The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, March 27, 1883, Image 4
Treating a Cold.
it Ws not a correct practice, atter a cold
Is eaught, to inake the room a person sits
in, much warmer than usual, to increase
the quantity of bedclothes, wrap up in
flannel, and drink a large quantity of hot
tea, gruel, or other slops, because it will
invariably increase the feverishness, and
in the majority of instancs, prolong, rath
er then lessen, the diration of the cold.
It is well known that confining inoculated
persons in warm rooms will make their
smallpox more violent by augmenting the
general heat and fever ; and it .is for the
same reason that a similar prac',ce in the
present complaint Is attended with ana.
logous results, a cold being in reality a
slight fever. In some parts of England,
among the lower order of the people, a
large glass of cold spring water, taken on
going to bed, is found to be a successful
remedy, and in fact, many medical prac
titioners recommend a reduced atmosphere,
and Irequent draiights of cold fluid, as the
most efficacious remedy for a recent cold,
particularly when the patient's habit is full
and plethoric.
It is generally supposed that it is the
exposure to a cold or wet atmosphere
which produces the effnet called cold,
whereas it is returning to a warm temper.
aturo after exposure, which is the real
cause of the evil. When a person in the
cold weathtr goes into the open air, every
time he draws in his breath the cold air
passes through his nostrils and windpipe.
into the lungs, and consequently diminishes
the heat of these parts. As long as a per
son continues in the cold air, he feels no
bad effects from it; but as soon as he re
,urns home, he approaches the fire to warm
himself, and very often takes some warm
and comfortable drink to keep out the
cold, it is said. The inevitable conse
quence Is, that he will find he has taken
cold. lie feels a shivering which makes
him diaw nearer the fire, but all to no
purpose; the more he tries to heat him
self, the more he chills. All the mischief
is here caused by the violent action of the
heat.
To avoid this, when you cone out ot a
very cold atmosphere, you should not at
first go into a rooi that has fire im i, or,
if you cannot avoid that, you shoulid keep
tor a considerable limo at as great a dist
ance as possible, and above aN, refrain
from taking warni or strong liquors when
wou are cold. Tliis rule is founded on the
same principle as the treatment of any
part of the body when frost bitten. If it
were brought to the fire it would soon mor
tity, whereas, it- rubbed with snow, no
had vouse:tuences follow from it. Hence,
if the following rule were strictly ob
served-when the whole body, or an)'
part of it is chilkd, bring it to its natural
feeling and warmth by degrees-the fre
quent colds we experience in winter would,
in a gr(at measure. be prevented.
Tne Vid.
Seventy-four years ago Spain was
barbarously bereft of a treasure that
overy true Castilian prized far above
rubies, During the French invasion
certain Napoleonic legionarics broke
open the tomb at Burgos containing the
remains of Ruy Diaz do Uiver; the Cid
Campeador, and of his wife, the Count
less Xinmena, emptied the collins in
search of valuables, and eventually
loft the bones of' the illustrious dead
scattereda about the floor of time vault
mi which this sacrilegous act was com
mitted. Prince Salm-Dyck, w,ho hap
poned to be at Burgos at the time, and
a French offieer named La Marttllet,
careiully collected thme "disjecta mem
bra," which the P'rineo subsequently
deposited in a small sarcophagus ex
actly copied, by3 his riirectiors. from
thiat in which the collins lhar reposed
for 706 years. During his life-time
Prince Salm kept the 'secret of tidis
sarcophagus, wh ich at ter his death
came into the possessioni of Prince An
toii von Houhenzollein, the King of
Rocumantai'n father, b)y special request.
The strangest episode in this romar'ka
ble story is yet to come. One day last
summer, as Dr. Lauser, a German art
journalist, was going through the mag
nicent colction of antiquities at Sig
mnaringen atie, his attention was at
tracted by a small but elaborately earved
stone sarcophagus, bearing upon its lia
the eligies of a lnlly armed knight and
a richly-attired lady, Inaqiing into
the history of this objeet, he was in
formed that it contained some relics of
the famous Cid Rodrigo. Through one
of his Spanish acquaintanco, the acade.
nioian Tubino, Lauser at once impart
ed the wvhere-abouto of this repository
andr its contents to King Alfonso, who
-lost no lime in preferring an urgent re -
quest to the Prince of Hiohenzollern
- tor their restoration to Spain, It in
scarcely necessary to add that his Roy
al Highness readily aceceded to the
Spanish monarch's wishes in a matter
so deeply interesting to Spain iroin a
national point of view.
W~e h)ave noticed that plows last, on an
average, about three years; wagons, eight
to ten years; reapers, five to eight; dIrills,
eight to ten. We think these figures Aire
fully as large as the truth warrants. We
know of many imlements that have not
lasted so long, and of maniy which have
lasted much longer. W e to-day can
p)oint to wagons that have been mi constant
and( hard use for twenty ye*ars,- reapers
that have stoodl the wear and tear of hib.
eral use for more than ilteen y'ears, drils
that have been in use as long, aind other
agricultural Iiplemients that have stood
the wear of fully twice the average age
of such Implements. These implemients
were not miade of unusually good materials
tier were they suftered to lie idle. They
wve:e put to constant usne. What, then, Is
the secret of their greater enduiranice? It
is simply this--they were taken care of.
When not in use they were put away, and(
put away properly.
These mplienients iiot only lasted
longer, but while they were in use they
very rarely failed. They were always
[. ~readiy for work, T1he reapers did not
break dIowa In the middle of harvest andl
compel all hands to lie idle while some
one went to the railway station to) get re
p)airs; the dIrills d.d not fall jtust when the
wheat ought to be sown; the wagons were
not always breaking down and occasion
ing delays and vexation. Another thing
may b)e said in their favor, and that is that
they alwa) s (lid good work. The reapers
cut a smooth stubble and put the grain
(town ini good condition; the plows did
not refuse to scoar; the dril's put the
wheat in just as a first-dlass drill would;
and these implemnents did good work not
only while they were new, butt till the las)
year they were in use.
* .--Out of nearly 27,000,000 of people
in the United States above ton years of
age, 5,000,000 are reported unable to
read, and ovor 6,000,000 unable to
write.
God is gleiund not by our groans,
but our thanksgivings; and all good
thtgt n l go cin li a
Laua iacwihgocer
IUvStasaons AoeptMUCes and Rtegrets
The engraving Of invitation cards has
become the important function of more
than one enterprising firm in every city,
so that It seems very unnecessary to say
more than that the most plain and simple
style of engraving the necessary words is
all that Is requisite.
The English ambassador at Rome has a
plain, stiff, unglazed card of a large size,
on which is engraved, "Sir Augustus and
Lady Paget request the honor of- com
pany en Thursday evening, November 15,
at 10 o'clock. The favor of an answer is
requested."
The name of the Invited guest is written
in the blank space left before the word,
"company." Many entertainers in Amer
ica keep these blanks or half-engraved In-4
vitationq always on hand, and thus save
themselves the trouble of writing.
Many hostesses prefer, however, to write
their own dinner Invitations, and the for
mula should always be, "Mr. and Mrs.
ienry Brown request the pleasure of bit.
and Mrs. Jones' compaqy at dinner No
vember 16, at 7 o'clock."
These invitations should be immediately
answered, and with a peremptory accept
ance or a regret. Never enter into any
discussion or prevision with a dinner in
vitation. Never write saying "you will
come if you do not have to leave town,"
or that you "will try to come." or that
"one of us cannot come." Simply say,
"Mr. and Airs. James Jones, accept with
pleasure the polite invitation of Mr. and
Mrs. Henry Brown for dinner on Vovem
ber 15 at 7 o'clock;" or, If there is any
probability of your being unable to accept,
regret in the same formal fashion.
After having accepted a dinner invita
tion, if illness or any other cause inter
force with your going to dinner, send an
immediate note to your hostess that ahe
may fill your place. Never selfishly keep
the place open for yourself if there is a
doubt about your going It has often
made or marred the pleasure of a dinner
party, this hesitancy on the part of a
guest to send her hostess in time her re
grets, caused by the illness of a child, or
the coming of & cold, or some other im
pending calamity. Iemember always
that a dinner is a most formal compliment;
that it is the highest social distinction;
that it is of great consequence t3 the host
ess; that it must be therefore met in the
same formal spirit. It precludes the ne
cessity of a call on her part. Some young
neophytes in society, having been asked
to dinner, have asked if they should call
itferward, as their hostess had not called
on them. Of course they should, the in
vitation to dinner is equivalent to many
calls.
It seems almost unnecessary to say so
self evident a thing, but as we have heard
the quebtion debated, we may as weil say,
Answer the person who sends you the in
vitation. A young lady once, on receiv
ing an invitation to a wedding from Mrs.
John Joucs, asked if she should answer
Mrs. John Jones or the bride. Of course
she had nothing to say to the bride; the
answer was to be addreseed to Mrs. John
Jones.
Always carefully observe the formula
of your invitation, and always answer it
exactly. As to the card of the English
awbassador, a gentleman would write,
"Mr. Algernon Gracie will do himself the
honor to accept the oistinguished invita
tion of Sir Augustus and Lady Paget."
in America lie would be less formial, say
ing, "Mir. Algernon Gracle will have much
pileaisure mn accpting Mi-. and Mirs. Henry
Brown's pohite invitation." We notice
the't on all foreigii cards the "IB. 8. V. P."
! is omittedi, and the plama English so ntence
is written out or engraved, "The favor of
an answeor Is requcstedi."
In this country the invitations to a din
iner are ailways in the name of both host
and1( hostess, but the invitations to a ball
and to an "at honie,'' a tea, or a garden
party, tire invariably only in the name of
the hostess. To a wveddiig the names of
both host and hostess are given; and if a
father who ls a widowver entertains for his
daughter, his name and hers appear on
the same card for doiners, recepti.ns, andl
"at homes;" his alone for her wedding.
and his antd hers together on all other
cards. Mlany widowedl fathers with
daughters issue tIheir invitations without
the namcs of the young ladhies, however.
It is never the cuistomi for very younr
lauites to invite guests, especially gentle
men, in their own bame. All notes should
be written in the father's name. An el
dlerly sister at the head of the house can
istiue iinvilations in her owyn name.
The word "bhall" is never used on a
card. The words "At 1Home," with "Co
tillion" yr "DIancing'' in one corner, and
the hour andi date, are alone necessary.
If it is to be a sniall informal dance, that
should also be iicated in one corner
Oficers, members of the hunt, bache.
lors members of a club, heads oSf commit
tees, etc., always request tric pleasure or
honor of your company. It is not proper
for a gentleman to (describe himiselt as "at
home.'' 1e must ''request the pleasure."
in sking ior an invitation to a ball for
friends, ladies inust be cautious not to In
tuiee too far, nor to feel offended if re
fused. Often a hostess has a larger list
than she'cai fill, and she is -~ 'utle to
ask all whom she would . Phere
fore a very great discret" ob
served on the part of thos a - ch
a favor. A lady may alwa. Al an
invitatic,n for a distingiushed stranger, or
for a yoiing (lancing man, if she can an
swer for him in every way, but rarely for
a married couple, and almost never for a'
miarriedi couple living ini the same city.
lnvitat ions to evening or (lay receptions
are now gcnerally made(i on "at home''
cards. Tlhose to "teas'' oii the lady's own
visiting cards. Th'le hour and the style of
entertainment-as "Music," or, If in the
afternoon, "Luwn Tennis," or "Garden
Party"-are engraved In the left-hand
corner, or written by the lady.
As for weddling invitations, they are al
most invariably sent out by the parents of
the bride, engraved in small script, on note
p)aper. The style can always be obtained
of a fashionable engraver. Tnoy shoumd
be sent out a fortnight before the wedding
dlay, and are not, to be answered save by
card unless the guests are requested to
attend a sit- down breakftst, then the an
swer must be explicit, as for a diniier.
.Invitations to luncheon are generally
written by the hostess on her own note
paper, and are iitended to be Informial, as
luncheon Is a somewhat Inconsequent In
fornial meal. 80michow, however, lunch..
eon is so grandt and ceremonious that the
invitations are engraved, and( must be-sent
long before, and answered linnediately.
No lady having accepted an inviuation to
a sit-down lunch will absent herself care.
lessly any more than she would fromt a
dinner. There is a large stand-up luinch.
however, f rom which a *person could be
more readlily excusedl if obliged to disap
point at the l st moment.
Functualit In keeping those engage
ments canno)t be too thoroughly insisted
upon. In sending a "regret" he particu-,
lar to word your note most respectfully.
Never write the wordi "regrets ' on your
card, unless you wish to insult your host
ess. Send a card without any pencilling
uipon It, or write a note thus; "Mrs.
Brown regrets deeply that she is unable to
accept airs. Jones' very kind Invitation,"
or "Mrs. Brow nn et tha a.p..vi..
engagement will deprive her of the very
great pleasure of accepting the polite invi
tation of Mrs. Jones."
4o one should, in the matter or accept.
Ing or refusing an invitation, economise
his politeness. It Is better to err on the
other side. Your friend has done his very
best In Inviting you.
'rho question often comes up, Should
cards and invitations be sent to people in
mourningl The answer Is, Yes, they
should. Of course no one can be so heart
less as to intrude a gay anyltation upon a
person who has a death in the house under
a month. But after that, although It is a
more idle compliment, the compliment
should be paid. As invitations are seat
out generally written by a clerk or a hired
amanuensis, a lady should carefully revise
her ht, that no names of persons de
ceased should be written on them, but the
members of the family who remain and
who have suffered a loss should be care.
fully retained, and invitations sent to
them, excepting, of course, dinner Invita
tions. After a year of mourning the be.
reaved family should send out cards
marked in black to all who have thus re
inembered them.
The Indian Winter Game.
The boys of the United States and
Canada are indebted to the Indians for
a number of their most interesting
sports. But while many of their games
are well known, the Indians still have
others peculiar to themselves, and with
which even their near neighbors are
but slightly acquainted. Throwing the
snow-anake is une of the lattWr. The
"snow-snake," or ka-whan(, as it is
called in the Onondaga dialect, is made
on the principle of the sleigh-runner,
and comsists of a long hickory pole or
stck, with a slight upward curve and
point at one end, while the other is
pravided with a small notch. The under
side is made flat and smooth, so as to
slip easily over the snow or ice, upon
which, when skillfully thrown, it will
slide for a long distance. To make it
glide still more easily, the under surface
is waxed and rubbed with a piece of
cloth until beautifully smooth and
polished. The pointed end is furnished
with a tip of lead or solder, sometimes
of a very fancy design. The length and
weight of the snow-snako varies in pro
portion to the strength of the person for
whose use it is intended. Those made
for young boys are not more than four
or five feet long, while for larger boys
and young men they range from six to
eight feet in length. They are made
somewhat tapering, being largest near
the curved end, where they are usually
about an inch or an inch and a quarter
in width; while they diminish gradually
until, at the notched end, the width is
not more than five-eighths or three-quar
ters of an inch. In throwing, the
ka-whant is held at the smaller end
by the thumb and first and second flu
gers.
At the Indian Reservation in Onon
daga County, New York, where the
winterp are long and usually severe, the
snow-snake is a great favorite, and a
continuous source of amnement. As
soon as the jingle of the bells is heard
along the frozen highway, and the run
ners of the heavy "bobs" and wood
sleighs have furrowed the roads with
deep, polished grooves, the lndian boys
are out, following tihe sleigh-tracks in
small parties, throwing the ka-u'hant in
the dteep ruts, which it follows through
every curve, skipping over the lumpa of
ice and other inequalities, more like a
hiving creature than a plain hickory
stick, and suggesting at once the very'
applropriate name of the "snow-sakae.'
Although the beaten road-wvay is usually
pref erred, the snow snake may be thrown
in almost any sittuation where the snow
in firm.
The game, as generally played, is
merely a trial of skill between the play
ers. A ine being drawn to mark the
starting-p)oint, the players step back a
fe w paces. Each grasps his snow-snake,
runs forward in his turnl to the mark,
and, with a vigorous sweep of his arm,
sends it sliding and dancing over the
snow with the swiftness of an arrow.
tech snow-snake bears its owner's mark
(ian arrow, cross, or star), so that lhe
readily recognizes it, and lie whose
miasile is farthest in advance is declared
the winner. In this way a regular
champion is chosen. The distance that
these contrivances are thrown is almost
incredible, skilful players sometimes
making casts of nearly a quarter of a
mile.
Should any of the readers of S-r.
Nicaonas attempt his game, they must
not be surprised or discouraged, if, at
the first few trial, their snow-snakes
stick their heads through the ernRt and
disappear in the powdery snowv beneath,
insteadl of sliding along the surface in
the proper way. By digging along for
a dibtance of from twenty to fifty feet,
the sticks may usually be recovered,
while the slight difliculties of the art
can soon be overcome by a little practice
and experience.
Eniaraem,rent of the Hienrt.
I was in Brooklyn the other (lay at a
little supper party given at Hubel's,
and conversation at the tale turned
uipan the number of wveil-known citiaons
wno have recently died in that' city.
When the name of one of the deceased
was mentioned a friend to my left enter
ed into the conversation.
"Have you heard the story that is
going about as to the real cause of his
death?" ho asked, giving the name of
the departed citizen,
"No," came from several mouths.
"They say that the day he died. when
lie was on the street after his luncheon,
he met a poor woman who was boggring.
She asked for a cent. Mr.--fumbled
in his pookets and brought out one,
which lie gave the beggar, lie died
soon after."
"WVhat has that got to do with the
cause of his death?" I queried."
"Well, those who know the old gen
tleman best say he died of enlargement
of the heart. Ho was never known to
give away a cent before."
Marange in Norway.
As soon as a young man and young
woman are engaged in Norway,no matter
in what rank of life, betrotbal rings are
exchanged. These rings are worn ever
afterward by the men, as well as by the
women. The consequence is that one
can always tell a nmarried woman in1
England when she shows her hand.
Gold rings are used by the rich, but
siver, either solid or in filagree, by the
poor. There is no married man in Nor
way, no matter how humble he miay be,
'who does not bear thin outward mark of3
his submission to the matrimonial bond.
But this is not all. As soon as a man
is engaged he has calling-cards printed,
with the name of his fiancee immediate
below Mia own.
croe.
Crows have always had justice done
to their mental capacity. This may
have frequent)y been rendered them at
the expense of their moral character.
They have been called shreds of SatanL
cinders from Tartards, smuts from hell,
and what not;-but no fabulist, from the
time of Esop or the old Buddhist sto
ries, has ever ventured to trifle so far
with the feeltngs of his readers as to
represent the crow in a really foolish
attitude. The tale of the fox and the
crow, where the bird is triced into
losing h* bit of cheese, is not a true
Oas in point; for it does no more than
reveal the crow as a vain bird, and Van
ity is a frequent accompaniment of
greatness. Besidee, it was intendel to
contrast the relative craftiness of the
most cunning of birds and the most
cunning of beasts, and the obvious
character of the story was allowe3 to
prejudice the claims of the crow; for
those who live upon the earth cannot
be prevented from displaying their
pique at creatures who have the power
of soaring far above it at will. Never
thelessr a feeling of compunction and
tardy justice'leads to the immediato
snubbing of the fox in the*fable of the
sour grapes. The suprelacy of the
crow is ontirely due to his mental
characteristics. Barring his blackness,
yhich, it Is con6eded, might just as
well signify rever-end solemnity as dia
bolical mischief, there is nothing in his
personal appearance to single him out
for especial prominence; and hence we
recognize the fact of his brain-power
when we hear the Burmese story that
in the beginning of the world the crows
and the owls (who also are burdened
with an evil reputation as devilish
characters) quarrelled as to who was to
be king. The other birds saw their
opportunity, and, with a double pro
science, resolved to escape from the
rule of "damned intellect,",and with the
view of doing so established the Clo
ture. They stopped the argument,
rejected the claims of both owl and
crow, and elected tne swan lord of the
bird-world. The story has a true
Oriental tinge about it. Western birds
would never have chosen the swan for
king. IEi fact, without any authority
at all but their own restless activity
and bullying capacity, they have the
assurance to name tue eagle king of
birds, just as confidently las if they
had anoient precedent to it. The eagle
does not lulil the Eastern notion of
royalty at all. He is a great deal too
fond of exerting himself, and withdraw
ing into solitary confinement, from all
the world as if he were a.hernit, which
his murderous habits demonstate to be
absurd. The swan, on the other hand,
is a bird of exceeding presence. He
does not choose to exert himself in a
plebeian fashion. He can maltreat and
bully his subjects with the best of the
falcon kind. When lie chooses, he can
fly as well as any of them, but he pre
fers to lead an easy life, and his claim
to physical Prowes is sufficiently proved
by the fact that he can on occasion
break a man's leg. The choice of the
birds,' therefore, needs no defense, ex
cept with those who have perverted
ideas about the characteristics of roy
alty. -The election, however, has per
manently embittered the relations of
owls and crows, and the crow has in
the ceurse of time satisfactorily estab-.
lished his auperiority. Hie liad made
the daytime his own, and feeds then at
his leisuro, vindicatively attacking and
buffeting all owls he comes across; while
the latter bird makes his meals at nmght
only, at first from a desire not to meet
the crow, the sight of whom he could
not endure, and latterly because con
stant habit has so far altered his con
stitution that he cannot find his way
about in the light of the sun. It may
have been this early warring with the
owl that has led to the fact that in
hieroglyphics the crow is always made
use of as the symbol of contention, dis
cord, and strife, though it is well known
that rooks-who to everybody but
scientiaic people are the same thing as
crows--hold regular Parliaments and
Vehmgerichta and county assizes, in
most othodox fashion, and so have a
claim to superior civiiization; yet it cer
tainly is against thenm that the victims of|
the crow-moot are not hung on the gal
lows.
Electing A Great Mea clue.
Rlecently the Indians on Raneho
Chico, California, had Jively sport, in
their "sweat-house." A large crowd of
people from town witnessedi the dane.
ing. Tlae Diggers kept up their horrid
yells until late in the night. Thia
"swest-house" is built in the shape of a
hill, or mountd, an entrance being had
from a hole in the top. It is built of
heavy lumber and covered with dirt.
The air inside is almost stifling, but the
Indians stay in tbe house for several
hours. Tihe occasion of the demon
stration recently was the election of a
medicine man, and the Indians were
rigged out in their best dry goods.
This election business with the Indians
is conducted "on the square," the beat
man, physically, taking the office.
There is no chance tor casting illegal
ballots, and they don't trifle with a
great register.-- The twvo applicants
take their places in the "sweat-honso,"
md at a given signal they commence
lancing. It is -not a graceful, gliding
wvaltz, but it Is something alter the
style of the "Highland Fling," the
[ndians jump)ing and kicking until a
person would think they would jerk
thieir limbs off. Thie man who can
stand this work the longest is the best
man, and is elected. Recently the fun
5ommenced in the forenoon, and was
not finished until minight. 'The
umpers gave out several times and had
o. be rubbed and bathed by their
~riends, and finally one of the bucks4
luit, saying he had all he could stand.
The Blaok Prance.
Tlhe first English Duke was Edward the
Black Prince, HIe was created Duke of
Jornwall by his father, E.idwa: 111., inm
n 1337. The title of Marquis was first c
estowed by Ritchard II., on his favorite, r
[Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, created
Mfarqms of Dublin In 1886. The Saxon t
md DanIah titles of Ealderman, Earle, r
md Tihano were changed io Earl and1 C
3aron by Wilam 1. The title of VIscount m
stas long ini use m Prance before it was 'j
>est"wed on any person in England. The
Irst. person who held it was John Bleau.
nont, created Yscount Beaumont and I
jount of Bioulogne, in France, 1440. The 5
irder of Baronets was establbshed by z
F ames I., in 1611, and exIsts only inl the
3ritish dominion.
It is most true that a natural and (
ecret hated and averson toward society s
mm any man, hath somewhat of the say- r
ge beast. .
CoID ana coing.iX1
There is in cirbulation a report to the
effect that the now five-cent pieces, are
being counterfeited, and when Colonel
A. Louden Snowden, superintendent of A
the Philadelphia mint, was asked wether
any conterelts had been circulated he e
replied that he did not think it possible,
"The only kind that could have been I
issued so soon would be a very poor im
pression taken from a plaster of Paris T
cast. It would not deceive anybody.
To counterfeit it by the use of dies A
would take considerable time. It is a A
diicult operation, as the noise of a ma- T
chine to strike off the coin would be- ,T
tray the counterfeiter. The old five C
and three-cent pieces have been coun
terfelted, but not successfully."
In reference to what had been said
about the coin being a copy of designs A
en a Spanish 20-real piece and a small
bronze .ortugues coin of 1868, Colonel N
Snowden did not think that the resom
blanco beween the foreign coins and
ours justified such an insinuation. The I
two foreign coins were brought in. 'T
"Look at them," said the Colonel. T
'The Vortuguese piece has a Roman nu- A
moral but, as Roman numerals are not
copyrighted, it seems to me no more a
plagiarism to put a Roman numeral on
a coin than it would be to put an Arabic
cipher there. As far back as 1865 Ro
man numerals were used on all our mi
nor coins. The wreath on the Portu- NY
guese piece is of oak and laurel leaves; h
that on ours is of wheat, cotton and corn,
not very similar surely. The head of
Isabella on the Spansh .coin bears a
very slight resemblance to the chaste
outlines of the Liberty head on the r
flive-cent coin. The two foreign coins
are clumsy and heavy, contrasting
strongly with the trim neatness of the 0
little American. There is not the slight
est foundation for the report that the
latter was about to be withdrawn from
circulation. Thirty-five thousand dol
Ias worth of them have been struck off
and thirty thousand dollars worth have b
been issued. A great quantity were
sent to other cities and the people seem
to be pleased with them. No coin was
ever struck oi with as much ease.
Though the Liberty head appears to
stand out so strongly from its surface 0
the 'relief' is intinitesimal."
The New York assay office holds near
ly 500,000 ounoes of silver bullion, re. t
ceived from depositors in payment of
charges for treatment of bullion at that
oilre. About 100,000 ounces have been a
a]
trausferred to the Philadelphia mint, a
and the superintendent there has been 0
authorized to use it in the coinage of
subsidiary silver, chiefly 10-cent pieces,
The rest of the bullion at the New York t
assay office will be chiefly coined into 9
imEs, as there is a scarcity of these
coins now in the treasury and the de
mand for them is increasming.
The house committee on coinage,
weights and measures decided on the
5th inst., by a vote of six to two, that b,
it was inexpedient at present to suspend ti
the coinage of silver. As the vaults a
are now full of standard dollars, they I
will recommend that additional vault tJ
room be provided at such places in the h
Mississippi valley as the secretary of W
the treasury shall select. They also 1
advise that all coin in the treasury ex- e
c3epting an amount not exceeding twenty- "
live per cent, of the outstanding green
back circulation as a redemption fund, 0
and excepting sums held for the re
demption of comn, be used to pay inter- c
est--bearing obligations -of the Govern. ii
mient. The majority of the committee g
are bi-merai-lists and greenbackers. On A
the 7th Director of the Mint Blurehard c
wras before the committee. He thought h
it inexpedient to coin more silver until e;
there shall be an international agree- a
mient fixing the ratio between gold and p
silver. iiis theory was that without an n
international agreement as to tue rela. b
tive values of the two coins a contin-.
of coinage and circulation by the'United a
States would tend to make this country
a dunmping-ground for the silver of all j
nations, whereas gold would find its way
out of the country as fast as theimports t
Came in.
Counterfeiting has been on the wane
for the last four or five years. the efiorts
of the national government having al
moat suppressed it. Every now and
then, however, an insolated coin is re-n
ported, but the dies are at on--c taken
possession of and the counterfeiters.
niustle~d off to the penitentiary almost
before the news of his crime has become
current. A few days ago a detective E
captured a whole gang of counterfeiters
operating in safety, as they thought, in a
the wilds of West Virginia. Their C
whole outfit was captured with them, g
and several of themn have already been o0
senit to the penitentiary. The fact, '9
however, of the p.resence of a number
of very dangerous silver coins Indicates di
that some skilful men are at work at u
some point, and very successfully. Then- ft
operations in Venango county and in d
Philadelphia have been on a large scele, g
rhe coins range from a dime to a dollar. si
The trade dollar of 1877 and the Bland
oLclar of more recent issue have been al
seen recently, while minor coins of base r<
iuetal are plentiful. The coins are re
narkably well made and bear ao close a n
resemblance to the genuine that it would rs
aike an expert to detect the difference, dj
ludging from weight, color and general ii,
iPpearance. The easiest and almost hj
~he.only way they may be known is by
~heir lack of the clear, silvery ring that
.a so familiar in the genuine when letf
irop on some sohl surface. By cutting n~
with a sharp instrument the fraud may
be detected, for after penetrating the is
>utside coating, which is very thin, the
naide is composed of a different metal
mnd is more easily whittled.L
ste Penus in Germany, 1IM
There is only one steel-pen manufac- ,
orp) in Germany, that being in Berin.
L'here are many firms who describe if
hemiselvesa, steel-pen makers, but they bi
Lo not actually manufacture, simply ~
~etting pens made to order. The Gecr- u
sans seem inclined to be jealous of the
re-eminence England has obtained In sa
his line of business, especially as their 89
equirements are continually increasing. vi
he
iext to steel pens, gold pens hayc
btained a considerable Importance as a so
ierchantable commodity. This is owing mm
ai their non-liability to rust, and as they
iay be used for years. In consequence cr1
f their softness andl elasticity they do
ot tire the hand a,s much as steel pens. Cr
'he German markets are supplied from b
smerica, and consequently the Imported h.
ens are very dear. To a clever gold. m<
nith an extensive and profitable field
I enterprise is open in Germany In the bi
roduction of these instruments. The ch
ifficulty In the manufacture lies In
nisbing the points with Iridium, which w
aetal has~ -.'d Itself beyond compa- it,
sntebest for the purpose on accout de
HALF-WAt.
low is the painful as"et up to flil,
aid few the feet that clamber to the height; St3
nbittious throngs press at the WountAWn'8 base,
tiled with the love of glory; and the path
'hat shines above them in the morning light ag
eams beautiful, ior diffioult to scale. Bel
of
ut further on, a little higher up, fin
'he easy slope grows broken, and so steep th
'hat careless feet slip back and lose their hold,
nd diasy brains reel downward and are lost:
mid those who press on to the pausing place, we
little higher, stand with weary limbs evA
,ad aching hearts, just near enough to hear ag
ho sneers and hisses of the crowd below- co]
he angry.orowd that cannot climb at all, da
r, h.aving climbed, has fallen back again. de
alf way they stan upon the mountain side bli
there bold winds blow and loose rocks crumWle he
bown, La
ad strange birds beat them with their wide, wild me
wings, dis
o longer of the hurrying throng beneath, wa
ot yet of that Immortal few above, Val
ow lonely and how all alone are they I tic
0 not afraid, 0 toilera up the height I faL
be gods are very nonr, though out of sight I hai
hey reah out helpful hands and say V come rel
higher." rl
11 earnest souls must climb If they aspire. qu
me
wa
DESCItOYNG A WILL.
tw
On the death of ol. Laking, no one co,
'as more surprised at his not having ma
ft a will than Mr. Alfred Laking, his At
ophew and heir-at-law. That gentle- un
ian had the beat reasons for knowing, fat
int his uncle was not well disposed te
)wards him-in fact, the Uolonel had
3fused to have anything to do with him thi
>r some year past. The truth was <
iat Alfred Laking had once been guilty re,
f an act of meanness, which his uncle pu
ever forgave, and therefore the fortu- it
ate heir had not expectect to benefit by *
is uncle's death. But even outsiders, ad
,ho knew nothing of the cause of the k
3trangemeLt between the Colonel and k10
is nephew were amazed at the old n
entleman dying inteetate. He had so I
-equentLy expressed his determination 4
f preventing his nephew from succeed
ig to his property and had made so Su
lany wills at different times with that the
bjeot that his intestacy caused univer- wis
d1 astonishment. It vas generally sup- 6
osed that his somewhat sudden death rb
ad frustrated his testamentary inten- vir
ons, or else that, at the last moment, Oi
e had realized the force of the old
lago that blood is thicker than water,
ad had been content to permit his sir
ephew to inherit in the ordinay course be
law. faO
But while Mr. Alfred Laking received I d
io congratulations of its friends with Ban
jiuanimity, and apparently acquiesced I
i the general opinion that ie was a very hal
Iky individual, he did not by any fri
keans feel secure of his inheritance, ear
ta
For the first few months after his st
nele's death he was perpetually haunted
y the dread that his elaborate preoau
ons would be thrown away; but when ha
year had passed he began to breathe the
tore freely. The chances were, he shi
iought, that, if a will existed, it would mg
ave turned up by this time, or else it rel
ould probably rot away in its hiding- du
lace. Thus by degrees the phautom ant
>njured wp by his pusillanimous imagi- 001
Ltioni became less appahing; until one 1r
try his anxiety was revived by a very
ninous mncident.
A shabbily-dressed. middle-aged man for
tiled upon him ai d 'iai' .he had an sht
npoirtanit communication to make. He at
ave the name of Crumber, and Alfred of
raking then recollected that he was a
erk in the ofUce of the solicitor whom
e had employed to wind up his uncle's
itate. Thius circumstance seemed rena
iring, for Alfred Laking naturally sup- Mr'
1)sed the man had been sent with some rca
nessage from his master relating to anc
utsiness matters, to
"I enm Mr. Baker asked you toh
dl?'' he.said nervously. the
"No, sir. The fact is I left Mr. be
aker's offEce somne months ago. I na mu
present in another situation," replied ber
te mani.
"What is your business then?" in
taired Mr. Laking, with increased un - Ma
tainess. m
'I suppose we are quite alone, sir, and i
mn not be overheard?'' said the man, rat]
tysteriously.
"You can speak out, though I can not clea
angina what you can have to say that
I so imnportant," returned Mr. Laking, Lal
lancing to see that the door was olosed, bol
"\Vhen I left Mr. Baker's office I took a na
situation with another solicitor," said in'
rumber, lowering 'his voice. "The sou
mntlemnhli I am now with is M,r Mayne, '
Lmncoln's inn-fields. I don't know uni
hether you ever heard of him, sir," fact
Alfred Laking stared, and turned a i
3adly pale, Bie happened to know his left
icle had consulted tis gentleman pro- call
ssionally at a comparatively recent meal
ito, and he therefore instinctively ty
messed the nature of the revelation in dea
ore for him,
"Not I never heard of Mr. Mayno frec
id I dlon't believe my uncle did," hoa sur~
'plied, almost fiercely.
"Well, sir, you see your uncle did the
>t always consault you about his af tou
irs,"' returned Mr, Crumber, ratherto
nrespectially. "At any rate, ho know ui~
r. Mayno, who propagred a will for Wat
ni shortly before he died." od
"How do you know?" demanded Al- hos
ed Laking, Coo startle:l to conceal his hol
staion, mu]
"Because I've soon it, I've not only no
en it, I ut I've read it. Your name upr
nt mentioned in that will, Mr. Lak- rsa
g," said the man, with a grin, re
"A very fine story," said Alfred you
iking, with a forced laugh, "i'ray,
>w is it that Mr. Mayne has never Lah
~itten to inform me of the alleged to
"Because, in the first p)lace, I doubt '
he is aware of the Colonel's death;lw
it, if he is, has probably forgotten that
e Colonel left his will, with him, forpa
i memory isn't what it was," said Mr. ro
umber. -fo
"1 don't believe a word of what you ag
y," ho cried suddenly rising from his
'.t and confronting the unwelcome
liter. "Your story is a tissue of fals9. D
ods8." ber
"I was afraid you might think so, sir ing
,,ventured to bring this will witl* shin;
," said the man slyly. erat<
"Whati you have actually stolen it?" lng
ed Alfred Laking. symni
"I have it here, anyway," retnrnedoft
timber, coolly, as he produced a doe- sla
tent from his pocket. "I can put it ande
1k where I took it from within an the I
r. Of course, it Is no earthly use to shoe
ILet me sce It," said Alfred Laking dim
a hoare voice, seating himself in his hello
Ir. Urumber unfolded the document Ito
I glanced at"'t, apparently refleeting oppo
ether It would be wise to Part with no ft
Bk, saafte a pause he laid It on the very
<I'm treating yo, lik a gentema, ie
You must promise to return it to
Yes, yes," said lfred' Lrking.
etching out his hand impatiently. '
3ome' moments elapsed before the
Uted gentleman could compose hii.
Ssuffloiently tQ take in the oontent,
the will. He first returned to the
aI page, which bore the signature of
testator and the attesting witnesses.
3o far a3 he could judge the signaturew
re genuine, and 'the dobument had
denfly been prepared several monthi
) the edges of the paper being, dis.
ored, a t d the ink faded. It was
bed a few weeks before Col. Laking's
kth, and was, therefore, in all proba.
ity the last .will he had made. Wheni
came to read it carefully Alfrei
king's lingeving hope that t1lo doou.
nt might be 'a forgery was quickly
polled. From internal evidence it
s undoubtedly genuine, the names of
Ious persons and places being men
nod which no stranger coula have
ricat:d. Th6 Colonel appeared to
re left his property to some ditant
Atives, subject to a few charitable be.
Dasta. The nepliew's name was lot
rtioned, and an old military friend
s appointed executor.
Ur. Alfred Laking read the will over
s or three times, keeping his face
icealed from Mr. Oruwber, who
nifested a good deal of impatience.
length he aroused himself from his
pleasant rellections, folded up the
al doument, and fixed a half-frigi.
ed, half,defiant gaze upon his visitor.
'What do you propose to do with
s?'" he inquired, ne rvously.
'Well, sir, that depends upon you,"
>lied Crumber. "If you advise me to
t it back and remind the governor of
well and good."
But Alfred Laking did not hasten to
else this strightforward course. Ht
.t silent for a long time, fidgeting
vously with the document he held
his hand, and at length Orumber
>ke.
'You see, air, nobody knows of the
stence of the will but you and ime.
pposing we were to throw it upon
fire yonder, who would be theu
er?"
'How dare you suggest such a thing?"
!d Alfred Laking, with a show of
buous miuIgnation. "It would be a
ninal offense."
'I suppose you wouldn't split on me,
if I was to do it," suggested Crum
.,speaking almost in a whisper. "The
t is, sir, I'm thinking of emigrating.
on't mind the risk. Give me a thou
d pounds and the trick is done.''
t was a sudden determination, taken
f in desperation and half frcm sheer
,ht. The will was destroyed, and
ly the next morning Mr. Orumber
tted for America from Liverpool with
000 in gold in his pocket.
Lfred Laking went and saw him off,
ring, in fact, declined to hand over
money until he was safely on board
p. Upon his return to London, feel
, in spite of his misgivings, more
eved and ;ight-hearted than he had
Le since his unclo's death, his exuber
spirits received a sudden chek in
sequence of the rocen>t of a Ilter
n Mr. Mayne, which ran thus:
IAINooLN's- INN -lTiRLnS.
mu: I formerly ncted professionally
your late uncle Col. Lakibg, and
.11 be glad if you will give me a call
four earliest convenience on a matter
mportance.
Yours faithfully,
d NO. D. MAYNE.
Lccordlingl.v lie presented'himiself at
.Mayne's office t,he mornibag alter
ing the letter, looking very pale
nervous, though making every ehort
appear at ease.
I wrote to you, Mr. Laking," saidl
old lawyer, when they had exchanged
stings, "be.&use I have reason to~
eve that you have received a comn
ication from a man named G0um
No," murmured Alfred Lakinug.
[is answer appeared to caun~e Mr.
yne some surprise, for the 01k1 gentle
stared at him through his spectae
for a second or two, anud then said,
icr sharply:
Name of Crumnber. The man was a
'k in my office until recen)tly.",
Certainly not," repeated Alfred
ing. He intendod his rep)ly to be
I and emphatic but the attempt was
iserable failure. There was a quiver
his voico, and his eyes instinctively
ght the carp)et..
A-hem!" coughed Mr. Mayne, in ani
'loasantly sigmillcant manner. "The
is," he resumed, "your unole made
nil shortly before he died, which noe
in my charge; but a few days later hei
ed and revoked it. He gave as his
on that he did not wish his animnosi
against you to continue after lis
You don't say that!" exclaimed Al
Laking, with a start of genuine
>rise.
He revoked the will by tearing olf
signatures on the last page," con
ed the lawyer, still looking his visi
mn the face. "and the mutilated doc
mt being of couren, mere wastepaper,
tied to the draft and put away mi an
press. This man Crumber, whom I
h arged a few weeks ago for din
eaty, seems to have purloined the
ilated dlboument, andl thinking that
night meditate attempting to impose
n you, I conceived it to my duty to
n you. Hie might, for instance, have
ored the last page by means of
cry, and passed off the will uiponi
as valid and subsisting,"
'h einfernal scoundrel I "cried Alfred
lng, violently, forgetting his can
when ho thought of his thousand
ia.
hYes, I'm afraid he is that," said the
rer dryly. "So you see, Mr. Laking,
is kindness thrown away upon your
to take the trouble to send him off
a Liverpool yesterday. [ wish you1
od morning..sir."
The, Oid Riubber' shoe.
> you remember the old-fashioned rub
hoe t Ah, that '-i a shco worth hav
10 was none or your fimsy, trIm,
i abominations of the present doeden
day , it was a great, clumsy, ill-look
moccasIn, that had either fan nor
netry, but It would wear out a dozen
ir modern shoes. What an art was It
it the thing on ' Turning it half In
uiut, youj put your toe intO its interior,
:hen, with a tug and a jerk you puiilled
eel in place, ar di you were Inside a
that cluing to you tighter titan a
er I And what fun was it at school to
Ie In the toe, place a spit-ball in the
w, and then, with fingers Insile, to
a ball with oatapultIc power smack
~he face of the stu'llouis scholar on the
alte sido of the room I Alas I there is
ui in the moctern rubber shoe, and bit
little wear!i Joy and utility, have
pilace to mere beauty of oitne anad
la oei~r,at ,