r
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a t . c.
V' ;'
. ,'
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL DESPERANDTJM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. V.
ltlDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUKSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1875.
NO. 32.
Building.
What build' nation's pillars high,
And if, foundation strong ?
VUat- make it mighty to defy
''I ie foes that round it throng ?
Not poM. but only men can mike
A people great and strong )
Men who for truth and honor's take
Stand fftHt and Buffer long.
Brave men who work while others Bleep,
Who dare while others fly (
They build a nation's pillars deep,
And lift t'aem to the sky.
ilMOXU THE CONXEMAItAS.
A Sketch of the Irlh Famine.
I was ordered to headquarters an
Invitation anything but complimentary.
I felt r--rrrinply uncomfortable 'when
confronting my commanding officer in
the orderly room; instead of Cordiality
he merely recognized me, frowned, and
whispered to old Trenuery, the adjutant,
whom nil of us subalterns hated cordi
ally. Trennery was the perfection of
cavalry drill ; he paid no respect to
Tank, title or anything else, and the way
ho used to abuse us, when in adjutant
field day, would have gladdened the
heart of the bitterest Communist that
ever lived. They sent for my captain,
who, though his military and social rank
was high in tlw land and peerage, could
do nothing with old Trennery, who as
serted, iu the most matter-of-iact way, I
had connived at the escape of Smith
O'Brien, rind hinted at the reason, sub
mm. Thu was enough. The colonel
was furious ut inch a plebeian insinua
tion; I became excited : my cantaiu
culled in thu orderlies, and I went to my
room to await lurther orders. Those
orders weri r.-ad at night stables, that I
should iiQ'iiediately join the squadrons,
under Sir Willinrn ilussell, then stationed
iu a small village at th) foot of the Con
nemara mountains. Three days after I
reported mvsrlf ready for duty to the
officer, Sir William Itussell, commanding
tureo sqtvuirons ot the S-jventh Hussars.
Inwardly I thanked the stars I had es
caped old Trennery. I had necessarily
to undergo a certain amount of what is
known in such benighted pines as a
messro..!ft " chaff"; but the state of that
mess on the rir.st evening of my arrival
soma what astounded me. My comrades
munched at bread cruets; there was no
wine, only small jugs of table beer. I
ordered from a batman some wine; he
said, politely enough, the messman hud
none.' I looked to the president of the
mess, who was, in fuel, the officer com
man.liiig, for an explanation.
"My dear buy," he exclaimed, in a
subdued voice, " we have relinquished
our mess luxuries tor awhile, the de
mands of our soup kitchens are so very
imperative. You kuow there are thou
sands around us actually starving to
death."
"Starving to death 1 Why, Sir Wil
liam, I dined nt the castle four nights
ago and we had Indian meal pudding,
sand were invited expressly to taste it by
the chamberlain'nt the request of his ex
cellency. It was really delicious, and
his grace afterwards informed us, in a
nice little speech, that the Americans,
with a gonorosity beyond all praise, were
shipping cargo after cargo of it for the
relief of Ireland. "
"Most tru, my dear follow," ho re
plied, with a sigh, "but the misfor
tune i-, Indian nieul is not potatoes and
they have not, neither will they learn,
how to cook it."
"Why?"
" Why ? simply, it is supposed to be
some invention to destroy them some
idea that the English wish to poison
them. Tli:y call it ' Peel's Brimstone,'
and though there is, I have no doubt,
enough of it in the country to sustain
the population and it has been well dis
ttributed there is no one here or else
where to show them how to cook it. I
do get angry at times to see so many
starving people dyiug around us, day
nfter day, knowing 1'uU well they are
dying in the midst of abundanco but
what can one do? I don't understand
j!jow to cook the shift' myself do you?"
I acknowledged my ignorance then,
little thinking how, in subsequent years,
tint iguoianoo would be very considera
bly enlightened.
" Well," continued Sir William, "I
have turned my troopers into sportsmen
aft'fr parade they are detailed off for
wild fowl shooting, and we have three
splendid soup kitchens, I tell you, my
!ioy, and we are supporting them on
good solid broth, and not fighting them,
the poor, good hoarted souls 1 as we were
last year, and between you and I,
Frank " but military discretion pre
vented the completion of the sentence.
Sir William lt'isi-ll, the lineal de
scendant of the great man of that ilk,
had a heart too great for the colossal
frame that iuclosed it.
I was then, and still am, an habitually
arly riser, and on the morning succeed
ing my arrival at the detachment, the
first opal blush iu the eastern sky found
me iu my bath ; but a few minutes
more, with my fly-rod fixed, I was step
ping ont, happy as a bird, toward the
mountains which overshadowed the small
village, in the center of which our bar
racks lay, with a gloomy, forbidding
aspect. 1 passed one or two videttes iu
my progress, who, after the ordinary
challenge which I was prepared to an
swer, I regarded with some degree of
curiosity. The men looked hungry and
cadaverous, aud the d ishing chargers of
a year ago hung their heads, and the
flank bones were painfully obtrusive. I
felt an oppressiveness in witnessing this,
that only what followed can explain.
Is it possible, I thought, that what
Sir William said can be true ? That ve
are in a land where people are dying of
starvution ? That even our own troops
have to share the common fate? I ww
meditating thus when I struck, a small
mountain stream, and, arranging my
flies, commenced casting. The trout,
though not very large, rose eagerly to
the fly, and by the time I had ascended
to the summit I had killed three parte of
a creelful of fair average brook trout.
Upon attaining the summit, I found
that I was on the immediate border of
an extensive lake. I threw rod, creel
and coat under the shadow of a fallen
tree, and then myself, and, lulled by the
desolation of surrounding objects, I
must h.i. i ai asleep,'
Tho grating of a boat's keel on a peb-
niy snore, the surge of a-i undulating
wave as it broke the monotony of silence
around, disturbod my dreams and par
tially awoke me ; but the outline of a
figure cutting the sky-line of my vision
aroused my faculties and brought me to
my teet.
I was greatly surprised in encounter
ing a lady, lightly and gracefully dress
ed, tall, though it struck me somewhat
attenuated both in figure and feature,
with a sweep of long, luxurious hair,
held by a ribbon behind, that bound it
closely to her head, revealing the Phi
dian exactitude of its shape. Her bright
violet eyes were regarding me with a
half humorous, half curious expression,
while the whole face indicated that of a
huntress who had secured or captured
her prey.
"Do yon belong to Sir William's
men ?" she demanded, somewhat impe
riously. " Madam," I answered, with my best
court bow, " I am attached to the Sev
enth." "And you have been poaching on my
domain 1 she replied archly, and with a
sweet smile.
" If you are tha proprietor of the
small stream t have followed up the
mountain, I am afraid I have killed a
goodly number of your trout."
" Show them to me."
I opened my croel and tossed the fish
over.
"You know, sir, the law made and
provided for unlicensed trespass of this
kind confiscation of the game and im
prisonment of the offender."
Her eyes sparkled so much, and she
was so much constrained to conceal her
mirth, that I, taking the initiative, doff
ed my hat and told her I was quite ready
to oo imprisoned u sue was to be tho
jailer.
" Spare all compliments, sir, for your"
garrnou uenes. x ao not want them or
you, but I should like to deprive you
of the fish, as they would be quite an
addition to my stock of provisions that
I am now taking to my starving peas
antry." " I presume I am speaking, then, to
the heiress of Connemara. The fish,
Miss Martin, are at your service." And
I handed her the creel.
"It is not the first obligation I am
uuder to the gentlemen of your corps,
aud I thank you kindly. May I ask your
name !"
I gave it. The heiress had somo recol
lection of a formal introduction in Dub
lin, and we became more sociable and
agreeable as we chatted from one sub
ject to another ; but her mind invariably
reverted, I could easily discern, to the
fearful scenes of which she was a daily
witness, and which her efforts to allevi
ate had driven into such strange ex
tremities. I drew forth a handsome silver sand
wich box, on one side of which were laid
refreshment, and on tho other was a
couple of vine-glasses of rich old Ma
deira, from a small traveling stock of
my own. Tho box was chased with
some elaboration, to the design of
which, as, seated on the old tree togeth
er, I drew her attention, aud then ex
plained its contents. " Will you assist
me, Miss Martin, to break my fast 'tis
meager enough ; but let us break bread
together, if it be only to cement our ac
qaintance." A shudder, as with a wistful look she
glanced at tho delicate white bresd,
passed over her frame, but the proud
lip curled, aud a natural self-abnegation
was evident in the reply which declined
my offer.
" The contents of the flask might save
a life at least prolong it," she added,
somewhat bitterly.
I closed tho lid. " Take it and do as
you wish. On some future occasion, in
happier times, I trust, I will reclaim my
flak."
She took it and rose her heightened
color alone indicated h?r pleasure. The
glorious eyes were welling no in tears,
but ull emotion was rigorously suppress
ed. She held forth her hand, which I
took and placed to my hps.
" May God bless you 1 And so, an
voir." She run toward her boat, pans- d
a moment, and called me back. "Do you
know a man in your trooo naru-d Ire
ton ?"
" Certainly ; the best man we have."
"Sir William has sometimes been
kind enough to send him to my manor
with provisions. Would you tell hira,
from me, that if ho will leave a basket
here inside the cove. I shall find it and
bo greatlv obliged. I shall be hero again
the day after to-morrow. Adieu." Aud
with a kindly smile and a wave ol her
hand, she darted for her skiff, and with
a few, well-pulled strokes of her sculls,
had passed from my sight.
I turned to retrace my steps down tho
mountain, minus croel, fish, and silver
flask, but endowed with a higher respect
for womanhood than I had ever before
conceived.
Upon my return to quarters. I soon
discovered old Trennery had not forgot
ten me. I had been made adjutant of
the detachment an onerous and, iu
these times, harras&ing position. Vast
quantities of grain -were pouring into
Ireland ; cargo after cargo of flour and
Iudian meal were arriving in Gnlway
from the American relief committee, and
the distribution of it devolved upon the
military, wno nad to escort it and vouch
for its delivery. All this entailed a great
amount of work in our orderly-room
which ought to have belonged to the
quartermaster-general.
It is a common belief that the'object
of a lady's letter is to be found in the
postscript. I had some such revelation
in my mind when I sent for Ireton, whs
was the regimental mystery.
We had a good many privates in the
ranks I knew to be men of good birth,
and whose people were wealthy even
the English patrician ; but Ireton was a
strange contradiction. The others all
drank and were constantly iu hot water ;
Ireton was never convicted of a minor
offense, and was the most exemplary
soldier in the regiment. His personal
appearance was simply magnificent ; his
resemblance to Count V Orsav so strong
that he was known among his comrades
as the "oount." He refused all promo
tion; and the elaborations of his toilette
when going upon Castle guard, mounted
upon a splendid dark -bay charger, at
tracted the admiration of the Dublin
(utiles. Ha was a perfect Murat as a
cavalryman, highly esteemed by the
offioers, and had once or twice been
offered a commission in his corps ; but,
with a reticence there was no breaking
down, had declined it. He very seldom
spoke, and I never saw a smile disturb
the wave of that heavy black mustache.
ireton, though he looked young, was
fully fifty. -. . ; ...
"Ireton, the messman will give you a
basket of provisions ; follow up the
stream to the outlet of the lake, and
leave it in the cove for Miss Martin.
Slip a blanket on your mare, and do not
mention the character of your mission
to anjr one. Here is your pass, and the
word is 'Water,' the countersign 'loo.' "
I have previously reverted to the evi
dences of the fearful famine which was
beginning to pervade the whole land
from Skibbereen to Oalway. The Irish
potato that succulent which constituted
the sole subsistence of the Irish peas
antry had been destroyed by a disease
that fell as a blight upon the crop be
fore it had half matured. - The Irish, in
those days, had no other conception of
food but potatoes and milk, chjekensand
a hog, tho latter of which were devoted
to paying rent and the priest. The
spread of the potsto disease was so rapid
aud so general, tho intercommunication
with the interior so defective, and the
government of Great Britain so shame
fully neglectful, that hundreds had
starved to doath in Connaught before
Downing street had received any intima
tion of the terrible distress that had be
fallen poor Ireland. What private re
soiu'ces could do what such men as fill
ed tho official rank of the army then iu
Ireland, in the institution of soup kitch
ens, and endeavoring to instruct the
wretched people how to make bread
was done. I know we took the allow
ances of oats for our horses, half the
rations from the men, and stopped our
own mess, to provide the soup kitchens
with material. For all that, wo were
under heavy escort duty, and wo shared
very nearly tho common lot around us.
So, in our terrible escort work, we
would enter a once thriving village, aud
meet a funeral procession of living
skeletons, bearing some stiffened emaci
ation of humanity to its grave, and sit
ting in the sunshine, propped for very
weakness, would be poor little children
ill the last apathy of utter starvation,
smiling and even laughing to them
selves. The sight of such scenes wonld
have melted a heart of steel, aud I have
seen grave, bronzed old soldiers cry like
women over such hapless, but common,
illustrations of a famine it was beyond
our power to relieve. Often, indeed,
did we dismount and try and induce
these poor little things to accept food,
but they were past the effort to swallow.
Despite our soup kitchens, our forays
among tho wild fowl and game, and the
aetive benevolence of such women as
Miss Martin, tho famine increased, and
with it agrugrinu outrage became rife
among the Conuemaras. We were in
great perplexity, aud the men aud horses
suffering from hunger, and yet tho gov
ernment seemed insensible to tho ex
tremity. I had sent Ireton to tho moun
tain lake, and I observed his name was
absent at muster-roll the same night,
and the sergeant of the guard could give
no information. Now, for a man of Ire
ton's regular habits, this seemed
strange. I sought Sir William Ilussell,
and he highly disapproved my sending
Ireton to tho lake. In fact, high words
passed between us. It was late at night
that I started, of my own volition and
contrary to our orders, to search for Ire
ton. In the abrupt, hasty conversation
with Sir William, I had gleaned a clew
to Ireton 's actual identity, aud I
filled with alarm for his safety.
My horse, though a thoroughbred,
had great difficulty in carrying me to
tho cove where I had parted with Miss
Martin. It was a brilliant moonlight,
aud I tethered him some little - distance
below the old trysting place. I could
plainly hear voices in the distance loud
in altercation. A pistol shot, and then
a horse dashed through the brushwood
towards me. I knew the ilark bay at a
glance, and calling her by name she
came up to me, looking wild and alarm
ed, and snorting as horses do when
startled by somo .hidden danger. I
quieted her and secured her by the hal
ter chaiu. Tlif-n I ran rapidly to tho
lake margin and could see the silvery
path made by a boat vigorously propell
ed from tho shore, but too obscure to
distinguish whom it might contain. A
stifled groan attracted my attention to
the fallen treo where, ou my previous
visu-, i nan inei iuisb luartm, ana np
proaehiug nearer found her kneeling,
her face covered witli her hands, and in
her lap lay the head of a man. Half
petrified with horror, I bent over it and
recognized it as Ireton's, quite dead.
' Miss Martin," I exclaimed, putting
my hand ou her shoulder, "who has
elone this iufernal work ?" But she gave
me no roply, merely looking up with a
silly smile, and said : "How handsome
my lord looks even iu death."
Her intellect was gone. The silver
cord was snapped, indeed, for them
both.
The explanation . of this terrible
tragedy was subsequently given by the
confession of the murderer and the
secret knowledge possessed by our
commanding officer, aud in subsequent
years confirmed by Miss Martin when
eventually she recovered her reason.
Ireton was really Lord Dunston, who
for some unexplained reason had en
listed and renounced his title and social
position. He had met Miss Martin, and
a mutual passion was conceived for each
other. But Dunston had an unknown
rival who watched and detected his
secret meetings with Miss Martin. He
had overheard my previous conversation
with her, and had waited and surprised
them, aud had assailed tho soldier,
whom, al'te-r a fierce struggle, he suc
ceeded in shooting in the presence of
the lady. It was all that onr force could
do when tho murderer was captured to
save him from the fury of the outraged
tenantry of Connemara, and thecene
at tho scaffold on the day of his execu
tion was one that developed the worst
features of the Irish character when
under bitter exasperation.
Mis. Dr. New has received from her
eon, Mr. Frank New, who is now in the
Treasury department at Washington, a
clinker, which is all that in left of nearly
$2,0(M),f)00.'i ' It is abimt'thft'size of one's
list, aud was formed, by the chemicals in
greenbacks which haye been bnrneiL
THE ARABIAN HORSE.
How he In Hred, fared Far and Trained.
The Arabs hold that the age most
favorable for breeding is, for the mare,
from four to twelve years ; for the
stallion from six to fourteen. They are
more particular concerning the qualities
of the stallion than of tho mnre ; because,
as they say, tho colt always has the
qualities of tho sire. After the colt is
weaned he still follows his mothor to the
pasture, as the Arabs find this exercise
necessary for his health and the develop
ment of his faculties. At night he re
turns home and sleeps near the tent of
his master. Tho women and children
make him the object of their greatest
care, playing with him, and feeding him
with dates and milk. From this comes
the docility so much admired iu Arabian
horses. After this the colts ore fastened
np for awhile, which causes them to
grow thin and lo3e their appetites. At
tho age of one year they unloosen them,
and their health again returns. If at
the ago of fifteen or cightenu months
the colt iloes not move his shoulders
easily, they do not hesitate to apply fire
to the joints. If the knees are badly
formed, indicating a predisposition to
tumors, they apply tho fire to them on
three parallel lines. Finally, if they
fear that the horse will become deformed,
either iu front or rear, they isjiply lire to
the fetlock joints, but only on the front
part, which indicates that the Arabs
know the tendons and protect them.
Tho fire is ordinarily applied with a
sickle ; and for this operation they avoid
as much as possible the great heats of
summer. The most favorable time is
the end oi autumn or the beginning of
spring, when there are fewer flies and
the weather is more invigorating.
It is necessary to commence the edu
cation of the colt at erightoen months, if
you wish to havo him docile. From that
time until the age of twenty months, he
is ridden by a child, who conducts him
to drink anil to pasture. This exercise
is good for both, making the child a
horseman and accustoming the colt to be
ridden. At this time they begin also to
tether the colt. At first the tethers are
very short, for fear that he will injnre
his shoulder or chest. Little by littlo
they lengthen them. Tho colt is always
tethered near the tent, aud they place
beside him a little negro with a stick,
whose mission it is gently to correct tho
colt whenever he kicks at any one who
E asses behind him. This watchfulness
egets in the colt complete eloeility and
tranquility.
At the ago of twenty-five to twenty
seven months, they commence to bridle
and saddle the colt, but with tho great
est precaution, never saddling him until
he has already become used to tho bri
dle. For several days they keep a bit
covered with wool in his mouth. Tho
bit is thus covered, not so much for tho
purpose of keeping the iron bars o; tho
bit from offending tho colt, as to induce
him to hold it in hi3 mouth owing to tho
salt taste of the wool which pleases hiin.
They consider the colt nearly trained as
to this portion of his education when he
begins to chew the bit.
One of the first things which the Arabs
teach their colts is never to run away
when the master dismounts. They give
the greatest care to this part of his
education, as it is of supreme import
ance in the life of au Arab. It is done
by placing a slave on each side of the
colt, who, whenever ho attempts to start,
put their feet on the reins and stop him
suddenly, thus hurting his month.
After many days of this exercise he bo
comes so well trained that he will stand
wherever his master dismounts from
him, even if he is left alone and has to
await whole days for his master's return.
From the ago of thirty months to that of
three years they continue these lessons
in order to coutirm the" young animal in
that docility so necessary in war ; teach
ing him also to allow his master to mount
and dismount easily, and to obey his
voice. From tliree to four years they
exercise the colt more, but feed him
well, and also begin to mount him with
spurs. '
A. Destructive Agent.
Nature has a note on a new and re
markably destructive engine of warfare
now undergoing artillery experiment in
Eugland, known as the "water shell."
The chief merit of the invention mado
by Mr. Abel consists in filling on ordi
nary shell with water instead of with an
explosivo agent. A small cylinder, con
taining from a quarter to a half ouuee of
gun-cotton and a little fulminate of mer
cury, is attached to the fuso and insert
ed into the water-filled shell, and, owing
to the almost ii.compressible character
of water, the explosion of this seemingly
trifling charge is said to produce more
violent effects than have been attained
by any other means. We are told that
a 16-pouuder (cylindro-conoidal) shell
tilled with sixteen ouuees of gunpowder,
was broken by tho explosion of this
charge into twenty-nine fragments. The
detonation of a quarter of an ounce of
gun-cotton confined in a shell of precisely
the same construction aud weight, the
chamber being filled up with water and
tightly closed, burst the shell into 121
fragments, which were violently dis
persed. A corresponding charge of
gun-cotton, confined in a third similar
shell, the chamber being filled with air,
did not burst the shell when detonated ;
the resulting gases found vent through a
minute perforation in the plug or screw
stopper of tho shell. One ounce of gun
cotton confined in a similar shell, filled
tin with water, broke it uu into 300 frag
ments, but in addition there were two
pounds one ounce of the shell almost
Eulverized by the force of the explosion
rought to bear upon the metal through
tho agency of the confined water.
Beside the increased destruc'iveness
of this extremely simple device, an even
greater recommendation is its paving of
expense, enabling even the moist econ
omical governments to feel that they may
afford the occasional luxury of a M ar if
they cau kill five times as many enemies
at loss than half price.
The rapid fall of the water from the
overflowed lands in Arkansas h ft thou
sands of fish exposed in pools and shal
low water. ' These when dead and . pu
trid have boen eaten by hogs, and have
produced in them a disease resembling
the " hog cholera." One man lately lost
seveuteen hogs by the pestilence.-
THE 0AME Of DTt Ut.rOQt'lEll.
Abou Ben Adliein Relate his Experleace by
a Curious Illustration.
Listen to lny own experience: A great
many years ago, iu Persia, I made the
acquaintance of a party of men who met
frequently to indulge in a game played
with cards, which, I presume, you know
nothing of here, called in Persia drafi
poquier. It is a curious game. The
cards are dealt one at a time till each
has five j then those who are playing put
on the center of tho table a coin, such as
has been determined upon say a ko
peck ; then they are allowed to throw as
many cards as they choose, taking from
the pack an equal number, then the man
who sits next to the dealer remarks, sar
castically : "I am the aged one, impov
erish me," and the betting begins. It
is a curious game, and is fluctuating,
the players being kept in a pleasant
state of uncertainty as to what the others
have till they come to what they call a
' show-down.
Well, I learuetl this game and played
it with unvarying success for some days,
winning, on an average, four or five dir
heras at a sitting. As I gathered iu my
spoils I saw nothing wrong in the game.
It seemed to me a most elesirable and, in
all respects, a gentlemanly game.
" I am sorry, L said to myself, " for
IlaGz, tho bellows-maker, and for Nadir,
the seller of shawls ; but Allah knows I
risk my substance on the cards as do
they, and had they my luck they would
have my money. Bo chesm, it is a
highly moral game, and had I an hun
dred children I would teach it them.
What is there wrong in it ? It is mv
money which I risk ; it is their money
which they risk. Thero is no trickery
or cheating iu this game, for the cards
are fairly dealt, and we make wagers on
our judgment or our luck. So does the
merchant who buys the wheat of Khur
distan, believing that the crop will be
short and that it will go up. So does the
merchant who sells the corn of Kohmul,
believing that the crop will bo heavy
and the price will go down. What is
this but gambling ? If they play with
wheat and corn why should not Hafiz
and I play with cards? Aud then it
strengthens tho mind, it develops the
judgment, quickens tho reasoning pow
ers, and broadens, widenB, and strength
ens the mental man. It is a noble game
aud a great pursuit."
. Thus reasoned I, joyously. I had no
remorse, nor did it occur to' me that it
was gambling. But one night it so hap
pened that I had a certainty on Hafiz.
I had three cards alike in my hand that
is to say, three aces and when the cards
were helped, as the saying is, I took an
other. Hafiz drew one card to the foiu
that he had in his hanel, and the betting
began. Now, four aces is a strong hand,
thero being but one that can bent, it,
namely, a strate-phlush. I wagered a
kopec to help Hatiz on to his ruin. How
I gloated over those four aces I I saw
nothing wrong iu thoso four aces, nor in
making out of Hafiz, the bellows
mender, all that he should make by his
trade for a year. He saw my modest ko
peck and said he would wager a elirhem
irr addition. Exulting in the strength
of my four aces, I gladly put up the
dirhem, aud remarked that such was my
faith iu my hamd that I would impover
ish him to the extent of ten dirhems
more. Hafiz on whoso head light
curses ! saw tho ten dirhems and boost
ed me (boosted is a Persian phrase) one
hundred dirhems. I mado sure that tho
four aces were not an optical delusion
and went him 1,000 dirhems, which he
saw and came back at mo 5,000 dirhems,
which, feeling that it would be cmel to
utterly ruin him, I called without
further gymnastics.
Smilingly I laid down my four aces
and reached lor tho property, bmuing-
ly ho put away my outstretched and
eager hand, and laid down beside my
four aoes his accursed hand, which was
a strnto-phlush.
"Tho property is mine !" said he.
"It is!" said I.
Then I experienced a feeling of re
morse. Then I felt that elrah-poquier
was gambling and thot gambling in any
form was a sin of the most heinous mi
ture, and that I had been guilty of s
crime.
"Oh, why," I exclaimed, "did I ever
permit myself to become infatuated with
the desire for goming ? If I win, it is
my neighbor's dirhems ; if I loose, it is
my own. Li any case, there is nothing
of actual value that passes. While we
use capital in gambling, wo produce
nothing. One eido is richer, the other
poorer, and thero has been u wasto of
precious time. Besides, it is terribly
demoralizing. It infatuates a man and
enfeebles his mind. His mind dwells
on the game to the exclusion of every
thing that is good ; it crushes out every
thing that is high and noble, and de
velops everything that is mean and small
in one a nature, it ruins the loser nnau
cially and ruins the winner morally,
Wretch that I am ! why did I ever per
mit myself to play at all? Why did i
permit this cursed infatuation to grip
LQ6 1 And remorse sat on me and I beat
my breast and pulled my hair. Bewail
ing my wickedness, I determined to
nuree mvself of the unholy thine.
Would I have so thought and so done
had! held the strate-phiuHh, and the ao
cursed bellows-mender the four aoes ?
do not know.
As Sharp as a Razor.
The other evening a man applied at
the general delivery window ol the De
troit post-office to know if there was a
letter for Jones.
"Jones? Jones? What Jones" asked
the clerk.
"just nothing but Jones, he an
swered.
I must have the first name John
Henry, James," she said.
"I know your trick," ho exclaimed
looking very cunning, "llou want mo
to ask for Jim Jones and then you'll say
that there's nothing for Jim but that
there is a letter for Thomas Jones !
They Left. A number of young men
from Boston aud Cambridge quitted a
hotel at Baker s Island after a brief so
journ, and left a corked bottle ou the
beach 1 inclosing this . inscription
" Starved to death at the hotel,
(Signatures.) If this is picked np, fend
word to our lammes. '
URATE H ANNA II DUSTON.
HowHhe Krnped the Indian nnd has Huf-
fered Ureatljr from her ftld li-rn Friends.
The Worcester Spy has a letter from
Boston which contains the following:
You remember the exciting story of
Hannah Dnston and tho Indians ; that
in March, 1G97, she, with her baby only
week old and her nurse, were seized
y a party of Indians who made an nt-
ick upou Haverhill, then a irontwr
town. Mr. Duston succeeded, by great
courage aud coolness, m saving the
seven older children and himself. The
savages killed the baby aud forced the
two women to make a terrible march in
snow and darkness to the Merrimack,
where the Contoocook empties into it.
Here the party camped, and when the
Indians, were asleep the two women,
helped by a boy, also a prisoner, scalped
ten of them, only ono squaw escaping,
and made their way back to Haverhill.
It was a wonderful piece of heroism aud
physical endurance, and was told and
sung over and over again in tho quaint
prose and unpoetical verse of that day.
The geographies and histories m use
when I was a child had ejuoer wood cuts
of the murder of the baby and tho es
cape ot the women. Other records
showed the ten savoges tlead m a row a
very droll picture and anything but im
pressive. Then for a long time the
story and memory of tho brave women
were neglected, and seemed in elanger
of being forgotten. But in 185G the
Duston monument association was form
ed in the west parish of naverhill
where Mrs. Duston had lived and
died), for the purpose of buying and
improving tho site of her house and
erecting a monument there in her honor.
I he money needed was raised by sub
scription. Thero was decided difference
of opinion as to tho proper place for the
monument, many contributors desiring
to have it in the" town square or somo
other public place, and not on the out-
of-the-way Duston farm.
But the original plan was carried out,
and in June, 18G1, a marble monument
twenty-four feet high, with lengthy in
scriptions, was erected on the supposed
site of tho house from which Mrs. Dus
ton was captured one hundred anel sixty-
mr years betore. The monument cost
$1,200. Strangely enough, some tirao
after, tho monument disappeared, whs
carried eiff bodily ono night ; tho baso
which was left still stands to mark tho
place, but the fate of the monument re
mains a mystery. Nobody seems to have
cared enough about it to look it np ; and
its disappearance remains one of tho
most curious thefts on record, although
many shrewd guesses were made as to
the thief. In 1872 a second attempt was
made to commemorate the deeds of
Hannah Duston aud Mrs. NefF. Six
thousand dollars were raised by sub-
siuipliun, Limb yjuxliun uf the lrluml of
Contoocook, at the mouth of the Contoo
cook river, whero the wigwam stood iu
which Hannah Duston killed tho Iu
ilians, was given for tho site, and tho
work went on energetically. In June,
1874, the completed monument was un
veiled, and there was the usual glorifica
tion, with an extraordinary address, and
more extraordniary poem from Mr. K.
5. Caverley.
Tho structure is of granite, crowned
y an awkward, desperate-looking female
figure, who in the first draft carried a
hatchet, or tomahawk, perhaps, in one
hand, and held up a flying scarf with tho
other. This arrangement of arms was
afterward altered, but not improved.
On ono side is this inscription :
Horoum Oota
I'idos Jimtitia
Hannah Duston
Mary Neff
Samuol Leouardrton -March
00 Ki'J7
Midnight
On the opposite side is :
March
15 Ni!7 3(1
Tho War Whoop Tomahawk Fagot
and
Infanticides
were at Haverhill
The ashes of the Cauip iires
at night
and toil of the Tiilie
aie hore.
Ou tho third side is a list of names of
Mentors ; but as there was room for only
twenty two, tho list ends with the word
nd
uiauy, many, othuru.
Among the favored names printed aro
Benjamiu 1". Uutler and James C. Ayer.
On the fourth sido are these versos :
Hiatua
171
Kuow ye that wa with mauy plant it,
In trust to the State we (jive and grant it
That tho lido of Time may never cant it
Nor mar nor sever ;
That Pilgriina here may heed the mothers
That Truth aud Faith and all the others
Willi banner high in glorious colors
May etind forever.
The names of five witnesses lollov.
The monument stands in full view from
tho Northern railroad, a few miles above
Concord, N. II.
In Denmark.
In Denmark the houses generally are
well furnished, with the exception of
carpets, for which the Danes seem to
have a great dislike, In the apartments
of the wealthy you will find often velvet
rugs and mats in the center of the floors
and around the sofas and tables. Tho
floors are either nicely waxed or painted.
and havo a decided air of cleanliness
about them. The Danish housemaids
are very fond of scrubbing, aud seem to
Keep it up pretty nearly all the time.
Tho walls of the private residences aro
very thick, and are built not only for tho
present, but for posterity. The window
frames have a double safch. These aro
of great convenience in ventilating tho
rooms in winter. Tho outer sash con bo
thrown open without letting iu much
cold air. The space between the sash
is large euough t hold vases and pots of
flowers, and flowers aro seen growing in
almost every window. . The curtains are
usually white, or of some very light col
ored material. Many of the partition
walls in the Danish houses aro made of
light canvas, instead of laths and mor
tar, as in America. The canvas is placed
upon frames, which can be moved about
ui a mere uoiuuuu cost. . ruehe can
vased . partitions are sometimes very
handsomely paiutod. ,'J'hey make the
rooms fully as private as one should
wish to have them.
The Nearness of Heaven.
Oh. heaven Is nearor than mortals think
When they look with a trembling dread
At the misty future that stretches ou
From the silent home of the dead.
The eye that shuts in a dying hour
Will opon the next in bliss ;
Tho welcome will Bound lu the heavenly world
l.ro the farewell is hushed in this.
Items of Interest.
"Moonlight mechanics" is the Troy
Press' latest name for burglars.
It makes a great difference whether
glasses are used over or under the
nose.
"My husband," says a lady, "is tho
most even-tempered person in the world
-he is always mad.
Thirty-five lives were lost on Now
Orleans steamers during tho first half of
this year, twenty-one by fire.
The youth becomes a man the very
day ho begins to feel uneasy at tho idea
of being dependent on another.
"Tho one thing," says Jean Paul,
" which a lady most easily forgets is how
she looks hence mirrors wore invented.
The too-sensitive chief of polico iu
Portland resigned because a robber whom
he " wanted" not only eluded him, but
broke into and robbed his house.
A correspondent wants to know by
what authority we said that flies were of
the race of Beelzebub. Doesn't every
body know that Beelzebub is tho father
of flies?
Lady "Well, Biddy, and how is tho
toothache this morning 1" Biddy" It's
yerself 's the rale lady to thiuk of poor
old Biddy ; but sure, mo lady, tho pain's
got so dreadful used to me that I never
feel it now at all, at all?"
A Tennessee girl told a fellow she
would give him a kiss if he would catch
her. She ran well till sho got out of
sight of the old folks, and then gave
in. This shows what a Tennessee girl
will do when she's hard run.
Hezekiah Leland, who died in Augus
ta, was the fleshiest man in Maiue. Ha
was thirty years old, aud weighed threo
hundred aud fifty pounds. Tho coffin
iu which ho was burieel was six feet long,
twenty inches deep, and thirty inches
wide.
Charles Dorr of Orland, Me., went to
Bangor to buy a wedding suit. He re
galed himself on peaches and ale on his
way home, from the effects of which ho
elied the doy set lor his marriage, ana
was buried in tho clothes ho bought for
his wedding.
Cider may bo preserved sweet for
years, by putting it up in air-tight cans,
after the manner of preserving fruit.
TIia liniinv should be first settled and
racked off from the dregs, but fermenta
tion should not be allowed to commence
before canning.
The other boys shouted, "boys be
hind I" and it was astonishing how quick
tho boy let go the tail gato of that bread
wagon and commenced making faces and
feeling for something in the seat of his
breeches, as the wagon went on without
hiin and the driver laughing.
" Fine cauo you've got," said Crab-
npple to Shawneybaum. "Yes, sir,"
said Shawneybnum ; "I brought it from
llengland. " What kind ot wood is it !
said Crabapple. " Well, sir, it looks
like 'azel or 'ickery, or you might take
it for a helm ; but, hatter hall, it s only
a hash 1"
Kerosene flames are readily extin
guished by throwing a cloth over them,
thus stifling them. But cloth is not al
ways in tho kitchen, where kerosene
accidents are most likely to occur.
Flour is recommended as a substitute.
Thrown upon the flames, it quickly ab
sorbs the fluid and deadens the flame.
The mule felt funny and playful, or
ho wouldn't have upset the milk wagon,
kicked the cans full of dust, spilt the
milk nil over the driver and gone homo
with the shafts and front axlo-treo hang
ing to him. There is no true confidence
to be placed in a mulo. One may think
he9 too lazy to kick and run, but he
knows more about himself than we do.
If we knew the cares aud crooees
Crowding rouud our neighbor's way,
If we knew the little losses
Sorely grievous day by day ;
Would we then so often chide liiui
For his lack of thrift and gain,
Leaving on his heart a fchadow,
Leaving on oar lives a stain '
Excellent advice is given to teachers
in tho Brooklyn Journal of Education :
" If you cannot answer a question point
edly and clearly when asked, say so ;
think of it until you can ; then, after
the lesson is recited, give tho informa
tion desired. Some teachers are afraid
to say frankly that they do not know a
thing, l upns soon nun out wieir weak
ness. A young man Li Dallas, Texas, awoke
suddenly the other night to find a large
snake in bod with him. For fear of
provoking an attack, ho lay still till
morning, when a friend who came to
call him to breakfast killed the intruder.
The same room has been visited by
reptiles more than once before. In the
spring three tarantulas were caught, and
about a month ago a rattlesnake four
feet long was killed there.
Tho fashionable people of Louisville,
Ky., habitually go to the theater only on
r nday nights. Ho fixed has this usage
become that on this evening of every
week the house will not hold all who
come, and on others it is nearly empty.
This is not a profitable custom for the
manager, and during the coming season
he will endeavor to break it up by call
ing the favored occasions " popular
nights for the people," and reducing the
price of admission.
Dnring the recent flood on the Wild
cat river, in Indiana, a resident of Clin
ton county awoke late one night to find
the ground floor ot his house entirely
submerged, and the waters rising
rapidly. He took his children out of
bed, set them on the highest part of the
roof and began firing shots from his gun,
as a signal of distress, until his ammu
nition gave out. He had just set about
composing his mind for death when some
of his neighbors, coming down the river
on a boat, sailed in at one "of his win
dows and rescued the party. , ' -