Astray.
t Unvoted a forbidden rood,
Which first appeared so flowery lair
That onward eagerly 1 strode
Till—to my horror and despair—
All biuls and blossoms blooming thore,
All I endor boughs and twigs ot green
Stood changed to burrß and nettles koeu,
Whose angry points my garments tore,
And pricked my hands till they were Bore.
Bewildered at the wondrons change,
That should have warned mo from the place,
1 kept my course with swifler pace,
And saw a marvel still more strange;
For cruel flints sprang thro' the ground
To meet my leet at every bound,
With gash on gash tliat made them bleed.
Then time it was that I should hoed'
Just at the moment of my need,
A shining man stood at my side—
Whose luster tell on all aiound.
And spread n glory tar and wide!
" And who art thou ?" I trembling cried
* dive ear," said be, " to what I say;
t am the guide ot all who stray.
To point thetn back to virtue's path,
The guardian ot thy erring way;
And, step by step —in love, nol wrath—
These angry flint# and briers 1 strew,
To warn thy leet lrom wandering so."
I knell and kissed the garment's hem,
And cried, "Oh, angel, sent front heaven!
Make sharper yet each thorny stem!
Increase the flints to seven times seven!
Fulfill thy purpose in my pain—
I will endnre and not complain'"
He fled, and I, with deep remorse,
Tamed back from my forbidden course-
But, Ob, how many weary hours
! traveled o'er those blighted bowers,
Kehloomed with all their lonner flowers.
Thtodort Til ton.
JAKE MUGGINS' COURTSHIP.
•'Wliew, but it's hot!" ejaculated
Jacob Muggins as he threw down the
turnip hoe and commenced mopping
his face with a huge bandana handker
chief, onesultrv day in early autumn.
" I do wish this patch of turnips was
dug, and safely housed in the old gran
ary," heoontinued, gazing around upon
the immense piles of green topped veg
etables, " orelse that the weather would
cool down so that a fellow could get
something done in a day. Here Ive
been hard at work all day, and am not
half through with my job yet; and
what's more, it will take me 'till plumb
noon to-morrow to finish if I keep on
this way.". And with this muttered
soliloquy Jake resumed his hoe, com
menced digging vigorously that one
might suppose he stood in dread of be
ing called a sluggard if he failed to per
form two day's work during one revo
lution of the diurnal axis.
The truth was, however, he had al
ready accomplished a good day's work,
although it was not more than three
o'clock in the afternoon, and the
shadows of the trees in the grove hard
by liad nut yet token tbot lonp, pwnliar
slant which marks the declination of
the sun to the western horizon.
Jacob Muggins was a tall, brawny
son of the sofl7 with hands and feet just
a little too large to be termed classic,
and a handsome, though sunburned
countenance, which could assume a
very eomicai expression when its mas
ter willed. To-day he was arrayed in
a coarse homespun garb of pale, richly
colored blue, with rough cowhide
shoes and a broad palm-leaf hat. around
the crown of which waa tied a bright
rrecn ribbon—tied there by two fairy
hands that Jake would nave given
worlds to call his own.
How Jacob rver came to fall in love
with Jenny Weatherby. the wealthy
ojuire's pretty daughter. Jacob did not
know. But the thing had been done,
and although Jenny had done nothing
to discourage Ids shy approaches, lie
had summoned sufficient resolu
tion to make a proposal for her hand.
t>n several occasions he had, 'as lie
thought, s'-raped up his courage to the
sticking point,but, each time, upon being
ushered into the presence of the fair
charmer, his resolution gave way liter
ally, as he afterward expressed It,
" eked out at his fingers ends," so that
he could only stammer a few common
place remarks concerning the weather
and crops.
Worse thnn all, a certain dashing
young cousin of the Weatherby's had
been down from the city the past few
weeks, and had been making himself
quite plentiful aliout the squire's, walk
ing, rowing and fishing with Jenny
almost every day. while he was com
pelled to be at work in the field. This
was gall and wormwood to poor Jacob,
not because he minded the work, hut,
inasmuch as his rival was of clever ad
dress and polished manner, he stood in
great danger of being displaced in the
affection of Jenny, by the fascinating
allurements of the city fop. and in con
sideration ol this impending calamity,
Jacob determined to press his suit upon
the very first opportunity.
Financially. Jak j wa< quite prepared
to enter into a state of matrimony.
His motto had always been. " work
and win," and. in consequence of strictly
adhering to this rule of honesty, he had
by diligence and industry accumulated
the sum of five hundred dollars, earned
by teaching the village school winters
and working on the fnrm summers.
The possession of this sum very
naturally elevated him in the opinion of
the country folks, who looked upon
him ns a capitalist, and of course lie was
considered quite a catch by the match
making mammas of the district
Already he had begun to look around
in search of a suitable investment for
his money, and he decided in favor of a
little white cottage situated in the val
ley, over whose low, thatched roof the
woodbine and morning glories grew in
profusion. This could be had for the five
hundred and the marriage portion which
Jenny would receive from her lather,
would be sufficient to purchase a small
farm adjoining the cottage, which would
enable them to commence life in quite
comfortable circumstances.
But, as lias been before stated, the
great difficulty with Jacob was to con
quer bis untoward bnshfulness, which
he termed hereditary, and secure the
w . . . "'°, r in consequence of
which failing he was placed in quite a
quandary.
" Wliew, but it's hot!" and again Jake
throw down his hoo, and commenced
mopping hi.i fiice with the rod lmndkor
" I would give anything for a good
cool draught from the Spring, and a
pocket fullGf the squire's best apples,"
lie soliloquized, gliuicing wistfully in
the direction of the orchard, bent down
with its load of ripe red and yellow fruit,
"and as the distance is not far, I be
lieve I'll run over for a few moments,
anyhow." And with this he started off,
and having allayed his thirst at the
spring which bubbled out below the or
chard, lie mounted the fence and betook
himself ofthe favorite family tree, whose
liuge gnarled trunk supported a leafy
caronet of interlacing limits and
brandies, so dense as to preclude all
possibility of the sun's rays penetrat
ing througli them.
Into this delightful shade Jake threw
himself, and for a moment forgot his
tolls and troubles. The sky was so
light, the grass so green, the luscious
fruit and gay flowers so fragrant that he
could not licln but fool their benignant
influence. The dull droaningof a beetle
and the hoarse eawing of some crows in
a distant cornfield, mingled witli the
ripple of the water over the stones by the
roadside, lent enchantment to the scene;
and poor Jake could not help but think
how sweet life must be to those who
have nothing to do but while away their
time in pleasant places, in the shadow
of green trees and overhanging houghs.
Thus lie mused, helping himself to the
fruit in the meantime, until, before lie
was conscious of the fact, lie had fallen
off into a light doze from whidi he was
suddenly awakened by hearing voices
approaching from the direction of the
house. In an instant lie was on his feet,
and peering through between the trees
who should he see but Jenny and Mr.
Kldridge, the dandified ciiy cousin,
leisurely approaching the tree under
which he stood.
Hero was a dilemma, indeed, to be
caught trespassing would be disgrace-
Mi in the extreme, and besides Jake
could not bear the thought of living
his lady-love in his old, faded, home
spun frock, especially before the critical
eyes of Mr. Kldridgo.
What was to bo done? For a moment
a wild thought of flight took possession
of him, but he immediately realized
that should he adopt that mode of escape
his discovery would l>e certain, inas
much as they were already nearly upon
him. Poor Jake was all in a tremolo.
What could be done? If he could only
tind a safe place in which to hide until
they should pass by! He glanced
around, nervously.but nothing presented
itself that could afford him a secreting
place. The voices approached nearer;
something must he done, quick! He
cast his eye up into the tree, and won
dered if its thick branches and dense
foliage would not protect him from the
eyes of a casual observer. Yes, he would
try it at any rate; better avail himself
of their proffered covert than lie found
standing there like a trembling culprit.
And without taking a second thought
Jake scrambled up the tree, and stowed
himselfaway in the remotest part,amid
a thick cluster of green boughs.
A moment after he regretted the act.
for lie realized that should he be discov
ered in his present position, his situation
would bo oven more ridiculous than be
fore.
Hut it was now 100 late to indulge in
vain rcgrebH-or, ratlier. in any hope of
altering his situation, for Jenny and her
escort now advanced to the tree, and to
Jake's intense chagrin and mortification,
seated themselves directly under the
spot where he was concealed,
" A pretty pickle you're into, Jake
Muggins," muttered Jacob, as with
flushed face he viewed the couple be
low, and wondered if they couldn't
hear iiis heart beat; for it was bounc
ing so convulsively that he was fearful
lest it should knock all the apples from
off the limb upon which he sat
And then he thought what a beauty
Jenny was as she sat there with her
dark hair gathered into a graceful coil,
her sweet, expressive eyes containing
such a depth of tenderness, and cheeks
like pink rose-buds, and wondered if it
were possible for such a fairy creature
to ever think of loving a great, ungainly,
awkward chap like himself.
In the meantime Jenny and Mr. Kl
dridge were enjoying themselves be
neath, little dreaming of the close prox
imity of a third party. Mr. Kldridgc
had opened and commenced reading
from a small volume of Tennyson,
which Jacob recognized from the bind
ing.
After some time had lieen consumed
in this way the two proceeded to par
take of the fruit witli which the ground
was strewn, conversing meanwhile and
amusing themselves by spelling out
the supposed name of each one's lover
upon the seeds of the respective apples
of each.
By some strange perchance, Mr. Kl
dridgc caused the seeds from Jenny's
apple to spell the name of Jacob Mug
gins himself, almost every time. This
seemed to afford the city cousin great
pleasure, for he laughed incessantly.and
aeked Jenny If she ever hoped to la
able to capture such a shy creature as
Jacob Muggins.
Although Mr. Eldridge was very
much amused over the coincidence of
the seeds, Jenny seemed to look upon
the matter uuite seriously, und when her
cousin jokingly inquired if she did
really love this faint-hearted country
man, she replied with a defiant toss of
the head and a perceptible deepening of
the rose-tint on her cheeks, that she
" liked him quite as well as any of her
other acquaintancesP'
And poor Jake, who can describe his
f.clings upon hearing this frank avowal?
For if his face had been red bdTore, it
was now almost purple in hue, while
his heart beat ten times faster than be
fore. Yet he managed to hold on to Ids
seat, and watch the progress of events
down below, for Mr. Kldridge, who had
listened to Jenny's declaration quite
seriously, had seated himself by her
side, and was apparently a Unit to pro
pose on the spot. But just at that mo
ment Bounce, tho big wntch-dog, came
running down from the house and with
hoarse growls commenced smelling sus
piciously around the base of the tree, all
the while casting furtive glances into'
the branches where Jacob was seated in
mortal dread lest the dog should dis
close hii position to the couple be
low.
The strange action* of the (log could
not help but attract the attention of
.1 ~nny and Iter cousin, who were at first
unable to assign any reason as to the
cause of it. Presently Mr. Eldridge
suggested that there was a squirrel in
the tree, and to investigate the matter
mom closely he arose and peered up into
the dark foliage.
"I imagine that I see something
seated up there among the branches," lie
nl length replied, shading Ids eyes with
hi* hand and easing intently at the tree,
" but as to whether it is mnn or beast I
cannot i*njr. However, just to satisfy
Bounce, 1 11 run up to the house nnd
bring the gun, and perhaps we may suc
ceed in having some sport with the
creature, whatever it may be." And
with these words lie started oif in tiie
direction of tiie house, leaving Jenny to
her own reflections and Bounce to claw
sway at the bottom ot the tree.
And, now, what was Jacob to doP
Should lie sit still and he shot like a
thief or a wild beast, or ihould he tnke
advantage of his rival's absence, come
down like a man and confess ins love
for Jenny on the spot. Ho must take
one of the two alternatives, and must
choose quick. For a moment lie faltered,
not knowing what apology to make
for his awkward position; hut lie de
termined to do the best he could, and
quietly commenced the descent, think
ing it 1 ctter at any time to face his
lady-love than a loaded rifle.
No sooner did the dog recognize in
Jacob an old friend and benefactor than
lie relapsed intosilencc ami quickly per
mitted him to land; and Jake did not
fail to notice that Jenny was much less
surprised at his sudden appearance than
lie laid expected she would be.
How he ever did it, Jacob could never
tell. But he went down on his knees
before Jenny, and in such language as
hiui never before been heard to flow
from his lips poured forth his love into
the willing ear of his adored, while
Bounce wagged his tail nnd looked on,
apparently well pleased with the turn
events had taken. And, although the
newly betrothed lovers remained in the
shade of the old apple tree until the sun
ha<i sank to rest behind the western
horizon, yet Mr. Eldridge did not put
in an apneanuice witli the gun—an event
which Jacob had been momentarily ex
pecting.
It was not until sometime after the
marriage festivities had been celebrated
that Jenny disclosed to Jacob the artifice
that had l>een employed to bring about
a declaration of his love.
He then learned that the flirtation be
tween Jenny and Mr. Eldridge was all
a hoax, gotten up by the artful cousin
for the purpose of bringing the tardy
lover to a propoil. On the day in the
orchard they had seen liirn when he
first climbed into the tree, and were
iwnre of his presence all the time thev
wee seated beneath.
Eldridgc's seeming intention of pro
posing for Jenny's hand, as well as tiie
device of going in search of the gun,
were only continuations of the conspir
acy against him.
Jacob's opinion of his wife's cousin
has now been vastly improved, and fie
has quite forgiven the hard tilings which
he said in regard to him on that memo
rable day under the apple tree. Jacob
now look* unon him as his greatest
benefactor, who helped him to acquire
the most valuable treasure in his posses
sion.— (Juinn/ Afo<l> m Aryo.
* untunes in Texas Thirty Tears Ago.
The word mustang is a corruption of
raesteno, tiie Mexican name for a wild
horse. Many years ago there were
thousands, no doubt millions, of these
animals in Texas. In lbt'.l, and for sev
eral years thereafter, they were numer
ous in the region between the Nueces
river and the Rio Grande. They were
found further north. Gut not in such
numbers. Immense herds of wild
horses could be seen grazing on the
prairies. When they saw anyone ap
proaching the leader would often move
to the Iront and make a reconnoissanee..
If things did not suit him lie woul t give
his head a peculiar toss, wheel and
sound the note of alarm. These demon
strations would be followed by prompt
movement on the part of the herd,
sometimes to the front, but more usu
ally to the rear. They would wheel
into line, change front, move in line or
in column with as much preciirton and
order as cavalry. It was w. ndcrful to
witness how well they were drilled and
disciplined. In the event a retreat was
ordered the leader wouid move in the
rear for a while. If any logged or strag
gled they were very apt to feel histceth,
il not liis heels. On some occasions a
movement to tiie front was ordeied. It
was a change in line or in column,
proudly headed by the leader. This
was the case sometimes when mounted
men were in sight. The Texas rangers
operating in that country were followed
by pack-mules in charge of a guard. It
wo* necessary at times to form a hollow
square, plaoe the mules inside, and to
throw out skirmishers to fire into the
animals. If the leaders could be struck
the charge would be broken. Tiie
horses would retire al once.
The mustangs were hunted by Mexi
cans. and the finest ones singled out and
lassoed. Wliole herds were driven at a
ton into pens having extended wings,
aliich contracted as they approached
Ihe gate. As many as 400 mustangs
have been penned atone "run." They
were sold at almost nothing, five dol
nrs being a high price for a choice
horse. These mustangers were a wild
set, often no belter than Indians; some
of them were honest, good men. Thev
wen guilty of many murders and rob"-
oeries. The Com,'inclus made many
visits to that region. They would
pounce upon the mustangers, set them
afoot or kill them, as caprice dictated.
T lie Comanche wanted the mustangs to
ride and to eat. Horseflesh is a great
delicacy with them. The choice part is
the fat immediately under the mane.
I he section In question was very hot in
those days for Americans. A Texan
was considered an hereditary enemy by
both mustangers and Indians. His only
protection was the tlflc and the six
shooter and a horse of st rength and bot
tom.— Texas Mule Hanger.
Fire-Fishing,
Captain Rquyer, of St. Johns, Florida,
recently gave to a party of Northerners
an exhibition of Hre-tishing at mid
night. Four men and two women were
•towed away in a small boat, which was
propel led by means of a pole. In the
now of the boat stood the captain with a
lighted lightwood torch in one hand and
anarpoon or four-prongcrt spear in the
other. A fat-pine Are also burned in
the bow. casting a brilliant light on the
water. The boat wa pushed along In
water from one to two feet deep. and its
occupants were able to see the smallest
flsh much better than though it were
midday. The glaring light seemed to
blind the flsh, who lay motionless on
the sand. A well-directed thrust with
the harpoon would be sure to land a flue
fellow Into the boat. Many interesting
sights were seen on the sand-flats,
among them numerous sheepshcads last
asleep on their backs. The sheepslieail,
as seen at the bottom by a turpentine
light, looks like a little white streak.
His head often rest* against an oyster
shell for a pillow.
The married editor is reminded of his
l courting days every tin e he goes to pi ess.
TIMELY TOPICS.
An Ohio mining company lias dis
charged forty employees because they
are single men. The alleged objection
to the unmarried is that they do not re
turn as much money to tiie cor|>oration
store as marticd men. Whether this is
an argument in favor of getting married
docs not appear, as the married em
ployees of the company struck on ac
count of the discharge of tiie bachelors.
Ohio had sixty-three blast furnaces in
operation last year employing 5,9fi5
workmen, and capable of turning out
1,937 tons of iron manufacture. There
are forty-seven rolling mills in the !
Btate, thirty-one of which are in oper- j
ation, employing 7.7H4 persons. Tin i
production of coal during the year in |
estimated at 5,000,000 tons, employing
14,000 persons. There are sixteen glass !
manufactories in operation employing j
over 1,000 persons. Gas works are in !
operation in sixty-five towns, with a
capital invested of nearly $9,000,000 j
A review of the horse and mule j
market in St. Ixiuis shows an unpre- j
cedcnted increase in that branch ofhusi- ;
ness. The receipts for tiie last month,
by river and rail, were 19,000 head,
against 4,000 the corresponding month
last year. In addition to these receipts,
it is estimated that enough animals
were driven into the city to swell the !
total arrivals to 1.0,000. Buyers were j
present from all parts of this country, '
Canada, Mexico, the West Indies,
France, Germany and England, all of
whom bought liberally at prices satis- j
factory to the sellers. The shipments
by rail alone, for the time mentioned,
wprc Hon head.
As evidence of extravagance in fash
ionable life in New York the present
season, it is stated in Forney's Progress
I that the amount of money spent in balls,
I parties nnd receptions in New York
during a recent week was about $lOO,-
000. This estimate included entertain
ments in aid of deserving and charitable
objects, in which many fashlonabh
ladies participated, and especially one
in which they arranged a tableau de
picting the presentation of Benjamin :
Franklin at the court of Louis XIV., j
and employed in this undertaking a i
large amount of untiquc costumes and j
glittering diamonds, which were more j
costly than those displayed in the orig- j
inal scene.
A writer in the Hour, who lived at I
Naples from IH7O to 1*73, says that lie j
found all through that period that the s
molten lava iu the OTMCr <>f Vesuvius 1
rose and Ml witli the phases of the i
moon. At the time of new moon the
lava almost disappeared from the era- j
tcr and the flashes of fire were few and
far between. As the moon grew toward
her full phase, tiip height of the lava j
and brilliancy and frequency of the j
flashes increased, and after she had !
passed that point they gradually do- ;
creased. He suggests that these' facts j
tend to strengthen the theory held by |
some scientific men that volcanic erup- .
tions arc caused by an inflow of the
sea to the bowels of the earth.
Glass sleepers for strest railways are |
now under trial. They are made by tiie
Sienian's glass toughening process. !
which differs somewhat from the well- !
known I/a Bastie process. Under care
ful experiment they have been found to
have very considerable strength, or, at
least, sufficient for light railway*. So
far they have been made of a rather
small pattern for longitudinal sleepers,
but there seems to be no reason why
tliey may not le made of the usual size
for heavy railway ties. The glass is of j
the cheapest quality. Tliey may even !
be made from furnace slag, as cheap !
bottles are already manufactured, and
once in tiie road -bed thfy would last
for centuries, as far as mere decay is 1
concerned.
The city of Tokio, capital of Janan
hos been burned down for the third
time in seven years, though, considering
tiiat it is constructed of the lightest and
flimsiest material, it might just as well
been the seventh time in three years. ;
Although 1.4,000 houses were destroyed
the low is not so severe as these numbers
would indicate, for they are cheaply and
r|Uickly built up again. In Japan a Arc
is checked by pulling houses to pieoes,
and the firemen instead of pumping j
water on the burning building, keep
soaking the men who are demolishing
the houses. Evidently, however, when j
SO,OOO people nre made homeless and 100 1
perish in tiie flumes tiie blaze lias got as
much beyond their control as tiie fa
mous one in Chicago.
The year IWO-will he memorable in
naval and commercial annals for the
promulgation of a new rode of sea sig
nals and road ruins. Great Britain
France, Germany, Hu-sia, Austria, Italy,
the Netherlands, Sweden. Denmark,
Belgium, Spain. Portugal, Greece, Chili
ana the United States have agreed to
these rules, which include, besides sig
naling with colored lights, a set of blast*
from the strain whistle or fog-horn,
whoso numbers ami length oT duration
talk plainly. For example, a steamer
sighting any vessel gives one short blast
to denote that she is keeping to star
board. two il she is keeping to j>ort. and
three if she is going astern. Other
blasts have fixed meanings. The new
rules should help to diminish tiie num
ber of disastrous collisions which have
been steadily increasing with the in
crease of shipping.
A company lias been formed in Glas
gow, Bcotland, says an exchange, to
operate in the forest lands of Oregon,
and Washington Territory, for the pur
pose of utilizing a process of clearing
forest* by steam, introduced into Scot
land a few years since. A traction en
gine of twelve-horse power is stationed
some distance from the wood, and a
wire chain is fastened to a tree. Steam
is then put on, and tiie tree is pulled
forcibly out By the roots. Upward of
900 tree* per day of ten hour* ran be
pu'led out by this process. The com
pany will begin operation* with fifty
engines, which are now being manufac
tured for them, to be located and worked
in different sections of the country,
and It is calculated that In the rourte of
a few year* the whote northwest ol the
United State* will be cleared aod opened
up for settlement-
An amusing application ol the won
ders oftlie telephone as an assistant de
tective ot crime reaches the San Diego
(California) Union, from Julian. Hev< ral
horses were stoltn in that neighborhood,
and suspicion fell upon a certain Indinn
as the thi< f- Some one having imro
durod a telephone there, it. cm urn d to
the owner of the stolen horse* to get tho
Indian to step in and henr the " tlieat
Spirit" talk. The Indian took one of
the cupg and wax thrilled with astonish
ment at lieing apparently so near the
tlreat Keeper of the happy hunting
ground. After gome little time stunt In
wonderment, the Indian was solemnly
eommanded by the (ireat Spirit to
"give up the stolen horses!" Dropping
the cup as if he had been shot, the
Indian immediately confessed to having
stolen the horses, and tremblingly prom
ised, if his life was spared, to restore the
" eaballos" at once, and he did so.
•
The present condition of the Pacific
! railroads maybe summed upas follows:
I Complete or in more or less advanced
stages of construction are: First, the
) Union and Central Pacifies, from
; Omaha to Kan Francisco; second, the
! Texas and Southern Pacifies, from
i Texarkana to Ix>s Angeles and San
| Francisco; third, the Atchison, Topeka
■ and Santa Fe, from Kansas City to
| Cuaymas; fourth, the Northern Pacific,
| from Duluth to Puget Sound and I'ort
! land; fifth, the Canada Pacific,extend-
J ing through the Brttish Territory from
1 Fort William on I^tikeSuperior, to some
point on Ihe (Julf of Georgia. To these
may be added two other important out
lets to the Pacific, viz.: Jay flould's
Northwestern line from Ogdcn to the
Columbia river, and the proposed branch
of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
from the Rio flrande to the Pacific, on
; a line at or near the thirty-fifth parallel,
, after a possible ex tension of the Kansas
1 Pacific from Denver to Ogden City.
The genera) opinion of scientific men
ns to the possibility of a change in the
position of the earth's axis lias undergone,
recently, modifications somewhat anal
ogous in character to those which, in
tlio opinion of some geologists, the posi
tion of the axis itself has undergone.
Instead of the fixed law or rules sis to
the impossibility of change, there is
; now a divergence of mathematical
! opinion—all agreeing in the theoretical
I possibility of a change in the geographi
| eal position of the earth's axis of rota-
I tion being effected by a redistribution
1 of matter on the surface, but. a* to the
! extent of such changes, there are dif
j ferent opinions. Some hold, for in
! stance, that the elevation of a belt
; twenty degrees in width would displace
! the axis by about ten miles only; oiler*
| maintain that the elevation of t wo such
: continents as huropc and A "in would
i displace it by about sixty-nine miles;
' and some, again, regard it as highly
! probable that the poles may have ix-en,
| in ancient times, very far from their
| present in "graphical position, and may
have gradually shifted through 10. 20,
30, 40 decrees.
A Itailroad Bridge on Ice.
A Montreal corre hpondcnt of the Ron
ton Herald desci ib-s the passnge of the
first train on rails laid across the frozen
surface of the St. Lawrence river: At
the hour appointed for the trial trio an
immense concourse of citizens lined the
| river banks on both sides, many, no
I doubt, being attrac ted by morbid c-uri
; osity to witness the spectacle, which
! many predicted as likely to take place.
'of a terrible disaster wherein several
! bund red people would be swallowed up
I in the cold waters of the St. I^iwrem-c.
Fortunately, they were disappointed, as
! the experiment resulted in a grand tri
umph. Invitations had been issued and
accepted by the ministers of the pro
vince, the city corporation, judges,
i members of the press and others, and at
i noon almut 200 persons got on two plat
form cars, upon which seats had been
| improvised, and tlio start was made
under favorable circumstances, a ring
i ing cheer from the shore sending toe
j voyagers off on their exploit. At first
j the ratv of speed was moderate, so as to
I ascertain the durability of the founo.-i
-j tion, but. as the city was gradually left
| behind, the rate was Increased until, at
I midstream, a speed ot twenty miles an
; hour was attained without in any way
detracting from the pleasurable sensa
tion of the trip. As the train slowly
emerged from under the shade* of the
lloelielaga highlands a visible depres
sion in the ice was apparent. An omi
nous cracking, followed by the appear
ance of water on the surface, impressed
the pnssengers with a sense of their dan
ger. All fear, however, was dispelled
by the announcement from one of the
managers that the water was only the
| superficial deposit occasioned by last
night's rain. Thus reassured, jollity
| and mirth again reigned supreme; but,
j as the swinly-gliding ears passed the
several fair-holes, close observers per
ceived a slight defection on the surface
in midstream. A stoppage of ten min
ute* was made so as to allow a photo
graph of the train, with its living freight,
to be made. This concluded satisfaclnr
i ily. steam was once more applied, and
: the opposite shore was soon reached
without anything occurring to militate
against the pleasure of the voyage. A
sumptuous lunch'was sprend at the sta
tion at longucuil, and a good time spent
there by the company in feasting and
speech-making. There-turn journey was
subsequently made with as much safety
and satisfaction as the first crossing.
The " Little Joker."
One of the "old style " of commercial
travelers was Jack llazzarri. of New
York. Jack was passionately fond of
the " pasteboards," and would occasion
ally even indulge in a .Ittle game with
the boys in the basement or the store,
when not upon the " road." One morn
ing when thus engaged the " old mac "
was heard Approaching, and Jack
stuffed his last triek tn hU pocket.
chucked the rest of his park into an
empty ease, and the company broke up.
The cause of the intrusion was sor>n
explained by Jack receiving an order to
start for Philadelphia at once with sam
ples of a new line of goods. Jack flung
the samples into a TmUtO, put on a clean
paper color, bought ten cigars for a
quarter and started at once. Arriving in
Philadelphia his first call was on an old
Quaker house on Broad street. Pulling
himself together. Jack marched in. and
laving a card before tbe senior partner,
who was busily engaged at his desk,
said in his mojt sanctimonious manner:
" That is the p irty I have the honor to
represent." The old follower of Penn
looked carefully at the card, and then,
fixing his stee.'/ biue eyes on Jack,
handed it hack, saying: "If thai Is tin
party that thee represents, thee will
And Philadelphia well stocked with his
goods." Jack cast one horrified look at
the card. It was the " little joker," on
which a fellow clerk had strong I >
sketched the head nd horns of lib
satanie majesty, and the bold salesman,
for once discom tilted, heat a hasty re
treat to his hotel.— Bo*ton VomrusrcMi
Bulletin
SIX YKARM WITHOUT A SPA LP.
A Ctrl If** Her Mralp Torn off In * VVI
■lnMhlnale Sflllantl Survive, Nl Irars.
A late issue of the Osbkosb (Wis.)
Norlhireblfrn has the following account
of un interesting esse: Ameiiaflrumal]
died at her home in thiscityon Monday.
She was the victim of one of the most
singular accidents on record, and her
case will be read witli interest by aii
students of physiology and anatomy for
a long time to come. On the 6th of
; September, 1K73, while at work in the
! shingle mill of Buckstaff Bros. A Chase
! as a shingle packer, she passed under a
shaft, whf-n her hair caught upon a
joint of the machine, and in an instant
tier whole scalp was taken completely
from her head. The wound extended
from the nose in front to the first dorsal
1 vertebra? behind, and also took off on"
! of her eyebrows, her left ear, and apart
of her right ear. The scalp was left at
the place of the accident, and could not
i be replaced, as it was cold, stiff an i full
of sawdust and dirt when the medical
assistance arrived. Dr. C. Linde took
charge of the ease, and although*',lu- ur
fortunalc sufferer was expected u, die,
everything possible was done for iter!
She was nineteen years of age, and up to
; the time of the in cident in good health.
Und'-r careful medical treatment *| l( .
rallied, and an attempt was made to
graft new skin on the wound. but|ll,<
surface exposed was so great that natun
was unable to cover it with new fb-||.
Particles of skin were taken from Un
arm* of several persons in this city and
attached to the wound, in the hope that
a graft might be sprouted and tie
wound healed up, hut the attempt w.i*
not a success. The skull was laid so
completely hare that there was not mf
fi dent life left to start a new growth.
After treatment by Dr. Linde tln
patient went to Milwaukee, where- sin
-1 entered a hospital for a course ol treat
ment, hut although she improved m,m
what the wound did not heal except
around the edges. Up to tin- time of
her death there was a large circular
on her skull which was raw and ur
healed, and required constant daily
dressing by her attendants. Her gen
eral health soon returned to a certain
extent, and for the paM four year- (-in
ha* been able to do light hours-work ar d
to walk out. Within the tinn Hated
site had a severe- attack of typhoid f< v r,
through which she patscd
fully.
A bout ten days ago, on taking a - v< r
' cold, she was attacked with inflamm.v
; tion of tin- brain, superinduced no
doubt by the peculiar condition of ) r
head, and after an illness of al*>ut n
week death put an end to her suffering
wiiich must have been horrib > even t.
oontemplatv.
National Debts.
From n article in the Chicago I
Orcau, fre>m the pen of Robert P. I*< • •
we extr -.i t the following tail
I the debts of the civilized nationsof th<
world in PCH •
JS'alian. ]), ■
' China 53,25 - 0.0
San Salrailor ... • .... 5,000,009
I Germany 90 0 0.0 0
I Natal ] ■,. .
Swoden and Norway . (.2.000.U00
| CapeofUood Mo)>c 2-5 > (<0O,OO0
Nicaragua 1".000,000
Switzerland ... 6,50
Kcuador 10.3.90,0(0
Colombia 52,0
| Japan 't06.000.000
Greece. 75,000.0(8)
I t 'ay-lon 4,000 000
! 11 ond lira* and Guinea 000
| British India 1 170.000.000
I Chili 56,0 0
Paraguay 260,000,00
I Canada 100,' 0
I Costs Kica .. 17
i Belgium 210.(00,000
j Brazil 273.000,(100
Peru 230,000.0(4
| Russia 2,300.0 <i.f fiO
1 United Slates 2^35,7*6,9
■ Turkey 1.000.000 0(>(.
Austria . 1 ..WO.onn 003
I Venezuela U 0.000 036
i itoumaniu 103,000 o; 0
] Denmark 50 000.006
| Argentine republic ~ 42 000.(00
i South Australia 27,00 >•
Mexico 400,000,000
I Spain 2,050,00\0n®
| Netherlands 400.0(0
I Italy 1,001,090,000
, Tasmania 70 •
j Portugal ... 400 •
Kngland 3,989.907.9*6
France 4.677.743.406
Iyp4 400,1-1 o,<|(>O
j New South Wales "3,000,000
| ft uguay 45,000,000
j Victoria 100 00 > 0 0
New Zealand 105,000,(06
(Juoenaiand 32..900.000
Western Australia 1,000,006
Total 925,631,139.211
In 1700 the national debts of the civil
ized nations of the world were alsiut
$1,500,000,000, while the population
was about 300.000.000. In !§7o the
population had reached 600.000.u0u. hut
the indebtedness had reached $19,500.-
000,000. The above table shows that in
eight subsequent years the debts of the
civilized world have increased about
$6.000,000.000.
Wulklug Sticks.
A walking stick ha* always I icon eon
sidrred a useful and graceful present,
likely to be of pleasant service and long
possessed. Some are inelined to think
, that the pilgrim's staff, the bishop's
i iTosier, the drum minor's gorgeous mare
j and the usher's wand have a common
! origin with the walking stick; at least.
( we know that change of habit, and that
most unaccountable change of fashion,
lias in our own time worked some
curious results; the various materials
called into use are alone sufficient to
cause surprise. Walking sticks have
been made of tortoise shell, the back
bone or vertebne of the shark, the tusk
of the rhinoceros, and woods of every
eonre ivnble variety, and lately one was
exhibited made entirely of champagne
cords, with a wire passed through them
The handles have many more source* to
boast, as there are man v materials not
large enough to make whole sticks, such
for instance as the teeth of the giraffe,
the walrus, the elephant; and, in fart,
most large teeth and all IK rns are use
ftal for the purpose. It is a remarkable
fact that women are seldom employed
at stick making, and boys hut little,
there being so much knowledge and
skill required lor the various proeesse*
that nn-n are chiefly employed; it is also
singular that steam power la not in u*c
to any large extent; marhinery has the
power of turning out larga quantities of
goods all alike.hut cannot vary them;
tills is the reason of its not being gener
ally adopted, for the verj charm of *
stick is its natural peculiarities. There
must not be two alike, and if nature is
humored, as it is by a skilled workman,
they cannqt be; it will readily be seen
that a fixed method cannot be applied
to all, as each stick must receive treat
ment peculiar to Itself.— Hattcrt' QaxitU.