Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, March 28, 1890, Image 2
Dewar tc Bellefonte, Pa., March 28, 1890. HEARTS-EASE. [The annexed beautiful poem, written by Mrs. Bradley, was found the other day when workmen were tearing down the old MeClin- tock residence near Newberry.] Of all the bonnie buds that blow In bright or cloudy weather; Of all the flowers that come and go The whole twelve moons together, This little purple pansy brings J Thoughts of the sweetest, saddest things. I had a little lover once Who used to give me posies, His eyes were blue as hyacinths, His lips were redjas rosies. And everybody loved to praise His pretty looks and winsome ways. The girls that went to school with me Made little jealous speeches, Because he brought me royally His biggest plums and peaches, And always at the door would wait To carry home my books and slate. “They couldn’t see,” with pout and fling, “The mighty fascination About that little snub-nosed thing To win such admiration. As if there wasn’t a dozen girls With nicer eyes and longer curls.” And this I knew as well as they, And never could see clearly 2 Why more than Marion or May 1 should be loved so dear®. So once I asked him why was this? He only answered with a kiss. Until I teased him “‘tell me why? I want to know the reason.” When from the garden bed close by (The pansies were in season,) He plucked and gave a flower to me With sweet and simple gravity. “The garden is in bloom,” he said, “With lilies pale and slender; With roses and verbenas red. And fuchsias purple splendor; Bnt over and above the rest This little hearts-ease suits me best.” “Am I your little hearts-ease then ?” I asked with Dinghing pleasure; He answered “yes” and “yes” again, “Hearts-ease and dearest treasure; That the round world and all the sea Held nothing half so sweet as me.” I listened with a proud delight Too rare for words to capture; : Nor never dreamed what sudden blight Would come to chill my rapture. Could I foresee the tender bloom Of pansies round a little tomb! Life holds some stern experience, As most of us discover, And I've had other losses since I lost my little lover, But still this purple pansy brings Thoughts of the saddest, sweetest things. RavsroN, February 14, 1879. HE — ——————————— HELD FOR RANSOM. We had been out from Melbourne two days, journeying toward the new town of Murray City, on the Murray River, and we were only two miles from a post station, where a guard of mounted police had their headquarters, when the driver of the stage or wagon suddenly brought his horses to a dead stop. This was in the days of thirty years ago, before any part of Australia was half civilized by the English, and before the big island had been more than half surveyed. There were plenty of bushrangers haunting every highway and every stage was usually accompa- nied by a guard. In our case five of us had put together and hired a private conveyance. It was one of the usual stages, but making a special trip for our ‘benefit. Of the five, three were Eng- lishmen going up to the valley ot the Murray to locate land, the fourth was an American who had been in the country two years, and I had landed in Melbourne only the week before. My compatriot was named Davis, a widower, and he had his only child along—a bright little girl eight years old. He was goinc up to sheep-ranch in partnership with a friend already settled, and he could not bear to leave his child behind him in the town. The five of us were well armed, and every hour sinc2 leaving Melbourne we had been ready to defend ourselves. As we had met with nothing to alarm us thus far, and as we knew we were close upon a station, no one was prepared for what happened. The stage had no sooner stopped than two men came up on a side, covered us with revolvers, and a gruff voice announced : “Now, then, the first move and off goes yerheads! Step out here one by one!" I was the first one out. It was just at sundown, and on a portion of the road between two ridges. The two men on that side were rough, unkempt, des- perate-looking fellows—fair samples of the other two, and the instant I saw them I knew that we were in for trouble. When we were all out they ordered the driver to turn into a blind road to the right, and we followed after the wagon. As we were ordered to follow the vehicle the leader of the gang said : “No foolishness, now! The four of we have got our pistols looking right at ye!” After going thirty rods we were as well hidden from the highway as if we had gone ten miles, and were brought to a halt in a little glade. As there were five to four, you may wonder that we did not make a break. The first man sho had moved to pull his revol- ver would have been shot in the back. Davis could not be counted on anyhow, as his anxiety for his ehild took all the fight out of him. The driver, if not in league with the rangers was at least treated as neutral. While he was arm- ed he took matters so coolly that we saw he was out of the scrape. The five of us were placed in a row, and [while three men etood behind us the fourth disarmed us and went through our pock- ets. We were a poverty-stricken crowd. The $80 they took from me constituted my worldly wealth, while Davis and the others had been too sharp to trust their money to az stage unguarded. The whole amount did not pan out over $150,and the bushrangers were furious, “Why, you bloody bloke!” shouted the leader, “you: alone ought to have at least £200 with you! “Do you think I'm carrying my money about the country for such as you ?”” protested the hot-headed victim. “I'm a-wishing you hadn’t got a pen- ny!" added the second. “The idea of it! You'll all be hung for this!” growled the tlird, | the ashes. Davis and I had said nothing. We didn’t see that the case could be help- ed hy protestations. The words of the Englishmen provoked our captors to a white heat, and they were knocked about unmercifully for the next five minutes. Then the leader, speaking to the two of ue, asked : “You are not English ?” “No; Americans.” “I thought so. Where ye bound for?” We gave him our destinations. “Well, we're a bit sorry to take your money, small as it is, and delay your journey; but we've got to do both. These three coves 1s rich, and we ain't going to let ‘em off with shillings where we ought to have pounds” Whilewe were held under guard one of the men went ever to the driver and held a consultation with him, and the result was that he turned his team about and disappeared in the direction ofthe highway. We werethen ordered to proceed in a northerly course through the scrub, one man leading and the others bringing up the rear. Not a word had been addressed to lit- tle Eva by any of the men, although all had looked at her with softened ex- pression. She realized what was going on, but went th-ough it bravely, and when we started through the scrub her father carried her on his shoulder. We traveled for six or seven miles be- fore halting, and then came upon a camp fire, with a fifth bushranger sleeping peside it. He was rudely awakened, and I then saw that he had his right arm in a sling, having been wounded or meeting with an accident. The camp was a thicket, with a tem- porary shelter of brush to sleep under. The five of us were ordered to sit down under this shelter, and then every man’s feet were tied together at the ankles and a guard took a seat before us. Then the fire was replenished, and the bush- rangers gave us such a supper as they | could afford, which consisted solely of roast mutton and a flour cake baked in When we had eaten this and been offered a drink of water all around, the leader sat down before us and said : “New, gents, business is businss the world over. We have got tw have money. We want it to convert these ‘ere natives from the error of their ways, and it will take a heap to do it. You first gent, who was so ready with your tongue, how = much are worth ?" “It’s none o’ yer business, you scoun- drel, you,” was the hearty reply. “Well, mebbe not. so poverty-stricken, I'll put you down for only £300. Now, you second gent.” “I could raise £100 ifin Melbourne.” “That means £300 for you, then. You'll lie a half or more. Now, you third gent” “I'll see you hanged for this day's work,” was the reply. “Mebbe you will, but not until after I sees your money. You also go down for £300. Now, the fourth gent.” “You've got my last dollar,” I re- plied. “I landed in Melbourne only a week ago.” “That's bad for all of us, but I guess you tell the truth. Now, you fifth gent.” “I might possibly raise £5 if up at the ranch,” replied Davis, ‘but that would be all. I am poor, and just making a start.” “Is that your little gal?” “Yes.” “Where's the mother ?” “Dead.” “Shoo! That's too bad. What's the gal’'s name ?"’ “Eva.” “Mighty sweet. kiss me.” She went over to him and kissed his bronzed and bearded cheek without the slightest hesitation, and he held her for a moment and looked her over and said : “Sweet as honey! I wouldn't hurt you for all the gold in the big world!” She was allowed to return to her father, and the leader then said : “We shall hold you three peppery gents until you raise £800 for us, and as these Americans might give the alarm we shall be obliged to hold them as well. Sorry to do it, tu: business is business, and if we don’t look out for ourselves no one will.” Each of the Englishmen swore by all that was good and great that he'd never pay a cent, but the bushrangers only laughed at their words. At a late hour we were ordered to go asleep, and the last thing I saw before my eyes closed was the guard sitting on a rock at my feet. The night passed quietly, and as soon as we had Prettuey in the morning the leader took pen, ink, and paper from a box and said to the Englishmen : “Now, then, here's the chance to write to your friends to raise the rocks, and I'll see that the letters reach them.” Each one of the three refused point blank to make any attempt to raise money, although it was plain they had a desperate lot to deal with and that they would suffer for their obstinacy. “Well, some other day willdo just as well,” laughed the leader, “but I want it understood that each day of delay adds £25 to the ransom.” We were then untied, given a few minutes to get over ourstiffness of limb, and then we all set off over a rugged, scrubby country toward a range of hills. We traveled steadily until noon, and then came to a very secure strong- hold among the hills, By placing us in a natural enclosure of about an eighth of an acre, we were surrounded by rocky walls on three sides, and on the forth the bushrangers built their fire and made their camp. As we were penned in here the chief of the bush- rangers announced to the Englishmen that he would give them two days in which to make up their minds to send for the money. If they held out at the Say, gal, come and end of that time he would take his own measures to extort the money. One of ! the Englishmen was a large landowner lin Australia,another was a civil officer at Melbourne, the third was fresh from England, and was intending to start a Bein’ as you is’ manufactory of some sort at Melbourne or Sidney. Davis and 1 both labored with them to make them realize the situation, but they were pig-headed and obstinate, declaring that it was all a bluff, and that the rangers would not dare proceed to extremes. We believed differently. They were escaped con- victs, each one outlawed, and a more villainous gang one never looked at. On the morning of the third day, without having annoyed us in the least during the interval, the chief called for their decision. Each Englishman curt- ly replied that he would never get another dollar of their money. The civil officer was the leader, and the most independent. He was seized, tied hand and foot, and after his boots and stockings had been removed, he was placed with his feet to a fire. He stood the torture until we could smell the odor of his burning soles, and then gave in. The other two followed his exam- ple witho1t waiting for the torture. Each one wrote a note to a friend in Melbourne, worded by dictation. While the chief was a rough-looking fellow, he proved to have a very fair education. When the letters were ready he took them and started, presumably to find a messenger to act as a go-between. There were four left to guard us, and after the chief had gone onz of them bruised some herbs and kindly tied up the Englishman’s feet. Our three fel- low prisonersrather shunned Davis and myself during the afternoon, seeming to be put out because we were not called upon to ransom ourselves. But we af- terward recalled that they made much of the child, and had her with them a good share of the time. Each outlaw had a good word for her whenever she came near, and she was permitted to run about without restraint. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon this was the situation : Three of the guards were asleep beyond the fire. The fourth sat on the ground with his back to a rock reading a novel, while he had a rifle across his knees. Davis and I lay close together, talking matters over, and the Englishmen were ten stepsaway. Little Eva was running about, shouting and playing. All at once we heard the pop of a revolver, followed by a death cry, and as we sprang up two of the Englishmen, each with a pistol in hand, rushed past us. In sixty seconds more every one of ths bushrangers was dead. They had coaxed Eva to bring them the pistols, which were lying on the far side of the camp, and she had pass- ed behind the guard and made two trips. As soon as they had the weap- ons one of them shot down the half: asleep guard, and then the others were slain before sleep was fairly off their eyelids. The smoke was still hanging over the camp when we began the construc- tion of a litter, and within half an hour we were headed for the highway, car- rying the victim of torture along with us. We kept going all night, as we had to go slow, and about daylight came out at the stage station. A squad of mounted police set off for the camp, and on their way to it came across and k lled the leader of the bushrangers, thus wiping out the last of a bad gang. —New York Sun. ' A Democratic Will, Bradford county, Pa., is about as over- whelmingly Republican as is Crawford county, but the few Democrats within herborders are ofthe “neversay die’ sort, and always go into a fight as if they ex- pected to elect somebody. George Wil- cox, a resident ot Overton township, Bradford county, who died recently, left a remarkable will, which has been filed at the register’s office at Towanda. He leaves his property to his children, provided his sons support the Democra- tie ticket, and his daughters murry Dem- ocrats. Those failing to comply with these requirements forfeit their interests in the estate, whick 1s to go to the Dem- ocratic National committee. As pecu- liara will as this was never before regis- tered in Bradford or any other county, aud many people are wondering wheth- er it will stand the law. Jefferson’s Birthday. It Will be Celebrated by the Democra- tic Societies of Pennsylvania There has been reeently, and is now, marked activity in the ranks of the dem- ocratie society of Pennsylvania, of which useful organization nearly every demo- cratic club in the state is a member. Vigorous steps are being taken to dis- seminate true democratic principles. The organization itself is a part of the national association of democratic clubs. This represents neither men nor factions, but the demoeratic party. Every day primary societies are sending names of their officers and members to the secre- tary of the Pennsylvania society, or John D. Worman, of Philadelphia. A general committee has recenily been formed, consisting of one delegate from each club in the state. They report that in no single district in Pennsylvan- ia where there has been a live, earnest, well-supported democratic society, has there been a failure to increase the dem- ocratic vote. The society, by a conviction carrying eircular, of which the following is an extract, urg2s upon all true Americans the usefulness of patriotically celebrat- ing Jefferson’s birthday. “The birth of Thomas Jefferscn was an event of transcendent importance, not only to Americans, but to mankind. The author of the declaration of inde- pendence, it is to his jealous vigilance that we owe the first ten amendments to the constitution of the United States, comprising the bill of rights and the rule of construction which constitutes the safeguard of states and people, ! against the encroachments of centraliz- ed power. Extravagance, corruption, and taxes for the aggrandizement of classes and the enrichment of indivdual favorites, tollow with fatal certainty, the casion. Itis therefore respectfully sug- gested that the societies shall do their part toward recalling the people of the United States to those principles under which alone we can hope for the ulti- mate safety of our institutions. “In the intervening year the federal- ist party has gone forward to convert the general government into a vast ten- der of private monopoly; to prepare a tariff bill, which when passed will in- crease the tax burdens, and restrict the industrial freedom of the many, while strengthening the monopolies of the few ; to mature legislation looking to federal intervention in state elections, to the ultimate seizure of the common schools, and numerous like schemes of centrali- zation, and to these endsthe house of re- presentatives itself has been forcibly re- volutionized, its ancient rules and tradi- tions disregarded, while protesting mem- bers are silenced, or unseated by whole- sale. Never in the history of the repub- lic was there a period when a general re- currence to constitutional and, therefore to democratic principles, was more nec- essary than at present.” To Get a Beautiful Skin. How to Get Rid of Black Specks on the Face. The plainest features become pretty when clothed with a fresh velvety skin. It is in the power of every woman to hava a soft, fine skin, thus adding much to her charms, if she will devote a little time and care to her toilet. It should be a duty as well a pleasure to every woman to enhance the powers of attrac- tiveness. First of all, one must keep the face free from those unsightly black- heads or grubbs. Bathe the parts in hot water; rub on a little oil, and then take an old fashioned watch-key and pry out all the large ones. Afterwards rub on a cream or any soothing ointment. In the morning there will be no trace of redness. Tohave a clear skin it is essential to keep the digestive organs in good order and sleep as much as possible. Sleep will do more to preserve the freshness of youth than any other one thing. At night wash the face in warm water-— never use hot— using soap freely to re- move the dust of the day. Then take a pint of cold water to which a tablespoon- ful of bay rum has been added, and bathe the face for five minutes. Dry the face on a course towel, rubbing gen- tly to get up a pleasant friction. Last- ly spread a little cream lightly on the face and neck. Use only the finest cream and purest soap in the market. In the morning remove the grease with plenty of warm water and soap— followed by a cold bath as at night. Then apply a little powder with a soft linen rag to remove the shine. Powder is an essential adjunct to a lady’s toilet —let men say what they will to the con- trary—but never use a cheap powder. The best will be found harmless. Avoid all face lotions as their use, is sure to ruin theskin. By following the above directions you will find, in a short time that those horrid little specks that give the skin such a coarse look will disap- pear and the skin become as soft as a rose petal.— Daughters of America. Phil Sheridan’s Children. The Twins Dress Exactly Alike, and Bewilder Their Best Friends. The three little daughters of the late General Phil Sheridan are pupils of the Convent of the Visitation on Connecti- cut avenue. They are day scholars, living in retirement with their mother in their plain, quiet home on Rhode Island avenue. Mary, the eldest, is about 14, and resembles their father, both in face and figure. The twins, Louise and Irene, look very much like Mis. Sheridan. They are dressed in lain black frocks and coats so exactly alike that their best friends cannot tell them apart. They wear their brown hairin a demi-length that admits ot neither plait nor curl. They have the pretty convent-bred manner of paying instant attention when spoken to, and are as serious as little nuns. But there is a native originality about them that is charming. It was the twins who made that pretty speech a few years ago. They were out walking, when some strangers stopped them and asked if they were General Sheridan’s children. “No,” said Louise gravely, “we are the twins.” “They are Gener- al Sheridan’s- children,” said Irene, pointing back to Mary and little Phil, who were following with their nurse. The boy is not only the idol of the home but of the whole neighborhood, his us- ual cognomen being “Dear little Phil.” Mus. Sheridan goes nowhere except to church, and that is usually to early mass.— Washington letter in Detroit Free Press. What a Visit to the Queen Means. Itis a mistake to suppose that the Queen’s guests at Windsor Castle have any opportunity for protracted or confi- dential communication with Her Majes- ty, except such Ministers as have au- diences. The visitors arrive at the cas- tle about 7 o'clock, retire to their respec- tive rooms, and assemble in the corridors in full dress at 8.30 o'clock. The Queen presently enters from her private apart- ment, and after bowing to the company and perhaps speaking a few words to one or two friends, she goes into the dining room, followed by the guests. After dinner, during which the conver- sation, as a matter of course, is to the last degree vapid commonplace, the company return to the corridor, and then the Queen speaks for a few min- utes to each person in turn, and then bows to the circle and retires, after which the party proceed to one of the drawing-rooms for cards or music, and the men find themselves in the smoking room, which is a very comfortable apartment. Next morning the guests leave the castle after breakfast, and they depart without having again seen the Queen, who takes meals alone in her own private rooms.— London World. ascendency of federalism. The demo- cratic society of Pennsylvania is express- | ly founded upon Mr. Jefferson’s teach- ings. It appears most appropriate that every democratic society in the state should celebrate his approaching birth- day, April 2,0. 8. or April 13, N. S,, in some manner suitable to the great oc AprPLE JELLY FOR CAKES. —Peel and grate two large sour apples; add to them the grated rind and juice of one lemon, a small piece of butter, one cup- ful of sugar, the white of one egg; cook carefully and thoroughly, and when cool spread between cake. A Freak of Nature. Penasco is the name of a small Mexi- | can settlement a few miles from Toas. It is one among the oldest settlements of the territory, and probably never before has their been as much excitement in its midst as in the past few days. The streets have been crowded and people for miles and miles in every direction have visited the place. The attraction and immediate cause of the excitement is none other than - a curiosity in the shape of a male child, born: t> Mr. and Mrs. Inocendid Martines. The child is, without doubt, one of the greatest living curiosities. Its’ weight when born was seven and three-quarter pounds. Tt has a perfectly shaped leg growing out of its shoulder blade. The toenails on the foot of this leg are on the under side of | the toes. The child is compelled to lie on its side, and a frame has been made | to support the superfluous member, thereby relieving the little one of con- siderable weight. Another very remarkable feature, or | rather the absence of feature, is that the | child has no ears, nor even any indica- tion of them. Where these organs ought to be the head is perfectly smooth an@ covered with hair. Your correspondent visited Penasco with a view of learning the truth of the reports. Being admitted to the house of Mr. and Mrs. Martines, he found the child’s deformities as reported. Dr. Hartman, thephysician in charge, states that the child is in sound health, and thinks that it may live for many weeks or months. The father and mother are very poor people, and while they cherish their off- spring with paternal affection, they are alarmed lest it be a token of evil. The Mexicans are all moreor less of asuper- stitious turn of mind, and the birth in their midst of a wonderful child is re- garded as a warning of some trouble or great calamity that may befall them. Services are held in the little church three to five times a day, and great ex- citement prevails Should this remark- able child live to be grown, he would be the wonder and attraction of the age. —St. Louis Republic. Apples as Medicine. Expert Ti s'imony As to There Nume - ous Good Qualities. Chemically, the apple is composed of vegetable fibre, albumen, sugar, gum, chlorophyll, male acid, gallic, lime, and much water. Furthermore the German analysts say that the apple contains a larger percentage of phosphorus than any other fruit or vegetable. This phosphorus is admira- bly adapted for renewing the essential nervous matter, lethicin of the brain and spinal cord. It is, perhaps, for the same reason, rudely understood, that old Scandinavian traditions represent the apple as the food of the gods,who, when they felt themselves to be growing fee- ble and infirm, resorted to this fruit for renewing their powers of mind and body. Also, the acids of the apple are of signal use for men of sedentary habits, whose livers are sluggish in action ; these acids serving to eliminate from the body noxious matters which,if retained, would make the brain heavy and dull, or bring about jaundice or skin eruptions and other allied troubles. Some such an ex- perience must have led to our custom of taking apple sauce with roast pork, rich goose, and like dishes. The malic acid of ripe apples, either raw or cooked, will neutralize any ex- cess of chalky matter, engendered hy eating too much meat. Itisalso the fact that such fresh fruits as the apple, the pear, and the plum, when taken ripe and without sugar, diminish acidity in the stomach rather than provoke it. Their vegetable salts and juices are con- verted into alkaline carbonates, which tend to counteract acidity. A good ripe raw apple isone of the easiest of vegetable substances for the stomach to deal with, the whole process of its diges- tion being completed in eighty-five minutes. Gerand found that the ‘‘pulpe of roasted apples mixed ina wine-quart of faire water, and labored together un- til it comes to be as apples and ale— which we call lambswool—never faileth in certain diseases of the raines, which myself bath often proved, and gained thereby both crownes and credit.” “The paring of an apple, cut some- what thick, and the inside whereof is laid to hot, burning,or running eyes at night, when the party goes to bed ; and is tied or bound to the same, doth help the trouble very speedily, and contrary to expectation—an excellent secret.” A poultice made of rotten apples is of very common use in Lincolnshire for the cure of weak or rheumatic eyes. Like- wise, in the Hotel des Invalids, at Paris, an apple poultice is used commonly for inflamed eyes, the ‘apple being roasted and its pulp applied over the eyes without any intervening substance. Long ago it was said apples do easily and speedily pass through the belly ; therefore they do mollify the belly ; and, for the same reason, of modern maxim teaches that—To eat an apple going to bed, The doctor then will beg his bread. — The Hospital. A Girl of Phenomenal Strength. There lives in the village of Alexan- der, Genesee county, New York, a young woman whose name is Emily Harper, who possesses phenomenal strength, her weight being 110 pounds. Her powers were unknown to herself and unconsciously, in performing the household work,she breaks articles right and left. One day her mother chided her, when Emily threw her arms around her and gave hera good hug, justto show that she bore no resentful feeling. Upon relaxing her grasp, Mrs. Harper fell to the floor with a moan of pain. An investigation disclosed that two of | of her ribs were broken, Her father | then chided her. Anxious to justify herself, the girl rushed up to him with the exclamation : “This is all I did.” | She placed her arms about him and | gave him an affectionate squeeze. Mr. | Harper, in speaking of the embrace, said : “I was once hugged by a bear in the Maine woods. I have wrestled back-hand with some pretty strong men, | but I neverin my life received such a shaking up as that girl gave me when she showed me all she did to ma.” Of course, these two hugs made it all plain that Miss Harper had suddenly become possessed of remarkale strength. Black's Cruelty. - Philadelphia Record. It was cruel in Mr. Chauncey For- ward Black to let the meddling Repub- lican journals all fall into the trap set for them by the accomplished liar who sisted that Mr. W. L. Scott had im- portuned him to withdraw from the race for the Democratic nemination for Governor. By an early denial Mr. Black would have saved much expendi- ture of ink and paper and perturbation of brains. But possibly Chauncey doesn’t care ; or, possibly, like Governor Campbell in the Foraker forgery case, he rather enjoys the game when the wicked perish by their own devices. Wallace's Reported Views of the Guber- : natorial Chances. The Tyrone correspondent of the Al- toona Times, of the 18th inst, says: ' Hon. William A. Wallace was in town yesterday for a short time between trains. Some people have an idea that he is anxious to get the Democratic nomination for Governor, but in this they are mistaken. In a conversation w'th us lasting fifteen minutes we were led to believe that Mr. Wallace is, not putting forth a single effort to capture delegates to the State Conven- tion. He says no man need covet the honor, for if successful in getting the nomination hard work stares him in the face, with chances for defeat almost cer- tain. While he don’t want the nomina- tion, if it would be tendered to him with any degree of unanimity he would no doubt accept its responsibilities and put his best energies into the campaign. He left for Philadelphia on Day Express, where he will meet some of the leaders of the party for consultation. The Regular Course. Pittsburg Dispatch. The Cherokee strip furnishes a repro- duction of the Oklahoma experience. First the land is occupied by the cat- tle barons, whose tendency to squat on any territory without legal right is not at all abated by the fact that after they have enjoyed several years of pasturage the Goverment very tardily comes to the conclusion ‘to order them off. Nosooner are they forced to vacate than the boomer makes a rush for the land, invariably before there is any legal right to do so. The fact that the na- tional authority is always exerted to re- move the boomers from the land they attempt to grab, does not at all deter them from repeating the grabbing act on the next opportunity. One might wish for a little variation of the monoto- ny of these proceedings, but they are at least instructive of the lesson that both cattle companies and squatters are equally hungry for any land they can get their claims on, regardless of legal right or the authority of the Govern- ment. An Indian Fights with a Boa. One dayan Indian made an excursion to a mountain near Chevantzierum, state of Michoacan, in Mexico, to look after some fuel for his hut. While cut- ting up a dry oak he suddenly felt a bite on the calf of his leg, given in the fraction of a second. A moment later he felt coiling around his body the terrible folds of a boa constrictor. Instinctively he leaned his head over toward the wounded leg and was almost fascinated by the glare of two bright basilisk eyes, that gleamed like fiery coals in the head of the serpent. Quicker than a flash the Indian ducked his head and caught the neck of the reptile between his jaws, sinking his teeth in the quivering flesh and clinging to it with the desperation of the dying. The huge serpent lashed his tail and tried to twist its head in order to bury its fangs in the Indian, but the latter clung on and began to chew away at the neck of the boa, which is the thin- nest and most delicate part of the snake’s anatomy. After chewing for a long time, the Indian succeeded in behea ding his antagorist, and the Indian was free. —New Mexico News. A Big-Hearted Elephant, The Animal Expires at the Age of 144 Years of Dropsy. ! Philadelphia Press of 13th inst. Tom Doyle, one of the keepers con- nected with the Winter quarters of the Fourpaugh show, discovered the huge carcass of an old Indian elephantlying on the floor of the elephant house yesterday morning, instead of the lively animal which he had left munching hay the night before. Death had laid low the mighty beast during the night. ‘When Doyle left the animal there was no indication of the brute feeling badly, in fact he appeared somewhat livelier than usual. For some weeks back he had been growing unusually large, and was very slow in his move- ments, but before yesterday he seemed in good spirits. The carcass of the proboscidian was presented! by James E. Cooper, the present owner of the Forepaugh show, to the Medico-Chirurgical College through Prof. P. D. Keyser forscientific uses, and at the request of Mr. Cooper a postmortem examination was made by Prof. E. Laplace of the college staff, and was witnessed by a large number of medical students and others. On opening the abdominal cavity, the heart of the brute was found to be of enormous size ; so large in fact that it would not fit in an ordinary sized wash- tub, and its weight as registered by the college scales was fcund to be 102 pounds. There was marked evidence of inflam- mation and pronounced percarditis, with a great amount of effusion (Dropsy of the Heart.) The lungs of the animal were sound and the digestive organs healthy enough, only that there was much crowding together here and there owing to the unusual growth of the heart, that also accounted for the great size attained by the brute lately, and his sudden death. Another peculiar thing about the matter was finding that the elephant was 114 years of age, and would in the natural course of things have lived much longer but for the heart trouble, as elsewhere he was per- fect. His skeleton will be articulated and uis hide prepared by a taxidermist for the College. It would be useless to attempt to preserve the big heart.