HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NIX, DESPERAJSTDTJM. . Two Dollars per Annum.
YOL. III. BIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, FUBBtTAHY 12, 1874. yo- 5Q
Rejected.
" Peril dps she's dancing eomeTvhflrft How ? "
The thoughts of light and music wake
Bharp jealousies, that ridw ami grow
Till silence and the (lr.r1;uewi ache.
He sees her step, B0 proud mid gay,
Which ere )e foke, foretold despair j
Tims did sjo look on such a day,
And s-jch the fashion of her hair.
And thus she stood, when, stooping low,
Trie took the bramble from her dress :
And thus Bhe laughed and talked, whose " No,"
Was sweeter than another's " YeB."
He feeds on thouhgts that most deject (
He impudently feigns her charms,
Bo reverenced in his own respect,
ClaBped dreadfully in other arms.
And turns and puts his brows that ache,
Against the pillww where 'tis cold :
If only now his heart would break
But, oh, how much a heart can hold 1
HALF AX HOUR TOO LATE.
Half an hour too late 1 I have heard
these words oftener than many others
in the English language. They possess
for me a deep significance. How many
trials, troubles, mortifications and dis
appointments have followed in their
train.
I never could explain why these few
syllables had had so much influence
vover my whole life. I know of no better
reason than that I was born half an
hour too late; for I cannot help think'
ing that had I made my appearance on
the world's stage just thirty minutes
sooner, all would have been well. But
it was manifest destinj.nd I must
submit with as good a grace as pos
Bible.
Some ill-natured people have asserted
that it was my own fault, and I could
overcome it; a bad habit, and nothing
more. mistaken souis I it would be
just as appropriate to say that the sun
had a habit of rising in the East, when
everybody knows that that luminary is
obliged to rise in that direction.
My mother says I had no teeth until
long alter the Age in which such appen
dages usually appear, and ftlso adds
Al. 1. -1. 1. 1 t i .
mat sue iiau iears lest j. should never
walk alone.
Now I leave it to competent judges,
a -Uid possibly nave exer
cised any 'influence over those two mat
ters Oould I have teeth before the
timi, or could I walk before my limbs
ere strong enough to support my
Vody 1 I think not, and have therefore
decided that destiny decrees metocome
after everybody else; the two instances
in point which 1 have quoted, proving,
beyond a doubt, that I have no control
over the fact.
As I became older I was sent to
school. I was invariably called twice
by my mother, before l could be per
suaded to leave my bed.ind, of course,
was half an hour too late for breakfast.
and proportionably tardy at school. It
always happened so, and the results
were uniformly the same; a scolding
from mv mother, threats from mv fath-
er, and generally something- worse from
rnv teacher.
I tried to reform in this particular ;
but as often as I made a good reso
lution, I found my shoe-string in a
hard knot, my comb and brush were
missing, my cap was not to be found.
or some other impediment stood in the
way ; and to this day I firmly believe
the worthy pedagogue used frequently
to set his watch along half an hour, on
purpose to vex me. 1'he classes for
11? 11 1. .
recitation was canen long beiore L was
prepared, and I spent the whole dav in
trying to overtake the minutes I had
lost.
" Gilbert," said my father, " go up
to jur. nan s, ana ten him that l will
take tha twelve barrels of apples
looked at, at the price he named. Go
directly there, and don't forget your
errcvna.
" And, Gilbert," added my mother,
stopping me at the door, "if you should
want your new coat made to-morrow,
call and speak to Miss Graves about it.
I believe she is disengacred lust now.
You had better go in on the wav to Mr.
t-T,.ll' J
I promised compliance, and determin
ing to acquit myself creditably, inline
diately set out. About half way there,
a sudden gust of wind blew off mv hat.
and I spent some time in recovering it;
then I went on again, only stopping a
few miuutes to admire "a little ship
which a boy was sailing by the road.
V"icKeniug my steps, i knocked at air.
Hall's door, and told him my errand.
"ion are too late, my lad; I sold
tha lot half an hour ago." lie replied.
My countenance fell as he spoke the
v t woras that i had heard only too often.
" Don t look so disappointed," he
added, k'ndly, " there are other apples
Al. A i ...
mui, yuui muier can buy.
This remark ionsnlrl ma Vint, littlo
for I was thinking of my race after the
hat, and tho time I had spent at the
tiny ship. As I walked slowly home,
ruminating on my bad luck, my new
coat and Miss Graves popped into my
mind. I would at least do one errand
successfully, and accordingly made
known my business.
"If you had called a little while
ago, I could have done it : but I have
just made an engagement of a fort
night," was the reply of the lady.
Half an hour too Jate, as usual Why
did I not stop on my way as mother had
advised me, and as I had purposed do
ing ? I was greatly troubled, and ready
to cry, at this seoond failure, for I had
set my heart upon wearing my new coat
at a party which one of my school com-
bum jur Biuiy. iiuu lurKotuuK to men
1 1 . .i. L I 1 1 : i
tion my chase alter the nying hat. oon-
nnrirt? mat n Hiimmftrit iiiHtinrnr.inn
in y uciuv.
' Just as I expected I said my father,
; l i t 1 1 m i i ,
Hr llll III'I.IIHI 111 I 1 M 11H. IIP II I1H U
i i t T in l
i8 ail xi is aays.
- ..,,.41 a.t it T
IT iuuiuct jiicicir CwniADU lilinu At M
A rirniiGrnt. mv nut. tn hor fn naTA Tia
H11UKD DCVTCU Uli.'UU DUD UBU UUWKHI U1Q
nM I-- l, 1, J 1
the day before, that trouble would have
i i i mi 1 1 ii
p.eiuu, ttyoiaea. ,iuu who mi uuiu
fort I got from her. She well knew that
being obliged to wear the old coat two
weeks longer would be quite punish
ment enough for negleoting her advice.
My father's temper was not improved,
upon learning, the next day, that
apples naa risen nity cents per barrel,
making him a loser of six dollars, by
my being half an hour too late.
At last my lather thought of a happy
expedient. He would put me in a store;
there I should Lave another master, and
would feel mynulf called upon to please
him. As if I did not try to please
everybody 1 It was the whole aim of my
life ; but incessantly counterbalanced
by the evil genius that attended me
wherever I went. For a week I escaped
any severe reprimand for my habitual
failing. Natnrally enough, I felt grati
fied, and determined to make myself
useful to my employer, who was an
active business man, and liked industri
ous clerks.
"A number of pieces of those dress
goods must be sent for Mrs. A to
examine to-day," he remarked, early
one morning. " She is a good custom
er, and will probably purchase some
forty or fifty dollars' worth."
I was about selecting the goods, when
I recollected that it was imperatively
necessary that I should make out sev
eral accounts without delay. Some
considerable time was consumed in at
tending to this duty, and it was noon
before I was aware of it. Dispatching
my dinner as quickly as possible, I
hastened back to the store, and com
menced assorting the different fabrics
for Mrs. A . I stopped a moment at
hearing my employer's voice.
" That letter was copied and mailed,
of course ?"
" I believe so," respondsd a fellow
clerk, and went quietly on with his
work.
It was a mistake. The letter had not
been copied. I had been told to do it;
but customers were waiting, and con
sidering them of more consequence
than a mere letter, I had put it off the
night before, designing to accomplish
the task the first thing in the morning.
But I had forgotten it, until reminded
of my remissness by what I had heard.
I hurried to the desk, on some frivolous
pretence, and speedily copied the U t
ter, superscribed it, and seizing my hat,
hastened to the post-office. The mail
had been gone an hour, and my
efforts availed nothing. It was the old
story, and I felt discouraged and dis
heartened. Hiding the letter in my pocket, I re
turned to the employment which had
been interrupted, resolving not to leave
it until Mrs. A was in safe posses
sion of the goods. The errand-boy be
ing otherwise engaged. I took the pack
age along myself, rang the bell, and de
sired to see the lady. After some delay,
she appeared.
"Goods for yon to examine, from
Brown & Burt's, I said, with a respect
ful bow."
I thought Mrs. A looked some
what out of humor, and her reply con
vinced me that I was not mistaken.
" You can take them back again," she
rejoined, coldly. "I .supplied myself
half an hour ago at another place. I
desired them to be Bent this morning ;
and if your employer does not in any
measure govern himself by the wishes
of his customers, he must take the con
sequences. I waited until I was out of
patience."
The lady turned away, and I trudged
back with the goods. Twice m one
day ! It was too much to be borne.
And so thought my employer, who
coolly dischared me, after assuring me
that through my want of punctuality he
had lost one ol his best customers. 1
then frankly told him about tho letter,
He was more angry than before, and
vehemently asserted that the delay
would prove fatal to his credit.
Jeered by my fellow clerks, and con
founded by the unexpected resentment
which I encountered, I went home
again, only to have the scene renewed,
My mother looked unhappy, and my
father met me with a frown, an indica
tion of displeasure which I so often re
ceived, that I had become used to it. I
was now eighteen years of age, and old
enough, he said, to put away childish
things, and become a man.
" Gilbert," he added, with emphasis.
"why don't you overcome this propen
sity to oe always late? Mate an effort,
my son, a strong effort."
An effort ! Had not my whole exist
ence been a continued, tremendous
effort to throw off the spell that weighed
me down ; that stood in the way of my
prosperity ; that lost me friends, and
gained me enemies ; that was a source
of disquiet to myself, and everybody
wno nad tue mistortune to be connected
with me.
I wished much to go to sea. My
latner nad an acquaintance, who was an
old sea-captain, and he was willing (for
I was of no use to him), provided pre
liminaries could be arranged satisfac
torily, that I should accompany him on
his next voyage. No objection was
made to this proposal on the part of the
captain, and, much delighted, I com
menced preparations.
My mother was serious, not sad.
With her accustomed kindness and ma
ternal solicitude, she disposed my
wardrobe in a large trunk, gave me
good advice, besought me to obey the
captain in every particular, and hoped
the change would be for my benefit.
" Endeavor to conquer your besetting
sin, my child," she added, with a moth
er's earnestness. " Make a good reso
lution, and keep it ; respect yourself,
and others will respect you. If you
fail, try again, and persevere until you
obtain the victory. A man is a slave so
long as he permits a bad habit to rule
him imperiously."
I was sorry she brought up this disa
greeable theme to dampen my exuber
ant spirits at such a time : but recol
lecting her interest in my welfare, I
promised (that was easily done) all she
could ask. I put my imagination at
active employment, and pictured scenes
of grandeur far surpassing everything
l nad seen.
My highest anticipations were now
about to be realized. I could hardly
control my joy, so greatly was X elated
at the prospect before me. I promised
souvenirs of my travels to my less for
tunate friends, and stowed away large
quantities of writing materials, which
I purposed to use in inditing long and
interesting epistles to those behind.
The captain of the vessel had written
to my father word when he expected me
on board, and in pursuance of his direc
tions, I took leave of my parents, and
started for the city, whioh was some
two miles distant. On the way I hap
pened to think of an intimate aoquaint
anoe, to whom I had not said one part
ing word. Confident that I had plenty
of time, I diverged a little from the
main road, and chanced to nnd him at
home. My good fortune was repeated
for his edification, mutual good wishes
were interchanged, and with ft light
heart, I resumed my walk. The dis
tance was at last accomplished. I
stepped upon the wharf hurriedly, and
entered the office to look after my bag
gage, which had been sent on before.
1 soon had it in safe keeping, and then
began to make inquiries concerning the
vessel in which 1 was to take passage.
Judge of my sensations on being told
that the ship had sailed without me I
actually left the wharf precisely half
an hour before I arrived 1 He could
wait no longer. Thus were my expec
tations again frustrated, and my hopes
crushed. 1 had certainly started from
home soon enough ; it was the unlucky
call that had done the mischief. In my
excitement I accused the captaiu of un
fair dealing, denounced myself in no
measured terms, and charged every
body with injustice. I apprehended
nothing so much as facing my parents
dejected, humiliated and humbled as I
was but there was no help for it ; it
must be done. I reluctantly set my
face homeward, and with dispirited
step moved along at a snail's pace. I
dr ?aded my mother's reproachful glance,
my father's bitter and cutting words,
but more than all the mirth and ridi
cule of my acquaintances, when they
should learn of the downfall of my air
castles. These reflections were not
very gratifying, yet I could not rid my
self of them. It was no use trying to
do anything, or to be anybody ; that
ominous half an hour too late haunted
me at every corner, and met me at
every turn.
" Gilbert !" ejaculated my mother,
looking the picture of astonishment, as
I timidly entered the house, having in
effectually tried to put on an air of
boldness.
"I'm discouraged it's all to no pur
pose I" I exclaimed, sullenly throwing
myself into a chair.
" The ship had sailed, I suppose ?"
said my father, interrogatively, display
ing no more surprise than though he
had anticipated my return.
I nodded in the affirmative.
" No mere than I expected," he re
joined, taking up his book, and begin
ning to read just where he had left off
upon my entrance.
It was the most severe remark he
could have made under the circum
stances. I fathomed the feelings that
gave rise to it, and they were far from
complimentary to myself, and I smoth
ered my rising resentment, and retired
to my own room. That night my kind
mother talked with me a long time ;
but I was in no mood to be benefited
by her words of counsel, and only
grieved her tender nature by my mo
roseness and ill humor. I did not soon
forget the merciless joking of my com
panions, nor the ridicule they so un
sparingly heaped upon me. But at last
it grew to be an old story, and I was
gradually freed from their persecutions.
I was named for a wealthy bachelor
uncle, and often had hopes that he
would make me his heir. He visited
our family but seldom ; knew but little
about my brother and sister, and less
about me, who was the youngest. A
letter came to hand, however, about
twelve months after my futile attempt
at traveling, saying that he should
spend some time with us. He was ec
centric and whimsical, but good-hearted
and oenevoient. lie observed me
closely, and evidently detected my
weak point at once. By his actions, I
felt sure 1 did not please him, and
being iretted at his constant watching.
took less pains to secure his good will
than I ought. The evening before his
departure, he requested my brother,
my sister, and myself to go up to his
room, as he wished a little social con
versation with us. I anticipated a lec
ture on my short comings and staid
away purposely ; but afterward, think
ing I might possibly be mistaken, con
cluded to risk it. Vain attempt I I
met my brother and sister on the stairu,
each in possession of a hundred dol
lars a eift from mv uncle, who de
clared that if I did not respect his
wishes enough to be present, I must go
without my share. I was too proud to
tell him the cause of my non-appearance,
and with the luckless half hour
vanished all hopes of becoming an heir,
or receiving a present.
Well, I attained my majority. I was
twenty-one, and must begin to look out
for myself. To be brief, I contem
plated matrimony. I had long loved a
charming girl (she wasn t aware of it,
however), and I decided to pop the
question at once. I intimated the fact
to my father; he liked my choice, and
promised me capital to commence busi
ness with, obviously being of the
opinion that it would be for my interest
to marry.
Thus encouraged, I sought the lady,
wnose attractions i nave never seen
equaled. I found her alone, looking
lovelier than ever. With much trepida
tion, the all important declaration was
made, and 1 awaited the issue in des
perate suspense. My charmer looked
both surprised ana perplexed, was
painfully embarrassed, and colored ex
cessively. As noar as I could deter
mine, the svmrjtoms looked favorable.
and my heart beat high with hope. But
X was mistaken; her first words unde
ceived me. Bhe stammered something
about " a misunderstanding, wrong im
pressions, regret that her conduct had
been so construed, thanks for the
intended honor," and the like, con
cluding by saying " that she had en
gaged herself to somebody else half an
hour before"
I was answered. Half an hour be
fore I If there was ever a man to be
pitied, it was surely myself. But I
might have known better than to have
made the foolish trial. The experiment
taught me a lesson; I have never spoken
of love to a woman since. 1 am a cross,
fretful old bachelor now. What has
made me so? Nothing but the half
hour too late. II I attempt to go to
church, the minister has invariably
oommeneed his sermon beiore X enter,
leaving me entirely in the dark as to his
subject. If I go to a concert to hear
some landed singer, X hare to take a
seat under the gallery, where I can see
nobody, and hear nothing.
Thus 1 exist, continually harassed by
vexatious delays and disappointments.
The patience of my former friends is
exhausted; they tolerate me, and that
is all. If I say positively, " yon may
expect me I will certainly be there,
they look at each other significantly and
smile in a provokingly incredulous
manner. That I am an unfortunate
man, none will deny who have a spark
of sympathy in their souls.
What do Tour Children Read!
A bad book, magazine, or newspaper,
is as dangerous to your child as a vici
ous companion, and will as surely cor
rupt his morals and lead him away from
the paths of safety. Every parent should
set this thought clearly before his mind,
and ponder it well. Xiook to what vour
children read, and especially to the
kind of papers that get into their
hands, for there are now published
scores of weekly papers, with attractive
and sensuous illustrations, that are as
hurtful to young and innocent souls as
poison to a" healthful body.
Many of these papers have attained
large circulations, and aue sowing
broadcast the seeds of vice and crime.
Trenching on the borders of indecency,
they corrupt the morals, taint the im
agination, and allure the weak and un
guarded from the paths of innocence.
The danger to young persons from this
cause was never so great as at this time;
and every father and mother should be
on guard against an enemy that is
sure to meet their child.
Our mental companions the
thoughts and feelings that dwell within
us when alone, and influence over our
actions these are what lifts us up or
drags us down. If your child has pure
and good mental companions, he is
safe ; but if, through corrupt books
and papers, evil thoughts and impure
imaginings gets into his mind, his
danger is imminent.
Look to it, then, that your children
are kept as free as possible from this
taint. Never bring into your house a
paper or periodical that is not strictly
pure, and watch carefully lest any such
get into the hands of your growing-up
boys.
Divorce Lawyers.
A bill has been introduced in the
Illinois legislature providing heavy
penalties against professional divorce
lawyers. Doubtless many half-fledged
and unprincipled legal gentlemen
in Chicago have found a very
lucrative business in the divorce line.
A little knowledge of court practice,
familiarity with the local statutes and a
few precedents are all the qualifications
necessary to be added to a great amount
of audacity in such a character. Chicago
has gained a somewhat unenviable
notoriety in years past from this class,
and all good citizens would like to see
such a law as this succeed.
We think we know another pretty
good field of operations for it. Every
day advertisements appear in certain
newspapers of this city to the effect
that certain " attorneys " will procure
divorces without publicity. If there is
no case, they can make one. By the
use of regular spies, miscalled detec
tives, they can easily draw men or
women into situations where naturally
they would never be found, and under
such circumstances that, the whole
truth being known, they are not culpa
ble Then the professional witnesses,
who only escape the consequences of
perjury because the persons against
whom they appear would not stoop to
impeach them, are brought in to finish
the " overwhelming " testimony against
the defendant. If there is any way to
get rid of these professional mischief
makers, it ought to be tried. New
York Evening Post,
Liquor in the System.
An English authority, Dr. Brunton,
gives some itemsof importance to wine
drinking persons. His hypothesis is
that alcohol produces a successive par
alysis of different parts of the nervous
system. First, the vaso-motor nerves
are affected, and the blood-nerves con
sequently dilated. That is, the hands,
for instance, become red and plump,
showing that arterial blood is flowing
freely through the capillaries, and at
the same time the veins are dilated.
Sometimes the vessels of the stomach
are dilated, and the blood is abstracted
from the brain, the individual becom
ing sleepy ; sometimes the arteries of
the head are filled first, and the intel
lectual faculties are excited. Different
portions of the btain also are stimulated
or paralyzed. Thus the centre, or the
convolutions which govern the co-ordinate
movements, may be paralyzed, and
the man may be " drunk in his legs
though fnot in his head," while the
cerebral lobes may be less affected, or
the reverse may take place. It often
happens that the cerebellum is paralized
while the spinal-cord is unaffected, so
that a man, who cannot walk, may be
able to ride, owing to the reflex con
traction of the musoles of his thighs
against the pressure of the saddle. The
final paralysis is of the spinal cord,
producing the extraordinary nervous
diseases so common now, and of the
medullaoblongata which causes general
paralysis of the whole system.
Influence of Food.
An excellent hint is given in the fol
lowing item : Dr. Hall relates the case
of a man who was cured of his bilious
ness by going without his supper and
drinking freely of lemonade. Every
morning, says the doctor, this patient
arose with a wonderful sense ol rest
and refreshment, and feeling as though
the blood had been literally washed,
cleansed and cooled by the lemonade
and fast. His theory is that food can
be used as a remedy for many diseases
successfully. As an example, he cures
spitting of blood br the UBe of salt ;
epilepsy, by watermelons ; kidney affec
tions, by celery ; poison, by olive or
sweet oil: erysipelas, by pounded cran
berries applied to the part affeoted ;
hydrophobiaj by onions, etc. So the
way to keep in good health is really to
know what to eat and what medicines
to take.
Every member of Congress from
Minnesota was raisedm Maine.
The Kindergarten.
The Kindergarten, or " Child's Gar
den," system of instruction, which is
now established throughout Germany,
is practiced to some extent in this
country. Nothing, says M. Bonrleton,
a French writer, is more interesting
than a visit to a German Kindergarten.
It consists of a large, well-ventilated
structure, to which is attached a garden
planted with trees and flowers. The
children occupy its various rooms ac
cording to age, the boys on one side
and the girls on the other ; a child is
admitted as soon as it can walk ; they
number all sizes from two to six years
of age. Frcebel, the originator of the
system, was averse to sending children
to regular schools before the age of
seven. The children of the rich have
Kindergarten of their own, for which a
charge of seven dollars a year is made,
while the Kindergarten for the poor are
free excepting an average charge of one
and a half cents per day for two meals
supplied to them.
Froebel's educational system is based
on experience. All infants like to play;
give them, then, as curious playthings
as you can. They soon tire of curious
things which they do not comprehend,
and before which they remain passive
spectators ; infants accordingly break
toys to pieces and in turn fashion some
thing else, a restless activity ever ob
taining out of fragments new materials
for more interesting objects. The fash
ioning of something new out of some
thing old or chaotic, is a natural in
stinct. Froebel devoted himself to
regulating this creative infantile in
stinct, the recognition of which is so
important in the development of the
faculties of observation and imagina
tion. He accordingly organized the
Kindergarten with a view to an exercise
of the infantile hand and mind by easy
work and simple amusements, while he
disciplined the understanding by sing
ing and by games of ever increasing
complexity. In carrying out this plan
never did he depart from the scope of
infantile accomplishment.
Ler us visit one of the kindergartens
for the poor. It is 9 o'cloek in the
morning, and the children enter, bring
ing along with them a small bit of bread
to eat before the midday meal. An
inspection for cleanliness takes place
no large spots, holes or rents are allow
ed. all this, indeed, being forestalled
by tlie pride as well as interests of the
parents. Each child passed to its place
at a table on which playthings are dis
played ; the smallest occupy themselves
with little wooden blocks, building
walls, gateways and houses, each com
peting with the other. An idea of lines,
shapes and proportions every concep
tion, in fact, necessary in the perfection
of a high or complicated edifice is
awakened in their little brains. Each
observes his neighbor's work and, when
invention nags, copies and imitates,
Talking is permitted, and, thanks to
every one being occupied with his own
work, there is no noise.
The more advanced pupils are given
more difficult tasks, borne weave to
gether strips of paper of different
colors and of symmetrical design, like
squares, circles, stars and other shapes
which require closer attention. 1'rac-
tice renders the children skillful, it be
ing surprising to see how rapidly the
paper glides through their fingers and
issues iroiu mem iu proper huuo.
Others fill up with a lead-pencil pro
gressive geometrical designs traced be
forehand, and, which are afterwards re
produced without the model with re
markable accuracy. Others execute in
transparency, with the point of a pin,
houses, dogs and flowers, or repeat the
outlines of these objects in worsted
work.
An hour of physical exercise always
follows an hour of labor. Then comes
singing, which is learnt by ear; then
marching about the floor, turning and
winding as in a ballet; then sporting in
the garden with small spades, consist
ing of digging in the ground and build
ing up or excavating tenements of all
kinds. A part of the time is devoted to
gymnastic exercises. The children are
made to stretch their arms and fingers,
and stand on tiptoe; play soldier, and
finally practice games, devised by Froe
bel himself specially to exercise the or
gans of hearing, touch and sight. Many
a time, says our author, the results have
astonished me. On visiting a Kinder
garten of sixty pupils X have witnessed
a sort of blindman's buff, in which
every ohild in turn had to guess, by an
exclamation, the name 01 the child who
seized its hand. Not one in so large a
crowd made a mistake.
These exercises develop, to a remark
able degree, perspicacity and thought-
fulness, while a love of labor under this
form becomes seductive. The children
are eager to get to a school where all is
frolic; and every evening they take back
some new acquisition to their families.
Children are naturally open and com
municative, and are consequently cheer
ful; the child who is supposed, apriori,
to be of a good disposition, is led
wholly - by gentleness and kindness.
Bovs and girls are treated alike. The
children are not taught either reading
or writing; but when they leave the
Kindergarten and go to regular schools
their progress is much more rapid than
that of other children; the schoolmasters
all agree that the Kindergarten gradu
ates excel others in vivacity of intellect.
Froebel's aim was to make children
thoroughly understand that which is
ordinarily only indicated to them; they
are obliged to talk and get excited,
their intellect, in a word, being ren
dered active in matters where it is
usually passive.
There remains one point more on
whioh to say something, and that is the
philosophy of punishment. In princi
ple, punishment is not considered tither
as curative or with a view to make an
example. It is avoided as much as pos
sible. Never is the child whipped ; on
the contrary it is placed in a corner,
away from the playthings, and when
convinced that it has done wrong, the
punishment ceases, lasting but a short
time and ending when repentance shows
itself. The object is to let the ohild see
that labor, far from being a trial, is
really a pleasure, true punishment con
sisting of a privation of work. Children
are never praised on account of their
dexterity, skill being regarded ss the
natural result of labor ; there is no
smiling at awkwardness, no word being
uttered that will provoke rivalry. Such
are the principles and operation of the
German Kindergarten.
When one considers the mischief
done to youth through the slinmlating
oi precocious taieut ttuu niomjuijr w
the brain by forcing it to entertain in
comprehensible abstractions, both being
evils in the bringing tip of our youth,
it is well to study a system like that oi
Froebel's, which seems to insure a
sound, healthy, natural development,
by not bending tho twig in a wrong
direction.
The Arkansas Classic.
WTiflnAver th history of American
humorous literature shall be thoroughly
and justly written, it must show that
many of what are deemed the novel
types of local charactor, back-woods
comedy, and " dialectical" speech in
present comic writing, had their first
exposition in the native facetire of years
ago. It is worth while, then, for liter
ary journalism to revive occasionally
some of the earlier comicalities of do
mestic print ; and amongst these the
inimitable sketch of "The Arkansas
Traveler" herewith restored to cur
rency deserves particular credit for its
racy human nature.
The scene is that of a dilapidated log
cabin in Arkansas. Its characters a
trapper seated upon an inverted tub,
playing the first part of a familiar air
upon an old violin, and nis wiie ana
children. A stranger enters, and the
following colloquy ensues :
Stranger flow do you do, sir t Are
you well ?
Trapper stranger, km you can a
man who eats three square meals a day,
drinks hearty and sleeps sound "well?"
fFiddles.'
Stranger I think I could. How long
have you been living here ?
Trapper uye see mat mountain
thar?
Stranger Well.
Trapper That worh'yar when I come
hyar. (Fiddles.)
Stranger Thank you ior tne mior
mation.
Trapper You are welcome.
Stranger Can I stay here to-night ?
Trapper Well you can't stay h yar.
Stranger How long will it take me
to get to the next tavern ?
Trapper Well, you'll not get there
at all, if you stand thar xooiin with
me all night. (Fiddles.)
Stranger How far do you call it to
the next tavern t
Trapper I reckon it's upwards o'
some distanee.
Stranger Do you keep any spirits in
this house ?
Trapper I guess thar is plenty down
in the graveyard. (Fiddles.)
Stranger How do you cross the
river ahead ?
Trapper The ducks swim across.
(Fiddles.)
Stranger How far is it to the forks of
the road ?
Trapper The roads ain't forked yet
in these diggings. (Fiddles.)
Stranger Where does this road go
to?
Trapper Well, it ain't moved a step
since I've been h'yar.
Stranger Why don't you repair the
roof of your house ? It must leak.
Trapper 'Cos it has been raining like
all creation for three weeks. (Fiddles.)
Stranger Why don't you mend it
when it's not raining ?
Trapper 'Cos then it don't leak.
(Fiddles.)
Stranger Why don't you play the
second part of that tune ?
Trapper 'Cos I don't know it ; kin
you?
Stranger I can.
Trapper You km ! Look h'yar,
stranger, any man who can play the seo
ond part of that tune kin go right into
Congress onto it.
Strange Give my the fiddle. (Takes
fiddle and plays the entire tune.)
Trapper (yelling with joy) That's
it.by golll .Do it again, stranger. Yahey,
yourself at home. You can stay a week
liv an' die h'yar if it's agreeable.
H yar, Sal, bring out that jug, an go
an dig some saxatrack root, an make
the stranger a cup of tea. Shake hands
again, stranger ! l$y goa, you re a
trump you are ! X'lay it again !
Judging by Appearances.
Resting over night at a pretentions
hotel, and breakfasting very heartily
there in the morning, was an aged
stranger whose unspeakably seedy at
tire, while it had been unnoticed in the
dark hours of his arrival, excited the
dire distrust of the officials of the house
s revealed by daylight. Sorely bus
icious was the superb clerk of the es
tablishment that the latter was to be
wronged of its dues by some trick or
plea of this venerable shabby guest,
and ween the latter, having dispatched
his meal, presented himself at the desk
with an admonitory cough, his doubts
became a certainty.
" I have had my breakfast," began
the aged man, deliberately, " and can
dor compels me to say "
" Hand over the money, you old
rascal," interrupted the clerk, in
rage.
" As I was saying," resumed the
stranger, placidly, " candor compels me
to inform you "
" uau a policeman! roared the cierk
to a bull-boy. " We'll have our twelve
shillings or you go to the lock up."
The boy started upon his errand
without apparent notice from him of
the seedy costume, wno, taking nis own
time to draw forth from some obscure
pocket a vast and greasy wallet, quietly
repeated:
" As X was saymg, X ve had my break
fast, and here's your twelve shillings ;
but candor compels me to inform you
that them mashed potatoes was lovely
perfectly lovely, sir; and I dont
miuu inrowiug tu a suiuing extra ior
em.
According to the account of a recent
visitor in bU Petersburg, winter in lius
sia is quite ainerent irom winter in
America. It commences early in No
vember, when the days and nights are
almost of equal temperature. The sun
is not on dutv long enough to anonm,
plish much; he rises about 'nine and
sets before three. The snow is not
deep, nor are the storms severe: but it
snows a little almost constantly.
Do Ton Want to Buy a Dog I
fcn Advertiser's Eiperlence-How Buffer
wu Mnde to " Bee
' I can't see it," lays Buffer. "No
body reads all these nttie advertise
ments. It's preposterous to think of
it"
But." said the editor, " you reaa
what interests you.
Yes
And' if there's anything you par
ticularly want you look for it ?'
" Certainly.
" Well, among the thousands upon
thousands who help to make up this
busy world of ours, everything that is
printed is read. Sneer as you please, I
da assure you mat printer s ins is mo
true open sesame to all business sue-
CH8."
And still Buffer couldn't see it. He
didn't believe that one-half of those lit
tle crowded advertisements were ever
read.
" Suppose you try the experiment,
said the editor. " Just slip in an ad
vertisement of the want of one of the
more common things in the world. For
the sake of the test I will give it two
insertions free. Two will be enough,
and you may have it in any out of the
way nook in my paper you shall select.
Two insertions of only two lines. Will
you try it ?"
Buffer said of course he would try it.
And he selected the place where he
would have it published crowded in
under the head of "Wonts." And he
waited and saw a proof of his advertise
ment, which appeared as follows :
" Wanted A good house dog. Ap
ply to J. Buffer, 575 Towser street, be
tween the hours of 6 and 9 p. M."
Buffer went away smiling and nod
ding. On the following morning he
opened his paper, and, after a deal of
hunting, he found his advertisement.
At first it did not appear at all con
spicuous. Certainly so insignificant a
paragraph, buried in such a wilderness
of paragraphs, could not attract atten
tion. After a time it began to look
more noticeable to him. The more he
looked at it the plainer it grew. Finally
it glared at him from the closely-printed
page. But that was because Tie was
the person particularly interested. Of
course it would appear conspicuous to
him. But it could not be so to others.
That evening Mr. Buffer was just sit
ting down to tea (Buffer was a plain,
old-fashioned man, and took tea at six)
when his door bell was rung. The ser
vant announced that there was a man
at the door with a dog to sell.
" Tell him I don't want one."
Six times Buffer was interrupted
while taking tea by men with dogs to
sell. Buffer was a man who would not
lie. He had put his foot in and he
must take it out manfully. The twen
ty-third applicant was a small boy, with
a girl in company, wno naa a raggea,
dirty poodle for sale. Buffer bought
the poodle of the boy and immediately
presented it to the girl, and then sent
them off.
To the next applicant he was able
truthfully to answer, "Don't waDt any
more ; I have bought one."
The stream of callers continued until
near ten o'clock, at which hour Buffer
locked np and turned off the gas.
On the following evening, as Buffer
approached the house, he found a crowd
assembled. He counted thirty-nine
men and boys, each of whom had a dog
in tow. There were dogs of every
grade, size and color, and dogs of every
quality of whine, yelp, bark, growl
and howl. Buffer addressed the motley
multitude and informed them that he
had purchased a dog.
" Then what d yer advertise for r
And Buffer got his hat knocked over
his eyes before he reached the sanctuary
of his home.
Never mind about the trials and
tribulations of that night. Buffer had
no idea there were so many dogs in ex
istence. With the aid of three police
men he got through alive. On the next
morning he visited his mend, the edi
tor, and acknowledged the corn. The
advertisement of " wanted" was taken
out, and in the most conspicuous place
and in glaring type, he advertised that
he didn't want any more dogs. And for
the advertisement he paid. Then he
went home and posted on his door,
"Gone into the country." Then he
hired a special policeman to guard his
property, and then he locked up and
went away with his family.
From that day Josephus Xsuner has
never been heard to express doubts
concerning the efficacy of printer's ink ;
neither has he asked, " Who reads ad
vertisemets ?"
An Editorial Story,
A good story is told upon some of its
readers by the Dayton (Ohio) Journal,
in the following: " We had a mind to
invite somebody to write some solemn,
dignified editorials for the Journal, but
we happened to remember that we once
employed one of the ablest editors in
Ohio to do that sort of thing for the
Journal, and three-fourths of our read
ers who observed the change at all
wanted to know why we allowed the
Journal to be so awfully dull. It would
amuse the publio if we should tell them
who was employed by us and who they
thought was so very dull. But we paid
the bill, and allowed people to wonder
how the Journal could be so dreary ;
sna tne man wno wrote for ns at so
much a column is one of the best edi
torial writers in the country. We shall
ten him the joke some ot these days, if
we think he will stand it. But it was a
funny experience to as modest people
as we of the Journal are. Our editorial
corps has chuckled over that experience
several times."
Gov. Safford, of Arizona, describing
the clasB of people that don't get along
in the West, says that " gentlemanly
farmers who commence without means
and have hired all their work done, will
undoubtedly be obliged to quit the
business ; and those whe have invested
the largest portion ef their crops in
gin or whisky at twenty-live cents per
glass, will hardly be able to meet their
obligations and inspire sufficient con
fidence to obtain credit in the future."
The Worcester Gazette eays that bank
defalcations hang on like the polonaise.
They are not ccnUned to the outskirts.