iiili 7 HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NIL DESPERANDUM. Two Dollars per Annum. VOL. V. EIDGAVAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1875. NO. 14. Old Timoi. There's a bountiful song on the slumberous air That drifts through the valley of dreams : It come, from a climo wbe.e the roses were, Aud a tuueful heart, and br glit brown hair, That wavos iu the morning beams. Soft eyes of azure and eyes of brown, And suow-white foreheads are there ( A glimmering oros and a glittering crown, A thorny bed and a couch of down, Lost feotes aud leaflets of prayer. A rosy leaf and a dimpled hand, A ring and a plighted tow ; Three golden rings on a broken hand, A tiny track on the snow-white sand, A tear and a sinless brow. There's a tincture of grief in the beautiful eong That sobs on the summer air, Aud loneliness felt in the festive throng Sinks down in the soul as it trembles along From a clime where the roses are. We hear it first at the dawn of day, And it mingles with matin chimes ; lint years have distanced the beautiful lay, And its memory floweth so swiftly away, And we call it now " Old Times." THE CREW OF ST. CATHERINE'S. On a bright August day in the year 18G0, young Tom Bradstreet, in his little skiff, rowed up and down Lake Chewas Bot, looking at tho University crews as they practiced for the race that was to take place the next day. On the right, beneath the edge of the green woods, Tom's glad eyes beheld the men of St. James, pulling their forty two strokes, and flying along like nn arrow. Further off was the crew of Cam worth, spinning toward the upper end of the water. To the loft were the mag nificent fellows of Ilolmon Hall; and last and fiuest of nil, in the middle of the lake, coming, as Tom thought, like "chain-shot," were the giants of St. Catherine's their six long oars dipping as ono, their six brown backs swaying like clockwork, and their magenta head kcrchiofs rising and falling together. Tom's heart leaped as he saw them. His admiration of this crew had made him its warm partisan, and he never doubted but that its men would win tho race. Tho " stroke-oar " was a young Hercu lea named Windham, as handsome and ngilo a fellow as ever led a race. This was Tom's hero. He had watched him with an enthusiasm that glowed and grew every day, till it amounted to a kind of worship, and he had haunted , tho race course on his skiff, and hung about tho boat-houses for a chance to hear the pplendid champion speak, or jierhaps win a glance of his eye. Windham was too busy to notice his boy-admirer, although he was very kind hearted, and ready, on occasion, to serve the poorest being that needed him. St. Catherine's crow curio sweeping on. Tom, all on fire with excitement, leaped up and fixed his eyes upon his hero. Ho could see his great muscles, his rich brown skin, his eager, handsome face, his magnificent motion. In a parox-t yarn of ardor md delight, he leaped to his feet and swung his hat, and shouted and hurrahed like a crazy boy. As ho did so, he slipped from the thwart, nnd tiiteherl forward nn ln'n fun The skiff lurched. The large stone that was used sometimes to anchor it, rolled overboard into the deep water, entan gliug one of Tom's arms in the rope, as it went down. In a moment the boy was helpless, dragged under die water by the running oils. The crew of St. Catherine's heard the splash, but rowed on, thinking it was only a boy's frolic. They shot past the skiff just as Tom disappeared beneath tho surface of the lake. " Hold on I" cried Windham; "back water 1 stop her 1" .Tho boat, with its six strong men, rowed back to. the skiff. The instant Windham's-eye caught sight of the taut rope h saw the nature of the accident. Carefully raising- himself, he stepped into the skiff and motioned his men to pull away. Then seizing the rope, he drew it rapidly up, and soon the arm of the drowning boy came in sight under the clear water. - But the wet coil slipped Tom was gone 1 Quick as thought Windham dived after him. while his crew, waiting nn tlioiV oars at a little distance, kept anxious watah of the spot. Every man was ready to plunge in to the rescue, if it should bo necessary. In a minute Wind ham oame np He had Tom in his arms. He placed him- in the skiff, face down, took in another man from the race-boat, aud set him at work to resuscitate the almost lifeless boy, while he grasped the oars and made for the nearest boat house. He had scarcely pulled a hundred strokes when he met another skiff, con ; taiuing two men. '. ," " See here 1" oried he, " here's a boy ' that's nearly drowned. Do you know who he is V "It's quite likely he's my newy," said one of the men, in a cold and heart loss tone. " That's his skiff you're in; let's see him," and the man rowed along side. "Yes, that's him," said he, peering over the thwarts. "He's allers gettin' himself inter mischief." "Where does he livef" roared Wind ham, full of wrath at the man's coolness. " Point out his house, will you I" ''It's right behind yer over there," pointing to a small cottage at the edge of the lake, close by. Windham turned abruptly, and shot toward the shore, with his eyes, ever and anon, fixed npon the helpless form that lay, with its sodden brown hair, in the bottom of the skiff. It was some time before Tom came to himself, so that be fully realized what had happened, and who were about him. The young man had carried him to the cottage and re vived him, and when, weak from ex haustion, lie opened his eyes, tho first person he saw was Windham. The poor boy, in all his hard work, had never experienced much that was beauti ful and gentle, and now the sight of the hero of his devotion standing by him and looking on his face, made him smile in spite of his weakness. The tears filled his eyes, and he feebly put out his hand. Windham took it in both of his. "Did you get me outt" said Tom, In a faiut voice. I beliv I did, Tom," tu Wind- bam. "Lie still now, and don't talk, and you'll soon be all right again." Tom gazed on his gallant preserver. His look was more eloquent than a thousand words. All his childish adora tion and boy-idolatry of manly strength, all he could feel of affectionate gratitude spoke in his eyes, and beamed from every feature of his face. How could he ever do anything for his hero, to show how much he thanked and loved him that toll, strong, self-reliant young athlete. Windham was touched by the clinging look of the boy, and seemed to divine what was in his mind. " There, I must go now, little fellow," he said. " Like enough you'll save my life sometime, and then we'll be even. Good-bye." The night came on. Tom was out of pain, but very weak. He lay staring up into the darkness, thinking of Windham, and wondering what he could do to serve him when he got out again. To-morrow the race would bo rowed, and then Wind ham would go away. How deserted he would feel then I The brave, handsomo champion of St. Catherine's had kindled his heart, and brought a glory into his dull life; and when he went the world would be emptv and lonesome. Tom even thought of going secretly after him, aud staying near him. Perhaps Windham would take him. If ho would, he would will ingly be his slave. Nine o'clock struck aud so did ten and so did eleven and so did twelve and yet Tom did not sleep. He lay ner vously awake, thinking nnd pondering and imagining. All was still save the chirping of the crickets nnd the voices of the frogs. on the shores of the lake. The moon arose, and its pale beams came in through the tops of the tall spruce trees, and trembled upon the rough floor. Still Tom thought and thought. Just at three o'clock iu the morning he heard a hoarse half whisper. It was pretty loud, and it came from the adjacent room, occupied by his uncle and one of his uncle's cronies the two men whom Windham had met upon the lake. These persons were caterers, or rather sutlers, who made money by selling pastry and driuk at boat and horse races, and large field assemblies. Like every one else, vhey had their preferences among the rivals of to-morrow, and had risked their bets on favorite crews. "Maxwell! Maxwell! are you awake?" said the voice. " Yes," replied another voice, in a horse whisper. "When do the clubs eat breakfast ?" " About five o'clock." " Bo you sure that soup's doctored ?" " Yes, no mistake." " Good I a dose of that wiL settle Windham blast him 1 He's the back bone of his crew; and if we can only weaken him, they'll lose the race sure. It'll weaken 'em all, I'm thinking. We'll rake in our money, eh ?" "That's sol" ' There was a pause, during which Tom strained his ears to hear more. " Say, Maxwell, did ye shake the can when yo put the stuff in V " Yes, I punched a bit of a hole, and blowed the powder in this little quill ; then I shook 'em lively. I did so to 'em all. They're fixed!" "And Betsy won't get the wrong ones ?" "She's more a conjurer than a cook if she does. I hid all the rest of the cans." "Then we've got 'em sure !" By this time Tom was sitting bolt up right in bed, with his eyes and mouth open to their widest extent. The horror of his discovery chilled his blood. His uncle, then, had arranged to drug the St. Catherine's crew ! He sat a minute, shuddering, and trying to think what to do. Ho did not hesitate long. His opportunity had come to do something lor w muiiu.ru i - Carefully displacing the clothing that lay upon him, he put his feet out of bed, and stood upon the floor. Then he noiselessly put ou his pantaloons and his jacket. That was all. He did not dare to take his shoes. His hat was in the lake somewhere. He crept towards the door. Ho feared that his uncle was awake. Ho raised the latch very softly, and felt tho night air upon his face. It was moonlight without, and beautifully clear. He closed the door behind him, but to his great alarm, tho latch clicked. Ho thought he heard a stir iu his uncle's room. Then ho ran like a frightened deer. His body was weak, but his heart was full of desperate resolution. Two skiffs, with their oars in them, lay upon the beach. Tom grasped the oars of his uncle's skiff, placed them iu his own, pushed off upon tho lake, and rowed with all his might towurds the bnat-house of tho Kt. Catherine's crew. He had hardly taken a dozen strokes when the door of tho cottugn burst open, and his uncle leaped out, calling, in a terrible voice : "Tom! Tom! Tom!" But Tom pulled furiously on, and uttered no sound. Ho heard his undo rush toward his boat, and he heard his frightful curses when he discovered that his oars were gone. The next moment Tom was hidden from view by the foliage at a bend in tne shore. He knew that his strength must fail him soon on tho water, and now turning sharply in, he ran his boat into the bushes, and hiding his oars, took to the land and the forest. He had a long run before him. His head was dizzy, and his limbs trembled. He feared he should be too late. He heard in the distance the calls of his enraged uncle and Maxwell, but he turned a resolute face toward the St. Catherine's quarte-s and pressed on. The crew of St. Catherine's had gath ered for breakfast. Before them was their plain and simple food, and they were all merry and hopeful. The serv ing woman came in, bringing their hot broth. It was steaming aud savory, and the men's sharp appetites welcomed it. The golden light of the coming sunrise rested like a glory on the fine muscular forms of the six young boatmen. They had rested well, and were in splendid condition to win. Windham, handsome us a Spartan prince, sat at the tureen and ladled out the fragrant food, ; Somebody cried: " Windham, ' how about that boy you saved yesterday I Heard from him since I" ' , "No; but I fancy he's all right. - The little rascal was pretty well used up, though." "He's a devotee of yours, I believe;" "Ho? Why do you think so?" " O, it's the same fellow. I've soon him standing about here, staring at you like a little owl." Windham laughed. "I must send this morning and find out how ho is. Jackson, here's your soup. Smith Armitage Wilbur aud your health along with it. Here's to our victory to-day !" At this instant quick, staggering steps were heard upon the porch without; the door was pushed open, and a wild little figure rushed in. It was Tom. "Stop! stop I" he gasped, holding his hand to his side. " Stop I stop I Don't eat! don't!" and immediately he fell down on the floor. The young men could not account for this strange visit. Was the boy crazy ? His bare feet were covered with mud, his clothing was torn, and his face and eyes looked ghastly and terror-stricken. Windham sprang toward him. "What is it, Tom?" and he passed his arms around him, and tenderly lifted him up. " The broth is poisoned !" "Poisoned?" Every one started to his feet. " Yes," panted Tom. " It'll make you sick ! 'Twos put in a purpose I I'm so tired I ran most all the way. Did I get here in time ?" "Time!" cried Windham; "you're right on the dot, my boy. A minute more and it would have been all day with us. Fellows, look hero ! This little chap ran all the way from his house to warn us against an enemy's meanness. Ho has saved us the race ! Here's a hero for you. Look at him. The young men gathered round- Tom and shook hands with him, and praised him for his friendship and true grit. Windham placed him iu a chair, and they gave him water to drink, and bathed his face.' In a few words he told them what he knew about the drugged soup. Just then another step was heard on the porch, and the evil face of Tom's uncle looked in. He was greeted with a cry of rage, and two or three of tho young athletes rushed forward, as if they would tear tho man to pieces. But he did not wait till they could lay their hands on him ; for as soon as he saw that his villainy was known, he took himself out of the way with all haste. " Men," said Windham, after they had questioned the boy, and learned his brief story, " little Tom has paid his debt. He and, I are quits. But we all owe him a good round reward. He is an orphan. That rogue of an uncle never has treated him decently, and it won't do now to leave him in reach of his revenge. The man shall bo indicted for this business, but we'll take care of the boy. We can afford to start him in the world. What say you shall we 'adopt him?" "Aye, aye, aye!" burst out all the crew in chorus. And fortunately the generous purpose of these bravo youths did not end in boys' play. Passing over tho day of triumph on the lake, that made Windham and his classmates glad ; passing over the trial and conviction of t he two rascally sutlers, again we see our friend Tom, ten years older, a senior at St. Catherine's, and a member of the University crew. He proved one of the first men of his class, and is to-day studying hard in his profession. If industry and faithfulness deserves reward, the world will yet hear of him in his chosen calling. Youth's Companl on The Story of the Pleas. A man has just died in Paris who had his hours of glory, and whose fame has reached the utmost parts of the earth. He was the colleague of the man who breaks paving stones with his fist, and of the man who swallows a sword a jug gler, known as "the man with the fleas." Jean Lesilha was a decided character. For many years he exhibited his learned fleas throughout France, making them do a number of astonnding feats. Among other things he marshaled them into companies, massing them much like sol diers, then turned them into horses, and made them draw a tiny chariot across a table. It was really wonderful to see tho scorning intelligence of these insects. One day ho was going through his per formance at the Clichy fair, when a big dog rushed up and seized him by the calf of tlin leg. Jean Lcsillia had or dered his Hens into their box, and held it in his hand. Tho nip of tho dog at his leg made him turn in haste, and in his fright ho dropped hisboxof fleas. Their natural instincts mado them jump upon tho dog for safety, nnd nt tho same time their master gave tho dog a vigorous kick, which stmt him howling away. It was not until ho saw the dog running that he comprehended the loss of his pets. Tho crowd began to laugh in the heartiest manner; but it was no laugh ing matter to Jean Lesillia. His occupa tion was gone; he had been despoiled in a moment of his means of earning his daily bread for himself and children, aud the poor fellow sank down upon the ground weeping like a child. A crowd is always touched by such exhibitions of feeling, and a subscription was taken up, which, after all, amounted to only one day s receipts. What was he, then, to do? It required a year's hard labor to train a new lot of fleas, and Jean Lesillia had not the means. When he had first done so he was a single man; now he was married and the father of several young children. He turned rag picker, and during the winter worked to support his family. But the life did npt suit him, and chagrin and the se verity of the season soon brought him to his grave. He died in his modest garret, and the children he had so hand somely supported before the loss of his learned fleas are now objects of charity. Followed. He was a rich American in Paris who discovered that an upleasant looking fellow followed him every day from morning till night. He became uneasy and diplomatic inquiry was made wheth er the man who watched was connected with the police, As a result of much negotiation the unpleasant person was arrested, and proved to be a gatherer of butts of cigars : The rich American, only smoked famous brands and only smoked thorn half up, and it paid to follow him. The San Francisco Vigilance Committee. Referring to the notable days of the Vigilance Committee in San Francisco, Gen. Sherman, in his personal memoirs. tells how they were first started : In 1850 the lgilance Committee took tos session of San Francisco. Politics had become a regular, profitable, corrupt business. There was such a thing as a sheriff paying $100,000 to be nominated to an office tho nominal salary of which was $12,000 a year for four years. James Casey, who was aiterward hanged by the committee, published a small poper in the building occupied by Sherman as a bank. On one occasion a Mr. Slather, a banker ana partner oi urexel, complain ed that Casey's paper attempted to black moil the banks. "At that time," says Kherman, we were ail laboring to re store'eonfidence, and I went up stairs, found Casey and pointed out to him the objectionable nature of his article. and told Mm plainly that I could not tolerate his attempt to print and circu late slanders in our building, and if he repeated it I would cause him and his press to be thrown out of the window. He took the hint nnd moved to more friendly quarters." The rival journal, the Jlullctin, published some documents showing that Casey had once been sen tenced to a New York penitentiary. Casey informed the editor, James King, that he woidd "shoot him on sight." That evening, as King was walking home, Casey shot him and was arrested. Tho citizens, under the control of Win. J. Coleman, formed a committee. The governor, in company with G. K. Gar rison and Sherman, endeavored to sup press the outbreak. On Sunday, May 22, 1856, the funeral of King took place. The governor called on Sherman, and they went up on top of a hotel, from which they could see the whole city. " Parties of armed men in good order were marching by platoons toward the jail. Soon a small party was seen to advance to this door and knock, and a parley ensued. The doors were opened and Casey was led out." Also a prisoner named Cora, who had killed a marshal. "The day was exceedingly beautiful, and tho wholo proceeding or derly in the extreme. In a very few days Cora and Casey were hanged by the neck, dead, suspended from the beams projecting out of the windows of the committee's room, without other trial than could be civen in secret and by night" The committee held their sessions, issuing writs of arrest and ban ishment. An effort was made to sup press them, and Sherman was appointed major-general in command of the mi litia. Advertising In Paris. The Paris correspondent of the Lon don Times says : Nowhere is the system of tempting the public to buy better, or, rather, more fully carried out than in Paris. Many of the newspapers angle for fresh subscribers by announcing presents of watches, albums, nnd cheap jewelry in exchange for a year's sub scription paid in advance. Others an nounce that they have mado special ar rangements with various tradesmen, who will supply their clients with articles at prices which are considerably reduced, or, if we are to believe the advertise ments, below market value. The large shops of Paris adopt the same line of business, and presents of all kinds, from pieces of musio to air balloons, are offered to thq people who daily throng the stupendous establishments whose heavily laden carts meet the eye in every conceivable place. One establishment of this kind, intent upon outstripping all its rivals, combines the club with its more commercial object. In it is to be found a room where light refreshment, such as strops and cakes, are gratuitously distributed, and so rigorously is the rule enforced that even tho waiters refuse to accept any sort of remuneration. For tho convenience of those unfortunate male escorts who nre inveigled to shop with ladies, the proprietors have thought fully provided comfortable reading and billiard rooms. It is, perhaps, needless to say that the place i3 crowded from morning till night with many customers, and not a few unscrupulous foreigners who neglect to qualify themselves by purchases for admission into the gratui tous part of the establishment. How can the shops afford it? is a common question with strangers who are- con tinually meeting with some new proof of this system oi, gifts. A little reflection will supply the answer. It is merely a system of advertising under another form to that in vogue in England and elsewhere. In France those monster placards whieh disfigure the streets of London nre not to be seen, sandwich men do not circulate through Paris, and the only attractive notices are those ex hibited by the Kiosques on the Boule vards, though the bare sides of houses are occasionally adorned with the adver tising frescoes of certain tailors and clothiers. Their Determination. On a late occurence the Emperor of Russia was reviewing his fleet, when two sailors particularly attracted his attention, both by the precision with w jich they performed several difficult maneuvers, and by the agility and darincr which they displayed. The emperor was so much pleased that he immediately Eromoted one to be a-captain, the other e appointed lieutenant on the spot. The men, however, were Jews, and there is a ukase forbidding Jews to wear an epaulet. The admiral of the fleet, who stood by, knowing that they were Jews, stated the difficulty to his imperial majesty. "Pshaw," cried the emperor, "that does not signify in the least they shall immediately embrace the Greek religion, of course." Wheu thin determination was com municated to the two young ment know ing that remonstrance would be iu vain, they requested the emperor's permission to exhibit still more of their maneuvers, as he had not seen all they eould do. This being granted, they ascended the topmast, embraced, and, locked in each other's arms, threw themselves into the sea, and disappeared forever. The Czar of Russia has taken in hand those bad boys who were so very anxi ous to get up a fight, and has patted, them on the head and told them to ba good boys.,; We hope thag will take his advtce, but we have our doubta. The Anthracite Coal Region. The anthracite coal of Eastern Penn sylvania was first discovered, it is said, in 1770. In 1775, just a century since, says a writer, a boat-load was taken down to the armory at Carlisle, nnd in 1791 the great open quarry of this fuel near Mauch Chunk was made known. From its unlikeness to the Virginia coal, aud the difficulty of igniting it, the Pennsyl vania Anthracite encountered much op position. Tradition tells us that a boat load taken to Philadelphia in 1803 was broken up and used to mend the roads. But it slowly found its way into use ; and from a pamphlet published in 1815, we learn that the coal from the Lehigh had been several years on trial in Phila delphia, where it had been compared with tho Virginia bituminous coal, and, from the testimony of iron workers, dis tillers and others, wns to be preferred to it for durability and economy. Oliver Evans, had, moreover", at this time tried the anthracite with success under the boilers of his steam-engine, nnd also in sisted upon its advantages for domestic purposes Notwithstanding these re sults, the new fuel found its way very slowly into use, and in 1822 the total production of the anthracite mines was estimated at 3,720 tons, against 48,000 tons of tho coal from Richmond, Vir ginia, then it-s only rival. Fifty years later, or in 1872, the official returns give for the exportation of coal from the an thracite region not less than 19,000,000 tons, besides about 2,500,000 tons for local consumption, while that of the Virginia coal field for the same year is estimated at 02,000 tons. Tho late Pro fessor Silliman, who visited the anthra cite region in 1825, and published his report of it in the following year, was the first to appreciate the real value aud importance of this deposit of fossil fuel, which he then spoke of as a great na tional trust. The small detached basius of the an thracite region have together an area of only four hundred and seventy-two miles ; but the immenso aggregate thick ness of tho senpis of coal, varying iu dif ferent parts from fifty to one hundred feet, and estimated nt an average of sev enty feet for the whole, makes this won derful region of greater value than Western coal fields, whoso extent is measured by many thousands of square miles. Mr. P. W. Shaeffer, who has calculated the cubic contents of these anthracite beds, estimates it to have been at the time when mining was commenced equal to 20,301,070,000 tons, from which one-half may be deducted for waste hi raining and breaking for market, and for losses from faults and irregularities in the beds, giving of merchantable coal 13,180,538,000 tons. If from this we subtract the amount produced by the mines from 1820 to 1870, estimated nt 206,606,325 tons, wo had still iu store at the latter dato a supply of 25,000,000 tons a year, or more than tho present rate of consumption, for five hundred and twenty-five years. Boys of the Olden T.'ine. In a lecture before the New York His torical Society on the changes of a cen tury, James Parton gave an acoouut of his own schoolboy days, and his attend ance at a public school where the boys expected to be whipped, as a matter of course, twice a day. Most vividly he rem3mbered those scenes after the lanse of so ninnv venrs linvs linilftr iha influence of a heroic but not successful attempt to smile, and some again tub bing their hands and other afflicted parts. Somebody asked Edmund Burke on what principles instruction was given at Eton College. "There they are," pointing to a grove of birch trees. " No licking, no learning," was wisdom as late as 1800. Montague described the rods used in the Paris schools in those days ns being heavy and thick with blood, nnd Luther stated that he was flogged fifteen times in one morn ing. The methods of instruction, too, were crude as the discipline. Students were required to get off' passages from " Locke on the Human Understanding," and other different works, nnd repeat them off without any elucidation on the part of the master, nnd without even being nsked a question. At the present time they were indignant, and justly in dignant, but they ought to be more in dignant because children in some of the manufacturing towns were kept at work eleven hours a day, but in reading Robert Dale Owen's acoouut of what he saw at the be5iuning of the present cen tury, it would be found that in some of the manufacturing towns of England children under ten years of nge were kept at work fourteen hours, and that under circumstances of aggravation and cruelty. Every reform, he said, was carried on with excess, for it was not in man's nature to go just far enough and no further. Children should have the right of being prevented doing them selves irreparable harm, and neglecting opportunities that could not be recalled, peaceably, if it were possible, forcibly if not. Mr. Parton told several amusing anecdotes concerning the training of children. In one instance, when dinner was on the table, the child of a fond pa rent insisted on having its shoes and stockings taken off and being permitted to walk in the dish of nice brown gravy which was round the roast beef. And, said Mr. Parton, the beef was removed, and the child was permitted to have its way. " Hurry, Doctor." A reverend doctor had rather a slow delivery, which was the occasion of an amusing scene in the chapel of the luna tio asylum : He was preaching, and il lustrating his subject by the case of a man condemned to be hanged, and re prieved under the scaffold. He went on to describe the gathering of the crowd, the bringing out of the prisoner, his re marks under the gallows, the appearance of the executioner, the adjustment of the halter, the preparation to let fall the platform, and just then the appearance in the distance of the dust-covered courier, the jaded horse, the waving handkerchief, the commotion in the crowd. At this thrilling point, when every one was listening in breathless silence, the doctor became a little prolix. One of the lunatics could hold out no longer, but starting up from among the eengregation, he shouted: ' "Hurry, doctor I for mercy's sake, hurry I They will hang the poor man before you get there 1" SOCIAL SCIENCE. The Wcnlth of III t'nited StumsThe An nun.1 Incrensr anil the Increnne of the I'cv plc.Hoine Interesting Wtntlstirs. David A. Wells, of Connecticut, de livered the annual address before the American Social Science Convention. In the course of his remarks h suid tho slowness with which eapitul increases even under the most favorable ciicr.ru stances was illustrated by figures drawn from American experience. The wealth of the United States in 1870 was estima ted at $25,000,000,000. This represents, first, a value of $620 to each individual; second, the surplus result of all the labor, skill nnd thought exerted, and all the capital earned and saved or brought into the country since it became practi cally the home of civilized men. With capital increasing thus slowly, we should be careful lest by impairing its security we also impair its rate of increase. Though the idea of direct inteiference with the rights of property meets with little sympathy on this side of the At lantic, many of the most intelligent peo ple interested in the cause of labor re form, reasoning from the largo nominal aggregate of the national wealth and the large advance recently mado iu the power of production, have adopted the idoa that the amount of the present an nual product of labor and capital is enough for all, nnd that all that is nec essary to secure to the masses comfort and abundance is for the State to in tervene, either by fixiug the hours of labor or the rates of compensation for service, or the use of capital, and so oompel its more equitable distribution. Admitting the desirability of a more equal division, it will be well to inquire what we have really got to divide. The maximum value of our annual product does not exceed $7,000,000,000, of which the product of our agriculture is returned by the last census with un doubted approximative . accuracy at less than one-half that sum, or $2,400, 000,000. Fully nine-tenths of this pro duct, probably a larger portion, must be immediately consumed that wo may live and make good tho loss and wasto of capital previously accumulated, leaving not more than one-tenth to be applied in the form of accumulation for effecting a future increased production and de velopment. Stated in a different but not les3 striking form, after 250 years of toiling and saving we have only man aged as a nation to get about threo and a half years ahead iu tho way of subsist ence. If now as a wholo peoplo we Bhould stop working, producing, aud re pairing, aud devote ourselves exclusive ly to amusement and idleness, four years would be moro than sufficient to starve threo-fourths of us out of existence, and reduce tho remaining ono-fourth to the condition of semi-barbarism; a result it is well to think of in connection with the promulgation of certain new theories that the best way of increasing abun dance and promoting comfort is to de crease the aggregate and opportunities of production. Few things are more transitory nnd perishable than capital. As embodied in the ordinary forms wo soe about us, its duration is not on an average in excess of the life of a genera tion. Of all the materiid wealth of the great nnd rich nations of antiquity noth ing whatever has come down to us ex cept, singularly enough, those things which, like their tombs nnd public monuments, could never hnve been pos sessed of a money valuation. If, again, we snppose our annual pro duct equally divided among our present population, the average income of each individual would be $175 per annum. If this estimate be considered small it should be remembered that it is based on au estimate of national product great er both in the aggregate aud in propor tion to numbers than is enjoyed by any other natiou our compeer in civilization, nnd that this sum, $175, is not the sum which all actually receive as iucomc, but the average each would receive were the whole annual product divided equally. We know it is not divided equally and never will be while men are born with different natural capacities. The aver age annual earnings of laborers and un skilled workmen for the wholo country is not in excess of $100, whieh, placing the family of each at four two adults and two children the census of 1870 calls it five gives $100 as the average that each member of that class pro duces; to which, too, each such indi vidual must be restricted in consump tion. Clearly, then, the time has not yet conie when society here cun com mand such a degree of absolute abun dance as will justify any class or indi vidual, especially those who depend on each day's labor to supply its wants, in doing aught that teuds to diminish abundance. Let the working man, therefore, strive for the largest possible share of the joint products of labor nnd capital, ns it is his natural right to do, but if in so doing he restrict produc tion and diminishes abundance, lie does it nt his peril. Street processions will never change the conditions of produc tion and compensation. Idleness pro duces nothing but weeds and rust pro ducts not marketable anywhere, though society often pays for them most dearly. A Pest. At Eufaula, Alabama, as a prevention against the bite of the buffalo gnat, the farmers are compelled to coat the ears, flanks and other parts of their live stock with tar and grease, and also to keep fir 08 burning in their stock lots at night. The Mississippi buffalo gnat is de scribed as about half the size of a com mon house fly, and jet black. It has a hump back, or shoulder, like the buffalo, and hence its name. The Tongue. The Albany Argus ex ercises itself after this fashion with the eccentricities of our English orthography : ' T-o-n-g-u-e spells tongue, ' and the man who first spelled it so should have been hongue. A-o-h-e spells 'ache,' and that is all you can make out of it. E-i-g-h-t spells 'eight, ' no matter how you depre cieight the idea; and that a-i-s-l-e should spell aisle, ' and f-e-jg-n 'feign' is enough to make anybody smaiele if the effort were not too peignfuL" A New England agricultural society offers a handsome prize t the young lady who shall cook, on the fair grounds, the bast dinner for a farmer, Items of Interest. An object of interest A note at ninety days. Every man should tell his own story ; ho can tell it better than his neighbor. A Chinaman in Los Angles, California, upon being applied to for payment of a debt, replied: "If no havee, how can?" In 1874 France produced 1,300,000 kraa of pig (crude) iron, 760,000 tons of wrought iron, nnd 155,500 tons of steel. A Saratoga crocus put its head out of bud, the other morning, and said ; Yon lilao everything if you say this isn't spring. What three words did Adnm use when he introduced himself to Eve, which read the same backward and forward? Madam, I'm Adam. A Racine merchant used the following words : " I'll be hanged if I advertise in any paper !" and the next morning ho was found dead in bed. A land patent was recently issued from the Marysville (Cal.) office to George Washington Christopher Columbus Whillenbergannanzi. The Cincinnati Gazette has a para graph about three ladies iu that cHy who recently spent two hours iu select ing one simple little straw hat. "Do you know who I am?" nsked a policeman of a fellow whom ho had seiz ed by the throat. "Not exactly, sir; but I fancy you are the malignant collarer." A Nashville preacher hopes his congre gation will test their approval by clap ping their hands into their breeches pockets and hauling out contributions. A Philadelphia judge took occasion tho other day to remind the public that street crossings belong primarily to pedestrians, nnd only secondarily to ve hicles. Hydrate of choral ns a stimulant is taking the place of opium, hasheesh, etc., iu England, and to some extent in this country. It kills in about threo years, on nn nverage. A schoolboy being asked by tho teacher how he should flog him, replied : "If you please, sir, I should like to hnve it ou tho Italian system the heavy strokes upward, and the down ones light." A man hanged himself iu Paris iu tho presence of his paralyzed wife, who was unable to move or cry for assistance, and who was obliged to witness the hor rifying sight of his death struggles. A lady whose family wero very much in tho habit of making conundrums was one evening nsked by her husband in an ex cited tone: "Why are nil these doors left open?" "Igive it up!" instantly replied the lady. The Sar Francisco "Hawaiian prima donna," of whom the wonderful story of a ride on a shark's back is told, is tho same Adelaide Miller who sang in tho variety theatres in New York and Brook lyn last winter. How soon some women change their minds respecting their husbands ! Mrs. Spinn was forever telling her husband that he wasn't worth tho salt iu his bread ; but when he got killed in a railway col lision she sued the company for five thou sand dollars. The crows nre complaining, and not without caws, nt the backwardness of the season. They say that if the farmers don't get their corn in pretty soon, thc-y will have to organize a relief society and give concerts for the benefit of their deserving poor. A passage in the Turkish Scriptures reads as follows : Take care that your fi nal account shall be settled before you die. Undergo here your indictment nnd your trial. Pass ou yourself just punish ment. Then will you pass into tho fu ture without further chastisement or fear. The Golden Aye having said that ro mance was better than rum, the Lite rary World retorts that a bad romance is more harmful than first-rate rum, inas much ns it reached and demoralized a class young girls which is secure against the attacks of John Barleycorn. A celebrated physician was once call ed upon to prescribe for a nervous dis order. He wrote hi? prescription iu three parts, as follows: '"First, occupa tion ; second, occupation ; third, occupa tion." This same prescription is a re medy for many of the ills to which flesh is heir. When a man mistakes the height of a chair he is going to occupy, by about an ' inch and a half, it is remarkable tho amount of momentum he will acquire in making that little distance, lie will strike that choir with nearly as much force as if he had sat down iu it from tho roof of a two-story building. One of our physicians who had been greatly annoyed by numerous questions concerning the condition of a certain patient, was stopped while on his busy rounds by a man with the old question : "How's Mr ?" "Sick," replied the physician. "Does he keep his bed ?" " Of course he does ; you don't suppose he's fool enough to sell his bod because he's sick, do you?" A curious fact is mentioned relative to the catastrophe of the balloon Zenith, iu France. It appears that MM. Croce Spinelli nnd Sivel had breakfasted as usual before making the ascent, while M. Tissandier, who had no appetite, merely took a cup of strong coffee. The inference may, therefore, be drawn that a journey to such a great altitude is like a bath which should not be taken after a meal. When a young man in Patagonia falls in love with a girl, he doesn't visit her six nights in a week and twice on Sun day, and feed her upon molasses candy and gum drops, and sit up until two o'clock in the morning burning the old man's oil, and that sort of thing. Not at all. Courtship in Pataeronia is much more simple. He lassoes the girl, drags her home behind his horse, and that ia all the marriage ceremony necessary. A tramp went to sleep on top of a lime kiln near Baltimore, but woke up with his clothes on fire. In attempting to escape he fell over an embankment eighteen feet high, breaking some of his bones. Then he crawled along some fifty yards, leaving bita of hia clothing and burned flesh, and reaching a bank thirty feet high being by this time about naked he jumped or fell over its brink. The shock cruehed him badly, but he afterward crawled several yards and died, before he could reach a stream toward which ho waa straggling,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers