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HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. V.
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, N.0VEMI3EH 25, 1875.
NO. 40.
Si
Tlic Old flnrn.
Tho looHtcrBtnlhs on the mangel's ledge,
IIo hus ii tail like a "cimiter's eilgw
A maral-al phuno on his afghnn neck,
An ! aiia:'s stride on bis quarter deck.
Hp ru'ei tho roost and he walks the bay,
Wi'h a dreadful cold and TurkiaU way.
Two broadside b fires with Lis rapid wings,
The sultan proud of a line of kingB
One guttural laugh, four bursts of horn,
Five ru8y syllables rouse the morn.
The Saxon lambs in their woi'en tabs
Are playing with the a, b, abs.
A. e ! r, n ! All the cattle spell
Till they make the blatant vowels telJ,
And a half laugh whinny fills the stalls
As duwn the rack the clover fall.
A dove is waltzing round his mate,
The chevrons blaok on his wings of slats,
And showing off with a wooing note
The satin shine of his golden throat
It is Ovid's " Art of Love " retold
In a binding fine of blue and gold.
Ah, the buxom girls that helped the boys
The nobler Helens of humbler Troys
As they stripped the husks wit 1 rustling fold,
From sight-rowod corn as yellow as gold,
By the oaudle-light in pumpkin bowls,
And the gleam that showed fautaatio holes
In the quaint old lantern's tattooed tin,
From the hermit glim set up within j
By the rarer light in girlish eyes,
As dirk as wells or as blue as skies.
I hear the langh when the ear is red,
I see the blu-h with the forfeit paid,
The ceder cakes with the ancient twist,
The cidar cup that the girls have kissed.
Ai d I sec the fidd'er thrcngh the duk,
As he tw.ui:;s the ghost of "Money Musk !
The boys and girls iu a double row
Wait f ace-to-f nco till the magic bow
Hindi whip tho t-.ine from the violin
And the merry pulse of the feot begin.
THE ENCHANTED STONES.
A Ilolldny Story.
Iu the couutry of Vannes, near the
sen, lies tin village of Plouliinec, in a
dry, sterile tract of land, so unproduc
tive that it affords scarcely grass or herb
age enough to keep tho cattle alive, and
where the swine even look half starved
and tliiu. Instead of cultivated fields
there nre raooi lauds only, and forests of
pine trees. But 1 he country is covered
with an iiuni':ise number of stones, largo
and small, whi.-h would furnish Materia
enough to build n grout city. The largest
of the-ie stones hail in oldeu tiruos been
planted by the dwarfs in two long rows
in order tit form au avenuo.
At a short distauce from this stately
avenuo flowed a river, and near its banks
in former times lived Marcinne, the
richest of the people thereabouts. His
larder always contained a bountiful sup
ply of salt pork and black bread, and on
Palm Sunday, at the consecration of the
laurel, he invariably wore, in honor of the
ceremony, a pair of new wooden shoes.
Marcinne was proud, and his petted and
indulged sister llosa had hitherto re
fused tolihi.cn to any offer of marriage,
because none of her admirers had suffi
cient we.--.lih to gratify her ambition.
Among It sn's many adorers was one, a
worthy Obrihtimi youth, named Bernec,
who had lo t his parents when young,
and receiving for his inheritance only his
father's good will, was obliged to sup
povt himsi if by tho work of kh hands.
When ho entered tho parish as an arti
sau's npprentico he was a lad, and Rosa
but a little girl. Under his eye she had
grown to be a fair and beautiful maiden,
Hud he deemed her the loveliest creature
in tho whole laud. The people of the
parish, h.nvover, knowing how matters
stood, would frequently tsiiy : ' Berneo
loves 11 sa, bnt ho can never win her ;
truly, a hen-tic might as well hope to
'liter heaven."
lint liosa proved not insensible to
Bernee's evident devotion, and t-he
secretly eturn:!d his love. Above all,
her brother too had a liking for tho
young fellow, and was more tha i half
inclined to grant hioi his sister's hand.
One Christmas eve Marcinne, having
invited to Lis Imuso all the youths and
maidens lioni the neighborhood, had
hospitably prepared for their entertain
ment a generous repast of sausages,
wheat ponidgo and honey. But the
weather proved unfavorable. A storm
howled ami shrieked and whistled
around, so that only a few of the bidden
guests cmne, and even these did not ap
pear until a lute hour. The moment thy
arrived diuut r was nerved. All except
Kerut o iewed with complacency the
smoking fausages and wheat porridge
upon the LeartU ; ho alone gave no heed
to either, but had only eyes for the
blushing countenance of his beloved
llosa.
Just as the company were seated the
door opened, and au old man entered.
Although clothed in beggar's rags, he
walked iu without the slightest cere
mony, and requested something to eut.
No one gave him a word of greeting,
such as ordinary beggars would receive ;
for this strange being was feared aud
nlmnned by all the parish. He was never
Keen ut church, aud it was believed that
he was a sov.;crer, who could cast a spell
over auimuls, blacken the corn in tho
e r, and that he even had power to
change a person who displeased him into
u wvbr-wiilf. Not during t do other
wise, Maicinne bestowed upon the old
man a portion of the repast, and gave
Liin a seat by the fire.
Whou, alter satisfying his hunger, tho
beggar inquired where he should sleep,
Marcinne directed him to a stable occu
pied by his scrubby donkey aud very at
tenuated ox. There directly between
these uuiuials this miserable being lay
down, iu order to keep warm. He placed
a pillow of moorland gross under his
head, aud was well nigh lost in slumber
when twelve strokes announced the hour
of midnight.
Scarcely had the last stroke sounded
when the old donkey shook his long ears,
iud turning to the lean ox, asked, iu
friendly tones: "Well, cousin, how
hast thou been since last Christmas ?"
Tho u- a sideward glance at
the beggar, did not immediately an
swer. Finally, he gruffly paid : "It ia
hardly worth while to take advautnge of
the speech which the Godhead has given
ns at this time, when we must talk in
tho presence of such a contemptible
churl."
' Thou art very proud, cousin,"
briskly rejoiued the donkey. " Surely,
if any one has a right to be vain, it is
thy humble servant, whose shoulders
once bore our Savior when he went to
Jerusalem. Yet I think all this is of lit
tle consequence; and, besides, dost thou
not see thnt the beggar is asleep ?"
" Yes," responded the ox, " so it
seems. But were he awnke, I conld
tell him something that he would be glad
to hear."
" Indeed I" said tho donkey, pricking
up his ears.
"Yes," continued the ox, "I could
show this old beggar how a large for
tune might be made next New Year's
night."
"Ah I how so?" the donkey in
quired. ' Why, knowost thou not," exclaimed
the ox, "that all the stones that have
been sleeping for a hundred years at
Plonhiuec will be permitted to go down
to the water aud drink at that timet
Aud moreover, what dost thou think
can bo scon when these stones are
away?"
" Eh ?" said the donkey, thoughtfully
shaking his head. " How forgetful old
age makes one I Oh, yes 1 now I re
member, gold and dazzling jewels lieuu
derneath those stones, imbedded in the
earth. But what of that? They cannot
be removed without endangering one's
life; the stones return so quickly that,
should a person be foolhardy enougti to
make tho attempt, he would be crushed
before he could convey his treasures to a
place of safety."
"Aha I" interposed the ox; "not if
he possessed two talismans the cole
wort and a clover with five loaves."
" And likewise, if my memory serves
me," added the donkey, "an immortal
soul must be sacrificed, else all the
treasure would turn to dust."
" Yes, yes," assented the ox. " The
sorcerer should not forget that the evil
one will require of him a Christian
soul."
Thus the ox and the donkey conversed
together until moruing. And the old
man listened to all that wns said, and
thought to himself: "Well, this is
news! Now I'm in luck ! Much obliged
to you, my dear animals !"
By daybreak the beggar arose and de
parted in quest of the colewort and the
tive-leaved clover. This search lasted a
whole week, as he was obliged to go far
into the country, where, the climate be
ing warmer, plants kept alwavs erreen.
Just before the New Year he returned to
Plouliinec. He looked much like a
weasel who had effected an entrance into
a dovecote ; for this wicked old sorcerer
had fixed upon the Christian whose sold
was to lie given the poor worthy Ber
nec. Strange to relite, tho first person
whom the beggar spied, on reaching the
moor, was this good youth. Ho stood
before tho largest stone upon the heath,
and was busily engaged in carving there
upon a largo cross.
"God help you!" cried tho old r.or
cercr, with a treacherous smile. " Do
you intend to make a home for yourself
in that great stone yonder?"
" No," ouswered Borneo ; " but hav
ing nothing at present to do, I thought
I would carve a cross on this unholy
stono, that Gal might look down kindly
on my work, and sooner or later remem
ber me."
" Ah ! have you any request to make
of God ?" asked tho beggar.
All christians hove a soul to save.
the young man replied, in a serious tone.
" And have you nothing to ask of Him
iu regard to llosa ?" urged the other.
Borneo was silent for a moment. At
last he exclaimed:
" Then you know all. Well, if I am
poor, it is no sin love .Rosa. Mar
cinne, however, would never take as a
brother-in-law one who has fewer pen
nies thau he has dollars."
" But what if I should givo you as
many pounds as he has pence 1" said the
old man, in a subdued voice.
"You?" cried Bernec, somewhat dis
concerted. " Yes, even I," the beggar calmly re
peated. " And what do you desire in return?"
asked Borce?.
