The Darlington herald. (Darlington, S.C.) 1890-1895, August 31, 1894, Image 1
* r -: -'"
r* r 4
• V • .*
V
i:WM
i
THE
I
• L •'•' Wi fTJ
VOL. IV.
THE OLD, OLD STORY.
They call It the old, old story, but to me
so sweetly new,
When I can linRer, sweetheart, and hear
it told by you—
Its music soothes the troubling of the
heart that quicker beats,
When the gladness of that story your
dear voice soft repeats I
They call it the old, old story, but in all
this world to-day,
There is nothing that can lighten—that
can drive the gloom away
Like the throbs of pure contentment that
come when it is told—
Like the thrills of joy that tingle when
the buds of love uhfold !
They call it the old, old story, filled with
memory’s golden glow,
Reflecting back the brightness of a happy
long ago—
But eager the glad world listens to the
telling of it yet,
And, crowned with sweetheart’s kisses,
joyful hears—to ne'er forget 1
—[Edward N. Wood, in Atlanta Consti
tution.
THE 1HEST MBIHH-
BY II. C. DODGE.
1 am In the burgling business, nnd
I maintain that it can bo conducted
as honestly ns any other. Perhaps I
am mistaken, but I certainly raised
it to a-mueh higher level than it was
when first I selected that moans of
- livelihood.
My motto, “Honesty is the Best
Policy—See,” is neatly engraved on
all my professional tools and my
title of “The Honest Burglar,” will
go on my tombstone in due time, and
when my strictly honorable exploits
can be safely mentioned with pride
by my relatives nnd friends.
I always made a point of seeking a
toyman worthy of my steal. Never
do I enter a house no matter what in
ducements its contents may offer—
which has not the very latest scien
tific burglar protections. Ordinary
- t - . ' locks and Bolts I positively refuse to
attack and carelessly left open doors
- and windows I disdain to make use
of. ^ leave those little tidbits for
dishonest’burglars who take not the
. professional pride that 1 find so high*
. toned nnd profitabloand so oncour.
TigingHo one’s self-respect.
Soif.-that.-l hiive introduced .my
*' : hohes£,selT'J3J-$eH a sto^y.
■*' * •: X. ustTnlthy 'chBp'wwo 1ind made his
millions in a way I despise haderect-
5 ed a munsien with all the finest elec
trical burglar alarms known to date.
Every door nnd window was doubly
* ♦ protected so Ihe slightest touch after
the wires were set would jangle num
berless bells and turn on the lighted
gas all over the house in a brilliant
illumination. In addition to all that
melodious display th'->re were tell
tale steps on each staircase and
tempting Bits of silverware connect
ed with wires to the main battery
lept in plain sight by the safe in the
dining-room.
All these imposing preparations, so
expensive and troublesome for their
owner gave to me a glorious delight,
a looking forward to attacking them
with a small boy’s Fourth of July
enthusiasm.
AWast the battle night came, and
With it Mr. Willialn Mummer, my
active partner in the business.
Mr. Mummer was highly respected
in the profession. Like myself, ho
never stooped to conquer, and was
equally noted for his gentlemanly
ways and sturdy ^onesty.
Only once in his busy life was ho
ever taken in and done for, and I
couldn’t blame him a bit, either.
You see he was making a profes
sional cull on a rich bachelor, and
while putting things away in the
handsome room lie was painfully sur
prised by the sudden arrival of his
host with some gentleman friends.
Not willing to gvem intrusive, Mr.
Mummer quietly slipped under tne
bed to await un opportunity for de
parting pleasantly.
From his snug retreat SI/. Mum
mer beheld six well-polished hoots
spread themselves comfortably on the
Turkish rug, evidently in shape to
stay awhile, despite William’s anxiety
to catch the train for home.
Soon the jolly gentlemen I’ghted
• cigars and commenced tolling funny
siorios, ending oacli with a chorus of
r hearty laughter.
William, who understood the proper
etiquette of not mixing in where lie
wasn’t wanted, kept a becoming
silence until a funnier story than
usual was told, and then, after an
agonizing struggle to choke his un
fortunate mirth, ho exploded with a
tremendous “ haw-haw-haw!” which
frightened the gentlemen shame
fully.
It is needless to say that Mr. Mum
mer had ample time afterward to en
joy the joke while taking a little va-
, cation from business in the State
Laundry.
But he soon recovered my respect
for his sterling qualities by a trick
he played when cornered in a fash
ionable boarding house one night.
While the landlady was ringing the
big bell and the alarmed boarders
were searching for him with guns,
Mr. Mummer enlered a deserted
room and promptly went to bed with
his boots on. There, with the blanket
tucked tightly under his handsome
chin, he lay yelling as loud as the
loudest and grandly ordering the
bold warriors with guns from his
rool.i when they rushed in to see if
he was being murdered. ’Twas lucky
his bed belonged to a terror-stricken
maiden lady who had sought refuge
elsewhere—otherwise Mr. Mummer
might not have been so very smart,
after all But he got out of his scrape
At <)a^ light and took his swag, too,
and consequently bis fame Was tin-
diminished by that episode.
Now that I have introduced Mr.
William Mumtnor, Esq., I will go on
with my story.
’Twas a black midnightih bdreary
November. The sky w^ clouded
and a lively wind was banging shut
ters and moaning through the sway
ing branches as Bill and 1 quietly
stole along the dismally dark and
deserted country road.
With valises containing articles
used in our trade, and smoking pipes
with stoppers on to hide their glow,
wo silently made good time over the
wet nnd soggy ground 1111 old Fort
Electricity, as we dubbed tho object
of our attack, loomed up before us.
We knew tho place well, for both
Bill and myself had managed to se
cure work there when the house was
being remodeled. Through a side
hedge and across a large lawn from
tree to tree we cautiously advanced,
pausing frequently to observe and
listen.
Not asound,save the uncanny ehriek
of a screech owl, nnd the blustering,
chilly wind soughing among the ever
greens and creaking the bare treotops,
fell on our eager ears.
Thanks to the supposed superior
protection of electricity, dogs were
not on hand to interfere with our
pleasure—though had there been we
had a patent way of winning their
friendship.
When wo got close to the house wo
made a circuit arouffd it, and finding
everything safe and comfortable, we
prepared for business. Instead of
attempting a guarded door or win
dow, or even cutting a hole through
flie clapboards into the parlor, as we
might have done to avoid the wires,
our plan was to enter through tho
unprotected roof. Taking from my
bag an arrow, with a coil of fishing-
line attached, I placed it in a bow
(which bad boon my cane while trav
eling) and neatly shot the line above
nnd over the house, so that it fell
clear of windows or obstructions.
In a few minutes a signal tug on
it told me that Bill had found the
arrow on ’tother side of the house.
Then I tied on a heavier line, light
but strong enough to hang two ordi
nary men, and signaled Bill to haul
away. Next I fastened on a well
greased, high-power pulley block, on
which was tho flexible rope for our
ascent, and gave the signal to haul
awuy again, and make fast.
Soon Bill did so and, joining me,
we got ready to go aloft.
I went first, of course, being the
.senior partner in the concern and
chief manager of my unpatented in
vention.
Comfortably sitting on a wooden
cross-piece I pulled away on the end
less rope attachment (one pound pull
lifting four), and easily raised myself
to where I could reach and mount
upon the broad eaves of the shingled
sloping roof.
In a jiffy Partner Bill performed
the same circus act and was at my
side.
Like two cats wo quickly clamber
ed, with the help of the cross line,
to the scuttle, and then, with no
trouble at all to such artists as we
were, the bolt was forced and Fort
Electricity was taken, with its gar
rison blissfully dreaming of the safety
afforded by the latest burglar alarms.
Softly creeping down tho scuttle
ladder we gained the garret floor and
there, by the cheery light of our dark
lanterns, we donned our working
suits consisting of long while night
gown nnd caps, and which, I am proud
to say ,|I invented for occasions like
the present. ,
Being an honest burglar, 1 r er
considered it square to needless’. <tur
tle a sleeping person. Tlic ladies espe
cially suffer from nervous shock and
fright and either faint dead away or
scream so loudly that it is annoying to
say the least.
The men are apt to waxen out of
humor or scared to death, and in both
cases are-generally beyond reach of
argument.
But in our handsome rutiled night
gowns and caps we fearlessly glide
in and out of bedrooms, make half-
awake men turn over on their pil
lows so we can get their watches or
pistols with no more than a sleepy
grunt at being disturbed, and even
get in bed beside them if tliere’s dan
ger of actual discovery.
You tee our boldness and appear
ance naturally causes them to take
us for members of the tamily and
treat us accordingly.
This surely is much pleasanter
than burning sulphur matches under
their noses or blinding theireyes with
the rays of a dark lantern, or giving
them a pointed revolver bluff or
a billy crack on a defenseless bald
head. Put yourself in their places
and I guess you’ll fully agree with
me.
Well, Bill and I, like two white-
robed Simla Claiu.es, came down
stairs and went straight to our work,
Bill taking tho rooms on one side of
the dimly-lighted hall, and I tho
others.
Here let mo say that snoring,
which is usually offensive to tho lis
tener, becomes in our business a
most mclodious'and soothing sound.
Like Sancho Panza, I bless tho man
who invented sleep, and turlce bless
the woman, perhaps, who invented
the sweeter snore, thoui;h I never do
it myself, not having time at night
like other folks.
P'eathing these blessings, I en
tered the main room, where the old
general of the fort lay snoring for all
he was worth.
First I tackled his trousers and got
his well-stuffed wallet, then picked
up a young jewelry store from tho
bureau, then fished for his watch
under his pillow. But the oldsnorer
lay on it hard so it wouldn’t ceme.
Shoving him gently by the shoulder
I whispered “turn over.”
Half opening his eyes, enough to
DARLINGTON, S. C„ FR$AY, AUGUST 31, 1894.
, ... •
NO. 39.
see itiy white rote, lit! gatre the tiflild)
grunt and obeyed. In a moment his
interrupted snore became louder than
before, and the ticker was mine.
'To the next room I went and as
easiljr helped myself;
The third room, which was the
guest chamber, I visited with equal
success, and then, not intending to
upset the electrical arrangement on
the first floor, t sneaked out in the
hall to find Bill and skip out lot
good tho way he had come.
A dimly-burning gaslight made the
darkness visible, and shortly I saw
Bill’s noblo ghostlike figure emerge
from (l room and, without looking in
my direction, walk toward the far
end of the hall.
In one instant I noiselessly reached
him and, touehing his arm, whis
pered: “Come, Bill; it’s time to
git!”
The form turned around—but it
wasn’t Bill, The fierce mother-in-
law of the establishment stood be
fore me, burning me with her eyes.
Ere I could hide my surprised face
and mode tly retreat—so she might
do (lie same—-she got onto my night
gown racket and like a tigress she
grabbed my whiskers with both
hands and shrieked “murder”
and “thieves!” “robbers!” “help!”
etc., till she made me tired. I never
felt so queer In all my life.
At once yells end screams nnd
howls of fear came from all over in a
mad chorus; off went tho burglar-
alarm bells and the rattles and up
flashed the gas till the whole lower
part of the house was brilliant.
Luckily I had captured tho pillowed
pistols, or they’d have gone off too.
At the instant a stalwart figure in
white bounded out of another room
and flewato mv assistance. “Bill!”
I gasped, “QuickI For your life!
Pull her away!”
He gently but firmly embraced the
old lady’s waist and pulled while I
tried'to bite her worse than tiger’s
claws. “Tickle her, Bill!” I groan
ed, since the pull didn’t work. That
fetched her. She lost her grip—re
taining, however, half my beard, and
went for Bill. But he was too quick
to be caught. Neatly dodging her
lorriblo taions, lie pushed her in a
room, and before the terrified house
hold dure show themselves we had
escaped through the scuttle and were
on the roof.
A^slide down the rope and our safe
ty was secured,'but we had not a sec
ond to lose.
Hastily wo tried to find our only
means of flight. Like great lizards
we crawled about in the darkness, but
our efforts were vain. The rope was
gone.
“What’s up now, Bill?” I whis
pered.
“We are, Tom,” he answered grim
ly, “we’ve been shadowed from out
side and they’ve cut the rope. Nice
trap for two old rats like we."
In spite of myself I shivered.
“Well, what’s to be done, Bill? No
use praying for a balloon, is there?”
“Not much, pard,” said William
as cheerfully as he could, “and no
use trying the front door. There
ain’t a lightning rod, cither, to slide
down on, and wo can’t reach tho
water leader. I wish I was a bird.”
“Well, we’ll both be birds—jail
birds—Bill, if wc don’t do something.
Think quick.”
Now guns were beginning to shoot
from thcr windows and we heard an
swering shouts from without. Evi
dently the house was being sur
rounded.
“Tom,” whispered Bill, “I’ve
thought. Wo must jump.”
“Up or down?” says I, not relish
ing the job.
“Down, of course,” grinned bravo
William, “into tho big evergreen
-tree by that chimney. Now, Tom—
come on.”
Bill skinned to tho roof’s edge like
a monkey, I after him. When over
lie leaped into the blackness and I
heard tho branches break, but no
sickening thud on the ground, as I
feared. Giving him time to get out
of my way, I followed, and also held
on the bending boughs. In a trice
both of us reached the grass, and be
fore we coujd start to run a dozen ex
cited men with pitchforks and guns
were around us, the light from the
windows showing us to advantage.
But luckily we had forgot to re
move our nightgowns. “Quick now!”
cried Bill, with wonderful presence
of mind. “Save our folks in the
house. The robbers are murdering
them. They chased us out the win
dows. Smash in tho front door and
save their lives. Don’t you heai
them scream?”
Off rushed our captors and with
axes they broke the door and entered
to the rescue.
Bill and I dropping our robes de
milt, took the opposite direction,
gained tho road, and laughed all the
way home.—[Detroit Free Press.
Fast Freight Run.
What is claimed to have been the
fastest long-distance freight-run ever
made in this country was made from
Memphis to Kai sas City by a special
train loaded with bananas on June
18, the speed averaging 40.4 miles an
hour for the 484 miles, and reaching
a maximum of 64 miles an hour,
which was kept up for six miles.—
[Chicago Herald.
Air-Tight Corks.
Corks may be made air and water
tight by keeping them for five min
utes under melted paraffine; they
must be kept down with.a wire
screen. These corks have a perfectly
smooth surface and may be introduc
ed nnd drawn out easily, and seal
perfectly.—[New York Advertiser.
London has 271 public parks, con
taining 17,876 acres of ground.
THE JOKER’S BUDGET.
JESTS AND YARIKS BY FUNNY
MEN OF THE' F»RESS.
With Glittaririd &lc«9s»**A Chano's
to Miss It--That Dsstroyad the
Charm, Etc., Eto.
WITH GLITTERING SUCCESS.
Popper (testily)—For Heaven’s
sake! What’s that baby howlltig for
so?
Mrs. Popper—I just spanked him
to make him stop crying.—[Puck.
A CHANCE TO MISS IT.
Amy—It isn’t always safe to judge
by appearances. •
Maud—No, dear; the fellow With
a yachting cap may really own a
boat.—[Town Topics.
THAT DESTROYED THE CHARM.
Haverly—Poor Mrs. Naglelgh lias
suffered a terrible blow. She bus
lost her hearing.
Auston—That doesn’t make any
difference to her. She hasn’t lost
her tongue.
Haverly—It makes all the differ
ence in the world. She can’t hear
herself talk.
PRECAUTION.
She (whispering nervously)—Now.
Dick, I—I hope you haven’t lost the
ring—you are so absentminded, dear!
He (confidently) — Eh? Oh, no;
not upon this occasion. I locked it
in tho time lock safe at the bank,
and aw—er—it’s there yet!—[Judge.
RETROSPECTIVE.
He sat for a long time wrapped in
thought.
“What is the matter?” asked his
wile; “is there trouble on your
mind?”
“Not exactly,” he answered, mop-
pin*'the perspiration from bis brow,
“not unless ye might look at it as a
kind o’remorse. %
“What was occupying your mind?”
“I was wondering whether I’m tho
same man that kicked about having
to shovel snow last winter.”—[Wash
ington Star.
A simple PLAN.
She—How can B manage to live on
such a small salary ?
He—Very simply. Ho lives sim
ply, dresses simply, and simply—
doesn’t pay.
MUTUALLY DECEIVED.
“Two souls with biita single thought
Two hearts which beat as one.”
I wed for money—so did she—
And each of us had none.
—[Truth.
THE PROPER CHARGE.
Stillingfleet—What would you do
with a tailor who never has your
trousers done at the time he has con
tracted to deliver them?
Winebiddle—Sue him for breeches
of promise.
A LITTLE SKEPTIC.
Little Bay—Did you over see a
comet?
Little Girl—No.
“Neither did I. I don’t b’lievo
there is comets.
“You ought to be ashamed to talk
that way. You’ll be saying you don’t
believe in ghosts next.”- ,Good
News.
SEASONABLE.
He heard them kissing on the sly,
And peeped in through the door,
And then he cried in accents high,
“Say, sister, what’s the score?”
—[Detroit Free Press.
FIRST STEP IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
“George,’.’ she said, as ho entered
the parlor. '
“ Vcs.”
“I am studying photography.”
“How nice! And have you taken
any pictures yet?” ho asked us ho sat
down on a sofa.
“Oh, no! I have only gotten as
far as high lights nnd ”
She got up nnd turned down the
gas.
“Low lightl”—[Syracuse Post.
provoking.
Miss Prettyfaco—Have you noticed
that horrid man across the way? So
well dressed, too.
“No; has ho been staring at us?”
“Mercy, no; he '.usn’t glanced
this way once.”—[Chicago Inter-
Ocean.
YE SYMPATHETIC FRIEND.
Gcorge^-Jack, old hoy, I’m so glad
I ran across you. Never needed your
friendship more. I’m in love with
tho belle of the season, nnd I prom
ised her a sail to-day, but I had a
run of had hick last night, and
haven’t a cent left.
Jack—Too bad.
“Yes. I don’t care for myself,
you know; but it’s such a pity that a
charming creature like that should
ho disappointed. You have a little
money to spare, haven’t you?”
“Oh, plenty. Make yourself easy,
my dear boy. She shan't be disap
pointed. I’ll take her myself.’—[New
York \\ eekly.
HIS DELICATE REPROOF.
“I don’t care!” exclaimed the pre
historic woman, “if it is on crooked."
A shadow of pain flitted across the
face of the prehistoric man.
“Dearest,” .Vo pleaded; “say not
so. Thou knowest not—”
Ho gazed anxiously into her eyes.
“—but it may bo the imprint of thy
form that (lie archaeologist will find
upon the insensate rock.”
With a new realization of tho re
sponsibilities of existence she turned
again to her mirror.—[Puck.
FROM DIFFERENT 8TANDPOINT3.
lie—Well, I’ll say good night,
the—Good morning.
v THE IlACB to find it-
“America has no ftandirig army, f
believe,” said the foreigner.
‘lit Is clear you haven’t spent
much time 1(1 the street cars of this
great country,” replied the native.—.
[Truth.
FALLS OFF.
. “MIm Streeter is learning to ride a
bicycle.’’
“How is she succeeding?”
“Oh, she doesn’t get on very well.”
—[Life.
TRUE LOVE. .
Fond Mamma—So you really love
him, my chilct?
Up-to-Date Daughter—-I/Ove him!
Ah, mamma, Ipve is an empty word
to describe, my feelings toward him.
Have I not seen his bank book?
A PAIR OF THEM.
He parted his ^rtlf In tho middle.
I wept for tho things It implied—
Till I gazed at his wife and grew
cheerful,
For she parted her hair on the side.
A REASONABLE REQUEST.
“You are the star Of tho evening,
Miss Schmidt.”
“Indeed! You are the first who
lias told me so.”
“In that case, ns the discoverer of
n new star, I mil entitled to give it
my name. Will you accept it?”—
[FJiegcnde Blaetler.
OUGHT TO BE ACCOMMODATED.
“Thompson says lie would like to
bo buried witli a brass band.”
_ “So? I know tho hand, loo, that I
would like to see buried with him.”—
[Indianapolis Journal.
UNAVOIDABLE DELAY.
Mrs. Hick—I ordered ten yards of
dress goods here yesterday, to lie
sent; has it been cut ? ”
Floorwalker — No, indeed; the
clerk said you hadn’t been in yet to
change your mind.—[New York
World.
Hicks—It spoils a hall game for
me to have to take my wife.
Dix—How so ?
Hicks—When one of our men
scores a home run she looks at me
and says sweetly, “Now, isn’t that
too bud? ”—[New York World. *
OVERSTEPPED HIMSELF.
Palette—This picture places the
milkmaid on the wrong side, nnd be
sides it isn’t a cow at all, but a hull.
Jess—What of it; all I wanted of
you was to guess whether it was a
sunrise or a sunset.
HIS SORRY LOAD.
He placed liHliafid upon his heart.
“You cannot imagine,” ho pro
tested, “what a terrible load I carry,
and yet give no sign to tho world.”
She turned away her head.
“Believe me," she faltered, “the
world knows.”
A subtle something in the way she
raised her handkerchief to her fnco
impelled him to surreptitiously lake
anotlier clove or two.—[Detroit Tri
bune.
DIMPLY AN EXCUSE.
Father—What reason have you for
wishing to marry tho girl.
Son—I love her.
Father—That’s po reason; it’s an
excuse.”—[Truth.
CALLED DOWN.,
“I love you—I—n college boy T"
With rosy flush mid dimple,
The sweet lips answered, “so It
seems—
Jl/rcah-man pure and simple !”
—[Puck.
HOT.
The eye of a little Washington Miss
was attracted by tho sparkle of tho
dew at curly morning.
“Mamma,” she said “It’s hottcr’n
I thought it was.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look here. Tlio grass is all per
spiration.”—[Washington Star.
Care of Children's Teeth.
Mr. R. D. Pedley, F. R. 0. S.,L. D.
S., dental surgeon to the Evelina
Hospital for Sick Children, South
wark, has presented to tho London
County Council a report on tho re
sults of his examination of (ftil boys
at the Industrial School, Feltham,
Middlesex. He states that more than
three-fourths of them had decayed
teeth. In the case of children, who
during the growth of the body, had
not merely to maintain nutrition, it
is surely, ho says, a matter of urgen
cy that all the organs of digestion
should be kept in a state of func
tional integrity, and if, as seems to
be the case, diseasos of the digestive
tract are increasing, it is evident that
any departure from the normal den
tition places the child and the future
adult at a disadvantage. Instead of
waiting until a child suffers pain,
and thus directs attention to a de
cayed tooth, It is far bettor for both
patient and operator that the earliest
appearance of caries should be noted
and tho progress prevented by a*
regulated system of inspection and
prompt treatment. Under such cir
cumstances dental disease nnd tho
necessity for painful operations dc-
como reduced to a minimum, and at
the same time the function of masti
cation is retained in accordance with
what is now recognized ns the most
beneficial practice. Five hundred
and thirty-eight boys have among
them 1,744 unsound teeth, 741 of
which are permanent teeth requiring
filling. This points tlie way so clearly
that he lias no hesitation in record
ing his opinion that a qualified den
tal surgeon should bo appointed to
the school. He also suggests that a
tooth brush and simple tootli powder
should be provided for eacli boy, and
that a tooth brush drill after tho livt
meal of the day be instituted.
TEACHING A GIRL TO SWIM.
The Easiest and Quiokest Way of Ac
quiring That Accomplishment.
It at the seaside many a girl who
was never in the salt water before
can quickly acquire this most grAce-
fol and servicable accomplishment
by a very simple method.
A comfortable flannel bathing suit
and a strong-armed brother or other
companion who swims well are the
chief equipments for this practical
beginning.
Wade into the water until it is
waist deep,and then ask your brother
to put one arm under your body
about the waist line and place ids
other hand under yonr chin. Then
lift your feet off the bottom and lie
in the water without moving.
Have never a bit of fear; you are
well supported; your face is out of
the water, and you will feel your
body lifted up by it as though push
ed from beneath.
THE STROKE.
Now witli arms and logs stretched
to tlieir full length, make tho lirst
stroke. Draw your hands up to
your chest, tho finger tips nearly
touching,tho palms turned out. Then
sweep your arms out in tlio half-cir
cles through the water until they
stretcli out straight on either side
from your body. Your legs meanwhile
must also bo drawn up until your
toes almost touch, then stretched
out quickly, tho feet fur apart.
When your hands are drawn up
against your chest your knees must
bo simultaneously crooked to bring
your feet together, and arms and legs
propelled through tlio water at the
same moment.
Go through these movements for at
least ten minutes every day in the
water, having some one to hold you
up, nnd resting for u bit every two or
three minutes.
By perhaps the fifth morning you
will be able to bo in tlio water with
only your chin in your brother’s
hand. You are feeling by this time
how buoyant the salt water is, and
you are beginning to trust it.
After that you will feel yourself
muring along an incli or two, and
any one’s forefinger lightly pressing
up will keep your head up at the
level shown in the picture.
About tlio tenth morning you will
be able to dispense with even a help
ing finger and will swim a few feet at
a time.
After that tho old rule of practice
making perfect must bo followed in
order that you may learn to swim
twenty yards at u stretcli, which is a
fine feat for one’s first summer in the
water.
To hasten your progress us a be
ginner try to remember and follow
closely these simple rules, the viola
tion of which greatly retards one’s
progress.
When in tho water never open your
mouth.
Breathe through your nose.
Never, when learning to swim, go
in water over your waist in depth.
Never go with any but a person
who knows iiow to swim, is kind and
cautious, and who would not play
pranks or practical jokes.
Npver fail to go in every morning
regularly.—[Boston Globe.
TREES AS HISTORIAN
They Tell of the Dry and Wet Sea
sons of a Century Ago.
It has been found that the rings of
growth visible in tlio trunks of trees
have a far more interesting story to
telKhan has usually been supposed.
Everybody knows that tiiey indicate
the number of years that the tree
has lived; but J. Keuchler, of Texas,
has recently made experiments and
observations which seem to show
that trees carry in tlieir trunks a
record of tlio weutlierconditions that
have prevailed during the successive
yenrsof tlieir growth.
Several trees, each more than [180
years old, were felled and the order
and relative width of ihe rings of
growth in tlieir trunks were found to
agree exactly.
This fact showed that all tlio trees
had experienced the same stimula
tion in certain years and tho same
retardation in other years. Assum
ing tiiat the most rrpid growtli had
occurred in wet years, and the least
rapid in dry years, it was concluded
that of the 1!I4 years covered by the
life of the trees 60 had been very
wet, 6 extremely wet, 17 average as
to tlie supply of moisture, li) dry, 8
very dry and 6 extremely dry.
But when the records of rainfall,
running back ns far as 1840, were
consulted, it was found that they did
not ail agree with tho record of tho
trees. Still it could not be denied
that the rings in the trunks told a
tru*- story of the weather influences
which had affected tlie trees in suc
cessive years.
Tlio conclusion was therefore
readied that (lie record of the rings
contained more than a mere index of
tlie annual rainfall; that it showed
what the character of tlie seasons
had been as to sunshine, tempera
ture, evaporation, regularity or irreg
ularity of tl.e supply of moisture,
nnd the like; in short, that the trees
contained, indelibly imprinted in
their trunks, more than 100 years of
nature’s history, n history which we
might eompetely decipher if we could
but look upon tho fnco pf nature
from a tree’s point of view,—[New
York Advertiser.
CHILDREN’S COLUHV
A COMPARISON.
I think the barber’s gaudy pole would bo
For the oontecUoner a sign most handy,
For It always soems to little me
A great big stick of candy.
. —Harper’s Young People.
-
* ■ *'
• an eagle’s nest.
One of the most remarkable struc
tures in nature is the nest of a bald
eagle. One found in tho famous red
wood forest of California had sticks in
it as large as an ordinary fence rail.
The nest was 300 feet from the gronnd
and was built on a frame-work com
posed of the heavy timber that was
solidly fastened together at tho corn
ers like a rail fence and on the framo
was built a solid platform of heavy
sticks and brush, making a completo
nest. These nests are used year after
year by the same pair of bird*, unless
they are disturbed or driven away by
hunters. —Atlanta Constitution.
A WHALING ADVENTURE.
A most disastrqus accident occurred
to the whale-ship Essex, belonging to
Nantucket, and commanded by Cap
tain Ronald Pollard. While cruising
in the South Pacific the ship discov
ered a school of large sperm whales,
and all the boats were at once lowered
to assail them. The mate and captain
succeeded in fastening it about tho
same time. Tho former lanced his
victim, and while engaged in tying his
fins together preparatory to securing
him alongside tho ship, which was
about a mile away, but bearing down
in response to the mate’s signal, the
captain was placed in danger by the
whale which bo had struck making for
his boat after rising. Oreat dexterity
on the part of the rowers and steerer
swept the boat out of tho path of tho
infuriated fish—which kept on in a
direct line, dragging the whale
boat after him with such veloc
ity that the parted waters stood
a foot above the gunwale, but
were prevented from falling into
the boat owing to the great speed
maintained. It was quickly seen that
the Ship was in the path' ot the fleeing
whale, and the captain halloed to tho
men on board to alter the course of the
vessel, nnd it was evident that the dan
ger was appreciated by tho helmsman
of the Essex, for tho head of the ship
was observed to fall off; but ere she
could be swept out of the track tlio
whale struck her with such fnghful
force that the bows were crushed in
and all three masts were carried away.
The vessel immediately filled with
water, but remained floating, with her
upper deck even with the water, owing
to tho number of empty barrels in her
’tween decks.
Fortunately quite a quantity of pro
visions were in the galley when tho
accident took place, and a barrel of
salt pork and one of beef were recov
ered from the hold a day or two
later. For over a week the crew lived
on the deck of tho ship, hoping to
sight a sail; but none appearing, and
realizing that they were in an unfre
quented part of tho Pacific, they took
to the boats, with tho idea of reaching-
Valparaiso, the nearest port. A few
days following they sighted Ducie’s
Island, an almost barren land situated
in tho latitude of 24 degrees 40 min
utes south, and tho longitude of 124
degrees 48 minutes west. In a cavo
close to the beach tho men found eight
skeletons, and a board in w[iich had
been cut with a sailor’s kuifo the
words, “Ship Elizabeth of London.”
Three of the crew, however, preferred
remaining on this sterile island rather
than venture three thousand miles in
an open boat; so leaving them a small
stock of provisions and some fishing
lines,the remainder of the men headed
to the east ward.
For several days tho boats kept to
gether ; then they become separated,
never to meet again. Six weeks later
a battered whale, boat drifted into tho
harbor of Valparaiso just as tho sun
was sinking across tho wide reach of
crimson-tinted waters. Tho glory of
tho sunset bathed tho stained and
and tattered sail until it loeked to bo
w^ven in threads of gold Even tho
gaunt faces of tho crew, caressed by
the tender touches of tho mystic glow,
became fair to look upon, and their
ragged vestments seemed to wrap them
about with the raiment of a king.
Upon learning the story of tho
shipwreck, an American man-of-war
then at anchor in the harbor was des
patched to Ducie’s Island, where tho
three men were rescued.—Harper’s
Young People.
Nothing Lacking.
Citizen—Great place, this town of
ours, ain’t it? Travelers nil seem to
like it.
Visitor (enthusiastically)—I should
say so! Why you’ve got 18 lines of
railroad that a man can get away fj-yjn
it on I—Puck.
{«-
//