. - , , . , 1 : ...... .. n
n.sry A. parsons, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NlL
t El S P E il A & D XJ M .
Dollars
Annum.
YOL. X.
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1880.
NO. 14.
Example.
We scatter Seeds with ofireless hand,
And dream we ne'er shall see them more;
But for a thousand yean
Their truit appears,
In weeds that mar the land,
Or henlthlul store.
The deeds we do, the words we say
Into still air they seem to fleet,
- We eonnt thorn eer patj
But they shall last
In the dread judgment they
And we shall meet!
I charge thee I y the years gone by
For the love's sake ot brethren dear,
Keep thou the one true way,
In work and play,
Lest in that world their cry
Oi woe thou near. John Ktblt.
The Stolen Uve-Letters.
In the uncertain flickering firelight
pretty Maggie Leslie sat pulling a rose
to pieces. Her sister Kate watched her
a few, moments impatiently, and then
paid. "What are you doing, Maggie P
Tked of your new lover, eh ?"
"What nonsense! I am not tired of
my new lover, but I am angry at my
olel one."
"Very likely. When a girl has dis
carded a country clergyman with 300
a year for a baronet with 30,000, it is
likely she will be angry at the poor
lover troubling her memory."
" I should dismiss the country clergy
man very soon from my memory, if he
permitted me. I never thought Archie
Fleming could have been bo mean;"
And Maggie, threw the poor tattered
remnant of a rose passionately away
from net .
"I do not believe Cousin Archie
Florrlng could do a mean thing, Mag
gie You must be mistaken."
"I wish I was. Come closer, Kate,
nnd I will tell you all about it;" aid
tho two young girls seated themselves
on a low ottoman in a confidential atti
tude. " Now Maggie, when and what P"
"The 'when' was two evenings ago.
Sir John and I were coming across the
moor, just as happy as as anything,
and I thought Archie was in London,
when we met him BUddenly as we
turned into the Hawthorn path. And
what do you think P They rushed into
aeh other's arms like like two French
men. I do helieve tbey kissed each
other. It was '.John' and 'Archie,' and
hand-shali'.ug, nnd'How are you old
fellow ?' and that kind of thing, until
I was quite disgusted. Men going on
in that way uiv so ridiculous!
-H y-and-b j c Sir J ohn remembered me,
.and 'supposed Arclie knew his fair
parishioner Miss Leslie,' and Archie
bowed in tin' nicst distant manner, and
said lie had the honor ot being my poor
cousin. Men never keep anthing, and
oeioro we una wamea a quarter ol a
mile Sir John had contrived to let
Archie know how mattirs stood be
tween us."
"That was not very pleasant, but oi
"Course you were off with the old love
before you were on with the new."
" Not exactly. I had Btopped writing
to Archie, and if he had an ounce ot
sense he might have guessed the rea
son." Kate shook her head and looked
,grave.
"Now, Kate, don't be aggravating
'The case is just this. Sir John and
Archie, it seems, are old echool friends,
and Archie has all sorts of romantic no
tions about fidelity to his friend, and
threatens to tell Sir John how badly 1
have treated him."
"Then vou have seen Archie?"
"Yes; 1 sent Davie Baird to tell
him to meet me in the conservatory last
night."
"How imprudent!"
"I had to do it. I wanted to coax
Archie to let me off easily, and give me
back all my letters. I must have the
Jetters, Kitty. 1 really must."
"Well?"
" Well he said some very disagreeable
things truths he called them and I
. cried, and looked just as pretty as I
could. He insisted i was in love vith
Sir John's title and money, and not with
hinisell; and when I said that was not
true, end that I loved Sir John very
dearly, he got quite in a temper. It is
Txiy belief that he would ri ther I mar
ried for money than love if I don't marry
bim. That's the selfishness of men.
Kilty. I wouldn't be as mean for any
thing. And oh, Kitty, he would not
give me back my letters, and I must
have them."
"I should not worry about a few
Jove-letters."
" Kitty, you don't know all, or you
-wouic not say tuat."
"Tell me all. then."
"I have sent Sir John just-the same
letters, word for word. You know I
never was good at composition, and
when Clara Joyce was here, I got her
to write me some beautiiui love-letters
- She liked doing it, and I thought I
might need them. I copied them for
Archie, and they were so clever I copied
them also for Sir John. Now, Kitty, if
Archie should fellow those letters, as be
said he would, how both ol them would
Jaughatme! 1 could not bear it."
Kate looked very much troubled
Indeed, Maggie, vou are right." she
answered. " You must have your let
ters; and if Archie will not give you
them, they must be stolen from him;
that is all about it. It would never do
to let him hold feueh a power over your
poor little head, and it would be worse
alter vou were warned than before it.
You are sure that ho will not give them
UD?"
" He said he never would give them
to me."
"Perhaps he has burned them."
"Oh. uo, lie could never bear to do
that. Whv. he idolizes them, Kitty,
Just before he went away he told
me that they were laid in rose leaves in
f hid Indian cabinet."
"Very good. Grandfather sent that
cabinet to the parsonage. 1 dare say it
is piH'tlv lit- the one in his room
so, it is likely grandfather's key will
open the minister's."
"Oh, Kate, jou durst not do such a
thinir!"
"f dare, under the circumstances. Of
two evils one should choose the least
Anything, almost, is better than giving
. a rejected lover such a power over you
It would be different it it was me.
would defy him, and take the telling in
my own lianas."
" 1 could not do that. Archie might
lease me to ueatu una."
"I know, you dear, foolimi little
woman, out jomuail uaveyour let
ters, Maggie, so go to bed, and sleep
soundly on my promise."
"WhenP"
"Perhaps to-morrow. Archie dines
with the bishop to-morrow. I shall
find no better opportunity, I think."
The next morning proved to be one
of those drenching days quite character
istic of an English November. Still,
about thre o'clock, Miss Leslie insisted
on riding to the village. Her grand
father made some opposition, but soon
gave in to " Kate's set ways," and her
decided declaration " that she would be
illiwithout ber gallop."
Arrived at the village she stopped at
the parsonage door, and nodding pleas
antly to the housekeeper who opened
it, slie said she was very wet, and
would like to see her cousin, and dry
her habit.
The parson was gone to the bishop's,
but if Miss Leslie would come in there
was a fire in his parlor, and she could
warm her feet and have a warm cup of
tea ; and Miss Leslie, - after a little
affected hesitation, and a little more
pressing, consented to do so.
She pe rmitted Martha to remove he
hat and bring her some tea. " I shall
rest half an hour, Martha, and if
Cousin Archie is not back by that time,
I must go, or -else I shall not reach
home before dark."
As soon as the door was shut she
glanced round the room. It was a cozy
place, full of bachelor comforts, and
pleasantly littered with books and
papers. The Indian cabinet stood in
a little recess between the two windows.
She quietly selected her grandfather's
key, and tried the lock. It opened at
once, and with an ease that showed it
was in constant use, and the first thing
that greeted her was the faint scent of
rose leaves.
But the letters were not in the
drawers, and she was on the point of
closing the cabinet in despair, when she
remembered that her grandfather's had
i secret door that slipped away, and
hid a closet between the drawers. It
was likely Archie's had the same.
She sought the spring, nnd it responded
at once to her touch, and there lay the
letters, all tied together in one little
bundle. There wns not more than half
a dozen, and Kate, with a smile ot re
lief nnd satisfaction, put them in her
pocket, and reloeked the cabinet.
She had scarcely done so when she
heard some one open the front door
with a pass key, and come straight up
the stairs. In a moment she had decided
that it was not Archie's footstep, nnd
that it must be one of his intimate
friends. In a moment, also, she had
decided that if she did not know him,
he should not know her. Whoever it
was, he did not at once come to the par
lor; he went into an adjoining room,
removed bis wet coat and boots, and
came lounging in, with slippers on his
feet and a cigar in his mouth.
Kate had just finished arranging her
hat nnd gloves, and was going quietly
out of one door when he entered by tho
other. For a moment they stood and
looked blankly at each other: the next.
Kate advanced a few steps, and said : " 1
am waiting to see the clergyman. Do
you know how soon he will return,
sir?"
I think he will be here immediately, "
answered the new-comer, whose first
instinct was to say the thine most likely
to detain so beautiiui a girl. "1 am
sorry to have intruded, but I will retire
at once, if you desire it."
"Bv no means, sir. I snail not re
main longer. 1 expected my brother
with Mr. Fleming, but as my groom is
with me, there is no need to wait, espe
cially as it is likely to be dark very
early.''
" 1 leit Mr. a lemmg at me msnop's,
with three other clergymen. Your
brother "
Oh. mv brotheru clergyman:"
and ttien suddenly remembering a friend
of Archie's who lived at least ten miles
away, she said : " I am Miss Crowther,
of Hill Top perhaps you know Mr.
Henry Crowther?"
The young gentleman looked at Kate
utter amazement. In fact, he was
Mr. Henry Crowther himself, and he
was not aware that he had ever had any
sister. Who was this beautiful girl
claiming so pleasant a kinship with
him?
But almost with the announcement
Kate disappeared. He watched her
horse brought round, and saw her
mount and ride away, and then sat
down to smoke in a whirl of curiosity
and excitement. " What a bright face!
What frank, charming manners! What
a figure! I wish to everything I had a
sister or something nice like that girl.
1 do wonder who she is!" ihe next
moment he had rung the bell, and pulled
the bell-rope down.
Lawks, Mr. Henry, 1 knew that
was you a-ringing, which Mr. Archie
never rings that outrageous way. W hat
be you wanting, Bir?"
"I want to know, Martha, who that
youne lady is that left the house twenty
minutes ago."
" Weil may you ask, sir, which to do
shows your good sense. That is Miss
Kate Leslie, sir Mr. Archie's cousin
a very beautiful young lady, sir, and a
good one, and proud her grandfather
is ot her."
"That is all, Martha."
" Very well, sir."
When Archie returned he found
Harry Crowther pacing the room in
the greatest impatience, "now long
vou have beenr no exciaimeo; "and
tiere nas Deen ine most oeauuiui Kin
waiting for you; and, by everything!
she says she is my sister; and, Btill
funnier, she did not know that I was
her brother."
" What do you mean, Harry P"
" Just what I say."
"Oh, this is too bad! I must ask
Martha about it. She ought not to
permit strangers to come into my
rooms."
"Stop. Archie : 1 have asked Martha,
Her name was Miss Kate Leslie."
My cousin Kate. Now what could
have brought her here this wet day?"
tie thought immediately ot his inter
view with Maggie, and of her anxiety
about her letiers. "Poor little girl,"
he said, mentally, " I must not punish
her any longer, I will take her her
letters to-morrow."
So tho next afternoon he put on his
bat and coat, and went to the cabinet
for them. Of course they were not
there, lor one moment he was con
founded; the next, his mind had in
stinctively divined the hand that had
robbed him. He was very angry witli
bis cousin &.ate. lie Knew at once l
was altogether her doing. If Maggi
had ever dared to try, she would have
screamed in tee attempt, and bet ray ei
herself.
it was with a very stern face that he
entered the parlor where Kate was sit
ting, and he would
she held out to him.
not see the hand
When they were
The Predicted Fate of the Earth.
The Apostle Peter, in his second
alone, she asked at onoo: " Why won't epjBtle, announced the approach of the
you shake hands. Archie?
" How can you expect me, Kale, to
take the hand "
"That robbed me.' Say it if you
wish."
" I was going to say it. Why did you
do it?"
" Because you were torturing little
Maggie, and I will not have her worried
about a few letters. They were hers,
not yours."
" I think they were mine."
" That stiows a man's honesty in love
matters. The letters were sent to you
under a supposition that you were to
fill a certain relationship to Maggie.
You were found incompetent for that
position, and the favors relating to it
ought to have been returned. A dis
missed ambassador might just as well
keep the insigia of his office."
" Sit down, Kate, and don't put your
elf in a passion. Have I ever done an
unkind thing to either Maggie or you
since we were children together P"
" No, Archie, you have not."
" Do you really think I would ?"
" You said you would tell Sir John
things about Maggie, and that would
be unkind. Maggie loves Sir John
very much."
" I would never hurt Maggie. As
your pastor, and as your cousin, let me
say 1 think you have behaved in a very
improper manner."
'Archie l"
' Very improper indeed. You ought
to have come to me. I would have
given you the poor dear little letters ;
and as for telling Sir John anything to
open his eyes, I like him far too wed.
The only way to be happy in love is to
be blind."
" You think that is very satirical, I
dare say."
"No, 1 do not. lam waiting lor
vour aooiogy. ivate. xouknow vou
ought to make me one."
Kate sat, with burning cheeks, tap
ping the floor with her foo and Archie
stood calmiy watching her. At last
she said, "You are right, Archie."
Then, putting her hand in her
pocket: "Here are the letters, uo
what you likewith them. JI trust you."
lie took them tenderly, and throwing
them into the fire, mournfully watched
them turn to gray ashes. Kate's eyes
were full of painful tears.
"Archie," she said, "forgive me. I
acted very impulsively and very im
prudently. I am ashamed of myself.
There is something else I must tell you
about this miserable affair. 1 saw a
gentleman in your parlor, and I gave
myself a false name to him."
" Oh, Kate, see how one fault leads to
another. If you had been doing right,
you would not havj; been ashamed to
confess that you were Kate'Eeslie. Do
you know the lady whose name you'
borrowed ?" - -
" No, I know nothinjrrTont suck a
person."
" Then I will go with you. and you
mii9t make an apology t'i the family."
"Must I do this?'r
" You must. It is the least you can
do."
" Very well, Archie, I will do it."
But this part of her punishment was
lone delayed. The next morning Kate
was very ill, and a severe attack of
rheumatic fever confined her for weeks
to her room. Then the fatigue and
excitement consequent on Maggie's
marriage threw her back into the inertia
of invalidism, and the adventure was
almost forgotten in its painful results,
As the warm weather came on she
improved, and began to go into society
urae wnen "ine neavons shall pass
away with a great noise, and the ele
ments shall melt with fervent heat;
the earth also, and the works that are
therein shall be burned up." What
has modern science to say to the pos
sibility of a catastrophe such as that
shadowed forth in a comparative?
unscientific age, eighteen centuries
ago? Mr. R. A. Proctor, writing in his
latest volume, "ine flowers of the
Sky," remarks: "It is no longer a
mere fancy that each star is a sun
science has made this an assured fact.
which no astronomer thinks of doubt
ing: We know that in certain general
respects each star resembles the sun.
Each is glowing like our sun with an
intense heat. We know that in each
star processes resembling in violence
those taking place in our own sun
must be continually in progress, and
that such processes must be accom
panied by a noise and tumult, com
pared with which all the forms of up
roar known upon our earth are as ab
solute silence. Ihe crash of thunder
bolt, the bellowing of the volcano, the
awful groaning of the earthquake, the
roar of the hurricane, the reverberating
peals of loudest thunder, any of these,
and all combined, are as nothing com
pared with the tumult raging over
every square mile, every square yard,
of the surface of each one among the
stars."
He proceeds to describe, with con
siderable circumstantiality, two ap
pearances witnessed in the heavens
within the last tew years in 1866.
when the tenth magnitude star (that
is, iour magnitudes oeiow the lowest
limit of the naked eye vision) in the
constellation of the Northern crowns
suddenly Bhone as a second magnitude
star, afterward rapidly diminishing in
lUSLl'l, 1111,1 1U lOJV, WiJUIl u new Blal ue-
came visible in constellation Cvgaus.
subsequently fading again bo ns to be
oniy perceptioie &y means ot a tele
scope.
After noting the conclusions deduced
from the application of the most ap
proved instruments to these obser
vations, Mr. Proctor remarks: A
change in our own sun, such as af
fected the star in Cygnus, or that other
star in the Northern crown, would un
questionably destroy every living
creature on the face of this earth : nor
could any even escape which may exist
on the other planets ot the solar sys
tem. The star in the Isorthern crown
shone out with more than eight hun
dred times its former luster; the star
in Cygnus with from five hundred to
many thousand times its former luster.
according as we take the highest pos
sible estimate ot its brightness before
the catastrophe, or consider that it may
nave been very much brightei. JSowit
our sun was to increase tenfold m
brightness, all the higher forms of
p.nimal lift;, and neerlv all vegetable
life, would inevitubly To destroyed on
this earth. A few stubborn animal
cules might survive, and possibly a few
of tho lowest forms of vegetation, but
naught else. If the sun increased a
hundred-fold in luster, this heat would
doubtless sterilize the whole earth
The same would happen in other
planets. Sunday Magazine.
TIMELY TOPICS.
The Paris Abattoir.
Tho xlniicrhtpr houses of l'nris am lo-
The Maine experiment ot offering re- p.ta ot. T.a vr.inM.n- nn tho rmtskirta of
wards to boys for successful farm work the city, and form, together with a
is to be imitated in Vermont. Two of police station, telegraph office, barracks
the trustees of the State university have for a Bman forCe of troops stationed
offered $150 in prizes to boys not over
seventeen years of age for the best crops
of potatoes and corn on one-eighth of an
acre. The Scientific American thinks
the practice is a tood one, and might be
wisely adopted with benefit to our
agricultural interests as well as to the
boys.
One of the oldest and best adver tisers
in the country gives three cardinal
Eoints that all" advertisers may profit
y: First, if one has a good thing,
which the people really need, the more
widely he makes it known the larger
will be his rates; he will gain nothing
by economizing in this matter, provided
he advertises with good judgment.
Second, no one need expect to do a
brisk and extended business in these
days who fails to advertise, and adver
tise freely. Third, it costs money at
the outset to advertise, and one must
not expect to do this effectually for lit
tle or nothing. But if properly done it
will pay in the er.d.
One of the most notable among recent
engineering projects iJ the railway al
ready being constructed over the Mount
Lofty range of hills, South Australia.
Nearly $4,000,000, it is stated, will be
expended on the thirty-three miles be
twpen Adelaide and Naizne. Within a
trifle the railway is estimated to cost
about $110,000 per mile, and that where
the cost of the land was very slight i
there, and other buildings.a town of very
respectable sice. The buildings, which
are of stone, were constructed in
the most thorough manner by the city
under government authority. The
premises are inclosed by a high stone
wall, and the grounds are divided into
regular rectangles by four avenues, in
tersected by four streets.
Through each building runs a series
of cours, covered with a glass ceiling,
and in these cours the slaughtering Is
done, the animals being dressed on
wooden frames placed at regular inter
vals on each side of the cour. A pe
culiar feature of the business is that of
blowing up the carcass as soon as the
head and legs are cut off. which the
Commercial Bulletin describes as fol
lows : The body being placed on the
dressing frame, an incision is made in
the breast near the neck, and the noz
zel of a bellows inserted. A man then
works the bellows for about fifteen
minutes, until the whole carcass is
swollen out like a small balloon. The
reasons given for this are that it makes
the meat look better, more plump than
it otherwise would, and that it enables
the one who skins the carcass to get
the hide off quicker and easier, with
out injuring it. All bullocks, calves,
sheep, etc., slaughtered in these estab
lishments are blown up in this manner.
Pig butchery in Paris is conducted on
a novel plan. The pigs are taken into a
large round house, having a cupola in
S soman's expenditfres'wUi ?$JS!
dozen or so of pigs are driven into each
den at a time, and a butcher passes along
and strikes each one on tho head with
a mallet.
Commonplace.
A commonplace lile, we say, and we sigh
Bnt why shonld we sigh as we say T
The commonplace sun in the commonplace
sky,
Makes op the commonplace day;
The moon and the stars are commonplace
things,
And the flower that blooms, and the bird
that sings;
But dark were the world and sad our lot
If the flowers tailed and the sun shone not;
And God who studies each separate soul
Oat oi commonplace lives makes his beau
tiful whole. ChriiUan Union
be lully $150,000 per mile, owing to tho
large extent of tunneling to be done and
the height of the viaducts and embank
ments to be formed. The summit of
the range will be reached in about nine
teen miles from Adelaide, and at an al
titude of some 1,600 feet above sea level,
and here a Btation, to be named after th9
range, will be located. The ruling
gradient, one in forty-five, will be be
tween Government Farm and this point
and the descent from the summit to the
Aldgate point will be by a similar gradi
ent.
'lain. Une day there svas to DC a lawn
party at the bishop's, and sue promised
to meet Archie there. She was sitting
esting under a great onk, when she
saw him coming toward her. A gentle,
man was with him. whom she recog
ni zed at a glance; she had introduced
What was Archie going to do to her?
She felt almost like crying ; but she stood
bravely up as they advanced, and in
her white muslin dress, with roses at
her waist and throat, she made a very
lovely picture.
" (iood-atternoon, (Jou sin Jiate."
"Cousin Archie, good-afternoon."
" Kate, this is my friend. Mr. Henry
Crowther."
She t-lushed violently, but she did not
lose her self-possession. "I have met
Mr. Crowther before, once, when I was
on a little private masquerade, and as
sumed the character ot his sister. I
hone I am forgiven
11 1 had a sister, she would have been
honored by the assumption. Since the
momentary favor I have never ceased to
regret mv want."
They sat long under the pleasant
shade, and in the evening rode slowly
home together under the July moon
Before they parted both had acknowL
edtred to their hearts an interest that
might be a dearer tie man even mat oi
brother and sister.
For a few weeks Harry Crowther was
constantly coming with Archie to call
on the Leslies, either for one pretext or
another. Than he began to come by
himself, and to come without any pre
text at all. It had been long evident to
Archie that Harry and Kate loved each
other very dearly, and at last even the
dim eyes of her grandfather began to
perceive how matters stood.
"tt-iity, ne saia, one nigm, alter
waiting patiently through a "good
night" that lasted an hour and a halt
Kitty, why does Harry crowther come
here so ottenr"
Because we do not believe in writ
ing, grandfather. Love-letters once
nearly cost me my life ;" and leaning
tondly on her granoiatner s necK, nitty
told him the fault of which she had
been guilty, and the pain and shame it
had caused her.
Never pavs. Kitty, to do evil that
good may come ; the price is too high."
" xou lorgive me, granuiatnerr"
"Yes. Kitty, with all my heart."
"Harry has forgiven me too. You
see, alter taking his name in test, it is
right 1 make the amend honorable by
taking it in earnest. So, grandfather,
if vou will let me. I am going to be
Mrs. Crowther instead ot Miss Crow
ther. May Harry ask you to-morrow P"
" Yes, he may ask me. He has asked
you. I suppose P"
"Oh. yes."
"And we are to have a wedding, and
no love-letters. I never heard of such
a thing,
"A wedding, and no love-letters.
grandfather. Love-letters are slow and
old-fashioned, and very dangerous. We
have adopted visits nnd telegraphs in
their place."
The far West seems already tolerably
well supplied with means of livelihood
for the scores of millions that will soon
dwell there, but a new one has recently
been mentioned in the California Acad
emy of Scien ;e. The gum which exudes
from the creosote plant is known to
commerce as shellac, from which are
made sealing-wax, varnish and the
scarlet lac tlye used for dyeing the
British red military coats. The plant is
as thick as sage brush, from Southern
Utah to New Mexico, and from the
Colorado desert to Western Texas, but
chiefly plenty on the Mojave and Col
orado deserts. Calcutta exports $5,000-
000 worth of shellac a year, which
brings from twenty-five to thirty-five
cents a pound, and almost as much of
lac dye, selling still higher. The United
States have imported in some years
700,000 pouuds of shellac alone. Yet it
is all over the West, and can be so easily
collected that boys could carry on the
business of gathering it. Probably this
product will now receive attention in
commerce.
After being bled, the defunct porkers
are carried to the side of the room and
srranged methodically in a row. They
are then covered with Btraw, which is
set on fire and the short bristles quickly
burned off. After a thorough scorching
the pigs are carried into the dressing
room.liungup on hooks, and scraped
by means of a sort ot drawing knife,
handled by askillful operator, who per
forms his work at the rate of about one
pig a minute. Then the bodies are
washed and the entrails taken out and
cleaned.
Every part of the animal is utilized in
Taris, and that which the American
throws away as worthless is made to
subserve some use in the Frenchman's
economy. The pig's blood is used in
the manulacture ot the large oiacK sau
sage3 which meet with sujh extensive
sale in Paris. The long bristles are
pulled out by hand and go to the brush
maker.
The Culture of the Rose.
Every rose will not come from the
slip. Of the three great divisions into
which the rose iamuy is separated, viz..
the damask, the noisette and the tea, the
last two may be propagated with more
or less readiness irom me sup, or by
budding; the first only by dividing the
roots, nnd planting the seed, which lat
ter method is resorted to, however, only
when it is uesireu to ontain new varieties.
The best season for taking rose bIips
is in June, ju3t alter tho proluse bloom
oi early summer is ever, although a per
son who knows exactly how to cut a
slip may find good cuttings throughout
the warm months. Judgment and dis
cernment are needed for the selection at
all seasons. I know a generous lady
who sent her friends immense armfuls
of boughs, with hardly a real cutting
upon them.
Une should cnoose irom a good vigor
ous branch of last year's growth a fresh
shoot, containing two or three buds,
such as will always be found more or
less swollen at the base ot the leaf stems.
It should be cut from the parent branch
diagonally, with a smooth, clean cut
that will bring off a little of the old bark
as well, in order to make the condition
as favorable as possi bie lor the formation
of roots.
Have ready a box or pot of rich mold.
With a round, pointed stick, make a
hole several inches deep, nnd fill it up
with clean sand ; insert the end ot the
slip in this s md to the depth ot one or
two inches ; be sure to make it arm in
the sou. and the sand acting as a perco
lator lor moisture, you may keep youi-
slip well watered, x ou can soon see, by
the swelling oi me ouqs and me drop
ping off of the old leaves, whether the
slip is indeed taking root, but do not at
tempt to remove it to me place where
you would wish it permanently to re
main, until it has put out several sets of
new leaves.
An ingenious way to raise a set of slips
has been recommenued oy Mrs. L-ouaon,
which we have tried with unvarying
success. It is to take an earthenware
flower pot, gallon-size, and fill it more
than hall lull oi Drokea potshreds. Deb,
bles. bits oi siate or such things : now
set in the middle, on top ot these re
fuse materials, another similar flower
pot, half-pint size, with the hole at its
bottom E topped up tightly with a cork
let its mouth be even with that of the
large, outer one nil up the interstices
with silver sand or other pure sand.
and set in a row of slips all around, cut
The steady decrease in the population
of France, as indicated by the gradual
fal''inz off in the birth rate, is again at
tracting considerable attention in that
country. In 1878 the number of births
was below the average of the four
previous years. In 1bi1 the average
was 2.0'J per cent. ; in 1868 it had suuk
to 2.63, and since then a further decline
took place, until in 1878 it had fallen to
2.53. The birth rate of France is, in
deed, much 'ower than in any other
European country. Ihe highest rate is
that of the German empire, where, ac
cording to the latest returns, it was 4 03
per cent. In Russia the rate is 3 93. and
in Austria 3.ui per cent, while in Eng
land in 1877 it was J.bi per cent, ine
causes assigned lor tho low rate in
France are the fewer number of mar
riages and the great decline in thenum-
ber ot children resulting irom tnese
marriages. The proportion oi children
to each marriage is dwindling more and
more each ye r throughout ranee,
with the exception of Brittany and
some of the departments in the center
and Bouth, where the agricultural popu
lation is under the system ot co-opera
tive farming. Among thepetty trades
men and the well-to-do peasants mere
is seldom more than one child per mar
riage; and in some parts of the country
the average is even less than this. To
a certain extent tne decrease in popu
lation is kept in check by the deorease
in the mortality.
The Czar's Grandson.
Mrs. Lucy Hooper in one of her Paris
letters says : Sometimes one hears lit
tle things fbout the Czar 'of Russia
which makes one inclined to pardon
Nihilism and to comprehend the dyna
mite plots. Tne other day i went to
visit a very charming old lady, who is
an American, and who has lived tor
many years in Europe. Whilst turn
ing over the pages of her photograph
album, 1 came across me portrait oi a
child, a boy of some six or eight years
of age, so singularly beautiful that my
attention was at once interested, ine
little fellow was dressed in a Knicker
bocker suit of black velvet, with his
fair hair cut Holbein-wise over his
brow, and a lovlier or nobler image ot
healthful boyhood never gladdened a
parent's heart. On my making some
exclamation of admiration, my friend
produced several other photographs or
the same child, remarking at the same
time that the picture, so lar irom ex
aggerating his beauty, hardly did it
A Dinner in Tokio.
Very strange dishes came upon the
hoard at our dinner at the hotel in
Tokio. A. preliminary pipe of mild
tobacco was handed around. The
tobacco was too mild an affair alto.
gether to take the edge oft one's appe
tite, if intended for that purpose. The
first course consisted of sweetmeats,
served upon lacquered plates. The
whole meal;wasot a Frenchified charac
ter. Balls of golden, scarlet, and green
jellies were among the things in this
dish; rice, flour, and sugar made up
the constituents of the other parts of it.
Saki (rice spirit) and the ever-present
tea were then served round. The second
courso consisted of soup, into which
were shredded hard-boiled eggs. This
was served in bowls.but without spoons.
I had, however, my purchased spoon,
fork, and knife always with me, and so
escapod trouble. Then came a very
strange dish; it was a collop cut from a
living fish wriggling on the sideboard.
The Jap are a great fish-eating folk,
and this raw fish-eating is quite com
mon. The steak cut for Bruce from the
living ox, told of in his Abyssit ian
travels, occurred to one's memory.
The live tidbit is supposed to be eaten
with the Japanese " Soy" a sauce that
makas everything palatable but I let
mv portion ot it pass. It is not possible
to comply with all Japanese fashions at
once. Time is necessary to the acquire
ment of taste. Cooked fish was next
served, and that in great variety, in
cluding shell-fish. A sort of lime or
small lemon was used as the flavoring
to this dish. Then came boiled beans.
with ginger roots, and some fried fish
and horseradish. To follow that carno
boiled fish and clams, the latter cut up.
and served with pears. Rice in teacups
followed, and then a salad, and the
dishes were ended. The hot saki and
teacups were sent round after each
course. The health of our landlord was
proposed in Japanese, and drunk m saki.
lie then rose to reply. I thought that
he would never have done bowing be
fore he began to speak. He appeared
to s peak very well, and easily. Harper's
xoung recpie.
ITEMS OF IJfTEUEST.
Hard to beat An old carpet.
There arc 15,000 washwomen in
Paris.
When tea was first introduced into
England it sold for fifty dollars a
pound.
Mr. Paul Bruncllo, of Putnam, Conu.,
has made a walking-cane, which con
tains 649 pieces of wood, no two of the
same kind.
Tho bovs of the Boston public schools
are instructed in military drill, and an
nually have a street parade, with a re
view by the mayor.
Wo have yet to see the telephone that
will give an intelligent reply to the
question : " Can you square that little
account to-oay, old manr urcanfam
Table.
The Bubscrihcr who wants to know
what is the most difficult thing to raise
on a farm is informed that the farmer's
son will fill the bill pretty well about
six A. M.
Somebody has discovered that cats
can't live at a greater elevation than
13,000 feet, therefore back shods should
be built 13,500 feet high. Binghamton
Bepublican.
The editor of the Albany Arms has a
dog which catches fish by submerging
her head nnd taking them with her
mouth. She does this purely for sport,
and does not eat or eyen hurt the fish.
Vanderbilt is worth over fifty millions.
He can go to the first church strawberry
festival of the season, treat half a dozen
youug ladies, and have enough money
left for next morning's marketing.
Norrislown Herald.
Take a bran new straw hat, drop it
into the cylinder of a threshing ma
chine, and when it has been run out on
to the straw stack by the carrier, you
have the latest style ladies' hat. Water
loo Observer.
The registrar of the Philadelphia
board of health refuses to ibsue burial
permits unless the physicians who sign
the certificates of death can exhibit a
lawful diploma, qualifying them for the
practice of medicine.
There are about fifty different editions
of the Bible known as the " Breeches
Bible," from tho use of tho word
breeches " instead ot aprons m ien.
HI. 7; and the market value oi copies
ranges from $5 to $15, according to
condition.
Tho largest hog in the country is a
Poland China, four years old last spring,
lately on exhibition at Junction City,
Kansas, nis length is seven feet, girth
of neck six and a half feet, girth of chest
seven and one-eighth leet, girtii oi cen
ter eight feet, width acros3 tho hip
thirty inches, and weighs 1,533 pounds.
In Behring island the Swedish Arctic
explorers claim to have discovered the
luture fairy larm oi tne remote jmu-i,
and say that anglers who have used up
the European rivers may there find ex
cellent sport. The rivers abound in
trout and salmon too unaccustomea
to human enemies to bo afraid of
them.
The 'Roll Uengol Tagger."
Rocky Mountain Nights.
Now and then, on the plains, coyotes
ventun close to camp, and, if they arc
very hungry, even corao to the fireside
in search oi mem, nnu pmiips uneuipi,
to gnaw tho straps off tho saddle or
hoots your weary head reclines upon.
Foiled in this, they adjourn to a respect
ful distance and set up prolonged nnd
lugubrious howls, which either keep
you awake altogether or attune your
dreams to some horrible theme. Per
haps I ought not to use the plural, since
one cayote's voice is capable of noisj
eilOUgll U bUIUUlIVwU WUUID POVB, "
doubt it Olton Happens umi wiieu a
score 6eem howling in shrill concert.
there is really but a single won raining
his ouick-repeated and varied cries upon
our unwilling ears. Thesesmall wolves
are justly despised oy an western men,
but the big gray wolves are a different
matter. However, I never saw them
but once.
While cougars and wolves and coy
otes, and even Mexican burros, are rare
Infringers on the sacrea privacy ui
your sleep, numerous small deer come
to investigate the curious stranger who
lias stretched himseu out in meir u-
main. Kattlesnakesareexiremeiy num-
I git the new cage done, but this is
.n;n n tho ii.0iinnl .Kna i.?: ci.ohoiA r kr mooiin. wo 8ume cage which me oine iener
Keep thelnner pot full of water all the W toy and ther Swit- fto"
time, DUt do not water tue sups directly, zeriand.
The child was the son oi tho Grand
Duke Alexis of Russia, the mother be
ing his secretly-wedded wife. By com
mand ot the czar the husband and who
were separated, and tho latter was
forced, not only to consent to a divorce,
but to marry anotner man. " now
could you consent?" asked my friend
when the unhappy lady related her
story. The eyes of the speaker filled
in about six weeks your slips will have
fine roots, and can be potted. A hand
glass always hastens the process of root
ing, and enables you to take advantage
of the sunshine, but if you are not pro
vided with one, De careiui to keep your
plants in the shade until they show cer
tain signs of independence of life.
Roses need very ncii sou to bring
them to perfection, thriving best in a
mixture ot weii-roueo manure, sand and
garden loam, and to stint them ol nour
ishment is indeed poor economy.-
Scrtbner.
i . . i -. i
rrr , . . . . T , flinH nvrniHnv nans ui iun 11 cab. auu
j.uese are uiuu uounny s ODeerva- i r --. . ,
Hnna nn the " Roil Bonirol Tairirer n we Used to loar that, wun tueir wvu
communicated to the San FFacoisco warmth, they would seek tne s neiter
niirht: but I do not know of any such
hnri fellow having been
found by any of tho survey people. I
myself came pretty near to it, however,
nnu. nn Pnoholnnn riPplf. in Colorado.
nB nicrhh. when 1 unwittingly sprcvu
my blankets over a small hole in the
ground. I snoozed on, unmindful ot
danger, but when I moved my bed In
tho morning, out irom me uoie twi
a hncm ivitH-r whose OOUrWM X l
stopped up all night! He would petter
have stayed in, for big John, of Oregon,
caught him by the tail and broke his
Rtnniri tinck. beforo he had time to
throw himself into a coil of vantage
for the strife. Scnbner.
t I... .,r......w,. ,.,an n 4 thnin f.. .i I i ,' ,w, 11 I
Then tl.H f.ilksthflv would ol stand Dutch tOmplimenlS.
back and toek in whispers while the iou would never meet a peas.-uiiui
tagger Blep. But one day a feller wich village girl upon me roao wnuoui imv
Aroonaut t One time there wis a man
who had a tagger, and the tagger it was
a sho, and the man ho tuke the money
for to get in. The man he had a big
paper nailed onto the tagger's den. and
the paper it said, the paper did ; "The
Roil Bengol Tagger, sometimes cald
the Monerk of the Jungle. Hands of.
No Techin the Tagger!" The monerk
of thejungle it was always a layia'
down with its nose tween its poz. and
the folkcs wich had p lid for to get in
thay was mad cos it wudent wock and
rore like dissent thunder. But the
sho man he said : " That's ol rite when
was drunk he tuke to punohin the tag
ger with the masthead ot his urn ber !
ing a cheeriui '-good any irom tnem,
and if there were many of you they
ler. wich Btampeedcd the oddience hvould notonly say "Goedrndag" inthe
The carriage-uiaker never tires. Tho
blacksmith does that for Llm.Jiogton
Tiantcrtpl.
San Francisco has. within the past
fe v years, invented $85,000,000 in mines
by the assessment process, and from
tueso mines less than $5,000,000 have
been received as dividends.
with tears and her lips quivered. " It
was for mv son's sake." she whispered.
and then she said do more, being evi
dently still Dot wholly freed from the
toils of the " eiant spider of the North,''
as Whittier once called the czar in one
of h ,s fervent lyrics on freedom.
A well-known field officer A kernel
of corn.
wild, and the wimmen folks thay stud
onto chairs and hollered like it was a
mouse, but the drunk chap he kep a
.lo'obiu tne monerk ot the jungle crewel
T . A A ll.. 1 . ' J I 11 .
Pretty Bune the monnerk it bellered
ofllo and riggled, but the feller kep a
siugular, but they would give you a
complex and plural greeting: "Dag
drie," if you were three ; " uag vier, h
y ou were lour ; that is to say : " Good
day to tho three oi you, gouu uuy iu
the lour ol you," and "iag zamun.
pokin like f.e was a fireman to a steam which means "good day together," it
enirin. Ilimelw t.bfl mnnnprlr it. inmr.l there were but tWO. Sometimes a
U. lino fjnta or.,1 ilmnbj Itaolf I rnfviiiali hriv (thei'H RT8 BUCU itt everV
out of its skin and rolled up its sleefs I country) will salute a traveler who is
and knitnntn Its hands and Rnnlin nn I irning alone with a donkey or a dog with
andsed: " Blame if I c tn't jest whof- Lis "Dagzamen," but we must not
lip the stuflin' out o' the garioot wich grudge people their harmless joke, and
has ben a proddin this ere tagger!" this one is too mouenoive wn-
And !he oddience thay was astonish! I body. Heart of liodam.