... . ' ; nn mm n i - - - , " " ' II.M fc. . . I , ....... I - " 11 fe ill ifiiii lilffMk X HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. st NIL, DESPERANDTJM. Two Dollars per Annum. VOL. VIII. MDGrWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA, THURSDAY, AUGUST. 15, 1878. , $0- -1 Baltic Villi Lire." Bear thee np bravely, Strong heart and trne ; ' Meet thy woes gravely, Btrive with them too ! Let them Dot win from thee Tear of regret, Such were a sin from thee, Hope for good yet t House then from drooping, Care-laden soul ; Mournfully stooping 'Neath grief's control 1 Far o'er the glnom that lies, Shrouding the earth, ht fiom ettrnal ikies Bhow us thy worth. " Nerve Ihee yet stronger, Resolute mind i Let eare to longer Heavily hind, Hise on thy eagle wings Glorionsly flee 1 Till from material things Fare thou shaltbe. Bear ye up bravely 8oul and mind too ! Droop not so gravely Bold heart and true Cleat rays of streaming light Bhine through the gloom, God's love is beaming bright E'en round the tomb. DANDY FEKGUSON. THH HRBO OF THE OHAPABAIi SHaTT. I do not believe that Quasimodo was a more pitiably deformed creature, or Quilp a more hidedusly unnatural look ing object, than was Dandy Ferguson when I saw him for tbe flrBt time, that calm summer afternoon, laughing and joking with crowd of boon companions in the cool shade of an awning at Quartz Mountaiu. His face was seamed and distorted by peculiarly glossy scars the ineradicable evidence of close and Ion? coutoct with that shriveling ele ment, fire. His body was bent, and be walked with a sidling movement. He was a cickening spectacle at first sight, suggesting fearful suffering in tbe past, nnd my curiosity in regard to him was th .roughly aroused. " Who is that man?" I asked, accost ing a tall, blue-shirted miner who was t-tanding in front of the post-office. 'Don't you know him?" answered the man; "why, that's Dandy Ferguson. I thought ev'rybody knew Dandy Fer guson." "Why do yovt call him Dandy Fer guson ?" "Because well, because he used to be a dandy a reguler out-an'-out sport. When Dandy Ferguson first came to this camp he was a gilt-edged gentle man, an no mistake. He wore a plug. an' flashed a spark in bis biled shirt- front as big as a peanut. He put on more airs'n a mine superintendent, an most all the boys was down on him from the Mart. That was about -three year ago, an' be came up here from the Bay to git a whiff o' fresh air, an' male na ture an' the pines give bim back what ' be d lost spreein 'round with them stock sharps anil young bloods o 'Frisco. No. he don't 'look like he was more'n half human, that's a fact; bvt I'd rather have them scars o' his than wear tie clothes of the richest man in Californy thet is, ef I'd gone through what he 1 as an' suffered what he did. Proud of Vru I Mister, thar a'n't a man in this yer country no, sir, nor in this yer State as is prouder'n Dandy Ferguson of what other men might grieve over an' ti gh about, an' no man's got a better right to be proud, either. When he fust came to Quartz Mountain he used to purade tbe streets with his nose cocked up so ; he'd hydraulio himself with yatchouly an' smell-water till you couldn't git within a mile of him. " He was a delicate-looking cuss, an' his bands were as soft as a barber's. The boys used to bet that if big Bridget Sul livnn our washerwoman was'to take it into her head to jump him, she'd knock spots out o' him in short order. Thet was our opinion of him when he plaved liis small cards in this yer camp but he bowed down both bowers an the ace Wfoi-A he nnit the came, von bet ver life. D'ye see thet quartz mill over thar on the side hill ? Thet s the Uhaparal Mine, ye know, an' it's thar thet Dandy Ferguson showed us what sand was. One night, about a month after Ferguson got here, somebody out there yelled Fire !' an' the camp turned out. The h'istin' works was in a light blaze, an' the flames ehootin high up in the dark; We all mulled to the spot like a pack o' mad animals you know how a fire stirs men up an' excites 'em. Of course, nobody knowed what to do, an' for a minute we all stood round lookin' at the fire creep in long the eaves, an' the burning shin gles droppin' down the shaft. Purty eoon some oue says: ' What I' kinder sharp an' fierce like. Then there was a little movement in the crowd, an' a man with a face as pale as TJeath sprang away from the mouth of the shaft yellin' fran tic: 'Water! Water! For the love o' God, turn on the water the nifcht shift's in the lower drift. ' There was an' awful agony in thet man's voice; he had jist remembered thet his brother was down there, an' thet the fire under the biler of the engine was banked, thet the cage was too heavy to work by hand, an' the timbers in the shaft pitch pine, an' dry as a bone with great sparks droppin' down like flakes in a snow storm. You've heard how fast a man thinks in times of danger. Jim Blocum thought of his brother, tbe dry timbers, the engine, the oage, an' water, all in a second, but that was all. He didn't hev time to think of tbe fact thet tbar wasn't a bar'l of water within a mile of the mine. Somebody rushed to the tank ther was about a tubf