c V wit r 1 HENRY A. TAESONS, Jr., Editor axd Publisher. TWO D0tLAR3 tER ASXUSI. VOL. I. RIDGWAY, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1872. NO. 49. 1' - MM F OFT 11 Y. UAIiTII AXTJ HEAVES. 1 wandered long boido tlie alien watcro. For cumtncr nm wore Warm, aud winds were dead Fields fair a hope were strotchlng on bcforo mo, Forbidden path were ploasant to my tread. From boughi that hung between mo and the heavont I gathered rommor fruitage red and gold For mo the idle" fingers sang of plcaanro i Sly days'wont by like stories that ore told. On my rose-troe grew roses for my plucking, ' As red as love, or pale as tender pain I fonnd no thorns to vex me in my garlands ; Each day was good, and nothing bloomed in vain. Sometimes I danced, as in a dream, to music, And kept quick time with many flying feet, And pome one praised me in the music's pansps. And very young wa life, and lovo was sweet. How conld I listen to the low voice calling Come hither, leave thy munie and thy mirth ?" 0nw could I stop to hear of far-ofT heaven r 1 lived, ami loved, and was a child of earth. Then came a nand tm took away my treasure, Diramod my fine gold, and cut my rose-tree down. Changed my danoe-muic Into mournful measures, Quenched the bright day, and turned my green Holds brown, Tilt walking lonely through tho empty places Where love and I no mon kept holiday. My sad eyes growing wonted to the darknoss, Di'held a nejir light shining far away. And I could boar my hopes should He around me Dead like my flowers, fallen before their Hmo. For well I knew somo tonder spring would raie them I o ungu.or nostomo in that fur-olf clime. Where shines the light of an unending morning, Where fair things bloom, but never any die ; And the glad roe of a celotial dawning Klu-hcs the heavenly heights, eternally. TUB S TO Ji Y- TEL L Bit. DRIPPER'S MISTAKE. On? of tho firct settlors in the Wild Itiver region was David Soinerbv. Ho was a quiet, well-meaning man, contont to live upon tho results of honest toil, nnd nnxious to rendor nnto every man his duo. Ho bought his bind when it was cheap, in fact when tho prico had boon merely nominal ; nnd, what, with hunting and fishing, and cultivating such land us ho was inclined to clear, he managed to live verv comtortablv. Another of tho early settlers was .Tas tier Gripper. Hut Gripper was a differ ent sort ot a man horn Sonierby. Ho was closo and trickv, and could boar down hard upon his neighbors in pursu ing his own interests. Ho boasted to his friends that no man should overreach him. Aye, Jasper Gripper, thou may over reach thyself. We shall see. Time passed on, and it became known to lumbermen of the Mussuquoit that the host pino in tho country camo from the Wild Itiver region One day in ear ly spring a gentleman came up from the distant city und looked up aud down tho river on Jasper Gripper's land ; and on the following day ho was joined by two other gentlemen. Uripper had otten thought what a splendid place that would bo for a dam und mill. AVith a firm dam tho power would be enormous. There was only ono trouble ; tho ex treme freshets to which the river was subject in tho spring and autumn would render it ditKcHlt to fix the dam. Hut then there were engineers who could overcome all such difficulties. Finally tho gentleman who had first visited tho tall introduced himselt to Mr. Gripper as Mr. James Hates, and frank ly stated that ho had been commissioned to examine the fall, and if he thought proper to purchase it. Jasper Gripper was keenly and sharply alive. Jiis eye-teeth were cut. Ho knew for sever al years the attention of lumbermen had been directed to tho Wild Itiver pines, und that lately people hud discovered that the land was of tho very best quul ity. And, moreover, ho knew that tho tall upon his land was tho only sito up on the river, anywhere in that region, where tho dam could bo safely erected. There was another fall six miles below, upon David Soinerby's estate, but it was of a wild, roaring, turbulent character, looked in tho jaws of towering granite, where no mills could bo possibly built. " Of course," said Mr. Bates, " we can not think of paying much for tho water privilege, nnd but very little for tho land which would bo required for our buildings. The expenses of erecting a suitable dam will be very great, nnd at best we run great risk. You will bo the gainer in every way. , Not only will it open a ready market for your lumber, but the valuo of all your surrounding land will bo enhanced." Mr. Gripper winked nnd nodded. He had his own interests to look after. If lie did not look after them hu was sure nobody else would. After a deal of thinking he said he would sell the water u-ivilegi', together with ten ncres of and adjacent, for two thousand dollars. The ngout was astonished. Ho con sidered the price ridiculous. " Why," said he, " you did not pay so much for your whole territory." It inado no odds what ho (Gripper) had paid. His prico. had beeu named, and tho company could take it, or let it be. Mr. Bates was not authorized to nc ccjit such terms, ne must confer with his principals. And he went away. In a few days he camo again, this time in company with three others. They went up and examined the water privilege, and then camo back to Mr. Grippcr's house, whero they informed that individual that if he would throw in ten more acres of land they would neeopt his oft'er. Gripper thought he had them. Ho had thoroughly digested the matter, nnd hud come to tho conclusion that the water power would be of inestimable valuo to tho company to improve it and that they were bound to have it. " Gentlemen," said ho, " my offer of two thousand dollars was made for your acceptance several days ago. I did not leave it pun to your pleasure. I have since been examining the property thor- oughly, and have concluded not to sell for less than three thousand." " Why, bless your soul, man !" cried one of tho company, " do you realize how our mills, erected upon that site, would benefit you ? The value of all the rest of your property would bo doubled aye, .quadrupled tho, moment our wheels were set in motion. Wo had supposed you would freely givo tho water power to "a responsible company who would improve it." Mr. Gripper lnuglied scornfully Ho know his own interests better than that; they could lake- Hp with his offer, or they could leave it, as they pleased. After much discussion, Mr. Bates spoke thus : " Mr. Gripper, wo would like your final offer .to remain open to our. neeept nnco three days, nt tho end' bf which time you shall have our nnswer. Will you necommodnto us':" " When I said three thousand dollars," replied Mr. Gripper, " I meant to in clude only ten. ncres of land. If you want ten acres more I must call it thir-ty-fivo hundred." And with this monstrous proposition, which was to bo open threo days, tho parties separated. Ono of tho gentlemen of Mr. Bates's party was Benton Mcintosh, the mo.4 accomplished engineer of tV j day. "You spoke of nnoU'cr full below here," ho said, after they had left Grip per's residence. " Yes," answered Bates ; " but you will find it utterly impracticable." !Still Mcintosh wished to look at it, nnd thither tho party bent their steps. Tho fall was found to be a tumbling, dashing Hood, pouring down a declivity of at least seventy feet in a distance of twenty rods, leaping nnd surging over jagged shelves of rocks into a boiling chasm below, whilo on both hands arose perpendicular wnlls of solid granite, showing that nt some period far remote tho mountain torrent had literally cut. its way through tho adamantine ledge. Mcintosh examined tho lay of the land below the fall, and at a point not far distant in that direction he found a shallow swell or gully, overgrown with grass und shrubbery, but with a deposit of river snnd upon its bottom. The np penrauce of the place attracted his at tention. "Probably," said Mr. Bates, "it is where tho melted snow and heavy rain finds its course from the hills." " I think not," said Mcintosh. " This sand is from the river not from tho hills and you will observe that it culd not have been backed up by any rise of the water below. Let us follow it." And they struck out into tho water path, and followed it up around the ledge, by an easy and gradual ascent, until it led them out upon the; river's bank, acarlv a quarter of a mile from the fall. " Eureka !" cried Mcintosh, clapping his hands cxultingly. " Hero we have a water course, marked out nnd graded by Nature herself, which will yield a power immeasurably superior to the one above. And moreover all danger from floods is debarred." Tho others quickly comprehended the value of the discovery. They saw that by cutting a canal along the old water course a course over which the river had poured a stream at its highest floods they would bo able to control the water and to use it over again for the consump tion by mills, set one below the other along the gracefully curved track. And two things more: The sites were moro favorable for building hero than wore thoso above, with better timber land sur rounding ; and tho furious cataract would not be between thoir mills and the market. The next question was, who owned the newly-discovered privilege 'r It be longed to Mr. Somcrby. They visited him aud carefully opened their busi ness. " Look here, gentlemen," he said, af ter they had beaten the bush awhile their experience with Gripper had made them cautious "let us understand each other. Tell me plainly what you want, uuu 1 will tell you us plainly what l will do on my part." Mr. Bates mado up his mind that he hail an honest, straightforward man to deal with, aud ho stated his case plainly and frankly. He not only told how the company would develop tho water-power and erect their mills, but he went on to point out the advantages which would result to the adjoining land, both in en hancing tho value of tho land itself, aud ulso of the magnificent pine nnd spruce timber which covered it. Mr. Somorby listened attentively, and at length told them to call upon hiin on the next morning. He wanted to sleep upon it. That evening Jasper Gripper called down to see his friend Somerby. He wanted to purchase five hundred acres, moro or less, of tho pine intervale and spruco upland adjoining his land. Grip per fought shy nnd hung on, und Som erby only got rid of him by ussuring hiin that ho was nt present not at liberty to sell. ' Aha !" clucked Gripper. " Them mill folks have been here. They want tho land. Well, let 'em buy it. I shall own nil tho land between it and their mills, and they'll find it hard work to get their logs up without my consent." Aud Gripper returned to his homo firmly persuaded that tho company had resolved to purchaso his water privilege. Oh ! why had ho not asked them live thousand for it 'r Ou tho following morning Mr. Bates and hiy friends wore punctual, and when Mr. Somorby had been asked what con clusion ho had arrived at, ho spoke as follows : " Gentlemen, I have thought tho mat ter nil over, and have mado up my mind. I have two propositions to make, and you can accept which you chfoso. All told, I own about fifteen hundred acres of land in this section, and the river cuts it nearly in halves. Full half of it is rich intervale, covered with pine, and tho rest is upland and hill, with spruce, hemlock und oak. First. I will givo you the land for vour course, aud deed to you tho power, and also give all tho land necessary for your mill buildings, pro vided that you, on your part, set at onco about developing and improving the power and putting up the mills. Or I will turu all my laud into the stock of the company, at a fair apprisal, and be oome one of you." Jlr. Bates was authorized to acocpt tho first offer on the spot, and to give bonds, if necessary, for tho performance of tho company's part of. thd contract. But ho liked the second offer best, though before accepting it ho mut confer' at headquarters. , Mr. Somcrby informed' hiin tluit tho offer was open to him as. long ps he. de sired. ' On their way back Mr. Bates rind his companions called upon Jasper Gripper. " Gentlemen,".' said Mr. Gripper, ins soon as mutual salutations had been ex changed, "you. will understand that when I offered the twenty acres of land I did not intend, for tho prico named, to include' the timber standing thereon." . " It mnkes no difference," returned Mr. Bates, with a smile. " Wo have con cluded not to purchase your water privi lege." "How? not purchase ':" gasped Grip per. " No ; .we do not want it." Mr. Bates did not think it necessary to tell him of tho better power which they had dis covered. "But, gentlemen, thero must be some mistake." They assured him there was no mis take ut all. ' Mr. Gripper was in agony, He would take two thousand dollars. Ho would take fifteen hundred. Ho would take whatever they were willing to pay. He would give them tho water nnd the land if they would put up their mills thereon. But they would not do it. ne had pushed them gust ono step too far. In seeking to overreach them he had over reached himself. And they left him a prey to remorse und bitterness of spirit. Tho company before whom Mcintosh laid their report appointed a commission, with full power to decide and negotiato ; nnd upon .visiting David Soinerby's sec tion, and carefully surveying his terri tory, they concluded to accept his second proposition. So he surrendered his land into tho stock of flic company, nnd be came one of them, and we -may here re mark that six months later ho .wns not a littlo surprised upon being . appointed superintendent of tho lumbering gangs, with a salary such as his wildest dreams of wealth had never grasped. Tho. water-power was developed under the engineering of Benton Mcintosh, and improved even greater than he had anticipated. The mill's were erected first, mills for sawing' lumber, and then mills for - grinding groin; nnd in time other mills for making cloth, nud for fabricating various other articles neces sary to tho comfort of man. The. land of Jasper Gripper was of course raised m value, but it availed him not. Tho sight of David Sonierby, rich nnd respected, and honored with offices of profit and trust, whilehe was shunned nnd shut out from the public confidence, filled hiin with wrathful suffering. Veri ly ho had overroachod himself in his nar rowness und selfishness of spirit. To day a flourishing town is upon tho site of David Somerby 's section, nnd; the hum of thousands of busy spindles makes cheerful music for tho prosperous and happy operatives ; and from its tire less looms nnd clanging forges flows out wealth to tho nation. Mixed " Humans " vs. Pure Outs. In a late lecture at the Museum of tho Garden- of Plants, .M. tiuatrefages quoted somo curious figures regarding the pro portion .of mixed human, races to the puro ones. The aggregate of the popu lations of Mexico, Guatemala, Columbia, La Plata and Brazil, amounts to 16,010, 100, comprising whites, Indians, negroes, and mulattoes of all descriptions. Tho number of the latter is 3,330,000, being one-fifth of the population. Now, ac cording to M. Omalius's calculations, tho whole globe is peopled with 1,200 mil lions of inhabitants : uinong these the half-breeds number 18 millions, which fixes their proportion at 1 in GO. Xow, according to tho Professor, these mixed racesmay perfectly well form nations by themselves, thus, the Busters and Gri quas, resulting from the intercourse be tween whites and Heittentots, havo mul tiplied so us to become a serious annoy ance to the Capo Government. Again, tho Cafusos, who havo sprung from the mixture of the negro with the nativo Indian of Brazil, form a separato raco in tho wood they havo selected for their abode. Another instance quoted is that of Pitcairu's Island, in tho Pacific, whero nine English sailors, six Otaheitian men, and fifteen women of the latter Btock landed in 1789. In 1793, owing to brawls among these people tho population was reduced to four whites and Otaheitian women. Ultimately only ono white re mained alive, but a mixed race had sprung up, which in 182j amounted to lili individuals. In lSoti it consisted of 189, so that it had almost trebled in 31 years. Tho object of the lecture is to re fute the partisans of the plurality of hu man races. M. Do Quatrclugcs ii a sin cere adherent to biblical traditions, and wants to prove scientifically that we have sprung from one common stock. A Case of Mistaken Identity. A Meriden man returning from tho " club" a few nights ago, got into the wrong house und had just pulled off his boots preparatory to seeking his little bed, when tho proprietor appeared, and with some ditliculty conducted him home. When they arrived tho inobriuted individual was still so befogged that he insisted that his friend (who by tho way is a strict temperance luan), should be put to bed ; assured him ho would never say a word about his being " in-tos-ti-cated;" pointed oulT to him tho evils of intemperance j depicted the sorrow of his wife if sho would ever know of his condition; begged him never to touch anotlier drop of liquor, and even went so fur as to produce a bill for goods from ono of our merchants, whiuh, he insisted, was a temperance pledgo, and with tears urged his friend to sign it, promising to stand by him through thick and thin" if he would do so. It is needless to say that the temperance man didn't "sign." EjKhanye, 1 A Soudan; Adventure. Tremioux, a recent French traveller, who penetrated into Soudan, gives tho following interesting adventure on tho Upper Mile. As tho boats mado their ways slowly against tho tide, ho landed and walked on, till feeling tired, ho sat down at tho foot of a tree, from which his approach had scared a troop of monkeys. " Whon they jaw ina seated quietly, they gradually approached, without evincing alarm. My riflo lay uselessly beside me, for I had expended my last cap, so that had I wished I. could not have fired at thorn. They squatted down to exainino mo leisurely, with nil tho grimaces and pantomimes usual in those thnt have been domesticated. Occa sionally they would quarrel and sho their teeth. Ono crawling up, began to feel the barrel of my rilie, and finally grasped the strap to carry it off, but found it too heavy.'. .Thinking them too familiar, I throw a stone or two, which scattered tho tribe, flnd.some fled to tho branches over my heed, where they be gan to annoy mo by slinking down dead boughs. " They descended' ftgain, but did not come so near me." I was so nmusod nt their nntics, that I sat thero without no ticing tho time, when suddenly from the forest enme tho long-drawn, sad howl of the jackal, nnswerod from various quar ters nnd followed by a period of silenco, during which the animals assemble, when a general howl is given, but is not renewed unless some of tho pack strays off. " N ight was on me. From every quar ter rose howls and cries ; tho boat was not in sight. I could not remain, and to reach the boat scorned fearfully dan gerous, nnd I was unarmed. " I started up nnd cnutiously treaded my way through the gathering gloom, peering into every tuft of bushes, when suddenly I heard a fearful sigh, a draw ing in of tho breath, that surpassed any forge-bellows I ever hoard. I stood par nlyzed. Again the long breath, and then came a roar thnt nhook the very forest. A lion stood right in my path. " After a few moments, cries and howls began anew ; and I felt that my only hope might be in swimming, if 1 could do so without noi?o. I ndvnnced nlong the beach with care till I camo to a bit of woods. This I entered with deep mis givings, heightened by a hideous laugh, almost jit my heels, tho cry of the loat h some hyena. I pushed on, every now nnd then placing myself close to a tree to peer around me. At last I reached a spot on the shore wheuco I could see tho barque. My heart bounded," but I was not out of danger., .A dark form was silhouetted on tho sky just before me. I slunk back, and the animal vanished, doubtless a prcv to the lion. " Then I pushed on eteadily, but how the time hung ! I seemed to make no progress, but at last I distinguished tho men on board, and hailed. Heaven bo thanked! tho answer came, and they were bounding forward to help me. It was well, for my strength was gonfl, so overwrought had been my whole ner vous svsfem." Crocodiles. Of all wild animals, tho crocidilo seems to bo the most alarming and de structive. An Egyptian sportsman, who supported himself and his family by tho produce of his gun, about six years since, with threo of his neighbors, went to an island called Goizet-il-Arab a favorite resort of crocodiles to hunt for their eggs. As they were going round tho island, three crocodiles escaped into the river. On examining the spot, a quantity of eggs were discovered in the sand. These they secured, and were proceeding back to their tent, when a crocodile who had watched the transaction rushed to the place of her deposit, and as rapidly re turned to the river, nud swimming, fol lowed them opposito to their abode, whero until nightfall her eyes were seen above tho water. The sportsmen feasted sumptuously upon their spoil ; but as soon as tho lust embers of their firo had died away, tho crocodilo charged them furiously, re peating her attucks several times during tho night; and it wns only by tho fre quent dischargo of their firearms that they kept her off at all. Tho crocodile, which had hitherto remained harmless, now became furious, and attuckod all tho cattle it could catch upon tho river Bide. Among tho victims was a fino inure in u neighboring village, who, as usual, was allowed to graze iu the coarse abundant pasturage. One day, whilst drinking, she was seized in tho back of the neck by the jaws of tho crocodilo. The mure being a powerful animal, in an agony of pain, throw up her head. The crocodilo drop ped upon her buck, and, with her strango bunion, tho mure galloped off to her stable. Tho astonished villagers imme diately set upon tho crocodilo with their uaboot, or stout sticks, until sho was in duced to let go her hold nnd dismount ; but the niuro died from tho joint effect of its wounds nnd the fright. During March, which is the breeding season, tho crocodiles deposit their eggs in tho sand on the bunks, or, in prefer ence, in small sand-bunks or islands on the stream. The eggs, which arc white and hard, in sizo resemble those of a do mestic goose. One found on tho White Itiver measured exactly threo inches and a half in length, and five inches and thirteen-sixtoenths in circumference. Tho euro and anxiety bestowed by these ferocious creatures upon their eggs is astonishing. When about to lay, tho female crocodilo will dig with her claws a hole in tho suud, six inches deep, drop her egg therein, and covor it up. She will then make several holes around the first, to mislead those in search of her treasure. Every day sho will add a fresh egg to her store, at tho samo time carefully enlarging the excavation, turn ing them, nnd re-covering theni with sand. After they are hutched by the sun's rays, tho mother will place her young in the shallow water of a retired creek, where sho will nourish them until thoy oro capable of feeding themselves, Hydrophobia Without a Cause. IFrom Iht Chicago Timet, January 87. Within tho past five days a most pe culiar case of hydrophobia has mado its appearance in this city peculiar, from the fact that tho victim, in his sane mo ments, positively asserts that ho never has beeu bitten by a dog. Somo of tho acquaintances of the unfortunate patient claim that ho was bitten a number of years ago. Tho name of tho sufferer is Gcorao lteitor. IIo is a stalwart German 28 years of ago, and has for somo time been oni ployed as engineer in the pack ing house of P. J. Bowes, no resides with his mother and sisters in tho second house - from the northwest corner of Greon and Harrison streets. Tho first symptoms of the terrible disease were ob served on last Snndny night. George had been in tho house the greater part of tho evening, enjoyiHg tho society of his family. At tho supper tablo nothing nnusunl developed itself, and for an hour nnd a hnlf afterwards ho conducted him self as if in tho possessionof all his men tal faculties. Suddenly ho wns seized with terrible spasms. Ho writhed liko n snake. His face becamo red, purple, black. His eyes gleamod with tho ter riblo firo of insanity, nnd protruded from their sockets. Tho affrighted women rushed terror-stricken from the house, and alarmed their neighbors. Somo men entered tho room whero George was lying, ard succeeded, with great dangor to themselves, in securing him. It wus several minutes before the effects of tho convulsions passed away, after which he spoke rationally and inquired whnt he had been doing ; what great weight had laid upon him, and similar questions betraying unconsciousness of the awful struggle through which he had passed. When he was informed of tho nature of tho attack he grow pale and .said : " Friends, keep away from me. I shall be seized again, nnd I may hurt you. I would not do any of you injury for tho world. Oh, keep a way ' keep away !" Shortly after this ho was attacked with moro horrible convulsions than the first. Four men taxed their utmost strongth to pin him to the floor, but failed, and ad ditional help had to be summoned. A doctor was called. IIo reached the house just as the effects of tho second attack were passing away, and tho victim was lying enfeebled nnd helpless on a couch. Ho examinod him, prescribed some reme dies, nnd waited to witness their efficacy. The instant tho medicino was placed to the sick men's lips ho was ngiin seized . ith convulsions, tho attack being much more severe than the second. He went out of one spasm into another nil day Monday, and nobody knew wiat to do with him except to hold him down and prevent him. frpm killing himself or somebody ' else. On Tuesday morning it wns decidpd to transfer him to tho Mercy Hospital. Before doing so, how ever, Dr. Treat was summoned, and he, together with two other physicians, re paired to Goorgo's residence. The in stant Dr. Treat saw him and beheld tho nature of the convulsive attacks, ho pro nounced tho disease to be an intensified case of hydrophobia. Preparations were made to move tho sufferer to tho hospi tal us soon us he came back to conscious ness. Ho was wrapped up as warmly as possible and borao to a covered carnage. Dr. Treat and two others rode with him. When the carriage reached tho vicinity of tho river it stopped for a few minutes. Though the streets were screened from tho view of those in tho vehicle, nnd the river was nowhere in Bight, tho instant the curriugo stopped George's eyes grew wild, and he cried out : " Oh ! don't go near the river. Wo are neur the water. Keep away from it ' Don't let mo seo it !" He immediately went into convul sions, grew purple in tho face, his lips became flecked with foam, nnd ho snap ped, and barked, and ground his teeth in a manner that struck terror to the heart of Dr. Treat even, who had wit nessed many cuses of hydrophobia, but nono that equalled that under his care. Th.e river was crossed while the spasm lusted, nnd the patient became" conscious before tho hospital was reached. He was curried into tho building without any difficulty, and seated in a ohair with kis legs stretched out and his feot form ing angles between the floor and wall. Dr. Treat accidentally placed some white paper beneath them. Tho siffht of it threw him into convulsions. Ho threw his arms out and held them lis rigid as bars of iron. Dr. Treat, who was sitting near him, grasped ono arm to hold him down. Tho instant the patient felt the touch' ho raised his stiffened arm above his head, and actually lifted tho doctor out of his chair and from off the floor. Dr. Treat staid with him until evening, and administered such remedies, by the process of injection, as his knowledge of the disease indicated. IIo states that tho patient cannot possibly recover, as each succeeding convulsion leaves him weaker. Tho mere mention of the words " water " or " drinking " is sufficient to bring on spasms. The physicians con fess that they aro unublo to do anything with tho case, moro especially as tho pa tient claims that he has never been bit ten. Dr. Treat and other prominent physicians will visit him this morning, but the former does not expect to find him alive. Whiskey ou the Plains. Since tho pale-faces introduced " firewater" among tho red men of tho West, those supple warriors have enjoy ed full opportunity for witnessing tho effects of spirituous libations. The honest chiefs if any such there bo insist that all the Indian troubles arise from whiskey-drinking and cheat ing, practices in which they havo been initiated by tho whites. Whatever may be the cause or result it is certain that tho Indians long since attained the felicity of drinking the most rasping liquor without water. It is a fact that, notwithstand ing the strict laws against sellilitr liouor to the Indians, there aro hundreds of white traders continually adding fuel to the fire of discord, by dealing out the vilest poisons in exchungo for skins and game. Tho hiding-place of one of thoso men, near the Nebraska plains, was recently discovered by tho United States troops, and, after arresting tho trader, several mon were sent out to capture the whiskey. In the meantime, word had passed from Indian to Indian, and by the time the soldiers reached tho spot, a goodly num ber of "braves" wcro found loitering nrouna. ino barrels were placed on mules, and tho soldiers undertook to ro turn, when tho demonstrations of tho spectators became so threatening, that thoy feared they should bo unublo to ac complish their mission. Having posi tive orders, however, they concluded that if they could not bring tho liquor to camp, they would destroy it, and ac cordingly they begun knocking in tho barrel-heads, allowing the contents to escnpo in streams nnd pools nlong tho ground. Then tho excitement commenced. The Indians raised loud shouts, dismounted from their saddles, and. throwinar them selves on tho ground, drank eagerly of the confiscated liquor. Still tho liquid flowed, und still tho Indians drank. Now nnd then ono fell over in a drunken stupor, and tho soldiers thought their dangor wns nearly past, vfhon suddenly a large pnrty of horsemen appenred,gal loping nt a break-nock speed for tho grand " treat." Haste was necessary ,for the liquor wus quickly absorbed by tho earth ; but tho warriors wcro equal to the crisis, and by the timo tho soldiers wero ready to return, thirty-five Indians were utterly incapable of motion, nnd almost as many so intoxicated that they started u furious fight among them selves. A Year's Ihaln Work. Over thirty-five hundred new books appeared in England last year, besides thirteen hundred new editions the ex act total of both classes being 4,830 and tho most notable circumstance in tho literary history of tho twelvemonth was the decrease in novels from 200 in 1870 to lo," in 1871. Still, lest it might be inferred that tho English novelists aro falling into disfavor, the statisticians aro careful to add the explanation that tho number of new editions of romances has largely increased during tho year which is a tribute to tho older writers. Works on Political Economy nro rapidly increasing in numbers 4.3 last year against 20 in 1870. Theological books aro in greater demand than formerly nearly 800 having appeared last year. Educational books nro also in demand nearly 700 having been published during loii. Ino number ot American unpor- tations into tho English book-market sensibly diminished last year the fig ures being 322 in 1871 against 42G in 1870. Two countries in Europo present a Earning contrast tho comparatively new literary life of Russia being repre sented in in ii uy no less man i,jo works, published in thirly-ono different cities ot tho Empire, while Spain makes a beggarly show, although her civiliza tion and her literature are four centuries old. Spanish writers produced 115 new plays last year, but other contributions to the literature of the country aro very inferior to thoso of Kussia, in number as well as in quality. Of the books of tho year in Kussia, according to Mr. Eugcno Schuyler, 153 wero on language, 133 on jurisprudence, 118 wero historical works, and 282 wero novels, poems and essays. Tho most remurkablo feature of tho Rus sian book returns is the great progress mado by native writers iu tho produc tion of political works. In regard to Germany, Robert Zim merman writes that it is a significant in dication of tho present state of philoso phy that in place of philosophical sys tems, biographies of philosophers and their wives nppear. Yarnhagen's " Re mains " seem to bo inexhaustible ; four teen volumes of tho "Diaries" having boen published, a new work follows, un der the title of " Biographical Portraits,' A Runaway Pond. An East nardwick (Yt.) letter to tho Portland Tress revives tho following curious bit of local history : Long Pond, or, as it is better known, " Runaway Pond," is situated partly in Glover and partly in Greensboro'. This pond was ono and a half miles long, and half a milo wide, and formerly dis charged its waters southerly into La moillo River. On the 6th day of Juno, 1810, about fifty persons went to this pond for tho pui-poso of opening an out let to tho north into Barton River, that the mills on that stream might receive an occasional supply of water. A small channel was excavated, and the water commenced running in a northerly di rection. It happened that tho northern barrier of the pond consisted entirely of quicksands, except an encrusting of clay uext to tho water. The sand was im mediately rcmovod by the current, and a largo channel formed, and tho crust of clay was incapablo of sustaining tho mass of water und broke, so that the wholo pond immediately took a north erly course, and in fifteen minutes' time the bottom of tho pond was baro I It was discharged so suddenly that the country below was instantly inundated. Tho delugo advanced in a well of waters sixty or seventy feet high, and twenty rods wide, leveling forests and hills, and filling up valleys, sweeping off mills, houses aud barns, fences and cattlo as it passed, for a distance of ton miles, and baroly giving tho inhabitants sufficient notice to escape. A rock, supposed to weigh ono hundred tons, was removed half a milo from its bed. The waters moved so rapidly that they reached Lake Memphremagog, twenty-seven miles distant, in about six hours from the time they left the pond. Tho dry bed of tho pond remains, a portion is a cultivated field, and to-day there are many stacks of hay there. For the last forty years the stago road from Mont pclier to Barton has passed through this "Dry Pond," and many tourists visit it as a great curiosity. A Western editor speaks of his rival as "mean enough to steal tho swill fiom a blind hog !" The rival retorts by lay ing, ne knows he lies ; I never tolo his swill "' Facts and Figures. " Putty-eyed monster" is what appears in tho papers of a Tennessee oditor who wrote with respect, " pretty aged minis ter. 1 he sons ot the minister " inter viewed" the editor the next morning with shot-guns. A negro boy of eight has a picture primer to teach him his letters. Ono of tho pictures is that of a bull chasing a boy, which tho littlo darkey watches from day to day, gleefully exclaiming, " he hasn't cotched hiin yet." A Rochester young lady has sued a photographer of that city for $8,000 . damages, because ho displayed ono of her pictures in front of his place with this playcnrd attached ; " Ono half dozen photographs ordered by this very stylish young lady nnd payment respect fully nsked and insultingly refused." Another proof of the exaggerated idea of tho danger of being bitten by a rat tlesnake is to be found in the experience of tho Connecticut colony in Kansas. Eleven persons havo been bitten Binco their residence there, nono of tho cases proving fatal except that of a child. It must be a good placo for rattlesnakes. At a Into concert, a testy old fellow, who had suffered much anuoyanco from tho incessant coughing of his neighbor behind him, turned around with, "That's a very bad cold you've got, sir," which met with this gentle reply, " I'm sorry for it, sir, but it is tho best I have." It will probably surprise a good many people in this country, and would aston ish moro in Europo, to learn that boards, planks and scantling to tho valuo of G,155,192 were imported into the United States during tho last year, to say noth ing of several hundred thousand dollars' worth of rough timber, nnd over $200,000 worth of fire-wood. An expedition fitted out more than a year ago to search for Dr. Ujiji Living stone, is still on tho march through tho wilds of Africa. As a loser of himself Dr. Livingstone is without a parallel in history. For our part, wo can't boo tho nsc of spending so much time and money to find a man who can't be hired to stay found, and who is never happy except when he is lost. LonisciHc Cottrkr-Jour-nnl. Grace Greenwood, in her lecturo on " The Heroic in Common Life," tells a story of tho wife of a member of tho Arizona Legislature, whoso house, whon her husband was absent on his Legisla tive duties, was attacked by Indians. She shot six, and tho next day wroto to her husband : "Dear John, tho Apachos attacked tho rancho. I have won the fight. You need not come yourself, but send some moro ammunition." A married woman in Docntur, Ohio, tho other day, pining for her husband's society, went with her three littlo chil dren to tho billiard room nnd took n scat by his side. " It's disgraceful," said ho, looking daggers at her. " I know it," continued tho injured wife, "aud yon have borne tho disgraco so long, my dear, that I nm determined henceforth to share it with you," nnd sho took out her knitting-work nnd settled down for tho evening. IIo went homo much earlier, nnd it was tho last of him seen in that billiard room. There is a very nieo family out in Kalamazoo county, Michigan. Whiln tho father and the mother were engaged in a fight tho other day, a child three years of was pushed into a tub of hot water and left thero to soak. A couplo of days after tho leg of another child was broken in the daily family fight and left to heal itself. Tho human beings in Kalamazoo havo finally taken the mut ter up, and aro having this family inves tigated. This is nn era of investigation and reform, and wo trust they will do tho business thoroughly. It has been discovered that smuggling has been carried on to quito a largo ex tent at Detroit for somo timo past. Pas sengers going from one side to tho other of tho stream that separates tho United States from Canada carry considerable amounts of merchandise bock and forth on tho ferry and elude tho examination of customs officials. We aro Borry that tho bulk of this business is done by wo men, who take advantage of the reluo tanco of tho officers to search them to koep up a profitable contraband trado. Alas ! they will do so. This is about tho right season of the year for tho usual crop of items about the beggar who dies and loaves a fortuno for previously-unheard-of relatives to quarrel over. And so we havo the story from Fort Wayne, Indiana, of a woman who spent her lifo in gathering rags.and who recently diod and bequeathed to her husband the snug littlo sum of 1 4,000. Tho lattor'part of this informa tion will please tho skeptic, and ho will reasonably doubt tho truth of the wholo matter on two distinct grounds. First, because sho never could havo kept tho money from her husband during her lifo ; and, second, because it is contrary to human nature to suppose that sho would have left it to her husband. Tho town of Bristol, in Tennessee and Yirginia.with a population of throo thousand, is an anomaly among towns. Tho place is located in two States, and as tho State lino passes near tho contro of the main stroet, the rogues and lawless know where it is to an inch. This line used to be deeply venerated, and in for mer years it would have been considered a symptom of the decay of the republic for a Tennessee constable to cross tha street on tho sidewalk, on tho sacred soil of Virginia, and arrest a criminal. But the line is not now regarded with such tender veneration. Whon a man kills another aud steps over tho line for pro tection, the officers step aftor him and fetch him back ; killing is, consequent ly, not so popular as formerly. Each side of the hue has a separate Mayor and board of Aldermen, and regulates its own affairs in the sense contejnplated by tha Constitution. Thore are two papers published, one ou each side of the Una. Each side also has its schools and churclieg, but there is not a dangerous, number of either of these.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers