, HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NTL DESPEllANDUM. Two Dollars er Annum.
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VOL. VIII. RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA.,- THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1879. NO. 51.
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Two Drummers.
A LEOXND OF TUB HOAD,
It wai two rival drummers
The merits that did blow
Of safes were in 8t. Louis made
And safes from Chioago.
They chanced upon a merchant
Who fain a safe wonld buy,
And iu the praise of their houses' warea
The drummers twain did Tie,
Kaoh striving to tee which could construct
The moBt colossal lie.
Up spake the St. Louis drummer:
" Once a man a oat did take
And locked the animal in a safe
Of onr superior make.
" They made a bonfire round the safe
With tar and kerosene,
And for four-and-twenty houra it bit red
' With raging heat, I ween.
"The fire went out, the safe was cooled,
And I will fotfeit five
Hundred good dollars if that cut
Did not come ont alive."
Then mild opfpske and answtred him
The Chicago safe agent:
" With our safe one day we did essay
The same experiment.
" We placed the safe seleoted on
Of coals a fiery bed,
And pitched-pine we heaped in coal-oil
steeped
Till the iron glowed bright red;
And in forty-eight hours we ope'd the safe,
And, alas I the cat was desd I"
" Was dead ? Aha 1" bis rival cried,
With a triumphant breath;
But the Chicago man replied:
" Yes, the eat wss frozen to death 1"
No word that St. Louis drummer spoke,
But silent he stood and wan,
While the Kansas merchant an order gave
To the Ch cago man.
Better Late Than Never.
His name was John Holt ; and, more
over, he looked like bis name, or like
the imnge which the sound of his name,
in a musical ear, wonld call np in the
mind. Physically he was so well pro-
fiortioDed that his weight could scarce
v be guessed, and so broad -shouldered
that yea had to set him beside another
man in order to realize his superior
height. His skin was fair and his eyes
bine, but the hair, which had been tow
colored in his childhood, had deepened
to brown. John Holt's face was not
one of those which are called expressive,
but wore, in rrpose, pretty nearly al
ways the same look.
Mrs. Holt had a large and valuable
farm just on the borders of the town.
Streets had crept gradually about her
fields and surrounded tbem on three
sides ;on the fourth woodlands stretched
back toward the east. Why she should
give the control of this place to John,
instead of to one of his sharper brothers,
was a puzzle even in her own mind.
The only reason she could give was that
John was steady and more likely to re
main at home than the others were.
John was in love with pretty Nellie
Cramer, a neighbor's daughter ; but one
day when he started t l tell her df his
passion she stopped him ebort WTth a
laugh and a "Nonsense, John I"
He never got angry with bet. How
could he ? But sometimes 0 shadow
would drop over his face, and he
wouldn't have much to say to her for a
time. Then, when she weut to him with
htr coaxing ways, and laid her little
hand on his arm, whispering:
"Now, don't be vexed, John; Hike
you so much; bnt I don't want you to
talk nonsense," he would look down and
smile, though not very brightly, and
promise to try to avoid nonsense in the
future ; euding his promise with a sigb.
"Dear me I I do wish you wouldn't
sigh so, John I" the girl would say, pet
tishly. " It m iikes me feel melancholy
to hear yon One would think I had
done something dreadful to you."
Then John Holt would smile again,
still less brightly, and promise to tiy
not to sigh any more.
Such little scenes as this were mere
asides, however. Nellie usually paid
but little attention to John, being chiefly
occupied in dancing, flirting and quar
reling with his more showy brother
Frank, or with any other gay fellow who
was so unfortunate as to be taken with
her pretty face. For Nellie was an in
corrigible flirt. It was only when she
had no one else to talk to, or wanted to
pique some other lover, or when she
wanted some real service, that she went
to John, who was sometimes pleased and
sometimes hurt to see that she came to
him only when she wanted help or
advice.
" You are a sort of grandfather, you
know," she said one day, giving his arm
a squeeze. " I have an idea that you
are about seventy-five years old. How
old are you, John ?"
"I am only one-third of that," he
said, smiling. " I am only a month past
twenty-five."
"Possible? Well, you must have
been very old when you was born. lie
bides, twenty five is old to me. I am
only nineteen. Now yon come and hear
my story and tell me what to do. I came
over here on purpose to see you."
John followed her obediently through
the garden and down to a bench under
the shadow of the beech grove on the
lawn; and when she took her seat there
he leaned against the trunk of a tree and
waited, looking down on her.
"You see, John," she began, "I've
had an effer."
John Holt was tanned that summer,
but through the brownuess one might
have seen a faint blush run over his
face. Nellie didn't see it, for she was
looking down and rolling her apron tas
sels, a very bright color in her own
faso.
There was a moment's silence after
thin announcement, and seeing that he
waa expected to say something, John
presently said "Yes?''
" bJf y.ou don,t want to advise me,
I won t trouble you," the girl flung out
rising in a pet. 0 '
" Come back Nellie," he said, kind
ly. I am not cross, only tell me what
you want"
bha seated herself again with a lit tit
guitar is bar lip, "
" I want you tell me what you think
of James Lee. Tell me if yon think I'd
better marry him. Tell me if you think
he cares enoagh for me to go just where
I say and live where I wish."
The color waved again in John Holt's
face, and he drew a quick breath. Some
impulse to speak seemed to come upon
him. Glancing np for his answer, Nellie
saw the change and added a word:
" Yon see, John, I like Albert Leigh
ton better than I do James."
The color and light droppod out of
his face again, and a rim of even, white
teeth pressed tor an instant his under
lip.
" Then why don't yon marry Albert
Leighton ?" he asked, looking up into
the tree that spread over his head, and
reaching to break a slender twig.
"He never asked me to," she an
swered demurely.
" I suppose he means to, doesn't he ?"
naked John, looking at her with a glance
that might be called almost haughty.
"How can I tell?" Nellie pouted.
" Men are so queer. The most of them
would rather wait to be asked, I think."
"If you want my advice, I will give
it," John said, twisting and flinging
away the little twig in his hand. " If
you like Albert, don't keep James Lee
in suspense. You have no right to do
it. You can't seriously think of mar
rying one man when yon prefer another,
f Albert likes you, as I believe he
does, take him. He's a good fellow."
" You think so t" the girl said, look
ing up suddenly.
"I think so," he repeated, turning
away. " Now let's go np to the house."
She rose and walked quietly up by
his side, her fair, girlish face a little
pale, her eves downcast. At the gate
she stopped.
"I will not go in, now," she said, in
a low tone. " I will go home."
He merely bowed, and looking back
after a few stops she saw that he had
not entered the honse, but was stealing
off toward the barn.
The next week James Lee commenced
1 violent flirtntion with Bessie Holt,
John's sister, and in a month the two
were engaged. Nellie laughed and
turned the light of her smiles upon Al
bert Leighton, a handsome, dashing fel
low, who had been crazy about Lee for
the last six months. John Holt said
nothing, but was rather cool about his
sister's engagement
" Yon see, suspense would have killed
bim," Nellie whispered, mischievously.
"I hope he isn't marrying my sister
out of pique toward you," John said,
wldly. " If I didn't think Bessie loved
iiim too well to give him np, I'd tell
her. "
"Ard betray my confidence, John
Holt," Nellie exclaimed. "I tell you,
he is like most of you men purely self
ish. He didn't care a fig about me. I
think he seems to like Bessie."
" When are you going to get mar
ried ? " he asked abruptly.
The question came so suddenly that
for once the girl lost her composure. A
crimson blush swept over her face, and
she dropped her eyes without being
able to speak a word.
Of course, the recovered herself in a
minute, and protested that she bad no
thought of mnrrying. Any woman would
have dune the same. But the blush had
convicted her in John Holt's eyes, and
he scarcelv heard a word that she said.
It was winter, and while they talked
they were waiting, with half a dozen
others, for a large sleigh that was com
ing to take them out to a party given by
a friend eeven or eight miles off in the
country. Even before Nellie's blush
had faded, the trampling and jingling
at the gate attracted their attention, and
Albert Leighton put his head in at the
door to call them. Bessie and her lover
came forth from an adjoining room, an
other group came up from a distant
window, and they all ran gayly out and
and bundled into their placer.
The party passed off as such things
usually do. All seemed to enjoy them
selves ; Nellie was lovely as a pink and
full of mischief, Leighton waa attentive,
and John Holt was cheerful and kind to
everybody. He was fully as quiet as
usual, to be sure, and rather avoided
Nellie Cramer, but it is doubtful if any
one but herself noticed that.
It was twelve o'clock when they start
ed to go home, and the moon had set.
At first their gayety held out, bnt after
a mile or bo fatigue and want of sleep
began to tell upon them, and one by one
they fell into silence.
"John," Nellie said, "there is just
room for me on the seat with you. May
I come there ? It is cold here."
He made room for her in silence, and
she left her discomfited escort and took
her place next that strong shoulder.
Then silence fell again ; bnt after
awhile, in the darkness, John Holt was
aware of a light pressure against his
arm, then a soft, plaintive whisper stole
into his ear.
" I am so sleepy, John 1"
He turned a little why not? they
were old friends and lifted his arm to
the back of the seat, took the h6ad softly
and tenderly to his bosom. And so she
lay in that faithful and tender clasp till
they drew near home ; then, with one
whispered word of loving gratitude,
" Nobody is so good as you I" she drew
away, and took Albert Leighton's hand
to step out at her own door.
After a stir in his own mind, John
Holt concluded that Nellie and Albert
had quarreled. He sighed, since she
could not hear and so be annoyed,
pitied the girl, and then went steadily
about his work. The waters of his soul
were too deep for babbling.
When spring came, for the first time
in his life John electrified hiB friends.
He was going to California. The an
nouncement was made quietly but firm
ly, and he stood like a rock, against
which expostulation beat itself to spray.
He gave good reasons, and absolutely
maintained his right to choose for him
self. You have always said, mother, that
you wished I were more venturesome,"
be said. "I am going to please yon
now,"
" But how is the farm to get along
without you ?" she objected.
" Frank understands everything and
can manage."
Mrs. Holt took courage, and, breaking
over some little awe, which, in spite of
her talk, she felt for her son, spoke ont:
"John, ba that Nell Cramer jilted
you?"
" Jilted me I" he said, flushed as much
with anger as with surprise. "What
do yon mean, mother ? We have always
been good friends, but never any more.
I never gave her the chance to jilt me. "
" Then, why don't you give her the
chance?" persisted his mother, who did
not choose to give np, now that the ice
was broken. " Nell is a good girl, if
she does flirt a little. I always thought
that she liked yon, only that yon were
too slow to see it. Then, Nell has got
a little money of her own that wouldn't
be amiss."
" You are entirely mistaken, mother,"
he said decisively. Don't let ns say any
more about it"
" Oh, you great fool !" muttered the
mother, looking after him as he went
out " Waa there ever a man so blind I
He is no more fit to live in the world
than an angel ont of heaven is."
Then, seeing Nellie Cramer passing
the street, she lifted her voice and called
her in.
The girl came in, wondering at such
a peremptory summons.
" Come and sit by me I" commanded
the matron, and Nellie obeyed.
Mrs. Holt scanned her from head to
foot; the neat, trim figure, in its snugly
fitting paletot of dark gray, the green
bonnet, that brought out her fresh,
clear color with a new luster, and the
fair, bright face,
' ' Did yon know that our John is go
ing to California?" said Mrs. Holt,
abruptly, her keen eyes on the girl's
face
All the color faded ont of it in an in
stant, and Nellie Cramer dropped into a
chair as suddenly as if she had been
shot She sat there and looked at the
other with her strained eyes, but said
no word.
" Yes," said Mrs. Holt, unable to re
press a slight smile of satisfaction at
this proof of the correctness of her sur
mise, " yes, he's set on going, in spite
of all that I can say. He is going in a
month or six weeks. Let me see; this
is the middle of April. He says he
shall start by the first of Jnne at far
thest." That smile of Mrs. Holt's was an un
fortunate one. Nellie had always feared
those sharp eyes, and now the thought
flashed upon her mind that John's
mother was trying to expose and morti
fy her. A woman's pride will do a
great deal for her, even when her heart
is breaking. It brought the color to
her face again, and strengthened her
trembling limbs. It steadied her voice
and her eyes. Mrs. Holt was puzzled
aud disconcerted by the sudden change.
" I'm so sorry 1" Nellie said, in atone
of fearless regret. " We can scarcely
get along without John. He seems such
a stand-by. But men ought not to be
tied at home, I think. If they choose '
to go, tbey should be allowed their own 1
way. There he is now, in the garden. I
am going out to speak to him of it."
" Try to coax him to stay, Nellie,"
said the mother, in a tone of more en
treaty than perhaps she had ever used
in her life before. " He is a good son,
and I can't get along without him. I
think you can keep him if you will."
This prayer wcnld have been effect
ual, but for the memory of that smile
which rankled in the girl's heart. Had
she not given John Holt everyvencour
agement, if he had cared abodt her ?
Had she not said and done things so
affectionate toward him that shj had
blushed with shame thinking of them
afterward ! John was no fool, and if he
had cared for her, he might have under
stood. He had probably been trying to
put her back.
With these thoughts burning in her
heart, Nellie Cramer went directly to
John Holt as he walked up and down
the garden. He stopped, seeing her,
and looked wistfully into her face.
Though he had denied Lis mother so
decidedly, her words had not been with
out weight Women understand each
other. Conld it be possible? And
there was Nellie coming down the walk.
Her head was erect, and her face per
fectly composed, though slightly pale.
" I am so sorry," she began. " Your
mother has been telling me your plans.
Of course, you know best what is good
for you, and I have been telling her to
let yon have your own way. But we
ah all all be sorry to lose you, John."
That was all. He gave a last grasp
at bis self-command, and held it. There
was a short formal conversation ; both
so engaged in making a pretense of be
ing kind and friendly, and just as usual,
that each could not perceive that the
other was also making a pretense ; and
four weeks after they parted with tol
erable composure, and John Holt went
to California.
He stayed there five years, and sent
his mother her gold spoon. He stayed
three years longer, and then came home
himself. Nellie was Nellie Cramer (till,
they told him, and was much sobered.
Some way she hadn't seemed to care
much about flirting for several years.
Her father and mother were deuu, and
she was keeping house for an unmarried
brother. There were hints that the new
minister went to see her very often, but
Mrs. Holt didn't believe that Nellie
wonld look at him.
John listened, ana, when evening
came. tooK ins nac and went out for a
walk. No one but his own family aa
yet knew 01 his retnrn, and he was re
solved to see himself the effect of his
coming on Nellie. The soft spring twi
light was settling down when he reached
her house, ana as ne warned quietly np
the path a slight figure sat in a window,
looking out, eiDging lowly to herself in
a mournful reverie. She did not see
him; but when he came nearer he saw
her face clearly. The round outlines
and bright color were gone, but be was
forced to own that she had grown far
more beautiful. The chastened luster
of the eyes, the firmer, sweeter closing
of the mouth, tne purer ana more per
feot outlines all belonged to one who
had eaten of the bread of sorrow, and
had found a blessing in the bitterness,
Something swept over bis heart with
passionate foroe some regret, some
longing, he Bcaroe knew what If he
had suffered at losing her eight years
hofnre. he felt that such a lose now
wnnl.l kill him. He quietly entered
the open door, paused on the threshold
nt tha room where she sat alone. She
atill aang aoftly, but, as he looked,
;riitil- and became tilent
"Nellie I" be would have said, bnt
bis voice was only a w cos per,
He went forward into, the shadowy
room.
"Is it yott, James?" he said, half
turning, expecting her brother.
John took a etep nearer, and this time
his voice did not fail. 1
"Nellie I" J
She started, half arose, hesitated,
then, as he took one step nearer, sprang
with a glad cry into his extended arms.
"I thought yon would never eome,
John I" she sobbed.
"Were yon waiting for met" he
asked, " Did you eare for me before I
went away ?"
"Then and always, John. How
could yon be so blind ?" .
John Holt smoothed her hair tender
ly, for one moment of silence; then ex
claimed, as though some great truth
bad suddenly dawned npon him.
" I deserve it I I always thought
them wrong, but they were right. I
was, indeed, a great fool." .
Funerals In New York.
"Is there as much extravagance in
funerals as there nsed to be?" inquired
a New York reporter of an undertaker.
" Oh, no I I suppose few trades Buffer
more severely from the hard times than
ours. Persons who nsed to spare no
expense at the funerals of their dead
now calculate every penny, and in all
oases, except, strange to say, the very
poor, the desire for display has given
plaoe to strict economy. There are ex
ceptions, of course, bnt they are few
and far between. In the past twenty
years an almost entire change has been
worked in one essential of funerals. I
mean the carriages. In old times it was
customary for families to send out
funeral invitations, and provide car
riages for those who came, bnt now the
Eractioe is for friends of the family to
ire their own carriages. This custom
was in vogue among the Irish many
years ago, but now it is gaining ground
among the Germans and Americans. It
is no uncommon thing in Irish funerals
for four friends of the dead persons to
hire a carriage and attend the funeral,
and the Germans are rapidly adopting
the same economical habit Since 1869
the falling off in the number of carriages
baa been gradual, bnt steady. Then a
hearse followed by one hundred car
riages was not regarded as a rarity ; now
if half that number of carriages were in
line persons would wonder who is dead.
The French and Italians generally bike
to provide carriages for those invited to
funerals, but the former are gradually
settling into the Irish-American custom,
"But, talking abont poor persons'
funerals," the undertaker resumed, after
having opened a case and gazed for a
while in silent eostaoy at a' group of
polished caskets, " yon ought to go to a
colored person's burying. You have no
idea how provident and methodical the
better class of colored folk 1 are as to
their funerals.- Why, in ths neighbor
hood alone they have established a num
ber of burial societies that are well sup
ported. The principle of these institu
tions is mnch like that of the building
associations so popular in Philadelphia
aud other cities. The members pay so
much each per month nntil a certain
sum is reached. Should death overtake
them before that sum is paid, the society
buries them out of its surplus funds. I
know of colored women who belonged to
turee or lour of these societies at one
time. One that we buried last week
had a burial fund of $200, and every
cent of it was spent on her funeral by
the heirs. Poor things I They in
herited nothing. Bnt in all colored
funerals, mostly, the family hires the
carriages, and friends are invited pretty
much aa they would be to a feast The
undertaker is handed a list of those who
are to ride to the cemetery, and seats
the persons accordingly. So thoroughly
is each detail arranged, that the load
for each carriage is designated, the pre
ference being given first to relatives and
then to friends."
Results of Aerial Navigation.
Ilf i T?. f"1 fifoltnon f lia nnaf nvitfia
in Soribner of this subject, which he
confesses to be his "hobby." The paper
is in a half humorous, half serious tone,
bnt discusses practically the causes of
failure heretofore and the desiderata of
final success. Mr. Stedman speaks
thus buoyantly of some of the nltimate
results of aerial navigation :
Not only by these processes of con
struction, bnt also by the power and
freedom gained through their snocess, a
delightful reflex influence will be ex
erted npon the esthetics of life. Poetry
and romance will have fresh material
and a new locale, and imagination will
take nights unknown before. Land
scapes painted between . earth and
heaven must involve novel principles of
drawing, color, light and shade. Music,
like the songs of Lohengrin, will be
showered from aerial galleys. In every
way the resouroes of social life will be
so enlarged that at last it truly may be
said, "Existence is itself a joy."
Sports and recreations will be
strangely multiplied. Rioh and poor
alike will make of travel an every-day
debcht. the former in their private
aeronons, the latter in large and multi
form Btrnotures, corresponding in nse
to the excusion-Doats of onr rivers and
harbors, the " floating palaces " of the
people, and far more numerous and
splendid. The ends of the earth, its
rarest places, will be visited by all.
The sportsman can change at pleasure
irom tne woods ana waters of the North,
the runwavs of the deer, the haunts of
the Salmon, to the pursuit of the ticer
in the jnngle or the emn in the Aus
tralian bush. An entirely new pro
fessionthat of airmanship will be
thoroughly organized, emolovinor
countless army of trained officers and
" airmen. " The adventurona and well
to-do will have their pleasure yachts of
the air, and take hazardous and de
lightful cruises. Their vessels will
differ from the cumbrous aerobata in
tended for freight and emigrant bnsi.
ness, will be christened with beautiful
and suggestive namesIris, Aurora,
Hebe. Ganymede, Hermes. Ariel, and
the like and will vie with one another
in grace, readiness and speed.
When dees the rain become too famil
lar with a lady r When it begins to pat-
m uu urns muh
POTATOES AND DIPHTHERIA.
Novel Theorv of a Nebraska Doctor, who
('Inline niphikerla la Frodarrd br Ex
ecutive Use of Potatoes.
Melville C. Keith, M. D., of Lincoln,
Neb., writes to the Chioago Inter-Ocean
as follows: Some seventeen years ago
the attention of my father, Dr. Alvan
Eeith, late of Augusta, Me. , was called
to the fact that children who were not
fond of the tuber known as Irish potatoes
were not subject to attacks of that mnch
dreaded malady diphtheria. Following
out this hint, he advised families of his
friends to avoid the use of this vegeta
ble among the children, and nntil his
decease he was accustomed to make the
assertion that rotten potatoes produce
the throat disease known as diphtheria.
It may not be inappropriate to remark
that he was considered a very success
ful practitioner in the treatment of this
disease.
In 1805 the writer visited San Fran
cisco, and was tbere engaged in the
practice of medicine nntil 1867. Daring
that period of time he had an opportun
ity of fully testing the truth of the
statement of potatoes being a producer,
or at least an approximate cause of the
condition known as diphtheria. In 805
cases in and abont San Francisco, the
foot was noted that every one who had
the trne diphtheria was an eater of Irish
potatoes. The writer is well aware of
the presumptive charge of novelty, to
say the least of the assertion, and for
this reason has hesitated to place himself
on record. The condition of many fami
lies in the West, and more especially in
this State and Kansas, urges the under
signed, as a matter of interest to the hu
man family to make pnblic a series of
observations for the past two years in
the West During this time thirty cases
have come under my direct supervision
and prescriptions. More than 200 have
been carefully inquired after, and in
every case it has been proven that the
diphtheritic patient had been a potato
eater; and in a large majority of in
stances the patient had been known as
an excessive eater &f the tuber. A rule
to hold good should he valid from both
sides. The undersigned made the fore
going statements to a very intelligent
lady of this city, now a teacher in a dis
tant city, and the result has been that
where the diphtheria prevailed fatally
last year they have (by the influence of
this lady) largely refrained from eating
potatoes, or only eaten them to a very
moderate extent, and the disease is al
most unknown. In my practice in this
city and county the offer has been to
treat any one free of compensation, if
they wonld avoid the use of Irish pota
toes. As a sequence not one of the pa
tients who was not a potato-eater has
been threatened with the disease. In
many of the inland tewtis of this State,
the writer has patients, and in some of
the infected districts the families of
those who have learned of this simple
preventive have escaped any attack of
throat disease, although the potato-eaters
on either side of them have unfor
tunately had caseB of diphtheria which
resulted fatally.
It would not be in accoi dance with the
well-known proclivities of medical men
if the writer did not have a theory to
account for these facts, and a special
treatment to correspond with the belief
of the constitutional cause. He has;
bnt the theory, like many others, is
only partially developed or proven, and
conld easily be argued. The facts, em
bracing a period of seventeen years and
a knowledge of 1,100 cases, are, in the
writer's estimation, incontrovertible, and
may be summed np as follows: The
writer maintains that the person who
does not use the tuber known as Irish
potato ean never have the disease known
as diphtheria: that in every case of
diphtheria (true) will be found an
habitual eater of Irish potatoes.
The Laundries in New York.
The manager of one of the larger
lanndries of New York lately raid that
there were between five and six hun
dred important lanndries in the city.
counting steam lanndries that do the
work of large manufactnrers of white
goods and of hotels and restaurants,
and the hand laundries doing house
hold work. The first steam laundries
werestatted in Boston, in 1853. Several
steam laundries in New York employ
from 100 to 150 hands. The Empire
laundry, doing the work of fifteen hotels
and restaurants, turns out 40,000 pieces
a day, or more than 1,000,000 a month,
washed, dried and finished. These
pieces include sheets, pillow oases,
white towels, silver towels, brown
towels, brown table cloths, white table
cloths, napkins, curtains, jackets, aprons,
counterpanes, blankets, bed covers,
pillow covers, chair covers, table covers,
crumb cloths and dollies. In the per
formance of this work there are used
84,000 worth of soap, 81,000 worth of
starch, 8250 worth of bluing a year,
and the pay roll amounts to $25,000
yearly.
Another laundry manager said that
the amount of private washing done in
tne public laundries has increased im
mensely since the establishment of the
first large publiolanndry, the New York,
at Bergen, N. J., in 1866. The largest
are the at. JJenis, California, Home,
Stuyvesant and New York. The work
they do is mainly for persons living in
flats, boarders, bachelors, and transient
hotel guests. Notwithstanding the
great facilities offered by the public
laundries, most housekeepers prefer to
have their washing done at home. The
public laundries that do private wash'
mg do not nse steam or any machinery
except the simple "patent wringer"
and " housewife s washboard," because
no machinery ever invented could do
the necessary fluting, puffing, scallop
ing, and doing np. The charges range
from seventy-five cents to $9 a dozen.
The laundry business requires very
little capital ; the work is simple and
the terms are invariably cash. No class
of business men lose so little money
from bad debts as the laundry men, and
the reason is plain ; they always have
ample security for their bills in the
clothing that they wash, and clothing is
never returned nntil the bill is paid.
It is estimated that from one and a
half to five million dollars are invested
in laundries in New York, giving em
ployment to from ten to twenty tbon
Bifid persona.
Care of the Eyes.
The sight in most persons begins to
fail from forty to fifty years of age, aa is
evidenced by an instinctive preference
for large print ; a seat near the window
for reading is selected J there is an effort
to plaoe the paper at a convenient dis
tance from the eye, or to turn it so as to
get a particular reflection of the light ;
next the finger begins to be plooed un
der the line read, and there is a winking
of fie eye ns if to clear it, or a looking
away at some distant object to clear it :
or the fingers are pressed over the closed
lids in the direction of the nose, to re
move the tears caused by straining.
Favor the failing sight as much as
possible. Looking into a bright fire,
especially a coal fire, is very injurious
to the eyes. Looking at molten iron
will soon destroy the sight ; reading in
the twilight is injurious to the eyes, as
they are obliged to make great exertion.
Beading or sewing with a side light in
jures the eyes, as both eyes should be
exposed to an equal degree of light
The reason is, the sympathy between
the eyes is so great that if the pupil of
one is dilated by being kept partially in
the shade, the one that is most exposed
cannot contract itself sufficiently for pro
tection, and will ultimately be injured.
Those who wish to preserve their sight
should observe the following rules, and
E reserve their general health by correct
abits :
1st. By sitting in suoh a position as
will allow the light to fall obliquely
over the shoulder upon the page or sew
ins. 2d. By not using the eyes for such
purposes by any artificial light.
3d. By avoiding the special use of
the eyes in the morning before break
fast. 4th. By resting them for half a min
ute or so while reading or sewing or
looking at small objects ; and by looking
at things at a distance, or up to the sky ;
relief is immediately felt by so doing.
5th. Never pick any collected matter
from the eyelashes or corners of the
eyes with the finger-nails ; rather moist
en it with the saliva and rub it away
with the ball of the finger.
6th. Frequently 1 ass the ball of the
finger over the closed eyelids toward the
nose ; this carries off an excess of water
into the nose itself by means of the little
canal which leads into the nostril from
each inner corner of the eye, this canal
having a tendency to close up in con
sequence of the light inflammation which
attends the weakness of the eyes.
7th. Eeep the feet always dry and
warm, so as to draw any excess of blood
from the other end of the body.
8th. Use eyeglasses at first carried in
the vest pocket attached to the guard, for
they are instantly adjustod to the eye
with very little trouble, whereas, if com
mon speotacles are used such a process
is required to get them ready that to
have trouble the ryes are often strained
to answer a purpose.
0th. Wash the eyes abundantly every
morning. If cold water is nsed let it be
flapped agaicst the closed eyes with the
fingers, not striking bard against the
balls of the eves.
10th. The moment the eyes feel tired,
the very moment yon are conscious ot
an effort to read or sew, lay aside the
book or needle, and tike a walk for an
hour, or employ yourself in some active
exercise not requiring the close use of
the eyes.
Theatricals la China.
The Celestial empire has much the
resemblance to an immense fair, where,
amid a perpetual flux and reflux of buy
ers and sellers, of brokers, loungers and
thieves, you see in all quarters stages
and mountebanks, jokers and comedians,
laboring uninterruptedly to amuse the
public. Over the whole surface of the
country, in the burghs and villages, rich
and poor, mandarins and people all,
without exception, are passionately fond
of dramatic representations. There are
theaters everywhere; the great towns
are full of them. There is ne little vil
lage bnt has its theater, which is usuallv
opposite to the pagoda, and sometimes
even forms a part of it In some cases
the permanent theaters are not found
sufficient, and then the Chinese con
struct temporary ones, with wonderful
facility, ont of bamboo. The Chinese
theater is extremely simple, and its ar
rangements exolnde all idea of scenio
illusion. The decorations are fixed, and
do not change as long as the piece lasts.
One Wviild never know what tbey were
intended for, if the actors did not take
care to inform the public, and correct
the motionless character of the scenes
by verbal explanations. The only ar
rangement ever made with a view to
scenio effect is the introduction of a
trap-door in front of the stage, for the
entrances and exits of supernatural per
sonages, aud goes by the name of the
'Gate of Demons."
Cat's Customs.
Cats are not supposed to have the in
telligence of dogs, says an exchange,
and yet if we observe them we find that
they are capable of a great degree of
reasoning. A cat belonging to ns had a
kitten, which, when it had learned to
drink milk from the saucer with its
mother, was given to a neighbor. For
many days after the old cat never drank
more than a certain quantity of the
milk given to her, leaving the rest for
the kitten, which she hourly expected
to retnrn. After a time, finding the
kitten did not come, she resumed her
habit of drinking the whole of the milk
placed in the saucer. We were calling
at a cottage when an old cat came iu.
" Ah I" said the woman of the honse,
"she has been to see what our neigh
bor b cat has got for her. She is too
old to hnnt for herself, so our neigh
bor's oat will keep a mouse or a bird
for her, and she goes regularly every
morning to see what there is for
her," Another cat we have seen
who has been taught tricks in the same
manner aa a dog, and if her master
places her on the table and says " Die,"
she will lie quite motionless, and not
move a paw or her tail nntil he tells her
to get np, when she jumps up immedi
ately ana is as irisay as ever.
" I walked the floor all night with the
toothache," said he; to which his nn
feeling listener replied: "You didn't
expect to walk the tiling with It, did
your
Quiet Liven.
In a valley, centuries ago,
Grew a little fern leaf, green and slender
Veining delioate and fibers tender)
Waving when the winds crept down so low.
Bashes tall, and moss and grass grew
round it,
Playful sunbeams darted In and found It;
Drops of dew stole down by night and crown
ed it;
Bnt no foot of man e'er oame that way,
Earth was young and keeping holiday.
Useless I Lost t There oame a thoughtful
man,
Searching nature's seorets far and deep:
From a fissure In a rocky steep
He withdrew a atone o'er which there ran
Fair; penoilings, a quaint design,
Leafage, velnings, fibers clear and fine,
And the fern'a life lay in ever; line t
So, I think, God hides some souls away,
Sweetly to surprise ns the last da; 1
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
Reigning favorites Umbrellas.
Excellent wash for the faoe Water.
Wanted A life-boat that will float 00
a sea of troubles.
Gloves were first worn by onr hand
cestors in the tenth centnry.
What is the size of the needle that
carried the threads of discourse ?
Brown thinks that all-absorbing tales
should be printed on blotting-paper. ,
The onion originated in Europe. So
important facts leak out one by one.
The eldest son of the Prince of Wales,
Prince Albert Victor, in fifteen years
old.
A nnmber of horses have been poison
ed in Kansas by being fed raw castor
beans.
If a word spoken in time is worth one
piece of money, silence in its time is
worth two.
Toads and frogs were originally intro
duced into the Sandwich islands to'ex-
terminate cockroaches.
Examination of 8,000 grammar school
pupils at Boston shows that abont five
per cent of the boys are color-blind,
and only about one-half of one per cent
of the girls.
In Egypt mummies feed the fires that
propel the iron horse on the railroads.
These dried-up human bodies, are said
to make a very hot fire. Their supply
is almost inexhaustible.
" There is nothing impossible,' ex
claimed a man who was discoursing on
Edison's achievements. That man, to
fin J out how egregiously he is mistaken,
has only to attempt to cut his own hair.
A great many years ago a poor beg
gar explained his ragged appearance by
observing: "I have no money to bny
new clothing, and mend I CRn't." And
his class have been called mendicants
ever since.
The Cornish folk in England are
noted as wonderful pie makers. They
even serve vegetables in this manner,
and the laboring classes, in these hard
times, are said to exist largely npon a
curious compound known as " turnip
turnover."
When a snowball as bard as a door
knob bits yon in the back of the head as
yon are crossing the street, no matter
how quiokly you turn, the only thing
yon can see is one boy, with the most
innocent face and the emptiest hands
that ever confronted a false accusation.
Hawkeye,
" Will ye love me thus forever ?"
and she looked into his eyes
With a glance that seemed a token
Of the fervor of her sighs.
"I wndn't guaranty it,"
With a smile responded Fat,
" For I'm batdly av the notion
That Til l&Bht as long as that '."
Bnrdette, in a letter to the Ilawfaye,
magnanimously allows the palm to the
East in the matter of Revolutionary re
lic, but in the next breath is inclined
to take it back. He says: "I remember
in 1876, when we had the great centen
nial tea-party at Burlington, that I saw
more Revolutionary relics at Union hall
than I have seen in all New England.
And they were better looking relics,
too. Those I saw in Old Sonth church
were very old and battered and faded,
and altogether shabby-looking, while
the Iowa relics had a bright, fresh,
modern look to tbem, that was much
pleasanter to contemplate." .
A Remarkable Funeral.
One of the most remarkable funerals
ever seen anywhere was that of the stu
dent who was eUot in Wnrzburg, Bava
ria, by an officer of the city guard. He
was arrested while on a lark. and. at
tempting to run from his captors, waa
deliberately shot in the back at close
quarters. Great public commotion fol
lowed, the general aversion of the Ger
man people to the insolenoe of the
military being stimulated by this act to
the highest pitch. A mass meeting was
called, at whioh a petition and address
to the government were adopted, de
manding the severest punishment for
the "frivolous and brutal assassina
tion." The fnneral waa attended bv
nearly a thousand students and by the
entire faculty of the university. The
body had been lying in state in the hos
pital during the day, and as darkness
set in it was borne forth with fnneral
mnsio, followed by the long procession
of students, bearing torches and flags
draped in mourning. It was carried
Blowly through the main streets of the
city to the railway depot, where a spe
cial mm was waning to convey it to the
home of the young man's parents. The
return of the procession waa through
the streets along whioh the Btudont had
taken his way on the fatal night Op
posite the main garrison, to whioh the
offioer who had shot the student belong-
eu, iue proceBBion oame to a halt and
formed a hollow square, in the middle
of which the standard bearers with their
draped flags stationed themselves. Then
while the flickering torches east fantas
tic shadows over the plaza, the "Gande
amns" was sung. With the last words
of this student song all burled their
torches simultaneously to the ground,
and in darkness and silence the multi
tude dispersed. The report having
spread that the commander of the garri
son to whioh the guilty offioer belonged
hal expressed his approval of the mur
der, he received challenges to duels
from half a doaen 1 indents.
1