The Brakeman Who Went ta Chnrch.
To me comes uie oraxeman, and seat
ing himself on the arm of the seat, says:
•• f went to church yesterday."
"YesP" I said, with that interested
inflection that asks for more. " And
what church did you attend?"
•• Which do you guess?" he asked.
"Some union mission church?" I
hazarded.
" Naw," lie said, " I don't like to run
on these branch roads very much. I
don't often go to church, and when I
do, I want to run on the main line,
where your run is regular and you go
on a schedule time and don't nave to
wait on connections. I don't like to run
on a branch. Good enough, but I don't
like it."
" Episcopal?" I guessed.
"Limited express," he said, "all pal
ace cars and two dollars extra for a
seat; fast time, and only stops at. the
big stations. Nice line, but too ex
haustive for a brakeman. All train men
in uniform, conductor's punch and
lantern silver plated, and no .rain
boys allowed. Then the passengers are
allowed to talk back at the conductor;
and it makes them too free and easy.
No. I couldn't stand the palace cars.
Rich road, though. Don't often hear
of a receiver being appointed for that
line. Some mighty nice people travel
on it, too."
" Universalist?'' I guessed.
" Broad gauge," said the brakeman,
"docs too much complimentary busi
ness. Everybody travels on a nass.
Conductor doesn't gel a fare once in
tifty miles. Stops at all flag stations,
and won't run into anything but a
union depot. No smoking car on the
train Train orders are vague, though,
and the trainmen don't get along well
with the passengers. No, I don't go to
the Universalist, though I know some
awfully good men who run on that
road."
"Perhaps yu went to the Unitari
ans?"
"No, I didn't, but I might have done
worse. That is a mighty good road,
well ballasted with reason, though it
runs through a region a little bit cold,
and there is apt to be some ice and
snow on the track, hut in case of acci
dent there is no danger ol upsetting the
stoves and being burnt up; and th< re's
one good tiling about it, the neighbors
are generally ready to come and help
when you cm get into trouble. They
like to have tilings nice and comfort
able in this world, doing what they
think is nbout right and taking their
chances for the other. They don't seem
to take much stock in being as miser
able as you can here in the hope that
you will be the happier for it there.
They seem to think that a man's going
to reap the same kind of crop that he
plants, and that if he puts in a selfish,
worthless kind of a lite on litis earth it
ain't a-going to come out a very tine
specimen in heaven. Seems to me
some sense as well as poetry in that
but I was raised an 'orthodox' and
'twouldn'tdo for me to be seen on that
train or I might lose my place on the
other line, as there's a good deal of
competition between the two roads, and
our folks are getting afraid of losing
tiavel."
" Presbyterian?" I asked.
" Narrow gauge, eh?" said the brake
man, " pretty track, straight as a rule;
tunnel right through a mountain rather
than go around it; spirit-level grade;
passengers have to show their tickets
before they get on the train. Migiity
strict road, but the cars are a little nnr
row; have to sit one in a scat and no
room in the aisle to dance. Then there's
no stop-over tickets allowed; got to go
straight through to the station you're
ticketed for, or you can't get on at all.
When the car's full, no extra coaches;
cars built at the shops to hold just so
many and nobody else allowed on. But
you don't often hear of an accident on
this road. It's run right up to the
rules."
"Maybe you joined the free thinkers?"
I said.
"Scrub road," said ttie brakeman,
" dirt road bd and no ballast; no time
card and no train dispatcher. All
trains run wild and every engineer
makes bis own time, just as he pleases.
Smoke if you wnnt to; kind of a go-as
you-please road Too man v side trucks
and every switch wide open all Lite
time, with the switchman sound asleep
and the target lamp dead out. Get on
as you please ami get off when you
want to. Don't have to show your
tickets, and the conductor isn't expected
to do anything but amuse tiie passen
gers. No. sir, I was offered a pass, but
f don't like the line. I don't like to
travel on a line that has no terminus.
Do you know, sir, I asked a division
superintendent where that road run to,
and lie said he hoped to die if he knew.
I asked him if tiie general superinten
dent could tell me, and he said he
didn't believe they had a general su
perintendent, and if they had he didn't
know any more about the road than
the passengers. I asked him who he
reported to, and lie said ' nobody.' I
asked a conductor who lie got his or
ders from, and be said he didn't takp
orders from any living man or dead
ghost. And when I asked the engineer
who he got his orders from, he said
he'd like to see anybody give him or
ders, he'd rua tiiat train to suit him
self or he'd run it into the ditch. Now
you see, sir, I'm a railroad man, and I
don't care to run on a road tiiat makes
no connections, runs nowhere and has
nrf superintendent. It may be all right,
but I g: railroaded too long to under
stand it,"
" Did you try the Methodist?" I
asked,
" Now you're shouting," he said with
some enthusiasm. "Nice road, eh®
Fast time and plenty of passengers.
Engines carry a power of steam, and
don't you forget it; steam gauge show*
ft hundred and enough all the time
Lively road; when the conductor
shouts 'all aboard,' you can hear him
to the next station. Every train lamp
shines like n headlight. Btop-over
checks given on all throngli tickets;
passengers drf> off tho train as often
ft" they like, do the station two or
three days and hop on the next revival
train that potass thundering along.
Good, whole-souled, companionable
conductors; ain't a road in the country
where the .passengers foci more at
homo. No passes; every passenger
pays full traffic rates for his ticket.
Wesicyan house air brakes on all trains,
too. Pretty safe road, but I didn't
ride over it yesterday."
" Maybe you went to the Congrega
tional church?" I said
"Popular road," said thehrakevnn,
"an old rond, too; one of the very old
est in this country. Good road-bed and
comfortable cars. Well-managed roi d,
too; directors don't interfere with di
vision superintendents and train orders.
Road's mighty popular, nut it's pretty
independent, too. Sec, didn't one ol the
division superintendents down East
discontinue one of the oldest stations on
tliis linn two or three years ago? But
it's a mighty pleasant road to travel on.
Always nas such a pleasant class of
passengers."
"Perhaps you tried the Baptist?" I
guessed onoe more.
"Ah, ha!'? said the brakeman, "she's
a daisy, isn't sheP River road; beauti
ful sweep around anything to
keep close to the river, but it's all steel
rail and rock ballast, single track all the
way, and not aside track from the road
house to the terminus. Takes a heap of
water to run hor through; double tanks
at every Station, and there isn't an en
gine in ttie shops that can pull a pound
or run a mile in less than two gauges.
But it runs through a lovely country;
these river roads always do; river on
one side and hills on the other, and it's
a steady olimh up the grade all the way
till the run ends where the fountain
head of the river begins. Yes. sir, I'll
take the river road every time for a
lovely trip; sure connections and good
time, and no prairie dust hlowing in at
the windows. And yesterday when the
conductor came round for the tickets
with a little basket punch, I didn't ask
him to pass me. but I paid my fare like
a little man—twenty-five cents for an
hour's run, and a little concert by the
passengers throwed in. I tell you; Pil
grim, you take the river road when you
want —"
But just here the long whistle from
the engine announced a station, and
the brakeman hurried to the door,
shouting:
"Ziotisvllle? This train makes no
stops between here and Indianapolis!"
Burlington Hawkey e.
Andrew Jackson's Vow.
Shortly after the occupation of Pensa
cola and the expulsion of the Spanish
authorities from Florida by General
Jackson. Mr. Edward Palfrey, an old
citizen of New Orleans, now dead, wns
wont to relate that while standing be
hind tiie counter of the National hiurit,
his attention was attracted to a gdMlp
of military officers who entered the
bank and inquired for the cashier. The
chief of the parly wis a man gaunt,
stern-featured, spare and wasted of
tonu, but erect and tirm of carriage.
The cashier having appeared, the
chief introduced himself: "I am An
drew Jackson, miyor-gcneral of the
United States army, commanding the
forces now occupying Pensacola. My
Boldier* arc suffering greatly for the
want of provisions, clothing and medi
cines. Immediate relief is reouired, and
I must have $20,000 to purchase them
supplies. Here is my draft on the gov
ernment. 1 desire to have it cashed.
The cashier was appalled bv this de
mand. There was no authority to
honor this check. The courteous hut
tirm manner and the prestige of the
chieftain, however, restrained any such
intimation from the cashier. Request
ing the general and his staff to be seated,
lie retired to the rear office of the presi
dent, and communicated the appalling
demand of the conqueror of Florida.
The president was equally alarmed,
and dispatched a messenger to convoke
the directory. They quickly assembled,
and the subject was referred to them.
It should be borne in mind thnt at
that time General Jackson was regarded
with a great deal of bitterness and dis
trust by a large political party in the
country. He was looked upon as a dan
gerous and assuring military chieftain
who mennred the integrity and freedom
of our civil institutions, and especially
of such institutions as the great national
bank. The directors of the branch bank
here were doubtless somewhat per
vaded witli this sentiment. Still the
rules of the bank justified them in de
clining to advance the fund required by
General Jackson, and (he presiden
was instructed to communicate this
conclusion of the board.
He did so with nil the suavity usual
on such occasions.
Tiien rising from his seat and ad vane
ing to the counter, i ehind which the
polite president stood, the old chief
asked:
"Do I understand you, sir, to say
tiiat this bank, having the money of the
United States in its vaults, declines to
advance a sum sufficient to supply the
immediate needs of 9,000 patriot soldiers
whom 1 have left in the swamps of
Florida exposed to fevers and starva
tion P" With profound regret the rules
must be observed.
Whereupon, with flashing eye and
that terrible nspect never to be forgot
ten by any one who ever beheld Old
Hickory in a rage, the general, rising
high his gauntleted hand, brought it
down with great force upon the counter,
exclaiming, "By the Eternal! I will
live to 6erve your rascally bank as I
have the Spaniards in Florida, as equally
enemies of the people and of liberty."
With this fearful menace and vow he
strode with Ids staff out of the bank.
As lie emerged from the hank, the gen
eral encountered two Irish-born citizens
and merchants of New Orleans, who
bad heard of the order of the bank, and
had hastened to join the general, with
offers to cash his draft and furnish all
that he needed for his arm> .—Daily
Stale*.
Artificial Diamonds.
Professor Maskelyne's positive state
ment that the' method of producing dia
monds chemically lias been discovered,
does not admit of much doubt or dis
cussion. He is, probably, the highest
living authority on precious stones; and
just as L-is dictum quashed the claim re
cently preferred by Mr. McTcar, so does
it now sustain the claim preferred by
Mr. Hannay. Probably the diamonds
produced by this ingenious Scotchman
are of no ralue as gems—mere tiny
scraps of crystallized carbon. But even
in this form they will be of great value
commercially, being as useful for gem
rutting and polishing as natural dia
monds. For a little while, therefore,
the jewelers with diamonds in stock,
the well-to-do folk who own diamond
rings and necklaces, will not be dis
turbed by the depreciation of their
property upon their hands. In the long
run, however, the depreciation is cer
tain to co.us. If Mr. Hannav has dis
covered the principle in accordance with
which the transformation of carbon into
diamonds is effected, the perfection of
the process is inevitable. Willie the
useful arts will renp gr gt benefit* from
this triumph of modem alchemy, rp
mance will suffer. For the children of
the uext generation the story of ln
dab's excursion into the valley of dia
monds will have no charm!—Fkiladel
ptiia Time*.
It was a delicate piece of sarcasm
n the boarder who sent his landlady a
razor neatly inclosed in a handsome
silk-lined case and labeled "butter
knits."
TIMELY TOPICS.
In digging the Suez canal Egyptian
workmen were forced to make liods of
their backs, placing their hands behind
them and clasping tiie left wrist with
the rifcht hand. Boya under twelve
years of age were made to do this It is
hardly necessary to add that thousands
perished upder such inhuman treat
ment.
A mine which has recently been pur
chased in Denver, Col., for $05,000, was
discovered by two children aged nine
and ten years. They were "playing
mine "at the time and had dug down
four feet on tiie Little Chief, rear Ruby
hill, drilling and blasting five feet more
until a valuable body of ore was
brought to light. Their father, who
owned the claim, gave them $l,OOO each,
and now lias sold his interest.
It is proposed to build in certnin dis
tricts ou tho western frontier of Kan
sas churches made of sods. A few sucii
already exist. The walls are of sods,
the roofs are covered with sods,
and the floors are of earth. A church
can be built, in size about 96x30, for
an outlay In money of only $lO, and
this lias already been done in at least
one instance. A wall of sods, if prop
erly built, and protected, will last 100
years. Roofs of shingles and floors of
wcod are greatly to be desired, but, of
course, they add very much to the cost
of a church.
There is n district in Belgium where
a chain of villages along the valley of
the Geer torni a sort of immense street.
The soil is clayey, but crossed at inter
vals with chaik, which giyps tq straw
raised there an exceptional strength,
pliability and brilliancy. This district
is the seat of the Belgian straw trade,
in which some 40,000 persons are en
gaged, who earn upward of sBoo,o<Xl.
Every spring four or five thousand mi
grate to work in the principal cities lor
a few weeks. The chief seat of this in
dustry to-day is Roclenze, a beautiful
village, surrounded by tiie villas of
wealthy stmwmakcrs.
Germany, witli a population ol 42,-
000,000 has 60.000 schools and an at
tendance of 6,000.000 pupils; Great
Britain and Ireland, witli a population
of 34,000,000 has 58,000 schools and
3,ooo,ooopupils; Austria-Hungary, with
a popultyion of 37,000,000, has 30,000
schools and 3.000,000 pupils; France,
with a population of 37,000,000, lias 71,-
000 schools and 4,700,000 pupils; Spain,
with a population of 17.000,000, lias 20,-
000 schools and 1,600,000 pupils; Italy,
with a population of 98,000,000, has 47.-
000 schools and 1,900,000 pupils; and
Russia, witli a population of 74,0c5),00#,
has 39,000 schools and 1,100,000 pupils.
The United States and Canada com
bined, witli a population greatly exceed
ing Great Britain, consume little mow
tiian half as much cheese. In England
bread and cheese for luncheon a?e the
staple articles. When a hired man goes
from one farm to another on an errand
he is re.'aicd with bread and cheese.
When one farmer visits another, after
looking over the stock and the crops, he
is invited into the house, and if he does
not stay to dinner, or it is after dinner,
bread and cheese are placed upon the
tnblp, and home brewed beer is never
forgotten. If man or boy goes on an er
rand to a gentleman's house, bread,
cheese and beer are always offered.
Glucose manufacture Is making an ex
citement in the maize districts of the
West, the factory at Buffalo and its re
markable success being the prime stim
ulant. Half a dozen establishments
have been planted witiiin a niontb in
Indiana, Illinois and lowa Cyrus Mr-
Cormie.k and others have, it is said,
put $650,000 into one at Chicago. It is
to have a capacity of 20,000 bushels a
day. which is the equivalent of .Too tons
of sugar. A bushel of corn, costing
about forty cents, produces thirty
pounds of grape sugar, or three gftllons
of syrup. This sugar, which costs them
net two cents per pound, they can sell
at frotn three and one-half to four cents,
while the three gallons of syrup can be
sold at from thirty-live to forty cents a
gallon.
One of the Irish parish priests to
whom Mr. Redpatb. the New York
Tribune correspondent, sent a letter of
inquiry concerning the distress caused
by famine.says: "It would be impos
sible for me to individualize, where hun
dreds and hundreds in niv parish are in
this state. May God, in His mercy,
open wide to us the American heart.
In it, under God. is our hope. A bettor
day, I trust, is coming; and when it
comes and when the merry word and
joyous laugli are again heard, believe
me, though we forget everything! else
connected wit h the dread times of the
year 1880, we shall never, never forget
America, who, bv being the true ' friend
in need.' proved herself to be the * friend
indeed." Another priest writes: "My
house is actually besieged from early
dawn till late at night oy hundreds of
ragged, hungry-looking persons, most
piteously craving and clamoring for re
lief. No amount of private charity. I
fear, will be sufficient to mpct 'the
present appalling distress."
The sagacious elephant has a well for
tified thinking apparatus. Mr. Htrna
day, an elephant hunter, said in a lec
ture at Rochester: "An elephant to be
killed by the first hall must be shot
through the brain. But it is no enay
matter to reach this in the elephant, as
it is surrounded by an enormous y large
skull, and is very small in proportion to
the test of the body The skull is so
iarge in order to give surface for the at
tachment of the muscles of the trunk, of
which there aro about 40,000. The skull
is moreover composed of two walls, and
between these are connected long cells.
The brain being thus protected, it is ex
tremely difficult to reach, and elephants
are often fired into as often as nfiylor
sixty tiroes before being brought down.
The range of vision in the elephant is
limited, his hearing is not good, his
powers of smelling a-e poor, so that it is
an easy matter to stalk him. The ele
phant lias four vulnerable points: these
are the temple, ttie ear nhd eye, and the
center of the forehead."
Professor Swing, the well-known
Chicago minister, thinks it must be ac
cepted as a fact that there is great suf
fering in Ireland to-day, and that the
money forwarded from this laud, and
from all lands, and from England her
self, is the tribute due from the fortu-'
nate to the unfortunate in an era
which declares all men to he brethren.
If the grasshoppers In Nelvnska made
outalde help necessary, it the yellow
fever in the South demanded an uprif-
ingin Northern charity, so the famine
in Ireland proclaims that another time
has come for help to pass over from the
strong to the weak. The utter failure
of crops for several seasons lias made it
Impossible for parents to buy new cloth
ing for the children. and hence the
awfulscene of several little ones wrapped
in one ragged blanket, at once without
food nnd without covering. Before
these repeated failures of crops there
were thousands in this afflicted coun
try who were just on the edge of star
vation. In good times these had not
enough food or clothing, nnd now that
the crops have failed for three consecu
tive seasons, it ought not to require
much more, than a rumor to convince
one that there must be great distress in
many parts of the Irish country.
There lias]lately been exhibited in the
windjw of the hatter undewthe Conti
nental hotel, Philadelphia, a liat which
has excited widespread attention. It is
thirty-two inches in the crown, while
the brim is nearly a yard in circum
ference, and has been made for Chas.
A. Erling, aged twenty-seven, son of a
farmer near Bridgehoro'. Erling is
within half an inch of live feet high,
with very short legs, and a very long
body. Ills chest is forty-four inches
round, and his stomuch forty-one and
a half. He has for yesrs been obliged
to lie down, btasause his body will not
eairy his head. Medical men say that
this enormous size of the head is not
caused either by water on the brain or
malformation, but is merely the result
of an overgrowth. lie lias perfect
health, and they are of opinion would,
under proper surgical care, have been
gradually enabled to support his head.
He lias been, up to a recent period, kept
in bed in the same room for twelve
years, and is totally uneducated, as his
friends thought it would do him harm
to leurn any lessons. He has been
treated like a child, and taught to sing
" Mary Had a Little liitmb," and sun
dry other ditties. The hat made for
him is twenty sizes larger than that of
Daniel Webster, and Erling's brain is at
least thrice as large as an average brain.
Diamond Thieves In Mew l'ork.
A New York letter says: The atten
tion of the public is attracted by the re
cent diamond thefts which have oc
curred among what are called " gentle
men." E. R. Stoutenhurgh, who in
herited nn inrome of ffi.OOO, hut lias
wasted his property, lias just been sen
tenced to the penitentiary for two years,
the crime being of this nature: A dia
mond ring had been placed in iiis care,
and he had an imitation (made of paste)
substituted for the original stone. In
another instance a gentleman took a
diamond ring to a goldsmith for repair.
He called for it in a few minutes, but
found the Rtone removed and a paste
imitation substituted. It is not now
considered safe to leave a ring for any
such purpose, and hence in eases of re
pair the owners remain and watch the
work until it be finished. This being
the ease among respectaole people, we
need nbt wonder at the attempts made
on such property by professional 1
thieves. .
The dealers in precious stones decline
mentioning the names ol their best cus
tomers, as this would expose them to
the attempts of sneak thieves and burg
lars. The latter, however, have a very
correct idea of the diamond owners, and
such property my generally he con
sidered unsafe. This is shown by the
fact that a leading performer who
owned a large amount of jewelry locked
it carefully in iter trunk and then locked
tier room. The "fist" was also locked
so that no one could enter, unless ad
mitted (except by the use of false keys),
hut when the lady returned she found
that both her room and trunk had been
entered and property to the amount of
$3,000 taken away. The thieves evi
dently knew where the plunder lay. and
had been on tho watch for an opportu
nity. Another case was that of Mrs. '
Daniel Torrance, daughter of Commo
dore Vunderbill, whose diamonds were !
carried off by a midnight thief in a sud- ]
den and mysterious manner. They
were valued at $O,OOO. and have never
been recovered.
It is said that John Jacob Astor al
ways lias a detective in his service, and
his dwelling is never left unguarded.
Hence lie has never suffered from those
depredations to which reference has
been made. The detective who accom
panies Mrs. Astor to all places where
lier diamonds are to he displayed is said
to be an elegnntly dressed gentleman,
who mingles quietly among the guests,
and yet keeps up a constant watch upon
the fHO.OOO worth of diamonds worn by
his patroness. Speaking of the above
mentioned family, reference may be
made to the changes in a rieii man's
taste. William Astor has just soid his
racers, and has retinal fruui the turf.
He held a temporary distinction among
sporting men. nut has become weary of
tho expense and annoyance inseparable
from such pursuits. A man must have
a natural love of horses to adhere to
equine amusements. Astor only " took
it up " as an imitator of Belmont and
Bonner. The latter, however, have a
well-known passion for such animals,
which explains their lavish expendi
ture. Bonner's outlay for taking care
of 100 fine horses is not less than $90,000
a year. When you add to this the in
tereat on the estimated value of the aai
mals ($300,000), you have an expetis
equal to $7OO per week. This is a degree
of enthusiasm unequaled in the record of
horsemanship. For thirty years Bonu< r
lias been buying the finest horses in
America, and still he is like Oliver
Twist, asking for more.
He Remembered Exactly.
A lying witness will often tell a very
glib story, but he generally fails to
guard si! his weak points. At a raoent
trial in court the following took place in
attempting to pruvean alibi:
Attorney 8. Y'ou say that Ellis
plowed for you all day on the 90lh of
November?
Witness referring to his note-book—
Yes.
9. What did he do on the 30th?
W. —Wn chopped wood.
8.- On the 3lst?
W.—That was Sunday, and we went
squirrel hunting,
B.—Whatdil he do on tho s9d
W.—lie thrashed wheal on that day.
8. —What did he do on the 33d ?
W.-It was raining, and he abaved
out tome hand lea.
8 W hat did he do on the 34th ?
W.—He chopped wood.
B.—What did he do on the—?
But before tho queatton could be fin
ished, the witnesses'* wife seised him by
the collar and whisked him outside of
the witness-box, yelling in hit affright
ed ear—
"You old fool don't you krow there
are only thirty daya in the month of
November?"
HOUBIMH THE HYEIM*.
A PrlraU PirAnunm IB a ■ •■aerlr
llaw Iht Plmm llralw ar* " WarkMl"
W ita lUd-kat Iron.
The Louisville (Ky.) (Jourier-Jounvu
■ays of menagerie in that city: Among
the novelties of the season will be the
exhibition of a den of six laughing
byenaa, which will be entered ny a
trainer, and the animals put through
performances after the manner of lion
training exhibitions. This has rarely
been done, and in this case the experi
ment combines considerable peril, as
the hyenas of the show are unusually
fierce. They have been Kept In little
tax-cages, with stout iron bars in front,
and yesterday they were transferred to
a road-cage with three compartments.
The six animals have heretofore been
kept apart in pain, and some curiosity
was felt even by the keepers as to how
they would behave when housed to
gether. The transfer occupied utaul
two hours and n half, and was made by
" Huflal , Bill," the buffalo trainer, and
Charles Drayton, who will train the
hyenas. The manner of transfer is as
follows: At the end of the road-cage is
a door. The tax-cages in which the
animals have been kept during the
winter are quite small only large
enougli for two of them to move ataut
in. One of these was lifted upon the
shoulders of hulf a dozen men and set
UP on a frame against the door of the
road-cave. Two of the bars were then
removed from the box-cage, leaving a
passage from one to the other. It may
le thought that all that was now neces
sary would be to pencil the brutes and
let them walk out of one cave into the
other. A reporter who watched the
proceeding thought so, and so did a
young man from Indiana, who seemed
to take great interest in the proceeding.
Hut this was only the beginning of
trouble. A huge chunk of raw meat
was put into the road-cage to tempt the
hyenas over the threshold, but it had
no effect—they had dined only an hour
or two before. They were punched
with a pole, hut only raced around the
little den and would not cross the door
way. Then a plank was loosened and
removed from the top and " Buffalo
Bill " took a heavy whip, and, putting
his arm inside, began to lash them, j
This was followed by a series of un
earthly howls and yells and a tremen
dous scrambling, which made the in
terested young man from Indianaclifhb i
a pillar and perch in fear and trembling
upon the balcony, where he could see
nothing, hut heard a treat deal. It re
quired half an hour of whipping and
punching and heating to induce the
first to put hia head throu h the door, j
Tiien a tremendous lash was given him,
and, with a howl and a skulking, trcm- 1
bling movemer.t, he went into the new
quarters. Fifteen minutes more were
spent with "Gabriel," the fiercest and
most treacherous of the lot. who was '
finally got in, and then the two were j
forced into Uie far cud. and were shut
in by a compartment gate.
Another c.'-ge, containing two more
of the animals, was now brought in and
the same performance given. They did
not cause so much trouble, hut as
soon as they were shut in the mid- !
die compartment, "Gabriel" and his
mate set up a fierce snarling, and a
fight ensued. "Gnbriel" thrust his
sharp jaws through the bars and seized
his more cowardly neighbor by the
neck, and a perfect pandemonium of
yells and snarls ensued.
"Let UP, will you !** shouted Mr.
Colvin. as lie rushed forward with his
cane and gave "Gabriel " several blows
oil the head.
The cane had no terrors, however,
for the fighting pair leaped against the
bars, growling and scratching.
"He wants the iron," said Mr. Colvin,
quieliy.to a man who ran into the stable
nnd in a few momenta returned with it.
" The iron," was a long iron poker,
with n cross-bar at the end, heated red
hot. It wn* Inserted between the bars
and laid upon " Gabriel's" back. With
one unearthly human scream he leaped
up. and in a moment the two nnimals
were writhing to escape the terrible
dose.
"Give it to him in the nose P was
shouted.
The hot iron was punched into his
face, nnd then, without a sound, the
two cowardly brutes writhed and
twisted themselves into a corner, where
they lay trembling and cowed, as quiet
as lambs. In a few minutes "Gabriel"
showed signs of fight again, hut two or
three punches with the prongs of a
pitchfork silenced his hostility. The
last two brutes were now brought in.and
for an hour every device was resorted
to to get them into the n< w cages.
| "Kitty, the only female of thenumber,
, was at length tempted to skulk in by a
, piece of meal in front of her and a raw
i nide in the rear But her male com
panion lay down ir. the corner of his
cage and stubbornly refused to move.
He was beat until his roars filled the
building. A plank was then torn off
the rear of his cage and red-hot irons
and pitchforks applied, which only in
creased his horrible howling, without
getting his head in the door. Finally a
stout rope was brought, a noose was
made, and with great difficulty slipped
over his bead. This was drawn taut,
and the end of the rope passed through
the new cage, after which the brute was
dragged in by main fbr-e.
After they were all tranf( rred the
road-cage was rolled into the stable,
and Charley Drayton entered it for the
first time. Before he could get in,
however "Gabriel" hnd renewed his
vicioosneas, and attacked his old neigh
bor through the bars, seising him ny
the ear with a tenacious grip of the
jaws which could not be loosened. The
weaker brute howled and dashed about
until he had torn his car out of "Ga
briel's" teeth and spattered the blood
all over the bars and sides of the den.
"Gabriel" was then treafed to "the
iron," after which Drayton entered the
cage. Charles Drayton Is well-known
all over the world as " Ilerr Drayton,"
the man who plays with carnon balls
like they were toys. He has also been
a lion-tamer, nnd has undertaken to
"work" the hyenas for the novelty o
the thing. He entered the apartment
in which "Kitty" and her companion
were, armed with only a whip. The
beata could only be put through a series
of skulking maneuvers about the den.
Then (je tniew open toe second com
partment, and finally the third, and had
all In one large compartment. They
snapped fiercely at him, but after
whipping them and making them run
about he came out safely.
The parti driiir danger ol " working "
hysna* la the oliaracteristle Ipsashl t J
of the beasts when they are fierce, anil
it their courage was equal to their
stn ngih, they would be the meet dan
gerous of all beasts; but they are cow
ardly and skulking. They will snap be
hind the trainer's back and he ia re
quired to be extremely alert to prevent
their treacherous attacks.
Valley Forge.
Valley Forge is a manufacturing
place, and there is a constant hum of
machinery Irom the paper, flour and
woolen mills.' The neat little houses of
the factory hands are gay with Aowera
and vines, while the handsome resident*
of the mill-owner towers cast] -like
above them. Past all these dwelling,
at the end of the street, stands the old
fashioned stone edifice hallowed by
Washington's presence.
It is a plain, somewhat contracted
looking house, this Valley Forge shrine,
after the usual type of ancient Pennsyl
vania homesteads, with a queer roof
over the door, without cither posts or
pillars, shaped like the sounding-boards
in old-time churches. The small-paned
windows are long, and end in low, deep
window-seats that could be sat in witn
case; but they are not cushioned or
made the most of in any way. The en
trance door opens in halves, and two
broad flat stones lead to it.
Nothing has been changed in the old
bouse since Washington left it, with
the exception of paper and paint: but
it strikes the visitor as decidedly bare
looking. and by no means attractive as
a place of residence. The admission fes
of ten cents is appropriated by the Cen
tennial committee for the furnishing
fund, their intention h?ing to furnish
the bark room on the ground floor,
known as Washington's private office,
with articles gathered here and there of
the date of Washington's residence, and
as nearly as possible a fac-simile of those
in use at the period, the original furni
ture having slipped down the back
stairs of time without leaving a trace
behind.
As yet, however, nothing has been
accomplished, and very little of interest
is to be seen in the way of relics. The
back room is the chief point of interest;
and one of the deep window-seats is a
box, the lid of which is labeled "Wash
ington's private papers, 1877," this re
ceptacle naving probably been made to
avoid surprises.
We are also shown a revolutionary
cannon ball, the old anvil used in shoe
ing the horses of Washington and his
troopß, and an ancient fireplace with
" backs and jambs." The iron back of
another fireplace is unexpectedly dis
played outside of an entrance door
which opens into a narrow passage.
This back, of German manufacture, is
quite a work of art, and evidently in
tended as a representation of the miracle
in Cana of Galilee, the queer figures and
water jars being supplemented by a
German inscription. In which the words
"Wasser"ana "Wein"are quite dis
tinct, also the reference to John. ii.l-11.
The most noticeable article of furni
ture in the room is an *' old clock on the
stair," which seems its legitimate
place. It was not used, however, by
Washington, having been imported
from England by tne grandfather of
the present venerable occupant in 17M.
The old I'otts mansion has been pur
chased by the Centennial and Memorial
association, and in the deed of trust the
ground belonging to it is carefully es
timated at two acres and eight perches.
The long. low. stone barn that stretches
across a large portion of one side is
rough and plain—the same in appear
nnee as when Washington stabled his
horses there. Art has done little for the
immediate surroundings, except to in
troduce the impertinent wtiix of the
factory opposite.
A portion of the old intrenchments.
which are some little distance off, still
remains, and in the woods near by were
the miserable barracks where the Con
tinental army nearly froxe and starved
during the hard winter of 1777-*7B.
Harper's Magazine.
A Tame Otter's Thicks.
One Sunday afternoon, says a writer
in a British Journal, taking a walk
down by the Thrum mill, near Roth
bury on the Coquet, to exerciee our
dogs, on getting to the top of the rocks
one of the puppies gave tongue, and out
came an otter with two whelps by her
side, making for the liver. We got in
front, when the mother gained the
rocks, but we secured the two whelps.
We took them home and put them with
Roll, an otterhound, who had a litter of
three puppies. One of the whelps died,
but the other took to Ihe hound, and
; throve famously; he mixed with the
i puppies.but fought like a demon.and wns
soon master of the situation. Wherever
they went he went with them, fighting
everything that he met with. He also
became a pet with all the household,
who never missed a chance of feeding
him. His special treat was bo wis of milk
and broth; to get these he would find his
way into dairies, larders, etc. Thus he
went on, until we had to enter the pup
pies for otter hunting. We had him
fastened in a yard with high walls, as
we felt sure, if wc took him with us,
he would join his own specie*. On our
return be bullied and fought the entire
kennel of five.
About a week after I had to go
to Brinkbarn Priory, and took the dogs
with me. "Sandy," the tame otter,
would go, and Into the Coquet they
soon got on the lair of an otter. They
ran him through a deep pool, when
he took to the bushes. Soon I saw
Sandy side by side with Rufus, close to
the wild otter. I said farewell to
Sandy, but presently I heard the pleas
ant sound. " worry, worry." I thought
Rufus had him. but on coming in sight,
to my astonishment. Sandy bad him
fast by the neck and held him till the
dogs came up. From that time he was
the ieader in all our hunts, and was In
at the death of nearly twenty otters.
He became, however, a perfect terror to
all tho dogs in the village and district;
fighting was his motto. I well remem
ber Mr. Weal bans had a big lurcher and
greyhound, who took to figuring, a great
powerful animal, his long jaws and
quick movements boat the whole dis
trict. One day he was in Roxbury.and
soon had Rufus dead heat. " I>et out
Sandy, Geordie." No sooner said than
done. Sandy at oner saw poor Rufus'
• ond 1 lion, and flew at the lurcher—got
him by the foreleg, when the lurcher
turned to bite. On seeing Sandy, how
ever, he was terror stricken, and', giving
a most unearthiv "ell, bolted up the
town with Sandy after him. The dog's
master could never get him to pass
through the town again. But, alas!
poor Sandy soon came to his end. Love
of broth led him Into the larder at the
Star inn. The cook, finding him wal
lowing in the broth, struck him with •
wooden ladle, more to frighten than to
hurt him; but his skull was fractured,
and aftsr lingering for some day*, h*
died, to the Inexpressible regret of all
who knor him.