WW - -. HENRY PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NIL. DESPERANDTJM. - Two Dollars per Annum. VOL. VIII. EIDGirAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUKSDAY, MABCH 14, 1878. 4- i i .i i . i . .. - .. i ... - i .1. ,i ,. i - i ... i.. . I-- i i- .-. ii i.- , .i , i . , . i. i. - I., - i .-i . i A " ' " ' "" " " ' i v A I if V ( I I . i 1 X I ft i r .. r i Good Times." Two happy words like far-off chimes Sound cheerily to mom " Good Times." Half-hashed Id distance though they seem, Their peal calls back hope gone astray, And sings of help not far away A daily trust, a nightly dream. Ah when, ah how, shall be f ulSUed This deep doBire, of Ocd instilled ? Hock not the yearnings of our race, The forethought of sotre final good Which first flashed into hnman mood When sword flames blanched the first man s face ! For poet, warrior, saint and king Have served those chimes " Good Times " that ring, In strength of deed and song and prayer; And shall we say that, serpent-like, Man on himself mUHt turn and strike The fangs of death, in last despair ? T)espairing that the earth should know An ending of the reign of woe? Nay, hearken 1 Still that song, " Good Times"! Through n'orm and shine, from sea to sea, That music, wrought invisibly, Floats still, to fill all lands and climes. Like bells of churches built for Christ The meek, rejected, sacrificed. The Promised and tse Promiser Like holy bells, this glad refrain Shall greet the coming year again, And set fond hearts with Joy astir. let dream not that the goal is wou, A thousand courses round the sun Have steeped the world in broader light; But woe is me ! look back, look back; The fairest seasons in our track Are but dead leaves, and dim as night. And lo ! where echoing spires arise And kits, to-day, the morning skies, To night the shapes of wrong and alume A quicksand shoal of faces pars And wither from the glare of gas Back to the ild haunts whnce they came. What though the wheo'a of trade go round And strt(s ire filled with jocund sound ? The weather-vane of w rk aud p'ay And gusty grief can make no law; But One' long since the plan foresaw And fashioned.bright or dcrk our day. Ah ! man, your churoh-bell and your praise And all your fortunate-seeming ways Shall scarcely bring yon to the mark ! Of trnth of book and good of gold What worth, unless your heart Bha'l hold The everlasting morning spark ? George P. Lathrep, in Atlantic Month!. Bill and the Widow. " Wife," raid Ed. Wilbur one morn ing, as he But stirring bis coffee with one hi. ml and holding a plum enke on his knee with the other, and looking across the table into the bright eyes of his little wife, ' wouldn't it be a good joke to get bachelor Bill Smiley to take Widow Watson to Barnum's chow next week ?" "You can't do it, Ed.; he won't ask her, he's awful shy. Why, he came by hero the other morning when I was hanging out the clothes, and he looked over the fence and spoke, - but when I shook out a night-gown he blushed like a girl aud went away." " I think I can manage it," said Ed. ; "but I'll have to lie just a little. But, then, it wouldn't be much harm under the circumstances, for I know she likes him, and he don't dislike her, but just as yon say, he's so shy. I'll just go over to his place to borrow some bags of him, and if I dont bag him before I come back, don't kiss me for a week to come, Noll." So saying, Ed. started, and while he is mowing tho fields, we will take a look at Billy Smiley. He was a rather good-looking fellow, though his hair and whiskers showed some gray hairs, and he had got in a set of false teeth. But every one said he was a good old soul, and so he was. He had as good a hundred-acre farm as any in Norwich, and a new house and every thing comfortable, and if he wanted' a wife, many a girl would have jumped at the chance, like a rooster on a grass hopper. But Bill was so bashful always was and when Susan Sherrybottle, whom he was so sweet on, though he never aid " boo " to her, got married to old Watson, he jnst drew his head in like a mud-turtle into his shell, and there was no getting him out again, though since she had been a widow he paid more attention to his clothes, and had been very regular in his attendance at the the church the fair widow attended. But here comes Ed. Wilbur. " Good morning, Mr Smiley." " Oood morning, Mr. Wilbur ; what's the news your way ?" " Oh, nothing particular that I know of," said Ed., ' only Barnum's show, that everybody is talking about, and everybody and his gal ar going to. I was over to old Sockrider's last night, aud see his son Ous has got a new buggy, and was scrnbbing up his har ness, and he's got that white-faced colt of his as slick as a seal. I understand he thinks of taking Widow Watson to the show. He been hanging around there a good dual of late, but I'd just like to out him out, I would. Susan is a nice little woman, and deserves a bet ter mrfifthan that young pup of a fellow, though I would not blame her much either if she takes him, for she must be dreadful lonesome, and then she has to let her farm out on shares, and it isn't half worked, and no one else seems to have the spunk to speak to her. By jingo, if I was a single man, I'd show you a trick or two." So saying, Ed. borrowed some bags and started around the corner of the barn, where he bad left Bill sweeping, and put his ear to a knot hole and lis tened, knowing the bachelor had a habit of talking to himself when anything worried him. Confound that young Sockrider !" said Bill ; " what business has Le there, I'd like to know ? Got a new buggy, bas he ! Well, bo have I, and a new harness, too; and his hoi se can't get sight of mine, and I declare I've half a mind to yes, I will I'll go this very sight and ask her to go to the show with me. I'll show Ed. Wilbur that I ain't such a calf as he thinks I am, if I did let old WatHon get the best of me in the first place I" Ed. could scarcely help laughing out right ; but he hastily hitched the bags on his shoulder, and with a low chuckle at his success, started home to tell the news to Nelly; and about five o'clock that evening they saw Bill go by with his horse and buggy, on his way to the widow's. He jogged along quietly, thinking of the old singing-Bohool days and what a pretty girl Hunan was then, and wondering inwardly if he would have more courage to talk up to her until at a distance of about a mile from the house, he came to a bridge, he gave a tremendous sneeze, and blew his teeth out of his mouth and clear over the dashboard, and striking on the plank, they rolled over the Bide of the bridge and dropped into four feet of water. Words cannot do justice to poor Bill or paint the expression of his face as he sat there completely dumbfounded at his piece of ill-luck. After a while he step ped out of his buggy, and getting down on his hands and knees, looked over into the water. Yes, there they were, at the bottom, with a crowd of little fishes rub bing their noses against them, and Bill wished to goodness that his nose was as close for one second. His beautiful teeth had cost him so much, and, the show coming ou and no time to get an other set and the widow and young Sockrider. Well, he must try and get them some how and no time to be lost, for some one might come along and ask him what he was fooling around there for. He had no notion of spoiling his clothes by wading in with them on ; and, besides, if he did, he could not go to the widow's that night, so he took a look up and dowu the road, to see that no one was in sight, and then quickly undressed him self, laying his clothes in the buggy to keep them clean. Then he ran around the bunk and waded into the almost icy cold water, but his teeth didn't chatter in his head he only wished they could Quietly he waded along so as not stir the mud up, and when he got to the right spot he dropped under the water and came out with his teeth in his mouth. But hark 1 What noise is that? A wngon, and a dog barking with all his might, au t his horse is starting. " Whoa ! whoa ! Stop yon brute, yon, stop !'' But stop he would not, but went off at a spanking pace, with the uufortnnate bachelor after him. Bill was certainly in a capital running costume.but though he strained every nerve he could not, touch the buggy or reach the lines that were dragging on the ground. After a while his plug bat shook off the seat, aud the hind wheel went over it, making it as flat as a pancake. Bill snatched it as he ran, and after jamming his fist into it, stuck it, all dusty and dimpled on his head. And now he fow the widow's house on top of the hill, and what, oh what will he do ? Then his coat fell out and he slipped it on, and then making a desperate spurt he clutched the back of the seat and scrambled in, and pull ing the buffalo robe over his legs, stuffed the other things beneath. Now the horse happened to be one he got from Squire Moore, and he got it from the widow, and the animal took it into his head to stop at her gate, which Bill had no power to prevent, as he was too busy buttoning his coat up to his chin to think of doing much else. The widow heard the rattling of the wheels and looked out, and seeing that it was Smiley and that he didn't offer to get out, she went out to see what he wanted, and there she stood chatting, with her white arms on the top of the gate, and her face towards him, while the chills ran down his shirtless back clear to his bare feet beneath the buffalo robe, and the water from his hair and the dust from his hat had combined to make some nice little streams of mud that came trickling dowu his face. She asked him to come in. No, he was in a hurry, he said. She did not offer to go. He did not ask her to pick up his reins for him, because hs did not know what excuse to make for not doing so hi mself. Then he looked down the road behind him and saw a white-faced horse coming, and at once surmised it was that of Gus Sockrider 1 He resolved to do or die, and hurriedly told his er rand. The widow would be delighted to go of course she would. But wouldn't he come in ? No, ho was in a hurry, he said; and he would go on to Green's place. "Oh," said the widow, "you're goiug to Green's, are you ? Why, I'm going there myself to get one of the girls to help me quilt to-morrow. Just wait a second while I get my bonnet and shawl, and I'll rido with you." And away she skipped. What a scrape," said Bill, r.nd he hastily clutched his pants from between his feet, and wriggled into them, when a light wagon drawn by the white-faced horse, driven by a boy, came along and stopped beside him. The boy held up a pair of boots in one hand and a pair of socks in the other, and just as the widow reached the gate again, he said: "Here's your boots and socks, Mr. Smiley, that you left on the bridge when yon were in there swimming." "You're mistaken," said Bill; "they are nt mine." "Why," said the boy, "ain't you the man that had the race ' after the horse, just now ?" "No, sir, I am not. Yon had better go on about your business." Bill sighed at the loss of his Sunday boots, and, turning to the widow, said: "Just pick up those lines, will you, please ? This brute of a horse is always switching them out of my hands." The widow complied ; he pulled one corner of the robe cautiously down as she got in. "What a lovely evening," she said; "and so warm I don't think we want the robe over us, do we ?" You see she had on a nice new dress and a pair of new gaiters, and she want ed to show them. "Oh, my," said Bill, earnestly, "you'll find it chilly riding, and I wouldn't have you catch cold for the world." She seemed pleased at this tender care for her health, and contented herself with sticking one of her little feet out. As she did so a long silk neck-tie showed over the end of the boot. What is that, Mr. Smiley- a neck-tier "Yes," said he; "I bought it the other day, and I must have left it in the bnf?y Never mind it." Then they went on quite a distance, he holding her band in his, and wonder ing what he should do when they got to Green's; and she wondered why he did not say something rice to her as well as squeeze her hand, why his coat was but toned up so tightly on such a warm eve ning, and what made his face and hat so dirty, until they were going down a little hill and one of the traces came unhitched. and they had to stop. Oli murmur I" ATnlaimnl "Rill "what next?" "What is the matter, Mr. Smiley?" said the widow, with a Btart, which came very nar jerking the robe off his knees. " One of the traces is off," answered he. " Well, why don't yon get out and pnt it on again?" " I can't," said Bill. " I've got that is, I I haven't got oh, dear, I'm so sick I What shall I do ?" "Why, Willie," said she, tenderly, "what is the matter ? Do tell me 1" She gave his hand a little squeeze, and looked into his pale face; she thought he was going to faint, so she got out her smelling-bottle with her left hand, and pulling the stopper out with her teeth, stuck it to his nose. Bill was just taking in breath for a mighty sigh, aud the pungent odor made him throw back his head so far that he lost his balance, aud went over tho low back buggy. The little woman gave a, low scream as his bare feet flew past her head, and covering her face with her hands, gave way to tears or smiles it is hard to tell which. Bill was up in a moment, and, leuniug over the back of the seat, was humbly apologizing and explaining, when, Ed. Wilbur and his wife and baby drove up behind and stopped. Poor Bill felt that he would rather have been shot than had Ed. Wilbur catch him in such a scrape, but there was no help for it now, so he called Ed. to him and whispered in his ear. Ed. was likely to burst with suppressed laughter, but he beckoned his wife to draw up, and, after saying something to her, he helped the widow out of Bill's buggy and into his, aud the two women went on, leaving the men behind. Bill lost no time in arranging his toilet as well as he could, and then with great persuasion Ed. got him to go home witlj him, and hunting up slippers and socks, and getting him wished and combed, had him quite presentable when the ladies arrived. I need not tell you how the story was all wormed out of bashful Bill, ana how they all laughed as they sat around the tea-table that night ; but will conclude by saying that they all went to the show together, and Bill has no fear of Gus Sockrider now. Potter's American Monthly. . Postal Card Troubles. Postal cards are very handy to use and withal a great convenience, but the chances that one of them will fail to reach its destination are much greater than in the case of a letter. This is not because of any fault on the part of the Department but the result of care lessness on the part of the sender. There being no privacy to the cards, and the messages they hear being generally of minor i importance, leads the post-office officials to treat them with little con sideration when once they go astray. " Bushels of them are burnt every m rtrt t It in 4liia3 nifwr " cni.1 n nlanb' Ka mvuvu ju mm vmj , diuu iicia ill IHO Boston post office, recently. "We make no eilort to return them to send ers, but simply, throw them aside." The slips which will consign a postal card to the limbo of the unredeemed are many. Anything (except a stamp) stuck to either side ; failure to put the address on the 6ide designated for it, and the writing of anything except the address on the stamped side, are among them. A good plan is to first address the card and then write the message, Large numbers of cards are daily re ceived at the various offices with no written or printed address in the proper piace. Brains aud Skulls. The average weight of the brain of a fish, compared with the weight of its Doay, is as 1 to 5,bb8; that of a reptile, 1 to 1,321; a bird, 1 to 212; a monkey. 1 to 20; a horse, 1 to 768. The average weight oi the brain of a man, compared with that of his body, is ordinarily as 1 to 50. Cuvier, the celebrated French naturalist, had the heaviest brain on re cord; it weighed sixty-four and one-third ounces. The next heaviest was that of Daniel Webster, which weighed sixty three and three-quarter ounces; aud the next was the brain of Ruloff, the Binghampton (N. Y.) murderer, which turned the scales at fifty-nine ounces. After the death of Mr. Webster it was discovered that his brain was diseased. The cavity of his skull contained one hundred and twenty-two cnbio inches, while the cavity of Ruloif a cranium measured one hundred and twenty cnbio inches. This latter fact is an argument in favor of the theory that, however much the brain may be the organ of in intelligenoe, we cannot judge a man's morality from the weight of his brain or the size of his skull. Professor William Hammond. A Change of Climate. Yesterday morning a -forlorn cricket that had been tempted out of doors by the warm weather of the preceding days was shivering along the streets looking at a cheap second-hand ulsteH and wishing that he were home, when he met a wasp that had been locked out during the fall house-cleaning. "I am almost frozen," said the cricket, "my hands are fairly numb with cold." "Put them in my coat-tail pockets," replied the wasp, cheerfully, "and warm them." The cricket did so, and the wasp im mediately warmed him with the im proved heating machinery located in the after part of liia system. The cricket merely paused to remark that there ap peared to be a cayenne pepper manu factory in the neighborhood, crawled under the plank walk to die, while the wasp, who was fond of his little joke, went away singing merrily, "Come, oome away to the try-sting place." Burling ton JIawkeye. MiirIc at the Farts Exposition. Gen. Torben, United States consul general at Paris, has transmitted to Governor McOormick, commissioner general of the United States to the Paris exposition, full details of the proposed 1 M.,:Ani v ri AUbdlUULlUIIIU UfUDIUM .DOUTni, WIllOU IB to take place in connection with the ex position The invitation to participate in these entertainments has already been accepted by England, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Prussia and other Eu ropean nations. All lists of authors, and, so far as possible, the names of the pieces of musio to be performed, must be sent in as early as the 1st of May. The French commissioner-general, bowever, reserves the right to revise the lists if he shall find it necessary for the purpose of exoluding anything calculated to pro voke political manifestations or to wound national sensibilities. Changes in the programmes or additions to them may alao be made after the 1st of May by permission of the commissioner-general. No applications will be received by the French authorities from individuals or associations, unless presented through their respective commissioners-general. No question will be raised as to the na tionality of the performers. They will be regarded as representing the country under whose flag they are presented. The Grande Salle An Trocadero, which will accommodate nearly five thousand people, as well as a smaller concert room in the same building, Will be placed at the disposal of the performers free of charge. The receipts of each concert will belong to the nation by which it is given ; but from these receipts must be paid all the incidental expenses, except those pertaining to the police arrange ments, which will be assumed by the French government, e Each country must provide for its owu wonts with respect to orchestral or other accompaniments. The musio of living composers cau be presented only by the nations to which they respectively belong, but out of re gard to the exigencies of those countries which have been relatively unproduc tive of music, the works of dead com posers may be selected at will by any nation. Applications will be made for a reduc tion of the rates of transportation for persons and material from the French ports to Paris, and the suspension of the rights of authors and editors will also be requested by the French commissioner general. The maiu objects; (ought in giviug this festival are variety of musical com position, excellence of execution and the expression of character and Bcntiment as translated in music. Tho French au thorities are earnest in the desire that the United States may be represented with an ample programme, New York Jieraid. Facts aud Figures About New York. New York city's population is about 1,200,000. The number of families living in the city is 185,789 ; dwelling nouses, bi.'zw ; nouses containing three or more families are classed as tenements and number 20,000, with a population of 500,000. Of this number 523,198 were born in the United States, while forty different nationalities supply a foreign population of 419,094. During the past year there weie 50,000 mar riages, 85.00U births, and 30.709 deaths, The total value of property within the city limits is set down as 81,101,092,093, paying taxes to the amount of $32,000, 000. There are 489 places of religious wor- suip one cnurcu for every 2,045 of the population. There are 418 Sabbath schools with an attendance of 115.826 pupils. 122,997 children are instructed in the public schools at an expense of nearly 84,000,000. A careful estimate gives ten thousand children living in the directs uncarea lor. Of drinking saloons, licensed and otherwise, there are 7,874, absorbing about $60,000,000 a year, while the total cost of supporting the 4V9 churches is less than 85,000,000 per annum. This would give each boy and girl in the city a capital of 8300 to start life with. To these saloons is chargeable seventy-five per cent, of the pauperism and crime of tue city. xne city authorities the commissioners of public charities and correction require 8500,000 annually to maintain the public institutions the almshouses, hospitals, and prisons. There were 92,830 arrests by the police during the past year. Of the 47,569 persons committed to the city prison, 35,676 were of intemperate nnoiis. The police stations lodge J 185,124 persons ; 22,782 out-door poor were relieved. Aeto York Sun. Au Old Bullfighter's Struggle. The London Times' Madrid corres pondent gives this incident of the bullfights which made a part of the festivities following the marriage of the King of Spain : Casas, commonly called Salamanchino, is a veteran matador, seventy years of age, who. having figured in Queen Isabella's marriage festivities, wished, although ne nod long retired from tho field. to appear in Friday's and Saturday's bullfights. He appeared dressed in blue, embroidered with silver ; his gray l.n;. i 1 i i . i. . , -, ana over nis pure wmte shirt waved long, red cravet On the fourth bull being let loose he advanoed toward the royal box to request permision to encounter it. AU the torreroa cluster ed round him to protect him. The bull is attracted toward Salamanohiuo. who holds his scarlet mantle in one hand and bis sword ui the other. The struggle commences, but Casas is old, he is not firm on his leers, his muscles are not supple, bis arm is not sure. Twice the bull throws him down. He is thought ts be dead, but he is up again and returns to the fight. There is a cry of Fueral ""Bud pocket-hand kerchiefs are waved to stop him : but the obstinate matador wishes to win a last laurel. Fortune however, is, unpropitious ; seven times he attacks the bull, seven times be misses it Ac cording to custom, after seven unsucceBs iui attacks, the bull s Ule is safe, and, shaking its streamers may re-enter the "JToril " amid the applause of the speo ators ; while, on the other hand its un fortunate combatant la bused. FARM, GARDEN AKD HOUSEHOLD. Reason for Vlllane. Sand, unlike clay and muck, lifts no pores for holding water. In sand the r ..... i IV - 1 ' 1 . 1 water is neid Deiween me pornoies , ui clay and muck it is held both between and within. This is why muck and clay shrink by drying, while band does not. A soil to be in the best condition for re ceiving and holding the proper quantity of water for plants should be naiurauy compact, but light at the surface, and firm beneatu. The old custom, taught by early writers, of stirring the surface soil in dry weather to make it take in water from the atmosphere, is all wrong, for soils do not absorb water from the atmosphere except in the form of dew. When a crust is formed upon a sou dj rains, it should be broken up to prevent evaporation, whih is very active through such a crust. But the soil should be stirred very shallow at such times : stirring deeply and often with a cnltivator in dry weather tends to dry ine sou oy exposing targe puriiuun ui m to the drying influences of the atmos phere, but a shallow stirring after a crust is formed is like cutting a lamp- wick just above the oil. The connection is broken in both cases. The best son for conserving moisture is that made of materials which within themselves fine tubes from the top to the bottom, through which the moisture low down can be carried for the use of plants. The poorest soil for holding moisture is that with a fine surface, capable of great evaporation, overlying a loose, coarse sand, incapable of carrying up water to the surface soil ; though such a scil can not dry quite as rapidly after rams as it the bottom soil had a greater capacity for sucking down capillary moisture. Soils ueed plowing and cultivating to keep these capillary tubes active and in order. A dormant soil, like that of an old mow ing field or pasture, is acted upon by every rain, like mason work under the mason's trowel. The chinks in the soil are constantly filling. We should plow to break up this mason work, and to multiply theso water tubes. Professor a. IV. Johnson. l.lve and Pressed Weight of Fowls. In marketing fowls the question some times comes up as to the most profitable mode for selling them whether alive or dead. In order to test this to my own satisfaction I have at different times, through several years, ascertained and recorded the facts bearing on this point. The table below gives the result: DreRsed for Draiwad Percent Percent, for of loss for of logs for I.We weight, lbs. ox. market. cooking, market, cooking. Ibi. C ox. 5 S 6 5 8 8 5 a 12 2 15 12 8 i 10 10 3 IS 4 3 5 15.4 14 8 16.2 15.1 12.5 10.5 15 3 28.8 31.4 29.0 29.4 27 5 24 3 28.8 . C . 7 . 7 .10 . . 6 7... 62 11 45 . 5 88 2 14.2 These fowls were all of the 28.4 light Brahma variety, and most of them young cocks. The loss in dressing for market was probably somewhat greater than is usually the case, as the heads were cut off in order to avoid the barbarous mode of throat sticking, and the wing and tail feathers were also stripped off. At six teen cents per pound alive they would have brought 88.43. To bring this sum dressed, they should sell for 18.56 cents per pound, with, nothing lor the worn oi picking. And dressed, drawn, etc., they should bring a very small fraction over twenty-two cents a pound, also without pay for the extra work. These figures will be useful to some persons who do not raise their own poultry for the table, as they can, by their light, make a pretty close estimate whether it is cheaper to buy chickens " on the hoof " for their tables, or buy of the market men dressed that is, with heads, tails, entrails and wing feathers all thrown in. Dressed in this way, which is the fashionable way, the loss in preparing them for cooking will be more than I have figured it say at least thirty per centum instead of about twenty-eight and one-half, and it may even reach thirty-three or thirty- four. Letter to Country Gentleman. Honaehold Uinta. Finger Marks. Fiucrcr marks may be removed from varnished furniture by the use of a little sweet oil upon a Hoft rag. Patient rubbing with chloroform will remove paint from black silk or any other material. To Remove Spots op Blacking from Carpet. Spots of blacking may be taken from carpets with a mixture of one ounce of powerel borax, dissolved in one quart of boiling water and a small piece of soap, about the size of a walnut, cut fine and dissolved with the borax ; bottle this up, and use to take spots from carpets or clothes. ForPbeparinoLardtoKeepThrough the Summer. To ono gallon of lard put one ounce of sal soda, dissolved in a gill of water. Do not fill your kettles more than half full, for it will'foam and perhaps boil over. No other water is required I ban what t he soda is dissolved in. When it is done it will be very clear, and will keep two years. Strain through a coarse cloth and set away. Soap. Dissolve three pounds sal-soda in two gallons of water ; slack in a firkin three pounds of good quick-lime ; add to it the soda solution ; stir the whole thoroughly with a stick, and add two gallons of boiling water stir again and let it settle ; pour off the clean liquor iu a clean iron boiler placed on the lire, and stir into it six pounds of clarified grease and one pound of powered borax; let it boil slowly until it get ropy, (nbout ten minutes boiling) and pour it into a tub or tight box ; this makes a good hard soap for family use ; after drying a month or so in a dry room, and cut into bars, it is fit for use. Statistics lately made public show the sheep in the various countries noted be low to be as follows: In the United Kingdom in 1876, tnere were 32,252,579 sheep ; in Russia, in 1870, there were 48,130,000 ; in Germany, in 1873, there were 24,999,406 ; in Austria, in 1871, there were 20,103,395; in France, in 1872, there were 24,589,647; and in Spain, iu 1865, there were 22,054,967 showing a total in Europe of about 190,000,000. In Australia in 1875, there were 62,000,000; Cape, 16,000,000; River Plata, 60,000,000 ; North Amer ica, 60,000,000 ; and total, 385.000.000. Turkey, North Africa, Persia, eta, Bay 65,000,000 ; India and China, Bay 35, 000,000. Grand total, 484,000,000. The Story of on Invention. It may not be generally known that an important invention in connection with the manufacture of carpets origi nated as follows: An operative weaver, in one of the largest establishments in this country, was engaged in weaving a car pet that in its finished stage would ap pear as a velvet pile. At that period this description of carpet was woven much in the manner of Brussels, the loops being afterward cut by hand a Blow and costly process. These loops are formed by the insertion of wires of the requisite thickness to form the loop; they are then withdrawn. This weaver whether by cogitation or as the result, of a bright thought came to the conclu sion that if these wires were so construct ed as, on being withdrawn, to cut the loops, thus instantly completing the formation of the pile, it would be a great saving of labor and time, and a great economy. Taking one of the rods, he changed its form to the required shape, ground a knife edge upon it, took it to his looms, and inserted it in the web all the while maintaining strict secrecy and with some degree of excitement watched its weaving down until the moment for its withdrawal. This came, the rod, was drawn out, the loops were cut, and the experiment was a perfect success, the pile ..being cut with great evenness. The weaver, with a shrewdness often wanting in inventors, doubled up the rod anil hid it away, wove down the line of cut loops upon the roll.theu " knock ed off." or stopped his loom, and pro ceeded to the office of the mill, where he demanded to see the principal. The clerk demurred to this, asking if he him self could not do all that was required but no, the Weaver persisted. Then tho manager tried, with the some result onlv the principal would suit the weaver, The employer was informed of the oper ative's persistence in determining to see him ; so he at once ordered mm to be admitted. This was done, and the weav. er stepped into the well furnished and handsomely carpeted office of the manu facturer. His employer addressed him : " Well, John (for so we will call him), " what is it you want?" "Well, maister, I've getten summut yo mun hev," re plied John. " Wodu't yo like a way ut makkin t' loom cut th' velvet piles ?" continued the weaver. " Yes I that I would 1" replied the employer ; " and I will reward any man handsomely who brings me a plan of doing it," added he. " Awm yore mon, then," said the opera tive. "Wod'll yogi' me?" he further asked. After some further conversation a bargain was stmck, and a sum agreed upon, which the weaver should be en titled to claim in the event of his plan for automatically cutting the pile of the carpet being a success. Arrangements were made its trial ; the weaver made his preparations ; the master, the man ager, and one or two confidential em ployees gathered around the loom upon which the experiment had to be made, all others being sent outside the range of observation. The new form of wires were inserted, woven down, and with drawn, leaving a well cut pile upon the face of the carpet. The weaver had won his reward, for it was honorably paid. An annuity of 100 was settled upon him, which he continued to enjoy until within a recent date, and for anything we know to the contrary may be enjoying yet. He retired from the weaving shed, de termined to spend the rest of his clays in ease and comfort. His employer se cured by patent the benefits of his in vention, it being one, among several others, which contributed t place that manufacturing establishment in the fore most rank in the trade, while its owners attained wealth and social eminence as the reward of their prudent enterprise, Textile Manufacturer. Fashion Notes. Ashes of roses is a revived color this spring. Button roses will be the favorite roses this spring. The new beige color is a grayish, greenish brown or drab. The popular color this spriug is beige m numerous shades. Poppies and honeysuckle buds favorite artificials this season. are Bonnets are trimmed with shaded moire and satin-faced ribbons. Roman pearl beads are used in quanti ties for trimming spring bonnets. Pearl fringes and pearl galloons ai e seen among spring millinery goods. Ombre, or shaded moire and satin faced ribbons, are very fashionable. Colored embroidery is appearing oil the broad cuffs and collars for spring wear. Roman pearl beads ore made in shaded colors to match ribbons, and other trim mings. Velvet striped and plush striped grena dine gauzes are used in trimming spring bonnets. Very high Spanish combs in silver filagree, ivory, coral, jet and shell are very fashionable. Low necked sleeveless princess dress es, with long troins and very square cut pompadour corsages are much worn this ball season. The Mercedes coqueterie is a beauti ful improvement on the false fronts which have become so indispensable among the toilet effects of ladies. Ostrich tips, with marabout ends tipped with pearl beads, and with the central stem ornamented with tiny sea shells, are among the novelties in mil linery. The Farmer's Independence. During these times of business fail ures, when men supposed to be million aires, by reverses have become bank rupt, none is so free and independent as the owner and occupier of au unincum bered farm. Financial panics and de pressions may come and go without seriously affecting him. For the pro ducts of the Boil there must be, under all circumstance, a ceaseless and re munerative demand. Out of the numer ous business failures throughout the country, but a small per oentage are those of formers, who, as a rule, go on prospering despite all monetary vicissi tudes and fluctuations. Items of Interest. The mourning color of the Turks ia blue. ' A Lecture Field that no man has yet taken Kate Field. Motto for the Crispins "Strike till the last armed foe expires 1" Thieves in O.uebeo steal the fur caps from the heads of the passers-by. The man who takes the most interest in his business the money lender. The great difficulty in skating is to maintain unanimity among your feet. The rats in an Ohio barn rose in their might and killed the dog that had beeu sent in to exterminate them. There are now 851 manufacturing es tablishments in San Frsnoisco, whoBe aggregate products amount to $62,338, 000. Great Britain has 154,584 acres in or chards, 38,957 acres in market gardens, 12,042 acres in nurseries, and 2,187,078 acres in forest. The Ashtabula accident cost the Lake Shore and Miohigan Southern railway company $483,940, and all the claims on account of the accident have been settled. The worst we ever heard Whut is the difference between a man struck with amazement aud a leopard's tail ? Ono is rooted to tho spot, and the other is spotted to the root. He "By Jove, you know upon my word if I were to see a ghost, yon know, I would be a chattering idiot for the rest of my life." She" Havcu't you seen a ghost ?" The British government has entered into a contract for the supply of a large number of telephones, and the introduc tion of tho new invention into the postal service promises to become general. John Rhodes, an English miser, living at Hounslow, died recently at the age of eighty, leaving $500,000 to various London charities. He dressed like a tramp aud systematically starved him self. Bad luck is simply a man with his hands iu his pockets, and his pipe in his mouth, looking on to see how it is com ing out. Good luck is a man of pluck, with his sleeves rolled up, and working to make it come out right. " Reduced to 87," remarked Jones, as he paRied a fashionable tailor's store and read the above statement promi nently displayed on au overcoat. "That's nothing; I am reduced to a much smaller sum than that myself." You can sell your cat for ten dollars in the Black Hills. It will cost you eighty-fave dollars to get out there with the cat, and get home again, but then you will be rid of the cat, and that is worth one hundred and twenty dollars to any one. r; THE POTATO. I'm a careless potato, aud care not a pin How iuto existence I came ; If they planted me drill-wise cr dibbled me To me 'tis exactly the same. The bean and the pea may more loftily tower lint i care not a Button for them ; Defiance I nod with beautiful flower When t he earth in hoed up to my utein. Thomas Moore. The banyan tree of India is sometimes found to spread out so as to show with one parent trunk three hundred and fifty stems descending, and again taking root in the ground, each stem equaling a large oak tree, while there are thousands of smaller ones. This tree is so expanded as to form a small forest of itself, where in 7,000 persons could stand. An Arkansas shot-gun is sometimes more merciful than an Arkansas hus band. The other day a ruffian, deem ing his long-time bed-ridden wife an incumbrance, undertook to shoot her, but the weapon refused to explode. Then seizing it by the muzzle he was about to dash out her brains, but the stock struck on the head-board of the bed and the contents of both barrels were lodged in the brute's body. A singular discovery lias been made on board the Irvine, a full -rigged vessel, recently in dry dock at Rotherhithe, Londou. The ship had recently arrived from Peru, at which place the body of a woman was found imbedded in the cargo, which consisted of soda. The body is iu a good state of preservation, and is supposed to be that of a victim of au earthquake which occurred many hun dred yenrs ago in Pern. Rings ore in serted iu the ears. Tho Louisville, (Ky.) Argus reoills this about the Htalwar't new justice of the United States supremo court : "The success which has attended the raotiee of General John M. Harlen is argely due to his physique aud endur ance. Iu the great Pullman palace car case he was employed on short notice as one ttf the counsel. He had but a day to post himself and study up the author ities, but he undertook the task. Lock ing himself up in his office with J udge Lochrane, of Georgia, and Mr. George M. Pullman, he examined them thor oughly upon it, grasping all the points, and collecting and arranging his cita tions. For twenty-four hours, during which time his companions alternated between Bleeping and dispensing infor mation, he studied the case, and at the end of that time he hod every point at his fingers' ends, and was as fresh as a daisy." Au Excellent Varnish for Harness. Procure at the druggist's or apothe cary's store half a pound or a pound of gum shellac, according to the quantity desired ; break the scales fine, and put them into a jug or bottle ; add good al cohol sufficient to cover the gum ; cork tightly, and place the jug where it will be kept warm. In about two days, if the bottle or jug is shaken frequently, the gum will be dissolved aud ready for nse. If the liquid appears as thick as thin molasses, add more alcohol. To one quart of varnish add one ounce of good lampblack, and au ounce of gum cam phor. Such varnish will not render leather hard ; but it will keep the har ness from being soaked with water, and it will keep the surface clean and ueat for a long time. A coat of such varnish will effectually prevent the oil in the leather from spoiling one's hands. Noth ing is better to render a farmer's boots waterproof than an occasional coat of this leather varnish. i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers