V C.-C-
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL. DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. XI.
R IDG WAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15. 1881.
NO. 43.
To-Day mid To-Morrow.
If there comes some joy to me,
Would yon have me stay,
With that Joy to sweeten life ?
" Yes, Ilcnrt, stay to-day."
Well, then, if I havo a dream
Of somo coming sorrow,
Shall I wait to feel its fear ?
"That will do to-morrow."
If unto somo loving heart
I've a dobt to pay?
" Ah 1 that is a mighVdebt ;
ray it, Heart, to-day."
If I'm forcod from bitter wrongs
Cruel words to borrow ?
"Then, dear Heart, thoro is no haste ;
Keep them till to-morrow.
" Duty, Kindness and Success
Loso by slow delay ;
Duty hath a double right
When it claims to-day j
Kindness dios if it must wait;
Success will not stay
Unto thorn comes no to-morrow
If they lose to-day.
" But for Debt and Doubt and Anger,
But for useless Sorrow,
Better you should vait a day ;
Keep them for to-morrow.
And f.s every day's to-day,
You may patience borrow,
Thus forever to put off
Vich a bad to-morrow. ''
The Miller's Granddaughter.
Tim summer, nftornoon vruued at last;
the t!uniiLi7 suu derlituMl toward the
hcTiizoi:, and n rcol, Foft brcezp, inex .
pvt'S'-ihly ili liphtful after t ho heat of
the iluv, I't pan to nv.
Since parly d'l'.vn Lizzio Dnpont had
bepii toiiiug at lier rui'ilie-, hut now she
threw down lur woik, and leaviujr the
old mill htood on tbo rndo plank that
crossed the rni'I-racc, and looked eager
ly over the fields.
" "Oh, where can Dossy bo?'' she cried.
" That dreadful interest which must bo
Rot ready by Saturday has made me
forget her. I ought to liave listened
to grandpa. I am sure something has
happened to her. She never was away
so long before. I shall never forgive
myself. What what," she cried, sud
denly clasping her hands, ' if she
should be drowned r"
Lizzie Dupont had not always been a
resident at the old mill, dependent on
her needle for support. She had once
been, and that not so long ago, the
petted da"ghter of a merchant prince
in New York. Hut her father had
failed and died soon after of a broken
heart, and Lizzie would have starved
if it had not been for her maternal
grandfather. "Como to me," he had
written; "I am old and poor, but we
will tliaro our crusts together. If you
have grown up to look like your dear
mother you will be the apple of my
eye." Si Lizzie, ignored by her
father's rich relations, had found refuge
in this secluded spot.
Eefupre and peace, but hardly happi
ness. In the days of her prosperity she
had become acquainted with a young
Englishman, the sou of a titled family,
and had pli htel her troth to him.
Just before her father's failure Ross
Devereaux had sailed for England, in
tending within six months to return and
claim his bride. Uut, from that day to
this Lizzie had never heard a word
about him.
At first she thought her letters had
been miscarried, and in the faith and
trust of her voung heart had continued
writing. But, at last, and after discov
ering the heartlossness of her father's
relatives, she began to believe that even
Ross might be selfish also. "Iam
poor now, and be deserts me," she said.
"God help mo I But it is, I suppose,
the way of the world."
Lately a new trouble had come upon
her Her grandfather had been failing
all winter, so that a man bad to be hired
to work the mill, and this had brought
them into debt. Already there was a
mortgage on the mill, for the grand
father had never been a prosperous
man, and now the interest had fallen
into arrears for nearly a twelve-month.
The holder of the mortgage was a cruel,
avaricii us man. He had often threat
ened to turn out the little family, if his
interest, was not paid; and two weeks
before ho had served a written notice,
that, if the aireaM were not forthcom
ing by the next Saturday, no would be
as good as his word. Every day since
Lizzie had risen by candle light and
worked till bedtime. " If I can only
get this embroidciy done for Mis. Wat
sen," she said, " by that dreadful day,
I may raise part of the money at least,
and perhaps then ho will wait for the
rost."
But, this afternoon, a ue it and greater
trouble had come. Dossy, her little
pot sister, had been missing all day.
The child often spent the mornings
playing in the woods, but invariably
returned to the uoon-timo meal. On
this occasion, however, she did not
make her appearance. Lizzie was
alarmed, and would have gone to seek
her; but the grandfather took it more
coolly. "She has stopped at some of
the neighbors," ho said, "bhe will be
home for supper ; don't fret, dear."
Lizzie, thinking of tho coming Satur
day, had allowed herself to be persuaded
that all was right, and had gone back to
her work. But, as the afternoon wore
on and no Dossy came, she grew serious
ly alarmed. At last, throwing clown her
. needle, she came out, as we have seen.
"Ob, Dossy, Dossy I" she cried, when
she had scratinized the landscape vain
ly in every direction, "where are you?
.If God will only sparo yon, dear if he
will give you back to us alive I will
never repine again at anything."
But where was Dossy ? Was she really
lost?
To explain this wo must go back to
the afternoon before, and look at Dossy,
as she eat in the old-fashioned garden,
ewaying to and fro in a prapevine
bwing, puzzling over tho troubles of
the family, fcihe was watching a bobo
link that sang in the heart of a lilao
' bush, and talking to herself the while.
"What a nasty, ugly old man that
landlord is," she said; "and he made
Eoor Lizzie cry so the other day when
e was here. He says he'll drive us
from oar home. Why, then," with
sudden consciousness, "we'll huve no
place to live in, and I shall never hear
you sing, birdie; nor have my flowers,
nor my kittens. Oh, me I Oh, me I"
She sobbed a little, then shook off
her April toars, and then fell to think
ing in earnest. If they only had some
money. What if she could get some ?
She puckered her brow into a frown.
Just then some market carts rolled by,
laden with produce, on their way to the
neighboring little town. On the front
seat of one sat an old woman, with a
basket of flowers on her knees. A sud
den thought flashed on Dossy, and the
puckered little brow cleared np. Why
couldn't she sell flowers ? Her gardon
was full of them, especially oi pansies,
such pansies as were not often seen.
Sho jumped from the swing bo quickly
that she landed headforemost into the
grasses below. But, nothing daunted,
sho regained her feet and began picking
off the golden-hearted pansies and
English daisies by handfnls. She
would do it; yes, indeed, she would,
and make ever so much money, and
they wouldn't have to leave the mill,
and grandpa and sissie wouldn't cry any
more. Sho fell to work arranging her
bouquets for the morrow, her eyes
fairly dancing with delight. She put
them together quite tastefully, and by
tho timo the summer moon stood over
tho pines she had a long row set up
amid the evergreens, that the dew
might keep them fresh. In the morn
ing, as soon as breakfast was over, she
would set out.
Dear, innocent Dossy 1 Sho had not
the least doubt that she would succeed,
and she slept but little that night in her
excitement. Over and over she rose
from her little bed and stole on tiptoo
to tho window to look down oa her
treasure?".
Tbo morrow dawned cloudlessly.
Breakfast over, Dossy rau down to the
garden, crammed her posies into Liz
zie's market basket, and taking it on
her chubby arm trudged away, fortu
nately unnoticed. On the sped, past
tho long, long lino of fences, and down
into the very heart of the town. Her
cheekj were crimson, her breath came
in gasps, she almost stumbled with fa
tigue, but at last she reached the market-place
and stopped in a little corcer
where the shadows fell cool, and where
an old blind womau vras selling laces.
Here, feeling a sense of safety and
companionship from the old blind crea
ture, she eut down and began with deft
hands to arrange her posies in front of
her. WEat a picture she made in her
white frock, with it thort, puffed
sleeves; her eyes ablaze, her amber
ringlets blown about by the morning
breeze, framed, as it were, by a border
of yellow daisies and golden-hearted
pin.sies. At the silvery call of her
sweet bird-voice, piping: " Who'll buy
"..7 pansies V" one and another pedes
tviun looked back, a few smiled, and
some stopped and purchased. Pres
ently a farme, who had just such a lit
tle one at home, bought one of her
nosegays, ard paid for it wifa half a
dolkr. Dossy was in raptures. Then
another gentleman came along, this
time a comparatively young one, but
tall and dark, and with a bronzed face.
' Won't you buv a bunch of pansies,
sir, please ?" said little Dossy.
The stranger, who had not noticed
her before, stopped and looked for the
little piping voice.
" Please, sir," said Dossy, holding up
a posy, " only twenty-live cents."
The young man flashed a keen glance
at Dossy, and drew near, smiling.
" To be sure I will," he said, pleas
antly, " if only for the sake of your
bright eyes. Twenty-five cents you
saiJ, I think," and he drew out his
purse.
"Yes," said Dossy, apologetically,
imagining he thought the price too
high. " You see I have to ask a good
deal," and she shook her curly head
with a grave, important air, " for Liz
zie must have the money by Saturday,
or we shall be turned out of our pretty
home." As she finished she tendered
to her auditor the prettiest of her posies,
which she had just selected for him out
of her store.
Tho stranger, all this time, had been
looking curiously at her. The color
went and came on his face, his lips
trembled, and he showed other signs of
emotion.
" Tell me," ho cried, earnestly, " my
dear, what is your name?"
Ho drew close to Dossy as he spoke,
and seemed to be looking in her face,
as if for some half-remembered, half
fancied likeness,
"Dossy," she answered," Dossy Du
pont." His answer wai to catch her in his
arms and kiss her again and again, his
voice trembling with excitement as he
cried, "Dossy! my little pet Dossy,
don't you know who I am ?"
But Dossy struggled from his em
brace, smoothed her curls, and answered
haughtily :
" I asked you to buy my pansies, sir,
and not to kiss me."
The stranger broise into a joyous
laugh, "and I will buy them," he
replied, " every one of them. But don't
you really know me, Dossy ? 1 am Roes
Devereaux. Why, you have sat on my
knee many and many a time."
Dossy at this stared at him curiously.
Then she uttered a gleeful little shout
and sprang into his arms.
"Oh, I knowl" she cried. "I re
member you. Won't Lizzio be glad?
Won't she stop crying now ?"
Ross Devereaux's swart cheek crim
soned. " Take me to your home," he
said, " to your sister. Is sho here ?"
" No," answered Dossy, " we live at
grandpa's, at the old mill out of town,
you know."
" Let us go at once then. No need
to sell pansies any longer," cried Ross
Devereaux, eagerly sotting the child on
her feet.
Lizzie Dupont stcod as we have said,
gazing across the meadows, heart
broken about Dossy a prolonged absence.
Suddenly two figures appearel, emerg.
iug from the woods beyond in the
direction of the town. She gave a
great cry of joy, for one was certainly
Dossy. Bat who was the other ? Who
was the tall, handsome man who held
Dossy by the hand V Could it be no,
it wan impossible not yet
At this moment, while she was still
uncertain; while her heart leaped into
her throat, and then stopped beating,
while she felt dizzy, and about to fall,
and had to clutch at the railing, Dossy's
companion, dropping the child's hand,
darted forward, for he had recognized
Lizzie, and came hurrying over the
meadow, waving his hat. He reached
the stile, was over it in a bound, and
the next moment was at Lizzie's side.
"Thank God I have found you at
last 1" he cried, clasping her sinking
form. " Poor, timid darling I Did yon
think I had deserted you ?"
What Lizzie would have replied, if
anything, we do not know; but he gave
her no chance; hurriedly, as if life and
death depended on it, he went on to
toll his story.
"Not one of your letters overcame
to hand," he said. " They were inter
cepted, as I discovered at last. I
wouldn't mention how, under other cir
cumstances, but you, at least, ought to
know the whole truth. The fact is, dar
ling, thatwhile my parents were eager to
welcome you as a daughter, I had a
cousin, an ambitious girl, who had al
ways lived with us, and who, it seems,
wished to marry me, not, of course," he
said quickly, " that she loved me, but
merely to secure the title and position.
Well, to make a long story short, she
bribed the postmistress at the Tillage
to give her your letters, so that I never
heard a word from you, or about you,
till, at last, in despair, I came over, be
fore I intended, to solve the mystery
"Came over?" said Lizzie, faintly,
and guiltily, conscious how she had
misjudged him.
"To be sure," repeated Ross Dever
eaux, frankly. "Ah I little skeptic,
you doubted me, did yoa?'
" Indeed, indeed " begau Lizzie.
But he stopped her with a kiss.
"Then it was," he went on, " that I
heard for the first time of your father's
death. But no one could give me any
information of your whereabouts, I did
not know your relations in New York,
but I found out their names, though it
was some timo, and one was at New
port and another at Saratoga, and a
third at Virginia Springs. Before I
could do anything came the news of my
father's sudden death, and a summons
home, for I am, you know, his heir as
to both the titles and estates. When I
had been at Devereaux hall for a week
or so the postmistress came up, tremb
ling and penitent, for I was now Sir
Ross, and she had discovered by this
time that my cousin was not to be Lady
Devereaux. Then the vile plot was
revealed. Darling, ever since I have
been wild to discover you. I hurried
up my business and left England at
once. But for a long time I was foiled.
Your city cousins, on whom I had re
lied, could not, tell me where you had
gone. All they knew, and they told it
with evident confusion, was that your
mother's father had sent for you, and
that he lived in this State, and in this
part of it. So I have visited every
square mile of this and four other coun
ties, and only lighted on Dossy by
accident, to-day. I didn't even kjow
your grandfather's name."
There was much more to toll, details
wittt which we will not tire the reader,
eager questions and as eager replies.
Lizzie could hardly ciedit her happiness.
Dossy danced around, shouting in glee.
If you ever visit England, and should
ever go in the neighborhood of Dever
eaux hall, you will hear everybody
talking of the beautiful Lady Dever
eaux whom Sir Ross brought home
from America. Should you see her
you will recognize, as wo did, in the
gracious matron the Miller's grand
daughter. IfusslMi Style of Dress.
Tho Russian costume of the lower
classes consists of a black or white cap,
with the brim drawn down on the brow
and shading the eyes; a long, loose,
shapeless dark blue or brown great
coat, flowing down to the heels, and
heavy top-boots up to the knee. From the
folds of the coat you may here and thero
catch the right of the red blouse or of
tho broad red sash and black velvet
breeches which were once popular ;
but, as a rule, the black, long gaber
dine hides everything ; and, bating tho
color or tissue, the same garment, the
same medley of international rags.seems
equally to suit Russian or Tartar, Mos
lem or Christian, Gypsy or Jew. Mer
chants and brokers and other middle
class idlers who crowd the steps of the
exchange wear the jacket and wide
awake hat now common to all Europe ;
gentlemen of a higher rank are either
in the military or civilian uniform, and
these also throw over it their heavy rid
ing cloaks, regardless of the stifling
heat, a Russian apparently never
feeling comfortable unless he is swathed ,
in loose drapery from head to foot. The
funny pork pie hats worn by the droski
drivers in St. Petersburg or Moscow
disappear as we come further east, and
here the ivoshtshik buries his head and
half his face in his ngly black hanging
cap like other men. The Russians are
as hirsute a race as any Asiatic. Those
of the lower classes, whether out of an
cient Muscovitic pride or to spite tho
shade of Peter the Great, the great
shaver, are bristling with such full, long
beards as might excite the envy of their
snaggiest Kalmuck or Samojede fellow
subjects ; some few have a mane at the
back of the head down to the shoulders,
but for most of them the hair is clinned
in a straight line by the barber, a primi
tive artist, who claps an earthen pot on
them, over head and ears, when they go
to'him for a shearing, and trims round
and round whatever protrudes from the
pot. Hair and beard are usually un
kempt and tangled, a fit frame for the
face, where a coating of several weeks'
dirt neutralizes the color of the skin.
Herr Holtz has concluded, from the
comparison of the statistics of thunder
storms and the damage ncnaninnA )
them in Germany, Austria and Switzer
land, from 1854 to 1880, that while the
increase of thunder-storms has been
small, the risk from lightning has been
very largely augmented. He belives
that the change is partly due to the use
VI JXUU IM UVUBp-UUJJUWgi
FACTS AM) COMMFNTS.
President Garfield's memory is to be
honored in London by the founding of
a home for working girls, to be called
"Garfield house." A lady has given
$1,200 to a committee for this purpose.
The carrier pigeon that is valued at
$500 must be a fine bird. Tet there are
several such on exhibition at the pigeon
and poultry show recently opened at
the Crystal palace, London. Some of
these birds are said to have found their
way from Rome to Antwerp, a distance
of about 700 miles, in two or three days,
stopping, too, on the way to gather food.
They have an original way in Venice
of protesting against a bad tenor. A
gentleman in the parterre of the Teatro
Malibran recently opened his umbrella
and held it toward the stage, evidently
to keep off the shower of false notes.
The auditorium at once became a forest
of open umbrellas. The tenor fled, the
curtain fell, and art was avenged.
The supreme tribunal of Mexico has
just given a remarkable decision. They
have determined that certain slaves
were entitled to their freedom twenty
years ago, and that the owners of a
mine in which they have been worked
for those twenty years must pay them
wages for all that time. This decision
indicates tho growing liberal sentiment
of the people of Mexico.
Tho famous big trees of California,
350 to 400 feet high and proportionately
thick, are on public land, subject to
entry at $1.25 an acre, and may be
bought up and destroyed by whoever
wishes to mako such use of them. The
bark has already been peeled from the
butt of one for a showman, who sets it
up at fairs as an exhibition, and another
has been cut down in order to make a
dancing platform of the stump.
Some curious verdicts have lately
been noticed in the courts of this coun
try. Not tho least singular is that re
ceutly reported in a Philadelphia court,
where a woman seenred a verdict of
$9,000 from a street railway line for the
loss of a hand by an accident to the car
in which she was riding, while a few
days before, in the same court, a verdict
of only $4,000 was given in favor of a
boy who had both legs cut off in an
other street-car accident.
There is no department of the Fed
eral government where, from the nature
of the business, there are such opportu
nities for frauds as in the pension
bureau. There are already 700,000
names rPj-'-stered of pensioners. There
are 130,000 other applicants whose cases
have not been decided, and new cases
are eoni-if in fit. the rate of 100 e day.
It would be naturally supposed that as
time passes the number of pensioners
would be decreased by death, but ' such
is not the case. The estimated expend
itures in 1882 for pensions is estimated
at $88,000,000, and it is supposed that
between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000 of
this amount will be on fraudulent
claims.
It is now nearly seventeen yearn
since the postal money-order system
wont into operation in the United
States, and the results prove the system
to be a great convenience to the people,
while yielding a revenue to the govern
ment beyond the cost of doing the Imsi,
ness. liariug tho last fiscal year mori
than seven millions of money-orders
were issued. The foes received for
these orders amounted to $917,01)1,
against $059,516 as the cost of transmis
tiorj, showing a net profit to the govern
ment on the business to the amount of
$257,575. The amount of monty rent
in this way exceeded eight hundred
million of dollars. The system has
been extended to tho postal service be
tween the United States and Severn 1
of the countries of Europe.
A little giil ordy fourteen jiars of
age, named Margaret Messenger, has
been convicted and sentenced to death
at tho Cumberland assizes in England,
for the murder of a baby whose nurse
sho was. The jury found her guilty and
also that although, being at the time
under tho age of fourteen, she was,
prima facie, incapable of crime she
was precocious enough to have a crimi
nal intent. Thero is on record in Eng
land an example of a boy aged eight
years being hanged for burning a barn
in Berkshire. A boy of ten, convicted
of murdeiing his bedfellow, was unan
imously pronounced by tho judges as a
proper subject of capital punishment,
and does not appear to have been re
prieved. These cases happened long
before the secretary of state was in the
habit of interfering in cases 01 murder
as he does at present ; and it is proba
ble that this young girl may have her
punishment commuted to imprisonment
for life.
A singular occurrence took place at
the Alexandra fart races in England re
cenuy. a betting man known as
"lioppy," because be is lame, attempted
to leave the grounds without paying
those wno had maae wagers with him
His movements being understood, a cry
01 "Welsheri was raised, and several
thousand persons quickly assembled.
The man was auacsed in a furious man
ner, and bis clothes for the most part
were torn off. The noise soon attracted
a number of policemen, who fought
their way through the mob and sur
rounded "Hoppy," who, but for the
timely assistance rendered, would have
been most seriously injured, if not
killed. He had conducted his betting
transactions from a wagonette, and
when he was taken away by the police a
considerable crowd remained behind.
A call was made for paper, and show'
ers of newspapers, race cards, letters,
books, etc., came from the multitude in
response. In a few seconds the vehicle
was almost covered with inflammable
articles, and theso being set fire to, the
woodwork of the trap, cushions and
lining were soon in a blaze, the lookers
on cheering lustily. The appearance of
the flames brought a strong body of po-
uoe to tne spot, auu aiter great aim
culty the carnage, well alight, was
drawn out of the burning heap of paper.
The shafts were broken off to stir np
the fire, and the harness was cut into
pieces, the horse being allowed to stray
away.
Mad aim HlosofolT and the Czar.
A correspondent in St. Petersburg re
cords an amiable action lately performed
by the czar. During the last few days
the chief military procurator, Filoso
foff, and his wifeliave returned to Rus
sia and reappeared at court Tho story
of their absence is a curious one. Under
the regime of Gurko it Was an easy
thing for any one man or woman to be
ticketed as "politically suspected," and
dealt with accordingly. Mme. Filoso
foff was a cultivated and generous lady,
and she employed her spare moments
in frequent gifts to poor and promising
students to aid them in their careers. A
student of Ecience or literature ' was
regarded ipso faoto by the Gurko school
of politicians as a doubtful character ;
if not already a Nihilist there was no
saying how soon be might become one.
Madame Filosofoffs gifts to youths of
this class brought her into bad repute,
and although no proof seems to have
been found that she really aided any
professed revolutionists under the plea
of aiding scient fic or literary aspirants,
she was suddenly informed that she
must leave Russia and reside abroad.
Her husband, the chief military pro
curator, was in despair, but his influence
and office could not procure a remission
of the ha rd sentence, which reduced
him to the condition of what the Ger
mans call a " straw widower."
At a court ball shortly after the exile
of his wife, the late Emperor Alexander
II. went up to Filosofoff and kindly
asked him why he looked so wretched.
'lour majesty knows," he replied,
' that I am a lonely man. I am no
longer young, I am constantly ill, and
need hardly sav that 1 miss the
society of my wife." "I can feel for
you, said tho czar, "and I wish that
your wife could return to you; but,"
added he, after a pause, " I find that it
is quite impracticable." Early tho next
morning, while the procurator was at
work in his study, a courier arrived
from the czar, with a note in the im
perial handwriting. "As your wife
cannot return to you," said the docu
ment, "you had better go to her. I
grant you an extra leave of absence and
2,000 rubles for traveling expenses.
Alexander." The present czar struck'a
lino across Madam Filosofoffs name in
the list of ' ' political suspects," and she
and her husband, the compulsory and
the voluntary exile, were thus enabled
to return home, and, as our police re
ports often conclude, " without a stain
upon their character."
Might Experiences ot a New York Pilot-
Bolt.
We ran westward all night utder
short sail, taking casts of the lead at in
tervals. Soon after ten, tho atmosphere
ing thick, but not so much so as to
prevent us from discerning objects at
the distance of a mile, wo discovered a
sailin r-sliip ahead, evidently running
fcr New York, and probably in need of
a pilot. Edging away toward hor, we
lit our torch, and had the satisfac
tion of seeing her send np a couple of
rcckets in response. At the same time
she backed her reefed maintopsail and
hove tj. Knnmng down on her Ise
side, we also hove to verr near to her,
ana proceeded to launch the yawl. It
was a wild scene as the little boat van
ished into the darkness, perhaps never
to be seeu again. But her crew carried
a lantern with them, and after they had
le.'t the pilot on board the ship, we
were able to shape our movements by
this little glimmer bobbing np anil
down like an ignis fatuus in the misty
dark. As tho night wore on the fog
grew so dense that we brought up our
six-pound brass piece from the fore
peas, and fired it at shott intervals ;
this was done, not, as one might sap
pose, to keep vessels from coming into
collision with the schooner, but to in
form them there was a pilot-boat in the
vicinity. But this very fact required
redoubled vigilance on our pait, in
order that we might not be run down.
In tho middle vatch we were startled.
rut after firiRg the cannon, by tho an
swering whistle of a steamer hoarsely
coming down the wind, and close at
hand. The excitement of the moment
was intense. Again we fired the can
non. 1 ho whistle drew nearer, and all
at once the colored lights of a steamer
loomed o"' of the dripping mist, and
her huge bow emerged from the gloom,
so near that it actually seemed to over
hang our deck, rassinnr close along
side, she slowed up the palpitation of
her mighty engine a moment to make
sure of our position, and then vaguely
gnoeci out 01 sight. ventury Moguttne.
X Ruse at a ltostuiiraut.
It is an awkward thing to be absent-
minded. The story is told of a certain
Philadelphia gentleman, who discov
ered this at his cost. It so happened
the other day that the dining-room of
the club which he frequents was quite
full, when a man who chanced to know
his particular laiuiig came in very
hungry, xne waiter toia the new'
eomer there was no room at present.
Spying our absent-minded friend com-
lortabiy seated and reading the news
paper, a brilliant idea struck the hungry
man.
"Has Mr. A. dined yet?" he queS'
tioned.
" No, sir," replied the waiter.
" Well, never mind, take him his
bill and tell him he has had his
dinner."
The waiter hesitated a moment, and
then appreciating the situation went
over to Mr. A. and handed him his bill.
" What is this for ?" quoth the poor
leiiow.
" For your dinner, sir."
' ' My dinner - ah I Have I really had
"Yes, sir," rejoined the waiter, in all
Innocence.
"Dear me. I had an idea I was wait-
ins for it. What a enrious mistake?"
And with a contemplative smile Mr,
A. sauntered out of the room, leaving
his table for the use of the genius who
bad profited by his absent-mindedness,
FORTY.SETEXTII C07TURES8.
Senate.
At 12 o'clock noon the regular session of
Iho Forty-seventh Congress began, ths Presi
dent pro tern., Senator Davis, calling the Sen
ato to order. After prayer by the chaplain
tho president presonted the credentials of
William Windom, of Minnesota, and be wu '
sworn in. Then a flood of bills and petitions
rolled in. The important bills which failed to
become laws at the last session wtre intro
duced. Mr. Beck brought forward his bills
for the removal ot disabilities imposed by the
fourteenth amendment, for free ships, for tho
payment of customs duties in legal-tender
notes, and for the retirement of the trade dol
lar. Mr. Saunders produced his bill for the
establishment of the Territory of Pembina,
and Mr. Coke renewed the bill for the alot
ment of lands in eoveralty to Indians, which
was the subject of a tedious debate last session.
Mr. Morrill and Mr. Garland introduced bills
for the appointment of a tariff commission,
and Mr. Halo revived Mr. Blaine's resolution
for the appointment of seven Senators to take
into consideration methods of voting and
counting the votes cast for President and Vice
President. Mr. Frye put In two bills rolating
to tho Qoneva award. Mr. Logan renewed his
bill for placing General Grant on the retired
list of the army, and Mr. Test introduced a bill
for the improvement of the Mississippi river.
Mr. Ferry introduced a resolution intended to
secure protection for innocent users of patented
articles against oppressive suits for infringe
ment, and this revived a subject which has
been debated at length. Mr. Morrell intro
duced a bill for the establishment of a national
educational fund. Two bills relating to the
TJto Indians were presonted, and Messrs.
Grover and Miller presented bills on the subject
of Chinese emgration. Mr. Sherman intro
duced a bill providing for the issuing of 1300,
000,000 worth of three per cent, bonds. Among
tho new bills was one from Mr. Windom for the
incorporation of the Garfield Memorial hos
pital, one from Mr. Lapham for the punish
ment of attempts to take the life of the Presi
dent of the United States. Many old
private claims were brought to life and re
ferred. Mr. Sherman introduced a resolution
appointing a committee to report " by what
token of respect and affection it may bo proper
for the Congress of the United States to express
the deep sensibility of the nation on the event
of the decease of the lato President."
At 1:10 p. H. a recess was taken to await the
arrival of communications from the President.
At 8:35 p. M. the session was resumed. No Ex
ecutive communication had been received. Mr.
Edmunds offored a resolution continuing the
committees as they existed at the close of the
last session. To this Mr. Pngh offered an
amendment authorizing President Davis to do.
cide whether the committees eliall bo equally
or otherwise divided betweon the two political
parties. Tho resolution wont over.
A largo number' of petitions and bills that
were introduced were tabled to await the
formation of committers. ...Mr. Cameron, of
Pennsylvania, introduced a resolution declar
ing that, in tho opinion of tho Hcnato, it is in
expedient to reduce ths revenue of the govern
ment by abolishing all existing Internal revenue
taxes, except those imposed upon highuines
and distilled spirits. Tabled informally
Mr. Beck submitted a resolution that the'eom
mittec on the Judiciary bo instructed to exam
ine into the provisions of tho Constitution
concerning the removal, resignation, iu
abilitv or death of tho President and Vicc
Proaideut, and the laws passed by Congress to
carry theia into effect, and inquire whether ilin
provisions of said laws are comtitulionil,
proper and adequate in alt respects to thuir
purpose and end, or whether any further legis
lation is necesnary or proper, and to report
thereon by bill or otherwise.... After the
leading of the President's message, 011
motion of Mr. Sherman, his resolution to
appoint six Senators, ia conjunction with a lilt0!
committee to be appointed by the Houso, 'o
provido a means of expressing the deep serial
bility of the nation upon the decease of the late
Pietideiit (linlild, and referring to them that
part of the President's message relating th, r
to, was taken up and named. . ..On motion of
Mr. Edmunds, the standing committees of the
Senate were continued, the vote en the rejoln
tion being-yeas, 32, nays, 30. A party vole,
except that President Davis voted with t'10
majority.
M'tws. Hheimni. Peiidle'on, Dawes, i.ap
1011, llayaid an I Morgan were appointed liy
li cliuir 011 the joint committee for tho pie-
paratinn of a memorial upon the death of
the late President Uailicld.... Among the bills
introduced was one making the trade dollar a
legal tender.
U 011 sr.
The oiuaniziitiou of tho J'ortv-eoveuth Con-
gicss was sttcuded by tho is.ial scenes of bus
tle and oxciteinent attho capitol. At 12 o'clock
noon Mr. Adaint, clerk ot tho last House of
Itourcsentatives. ranned ution his doBk. and
began the work of organizing that branch of
the Forty-seventh Congress by calling the toll.
This was done in the presence of an audieuce
wnicn packed every ouo 01 tne galleries ami
tlio corridors. After roll-call came the nomi
nations for speaker. Tho Republicans nomi
nated J. W. Keifer, of Ohio; the Democratic
candidate was Samnol J. Randall, and the
Greenbackers nominated Nicholas Ford. The
ballot was as follows: Whole number of votes
cast, 285; necessary to a choice, H3, of which
Mr. Keifer received 14J, Air. Haudall, 1TJ, and
Mr. Ford 8. The two Readjuster members from
Virginia, Messrs. Fulkerson and Paul, voted
for General Keifer, and with the Republicans on
all other questions relating tothe organization.
Those voting for Ford were Brumra. Burroughs,
of Missouri; Hazoltine, Jones, of Texas; Ladd,
Mosegrove, Murch and Bice, ot Missouri. Mr.
neuer was escorted to tne onair dv aiessrs.
Hiscock and Randall, and the oath of office was
administered by Mr. Kelly, of Pennsylvania,
the senior Representative on the floor. After
Mr. Keifcr had read an address of thanks the
swearing in of new members began. The call
ing ot the name of General Wheeler, of Ala-
Lama, was tne signal lor an objection to ma
taking tne oatn irom Mr. Jones, or Texas.
General Wheeler's case was passed tem
porarily, and when all the names had been
called it was found that objections had also
boon offered to trie swearing in or Messrs.
Cntte. of Iowa: Kincr. of Louisiana: Chalmers.
of Mississippi; Van Voorhis, of New York; Dib
ble, of South Carolina, and Moore, ot
Tennessee. After some discussion the
objections to all the above-named were with'
drawn and they were sworn in. The House
then proceeded to further organization and
elected the following officers, all Republicans t
Clerk, Edward Mcpherson, of Pennsylvania;
sergcant-at-anns, G. W. Hooker, of Vermont ;
doorkeeper, W. P. Brownlow, of Tennessee;
postmaster, Henry Sherwood, of Michigan;
chaplain. F. D. Powers, of Virginia. Messrs.
mscock, urtn and tteagan were appointed a
committee to wait upon the President and in
form him that Congress was in session, and was
ready to receive communication from him.
All the Territorial delegates, except the one
from Utah, wore sworn in.... After consider
able discussion, participated in chiefly by the
Speaker, Mr. Randall and Mr. Cox, Mr. Haskell
was rccosntzod, and onerea me louowmg;
Kmrlr.nl. ThiLt Allan G. C&mnbell. delegate-
elect from Utah Territory, is entitled to be
sworn in as delegate to this House on a prima
facie case. Objections being made to this
resolution, and a discussion arwing, the swear
ing in of the delegato from Utah wa postponed
until the next day, and the members proceeded
to draw tor seats.
The following committee, to take appropriate
action upon the death of President Garfield.
was appointed : Messrs. MoKinlev. Pacheco.
Belford, Waite, Forney, Dunn, Martin, David
son, ot t iorida, Stephens, Cannon, Ortn, Has
son, Carlisle, Gibson. Dingley. McLans. Harris.
of Massachusetts, Eorr, Dunnel, Hooker, Ford,
Valentine, Casaidy, Hall, Hill, of New Jersey,
Cox, of New York, Vance. George, O Neifj,
Chase, Aiken, Fettibone, Mills, Joyce, Tucker,
Wilson.Williams, of Wisconsin, and Anderson.
Rosa Bonhenr la failing in health.
She has painted ainoe nineteen and ia
now fifty-eight years old. No other
woman artist ever sold her works for so
high a price as she has received.
The fop is only a man who thinks
'swell "of himself.
Hundreds of Live Lost in a Vienna
Theater.
The destrnotinnbv flro of the Rinsr theater
In Vienna, ono of the leading places of amuse
ment in the Austrian capit al, is one of the most
heartrending calamities of modern times. The
dispatches say: Researches show that the upper
nllery must have fallen into the pit, where
Iho only remains found are small fragments of
bone. Beyond a doubt 900 gallery tickets had
been issued. One hundred holders of these
re known to have jumped from windows.
Competent judges fear that tho loss of life will
be found to be fully 700. Under the circum
stances, appalling as is the loss of lifo, it is al
most to bo wondered at that so many persons
escaped. It is estimated that about 2,000
men, women and children wero in tho
honse when tho flro broko out, and
placing the lost of life at 700, which
It is to be hoped is an extravagant esti
mate, about 1,300 either managed to make
thoir escape, in spite of the panic or tho mis
erable ariangcments of the house, and were
rescued from the flames by the gallant firemen
and soldiers. Of these, about 150 are now lying
in the various hospitals of the city, wonndod
aad suffering intensely. Some of them are
mangled so severely that they have lost all
semblance ot hninanity. Many will probably
uie: ot tiers will recover, Dm tney win ue maimca
and disfitnired for lifo. The fire was started at
about 0:43, wbilo the curtain was still down.
The house, fortunately, was not filled, many of
the holders of boxes and the more desirable
seats not having arrived. The audience continued
to buzz and seat lteeir, and tne loboy was
thronged with ladies and gentlemen indulging
iu a final chat before hiking their placos in the
boxes, when, suddenly, tho flames attacked the
drop curtain, and hurst forth in one largo sheet
which swept away tho canvas in an instant. The
scene which followed can never be adequately
described. A loud shriek of "Firo" went up from
2,000 terrified men and women, and an imme
diate movement toward the narrow doors was
bet;un from all dtiarters of the bouse. Women
Bcrenmed and fainted, men yellod and pushed
over tho prostrate forms of tho weaker.
trampling tli. iu without mercy in their straggle
to gam the p.ii-nKewava. In tho midst of
the eoiifitii.iii tho noise of a torriflo explosion
was addu I to the shrieks of tho persons impris
oned in the building, which had now become a
furnace, and the lights in trie nouae were in
stantly extinguished. The gas-tank had
burst, and the narrow, complicated passages
leading from the galleries wero in total dark-, -
Tho doorwavs became lammed wi'a
the ftfihting throng, and soon it was impossi
ble to go forward or retreat. As the gas-tank
exploded, the flames pierced the roof of the
tneater, and tne neuottcn utng was amaze
with light. The interior of the building was
now so hot that men and women dropped in
their tracks, and lay where thoy fell until
suffocation ended their misery. Despair and
frenzv seem to have taken possession of the 00-
lpnuts of the cutleries. Cut off from all ro-
icat by wav of the narrow etaircaso, which was
logged bv a mans of humanitv. and having no
windows from which to throw themselves,
many of tho maddened men and women cast
Ihcmsclfos headlong from the fourth gallery
to the pit below, where they wero either in
atantly killed by tho fall or perished by suffo
cation, utners gave themselves up witnont a
struggle and calmly awaited certain death in
the furnace, which was now at white heat.
Tho alarm of tho fire spread rapidly
throughout tho city, and in a very short timo
the neighborhood 'of the theater was packed
with a crowd of eager men, all anxious to ex
lend help to the dying priHoners, but wanting
the mean . A ligbt snow was falling, and this
t.lded to tho feat till character of the scene.
Within ten minutes alter the fire had gained
ixse8-ion of tne auditorium tho Tumor e lire
Lutidu was on tho ground, and the work of
piideavoi ing to rescue tbo sufferers began.
Iho walls near tne chokeu-up entrances were
knocked away, and groat numbers of people
were thus set free. The flames from the burn-
ng building, however, noon became bo fierce
hat the firemen wero obliged to give up this
Bcliciiic of deliveranee. Then thev held large
ilaiiketx outstretched, and into these the im
t iMitii'd nieu jumped from tho windows of the
Hint floor above the pit. In this way fifty per
cons were rescued without receiving a scratch.
I lien the hen', became so intense that it was
IiiinnMitiblo to rtm 1 near the burning theater,
n 1 the I rave firemen were obliged to givo np
the wuik of rescue. All who remained within
the w lis ot the theater at this timo were
loon e.l, on 1 the shrieks of the victims as they
li.wly io,i-t. d to death wero agonizing to the
great muliituito who watched tho progress of
the tire, liy It o clock, 111 a little more than
four bonis, the flames had done their work, and
inching remained of the Ring theater but the
four walls and the slatutos of the throe muses
ami the gildc -1 niigel with his trumpet, which
ornamented itu beautiful front. It was many
hours more before it was possible to explore
tho ruins in search of the bodies.
Additional details from Vienna Bay that 58
bodies had been recovered and that the num-
ber of missing is 017. On the arrival of the
tire brigade after the fire broke out it ill
found Impossible to penetrate beyond the first
tier of the theater, the rush of suffocating,
smoke and air extinguishing tho lamna ana
torches. The firemen retired under ' Jio
mcntary impression, because their shouts were
not answered, that there were no more people
in tho theater. Those who escaped on tho first
alarm, however, soon undeceived them. An
other effort was then made to penotrate the
parte of the theater which were not actually
blazing. In the narrow passage between
tho second and third galleries a mass
of corpses was discovered, some so
closely interlocked that it was hardly
posfiblo to part them. The first man discov
ered was got out alive, but all the rest were
dead. These were persons who had lost their
way in consequence of the turning off of the
gas, which, it is now ascertained, was done by
some irresponsible person with a view to pre
vent an explosion. Some men were found with
their hands grasping each other's throats. Sub
tenuent investigations showed that in some
cases persons finding escape hopeless had com
mitted suicide. Jt is stated by survivors uiat
women were seen to throw thoir children from
the galleries into the oit. At the time of the
outbreak of the flames, tho gallery especially
allotted to ladies was lull, sunscnptions were
immediately owned for the relief of the fami
lies of the dead, the emperor beading the list
W1IU Z'J.IAAJ uuriuB.
The AUorney-Ueneral's Office,
The annual report of the attorney-general
recommends an increase in the nutnbor of jus
tices of the supreme court. There were pend
ing July 1,1881, 6,211 criminal prosecutions,
viz., 3,104 for violations of the internal revenue
laws, 809 for violations of customs laws, 276
for violations of postoflioe laws, 855 for prose
cutions under the election laws, 158 for violations
of the civil rights acta, 63 under naturalization
laws, 83 under intercourse laws, 88 under pen
sion laws, 77 for embezzlement and 1,719 mis
cellaneous prosecutions. The aggregate
amount of Judgments rendered in favor of the
United States in civil suite during the last year
was $1,233,24173, and the amount actually
collected last year on these judgments was
$135,362.31, while 170,010.12 waa obtained dur
ing the year on judgments rendered in former
years for the United States; $139,908.96 was
otherwise realized in civil suits. The aggre
gate amount of fines, forfeitures and penalties
imposed during the year in criminal prosecu
tions waa $314,735.37, and the amount of these
fines, forfeitures and penalties collected during
the year was $62,559.38, while $11,358.85 was
realized on fines, forfeitures and penalties im
posed in former years.
For expenses incurred in 1878 and prior
years there were paid during the last fiscal
year $ll,auD.w) out 01 tne appropriation made
In the several Judicial districts. For expense
incurred in 1878 proper there were paid during '
the fiscal year $29,429.13 : for expenses incurred
In 1879, $305,603.99; for expenses in 1880,
$610,721.10. Of the expenses inourred during
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1881, $2,718,
180.47 were paid to United Btates marshals,
attorneys, elerka, jurors, witnesses, eto. The
appropriation for foes of marshals for 1881 was
$660,000. Of this sum there were disbursed
$610,731.21, being the amount advanced to
them, or paid on adjusted accounts, prior to
July 1, 1881, for their fees and expenses.
Last words of the gosling: "It's
down with me," WU and WUdom,
all
X