r
) .
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HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher;
ELK COUNTY THE HZPUELICAX PARTY,
TWO DoIiARS tEB ANNTJiL
Jt HM mi. i
VOL. II.
RIDGWAY, PA,. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1872.
0. 28.
poet it r.
OXLY A LOCKET.
DT LDWAfiD ELLIS.
Only n little trinket
I tvetir in my boom, my dear.
Ah yon wonlcl scarcely think 1U
How Ion? it ha vested tliorc.
Nle-ht nTi'l dny I hav worn It,
Thee thirty years and tnnrr
I did not think to hare bom; It
So Ion? with a hea't po oro.
t i'era few days lncc we parted
IIo sailed for a 'av-otT clime ;
At first t kept bravcluai ted.
And patiently bore the time.
And hi letter? rame to cheer me,
Always tender and true,
To read them brought him near me.
And hie voire seemed near to me, ten.
At ltt t camo a lime of waiting
And silence hard to bear ;
My heart would keep debating
What charms inijrht bold Ljm ther.
Then I blamed mysc f t?o thlnkiuir,
And 1 1'carcd he niut bo ill.
And I felt my hopes keep shrinking,
iiut I sustain 'd them 'J.iU
News came X would not receive It,
They mill that my lovu was dead
I could not would not bellevo it,
No matter what wa faid.
IIo would come, fomo coldcn morning,
And take mc to bis Mde i
I would ffut my bride'r. nrionilnff,
Heady to bo a bride.
Aii. the weary months went over,
Tue weary years drauR'd by,
lint no mor, ing brought my lorcr.
And still alone was I.
Slowly I jrrew to think it,
Grew to know it mu-t bo;
From that day thN little trinket.
His farewell gilt to me.
Has never been from my bosom.
And I wieh that when I die.
Like a -weet perennial blof-fom,
It still on my breast may lie. '
i he sto a r teller.
THE GENTEEL ttlDOW.
Not very long ago iv lady, in widow's
wends, accompanied by u gentleman
said to bo her brother, came to New
York, and engaged a house in Fourth
Street, Her rich dress and refiuemmt
of manner, combined with great person
al attractions, rendered her neighbors
most desirous of obtaining an introduc
tion to her, and curiosity was rife as to
where she came from and who she was.
Her brother, for he really stood in that
relationship to her, was a young man
enjoying the command of re;idy money
to a considerable amount, who easily
inado acquaintances among others of his
own age. His manners were very pleas
ing, and his demeanor wits polished,
while his attire, though extremely quiet
and unpretending, wrs always in the
best possiblo taste. So favorable was
tho impression which he created in the
minds of his new friends, that several ot
them invited him to their own homes,
and in a short time his cirelo of inti
mates increased to such a degree that
he, in his turn, was enabled to give re
ceptions in Fourth Street.
His namo was Vaughan, and his Bis
ter had been married to a colonel in the
Confederate army, who had been killed
in action during tho war. Young
Vaughan succeeded to a handsome com
petence on the death of his father ; nud
Col. Wilson, who had also been ft man
of property, had left sufficient behind
him to support his widow in a manner
becoming his position. This ttlo was
supported by the evidence of two or
three other young men, frequently to be
met in Vaughan's apartments, who were
also from the South, and was so fully
borne out by all the circumstances of
the period and their mode of life, that
tho brother and sister were tacitly per
mitted to take their place in society us
fashionable people.
Among many others who visited Mrs.
Wilson was a Mr. Johnson and his fam
ily, who possessed a largo store on
Broadway. To this gentleman the wid
ow was especially attentive, and vowed
that her purchases for tho future should
be made from no other person than him
self. Day after day she visited his
store and bought largely, invariably
paying ready uiouev, until his confidence
in her was fully established, and he told
her that he should bo most happy to
give her credit, if at any time it might
be more agreeable to her. She replied
that she was only a woman, and conse
quently knew nothing of business, so
she preferred to pay at once, that alio
miglit. know exactly how t-ho was situ
ated, but promised to avail herself of
this kind offer bhould she ever feel the
need ot it. One benefit there was, how
ever, which he could confer on her.
Would ho be so kind us tot-how her over
his store ' Sue had never had un op
portunity before of beComingHCquaiuted
with the resources f so large an estab
lishment. Mr. Johnson, only too wil
ling to be polite to so excellent a cus
tomer, immediately acceded to her
request, and laid his treasures bare be
fore ber, and exhibited some of tho most
costly goods. She asked at what hour
business was commenced, at what hour
concluded; and after thanking him
sincerely for his courtesies, took her
leave.
It was not long before the worthy
merchant had cause to regret this mo
ment of weakness, and subsequent
events proved to him how easy it is for
a good-looking woman to cajole a man,
however wide-awake he may be. New
York at thistime was infested by a gang
of rogues who had introduced a new
system of shoplifting, and had success
fully victimized many of the larger
storekeepers in tho city. As their course
of action was entirely fresh, a new name
had to be invented for them, and they
were christened " sneak " thieves by the
police, from the cunning way in which
they effected their depredations and the
difficulty experienced in detecting
them.
Mr. Johnson, who but a few days be
fore had been boasting of his immunity
from theft, was much annoyed when on
arriving one morning at Lis store he
was informed by his managing; man
that some very valuable articles had
been abstracted during tho night or
early iu the morning. The goods were
gafrt enough when the store was closed
on the preceding evening, as ho had
himself seen them, but wero missing
when tho clerks arrived in tho morning,
ilr. Johnson at once called iu tho po
lice, and an experienced detective was
sent to gather all the information on the
subject he could. On hearing the cir
cumstances of tho case, this gentleman
at once recognized tho agency of a
sneak thief, and imported his suspicion's
to the proprietors) of the store, and his
reasons lor them.
" I should like to have a few words
with j our porter," ho said.
" Certainly ; but I hope you don't
suspect him, as ho is uu old favorite,
and has been in our employ for years."
" Not in the least j tout I fancy he can
help us for all that. Did you ever hear
of a Riieak thief, sir r"
" No. What are they Y'
" If you will send for the porter, and
slay here while I question him, you wiU
soon understand Unit." .
The porter shortly entered the room,
looking very much alarmed, lie had
heard of tho robbery, and that a police
officer was eh seted with Mr. Johnson,
and naturally feared that ho had tulleii
under suspicion. The first words of the
detective, however, relieved him lroui all
approben.-iuii on that score.
" Now, my mau, 1 want to ask you a
few questions, an 1 you must answer me
caretully. Don't be lrightened; wo
know that you have had nothing to do
with this robbery, but I fancy you can
help me in finding out who has."
" Very good, sir ; but I don't know
how."
" Who closed tho warehouse last
night ':"
I did, sir."
" Are you certain that all was securely
fastem d "
" Exactly the same us every other
night."
' And the fastenings had not been
tampered with in any way when you
undid them this morning '("
" No, sir."
" Well, now, who was the first person
to whom you spoke to-day r"
"I think it was Mr. ." (Naming
one of the clerks )
" Ah, but thinking won't do. Did not
any one speak to you, or ask any ques
tion ot you '("
"Yes, a gentleman did ask mo what
time Mr. Jokuson usually came to the
store, us he wanted to see him about
some ordi n."
" What sort of a man was he ? Can
you describe him ':"
" lie was a young gentleman, very
pleasant-spoken, dark, with a mous
tache, and very well dressed. Ho said
he came from the country, uud was
traveller to a firm in the same line as
ours, who were going to buy largely
from us."
" Was he alone ?"
" No, thero were two others with him,
sir, both nice looking young gents."
" Did he come in r"
" O, yes, he came in ; I had just
opened the door, and was sweeping tho
floor, so ho walked straight up to me,
and"
' Did his friends come in, too Y'
" I'm not quite suro of that, but 1
think they must have, as it was raining,
and they wouldn't btand out in the
wet."
" Should you know them again, if yo'i
saw them '("
" I bhould know two of them the one
who spoke to mo and another, who had
a carpet-bag iu his bund. IIo walked a
little lame."
" That'll do, porter ; you need not say
any thing outside, but I'm afraid, wo
have not learned much."
" All right, sir."
As soon as he had gone, the detective
turned to Mr. Johnson and said : " You
will soon get your property back, I ex
pect, sir. Those three men are sneak
thieves, and if they are tho tame I be
lieve them to be, I think I know them.
They always pursue the same plan.
First of all they discover from a confed
erate, generally a female, tho place
where the best booty is to be most eas
ily obtained. They then rise early in
the morning, and wait outside until the
porter opens-the door, taking great care
t hat no ono is observing them. One then
enters, and addresses the porter, telling
hi in some such tale as this fellow told
yours, and while he is talking the other
two adroitly slip whatever they can into
a bag which tbey have with them, and
decamp as soon as it is tilled. They are
always well dressed, and would appear
to be thorough gentlemen to those not
conversant with their tricks, and men
tion that they have just come up from
tho country, in order to account for
their being about so early in the morn
ing. You will hardly believe it, per
haps ; but thieves carry about with
them external marks of their profes
sion, which to a detective officer are
unmistakable. For instance, they have
a peculiar walk, and movement of the
arms ; they are generally ungloved, and
carry nothing in their hands, while they
are continually glancing on one side or
the other, to see if they are being
watched. I would guarantee to pick a
thief out from among one hundred hon
est men, let his general appearance be
what it may."
The detective then took his departure,
promising to communicate again with
Mr. Johnson as soon as he had any
thing of importance to tell him, and
Eroceeded to headquarters to report. He
ad observed three young men frequent
ly walking about together, and friim
their general appearauce had set them
down in his own mind as thieres of
some sort or other, although he knew
nothing positively against them. He
was irresistibly reminded of the trio by
the robbery iu Broadway j and the de
scription given by the porter of the man
who conversed with him coincided re
markably with one of them who had
attracted his especial notice. He deter
mined, therefore, to keep a sharp look
out and trace them home, should he
again run against them.
Mr. Johnson, meanwhile, after attend
ing to several matters of business, start
ed to go up town, and on his way met
young Vaughan, who seemed strangely
excited at the encounter. IIo turned,
however, at Mr. Johuson's request, and
listened attentively to his account of the
robbery, expressing a hope that tho per
petrators would soon bo brought to jus
tice. Ha did uot seem very well pleased,
nevertheless", when ho heard that the de
tective conceived that he already had
a clue, and was unable to conceal his
agitation when his companion remarked
in a whisper : ' Do you see that man '
he isttio officer whom I have engaged ;
it is quite singular that we should meet
him."
Vaughan suddenly remembered that
ho had furgotten a commission entrust
ed to him by his sister, and hastily bid
ding Mr. Johnson "Good-by," hurried
off in an opposite direction.
Tho detective immediately came up
aud asked his employer who the gentle
man was who had just left him ; and, on
hearing that he was. a friend of the fam
ily, gave a long, low whistlu expressive
of the must intense surprise.
"Where does ho live, sir? I'm suro
I have seen his face somewhere."
" At No. Fourth Street. Why do
you ask r"
" O, simple curiosity ; it's a way wo
have," and he, too, left tho puzzled mer
chant. Tho latter sdowly continued his jour
ney, and racked his brain to elucidate
the mystery of Vaughan 8 sudden de
parture, bat it never occurred to him to
attribute it to tho coining in sight of
the detective. As he was in good time,
and was obliged to puss Fourth Street
on his way, he made up his mind to call
upon Mrs. Wilson, and, if ho found her
brother there, to ask him the cause, fear
ing that he had offended him.
The widow was sitting in her drawing-room,
and displayed a great deal of
pleasure at seeing her visitor, aud sym
pathized most heartily with him when
he narrated his l?ss to her. Sho asked
him a great many questions as to tho
opinion of the detective, uud was hardly
less confused than her brother had been
when Mr. Johnson alluded to the prob
ability of a speedy captureof the offend
ers, aud added that his porter could
swear to ono at least of the gang.
Mrs. Wilson at this juncture became
so alarmingly pule that ho feared sho
was about to faint, and sprang up to
open tho window and admit fresh air.
As he rose from his chui r the door was
violently opened, and Vaughan burst
into tho room, his clothes disordered, his
face heated, and his whole aspect de
noting great anxiety. Seeing Mr. John
son, he hesitated, aud a look of intelli
gence and alarm was exchanged between
himself and Mrs. Wilson. IIo then, by
a great effort, partially recovered his
composure, apologized for tbe mode of
his entrance, and said that he had ex
pected to sco his sister alone, aud had
something of importance to say o her.
The merchant immediately prepared to
leave, and had exchanged tarewells with
tho widow when the door again opened,
and to his am.izcincnt his warehouse
porter entered, w.th a letter in his hand,
and gave it to him without saying a
word.
After obtaining leave from tho lady
Vaughan had moved to the window, and
was looking out with his back to the
rest he broke tho seal, aud read the
following line in pencil, " Don't leave
the room till I couie !" written upon a
card beaiing tho detective's name.
Though ho could not for the lif of him
guess at the meaning of tho above, ho
determined to do as he was bidden if
possible, and contented himself with
nodding to his porter, mid saying, "Tell
the geutlcraan to be quick, then."
The porter vanished, and Mr. Johnson,
although feeling acutely the awkward
ness ot the situation, did tho best thing
he co ill do under the circumstances,
and asked Vaughan wherefore he "left
him so abruptly in tho street. The for
mer endeavored to make some reply, but
his nervousness increased so paint'ully
that it was incoherent.
Once again the door opened, but this
time it was tho detectivo who appeared,
closely followed by a couple of police
men. Advancing straight to where
Vaughan stood, apparently transfixed
with fear, ho laid his hand on his shoul
der and said : " Will you coma quietly '
or must I use force Y"
To the dismay of Mr. Johnson, who
expected an outburst ot passion, Vaugh
an as':ed, in a trembling voice :
" What is it you want me for '"
"Rubbery of nine thousand dollars'
worth of goods from this gentleman's
store. Have you any thing to Bay
about it '("
" Not to you." Ami he held out his
hands for the handcuffs.
During this scene no one had thought
of Mrs. Wilson, but their attention was
now called to her by a heavy tall upon
the floo', and they perceived that the
unfortunate lady had fainted away.
Mr. Johnson, as soon as he could breatho
again, demanded from the police officer
the meaning of this intrusion, insisted
upon it that there was some mistake,
and attributed the agitation of Vaughan
aud his sister to the horror they telt nt
a charge of this sort being brought
against a gentleman.
Tlw detective, without saying a word,
fitted tho haudcuffo on the young man's
wrists, and signed to the policeman to
remove both from the room. As soon
as the door closed behind them (Mrs.
Wilson was carried out) he smiled aud
said : " I know well enough what I am
about, sir, but did not like to arrest
friends of yours uutil I had satisfied
myself that I was not wrong iu my sus
picious. Vaughan is the man who held
your porter iu conversation while his
confederates were securing the plunder,
and from aH accounts it seems they
knew where togo. Mrs. Wilson was often
iu your store, I aiu told ; cau you tell
me whether she seemed to examino the
place at all?"
Iu a moment a light broke over the
mind of Mr. Johnson, and ho remem
bered his interview with the widow a
few days before.
" Why," he said, I showed her all
over the store myself. What a fool I
must have been i"
"Ah," said the detective, laughing,
" it's the old game, after all. I thought
so; a tlever woman is always to be
found in conjunction with those fel
lows." " Well, I could forgive the sister; sho
may have been led away ; but us for her
brother"
" Lord bless you sir, he is iio more ber
brother than you are ; all we have to do
is to sit still, and we chall havo tho rest
ot the gang here. When I left you I
ran off to your store, after setting a
watch on the house, and brought tho
porter back with me. I was at a stand
still for a moment, as to the best step to
take next, wtnm I was told that you had
gone into the house. I then scribbled
the note and sent it up, to enablo your
mau to take a look at tho prisoner, as I
did not wish to make a mistake, and
also to detain you iu tho rooiu in caso
they nhould attempt to escape. Ho
swore positively to him, although he
only saw his back, and on his doing so I
came up myself, and the rest you know,
as far as this house is concerned. I dis
patched one of my men to make inqui
ries of several of the leading railway
ticket offices, and from his report I have
good reason to believe that tho whole
party meditated an emigration to souio
of tho largo cities out West to-morrow.
So we have only just had time to put
the stopper upon them."
Mr. Johnson, burning with indigna
tion at discovering the real character ot
the people he had been associating with,
rcpoived to stay and see the end of tho
whole affair.
In tho course of' an hour tho frout
door-bell rang violently, aud two young
men, of eminently gentlemanly exterior,
were ushered into the room. Seeing
two strangers seated there, they wo e
consitlerably astonished, and muttered
something about expecting to find Mr.
Vaughan.
"All right, sir," said tho detective ;
" I will lead you to him w hen I have
had a moment's conversation with you.
Bo kind enough to allow me " and he
advanced with handcuffs in either hand.
Thoy attempted to bluster; but on being
told that the "game was up," and
Vaughan in custody, they subsided and
looked very blank inded. In a few
moments they were all conveyed to pris
on, before itny intimation of the occur
rence had reached the ears of the neigh
borhood. One thing remained to bo done, and
that was to uscertain the whereabouts of
tho stolem property. The amount must
be, nil agreed, very great, to havo ena
bled tho conspirator to keep up so good
a stylo. This difficulty was easily solved.
One of the policemen on watch had ob
served tho young men issue from ahouso
a few doors distant from tho one occu
pied by Vaughan iwiil bis sister. On
repairing thither startling revelations
took place. It was found that Mrs.
Wilson had been the manageress of a
baby institation, and derived largo
profit therefrom. How she obtained the
children is and ever will bo a mystery.
Certain it is that the police when they
searched tho house discovered several
infants, and all tho necessary appliances
for many more. Tho nurse in charge
(lor the babies were well tended) im
plied that a great number had been sent
away at various times, aud the only
probable solution of this strange matter
was that there existed in New York a
class of people who were ablo and wil
ling to pay heavy premiums to unyper-'
sou charitable enough to relieve them
from tho trouble of rearing their off
spring. Iu the lower up irtments valu
ables of all kinds were brought to light,
such us silks, jewelry, gold ornaments,
&c, and for many of them owners were
found.
The three young thieves are all under
going long sentences, but tho iniplica
tijn of Mrs. Wilson (who was really well
born, and tho .widow of a colonel) was
Ho easy matter, with such consummate
tact had she acted her part. She did
not, however, escape scot-free, as Mr.
Johnson, to his own chagrin, learned
that the fir widow had availed herself
of his kind offer a few days previously,
and had succeeded in obtaining a quan
tity of goods on credit, that wero lost to
him forever.
For obvious reasons we have sup
pressed tho real names of the chief ac
tors in this little comedy ; but our read
ers may rest assured that in every other
respect the tale is strictly true.
Human Skill.
Two curious needles are owned respec
tively by the King of Prussia and the
Queen of England. The first was man
ufactured in tho presence of its present
owner, the King of Prussia, while he
was visitiug a needle manufactory iu
his kingdom, in order to see what ma
chinery, combined with the human
hand, could produce. Ho was shown a
number of superfine needles, thousands
of which together did not weigh half an
ounco, aud marvelled how such minute
articles could bo pierced with an eye.
But he was to see that in this respect
even something still finer, and more
perfect, could be created. The borer
that is, the workman whose business it
is to bore the eye in tho needle asked
for a hair from tho monarch's head. It
was readily given, and with a smile.
He placed it at once under the boring
machine, and then handed the singular
needle to the astonished king.
The second curious noedlo, now in
possession of Queen Victoria, was made
at tho celebrated needlo factory at Red
ditch, and represents the column of
Trajan in miniature. This well-known
l'.oman column is adorned with numer
ous scenes, in sculpture, which will im
mortalize Trajan's heroic actions in war.
On this diminutive needlo, scenes iu the
lite of Queen Victoria are represented
in relief, but so finely cut, aud so small,
that it requires a magnifying glass to
see them. The Victoria needle, more
over, can be opened. It contains a
number of smaller needles which are
equally adorned with scenes iu relief.
A Detroit gentleman, one hun Ired and
five years old, has lately been troubled
with a failing in his eyesight, and his
doctor thinks it is the result of smoking
to excess for the last ninety yoarg or so.
Bringing Matters to a Crisis.
A correspondent tells tha following
story : On a farm not many miles from
Ashtabula there resided until recently
a brown-haired, blue-eyed, fair-com-plexioned,
buxom country maiden, who
would h-ive been happy as tho day is
long, but for the fact that Josiah ,
a bashful country lad, the owner of a
largo farm aud a littlo colored mous
tache, the admiration of tho girls and
the envy of the boys for miles uround,
had been persistently courting her at
the paternal mansion for two years, but
could never be brought to propose.
Yet Josiah wanted the girl as bad, if
not worse, than tho girl wanted him ;
and he was always on the point of say
ing something, but never yet had it got
to his expectant listener's ears.
At length, at the end of the two
years, Mary Ann got so excited over it
that she oould hardly wipe her mother's
dishes, while Josh would stop and lean
upon his hoe in the corn-field and think
to himself, "Why am I such a born fool ?
I really think she'd have me if I only
had gumption enough to ask her."
With this ho resolved to tako her to ride
that very day, and have a settlement
ouce for all. At first ho thought ho
would hire a livery rig and go in style, ,
but tho expense deterred him. " Darned
if dad's shay and our nag won't do, she
needn't have me." So said Josh, as he
threw down his hoe, put on his coat and
Btarted to tho house, to hitch up old
" Nancy," and get his sweetheart.
Tho chaise, which had doHO service
for tunny centuries, was drawn out; and
Josiah, arrayed in ruffled shirt front,
scarlet necktie, dark blue vest and whito
linen pants, with swallow-tailed coat
and stovo-pipo hat, the colored mous
tache displayed to the best advantage,
stepped in behind tho fiery steed and
drove for his dulciuen. She seemed co
quettish about " going out in the hot
sun with a man she wasn't engaged to,
even if he had gone with her so long ;"
but she was pursuaded, and Josh helped
her into the " shay."
Without a word of conversation be
tween them, the first milo was passed.
Mary Ann sat in one corner of the ve
hicle blushing red as a peony, while
Josiah was hesitating whether to pop
the question now or wait awhile. A
second half mile was passed and still
silenco reigned, broken only occasional
ly by the crack of Josiah's whip against
" Nancy's" lean sides.
They now entered a fonnt bordering
on Josiah's domain, and out of the sun
light Josiah grew bolder. He began to
talk about his crops, and another milo
was passed ; still he could not muster np
sufficient courage to say the word which
must decide his fate.
For two long and weary yoars the las
sie had also waitedand watched tor the
question, and now " Barkis was willing,"
yet unable to ask her. Outwardly si
lent, but inwardly fretting and fuming,
this queen of country damsels sat, re
volving in her mind how she could
bring matters to a crisis. At length, as
the horse stopped for an instant on the
brow f the hill to nibble a bit of grass,
sho bethought herself of a plan ; she
begged her lover to go to a farm-house
not far distant, and bring her a cup of
cold water. Then the sly creaturo kept
watch until ho was half way back to tho
carriage with tho cup, and partially hid
den from view by a grove of trees, when
she seized the whip and punched it into
the horse's ribs with such force as al
most to cause them to crack.
" Nancy" gave a spring forward and
rushed madly down the hill, Josh hasti
ly dropping his cup of water, and flying
in hot pursuit.
At length he reached them, after a
hard run ; the " shay" lay overturned
and broken in tho middle of the road,
the horse was quietly browsing the
grass near by, while Mary Ann, her face
as pale as marble, and her beautiful
whito dress soiled with dust, lay ap-
Jiarently insensible a short distance olf.
Tosh's attempts to rouse her were of no
avail, until, becoming thoroughly fright
ened, he began to cover her cheeks with
impassioned kisses, calling upon her to
live for him. Then, and not till then,
did the beautiful being deign to open
her eyes, when, with tears gushing forth,
sho said, "O, Josh! if you'd only said
it afore, this never would have happened."
What is Dirt ?
Old Dr. Cooper, of South Carolina,
used to say to his students : " Don't be
afraid of dirt, young gentlemen. What
is dirt ? Why nothing at all offensive,
when chemically viewed. Bub a little
alkali upon a dirty grease spot rn your
coat, and it undergoes a chemical change
and becomes soap ; now rub it with a
little water and it disappears. It is
neither grease, soap, water nor dirt. That
is not a very odorous pile of dirt you see
yonder ; well, scatter a littlo gypsum
over it and it is no longer dirty. Every
thing like dirt is worthy our notice as
students of chemistry. Analyze it ; it
will separate into very clean elements.
Dirt makes corn, corn makes bread and
meat, and that makes a very sweet young
lady, that I saw one of you kissing last
night. 8o after all, you were kissing
dirt, particularly if she whitened her
face with chalk or fuller s earth ; though
I may say that rubbing such stuff upon
the beautiful skin of a young lady is a
dirty practice Pearl powder I thiuk is
made of bismuth, nothing but dirt.
Lord Palmerston's fine definition of dirt
is ' matter in the wrong place.' Put it
in the right place and wo ceaso to think
ot it as curt.
Telegraphing in China. The prob
lem ot telegraphing in tbe Uhinese lan
guage, t writo which requires some
50,000 different characters, has been
solved in this way : A few thousands of
the characters most used are cut upon
wooden blocks. On the opposite side of
each block is its number. Duplicates of
such numbered blocks are at each tele
graph station. The China merchant
selects the blocks which express the
thoughts to be transmitted. The oper
ator telegraphs only tho numerals de
signating these blocks, which enable the
receiving operator to select similar
blocks at his endf the line,
Tho Motions of the Stars.
It will seem utterly incredible that
astronomers have learned not merely
whether certain stars are receding or ap
proaching, but have actually been en
abled to determine respecting this kind
of motion what they cannot determine
respecting tho more obvious thwart-motion,
viz., tho rate at which the motion
takes place. This is rendered possiblo
by what is known of the nature of light.
If a star is approaching, tho light which
comes to us from it will havo its waves
closer together than if tho star were at
rest, and vice term. Now, tho distance
between the wave-crests of light signifies
a difference of color, the longer waves
producing red and orange light ; waves
of medium length, -yellow and. green
light ; and the shorter waves producing
blue, indigo and violet light. So that,
if a star wero shining with pure red
light, it Might, by approaching very
rapidly, be caused to appear yellow, or
even blue or indig.,, according to tho
rate of approach ; while, if a star wore
Bhining with pure indigo light, it might
by receding very rapidly bo caused to
appear green or yellow, or even orango
or red.
But stars do not shine with pure-colored
light, but with a mixture of all the
colors of tho rainbow ; so that the attempt
to estimate a star's rate ot approach or
recession oy its color wouia tail, even
though we know the star's real color,
and even though stars moved fast enough
to produco color-changes. Tho Bpeo
troscopist has, however, a much more
delicate means of dealing with the mat
ter. Tho rainbow-tinted streak forming
a star's spectrum is crossed by known
dark lines ; and these servo as 'eritablo
mile-marks for tho spectroscopist. If
ono of these lines in the epectrum of any
star is seen to be shifted toward the red
end, tho observer knows that tho star is
receding, and that swiftly ; if tho 6hift
is toward tho violet end, ho knows that
the star is swiftly approaching.
Now, Dr. Huggins had been ablo
nearly four years ago to apply this
method to the case of the bright star
Sirius, though his instrumental means
were not then sufficient to render him
quite certain as to the result. Still he
was ablo to announce with some decree
of confidence that Sirius is receding at a
rate exceeding twenty miles per second.
in order that he might extend the
method to other stars, the Boyal Society
placed at his disposal a fine telescope,
fifteen inches in aperture, and sncciallv
adapted to gather us much light as possi
ble with that aperftire. Suitable spec
troscopic appliances were so provided
for tho delicato work Dr. Huggins was
to undertake. It was but last winter
that the instrument was ready. for work ;
but already Dr. Hu (reins .has obtn-itied
the most wonderful news from tho Btars
with its aid. He finds that many of tho
stars are travelling far more swiftly than
had been supposed. Arcturus, for ex
ample, is travelling toward us at tho rate
of some fifty miles per second, and, as
his thwart-motion is fully as great (for
this star's distance has been estimated,
the actual velocity with which he is
speeding through spaco cannot be less
than seventy miles per second. Other
stars aro moving with corresponding
velocities. Popular Science Monthly or
squander.
The Coal Supply of England.
Since the exhaustion of tho Eiifflis'"
coal fields is an acoepted fact, withiu the
compass of three centuries at least, and
since the present cost of coal mining is
already affecting the price of iron in all
the markets of the world, a few state
ments in regard to the difficulty of pro
curing coal at greater depths than those
now reached will be of interest. At a
depth of 50 feet below the surface of the
earth there is a zone of equable tempera
ture whoro the thermometer marks 00
degrees. Observation shows that this
temperature increases at the uniform
rate of ono degree for every fifty-five
feet. So at the depth of 1,700 feet tho
temperature is about 78 degrees.
One anno in Lngland, 1.610 feetdeen.
is already worked at a great disadvant
age owing to the failure of the miners
to endure the steady heat. In ono col
liery tho shaft is 2,370 feet deep, and tho
temperature is 92 degrees. At a dopth
ot 2,0'JO tei.'t the temperature is 98 de
grees, or blood heat, and there prolonged
labor is impossible The limit of profit
able mining is therefore about 1,700 feet,
and at 2,700 mining is impracticable.
At tho depth of 4,000 feet the tempera
ture would bo 122 degrees, and at 10,000
feet it would be at the boiling point, if
not even higher, as it is ' probable that
the rate accelerates as the descent is
made.
It is curious to note that the Commis
sion of sixteen eminent men of science
which was appointed to ascertain how
much coal could be raised from seams
already worked, and how much from
measures yet untouched, stated that at
the present rate of consumption there
was a supply of coal in Great Britain
tor 1,2 i.J years, but at the ratio of in
crease the supply would last only 276
years. Our figures show that coal can
not be mined at a depth of 4,000 feet,
and that at 2, 1 00 feet the limit of physic
al endurance is about reached. Of
course, then the vast areas of coal below
that depth, and, indeed, below 1,700 feet,
where miners are forced to work shorter
hours and where the temperature is
nearly au degrees, must remain untouch
ed. The Commissioners hardly dared to
look the situation in the face, and their
report is in reality littlo better than
juggle. Already nearly all the coal
above the depth of 1,700 feet has been
raised, and that below can only be reach
ed at a cost not pleasant to contemplate.
The British Quarterly estimates the
quantity of coal above 1,700 feet at 39,-
000. 000.000.toiis, and that in tho next
1. C00 feet at 22,000,000,000, and at tho
present rates of increase, the last ton of
the 30,000,000,000 will be raised in 195
ana tueu out goes Ureal .Britain I
A Detroit journal gays an old man of
that city has played ninety thousand
games of checkers. What a checkered
career that 9 Id maa must have had I
Facts and Figures,
How to prevent your wifo from scold
ing you Don't marry.
Tho boys in Des Moinos perfume their
stockings before walking to church with
their sweethearts.
Only think of Delaware for a peach
growing State, and big ono at that.
One million live hundred thousand bask
ets this season, and only half tho amount
of last year's crop. Commend us kindly
to Delaware.
Thero is a well in Indiana which keeps
time like clockwork. At precisely two
o'clock, night and day, it throws up a
jet of water. It is now over a thoasand
feet deep, and is still being bored with a
view to ultimate oil.
"That man," said a wag, "camo to
this city forty years ago, purchased a
basket, and commenced gathering rags.
How much do you suppose ho is worth
now '" Wo gave it up. " Nothing," ho
continued after a pause, " and he owes
for tho basket."
"How many aro there ov ycz down
there '(" shouted an Irish overseer to
some men in a coal-pit. " Five," was tha
answer. " Well, then tho half of yoz
come up here, said lie. vt nen uiey
did come np he found that the quantity
exceeded the demand by a fraction.
Tho foot-and-mouth dispaso among
cattle, sheep, and swine in England does
not abate, but from last accounts seems
to be on the increase, both as to tho
number of animals attacked and in re
spect to virulence. Plouro -pneumonia,
has also appeared in localities, and seems
to bo steadily spreading.
It is said that tho Kev. Mr. Spurgcon
will visit Brooklyn in the autumn as tho
guest of Dr. Talmage, and will probab'y
preach for him in the Tabernacle. That
would bo an event iu current religious
history which would cause an excite
ment similar to that winch attended tha
visit of Dr. Newman Hall to this coun
try.
A voung lady at Council Bluffs, being
informed by her " feller " that he in
teudedo cease his attentions, cowhided
him round tho room, and, as he sprang
through tho open window, toll him,
with a partiue lick, that that would
teach him to be more caret ill for tho fu
ture not to trifla with a gcntlo and lov
ing heart.
A Bansror. Me., prohibitionist was ro-
cently discussing tho liquor law, and
strongly urged its strict enforcement.
To emphasize his remarks, he gesticu
lated with his umbrella ; whereupon a
black bottle fell to the pavement with a
crash, and the odor of " Old Bourbon"
was diffused around. That closed tho
argument. - 1
Since the war tho Methodist Episcopal
Church has established ten conferences
in the Southern states, with a mamber
ship of 1C2.000 persons, and 707 travel
ling "and 1,600 local preachers. They
havo expended about $1,200,000, and tho
value of the church and school property
there amounts to $1,300,000. Tho ten
conferences have paid $7,000 into the
1- recduicn s Aid r uud.
Bessemer, tho inventor of the process
of muling cheap steel, now proposes to
revolutionize naval warfare by making
a cannon twenty yards long, with a boro
of thirty inches and walls eight inches
thick, and with this he will tiro a shell
weighing live tons. Instead of setting
fire to all the powder in his gun at
once, he divides his charge into differ
ent calls and explodes thum successively,
all going off before tho ball leaves the
gun, and each giving it a new impulse.
Here is tho love ditty of a Georgian,
which he dropped and was picked up
on tho road : " To miss Sudy : behole a
stranger at the doore of thy heart ho
gentely nox has nox before, has waited
long is waiting still, miss Sudy you
trete no other friend so ill. I luv you
now anil will forever you may change
but I will never, for even 0110 bo our
lot derest won forget me not miss Sudy
I must confess that I luv you the best
of all tho girls I ever nl-w thore is nun
to be Compared with you."
This is one of the newest descriptions
of a Dolly Vnrden: "The starboard
sleeve bore a yellow hop-vine in full
leaf, on a red ground, with numbers of
gray birds, badly mutilated by the
seams, flying hither and yon in wild
dismay, at the approoch of a red aud
black hunter. Calvary Mission infant
class was depicted on tho back, tho mak
ing up of the garment scattering truant
scholars up the sides and on tho skirt,
while a country poultry fair and a group
of American hunting dogs, badly do-
moralized by tho gathers, gavo the front
a remarkable appearance. Tho left
sleeve had on it the alphabet in five dif
ferent languages.
An English tc3t case as to laborer'
time was recently tried in Berkshire,
England. The 24th of Juno a farmer
bad a good deal ot bay down aud tturty
men at work. At 9 o'clock at night
there remained an hour and a half's
work to be done in order to secure the
hay. A portion of the workmen refused
to wor'x longer, unless paid extra for it.
This was refused, the nay was not so
cured, a rain came on, the hay was
damaged, and the farmer sued two la
borers whom ho was paying by tho
week, to recover. Tho magistrates de
cided that the defendants were not bound
by their contract to go en with tho work
at that time of night, and the caso was
dismissed.
Tho extreme danger of permitting
children to play with the toy steam en
gines which are sold for one dollar was
painfully illustrated last Saturday by a
fearful accident which occurred to
child of Mr. C. L. Van Zandt, Vice
President of the American Bank Koto
Company. The child was dreadfully
burned by upsetting the fluid lamp
used to generate steam, and before as
sistance could be obtained she was so
badly injured by the flames that sho
died in a fow hours. Parents should
be careful not to allow their children to
play with these engines, for however
harmless they may seem to be, there is
great ruk attending their use as a toy,
aud in the hands of a child.