The other answered: "Only a place
iu your prayers."
But will the performance of the task
that you will givo me interfere with my
soul's welfare ?" inquired Bernec, etili
distrustful of the beggar.
"No; it will require only courage,"
was the reply.
Hearing this, Berneo dropped his
chisel, aud impetuously cried: "Tell
me what I shall do ! I would risk my
life a hundred times to gain liosa at
last."
" Listen to me, then," said the beg
gar, speaking in a mysterious tone.
The youth was all attention. He heard
the story of the journey of the stones to
the river, but not of their destructive
return; lie was told about the hidden
treasure, yet naught of the dangers that
attended its removal; and, furthermore,
as you may well suppose, he learned
nothing from the perfidious old man of
the blood that must flow the price of
the gold. Bernec, sure that God would
protect him, determined to act accord
ing to the old beggar's advice.
" Old man, I call Heaven to witness,"
cried he, that I will avail myself of
this opportunity, and also aver that you
have a claim upon me which I shall never,
never forget. Only leave me now to
finish this cross, and at the appointed
time I will be with you."
Berneo kept his word. An hour be
fore midnight he was on the spot. The
beggar was also uhere, furnished with
three large bags, one of which he held
iu his hand, while the two others wore
slung over Ids shoulders.
Berneo aud the beggar remained there
iu silence for nearly an hour, the youth
thinking the while of llosa and his good
fortune ; the exultant old sorcerer sat
near, gloating over the kindly face of
his victim.
Suddenly a loud rumbling aud clatter
was heard on the moor. Midnight had
struck, and the stones had awakened
from their long sleep. Over and over
they shook themselves, then rolling
from their beds, started for the river pell
mell, like drowsy giants, making their
way over the heath.
Thus they moved along on their er
rand under the light of the stars, and at
last were lost from sight.
In a twinkling the beggar was on his
feet and hastening with great rapiditr
to the moor. Even Berneo could hardly
keep pace with the old man, who seemed
to have acquired on the moment the
power and agility of youth. When they
reached the heath Berneo uttered a cry
of astonishment, and devoutly crossed
himself. In every bed which a stone
had occupied was a hollow filled to the
brim wth gold, silver, and very precious
jewels. They glittered and sparkled in
tho starlight like dew in the sunshine of
a summer's morning. The old man
at once commenced filling the sacks that
he had brought. Berneo had only the
pockets of his jacket. He had stored
away all that he could in these recepta
cles, and the beggar had well-nigh filled
his bags, when a rushing noise was
hoard iu the distance, like the roar of an
advancing hurricane. The stoue3 had
drank, and were coming back I On they
came, flying at their utmost speed, aud
sweeping down every thing before them.
Bernec looked up and cried : "Wo are
lost!"
" I am not," said tho sorcerer, waving
tho protecting talismans. "These will
save me. But thou must die ! Had 1
not tho soul of a Christian at my dis
posal, I should not be permitted to bear
off these treasures. Thy evil star con
ducted thee to me. Forgot llosa
think of thy doom 1"
As tho stones drew near the old beg
gar held up his talismans, and directly
they gave way on either side. Bernec's
life was now in great danger. He sank
upon his knees, and closed his eyes.
But the largest stone of the number
now dashed forward aud planted itself
in front of Bernec. At this unlooked-for
reprieval tho young man raised his head.
Tho stono before him was tho ouo on
which ho had carved the cross. Thus
consecrated, it had no power to harm a
Christian. It now served as a shield for
Bernec until the other stones had re
gained their places. Then, leaving its
post, it skimmed over the ground like a
bird. The old sorcerer, dragging along
his threo heavy sacks, was directly in its
way. The stone kept on, swerving
neither to the right nor to the left. Iu
vain the sorcerer held out his talismans ;
the stone, now a Christian, was proof
against every unholy charm. Bernec,
oft reviving from the Rtupor into which
he had fallen, saw that the stone had
passed over and crushed tho beggar, and
was now settled in its accustomed place.
When the youth had recovered from
his bewilderment he immediately appro
priated to himself the contents of the
three sucks that lay by the liteless form
of tho wicked old beggar. He thus be
oamo the possessor of great wealth, and
Marcinne, well pleased, gave him his
sister's hand, so that there was no longer
any drawback to the happiness of the
worthy youth.
On the following Christmas the old
donkey and the lean ox talked a long
time togpther about the gay and bril
liaut festival that attended tho marriage
of Bernec aud llosa.
Old Time Detectives.
A New York paper speaking of tho in
efficiency and corruption of the detec
tives of the present time relates this
anecdote of a detective of the last genera
tion : One of our banks kept losing
money, only in small sums, yet the loss
was constant and mysterious. A cele
brated detective was called in. " Let
everybody leave the directors' room,"
he said. " Send in everybody, ouo by
one, who has had a chance to steal."
So tho president, the cashier, the tellere,
tho bookkeepers and clerks had a private
interview with tho detective. Every
ouo iu the bank knew the pur
poso of the visit, and all but ono
wero slightly nervous and uncomfortable
under the searching questions of the
chief. The last who entered was a
nephew of the president. He walked in
cool, unembarrassed and indifferent, and
with au air that said "proceed." He
was dismissed as wqjl as tho rest. The
detective said not a word, left the bank,
and in one week returned. He had been
shadowing the president's nephew. In
a clear, fair hand, was written out the
whereabouts of the young man for tho
past six days, the company he kept,
what he drank, the hours he spent on
the road, his night orgies, and all his
movements by night and by day. No
body in the bank knows to-day that the
piesident's nephew was tho thief. That
his health was not good, that he was
traveling in Europe, and that his place
in the bank was filled by another, was
well known. The bank was saved from
robbery, the family from dishonor, the
detective commended for his skill and
prudence, and was all the happier for a
check of 81,000.
A Change of Taste.
" Samuel Day, your smartness will
strike iu some day and be the death of
you I" was the greeting of his honor of
the Detroit police court.
Samuel stood ou one leg and looked
foolish, ond the court continned :
" You were here a month ago, aud
your breath smelt of onions so terribly
that I hustled you out without regard to
the interests of justice. You havo re
turned with the same odor about you,
expecting the same results, but, ah ! my
boy, my taste has undergone a radical
change. In four short weeks I have
learned to love the odor given out by the
shiny onion, and I welcome you here 1
If time allowed I would like to have
you stand there all day and breath at
me; but it won't, and I shall have to
send you to join the procession which
keeps lock-step while marching to
meals."
" Whad di do ?" inquired the prisouer.
I can't look up your history just
now, Samuel. You have beeu here for
wife beating, drunkenness, and Jupiter
knows what else. The charge this time
is disturbing the peace, and I know that
if there was any to disturb you are
guilty. Go iu and sit down and chew
away on your onion, and be glad mat l
didn't make the sentence six months."
A California butoher has found an
Indian arrow head well imbedded ia the
liver of an ox.
Relation of Dwellings to Health.
Dr. Efcia M. Hunt, of New Jersey,
read a paper before the American Pub
lic Health Association on the " Relation
of Dwelling Houses to Health." In
modern houses, he thought, the circula
tion of air was too much impeded.
Foundations that should be made porous
became house-dams to keep back the
Eressure of water from without, or the
asements became literally drains, fatal
to health, and breeding fungoid spores.
He censured whitewashing and calci
mining, as processes inferior to painting,
and objected to partitions between front
and rear rooms and intermediate closets
without transom windows permitting of
currents of air being passed through
from front to rear. Basement halls
were but reservoirs for unsuitable air, to
be conveyed by stairways and passages
to the upper floors, and the time was
anticipated when a cheap and simple
form ot elevator would do away with
stairs altogether, and give more freedom
for basement ventilation. Fireplaces
should also be mado available for venti
lation. Porosity iu . building materials,
that would admit atomized air while ex
cluding draft, was insisted on as a pro
requisite. A plan was given in which
the stairways communicate with tho
building at all tho stories from a rotunda
outside, and tho halls are utilized for
airiug aud warming, from the roof as
well as from the front and rear. Tho
importance of roofs in city houses, as
available for sunlight and sun heat with
in, was insisted upon. We uro to get
the house in all its appointments into a
state which, as to its construction, shall
conserve health and not make us so en
tirely dependent for inside appliances.
While we are not able in this life per
fectly to Iteep all' the sanitary com
niandents, it is woll to know them, that
wo may be able to comprehend them.
Wo are building worso thau we know,
and able to build better than we do.
Modern science can upbuild enduring
health as well asenduriug structures. Our
houses are too often organized obstacles
to the public weal. " Sweet home " has
more than poetio significance. Healthy
homes have more to do with valid citi
zenship and national destiny than rulers
ponder. Tho blessings which belong to
pbilanthrophy and hygiene bo upon
those who conserve the welfare of tho
American household.
Winter Shoes for Ladies.
Twenty years ago it was no uncommon
thing to see a lady walking on snowy
and wet pavements in shoes of prunella
with the thinnest of soles. About that
time a lady for now mauy years one of
our foremost fashion writers, determined
to wear arid writo sensible shoes into
fashion. Gradually her examplo aud
her teachings won disciples and imita
tors. Now in New York in tho winter
season cloth shoes are never scon unless
as a badge of poverty, and rarely are
they seen even in the summer time.
Thick-soled kid, morocco and pebble
goat for street wear have long been
worn. Within a year or two an advance
has been niadecven from thi:, and now
ladies are wearing on the street boots of
calfskin lined with flannel or kid, with
broad Scotch soles and broad low heels.
11 the skirts aro woru long, over even
these shoes should be worn a pair of
neatly-fitting waterproof gaiters, to
keep tho ankles free from dampness.
Thus shod, rubbers, except in very wet
walking, are unnecessary. For carriage
wear very handsome and comfortable
shoes are made of quilted beaver, lined
with flannel and edged with fur. Ia
very cold weather everybody who can
afford them wear arctics. Any ingenious
woman can make a pair for herself with
little trouble. Let her cut a pattern to
fit over her shoe, and with this as a
guide cut out the uppers from whatever
pieces of thick cloth sho may have in the
house. An old felt hat will furnish ma
terial for the soles, and over the shoe
when it is done rubber sandals may bo
nicely fitted and sewed. -If those shoea
aro made to button high up above tho
ankle, they will prove a great protection
to the lower extremities, in snowy
weather, aud when their value is once
known will be considered indispensable.
For house wear slippers aro not suita
ble from September until June, unless
one is confined to the house all the time
and remains in a uniform temperature.
Cloth and kid boots may very properly
be substituted for calfskin and pebblo
goat wheu one comes in from the street.
If the hand were kept as constantly and
thickly covered as tho foot is, how sus
ceptible it wou'.d be to every change of
temperature ! The removal of a thick
warm shoe and putting on a thin slipper
in its stead has often laid the founda
tion of permanent and incurable. disease.
Tribune.
Making Christmas Presents.
A very old practice and one still re
spected is that of giving presents. The
practice is as old as the visit of the three
kings, Melchior, Jasper, and Balthazar,
to tho manger. How pleasant this cus
tom is can be attested any day. Stop at
any street cornor during Christmas week
aud watch the crowds that hurry past,
They are hastening to spend money, not
to make it, and their countenances plain
ly indicate how much pleasure there is in
planning the innocent deceits and gay
: i - i i t.
HurpriaeB wuicu auu ho mucn to every
Christmas gift. And the joy with which.
on Christmas eve, the mothers steal at
midnight to fill their darling's stockings
as they dangle from the mantlepiece is
only equal by the breathless delight
with which in the early morning their
children patter barefooted over the floor
and feel, for they cannot yet see, to tho
uttermost stocking toe to discover what
banta (Jlaus has brought them. Fortu
nately as much Christmas happiness can
be bought with a little money as with a
great deal. The child is not particular
about tho costliness or its playthincrs.
and with his elders it is the act of giving
as a proof of remembrance and affection
which is or ought to be, more valued
than the gift itself.
He Will He Will. Every Son of
Malta will remember the interesting part
of the ceremony of the order as follows :
" Will you lie in wait for the ememy of
our noble order and steal upon him un
awares?" "1 will." Omnes " He will
he he will steal."
THE CATTLE DISEASE.
A Herri of Over Two Hundred Until Nearly
Destroyed by Organic Poison.
Prof. James Law's report on the cat
tle disease on the farm of .James W.
Wads worth, near Avon, N. Y., shows
that tho herd, consisting of 277 cattle,
was brought from Canada, and all did
well until suddenly five died, and other
cases of death followed at tho rate of
from three to eight a day. The symp
toms are described in detail, as well as
the condition of the bodies after death.
Tho manager of the farm and two Ger
man workmen who opeued several oi tne
carcasses, suiTereu from malignant pus
tule. The first symptoms in all three
were tho eruptions on tho hand of small
papule, which increased to a vesicle,
burst aud dnod up. while a new crop ap
peared around the point of desiccation.
iho two older men. aired from thirty to
forty, had considerable erysipelatoid in
filtration of the hand and arm, with high
fever, nausea, great languor aud mus
cular pains. They ultimately did well,
however. It was evident that the devel
opment of these malignant symptoms
was from inoculation from the diseased
cattle.
Tho professor then goes on to show
that the cattlo suffered from organic
poison, having been Drought in a wretch
ed condition to tne luxuriant grass bot
toms of the Genesee valley, under which
was a subsoil of impervious clay, and
over which the river flowed hi the
spring, There was no artificial drain
age, and the water escaped by evapora
tion only. The contrast in temperature
between day and night also aggravated
the disease. The report adds :
The most universally acknowledged
causes of tho malady in animals are :
irlothora, or a state of the blood highly
charged with organic element? ; an im
pervious soil or subsoil; a very rich sur
face soil; inundations ; a period of heat
and dryness calculated to foster decom
position of organic matters to a great
depth in the ground, and a great con
trast between the day and night temper
ature, and in this case all combined to
produce one of the most malignant
types of the disease. It may be added
that while this affection is communicable
to all animals by inoculation, it can
scarcely be said to spread iu any other
way, and it is therefore to be looked upon
as essentially an enzootic disease. We
must go to such places as tho inun-l
dated margins and deltas of largo rivers,
dried up lakes and marshes of the rich
and pestilential Russian stoppes, to find
any approximation to the disastrous out
breaks in man and beast which blacken
the history of past ages.
Une hundrod of the best steers were
turned on a higher pasture with a grav
elly subsoil, two died, and tho rest made
a prompt and permanent recovery.
Revenue of the United States.
The actual receipts to the United
States treasury from all sources, from
Juno 30, 1801, to June 30, 1871, exclu
sive of loans and treasury notes, was as
follows: Customs, 1,5173,710,367.91.;
internal revenue, 31,950,323, 723.S0 ;
direct tax, SU, 810, 189. 37 ; pnblic
lands, $22,151,958.02 ; ' miscellaneous,
8230,084.982.9-1 premium on loans and
sales of gold coin, $192,557,117.40 ;
total, $1,395,638,341. Beginning with
the year 1866, there has been a continu
ous repeal, gaining year by year, of such
iuternal taxes as were most opproiisivc,
or at least as give rise to most complaint,
until at present few subjects of taxation
remain. The taxes are now levied upon
distilled spirits, fermented liquors,
manufactured tobacco, snuff, and cigars;
upon articles embraced in schedule,
upon such occupations, upou banks,
checks, deposits, circulation, aud capital
of banks. Iu a table exhibiting the
sums collected during the several fiscal
years from 18C7 to 1875, inclusive, it ap
pears that dnring the year ending June
30, 1874, collections were $102,644,746.
98, while the collections for the year
ending June 30, 1875, were $110,545,-
154.23. The collections for tho former
years were, in consequence of the duties
repealed from year to year, less than any
single year since the system went into
operation, except the first 1863 when
tho collections were $41,003,192.93. The
increaseof 1874-5 is duo in part to tho
increase of duties laid upon distilled
spirits, manufactured tobacco, cigars,
and cigarettes, and in part to the taxes
collected under the laws repealed, extra
ordinary efforts having been put forth to
collect the delinquent taxes due from
banks and bankers, railroads and other
corporations, and taxes duo on incomes,
legacies, and successions. Tho receipts
under the act of March 3, 1875, up to
and inclusive of June 30, 1875, from the
dmorout articles subject to an increased
tax, which were distilled spirits, cigars,
cigarettes, and manufactured tobacco,
were $3,203,818.85.
Keep the Pot Dolling.
The French have what is called the
pot au feu an iron pot kept constantly
upou the nre, into which is put from day
to day all the wholesome remnants of
food, meat and vegetables, which in the
United States are thrown away. All of
these are put into the pot au feu, water,
seasoning aud fragrant herbs are added,
as required, and the constant simmering
a solvent for even the toughest of
Texan beef extracts eery particle of
marrow even, and the bones come out as
clean and white as if they had been
bleached for years in the sun. This ex
plains what a writer meant when he
wrote of the forty millions of France
living on what the forty millions of
America throw away. The French live
twice as well as our farmers.
A Mlsfortnne.
A young man living in Halifax, N. S..
is the victim of a singular misfortune,
which may result in the loss of his life.
Picking his teeth with a straw, a piece
of it lodged between two teeth in such
a manner that he could not get it out. It
annoyed him for some days, but ot last
the pain ceased and he found that the
straw had worked under his 'tongue,
where it soon began to cause pain, and
finally resulted in the tongue becoming
swollen and inflamed, while , symptoms
similar to those of diphtheria appeared
in his throat. He at once sought medi
cal advice, but his case is considered
very critical.
A Fu'tire Millionaire.
Tho boy stopped a Reading Eagle re
porter on Bingatnnn street and asked
whether there was not " some ono to
home that wanted a few toys." The
little vendor had a well-worn basket and
in it was a variety of toys, not exactly
rude in shape, but which were evidently
not made by expert hands in a regular
toy manufactory.
" Whero did you get your toys ?" was
asked of the youug merchant.
" Well, sir, we makes 'em to home,
pop and me, and I sells 'em, and gets
what I kin for 'em."
" What's your name and where do you
live, and how long have you been in the
business?"
" We used to live up iu Locust alley,
but wo moved now over into Irishtown.
Been livin' there two days already but
gittiu' tired of it. My name's Sam, and
pop's name's pop, that's all the name I
knows 'xoept Wilby. We's related to
all tho Wilbys in Lancaster county and
down near on to York. Been livin' in
Roadin' over a year now. Pop got out
of a job at laboriu' and we whittle .out
these 'ere toys at night an' I sells 'em
durin' the day. Keeps pop in and
amounts to somethin' in the end."
Many of the toys were mado of pine
wood and glued together. Tables,
chairs, rocking-chairs, chests, bedsteads,
cradles, boats and a variety of knick
knacks of that kind wero in the assort
ment. Then there were other toys that
had been bought at the notion stores,
consisting of tin whistles, cups and
saucers, wooden animals, trees painted
ed and green, tops, little doll babies
and other things to numerous to men
tion. " Where do you sell your goods?" was
asked.
" Well, I kep off iu tho back streets
and watch whenever I see little girls go
into a house. Some day I'm goiu' to bo
a rich man and pop says to me that some
of the rich merchants iu Readiu' first
started ont by luggin' around a basket
sellin' tapes and pins."
"How much can you average a day
profit?"
" That depends ou tho day and what
luck I got. Yesterday was- election day
aud I got iu fifty-seven cents. Some
days I get ninety cents, aud last Satur
day I had one dollar aud ten cents.
That's big, but it don't come often. I
don't care, though I just so I get along.
I'm goiu' to be rich some day. No
driuk.3 for me. I don't chew and I dou't
smoke, and I don't spend no money.
I'm goin' to commence at the savin's
bank soon, if times brisks up. Then I'm
goiu' to hawk around shoe strings,
tapes, soap, indigo blue, balsam de nial
ta, and other stuff what the women
wants. . This sellin' toys is only a start
er. But if times brisk up I am goin' to
commence and make money right."
A Long-Separated Familv Reunited.
A story has just como to light that
reads like a novel. Mr. John Rodman,
a mechanic, was a sufferer by the great
Are of 1800 in Portland, Me., and moved
with his family to Harlem, New York,
whero he had a brother residing a
widower with a small property. Soon
afterward Mr. Rodman wont to Val
paraiso, leaving his wife, son and daugh
ter with his brother. At first he sent
money home, and then his letters ceased.
The brother died, and hi3 little property
was eaten up by lawyers iu tho settle
ment. Tho widow, with her young son
aud daughter, returned to Portland and
became a seamstress. Tho latter part of
1873 an English captain took the son, a
boy of fifteen, to sea with him. The
vessel was wrecked iu the gulf, aud all
were supposed to bo lost. Tho mother
was taken sick, but a physician of Port
land took charge of her and afterward
rendered her much aid.
A short time ago Mrs. Rodman saw an
advertisement in the New York Herald
that if tho wife of John Rodman, form
erly of Portland, would apply to a certain
New York law firm, she would hear of
something to her advantage. Her doc
tor advised her to go to Now York, and
she went with her daughter. There she
interviewed the law firm, aud ascertained
that the husband had failed to hear from
her before she failed to hear from him.
He had been with Myers, tho great
American railroad speculator, and made
a fortune, and wanted his family, if
possible, to join him in New Orleans,
for which placo he was about to sail.
The mother and daughter went to New
Orleans, arriving there a day or two be
fore the vessel by which Mr. Rodman
was expected. While out walking tho
daughter was insulted by a young dandy,
who thought tho two women were un
protected. A young sailor knocked the
dandy into the gutter, and as he turned
disclosed the features of tho long-lost son.
It seems that after his vessel was wrecked
he was picked up by a Norwegian ves
sel and carried to a port iu that country.
Thence he went to Calcutta, thence to
Southampton, and arrived in New
Orleans the day before. A few days af
terward the father arrived, and the
long-separated family wero reunited and
happy.
Where the Sun Does Not Set.
A scene witnessed by sme travelors
in the north of Norway, from a cliff ele
vated a thousand feet above the sea, is
thus described:
At our feet the ocean stretched away
in silent vastness; the sound of its waves
scarcely reached our airy Tookout; away
in the north, the huge old sun swung
low along tho horizon, like the slow beat
of the pendulum in the tall clock of our
grandfuther's parlor corner. We all
stood silent, looking at our watches.
When both hands came together at
twelve, midnight, the full round orb
hung triumphantly above the waves, u
briduo ef gold running due north, span
ning the water between us and iiim.
There he shone in silent majesty, which
knew no setting. Wo involuntarily took
off our hats; no word was Baia. com
bine, if you can, the most brilliant sun
rise and sunset you ever saw, ana tne
beauties will pale before the gorgeous
colonne which now Ut up tb.e ocean,
heaven and mountain. Iu half an hour
the sun had bwuiut ud percepiibly on
bis beat, the colors cLunged to tiiose of
morning, a fresh breeze nppled over the
flood, one songster after another piped
up in the grove behind us we had slid
into another day.
Items of Interest. O
Reckless ship captains are mOt apt to
be wrecked. '( ' ,
A wifo who has her own will may ono
day find fault with hor husband's.
None but cowards habitually color
their beards. Tho bravo dyo but onco.
A Philadelphia girl has broken her
engagement, becanso her lover "mado
fuu of the Centennial."
Whero there's a will thero'u a way.
But where there's no will, the heir at
law has it all his own way.
You will frequontly hear a msn say
that ho does not like pastry, and yet he
has a finger in everybody's pie.
The newest envelope for fashionablo
people opens like a book and requires a
seal or monogram as big as a heu's egg.
It would bo well enough to have a few
more Doctors of Laws. Most of the
laws in this country aro ailing half tho
time.
It is said there are more lies told iu
the sentence: "I am glad to see you,"
than in any other six words in the Eng
lish language.
Miss Ida Demorest, whom the Grand
Duke Alexis considered the handsomest
woman in tho United States, has mar
ried a Nebraska dootor.
M. Quad's new book, " Quad's Odds,"
is selling even better than the publishers
anticipated. Quad is tho fuuniest mau
that ever handled a pen.
It is demonstrated that the weight
of the earth is 5,855,000,000,000,000
tons, yet some people think they tilt it
up whenever they walk abroad.
A court in Indiana has recently de
cided that there is no limit to the num
ber of persons whom a girl may sue,
simultaneously, for breach of promise.
Merchants yon should never lot
Your advertising red ;
Your big white hands wore never made
To, hang into your vest.
A London custom house officer says
that his experience convinces him that
women as a rule would rather smuggle
their gloves and other knick-knacks than
receive the same as a present free of
cost. .
A youug woman who inquired iu a
Lebanou (Ind.) bookstore for "Good -'
Morals and Gentle Manners," was in
formed by the proprietor that he didn't
have 'em, as there was no call for 'em
nowadays.
This is the kind of weather that makes
the dashing young man wish that instead
of spending a dollar and a half for that
massive diamond pin last Bummer, ho
had judiciously invested it in a pair of.
wiuter drawers.
"You're ol ways off at nights, Lean-
der," said Mrs. Spilkins reproachfully
the other evening. " Yes, my dear,"
replied Spilkins. ' You'll remember
even when I first proposed, you con
sidered me a pretty good offer.
The stove was cold,
The kettle wouldn't boil,
Ho she tilled the can
And put on a little oil.
Gone to meet the man who blew out tho gas.
It is very desirable to be a good-.
reader. A clergyman is said to have
once read the following passage from
the Bible with the emphasis and pauses
thus : " And the old mau said unto his.
sons, saddle me the ass ; and they sad- '
died him."
A Canadian journal makes the ro
markable suggestion that the ground in
which Guibord's .body is to bo buried
be enrsed only to the depth of four feet;
because the new grave will be mado di
rectly over that of Mme. Guibord, who
was a " good Catholic."
It was a diplomatic husband who pro
tested to his wife: " My dear, if it
doesn't make any difference to you,
don't say brute' and ' dolt 1' Uso terms
milder, if not less incisivo. If I must
have curtain lectures, let them at least
be damask curtain ones."
Robert Collyer in his lecture told this
story: He was at a children's party ono
Christmas eve, and on seeing a little boy
sitting in one corner who was not danc
ing, he approached him, and asked him
why ho did not join the others and dance.
"I'm not danthing," said the boy
solemnly, " because I don't think dan
thing ith the great end of life."
The Hindoo Holy Books forbid a
woman to see dancing, hear muHic, wear
jewels, blacken her eyebrows, eat daiuty
food, sit at a window, or view herself in
a mirror, during tne absence oi iier
husband ; and allows him to divorce her
if she has no sons, injures his property,
colds him, quarrels with another
woman, or presumes to eat before he
bos finished his meal.
Nelson was made au admiral in tho
British navy in a peculiar manner. He
was only a captain at the time, and fifty
third on the list. The government had
guessed that he was a man of great
abilities and wanted his services. Ac
cordingly fifty-three admirals were
named, of whom fifty-two were at once
placed on half pay, and the hero of
Trafalgar came to the front.
It is interesting to learn, through the
testimony given at the inquest ou an
Indian in Manitobo, just how the
Indians there are supplied with whisky.
This individual went into the store, aud
without saying anything, laid some
money on the floor; then he went out,
and the dealer, happeuing around there,
found the money, picked it np, set a
bottle of whisky on the floor, and went
to sleep. Shortly the Indian chanced iu
there again, lound tne wnisKy, stole w,
drank it, and died.
The Vote of Cities.
The State cf Ohio would have gone
Democratic, and Gov. Allen would have
been successful in the Lite election, but
for the majorities given to the Republi
can ticket in tho cities of Cincinnati and
Cleveland.
The State of Pennsylvania also would
have gone Democratic, and Pershing
and Piollet would have beeu successful,
but for the Republican majority in the
city of Philadelphia.
The State of New lork would have
gone 'Republican, and the State ticket
of that party would have been successful,
but for the Democratic majorities in
New York and Brooklyn.