It Mtrht Hue BM.
Ah, res, the*® word*. "It might hsrs been,"
Are the saddest of ell—if the fruit of ein.
If the pride of life, or worldly night.
Here turned on aside from the peth of right.
Aid onr steps we leern, in after year*
We c tricot retrace, though we seek wi h tear* ,
Ah, Tr* thoee won!*. "It might here been."
Mey be the aardcst of ell word* then ,
Bat, * the en gel duty hee led.
We heve heed eloue, or here loved end tel.
Though etorn end cloade mey come t >-dey.
And rough end etormy be the wey.
If whiepering in the derkeet hour
Oome with the etorm from BOOM eweet bower,
A tempter * voice now eeeme to eey
' Tou might here reeted here to-day.**
Bheli we regret the wey we're oome t
The etorm thet bring* ne nearer home
That home where en endleee crown is cure.
Where the King eheil lea.l to fedeleee lower*.
Shall any thought of " Whet might here been "
Here power to sadden a moment then ?
tt'eWr H. ,/oAwson.
Hone Before.
OaVr a little bnd. that faded ere it bloomed ;
A little muibeam, quenched in cloud* too
BOOH ;
A bird, whoee morning chirrup cheered Ui
heart.
A summer day, darkened before the noon I
Only a little grave '■ Ah, atnall indeed.
But planted with a precious earthly eej -
I nee,!* must look beyond this lowly field
To where the harvest will requite my need
Ob ! lone and sore the aching mother heart I
Surely, avert infant tore, thou longest *Utl
To rest thee on my breast when v uing f*lW.
To turn for guidance to my foeter.ng will.
Ah, mo! with thee there i* no nee lof rest;
No evening round* the hour* of thy day ,
Thou needeet uo guidance from my will ka
hsst.
No earthly longing can thy spirit sway.
(Had summer day. 1 blea* thy endlee* light'
Oh, bird, whoee chirrup swell* to heavenly
•ong!
Warm sunbeam, ask to shin* on grief* dark
night
To bloom, thou flower, my lonely path along
So dreary are the fairest days below.
That they who early die are highest bice;;
No false lore stale the hearts that qaiekiy
Fom tu by hood to full ssrect life professed.
And yet. I fain must make the heart's wild
moan ;
How can I live how bear my grief -o sore ?
Where we were two; how learn to treed
alone?
How see the light and see thy face no more
Not with thee, but long after may I come !
I am so lonely that I fain would die !
Tart, Utile sweet, wuh thy tones call me
home .
Ftiir, guiding spirit, lead me safe on high.
JANE'S LONG DAY.
Above the plain fronting the glen
Long the tranquil autumn moon. The
sir was tilled with a silver base that
tl sited like a curtain at the remoter litu
its of the plain. The pines and beeches
of the £len stood mute, their voices
hashed in heavy moisture. Far down
the plain a jagged blur o. light she weal
where the city slept, and from either
edge of this jagged blur of light the
river stretched like a silver belt with the
city for a golden clasp.
in the glen no sound stirred the si
lence, save when a dewdrop fell from a
spray or bough and ahnddered through
the sleeping leaves to the ground. The
shadows of the trees tilled the place with
utn xplorable darkness. Half way down
the glen a black parapet, reaching from
side to side, cut the fleecy air.
A furlong further up than the bridge,
and high above the shadow it cast, stout!
a large white c >ttage fronting the moon
From the lower levels of the glen it
loeked like a cloud which had wan dens 1
from the skj and floated down the glen
until it rested on the ledge.
The silence of the place at length was
broken, and footsteps approached by tin
path along the dry bed of the torrent
nan the shadow of the parapet two flg
nr.'s emerged slowly. As they drew
near the cottage they lupked black
ag linst the light; but where the arm ot
tho woman bent level with the moon
through the arm of the man, the sleevt
showed a sparkle of white fringe to tin
moon. The bead of the man inclined so
as almost to meet her*. Now and thei
be raised her hand aud touched it with
his lipa.
They advanced until they were clow
to the garden wall of the cottage. It
the pulseless stillness of the hour thei:
voices floated wide and seemed t>
riot he the glen with mystic life. Th
listening spirits of the verdurous arcade?
echoed th* tr words in fine, faint tone*.
"The tone won't l>e long coming
ronnd, daring." He pat his arm about
her and brushed the hair back from her
face.
"Xo, Luke."
" And. Jane, when the day does come
you won't be soiry, will yon I"
He preened her closer and drew hei
he id down upon his shoulder.
" You won't be Forry, J.me," he re
peated, " when the dy comes and 1
rain- the veil and kiss my wife I" ,
She did not speak, but a long tremn
lons sigh floated into thu night He
continued to
" And when you are my wife I will
not only do ail I can to mak- you happy
while I am with yon, but work bar i ti>
assure your future when I am gone ; for.
Jane. I am ten years older than yon.
and men are shorter lived than women,
and I shall die long before my dar
ling"—
" Hush ! Stop, Luke ! What do yon
meau ? Why do yon talk of dying ?"
" There! I will not again."
" But, Luke—my Lnke, you an
stro g. Why do yon put such Lvonght
into my head f It ha< always seemeo
to me as if you could never die." She
clung to him and held him wildly, look
ing with distracted eyes into his face, as
if she feared evU approaching from be
hind those mute, watchful treca.
"Don't be uneasy, Jsne. Never fear
I shall live as long as ever I can for you.
Why, it seems to me as though I shall
live forever if lam to have you. I was
a fool to talk as I did. The moonlight
made me melancholy; it always does.
Sweetheart, do yon not feel my arms
round you f What harm could come
while we are thus? and as for the
future "
" But you will go away now."
"And in one short month you will
come awav with me."
" Oh, £,nke!"
" What ? '
" I dare not say it, and yet I cannot
keep it to myself."
" Tell me. Trnft me."
" A month seems so long. I know it
can't be sooner—but a month. You
will come to-morrow evening, won't
yon ?"
'' Yea; and every evening."
" I must go now. Yon will be here
to-morrow evening, surely f"
"Surely."
" Good-night."
" Good-night."
"T>-morrow evening."
" To-morrow evening."
With n cry that was half a moaD, she
ran swiftly to the cottage, and he strode
fiercely down, breasting the moonlight
and baring his shallow into a thousand
fautistic shapes among the tangled
weeds and shrubs.
When ah> reached her room ahe knew
she coald not sleep. She drew back the
curtain of her window and let in the
moonlight. The moon was setting. It
wanfed about an hour of midnight. The
gle l was silent, and, save when the
clocks of the city struck, no sound
reached her. She could not dismiss hiH
wools. They made a tumnlt in her
brain. Do what she might, they came
trooping in upon her ears, like unbidden
gmv-tH. Over and over again sha tried
to la nidi them. Slje sought to stimulate
her imiginalion pleasantly about the
future. She f trove to think of her new
home and of the love between her and
Lnke daily deepening into a calm, un
broken, full-toned peace. All ia vain.
Tnrn where she would, the vista ended
at a tomb. At length, in 'despair, she
clo-ted the curtains on the setting moon,
and, with a plea for delivery from her
fears, went to bed.
At two o'clock the moon set. A light
wind rwae and blew the vapors from the
FHKD. KFRTZ, Kditor and Proprietor.
VOLUME IX.
plain end fauuod tlio stars into trern
Ming Renin. Soft mnsic wandered
through tin* trees.
Still she oonld not sleep. AM she ley \
the etriking of the distent chvks oentn
to her on the wind. Tliree o'clock drew
neer. The murmuring of the leave* end
fettgne Iregan to dull her heertug. She
wen growing drowsy et last.
" i shall l>e asleep M<fore tliroe," tdte
turn*.!, dreamily, "etui when I eweko it
will be dev. end ho will oome in the
evening."
At half pest three she awoke with a
violent start. She had hed e fearful
dream which she wan unable to recelL
Hut there had been greet noises in it, |
greet noises of bells end shoutings of
demur.
