University of South Carolina Libraries
Ou the Threshold, 'The new year dawns apace; What of the night? The battlers for the race, Won they the fight? The laggard Time doth tread On hosts of valiant dead ; Bight slain by might The old year heedless dies. What of the day? A world for succor cries, Long on the way Through darkness, greed and crime; When cometh that new time For which men pray? * ? . ?**.. Head backward through the yea rs. Impatient soul! More smiles and /ewer tears White ages rofl; Truth leading still the van; Man helping fellow-man. Illumes the scroll. Then hail the coming day, Anti bravely press Untroubled on the way ; Heal some distress. And count as victory won Each nearest duty done, And that shall bless. The Squire's Preserves BY MAKLTON DOWNING. ? Joiham Howes had always been considered a rich man. His broad acres, spacious faria-building?, and blooded livestock went to -prove that - he-was such. Then again the presi? den t of the country bank had often said that he wonk! not hesitate a mo? ment to accept Squire Howes' paper to the amount of fifty thousand dol? lar*, or perhaps more. Joiham appreciated his worldly blessings, and ont of the goodly store with which the Almighty bad endowed bim he was ever ready to assist the needy and relieve the wants of others, who were lesa f oriana te or frugal, of bis fellow creatures. When still a yoong farmer and just beginning life, he married the daugh? ter of ose of his neighbors. The youthful bride proved 'to be a helpmate ia every sense of the word, and it. was through her energy and prudence that Jot ham ere he reached middle age found himself above want That is, all material want Still lhere was one blessing which the All wise Ruler of the Universe had denied the loving couple. They were child? less. "If we have no children of oar own," remarked the farmer one day. ?we can at least assist some parents who have many, by assuming the re. sponsibi li ty of rearing a portion of their flock." . Consequently it was determined to ?dopt a boy and a giri. "I tell yon what we will do, hus? band,9 said Sofronia Howes. "We will make a short journey away from this village, and find some homeless ones in another part of the state, so that when the youth and maiden grow . up they may not be annoyed by any recollection of former associates." This plan was settled upon, and ere many weeks the old farmhouse was enlivened by the laughter and prattle of a girl of four yeirs of age and a boy of six. Time passed, and the little waifs grew into the heart* of their foster parents. At length when Kath was fifteen, and Albert, the boy, was passing his freshman year in college, the woman whom. they loved as a mother laid down her burdens of this world and was borne to rest leaving sad and aching hearts behind to mourn her loss. With the death of his wife a change came over the worthy squire. Though too good a Christian to rebel agaiust the will of Heaven, he nevertheless felt his bereavement heavily and be. moaned the departed bitterly, refus? ing to be comforted. After the funeral Albert returned to his studies, while Ruth resumed her household duties, and strove her utmost to cheer the drooping spirits of the more than parent who was left to her. With the alteration in the demeanor of the owner of the Howes Farm, there was also apparent a marked ! change in the establishment itself. ! Head by head the cattle and horses | were led away and sold. The hay in the fields and meadows was converted into money, even as it stood awaiting the coming of the reaper. Jotham put no seed into tue fertile soil, but leased his grouud to his neighbors, What could this mean? Some of the village fo'ks whispered j that Albert was the cause. That the j boy was squandering his benefactor's gold in riotous living, and a few of the more officious begau to feel it their dnty to remonstrate with the squire ere his whole property should be swept away by, as they claimed,an ?.ungrateful reprobate." Jotham heard them thro ugh, calmly, his face never changing from its ha? bitual, unruffled expression. When they had fiuished he looked up and replied: "My friends. I am convinced that in your coming to me, you have been actuaied by kindly feelings for my welfare, and therefore forgive you for so cruelly maligning the absent youth. But you will pardon me if I. at this moment, positively forbid any of yon to interfere in my affairs, and assure you it would be very pleasing to me if yon would, in the future, mind your business." The astonished visitors, rendered | almost speechless by the squire's re-1 caption of their presumption, with- j drew, and bv ominous shakes of the , ' t heads signified their disapproval of their townsman's action. Left atone with Ruth, the old farm? er tock the maiden'* hand, and with [ "My child, y OK do not believe wfca these people hint in regard to Albert do you?" ??No, f ather,, no indeed. My broth j er is too honorable, and too deepl] ; impressed with your kindness to hin I -and to me-to abuse your cou fide nc; and trust in him." ??Yon are right, Ruth. Instead ol squandering my money the boy aclu ally disobeys me in not using enougl of it to place himself in the social cir . cle which I want him to fill. But yoi must not call him your brother, Ruth, for he bears tto such relations to you, I oilier than by association." I Here the farmer glanced quickly nj into tho beautiful face before iii rn, j and as he detected a slight blush ! mantling the fair cheek, he smiled for he thought he read the heart ol the gentle one aud it pleased him. He changed the subject, saying : ??Do not allow the idle prattle ol our neighbors to disturb you. The disposition of my property may seem strange iu their sight, and perhaps iv yours also, but be assured, that when I am gone-/' here Ku th placed her hand quickly on her adopted parent's head as though to check him-. ??Nay," continued Jo thain, ??do not interrupt me. I repeat that when I am gone, yon and Albert will have enongh and to spare." Time continued its flight, and the squire's ouce beantifnl farm had dwindled iuto insignficance, until one summer month when Albert waa called home to attend the funeral of the man who had reared him from childhood, the place bore the appearance of a complete wreck. The squire's funeral was largely attended, for he had been greatly loved and respected by hts neighbors, despite the eccentricities which he had displayed since the loss of his wife. When the sorrowful party returned to the old homestead, after placing the remains of thc squire beside those of the companion of hit youth, they fonnd the notary waiting their arrival. In his possession was the last will and testament of the deceased. It was no wordy document that Jotham had left It simply read: * ?After paying my just debts, I give aud bequeath all my property real and personal, to my beloved foster children, Albert and Ruth Howes." Of debts there were none save those incurred at the funeral, and to liqui? date these sufficient money was found iu the antiquated desk of tiie farmer. But search as they would not a scrap of paper could be discovered to indi? cate that Jotham Howes had left more than his acres, now run to weeds, and the buildings, which were rapidly fall? ing into decay. ??lt is strange," remarked Albert that evening, after Rnth had re? lated to him the words of their adopted father. ?.There must be some money some? where about this place. I cannot be? lieve that our dear parents could have disposed of it ali." "Let us think no more about it, Albert, for the present, at least. 1 would rather have the dear old man back with us again than al! the wealth in the world." And here the giri took from the table the Bible to find con? solation for her sorrow in the words of its pages. Turning the leaves she was aston? ished to find two pinned together. ??Who could have done this?" she murmured, carefully separating them. To the astonishment of both, a sealed envelope fell to the floor. Albert picked it up and read the a? dress ??To my children." Hastily tearing it open,they saw en. closed a slip of paper, ou which was written : "Search, and ye shall find." JOTHAM HOWES.'* ??What does it meau?'' asked Rurfi^ in bewilderment. ??That our father has converted his property into cash, and hidden it somewhere about the house. lu the morning we will follow his instruc? tions and search diligently." As the sun arose the fo'lowing day, Albert and Ruth joined each other in ? the large old-fashioned sitting-room. '.Let us take a walk out into the j fields. Ruthy," said the young mar?, j "I feel perplexed, and wish to collect j my thoughts, and then we must make ? plans tor tue future. As the two wended their way across j the broad pasture?, a long silence en sued, which was finally broken by Al- I bert, saying; uDo you realize that we ure now alone iu the world?*' "Yes." was the faltering reply. ?'And how dreary your life will be j for vou, when 1 am obliged to return i to r: v duties in the great city." ?'Can you not remain here Albert?" j asked the young girl, quickly, an ex- j pression of pain flitting across her countenance. j "1 am afraid not, bul we will see." Then, after continuing their walk a | little further, the two returned to the j house, prepared to carry out the last j instructions of Squire Howes. j "Tiie most likely place that father j would choose to hide anything would j be in the cellar, it seems to me," said Albert, as they entered the roomy kitchen, and the young man's eyes fell upon a trap door in the floor. ?'Remain here, and I will desceud and search." So saying, he lifted the planks by means of au i rou ring, sud stepped down upou the ladder, and began to ransack the cellar. Ruth stood by the aperture quietly awaiting her companion's reappear? ance ; she ?eeuaed to take but little in? terest in the matter, her thoughts dwelliug on the one who had gone rather than upon what treasure he had left behind. Presently she was lUtUod uv an or,, j Qim?ln of wwii* &m&ff fte? U* j cellar, and soon Albert was heard ascending the steps, carrying in big hand a glass preserve jar. ??What think you of this, Ruth? A very frail receptacle for anything of value." "It contains nothing but somo ruined jain that should have been thrown away months ago," replied the girl, indifferently. "There, yon are mistaken* lt Is one .f a number that I have found, and stiey are all lilied with money. Look," aud the young man unscrewed tue metal top and turned out upon the flour several gold pieces. "Poor father!" murmured Kath. ??He has left this for us." ??And a great deal more. Wait and I will bring it all up." One after another the jars were brought to light, and their contents carefully examined. Among the bank notes aud certificates of stock was found a letter written by thc testator to his heirs, explaining to them his object in thus converting his property into Cish. It was that he felt he could realize more upon the stock and equip? ments of the farm thau inexperi? enced Albeit; and when he became possessed of the money he feared to entrust it to the keeping of any bank, and had consequently taken care of it himself. Following this explanation Jotbani Howes delicately made known his last and only wish, which was that the two whom he had loved so much ia life would journey along hand in hand until called to join him in the t4her world. "ShaU we comply with this request, Ruth ?" asked the young man tender? ly, looking into his companion's face. ?.If you so desire it;" was the mnr. mured reply. "I do, my darling, I do. I had in? tended to ask you to become my wife before long, and this communication has orly hastened the words." Though Albert had been educated for the law he abandoned the pursni1* of that prole sa ion, turning his atten? tion to the farm, and before many seasons were passed, the fields and meadows resumed their wonted look of prosperity. The rejuvenated barns were again stocked with valuable cattle and horses, while about the hearthstone of the young farmer were gathered a happy aud loving family who long bad occasion to remember with heart* felt gratitude, the foret bought of the venerable squire, Jot ham Howes, who had stored away for hi? beloved children an enormous wealth iu glass preserve jars.-[Yankee Blade. Sacred Pigeons of Venice, The "Holy Pigeons of St. MarkV hsve been recognized as such by the authorities of Venice for more than a thousand years-ever since the year 177. In olden times it was the cus? tom of the sacristans of St. Mark's Church to release doves and pigeons, fettered with paper, after the re? ligions services of Palm Sunday. The paper fetters partially disabled the poor birds, and such of those as did not escape were caught by the people, who fatted them for Easter dinner. Sometimes one and sometimes a dozen .f the poor, fluttering- creatures would manage to break the paper thongs which bound wings and feet together, whereupon they almost invaribly sought refuge on the roof and in the steeples of the historic old church. All of the escaped birds assumed a certain sacredness, aud, it being against the law to kill or harm them iu any way, increased to enormous numbers. Dur? ing the time of the Republic the ??Sa* cred Pigeons of St. Mark's" became objects of national solicitude, tons of grain being annually supplied for tknir maintenance. After the fall of tnt Republic thousands of them starved (o death, aud alt would have died but for provisiou made by a pious old lady, whose will perpetually provides for them.-[St Louis Republic. The Ravages of Cholera. The discovery of a method that would protect an individual from cholera would be of great usefulness. For in India, the home of that disease, bite average animal mortality there? from in tuc cities is 3.32, and in the country ?..32 per 1000 living. The army statistics show that 2.49 per? cent, of thc European soldiers are ad? mitted to the hospital for cholera, while only 0.95 per cent, of the uative soldiers are admitted for thc disease; hut the mortality, 33.69 percent, for the former, 35.5 per cent, for the lat? ter, is almost equal. In the various epidemic manifestations of cholera in various parts of the world the mortal- , ity has ofteu exceeded 50 per cent, of those attacked. lu 1881 aud 1885 cholera was epmeni'c ia southern Europe, and in Spain iu thc latter year the official report states that there were almost one lutndred and twenty thousand death*. There were fifty-one persons affected in each thousand living, and the mortality was per cent. These >iatistics stimulated investigators to attempt to polve the problem of affording im IIIunity to cholera.-[Popular Science Monthly. A Watch in a Shirt Stud. A watchmaker in Newcastle, Eng? land, recently completed a set of three gold shirt studs, the second of which contains a watch having a dial which is only three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. The three studs, when placed in a shirt front, are connected from behind by a delicate ?ilver tube containing winding and setting tuechuuistn. To wind the watch it is necessary lo turn the upper stud. &?A to adjust the bauds the lower sur' is j turned.- rJewelerV We*?k v. >f JV? thaw i#0,(H;0 ron? of IWfiie ?ts ! THE NORTH POLE. Another Attempt to Explore th? Arctic Circle. An Expedition Will Leave Nor* way Next June> The Norwegian explorer, Dr. Frid? jof Nansen* is about to s'art. On an? other expedition in search of the &orih Poe. Ile returned in 1889 from a remarkable voyage across Greenland. Dr. Nansen recently came from Norway to London, where he has lectured before the Royal Geographical Society on his proposed expedition. The explorer is over six feet tall, finely built aud of the ideal Scandinavian type. Speaking with an English interviewer of his new ex? pedition, he ?aid: .?The object of my expedition is of course purely scientific. The expedi? tionary party will consist of twelve meu all told. I shall be in absolute command, and everybody on board, scientists or sailors, wiil have to obey me implicitly. There cannot be more than one will in such an undertaking as this. I shall have two engineers, and perhaps five or six sailors. I shall choose as many of my scientific people as possible from among men who are likewise accustomed to a seafaring life. 1 s?mil also have ice-pilots and harpooners for sealing and hunting. It will be for them to provide us with fresh food. The ice v:kings are admirably fitted for the work lu ! view. They live all the year, from ? spring to winter, iu Arctic solitude?. Born and bred in the north of Nor? way, they spend most of their lives iu a form of toil which exposes them to all the rigors of a frigid climate, and are thus iuured to the very hardships which the members of an expedition to the north pole will have to encoun? ter. Some of them are masters and owners of small sealer. "With this party I shall leave Nor? way early in June next and sail direct to Nova Zembla. Here we shall stop to reviclnal and to examine the state of the ice. So soon as the condition of th's permits we shall leave for the Kata Sea, probably early in July. Skirting the Siberian coast and pass? ing Cape Tscheljii9kin, the most northerly poiut of the Old World, I shall pass on so far as the month of the River Lena. Leaving the coast at this poiut I shall start in a north? erly direction aloug the western coast of the Island of Kotelnni, the most westerly of the Liakov,or New Si? berian Group,aud shall continue in this direction until the pack ice renders further navigation impossible. We shall do our best io force the si:'p through the ice, but we shall at las t reach a poiut where we must stop. This will probably bring us to Sep? tember, and we shall in this way gel to some distance north of the New Siberian Islands, but I cannot say how far, as no one has ever been lhere before. When navigation becomes no longer practicable, I shall have nothiug left but to r~:u the ship into the ice as far as possible and stick there. Having rammed the ship into the ice for the winter-possibly for ever, as I don't expect we shall be able to move until we reach open water om the other side of the Pole-we sha! j have to be contented for thc time be? ing with a p ??cy of masterly inactiv? ity. We shall be continually moving in a northerly direction. Assisted by nature, instead of fighting against her, we expect to be taken by thc drifting of the icc floes right across the Polar region down into the East Greenland Sea, between Spitzbergen and Greenland, having in this way reached and passed the Pole. "We take with us provisions for five years, and it is possible that this may be the period during which we shall bc at the mercy of ice. On this point, however, I cannot say anything of a definite character. Entirely de? pending upon the current, we shall be drifted first lo one side aud then to the other, but always in a northerly di? rection, until, as I have already said, we emerge into the Greenland* sen, whence we shall return to Norway. A Quaint Scene in Gotham. Between C..md street and Ensl Broadway, Norfolk street is one of thc most picturesque thoroughfares of the eily, lt is in thc heart of ihe Jewish quarter, and is a great mar? keting place Every night the stores, the street stands, and the peddlers1 wagons do a lively business, ind on Friday afternoon, just before the first three stars in the sky proclaim the ar? rival of thc Sabbath, the scene has some of thc aspects of Saturday in the big markets of thc town. Tue basement stores are really noshing more than cellars, having been origi? nally used as such, and only recently remodelled for their prcseut pur? poses. Nearly all are occupied by bakers and the proprietors can bc seen hust? ling around attending lo their custom? ers with their sleeves rolled up above their elbows and their persons and clothes covered with flour. There arc also bread stands upon the street. Nearly all of the bread used in this quarter is made of rye flour, and the crust is baked very hard and brown. The loaves, which aie round or ob? long, shade from light yellow to a very dark brown, and thev look clean aud appetizing. The street i? rilled with children, from toddling i ufan I s to boys and gills twelve and thirteen years oki. i Tei'y few boys above the age of ?hir- j toen can he ?een at play, because after a Jewish boy arrive* at the ;ige of ' fhir cen he ls supposed lo IIKV.? [nkow j on nun " r?; <*o and willi i! 'he cares j i ?inj .iijiuiiy ul a mal?, Mw*i vf ti**'* ; which usually look? questionable. These and the meats and fish cause occasional raids on the part of (he Board of Health. The Sex of the Moon? In archaic times the moon was re? garded as a male god. "I*rimativc mau," says a well-known writer; "saw the moon as a most conspicuous object, whose spots, at periods, had the semblance of a man's face. Its waxing and waning increased thei1* wonder, its coming and going among the still and solemn night added to the mystery, until, from being viewed as a man, it was seated, especially when apparently augry, in a mist or an eclipse, and so reverenced and worshipped as the beaven-mau-thc monthly god." We learn from Max Muller that .'moon" is a very old word, and iu Anglo-Saxon, where it was used ns a masculine aud not a feminine, was "mona." lu all the Teutonic lan? guages the sun wa* feminine, and it is only through the inflneuce of clas? sical models that in England moon has been changed into feminine and the sun into masculine. Even in com? paratively recent limes the Germans were fond of calling the sun and moon "Fran Sonne" and "Herr Mond." The practice prevailed in ancient Egypt. "Another reason," says Sir Gardner "Wilkinson, "that the moon in Egyp? tian mythotogy conld not be related to Bubastis is that it is a male and not a female deity personified in the god Thoth. This was the case in some re? ligions of the West The Romans recognized the God Linus, and the Germans, like the Arabs, considered the moon masculine and not feminine, as were the Selene and Luna of the Greeks and Romans." In Slavonic as in Teutonic mythology, the moon is male.-[Pearson's Weekly. Language of the Dog's Tail. There can be no question that the chief delight of wild dogs, as wilh modern hounds and sporting dogs, is in the chase and its accompaning ex? citement and consequences. One of the most thrilling moments to the ? human hunter (and doubtless to the canine), and one big with that most poignant of all delights, anticipation of pleasurable excitement combined with muscular activity, is when the presence of game is first detected. As we have seen in watching the be? havior iu a pack of fox-hounds, this ' is invariably the time when tails are ! wagged for the common good. The wagging is an almost invariable ac- j compauiinentof this form of pleasure, ? which is one of the chiefest among I the agreeable emotions when in the ! wild state. Owing to some inoscula- ? lion of the nervous mechanism, which I at present we canuot unravel, the as- j sociation of pleasure and waggiug has become so inseparable that the move ment of the tail follows the emotion, | whatever m iy call it forth. An explanation of a similar kind can be found from the fact that dogs depress their tails when threatened or scolded. When running away the tail would be the part nearest the pursuer, and therefore most likely to be seized. It was therefore securely tucked away between the hind legs. The act of running away is naturally closely as? sociated with the emotion of fear, and therefore ibis gesture of putting the tail between the legs becomes an inva? riable concomitant of retreat or sub* mission in the pretence of superior force. Popular Science Monthly. How Nature Crows a Tree? Nature invariably does two things when she tries to grow a tree-she protects the bark from hottest sun* shine and the roots from severe changes of temperature. Both thcae points are almost invariably over? looked by man. Observe a maple ot elm or birch as it shoots up from the ground ; its sides are clothed all the way with small twigs, unless removed by knife or browsing. Any tree started in an open lot is thus protected from the sun. Otherwise thc ex? treme heat will rupture cells and the b:;rk will dry or split. As far as pos? sible there must be equal development of cells on all sides of the tree. But care of thc roots is even more impor? tant. The feeding of a tree i* at un? equal depths, but most of it is near thc surface. If the sun be allowed to strike directly on the soil the finer rootlets that do the foraging are de- i stroyed, and extreme droughts will affect the roots for a fool in depth. What is worse, the extreme changes of temperature also affect the tree and 6uck iis life away. In some cases such conditions are produced as en? courage the development of luugi or othor enemies to plant life. Nature guards againit this by laying down ! each autumn a layer of leaves to j cmulch her forests or solitary pei?.- j [St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Paid Dear for a Good Deed. Some of ihe parliamentary contests j in the recent elections iu England turned on very insignificant incidents? This was particularly the case in thc defeat of Captain Ponton, which was brought about by a child which un? luckily sprawled beneath a paesiug carriage and received slight injuries. The carriage belonged to a lady wh^ j was conveying three voters to the i polls, and who, on obse-ving the acoi- | dent, took *he youngsters upon the sea: { :iud drove to A neighboring hospital. It was then late in the afternoon, anil by the time titi carriage reached tho j pol'* they had closed. So close wa* j thc v? t* that these three ballots wou;?l j have made the race between Captain j Peiiton and the Parsec merchant who j defeated hint, a dead heat, to br, ile- j otded by the returning otijoar'* Qftstfug ! THERE SHE BLOWS! Thrilling Adventures of the Old Time Whale-Fishers; ? Former Great industry of New England ?orts; ?t was in 1838, when I was a pretty smart youngster about 19 years of age -I was born in 1819-that I first went whaling. My father was a Mas? sachusetts farmer, and wanted to make a farmer of me. but I thirsted for a life of adventure, and at the age 1 have named I ran away to New Bed? ford and shipped on board the whal? ing bark Atlantic for a 36 months' cruise in search of whales-whalers always estimating the length of their voyages by months, and not years. The whaling industry was then at the height of its prosperity, and New Bedford was its centre. The wharves were crowded with whaling vessels arriving, departing, loading, unload? ing and repairing. No matter where the visitor wandered, he saw on every hand oil cask?, whalebone, harpoons, lances, or some similar objects per? taining to the whale and its capture. I obtained my place on the Atlantic through an individual called a "ship? per," that word then signifying, in New Bedford parlance, a mau who made a business of "shipping" or ob? taining crews for whaling vessels. These men were usually "land sharks"' of the worst possible kind, not only reciving a commission from the vessel owners for providing them with a crew, but alsooxacting $10 from each sailor they "shipped." This gentle? man turned me over to an "outfitter," who charged me $75 for two cotton shirts, two undershirts, two pairs of drawers, one pair of woolen pants, two pairs of thin ones, two jackets, a tarpaulin hat, two pairs of stockings, one pair of shoes, a jackknife, comb, looking-glass, paper of needles, a quarter of a pound of thread, five pounds of tobacco, a keg of oil soap, a tin cup, pan, spoon, husk mattress pillow, and two blankets. For the money to pay for this beautiful outfit -which the outfitter assured me would last mc five years-I signed an order upou the vessel's owners to be ad? vanced .from my prospective pay. Every whaling 6hip carried a "slop chest," from which the sailoi'3 could purchase, at enormous prices, such articles as they needed when their shoddy "outfits" had proven worthless. The crew being all on board we weighed anchor the afternoon of Sep? tember 23, 1838. By 6 o'clock we were at sea and I was fairly embarked as a ?" aler, a calling that I was des? tine 'O follow for forty consecutive years. All hands were called on deck and the captain rr.;ule us a speech the invariable custom on every whaler - stating that we were to be together for thirty-six months and that he ex? pected every man to try to make our relations mutually agreeable, as he promised to do. He said we should have plenty to eat and that as loug as we behaved ourselves we would be well treated, but if we misbehaved, "why then,17 he concluded, "look out for squalls." This formality dispatched, the cap? tain and chief mate then proceeded to choose watches, the ship's company being divided into two equal portions -one known as the larboard or mate's watch, and the other as captain's or starboard watch, usually "headed" or commanded by the second mate. Our voyage was now finally inaugurated, and we sailed for five weeks before we saw our first sperm whale. Throughout a whaler's entire voyage a man is kept at each masthead look? ing out for whales, being relieved every two hours, lt was a welcome sound when at last one of those mast? head men called out: "There she blows!" "Whereaway?" queried the oiUccr of the deck. The direction of the whale and its probable distance were named, and soon the captain was at the masthead with his glass to his eye. It the whale is to leeward thc ship is headed in that direction; if to wind? ward the boats are lowered at once and pulled toward him. A whale boat is manned by the captain, or one of the males, and five men. The offi? cer in comnr.aud is called the "boat header," and the man who st iuds in the bow and handles the harpoon is called the "boat steerer." Four boats arc usually lowed and there is arreat rivalry among them to bc the hea<* boat or ..first boat fast." Each "boat header" urges his men to pull to their utmost in such terms as these: "Pull, pull, my hearties' Pul!, can't ye? Oh, my children, pull with a will. Pull till your eyes burst There! Now she move?. A few more strokes like that and we'll be first boat fast!*' Meanwhile the whale keeps spouting, and it is very desirable to re ich him before he stops and descend*. He wil generally spout sixty or seventy times and then go down and remain for fifty or seventy minutes. If he disappears before being struck the boats are pulled in the direction ho is supposed te have taken. When a boat is suffi? ciently near the whale, the boat header gives the boat steerer or harpoon man the command, ' Stand up." The boat steerer does so and poises his harpoon. ?.Give it to him," is the next command, and the harpoon plunges np to its pocket in thc whale. A deafening ekeev hails the fact that we are "first b?at fast." The whale now hishe? the hitherto quiet sea into foam. "Stern all,' r<surs thc boat header, and the boat is backed out of immediate (langer. The boat header now dikes tire head of the boat, ami the boat steerer replaces him in the stern to manage the steer jug uar- The ?SOO feel of line coiled *?> lu A uib at the bow ii rpjjnjngom with fearful velocity, and the tu? oarsman constantly dashes water ott it to keep tue friction from igniting it Now the line stops running and slackens; The whale is rising. All hands Miaul in line;" The whale ap? pears On the surface; and the boat is drawn up to him. Another boat sends a harpoon into him. He tries io descend a gain but weak from loss of blood he soon reappears. The officer of the first boat now draws his lance and plunges it into his vitals just behind the fin, and the whale goes into his * .flurry," as his death agony is technically called. He beats thc sea with his tail till the foam rises all around him. He darts hither and thither in circular courses with lightning speed. He gradually grows weaker and weaker, gives one last terrible throe of agony, and, (urning his head to the sun, gives up the ghost. 1 have never, in my forty years' ex? perience as a whaler, seen a sperm whale die without having his head turned to the sun. Life being extinct, a hole is cut in the whale's head, the line is made fast, the other boals "hook ou," and he is lowed to the ship, where by a "fluke chain' passed around his (ail brought to the forward part of the ship, passed through a hawse hole and made fast to the i 'bowsprit bits," he is brought into proper position for "cutting in," with his head pointed aft.-[Chicago Times. Hottest Place on the Globe. The hottest region on earth's sur? face is on the southwestern coast of Persia, on the border of the Persian gulf. For forty consecutive days in the months of July aud August the mercury has been known to stand above 100 degrees iu the shade night and dav; and to after run up as high as 130 degrees in (he middle of the middle of the afternoon. At Bahriu, in the centre of the most torrid part of this most torrid belt, as though it were nature's intention to make thc place as unbearable as pos? sible, water from wells is something unknown. Great shafts have been sunk to a depth of 100, 200, 300 and even 500 feet, but always with the same re? sult-no water. This serious draw? back notwithstanding, a comparative? ly numerous population contrives to live there, thanks to copious springs which burst forth from the bottom of the gulf more than a mile from the shore. Thc waler from these springs is obtained in a most curious and novel manner. "Machadores," whose sole occupa? (ion is that of furnishing the people of Bahriu with the life-giving fluid, repair to that portion of the gulf wliere the springs are situated and bring away with them hundreds of skin bags full of the water each day. The water of (he gulf where the spring bursts forth is nearly 200 feet deep, but these "machadores" (divers) manage to fill (heir goat-skin sacks by diving to the bottom and holding the mo it ? h-J of the bags over the fouutain jets; this, too, without allowing the salt water of the gulf to mix with it. The source of these submarine foun? tains is thought to be iu the hills of Osmand, 400 or 500 miles away. Be? ing situated at the bottom of the gulf ii is a mystery how they were ever discovered, but the fact remains that (hey have been known since the dawn of history. - [Philadelphia Press. Twelve Golden Bales for Children. 1. Shut every door after you and without slammiug it. 2. Never shout in the house. S. Never call to persons upstairs or in the next room ; if you wish to speak to them, go to them. 4. Always be kind and polite io servants if you would have them the same lo you. 5. When (old to do or not to do a thing, by cither parent, never object, but obey cheerfully. 6. You may tell of your faults and misdoings, but not of those of your brothers and sisters. 7. Carefully clean your shoes be? fore entering the house. 8. Bc prompt at every meal hour, especially so iu the morning, and thus cultivate the habit of early rising. 9. Never sit down at the table or in the parlor with soiled bauds or disheveled hair. 10. Never inlerrnpt any conversa? tion, but wait patiently your turn to s pc ak. 11. Never reserve your good man? ners for company, but be equally polite at home and abroad. 12. Let your first, last and best friend be your mother.-[Defrolf Free Press. People Who Fall Safely. A fall, as a rule, injures a drunken ?nan much less than a sober one be? cause, the controlling power of the mind being rendered nii through in? toxication, tho body falls as an inert nias-, and thus the chances of injury arc iesseued, for, strange though it may appear, it is no less a fact that the most numerous cases of injury arising from a fall are caused by the effort, voluntary or otherwise, to a?ert the consequences, thus straining the muscles and tendons. Very rarely are injurious cflccts from a fall known in a lunatic asylum for the same sim? ple reason-the mimi has no influence over the action of the body. Aud it is a remarkable and well-known fact to (hose who have to deal with such cases that whatever injuries are sc caused heal much more rapidly than in the case of sane people, thc niiud having more to do with retarding or assisting nature's efforts than is gen eral ly known or realized. - [Boston i Herald. _ ! The United States exported prov!? *ioii? in isyi to the value of #139.0)7?? *0J, ?iklo? Leave; Whsn the thrash brief anstehe, sa?^ Of hi* wondrous tune, And the woods iib longer rang With the joya o? June; Then we knew that day by day, Sumni< f's f?ce would turn away. From tb? ripened thistles went Floating we? balloons: All seemed on a journey bent: In those August noons. But lake and sky wore deeper blue, To ?bow that Summer's heart wai true. Soon the birches .could not hold Back their yellow leaves ; Royal roads must shine with gold. Though the forest grieves. Lighting now their torches red. Maples in the pageant le?l. Shrillest herald of the fall. Piped the busyly ; Annies, mustering at his call, Winged their silent way: Drowsy crickets chirped good-bye; Lingered lost, one butterfly. Kot un guarded.** the throne: Chickadees are left; Pine and fir-trees hold their own; Can we feel bereft? Kay, amid the snow and frost, Summer's colors are not lost -[Mary T. Higginson, in Youth's Com? panion. HUMOROUS* A fruit-jar-The one you get whea you slip upon a banana skin. "I feel quite justified in claiming to be a man of deep research," said the marine diver," Jagson says the only thing in his house that doesn't seem to collect dnst is his boy's savings bank. "Your sealskin sacque ls rather short, is it not?" "Yes; when I got il my husband was short." Cousin Kale-Sue, whatever induced you to marry that little 'Squire? Cousin Sue-I wanted justice. "Aye! There's the rub!" said the grease spot to the cake of soap. "Aw, come off," responded the soap. "Goithard is a little wild, isn't he" "Wild! I should think so. Why eve*u the clock in his : oom is fast." "I say, waiter, Pve dropped a six? pence. If you fiud it let me have it back; if yon don't you can keep it1* She looking 'neath the bed for a burglar; She found one; and now it is plain Sbe'H be a bit wiser and never Go looking for burglars again. The worst waste of physical effort and mind Is searching for what you would rather not find. A man never realizes how much furniture he owns until he tries to walk rapidly through Iiis house in. tb? dark. "I see yon always examine the bot? tom of a chair before you sit down? Fellows." "Oh, yes, I've often taught school." Stranger- Can yon direct me to a dentist who administers gas? Citizen -No, bat I can direct you to a barber who does. Bellows-Is she your daughter? Fellow*-She is my grand daughter. "Your grand daughter?'1 "Yes, my prond and haughty daughter." Wife-Do you think Tommy di?* turba our neighbors with his dram? Husband-I'm afraid so; they made him a present of a nice new knife to* foy. t Prunella-Did you tell him I wai out, Marie? ?Her Maid-Yes. ma'am. Pranella-D|d he seem to believe yon? Her Maid-Not until I said yon told me to tell him so. Fitzleigh (calling) : Is year mis? tress engaged, Bridget? Bridgett Well, sir, if yer want to know, I be. Heve she is from what I heard over the transom last night "Lo-ve, I d-r-ea-m of thee," he warbled beneath her window. "Then I wish you wouldn't try to sing in your sleep," ?he murmured, at she buried her head in the pillows. Mrs. DeGoode - Why ate you throwing stones at that little boy? Answer me that, sir. Small Boy (very good at excuse)-'Cause his folks doesn't b'iong to our church. They used to sing about the farm, That loveliest of spots. But now the place, devoid of charm. Is sold as building lots. "I wish yon wonld pay a little at? tention to what I am saying, air, "roared an irate lawyer to an exas. perating witness. "Well, I am pay? ing as little as I can," was the calm reply. First Masher-Well, did you make the acquaintance of that strange girl you were raving over? Second Ditto - Ye6; followed her home. First M.-How did she strike, yon? Second Ditto-She didn't at all ; she got ber big brother to do it "Have you becu reading poetry lately?" said the bank president to the cashier. "Why, yes," was the reply, "1 have been troubled with senti* mentality of late." "Well, I wish you'd give it np. You are getting that ?far away look' in your eyes, and it worries the directors." Miss Maudie (to instructor in lan? guages) : Professr, with your know? ledge of French, do you thinfc sitter and I could safely venture upon a trip through France? Instructor: With perfect safety, my dear young lady. You and Miss Mabel could go any? where itt France and speak your minds rn entire freedom-in French without the slightest offense. One After Result. Banks-I dou't mind tho grip itseli io much-its the after effects Vt? afraid of. Rivers-The af* er effects is whal ails ute.- Pm *til) standing oft the doct r for $65.-[Chicago Tribnue. A student at Bates College is Soma* yon Clayan, a prince Of the Baasa friba of western Africa, wi. >*e nam* is on the *o?!e#e bool** ?? U*\\\i J*,