1 -
! c C .
HENRY A. F ARSONS, Jk., Editor akd Pcbusheii.
ELK COUNTY TIIK REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Two Dollars ter Axsmf.
VOL. II.
RIDGAVAY, PA,. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1872.
NO. 9.
POBTIt Y.
MY KEIGIIBOH.
V OiniLD HIBBST.
o;e thou thy neighbor," we am tol.1.
" Evtn at Thytetf." That creed. I hold I
Dut lor. bor more, a thousand-fold I
My lovely neighbor j ofl we moot
In lonely lano or crowded street :
I know the muMc of her feet.
She Utile think" how, on a day
She must have ml --ed her tmial way.
And walked into my heart for aye.
Or how the radio nf her drew)
Thrllla tjirontH me Ilk. a toft coro'i.
With tremblt of dcllclouaneaa.
Wee woman, with her nmlllnir mien.
And eonl celeatially aerene,
Pile pagBoa met nnconrcloaa Queen !
Her face moat lnaoeontly Rood,
Whore ahyly peopa the aweet red blool,
Iler form a neat of Womanhood I
Like Ralotgh for her dainty tread
When waya are miry I conld aproad
My cloak, but thore'a my heart Instead.
Ah Neighbor, you will never know
Why 'tis my atop la quickened ao i
Nor what the prayer I murmur low.
1 ae. you 'mid your fiowera at mom,
Froah aa tho roacbud newly born ;
I marvol, can you hare a thorn 7
If t o, 'twere aweet to lean one'a breatt
Against it, and, the more It preat,
gin like the Bird that Pain hath bleat.
You knew not, dear, how dear you be ;
All dearer for the secrecy :
Nothing and yet a world to me 1
TUB STOIt Y- TEL Llllt.
THE ENGINEER'S STORY.
I was very young when first put in
ohargo of the night express, but I begun
my career as anengineorso early being
only nineteen when I first ran tho Mid
dlesex Mail that I was an experienced
hand when put upon tho " G:10 Night
Express," though only twenty-seven
years old.
Linden was our second stop on tho
run out thirty-eight miles nnd tho
town with its dull, crooked, half-paved
streets its quaint old cathedral, and
pretty but-lying country-seats, was very
dear to ine, for here Nellio lived when
first I know her.
I always looked forward pleasantly to
our arrival at Linden, for, us our train
canie thundering urj to tho depot, on
these long summer evenings, Nellie was
often there, awaiting my coining, and,
while Joo was watering tho engine, I
managed to have a few pleasant words
witk her before wo were ready to start
:ugain. Then, as tho bell-rope signalled
"' go ahead," and I steppod upon tho
engine, she waved mo a pleasant good-by,
that seemed to give me heart and
strength during the rest of my long
arido.
So tiino passed pleasantly on, until I
told Nellie ono day the story I had so
longed to tell her, and heard the answer,
lor which my heart had hardly dared to
hope.
Uow light were my labors, with her
love- to eheer me 'on ! How dear the
thousand little evidences of that love,
offered in her own swoet, delicate way.
We were to be married in the fall and
all " went merry as a marriage-bell,"
when an accident occurred to me as I
was "running the " Firefly" my dear
old engine down to Linden which ma
terially altered our plans.
I hail started four minutes late, and
was going along at a lively speed, when,
as we swung around a curve, we saw a
luan coming down the track, waving a
red flag.
Whistling " Down brakes," we were
-soon at a standstill, and, leaving Joe to
take care of tho engine, I hurried for
ward with the conductor, to see the
eauso of the danger-signal. Coming up
with the flagman, we learned that a
freight train was off the track, a mile
further up the road ; and for two whole
hours we waited en tho main track,
while the heavy frieght cars were being
unloaded and righted. At last " Clear
track " was signaled, and I sounded the
whistle lor " All aboard."
" Put her through pretty lively when
you get clear track," said Charlie, the
conductor. "I've tolegrapcd ahead,
aud we'll have right of way from horo
straight through. Not let her jump,
Harry, and we'll make up time before
we reach Sadler's."
Twilight was fast coming on us. The
switch-lights ahead winked their red
eyes, and showed a pair of white ones,
to tell us all was right ; the headlight of
our engine was lit, throwing a stream
of light down the track, and, with one
long shriek from the whistle, we started
down the road at a rapid pace, with a
clear run ahead of us of twenty-one
miles to Market fields Junction, our first
ntation.
Ah, if I could have looked ahead
only as fur as Marketfields and could
have seen tho broken rail which lay
waiting for me at an ugly curve, would
I have told Joo so earnestly to "keep up
the tire, and see that forty pounds wero
on the boilers, as we must tear along as
fast as ' Firefly ' could carry us 'r"
Wo wore bounding across the couutry
at a terrifio pace, leaving behind us a
long train of sparks and heavy clouds of
smoke, the engine swinging from side
to side, and almost leaping the track at
every turn of the great d riving-wheels.
On on without slackening speed ; on,
over the great plains and into the woods
beyond ; under the trees and out into
tho clearing again; thundering under
the great stone archways, flying past
the country stations, where the rustics
were huddled together to seo the great
train pass ; on on, without pause or
rest, through the valley and into the
mountain-gorge, whose rocks echoed
back the shrill whistle I Bounded as we
swung around the curves.
The night was upon us as we neared
Marketfields, and Joe and I were seated
at either window, our eyes fixed intently
on the track ahead, watching for any
obstruction on the shining rails, which
were glistening like silver serpents in
the brilliancy of our hoad-light.
Markotfields lights came in sight, and
I drew tho rope over my head. A long,
shrill whistle sounded over the country,
announcing our coming. As wo swung
around the curve, I repeated it.
" Good heavens, Harry 1 Look I look !
look !" And Joe's hand struck me a blow
as he sprang to my side in a sort of ter
ror, and, grasping the whistlo rope,
sounded, repeatedly, " Down brakes '
I had seen it, too tho figuro of n
woman upon tho track, running toward
us, as she wildly waved her shawl in
the air, one arm uplifted warningly, her
face turned full upon us in an agony of
terror, her flowing golden hair lit up in
the light of the engino, as we rushed
dowm upon her at a fearful speed.
I reversed the wheels again and again,
the whistle hoarsely shrieking out its
warning ; but too late ! too late ! We
were upon her as she uttered a wild cry
of terror, turned from the track, and
stumbled, the engine striking her with
a fearful shock, hurling her fur into the
air, mangled and torn.
Amid tho Bhrieks of tho whistle wo
rushed around the curve, our speed fast
slackening, when, with a great bound
that shook tho engine in every joint, it
sprung from the track, plunging into
and ripping up tho ties, twisting the
rails, lunging from side to side, and
then pitching into tho ditch, with a
shock that flung me insensible from mv
hold.
When I came to, I was lying on the
floor of a farm-house, while close around
mo wero a crewd of anxious spectators,
from whom escaped a general exclama
tion of joy as I opened my eyes and
looked up at them. What did it all
mean '
I raised myself up on ono arm, and,
passing my hand across my brow, tried
to comprehend why I was here, and who
were theso people about me. All was
bewilderment and confusion in my poor
brain, and it was some little time before
I gathered my scattered thoughts.
Then, realization of what I had passod
through came back to me, and a cry of
horror burst from mo as they told me I
had killed the woman I had seen upon
the track.
I buriodmy face in my hands, as the
vision of that upturned face came before
me, so full of agony and dumb pleading.
Then I roused myself,.but they told me
to lio still until the doctor came ; then,
as I insisted I was unhurt, beyond a
few ugly bruises, they assisted mo to
rise, when I found myself sore and stiff.
My first thought was for Nollie. I
knew how anxious she would be. I
know all she would suffer until she
heard I was safe, so I asked for pen and
paper, that I might send her a telegram,
telling her I was well, and would bo in
Linden that night, where I would re
main. This was forwarded at once.
They told me, then, in a rambling way,
each one adding an item, the story of the
accident.
A broken rail had thrown us from the
track ; and the girl whom we had killed
had evidently discovered it while walk
ing home upon the track, and, hurrying
forward, hud hoped to warn us, had mis
calculated the distance and speed of the
engine, and had been caught under the
great wheels before she could turu from
its path, having nobly sacrificed herself
in order to save the great train and its
precious load.
So much had been surmised of her in
tentions, and Joe and I, of course; con
firmed the story. She was a lovely girl
of seventeen, tho only daughter, they
said, of a neighboring farmer John
Dixon.
" Poor girl ! Dear.noble-heartod girl !"
I said, wiping away the tears that tilled
my eyes and choked my utterance.
I sat silent for a moment, thinking
what I could do to show my sympathy
for the poor parents in their terribly sad
bereavement. At last I called a man to
my side one who seemed to bo giving
orders, and to have the direction of
matters, and, steadying my voice, said,
quietly :
"Where is she tho poor girl, yos
know '("
" They have taken her homo ; they
took her home as soon as sho was identi
fied, poor dear."
" If you please, I would like to go
there, if you think they would see mo.
Ood knows I did not do it, and He
knows that I would give this right arm,"
I said, bitterly, thrusting it up into tho
air, " to have saved the poor girl ; but I
cannot rest easy ; I can never have an
easy heart until I have gone to them
and heard thom say, with their own bps,
that they forgive me,. You see," I said,
sorrowfully, " I didn't do it of course
not I didn't do it. Heaven knows how
hard I tried to stop up short. But the
poor thing is doad. It is all over now ;
and it was ' Firefly' and I who did it.
So, if you please, if you wuld bo good
enough to go with me, I would like to
go down to them and tell them, in such
words as I can, how their sorrow is mine,
and how completely my heart sympa
thizes with them to-night."
I was very stiff and sore, and it was
with some difficulty that I walked across
tho room, but he kindly gave me his
arm, and I knew 1 could manage to walk
down to the Dixon farm only a spare
mile, he said.
I was putting on my hat in the hall,
and adjusting my arm in a sling, prepar
atory to starting, when the tramp of
many toet was beam on the piazza, ana
the door was flung open. A man step
ped into the passageway, ana held tne
door open for those to enter who were
carrying the remains ot some poor vic
tim upon a bier.
" W ho is it i" I asked, softly, address
ing him who had held wide the door.
" The girl," he whispered, as he raised
his hat.
Ah, poor creature ! All I could do for
her new was to bow my head reverent
ly, as they bore her past me, while my
heart swelled with emotion, ana in aa
miration of her noble conduct. They
laid her down gently, and then, taking
off their rough caps, waited silently for
further orders.
The doorway was filled by those who
had followed the bier ; the stairway by
those who had oome out from the rooms
above, some with lights in their hands,
and all gazing earnestly, almost curious
ly, upon tho form resting so quietly and
peacefully in the passageway. All was
hushed and still in tho crowded door
way, upon the cruvded stairway, in tho
hallway, where stood the six stout farm
ers who had borne her in tin their shoul
ders.
"Ah, poor child," I said, while my
heart throbbed quickly, "how gladly
would I give my hfo to restore yours, so"
nobly, so generously given.
Then, in love for her sho seemed near
ond dear to mo in death I leaned over
her, and taking one of the dear little
hands within my own, kissed it, and re
placed it gently under the white sheet
from which it had escaped.
There was a bustle in the doorway, as
of some ono pressing through the" crowd,
and sounds as of sobbing and weeping.
" Make way for the parents," was
hoard from the doorway, and the eager
crowd fell back respectfully, as a plain
farmer and his wife came forward, fill
ing the air with their cries. Tho sheet
was turned back from tho features of the
dead girl, and
What! Was I mad? Shriek after
shriek burst from me as I flung up my
arms wildly, and fell prostrate upon tho
body of my own lovod one Nellie 1
What is there for mo to add to
my sad talo ' Need I tell yon of the
weary months passed in delirium, the
coming to, and realization of the horri
ble reality '
But of Nollie ray own littlo darling.
It seems that she had gono to Market
fields that day, and had intended to re
turn upon my train to Linden. While
waiting at the depot, she learned that
the train was two hours late, and then
decided to walk down the track, and
then off by a little side-road, which led
to the house of a friend. Then, as tho
time for the coming of tho train camo
around, Nellie .started for tho depot, ac
companied by a young boy, who carried
a lantern. While walking up tho track,
and within a half-milo of tho depot, they
discovered tho broken rail, and Nellie
run in haste to tho depot with tho tid
ings. " She heard tho whistlo of the train,"
said the boy afterward, " far down
through tho hills, and she just stopped
for ono minute, while sho caught her
hand to her heart, and her faco turned
as white as snow. ' Run : run, Jam
mie !' sho cried out, as though her very
heart was breaking. ' Oh, run ! run !
for heaven's nake " And with ono aw
ful cry, such as I never hoard before,
she turned an I fled down the track, to
ward the cor., ing train, away into the
darkness."
When they found her lying at the
side of tho track ray heart grows sick
as I write theso last words they mis
took her for a young girl of the neigh
borhood, who had been seen on the
track shortly before. Of the joy of her
parents at the discovery of the mistaken
identity, and of my desolation, I need
not speak. Many yoars have come and
gone, but time does not seem to soften
my grief, nor efface from my mind
tho vividness of my last ride to Market
fields. A Story about Capt. Morgan.
According to a 'writer in tho Chicago
Tribune, tho Indian chief Cuchise claims
to be a son of William Morgan, who was
supposed to have been murdered by the
Masons many years ago. The story is
at least a good romance and repeated
only as such. In 1820, a party of
Apaches lying in ambush near El Paso,
Texas, captured a man who was trying
to escape from quite a large party of
men. At first ho was destined for a
cruel death, but tho Indians grew to
like. him, and gavo him his life, condi
tional on his promise never to leave
them. He married the daughter of the
chief, and at his death becumo the chief
himself. He left four sons, the eldest of
whom is Cochise, the present Apache
chief. This man, says tho Apaches,
taught their tribe the mysteries of an
organization based on Masonic princi
ples, and instituted rites and ceremonies
among his Indian warriors. He told
them that he was taken prisoner in Ba
tavia, New York, for having divulged
tho secrets of a great society. He was
confined in Fort Niagara, and after
wards drivon in a close carriage through
Buffalo, to Hennepin, Illinois, an J thence
taken to tho Mississippi river .down which
ho floated to New Orleans. There he
was placed on a vessel and sailed to the
mouth of the Rio Grande river, and
proceeded up that river on horseback to
El Paso, whore the Apaches captured
him. His companions had intendod to
give him to some Jesuit priests among
the Indians. Tho writer of this legend
appropriately signs himself " Midnight."
The Great Burned District. .
A legislative committee of the State
of Wisconsin has just now reported upon
the condition of the people in the dis
tricts which wero burned during the
forest fires last October. Fifteen hund
red and eighty families, or 0,907 persons,
whose fortunes were destroyed at that
timo, have been supported mainly by
the relief committees ot Ureen Hay and
Milwaukee. The aggregate amount ef
contributions will not be divided equally
among the claimants, who will, how
ever, be supplied with provisions till
June noxt, and will receive agricultural
implements, material for building, seed,
and provender for their horses and cat
tle. All this having Dcen amply pro
vided for, there will still remain a sur
plus with which, should the suggestions
of the committee be taken, a permanent
fund will established for the relief of
the disabled, and the widows and
orphans of those who perished in the
fires. The report says that the roads
through the burnt districts are in a
most wretched condition, being so block
ed with fallen timber that in order to go
one mile wagons have to be drawn two
and three miles, and in some places
travel is almost impossible. Moreover,
so greatly are the people impoverished
that no tax can be raised for the pay
ment of teacher's salaries, and it is fear
ed that all the publio schools will have
to be closed for a year at least.
Tigs and Venomous Serpent.
We give bolow an extract from tho
Oriental Sporting Magazine, in which the
writer states that ho was on two occa
sions a witness to pigs boing soverely
bitten by cobras without boing in the
slightest degree affected.
" Tho first time I witnessed the act
was in Ceylon, in 1850. I was return
ing one morning from snipe-shooting
with a tolerably fair bag of birds, when
my attention was arrested by a dozen
semi-wild pigs bolonging to my friend,
most per8cveringly engaged in endeav
oring to turn over with their snouts the
half-rotten stem of a palmyra palm, and
curiosity to see if they would 'succeed in
their endeavors for I had never seen
Tiisrs work so unanimously in concert be
forecaused me to stop and watch them.
After two or three failures, they gained
thoir point, turning tho tree half way
round, when a wholo family of cobras,
large and small, glided from under it.
After them the pigs scampered helter
skelter, showing as much activity, al
though only half-wild, as a Bengal boar
would do. A very large cobra, tuny
five feet in length, was seized by a half
grown sow within twolve feet of mo,
and whilst she was crunching up tho
horrible writhing honne. louche, which
had been seized about the middle of tho
body, I distinctly saw the reptilo bite
the sow twice on the snout, without the
animal apparently caring the least
about it ; the pleasure of consuming the
luscious tidbit entirely compensated for
any annoyanco or pain that tho pig
might havo felt at tho time. I saw the
sow mentioned, some days afterward,
not tho least affected by tho bito of the
cobra.
" Tho second instance was on a small
island, yclept Pulobbin, situated in the
narrow channel of tho sea between Sing
apore and the mainland. 1 had gone
over to Pulobbin to endeavor to shoot a
man-eating tiger which was creating
groat havoc amongst a few wretched
Chinese convicts stationed on the island
to split granite and ship it to Singapore
for building purposes. In this instance,
I had been out all ,tho morning in an
unsuccessful search for the man-eater,
and on my return, feeling rather done
up, I stretched myself at full length in
tho raised portico of tho. shooting-hut,
and was enjoying my pipe, when I no
ticed a largo black cobra slowly gliding
along the top of the bank within twenty
teet ot me.
" In tho sido of tho bank were scverul
holes having much tho appearance of
the nests ot i-ngusli sand-martins, and
they had evidently at sonio time
been the nests of either king-fishers or
some of tho flycatcher family. Tho co
bra, having approached the very brink
of tho cutting, suspended his head and
about two feet of his body over it, and
commenced a diligent search in theso
holes for rats, birds, or any small prey
which might be concealed within them.
Suddenly a loud squeak from ono of
tbeir occupants showed that tho unwel
come intruder had been successful in its
search ; and on the snake withdrawing
his head from the abandoned bird s nest,
a large frog leaped vigorously out, but
on reaching tho ground seemed to bo
perfectly paralyzed with the venom of
the bite, and in less than a minute
died.
" The snake seemed to bo fully aware
of the deadly effects of its own bite, as it
never attempted to follow its victim,
though it closely watched it from tho
bank, its head being thrust about two
inches over the bank, its eyes fixed on
tho frog, whilst tho forked tongue was
thrust in and out of its mouth, showing
the state of excitement that tho snake
was in at the feed before it.
" Little, however, did the reptilo an
ticipate what was in store for it ; whilst
glouting over his wretched victim, a
fine half-grown pig belonging to ono of
the Chinese ticket-of-leave men saw him
and rushed at him. The snake was
completely taken by surprise, its head
at the moment being about four inches
bolow the surface of the bank, thus pre
venting him seeing t.i e enemy approach
ing from behind.
" The pig, without one moment's hes
itation, seized the snake near the tail,
aud commenced chumping him up aa a
savage would eat a string ot macaroni.
Again and again the reptilo bit him,
with great violenoe, twice on tho snout,
once on the ear, and onoe on the fore
leg. The pig did not seem to care the
least about it, not stopping for a mo
ment until it had devoured tho hideous
reptile. It wont off grunting its satis
faction at tho unexpected and luxurious
repast which fate had thrown in its way.
I saw the same pig some days afterward,
and it certainly did not then evince signs
of speedy dissolution. On another oc
casion I saw a pig giving chase to a
snake, which only mode good its escape
by reaching tho branches of a small
guava tree.
" An intimate friend of mine once in
formed me that he saw a wholo family
of fifteen cobras devoured by a couplo of
pigs whon he was taking oft the roof of
a bungalow at Mungieuyko.and altnough
the pigs were bitten in more than lmlif a
dozen places, it did not have the least
effect upon them.
Useful Domestic Article.
An English correspondent points to
the merits of the little apparatus called
the Etna, to be bought at most tinmen's,
price about thirty cents. It has simply
a funnel-shaped top soldered into a
stand formed like two patty-pans, with
the bottoms turned one against the oth
er. The top can be tilled with cold
water, then into the rim of the stand a
small quantity ot methylated spirit be
poured aud lighted.and in three minutes
a pint of boiling water is forthcoming.
Tea, coffee, or cocoa may be made over
night, and simply warmed in the Etna
or a cup of freshly-made tea may be
procured, by putting a spoonful of dry
tea into a small vessel about the size of
an egg, with perforated holes, made
either ot tin or siiver-piatea. xnis ves
sel, filled with the tea, should be placed
in the boiling water in the Etna for one
minute; the infusion should then be
poured into a oup, and a cup of toa may
thus, be bad with very uttie trouble.
False Cotton Facklng.
The Houston TtUaravh. in an article
denouncing the tricks of some Texas
cotton growers, says :
The Superintendent of tho Jity (cot
ton) Mills of this vicinity, a few days
ago purchased two lots of cotton for the
use of said mills one of ten and tho
other of two bales. The samples taken
were really beautiful, and a good round
price was consequently paid. But when
the cotton was opened tor uso at the
mills, it was found that the outside of
each bale, as shown us by samples of
both, was a layer of this fine cotton, and
the inside under this layer was compos
ed of a most inferior trashy article Tho
persons who had put up this cotton seem
ed to nave done it with tho deliberate
purpose to cheat, but tho matter will be
traced homo to them, and the law enforc
ed. We loom also of other similar in
stances, whero sand by tho shovel full
had evidently been thrown into tho in
side of bales to increase their weight,
and still others where water had been
poured around the centre of tho bale to
increase tho weight, and dry cotton
placed around it to hide it. And in a
late number of Flalc'i Bulletin, a cotton
buyer published his experienco in tho
following words :
io give you an cxamplo of my own
experience, I may state that out of COO
bales of cotton bought during tho last
fortnight 182 bales were rejected for be
ing mixed packed, repacked, plated or
country damaged.
Buyers havo m such instances shipped
cotton for which reclamation was niado
upon them, and they had to pay it or
suffer suit as well as in reputation, and
after paying it, trace it back to tho pro
ducers and demand indemnity of them.
In one instanco brought to our notice,
the producer was glad to get off by pay
ing this indemnity. While we rejoice
that such instances arc rare, it yet is im
portant that our strict law against such
offenders should bo enforced, and punish
ment inflicted upon them without mercy.
Faithful Dogs.
It would bo hard to find a human
friend stick closer than a couplo of dogs
of the spaniel breed mentioned in tho
English ijournal, Land and Water.
During a hot day in August, two school
boys, brothers, went to bathe in a mill
pool before lunch : a braco of spaniels
accompanied them. The younger broth
er took with him an old hat to wear in
the water, to keep off tho heat of the
sun. Whilo the boys were bathing, the
spaniels strayed away some little dis
tance. After they had bathed, tho boys
separated, each going to a different
house for the afternoon. Tho spaniels
mot tho older brother as ho was leaving
tho pool, but noticing that tho younger
ono was not with him, refused to follow
him for moro than a short distanco, and
when they observed that tho younger
ono was not following him, regardless of
orders and whistling (though, as a rule,
they were not more partial to ono broth
er than another), turned back to tho
Boot where the boys had bathed, and,
seeing the hat that the younger of tho
boys had thrown away, they plunged in
and brought it out. But still, as it
struck that something must bo wrong,
they kept swimming round and round
the place whero they had found tho hat
floating. A tanner living in the neigh
borhood, who had in tho meantime met
the younger brother on his way from
the pool, passed the spot, and seeing the
Bpaniels, triod hard to persuado them to
come away home, knowing to whom
they belonged. Tho dog, however,
could not bo seduced from the supposed
drowned body of their young master,
and the farmer left them. Meantime
tho vountrer brother had erono home.
and had heard from his brother that tho
dogs had refused to follow him. He
went back to the pool, and there, lato in
tho evening, found tho spaniels still
watching and searching for him. Of
coarso they camo instantly away with
him, alter a dog s usual boisterous wel
come Our Lake Scenery.
The scenery and air of our northwest
ern lakes are beautiful and matrical:
and why people should go abroad, and
breathe the pestilential air ot decaying
rities and nations, when they can
breathe this inspiring air of home, and
sco this wonderful wealth of natural
scenery, passes comprehension. Of all
the lakes, Huron presents the grandest
waterscaper, Superior the noblest shores
and most beautiful islands. In Superior
the genuine brook trout is taken about
the rocks on the shores, where the water
is ten foot deep or more. This is made
possible by the coldness of the water.
Its temperature never rises much above
that ot ice water in any part of the
lake. Experienced anglers have taken
there trout weighing six and seven
pounds. They are caught with bait
only, and will not rise to a By. This is
tho speckled brook trout. The sal
mon is taken by trolling, and is often
ot the weight ot thirty to torty pounds.
Excitement can bo hod by running the
rapids of the Sault St. Marie with In
dians, in a birchbark canoe, it is brief,
and there is no danger in it. Ladies
may try it with entire confidence. But
one should see tho grand scenery about
Thunder Bay, on the British shore of
Lake Superior. Thunder Uupe, a pre
cipitous cliff of red rock, thirteen hun
dred feet high, and a mile and a half
long, stands on the eastern sidQ of the
entrance, while numbers of islands, some
lofty and flat-roofed, others low and
round ; and all of them wooded, are
scattered along eastward. The outline
ot Thunder Uape is superb, though it is
tempered aud fringed with trees that
break the level of its long summit. At
evening its beauty is indescribable. The
settins sun flooded the mountain and
the islands with golden light such as
Bierstadt and Giftord and George L.
Brown love to paint, and the clouds and
sky overhead were such that none but
Turner could attempt Such a deluge
of glory I The gray expanse of water
and the purple shadowed sides ot bills
and islands,, darkening as the day faded
into the solemn twilight, wero the set
ting of the picture,
Good Terns Toor Foundations for Build
ings.
It is a common practice among job
bing luildors to lay down pine or hem
lock planks where the earth on which
the foundation-walls are built is porous
and sandy. They know better ; yet, if
tho proprietor suggests an objoction to
the uso of planks in such places, they
will over-ride all his authority by
forcing him into the admission not be
lief that wood may subserve a good
purposo in Buch places, although their
judgment is against it. Tho trouble i,9,
that but few men have had sufficient
experienco in building to warrant them
in assuming that thepractice isdecidedly
objectionablo, and that planks cannot
bo used beneath their walls.
One of the best ways' to cominenco
tho foundation-wall for a building,
when tho ground is sandy and porous,
is to excavate a channel from three to
four foot wide, according to the magni
tude of tho superstructure, and not less
than a foot deeper than tho bottom of
tho cellar ; then lay a course of cobblo
stones as large as a man's two fists over
the entire surface ot the channel excava
ted ; after whisk, every stone should bo
rammed down nrmly with a heavy
rammer. If the ground is sandy, pour
in water to wet tho surface, so that the
stones' can bo settled down half their
width into tho earth. After the first
course of cobbles is sufficiently rammed
down, lay two courses more above them ;
after which, make a grouting, or thin
mortar ot good cement and sand, and
have it so thin that, when poured on
tho stones, it will till every interstice.
Threo courses of cobblo-stones, well
grouted with good water-lime mortar,
will mako a foundation that will endure
like solid limestone.
If tho ground is at all disposed to be
wet, a channel should bo sunk in tho
bottom of the excavation, in which a
row of 2-inch drain-tiles should be care
fully laid, with barely enough inclina
tion t-:j curry all tho water from ono
i-idi! to the other, where it can empty
into an outlet. Such a preparation for
tho foundation-walls will cost but a few
dollars : and after tho cement has solid
ified, the foundation will bo nlmost
equal to a solid rock. .
Laying the ioundation tor a dwelling-
house or barn is a job that is expected
to endure for a lifetime. Mistnkos made
in performing such work are like errors
in one's moral career, not easily recti
fied. Hence evory obsorviug builder
will at onco perceive tho importanco ot
preparing the foundation tor a building
during the former part of tho growing
season, so that the cement may have
amplo timo to solidify before cold
weather comes on. Tho same is true in
regard to carrying up any portion of a
wall. If the mason-worlt can bo clone
early in the spring of the year, the
mortar will have timo before cold weather
to become not only dry, but thoroughly
solidified ; thus rendering tho mortar
and wall doubly strong, and far more
durable than if the work had boon done
so lato in tho season that the mortar
would not havo time to become as dry
and hard as asro would render it.
Tho correct form of a foundation wall
for a large edifice is frequently neglected.
A foundation-stone wall eighteen or
twenty inches in thickness is considered
sufficiently strong for a two-story dwell-
mg-houso. Instead ot carrying it up
eighteen inches thick, from the bottom
of tho cellar to the first floor, if tho
foundation were laid two feet broad,
the side nearest the bank of earth built
perpendicularly, and the inside were
made battering or slanting -outwards,
so that the top ot the wall, whon finished,
would bo ten or twelve inches broad,
and tho bottom two feet, no moro stone
aud no moro mortar would be required,
whilo tho wall would sustain a much
heavier superincumbent pressure, and
would resist a more powerful thrust in a
lateral direction. As bricks are all of a
uniform size, of course it would not bo
so convenient to bnild a brick wall bat
tering, as it can bo done with stones,
But, whether foundation-walls are made
of brick or stono, tho mortar should be
prepared with cement, rather than with
caustic lime. The extra expense for
cement would amount to only a few
dollars ; whilo the work wonld enhance
the value of the edifioe several hundreds
of dollars. Industrial Monthly.
A Monkey Mamma. '
A New Zealand correspondent of tho
Sau Francisco Alt a says :
" llowevor strange Mr. Darwin s
theory that man is descended from a
monkey may seem to bo to many, the
following particulars in tho early history
of one of tho present members of Par
liament for New Zealand are related in
all sober earnestness by Southern pa
pers. Mr. is. s. early lite was spent in
the wilds of boutk Africa. When (
mere infant ho was one day laid peace
fully at rest at the door of his wood
land home; His worthy parent, near
the cabin, shot the young offspring of a
large monkey, at which the feelings ot
the affectionate mamma were, of course,
much wounded. She was however driv
en away by the approaching hunter, and
ia passing the cabin door noticed and
stole the luture New Zealand legislator.
The loss was not discovered for nearly
halt an hour afterwards, and then all ef
forts to find the robber proved unavail
ing. Threo months after this period a
hunting party came across a family of
monkeys in the wilderness, and there in
the arms of the careful, although un
tutored, wet-nurse, was the long-lost
child, who chattered and jibbered in the
most approved monkey fashion, ap
parently fully equal to the exigencies of
the situation. Uould there be any more
convincing evidence than this of the af
finity between our race and those hairy
denizens of the woods? Why did the
hunters step in and thus prevent the de
velopment of another link in the Dar
winian ' chain ' The child was borne
home, and under careful nurture and
training the evil effects of bad company
were removed.
An Illinois farmer proposes to plant
l,iw acres with corn this spring.
Facta and Figures
One-seventh of Arkansas has been sold
for taxes.
A twonty acre chicken farm has boen
started near Wyandotte, Kansas.
Glycerine and lime iuice is said to be
better for the hair than oils or. pomade.
A Terro Haute woman administered a
sound thrashing to two insolent men the
other day. . - :
A. Pottsvillo. Pfinn. two-vear-old en
joys his af tor-dinner cigar. The wretch
ed littlo i'ottsvmian.
A man in- Hartland, Wis., the othet r .
day, threw a club at a cow and hit his -little
boy and killed him.
Audubon County, Iowa, claims to have
the loveliest woman in America. - Lan guage
is inadequate to her case.
A Southern paper tests our credulity
with this : " A Florida negro ato two
bushels of dried apples on a bet, refresh
ed himself at tho tewn pump, and
burst."
A cat in Memphis has beon trying to
aoquiro a fame like that of Mrs. O'Loary's
cow. Mio overturned a Kerosene lamp
and succeeded in producing a conflagra
tion which destroyed three houses.
The Great Falls Journal hears of one
gentleman in that town who gave up to
bacco New Year's day, chewed gum for
two weeks, candy for a month,' and still
hghts tho world, tho Hosh and tho devil
with a stick of liquorice.
Salt Lake City has now a population ' '
of about 30,000, and there are. scattered . -
throughout Utah some three hundred
small towns, settlements and mining
districts, drawing their supplies from
that city. It is prophesied by those fa
miliar with tho country, that in five
years the population of Salt Lake will "
be 100,000, and that of Utah will contain
at least 500,000 people. .
Tho total loss by the Chicago fire is
now definitely stated at $190,000,000,
of which l'JO.000,000 falls upon insu
rance companies. Of this amount some
10,000,000 has already been paid, and
the companies now in liquidation may
possibly pay $10,000,000 more, thus
eaving a balance loss of fH0.000.UU0.
Of the forty millions paid by insurance
companies, a single agency settled six
millions.
West of the Mississippi River the
United States still owns 1)73,482,593
acres, distributed as follows : Missouri,
Iowa and Arkansas, 10,000,000 ; Dakota
and Wyoming, 1-15,293,284 : Montana,
8tf,904,G05 ; Kansas, 43,143,070 ; Nebras
ka, 55,223,037; Colorado and Idaho, 117,
800,000 ; New Mexico and Utah, 224,-
140,000; Nevada and Arizona, 133,000,-
000 ; Minnesota, 30,870,170 ; Indian Ter
ritory, 134,000.
Tho old and pleasing exhibition of a
" magician" standing up to be fired at
with a real pistol has its perils for tho
performer unless ho makes sure before
hand of tho man who loads the pistol.
In a Texas town latoly ono of these
wonderful prostidigitateurs was shot and
killed before the audience because tho
man who loaded tho pistol slipped in a
genuine- bullet instead of one furnished
by the performor that could bo jammed
into powder.
There is near Knoxville, Tenn., a spot
which nestles between the mountains
and rejoices in ' the appellation of the
" Happy Valley, whero wo are told only
one death has occurred in twelve years.
Tho fact would not be very remarkable
if only ono person had lived in the Hap
py Valley during that period, but we
are left by the local chronicler to sur
mise that it is a populous place, in which
the people aro practically immortal. It
it bo so it will speedily bocome more
populous.
The orchestra of the Boston musical
festival will be composed of 250 first vio
lins, 200 second violins, 150 violas, 100
violoncellos, 100 contra basses, 100 first
flutes, 12 second flutes, 12 first clarionets,
12 second clarionets, 10 first oboes, 10 -
second oboes, 20 bassoons, (1st, 2d, 3d,
and 4th), 20 French horns, 24 trumpets.
12 alto trombones, 1- tenor trombones.
8 bass trombones, 6 bass tubas, 6 pair
tympani, 10 small drums, 4 bass drums,
4 pair cymbals, 1 great drum, 1 great
triangle total 1.000.
An oystcrman can tell the age of bi
valves to a nicety. This is not done,
however, by looking them in the mouth,
but simply by counting the successive
layers or plates overlapping each other,
of which an oyster shell is composed.
These are technically termed " shoots,"
and each of them marks a year s growth.
Up to the time of the maturity of. the
oyster these shoots are regular and suc
cessive, but after that time they become
irregular, and aro piled ono over the
other, so that the shell becomes more
and moro thickened and balky. Judg
ing from the sizo and thioknoss which
some shells attain, this mollusk is capa
ble ot attaining a patriarchal longevity,
and an oyster with fifty or even three
score years upon its back may by chance
be met with. They aro in perfection
when from nve to seven years old.
The Cleveland Leader mentions tho
invention in that city of a machine
called the Patent Cat Exterminator.
This is described as a large sheet-iron
cat with cylindrical attachment and
stoel claws and teeth. Tho motive power
is like that of a clock ; the tail is
swelled by a bellows in the interior,
which also, by a tremolo attachment,
causes the patent cat to uttor wild cries,
of defiance. The machine being duly
wound up is placed upon the roof f
the house. Roused by its diabolical
yells, every cat within half a mile
rushes to action, sometimes from SO to
100 attacking at once. Then the iron
teeth and claws begin to work with
lightning rapidity, and all the adver
saries within six feet of the machine
are torn to shreds. Reinforcements'
oome up, only to meet a like fragmentary
destiny, and soon great heaps of hair,
toe-nails, and fiddle-strings are gathered .
upon the roof. This is probably the
greatest mechanical invention since Dr.
Tushmaker's beautiful machine for ex
tracting teeth, so well described by the
late Mr. John Phoenix,