.c.cj.a.d :
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., EDrroa and Publisher.
' ' , ELK COUNTY T1IB REPUBLICAN PAItTT.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. II.
RIDGWAY, PA,. .THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1872.
NO. 27.
POETR T,
TWOFOLD.
- " .
BT HUB. 1. D. T. WHITMKT.
A double life la this of enra i
A twofold form wherein we dwell I
And heaven itself It not ao strange.
Nor half bo far an teachera toll.
With wearjr feet we dally tread
The circle of a (elf-same round I
Tt the strong soul may not be held
A prisoner In tho petty bond.
' The body walketh aa In Bleep,
A shadow among things that seem :
While held In leash, ytt far away,
The spirit moveth in a dream.
A 11 Tins; dream of pood or ill.
In coves of gloom or fields of light ;
Whero pnrpoae doth iUolf fulfil,
And longing love U instant slttht.
Where time, nor apace, nor blood, nor bond
May love and life divide In twain ;
But they whom truth hath inly Joined,
Meet inly on their common plane.
We need ndt die to go to Ood ;
Be. how the dally prayor is given I
'TIs not across a gulf we cry,
" Our Father who dost dwell in Heaven 1"
And "Let Thy will on earth be done,
As in Thy heaven," by this, thy child I
What Is It bnt all prayers In one,
That aonl and sense be roconcllod f
ThM Inner sight and outor "com
f No more in thwarting conflict strive ;
By doing blossom from the dream.
And the whole nature rise, alive f
There's beauty waiting to be born,
And harmony that makea no sound ;
And bear we over, unaware,
A glory that hath not been crowned.
And so we yearn, and so we sigh,
And reach for moro than we can see :
And, witness of our folded wings,
' Walk Paradise unconsciously (
And dimlv feel the day dlvino
With vision half rodoemed from night.
Till death shall face the double life.
And Ood himself shall give ns light '.
THE STORY-TELLER.
THE FIRE TEST.
I believe it, sir I do, indeed I There
never was an evil that some good did
not spring from it. It is something
hard to believe it was for me once
but it is truth. Shall I tell you why I
changed my mind ' I don't know as I
ought to, for I am not much of a story
teller I can balance an account, or
scale a load of lumber better but I will
try this time. Ah, how I Wish I could
felt it and saw it I But I don't believe
anybody ever could do that, so I'll make
the best of it.
I am in the employ of a heavy lum
bering company doing business on the
lake-shore, and have been for years.
Most of the time there were two of us
in the office John Richards, a son of
one of the owners, and myself, Jocobed
Jackson.., J aim usually goes into the
pineries in the .winter.
Well, last winter was unfavorable for
logging there was no snow to speak of
and our supply of logs was so much
less than usuaL, that we were obliged to
shut down the mill about the 1st of
September. That left thirty or forty
men idle.' You know these lumbermen
have to eat sometimes, and wear clothes,
and the firm decided to put a crew into
the woods, if it was early. So about
the 4th or 5th of September, a lot of
men started.
John Richards went up to boss them ;
and to be frank, as I always want to be,
I was glad when John was out of my
sight. There were two or three reasons
why I was. glad.. First, John Richards
was not a very agreeable person to have
aroundt He was haughty and over
bearing to the last degree, and many a
wordy tilt have we had. Again, he was
paying attention to a beautifnl girl
whom I loved. No doubt I was a little
selfish, but I . really couldn't help it.
There was no open rivalry between us,
however, for I never had insinuated
even to my dearest friend, my mother,
that I cared aught for Belle Royalton.
But I loved her ; and the idea that John
Richards or anybody else, for that
matter would bear off the prize, even
before I had entered the list as a com
petitor, was repugnant to my feelings,
to say the least. Lastly, John Richards
was my enemy. Wherefore, I could not
fathom, unless gqme act or look of mine
had betrayed my love. "But he was my
enemy, and I tqat glad when he was out
of my sight. '
John had been gone nearly a month,
when the firm received a letter from
him, in which he stated that he had
found a large tract of pine land for sale.
The owner had just been burned out,
and John advised that I should come up
with a few thousand dollars, for a splen
did bargain could be made.
The partners held a consultation, and
finally decided that I should go up. I
was to start immediately after dinner,
on horseback.
I knew the road well, and was some
what acquainted with the few people
who id ventured to settle in that wil
derness through which I had to pass ;
therefore I apprehended . no trouble.
Noteo with nyT, mother, however. She
took alarm at the first mention' of the
journey.
"I" wish you were not going, Joe,"
she said, with ;a show of much anx
iety. '"" k . . : .It
' Why, mother
" The fires, Joe. They are burning all
over the woods, and you have to camp
out one night."
I laughed at her fears, for I thought
them groundless, .and she did not press
the subject further.. The look of anxie
ty remained on her face, however, and I
promised to be very careful.
I chose to use my own horse ; so, af-J
ter dinner, 1 went out to the stable ana
saddled Jim, and rode down to the office.
Thev were not auito ready, and Mr.
Richards said I had better take a turn
around, and see if there were any letters
to send to the men. It was only by some
such transient method that we had any
communication with the pinories, and I
found many letters already written.
After I had Visited all who had hus
bands in the woods, I headed toward
the office again J but I happened to
think that perhaps Belle had some word
to send to John Richards. It was not
pleasant to think of, and I selfishly de
cided that I would not be the bearer of
communications between them. But
my bettor nature prevailed, as I hope it
always may. 1 rode over to Squire
Royalton's, and asked for Belle. She
was at home ; and I think I trembled a
little, wnile the servant was calling hei,
tor 1 never bad spoken with her except
in the presence of others, much less vis
ited her in her own home. I was even
more agitated when she entered the
room, and the touch of her hand thrill
ed me through and through. It was
only by a mighty effort that I controll
ed my feelings. Ah, how lovely she
was 1
I dared not dwell upon such thoughts,
so I stammered oat the business that
brought me there. She smiled whon
I. told her a mischievous smile, I
thought.
"Thank you, very much, Mr. Jackson,
but I have no word to send to Mr. Rich
ards that I know of."
I was surprised, and she saw it.
" You have been led into an error,"
she said, more seriously, " but I thank
you all the same. I hope you will see
no trouble on the journey. You must
be very careful, however, for fires are
burning through all that region."
You don't know how these words
cheered me. Notwithstanding my em
barrassing position, I could not feel sor
ry that I went ; and apologizing for my
mistake, I took my leave, very much
happier, yet, withal, feeling a sort of
pity for John.
Tne first part of my journey was per
formed without serious trouble. It is
true, I had some narrow escapes from
the fires which I found everywhere, thus
proving my mother's fears not without
foundation. But, on Saturday night
the night for camping out I met with
the first of a series of mishaps that
promised a very unfortunate ending to
my trip.
The camping out, however, was not
so disagreeable as I anticipated; for
our men on the way up, had erected a
cabin for themselves, and a sort of sta
ble for the horses. In the latter I tied
Jim, finding hay and grain enough for
a feed, and then betook myself to the
other cabin, where I made preparations
for passing a comfortable night But I
could not sleep at first. Ten thousand
dollars in one's pocket is not a remark
able narcotic, especially when one is in
a lonely cedar swamp, with fires light
ing the heavens above, the suffocating
smoke retarding respiration, and you
don't know how many desperate men
prowling around for prey. But sleep
came to me after a while, and money,
fire, smoke and robbers were forgot
ten. I do not know how long I slept, but I
do knew that I was awakened very sud
denly. I sprang from the heap of straw,
which had been my bed, and, by the
light of the fires which haH burned near
er, I saw a man standing in the door.
His face was toward me a black face it
was, too, but whether artificially color
ed or natural, I could not say.
' If you don't want to get burned up,
you'd better get out of here !" he said,
gruffly. "Ten minutes more, and the
hut will be ablaze."
I needed no second bidding. I found
that his words were true his warning
timely. Un three sides of the cabin the
hungry flames were greedily licking up
everything combustible, and, at one
point, were only a few rods from where
I stood.
The smoke was sifting, the heat was
scorching. I had no timo to waste. The
stranger was already on the move, as I
knew by the sound of his horse's foot
falls. I was not far behind, I assure
you, for my faithful horse seemed to
realize that we were in peril.
The smoke was so dense that I could
not see a rod ahead, but I struck out
boldly, and a ride of half an hour took
me out of immediato danger. Then, for
the first time since my awakening, I
thought of the money. I quickly clap
ped my hand to my breast-pocket. It
was empty.
Can yeu guess my first wish ? It wag
that I had been left to.mf fate in that
rude hut, for death seemed preferable to
dishonor. These thoughts did not re
main with me any length of time, how
ever, for, somewhere in advance of me,
fleeing from his victem, and from the
devouring element, was the robber. My
only desire, then, was, to overtake him
and wreak out my vengeance on his
worthless carcass.
Putting the whip to my horse, I dash'
ed on, making but little progress, how
ever, for the way had never been traveled
before, 'unless by some footman. Toward
daylight the way improved, and goon
alter sunrise 1 struck a road. 1 now
moved on more rapidly. By frequent
inquiries I learned that I was on the
track of the villain, but some hours be
hind him. I wag gaining on him, how
ever. As the day waned I heard of him
nearer and nearer. I hoped to overtake
him before dark, but tailed.
. I did not despair. I kept on ; and
somewhere between eight and nine
o'clock, reached a village situated on
the border of a bay, or . the lake itself.
I could not tell which. I rode down to
thn hav to cive mv thirst v horse a drink.
but he had only touched nig lips to the
water, when he lifted up his head, turn
ed square round, and, wjth dilated eyes,
swelling nostrils, and elevated ears,
gazed toward the wods which nearly
surrounded the village. Ana l, too,
turned in the same direction, fpr a low,
rumbling sound, inexplicable to me,
broke the Sabbath stillness. Louder
and louder it grew as we gazed, until it
was like the noise or mighty, lrresisti.
ble waters, sweeping toward us. The
inhabitants of the village were aroused,
Though conscious of gome terrible dan
ger, they were yet ignorant ot their aw
lul doom. Even the domestic animals
took the alarm, and fled, helter-skelter,
trampling many a poor unfortunate un
der toot in their mud night.
But the worst wag yet to come.
- Dumb with awe rather than fear, I
stood facing the mysterious roar stood
alone, for my frightened horse had
broken away and fled while fiercer
and more terrible became the horrid
mystery. '!;..-'
But the worst was not yet.
Suddenly swift as the lightn'ng'g
flash burst upon us a deafening crash,
like the uprooting and downfalling of
ten thousand forest giants, and with it
a sheet of flame one wide lurid sheet
of soorching, merciless, devouring fire, '
enveloping the village and everything
therein a sickening holocaust. Pesh
tigo was doomed I
Unly when tne tornado ot wind and
flame struck the village, did I realize
my danger. Fortunately, I was close
by the water's edge, else I never should
have told the story. With a few others
as fortunate as myself, I rushed into the
cooling element, waist-deep.
"Joel J oo I save me I t or Ood s sake,
don't leave me here I"
Those were the words that smote my
ear, shrill above the roar of the devasta
ting fire. I turned in my flight. It
was as light as nobn-day a hot, sick
ening light, if I-may so term it; and
lying on the bank, but a step from the
water, 1 saw John luchards, begging ol
me to come to him. a
" Oh, Joo I just try once to save me
only once, Joe 1 I'll ask no moro I"
Uould you have retused, even though
it seemed like certain death to venture
back into that burning heat ? No more
could I.
One noble man God prosper him
aud his in this life and hereafter 1 re
turned with me, and together we drag
ged poor John through the water into
comparative safety.
" liod bless you, murmured John, as
he felt the cool water enveloping him.
" You have saved me from a horrible
death, and I will repay you. Bend
your head down, Joo. The money u all
right, Joe."
" What I tell me that again I" 1 de
manded, forgetting everything but the
hope of saving my honor unstained.
" 1 took it, Joo. 1 knew .Belle loved
you, and I couldn't bear it. That letter
1 sent was to get you where I could car
ry out my plan. I might have left you
in the hut, but Belle would always re
member you then, while a shadow of
suspicion upon you would have ended it
all. But I give her up to you, Joe. I'm
not good enough for her, even if she
wanted me ; but if I live, I'll do better.
You'll not tell Belle, or father V"
"No, John," I said.
By this time the heat was so intense
that we were forced to wade deeper into
the water, and keep our heads wet to
save our skin from blistering. Ah, sir,
it was terrible ! Many a poor being
fled down into the water that night,
and never returned fled from one death
to find another, and perhaps, an easier
one.
Well, I hardly know how we lived
through that awful night ; but here I
am, as you see, considerably scorched,
and somewhat stiff and sore, but quite
a man, after all. There is John, too
John Richards, in that bed in the cor
ner. He will get over it, I guess. I
shouldn't be telling you this now, only,
he said I might, lie has turned over a
new leaf, and docs not want any secrets
weighing mm down.
There is Belle, too, lust coming up
the walk. They put my bed here, so
that I should be the first te see her when
she came, and the last when she went
away. Isn't sho beautiful? Ah! but
that is nothing to her goodness. She
has saved John and me, they say ; and
she is my promised wife. Do you blame
me now for saving there never was an
evil that good did not spring out of it '(
A Monster Moon-Btone.
in our issue ot the loth instant we
called attention to the fact that on that
day occurred one of those periodical
meteorio showers which have always
been the source of more or less terror to
the unlearned, and the cause of which
has occasioned much discussion among
savans of all ages. The evening of the
10th, it will be remembered, was cloudy,
and altogether unpropitious for observ
ing the phenomenon, and so far as we
know the heavens exhibited no unusual
appearance in this vicinity. But other
localities were more fortunate. Captain
Scott, who is cultivating several thou
sand acres of the Fowler farm in Ben'
ton county, reports the fall, near his
residence, northeast of Oxford, of one of
the most remarkable aerolites that has
ever been seen in the United States.
Indeed, it has never been rivalled, un
less by the monster moon-stone weigh
ing 1,635 pounds that fell near the Red
Uiver, in Arkansas, and which is still
preserved in the cabinet of Yale Col
lege ; and it may not prove second to
that in size. According' to Captain
Scott's account, he wag returning from
camp-meeting about half-past ten V. M,
The evening was cloudy and dark, with
occasionally a little rain, and it was
with difficulty that he could distinguish
the road leading across the fields which
he was following. Suddenly he was
startled with a blinding glare of ' light
that illuminated everything as far as
the eye could reaoh with more' than
noonday radiance. Simultaneously be
beard a rushing sound, as he describes,
like a terrifio gust of wind, and the next
instant saw shooting vertically down
ward a huge fiery ball that struck the
earth but a few rods from where he wag
standing, with a deafening detonation
and a shock like an earthquake. Cap
tain Scott owns to being badly fright
ened, and for a few moments stood mo
tionless, completely at a loss to account
for what had happened. In the mean
time a hissing noise came from the spot
where the mysterious object bad landed.
accompanied by a steam-like vapor and
a strong sulphurous odor. The blind
ing light continued for full fifteen min
utes, and before it had altogether sub
sided Captain Scott mustered up courage
to make a closer investigation. The
aerolite wag still smoking where it had
fallen, and too hot to be removed ; but
after considerable trouble a fragment of
the substanoe with which tbe interior
was filled was secured, and may now be
seen at the Courier office. It hag much
the appearance of volcanic rock, but is
considerably lighter, being scarcely
heavier than gome of the more solid
woodg. Kvanwille (Ind.) Courier,
ALLEGED DISCOTERIES IN ART.
ZONA.
Finding of Precious Stonet-Oil WclU
Flowing Fifty to Slxtf Barren a Day-
Ant Hill Geology,
A SDCoial correspondent of the N. Y.
World, writes from Erensburg, Arizona,
as follows: On the road from Prescott
City to this now town on the Colorado
River, I collected quite a large number
of valuable specimens and some precious
stones, comprising rubies, sapphire,
amethyst, and diamonds, the latter ex
ceedingly small in size, Dut diamonds
nevertheless, and here let the World, and
the rest of mankind know that the Ari
zona excitement is based upon fact, and
that diamonds Have been found in the
region of the Ant HUH through which
we passed, and taken to San Francisco,
whether the people East decide to bo
liove it or not. I have not seen a news
paper since we loft Prescott, but judge
trom what they then contained that
more 'confidence is placed in Arizona
than in Southern Africa aa a diamond
field by the people outside of Arizona.
And justly so, for diamonds in Arizona
a tact as immovably nxed as the
granite hills hereaway. On reaching
this place we soon ascertained that the
diamond fever had spread not only
throughout the adjacent Territories and
California, but the disease was spread
ing through the States East at an alarm
ing rate. Let it rage I It will do this
country good, diamonds or no diamonds.
But while the absolute truth in re
gard to the discovery of diamonds in
Arizona can never be wrung from those
who are now here, nor from those who
succeed in escaping from this domain of
the bloody Apache with their lives, the
inducements are such as will justify any
one possessing an adventuresome nature
to go diamond hunting in Arizona
provided, however, at all times, that
such a one leave his last will and testa
ment in the hands of administrators of
his estate, if he have any, and write his
own obituary before leaving home.
But I'll have more to say concerning
diamonds in Arizona in another letter.
want to tell you something now of
more importance than " Arizona dia
monds, viz. : Arizona oil wells I Yes,
actual petroleum emanating from the
bowels of the earth more oil Irom one
spring than any one well between Oil
City and Titusville could boast in Penn
sylvania's greasiest daje. What is the
quality of the article ? How is it acces
sible r and where are the springs loca
ted '( Mum's the word I Don't flatter
yourselves, denizens of civilization and
participants in Presidential elections,
that experiences gone by go for noth
ing to men who risk life, limb, and top
knot to penetrate into this new El Dor
ado. Wait till our return, when you
may be solicited to subscribe- oil Btock ;
but till then wait.
Our little party were the first of the
race that ever brought oil out of Ari
zona from springs that run from fifty to
sixty barrels a day ; and we did it. Our
samples will reach San Francisco soon.
Stand down the hall. Near Skull Valley
dug trom a mound many pieces of
human bones relics of Tel tec and
Aztec life and from the ruins of an
ancient town a number of pieces of
burnt bricks, ranging from one-half
inch to two inches in thickness and
eight inches wide, remains of Azteo civ
lhzation. I am unable to decide the
length of the brick, as I found only
fragments. At Round Valley I collect
ed several thousand specimens of
rose-chalcedony from a calcareous con
glomerate. It is the finest assortment
of the kind I have ever seen, and they
are valuable, as nature produces no
more boautitui specimens of jewelry. 1
have them as a single rose, double rose.
and so on to twenty roses in a single
cluster.
I have collected some canes from the
flower-stem of the " century plant." so
called, which grows here extensively
and large, it is utilized by the natives,
as it yields an excellent food, while the
Mexicans make from it a liquor, Bharp
ana pungent, "wmcn intoxicates very
readily. It produces a fibre which is
manufactured into paper and cloth,
making it at once the most useful plant
that grows on the American continent.
It matures in from five to seven years,
and, like the " modern maiden," blooms
aud dies, too fair for earth, passes off
ana gives room lor its successor, which
in its turn, blooms, yields its soed, and
dies. Its flower is the most beautiful I
have ever seen on this continent.
have also canea from the palo verde and
ocate, also specimens of the rose-cactus,
the mesquit, and swarre, or post-cactus.
This last mentioned cactus grows to the
height of forty feet, and a grove of them
scattered sparsely over the ground hag
the appearance at a distance of irregu
larly arranged telegraph poles. The
truit oi this cactus is called gwarro
pronounced as three syllables, su-war
row and is very sweet and delicious. 1
have in my collection a piece of blanket
excavated Irom one ot the ruins in Chi
no Valley. It is charred, as ' is the seed
and graia I toek from them, and thus is
in an excellent state of preservation.
The fibre is well preserved and will af
ford the curious an opportunity on my
return to inspect it and guess the ma
terial of which it hag been made.
I have a very handsome collection of
minerals which 1 have named my ant
hill collection. These little insects are
of more consequence than hag hitherto
been accredited to them. They are in
themselves a curiosity. They are
honey-making ant. A bag or sack of
honey about the size of a large pea is at
tached to the female ant, which ig fed
by the male, the female never leaving
its nest To this singular ant am I in
debted for many services rendered me
in my geological investigations. At
San Bernardo, New Mexico, I first be
gan to inspect their mounds, for they
are as truly mounds-builders as were
their ancient prototypes, who preceded
them on a grander scale, but no more in
teresting or usetul to the modern in
vestigator. At this point I discovered
that these ants had collected a great
number of Indian relics, the first of
which I collected on the ant-mounds
They consisted of splinters or chips from
Indian arrow points, beads, bits of tur-
uome, and other fragments which the
ndiang had left while working out
their stone implements and ornaments.
Tbe finding of these small stone chips
led me to think that the Indians had
done considerable work in the neigh
borhood "of these ant-hills, and so I
found it. The surrounding country was
literally strewn with fragments, con
sisting of m orb-o gate, jasper, obsidian,
silioitied wood, and other rock of like
nature. I also found several good com
plete arrow-heads. I improved upon this
my first lesson in ant-hill geology, and
sinoo that time I have collected from
these ant-hills quite a number of gems,
including the garnet, opal, ruby, chal
cedony, aqua-marine, quartz-crystals,
tapaz, and (probably) the diamond.
And now all I have to do to determine
the geological character of the country
am in is to visit an ant-hill, and be
fore me I have all the characteristic
rocks of the locality. I first supposed
the ants brought the small rock of which
portion of their mounds are construct
ed from under the surface ; now, how-
however, I am convinced that they col
lect them from the surface. And they
exercise most excellent geological taste
in their selections, as they select inva
riably from the rarest and most beau
tiful rockg to be found in the neighbor
hood. When the ant-hill is located near
vein of ore many specimens of the ore,
with the rock of the vein, the wall rock,
and the rook in which the vein is locat
ed, are invariably found. In a few
hours we start on a perilous journey
across the country towards Los Angeles,
Ual., a distance ot over 200 miles, about
eighty miles of which is a sandy, bar
ren desert. We shall, travel across this,
and most of the entire way at night, in
order to avoid the excessive heat of the
daytime.
Self-Dependence.
No alliance with others can ever di
minish the necessity for personal en
deavor. Friends may counsel, but the
ultimate decision in every case is mdi-
vidual. As each tree, though growing
n the same soil, watered by the same
rains, and warmed by the same sun as
others, obeys its own laws of growth,
preserves its own physical structure,
and produces its own peculiar fruit, so
each person, though in the closest com'
munication and intercourse with others,
and surrounded by similar influences,
must be himself, must do his duties,
contest his own struggles, resist his own
temptation, and suffer his own penalties.
There is too much dependence placed
upon co-operation tor security Irsin evil,-
and too little reliance upon personal
watchfulness and exertion. There are
some who seem to feel in a great mea
sure released from obligation if they do
not receive such aid, and some will plead
the shortcomings of others as an excuse
tor their own.
We would by no means disparage the
effect of influence, or discourage in the
slightest the generous assistance which
we all owe to one another, or under
value the important effect of a worthy
example. These are vital elements of
growth, and their results can never be
fully estimated. But they should not
usurp the place ot a proper selt-relianoe,
or diminish the exercise of individual
powers. Moral force must be a personal
possession. It can never be transferred,
and while we gladly welcome what is
good from all sources, it can only be as
food which must be digested before it
can truly nourish us. Material benefits
may be conferred by simple gift, but
mental and moral activities can only be
sustained by their own exercise.
Thoughts may be exchanged, but not
thought power; moral help and en
couragement may be given, but virtue
cannot be transferred ; responsibility
cannot be shitted.
The most permanent good we can do
to others is to nourish this individual
strength. To aid the physically desti
tute most effectively, food, fuel and
clothing, are not nearly bo valuable as
steady, remunerative employment. To
educate a child, it is not half bo impor
tant to instill large amounts of informa
tion, as to set his mind to work, to
bring out -his mental powers, to stimu
late his thoughts, and quicken his facul
ties. And in moral lite, especially in
cities, where masses are crowded to
gether, and men incline to leap upon
each other, the best lesson to enforce is,
that virtue, to exist at all, must be strict
ly individual.
That which cannot stand alone, but
depends on props and supports, which
needs the constant spur of fear, and the
bribe of reward to ensure its activity, is
but the semblance of virtue, and will
crumble before temptation. A well-de
veloped body ever excites admiration,
But a well-developed and self-reliant
spirit is a nobler thing,
It is calm,
modest, and unassuming, yet linn in
4. 4! :
conscious integrity of purpose, aud
steadiness oi aim. Inflated by no van
ity, it ig at once humble, yet courage
ous; helpful to the tempted, yet reso
lute in assailing evil.
How He Got Over. In Scotland
they have narrow, open ditches they
call sheep-drains. A man wag riding a
donkey one day across a sheep pasture,
and when Mr. Donkey came to a sheep
drain he would not go over it. So the
man rode him back a short distance.
and turned him around, and put the
whip to him, thinking, of course, that
the donkey, going go fast, would lump
the drain before lie - ever Knew it. But
not so. On they came, and when the
donkey got to the drain he stopped all
of a sudden, and the man went over Mr,
Jack'g head. No sooner had he touched
the ground than he got np, and looking
W.T. jjonney siraigut in me iace, ue
said, " Very weel pitched ; but then how
are ye going to get over yersel r
Comino to the Point. (Young lady
of the period) " And go you wish to
marry me, ehr" Well can you wash,
iron, sweep, tend babies, darn stockings,
get up Lood dinners Y If you can, I'll
marry you. No old-fashioued men for
me."
Opinin Smokers.
Poot human nature is seldom seen at
greater disadvantage than when discov
ered in a Chinese opium-smoking room.
The houses devoted to thig use are gen
erally found in gomo narrow, dirty
street, filled with the heavy, pungent,
peculiar odor of the drug. Let us enter
,ie of the establishments. The room is
lined on both sidos with couches con
structed of rattan and bamboo, nearly
every oio of whieh has an occupant.
Some of the miserable, lniatuatou crea
tures are already asleep under the in
fluence of the narcotic, and tho rest are
rapidly advancing, puff by puff, to tho
same (to them) happy state of oblivion.
Here is one just coming in; he takes
one of the few vacant couches, stretches
himself at full length thereon, arranges
the little bamboo pillow, and calls for
his supply of opium, which, together
with the pipe and other instruments
necessary for its preparation and inhala
tion, he is soon supplied with by an
obliging attendant. Let us watch thu
modus o).erandi. You see the parapher
nalia of the opium smoker consists of
first, the pipo, a bowl of some kind of
hard clay or porcelain, about an inch
and a half W diameter, but having a
very small hole in the top. This bowl is
placed a few inches frem one extremity
of the stem, which is about eighteen or
twenty inches in length, and three-
quarters ot an inch in diameter, second
ly, a small brass lamp, with a glass
cover having a circular opening at the
top through which the flame may bo
reached. Thirdly, a small box contain
ing tho opium, which is in a semi-liquid
state, having something the appearance
of thick, dark-colored molasses, and
lastly a steel, or iron probe, about the
sizo of a knitting-needle.
The operator commences business by
dipping the point of his needle into the
opium, and taking out as much as will
adhere to it. lie then holds it over the
flame of the lamp, keeping the opium in
its place by dexterously turning the
needle between his fingers, continuing
the operation until the opium has at
tained the proper consistency. He now
places the little sputtering, fizzing mor
sel of poison on the orifioe of his pipe,
and moulds it with his linger and thumb
into the form of a pastil, then pierces it
down through the centre with his
needle, and it is ready. Placing the
stem of the pipe between his lips, he
holds the bowl over the lamp, so that
the flame can reach the opium, takes
two or three inhalations, and then
expels the smoke in puffs from mouth
and nose.
This finishes the first pipe, and the
same proceedings are repeated until
his brain becomes clouded, his eyes are
fixed in a glassy, idiotic stare, the pipe
falls from his enervated grasp, anj he
sinks into a deep slumber, having satis
factorily finished his smoke, and, at the
same time, "driven another nail into
his coffin." How men can barter away
health and reason for these hours of
transient pleasure, is incomprehensible.
When awake, and free from the in
fluence of the narcotic, the opium
smoker is half-dead, and, in despair, re
sorts to his opium again as his only
solace, that insidious poison, which,
while it comforts, kills him. We have
reason to dread the introduction of this
terrible drug among us, for, although
rum is a groat curse, opium performs
the work of destruction quicker, and is
really more to. be dreaded.
Rattlesnake Poison as Medicine.
The London Court Journal publishes
the following :
It may not be generally known to our
readers that snake poison is used for
medical purposes in these days, and that
under tbe name ot " Uro talus Uorridus,
the poison of the rattlesnake is utilized
homoeopathic pharmacy. Messrs,
Thompson and Capper, of. Liverpool,
having recently imported a number of
rattlesnakes, abstracted the venom from
the live animals in the following ingen
ious manner :
Tho reptiles were in separate compart
ments of a case, fitted with a double lid
for extra security. A long staff, fitted
with a thick India subber noose at one
end, which could be loosened or tight
ened by the hand at pleasure, was in
serted through the partially opened lid,
and the opportunity quickly seized of
slipping the loop ovr the snake s Read,
the loop being immediately drawn tight
by means ot tho cord attached thereto.
With a similar contrivance the tail was
next fastened, and tho snake being thus
securely held, was lifted out of tho box
to the floor of the room. A pickle bottle
containing chloroform was then thrust
over the snake's head and carefully held
in its place by keeping time with the
animal's efforts to extricate itself. As
the reptile became stupefied the noose
was gradually relaxed, to enable the
lungs to have full play, and when it ftp
I a i a i i
pearea powerless, me snuge was iaia in
a long, narrow box, made lor tho pur
pose, with an aperture at one end, out of
which its head projected while the after
operation was performed. Its jaws were
then opened and fixed, and the poison
glands were pressed with forceps, then
with tbe gloved nnger and thumb, while
a small-blown graduated phial was held
t receive the drops as they oozed slowly
out inrouga me poison iangs. Twenty
drops was the average quantity yielded
from each snake.
i a V . ; r m
The venom ig of straw color, thick and
gummy in consistency, and decidedly
acid in its reaction on litmus paper. It
ig readily soluble in glycerine or water,
but ia precipitated by strong alcohol.
the precipitate being redissolved by the
addition ot a little water, its toxico-
logical properties were fully tried on
variety ot animals. Half a drop pro
I duced death on a linnet within three
minutes after being imjected under the
wing. The symptoms produced in all
coses were very similar.
A Ballard county (Kentucky) man
got very drunk on bad whiskey, and
went to sleep in the woods. During
the night a poor, deluded rattlesnake
crawled slyly up to the drunkard, bit
him, and died. The man is doing well
a could be expected.
Facts and Figures,
Tho end of timo tho letter E.
It is said that a fanner in Western
New York hog cleared $900 by burying
wooden Indian cigar Bigns for a few
months and then digging thom up and
selling thom to colleges for petrinod
Mohicans.
A Bridgeport lady remained too long
on a train to kiss a female friend, and
trying to get off after it had started was
thrown violently on lier face. " If evei
I kiss any bcly again !'' said she, venge
fully, as sho arose ; " any woman, at
least !" she thoughtfully added.
A clergyman on his way to church,
one Sunday, was overtaken by a heavy
shower of rain. Ou arriving at the ves
try he exclaimed, rather impatiently,
" I wish I were dry." " Never mind,"
said his colleague, " you will Boon be in
the pulpit, and there yon will be dry
enough."
There is a wheat-field on the west side ..
of the San Joachin river, California,
thirty-five miles in length by eight in
width, with an area of 1 70,000 acres. Es
timating the average yield at sixteen
bushels to the acre, it would give a total
yield of 2,8G7,200 bushels, or 86,015 tons.
This amount of grain would load 8,001
cars.
Endeavor to take your work quietly.
Anxiety and over-exertion are always
the cause of sickness and restlessness.
We must use our judgment to control
our excitement, or our bodily strength
will break down. We must remember
that our battle is to bo won by a
strongth not our own. It is a battle
that does not depend upon the swift nor
the strong.
In New York there is a mill which
makes from paper such articles as milk-
pans, cups, bread pans, wash-bowls, etc.,
which are said to be superior to wooa
metal. The paper being pulped is
pressed to shape, dried, enamelled, and
subjected to a neat that would destroy
some utensils of the kind. The material
light and easily handled, and does not
rust, shrink, or easily break.
If vou belong to a wealthy family in
the City oi Mexico nowadays, and drive
into the country a few miles from the
apital. vou will be gobbled up oy
guerillas, who will send the cheering in
telligence to your friends that they
want $2,000 or $5,000, and if you are
not forthcoming in bo many hours, you
will be shot. The funeral over you, a
few days later, when your bedy is
found by the roadside horribly muti
lated, will be very impressive. Mexico
is a more healthy country for poor peo
ple at this time.
How to fit a new collar to the shoul
der of a horse is thus told by The Valley
Farmer: Tho collar should be of the
nroDer size ; iust before putting it on
the first time, immerse it in water, let
ting it remain about a minute, and im
mediately put it on the horso, being
careful to have the hames so adjusted at
the top and bottom aB to fiit the thoul
der, and then put tho horse to work.
The collar, by being wet, will adapt it
self to the shoulder, and shonld dry on
the horse. When taken off it should be
left in the same shape it occupied on
the horso, and ever after you will have
snug-fitting collar and no wounds.
The Missouri Legislature passed a
very sensible bill at the last session, a
circumstance in itself worth noting. It
provides that all doors of ingress or
egress to and trom an pu'iuo scnooi
houses and other public buildings, and
also of all theatres, assembly reonis,
halls, churches, factories, with more than
twenty employees, and ot all other
buildings or places . of publio resort
whatever, where people are wont to as
semble shall be so hung as to open out
wardly from the audience rooms, halls,
or workshops of such buildings or places,
provided that such doors may be hung
on double-jointed hinges, go as to open
with equal ease outwardly or inwardly.
The great globe which we inherit is
itself a magnet. On the one side of the
magnetic equator, the north end of the
needle dips ; on the othor side, tho south
end dips, the dip varying from nothing
to ninety degrees. If we go to the
equatorial regions of the earth with a
suitably suspended needle, we shall find
there the position ot the needle to do
horizontal. If we sail north, one end of
the needle dips ; if we sail south, the op
posite end dips ; and over tho north or
south terrestrial magnetic pole the
needle sets vertical. Tho south mag
netic pole has not yet been found, but
Sir James Ross discovered the north
magnetic pole on the 1st of June, 18U1.
Faraday. '
The following items in connection
with the Khorter-Tiine-and-More-Money
agitation have reached us : "A lunar
telegraphio dispatch reports that the
Man in the Moon has struck work. He 1
represents that eight hours a day are
quite enough tor such a clever teiiow to
shine in, and declines to carry his bundle
of sticks any longer. This announce
ment has caused great consternation
throughout the whole of the Solar Sys
tem." A report comes from Holland
that all the Dutch clocks havo com
menced striking. They are determined
not to work more than twelve hours a
day. It ig believed, however, that the
Uovernment will deal with the onend
erg under the Winding-up act, ag strikes
are not allowed in Holland."
A iournev through the six New Eng- ,
land States, and a portion of New York,
reveals the fact that the apple crop is
equally abundant in all quarters, the
trees everywhere being loaded with this
staple fruit Along the Hudson, from
Troy to I'oughkeepsie, it is nearly tne
same as in Connecticut ; the apple treeg
are loaded. "Golden sweets sell to
dealers for $1 a barrel, and purchasers
are scarce, even at that rate. Many
farmers are feeding them out to' their
stock. In Maine it ig, the same. A large
dealer refused, last week, to take Rhode
Island greenings,deliverable in October,
at any price above $1 a barrel I It is a
great year for apples, and there is a " fair
to middling " prospect of an abundant
product of cider the coming Fall, .