The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, January 18, 1893, Image 6
It ?sir't th? thing yo? Jo, dear,
- It's the thing you've left undone.
Wbi<& gives you a bit of jfcwutache
.. At.the setting of the son.
T & <9ae?letter yondid not witifie;'
The flower yon might haye sent, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts tonight..
* ' . . iv.-" v : ?.* ?
The stone yon might have lifted
Out of a brother's war,
1 jj? bit of heartsome counsel
?Ton were hurried too mach to say.
The loving touch of the band, dear,
The gentle and winsome tone
That you had no time or thought for
With troubles enough of your own.
The little act of kindness,
So easily ont of mind;
Those chances to be angels
Which every mortal irads^
They coin? in night and silence
Each chill reproachful wrath
When hope is faint and nagging,
And a blight has dropped on faith.
For life is ali too abort, dear,
And sorrow is all too ereat,
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late.
And it's not the thing you do, dear,
It's rite thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
.-[Margaret E. gangster, in Fraternal
World.
THORPE MANOR
DEAS FRANK: I have found the very
house for you-Jabobean period and almost
origma!. I was a trine spoiled by some
Philistine individual about thirty years since,
but with your taste and the ?id of the local
architect everything can be put right. This
pearl of houses goes hy the name of Thorpe
Manor, and is, of course, haunted, so yon
may relieve the monotony of country life by
a genuine ghost hunt. Ever yours.
JOH* RIDGEWAY.
F. S.-The house is in Surrey, about four
miles from Winton station. You had better
come down at once, as I hear some one else
is after itv
At that time I was a fairly good
looking, weir to-do bachelor of thirty
Jive. My ample leisure I devoted to
? antiquarian researches, literary work
and the collection of "curios." I had
no relatives and few friends, and I
lived an almost solitary and perfectly
?tappy life in my chambers.
Among what some people called my
"craze" was an enthusiasm for ancient
houses, and I had deputed John Ridg?
way, an artist friend of mine wno
lived in Surrey, to find me a genuine
old coan try house-a dreamy? ram?
bling place-where I cou id spend the
summer. Hence his letter.
As the tram steamed into the little,
station at Winton, John rushed up to
my carriage and clasped my hand.
Dear old chap! he quite beamed with
joy at the prospect of showing me his
wonderful house.
?*Charming old place ? Tve bad my
eye on it six months !" he said as he
walked over;$he common.
he produced the inevitable
and-pernell and wis soon
drawing pia?? and explaining de?
rails.
As we passed through the- village
we called upon the house agent and
took him with us. He was a prosaic
man, and evidently thought we were
a couple of mil I lunatic?, so excited
, did we become when suddenly turn?
ing a comer at the foot of-a steep in?
cline we stood in front of Thorpe
Manor. It was a 'quaint old house,
... standing \mk> ?flUte from tue road?
and its walls were as perfect aa when
first built, bot mellowed sud beau li?
lied by time.
We walked up the prim gravel path
to tho wide doorway with its fantastic
carving. Here our agent produced a
huge, rusty key and unlocked the
door, which swung back easily on its
large hinget. We . entered and went
through Use rooms, which had low
ceilings sad broad window seats.
Most of these had panelled walls,
though some of them had been covered
.,7ith paper which? of course, we said
m ust come off. One of the bedrooms
- which I thought from the elaborate
carving on the -high mantel shelf and
the beautiful oak panelling had orig?
inally been the state one-was perfect.
I felt strangely attracted to this
room, I know not why, and as we
turned to leave I lingered behind the
others for a parting glance. Then I
slowly went down the winding stair?
way.
"Seen the ghost ?" asked John, jest?
ing*}'.
The agent looked uneasy. Ghosts
are tiresome things, apt to militate
very much against the chances of se-j
curing a good tenant, but I reassured ?
Mm by remarking that I rather liked i
ghosts, and that so far as I could see j
the house was exactly what 1 wanted, j
Of conr?e, there were many details to j
be settled about the lease, repairs, and j
other matters, and I stipulated that I j
- should be allowed to make some alter- !
i
ations, such as removing the staring
plate glass with which the late owner
had "modernized" thejjtfndows of the
lower rooms.
Six weeks later I was installed in
my new residence. The alterations
were noj^Ru'ly completed, bat declin?
ing "t?!^^Kgway9, pressing invitation
to tafe* $p uiy quarters with them, I
occupied two rooms in the old house
and engaged a woman in the village to
come daily and attend to my simple [
wants.
On the third evening after my ar- f
riva I 1 T?as smoking my favorite pipe
?rb$&wood lite in the oakroom, which j
11 had made my bedroom. It was
I nearly 12 o'clock, but being accus?
tomed to late hours I did not feel in?
clined for bed-far from it I de?
cided to have one more pipe, and
hastily taking np my pouch I began to
rsull my pipe. Suddenly I stopped
shOit, and with my. little linger sti?i
rammed into the bowl of the pipe,
kft my chair and walked to the oppo?
site side of the room, for I could have j
* vorn 1 saw the panelling move ever j i
.o slightly upward. Nor was I mis- j
tjjken; for very slowly the whole i
2>anel disappeared and in the opening H
stood the figure of a woman.
The room was dark, |or tfee wood f
fire had begun to smoulder, so I coala
not see what ?he was lifce -young or
old, rigi?or beautiful.
?X I wai^iot nervous-'Ifiad a pro?
found ?feelieX iu tho superna taral
so I simply-wai fed to see what the iu
1'rnder proposed to do. She advanced
into the room and came close to my
elbow, thea raised her hand r.ud beck
oned mejto follow her.- Of course 1
wenV^njfe-?? *e<* me through the
?nerture-and down a sleep wooden
Staircase. It was pitch dark, but I
struck marches at interval*. My com?
panion went on quickly, never looking
beh?nefter, but I sntiied as she raised
her skirts gingerly from the dusty
stairs, and once I saw the woman
shudder as a rat scuttled by.
"No ghost this," thought I.
On we went down the wooden
stairs till at last" we came to some
stone?" ones all green and humid,
owiug to neglecl. Wc continued our
course, going down flight after flight
ot damp slippery stairs, till at length,
to my relief, my companion paused
before a heavy oaken door, then
opened ii and entered. Following her,
I found myself iu a low, vaultlikc
chamber, mere like a cell than any?
thing else. The floor was stone, the
walls were bare, but it was apparent?
ly inhabited, for there were a few
articles of furniture-a rickety,
spindle-legged table, a couple of high
backed, worm-eaten chairs and a bat?
tered horsehair sofa. In the grate,
loo, bunted a small tire and a couple
of tall, white candles in tarnished
sconces were on the narrow mantel?
shelf. v
lu the dim light afforded by these
caudles aud the fire I closely scrutin?
ized the womau who had brought me
there.
She was fall and slender, and wore
a long russet gown of an old fashioned
cut, but ker face was pale and sad,
with sharp, clear-cut features, and a
mass of rough, reddish hair was care?
lessly twisted into a long knot at thc
nape' of her neck.
She motioned me to one of the
diairsr^taktug the other herself, and
she now sat bending over the fire, ap?
parently too deep in her own bil ter re?
flections to be conscious of my pres?
ence. The expression on her thin,
worn face was. very sorrowful, and
her hands were tightly clinched in her
lap. But, though thin and worn, her
face was still lovely, and as I gazed I
thought how lovely, it would be were
the hollows filled out and the deep
lines smoothed av.uy.
Suddenly, with a little resolute ges?
ture, she turned towards me and be?
gan to speak in low rapid tones.
"I brought you here because I
wanted to tell you my story, aud I
want your help, if you will give it."
Then, with voice rising and falling
with varying emotions, and with deep
gray eyes lixed on my face, she told
her sad talc. The begiutiing was com?
monplace enough-a beautiful wilfui
girl; astern unyielding father; two
lovers, one brave and handsome, the
other morose and unattractive; a pro?
posed flight; a sudden death; a broken
heart-the last three were the tragic j
elements.
"And. I saw them carry him by
the house-dead," she said speaking
in "a strange, dull way, "and for a
longtime I think I must have lost my
senses. When my father still insisted
on my marriage with the wretch he
had chosen for my husband 1 raised
no protest. I viewed-the preparations
for the wedding with indifference. 1
seemed turned to stone.
But a week before the marriage my
reason returned, aud I reallied the
horror of the coil which was slowly
tightening around me. Then it was
that 1 determined on what was virtu?
ally a living but iah 1 was boru iu
this dear old house, and Lknew every
nook and corner of it. My foster
mother had shown me the sliding
panel in the room above that which 1
then occupied, and she and 1 were
the only living persons who knew thc
secret. She was devoted to me, and I
at length won her over to my plan.
(iO? the night before the bridal day
I fled down here, and herc 1 itave re?
mained (Ter since. For eight years ?
have been dead to t lie world. Iliad
valuable jewelry which had been my
dead mothers: that has been gradually
sold, and on thc proceeds 1 have sub?
sisted. My foster mother comes daily
and brings mc food-not through the
house, of course. There is a,secret
pain and door of eominu?r?e<uion in
the garden.?
"And the (?]-^^^f queried.
"Oh," siy^^R^wi:\\ a (?Meer little
smile>^rani the ghost! Von see, I
wanted to keep the house empty, so
that 1 might wander about the rooms
and grounds: but now I am tired of
this unnatural existence Life will
always be sad for me! 1 have had a j
dreadful grief and all mv dear ones j
are dead; but, in spite of all, my |
youth reasserts itself, and solitude j
has at last lost its charm. So 1 wish j
to return to the world, and you can |
help me to do so. Will you?*'
Of course I helped her, and within j
ai.week frocn that time the Thorpe
Manor "gbo>t"-now laid forever
was 6afe under the kiud wing of John
Ridgway's homely little wife, and by
the time the roses were blooming in
my sweet-scented, old-fashioned gar?
den the "ghost," too, had bloomed !
into beauty, and 1, sober old bache- j
lor, had fallen in love-quite hope- ?
lessly, I told myself, for her heart
was with lier dead, and yet it hap- j
pened that one June afternoon, as we ?
stood alone by the stin-diul on the
sloping shady lawn, something gave
me courage.
Perhaps it was that she looked so j 1
sweet in her fresh muslin gown, with j
fb> flower* in her belt, or perhaps I .
because I caught a strung??, flcetiuir
rook in her shv gray eve?; anyway, I j
know she murmured that she loved j .
&e dear- old home, with its many \
gables and pretty garden. Thea
whispered:
"Need you erer leave it?" An
looking under the broad-brimmed gai
den hat into lier flushed, happy fac<
I added, "Como, sweet ghost, an
haunt the old place forever I"
Aud she consented. - [Manyon'
Magazine.
Saved by Pare Serre.
"About two weeks ago 1 was ca rn j:
ing with a party on the shore of I**k
Erie, not far from Ash tabu la," sai?
George Wi son.
"Shortly after we had returned on
evening. I heard a peculiar whirring
sound, which I recognized at once
.There is a rattlesnake in camp!'
exclaimed. 'I am going to get np.
'Hush!' came the word,slowly hissing
through thc teeth, from a compauioi
near me. 'The snake has crawled iu
to my shirt bosom.' This was 6ai<
very sof tty, and we were almost para
lyzed with fright at the prospect. W
were afraid to stir for fear ?he reptil)
would take alarm and strike its vic
tim. It crawled over his body goot
naturedly, evidently enjoying Iii?
warmth, for the night was a littli
raw.
"At times the snake's head wai
close to his face, and he told us af?
terward he feared the motion of hi
chest up and down in breathing wouk
stir up the reptile, and he tried haw
to breath sa little as possible. Finally
the snake crawled toward the fire, anc
in an instant the whole camp was up.
One siezed a club and broke the rep
tile's back before it could make i
spring. It measured nearly five feet,
"The mau who had the terrible ex?
perience collapsed like a rag after il
was over. During the ordeal we wen
all surprised at thc coolnessand nerve
he displayed. With all danger passed
he fell into a faint, but he soon re?
vived."- [Syracuse Standard.
The Mule as a Kicker.
The mule has been grossly libeled
According to the caricaturist and pro?
fessional lui ?no list, he is always
"hunting trouble," and his heels are
generally in the air. Now, the male,
to be sure, is quick on his feet, and in
moments of extreme agitation his hind
legs are brought into play with won?
derful rapidity. But that is not his
customary attitude by any means, and
though it is well to remember the in?
junction, uDo not look *the gift mule
in the heels," the average man and the
average mule can maintain pacific re?
lations without a great strain on
either.
This is the testimony of those who
have an expert knowledge of the aui
mal; and "mulc-sensc" and not
"horse-sense," would, in the opinion
of some observers, more accurately
indicate thc possession of everyday?
practical intelligence, lt is said that
George Washington first introduced
the jackass into the country, and the
wisdom of this proceeding was notably
borne out three-quarters of a century
laer, when the official reports of the
United Suites government were elo
gislic of the valuable qualities aud
splendid services of the army mule.
On the continent of Europe and in
South America the mule is valued at
his worth, but in England he is little
known, and during the war iii Egypt
the government of Great Britain im?
ported several thousand head of mules
from St. Louis for campaign service*
--?St. Louis Republic.
? Tale of Two Barns*
There was a mau named Hibbs whd
bought a farm, built a large Stately
dwelling at the end of a long shady
avenue of maples and settled down to
enjoy the comfort and independence
of a farmer's life.
He built a cozy little barn of logs
and shingled it with clapboards
There was another man of the harrie
of Hubbs, Who bought a farul in the
same neighborhood, built a CJSV little
dwelling of logs* shingled it with
clapboards and settled dowu to the
hard, grinding monotony of a far?
mer's life.
This man Hnbbs built a large state?
ly barn at the end of a long shady
avenue of maplos.
At the end of ton years Hibbs' bi*
house had broken him up.
And Hubbe*-tig- barn had enabled
him to tutv Hibbs' statclv dwelling
foi about half price and move it over
on his own farm.
Hubbs has a big dwelling and a big
barn and represents his county in the
state legislature.
Hibbs has a little log cabin and a
little log stable and is tryiug to sell
out to Hubbs. He wants to quit farm?
ing and travel with a peddling wagon.
- [Chicago Tribune.
Tennyson'* Mesmeric Powers?
Tennyson, the late Poet Laureate of
England, had extraordinary mo-morie
power?. He went, as a young man,
with his wife to some country inn,
and soon after his arriva! a doctor
called, who, having introduced him?
self, said: "1 am here with a lady
who is suffering from severe mental
ailments, and I want you to came and
try your mesmeric passe? on her, be?
cause I am quite convinced that you
have strong mesmeric powers*" Ten?
nyson laughed at this, but lie went
with the doctor, who showed him how ,
to make thc pass.es, and he found that i
he had the power, and that it exer?
cised a very beneficial influence on j
the suffering lady. Afterward, when j
he went into the room, the patieut j
would fall into a mesmeric ^leep al- |
most before he began his passes <>u j
her. After the parties left the ?un
they did not meet for some years, and |
Tennvson did not recognize the doc
I
tor until reminded of the cireum- j
stances by the latter, who further
said: "Do von know von saved thc '?
I
lady's life, und she i< i?ow my witp^' j
?-[New York Commercial Adver- 1
User? j
HUNTING TERRAPIN.
A Profitable Industry Along
Chesapeake Bay.
Curious Ways of Catching the
Toothsome Tortoise*
I A Baltimore correspondent of the
N'ew York Times was told by a dealer
(hat terrapin from the Chesapeake sold
at $60 a dozen. The correspondent
goes on to say i
The senior member of ibis fir in was
the iirst dealer to regularly sell terra
I pin in Baltimore^ That was about
fort\' years ago, and he received S8 a
dozen for the best The difference
between $8 and ?00 shows how much
the terrapin has advanced iu public
appreciation.
In fact, the high cash value of the
terrapin is modern. The records show
that the Indians caught and roasted
them, hut they were looked upon as
very common food. At Yorktown,
"Washington and Lafayette atc a dish
of terrapin because the supplies were
low at the time. Ia the annals of two
counties of Maryland there are con?
tracts in which it is stipulated that
slaves should not be fed on terrapin
more than twice a week, and they
once rebelled because they were given
terrapin instead of pork. Mr. Clay?
ton of Delaware, who was Secretary
of State during the Administration of
President Taylor, used to buy them at
$1 for an ox-cart load.
The best of the terrapin, and thc
most of them, are found in Chesa?
peake Bay, from which 500 men take
nearly 600,000 every year during the
season, which is from November to
April, inclusive. The method by
which they capture them is as inter*
es ting as the terrapin itself.
Along the bay, which extends nearly
200 miles, with dozens of large rivers
running into it, are immense marshes,
mud flats and shallows, on many of
which grow the water cress, which
gives to the terrapin and the canvas?
back duck the flavor that makes them
so attractive to cultivated appetites.
If you should happen near some of
these places you would probably find
an old colored man wading around
with a slick pronged like Neptune's
trident, prodding into the mud and
looking very like a person who had
lost something valuable in a queer
place, without exactly knowing where
to seek lt* But so experienced is he
tbat the slightest sign of a terrapin
leads at once to a quick investigation
below, and generally to a quick trans?
fer to the large cotton sack which the
old man carries.
This is oue way* There are others,
thc most successful being the dragging
of loaded seines along the bottom.
Mauy terrapin aro also caught iu the
oyster dredges) and all find their way
to market.
In (he au Inuin the terrapin begin
to get ready tor their winter sleep.
A Maryland man buried twenty-six of
them on thc 1st of ?hine) aud dug
them up on the 1st of December* lu
the six mouths they did not lose an
ounce of weight) and every one of
them was alive and well. You eau
take a terrapin and put it in the cellar
lu thc autumn* and without receiving
food or drink it Will be all right in
the spring, lt is$ iii fact? about the
cheapest boarder iu the entire auinial
kingdom:
Several have tried to raise terrapin
in ponds, but they have not made
much of a success, for the terrapiu do
not like captivity. An interesting thing
about them is that they have so much
curiosity that when they are confiued
in these ponds they can be trained to
come to the surface wheu their food
bf the Cr?b-meat ?ud dottgh is ready.
Boys along the Chesapeake catch
terrapin. There is not much sport in
capturing them, but they are very
well satisfied with the profits.
Many terrapin are caught along the
coast of North Carolina. One of the
curious methods of catching them
there is that dogs are used, which in
Bummer track ther:* from the water's
e<tge Collie grass where they go to lay
their egg?. The way in winter is to
bnrri the grass in swamps. Thc terra?
pin, mistaking the warmth for spring,
come from their hiding places and are
captured. Both of these plans, how?
ever, are considered barbarous.
Hammer Snakes in California.
A letter from Dr. E. E. Brown says
he and party havo made a molt won?
derful discovery up in King's Uiver
canon. In crossing a small creek
they came to a beautiful canon or
basin of about three acres of level
meadows, surrounded by perpendicu?
lar walls some 300 feet high. A fine
stream of cold, 'dear water was flow?
ing into the little meadow, but there
seemed to be no outlet. There was no
way of getting down into the valley)
bul quail und rabbits seemed to in bab* i
it the little basin.
A p.iir of opera glasses brought to
light a number of snakes basking in
the sun on the flat rock. 1'hoy were
from one to three feet in length and
had heads shaped exactly like a black?
smiths hammer. While the party j
were examining with the glass thc j
manoeuvres of a number of the snakes
crawling through the grass ;i very i
large one was noticed making a sneak j
on a cotton tail rabbit. When within
about two feet ol' thc rabbit the stink?
Stiffened the front half of its body ami
beni into a n^lil angie. Then his
suakeship ?ti night med out sjtddeuly,
bringing ?he rabbit a swinging blow
on the *it!o ot* it* head which laid |
bunn} our completely.
Another snaiu"? \v;:s observe?! '><> j
creen out" :< quail ?Kling <>n ?j M-ni?-hv j
lire. Tl;t-i Snake twisted :?!.i?:'' folll ;
inches o? iU 'ai! ?long ;i limb ??l I tic* j
11 CL* ami used a)! the resj of jj? body j
for a hammer and handle .to whack
thc quail on the head euch a stinging
blow that it dicii without a flutter of
its wings. The snake seemed to have
the wonderful -f -vcr of Ie??rtheii?ug
its body out nearly double its normal
length and as small as a whalebone
whip, the heaviest part being next to
the part wrapped around (he tree.
After killing the quail and rabbit
the snake humuiered thc body into a
phip, boues and al!, with its head, and
then swauowed the wh >le bn-dnes*.
The swallowing showed that thc ham?
mer part of the head could be laid
back out of thc way while thc swal?
lowing was done.
Every effort possible with thc appli?
ances tiiey had with them was made
to get one of the snakes, but they
failed.- [Selma Irrigatotv
Food Supply of the World.
Au article at the end of thc report
of the judges of the International Ex?
hibition held at Paris in 1889, thc
London Mark Lane Expr?s? obscive-5,
bears on the food supply of the world.
It is from the pen of M. Louis Gran
cleau, member of thc Conseil Sup?ri?
eur de l'Agriculture: The total popu?
lation of the G?obe, which was 1,401,
000,000 in 1880, was estimated in 1891
at 1,489,000,Q00, ah increase of 70,
000,000 iu ten years,, being 5.54 per
cent.
The known production of wheat
and rye has risen to 3,440,250,000
bushels annnall}r, and thal ot maize to
$2,750,000,000 bushels, one-third of
which is used as food for man. By
estimating 687,500,000 as thc amount
of other cereals which are used as
food, one can give the figure of
$4,950,000,000 bushels as aunuaily
consumed by man. If this sum is
divided among thc inhabitants, it will
bc found that each person consumes
about 3 1-2 bushels of cereals a year.
The annual production of wheat in the
world is about 2,181,250,000 bushels,
which oniy gives about 1 5-8 bushels
per head-a very insufficient figure
while rye allows seven-eighths of a
bushel per head, making a total of the
two latter of 2 1-4 bushels per head.
Extinction of Birds*
Dr. Morris Gibbs, in analyzing thc
causes of the decrease in thc
numbers, or the absolute extinc?
tion of certain of our birds
says that the lighthouses of our
great Jakes and coasts sacrifice mauy
thousands each year, aud possibly
hundreds of thousands, the birds
killing themselves by dashing against
the lights when migrating seasonally.
He doubts whether there exists an in?
vention, with the exception of the
gun j more deadly to birds than the
electric light. Another indictment is
brought against the headlight of the
locomotive^ and also against the tele*
graph and other wires which term n
network through the country* All
these causes unquestionably contribute
in a greater or less degree to the de?
st ruction of birdsj but it has beeu
conclusively proved that when the
number of birds destroyed at any pw?
ticular place by any of these ageucies
has been carefully determined by a
series of daily records the result has
inevitably been such as to lead to the
belief that the accounts generally
given of the aggregate destruction of
birds by various forms of the electric
light hare b?eri greatly exaggerated.
- [(jhicago ??ews Record;
Country Lads.
Boys who are fortnuate enough to be
boru in the country have unmistakable
advantages over city lads. The coun?
try is the place of all others to be
born in. The associations of youth;
of home, of school, winter^ and the
farm work aud play mixed together
in ? delightful t?ugle, are liefer
rooted out; but grow deeper into the
character and become dearer to tile
being while life passes aud the revolv?
ing year* hold out.
It is worth more than a university
education to have been born and
brought up on a farm, of well-to-do
parents. That supplies what no learn?
ing from the books ever can. That is
a resource that stands by. It is some?
thing lo feed dpoil:
And if the boy as a mau engages id
business or a profession, lie has ?
stock of health and a sound constitu?
tion to draw upon that wid be sure to
carry him triumphantly through wheu
the city boys are giving way all along
thc road. Morally and physically, he
has by far the best of it.-[New York
News.
(fiant Bees of India.
Before long au attempt will be made
to Introduce into the United States the
giant bees of India, which build
combs in the forest as big as house
doors. Their honey is gathered by
piofessional bee hunters. The drones
are no bigger than ordinary bees, and
for. that reason it is more likely that
tiley would breed with the races now
domesticated here. These bees of
India have longer tongues than oilier !
bees, and thus they would be able to !
gc1, from many kinds of flowers much \
honey that now goes to waste. Alarm
ing stories are told of the extraordi- ?
nary ferocity of this specie^ swarms !
being said to have attacked native vii- I
hiycs with fatal results, but expert I
bee keeper? wouid have no diffh-ulty j
in handling them. - TBostou Tran- 1
script.
t? i bra It ar's Summit.
It is only recently that people have !
be<m permitted to ascend the rook and
signal station al Gibraltar. Since last i
November thc British military, with
their families and pei>ous connected
with the British navy, have been per- !
milted to visit this tine lookout. The !
privilege, however, has not been ox
tended to the citizens ot Gibraltar nor ?
io ?U\-iii?*:er*> vi-ir i ny- the forirc**. a !
c. i1 eu mst alic s wu ich is generally re- j
<en!e.1. particularly by lija, subjects of j
?I Uto Qtts?u.
RUSSIA'S POLICE,
Facts About the Greatest Detec?
tive Service of the WciicL
A Police Ag?rit?r Spy in ?Very
House in St. Petersburg.
? man's life is as safe in St: Peters?
burg as it is ih &ew York, and there
ls less vice and crime here than there
i| in thc average American city, says
frank G. Carpenter in a letter to the
"Washington Star. There is a police?
man on every block both day and
night, and there is always a policeman
in the centre of every street crossing.
The laws of the road are 6uch that
though a mau may drive at thc rate of
twelve tuilea au hour down the Nev?
sky sprospect and though the people
always drive at a break-neck pace you
never see collisions. There are few
burglaries and few murders here, and
lhere are less arrests than in London.
The police force of St. Petersburg
couiists of two thousand men. The
city is divided up iuto forty-two po?
lice districts and each district has a
police station, with whichisconuected
a sort of police court. In each one of
these stations records are kept of all
the citizens of the district, aud these
records are classified so that thc police
can tell iu a moment the history and
standing of any man in the district.
These records are made on papers
of different colors, and those who are
suspected of political olleuses have
papers of a separate color from those
suspected of crime and dangerous
characters have their polic? biograph?
ies written on a paper of still different
color. In every on-j of these police
stations and in the police stations all
over the empire are kept lists of men
who are to be arrested wherever they
are found, and of men who are con?
sidered dangerous to the government.
Similar lists are sent to the agents of
Russia in the different capi'als of the
world, and by reports from these po?
lice agents the government knows as
far as possible just where its euemies
are.
The 2000 policemen of St. Peterburg
wear uniforms. There are tens of
thousands of other men employed by
the police who dress in citizens*
clothes, and every house in St. Peters?
burg has its police agent and spy.
Many of the people here live in flats,
and the man who takes care of the
fiat is known as the dvornik, and he is
responsible to the police for the people
withiu iU He reports upon their do?
ings $ he sees that their passports are
correct, and he keeps the police in?
formed as to what goes on his house,
and it is almost impossible to have a
secret meeting in Russia without it
being reported by one of these men.
These dvorniks have a sort of trades
union among themselves and they are
governed by a chiefs and this chief is
a member of thc police aud is, to a
eftrtain extent, responsible for the ac?
tions of the dvorniks.
It is necessary for every household,
et- to have one of those men and often
there are several of them in a single
fiat. They have control of the sani?
tary arrangements of the houses as
well as the political and criminal ar?
rangements; They are expected by
the police to sec that the streets in
front of their houses are swept and
watered twice a day? aud St. Peters?
burg h?s as Well-kept streets as auy
city in the world. The dvnorniks are
responsible for any dirt or filth inside
the house, and the mau who does not
keep his house cleau in St Petersburg
can be arrested. If the police see a
business man whose shop is not prop?
erly tared for they Order him to clean
it. If hs does not do so he may re?
ceive au order to close up his estab?
lishment for ? Certain number of
mouths; abd lie has to dd it: it is
the same willi theatres.
One here it St. Petersburg had not
as many exits as the police considered
necessary. The manager was playing
a big engagement when he received
an order from the police to remedy
this defect and make the house safe.
He paid no attention to it and went,
on with his show* The result was
iiiat ?. few days later when his theatre
was closed by the order of the police,
and what he might have repaired ?t
the loss of a few nights of acting Cost
bim many thousands of dollars. It is
the same with the smallest matters.
There is a law here ?hat the barber
shops must bring a clean piece of
soap and clean brush to every man
they shave, and thc barber who would
do otherwise would be arrested. The
result is that the order at St. Peters?
burg ls very good indeed, and though
there is much drunkenness among
the people there are few brawls and
practically no riots.
Wild Herds in America?
?n several parts of Washington and j
British Columbia aro herds of wiid j
animals defended from domestic
ancestors. Vor instance, in th; West- I
ern edge of Washington, next the \
coast, is thc remnant of a herd of cd- j
tie which for years has roamed
through the woods aud over the
prairies there.
Long ago a military post was main?
tained on (bray's Harbor and adjacent
was a large amount of rleared laud,
cultivated by soldiers as a farm. The
troop owned a good many cattle,
which pastured on a part of thc gar?
rison ranch. For some reason or other
the post was abandoned and the sol?
diers found it impossible to take their
cattle with them. So the animal"
were left lhere and, since there were
no >ettler< in the vicinity to look after
them the herd grew wild.
In spite ot tho face that the heavy
forest ?t?'orded but :i small amount of
pasturage, and not withstanding the i
depredations of black wolves, which I
Ihcn infested the woods along the j
coast, the cat th increased in numbers !
very rapidly and were a constant ai
noyance to eariy Settlers: Fena
were broken^ down; crops were d<
s troy ed and tame cattle coaxed oil i
the woods. Many of the anima
were killed by parties Organized I
exterminate them, and the reinainde
of the herd was driven into the slur
of the ?lympics and into the coa
range south arid east of Gray's Harbo:
But every now and theil the hunte
for elk; which abound in these mom
tains; comes ii non a bunch of wil
cattle almost as licet as the deer.
lu Suohomish county, forty mile
north of Seattle, are a lot of wi!
hog?, the number being estimated ?
300. Some years ago about forty pig
got away from a farmer, James Di
val, and they have since multiplie
like ra's. They are rapidly develoj
ing all thc traits of the hog whic
have never been domesticated. The
are becoming gaunt, long-haired, long
tusked aud savage, and they ru
swiftly through the underbrush, fore
ing their way wherever they choose t
go. Huu?ng them, as hogs are stii
hunted in Northern Europe in thc prc
serves of the nobility, is getting to b
a favorite sport of the youug Suoho
mish farmers.
In au area about fifteen mile
square below Trout Creek, in Britis
Columbia, is a band of at least sevei
hundred wild horses. They are no
only eating off the stock ranges, bu
are becoming a more direct source ol
loss to stock owners, for they en
tice away good horses, especially th
colts. The Government has sc?era
limes been petitioned either to exterui
iuate the baud, or give settlers per?
mission to do it, but thus far no actioi
has been taken. Though these wild
horses are worthless little animals
the authorities are afaid that killin?
them will give offence to the Indians
who claim some of them, but wh<
nevertheless shoot without hesitatioi
when any of the horses interfere wit!
their tame animals.-[St. Louis Pos
Dispatch.
-
A Truly Wonderful Baby.
. lu 1721 there was born at Lubeck
Germany, oue of the most remarkable
characters ever known in the histor}
of the world, or perhaps that will evei
be known in all time to come. Toil
human prodigy was little Christiar
Henry Heinechen, who could pro
norillee every word contained iii the
German language when but 9 1-5
months old.
When one year of age he knew al
of the leading events of the world's
history and was as familiar with Pen?
tateuch as most modern professors are
supposed to be with their first text?
books. At 14 mouths he could give s
complete history of every book in
both tho Old and Sew Testaments;
aud at 2 years b months he could an?
swer auy questiou in geography ot
history, ancient or modern. At that
age he was able to hold conversation!
with the learned European savants in
either German, French, Latiu oi
Dutch.
He did not live to gee the end of hil
fourth year, but during the few short
weeks allotted to him little Heury was
a baby/ boy, youug mau and gray?
beard, that is, as far as the knowledge
of worldly affairs were concerned?
He had learned more in his three years
aud a half of life than many of the
world's greatest personages have been
able to leam in their "three score
years and ten."
Just prior to his death he was
called before the King of Denmark,
his majesty showing the littie prodigy
every mark of respect Early in
1724, he returned to his native Lu?
beck to complete his studies.of Orien?
tal religious, which added to his other
acquirements, was too much for his
delicate constitution, resulting in his
death as mentioned.-[New York
News*
Finite and the Big European Armies.
The financial aspect of the great
armed truce of Europe is indeed over?
shadowing all -other phases, remarks
the New York Times. Practically ev?
ery Continental State is kicking its
heels in the ante-room or the hallway
of thc Rothschilds, or, having been
warned away, is patrolling the street
outside. It seems there is money
enough; Evett Russia could borrow,
I believe,- if wiiliug to pay five per
cent. Bdt she clings doggedly to no?
tions of a io?:*er rate, and in other
countries, where the budgets are an?
grily audited by Parliaments, lhere is
blank dismay at the mounting totals
of interest charges. It is these hope?
less, crushing figures which are mak?
ing ihe Social Democrats all over Eu?
rope much more than theories of hu?
man brotherhood and universal peace.
Wind Music Produces Dimples,
An observant American has discov?
ered that performers on wind instru?
ments generally develop dimples in
their cheek*, caused probably by the
frequent strain on the facial muscles
which are brought into play by the
act of blowing. The clarionet, the
flute, thc cornet, the trombone and the
French horn are all said to bc excel?
lent factors in producing this little
indentation so often vainly courted by
artificial means. Perhaps this discov?
ery of cause aud efi'ect may lead to i's
becoming fashionable for girls to play
on wind instruments.
His Eyes Opened,
.'You can't always depend on popu?
lar opinion," he s*id gloomily.
"How is that?*' asked his friend.
"Why, lt is a common saying that
iL is as easy to support two as it is to
support cue.''
.'Well.''"
"Well; I went and got married, and
today her milliner >ends mea bill of
?2"> tor u hat. 1 never paid moro
ihan 50 for a hat for myself in ?nv
I life. li-iULi popular opinion, say J,
I - [New York Press- j
SKATING ?N mm
Popul?r Winter Amusements in
Frigid Norway.
Snow Races Fast Becoming a
National institution;
?iie aih?sem?fits of Christian ia are
those of all cold countries: One spe?
cial delight is skating oii the fruzcu
snow; it may, in .facfj be cal ed lite
national sport of Norway in the coid
white months. For the peasants,how?
ever, it is no mere sport, but a neces?
sity of existence,whereas in the towns
it is a recreation which every one
loves to 6hare in or to walch. The
snow-shoes are long, flat and pointed,
made of light, elastic, but solid wood.
When wearing tb ese snow-shoes, a
balancing-stick is necessary, but the
most skilful skaters only need a little
branch- The rest of the equipment is
very much the same as for ordinary
skating, except that very long stock?
ings and very thick muMrs are
worn to break the force of concuss
s?onsi fol* ska?ng oil snow in ??oi?
Way is really a mad rush front the (op
to the bottom of thc hills; with bud?
den leaps in the air where the grotimb
becoming suddenly vertical; disarm
pears from beneath your feet lt is"
I an intoxicating sedation to speed
j through thc air as quickly as light?
ning, as lightly as a bird, the lung?
inflated with the pure air, the blood
rushing through one's veins, making
one feel strong, vigorous, supple, and
as if one's limbs were elastic. This
salutary and delightful exercise, vio?
lent as it appears, is not really ai all
exhausting, and delicately bre?, high?
born youug ladies can take part in it
Truly it is a beautiful sight, and
thoroughly Scandinavian, a sort of
glimse into the heroic ages of the sa?
gas, to watch a beautiful fair girl in
her short gray dress, with bright eyes
and glowing cheeks, shoot, like an ap?
parition from another world, across
the whiteness of the untrodden snow.
The races on the snow are amongst
the greatest fetes of the capital, and
ail the world, headed by the court,
goe3 to see them. The most celebrated
Norwegian skaters compete; but of
late years it has always been the
young people of Christiania who have
carried off the prizes. This sport is
becoming every day more and more
of a national institution, and it is not
unusual for young nobles to spend a
long time up m the mountains practis?
ing skating. Alpine hotels aud inns,
which used to close at the beginning
of the cold season, are now kept opeu
for some weeks in thc depths of win?
ter. Very soon cT? those who value
their reputation in society will go up
to greet the New Year at a height jf
2000 metres alfbve the ?ea, flying
about all day, as thc saga tells ns
Frithiof and Iugeborg did across the
the s wow fields, aud at night, throwing
aside the costume of the skater, dance
in full evening toilet in the brilliantly
lighted rooms of the Kursaal. Those
who are blessed with vivid imagina?
tions already see the heights dotted
with a whole series of winter stations,
a sort of white Riviera; for we no
longer dread the cold, we have already
begun to send those who have any?
thing the matter with their lungs to
winter amongst the snow, where,
after a few weeks training, the most
delicate will write their letters with
their windows open. Skating on the
suow does not pr?vaut tne Norwegi?
ans from successfully practising or?
dinary skating on ice, and amongst
the crowds on the Karl-Johans-Oade
we are sure to recognize one or two
champion ?oiw?gia?? skaters who
have carried ort prizes hi both hemi?
spheres.- [Harper's Weekly.
A Frog Swallows a Mease.
Gaba Myers has bee? considerably
vexed by a mouse which daily enjoyed
a free lunch iu the pretzel basket?
Traps were set, but the mouse Was too
sharp ami defied all attempts to cap?
ture it. This morning Mr. Myers
heard the mouse in the basket and
determined te try a ?cw plan to gel
r^l of it. He picked np the basket
very carefully ami carried it over to a
box m which were several big frogs.
Holding tiie bas kc trover tue box lie
shook it vigorously, expecting to have
the mouse drop into the box, when he
would kiil it. The programme was
tarried ont -so far as shaking the mouse
iuto the box, but when that was ac?
complished a new actor entered upon
the stage in the shape of one of the
frogs, which al once went for thc
mouse, lt was a stern chnse, bnt did
not last loug, the ?rog catching the
mouse aud swallowing it head first.
In one second the tip of the mouse's
tail protruded from ?he mouth of the
srog, which blinked with th* content?
ment born of a full stomach. - [Lau
?aster (Penu.) Examiner.
A Rare Pacific Coast Shell.
Probably the most in:eres ing of al!
thc shells on the Pacific coast is the
chiton, or "coat-of-mail," which
hardly resembles a shell at all. It is
much more suggestive of the dried
fruit of the magnolia, with its dull
shaded browns. In shape it is some
what like a boat or tray, and deeply
concave. Tue shell might be thought
half a bivalve, as the upper side it
open. But the animal has no covering
except a membrane, which dries
dries around the edge in the dead
specimen. The most curious circum
! stances connected with the chiton is
I that it formed iu regular, scale?like
? layers, audit would seem r'^a two
! flaky shells in each row. Tlie scales
?ire yellowish-broWit, the connecting
j bands and edge* d*rk bi-owo. The in
? ?ide of 'b<> shell shows th?* scale for?
mation more plainly. The sections
fie in ?bod st?hnen? clean and white.
-fSau Francisco Chronicle,