She set up. The casement wes now
quite derk. She brushed beck her heir
end listened. All the docks of the city
were sinking together. What a noise
they made in the silent night! And,
how long they continued striking ! She
had been listening several minutes end
they were ell striking still!
tihe pressed her hand over her face,
end rose end went to the window end
looked down et the city in the plain.
The air was cool and clear. The
sounds came fuller and deeper. No
clocks now, but bells. The bells of the
citv ringing en alarm, end in the core
of the city a red patch like the hectic
spot on a dull check.
Something in the sound of the bells
end sight of the Are stimulated her
strangely. She drew back, dressed her
self ha-tily, and stepped with great cau
tion out of the house, and stood awhile
et the low garden wall watching the
throbbing spot in the plain. She turned
her eyes inquiringly from right to left-
No foot of men or beast passed over the
grass. Drawing her shawl tightly
around her she Josoei .ded to the path
and moved rapidly in the direction of
the bridge. When she gained it she
leaned over the parapet.
The clamor of the bells could now be
more distinctly heard, and she could
sec that a great fire was raging in the
most popular district of the city. A
vague terror took possession of her. His
words were still wandering through her
mind. His talk of death now seemed a
pertinent preface to a great catastrophe.
Driven by the breeze the Are crept in
the direction of the glen. His honse ley
straight in the war of the flames. Where
was he now I Had those awful bolls
aroused him? Was he, like her, look
ing at the conflagration ?—or was he
sleeping in the path of the destroyer f
She turned her white face to the calm
stars and then glanced rouud the glen.
She felt half conscious that her alarm
was exaggerated, that the risk was
slight ; but as often as she quieted her
heart some silent specter seemed to
point to the city, sad some mysterious
voice cried out she knew not what. Tear
less and terrified, she grasped the para
pet and watched. Her nerves tingled
and her breath came quick and short
At length a last volnme of smoke, and
*parks, and flame shot into the air.
iueu for a while the tire abated. Pres
ently bitter, aagt-r tongues flew np to
ward* lieaven nearer to his house, closer
to where he, perhaps, lay sleeping and
dreaming of her. The effect was dec
tries!. She had no consciousness of hav
ing moved until she found herself at tin
cud of the glen Is gini-ing to crs< tin
plain. For one brief moment she threw
h r?elf on her knees and lifted up ber
hands aud heart. Then she rose and
rau onward, without looking right or
lelt
Luke had heard the first alarm. He
had risen and gone out. The tire origi
nsited in a large carriage manufactory
Pull of itidunmable snlmtances, tie
place burned with amazing furv; n>>th
log could save that liuildi. g. All effort
were directed to arresting the spread of
the element But, aided by the win 1
it soon estendi-d its lines until one whoh
side of the street was blizing.
Luke had been among the earliest
volunteers. The brigade was entirely
insufficient to deal with so colossal an
enemy. Therefore the rank and file o r
the briga le became captains of amatem
bands.
When ruin had reached the end of
the street people thought it would travel
no farther. The flames were not long
enough to biidge the roa Iway. A barrel
of varnish, saved froia the carriage
manufactory, had, with other salvage,
been thrust into an archway under a
boose on side. Suddenly,
when lUI had la-gun to hope the worst
wa part, came a dull explosion from the
archway, and a roaring mass of flam*-
broke out of it into the street and up
the front of the house, like an inverted
cataract. A wild cry of t-rror hurst
from the people as they dah-d back in
dismav.
" My daughter !" shouted an old gray
bearded man, breaking from the general
mass of the crowd and standing iu front
of the doomed boase.
"Any one in there >" demanded n
fireman, standing by.
" Yes; my daughter ! My daughb r
Jane! H-lp, for Ib-aven's take! Look !
She i* at the window."
All eves were turned upward, and a!
a wind >T of a top floor the figure of :
young girl enuld be seen through th
smoke arid glow.
"Break in the door!" shouted the
fireman, seizing a pole that lay near by.
She mnrt be saved through the door.
The esc- p. ■ would be burned before it
oonld touch the wall."
In an instant the door flew open. But
the insidious flaming liquid had found
its wav into the hall, and a pool o, fire
barred the way. Through the waving
ban tiers of flame the staircase could be
seen. Already the balustrade had begun
to writhe and twfct.
"The roof !" roared the fireman.
" The roof ia the only hope. To the
roof !" He fi sticnlated wildly at the
girl, but she stood still a* one frozen.
"Will no one save my daughter?
My little Jane I" wailed the old man.
" It would l>e certain d-ath to try the
ball. Here, jioiieeman, let no one go
this way."
Two polioemen placed themselves in
front of the door. Then, crying "The
roof! the roof I" the fireman burst in
the door of an adjoining house and dis
appeared, followed by a dozen volun
teers.
"Itis no use. There is no trap door.
My daughter f My darling Utile Jane,
good bye f"
The old man waved his hand, lient his
head, and broke into sobs.
"Room!" shouted a voice from the
heart of the crowd. " Room ! Way
there!" The people receded from a
point as if there had been an npheaval
of the earth, and a tell, powerfully
built man pushed to the front. He ran
past where the old man stood, saying :
" I'll save your daughter—or perish."
The police at the door drew cloee to
gether to bar the eutranoe.
" Stand hack!" cried the man.
" Back 1" he shouted,ia an excited voice.
" Back !" and, withont giving time for
farther oombin&tion against him, be
Hprung forward, and, clasping his hands
before him so as to form his arms into a
wedge, rushed with all his weight be
tween the two poUoemen, drove them
heavily aside, and disappeared in tho
flames.
A faint wail passed through the crowd,
followed by a deep silence, and for a
moment the vast gathering seemed not
to breathe. Then, aa though a tempest
of wind prayed, a great cry went np and
THE CENTRE REPORTER.
shook the poll of smoke end me.ln the
flying urnhere tremble. Behind the
girl et the window stood the men.
Hut up to this site hed shown bright
against e derk background. Now Iter
figure end that of Ute men showed derk
sgeiust redl For the glare of the Are
hed reached the lending end wes flood
tug Ute space behind.
I'he men did uot remain e second in
active. lie commenced knotting long
strum of shwitiug end counterpane to
getiier. Agent e shout went up from
the multitude, end then tou thousand
voices were still, as though sj.>oh hed
never beeu known. All eyes were
watching him and mlculating the issue
of the race between htm and the flames.
At that time the white figure of a
woman came hastily along a distant edge
of the crowd and approached the burn
ing house. The woman was young,
scarcely more than twenty. Her long
light hair followed her mistily, half
borne by the air, and quickened into
vivid gold by the ruddy rays.
Ere she reached the burning house
the rope was complete. The man had
tied it uuder the arms of the girl and
was leaning out of the window counting
the risk. Already the fury of the flam
ing fluid was exhausted. There came
but fitful flickers, still enough to destroy
his rope. Now and then liis eyes ex
plored the risim. Flames had by this
time crossed the threshold, l'eople tie
low could see them shoot raund the
ceiliug. For a moment the man left his
post, and was seen drawing some heavy
piece of furniture towards the window.
With the subhme patterns of capable
heroism he waited and waited, counting
the chances. Volumes of smoke burst
through the sash, and the glass fell with
a sharp metallic clatter to the ground
beneath.
"My daughter ! My Jane !" cried
the old man, in an agony of hope and
fear.
The man above bent over the sill
and, making a trumjret of hia hands,
cried out:
"In a moment von shall have her
safe. Courage!"
The woman in white looked up.
" Luke!" she screamed.
He passed his hand across his eyes
and thou gazed into the street. Once
more he spoke:
" Jane, stand back. The fl<x>r is hot.
Stand back. If the floor falls the walls
mar, too."
'flien, cadiug one more glance into
the rroai and one uiore at the windows,
through wliich the flames shot now but
s Uoin, he lowered the form of the girl
from the sill and |aid ont sloaly.
