-pi o HENRY A. P ARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NIL. DESPEUANDUM. Two Dollars per Annum. i i VOL. X. Crocns. Oh, tho dear, delightful sound Of tho drops that to the ground From the eaves rejoicing run In ftie February sun ? Drip, drip, drip, they slide and slip From the icicle's bright tip, Till they melt tho sullen snow On tho garden bod bolow. " BIobs me ! what is all this drumming ?" Cries tho crocus, " I am coining ! Pray don't knock so long and loud, For I'm neither cross nor proud, But a little sleepy still With tho winter's lingering chill. Nevermind! 'Xis timo to wake, 'Tis as quickly done as said, Up she thrusts her golden head, Looks about with radiant eyes In a kind ol shy surprise, Tries to say in accents surly, "Well ! you called me very early !" But sho lights with such a smile All the dnrksome place the while, Kvery heart begins to stir Joytully at sight of her; Every creature grows more gay Looking in her face to-day. She is greeted, "welcome, dear-! . Fresh smile of tho hopeful year ! First bright print ol spring's light feet, Golden crocns, welcome, sweet !" And she whispers, looking np From her richly glowing cup, At the sunny eaves so high Overhead against the sky, " Now I've come, oh, sparkling drops, All your chattering pattering stops, And I'm very glad I came, And your 'ernot the least to blame That you hammered at the snow Till you wakened me below With you're one incessant tune. I'm not here a bit too soon !" St. A'ieholan. THE MILL-HAND. Gilbert Falconer sat in his library, surrounded by all the appurtenances of wealth he was the wealthiest man in Brinsley but his attitude wps listless, his brows were drawn; a sharp strug gle was going on between his heart and pride. "What lias come over meP" he mut tered. " I am as infatuated as any old fool, thinking, worrying, fretting, and ior whatP A beggar maid with a pair of winsome eyes a beggar, low-born most likely. What am I Ihinkingof" starling up vehemently "I, Gilbert Falconer, who could mate with the proudest in the county, to have fallen so low? What would my proud mother say? How haughty Beatrix Lenox would enecr! I'll crush it out I will! I'm no love-sick boy." Rut some things are eusier said than done, and this whs one of them, as Mr. Falconer found to his cot, though she was only an operator in one of his mills a slender, dark-eyed maiden, who, thouch a " beggar maid," carried her small head with the grace and pride of a queen. He could never forget tho first time he saw her. Some orders had been dis obeyed, but the consequences were scarcely serious enough to deserve the sharp rebuke the irate master gave; and, upon an attempt at defense, Mr. Falco ner laid his riding-whip several times over the man's shoulders. "Go!" he shouted, with an oath, "and never show your face inhis yard again !" It was a hard sentence, for the man had a wife and children, and the master never broke his word or commuted a pen ten ce. As Mr. Falconer turned away, still flushed with anger, a slender figure passed him, a pair of dark eyes gazed full into his eyes that were posi tively blazing with anger ; a rapid glance at the unfortunate culprit skulking out of the gates, then at him, showed which way her sympathy lay. " Do you know," she cried, suddenly pausing, " that that man has a wile and live children, all dependent on what he earns here? Surely you did not mean what you said. The offense scarcely deserved such severe punishment." Mr. Falconer was fairly aghast at such unparalleled audacity. Never in his life had any one dared to call him to account for any of his actions. " I am not in the habit of consulting the opinions of my employees when I punish impertinence," he said, sharply. The email head went up in the air with a gesture that would have done credit to Miss Lenox. "No," she answered, proudly; "but Mr. Falconer may have something to say about it when he learns what a des titute condition that man is in." "Iam Mr. Falconer," he answered. " I am master of this mill, and punish as I please." "You Mr. Falconer." Anger, sur prise and contempt were pictured on her lace as plainly as on a mirror. "Then I have nothing more to say." And, with a slight inclination of the head, she passed on b.pr way, Gilbert noting vaguely that her dress was of the humbicst make. Who was she! Such impertinence! bending his brows at the recollection that she had not asked his pardon for her first hasty word. "A mill-hand with that haughty style ! Bah !" he cried, striding into his office; "she is not worth noticing. She may be thankful I don't send her away." For several days it happened that Mr. Falconer was in his office when the big bell sounded release for all the tired souls and bodies in his employ, and he caught himself looking for a slender figure in a worn dress; then, meeting her one morning coming in tfce gate, was enraged at himself for having bowed, particularly as the dark eyes were immediately averted. He angrily asked the manager who she was. " Eleanor Eliot is the name she gave," was the answer. " She seems abovtf Her position, however, and she does her work very well." Mr. Falconer almost said, "I don't h herLereny loner:" then some thing an undehnable leeling-checke(l Ids weYrd!" " 8 hp8; he had t0 " drf Alter a while he took to coming to the mill every day, and occasionally walked through the long rooms full f busy men and women. T Once he stopped at Eleanor Eliot's sidk and gravely discussed some fabrio wifJi the manager, noticing absently tile pretty contour of the small, bent head, nd the slender, well kept fingers. An irresistible desire seized him to make her look up. Bending down, he stretched out his hand, and suddenly Iiqw it happened no one could tell his hand was caught in the machinery. In an in'tnnt nil wna rnnfiminn In m in stant the works were stopped, the wuuuutu memoer extricated, but all bruised and bleeding. Eleanor's fingers bound up the lacer ated hand in her own small handker chief, the master thanking her cour teously ; then he drove away in his fine carriage, and did not come to the mill for several days. Some time after the mill operatives had a half-holiday. Mr. falconer, rid ing slowly through the woods near his house, noticed the flutter of a woman's dress, rode closer, and saw the outline of a figure; then galloping to the stables, left his horse, and walked rapidly in the direction of the light dress. Nor was he mistaken. Under the shade of a wide-preading tree, her hat off, her lap full of early wild flowers, the sunlight falling through the leaves on her bonny brown hair, sat Eleanor Eliot. A small boy, about two years old, lay with his head in her lap, laugh ing and throwing his legs about " pro miscus," while she pelted him with the blossoms. "Oh!" she cried, kissing him, "you dear, good little man, what a comfort you are to me." The leaves rustled, and Mr. Falconer came into view. The girl put the child off her lap, and rose to her feet. "Don't let ine disturb you," he said. "You made a pretty picture in the sun light, you two. This is the first time I have seen you since my accident. Let me thank you for your promptness that day. I have your little handkerchief yet," with an inflection in his voice that was new to Nora and that did not please her. How could she guess that her winsome eyes and coldness had piqued and interested the master as none of the willing advances of fair and wealthy neighbors had doneP He was surfeited with flattery. Nora's coldness was a welcome stimulant ay, more welcome than even he knew him self. " You are perfectly welcome to any thing I did," she replied, coldly. Then there was a silence. " Who is that child ?" asked Mr. Fal coner, feeling rather snubbed, making a motion to pat the little fellow's head; but he shrank away, hiding his face in Nora's dress. " His name is Willie Marshall," an swered Nora, quickly. "His father is the man you horsewhipped and dis charged some months ago, and since then he has never done a day's work can't get it to do. The whole family are living in one room, almost starving. Many a night this poor little creature has gone to bod hungry. Can you realize what it means to be hungry starving ! you, who have so much, who have never known want or the sem blance of a wantP Oh, Mr. Falconer, where God eives so much he surely will require much! You will have to an swer for a great deal one of these days. Your men, with their wives and chil dren, are living in hovels that you would not let your dogs occupy. Those hovels are yours j they are paying you rent for them. The ventilation is wretched, the drainage is simply mur derous. Some day a fever will, must come, and many souls will be hurried into eternity, and you will have to answer for them all. Oh, surely, rich men's hearts are like nether mill stones!" Her face was flushed, her eyes were shining with unshed tears; she looked lovely. Mr. Falconer drew closer. "Tell me what to do," he said, sim ply, trying to keep down a great rush ol feeling. "What shall I do for Mar shall? How can I help him? Tell me." "Repair the injustice you did!" cried Nora, eagerly, drawing a little back. " Give him employment, at once, before he is quite mad with his misery before the brave mother's heart is broken, and the poor little children entirely forget tne raste 01 decent lood. ITay, do it, Mr. Falconer, you owe it to them." Gilbert came swiftlv close to her. his hands outstretched, his eyes bright, a fteling stronger than himself a feeling he did not stop to analyze urging him on. " I will, Nora, he cried eagerly" I will without fail to-morrow. Now ask me something more, my darling. I would do much more than that for you." lie caught her hands tight in his. In u iu:-i.:uii, nuiiv wrestea morn away. " How dare you?" she cried, in a blaze of anger. "How dare you touch me? Go away! Oh, you are a bad man. I hate you." 'Don't be so unkind to me, Nora," he pleaded, unabashed. " Indeed, 1 am in earnest. I do love you. If you would only listen to me if you would only love me a litt!e." " Don't insult me any further," she cried, stamping her foot. " Love you? Why, I hate you! hate you! hate you! There" "Hate me, do youP" Gilbert's face was drawn and white. In an instant his arms were round her, crushing the slender figure close, while he laid a warm, passionate kiss on her lips. Then as he lot her go, " Now," he said, hoarsely, "forget me if you can, hate me if you dare. Wherever you go, through your whole life, you shall never forget me; that kiss shall lie on your lips and make you love me." Nora was deathly pale. " You are right," she said, slowly, with an effort, und, oh. the utter scorn and contempt in her voice. "I shall never forget you as the most un principled, dishonorable man I have ever had the misfortune to meet, and I perfectly loath myself because you have touched me. I hope I may never see you again," and, catching up the whim perinsr, frightened child, walked rapidly away. True to her word, Eleanor did not meet Mr. Falconer again, as she left Brinsley by the afternoon train, going as quietly as she had come, no one know ing her destination. And before the day was over the mas ter received a telegram, calling him to Interlaken, where his mother lay very ill. so Thursday's mail train bore him away; but before he left, Marshall had been reinstated in his old position. 'the next news received several weeks after was of Lady Helen Falconers death, and of her son's intention to travel for some time. Nearly a year after Eleanor's proph ecy was fulfilled. A low fever, born of RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUKSDAY, MARCH 18, impure ventilation and vile sewerage, broke out in that part of the town where tho mill operatives lived, and death gathered in his harvest with re lentless force. Mr. Falconer returned from abroad, and with a rapidly organized committee, tried to turn the course of the destroyer, going from house to house, from death bed to deathbed, without fear of con tagion, spurred on by an accusing con science, the words " many souls will be hurried into eternity, r.nd you will have to answer for them, ' ringing in his ears. At last tho current of the disease was turned, the fever abated, and measures were immediately set on foot for the improvement of houses and drainage, when Mr. Falconer was struck down. For weeks his life lajr in the balance, the whole bnrden of his delirium being, "And I must answer for them." But God was merciful, and slowly Gilbert drifted back to life and its responsibili ties. Lying back in an easy-chair, pale, but on the high road to recovery, one day he heard a name which sent the blood bounding to his heart - a name which he had not been able to forget. His aunt was talking to a lady friend at the other end of the room. ."Eleanor Eliot is one of the sweetest, noblest girls I ever knew or heard of," Lady Ilargrave was saying, enthusiasti cally. " Her father was a clergyman, and dying, left her and a young brother almostdestitute; there was just enough monejr left after everything was settled to finish the boy's education, and the dear, brave girl would not let them tell the young fellow how much it was, and lias kept him at school ever since, and has been working hard, very hard, I be lieve, though I don't know at what, and ho does not yet know how badly off his poor sister is. She is distantly related to tho Honorable Mrs. Audley, and she asked me to look out for some position for the dear girl." " I think I know of a position that might suit her," said the visitor, " my sister is looking for a governess for her two little girls, and, of course, Miss Eliot being so well recommended, she might suit her." " I'll give you the address." Then Gilbert waited impatiently, while his aunt, rung the bell, and Parker was dispatched to find Mrs. Audley's letter; then there was a hunt for her ladyship's eyeglasses. At last the wel come words fell on his ear. Two day's after, sadly against his aunt's advice, Mr. Falconer started for London, going straight to a small shabby house in an humble location. " Miss Eliot?" he asked, eagerly, of the miserable-looking female who opened the door. "She's left, sur," was the answer, " she left yesterday morning; her money was done, an' I dunno where she's gone." Gilbert turned away with a sick heart, and, dismissing the cab, walked aim lessly along. By-and-bye he came to a large dark old church, bearing traces of Inigo Jones in its beautiful entrance. The doors were open, morning service was just over, Gilbert was tired and weak; a sudden impulse for which ho thanked God all his life long caused him to enter. - In one of tho pews still knelt a eirl. the face hidden in both hands. Until every one had passed out. she knelt there, then rising, came slowly down the aisle. Pale, worn, with a weary droop of tho proud little head that made Gilbert's heart ache, came Miss Eliot. Trembling with nervousness he waited until she was opposite to him, then said, quicklj ; "Miss Eliot!" Startled, she looked up, saw him, and colored to the roots of her hair, then glanced at the door as if meditating flight. "Don't go" he cried, putting out a thin hand. "Don't go. Oh, listen to me. Forgive me my brutal conduct that day. I have regretted it ever since. Sav you forgive me !" No answer ; her head was bent down. "Nora, can't you forgive meP" he pleaded. " You were angry with me once for calling you by your name, but I can't help it, dear; if you could only look into my heart and see the love I have for you. the utter longing. For nearly a year I have been trying to for get you, and to-d.iy I love you better than ever. Nora, can't you love me? Won't you be my wife?" At the last sentence Nora looked up quickly. "Are you in earnest? Do you real ize who I am?" she said, with the old proud movement of her head. "An operator in your mill a beggar, with out a home or a friend, save my brother, God bless him, in the world while you area rich manl" " Oh, come to me." interrupted Gil bert, stretching out his arms. " If that is your only objection, come to me quickly. My pure, noble darling, I know all your sell- acrilice. I am not half worthy of you. Come to me make me a better man, be good to my people. 1 know they will bless you when they learn how much they owe to you." Then in low, eager tones he told briefly of the lever, and ol the en tire change in the sanitary arragewents at Brinsley, touching lightly on his ill ness, and passing over his bravery. "And your prophecy haunted me; all through my illness it rung in my ears, and I hungered for a sight of your bonny face, for a touch of your hand. Nora!" with a sharp ring of pain in his voice, " take back your bitter words; tell me you do not hate me. Even a crumb of bare liking I shall be thank ful for, and if you will bless me with your precious love I shall thank God for it. You can make me a better man, a better landlord, a true Christian. All these possibilities lie in your hands." Nora's face was hidden in her hands she was sobbing. " Won't you answer me?" he pleaded, bending over her. "Only one little word to put me out of suspense. My darling, I am weary for you. Come to the arms that are waiting for you." And she came with a sudden swift movement, laying her tired head on his shoulder, while his glad arms gathered her-close. close to his heart, and he lahi his lips on her forehead with a silent thanksgiving lor the blessed boon of this "mill-hand's "love. It was a delicate piece of sarcasm in the boarder who sent his landlady a razor neatly inclosed in a handsome suk-iinea case and labeled "butter knife." The board of health of Philadelphia condemns the local practice of using hay in iue street cars as a puono nuisance, being detrimental to health. FOB THE FAIR SEX. Fashion Notes. Beaded trimmings are in great vogue Some of the new suits are flounced to the waist. Everything odd, everything quaint is considered stylish. The fashionable hat ol the summer will be a broad-brimmed Tuscan straw. Mercutio plumes and Prince of Wales tips will be the feathers worn this sea son. Jet fringes, passementerie and the rfew " blackberry buttons " ol fine jet are used on rich black dresses. For full-dress bodices a new cut is coming in, viz., high on tho shoulders and en caiur back and front. It is not becoming. Polonaises are too useiul to be set aside, and are being resuscitated in Paris as "over-dresses," often made with paniers. Black polka-dotted grenadines are made up over black satin, and there are very fine black cashmeres embroidered with polka dots to be made up with plain black cashmere. Long scarfs of black twilled silk to be worn in mourning are made double, edged with black footing, and are shirred a short distance from the ends to give tho effect of tassels. Embroidery is invading all domains, end only awaits tho spring to blossom in full splendor embroidery in silk or chenille, mixed with beads, embroidery entirely of beads, in various colors, or of one ;:olor only. A narrow knife-plaiting of dark red satin is around the bottom of the skirt of nearly all the French dresses, no mat ter how light or how dark the material of the dress is; indeed, this gay finish is seen ns frequently as were white lace or muslin Lalayeuses on dresses last year. Dark blue linen and navv blue Scotch ginghams are mado into short dresses with striped claret-colored borders, or else the gayest Turkish retf calico with palm-leaf figures is used for the cuffs, collars, pockets, borders and for a lull guimpe, which is finished at the top wuii a irui. Harper's Bazar savs that in New York white petticoats are entirely abandoned, and there are in nreDaration nett.irinn.ta of black foulard or Surah, trimmed with narrow tiounccs which are edged with white lace, or else with lace embroid ered with silk or wool in red, rose, blue or orange. Diagonal bands crossing the front of the underskirt are a favorlto way of ar ranging beaded embroideries. Pearl and satin beads are off en mixed in these bnd and the suriace is uj-uhIIv Quite covered . One of the new wavs of makinir over worn polonaises is to keep tho upper Eart unaltered, and to replace the lower readths by draperies of brocade stuff, long enough to hide ail of the underskirt except the flounce. Plain round skirts, simolv stitched on the lower edge, and surtout overdresses opening in each searu below the waist, are the coming style for traveling dresses. Those who do not like them will wear suits with the overskirt and jacket like those in fashion last winter. How They Feed a Prima Donna. This being the ase of indiscretions, re marks the Parinan,we are almost bound to be indiscreet. For the benefit, there fore, of luture cantatriccs we will reveal la Patti's liet. When she wakes in the morning she drinks a cup of chocolate. This habit is invariable. On days when sue lias not to sing sue eats heavily of underdone meat. She has, too, a strong liking for a certain garlic soup, which has ben invented especially for her by an ingenious cook. On days when she sings la Patti breakfasts at eleven on eggs and meat, with Bordeaux wine and seltzer water. This is the only serious meal sho eats until after the perform ance, when she sups. On her singing days la Patti does not dine. After break- last sue retires to her room and sleeps for a couple of hours. About four o'clock she dresses, takes a ride, then returns home and practices at the piano for an hour. Before going to the theater she drinks a clear consomme. This hygienic system is scruDulously observed by la ratti. we may add another detail. She never opens her mouth until she has taken her chocolate ; then she tries her voice by calling Caro, her chambermaid, with all her might. The Stevens Battery. Speaking ol naval matters, writes a New York correspondent. I notice the approaching sale of the Stevens battery, whicn is one ol the strange teatures ol this port. The building in which it is enclosed, with the surrounding prem ises, covers two acres, and as there is no probability that it will ever be used its demolition is now urged. The Stevens lamily has become famous for its im mense wealth, which is chiefly due to the Hoboken property and the ferry, both of which have become immensely valuable. Old John Stevens was a re markable inventor. He not only built a steamboat almost contemporary with Fulton's lirsteffort, but he was our rail way pfoneer. In 1826 lie built a small railroad on his grounds and operated a locomotive which made six miles an hour. It was a great curiosity, espe cially when he gave his opinion that a railroad would soon be built from New York to Buffalo. He lived to see his locomotive in successful operation, His son, Robert L. Stevens, died in 1856, aged sixty-eight. He was a remarkable inventor, at least in navigation, and among his other creations was the above mentioned iron battery. Ho began the work in 1815. his planbeinir to con struct a vessel which should be proof against tne heaviest shot. This work he continued till his death, but when the rebellion began it was not accepted by the department, and tho improve ments of the age have rendered it really worthless. Hence the mighty vessel in which a quarter million has been ex pended will be taken to pieces and its material sold for old iron ; a sad instance of a work of genius becoming not enly utterly useless, but also an incumbrance. and whose removal will be an item of heavy expense. The dimensions of this enormous vessel are as follows : Length 415 ieet. breadth 48 feet, denth 32 feet. She has ten boilers, eight driving engines and nine subordinate engines. She is built entirely of iron, with sham bow and stern, and her measurement as com pared with merchant vessels is 5,500 tons. .Such is the monBter which is to be torn to pieces a task almost as great as in construction. JOHN CHINAMAN IN SEW YORK. Life In the Transplanted Section of the Flowery Kingdom-Trie Interior of m Chinese Store. The great obstacle in the way of the growth of the Chinese population of New York city at present is the dirflculty they have in protitring buildings for habitations and business purposes in any desirable part of the town. They are now scattered in all sections of the cty, by twos, threes and half dozens, in t he laundry buiiness, but their quarter i s the lower end of Mott street. There their peculiar institutions flourish; there their stores are j there their fire cracker and tea-chest lingo is flauntod glaringly upon red paper at almost every door. Here in New York there is not, as yet, any such overcrowding as In San Francisco, yet the manner in which they utilize space is really remarkable. Take Wo Kee s store for example. It is the principal Chinese store on Mott street, consequently the leading one in New York. It contains apparently some where near a million different tilings of the most incongruous character. There are an infinity of diminutive pasteboard boxes, tilled with Chinese medicines gigantic pills, roots, herbs, barks, seeds, and such like. There are incense sticks, jado bracelets; strange evolutions of Celestial fancy in tho way of ornament ation, like glorified valentines; quaint and pretty tea services, dried sharks' fins, looking like bungled strips of amber-tinted glue; ducks split, baked in peanut oil, and flattened out dry, so as to look like strange caricatures oj dragons ; sweetmeats in infinite variety, nuts that nobody but a Chinaman knows the name of, dried mushrooms, opium and pipes for smoking it, to bacco, teas of many kinds, some of them exquisite and much more expensive than any American store sells; silks, fungus-looking black lumps, of which it is guaranteed that a small bit will make tho drunkenest man immediately sober; sandals and Chinese clothing. In short, it is grocery, dry goods store, jewelry shop, drug store, curiosity shop, and twenty other things, and yet is all com prised in the space of a small front par lor, with a narrow branch into a back room, necessarily small, so as to leave space for a well-patronized lodgings de partment. There is a little open space in the center of the store, just enough for three or four customers to stand in, but beyond that not an inch is wasted. Oa a little table near the window stands the inevitable tea pot and a number of little cups, preparation for a hospitality that the Chinese merchant extends to every one. Behind the narrow little counter is Wo-Kee himself, bland, courteous, deft in running up sums with the buttons of his Chinese abacus, artistic in the manipulation of the camel's hair brush with which he paints the mysterious symbols of his account books, graceful and exact in the weigh ing out by his ivory and thread balance (on the steelyard pattern) of the minute quantities of opium constantly in de mand by his customers. In the basement of Wo-Kee's house meets the Po-Lan-Gung-Sc, a benevolent society of Chinamen numbering about seventy-five members. Further down the street is the meeting place of the Sam-Hop-We, another association for mutual benefit. The Chinese ouarter contains n. onvml of opium-smoking shops, where the slaves of the soporific drug lie in narrow bunks and sleep dreamful slumbers. Those addicted to this vice show it in their listless, indifferent stare, stupidity and bodily weakness when it lias gained a great hold upon them, but nearly all the Chinese seem to smoke opium to a moderate extent without suffering any harm from it. There are no Chinese liquor shops, and a drunken Chinaman is exceedingly rare, although most of them drink a little beer. Thev have no temple here as yet, and no theater, but in course of tiaie hope to have both, when they are here in sufficient num bers for the support of such institutions. In neither devotional nor histrionic exer cises have they any disposition to favor amateur effort. The one vice most prevalent among them seems to be gambling. They play for very snail stakes generally, but with an eagerness and infatuation that no other people cau excel, i neir games no white man ever dreams of undertaking, and hence it is that when a party of Chinese gamblers are arrested it is hardly possible, except by a stretch of presumption under the law, to convict them. They have, how ever, a wholesome respect for American law, and are extremely cautious in ad mitting a stranger to any knowledge of their sports of chance. Reporters the more ignorant of them fear more than policfmen, for their interpreters have taught them: "It is only bythemibli- cation in the newspapers of the matters you permit the reporters to know about you that the colice ever find out anv- thing. So long as the policeman is left to the resources of his own intelligence you have nothine to fear from him." So it is very hard to get any informa tion irom them about their lives and habits. When a Chinaman is very sick nnd feels that he can afford it, he goes ro nn American physician lor treatment. uut ior ordinary ailments, just beyond the limits of his own knowlcdse of the resources of Wo-Kee's red boxes, l.e goes to tho one of tho two Chinese physicians located here, Chun-Man-Wy, their principal physician, does quite a thriving trade upon a basis of prices regulated to meet the financial abilities ol his countrvmen. Sometimes a Chinaman p-iys him as much as $2 for being thoroughly cured. Quong- jee ainrms that there has never yet been a case of leprosy among the China men in New Yoik. There are six flourishing stores on Mott street, dealing almost entirely in imported goods, paying high rents, and doing a thriving business. Not the jeast amusing feature of the transactions in them is the frequent occurrence of Chinamen coming in to have reweighed on the honest scales of their countrymen the Bmall packages of goods purchased from grocers and other shopkeepers who are not Chinese. They say that it is a rare thing for them to find a pack age that is of full weight. "No such business in my store," ml Wo-Kee, proudly. " I give full wi Uht of all I sell." There has been two Chinese women here, but one of them started for Havana with her husband. No women have arrived among the recent comers from California, and none are expected. New York Hun. A return recently made in New York State shows that its savings banks hold $100,780,000 of the bonds of the United States, par value. These banks have deposits of $399,000,000. 1880. TIMELY TOI1CS. A French scientist has invented a number of small electric lamps which can be used by the surgeon in illuminat ing the throat, the mouth, or even the morn internal parts of the body, while performing an operation. It is now sug gested that it would be possible to ma terially assist the physician in his diag nosis, by means of a powerful electric light. On the assumption that the hu man body is only semi-opaque, it is proposed to placo the patient in such a position in connection with a dnrk screen, that it is probable a powerful electric light would sufficiently illum inate his interior to enable the physician in a dark room to see so much of the workings of the principal organs us would assist him to arrive at a correct conclusion as to the nature of the case. If such a scheme is possible it would undoubtedly be of much advantage to medicine. One of the unexpected sources of wheat supply for Europe is the river Platte country in South America. Large shipments of new-crop wheat have already been made by steamers to Liverpool and Bordeaux. Avstralla, also, lias now become a serious com petitor of the United States, and during the past few months has shipped enor mous quantities of wheat to England by Suez canal steamers. Countries in the southern hemisphere fi'iish their winter wheat harvests at just the time when the supply from northern coun tries begins to be exhausted. . ' The year 1880 will be memorable in naval and commercial annals for the promulgation of a new code of sea sig nals and road rules. Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Austria, Ititly, tho Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Chili and the United States have agreed to these rules, which include, besides sig naling with colored lights, a set of blasts from the steam whistle or fog horn, whose numbers and length of duration talk plainly. For example, a steamer sighting any vessel gives one short blast to denote thatnhe is keeping to starboard, two if she is keeping to port, and three if she is going astern. Other blasts have fixed meanings. The new rules should help to diminish the number of disastrous collisions which have been steadily increasing with the increase of shipping. Civil war is a commonplace incident in South America, but it is not often that the contestants are so very civil as the revolutionists who have o.verthrown tho government of the State of Antio quia, in the republic of Columbia. This community was on the point of an out break when M. do Lcsscps arrived there. Tho leaders had got their boom well to a head, and were just ready to issue tho regular pronunciamento, when they were appealed to by the authori ties to postpone the affair until the dis tinguished guest should have departed. With true Spanish politeness they com plied, and lor the credit of the country abroad, presented to the enercetic pro jector the spectacle of a happy and united people. As soon as de Iesscps had left they went on with their revo lution, which proved a decided success. Tho Moscow industrial exhibition, which was to have been opened on the first of May, as an additional celebra tion of the czar's twenty-fifth anniver sary, is postponed till next year, chiefly on account of the present disturbed state of public affairs. It will not be inter national, as was reported, confining it self strictly to Russian produce. In fact, it appears intended for a duplicate of that of 1872, and will probably oc cupy the same site.viz., the slope around the foot of tho Kremlin wall. One of the leading attractions on that occasion was the Bppearnnce of n number of Central-Asian Sarts and Kirghiz, whom a shrewd Russian had hired to hang around his refreshment bar, r.nd draw attention by their outlandish dress and features. Another curious episode whs the bewilderment of a group of Russisn peasants at the sight ot a small wooden building, the character of which they guessed at in vain, till a passer-by in formed them that it was a model of ono of their own cottages. lie Fonnd a Bowery Boy. It is related of Thackeray that, being very desirous to see a "Bowery boy," a New York rough of twenty years ago, he went with a friend iuto the haunts of that peculiar creature to look for one. Very soon his companion pointed out to him a genuine specimen, standing on the corner of a street against a lamp post, red-shirted, black-trousered, soap locked, shiny-hatted, with a cigar in his mouth elevated at an angle of forty-five decrees. After contemplating him for a fow moments, Thackeray said to his friend that ho would like to talk to the fellow, and asked if he might do so. "Surely," he was told; "go to him and ask him to direct you some where." Thereupon Thackeray approached, and said, politely: " My friend, I should like to go to" such a place. " Weil," replied tho Bowery boy. in his peculiar tones, and without moving anvthinz but his Hds. as he looked nn lazuy at tne tan, gray-naircn noveiut " well, sonny, you can go, if you won't stay ior long." Thackeray was satisfied. Married on a Sliding Scale. What proved quite an exciting event in social circles occurred at the mar riage of Miss Belle Chamberlin, of Bel videre. and Mr. John GrioD. of Bonus. A large party had assembled at the resi dence of the mother of the bride to wit ness the ceremony, when, as the bridal party had taken their positions, and tho Kev. J . Whitehead, the officiating clergyman, was about to commence the service, the floor gave way and sank about three feet, mixing bride, groom, clergyman and spectators in one com mon mass. Tt e lights were extinguished fortunately without any damages, and ior a tew minutes contusion reieneu supreme. It was 6oon ascertained that nobody was hurt, and no damage, ex cep. to the floor, sustained. The lights were relighted, the bride and groom t gain took their positions, the euests being by this time arranged on a sliding scale, and the ceremony was conducted without ft rther interruption. Had there Djen a cellar under the floor, the consc. auences must have been disiuitmtm As it was, the affair is laughable: juuwauxee wis) bemineu NO. 4. An Ode to Leap Tent. One year out of fonr, The girls " have the floor," And skip for the boys like chick ens lor dougk; While the bashful men wait, For the uhoice of first mete, And blees their dear selves that fate willed to. Tho elderly maiden, With wrinkles laden, Has now n nice chance tho question to pop But pity the man, Voji people who can, Who is thus caught by a girl " on the hop." The ugly old " bach " Sews on his Inst pat oh, And can't see why his name isn't booker) For a little wile To cheer his lile, But he finds that the sweet one leaped 'iote she looked. So go ahead, girls, And damage your curls, In the laces of these who question this right; Your chance to propose, As far as it goes, Is good; so improve it with all your might. T. V. Greenshtl, in PhilaMphia Item. ITEMS OF INTEREST. Chicago drank 7,000,000 gallons of milk last year. Petroleum has been discovered in Brown county, Texas. The total population of Greece is 1,679,000 souls, against 1,457,000 in 1870. During the year 1879 the shipyards of Mnine turned out seventy-three ves sels. W. H. Vanderbilt draws $300,000 in terest on 3 1,000,000 four per cents every ninety days. A lazy harvest hand is troubled with drop sickle complaint. Marathon Inde pendent. First coal fields worked in America were the bituminous fields of Richmond, Va., discovered in 1750. Girls should be a little cautious this year how they ask young men it they like " pop." Middlctown Transcript. "What is home without a father r" asks an exchange. It's a mighty good place to court a girl in. Silem Sun beam. There have been 23 steamers, 30 ships, 71 barks, 43 bries and 114 schooners all together 320 vessels lost in the storms of last winter. Black linen collars nnd i uffsare shown among other things, but these are to be worn only with mourning dress and are unwholesome at best. The prima donna, Sculze Killschtgy, is dead. She was the Adelini Patti of 1812-20 and was ninety-six years old when she died last month. When you aro all broken down, And lile seems a slmin, Your best triends deserted yon All storn.ii, and no chIiii, With your heart lull of sorrow, And no show ot n smile Don't give up ior a season. It's a surplus ot bile. Steubenrille IlertiH. Saving a Train. On Sunday evening last an incident oc curred on the Western railroad that will cause surprise wherever it is spoken of. The tn.in was within thirty miles of Montgomery, running at a rapid rate, nil unconscious of danger. The engi neer spied a white handkerchief on a pole, fluttering in the road some dis tance up the track. On getting nearer he discovered it was some one waving the down train. The shrill whistle was sounded, brakes put on and the train brought to a standstill, ihe heads ol the passengers were popping out of tho windows, inquiring what the trouble wus, no station being near. The conductor came out. and sceinir a tramp was the one who had caused the train to stop, inquired in probably a rather angry manner what was wanted, ibis man, who belonged to a class almost universally despised and subjected to cuffs and kicks, astonished the conductor by informing him that about eighteen inches ot ran was broken out a short distance further on. The broken placo wns repaired, the train about to move oil, wnen tne con ductor saw thetramn standing on the roadside, asked: ' Where do you want to gor The tramo replied : " To PeiisaeoJa." "Then," said the conductor, "why don't you get on the train?" The reply was: " Because I have no money." The conductor told him ti iset aboard, that ho would take him to Montgomery. On arriving in the city the fact was re portel to the general manager of the road, who asked the man which he would have, money or work. The man answered lm would rather have employ ment. A position was nt once given him. At last accounts he was at work and doing well. Columbus (Oa.) En quirer. Words of Wisdom. Twenty men who believe what they profess, and live ns they believe, are worth more than live hundred hypo crites to any good cause. 1 he more a man knows about any subject the greater will bo his charity for and sympathy with vie ws (tillering from his own. As frost to the bud and blieht to the blossom, even such is sell-interest to friendship, for confidence cannot dwell whore se.tislinefsris porter at the gHte. Uur striving against nature Is like holding a weathercock with one's hand ; as soon as the force is taken off it veers again with the wind. ihe i iche&t endowments of the mind are tt mperance, prudence and fortitude. Prudence is a universal virtue, which enters into the composition of nil the rest; aud where she is not, fortitude loses it name and nature. Every feature is a step to success; every detection of what is false directs toward what is true; every trial ex hausts some tempting form of error. Not only so. but scarcely any attempt is entirely a failure; scarcely any theory, the result of steady thought.is altogether false ; no tempting formjs without some latent charm derived from truth. A ship on the broad, boisterous, and open ocean, needeth no pilot. But it dare not venture alone on the placid bosom of a little river, lest it be wrecked by some hidden rock. Thus it is with life. 'Tis not in our open, exposed deeds that we so much need the still voice of the silent monitor, as in the small, secret, every-day acts of our life.
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