Lite (fUentw JBemcreat.
Terms 51.50 per Annum, iu Advance.
S. T. SHUQERT and R. H. FORSTER, Editor..
Thursday Morning, January 20, 1881.
From t!* Nfw York OlswrTer.
INTERNATIONAL LESSONS.
RT REV. I. |>. B. B.
J A N t - A II Y 28.
Less on 4 :
Tho Birth of Joruh.
Ll'RI a : s—.
UOLDIN Tut -" Glory to God in Hi" liikliml, ami
ou ,-Rrtii peac., good will to turn."—l.ukt 1 2 : It.
Central Truth A Saviour comes to re
deem his people.
Six months have passed since the
date of our lost lesson, and Mary has
remained in her quiet home at Nazareth.
Then tho Emperor's decree, which com
manded an enrolment of the people,
obliged her to go to Bethlehem, the
residence of her family, which was
about ninety miles fiotn Nazareth, to
bo enrolled for the tax which was to be
laid on the people. This circumstance
establishes the fact that Joseph and
Mary were not very poor people, but
that they had at least a comfortable
estate, on which they paid taxes. The
journey occurred at the last of Decem
ber, and was made by easy stages, as
was necessary to Mary's delicate condi
tion.
On their arrival at Bethlehem they
found the village inn, or caravansary,
was tilled with guests, and that they
could not be accommodated there. This
was probably owing to the fact that the
Emperor's decree had summoned many
people to journey to the place of legal j
enrolment, and it was very natural that
there ahould be scanty sccommodations
in a small khan or hostelry. It was not
uncommon iu Palestine to use the lime
stone caves, with which the country
abounded, for the housing of the cattle, I
and frequently the inn was connected
with these dry caverns which could he '
used in a strait for the entertainment
of travelers. Thus Joseph and Mary
found their quarters among the cattle,
and here our Lord was born and cra
dled.
The most ancient traditions locate
the place of our Lord's birth in a cave,
and a stately church anil convent now
mark the spot assigned by the old le
gends as the scene of that most stupen
dous of all earthly events.
At this time, about a mile from Beth
lehem. a company of shepherds were
watching their flocks, as is said, on the
spot where, in a grove of olive trees,
now stands a chapel, known as the
"Angel to the Shepherds," and said to he
the identical spot where the shepherds
encamped. The Jews say that the
sheep intended for the temple sacrifices
were paftured in the fields of Bethle
hem.
While the shepherds were engaged 1
in their ordinary occupation, they were
surprised by a vision of a very remark
able and glorious nature, which over
whelmed them with surprise not un
mingled with fear. An angelic messen
ger appeared to them and made a grand
communication. This was no less than
the birth of Christ the Lord, which was
announced as being "good tidings of
great joy which shall be to all people.''
They were told that they should find
the facts proven at Bethlehem by the
sight of the new-born babe, dressed
and cradled in a manger. The good
tidings were confirmed by the apje-ar j
ance of a heavenly chorus, who were
visible to the shepherds, and who sang
the grand Doxology, " filorv to <iod in
the highest, and on earth pence, good
will toward men." Soms of the Alex
andrian and Latin versions of the
angels' song render the last phrase,
"On earth peace to men of good will,"
which does not change the sense, as it
is generally interpreted to mean, "Hod's
good will as shown to men."
The shepherds at once determined to
go to Bethlehem, and verify this won
drous story, which they did, and were
filled with amazement by what they SAW
and heard there.
ratiTii'At, sigoestions.
1. Christ is the great central fact in
the world's history.
To him everything looks forward or
backward. All the linea of history con
verge upon him. All tho march of
Providence is guided by Him. All the
great purpose* of fiod culminate in
him. I'be greatest and most moment
ous fact which history records is the
fact of his birth.
2. This, fact is of far greater conse- j
quence than that wo should keep any
particular day in its commemorstion.
It is quite impossible to prove that 1
Jesus was horn on the 2.' th of Decern
her, yet there is great propriety in !
observing our Christmas Festival. The
fact that he was born, is all that we need
and it is such a stupendous and glorious
fact, and of such everlasting interest
for man, that it is hut a morbid and
bigoted spirit which refuses to join in
its We sre not afraid of
too much Christ worship !
3. The humblest souls sre sometimes
chosen to receive the most august reve
lations from heaven.
It is so all through the Sacred Histo j
ry, and not more so than at the birth
of Christ. That grand event was not
announced to mighty princes, or great
scholars, or profound philosophers, re
nowned conquerors, but to a handful of
Jewish shepherds, " keeping watch
* over their flocks by night."
John Bunyan, a captive in the jail at
Bedford, had a vision of the pilgrim's
progress to the Celestial City, second
only in its power for good to the revela
tion made to those simple shepherds at
Bethlehem. ,
Lowly walks in life, trodden by faith
ful men, may be lighted with heavenly
glories.
That is the best, way which leads di
rectly to Christ.
4. The scheme of Redemption, while
it brings the highest glory to God, also
secures peace and good will to men.
Bin aims a deadly blow alike at Gad's
glory and roan's good.
cures both, and in the song of the
angels both worlds can unite.
5. The greatest power In the world at
this day is the " Babe of Bethlehem."
InfidelsHcofl'at Christianity as a weak
thing. But nineteen hundred years of
progress and triumph bear testimony to
its power.
0. That is a poor house where there
is no room for Jesus.
The inn at Bethlehem found no
apartment for him who made the
worlds. There might have been area
son for that in the unusual crowd of
travelers which was peculiar at the
tune.
But there are many homes anil houses
now where there is room for all but
Him. But that family is without its
best fiiend where he is not a welcome
guest.
To parents and children, to kindred
and friends, to masters and servants
His coming brings nothing but good.
Home blessings and heart blessings,
blessings in joy or sorrow, sickness or
health, prosperity or adversity, will
never be wanting in that house where
Christ abides.
As we write this commentary on this
lesson the air is beginning to tremble
with the vibrations of Christmas music,
and the coming of the Christ-child fes
tival is waking joy in many homes. But j
what is Christmas without Christ ? And !
what a mockery it is to celebrate Christ's !
birth on the calendar, when we shut j
Christ as a Saviour from the household j
and the heart.
Population of Cities litisiutr OUT 80,.
iMHt Inhabitant-.
'l'lla following is an approximate state I
ment of the population of cities and |
towns having .'JO,(XX) inhabitants and ii|>-
ward by the Census of 1 sSO
IMHO. IH7O
I. N. Y.-rk ISO Ml . -.
. rtiiljuMplila cTI'L'J
L Bfoohl|i . .
I Oblcifo MO KM 29ft ffi
ft iotMl
I St Loula IMXS .11.. I
I 7. lUltiuior* .v£ Ifj _*f.7 .j ,
I ft &M IWlt • 7 - ftl •ft - #
• ? 11l > r tt. •-.. . • • II 17 . !
| 10. Sew Ufleghi .'16,110 lVl.||w 1
i li. rj. i.tu i 160.Hi
* li flltrtwurl i • * i ,
j 1.l ItiafTalo |V. 117 117.: 14
li WaafctafM 147 01 l"i r. I
! Nrwnrk I < I • 1
I 16, iMlattlU J - I
, IT L'lljr I. 7.'* *„• p
i l\ !• tc it 11l i. : v.:: !
I 19 IftllVAlltM I " T! |in .
j ProvMritro I'M " • " • ,
21. Allan?.. ■•'.'•a T' .j. j
I ti ftotlmtn ft • •
I SI All*ijh it v. I'a "-••I
-• . 7 . "4 ;|4 1
ftft. Sdianfti. ~ frlstxi*
New lU* n ...... •.**.' • •; > I
,ft Uwll - • I - i
, Worrs*t*T £*-. j
: 9ft Tr- •>, s y '■ :; t6 I
I Kth't* t'il) '."I * - £fit
It, < twini-n i K v m * •* 7M t
.-v mm H . - . 1 1M * • I
j93 CMmMMH, " 01,665 41.-4 I
, M. |'tr*>!) >-•7
! -• Tl*to. O I' 14 4
,ft hnrliton, ft ♦i • w 4- .. '
•7 fn|| tlw. Man 4
Mmn 4' •- ' .
.7' S rnt. ti .... 4 <■" -/r'.
I lr, T. j, II 11l a
41 Ksa.ltn* 4 •
; 4: ihnf t i t
j • WllmitiKt.-n, Ivi * 4" -41
I 44, i u.i Inn, s J • -
4 N| 41,4116
i I.**• rM 19,176 .• Ji
•T ttaytiin.O 77 36.47 .
M h. >1 i-. ft
4 ' !..,. r. 4'.|| .... . 4 '
I S Osklsml. < l ... I '*■• 1 i
I M Mlmta. * * '!1 •
i ".J. I tir ... '• .- • •4 |
r rtku i Hi . Si lift i 4i
!-4 Mrni|ihii s W •
' t 4. Mw ! •
! .*jV >jgtKtif*Ur, N II . . • < . *i
I -7 ?*f f Ih. M ..... . 1 i
* - Urnd Ha{ 4*l. M h ."I }• -7
: i." 1 • •*)
M> Mol.ll* *l.-3* • C 4
i • I KM km •
IS. Barvtifevff ID 70j
;
; 'M. Ollifcli* >•/!* I* sj
A Snow -Burled Village.
j Tilt CAI. IEITY THAT (111 111. \ MOI'XfAIV
SIDE VII.I.AGE. '
Br.Rßvvit.i.r., \'a., .lan. 9.—Roger L.
| Cooper, a resident of the little village
of Pari*, Clarke county, situated on tin
side of the Blue Bulge mountain, nesr
the boundary line between I.oudon
and Clarke counlie., bring, news ot a
| terrible calamity in his native village,
i He states that when lie left Paris the
; entire community of men, women ,
and children were suffering terribly
from intense cold, while no |es than J
five persons had been literally frozen to ; '
death. The snow commenced falling 1
December 20, and continued with una ; '
bated fury until Christmas, when the <
'hermorneter registered lx below zero, i
Nearly every house in the village.
, owing to its peculiar situation on the
mountain side, was buried to the roo!
in mammoth snow drifts, compelling
residents to cut tunnels, in many in i 1
stances fifteen to twenty feet long, to '
make exits. So completely was the 1
country overwhelmed with snow thai ! i
it was impossible to make any head •
way in it with the most powerful horse.
; All communication being thus inter j
' dieted, it became apparent that resi !
: dents would soon be in imminent dan
i ger for want of food and fuel.
During Chriatmaaday the able bodied j 1
( men who had succeeded in cutting their ! '
way out of their houses were busily en I I
! gaged in assisting many of their neigh- !
bora to cut tunnels through the snow | ]
which completely enveloped some of j ,
the smaller cottage*. The safety of |
fifty or seventy-five of the villagers 1 '
could not he pluced beyond doubt until ;'
| late in the afternoon, when they cmerg 1 '
ed from the snow bound dwellings. ; <
many suffering terribly from frosted i
hands and feet, brought on by want of ,
liiel with which to keep the fires going.
[ One cottage, occupied by a widow. Mrs.
| Kate Whitman, and her two children,
was the last for which the kindly offices '
of a rescue party were performed. 1
When an entrance to this house was I
finally effected, after several hours' i
labor, tbe unfortunate lady and one of (
her children were found dead upon a (
bed, frozen stiff. One child afterward
revived, and, although terribly frost
bitten. will prohaidy recover. The next '
day (Sunday | a meeting of the villagers 1
was held in the scbool-house, when it i
wa* resolved to appoint a committee of i
fifteen to take charge of all the wood (
and provisions in town. This was in i
order to economize fuel. The number
of sick and frozen became so great on
I uesdaf that the committee converted 1
a dwelling house into a hospital, whith 1
er all the invalids were removed and I
placed in charge of a body of physi- j
nians. By Tuesday evening tho number j
of patients, in various stages of sickness
had reached seventy-five, while others .
were coming in hourly. The committee
then determined to reduce rations and '
send a message to Berry ville to ask that 1
assistance be sent as soon as possible. i
(O-OTKHATION IN IHCKSN.
rum NO KAT* FIELD'S ri.A N FOR EI.EUANT
AND CURAT M.OTHINU TOR WOMEN.
Emm tlit* Nrw York Tribune.
The organization of a Ladies' Co"
operative Dress Association in this
city, which has thus far not met with
success, is now to hav< the aid of Mr.
I'ulbrookc, of l.oudou, who was in
strumental in founding the Ladies'
Dress Association of that eity two
years ago. Mr. I'ulbrookc arrived in
Sew York from Lnginnd lust Wed
nesday, and will undertake the entire
labor of organizing the association here
at the request of Miss Kate Field,
as it was thought that this preliminary
work could not he accomplished with
out the aid of au experienced hand.
A reporter of the Trihunr. called on
Mr. i'ulbrookc yesterday morning at
the Fifth Avenue hotel.
"We have two distinct systems in
Fuglnnd," he said, "one which origi
nated in the North among the opera
! lives in the large manufacturing towns,
and the other upon which the societies
in London are founded. In the form
er ease the capital is subscribed by the
shareholders, who get their regular
profit, but tbo stores are open to the
j public, and the goods sold at the ordi
nary price. At the cud of the year
the profits are divided among the cus
tomer- in proportion to their purchases.
The method pursued in Isndou*ditfers
only in this, that the goods are sold at
a reduced price, at a profit which only
just covers expenses, and only the
shareholders, or those w lio hold life
! tickets, are permitted to enjoy the ad
-1 vantages of the association."
"What societies are there in I/n
--i don?"
"There are two principal ones, the
Armv and Navy t '-.-operative Society
and the ( ivil Service Supply Associa
tion. They have In en in existence
about ten years, and last year the sales
amounted to nearly tf lO.Ot'tO.tMMI. < inc,
of which the capital was only SIO,IHHI,
j has, by the accumulation of an aver
age net profit of only three |wr cent.,
raised a working capital of over one
million dollars, and its s' shares bring
I ?37"> each. The shares in another
the interest of which i restricted to
j live per < ent., now obtain'l(H) aid I'm
|x r cent, premium for the privilege of
of dealing with the store."
"W lint ha.s la-en the success of the
Indies' |)rcss .\s-siciiition ?"
"It has IWK-II wonderful. Although
the association was fi>unded only two
year- ago, we have been obliges! al
ready to restrict our busines- for lack
of room."
"I- the business restricted to ma
, terials of dress ?"
"Not entirely. < fiir supply consists
of dress materials nml the designs for
making them up, mantles, hosiery,
. fancy good*, rnillinerv, laces, under
wear, !w.ots and -hoes, household linen,
and in fn< t everything kept at a tir-t
cla-s dry goods store, at prices con
siderably below tlus'' demanded by
anv of (he retail stores. Over twenty
vi.-its arc made each year by our buy
ers and doigners to Paris, where the
bet models are selected from all the
prineipal Parisian dressmakers and
millim r*; and the silks and other
goods -elected an- always of the be-t
quality."
"Do vou think the pro-pect of suc
cess in Sew York is giMwl?"
"From what I have seen of tlie
stores in New York, I think there is a
legitimate opening for the intended co
operative store. If a woman can get
comfort in shopping and the materials
of the very best quality and nrtitic
taste, with the economy of purchasing
four dresses for the price ot three, she
cannot IK- otherwise than pleased. It
the system satisfies Ami ladies of title
in Knglaml, I lielieve it will satisfy
ladies oil this side of the water."
"\\ hen do you think the arrange
ment* will lie completed ?"
"I shall probably remain here almut
two month-, and hoje to complete the
organization of the society."
New Year in New York.
Ifnwar'l in TltiU Time*
Young men in dress coats and white
cravats have made things lively in
Ootham. \\ hat an abused eustom
this N>w Year's calling is become.
Fifty years ngo when the uptown
limit of the eity was Canal street and
when green fields and row pastures ex
tended from the eity hall park up and
on to Harlem creek, every laxly knew
everybody else, and n day's calling
could be made leisurely ntid comfort
ably, |he good old Knickerlwickers
enjoyed life, and a signal part of
social delight wits this habit of which
I write. To-day this is nil changed.
Sensible people ignore literal phvsiral
colling and utilize the mails by which
to send their cards as courteous indi
cations of remembrance on the first
day of the year. With the exception
of a few pleasant fnmily calls the en
tire system has fallen Into the hands
of young men, a majority of whom
have most limited circles of acquaint
ance. These cheerful members of the
community, having purchased or hired
dress mats, pool their lists and go from
house to house in groups. Aside from
the transparent folly of wearing even
ing dress in the morning, and the utter
unfriendliness of calling on ladies they
never saw or heard of, is their abso
lute ignorance of all that the eustom
implies or means. Their sole idea
seema to lie to make out a long list.
The exchange of courteous desire and
the extension of more than a perfunc
tory wish of the compliments of the
season never enter their "minds,"
With blue lips, red nose and white
cravats they rush into u parlor, hob to
1 one and another, giggle und rush out.
I think the women are quite as absurd
. as the men. A custom bus grown up
of late years which seems to me most
reprehensible. Ladies intending to
receive send their cards to all their
acquaintances and often to men they
don t know at nil. N oung ludies are
anxious to have mutiy calls, and in
their eagerness forget to be prudent,
thus opening their door to itcople it
may not be so easy to be rid of. In
other days it was the universal habit
to spread a generous table. Now a
table of any kind is the exception, but
I regret to say that wine and liquors
are offered very freely. The effects, it
stands to reason, on giddy-paled youths
must be disastrous.
A (>001) MOTTO.
i M IIERE I'll) Jl'lMir. III.At K rixti IT?
J Ml Oruiidjr 111 I'lilU'l'l|.l| THIK.
W ben Judge lilaek was here to at
tend the weddingol his granddaughter,
( Mis- Shunk and Lieutenant Kvuus, he
unintentionally started a topic which
ha.- now become a favorite subject for
di-cussion when two or three legal
minds are assembled at a state dinner.
Judge Hlack told me the story, and I
have repeated it to many, of the motto j
' on the attorney general's official seal,
which the judge had placed upon it
when be was attorney general in Hu
! daman's administration. The molt',
is: "(/HI pro I him ino ./u/idlin mputur" \
—w ho prosecutes for our lady justice.
Judge Jllark says that he made use !
of this, remembering the story which i
be asserts Sir Kduard Coke tell- of
bis inlcrvi" w with Klizabcth
when lie was taken to Iter to "kiss j
hands lor bis patent, and was intro- j
duced as "Her Majesty's Attorney I
< Jcneral : (/ni pro Jtomui't llryinu *r
fjuUur." Klizabcth replies] with em- i
phasis- "Nay, by Hod's teeth it shall j
not be so; we must change that be ;
shall be nv attorney general, (/ui pro
Ifnmina JuMitia mipiitur."
As Judge HI ick cannot now remem- !
j her where he found the story I ap
pealed to a number of the highc-t
officers of the government, all of whom
have the reputation of great know!- |
edge of the law and the literary a
well, and not one of them bail ever
heard the storv before, except one to
whom Judge l'.la. k had told it, and
none bail ever seen it in any of Coke's :
w .rks. Therefore, ns I have Ih-cii in- !
firmed by one prc-etit at several state 1
dinners lately, the topic ha* been <
much discussed and the burden of'
proof now re-ls upon Judge I Alack. i
who is more than sus[K-eted of having I
originated the Coke-Klizabcth inter
view. It is generally conceded that,
whether he formed it or imagined it,
the story i- an excellent one. Several
ot the judges of the supreme curt are
re-reading Coke - works now, I am
t dd, and al-o, "The Lives of the Lord
Chief .lii-tires of Knglaml," to find
the anecdote, and Judge Swavne is so
annoyed at not living able to point to
the volume where it i- told that an
eminent juri-t .-ays he does not believe
be w ill 1M- able to write his resignation '
this winter. Ibis civil serire cxnmi- ,
nation i- sometimes extended to in
clude the question : "How long has
th- nttorucv general leen a cabinet
officer?' I net i* to say, have those i
holding thn! position since the adop
tion of the Constitution all been mem- {
her- of the cabinet ? It seems strange,
but -onie high officio* have disputed
the fact that all of our attorney gen
erals have la-en members of the cabi
net. Judge itlai'k Judge Swavne,
Attorney tieneral Devens and others j
agree that they have lwen from the !
tii-t. beginning with Kdmuud Kan
dolph, appointed by Washington in
.S'ptember, 17*!'. They were, how
ever, not heads of a distinct dejiart
ment until I*7o, when the law passed j
creating the department of justice.
The attorney general used to la- what
in Knglaml is *tylcd " cabinet officer i
without a portfolio."
♦
The Approaching Comet,
COT.MSION WITH THE SIS SAID TO LIK CEB
TAIN or MATTES*.
I'rofesor l'roctor, the greatest of
liviug astronomers, who has made the
investigation of the approaching com
et a special study, gives the result of ,
bis observations to the public, and his
conclusions arc that an awful collision |
of the suu and comet are certain, and ,
that changes in another stellar system |
will take place, nnd the sun mav alter- .
ward* resume its ordinary influence. ,
The menacing comet is the one re- |
centlv visible in IHHtf in the Austra- ,
ban heaveur, and which i* one of the |
most interesting comets ever seen by ,
man. Views respecting it, not by ,
fanciful theorize!*, but by matheina- ,
ticians of eminence by no means prone ,
to adopt vivid and startling ideas, |
suggest the possibility —nay, even |
some degree of probability, that the
comet may bri£ some danger to the
solar system. Like the comet of 1843,
it passed within about 190,000 miles 1
from the solar surface, and on a path
similar to that pursued by the comet I
of 1843 while in Ilie neighborhood of 1
the sun. The comet of 1880 is, in j
fact, identical with the comet of 1843, i
hut its period is diminishing rapidly, i
so that at an early date it may fall i
into the sun, with this alarming im- j
mediate result—that all higher forms i
of life, at least, will he destroyed off <
the surface of the earth. i
■ * i
AI-PI.K J ACK is first cousin to James C
Jams. i
A NEW JEKMEY HKKKEMN.
AN OI.D WOMAN WHO IS THE SENSATION or
A 'MI Hi v|No lUKH 1.1.T1 RAI, <<IMMIMTV.
1 here lives in Kingwixtd township,
near I-renchtowu, N. J., a woman
about whom all the neighbors for
miles around urc excited, and whose
fame promises t> spread throughout
the central portion of the State. Al
ready the news of the wonderful pow
er ot prophecy which she bus
reached the ears of the quiet farmers
in the upper counties, and small par
ties come every day or two to visit
her. Her name is t 'lark, and she is
prolmbly about sixty-five years old.
Lorn in Hunterdon county, sin- has,
since her marriage, forty-three years
ago, resided in various part* of Hun
terdon and Warren counties. The
first indication of the power which
she is believed to |x>h*c*M ap|cared in
early life, during a Methodist revival.
From a girl she bad been of an emo
tional disposition, readily moved to
tours, and sometimes completely pros-
J trated by an apfieal from the pulpit.
; It was during tboo nervous moments
that she seemed imbued with the gift
of remarkable foresight, und made
predictions about the future weal or
wis- of her family and friends. Many
of these prophecies are suid to have
been literally fulfilled. Her temper
ament and power of foretelling filled
| all her friends with a certain awe,
which has always existed. Mrs. ("lurk
is a sensible woman, however, and en-
I deavored as Ix•t she could to drive
away all fear of herself and her pow
| ers, although maintaining her belief
| iu some wonderful gift bc-lowed upon
her. \\ herever she lived, sooner or
lati r, reports would be circulated re
i specting her nature, and she woubi be
j called iijKiii to exercise her wisdom.
As the years passed her nervous at
tai ks were understood to have become
more freijuent, ami therefore her pro
| pbetic utterance- have Is-en more nuiu
j crous. S ttling, simt- time ago, in her
present home, she is known by every
man, woman and child in the vicinity,
and scarcely a |KTWII 1 iv< within a
circuit of ten miles who ha- not bad
1 bis or bi-r history recounted ami for
tune told. If they came when the old
I lady was in robust health they some
times failed to procure what thc-v wish*
, ed, for she then bail neither the iucli
: nation nor the talent to remove the
: veil from the future. There are some,
of course, who deride the whole thing,
and laugh at Mr-. Clark'- predictions,
• but the majority of the rural folk-,
| being more or less superstitious, have
! great faith in her saying*. Several
I eases of extreme m< Utnclmlv ami sick
! ne-* are -aiil to have IK* n prislucNl
through unpleasant disclo-ure made
by the old lady to the victims, and
others have recovered from long ill
ness when inspired with hojie by an
interview with the prophetess. The
neighbor! are usually loud in her
praise*, aixl declare iu the most un
qualified way that she lias told them
circumstance* in tln-ir liv<* she could
; not pomibly have learned in the or
dinary course of event*. Henre tin ir
extreme faith iu her prediction*.
\ oung men seek her advice regarding
marriage, and, l>cing given a descrim
i tion of their sweethearts, Ixddly lay
-iegc to the damsel whose features sin
portrays, confidently cxpe< ting a favor
able response. Maidens of ru*tic be.autv
* f'k this oracle to ascertain the con
'luct of their lover*, ami many a coun
: try in-1 is iK-lievcil to have Iw-en re- j
j pulsed by some hideous revelation of
his life during one of the nervous
spells. Industrious hu-bamlnien in |
quire a to the prospect* for their
crops, and the wayside grocer consults
) her a* to the size of his next invoice
of merchandise.
While many of her clients insist
! that her |w>wer is that of the spiritual- '
ist or clairvoyant, the old lady herself
| protest* against such an accusation.
She makes no pretentions to IK- under
the guide of an Indian chief or a great
i spirit of some kind, nor dm* she re
j sort to any mysterious incantations.
Her mode of procedure is by means
of the palms of her hands or the veins
of the temples. She requests her vis- j
itor to hold out the band In-fore her j
with the palm upwards and then dic
tates what seems to her to be the truth
bv reading the arrangement of the
veins. Her utterances come freely,
seeming to require little study. Once
in a while she hesitates, and will some- |
times place her hands upon the in- ;
quirer's head. Considering the num
ber of persons consulting her, there is
very little repetition alwut her pre
dictions. Her happiest faculty seems
to lie the right use of names, both past
and future, and the graphic descrip
tions of |fiaoe and persons. The age
of the woman and the continual strain
upon her nerves renders her life very
uncertain and scent* to increase the
anxiety of those who have heard of
her lest they should fail to have their
future revealed before she die*.
The Youngest Telegraph Operator.
Vno lb* Vtmtv (T*ss) Ktuuln-r
The frontier telegraph office at Wil
liam's Ilaneh, is managed by Ilallie
Hutchinson, a little girl only nine
years of age. A gentleman who re
turned from there a few days since
says Hallie is the most remarkably ,
intelligent little elf he ever had the
pleasure of meeting. She handles her
instrument with the success and pre
cision of an old operator. Recently,
when election returns were coming in
and the whole country was wildly ex- i
cited to know the result, little ifallie
sat at her instrument, her eyes aglow
with intelligence, and gathered in the
news from all over the L'nion, wliile
dozens of brawny men crowded
around to h<ar what the lightning
' brought and to admire the wonderful
' skill of the little ojterator. While
controlling the wire- u> she doc* J i:tl
lie i* not utdike other little girl* of
1 | her age in her habit* and inclinations.
I" or iuxtance, one end of her o|H-ratiiig
tabic i* oiled full ol hahy doll*, and
she spends a great deal of her leisure
time dressing them. Drown county
' may claim the youngest ojs-rator in
i the world.
HI SSI A IN (HHISTMAS TJMK.
When the leaves fall, the Kussian
• j winter set> in at once, imprisoning the
serls in their cabin* for seven dreary
i ; months. I his is their |s-riod of do
i mestic life. Home ha* to he made
• J®* nio-t of. Dnp < at.on-like cuts
lead from house to bouse, and there
> an- frequent gatherings of young and
- | old.
. | W hen t bristmas comes the fathers
of marriageable children arrange with
t their neighbors, and the girls are all
taken to one hou-< with their parents,
r A Christmas tree is *et upon the table,
| where brandy is dealt out to each
: I comer with piroge—a meat biscuit.
- Then the marriageable girls are placed
I , in a row on a long bench, each one
, j vailed. Ibe young men who have
. I KM- n kept in an adjacent room, are Jet
- in one by one by the master of the
• house.
With throbbing heart each-girl
f awaits the entrance of the youth to
■ whom she ha-already given her heart,
r | Will he h- -nr.- t., recognise h. r in
her disguise ' We do not know wbeth
• er the heart of the true lover i- pre
terrjaturally keen, nr whether in the-*-
• i cas<> there i- some preconcerted sig
■ nal, hut it rarely hapjKii- that when
- a young man ! w- |.,w Is-fore a maid
• en she does not rai-o a vail to me. t
r i hi- glance with blushing looks of love.
< t it aometiri). - occur* that a
. blundering dolt hit- upon a girl whom
i he does not love, or who ves him with
I scorn. The unfortunate icllow is then
- the butt of riui' ule fi >m all side*, and
I can ercape only hv a considerable
present in the way ■) damage-
When the eon plea have all been
satisfactorily told off, each bride and
• griKiin proceed to tlc ir parent's cabin,
where they enter vaih-d. The oldc-t
. jof the family then exchange* rings
between them three tu#K a holy
. ! picture i- given to them to kiss, they
embrace oue another, and are recog
niztsl a- U'trothed.
As the Hussiati government alwny-
I gives n young niarri.-d couple farm
land and wood ! r a I. u-c the mar
! riagc follows s .on after the engage
ment. <>n the wedding day the friend"
ol the bride dre-- her up, taking -dr
, her maiden attire to invest her with
that ola married woman, in which
they lead Ugr to her groom. The
wedding alwny- ends in copious liba
tions of brandy.
The next day the parents enter the
house of the new-married couple to
wish tneni happine—, and offer them
br< ad and salt. Thus |-aee and hap
pine*- cuter the new home, the host of
('hristmas gifts.
t ses of (liareoal.
Charcoal, laid flat, while cold, on a
huru, causes the pain to abate itnme
j diately ; hy leaving it on for an hour,
the burn -cents a I mo-t healel when it
is superficial. And charcoal is valu*
' able for many other purposes. Tainted
meat, surrounded with it, isswcetcned ;
strewn over heap* of decomposed
pelts, or over dead animals, it prevents
any unpleasant order. Foul water is
purified by it. It is a great disin
! lee taut, and sweetens air if plaecd in
trays around apartments. It is so
very porous in its "minute interior."
it absorhes and condenses gases most
rapidly. One ruhic inch of Iresh
charcoal will absorb nearly tine hun
dred inches of gaseous ammonia ('har
coal forms an unrivaled poultice for
malignant wounds ant I sores, often cor
j roiling away dead flesh, reducing it to
lone quarter in six hours. In cases of
' what we call proud flesh it is invalu
able. It gives nu disagreeable odor,
corrodes no metal, hurts no texture,
injures no color, is a simple and safe
sweetener aud disinfectant. A tca
j spoonful of charcoal in half a glass of
water often relieve* a sick headache;
iit absorbs the gases and relieves the
distended stomach pressing against the
nerves, which extend from the stomach
to the bend. It often relieves consti
pation. pain, or heartburn.
NOTHING in the world is so strong
a* a habit, good or had. The seaman
cannot sleep soundly on the shore, he
cause he misses the tossing of the ship
and the roaring of the wind. We
heard lately of a forlorn widow who
the thin! night after her husband's
death sat at the window watchiug the
stars with sleepless eyes. At last her
thoughts, sad and weary, hmke into
soliloquy : ' This frying to go tosleep,"
she said, "without a quarrel of some
kind is so new that 1 can't stand it"
.lust then two men uuder her window
fell to fighting. Bhc watched the con
flict to the end, then quietly undress
ed, flaying: "That's kind of homelike,"
and iu a few minutes was fast asleep.
INSTRUCTION ends in the school
room, but education ends only with
life. A child is given to the universe
to be educated.
TAKEN on the spot—The measel;.