Biftorr of Ike Beard.
In the earliest Pagan times the primi
tive deities were represented with ma
jestic beards. In France they played a
role from the reign of Pharamond down
ward. Under Clovis, indeed, the beard
of the king was an object of peculiar
veneration, and, indeed, every individ
ual was more or less sensitive regard
ing his beard. It is related that after
the great battle of Tolbiac Clovis sent a
deputation to the defeated Alaric re
questing him to come and touch the
victor's beard as a token of alliance.
Far from accepting the invitation in the
spirit in which it was offered, the en
raged king of the Iluns seized the
Fraukish emissaries by the beards, and
bauled them out of the room by their
revered locks. The unfortunate envoys
returned rather crestfallen to Clovis,
narrated what had happened, and swore
•'on their beards " to avenge the affront.
In subsequent reigns the beard was the
object of numerous enactments, and the
fashion of wearing it was changed as
frequently. Sometimes it was worn
long, sometimes close-clipped, now
peaked, now plaited, or even decorated
with pearls and gold trinkets.
Even in the sacred atmosphere of
Borne itself beards were the objects of
considerable discussion. Different
popes enacted that no beards were to be
worn; another as stringently directed
that the razor was never to be applied to
the chin. Saints Clement of Alexan
dria, Cyprian, Jerome and Chrys jstom,
engaged in vehement controversies
about the mode of wearing the hair
about the face in the fourteenth century.
In France the final triumph of beards
dates from the Renaissance, when the
example set by the great artists, who
largely indulged in theee appendages,
was closely followed by the sovereign
and other magnates of the land. Under
Henry 111. shaven chins were the
mode, the mustache being worn long
and drooping. During Henry IV.'s
reign beards, cut square, came again
into fashion.and mustaches were curled;
while under Louis XIV. beards were
again tabooed, and the mustache alone
worn, in the two following reigns the
razor was in full use. Under the re
publican regime, as also under those of
the empire and restoration, no beards
were grown. They came in ngain, how
ever, with the revolution of JB3O, in
company with many other changes of
costume, etc., and at the present day
no universal rule exists on the matter.
—London Globe.
Yentllatlon of Boots and Shoes.
It is a matter of the most common
everyday experience that in the wear
ing oi boots and shoes, and especially
those made of rubber, the feet sweat
and heat almost continually in cold
weather, making the feet clammy and
oold, and inducing chilblains, and in
warm weather, with the best precau
tion, exceedingly noxious. It is doubt
less because of much of the rotting and
breaking of uppers, and is, above all,
an exceedingly unhealthy feature of the
present method of dressing the feet.
Attempts have heretofore been made to
obviate this in a number of ways, for in
stance, by inner soles of di fferent kinds
intended to absorb the moisture; and
unsuccessful efforts have also been
made to ventilate the boot or shoe.
Every person feels the need of some
thing that will satisfactorily accomplish
this object. A recent invention does
this effectually, and is an exceedingly
simple device. It consists of a spiral
coiled brass wire, laid in a groove ex
tending in and around the under side of
the insole of the boot or shoe, with
holes punched at close intervals, im
mediately over the coil. The coil is
extended along to the heel, and carried
to the top, where it stops at an eyelet
hole, forming, when walking, a com
plete automatic air pump, continually
drawing in pure air and throwing off
the foul and heated air.— Scientific
American.
The Celebrated Barebone Brothers.
If readers of Walter Scott's " Wood
stock" are led to suppose that Merci
ful Btrickalthrow and Gracebehere
Hum gudgeon are fair samples of names
borne by the Puritans during the times
of their ascendency, they may not be
▼ery far wrong; but it is by no means
difficult to overshoot the mark and look
on mere extravagances as the ordinary
result, of a system. The man whose
name is commonly associated with the
Rump parliament bad, it seems, three
brothers, of whom one was called Fear-
God Barebone. Of the two others one
was designated "Jesus-Christ-came-into
the-world-to-save Barebone," and the
other " If-Ciirist-had-not-died-for-thee
thou - hadst - been - damned Barebone.'
Whether these names were used at their
baptism we cannot say; but" Figbt-the
good-fight-of-faith" appears to have
been in existenoe in 16SHJ, and if paro
chial registers may be taken as evi
dence, the length of a child's name was
by no means an insuperable hindrance
to the bestowal of H at the font, al
though lor the needs of daily life such
names were usually reduced to the first
or the last syllable, the brother of
* Praise-God being thus, for instance,
familiarly known as Doctor Damned
Barebone.— Saturday Review.
IIM everybody iorjrotten the dismal
time when a flounce ot lace was fastened
to the brim of every girl's hat, and when
the poor things all seemed to be growing
cross-eyed t The flounoe of lace is com
ing once more, and once more the iea
tnres.of the girls will only be discernible
FOB THE FAIR HEX.
A Fashionable Woman's Occupation.
The idle, fashionable woman, writes a
Now York correspondent, has taken to
a new diversion. She polishes her nails
She extends her hand to you with great
frequency nowadays, and always with
the back upward and the fingers
straightened out. That is because Bhe
wishes you to ohservo the nails, which
shine like glass and are of a dfl icatc
pink hue. Who knows what 11 x" ted
this mania? Nobody can ever disco? r
the origin of such things. The dis
temper breaks out somehow, and then
extends from person to person. The
New York woman of leisure, whether
she be left in the city, or is to be found
at some near seashore resort, now passes
about four hours a day at work on her
nails. Her tool is an article somewhat
like the wooden handles or holders for
blotting paper—a narrow stri pof ebony,
ivory or india rubber, with a knob on
one side and a surface of chamois skin
on the other. Some of these polishers
are fancifully made, and $lO is not an
unußual price; but cheap ones do the
work as well, and a home-made article
answers the purpose. The best of them
have a device for handily fastening in
fresh strips of chamois skin, but
tacks will do. The essentials are
a polishing substance and plenty
of industry. A mixture is sold
in the stores at a pretty high price,
and it has a beautiful name and label;
but it is a simple composition of rotten
stone, oil and rouge. Anybody can mix
it for herself. The stuff is daubed on
the rubber, and assiduous friction does
the rest. The rotten stone and oil
smooth and polish the nails just as
metal, bone and ivory aro made to shine
by the workmen, and the rouge imparts
a pinkish color. The enthusiastic in
dustry displayed by the women in this
summer amusement is wonderful. They
rub, rub, rub, by the hour, usually in
parties, making this employment take
the place of needlework. There was
once an old woman who scrubbed her
kitchen floor until she wore her way
through and fell into the cellar, break
ing her neck. Something like that will
happen to these nail polishers, for nails
cannot thicken by growth as last as
they are now scoured awny. The
polishing is not all done on finger-nails.
The toe-nails arc beautiful, too.
Fashion Notes.
Ivory white is the favorite shade.
Aimost any shape of wrap is fashion
able.
Red mitts give a brilliant effect to a
black costume.
Garden parties bring out prettier
dresses than balls.
Ashy blonde is the new shade of fash
ionably dyed hair.
Spotted and small figured fabrics grow
in popular favor.
Ladies on all occasions! adorn them
selves with flowers.
Plush lined garments rcplace.thc satin
lined summer mantles.
Plaid woolen stuffs will be usod to
trim walking suits this winter.
Feather fans are now flat and smooth
md are painted in bright colors.
The day of sho.t shoulder seams de
parts when the shirred waist comes
in.
The styles for muslin summer gown
are carried out in cashmere ior seaside
wear.
Shot flannels in hali a dozen shades
are made in imitation of changeable
silks.
Thrust your hand in fyour belt if you
wish to be truly fashionable. Japan
sets the style.
All the waists made up for nutumn
dresses are heavily trimmed, and so are
the sleeves.
The short white dresses, now fashion
able, give the wearers an air of exquisite
daintiness.
Skirts finished with rows of machine
stitching arc to continue in fashion dur
ing the winter.
Old ladies wear little shawls of pine
apple cloth, embroidered in gold threads
in Turkish designs.
Plain skirt and basques with draperies
at the back seem to be the favorite model
for autumn suits.
Capes ot white cashmere embroidered
in flowers and lined with satin arc the
last symptoms of the mantle fever in
Paris.
The chief bridemaid at a wedding
may, if it please her, wear a gown quite
different from that of the other bride
maids and still be very fashionable.
The back breadths of overskirts are no
longer puffed. The newest way of ar
ranging them is to lot them hang in
plaits, which are fastened to tapes sewed
to the under side.
Sateen and oolton sunshades seem to
be used quite indiscriminately with
every and any dress, no matter how
rich; but red ones do not accompany
anything but black or red costumes.
Shirred full waists will be worn with
thick gowns during the winter, or else
he dressmakers will throw away a great
quantity of finished work, for they are
making up all kinds of stuffs in that
fashion now.
Velvet leaves and flowers without
any mounting are now prepared for
embroidery. They are stitched upon the
material to be decorated, and the ap
propriate s'.ems and tendrils are em
broidered. The effect is better than
that of satin-applied wotk.
Walking costumes of painfully mascu
line severity are announced for autumn.
The underskirt is laid in large plaits,
and with it is worn a garment that looks
like a cutaway coat. A linen chemi
sette and collar and a hat with long
plumes are worn with this dress.
Neither hoops nor large bustles are
worn. Clinging Bkirts are quite as
fashionable as the more bouffant styles.
The fullness about tbo sides of dress
moroly formed by folds nnd shirrings of
the dress material or some kind of trim
ming. Tliis especially appears on very
dressy toilets.
If the blondes and brunettes would
hut cease trying to wear the clothes
meant lor persons of different com
plexion ! Are there no crimson roses, no
purple spikes of spicy lavender no white
lilies in the world that a yellow-haired
girl must deck herself with buttercups,
while a girl with blue-black tresses
wears purple larkspur?
Small casnquins, of dark green velvet,
opening over waistcoats of a Turkish
material, and trimmed with cascades of
yellow lace, are among fashionable
trifles prepared for gay watering places.
China** Court Kxtravogancca.
If credit may be attached to a report
emanating from the superintendent of
the imperial silk manufactories at Ilang
cliow, nnd published in a recent number
of the official Pekin Gazelle, the expendi
tures of the Chinese court upon silken
fabrics Las within the last two years
attained unheard-of proportions, floridly
de scribed by the conscientious mandarin
as " inconceivable and immoral." His
excellency states that during the year
lb7B alone, silks of various qualities,
valued by him at SIOO,OOO, wholesale
price, were supplied to the imperial
palace—among them 1,300 "pieces" for
the use of the servants in the emperor's
gyneceum alone, the greater number of
which "pieces" he bilieves to have
been fraudulently disposed of by snlc to
retail silk dealers or to lenders of money
upon "portable property." Tbo above
sum of 2400,000 does not comprise the
cost of the gorgeous silken robes and
other garments supplied to the cm
presses and court ladies, many of which
cost over $5 000 apiece. Seventy illus
trious dames, matrimonially and ct'ier
wise c; nnecled with the brother of the
sun and moon, arc especially furnished
with unlimited "costumes" from the
mperial factory in question; and their
outlay annually in silk dresses is esti
mated at $500,000. When one of these
ladies succumbs to the common lot of
humanity her entire wardrol>e is buried
with her, and thus enormous : urns are
annually wasted. It is somewhat of a
novelty in the flowery realm that an ex
alted imperial officer should venture to
expose palace abuses, and we trust the
worthy superintendent will be enabled
to weather the storm of female wrath
thut can scarcely fail to be aroused by
his courageous revelations.— lxmdon
Telegraph.
A Wmiuß'a Prr**nr* of Mind.
As a picnic train was passing over the
bridge near the Five-Mile bouse, near
St. Johns, N. 8., a middle-aged woman
approached it from the opposite direc
tion. She was walking pretty rapidly,
and seemed to be unaware of the prox
imity of the train until a whistle from
the engineer aroused her to a sense of
her danger. She was then but a short
distance from the advancing train, and,
instead of throwing up her hands in
despair or jumping off as many another
one would have done, she very deliber
ately lowered herself between the
sleepers, and hung on with both hands
until the train had passed on. When
all danger was over she raised berselt
up again, and resumed her journey as if
nothing had happened. Such presence
of mind as this is seldom seen, and it
was no wonder tha' the astonished train
hands gave the brave woman a cheer as
they saw her arising from her dangerous
position.
Washing Silk Mocking*.
Make a strong lather with boiling
water and curd soap. Leave it to g
almost cold, then divide it Into two
parts. Wash the stockings well in one
of the lathers, pressing them up and
down, but avoiding rubbing as much as
possible. Squeeze out the wet, and
then wash them in the second lather, in
which a few drops of gin may he poured.
Do not rinse in fresh water, but squeeze
out the wet very rarcftiliy without
wringing. Lay them out flat on a piece
of fine linen, and roll them up tightly
until almost dry. Then rnb them with
a roll of flannel.
Elopement Fashions.
The fashions for girls who elope j uat
now are very plain. Some white drap
ery, a convenient window, a long ladder,
a dark night, a coach, a minister, and
the house of a friend, and the elopement
is over. If the irate father, armed with
a doable-barreled coal shovel and a
town constable, does not pursue, the
affair is, although picturesque, not ex
actly a successful elopement. If the
father of the bride relents witbin two
ways the foolish couple are not happy
If it leaks out that the mctber of the
bride is in the secret, much of the pleas
ure of the trip is spoiled. If both the
father and mother of the bride are in the
secret ol her going away, and have actu
ally left the ladder near the window,
and that fact is found out, the elopement
is a failure. In the olden time the elop
ing bride packed all her portable goods
on herself and went away heavily laden.
Now, as she U about to return in a day
or two in her lady friend's dress, she
goes away quite light.
The man who spends all his money on
a diamond shirt stud carries everything
before him.
KINH AND qUEKN OK TUB TRACK.
Maud 8 and 81. Julian Both Beat (he
Uerord In >ll H-4-
The famous trotters Maud S and St.
Julien have both beaten the best time
on record at the Rochester (N. Y.) Driv
ing park. The New York Herald'i ac
count of this great racing event sayß:
The skies wore cloudless at noon and a
pleasant breeze was astir. All tl.e
trains came in a little behind time and
were loaded w'th passengers. In many
o the cars ladies stood, because they
could not find seats, and blocked the
passage. Tickets were sold at excursion
rates on most of the roads and thou
sands took advantage of the opportu
nity. Distinguished people were pres
ent from Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo,
Albany, New York and elsewhere. The
magnet, the dm wing power, was the
speed programme nrranged for St Julien
and Maud S. The three long and
double-decked stands were crowded in
every part by anxious spectators, while
hundreds of carriages were in the field
and double rows of humanity hung
upon the rails of the quarter stretch.
Not less than fifteen thousand people
passed through the gates.
The crowd was all expectation when
St. Julien appeared on the quarter
stretch. Hisdriver, Owen A. Hickox.
looked nervous amfanxious. fie scored
three times, then sponged and went
back to the second distance stand, came
forward level, and nodded for the word.
Ho trotted without wabble or break to
the quarter pole in 33 seconds, to the
half in I :<)7, to the third quarter in 1:41
and finished the mile in 2:131. When
the time was hung out there was but
little applause. St. Juiicn scored twice
for the second trial after Maud 8 had
trotted in 2:111. He went level nnd
strong, was at the quarter pole in 31
seconds, at the half-mile pole in 1:041
and at the third quarter in 1:38|. He
came down) the homestretch with
powerful stride, and the judges stopped
their watches at 2:111. When the time
was hung up there was another out
burst of cheers. In .the third trial St.
Julien made no effort to beat the record.
His time was: Quarter, 0:37; half, 1:15;
three-quarters, 1:52; mile, 2:244.
rimm Mir.
Three trials ngniiiHt 2:12|. Purse §2,000;
to trot in 2:121 or better.
O. A. Hickok'a b. g. St. Jalien, by
Volunteer 2 12
Time 2 1
Time, 2:131—2:111—2:201.
Maud S came on the track at ten min
utes before six o'clock, and in the first
score her driver, Mr. W. W. Ban, nod
ded for the word and the watches
started. She went fast and was at the
first quarter in 32J seconds. She flew
along the backstretch, and the hands of
the timepieces recorded 1:05 at the ualf
mile pole. Around the upper turn she
kept up the winning stride and was at
the three-quarter pole in 1:381. The
great throng hung breathless upon her
movemcLts down the homestretch, her
nose reached the wire and the hands of
the watches abruptly stopped at 2:111.
When the time was hung out the cheer
ing was tremendous. The 2:12J of St.
Julien over the track at Oakland, Cel.,
bad been beaten, and the enthusiasm
was boundiess. In her second trial
Maud 8 was not sent for fast time. Cap
tain Stone not wishing to strain her.
Time—Quarter, 0:354; half. 1:11; three
quarters. 1:471; mile, 2:201. For the
third trial Maud S was withdrawn.
srNMAKr.
Three trials to boat the lest time on record
(2:121).
W. H. Vunderbill's eh. n>. Maud 8, 6
years old, by Harold, dam Miss
Knasell, by Pillory, second dam
lally Itnsaell, by Boston I 2 dr
Time 1
Time, 2:111-2:291.
A Bat's Fight With a Snake.
• On Lindsay Point, Cal., a rat sitting
on the shore, saw a snake of unusual
sixe coiled upon a little point of mud
just above the water sunning itself, and
probably asleep. The rat jumped upon
the folds of the serpent's body. The
snake struck instantly, fastening its
fangs between the rat's shoulders. Then
began a contest that wastruly thrilling.
The rat, struggling violently, en
deavored to stiake itself free, while the
snake as persistently endeavored to drag
the head of its victim in its own mouth.
This feat it was at first unable to ac
complish. The rat was game, and as it
writhed in its convulsive efforts to es
cape bit the big snake severely in the
neck just back of the head, until the
blood flowed and mixed with its own.
These counter attacks became at last so
savagely painful that the snake loosened
its grip, remaining, however, in half
coil. But the respite wns too brief to
Afford the rat its opportunity to escape,
for again the snake's fierce jaws de
scended and closed, this time around the
rat's head. The heavy body of the rat
still swayed violently, hut dragged with
it the head cf the snake, until the latter
was thrown completely out of coil. By
this time, however, the rat's struggles
had grown comparatively faint, and the
snake was apparently the victor. But
the next moment the snake in its tnrn
began to struggle violently, as if to re
lease its adversary's head, but ineffectu
ally, and the reason became soon appar
ent. The rat Und bitten quite through
tlte snake's throat, nnd its .sharp teeth
could be dist'netly seen in the narrow
slit they mace. The writhing* of the
snake were now intense. It lashed the
ground with its tail, and raised its thick
folds to almost half its length from the
ground, and with one convulsive effort
threw its length into the muddy water,
and the twain sank together.
"That is what I call a finUuad ser
mon," said a lady to her husband as
they wendsd their way from cburoh.
"Yes," was the reply with a yawn,
" but do you know I thought it never
would be!"
A Terrible Experience.
Mr. Slocum, of Slocumviile, Ark.
attracted the attention of a Ivttle Rock
Gatclle man. Mr. Slocum seemed to be
a gentleman. He was a young man,
and only one thing distinguished him
in any special manner from numerous
other young men on the street. His
hair was white as the driven snow.
Vivacious and intelligent in appearance,
the contrast between his youthful looks
and snowy locks was startling. Feeling
that some story of a terrible strain on
Mr. Slocum's nervous system was par
tially revealed in this manner, the Ga
zelle man inquired the cause of the
change of color in his hair. A strange
expression flitted across his features at
the question, as if no very pleasant recol
lections were awakened, but forcing a
smile, he said:
"A terrible experience caused my
hair to change its color, and 1 cannot
yet speak of it without shuddering.
However. I have no objection to relat
ng the circumstances."
" What was the original color of your
hairP"
"Jet black. I will give you my ex
perience. I have been a revenue col
lector for several years. Kight years
ago, in the summer of 1872, I was
obliged to take a trip through Western
Arkansas. There were rough charac
ters out there. Men who would steal
the shoes off your horse's feet, whe
they could get nothing else. Outlaws
who were steeped in crime and hesti
tated at nothing. In the course of my
trip I reached a district in which were
several characters who for doing deeds
of crime had attracted the attention of
the whole State, but the authorities
were unable to apprehend them. I had
quite a large sum of money with me. I
feared nothing in those days. After be
ing one morning in a small village near
Little river,and reccivingslso 1 started
out on horseback north toward Fort
Smith. Iliad about $1,700 in my sad
dle-bags and was a little bit nervous to
get it safe to that place. I had seen
nothing to make me suspect that 1 was
not safe. The sun shone brightly and
the heat was somewhat oppressive. As
it grew later in the day it became so
warm that I thought I should rest.
Coming to the banks of Little river I
forded it and clambered up the steep
northern bank, .jumping off my horse
I tied him under a clump of trees and
sought the grateful shade of an elm that
grew near tne river bank. I had car
ried my saddle-bags with me, and mak
ing a pillow of them, lay down. Two
revolvers were in the holster. I fell
asleep, and do not know how long I
slept, but suddenly awoke to find
three men standing r.oar me. Regard
less of consequences I seized one of
my revolvers and pegged away,
hitting one of them in the
shoulder and disabling him. The
other two grappled me. One of
them made a pass at me with a knife,
but I dodged it and hit him in the head
with my pistol, knocking him senseless.
The other closed in with me. and we
had a terrible struggle. Biting, scratch
ing and kicking, we tried in vain to
throw each other down. I had drop
ped my pistol. My horse whinnied
from fright, and it began to grow dark.
To my dying day I will not forget that
fight. It was death to one or the other.
I had recognized in my assailant Bill
Buckle, a notorious character. Des
perately we fought, edging nearer the
river. The hank crumpled suddenly
behind me, and I toppled over back
ward. dragging Buckie with me. His
head hit a root in the fall and he WAS
stunned for a moment. Scrambling as
well as I could to ray horse, I got my
saddle-bags and rode away, the dis
abled rascal shaking his fist atgme as
I went. I ran across a colored man's
hut before it got dark, and regained
all night, expecting* an attack, but re
solving to sell my life as dearly as possi
ble. None came. In the morning the
colored woman living in the cabin said:
' Massa, your hair is white.' And sure
enough it was, and has been ever since.
Thesbock to my nervoussystem bad been
more than I imagined. I never beard of
the men afterward, and was more than
glad that 1 est aped ns lucky as I did."
Work and Lire.
Man was put into the world to work,
and cannot find true happiness in re
maining idle. So long as a man has
vitality to spare upon work it must be
used or it will become a source cf
grievous, harassing discontent. The
man will not know what to do with
himself; and when he has reached such
a point as that he is unoonselously dig
ging a grave for himself *nd fashioning
hisownooflln. Life needs a steady chan
nel to run in—regular habits of work and
of eleep. It needs a steady, stimulating
aim*- a tendency toward something. An
aimless life c innot be happy or for a
long period healthy. Even it a man has
achieved wealth sufficient for his needs,
he frequently makes an error in retiring
from business. A greater shock can
hardly befall a roan who has been active
than that which he experiences when,
having relinquished his pursuits he
finds unused time and urused vitality
hanging upon his idle hands and mind.
The current of his life is thus thrown
into eddies or settled into a sluggish
pool, and he begins to die. When the
Bind of vitality sinks so low that he can
show no labor without such a draft
upon bis forces that sleep cannot restore
them, then it will besoonnioughtostop
work.
A little girl noticing the glittering void
filling her aunt's front teeth,exclaimed:
"Aunt Mary, I wish I bad ooppper
toed teeth like yours."
A Fight With Lion*.
F, Faulkner Carter, in charge of the
elephant* attached to the Royal Belgian
expedition into Africa, given an account
of a Hudden fight bet had with three
lionii at Kerima, Central Africa. He shot
a pig, and soon discovered three lions
devouring it. Ho says: The two
nearest were within two feet of me, and
the furthest three ard a half foot. The
brutes' beards, chests and claws were
covered with blood. Though startled
at first, I was perfectly cool, an i yet felt
certa ; n that I must be killed. asjeven a
tame lion is savage when eating Lis
food. The lion opposite me caught
sight of me at once, curled his Hps,
lashed his sides with his tail, but what
the others were doing I cannot say, a
my friend was in the act of springing,
and I dare not take my eyes otf him for
a second. At last he crouched lor th<-
spring, and I let drive in his face, re
treating a step to give me a chance with
the other barrel at one of the remaining
two, determined to sell my life deariy,
but to my great delight these two sprang
over the grass in opposite directions. I
gxve a Bort of sigh of relief, looked
round for my gun bearers, and there they
were, fifty yards off, trembling with bar
and blue with fright. The rascals had
run away, and I had no gun to fall back
upon. I returned to pick up my dead
lion, but found he bad crept away with
a bullet through him. I followed his
trail until the jungie got too thick, it
being nearly dark.
How Kailroad lime is Kept.
There are in use between this city
and New York thirteen electric clocks,
two of the number being placed in the
waiting-rooms and one in the dispatch
er's office at the Grand Centra, depot in
New York. The time on the clock in
the depot at East Albany corresponds
exactly with the time in New York.
Each one of these clocks is connected
with the general superintendent's office
in New York, in which the railroad
time is kept on what is called the "big
clock." Conductors, train men and
others arc compelled *to keep .their
watches in strict conformity with the
superintendent's clock. It is set"'.by
standard time and connected with the
time-service department of the gold and
stock telegraph. The time is distributed
over the line each week day as follows:
At ten o'clock fifty-eight minutes and
thirty seconds a. m., the word "time"
is se nt by the main office to the telegraph
stations between New York and Albany.
The word is repeated for twenty-eight
seconds, during which time operators
must see that their instruments arc ad
justed. At ten o'clock and fifty minutes,
seconds commence beating nnd continue
for fifty seconds. Toe word "switch"
is then sent over the wire, and operators
having electric clocks connect them
immediately with the circuit known as
No. 8 wire. Ten seconds are allowed in
which to make the connection. At
11 A. M. t with one touch of the New
York key, the hands of the different
clocks are set to eleven o'clock. If they
are fsst or slow, they change at once to
the hour named.— Albany Aryus.
18 8 1.
This is a very peculiar number. The
sum of its digits is 9xß. It is divisible
by 9 without a remainder. The re
maining quotient consists of two prime
factors, II and 19. It reads the same
both ways. If 18 be set under 81 and
the two added the sum is 99. If the 18
be reversed and then added to 61, the
sum is 169, the sum of the digits of
which is 9. The sum is also divisible
by 9, giving a quotient of 18, which is
again deviaible by 9. If. the 61 be re
versed and added to 18 the sum is 66,
which is also divisible by 9, and the sum
of its digits is also 9.
But what of it?
Add the following considerations be
fore you press an answer. Those who
have cultivated the oceuit sciences have
always held the number 9 to be pos
sessed of great significance. Those who
made a study of the numerical symbol
ism of the Scriptures have regarded the
number 9as equally significant. It is
" a number of finality or judgment of
oreaturely completeness." says Doctor
Mohan. And he adds, "it is a factor
of all great dates of judgment, vis., of
the flood, the destruction of Sodom,
the overthrow of Pharaoh, the captiv
ity and the final destruction of Jerusa
lem." As we have seen, it enters in a
variety of ways into the number 1681.
What of it now ? Has 1881 a judgment
in stcre for the human race? and what
is itr
Herds Sf Wisdom.
There are many men whose tongue
might govern multitudes, if they could
overn their tongues.
A promise is a just debt, which you
must take care to pay, for honor aad
honesty are the security.
Many a sweetly-formed mouth .has
been disfigured and made hideous by
the fiery tongue within it.
Scandal, like the Nile, is fed by in
numerable streams; but it is extremely
difficult to trace it to iu source.
Whenever we feel pain or alarm at
our opinions being questioned, it is a
sign that they have been taken up with
out examination, or that tic reason*
which*once determined our judgment
have vanished away.
No man should be so much taken up
in the search of truth as thereby to
neglect the more necessary duties of
active life; for, after ail in don , it is
action only that gives a true vaas aad
commendation to virtue.