THE MIDDLEUURGII POST, T. O. IIARTER, Edito and Tno'. UIIHH.hHflUI. VI.. lihC. is. pvms. A new system of lighting called tli JjUfirn" will bo lined at tho Van otte shipyard. It is mado by crude; i drolium nnd nir umpe.l ly a small limine, tho flame b dug three feet high. Cu tun A. ('. 1'. lI(iini;P, n br th- v of tho author of ".She," is nlxvit 1 1 appear ns a novelist also, lio is a Brit iHli ofli 'pr. tdn'i 'tied nt Meernt, and has already published diui.'s of military expedition. CMAtUTri: nmoking linn In come a fail among the aristocratic fair of Haiti inorp. Nut only j;irls liit married winnon of high hop! tl st imling in th pity nro inv. derate mnoUcrs, uti1 a few of lli 'in nip ho wedded to tin1 habit tli.i (liny nrp unable t break olT, fear ing disastrous results from a sudd' n removal of tho htiinu'atiiig c!Teet.s of tlir tobacco. (Ikiivw has undo experiments t t sp.-i t .liu flip am t lit of hsa tha' c ml 'li ii r. o s wli mi expo o I lo llic wenth !. it xv ill ) -rlrips, Mirp is minv r. n.l,rs t h'ar thai tin 1 o is poiii 1 :ilil". Aii'hracito and pann '1 ul i.s ni -Jit I ip ti i " J : t il fr"lii tlit i r c m ;ii' : n- si, iuITt Ipii it ; lint ordinary 1 i iniiiii ni po.il 1'iih nra lv ono third n avii.-ht i.n 1 ii' avly oiH'-hilf .'n g.iB-muk-:ig iiialit .'. 1 r in thi i it . ill w ill l o nndci' toil tea' coil nh i.i'il 1 o kept il'V ulnl under cover, all 1 that t 1 1 " H I t to ruin or damp is t lots n ita q inn My u:nl weal li i! i iiialily. Here, : i. v. h..vi nil "il:itmti li of tho in t.': i'v it. of th great h. a, s of small ? i.l . hi 'h piip iiub r tho gim.nd iutho :.' ini. g ' nli'ii-ls. T. r. :;; hui b.en discovered i n tho 1'.; pin ; laltis i i th t iwn of Colum ii . , V.'a ': n : on (' m it .-. M ti'ip, a fipa'; if nituo I'il'o'.'.Is a fitiit'ul Mipiiio f '- h i"i! .-ri' n'e!s. ii'iil liai Hot a'l the ai'i i-i . r 1 1 with woid'1:-. Smuo i i.i' li'iw' ii An ;:i t, l-r, anil Ait I -it, 1";, tlinp a ; firm il, b.- hup ,,1i cr.'.ilieail ag :p ', il p -inl .".0 by ".' i'it,:.li(l smi'.;1 fi'i't. il oi, uher lin h ii I i vi".- i x 'sip 1 b foiO. A b i.ly of dinlof p iff -; m il ivi iliuu 1)8 ons was foi'fp.l '.run it i natural position tastir I and upn ar,t ccvi ra! fert to a in ro p'"i;'c I Mirf of tin- ji'nin, wh ro it n v vr t -i, l.'..viiig a liollowwlii. li v t im 1' I'.nm :i o:id. Noihinir of lli') i ir! w 1 In tlio . i. iii.t v b- v? , niul tho iuli u i a ,ts aro now look ing for PiirthquakpH. Vv.w jicnplo hnvo any porni't idea of tho ainoiiMt of railway poiistntPtion t 1 it'll has In pii in jirogrpsH in tho I'r.itod States during t ho present year. Iiiring the Hr.it ten inonthsof the year main line traek wa laid in forty-four (Mates und Territories on -S ( litieH, to !lie iigreg.itp i t en t of .","'.() miles. 1 h foil iivin.j tab' , p unoil -d from th: je Hile 1 reeoids of the l!n i hiut ij .1;'', i'.vi' th .' t tils by States and T. rri t ries: ' ' Ii I. 1I I II" M MV. I T.i ? S n., -i. I. inc.. Mill". St t 'i. ' v. 1, I. 111. H. Mil". !fl I! i I I I III. I M'Kl 1 i-r .. II in.,'... I I'l ii". i 11 ;. I . I'm 'II 1 II V , ... ,n, u. . . '.( l.i,' Mi' h 1 '. V iniir-.ui i r : : iciiii' 'I'lil.. J '.'! Ii.kii 'i a N'-.v . r-v. . . . i ;i ! -"it 1 .i r.. . . -.. i i; svi.ni,.,.!.. . . a i k I " . .. . . ! i : - . i li) 7 I .1 . . ( 1 V.m.o i .1 17 1 lil. : ! . . . 1 '. Mi I'm I " . . I a i:' . II . 1 A I ,. 'I' .'.... . "i I ' i R i. ... s l : r " i . i . 7 I. i ii Til. , II 1 i n!"- n 1 ... , li . 1 : I . n i ii ,. . 1 1 2 , A .i.n ii : . . . i .. .. ; .,1 I. hi, .i. I : P ... li 11 vi .1 I 1 i I .Ii ii . . . a ;1 . C i ' i i. . . ' i i-i . I I 'r - -i'l .t . i . M r.l .1 'I-. . ,'. a i . I Ii ' -l.tl.l ;!.. . 3 - . n;i;l i 1 i.ni.i.0.1) 9 :u i uU. 'ler... 11 'is i iii 9 i : - li l.i,;ii n l.'.i 'lotiil ...: Tin', fa t that the jopiilatim in I raiic i i n in lining :.t it'.onury, if u it netiiuliy d iiiiiui -tliinv;, lias n titled J) l t.'cal ee iiinjiiis'rt mi l ni'iraliht wilh a fertile them" for e iinin. nt. A,,jj,a; er liti ly n ul by M. I.ii.ih au i t) tho pa b rny of Mi dii-iun mi ti e tcttd'iipy :' 1 rcn 'h fainili h t m ar 1 rapid uxtinc t! n throw.- i. new li.ht on t'.io fcubvt. It l a beci i al -u'.at 'd thnt of ono bundro 1 families cxia'i.'ig in the ti ne of King I'liili 'po August-, who died in I'JJ.'i, only four had lvptvsctita'ive i, :rvivingin ll'l. Among tint savuuU of liill'. ro it c miitrit 8 it lias fro jiiontly bo u in:- iiiiiiii'il that whilo atioh a ten-ib'tp-y preuiiU umnngtho upper clasHiiii th r -verso was tho t;ui with the low er; Ini'. M. I.nneau pointed out that in Inn n a'ut alien j riVid that th-re wan not the flightest ditfi roaep in thi respect lietnoTl l'i'di and poor, all sec tioi.a of aopleiy aliku betraying the name tomleucy t extinction iu tho laali) line. A curoful culculation sipped thit as mat'er at rcHt-nt at md :io hundred families, each with thru childrin, would in thn aecoml getiora'ion have um ing them all a tunii total of night thr.'ts d acomlants, that in tho fl'th generation half th us fund lie wo; 11 Lav-) no mabi representa tive', and that in tho fiftrm'hth) f.iui ilf name in nine out of ten r e wmild jw'ii h ul!o,;ethi-r. M. I.a man con cluded with tho aignitl 'ant romar'; that hn da wo .11 c. irnu when th i j-'ronch jop 'ilatoi would Uipiitin ly dpiiondeut Ujt i growth oa immitfratiou. L1FUS VOVAOB. Two llttl rhildron, at dawn of day, Iuf hinji ami romping In merry play. In th pleanant uprinfftima wpathor; Th hrooklt nmrmim rlnna nt thlr fpot. Ami tha blnN in tha troa toias ami butter piipmiweiit, Nod ami gliinee in tha watem fliwt. And they 'nj and lnoi toRotlwr. Oh, iwift nr tho houm, And guy nrs Hie How('r, In chllilhnnj't atinohin lilonrinjr : And tliu lieavnni are lirilit With a mippliiro light, And tliu ilnjrs in a whirl are going. A youth and n moid 'mnth tha nooanay un 'i'nllc of the now life for thpm ticgui, In tho p!o nant uiiniifr weitlirr; The lilica b'tnl down low at thfir feet, And tho rows lin nthotit o.lom nwont, And thnlr lipi full olt in trus love moct, And tliofr lirin flow on tothrr. Hi, twi-ct are tho (lowers In bnve'i go'don hotter., When happy heart urn ln-aling; And bright are tire nkiin, Where l.oo (Ironning Um, And the wooki in a dream nro flerting. A man find a wom.ni, at closn of day, Wnnd. r alunn through the fornat gray, In the goldun nutiimn weather; 1 hn limvi are rustling clown at their feet.. An I the brnnclms above them in arrhea moot, But no new joys their tired eyoa gret And tin y 11111,1 t on tog-tlnr. Mi, trnn inl tho ay "f our lari,r days When the . ?, h.i1 wjii,N nro Id winz' And the kips bond low, Willi their cloud of anew, And the mouths ate arenely koiii. Two nnrrow grave in the moonlnm'ii light, t in I in miff, rolii of piirent while, In the snowy wintry wnulhor; The river flow on dark nt tlioir feet. And thenotv!!nke nliove them geiuly lwat, Yet not one noiind doea their dear earn greet, An! they Hream and re)io.e tiguther. ih, hnp;iy nt last, Krf.m tlie world' rold blaat, fio ly xili in their grave they're lying; J.ifo here i duno, Life there beuu, And tho yonrn nre w iftly flying. IS. .. Jeakim, n 1WA c'ninp jni'on. LATITUDE 3. HY K, Sa'lors have II. MI flATrON'. not much chance for making lovp, and tho OKI Sll VI II that i we h ue a sweetheart in every port, is a (-v sni . My father was n sea Piptn.i.i. and 1 vas born on board th; Kood ship .ni;iie, and spout the irst eighteen yeats of my life op uer. Then bhe was declared unlit f.-,- service; my father concluded to upend tho iciiiaitider r bis days upon land, uud 1 became tho proud ( aj.iaiii of another vessel, which. I imiiied Htcly nained for my dear flout ng Home. The new Nadiuo was a trad ing vessel, nnd I was to have a liberal ......V m niu iioiu. witii tno prospect -i vwiier ns 9DOU as 1 llllll i I I'M" i-u my ousincss capacty. John Nelson was then nin nivn, ...! 1 1 was with a flutter of excite I nnxiety I tnat I welcome 1 him on board, one 1 beautiful summer morning, three years I niter I became Captain, nud beard his j decision to accompany mo on that voy-j ne' . ; i. .. .i . .... i on arc to go to I una for a cargo of I Bui'ar ami co lee. tlienen n, . expedition to tho coveral islauds ot Occniiica. nnd linally to Calcutta for a load of lino ( hina ware, then homo. Jf tho vnyaue i fiR.,-,.SS( you wil behalf owner ot thn .' aline when wo nu'ain reach the (olden (iate. I iulcrstand"" "ivifcctiy, sir," I nn.iwcred ladly; "and I will iio my bct." "I know that," ho responded, with a hl'llrtv rrr.-iuit nf l... i i ... i I - r jiiiiiu. "i navo watcheil you for threo veiir.s, atd 1 inn tailsfied that you ulwajs do your best. ,ewnntaht of looking glasses ami j cheap jewelry for savage trade, and vou mailt add a few firework to celebrate lour national holiday win,, oh, by thn ! wav. I want you to luve a sp;-..ml cabin t i reuli e... r my i:iu4liter will a . inlllia y ii. I gi e. siiiv ono poiiM Uve knocked n ..own will, a leather, a he made l-i'- in 'urn, n cui..!it The entiie twenty i "' my life had I,,.,..,, g,ent on ""' -I' I' 'v'ih the exception of uday ! " iw i in ii,.,'! now and Mum, u.l M . M".. is weie ct made totako it. jia--i -eiie:, 1 thins; 1 can truly say tha' I j bad never even spoken lo ono of the unei.c De ngs known as women. .My mol her had died brforo I could ro member her, and my father I, ., I n. i plied her . luce a well a his own. nnd ll.nt of teacher; tor I had a i good an education as others of my n,re. .hu cison saw, a 'id evidently enjoyed, my' Clii'iairassinint I - "licss will not trouble, you," ho ! he lauLiooii ". u-t eel ii I n.ili lo r, nnd treat her exactly iu you do me "Yes, sir," I answered iu bewilder nier,t, and he went a bore, whilo 1 tar ried out his orders. I wo days later, wo sailed, nnd lust before we weighed anchor, my employer earnestly. "That means a 'qimtor tor ami hi daughter came on I oard. How undo. We're 'bout in no latitude now, shall I de-crib- I es Nelson? 1 think it ain't wo " was cl.-arly a ca-o of love at first sight - "if you mean wo are nt tho equator, on my part, h ast. wo aro prcttv near it, I guess," I icpliod. rile was tall and mieenlv. with soft urown eyes and pretty curls. Pretty? 1 can t tell you that, even now. I know in at hip seemi! I tho loveliest creature in the world to mo. " o nl.ee. 1, boy. )0 iust Iho snmo ns though wo wero not here," said .inhu i ;el-i.n. "Wo don't wont to make any I extra trouble, do we, Hess;" ' i i Ttainly not." she replied: and her voice was sweetest music, whilo her smile w as a i vi ne. You think mo silly ; no doubt I am on that sub ect but yon must remember my year of seclusion from all female inciefy and tho beauty of my tirst love, nnd excuse me a besi you can, while I g vo you tho details of that eventful voyage. We reached Peru in siifoty. discharged our carg at a good prolit, and toik in another, as wo had propo-ed. We went hither and thither aiming the strange, almost unknown islands of Ocean ica, and counting our profit with extremu atisfact.on. W e saw hideously tattooed men, benut ful though dusky women, rant nnd unknown aui nnls, fascinating, ug'y replies, lovely and cuuoui How or! and demo forcsti of trrei unheard of before. We lived la a- strange world of iron den which rivaled the "Arabian Night' " entertainment, and, to my lion and I, the days were laden with tho breath of Eden. Yp, iho wa my Bom, my pcorle trenaure. My lovo bad won a coveted return, and .!ohn iNclson was to givehia deuLthter to tnc in marriage when wo arrived home. Moreover, the was to bo my jo'nt owner of the good ship Jv'adine. What wonder that the waves danecd a merrily a the sunshine bcnea:h that soft. blue, tropipat aky, or that tho niht winds madu a ah iweet mm c, at we tut on iiol'k in tno uruiiani mooniignt ana plfimed our happy future? I We stopped at a small island to cele brate our national holiday, and I think that a roiirth of July frolic never had a mora nton ished audience. The shores were lined with dusky fares, and at nightfall our fireworks made a most brill iant diipliy, arousing the admiiation and awe of the natives. It was there that I chanced to savo a black little wretch from the sharks; a venturesome little scamp he was, and, as it turned out. tho only son of tho chief. That net of impulsive hummity brought mo n rich roward, at you will see. The grateful fnthor gave us freely of tho good things which hi small king dom nlFordeil and acut an escort of hideously tattooed savaircs to fetch mo to his palace, that In might thank me in i person. His palace, was a hut, and hi J ma csty wa about tho worst looking na tivo I ever.iaw; but I showed ti i til proper respect. 1 soon discovced that lie was about to give me the highest honor in his power, j and one, so far a I know, never before ' bestowed upon a white man. Ho mo- I tioned to li s followers, and tlioy inline,-' diately formed two great circles around us, us no sioou c asping my nana. Willi signs of tho urontest friendship for I couldn't understand a word of his lingo, and the Others were not permitted i to speak throughout the ccrcmonv-ho ( unfastened and turned back my shirt. I A small, dirty boy crept through tho , circles on his hand and knees prcentcd ! a small stone vessel to Ins majesty, kissed his foot reverently, nnd withdrew in a way that reminded me of an enormous bulllrog. That vessel contained a blo-d-rod fluid and a slo-dcr, sharp bono instrument. I always objoetcd to the t itloo ng so common among sailo s. b it I stood tlimo ; liku a martyr win Id tint savage ih cf deftly pricked the letter. XllX upja my barn breast. When it was done ho gravely bowed until hi forehead nearly toticho 1 tho gro ind, placed my h ind upon his own head and heart, kNsed mo on each cheek, nnd revcrent'y touched tlio loiter ho had in ad u: while the dusky circles began re volting iu opposite directions, faster and fa-iter, singing a low monotone which ended in a demoniac, triumphal shriek. I noticed that the bare brown breast of t he chief bore the same myatic symbols, only in brightest yellow. Then each one of tho tribe, men, women nnd children (and I verily believe that thero were moro than five hundred ofthemh advanced, touched tho loiters I reverently, knelt before me, placed my (irt t....n l.i.. n l...w Lit... I l; ...! n. ir hand, and withdrew, nil In perfect silence. Tho breast of each m ile boro tho first two letters, in tho same brilliant tattooing. When the tiresome ceremony was over, I was conducted t the hut oi tho chief, where a sumptuous banquet of native cookery awaited us. 1 hope I may never have such n feast again, although I tried to do that ono justice. I returned to my vessel tho next morn ing, uccompauied by a sorce of natives, each laden with prc-ents, mostly specimen of coral, and some of them very rare and valuable. I sa.d nothing of the honor which h id been conferred upon me, however, and, as soon a tho wounds healed, I nctiially forgot it my self iu tlm business of trading nnd love in iking combined. Wo soon disposed of our cargo to good advantage, getting in exchange nuggets of gold, and not a few diamond and other precioiisstones, ns well a tropical fruits nnd nuts in nliuiulaiiCL. Tho gold and gem wo secured in canvas belts upon our per sons, ".-hall wo go to Calcutta, or shall wo go home;" asked John Nelson, ono day. as lie came on deck nnd joined l!es and mo. "Ah, your faces answer mo. Homo it is." ' do not intend to intcrfcro with business, sir " 1 began. "I know, I know. I was youii' onco myself. You and Hess are owner of tho .Nadiuo from this day. Iliad her wherever you wish. 1 am only a pas senger." And, after further deliberation, wo decided to postpone tho Calcutta trip, and turn toward homo. "IL'U parilin', enpt'u. D'vo seo thoin ! . I . I I - ,11 '.I ..,.. ciuiiu auniii.-r; nun fine oi my oiuer sciimoii pained beside me and pointed to ! a lino of pinkish, dusky cloud just vis- j iblo above tho hoii.on, from which a1 brn'Pii ha'o extended nearly to tho 1 zenith a iioer looking sky, surely, but I saw no cause for hi alarm. I "Well:" I cried impatiently. 4tlr nin't well nt nil funt'n. ' tin antil as I went to look at tho chart. "Yes. latitude !J degrees I said, us I re turned. "I thought it, sir. 1'vo sailed in thesu ere water aforo to day and we'ro in fei it, sure." "Muko for tho first laud yo t seo thero mid try to find n harbor. Is a ids aro plenty enough," I commented, nt I wont to seo that preparations wore properly I main for the coming gale, Tho piuki h, dusky hue ovcrsnread tho sky; tho cloud of billowy, inky I darkness rose rapidly, and beneath it a 1 brassy, quivering line told of the intense : heat of tho tropical tornado. Our good ship Hew over the rolling waves, already nested with white, a thou di she lived and realized what depended on hor speed. j The tea birds sceamed st they flew ' over our bead and we tnllowoa them, 1 knowing well they would lend ut to tho j land. Tho wdnd sighed and moaned a ' it increased Into a pale. Puds of heated uir succcodedseconds of ominous calm, ' and a ghastly, awful gloom was over all. I "Co below and prepare for the worst," ! I cried hoarsely, ai 1 handed John Nol- on two of my beat life-preaerrera, be fore dlatributing them to the crew. "We will stay with yon -I ahall,w raid Bee, who had come silently and now stood betide us with a brave smile upon hor trembling lips. "Yes, it is best to' said her father, as ho carefully fattened her preserver and his own. What a time of suspense that was, waiting for life or death to win; but it was soon over. With a demoniac howl tho tempnst was upon ut. The rigging was carried away by tho first furious gust. It was useless to give order which could not l e heard nor obeyed; we could only wait, hach man wildly grasped a support as tho mad waves swept the deck: but more than ono poor soul went with the foaming waters, never to be teen again, John Nelson and I lashed Bess to a strong support between us. Suddenly the roar of breakers sounded above the no. so of wind and wave; a wall of water, with curling, foamy crest, came sweeping in. Thoro was a sound of crashing timbers, thoro wore shrieks and cries, and our staunch Nadine was wrecked. That huge wave swept everything before it. It swept us ovet the low, sandy bar Into comparatively smooth, shallow waters, while tho ship sank almost instantly in the rough sea outside. Then, as if satisfied with its destruction, the tempest passed, tho warm sun shone out brightly, tho forest guttered with purest water gems, and tho birds again. began thoir joyous songs Of our crew, including ourselves, tea , alone reached the shore alive; tho others drifted to the land, with white, set faces, staring eyes, ami pulseless heart, j "Thank Ood that we live:" breathed John Nelson, fervently, whilo liessein I braced us both with speechlcs grati tude. We thought wo wero in a bad enough j plight, but wo soon found that it could i ie worse. As if thn sands of that hostile shore bad suddenly become human bomi. duskv forms aiiran.r mi around us. Jly evos met John NclWs with silent intelligence as we noticed their j0y at tho siht of the dead bodies, and of us as living victims. Bess saw the look, and cried "Cannibals! Aro they cannibals, father f" and ho could only answer with a groan. We were at once led to their village, a little buck from tho coast, and thrust into dens too vi'.e for a rnsnncluble ilou to bvo in. It did not increase our satis- faction to noiico, ns wo did, that Bess was treated with the greatest reverence, and given much hotter quarters. "I'.v.dently, they never saw a white woman. Poor lies!" said bar father. "Tlioy will treat her well and inako I her a priestess," 1 answered, encour agingly. "Death tho most horriblo death would lio better than such captivity," ho groaned iu despair, and I felt that ho wal right. Tho savages fed u well. Evidently, they d d not want us to loso flesh, and j wo were info so long as tho dead bodiej j of our shipmates lasted. They began their horrible banquet at once, and on I tho morning of tho third day they were ' ready for a living victim. I was tolccte 1 ns that victim 1 I bado my shipmate and my prospective father-in-law a brave farewell; but tear j filled my eyes as 1 heard lio-s cry out in an guish a I was led by tho hut where she was confine 1. Not far away, upon a small hill, tho whole of that naked, hideous tribe wero assembled uear a huge, flat stono, bosido which bla.ed a brisk tiro. Tho stono was stained with blood, and the ground was strewn with ghastly bones. The two men who led me conducted mo diiectly to tho s'one, where I was anxiously awaited by a brawny savage, fantastically tattooed and painted, who was carefully examining tlio edge of a stono hatchet. The circle of human brutes began to chant which was to be my iloath-s ng, and my conductors be gan to remove my clothing. As they uiifatened my shirt they re coiled with a cry of amacmont. Tho chant instantly ceased, and a hushed silence succeeded. The executioner and bis disappointed assistants touched my breast, knelt before me, placed my fooi upon their heads, kissed my band, and tho i withdrew to a respective dis lance, and each ono of that infornal tribe wont through with tho samo maneuvrcs. Those blood-red symbols on my breast had dono their work ! The life of that insigmlimnt savage boy hud brought mo a rich toward. "W hy did you not toll us about it?" asked John Ncl-O'i, an hour later, as, with lies and tho remainder of the crow, wo sat iu ono of tho largest huts and b asted upon tho best winch tho eager natives could lurni-h us. "1 forgot it," I answered truthfully; "but it has served us a gpod turn. S'o, each of tho-iO greasy natives hss ono let ter or the symbol upon his breast. W hut can it mea i " "It's doubtless a sort of free masonry which ovists in these islauds," ho replied; and that was our tinul decision. Wo stayed moro than two months on the island bcfoio a vessel touched thero. Thou a ( liiuose ship ran in for water. So j wo wont to Calcutta, after all, where we took tho first steamer for ban rrnncisco. That was my last voyago. My good wife Hiss will not consent for mo to fol low tho se:t, and I'm uotsure that I want to. It doo soem queer on land, t ut I nin getting used to it, and I think that 1 would prefer this lil'o to the dangers of again drifting toward those mysterious islands, hidden from knowledge of tho world, in the strango watort of I.atiludo U degrees. Yankee Jllu U. Illustrated Book Covers. Illustrated covort for books are of recent crcution, dating only from tho roniant c epoch of 18 .0. Tho simple printed cover was unknown in tho last century, the books of that time being bound in calf or iu ugly gray packing paper. I ho first covers where tho title of the work mid tho same ot the ant or were printed appeared about sixty-live vears ago, and viguettoi were rarely used before 111). A great many of tho French books published to-day have such ar tistic cover that amateurs are making collections of them. In many instances it it tho cover that sell tho book, for tho Parisian publishers do not hesitate to pay the best artist n high price for a design that often goes on a worthless book. 5n; Francueo Vhro.ikU. A MAIL TRAIN. INCM4 RAM'H CllOAN'TlC flAII WAV MAIti 8Y8TKM. A Trip on th Heaviest Stall Train In tho World niitrlbutlitit Letter. and Papers on tlio Cur. Train Xo. 11 of tho New York and Chicago I aiiway I ost Ollice. is consid ered the heaviest mail train in tho world. Tho lino is divided into three divisions, vl.: Tho eastern division, fiom Now orK to Isynw use; the tniddlo division, from hyracusc to Cleveland, and tho western division, from Cleveland to Ch cftgo. A representative of tho New S ork I'rfKn recently mado a trip over tho eastern division of tho train named with tho ileik in charge, II. I.e F. Brown, and hi crew. Tho mail began to arrive at tho (rand Central Depot at i. v., and from that hour until U P. m. there was almost constant lino of heavily-laden mail wagons waiting to unload. Kaeh pouch and sack was labeled, stating it con tents and tlcstiuat.oti, nnd many were so heavy that it required two strong men to handle them; iiono were feather weights, jet tip' postal clerks labored vigoiously with them, and knew intui tively in which pit'tb iilar cai' and com partment each of tho many hundieds of fnck und pout lies boongid. 'I hero was not an id:o moment even during tho process of making up tho train. Promptly at H o'clock tho doors were i lt.sed, tho whe I set in motion, and immediately "the fast mail" was speeding on it way with c.cry (meat his post of d ity. letters and pnpers flying in every ducction us if by magic. The train cons'sted of seven enrs in all. First theio was an exprcs tnr, next tho letter cor, then followed tho storage nnd two paper cars, an extra storage car nnd a Cleveland sleeper. Tho letter car is fifty feet in length, and with the exception of a small stoiagu compaitmeut at one end, every inch of space on cither sido nnd nt tho op posite end is utilized ; even the center of tho car, which was designed for standing room, has been brought under contribution, so pressing is thn demand for more space, ns a conso iience of tho increase in tho nmount of mutter to be handled. Overhead nnd dungl ng iu tho air was stretched nnd suspended a con siderable nmount of twine which re teinoled n str ng pu'lo, but the ar range nun t had been devised by some ingenious clerk to hang letter pouches on. Tho letter cac are so nrrnnged w ith reversible labels that they ma bo used for four separata States at diieiout times. Tho greater pint of tho loiters when received at the railway postal o lico mo bunched nnd pouched according t States, then they aro distributed and bunched according to routes bv tho postal clerk", and each clerk works a certain Statu or States; it is their duly to know every post o.liee in tin; Territoiy assigned to them, as also by what route any given point n ay bo soonest reached, watch for change of time in tho run of trains, tho discontinuance of old post o:tue and iho appointment of new onus; in brief, they must bo a walking geo graphy, up to tho time uud a little beyond. It was past midnight when thn train pulled out of Albany. "How many ton of mail do you estimate uro on board V' wns askod of Mr. Brown. "At least thirty-rive tons," he replied, "nnd this is a light night, too," he added. "Wednesday night is our heavy u per night. Sometimes the storage car is piled lull from lloor to ceding uud tho nislo is tilled also. Now you see, the stalls are only a little more than half full. Sometiui'.'s we have more than wo can curry: tho surplus is left ut Albany.'' A short stop wus made ut, Palatine Bridge, unothcr ut t'tica and again at Uuino. Syracuse whs reached just as tho gray dawn was breaking. One hainlrcd und thirty-seven thousand one bundled and forty pieces of mail hud b -eu dis tributed. Heie tho crew for tho mid lie division took charge of the train, and in a short spaco of time the many volumes of Wli. U u thoughts wero hastening ou tu their destination. Tho other crew, all tired out and sleepy, d.sbandod nfter signing their name in a book provided for that purpose. They had worked for thirty-six bonis with the exception of n little lest received In .New ork. This crew makes three consecutive trips f.oin Syracuse to Now York, which o crs a period of six days. Then they "lio oil ' and rest for the sumo length of time. It is beyond the power of human endiiranco to work any greater length of time in tho railway mail service. (hief Clerk W. W. Cunlleld nnd Ass stant Clerk W. J. Ciuernsjynt Syra cuse wore interviewed iu regard to tho railway mail service. Mr. Cuiitield stated that an examination of all clerks iu the tervico occurs annually. Thero uro 10;) clerks in tho New Vork and Syracuse division aud their average is ltd per cent: The incrcuso in mail matter bus been 47 per cent, und tho incrcuso in men but il per cent, iu the past tivo years. New men nro being educated iu the business nud tho force will bo in creased. A new lino of can is also building which will contain now im provements, t ivo of those cars will bo run ou tra n No. 1 1. They will bo sixty feet in length, yet with tho additional force and euuipmiutt proposed the I'.icili- Hcs will still bo inadequate, so rupidly it tho mail matter in tuts division uicreas ing. Applications for a position iu the railway mail service are mado to tno (Jen eral Superintendent at Washington, und whon accepted a probationary appoint ment it given lor six months, and exam inutions aro mado every thirty days, and if at the end of ihe lime stated a satis factory examination ispmscda purmu nent appointment is given. A miniature caso is used for examina tion und cards on which are written tho names of all pot oluces in any given Stato in lieu of letters. These nro lo be distributed in thoir proper plueos and percentage made is governed by tho errors that occur. Tho best record in examinations was made by II. I.e F, Brown on New lork State, which cou tains :27:i oiiicct. Time, one hour and twenty-four minutes; percentage, DIM'.); und lor o iOl otlices In four hours nnd th rty-soven minutes; average per cent., Ul',21. Genius will show itself somehow, as sorintr Unds its wav to thn urfe. Em.,' Twas just a week at o to-day I sat In a soft-cushioned pew Bore is my need to watch and pray But I dreamed the solemn sermon tU Ana De not snocsea as wnat i nr-. i iear, my love, l nreameu or yoo.t I heard, in a disconnected way, What the preacher said, 'tis trna But slight heed wandering senses r. unit leu uipse wurji was ail 1 kn.T "Tby lips are like a thread of J Thy lips drop as-the honejrronj, 1 smell or thy garments Is like tb,,J or iensnon. ' 'Twas Bolomon's song the preacher I jo many grave tn,ngs lie rrcrii There came from outside, overhead, The twitter of a little bird; The soft breeze grateful coolness rlied, But scarce its gentle impu'ss s'.irrst A prayer liook's leaves The sermon,! i-rom "iirnv' to "second" and to -sy. And still I dreamesl ; of all was said These words atone I faintly heard' ''Thy lijs are like a thread of m.J Thy lips drops as the hnnynirai J tmell of thy gurmenU-is hkn Iht 1 ut lAunnon. ' Sweetheart. I thought rf you he upon. I thought he spoke of you, nnd d The llower-swoflt fan y nothing httfa There cams no change, no nhi.l4 And was I wieke lf Who shall cruak, Who all my evil-doing tcllt "Love one another' is the yoke That we must lightly to ar. The Stayed itli me af 'er I awoke, After tho benediction fell: "Thy lips ar like a tlirend nf Thy lips drop ns tha hoiiev nm , smoll of- thy garments is lil;., tU y of tebanou." Stanley Waterloo, in Chicwja ir. PITH AND POIM Icht literature Ob bills. l)erisive soup Mock turtle. 'Awfully sheepish'' Mutton. A valuable citizen P.cnnio I'd,: Peer gastronomy Eating veni,-. Makes the mast-hend light Ker Has tho range of tho kitchts cook. I af mutes are not ready -talker, their remarks nre always olMi.tmi. Many struggling men keep p supporting a useless canine., LIikU: Isn't it a singular thing that . man is tukcu in ho is put out.-; L'our'ur. Tho average sonioty bell is my beautiful than she is painted.--.' t'i Jo irmit. The horso that brinjrs sVO.Oa) i-. nt a public sale must I.e a h yh re steed. Hti-hcu'cr l'ot. A hand to-hand encounter isn't t so disastrous as a haud-to-noscK tcr. live 'iente W - hUj m. An old man pretending to kit in a car docs not mean to look mt glassos at pretty girls opposite, i does it is purely nil oversight on in Drvtroods clerk "Can I ikow anything more to-day, lady?" L. "los: 1 wisii you wouut snow rot umbrella 1 loft bore throe, weeks t; Mrs. Brown "Now, just lookm: flannels! If anything will shrink - from washing l it liko to know . is " Mr. Brown- "A boy i, dear." Disappointed. Mamma -- "' Frank, dear, what is tho matter! you have a bad dreinu." f rank ".' 1 dreamed 1 nun a nig nag oi cin i; w-woked without catin' it."- i Youmj l'eoptr. "Did you ask Miss Pointer to i: last night?" "Yes.and she said it engaged." "And what did sue ; second time;'' "inai me was i "And tho third time:" lliutili going homo." Life. "I sco that a new word lscallul. dcciibo railroad accidents," riiin Spacer, ''Iho word Melescope' isii ' siderod appropriate." "Isn't it' plied Tliiuin; tlieu How woiuu ct. oscopo do;" Ilitre ' JU.ar. Hid Jenkins happened to me: thi oe young nieces aud asked t..e" bivo a litt o refreshment, "i.iilsut tho same," snid tho old man as he it tho cashier's desk and picked tii t out of a tJiJii bill, "very bttle chu. Lift: Louiso "C lara, if I wero yoo take Mr. Oldboy to a certain :r Broadway before I'd let him tuko n tho theater again." Clara "And store is it. pray?" Louise iw that advertises: 'Old bows rehu.rcu' you wait.'" "Yes, Mrs. Coldsteak," said the boarder, heartily, "I don't kn' ion in the world in whom I huvig' confidence than I bavo iu you. ' please, Mrs. C'oldsteak.I will take m small piece of that niiuce pie." t ilia Jnurna'. Chumlej -"I'm in a little f.xtc Brown, for mouey; what would J01 If I wore to ask you for a teniporuf) of a hundred or two dollars?'1 Hf"' "Well. Chumlev. if tho loan willl porary, I might let you have tl. dollars." Accident Ar. A toad was roccntlv due out ' stratum of clay in London which tints aver must have been iu its Iodc- bed for more than three thousand. ;( Tho toad, when discovered, lookf louesomo as a clerk in a store th.N advertise. Ntu York Mercury. "Mother, I can nevor win the isf for pood behavior." exclaimed s ts Kiiln lino iimt in from school: '' tl IVIS lU4 isv wwsssw w s- ways gets it." "But you must Ml trying," said his mother, encourai!' It'ii no nun." renlied the I'OT shan't try any more. It's a cits" n of goodness." Chicago 11 Lie. Sho was near-sighted, and ! 1 ' , . I jl.,.,1, .m l m,in Wit Iliuu ii -vviujiv muuuu iu.. , I.l.... Il..nn.l .,,ll s ..n,a throUL't1' car she stopped him by tugging os urm. "Aro vou tho porter ol tbi, said she, as bo faced hor. "No, V, - ..ni:.l with .ir.li MT am ODlf " president. The porter will be nere l minute." And then every one piti1 tioor man. Uotton Jteacon, ONLY PART OP THE SEfti,,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers