Democratic;
3 ~aD
Bellefonte, Pa., January 23, 1891.
THE WAITER GIRL.
8he comes, she comes upon my vearning sight,
Like friendly beacon shining thro’ the night,
What tho thy hands and feet be:large—thy
hea
And countenance alike be fiery red;
My joy at-seeing you is past econtrol—
Thou token of plenty to my famished soul !
She come 40 learn my lightest whim or whish,
And murmurs—
“Souporfish ?”
Daughter of Erin, skittish are thy ways.
Perchanee my meal you’ll bring seme of these
days.
‘0, why procrastinate ? Why, why so slow?
Art waiting for the ham-and-eggs to grow ?
At length she comes again upon the scene
And beams upon me with a smile serene ;
Like campagne bottle popping out its cork
She shoots out—
“Beeforpork ?”
O, fair one, tho’ no drinking man am I—
I fain some mild, light beverage would try.
Not only hungry am I, but athirst ;
And:I eeu d drink until my hide would burst.
0, for ice-water, milk or lemonade.
Some cool drink bring me, oh, thou lovely
maid !
At last she sees my signal and far off
Shouts at me—
“Teaorcoff 7
‘Come, come, thou shy, coy maid, hear my
appeal — .
Have I come to the end of this, my meal ?
‘Is this small ration all { am to draw ?
Must famine’s tooth forever atme gnaw ?
You think I’ve had enough—not so—not so!
Ah, little of a boarder’s wants you know !
If you'd but listen—if you only would!
She answers—
“Pieorpud 2”
—Boston Beacon.
A EE HE RR
A MEMORABLE RUN.
BY WILLIAM M. GRAYDON.
“Gentlemen, I sent for you to-night
for a special purpose. ‘We have in the
office a chest of money consigned to
“Grunnigsen. It 1s to pay off men at sev-
eral of the miaes, I believe, and instead
of sending it with the regular express
messenger I propose to put it on board
the freight which leaves here at mid-
night. I have special reasons for do-
ing this—in fact I am afraid to trust it
on the regular train—and I wish you
would take charge of the money, You
will say nothing about the matter, of
course, but quietly report for duty at
-eleven o'clock to-night.”
In these words the superintendent of
the express company at Mentrose, Col-
-orado, assigned to Fred Harlan and
myself a run that wag destined to be
-one of the most memorable events of
our lives.
We did not think so at the time. In-
-deed there was nothing very remark-
:able about the circumstance, for there
was always a risk in sending large
-sums of money over that road, and it
‘was very natural for the superintendent
‘to attempt a little ruse of this kind to
thwart any possible scheme of robbery
that might be under way.
The midaight freight was made up
at Montrose, and when Fred and I
reached the vards the money chest was
already stowed away in an empty car
which for obvious reasons was securely
fastened up and marked “perishable.”
iI shudder now to think how near
‘that car and all its contents came to
perishing, too.
At the last moment Fred discovered
that his dog .Psuto had followed him
unperceived. It wonld be dangerous
to abandon the animal there with all
the shifting that was going oa, and as
there was no time to take him back,
Fred hastily thrust him into the car,
and slipping in after him we closed ‘the
door and fastened it on the inside,
None of the employes had seen usen-
ter, and TI don’t suppose any of them
knew what valuable freight that car
held—with the exception of the en-
gineer and conductor.
In a few moments the train started.
Fred rigged up a couch against the end
ofthe car with a plank that was lying
on the floer, and I sat on the chest be-
side him. L'hen we lit our pipes and
smoked and chatted for an hour or
more, while the train rushed on and on
through the night, whistling shrilly at
intervals.
Fred had dropped off into a sort of
a doze and I was just wondering
whether it was my dutyto wake him
or not, when Pento lifted his head and
uttered a short, peculiar bark.
A moment later the cars began to
rattle and bump violentty and soon the
rain came to an abrupt halt. We
were both on our feet imstantly. I
seized my rifle which was standing
close by. There was no reason that
we could think of for the stoppage of
the train, but before we could make up
our minds what to do it had started
again.
It went only a few vards, however,
and then moved slowly back toward
Montrose going fast-r and faster each
moment,
“My gracious?” cried Fred suddenly
“our car is detached.”
My companion was right. Tke car
with the money had been near the
center of the train when we started —
now it was speeling away by itself—
where we had not the slighest idea.
Our sense of hearing, sharpened by
long service at railroading, told us all
this.
Oar first impulse was to make cer-
tain that the fastenings of the door
were secure, and by that time our
speed bad perceptibly diminished. A |
moment later we came to a full stop. |
“We've been ran off on a siding,”
exclaimed Fred in an excited whisper,
but before T could reply Ponto barked
gruffly and we heard voices just out-
side the car. Then a heavy blow was
dealt against one of the doors—with
an axe probably.
All doubt was gone now. We were
in the hands of some desperate band of
robbers, and the chance of saving eith-
erour lives or the money was very
slim.
it though, and carefully inspected our
weapons. Mine was the only ritle, but
Fred had a revolver that he knew how
to use.
Half a dozen more blows followed in
quick succession, and then Fred placed
his mouth to a crack ip the door and
shouted ;
away, and we were both soon able to |
We resolved to make a fight for ; switch that operated a two-mile siding |
TR EER CaP
“The first one that breaks into this
car is a dead man.”
The blows ceased for a moment or
two. The desperadoes were evidently
surprised to learn that any person was
in the car. Then a gruff voice called
loudly :
“Open that door, young feller, and
you shan’t be harmed.”
We made no reply to this modest re-
quest, and after a few low muttered
imprecations, the blows were repeated
faster and harder than ever.
“We must hold out, Ned,” said Fred
sturdily. “The trainmen will come to
our assistance before long.” The rob-
bers expected to get the car open in a
hurry and make off with the chest.
Any delay will be fatal to their
plans.
Fred was plainly right on this point,
for an attack was begun almost imme-
diately on the opposite door, and the
blows were so loud and numerous that
we could not hear ourselves speak.
Ponto meanwhile kept up an inces-
sant and furious barking. At last one
of the heavy oaken beams went to
splinters, ana through the crevice we
caught a glimpse of torches burning
outside. Another blow made a hole as
large as a dinner plate, and quick as
a flash Fred blazed away with his re-
volver, four times in succession.
The discharge was greeted with
hoarse yells of rage, and more than
one cry of pain, tor the robbers had
been grouped thickly around the door.
“Down, Ned, quick,” shouted Fred,
and as we both drepped into a corner
of the car, a perfect fusillade of rifle
and revolver shots were fired.
The bullets spattered thickly over
our heads, but neither of us sustained
the slightest injury-
Then we crept past the broken door
to the farther end of the car. The light
outside showed of course where the
hole had been broker in, and we train-
ed our weapons on the spot, ready for
the first man that would make his ap-
pearance.
Meanwhile the other door was being
slowly battered in, and soon a gaping
hole was chopped through. We in-
stantly fired at the spot, and not with-
out effect, to judge from the fierce yells
that responed.
The situation was becoming more
critical, for two or three rifle barrels
were thrust in from both sides of the
car and the bullets whistled uncom-
fortably close to our heads. The ras-
cals dared not expose themselves suffi-
ciently to take aim and our return fire
did them ng damage.
Then a long arm reached in and at-
tempted to snatch the bar which offer-
ed the main obstacle to the breaking
down of the door, Before either Fred
or I could fire. Ponto sprang forward
and seized the ruffian’s hand in his
sharp white teeth.
We heard a quick report, a yelp of
pain, and then poor Ponto dropped
back on the floor to all appearances
lifeless.
Enraged at the death of the dog,
Fred emptied his revolver at the hole,
to what purpose we could not tell.
After that hostilities ceased for a lit-
tle while, though the axes still tore
away at the door and the gaping holes
grew larger and larger.
“I smell smoke,” said Fred sudden-
y, “Doyon?”
“Yes,” I replied, “I detect it plain-
ly,” and as we looked at each other in
sudden alarm, we heard a sharp, crack-
ling under foot, and red flashes of
light were visible through the flooring.
The miscreants had set fire to the
end of the car, with the intention of
driving us forward within range of
their murderous weapons.
We lost hope then and there. We
could take our choice—death by fire or
by bullet, There was no other alter-
native.
The flames enveloped the end of the
car with amazing rapidity, until red
tongues were licking the inside timbers
and the boards were hot to the touch.
Our skin seemed to be blistering, and
the smoke poured round us in suffocat-
ing whirls, but we still held our ground
knowing that to advance meant certain
and speedy death.
Outside the axes were still going
rapidly, and through the smoke we
saw one of the doors tumble with a
crash into the car. A moment later
the second one dropped.
