A Question and a Reply. TH* room HAS TO TS* Ol,l>. S#v, whither *ri thon going. Thy hand* upon thr lire* at. Thy race toward the sunlight Fat fading in the wot TH* ol.tl HAN TO TUK TOCNII. I *m going, slowly going, Undismayed and nndatreawx). To the last estate that'll left me. To the last, maybe Uie beat ! To the region* of oblivion, To the chamtxxra of tiie bleat, "Where the wvoked eeaae from troubling. And the wear* are at reat !" TH* TOCNO HAN a KKPLT. Itod have thee in lis keeping ! Ti* Hi*, not our tx-hest ; But i* this all we come to After our tod and quest ? In nothing we aa|mv to. O'erbunlemxt and oppressed. Ever to nxxmqx'nse ua— Nottung but jwaee and reat. 11 Ono Merc Mouth to Food. ** AY, "OM more month to fe*.l !" fall, on Ui> ir From INVMVI.XI tip#, this cry of despair. Hot hark! Rmhalnuxl upon Iho ttacrexl j>gi *, A Vok* rings out through all tiio passing #g>*>; "00, multiply, replenish; the oartti i* nuno. I give tho heritage to thee and thine.'' AT, •' Ono more mouth to Fxxl in feehi# tone la echoed tvaok a woman , hit tor moan. And yet from Palestine tho word# aro ringing. " In pain and sorrow hfo hatli it* tx-guuuug. But wheu Uio hour w i>as,xl. pnxlatui. tlio Voice, "A man i* born, tho wvtnian .hall rejoice." AT, " On# moro mouth to f.xxl !" Ah. toll mo why, * Why rwe up toward heaven ttii* hittor cry J Shall triumph greet tho Uto that need* muat perish, Whoae fix-hSe ltfo there ia no fixxl to cherish Man's royal heritage *mce time began * la wrestled from hitu hy Oio wrath of man. Sot •• Ono moro mouth to feed T rang out that morn When heavenly hosts proclaimed: ••The Child it born •• The Ohthl i> born ' Yet who the Voice i heeding. In atom cotuniand and now m a:,giuh jvksd ing; •• My jvxw 'my p,x>r !" The tone, nug loud and free : •• L> ! what ye do to tho-e, ye do to Me." Esther Chillingworth's Ring. A TALE OF SALEM WITCHCRAFT. Such a queer old ring! 1 picked it out uI the vild lacquerad cabinet, where Aunt Luciiuu's odus and etuis of ftuui! v relief— memento moris, antique trinkets, ami souvenirs of the past ; lier past, thst seemed so very. very old; for she was my mother's sunt. not mine—were stowtxi awav in rows of tiny drawers, packed iu 8->ft jeweler's cttv'U, ami smelling sw.x-t and strong of Tonka Ivans. It was a ring of old yellow gold, curiously dressed with the jacinth cut crescent wise, avid act in tiny s ahut up the cabinet, ami only said": '• lUraiud me to tell you aU>ut it in the morning, child," for it was late, and she wanted to send me off to Isxl. " Can't I keep this, just to wear whil# I'm here—it's r-o pretty —tin i I'll take such gtxxl care of it, auntie ?" " Well, put it on." said Aunt Lucinda; " ami tlien run awav. for it's past eleven o'clock. To think of you keeping me up talking until this late hour!" tv> I went away to bed, slipping the narrow tiaud of fretted, carven, crusted gold over my first finger, and watching the rich, wtvTi fiake of light in the heart of the jacinth—like a drop of clear honey. I slept alone at Aunt Lueiuda's, in a queer old room, with an open fireplace ami biwss atnhr-us, ami with a great, high posted lied, dark witii flowered chintz curtains, and a high and almost inaocesaibie mountain of feathers, into which I usually Raped with the aid fa ciiair, when 1 bad blown the candle out I always went to sleep drowsily speculat ing upon the ancestral pers -nacre who l a 1 r-posed in tliis old ark of a bed, uruler t; at ancient red silk quilt; and wonder ing if any of their forgotten dreams ltxrk ed romi't those flowered curtains, to creep into my bram when sleep sots it., pates ajar. I did not dream, that night, a*, any rate; I am sure of it, for I bad not slept ten minutes by the old sh; aster clock on the mantelpiece, when 1 via* a-vakeued by the pressure of a l and. It was not Aunt Lncinda's hand; even in sleep I knew tlie difference of tiie touch. Tiuy were young flugtrs ti u slid coldly over mine—soft, round t.ps, t at leit a damp chill upon my fl -L where they cr.q t a'oug. As ravacnscs awoke piahm'.ly, I f- it thewo" fingers working at the rng on my left l a id, a id I felt a cohl lm ath on my f. r* 1; ai, like a puff of night air. I tr.ed to strike away the hau l, but it fastened clingiiiglv on mine, and a nv auing voice saied it on with kisses. They say I was veiy fair to see in those days. Look at me. * Am I comely now ?" She swept back her long liair from her face, but without displacing tlie lock that curled like a snake around her throat; and then, as I looked at her, she broke i into a low wailing cry : " I bad the fairest face in Salem—old ; Chillingworth's daughter. 'The grass . withereth, the flower fadeth.' The par- i son used to .tell me it was a vain show, aud I laughed him to scorn. For in the I woods beyond Salem, when I was pick- • ing Mav flowers, and rustling aside the • brown leaves to find their pink and white t clustered stare I met Roger Vane, and he told me a sweeter tale than the preacher t FRED. KURTZ, Kditor ami Proprietor. VOLUME X. knew . Ami 1 let him km* my mouth, f<> he called it 'most sw-x't vrn, altogcthc ' lovely swix-ter than the imwtli of Ma; flowers. Oh, the SaK iti wvxxla ! Ob my hoe. lv>gv r, Roger !" Her wail swept by likv l si gust of chill . ing wind, ad the folds of the curtain: strrnxl aud trembled with it; but slu never slimx! not even u hair of he: head was shaken as she st.xxl there. " He was breve, ami young, ami haml some, ami he eatne ruling in from |Lw toil, Hiul rvxle vhiwn tlie stiwt of Saleu that spring day. the gvxxlliest day 1 evei ssw. In old l'.nghuul, >r in th<> new . bleak ixumtrx. there were none to com jvniv with h ill, ill my in-*; ami so I > io\\l hitn. Ami he sfaytxl in Salcui, auv I saw him ilay after day . and none knew it at first, for we strayed far away n those green w.xxl* that were just putting i>ti tlieir leaves. ami lx>ke, I for May flowers, and, later on, for the blue \n>- lets that crept up through tin- rustliug j vleiul foliage of last year. Ami at last lu came to li.y father's house; but Abel I'hilliugw.irth was old and stem, and ,1 feaied him, ami I had no mother; and sv we kept our secret Roger ami 1. 1 feanxl nothing, osk [xirt. "' Xo tears, my little Mayflower,' Roger Vane vu.l, isifUv, as he hehl me j with ii his stroug, kindly arms. ' 1 hav. never sxm the vlrojis in the-# swvt eyes of thine Iwfore, ami 1 would not have my last sight of them so marred. It is onlv for a little space, swtx-theart 1 shall ix>me Ixaek to steal away mv little Fan tail maiden before the first leaf has turn ed r>xl by her father's dix>r.' " ' \\"hv —why will vou go, Roger?' 1 eritxl, as 1 clung round him; ami 1 aaked it oulv fc hear over again what 1 knew before quite well; how Gov. Wiuthrop, wln se bhxxl relation he was, had sent him here, anil now recalled him, on busi ness i f the common wealth, ami m>wr he must oliey; leaving me only for a little while—"a very little while," 1 male hiiu 1 iu--jxr over an 1 over, with my arms alsiut lis lax-k. Ami then he pullol frvun his finger t'oat ring, with its dark ' yellow stone and the little bright j war Is, and shptHxl it over mine. " ' ,' he sunl. 'you shall wear tins as my pledge of love aud loyalty; there is a Wi of my own hair under the stone, aud von shall givg uic one of tlx we pre cious ,Krk lixflvs t" kvx'p aud kiss when we are j irteil; and in two little mouths I vow to exchange our love gifts b..ek aga n, here in this very wovxl, my swx t est,' " He took the 1< ek of hair that curltxl by my foreheml. and 1 t,ok his r ii,r, ami his own kiss seabxl it on my finger. S> we tunnxl away from each other, ami start*xl on tlie long paths that Uxl our hves apart, and never drew them to gether again—never anymore! lo >ger Vane nxle Iwek into Iw.xton town, anil 1 stole sadly to my father's house, to mourn and wait for him. :i!i his ring hung round my neck, low down, by iuv heart. " The summer crept on, and the hot vlays shortened their fierce fires, ami the August iiaze was in the sky ; the goldeu nxl shook out its plumes all along the vlry, dusty r< ai, ami the raggtxl white ihisthxlowu blew here and there. I watched for the first change along th vlark Ixirilers of the woods—for the red leaves, and f<-r Roger ; but, oue morn ing, I woke up and saw the white fr>*t glittering on some b!ai-kt iixl, drooping vines around my wimiow, a i.l a IT. a i splash of scarlet, like bhaxl. vla hxl acnm the maple tnx-s. ami n<> lov, r came riding down the reai, or straying through the Salem w.xl to find me. " Never, never, more ' I lui 1 the lu*t kiss on my lip* forever, for none touched them after R iger Vaue. The 1. aves tunicd crimson, ami gol.len, and russet brown, a id withered and dropjHxl frotn tlie lre trix-s ; the vhirk Novemlier days plowed over the land, and my lover nevvr came. N-> won! ha 1 I from him —no sign ; I knew not if he were among the living or dead, until (1 .lx>u Giles, eoni ing home in the early * inter from a week s journey to lioston, told tue, a* he fat iu the elbow clia r by our lnnrth. tiiat h- hal seen gay young Roger Vane. " ' Yon rememlx r h in. Mistress Esther? A well favored votith, 1 it * I knew that Roger Vane was living and hml forgotten me. I could have lsirne liis da'h. I could not l-ar h s seorri. The bittertx'ws of luides erejit into my soul, a id taught tue hatred of a!! mankind. I shrank away from the sig lit of human fas s, and iu gl.*nn ami solitude ate niy own le art awny, with bnHxhng ujvjn its despa r. Oh, my vain Iwautv ! —Oh, cruel dowry tha' brought my fall ' Two soft months of early sum mer, against the long, dreary winter's cohl—the warmth ger and I picked the earlier flowers to gether; and yet the Mav flowers bloomed only onoe since then. ' I wandered out to find them, one April ,lnv, in the old place where he and 1 had "walked; and, as I swept away the heaped brown leaves, I cried aloud to the merciless powers above me—to (rod or Satan, to whom I would have sold mv soul Hint hour, only to have Roger back again be side me. And there was ono iu the wood that day who heard me. " The land was all astir with cries of witchcraft, and Parson Mather was at his bloody work, in the name of God. On the long low hill beyond Sulem village stood the gibbets, where old Mistress Nurse hail suffered, ami Goodwife Oorry, and the old and frail, and the strong, young limbs hail swung against the sky for pitiless mobs to gibe a'. There were cruel tongues in Sab m that whispered aga rist me, and brought me before the judges—me, Esther Chillingworth, nine teen years old in that wretched April— whom Roger Vane had loved ! There were those who swore to bittar threats tl a* I made, and to strange mutterings a id waitings heard when I was alone, and prayers and cries that hail another THE CENTRE REPORTER. " name in them tbati God's; and if va* 1 r >Ui*l that 1 Molt' oitt ill tilt* lor*t !• Moot mv foul tiud worthy 11*K1IIII%U Giles had lteanl me call him to mv side, a* be' strnvixl thivmgh the tn••• near ine. ' Aud a chilil wlioni 1 liad puslnxl from mv l! * av, as 1 walkixl ilown Salem street, bad "' fallen ill, and cried, in it* strange fits, l-r that l.stlier t'hilln. aortli tormeutixl him; and mv 01, l fathei's honor and his gray hair* ixnild not save me, nor luy " youth and mv ixx>r, fating Is atity. Tin y 111 drav'gtxi me fiom his hoils< and eu*t tue r into Salem jail; they loeked the heavy r dis>r, and itrew the erv akmg bolts fa*t, ;l " and left me orouelnxl under the gmtxl ' aindoa . > stare up, in my blind anguish, at the ghmjise of tender sky, that luul no w pit\ for tin none. G *l, like Roger, u had forgotten uie. K "Then came the eroadeil courtivsim, . v day after day; the solemn, untlinelung K fa>x' of the gniv, old judge; tlie hot, stifling tor. and the * undone through the glaring !*> of window*, and the jeering, ' cruel women and tueieih .** men; the i' writhing children, who, m their lying *' fits, plavixl like devil's babi. * with my life, ami flung it away; the screams and y curse* liftixl up against me; the slow. • ixilvl voices of t::*• w i.*e ilil men wlai were '' giving lue to di ath for an old wife'.* tale; ' r and then the dark walls of tlie jail the dump, the ley chill, the silenee, ami the } death in life. So, day after day, I mine '* ami wont, ami a*kxl no mercy at tlieir , hand*. ' " Ihcre wa* one fax' iu the crowd \ that had a pitying b.k for me, tliough it was only a young hat's young Martin Rrown's, whom 1 had ix'iuitixi a child only i ie.ar.ig>. but who had grown of j, late to Y >k with a man's eyes at me. I saw the hot rage und bitter teals on his fax- he st *sl with tliw crowd ill the iMurtrooiu, ami listened and could not j s'H'uk to tue; and one night i wild, j rainy night he stole under the w mdovr of the jail, when I w.s* pri -*.iig agonist tlie gratixl bars, ami whnqiered my name. ( " " K*ther ' Esther 'do y 'ti hear me ?' he - aid, *o?tlv. • Esther, will vou answer 0 lue u " And I sjx>ke, ami tin j*>r hid jx.tir- B i*l out a ptuuti<>u of grief, and pity, ami fl anger, with the uiuttenng of the wind ami ram. t " ' Ttiev say there is no hols', Estln-r," he sobbed up to me in the dark. ' Oh, s if 1 could lut save you you, * > inno ix-nt ! Gh, God ! what emi Ido agonist ■ nil thia cniel }TMVutioii ? You are no .. witch, Esther' You ore purer than any u sotil of them oil, and 1 must stoml by so s helpless and see vou die b r tlieir w icktxl k h l'" rl •' " ' Mnrtiu,' 1 w! jwre.i t • hitu, cling ing to the liars, ' if you coutiot suve me, J will you do for me w hat y >u can ?' 1 •• • lbe f r vou, if 1 may, E*tlier,' h> 0 eritxl. with a ix>v'* own ag> rm—. Ami 1 1 reached tip and put my Inunl through r the window bare, out to uitx-t him. <- " • Will you carry a message for me to r one in Boston, Martin? 1 have roue but I you that I may trust t • bear it, an I my i> father know* lad. Martin, will you find r 15 >ger Vane for me ?' y " 1 liatei;.\l arid held my breath till he luisw ered. Thetl I lieanl luiu auv, t softiv; B " • I will, Esther.' a " •('orry tins to him,' 1 said; and, o* I i> felt i * uarm young hand, wet with ram, e touch mine, 1 x',.pj>*l the love gift into I his palui. * Take it t> It >ger Vane, ami " tell liitn I hot E*tlier Cnllingworth Ins i in tii ■ jail m S.ilvti villag", charged with - w itehrnift, an 1 tlmt 1 ■ . n ! him ba.-k t hi* t.>ki i.—;o more tli.n tliat. Martui. " G>, for the pity of G i! Hurry , and 1 t:is<> no rest ts"l you ti el hi'u, <>r it wdl 1 Is-t s> lat< f-> late for me !' r '• 1 felt the ls-y * 1 ps k - * my haml, { aud his young, clear v iiv Mine up again, wit a a tremble in if t " ' Aye, E*UKT, that I will. My fat'l -1 er's more is in the stable, and, ties very s h- nr. 1 will stiit!, ami take no rest till I t ti : 1 R >ger Y' trie, a.d pit your ring in i his baud, G xl heiping in".' s "Gsibb -< you. Mart ti!" I wliispert i r to him. a* he wr--.it; a nl, b.aviug blessed > a Imuia-i criuture for the first time in this bitter year, it st*m stole - into niy heart, and teuder tars into my i ey -, aid lui the weight rolled awav ' freni my wreU-lnxl bosom a* 1 knelt oil . the cold, 1 a.*- fl >r. I counbxl two day* by, and I went b-r the lu t time from tie * >a>l to tiie crowded courtr->tu. (tntlie f day w lieu i looked for Martiiidiwk a an, r tliey to! Ime that 1 wn* to die. And, t while tlie. \ lices clamored all around tin -1 f>r my inn< sx-nt bhsal, and from ls-vond * the windows the siinl] cries rung in, I * cure xl them a* I stisxl there all, grnv , old judge* a-ul young cliihlren ami east ■ my murib-r upiii tlieir h a lsf revermore. 1 I lav by the gratis! window all the n-st of the long, alow afternoon, all through I the open twilight, and wa txl for Martin. 1 My blood was hot with fever, and there * was ma Im ** in niy brain. 1 almost la-, r 1 i-vixl, a* I CToucheil fle-r>-, flint u'l these i tales were true, and ti nt devils ha I crept into every pulse that Isnt iu mv hot ' In-a 1. s'ld whispensi in my ear as I 1 clenched my hamls over it. At last 1 r heard my name calhxl in a voice that was t human, ami yet v.as kind a pitiful voice f sounding under my grating: ' Esther! * E*th-r !' I sprang up a-ul answered him. I I pressed my face to the bare, and, in the i growing starbglit, I saw him sfamling i there—if art in all alone. I could only speak his name, and all other sounds died in my dry, pan-hed thr-at. i "' I have done your errand, Esther.' " ' You have seen—you have seen R> >ger Vane ?' • " ' I have seen him. " ' And the ring?' I gasped out.' i "lieseemed t<> hang his heal lower ami lower, as if he bared to meet my eves. " ' I put it into his hand, Esther, as you bade me." " ' And he said—what did !n> say ? Are you dumb, Martin Brown?' I cried, stamping my b*>t wildly. • Why caunot yon answer me ?' " 4 Bix-auxe because I shall break your heart,' the boy cried out, breaking into bars. ' Esther, he will not come to yon—he is ertiel and false, and deserves not one sigh that you have sjmnt for him! He is to be married to-morrow; he rannot break away from his bride at Gov. Win tlirop'a grand house to keep a trvst at Salem jail!" " Tliat wn* all I heard. The place whirled round and round with me, and the roar of gnat waters was in my ears as I fell on the stone fhsir, senseless while yet alive. But that wns the bit terness of death ; wlint cared I for the rest? To-morrow came, ami the April sunshine glinted fair over the i-nrth, and shone on the bride in the streets of Bos ton town, and on the witch girl climbing tlie cnnxl hill to die. I heard the shouts r.ml jeers and hooting* of the rabble riving the tender sj>ring air, ami I sow, a* one in a dream, the s-n of hate ful faces upturned to me, and the black gallows drawn against the sweet, bine, sunny sky, and I felt Hie hangman's hamls touch me nnd turn cold the blood in my veins, and I flung out my last breath in a curse thnt should cling that has clung—to all women Isirn of that woman, down through unnumbered gen erations—down to you, who trace your lineage through Afalwd Daniells and Roger Vane ! In that curse iny soul wavered and fluttered out—sprung free, and left, swinging between the black forth and the sky, on Witch's hill, the fa'r form that crept close into a lover's arms in tlie green wood long ago !" She stood over mo—this ghost o Either Chillingworth—and tore the eoi of dark hair awav from her neck ; ami CENTRE HALL, CENTRE CO., PA., THURSDAY, EERRUA R Y I, 1877. in the fitiut, misty UKsMitiglit, I saw a dreadful etrehug mark aiouml the fair, white tlioxvt. M v bl.xxl eurdled wit It the hot tor of it ; an t I led lot c v s, cower ing away in tiie lllovv us she hung over llle with u long, Itlmilillig sob, like the la*t l-reiith of t! • dying 1 think that teimr tinkle nu itseiixible u* 1 lay tlier. . I heard -no mule, nor saw mv ntinng.- visitant vanish with tin- glimpse of the iii.xMt ; but when I op. insl my eyes Ii will, the roollt wa* light with .lawn, ami 1 wa* quite alone, with nothing more ghostly than a dull old familv |>oi tta>t to watch me between tin- parted carta us. " \ dn-itm, I thought, siiud dermg, a* 1 rublsxl my hands across my <-v i s. Estlirl ('liilhligwoith - ng was gone from my finger. "1 u n't know the e\- act story of it,' said Aunt Lucimla, at breakfast. " The leg.-mi gis-sthuf it be longed t-> a sweetheart of our ancestor, R . IT \ atie, who was hung f- i witch craft the gul, 1 mean, not Roger Vaue ill the Salettl exeiteinelit of B'Mxl. 'That was what iuv grandmother us.xl to t.-ll lue. She never wore tin ring, for she said it wa* unlucky. Bv th. way, vou havti't .•t it ->n. have vou? i don't see it on y>ttt !i..ger." " Auntie, 1 said, aolemulv, with mv eye.* a* round a* the sa-ux-r Iwfore me, " it wa ■ tuhcu away fn>m me la*t night." " Taken a->;iv ' NoQM BM'. M-l Aunt I.ueimla. "\N liat are you talkine al*>ut. child ? S• 1 told 1;> .. " Tut, tut !" Ml *. 1 my aunt, derisively; "you've had the night mare ' The ring ha.* slipjxxl off your linger ill bed, it wax a sire l.si loose for Volt. Silsatl will find tt vvheti slie i* lin ing up your nxmi. 1 11 engage !" And *> slie did, but Iny faith v.t* in nowise abak.m, li>>r ts-tild uny skej lieal arguments d.-stn-v iuv firiu Ivelief in the gh -st f Esther t hiliiligw rtli. \i Ito this day Aunt Euciiula admit* that "it wa* an ixld coincidence about the tiatn.-*, that's certain." Buxines* I'roxpccla ftu* Ivih The New Y'-.rk ffrtanria/ Hullitm say* : YV, enter U}>n 1x77 with this luu-Liug in our favor. It cotupruwxi several facta : First. It is rcavxMinnie to assume that the pntcem f w.xxlmg out insolvent firm* ha* lxx-n well nigh com plet. <1 ; for aitlioiig'h the failure# of tin* first nine months w.-re uuprecxxlcnted in nutulver ami amount, y. I during the last .piarter tlu r.> has lx-u a iii .rk.xl übat. - tueiif, and it is very generally taken for grant.xl that, in the nature of the ease, this d.x-lension will lw> eoiitmin d. Sec ond. The ebxirtng .-ut of a large nutulver of firms wlr-. for the m>*t |>art. have Ik* n ct'iupeting for btiMU.-aa in an illegitimate way. leaven the I -.-Iter chance for th"*.- wh > remain. Third. We have had generally g.**l en>ps during the p.mt year. Fourth. IVicc# of merchaudia.. aft.-r a protracted ami very s.vere d-- clti .-, apjxur t-> le.ve t -uch I b '.torn. Yt least it may IK- s.u.l of live general range uf article* that not only are they no longer declining, but, <>u tlie x>n tn-.ry, nh >w u iliviilnl stNnliiie* and itt some case# an upward t.-mleuey, Tlvia is imjvortaut not only o implying that the reactionary tendency tliat set in with th- p.iiuc lux* ntvout exhaustvxl itself, but a!.*. tKCaune it lays a basis for confidence in bati lbng ixviutinsbtK *. It may be th at tht* procv-s* of decline has n->t yet cu'.lilli.ate 1 in r.-s|K*-t to real Cstilta-, uli.i the same may b true in re-jKx-t t > a *, . pnxlucta least esseutial in the g. icral cotistituptioti of the country ; this renia-us t-> IK- t.xvUxl ; but, in nx,j* ,-t t<> the ni'ire staple article* which con stitute the letik .>f our c-uuin.-rcc, ties j*i* tioii may be maintained w.th iqv jiiiri-nt safety. F'tfUt. A* a rule, the full :u wage* ,q>jKXtrs to have reiehel the lowest point of vlept'i saint) ; tlrs may l*> inf. rr.x! ftx>m th- fact thnt, for some ti nth* past, we have e.-.uxxi to wittl'-s* reductions of this kiiui. The nii|*>rtaticv* of tli * fact is tliat a bos;, has IKXUI reachixl nj*>u which comiu'slitu-a can VK pnxluccl ch.xvply v>noiigh to inn-t tlie diminiah" I pnreliasing ability <>f the c -mmunity-, wh-ch is one of tlie first iditiona prixxsh-nt to a revival of pro ductive ojM-nvtioiis. Sixth. Sf--ks ol merehiitidiae are generally in a very low condttioii. llv. it if tins w. re IK>I com monly r. |*>rt.sl t<> IK- the case, we u>- .it safely infer it as mi mev.table conse quence of the state of things existing for th- la*t three year*. N>r do •* this rule opplv to mere nicreantile sto-ks. In all the hoiiaeli >l.ls ami wir.ir>ilK-* of tht> country th-re is a c..inj>arativ.> exhaus tion of nx years of |xistpotieinciit of renovations ami replacements of machines, t*>l* and instruments ; ami on nil our railroads also the old appliances Irive b>--n itsvxl, as far im jssvsililc, iu lieu of intr • luenig Hew ones. This print at which n.x-essity compcla re placement ; thnt point is Is-ing reiu-hc.l ; and, once its demands begin to IK> re suondo.l to, ; very important stimulus to all k n Is of industry must result. '•No tt;ic Man Can Stealee All." Chinamen evidently believe in the cynical iilen that virtue in woman ami honestv in man lo not exist na a princi ple. Their loose morality ami distrust ful natures are evidences of this helief. An attorney of San Francisco had a claim of gI.'JOO against* a large Chinese mereantile house on Clay street. They acktiowlnlpsl the note ami Hes-misl anx ious to pay it; lint, on being told to call from day to day, the attorney's faith he came somewhat shaken in Chinese hon esty. On every occasion he notices! that messengers were dispatches!, each bring ing a man. until live or six were assem bled, somewhat resembling a backroom cancels wher" campaign slates are nianil facturesl. In answer to an itiepiiry, tlee attorney was told that the time e insisted of seven members; there were seven lcned unless the seven members with their seven kevs were present; audit was nl suit as diffi cult to get t Inseven Cliimunen togeth er nt eiiie time as it was to tret a misting of the Lie*k trustees. This vigilance over each other was to prevent any mem ber ler, mid we nil cVpix-tcd to li, snowed ill. At Yslitu bills bridge we were three or four hours behind ; tin* wns between eight und nine in the evening. I think in- were run ning faster than Wt* tlld u few Utoitlellfs previously. The jsxiple in the ear were talking, luting or playing cards, and the flret warning of any iinjrending danger wa.* gi\< n us by u candle being knocked down, tlie glass 111 the llllllpa Ix-llig hiUlt tered Sliil the tadlmpe bteakiug. 'The other light* fell, there wus u bump, then a horrible crash. A gentleman iitxir mo said - "fill! my thai, we're going down. ' Then we (NHUiaeniNxl to full, und We went down, flow a, down, down. Sane remained in their Mills, grn*piug tlieui, while otlien rose, it wxt* quite ilurk now. I M-*l up in the nt-r of the holding on to tlie sea', ami tliuikiii..- I would )M> leas liable to bt> injured by th>- breaking gla-s ami the splinters i*ii the aide of tlie ear. \ we Went down everything wa* a* si i-iit a* the grave, but when we lui 1 struck a terrible shriek aoroe froin tie- wn*-k. Tliere wa* auothc- erasli at the snuie inie, but not *.i I.ml a* the flr-d. YVheii wx- w< ut dowit, spliuters, glax*. etc.,were wh iliug aroilml u the ear, the Is-rlhs w.-re slip}! Ill* down, ami tin I<* sits geli -rwl eoofusioij. Soinefli-ng fell on me, but tt wu* nothing very Inavv. S >tnr gelltleluwu wh" > fell over uie, but recov ered hitu-elf a moment wfterwwrtl. I txillhl m>t tell wh > ll wa* as It was ihuli. S *uie man *a-il the nu would Is- on fire in a minute, wnd wt must hurry out. Another nu-d " The waU-i is txiuiiug in, an 1 wi- wdl lx> drowinxi." Gu IUV WHV out a jierlevtly uniujuti I Uiwn grablte.l me a* I groj..-d mv way wlong oil liautls and kli'xx*, a-.id saitl : " I 111, help me; d'li t leuV.- file, save Uie. "and ever so tuwnv wuch things a* that, but 1 cxKildu't sx- h'-S face. A woman wauled lue lo hel|> hi-r husband, vfh > wa* jauitutxl in betwxx-u the fl *trwisl v U rth. I tntxl to gel htm out, but could n •!. Sonic men • -all<*l out nil 1 said they Would coiue anil help him. llten I went to the d'ir, walking over the funia -e m my ixuiree. 'Tliere was no lire <*aught in our <-wi How to get out alive i • Mild li inc. The ear* around uie were either nhliv/e or e vetxxl witii such uurwe* uf rubbish us to altiiiixt COUiJvletelv lielil lue in. But I -aw a man climbing up the ruble*h, in. 1 I foliowxxl him. I got ou the side of the ear, which lis 1 turnvxl over, and rrawhxl ahaig on tt. It wx*m*d to Is- lllbxl With js-ople, janmie 1 together, wri-nniiug and crying for hclt>. Tliere wa* another man ls-hm 1 me. am,! U-tli truxl to lii-lp uie along, but it wn* Urn shpjs-rv, an I 1 found 1 e.uihl do IsMlcr ci-awhng wl-nig by lnvself. YY'li<-;i we gv>t to the end of th - cur the*e men Mr, Tyh-r of St. L ui* and Mr. White .f Clitmg • In is-.i me d -vv n. When I got lowii 1 found uiv*lf nt the water, mi n ami lee up to UIV km*-*. Mr. Tyler WW* lili-elmg ill self th lu aI, fax- ami hands, Willi a dri-wlfill gash ov.-r hi- eye. Mr. White wa* unhurt, and h- told uie it wa* his eighth railma 1 aVnlent. I'mlor the < hi a I lay lowi-r tlriii the re*t of h> lsxly, ami hi* liinb* were all crushed by the car. II axktxl ua to help him, and w.- did so a* ls*st we i iithl, unt.l others ca re ami <■- ruxl him away, .offering int> -i*ely. 1 d<- u t know wh >he wa*. All th * tune the Aditaliuht Ix 'l* and tin- Is II tie engine thul lui 1 )ia*-d over w.-re ringing fur; n*'v Tie bin-.bug snow fell around ua, ilium nn'e 1 by the light of the fir wliicli ha 1 uftu -k< i the wre'k. Tlie Istnks i •-ke 1 n> high s* th *•■ tieni Nia gara n? firet. 'The lridg. lu 1 broken -iff sli >rf a' each en 1. 1.-uving u iflimg but the abutments. B v th x t .UK' th Me We!.- pit i,tV ol 111.11 nretiiKi to help u. but th ii. wa* a |vr fi- -t panic, very h liaviug any pr. *.-n.x of mind at all. Many wh ..- >ul.t liaxe sav.xl th.-Uis.-bi-* tt* we 1 ! a* not lui Ito ts dragge 1 , ut of the >-r,*. .-j th-y w uld have Ik-.' I burtu- I t > deu'h. The tv .men really sh >we I the 1:1 •*! courage, a'i.l v.-l then- were few of th nMI ■i. We wren* h.-ljK- l up Ui- 101 l to the engine hot!*.', Jitl-liiug through the *:iow a ui itx-. II'KI elaiulN-ring tip tie- xtK-j>, rut'g.xl bank* of tlii-i-r.' - 1 ,. The injure 1 were bp.Ugllt in, some of them horribly init-iglc I, but very f. ->f tin-m nimble t-> *p.-k. Then wi-r.- t!-nx- !n lie* there a Mrs. linthn-n, of N'.-w Y'-.rk, Mi>. Bingham, of Chicago, a-iotli -r la ly ami mv .. If. Mv WHS most remarkable, my only injury being no Hi-ire tluxu n *-nt'eli up- n my wn t. Mr*. < J nil in in wa* only slightly injure I. Mrs. Bin -ham Im 1 ln-r left leg nml *j>nie hurt, and the other lady, wh *• name I don't kn >w . was also terribly injur.*!. Before we had got tip tie- 101 l the whole train wa* oti fir.-; we In-ar.l the shriek* of the wounded mil drill r, and the whole scene wax a* bright a* ilitv. M'-ti were working a* lmr.l a* lliey could to help tin- sufferer* out <>f their fi.-rv |>risoii. A pliv -ician came >n alxnit haft 101 hour, and w - t.*u*ex an-.l w. Nt to the village. We were drenehe I thnuigh nml through, aud our clothe* froze t<> us. A SAP INCIKkVr. 'Tiie rentennial el.#wxi ii|>n Sj>img field, Ohio, says a letter from that place, with darkness. gl.H.iu ami sadiies*, eausixl by the lo*s in the Ashtabula hor ror of the worthy principal of the high schools, I'rof.-ssor Henry G. R >g.-rs, and hia lovely young wife. They were mar ried tinder the most happy nnspiees Tuesday, and, after visiting Buffalo ami Niagara Falls, were to return here <>ti Friday, only t> lis swallowed uj> in n horrible, fi.-rv death, with nothing left to tell the story. , Tin- young pi-oplo were ex|>vbxl home on Saturday, ami preparations were made for it grand reception. When news of the accident was first r.-eeiv.xl fears were at once excited that Mr. U .gei-s might have taken that train. Mid n tele gram was sent to the )>roj>rieb>r of tho hotel nt Niagara nt which they stopped, which was responded to with the r. ply that the pnrl v had left tliere taking the Pacific express at Buffalo, the ill fitted train. There was lh>- in-s| intense anxiety among nil classes UJMUI Hie anbjeet, and any scrap of information was eagerly nought after. At n sjiec-nl session of the SI-IKS>I honivl npi>ropriate resolutions wetx- adopbvl. Tlie mxeurrenee east n deejt ghsun over the whole eitv nnd in the main |>ut nil end t-> tin- usual festivi ties of the ilnv. A f.liiixtlv Iterard. The New York Ifcralti'* special rcjiort of deaths from unnatural causes in that city is one which calls for more than or dinary attention. During 1870 more than a thousand persons died from violence, and there is an excess of more than a hundred over the similar record of 1875. A peculiar feature of this exhibit is that the increase is due to accidental causes; the increase of deaths from sunstrokes and drowning more than account for the total excess over last year's casualties. In spite of law ami precaution the hid eous roll of homicides and infanticides is as large as 1875, and that of suicides is considerably greater. The increase of hydrophobia is alarming, five doitlis having occurred, against none hist vear 111! IAM OF TIIE THIHK. HUM lit. SUliiui I U> k IHIIIHIW nl l.u* IslsuU bavr in. ,1 Oui-.Tbr 11. *t l ibrir V uuu# Vteii l,u*l bv tl, t ir> H.VIHU'. VV re. b. By the Wieek of tin- Cit'eassiau, B tlilw of ImlutiiM whose history is a strung.- one is pia -t eallv obliterattvl. 'Ten stulwart voting men nt the Hiiiumsxick trils-, which before th<- diswater nuiuls*rel Im7 souls, l""t their liv.-s on thut night, ami the vil lage is now d<-a.gue, I'ub ii "gue, Htiiuinvxs*k ami Monlatik trils-*. 1 his hitter trils- lui 1 Mtlslu.xl all th the giaini Ni diein of I, -ng Island. This uifoder ation wa*. howev.-r, itself umler Lrilmte to the more |siweifttl I'etjuot nation of <-sstent Connecticut, the ('.uiatxsx* tube is-ing umb-r tribute to the Mohawk na tion, bad oblig.-d to jiay nu annual n**wurd lin-iu bv the Eunip. utib. They w.-re very little niter f.-rixl with by tiie whites, tin- 1 take's law, lua.it- in lt'itx, wh eh pr>4tibitel imw, a form of worship t > tlie devil, Ix-mg the only interference r.x*'ixlexi in early his'-try of iln-ir .b-aling witii the while im u. Civtliratiou among them was tiiu* nut It a e uupurutsvrly easy tnst n-r, and freiu the first, the irilwa at the •NAxU-m eii.t of tlie island cxhilute.! in dust in MIS habits, none more a., than Una l*.r trils-, tlie Shmiie--ks, who inlutbit <• I the lt. ren lull* aivd adjacotil x>pntrv in what is IK-W the t -wuship of S-ulii smpt in, Suffolk county. till Ui<- s;\t..-liUi of August. ITtCI. the people - -f ri-iithampt -n |tur,-lian.xl ol Uns tnlie Uir lan-1 they .aVUJii.*!, and gate tlieiu a Utotisauil >-ar leas.- of ultat was <-albxl ShuiuceucY tract, and which ID elud.xl tlie hills, with tile tieck of land adjoining on Un* s->uth.xt.*t. Bv the terms of Uns b a*, thev were "allowed Uic privilege of plow.tig, |>biul litaan 1 cut ting tinilvr for fencing an 1 fuel, also to cut ting*, bulrushes, ami u<-h gia.xx.-s a* they un.- m making mats and IK-IIK,-#.' I'll.- t'lWUhlop rexerted t • itx-lf llliwlowx, mar*lie, giax*. hertiage, t.xsjinii jiaxtur age, tinilvr, stone ami emv.-nunit high ways Iliat the |*. >r Sii iiiixx*-k tnls* iluptvn.xl itself, even under th.-x.-disa.l vautag- . is pr>>v. d by Uu-ir mlwcjtMot history ami by th.- rising up among them of m. i > ndow.Nl ;th n > inferior talent*, s im. wiii-re s!-ut 1750 It * P-t -r John, a nat v. of the tnlM-, went foiUi t > !al*u aiiK-ng h>* In-lian lin-thr.-u, an 1 sue ixxxl.xl i,i .-stal.bsli tig churches at Wa 1- ing river, Paoqa'tick and (slip. Peter J- )tu wa* follow.xl in lTtt) by tlie fatuous Paul Cttff.x-. a!s.. a Sliinne - ch. After one humlrr-1 an I fifty year# of living under the .-mliarrwxxnig t -rtus of this lease the S.'llliUec - ks Sought f>>r Is-iter term an 1n March 15. 18.V.1. tluiewii a change liuab ill the l.wxe. and they were given Uie slitsdute owuer !i JI of t! a' p rti.wi >f Sloiinc.--k neck which lies .-u the * >nth-a-t b -un-larv of Ui • hills. 111.- Inst ix-iisn* put the r tpitnber at 1 *<7 mm, women an-1 children, the pn>- porto' - being alanit the same ax with white p-->pl-. Five children in iwli family is the av. rage. The majority are twr-.ly African; but u>- family is pure lmiiau, tliat of J.-liu Y\"nlk.-r, who j>er- I'h.xl in the wpx-k. He left a wife ami eight children. Hi* father a Sluu'ie rx\l and In* m -th.-t a Motitunk. Hi# wife is jUlie Indian. TIK- men an- nut dv einjilov.xl iu fish ing and wlulling, it few hiring as farm hamls. The former art- noted a* excel lent rx*.ks, ami furnish imt <>f the do ni.-xt <- tliat region. The tribal organization is very simple. They are governed by three trust.*-*, who are elected annually at the regular towiialiij. m.vting*. The tlir.x-ln*t elecU-1 trust ee*. including John Walker, u.xtc lost in the wreck. 'The h Hue lota ami fann* varv fa nil a small garden to twenty-tlv,- acre*. Their allotment re*ts entirely with the trust. who may, at any time, u.- ereaxe <-r .hvrews.- the aimuuit f land in the p H.M>xHu>n of auv person. The lc-t*.s IK >t lieing jn-rpetual. when a Shi unco vk dies all the itnj>r>>vetu*iit.s iu the shaiK- of cultivation, eleaiiug, fencing and buihliug revert tothetrilv, ami tin- trust.*-* mav r>-all>>t them to jvr sou* who are utter strangers to the dead nuin. M'>r.- >vei-, au ludiatff eaniMit lease <>r sub-let the land allot.-.1 t > hint. These fa.-ts have had u very depressing influence u|*>n the attem|>ts of the nls>rigilies to eultivute tli<- rear-rvnti.m, and have driven them to settle outside. Numlvrsof tlieni are n >w scattered a!l over the I mt.xl Hta l . l #. They have at their Long Island home two onbnary districA schools and two ehiire'ie*. t>ne>f the latter i* ('oti gregn'ional and the other i# f tin- Heo > lid Advent demqninntnm. The singular orgnniaatHi f the L >ng Ishiml Indians *• "ins to have IMXUI eff.-et.xl with but little ln-lp from the wlnt>>s. The M'Uitauks n lh>' end of the i*ln:ul retain their <>l>l tribal system intri t, but only twelve of them remain, and one <>l these is King Pharaoh. He holds as n perquisite the right f j>astur age n the Moutauk h 11*. ami person# wish ng t> pasture have to " sc.-" the kinc. \Vh.-n Phanw>h'afather die.l, tenor twelve years Bgo, the uncle of the pres ent king succeeded t > the throne, but Pharaoh, made etiurag.xms and vicious by whisky, gnth- red his faniilini-s nnd so terrified hi* uncle by tlirtxtts that th>- Intb-r resigned, and " Pharaeli reigned ill his stead." These M-nitniiks were always known n*a warlike tribe, but they were crippled nml most of them slain in 177(1 by tli" I'eqiiot* of Connecticut, against wliotu th-y wAi> marching, and wiio lure l tlieui i > destruction by nu ambuscade. An attempt was made about five years ago by the Oneida Indians of New York to institute intermarriage between their tribe and the Shinneeoeks. A deiuita t;on of Oneida* came to Long Island, bringing with them soine s|cciinens of their young women. Hut the big In dians of Long Island turned up the r noses at these damsels, and they de parted. Unt 1 about thirty years ago this tribe nsod the ancient thatched lodges. The last of these was burnt at that time, with its occupant, Mary Tut, who was over eighty years old. Tlr'ir homes are now small, one and two st >rv jieakod roof clapboard houses. The tribe dressed in the traditional blanket up to ten years ago. Thev own no boats but fishing smacks. I'here is only one basket maker among them. One woman, Kitty Wal- TKKMH: a Year, in Advance. ker, Mill narriet the " lwi-k basket " a long, nuilow wicker affair, sujpoited by u btiiq> passing uround the forehead. I hc I top Returns. 'The l>oeelnl>r l-lsvrtscif the •tgitctll lural ili-jvurtnu-nt of the t'uitod Htatos *uy * tliat alimvsl the uly eomplauit alvcmt tin l apple eiop is tlvat its *ujerabund- SIKX- has greatly diminished its market value. 'The Iteee.liver letilllVS iudlitlte tliat the averag. a winter wln-at has Iveeu in i-nwMnl alsvir five js-r cent, over tliat of the previous voar. 'Tlie sinali area shown in the New England States is fully maintained, and some additions were exjvectod to lie made after our re turns were sent 111, as 111 notue counties it is etistoiuarv to delay a.wing this gnnu until just In-fore fr.x-zmg. All of the Mnldle State* return an average equal to tliut of the last year except New York, which bvses eight |K-r c*ut. The South Atlantic ix*t*i State* rejs.rt a considera ble iiier.-*e, a stual! deficiency in Geor gia I wing overcome by a marked m crvfuw HI North Carolina umlS-aith Carve liuu. Tin (Suit Stat.-*, Alabama ami Mm* nutq.pi lejs.rt an iucreaae which c-vunt. i bslvUK'e the decline iu Texas. Florv.la un>l E >uv*miia grow but lusigm tb-aut crop*. The inland Southern State* All rejs.ii aii LUCIEAO-'l acreage. North of the Ohio river, Michigan ami Wmeon siiv rejsvrt a decrease of wheat acreage, but the other States rejKirt increased brendtlis, enlarging tiie acreage Hiri enlarge# lu-r itrreage at least one-third, Kansas, one-eighth, and Nebraska nearly oue lut'f. The Pacific States also report a large increase. The ixvuibtiou of the •Top ajijMxtr* froui the returns to lie al*iut ten jwr cent, alvore the acreage on the whole. The average of winter rye in lW?(i doe# nst materially differ front that uf 1870. A I hange of Ufc. AI Mint six years ago two r>bl-is lying iu w;.,i in n ravine near Nashville,Tenn., ■wNx.st.xl n Mr. Detitsey Weaver, t.sik huu Itvuu his buggy, gaggvxl und tied him, earn.xl him into a dense tiueket, rolilved hint of sls, nml left him to free himself ax IKX.I he collhl. It\ il.*|rml<* exertion he frvxxl himself. Oue of Uie robber# was arrested and ideufltbxl, alid subse quent Jy the other Was capture.l. Ii >th men were eolivi.*tel and ***ut<-mxxl to ten or fiftvx-u Vrxtiw' unpriixinineiit. Soine titue aft.-r lie Wits sent t> the penitentiary, one Ixviiuir a class leader IU the ouovict Sunday-scltonl, and detennimxl 1.1 leud a l-tter life, .lust lief on- Christ um*. 1875, friends of tie* reformed con vict up}>l uxl to Mr. Weaver for hia ac quiescence ill the |iardoll of Uie mail that Christmas. Mr. Weaver couacuttxl, and the convict tliat Christmas morning walked out of Uie prison doors a free niiui. He dx>ired U> *•*■ Mr. Weaver for Uu- purptwc of asking ins forgiveness for Uie neigh manner in which lie had treat ed huu. and to return the money of which they liad loblsxl him, wiUi inter < -t. Mr. Weaver lieing sick at the time, his sou went to see the fxuivict, who tllixle the same pixqsisiUou. But the money wo* refits.*!, sml moliiug more has IKKMI liearvl of the man until a short time ago, when it was ascertained that he hud txx*uue a pastor ef a church aud was leading a piotts, useful life. It is aaid that tins reformed convict revx ived In* education at Bethany TVilleg.*, and wa* r>xdly a man of much mental cajva citv. Another convict, who ha.l jiartici jatxl in the jK-mt.-ntiary Snndav-schiKi] work, His in leaving the penitentiary was orvlaitiod a minist.-r ai E.-bai-.oii, and j# now iu charge ufa congregation out West. Thoughts for Saturday Mghl. The true man is Uie hajqiy man. There will lie ever a place for virtue. Chancier i# a js-ri.x-tlv rdticntod will. Time's chariot win. Is make their road ill fairest faixx,. In the commerce of sjieerh use only ixiin of gold ami silver. 'll ie greatest truths are the simplest: so are th<- greatest men. B- >rn. livixl and died, sum uji the great epitome of man. One must do more when on# is old than when one is young. 1. >vo is the ladder on which we ehinli to the likeness of Gtsl. They who have light in themselves will not revolve n* satellites. Smie p*sl, loving, self-xacrifieing dixxl will transform the homeliest face into lienuty and sanctity. A little management may often evade rexistamxe, which a vast force might vainly strive to overcome. Pleasure, like quicksilver, i# bright and shy. If we try to grasji it, it still elude# us and still glitters. They who do sjieak ill of themselves do s i mostly s* the snr>st way of jirov ing how m.sl>st and candid they are. Things right in themselves are more likely to Im- hindered Uian a.lvanee.l by an injudicious t>-al for ]imin>itiug them. A New Court. Senator Wright's bill, in the I'nited Stat<-s SeiiAte, jirexented some wix-ks ago. looks to the settlement of the Presidential question by tin l establishment of aconrl to divide all such Contests as that now js-nd ing. The bill provides in snlmtanee that " the iNUirt sliail consist of the chief jus tice ami six judge* of the circuit r dis trict courts of Ul>" I'nited Stat.-*, to IH> elected by the snxl ehief justice from those of different jsilitical parties, mid who slmll not la- interest.*! in tlie jiartie ular .*>nt<-t, nor in any manner related thereto. Tho court shall meet in Wash ington and the ehief justice shall preside. Before acting the jinlgea shall take ti special ath for the occasion. The court slinll have js>wer to make and enforce all regulations not contrary to law. The court shall have power to allow amend ments to pleadings, but then* ahall lw> no unnecessary delav in the hearing*. Each of the judges have J*>Wl r to admin ister <>nths, and the court shall have power lo send for jiersona or jwjvrs and .-nforee attendance. A majority slmll be conns-tent to decide all questions ami shall keep a rvonl." A Wicked Fiieiay Tito wickedest nml most audacious fish of all that preys on the oyster is the drumfish. When he lights on an >yster htil he isn't satisfied with eating the in side, but ehews the oyster shell up als the sumo n small boy eats |>o nuts. Drumfish eotne in schools, and Princes bay is their favorite resort, East river and the bays in the sound lieing comparatively free from them. They don't come every year, and it is tive years since n largo who >1 paid its respects to Princes bay. They make a noise like a drum, and a large school feeding would beat a drum corps. When they have gone through an oyster bed they will tackle the bottom of an oyster schooner, and eat the barnacles off. Druuifish pay their visits generally in the months of September and October. They have de stroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of oysters in years gone by. In two weeks one firm lost $2,000 worth of oysters through them, NUMBER 3. THE PHEfiIRETTIAL COUNT. ImpunMMi AriiuM It? ib# llnw M*e>al <#m- mlllr#. Tli<- following i* tui aix-urate stbtviiient of the in'turn tJiUn tar taken ly tlx* itjie nul committee appoint**! to mqgire into tleiittivea in tin* count ing of the i-ui'toml votes for lVeoideiit aliro|>oaitioiiM, iu form sulaitanOally aa follows: Flint- Tlie juiwer to ixMint th%elec tornl votes in not conferred by die Con stitution IIJMIU the president of the Kenate. Secoud- That the power to - onhuate and ejus] with the Beuate. Fouith- Tliat in the counting of the electoral vote no vote can be counted against the judgment and assent of the House id Representatives. These propositions were discussed by the committee, ami much ability lias I wen ahowu bv several of the members. Two of the Republican niemliers, Mr. Hurebard of Illinoia Mid Mr. M'-Dill of lowa, took gngtnd ui favor of the right* of the president of tlie Senate to count the electoral votes. Mr. Srelji- of Manatu-hilM-U*, the other Republican mcmlier, livid tliat, a* th ixaumittee sua appointed to ouuaider the ftiuetion of the House of Representatives iu counting tlie ehx-toral vote, it wu* mi part <4 its duty to patm upon the }H>wei of the president of the Setiale. He lieUl tliat tin- method of couuliug the electoral votes should lie determined bv a law JMUUMXI by Congress. Mr. Seehe *ub luitted tlie following aa a sultsmwp- for Mr. Tucker'a pro|*isitiou*: h'rmAitd, That it is the privilege of the House of R<-l>re* titaUves to atteud with the Semite when tlie electoral votes are opened, to apixuut tellers, W'lio, in ixuiuection with tellers appoiuteJ by the Senate, shall register and compute this vote, and to object for any reason which it deem* projM-i to the rm-priou of any electoral \ot . That it is ill the jsiwer of the House (if Repixxieutativew, witii the concurrence of the Senate, to reject auv electoral vote ahicli may lie contrary to law. That it l* the duly of the House of UitimvultlivM to sccept every properly cx*rtill(xl electoial vote which the two house* do uot agree to reject as coutrary to law. Thai the privileges, tlie powers, and the duties of tlie House of Itepreseut*- trie* iu counting tlie votes for Preaideut and Vice-President at tlie United States are no more and no lew* than thnae of tlie Senate. At a late meeting of the committee, Mr. Rurchanl moved to amend Mr. Tucker's pro)K>!Uti'Ui by affirming that the president if the H-nate luid the power to (xiunt tlie vote. This was uega tivenL Tlie four projaautious of Mr. Sx*lye were next voted upon, and the conunitice *Uhkl four to three against the motion, tlie Republican members all voting for it. The committee uext voted up-u the first three of Mr. Tucker * prop<*itiou* luriatiui, Tlie two first acre adopted by a jwrty vote—four to three—and the third one receivxxl the unuiimous \<>te of the committee. Tlie fourth proposition, which is the most imjairtant of all, will t*e votxxl upon at the next iiux-ting of the committer, and it will probably la- adonUxl by a party vote. It reaffirm* the Aoctrinw* of the tweuty-secoud joint rule, that the House alone lis* the |*>wer to rejart the vote of a State. The stand to IK> taken li* the Detuo rrttir metnlten upon tin* proposition i* indicative i'f the purpose of the Demo cratic leaden at the House, which is to insist *t r.mgly uj>u the highest power which has e\<-r lieeu exercised by the House over the electoral votes. The Electoral Vote. Liic I'mteJ States House mmAtti>c on the counting of the electoral vote lias ile citlod to sit in Mvret session and to witln hold any publication of it* proceedings until later iti the session, or until the cnnmittee ha* reached something like a unauimoiif sentiment. It will not meet the Senate committee in joint aeaaiou un til it is prepared to act definifeelv. Cor reoptaidence ha* lawcl Ix't ween its cliair ituui. Mr. IVrne. ami the cliairmau < taught to cook as well as girls? A hus band who understands how to hake, broil, stew and boil is u real treasure in a household, however accomplished hia better half may be in the same direc tion. " Why not make him baby tender als>? Let his development in house hold education l>e complete and svm metrical. AN ARMY or THEM. —The total num ber of a nests made by the police of New York during the year 1876, as computed from their returns from January 1 until the inoniing of December 30, was 91,401. Item* of Interest. Never ponlpone happiness. aa his who la- To" cr* fl|ffV*v inueh ia to put your I Maori* lb aim her man a sqneeser, 'lucre are T4,fK#,fVJ2 aehool going rhil -1 (lit* in Itm-ffnitsd States and Tanri i'lrtf*. f ff-ji J r " Man prupoaea"— hut tliere are still 111,000 more woman than mien in Massa chusetts. A man at a church fair the other night cried out: " I'v# get the ovater. (limine tlie prite." The art of Irving easil v aa k> money ia to pitch your scale of living one degrea Isilow your mmus. , " Tite liuote," wy* Jah Hillings, " ia a luxury, in that they make a man forget all hia other miseries." Apple* dou't keep Worth a cent this winter—especially where there are four buys in the house. Hpicer auys he meant to have had hia sidewalk as)ted during the cold spell, hut he '■ slipped up on it."* It is proposed to put a roof, composed of glasa and iron, over tlie whole of tlie ruiiusl town of Pympeii. Hie total production of l*et root sugar iu Euroj** is now estimated to cou aiderahly exceed 1,(100,(100 tons. The season for going to candy pulls, and getting into a fight over a freckled faced girl with a blue now on, ha* come. Punch, in hia dictionary, gives the definition of the word " eonacienre " My ntle for another man s conduct." The young geutlemen who aoonmpauied hia offer of marriage vritfi a hundmi dol lar fur jacket has had hia hand and seal accepted. Florida has a young lady named Neu ralgia Dimple. Her mother found it on a medicine 1 Kittle and was charmed with it It was scurvy that prevented the Eng liab expedition from reaching the north pole. A scurry excuse is I letter tluui none. Among the resolves feu* the new year, resolve that if yon ante anything for tlie newspapers you will close when yon have said what you have to say. Scoop the core out of a baked apple, fill the hole with milk and sugar, and set out doors to free*#, 'lJim go out after owl, step on the apple, and take a slide down the step aoJ over three old knots and two aalipans. After the sham 1 mule at Princeton. N". J., the troop* partook of an alegaot col lation and liad a gJ life during the new year have lieen filiating through any young man'a head, this is the tune to enter upon the determination to keep them and to begin to carry them out Put them down on l>a|K-r. if tliat will strengthen the mind's purpose in regard to them. The oansu* taker* of the Young Men s Christian Association of Jersey City re port that there are " thirty-five saloon* to each church :u that city." Whereupon the Norristowu H< raid say* : " Why a chnrrh idiould liave no'many saloon* we can't understand. We should think ten would suffice for tlie largest church in tlie city." It is uow ascertained beyond a doubt tliat two young ladies of Rondout, N. Y., ÜBtm. usimxl Charkftte and Martha Smith, who left intending to visit their uncle at Kloomiugtou. 11L. were among the victims of tlie Ashtabula railroad disaster. They were the daughters of a willow recently reduced fnuu affluence to poverty, aud the blows falls ujxm her with crushing weight. A asd example of the fatal nature of diphtheria has just occurred in Pari*. A whole family, consisting of father and mother sad two children, were attacked with it, snd oarrieil off in short time. 1 )r. lb-gnu ult, who attended them, caught tlx- malady, and in apite of the (an* of one of hi* colleague*. Dr. Bi*et, died also in twvitv-fonr houf*. I>r. Riset was theu attacked in hi* turn, sod be expired. A man and his wife were found in Uieir dwelling in San Francisco, both with bullet wounds, from which they have probably aince died. The husband said, as hi* dying testimony, that his wife shot him, "ami then accidentally slug herself. Tlie wife said, as her dving testimony, that her husband shot tier, aud then accidrutaliy shot himself. Each gave jealousy aa the inciting cause of the other's crime. Nobody el*e saw the *lm H>ting, and tlie notice find no means of reaching tlie truth. It IVn Strong Enough. An Indianisu went into a Chicago saloon and asked fur a "gin cocktail with souie strength into it" The barkeeper made a mixture of alcohol, pepper aance, alisinthe, lime* and painkiller. " The Indianinu drank it," says tlie Chicago Tribmm , " and aUxit a quart of tear* catfie to his eve*, his mouth contracted to 'about the *lse of a safe key hole, and when lie had sufficiently mastered hia emotion t> speak he said : * How much's tliat ?' ' Fim-cn cents,'' responded the t>arktx'j>er. Tin- customer put down a quarter and said : ' Keep the change— have something yourself ;* then, wring ing tliq liarkeeper's hand, he added : ' Tliat's the first good gin I've tasted siu<-e 1 left home—something like liquor; it's sort of quick in taking hold and alow in letting go. Oome and see me, and I'll give you some corn whisky that's 1 letter still—whisky that's like swallow ing a circular saw whole and pulling it up again.' Tlie barkeeper an hour later asked the patmlmu if he liad heard of an old man Vicing found dead on the sidewalk, and when the officer said no, he danced a few jig steps, and cried : 4 Hurrah, he's gone somewhere else to die!' ** . Sunday Law. A law in Massachusetts provides that any jierwon who keeps open a place of business on Sunday, or does any business or labor on that >lay, shall pay a fine of not more tluui $lO for each offense. A Hebrew who was convicted of *ttch an offense put in the plea that as he con scientiously lieliev\l that the seventh day of the week was the Sabbath, and that as he nliaerved the Reventh day and did no business thereon, he could not constitutionally lie held ameualile to tlie State laws regulating the Lord's day. The court overruled his plea, and the supreme court of the State lias just affirmed tlie ruling. INDIANS SLACOHTRUKD. —The Galves ton Xrire lias a letter from Fort Worth which says: M. M. Braniuui, of this place, has just arrived from a frontier trip, and brought with him an Indian's outfit. He savs that he and three buffa lo hunters surprised a thieving band of live Comanolies ou the Colorado, about seventy miles from Concho, and killed them all. Tliev slipped up on them while cooking, and killed all but one the first round, and finished him with a sec ond volley. POPE PICS IX.—The Roman Catholic church throughout the world will, on the twenty-first of next May, celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the elevation of Pope Pius IX. to the dignity of the Epis copate. Mrs. Gen. Sherman has charge of the subscriptions for the event in the United States.