A PIKE'S PEAK HOMIER. A TROTTINO OX IIKATS ALU THE tIOKHXiI IX tits NBtunnoßitoon, That an ox, in sotuo circumstances, may show speed in striking contrast with its usual slow gate i proved by the following story toid by a correspondent of the Cincinnati Kn</uirer : A member of a party of miners, named Green, dis gusted with prospects at Hike's Peak, took AH liis share of the camp outfit, an ox and the fore part of a cart, and out of tho latter ho made a sulkcy. With this he drove en*t and squatted on som<- land near Denver which he cultivated. One day ns Green was driving his ox into'Dcnver, some fellows on horseback attempted to pass him. The ox moved by gome apparent freak, quickened it* steps until it went oil' in a swinging trot leaving the horse behind. This was the first intimation Green had that hi* bob tailed ox (it was bob-tailed) could trot Tho idea then presented itself to him if he could only accustom it to trotting a short distance on a certain ptoco of ground it could out trot nny horse in the neighborhood. There was a gsm bier named Rand tie in Denver at tli!•- time who owned a horse that could do hi mile in 2:40. Rtndule was acquainted with Green, and would occasionally drop into his quarters and ptaiso his horse. A day or two after Green's dis covery of his ox's powers L.indole drop ped in, and, as usual, began " talking horse." Green remarked that he ii id an ox that could beat Rand,tie's horse lor three hundred yards. lutudalo laughed at first, then got until, and at last oil--ret! to Let ten to one that it could m>t L>- done. The Dot was promptly taken and they adjourned to the prepared place. The ox.was backed up to s lit tie cart. When everything was ready, away they went. Sure enough, at the end ot four hundred yards the ox oaine iu ahead. <>u the spot Randale bought half the ox for ? >OO. The next dsy it was pitted ng iin*t two hotses, and the whole city turned out to see the re niarkablu phenomenon, a trotting ox. Again was it victorious, and aiuid the wildest excitement passed the line six lengths ahead. Every day thereafter the ox defeated n horse or two, and there soon became a popular demand for a share in the Ani mal. Accordingly a company was form ed with a joint stock of s<>,4oo, being sixty-four shares ot #lOO each. The stock went like hot cakes, and soon so d above par. In a week, during which the ox had won several mor races, the stock was quoted on the gam bling tables, and passed for $l,OOO a share. At last a horse sired in San Francisco came along, and a trial ot speed was made up between him and the ox. <'n the apjminted day it was estimated that there were ten thousand people present. The ox took the lead from the start; at the one hundred pole he was a length and a half ahead : at the one hundred and fifty it bad be come three length*; at the two hun dred and fifty the distance had widened into five length* asd the ox still gaining. Hut when within a dozen yards of the winning post the ox became tired and made up his mind to stop. According ly he planted his front feel and refused to budge. Moral suasion, profane j abuse, physical ill usage, all failed to | move him, and the horse quietly trotted part and took the race. From that minute the stork sank from $l,OOO x share down to one sixty-fourtii of the value of the ox as meat. Many effort* were afterward made to coax the ani mal into * trot I ut all inurement and persuasion, gentle or otherwise, failed, and he never trotted again. Futiuj Divorce Case. Fr -m tin r|iui. Washington prolcihly has as many cur ous phases of the divorce of bus hand and wife as any city in the country. Every day brings something new. The last is in a somewhat nota ble family we see together daily, appa rently in harmony. Tliey cAnsi-l 'if husband, wife and two little babies, who lived together at tbc home of the husband's parents until the wife's cer tificate of divorce came along som-- weeks ago, from Indiana, (grounds, "in compatibility of temper,") and there upon the wife packed up her trunk*, gathered tip one of the children and moved over to the home of her own parents, who are well-to-do people. It was all very pleasant—the ex-husbahd. with his one half of the progeny, po litely accompanied the ex wife ami her division of offspring, ami had her bag gage stowed away in her new home; after a little family chat all around the table the rnsle division withdrew with his baby. At tho doors "Ta In, come and sec me when you cAn,'* quoth she. " I will, my dear; you must come around and see us when you can," quoth he. The babies were kissed by the several parties in interest, and the ex husbanu and his half of the nuptial is sue went on cheerily homeward. And so they keep it up; daily visit*. The wife was horn in this city, and never has been a dozen mile* away from it. Neither of the parties ha* ever seen the Hoosier State. Hut an Indiana court decreed them divorced. The largest Infant on Record. The largest infant at birth of which there i* nny authenticated record WAS born in Ohio on the l'lth of Isst Janu ary. The new horn boy was twenty three and three quarter pounds in weight (the ordinary weight being about six pounds), And thirty inches in height (tho ordinary height Wing about twenty Inches). The circumference of the head was nineteen inches, and the foot was fives and a half in lenghth. -Nix years ago the same woman became the mother of a child eighteen pounds in weight and twentv four inches in height. The size and weight of thebaW, though extraordinary, are proportionate to the size-of the parent*. The mother, Mrs. M. V. Rates, of Nova Scotia, ia seven feet and nine inches high, and the father, a Kentuckian, is seven (eel seven inches high. The London Hospital Museum can Wast no longer of iu giant infant, which is only twenty-s>ur inches high, with the head thirteen and a half inches in circumference. HOCSS-CUAKISU refrain—Oct up and -i.i.L A FANCY CLOCK. A clock having "three times more dial indication* anil more moving em bellishment* than any dock on mirth," has just been finished in Columbus, Ohio—the result of eight year* of toil. In a few days it will be on exhibition in Columbus, and then will begin the grand tour of the states. From The (Wuiniui Journal the particulara of this wonderful structure are learned. The maker's design was that it should be an "embodiment of the great events of our national history." To begin with, he has supported it by"a ponderous pair ot eagle claws, draped and bunded by the thireeen sturs of the thirteen original states." It is five feet wide and ten high, and the two sides have repre sentations of the two greatest event* in American history—the war of inde pendence and the war for the Union. Independence Hall is there, with the old cracked bell within the belfry and an old man ready to ring it. The god dess of liberty strikes the hour, ami the goddess of justice balances the scales in favor of industry. In the center of an eolian harp is a model of the famous Strasbourg clock only 4 inches by 12 in size. For the .grand Apostolic pageant the figures have been made after Leon ardo's printing. All the allegorical fig ures are made of ivory except the one of Satan, which is very properly made of ebony and bus garnet eye*. Historic scenes uro enacted on a stage. At the first quarter hour a locomotive appear*, as the emblem of our first progress in industry. At the second the bell i tolled in Independence Hall and Wash ington walks majestically nero-is the scene. At the third the Apostles bow to the figure of Christ, Peter denies bis Lord, and the rock crows. A skeleton hastens along, bearing a green scarf on iif shoulders, with the words "time flies," and an infant emerges from the opening door with a rattle box in lii band. Just before tho full hour arrives a phonograph makes music to herald its coming. At midday emancipation is acted. Lincoln, proclamation in hand, moves toward a Slave bound to an auc tion block, while the slave turns to look upon his deliver his shackles fall and his hands are raised a* in a prayer of thanksgiving. Premium on Itaienlity. From lb* PifUtur* Crillc. The action of the Hoard of Pardons, on Thursday lust, in pardoning Househ ami Scott, of tho Seventh Ward Flec tion Hoard, is beyond the eomprehen sion of all good and law abiding people, and is an outrage that should receive the condemnation of all good citizens who think that the purity of the ballot should be held inviolate, and not to lie j placed in such a position that tho wish- j es of the voter* of s district would bj> ' subject to the manipulation of one or . two dishonest politicians who, for world- i Iv gain or filthy lucre, would defeat the wishes of the voters of their election , district. The Pardon Hoard of this State on ! last Thursday placed a premium on dis- j honest election officers, when ihey re- | commended to Governor Hoyt, the par- j dons of Itousch and Scott. The Gov- ; ernor is partially to blame for being so j hasty, after the recommendation, in j granting the pardon. Judge Kirkpatrick and nearly all the : officials around the Court House con demn it. Some of the friends of Kousch and Scott say the conviction and sen deuce was all that was required to show the supremacy of the Uw, and that it would not W just to imprison them any longer. Would not the same ar gument hold good in the caso of a mur derer who has lain in jail for a year waiting for his death warrant. floral in Seymour on Politician*. lolcrtiw villi X. T. J! ri •*i*n-Iwvil. I always liked politics, and, what is more, I like politicians. They are a much abused class. It is the fashion to sneer at them, but I think they are better men as a rule than merchants and bankers and other representatives of wtTat is called* repcctability. They make more sacrifices and do mqre un selfish work for other* than business men ever think of doing. They culti vale a certain chiraltic sense of honor. Kvan some who are naturally corrupt will refuse the most tempting bribe* when tho integrity of their party is in tmlved. I have seen enough of politi cs! life to sn'isfy me that its influence is elevating atui not degrading. I would much rather he tried by a jury of my political opponent* who were acknowl edged politicians, than bv a jury of re spectable business men who said thst fhey took uo particular intoreat in |>oli tic*, but usually voted the Republican ticket. From them I should expect gross injustice and prejudice ten times a* intense as my avowed political oppo nents would display. The man who servea a cause, if it is not a positively bad cause, is ennobled by the service. He learn* to look at men, as well as doctrines, from a higher standpoint than mere personal selfishness. The Marriage of the Midgets. A New York paper says : It has been finally arranged, after many discussion* between their families, that the Mid get* are to be married next Sunday. Lucie Zarate, the prospective bride, is 15 years old, arid weighs less than five pounds. Her face is bright, but not prepossessing. The bracelet* she wear* cannot he buckler! around the third finger of a man of ordinary site. Her shoes (made to order) are 2J inches long, and her gloves measure about I inch from the top of the longest finger to the button at the wrist. Her cape was made originally for a doll in a Rroad way show window and is a good fit. In the matter of jewelry she ia pro fnse. On each hand she wears a dia mond ring, her brooch is a diamond, and she has a fondness for dangling ornament* on her ears. General Mite ia twice the weight of hi* prospective bride. The preparations for tho wed ding are going steadily forward. The brine is to wear a white satin dress studed with seed pearls. Hmall as her frame is, it la estimated that tho bridal dress contain* no leaa than 1,000 pearls. The bridegroom is to wear his full dress suit, except thst his vest of black cloth will be replaced by a white reat. MATRIMONIAL CHECKER*. From Ih* fMrolt Fit© I'imm. Up to three evenings ngo such a thing a* a checker hoard was never known in Mr. (Irattan'a house. He and hi* aged partner have managed t< pass the long evenings very pleasantly, and he sup posed they were happy enough until a friend from the East paid them a fly ing visit Btid asserted over and over again that the game of checkers was not only ull the rage there, hut .that it served to quicken the perceptive facul ties, enlarge the mind and render the brain more active. After giving the subject due thought Mr. Orattan walked down town and purchased a checker hoard, and when evening came he sur prised hi* good wife by bringing it in from the wood-shed, and saying: "Well, Martha, we'll have a game or two before we go over to the social. I expect to beat you all to Hinders, but you won't care." "(if course not, and if I beat you, why, you won't care," she replied. They sat down, and he claimed the first move. She tit once objected, but j when be began to grow red in the face *lio yielded and lie led of)*. At the , fourth move -he took a man, chuckling ! a* slio raked him in. "I don't see anything to grin at," he J sneered a* he moved a man backward, i "Here! you can't move that way!"' she Called out. "I can't eh! Perhaps I never played ! checkers before you were born I" She saw a chance to jump two more men, and give in the point, hut a* she I moved he cri- I out : "Put them men rigid hack there! I've concluded not to ruqve hack a aid even if Hoyle docs permit it!" She gave in again, hut when in- jumped a man her nose grew red and she cried out: "I ,ITWt mean to move there ; 1 was thinking of the nodal I" "Can't help the social, Martha—we must go hy llofle." In about two minute* she jumped two men and went into the king row, shout ing : "Crown him! crown himl I've got a king "One would think hy your childish 1 actions that you never played a game before," he growled out. "1 know enough to heat you!" "You do eli ? Some people are awful *tnart." "And some folks ain't," she snapped a* the king captured another man. "What in thunder are you jumping that way for ?" "A king can jump any way." "No he can't!" "Ye* he can!" "Don't talk to me, Martha Orsttan ! j I w*s playing checkers when you were in the cradle !" "I don't care ! I can jump two men whichever way vou move." He looked down on the l<oard, saw that *ueh was the case, and roared out: ! "V on'ire moved twice to my once." "I haven't I" "I'll take my oath you have ! I can't j play against such blackleg practices ?" j "Who's a blackleg! You not only' cheated, hut you tried to lie out of it!" 1 Hoard and checker* fell between them. He ceuhi get on hi* hat quicker thsri she could Jind her bonnet, and that w* the only reason he got out of tiie house first. A Woodward avenue grocer found him silting on a basket of crati t>errie at the door as he wa* closing up for the night, and asked him if he was not waiting for hi* wife to come along. "Well, not exactly ; I stopped here to feel in rnv tiockcl for the key of the barn. I shnil sleepon the hay to night, and see if it won t cure this cold in ray head." win THEY "i:\oins." Til* M-.B'i** LISV|JUS Tit* SOI Til tiKi'Al St Ttiar WANT A tit AM, a. , Vr*wi fH" I*t 1/nilf i#M :<x*rrl "f'onie this wsy," said s gentleman nt one of the desk*, "thi* man want* to have a talk with you almut going home, and i going to put your name in the | PSR-T/' I "What is his name?" the reporter ' asked. "William Chapman," answered the ! darkey. "And where do you hail from?" "I'gh'n ?" queried William. I "Where do you corns from "Mad'son p*'*h." "Well, now," said the gentleman at the desk, "tell the reporter here why you left the Smith." "Well'n." said Chapman, threatening to wipe hi* black nose with the rim of his hst, "I dunno. I wai a hveanin' de people sll is) sin shout com in' an' a gittin' ready fur to come, and dey war a savin' wat a nice place Ka ansa* wu*. an' so I je' bundled up my thing* sn' come along." " Was that your only reason for leav ing?" asked the reporter. "Dat'a de only reason I know for it," said William. "No one ever harmed or threatened you in the South ? You had no fears of the white* ?" "Oh.no.no; no, indeed. Hies* you, no w'ite man ever ha'med me." "And yon never heard of any troubles with the whites ?" "Deed'n I didn". Dsr wuzno trouble 'bout in our part*: but I hearn*ay 'at over in y' other parishes dere wu* some thootin' or io.h. "You're not afraid logo hack South ?" "Noh, I'm not 'fraid! W'at I got to Iks 'fraid uv? Kf dere ain't no much shoolm' and killin' dar w'en we lef, I can't see nuffin' to be askeard on." "Then you aro anxious to go hack ?" "Deed'n 1 is. De Houf is good "nuf fo' roe. I ain't a hod no health here since I kum. I've s bin mo*' ailin' to do. Nah, nah, I tell you I ain't 'fraid to go back. I had s nioe place down dar, and wti* livin' with Mr. Crandell for over nine year—Mr. Crandell was a nice man. No, indeed, dere alt-'t no killin' where I nun from, cause if dere wu* I bet you I wouldnt't want ter git back." "WHAT does transatlan tin mean, mam ma?" "Across the Atlantic, child. Hold your tongue and ask no more questions." "Then does transparent mean across mamma?" WHAT tho key la to the watch, the prayer is to our graces. TACT. Fmm tlin Tin dpt. It was onc Causeur's good fortune to upend u few I.>• hin the mods *t home of a friend of slander meium—it home tltit t wat all that ita owner could afford to tiiuko it, yet lacked rnuny things that would have made it more com fortable ami convenient. 1 luring t'-tu- Mtur'a ntuy two guests were entertained at tea, both of them men of mean* and wide acquaintance, accuatomnd to all the luxury that wealth can give. Hut they were widely different in th<-ir behuv havior. The firat dwelt upon the fact thfl house wa* in an out of the way *pot, and that there were few or no neigh bors At table he told of the deliciout tea he had drank at the house of one friend, of the rich tea aervioa that he had neeii upon the table of another, of the rare old china that wan used in bin own bourn hold, and of the dainty nukli lie had eat-'ii from it. In the cr.niiped, little rifting room, after t<, he rat by the stove and talked of the delight" of an Open wood lire, of hi* enjoyment of rare and coatly book" and I picture*, ami of twenty other thing* that the host of whose hospitality he bad partaken did not and could not j possess. When lie bad gone it ws* clear, although nothing was said, that • bis visit had caused nam, that it bad I made the wife feel her straightened circumstance- more keenly than ever, and cast a shadow over her hushan I'M ; thoughts. The next evening came the other j visitor, lie brought good i licer in his very face. '! fie room, he said, fell so warm and comfortable after Ins walk, which, he added, wajut the thing to give a man a good appetite f-.r his sup- ; I< r. At the table be spoke of every thing that was nice, congratulated hi. host on having such a snug little home, apologized for eating so much, but couldn't help it, because it ws* "so good " and lasted *'so homelike," like I the old black tea pot Iscrnuso it wa* jut like the one In* mother had when be wa a boy, and toid bis hostess, who wsf all smiles am* as happy a* a queen, that she ought to thank her stars that she had no gas or furnace to ruin the 1 flowers that made her home look so cheerful. After to* he in-uted that the child *houhl not bo sent to f-d "just I yet;" said lie wanted to tell thorn a j story, a* he did; and when lie had , done, and had ki*scd them goc-d night, they trudged oIT up stasia with beaming i faces, under the guidance of a mother who felt that a ray of real -unshine Lad j entered her home, making it belter and | happier for all lime. The Issie For Ills Mother. In the sermon preached at the fun i ersl of the Isle l>>)i< p Foley, we fiud the following beautiful passage: | "One instance in his life, which many I persons might look down upon a* s , mere | aasing weakness of human afleo j lion, to me seems the key to the man's i independence of what any one thought ! and tiie man's great tenderness, (in i | the day of bis consecration ;n Haiti , j more, after thai solemn ceremony, he ' went, the mitre on bis brow and the pastorial staff in hi* hand—he went around to give |,i* blessing to tne crowd of jieople who exulted in and were proud of hi* elevation, who knew him in childhood, who saw hi* Ulsrrs in the {•ricsthood, and now saw htm crowned >y his elevation to the Epiaropnte. A* lie went down the nave of the church an age l lady bowed her head to receive hi* Massing, and then looked up to him her eye* full of tears of gratitude tolled for Ins elevation. She looked up- that , tender mother loved him so much—and bowing hi* mitred head be kissed hi* mother's brow, *how.ng an inde pendence and a tendcrnea*. Hi* heart wa* touched. There are those who poak of the weaning of the after tions—of the independence n*c*s*iy for Dirine lave—but no matter what weaning there may be, the fore of the mother ever remains. That mother that is with her child, in affliction or in jnv that mother will be beside him whether he sit* on the throne or trem bles on the scaffold. That mother whose love disgrace cannot lessen that mother should ever he loved. A Model Confession. Seventy year* ago.in a Vermont town, a young lawyer—a member of a Urge church--got drunk. The brethren said he must confess. lie demurred. Ho knew the members to be good people, but that they had their little fault*, such as driving sharp bargains, screwing the latiorcr lown to low wage*, loaning money at illegal rab #, misrepresenting article* they had for sale, etc. Hut they were a good jwrnrdo *nd pressed the lawyer to corns before the church meeting and own to hi* *in of taking a glass too much, for they were a temper ance people before tomiwmnce societies existed. The sinner finally went to the confession ; found a large gathering of brethren and sister*, whose bowed head* rose and whose eyes glistened with Hesvenly delight as the lswyer be gsn confession. • " I confess," began he, " that I never took ten jer cent, for money." (Six was the legal rate.) iNt this confession down went a brother's head with a groan. " 1 never turned a poor man from my door who needed food or shelter." I>own went another head. " I confess I never sold a skim med milk cheeeo for a new one." Whercuj>on a sister shrieked for mercy. " Hot,"' concluded the sinner, " I hsve got drunk, and am very sorry for it." Whereupon the meeting peaceably dis miasod. A OoNoaassaAN WMoNaanrnt POIKT. — There never will be such * thing as im miinily from this eternal warfare of words aa long as the Congressional Rec ord ia published daily for the conveni ence of member*. I tell you I would wipe out of existence free publication of speeches, s* with a sponge, and enact a rule which would make oaoh member par for the print ing of hisown speeches. Why, sir, there wouldn't be any diffi culty then In making this session de cently short. The patriots, who are now loaded to the muzxle with fiery speeches, wouldn't shoot 'em off, not a hit of it. You couldn't get a man to speak above five minutes, and the mem bers for buncombe wouldn't have a word to say.—Rep. Wells, of Mo. COULDN'T HE "I,Ell OFF ON HE HOOF." WHY MK. IIKfcHY THINK* COISISKII SOCIBTY too Hprji "m.rvATEU." , groin ll- VliKlrili Cltf Kr. 1 < r\it l.,< lie wo* a new bootblack, but already seemed quit" at homo at the old stand so long a familiar object on the line of our daily peregrination*. "Hartm. boss, shine 'em up iri leas'n no time," *aid he, and we mounted to the hurricane deck of his place of busi ness. "Wall, yes, boa*, not bin here long, I but I'se geltin' insight inter do ways mighty fast, lie ways here, salt, is <ll f- | ferent to what dey is down in ole Mas sissip. Bin Ma*issip, sah? Fine old State, sah. Like de vray* better nor de ways here. Not so much eh-wation down dar. You hear de white folk* talk in* all <le time 'trout de elewation of de black folks, an' de collud folks in some of dein gettin' it on de brain an' i* preacliin' elewation. Not so much black dnr in ole MaMiasip as to de Norf an' out di* Way. Down in Missisrip dey goes on pooty much in de ole ways. Hey takes what happiness come* along ill *b- natural way, an doesen't reach up for it till dey gits a pain in de nck.'' "'I he colored people here appear to be quit* as happy as in any part of the world," we venture to remark. "No, s.ili ; beg leave to diffith ; you'* not on do inside, *ah; dar's too much l elewation : dat's what's de matter. <<ive I you an instance ; Lis' week, you kno' -ah, '!'■ culluil folk - had a b|l ; quite .a high toned afiuih, *nb. Well, I engaged a 1 young lady lor the party, sah—one dat !, at dat time, looked on RHIS pride ob . de country, nh. I am not indifferent ; to dress, an' 1 put on clothes dat don't i ebery day see de light ol< de nun —an' i went to <)• residence oh de gal. "I 'rived at do 'pinted time. He gal was in de bes' room an' in her be*' clothed, waitin' my 'rival on de scene, j | I>e ole man wa dar, mi' de ole woman*! ; also figured in de labuleaux, wit a few ' ' juvenile supenuutenury me tubers ob <le I family. 'Miss Augusta *mib-d on ine in dat ' inelliii way <.b de eve* dat alier< guvo ! me a movement ob <ie heart. I was in terjiiced to d<* more "flu on rial members ob de household an' de di scours' was agre. able. Presently 1 suggested dat it would lo well to be movin' for de party, and Mis* Augusta rose in all de pomp and circumstance ol her high priced artire. "We arrived on de upot at do door, an' otfbrin' my arm. I supposed vte should progress. No, ab, not a bit of it. Dxt gal receded. She rose erec' to an aston •shin' bight, an' as she transfixed me wid her gaze sh<- uttered dese meraora ble : 'What's d< tran'portalion ?' "I)e what?" says i, feelin' dat suff.n wa g<in' wrong. "He trans pot-at ion ? Wbar'sde trans portation ?' "'What's de transportation ?" says I. M 'l>e wehicle—a lint's de wehicle?' says she. "d don't know nuffin' 'bout no we- ; j hi ole.' says 1. "'Wha'a de kerridpe?' ay she. j "'Ho kerridge?' 'I haven't seen no ] kern Ige?' "'Misuh llcrry, dies v' ti pretend to ' ! tell me dat you're come to take me to | Ihe ball without a kerridge ?' and she become of still greater height, "'Why, of course,' says 1, 'I thought , )we could walk. Down in ole Mai*ip . de gaU think nuffin of g"in' mile an' miles—' • " 'So you expect me tn hoof it, M it*h I Berry? You tells tie'bout de gals in Ma is.jp, Mistah Berry ; do de gal* in ! MIM< i**ip know anything 'bout proper | attire, Mistah Berry?' An' she guv a sort of kick an' a sling of her body, an' trailed out 'bont four yards of train.' "'He ole man an'de ole woman an' all de rest now put in dsr 'pfaranee. an' says de ole man ; 'What's all diiconfu sion of tongue* ?' "'Mistah Berry doesn't consider de hot,ah sufficient lo warrant him in de outlay neoessary for de furnishing of propsh transpoUtion,' said Mis* Au gusts. "'S.\h " said de ole man : 'Sah !' sai'l | de ole woman ; 'Salt 1' said all de little member*. "1 said nuffin. i " 'l>oes de niggah 'spect he's gwine to j lead our darter off" on de hoof like she wo* a cow?" said de ole woman. I "'Who you call niggah, ole woman ?' says I. "Why, I'se drove lictter lookin' hofllgrs nor your* to de plow, down in ■ ole Massjssip.' "He gal shriekt! "'l'ar you talk tome an' my darter fin dat bituminous manner?' said de ole man, and he guv me a lift wid his old stogas d.it raised rue cfl'n do stoop, and follored it uji wid numerous of de same dat was much aasislaace to mo in gettin* out tie gate. "Bsrhi too much elewation, aah, crcepin' into cullud society. 1 turn my back on it, aah !" RSORITMTIXO TFIX OOM <R THX Cmros. —Many of the existing custom* of the Kusaian peasants are relies of the old times ol paganism. Thus, in the pro vince of Saratov in a season of drought the peasant* still reeott to the ancient fashion of attempting to draw the rain. In each of the villages every resident, old and young, tries to throw a pailful of water, perhaps around a corner, upon some unguarded or unthinking pedes trisn. Men, women and children drenched to the skin, and armed with buckets or aeon pa, pursue each other through the streets, amid uproar and laughter. Thus according to dradition, the god* of tha cloud* are propitiated, and send rain. A HmstiOi.ii l.tiiv.—There is a lady in Kittanning, Armstrong county, named Mr* Nulton, who was born in Philadelphia. June 14, 1775, and is therefore 104 year* old. She is remark ably well nreserre< 1, can read without giasses ana walk around with the aid of a cane. Bhe ha* had *even children, the oldest being Judge Nulton, who died * abort time ago aged 70. Bha live* with a daughter aged 6*. and her youngnst child hi 54. t Hie of her grand children is 45, and some of her great grandchildren have already voted. A MILL clergyman onoe said to some boy* in a gallery. "Don't make so much noise up there, or jrou will awake jour parent* below." Marriage In <I. It i death in Lapland to marry a maid without the convent of her parent* or friend*. When a young man ha* formed an attachment to a female, the fashion is to apj>oint their friend* to rneet, to behold the two young partiea run a race together. The rnu-d in allow ed in starting the advantage of a third part of the race, so that it ia impossible, except willing or herself that the *hould t; overtaken. If a maid overrun* her suitor the matter ia ended ; he mout never have her, it being ),<-nal for the man Ui renew the motion of marriage. Hut if the virgin h* an affection for him, though at lint she run* hard to try the truth oi hi* love, she will pretend •omemutuality and voluntarily halt he fore she comes to the mark or end of the race. Thus none are compelled to marry against their wishes, and tin* it the canoe that in thin |>oor country the married* people are richer in their own contentment than in other land*, where so many forced match.-, make feigned love and cause real unhappinow. ■" —♦ Mr*. Grant's I.lheral l*e or the Tongue. Caf4 .*! VJ O.i l.< NOON, A j*ril b. —lt is reported from Agra, on g-K.d authority, that after a w.-rni public dinner Mr*, 'irant, the ex- President wife, spoke a. follow, to a number of |<eoj,,'<.- sitting at the head of the table : "I he Genera! i* traveling abroad to a- to Le out of the way in a natural manner. He is going to run for President again at the next (lection. If wo were at home there are any amount of burning questions on which he wou -1 either b- force,} to pommit iiitnaell or lock awkwardiy. By travel ing around he ke.-pa himself nice and free ar,d be will go hack to the White Hoiiae quite untratnrnelc-d by any pledge*."' HABIT or SIIIKKIVO. —The habit of .lurking i* a grant evil in our land. Sad and bill, r arc the experience* of mul j litude- w|,o have lo*t position* of emol ument and trust by shirking dutiea and i responsibilities devolving upon lh.-m. I hey saw the-.r miatake after it w too late; It in * bad a.gn to see a young | man Contracting the habit of shirking, j You may set it down at once that soon er or later be will be a drone in tho hive of human industry, living without any purpose in life, and scorned Wy all those who have willing hands, and fol low up what they can find to do. Young man. if you want to gain the con fidence and esteem of your employer, never shrink from a duty. If over tasked. lav in your complaints, and you will always get • hearing. If you be gin life a shirk, you may act it down a* a fixed fact that the habit will follow you through life, and as a "success you will be an utter failure.'" Iveoxatrfini.! WtiTtxc Papex.—'Two Spaniard* h*vo lately taken out a pat ; .-nt in .Spain for making writing jjaf-er , mcombustiblc. The experiment* are i **; l to have been satisfactory. Tho I paper wsll not burn, no matter what ' may he the intensity of the heat ap plied. A single sheet submitted to the direct action of the flame will carbonize i but docst not take fire. if a roll of pre pared paper is placed in the hottest fire, the outside leave* will carbonize I the edges for a short depth, hut the in- I terior remains unaltered, the writing or printing being perfectly legible. The cheapness of the preparation make* it i accessible to every purjiose in which paper i u*M. PIGS, THE Hoc a ox WHICH 11* *•** j Wxrx xxn.—lt was not loose society, or ! the wine cup, or gambling, or stock speculation on the sly, that ruined a bank officer in Hnnesdalo. Pennsylvania, 1 if we may accept the version of the affair put out by his friend*. 110 went to Use bad by an original route—to wit; via. the pig sty. In an evil hour he became fired by an ambition—not cul pable in staelf—-to improve the breed of pigs in hi* beloved Pennsylvania. For that purpose he invested in a J'2.500 grunter, aid this unlucky purchase proved bis financial and moral destruc tion.—-V. Y. Sun. The opposition to the Mexican Inter national Kxposition, it ia said, will at tempt to defeat the project by fighting it with a bill to build a penitentiary upon the site of the Exposition building. Senors Uiva Palacio and Sebastian Cam ache, it is belived. have offered to ad vance tLe government a loan of fcJOV 000 toward completing the building at i an early da v. I "I snortn like to have yen raise a club,' aaid a Txp book canvsaaer to a daughter of Erin, a* he stood on the front step trying to talk her to death on ihe subject of the "Extinction of the Tnhes of the Seventh Century." "I I will," said Biddy, as she reached around itehind the door, "but bad luck to your picture if you're lingering around here when I get it raised." He didn't linger. TUB** cent UI ie after the advent of Christ there were about fi.OlKi.tiOO Chris tians, and at the end of the sixth cen tury there was about double that num ber. The gain in the United State* alone during the last twenlv five year* ia estimated to have equalled the result of all these ventures. "MAKBA," said a wicked youngster, "am 1 a canoe T" "So. child, why do you auk 1" "Ob, because you always say you like to see people paddle their own canoe; and I didn't know maybo 1 was your*." The boy went out of tho room with more reference to speed than grace. . . __ A ruructAN's little daughter, called upon for a toast, gave t "1 he hrelth ef papa and n; am in a and all the world." liut she suddenly corrected the senti ment. "Hot all the world, for then papa would hare no patient*.'' Turns'* hope for Texas yet Atsrt* cent election there were hut three vote* for license in the town of Wsxaharhiel and in another place a man had to j yJ |4O for swearing in the presence of i I**/- It take* a fellow who ha* been kicked' off the front stoop by the irate parent of hi* girl to tell tho story of the mistil* too.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers