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HENRY A. PARSONS, 'jr., Editor and Publisher. '
. p.
Nit, DESl'PJtANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. III.
HIDGAVAY,--ELK. COUNTY; TA.,v THURSDAY, OCTOBEll 2, 1873.
NO. 31.
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HOW 5ELLIE WAS PAUSED.
I don't share in the popular dislike
and contempt for pawnbrokers. I look
upon the pawnbroker as a most useful
institution. Ho charges a high rate of
interest, to bo sure ; but then loolt et
the pettiness of the sums he will lend,
lie is accommodating, I may say uni
versal, i;i his charities. Nothing comes
nmiss to him. He will disburse on the
security of a ring worth a thousand dol
lars, or a pair of boots worth a dollar
nnd n half. Nothing is too small for
him ; but no matter how valuable the
article is, he cannot be induced to lend
above a certnin anm im it Tl.. t-
simply his caution. The article may be
ohjilu, ui c oy in some improper
manner, when, of course, he would
have to give it up. He simply protects
himself.
But to my story.
There is a certain side street running
across Broadwoy, which I will, witli
your permission, call Chicory street.
Chicory street is not its name,' but as I
nm about to relate some private matters
in connection with it, it would not be
either delicate or judicious if I were to
be too geographically correct.
In Chicory street resides a gentleman
named Lazarus Levi, Esq., whose
spacious old-fashioned house is the re
pository of various articles of property
belonging to numberless enlightened
but distressed citizens of the United
States. The lower story of Mr. Levi's
dwelling is fitted up with a glass front,
very dingy and dusty, so that the sev
eral articles exposed to view in the win
dows are but dimly seen. There are
flutes, with tarnished kevs. that have
lain silent for years. The dust lies
tnick on the embouchure of each ; for
the lins tli'it. blow tlmra tlm o.-,"l,,t.1
u mu i . intuitu
air have shrunk into mere skin long
ago, ana mo ague nngers that ran over
the holes are now loose bones, that lie
here and there, never to hang together
on earth again.
You can see all sorts of things in Mr.
Levi's window. California diamonds ;
real diamonds, very rare ; banjos, relics
of disappointed minstrels ; guns ; silver
tea-pots, now black and uncheerful,
hinting at terrible domestic distresses
in some poor fellow's home, and making
you see the thin wife stealing out at
night to raise money on the family
valuables to feed the children.
Mr. Levi is my friend. I have occa
sionally mercantile transactions with
him ; for I am a literary man, and it
sometimes happens that I find myself
the slave of a sudden necessity for five
dollars. On these occasions I travel
round my room, as M. Xavier de Mais
tre may be supposed to have done, in
search of somo appropriate token of
esteem, which I may convey to Mr.
Levi, in order to induce him to advance
the required sum. In this choice it is
necessary to exercise discrimination.
For instance, I know that it will never
do to present my stamped velvet waist
coat three times running. And that if
I were to take my little French clock
to Mr. Levi too frequently, the article
would pall upon him, aud my credit be
impaired. Variety is necessary to per
sons of Mr. Levi's position. Continual
partridge destroys their appetite. They
are epicures, and must be fed with nov
elties. Accordingly one day, having need of
the traditional five dollars o meet the
expenses of a forthconiingliterarysoree
at my rooms, I, after some deliberation,
determined to present my Indian chess
board to Mr. Levi, as a token of my
affection, and work upon his feelings bo
far as to induce him to present me with
the longed for V. The chess-board was
ivory inlaid. The men were delight
fully Oriental, being carved all over,
even to the tips of their noses, and alto
gether I had great faith in the article,
as it had never before been under Mr.
Levi's charge.
I waited until evening. It was a love
ly evening for pawning. A thick fog,
damp and threatening rain, hung over
the streets, sis that there were but few
passengers abroad. Chicory street was
almost deserted.
! I rang at Mr. Levi's door. ' It was a
privilege I had earned, both by the
constancy of my ' friendship, and the
usually valuable-nature of my presents.
A delightful Hebrew servant-girl, with
a nose massive as Egyptian architec
ture, opened the door, and admitted
me to Mr. Loivi's private parlor. In a
few moments that estimable gentleman
entered. '
"Ah! Mister Papillote," he said,
holding out his hand, "how do you
do? Come again, eh?. Well what is it
this evening?"
..'.'A little matter I want you to arrange
forme," I replied, unrolling my silk
handkerchief from the chess-board.
" I want five dollars on this for a fojv
,i r
"Hum! On my word, Mr. Papillote,
I'm sorry to see such a gentleman like
you coming here S9 often. It's really
too bad."
Levi, as I have said before, took an
interest in me," and .sometimes talked
to me like a father.
"My good Levi," I answered, laugh
ingly, " don't take any serious trouble
ou my aooounk- I'm till right. Ymi
know the best of us will get into di fa
culties occasionally. By-the-way, would
you like to go to the opera to-morrow
night?"
His eyes glistened.
i " Have you got tickets ?" 1
" Here are two. Can you let me have
the money?"
. - "Well, really, Mister Papillotte, chess
is not a valuable property just at pres
ent. .It oomes hard on the intellect,
sir.''- "
" But that is an Indian chess-board.
It belonged to the Rajah of Gundarcool,
and was taken from the royal . table by
an uncle of mine in the Albicore fenci
blos, who was at the seige pf Gundar
cool. It is a historical chess-board,
Mr. Levi. Do you play chess ?" . .
." Not exactly, sir. But I oame very
near learning once." ,
" You know that the pawn is insepar
ably connected with the game, I sup
pose ?" ' -
"I have heard something pf the kind,
sir."
'Completely in. your line of business,
you see." .
Mr.. Levi stared. My joke was com-
letely lost upon him. It was a very
aild joke, certainly; but then, could bet
ter have been expected from a mau who
was begging for five dollars? ,
"I'm sorry you don't play," I hasten
ed to continue, covering my jocular fail
ure with some other remark. "I should
like to have a game with you. That
chess-board, I assure you, is worth thir
ty dollars if it is worth a penny. Think
of the associations.'. . . . " .
Heaven forgive uie, but the Rajah was
a creation of the moment. I had been
made a present of the chess-board . by a
sailor who had voyaged to Calcutta; but
one must be a little deceitful now and
then in this wicked world.
"Well, I'll let yon have the money,"
said Mr. Levi, "though we're rather
short to-day. A great deal of business
doing just now, Mr. Papilotte;" and,
laying the Rajah's property on the table,
he disappeared into the office to make
out the ticket.
"A groat deal of business doing!"
That meant, when translated, a great
deal of misery - wandering . about the
streets; a great many homes gloomy for
want of petty sums of money; a great
many mechanics without Sunday clothes;
a great many poor students moaning
over their valuable books, sacrificed to
keeping life enough in them to read
those that were left; a great many drunk
ards, craving ' for their accustomed poi
son, andfgetting it at the cost of neces
sities; a great many mothers shivering
in blanketless beds that the little ones
might not starve. This was the terri
ble kind of business that was doing !
I was reflecting on all this when I
heard the parlor door open, and a light
step fall softly on the carpet. Thinking
it was Levi returning with the money,-1
did not raise my head. Presently a
voice ah, how unlike Levi's buttery
accents! startled mo from my reverie.
"I can play at chess," it said, very
softly.
I looked up, suddenly. A little fairy
creature, about sixteen years old, with
long, fair hair, and large beautiful blue
eyes, stood just within the doors star
ing at me, like some timid bird at him
who wanders in lonely woods, half fear
ing to approach, yet longing to come
nearer.
" And who on earth are you ?" I
asked, abruptly ; and as I spoke I saw
at a glance that the blood of the chil
dren of Israel did not run in her clear,
blue veins.
" I'm Nellie Lee, sir," replied the
apparition, " and I'm in pawn.'.'
"In what ?" I exclaimed, under the
impression that I must have been de
ceived in the absurd statement I had
just heard.
" In pawn, sir," she repeated, as
simply as if she was sayiug that she
was in bed.
" And who put you into pawn, in the
name of all the Medieis, may I ask ?"
I said, scarcely able to keep my coun
tenance. " Father pawned me for money to
buy paints," answered this extraordi
ary deposit ; " and I'm so lonesome
oh ! you can't think !".
" Vhat is your respectable parent,
may I inquire ?"
" He's an artist, sir, and he has just
got an order, sir, and he wanted money
for the canvas and the paints to. finish
the picture. He paints beautiful pic
tures ; indeed he does !"
She seemed so very anxious about my
not doubting hor father's ability that I
smiled a sort of assent, as if I was per
fectly convinced of his rare talent, and
was intimately acquainted with the
merit of every one of his productions.
" Where do they keep you?" I asked,
half-jestingly, for the whole affair seem
ed so like a vaudeville that I expected
every moment to hear some unseen
audience applauding the performance.
" Do they put you in the safe with the
jewelry, or lay you on the shelves with
gowns and coats ?"
" No, sir, I live up-stairs with Mr.
Levi. Father will come, though, iu a
few days, with the money and redeem me. .
All this as seriously as if it was the
commonest thing in the world for dis
tressed fathers to pawn their children,
and to keep the duplicates in their waist
coat pockets.
" Have you ever been in pawn before,
Miss Nellie Lee ? "
"Oh, yes, sir. Father painted the
' Seven Sleepers of Ephesus ' with what
he got on me, last Fall."
This was really more than I could
stand. I lay back on the old hair-bottomed
sofa and roared with laughter.
The deposit stood before me with a
grave and patient demeanor, neither
surprised at my merriment nor appar
ently thinking that there was any thing
at all singular in her position.
ion say that you play chess, ' !
said, at last checking my merriment by
a great effort, out of respect for the fair
face and beautiful eyes that I saw before
me. " Would yon like to play a game?
"Oh, yes!" answered the deposit.
" I should like it very much. You can't
think "
We sat down to play chess. I don't
know how long we were at it ; but this
I know, that if the entrance of Mr. Levi
had not disturbed us, it would have
continued probably to the present day.
There was a first move. Then a long
conversation. Then a pause, during
which the blue eyes seemed to be in
tently studying the board, and mine
were intently studying the blue eyes.
Then another move. Then more con
versation, until at last the rival forces
on the Rajah's ivory battle-field got
into such a state of confusion that I be
lieve Morphy would have become a lu
natic at the- first' glance- he cost upon
them. , . . -. ! i
As for me, I thought of nothing but
the smple, , beautiful young creature
who sat opposite to me, and, in Bpite of
myself, visions of such a being moving
about my lonely chambers, making the
gloom gay, and :oausiug the bachelor's
barren life to burgeou and bloom like
the dry rod of the high priest.
In the midst of all this in came Mr.
Levi with my five dollars and the du
plicate lor the chess-board. . He seemed
rather astonished at the quiet intimacy
which had been so suddenly established
between myself and his deposit. - . .
" Mr. Levi," said I to him, " I had no
idea that you lent money on this spe
cies of personal security. I have a rich
old unole, who won't die and leave me
my share of his property, that I would
be very glad to raise something on.
How much will you give me on him ?
He's in an excellent state of preserva
tion, and has served, ia the last war "
" Oh I" he replied, laughing, without
paying any attention-to my proposed
avuncular exchange, " Nellie Lee is a
capital girl, and it's sometimes as well
that she should bo away from her fath
er, t He " and here he made an ex
pressive pantomime suggestive of rum.
I looked at Nellie. Her large eyes were
filling with tears.
" Don't be angry with me, Nellie,"
continued the pawnbroker, kindly.
" You know that he has very bad hab
its or you would not be here. My wife
is very fond of her, Mr. Papilloto, and
for that matter her father adores her,
and as he never will finish nay of his
pictures without the spur of some ter
rible necessity, we contrive to put Nel
lie in what he:" calls pawn, and then ha
is sure to work to got the money to re
deem her. Nellie, child, don't cry."
I went up to the poor child, and took
her hand gently in my own.
" Nellie Lee," I said, "you love your
father very much." f.
She nodded her head, and shook off a
tear or two that fell upon my hand.
" It is but right you should do so.
But you are in a strauge position here.
Your father is not fit to be your guar
dian, and you will not always meet
with pawnbrokers as kind as Mr. Levi.
Now what you ought to do is to intrust
yourself to the care of some man who is
young and strong, and who, with your
fair face and good influence to stimu
late him, will work for you day and
night, and love you as dearly as ever
your father did."
She shook her head gently, and still
the tears fell. f-
" You think 'such a one cannot be
found. You ore wrong.' If you could
bring yourself to accept his protection ;
if you could persuade yourself that a
love suddenly born could be as vigor
ous and lasting as one that takes years
to mature, you never would repent of
it ; I swear it!"
"And where is there such a one?"
demanded Levi, with a mingled in
credulity and curiosity twinkling in his
black eyes.
"Here!" I answered. "I want but
such an object as this to become indus
trious. 1 have abilities, if I turn them
to account, of that I am convinced ;
.and, after all, if the worst should come,
nothing under heaven can keep me from
inheriting n portion of my uncle's
estate. If Nellie Lee will take me for
her husband, I call God to witness that
I will cherish and love her until death."
The little head shook no longer, and
I felt a slight pressure from the small
hand in mine. It may have been a
tremor, however.
" Her father would never consent,"
said Levi, reflectively. . ..
" Never," echoed Nellie, in a low
murmur ; " ho loves me so." .
I could have said. "What, lnvo '
this that puts its idol into a pawn
broker's shop ?" but I dared not insult
the pure heart beside me, and I re
mained silent. There was a long pause.
No one seemed to know what to say,
and Nellie's -hand still remained in
mine. Then we all heard a sudden,
violent ring at the hall door bell. Levi
started and left the room, and still Nel
lie and I remained silent. But invol
untarily I drew her close to my side :
my arm stole gently round her small
waist. I ielt the throbbing of her lit
tle heart, and then our lips met. The
compact, I know, was sealed.
In a few seconds Levi re-entered, pale
and agitated. Ho stopped on the
threshold when he saw us locked in the
embrace, and, leaning against the edge
of the door, he said:
"i am glad of it. She has no guardian
now but you."
"My father !" and with a shriek Nel
lie slipped from my clasp and fled to
ward Levi.
" Poor child 1" . he said, laying his
hand reverently on her head, as if mis
fortune had rendered her sacred, "it is
so. ne has left you alone."
There w as a wild burst of grief iu
that dingy pawnbroking parlor, and
poor little Nellie Lee sobbed aud flut
tered like a, bU'd vainly beating against
the iron 'wires'of its cage. The-old
artist was dead ; the wretched man, un
able to resist temptation, had expended
the money he obtained from Levi in
drink, and was found by the police in
Washington Park, stretched dead oil
one of the walls. He had killed himself
with rum.
For many hours my poor child . was
distracted with her sorrow ; and good
Mrs. Levi came down stairs, adorned
with unredeemed jewelry, and the
black-eyed Miss Esther, her daughter,
was also there, smelling of patchouli,
and Levi himself was continually
coming iu and out of the shop with bot
tles of cologne for the child's temples,
and vinaigrettes to hold to her nose.
They were all so kind and so gentle to
my iittle Nellie in this her great sorrow
that 1 made a vow on the spot never to
speak ill of a pawnbroker again as long
as I lived.
But in time the tempest wore itself
away, Nellie came at least to listen to
the few words of consolation I cared to
utter; for I am an unbeliever in verbal
anodynes; and late that evening I might
have been seen sitting on the old hair
bottomed sofa with a fair, round face
somewhat flushed with weeping, nest
ling on my bosom, while Mr. Levi and
Miss Esther sat round the fire and oc
casionally turned round to admire us.
Need I go much further? Need I des
cribe the quiet wedding, where I vowed
to be a true husband to Nellie Lee? It
would not interest you very much; for
there were no orange-blossoms or brides
maids, and no reception and German
cotillion afterwards.- -; -, .."
But I may as well inform you tllat all
I predicted has come to pass. I am now
industrious and independent. Nellie is
the dearest wife that ever wore a ring;
and when I visit Mr. Levi, which I do
often, for old friendship's sake, I walk
boldly into his house, and have no pe
cuniary object in so' doing. ,;; :
On an inlaid table in my drawing
room stands au ivory chess-board. It
belonged to the Rajah of Gundarcool,
and was taken from the royal table by a
relative of mine in the Albicore Fenoi
bles, after the siege of that place. ' It is
the very identical chess-board which led
to my finding Nellie in pawn. '
California as a State jb ' twenty-two
years oia,
A Stubborn Woman,
A lady correspondent tells how she
succeeded in triumphing over a Vienna
landlord, she says: : '
They have an abominable custom here
(Vienna) of requiring two weeks' notice
whenever a person desires to leave their
room. It is done, I think, to fleece
foreigners, for this law is never told un
til yon are ready to leave. ' ' '
My rooms are situated in -fc very un
pleasant part of the city, which I did
know at first. I paid a month iu ad
vance when I came, and I have been
half ill all the time. The doctor said
the land was too low; that this is a
swamp island, partly reclaimed, nnd 1
must go upon the hill to live. So I
looked for rooms, and determod tomove.
I never thought of it until within three
days of the end of the month, and then
told the landlord. He rented the rooms
that afternoon to another party, to be
occupied as soon ns I should laave.
When I got ready to go I found I had
not given "warning," and I must pay
for two weeks' rent if I left, or have my
baggage detained till I did pay, I left
my baggage and went to a gentleman,
and asked about the law, and found I
had no redress. I must pay for the
rooms for two weeks; but if I chose I
might stay in them till the end. I did.
I paid, and told the landlord I would
stay. He did not like that ; and his
other tenants had paid him, . and if ho
failed to keep his promise with them
he would lose a tenant for three months.
Then he told me I might go. I said I
was in no hnrry. I had paid for the
rooms, and I should occupy them. The
people sent their things. . He danced.
Then he came and offered me my money
back if I would leave. I declined. He
offered mo ten guilders more to go, and
I wouldn't. His new tenants came and
I didn't like the looks of these and con
cluded that they had too much money
to let him have the swing, so I con
cluded that I would remain- where I am.
The family said, "This is all very ex
traordinary," and I said, " Not at all."
The woman said, "We have paid for
these rooms." I said, " So have I, and
I propose to retain them." She sat
down on the sofa and fanned herself,
and I rang the bell and told Anna to
bring the lady some water and to open
the middle door, and then I weut to
writing, telling her I was busy.
In the meantime the. landlord was
out in the hall arguing -with the man
and his daughter. . She insisted upon
staying, because of the piano
The old gentleman came, in and said :
" Madam the landlord has told me how
the case stands, and I will give you ten
guilders nnd he will give you ten guild
ers nnd return you your rent if you will
vacate these rooms. They ore the only
ones ! have seen that .exaqtly suit mo.
wiit au juw on. j v uuiue, now.
"I sny I will not vacate them fvi- xll
the money you and he both havo got ;
that is all 1 have got to say ; ana then
I commenced to write again. He left
with his family.
Swimming In the Salt Lake.
There are no fish in the Great Salt
Lake, says a visitor there. The only
living thing beneath its waters is a
worm about a quarter of an inch long.
This worm shows up beautifully be
neath the lens of a microscope. When
a storm arises the worms are driven
ashore by thousands, and devoured by
the blacis gulls. we tounU a pure
stream pouring into a Jane, it was
filled with little chubs and shiners. The
lish became frightened and were driven
down the brook into the briny lake,
The instant they touched its waters
they came to the surface belly upward,
and diod without a gasp.
The water . is remarkably buoyant.
Eggs and potatoes float upon it like
corks. My companion and myself strip
ped aud went in a swimming. . I dove
into the lake from a long pier, which
had been built for the use of a small
steamboat that formerly plied upon its
waters. The sensation was novel. The
water was sa salt that my eyes and ears
began to smart, but so buoyant that
found no difflcutlyin floating even when
the air was exhausted in my lungs. ' As
I struck out for the beach I felt as light
aa a feather, In spite of. all that I could
do my heels would fly out of the water.
I found it impossible to stand upon the
bottom. The lightness of the water and
the surging of the waves forced my feet
from under me. A person who could
not swim might bo easily drowned in
five feet of water. His head would go
down like a lump of lead, While his feet
would fly up like a pair of ducks. The
water is as clear as the water of Seneca
Lake, so clear that the bottom could be
seen at the depth of twenty feet. When
we reached the shore and crawled out
upon the sand in the light of the sun,
our bodies were quickly coated with
salt. We were compelled to go to the
little stream from which we had driven
the chubs and shiners, and wash off in
fresh water before we put on our clothes.
Our hair was filled, with grains of salt
which could not be washed out. The
Mormons occasionally visit the lake in
droves for the purpose of bathing.
Many of them say that their health is
improved by leaving the salt upon their
bodies, and dressing without -wiping
themselves with napkins.
A Samion.
In the eighteenth century lived
Thomas Topham, a notorious athlets.
Speaking of his accomplishments, a
Caper of the day thus advertises : " He
ends an iron poker, three inches in
circumference, over his arm, and one of
two inches and a quarter round his
neck ; he breaks a rope that will bear
two thousand weight, and with his fin
ger roll up a pewter dish of seven
pounds hard metal ; he lays the back
part of his head on one chair, and his
heels on another, and, suffering four
men to stand on his body, he moves
them up and down at pleasure ; he lifts
a table, six feet in length, by his teeth,
with one hundred weight hanging at the
further end oj it, and lastly, to oblige
the public, he will lift a butt full of
water." Can we produce strength like
his now-a-days ? , -
iii.ii. ' i i i . ,
; Mrs. Grundy says that if you wiah to
see a fine display of diamonds upon the
human , form you must secure an intro.
duction to- the -ugliest woman to be1
found at a fashionable watering-place,
Tlirottliii!? ft Hur&lar.
An American Youth. Bedroom In Vienna
Invaded by an Italinll Thief.
The following extract from a letter
from Mr. Frank Harding, of Einghaui
ton, to his parents, dated Vienna, Aug.
lutu, is published in the Unighamton
I'c.publican: ',' I retired to rest fueling
n ' good spirits, and dropped oil to
sleep as easily as a babe whose chief
occupation is to lose itself in the arms
of Morpheus. I wandered off into
dreamland, thought of homo, of friends.
of my old boat Zota, and was looking
about for laminar laces, when 1 was
suddenly brought back to my little room
in far distant Vienna by a sharp, quick
sound just above' my head. Without
moving I turned my eyes toward the
window, which I discovered to, be wide
open aud the moonlight streaming in,
making every object in the room almost
ns plainly distinguishable as in broad
daylight. All was deathly quiet for a
few moments ; . then I heard just the
faintest sound, and immediately after
ward the moon was shut out from my
view, and a form crept slowly up on the
window sill. Tho midnight thiof
turned, looked back, as if he was no
ticed by a policeman, nnd, ns his fnce
was turned to the moonlight, I realized
that I had something worse that a Ger
man to deal with my visitor was un
doubtedly an Italian or Spaniard the
most cat-like people in the world. I
rose upon one arm noiselessly, and was
about to spring' upon him, and by a
sudden thrust pitch him into the street,'
but ere I had formed the thought per
fectly, he jumped inside and commenced
leehug about tho room hurriedly.
Hanging upon a chair just opposite me
was my vest, containing my watch and
some hundred and fifty gulden. My
visitor evidently did not perceive me,
or, if he did, thought I was sleeping ;
but I know my eyes were open as wide
as they ever were. He commenced at
the foot of the bed, crept around the
room, examining everything as he went,
nnd as he reached the bureau next to
the chair upon which hung my watch, 1
thought it was time for action, nnd re
solved not to let my things go without
at least the satisfaction ot knowing that
I had struggled to retain them. Jump
ing quickly from my back, I went clean
out of bed and landed square on my
feet before the astonished individual.
and ere he had timo to recover himself
I seized his throat between both hands,
aud if I didn't pinch then, I never did.
I thought myself master of the situa
tion already, and fairly chuckled in my
excitement, but I did not know who I
was dealing with.
" The rogue seemed to enjoy the chok
ing and took it quietly for about a
minute, wheu he made a quick move
ments and so uuexueoted-tliao I was
thrown back upon the bed and I saw
him thrust nm liuuil quickly to -ltls
side. This time I anticipated him ;
lie was evidently feeling' for the Span
iard's best stand-by a stilleto. I
must own I was now a little frightened,
for I don't relish cold steel, so I caught
him by the arm and said in German :
' What do you want here ?" He an
swered me in poor German, Hush, or
I will show you.' Oh, how I did wish
for my revolver, which was resting
quietly in the bottom of my valise
where I placod it more than three
ln-.mths before. I don't know why, but
I never thought to call for help. My
position was beginning to bo anything
but desirable. My visitor, I was sure,
was trying to produce a knife, and !
was determined ho should not do it,
not liking such odds against a man in
a night-shirt. I was getting the best
of my uninvited guest a second time,
and commenced to deal him a few blows
upon tho head from an nrm in nowise
weak, when he freed his right hand
and I received a well-directed blow
upon the forehead. I staggered back,
aud as I recovered myeoif the fellow
dodged out of the door, out to a balcony,
and from that he jumped down some
fourteen feet into the garden. I have not
seen him since, but tho waiting girls
in the house told me they found a man
in the garden next morning, and let
him out, as he said he was there the
night before, fell asleep, and did not
wake until the doors were locked for
the night. I related the whole story to
the woman who Owns the house, and
she is so fearfully frightened now that
she locks the windows and piles up
chairs before them, besides keeping a
dog in her room. The description that
the girl gave of tho man coincided with
mine exactly. I was trembling a little
when I went back to bed, but from ex
citement, as I had no fear during the
whole affair, except for that little piece
of steel that the villain was constantly
endeavoring to get hold of. I crept
into oeu ieariuny uissatisneu, out in
the morning, when I thought the matter
over more calmly, I concluded that it
was better for me as it was having
lost nothing, and knowing that I was
not injured, and that I was not necessi
tated to take the life of a human being.
I have often thought what I would do
away off here if any one attacked me,
but 1 found that all my precious plan
nings were not suited to the occasion.
My room is but fonrteen feet from the
sidewalk; and the rogue had no trouble
whatever m climbing in by using the
lightning-rod. Hereafter I shall keep
my windows closed when 1 room on
the first floor, that I may not be guilty
of inviting or enticing strangers to
enter."
A Mau With a Broken Seek Stands Up
The circumstances of the death of
young mau named Muir, in Indian
apolis, Ind., was somewhat singular,
He was assisting in raising a derrick in
iront oi one ol the central walls of the
I'aimer House, when through some
mismanagement the derrick toppled
over. Under the impression that the
derrick was about to fall to the ground.
Afnir lennar intn t.Vin nollnv ltanontYi
upon a pile of loose sand, a distance of
about twelve feet, alighting upon his
feet. After standing upright a moment
he fell forward, striking upon a heavy
.. 1 Ji.U 1 M 1 J -.- 1
Biuuo wiiu um loreueau. liaising nim
seli up he reached up aud ielt the
bruise caused by the fall, and then
pucnea lorwara, dead. His compan
ions came to his assistance and removed
him to the Surgical Institute, where, an
examination showed that his neck w as
wvavu,
A Remarkable Story..
Here is something remarkablo from
the Daubury New. A woman in New
Haven was recently bereft of her scalp
by the idiosyncracies of a shaft and
belt. The doctors saw that to remedy
the evil they would have to recourse to
transplanting, and so they actually suc
ceeded in getting a sufficient number of
pieces from other people's heads to
give this unfortunate woman a new
scalp. We hope those New Haven
doctors used more discretion than did
he who attended a man named Finlay,
who met with a similar accident in
Oriskany, N. Y., some thirteen years
ago. Bits of scalp from seventeen per
sons were secured by this doctor nnd
ndroitly stitched to the head of Mr.
Finlay. When it was done, people
('time miles to see Finlny's head, and
Finlay himself, with his checker-board
cranium, was the happiest man in Oris
kany. But when the capillary glands
got in working order, nnd the hair com
menced to grow, the top of the man s
head presented the most extraordinary
spectacle on record. The doctor, who
was about half the time in liquor, had
consulted expediency rather than judg
ment, and secured that new scalp with
out any reference to future develop
ments. We never saw anything like it.
Here was a tuft of yellow hair, and
next to it a bit of black, and then a
flame of red, and a little like silk, and
more like tow, -with brown hair and
gray hair, and sandy hair, and cream-
colored hair scattered over his entire
skull. And what a mad man that Fin
lay was, aud nobody could blame him.
Ho would stand tip against the barn
for au hour at a time and sob and
swear. It was very fortunate that the
doctor was dead. He went off two
weeks before with blue ague, which is
a mild sort of disease. Finlay kept his
hair cut short, but that made no diller-
ence. Then he tried dyes, but they
only made matters worse. Then he
got a wig, and this covered up the de
formity ; but sometimes at church he
would get asleep, and the wig would
fall oil, and make the children cry.
Once at the county fair he fell asleep,
ana tne wig dropped oil, and the com
mitteo on domestic goads, when they
came around, stood in Iront of 1' inlay s
head ior some nvo minutes m
wrapt delight. They then immediately
decided that it was the most ingenious
patch-work in the list, and never dis
covered tho mistake until they at
tempted to piu the premium card to it.
At that Finlay awoke, and knocked
down the chairman of the committee
and chased the others out of the build
ing. We hope the New Haven doctors
have been more particular, as it is not
a subject to trine with.
The European Balloon.
A reporter conversed with Prot. wise
at las room on the evening ot the great
balloon collapse.
As 1 have asserted all along, he
said, "when asked to give my opinion
as to the cause of the collapse, the mus
lin was rotten, at least some of the sec
tions, by exposure to all kinds of wea
ther for weeks. I protested in vain
against it and secured a shelter, but
they would not listen to me. Their
gieat point seemed to be to avoid delay
and get the balloon oil somehow or any
how. Donaldson is foolhardy enough
to risk his lile, and the othois follow
ed his reckiess example. I had rather
walk up to a cannon s moutu than lace
public indignation, aud I knew that no
explanation would set mo aright it 1 re
fused to go. So, against the wishes of
my son, who is an aeronaut of twenty
years' experience, I said I would go if
they could inflate tho balloon. Yet I
was confident they couldn't do it. Do
you kuow whether the rents followed
the seams ?"
Tho reporter did not.
"I think," he continued, "you will
find that they did. I asked that silk
thread might be used, and offered to
pay the extra expense, but delay enough
would not be granted to get it. Cotton
thread was used, and the rain rotted it,
I presume that the pressure started the
seams at the valve, and ripped them
down with perfect ease."
The reporter asked whether the bal
loon would have been safe had the in
flation been finished without a break
age.
"No. sir. was the empnatio reply;
" sho would have collapsed in mid-air
and dropped ns into tho sea, perhaps
from a height of three or four miles,
She wouldn't have stood it forty-eight
hours. I was confident of this all
along, but nobody except Stiner would
listen to me. It was no use talking to
Donaldson ; he was bound to go up at
any risk. I am only thankful that the
break occurred as it did, and so saved
four lives.
Tho Oregon Senator.
The career of U. S. Senator Whipple-
Mitohell. of Oregon, is well-known,
Recently the Oregon Republican State
Convention adopted the following
resolution relative to the Senator:
Jiesolved, That whatever may have been
the misfortune, faults, or short-comings
of J. H. Mitchell. United States beua-
tor from this State, in his early private
life, we neither apologize for, pass judg
ment upon, nor justify him, but ex
press the unqualified belief that by
his many years of constant, upright,
and honorable conduct in this State he
has outlived any imputations cast upon
him : that to-day not only the itepubii
can party, but a large majority of the
people of this State have entire conti
dence in his integrity, ability, and
patriotism, and that he will faithfully
and ably represent them in the united
States Senate.
An Important Decision. The Com
missioner of Internal Revenue of the
United States has decided that a per
son who sells at the place of manufac
ture wine made exclusively of grapes
of his own growth is not liable to the
special tax of a liquor-dealer for such
sales ; but if ha sells such wiue away
from the place of manufacture he is
liable. A vintner, however, who sells
wine made from grapes not exclusively
of his own growth is subject to the
anecial tax therefor, whether Bellini?
such wine at the place where it is wade
gr cwvwuoio,
Items of Interest.
The Saratoga Railway . thinks it is
preeminently entitled to call itself a
'grand trunk line.
No matter how amiable a lady may
be, fashion demands that she shall ap
pear ruffled in public.
With the display now required for a
first-class funeral, people are beginning
to understand what are tho terrors of
death.
Several of the persons who took an
active part in the insurrection at Alcoy
have been tried and condemned ' to
death.
A water fall of 2,000 feet high, or
more than twelve times the height of
Niagara, has been discovered in British
Guiana.
Of the eightv-eight girls who hnvo
entered the Michigan University,
thirty-seven will study in the medical
department. '
Four children were playing in an ex
cavation in a sand bank nt Columbus,
Wis., when tho soil caved in, and three
were smothered.
When you feel depressed nnd dis
satisfied, and wherever you may look
naught but frowning skies meet your -view,
wash yourself.
The lately divorced Mrs. Young con
templates a book on Brigham. But
she is not competent to write him up.
She is not a faithful Ann Eliza.
There will be plenty of butternuts
and chestnuts this fall. Mothers are
hiding their extra pillow-cases, and the
agricultural members of the community
are putting their guns in order.
One of the greatest luxuries of nchea
is that they enable you to escape so
much eood advice. The rich are always
advising the poor, but the poor seldom
venture to return the compliment.
Tho chief of the Mormons has had
on adventure. He was taking a vfipor
bath, when the lamp exploded, killing
the attendant. Brigham only saved
his life by jumping out of the win
dow. A vouncr cent "pinched" tho ear of a
little rat-teirier dog of the lively breed,
the other day, in passing along. Re- '
suit a fine, pair of cassimero pants
with a hole in them about three inches
square.
Sawdust as a substitute for stockings
recommended by a writer in the
Oneida Circular, who says that a table
spoonful of the subsistence placed in
each boot will keep tho feet both dry
and warm.
An incident connected with the re
opening of the uincinnati pumio
schools was the discontinuance ot tno
practice of reading from the Bible, in
accordance wiui tno recent aecision oi
the Supremo Court.
J. id. flupps, conuuetor on a xtew
York street car, came to Danbury with
his family, for rest and recreation, but
was so annoyed by solicitors for contri
butions to various charitable objects,
that he was obliged to leave.
There has latelv been discovered a
poison called inrca. which is said to be
more subtle than digitalino. It is ob
tained by pressure from the seeds of
Stronhanthua hhnidura, a npoeynaee-
ous plant, found in Gaboon. You want
to look out lor it.
According to authentic information
there is a license for the sale of drink
in Russia for every 010 inhabitants ; m
Siberia, one for every 500 ; in Prussia,
1 for 2G0; in Knglaud. 1 lor i; ; in
Belgium, 1 for 93 ; in Holland, 1 for
90 ; and in France, 1 for every 70.
A French provincial paper has been
sentenced to pay a fine of fifty francs
each to seventeen persons whose nameB
it published on a list ot pilgrims. 1110
publication was true nnd harmless, but
French law forbids journnls to meddle
with the private affairs of individuals.
A Quincy youth courted an obdurate
young lady and managed to sroure u
blank marriage license, which he filled
up and showed her, with the remark
that she was obliged to marry him now.
She was terror-striekon, begged for
time, and fled to tho country. Her
friends propose to prosecute tno youtn
for conspiracy aud forgery.
The Binghamton (N. Y.) Republican
savs : lteports indicate tuax, me poiaio
orop in that section oi me ouue win
be almost a total failure this year, iu
consequence of the rot. Some of the
dealers in Binghamton are not pur
chasing potatoes to store in their cel
lars, and they keep on nana oniy en
ough to supply the demand during the
day.
Mendlessohn was, when a youth,
clerk to a very commonplace, m fact
stupid employer. One day an acquaint
ance commiserated the clever lad on his
position, saying, "What a pity it is that
you are not master and he clerk 1"
"Oh, my friend," returned Mendles
sohn, "do not say that. If he were my
clerk, what on earth could i uo witu
him ?"
A voung New Yorker spending a
month with his uncle in New Jersey,
wrote thus to his mother : "The peach
trees here are too slippery for me to
climb ; nuc!e won't let me sail boats iu
the milk pails ; there's no birds' nests
around that I can see ; Sallie Law spilt
molasses ou my best pants ; a smaller
boy than I am, who plays with me, '
wears a gold chain, and I want to go
home."
A singular natural curiosity is men
tioned at Sadawga Pond, in Whiting
ham, Vt., consisting of 150 acres of
land floating on the surface of the
water, covered with cranberries, and
even sustaining trees fifteen feet high.
When the water is raised or lowered at
the dam of the pond, the island rises
and falls with it, and fish are caught by
boiinga hole in the crust and fishing
down through as through the ice in
winter.
The estimatei value of all the rea
and personal property of Pennsylvani
was, according to the census of 1870,
$3,808,310,112. That of the State of
New York was $6,500,841,264. The
same valuation assigns to New York
city $3,484,268,700, and to Philadelphia
$1,206,254,747. This leaves $3,016,-.
572,504 for the State of New York out.
side of New York city, aud $2,602,085,-
865 for Pennsylvania outsi4e'of Fhila
i ueipiutt,