When all the rope was goue she still
hung several feet from the ground. Un
tiring into the room he undid the rope,
lie advanced gradually to the window.
Still the ro|ie was some feet short.
Stn ug ineu SUSH! below with out
stretched erms to receive the girl. With
out warning she fell into their arms.
The rope fell with her !
All looked up. In hi* hand* were a
few feet of the rope. Despair hail taken
posaaasioti of his face. A blade of flame
bad shot out of the window Iwlow and
cut off his only menus of reaching the
ground.
Auotherrope! Make another rope '
IJmck !" shouted a man of the brigade.
The man al>ove paused a moment ir
resolute. Then he moved back into the
r >om, and those who stood far off in the
crowd saw him tearing up s .mething.
All at once he shot downward from their
view. A migh'y crash followed; a
flight of glittering splin'er-i swept into
the air and hung in a pall of dusky rod
over the four bare walla.
With a cry that was half a groan, half
a yell, the (toople swyed hither and
thither; and then, as if bv s.jat uuivcr
sal impulse, they bowed tJi.-ir Heads and
Stoo l t t .11.
Tlie glen is famous for its black her
ries, and often in the holidays children
go tip there with basket* on their arms.
They all know Jane, who wanders up
and i*e-vi| by herself. She does not
sjeak unless she is addressed, but then
she answers very civilly and 111 a sweat
low voice that makes the eyes of the
children open wile. Once a saucy bov
asked her if she did uot feel lonelv all
by herself in the glen. But she said:
" Yes, d-ar. A little lonely now. But
evening will soon come, and Luke will
then le here, no promised. If you
meet Luke, dear, as you go home, toll
him you saw me, and ask him to come
early. Say mother died, but lam wait
ing still. The reason I want him to
come early is because be frightened me
last night with his foolih talk. I)o you
bear all the holla of the city ringing!
But it's not for our marriage, dear.
We're nut to lie married for a month.
The bells are ringing all day. It's some
one's marriage. The bells are so loud
I can't hear the birds sing. Iftit in the
evening, when Lnke comes, it will be
ouiet, and no lie Us will ring, ami it will
be dark. Oh ! I wish it was evening !
It's a long day—a long day—a long
day."
And then she raised the rnddy boy in
her arms and kissed him, and went
away.
As soon a* the boy got home he told
his mother. She took him up and
kissed him and wept, he knew not why.
When he was in bed she came and Bat
by his side, and lieut over him until he
was asleep. " She looked," the boy
said afterwards, "as if she was saying
prayers for Jane with her eyes.
Does It Pay to be Boss !
A young contractor in one of the
large Springfield manufactories, in
company with his wife, a sad looking
little woman in threadbare clothing,
entered one of the town meat markets
one recent Saturday evening, and, after
gazing around for a moment, the man
ordered a soup bone for Sunday. While
it was being wrapped up, a >prnce look
ing young man, with a rnfuwive gold
watch chain, attired in suit cut in the
latest fashion and W> overcoat, entered,
and pompously ordered four pounds of
sirloin steak at twenty-five cents per
pound. The little woman looked wist
fully at the tender, juicy steak as it was
l>eing out off, and then at the hone which
was to furnish her dinner the next day,
and, turning to her husband, saiif:
"George, why can't wo have as good
meat a* that man ; he works under yon
at the shop t" "I know it, Jenny,' re
plied the contractor, drawing himself np
to his full height, " but he's only a poor
l>euch workman and I'm boas, and it's
worth something to Ihjhs, you know."
"Y-e-s,"aaid the wife with a sigh,
which said plainly that ahe would much
rather be a poor workman's wife and
eat airlion steak than the wife of n
" boas" and live on eoup.
The Wicked Slory Teller.
There was a wicked story teller who
went to a doctor and sail; "I'm a
wicked story teller, and though I'm a
good and pnro young man in every
other rtt|>e<t I can't get over this dread
ful habit."
" I'll euro yon," aaid the doctor.
41 Take this capsule and chew it up.
Don't be afraid; chew away like any
thing. You'll get used to the flavor
after the first bite or two, and then I
dare say yon will find it very pleasant.
" By all that's filthy!" cried the pa
tient, as he caino over deadly sick, " it's
cod-liver oil!"
" That's no lie !" said the doctor.
" Try one more, and you'll be complete
ly cured." But be wouldn't.
CENTRE HALL, CENTRE CO., PA., THURSDAY, MAY 4. 187 R.
A Slippery Place tu Pop the Ruction.
Hhc came tripping from the church
door, her face tbi.li>>>! by emotions
awakened by the lust uttered discourse,
aud eyre* bright >. it • 1 >viug ex|>ectatiim.
He shiver* .1 on the ourlmtoue, where for
au hour he liad waited impatiently with
a burning heart fairly |>alpiUtiug in his
throat, and frozen finger* in hia j.iokoU.
They linked arum ami started for the
reaidenoe of her juireut*- After a few
momenta' he. it.it tug nileuoe he .aid:
" Jane, we have known each oilier long.
You must know ju.t how 1 feel. You
muat liave neen that dear down at the
bottom—Ob, Muat, !"
He had slipped down on the ioe with
ao much force tliat hie spine was driven
up into hta hat, and hia hat waa tip|e*l
over hia noeo, but ahe was a tender
hearted girl. She did uot laugh, but
alio carefully lifted him to hia feet, and
said:
"Yon were Having, John, when you
alipped that the foundation—Oh, good
ueaa!"
She slipped herself tin. time, and ,iw
little atar. oome down to hiu< before
her eyea, but he pulled her Up iu hast*
au>l went on.
"Yea, just as 1 Kind, clean down at the
bottom of my heart is a fervent love, on
which 1 build my hopes. That love has
heli>od me stand face—Thutnler!"
lie wan down again, but no ram hied up
latfore ahe could stoop to helphhut,i ut, and
site said, breathlewalv:
"Yea, yea, John. Yon remember, yon
juat maid a love which helped you atatid
and faoe thunder. And that you fouud
ed your hopes on—Thia inuky ioe 1"
There ahe sat. John gratqied the
loose part of her sack, between the
shoulder., with one hand, and nosed her
to her feet, as one would lift a kitten
from a pail of water by lbs back of the
nock. Then he said with increased earn
notnmoa:
"Of course, darling, and 1 have long
ed for au opportunity to tell my love
and to hear those sweet lips whisper—
Whoop!"
Somehow John's feet badalipiwn! from
mnler hiui. and he had oorne down like
a capital V with his head and feet point
ing skyward. She twined her tifver fin
gers in his curhng looks and raised htm
to the stature of a man, set his hat Htm
lj over his eyes with IsHh hands, and
cried in breath.ess hade:
" I understand, and let mo assure
you, Johu, that if it is in my power to
lighten your cares and make brighter
your journey through life to—Jerusa
lem !"
John atnod alone, and said, with
brasthli'u vehemence:
"Oh, my precious! and thu shall it
bo my lifeloug pleasure to lift you from
the rude assaults of earth and surround
▼on with tho loving atmoepln re of
Trias I"
And there they both sat together.
They had nearly reached the gate, and,
hand to hand, and with hearts overflow
ing with the bliss of young love's first
oonf'ssaion, they crept along on their
knees up the front steps, and were soon
forgetful of their bumps on the softest
cushion of the jsudor sofa.
The Quaker's Hat.
The first occasion ou which the Quak
er's hat came publicly and officially into
trouble was at the Lsiunceaton aswxea,
in Loudon, in the veer l&ifi, before no
less a person than Chi 'f Justio tllyun,
" When wa were brought into the
court," says Foi, "we stood a pretty
while wiih our hats on, aud all was
quiet, and 1 was moTi .t to say : • Peace
lie amongst you!' "Why do y< u not
put your hats off*' said the judge to us.
We said nothing. 'Put off your hats,'
said the judge, again. Htiil we said
nothing. Then said the judge : ' The
court command* you to put off your
bat-. " George Fox, withamaring sim
plicity, asked for some S riptural in
stance of any magistrate c* uimauding
pi isouers to put off their lists. He ueit
asked.U> IM< shown, "either priutod or
written, any law of |->g and that did
command such a thing." Then the
judge grew very angry, and said: "1
d > not carr; my law bocks on my
back." "Hut." said Fox, "tell me
where it it printed in any statute book,
that I may read it." The chief justice
cried out: " lhvvarieator!" and ordered
the Quakers to 1> taken away.
When tliey wen* brought Iwfore hiui
sgam the chief justice asked Foi wbetb
er hats W'-re mentioned at all in tin'
Bible? " Yes." said the Quaker, "in
the third of Daniel, whore Hum mayst
read that the three children were cast
into the fiery furnace by Nebuclin ln-r.-
zar's command with their fonts, their
hose and their hats on !" Here was a
proof that even a heathen king allowed
men to wear lints in his presence.
" This plain instance stopped him," says
Fox, "so he cried again : ' Take them
sway, gaoler;' aooordingly we were
taken away ami thrust in among the
thieves, where wo were kept a great
while."
After nine weeks' imprisonment " for
nothing but alxrat their lints," as the
chief justice told them, tliey were again
brought before him, grimly weariug the
offending headgear. ""fake off their
hats," said the judge to the gaoler.
" Which he did," says Fox, " and gave
them unto us; and we put them on again.
Then the judge liegiui to make a great
speech, how he represented the lord
protector's person, and that lie hod made
him lord chief jnstice of England."
The Quakers were iuoorrigible. They
were sent hack to prison, but not really
so much for the wearing of their hats
as for tho suspicion that they wer roy
alist emissaries affecting religious sin
gnlarity in order to win their way
among the extreme Puritans.
An Incendiary Machine.
An insurance company lately nnearth
ed (he latest inoenuinry device in con
nection with an $1,8<)0 bun loss in
Hchoharie county, New York. It in to
be hoped that the machine will form a
part of the underwriters' Centennial
exhibit. The apparatna consists of a
txmrd covered with sandpa|>cr that
fooen another laud filled with matchce,
HO that the nnlphur of the matchca can
rub against the sand. Thoae were net
against a hay mow, and with the match
filled board attached to a ten foot lever
with it* txatring in the middle. At the
end of the lever ia a tin milk pail, and
act a' n the ]>ail wan an ordinary fun
nel supplying the bottom 'to a bushel
box filled with fine sand. Thin Hand
wan allowed to run into the pan; and
when the preanure wan nnfllcient to move
the lever, a string unlooaed the f.inuel,
and the balance of the mind, drooping
auddenly into tho pan, moved the lever,
and HO the board ignited the matchca,
thus tiring the barn. A l>elated traveler
paaHing discovered the thing in workiug
order, ruHhed in, and aaved it, and pre
sented it to the innnrance adjuster on an
evidence of the ingenuity of man.
SENHATIOVAI*. The Han Francisco
style of advertising is rather sensational.
Here is a late specimen from one of the
journals of that city: " Away from tho
land of her birth uud loved of her youth
she met the relentless conqueror, lamed
her lovely head to his stroke. Other
hands smoothed the long, brown tresses;
other Augers closed tho bine eyee, and
folded the gentle hands upon the peace
ful, sinless bosom." *' Pure pork sau
sages—six pounds for fl, at William A
Cook's, under Exchange,
THE PRIZE Hl>'(.
A llrl.taril l*rle flaklvr Tell* Xemtlklaa
Ak.ul It,
Just think how cruel and beastlike a
thing it 1a to lx< a profossional tighter,
says Howell Gardner, once in the buai
uess, now out of it. Suppose hero are
mywlf and auother mau, both in the
busiurss, and ho ia thn liest friend 1
have in the world. Wo lore each other
like brother*. Well, aomo night a mail
says to another uiaa: "I'll bet SI,OOO
llowtdl Gardner can whij> ao and ao,"
my frioiul, mind yon. " I don't bclim
lie can," says the other. " Dollars
talks," eaya the first man, and, to make a
long atory abort, they make tip a match
or ua to tight, we not knowing anything
nUmt it, nud having no reasou for fight
ing. The next moruing we are tola of
it, and put in training, and all the while
we are in training we meet every week,
like euongh, and hare a talk over it—
frieuda atill, mind you—mid we each
aeek to get ourselves in the liest jkmuu
-I'le condition, for whatf Why, each to
l>eat the life out, or nearly out, of the
land and ileareat friend he han got.
Gardner goon on to say: When men
come to enter the ring they liud rulea
for everything there, and all the forma
of etiquette already provided. Each
man oomea forward, we'll aay, in perfect
condition, clean aa a whiatle, in the
higheat health, with an eye like a hawk,
juat aa pretty aa if he waa fresh out of
a bandbox. There are two ringa, an in
ner ami an outer one, made if ro|iea.
Oulaide the latter are the spectators.
The referee's and timekeeper's places
are between the ropes. One man comee
up and tbruwa his cap over into the
ring, aa his challenge like, aud follows it
himself. Then the other throws in hia
cap—an acceptance of the challenge—
and follows it, amid the shouts and
cheers of the multitude—for by that
time, let me tell you, everylaxly arouud
ia pretty full of cxeitemeut. Yhe four
aeeouda uext euter tin- ring, twoforeuch '
man. Geuerally each man's trainer ia
liia head aecoud. When "time" i*
called the men abont to light walk for
ward to the center of the ring and shake
hands. The two head seconds also step
forward, and, crossing their bauds over
those of their principals, go through the
same friendly form. Then all step I
back to corners, choice for which has
been decided by a toss; each head sec
ond ki.et-la on one knee and takes his
man on the other, and there he a.ta until
"tune" ia called. A timekeeper, a
referee, and a doctor are chosen by mu
tual consent. Suddenly "time"
called, and each tighter, leaving his
second'* liuev, advances to the center of
the ring and puts hia liauda up. If
they only aouldn't hurt each other, the
prettiest sigh! a mac ever saw, of any
kind of machinery, is to acc two men,
well trained and stripped for battle—
each with eyes liko a hawk's, looking aa
if their keen, concentrated gaze would
pierce through his antagonist; each with
finely developed muscles and akin like
satin—sparring for an opening. Great
caution is exercised here, for often
there ia a gr at deal of money bet on
first blood, as on first knock down and
first fall; and the least incautious look
or movement, and you are gone. That
is why the opening is always ao alow
and the men stand ao long, moving their
arms with the precision and grace of
N auliful machines, but alter first blood,
ami tlrt knock down, aud first fail are
decided, thru th- battle, the quick, des
perate. merciless hard work com
meuee*. Then there ia not ao much
beauty. Then it ia give and take, swift
and cruel, from the moment " time " ia
called until one or the other man is fell
od ta the earth. As quick aa n man falls
hiaaicouds sU-p forward and pick him
up, with ont> baud under hia shoulder,
the other under hia thigh, aud cairv
lum lark to hia comer, lie ia not al
lowixl to move a hand to help himself.
All his strength must lie reserved for
the combat. lie ia luuidled aa if he was
a child. In his corner they have brandy,
liuca, a sjiouge, and some water. 11 his
ere ia badly bruised it ia lanced, and
|Mrhapa the clotted blood atinked out by
OIK- of his seconds. They s|ionge him
off, give him a little water if hi* throat
is parched, and if the fight is going hard
with him a little brandy. Now the fight
is horrible in its brutalities, and I need
not pursue the subject further to the
last moment, when a sponge tossed in
the air is Hi* confession of defeat of one
or the other jvxir buttered, disfigured,
hideous, bloody wrecks of the two beau
tifill machines. I saw iu a paper the
other day that two men had fought a
battle of eighty-seven round*. Well,
that must have been a desperate fight.
It is sickening to think of it. I know
one of tlieao men. Me'* an unfortunate
fellow—never wius; serves liim light,ho
has uo business to fight.
Premature Burial*.
I pity the stranger who dies within
the gnt-1 of Mnnieh, fays a writer.
F.very one hero is trvate.l with equal in
justice, be he high or low, friend or foe.
The laxly f the deceased ia taken al
mmit immediately to the cemetery, where
there is a chamber of death for it* re
oeption. A row of window* look in upon
the many oonchca, and almost every
hour there are anxious faces peering in
through these windows at the bodies
that are laid in state, side by side, until
the hour of burial. Each body is dress
ed in its Ixwt; there are those who are
liorno to the exhibition hall in bridal
robes; some are attired ta>-n>fnlly and
some gaudily, for it is thought that their
bodies may yet breathe again, and every
precaution is taken to make this awak
ening as agreeable aa possible. There
are wires attached to tho hands or
breast, HO that the least motion will
communicate with an alarm bell, and at
thiH strange summons the watchmen are
prepared to rush to the assistance of the
poor i-onl that has not yet escaped the
trials of this life, but is delivered up to
new suffering and a second death. Tra
dition says tliat once or twioo this ball
has rung, and the watchers arrived in
terror to bear away the half ooi scious
l>ody, ere it had knowledge of its gloomy
surroundings.
Care of the Child.
A Chippewa Indian, a noble looking
man, by-the way, who lectured, aorae
time bock, in one of our luge cities, ail
vised all mothera who heanl him to tie
their bahieH, aa aoon aa they were born,
to a board, bind them down tight, and
keep (hem there, moat of tho time, till
they were ten month* old. " Tut a
hoop Mound tho head," he says, " and
then, when tho board gota knocked over,
it won't break the nhtld'a noao." He
anramod up other advantage* aa followa:
" You aee, ladies," holding up a apeoi
mnn, " the child'a handa are tieil down,
an it cau't acrnteh ita mother's breast; it
can't wriggle about and get very tire*l;
it can't bend over, and must grow
straight; when the mother goes out after
herbH, she can hang it on a tree, and
anakea can't bite it; when it eriea, the
mother can awing it across her back and
rock it, and carry it a great diHtanoe in
thia manner, too; alio can set it up Hide
of tho wigwam very handy; and when
oanoo turns over, the child swims off on
the board and don't drown; and ita back
don't break across its mother's urns, be
oaune the board supports it; the child
can't crawl into the fire and burn up, too;
can leave it long, all safe. Ho 1 think
this much the Dest way, ladies—much
the best." The ladies gave in their as
sent by a general laugh.
A PITY'S TIUtiFUY
a Mad law mi llasasallr I akasslasa* la
llaaabl* Ufa, as Twld k? Ik* New tar,
" UrspUr."
The groat city ia full of tragedies.
Looked at with psychologic eyes capa
bin of piercing disguises, ever? street
would be found draped with shadows.
Amid tliia compact den of misery it is
difficult to diseiigage the attention and
fix it on a single case, however peculiar
in its network of happiness aud misery
or however steep the oeaor-ut.
Hut au instance of suddrni wayward
neas and want in the very building in
which the draphio ia printed prompts
ua briefly to outline its more salient
points.
On the fifth floor the little family
lived, the mother and her two babes, in
very bumble apartments, to which they
were made to feel they were welcome.
The father of the family was formerly
known for bin excellent habits, aud he
officiated for some time as a sort of iani
tor'a assistant, but he booanie dissolute,
stayed out late at night, and finally de
serted his home altogether, and at the
time of which we are siieaking liad not
been seen by any of the family for
mouths. The mother hail heard thiu he
had found a situation in one of the
gram elevators, but she knew he was no
longer worthy of her respect, and re
solved to maintain hera-1. anil her little
brood by her own unaided o tortious.
Hhe wan a patient, aad eyed creature,
uever complaining, but never hoping
oue of the last in the world that would
naturally be suspected of any desperate
deed. Hhe waa always neatly bat cheaply
dowsed, and had a grace and dignity of
iM-ariug that showed she had formerly
been more happily circumstanced. No
body ever thought of lnmnnng into her
history, and she seemed incapable of
speaking of it If a friend sought her
confidence, she appeared to say, in
gentle deprecation : " No, no ! Let us
not talk about that" Hhe made herself
quite hi lpful; she brushed all over the
huildfug every morning and made her
self a general favorite.
At last the little ones got so that they
could toddle about the building, Tommy
leading hia younger aister. They were
not much in the way, and they soon be
aarne favorites among the workmen, who
liked to share their lunches with the in
fauta, who opened their wide gray eyes
at the novel world, and gazed cautiously
at the bussing machinery.
Oue day in the last winter month oe
eurred a calamity which some of our
readers may remember, and that will
not be soon forgotten. The industrious
mother was out earning the bread for
the family and the little one* were iu the
press room watching the bright sheets
fly from the readv Augers of our peat
four-cylinder, wLen honor seised on
the foreman. Little Baame waa in the
machinery! How sho got caught was
always s mystery. Hey pain waa but for
a moment," Her funeral waa simple,
but Iter loss was sincerely mourned, and
the shocking accident left a shadow ou
the establishment.
Tommy w*s even more to hi* mother
after that. Hhe seemed to cling to him
with a desperate fear, and went around
apprehensive and heavy hearted. One
i-veniug of the very next week be was
missed. He was sought with passionate
anxiety. A policeman had seen him in
the company of another small chap on
the next corner. Li the morniug hia re
mains were found in the dock.
Hi* mother never spoke afU-r that.
She was calm an 1 tearless wheu the
cirjse was brought into uer aii&rtment,
and took no notice of it. Hhe wcut
about in a mechanical way. eating lan
guidly what was pha-ed before her, but
saying nothing and never smiling ouoe.
She was still beautiful. She drewed as
scrupulously as ever and bad a wistful,
far away look, as if constantly waiting
for somebody who never cams. Ouoe
the janitor found her late at night in au
open window, as if al*>ut to dash her
self upon the pavement below.
In a week she was missing. Nobody
afc-racd to be much surprised. Had she
gone out in the night with the key that
wm always within reach 1 Search was
cautiously begun. A policeman hail
seen her walking on the roof with her
hair floating in the wind and scarcely at
all protected from the cold.
Her body was found neit morning,
stark and stiff, at the month of a newer
on the North river.
Her fate was hard and her lot was
pitiful, but she was a most tender,
motherly, faithful, and exemplary cat.
Fashion Note*.
All new suits are composite.
Holbein work grows in favor.
Smrdu du bal are half dolmans.
ToUr d'Abaoe ia a new dress fabric.
The cuirass is still tho popular cor
sage.
Spanish blond is the lace of the soa
aon.
Lace capes and fichus are still in
vogue.
Linen parasols lined with brown are
shown.
The reign of the basqne and tnnic is
not over.
Black promises to remain the favorite
street dross.
Gentlemen's boot* are square toed;
ladies' round.
The hair ia worn low on the forehead
in large waves.
Gam brio suits are to be worn on the
street this summer.
Narrow cravats of figured pique are,
shown for gnntlemou.
Jean d'Aro belts, made of tortoise
shell, are very elegant.
Sashes are made of soft silk, with
heavily fringed ends.
Black corsets are worn by some lies
when in mourning.
Checked foulards make very p tty
and inexpensive suits.
Many imported polonaises are con. ug
in witli the new goods.
Oticaos gone to seed are very asbion
able for list trimmings.
Tho " Queen Elisabeth " is the name
of the new leather belt.
Smoked pearl buttons arc shown in
dark blue, brown and green.
Broad black velvet bands aronn e
nook have leen revived.
Button hols* on ladles' dresses this
season are worked, not bound.
Mixed gray ehoviota are sought after
for gentlemen's oversncks.
Centennial masquerades will be in
vogue as soon as Lent ia over.
Palo blue and pale rose are favorite
colors for strijied batiste suits.
The most fashionable spring wraps
liavo long, square mantilla fronts.
Bustles are made to throw all the full
ness at the bottom of the Bkirt.
Bouffants, poufs and sash loot* are
worn still, but low down on the skirt.
White Lisle thread stockings are em-
I broidered with white or colored silk.
Very flue diagonals arc fashionable
for frock coats and cut-aways.
Cream oolored cashmere lace shoulder
shawls will be worn in the summer.
Evening slippers or shoes for ladies
arc made of the same silk us the dress.
Dog skin gloves with ombroiderod
bocks are shown in all tho spring
shades.
lilack silk oontiunos to bo the material
for sacks, dolmans and mantillas.
The favorite dress of the Princess
Beatrice is pale lilac, with seringee bou
quets.
Linoleum is the floor covering for
bslls and kitchens; it is letter than oil
cloth.
TERMS: a Year, in Advance.
Till: ■F.KPHANT PUINPE.
U'kal aa Old Ttaaa ilrrrkaai War* af Iks
• I .ale A. T. Mswari.
Henry G. Itoweii, befo, he became
publisher of the /arfqimiM, was an
extensive dealer in silks and fancy goods,
sin! held business relations with the late
A. T. tew art that continued for nearly
a quarter of a century. " 1 was a clerk
for Arthur Tappan k Company, at 122
Pearl street," said Mr. Itowen, "when
1 first made Mr. Htewart's acquaintance.
That was forty year* ago. Mr. Htewart
was doing business opposite the park,
somewhere near where the fntirptmdenl
offices are situated. I used to wait on
him and sell him mania. Arthur Taopan
A Oompauy at that time controlled a
line of French prints which were known
as yru* ixitrrt. They hail all of them
that were in the market at tliat time. 1
j remember that it was in these goods
that 1 negotiated my first large tale to
Mr. Htewart. Even at that time Mr.
Htewart was an extensive purchaser from
the importers. I remember that the late
John ltankm, who was a large importer,
declared then that Mr. Htewart was the
shrewdest merchant in New Turk. When
Mr. llankiu had an arrival of goods, at
that time, it was his custom to invite the
leading buyers to his place and inspect
them. The cases were opened, the
prion of each line and quality of goods
were determined upon, and then Mr.
Kaukin received the merchants. Many
buyers always came, and among them A.
T. Htewart, and while the others went
about the store feeling the fabrics, as to
how thick this waa or thin that was, and
while they hemmed and hawed and do
bated with each other the desirability of
•nit) line over another, Mr. Htewart would
take Mr. Rankin with him through the
store, selecting the best of the stock and
purchasing it at ouoe."
Mr. Rankin, who became Mr. Bo wen's
special partner, often referred to Mr.
Htewart aa being, in hia opinion, the
shrewdest, quickest and must intelligent
merchant in the city. Mr. Bowen was
then the head of the well known house
of Bowen, McNamee A Company.
" I recollect," continued Mr. Bowen,
after a pause, " that Henry Hbeldou, an
extensive importer of l-rench goods,
had at one time sold Mr. Htewart goods
to the amount of $25,000 or $30,000,
and felt a little timid about increasing
his credit with him. He informed the
great merchant that he desired to know
more about hia capital and business than
he then knew. In reply, Mr. Htewart
said : 'I regard Mr. Lewis Tappan, of
the firm of Arthur Tappan A Go., as
one of the most intelligent merchants in
New York, and as you sell that firm
largely, and have confidence in them, if
yon will be satisfied I will ask Mr. Tap
pan to come here and examine my
books. He will then be able to tell you
*ll I know myself.' Mr. Sheldon con
sented to this, aud Mr. Lewis Tappan
*pent several evenings tn Mr. Stewart's
counting room studying hia books. He
reported, when his task waa ended, that
Mr. Stewart was abundantly good and
worthy, and waa worth about $70,000.
Mr. Htewart did nut ask the usual long
time of 'it or eight mouths in which to
make in* payments. When be asked
credit it was for a abort time, but even
then hi* nggregatc credits ware consid
erable, and it was necessary for him to
stand well among merchant*. He was
never questioned after Mr. Tappan'* re
port went abroad. Mr. Stewart's great
atore down town was not erected all at
once. A land owner in Cnamber* street
asked too high a pnos for his lot there,
and Mr. Htewart built arouud it, erect
ing rax atory structure*, so that the prop
of the stubborn landlord was injured
and rendered insignificant, and at last, a
few years ago, he wsi* obliged to sell it
at Mr. Stewart's price.
" During the late war Mr. Htewart'
contract* with the government, directly
sad inJiuvtly, formed au enormous
business. " Besides hia own contract*, he
filled large orders for other houses who
wore obliged to go to him to carry out
their promise*. Wherever Mr. Stewart
reposed enofidenoe he sold unlimited
amount*, and ha* thereby assisted ener
getic merchants in different sections of
the country into prosperity aad promi
nence. Totter Palmer, of Chicago, and
John Shiletto, the neli Cincinnati re
tailer, benefited largely by Mr. Htewart'*
confidence in them."
Mr. Rowen regarded Stewart as the
"king of bnyera in an auction room."
If he succeeded in obtaining a good bar
gain, the quantity of the goods on hand
never frightened him. No other man
had the in< an* to buy as be did.
Early in his business prosperity Mr.
Stewart frequently managed to control
certain style* of goods, as, for instance,
the Alexandre glove, ooiujwlling all to
purchase of him and at his own price.
In the olden time, before the days of
the telegraph, he was frequently known
to have sent agents through the market
quietly with orders to learn just how
much "of certain styles of goods could be
found iu New Tork, Boston and Phils
dolphin. He purchased all that oouki
be bought, and controlling the market,
advanced the price of the article, never
exorbitantly, but simply to a controlling
figure.
The New Tariff Bill.
The committee of way* and mean* of
the United Blate* House have added to
the free lint of the Morrison Tariff bill
the following named articles :
Window glass, painted or stained, im
puted by and for the use of educational,
• literary, benevolent and religious asso
ciations, and not for sale; book* in
other language* than English, Greek or
Latin ; balsam, copper ore, castor oil.
The following named articles have
been stricken from the free list;
Drugs, medicines and other crude
chemicals not otherwise provided for,
paving tile, coal, including alack and
bituminous. The following changes have
been made : Collodion of ether of all
'ki , fifty cents a pound ; the present
o in gi a pound. Opium prepared
ior smoking, and all other preparations
of opium not otherwise provided for, $D
a pound ; it is, under tno present Law,
?f> a ponnd.
Licorice in paste or rolls, five cents a
pound.
The committee have added the follow
ing : Champagne and all other aparkling
wines, in bottle*, each containing not
more than oue quart and more than one
pint, 8b a dosen bottle* ; containing uot
mi re than one pint each and more than
one half pint, $4.50 a dozen bottles;
containing one-half pint each, or less,
82.25 a dozen bottles. This is an in
crease of one-third over the present
rate*.
Emery grains, one cent a pound;
emery ore, $3 a ton; emery, mauu
i factored, ground or pulverized, one-half
cent a pound. Thi* a reduction of ono
lialf of the present rate*.
TI'KBOT A I.A CRUZ. Take five
pound* of halibut orood; loil thorough
ly iu salt and water; when done, drain
it, and, when 000 l enough, flake it, tak
ing out all the bones. One quart of
cream set in a saucepan of hot water,
half of an onion, some sprigs of parsley,
two tablespoonfnls of corn starch; cook
it until it is flavored, then strain out the
parsley, add a half pound of butter to
the cream; take the dish you serve it in,
and pnt first a layer of fish, then a layer
of cream, a sprinkle of cayenne pepper,
then a layer of cracker crumbs, and so
on until the dish is full; put the last lay
er of orooker crumbs; bake it one hour
at least; garnish with parslty,
NUMBER 18.
THE FINANCIAL I'ROHPFAT.
Tha gallaraa ikaafar ta l-A har la
rraaaa far lha Mrl Quarter.
Th ntaUatioa of failures throughout
the United Btatea, for the tbrge month*
ending with Mnreli, are furnished by
Mussr*. It. G. Dunn A On.'a agency, and
indicate a. very disheartening result
The figures a bow an iuerea*< in meroon-
Ul Casualties, which, though expected,
in larger than waa anticipated. The
number of fail area ore set down art 2,80(1,
with liahilitiea of #54,000,000. Compar
ed with the noa "juarter in 1875, in
which the number wna L 738, with lia
bilities of #38,000,000, the increase ia
very marked - amounting to 1,078 in
number, and #26,000,000 in lisbtlittes.
Bat a* oom|ioml with the statistic* for
the previous <juarter, or the last three
months of 1876, the showing ia not ao
had. In order to prenent the ftgurea in
more intelligent ahiuje for oomporinon
we group them aa follow* ;
-• ■■ • - UMW
Pint quiur la 1876 2,806 fiß,OW>,<X*i
Pinrt quarter in 1876 .1,781 SB.OUO.OW
Leal qtwur tc 1876 .1406 70,000,000
While, therefore, there is 8 blight in
crease in the hurt quarter ovar that just
previous to it in Dumber, thora is a past
tire decrease to lisbilithe. Mill, for the
hist six mouths the failures hare hero
i-xoeptiuualJy numerous, sod do not give
much encouragement to the hope thai
the return of a prosperous condition is
any nearer, except In the passage of
time, than it was a jeer ago. The quar
terly circular, from which the foregoing
figure* are taken, remarks :
" The tmeliieee of the country, in every <le
partmsot continue* to be rwetneted to the
narrowest I IBM la , without a surrsspoctdii.g re
duction in expenses, and in the feee af deafen
ing pnesa or all staplas. the poretN'trtss of
profit hare baan tight indeed It It, therefore
not a mbiter of ettrprtee. that eo many have
eooenmbed to the pressure of the linn ; the
wonder rather is, that with ail the disoouiwge
mruu which in the peat two or three yeaia
bare beau experienced, no many sorrtre in a
condition of apparent stability. When all the
arenas tanoee are ouuatdered it should nut
create surprise that the etattsuee of failures
•how a marhsd Increase to seasons like the
present. A ooodittou of eipanston. euch as
the large rxpeodtturreof the war induasd. and
which a vastly increased currency as used to be
perpetuated, could net take piece without
rtimuiautia trade unduly, and eeuring euch
large numbers to enter c< mmarctal pursuits as
to crowd all areunes of basin tea with more
than an adequate number even when trade
was at lis tea. But now that thsre it but
lit tie busiDeae to he done beyond supplying
the rsatrtoted wants of the people, the exosr
rive number in trade mast be leseenad, and <u
the struggle for ariasrnen the doetnne f the
survival trf the fiusst reoetvaa a fraah tlhtstrs
tiou. It ia to he deplored that the large army
of trader*. whose rem ace are us lunger re
quired, cannot retire from the field, exoepa
throneh failure. The voloutarv wtlhdrawaie
from hi urn see are in far ieae proporUou thu
they should be, in new at the great itdutka
in lie extent."
Although fsihires are generally re
garded aa the most marked indication of
a lied condition of trade, from the fore
going it appears that this is the only
proot-as by which the number engaged
can be lessened, so that those who re
main may make profit enough to yield
them a living. Yet, even from this pro
cess there seems very little prospect at a
lessened number ill 1 wines*, owing to
the facility with which compromise*
after failure are effected. In relation to
this the agency remarks:
'• The very mcu who have dtaMUlxiMl
their lack of sucoeeja ar* tbl* only who make
money in UMU hard Ua. My purchasing
ibstr iN*ta from thmr creditor* at alow figure.
ftoffi-ifnt capital i not ui.freqocndy yielded
to continue in bamccm, bat always to U>
detriment of Usone who are endeavoring U>
discharge their obligation* to fail to this
now it is ft nation*] calamity tiiftt the bftnkropt
Iftw to in ito present ocmdiUoa The wtso >ud
liberal pr.uctpi* which tin* iw to intended 10
maintain. I* abused by thft mistake* to It*
enactment, and th facility wbiclt it afford* to
the do*, tor. by jadtcioaejmanipalabaa. to dc
iftto ten*n to the creditor, wbo"thereby;ioeea
oontnl ot too own property. and ■ disposition
to tot an frequently mads of it. autirely foreign
to bi* wiftbfto *ud vpjioead to bio ooutricuous.
The in OUT c luftidorftuooo wloeb nuw creditor*
to yield la the eohciuiion* of debtor* for •
oomproanoe of their iodebwdno* ftre eufti
c.cully strong to keep the rank* foil of those
who haro failed to encored; hat *omrag*-
meot to fraudulent failures, and well defined
attempts to make money by tiue aUm of mi
fortu&ie, were certainly newer contemplated
by the law. Saab, ho we roe. la the reeuli, and.
added to all the limitation* and difficulties of
bonineae of the present lime, ia tht* raiofar
tiiue. that while failnrce are numarooe, the ox
ceaatva u amber ragt(d ia a reelriotoJ trade
lessen slowly, fraud to encouraged, and tlie
chances of eaoose* for upright and capable
merchants are dimim*. J' * the failure and
subsequent aettlemer t at a Holing dividend of
the weak to ettwm and the poor to capita!
With regard to the general condition
of trade and the prospect for the future,
the circular before us does not shed
much light beyond the photograph fur
nished by the valuable figures above pre
sented. It ia to be presumed the agency
people have got tired predicting a reviv
al oi trade with each coming season, and
wisely refrain from dsaling in vain de
lusion*. As to what is needed to pro
duce s better condition of business, the
mrcnlar says :
" Notwithstanding that all lb* ability of Una
great natiou of inventors ha* far the past
three yean been talent apoo the fiieoovary of
some plan whereby trade eaa be restored to a
normal ooudllKio.no theory baa yet beeo footid
that exactly fit* th* ease or accomplish!-* the
result. The program toward a proaperoue
condition, which at drat waa thought might be
rapid. 1* n° w genera'!* oonaidered must ha
exceedingly gradual. St. 11 further it ia a grow
ing conviction that a better and aafer con
dition of trad* can only be brought about by a
redaction of valnea to their lowest poeeibi*
points, and bene* there are those who hail aa
a good aign every quotation of lower price* in
choating * possibility of economy in living, and
a return to rate* for all staph* each aa pre
vail to other quarter* of tb globe. How far a
rnetnofed currency, and an approach to apecia
payments, will ooucribnta to this result, it ia
ueedlea* to aay; but even to antieipaUou of
that moat deairabie consummation the tcn
tcucy to lower prior* for everything is to many
the moat hopeful eign of the times.
To Rhow to what extent prices have
been reduced, an interest table is given,
with quotations in April of 1873, s* com
pared with those iu April, 1876, of sever
al loading articles, for which we havs
not space. Notwithstanding a reduction
iu the price of numerous staple* enter
ing into the every-day wants of the peo
pie, the agency pertinently asks :
"Yet. in the face of all thie decline, what is
the real percentage of decree** in living ex
penses in 187fi a* compared with 1873 ? It cer
tainly ought to be much more than it ia. Th*
profile of retailers continue to bear th* same
relative high percentage that they did ui better
times; and, indeed, it looks as if a restricted
trade wae atoned for by higher profit#, as it ie
certain that goods are bought at wholesale
ranch cheaper, and sold at retail almost *e
high as in 1*73. All this must, however,
right itself in tune. Competition and the
lesseurd expanse of retailers themselves will
aooorapliah the result of adjusting the oost of
living to a proportionate oost of production.
When this is teaohed, an important stsp to
ward a healthier condition of things will have
been attained."
Respecting the future there does not
appear much in the present outlook to
euoourage the hope of immediate revival
of business. The circular from which
we have quoted (and which is prepared
wi'h tho usual care and ability), con
cludes as follows ;
"The spring trade generally haa been very
disappointing both in extent and profit, and
the backwardness of the season retards a de
mand for goods which it wae thought might
follow the regular season a purchase*. Thete
ui, however, a steady realization from pro
duct-1* for their staples, indebtedness is gradu
ally being reduced, and eoouomy ia everywhere
the ieaturo of the hour. There is a general
conviction that bottom has been touched, and
that with the permanent opening of navi
gation and the nooeeemry activities of the Cen
tennial year, a new start will be made which,
though not accomplishing great results within
a short tune, will yet be hopeful in trull eat tenia
for the future,"
My frtmd.
71M MM4 who botes * mirror to MT fa**,
An 4 hiding MM, la not afraid to tnoo
My fanlM. my mmUmA bloeUabee. within j
Who fmodtr WM, rwfWtrrM mo if 1 tin
Although it MM not so ha la my frioad.
Bat ho who, or or tnlfrtng. gtvs mo pntm,
Who no'or fohakoo, nor ososwsa, nor (Maya
To oama with oogarnaoa and grasp ay hand.
And pardon ma. Mw pardon I damand -
Ha la my anamy. althoogh ha aaam my frlsed.
-MPAmt.
Item* of laterMt.
Thirty-four government* will be rep
resented at Pbtledelphla.
The Texan cattle drive will thia year bo
io excess of 800,000 head.
When a man ia oo busy that he cannot
mind his own boaineoa he should bava
aaaiatanoe.
Thirty five thoooaod seven hundred
and fourteen dollar* in nilver ore aaid to
weigh a ton.
The man who popped the question by
otarlight got bis sweetheart's oonsont
in a twinkling.
Tbera are 60,000Han<ly school* in the
United States, with 600,000 teachers,
and 6,000,000 pupils.
Haya an adits: " Who drinks all the
whisky made in the United State* ? in
what staggers no." It is enough to stag
ger anybody.
Happy thought of the Springfield Be
publican: A bicentennial State will be
wanted in 1978. Save New Mexico for
that!
An Edinburgh jeweler will exhibit at
the Centennial a showcase which, with
its contents, will be worth upward of
#IOO,OOO.
" I'll scratch your eye out," biased an
female uaam rger in a borne
car, who imagined that the gentleman
by her aide was going one eve on her.
" Oh, scratch away, madam be quietly
responded, ** tfa glass."
Publican " Tour doß's very fat, air.
Pray what do you feed him on t"
Traveler-" Well, he has no regular
meals; but whenever I take a glass of
ale I give him a biscuit, you know!"
The man who paint*! Patience aa a
healthy looking female perched on a
: chunk of wuxlstoae, never saw an editor
chewing the end of a pencil, while three
oompocatora stood in the background
yelling for copy.
► Aa an evidence at hard times it may
be mrßtimv 1 >h * a young mau in New
York State wrote to every bank in De
troit offering to "ba your kaahec-r for
#2O per month and board f and no bank
could give him a place.
When a man detects a missing button
after getting an a dean shirt, no one in
the honaa ia a ware of the (at He takes
off the shirt and pate ao another, quiet
ly ""iiiig all the while. He never,
never speaks of it to a soul.
" In Volcano, CaL. the other day, a la
borer found a piece of quarts rock
among tbe rubbish he was wheeling in a
barrow. On the rock being broken up
it was found to contain phot* of gold,
the aggregate value of which was about
#I,OOO.
The steamer City of Peking, arrired
si Man Fmnoaoo, brought 1,017 Chineas
passengers. It la stated thai the whole
steerage aceommodation cf all the
steamers re''"*g from China for the xt
six has been contract* .1 for by
importer* of oooliea.
iL L. Robinson, of ETanirrille, InL,
Ifcl 1 an office as entoat' appra;- *r, tbs
expenses of which were $4,000 mors
than its receipt*. Be wrote to the sew*-
t*ry of the treasury thai his < ffios was a
sinecure and should be abolished, thus
giving sp s $3,000 position.
An organised band of fifteen robbcia
has just been broken up in Berlin by
the arrest of nine of its member*. Ons
of the moat active was a your.g gir! of
iwrteea. , Their moat resent exploit
was the carrying off a large quantity of
valuable optical instruments..
The new fans are very airy. They
have an edge of leather and lace and a
foundation of pari or coral. They are
moderately large, ad there iaa I rasa
tip where ladies will plea** nibble when
limy want. bo appear diffident or in a
Brown or any other man's study. They
are absurdly cheap—only fifty-fire dol
lars a fan.
An old fanner saw of his boys:
•• Prom sixteen to twenty, they knew
mor* than I did: a* twenty flee tber
knew w much; at thirty they wore will
ing to hear what I had to aay; at thirty
five Iboy aak my advice, and I think
when they gd 10 **> tofX 7 ***7 wiU " s
knuwtodge that the old man knows
aom&tluag."
A man popped into the poat-offi* and
wanted to know bow much Burchandiae
be ocmld rend it OMI pwoeL ''Four
pootKta,"* wma the reply. Then he bland
ly -*'■ he Ihougbl he woold fend to
Ariaona four putts* Is of those red toy
balloons, inflated; jut be bad difficulty
in getting out of the door in time to
dodge a mail bag.
Thev were talking about amrgiei se,
and somebody aaheda mild looking Gran
ger what he would do if suddenly placed
in great peril. He said be hardly knew
thought b<* should follow hw u*oml
practice and crawl under the tied. The
ladies in the party thought be must be
afraid of tlrander storms, but the men
knew he vnw married.
An exchange say* : Because we lisp
pen to take our shotgun and start out
for a Sunday afternoon's gunning, it is
nn reason why s half dosen impudent
persons should inquire if we were on a
tour for collecting subscription money.
The times are hard, and ammunition
costs too much money to be wasted on
delinquent subscribers just now. k
This ia bow a sufferer tries to define
chronic rheumatism: Swallow two quarts
of carpet tacks, take a running jump
bare legged into a barrel of broken beer
bottles, let a swarm of enraged hornets
roost on your head, and then roll into a
tied of fishhooks, sad you'll get a famt
idea of the nature and sensation of a
first-class rheumatism when it gets hold
of you mid means business.
The other day a Lee (Mass.) man,
while arranging his combination safe
lock, missed one or two small pieces
that be had taken out and laid on the
floor, and for a while he sought vainly
for them everywhere. He finally con
cluded to administer dose of ipecac to
his dog who was standing intfouently by,
and, sure enough, the misrirtg property
came to light
Devices for chesting in games of
chance are externa rely advertised. The
circulars sent out describe the goods.
Marked card* are made in great. variety,
the backs showing to the initiated what
is on the faces; also cards out iu slight
ly varying length*, *o that advantage
may be token in catting. Faro lxixes
for unfair dealing, loaded dice, sod ap
plicant** for holding extra cards, are
offered.
The president of a paper fompany o
Connecticut, arrested lor a $50,000 for
gery, hasn't had a very good time sine*
he cleared out, last June. He pays he
had just two dollars when he left, and
has since been very destitute and has
spent much of the time iu tramping.
He traveled about New York and Dela
ware, part of the time picking peachee
at seventy-live cents a day, aud part of
the time doing odd jobs as a aarpouter.
An engineer's presence of mind paved
a train on the Southern California rail
road the other day from a fearful dis
aster. The train waß crossing jhe bridge
over the Ban Gabriel river, when the
engineer felt that it was giving way, and
at onoe crowded on a fnll head of steam
and slipped across just before the water
came on the tail* The shook of start
ing the train shook the passengers np
considerably, and a brakemau was
thrown tho whole length of the car.
In the town of Hartland, some twelve
or fifteen years ago, lived an old fellow
who was not noted for his fondness for
good books; he liked good liquor better.
An agent called one day and asked if
the house was supplied with the Bible.
"Ohhyes," he said, " they always had
it." The agent was a little iwjp id us,
and decided to see it. >Hv "! 3 ir.au
searched the house through, aed at last
produoed a few stray }. ! vts, tayinf,
" he had no idee they were so n.-ar out
of Bible "