Mi;.', i.k iilill HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NIL DESPEEANDUM. Two Dollars per Annum. VOL. VIII. 01 RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1878. NO. 8. rr Tlie Empty Schoolroom. Gray dust npon each window-sill, A broken .obalr; The t rnlshed bell untouched solong One leaf of a familiar song Bucb marks of wear As hearts frith sad remembrance fill. Tired, tired I gsso on these at last. Strangely it seems The fresh, young f soes are all fled Some blithe, yonng hearts among the dead, Numbered. In dreams Alone, oome visions of the past. With something twixt a sob and sigh I s'and to-day Witbin this empty, dreary room, As silent as the speeohless tomb, And out, away Beyond these walls brown meadows lie. . Brown meadows, where the wild wind sweeps '? Cbift,ahl sochill;' : Jiut through the cobwebbed window-pane I see the graveyard in the rain, . Stilt, ah ! so still, Each heart aweary, resting, sleeps. O room deserted evermore I I love you yet. And sky, that holdeth only gloom, Beyond are tides, of summer bloom Without regret, To shine npon the golden shore. A LEGHORN HAT. Nino o'clock of a cloudless summer morning. The basket phaeton stood at the door in the narrow noisy street be low, bnt Mr. White had already gone to his office, Annie pleaded headache, and the children had their allotted tasks with the German governess to accomplish. must either remain within doors during the hot hours of the day or go out alone. I decided on the latter oourse. I am too old to require any chape Km," I said, with a laugh, and glanced in the mirror. There I beheld a not unplcnsing image of a little woman attired in gray, with a silvery veil over her plain face, in the act of fitting on a pair of quite infinite simal gray gloves. I kissed my good Annie and the children, as if bound on a long and perilous voyage, and departed in tue basket phaeton. What a new world was that all abont me t It was the city of Leghorn, with its tall houses, rendered dingy by sea damp, and wide white squares, the atmo sphere redolent of tar. the quays throng' ed with shipping, the clumsy funnels of Oriental steamships relieved by the lighter tracery of interlacing masts against the sky. I like ships; in their boundless suggestiveness they resemble wishes, hopes, ever coming and going on some ireBh errand. The phaeton rattled through the main thoroughfare, once Via Grande, and now rebaptized, after the manner of all ital' ian cities, in the name of Victor Emon uol. I noticed with the interest of a stranger groups of bronzed sailors; the untidy Leghorn woman with trailing gown, and flapping handkerchief tied over her frowzy head; the brilliant uni form of an occasional officer strolling Jungnuily to ins cafe. Then the Sea Gate was reached, and beyond sretched the white , road which threads its way beside the Mediterranean to the beautiful suburb of the Ardenza. The sea breeze wafted to me delicious coolness ; the hedges of evergreens and oleanders in masses of rose bloom mingled rich odors ; the stunted trees drooped their feathery foliage laden with gray dust. I gazed out over the sea. which sparkled like a sapphire, with the lirrlit. liniiBn. an Vktnnrlif. af. ninrlif nnw pallid in the morning which no longer had need of them, and the pails glistening with an exquisite silvery whiteness on the horizon. I glanced down the white road as it curved along the strand, bordered by its feathery trees and oleanders, its gardens, hotels and villas stretching to the Maremma, and the coast I might never explore. "This is the most beautiful shore in the world, and the old Romans knew it, I soliloquized ; and just then the phaeton paused. My destination was the bath. Again the charm of novelty delighted me, for it was my first summer with Annie's household. Bathing at Livorno is made a pastime, a recreation, instead of a serious business. I walked out on a pier which terminated in a round apace shielded by a tent from the sun s rays, and thence the amilincr old hath woman. in a flapping straw hat, conducted me down a passage, bordered on either aide by li'tle tents with green doors, to my destination. . Once consigned to the baracca, I was free to remain in the tiny house, with its roof of matting and walls of striped canvas, where the water rippled in of a transparently green hue. or to part the curtains and issue forth boldly as a swimmer. T decided to re main secluded in my crystal bath, as I was alone, like a mermaid in a cave. I was startled by the curtains being separated from without, and the appear ance of a man's head, with long sandy beard. The head advanced with such evident intention of a tall body a follow ing that I uttered a faint scream of alarm, when the intruder retreated hastily with a muttered "Beg pardon.' I received the apology with such dig nity as is possible to a very small lady in a flannel bathing suit, hanging to a rope to avoid drowning in deep water, and with her head done up in an oil-skin cap. "Some stupid Englishman 1" I said, pettishly. The hour was too early for many occu pants -of the large tent, and when I emerged from my bath I drew a chair near the railing Jto again gaze out over the beautiful Mediterranean. An Amer ican man-of-war had entered the port the Erevious day, I endeavored to descry er, with the old pain at my heart. My brother Harryt young, brave, good 'des tined to become a great man, as I be lieved, had died of fever on board ship off Callao five years ago, smitten down without power to. send me. a message, although, thus stricken, I was left alone. Yes, all alone t I shivered in the bright Italian morning, while my eyes searched wistfully for the man-of-war. Since then every frigate had become to me Horry's ship, and every officer in uniform assur edly must be my dead brother's friend. Five years of winter and summer in the old house at home, wandering from room to room in a ghostly fashion, with the portrait of father and mother in the shadow of the beet parlor, and Harry's dog following me with dumb intelligence to thrust his nose . into my hand ; five years of mourning, of silence, that left me a plain little old maid, my hair turned gray I Then Annie, happy wife and mother, school-mate and friend of many years, had written to me a long letter from her home at Leghorn, where her husband was engaged in business, urg ing me to come abroad. I saw my future clearly enough. In this genial house hold I should be companion, friend, old maid aunt to the children. I sighed. Just then the merchant whose wares were displayed in one corner of the tent tortoise-shell, coral, and sienna-wood trinkets begged me to take a chance in his lottery. I took the box, and turned out the dice on the board, having paid a franc. The merchant counted up the numbers, and found the corresponding one in his stock of prizes represented by a set of coral, resembling sticks of red sealing-wax. Somebody approached and watched the drawing. I recognized the long sandy beard of the intruder of my bath, but gave a little jump when I further discovered that he wore the uni form of an American naval officer. The merchant immediately pounced on him. Almost unconsciously the stranger of the sandy beard appealed to me in En glish for explanation, as he did not un derstand Italian. The next moment he held in his hand' a very pretty shell comb for a lady's hair as a prize. " Madam, do yon think this would please a woman ?" he enquired scrutin izing it. " Undoubtedly," I replied, camly. I had taken him under my protection as one of Harrv'a friends. His face flushed, and a quizzical smile lighted np his keen eyes. " I mean a lady home in America. Yon are an American ?" " Yes," I said, at my ease; for he was not thinking of me at all. I was even half tempted to ask him if he had known my poor Harry. "Thank you," he said, with sudden stiffness, and raising his cap, walked away. Another hour passed swiftly while I gazed out over the sea from the tent; then the heat of the sun warned me to return. JSri route I remembered a tri fling commission at the milliner's. En tering the shop, the first obiect present ed to my notice was the tall officer with the sandy beard, beset by two clerks, and surrounded by piles of leghorn hats. The poor man's aspect was most bewil dered and helpless in that sea of straw. I executed my commission quietly, and was about to leave, when he accosted me. "Would yon have the kindness to give me your advice?" he said. " I wish to make a present of a Leghorn hat to a lady in America, and it must be of the best quality." Thus appealed to, I sifted out the finest straw for his inspection. "Leg horn hats are all made in the Florence manufactories, you know," I said. He made no response; he was staring at my hands with a very peculiar expres sion. I blushed slightly, and hid them in the crown of the Leghorn hat. They were very small and well shaped; I had trouble with my gloves usually, wearing a child's size. Brother Harry used to admire their tiny proportions, and ac cuse me of vanity in the possession of such extremities. J Here was this tall officer in a foreign city actually pausing in the midst of buying a gift for an un known lady probably his fiancee to stare at my little bauds in evideut aston ishment. I was more vexed than flat tered. What right had he to gaze at me bo fixedly, after having claimed my assistance ? What would Annie think of my adventure ? I recalled him somewhat primly to a sense of duty, I suppose, for he pro ceeded to pay for the hat, after I had warned the shop people not to charge him more than double the usual price. He thanked me in subdued accents, and even hinted that as the ship was to be in port some weeks, he hoped any residents would come on board. I relented suffi ciently te inquire how he proposed send ing the Leghorn hat, and learned that it was to be entrusted to the captain of a brig, bound for New York. " Perhaps I had best address the box here," he said, again consulting me with his eyes. " Yes," I afseDted, gaining firmness and decision of tone from his very irre solution. The clerk brought him an immense inkstand with a very rusty and gritty pen attached. My companion dipped the pen into the ink and stirred it thoughtfully, as if it had been soup. "I hope she will like it," said the ex traordinary man, consulting me again, with a most sheepish expression of coun tenance. "Perhaps she owns ever so many Leghorn hats already," in sudden alarm. " No, no," I returned, soothingly. I piotured to myself this lady whom he was so anxious to please. How proud she would be of the exquisite Etruscan straw which she would wear to church I How envious would be her neighbors I " There, will that answer i" he held before me the written address. I gasped as I read: "Miss Helen Westmore, Berryville, Vermont." My own name was Helen Westmore, and Berryville had been my home I The Leghorn hat which I had selected with bo much care was evidently intended for myself. "You can not be Dr. Eaaton, who took care of my poor Harry, and wrote me the letters about him?" I cried, between sobbing and lauchter. "I am his sister." " Ho told me his sister had the small est hands in the world," he replied with excitement. After - that there were dinners at Annie's, moonlight ' drives alontz the shore, entertainments on the man-of-war, with ample leisure for exDlanations and confidences. The surgeon who had taken care of Harry had been bis inti mate friend during long voyages, and had retained the image of the sister at home a'l these years. In retiring on half pay he had been tempted to seek her out Had I not af sisted at the purchase of my own bat, be would never We. found me when he returned to America. The little woman in gray was not to be the old-maid aunt in Annie's household, after all, but to return to her own country as a happy wife, even if in a sober, sedate fashion. Verily human destinies hang by a straw 1 A box stands on the high shelf in the old home. It contains an nntrimmed Leghorn hat. Harper's Weekly. Fencing in Japan. A famous company of professional fencers were performing at Yokohama while I was there, and we went to see them along with several English resi dents, who had been many years in the country, but had never witnessed a sim ilar exhibition. The gladiators were encased in armor, and were distinguished from each other by the color of their cuirasses. Their appearance was her alded by the blast of a conch shell, and all their proceedings were superintended by a handsome young man, attired and shaven in the most orthodox style. Wielding his fan like a marshal's trun cheon, he set the combatants upon each other, and separated them with lond ejaculations. At each corner of the arena sat a judge, with all the dignity of a Roman Senator, motionless and silent. until referred to upon a doubtful point of order. Uuts are interchanged so rapidly that it is often hard to say who had dealt the successful stroke. The weapons are long bamboos held in both bands like quarter-staffs, and any sort of blow above the waist is permissible, but the favorite is a good crack on the top of tne neimet. Occasionally the combat ants get too near together for striking, and the struggle becomes literally hand to hand until they are separ ated : notwithstanding their savage yells and fierce blows, they pre eserve the perfect good humor characteristic of their race. By way of variety there was a fight between the sword and the " morning star," a sphere fastened by a cord to a spiked handle. Although the latter appeared to be the inferior weapon, its bearer did not oome badly off, as he played the part of a retiarius with the ball and string, and when at close quarters brought his sharp hook into active operation. Then two girls, elaborately attired in the wide sleeves and trousers of Japanese knights, attended by female squires to arm and equip them, took their places on oppo site sides of the lists, and went through the motions of a fight, one having a halberd and the other a couple of swords. Finally, another amazon had a duel with a male antagonist, and completely overthrew him; but this was a mere burlesque, as he evidently tumbled over on purpose, and behaved like the clown in a pantomime, whereas an air of stern reality pervaded the other mimio battles. It is remarkable that the Japanese are able to derive keen enjoyment from performances which involve no peril to life or limb, and if their publio spectacles differ in this respect from those of the Boman amphitheatre, they may also compare favorably with many which find favor in the eyes of the British publio. Various games of skill, including the " Go bang," are popular, but the passion for gambling and cock fighting, so strongly developed in most parts of Eastern Asia, is not conspicu ous in Japan, where animals in general may be said to have a good time. The Fortnightly Review. Vampire Bats. South America also has its large bats, of one of which everybody has heard the vampire. Much nonsense has been written about it, but there was some foundation for the stories of its sucking the blood of men and animals until it killed them. In the interior of South America nearly everybody sleeps in a hammock either out-of-doors or with the windows open, and the weather is so warm that little covering is used. The vampire comes in on silent wings, and finding a toe exposed, gently pricks it with his sharp tooth, and draws the blood until he can .swallow no more. The sleeper rarely is awakened, and does not know his loss until morning. He may then feel weak from the flow of blood, but we are not aware that a man was ever