iiili
7
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. V.
EIDGAVAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1875.
NO. 14.
Old Timoi.
There's a bountiful song on the slumberous air
That drifts through the valley of dreams :
It come, from a climo wbe.e the roses were,
Aud a tuueful heart, and br glit brown hair,
That wavos iu the morning beams.
Soft eyes of azure and eyes of brown,
And suow-white foreheads are there (
A glimmering oros and a glittering crown,
A thorny bed and a couch of down,
Lost feotes aud leaflets of prayer.
A rosy leaf and a dimpled hand,
A ring and a plighted tow ;
Three golden rings on a broken hand,
A tiny track on the snow-white sand,
A tear and a sinless brow.
There's a tincture of grief in the beautiful
eong
That sobs on the summer air,
Aud loneliness felt in the festive throng
Sinks down in the soul as it trembles along
From a clime where the roses are.
We hear it first at the dawn of day,
And it mingles with matin chimes ;
lint years have distanced the beautiful lay,
And its memory floweth so swiftly away,
And we call it now " Old Times."
THE CREW OF ST. CATHERINE'S.
On a bright August day in the year
18G0, young Tom Bradstreet, in his little
skiff, rowed up and down Lake Chewas
Bot, looking at tho University crews as
they practiced for the race that was to
take place the next day.
On the right, beneath the edge of the
green woods, Tom's glad eyes beheld
the men of St. James, pulling their forty
two strokes, and flying along like nn
arrow. Further off was the crew of Cam
worth, spinning toward the upper end
of the water. To the loft were the mag
nificent fellows of Ilolmon Hall; and last
and fiuest of nil, in the middle of the
lake, coming, as Tom thought, like
"chain-shot," were the giants of St.
Catherine's their six long oars dipping
as ono, their six brown backs swaying
like clockwork, and their magenta head
kcrchiofs rising and falling together.
Tom's heart leaped as he saw them.
His admiration of this crew had made
him its warm partisan, and he never
doubted but that its men would win tho
race.
Tho " stroke-oar " was a young Hercu
lea named Windham, as handsome and
ngilo a fellow as ever led a race. This
was Tom's hero. He had watched him
with an enthusiasm that glowed and
grew every day, till it amounted to a
kind of worship, and he had haunted
, tho race course on his skiff, and hung
about tho boat-houses for a chance to
hear the pplendid champion speak, or
jierhaps win a glance of his eye.
Windham was too busy to notice his
boy-admirer, although he was very kind
hearted, and ready, on occasion, to serve
the poorest being that needed him.
St. Catherine's crow curio sweeping
on. Tom, all on fire with excitement,
leaped up and fixed his eyes upon his
hero. Ho could see his great muscles,
his rich brown skin, his eager, handsome
face, his magnificent motion. In a parox-t
yarn of ardor md delight, he leaped to
his feet and swung his hat, and shouted
and hurrahed like a crazy boy.
As ho did so, he slipped from the
thwart, nnd tiiteherl forward nn ln'n fun
The skiff lurched. The large stone that
was used sometimes to anchor it, rolled
overboard into the deep water, entan
gliug one of Tom's arms in the rope, as
it went down.
In a moment the boy was helpless,
dragged under die water by the running
oils. The crew of St. Catherine's heard
the splash, but rowed on, thinking it was
only a boy's frolic. They shot past the
skiff just as Tom disappeared beneath
tho surface of the lake.
" Hold on I" cried Windham; "back
water 1 stop her 1"
.Tho boat, with its six strong men,
rowed back to. the skiff. The instant
Windham's-eye caught sight of the taut
rope h saw the nature of the accident.
Carefully raising- himself, he stepped
into the skiff and motioned his men to
pull away. Then seizing the rope, he
drew it rapidly up, and soon the arm of
the drowning boy came in sight under
the clear water. - But the wet coil slipped
Tom was gone 1
Quick as thought Windham dived after
him. while his crew, waiting nn tlioiV
oars at a little distance, kept anxious
watah of the spot. Every man was
ready to plunge in to the rescue, if it
should bo necessary. In a minute Wind
ham oame np He had Tom in his arms.
He placed him- in the skiff, face down,
took in another man from the race-boat,
aud set him at work to resuscitate the
almost lifeless boy, while he grasped
the oars and made for the nearest boat
house. He had scarcely pulled a hundred
strokes when he met another skiff, con
; taiuing two men.
'. ," " See here 1" oried he, " here's a boy
' that's nearly drowned. Do you know
who he is V
"It's quite likely he's my newy,"
said one of the men, in a cold and heart
loss tone. " That's his skiff you're in;
let's see him," and the man rowed along
side. "Yes, that's him," said he, peering
over the thwarts. "He's allers gettin'
himself inter mischief."
"Where does he livef" roared Wind
ham, full of wrath at the man's coolness.
" Point out his house, will you I"
''It's right behind yer over there,"
pointing to a small cottage at the edge
of the lake, close by.
Windham turned abruptly, and shot
toward the shore, with his eyes, ever
and anon, fixed npon the helpless form
that lay, with its sodden brown hair, in
the bottom of the skiff. It was some
time before Tom came to himself, so that
be fully realized what had happened, and
who were about him. The young man
had carried him to the cottage and re
vived him, and when, weak from ex
haustion, lie opened his eyes, tho first
person he saw was Windham.
The poor boy, in all his hard work, had
never experienced much that was beauti
ful and gentle, and now the sight of the
hero of his devotion standing by him and
looking on his face, made him smile in
spite of his weakness. The tears filled
his eyes, and he feebly put out his hand.
Windham took it in both of his.
"Did you get me outt" said Tom, In
a faiut voice.
I beliv I did, Tom," tu Wind-
bam. "Lie still now, and don't talk,
and you'll soon be all right again."
Tom gazed on his gallant preserver.
His look was more eloquent than a
thousand words. All his childish adora
tion and boy-idolatry of manly strength,
all he could feel of affectionate gratitude
spoke in his eyes, and beamed from
every feature of his face. How could he
ever do anything for his hero, to show
how much he thanked and loved him
that toll, strong, self-reliant young
athlete.
Windham was touched by the clinging
look of the boy, and seemed to divine
what was in his mind.
" There, I must go now, little fellow,"
he said. " Like enough you'll save my
life sometime, and then we'll be even.
Good-bye."
The night came on. Tom was out of
pain, but very weak. He lay staring up
into the darkness, thinking of Windham,
and wondering what he could do to serve
him when he got out again. To-morrow
the race would bo rowed, and then Wind
ham would go away.
How deserted he would feel then I
The brave, handsomo champion of St.
Catherine's had kindled his heart, and
brought a glory into his dull life; and
when he went the world would be emptv
and lonesome. Tom even thought of
going secretly after him, aud staying
near him. Perhaps Windham would
take him. If ho would, he would will
ingly be his slave.
Nine o'clock struck aud so did ten
and so did eleven and so did twelve
and yet Tom did not sleep. He lay ner
vously awake, thinking nnd pondering
and imagining.
All was still save the chirping of the
crickets nnd the voices of the frogs. on
the shores of the lake. The moon arose,
and its pale beams came in through the
tops of the tall spruce trees, and trembled
upon the rough floor.
Still Tom thought and thought. Just
at three o'clock iu the morning he heard
a hoarse half whisper. It was pretty
loud, and it came from the adjacent
room, occupied by his uncle and one of
his uncle's cronies the two men whom
Windham had met upon the lake. These
persons were caterers, or rather sutlers,
who made money by selling pastry and
driuk at boat and horse races, and large
field assemblies. Like every one else,
vhey had their preferences among the
rivals of to-morrow, and had risked their
bets on favorite crews.
"Maxwell! Maxwell! are you awake?"
said the voice.
" Yes," replied another voice, in a
horse whisper.
"When do the clubs eat breakfast ?"
" About five o'clock."
" Bo you sure that soup's doctored ?"
" Yes, no mistake."
" Good I a dose of that wiL settle
Windham blast him 1 He's the back
bone of his crew; and if we can only
weaken him, they'll lose the race sure.
It'll weaken 'em all, I'm thinking. We'll
rake in our money, eh ?"
"That's sol"
' There was a pause, during which Tom
strained his ears to hear more.
" Say, Maxwell, did ye shake the can
when yo put the stuff in V
" Yes, I punched a bit of a hole, and
blowed the powder in this little quill ;
then I shook 'em lively. I did so to 'em
all. They're fixed!"
"And Betsy won't get the wrong
ones ?"
"She's more a conjurer than a cook if
she does. I hid all the rest of the cans."
"Then we've got 'em sure !"
By this time Tom was sitting bolt up
right in bed, with his eyes and mouth
open to their widest extent. The horror
of his discovery chilled his blood. His
uncle, then, had arranged to drug the
St. Catherine's crew ! He sat a minute,
shuddering, and trying to think what to
do. Ho did not hesitate long. His
opportunity had come to do something
lor w muiiu.ru i -
Carefully displacing the clothing that
lay upon him, he put his feet out of bed,
and stood upon the floor. Then he
noiselessly put ou his pantaloons and
his jacket. That was all. He did not
dare to take his shoes. His hat was in
the lake somewhere.
He crept towards the door. Ho feared
that his uncle was awake. Ho raised
the latch very softly, and felt tho night
air upon his face. It was moonlight
without, and beautifully clear. He
closed the door behind him, but to his
great alarm, tho latch clicked. Ho
thought he heard a stir iu his uncle's
room. Then ho ran like a frightened
deer. His body was weak, but his heart
was full of desperate resolution.
Two skiffs, with their oars in them,
lay upon the beach. Tom grasped the
oars of his uncle's skiff, placed them iu
his own, pushed off upon tho lake, and
rowed with all his might towurds the
bnat-house of tho Kt. Catherine's crew.
He had hardly taken a dozen strokes
when the door of tho cottugn burst open,
and his uncle leaped out, calling, in a
terrible voice :
"Tom! Tom! Tom!"
But Tom pulled furiously on, and
uttered no sound. Ho heard his undo
rush toward his boat, and he heard his
frightful curses when he discovered that
his oars were gone.
The next moment Tom was hidden
from view by the foliage at a bend in
tne shore. He knew that his strength
must fail him soon on tho water, and
now turning sharply in, he ran his boat
into the bushes, and hiding his oars,
took to the land and the forest.
He had a long run before him. His
head was dizzy, and his limbs trembled.
He feared he should be too late.
He heard in the distance the calls of
his enraged uncle and Maxwell, but he
turned a resolute face toward the St.
Catherine's quarte-s and pressed on.
The crew of St. Catherine's had gath
ered for breakfast. Before them was
their plain and simple food, and they
were all merry and hopeful. The serv
ing woman came in, bringing their hot
broth. It was steaming aud savory, and
the men's sharp appetites welcomed it.
The golden light of the coming sunrise
rested like a glory on the fine muscular
forms of the six young boatmen. They
had rested well, and were in splendid
condition to win. Windham, handsome
us a Spartan prince, sat at the tureen
and ladled out the fragrant food, ;
Somebody cried: " Windham, ' how
about that boy you saved yesterday I
Heard from him since I" ' ,
"No; but I fancy he's all right. - The
little rascal was pretty well used up,
though."
"He's a devotee of yours, I believe;"
"Ho? Why do you think so?"
" O, it's the same fellow. I've soon
him standing about here, staring at you
like a little owl."
Windham laughed.
"I must send this morning and find
out how ho is. Jackson, here's your
soup. Smith Armitage Wilbur aud
your health along with it. Here's to our
victory to-day !"
At this instant quick, staggering steps
were heard upon the porch without; the
door was pushed open, and a wild little
figure rushed in. It was Tom.
"Stop! stop I" he gasped, holding
his hand to his side. " Stop I stop I
Don't eat! don't!" and immediately he
fell down on the floor.
The young men could not account for
this strange visit. Was the boy crazy ?
His bare feet were covered with mud,
his clothing was torn, and his face and
eyes looked ghastly and terror-stricken.
Windham sprang toward him.
"What is it, Tom?" and he passed
his arms around him, and tenderly lifted
him up.
" The broth is poisoned !"
"Poisoned?"
Every one started to his feet.
" Yes," panted Tom. " It'll make you
sick ! 'Twos put in a purpose I I'm
so tired I ran most all the way. Did I
get here in time ?"
"Time!" cried Windham; "you're
right on the dot, my boy. A minute
more and it would have been all day with
us. Fellows, look hero ! This little
chap ran all the way from his house to
warn us against an enemy's meanness.
Ho has saved us the race ! Here's a hero
for you. Look at him.
The young men gathered round- Tom
and shook hands with him, and praised
him for his friendship and true grit.
Windham placed him iu a chair, and
they gave him water to drink, and bathed
his face.' In a few words he told them
what he knew about the drugged soup.
Just then another step was heard on
the porch, and the evil face of Tom's
uncle looked in. He was greeted with a
cry of rage, and two or three of tho
young athletes rushed forward, as if
they would tear tho man to pieces. But
he did not wait till they could lay their
hands on him ; for as soon as he saw
that his villainy was known, he took
himself out of the way with all haste.
" Men," said Windham, after they
had questioned the boy, and learned his
brief story, " little Tom has paid his
debt. He and, I are quits. But we all
owe him a good round reward. He is
an orphan. That rogue of an uncle
never has treated him decently, and it
won't do now to leave him in reach of
his revenge. The man shall bo indicted
for this business, but we'll take care of
the boy. We can afford to start him in
the world. What say you shall we
'adopt him?"
"Aye, aye, aye!" burst out all the
crew in chorus. And fortunately the
generous purpose of these bravo youths
did not end in boys' play.
Passing over tho day of triumph on
the lake, that made Windham and his
classmates glad ; passing over the trial
and conviction of t he two rascally sutlers,
again we see our friend Tom, ten years
older, a senior at St. Catherine's, and a
member of the University crew.
He proved one of the first men of his
class, and is to-day studying hard in his
profession. If industry and faithfulness
deserves reward, the world will yet hear
of him in his chosen calling. Youth's
Companl on
The Story of the Pleas.
A man has just died in Paris who had
his hours of glory, and whose fame has
reached the utmost parts of the earth.
He was the colleague of the man who
breaks paving stones with his fist, and of
the man who swallows a sword a jug
gler, known as "the man with the fleas."
Jean Lesilha was a decided character.
For many years he exhibited his learned
fleas throughout France, making them
do a number of astonnding feats. Among
other things he marshaled them into
companies, massing them much like sol
diers, then turned them into horses, and
made them draw a tiny chariot across a
table. It was really wonderful to see
tho scorning intelligence of these insects.
One day ho was going through his per
formance at the Clichy fair, when a big
dog rushed up and seized him by the
calf of tlin leg. Jean Lcsillia had or
dered his Hens into their box, and held
it in his hand. Tho nip of tho dog at his
leg made him turn in haste, and in his
fright ho dropped hisboxof fleas. Their
natural instincts mado them jump upon
tho dog for safety, nnd nt tho same time
their master gave tho dog a vigorous
kick, which stmt him howling away. It
was not until ho saw the dog running
that he comprehended the loss of his
pets. Tho crowd began to laugh in the
heartiest manner; but it was no laugh
ing matter to Jean Lesillia. His occupa
tion was gone; he had been despoiled in
a moment of his means of earning his
daily bread for himself and children,
aud the poor fellow sank down upon the
ground weeping like a child. A crowd
is always touched by such exhibitions
of feeling, and a subscription was taken
up, which, after all, amounted to only
one day s receipts. What was he, then,
to do? It required a year's hard labor
to train a new lot of fleas, and Jean
Lesillia had not the means. When he
had first done so he was a single man;
now he was married and the father of
several young children. He turned rag
picker, and during the winter worked
to support his family. But the life did
npt suit him, and chagrin and the se
verity of the season soon brought him
to his grave. He died in his modest
garret, and the children he had so hand
somely supported before the loss of his
learned fleas are now objects of charity.
Followed.
He was a rich American in Paris who
discovered that an upleasant looking
fellow followed him every day from
morning till night. He became uneasy
and diplomatic inquiry was made wheth
er the man who watched was connected
with the police, As a result of much
negotiation the unpleasant person was
arrested, and proved to be a gatherer of
butts of cigars : The rich American, only
smoked famous brands and only smoked
thorn half up, and it paid to follow him.
The San Francisco Vigilance Committee.
Referring to the notable days of the
Vigilance Committee in San Francisco,
Gen. Sherman, in his personal memoirs.
tells how they were first started : In
1850 the lgilance Committee took tos
session of San Francisco. Politics had
become a regular, profitable, corrupt
business. There was such a thing as a
sheriff paying $100,000 to be nominated
to an office tho nominal salary of which
was $12,000 a year for four years. James
Casey, who was aiterward hanged by the
committee, published a small poper in
the building occupied by Sherman as a
bank. On one occasion a Mr. Slather, a
banker ana partner oi urexel, complain
ed that Casey's paper attempted to black
moil the banks. "At that time," says
Kherman, we were ail laboring to re
store'eonfidence, and I went up stairs,
found Casey and pointed out to him
the objectionable nature of his article.
and told Mm plainly that I could not
tolerate his attempt to print and circu
late slanders in our building, and if he
repeated it I would cause him and his
press to be thrown out of the window.
He took the hint nnd moved to more
friendly quarters." The rival journal,
the Jlullctin, published some documents
showing that Casey had once been sen
tenced to a New York penitentiary.
Casey informed the editor, James King,
that he woidd "shoot him on sight."
That evening, as King was walking
home, Casey shot him and was arrested.
Tho citizens, under the control of Win.
J. Coleman, formed a committee. The
governor, in company with G. K. Gar
rison and Sherman, endeavored to sup
press the outbreak. On Sunday, May
22, 1856, the funeral of King took place.
The governor called on Sherman, and
they went up on top of a hotel, from
which they could see the whole city.
" Parties of armed men in good order
were marching by platoons toward
the jail. Soon a small party was seen
to advance to this door and knock,
and a parley ensued. The doors were
opened and Casey was led out." Also a
prisoner named Cora, who had killed a
marshal. "The day was exceedingly
beautiful, and tho wholo proceeding or
derly in the extreme. In a very few
days Cora and Casey were hanged by
the neck, dead, suspended from the
beams projecting out of the windows of
the committee's room, without other
trial than could be civen in secret and
by night" The committee held their
sessions, issuing writs of arrest and ban
ishment. An effort was made to sup
press them, and Sherman was appointed
major-general in command of the mi
litia. Advertising In Paris.
The Paris correspondent of the Lon
don Times says : Nowhere is the system
of tempting the public to buy better, or,
rather, more fully carried out than in
Paris. Many of the newspapers angle
for fresh subscribers by announcing
presents of watches, albums, nnd cheap
jewelry in exchange for a year's sub
scription paid in advance. Others an
nounce that they have mado special ar
rangements with various tradesmen, who
will supply their clients with articles at
prices which are considerably reduced,
or, if we are to believe the advertise
ments, below market value. The large
shops of Paris adopt the same line of
business, and presents of all kinds, from
pieces of musio to air balloons, are
offered to thq people who daily throng
the stupendous establishments whose
heavily laden carts meet the eye in every
conceivable place. One establishment
of this kind, intent upon outstripping all
its rivals, combines the club with its
more commercial object. In it is to be
found a room where light refreshment,
such as strops and cakes, are gratuitously
distributed, and so rigorously is the rule
enforced that even tho waiters refuse to
accept any sort of remuneration. For
tho convenience of those unfortunate
male escorts who nre inveigled to shop
with ladies, the proprietors have thought
fully provided comfortable reading and
billiard rooms. It is, perhaps, needless
to say that the place i3 crowded from
morning till night with many customers,
and not a few unscrupulous foreigners
who neglect to qualify themselves by
purchases for admission into the gratui
tous part of the establishment. How
can the shops afford it? is a common
question with strangers who are- con
tinually meeting with some new proof of
this system oi, gifts. A little reflection
will supply the answer. It is merely a
system of advertising under another
form to that in vogue in England and
elsewhere. In France those monster
placards whieh disfigure the streets of
London nre not to be seen, sandwich
men do not circulate through Paris, and
the only attractive notices are those ex
hibited by the Kiosques on the Boule
vards, though the bare sides of houses
are occasionally adorned with the adver
tising frescoes of certain tailors and
clothiers.
Their Determination.
On a late occurence the Emperor of
Russia was reviewing his fleet, when
two sailors particularly attracted his
attention, both by the precision with
w jich they performed several difficult
maneuvers, and by the agility and darincr
which they displayed. The emperor
was so much pleased that he immediately
Eromoted one to be a-captain, the other
e appointed lieutenant on the spot.
The men, however, were Jews, and
there is a ukase forbidding Jews to wear
an epaulet. The admiral of the fleet,
who stood by, knowing that they were
Jews, stated the difficulty to his imperial
majesty.
"Pshaw," cried the emperor, "that
does not signify in the least they shall
immediately embrace the Greek religion,
of course."
Wheu thin determination was com
municated to the two young ment know
ing that remonstrance would be iu vain,
they requested the emperor's permission
to exhibit still more of their maneuvers,
as he had not seen all they eould do.
This being granted, they ascended the
topmast, embraced, and, locked in each
other's arms, threw themselves into the
sea, and disappeared forever.
The Czar of Russia has taken in hand
those bad boys who were so very anxi
ous to get up a fight, and has patted,
them on the head and told them to ba
good boys.,; We hope thag will take his
advtce, but we have our doubta.
The Anthracite Coal Region.
The anthracite coal of Eastern Penn
sylvania was first discovered, it is said,
in 1770. In 1775, just a century since,
says a writer, a boat-load was taken down
to the armory at Carlisle, nnd in 1791
the great open quarry of this fuel near
Mauch Chunk was made known. From
its unlikeness to the Virginia coal, aud
the difficulty of igniting it, the Pennsyl
vania Anthracite encountered much op
position. Tradition tells us that a boat
load taken to Philadelphia in 1803 was
broken up and used to mend the roads.
But it slowly found its way into use ;
and from a pamphlet published in 1815,
we learn that the coal from the Lehigh
had been several years on trial in Phila
delphia, where it had been compared
with tho Virginia bituminous coal, and,
from the testimony of iron workers, dis
tillers and others, wns to be preferred to
it for durability and economy. Oliver
Evans, had, moreover", at this time tried
the anthracite with success under the
boilers of his steam-engine, nnd also in
sisted upon its advantages for domestic
purposes Notwithstanding these re
sults, the new fuel found its way very
slowly into use, and in 1822 the total
production of the anthracite mines was
estimated at 3,720 tons, against 48,000
tons of tho coal from Richmond, Vir
ginia, then it-s only rival. Fifty years
later, or in 1872, the official returns give
for the exportation of coal from the an
thracite region not less than 19,000,000
tons, besides about 2,500,000 tons for
local consumption, while that of the
Virginia coal field for the same year is
estimated at 02,000 tons. Tho late Pro
fessor Silliman, who visited the anthra
cite region in 1825, and published his
report of it in the following year, was
the first to appreciate the real value aud
importance of this deposit of fossil fuel,
which he then spoke of as a great na
tional trust.
The small detached basius of the an
thracite region have together an area of
only four hundred and seventy-two
miles ; but the immenso aggregate thick
ness of tho senpis of coal, varying iu dif
ferent parts from fifty to one hundred
feet, and estimated nt an average of sev
enty feet for the whole, makes this won
derful region of greater value than
Western coal fields, whoso extent is
measured by many thousands of square
miles. Mr. P. W. Shaeffer, who has
calculated the cubic contents of these
anthracite beds, estimates it to have been
at the time when mining was commenced
equal to 20,301,070,000 tons, from which
one-half may be deducted for waste hi
raining and breaking for market, and for
losses from faults and irregularities in
the beds, giving of merchantable coal
13,180,538,000 tons. If from this we
subtract the amount produced by the
mines from 1820 to 1870, estimated nt
206,606,325 tons, wo had still iu store at
the latter dato a supply of 25,000,000
tons a year, or more than tho present
rate of consumption, for five hundred
and twenty-five years.
Boys of the Olden T.'ine.
In a lecture before the New York His
torical Society on the changes of a cen
tury, James Parton gave an acoouut of
his own schoolboy days, and his attend
ance at a public school where the boys
expected to be whipped, as a matter of
course, twice a day. Most vividly he
rem3mbered those scenes after the
lanse of so ninnv venrs linvs linilftr iha
influence of a heroic but not successful
attempt to smile, and some again tub
bing their hands and other afflicted
parts. Somebody asked Edmund Burke
on what principles instruction was
given at Eton College. "There they
are," pointing to a grove of birch trees.
" No licking, no learning," was wisdom
as late as 1800. Montague described
the rods used in the Paris schools in
those days ns being heavy and thick
with blood, nnd Luther stated that he
was flogged fifteen times in one morn
ing. The methods of instruction, too,
were crude as the discipline. Students
were required to get off' passages from
" Locke on the Human Understanding,"
and other different works, nnd repeat
them off without any elucidation on the
part of the master, nnd without even
being nsked a question. At the present
time they were indignant, and justly in
dignant, but they ought to be more in
dignant because children in some of
the manufacturing towns were kept at
work eleven hours a day, but in reading
Robert Dale Owen's acoouut of what he
saw at the be5iuning of the present cen
tury, it would be found that in some of
the manufacturing towns of England
children under ten years of nge were
kept at work fourteen hours, and that
under circumstances of aggravation and
cruelty. Every reform, he said, was
carried on with excess, for it was not in
man's nature to go just far enough and
no further. Children should have the
right of being prevented doing them
selves irreparable harm, and neglecting
opportunities that could not be recalled,
peaceably, if it were possible, forcibly if
not. Mr. Parton told several amusing
anecdotes concerning the training of
children. In one instance, when dinner
was on the table, the child of a fond pa
rent insisted on having its shoes and
stockings taken off and being permitted
to walk in the dish of nice brown gravy
which was round the roast beef. And,
said Mr. Parton, the beef was removed,
and the child was permitted to have its
way.
" Hurry, Doctor."
A reverend doctor had rather a slow
delivery, which was the occasion of an
amusing scene in the chapel of the luna
tio asylum : He was preaching, and il
lustrating his subject by the case of a
man condemned to be hanged, and re
prieved under the scaffold. He went on
to describe the gathering of the crowd,
the bringing out of the prisoner, his re
marks under the gallows, the appearance
of the executioner, the adjustment of the
halter, the preparation to let fall the
platform, and just then the appearance
in the distance of the dust-covered
courier, the jaded horse, the waving
handkerchief, the commotion in the
crowd. At this thrilling point, when
every one was listening in breathless
silence, the doctor became a little prolix.
One of the lunatics could hold out no
longer, but starting up from among the
eengregation, he shouted: ' "Hurry,
doctor I for mercy's sake, hurry I They
will hang the poor man before you get
there 1"
SOCIAL SCIENCE.
The Wcnlth of III t'nited StumsThe An
nun.1 Incrensr anil the Increnne of the I'cv
plc.Hoine Interesting Wtntlstirs.
David A. Wells, of Connecticut, de
livered the annual address before the
American Social Science Convention.
In the course of his remarks h suid tho
slowness with which eapitul increases
even under the most favorable ciicr.ru
stances was illustrated by figures drawn
from American experience. The wealth
of the United States in 1870 was estima
ted at $25,000,000,000. This represents,
first, a value of $620 to each individual;
second, the surplus result of all the
labor, skill nnd thought exerted, and all
the capital earned and saved or brought
into the country since it became practi
cally the home of civilized men. With
capital increasing thus slowly, we should
be careful lest by impairing its security
we also impair its rate of increase.
Though the idea of direct inteiference
with the rights of property meets with
little sympathy on this side of the At
lantic, many of the most intelligent peo
ple interested in the cause of labor re
form, reasoning from the largo nominal
aggregate of the national wealth and
the large advance recently mado iu the
power of production, have adopted the
idoa that the amount of the present an
nual product of labor and capital is
enough for all, nnd that all that is nec
essary to secure to the masses comfort
and abundance is for the State to in
tervene, either by fixiug the hours of
labor or the rates of compensation for
service, or the use of capital, and so
oompel its more equitable distribution.
Admitting the desirability of a more
equal division, it will be well to inquire
what we have really got to divide.
The maximum value of our annual
product does not exceed $7,000,000,000,
of which the product of our agriculture
is returned by the last census with un
doubted approximative . accuracy at
less than one-half that sum, or $2,400,
000,000. Fully nine-tenths of this pro
duct, probably a larger portion, must be
immediately consumed that wo may live
and make good tho loss and wasto of
capital previously accumulated, leaving
not more than one-tenth to be applied in
the form of accumulation for effecting
a future increased production and de
velopment. Stated in a different but
not les3 striking form, after 250 years of
toiling and saving we have only man
aged as a nation to get about threo and
a half years ahead iu tho way of subsist
ence. If now as a wholo peoplo we
Bhould stop working, producing, aud re
pairing, aud devote ourselves exclusive
ly to amusement and idleness, four years
would be moro than sufficient to starve
threo-fourths of us out of existence, and
reduce tho remaining ono-fourth to the
condition of semi-barbarism; a result
it is well to think of in connection with
the promulgation of certain new theories
that the best way of increasing abun
dance and promoting comfort is to de
crease the aggregate and opportunities
of production. Few things are more
transitory nnd perishable than capital.
As embodied in the ordinary forms wo
soe about us, its duration is not on an
average in excess of the life of a genera
tion. Of all the materiid wealth of the
great nnd rich nations of antiquity noth
ing whatever has come down to us ex
cept, singularly enough, those things
which, like their tombs nnd public
monuments, could never hnve been pos
sessed of a money valuation.
If, again, we snppose our annual pro
duct equally divided among our present
population, the average income of each
individual would be $175 per annum.
If this estimate be considered small it
should be remembered that it is based
on au estimate of national product great
er both in the aggregate aud in propor
tion to numbers than is enjoyed by any
other natiou our compeer in civilization,
nnd that this sum, $175, is not the sum
which all actually receive as iucomc, but
the average each would receive were the
whole annual product divided equally.
We know it is not divided equally and
never will be while men are born with
different natural capacities. The aver
age annual earnings of laborers and un
skilled workmen for the wholo country
is not in excess of $100, whieh, placing
the family of each at four two adults
and two children the census of 1870
calls it five gives $100 as the average
that each member of that class pro
duces; to which, too, each such indi
vidual must be restricted in consump
tion. Clearly, then, the time has not
yet conie when society here cun com
mand such a degree of absolute abun
dance as will justify any class or indi
vidual, especially those who depend on
each day's labor to supply its wants, in
doing aught that teuds to diminish
abundance. Let the working man,
therefore, strive for the largest possible
share of the joint products of labor nnd
capital, ns it is his natural right to do,
but if in so doing he restrict produc
tion and diminishes abundance, lie does
it nt his peril. Street processions will
never change the conditions of produc
tion and compensation. Idleness pro
duces nothing but weeds and rust pro
ducts not marketable anywhere, though
society often pays for them most
dearly.
A Pest.
At Eufaula, Alabama, as a prevention
against the bite of the buffalo gnat, the
farmers are compelled to coat the ears,
flanks and other parts of their live stock
with tar and grease, and also to keep
fir 08 burning in their stock lots at night.
The Mississippi buffalo gnat is de
scribed as about half the size of a com
mon house fly, and jet black. It has a
hump back, or shoulder, like the buffalo,
and hence its name.
The Tongue. The Albany Argus ex
ercises itself after this fashion with the
eccentricities of our English orthography :
' T-o-n-g-u-e spells tongue, ' and the man
who first spelled it so should have been
hongue. A-o-h-e spells 'ache,' and that
is all you can make out of it. E-i-g-h-t
spells 'eight, ' no matter how you depre
cieight the idea; and that a-i-s-l-e should
spell aisle, ' and f-e-jg-n 'feign' is
enough to make anybody smaiele if the
effort were not too peignfuL"
A New England agricultural society
offers a handsome prize t the young
lady who shall cook, on the fair grounds,
the bast dinner for a farmer,
Items of Interest.
An object of interest A note at ninety
days.
Every man should tell his own story ;
ho can tell it better than his neighbor.
A Chinaman in Los Angles, California,
upon being applied to for payment of a
debt, replied: "If no havee, how can?"
In 1874 France produced 1,300,000 kraa
of pig (crude) iron, 760,000 tons of
wrought iron, nnd 155,500 tons of steel.
A Saratoga crocus put its head out of
bud, the other morning, and said ; Yon
lilao everything if you say this isn't
spring.
What three words did Adnm use when
he introduced himself to Eve, which
read the same backward and forward?
Madam, I'm Adam.
A Racine merchant used the following
words : " I'll be hanged if I advertise
in any paper !" and the next morning ho
was found dead in bed.
A land patent was recently issued from
the Marysville (Cal.) office to George
Washington Christopher Columbus
Whillenbergannanzi.
The Cincinnati Gazette has a para
graph about three ladies iu that cHy
who recently spent two hours iu select
ing one simple little straw hat.
"Do you know who I am?" nsked a
policeman of a fellow whom ho had seiz
ed by the throat. "Not exactly, sir; but
I fancy you are the malignant collarer."
A Nashville preacher hopes his congre
gation will test their approval by clap
ping their hands into their breeches
pockets and hauling out contributions.
A Philadelphia judge took occasion
tho other day to remind the public
that street crossings belong primarily to
pedestrians, nnd only secondarily to ve
hicles. Hydrate of choral ns a stimulant is
taking the place of opium, hasheesh, etc.,
iu England, and to some extent in this
country. It kills in about threo years,
on nn nverage.
A schoolboy being asked by tho teacher
how he should flog him, replied : "If you
please, sir, I should like to hnve it ou tho
Italian system the heavy strokes upward,
and the down ones light."
A man hanged himself iu Paris iu tho
presence of his paralyzed wife, who was
unable to move or cry for assistance,
and who was obliged to witness the hor
rifying sight of his death struggles.
A lady whose family wero very much
in tho habit of making conundrums was
one evening nsked by her husband in an ex
cited tone: "Why are nil these doors left
open?" "Igive it up!" instantly replied
the lady.
The Sar Francisco "Hawaiian prima
donna," of whom the wonderful story of
a ride on a shark's back is told, is tho
same Adelaide Miller who sang in tho
variety theatres in New York and Brook
lyn last winter.
How soon some women change their
minds respecting their husbands ! Mrs.
Spinn was forever telling her husband
that he wasn't worth tho salt iu his bread ;
but when he got killed in a railway col
lision she sued the company for five thou
sand dollars.
The crows nre complaining, and not
without caws, nt the backwardness of
the season. They say that if the farmers
don't get their corn in pretty soon, thc-y
will have to organize a relief society and
give concerts for the benefit of their
deserving poor.
A passage in the Turkish Scriptures
reads as follows : Take care that your fi
nal account shall be settled before you die.
Undergo here your indictment nnd your
trial. Pass ou yourself just punish
ment. Then will you pass into tho fu
ture without further chastisement or fear.
The Golden Aye having said that ro
mance was better than rum, the Lite rary
World retorts that a bad romance is
more harmful than first-rate rum, inas
much ns it reached and demoralized a
class young girls which is secure
against the attacks of John Barleycorn.
A celebrated physician was once call
ed upon to prescribe for a nervous dis
order. He wrote hi? prescription iu
three parts, as follows: '"First, occupa
tion ; second, occupation ; third, occupa
tion." This same prescription is a re
medy for many of the ills to which flesh is
heir.
When a man mistakes the height of a
chair he is going to occupy, by about an '
inch and a half, it is remarkable tho
amount of momentum he will acquire in
making that little distance, lie will
strike that choir with nearly as much
force as if he had sat down iu it from tho
roof of a two-story building.
One of our physicians who had been
greatly annoyed by numerous questions
concerning the condition of a certain
patient, was stopped while on his busy
rounds by a man with the old question :
"How's Mr ?" "Sick," replied
the physician. "Does he keep his
bed ?" " Of course he does ; you don't
suppose he's fool enough to sell his bod
because he's sick, do you?"
A curious fact is mentioned relative to
the catastrophe of the balloon Zenith, iu
France. It appears that MM. Croce
Spinelli nnd Sivel had breakfasted as
usual before making the ascent, while
M. Tissandier, who had no appetite,
merely took a cup of strong coffee. The
inference may, therefore, be drawn that
a journey to such a great altitude is like
a bath which should not be taken after
a meal.
When a young man in Patagonia falls
in love with a girl, he doesn't visit her
six nights in a week and twice on Sun
day, and feed her upon molasses candy
and gum drops, and sit up until two
o'clock in the morning burning the old
man's oil, and that sort of thing. Not
at all. Courtship in Pataeronia is much
more simple. He lassoes the girl, drags
her home behind his horse, and that ia
all the marriage ceremony necessary.
A tramp went to sleep on top of a
lime kiln near Baltimore, but woke up
with his clothes on fire. In attempting
to escape he fell over an embankment
eighteen feet high, breaking some of his
bones. Then he crawled along some
fifty yards, leaving bita of hia clothing
and burned flesh, and reaching a bank
thirty feet high being by this time
about naked he jumped or fell over its
brink. The shock cruehed him badly,
but he afterward crawled several yards
and died, before he could reach a stream
toward which ho waa straggling,