The ledger. [volume] (Gaffney City, S.C.) 1896-1907, April 28, 1898, Image 3

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

THE LEDGER: GAFFNEIT, S. C., APRIL 28, 1893. 3 REMiMBtR. F^nitSTTjl^r mo whon I am roiio nwny, O^mi !ar away Into tho gilent land, WVjfc) you can no moro hold nic by the hand, Nor 1 \u'lf turn to ro, yet turning stay. Bcmoial or iuo whi n no more day by day ^i u tell me of our future that you planned. Only remember me. You undcrsti^.d. It will bo late to counsel thea or pray. Yet if you should forgot me lor awhile And afterward remember do not priere, For if the darkness and eorruption leave A ve-itigo of the thoughts that on<e 1 had. Bolter by far you should forjvt and sinflu Than that you should roiiii'inl oi and Is 1 sad. —Christina Rossetti. A TRAIN ANNULLED. “Febrnnry IHtb,” snitl Train Dis patcher Wooro as bo wrot^tbe date in the blank ttpace at tho top of his train sheet. “I shan’t forget that date very soon.” ‘‘Why not? Are you a believer in mysterious things happening in cou- uectiou with the figure 13?” asked Hay den, the ‘‘third trick” man, who had just come in at midnight to relievo the ''second trick” dispatcher and .taka charge of tho trains on tho road. “No, not particularly; but dates sometimes recall events. No, there’s no story, at least not now. ” Then, after writing out a brief transfer and watch ing his relief sign it. Moore put on his coat and bat and started to go. At tho door he turned to say: ‘‘There are no extras. Nos. 1(> and 13 are annulled. JNo coal at McHenry for the north, so we decided rot to ran a 13 today. Good night!” Tho footstep on the stairs difd away, and tho man in charge looked over the nicely kept trriu sheet of tho day pre vious with a critical eye. The new train sheet just dated was immaculate save for the word “annulled” written in tho spare reserved for freight trains 1(1 and 13. After carefully examining tho posi tion of trains end ‘‘putting out” a few orders everything was in such good tunning shape that Hayden had a long period of quiet. Ho filled and lighted a well seasoned brier wood and sat smok ing meditatively. A train reported **by” some way station now and then was all that broke the silence of the night. The click of tho single sounder fell musically on the « ar of tho lonely Me man. Hut ho was not alone. lie did not feel isolated when he knew that out on that lino were 35 wide awake men in instant reach and a dozen trains all within his immediate touch. The dis patcher looked up expectantly as ho hea^d tho operator at Muldrow’s Moun tain coll, it was probably tho same old question: “Is 13 running tonight?” Ho opened his key and answered the call front tho mountain station. "There’s something coming up tho hill from the north,” ticked out tho sounder. A glance at tho train sheet showed the dispatcher that there was nut a train within 35 miles of Muldrow’s Mountain. _ “You’re off on that,"said he, smil ing at the thought of a joke on Opera tor Kemp mistaking the full moon for a headlight or an early morning saw mill whistle for that of a locomotive. "There's nothing coming south, and No. 33 is at Cordelia Junction.” "No, I heard them coming out of the tunnel and can see the headlight now," said tho man at the mountain. "Hold them,” was tho laconic order from the dispatcher. Tho operator at Muldrow’s Mountain rushed to tho door. A glance showed him that his signal lamp on the top of tho station was burning brightly, its red orb turned toward thde approaching train and plainly visible a quarter of a mile to the north. When he reached the front of tho office, tho engine of the train was almost abreast of him. He saw a dull, smoke bedimmed headlight and noted that tho engine was clouded iu steam, aa if the cylinder cocks were open, and the wet, vapory cloud hung about the huge black boiler and shroud ed tho cab so that the engineer and tire- man were not visible. The operator saw iu tho cab a bright red spot in tho side of the little lamp over tho steam gauge. It was tho only thing plainly visible through tho mist. Kemp saw that it was a "light train” and engine and a caboose. He know that they were not going to stop, us tho train was then running fully 18 miles an hour. Tho next instant tho caboose was op posite him, tho palo green side lights gleaming balcfully through the fog. Before Operator Kmup had recovered from his astonishment the train had passed tho station and was beyond the range of his vision. A minute late*- ho had communicated to tho dispatcher what hail happened, and then ho sat and listened to tho sharp snapping of tho sounder while tho man in authority gave an order to Cordelia Junction to hold No. 23 for an "extra south, en gine unknown, ” and sent instructions , to have tho train got in on tho side track and wait. At Cordelia Junction tho telegrapher had hoard all that had passed between Muldrow’s ttud the dispatcher’s office, and after ho had delivered tho orders to the crew of No. 33 ho stepped outside to tako a look at his signal lamp. If the man at Muldrow’s hud let his sig nal go out and a train got by there, he didn’t propose to have it occur at his station. Then, as a mariner casts km an chor to windward, ho returned to the olliro and trimmed and lighted a rod lantern. No. 33 was "in to clear" away down on the "Y," and tho operator at Cor delia was alone. An hour passed, and ho hear^l nothing of tho extra from the north. Anotln r hour was nearly gone when be heard the roar of an approach ing train, then four short blasts of No. 22’h whistle as u peremptory demand for "signals, ” hut bo heard no reply to the call. Then the extra was on him Ho saw they were running too fast to atop at his station; he noted that tin y tad not whistled for tho railroad rross- itig aud were taking no notice of his ntioa signal. Bickiugnp bis rud lump, ho swung it across the track iu front of the engine. Tho train did not slacken its pace, hut bore steadily on. The man saw the smoked headlight—.saw there was no number displayed there iu ac cordance with the strictest of rules. In an instant more the wild train bad pass ed Cordelia Junction regardless of all signals, and tho stupefied operator heard it whistling a county road crossing u tjnarter of a mile to tho south of him. Thirty minutes later Nate Anderson, tho watchman at Big Cliffs bridge, was , preparing his bunk for a two hours’ nap before his relief should come. Sud denly he stopped and listened. Surely that rumbling was a train from tho north. A moment later ho hoard a hoarse whistle, and, taking up his flag j and lantern, the watchman went out to flag the train over. As he reached tho j platform ho saw dimly through tho fog a headlight coming on tho bridge 300 yards away. Raising his white light to I “Rag tho train across,” Anderson was looking at tho approaching train whmi i suddenly the headlight gave a great lurch, ho saw the gleam of two green ; lamps, and then all disappeared. An | instant later he heard a frightful crash j of broken timbers, tho hiss of escaping steam and cries drowned out by horri ble gurgling sounds and the rushing of waters 200 feet below tho bridge. Ten minutes later ho had aroused the sec tion gang, and they all went to tho bridge together. Climbing down tho framework of the bridge to the creek, no signs of disturb ance or disaster could be found. There was nothing unusual about the little crock. Tho shallow bottom was plainly visible when tho men swung their lan terns down to peer into its clear waters, nor was there a bolt or a rivet displaced about the great new steel structure. • ••*••• When Superintendent Belford of tho I southern division came to his offica tho next morning, there was the usual stack of correspondence awaiting him. Ilis clerk had it all opened aud nicely sort- | ed, as was his custom. There were three telegraphic reports that claimed ! the great man's attention at ouca. All three bore on the same subject, and nn exasperating subject it was. The first mossago was from the dispatcher’s oflico and was to tho effect that the operator at Muldrow’s Mountain bad reported a train coming south at 3:10 a. m., when the train sheet showed that there was no train on tho road within miles of him, No. 13 having been annulled and no extras running. The report further stated that the operator had ifeisted that an engine and caboose had disre garded his red signal and passed south ! at 3:13 :t. in., aud that no amount of , arguing would make tho man change bis statement. Attached to this was a second tele graphic report over tho chief train dis patcher’s initials, stating that No. 22 had been held at Cordelia Junction to await the wild engiuo reported as "by Muldrow’s Mountain at 3:13;” that 22 was delayed 1 hour and 35 minutes thereby. This account ended with the following:"Litchfieldoperator has seen nothing of the wild engine, and Leroy’s gravel train ran from Cordelia Junction ‘ to Litchfield aud reports ‘no train or engiuo between thes.o points.’ ” The second report was from tho con- I ductor of the fast freight, No. 22, and 1 briefly stated that they were delayed 1 hour aud 35 minutes at Cordelia Junc tion waiting for an extra, light engine and caboose, which passed tho Junction i south at 4:43 without whistling sig nals. The report of tho station agent at Cordelia Junction said: “Extra engine aud caboose south by 4:45. Disregarded station signal aud failed to whistle rail road crossing.” The superintendent read these twice over carefully. Then he read tho morn ing report from tho transportation do- , purtment, and he noted that there were "no extra trains,” and thaftraius No. 13 and 1« were annulled.” This, then, was tho question that surg ed through the superintendent's brain and threatened to overwhelm him: "What was the light engine? Whence came it and whither had it gone?" Turning to his clerk, Belford said, "Have the crew of No. 22 come to my office as soon us they get in.” Then ho wrote out several telegrams that were to set tho machinery iu motion for an immediate investigation. For trains to run over his division without orders ami disregarding signals was a serious matter—an alarming mutter, iu fact. A full statement from the night oper ators at Muldrow’s Mountain and Cor delia Junction aud a talk with tho crew of 22 would probably clear it up. Thti.tiiiU: portation department knew nothing more than the report by wire had shown. The sole representative of the motive power department who could throw any light on the case was tho en gineer of No. 22. None of 22’s crow was too well pleas- ! od at the peremptory summons to ap- | pear "on tho carpet.” They were tired, sleepy aud worn out, and it is not a pleasant thing to ho called up before the high tribunal of railroad life with out knowing what charges are pending. An hour later found the train crew, Master of Transportation Rninsford and Superintendent of Motive Power Small assembled in tho superintendent’s office. Tho two latter were at desks provided for them, aud tho investigation had be gun. Tho evidence of tho fireman and brukemuu was of no value, as they were inside when the wild engine passed and saw nothing of it. Conductor Blair’s statement was commonplace enough. He was hold for orders at Cordelia Junction and got a "hold order” for an extra south, number of engine not given. The extra had delayed them and passed at 4:45. They wero on the "Y" waiting, aud tho switch was set. for the main lino. This closed his statement, aud ho was about to leave when the su perintendent said: "Wait a minute, Blair ; one more question. Was there any number on tho caboose or anything yon could identify it by?" "There wasn't any number I could boo, but, come to think of it, there wasn’t any cupola on it. The side lights were bnruing bright. I didn’t see tho headlight of the engine.” , Tho engineer’s story was practically tho same. They were too far down tho "Y” from the main track to pen it plainly, but ho thongbt the headlight was " burning up, ”uu expression which means that the wick was turned too high and th-> lamp smoking, so that the reflector was dull, the glass blurred aud tho headlight rendered practically ? no value. He could not for this reason tell whether ihere was a number on the headlight or not. When asked as to any pecnliarities about the engine, he said thoughtfully: "She seemed to be foam ing or something. She wasn’t popping off, but she had a mighty lot of steam about her, as if she t.;d a leaky steam Chest, They didn’t whistle signals, aud I pulled my whistle four times, but got no answer, and they didn’t stop. About the engine. I did notice she wasn’t a straight shot, extension front engine, but she had the old stylo diamond stack. I thought it might bo one of the old ones run over to tho shops or to a work train.” T1 ’ closed the bearing, and when the crew were gone tho officials began to confer. Tho two department repre sentatives admitted that they were all at sea. A coy brought in a bunch of telegrams at ais moment. Among them were elahora' d statements from tho two night ope .tors who had seen tho light train, but nothing of particular value was added. That ended tho evi dence. Nothing more could be gained from any point. Tho three officials made a recapitulation of the reports and statements, but 'hey didn't seem to ar rive at any coni lusiou. No engine and qaboose had left Termini, an engine and caboose had passed Muldrow’s Moun tain and CordeLa Junction, aud that was all. "How long have you been on this read:” asked Belford, turning sudden ly to tho superintendent of motive pow er. “Eight years tb ; s summer,” replied Small. “When wero tho straight shot stack, extension front engines put on this di vision?" "Wo got tho first one six years ago and have replaced *'10 old ones each year, until there are i it two left. One, tho 70, is on the gravel train, 250 miles from here, aud the other has been in the shop for a month and has no pony trucks under her. ” Then addressing himself to Rains- ford ho asked, " When was it wo adopt ed the cupola caboose?" "Nino years ago, iu 1883,’’ said tho master of transportation after a mo- ! ment’s thought. 1 Thou after a few moment's cousulta- I tion the heads of tho respective depart ments returned to their offices, and the high official sat looking out of his win dow, away across tho river, far out over tho Ohio falls, where the clear blue wa ters were curling gracefully down to bo churned into lacy foam on the rocks be- hnv. But he was not thinking of tho water or the rocks. Superintendent Belford roused him self. He was not a dreamer, though ho had wasted a whole hour. It was noon, • the screaming whistles told him, and what ho had expected to clear up in an hour ho had spent half a day over, and it had now deepened into a positive mystery. "There is but one more man to see. Ho may bo ablo to clear this up some way, ” mused the great man. “I thought he would bo hero by thy time.” Tho door opened at this moment, and Super intendent Belford arose and, holding out his hand, said cordially: "Good morning, Mr. Moore. I sent for you to see if you could help us to clear up a matter of a wild engine on our divi sion last night.” Dispatcher Moore bowed gravely aud took the chair the superintendent had motioned him to. "Hero are the correspondence and all tbo memoranda we have gathered. Tho chief dispatcher says you have boon on tbo road longer than any of us aud flunks you cau make something out of this." “I will see what I can find," said tho dispatcher briefly. Belford returned to tho window and left tho man looking over the papers. Belford had met the dispatcher but once previous to this, but he had often heard him spoken of as a man of great capacity aud an extensive knowledge of railroad affairs. As he looked at him f»ow lie noticed that Moore was a young man, perhaps 35, with dear blue eyes, a strong, square jaw, a drooping blond mustache and a pleasant but grave face. His hair was slightly gray at the sides, and taken altogether Moore was a dis tinguished looking man. Belford won- dered why this capable man had re fused promotion, preferring to remain a second trick dispatcher, a position he had now held for 14 years. Thirty minutes passed before Moore shoved buck tho papers ho hud been carefully reading, aud leanlug back in his chair looked steadily at the ceiling fat full two minutes. MONEY OF THE PAST., cooking accidents. FIPPENNY BITS, YORK SHILLINGS, PICAYUNES AND COPPERS. An Interesting Sketch of Subsidiary Coin age, “Shinplaster” ami “Chicken Feed” Currency That Flourished B fore Our Present System. Referring to tho word "picayune, ” it may not be uninteresting to give a ' sketch of subsidiary coinage and cur- Ihlngs That Are Good to Know In Mo ments of Emergency. , "Accidents will happen,” and in spite of the severe teaching that they happen only because of carelessness our ! sympathies go out t-i tho victims thereof. ! In no department of the house are no- : cidents so certain and so deplorable as in the kitchen. We cannot wonder that itooks are so often cross, j Tho mistress gives her orders late or alters them at the last moment, the reucy as used iu the past aud tho vuri- tradespeople are late in delivering; the ous names under which it was known. In Ohio in 1844 and previously there was a good deal of foreign coin in cir culation, mostly Spanish, with some of tbo old state coinage of different stales occasionally making its appearance. One of tho most plentiful of these for eign coins was a piece which passed current for (1% cents. In Ohio this was known as a fippenuy bit—a contraction, probably, of five penny bit. The half dimes of American coinage were also becoming frequent at that time aud as a distinction between the half dime and tho fippenuy bit tho former was con tracted to the word "lip.” The dime went under its lawful name, while the old Spanish double of tho fippenuy bit was known as tho "bit,” and the Span ish and Mexican quarter dollars were nearly always referred to as "twohits. ” The latter term, I think, still obtains in reference to quarter dollar American ! pieces iu some sections. There was also a New York state "two bit” coin, as well as a “bit” of the same coinage, which was sometimes called the “York shilling.” The Fine Tree State shilling, coming from Maine, was sometimes seen, hut not much used. Its value was sunposed to bo 1(12-3 cents. Tho oi l fashioned big copper cent of American coinage was plentiful, while occasion ally an English halfpenny of copper was found floating around, generally passing on the same basis as fcbo American cop per cent. Queen Victoria’s head was then shown on the English halfpennies. Later, when as a buy I removed with my mother to Illinois, I met my lirst stumbling block in money names. There the fippeny hit was the picayune, while tho lip had its proper name of a half a dime, or 5 cents. But tho large coins retained tho old names, as did the copper cents. As near as I cau learn, the term picayune originated with the French, who had settled fcit. Louis and had settlements at points all tho way from New Orleans to St. Louis and tho farther northwest, aud their names for money predominated in that region. Still later, when I had strayed away to New York statu, I again encountered now names fbr money. There everything was based on tho "shilling,” which represented 12 Uj cents. A quarter of a dollar was always "2 shillings,” aud all sums under $100 wero calculated on tho same basis. When I asked .he prico of board, I was told it ranged from 10 to 30 shillings a week. Tho prico of a suit of clothes was generally stated in shillings. That was all right for the natives, but I confess I hud frequently to brash up my arithmetic to get at what 33 shillings, 22 shillings, 17 shil lings, or some other high number, amounted to. It was all clear enough when it was 2, 4 or 0 shillings, but when it got above the dollar it required some "ciphering” on the part of a HER PRESCRIPTION. A LITTLE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T CZ BLUFFED BY THE CLER^' "Well, Mr. Moore, do you know’ what that wild engine was?" "No, sir, 1 do not,” was tho prompt reply. "Have you any theory?” asked Bel ford, with a perplexed look. "Yes,” answered Moore, after a mo- inmt’s deep thought. "Get tbo accident report of Feb. 13, 18 7W, aud see what it says. ’ ’ Without a word the superintendent turned to tho perfectly arranged tile ease, and in u minute took down a big look with "1879” iu gilt figures on the back. Laying tho hook on the desk, they tarned to tho date mentioned and read: Fkbhuaky 13, lure. 'Srnin No. Ill, rngino 618, Conductor Collini, fliWlncer Carlin, with caboonn, left Termini nt tiXlu. in. to run light to McHenry for n train (<f coni. No. IU inu.-rt-d Muldrow’s Mountain at 11:18, Cordelia st 4:46, struck broken rail on CIKTm bridgo idxmt 6:16 a. m., niui engine jnd caboose fell '.'uu feet .Into Big Cliffs crick. Entire crow killed. ■—Frank E. Wolfe iu Short Stories. stranger to get correct resnlts. Tho 3 cent piece, originally coined in silver, came into general circulation iu the north about 1850 and was later made iu nickel, being coined iu tbac metal about the same time as the pres ent nickel 5 cent piece. Some time before the civil war tho old fashioned copper cent was replaced at the mint with the present small cop per cents and the 2 cent pieces. Later tho first nickels were made, but almost went ont of circulation during tho war, aud were succeeded by the fractional currency of that day, issued iu 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent bills. They were never very popular with tho masses and were look ed upon by the government as a tem porary expedient. Tho most popular designation for them was “shiuplas- ters, ” though iu Memphis and some other parts of tho country they were re ferred to us "chicken feed.” During the war there were many ether substitutes for money, mostly iu the form of cardboard promises to pay ev erything from a drink of whisky or a ride on the cars to a suit of clothes; from u quart of milk or a pound of beefsteak to a week’s salary. They have dropped out of m'o in most sections amd in their place Uncle Sam’s coppers, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars aud "dollar of tho daddies” now reign supreme.—John Spangler iu Galveston News. Incident of » Tin Soldier. Jndgo Smith tells an aninsing story of a certain major on Governor Powers’ staff which instances tho peculiar na- tare of the tin and tho real soldiers. When Grant’s monument was dedi cated iu Now York, Governor Powers, with his fine array of "tin soldiers” in their gilt aud gold attended. Among them was a major or two, of course. In tbo course of the day an opportunity presented itself for all the governors of the states to meet President McKinley. Major McKinley is particularly proud of his war record and loves tho uniform of tho soldier. "Well,” said Judge Smith, "one of Governor Powers’ majors shook hands with President McKinley. It was some thing like this: ‘Allow me, Major Mc Kinley, to introduce to you Major So- and-so of Maine.' "‘Delighted to see you, major,'re plied President McKinley, grasping the major from Maine by the hand. ‘I am always pleased to meet a soldier of my own rank.' It is said that every gilt button on tbo Maine major's (filiform was burst asunder by tho elasticity of tho prido which welled up iuthe Maine major’s breast. The worst of it was, ” continued J edge Smith, "that became home to Maine and told it. “—Bangor Commercial. fire is smoky, etc., with the result that flurry and a certain amount of loss of ; temper on all sides end in numerous small accidents that still further jar the family peace. But for most of these untimely events some sort of remedy is possible, aud let us begin with cooking accidents to soo what may ho done. Y’ocr potatoes may be overboiled till | they are broken and watery. Remedy—Drain off all water possible, i Put them, still iu the saucepan without | tho lid, over the fire and stir about well with a wooden spoon till the water has evaporated and they have become floury. I Then see there are no lumps left; add salt, pepper, u nice lump of butter or dripping and a little milk. Mix end heat well aud serve as mashed potatoes. ! Ur it may bo that tho boiled fish has suffered tho same fate. | Remedy—Quickly remove skin and bones, keeping the flesh ia as largo 1 flakes as possible. Make aa egg .sauce precisely as you intended to do for the boiled fish. Put ' the flakes into this and heat, but do not , stir. Arrange toast on a dish, sprinkle with chopped parsley, pour iu the li.-h and serve as a fricassee or as cusk a la creme, the latter being browned iu the oven. Custards curdle from a moment’s ten long contact with tho tiro. Remedy—To each pint of milk used in the custard allow two teaspoonfuls of cornstarch, mix with a littlo cold milk and strain tho curdled custard into it. Stir over the fire and let it boil; then j add a beaten egg, sugar and flavoring to j taste aud takeoff the lire atonce. Serve as originally intended. Mayonnaise sauce often insists upon curdling. No one cau more than guess why. When it happens, it is generally because the ingredients were not cold enough or the oil was added too fast. Remedy—Take a fresh cold egg, chill tho old sauce, then add it drop by drop to the yolk of the fresh egg. Stir one way all tho time. White sauce or soup may be slightly discolored by a soiled pan or spoon or by the burning of tho flour used. Remedy—Turn it into a brown sauce by adding a littlo caramel or into u green one by using spinach juice, or you might add raw yolks of eggs until it is changed to a golden yellow. When brown soups and sauces arc pale and pasty looking, adu more brown ed flour stirred smooth iu water or caramel. Sauces are sometimes thin and "run ny” because the proportions have been mistaken, or they are too thick for tho same reason. , Remedy—For thin sauces add extra flour mixed thin with milk or water. Add to the sauce and bring to a boil. For thick sauce mid milk, littlo by lit tle, until the sauce is of the right con- ! sisteucy. When jelly or custard is turned from a mold, it sometimes breaks. ; Remedy—Break into small bits, heap high in a glass dish aud pour around it i whipped cream, with a border of lady lingers dipped iu orange wine. If a molded pudding is broken by sticking to tho mold, repair if possible tbo broken bit and cover with a layer of white of eggs beaten to a snow and i sweetened and flavored. If it is too far gouo for this, break it into bits—cover with the meringue aud brown in tho oven. Decorate this mass by a border of currant jelly. If pastry is burned, grate off the black- * eued crust, touch lightly with milk and i white of egg, sprinkle with sugar and brown again. | When croquette mixtures are too | wet to mold aud shape, put in more chopped meat or lish, or in a desperate case finely pounded bread crumbs. | W’heu jelly is cloudy and clear soup is not clear, pour either one into a clean pan—scrupulously clean it must be— take the whites and shells of two eggs, i break tho latter and beat into the for mer. Throw these into tho pan aud let all boil up together. Then cover, sot to ono side for five minutes aud strain.— Philadelphia Ledger. In Answer to HU Customary Bin Scare Talk She Said “Fiddle.tlcki!" and Car. rled Her Point — It n Well to Kuow Your Right# and Then Defend Them. About ono in ten cf the persons who tako prescriptions to drug stores to bo filled ask for a copy of tho formula. Nearly all pharmacists furnish the de sired copy without comment. Some of them may add 5 or 10 cents to tho cost of the prescription to pay for their ex tra trouble in copying the physician’s hieroglyphics, but they raise no objec tion to tbe customer’s request. Thero are druggists, however, who arc averse to making copies of tho prescriptions which they fill, and now and then some spirited disputes are overheard at tho prescription desk. Not long ago a quiet but self reliant littlo woman stepped into a drug storo near tho Grand Central station and pre sented a prescription written by a well known specialist. "Eighty cents. Please pay at the desk, “said the prescription clerk ten minutes later, as ho handed the pack age of medicine over tho counter, "But I want a copy of the prescrip tion, ” said the woman in a tone that implied that she thought it ought to have been given to her without the ask ing. "Oh, but wo couldn’t give yon that," replied the clerk suavely. "This is a special prescription, and wo would have no right to give you a copy of it with out on order from tho doctor.” “But I must have a copy of it,” per sisted tho woman. "I do net live in New York. My home is several hun dred miles from here, and I want this remedy for use during tho winter. Now, don’t kecp'mc waiting, please, for I ant about to tako my train.” "Well, my dear madam, you cau send to us at any time, aud we will fill tho prescription for yon. It will remain on our books, aud when yon write you need mention only tho physician’s name aud the number. You see, that is a special prescription of Dr. ’s, and bo would not wanj it handled by every village druggist”— "Oh, fiddlesticks!” exclaimed tho lit tlo woman, bristling up. "That is my prescription. I bought it and paid lib erally for it. Now you either give mo a copy of it or take your medicine back and give me my original prescription. Dr. knows where I live, aud he knows that I would not leave New \ T ork without taking a copy of that pre scription with mo. ” "But, my dear madam, you must un derstand our position iu tho matter. Wo have got to protect ourselves. Now, if Dr. says that you cau have a copy of this prescription wo will be glad to give it to you.” "You’ll give it to me whether you uro glad or not,” retorted the little wo man, now thoroughly aroused. "If you want Dr. ’s sanction, yon cau send to him aud obtain it. I certainly am not going back there to ask for it. I’ll wait just five minutes, aud if I do not get a copy of my prescription or tho prescrip tion itself I’ll make trouble for you. I kuow what my rights are, and 1 propose to stand up for them. ” Tho prescription clerk looked us though he would like to say something, but after a few seconds’ hesitation con cluded that it would not bo worth while. He withdrew from view and presnm- ably consulted with the proprietor. The latter came out from his little office iu tho corner and after looking tho little woman over sharply turned to tho clerk and said, "Give it to her.” "Yon see, madam,” said the clerk in bis most affable manner two minutes later us bo handed her a copy of the prescription, “wo desire to accommo date our patrons iu every way possible, but we have to bo careful with special prescriptions. Why, it was only last year that we were threatened with a suit for big damages by a noted special ist because we gave one of his patient’s a copy of tbe prescription he wrote for her. He claimed that she took it to a small town iu tbe south, where an ob scure druggist got bold of it, and, find ing it to be an effective remedy, at lirst mixed it for local distribution and aft erward put it on the market as a specitio with bis own name aud picture as a trademark. So you see”— "Ok, fiddlesticks!” said tbe littlo wo man as she hurried out to catch her train.—New York Times. la-ncuago Flagn. To "strike tho flag” is to lower the national colors iu token of submission. Flags are used as tbe symbol of rank and command, says Thu School Jour nal, the officers using them buing called flag officers. Such flags are square to distinguish them from other banners. A “flag of truce” is a white flag dis played to an enemy to indicate a desire for a parley or consultation. The white flag is the sign of peace. After a battle parties from both sides often go out to tho field to rescue tho wounded or bury the dead under tho protection of a white flag. The rod flag is a sign of defiance and is often used by revolutionists. In our service it is the mark of danger and shows a vessel to bo receiving or dis charging her powder. The black flag is tbo sign of piracy. Tho yellow flag shows a vessel to bo at quarantine and is the sign of contagious disease. A flag at half mast means mourning. Fishing and other vessels return with a flag at half mast to an nounce the loss or death of souiu of tho men. Dipping a flag is lowering it slightly and then hoisting it again to salute a vessel or fort. If the president of the United States goes afloat, the American flag is carried in the bows of liis barge or hoisted at the main of the vessel cn board of which be is. Mine. Guizot, Guizot, the orator aud writer, became acquainted with his future wife through the literary muse. Mile. doMeulau was the brilliant editor of tho Publiciste, supporting not only herself but an aged mother by her pen. Her health gave way under the burden, and iu the midst of poverty, illness and debt she received an anonymous letter one day respectful ly offering to supply articles for the Publiciste regularly and without pay until her health should be restored. The letter was accompanied by an article composed very muoh iu her own style. The kind offer was accepted, and lat er on, when by means of the timely aid Mile, do Meulan was restored to her usual avocations, she begged her un known coutribntor, through the columns of tbo paper, to reveal himself. Tho grave, dignified young Guizot obeyed, and the result was a marriage between them at tbe expiration of five years. Mine. Guizot was the center of the lit erary coteries of tho day, her celebrity, greater than that of her husband to be gin with, kept puce with his advance ment, aud she was ever bis counselor, critic and friend.—Catholic World. Not Wanted. "Did you introduce that bill as you promised, senator?” “I did, bat tbo legislature positively declined to acknowledge the introduc tion. ”—Detrcit Free Prn-a. g . A ^ >