FOR THR FAIR HEX.
Fashion Not**.
Scoop bonnet* are worn.
Poke tionnete are fashionable.
Jabots grow longer and longer.
Plush will be worn all summer.
Cashmeres are very fashionable.
(lilt buttons are the things on boots.
I<n<Ues wear gentlemen's scarf pins.
Shoulder capes are again fashionable.
Basque polonaises will In- much worn.
Suits of two shades are out <l fashion.
Shirring will be much used this Hum
mer.
French ladies of fashion wear only one
color.
Shirred fronts are seen on new over
skirts.
Isirgo bonnets are preferred to small
ones.
Breton is tin? lace ot the passing mo
ment.
Tnrhans are worn both in and out
doors.
The short skirt is as short behind as
before.
Breton lace jabots and scarfs are all
the rage.
There nre PJS kinds of ruching in the
market.
The cutaway still retains its hold on
fashion.
Crystal beads will decorate summer
fringes.
Steel beads are used to studblack satin
slippers.
The humblest flowers are preferred
1 this year.
New walking boots are to be higher in
the ankle.
! The edges of bonnets are left unlsiund
. this season.
. Myrtle-green is a favorite among the
I spring shades.
An antelope's head is the last orna-
inent for a fan.
Both high and low turban caps are
fashionable.
Black chip is the favorite bonnet for
all occasions.
Shirring is very fashionable on all
summer garments.
Skirts of short dresses retain their
narrow dimensions.
The straw hats, in bright colors, are to
be used for traveling.
I-are glomes with long fingers are com
ing into fashion again.
Gloves arc long, reaching to the elbow
for full evening toilet.
Suit* in two shades of the same color
are going out of fashion.
Waistcoats are often made to wear
over the basque as under it.
New parasols have flatter tops than
tlis? canopy ones of last summer.
l'ostilion pleats and fan trimmings in
the back ofliasques arc revived.
Fichu collarettes and jaltot collarettes
give a dressy effect to plain toilet.
Panama tweeds, for light summer
dresses, look like Panama canvas.
The turban is tire fashionable cap for
young ladies and young married women.
Caps made of silk handkerchiefs, in
turban or Normandy form, are much
worn.
I'.inicr scarfs and draperies appear on
all Paris drosses brought over tins
spring.
Immense quantities of Lisle thread
glovra have been iiii|H>rtod for summer
wear.
Garnet, blue glass and crystal arc com
bine?! in some of the new hair orna
ments.
I>ark velvet, ligh shirred satin or In
dia muslin are all used for facing spring
bonnets.
Graduated jet liall* will lie used for
the face trimming of black lace bonnets
Ui is year.
Shades of yellow, from pale straw or
corn, to deep tax and old gold, are very
fashionable.
ViTV large flowers, I-SJWH-Inllv rose* and
chrysanthemums, are used in bonnet
decorations.
Scarf* of fine net, edged with Breton
lace are as often worn for lionnct strings
as for mvktira.
The lieetle pins and brooches will be
Used on IKith blue, green and white Ism
nets this year.
Tea rose, old gold and Prince of Wales
red will lie used to trim Idaek ince lam
nets this year.
The marked feature in the n> w over
skirts are the shirred fronts and tmuf
fant back draperies.
Satin folds are nut stitched on dresses,
but lined with wignn and caught down
with blind stitches.
Underskirts have plaited ruffles of
Hamburg embroidery, and arc made with
deep yokes at the top.
Bark red and cream, pale Sevres and
tsii rose and gmilarme-hlue and red are
to lie fashionable combinations.
Balmoral skirts of gray mohair
trimmed with one or two plaited flounces,
are shown for summer wear.
White cambric waists are made up
with ten plaits-in front and eight in the
back, and have plaited lielts.
Princess overdresses of cnme]Vhair,
that can be let down and worn for wrap
pers am economical novelties.
Crystal glass buttons, sometimes railed
Rhine petioles, rut in facets and set in
platina are *lmwn fur waistcoats.
French bunting, a fine, light wool
goods, is tiio material in use for spring
and summer balf-inourning costumes.
The cashmeres in alternate glossy and
watered stri|ies are to he used for morn
ing wrappers and dressing sarqui-s.
Blue and lavender are the favorite
colors for trimming dress caps. The
lace is cnshnirre, Monde or Breton, as
one chooses.
Bonnet strings fbe tied in a large lnrftr
bow under the chin, not at the side, or
tliev are simidjr crossed in front, the
<mds forming a jabot.
The three NIUI|IC* of the rianicr nre the
Ninon, the Ninette and the Mousqurtnirc.
The manufacturers do not seem to hare
been too fortunate in names.
The novelty in spring bonnets is of
soft chin, or Tuscan straw, with a large
iirira ot the same dimensions all around ;
tills brim the milliners indent to suit the
face of the wearer.
Spring skirts may lie trimmed with
feduigs of pinkefi-ciut rose-leaf silk,
'roni live to seven row* of tlrfs material
are needed, ami tliey are shaded from
the deep to the pale tints.
Ribbon* in three shades of satin are
sometimes used on one lainuet. They are
arranged one over t lie other on the side.
and a bow of each is placed on the front
above the face trimming.
Bouflant draperies, whether on the
hips or back, are placed higher and
higher, the fullness more often being
placed just below the waist line than
lower down on the skirt.
The newest white lawn ami cambric
Waists have the fronts in flchu style,
made with a separate piece in six pleats
on each side, sowed In the Mhouldcr
seams, and tapering to the waist.
The riglitside of many of the pattern
bonnets is left almost hare. The trim
ming is massed high on the front anil
graduated toward the bock on the left
side, ending there in an elaborate how;
but the right fmiuently shows only a
doubled ribbon, w filch passes backward
and drops to form strings.
Nmrt 11 IVrl.
For the sake of having small feet many
an otherwise sensible woman will mar
tyrize herself by pinching those unlucky
members of the liody into INKM* ufa size
too small. As a natural and necessary
result of such pinching confinement, tie
foot becomes defot turd and larger than it
would naturally gr >w, with large joints
and toes turned ft cm a line parallel with
the foot, to say nothing of tin* trouble
some corns so annoying and crippling to
a large class of young women. The
worst results of this crippling custom of
wearing small and narrow hoots is felt
by children when allowed to outgrow
'heir Ismts. It is poor economy to allow
the young to wear lioots when the fist
have become tiMi large for them, since
deformity of the feet is easily produced
at this time. When the boot is too
short and the lu-cl too high, the ingrow
ing of the nails is a |ierfctly natural
result. < 'hildren w ill have sufficient ills
to contend with without this crippling
from deformed feet, the most prominent
cause of which is small and badly-titting
Is sits and shoos.
l'hloua for < ltlMtni.
Among the latest Parisian fashions in
children's suits, says a New York paper,
are the following models: For a mi-s
about twelve years ot age, a pretty suit
is composed of pcarl-eoiorod faille and
cade-mire, trimmed with seal-colored
feathers. The princess dross is cut in
the Knglish style, aiul tritiums! on the
lower part of the skirt with two plaited
flounei-s, surmounted by a band of feath
ers. The front of the dress consists of a
plaited faille pla-lron. the one. piece nlo
forming the deep turned-down collar.
This is liordcrcd on either side with the
same trimming. Down the middle of
tile back of tile waist there is also a
plaited faille trimming, forming two
bands, which separate at the waist.
These bands extend down on the -kirt,
forming the side trimming of plaited
flounces, with which the back of tlis
skirt is covenal. On the lower part of
tile plaited bands is a faille pocket,
trimmed with gilt buttons, and a band
of feathers. On the end is a ribbon bow.
The sleeves have plait, d cuff-, trimmed
with buttons and ieath< rs. This feather
trimming can lie replaced by fringe.
Grei n cai-ln-mire and blue faille make an
excellent child's costume. A deep plait
•si flounce trims the lower part of the
skirt. It i- separatist in tie- Mflt rin
front by a plated piece plaint crosswise.
Above the plaitisl flounce is another
narrow one placed on very full, and
taken up in front aliovo the cross wise
plaitisl piece in a point. It is surmounted
it>- a blue faille fold or piping. Ixwips of
blue rihlsin fail over th point. Up tin
front of the skirt are thr-<- bias bands of
cacliemire, finish's! with a blue faille
cording. They extend up the front in
curves, like tie- plaited trimming lielow.
Thcs- bands arc fast-m-d down on either
side by mother of pearl buckles. A
faille cording i* taken across the middle
of the waist in a curve, and sewed in
the scam under the arm. This dress
open- jn the bark, from the n<s k down,
onlv alwiut twelve inches ibs-p. The
ls ve is trimmed with a faille plaiting,
*n.mounted bv a band of the same. The
deep collar i* of lace applique on a blue
faille collar.
Another combination is plain-rob,p?d
faille and ivory-wldte caelum ire de
I'lnde. The faille *kirt has tw<i p'ait'il
flounce*. From the n<s k down is a plas
tron plaited in hollow plaits, the plaits
becoming much larger toward the lower
part of the -kirt. The cm In mire (unique
Is cut up in the linck. It is open in front
over the plastron, and joined by two
bands buttoning over; one is aero - the
breast, and the other over the -kirt. The
dis-p collar has faille rev ITS. The sleev <-*
are trimmed with a fail in plaiting, sur
mounted by a cufl of the same goods.
IMfir< nf He piles to a Ouestlnn.
Statisticians usuallv < oncern them
selves with (lie fai ts ot tit- jia-t ami pres
ent more than n it li tin- -i.,. illations of the
future. But in gathering it figures this
year relating to rite condition of work-
Ingmen. the M.-issai liusetts labor iat renti
lias gone otit-idc of the beaten path and
given n* a specimen of what may b
callisl psyt hoiogical statistic*. Its of.
fleers uin-st lotted a considerable number
of workingim-n as to tln-ir liones of se
curing a living emnjietenr-e at the age of
sixty-five, with the follow i tig results:
" Kxpert to ly by enough to support my.
self after I Mil sixty-itve" y
" Prospects are good, and hope to do 50"... 18
" !><i not expect to lay by enough to *iq>|K>rt
myself after 1 inn sixty.llxe" 58
"As limes are now, no" |;
" Not with present pay" 15
" K.X|s-t to die n |iq>er if these times lsst," 4
" Not at inr present Imiwrn" 4
"t un just lire now on my wagm" 5
" No pmspert ot saving anything n0w".... 11
" ('nnnot save a dollar 8
" Ihi not |*y my way now" 3
" Not ly day lalsir" 4
"I.ife insnranee and anving* leaks trmke
me" 1
" Witii present condition of business, don't
want to lire to sixty-flve" ...I
A Hinging llook.
Another lOiriou* phenomena of sound
is the singing liook. now a philosophical
toy. Thank* to M. l'ollard. navy en
gineer of Cherbourg, it i* within every
Intelligent person's reach. You place
a small Usik on the table, the floor or a
chimney-picce, and presently it distinct
iv emits songs, sa<-r<-d and profane, or
duet* hv a piano, or harp and violin
solo*. The hook I* composed of ordinary
pater, leaves of the latter, alternating
with some of tin. The ttiefnl leaves are
united, the last two with an electric cur
rent, forming thus a condenser. The
top and bottom sides of the voluntemrn
mon Irate with nn electric wire running
along the wall, but concealed, and ter
minating in a pile In another room,,
win-re the •neitlu ror the singer, etc.,
•'deposit*" the sounds of hi* voice in a
wooden mouthpiece containing n metal
plate and a stylus, which, touching a
spring, sets free the eleetrie currents and
transmits the sound to l-lte Isiok. where
it is repeated—a phenomcnou not yet
capable of Is-ing satisfactorily explained.
—Varti l.cttcr.
FOB THE tOtJfttt FOLKS.
Th first I'rlmrosr.
A primrose awoke froui its long winter sleep,
And stretched out its head through its greoti
leavos to peep;
But the air wus so cold, and the wind was so
keen,
And not a bright flower but itsoU to tie seen.
" Abx!" sighed the primrose, "Ilew useless
am 1,
As here all alone end hell hidden I lie;
But I'll strive to he choei'lui, contented to he,
Just 11 siniplo wild flower growing under u
tree."
Soon a iiii.iden passed by, looking weary uud
and,
In the bright early spring-time, when all should
bo glad;
Hut she Spied the sweet primrose so bright uud
so gay,
And the sight of it churuusl nil her sadness
nwiiv;
And the primrose gave thanks to the dear Lord
above,
Who had sent it on sueh sweet mission ot
lore,
A MnrotiiK t nil from n Panther.
" 1 suppose you're wondering why I
Keep thai ugly old client," said Mr*.
H , "and 1 must own that its not very
ornamental; hut il wived mv life once,
for nil that. I sis* you think I'm making
fun of you, hut I'm not, indeed; nnd when
you hear the story, I think you'll agree
with me that I have good reason to value
it, ugly its It looks.
"This was how it happened. When
we first eiuue out to India, mv husband
Wits sent to make the survey of tile N'er
htldila Valley, one of the wildest hits in
all Central India; and we really were,
just at lirst, the only white people within
forty or fifty miles. And sueh a time as
we had of it! If my hush,and hadn't
heeii its strong as he is, and a perfect
miracle of patience as well, I don't know
how he eouhl have stood 1 ,t he had to
do. It was dreadful work '• r him. heing
up sometime* for a whole night together,
or having to stand out in the burning sun,
when the very ground itself was almost
too hot to toueh. And as for the native
workmen. I never saw sueh a set—always
doing everything wrong, and never liking
any Imnly to put them right. When the
railway was ln-ing made thev used to
carry the earth on their heads in baskets;
and wlcn Mr. It served out wheel.
harrows to them, they actually carried
litem on tle-ir leads in tlie sane way! I
could not help laughing at it, though it
was terribly provoking, too. And that
wan just the way they nil were: if there
wan a wrong way of using anything
tley'd lie sure to find it out. Even our
butler, or khUtnutgar, who was much
letter than most of tlein, cane one day
and begged a pair of old ds antcr-!ahefs
that my husband was going to throw
away : nnd when the man came in next
morning. In' had positively turned tlem
into earrings, nnd went alxiut quite
gravely with ' I'ort' In one ear and
'Sherry' in the other!
" However, il tlie native men \vorr<s
mo, the native Im-iiMa Were fifty time
worse, ft was no joke, I can assure you,
to Is awak' n'd in the middle of the night
by the roar of n tiger close under the win
dow. or by an elephant crashing and
trumpeting through the jungle with 3
noise like n mail conch going full gallop
into a hnthollsc. Well, as siMin a- that
was over, the ia kal would set tip a
s'lti'-aling and whimpering like o many
(lightened 1 Irildren; and then n dreadful
native bird, w ho-'- name I've m v < r found
out (1 suppose l t ails.' nolssly could in
vent one bad enough for it), would break
out in a succession of the nuwt horrible
criw—just like soil,, Ihmlv bring murdered
—until tic noise fairly drove nie wild.
" And then the ant' hut you've seen
tlieni fot yourself, nnd I needn't tell you
alMiut 1 li'ii>. But oil this while I'm neg
lecting my story.
" t Ine ifay (it willl>e long enough !*•-
fore 1 forgH it) my httxlnuid wo* out as
usual at his work, and the nurse had gone
down to the other native servants at the
other end of the ' rompound,' as wc call
this hig inclosure, and 1 was left alone
in the house with my little Minnie yon
der, who was then jtit about a year old.
My this time I had got over my first
fenrs. and didn't mind a hit leing left hy
myself; indceil, all the lower windows
having lmrs ncross them, t thought that
I was safe enough; hut I little dreamed
of what was coming.
" I must have lieen silting over my
sewing nearly nn le>ur. with the child
plaving about the fl'>r he*ldes nie, when
suddenly I heard a dull thump overhead,
as if something Imd fallen upon the roof.
I didn't think anything of it at the mo
ment, for one soon get* ned to nil sorts
of strange sounds in tlie Indian jungle;
but. presently, I thought I could' tear a
heavy breathing in the next room but
one, and then 1 Iwtran to feel frightened
in earned. I rose as softly a* I could,
and crept to the doorway between the
rooms. This doorway was only rln*ed
by a curtain, and gently pulling aside the
folds, 1 |>oe|ied through—nnd found my
self within a few paces of the largest
panther I had ever s<s n in my life.
"For one mom"nt it was just as if I
had Iss n frozen stitf, ami then the
thought enni" to me jtist ns if somebody
lind spoken il: ' The big ehont''
" I knew tliat this cle-d would liold me
and my child easily, and that I could
leave a chink of the lid o|ien to let us
breathe, for the overlapping gc would
save my fingers from the panther.
Inn second 1 liiml it all clear Is-forc me;
but had the hrutc not stooped short at
sight, of the curtain, I should never have
had a chance of trying it. I.tirkilv lor
me, tlie Indian panther, savage as he is
is a terrible coward, nnd suspicious a*
any detective. I've seen one go round
and round a trap for more than half an
hour, before lie made up his mind to
spring at the bait. Si. while my friend
was puzzling himself over the curtain,
and wondering whether it w as meant for
a trap or not, 1 took up Minnie (who,
poor little pet, seemed to know there was
something wrong, and never uttered a
sound)ami into tnc chest I crept,making
as little noise as I could.
" I was hardly settlor! there when I
heard the 'sniff-sniff' of the panther
coming right up to where 1 lay, and,
through the chink that I | )n d lert open,
the hot, foul hriuth came ((teaming in
upon my Ceo, almost making me si< k.
It seemed to bring my heart into mv
mouth when I heard his great daw's
scraping the edge of the lid, ami trying
to lift it up; but, happily, the chink was
I<m> narrow for his paw to enter. But if
tlie paw couldn't. Urn tongue eouhl; and
soon he Wgan to lick my lingers, rasping
them so that I hardly knew how to bear
it. Still, the touch of Minnie's little
arm around my mvk seemed to give me
courage.
" But there was far worse than thla to
come; for the panther suddenly leaped
right on top of the cheat, nnd his weight <
Krcssed down the heavy lid upon my'
ngers, until the pnin was so terrible
that, unable to stand it any longer, I
creamed with all my might.
"The scream was answered hy a ehout
from just outside in which I recognized
my husband's volnn The panther heard
it, too, and it seemed to scare him, for he
made a dash for the window, either for
getting or not noticing the iron bars; but
just as he reached it, there came tlie
crack of a rifle, and I (heard the heavy
brute fall suddenly upon the floor. Then
all the fright seemed to come back Upon
me at once, and I fainted outright.
" I lienrd afterward that Mr. R
had happened to w ant „,ie Inst rent uni
which lie had left at the house; and, not
wishing to trust il in the hands of any of
the natives, became back for it himself—
luckily, iu.-t in time, for the bullet from
his rifle killed the panther. But, us you
see, my hand is pretty stiff yet,"—Mi viit
Krr, in St. NichoUui.
Horrors of u I'ruirie 1 ire,
A Topekn (Kan.) correspondent of the
St. lands hittwrnl writes: Another
terrible prairie tire is reported from Bit
lie ('reek, north of Lincoln Center, Lin
coln county, which destroyed everything
in its path, and resulted ill the death of
three persons. It appears that ulsiut
four o'clock in the afternoon Mr. Mont
gomery, one of the well-to-do farmers of
that section of the county, and his son, a
Imiv of about twelve, were ill the field at
work, when they discovered a fire coin
ing from the west, and they stopped
their work to keep the lire from the
hedge, when tie wind suddenly changed
to tin' north, blowing very hard an
and cold, and Inuring before it a second
tire, which came with the fleetness of a
horse. It seems there were two fields
near, on either side, and seeing tie ir
danger, the l>v started to one field and
the father to the other. The ls>y was
■ aught in the flames and fell to the
ground instantly. Ale ighlior by the
name of Isaac I'fulf, who was passing
near on a mule, galloped up to Mr,
Montgomery and induced him to mount
the mule behind him and ride to the
field. Mr. Montgomery mounted, but.
seeing his |K,y fall, lost all presence of
mind and threw bis arum around Mr.
1 'faff, catching the (iridic reins and
holding the mule -till while they wore
enveloped in the llaines. Both men
dropped to the ground, nnd the lire
passed over thcni. Tie- mule ran a short
distance and fin. dead. The two men
arose to their feet, and the wind and tie
tire took their clothing from them as
they walked to the nearest field nlsuit
one hundred yards distant. Mr l'fnir
feet were so badly burned (lint his Isx'ts
fell from him as he walked. A Mr.
Manning 1 .nine to tin in from the nearest
house with a couple of <,uilts, which lie
wrapped alsnit the two n-n and carried
them to the Initisc. He urn carried tin
•h ad liy t> the house. 1 oth nn n were
perfectly rational, nnd conversed freely
with those around then) up to within a
f- w hours of their death. Mr. Mont
gomery lived al>iiut two hours, and Mr.
l'faff ii\'l until alsmt '*ven o'clock
that night. Mr. Montgon. v leav.-s
wife and s< v<-n ■ hildreu, most f whom
are grown; Mr. l'faff leaves aw ife and
one child, having buried two children
<|Uite r<- •■ntly.on* jut a day previous to
losing his own lit* while attempting to
save that of another. Both w crewll
to-iln and liighly-j -sj^sr*• d farmers. Mr.
Montgomery was almiit fortv-flve r.r fif
ty vc.os of ag, and J'faf! alsiut thirl
The fire btlrni d one . tile, two liofses,
several In .id of li";;". alsitlt two thou
sand bu*hci of com and considerable;
other grain Ielonging to Mr Montg">m
cry, and his stable and house, with
everything in them, tlir fiuly barely
escaping with their lives
A Laughable Episode.
A laughable episode net urrcd in tfii
city, in whi h the practical joker luul the
tables turned upon him in a manner soe
e.-mioning no end of fun to the pnrtv and
his friemls. A certain disciple of Ktrti*
lapiiis. who loves a joke, is the owner ~f
a fine sk< let..n. -<1 ut in nuch a manner
that hy opening the iionr of the recepta
cle anil toil' hing a spring, the bony ob
ject will walk forward *• veral steps <njt
of the door.
Among the many |* *t- ant! detriments
to study and thought which this physi
cian is daily subjected to. i tlm frequent
intrusion of apple, orange, and other
fiiiit venders in the shape of small boys.
Tlie other day while in close proximity
to the door of the closet in which the
skeleton is kept, the good doctor's reverie 1
was broken by the entrance of one oJ .
these youthful venders with a shrill cry :,
" \\ ant to buy any apples?"
Thinking to have some sport at tlm ap
ple render* expense, the worthy pliysi-,
inn suddenly tlir-w open thecloei door,
and ton hing tliespring. forthstalked the
skeleton in all hi" is>ny nuyc.ly. A has
kpt w.i- instantly dropje-d to the floor, a
half bushel of apidi - rolled broad-cast
over tbe room, wliile a terribly-seared!
youth wn* *i'ii disspt* aring thn>ugh tlie
fti'-e door with shrill > ri< *. After en- |
loving a i|ulet Intlgfi. thepliv*ic|an busied
himself in picking up and restoring to
the Imskct the scattered fruit, e\|vs ting
the lad would return in n moment for his
stock In trade.
After a brief interval the physician no
ticed from the window the lad standing
in the street, gazing snrll-bnund nt the
ofllce ds>r. fts ing tnc lad evinced no
disposition to ndtirn for his la-ket ami
fruit, the doctor carried the same to the
ds>r, which he o)iened, and tailing to
the lad. retjticsttxl liini to come and get
It. .fudge of the doctor's surprise when
he was greeted with the following re
sponse to his invitation:
"Xo you don't. "You can't fool me
If vou hare got your clot lies on."
X'ow it happcntsl that a friend of the
physician, who is tall and thin, and not
Idcsscd wit'i a single ounce of superflu-■
ous Acs). Was passing the nfllec and
hearn the remark of the lad, and Itaring
aw-ertnintal the cause which called it
forth, the situation wn t<w> ludicrous to
keep, and the various friends efljoy many
a laugh at the doctor'* expense over the
incident.— Syrarw Journal.
A Story of Carlyle.
We all know lie is a worker; but not
all men know to bow severe a test his
industry, patience and courage wera
once put. He lent Ills manuscript of tlie
French Be volution to the late Mr. Mill.
WIMJ in turn lent it to Mrs. Taylor. Sim,
through a, >ntoiinaeeountnh!eentelcsxnoan,
allowed it to drop front her hand to tlie
floor (the lady cannot have slept over
tho most glowing and picturesque of nar
ratives) without picking it up. aud the
next morning a housemaid duly lighted
tlie Are with tlie priecleaa leaves. Mill
went to recount the mialiap to his friend,
and looked so thoroughly miserable that
Carlyle, so far from Ottering a Syllable
of reproach, was at much pnin* 1... >m
sole film But the loss wna a real calam
ity, for Carly lc had kept no copy, and
the rewriting of the work he has de
scrilied as " anguish." It was accom
plished in six months.
NOVEL FIHHINU.
Th* Manner In which Cormorant* arc
Imixed In Japan.
I wiui invited one evening, *ay a writer
in the Argonaut, during niv sojourn it a
small town not far frotn Kiyoto, the old
capital of Japan, to accompany some j
yakuninx (officials), wbo were then
'raveling witii me, to the neighboring !
river, for the purpose of witnessing the
in which cormorants are em
ployed in the catching of lisli; at the
*!ti"tiiiie! was informed that a pleas
ure iKwt had already been engaged for 1
theoeeasion. Incepted the inx itation
eagerly, and, lanterns being provided. !
together with a guide to show the way,
we set out, carefully picking our way
along tbe narrow pai lis dix idiug tlieri< ■<■
fields, the myriads of frogs in the water
all round us keeping'up a deafening roar, !
rendering it almost impossible to carry '
on conversation, xxliile the uiosquit<K-s
were anylliing but friendly in their de
monstration*. When we were aWut |
five hundred yards from the plane where j
our yanr-lmnr (literally roof-bont) was
axx aiting us. xve were met by one of our
boatmen bearing a lantern, xx bo at once
turned and preceded us to the little pje|-
of stones.
On enter!ng the lioat, the Wttom of
wliieli was comfortably covered with
ioltimi (thick mats), over which was
spread a gay-colored rug. I wo* agree
nliiy _ surprised to find that everything
requisite for spending a pleasant evening
had been sent on l fore niy bo-is. My 1
after-ae'juaintanee with the people of
litis beautiful (siuntry lias taught rnc
that they never low the opportunity to
make merry, and will seize upon the j
most trifling >-\> use for organizing pie-1
nie, and thoroughly enjoying theme| vi%
when such pleasures tlo Hot interfere with
the strict performance ~t tn.-ir nubiie '
duties, (In the pr< sent occasion *i*
'/tix/ei (female musicians) ba'l la-en en
gaged, xx-Ik> sat at one side of the 1khI.
while we of the other s<-x ranged our
selves on the mats on the other. Sweet
meat.* of various kinds were so rend out
••n !ae<;ii.-red trav*. as we ail settled our
seiviH into tlie most comfortable atti
tud-. and tlie srii'lo (Isoatinen) were told .
tocMtaff!
After alsuit fifteen tninut'-s' sculling xx <-
roundexl a bend of tlie river, when a
magnificent *|xs-taelc hurst on our viexv.
I lie river appeared to 1- on fire. Near
ly two liuudr<-<l fishing boat* were in
-L'lit. At the Imiw of each,andatUu-li'-d 1
to the end of n |ki'c project in ir over tlie
xx iter, wa* a brazier iv>ntining burning
pirn- xximkl, blazing pi's-esof which every
now and tlu-n f'-ll through the hars Into
ihe water, thereby multiplying tlie nnin-
I* r of iigbts, real and reth"Ct<-d, and rnid
ing to the general ' fleet. Our hoatiinn
now st'sT'-'l u Into the midst of tie
buv s,-. n-. and driving the txmtpole into
the Ik-iI of th'* river, made f:-t to it. and
s.-'i down to smoke their iwm (pij*),
La h of tln-Hoats pof.'-s4s! from !■ n to
twenty is'rtnorants, which, xx-ln-n pot en
g.igedn tliei r duty <>f eat'-liing fish. r
m.'iin<s| silently jktx-li'sl on tin- gunwales
awaiting their master's command*. The
birds which are employed in this branch
<<f industry arc liat- lnsl from eggs ole
taiii'-d from the elifT- along the fiorp,
and l-ing accustomed from the lirst to
th- eompany of n in. arc verv tarns.
L:u h ha* n nam'- gix. n to it. and. on its
"xxn r making a pe> uiiar sound, will
nf'T the water in *arcb of the fih tliat
Would, xver<- it free. ,!• their naUiraj
prey, i^rge'numb' r* <>f Uiem were now
swimming around the i*iat. tle irmove
ment* controlled by strings attic Iks! to
rings around tlieir ns its. and li'dd inibe
li-bermen's band*. AVlwwrver a lird
-pi'sl a fish altroetol by the giam of the
lire, it seized it witii its bill, but was
pn venUsl from sw alloxring it by tbe ring
round its throat. Tlie fisherman th<n
uttered a peculiar cry, and gently drew i
ii into the Issat, where it wa forc'si to
give up the prize. Occasionally the
bird* are rewarded bv Wing jwrinittx-xi
to swallow a fish. In some part* of
Japan considerable -piontitit- of fih are
taken in tlii* manner.
(tne ol my entertainer* now hailed the
n-ar<-*t tsxat and bargainci for some :
the frcli-cnugiit mknni (fib). and hav
ing provided a griddle for the occasion,
had hi- purchase hroihd "X'er the Ai'swAi
(lxox holding charcoal fire); and this <
made a rejeist fit fru an epicure. I par
took heartily of thi* fli-h. which th' .lap- >
ani-se knoxv so well how to exsik. and did
not ncghs-t the mtkt (wine), which xva* !
pa**cd around pretty rapidly, and which 1
xva* kpt lot in a kan-doirnri (pons-lain
V'-se| jn which xvine i* heated by Ic ing
placed in a k'-ttle of hot wat<-r) bv cm- of
the fair *ing<T*. who also took can- that
the lx'ttl'-xx a* r pl<viisb<sl as fast as it
wa*emptied. During all ibis tino Um
•jrixht bad b<s-n enlir'-ning the feast with
Mings. iu-< ompanx ing Ui'iiim-Ivmi <>n th ir
.iiiii*cru (guitars), while in tlie int< rx al i <
j"k'. puns, and rt/sir f<v k'-pt all in a
ecintinual Inuglit'T.
My Ilost* noxv prtipoaed to n turn, nndt
he Koatmen having blown the remain*,
of the tolmcco out of their lift Jc pipes n n
lsiy would blow a pea from a pea-shoot*
•r. tlie tstat wa* uninooml. and we!
dropp>d gititly down with tlie stream i
toward our landing-place j and just a* I
was Wginning to east rath'-r teud<*r
glance* (pri'lathly the efl"e< t* of the fish '
or wine) in tlie dins tion of a very pretty
gri*/>a *eatsi opjcisite me we touched the
pier, and. etenjong ashore, t<K>k our way
again thix'ugli the ri'-e field*, the scene
enlivened bv Urge numlier* of hnlnro
(fire-flie*) flitting hither and tliither. j
Outride otir hotel Jwe parted with our
fair musician* and retired to m*t. having
spent a most pleasant evening.
- _____
Tried to Mar* Ike Color*.
One of the most heroic incident* ol 1
the massacre of the Itritisli tamp on the
border* of Zululaml, in South Africa, i*
related by a i-orrespondent of thelxxndon
Ihiily St ics. It ••■eiiis that when all was
over, the ammunition Wing exhausted. 1
and nothing remaining for the men to i
do hut I" sell their lives as dearly an pos
sible.. a <les|HTate but triumphant eflbrl
was made to save the color* from tlie
f.e Melvill. the adiutant of the Twenty
fourth. and Coglilli, Sir ltartic Frx-n-'s ,
aide-de-4-antn, managexl to fight tin ir j
way tlmmgli the enemy who via *nr
roondinc tliem, Mclvili having Uirn tlie
colors from the poles ami earriexl them j
ofT. liny n•ached the Ihilfalo river, 1
s'wtfl nine mile* off. in safhtv. though '
closely pursued by the enemy: but in i
attempting to swim tlie river Wtli tln-ir
!ior*s were carried away by the stream. !
and tliey fust *uixtN In reaching the 1
opposite lrnnk still grasping the color*, j
when- they were no exbaii*t"l that tliey !
W'Tx- unable to go any fnrther. A vol- :
imtesr. xvln find bn'u witii them up to |
this time, with diflleulty tflhied his ea-1
ca|K-, being, of course, unable to give j
tliem any assistance in their defenceless j
condition, and the last lie saw of Uiem j
xva* that rx crowd of the enemy was e!o- !
ing round them.
Tobacco Poisoning.
Numerous and almost endless bar
Wiyi tlii- charges brought against tobao
co from the time when James I. led th
van of opposition in his famous "eoun
terbhujt.' Hut, although almost every
thing has leen said that could W said
against the weed, as consumed in the or
, dinnry form of smoke, it seem* that there
( are other and new enormities to be a I leg
j e<| against it when differently employed.
A eorresjsindent of the Ixmdon I.nwrt,
writing from Lincoln (Kng.), declare*
that tobacco Is riot uncommonly UM-d in
iieighlsiriKMsl for the purpose of stopping
ping wounds: and li<* giv<- a very strik-
Sng example of the effects that may follow
from the practice. The raw was that
! mi unfortunate woman who had inflicted
a wound U|#on lierself by knocking le r
leg against the sharp corner of a u-wing
! machine. As the 'deeding wits profuse
and diflicult to staunch, siie adopted the
1 device which is familiar in tin-district,
| with this difference, that instead ofap
plying merely a " pinch" of the tobacco,
-Im- nflix'-d null'- a large bundle of it to
tile wound. Having done so, slje bad tlie
injur< <1 linib tigliily bandaged up, and
had no suspii ion whatever until tlie doc
tor arrived that -he had done anything
foolish or rash. Tlie man of sciem-e w
conlhijrly found h<-r in a rno*t dangerous
)c<indition, subject to constant fainting
fits, and pr-'-nting all the syiaptorn' of a
dving person. A - she htui no sort of idea
that the wound had anything to do with
her other ailment*, the physician might
have utterly failed to discover the n-a
< cause of her suffering*. Fortunately lis
insisted upon taking off the bandage, in
-i>it< of nil the assurances of the family
that it had Iscn properly put on. and
then for the lirst time discovered the
bundle of tofaaceo, vhkh had in tlie
space of Jc-- tiian an hour infused a viru
lent poison into the bl'sid and reduced
the pnti'-nt to a state from which it was
exceedingly difficult to pscit't her. It
is to Is- hoped that the incident will put
an end in Lincolnshire, and wherever
<*!• it prevails, to the practice of using
tobacco instead of Hut for liaridagcs.
lAJWUM lilobt.
To Make a flare Prosperous.
There can hardly he a greater sign o
prosperity in a ccnimiuiitv than a dis
position to a--it one another—lift a lit
tle when a neighbor's wheel gets stuck
in the mud. VVc know of a |>la<- where
a man's barn, with all its winter stores
of grain and hav, was consumed by fire
in the night. Immediately all of the
iikii of the country side mustered and
hauled up timber for a new barn, and
then a big raising came off. > After that
the *ouiid of twenty hammer* xva* iieard
until the whole was shingled ami sid<*l.
Hut tin irdissls ~f kindm--- w as not done
yet: and one after another they off< red
to take a head or two of his stock and
vriiit- r them for him. thus greatly re
ducing his ]os- arid assuring his le-art of
tin more durable riches of brotherly
love find neighWrlr good-will. Sons
can compute in money the value of one
m, It example of liberality in the com
munity. especially in It- influence on
the young And wlieti this spirit pre
vails there j- sure to be progress in a
jilac". <\. n if all tlie jitiprov i-mcnti are
in tlieir infancy, People will come and
setth Innpine* that iMfflMthiaiM
Now. if xou desire tn so* your place
grow ing in popularity, do all you can to
dew your < If a good neighlKir, ••sjial
!v to thoo who need a little extra help.
If a man starts a tin shop or a bla< k
stnlth shop in your place don't harness
up and drive off five miles to buy your
pans and get your horse sliod.iiW W
r.-iuso you have been in tbe habit of
doing it. Patronize tlie new comef
when you want anything in his line.
S|M7k encouragingly to lnm and well or
lum to your neighlKir*. Little words of
approval or censure a long way ; wlien
oni-e you have spoken them you cannot
r-calf tJitT. l|e|p tlie sick, especially
xvhen they are poor, for poverty and ill
nesa arc ind's-d a heavy burden. Per
form all aits of loving charity which
fall ilny by day in your path, rc'niemhir
ing Who it lias said. "Ye shall in no
wise lose your reward."—Country Qtntlc
vutn.
French Fun.
The unliappy man who had lieen run
over xva* carried info the poller station,
where the surgeon examined him and
said i
"It's a mercy the wheels passed over
him as rapidly as they did, for if th
earriagi had fss-n going slowly there
would have lictn no hope of his reoov* ry
—none whatexcr."
j' Pn Lcly." cries the radiant hack*
in in. desirous of backing Up tlii* favorx
ble opinion as strongly as possible;
"when 1 -vxv the gentleman crossing the
str<st a little in front of me. Instead of
pulling Up tbe tmr*e 1 iiw4 gave him a
clip xx ith the whin and yelled ' (Jet up
tlit-re!' and that's liow I saved the gen
tleman's life."
A sergeant ol zouave* liail, at Uie bat
tic of Oilcan's hi* thigh smashed by a
fragment of shell.
" Well, my pisir fellow," said his cap
tain. xvlio xisiteil him in lK>spital. "you
must lind it pretty lonesome xvork. being
laid up ere."
"Oh. no, e*p., not at all." was the
reply. "1 sutler a great deal, and Unit
makes the time slip by."
A prisoner who tirmly extxeeled that
lie would get his desert* and he sent up
fer life, is astonished to hear the jury fix
his term of imprisonment at two year*.
"Two year* only!" he exclaimed in
delight; all. then, gentlemen of lh
jury, may heaven do likewise unto you a
thousand-fold."
Friendship.
What is it ? lk> smile*, word*of cheer
and kind action* constitute it? Aretho**
who never upbraid, but meet all our
doeiLs with word* of prai*e, who flatter
us on every possible occasion, to be con
sidered trite friend* F Tlieir sttention*
may be pioasant to our vanity and om
eeit. and keen u* in the Isxst of humor
with ourselves, and we may think their
company very desirable, yet they will
not do to put faith In, for tlieir nmiahls
j behavior i* often tlie cloak for self-inter
<at. Tlie person who will tell u* our
fault*—kindly, of course—who will try to
teach u* to av ourselves a* other* one* us,
w bo will show by acta rather than word*
that lie kindly V. gard* us. is m
! of tmst than one who agree* with all our
sentimenU. right or wrong, and vim it
ecjually ready to eoineidc wiUi someone
' cl*e, even if the suWeot should liappen to
1 le otir *hort-e<.nnng*. Hive uie tb*
friend who ha* tlie same lots far me ah ,
way*, who is ready to "speak up" fop
me In Uie midst of cnenthv, and repeal
what he considers my virtue* as an offset
to tbe (Wiling- tliey mnv reWame. and
who will hold fast to his failh in my
truth and goodness in spite of d'Tarnatlon.'
Such friend* may he scarce, but <rl*en
found, are pritelm treasure*. —Sa'im I.
! finptid.