1 I ' - ' ' '"- I I- I s I .11.,
fifcNRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and 'Publisher. ..... J
NIL DEPPrnANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. .II I. ,
RIDGWAY, . ELK COUXTY, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1874.
NO. 51.'
."
' '" Cupid's rnplls. '
Bmall need have you nymphs to be trying
Diana the huntress's -whim,
To send feathered arrows fast flying,
Tricked out in toxopbllite trim.
Finall need for yonr aim to be steady,
The string of your bows to be tough :
For man's subjugation already
You've weapons enough.
For down in each delicate dimplo
A world of sweet waywardness lies,'
And searchers, the sage and the simple,
Stay "road what is writ in your eyes.
With red lips that rival the roses,
A smile by which gods had been charmed,
Neat anhle of course, one supposes !
You're thoroughly armed,
Leave bows to the lover of Tsyche ;
. His arrows are terribly true,
And fatal to hearts that they strike ; he
Will surely do battle for yon. . . .
ItiB ally is each May-lily maiden,
Yours the conquest would certainly be
Were tlie arch gleam of glances love-laden
Your sole archery.
A SIGHT OF HORROR.
To have been in Paris during those
Inst dnys of the Commune is an experi
ence never to be let go from one's
memory.. Years hence, when the ten
der grnss is growing over the. bloody
trenches in the Champ do Mars, and
fresh-faced daisies are smiling, and the
heavens are gracions and sweet, and a
gay crowd drifts by with chatter and
laughter, I shall live over in dreams
those terrible days I shall see the star
ing corpes.at my feet. I shall shndder
nt the tonch of icy hands, and my blood
will grow cold with horror, or hot with
indignation, as I seem to hear Again
the brutal remarks of men from whose
bosoms everi kindly sentiment had for
the time been driven forth. And more
than all, that night'of "fire with its lnrid
scenes, its atmosphere of ghastly death,
its nameless apprehensions.
We were four Americans, imprisoned
in Paris,- partly through carelessness,
partly through our own ignorance, and
all of us fraternizing in our dire ex
termity. Of the quartet. Mrs. March was the
nominal queen her daughter Diana
really so. Roger, her nephew, was the
escort of the rmrty, and his Consirt.
Diana's devoted lover. Lastly, the
writer, an idle wanderer, caught in the
great tide which surged Faris-ward,
drifting happily into the good will of
the Marches. Besides ourselves, a
Russian gentleman, who was there for
no better reason than that having seen
Diana's bright eyes the year before at
St. "Petersburghyhe had followed them
as the planets follow the fitars.
But in the presence of tragedy love
shrinks away affrighted, and holds his
peace, and if he worships still, does so
in silence and with lowered breath.
Behold us then in onr quarters in the
boulevard Malesherbes on the after
noon of that fatal "Wednesday, when
the last culminating horror of fire was
the only thing that had remained to be
added to the ghastliness of the week.
The flames from the Tuileries ran up
the sky like nothing so much as the
rosy streamers of the northern lights.
They spread out fan-shaped, in long
tremulous lines the lights wavered
from palest pink to lurid crimson. The
red light shone on Diana's white face,
and gave it a strange new beauty.
And as the darkness came on the
fantastic horrors of the scene increased.
The boulevard was thronged with peo
ple. Borne on the fluctuating wind
came the clamor of the fnsilade ; now
and then a shell screamed through the
air, silencing all minor noises. At about
nine o'clock we went.np to the garret
windows to see at a greater distance,
and there all along the roofs which ran
in long lines in either direction, we saw
people busy watering the slates, and
sprinkling "wet sand about. So wide
and brilliant was the conflagration that
we could flee the anxious faces catch
the fierce expression. From the streets
below floated curses and groans.
O, this wicked, wicked ' Paris'!"
sobbed Mrs. Mai ch; under her breath.
" Don't you thin, Mr. Ernsteinf it is
a judgment upon them for their sins ?",
I was spared an answer by an inter
ruption that,, unnerved" as we were by
all we had gone through, nearly upset
us. A party of eight gendarmes rudely
broke in upon us, and demanded in
harsh tones why two of our people were
out upon the roof.
Our Russian connt leaned quietly on
the high-backed armchair where Mrs.
March sat trembling.
" Messieurs, the young lady and her
cousin went out but for five minutes,
for a taste of fresh airv"
" Parbleu I ' ejaculated the leader.
" It is best, then, to do without fresh
air for a season, though mademoiselle
should lose her beauties ;" and so say
ing he approached his bleared and war
beaten visage close to Diana's prpud,
beautiful face
Young Roger was between them in an
instant.
"Standoff, sir! Insult the young
lady t your peril. "V . -. ' '"
"Sacre!"
The Frenchman's musket was brought
to a level. His tigerish eyes glittered.
"For God's sake, -gentlemen," said
M. Ivanhoff, "think what yon are aboutl
Roger, curb your temper. M. le Cap
taine, these ladies and ' this gentleman
are Americans here under the protec
tion of the American minister."
The Frenchman sullenly lowered his
musket, scrutinized, us all keenly, and
said: . . .- :.
' It is well. I. Soldiers, allona "
Tramp, tramp and clatter, clatter
they went down stairs. ,
A dead silence fell on us for an in
stant. Then Diana breathed" out :
" O Roger 1" '-.-.;
She wavered, she would have fallen,,
but his arms received her, -
I saw Mr. Ivanhoff look . at .them, I
noticed the expression of profound and
hopeless despair which, -.crossed his
noble countenance, t He tanned .away,
leaving Diana sobbing on her cousin's
shoulder. " . .'. ... "
She was a brava girl, this high-spirit'
ed, thoroughbred creature. . This was
the only time in all those fearful days
that she broke down; And now she
presently rejoined ns in the rear saloon
where we had gathered, and where Mrs.
. vf. ,v
March, poor lady, was trying to cheer
ns by that feminine remedy, a cup of tea.
Diana smiled sorrowfully as we made
room ior ner. ,....
it ir .
xou nee, 7ne ami it, my courage
won t noia out much loiger," she said,
quietly. .. ,
Mrs. March looked at her an instant.
ane then tasted her tea. But instead of
drinking it 6he set it down and turned
white. .Diana sprang up instantly.
"Are you ill, mamma ?'.'
Mrs. March smiled weakly, gasped
out a no, and fainted. This was the end
of our piteous attempt at hilarity. The
mother and daughter went to.-their
rooms. Within half an hour a thun
dering knock shook the doot
" Put out your lighte and throw open
your shutters I" was the order, and we
were forced to obey. The ladies came
down into the salon then, and there we
watched the long night through. Mrs.
March dozed uneasily, and Diana
looked wretohedly anxious. - We all
crouched silently by the windows, and
saw the flames break out here and there
along the street, heard the execrations
and howls of agony as- sort poor
wretch, eaught in the act of setting fire,
was led away to the next port. Then a
shot and we knew it was all over with
him. .'"'"'
Once a sharp piercing woman's shriek
drove us all to the window instantly.'
mere, in "the midst of a blaze which
had suddenly sprung np, in the. centre
of the blinding, merciless light stood a
tall beautiful girl, her black hair stream
ing on her shoulders, her face alight
and neble.
-"What have yon -in -your 'pocket ?"
yelled the soldiers who had taken her in
charge. - v ,
" Only a little kindling for my fire."
sue said, witn a sad smile.
They sprang npon her. they clutched
at her like wild beasts, and down fell
the hidden bottle of petroleum, and up
went the most demoniac yety that ever
smote my ears. It was well that a bold
officer had charge of her. The musket
shot which rang out five minutes after
ward was kinder than those madmen
would have been. Think of our tender
hearted women compelled to hear and
know all this I
But worse was to come. " It wanted
only an hour of daylight when ' Mrs.
March, moaning and tossing uneasily
about, half utterjjd a wish for some
cooling refreshing drink. ..,.'
Our own stores were exhausted, but
there was a wineshop around the cor
ner. The seller knew us and wonld
oblige ns in our need.-
" I will go 1" said Roger Mareh. M.
Ivanhoff arose.
"Remain here, M. Roger, and let me
have -the pleauure of serving the ladies."
"Thank yon I" returned Roger, in
thw fuullnh pixcio of (yuuth, X4 i maj?
place to care for my relations."
" You must not go," said Diana. "It
is as much as your lives are worth to
venture .into the street." -
Her tone was full of tender anxiety,
her sweet face beseeching and sorrow
ful. -
The count saw and thought it was all
for his rival. He went swiftly up to
Diana, took her hand, bowed low over
it, and turning hurriedly, went out.
With an exclamation Rogor followed
him. .
We ran to the window to watch. ' The
whole street was as light as day, and
we saw the two side by side, saw them
Btopped once, ' twice - nd allowed to
pass on. They entered the shop. A
little interval Of silence and waiting,
and they came out again, and arm in
arm came down the street. '
Just then there turned in from the
grand boulevard a squad of the Ver
saillais, fierce-looking, bloodthirsty
men, their passions only whetted by the
carnage in which they had shared.
It was under our bay-window that our
friends were stopped and interrogated.
We saw the bottle -pf wine , -plucked
from Roger s breastpocket. .
" It is only wine, monsieur!" said
Roger. . .
'.'Devil's wine!" said the command
ant, and an ominous growl went up
from the soldiers. ,
, .Swift as thought, Diana broke from
my detaining hand and fled down
stairs. I followed speedily, and was in
time to see her fling the house door
wide open. But too late, ah, forever
top late for such heavenly meditation
as she proposed. '
, la the space of an instant Roger was
wrenched away from ' his friend and
faced against the wall. The- muskets
were raised, the shot screamed through
the air. -. v-
" My God, O my God!"
The cry was from Roger's lips when
he stood unharmed. M. Ivanhoff had
sprung forward, and, interposing his
own body, received the. whole fire. . .
A cry rang out:
-" Soldiers, hold your hands!"
I knew the voice. '
" Captain Diderot, is it you?"
Felix Diderot was an old fellow-student)
and knew me welL He listened
now with regret to my explanation.
'A' cruel blunder. Guards, carry
the man inl"
They took up M. Ivanhoff and laid
him ia the hall. Then the tide ebbed
and we were alone alone in the pres
ence of the great mystery which every
where hems in our mortarbeing.
' The pale gray dawn shone in. It fell
on the gargoyles and griffins of uncouth
shape. which decorated the-stately hall;
Land it lay on the upturned- face of the
dying man. , . -.
. Diana, knelt-"on" the marble floor by
his side, blindly striving fo. stanch the
blood wliieh, ' flowing- from" 'lis noble
heart, stained her" white garments.-'
'lt is useless, bnt it does not mat
ter. I die willingly,. Since it was to
save him whom you love," he" said,
while his eager eyes looked their last
upon her face. - ' " . ., . .
.' But something1 rang- ouf low and
clear something that even her heart
broken sobB- could not" hinder. . .
.0 Ivany Ivan, it is 4ou 'mhom 1
love I" - . . - .- ... '. .
-A sudden illumination overswept iiis
' " My love, my lpve r' he faltered,
'- Ami -so, on" ftjde. pflhat.Tiew atjdH
wouuenui nappmegsiie noatea out for
ward the otter shore. ,
London has 117 square miles, 500,000
houses and 3,250,000 inhabitants.
The White Races of Africa.
An ancient white kingdom in Africa,
oi wnicn we nave many hints in lire
cian history, is that known at Ethiopia,
These Ethiopians, who may be said to
nave perisned Deiore iiistory was born,
and who are described in the vague, ex
aggerated' language of tradition, seem
to have been a powerful and enterpris
ing race.
They are spoken of in the Hebrew
Scriptures under the name of Cusb.
though it is probable that these Scrip
tural Cushites inhabited southern
Arabia. The Sanscrit writers refer to
them as existing in southwestern Asia.
Land as subsequently inhabiting eastern
virica. rne nrst country is described
in the Furanns under tha name of Cusha
Duripa; the latter is called Cusha Duri
pa wi hout.
In Greek literature we have several
references to them,, both as to their
power and to their aggressive spirit.
It is not impossible that the ancient
Egyptians may have descended from
this primitive stock, who may have
crossed the Staits of Bab-el-Mandeb,
and descended the Nile valley. As to
the origin of races so utterly a'ntendant
ing history, however, there is but little
value in any conjecture.
There is an existing race to the south
of Abyssinia, which it is possible may
be descended from the same Ethiopian
kingdom of the far past. This people,
known as Gallas, number now from six
to eight millions, and have extended
their rule over a large portion of East
ern Africa.
They all ride on horseback, and
armed with spears, swords and shields.
They practice agriculture, und possess
herds of grazing animals. Their religi
ous ideas are far in advance of the dis
tinctive African races, They have
priests, and definite ideas of a heaven
and a hell. The serpent is one of their
main objects of worship, and they re
gard this animal as the mother of the
human race. Serpent-worship was a
prominent feature in the old Ethiopian
creed, which seems' to closely connect
the religious conceptions of the Gallas
with those of Ethiopia. In other fea
tures their customs resemble those of
the early Asiatics, seeming plainly to
point to rneir origin in some ancient
colony of the whites.
It is, indeed, probable that Africa
was widely traversed in ancient times
by Asiatics, most likely the people of
Arabia, who have never lost their in
fluence on that continent. - They alone,
of white races, penetrate the country
with impunity, and have long possessed
a monopoly of the African trade. The
difficulty which Europeans experience
in traversing Africa is, in fact, largely
owing to the hostile influence of the
Arabs, who fear a loss of their nrivi-
iti;es. 1
Dr. iiarth states that not less tnan
250,000 Arabians were permanently set
tled in Bornou when he visited that
kingdom, and this population seemed
to have come from the east at a very
early period.
Arabian traditions claim that ancient
kings of Arabia marched armies through
Africa to the ocean, and waged wars
with Magrib or Mauretania. We have
in the first book of Strabo a statement
sustaining this tradition.
- In support of these historical glimp
ses of an ancient civilized possession
of Africa, are remains of arts and cus
toms in races apparently too savage to
have ever originated them. The abili
ty to smelt and work iron has been
considered an evidence of considerable
civilization, and was not possessed by
many nations of antiquity who other
wise ranked high. Yet this art is in
common use in many parts of Africa.
Dr. Livingstone describes the smelt
ing furnaces of the Africans, in the
region near Lake Nyassa, as being clay
structures about six feet high and three
feet in diameter. Their mode of oper
ation g is ; primitive, yet they produce
excellent iron, so good that the natives
pronounce English iron rotten in cora
parsion. Dr. Barth found this art to prevail in
Central Africa, and the travelers who
have explored the sources of the Nile
speak of the skill of the natives in
blacksmithing and other civilized arts.
Dr. Livingstone fonnd that the natives
manufactured hammers, tongs, hoses,
adzes, fish-hooks, needles, etc. He
describes them as very skillful in spin
ning, weaving and in the manufacture
of pottery. They employed admirable
fishing-nets, blacksmiths bellows, fish
weirs and baskets, and many other ap
pliances of civilized nations. To-Day.
About Whales and Cables.
The recent brake in the submarine
India cable between Kurrachee and
GwacLuv yttm oansed by a whale. On
winding in the eable unusual resistance
was experienced. After persevering the
body ol an immense whale, entangled
in the cable, was brought to the surface,
found to be firmly secured by 21 turns
of 'the cable immediately above the
tail. Sharks and other fish had partially
eaten the body, which was rapidly de
composing, the jaws falling away on
reaching the surface. The tail measured
12 feet across, was perfect, and covered
with barnacles at the extremities. Ap
parently the whale was, at the time of
entanglement, using the cable to free
itself from parasites, such as barnacles,
.which annoy them very much, and the
.cable hanging in a" loop over a sub
marine precipice, lie probably with a
tulip of his tail .twisted it around him,
and thus came to an untimely end.
Singular Custom..
' There has been some excitement of
late about the ease of a shepherd in
Somersetshire, England, who was sen
tenced in the summer to six months
hard labor for , stealing his master's
lambs. His defense was that the lambs
were " surplus " . lambs the results,
that is to say, of some exceptional fe
cundity on the part of certain ewes
and that . they were a customary shepherd's-
perquisite. The evidence be
fore .the , magistrate's went against the
existence of -the custom, and the shep
herd . wasi eonvioted accordingly. His
return to liberty was made the occasion
of a demonstration, and the man was
presented with a purse of money, to
which, ,it is said, Mr. Morley, M. ir.,
contributed.
The Gentleman In Black.
About two years ago a Missouri river
steamboat left Fort Benton with a party
of tough and Well-to-do miners on
board. There were also among the
passengers three or four " bracemen,"
and before arriving at Sioux City they
had generally cleaned out the pockets
of the miners. The boat stopped at
Sioux City to " wood up," ana found
among others waiting to get on board, a
ministerial personage, with the longest
and most solemn countenance on him
you can well imagine. He was dressed
in a suit of block, wore a white stove
pipe hot and "choker" collar, orna
mented with a black neck-handkerchief.
.
Well, he got on board, and the boat
started down the stream. For two dnys
he was unnoticed by the other passen
gers, bnt one of the sports at last
thought he saw a chance to make some
thing out of the sad and melancholy in
dividual. The latter would once or
twice a day step np to the bar and with
a voice that was as mild and gentle as
a maiden's, ask for " A -glass of soda, if
yon please," and then he would pull a
roll of bills from his pocket and take a
quarter from their interior layers. Then
he would say to the bar-keeper, as if
under a thousand obligations, " Thank
you, sir," and walk aft again as if about
to commit suicide.
This thing had gone far enough, and
the gambler I have spoken of at last ap
proached him. '.
" Would you like a game of seven-up,
sir?"
" Seven-up ? What is seven-up ?
Please tell me."
W Vtt a ivAma r9 nnnAm fersx. 1-nnm
just to pass away the time; let us play a
game."
My good mend, 1 do not know any
thing concerning cards; I can not play
them."
" Well, come along; we'll show you
how to do it." And the mild gentleman
after some further protests at last con
sented. They showed him how twas done.
and they played several games. The
gentleman in black was delighted.
Gamblers want to know if he will play
poker, five cent ante, just for the fun
of the thing. Gentleman in black says
he can t play the game, but they explain
again, and the poker commences. The
gentleman in black loses every time.
There are six men in the , game; each
one deals before the gentleman in black,
and ante has been raised to a dollar.
Gent in black deals awkwardly, and
looks at his hand. . . ;
Next man to dealer bets five goes
around, and bets are raised to one hun
dred dollars. Gent in black sees it,
and makes it a hundred better. Gam
blers look surprised, but will not be
dred dollars a - thousan' draw
out-except a Pike's Peak miner, who
sees and calls him: " What have you ?"
" Waal," answers the gent in black, " I
have let me see waal, I have four
ones." .
The gamblers, who had BUBpicioned
something before, now look wild, and
the light, begins to dawn in the miner's
mind. He leaned across the table and
said, in the most sarcastic tones he
could command:
" Oh, you heave, heave yer ? You
gol-durned sanctimonious son of a
gun I
The gent got up from the table and
handed one of the gamblers his card.
It read, " Bill Walker, New Orleans"
one of the most successful sharpers in
the country.
Do You!
Encourage your own. If you have
any pride in the prosperity of your own
city or village, patronize its merchants
and mechanics in preference to those of
any other place. You cannot expect
outsiders to be attracted to your stores
and shops, so long as you patronize
the traders and artisans of other places,
to their exclusion. See to it that your
local and county papers are well sup
ported with subscriptions, advertising
and job work. Nowhere does the pub
lio spirit of a place tell so conspicuous
ly as here. A well-supported news
paper gives a village a good name far
and wide. So long as your own State
supplies first-class religious, political
or literary papers, it is the duty of public-spirited
men to support them in
preference to periodicals, no better,
published in other States. We are not
speaking for ourselves in this matter,
for we have no cause to complain. New
England people, at home and abroad,
are giving the Transcript a liberal and
flattering patronage, and our subscrip
tion list steadily increases. But we no
tice some of the thriving villages of this
State are not taking the interest they
ought in their local papers, of which
little can be expected so long as they
are kept half starved. See how a little
extra patronage will enliven them.
Portland Transcript. . ,
. . . . 1 . i
The First Patent.
Samuel Hopkins was the first person
who ever received a patent from the
United States government It was
granted July 80, 1790, and was for the
manufacture of pot and pearl ashes.
The third was to Oliver Evans, of Phil
adelphia, so famous for his inventions
in high-pressure engines, of whose in
vention President Jefferson remarked
that " it was too valuable to be covered
by a patent, and there should be no pa
tent for a thing no one could afford to
do without after it was known." This
was said in December of that year. For
many years afterward the Patent-office
was but a clerkship in the State De
partment.
A Salem, Mass., newspaper recalls
the fact that the Siamese Twins were
arrested at Lynnfield, Mass., in Au
gust. 1831. for breach of the peace.
While staying for a few days at the
hotel, enjoying themselves hshing on
the pond and shooting in tha woods,
with a young Englishman as an attend
ant, they were much annoyed by the
eager curiosity oi visitors, who dis
tirbed their intended seclusion. Col.
E bridge Gerry, and a Mr. Presoutt, of
tttonenam, went toward them in a field.
but were warned to keep away. Irrita
ting words followed, and the twins.
after firing a blank , cartridge, struck
I tne Colonel with, the Dun of a gun.
The Old Women of Hanwell.
In the course of a description of ball
at the Hanwell Luantio Asylum, a
writer in the London Daily News ob
serves: "There are two ball-rooms, but that
on the ground-floor is set apart for the
old women and the less vigorous of the
young, who, though able and undenia
bly willing to foot it to the best of their
ability in the waltz and polko, were not
equal to much exertion not that any
woman of the company would confess
herself to be old. Among the male
lunatics the tendency seems to be to
overstate their age when they are asked
the question (a hale, pippin-faced old
gentleman confidently informed " me
that he was born in the year 1485), but
the women err in the opposite direction ;
with the majority of the sex it seems ts
be one of the few compensations of
madness that they are impregnable to
the assaults of time. On the previous
occasion mentioned, I had seen women
old enough to be grandmothers lively
as kittens, and joining with a will at a
round game of ' Puss, puss, give me a
drop of water,' and other companies of
still more venerable dames going in
heart and soul for kiss-in-the-ring ; but
they did not kiss each other they were
not mad enough for that.
" There were lots of dolls about, and
a boy-sailor doll was exhibited for this
branch of the service, his place of re-
Eose during the time he was off duty
eing a soft couch of grass in the cen
tre of the ring, and when one old girl
dropped the handkerchief to another
old girl, and the latter had hobbled after
the former and brought her back, both
old girls raised the sailor from the
ground, and, imprinting a smack on his
wooden lips, laid him down again. I
was delighted to recognize in the ball
room devoted to the aged ladies one or
two patients who were vastly improved
since the time of the summer fete. I
immediately knew again one whose face
was beaming with delight as she stood
up for a quadrille ; when I last beheld
her she was a melancholy spectacle, and
behaved in a manner calculated to cast
a wet blanket on the whole festivities.
Heaven only knows what it meant, but
she hurried about hither and thither,
holding in her hand, and at arm's
lengtn, a bunch of withered grass, all
the while sobbing and crying as though
her heart would break. Another old
woman, who could not be said to be
blithe now, but was at least contented,
I had observed five months since, trav
ersing the lawns and flower-paths, un
ceasingly occupied in searching for
something that was never to be found.
I was afterwards informed that, no mat
ter where this old lady was, she so em
ployed herself, and that years devoted
to the fruitless service had so bowed
fefiei'ratJi WrlleVmmn?
had evidently taken it into her mad
head that she was on the right track at
last now with a quick, now with a slow
step she proceeded so bent that from
the rear she looked like some four
footed creatnre in petticoats, while
every now and again she made an eager
downward dart, only, however, to re
gard the nothing she had picked up,
shake her gray head despondingly, and
on again.
Change of Color.
Sudden shocks occurring to human
beings have frequently changed the
color of their hair from black to white
in a single night. A physician of Ber
lin, a strong, healthy, and less than
middle-aged man, sent his wife and one
daughter to epend last summer at a
watering place. The day that he ex
pected a letter informing him of their
arrivol, there came one saying that his
daughter had been taken ill very sud
denly, and was already dead. The
shock was terrible, and instantly his
hair became entirely gray. He had to
visit some patients that same after
noon, and they scarcely recognized him.
The other case was of a man thirty-five
years old, living in the .Netherlands.
He was one day passing the canal in
ivoneruum, wuere ae saw a cimu strug
gling in the water. He plunged in and
brought it to land, but it was already
dead by the time he had rescued the
body. Bending over it to try to restore
life, he discovered that the dead child
was his own son. The blow, so sudden
and unexpected, and coming upon him
when he himself was so muoh exhaust
ed, turned his hair entirely gray, and
left him scarcely recognizable.
The Intelligent Storks.
A great fire once broke out in a little
German town near where stood a tower
about eighty feet high, which formed
part of the fortification on the town
wall. On the summit a stork's nest
had been built for so many years that
the building had received the name of
" Stork's Tower." At the time of the
fire there were three unfledged birds
in the nest, and the poor little birdies
were in great danger.
But the old storks soon showed their
good sense and their love for their
young, for by turns they each flew off
to some fish ponds just outside the
walls ; here they took a good dip in the
water, and filled their beaks with as
much as they could carry away ; then,
notwithstanding the smoke and flames,
they flew back to their little ones,
poured the water from their beaks over
them and the nest, and at the same
time shaking it from their feathers.
Thus during the whole day did these
faithful birds aot as a winged fire bri
gade till toward evening, when all dan
ger for their young and their nest was
over.
Badly Frozen. Three convicts who
escaped from the Waupun, Wisoonsin,
penitentiary, tell a story of fearful suf
fering. They were employed in the
paint shop at Waupun, and made a key
and a saw out of case-knives. . Having
sawed and unlocked themselves, they
scared the guard by pointing a broken
key at him, which lie mistook ior
pocket pistol. In crossing the river
they breke through the ice and all three
got wet. But they managed to get to
the shore on floating cakes of ice. They
had nothing but prison ooats on, and
the thermometer was 12 or 13 degrees
below zero. They reached Oshkosh
after four days' hiding and four nights'
travel, so badly frozen that one or two
of them will lose their leet.
The Accident that Happened to Lucy.
Everybody wonders how Luoy Wills
lost her lover. She is a very pretty
girl as well as accomplished and intelli
gent. Dr. Hampton was a great catch ;
and when he came to Nortonsburg,
Lucy was not the only girl who deter
mined to " set her cap for him, and
Mrs. Grundy wondered who would cap
tivate him ; but very soon the young
physician showed a strong preference
for Lucy, and pretty little Lucy was
delighted. Every few days th6y were
seen together, riding, walking, sailing,
etc., and the little boys counted the
dimes they made carrying water melons
and things from the doctor to Miss
Lucy. But all at once his attentions
ceased. For a time he moped about in
a very quiet way ; then he began visit
ing Avice Leigh, and the village gossips
wondered why it was so. But you see
they didn't know anything of that
buggy ride Lucy took with the doctor,
the accident that happened, nor what
came of it. Lucy knows why she lost
him, and so does the doctor, but she
will never tell, and he's a perfect gen
tleman. You must understand the doctor had
not fully declared himself, but he in
tended doing so, and concluded 'twould
be so nice to whisper the sweet words
in her ear as they dixve along the
shady turnpike. He invited her to drive
out with him, she accepted, and away
they went.
They were very gay, quoting poetry
and making love in that roundabout
way that comes just before the declara
tion, when the doctor's horse backed
his ears, shook his head, kicked, and
did so many queer things that Lucy be
came frightened, and, before her lover
could prevent, jumped irom the buggy.
Dr. Hampton, after quieting his horse,
went to her.
"Darling, are you hurt? he kindly
asked.
Lucy blushed.
" I believe I think I've sprained my
my foot. It was very foolish in me
to do so, but 1 can walk to tne buggy,
and we must go home;" she attempted
to walk, but fell back powerless in her
lover's arms.
You are hurt," he said; " you must
let me see your foot;" and she put out
her little foot clad in a neatly-fitting
boot.
" Your shoe will have to come off."
he said; "The ankle is swollen quite
badly."
" O no, no, go away, she said, as he
began unlacing her boot. " You shall
not take off my shoe." But here the
keen pain struck her again and she
fainted, while her lover removed the
tiny boot. But immediately he started
back in amazement, for there before his
bewildered gaze were the five tiny toes
oJL JfisladY-love Deemng out from an
immense noie at one extremity oi ner
stocking, while at the other was a little
round heel peeping out as slyly as the
five little toes; and then the doctor
knew his little dream was over, for of
all things he admired neatness in a
woman.
When Lucy recovered, he carried her
to the buggy, was kind and gentle,
drove her home, but the intended pro
posal was lett unsaid.
Xiucy knew she had lost him. and
reasoned within herself, " He had no
business to take off my shoe." And
he thought to himself, " She had no
business wearing stockings with holes
in them."
Accidents will happen, young ladies.
and the safest plan always is to be
neat, and not think as Lucy did. " O.
those holes will never be seen, they're
away down in my boot," lor if you do.
your fate may some day be the same as
hers.
A Touching Tribute.
Chang and Eng are, or is, dead.
They, or he, were, or was, associated
together most intimately in the mani
fold walks of life since 1811, or there
about. In their death they were not
divided. Indeed, they were never di
vided at all. Chang and Eng wis a
very harmonious baby, boy and man,
They deeply sympathized with each
other in every vicissitude through
which he wits called to pass. The most
intimate, even the most umbilical, rela
tions existed between Chang and Eng,
He lived together and he died almost
simultaneously. No two brothers were
ever so intimate with each other as was
Chang and Eng. For more than sixty
years they were so closely associated
and so entirely sympathetic that the
touch which awakened sleeping Chang
also aroused Eng. The caresses, it is
said, that Chang bestowed npon Mrs,
Chang were equally enjoyed by Eng,
though Mrs. Eng was not on such
terms of equality. When Eng got into
a rage, the wrath of Chang was almost
equally kindled. When Chang mourned,
Eng lamented. When Eng rejoiced,
Chang was happy.
Chang and .Ung was a farmer, and he
died at their home, in Mount Airy,
Surry county. North Carolina. The
Chang part lost his noid upon time on
- .4.'.....
Friday night last, and on Saturday the
Eng part 01 mm Dreamed ms last.
Chang had been unwell since last fall,
and sought consolation in the flowing
bowl. It is said that one cup of kind
ness answered lor both Chang and Eng,
wnicn iuct maue DiDuiousneBS eoonomi.
cal lor the brothers, though it appears
that Chang chose in most cases to be
the medium between the liquor and the
brethren. But, after all, in summing
up between the two brothers, now that
they are no more, we deem it proper to
say that in the little differences that
may have arisen between Chang and
Eng our sympathies were always with
Chang. Chang ever appeared to ns to
have more energy than Eng. Chang,
we believe, has long been accustomed
to do the work of the concern, and Eng
to have taken half of the reward.
Chang, in proof of this assertion, did
the dying of the firm. We are not sure
that Eng would have ever died of him
self. There isn't the slightest reason
to believe that he would have. In
point of fact, Eng never had any hold
on oar affections. Eng may have been
interesting from a scientific point ol
view, but there was - always, to our
thinking, something lacking in his
character ,
A well-organized gang of train rob
bers has been discovered in the West.
Items of Interest.
An Irishman being asked in court for
his certificate of marriage, showed a big
scar on his head about the . size of a
small shovel.
A marriage in a buggy lately took
place in Virginia ; but the vehicle soon
afterward overturned, and the bride
became a little sulky.
An old lady from the country, with
six unmarried daughters, went into
Augusta, Ga., the other day, hunting
for the Patrons of Husbandry.
Why are young ladies at the breaking
np of a party like arrows? Because
they can't go off without a beau, and are
all in a quiver till they get one.
In Ceylon, the marriage ceremony
is performed by tying the couple
together by the thumbs. In this coun
try they are usually put together by the
ears.
A gallant, in noticing a grocery kept
by a woman, says: " Her tomatoes are
as red as.her cheeks, her indigo as blue
as her own eyes, and her pepper as hot
as her own temper."
In a late severe gale a lady asked a
neighbor if he was not afraid his
house would blow away. "Oh, no,"
was the answer, "the mortgage on it
is so heavy as to make that impossible."
Mr. Jones carries his money in his
hat, and the other day, when he saw
the entire supply going off on the
winds of heaven, he bitterly remarked:
" That's what you get with your infernal
inflation."
" Anna, dear, if I should attempt to
spell Cupid, why could I not get beyond
the first syllable ?" Anna gave it up,
whereupon William said; " Because I
came to o-u, of course, and I cannot go
any further." ,
It is a nnrinna fant that nil the Presi
dents of the United im; vui iuiu
each but one Christian name. The
moral thus taught to parents is obvious
don't use front names recklessly in
naming your babies.
A young beau, at his sister's evening
party, began to sing, " Why am I so
weak and weary i wnen a mtie Drotnei
brought the performance to a close by
yelling out : " Aunt Mary says it's
cause you come home too late every
night.1
We have statics and hydrostatics,
pneumatics and rheumatics ; but none
of these exactly represents the feelings
of young ladies when they see a new
bonnet or a new baby, or hear of
another ball or a fresh party this is
ecstatics.
An editor who had been keeping a
reoordof bigbeets, announces at last that
"the beet that beat the beat tnat beattne
other beet is now beaten by a beet that
beats all the beets, whether the origi
nal uueb, due ueetj uxai uuuij buu uctb, ui
the beet that beat the beet that beat
the beet."
Miss Rosa Sands, daughter of Rear
Admiral Sands. TJ. S. N., in charge of
the Naval Observatory at Washington,
received the White Veil of the Nuns of
the Order of the Visitation, at Mount
De Sales Convent, Baltimore county,
Md. A very large assemblage witnessed
the ceremony.
The New York Tribune Almanac.
for many years a standard authority in
political, statistical and commercial
matters, is this year better than ever.
Several new and valuable departments
have been added, making the work in
dispensable. Send twenty cents to the
Tribune, New York, for it.
How muoh our home comforts are de
pendent upon the capacity of our ser-i
vants finds daily illustration. Old lady
at a dinner party old lady deaf and
provided witn ear-trumpet old lady
interrogated by well-meaning waitress.
Will she have some squash, I Via
lady irresponeiva, but evUnda her ear
trumpet toward waitress, who deposits
squash therein and passes on.
Man 500,000 Years Old.
The New York Nation condenses from
an English scientific periodical some
interesting speculations of Dr. Alfred
Russell Wallace on the probable an
tiquity of the human species. They
may well startle, it says, even tnose
who have long since come to the con
clusion that 6,000 years carry us but a
small way back to the original homo.
In fact, in Mr. Wallace's reckoning,
6,000 years are. but as a day. He re
views the various attempts to dete'mine
the antiqnity of human remains
or works of art, and finds the
bronze age in Europe to have been
pretty accurately fixed at 3,000 or 4,000
years ago, the stone age of the Swiss
lake dwellings at 5,000 to 7,000 years,
" and an indefinite anterior period."
The burnt brick found sixty feet deep
in the File alluvium, indicates an an
tiquity of 20,000 years ; another frag
ment at seventy-two feet gives 30,000
years. "A human skeleton found at a
depth of sixteen feet below four hun
dred buried forests superposed upon
each other, has been calculated by Dr.
Dowler to have an antiquity of 50,000
years." But all these estimates pale
before those which Kent's cavern at
Torquay legitimates. Here the drip of
the stalagmite is the chief factor of
our computations, giving us an upper
floor which divides the relics of the
last two or three thousand years from a
deposit full of the bones of extinct
mammalia, many of which, like the
reindeer, mammoth and glutton, indi
cate an arctic climate.
Names out in the stalagmite more
than 200 years ago are still legible ; in
other words, where the stalgamite is
twelve feet thick and the drip still
very copious, not more than a hun
dredth of a foot has been deposited in
two centuries a rate of five feet in
100,000 years. Below this, however,
we have a thick, muoh older, and more
crystalline i. 0., more slowly formed)
stalagmite, beneath whioh again, " in a
solid bieccia, very different from the
cave-earth, undoubted works of art
have been found." Mr. Wallace as
sumes only 100,000 years for the upper
floor and about 250,000 for the lower,
and adds 150,000 for the immediate
cave-earth, by which he arrives at the
" sum of half a million years that have
probably elapsed since human work
manships were buried in the lowest
depths of Kent's cavern.