The robbers could almost place their
hands upon the chest now, but still they
hesitated to enter.
Then a burst of flame came hissing
from the bettom of the car, and with a
loud cry Fred fell over.
Hardly concious of what I was doing
I grasped him by the shoulders and
dragged him _ foot by foot toward the
open door, yet expecting every moment
to be riddled with bullets.
I heard a wild yell froin outside and
then a rattling fusillade of rifle shots.
[ though I was shot and wondered
vaguely why I did not fall, and the
next thing I saw was a familiar face
surmounted by a blue railroad cap
peering into the open doors.
“The money is safe,” said the man to
some one benind him, “but I don’t see
either of the poor fellows: I'm afraid
they've done for.”
I'tried to cry out butthe sound
choked in my throat, and then I must
have fainted dead away.
# * xm op *
re
I came back to life in the caboose of
the freight train. Fred was a few feet
listen to the strange story of the stolen
ear.
The train had been stopped at both
ends by a gang of masked desperadoes,
three of whom took possession of the
engine and gave orders to snit them-
selves.
The train was broken in two, and
the forward part, with our car attach-
ed, was run a few yards beyond the
Was
This command he obeyed to the let-
ter until he reached a small wayside
station were plenty of volunteers were
found to come back to the rescne—and
their arrival was well timed indeed.
Two of the robbers were dead, and
from one who was wounded the infor-
mation was received that led to the
capture of many of the gang,
How they ever discovered that the
money was in the freight car was never
ascertained, though it was probably
through the trechery of some rail-
road employes, for the robbers did not
hesitate in picking out the car that
contained the booty.
Fred and I wereall right ina day or
two, and a week later we received a
substantial recognition of our bravery,
as the superintendent was pleased to
call it, that went far to make amends
for our terrible experience.
Ponto, I almost forgot tosay, was
rescued from the burning car. The bul-
let had glanced from his skull, only
stunning him, and he was as lively as
ever the next day.—7he Argosy.
Ratlroad Ties.
The wooden ties now in use upon the
tracks of the United States number 515,-
832,918. The average life of a wooden
tie in this country is six and a half years.
Every year, therefore, calls for 80,000,-
000 new ties. The interest in this sub-
ject is well shown by the fact that 491
patents have been issued in this country
to inventors of substitutes for wooden
ties. One ingenious individual has pro-
tected an idea for glass ties. An Eng-
lishman has taken out letters in his own
country, the United States, France,
Belgium and Spain for a tubular tie
made of concrete or some other composi-
tion to be cast around a core of wire
netting.
One proposition is manufacture rails,
ties and other articles of trackags
from a composition of paper pulp, sili-
cate of sada and barytes. The propor-
tions are 500 parts pulp, 25 parts soda
and 10 parts barvtes, Two inventors
working jointly have evolved the sug-
gestion of terra cotta or earthenware
pyramids to support the rails. The
pyramids are to be connected by iron
metal ties. An earlier device is a con-
crete tie with wooden blocks inserted
for the rails to be spiked upon.
The idea of a metal skeleton or frame-
work tie, covered with concrete or arti-
ficial stone, comes from France to be
patented. Concrete blocks, with cork
plates for the plates to rest upon, are
suggested. concrete chairs and blocks
and composition of fibre soaked with as-
phaltum and shaped by pressure were
among the earlier designs. But of the
491 patent substitutes for wood, all bug
eleven are metal. —Atlanta Conslitu-
tion.
The Quails All Leaving.
A remarkable migration of quails
has been going on at Louisville, Ky.
Vass quantites of the birds ars cross-
ing the river, bound north. The migra-
tion was first observed last Monday,
and has been noticed on the evening of
every day since, The shores between
Jeffersonville, New Albany, and Port
Fulton, on the Indiana side, are lined
wich them. Those not strong enough
to fly across the Ohio, here nearly a
mile broad, fall into the stream and
are drowned. Captain J. T. Daffy,
who lives on the Utica pike, five miles
below, beyond Jeffersonville, said that
he passed through several coveys on
the road. The birds wereso weak that
they scarcely got out of the way of the
horses, and hardly noticed him when
he struck at.them with his whip.
Only One Thing Lacking.
Friend—Gogson, how is your airship
getting along ?
Irventor--It is complete, with the
exception of one little detail I have not
yet perfected. I shall take that up
next.
“What is it ?”’
“A mere trifle that I can think out at
any time. The pridcipal feature of my
invention is a safety net that will travel
along under the airship to prevent fatal
accidents. It will make navigating the
air absolutely free fiom danger. In the
making of that net I have revolutionized
the entire business.”
“But how is the net itself to be kept
from falling to the ground when any-
thing happens to your airship ?”’
“That's the little detail I haven't
worked out yet.”
EE ——————
Sixty Stories at Once.
Here is a good story of Justin Me-
Carthy. Tt refers to the day when The
Galaxy was alive. Sheldon & Co. were
the publishers of the magazine. Me-
Carthy had submitted a story. One day
he said to Mr. Sheldon :
“I have come to see if you will take
that story T offered to the Galaxy.”
“Yes,” cordially responded Mr. Shel-
don, “and sixty more like it.”’
Time passed, and one day McCarthy
walked into the Galaxy office with an
imposing pile of manuscript under his
arm.
“What is that?’ asked Mr. Sheldon.
MeCarthy laid the bundle of manu-—
script upon the publisher’s desk and re-
plied, ‘Here are the, sixty stories you
ordered on the occasion of my last visit.’
He got a check covering the whole
sixty.
Twine Horper.—With pale-blue
koitting-silk crochet a bag large enongh
to hold easily a ball ‘of pink druggist’s
twine. Work the bag in treble crochet
and draw in at top with a pink satin
ribbon, using a loop of the same with
which to suspend it. Tie to one of the
ribbon loops a small pair of scissors
for use in cutting the twine when
wanted. : x
ER TR ————
Slice eight bananas very thin,
place them in layers with powdered
which ran back into a lonely spot | sugar between, cover and place on ice
among the mountains,
Then the train was backed
sufficient speed to send our car—whirh
| several hours before using, beats the
with | whites of two or three ezes to a stiff
| froth with two tablespoonfuls of sugar,
had meanwhile been uncoupled—far | flavor with one quarter of a teaspoon:
out on the siding. The train was then ful of vaniila and place on top just be- | looking guest as
fore serving ; a delicious desert with a
j
joined together and the engineer order-
. delicate cake.
ed to go ahead at full speed.
Fighting an Octopus.
Boys Kill a Monster With Seven-foot
Tentacles.
Three youn men, aged about 18 years,
had an exciting encounter with an oc-
topus, or devil fish, under the old wharf
belonging to the Myers Canning Com-
pany at West Seattle, recently. It re-
sulted in the frightful creature being
killed after a fearful struggle. The
sight was witnessed by quite a number
of spectators.
The boys were fishing for tomecod
from the front of the wharf when they
noticed a considerable commotion in the
water under the wharf. One of them,
Dick Smith, took a long pole aad
climbed under the wharf to find out, if
possible, the cause of the disturbance.
He he had not gone far when in. the
semi-gloom he discovered a strange
shape, and saw a pair of eyes glaring at
him. In his fright he poked at the ani-
mal with the pole, but to his horror and
amazement it was wrenched from his
hand as easily as though it had been a
straw.
Young Smith gave a frightful yell
and climbed to the top of the wharf to
give the alarm. Several boys, arming
themselves with poles and spades,
climbed down under the wharf to in-
vestigate this marine monster, and if
possible capture it.
After the eyes of the boys had be-
come accustomed to the gloom, they be-
held, to their wonder and surprise, that
the creature with which they had to
deal was a huge devil fish, lashing the
water into a foam with it merciless arms
which were spread out for a distance of
about seven feet in every direction.
The boys attacked the creature with
poles and spades. One boy made a
strike at the animal, cutting it slightly
with a spade. The infuriated creature
seized the spade in its grasp and threw
it far out among the piles.
The fight continued for some time,
the animal seizing everything that was
thrust at him- Several times one of the
boys narrowly missed being caught and
drawn beneath the surface by the mon-
ster of the deep.
At length, by a united pull at several
poles which the octopus had seized in
his blind rage, he was drawn from the
water, but even then he kept up the
fight with unabated fury, striking vie-
iously at everything within reach.
One after another the tentacles were
severed from the frightfully misshapen
body. Even after the last arm had
been revered the animal did not give up
the fight, however, and when any one
approached it, glared at them, and
caused its pody to quiver in a manner
that induced a thrill of fear to run over
the beholder, even with a knowledge
that it was harmless.
The devil fish was finally dispatched
with a epade. The arms were carried
away by the several boys who had sev-
ered them as trophies of the fight, but
the body remained on the ground, and
was view by many people during the
remainder of the afternoon.—Seart!e
Press.
The Misses Kelly, of West Fifty-
second Street, own and manage a pros-
perous black-smith and horseshoeing
shop. On the death of their father, who
owned it, the eldest daughter took
charge of affairs, engaged the best work-
men, and gradually established a reputa-
tion for good work,reasonable prices and
prompt accounts, which gives her such
patronage as that of Robert Bonner,
the Rockefellers, and other owners of
valuable horses, She is her own book-
keeper and manager, and although a
busy and successful business woman,
finds time for books and music.
Poor HANkNsoN.— Her Father——
You say young Hankinson wants to
marry you ?
“He does, pa.”
“Does he know I haven’t a cent to
give you ?”’
“Yes. He says he wants me for my-
self alone.”
$H'm !
"Mandy ?”
“Oh, yes 1 Years and years.”
“Then he’s a bigger fool than I want
in my family.” .
Has he known you long,
Waar SHE Was AsHAMED OF. —A
little girl who lives on Columbis heights
has a very stubborn will. She was re-
cently punished with some severity, and
‘when the chastisement was over her
mother said :
“Now, aren't you ashamed ?’
*Yes'm.”
“What are you ashamed of ?”
“Of you,” was the prompt and im-
pertinent reply.
Cause AND E¥FEcT.—Husband—My
stars | What has happened ? Here's a
thousand dollars’ worth of bric-a-brac
smashed all in pices.
Wife (helplessly)—I—don’t—know.
I’ve been taking a nap. Has there been
an earthquake this afternoon ?
Husband —No.
Wife—Then Bridget has been dust-
ing.
CateuT.—“Dr. Smith, who has just
left our city, told me that I was really
seriously ill.”
New Doctor-—Oh, my dear sir, you
must not place any reliance on any-
thing that man says. I assure you
he is not to be trusted.
“But it was he who recommened you
to me.”
re ——————
Upon one occasion a falcon was
observed to cuta snipe right in two,
with such strength and speed did it cut
down its prey. Sparrowhawks and mer-
lins have not infrequently been known
to crash through thick plate glass win-
dows when in pursuit of prey or at caged
birds,
Probably the oldest house 1n the
United States a decaying stone dwelling
that stands in Guiliford, Conn. It was
built in 1640 and is still occupied. In
Colonial times it did duty occasionally
as a fort and was a place of refuge for
settlers when King Philip was on the
war-path.
mre en
His REAL PosITioN.—-“Are you the
waiter ?7 asked an impatient, hungry
an evidently broken
spirited man passed him.
“Oh, no; I'm the proprietor.”
They Arbitrated.
Two men were standing on a corner
on Sixth Avenue, holding an animated
conversation.
“I say that man Webb is a sneak,”
said one of them excitedly.
“He’s no sneak,” replied the other.
‘But the strike is all over, so what’s the
use of talking about it. The strikers
never had a ghost of a show anyhow.”
That's all youknow about 1t,’”’ sneer-
ed the first speaker.
“Of course it’s over.
are whipped.”
“The Knights had just begun” ——
“Just begun to play out for good.”
No, sir I”
“Yes, sir 1!
“Do you mean to say that I'm not a
man of my word ? If that’s what you're
driving at come out and call me a
liar.”
“I guess you have sized yourself up
about right.”
Then they clinched. After the battle
had raged for some time with varying
results, the striker got his adversary
down, and was preparing to take ad-
vantage of the situation, when a Knigat
of Labor, who had beep standing near,
said :
“Hold on! Don’t punch him yet.
Just let meask him a few questions.
How about these iabor troubles? Do
you think the strike is really over?”
“I'am beginning to have my doubts
about it,” said the under man. “I am
thinking that there 1s no doubt but
what the Knights had considerable
power, after all.”
“0, you are, eh ? What do you think
of Vice President Webb 27’
“0, I haven’t as good an opinion of
him now as I had. Perhaps he should
have treated the strikers more politely.”
“You said a while ago that I wasly-
ing. Am I?’ putin the striker on top,
drawing back his arm threateningly.
“No, indeed you ain’t. I'm attend-
ing to the lying just now, but if you
will just let me up, I think I know
where there is a saloon keeper who would
act as arbitrator in this little affair with-
out detriment to the honor of either
party.”
“Now you are talking sensible,” said
the striker, letting him up and brushing
the dirt from his coat. “If you had
made a proposition like that before, this
little strike would never have occurred,”
and they procceded to the nearest saloon
where the bitter memories of the past
was washed down with foaming bum-
pers of beer.— Texas Siftings.
———————
The Dream of Two Old Tars.
The Knights
Oat in California two old sailors, God-
frey Sykes and Charles McLean, are
making preparation to circumnavigate
the globe in a twenty-two-foot boat.
Their course will be down the Gulf of
California, along the Mexican and South
American coast, round Cape of Good
Hope to Cape St. Roque, across the
Atlantic to Sierrra Leone, thence east
along the Hurop2an coast to Great
Britian, They will return through the
Mediteranean, Suez Canal, Indian
Ocean and China Sea, and by the Rus-
sian coast to Alaska and thence home.
They have built their own beat of
Mackinaw type, with steel ribs, water-
tight lockers, three sails and a center-
board. Three months provisions will be
taken along and the sailors expect to
be gone nearly three years. McLean is a
Scotchman and has been a whaler seven
years. The trip is an old day dream and
he bas been saving money to carry out
his purpose. Strangely enough, he met
Sykes, who is a well educated English-
man who ran away to sea, whose “fad”
had also been a journey around the
globe and who has made a thorough
study of navigation to that end. The
two men with the same craze met on an
Arizona cattle ranch around a camp
fire and made mutual confessions. They
pooled their capital, built the boat, and
are partners for life.—New Orleans
Picayuue.
A Goop (ow Srorv.—An
Americus (Ga.) correspondent of
the Globe Democrat, tells this cow story :
I saw my Durham cow Juno do a thing
the other day that had I been simply
told of it I should have set down as a
tremendous falsehood. Juno 1s the gen-
tlest of creatures, and my children often
take advantage of her good nature to
tease her, thrugh, of course, I have for-
bidden them to touch her. On the oc-
casion I speak of my little Minnie,aged
5,bad followed me into the milking
pen, and, while I was busy with the
other cows, began to plague Juno, un-
seen by me. All atonce I was startled
by hearing the child scream out in af-
fright, and turning about saw Minnie
caught up on the cow’s horns. My first
idea was naturally that the gentle crea-
ture had rebelled at last, and was about
to toss her tormentor, so I started in a
ran for the pair, but before I could
veach them Juno had carefully borne
the child to the barred gate, which I
had closed on entering the pen to keep
the other cows in, and deposited her,
screaming at the top of her voice, but
unhurt, on the other side, and then
quietly returned to her feeding.
Man Should Live Much Longer,
It appears that the horse lives on the
average twenty-five years, the ox fifteen
or twenty years, the lion about tweanty,
the dog ten or twelve, the rabbit eight,
the guniea-pig six or seven years. These
numbers all bear a similar proportion to
the time the animal takes to grow its
full size. But man, of all the animals, is
the one that seldom comes up to his
average. He ought, according to his
physiological law, to live one rundred
years, for five times twenty are one
hundred ; but instead of tbat he scarcely
reaches, on tie average, four times his
growing period. “The reason is obvi-
ous,” adds the English Mechanic. “Man
is not only the most irregular and the
most intemperate, but the most labori-
cus and hard worked of all the ani-
mals.”
———————————
WitH A SUSCEPTIBLE ARTIST.—— |
Mr. Winthrop—Tell me, Jack, does it
take long to paint the portrait of a |
lady ?
Jack—Well, if she’s pretty it takes a
long, long time.
or me—
EpipeMic.—¢“Please give me a penny,
sis. Me farther’s sick.”
“What's he sick of, little boy ?”
“Work, sir,” replied the truthful beg-
gar.
— =
He Puzzled The World.
| The Story of a Once Celebrated Ad-
vertiser’s Inscription.
Perhaps the most remarkable adver-
tiser ever known in this country was
Drake, owner of Drake’s Plantation Bit-
ters,a preparation now almost unknown.
It was during the early days of the war,
when the tax on whiskey was about $2
a gallon, that preparations of bitters be-
came popular, which answered the pur-
pose of whiskey and was taxed only as
medicine, Drake began the manufacture
of his bitters. He made a little money
and concladed to put it into advertis-
ing.
Then he inaugurated the epidemic of
the clebrated incription ¢S. T. 1860—
X.,” which appeared in every newspa-
periu the land, then on every fence,
barn, billboard or rock upon which it
could be painted or pasted. Every place
on the continent it could be fond, on
beetling precipice and seemingly inac-
cessible mountain cliff. Thousands of dol-
lars were spent in the defraying of the
expenses of adventurous advertising
fakes. Men worked for days to get a sin-
gle sign in position. Painters were hung:
by ropes over yawning chasms while
they painted “S. T. 1860—X.”
One day all the exposed rocks in the
Niagara rapids bore the strange sign.
On the line of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road trees were cut ina forest on a
mountain side so that from the car
windows letters, 400 feet high, could be
seen. Then Drake sent his men abroad
and got themselves disliked by painting
the mystic inscription on the relies of
bygone ages.
The pyramids of Egypt were searched,
and one party actually penetrated the
fortress ot Mount Ararat, in Asia, and
painted “S. T. 1860--X.” on the spot
where the ark is said to have landed.
The enterprising advertiser had the
trade-mark painted on wagons, railroad
car, ships and steamers. One of his ad-
jocular announcement was made that
the letters were to be painted on the
North Pole, which would be discover-
ed for the purpose, the equator having
already been decorated.
It was not until after Drake retired
from business, as rich as Croesus, that
he gave an explanation of his trade-
mark. .
“S. T. 1860—X.” meant: “Started
Trade in 1860 with $10.”’—New York
Journal.
How Crocodiles Trap Birds.
I have watched upon many oceasions
the stealthy advance of a crocodile to
capture sma'l birds, when ia flights of
many thousands they have settled upon
yielding branches of dwarf willows,
writes Sir Samuel Baker in “Wild
Beasts and Their Ways.” The elastic
boughs bent down beneath the weight
of the innumerable flack, and the croco-
dile’s head appeared above the surface
at a distance, sank below, and quickly
reappeared (the eyes and crown alone
the unsuspecting birds, all of whom
were busily engaged in twittering ex-
citement, quarreling for places and oc-
casionally dipping their beaks in the
water when the bending twigs permitt-
ed them to drink. In a few moments
after the disappearance of the wary
eyes a tremendous splash was accom-
panied by a pair of open jaws, which
swept the occupants of the lower
branches into the greedy throat.
Correr Custarp.—Makes an agree-
able dessert. Put in a saucepan eight
egg yolks, with eight ounces of sugar ;
mix well, and dilute with six custard
cups full of boiling milk and a good
cupful of concentrated black coftee ;
pass through a fine strainer; fill the
cups and put them in a vessel of boil-
ing water to half their height; take off
the froth that may have risen to the
surface. cover the vessel and let sim-
mer gently for twenty minutes; see if
the custard is well se; let cool in the
water, drain, wipe the cups and serve
cold.
—-Cairo, Ill.,boys are doing a whole-
sale business in sparrows. The birds
make a roost in an old chimney in an
abandoned house. The boys have se-
cured a net, and after the birds go to
roost at night they spread the net over
the chimney's top. Every morning
they have from 50 to 200 sparrows,
for which they get 1} cents per head
bounty.
—-The municipal government of Lon-
dou, which has a population of 4,500,
000, costs the taxpa.,ers $25,000,000.
The population of New York City is
1,500,000 and its muncipal govern-
ment costs the taxpayers $37,000,000.
——A lamp mat or mat for a gas
drop may be made of wallflower brown
plush. A band of wide tinsel braid is
placed diagonally across each corner.
The embroidery is worked with pale
blue stitches, The plush should be
placed over a square of cardboard,
which is lined with thin silk or glazed
lining. The edge should be finished
with narrow fringe.
A MATTER oF COMMON DECENCY.——
“There, my good man, there’s a plateful
of victuals, but I should think a great,
big, strong fellow like you wonld be
ashamed to beg !"
“So Iam asamed, but what am [ to
do? I must either beg or work !"’— Life.
A very useful and pretty night-
dress case may be made of pale blue lib-
erty silk buttoned at the back and tied
like the mouth of asack at both ends
The apoarent openings at each end are
edged with white lace. The silk comb
and brush bag matches the night dress
cases,
Hay axp Eces.—Soak ham over
night in milk. In the morning fry un-
til brown, then remove to a platter.
| Fry eggs by dipping gravy over them
until done, instead of turning, then take
i up carefully and lay upon the slices of
ham,
—-Make starch with soapy water
and you will {ind it a pleasure to do up
your starched goods. It prevent the
iron from sticking and makes a glossy
surface.
vertisers went around the world, and a"
above the water) within ten yards of"
a