J
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. Nil-. DESPERANDUM. Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. XII. HIDGtWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUHSDAY. APKIL- 6. 1882 NO. 7.
Twilight,
i.
I've boon roaming
In tho gloaming
Of a mellow autumn ovc;
Twilight lingers,
While its fingers,
Countless, boundless beauties weave.
II.
Day is dying,
Beautifying
In his dotfhtho land and lea:
Clouds in splendor
Shod their tender
Soul-subduing light on mo.
in.
Night's descending,
S rftly blending
Twilight glories with its own;
Till tho shadows
In the meadows
To their lulleat length havo grown.
IV.
And this token,
Tho' unspoken,
Tells us that tho day is dead;
Stars are peeping,
As if keoping
Silent watches round its bed.
v.
Thus tho glimmer,
Vim and dimmer,
From cnrlives mutt pass away:
Till tho morning,
Iu its dawning,
Ushers in nnothor day,
VI.
May that morning,
When its dawuiug
Beams at last upon our eyes,
Be tho waking,
Bo tho breaking
Of a dav that nover dios.
E, D. Snow.
BEHIND MINERVA'S SHIELD.
Homer Ashton one autumn evening
listened to stories of witches and ghosts
told around him, nnd joined in them,
until ho felt au occasional shiver creep
ing down his back. Not that he be
lieved in the supernatural, but the fire
light into which he sat looking grew
pleasan'cr to him than thecorners of the
great room, for lamps had been banished
to accord with the subject under dis
cussion, and it seemed that the shadows
flickering behind the young people
grouped abou, the grate of blazing coal
were massive and weird, and that when
one glanced at them sideways suddenly,
there was something about them like
ghostly visitors. When ho faced them,
to be sure, they were only ordinary
shadow. Homer was ashamed of him
self, he was afraid his nerves were un
steady, snd resolved to tost them. He
knew a way to do it.
Near tha place at which he was stay
ing, nn English country house, were
the ruins of the older part of a castle
said to have been built in the time of
tho Crusades. The whole castle was at
present uninhabited, but the part
which bail been allowed to fall into
hopeless decay was the width of tb
courtyard away from the rest of th
house. Probably it had once been con
nected with it by buildings which hud
formed three Bides of a hollow square,
but if sq it had been left out in the
changes made at different times, and
now it was roofless, the walls wore
crumbled, and the underground portion
was all that mads uny pretense to a
habitation, and offered a suitable home
to the unearthly beiugs who were suid
to roam in it, ir a dampness covered
oil tho stones and the air had a deadly
chill. But these facts seemed con
clusions froru tho nature of tilings
rather than the re.su! Is of observation,
for Homer could not lind anybody who
had explored it.
Ghosts ought really to he forgiven a
good many faults, because they are in
general so unselthh about selecting
homes nobody else wants.
That evening, as Ashton connected
the reports of the place itself with sto
ries of sights and sounds around it, he
found himself yielding bo much to the
influence of gossip that he determined
to shake off the weakness and to try
what stuff he was made of. He would
stand in those haunted halls and sum
mon the ghosts and see what would
happen. He knew well enough that it
would be nothing.
But he did not tell his plan to the
others; Le said merely that he was go
ing for a walk to blow u way this ghostly
atmosphere by a little fresh air. No
body volunteered to accompany him.
night had never seemed more distaste
ful to them oil. They only looked at
each other significantly as he left them,
and said:
"Another Americanism."
There is an unreasoning element in
human nature which assumes every in
dividuality of a foreigner to be a na
tional characteristic. Dr. Ashton,
whom the son of the house had become
acquainted with in London and brought
home with him for a visit, was to his
entertainers an epitome of America,
and it must be confessed that at the
end of a week they had come to have a
good opinion of that country.
As Homer walked on rapidly he saw
an occasional star in the sky, but it
seemed as if he never could get out of
the shadow of the trees, there were so
many A them.
He soon came to the ruin, a mile
away, opened the heavy gate and began
to descend the long flight of steps lead
ing into the corridors and rooms under
ground. What conld the old place
have been used for 'I Did monks come
here for prayers and penances, or were
these dungeons where captives taken in
the petty warfare of those times felt the
personal vengeance of their captors?
Ho thought of the one described in
"Ivanhoe," into which Isaao the Jew
was thrown, damp, dark, hung with
chains and shackles, and where in the
ring of one set of fetters were two mold-
ering human bones. It was no wonder
ghosts were said to haunt a plaoe like
that.
In the midst of these thoughts the
gate he had lelt open swung to with a
clang, shutting out earthly things be
hind him. Step by step he went down
the stone stairs into blackness to which
the night outside was twilight. Some
times he seemed to hear a sound, but
when he stopped to listen it was the
beating of bis heart. When he reached
the foot of the. stairs he still went on;
every now and then his outstretched
hands struck against a wall or pillar,
for he was passing through an arched
hall that ended in a narrow passage.
He next entered what he thought must
be a large room, for the air had an in
definable difference and the blackness
seemed that of space instead of sub
stance. As he stood there uncertain
which way to move and the very echo
of his footsteps ceased, the horror of
darkness and silence which had been
growing upon him reached its height.
He tried to utter his challenge, but his
dry lips would give forth no sound, an
abyss of night seemed to swallow him
up.
Suddenly he fancied he heard a move
ment, he thought that something like
palpable blackness flitted abont him.
He turned to fly and took a few hurried
steps in the direction of the entrance.
Then he stopped. It wus no ghostly
presence that arrested him, but the
iron hand of his resolution ; he had
como here to do a certain thing and
was not to be cowed by a feeling which
ho would be ashamed to own tohimseli
in the daylight. He faced about and
went forward quickly a few steps.
"If there is any ghost let him now
appear," ho called loudly.
The dreary walls answered his cry
with a dull reverberation.
With arms folded he stood a moment
the hardest thing of all to do -awaiting
results. If there had not been a
roar in his cars, if the beating of his
heart had not made even his vision un
steady, he would have said that he
heard subdued laughter, or moaning, it
was impossible to tell which as the
sound rolled toward him from tho hol
low sides, and that he saw something
like a whiteness in the distanee, while a
sense of presence made him cold with
honor.
He had done all he had resolved to
do and was free now to get out of tLis
dreadful place. He hurried toward
the entrance, urged on by the unreason
ing sense of pursuit that comes over one
when ho turns his back upon danger.
All at once he lost his footing and iny
at full length on the slippery Moor; the
shock, however, only jarred and be
wildered him. As he put out his
hands to rise he touched something
from which he drew back instantly with
a stifled exclamation; he thought it
oiust be one of the reptiles likely to
be crawling in this den. But he recol
ected that it was small and hard, per
haps it was a curious stone which would
Strove his night's excursion if the
strangers he was with should be tempt
d to doubt it. After a little groping
10 found it again; it felt like a stone
jovered with slimy moisture, and put
,ing it into his pocket he made his way
ut of the rains as best he eou'd.
When he returned to the house Lis
friend was alone waiting for him, and
-leepy, as Homer could see, consc
piently a trifle annoyed at being kept
ip so late. The guest said nothing
hat night of where he had been.
In his room he took out the stone,
t was not a pebble or a piece of the
pavement, as he had supposed, but an
jval of grayish lava that had once been
i brooch or part of a bracelet, As he
ijle'ined it with his penknife and pockct
Uundkerchief he saw that the work upon
it was beautiful; it was a figure ol
Ylinerva, the very fclds iu her tunic
carefully cut, and, as he saw by hi
tragnifying-glass, with a light tracery
of carving on her hemlet and shield
On the opposite side, just under the
shield, was the word " Violet."
It was evidently the owner's name,
but who was she ? Where did she live,
and when ? The pin, if it were a pin,
had not lain in its last hiding-place
long, he thought, it was not enough
stained by the dampness, yet he was
not sure about that. " Violet" might
belong to a former generation or might
have been sleeping the sleep of the just
for a century. But suppose not, sup
pose she were a young lady beautiful
as her name, wealthy and high born?
Well, what then ?
Homer put out his light and went to
bed, but not immediately to sleep. Tho
affuir seemed to promise an adventure ;
as such it would havo been interesting
to any young person. But Ashton, ip
addition to being barely twenty-five,
had been obliged to make his way for
the last ten years ; for though he was
of good family, Dame Fortune had
started him in life with no more than
one of her pennies, which, however,
evory time a man turns it, as in the
legend, leaves a gold-piece in his hand.
The next morning but one a tall
young man with dark hair and eyes and
an expression amused, yet resolute,
handed in his card at Grantham hall
and asked to see its owner, Sir Gresham
Laud.
"Dr. Homer Ashton," ciied Sir
Gresham, looking up from his letters
displeased at the interruption. "Who's
he? 1 don't know any such person.
Beryl," to the servant, "what does he
look like?"
" As well, Sir Gresham, only spryer."
" Oh. ' spryer.' is he ? In his head or
his heels, I wonder ? Well, I suppose
I must see what the fellow wants; one
of those genteel sponges come to sack
up as many pounds as I'll give to their
deuced charities," he muttered. By
which speech it is fair to conclude that
Sir Gresham had been sponged in this
way more than once.
But when Homer, who was admiring
the view from tho drawing-room win
dow, turned and bowed as the bare net
approached, Sir Gresham perceived
nothing of the suppliant about him and
began to doubt whether this elegant
stranger did mean to make him a few
pounds the poorer by his visit. He
came forward and requested his visitor
to be seated. Ashton spoke of the
beauty of the country and Sir Gresham
answered him, but at tne moment can
osity was evidently his ruling passion
"You are wondering why I came,'
said Homer. " Certainly it was not to
tell you, what everybody knows, that
this is the finest situation about here.
But I have in mv possession part of an
ornament which, I believe, belongs to
Miss Land."
"Yon I What is it?"
Ashton bowed and smiled also, as
he handed the other his discovery of
the night but one before. " Does it be
long to your daughter?" he said.
But Sir Gresham was too bewildered
to answer him.
That ? ' he cried. " Good heavens 1
that ? Where did you find it ? It's a
clew."
" A clew to what?" cried Homer,
eagerly. He felt on the brink of dis
covering how a lady's ornament could
come in so strange a place.
But Sir Gresham was too excited by
some suggestion awakened by the sight
of the stone to have an idea of trying
to satisfy any curiosity but his own.
"Where did you find it?" he re
peated. "Is it our daughter's ?" .returned
Homer.
" Yes, it must be hers," and remem
bering at lust to thank the young man
for returning it, he stood with the stone
in his bond waiting impatiently for a
full account of its recovery.
"Does Sir Gresham Laud suppose
that I came here for the-purpose of
telling a midnight adventure to hiu?"
thought Homer, as a look of amusement
flitted across his face. "If you will be
so kind," he answered, suavely, " as to
ask Miss Laud if she will do me the
favor to identify her ornament. I shall
be most happy to tell you, and her if
Bhe cares to know, how I came by it."
Sir Gresham hesitated only an in
stant. " Assuredly," ho said, and sent
for his daughter.
The young man's heart beat faster at
the sound of light steps behind him.
Suppose Violet were plain and heavy
looking, yet suppose he turned hast
ily, but not too soon for the beautiful
face that was coming toward him.
" She was named for her eyes,'' thought
Homer; and there was something else
he thought, too, that could no more
than this bo spoken at the moment.
She greeted him with a simplicity that
charmed him; but when she saw the
medallion in her father's baud she cried:
"Oh, papa, my bracelet-clasp; where
did you get it? Have they found out
the robbers V"
Homer's eyes opened wide at her
words.
"Robbers?'' he repeated. "That's it,
then? Perhaps I really did hear and
see something after all." And after a
moment in which three people stood
facing each other with looks of inquiry
he began an account of his expedition
to the ruin. He was truthful in every
detail, yet the story sounded remark
ably well as he told, it, watching Vio
let's face and seeing a ..diver and
grow pale in imagining the blackness
of the old cellars. If she would but
"love him for the dangers ho had
passed ;" he knew nothing of wars to
be sure, except of personal struggles
with misfortune, out of place to be told
here, yet having left their maik upon
him in a consciousness of power to dare
and conquer adverse circumstances.
" I've no doubt they carried their
booty there," exclaimed Sir Gresham,
Lis thoughts still in the ruins an infinite
distance behind the youug man's winged
fancy und supplementing the narrative
which Ashton had just finished. While
Violet was listening to her father's ac
count of a daring burglary committed
the winter before while the family were
in the house, Ashton had an opportun
ity to study her face moro ciitically, or,
rather, more admiringly. It was possi
ble he did not drop all the admiration
out of his expression as from time to
time she turned to him to explain more
fully something that her father was
saying.
" 1 vo no doubt the villains brinsr
their booty miles to hide it in the ruin."
said Sir Gresham. "This medallion
was the clasp of a heavy gold bracelet
It was given to my daughter by a friend
and she is much obliged to you, I am
sure, for finding it."
" Indeed I am," said Violet, coloring
a little as she spoke
" it is 1 who am under obligation to
fate," answered Homer; " I havo found
something that Miss Laud values."
"lherestof the bracelet has been
melted down long ago," pursued Sir
Gresham. " That place ought to bo
searched."
" Yes," said Homer; " when will vou
do iti"
Tho baronet looked somewhat taken
aback at this energetic suggestion.
" JSo doubt," he answered, " and
perhaps, Dr. Ashton, you would like to
be one ot the party if I go with some of
my neighbors? I suppose it ouirht to
be done as soon as possible within a
day or two," he went cn, as the other
assented, " lest they should take alarm
st your intrusion upon them. When
should you advise going?"
" 'ihis moment," cried Homer. "It s
a wonder that we Americans have any
grass in our country," he added, smil
ing, " we are so averse to letting it grow
unuer our leet.
ne met Violet's eyes as he finished.
and read in them an admiration and
interest. In another moment she had
turned away on some trifling pretext, but,
undoubtedly, she was blushing. How
was Homer to know that she had once
declared she would marry the man who
brought her back her bracelet clasp ?
That, however, was when she was quite
sure it would never be found.
" Not until aftor luncheon, papa, will
vou?" she said. "You'd better not
take Dr. Ashton until after that."
Several years later, when the medal
lion had led to more than the finding
of stores of plunder in the old ruins
which a gang ot thieves had taken care
to make appear haunted, Homer Ash
ton, a physician of high standing, was
living in a lare American city, A
schoolmate whom he had not met for
years said to him one day at dinner as
ney were talking ot marriages and
dea'hs among their comrades:
" By the way, Ashton, you never told
me where you first met your wife. I
only know that it was in England."
Homer laughed.
"I first met her." he said, "behind
Minerva's shield. Did I not, Violet?"
uur Continent.
Mousquetaire gloves rema'n popular,
but buttoned or laced gloves are more
becoming to both hands and arms and
are now preferred by ladies ol taste.
TIIL FARM AX1) HOUSEHOLD.
The Farmer.
Let the wealthy and great
Roll In splendor and state,
I envy them not, I declare it
I eat my own lamb,
My chickens and ham,
I shear my own flaece, and I woar it;
I have lawns, I have bowers,
I have fruits, I have flowers,
Tho lark is my morning alarmcr:
So, Jolly boys, now
Here's God speed the plow.
Long life and success to the farmer!
lioontion of a Poultry Farm.
Poultry breeding has advanced so
rapidly from the condition of an ex
periment, carried on in places few and
far between and in the quietest manner,
to a business known tho length and
breadth of the country, and affordiog
employment as well as pleasure to
thousands of people, that the question
of how it is to be systematized is one of
the greatest importance.
The foremost consideration ii natu
rally the location of tho farm. It is an
impression as widely spread as it is
groundless that the best plaoe for ope
rations ol this nature is some barren
spot too poor to be used for any other
purposes. This is a mistake of the
very worst kind, and of itself is cause
enough for the failure of the whole un
dertaking. The soil of tho poultry farm is one of
the most importantsubjects, and should
be the first considered. It is not enough
that the land should be well drained
and havo a suitable exposure to the sun,
while it is sheltered from the attacks of
chilly storms it must also be arable.
To utilize the manure from the large
number of hens which will naturally be
kept on such a place, it must have a
certain amount of cultivation. Were it
possible to dispose of this fertilizing
material at its value without conveying
it a distance to a market at considerable
expense, it would be by far the best
plan to not attempt to mix the labors of
a farmer with those of a poultryman.
But it is rarely the case that railroad or
other facilities for selling are to be
found conveniently near a fairly low
priced piece of arable land.
We must, then, make arrangements
for utilizine this product upon the
farm itself, in a way to supply the
wants of our stock as nearly as possi
ble. Naturally we shall seek for those
grains and vegetables which are at once
most easily grown and bost adapted to
our wants. Corn, which plays such an
important part in the list of provisions,
will occupy a leading place, and all the
roots which ko to make up the green
food so necessary to every flock must be
cultivated liberally. ,
Soil which must be made to turn out
the crops we havo mentioned cannot be
of the wretcnea cuaracter generally
thought coed enough for the purpose.
Land may bo waste in tho sense that it
is unbroken, and is simply used for
pasturage, and y.et bo suitable, but an
incorrigible sand or poverty-strioKen
gravel can never be the best field for
poultry farming, because the manure of
the poultry cannot be economically ap
plied to such a soil. World.
Farm nnd Cinrdcn Kotrs.
Ordinary stable manure contains up
ward of seventy per cent, of watsr.
Blood and refuse meat rubbod upon
the trunks of trees will keep away mice
and rabbits.
Hoof and horn shavings contain moro
than twenty-five times a much nitro
gen as is contained in average stable
manure.
The milking nuarrUai cf swine art
as transmissible by carafnl breeding as
in the case of cows, and probably will
receive more attention hereafter.
Anybody can have grapevines by
cutting them " properly. Trim off a
portion of the old vine and leave a bud
at each end. Stick one end in the ground
and it will take root.
Blue grass is somewhat delicate when
very young, but after it gets a good
hold it usurps the soil, cleaning out all
other grasses. It should not bo pas
tured the first season.
ProfeFsor Rilev thinks that immunity
from the ravages of the Hessian fly may
bo expected for several years, as the
heat and drought of last summor killed
large numbers of them.
The dead bark from the trunks and
larger limbs of trees is best removed
during a thaw. A wash of whale oil or
soft soap applied with a brush gives a
smooth, healthy appearance.
One cow well fed and comfortably
cared for will produce quite as much
milk and butter as two that are allowed
to run at large, lie on the wet ground
and be subject to the exposure of the
weather.
An application of 100 pounds of
nitrate of soda to an acre of wheat,
where the crop looks weak, will show
its bene tit in a few days, not only im
proving it in growth but largely incroas
ing the yield.
It is commonly stated that super
phosphates, potash saics and otner sim
liar materials are more effective when
used together than when applied sepa
rately. Certainly complete fertilizer
are more efficient man partial lertii-
izera.
The sow should be fed but little corn
during the last two months of her
pregnancy. Her diet should avoid that
which is so heating and fattening.
Oats, bran, middlings and beets are
great deal better than the evorlasting
corn diet of the West.
If you begin pruning fruit and orna
mental trees and shrubbery while
young, and follow it up eaoh year, you
can form iust such a top as you want.
If your tree needs spreading out, out
the young shoots off just above a bud
on the outside of a shoot; and if you
want to train upward, leave a bud on
the upper side of the limb where you
out it oil.
Beclpes.
Applb Float. Pare nd core twelve
large green apples, boil or bake in as
little water as possible and press through
a fine hair sieve when cold; sweeten to
taste, add the whites of two eggs wel
beaten, and then beat the whole to
gether until stiff. Grate nutmeg over
To bo eaten with cream.
Cocking Tuknips. A lady writes :
My favorite method of cooking rutaba
gas is to boil them, previously diced
quite thin, and when done drain off tho
water and chop nno with a unite, sea
soning with salt, popper, butter and
vinogar. A friend chops hers before
boiling, but I prefer my own method,
it being so much more quickly done.
Lemck Cheese Cakes. Take two
ounces of butter, two eggs, throe table
spoonfuls of moist sugar, the grated
rinds and n ice of two lemons, and two
stale Savoy biscuits (or hard crackers
of any kind), also finely grated. Mix
all together and then simmer over the
fire for a few minutes in a saucepan.
Have ready some patty pans, lined
with puff paste. Pat a very small quan
tity of the mixture into each, and bake
for fifteen or twenty minutes in rather a
quick oven. This quantity will make
about one dozen and a half cheese
cakes.
;HoDNChold Hints.
Hot irons should never be used for
embroidery.
In boating butter always take the
back of your spoon.
A thin coat of varnish applied to
straw matting will mase it much more
durable and keep the matting fresh and
new.
Filling a lamp when it is lightedlis
something that ought never to be done.
It can be avoided by filling it in the
morning.
After Four Years.
The Philadelphia Press tells of the
affecting way in whioh Mrs. Melville,
wife of Engineer Melville, ot the lost
Jeannette, received the first letter from
her husband after a silence of four years
Says the Press : Mrs. Melville, the wife
of Lieutenant G. W. Melville, who went
out as chief engineer of the Jeannette
exploring party, yesterday at her home
at Sharon mil, noar Philadelphia, re
ceived a letter from her husband. For
four years the anxious mother and three
little girls have been awaiting a letter
from him. Yesterday morning Maud,
who ia about fifteen years of age, went,
as she has thousands of times in over
three years, to the postoffice to see if
thore was a letter. Mrs. Melville was
seated at home sewing, and the other
two girls were playing with their dolls.
Suddenly one of the little ones said:
" Why, mamma, something s the matter
with Maud, I actually believe there's
a letter from papa." Maud's feet did
not appear to touch the ground. She
broke through the gate use one pur
sued by some terrible phantom. With
tears of joy streaming down her face
and choking with sobs she threw her
self at her mother's feet, dropping
the letter and crying out: " Oh,
mamma, at last I at last I it is from
papal Oh, it is from papa!" Tho
mother tore it open and read it at a
glance, and then reread it several times
over. All tho afternoon and up to going
to bed last night the children were
doing nothing else but reading over
papas letter. With the intelligence
that it contained of the fate of others
and the knowledge that iust now ho
himself with the search party is facing
similar dancers, thero was nothing in
the letter to give hope of the return of
the husband and father. Written on a
single sheet of tough, heavy note paper,
the letter read as loiiows:
IitKoiTTSK, Russian Siberia, January 1, 1882,
Deab Heitik After many trials and many
tribulations 1 arrived bore yesterdav. We can
muster but thirteen people, all told, out of our
original thirty-throe persons. I am pretty well
and will be at homo this Bummer or next win-
tor, according as I may be instructed by tho
navv department. 1 nave telegraplieu asking
to remain and search for De Long; and others
who perished at tho mouth of the Lena river.
jlovo to cuuuieu. lours laitntuny,
George W. Melvil le,
WISE WOltDS.
The height of meanness is to exult ia
its success.
Une vico worn out makes us wiser
than fifty tutors.
J either worth nor wisdom comes
without an effort.
Grief has been compared to a hydra
for every ona that dies two are born.
Tho scientific study cf man is the
most difficult of all branches of knowl
edge.
Conceit is to nature what paint is to
beauty; it is not only needless, but
impairs what it would improve.
There is pleasure in contemplating
good; but the greatest pleasure of all
is doing good, which comprehends the
rest.
Poverty is tho only burden which
grows heavier in proportion to the num
berof dear ones who have to telp to
bear it.
Sanctified thoughts, made conscious
of, and called in, and kept m awe, and
given fuel that burns not, are a water
for Satan's coal.
Duty is the voice of God, and a man
is neither worthy of a good home here
or in heaven that is not willing to ba
in peril for a good cause.
Work is a necessity in one way or an
other to all ol us. overworn is ol our
own making, and, like all self-imposed
burdens, is beyond our strMgtn.
Origin of "Excelsior."
One of the best known of all of Long
fellow's shorter poems is " Excelsior '
That one word happened to catch his
eye one autumn eve in 1811 on a torn
piece of newspaper, and straightway
his imigination took fire at it. Taking
up a pieoe of paper, which happened to
be the back of a letter reoeived that
day from Charles Sumner, he crowded
it with verses. As first written down
"Excelsior" differs from the perfected
and published version, but it shows
rush and glow worthy of its author,
The story of "Evangeline" was first
uggested to Hawthorne by a friend
who wished him to found a romance on
it. Hawthorne did not quite coincide
with the idea and ho handed it over to
Longfellow, who saw in it all the ele
ments of a deep and tender idyl.
jamei I . Jfwai.
AX OLD MAN'S SILVER.
He Kccovrm It From llio Vntted Htntei
Trrnanrr VniilmThe Picture of Ills
Father Other rainlly Etvlte.
When General Sherman and his men
were marching through South Carolina,
the people in his path, snatching up
what valuables they could find in their
haste, fled in every direction. When
ever a body of soldiers are raiding a
country more or less pillaging and
plundering take place, no matter now
strict the orders or how well disciplined
the tvoops. In such circumstances a
soldier seems to think he hat a right to
what he cau get and keep. General
Sherman's boys proved no exoeption
to this rule. While on the watch
one dny the attention of an officer
was attracted by a group of soldiers
disputing. Stopping to listen a mo
ment, he discovered that they were
quarreling over the division of a large
box of captured property. A glance
told him that the contents wore valu
able and ought at once to bo placed in
the earo of the government, "tlcre,
men, this won't do 1 This box must be
sent to Washington at once." Orders
were given to that effect, and it was
sent t Washington and stored away in
the division of captured and abandonod
property in the war department. It re
mained thore until 1808, when, with
other valuables, it was placed as a special
deposit in tho vaults of tho treasury de
partment. ome of tho thiDgs deposited
there had no mark about them by
which they could be identified, while
others were plainly marked. Congress
authorized that the former be sold,
but those that might by any'possibili
ty be claimed by the owners were cire-
fully preserved. It is a long time since
that box of household valuables was
ruthlessly snatched by rough soldiers
from the fleeing South (JaroJinian, and
he is now an old man. He had for
gotten all that the box contained,
but remembered that his family
plate was there, and that it was ail
marked, and that it must have been
placed in the government's care. If he
could only get the necessary authority
to have his goods returned to him, he
kuew he could identify them. After a
good deal of hard work and worry cn
his part, a privato bill authorizing the
return of such pieces of silver as could
be clearly identified as his proporty
should be returned"to him, was at last
passed by Congress. It was a happy
morning for him, only a few days ago,
when he made his way to the treasury
department armed with the necessary
authority, and carrying a large, old
fashioned carpet-bag in which he in
tended to bring away tho long-lost fam
ily relics. Ho was escorted to the vaults
by the officers of the department, and the
articles placed before him for identifica
tion. Yes I there they were, all plainly
marked with the family name, large old-
fashioned silver goblets, heavy ladles.
spoons, forks and various othor articles
of silver. His eye brightened and his
hand trembled as he picked them up
and carefully examined them. Turn
ing to those who s-ood near : "Ah ! I
tell you, these were bought when
money was more plentiful than it is
now," he said. One by one he dropped
them into the old bag of goodly pro
portions ; but large as it was the sides
soon began to bulge. Several hun
dred dollars worth by weight was
clearly identified as his property. But
what is this ? It bears tho cams family
mark, but had been entirelv forgotten.
He touched the spring nnd opened
the case. "Whv, that is the por
trait of my father, dressed in tho uni
form of a major in tho British army
uow many years since 1 looked upon
his face I'' " Stop, old man, that must
not go with the rest ; it bears vour
name, I know, but Congress authorized
the return of articles of silver only.
His eyes filled with tears as ho reluct
antly laid tho portrait down. A further
search brought to light numerous pieces
of family jewelry, some very handsome,
and all bearin the same mark, but they
had to be laid abide as they did not
come within the provisions of tho act
The vaults were again locked, and thu
old carpet-bao; closod. " I wouldn't
mind the jewelry so much if I could
only take away that portrait," were the
last words of the old man as he took
his departure. Washington Star.
A Kemaikablo Surgical Operation.
The success of a surgical operation
performed some time ago by Dr. William
S. Forbes, professor of anatomy at the
Jefferson Medical college, doxonstrates
a way in which musicians may overcome
tne necessity of years of constant prao
tioe to destroy tho rigidity whioh
naiurany cxusis in mo tnui or tint
finger. This normal infirmity has always
been the great drawback to students.
To obtain a thorough knowledge of the
theory of inusio, flexibility and ease in
tne movement oi tne third nnger is
absolutely required. The subject was
brought to the attention of Dr. Forbes
by Professor Zeckwer, a musio teacher,
The physician gave the assurance that
if a subject were procured ho would
demonstrate that, with a not very pain
ful surgical operation, the finger could
be brought under control. A young
colored man in the employ of Profes
sor Zeckwer, vho had some musical
ability, consented to subject himself to
the surgeon's scalpel. In the case of
the third finger, unlike its neighbors
tho upper or extensor finger is joined
with the tendons of the fiugeis on each
side ol it by two smaller or accessory
tenaons. inis acts liKe a mar
ungate, one noids tne nngers down bo
completely that nothing but constant
strain will loosen the pressure. Dr
Forbes, when tho subject was brought
to mm, simply madetwo small openings
in the back of the left hand on each
side of the extensor tendon, and divided
the troublesome accessories. Tho
finger was at once released, and, imme
diately after the operation, the young
man was able to raise the finger and
describe an aro of a circle an inch and
a naif greater than he could before.
Since the operation the finger ha i been
rapidly gaining strength; and now, at
exuruuie, n uoe-j yeoman servioe as
oompaied with its twin of the other
hand.
" I Have SIiiucil nnd I Have .Suffered."
Hie first line in the Mlowiiijristbe refrain of
an unwritten poem rcoitod to a friond by John
Howard 1'ayno. author of "Home, Sweet
Homo," jnst before his deal h in Algiers:
1 have sinn"d and 1 hnve sull'trod,
Yet the world will never know
How I tried to do my dutv
. In the long, tho long ag
I have siunod an.l I have suffered
Human nature is so weak
Tot my tongue cai.aot ho tempted
To disclose, betray or speak.
I have si ed and I havo suffered,
Who haB not, through blood and bone ?
If there be a mortal living
Lot him bravely cast the Btone.
I havo sinned and I have.sufiorod
Just the samo as other men,
7)ut my hoart cannot bo couquored,
Nor tho soul that burns within.
I have sinned and I have suffered,
Mournful memories como to me,
Vot beyond tho clouds of sorrow ;
Itifts of sunshine I can see.
I have sinned and I have suffered,
He can sink mid he cau save
All tho human hearts that wander
To tho cold and silent grave.
Wa$7iingtcn Republican.
HUMOR OF THE DAY.
"I cannot account for it 1" exclaimed
the defaulting bank cashier.
Wooden shoes, especially those made
of oak, are said to produce acDrn.
Bimmelbammelbummsl is one of tho
convenient words sometimes worked
into verse by Gorman rhymers.
Inquirer: " What is the most scarce
American coin?'' Don't know, sir,
dollars are quite scarce enough. Bos
ton J osc.
" Why does a donkey eat thistles ?"
asked a teacher of one of the largest
boys in the class! " Because he is a
donkey, I reckon," as the prompt reply-
Oscar Wilde does not admire tho
American onion. It to closely re
sembles a bulb of hw dear lily that it
brings tears to his eyes. New Haven
Re.q'stcr.
In youth my ma'd m aim
Was to change my mr.ii'es nar..6
And so I mad s on aim
At him, and won mv Kame,
And changed and mado a name.
Tlie Judge.
A bald-headed professor.reproving a
youth for tho oxercise of his fists, said :
We light with our heads at this col-
lego." The youth reflected a moment
and then replied : " Ab, I see, and you
have butted all your hair off."
Glass balls and clay counterfeits have
been successfully substituted for live
pigoons aS shooting matches. Wow
why cannot somebody bring forward
equally merciful and efficacious proxies
for the puguists and ba33ball players?
Wo congratulate the pigeons, but why
should not this immunity be extended
also to uen? Boston Transcr1"'.
J. ..P. "Would you like to publish
in Siftings, a composition written by a
boy on a mule ? Wo do not wish fo
encDurage boys to write on mules, and
thereforo cannot use the manuscript.
Boys should write at home on a slate,
and when on a mule should give all
their attention to steering the quadru
ped. JSow, H you have anjtuing writ
ten by a mule oa a boy there would
doubtless be something original in that,
and we would gladly publish it. Texax
birtlHQ.
A Bear Festival.
On anivin-j at the scene of the cero
niouy the visitor lound about thirl!
persons, chiefly residents of tho plncj
assembled and dressed in their gala
costumes, which consisted chiefly of
t Id Japanese brocaded garments. From
the commencement to tho end Bake
played almost as prominent a part as the
bear himsi If. The guests Bat around
the fireplace in tho cc-nter of the host's
but, and an offering was firot made to the
en.i oi lire. Ihii was done m this wise:
Tho Ainos, who wero all seated, raised
their left hands, holding a drinking
vessel to their foreheads, while tha
palm of the right was also elevated
slightly, A small btiok lying across the
cup was then dipped in the sake and
the contents sprinkled on the floor to
the lire god, tho stick being then waved
three or four times over the cup. A
formula was uttered by each person
present and the sake drank in long
draughts, the stick being meanwhile
employed in holding up the mubtache.
A similar ceromotiv then took place
in front of the bears cage. This
was followed by a dance around
tho cage by the women and
girls. Offerings of drink wero then
made as before to other gods, and final
ly the bear was taken out of his cage
by three young men specially selected
for the purpose. The animal was killed
by pressing tho throat firmly against a
largo blocs oi wood. The body was
then cleaned and placed neatly on a
mat, food and drink being laid before
it, and ornaments of various kinds
being placed on its ears, mouth, etc.
Mats were spread around the bears,
tho guests took their seats on them,
and the drinking commenced. This
continued for some time, until the
Ainos sank in a state of helpless intoxi
cation on their mats. The women ia
another part of the village mean time,
amused themselves with various danpes,,
which Dr. Suheube describes at length.
The following day, as a rule, the de
bauuh is continued. The body of tha
bear is then out up in such a manner
that the hide remains attached to thu
head. The blood was collected in vessel
and drank by the men. The liver was out
out and eaten raw. The rest of the flesh
was distributed among the partakers ot
tho feast. The writer states that, al
though hardened in a certain sense to -the
sight of blood, he could not look
without horror on the sight of tha
drunken crowd, with their faces and
bodies smeared with blood. The Bkull
of the bear, stuffed with chirms, l-i
placed in a sacred place on the east sid
of the bouse, and the mouth iu fillet
with bamboo leaves. It is then alwayi
preserved and venerated as a saored ob
jeot. Nature.