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i
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher
NILi DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, A., THUBSDAY, DECEMBER 4,1879.
NO. 41.
VOL. IX.
1 '
V:
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The Iron Fen,
Made from a Fetter ol Bonnivnrd, the Prisoner
? ol Chillon) the Handle oi Wood from the
Frigate " Constitution," and bound with
a Circlet of Gold, inset with three preo
ious Stones from Siberia, Ceylon, and
Maine.
BT HEHRT W. LONGFELLOW
I thought this Pen wonld arise
Frota the casket where it lies
Oi itself would arise, and write
My thanks and my surprise.
i wnen yon gnja.
it me under the pines,
gems irom the mines
eylon, and Mains
mer at thoughts in the lines;
ron link horn the chain
nnivard might retain
me Terse ol the poet who sang
I the prisoner and his pain ;
That this wood lrom the frigate's mast
Might write me a rhyme at lust,
As it used to write on the sky
The song ol tho soa and the blast.
but motionless as I wait,
Like a bishop lying in state
Lies the Pen, with its miter ol gold,
And its Jowels inviolate.
Then must I speak, and sny
That the light ol that summer day
In the gardon under the pines
Shall not lade and pass away.
I shall see you standing there,
Caressed by the fragrant air,
With a shadow on your laoe,
And the sunshine on your hair.
I shall hear the sweet low tone
Of a voice before inknown,
Saying, " This from me t yon,
From me, and to you alone."
And in words not idle and vain
I shall answer and thank you again
For the gift, and the grace of the gill,
Oh, beautiful Helen ot Maine!
And forever this gift will be
As a blessing from you to me,
As a drop of the dew of your youth
On tbo leaves of an aged tree.
Harper't Monthly
Mr. Ko Kun-Hua and Family.
AN ACCOUNT OK THE CHINESE PROFES
SOU AT HA'tVAUl) UNIVEKSITY.
It is a fact very generally known that
Harvard University has now the dis
tinction of numbering unions its pro
fessors a tPacher of the Chinese language.
Nearly three years ngo, Francis ""P.
Knight, United States consul nt Che
ung, proposed the subject, and after con
sulting Boston merchants employed in
trade with China, the corporation of the
c .liege agreed to his views, the money
was raised by subscription, and lie was
authorized to engage a suitable person.
Accordingly he selected an educated
man. Mr. Ko Kun-Hua, an officer of rank
in his own country, who was to have
passage with his family from Shanghai
to Cambridge, and for three years, at a
fixed salary, teach what is know as
" Mandarin Chinese." The course of
study w Inch was subsequently arranged,
provides not only for the undergradu
ates, but for any outsiders, women ex
cepted, who, on payment of a certain
tuitional fee, may wish to avail them
selves of it.
The Mandarin arrived late in August
with his wife and children, a woman
servant and an interpreter the lady
being the first of her position in life and
almost the first of her sex of any class
to come among us to live. It is not cer
tain, indeed, that there is but one
Chinese woman in Boston or its vicin
if; and she, Mrs. Ar Foon, has been
here about twenty years. The profes
sor, having made his appearance sooner
than was expected, was lodged with his
family in a Bmall house on the outskirts
of the college grounds until better ac
commodations could be found; and it
whs there we went to call on them.
They came into possession of the
rooms as they were; and the one for re
ceiving comonuy was an office-like
place, furnished simply with a center
table and arm chairs. We observed,
however, a few tokens of the new occu
pancy in the Chinese bowls and other
articles in porcelain with which the
mantel-piece was covered ; two large
brass basins, and a square traveling
trunk or box in a corner of the room,
made ol handsome polished wood, and
inscribed with Cl.inese characters, and
on which were piled several round
boxes of material and use unknown to
us. We had seen in one of the ante,
rooms, us we entered, another and ca
pacious receptacle for their effects, being
a bamboo DasKet, in swipe ukp a nour
barrel, but much higher. Dark blue
garments lor out-of-door wear hung
against the wall, and in the opposite
loom was a row ot elegant round lans,
no two ol which were alike, and a
group of colored figures, either toys or
for ornament, stood on the table.
A bright boy ot fourteen in a blue
sacque, with shaven hair and a very
long queue Hanging down ins hack
ushered us in and then left us. After
a few moments the lady. Mrs. Ko Kun
Hua, came noiselessly toddling in on
her small leet. ana after going to each
one of us, and giving her hand, signified
that she wanted us there were tl ree in
our party to be seated each on one side
of the table, while she took the other.
which is evidently the Chinese idea of
what is the proper thing to do.
Bv this time the boy had come hack.
bringing a youngsr one. having during
his absence put on over his other
clothes a rich blue brocade robs like a
shirt, which reached to his heels, and
had covered his head with a black skull
cap; tho brother was also in blue silk.
They both passed round and shook
bands with us; and no sooner vas this
over than two girls appeared in the
doorway, eyed us a moment shyly, then
approached and held out their slim,
brown hands. They wore their hair
drawn back and twisted up on each side
of their heads in a knob, tied with red
ribbon; and were clad in singular lone.
straight garments of silk, over which.
was a reu one oi uie same material,
fairly stiff with embroidery in gold and
colors, and hanging nearly to their
ankles both before and behind, looking
somewhat as if a breadth had been
taken, a hole cut in it for the head, and
then slipped on, the rich wrought nor
tion about the upper part making their
houiden square, ana giving their
wall periooi broad, cumbersome a
pearance, which was very quaint and
Btrange.
They wore wider shoes than their
mother perhaps to accommodate the
bandages with whicn tneir met were
probably being compressed and, like
her. each had a bangle of twisted silver
on the right wrist. The whole flock
ranged themselves near ner, sianamg,
and gave the utmost attention to what
was going on. Their faces were bright
and full of intelligence, and they seemed
of about the ages of fourteen, twelve,
seven, and five. There was a baby, but
we did not see it. 1 he mother held up
her fingers to signify that she had five
children.
As the professor and interpreter did
not appear, they were inquired for ; and
sno said " uos-son." waving her hand
to indicate that they had gone to Bos
ton. She took our cards, and endeav
ored to repeat the names which were
pronounced for her. and the children all
did the same; and the whole party
seemed extremely eager to learn. Her
manners were very gentle and pleasing,
and thoroughly those of a lady ; her face
had a docile and rather winning expres
sion, and must be considered very pretty
according to the Chinese ideas of
Vii) n 11 tt urlmon litrrtioof ttrrtO trtttat liava
jet-black hair, a larg6 forehead, small,
well- set eyes, a short nose, rather wide
mouth, and a broad face. Her features
were regular, after their pattern; her
olive complexion had a fresh cast, and
she had an animated expression when
trying to talk.
Shei is below the average height of
American women, and evidently slight,
alt hough the Chinese fashion o"f dress,
which is intended with both sexes and
all ages to conceal the form, instead of
displaying it, as with us, is such that
nice distinctions of ?ize and shape are
out f the question.
She also had the long finger nails
which are so noticeable in the Chinese
upper classes, supposed in the origin of
the usage to have been intended to in
dicate that their owners were not under
the necessity of working for a living,
although hers were not like "those of
the opulent and aristocractic lady whom
Senator Seward's family visited, which
were not only polished and stained to
resemble tortoise shell, but were pro
tected each one by a gold case like a
short thimble. Her nair wliich was
comhed straight back, was made into an
oval knot low down at the back of her
head : and lengthwise over this was a
broad clasp shaped like a sword-hilt,
in variegated colors, and crosswise
through it was a long bodkin like a bonnet-pin
with a colored knob.
She had on a petticoat of blue silk,
and a loose upper garment of lighter
blue fitting close round the neck where
it was finished with gold braid, with
which the edge that lapped across the
.'iont was likewise trimmed. Besides
this, there was a band of colored em
broidery about the shoulders.
Th'ese Chinese silks, such as are worn
by their own people of rank, and which
are seldom sold to go out of the empire
any moro than their choicest-flavored
tests are have a peculiar crinkle and
luster and elasticity which no manu
facturers in Western countries have ever
been able to attain to; as is true, also
of their elaborate embroidery, which is
done in very dainty patterns and in
marvellously-brilliant colors, and often
linished so that both sides of the work
are alike, all the ends of floss and goid
thread being carefully concealed. There
is such a, quality of springiness about
these silks that ydu can squeeze yards of
the fabric into the smallest possible com
pass and it will come out without a
crease, nnd will wash like linen and last
through years of wear. The story is
that this is owing to their methods of
managing the silkworms, which are so
sensitive that they are aft'ected by noise,
want ot cleanliness and rough handling.
It is further said that a great deal de
pends on the process of weaving, which
is all done on hand looms set on the
ground, from the belief that the mois
ture of the earth causes a gloss not
otherwise to bo had.
We had been told that where callers
had found the Mandarin at home, he
had appointed a day on which to return
the call, probably according to the na
tional forms of etiquette; so we were in
daily expectation of their appearance at
our door, and anxious to be at home
that we might not miss the pleasure.
Meanwhile, the family were to be seen
going in a coach to pay visits which
came in order before ours. Sometimes
the interpreter was to be met in the
market buying chickens, if on a rainy
day, with a dark-blue Chinese umbrella
over his head ; at other times the Man
darin was observed out walking in a
black silk gown with blue sleeves,
green silk trousers, black skull cap and
white shoes trimmed with light blue,
moving along in a dignified and mea
sured way, while the interpreter fol
lowed, keeping the distance of about
four feet always between them.
On the fifth day, while we were at
dinner, the door-bell rang, and the girl
who answered it came into the room
with two cards in her hand, announcing
to us with looks of mingled amazement
and dismay that "there's a whole load
of 'colored folks!'"
But we all, with one accord, cried,
" Why, they are the Chinese 1" and with
one accord, likewise, we sprang up from
the tanle, and rushed to the parlor, the
venerable head of the house lagging be
hind, however, to put on his bettermost
coat, m which to do honor to the Alan
darin. The cards, let me say, were sim-
pie visiting cards, on one of which was
T m,. k'n ifnti-HiiH
The coachman, having seen them all
out, had returned to his seat, add they
were coming along the piazza, which
they almost seemed to cover with their
ample robes, being so many, the pro-
lessor and ins wno, uie two gins, uuu
the interpreter. The lady came in first,
with a sort of grace in spite of her feet ;
then her husband and the children, each
shaking hands all round before taking
their seats. - -
And now a tremendous mistake was
made the interpreter was offered a
chair. And he is never allowed to sit
ho would never presume to do such a
thing in the presence of a mandarin!
Couseouentlv he remained standing.
though one after another of the family
said, "iake a seal.- xnen arrived on
the scene the laggard gentleman of the
bouse, wno uao been all this time get
ting on his coat ; and he, after the hand
shaking was over, said to the interpre
ter, who still stood as firm as a post :
"Take a seat!" No movement. "Take
a SEAT! !" repeated the host; and
then a seal he tock, which, unfoitun
ately, was a larger and more imposing
chair than that occupied by his su
perior. The latter personage looked as
tonished, shocked, grieved, for the act
was no doubt equivalent to a personal
insult, and rome animated conversation
passed between the three elder members
of the Chinese party. However,' Mr.
Ko Kun-Hua had the good sense to see
that it was proper to forego the usual
punctilio under the circumstances ;
though we all suspect that the offending
interpreter, Chin Tin Sing for that is
understood to be his name received a
reprimand alter they reached home,
and perhaps rightfully, from their point
of view. .
No one of them wore gloves, and
with the exception of the interpreter,
each had a long, black, folded fan,
which during the entire visit was held
closed in the right hand across the knee,
doubtless in conformity to some code
of ceremony. Even the little girls did
n)t open or play with theirs, but sat
perfectly quiet and upright on the sofa
where they were placed, models of good
behavior, for American children, whose
mothers under similar circumstances
would very likely have been under the
necessity of saying " Don't touch that!"
" Don't swing your hands so." " You
must not put your feet up on the sofa!"
" You must not meddle with the lady's
things !" " Take care ! you'll break your
fan'' "Now, if you don't sit still. I
shan't let you go with me again !" and
many more such remarks and Injunc
tions, which these well-bred Chinese
children did not need. They were bare
headed, and had queer pantalettes tied
once around their ankles and again a
little higher up, and their garments
were similar to those we saw at their
house, only much nicer ones.
The interpreter wore a blue cotton
skirt, and upper garments of dark blue
woolen cloth, a skull cap, and common
Chinese shoes. He was taller and larger
than the Mandarin: but the latter
looked the superior that he is, and the
face of a gentleman and a scholar, re
fined and thoughful, and his bearing
wa3 as loftv as that of a Spanish gran
dee. His attire was elegant. A skull
cap of a solid kind of satin, with the
red silk button, which denoted his rank
came down to his forehead. On his
feet were " Mandarin boots," which
seemed to be of soft, white leather, and
reached halfway up to the knees In
wrinkles like Turkish boots. His lower
garment was a skirt ot blue silk, and
the upper one was ot superlative beauty
and richness, made of silk of a deeper
blue, and worn over another of a lighter
shade, the smaller sleeves of which
showed below the ample folds of the
outer when he raised his hands. It
had. a close collar, and was fastened
with gold buttons ; and on the shoulders,
the sleeves, and down tho breast were
exquisitely wrought medallions in a
pattern which indicates his rank. As
you see him standing there in his robes
of state, you cau but say that he Is a
m:m of noble aspect and presence.
The attire of Mrs. Ko Kun-Hua as far
exceeded her first as one blue silk could
outdo another. The petticoat was laid
in the finest perpendicular plaits, so
narrow that they looked like creases,
and pressid smoothly down; and bv
some arrangement a plain breadth was
made to overlap in front, where it had
sumptuous decoratio.t no doubt for the
same reason as that of her husband of
gilt braid, in curving lines from top to
bottom. Her upper robe was of blue
brocade of a different shade, as shim
mtring and bright as silk could
he, edged with a stiff band of brilliant
tfowers on white round the neck, and
also forming a yoke-shaped trimming,
while the bottom of th. sleeves was
bordered with similar wrought flowers
in colors on white silk, to the depth of
several inches. No belt or confinement
tin v where, but loose, flowing drapery;
and she looked just like the richly-
dressed ladies we see on fine Chinese
fans and rare porcelain.
We had felt great curiosity to know
what she would have on her head, since
Chinese women do not wear hats, bon
nets or veils. Her hair was arranged as
before, only it was now so much cov
ered with orniments at the back and a
sort of upright fillet in front, that only
on the top of her head could any be
seen.
Her little feet were in sight, encased in
daintiest of shoes, though not so dimin
utive as among Chinese ladies of ex
treme fashion in the most exalted rank,
who are known to wear shoes only two
and a half English inches in the length
of the soles. Hers were at least four
inches with the tiniest of high heels and
pointed toes, and were extremely pretty,
with flowered heels and delicate gilt
lines in zig-zag curves, and row above
row of embroidery on white in pale blue
and red.
You may wish to know how she was
able to walk, but you can easilv get an
idea of the method and the difficulty if
you will attempt to go the distance ot a
long hall by stepping only on the edge
of your neeis. it is a slow kind ol mo
tion, as if one might topple over; and
we observed that in passing out to the
carriage she helped herself by putting out
her hand on the side of the house.
We had some conversation with our
guests through the interpreter, finding
out that the lady was contented in this
strange land; that she had one Chinese
woman with her to take care of the
baby; that the littlo girls' names (as
near as we could understand) were
Wine Ho and Wung Ho: that the rea.
son why the boys did not come, too, was
because tuey were studying; that thev
were going to move into a different
house, and many other things.
Then they all, at some spoken word,
r jse together, invited us to come and
see them again, shook hands all round.
tho interpreter put the children into the
carriage, saw the Mandarin and his wife
in, then he himself mounted to the seat
beside the driver, and all rode off, leav
ing with us a most lavorablo mipres.
sion of tueir dignity, courtesy and gen
eral high breeding.
About a week later it was my unex
pected good fortune to make the family
a second can, in company wnn uiesu
perintendent ot the Chinese mission
school in Boston, and ono of tiie ladv
teachers and her daughter; and this time
the hour being late in the afternoon
thev were all at home. 1 he same lad
as courteous as a page-in-waitlng in
some royal household, admitted us, re
ceived our cards, and snowing us into
the same room as on my first visit, said.
" Sit down !" then sped away to make
known our coming.
We. however, thought it more re
spectful to wait standing, and such was
our attitude wnen, without a moment
delay, the Mandarin came in, havin
hastened at once, as did his wife on the
farmer occasion, to welcome his guests,
quite unlike our inhospitable and un
courteous custom of keeping a visitor
waiting. He advanced with gracious
and cordial manner, and as the strangers
of the party were presented to him by
name, lie fixed the identity of each one
I by the cards he held in his hand) and
I then begged ui to " Take teati!"
Mo was In linmA dress, like nnv gen-
eman who might have come out of his
study In his dressing gown; but how
unlike in the fabricand color and fashion
lereof ! Professor Ko hun-llua was
kn nn Oriental picture, a personage
out of Lalla Rookh, or something quite
apart from our common place world, in
a robe of pale blue flowered crape, lovely,
delicate and lustrous, a silvery azure,
falling In a soft, graceful way over a
brocade silk skirt of the peculiar yellow
green which is known In the fashion
plates as "faded leaf" color; in this at
tire the refinement of his features and
slightnes of Jhis form were more appar
ent than when in his visiting costume.
The interpreter, who is also a servant,
came immediately and took his position,
standing several leet from his superior;
and soon Mrs. rvo nun-uua entered
eVeTaVwhenlfi
. nut. :..i a -a -
bv the two little girls. And on my re
marking that I had not seen tho baby,
the professor, understanding my words,
smiled and said something to his wife,
which seemed to be asking if the baby
could be seen, to which she, half laugh
ing and giving her head a slight toss,
seemed to answer : " I don't care." So
M-rtffia .!&! St
Chinese woman, a wee thing with round.
grave face, and clad in indigo blue
clothes figured with white, like some of
those India silks which were so much
worn a few years ago. The littlo tiling
stood ouiet v holding last to his hand.
and solemnly contemplated us fantasti
cally attired creatures that we were
her eyes.
And now. with considerable help from
the interpreter, we had some interesting
t .u. j 3
children, llie lather said they were
.... . ... ...
to be taught English at once, and sent
them for their new books, which were
copies of " Halliard's First Reader," in
winch the superintendent now gave
them a little instruction, to the great
client of the family. Then he went to
is study nnd brought out a pile ot .bne-
lish and Chinese school books which
had been given to him. and was very
eager to get information about our lan
guage, lie produced our cards, and
asked us one bv one to pronounce our
amcs, and then each card lie labeled
with the Chinese. Mine required three
haracters. which were made in a per-
pendiculai row at the upper right-linnd
corner. These were done with a tew
skillful strokes of a dainty black brush
or pencil which he took from some re
ceptacle attached to a girdle beneath his
robes.
It was evidentlv his habit to translate
in this manner for his own convenience,
the names of his visitors, who had al-
eadv been numerous, to mdge bv tfie
quantity of cards in the decorated poree-
iin salver which he brought from his
study. ' . ;
As the Chinese is a language of gyro -
ofs.ot hieroglyphics rather than 1c tters,
single character represents what with
us it migrrtTTeYrHire several syllables to
eAprvss. The spoken Viiniteots are numer
ous, according to dillcrent provinces ol
the empire ; but the " Mandarin dialect '
as it is called, is the purest, and has an
extensive literature. It is otherwise
known as tho " Court dialect," being
the language "fixed upon by govern
ment to be learned and used by ofucials
throughout the empire," so that those
who acquire it can always find persons
Willi wiiuiu int-'v can cmiimuiiicaic in
every part ot Ulnna. 1 ins, as fie in
formed us, is the language lie speaks, a
much an unknown tongue to the com
mon class of that nation as our own is.
The mandarins, of whom there are
several ranks, have special privileges.
They all wear blue, and tliov alone can
use gold embroidery on their clothing;
nnd their wives are attired according
to the position of the husbands, which
s seen at once by the color on their caps
or the peculiar emblazonry on then'
obes. It is their custom in the pres-
nce of others to sit (as Mr. Ko Kun
Hua has already been described) with
the hands on the knees, and in a very
composed manner. JSo mandarin can
wiili propriety return a visit on foot:
nnd when he appeals on the street no
person of inferior order must presume
to salute him.
In soite. however, of all such limita
tions we found our interviews with the
Ko Kun-Hua family delightful : and tins
last one was closed bv our trying to pro
nounce the name (which sounds as if
written " Ko Ouns-Whah") and by
tea-drinking "high tea," I am sure it
ought to bo called. The interpreter
who appears to be man-of all-work,
and always full of business, smart, capa.
ble and bright wherever one meets him.
whether m-doors or on the street came
in with a waiter on which were six cuds
of tea, each in its "salver," which he
set on the table before us.
The etiquette is for tho guests to take
up their cups, when the Leads of the
house immediately imitate them, and
then nil silently partake together; but
though we understand that such was
the custom, and saw that Mr. and Mrs.
Ko Kun-Hua waited our movements
not one of us ventured to do this, not
even when the Mandarin said, "Take
tea!" for how should we manageP
that was the question. Each cup was
on a long nnrrow " salver " or waiter of
metal, which had a sunken circle into
which it fitted, and each cup had a cover
on it like a small saucer turned bottom
upward. We waited, as with one con
sent, till Mrs. Ko Kun-Hua, seeing our
dilemma, raised hers with her right
hand and daintily carried it to her hps,
holding tier arm high, and she sipped
with the cover on. We all tried, and
made a universal, ignominious failure
In fact, as for myself. I could hardly
convey mine safely to my mouth with
out, using both hands, such concern
was I in lest the cover should drop off.
We tried again; and then we laughed.
the whole company of us ; and then the
host and hostess, with considerable
kindness and courtesy characteristic oi
that people toward their guests, removed
the covers from their own cups and laid
them on the table, and we at once fol
lowed their example; and then we nil
took tea, decorously and in state. No
spoons, no sugar, no milk ; they never
use them, A lew tea leaves are put in
the bottom of each cup, boiling water
poured on. tue covers put in place, and
thus, with all the flavor kept in, it is
served.
Thev were extremely agreeablo and
obliging, and no doubt if our curiosity
had so far overcome our good breeding
as to have inoucea us to ask about them,
thev would have taken down those
lovelv ornaments from the mantle, to
which had been added some exquisite
lacquered boxes and a rare slender vase
of deep blue in which stood a single tall
stem of beautiful red coral. Ami nn
doubt alto we might have known mors
about those elegant writing Implements,
and trays, and choice littlo jars, and
tans witu tuinnese characters on tnem,
in the studv. As it was. we made a
most unccremonionsly long call, which,
however, we were cordially Invited to
repeat; and then the family accom
panied us to the outer door with re
peated hand-shakings and ' good-byes."
But one thing we happily had pres
ence of mind not to do. We did not
violate etiquette by taking formal leave
of the interpreter; we did not shake
hands with Chin Tin Sing. Wide
Awake.
A Dnel to their Deaths.
A Memphis telegram to the Cincin
nati Qazelte says: Your correspondent
captured the particulars of one of the
from a passenger who arrived in this
city on a steamer from St. Lous, to
night. The affair occurred on Tuesday,
near Cottowood, Mo., three milesebove
the Arkansas line, and about a hundred
miles above Memphis, on the Mississippi
river, and resulted in the death of both
the combatants. The quarrel was bc-
. . f , a ti r
si' s
between them, and one carried his griefs
Into the courts,
On Tuesday they met at the point
mentioned, when Nichols cried out:
" You see I have not yet been arrested !"
Crockett replied: "I see you haven't,
you rascal, and I propose to wnip
it out of you right here!" Nichols
said: "All right; you just wait till I fix
this coffee on my muie and I will join
you in tht little game!
II .innlrotT. nmnt.iv awnirpd
Nichols
movements until both men met.
Crocket drew a large pocket-knife,
while JNichols displayed a dirk, or
bowie knife. The bloody work began
at once, and blood flowed like water
from toe wounds each stroke of the
deadly weapons made in the bodies of
the antagonists. Crockett finally got in
a stroke on Nichols' neck which severed
the jugular vein, having previously cut
his tongue completely out. Nichols
fell dead by the side of Crocl ett, who
lay on the ground completely exhausted
from loss of blood. He survived his
wounds only four hours.
io one saw the desperate contnet, but
a passing neighbor readied the place a
few moments before Crockett died, from
whom he learned the above particulars.
The gentleman did all he could for
Crockett, but he had received his death
blow.- On ISichoIs body thirteen
wounds had been inflicted, while on
Crockett were eighteen. It is stated
that the spot where they fought bore
evidences of a long and most terrible
conflict. Botli men leave families, that
of Nichols consisting of his wife and
eight children. Both were respected by
their neighbors, but Crockett was con
sidered a dangerous, quarrelsome man,
while j ichols was a peaceable and very
quiet neighbor.
X Plain Man.
i ne woouwaro avenue ear coins-
north at eleven o'clock yesterday fore
noon overtooE a man with a band-mink
of ancient make walking in the middle
of the street. He inouired if the car
went to the rnilrond track, and then got
.,1, ...! rn. 1 "
uutjiiKi. wcicBcvciiu imewcn if era
in the car, and ns he stood in the door he
looked frcm one to the other Hnd said :
If I nm intruding don t hesitate lo
ten me so. 1 like people who speak
right out, nnd I nm used to plain talk."
No one objected nnd he took a seat,
crossed hU legs and said to t.iinself:
"I'll bet thev never built this ear for
less than fifty dollars! I'm glad tho old
woman isn't here. If she should see
how It's' fixed up she'd never let up on
me im i tat'Keo one to me house. I'll
nevcr ride on a wood wasjon again when
i can iog along in a chariot like this. It s
got more windows than a bee-hive, nnd
1 wouldn't dare spit ou tho floor if I was
dying to spit."
As he made no move to pay Ins fare
the driver rang the bell.
Got bells on here, eh r" mused the
plain mnn. "Now who'd a-thought
they'd have gone to such an expense ns
that! folks here in town are right on
the style, no matter what it costs!"
J lie driver rung again and again, and
seeing that it did no good, ho .finally
opened the door and said :
" iou man in the corner there you
didn't pay your fare."
"My fare', w liy, that a sol nnngeo
if I hadn't forgotten all about it ! Were
you ringing that bell for meP"
"les."
"That's too bad! Why didn't you
open that door long ngo and say to me :
" Here, you old potato top. ll you don t
pass up your ducats I'll land you in the
mud !' 1 m a plain man, and l never get
miffed at plain talk. Take the llamage
out "of this half dollar!" Detroit Free
lress.
What Did Mnry Say I
A lawyer is responsible for the follow
ing: uuring the trial oi one uogzeu, for
kidnaping, an incident occurred which
created considerable fun at the expense
of wigs and counsel. A Miss Sloan was
giving evidence, and was requested to
state all she knew about a certain trans
action. ltness ; I was in the sitting
room w!ien Mary came in from the
kitchen hurriedly, nnd dogzell nfter
her. He caught hold of her at the sit
ting-room door and said, "Mary, you
havo been here long enough : -orae nnd
go home now.' Uounsei: "What did
Mary say?" Counsel for the prosecu
tion: "Stop there! I object to that
question." Here a discussion ot nearly
two Hours took place, in which lour
lawyers participated, after which tho
judge gave a long and serious harrangue
on the subject, and hnally, in a very lor-
i i -. . . . i . i . . t
linn mm pompous manner, suueu mat n
was the opinion of the court that the
question bhould be answered. The
court was crowded almost to suffoca
tion, and the most intense interest was
manifested at this stage of the proceed
ings. The question was repeated :
What did Mary sayr" and the witness
answered, simply, " She didn't say a
word."
The shrinking of the water in Tulaer
Lake, Cal., has uncovered a pre
historic settlement, stone buildings.
traces of canals once bordered with
planted trees, and other evidences of
occupation by an unknown race, being
clearly defined as the water subsides.
" Ah. how well do I remember it was in
the bleak November," when I caught the cold
that was wearing me surely and swiftly away;
but I heard of Dr. Bull's (tough 8rop, took
It, K'i m well u vrwti
FOR TIIE FUR SEX.
Fashion tfotes.
Bead fringes are used to edge sleeves.
Normandy point grows In popularity.
Wedding robes have very long trains
Limerick lace is coming in vogue
again.
Door curtains have hand painted val
ances of silk.
New plaid stockings have the plaids
set diagonally.
Black velvet is much used for trim
ming purposes.
hhort waists are positively coming
again, it is said.
Quilted satin balmorals will be much
worn this winter.
Woolen oatmeal cloths havo been In
vented in England.
Colored flannel petticoats are again in
vogue.
Smyrna collars and cuffs stiil mm
fashionable for children.
Old fashioned fur tippets with long
ends are worn in London.
Drugon flies in cashmere colors are
popular millinery ornaments.
Velvet brocades embroidered in beads
are used to make outdoor wraps.
Little capes and kerchiefs trimmed
with fur are shown for house wear.
Lyons satin is preferred to corded silk
for the outside of fur lined circulars.
Little silver birds perched nt the base
of feathers are used to decorate the
hair.
Slippers with instep straps embroid
ered in jet and in colored beads are fash
ionable.
Dinner dresses arc made with pointed
basques, short on the sides nnd pointed
in front.
Prune color and myrtle green is one of
the combinations w Inch English dress
makers use.
Soft feathers make an extremely be
coming faco trimming for a bonnet and
are much liked.
Bonnets of bright colored Satin, cov
ered with white muplin, nre worn nt the
opera in Londo::.
Pink and blue muffs are carried with
pink and blue gowns, and harmony is
supposed to reign.
Little silk buttons, that look like
whole pearls, nre dotted hero and there
on chenillo bonnet ties.
Sealskin Ir ts in the shape of a sou'
wester, and with a button In the middle,
are sold for young girls and children.
The white Japanese crape ties worn
by gentlemen are much liked by ladies
who are tired of muslin and lace scarfs.
They nre very soft and becoming,
Miss Downing, ono of the London
candidates for school committee, is de
scribed as a little woman with a dark
eye, a masculine face, nnd a fine Mile
sian brogue.
m1i1s mid Young Tallies. ,
Benjamin F. Taylor, the poet, lias
written a letter to a young girl at the
Lowville (N. Y.) academy, in which he
mixes up poetry and good advice in
equal doses most charmingly. What
Mr. Taylor says will bear repetition :
"I call you a girl, but it is not the
fashion any more. The girls are gone,
and there is uobody left but young lad ies.
I like girls best. There used to be a
flock of Carolines in Lowville, and as
fair a flock as ever wore muslin. There
was Caroline Collins, Caroline Northup,
Caroline Davan, and ever so many more.
There were Cornelias, Janes, Elizabeths,
Marys and Paulinas. They were all
girls and they never scorned the title.
Now they would be Carries nnd Nellies,
Lizzies, Mamies, Jennies and Comics
and young ladies withal, every daughter
of them. Let us not end our names in
" ie." Let us not forget that affectation
is the art of being a fool according to
rulo. Lei us learn to work the worsted
cats of impossible pink, if we must, but
lot v.a linurtn i-.l- T-lt....
nnd a eoldon loaf of corn bread ns well.
Let us" talk French if we can, but let us
avoid " slang " as we would pestilence
and famine. Pure f.ni undetiled Eng
lish never sounds bo musically as it does
from tho unadulterated lips of a genuine
girl. Let us learn the exquisite art of
keeping young. You rei.d of Roman
rules. I think I have heard Tyre, Tad-
mor and ihebes mentioned once or
twice, but there is nothing so ancient in
all this world as an old dilapidated
heart. It is everybody's duty, especially
every girls, to keep young, jnow, to
you and your classmates :
Deur girls, 1 pray you road the Book of Ruth,
That old love story htiautilul as truth,
Ot ono who lives in everlasting youth;
And say with her to truth, " rorever thine."
" Thy God ray God, and thy people mine"'
So shall you keep iu loving stop with thine.
And life's sweet cadence proves a perfect
rhyme;
And when at lust the song is done,
And level shines the dying sun,
Another duwn will show hs early light,
And "good morn," though you havo said
"good nihl."
Indian Gambler?.
The Indians have gay times gambling
every Sunday nftmnoon upon the lull
back ot town. The gambling is done
with bundles of sticks. Tho Indians
range themselves in a circle and keep up
a continuous chant ns the game pro
ceeds. Tho Indians of one tribe pool
their money against that of the otLer
tribe, and theh one of the number " casts
the lot." The sticks are of hard wood
about eight inches in length, and abou
twice tho thickness of broom-straws'
They are all white, exc pt one, which
lias a black stripe about nn inch wide
around the center. The dealer places
the slicks behind him and divides them
into two separate branches, holding his
hands closely about the center. Then
ono of tho opposite tribe makes a guess
ns to which hand contains the black
stick. Tho sticks are then scattered out
on a blanket, nnd it is thus ascertained
which side wins. One side retains the
Acn 1 u a 1 fn r ua tlio rt 1 1 1 eMo futla r.
V - ..1 ..III ihj W....& ej.uv .V
guess right, but as soon as a good guess
is made the deal chit ges. The deal
ing side also furnishes tho vocal music.
which invariably has a tin accompani
ment. No wovd Is spoken between the
opposite players. Everything is indi
cated by gestures. To persons who
have never seen them gamble in this
manner it is an interesting performance
Areata Cal.) Lcaicr.
A young man named Bailey, living six
miles south of Fairfield, Clay county,
Neb., was accidentally poisoned by his
mother. The young mnn had been sick
for sometime, and his mother adminis
tered a dose of epsom salts, us she sup
posed, but which proved to be oxalic
acid. He lived just twenty minutes
alter twallowlng the fntts dosoi
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
England imports .810,000,000 worth'of
lard annually, chiefly from the United
States.
The people of tho United States own
property in tho District of Columbia to
t lie amount of about $85,000,000.
A boy Bixteen years of age lately
hanged himself at Liverpool because
somebody had " found fault with lit ji.n .
There is a colored woman In Mont
gomery county, Ga., who has become
the mother of seven children in sixteen
months.
A rmmber of boys'connected with re
spectable families have been Indicted by
the Ormsby county (Nevada) grand jury
for opium smoking.
A new kind of sweet potato is culti
vated in Kern county, Cal., picked
specimens or which weigh from fifteen to
eighteen and twenty-two pounds.
It is a remarkable fact that in the six
teenth century there were 8,000,00o peo
ple in Siberia; now there are but 4,000,
000, though there is an influx of 120,000
convicts annually.
Democratic ticket, 1880 For Presi
dent. Ed . Hanlan. Republican, ditto
For President, Chas. E. Courtney. This
will postpone the election indefinitely.
Buffalo Sunday Times.
It is hard to decide wliich is the more
pestilential the young bore who is for
ever bragging what he is going to do; or
the old bore who is eternally bragging
what he has done. Boston Transcript.
The blood of slaughtered domestic
animals is used In France to clarify
wine: nnd fully six thousand tons of
dried blood nre said to be annually used
for purposes of dyeing, and for uses per
taining to tho art of coloring printers'
ink.
"The true journalist is a free, un
trammeled creature, governed by none ,"
proudly wrote the editor in his lead er
on "That Mighty Engine, the Press."
Then he went home to dinner, and w an
ingloriously chased under the bed by
his wife and a broom for omitting to
send up the ingredients for the noond ay
eal.- Rockland Courier.
Father to Young Hopeful, who has
just begun attending school " How do
you like your school, my son?" Young
Hopeful " Pretty well, sir." Father
' What lessons have you been study
in" to-day?" Young Hopeful "Spel
ling read in', rithmetlc i lid g'ography."
Father "What exercise do you think
you will like, best?" Young Hopeful
"Oh, recess, sir!" Yonkcrs Statesman.
Romance of a Ring.
A princess of Prussia at one time re
ceived a small nnd antique ring from
her governess for a present. About a
year after the occurrence the court re
ceived a visit from the Grand Duke
Nicholas, the brother of the Emperor
Alexander, and who, at that time, was
not the heir expectant of tho crown.
The grand duke saw the princess, and
with the quick resolve native to his dis
position immediately determined to ask
her in marriage. One day, as lie was
seated by her side at tho royal dinner
table, he'spoke to her of his forthcoming
departure, adding that it depended upon
her whether or not his stay in Berlin
should be prolonged.
" What shall 1 do,.then, to influence
your intentions?" was' tho. reply of the
smiling princess.
"You must not refuse to receive my
addresses," immediately returned the
outspoken Nicholas.
" You ask much."
" I ask even more. You ought to give
mo some encouragement in my en
deavors to please you."
" That Is still more difficult. Besides,
the moment is not well chosen tor a
favor."
" I beg your royal highness to give mo
a sign that I am not totally indifferent .
to vou. You have little ring on your
render me happy. I beseech you to give
me the ring. ' .
"What! give the ring at tho dinner
table, and in the presence of all these
people?" , , . .
" Let me see press it into this piece
of bread and give it to me."
And press tho ring into a piece of
bread she did, and gave it to the future
emperor. .Nicholas took nn eariy op
portunity to leave the hall, and on ex
huming the treasure from its wlicaten
tomb discovered an inscription on the
inner side in French, nnd running to tho
following effect: " L'Imperatrice de la
Russie."
He is said to have worn the keepsake
for the rest ot his days, attached to a
chain round his neck, the ring being too
small of course for any of his colossal
fingers. The futwo empress, it seems,
hail been unconsciously wearing for
some time the emblem of her iuturc
greatness.
Her Age,
There Is a good deal of amusement in
tho following table of figures. It will
enable you to tell how oid the young
ladies are. Just hand this table to a
young lady, and request her to tell in
which column or columns her age is
contained; add together the figures at
the top of the columns in which her age
is to be found, and you have the great
secret. Thus, suppose her ngo to be
seventeen, you find that number in the
first and tilth columns; add me nrst
tiiiuns of these two columns. Here Is
magic table :
1 2 4 8 10 3iS
3 3 5 U 17 33
5 6 0 10 18 34
7 7 7 II l'J 35
10 1-2 12 'JO 30
11 11 13 13 21 37
13 14 14 14 22 38
15 IS 15 15 23 3J
17 18 20 24 24 40
19 19 21 25 25 41
21 22 22 26 26 . 42
23 23 23 27 27 43
25 26 28 28 28 41
27 27 29 2) 29 45
29 30 30 30 30 4i
31 31 31 31 31 47
33 34 3 , 40 48 48
35 35 37 41 49 49
37 38 38 42 50 50
39 39 39 43 51 51
41 42 44 44 52 52
43 43 45 45 53 53
45 46 46 4(1 54 54
47 47 47 47 55 55
49 50 52 56 56 56
51 51. 53 57 57 57
53 54 54 58 58 58
55 55 65 59 59 59
57 58 60 60 60 60
59 59 61 61 61 61
61 62 62 62 62 (2
63 Pit Ma 13 3 KM