- HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NIL DESPERANDTJM. Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. VI. RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1876. KO. 2G
The I.nst.
Never the patter of baby feet upon the shilling
floors
Never ttie runtle of mii1eun' robes In the long
grim oorridora ;
Never a bold boy ' whistle to ring tbto-igh the
silent room t
Never a thrill of girlish laugh, like a sun-ray in
the gloom.
Nothing to break the order that reigns In the
gilt taloon,
Through morning glimmer, or gloaming hush,
or sultry haze of noon j
Nothing to break the stillness of the ;;reat an
cestral bonse
That lies 'mid its b tat m il tcirracea, smooth
lawns and oaken boughs.
lu the proud pal.ited gplKiy the portraits hang
on the nail J 0
Yon may train the haughty smile on V'e lip, the
dark eyes' glance in all.
Ah, lovoly laJy I ah, gallant knight! ah, beauty
and valor free t
The last pale leaf hangs fluttering upon the
moldoring tree.
Ho stormed fie breach at Ascalon, at Cceur de
Lion's side ;
He held a pass in Wensloydale against Crom
well in his pride ;
She saved her house's honor in a day of des
perate fight,
For her fearless frown and wooing voice made
every serf a knight.
Now, shut in the dim east parlor, fragile and
wbito and old,
The oue lone scion of their line waits till her
hour is told ;
The flickering of the dying flame Just shown
in the chiseled face,
And the quiet pride of her low, sweet tones,
the lnht of all her race.
1)j tli.) spirits of the glorious past come whii-
poring round her there ?
Do they poep from the oriel's glowing glass, or
loan on the tapentried chair ?
))) they t-paak from the hlazaned breviary tbnt
lies at the lady's side ?
O. hido by the hearih where the mighty logs
pile in the chimney wide?
Or docs Hi ore lurk in the pensive blue of tl.e
un-tful childless eyes
A yearning for what she has never known, tho
xwent home paradise,
Tor the husband's shelter, the household
warmth, tho clinging of childibh hands,
Tao tender fireside gladness that truo woman
understands 1
Who knows V The daughters of her house
mada ntver j ublio moan ;
8 .irow, or wrong, cr luteruese, if they bjro,
they bore alone.
T'io wil l winds moan around her towois, the
snow heap s park anil chase,
And there, in stately ooiitude, sits tno Uet of
all her race.
THE HISSING RING.
My father bad been dead a month,
when oue morning Mr. Maitlaud, our
family liwvt r, one of mj father's oldest
friends, called ou me.
"Mr. Charles," hu said, after we had
shaken bati-ls, " we have arranged your
fnlh r's aff.drs, and found a purchaser
for the tstite, but "
" Are alt outlying dobts paid in full?"
I interiupted, quickly.
"They are, out," continued our kind
friend, in a troubled voico, I grieve to
pay there is hardly anything left for you
and your Bister: scarcely a thousand dol
lars." I stared at him a moment in dismayed
astonishment.
" Ah !" he went on, " if you had only
followed my ndvioa I There were amoDg
your father's debts more than one that
could honestly have been cut down by
one-half. Your father had ever an open
baud and a generous heart, sir I"
' I regret nothing that has beendone,
Mr. Maitlaud, and have but one more
question to ask you: When can I harp
the thousand dollars I"
" To morrow, if you wish it."
A few days later my sister Emmeline
and I bade adieu to our once happy
home ours, alas! no longer and de
parted for New York.
In spite of my efforts to hear up
against the sudden adversity that had
fallen upon us, tho blow nearly over
wholmod me at first. I did not think so
ranch of myself; a man can ah-, ays
make his way in this world with energy
and a strong will, but I wa-; troubled for
my dear sister. How should I find the
nieaus of providing for thi fragile, deli
rate girl of sixteen all the comforts and
luxuries she had hitherto enjoyed ?
When this terrible problem first pre
sented itself to me, I fell a prey for just
oue moment to utter discouragement
and despair. But those of my race are
proud and strong of will, and I mentally
resolved thut I would fight the battle of
life so bravely that victory must at last
nrown my efforts.
Arrived iu New York, we took a mod
est apartment aud furnished it with as
much comfort as our slender resources
would allow. I made out a list of all
my father's former friends and resolved
to apply to them one after the other un
til I had obtained employment. Day
after day aud week after week I solicited,
hoped and waited. Promises without
number, expressions of interest for my
self and my sister and regret for our
bereavement were lavished upon me,
but that was all. It was the old story,
so well known to all those whose hard
tdoom condemns them to solicit aid or
tir2sf then, oblivion. We had now been
threA months iu New York, when one
moriing I found that only five dollars
remained in my purse. Here, then,
was the end of all my dreams. But now
to face the cruel reality. The winter
was approaching, my sister's pale faoe
was growing paler day by day, and a
hacking cough begun to harass her.
Another fortnight passed, during which
I had been obliged to part with my
watch and chain and even some articles
of clothing, to procure the bare neces
saries of life.
But, worse than all, I was at length
forced to acquaint Emmeline with our
terrible position. The poor child tried
to oomfort me with tender caresses and
hopeful words, but tho words died away
on her quivering lips, and gave plaoe
to bitter sobs. And I could do nothing.
Nothing I Ah, yes I ono last hope re
mained to rue. Home days previous I
had written to Mr. Maitlaud, telling him
of my desperate condition and request
ing hiui to give me some letters of in
troduction to the New York law offices,
find that very morning had received an
answer in the shape of a large, official
envelope, bearing the address of the
Hon. Mr. Carleton, an eminent member
of the judicial bench. Taking up my
hat, I straightway bore the letter to its
destination, and, having read it, the
judge said tome: " In a few days you
shall hear from mo, and I think I -shall
have good news for you."
On the third morning after this inter
view I had persuaded my sister to take
a walk with me. During our prome
nade we happened to pass before a res
taurant in the neighborhood, whenoe a
waiter had just issued forth, bearing a
luncheon tray, on which, among other
tempting viands, was a dainty roast
chicken. My poor sister involuntarily
fixed such a 1 inging, hungry look on the
food as it passed before her, that it al
mofit broke my heart. On our return
home, I found a letter from Judge Car
leton awaiting me. Apologizing for the
irregular form of his invitation, he said
he i hould be happy to see me as a guest
at dinner on that same evening.
As the servant announced me Judge
Carleton came toward me, and, taking
me kindly by the hand, introduced me
to his wife and daughter, aud then to
several of his guests who had known my
father. All were so kind and cordial to
me that in a few moments I felt quite at
home. The dinner was a brilliant one.
I was engaged in an animated conversa
tion with a charming and very witty
lady beside whom I was 8 atod, when
suddenly all my gayety fled from me. I
had just perceived at ono end of the
table a splendid roast fowl that a domes
tic had jiint placed there. The scene of
tho morning and the hungry look in my
sinter's eyes rose tip before me, and my
heart was wrung by the remembrance.
The next iastaut a. portion of the fowl
was placed before me. In the meantime
tho lady beside me, finding I ltad sud
denly become taciturn and lislrai(,gave
her attention to my next neighbor, and
left me to my own devices and the satis
iuc.lion of my greedy appetite. I made
siieh good use of the liberty thus ao
corded ma that iu a few seconds every
trace of tho food ou my plate had disap
peared. Dinner was nearly over, when
tho conversation turned on a lawsuit
that my host had gained for one of his
clients.
" Well," said the judge, laughing,
" the ca30 was oue of my best, I'll allow;
but my client deserves a little mention,
too. Junt look at the handsome present
he has siiit me," and ho drew from Lis
linger a magnificent diamond ring, and
handed it for inspection to tho lady who
-ut cost him. In tho midnt of expres
sions of delight and admiration, the
jewel muh Landed from oue guest to an
other round the table, and Mrs. Carleton
had just risen aud was proceeding to
iiass into the drawing-room, when her
husband exclaimed: "My dear, have
you my ring ?"
"No, indeed; Mrs. M. returned it to
you a tow moments since. "
" Bless mo I Then where can it ),
he said, biking out his napkin, and fuel
ing in all his pocket', oneafterthe other.
So ono stirred from the table, and for
.some minutes the room was filled with
t confused hum of voices and the jing
ling of knives aud forks, china and
glass, brought into violent collision by
the excited guests iu their search after
tho missing jewel. But the search was
all in vain; the ring had certainly disap
peared. " I see how it is," said the judge,
jokingly, "thut ring must be some
wicked fairy who has maliciously hidden
herself away iu the pocket of one of our
number. Now, I am going to make a
proposal, ladies and gentlemen an odd,
extravagant, impossible proposal, if you
will aud which you would utterly re
ject if it camo from any other quarter;
out whijh ycu will accede to, as com
ing from nil eccmtrio individual like
me."
"Explain! explain!" cried all the
Ijuests in choruj.
" I propose, then," continued our
host, " that before we leave this room
we shall proceed to search each other,
the ladies ou this side, and we gentle
men yonder. Let all who object hold
np their hand3."
At the word " Search," all the blood
iu my veins rushed back to my heart,
aud a cold sweat broke out on my fore
head and trickled down my face, which
I felt had boeome ashy pale. I stood
Ihero apart, with a rush of sound in my
ears, a mist before my eyes, and swaying
to aud fro like a man drunk with wine.
And, through it all, I could hear the
laughing voice of my host counting the
votes in favor of his proposal. Suddenly
he confronted me, aud said, ina peculiar
tone and with a significant glance at my
arms, which were tightly folded on my
breast: " Aud you, sir, do you not ap
prove my suggestion f "
"I do not, sir," I replied, with out
ward firmness, but with a face paler
than ever. A silence as of death suc
ceeded these words, and every eye. in
the room was turned in my direction.
" I beg your pardon for this foolish
joke, sir," said the judge, after a pause,
in a tone I ehall never forget. " I would
rather be tLo loser of ten thousand dol
lars than wound the feelings of a guest
under the shelter of my roof," and,
moving toward the door, he added,
lightly, "gentlemen, coffee will be ruin
ed if we delay here longer." Just as he
was passing through the open door I ad
vanced toward him.
" I owe you an explanation, Mr. Car
leton," I eaid ; " will you bear me f Pray
do cot refuse me," I edded, seeing him
turn coldly away. He stood still for a
moment, and then turning toward me
he said, brusquely, but without looking
at me:
"Very well, come," and he led the
way to his study.
The door bad hardly closed behind
us when shouts of laughter were heard
from the drawing-room, and before I
had time to utter a word, Mrs. Carleton
burst into the room, holding the missing
ring in the palm of ber open band.
" There is your ring," she said, hand
ing it to ber husband; " a servant has
just found it."
" Where I" stammered Mr. Carleton,
with a look of stupefied amazement."
" Jiist in your plate," the answered,
laughing merrily.
" Very well, Annie, leave us for an in
stant and we will join you in the drawing-room."
As the door closed behind
his wife, Mr. Carleton came np to me
and seized me by both hands.
" Before you say one word, sir, boar
my story," I cried, and theu, with rapid,
feverish eloquence, I told him of
my struggles, my affection for my sister,
of my sufferings at seeing her suffer,
and, finally, of the heart wringing scene
of the morning. " Aud this is why I
preferred to pass for a thief rather than
have it known that my father's daughter
was dying of hunger," I concluded,
drawing from my pocket the portion of
fowl I had contrived to slip from my
plate during the sumptuous repast of
which I had just partaken. Tears fell
from the eyes of the good lawyer as be
listened to me, and, when I had ceased
speaking, ho once more soized my bands
and exclaimed :
"Good lad! The sister you love so
well shall never know want again j" and
with my hand still clasped in his own,
ho throw open tho door of tho drawing
room, drew me in after him, and laying
his other hand ou my shoulder with
affection, be eaid, in a voice of deep
emotion :
" Gentlemen, I present to you the
most honorable and worthy your.g fel
low I know, my private secretary."
There were two happy, thankful
hearts that night iu their bumble apart
ment. Servian Mounted Infantry.
The London Kew correspondent in
Servia says: As we talk iu the sunshine
there is a patter of horses' hoofs on the
timber flooring of the bridge, and to
these approaches a column of cavalry of
a sort. The mounts are not horses, but
diminutive rat-liko ponies, with long
tails and manes and longer necks. They
move with a brisk pace, half walk, half
amble, and seem good for any distauco,
notwithstanding the loads they carry, as
they jog along in double file. The load
of a Servian war pony I suppose that
is a correct explanation consists, in the
first instance, of a large blanket, then of
a huge denii-pique Turkish saddlo cov
ered with a sheepskin, then with two
hugo packs sluug across the loins, then
with miscellaneous wallets and blankets,
Rnd various belongings fastened on and
above the saddle, and on top of every
thing, stuck up high above the pony's
back, a full grown Servian peasant, car
rying across bis thighs a musket with a
fixed bayonet, n sword and an odd pon
iard or two. This queer column of cav
alry forms tho escort to a line of provin
cial wagons that follow slowly in long
procession, each wagon drawn by its pa
tiont team of oxen. " Is that your cav
alry 1" I ask, with a fine sense of humor,
of a stair officer. No, said be, it was but
tho volunteer escort of the provision
train; the pony riders are but peasant
militia untrained, and without, as you
we, a scrap of uniform about them.
" But ragged aud droll as they look,"ho
continued, "they sire jiro ianio a solu
tion of the problem of mounted infantry
which your army men of western Europe
arc discussing. These ponies can gallop
like tho wind under these fellows over
ground which, on au English horse, you
would rightly regard as impossible.
Tuny have only got to slip their packs,
gallop to the front, dismount, get among
the rocks, and commence firing; and if
tliey had decent weapons of precision
there would be no finer skirmishers in
tho world. If pressed, and quick retreat
bo necessary, the ponies will como to
them with a whistle, and no regular cav
alry that ever formed squadron could
get near them. Yes, I suppose the bay
onets are an incumbrance; but nothing
would p'ease these fellows better thun a
chanco at the Turks in a pell-mell ir
n gular skirmish with the whito arms."
As I hear this I think of the 200,000
Cossacks from whom llnssia is said to be
taking the lance, and to whom she is
said to be giving the breech loading
rifle, and training to act on advance duty
as mounted infantry, or perhaps rather
as mounted cavalry.
Self-Sacrlficing.
This is a true story. The happy cir
cumstances occurred on a Sunday even
ing. He escorted ber to and from
church, and upon arriving at ber home
their discussion of the sermon aud the
extreme beat suggested au invitation,
readily accepted by Charles, that they
step into tho house and portaka of a
cooling glass of lemonade. She led him
to the dining-room, and there found
naughty brother Beu about to squeeze
the lust lemon iu the bouse for his own
individual benefit I Calling him aside
she induced Ben, by means of sundry
threats and promises, to dissect that
lemon and make Charlie and herself a
glass. A self-sacrificing thought struck
herl "No, Ben," said she, "put the
juice of the whole lemon into Charlio's
glass and bring me a glass of water. Ha
won't notice it there is no light iu the
parlor!"
Ben was making one good strong
lemonade, as directed, when Charlie
quietly slippod out and remarked: "I
say, Ben! put the juice of the entire
lemon in your sister's glass and bring
me some ice water there is no light in
the parlor and she won't notice it!"
Ben's forte is in obeying orders.
With a merry twinkle in his eye he
drank the lemonade, then carried them
each a glass of water, which they drank
with much apparent relish, asking each
other, between sips, "if it was sweet
enough!" And naughty brother Ben,
with the taste of that lemonade in bis
month, stood out in the ball and laugh
ed till bis sides ached, to hear them as
sure each other that it was "just right I
60 palatable and so refreshing 1"
The offloial returns made in the United
States bureau of statistics show that dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80, 1876,
there arrived in the United States 22,
672 Chinese immigrants, of whom only
259 were females. Of this number 21,
262 arrived in San Francisco, 515 in
Oregon, and 395 in Paget sound. Dur
ing the corresponding period of 1875
the total immigration to the United
States from China was 16,437, of whom
eighty -two were females. This shows an
increase in 1876 over 1875 of 5,135.
TIIE DYNAMITE FIEND'S END.
A I.ave ftnry Beana la New York and
Ended In Bremen The Fortnnea af a
Beautiful French Ulrl.-Aa Indulgent Ha,
band and his Petted Wife
Jane G. Swisnhelm writes the follow
ing romantic story from Saxony : Some
years ago a Suoto'iman roigr.ited to
America. By unknown ways he suc
ceeded in getting enough money to give
biin the appearance of great wealth,
ne spent freely ; was of eminently
pleasant manners and social instincts;
liked society, and made himself a most
delightful inembor of it; was a matri
monial catch, and might have married
money, but he saw one who put out of
bis mind all thought of making it by
marriage.
The lady who sealed his fate was
much younger than himself a French
gi-,1 in New Jerk, without a permanent
homo, or friends on "whom she could
rely for support. She was beautiful
surpassingly so accomplished, grace
ful nnd elegant; had been born and
brought up in Paris, where ber mother
still resides; spoke several languages
with fluency, and was fitted with every
thing but money for adorning the circles
of upper tendom. Oar Scotchman be
came deeply enamored of the beautiful,
friendless girl; proposed, was accepted,
and they were married.
His wife's tastes were expensive. She
believed him to be a person of almost
unlimited resources, and spent freely
for the adornment of the lovely person
he loved so much to see beautifully
adorned. He proved to be an almost
adoring busband, gentie, affectionate,
devoted, attentive often performing
with his own hands for bis wife and
childrou services usually rendered by
servants, and for the performauce of
which he had plenty of paid attendants.
For instanco, he thought no one could
prepare his wife's coffee and carry it to
her bedside in the morning bo well as
be, or wrap ber shawl around her so
carefully when eho sat up to drink it.
If baby cried, nurse and mamma gave
place to the superior tenderness with
which he soothed its sorrows. Their
style of living was superb, and bis out
lay lavish. His resources were sup
posed to be very great, and, when he
begun to complain of hiB wife's bills,
she thought him stingy, and spoke of it
to ber intimate lady friends, who spoke
of it again to their husbands, and it was
a good joke to think of the canny
Scotchman being alarmed by the mil
liners' bills of his beautiful young wife.
Years ago they came to Continental
Europe, and here be passed as a South
ern American ; and, as a matter of
course, they were all the possessors of
untold wealth. The war might bavo de
prived them of their slaves, but tho
aroma of vast estates and great expecta
tions, as well as of past magnificence,
attached to them,
Our Scotchman and his bewitching
French wife lived here in Leipzig in
fine style, and had many warm friends.
Tho lady's almost perfect knowledge of
several languages fitted her for society.
xney had plenty or money, ana had a
very nice time. A gentleman made a
short journey in his company, slept in
tne room with mm, and concluded that,
notwithstanding his great good humor
and pleasant manners, something must
lie heavily on his conscience.
No innoocut man could make night so
hideous with groans and execrations,
uttered in the unconsciousness of sleep;
but he did not often sleep in the room
with st-augers, and it afterward became
a question whether ho ever awakened
the suspicions of Lis wife by the horrors
that attended his sleep. Those who
knew them most intimately think she
never knew his secret; but 6lio did know
that with all his lavish expenditure of
money, ha did object to her milliners'
bills.
His objections being overruled, be put
thorn into the form of commands and
prohibitions; but these proved as un
availing a.1 remonstrances iu a milder
form; aud, while they were hero in this
quaint old city, be made a determined
stand about one dealer in particular. No
more credit was to be given to his name
there no bills run on his account and,
when a 1 irger bill than usual came, there
was a florco altercation ; but the lady's
tears and loveliness, her pretty airs,
pouting defiance, martyrdom, and mis
ery disarmod him, and be retired to his
own room and bed to meditate on ways
nnd means. Theso came up beforo him
in ghastly procession.
The ways ho had followed; tho means
he had taken to clothe those delicate
limbs is the next room in purple and
fine linen; the price he bad paid for the
jowels that sparkled ou those dainty
.fingers; the soul be bad exchanged for
baubles; tne misery, the anguish he had
sent into other homes that his might be
a nest of luxury for birds in gay plumage;
the confiding friend of his youth
doomed to a sudden and terrible death
that this woman might dawdle away ber
life in easo and indolence, and disregard
all his admonitions and orders about
carelessly lavishing the money won by
such terrible expedients t These
thoughts maddened him, until, spring
ing up with foam on his lips and furious
revenge in his eyes, he rushed into ber
room, dragged ber from ber luxurious
bed, dashed her to the floor, and, with
repeated and furious blows, sought to
make an and of her. Her cries brought
all in the bouse into the ball; but no one
dared to enter the room, except an old
nurse who had been with them a long
time, who rushed in to ber mistress'
rescue.
The sight of her diverted the manLio's
attention from bis prostrate wife, so that
he left off boating ber, and darted after
the nurse. The wife made good use of
the diversion to get to an open window
and throw herself out, although the
room was in the second story. Some
vines ana trellis caught Her, and she
held on shivering lest be should murder
tho children. The nurse got out of bis
way; and after searching for them both
for some time, aud making every one
tremble with bis horrible oaths and im
precations, be went bock to bed. The
nurse helped her mistress back into the
room. She was terribly bruised and
blackened. She kept ber bed, aud re
fused to see ber husband for days
would Luve left him, bnt she bad no
home to which she could go, and of
course she bad triumphed. The end
was full of humiliation for the cowardice
of his conduct, full of contrition, and
eager to appease her anger. She, vic
torious, diotated terms of reconciliation.
They left Leipzig ; went. I think, to
Dresden, and lived in the old way. He
was from borne a good deal on" business;
and, one day, she received a telegram
from Bremen, asking her to come to
him. She passed through Leipzig, and
called on her friends as she went ; could
not think why her busband had sent so
peremptorily for her, but went on by
the first train. Arriving at the end of
the journey, an officer, who seemed to
have been expecting her, accosted her,
inquiring if she was Mrs. . She
was the person, and he pnt ber and her
children into a carriage and took them
to a hotel, where them seemed to have
been expected. But her husband did
not appear, and there was a strange con
fHsion about everything. People looked
terrified, nnd hurried about. The offi
cer behaved like a man conducting a
funeral. She asked to be taken to her
hnsbaud, and he answered her evasively.
Where was be ? His chief could tell
tell her. Next day the chief came, and
questioned her closely about many
things that she thought her own private
iTlTairs, but gave her no information about
her husband. After soro time he began
to give her a history of the recent events
in his city. He led her up to them
gradually, and watched her closely.
After an hour of torture, she under
stood that a terrible crime had been
committed, and the chief waaconvinced
that she was innocent of any participa
tion iu it, when she exclaimed : "And
my husband did it !"
The chief was sorry that it was even
so, and of course she fainted. Again and
again she was questioned and cross
questioned, and at the end of two days
was taken to a hospital to see her hus
band. As she passed through the corri
dor to his room her blood was curdled
by cries as of a panther in extremity.
The noise increased as she neared the
door, and, admitted, she found a man
writhing on a bed in the furthest corner.
There was no other occupant in the
room but a mau in attendance, and the
howling wild beast was her husband I
A suicidal wound had shattered his
jaw so that he could not articulate a
word. His tongue was swollen and
protruding. His head and face were
enveloped in blood stained bandages,
and bis blood stained soul glared forth
from his horror stricken eyes. For a
time she covered her face with her hands
to shut out the frightful vision, and
tried to stop her ears against the more
frightful cries. Then she went forward,
and, throwiug herself on her knees at
his bedside, exclaimed passionately:
" How could you f How could you bring
this disgrace on mo and on our chil
dren I"
This reproach added fuel to the flames
of torture iu which he writhed, so that
his struggling and bowlings became
terrific, yet she continued to pour out
the story of her wrongs, and to upbraid
him with his crimes, until the attendant,
with tearful eyes, interceded for the
monster, saying:
" Do not, madam ! Do not I He is
dying now I Say a kind word to him, if
you can."
Then she controlled herself ; thought
of his ki iduees to her, their children;
spoke gently; took his bands; assured
him of her forgiveness. His panther
shrieks sunk into groans I He clung to
the haud she gave him; nodded intelli
gent answers to her questions; seemed
comforted by her pardon and the hopo
that God would not withhold His; and
soon the soul of the dynamite fiend
passe t to its account I The indulgent
husband had paid his last milliner's bill,
and gono to that other reckoning, leav
ing his wife aud children in absolute
want.
Adventure of a Conductor.
Conductor B. is always polite to
ladies. All conductors are polite to
ladies, particularly so when they are
young and handsome. Miss C. was
hauded on board at the station as care
fully as though she was " glass to be
handled with care." An extra seat was
turned over on the shady side of the
car, and the conductor took a seat by
her side to do the agreeable, having met
Miss C. on the train before.
Presently, as matters were going along
nicely, an old man, in bis shirt sleeves,
threw himself into the seat in front,
which the conductor bad unlocked and
turned over for the benefit of the par
ties more immediately concerned. Mr.
B. spoke up sharply :
" Go away from here !"
Bat the man didn't go.
Conductor says, still more sharply :
"Go away, or I'll make you !"
But still no go, while a vacant, pro
voking smile sat upon the face of the in
truder. Whereupon, Conductor B.
grasped the old farmer by the nape of
the neck. At the same the young lady
seized the arm of the conductor, and ex
claimed :
"Please don't, Mr. B. This is my
father."
Ever since Conductor B. always asks
young ladies if they are traveling alone.
Colonel Boozer's Remarks.
At the centennial celebration of a
Western town, the chairman called
npon " our esteemed fellow citizen,
Colonel Boozer," to make a few remarks.
The colonel, who was "pretty well
loaded," commenced firing after the fol
lowing style :
"Fellow citizens, er bnndred years
go tli Injuns were thicker n fury round
here"
Here one of the committee, noticing
the colonel's condition, shook bis bead
as a bint lor more elegant language,
which the speaker, construing into a
denial of his assertion, turned fiercely
on his adviser and continued :
"Tell ye they were thicker'n flies
round a m lasses cask. Why, a man
could n t go out to weed bis garden
'thout gettin' the seat of bis breeches
stuck full of arrers "
Here, amid a general roar, the colonel
was persuaded to postpone the re-
. i
uiuiuuer oi uis speecn.
Hartford fishermen bave discovered
that the potato bug is good bait for
trout. It has always been known that
tne trout is more greedy than discrimi
nating in bis diet.
Silk Cnlture In Pennsylvania.
A little more than one hundred years
ago, says an exchange, some of the
wiser beads is and about Philadelphia
conceived the idea that women, girls and
boys could find useful employment for
their idle hours by imitating the indus
trious habits of other countries, where
necessity compels them to use every mo
ment of time end to seize every oppor
tunity for making a living. Dr. C.id
wallader Evans, who lived nearGwynned,
was much interested in this enterprise.
He, and probably bis neighbors, planted
mulberry trees, with seed obtained-from
Italy ; they got silkworm eggs from
France, raised the worms, and learned
to reel the silk. A letter from Dr. E.
C. Evans (the son) states that " many
pounds were manufacted into clothing
for tho fam'ly during the Revolutionary
war, and some sold." Dr. Benjamin
Franklin, while in England, interested
himself in this culture. His corre
spondence with Dr. Evans is among his
letters of that period. He urged tho
establishment of a ' filature," as tho
place was called, whero reeling and
manufacturing silk was carriod on, nnd
under his advice a filature was put into
operation on Seventh street, in Phila
delphia, just above Arch. Why should
a work so well begun a hundred years
ago be now among the " lost arts " so
far as Philadelphia is concerned? It
would be well for us to begin it again.
The Centennial Exhibition will direct
attention to it, as there are many things
suggestive of the usefulness of this ele
gant industry and of the appropriate
ness of it to the women of the United
States. There are beautiful articles of
silk there from all parts of the world,
but the silk mills of Philadelphia are
not behind any in tho beauty of their
products. There are silks from Pater
son, from Connecticut, from New York,
from California and Kansas. There are
cocoons and raw silk from China and
Japan, from India and Australia, and
from Brazil ; there are some also from
California and from Kansas, as well as
from France and Italy. There are also
some grown forty years ago on our own
soil of Pennsylvania ; and part of a silk
dress whose silk was grown at Lancaster,
and worn as a wedding dress by the lady
who raised it. Other lik 3 pieces from
siik of Pennsylvania raising are to bo
found at tho rooms of the Historical
Society and at the Philadelphia (Frank
lin) library.
Too Much for an Adventurer.
A Newport correspondent writes :
Adventurers are plentiful here; and,
apropos of adventurers, the best story
I ever beard was told me the other day
about ono of this class. Of good
family, and a small fortune, be was set
well in the race of life, but of exceeding
boauty, an Adonis in face and figure,
and a vanity and social ambition which
kept pace with each other, his small for
tune soon went, and Adonis is launched
upon a lifo of debt and stratagem. He
has an eye for beauty, and a susoeptible
fancy, not heart, mind that is- entirely
absorbed with the image be sees in the
looking-glass. He would like boauty,
therofore, as well as money, iu the wife
he is diligently iu search of. After
many attempts aud failures, he comes nt
last upon the parogon of women. She
has good looks and money, or her father
has, and this father notoriously iudul
gent. My gentleman pays his devoirs.
Most young women are attracted to
Adonis. He is not a fool, except in the
way of van ty, but he has a skill in
keeping this out of sight for a while.
This shows his wit. Aud so he makes a
decided impression upon Miss Croesus,
and eossips begin to say that a match is
imminent. Papa Croesus, who is the
wisest mau I ever beard of, watches pro
ceedings, and does not by any means
fan the flame in his daughter s heart by
opposition. Instead, after taking the
accurate measurement of Adonis, he in
vites him to stay beneath bis roof, while
be is in the city, and Adonis falls into
the trap with great alacrity. Bag and
baggnge ne descends upon tiie uicews
mansion and installs himsolt at liis ease,
feeling that bis troubles are over. Day
after day Miss Croesus rides and drives
with Adonis. Day alter day she seen
him in every light. And by-and-bye she
begins to avoid him and to wonder what
on earth possessed papa to invite such a
vain egotist, to be bis guest. Ihen papa
comes to the rescue,, and Adonis is as
skilfully invited away to fresh fields and
pastures new, without opportunity to
declare his sentiments even. " lie
comes too near who comes to be de
nied." Adonis camo too near. The ro
cipa of cure was perfect, and Miss Croasus
to this day does not know what a wise
father she has.
Desolated.
Sebastopol has been in a ruined and
dismantled condition since the close of
the Crimean war. It does not now con
tain more than 9,000 inhabitants, who
are scarcely able to exist upon the rem
nanta of the once flourishing commerce
of the port. The bfe of the community
shows signs of reviving of late, some
military vessels having been constructed
on its new slips. Forts Constantino and
Catharine are still standing, badly bat
tered with cannon balls. Forts Nicholas
and Alexander and the quarantine are
completely dilapidated, some hundreds
of dwellings having been built with the
stones which once formed taeir ram
parts. The principal publio buildings
of the city are all destroyed. The re
construction of the fortifications is
among the possibilities of the situation
should complications with England
ensue.
An Expensive Mistake.
The proprietor of one of the numerous
cigar stores with which Detroit abounds,
so the Free Press says, now on a visit
to Philadelphia, recently wrote to bis
boy clerk giving him certain instruc
tions lelativo to business matters, and
closed by telling him to " Give my re
gards to all the folks who oome in."
The clerk read " segars for regards.
and in his reply to the proprietor be
dwelt eloquently npon the encomiums
whioh bad been freely bestowed on the
"segars " by those to whom be bad been
industriously giving them away ainoe his
receipt ox tno letter.
Items of Interest.
Fourteen newspapers are supporting
the greenback ticket.
The trotting stallion Thomas Jeffer
son has beon sold for $26,000.
The Danbury Nctos man says: "If we
had nothing else to do we should like to
be sick."
A man in New Orleans walks so slow
that his shadow, frequently falls asleep
on the sidewalk.
One who knows says that the worst
behaved children in the country arc
those at the watering places.
Thoy pretend to have a young lady in
St. Louis so kind-hearted and lazy that
she will never beat an egg.
The city authorities of Boston bavo
given notice that only one cow for every
3,000 feet of land can be kept in tho
city.
It was rather personal of a California
newspaper man te chronicle the purchase
of a mule by a brother editor as " a
remarkable instance of self-possession. "
Says an Omaha obituary : "He was
a splendid penman, a systematic book
keeper and a systematic driuker." It
explains everything.
The happiest life of a woman is per
haps attained when she adopts tho opin
ions of a reasonably intelligent husband
and conscientiously thinks they aro her
own.
A little girl was asked what was the
meaning of the word happy. She gave
a pretty answer, saying : " It is to foel
as if you wanted to give up your things
to your little sister."
There is nothing half so sad in life as
the spectacle of an auctioneer attempt
ing to sell $15,000 worth of goods to an
audience whose aggregate and tangible
assets foot up thirty cents.
It is said that the subscription book
trado has fallen off in late years, bnt
that the profits to the authors from this
method of sales is still more tnan by tue
usual manner of publication.
A New York policeman arrested a boy
while in the act of drinking milk from
nlk cans under the stoops of private
houses by meanH of a rubber tube insert
ed through tho iron grated door.
A Georgia theorist, who wishes to in
crease the production of corn in tho.
South, proposes a tax of $20 an acre on
every acre of cotton more than flvo
which may bo raised by any planter.
On one of the bodies found on Cus
ter's battlofiold, that of a Gorman sol
dier named Ackerman, thero were no
fewer than soventy-five wounds. All tho
limbs bad likewise been hacked off.
A man named Bodda turns up in Lon
don, who states in court that he " gets
his living by making claims on singers
who sing copyrighted songs in publio,
od taking out summonses in tne names
of the proprietors.
A Centennial Exhibition correspondent
tells of pills, in the Chinese pharmaceu
tical display, which are the size of mar
bles, neatly covered with wax, and other
wise decorated with Chineso characters
in gold and vermilion. .
A young seoond warder of New York,
who was thirsting two months ago for a
lifo of romance and adventnre among
the Black Hills, has experienced a
change of heart, and is now digging '
lams for a living nt X1 iro island.
Church fairs work as follows : Some
ladies borrow money from their hus
bands, buy materials and make up fauey
articles, which they givo to the fair.
Then they change places, borrow more
money and buy tho articles back again.
A married man from L'Ansc, Mich.,
at Waupaca, Wis., arranged with a
pretty Swede girl to elope with him, and
gave her to purchase anoutnt. aue
took the money, told the scamp's wifo
about it, and went home nnd stayed
there.
Sister " Well, yon know, Bobby,
your eye's very inflamed; you can't go.
out with Tommy Brown till that speck
of dust s out of it I . JSobby (auxious
to bo off) " I'm all right, I know it's
out now (earnestly); I I think I beard
it fall!"
It is said that no one can remember
ever having seen a living evergreen that
had been struck by lightning, it has,
therefore, been suggested that a build
ing well surrounded by such trees would
be comparatively free from danger of
being rent by lightciug.
An exchange says that while two Onio
tramps were working to pay for their
dinners, the ether day, they were both
struck by lightning and killed. It was
the first timo tho lightning ever got a
lick at a tramp at work, and it struck as
if it was going to be the last.
A cockney at the falls of Niagara,
when asked how he liked them, replied :
" Thev aro andsomo, quite so : but
they don't quite answer my bexpecta
tions ; besides, I got thoroughly vet
ted, and lost my 'at. I prefer to look at
em in an bengraving, in ot weatner,
and in the 'ouse."
Conversation between en inquiring
stranger and a steamboat pilot : " That
U Black mountain ?" " Yes, sir ; high
est mountain above Lake George."
" Any story or legend connected witu
that mountain ?" " Lots of em. Two
lovers went up that mountain once and
never came back again." " Indeed !
Why, what became of them !" " Went
down on the other side."
The estimates for the Paris exposi
tion of 1878 bave been made. They
provide for a total expenditure of 85,
313,000 francs. The receipts are esti -
mated at 19,225,000 francs, which will
leave a deficit of some Id, 000,000 francs
to be borne by the government and
city. The exposition will be upon a
much larger scale than that of 1867,
whioh only cost 23,000,000 francs.
Even Chinamen now ask to have their
names kept ont of the police oolumn, as
witness the following request made of a
California editor: "You allee tame
newspaper man ? Well, you sabbe, my
oussin, he velley good man ; he workee
barber shop long time, and everybody
likee him. He oatcbea tluble and
pleecesman allest him, but be do noth
mg. I hkee you please no p it bo name
in newspaper. My name Ah Jon, allee
same, and I keep washhouse. Flaps it
makee me no good you put be name in
newspaper."