V
1
7Tu7 7'
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PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher,
Nil DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. X.
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1880.
NO. 11.
II Ik ll I I
IE
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3
A Bll or a Sermon.
AVhatso'er you find to do,
Do it, boys, with all your might 1
Never be a little true;
Or a little in the right. 1
Trifles even
Lead to heaven,
Trifle make the Hie ol man j
So in all things, '
Great or small things,
Be as thorough as yon can.
Let no speck thoir surface dim
Spotless truth and honor bright!
I'd not give a flg tor him
Who says any lie is white!
lie who falters,
TwUts or alters
LittJo atoms when we speak,
May deceive me,
But believe me,
To himself he is a sneak!
Help the weak it you are strong,
Lovo the old if you are young,
Own a limit if you are wrong,
If you're angry, hold your tongue,
In each duty
Lies a beav.ty,
II your eyes do not shut,
Just as surely
And securely
As a kernel in a nut!
Love with all your heart and soul,
Love with eye and car and touch;
That's the moral ol the whole.
You cs n nover love too much !
Tis the glory
Of the slory '
In our bubyliood bognn;
Our hearts without it,
(Never ditibl it),
Are iho worlJ i without a sun!
II yon think a word will please,
Say it, it it is but true,
Words may give delight with ease,
When no net U uke( from you.
Wotdi niny often
Socjihe and sollen,
Gild a jny or heal a pain;
They are treasures
Vitldiug pleasures
It is wicked to retuin!
Whatsoe'er you find to do,
Do it then with all your might;
Lut your prayers bo otrong an'.' true
Prayer, my larfs, will keep you right.
Prayer in nil things,
tire it and small tilings,
Like aChri inn gentleman;
And lor? er,
Now or never,
Be its thorough as you can.
G'ooi It 'ortls Jar the Young.
IN PERIL-
"Lois Lois Arnold! Drat the girl!
Where is she now ?"
The speaker whs an energetic-looking
' middle-aged woman standing in the
door of ti siuail house in the side street
' ot a village-
" What's the matter, Mary?" queried
her husband, a kindly faced man, us he
stepped into the porch beside her.
"Mutter enough! Why, here it is
six o'clock nnrt the table ain't even set
for supper. I can't lind Lo's nowhere.
What's more, lteuhen," fbeadded.with
an anxious look, "I mistrust she's after
no ftond."
" Why, how do you mean, Mary?
"1m afraid she s oil with
that Dray-
ton.
" What, that city chap?"
"Yes. He's been moopin' around
here a sight more'n I like, lately. I
saw her puttin' on her best white frock
two hours ago. and I thought then that
more'n likely she pxpected to see him."
And Mrs. Arnold shook her head sol
emnly. At this moment a young man turned
the corner of the street and came to ward
the couple. He was tall ar.d well made,
and evidently a carpenter by occupa
tion. asthakit oftoois he carried tes
tified. "Here comes Paul Haynes, now,"
said Mrs. Arnold. " Perhaps he's seen
her." And, with a friendly nod she
called out, "Seen Loisatiy wheresround,
Paul?"
"No, I haven't," replied the young
man, pausing; then added, anxiously,
" You ain't worried about her, are
you?"
" Oh, no; like's not she is in to one of
the neighbors." said Mrs. Arnold, with
feigned indifference; and, as Haynes
passed on, t-ha naid to iter husband : "I
wasn't going to have hini mUuut any
thing Lois hud a sight better m irry
him ; li3 wants her b:td"enough, and h'i's
such a good fellow."
Lois Arnold w is the niece of the good
couple who were thus anxious about
, her a pretty, wayward little thing, who
Lid already given as much anxiety to
her sober protectors as does the wanton
duckling to the respectable hen she who
rears it.
At this moment tho culprit was walk
ing down a gr.en lane not far from her
home, making her way toward it, in
. deed, but very slowly.
. She was not alone. She was leaning
on the arm of u man about thirty, evi
dently a denizen of the city. He was
rather good looking, with intense dark
eyes, and yet there lurked an expression
on his face that might have inspired
distrust in one more experienced than
our country girl.
"And you say we must part here,
Lois?" he said, pausing under the shade
of a large tree, and drawing her into
the shelter of some bushes.
"Yes, Frank." she replied. "I dare
not have you go any further; and I shall
be late at home, as it is. Aunt Mary will
be sure to scold,"
"Lois," said the young man suddenly,
taking both her hands in his. " would
you like to escape those scoldings for
ever?" -
" What do you mean, Mr. Drayton?"
asked Lois, looking up at him with
startled eyes.
" I mean will you go back to the city
with me? Will you give yourself tome
entirely, my own pretty pet?"
And ho oauiiht her suddenly in his
arms, imprinting an audacious kiss on
her trembling lips, and fairly over
whelming her with the loroe ol his
emotion.
After a moment Lois drew a little
back Irom that almost fierce embrace,
and looking frightened and bewildered,
taUerel i
"This U to sudden!"
" I know it is sudden, my darling,"
ucDniu,uianui IK I IU fflU U U11U HpiD
"but I am forced to sneak to-dnv.
received- a letter last night that well
oblige me to return to the city in three
days.
"So soon?"
r "Yes, sweet one; must I go alone?"
lAjia iieaikttwu, Him even WOlje Bn6
listened to this lover's pleadings the
honest eyes of Paul Haynes seemed to
he looting into Hers with mtiful olead
ingand warning. But Drayton went
on to paint pictures of life in the citv
wini hii us ueuguts, ana 10 utter pas
sionate protestations of devotion. And
bewildered by the suddenness of the
attack, dazzled and intoxicated, before
they parted Lna Had consented to elope
witu ncr new lover.
Of course, no thought of evil crossed
her mind. . Somewhat more rentlv nur
tured than the people about her, the
picture of a city home possessed great
attractions for her; and this man of the
world, with his graceful manners and
easy flatteries, had thrown about her a
srrt of fascination that for the time
seemed to render her obedient to his
will.
She walked home as in a dream, and
was so absorbed in thought that she
never needed Aunt Mary's scoldings,
but went about her evening duties
mechanically. Only as she was wash
in? the dishes after supper, she kept
thinking how pleasant it would be to be
rid of such drudgery is the future.
Yet her slumbers that night were be
ing troubled; Drayton had, of course,
proposed an enlopement, though she
could not see why, if he wanted to
marry her, why did he not come and
ask her uncle for her and have the wed
ding take place in the villaae sothat s he
might enjoy the innocent pleasurejof
Biiuwing in i city cuuquest io uer iiienasr
And, somehow, she could not get Paul
out of iter head She had always
thought she should marry him; she
knew lie had loved her so long and so
well, she had teased him with her flirta
tions, of course, but, then, she had al
ways intended to marry him intheend.
Drayton took good care that Lois
should have as little time for reflection
as possible during the next three days.
It was early September, the weather
was warm and line, and he prrsuaded
Lois to spend a large portion of each
d:iy in rambling through the woods
with hiin; and when she was by his
side reflection w as impossible.
lie made passionate love to her all the
time, half-irightening her with the
fierceness of his protestations, yet ren
dering her quite powerless of resistance
and molding her every day more abso
lutely to his will until she felt as if
mysterious bonds were riveted about
her.
She went home on the last evening
through a gloomy twilight that threat
ened rain,-with his last entreaties ling
erirg in her ears, witli no thought of
trying to efcape her destiny, and yet
with a heart that was as heavy as lead
in her bosom. At her own gate she met
Paul Ilaynes.
' Oh. here you are, Lois!" he cried,
with a joyful voice; "your auntwasjust
beginning to be terribly worried about
you!"
" Was she?" said Lois, looking up at
him with a pale face and wild startled
eyes. " I won't trouble her any more."
' Something in her look and tone smote
Paul with sudden alarm.
" What is the matter, Lois?" he cried
out.
" Nothing, nothing." she said, hastily :
"let me go in," and before he could stop
her, she hurried past him into the
house.
Paul looked after her for a moment,
and then walked thoughtfully down the
street.
The next morning a dull, drizzling
rain was falling, when, at a very early
hour, Lois rose and looked with forlorn
face out of her window. She dressed
herself as in a dream, and then, with a
little sacheljin her hand, and closely
wrapped in waterproof and vail stole
from the house. Her limbs trembled so
that she could scarcely walk, her face
was pile, and tears stood in her eyes,
and yet she moved on as if obedient to
some imperious power.
It had been arranged that she was to
wait near the little station till the train
approached, when she was to jump on
the cars as quickly as possible, when
Drayton would join her with the
tickets.
Of course Lois was early at the ap
pointed place, and as the stood under
the tree, lading herself as well as she
could with an umbrella, she was a very
miserable little creature. It all hap.
pened, however, as had been arranged.
Lois, hurried on to the train, and after
it had whirled on for a short distance,
she was joined by Drayton.
Once by his side again, her fears and
her reluctance seemed in a great meas
ure to vanish, and while lie painted
again to her in glowing colors the life
they would lead in the city, or under
her wraps clasped her hand in his, she
forgot everything but the fascination he
exerted over her.
When they reached New York, Dray
ton hurried Lois from the cars, and,
finding her a seat in the waiting-room
left her there. He must go away to
make some arrangements for their com
fort, but would return soon, he said.
Left to herself in trie dreary quiet of
the room, which was nearly empty after
the rush ot passengers had departed,
IO is loll again into utter wretchedness.
The rain fell in torrents outside, the air
was damp and chill; she shivered, and
after awhile drooped her head and be
gan to weep under her vail. The tears
wfiicii ai nrst aroppea silently, grew
thicker, and an irrepressible sob parted
her li.8.
At this moment a hand was laid
gently on her shoulder, and a kind voice
said :
" What is the matter, Lois?"
She looked up, and beside her stood
Paul Ilaynes, gazing at her with eyes
full of pity and tenderness. Lois half
drew back and gasped out:
" Paul, what brought you here?"
" I came on your account, Lois," he
said; then, noticing a little repellant
gesture, he added quickly, " No, Lois,
not to trouble you or interfere with your
happiness, simply to protect jjju it you
need protection. You believe that I
am a true iriend, do you not?"
" Yes, Paul, I am sure of that."
" I cannot bear to hurt your poor lit
tle child, ' he said, in a voice of infinite
gentleness, "but I distrust Mr.fcDray
ton. You think ho is going to marry
'you?''
ui course i aoi exciaimea Lois.
pushing back her vail, and gazing at
jraui witu wiue eyvs ui naiuuiBuuient
" And you wish w mrry lunar"
" Ye-e-s" the assent was not very
ceart y.
"Of course you do, since you have
come here with him. and you know, of
course, that he ought to marry you at
once this afternoon."
" Certainly; that is what I expected."
Paul looked at her gravely.
" Lois," said he, ' God forgive me if I
do the man injustice. But I cannot help
fearing that he does not mean to do the
honorable thing by you. When I met
you last night I was troubled to the
heart. I distrusted Drayton, and when
I learned that he was going away in the
early train this morning I determined to
watch him. I saw you get on the train
and I followed. I will not tell you what
I suffered" a spasm of pain crossing his
face "you know how long I have loved
you, Lois, and that ought to prove to
you that I am your friend now. When
Mr. Drayton returns, if you will give
me leave, I will claim the right to go
with you and see you married. If his
intentions are what they ought to be, ho
will be glad to have me go. If they are
not "
"I will go home with you, Paul,"
said Lois, firmly. "I am glad you are
here. I lelt so so lonesome," she added,
hesitatingly.
"And you will authorize my being
with you, Lois?"
"Yes, Paul, gladly."
And indeed it seemed as if new cour
age had come to the girl. Her eyes
were alight again, her face bright, and
she no longer cowered in her corner,
but sat upright. They had not long to
wait.
Presently Drayton stepped just within
the door and beckoned to Lois. She did
not respond to his signal, and, in sur
prise, he came toward her, an ansry
frown gathering on his brow as he s iw
that she was not alone.
"This is my friend, Mr. Haynoi?,"
said Lois, simply. " He will go with
us."
Drayton acknowledged Paul's saluj
tion with a stiff bow.
" Come," he said to Lots, imperiously.
"The carriage is waiting."
Paul rose also.
"As one of the oldest friends of Misfi
Arnold's family, I claim the privilege of
being present at her wedding ceremony,"
he said, firmly.
"Yes," said Lois, resolutely; "I want
Paul to go with us."
Dra; ton looked from one to the other,
the frown growing blacker on his brow,
while his face wore an expression of
helpless auger. Putting his hand on
Lois' arm, he tried to drag her away.
" I will not have this man with us,"
he said, imperiously. " Lois, don't you
trust me?"
She raised her innocent large eyes to
his face, and half shrank away at the ex
pression she met there.
" I shall not, unless you let Paul go
with us. What harm can there be in
that?"
" Every harm," muttered Drayton un
der his breath with an oath.
Paul stepped forward.
"Mr. Drayton," said he, "if you in
tend to marry this young lady at onc9
like an honorable man, you can have no
objection to my witnessing the ceremony.
I am a very old friend of her family, and
I can carry to them the assurance that,
although she has done a very foolish
thing in eloping, she has at least placed
her trust wisely."
Drayton moved uneasily under the
keen gray eyes.
"All confounded nonsense," he said.
"Once for all, Lois, you will go with
nie alone, or you will not go at all.
Choose." And he held out his hand.
l-iois looked from his flushed and an
gry face to Paul's trm and kindly eyes;
then, suddenly extending her hand to
the young carpenter, she said :
" I will go home with you, Paul."
A look of sudden joy irradiated his
face as ho drew her hand w.thin his arm
and led her away, while Drayton, with
an oath, strode from the room.
The return journey was. strange as it
may seem, far happier to Lois than the
outward one; somehow a great rest and
peace seemed to have come to her: the
excitements and turmoils of the last few
weeks had vanished, and tranquility
was restored to her life.
When she learne 1 all from Paul how
he had heard what manner of man Dray
ton was, and that he had already wrecked
the life of one young girl when she
thought of the devotion that had
prompted Paul's action, and realized
from what possibilities he had saved her
when she discovered at last that he
hae even provided against any possible
scandal by sending a hurried note to
Mrs. Arnpld, telling her not to let any
one know that Lois had gone when all
this came to her, and she looked at the
kind, honest face beside her, she said,
with a sudden rush of tears:
"Paul. I can never thank vouenouerh.
I believe I have loved vou best all the
time. If you still care to have such a
foolish, weak thing as I am, I will never
tease vou again."
And so Paul had his reward.
Daniel MeFarland.
Among the invalids who assemhle
regularly every morning in the little
chapel at St. Vincent's hospital, to send
U.I l.!L C . 1 ! i 1 . .
iiiuunsuu mgu lor earmiy oiessings is
Daniel MeFarland. who shot Albert D.
Richardson, iu New York. He sits
dozing in the large ward at the Sisters'
hospital in this city, a pensioner upon,
the county, and quite unknown and for
gotten. He was pointed out to a re
porter who picked his way in among the
cots to the one where the fallen a. an s-U.
and said :
"Mr. MeFarland?"
"Hi! so-me? What?"
"This is Mr. Daniel MeFarland, I be
lie e?"
"Oh. my nime. Yes, yes. Daniel
MeFarland. That is it."
" You once lived in Ne v York, Mr.
MeFarland?"
"Yes. sir, I recollect it. I did once
live in New York."
" If my memory serves me correctly,
you were once very wealthy in that
city?"
" I was in quite comfortable circum
stances at one time, sir."
" Do you hear often from your wealthy
New York friends?"
" I hear from no one."
" Are you comfortable here?"
"A pauper on the county could not
expect more."
" You are penniless?"
"Penniless and friendless, dying
among strangers in a county almshouse
in the wilds of tho Rocky mountains."
Leadville (Col.) Democrat.
A Nebraska widow went out upon the
highway to rob travelers and get money
to buy seed wheat, but the first passer
happened to be a widower and she com
promised by marrying him. Detroit
Fret Prut.
TIMELY TOPICS.
It seemed that oysters may be arti
fically propagated by chopping up the
male and female oysters together. Dr.
W. J. Brook says that the young oys
ters thereupon immediately begin
forming. In a few hours the embryo
can swim in the water. Its shells, at
first small and apart, soon grow down
over the edges and finally form the
hinge. In twenty-four hours it is able
to take food, and it grows to a size suffi
cient for food in about three years. An
average oyster contains from six to
nine million eggs. A large oyster con
tains fifty million eggs I
The Berliner Zeitung has caused some
sensation in Germany by a terrible de
scription which it has published of the
maltreatment to which a soldier, and
especially a young recruit, in the Ger
man army, is liable to be subjected at
the caprice of his superior, and without
any hope of redress. Kicks in tho
stomach, boxes on the ear, blows with
a sheathed sword or the butt end of a
musket, are part of the treatment to
which the soldier must submit. The
number of cases ot suicide in the Ger
man army, which Is notoriously exceed
ing'y large, is mentioned by the writer
in support of his case. Ill-treated by
his supsriors, drilled till ho faints from
fatigue, subjected to most cruel tortures,
which compare with those of the In
quisition, the soldier, desparing of ob
taining justice or relief, puts an end to
his life.
Prof. Wickorsheimer, the celebrated
taxidermist attached to the Anatomical
Museum of Berlin, has just discovered a
liquid which, injected into the veins of
dead meat, not only preserves it lor
several weeks from decay, but keeps it
perfectly fresh and in possession of its
uatural flavor. Having treated a
slaughtered calf with his new prepar
ation, and subsequently caused it to be
expowd for a fortnight to the air and
weather changes, hanging in the open
front ol a butcher's shop, he invited a
select rarty of scientific celebrities to
partake of the meat thus tested, provid
ing for them, however, other viands in
case the prepared veal should fail to
suit their palates. The professor's
guests, however, found his prepared
veal so toothsome and delicate that
they confined their attentions to it ex
clusively, neglecting all the other solid
items in his bill of fare.
Philadelphia is astonished to find that
it is to have an elevated railroad. The
enterprise was kept a secret until very
lately, and the first public intimation of
it was the rapid denioliton ot houses.
Contrary to what has been done in New
York, the line within the city proper is
to run on property owned by the com
pany, except where it crosses streets.
The projectors are the Pennsylvania
ruilroad company, and it is to run from
their present depot, in West Philadel
phia, to Broad and Market streets, in
the heart of tho city. The job of pur
chasing tho ground of its 250 owners
was undertaken a year ago by trusty
agents, and the buyers wero over a
hundred different persons, who resold
to the comriany at the proper time. B
this plan the property was all acquired
at reasonable prices. The structure is
to be of brick and iron, and the Schuyl
kill is to be crossed by a massive
bridge.
The Brazilians have been proud of
their two monitors, the Javary and the
Solimces, but recent developments have
somewhat changed their views. They
started the latter to steam down the
coast for artillery practice the other
day, and after steam was made it was
found that the vessel would not start,
and they had to put out the fires,
cool off the boilers and overhaul the
machinery to find out what the trouble
was. The next day they got up Eteam
nnd heaved ahead very satisfactorily,
but the craft wouldn't obey her helm
and bore down with great rapidity
upon another iron-clad, which lay in
her way. The officers and crew were
paralyzed with fear, and the men on
both crafts were preparing to go over
board, when by a flash ot genius it sud
denly occurred to somebody to reverse
the engines, and the threatened col
lision was averted. The spectacle of an
unmanageable monitor tearing about
the bay has not convinced the Brazil
ians of their naval supremacy.
In a review of the British opium trade
in India and China, Professor Christ
lieb, of Bonn, gives tho following stat
istics showing the magnitude of the
trade and its effects upon Indian agri
culture: Since the conclusion of the
treaty of Tientsin, in I860, the quantity
of opium annually imported into
China from the East Indies has in
creased to 80,000 chests. In 1865 as
many as 85,451 chests, worth $50,000,
000, were brought into the Chinese
market, 8,943 of which were sent to
Malacca, while the consumption of the
drug for medicinal purposes in Great
Britain m the same year reached only
165 ches'.s. The progressive growth of
the trade during the past eighty years
is thus shown: In the year 1800, about
5,000 chests; in 1825, 12,000 in 1850,
50,000; end in 1875, 90,610. Among the
most striking effects caused by the ex
tension of poppy planting in India are
the diminution of the quantity of land
available for other crops and the con
sequent curtailment ot food products.
In Bem-res and Behar, immense tracts
of the finest and most fertile laud in
Northern and Central India have been
gradual'y covered with poppy plan
tations. Quite recently 100,000 acres
of tho richest plains in Central
India, and 55,000 acres in the valley ot
the Ganges, which formerly used to pro
duce corn, sugar and indigo, have, to
the impoverishment of the soil, been
elevoted to opium culture. The average
devoted to that purpose to-day is esti
mated at 1,033,000 acres.
' fYincripaainnfLl ' nMaanta PanHnH f
Utah, is an Englishman, round and red,
vrui. nn v d. hi, uuiVKaiC 11 UUi
New Mexico, Mariara Otera, was born
in the Territory which he represents.
He was educated in SI. Louis, and was
at one time a 'republican judge, with
much popularity. Delegate Brents, of
Washington Territory, was born in
iiiiuoiB, wmm, Ainsne, oi jaabo, is a
native of Missouri, and Bennett, of
Dakota, is an Ohio man.
Louis Watso, Ue Indian chief, who is
over 100 years flfid, and who lives at
Lake George, hat. received a pension
from the English! government forser-
VIC?2, "Adored wckief of the AtenaquU
1U IOt
Marriage in Egypt.
When an Egyptian wants a wife he is
not allowed to visit the harems of
friends to select one, tor Mohammed
forbade men to see the face of any woman
they could marry that is to say, any
besides their mothers and sisters. A
man is, therefore, obliged to employ a
" khatbeh," or matchmaker, to find one
for him, for which service, of course,
she expects " backsheesh " that is. pay
ment. The khatbeh, having found a
girl, recommends her to the man as ex
ceedingly beautiful and eminently suit
able to him. The father is then waited
upon to ascertain the dowry he requires,
for all wives are purchased as they were
in patriarchal days. When Jacob had
no money to pay for Rachel, he served
her father for seven years as an equiv
alent; and when duped was obliged to
serve a second time to secure his prize.
(Gen. xxix.) Fathers still refuse to
give- a younger daughter in marriage
before an elder shall have been married.
The people of Armenta, in Asiatic Tur
key, forbid a younger son to marry be
fore an elder, and this is likewise the
law of the Hindoos.
The price of a wife varies -from five
shillings to $1,500. The girl may not
be more than five or six years old, but
whatever her age two-thirds of the
dowry is at once paid to her father in
the presence of witnesses. The father
then, or his representative, says: "I
betroth thee, my daughter," and the
young man responds : " I accept of such
betrothal." Unless among the lower
classes, the father expends the dower in
the purchase of dress, ornaments or
furniture for the bride, which never
become the property of her husband.
Even when betrothed the intercourse of
the parties is very restricted. The
Arabs will not allow them to see each
other, but the Jews are not quite so
stringent. The betrothals often con
tinue for years before the man demands
his wife. Thus, "Samson went down
and talked to the woman," or espoused
her, and "after a time he returned to
take her." Girls are demanded at the
age of ten and between that and sixteen
years, but after sixteen few men will
seek them, and the dowry expected is
then proportionably low.
Girls in Egypt are often mothers at
thirteen and grandmothers at twenty
six, and in Persia they are said to be
mothers at eleven, grandmothers at
twenty-four, and past child-bearing at
thirty. When a man demands his be
trothed a day is fixed for the nuptials,"
and for seven nights before he is ex
pected to give a feast, which, however,
is furnished by the guests themselves.
Thus, one sends coffee, another rice,
another sugar, etc. The principal time
of this continued feast is the night be
fore the consummation. The conduct
is entrusted to the " friend of the bride
groom." (John iii, 29.) About the mid
dle of the day tho bride arrives at the
harem, where she sits with her mother,
sisters and iemale friends. At the third
or fourth watch of the night three or
four hours after sunset the bridegroom,
wha has not yet seen bis fair one, goes
to the mosque to pray, accompanied by
" nieshalls," or torchesj and lanterns,
witli music. Upon his return he is in
troduced to his bride, with whom, have
ing given her attendant a present to re
tire, he is left alone. He then throws
off her vail and for the first time sees
her lace.. If satisfied, he informs the
women outside, who immediately ex
press their joy by screaming "zug
gareet," which is echoed by the women
in the house, and then by those in the
neighborhood.
An Antarctic Exploring Expedition.
The Italians are the last people who
have become enthusiastic on the subject
of polar expeditions, their interest hav
ing been awakened in all probability by
tho visit at one or two of their ports of
tho explorer, Nordenskjold, while on
hi3 return trip in circumnavigating tt.e
continents of Europe and Asia. The
Italians assert, with no little force, that
it is hopeless for them to think of com
peting with the northern nations in Arc
tic explorations, as they are wanting in
the experience which their rivals have
acquired by a large number of unsuccess
ful voyages, but that there is a fresh and
and untried field open to them in the
vast and unexplored tracts of land and
water around the South pole. It is
therefore an Antarctic voyage upon
which the expedition which is to sail
from Genoa in May, 1881, will enter. It
is a little singular that no more atten
tion has been paid to explorations in
that quarter of the globe. We know
relatively nothing more about it now
than we did when Captain Cook mado
his discoveries of a mountainous coun
try directly south of the continent of
Africa in 1775. D'Urville, Wilkes and
Ross have confirmed the statements of
their predecessor, and have given, with
some approach to exactness, the shore
line of tho Antarctic continent, as it is
called, but there the information ends,
and whether the land is merely a large
island, or whether it extends its un
broken barrier over the southern polar
regions, is a matter which the Italians
have now an opportunity to demon
strate. It should also be remembered
that thei'b has never been an Antarctio
expedition since the utilization ot steam
power as a motor for large vessels, and
hence the Italians will be in many ways
better prepared to extend their re
searches than were those in whose tracks
they follow.
No doubt, one of the reasons why
such slight interest has been taken in
Antartic voyages is tho extreme diffi
culty that has hitherto been experi
enced in gaining high southern lati
tudes. The vessels from America that
go each summer to Archangel, on the
Whito sea, for Russian hemp and flax.
go nearly as far toward the North pole
as Sir James Ross or Lieutenant Wilkes
ever went toward the south in their sev
eral voyages. It is well know that the
ice area around the South pole is much
greater in extent than that win h sur
rounds the North pole, a fact that is ac
counted for by various hypotheses, the
most probable of which is that the
southern hemisphere is so largely made
up oi water areas that its average tern
perature is considerably cooler than the
northern Halt of the globe, where Jni
mense tracts of land radiate and perpet
uate the heat received from the sun.
While it is highly improbable that the
Italian expedition will succeed in reach
ing the South Dole, it is fair to presume
that it will be able to solve a number of
unsettled geographical problems, and it
may also be ot service t) the commer
cial world by demonstrating the exist
ence or vast guano deposits and profit
able seal fisheries which may be easily
reached by well equipped merchant ves
sels.
FATHI, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Seed Folates.
Mr. W. II. Hills, of Plaistow, N. II.,
makes the statement, based on "ca;e
ful experiment," that "seed potatoes
every way perfect, selected from hills
giving tho largest yield, will produce
about double the quantity of a like size
and form that can be obtained from
averase stock as selected for market."
His further remarks on tho subject we
condense from The Mirror and Farmer :
"For some years past I have selected
my seed potatoes in the field at time of
digging, and with the best results.
Every farmer has observed that certain
hills, or sets, will yield double the
quantity ot more perfectly formed
tubers than the average. Just why
may be an unsolved conundrum, but
the fact is a matter of common obser
vation. Believing that, as a law of
vegetable growth, like produces like. I
have frequently suggested to those en
gaged extsnsively in growing potatoes
that they select their seed in accord
ance with my own practice. This is
just what most farmers do in case of
the corn crop The earliest and beBt
ears, from stalks producing two or
more good ears, are selected in the field
and ' traced up ' for seed. But with
the potato no such care is exercised.
In many cases second-sized tubers, un
suitable for the market or the tible, are
reserved especially for planting. If
quantity only is desired, as large a crop
may be grown from medium or second
sized tubers as from the best, but the
?roduct will be otherwiso inferior,
'he man who pays double price for
extra selected seed will make no mis
take, whether it be of corn, or any other
farm crop. One reason why so much
noor seed is put upon the market is that
so few purchasers are found tor a super
ior article, ine larmer who should
purchase and plant a peek of corn
shelled from 'nubbins,' simply to save
fifty cents difference in price between
that and carefully selected seeds, would
be thousht well-nigh insane, ret this
is just what many are doing every year
with the potato. No wonder that new
varieties soon run out."
Boot for the Ciarden.
Those who have soot, either of wood
or bituminous coal, should careiuny
save it for use in the garden. It is valu
able for the ammonia it contains, and
also for its power of reabsorbing ammo
nia. It is simply charcoal (carbon) in
extremely divided state, but from
the creosote it contains is useful in de
stroying insects, nnd is at the same time
valuable as a fertilizer for all garden
crops. It must not be mixed with lime,
else its ammonia would be dissipated ;
but it the soil is dry and hu.ierv a little
salt may be used with it. Soot steeped
m water and allowed to stand and settle
for a day or two is also a most excellent
fertilizer tor House plants, possessing
precisely the same qualities that the
firings ot Horses s lioois do. x or
fiowers out of doors it is especially val
uable, since it may be easily applied and
tends to increase the vividness of the
bloom, and mixed with salt it is a most
excellent fertilizer for asparagus, onions,
cabbage, etc., in connection with com
post, in the proportion of ono quart of
alt to six Quarts of soot, tor two
bushels of compost this quantity makes
lieavv dressing lor each square rod. to
e worked in next tho surface- of the
oil. Prairie Farmer.
Iron tor Fruit Trees.
The scales which fly off lrom iron be-
ins worked at forges, iron trimmines.
filings, or other ferruginous material, if
worked into t'io soil about fruit trees,
the more minute particles SDread
thinly on the lawn, mixed with the
earth of flower beds or in pots, are most
valuable. They are especially valuable
to the peach and pear, and, in fact, sup
ply necessary ingrediemts to the soil.
tor colored flowers they heighten the
bloom and increase the brilliancy of
white or nearly white nowers ot all the
rose family. American Machinist.
Recipes.
Potato Omelet. Take five ounces of
potatoes mashed, pepper, salt and a
little nutmeg; mix it with five eggs
previously well beaten separately.
Squeeze in a little lemon ju:ce, and fry
nicely.
Havana Buttek. One and a half
uo Iu Is white tuzar. whites of three
eegs, yolk of one; grated rind and juice
ol a lemou and a half, or two small
ones. Cook over a slow fire twenty
minutes, stirring all the while. Very
nice for tarts or to be eaten as preserves.
Sour Buaten.ou a Souk Pot-Roast.
Several days before the cooking of the
meat is to be done take a nice piece ot
beef from the round, rub well with salt
and pepper and lay it in a vessel. cov
ering with vinegar spiced according to
taste. li.iy with it a carrot and an onion.
or a clove of garlic. After lying thus
three or four days, take it out and drain
it in a colander while you heat a large
tablcspoonful of dripping in a poc.
Now lay the meat in the fat and let it
brown on all sides: dredge well with
flour. An old crust of bread is an im
provement to the sauce. Add a very
little boiling water, and let it stew at
the side of the tire, where it will only
simmer, fjr at least an hour, or for each
inch in height a half hour. Of course
the water boils away more is to be
added, so that at the end there will be
enough in the pot lor sauce.
One Egg Tea Cake. One egg, fot r
tablespoons of white sugar, one table
spoon ot butter, one gill ot mi lit, on
teof poon of yeast powder, enough flou
to make as stiff as pound cake, fl.ivo
with lemon and bake in patty puns. .
The Emperor's Tree."
When Chuntche, the founder of the
present Tsmg dynasty, ascended the
throne ot uuina, he planted a tree in the
courtvard of the temple called Tanche
ssu. which is situated in the hills a short
distance west of Pckin. It is believed
that the ruling family will remain in
power so long as this tree exists. At
nresent it shows no signs of decav. and
has apparently a long life before it ; but
there is still a more extraordinary su
perstition attached to it. Saplings
sprout our periodically from the root,
and with the death ot ea u prince one
withers away, while afresh one appears
in honor of the new emperor. Each
saDling bears the same relation to the
individual prince tnai ine tree noes to
thodvnastv: and not unnaturally the
emperor for the time being watches
with considerable anxiety the growth
of his particular sapling. The tree is
named ' The Emperor s Tree," and it
mav be worthy of noting that the sao
ling of the present emperor is said to be
extremely vigorous ana nourishing.
The End.
l"he course ol the weariest river
Knds in the great gray sea;
The acorn, forever and ever,
Strives upward to the tree.
The rainbow, the sky adorning,
Shines promise through the storm)
The glimmer of coming morning
Through midnight gloom will form.
By time all knots are riven,
Complex although they be,
Anil peace will at last be given, '
Dear, both to you and to me.
Then though the pftth may be dreary,
Look onward to the goal;
Though the heart and the head be weary,
Let faith inspiro the soul.
Seek the right though the wrong be tempting,
Speak truth at any oost;
Vain is all weak exempting
When once the gem is lost.
Let strong hand and keen eye be ready.
For plain and ambushed foes;
Thought earnest, and fancy steady
Bear best unto the close.
The heavy olouds may be raining
But with evening comes the light;
Through the dark are low winds complaining,
Yet the sunrise gilds the height ;
And love has his hidden troasnre
For the patient and the pure;
And time gives his fullest measure
To the workers who endure;
And tho word that no law has shaken
Has the future pledge supplied;
For we know that when we " awaken "
We shall be "satisfle l,"
Tinley't Magaxint.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
What the carpets are saying "Shake."
General Hancock is fifty-six years old
and weighs 287 pounds.
If a ship arrives in port a second late
they dock it. Tonkers Statesman.
A Defiance (Ohio) farmer's mare
gave birth to a colt with five horns.
About 1,500 persons are employed in
the manufacture of silks in this coun
try. When a man is rolling in wealth hi
fortune is appropriately expressed in
round numbers.
The clip of wool for 1879 was the
largest ever shown in the United States.
amounting to 233,560,000 pounds.
How it must make a donkey laugh to
see what an insignificant little ear a
whale can boast. Boston Transcript.
About 336.300.000 gallons of beer were
manufactured in tho United States in
1879, and 1.245,500,000 gallons in Great
Britain.
Household decoration makes great
progress in tenement quarters. We note
that old hats have taken the place of
cast-off clothing in broken window
panes. Puck.
A benevolent Detroit dentist an
nounced that on a certain day he would
pull teeth free for poor persons and
provide laughing gas. Ue used 700 gal
lons oi gas and extracted 271 teeth.
A reformed orthogranhv was intro
duced into all the Prussian schools on
April 1. All new school-books will
hereafter be printed with the reformed
spelling, and no educational works with
tho old spelling will be used in schools
alter the lapse of a certain interval.
he governments of Austria. Bavaria
aud Wurtemberg have also adopted the
new spelling. .
The United States consul at the Fiii
islands says that on the largest of the
group there are two splendid rivers, on
tue hanks ot which are more than fifteen
hundred acres plnnted with sugar
canes. Iho dried meat of the cocoanut
copra is the chief article of exDort.
It is sent to England and Germanv : and
there are. more peanuts raised there
than can find a market.
Crucifix, tho winner of tho Oaks for
Lord George Bentwick, did more in less
time than any horse that ever had ap
peared on the English turf up to his
time. He ran twelve times within as
many months without ever having been
beaten, and won ten thousand two hun-
red and eighty-seven pounds in public.
takes. The triumph of Crucifix were
all achieved between July 9. 1839 and
Juno 5, 1840, considerably less than
twelve months.
The tree-felling electric battery is an
extension of a well-known and very use-
lul fcurgical instrument for removing
warts, etc. A small platinum wire is
rawn tightly around a tree and con
nected with a battery, by which the
wire is heated white hot. The wire is
kert taunt as it burns into the wood
until it burns through, leaving the tree
standing, but needing only a little force
to bring it down.
Some Facts Not Generally Known.
A barr 1 of petroleum will generate
ufneient heat to reduce a ton of iron
fron the ore, and it requires a ton and
a half of coal to do as much.
Oae pound of beans is said to be equal
to four pounds of rice in its nutrient
properties, and superior in this respect
to nn equal amount; oi wheat.
Careful measurements of 300 boys
bowed that in a very few of them were
the legs of equal length, the difference
being as a rule a small fraction of an
1 cli.
Tho Scientific- American asserts that
telegraph wires attached to a house, or
passing over one, do not have the ten
dency to a.trAot the lightning to the
house.
A method of preserving cooked meats.
patented in Australia, consists in pack
ing it in wooden boxes, which are
dipped in hot stearine and then allowed
to cool with a coating of the wax.
M. Decasine has observed that the
use of tobacco by children causes them
to have palpitation and irregular action
of the heart. Also that it predisposes '
them to laziness and the use oi alco
holics.
In parts of Italy an insidious disease
called "hellaga" is proving fatal to
large numbers of the population, its .
cause being attributed to the eating of
deteriorated maze and the unhealthful
state of the hovels in which the coun
try people live.
At a late meeting ot the Liverpool
Engineering society, ihu oibcumiou was
mainly upon the practicability of usiag
the tremendous power of the tides in
Elace of that of steam produced by the
urning of coal. The general opinion
seems to be that the tides will cru 1024
be utilised
r