WRECKED AMIDST DARKNESS. The Appalling I'slt of Twit Itnllnoiilsls on Lake Ontario, James Hale, who made a balloon ascension with Prof. 11. J. Kane in the balloon City ot Hoc on twenty years ago at Cananthtigaa, N. Y.. and wlio bad a thrilling experience—Kane never after being heard of— thus recalls the dread ful night t• i at'hivago reporter: Tlie-sky, of an inexpressibly tender blue, was really black with stars that really did " globe themselves in heaven." The whole unlimited expanse was tilled with glowing worlds, round and etl'ul gent, near and far. The greater bodie* burned as it looked rinse llpoll US, and la-tween tliem stretched infinite depths tilled up with oilier stars. There were hung, separate and alone, out of the only world we knew, intruders upon silence and eternity! It was the griitiu i sinking into the cloud sea. or a gradual rising of its waves around as. that brought me to a feeling of my own identity. I was really giad when their fleecy moonlit folds covered us from the majesty of the night. The professor, to whom it was no new experience, was the first to speak. „ "I'm going down a little," said he. " T think we've risen too tar. and taken a wrong direction." And down we went, into pitchy darkness. I don't know how long we continued to fall, but at last we heard the clank of n cow bell below us. "All light," said the professor. " We're over farms yet. I was afraid of striking east for Join Brown's track." "My phosphorous bottle," said he. " I've forgotten it. and here we are in the dark " 1 suggested rising again, and with tuueh grumbling In* emptied a couple o ballast-bags over the side, and up we went, but not so rapidly as before. With an impatient exclamation the professor emptied more ballast, and our rate of ascent was perceptibly acceler ated. The cow-bell clanked fainter, and Anally was no longer beard. The events of the afternoon, the excitement, and the quiet of the air combined to make me sleepy, and imperceptibly I dozed oft', the last tiling I remember be ing the figure of the professor in black si'lioutte against the almost impercepti ble lighter color of the night. I don't know to this hour how li ng 1 slept,but I wis awakened by the pro* fessor roughly shaking my shoulder. " Hale!" said he. and there was some thing in his voice that made my blood bound. "Hale, listen! What do you hear? Tell me. quick!" I listened intently fora second or two. I heard a dull and sudden rumble that hardly died away iieforeit was succeeded by another sound just like it. "What do you hear?" lie demanded impatiently. " I hear something like distant dis harge of cannon," said I. " Cannon! cannon! you fool! I wish it wore cannon. Hale, we are over the shore of Lake Ontario, and this bal loon is sinking!" My heart was In my throat. "For flod s sake throw over what vou have ' "The ballast is all gone. While you were asleep I tossed it to clear some tree tops. " " What are vou going to do?" "What! ?\ hat indeed! The wind lias changed on us. I can't control the bal loon, and we are diifting out to death! The hal oon won't live an hour- The breeze is strong enough to carry us across if sh> would live that long, hut she won't-" "Throw over vonr sai )♦!," said I. " You throw that rug over, and any thing else you have aliout you that weighs an ounce." If two no n ever worked quick we did. The ear was emptied of everything it contained except ourselves in b -s than half a minute, and the nob e ol', lie break ers grew less. You eai. nevi r know with what anxiety we watched the silv ering c H ge that told where the moon would emerge from behind a heavy cloud tlat covered half the sky. Wou.d her light show us the mid Imsotn of Ontario close beneath us. or the dull grateful color of firm ground? It was a question upon the solution of whi h hung life and death. When at lost as with a bound the cloud was cleared, we stood looking over till' edge of the ear, frozen witli fright, for there, directly below us nnd not a thousand feet away lay theernwling surface of the lni:e. the black and misty shoreline stretching hopelessly along the view to the south and fading every in-tnnt. It required very little time to show us that the bal loon was going down with slow bu*. fatal certainty. " Hale," said the prof. -or. looking at me fixedlv, "do you know how far it is to the < an.adian shore?" I said that i did not "I'll tel! vou." said he. "We are about ten miles off the N'ew York shore, and as nearly as I can judge bv that light, opposite the p-rt of Charlotte. From Charlotte to tin* Canadian shore is sixty miles. I conclude, therefore, that we have got to make this thing sail fifty miles, or one or both of ns must drown." I said nothing in answer to this. I was in no ease to talk. The professor on tlie contrary, seemed perfectly cool and at ease, hut he said nothing more for several minutes, until, like a ghos sweeping on the border* of ro land, a ail swept by us. tacking to the south. Then lie shouted, and I joined |dm in tlie cry. We heard an answering shout from the v-ssi'l anil the sound of feet upon the deek. and then she was gone and we were alone again. " Did you notice, asked the professor. " how near we came to raking I h<- top of her mast 5 " I had noticed it, and with a start for we were but little more than a mast's height above the bearing water. I thanked Cod though that the breeze was brisk, and that we mils' be passing rap idly over. I was foolish enough to in dulge a hope that we might live until we reached the othcrside. I cannot tell you what an agony of conflicting emo tions I endured. I won't try. I only know that before the bottom of the basket spatted the water, which it finally did. I had grown ten years older. That first contact witli a wave came near ending my share in the adventure. It tinped tlie ear, ana tlie balloon rising with the relief, righted it again with a jerk that came very near pitching me head foremost overboard. I tightened my grip just in time, but foutui myself swung outside of the ropes, and clinging perilously with my face turned inward as another wave struck us, then another, thrn another, then another -nnd then the floor of the hnsket of the balloon re mained in the water, and the balloon, still obeying the breeze, careened over, and begnn to drag us with frightful velocity through the tumbling billows. I clung to the ropes fo' dear life, and lri<'<l to climb along tlicni toward the ling, but the professor was abend of me, aiiu :is lie elimbeil lie culled out. i " Hale, one of us ciin get to Csuinda, j Hint the other muni feed the finli. I've g'jt a family, and I'm going to Canada.' j I felt that it wan my death sentence, | and when the next instant I saw the j Mash of his blade around the ring above tin l ear, and saw the same baleful light in his eyes that I had seen before I knew my time had come. Nevertheless I i made a tierce struggle and leapt toward him, in the hope that I might clutch the j ring or some of the upper rigging; but in the moment of my jump the basket i dropped, the balloon, with Kaiv in the rigging, his shining knile betwcin his teeth, shot upward like the rising (light i of some great bird, and I was struggling with tlie waves. I sank, hut only for a few seconds. I had always been a stout swimmer, and I struck out to keep myself ulloat as long as 1 could. It was a gruesome prospect there iii the middle oi Ontario, | a tiutc of humanity in an infinity of 'water. 1 could only hope to keep alive | a few hours at longest, but 1 meant to tight ii to the end. These things rushed across me likp a flash, while f was yet j undi r the surface. The very first stroke ! I made my heel struck something. I ! turned aim saw the basket, bottom up. within three feet <l me. To my joy 1 ' diseoveieel that while it was inane of willow, it was waterproof, and having capsized suddenly, was in condition to he used as a buoy, so 1 used it. That was a long and weary wait for morning, hut the sun blazed out ot the east at last—and then I wished it hadn't, for the light was blinding. I looked in vain for land. Evidently I had been dropped in the middle of the lake, ami : must take my chance of being picked up l>V some passing craft before night. Failing that. I knew I must die. lint after a morning that seemed a year, my aching ey s were suddenly brightened by the sight of a stean cr plowing straight toward me. 1 thought she never would reach me, but in aliout an hour's time sin' did. and came very near , passing me by unnoticed. 1 was nearly half a lllile from 111 r course, but she put about, and a line was thrown to me, and in live minutes I lay fainting on the cabin Ihsir. It was the steamer Corinthian bound from l'ort Hop** to Kochesti r upon Icr daily trip, and if the professor hadn't dropped me wln n and where he did, I wouldn't he telling you tlii- -4<>rv to-day. Johnson's Witness. A farmer named Johnson was on trial before a Detroit justice the other day for assault and batti rv, and when the pn lit ion had finished he put a little old man of .about sixty-live on the j stand as his witness. The lawyer be gan : : " What is your nante?i' I "If you'll tell me your name I'll tell you nunc," was the prompt answer. "Where do you rcsiilep " I won't answer no such foolish Question! I've pttid taxes In this county for lifty years, and I won't he talked to if I was a child !" " Well, Mr blank, you saw this difti eultv. did you?" "If 1 hadn't seen it would I lie here? Do ymi'spose I wan't to t>e arrested for fi >rg- ry ?" " How did it begin' " How dis s anything begin?" snapped the old man. "Weil, now, will you toll the jury all about it'" " No. sir, I won't' If the jury want to know anything about it they must ask me." " You must answer the questions," remarked his honor. " I will if 1 want to, but they haven't aak< d an> questions yet." " Did the plaintiff and defendant hare any hard words?" asked the lawyer. " I'spose they did, but I wouldn't swear to it." " I >id either one call the other a liar?" " I 'spi'se tiny ''id and that's what hrung on the fu-s. I'm over sixty, hut if any man < all me a linr I'm going to knock his head off!" '"JW ell, when the plaintiff called the defendant a liar, what was the result?" " Why. how do I know?" " Didn't you see a blow struck?" " Not there, hut next day after this fu-- 1 -aw the purtiest fight in the world! < hie of the .Tones Imj s was —" " Did you sec anv part of this fti*?" "No! How could I wl en l wai three miles away; you ought to Mew better than to ask such t.Mli-ti jUrMions!" " How did you hear of this diflieuity ?" " Mr. Johnson told me." "Thai will do—yam can go." " Hut i agreed to com* here fora dollar and swear, and I'm going to do ill You needn t think you can dose-bull me around because I'm old!" A • unstable had to haul him out of the box and put him our doom, but he wouldn't go away until he had put bis lie.id into the window and said: "If you think I'm seairt come out here and put n chip on your shoulder!' —/' limit Fro: I'm*. ——— It Is Hard to i ndcrstiind : Why an endless procession of drink ers from a public dipper, will, without exception, drink close to the handle. Why a woman will make excuses for her bread when she knows it is the best she ever made, ami knows her "com pany" knows it. Why one's piety strengthens as his health weakens. Why people will get married, when j courtship is so sweet. Why a man who claims to have found marriage a delusion will again ombtaoe that delusion upon the first convenient opportunity. Why cold weather comes during the season when it is leas' agreeable. Why it is so much easier to be polite to people whom we shall probably never sis- again than to those whose good opinion we have every reason to < ultivnte. Why boys should run after the girls, j when there is a whole houseful at home. Why Jane finds Sarah's hateful brother o attractive, and why the hateful brother of Jane finds favor with Sarah. Why n man should court flic good opinion of another, when he can never hope to secure his own self respect. Why it is so much easier to close a door in summer than in winter, consid ering Hint exercise is generally consid ered distasteful in war.n weather and | plcfisrtnt in eolil. Why one feels Imd win n appearing in company in shabby garb, knowing well that one's sbahhiness gives more pleas ure to others than one a rich clothing.— /lotion Trnt script. A smile on a far < Is worth two in a tumbler.—fyracute Timet. I'UTTINM ON AIRS. H'lint Took llir FiHln (Mil of Our Mn. ili- was a shrewd, white-haired, old Kentlonmn tourist who Hat sipping a lemonade in Baldwin's the otln-r day, and who remarked, its a self important looking individual camo in and naugh tily looked around. " Now, I 'sposc that gentleman is one of your bonanza fellows, and owns about two-thirds of the real estate around here?" " No," was replied ; " he's a much greater personage, lie is one ofthe sue eessful candidates of the late election." " I might have known it!" exclaimed the old gentleman emphatically. " lie acts just a-. I did when I was elected to Congress." { How was that'" " Well, you see, 1 was elected M. C from the iourth district just after the war. We had a pretty lively campaign of it. and as I never had been in polities afore, i somehow got the idea that the wjiole country had quit work and was watching my contest with quivering anxiety. Kvery time the otlu r side ac cused rue oi being a ehiekeu-t liicf, Ol'a bigamist, or something, I'd get hack at them witli a card in tin licdville UVcrAoni), headed 'Another J.ie Nailed!' I'd semi a marked copy to every leading paper in t lie country " I >id, eh !" "Yes, and I was disgusted to find they never paid the slight' -I attention tome m-idier. What surpri-cd nie more was that, although I kept the l'residcnt and cabinet advised of everything that oc curred. I never got the slightest sympa thy from any of them. 1 thought it was blamed singular." " Didn't notice you at all?" " Not at all. sir, and when 1 was elect ed, and the boys lighted a bonlire in the main street, and serenaded me, and I spoke six hours in the open air as to my future course on the tariff and finances, the Ni w York papers merely said that a ' Mr. (>unn bad bet n elected by a small minority,' my name bung (lone v>as you know." " That was hard." "Weil, 1 put that all down to envy and malice, ami I jt.arted for Washing ton. 1 expected tmt at h ast theSp* aki r of the Mouse and a comniittceappoint'-d by the .S'Uiate Would he down a! the de pot to welcome me to the capital." " Did they do so?" "The only persons who met me were a committee of haekm< n, who tor' my overcoat half off, ranimet 1 me into a iiai k ami robbed me, with the aid and assistance of the hotel clerk, who then gave me a dark nxini on the top floor, and asked the lirst week"* hoard in ad van< e; said it was the rule of the house with Arkansas m unb rs." "Theimpudent rtwal." "That's what I thought. Wall, the next morning F went up to the White House to see if the l'residcnt would like to stroll down to the I louse to introduce me and see me sworn in. I sent up my card, and in an hour or two sotne secre tary or other sent back word that the President was at breakfast and couldn't lie Withered." "That was pretty short, wasn't it?" " Well, I was just dumbfounded. II >w ever. 1 went down to the capitol and told the sergeant-alarm-* to go in and announce to the mcnib rs that I had ar rivisl. lie grinin d and said. 'That's pretty good, that is;'and rushed off. I expected that, of course, the members would come crowding up to congratu late me, and say something like ' mag nitie.nt speech of yours, that last one, (•onlev. Bent '• m by forty-eight votes, t**o. old felh iw.' And Um n nchls' they'd give im' thr*-e cheers, and ail that sort of tiling." " And <lid they?" " N*. sir; I hope I may never stir if they didn't give ine a back seat in the eJoak-room untii my name was railed, and a door-keeper find me out into the corridor t wi> e und* rth<- impnasion that I was a lobbyist. Well, after I had ben put <>n the joint committee on spit toon* and window washing, and *j.< nt acouplc of montlis trying to wedge in my great four-hour speech on themateh tax, som* tiling ocourr> <1 that let down mv cheek-rein, and tsk all the frills OU' ' ~"f for gIMKi." ' V, , ai was that?" 'V . ii. I was taking a drive out to the soldi- rs' home one afternoon with three members, wh* n a light buggy went by like a s'r'-ak of greased lightning, the trotter drlv* n by a solemn- looking man ilia rusty plug bat, who was smoking a cigar and steadying a small terrier on tic s. at w itli his , ,b*w. " ' That's Butcher Boy,' said one of my companions, with great interest; 'trots it* twenty. He's a rati dng good stepper, b't your life.' " ' Did you notice that dog?' said an other. ' ll.st tired pup in town; taii n bigger than a rat's; very tine dog, that.' " As I had nothing rise to ,y J e.asu ally inquired who the driver was." " ' tS by. that's tic president.'said one of tlcm witli a ynwn. 'By Jove! how I'd dke to have one of those pups!" " That settled it. I've been as meek an*! sail as a < ar-liors*- pulling .a pi* nie ever since."—Mm /V*i*t*o l'<>*t. An Did Knlc for \ entihitlng itedroom*. A simple devise is within the reach of • very one having an ordinary window in his room, hv which fresh outer air can be admitted in small quantity, withsiirh an upward current as will prevent its being felt as an injurious draft by the inmates. It is particularly adapted to sleeping rooms when the weather is too cold to admit of an open window. Thus, start both top and not torn sashes ofthe window half an inch, which is not qune enough to clear the rebate or stop leads at top and bottom, but which leaves an opening of an inch between the meeting rails, through which a cur rent enters, but diverted upward by the glass as it should be. so as not to fall directly to the floor, as its eoolntss might otherwise induce it to do. It thus becomes well mix* d with the airol the room without is ing f*'lt as a draft —Plumber. Tic Western Michigan Methodist Conference at its recent mis ting gave un mistak hie expression to its sentiment* on the use of tobacco by the unanimous adoption of the following resolutions: First—That hereafter no young man using tobacco in any form coming us a candidate for the ministry, shall be ro eeivi-d into this conference. Second— That those member* ol to Is conference already addicted to the use of tobacco are exhorted to desist from it in public anil when in company of persons who do not use it. Third—That all cirrultsand mission* are advised not to send dcle gati-s to this i-onferenec hereafter who are user* of tobacco. Fourth- -That no lical preacher will be ordained an elder 1 who uses tobacco. FOB TIIK FAIR HKX. KanMoit !Volr. The new fans are very large. The fashionable muff is quite small. •let ornaments arc beautiful on blink liair. •Siiils are much trimmed in apron shape. Kelt liiiU only arc considered for young ladies. v Fur-lined cloaks arc shown in all shapes. Mold-embroidered lace is among fresh extravagances. (jiiiliings of different kinds are much used as trimmings Lynx tin's in light gray shades are in great favor thin winter. The princess dress will lie the favorite style of dress for evening. Block marten remains the favorite of the low-priced dark furs. Tin' most approved wrap for young girlH is the English jacket. Thick, light woollen corduroy is also among the cloaking stuffs. Large pigeons and parrots are seen on the new bonnets and hats. Brunei!' s are wearing ties and necker chief* of bright buttercup yellow. The "Oxford," or tin English walk ing Imt, is the favorite of the moment. Ostrich feathers in contrasting shade*, lire now found to match the changeable silks. The "tmng Ala*ka seal-skins, with thick, durable pelts, are used for most sacqucs. The lirst choice for a child's set of fur is a tiny muff and boa made of Arica chinchilla. Eve* pt for the daintiest ware, the silk stuff* are not prominently considered for girl's costumes. \ chinchilla scarf and muff is the hudii'inablc choi< <• lor young ladies who hav< line complexions. \\ ooden buttons are among the nov elties; they an <>f walnut, or of walnut inlaid with white wood. Colored chenille fringes, finish* d with easbni' re bends, ar<- among new trim ming* for costly dresses. (•ray squirrel"sacqu*-* are serviceable wrap* for children, as the fur is warm and endure* hard usage. The popular fur-lined wrap is the cir cular. which is easily put off and on, and docs not * rush the dress beneath it. N* vrr were buttons seen in more vari'd designs or more Is-autiful mate rials than <*n la*ii*'s" costumes at present. Fur trimmings will Is- more used this winter than they have icen for many years as borders for cloak* and dresses. Ail sorts of crawling tilings, lizards, spi'b rs, beetle*, frogs and caterpillars, as w. 11 a* < rpeiits, ar*' reproduced in j*-w --*'lry. Til'* richest toilets are of blaek satin and silk profusely decorated with jet embroideries, fringe* and passemen terie*. For the wider weather there are raw silk glove* with rihiw-d lops, fleece-lined silk gloves and cashmere and cioth gloves. A coquettish addition to a set of furs is a hag to Is- Worn at UM side. When tie- suit is fur trimmed a fur licit may Ik added also. Tiger-velvet js a novelty us*-d for trimming bonnet*. It is n satin ground, with irrcgubir-sliaped spots, in a king, raised velvet.. Engagement bracelets are sometimes substituted fur rings. They fast<-n witli a goid'-n pail lock and the lover weals the k'-v at his wat* h chain. l*ong necktie* of bright colored silk, embroidered on the ends, have again appear**! in the shops after an absence of 1 wo or three seasons. S< *1 skin sa'qU'-. in shap*-* similar to those worn by tadies. arc made for girls five years of age, and are oft-n ordered f**r those still young* r. The ZouaVC jacket |cap)*e.ir" in vel vet. heavily braid**) or ctnbroiilcred with gold, and in satin richly orna ment**l with iridescent bead*. Colored underwear has been imported in very lnrg* quantities this year, and it 1- thought that it will he more popu iar than i has ever Im-* n liefore. White i much worn by young ladies in tli*> evening, ('nam and ivory white are murti used. The materials ar* faille t " mir*-. light I loth and muslin. j Sealskin is shown in dark*r, richer shade* this winter than tic furriers have Ix fiire ohtain<d, and remains tin favorite fur for Haequc an*l cloaks. I'enrl buttons nre arved a* hand soniely a* cameo in flowers, classic bends and miniature landscape *le-ign. ar.d some w * n enameled and gilded. Horn*' of the n*'w morning dresses have the front hr- adth* open* d to show brocaded skirts, and others are made witli ' iouse waist* ar.d pnni*-r sashes. Short waists are predicted as aniorg coming styles. Inthatcas* the "slim slip of a girl," win* lias reigned so long, will retire in favor of Icr more plump sister. The stylo cf dressmaking of this <*a son for lialf-grown girls, or JfOU| in their "early teen*,"' follow very closely those for the full-grown of the sex. The line shirring* used on undercloth ing. are a* parateil by plain hand* nls.ut a sixteenth of an inch wide, and stitefed on both side* so that they are a* tirm a* eortls. Muff* nre as small a* it is possible to make them when expected to rover Imiili hands, and are also perfectly plain ; that is, without Ikiws, fur tails or tassel* on the ends. i Khori evening dresses will be mueli in favor this winter, a* well as those with the deiiiiirain. The long sweeping irain will no longer be the rule hut the exception. \ civet, embroidered in sets compris ing vest, cuffs, collar and pocket- taps, is shown for handsome costumes. Satin * tnbn.idered in the same manner is shown also. Broad bead laces and head embroid eries are used for side trimming* upon dresses, separating the back horn the front, fir for the back of mantles or the front of bodices. , The colors of school girls' gloves run through the dark and medium cloth wood and m-utral dyes, the light neutral and eaineo-tint*. the accepted evening colors, and white. Pretty little black silk chatelaine pock ets are painted on the upper side with a single flour or n bouquet of mses, lillies of the valley, f*irgei-me-noD, or any other favorite flower. Double basque* and double collars ap pear on some of the new plush jacket*. I'hc pockets an- square, and are placed at the sides, and the jacket j„ fastened by two rows of fancy buttons. I'lie toque is the novelty in sealskin fiats. It is a kind of turlian with round crown, hut points slightly in front ami barn, ami lias a hand of very deep fur, s.p-li n_s sea-otter, passed aroumi the The finest novelty ofthe season in mil linery is wß.it is known as the "feather" bonnet. Tills is composed aimoHt wholly of mount*-*! feathers taken from the neeks of pheasants, at least half a down of which are required for one bonnet. 1 lie birds that find most favor are of the parrot spreies, with long hills and very gay plumage, in which there is yellow, green and red, as these colors are mm h seen in the cashmere eomhin ation. Dragon flies of brilliant colors are for the same reason popular orna ments. Recently imported fans are of silk and satin in all the new colors, ami also white and black with ban*! embroideries in artistic leaf am! flower designs and jardiniere colors, and I .ordered witli a double or triple row of feathers colored to match the embroideries; the slicks sire* of carved ebony. Harper's Ilatar says that in New York the eeliArpe (or vfetorin.;), with long wide ends in front to cover tlie eln-st is fast taking the place of the boa in sets of fur; indeed, the boa is almost confined to fur seal and block marten, as thw furs are more effective when made round instead of flat. The walking jacket of tli" season is small and close-fitting, perfectly plain, no v *t, so nctiriie* in fact double hr ens led. with side lap|*cls upon tie short skirt ofthe back, wliie i do not cx t* nd Is-low its edge; English collar, square, not large pock* ts ami cuffs. It j fits like a glove, except the buttons, which an- often striking, always hand some. V' V*• and .Voir. or VVomrti Qii'i-n Victoria's income is over $2,- 000,000 a year. A I sin don physician lately advertised in the Time* for a lady housekeeper. | offering lile ral terms, and received l.l'si | appli< ants. I Tli'-reare now five ladies in thcschool of the<*;*igy of the B**t<*n I'niversity. In the col 'eg** "f literal art* there arc eleven ladi'-s in the fr'-shman class. An Englisli school hoard lias expelled an eight-year '*l*l pupil who came to school with ornamental Is-ads in her ear*, and a Philadelphia private si Ipmil teacher refused to niulmit a girl who b.i'i Im-< n playing, in the juvenile "Pinafore" corapiuiy during the sum mer. Miss Alices. Hooper, of Boston, left £|oo,(nn) worth of property by will to friends and public institution*. She gave ijM.um each to the Boston train ing school for nurses and the ltcthfda Society, of Boston. The r**st of her valuable property sh< bequeathed U> personal friends and relatives. Mrs. Mattie Pott*, who in May iast left Baltimore for New Orleans, has r*-- turm-d, imving made tip- whole distance on foot. She averaged twenty-one miles a day. wore out five suits of clothe*, "didn't spend a cent." was entertained free *t ail hotels and eating houses, re- I ceiv* d innumerable presents and s*-nt lier j trunk ahead of her hv express all th* j way " without charge." The King of Siam. appr-eiating the j results of the English education of Ids | childhood, is giving the same advantage* | t> his own children. Princess (Jlviii, I his bright, clever ten-ymr old daught* r. j r< < eives from an accomplished English i lady regular inuru' tion in French. Eng i fish and (ierman. music, dancing and I drawing. Tbfl queen, her mother, takes great interest in the lessons, ami i* .*> pleased with foreign,ways that *h<- j trik* <*f adopting the European dress. The poor authorities of Dover and Canterbury, England, are greatly puz j zlcd over a stlpttosed Japan*-**- girl who xva.* recently found wandering ab*.t.t the streets or tli*- latt*-r city. No on> | tliere or in Dover being able to converse ! with bar, "Ik- wa- Mlt to hosdot. Tin- Japanese consul of that city say* that i there i* no similarity lwtw<-* n her lan guage and tfiat of Japan. The girl and her story remain mysU-ries. As no one will support the por stranger "in a strange land," the authorities send h'T | from on*' city to another. l*VOtrrt||B rIA Ills. MVli l '* nrp h'w plant", and tluw of the "ar*ffAit ehara* t* r. that do not need or at least fici 1 nefitted by a slightjprot'-o tion ofwune kind. Itc-iringin mind that we are not trying to keep *ut the frost, but merely to break the force of the strong,cold, drying winds, the nattireof , this j.rotection lH*-omes a matter of **me importance. It not unfre*ju*ntly : happ<-n* that the very means adopted to preserve plants becomes the agent that iidti * < s death, so that the sooner we luily understand why we protect at all. or in other words, what are we pro ! trling ngainst. the more likely will our work prove useful. Coarse, light materia! of any kind is suitable lor cov ering the surface of the soil around the plant such as long manure, coarse grass, leaves, spent tanhark. etc. For protecting the top*, the more open Die covering, provided I lie wind hn-ak is ef j ftvted. the better for the plants. The j best r<*uit* are fr*qurntly secured by simply placing tall, stiff weed* around , the tops.;tying them loosely together. After all. nothing is Kirttcr than twiggy evergreen houghs, as they permit a free passage of air, and yet pre , vent the high cold winds from drying the life <*ut of tlufplant tMncath. Siraw th-d tightly around is the worst possible material that can he used for tlie pur pose, as a free circulation is thu pre vented. and the young shoots, if not the whole top, is likely to decay, it looks w*'li. to he sure, hut appearance in this case is of verv minor consequence. Many of our *<>-cal led hardy shrubs are liable to lose their flower-buds during win ter, notwithstanding the shoots are rarely injur*-<l. and this class should receive a slight covering; for instance, the rhndiMicndmns and axaleas wldeli form such buds in the previous autumn. Plants standing on the south side of building* in the full sun require a slight protection from its rays during the win ter montlis, as the high temperature of the day often rex-elves a sudden reverse at night, and thus the plant, even if us ually hardy, becomes injured The work must he done before the ground freeze*.— W'ctUy TrUutnt. nlr*hal anri WMIImi Hlstt. Mr. Marehanl. in bis work, '* Be trotlials and Bridals," says; One very Rrctty form of betrothal ring which as taMen into disuse wastbe gentmel, or timmel—that is, double or treble rlii#. Thin wan made of two or three hoops no chased and engraved that, when fastened together by a single rivet, the whole form one design. The usual device wan a hand. When an engage inent w;ix eontrneted, tin-ring was taken apart; one division wan worn hy the fiance, one hy the intended husband, j an .d 'le tiiird hy a mutual friend and , witness of tli* hetro'hal. On marriage, | the three minor rings were reunited into one. and worn hy the bride a ; " keeper 'or ai a wedding ring. Ter , tulian, who died A.I) !|J6, p-ib, U s thai ; a /olden ring wjut, in Im time, Hen) U> the intended bride a* a pledge. Sheldon ' says that betrothal ring* were first j given as substitutes for dowry money. In earlier days. when tin art oi wr ting | wiui not no familiarly known an it in at I the present time, the ring had a greater significance an a symbol of power. It lornjed a Meal hy whieh all orders were signed and ail things of value secured. '1 hendore, the delivery of it was a sign that the person to whom it was intrust-d was admitted to the highest friendship, and trust. For this reason it became u'il in marriage ceremonies; and, in some of tin- earlier marriages, we find that not only the ring, hut also the keys, were delivered to the bride Wed ding rings w-re not always made of gold Iron was at onetime generally used; and the Roman senators, in the primitive days of the republic, wore rings of that metal, l'rotnetheus. whose ring was of iron, is said to have set this fashion Among the very poor in F.ng land, rings made of rush-"- were used in tin- marriage ceremony. I hough tiie ring of gold lias long is-i-n looked upon a* a necessity in the mar riage ceremony, it is by no means indis pensable, and civil marriages may IK: contracted without it. The I'uritans alxilistnd the ring, or rather tried to do so; tliey looked ujsin its use as supersti tious and of Ji'-atii-'n origin. (Quakers generally object to the ring or. account of its heathen origin; hut the ladi - of that persuasion have shown a deter mined prefi renee for its continuant on a-'eount of the invidious position in whieh a inarri- -1 lady miglit IK- placed ■ f >r the want of it. ** Wedding rings are pja/-ed on tiie left hand an nmiunt of the obedience that is typified thereby. The conversed is prob ably the r- ason why the engaged hand 1- p,a- 'd on the third right hand finger <-f a fuinrtt, who still possess a large amount of freisdom. and frequently n ercises her power in an arbitrary man ner. It is a pity that the symbolism of rings is dying out When I was a IK>v, it was th<- fashion for men on the look out for wives to wear a ring on the tirst i linger of the left hand. If they were engaged to be married tliey wore the ring on the second finger, if marri- d, on tli<- third ; and on the fourth if they re solved upon bachelorhood. Thus the most sensitive and modest young iady might al ways with caw- debs t the mv trinioniai disposition of a man by a g ance. Rut this fashion being gone, a girl lias u make love to a man before the can ascertain his views. This is hard upon tiie girl, and often very Uard ujsin the man. This fashion, in my opinion, should be revived, though tiie symbolism of it miglit be enlarged or modified, to saie trouble. For girls 1 should propose this telegraphic code: "A ring on tlm first finger to denote poverty and willingness U> get married ; on the second linger, money and a dispo sition to listen, though nothing is prom ised; on the third finger. 'AI ready en gaged, and so you msdn't trouble your self;' on the little finger, deliberating. Snnie such a code would simplify a man's views, and lie of great use in help ing to save him from making an a-s of himself." Irish MatrlMnaliinr. While the iand iady was at work, two old men strolled in for refreshment. One of them was evidently a small farmer. He wore his hat pulitd down I over his eyes, and appeared occupied by a matter of some weight. Talking to liini earnestly and in a low tone, bis companion, an old fellow with a shabby bat. shiny brers-bos. and much-worm shoes. looked atxiut him with cunning eyes for the most retired nook, and pulling out an old stool, said : "Sit ye there, man. and we'll have a pint and a talk." The colorless potheen was served them, and each dran a thimhlerfal of it a- if it had been water. "Now. man," said the smaller and older ol the two. "why not make a match between them? He is a smart j lad, and she is a fine girl. God bless her! .lusi say what you will give her, and we can have done with it lw-forc the game is ■ out " "Well," said t lie fanner, after pulling and cracking all his lingers. " I have no thought of being mean. I will give her a cabin, a -marter acre of land, witli the potntoe* tjlli-d and brought to the door.' There wa* silence on the other side. "I will give her a fine feather-bed.** "Very good, verv good,' said lie with the cunning eyes. " We'll have another pin! " They were served with tin- fiery liquid, and smacking their lips over it declari-d it the best. " The players must near th rr ueli.' The farmer, staring in the bottom of the cup. added. "I will give her fifteen pounds in gold." A short quick laugh from his com panion was the response: "That's very good, innn ; you are going well, f*oa bless you !" " Her mother will give her the best of 1 petticoats—and that is about all." " And enougli it is, if her mother would not forget the old silver heads, so that she can prepare her soul for heaven when the end comes." " What, then." said the other. A little defiantly, " has your hoy gotP" Drawing hi* stool closer, and fixing : his little gray eves on the old man, he said. "Snrra a ha'penny; hut he's a good ad for all that, and can knock a< much work out of a day a* any boy in the coun try. and ilia fight CAN bate anybody tliat stands Leforr him." "It isn't a fighting man I want for my -laughter," respond' D 1 lie farmer, lustily; " there's little good comes of it." WCLL well, he need not do that same, but lie's good for it if wnntiti'." "I'll not stand for money, as he's a nate. tidy boy;" the farmer was some what mollified. " I'll buy him a IW.at, and he can knock his living out of it. " I.ong life to ye! Shall it be next Thursday P I'll stop to-night to see the priest and have It all ready." To my horror, the farmer now called or another pint, with whieh they sealed their bargain. —J. /< CHMD, is J/arprr'T ■Viufiiint. _________ Years and years ago it used to be sn d that a girl might be willing to be k -sn d when she voluntarily put a boy's hat < a her head. This cannot be true, for hun dreds of pretty girls are now weiring the little round Derby hate, and to 'king well undrr thent.—/Vxtyonr.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers