FOB THE FAIB HEX.
Fashions of the Day.
Iho many decided changes which
have appeared in tin" fashions this sea
son arc chiefly in the fabric*. Tlcic
is little change in the making up of
dresses. We still have skirts perfectly
clinging in form and draped behind,
short or trained for the evening; the
combination costume in its various
forms, newest of which is the coat
bodice different from the skirt, and the
severely plain cloth walking dress in
two or three pieces.
Undoubtedly the surtout is the lend
ing fashion among novelties. This is a
pi ain straight polonaise, with the skirt
open always in front nearly to the waist,
generally at the back also, and fre
quently on the sides as well. The ma
terials of which it is made are various,
cloth, velvet, camel's hair, brocade or
damasse, while the novelty goods in
Oriental mixtures are useful surtouts
for wear with any skirt. The host are
tailor-made, and tit like a rentleman's
frock-coat and are finished in the same
manner. Handsome surtoots are lined
throughout with colored silk, red or
old gold being the shades usually se
lected. The beauty of tlie garment de
pec ds almost entirely upon its perfect
fit, and great care should be taken, both
in cutting it out and sewing, to have the
tbreads run straight and to avoid
stretching the seams. When a tailor
cuts any garment ho lays the cloth
smoothly upon a long table, for which
a piano top is a very good sulistitute,
and marks it out with chalk. Then it
is cut and basted with the greatest ex
actness and stitched as carefully, and
this is the secret of the perfect set
which characterizes first-clas? tailor
work. Many dressmakers positively
refuse to tit garments for others to sew.
"You make the dress yourself," said
such a one, " and you sew it crooked;
then you blame me."
Much also depends on the manner in
which a dress is put on. The inside belt,
which keeps the back in place and re
lieves the seams of strain, is also of vital
importance. The best dressmakers add
to this a second inside belt, set in under
the arms, and about three inches wide,
furnished with hooks and eyes set close
together. Sleeves are made very tight,
and the wearer of a fashionable bodice
is expected to put on her bonnet before
she dons her dress wnist. It would be
impossible to bend the arm in these
sleeves were it not that a slight fullness
is allowed on the under part just at the
elbow. Sleeves for bail dresses are a
tiny puff. For afternoon wear they arc
elbow long, while the favorite length
for all occasions is three-quarters, long
wristcd gloves being worn with them
on the street.
The long-waisted, tight-fitting ja-ket,
with deep basque, is a very favorite
model for spring dresses. It is fre
?|Uently made of a different material
rom tha skirt—velvet, brocaded silk,
Turkish cashmere, wool and silk bro
cade or any fancy mat' rial; the Bkirt
maybe plain or striped. It is well to
trim the skirt with bi:u bands or flut
ings, panels or scarf-draperies of the
same fabric as the bodice.
There has never been a time when it
was so easy to remodel old dresses to
good advantage. The variety of new
fabrics is infinite, and something may
be found to combine with everything.
The novelty goods—by which we mean
all the army of brocbe and figured
goods—furnish trimming for all ma- !
lerials and shades. These are used in
small or large quantities; whole sur
touts are simply as vests, pipings, col
lar and cuffs. Last year's buntings are re
made, with bands of the novelty goods
for trimmings, ana old silk or cashmere
dresses are turned into the skirt, a sur
tout of novelty goods being worn with
them. Striped silks, which are slightiy
passe, are combined with satins to
match the pervading tint in the silk. A
pretty model has a coat basque of satin,
the front of the skirt of shirred silk,
with side gor<s of satin, while the back
breadths are of silk and the foot trim
ming is a silk plaited flounce, headed
with satin. Another, where more silk
was available, had the bodice of siix,
with long revers collar and cuffs of
satin. Long narrow panels of satin were
•ct on each side of the front breadth and
a vandyked band of satin headed a box
plaited flounce of silk 011 the sxirt.
Some of the new washing materials,
so-called, are very handsome. Such arc
the Scotch zephyr cloths, figured
mummy cloths the crape finished Yeddo
goods and the oil calicoes, which last
are made up in combination with tine
woolens.
The imported gingham suits are the
prettiest of all wash dresses. A gay
fancy is that of trimming light blue and
white checked gingham with Itands and
pointed tongues of dark claret-colored
gingham. Such a drcsa is further deco
rated by a cluster of hand-painted flow
- ers in the point of the neckerchief, which
is tied sailor fashion. Something unique
in the color and in the combinations is
aimed at in these pretty cottons. Thus
one of heliotrope purple has pale cream
colored facings, while another ol claret
red haa plaitingsof chintz figures on a
white ground, very much like the fa
vorite patterns of foulard.
Madras ginghams are sold in quanti
ties. The trimmings are coarse torchon
or Russian lace or Hamburg edges, and
a favorite method of making them is
with round skirt, witii flounce at the
bottom, or draped ovcrskirt and a jacket
bodice.
In dark colored percales alao a draped
skirt is worn over a short skirt, with a
bodice gathered round the waist and
finished by a plaited basque.
Coat basques are very fashionable, so
also is the skirted or marquise basque,
which has the skirt set on a little below
the waist line. These, however, are
used chiefly lor handsome dreases.
The Russian blouse wnist is very
fashionable in Europe and haa made its
appearance here. These waists are
shaped like the chemise Russc worn last
season with no seanfs but those under
the arms and on the shoulders, and long
enough to cover the hips. Their full
ness however, is laid in a single box
pleatdown the middle of the back and
one down each front; when he button
bole hem of t ie front js also laid in a
broad box-plait this gives the appear
ance of three plaits in front. A wide
belt of the cloth ia then added. The
edges of this blouse are stitched by
machine in many rows on a deep hem,
and the broad box- plaits have a row of
stitching down each edge. The Russian
blouse forma a nice variety from the
coanquin or coat bodice for morning
wear and is especially pretty for flannel
drcssis, and in also used for ginghams.
White dresses are flounced to the
waist with alternate flowers of Ham
burg embroidery sad plain material.
Ecru muslins are much iiked. Ex
tremely pretty and cheap dresses arc
made of the thin, unbleached cloth
known ns cheese-cloth, trimmed witii
and draped over Turkey-red calico of
solid peonies. Oil calicoes in Oriental
figures are also muoh used as trim
tuings. Fieur do the is another prfetty
cotton in pompadour figures, which Is
said to wash well, and is very effective
when made UD.
The much-talked-of Jersey bodice is
now made to button and is fitted with
two darts, one each side. Stockingnette
fused for them now, as weU as the
woven raw silk, like heavy undershirts,
in which they were first Introduced.
Paris letters say thnt there dresses are
made long, semi-long,"just to touch or
quite short, According to the stylo of
the toilette and the occasion of wearing
It. Besides fancy fabrics, plain or
printed, surah, muslin, de laine and
crepe arc much employed for elegant
uostumes, simple and tasteful.
As a rule, dresses are very much trim
med. Each dressmaker seems to think
sho ean never put on a sufficient num
ber of narrow flounces, plaited, ruclied,
quilled, and so intermingled ns to be
come very difficult to describe. One
puts them on length w ays, another aorosl
the front, a third slanting fashion. All
mix hem up with fringe of silk and
1 leads. Indeed, beads are used in pro
fusion as trimmings and very few hand
some black dresses are seen without jet.
A very pretty ornament easily made Is
formed of loops of beads arranged as
a tassel.Euibroi dery is also popular. A
set of this consists of collar, cuffs, pock
ets and two sidelmnds for the skirt.
Evening dresses with square bodices
have an embroidered hand around the
square opening. A favorite French
fancy is for illumination, I. e., trimming
witii gay colors. Thus an elegant black
walking suit has the surtont of black
brocade lined with red silk, the lining
allowing as the wearer moves, while a
narrow red satin plaiting is set under
the plaiting at the foot of tbe black satin
dress skirt.
Self trimmings of all kinds are worn,
box-plnitings and shell trimmings being
especially liked. Shirring haa a new
lease of favor and la employed on col
lars, plastrons, sleeves and fronts of
dresses. Vests are less worn than here
tofore, still they can scarcely be said to
lie out of fashion. A great many round,
untrimmed skirts are worn in corduroy,
velvet, velveteen and In striped velvets.
Cloth jackets nnd overskirts arc worn
with these, but they are chiefly seen with
thi surtout. —/ hiUulelphia limes.
Uinta Alwiut Drcaa.
Red surah and also orange is much
used in illuminating dark costumes, nnd
on fabrics of light quality it is fast tak
ing the place of satin in this regard, iust
as the figured foulards arc preferred to
heavier brocaded silks for combining
with summer goods. It is considered
especially stylish to use this soft twilled
silk between the plaits of the wool skirts
of pilgrimage costume's, and also for lin
ing the hoods of the pilgrim gown.
Thus a skirt of plaited black wool haa
a hand of surah nearly two inches wide
stitched down between the triple cluster
of plaits, that are flatly pressed—not
stitched—from the knees down. Anot her
plaited skirt of blue wool is laid in box
plaits two inches wide, and the space
underne'nth, between the plaits, Is cov
ered with bands of red surah.
One of the favorite caprices of French
dresses is that of making tbe front and
sides of the skirt teprcsent five great
box plaits, and these have eyelets
worki-d in the edges, and are laced down
with silk cords ending in tassels. A
contrast of color is always seen in these;
thus an ecru or wool dress Ims dnrk
green cord and tassels, while one of
navy blue has red eyelets, cords
and tassels. The intter nv<t<
beautiful skirt for blti •'
that are la<- 1 "
is tliee
kh
To
WOO 1 -I.
J much si.
' Plait' rvi king drew -a e
more popu. ir than they huve ever been,
and are most variously made. Some
are box-plaited in single plaits, others
are double kilts, while many havclhrtc
kilted flounces covering them. Most of
the skirts of one plaiting fall at the foot
on a narrow pinited border, which Is
often of a dark orange or red, in contrast
to the goods of the skirt.
lilies who make their own dresses
delight in the full round skirts that arc
not among the imported dresses. These
vary in width from three to four yards.
The present fancy is to tuck such skirts
in the old-time way. having a cluster of
four to six tucks, each two inches wide,
and verycloso together, yet not lapping.
This is around the foot of the dress, nnd
may have a knife or box plaiting below
it, coming ont from under the edge of
the skirt. This is very nioe for thin
wool goods, though heavier elot.'is, such
as the cheviots, have but one or two
wide tucks, and when tailors make tbrae
dresses they cover the tucks with rows
of stitching. Or course it is impossible
to elope or gore the breadths of skirts
that are to he tucked, as they must be
straight to tuck smoothly; hence these
skirts are only sloped si ghtly at the top
of the front and side breadths. Hnd are
deeply slilrred behind, or else laid in
very full plaits. Tiie round waiat. with
a wide belt is liked with such skirts, and
the only drapery is the short wrinkled
apron confined t° the front, and sewed
in with the side seams; or else there are
pointed wing-like pieces on tbe aides,
each finished with a tassel, or perhaps
drapery somewhat In panier styles ex
tends to the sides, or It may be there are
two flat square ends down the front
tucked to match the skirt, and edged
with fringe or plaiting. If a basque is
preferred, it must he open below the
waist to show the shirred skirt, nnd to
do this the entire back is sometimes
divided into pieces that are caught to
gether at the ends, and each finished
with a tassel; or else the middle seam la
0.-ened below the waist and turned
toward each side in revets, leaving the
shirring in view.
Sleeves of these simple dre ses arc
made quite full at the top, and are gath
ered in at the arm-hole to make Utah,
stand ufc slightly like the lej;-of-mutton
sleeves. The wrist is finished la the
simplest manner, without a cuff, and
with stitched edges; it is dsOally left
open a short distance up the outside
seam, that lace may be gathered there,
and carried up the open part. For thin
wcol dreases nuns' veiling or the thicker
French buntings are mode in the styles
just described. Drab, ecru and black
are the popular colore for such dresses,
and the enf ire drees is of one piece, with
out silk or figured goods in combination.
The block Cheviots in gray shades, the
rough English homespuns, nnd coach
man's drab cloth are used for heavier
suits. Dark brown ia the favorite color
for homespun cloths, especially when
there are irregular red threads woven in
} L Shepherd s check is also again styl
ish for very young ladies and misses.—
Harper'i Bazar
Carpet Uirdtniui,
A Paris letter says • The out-door oc
cupation is carpet gardening. It con
sists in the laying out of beds on luwns,
of borders and strips of earth, with
shrubs or bedding plants of variegated
hues in order to match the shades of
Persian carpels and Indian shawls.
This style of fancy gardening com
menced in France a few years ago, the
lovely Japanese caipet in the Troea
dero grounds .during the late exposition
gave an impulse to this mode of orna
mentation. I have seen the border of
an Indian camel's-halr scarf, with all
ita palms and intervening designs, most
accurately reproduced on a gardtn bor
der. Neither is it so difficult to suc
ceed in this one as one at first sight would
suppose. It is a matter which requires
care and foresight chiefly. The height
of variegated shrubs,uid the room they
require for spreading has to be acquired;
the rest is only a case of painstaking and
nicety. The beds of French lawns set
aside for the purpose are prepared by
the gardener, who makes all the sur
faces perfectly level. When they are
ready the ladies lay on the top a paper
on which the design has been carefully
perforated ; the paper, of course, corre
sponds with the size and shape of the
bed or border to be ornamented. All
the holes are then filled with chalk finely
powdered or sand, which leaves a per
fect impress on the block mold after
the paper has been carefully removed.
The plants are afterward sunk into the
different compartments marked out for
them. If the design is very intricate
it is wise to indicate the color and n.t
ture of the plants to lie bedded by writ
ing their ns.i es on the paper. A plan
or paper bed is usually prepared ins
doors when the weather does not admit
of out-door exercise. Several gentle
men having property in the environ
pride themselves on their carpet lawn
whichis the successful attempt of their
wives or dnughters. The cost is moder
ate. A tablecloth design is usually
executed in low cream-colored ghrubs.
I have seen a kiosk, under which meals
are served in summer, with a circular
border repeating emblems of welcome
and hospitality carried out in small
shrubs. ,
Feats of Memory.
Nature, an English publication, prints
the letter of n correspondent who was
struck with somcremarkableexhibitions
of memory that he found in the hotels of
the Unite* States. In some of them, he
says, many hundreds of persons dine
simultaneously in fhe same room. Be
fore entering, the guests leave their iiats
with a servant standing at the entr' nee
for the purpose of receiving them. The
servant does not check the hats or ar
range them in any pniticular ortier. and
yet lie promptly handseach to theownor
us he returns from thedining-room. The
most remarkable c ne noticed by the
writer was at the Fifth avenue hotel, in
New York. There the attendant, lie
writes, sometimes has as many as 500
hats in his charge at one time. Most of
thtui belong to persons whom he has
never before seen. The owners go in
and out in crowds. But without a mo
ment's hesitation, the servant returns
each one his own hat. He explains his
ability to do this by saying thnt he
forms n mental picture of the owner's
face inside his hat, and that, on looking
at any hat, she wearer's face is instantly
brought before his mind's eye. There
was a person who did remarkable things
of this kind at tic M"tmt >!i'-m b'-f
I n V *.v Y '
•M ii c than once did they conspire to de
eat or puzzle liini by a large numberf
butriedly crowding into the dining
room together, and at the same time
thrusting at him their hats, many of
which were designedly new nnd ns
nearly alike as possible. But whether
the conspirators came from the dining
room together as tiiey went in, or in
smaller groups, or singly, the rendy and
self-possessed master of the hat
promptly, courteously, and unerringly
handed each one to Its owner, whose
face lie now saw for the second time.
These were undoubtedly unusual feats of
memory, but not necessarily feats of
remarkable memory. They arc more
the result of training than the exercise
of extraordinary natural power*
What to Do in Case of Fire.
Tiie loose garments worn by women
and children expose them to special
danger from fire. If the fire starts
from the 1101 torn of tiie dress, the na
tural upward tendency of the flame
soon envelops the whole person, un
less by self-control and presence of
mind the necessary care be taken by
the sufferer, or some one near, without
a moment's hesitation. To obey the
first impulse and open the doors and
rush out is sure destruction. The only
safety is to fall down instantly on the
floor, and roll over on to the fire,
snatching n woolen shawl or rug. If
near, to wrap round the body. One is
comparatively safe by rolling over and
over, for the flames will not rise to the
face, and the lungs and breathing will
be less likely to be injured. Those
who may be in the room, or may come
in, have their work plainly before
them. Keep doors and windows closed;
snatch the first woolen thing to be
found— a table cover— without think
ing of the work of art on it. Pull It
offl Who caret where the bric-a-brac
rolls tof It is a human life in danger.
Or snatch a woolen shawl from a chair,
a curtain or a rug; anything—that one
human form is morevaluahie. Wrap the
sufferer instantly into something that
is woolen—the cost from your back, if
nothing else of], rs— and thus closely
wrapped roll heron the floor in the folds.
Scores of lives have been saved in this
way, or lost for want of such immediate
action. In case the house Is on fire
there should be one "captain," if possi
ble, who can lead the less seif-poaseased
out of the burning building. Every door,
window or aperture through which air
can find entrance should be closely shut
except during egress. There are always
eight or ten inci.es of pure air close to
the floor, and if one cannot walk erect
ttirough t he smoke he should, as soon as
enveloped In some woolen article, drop
on the floor on the hands and knees and
crawl out. A silk handkerchief or piece
of flannel or woolen stocking, wet and
put over the face, w!U enable one to
breathe in dense smoke.
Who struck Billy Patterson I
A correspondent of the Carnesville
hVJH HtauUr, who is writing a series of
Historical Sketches, Item in licences and
Legends, 'gives the following explana
tions as to the origin of the abovaquery:
Many persons have heard the question,
''Who struck Bily Patterson P" without
knowing the origin of it. I propose to en
iffiiif them a little on the subject.
William Patterson was a very wealthy
tradesman or merchant of Baltimore, in
the State of Maryland. In the early
days of Franklin county lie bought up a
groat many tracks of land in the county,
and spent a good portion of his time in
looking after his interests there. He
was said to be as strong as a lear and as
brave as a lion; but, like all brave men,
he was a lover of peace, and indeed a
good, pious man. Nevertheless his
wrath could be excited" to a fighting
pitch. On ono occasion he attended u
public gathering in the lower part of
franklin county, at some district court
around. During the day the two oppos
ing bullies and their friends raised a
row, and a general fight was the conse
quence. At the beginning of the affray
and before the fighting began, Billy
Patterson run into the crowd to persuade
them not to fight, hut to make peace and
be friends. But his efforts for peace
were unavailing, and while making
them, some of the crowd in the general
melee struck Billy Patterson a severe
blow from behind. Billy at once became
fighting mad, nnd cried out at the top of
his voice, "Who struck Billy Patter
son? No one could or would tell him
who was the guilty party. He then pro
posed to give any man a hundred dol
-1?" who would tell him " Who struck
Billy Patterson." From SIOO he rose to
11,000. But not SI,OOO would induce
any man to tell him " Who struck Billy
Patterson." And years afrerward, in
ui.H will, ho rolilted the above facta, and
bequeathed SI,OOO to be paid by his ex
ecutors tothe man that would tell "Who
•truck Billy Patterson." His will is re
corded in the ordinary's office at Carnes
ville, Franklin county, Ga., and any one
curious about the matter can there find
and verify the preceding statements.
I
What Arctic Explorers Must Undergo.
The statement of Captain Markham.
as reported by the San Francisco Call,
that " there is not an instance on record
where a ship has passed a second win
ter in the dreary Arctic latitudes that
death has not occurred," coming from a
master of Arctic exploration, is one of
the strongest appeals on humane grounds
! to open, if possible,early communication
with the American Arctic expedition,
and to bring home any of tne officers or
crew who have shown physical inability
| to stand the test of another winter in
the Juanette. Perhaps the most striking
I iwustration of the Kngiish explorers
j forcible r**m irk is found in thcexperi
! cnc* of the Austrian expedition ot 1872
in the Tegethoff. That vessel in the
| winter of 1872 73, drifting on an icc floe
throughout the profound darkness of a
polar night for 109 days, the sport of the
tempestuous polar wean threatening
■ every moment to chatter the Tegethofrs
j icy rage and engulf its crew, lost not
one of its men, though subjected to In
tensest agony ot suspense long drawn
out. But, in the second winter, though
I suffered to pass the polar night (125
days in length) without the horrors ol
i 1 hA,fhrst." as Lieuumant Payer reported,
' nna though abundantly supplied with
tresh meat from ice bears—the most
efficient remedy ngaint scurvy—dispute
invaded the expedition nnd death
1 claimed its prey. However hardy the
po'ar explorer may seem to he, or" ipav
iOid to lake oil' any ot its number who
may evince signs of succumbing expos
ures of Jts projected voyage, such com
munication should be promptly nradc.
Although there is no reason to fear for
the heal h of those on board the .Iran
' ndUe. no stone should be left unturned
, to afford any of her crew relief if it
should be required.— Ni.w York lleraUl.
Cultivate One Talent.
One talent. well cultivated, deepened
and enlarged, is worth a hundred shal
low faculties. The first law of success
at tills day, when so many matters are
clnmoring for attention, is concentra
tion; to bend ail the energes to one
point, looking neither to the right nor
to the left. It has been justly said that
Vf**' wisdom of a man in
this century In shown in leaving things
unknown; and a great deal of his prac
tical sense in leaving things undone.
The day of universal scholars is past.
' Life is short and art is long." The
range of human knowledge has in
increased so enormously that no brain
ran grapple with it; and the man who
wouid know one tiling well must have
the courage to be ignorant of a thou
sand tilings, however attractive or in
viting. As with knowledge, so with
work. The man who would get along
must single out his specialty, nnd into
that must pour the whole stream oi
bis activity—all the energies of hi*
hand his eye, tongue, heart nnd brair.
Broad culture, many-sidedness, ar*
beautiful things to contemplate; but it
is the narrow-edged men—the men of
'ingle and intense purpose, who steel
their souls against all tilings alse— who
accomplish the hard work of the world,
and who arc everywhere in demand
when hard work is to be done.—Manu
facturer and Builder.
" The Emperor's Tree."
When Chuntrhe, the founder of the
present Tsing dynasty, ascended the
throne of China, no planted a tree in the
courtyard of the temple called Tanche
mu, which is situated in the hills a short
distance wist of Pekin. It is believed
that the ruling family will remain in
power so long as this tree exists. At
present it shows no signs of decay, and
lias apparently a long life before it; hut
there is still a morn extraordinary su
perstition attached to it. Sapling*
sprout our periodically from the root,
and with the death of ea h prince one
withers away, while afresh one appears
in honor of the new emperor. Each
sapling bears the same relation to tin
individual prince that the tree does to
the dynasty; and not unnaturally the
emperor for the time being watches
with considerable anxiety tnu'growth
of his particular sapling. The tree is
-The Emperor's Tree,"and it
may be worthy of noting that the sap
ling of the present emp. ear is said to be
"xtreinely vigorous and flourishing.
TIMELY TOPICS,
A school for the education of Idiot*
hns been In operation In Holland for
twenty-five years, with encouraging re
sults. Of the total of 417 pupils entered
upon its register since 1865, forty-three
have gone dirpetly Into service or
adopted a trade, while twenty-five
others have been discharged in a greatly
improved condition.
The son of the Burmese King Tliee'.au,
for whom last year a cradle of go d was
made, in crusted with diamond, ru
bies, sapphires and emeralds of incredi
ble value, recently died of smallpox.
Vast suras were spent upon the little
fellow, and all the people living round
the palace stockade bad to buy new
cooking kettles, lest the smell of ranch
oil from the old ones might offend hi;
tender little nose.
It seemed that oysters may be arti
tically propagated by chopping up th
male and female oysters together. Di.
W. J. Brook says that the young oys
ters thereupon immediately begin
forming. In a few hours the embryo
can swim in the water. Its shells, at
first small and apart, soon grow down
ovfer the edges and finally form the -
hinge. In twenty-four hours it is able
to take food, and it grows to a size sufli j
cientlor food in about three years. Ai I
average oyster contains from six to ]
nine million eggs. A large oyster con
tains fifty million eggs !
Tlitre is no newspaper near the sum
mil of Mount Athos, hut if there were
one it wouldn't print many marriage
notices. Mrs. Brassy, writing from that
point, tells an old bachelor story as fol
lows : On the summit there live the
strictest set of bachelors in the world.
Not a female animal of any kind Ii al
lowed within miles, so that the recluses
have to do without milk or fresh eggs
even, and travelers are not all wed to
carry even dead hens on their saddles
for provisions. A few years ago two
Kngiish ladies landed herefrom a yacht.
As most of the men here wear petticoats
and the women trousers, and the keepers
of the summit have not much experi
ence in such matters, they did not dis
cover the wrong that been committed
fir some time, and then you may imagine
their horror and disgust.
The Bcrlirur Zetiung lias caused some
sensation in Germany by a terrible lie
s' ription which it has published of the
maltreatment to which a soldier, and
especially a young recruit, in the tier
man army, is .iable to be subjected at
the caprice of his superior, and without
any hope of redress. Kicks in the
stomach, boxes on the ear, blows with
a sheathed sword or the butt end of a
musket, are part of the treatment to
which the soldier must submit. The
number of * aaes of suicide in the Ger
man army, which is notoriously exceed
ing'y large, is mentioned by the writer
in support of his case lii-treatcd by
his sup Tiers, drilled till he faints from
subjected to most cruel torture*,
win eh compare with those of the In
quisition, the soldier, desparing of ob
taining justice or relief, puts an end to
his life.
Captain (ieorgc M. Coo icy is a brave
citizen of Troy, N. Y., who surely de
serves kindliest biention, since in h s
forty-one years of life he has saved from
drowning forty-six persons, liis.atcst
exploit in this direction was the rescue
of seven ymmg students of the Poly
technic institute, whose spmll boat
< apsired in the river. For this gallant
' d the captain has received the silver
T.i f having Btnevolent
51v. It was
in his throat. A roiu.uili ;hi
his beneficent care* r was his res* uii g
from the river while still a youth the
girl who afterward became ins wife.
Prof. Wickcrsheimcr, the celebrated
taxidermist attached to the Anatomical
Museum of Berlin, has just discovered a
liquid which, jnjected into the veins of
dead meat, not only preserves it lor
several weeks from deoav. but keeps it
perfectly fresh and in possession of its
natural flavor. Having treated a
slaughtered calf with hia new prepar
ation, and subsequently caused it to i>e
exposed for a fortnight to the air and
weather changes, hanging in the open
front of a butcher's shop, he invited a
select party of scientific celebrities to
partake of the meat thus tested, provid
ing for them, however, other viands in
case the preparrd veal should fail to
suit their palates. The professor's
guests, however, found his prepared
veal so toothsome and delicate that
they confined their attentions to it ex
clusively, neglecting all the other solid
items in his bill of fare.
The first assistant postmaslrr-genrral
has recently issued an order which is
of some interest to those localities which
are desirous of having postoflhes estab
lished in them. He says: In selecting
names for poftoffiees ft is prti< uiarly
desirous that the name of the town or
village in which tlieotfice is to be located
should be adopted, if such name is in no
way similar to that of any established
office in the State, or in any other Slate,
the abbreviation of which is similar!
Short names should be selected for post
offices. Prefixes, such as North, South
Center. Mount, New. etc., are objection!
able, and so arc additions, such as Cen
ter, City. Mill, -function, and so on as
all such prefixes and additions iesd to
con Alston and delay in the transmissions
of the moils. Compliance with the
above suggestionswill Insure favorable
action on applications for postofficea.
Philadelphia la astonished to find that
it is to have an elevated railroad. The
enterprise waa kept a secret until very
lately, and the first public intimation of
it waa the rapid demoliton ol houses.
Contrary to what haa been done in New
York, the line within the city proper is
to run on property owned by the com •
pany, except where it croaaea atreeta.
The projeclora we the Pennsylvania
railroad company, and it ia to rut rotn
their present depot, in West Philadel
phia. to Broad and Market streets, in
the heart of the city. The job of pur
chasing the ground of its 950 owners
was undertaken a year ao by trusty
agent*. anjT the buyers were oyer a
hundred different persons, who resold
to the company at the proper lime. B /
this plan the property was all acquired
at treasonable prleea The alructure ia
to be of brick and iron, and the Schuyl
kill Is to be erocaed by a massive
bridge.
.i"®? 1 * Bnw ' ,ian * have bofli proud of
their two monitors, the Javary and t he
Hoiimoes, but recent developments have
•woie what, changed their vie ws. They
started the latter to •team down the
° o * ult , ® r srtillery practice the other
day, and after steam was made it war
round that the vessel would not start,
and they had to put out the firea,
cool off the boilers and overhaul the
machinery to find out what the trouble
was. The next day they got up steam
and heaved ahead very satisfactorily,
butt the craft wouldn't obey her helm
••nd bore down with great rapidity
r nn another iron-clad, which jay in
, 1( r The officers and crew were
[ i , ,/Asd with fear, and the men on
l>oih crafts were preparing to go ovei
oard, when by a flash of genius itsud
ten y occurred to somebody to reverse
tlie engines, and the threatened col
lision was averted. The spectacle of an
unmanageable monitor tearing about •
the bay has not convinced the Brazil
ians of their naval supremacy.
The contingent of new members in the
IOUSC of commons is made up largely of
aerchants, manufacturers and those
connected with commercial pursuits.
Fifty-two are lawyers, forty-four belong
ing to the bar and eight having prac
ticed as solicitors; thirty belong to the
army; two to the navy; three have be
longed to the diplomatic profession; six
have followed the nrof* ssion ol journal
ists; seven are civil and agricultural
engineers; five are bankers; two are
connected with the brewing trade;
three belong to the medical profession;
six are tenant'farmers, or in other ways
connected with labor; four have been
printers, publishers, engravers, etc ;
one is a member of the royal academy of
Scotland; one is a civil and military
tutor; one is a Presbyterian minister;
and two are clergymen of the Estab
lished church, who have relieved them
selves of their orders under the provi
sions of Mr. Itouverie's relief bill. The
rest arc country squires, magistrates,
deputy-lieutenants, chairmen of quarter
sessions, ex-high sheriffs, baronets, or
sons of peers. The oldest of the new
members is aged seventy-eight; the
youngest was born in 1856.
In a review of the British opium trade
in India and China. Profetsor Cbrist
lieb, of Bonn, gives the following stat
istics showing the magnitude of the
trade and its effects upon Indian agri
culture: Since the conclusion of the
treaty of Tientsin, in 1860, the quantity
of opium annually imported into
China from the East Indies has in
creased to 80.000 chests. In 1865 as
many as 85.454 chests, worth $50,000,-
000, were brought into the Chinese
market, 8,043 of which were sent to
Malacca, while the consumption of the
drug for medicinal purposes in Great
Britain in the same year reached oniy
165 chests. The progressive growth of
the trade during the past eighty years
is thus shown: In the year 1800. about
5.000 chests; in 1825, 12.000 in 1850,
50.000; end in 1875, 90,610. Among the
most striking effects caused hv the ex
tension of poppy planting in India arc
the diminution of the quantity of land
available for oilier crops and the i-on
sequent curtailment of feed products,
in Benares and Ik-bar, immense tracts
of the finest and most fertile land in
Northern and Central India have been
gradually covered witli poppy plan
tations. Quite recently loo.ohO acres,
of the richest plains in Central
India, and 55.000 acr<s in the valley ot
the Ganges, which formerly ns d to pro
duce corn, sugar and indigo, liare.ti
the impoverishment of the soil, been
devoted to opium culture. The average
I devoted to that purpose to-day is tsu
-1 mated at 1,033.000 acres.
in Antarctic Explwring Expedition.
I t Italians are the last people who
become enthusiast! ■ on the subject
>i polar expedition*, their interest hav
ing been awakened in all probability by
t ti<> visit at one or two uf their porta of
the explorer. Nurdenskjold, while on
his return trio in circuit mvigaling t' e
continents ot Europe mid Asia. The
Italians as.-crt. with no ittle torce. that
| it is hopeless lor them to think of com
peting with the northern nation* in A re
lic explorations, as they are wanting in
the experience which their rivals liave
acquired by a large number of unsuceras
tul voyages, but that there is a fredi and
] and untried field open to them in the
vsat and unexplored tracts of land and
water around the South pole. It is
therefore an Antarctic vo>age upon
which the expedition which is to sail
from Genoa in May, 1881, will enter. It
is a little singular that no more atten
tion has been paid to explorations in
that quarter of the globe. We know
relatively nothing more about it now
than we did when Captain Cook made
his discoveries of a mountainous coun-
H directly south of the continent ot
rioa in 1775. D'Urville. Wilkes and
Ron have confirmed the statement* ot
their predecessor, and have given, with
some approach to exactness, the shore
line of the Antarctic continent, as it is
called, but there the information ends,
and whether the land is merely a large
island, or whether it extends Its un-
I broken barrier over the southern polar
' region*, is a matter which the Italians
have now an opportunity to demon
strata. It should slso be remembered
; that thm has never been an Antarctic
< expedition since the utilisation ol steam
power as a motor for large vessels, and
hence the Italians wiii be in many ways
better prepared to extend their re
searcher than were those in whose tracks
I they follow.
No doubt, one of lite reasons why
, such slight interest has been taken in
Antartic voyages is the extreme diffl
; cully that has hitherto been experi
enced in gaining high southern lati
tudes. Tire vessels from America that
go each rammer to Archangel, on the
White sea. for Russian hemp and flax
go nearly as far toward the North pole
M Sir James Ross or Ueuu mint Wilkes
ever went toward the sou< It in their sev
eral voyages. It w well know that the
ice area around the South pole fa much
greater in extent titan that whi h sur
rounds the North pole, a fact that is ac
counted for by various hypotheses, the
most probable of which Is that the
southern be- Isphere Is so largely made
up of water areas that its average Um
perattrais ommiderabl, cooler titan ™e
northern half of the globe, where lm
mee trnetsof land radiate and perpet
uate the heat receive*! from the JmT
Jf b'fa it Is highly improbable that the
Italian expedition will succeed in reach
ing the South pole, it i* fair to presume
unwUlcd l°' Ye .? no ®*r of
saairstfsr 1 r rohi '
tuny also be of service 11 the cotnnter
twhed by well e,nipped merchant t*£