ul there. The fire was playin' round thd biler, an' the engineer hed turned the safety cocks to let thet out. We all rushed ev'ry which way yellin' fur ropes, ladders, anything as ef ladder' could reach down about two hundred feet to where tbe men was. They were clean gone with excitement, an' didn't know what to do, an' the fire roarin' and crack lin' like the devil's own blaze, Borne rushed one way an some another, while some of them stood starin' into the hot, black smoke an' aller Are, dHzed, reared, helpless. Quicker 'u it takes me to tell it a man jumped through the door of the histin works an caught bold of the chains. Ilis coat an' bat was gone, an he looked like an angel almost as he swungovt the shaft in his white frilled shirt an' his long yallar hair, tt was dandy Fer guson. He didn't wait for nobody, but jamed a big scantlin' thet two men couldn't alifted, down over the tsliaft. Tht-n ho yelled fur a rope, nn told some near the door to fetch him the ol' win' lass thet was lyln' outside, near the dum my. Ton never see men work like they dM ns soon as ther was a head. Tho rope an' the win'lass was brought into the works on the jump an' fastened to the scantlin', Down went the rope and Ferguson shouting after it. I'm here, boyB, an' I stay till I roast.' Then he grabbed 1he crank, an' spun the rope round the bar'l faeter'n it ever waa rolled before. He used one hand first, an' when she tightened he laid the other on. Si Holden wanted to help him bnt be wouldn't hev no interference. ' Time enough,' says Ferguson, when I drop.' It wasn't long before a half-naked body came up. They got the rope off as quick as they could, draggin' Harry Miller out of the works more deod'n alive, tremblin' like a leaf. They thought at the time thet he was soared at the danger he'd been in an' didn't notice bow much exhausted he was; but they found out afterwards thet he'd played i't down in thet shaft as mean as one man can play it on another at sich a time. Ton see there was five of 'em in the lower drift, an' when the bnrnin' tim bers of the upper works began to drop down they all made a rush for the main shaft. The cage was on an' they couldn't get out till a rope came down. They could see a flicker of light up above, an' yelled till they was hoarse watchin' thet glimmer growin' brighter ev'ry minute, an' knowin' thet the shattin timber'd blaze mighty soon an' cut off all hope of their ever gittin' out. It was a terrible thought nu you can't blame Bill Slocum fur grabbin' the rope as sooa as it dropped down to 'em. Harry Miller jumped 'long side of him, yellin' ' 'Let go, darn ye.let go I They can't lift two of us.' 'Let go yerself,' shouts Slocum, turnin' lound on him like a tiger. " 'My old mother's up there,' yelled Slocum, pointin' up the shaft. " 'My wife's waitin' fur ine,' howls Miller. "An, with thet he knocks Slocum down in the drift an' goes up the rope band over hand before the others could Btop him they'd killed him on the spot ef he hedn't climbed the rope as he did. Served bim right? Kerrect, mister, they'd sarved him mighty well right an' no mistake, but he beat thet game. He'd jiBt strength enough to tie the slack 'round his waist w'en he give way all at -once an' hung to the end of the rope like dead weight, an' Dandy Ferguson a hanlin1 him out o' death. Down went the rope agin, an' Slocum was tied on an' hauled up, Fer guson workin' the win'lass like a giant. The cords stood out on his neck like black-snake whips, an' the sweat poured off of him like a sluice stream. Two Cornishmen stood by him tryin' to make him let them roll up the rope while he rested, but he cussod 'em and told 'em to dry up; he said he was at tbe wheel, an' he'd stay there ef he died fur it. W'en Slocum came up, the fire was all around an' over the win'lass, an' the two Cornishmen grabbed Bill an' carried bim out they couldn't stan' the heat, Ferguson sent down tbe rope agin, an' up come Sam Hildreth,with jist strength enough to make for the door. "The roof over the biler and the pitch on the door-posts was smokin'. Jest as the rope went down fur the fourth time, an' we loafin' round on the outside watchin' Dandy Ferguson standin' there liVe n man at the stake, expectin' every minute to see him drop, an' not a man of us with gumption enough to think what was wanted, a woman rushes into the fiery furnace an slings a wet blanket over the bravest, gamest man in the State o' Californy. " 'Thet's the ticket,' shouts Ferguson. You're a trump, whoever you are, my girl, an' I won't furget ye, live or die.' "An' be didn't. It was Sam Hildreth's sister Maggie, an' w'en she came out o the smoke an' flame with her dress in a blaze, she calls out sharp to the men. "'Keep thet blanket wet. There's water in the tank. I'll marry the fust man tbet throws a bucket of water over Dandy Ferguson I'll marry him ef he's a Chinaman.' "Them's her identio 1 words, mister. The men didn't need no 'further orders, 'cause Maggie Hildrcth was the ban' somest girl in the country, an' the best, an' hed ev'ry young buck fur miles aroun' close at her heels all the time, handicappin' each other for smiles. But her brother Sam saved her from them galoots saved her for a better man, b wetting the blanket himself. About this time the heat was terrible, one man in the drift an' another half-way up, crawlin' f apt enough in ordinary circum stances, but hardly fast enough with death racin' down on his savior at a two forty gait. W'en Jack Harmon came out o' the shaft he stood a minute on the scantlin' swayin' back an' forth like a drunken man, blinded by smoke, an' be wildered, an' ef Ferguson hedn't caught him he'd a gone back agin. Two more of . us hed got in with buckets o' water 'bout all ther was in the tank; but it seemed to dry off as fast as we poured it on, fur the blanket was smokin , W'en the rope went down fur the last time, to haul up Joe Harper, the scantlin' was burnin' an' the upper timbers was begin -nin' to blaze. The whirlin' smoke hid Ferguson from us, but we knowed thet cf he didn't come out soon the whole shebang 'd give way an' bury him; the sides was in a light blaze, an' tbe place where the win'lass stood was the only spot where even Dandy Ferguson could 'a' worked. It must 'a' bin an awful strain on him thet last pull but he never owned it, an' birneby up comes Joe, bravest man in the camp I reckon, barrin' Dandy Ferguson, 'cause you see he wouldn't tech the rope till they'd all been hauled up; he tied every man on except the coward Miller' an' then came through the blazin' shaft, himself, watchin' the little tongues o fire shoot out from the sides ev'ry once in awhile, as if they'd lick the life-thread in two. " As Joe grabbed the upper chains me shaft lit up with a hi a an' a roar, as if the fire was mad at login' its prey. J got out and Ferguson staggered away from the windlass, but his luck went pacK on bim at the last minute. jae stumbled and fell just as he came to tbe tramway at tbe door, an' the whole side of tbe build in' came down on him with a crash. A hundred men forgot danger an' death, an' rushed into the flames, but Miller, the man that played it so sneakin' mean down in the shaft, got to him first and dragged him out. Ev erybody thought he was dead, an'-the crowd cPTied him an' Miller who dropped insensible after he'd got Fergu son out to the camp. But Dandy Fer guson lived through it, though for weeks he lay between life en' death, au' fur months he didn't stir out of a dark room. But there was no lack o' help an' prayers an' faithful nurses to bring him round. No, sir; an' there wasn't a man, woman or child within a hundred miles o' the Chaparal mine thet wouldn't a crawled ou their hands an' knees to watch one hour at his bedside, an' thought it one o' the brightest kind o' honors you can bet yer life an thet. Yes, sir, Dandy Ferguson is a king in this yet country. He can hev anything or do anything he likes. We'd send him to Congress ef he'd go, but he won't. We've got him here, though, au' I guess he'll never leave. I wish I was one o' them poetry writers; I'd write the bulliest poem about Dandy Ferguson you ever read, you hear me ? Yes, he's married. Got married after he came out Talk about weddin's ! That was a weddin'; every body got an invite, an' ev'rybody piled in to see the gamest man in the State tie to the gamest woman on God's foot stool. Who was she? Why, Maggie Hildreth, of course. Who else'd it be, I'd like to know? What became of Harry Miller t Well, thet's purty good. Miller, ye see, came out all right, an' you bet he didn't rest till he'd begged Bill Slocum's pardon fur leavin' him in tbe shaft as he did; but Bill wouldn't have it; said thet Miller'd balanced ac counts by savin' tbe life o' Dandy Fer guson, the man thet saved him. But thet's played.. Yon want to know what's become of him. Well say, look here, mister, I don't like to own it, but I'm the cuss I'm Harry Miller. Interdooce ye to Dandy Ferguson ? Of course I will, an' you 11 never git an interduction to a gamer man, or one it's more honor able to know. An', mister, ef ye ever tell about the Chapparal shaft, an' how Dandy Ferguson stood by thet win'lass in the red hot histin' works, jest throw it in somewhere tbet he's better'n four kings in this camp it'll top off the story fust rate, an', besides, you bet it's no more'n the solid truth." The Bonanza "Boss." A Paris paper says: Who is the rich est man in the world is no longer an enigma ! It was only fit that Paris should this year number among her guests Mr. John William Maokay, of Virginia City, United States, and that its Exposition should be visited by the most powerful representative on record of the kingdom of gold and silver. Born in Dublin in 1835, Mr. Mackay went to America when quite a youth, and was first employed in a large ship-building house in New York. Toward the end of 1852, soon after the discovery of gold, he sailed for California in a vessel built by his late employer, and reached there in winter of that year. Having a natural inclination for everything connected with mining, he immediately adopted it as a profession, meeting with all the hardships and ups and downs that are part and parcel of its wages. Commenc ing his career in Sierra county, where he remained several years, he at length made a raise," and started for Virginia City. Here his funds ran out, and he worked for some time timbering the Mexican mine at $4 a day. As a charac teristic of the man, it is stated that about this period Mr. Mackay was fre quently saying that if he could only get together $25,000, to make the declining years of his dear mother comfortable, his greatest ambition in life would be attained. Beset by various changes of fortune he ultimately, in 1863, became associated with Mr. T. M. Walker, and to this firm was added, in 1865, Messrs. Flood and O'Brien; remaining so until 1868, when Mr. Walker retiring, Mr. Fair replaced him. The stupendous wealth of these four enterprising men then became manifest. They having se cured the Hale and Norcross, one of the Bonanza mines, were enabled to procure others, finally purchasing the Consoli dated Virginia ground for about $80,000. Further acquisitions of territory resulted in their obtaining that marvelous deposit of ore known as tbe Comstock lode. With their constantly increasing capi tal, and the active and incessant efforts made by Mr. Mackay and bis partners, the wonderful Bonanza mines were eventually opened to the astonished world. Mr. Mackay has three -eights of the profit derived from them, and yearly adds to his overflowing exchequer the almost fabulous sum of 60,000,000 francs (912,000,000.) This is calculated to bring him in exactly 125 francs (625) per minute 7,ouu francs i,ouu) an Hour, and 8180.000 francs (836.000) a day. Little over 42 years of age, Mr. Mackay is still in the prime of life, has a hand some, commanding face, splendid phy sique, and fine presence, and, whether among his miners, in the society of the elite, or in the bosom of his friends and family, we view in the Boss " of the "Big Bonanza" all those attributes which go to make up the thorough man and the courtly gentleman. Fireproof Clothing, mv RioWtrnth. nf Dresden, has been experimenting with a view to find some cbeup substance mac wouiu provcm ladies doming rrom DurniDgwuu utuue. Wioi cninfinnn of. alnm were not satis factory, but a five per cent, solution of phosphate of ammonia proved quite 1 tin a imnreenated clothes did not burn with flame, but were merely - i . T destroyed by carDomzauou. solution containing five per ocnt phos phate of ammonia was tried on linen and woolen stuffs. . Here, too, there was no burning. The stuffs treated with phos phate of ammonia did not even burn when they had Deen vigorously ruuwu ThA nnwder flashed. but left the stuffs unoonsumed. Ine clothes lose their incombustibility, how ever, by getting wet or being washed. It is a disadvantage, too, that they can only be worn in certain piaueo. TIMELY TOPICS flirpA Arm Irmrtft of silver dollnt-aHrArn lately drawn to tbe United States treas ury in San Francisco. The entire value was only $300,000. fclir dfllrnil dtM : I. uiiiuou ivy o " . no had ever been in the western metropolis before: "Yes, I was here thirteen years ago. I had a linen ausier, and a railroad pass. I was not interviewed then." rPViA nltanr man llAR HftATi trail a a1 Alio i vat-c iumu fjHiuDir;il WJ his fathers. He was a German, living in oeiunauscn, ana wbb ij years old when he died. His life had been a pro- iracieu ouruBBio wim wmnj, ne leu two sons, sixteen grandchildren and 848 greai-granaonuaren 10 mourn nis loss. The Japanese government, which is making rapid strides towards modern civilization, has just awakened to the necessity ot preserving Its forests, ahd stringent regulations have been passed, which shall not only hinder the too rapid destruction of the forests, but increase the area oavered by woodlands. A lmTA tumnonLTiM f pta Ira. K1 ,1 A uuv I - rrmmo umu AJ- cently in the Crystal Palace, London, under the auspices of the Band of Hope Union, which embraces about 8,000 societies, and a membership of nearly 600,000. It is estimated that 60,000 persons attended the fete, and a cricket matjh and a balloon race were among the attractions. A bread fruit tree is now acclimated and in healthy bearing ia the capital grounds at Sacramento, Cal. The fruit has the shape of a pear, four inches long and three in diameter. It has a canta loupe flavor. The milky juice of this tree makes the toughest meat tender if steeped in it for ten minutes. In Bar badoes it is usual to bang meat and fowls in the branches, where the vapor of the trees effects tbe same purpose. The little republio of Switzerland has an army of 120,000, organised in eight divisions. There are 94,000 infantry, II,. 500 artillery. 8.500 engineers,!, 700 sani tary force, and 2,000 cavalry. Besides, this, which is called tue elite army, there isalandwehrof92,000men. What Swit zerland does with all this military force does not appear. , Under the new liquor law in Missis sippi every saloon-keeper is required to buy of the State auditor a book of cou pons, and everybody who takes a drink is handed one of these coupons, which .he State receives for taxes at one cent each. If he pays for two drinks he re ceives an orange-oolored coupon good for two cents, if five drinks, a blue cou pon good for five cents. . These figures show how London has grown in the twenty years since the first great exposition: 1851. 1871. Inhabited bouses 806 056 419,642 Inhabitants 2,363,415 8,266,987 In the twenty years ending in 1876, the total ratable annual value of property ban increased from 856,418,315 to $115, 556,565. The following congressei have been or will be held in Paris during the Ex position. 1. Agriculture. 2. Metrical and monetary, for the adoption of a uni versal system. 3. Special congress for determining a universal measure of threads of every description used in textile fabrics. 4. For th protection of literary, artistic and industrial property, patents, etc. 5. For provident institu tions, life, fire, agriculture insurances. 6. Philological. 7. A congress of Euro pean economists. 8. Meteorological. 9, A congress of Alpine clubs. 10. Publio hygiene. 11. To consider protection against epizootics. Similar congresses to the above were held at Vienna in 1873, and at Philadelphia in 1876. Avery old settler has been discovered by a correspondent of the Indianapolis A7ew8. He lives in Scott county, Ind., bis name is Kin Ferguson, and his age is 107. He was born in what is now Botetourt county, Virginia, 1771, was married in 1792, and removed that year, on pack horses, to the wilderness of Kentucky, and subsequently to Indiana. His' voice is strong and his memory re markably good. His hearing is Blightly impaired, and his sight entirely gone. He has a fair appetite, and walks about tbe house and yard without difficulty. He remembers distinctly some of the events of the war of the revolution, and seems to dwell on them with interest. He is himself a pensioner for services rendered in the Indian wars undei General Harrison. He baa never had more than 8100 at a time. A Cat's Foster Children. Here is a case for the naturalist. At the fair grounds there is a feminine oat which has brought up and reared two young skunks. She suckled them with the same fondness and maternal affection as if they were her own progeny. The skunks were deodorized, and, of course, did not excite the repugnance of their foster mother on that score. They were as playful as kittens, but, as they grew up in discretion and skunkhood, they began to develop into creatures bearing very little resemblance to the cat species : but this did not exoite the disgust of their mother. She had adopted them, and overlooked the deficiencies of well- bred cats, x They curled their bushy tails on their back and manifested no disposition to slyly lay in wait and spring on their victims. Their instincts were entirely different. They had a penchant for eggs and other delicate food, instead of mice and birds. A few days ago it was decided to separate the cat from the skunks, and by weaning the latter teach them to shift for them selves. The separation has grieved the old cat, and twice a day, Mr. Kalb states, she visits her foster-children. and, watching them through the bars of tneir cage, manifests a mothers fond ness, evidently desiring to give them sustenance.- The skunks also appear to take the privation to heart, and want to be with their old stepmother. S'. Loui$ Jiepubltoan. Scorpions, Centipedes, Tarantula.' There are two kinds of rcofpiobs, the gttten and the black! the latter is the most venomous. When 1 lived in Trebi zond, says a writer, they were so numer ous that we kept a canopy over the bed to catch those which might fall from the calling. It was carefully examined every morning. I have shaken them out of my boots. I repeatedly Came within an ace of . stepping on one with iny bltfe feet when getting out of bed. They have an uncanny way of hiding in cracks and under large stones, and run with spider-like speed when aroused, holding their spiky tail in the air, in an aggressive manner that in not reassur ing. It is claimed l y some that so swelling follows the sting, but only pain and sometimes death. But I have seen several oases of scorpion-poisoning at tended with swelling; Nicola, my donkey-driver, had his leg swelled to twice the size,attended with excruciating pain. In Asia Minor the native make a decoc tion of scorpions, and give it to their children as an autidote aud preventive. I never heard it did ally good. This, on the theory of similia timilibun, migLt be called Homoeopathic treatment if it had not been employed before ever Hahnemann was born. The centipede or scalopendra is an other insect about which I ktlow both, ing good that can be laid to its credit. Possibly a use may be found for it, as they use spiders' webs for quinine in fever and ague, and powdered cock roaches for Bright's disease. It has not over thirty feet, so that the name is a misnomer; bat the feet terminate in a sharp and scratchy point. The centipede is copper-colored, and its back is armed with scales that make it quite hard. Its sting is more often fatal than that of the scorpion, and I have never taken to it kindly, since I had an adventure with one in Smyrna. I was sitting at supper, thinly clad in accordance with' the cus tom of the country during the long steady heat which endures from April to October. Suddenly 1 noticed something creeping over my instep, and in an in stant it was crawling up my leg, scratch ing the skin slightly as it leisurely pur sued its way up toward my knee. Ap prehending the situation at once I realized that to startle it would be tbe height of folly. Keeping my leg per fectly still, therefore, 1 carefully clasped it above the knee with both hands to prevent the reotile from eettinff over the knee. When I was ready I struck out my foot with a smart, rapid jerk, and most happily shook off the creature, and immediately put my foot on it, crushing a centipede nearly six inches long. But I love the tarantula even less than the centipede. It is in truth a redoubt able foe, for aside from' its hideous appearance it is quite unnecessarily aggressive, and clears several feet at a jump. I have seen snake-charmers in the East tossing them from hand to hand like a hot, potato; of course the poison had been extracted. They vary gieatly in size, according to the cli mate, but always retain the same general characteristics. A gentleman in Nassau told me that his sister went up to bed one evening, and discovered an enor mous tarantula in the middle of her pil low, just l.ke a great ink-spot. Having seen it afterward bottled, I can testify that its legs had a spread of six inches, and its black hairy body was the size of a pigeon's egg. She screamed, that be ing the right thing to do under the cir cumstances, which brought tbe family to the room; as her brother entered the tarantula made a spring at him, which resulted in the candle falling on the floor and a general rush of everyone, Eell-mell, for the door. The candle aving been re-lit, it then became im portant to find out on whom the taran tula niifeht be crawling. After some more fun of this sort, the creature was finally driven into a corner and impaled on a sharp spike and was then preserved in alcohol. Who says alcohol has no uses? Warm and Cold Baths. An artiole of a very interesting and instructive nature, on the physiological action of baths, was published in a late number of tbe London Lancet. Summing up, the writer notes that warm baths produce an effect upon the skin directly contrary to that which is brought about by cold water. The cutaneous vessels dilate immediately under the influence of the heat, and although the dilation is followed by a contraction, this contrac tion is seldom exoesBive. and the ulti mate result of a warm bath is to increase the cutaneous circulation. The pulse and respiration are both quickened in tne cold bath. The warm bath increases the temperature of the body, and by lessening tne necessity for the internal production of heat, it decreases the call which is made upon certain of the vital processes, and enables life to be sus tained with less expenditure of force, While a cold bath causes a certain stiff ness of the muscles if continued too long, a warm bath relieves stiffness and fatigue. The final effect of both hot and cold baths, if this temperature be moderate, is the same, the difference being, to use the words of Braun, that, "cold refreshes by stimulating the func tions, heat by physically facilitating them, and in this lies the important difference between the cold water sys tem and the thermal mode of treatment," A Mystified Bird. A curious incident is related of a can ary bird by a Georgia paper. The door of the bird's cage was occasionally left open that he might enjoy the freedom of the room. One day he happened to alight upon the mantelshelf where there was a mirror. Here was a new discovery of the most profound interest. He gazed long and curiously at himself, and came to the conclusion that he had found a mate. Going back to his cage, he selected a seed from his box,' and bronght it in his bill as an offering to the stranger. In Tain the canary exerted himself to make his new-found friend partake, and becoming weary of that, tried another tack. Stepping back a few inches from the glass, he poured forth his sweetest notes, pausing now and then for a reply. None came, and moody and dispirited be flew back to his perch, hanging bis head in shame and silenoe for the rest of the day; and al though the door was repeatedly left open, ne reiusea to come out again. A FATAL FIGHT WITH COSVICTS. Aa Uprising tu the St. l.oata Wm-k-hoaae- A Fmettoae Inmate killed iM Bcveml Wounded. A desperate fight at the work -house in St. Louis, between four of the guards and a number of the prisoners, who had evidently been organizing nn attempted escape, resulted in the death of one of the prisoners and the serious wounding of four others. For some days past a spirit of unrest had been observable among some of the prisoners, but no overt act occurred until the afternoon of the trouble, when one of the guards, named Merkel, saw a paper communica tion passed between two of them. This at once precipitated matters, and led to the fatal encounter. The dead prisoner, Qeerge Stevens by name, was an habit ual vagrant, who for a year past had gravitated between the police court and the work-house. He was an epileptic, and on this account claimed an immunity from the severe labor ot stone-breaking, at which the city's offenders are put when sent down; but the work house authorities believed that his sickness was a sham, and compelled him to take his place bn the rockpiles with the other prisoners. Since this Waa done Stevens had been noticed to be morose and tnllen, and a few days before the previous affray he committed a murder ous assault upon George Merse, one of the guards, for which he woe punished. Of late he had been seen in mysterious communication with other prisoners, and as he was known to be a desperate and powerful man, he was closely watched by the guards. While be was Working in tbe gang superintended by one of tbe guards named Christian K?lbs, Stevens was seen by Guard Mer kel to piok up a piece of paper which had been dropped at bis feet by another prisoner. Merkel immediately ap proached him and asked him to sur render the paper. Stevens clinched it in his hand, and declnred he would die before he would give it up. The pris oner who had dropped the paper offered to get it back, but Stevens refused to surrender it under any consideration. After some parleying on the part of the guards, who wished to obtain possession of the suspicions communication peace fully, they attempted to take it from Stevens by force, when he, though heavily shackled, proved able to fight like a lion. He seized large rocks and began assaulting the guards, at the same time calling on his fellow prisoners to aid him. Guard Coy drew a revolver and fired at Stevens, inflicting a slight wound, which Stevens responded to by striking Coy on tho head with a huge rock, inflicting a serious wound, ine scene at this. moment was one of great exoitement and confusion. The prison ers were collected together from differ ent parts of the yard, and were evident ly ready to follow Stevens' lead when he called on them. The guards did not wait for the attack, but ran to a shanty in which a number of loaded shot-guns were kept. Arming themselves, tney roturned and found the prisoners. They had apparently made up their minds to resist boldly and their presence was greeted with a volley of rocks, one oi which struck Capt. McQoard on the head, knocking him senseless. The guards fired upon the prisoners, and Stevens and four others fell, the former mortally wonnded. Two of the other prisoners, Henry w arson and Mont gomery Morgan, were badly wouuaea, the others received flesh wounds only. Stevens died seven minutes after being shot, aud the rest surrendered. The (Jar and Sea Nettles. A correspondent at Fortress Monroe, Va., says: Apropos of fish, the most remarkable ichthyological specimen I ever beheld abound in tnese waters, and is called "the gar" ce-gar, I should sar, from its form, color and place of abode. It has a small round body and pointed head, exactly ' like an eel, but with the addition of rombio scales and tiny fins near tbe odd little termi- , Li ti .: 3 n nus wuion no aouot it oonmuers a urat- class tail, but which bears about as close a resemblance to our idea of a caudal appendage as does the rear of a locomo tive, it is of the genus Jjtpiaostena, with numerous cousins in tbe pike fami ly, and its principal peculiarity consists in muscle, for strength and activity of wuicu it excels any trained acrobat. Startled by the motion of a passing ship, it will dart out of the water like flash, skimming above the surface with criarantio leaps and lightning rapiditv. touching nothing for rods, but sustained by sheer force of its own muscular con tortions. and looking exactly like i brown enake scudding through the grass. Among other wonders of the deep are the sea nettles that occasionally swarm in the surf to the great discomfort of bathers. They are a sort of marine crea tures of polypus nature, that look like an innocent little wad of moss clinging to a sea-weed. They seem to possess not only life but intelligence, However, for they always make straight for the exposed parts the hands, feet, face or neck and their sting, though not gen erally serious, is similar in effect and appearanoe to a scald. Birthdays and Wedding Days. We suppose any day is lucky on which a nappy marriage is consummated, but the following is the old saw on this sub ject: Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday ttie best of all, Thursday fbr crosses, Friday for losses. Saturday no lack at all. The parties to a marriage can select the day of its celebration, but it is not so easy to choose the day of one s birth, and yet these, too, had their meaning Born of a Monday, Fair in faoo; Born of a Tuesday, Full of Ood'a grace; , Bern of a Wednesday, Merry and glad; Bora of a Thursday, Sour and sad; Born of a Friday, Godly given; Born of a Saturday, Work for your living-, Bora of aBunaay, Never shall want; fio there's tbe we. k, And tbe end oo't. Items of Interest You can't fasten your clothes with a rolling-pin. American lager beer is actually "being exported to Germany. America exports large quantities of condensed milk to England. A man is training dogs to play base ball. They will be known as the K-nine. The store of a man who doesn't adver tise looks as lonely as a sprinkling cart on a wet day. Vaniclionville &entineU In New Orleans a man who put his arm out of a street-car window had it broken by coming in contact with a car passing in a contrary direction. Ver dict for the plaintiff, 87,500. It has just been found out that a West ern man gained a big reputation for patriotism on the Fourth by backing his mule against a high board fence and let ting it kick. Even his next door neigh bor mistook the sound for artillery firing. Oh sea I Oh mighty, mighty sea t That gives the stomach ache to me. That spoils my appetite for tea, Oh seal Oh deep 1 Oh mighty, might; deep, I gave thee what f could not keep, And o'er th; waters wept a weep; Oh deep t Arew Haven Hegitter. The town of Black Diamond, CaL, enjoys the distinction of being the only walled town on the Pacific Coast. It has a high fence surrounding it, and the only entrance is a gatt?, over whioh is an inscription warning the public of a five-dollar tine upon any person who leaves the gate open. The laws of Mississippi forbid the marriage of a widow and her father-in-law. Therefore Alfred Boyco, aged 60, and Mary Boyce, aged 19, were com pelled to go to Illinois to have the cere mony performed. He is siokly, and may die soon. His father is alive, at the age of 82, and Mary says she would as lief marry him, she likes the family so well. A wicked telegraph man assuming an unsophisticated look, approached an elect rio machine on exhibition in Church street, and seemed eager to try it. The exhibitor, glad to see the new patron, welcomed him cordially to try, and ex patiated upon the machine's merits in curing diseases. The telegraph man took hold. The figure on the dial reached the wonted limit, passed it went on and upward, and the pointer still kept flying around and the crowd grew absorbed. The machine roan, losing his accustomed front, dashed at the machine to see what caused its inexplicable conduct, while tho telegraph man held to his grip, as suming an unsteady aspect and wild, haggard expression. Armed with a cop per wire under his coat, the ends reach ed to th wrists, he had made a ' cir cuit " and the machine was powerless to effect him. The joke came out, to the delight of the crowd, whose good humor knew no bounds at the result. New Haven Courier. New Hampshire's Tramp Law. The following are the most important clauses of the law for the suppression of tramps which has been passed by the New Hampshire Legislature : " Any person going about from place to place, begging and asking or subsist ing upon cuarity, snail t3 iaKen ana deemed to be a tramp, and shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor in the State prison not more than fifteen months. Anv tramp who shall enter any dwelling house, or kindle any fire in the higbway, or on the land of another with out the consent of tne owner or occu pant thereof, or shall be found carry ing any nrearm or oiuer oungeiouo weapon, or shall threaten to do any in jury to any person, or to the real or personal estate oi anoiuer, Buau oe punished by imprisonment at nam lauur n me otaie prison uui. mum uinu years. m "Any tramp who shall wilfully and maliciously do any injury to any person, or to the real or personal estate of another, shall be punished by imprison ment at hard labor in tne mate prwou not more than five years. Anv act of beggary or vagrancy iiy any person not a resident oi mis oiuie shall be evidence that the person com mitting the same is a tramp within the meaning ot this act. "Any person upon a iew of any offence described in this act may appre hend the offender and take him before a justice of the peace for examination, and on his conviction shall be entitled to a reward of ten dollars therefore, to be paid by the county. "This act shall not apply to any female or minor under the age of seven teen year, nor to any blind person. "Upon the passage of this act the Secretary of State shall cause printed copies of this act to.be sent to the several town and city clerks, who snail cause the same to be posted in at leott six conspicuous places, three of which shall be on the publio highway." To (let Rid or House-Pests. Hot allum water is a recent sugges tion as an insecticide. . It will destroy red and black ants, cockroaches, spiders, chinch bugs, and all the crawling pests which infest our nouses, lake two pounds of alum and dissolve it in three or four quarts of boiling water; let it stand on the fire till the alum disappears; then apply it with a brush, while nearly boiling hot, to every joint and crevice in your closets, bedsteads, pantry shelves, and ine use. rrnBn ine creviceB in tne floor of the skirting or mop boards, if you suspect that they harbor vermin. If, in whitewashing a ceiling, plenty of alum is added to the lime, it will also serve to keep insects at a distance. Cockroaches will flee tbe paint which has been washed in cool alum water. Sugar barrels and boxes can be freed from ants by drawing a chalk mark just around the edge of the top of tbem. The mark must be unbroken, or they will creep over it; but a continuous chalk mark halt an inch in width will set their depredations at naught Pow dered alum or borax will keep the chinch bug at a respectable distance, and travelers should always carry a pack age in their band bags, to scatter over and under their pillows, in places where they have reason to suspect the pres ence of snob bed-fellows, i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers