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-'* - - - * - TI-YVE Y EI T 1.0 - WINNSBOR"O. S. ( ARIL 21 1883. CONSONANOE. Not strange the A ril sunlight That shilmme u ,' r Ybur ar, Sought covert in' ue- d cloud, Lost beam with braid compare; That from the clust'ring apple-blooms, Bree.e-swayed against your face, Fleet fled the petals, ere its hues Show poor their dewy grace; That stinted, in the Orchard boughs, - The song of gleeful birds; Lest rarer than their warbling prove The cadence df y6ur wqrdu, Our,lives were In the April time: "'Twere always winsome weather," I said, and strove to search your eyes, "$Couldifctu Ybe thjgtthey." As well might storm-vexed sunshine Upon your hair that strays Be tini'rous of comparison . With alheepi of starry rays, More vivid than your check, the pink That, latest linq'rIng, throws, To guide'the bast ning feet of night, Wan tints athwart the snows. Your voice, though 'mid the shiv'ring trees No glint of robin's -wing, Learns sweet, far note from melody Of fingels' carolling. What If, dear wife, do now accord Our lives and sombre weather? As blithe as spring the wintry skies, May we but be together. TiS HOUI TO LET. This house to let." Mr. 'Frank Bayberry's Perston morn ing goWn floated "like a meteor on the troubled air," as he rushed out before breakfast and wafered the truculent looking bill on the front of the house with four fat red wafers. The milkman across the way stared; the neighbor's servant-maid paused in her occupation of flirting dust into the corners of the area ;andthen out ag4in. In short, it made a small sensation in the neighborhood, and sensations, as we all know, widen indefinitely. - Wlille Mr. Bayberry went bapk ito the house with the air of one who has not lived in vain. "Therel" said he. "I have put a bill up." "I'n glad of it," said Mrs. Bayberry, "for between obstreperous servant girls, and everlasting plumbers' bills, and baby's teeth, I'm completely worn out, and tired of housekeeping. "It will be like a new lease of life to board for a little while." "Iliniph1" said Mr. Bayborry. "I'm nu9t so sure 6fthit. "But the bill is up anyhow, and the next thing is to get the old place rented and off our hands." And with the striking of ten o' clock (the house, ns mentioned in the fie print of the "To Let," was visible between the hours of. ten and two,) there set in a solid phalanx of house hunters of all varieties. At first Mrs. Bayberry endeavored to treat the house-hunters politely, but she soon discovered that self-defence required it different method of treat ment; and when Mrs. Foxley said the vollar snelt like an old vault and that the house wasn't fit for decent people to live in, she simply remarked that there was no law requiring her, Mrs. Foxley, to live in It if she didn't like it. Mrs. Fitzfaddle, thme bride, didn't like the location. 11er James, sh~e wd(s sure, wvished to be nearer the park; and she was sorry the house had not hard-wood finish and electric bells. "But," cried Mrs. Bayberry, "you can't expect that sort of tihing for three hundred a year." TIhe bride: tossed her head. Evidently she didn't mean to be dic tated to. Everybody was going into flats now, she said, and she didn't know why she wasted her time in looking at dingy old houses like this. And after two o' clock, when Mrs. Bayberry had retired to her .room to have hjsteries dnd green'tea at her leis ure, the house-hunting public made un ceasing charge up the steps and at the door, still demanding admittance; until at last, Mrs. Bayberry, peeping through the window-blinds, sawv a stout gentle man comning up the steps, with a gold headled cane and a broad-brimmed bea ver hat. "Madam," said the- 01(d gentleman, "1 wrish to take this house." "You wvish to look at~ It, you mean," saidi Mrs. Barberry feebily. "But the hours for Inspection--" "Madam," firmly repeatedl the old gentleman, "I wish to take It. "To engage it-to rent it from the first of May next." "lRnt you haven't seen it!" cried1 Mrs..Hayberry. "'Madam," said- the ol gentleman, "'I dloi't wish to see It. "My family consists of myself, an ihuvalid relative, andi anm old servant. "And it must be a very poor house, indeed, If it does not meet our simple reqiuirements. "Shall I -take down- the bill? "My references are bettall and Co., real estate agente, No-Pne street,' "If you- please," said Mrs, Bayberry, feeling as if a weoight had been lifted off 1her liear-t. "So down came the "To tot!" and fluttered into the gutter. Mr. Bayberry arrived to- a late tea with' a lobster and a- bunch of sprint lettuce unmder his arm. -"Well, Fanny,'' said ho, "I've gol good nows for you. "The~ house Ia lot! "How do you know?" said Mrs Bay berry. "The real oitate agent told me, just now. "To a very respectable old couple man.and wife. "Intending to take a few lodgers, I amn told." Mrs. Bayberry opened her eyer very wide. "Well,. said abie,. "lhe certainly- does look very respectable. "But when he said 'Invalid relative, I had not an Idea that lie meant his "And I should io' think it would e very -pleasant for the lodgers to have a sick perdin In the house." And she told her husband about the benevolent-visaged old gentleman In the broad-brimmed hat. "It's very oddi" said Mrs. Bayberry reflectively, "But it's none of our business." All this being, as they supposed, defi nitely settled,,Mrs. Bayberry was not a little surprised, the next day, at the ar rival of Mrs. Fitzfaddle, the bride, with a tape measure and a .niall mem orandum-book. "To measure for the carpets, you know," said she. "It Isn't quite the sort of house we could have wished, but dear James's salary has been cut down twenty-flve per cent, so we have taken this house In default of enything better." "But it's taken already," said Mrs. Bayberry. "You must be mistaken," said irs. Fitzfaddle. "James rented it yesterday for a year, of the owner, Mr. Trimmer, No Peanut Court. "And If you could give us possession a fe' days before the first of May, it would be a very great accommodation indeed. "I'm sure I don't understad It at all," said Mrs. Bayberry. "You will have to settle it with the landlord. "I'm not responsible." But while the discussion still waged high, in bustled a portly old lady, just as If the house belonged to her. "Mrs. 1t,gam,, omid oho, wit) S. comfortable'.ndlotthe A eedl "The new tenant. "Come to see what arrangement coulI be made about storing a few of my trunks and tlihigs, before I move in regularly." "Madam,"1 said Mrs. Fltzfaddle, "the house is mine." "I've got the blank lease in my pock et, ma'am, all ready for the signatures," aid Mrs. Hodgson. And the two ladies vere glaring furi ously at one1 another, whenl the stout gentleman in the broad-brimmed hat entered. "I thought," lie said, "that perhaps It might be as well for me to make a diagram of-the rooms, so if-" "Oh, stop, stop!" cried Mrs. Bayberry despairingly, clasping her hands to her head. "It's been let twvice over alreadyl I do hope yeou will not be dissapointed, lbt-" A (lark frown oversp)readl tihe 01(d gen tleman's countenance. "Madam," said he, "this is searcely business-like." "Oh (lear, ohm dear!'' said poor Mrs. Bayberry. "My head Is whlirling round like it "I don't see how it can possibly have happened, but here are three peop)le, all saying that they have specially and sep arately-engaged this hiouse.. "Somebody telephone to my hu isban d, or I shall go crazy." In came Mr. Bayberry, accompanied by Lettall & Co., Rentquick & Son, and Mr. Elia Trimmer, wvho owned the very eligible re.sidience under disc.us Aund In tils committee of tihe wvhole It speedily transpired that the house actum ally had beeun rentedl to thlree dlifferenit tenants by the various persons In wvhose charge it was. And not one of them was willing to abate one jot or tittle of his or her rights andl prlvileges. Butt puresently Up) spoke tile fat old lady. "Dear me!'' saidl she: "can't we all arrange matters comfortable-like? "Ain't we making a (deal of fuss about a v_ery little thing? "TIs 'ere old gent dion't really wvant b)ut three rooms; andl tile young lady," Iwith a curtsy to Mrs. Fltzfaddle, whose iRhine pebbles she thlought to be genu I ineI iaimondls, "wIll bie quite satisfied wvith the second floor thlroughJ. "And me and Hoedgsou-we want to take ledgers, and will ho suilted with the basement-story, "And the replt won't, lie b)ut a third as much-don't you see, my dears? and-everybody snug and satisfied." "A capital ideal" said the 01ld genitle man. S"I don't know but whuat it Is worth congsidering," said the bride, "in con sideration:of the twenty-five per cent, reduction of my hlusbanld's salary. I"And if one chooses they can call it a fliAt." And the countenanc.es of the agent and landlord, who had anticipated nothing less annoying than a three cor nered lawsuit, grew radiant again, and matters were all- settled. "But," said Mrs. Bayberry, "if it had been necessary to put up that bill again, I think I should have run away to Patagonia I "Anything-al)ything but a House to Let 1" John Randolph li Congress. The despot of the debates in Congress for many years was the eccentric Joln Randolph, who would ride on horse back from his lodgings in Georgetown to the Capitol and enter the House, wearing a fur cap with a large visor, a heavy great-coat over a suit of Virginia homespun, and white-topped boots with jingling silver spuis. Striding down the main aisle, followed by his brace of pointer-dogs, he would stop before his desk, upon which he would deliberately place his cap, his gloves, and his riding whip, listening meanwhile to the debate. If he took anyinterest in it, he would begin to speak at the first opportunity, without any regard to what had pre viously been said. After lie had ttered a few sentences (and had drunk a glass of porter,which an assistant door-keeper had orders to bring whenever he rose to speak), his tall, meager form would writhe with passion; his long, bony index-finger would be pointed at those on whomi he poured his wrath; and the expression of his beardless,high-cheeked and sallow countenance would give ad ditional force to the brilliant and beau tiful sentences which lie would rapidly utter, full of stinging witticisms and angry sarcasm. So distinct was his enunciation, that his shrill voice could be heard in every part of the hall; his words were select and strictly grammat. ical, and the arrangement of his remarks was always harmonious and effective. Randolph, having had a dinmie-table difficult with Willis Alston, of .North Carolina, never let pass an opportunity for alludiig to him in the most bitter and contemptuous manner. Alston enraged one day by sein language used by Randolph in debate, said, as the representitives wore leaving the hall, and -11andolph was passing him: "T'hie puppy has still some respect shown him.'' Whether the allusion referred to Randolph or to one of his pointer dogs, which was following him, was ,ifterwards a question, but Randolph Imnediately began beating Alston over the head with the handle of his heavy iding-whip, inflicting several wounds. rhe next day the Grand Jury, which was in session, indicted Randolph for a IhwPach of thn pace. but the court allow o. hI 1to o er the. remark about the puppy a06ft a ee- -II-- Ni . in,,tn, .I'd inflicted a fine of twenty dollars. During the debate on the Missouri Iiestion, Mr. Philemon Beecher, a native of Connecticut who had emigrat Rd to Ohio, and. had there been elected It representative, became somewhat impatient as his dinner-hour approached, md at last, avhen Randolph made a iomiewhat lengthy pause, loved "the previous question." The Speaker said, "Tle gentleman from Virginia has the loor,"1 and Randolph proceeded, to be igain interrupted when he laused again to collect his thoughts, by a demand for "the previous question;" nor was it long before the demand was made for [he third time. Randolph could stand it no longer, but said, in a voice as the cry of a peacock: "Mr. Speaker, in the Netheflands, a man of small capa Alty, with bits of wood and leather wvill in a few moments construct that which with the pressure of the finger and thumb, will cry 'Cuckoo! cuckoo!' With less ingenuity and with Inferior materials, the people of Ohio have made i toy that wvill, without miuch pressure, ery, 'Previous question! previous ques tion! '" andl, as lie spoke, RandIolph pointed with his attenuated index-fi ger at Reecher, who did not attempt a maid WVeather ini Nevada. "The weather doesn't quite come up to two years ago, Rob, when the snow was seven feet deep, andl the trains were mnowed in for four days. That was a hard winter." "Hardl winter! W'y that was nothiin' it alil. lEight years ago the trins didn't get through here for three mouths and Uncle John Crayton had to pack all is provisions over from Tfraver~se on snow shoes." "Yes, that's pretty tough, but it wasn't a marker to the wvinter Burt Howe stole Doc Morgan's turkeys, and had them all (dressed before D)oc quit raffling. Don't you mind how the windl blew, too, and howv it dIrifted. Nick Thleiss logged two eighties that winter on section 13, and in the spring Will Bailey happened dlown) that way looking for land, and( got onto them stump)s. Great bull frog I The shortest stump in that lot was forty feet high. Will bought the stumnp land at fifty cents an acre, and madle $,000 logging it over again next year." "Oh, I know all about that. Such stories as that might do to tell in Florida, or in a warm part of Texas. But you dlon't want to talk to me a minute about Fife Lake winters. W'y, boy, I was here 'fore you was born. You never heard of the winter of '49?" "No' let 'or drive. "'Well that was a windy year, amd it was a little cold. Winter set in the 12th of November with the dlarndlest whirlwind you ever smelt-of. What do you s'pose I saw when I wvent dlown t' the lake the next morning to take a swim?" "Whaut was It?" "Well, the lake had froze thirty-four feet (leep durin' the night, un' irigh t out In the midldle that darned cyclone had raised a chunek of water sixty feet high, un' it froze there stiff as a green Not' wvay in Febuwvary. The blamed thing 'bout a hundred feet 'cross the top, and tapered dowvn to 'bout an inch at the bot.tom. The wind was blowin' like an old settler, too." "Did she blow over, Rob?" "Nary ablow. Before the wind could heave 'or over one way it wouki whew 'round and right her up- again. And she kept goin' that way until the 4th et next Jn." Flying-FIske In the sea thereare three flyers that really, from the eXtent of their flights, deserve the uai. Those of our readers who have been at Sea, especially in the South, may have seen the dommon fly ing-fish, with its brilliant blue-and-sil ver body and lace-like, sheeny wings. Fron the crest of a blue wave they dart, singly or in flocks, fluttering along, ris ing and falling - turning in curves, and returning to the water with a splash perhaps to fall a victin to -some watch ful bonito (or dolphin) that has beeh closely following theni beneath the water. These privateers of tkpi aetheir grea test enenies, as -the re in the air fol lowifg'thbin uder Wte and emerging just in time -to cate iWptf kless &yers as they descend. to'.dlphils Wil take great leaps of twenty or thirty feet hi following the poor flying-f1sh, which notwithstanding ,their long wings ni1 wonderful powers, often fall victims to their tireless pursuers. They frequently fly aboard vessels at night, )erhaps at tracted by the lights, or, it may be, caught ip by the wind from the crest of some curling wave, and carried high in air against. the sails. The gurnard, though it has also long, wing-like fins, presents otherwise a to tally different appearance. Its hlead is inclosed in a bony armor, from which 3 project two sharp spines. Some of these fish are of a rich pink color, while others are mottled with red, yellow, and blue, and as they fly along over the water' and the sunlight falls upon their glitter' ing scales, they seem to glow with a gol den luster. With such hard heads it will not ba surprising information that they are disagreeable fellows to come in ' contact With; at least, so thought a sai- I lor who was standing at dusk upon the 1 quarter-deck of a vessel, near one of the West India islands. Suddenly, lie found t hinself lying upon, his back, knocked over by a monst6r gurnard that, with a score of others, had darted from the water, this one striking the man fairly c i-the forehead. The gurnards are also chased by dolphins, and they are fre quently seen to rise in schools, to escape from the larger fish, while hovering C above them are watchful gulls and man- C of-war birds, rea(y to steal then frQni the jaws of their enemies of the sea. In company with these flying-fish may often be seen curious white bodies, with long arms and blailk eyes. They are flying-squids, members of the cuttle-fish family, and the famous bait of the New foundland codl-fishermen. On the Banks they are often peen in vast shoals; and during storms tons 9 them are th'rown t upon the shore. ibtn darting. from wave to wave, heyl resemble pilvely itro\vs oftp are they for ,I itfour or five Jun dred vessels at-St. Pierre are engaged in catching them by means of jiggers. t Many of the squid family leave the wa ter when pursued. Even the largest of them, often forty or fifty feet long, have been seen to rise ten or fifteen feet in the air, and sail away as if propelled by some mysterious force, their hideous arms dripping and glistening. They are certainly the largest and strangest of the flyers without wings. A Denclouff Cup of CI-1e,. In coffee-growing countries, where the berry makes but a short journey t from the bush to the mouth, this pro cess is not necessary; and in the mnoun tais of St. Domingo, the native darkies make coffee in very quick fashion "They 1 take the fresh berries -and parch themi for a few minutes, then crush then in a mortar--and( for each person pult a tablespoonful of fragrant fragments into ~ a coinical-shapedl bag; the exact inmber of coffee-clips full of boiling water is measured olut anid pour11ed twice through tihe bag. This completes the process, and1( thme result is-nectar." But some one comes forwvard with an air oif authority and says: Take a coffee cup of the best Jalva coffee brownued to thle color of chocolate (not scorched), ground not too fine and mix with it half an egg. Put tis into a coffeepuot, or boiler (which is as clean as the cup you drink froml) and p)our over it one quart of boiling water', stirring as you puit tile water in; boil slowly for fifteen numiutes, then stando the boiler 01n theu back of tile range ten imiutes to settle; tumrn all coffee off from the grouInds at onice into an urn or eQifee pot that enni stand( upon01 the stove to keel) hot. Coffe loses its flavor by standing oni the groiuds longer than half an hour, and should be very hot to be good. But Into thecu i a teaspoonful of' "American condensed milk" and sonmc boiled milk, and turn thme coffee into it. No French Coffee is any better. "I know a better way than that," says some one else; and, then (discouirses as follows: Put your grouid' coffee in a bowl, a large tablesp,oonful for each per son (most authorities seem to agree ab)oui the quantity), break into it thme white of an egg (we use an egg for two 1 nmornlings, the white for omne and thme I yoke and'shell for the next), stir this thmooughly-.this is all inmportant Part of I the process-then add cold water veury slowly, stirring all the time, uinti la tea sponfuli or muore has..been mnixedl in. ~ Having previously scalded your coffee- I p)ot, pour thme coffee Into it-rinsing ouit thme bowl wvith a. little cold wvater; fill the coffee-pot more thuan half full with boiling hot water; then, with a spoon stir it a mromeunt; set it on thme fire, and I when it it fIrst b)oils up, stir it dlown and (< add half a teaspoonful of cold water; I this settles it. TIhien set It back on. the range, wvhen It will keep hot till fou;r .breakfast is ready. it should never b1)0 set back far enoungh to grow col(d. Whlen I needed, let it boilsu on) 1ce more; and l then -pour into your silver coffee-pot, I and servo up as hot as possib)le. Block< sugar should be used, andl condenced milk,- or cream; bioiled milk alone will I not give it the proper' color or flavor. Any one wvho desires to 'get upi a rep)utaL tion for good coffee should not, forget this. The beat coffee, according to a house-1 ,keeper, who alwvays has a delcious be verage on lien table, is a mixture of three.fourths Java and Mocha in equal I pats and one-fourth- chicory. The ate,she says, wvhen judiciously used, I gives body and color, and seems to bring I out the delicate flavor of. the other two. A ChinesO Fishing Village. It was close on the edge of the water in Calfornia, where a little inlet rounded In, below high hills. As we drew near it, the odor of fish came up over the ulls, like a smell from something cook 4ig in a vast caldron, The fences, the rocks, the ground--all were covered with shinitig little fishes spread out to Iry; those on the ground behig laid on rnmnes of wooden slats. There was )lly one narrow lane running through le village, and hardly room on that to itep. between the frames of drying fish. 3i the roofs of the hovels, even, Poles were set up, and stretched from corner to corner; and on them long lines of fish aluttered in the air, like clothes hung out to dry. Chinamen were runniig about, umptyling big baskets of fisi other Dhinamen were spreading them, turning h,ion raking them apart, gathering up he dry ones, and packmg them into askets. The place fairly swarmed with aborers and their implements; but all he workers kept steadily on, as regard ass of our presemce as tho1gh they had )eol alits onl an ant-hill. Every man, Voillan, and child was hard at work; hildren that were too small for any hing else had babies strapped on their acks, and were carrying them iabout. Attle girls, not more than eight or tell ears old, were at work industriously leaning the fish, to prepare them for Irying. This was a disagreeable sight; b was done in open sheds, where the loor was black and dripping wet with vater and the slimy offal of the fish. Iere tile women sat on high stools, in a quatting posture, with their feet curled ip under them, cutting aid slailibig, tripping the fisi, and dropping thei itto the baskets with as swift a motion s if they were sielling peas. Tiey had he fingers of the left hand rolled up hickly in black rags, to protect theni gainst a chance slip of the sharp knife. 'hey chatted and laughed, as if they vere engaged inl the most agreeable oc upiation In tho world. There (lid not eem to be t111 idle pair of hands ill the illatge. Old mien were ienidinig nets women putting bait on books. Tile lily unemployed creature we saw was ie small baby. It would not be possible to give any lea of the way in which the 11ous beds, boats, barrels, poles, niets, baskets, aiToldings, and lumber of all sorts were 1ddled together o one narrow alley Ot wide enough for two wagons to drive breast. There was not a foot of open rotid. Looking down from the hill a tle roofs of the housges, on1e would link they all belonged to a single set of Ialls, roofed at different heigits and iigles. It was a squalid and filtiy spot; would seem imupossible for iumamin OaiO.AUt such air, and sleojmiip %ngthof tie, without being made ill. et there are in this little iliage nearly wo hundred .people, many of whom ave l.ived there for thirty years in good ealth. They ire-divided into three mlpllies, each company laving its iader, who pays wages to the mn and 1o11n, and has tile cllrge of selling uid scidling away the fish. The Colugo. Inl the forests of the islands constitut ig tho Indian Archipelago is found a urious flying atilill that formls the olillectiig lik betwoel the leiir ald be hat. The natives call it tile coligo, uid also the "11lying fox," but it is more ke a flying-monkey, as the lenurs are ousinm of the monkeys. Like the bats, lese allinals sleep1 ii tile day-time aiging from the limbs and branches o rees, lead downward; but as evening omes0 on, thley sally fort.h, often doing reat hlarmi to tihe fruit 0on the neighbior lg plantationis. lIn somne plarts of Java bey arie so numelnrous that it is found ecessary to protect the fruit-trees with uge nets. Theil extent of thleir flights bIrouigh tile air is something astonlish 1g. They sometines drop to tile ground( nd( 1101 along with a shutfilig kind of ay, buit if they are alarmed, thley prinig to tile nearest tree and( in a mlo tilent reach its teop by a series of bJounlds. )iut 1upon1 tile branches they (dart, and vithl a rush are off imnto space. Siling blroughl the air like somne great bird, own they go obliquely, swift as5 an1 rrow, a hmundred and fifty feet or more ising again ini a gracefuli curve am(i lighting safely 011 a dlistaint tree. lIn hese great leaps) they carry their young, i'hichi cling to them, or sonmetimes fol 1)w thleml alonIg inl thleir hleadionIg flight, itterinlg hloarse and1( piercing cries. Tme :oluges live ahnost e'xclutsively en fruit, referrlng planltains and( the younmg and1( endler leaves of tile cocoa-p)ahn, thmough ome wvrters aver that thmey hmave seen1 hem dart Into tile air amid actuailly catchl irdls. The flyhig-lemnurs are p)erfectly armless, alnd so gentle as to be easily ammed. They have lovely dark eyes amnd 'ery Iintell1igenlt and knowing faces. Circus Uymnasita andi ltidors. "Tile best gymnnasts are Americans, mt time best rideors are English, said a naniager. Robinison amnd Fish are both vond(erfuil ridlers amid both Americans~ umt they never receivedl thmat rudhinemntad rainling thaut gives afterwards suchl ~race and( pose to thme Enmglishm profes 1(onal. Mume. Eloise lDock rill is uniques ionably tile greatest living rider, amnd Iraws a salary of $360 a week. The krst lesson ai rider is taughmt is about time am11 1as that taught aln actor, amnd for .ight [ know amn opera singer-thlat is, o dlance. They shlold( be thorough Lancers and masters of miotioni before hley aire placed on a horse. Tme gleat st 11a*11 rider is James IRoblison; hie re elves from $300 to $400 a week. Tile ~reatest jockey rider is Framnk (Jardiner. le is also the most celebrated leap)er. I vas present ait D)ubuque, it., in 1869, or the chmlpionship belt and1( omn a wager f $500 with Mr. Batcheider, 110 thirewv a 10ouble somfersauilt over thirty-two iorses. His salary is $250 to $300 a veek. Gymnnasts are inmerous, some 'ery good, others the reverse. Did you ,sk about a trip)le somnersult? There are n10 trip)le somersaalters; it mnever has >con done. -Whenl any onme tells you time ontrary, put him11 down for a-mistake. rwo hmave tried it, but never lived to nlake a second attempt. Yes, some are vell paid; some are not. Perfermers rood 0110, of course-the bdst. The >or l inin the profession are the fianoilcers. Lights of the Harem.. It must not he supposed that elnuchls Ore a imticularly Turkish or Mohaimn meldan institution. They were known In the East and formed a portion of the household of Oriental monarchs long before the Arabian prophesies of the Turks wer oveer heard of. Such guar dians were to be found even at the Court of the Byzantine Emperors and the founders of the Ottoman Empire adopted them with other attributes of sovereign State in throwing off all sexn blance of subjection to the Seljuckian Sultans. Aping the example of their Sovereigns, the great Pachas went in for the same custom, placing the care of their females under one or more such qualified guardians. Of late years the employment of eunuchs has gone great ly out of fashion, ordinary male attend ants being sent in charge of the ladies when taking their walks abroad. This is due in a measure, I fancy, to the m1ore humane and enlightened ideas with regard to their family life that set In with the advent to the throne of Abdul Aziz. lie abrogated the cruel law by which none of the male children born of Sultans were allowed to sur vive their birth, and no princess to have sons that might become possible proten dlers to time throne. Tile birth of his own son, Yusuf Izzedii, was kept care fully Concealed, and when this became no longer ecessary he rejoiced the hearts of his sisters by allowing them the samne privileges as all Moslem wo men., whose greatest desire is to become the mother'of a male child. The time, however, is within the re iollection of many persons at Constanti Ilople, when no carriage with Turkish ladies was to be seen unaccompanied by mounted eunuchs, armed with keen cut Ling scimitars, which they wereapt to use >n the slightest provocation. There is i gentleman still to he met- with out here who obtained a handsome indem nity from the Porte for the severe pun ishment he received at the hands of a mluch for what the latter considered lipertient glances thrown by a "Ghiiour" in the direction of the fair "True' Believers" promenading tho sweet waters mider his care. To re Lurn, however, to the subject of the tarussendet-Oghasse." This high Aliec was 01113 iistituted in the reign of Sultai l Murad III., aild tile first person tppointed was a negro called Mehmet Aiglha. His Successor was a white 1nuch, for it was the fashion to have hese guardians of both colors. Several of tile keepers of the "Gate of Felicity" have been men of marked ibility, and some of them of considera Ale attainments, so that it is not sur risiig to fin(] tey should ocevasioially unent, however, has never fallen to the ot of other than white euntuchs. Two if these latter even became grand viz ers--the onea certain Khaduml. Messilh 3acha il the reign of Selim 1, and the thler KArdjis Meheiet Pacha in that )f the firat Sulti Achmet. Others kgain, have had the title of Sadr-Azane G(ranid Vizier) bestowed iponl them ,vithout time office, and were styled high less, just as Beiram Agha is in the >resent day. Whi the "Gate of eli Aity", has thus led to great honors ill he past to Some of its guardians it 1Ias, n1 the case of others, but proved the Iortall of deatn by the bowstring and oataghan, for Ottoman monarchs were nighty jealois of their honor, and tile jligh test suspicion of anything being wrong in tile haren was4 wont to send lnany an nate to the bottom of the Bosphorus, together with those who were suipposedl to have shown a lack of vigilance. Tihe chief eunuch enjoys rent power in tihe hajreml, andl although the (lays of tihe "sack" and1( "b)owstring" lre past it is dlecidledly bad for the lady who falls out with thme guiardlian of the tate, for lie cani make her a close piris )iier ali(l (deprive her (of all co1mfor1t. Theii Lowly D)andon,. The dandelion, it is rumored, is to be [lhe flower of the season. Clara D)e Vere writes that little elusters of the blossoms aire miounitedl on the rim of the bonnet, m1ixed with pompons and rilbbons, 'or time two shades0 of tihe flower in tihe rib bon1 loops are used(, one tihe pale lemon like tint of the edge of the pitails, anid the other the darker orange shade of the cenitre of the blossoms. Par example: An exqjuisite little bonn3ot of IIavana browu strawv is trinmmedi on the brim with a imass of goldi-coloredl ponlmon, ost richI tips, dani del ions--flowers, leaves a1(nd bus-andl( hias a rosette-like bow of gold velvet at one side. Strlings of gold velvet two inches w%idle, finish the bonm net. i)andelions alsoi cropl out in coml hinaftioni with crushed stawberry tints. A muediumi-sized poke bonnet of pale strawberry p,ink straw has a banld of velvet ani inchl and( a hlif wide pilaced near tIhe edlge of the brim. A large bow of satin inm strawberry color and In two widths, one an inch wvide and 0110 two widIe, is p)lacced onl the top) of the rhn, andl a cluster of lonig-stemmedl dand(e lions Is nestlinlg on one side. Thle strinIgs are double in tile two withs of tile ribbon. Whatever else tile bonnmet has, It imust not lack a touch of yellow. strasbumrg and Metz. The sum of $13,000 000 votedl for the reconlstruction of tihe iortresses of Stras burg and Metz, accordilng to the Cologne GJazette, huas all been expended, ando a further sum of $150, 000 will be asked for soon. Previous to thle war of 1870 Strasburg had1( only a fortified rampart, but the Germans have provided it with twvelve detached forts, nine of which are oni tihe Rhine, and all of them are compileted except the external works of Mundelsheim and the Aithelmer KCof. Around Metz the rampllarts comprise nineteen bastions, surrounded by ditches anid protected by thirteen advanced works. Metz,, in addition to thmis strong defence, is surrounded by eight detached dindependent forts, distant on an argeaottomes froin the centr9. of thelty, and forming a circle fourteei' miles In 'eircumference. These 'forts are named after the German generals who distinguished thems~elves the most during timre war of 1870, and two of them are provided with armorplated turrets Postal NotA. % The law authorizing the issue of three cent "postal notes" will go into effect about. September 1, 1888, or at an earlier date if the necessary engraving and printing can be sooner done. The pos tal note is about as large as a greenback. At the right hand are two columns giv ing the months of the year and the dates of twelve years, be inning with the present. At the left hand are three columns of figures, One, representing dollars, is numbered up to 4; the sec ond, representing dimes, is numbered up to9; the third, representing cents, is also numbered to 9, and each series ends with a cipher. The note is for sums less thai five dollars. The postmaster at the office issuing the note will punch the month and the year, the number of dollars number of dimes and number of cents in their respective columns, thus pre venting any alteration of the amount or date. By this system the postal notes can be issued for any sun from one cent up to $4.99. In buying a postal note no written application will be ne cessary. The note will be bought like a postage stamp and will be payable to the bearer at any time within three months from the last day of the month of Issue. The body of the note is a form stating the office at which it is issued and the ofilce to which it is sent. When paid the person obtaining payment puts his signature upon the note. It is not claimed that the postal note furnishes the same elements of security its the postal order now in use, where written application is made and where the sender's name is privately forwarded to the oice where the order is to be paid; but it is believed that its conven ience to all classes of people will be so great as to render the decrease in se curity of trifling importance. It is ex pected that it will take the place for transmission of money through the mails of the old fractional currency. Sice that was withdrawn there has been no safe and agreeable way of trans mitting siall sums except by postage stanips, which are not regarded with favor as currency, or by the cumbersome process of the postal order. The postal note system has been in use in Great Britain just two years with great popu lar acceptance. The last annual report of the British Postmaster General shows that 4,462,920 of these postal orders amounting to ?2,006,917, had bee' issued in one year. The average time they were in circulation was -six days, showing that there was no foundationi for the idea that they would be devoted to perinaneut use as currency. HoothnsaOw. There always seemE to be a 4hadow of - ,ne sort over Edwin Bolth'a life, and chief sufferer. She is betroted to a -young American, who three or four months ago was almost asphyxiated in haling coal gas. As his recovery hua been very slow, Mr. Booth wrote to the young 'man's father to send the invalid to theni while they were in England, as he supposed a change of surroundings and the sea voyage would hasten his re turn to health, and the pleAsure which the lovers would experience ia being to gether would be a great factor in tho case. The father of the lover cqunnted, and the young mau's sister acconpaniedm hi.i%. They have been with the Booths nIow seveld weeks, but the invalid's health hi not improved. Ills blood seelis to be poisoled, and it has atrected his brain in a pecullar way. lie is not insane, but he cannot remember as for merly, and has to be directed and watchel. ie has lost all interest in hi profession anid in h is contempilative marriage. Miss Booth is plunged in melancholy by the sad circiumstance, and( can seldom be coaxed out of her ho tel. The doctors say the young man may recover insidIe of two years but they think it doubtful, it is probable that he and his sister will return home in a few weeks, or at least they will not travel with the Booths, as there is no thig to be gained by making two pee p1(e wretched. H e adiores Miss Booth, but knows that something has made it temporairily impossible for him to show his affeation andl regardl. The hopeless ness of -the case is the saddest feature. And of couirse Miss Booth realizes that there is nothing she can do to restore hxiin. ' Tihe Newer Arithmnetic. A t $11 per1 ton how many tons of coal can lhe bought for $24? [The greenihorin wvill answer "four tons."] A stage coach robber was enabled to lay ump $4,580 in ten months, but a Nia gara Falls hiackmian salted down $5,2o5 In nine. How much better is it to rol' at Niagara Falls than out West? A tram) gets a cold biscuit at one house, a piece of meat at another, an 01(1 vest at the third, and the owner of the fourth kiouse runs him three blocks with a dog. Hlow much more does the tramp) resp)ect the fourth person than the other three combined? It takes twenty blows of a hammer ia the hands of a woman to drive a ten penny nail three inches. She misses the nail twice where she hits it once. How many blows does she strike in all, and how far can her voice be heard whenshe strikes her thumb. A gentleman who has a library of 12 000 volumes, opens ten per year. At tils rate howv long wvill it take him to reach the last book? In one month the owner of a three minute horse lied ninety-four times re garding his speed. At this rate how many times would he lie in a year and( howv would it help the speed of thmellorse A school teitcher gives a pup il four teen p)aragraphs in the scienceof govern ment, thirteen extumples in arithmetic, three pages of history, one of grmmarm one of orthograghy, and half an hour d wvriting as a daily lesson ahd expects him to-pass 75 pfcent. At this rate how long will it-take her to rush him into a hunatic asylum? If a lawyer charges a plu ber $5 for advice, and athe plunmber ah~te the layr$5.60 for steppir~ ig r~ a ahl A,falooniAt b lys e nif~1tb t1 ~~ltx s not ngto ue* d$n -thi~ iThe'flkheb 4%1b the stei~