo proposal o new tree*,, with thc result of producing nutt, niontary trunks. Buttonwood, ash and other trees aro fourni on tho islands, and intersperse tho environing cl lim ps ot woodland. Tho most dense se mk tr?pjenl growth lies between Mi M? Okeechobee and the sawgrass. I lei o '? .. a belt of t rees comprising every specie? of tho logions, thickly Intorlaced with tho vinos of gourd, amt often forming iv. solid, almost impenetrable, wall. Japanese Eoot-Ooar. In Japan children's shoes aro analab&i blocks of wood secured with cord?.. Tho stocking resembles a roi Hon,, having a place for the groat toe. A.v these shoes are lifted only by the toecty the heels make a rattling sound as Ul ai? . owners walk, which is quito stunning, . ina crowd. They aro not worn, im ? house, as they would injnro tho swt'l straw mats with -which tlvo doors au?? covered. Yon leave your shoes nt the. door, livery house ls built with refer ence to the number of mats required fov the floors, euell room having from oiglCJ to sixteen, and in taking lodging- y?i?4? pay fora mat. They think it estira va gant in ns to reqire a whole room ourselves. Tho Japanoso shoo g i wet perfect freedom to tho font. Tho beauly of tho human foot ls only seen in. thu Japanese. Thoyhavono corns, nov im growing nails, no distorted joints. ?tw toes aro cramped until they are deform., ed, and aro in danger of oxtinm.'oa* The Japaneso have tho full uso oil '.hoia toes, and to them they aro aim:.sb like lingers. Nearly every mocbaui. rna"taw uso of his toes in holding Iv'.v woiOk, Every too is fully developed. Th/m shoos cost a penny, nutt wilt best s'ix. months. Iiux?la's coal l?elas ou tho i>.aei,. ocr*, and In its neighborhood are- ?limotv), equal in exton? t > thoso ?? U?reat Britain, but, whereas England yrtxhiiMrs 100,000,000 and 15O,O00,0'>(> tons a yow, tho yiel 1 of tho Russian coal mince, v&r tho last year for which statistics tnt* attainable, was about lU.i.OOiV