known to die from this cause. Horses are very greatly trpubled by them also. Mr. Charles Watterton, an enthusiastic naturalist now dead, who spent 'several years in New Guiana, has told us much about this ugly bat, but could never induce one to taste of his toe, although he would have been very glad to be able to say that he had been operated npon. For eleven months he slept alone in the loft of a deserted wood cutter's hut in the deep forest. There the vampires came and went as they wished. He saw them oome in the moonlight on stealthy wings, and pick the ripe bananas; lay in his hammock and watched them bring almost to bis bedside the green wild fruit of the wild guava; floating down the river on other moonlight nights, was struck by the fall ing blossoms of the lawarri-nut tree, which the vampires pulled from the branches to get at the tender seed-vessel, or the insects that lurk in the deep corolla. He lay night after night with his bare foot exposed, but could never get them to lance it, although his friends and companions were all bled by this nocturnal surgeon;- and except that he once caught one fastened to the shoulder of one of his animals, he came away no wiser than when he went of how the vampire does his horrid work. The vampires measure about twenty six inches across the wings; frequent old houses and hollow trees, and repose in clusters, head downwards, from the branches of forest trees. A Showbb of Pihk Bask. The Ral eigh (N. O.) New of a late issue says : " We are informed by eye-witnesses of the occurrence, that on Tuesday last, in the afternoon, abont two o'clock a great quantity of pieces of pine bark fell in and around a yard in this city. The fragments of bark appeared to have been violently torn from the trees. Many of them were of the size of one's hand. The pieces of falling bark might be seen at a great height in the air as mnoh as 200 or 300 feet. The puzzled viewers of this curious shower could give no ex planation of the cause of the occur rence." ' Canada is doing an immense buajness la ibippiBtf lobsters to England, PARK, GARDE AND HOUSEHOLD. Technical Term TJaed by Fealtry Breeders. There are very mauy persons who are familiar with poultry, their general ap pearance, and common habits, and yet wholly unacquainted with the recently introduced terms as applied to fowls; words the meaning of which, thus used, is Greek even to those well informed on general subjects. For the benefit of those who may desire to obtain the knowledge, I subjoin a glossary of tech nical terms, derived from the best au thorities ; Beard A bunch of feathers under the throat of some breeds of chickens, such as Houdans or Polish. There are many phrases, such as breed, brood, brooding, carriage, etc, that even the least nn learned will understand. We often hear of a " litter of chickens," or similar ex pressions. Litter, as applied to poultry, is inelegant and in bad taste. We hear of a litter of pigs, a litter of kittens, etc, but a litter of chicks is entirely out of keeping. Carunculated Covered with small fleshy protuberances, as on the head and neck of a turkey cock. Chick A newly-hatched fowl. Chicken This word applies indefinitely to any acre un der one year old. Clutch This term is applied both to the batch of eggs sat upon by a fowl, and to the brood of chickens hatched therefrom. Cockerel A yonng cock. A cockerel does not truly become a cock until eighteen months of age, although he is generally thus termed at the age of one year. Not until a year and a half old does he get his final moult, and attain to the full glory of plumage and size. Cockerels have many deficiencies that disappear when they emerge into fnll grown, full-plumed cocks. Then they may become exhibition birds, with some trimming, and yet be poor birds to breed from. It does not always follow that a bird is suitable lor breeding purposes simply because he or she has won a prize. Many imperfections that pre sented themselves in the chicken may grow out, bnt the offspring of such birds generally repeats the discrepancy. Im perfect plumage may grow out or be plucked, and other points be con cealed by a covering of flesh. Exhibition birds do not aiways become so without aid. Nature is often assisted by art in tnis respect as well as others. Comb The fleshy protuberance grow ing on the top of the fowl's head. Con dition The state of the fowl as regards iieaitn and beauty of Dlumaare. Crest A crown or tuft of feathers on the head : of the same significance as top-knot. Crop The reeertruil in which thn fowl's food is stored befoiA passing into the gizzard for digestion. Cushion The mass of feathers over a hen, covering the tail chiefly developed in Cochins. Dubbing Cutting off the comb, wattles and ear lobes, so as to leave the head smooth and clean. ..Ear lobes The folds of bare skin hanging iust below the ears, by many called deaf ears. They vary in color, being red, white, blue, and cream colored. Face- The bare skin around the eye. Flights The primary feathers of the wings usel in flying, but tucked under the wings out of sight when at rest. Fluff Soft, downy feathers about the thighs, chiefly developed in Asiat ics. Furnished When a cockerel has ob tained his full tail, comb,hackles, etc, he is said to be furnished. Gills This term is often applied to the wattles. Hackles The peculiar, narrow, long feathers'on the neckB of fowls. Henny or Hen Feathers Resembling a hen, from the absence of hackles and sickle feathers, and in plumage generally. Hock The joint between thethigb and shank. Keel A word sometimes used to denote the breast bone. Leg In a living fowl, this is tne scaly part, usually denominated the shank. In a dressed bird, the term refers to the joint above. Leg Feathers Feathers growing on the outer sides of the shanks in many of the Asiatics. Mossy Confused or indistinct markings in the plumage. Pea Comb A triple comb resembling three small combs in one, the middle being the highest. Pencilling Small markings or stripes over a feather. These may run straight across, as in the Hamburgs, or in a crescent form, as in Partridge Cochins. Poult A young turkey. Primaries The flight feathers of the wings, hidden when the wing is closed, being tucked under the visible wing, which is composed of the " sec ondary " feathers. Usually the prima ries contain the deepest color belonging to the fowl, except the tail, and grert importance is attached to their color by breeders. A cockerel or a pullet of some breeds should never show a white quill, or a white shaft to a quill, to become perfect breeding birds. CIS., in Coun try Gentleman. Recipes. Spioed Sweet Potatoes. Boil one dozen small potatoes till they are done. but not too soft : peel and slice them and sprinkle over them a teacupful of sugar and a tablespoonful of ground al spioe. Now put into a frvinsr pan a tablespoonful of lard, and as soon as it is not, lay in the potatoes and fry them. When the potatoes are taken np. put a little water, sugar and spice in the pan and make a gravy to pour over the po tatoes. Ton will find this dish generally uaea. Beef Soup. Take four pounds of fresh beef, or what is better and more economical, a nice beef shank or " soup Iui.h . . : i ;nin a . water; salt it and let it boil slowly five i . . . , i ur six nours ; saw weu : nan an nonr ueiure yon wisn kj take it up put in CUD nnrtlv full nf rinA a small nnnnfi of potatoes, carrots, onions and celery, uu m amau pieces, English Plum Pudding. Take measure anh nf siimr flnnr flnoW chopped suet, mixed raisins, ourrantt Will U1UUU, DU1 WW vugctUDI HUU WOl with new milk iust enono-h to " stink it well together. Season it with cinna mon, rutmeg and cloves, and don't for get a teaspoonful of salt ; tie in a well flonrad hair and keen it twilino 11 four or five hours ; serve with lemon nquia sauce, xms pudding is just as Bood steamed over as when Aral hnilaA and will keep for several weeks in win ter. Egg Toast. Beat four eggs, yelks and whites together thoroughly; put two tablespoonfuls of butter into a sauce pan and molt slowly; then pour in the eggs ana beat wupom boiling over a slow fire, stirring constantly; add a little salt, and when hot, spread on slices of nicely browned toast, and serve at once. Magnificence of Ancient Rome. The following vivid pen-picture is from " The Old Roman World," by John Ford: If anything more were wanted to give ns an idea of Roman magnifi cence, we would turn our eyes from pub lio monuments, demoralizing games and grand processions; we would forget the statues in brass and marble which out numbered the living inhabitants, so numerous that one hundred thousand have been recovered and still embellish Italy, and would descend into the lower sphere of material life to those things which attest luxury and taste to orna ments, dresses, sumptuous living and rich furniture. The art of working metals and cutting precious stones sur passed anything known at the present day. In the decoration of houses, in social entertainments, in crockery, the Romans were remarkable. The mosaics, signet rings, cameos, bracelets, bronzes, chains, vases, conches, banqueting ta bles, chariots, colored glass, gilding, mirrors, mattresses, cosmetics, perfumes, hair dyes, silk robes, potteries, all at test great elegance and beauty. The tables of thuga root and Delian bronze were as expensive as the sideboards of Spanish walnut, so mnch admired in re cent great exhibitions. Wood and ivory were carved as exquisitely as in Japan and China. Mirrors were made of pol ished silver. Glass cutters could imi tate the colors of precious stones so well that the Portland vase from the tomb of Alexander Severus was long considered a geuine sardonyx. Brass could be hardened so as to cut stone. The pal ace of Nero glittered with gold and lew- els. His beds were of silver and his tables of gold. Tiberius gave a million of sesterces for a picture for his bed room. A banquet dish of Drusillus weighted five hundred pounds of silver. The cups of Drusus were of gold. Tun ics were embroidered with the figures of various animals. Sandals were gar nished with precious stones. Paulina wore jewels, when she paid visits, val ued at $800;000. Drinking cups were engraved with scenes from the poets. Libraries were adorned with busts and presses of rare woeds. Sofas were in laid with tortoise shell and covered with gorgeous purple. The Roman grandees rode in gilded chariots, bathed in mar ble baths, dined from crystal cups, slept on beds of down, reclined on luxurious couches, wore embroidered robes and were adorned with precious stones. They ransacked the earth and the seas for rare dishes for their banquets,and or namented, their houses with carpets from .Babylon, onyx cups from Bythinia, marble from Numidia, bronzes from Corinth, statues from Athens whatever, in short, was precious or rare or curious in the most distant countries. The lux uries of the bath almost exceed belief, and on the walls were magnificent fres coes and painting, exhibiting an inex haustible productiveness in landscape and mythological scenes, executed in lively colors. But these were not all. The most amazing wealth and the loftiest taste went hand in hand. There were " citi zen nobles who owned whole provinces; even Paula could call a whole city her own. Rich senators, in some cases, were proprietors of 200,000 slaves. Their in comes wero known to be $5,000 per day when gold and silver were wortli four times as much as they are now. Turkish Love of Water. A Turk thinks he can do nothing so grateful to God and man as the setting up oi a fountain by the roadside or in the streets of the city, where thb way farer and his animals may appease their thirst and bless the name of him who pro vided for their wants. Often in my trav els, savs a correspondent, I have halted beneath the shade of a wide-spreading plane tree to slake my thirst at the limpid waters of a marble fountain, and to repose from the noonday heat. There is always some edifying distich from the Koran, that "Water is the gift of God, and blessed is he who distributes it," or that Water is the source of health and life," etc There is a practical piety in these monuments of charity that speaks well for the benevolent disposition of the Mussulman. The Turks are great consumers of water, and thev are erood judges of its quality and nice in what tneyuse. The favorite water, that is sold at a para a glass in the streets, is from Asia; either from Tchamildja, on the mountain about Scutari, or from Earakoulak, some ten miles np the Bosphorus, several miles inward from Beloos. This ia brought to the landing in barrels, on horses' backs, put in barges, and in this way carried to Con stantinople before daylight Notwith standing the length of the journey, it is as clear as crystal. The venders cry it as, " Bowz guibi " as good as ice. A pasha will drain two goblets at a swal low. As water is said to have fattening properties, the large draughts they take of it may be the cause, in part, of the obesity to which both sexes of the Turks are subject. Something1 About Heads. The Scientific American is authority for what follows: Complete roundness is most nearly attained by a skull from Tartary, of which 97.7 is the index of breadth. With this Huxley contrasts a head from New Zealand of 62.9 as the narrowest of all known skulls. Bernard Davis has obtained, however, a so-called Celtic skull which has an index of fifty eight, so that these indices for extremes fluctuate between fifty-eight and ninety eight, bnt the average is only between sixty-seven and about eighty-five. King Ealukaua seems to have a head curious ly protuberant along the entire left side, and in marked contrast with that of Mr. Manton Marble, whose conform shows protuberance on the rear, and almost in dentation forward on the same side. It will also be observed that in almost ev ery example here given and the same holds true in the great majority of all in stances the left side is nost protuber ant It may be surmised between this oircumstanoe and the fact pointed out by Brown-Seqnard, that the left lobe of the brain comes into greater use, in its control of the right side of the body, than the right lobe, which governs tbe left sidf R -- The Russian Knout. There is probably no more terrible instrument of punishment, or it may perhaps be more properly called torture, than the knout in the bands of a Rus sian executioner. To give our readers some idea of its form, the mode of ad ministering it. and its horrible effects. we quote the following from a recently published work, entitled "The Knout and the Russians:" " Conceive, reader, a robust man, full of life and health. This man is condemned to receive fifty or a hundred blows of the knout He is conducted, half naked, to the place chosen for this kind of execution. All that he has on is a pair of simple linen drawers round his extremities. His hands are bound together, with the palms laid flat against one another, and the cords are breaking his wrists; but no one pays the slightest attention to that He is laid flat upon his stomach, on a frame inclined diagonally, and at the extremities of which are fixed iron rings; his hands are fastened to one end of the frame, and his feet to the other; he is then stretched in such a manner that he cannot make a single movement, just as an eel's skin is stretched in order to dry. This act of stretching the vic tim causes his bones to crack, and dis locates them but does that matter ? At the distance of five-and-twenty paces stands another man; it is the publio executioner. He is dressed in -lack velvet trousers, stuffed into his boots, and a colored shirt buttoning at the side. His sleeves are tucked up, so that noth ing may thwart or embarrass him in his movements. With both hands he grasps the instrument of punishment a knout. This knout consists of a thong of thick leather, cut in a triangular form, from four to five yards long, and an inch wide, tapering off at one end, and broad at the other; the small end of which is fasten ed to a little wooden handle, about two feet long. The signal is given; no oae ever takes the trouble to read the sen tence. The executioner advances a few steps, with his body bent, holding the knout in botjj hands, while the long thong drags along the ground between his legs. On coming to about three or four paces from the prisoner, he raises, by a vigorous movement, the knout towards the top of his head, and then instantly draws it down with rapidity towards his knees. The thong flies and whistles through the air, and descending on the body of the victim, twines round it like a hoop of iron. In spite of his state of tension, the poor wretch bounds as if he were submitted to the powerful grasp of galvanism. The executioner retraces his steps, and repeats the same operation as many times as there are blows to be inflicted. Where the t honors envelopes the body with its edges, the flesh and muscles are literally cut into stripes, as if with a razor; but when it talis nat, then the bones crack. The flesh, in that case, is not cut, but crash ed and ground, and the blood spurts out in all directions. The sufferer be comes green and blue, like a body in a state of decomposition. He is removed to the hospital, where every care is taken of him, and is afterward sent to Siberia, where he disappears for ever in the bowels of the earth." Chinamen's Bones. According to a San Francisco corre spondent, whenever a Chinaman is sick and beyond recovery, he is placed in some out-of-the-way place and left to die. None of his countrymen ever go near him, and he is left to " paddle his own canoe " across the Styx in his exit from this mundane sphere. When the deceased is buried, however, offerings will be made at the grave, and in time his bones will be sent back to China, in accordance with the contract made with tho six companies which brought him here or from subscriptions by Chinese merchants. Every year there are tons of bones of defunct' Chinamen sent to China to be buried. The business of exhuming and packing these bones is an extensive one, and, very naturally, it is Eursued by Mongols. Many of these ones are poliehed. When disinter ments are in progress the graveyards of the Chinese present the appearance of a Golgotha. Very small wooden coffins are used, just large enough to contain the bones of the deceased. It is pro posed to impose a tax of ten dollars on every dead body disinterred, and to re quire the bones to be placed in a me tallic case, the price of which is some fifty dollars. The object of which is to prevent spread of infectious diseases by careless exhuming. The Scrap-Book. Every one who takes a newspaper which he in the least degree appreciates will often regret to see any one number which contains some interesting and im portant articles thrown aside for waste paper. A good way to preserve these is by the use of a scrap-book. One who has never been accustomed thus to pre serve short articles can hardly realize the pleasure it affords to sit down and turn over the pleasant, familiar pages. Here a piece of poetry meets the eye, which you would long since have lost hadit not beenfor your scrap-book; there is a witty anecdote it does yon good to laugh over it yet, although it may be for the twentieth time; next is a valuable recipe yon had almost forgotten, and which you found just in time to save much perplexity; there is a sweet little story, the memory of which has cheered and encouraged you when almost ready to despair under the pressure of life's cares. Indeed, yon can hardly take up a single paper without reperusing. Then hoard with care the precious gems, and see at the end of the year vbat a rich treasure you will have accumulated. ' in Extraordinary Tumor. An inquest has been held at Consett, says an English paper, on a woman named Wake, whose death was caused by a tumor of extraordinary dimensions. It had been growing for four years, but tne woman refused to nave it removed. She was attended by a " herbalist," who foolishly by giving her medicine en deavored to burst it Dr. Benton was called, and said that the tumor was three and a half feet high, and contained forty imperial quarts of semi-solid fluid. The coroner said that the herbalist had acted with-grots ignorance, bnt he was not criminally respou.Bba for the wo man'! death, ' Items of Interest Members of the ton ooal dealers. Never tell a weather-cock to pull down his west Hugo has fought seven duels and has come off Viotor every time. Crabbing is the favorite fun with beanx and belles at Fernandina. The other day a deaf mute was given a hearing by a police magistrate. A St Louis ohild weighed one hundred pounds when thirteen months old. The Yonkers Gazette says there is one consolation, very few snow banks failed last winter. The people of England are not allowed to raise tobacco. It is strictly prohibit ed by law. Let era were invented in Phynioia, and you cannot Fhynicia education without them. Cin. Sat. Night. The proverb, "out of sight out of mind," is no where more applicable than in the case of an advertisement. R. H. Babcock, a blind man, has been made a doctor of medicine at Ghioago. . He graduated with high honors. "Everybody," says an exohange, " likes radishes in Japan." It's a mis take. We don't for one. We like ours here. The world can mam tain sixty thousand millions of people. It has never had ' more than two per cent of that number living at any one time on its surface. The value of fruit crops in the United States is estimated by the government statistician at $140,000,000 annually, or about half the value of the wheat crop. There are abont one million operators engaged in the iron industries of the United States. The entire value of manufactured iron for one year is $900, 000,000. Under the new army regulations every Prussian soldier has to carry in his left trousers pocket the plaster, lint and bandag'i necessary for a first dressing of a wound, so that in an emergency each can help himself or a comrade. The most expensive i ail way car in the world cost $35,000, was completed last autumn by the Pullman Company, and has since been used in various parts of the country by tourists able to pay for its luxuries. It is a French flat in miniature What is the difference between a tenant and the son of a widow? The tenant has to pay rents; the son of a widow has not two pa-rents. The noblest lesson taught by life To every great, heroics soul Who seeks to conquer ia the strife, Is self-control. There is a very curious race of sheep living npon an island in Englishman's Bay, coast of Maine. They are nearly as wild as deer, living almost entirely upon sea-weed in the winter, also de vouring the small branches and shrubs that grow upon the island. - We see it stated in a scientific journal . that every adult man has fourteen hun dred square feet of lungs. That 'may be about the right figure, but we can name people who would walk a mile to find a chance to bet that the man who sells fish in the suburbs has more than two thousand. Cincinnati Breakfast Table. Two young farmers desired the exclu sive privilege of dancing with the same girl at Mount Vernon, 111. There was a quarrel, ending in an agreement to settle the question with a fight The com batants and a few friends went to a barn; but before beginning the fight one de manded that the other be searched, to see if he had any weapon. The search was not thorough, for the searched man drew a knife, on finding that he was being whipped, and inflicted a mortal wound. WHY HE DID IT. He stood od his bead in a crowded street, At a place where the knights of the paste-brush meet, Aod attracted a mob around him ; A riddle he oouldu't well solve on bis feet Btared him full in the face, and so not to be beat It was thus on his head I found hun. Thecause wss as plain ssthe rose on your face. Though perhaps you'd have thought it a lunacy case. And declined any further to heed it : But the fact was a sticker of bills in a hurry, Had posted a bill upside down in bis flurry, . Bo he stood on bis head to read it Sosne stupendous figures are furnished by the recent census of the British Empire. Its total population is 234, 750,000, or nearly double that of the Roman Empire in its palmiest days, while its territory, 7,750,000 square miles, is almost five times as great. A sixth of the queen's subjects are Chris tians, a little more than a tenth Moham medans, over two-fifths Hindoos and a fourth heathens of various sects. The titled property holders of Great Britain number 186,000. "Hold the Fort" may be a grand song, but is not appropriate for all oc casions. At least so some people thought when a worthy deacon, on some anni versary occasion, formed his Sunday school in line and marched them along the aisles himself in front, and all vigor ously singing "Hold the Fort" The consternation which seized all parties at the second "See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on" can be better imagined than described. Wait " Wait, husband, before von wonder audibly why your wife don't get along with the household responsibilities " as your mother did." She is doing her best and no woman can endnre, that best, to be slighted. Remember the long, weary nights she sat no with the little babe that died; remember the love and care she bestowed npon yon when yon had that long fit of illness. Do yon think she is made of cast iron t Wait; wait in silence and forbearance, and the light will come back to her eyes the old light of the old days. Wait. wife, before von speak reproach fully to yonr husband when he comes home late, and weary and "out of sorts." He has worked hard for you all day perhaps far into the night; he has wres tled, hand in band, with care and sel fishness, and greed, and all the demons that follow in the train of money mak ing. Let home be another atmosphere entirely Let him feel that there is no other place in the world where he oan find peace, and quiet, and perfect J
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers