f
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ifiiii
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars por Annum.
VOL. V.
MDGAVAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUKSDAY, MAY 13, 1875.
NO. 12.
"Which I
This ship with tent and straining sail
Goes laboring through a leaden eea t
Bleak winds about it countervail,
And blackening skien bend sullenly.
Tlmt gayly hugBtbe other shore,
Aaron where noon ita g'ory sheds,
While bright an Kuxiiie waters bore,
A golden lleece of cauvas spreads.
And ypt upon one tide the two
Aro hurrying to the deeps of night.
Who knows when later lost to view
Which ship may bask in fullest light ?
GRIEF'S DECLINE.
One of the most distinguished sculp
tors of Paris was summoned, a short
time since, to the house of a young lady,
connected by birth with a family of the
highest grnde in the aristocracy of
wealth, and who had been united iu mar
riage to the heir of a title illustrious iu
the military auuals of the empire. The
union, formed under the happiest aus
pices, was of short duration. Death,
uupitying death, ruptured it, by
prematurely carrying off the young 1ms
land. The sculptor was summoned by
the widow. He traversed the apart
ments, silent and deserted, uutil he was
introduced into a bedroom, and found
himself in the presence of a lady, young
and beautiful, but habited iu the deep
est mourning, and with a face furrowed
by tears.
"You are awnre," said she, with a
painful effort, and a voice half choked
by sobs, you are aware of tho blow
which I have received ?"
Tho artist bowed, with au nir of re
spectful condolence.
"Sir," continued the widow, "lam
anxious to have a funeral monument
erected in honor of tho husband whom I
have lost."
The artist bowed again.
"I wish that the monument should
be superb, worthy of the man whoso
los3 1 weep, proportioned to the unend
ing grief into which his loss has plunged
me. I care not what it costs. I am
rich, and I will willingly sacrifice all my
fortune to do honor to the memory of
an adored husband. I must have a tem
ple with columns in marble and in
the middle on a pedestal his statue.
t T Ml 1-1 . .
i win uo my best to lultill your
wisues, mauain, rcpiiou the artist
"but I had not the honor of acnuain-
tanco with t the deceased, and a likeness
of him is indispensable for the duo exe
cution of my work. Without doubt you
have his portrait ?"
The widow raised her arm, and point
ed despairingly to a splendid likeness
painted ny Aiuaury jjuval.
"A most admirable picture!" ob
served the artist, "and the painter's
name is a sulKcieut guarantee for its
etriKing resemblance to the original."
iuose are ins very features, sir; it is
Inmself. It wants but life. Ah,' would
that I could restore it to him at the cost
of my fortune.
"I will have this portrait carried to
my studio, madam, and I promise that
tne marbio siiall reproduce it exactly.
Tho widow, at these words, sprung
tip, and at u single bound throwing her
Belf toward tho picture, with arms
stretched out as though to defend it, ex
claimed :
" Take away this portrait ! carry off
my only consolation ! my sole remaining
comiorti never: never!
" But, madam, you will only be de
privod of it for a short time, and"
" Not an hour jiot a minute could I
exist without his beloved image ! Look
you, sir, I have had it placed here in my
room, that my eyes might bo fastened
upon it without ceasing, and through
tuy h.-ium. iais portrait snau never leave
this spot ono single instant, and in con
templating that will I pass the remain
der of a miserable and sorrowful exist
ence." "In that case, madam, you will be
compelled to permit me to take a copy of
it. But do not be uneasy I shall not
have occasion to trouble your solitude
lor any length of time; ono sketch one
sitting will suffice."
The widow agreed to this arrange
ment ; she only insisted that the artist
should come back the following day,
She wanted him to set to work on tho in
stant, so great was her longing to see
the mausoleum erected. Tho sculptor,
however, remarked that he had another
work to finish first. This difficulty she
uougiii to overcome oy means of money.
" Impossible !" replied the artist ; " I
have given my word ; but do not distress
yourself ; I will apply to it so diligently
that tho monument shall be finished in
as short a time as any other sculptor
would require who could apply himself
to it forthwith."
"You see my distress," said the
widow ; " you can make allowance for
my impatience. Be speedy, then, and
above all, be lavish of magnificence.
Spare no expense ; on'y let me have a
masterpiece. "
Several letters echoed these injunc
tions during the few days immediately
following the interview. At the expira
tion of tliree months the artist called
again. He found the widow still in
weeds, but a little less pallid, and a little
more coquettishly dressed iu her mourn
ing garb.
" Madam," said he, " I am entirely at
your service."
" Ah ! at last ; this is fortunate," re
plied the widow, with a gracious smile.
"I have made my design," said the
artist. " but I 6till want one sitting for
the likeness. Will you permit me to go
into your bedroom f
" Into my bedroom f For what r"
"To look at the portrait again."
" Oh 1 yes ; have the goodness to walk
nto the drawingroom ; you will find it
here now."
" Ah I said the artist, surveying the
portrait.
. "Yes; it hangs better there," ob
served the widow : " it is better lighted
in the drawingroom than iu my own
room."
" Would you like, madam, to look at
the design for the monument I"
"With pleasure I" replied the widow.
" Oh 1 what a size ! What profusion of
decoration ! Why, it is a palace, sir,
this tomb 1"
" Did you not tell me, madam, that
nothing could be too magnificent ? I
hare not considered the expense; and,
by the way, here ia a memorandum of
what the monument will cost you,"
" Oh 1 sculptor 1" exclaimed the
widow, after having cast an eye over
the total adding up. " Why this 'is
enormous 1"
" You begged me to spare no expense,"
said the sculptor.
" Yes, no doubt I desire to do things
properly," replied the widow; " but not
exactly to make a fool of myself."
" This, at present, you see, is only
a design," observed the artist, "and
there is vet time to cut it down."
" Well, then, suppose we were to
lpave out the temple and the columns
and all tho architectural part, and con
tent ourselves with the statue ? It seems
to mo that this would bo very appro
priate." ' Certainlyit would," replied the artist.
"So let it be then just the statue
alone."
Shortly after this second visit, the
sculptor fell desperately ill. He was
compelled to give up work; but return
ing from a tour in Italy, prescribed by
his physician, ho presented liiinself once
more before tho widow, who was then iu
the tenth month of her mourning. He
found this time a few roses among the
cypress, and some smiling colors playing
over half -shaded grounds. He brought
with him a little model of liis statno,
done iu plaster, and offeringin miniature
tho idea of what his work was to bo.
"What do you think of the likeness I"
ho inquired of the widow.
"It seems to me a littlo flattered.
My husbaud was all very well, no
doubt; but you ore making him an
Apollo!" .
"Really? Well, then, I can correct
my work by the portrait."
"Don't take the trouble," said the
widow: "a little more, or a little less
like, what does it matter ("
"Excuse me, but I am particular
aoout jiKenesses.
" If you absolutely must"
" It is in tho drawingroom, yonder, is
:t. L'i Ttll il ,1 '
n mil ! x ii go ia mere.
"It is not there any longer," replied
the widow, ringing the bell. "Baptiste,"
sam sno io tne servant who came in,
" bring down the portrait ot your
master."
" The portrait that you sent up to the
garret last week, madam I"
"Yes."
At this moment the door opened, and
a young man of distinguished air en
tered; his manners were easy and
familiar; he kissed tho fair widow's
hand, and tenderly inquired after her
health.
"Who in tho world is this good man
in plaster?" asked he, pointing with his
finger to the statuette, which the artist
had placed upon the mantelpiece.
"It is the model of a statue for my
husband's tomb," she replied.
"You are having a statue of him
made ? 'Tis very majestic. "
"Do you think so i" Baid the widow.
" It is only great men who are thus
cut out of marble, and at full length,"
replied the young man; "it seems to
me, too, that the deceased was a very
ordinary personage."
"Well, I think his bust would be
sufficient," observed the widow.
"Just as you please, madam," said
the sculptor.
" Well, let it be a bust then," said the
widow; "that's determined."
Two months later the artist, carrying
home the bust, encountered on the stairs
a merry party. Tho widow, giving her
hand to tho elegant dandy who had
caused tho statue of the deceased to be
cut down, was on her way to tho mayor's
office, whero she was about to take a
second oath of conjugal fidelity. If the
bust had not been completed, it would
willingly have been dispensed with.
When, some time later, the artist call d
for his money, there was an outcry
about the price; and it required very lit
tle less than a threat of legal proceedings
before the widow, consoled and remar
ried, concluded by resigning herself to
pay for this funeral homage, reduced as
it was, to the memory of her departed
husband.
Ghastly Scones.
During tho recent high water in Floyd
river, Iowa, a very powerful current set
against tho base of the hill on which is
situated Floyd cemetery, where Sioux
City buries its dead. ' The current
gradually undermined the bluff, huge
sections of it liding into the river, car
rying many coffins, which floated down
the river. The sexton stated that in
the neighborhood of twenty coffins had
been carried away. Others who are
familiar with the locality say more than
twice that number are gone. A man
from down the river reported to the
mayor that ho counted fifteen coffins
lodged on an island about four miles be
low. Olio slide iu the afternoon earned
down six graves, leaving tho ends of
soventeen coffins projecting from tho
bank. These were removed by the sex
ton, assisted by the sexton of the Catho
lic cemetery, ut risk of their lives. The
bank at that point is about hfty feet
above the water, and liable to cave any
moment. The portion of the cemetery
so shockingly despoiled is what is known
as the Fotter's Field, but it is feared tho
graves situated further up are in danger,
as the land continues to cave.
The Crops.
The Cincinnati Commercial publishes
advices as to the condition of the fruit
and wheat crops from sixty-one towns iu
Ohio and thirty-one in Indiana. In Ohio
the peach crop will be a complete fail
ure; the apples are but slightly injured.
In regard to other fruit, one town re
ports a good crop; twelve report a half
crop; forty-eight report no crop at all.
As to wheat, twenty-four towns report
the crop uninjured; twenty-two report a
half crop; twelve no crop. In Indiana
thirteen towns report the crop unin
jured; eight, a half crop; and nine, no
crop. As to fruit, three report a good
crop; seven, a half crop; and twenty
one, no crop. Advices from ten towns
in western Pennsylvania indicate about
half a crop each in fruit and wheat.
A special dispatch from Detroit,
Mich., states that reports lrom all parts
of Michigan indicate that the drought
and cold weather have greatly injured
the wheat crop, killed off the peaches
very generally, and seriously damaged
small fruits. Apples promise a good
yield. Plentiful rains may improve the
wheat crop very materially,
A muff A thing that holds a young
lady's hand without squeezing it.
NIXE YEARS WITHOUT A WORD.
A Troy lluabnnrf. llrutnllty Tnwnrrt III
WlfFItrunion In the I'rcarnrr of Uvnlli.
The Troy I'res tells the following
strange story concerning the husband
of a lady who died recently iu West
Troy :
The lady and gentleman referred to
wsre married about twenty years ago,
and came to West Troy nhurtly after,
and lived there together until the death
of the wife. Tho latter was a most in
dustrious, highly tespectable, and re
ligious woman. For the first ten years
of her married life, during which period
five children were born, she did every
thing possible for a woman to do in or
der to please her husband, but to no
purpose. When she did her best her
husband was sure to make out that she
had done wrong. He grumbled con
tinually, but at times he would break out
and pour upon his wife the most unmer
ciful abuse, continuing it lor several
days together. Then would intervene a
silence broken only by his seeking an
opportunity to give his wife a beating
.when nobody was iu sight, and wheu she
least expected it. After he had abused
her he would bring iu tho neighbors and
say to them that his wife had fallen and
hurt herself, poor creature; how sorry
he was for it; and he would address her
as "My dear, and ask if she was badly
hurt, and he would run lor a doctor.
He was so plausible-and kind and affec
tionate that nobody would believe his
wife when sue told that it was her hus
baud who had caused her the injuries.
Tho neighbors thought her crazy, or at
least hysterical, when she made any
statements of this kind. For a long
time he managed to beat his wife, and to
conceal it iu this way. Indeed it had
reached a point, the wife taking those
fits so often, that the arrangements were
all but completed to send the poor
woman to an insane asylum. Une day,
however, the broken-hearted wite was
sitting by the cradle, in which was her
youngest child, a baby, rocking it, and
attending to some sewing at the same
time. Her husband was in one of his
silent moods at the time. While she was
sitting as described, the husbaud entered
and passed through the house into the
yard. He returned within a few mm
utes, but in the interim a neighboring
lady had entered and gone into an ad
joining bedroom. This lady observed
him walking up quietly behind his wife
and, without a word or giving the least
warning, doubled his fist and struck her
a tremendous blow on the back of the
head, leaving her sprawling on the floor
insensible. This done he at onee ran
out to bring the neighbors as usual, and
affected the greatest concern about his
wife, wondered how much she was hurt,
and finally proposed to go for the doctor.
The lady who had secreted herself in
the bedroom accused him of the assault,
and when he was gone for the doctor she
went for the police and had him arrest
ed. His wife appeared in court and told
the whole story of her husband s cruelty
toward her, but woman like, begged tho
court to forgive him. Her request, how
ever, was denied, and the cruel husband
had to languish several months m jail,
On leaving the dock after receiviug sen
tence he turned to his wife and said that
she had wronged him by what she had
testified to, and to remember that ho
would never speak to her again on eart h.
This scene occurred nine years atro. The
man served out his sentence and return
ed to his family. From the day of his
return until two days before her death,
which took place recently, he never ex
changed a word with her directly. It
was necessary, living together as thev
were, husbaud and wife, the parents of
the same children, to have an interchange
of sentiments regarding the affairs of tho
household occasionally. This was done
in the following manner: When they
were sitting in the same room the hus
band would tell one of tha children to
say so and so to the mother. The moth-
er would answer directly, which, if it
required a further answer, would be done
through the child as before. But it was
only when he was iu particularly happy
moods that he would even communicate
in this way. His most usual mode of
communicating to his wife what he want
ea to say was lor him to retire into a
separate room, and thence issue his man
dates through one of the cluldren. Two
days before the wife died, after she had
been sick for some weeks, her condition
was made known to him, when ho was
working in the garden, by the doctor in
attendance and the clergyman who had
been called in. He was told that his
wife was on the verge of death, and that
he must make his peace with her while
sue was yet conscious. The idea of
ueatu seemed to stagger him. He was
silent for a moment, and then bursting
into tears, repaired to the death-bed of
his wife. He bent over her and begged
her forgiveness in bitter plaints and
tears. The dying woman grasped his
hand, and, calling him by name, said she
freely forgave him all, and added that
she was now prepared to die, being at
Eeace with the whole world. A few
ours before death the wife said and
they were the last words she was heard
to utter " that the last two days with
her husband, who never was away from
her bedside but when he left it to serve
her, had been the happiest days of her
life, and that she only wished they might
be the beginning of happy days to her
husband."
A Working Minister,
The Christian Advocate tells the
story of a determined minister who
labors in West Virginia. He applied to
the Conference befroe the lust for admis
sion, but was informed that there was no
room. Said he, to one of the presiding
elders; "If you have any work that is
too hard or too poor for anybody else,
let me try it." The presiding, elder
thought he had such a spot, and sent
him to it. It was a circuit composed of
what had been two circuits the preced
ing year; a region of lofty hills and
gigantic mountains. So says report.
He traveled during the year about 4,500
miles; nearly one-half of it on foot ! He
was favored with great revivals at nearly
all his appointments. The very modest
man gives all the credit of his work to
the presiding elder and to the labors of
his predecessors.
A young Chicago clerk devotes his
salary to the support of bis mother and
two sisters all three habitual drunkards.
Wanted Informal ion.
Yesterday noon, while all tho people
around the office except the " head ro
poiter " were at dinner, the smell of
smoke suddenly became apparent, aud a
fat man, smoking a big pipe, came toil
ing up stairs. When lie had recovered
his breath and taken a seat he inquired:
" Is der big editor what knows every
dings in?"
No gone to dinner," was the reply.
" Und he shall come back purty soon?"
" Iu about two hours."
" I can't wait so quick as dot; I haf to
go to a funeral."
" Did you want anything "
"Yes, I wants to know somedings
about dot Peecher scandal. You zee,
one day obout dree months ago a fellow
comes mit my zaloon und ho says: ' Did
you hear noddings about Mr. Peecher ?'
und I say nix, und he say Mr. Peecher
shtole corn."
"Yes."
" Und der next day when I went home
my wife says: ' Did you hear noddings
about Mr. Peecher ?' Und she said Mr.
Peecher shtole a dog."
"Yes."
" Und when I was iu der street gar a
man says: " Hello, Mr. Bittennan, what
you dinks about Mr. Peecher ?' Und I
says no man can be a goot man who vill
shteal a dog. Und den everybody laughs
und winks, und I dou't know about it."
" Yes."
Und wheu I was in der Zitty Hall a
man shtrikes me on der pack, und says:
Hello, old frent, is Mr. Peecher guilty?'
Und I said I dunno, und ho said Mr.
Peecher hiret a man to blow up a
schurch mit a barrel of bowder."
"Yes."
" Und den vhen I vas iu Dearborn a
man looks bretty sharp at me und says :
You lif in Dadroit don't you ?' Und I
said I lif in Dadroit. Und ho says:
What is your shudgment on dot
Peecher pisiness?' Und I said noddings.
Und he said Mr. Peecher had a fight mit
a zircus man."
"Yes."
" Und wheu my pig poy come home
from Doledo he say : ' Fadder, what you
dinks about dot Mr. Peecher ?' Und I
says I dunno, Hons. Und he says Mr.
Peecher got some gloze und shumpod
der dailor's bill."
"Yes."
" Und when I goes home or in der
street gar, or mit my zaloon, or in der
bost-oflice, somebody says somedings
about dot Peecher pisiness, and I dunno.
Who is dot Mr. Peecher? Where he
lif?"
" He is a great preacher, and he lives
in Brooklyn."
"Zo? Und what he do ?"
" He got one of those tobacco boxes
with a needle in the cover, aud carried
it around iu his pocket. When a man
tried to open it the needle went into his
thumb about twenty-five feet."
" Is dot bossible?"
" Yes, and ho had his vest pocket
made so deep that a cigar would go clear
out of sight, and he kept it full and de
ceived the public."
"Myzoul! but is dot zo?"
" Yes, and he keeps an old wild-cat
bill in his wallet to lend out when a man
wants to secure the loan of a dollar for a
few minutes."
"Veil I deglnres ! Ven a breacher
shall do like dot we shall wonder vat
next. Zo dot is der Peecher pisiness,
eh t Veil, veil. "Detroit Free Praia.
Casualties in English Coal Mines.
Within the thirteen years from 18G0
to 1873, there wero 13,750 miners killed
in the British coal mines, in the follow
ing ways : By explosions, 2,790; falls of
coal and roof, 5,510; accidents in the
shafts, 1,940; miscellaneous accidents
under ground, 2,509; surface accidents,
1,007. It is to bo remembered that a
considerable proportion of these cas
ualties aro not exclusively incident to
mining, but occur iu all occupations
where heavy materials are moved, where
transportation is carried on at a rapid
rate. It is noticeable that the terrible
explosions which are chronicled over the
whole world, and often awaken com
passionate cliarity, were responsible for
only about ouo-fifth of the casualties.
As mines grow deeper, and as the
amount of cool extracted is increased,
it might be expected that the casualties
would increase in number, not only on
account of the greater number of men
employed, but also because of the great
er obstacles to be overcome. But the
fact is, that the conduct of mining oper
ations is improved every year, and the
loss of life, compared to the amount of
coal extracted, or to the number of la
borers employed, decreasesjconstantly.
In 18G1 there was one life lost to every
209 persons employed, but iu 1873 in
creased care reduced the proportion to
one life to 479 persons. Also in 1861 it
cost a life to obtain 91,210 tons, but iu
1873 no less than 133,677 tons were
taken out for every life sacrified. In
view of the constantly increasing dif
ficulties in tho face of which this im
provement has been obtained, it is con
sidered to show that the laws which
have been adopted are satisfactory, and
that the engineers in charge of the
mines are capable.
A Singular Swindle.
A swindler has just been captured in
Palis. He began his adventures at Mar
seilles. Dressed in the garb of a bishop,
he gave himself out as the son of " Lord
Parker, governor of Canada," and suc
ceeded in duping the prefect as well as
the local church authorities, who gave
him money and recommendations to per
sons in Paris. He then went to the
capital, where ho appears to have been
feasted by the priesthood with all tho
honor due to bis ecclesiastical rank.
However, shortly after quitting Mar
seilles, something oozed out, tho police
were telegraphed to, and by dint of
search they found him at Passy, in the
monastery of the Christian Brothers,
where he was duly installed in the apart
ment of the superior. The Canadian
bishop turns out to be a poor commer
cial traveler traveling ou his own ac
count. Four hundred million dollars' worth
of wine, liquor and beer goes down the
throats of the American people every
year. As the number of those who drink
is probably not more than 6,000,000, the
amount for each drinker is 80 per an
num, $1.60 a week, or twenty-five cents
a aay, as tne average.
A TARIS HOME.
A Woman. Trie. Io Destroy the Ilu.linnd
nil tins DlMlpatrd her Fortune.
We have in Paris, says the Tribune's
correspondent, a great lady, a foreigner,
who goes in society with an unblushing
front, and who, nevertheless, lias com
mitted that inhuman crime a woman
who has set her husband on fire. The
story may be worth telling. The hus
band did not love his wife. WThy did he
marry her, then ? In America a man
sees a pretty girl with no money and
marries her, saying that beauty is the
same as specie; and he is right. In
Europe he sees an ugly woman draped in
banknotes and marries her, saying there
is no happiness without money; and ho
is wrong. This is what Count d'H. did:
He took Mademoiselle Armando O. be
cause of the million she incumbered.
But he had reckoned withont his host.
Mllo. O. was a character. She was not
to bo trilled with. She at once took
high ground with her husband. " Mon
sieur," she said to him in full honey
moon, " I will let yon know you are not
to control me. J f you behave as a gen
tleman I will pardon you for the sums
your conduct has already cost you and
mo. But if I find you only married me
tor my million 1 will be revenged.
The husband accepted all her revenges
with philosophic calmness, and continued
to waste her substance. When dignity
has lied from a houso its inmates are no
longer man and woman they are merely
criminals and maniacs. In this unhappy
marriage they came shall I say it ?
even to blows. Violence took the place
of insult. The husband talked of a
separation of persons and goods. " Ah,
yes!" said the lady, "I understand.
You wish a separation of persons, hav
ing made way with the goods." " Yes,"
said the husband, coldly. "That does
not suit me," said the wife. " You have
killed my heart, my reason, my honor;
and now I shall have your life.
Count d'H. tiied to laugh at her.
" But, madame, why should yon wish
my death when I ask nothing better than
to leave you?" "Because that is my
only possible revenge." "Nonsense,
my dear. Cowards aud women revenge
themselves, and you are neither. It
must be that you want to marry again."
" Why not, sir ? I have been very little
raarried with you." This conjugal con
versation ended with the usual climax
of endearment. Tho wife had the
bitterer tongue, the husband the
heavier fist. The lady retired, beaten
but not satisfied, and resolved to be rid
of her husband. But how to go about
it ? She was not strong enough to use
the poniard, and she revolted at the
cowardice of poison. Tliis is what took
)lace. One evening she found him in
ed reading a letter in a woman's hand
writing. In a sudden rago she set his
curtains on fire and ran away, locking
the door ou the outside. Ho
screamed fire, but the servants were too
far to hear him. It was horrible. The
chamber was upholstered in Louis XV.
cretonne, which instantly took fire from
the bed. M. d'H. at last got to a window,
and as ho was about to throw himself
out, his wife took pity and opened the
door, asking what was tho matter with a
look of iuuocent surprise. The hus
band's life was saved, but his disfigure
ment was complete.
The case has been much talked about,
and there are those who do not hesitate
.to defend the wife. They accuse the
husband of having tormented, deceived,
and ruiued his wife. When the court
ordered their separation there was only
left to her some three or four thousand
francs a year of her fortune, with which
she can make very little figure in the
world. But the husband will show to
still less advantage with his scarred and
seamed cheeks and forehead. It is sad
to carry into the world the sears received
at homo.
The Poor Mule.
The amount of fatigue, exposure, and
abstinence which a mule will endure,
says a writer, seems almost fabulous.
Making long marches across dusty,
shadeless plains, going for long intervals
without water and with very littlo food,
obliged to pull loads sometimes amount
ing to five thousand two hundred
pounds up steep hills and through heavy
sloughs, subject to cruel treatment and
neglect from tho teamster, the life of an
expedition mule is miserable enough.
No wonder that when the mule returns,
he looks woefully angular and thin. The
poor animal is frequently driven until ho
completely gives out, when he is thank
lessly turned into tho herd of broken
down mules. There is scarcely a more
melancholy sight than such a herd. It
is a moving bone-yard. Gaunt, lean,
with drooping ears, hips that rise like
promontories above tho general desola
tion, a disconsolate tail, and a woe-be-
gone visage which would frighten an in
experienced ghost the poor, bankrupt
mule is the most WTetched parody on
gothio "architecture that was ever forced
ou the public attention. Every vestige
of meat has fled from his bones. He is
a walking transparency, au animated
hat-rack, and I have actually seen his
hip- bones irreverently used to hang
teamsters' hats on. During our home
ward march from the Black Hills, more
than one such starved victim laid down
his tired frame on the earth which had
refused to nourish him, and the bene
diction of a soldier's bullet called the
raven and the coyote to a meal which it
cost the government ono hundred and
forty dollars to procure.
Maple Sugar by Wholesale.
The largest maple sugar manufacturer
iu Vermont, aud possibly in the country,
is F. E. Ray, of Wilmiugton, who taps
3,350 trees and sets as many buckets.
His average crop of sugar is from four
to six tons each spring, about one-half
of which is ruu into diminutive cakes,
while the remainder goes into molasses,
which is put up iu cans and hermetically
sealed, lie has two mammoth evapora
tors, which span two large brick arches,
besides four smaller arches, which are
used both for boiling and sugaring-off
purposes. His facilities are ample for
disposing of a thousand buckets of sap,
which ordinarily will make a thousand
pounds of sugar. Mr. Bay's annual
receipts for sugar and molasses for the
past six years have reached from $1,000
to 01,500. The amount of help required
in this orchard is seven men, with two
yoke of oxen.
win itonnons o sr.vix.
Eight Mpnnlnh Troops Hliot III If "totlnlloil
by the 'nrllt Horror, or W .
Eight Spanish soldiers have just been
executed by the Carlists. A correspon
dent says: The act of cruelty which led
to this terrible reprisal was perpetrated
a few days ago in the village of San
Martin de Unz, a few miles from Tafalla.
A sma'l band of Rosa's " piutidas," who
had established themselves iu that vil
lage, were coming out of church after
hearing mass, when they were informed
by a peasant that the village was sur
rounded by the Alfonsists. They imme
diately endeavored to cut their way
through the enemy's lines, and a ser
geant, with four men, succeeded, but the
others, eight in number, finding them
selves completely outnumbered, surren
dered to a squadron of cavalry, after
having first received a promise of quar
ter. No sooner, however, had the cav
alry conducted their prisoners back to
San Martin than the " contraguorril
leros " of the notoriously cruel Lacalle
set upon them and massacred seven of
thera on the spot with their bayonets.
The survivor escaped to a neighboring
house, where he barricaded the door and
determined to sell his life as dearly as
possible. He was at last induced to sur
render by the most solemn assurances
that his life would be spared, but, on his
opening the door, he was seized, the
muzzle of a rifle was forced into his
mouth and his brains were blown out.
General Mendiry, directly he heard of
what had happened, addressed himself
to General Ojuesada, the commander-in-chief
of the Alfonsist army, insisting
upon satisfaction being given, and pro
posing that a joint commission of the
two armies should inquire into the cir
cumstances and bring the guilty parties
to punishment. Four or five days had
been passed in the negotiations, when
Mendiry, seeing that the enemy did not
intend to accept his proposal, determined
to put into execution the stern law of
reprisal.
Orders were given to the authorities
of the Estella depot to select by lot
seven soldiers and one sergeant, who
were to be prepared for execution the
following morning. Lots were drawn,
and soon after nine iu the morning the
unfortunate men selected were marched
to the parade ground, outside Estella,
each accompanied by a priest aud holding
a crucihx iu his hand.
The regiments of Navarre, Castile and
Aragon, quartered in and near Estella,
each sent one company to witness the
execution, and a battery of artillery and
a squadron of cavalry were likewise
present. General Mendiry aud his staff
haviug arrived on the ground, the troops
formed three sides of a square, and
in tho middle were placed, kneeling
beside their confessors, tho destined
victims.
The last moment had arrived, the
priests were on the point of bidding a
last farewell, when suddenly one of the
prisoners, a Navarrese irregular, sprung
to his feet and made a dash for the river,
which was only about ten yards off.
The guards immediately fired, and a ball
struck the unfortunate man iu the back.
This, however, did not stop him. Ho
staggered forward, and, throwing him
self into the water, struck out gamely
for dear life. A second ball, however,
put an end to his exertions and sent him
to the bottom to rise no more. After
this terrible episode the last act of re
taliation was solemnly performed, aud
eight more of poor Spain s children were
sent to an untimely grave.
Opium Poisoning.
Dr. Andrew II. Smith read a paper
on " Opium Poisoning " before the
Medical Library and Journal Associa
tion, of New York. Ho confined him
self to dangerous and alarming coses.
The symptoms were often slight, but not
easily mistaken. These symptoms were
well known. The fatal result was usually
from asphyxia, sometimes from collapse.
The drug acted directly on the cerebral
tissues. Opium, unlike belladonna and
other kindred drugs, did not affect the
pupil when 'directly applied. In the
very last stages, on the approach of
death, the pupil was widely dilated.
The respiration was the most reliable
symptom, though not infullible. The
skin, especially of the hps, was livid in
proportion to the effects of the drug.
The post-mortem appearances were for
the most part negative. The treatment
embraced evacuation by emetics or the
stomach-pump, aud efforts to keep the
patient awake. The circulation should
always bo kept up. There was no
chemical antidote, but coffee and bella
donna and strong green tea might be
used with benefit. Belladonna had a
certain power to counteract the toxic
effects of opium.
In the decision which followed au in
stance was related of a person who tried
to commit suicide. He took twenty-five
grains of morphine iu a pint of coffee,
prepared by steeping a coffee-fcup of
good coffee in a pint of boiling water.
There was an entirely different effect
from that expected, the patient not being
able to sleep for forty-eight hours, but
becoming delirious.
A Born Teacher.
A remarkable natural teacher in Penn
sylvania is described by the New York
Teacher : This man, who was a shoe
maker, had such unusual intelligence
and information that the children of his
village would gather around to listen to
his talk. Presently, divers families sur
prised him by entreaties to teach their
children, and upon his refusal, returned
to the charge with the request on paper
signed by every mau and woman in the
village. He accordingly began a school
iu an old blacksmith's shop, and soon
became so interested in his work that he
had no thought of ending it. He be
came known, though not through adver
tisements, pupils were brought from a
distance, a good schoolhouse was built,
and since 1820 he has educated 1,896
scholars from abroad. The elements of
his success are stated to be a sincere in
terest iu the welfare of every student
placed under his charge, his enthusiasm
for everything of a soientifio character,
and his desire and intention that his pu
pils shall really know what is brought
before them. He spares no expense for
apparatus, drawings, and every kind of
illustration, especially such as will en
tertain as well as sow the seeds of
science.
Items of Interest.
Moving for a new trial Courting a
second wife.
Tha nonnlation of Sitka iu January
was five hundred and two, exclusive of
Indians.
Whv do neould call for a piece ol
string, and did anybody ever hear of one
calling for a whole one ?
An edition of the Bible is to bi? printed
iu London with all the proper names
accented to show their pronunciation.
A company has been formed in Canada
to manufacture caoutchouc from milk
weed, the juice of which is said to yield
about four per cent, of India rubber.
A wealthy woman died recently ia
Michigan who had paid taxes "under
protest" for fifty years. The protest
part seemed to afford her great comfort
in her last hours.
Darling (to mamma, who superintends
cook's operations') "I wish I was a
pudding, mamma." " Why ?" " 'Cause
I should have lots of sugar put into me."
Mamma takes the hiut.
At Monaco a gentleman came to the
roulette table and put down his hat full
of gold pieces. Another Rjjjd to him:
" Beg your pardon, sir, but could you
favor me with the address of your hat
ter?" The San Francisco Bulletin predicts
that the time will soon come when every
farmer will cure his own fruit and store
it away as he does his hay; the drying
apparatus forming a part of every well
regulated farm outfit.
" Then you won't lend mo that dime
novel, eh? inquired one boy of another
iu the post-office on Saturday. "No, I
won't "All light, then; the next
time our chimney burns out you shan't
come into the yard aud holler."
"Spell defendant," said Prof. Sprague
at the last spelling match. ' 'B-e-e-c-h-e-r, "
whispered a little school girl, but the
audienco did not hear her, and so tho
precocious child wasn't presented with a
copy of the great trial in book form.
A Methodist church in Maine has hit
on a new plan of taking up collections.
The boxes aro passed by the best-looking
young women in the congregation,
and with no difficulty in getting passers;
there is also a great increase in receipts.
Fact!
A Milwaukee chap kissed his girl
about forty times right straight along,
and when he stopped tho tears came into
her eyes and she said in a sad tone of
voice: "Ah! John, I fear you have
ceased to love me," "No I haven't,"
replied John, " but I must breathe."
As an indication of the advancement
that science has made recently, it might
bo stated that a gentleman at one of the
city markets, the other day, saw half a
bushel of white turnips run through a
cidor-mill, and half an hour thereafter
noticed the same article, bottled, ou
sale, and labeled " Pure grated horse
radish." Iu an action for slauder tried at tho
Kingston assizes in England the other
day, the plaintiff charged that tho de
fendant had called him a convicted felon.
The truth of this assertion the plaintiff
did not deny, but ho claimed that having
already suffered for the offense he ought
not to be made to suffer for it again.
The jury were of the same opinion, and
gave him $300 damages.
The German papers tell this story in
connection with Baron Fiothsehild's
death: A. and B. meeting, B. weeping
and sobbing aloud. Says A., "Why do
you weep ?" "Because," says B., as if
his heart were breaking, " because ho is
dead, tho powerful, the rich boron."
" But," replied A., "why do you cry so
much; he was no relation of yours !"
" That's just what I am crying about,"
howls B., more affected than ever.
According to the Daubury Xcws, a
prominent citizen, who is the proud
possessor of a handsome daughter, went
home to tea the other evening and said
to his wife: " Mother, I have finally
succeeded in my petition for a street
lamp on our street, and it is going to bo
set directly in front of our gate " A
sudden scream and a heavy fall sounded
from the next room. The affrighted
parents rushed in there. Their danghter
lay prostrate on the floor. She had
fainted.
Tho Mobile Reqixter poys a tribute to
the memory of Daphne, a colored weman
who has just died, blie was Enow u to
the citizens of Mobile for more than a
generation as one of the most efficient
and tender-hearted of nurses. Before
emancipation she was nominally a slave,
though she had full control of her ac
tions, and during the successive visita
tions of yellow fever she saved hundreds
of lives by her skill and faithful care.
She was also assiduous in her attentions
to wounded soldiers during the war.
Oat Meal.
American oats are said, on reliable
oats are said,
authority, to be as good as the best
raised any where. Why, then, is Ameri
can oatmeal inferior to that imported
from Scotland and Ireland ? It is be
lieved to be owing simply to the way tho
oats are kiln-dried and ground. Ameri
can oatmeal costs to the retail purchaser
about six couts a pound, but double that
price is asked for the Irish or Scotch.
As oatmeal is considered very whole
some, and is extensively used, it would
surely be worth the while to have the
American article properly prepared.
Those who can afford it use the import
ed, which costs twice as much a pound
as the finest family flour. But poor peo
ple can scarcely afford to pay twelvo
cents a pound for oatmeal, even if it ia
wholesome.
Uow to Do It.
A ship at sea sprung a leak. The hole
in its bottom was just one foot square.
There was but one board on the ship
this was sixteen inches long and nine
inches wide. It had precisely the re
quisite number of square inches, and
the carpenter cut it in two pieces only,
and these two pieces just fitted the hole.
How did he do it t In response to tne
above query a correspondent gives tho
following solution: At a point on the
long side of the board four inches from
the end, cut in three inches, then dowu
four, then in three again, then down four
again, then threo out to the opposite
side. This will divide the board into
two pieces, which being fitted together
form a square foot.