C 1'
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
vol. y.
1UDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, FA., THUHSDAY, FEBRUARY 25,
NO. 1.
1U I
Sonnet.
Joy cannot claim a purer Mine,
Nor grief a dew from stain more cloar,
Tlinu female frieudHhlp'i molting kiss,
Than fenialo friendship's parting tear.
How sweet the heart's full bliss to prove,
To hor whoso smile must crown the Btore
How nwoeter still to tell of woes,
To her wlm-so faithful brast would chare
Iu every grief, in every care,
Yhoxe High can lull thorn to repose 1
Oh, bloss'd bight, there is no sorrow,
Hut from thy broath can sweetness borrow ;
E'en to the palo and drooping flower,
That fades iu love's neglected Lour ;
Ecu with her woes cau friendship's power
Ono happier feeling blend.
'Tis from her restless bed to cro?p,
And sink like wearied babe to sleep,
Ou the soft couch her sorrows weop,
The boHoin of a friend.
1W0 GIRLS WHO TRIED FARMING.
A magazine tells ns in a rather pic
turesque, gossipy way of the successful
experience of "Two Girls that Tried
running." The ease, as it is put by the
fiivt -plaintiff who is the chonicler is
"Dorothea Alice Shepherd ami Louiso
Barney agt. Fute." The first was a
school teacher, nud the other a hired
girl. They had long been fast friends,
mid tiring of their lonely life, and of
merely serving others, they resolved,
after much dreaming and planning, to
help themselves to independence. To
two their own words: "We wanted a
home, wo wanted to be our own mis
tresses, we wanted a living that should
bo independent of the likes, dislikcs.and
caprices of others." And the opportune
moment came. A maiden sister of
Louise, who had saved $800 as a house
keeper, died and left hor this money. So
one day, soon ai'ter.she said, " Let us go
West!"
"It was a startling thought tome,"
says Dorothea " a girl who never had
planted a hill of corn, or hoed a row of
potatoes in her life, and who had a
hacking cough and a pain iu her side."
Still, she wanted the out door air and
freedom; and having first examined
nearly all the implements to be used on
a farm, and thinking them "as manage
able by feminine muscles as the heavy
kettles, washing machines, mattresses
and carpeti that belong to woman's in
door work, " she resolved to go. The
two went to Michigan, and, with the
school teacher's three hundred, their
capital on arriving was about a thousand
dollars not a very large sum with which
to buy and equip a farm. A cousin,
resident there, took them arouud view
ing, and they found, and at onco pur
chased thirty-live acres, without quite
using thou- whole means. "A3 a whole
it was a narrow, hilly stretchy outlined
by a weak skeleton of a fence; a forbid
ding surface of old tubble-ground and
wild turf, the distant hill-tops crowned
with tall mulleins. There was not a Hprig
of clover 011 the place; and, though thero
was an old brown house and barn, there
was not an orchard tree, nor a reminis
cence of garden."
Widespread consternation on the part
of the neighbors occurred over this
choice; and Cousin John, who stood on
the tower of expeiience, looked down
therefrom with rather malicious purport,
and discoursed at wearisome length of
, the poor soil. "Ho warned us," says
Dorothea, -"that we could never expect
to raise wheat. " But Dorothea had seen
nothing but wheat in the State, and
didn't believe in it, on account of a few
principles of chemistry, and let the ex
pert laugh at her "schoolma'am farm
ing." Before taking possession of their
farm tho two girls prepare themselves
to do so by earning a little moro money,
and by accumulating some practical ex
perience. Dorothea, therefore, hires out
to John for out-door work at $12 a
month, and Louise to a farmer near by
for housework ut S3 week. The former
equips herself in short dresses, and finds
everything hard at first, but nothing im
possible. With a small boy she cuts up
half a dozen acres of com, husks tho
same, and binds tho bundles. It tore
her hands, and then when she carried
the bundles to set them up they would
often fall in piocas. Espying two Ger
man women working in comHear by
she accosts them, and gets a hint: " Go
puy youself sumo palls of lectio ropo,
and not tear you shmall hands wit twist
ing stalks and marsh hay. It do take
more time to twist him than it do to
earn do leetle ropo."
Outdoor work aud oatmeal give the
schoolmistress an appetite, cure her
cough, and strengthen her muscles. She
learus tho man'a way of holding a plow
and turning a furrow, aud she aud tho
young boy plow out the potatoes, in the
potato harvest. She learns how to make
a corn-stack, and how to lay a load. She
picks apples, drives tho mower to cut the
seed clover, harnesses, milks, feeds aud
cares for stock, swings an ax, and files a
saw. She questions, and compares her
answers with whut she reads iu the agri
cultural papers. At length she gets
Cousin John to go over with his team to
her farm. Ha plows every inch of it ex
cept the door-yard aud wood-lot; but
protests against the nouesense of "fall
plowing." He protests still more be
cause Dorothea bargains for every load
of barnyard compost which the fanners
for t.m miles around would sell and de
liver. A friendly neighbor laughs at
Miss Shepherd, who's "agoin' to work
her farm with idecs. "
After a winter of school-teaching on
Dorothea's part, and further sewing
work by Louise, the two begin with
their farm in the spring, having earned
enough to put on a llorse and a cow,
liens, pigs, implements, grass and clover
seed, eto. Furniture is improvised for
the house; scalloped newspapors made
the window-curtuins; a little stand, with
a leaf added, made a table," and so on.
Yet there were a few books and unbound
magazines, and a picture or two. John
cojpes over and gong-plows fields do
voted to clover, and the girls
harrow them. They sow their clover,
timothy, and orchard grass so
thickly that John almost 'swears
at their wastefulness ; but Dorothea
doesn't liko tha spotted meadows she
has seen" the clover growing in dis
tinct patches and tufts, the grasses
-oarse, sparse and wiry." She wanted
BoVa flue, sweet grasses, and the plenti
f'll wmter dressing and thick seeding
a womphshed her wish. But iueo ex
tensive clovering compelled them to hire
pastiuago for their horse "Pampas,"
and to "soil" the cow "Gentle Maggie;"
but even this they found profit in.
While the spring tillage is not yet in
order they shoulder their axes aud dinner-pails
and proceed to cut the year's
wood, which they obtain by thinning out
the young trees. They have no rails for
fences, and bo buy logs aud havo them
sawed, a board fence in their locality
being the cheapest. Louise drove a
boxless wagon to tho saw-mill, ruling on
the reach. Of course Rhe strove, to look
very pretty, and her partner, who writes
of it, says "it was thought rather cun
ning ' than otherwise." They both de
cide it is no harder to unload the boards
than to dance several hours. Except
digging tho post-holes they built their
fence; took down nnd rclaiil other fences;
practiced driving their now horso over
the rough lots, while standing in the
wagon, where it was sometimes neces
sary to get out and remove logs to se
cure a roadway, aud came back loaded
with chips and summer wood.
There were three neres not tillable,
covered by a growth of white oak grubs,
which served them two years for " knit
ting work." These they cut down, trim
ming the tallest for fences,, aud burning
the stumps and refuse together. Night
after night iu tho summer they had bon
fires for this purpose, and twice tho
whole neighborhood 'was rallied to save
the fence and put out the flames. It was
a bit of gipsy life; a delightful outlawry
that they enjoyed. In early April
they bring lettuce and peas up under tho
snow, by aid of a thin cover of straw aud
somo loose, protecting cornstalks and
so the garden thrives. Dorothea de
scribes with great spirit a runaway drive
which Louise took with Fnmpns, merely
to break him in after a fractious spell,
and succeeded. The neighbors for some
time had plainly been of tho opinion that
" them two girls havo no business with a
horse;" but they probably changed it
after this adventure.
One lesson in their experience proved
that to raiso chickens, eggs, butter, aud
small fruits for a market, you nrnr.t have
a market. " Therefore, enterprising
little women, if you can secure laud
there, remain East with your dainty Jer
sey cows, your Leghorns and Dorkings.
Stay by the good markets. Your labors
will be no more arduous, while tho re
turns will bo double." Ono day when
Cousin John sends over a team and plow,
with driver, in return for sewing favors,
Dorothea persuades the man to let her
manage the plow. It was a very stony,
hilly piece, ami she soon puts Donald
back in her place. " AVe can plow, as I
said, but do not think it advisable." But
tho two girls dragged and marked the
four acres without help; and find they
can easier sew and make dresses, and
hire plowing and mowing done vitli the
results, than to Jo those last thomuolvoa.
And why not? "Dozens of farmers do
not scorn to do something outside, and
by a job of carpentering, mason-work,
threshing-machine, or the like, furnish
themselves with many comforts other
wise unattainable. "
There is ono other exploit that is worth
telling. The girls had been so often as
sured that their land "wouldn't grow
corn" they began to think in might bo so.
But they wish to know. So ihey com
post the guano of their hennery with
plasteruntil it is fine, dry, and inodorous.
"Such a task as that was! Lou would
stop and lean her forehead, wet and red,
upon her hoe-handle, and utter a bit of
the current but kindly neighborhood sar
casm. ' Two girls !' Don' you thiuk
so Dolly?" And Dorothea says: 'I
did think so sometimes." This home
made fertilizer was dropped by them
with a pail and spoon iu each hill and
if the opinions concering the soil, with
which they had been favored, were cor
rect, it had some effect; for their yield
upon the average " was ninety bushels
to the acre." "Aud let mo say, " says
Dorothea, "that iu most instances, as
in this, it has paid us to work our farm
with idees.' " Their superior melons,
turnips, savoys, and strawberries were
all the result of special work on (special
plans.
The upshot of this sketch, so cleverly
told, is that two wide awake, energetic
girls have made themselves an indepen
dent home, and make farming pay.
They found hard work, and still find it;
but their indoor coziucss and comfort re
ward them for it all. And Louise says
on behalf of disconsolate and aimless
wemen: "Now that men are coming
more and moro to sharo their occupation
with us, I do wish the thousands who are
tired and restless ami discouraged, and
haven't head enough to become doctors
and lawyers, and yet need money just as
badly, could see what a pleasant way of
living this is. I wish you could tell
them, Dolly." And so Dolly writes the
story.
A Tender Epistlo from a Boy.
A heart-broken youth named Frank,
iu Wilmington, N. C. , nine years old,
has lately found relief by inditing the
following letter to u playmate of the
other sex :
Mr Darmxo Lrcv : I must leave you
tomorrow, you used to lovo me but
your love for me is gone but my lovo
for you is just the same just thiuk Lucy
how your words cut my heart i would
give you things too as well as ltobert
but if you waut to sell your love for two
or three apples go a head i dont care a
straw lucy i love the ground you walk 011
i would die for you i love you lucy
please receive my vow.
P. S. if you here of me being dead
you drove me to it It says he dont care
a fig for you nore the rest.
Dressing Sheep.
A correspondent of the Indiana
Farmer says: If you waut good, sweet
mutton, kill your sheep without worrying
aud fatigue; the less exercise tho better.
Hang him up by the hind legs and clean
hini at onco; now change ends; hang
him by the head, and skin down tho tail;
the job is done in half the time, aud
done neatly. It is not the wool that
gives mutton the sheejiy taste aud smell;
it is the food during exercise aud after
being killed; hence the necessity of
speedy work until cleaned.
The Pittsburgh Commercial says it
is stated that Mr. Evarts is retained
by Yale College for Boecher, in his Til
ton trial, aa a testimonial to him, and
that Yale is to pay him $10,000.
Accommodations for Visitors to the Cen
tennial. Director General Gashorn, in his let
ter to the Ceuteunial Committee, says:
It is estimated that from 0,000 to 10,000
non-resident commissioners, exhibitors
and employees will require lodging for a
period of seven months in Philadelphia
during the exhibition, and that there
will be an average of 20,000 visitors in
the city daily, for whom comfortable,
cheap and convenient quarters must be
provided. What ability tho existing
hotels hi this city have for accommo
dating so great a number I am not ad
vised, but as so much of the success of
the exhibition will depend on tho in
ducements that may bo offered to the
public in this behalf I cannot too urgent
ly call tho attention of the committees
nnd citizens of Philadelphia to tho im
portance of considering this subject
without delay, with the view of organ
izing a system of hotel accommodations
that will bo sufficient for all reasonable
demands. The oflicial announcement
that amplo provision under proper regu
lations has been made will greatly in
crease interest in tho exhibition at homo
and abroad. Transportation will be re
quired for from -10,000 to 00,000 persons
daily to and from the park, and on ex
traordinary occasions double these num
bers may have to be provided. At the
Paris exhibition in 1807 there was an
average of 70,000 daily admissions, and
on one occasion the number reached
173,923. It is reasonable toestimate that
the daily attendance at Fuirniount Park
will be at least 50,0(10. It should be re
membered also that this multitude must
bo transported by private and public
conveyances, between tho hours of eight
a. sr. and twelve si., and return between
five and eight P. si. Tho question of
transportation for such great numbers
therefore becomes as difficult as it is es
sential. The attendance will largely de
pend on facilities that will be oflere'd for
the comfort and convenience of visitors.
Hence tho importance of a satisfactory
solution of the question. Iu the con
sideration of this question should be in
cluded the condition of the approaches
to tho park from different sections of the
city, aud also the tariff of rates for car
riages, hacks, cabs, omnibuses, and
other puMic conveyances, which should
be registered by law to preveut imposi
tion. It is apparent that these ques
tions, although local in their character,
are of greet interest to the genaral pub
lie, and are really tho most essential ele
ments to tho success of the exhibition.
In tho proper provision for their regula
tiou is involved the reputation of the
city and the good will of the public
toward the enterprise. The accommo
dation of visitors without tho exhibition
ground does not properly come within
the duties ot the national commission.
The commission vll, linwflvor, hooo,
as far as possible, favorable transporta
tion facilities for exhibitors and visitors
to the city, but tho special arrangements
for their entertainment while in the city
should be made by the citizens of Phila
delphia. The Handkerchief.
A young man called on a gentleman ac
quaintance, whom ho expected to find
alone, but was ushered into tho pres
ence of five or six ladies. Under or
dinary circumstances, this unexpected
array of beauty would not havo awed
or perplexed him, but just at tho time
he chanced to be laboring under a huge
chew of tobacco. As tho juice of the
vile plant filled his mouth, ho glanced
around in search of spittoon. No such
article was visible. He grew warm, and
questions addressed to himself he could
only answer with a nod or a shako of
his head. Just as tho tobacco began to
steid out of tho corners of his overbur
dened mouth, ho bethought him of his
handkerchief. Hastily drawing it from
Ids pocket, ho raised the other hand and
pointed toward the window. While the
ladies wero looking iu that direction,
trying to ascertain what had attracted
his attention, he quickly squirted the
load of tobacco iu his handkerchief,
folded it up, and placed it in his pocket.
Thus relieved from the cause of his em
barasBineiit, and feeling that his strange
conduct had excited the surprise of the
party, he exerted all his powers cf mind
and manner to remove whatever un
favorable impression he had created.
Ho chatted and laughed, told stories,
perpetrated puns, and was so agreeable
that the ladies wished ho could bo with
them always. His previous singular de
meanor was forgotten, and as jibo and
jest leaped from his lips each fair lis
tener inwardly wished that "Heaven
had made her such a man." He told a
joke on himself, and it was a good one.
They all laughed loud and long, and he
as loud aud long as any of them. Ho
laughed until the tears came into his
eyes, and he pulled forth tho handker
chief and wiped them away.
That handkerchief !
That tobacco-laden handkerchief.
In a moment of forgetfulness he wiped
away the tears of joy with that reeking
handkerchief !
" He has broken a blood-vessel !" the
startled women cried, as swift-winged
with fear, they flow for assistance. When
they returned, their entertainer was
gone. He is still gone, and anxious
friends are dragging the river for his
body, as he was last seen flying in that
direction. . .
For the Doctor.
In a little village of southern France
the physician quarreled with one of his
friends, a merchant, because the latter
had said that physiciaus were all asses.
The merchant soon after this fell ill, but
the doctor refused to see hini unless he
would take back his opinion of the medi
cal profession. Ten years passed on and
one day as the semi-paralyzed merchant
was sunning himself before his door, he
saw tho doctor pass. "Hullo, Dr. Bus
saraguo," he cried, "you can come to see
me now; I have changed my opinion."
"So much the better," replied the
doctor, "for unless you had I should
never recognize you." "Yes, I've
changed my opinion, entirely changed
it," continued the merchant; " formerly
I said physicians were asses.". "You
were wrong." "I know it; it is the
patients who ore the asses. " ' ' Why bo ?"
"Because if they were not asses they
would not send for the doctors."
EjHaphon a fop " AU' well that ends
The Great Farmer of the World.
A Sacramento paper publishes tho
following respecting the farming opera
tions of n man whom it denominates
"tl
'110 wi 1. jiiuil u nviiijiii,ui.n
lie largest farmer in the world," which,
nsidering that he runs " his farm of
considering
50,000 acres himself, personally superin
tending it all, tho appellation is cor
rect: Tho great farmer of tho world, Dr.
Hugh J. Glenn, of Jacinto, Colusa Co.,
California, has raised and harvested the
past season, on his own farm, 600,000
bushels of wheat. This would load
eighteen 1,0(10 ton ships, or 300 canal
boats. All this wheat ho has now in his
own warehouses, ready for shipment
when the water in the Sacramento river
rises sufficiently. The doctor pays $90,
000 freight to put his wheat in tho San
Francisco market. The doctor is a won
der to tho argricnltnral world and to
himself. Ho runs ninety gang plows
and a whole county's population in the
harvest field, with a dozen thrashers.
His farming is not confined to wheat
alone. Ho markets $100,000 worth of
stock each year. Dr. Glenn is a practical
fanner and manages all his immense
business himself. Ho can mend a trace
and make a key to an ox-bow with his
jaekjuiife, just as easy as drawing his
check for $100,000, which he can do
every day in the week. Dr. Glenn has only
experienced one surprise during the
year, and that was when a friend inform
ed him that a panic had entered the
land. Glenn was born in Augusta Co.,
Virginia.
This is a remarkable cane of farming
enterprise, aud is enough to make the
ordinary granger open his eyes in
amazement. Dr. Glenn, though born hi
Virginia, came to Missouri, when quite
young, with his father, Mr. Oeorge
Glenn, who is still a resident of Monroe
Co. Ho received a good collegiate edu
cation aud when near the age of maturity
studied medicine. Just about tho time
he received his diploma the Mexican
war broke out and ho enlisted in the
Monroe company which accompanied
Doniphan's expedition through New
Mexico, Chihuanua, etc., returning
when tho war was done. When the
California excitement came on in the
winter of 1848-0 he immediately set
about organizing an expedition across
the plains to tho land of gold. This was
successfully lauded, and after mining
for some time with great success (every
time he struck his pick ho brought out
color), the doctor went into speculation
in live stock, bought a ranch and ran it
with great profit. He added immense
tracts of land to his original ranch, and
becamej'what he now is, tho greatest
farmer 1 tho world. 'Dr. Glenn is about
iiuiun xt nuiuu x-x. ijrieiiji im auoil
forjry-ejftht years oh, of small ntuturf
b, ing about five feet seven inches i
e,
111
height, with a tough and wiry body,
(" "y.bluo avec. pos
sessed of an energy that no obstaclo can
surmount. Ho knows no such word as
fail.
If the doctor, however, has a weak
ness it is for draw poker. Ho bets with
the same voluminous impetuosity that
he does everything else. Ho has been
known to stand " pat " without a pair
and " raise" $10,000. On several occa
sions ho has lost immensely.
Habits of Childhood.
It is as important that correct habits
with respect to sleep and air bo formed
in children as that their diet shall be
properly regulated. For tho first tliree
or four weeks of its life tho infant sleeps
nearly all tho time, waking only to sat
isfy the demands of hunger. Even so
early as this in the child s life, its pe
riods of waking may be so arranged that
they shall come in the day-time and the
whole of tho night bo given to sleep.
The health of tho mother no less than
that of tho child requires this. There
are intelligent aud judicious mothers
who so train their infautsthat during the
first year of their lives they are invaria
bly asleep between six at night aud nix
in tho morning. This gives tho mother
twelve hours of unbroken rest from the
cure of her child. 'No mother or other
person who is nervous, irritablo and
worn cau soothe and quiet a worrying
baby. Ten chances iu eleven a good
natured baby will be made cross by the
unpleasant personal magnetism of a r.ick
or nervous attendant. So that tho high
est health of tho child requires that she
who takes care of it shall be cheerful,
buoyant, exuberant, and unless she has
abundant sleep and recreation this is im
possible. In youth a third part of the
twenty-four hours is spent in sleep, and
in many instances more than this. It re
quires longer to " knit up tho raveled
web of caro " in some children thau in
others (the same is true of grown peo-'
pie), and tlioso whoso habits in respect
to diet and exercise are normal should be
permitted to sleep as long as they will.
Tho habit of early rising is very valuable
and important, and should bo formed by
requiring tho child to go to bed so early
that ho will awake early without being
called. This is of importance in another
respect not often mentioned tho eyes
of those who go to bed early are not in
jured by exposure to artificial light,
which is most baneful to both children
and grown people when they are very
sleepy.
Long and sound sleepers, as a rule, at
tain the greatest longevity, and the rea
son is obvious. In sleep the braiiMtind
nerve centers recover what they have
lost during the activities of tho day, and
accumulate force to be again expended.
If tho drafts of each day are honored at
night at the bank of sleep, bankruptcy
will be long in coming.
Xewspaper By-Laws.
1. Be brief. This is the age of tele
graphs and stenography.
2. Be pointed. Don't write all around
a subject without hitting it.
3. State fucts, but don't stop to moral
ize. It's a drowwy subject. Let the
reader do his own dreaming.
4. Eschew preface Plunge at once
into your subject, like a swimmer into
cold water.
5. If you have written a sentence that
you think particularly fine, draw your
pen through it. A pet child is always
the worst in the family.
6. Condense. Make sure that you
really have an idea, and thon record it in
the shortest possible terms. We want
thoughts in their quintessence,
7. When your article is completed,
strike out nine-tenths of the adjectives.
Who Arc the Vulgar ?
Mr. James -Parton lectured beforo tho
Liberal Club, taking for his subject tho
question "Who Are tho Vulgar?" Ho
gave the following illustrations:
On a recent tour through Kansas, the
lecturer had the pleasure of meeting
a young English colonist, who was
scattering a fortune in his efforts to
plow up a few thousand acres of hard
prairie, aud tho chief delight of whose
life was to put on a dress-coat when the
day's work was done, and dine at 7 :30.
Woe be to him who in those wilds at
tempted to dress or conduct himself ac
cording to tho effete standards of tho
East. Sitting at the dinner-table of a
Colorado " hotel " recently, ho (tho
speaker) became suddenly conscious that
his vix-a vis, a youth of twenty-two, in
tho characteristic garniture of a broad
brimmed hat, leather hunting-jacket, and
shooting materials ad libitum, was grow
ing restive at souk thing ho (the lecturer)
was doing. Tho cloud on tho young
man's brow deepenod rapidly, aud in the
space of another minute he dropped his
knife, aud turning round to the rest of
the company, exclaimed: "Well, I'll
be hanged if I can stand this any longer.
Why, lie's eating pie with a fork 1"
David Crockett, after returning homo
from his first trip to New York, gave his
backwoods auditors his idea of Tho
First Gentleman in the Metropolis
" rhilip Hone is the moct gentlemanly
man iu New York, boys, and I'll tell you
how I know it. When ho asks you to
drink he don't hand you a glass, ho puts
the decanter 011 tho table, aud walks off
to tho window nnd looks out until you
have finished." It was curious how the
popular opinion in regard to these sub
jects changed with tho longitude. In
some parts of India and Chiua the ladies
all black their teeth iu much the same
fashion that we do our boots. A native
of that country, who was pointed out tho
beautiful wife of an Englishman, at some
public festival, remarked: "Tho Eng
lish lady is not handsome; why, her teeth
are as white as a dog's teeth, and her
cheek is tho color of a potato-blossom."
Much of this difference of opinion as
to the elements of vulgarity was duo to
erroneous conceptions.
A Prussian professor, who had lately
been intrusted by his government with
tho duty of examining into the subject
of shell-fish aud their successful propa
gation on the shores of tho Baltic, re
ported, after a patient examination of
the facts in tho case, that shell-fish had
a deleterious and treasonable tendency,
and were for those reasons not to be en
couraged. Tho evil consequences of
their free consumption were best seen,
tho professor said, in America. In that
misguided country tho people wero iu
the custom of frequenting seditious
gatherings known as clam-bakes, where
tutor gorging Mieiuauives ou a species of
clam, called the oyster, they proceeded
to talk treason, abuse tin government,
tear each other's hair, and fight like
madmen. In fact, the devouring of this
ill-starred bivalve made the poor people
crazy, and, for this reason, the learned
professor deprecated its furtlicr propa
gation in German waters. Another fact
that challenged their attention was the
contempt with which Europeans, and
especially Euglishmen, were apt to re
gard Americau customs and institutions.
Here every honest man was a gentleman,
and every honest woman a lady. In
many other things in art, science, and
in agriculture tho American peoplo
were inferior, but iu that ono they wero
superior to all the systems which tho
old world could boast. Tho extent to
which this thoroughly American idea
was reversed in older countries cannot
well be conceived by those who have not
visited them in person. No American
knew what it meant in England to bo
called "Lord." He (the speaker) had
seen a gentleman of worth and position
stand absolutely spellbound iu the pre
sence of a titled loafer, whose only hon
est claim to be noticed lay in tho extent
and variety of his kennels. Iu America,
so great, of late years, had become the
public disgust for great titles and great
fortunes, that a very rich man was no
longer respected. Of what use was it
to accumulate millions by years of in
dustry and patienco when a political
blackleg could come along aud steal a
double fortune in half the time. Tho
American of good repute is ever growing
afraid of displays, which formerly were
thought proper enough; afraid to wear
his own honest diamonds for fear of
being taken for a gambler or a person
who nad plastered a court- house.
Effect of Exercise.
It is found by observation that the
effect of " training," or the persistent
uso of gymnastic exercises, is to enlarge
tho heart and lungs both in size and
capacity. Archibald McClaren, superin
tendent of tho Oxforil gymnasium, and
author of " Physical Education," says:
" Ono of the army officers sent to me' to
bo instructed iu gymnastics gained five
inches in girth around the chest in less
than throe months. " That this growth
is not explained by tho mere enlarge
ment of the pectoral muscles is proved
by the increased volume of air which
the lungs are enabled to respire, aa is
demonstrated by the spirometer, and
pott-mortems abundantly show an in
creased capacity as well as size in the
heart and large blood vessels. The lungs
increase both in length and breadth,
forcing the ribs outward and the dia
phragm downwards. It is for this reason
that athletes and gymnasts are enabled
to make prolonged and violent exertions
without getting out of wind. The ca
pacity of tho heart and central arteries
being enlarged, they can accommodate
more blood. Their contractile power
being increased by this new demand
upon them, they are enabled to send on
the current through the lungs with in
creased velocity, and thus by their
greater capacity are able to oxygenize
the blood as fast as it is supplied to
them, and so no congestion takes place,
and no inconvenience is felt. The nor
mal capacity of the lungs of an adult
mule is about two hundred cubic inches.
It is computed that au enlargement of
tliree inches arouud the chest gives an
increase of fifty cubio inches of lung
capacity.
It is said by the "oldest inhabitant"
that such a midwinter drought as lias
oocurred in Western New York was never
seen before. It is to be hoped that it
may not be seen again.
THE UUSIXESS OUTLOOK.
The I'nnt nnd tlie Future n Viewed from
a t'oininrrrlnl Hlnmlliohtl.
The report of the Mercantile Agency
of Dun, Barlow & Co., in their review
of business, says : Chief among the
favorable signs of the times is tho gen
eral tendency toward economy. Ex
travagant expenditure, up to the end of
1873, was ono of the most alarming
phases noticeable in the community, anil
even had tho process of reversing that
tendency been more rude aud disastrous,
the panic aud its succeeding months
of depression will not have been iu vain
if tho necessity for retrenchment has
been made apparent. That this reduc
tion in expenditure has been almost uni
versal is evidenced by tho restriction of
trado during the year of which so many
complain. Otherwise it is difficult to
account for tho dull times iii a country
so abundantly supplied with every essen
tial of prosperity with crops unsur
passed, and an area under cultivation
never equaled; with a productive power
in its manifold industries beyond belief
twouty years ago, and a marked pro
gress in all material elements. Had
thero been any widespread distress, ony
failure of production, scarcity of labor,
or continued disturbance of tho monetary
system of tho country, the depression of
tho past ycarmightbe attributed toother
causes thau now appear. What is tho
legitimate trade of the country founded
on but the actual demands of the com
munity? If these wants are less in ex
tent in ono year, or a series of years,
than in another, tho legitimate trade
i3 just so much influenced. It is obvi
ous, therefore, if the depression of tho
year can be attributed to no worse cause
than a judicious economy, there is no
great ground for apprehension. On the
contrary, the only true path back to re
newed activity and a safe prosperity is
in this direction. It is true that tho pur
chasing power of tho peoplo iu many
localities is impaired by the condition
of numerous industries now paralyzed
from previous over-production. Time
is needed to restoro these interests to
their normal condition, and we must
wait patiently until tho equilibrium be
tween supply and demand for these pro
ducts adjusts itself. If in the delay no
greater calamities occur than have been
apparent in tho past year, there will bo
cause for congratulation.
Still another hopeful sign is the steady
effort to at least largely reduce indebted
ness, if not entirely to liquidate it.
While among railroads and largely ex
panded corporations this has been found
next to impossible, we are persuaded
that, among merchants and traders, the
amount of current indebtedness, as com
pared with this time last year, is vastly
decreased. We have had abundant op
portunity note cms process 01 liquida
tion, and through it had very nearly
reached its'mimmuin prior to tho pur
chases for the spring trade, we are per
suaded there has been many a prosperous
time in the history of the country when
the realizable assets of tho mercantile
community were far less in proportion to
the liabilities than now.
A close conservatism in the granting
of credits is another prominent feature
of encouragement, and iu this onr
peculiar position enables us to speak
somewhat authoritatively. We find the
shrewdest merchants not content, as
they formerly were, with markings aud
ratings of credit, with mere generalities
and meagro reports; but they demand
close estimates, the fullest details as to
assets and liabilities, particulars as to
antecedents, character nnd capacity,
which iu the largo majority of cases wo
aro not only able but too glad to
supply.
Wo are conscious that there is much
in tho past year to discourage, and,
seemingly, to delay a return to a healthy
condition of trade. Prices for many
products havo materially declined, larere
losses havo been submitted to, and sales
have been largely restricted. Those
eases aro rare in which the surplus in
business ha3 been much increased as the
result of tho year, while the cases are
numerous whero parties have barely
held their own; und many, if they
honestly look their alfairs in tho Into,
must admit a loss.
Liquor in New York.
There was a lengthy session of the
New York Assembly committeo on inter
nal affairs, convened for tho purposo of
tilting into consideration tho excise bills
now before tho Legislature. Tho sub
ject of a uniform excise law for the
whole State .is an important one. The
liquor interests were represented at the
meeting by a largo delegation, also the
beer and ale dealers. It is understood
that tho principal points of tho bill pro
posed by Mr. George A. Stauf, of New
York, will be adopted by both houses.
This bill provides iu the main that com
missioners of excise iu each city, town
aud villugo of tho State shall have pov-er
to grant licenses for a period of six
months and not more than a year at a
time.
The liceuso fee is set down a3 fol
lows: For snlo of malt liquors, light ami na
tive wines or beer not less than $20 nor
more than $30.
For sale of spiritous liquors, wines,
ales and beer, not less than $30 nor more
thau $50.
For hotel, having 100 lodging rooms,
not less than $100 nor more than $150.
Hotels having more than 100 lodgiug
rooms, not less than $150 nor more than
$250.
In case of refusal to grant a license the
party will be entitled to hearing beforo
the courts, and if no valid objection ap
pears, then the commissioners are com
pelled to grant such privilege.
It is made the duty of the sheriff, his
deputies and the police authorities, to
report any infringement of the law, but
the commissioners are empowered to
prosecute and recover penalties in the
courts. The bill also provides that the
commissioners of excise, in each city of
the State, shall be appointed by the
mayors thereo, and confirmed by the
common council, and for good cause re
moved by the mayors. No mention is
made of Sunday traffio.
As an instance of the depreciation of
property in tha oil regions, it is said
that wells that onoe brought $250,000
cau now be purchased for 910,000.
Items of Interest.
It is said Venus has a mountain five
times as high as our highest.
Moro snow is said to have fallen in
France this year than for twenty years
previously.
Mark Twain says the Sandwich
Islanders nre generally as tinlettered as
the back side of a tombstone,
According to a French journal there
nre still living in France and its colonies
23,000 men who have fought under tho
first Napoleon.
A Pennsylvanian has served thirty
seven years in jails and prisons, and says
that he prefers it to keeping houso with
an ill-tempered wife.
The total number of loeomotivo steam
enginos in tho world is said to be 45,007,
of which 14,223, or nearly one-third, aro
in the United States.
A little girl upon her return from a
children 'ft party, being asked if she had
a good time, replied: "Yes; but thero
wasn't much boys there."
" Go it, old fellow, " paid two idlo
senpegraces to an honest laborer nt v ork.
"Work away while we play; sow and
we'll reap." "Very likely, my lads,"
replied the old man, coolly; "I'm sow
ing hemp."
" J. Gray Pack with my box five
dozen quills." Thero is nothing re
markable about this sentence, only that
it is nearly as short as one can be con
structed, and yet contain all tho letters
of the alphabet.
Thero is a man in a Chicago hospital,
a victim of a railroad accident, whoso
head is alive, but his entire body seems
to be dead. Knives have been stuck
into his body, but they produce no effect
upon him whatever.
Tho Kansas City (Mo.) Journal says
that there-is a young lady living in Clay
county, about five miles from the city,
twenty-five years of age, who has for
years shed her finger and toe nails aud
her teeth eyery year.
A sliort-horned steer was recently
butchered in Detroit that weighed 4,100
pounds alive, and yieled three thousand
pounds of dressed beef. This is believed
to be the largest animal ever slaughtered
for beef ou this continent.
High moral teaching having fa'led to
stop a daily deficit in tho cash account's
of the Lawrence American, the book
keeper next tried what a steel trap would
do, and made tho thief show his hand
within twenty-four hours after.
A would-be school-teacher in Toledo
recently replied to a question by ono of
tho examiners: " Do you think tho
world is round or flat? " Well, somo
people thiuk one way and some another,
and I'll teach round or flat just as the
liarent.s nlpnse "
A Western lawyer, noticing tho pres
ent of a cup to a brother lawyer, says :
"Ho needs no cup. He can drink from
any vessel that contains liquor, whether
tho neck of a bottle, tho mouth of a
pickle jar, the spilet of a keg, or the
bung-hole of a barrel.
A countess was arrested in Paris, a
day or two before Cliristmas, for shop
lifting. Her raids had been very profit
able. She pleaded that she was separated
from her husband, had little means, and
as her pride compelled her to give New
Year's presents, she was driven to theft.
A Western granger shipped a barrel of
flour with the address, " Queen Victoria,
Windsor Castle, England." He waited
long and putiently for an autograph let
ter of thanks, and was much chagrined
the other day at learning that his flour
had been sold at auction with a niasis of
unclaimed freight some time beforo.
Kalakana remarked to a friend, before
leaving Washington, that the ladies of
that city appeared to him " very for
ward." One -of his attendants, who
chanced nt the moment to espy a fashion
able dressed female with an enormous
bustle, expressed the opinion that they
seemed to him principally " backward.'
It is safe to assert that a leaso for 990
years has never run out in this country,
but this has recently occurred iu Eng
land. Au estate let for that term has
reverted to tho representatives of tho
original holders. The land is at Wool
wich, and was church property 1,000
years ago, but was leased to tho crowu
for military purposes.
Tho population of Paris, numbering
about 1,800,000, is said to consume
about 4(5,000,000 gallons of wine, nearly
2,000,000 gallons of alcohol and alco
holic liquors, 500,000 gallons of cider
aud 0,800,000 gallons of beer somo
twenty-eight gallons of wine, beer, and
spirits a year for each of the inhabitants,
including women and children.
A lady residing in Newark Valley no
ticed the oven doors of the stove open,
On .retiring she closed them. In tin
morning, on going out in the kitchen,
she noticed a peculiar smell emanating
from the oven. On opening the door
nho found that her two favorite cats
had crawled in the night before, she
closing them in, and they had been lit
erally cremated.
A New Orleans minister recently mar
ried a colored couple, and at the con
clusion of the ceremony remarked :
" On such occasions as this it is cus
tomary to kiss the brido, but iu this caso
we omit it." To this nnclerical remark
the indignant bridegroom very per
tinently replied: " On such an occasion
as this it is customary to give the min
ister ten dollars, but in this caso we will
omit it."
A peculiar libel caso is to be tried be
fore the Chester county (Pa.) courts. A
Mr. William Beuner posted a notice on
his property forbidding a neighbor,
named Lewis H. Hammond, or his
family from trespassing on his grounds.
Hammond retaliated by a similar prohi
bition of Bonner from his grounds, add
ing the words: "As I have only four
turkeys left," and therein lies the al
leged libel.
A serious objection to the use of West
ern bituminous coal is found in the ex
cess of sulphur it contains. This mineral,
it is well known to iron masters, is ex
tremely destructive to iron, and the
presence of it .in fuel in any quantity
speedily destroys the stove iu which it is
used. ' Inventors have taxed their powers
in vain, so far, to provide a remedy for
this, but unless the sulphur can be reT
moved before the coal is burned, no very
great eucoeu is likely to attend their
efforts!