EE ET SS CTT SAI FH TE EL rE LT RS SE PIT Bellefonte, Pa., January 31, 1890. HAPPIER DAYS. 1 said to the little children, You are living your happiest days, And their bright eyes opened wider In innocent amaze, For their happiness was so perfect, They did not know it then Oh, no, they, said, there'll be happier days When we are women and men. 1 said tothe youth and maiden, You gre living your happiest days, And into their sparkling eyes there crept A dreamy, far-off gaze; And'their hands sought one another, And'their cheeks flushed rosy red ; ‘Oh, 'no, they said, there’ll be happier days For us when we are wed. I said to the man and woman, You are living your happiest days, .As they laughingly watched together Their baby’s cunning ways. These days are days of labor. They can hardly be our best; ‘There'll be happier days when the dren’s grown And we have earned our rest. chil 1 said to the aged couple, You are living your happiest days ; Your children do you henor, . You have won success and praise. With a peaceful look they answered, God is good to us, that’s true ; But we think there's happier days fer us In the life we're going to. MY HUSBAND'S “WIFE.” Myself? 2 Oh, no. Although I married him ~gome six months ago, .I have maver, save one day, imagined that title ibe- longed to me. : Cyrus Howe came to Erie ayearago to conduct a great law suit, being both talented and handsome, he mot only won his case, but his way into the best society. o ‘ Noone knew aught of his private history, but his success satisfied ‘the masculine portion of the eemmunity, so the women had no cause for com- plaint. He was invited everywhere, and in time became a visitor at -eur house. His attentions were marked from the first, and ere I had known ‘him six months I had married him. I had no father to counsel me, and was too headstrong to heeil mother’s entreaty to wait until I knew more of the man, ere I linked my life with his. I was twenty-two and had never been in love before; and he was about thirty and said I was his “only love.” So we married on an equal basis, at least I thought so then. His business in Erie was long since concluded, so that we were married in the morning and took an eerly train for Rochester, N. Y., where his home was. What that home was like was a ques- tion with me, for he would tell me nothing aboutit. I enjoyed the ride, for he paid me all sorts of lover-like at- tentions, and seemed wonderfully hap- py at having won me. But he never calied me his wife, and itwas not long ere I discovered the reason why. When we reached home, T found it one of the handsomest residences in the city, and beautifully furnished. A sweet faced, white-haired little old tady met us in the hall, andl was intro- duced as “mother.” Shekissed me af- fectionately and bade me welcome. I put my arms around her neck and re- turned the kiss, saying I knew I should love her dearly. Happening to glance up, I saw, Cy- rus’ face wore an expression of strong disapproval. His mother saw the look also, and it affected her strangely. A painful flush suffused her dear old face, and I saw her hands were trembling as she turned away, I was #0 surprised that I stood stock still, staring at my husband. “Do not be rude, Esma,” he said im- patiently. “I beg your pardon,” I answered, and followed his mother inte the par- lor, wondering what it meant. The remainder of the day passed Plogtiny Cyrus showed meover the ouse and exerted himself to be enter- taining. In the evening a great many of his friends called. I was pleased with them all, for they were people of cul- ture and refinement. Cyrus was pleas- ed with the way 1 had acquitted my- self, and told me so, as we mounted the stairs to our room after they were all gone. “Truly my lot is cast in pleasant places,” was my thought. “I must tell her how little cause she has for misgiving,” I had seen her chamber before but in dusky, half light. Now it was brilliantly illuminated, and the first thing that attracted my attention was the portrait ofa beautiful woman, hang- ing on the wall at the foot of the bed. I stood and scanned it curiously, its cold, proud, stately beauty chilling me most unaccountably. “Who is this woman, Cyrue ?”" I asked at length. “That is my wife.” He was busy rummaging a trunk for some thing, and has since owned he answered unthinkingly. I do not know how long Istood there, _ filled with horrified amazement. “If you have looked at that picture long enough, Esma, I'wish you would come and untie this knot.” I turned and mechanically did his bidding. What's the matter? Your hands are like ice,” “Do you think your mother has re- tired 2” I asked, disregarding his ques- tion. “I think not, IT heard her voice a moment ago." “T am going to see her a moment then,” and I turned toward the door. “Nonsense. At this hour. My wife never did such a thing.” I had hesitated, but the last words decided me. “You can console yourself with thoughts of your wife during my ab- sence,” and I darted away. site side of the hall, and a cheerful “come in” answered my knock. She looked surprised when she saw who her visitor was, but bade me a smiling wel- come. I closed and locked the door, then standing befor her asked the ques- tion which was maddening me. “If that woman, whoee portrait hangs in our chamber, is Cyrus’ wife what am 1? “You are his wife, my dear, for that poor woman has been dead for three years,” there was an infinite pity in the kind voice, and tears in the dear old eyes,” “Why did he not tell me he had been married 2” > “My dear, it ill behooves a mother to speak ill of her son, but you find he does as he pleases, with littie regard for right. Iam truly sorry for you my dear. Do you love him, my child?” “I did,” IT answered gloomily. “Do not speak so despairingly, dear. You sre his wife, and must make the best of it. He will not beat you for he is kindness itself. He will only harrow your soul night and day with assertions of what “my wife” did or did mot do. He has exaggerated ideas as to how a woman should deport herself at home or abroad, and has an annoying habit of remarking on what ene does contra- ry to his code.” “Was his wife uacommonly per- fect?” “No more so than a thousand oth- ers.) “Mother, I can neverdive under such a condition of things.” “I wish I could devise some way to break him of it.” I sat silently, busily thinking for some time. Then sprang up laughing merrily over the idea I had just con- ceived. “You darling little mother,” I cried, kissing her tenderly. “I shall cure him, never you fear,” and away I sped. I found Cyrus reading a paper, and it was rather a discontented face he turned to me. “I must say, Esma, my wife never did such a silly thing as this, in all her life.” “I dare say not,” I answered cheer- fully, as I waltzed across the room to the dressing table, and began removing my jewels, “And Harry never did so foolish a thing as to sit up and wait for me if I chanced te leave the room a minute. Why didn’t you go to bed you silly boy 2” I watched him furtively in the glass, and came near suffocating in trying not to laugh at the expression his face took on at the words. I hummed a merry tune and never glanced his way, 80 when he suddenly grasped my arm, I uttered a well counterfeited cry of alarm. “I declare, Cyrus, how you startled me. Harry never did such a mean thing as that. I quite trembled.” “Who is Harry ?”” he demanded. The expression of his face almost frightened me into giving up my plan. But the memory of his coldblooded “that is my wife,” spurred me on. “Why didn’t mamma tell you? Oh, I thought you knew,'’ and I sank upon a chair in a frightened manner. “Oh, I am so sorry mamma didn’t tell you. Harry was my husband, poor boy.” How Cyrus ever came to believe such a monstrous deception, I cannot under- stand. But having made me the vic- tim of deception, I suppose he never thought to question my assertion. He stood staring dumbly at me and I could almost have pitied him. “Shall I show you his picture?’ I asked. picking up my album which had been unpacked. “No,” he thundered. “Never speak his name in my hearing again.” Turning, he abruptly left the room, and I did not see him again until break- fast. He merely bowed without speak- ing, and left the house soon after with a murmured excuse about business. Dear mother Howe had looked in pain- ed surprise at such an exhibition of “wedded bliss.” When I recovered from the fit of laughter his vindictive slam of the outer door threw me into, 1 explained matters. Her sweet old face lighted up, and she laughed in eoncert, as she express- ed a belief that the plan would succeed. He returned at dinner time quite his genial self, and we gpent a very pleas- ant evening. I eaw be had set a guard upon his tongue and acted according- ly. His mother's face reflected our hap- piness, aud I thought the evening would end without anything disagree- able happening. I little knew how strong his habit had become, however. I was sitting at the piano when he crossed the room for something, and in reply to a question from his mother, I heard him saying. “You know how my wife did. Her way 1s good enough for you.” I am willing to believe that he did not mean to he unkind, but when I saw the pained look on the furrowed face, I made up my mind to pay him in full. A few minutes latter he dropped a page of music he was turning for me, and I saw my chance. “I declare, Cyrus, Harry never did such a bungling thing as that in all our married life,” and I brought my fingers down on the keys with a discordant crash, “I declare, Esma, I could almost pity him,” declared the dear, soft heart- ed little mother. “So could I,” I answered, “but not just yet.” I was afraid I had carried the mat- ter too far when I heard the outer door slammed again; but he appeared at breakfast quite cheerful, but looking worn and a little haggard. Things went on in this way for seve ral weeks. I was miserably unhappy, ard knew he was also, but I would not giveup I knew I was worthy to be his | wife, and deserved better than the place | of “second fiddle,” which he had forced upon me from the beginning. But it became almost more than I could bear and I made up my mind I'd go home | | { to my mother and give up the struggle. I was sitting alone in the dusk, won- . Mrs. Howe's room was on the oppo- dering how I could bring it to pass, when he came and flung himself weari- ly down upon a low seat at my side. “Fsma,” he said, “do you care for me at all ?” “You know I do.” I answered, pass- ing my other arm about his neck. “Then, dear, let us make solemn compact to let the dead rest in their graves. I was to blame in hiding my former marriage from you. But I lov- ed you so much I feared to give you up. Your mother was to blamein your case., So let us try and be happy.” I cried a little, kissed him, and agreed to govern my conduct by his, So we have lived in something hike harmony since. But he had set him- self a mighty task to break up a habit which was the growth of years. “He had many a lapse, but the word “Harry” is sufficient to prevent a speedy recurrence of the fault. I have not heard the offensive phrase “my wife” for several week’s now, and I think I may soon safely assume the title as my own. But what will he say when he finds out as he must sooner or later, that “Harry” is a myth. How Grady Got a Start. Amos J. Cummings in New York Sun. It was in the winter of 1886 that Mr. Grady told me his early newspaper ex- periences. He began to use his pen soon after the war. The South, how- ever, was so poor that he put for New York in search of a living. He had very little money with him. After register- ing at the Astor house he went over to the Herald office to look for work. Thomas B. Connery, late secretary of legation to Mexico, was then managing editor. He received the youthful Geor- gian with his usual urbanity. The con- versation turned upon the political sit- uation in Georgia. Grady laid bare the inside of Georgia politics. It was soen- tertaining that Connery invited him to write an articleupon it. Theinvitation was promptly accepted. Over to his rooms at the Astor house sped the young journalist. He turned on his literary faucet, and in less than three hours the article was completed. It filled nearly two columns of the Her- ald. The style was quaint and dashing. Interest in the subject was first adroitly fastened. After that the reader uncon- sciously absorbed all that was said, and was sorry when the end was reached. It was with the utmost joy that Grady saw the article in the Herald in the morning. His funds were low. It meant a new supply of money. The sky of his intel- lect was aglow with hope. After break- fast he crossed the street. He knew lit- tle about the hours of morning newspa- pers in New York. He reached the Her- ald office at 9. a. m., and remained there six mortal hours before Mr. Connery en- ‘tered. The editor greeted him cordially, and even vouch-safed a few words of praise over his work, but said nothing about payment therefor. The Georgian was too modest to hint at his nesessities. He beat around the bush a while, and finally returned to the Astor house much downcast. After paying his hotel bill he had barely enough money to take him back to At- lanta. He had no friends in New York, and he dared not longer trust himself away from the base of his supplies. As ‘it was, he had so little in his pocket that he rode from New York to Atlanta without a mouthful to eat. Before his departure he had sought the post of Herald correspondent in At- lanta. He was taken aback when Mr. Connery assured him that the Herald had no salaried correspondent in the Séuth, but his eyes sparkled when he was told that he was at liberty to gather what news he could, and forward it at space rates. He went to work with a will after reaching Atlanta. For a month he showered the Herald with small telegrams, The most of them were used. At the end of a month he receive a check for $35. It covered the article printed while he was at the As- tor house. It was not as much as he expected, but it inspired him with fresh hopes and renewed his energies. ~The day of peace and plenty quickly dawned. Within the three weeks an incident occurred which was a crucial test of Mr. Grady’s newspaper ability. Oneafternoonthe received a telegram from Mr. Connery asking him to ascertain whether the name of a certain man was registered at any Atlanta hotel. Grady was on the street in an instant. He ex- amined all the hotel registers in the city and could find no such name. Then he sat down, rubbed his head, and wonder- ed why the Herald wanted to get upon the man’s trail. The name seemed strangely familiar. He turned over the files of the Herald looking for it. He found it. The stranger had been mix- ed up in some Cuban trouble, had fled from Havana, andjhad landed in Charles- ton a fortnight gone. The Georgian reasoned that he would be more apt to run to New Orleans from Charleston than to Atlanta. He telegraphed at his own expense to a friend in the Crescent City, asking him to search the registers there. The friend did so, and found the stranger. Grady thereupon forwarded this dispatch to Connery: ArranTa, Ga. 16th To Thomas B. Connery, New York, Herald : Your man is registered at the St. Cliarles hotel, New Orleans. Hexry W. Grapy, Connery was dumfounded. The re- ply was received within three hours of the inquiry. The news had also come from an entirely unexpected quarter. From that moment Grady’s stock began to go up. The Georgian had struck the bullseye in journalism with unerring aim. His fortune was made. That year he received over $6000 from the Herald alone for his services. Such was the story as it came to me from Mr. Grady’s own lips. Games for the Long Evenings, Those who are fond of drawing will find the game of “Positions” a pleasant astime for long evenings. Any num- er can play the game—the more the merrier. All the players seat themselves round a table, and each one must be supplied with small pieces of white pa- per and a pencil. All the players ex- cept one then silently think on some position in life which it is possible for them to fill, and each makes some sign of their “position” by sketching a little picture of some article connected with their proposed trade or business on their blank piece of paper. The name of each sketcher should pg written on their pa- per. Five mir yes are allowed for the sketching, th o time being kept by the player Who pas not selected a “position.” All the fiustrated papers are then sent round th able, so that each may see the other’s pictures, but no one criticises them gil. Lastly, they are handed to “8! smser,’ the player who has taken no P'srtexcept keeping the time, who ranges éiem on the table. The “guesser’’ then looks at the pictures and proceeds to guess the intended ‘‘position” of each artist. If she fail to ‘guess any of the ‘positions,’’ the first at whom she stops is chosen guesser for the next time; if there has been no failure, the player on the right hand of the guesser takes the privilege. The principal object of the gameis for each player to try who can make the best sketch in five minutes, and the next object isto puzzle the guesser. The game of “Names” is played in a similar manner to that of “Positions,” the players being all seated round a ta- ble, and being provided with paper and pencils. The time—five minutes—must likewise be kept by one of the party. One commences by calling out, “Girls, names commencing with A ;’ then each player writes down all the girls’ names that she can racollect beginning with, A during the five minutes allowed. At theexpiration of the time, the oldest player reads from her slip all the names she has written down. All the other players, as the names are read out, can- cel any name on their lists mentioned. ‘Whan the marks are allotted for the names, only those are given to names which have no duplicates on any of the other lists. Then another player calls out, “Names of all rivers beginning with B,” and so on through the alphabet, dif- ferent names of places, countries animals, etc., being given for the variour letters. This game causes much amusement, owtng to the difficulty often experienced in thinking even of well known names quickly and in the five minutes allowed. Re ——————— Can Light His Breath. The Strange Case of William Jackson,of Middlebury, Vt. The strange case ot William Jackson, whose breath was inflammable excited a great deal of interest in medical and scientific circles two years ago. At that time, says the Albany (N. Y.) Journal, Mr. Jackson was a photographer in Fayetteville, N. Y. More recently he has been engaged in this same business in Middlebury, Vt. One evening at ten o'clock he lighted a lamp with a match. Then with a breath of air sought to “blow out the match.” In- stan:ly his breath took fire with a slight explosion. Jackson gasped with fright, and the flame of the combustible air en- tered mouth and blistered his tongue. His lips and face also suffered, and his mustache, eyebrows and the hair above his eyebrows were singed to a marked degree. The man was at first badly frightened, and his wife, who was a witness of the occurrence, screamed with alarm. Afier waiting an hour to see if there would bea repetition of the phenomenon, Jackson went to bed. The next morn- ing he consulted his physician, Dr. T. E. Quinly, who recognized the case as a singular one, and engaged the writer of this article to report it for the med- weal journals. The truth of the reports was at first questioned on all sides, but, after the matter was thoroughly investi- gated, it was admitted that such a case might possibly occur. Then in 1874 it was learned that a European medical journal had published a report of a similar phenomenon, and musty scien- tific tomes were searched, and one item discovered that substantiated the present. Then Jackson discovered that he could reproduce the phenonmenon al- most at will, but as the experiment some- times resulted in unpleasant burns he would exhibit his peculiarity only on special occasions. At last medical men figured out a theory to explain the freak. They came to the conclusion that it was not the breath from Juck- son’s lungs, but air belched from his stomach, that would take fire. The patient had never been a drinking man, so the gas was not rendered inflamable by the presence of alcoholic vapor, but for years he had suffered from a peculiar kind of dyspepsia. Dr. William Man- lius Smith, professor of chemistry in the Syracuse Medical College, after careful study concluded that food in Jackson’s stomach underwent a butyric acid fer- mentation, one of the products of which was carbureted hydrogen, sometimes called ‘marsh gas,” the ‘“firedamp” of mines. Jackson understood a little about chemistry and one day he and the writer went to an old,stagnant pond and collected a bottle full of “marsh gas.” When lighted it exploded, and burned prescisely as did Jackson’s breath. The gas was collected by holding the bottle under the surface of the pond, stirring up the mud in the bottom of the pond, and catching in the bottle the bubbles of gas as they arose. Jackson is aboul thirty vears old and a genuine Yankee. He is a bright humorist, and as gen- ial u fellow as one ever has the pleasure of mecting. He has been a newspaper man, Indian fighter, photographer and half a dozen other things. He is also an artist of no mean ability. His wife was formerly his school-teacher. It’s Different. The man who sat in the last seat of the rear car was a broad shouldered in- dividual with a Capt. Kidd beard and a bold, assertive mode of action. The first thing he did after he had plunged into his seat was to raise the window and squirt a stream of tobacco juice into the street. He wus a man few would care to cross, butthe but the brakeman, with the assurance born of years of ty- ranny over mere passengers, knew no fear. He walked up to the tobacco shower, and sticking a finger at ‘him, said . “Soy, wajer tink dis is a bathin’ pavilion? Now, don’t you spit out de winder no more, d’ye hear! People what walks has got some rights.” The passenger dropped his eyes be- fore this severe and dignified rebuke, and shrunk up in shame. The brake- man stalked out upon the platform, and, leaning over the iron gate, took aim with his pursed lips ata group on the sidewalk, and sent a torrent of tobacco juice within a foot of them.— New York Sun. Eagles Fish for Trout. A curious story comes from Clearfield county, Penn. Mosquito Creek dows through a wooded part of that county, and the stream is as full of trout ss the dense forest is alive with various kinds of birds. The eagles find a peaceful home there, and they are plenty too. Some time ago a party of lumbermen bethought themselves that it would be a good scheme to catch the trout that in- habit Mosquitto Creek. They could not spare the time to fish with rod and line, and Franklin Haverstraw, the inventive genius of the camp, suggested the idea of tying lines to bottles. The next day the creek was full of tottles with lines on them. They had good luck for awhile until the bottles, began to dis- appear, Tosolve the mistery a watch was put upon the fishing tackle, and Haverstraw and Christ Moore went on guard. A day passed, but the bottles were undisturbed, and a good mess ot fish was caught. However, the two men saw several eagles perched high in the treetops, looking suspiciously in- to the water below. Then they would scar around and fiy close to the creek, quickly going to the highest limb of the tallest tree when they saw the men. This singular action of the birds set Haverstraw to thinking, and when he told his [partner thatit was his belief that the bottles were carried off by the eagles, Moore scouted the idea. Hav- erstraw was firm in his convictions, and the next day the two men hid them- selves among the leaves. At 8 o'clock in the morning three 1 rge birds came in sight. They sat on a tree for an hour. Then feeling sure that they were unob- served, they made a descent and each caught a bottle in its claws and carried it to the bank. Each line had a fine trout on it which the eagles proceeded to devour. The men were dumbfound- ed. For the first time in their lives they saw an eagle eating a fish. Hav- erstraw and Moore remained in their hiding place. To their surprise the birds made another trip to the river. Only one bird had a fish on it, but the other two bi‘ds carried the bottles and lines to shore. Before they could de- vour the one fish, Haverstraw and Moore appeared on the scene and the birds flew off. The grounds were then searched, and many of the missing bot- tles and lines were found. To shoot the eagles was the next measure adopted, and on the fourth day two of the birds were killed. The third flew away and was not seen again. It Wasa Paper Box. Two variety performers came to Bos- ton last week, looking for an engage- ment at one of the dime museums. They did not have money enough to hire a room and pay for it in advance, and, as their wardrobes were exceeding- ly limited and they were looking rather seedy in appearance, they knew that no landlady would trustthem without some sort of security. Finally one of them named Grady proposed the following : “If we could get a baggage check,” said he, “we’d all right, for we could tell the landlady that our trunks would be over in a day or twe, and leave her the check for security. Now, I'll tell I what we’ll do. If we can get a big ox we can fill it up with ashes and get it checked at some depot.” This plan was thought to be feasible, and the pair went hunting about for a big box. They would have preferred one made of wood, but could not get it, and the next best thing proved to be two big pasteboard boxes such as tailors use. They were taken into a third class hotel, where the performers knew the clerk, and the latter allowed them to fill the boxes from the ash pile. The boxes were then carefully tied together and marked. It was then taken to the baggage room of one of the depots and a check obtained. Everything had gone well so far, and the pair were chuckling over the success of their scheme, when they heard a great commotion in the baggage room. It seems that the ashes with which the boxes had been filled was hot and had set the pasteboard afire, causing great consternation among the baggage men. The guilty pair, seeing at a glance what the trouble was. made good their escape, but they were afraid to use the check in getteng a room, for fear the railroad men would find them out.—Boston Globe. To Make Children Lovely. There is just one way, and that is to surround them by day and by night with an atmosphere of love. Restraint and reproof may be mingled with the love, but love must be a constant element. “I found my little girl was growing unamiable and plain,” said a mother to us the other day, ‘and, reflecting on 1t sadly, I could only accuse myself of the cause thereof. So I changed my mana- gement and improved my opportunity to praise and encourage her, to assure her of my unbounded affection for her and earnest desire that she should grow up to a lovely and harmonious woman- hood. Asa rose opens to sunshine, so the child heart opened in the warmth of the constant affection and caresses showered upon her; her peevishness passed away, her face grew beautiful, and now one look from me brings her to my side, obedient to my will and hap- piest when she is nearest to me.” Women's News. "Two Edged. Nathan Levy—I say Jacob; dot Ikey Einstein vas a mean man. He vos too grasping for his own goot. Jacob Solomons—How vos dot ? Nathan Levy— Vy, vesterday I gave him my note for $100 at dirty days, und py a mistake I dated it 1889. Ven I remembered vot I did I vent to him to get dot note back, and he says “I ‘don’t regtify no mistakes after you leaves my office. I’ve got your note dated Jan- uary 2, 1889 und it is 11 months over- ‘due, und I'll charge you a year’s in- terest. Jacob Solomons—Dot vos nod right. Vot haf you done ? Nathan Levy—I told him dot I vould abide by his decision, but dot as 1 failed last March und only paid my greditors 2 per cend, dot note would have to go mit der old debts, and as dose affairs of dot old firm was vound up he vould haf to sue der creditors for der money. He vos a mean man, dot Ikey Einstein.—New York Sun. What Produces Death. Most People Die from Disappointient. Accident or Excessive Toil. Some one says that few men die of age. Almost all persons die of dissapointment, personal, mental or bodily toil or acei- dent. The passions kill men sometimes even suddenly. - The common expression “choked with passion,’ has little exager- ation in it, for even though not sudden- ly fatal, strong passions shorten life Strong bodied men otten die young— weak men live longer than the strong, for the strong use their strength and the weak have'none to use. The latter take care of themselves, the former do not. 2s it is with the body, so itis with the mind and temper. The strong are apt to break, or, like the candle, run ; the the weak burn out. The inferior animals, which live tem- perate lives, have nearly their perscribed term of years. The horse lives twenty- five years, the ox fifteen or twenty, the the hog ten or twelve, the rabbit eight, the guinea pig sixor seven. The num- bers all bear proportion to the time the animal takes to grow its full size. But man, of all animals, is one that seldom comes up to the average. He ought to live a hundred years, according to the physiological law, for five times twenty are 100 ; but, instead of that, he scarcely reaches an average of four times the growing period. The reason is obvious—man is not on- ly the most irregular and most intem- perate, but the most laborious and hard working of all animalt, and there is rea- on to believe, though we cannot tell what an animal secretly feels,that more than any other animal, man cherishes wrath to keep it warm and consumes him self’ with the fire of his own reflections. Barnum’s Bill Stickers in England They Surprise The Englishmen by the Rapidity of Their Work. Opposite to this house is a board fence thirteen feet high by over one hundred feet long, and in a few minutes I was to see a feat in bill posting such as seems hardly credible, now that I sit calinly down to write of it. A wagon having driven up, five men got out of it ; one I recognized as Bart Ready,Bar- nums boss poster, two were Americans in their neat duck overalls, and two were English bill stickers whose appear- ance I would rather not describe. In two minutes after their arrival the duck overalled men had out their tin cans full of paste and their eight foot long poles with brushes at the end, and were hard at it covering the boarding with paste from top to bottom, from end to end. The Englishmen stood by with some- thing like sneers on their faces, as who should say ; “well, there ain’t much in that ; we can cover a board- ing with paste too.’, Another minute past and Ready began handing out some carefully folded posters. The English- men’s face began to relax alittle, as who should say ; “what are they goin’ to do now ?” and they began to whisper to- gether. The two Americans seized one of the folded posters, gave it a shake, ran the brush end of the long poles under it, gave a sweep and another sweep, and there on the boarding was a sixteen sheet poster, containing a facsimile of an open letter from P. T. Barnum, headed “My Greatest Adventure.” Then followed a twelve sheet poster por- trait of Barnum, a forty-eight sheet de- picting the show tents as they travel in America, a twenty-four sheet picture of Jumbo, a forty-eight representation of the gallery of human freaks of nature, a thirty-six sheet picture of the menag- erie, a thirty-six sheet picture of the Mexican rider, a forty-eight sheet repre- sentation of the elephants performing, a twenty-four sheet picture of the clowns, and a twenty-four sheet portrait of Miss Clara O’Brian, the Roman knife thrower. All along the tops and the bottoms of the pictures ‘‘streamers’’ were pasted. The most remarkable fact, however, was that every one of these huge post- ers was slong up into position whole, they had been pasted together before starting. The 100 by 13 feet was cover- ed in exactly fourteen minutes and thir- tv seconds ! There! That is some- thing like bill sticking. You ought to have seen the facesof those Englishmen. They were a study for Dickens. Of course a crowd gathered, and as the om- nibuses stop at the Cedars, you may guessthere were some quaint remarks from the drivers and conductors.— Pall Mall Gazette. She Wanted to be Prepa red. A neatly dressed, nervy looking wo- man went into an undertaker’s shop on Gratiot avenue and asked to see some plain wooden coffins, says the Detroit Free Press. “I want something stylish,” shesaid, “but not costly. My husband’s sick- ness has cost us 80 much that there ain't money enough to put on style with, but 1 want his folks to see I've done right by him.” The undertaker showed her several different style and then asked her if she had brought any measures with her. She said she had not. “I can send them along with the order,” she said. “I think I'll take this black walnut. All our furniture is black walnut, and he always liked that wood the best. How much do you want down ?” “When did your husband die 2’ in- quired the undertaker. “Oh, he an’t dead yet. But thedoc- tors have given him up, and 1 gota chance to slip out for a little fresh air, and I thought I'd look at styles and prices, for when he’s dead I shan’t be worth shucks to attend to business. I'm to soft-hearted.” Then she paid down $5 on her new purchase, took a receipt and went out with the air of one who had made a satisfactory bargain. ——The Ephemeris of Athens reports that a rumber of coffers containing 30,000 gold and silver Spanish pieces of the year1666 have been hauled out of the sea near the island of Andros. Six bronze cannons were found near the coffers, and it is concluded the whole came from the wreck of a Spanish man of-war. -