A.
" I ..l M m I HI. !! I , i, i i WW I I I,,! i .-..y -m J- m.m. f--- fl it T f nt' t'"J mlQMJMl1" I ' I tj I . . .1. , , . , I. II I I 11 I. I I . II I. II
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher Nllj DESPEll ANDtJM. Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. X. RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY v PAM THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1880. NO 29.
Shadow Land.
For I ram the world that we live in to-day
Shadow land lies ;
None know how far it is, none know the way,
What are Its boundaries no one can say,
Only surmisff;
No one in life has sot foot on that shore,
Formed lroin the wreck ol the sad nevermore.
Memory governs this shadowy land,
Keiirainir flnnrnmn
Ofttiraej there comes at her word olJ command
Forms we have known lrom the lar distant
strand,
Faint a I a dream;
Forms of those dear in the days which have
flown,
Forms of jboloved ones in life's morning known.
With thorn they bring long lost scenes ot the
pa-it,
Back to onr view;
Pictures ot IricndBhips not destined to last,
Loves that grew weak 'neath adversities' blast
Painted anew;
Ridges anil ripplei i ni'j shit ting snnd,
Hidden till now in the far shadow land'
Tintlcii Maaazine.
LINK BY LINK.
The shower was ended. A brisk
western breeze was rapidly tearing nway
the gr7 thuuder-elouds from the face
ol the J une sky, and the sun shone down
with renewed fervor.
"'As hot as 'twas before the rain!"
exclaimed Mrs. Curtis', as she opened
her parasol and leisurely stepped liom
the Ileywood drygoods store in which
site had, half an hour before, taken
shelter from the storm.
" Yes, it U nia'aat." said Mr. Brown,
the proprietor, handing her the bundles
she had boupht from him, and he
added : " You'll have a hot walk under
this hrilin'-hot sun. Better run in to out
house an' stay ter tea. You hain't seen
the twins yet.. Smartest little critters
ever was. Mrs. Brown's gettin' on
finely and will bo glad to see you."
" Thanks ; I'd like to, but I must
hurry home and can my currants. Be
sides, I wouldn't undertake that long
walk through the pine wood after
dark for anything in the world. It's
gloomy enough in the daytime. Give
my respects to your wife; tell her I'll
drop in soon and see her and the babies.
Good day,"
"Gooa-day," said Brown, and he
added, as he saw Mrs. Curtis hurrying
down the street, " Queer critter!"
Yes, by ail the inhabitants of Hey
wood. Mrj. Curtis was called peculiar,
the was upwards of fifty years, tall and
erect, with iron-gray hair, ruddy checks
and keen, dark eye. And decidedly she
was a person that nr nderi her own busi
ness. She had lived iu Haywood over
live ycarH, yet in all that time not a sin
gle person had been able to gleam any
information concerning her past life.
All that eouid be ascertained was that
she was a widow, childless and with a
little pi opnrty, consisting of a comfort
able cottage surrounded Tby a few acres
of land, and with a few hundred dollar
in the Haywood bank.
Meanwhile, Mr. Brown returned to
his counter to wait on a customer, and
Mrs Curtis pursusd her journey home
ward. For some distance her road led
along the dusty highway, then she
turned into a little footpath through the
daisj-dotted meadow, then across the
creek bridge, until presently she came to
the dense vine woods whose shade was
very pleating to her.
When about half way through the
woods filie came to a small patch ci late
strawberries. She stooped to pick them.
Her brown, hard-working hands were
nearly full of the Jmeious red berries,
when a rustling and a footstep startled
her. She hastily glanced up. In an
iiidtant an iron-like hand was clutching
her throat, and only the frightened,
wild wood birds could toil the rest!
About two miles from the village of
Hey wood, and on the. banks of Briar
Creek dwelt Peter Groat. He was' a
German, who, with his family, had
lately come to America, and in the
previous autumn had bought a few
acres of land bordering the creek. Here
he had creeled a small but comfortable
house, ard was, to all appearances, an
honest, hardworking man. The only
thing that could be said against him bv
a few grumblers was that he was too
"close," clinging tightly to his hard
earned pennies, and ever on the lookout
for more. But this was certainly ex
cusable when it was known that ho had
a mortgage on his farm, which together
with the want of a rapidly increasing
family, was enough to make any man
greedy ot gain.
It was the evening of the day on
which our story began. Peter, sur
rounded by his wife and children, sat
placidly smoking his pipe on the littlo
grass plot in front of house.
The supper had been'caton, the cows
milked, the pigs fed, the chickens
housed from thievisli ruts, and all the
family, young and old, felt entitled to a
season of rest. Hans and Fritz wero
turning somersaults on the soft grass ;
Gretchen, the flaxen-haired lassie, was
feeding' a pet robin; Franz the six
months baby, was cuddled up to his
mother's breast, contentedly smacking
his lips over his evening muaU
The sua went down; the shadows
deepened The clock in the distant vil
lage struck the hour of eight. Peter
Groat rose, shook the ashes from his
pipe, and said:
Come, kinder, it is late. The dew
is falling, and let's to bed."
"Vater! vater!" suddenly cried Hans
and Fritz, running up from the gate,
" there is tvmun coining in our yard a
stranger!"
Peter slowly sauntered down to meet
the new comer.
Ha was a a elderly man, with a tanned
and rugged face, sandy hair sprinkled
with gray, and dark, deep set eyes,
somewhat inilamed. His clothes were
of good material, although worn and
dusty with travel. In his haud he car
ried a large satchel.
"Good-evening," he said, courte
ously. " Evening to you, sir." replied Peter
Groat.
" I'm a peddler," said the man.speak
ing in German. " I have sold nearly
ail ray goods, and am on my way back
to New York. I got left by the train
and undertook to walk to the next sta
tion. I lost my way and find that I
will have to get lodgings lor tho night.
Cau you help mer"
"The good book commands us to
how hospitality," 8id Peter. " And
although we are not rich, we never yet
turned away a benighted traveler. So,
come in, and my frau shall get you
something to eat."
The table was soon spread with a
neat, white cloth upon which was
placed a platter of cold boiled meat,
garnished with vegetables, then a plate
of white bread, a roll of butter, a dish
of shining black raspberries and a plate
of spicy ginger cookies,
"Ifeel too dirty to sit down to a
decent table," said the traveler, with a
smile. " May I trouble you for a basin
of water P"
It was brought. As he took off his
coat preparatory to washing his face
and hands, Gretchen, who stood beside
him witli a fresh towel in her hands,
uttered a slight scream.
" Blood !" she cried. " There's blood
onyour sleeves!" .
The basin of water fell from the
stranger's hands. His face shone white
through the glistening drops of water he
had dashed upon it. Then with an ef
fort, he said, carelessly:
"Ah, yes; thrse rocks by the creek
made quite a gash in my Bhoulder. You
s e," blandly explaining, " while I was
lost I thought I'd try to cross the creek.
It was getting dark, and when I reached
the other side, I found it so rocky that I
could scarcely climb up. I got halfway,
then a sudden misstep made me fall. A
sharp piece of rock pierced my shoulder,
and, indeed, it has caused me consider
able pain."
"Acli, too bad!" said Frau Groat.
" I have a soothing lotion Which you
may put on before you go to bed."
"Thanks. And I'll goto bed right
after I've had my supper, if you please,
for I am very tired. Besides, I will
have to rise early to-morrow morning,
so that I may take the first train."
The next morning the whole family
was up in time to see their guest depart.
Ho partook with good appetite of Frau
Groat's breakfast of ham and eggs; he
listened quietly and with seeming rev
erence to his host as he read a chapter
lrom the old, black German Bible and
offered up the usual morning prayer;
then, just as he was ready to start, be
inquired what he Bhould pay for his
board and lodging.
"Oh, notings notings! You are
woleome to the bed and the bite!" said
Groat, hortily .
" You're very kind," said the stranger .
" But I feel that I ought to repay you in
some way. See here" opening his
satchel "if you will not let me give
money, pray do me the kindness of ac
cepting these little tokens of gratitude.
Here, Frau Groat, are two pairs of
stockings that would just fit your busy
feet, and here, Gretchen, is a bran new
piece 01 calico, more than enough for a
dre3S. They are the only things I did not
sell, end I do not care to lug them home
again."
The two women accepted his gifts with
much pleasure, and, with mutual ex
pressions ol good luck, the traveler and
his kind entertainers parted. The for
mer wore a blue-cheeked shirt of Peter
Groat's. He left his own behind him.
telling Frau Groat that it was too soiled
fur wearing, but that she might keep it
in exchange for the one she had given
tin. As the stranger's shirt was of ex
cellent material, with linen hosom and
cuffs, tho worthy dame thought she had
tnacie good a rmrgam.
IAAAU.UA Mi(,JDUllt l AClAAlAi;! All LUC
vicinity of Ilevwood, missed one of his
cows that Friday night, and eariy on the
loiiowing morning set out to make
seuch for her. Ho hunted through the
meadow lands, followed the course of
the creek quite a way. and finallv enter
ed the pine woods. When about half
way through, a brown object lying on
tho grass a little distance from him, at
tracted ms attention, iiewenttoit. It
was a large piece of wrapping paper, and
a long bit of twine was lying beside it.
The paper was damp with drew, and, as
Greyson carelsssly turned it over in his
hand, he observed some red spots on it.
He examined them more closely. They
were the bloody prints of a thumb and
lingers'
lie looked around him keenlv. He
soon noticed that the bank of ferns bor
dering the path was, in one tdace.
crushed and broken . He followed these
marks ; they led him to the densest and
ni03t unfrequent part of the woods, and
there, in a hollow, almost covered with
low unaerbrusii, lay tho body of a
woman. It was Mrs. Curtis, lying
stiff and stark, with a bloody gash across
her throat !
Two hours later, a party of men was
haunting the leafy labyrinths of the
pine woods. They were endeavoring to
had the trail of tho murderer.
An hour passed and they had met
with no success. Some of them had
gathered together for the purpose of con
sultation, when suddenly a cry from
one of their companions, who was a lit
tle distance from them, attracted their
attention.
"See what J have found!" he cried
holding up a spool of thread. It was
dirty and dingy, nnd wet with dew; but
Mr. Brown, the merchant, who was
with the party, recognized it at once, he
said 1
"It's one of the spools poor Mrs.
Curtis bought- of me yesterday. It's
pink, you see. She was real particular
about tho color. She was piecing a
chair cushion, and wanted the right
shade. Now, it's evident that the vil
lain who murdered her took this route
through the woods. See how the ferns
are crushed dew this way. Hurry,
we've got a clew now!"
The trail led them out of the woods
into the meadow, and opened right into
tho yard of Peter Groat. They were
going around to the back door to knock,
and ask if any of the inmates had seen a
stranger lurking about the premises,
wheu Mr. Brown chanced to look in the
window.
A look of extreme consternation over
spread his ruddy face.
"My God!" he cried, "see there!"
All turned and looked in the window.
The room was unoccupied. The
clock ticked cheerfully in one corner.
A cat was cozily curled upon a chair
cushion, purring contentedly. But on
the table in the centre of the room lay
two pairs ol stockings, and near them,
half-unrolled, was a dresi pattern of
lilac calico.
That calico!" said Mr. Brown, im
pressively" that calico is the identical
piece I sold sirs. Curtis yesterday after
noon. I should know it anywhere.
It's peculiar, you see a bunch of white
lilacs on a purple ground. It was all I
had. Besides, I should know the piece
because on one end there is about a half
a yard imperfectly printed, which has
holes in it, too. I remember I let Mrs.
Curtis have it a bit cheaper on that ac
count. Now Peter Groat knows where
the murderer is, or" solemnly and
nlowly " ho did the deed hiuiseli l"
Tan party of men weht silently and
soberly to the back-door. And here thev
were horrified in finding fresh evidence
Frau Groat was engaged in washing
a blood-stained shirt!
They sternly asked her to whom it
belonged, but the poor woman, who
could no speak Englisti, could only look
at them in a frightened way.
Her husband now came in from the
garden, and him they sternly interroga
ted, while some of the more impetuous
boldly accused him of the murder of the
unfortunate Mrs. Curtis.
His frightened face, his confusion, his
incoherent utterance, his trembling de
nials were only so much more against
him. Besides, he knew scarcely any
more English than did his wife, and
later, when calm, his story of the
traveler who had stooped at his house
was received with disbelief and derision.
Poor, friendless and a stranger, things
looked very dark against him.
Weeks passed; his trial came. He
was sentenced to b e hanged !
Rev. Mr. Marshall, rector of St. John's
church, Brookdale, a village some two
hundred miles distant from Heywood,
wa3 in his study one September morn
ing, 1878. He was suffering out an at
tack of influenza which he had taken
the night before while on a visit .to a
sick parishoner. Consequently comply
ing with his wife's request that lie
should do no studying or writing, Mr.
Marshall was lazily stretched on ae
loungo in front of a cherry lire.. His
eight year old son Tom was in room,
every now and then running up to his
father with some request. At last one
was: " Papa, it's Saturday, how shall I
spend the day P Wish I had a kite ! Do
you know how to make one, papaP"
"I used to, Tom. I don't know
whether I've forgotten how to do it or
not. Give me the newspaper on the
table, please, and the scissors. Then
run out iu the woodshed and get me
soma of those sticks on the shelf, also a
hammer and small nails. Stay, don't
be in such a hurry ; ask Hannah to
make a little flour paste."
Tom hurried away, and while waiting
for him to return, his father glanced
over the columns of the newspaper he
was cutting. It was one that his friend,
Mr. Brown, of Heywood, had sent him.
his eyes chanced to fall on these words:
"The German. Peter Groat, who
murdered Mrs. Curtis, has been sen
tenced to bo hung on the second Friday
in next month. Groat, althougn a stran
ger, was supposed to be a respectable
man and one not at all capable of per
petrating such a horrible crime. But
tho evidences of his guilt are most con
clusive. The morning after the murder
his wife was found washing a bloody
shirt, also a knife stained with blood
was found hidden near a woodpile. Be
sides goods belonging to the murdered
woman were found in Groat's house.
The only thing missing is a curious old
snuff-box of some black wood, quaintly
carved in the shape of a toad. Her name,
Hepsibah Curtis, is engraved inside.
But without this, the evidence is strong
enough to hang him."
" Poor fellow ! " murmured Mr. Mars
hall, as he laid down the paper. " It
makes one dread to read the news one
comes across so many horrors."
"Papa! papa! you needn't mind about
the kite now!'' cried Tom, rushing in
with shining eyes. Uncle George just
called me over to his house he is going
fishing, and says he will take mo along.
May 1 go?
" If mamma is willing."
" She is. I asked her. And I've
been digging grubs and tish-worms
for bait, you know. But see what a
nice bait-box I've got."
" An old snuff-box. Where did you.
get it?"
" Myron Mason gave it to me."
"Who is Myron Mason?"
" Oh, a new man Uncle George got
to work in his garden. He's gathering
pears and trenching the celery. Myron
was a tramp ho caruo along, but he is
real nice. The box is nice, too. See
what a' funny shape it is!"
"Atoad. Quick! Let me see, Tom!"
Mr. Marshall had not olosely ob
served tho box until now, and it was
with trembling lingers that ho opened it
"Hepsibah Curtis" was the name en
graved on the inner cover!
Mr. Marshall's face was white, but
his vr xe was calm, as ho said :
'"1". just run over and tell your
Uncle Gaorge to como over here a few
minutes I want to talk with him on a
little business."
Three days later Myron Mason, alias
Jasper Armand, was arrested for the
murder of Mrs. Curtis.
He made no resistance; he told no
falsehoods; he simply confessed the
whole affair, slating that he had mur
dered the woman out ot revenge. Ten
years before the two had lived in a
distant town. He had always been
wild and dissolute, but had been tho be
trothed of Mrs. Curtis' sister, a gentle
and lovely woman. Mrs. Curtis had
opposed the match, knowing that it
would cause her sister a life of misery.
Also, finding that Armand. belonged to
a gang of counterfeiters, she promptly
gave evidence against him.
He was condemned to ten years' im
prisonment. This he bore patiently,
mentally vowing that, when released,
he would at once wreak vengeance on
the woman who had foiled his plans
and blighted his life.
When the time was expired and the
Erison doors opened to let him pass out,
e found that the woman he loved was
dead, and that the woman be hated was
living in lley wood. Thither he went.
He hid seen Mrs. Curtis go to town,
had concealed himself in the woods to
await her return. He did not take the
articles she carried merely lor the sake
oi robbery, but to have suspicion point
its finger at some other party. At the
conclusion of his confession, he said that
he had no desire ot concealing it any
longer. His life was mado wretched by
iheTiorrible crime he had committed,
and death and exposure were njt un
welcome. The next day after his con
finement in the jail he was found dead
in his cell. He had ended his life by
poison.
As lor Peter Groat he was at once re
leased, and all the inhabitants of Hey
wood strove to express their regret and
regard for him, but to these Peter only
shook his head, saying:
" He did not care for to live in a blace
where de folks vas so ready to plieve
him a pad man!" So he sold his little
home, packed his goods, and. with his
wife and children, moved to the Far
West, where, it is to be hoped, in spite
of sweet charity's sake, he was more
careful in entertaining benighted travel
ers !
A v )'ve, sea ion is pro!
whiter,
icted for pcxt
timely Tericg,
James Iiedpalh, the New York Tri
bune correspondent in Ireland, says that
by the present system in Ireland 7,000
landlords get nut of the land $90,000,000
a year, and the government extracts
$33,000,000 more. This leaves orly
$50,000,000 to clothe and feed inhabi
tants. It is calculated that the Value of the
oyster sales in the United States for the
present year win reacn to aoout tue lol-
000; Baltimore, $30,000,000; Philadel
phia, $8,000,000; Norfolk. Va., $5,000,
000; Elsewhere in the United States,
$5,000,000. Total, $75,000,000.
The latest marvel in applied science
is the discovery by the inventor of the
Bell telephone and Sumner Taintor, of
Watertown, that " sounds can be pro
duced by the action of a variable light
from substances of all kinds, when in
the form of thin diaphrams." In other
words, a ray of light is substituted lor
the connecting wire, and sounds at one
station are reproduced at another.
When they shear sheep in Australia
they mean 'business, as may be imag
ined when tne nocks aggregate over two
hundred thousand. There are some men
there, proprietors of half a million sheep.
Edoes os Co.. ol JNewooutn Wales, urjon
one of their sheep farms at Burrawand,
had a sheep snearmg wmcn lasted ten
weeks, during which time no less than
206,133 sheep were shorn! To do this
work 100 shearers, in addition to the
"station hands, were employed, and in
a single day 8.216 sheep were deprived
of their fleeces. Theaggregate yield was
J sia bales, tne gross weignt ot which
was 400 tons. On previous occasions
the same part'es have shorn over 5115,
000 sheep : but the present has been the
largest amount of wool ever produced
at a single snearing.
A most remarkable series oi contribu
tions to science has been received from
the fishermen of Cape Ann. When the
U. S. Fish Commission had its head
quarters at Gloucester, in 1878, a general
interest in tne zoological work sprang
up among the owners of the fishing ves
sels, and eince that time they have been
vying with eacli other in efforts to find
new animals. The number of separate
lots received exceeds 800. At least
thirty fishing vessels now carry collec
tion tanks on every trip, and many oi
the fishermen, with characteristic sup
erstitution, have the idea that it insures
good luck to have a tank on board, and
will not go to sea without one. The
number of specimens acquired in this
manner is at least 60,000.
Probably there is no branch of Ameri
can manufactures that has made more
rapid strides during late years than the
manufacture of watches. A generation
ago the greater portion of watches worn
in this country were imported, whereas
at the present time the number received
from abroad does not exceed the num
ber of American watches exported. It
is claimed that the first watch manu
factured in this country for the trade
was made in Shrewsbury in 1781 by
Luther Goddard, a clockmaker, who
procured foreign workmen to make the
finer portion. The business continued
until 1781, when it was removed to
Worcester, Mass. One of the earliest
watches is now preserved by the Ameri
can antiquarian society at Worcester.
Waltham, Mass., is at present the Beat
of the American watch industry,
thougli time pieces of excellent quality
are turned out in various other locali
ties, and they are generally preferred to
the Swiss.
Electricity in the Human Body.
Most people are familiar with the
" spark" which may be produced under
certain conditions by stroking the fur
of a cat; end travelers in Canada and
other cold, dry countries have witnessed
the still more remarkable phenomenon
of the human body being turned into a
conductor of electricity, and tho possi
bility of lighting the gas by merely
placing one's finger given the neces
sary conditions of electrical excitement
near the gas jet, without any other
agency. Mr. A. W. Mitchinson, the
African traveler, who is engaged in
writing a narrative ol his exploring ex
peditions in Western Central Africa,
gives some still more startling facts,
life states that, one evening, when strik
ing an African native, in a moment of
anger, with a cowhide whip, he ivas
astonished to see sparks produced, and
still more surprised to find the natives
themselves were quite accustomed to the
phenomenon. He subsequently found
that a very light touch, repeated several
times, under certain conditions of bodily
excitement, and in certain states of the
atmosphere, would produce a succession
of sparks from the bodies of native men
as well as native cattle. A lazv negro.
it seems, yielded none of these signs of
electricity a rather unfortunate cir
cumstance for his more active brethren)
who may possibly come in lor a share
of undeserved flogging from the hands of
future travelers in search of electrical
phenomena among the human race.
We are not aware that these facts have
been recorded by other travelers, but
they certainly deserve thorough sifting
by competent observers.- London Lan
ctl. tare of Cut Flowers.
The following hints in regard to the
care of cut flowers, though containing
nothing novel, may be useful as re
minders to those who cull choice
flowers to decorate the home : Flowers
decay much'sooner when tied in bunches
than when arranged loosely. When
gathering flowers, use a pair of shears,
or a knife for woody plants, such as
roses, camellias, deutzias, fuchsias, and
the like. It is far better to gather your
flowers than to let them fade upon the
plants. A cool room is best adapted for
keeping flowers fresh. Take away each
flower as it fades, or it will destroy the
others. Hot water will often restore
flowers to freshness, even when every
p tal is drooping. Place the stems in a
cup of boiling hot water; let them re
main until each petal has smoothed;
then cut off the coddled ends and place
them in water of moderate temne? fit li ro
Ammonia added to the water will also
revive them quickly. When going for
wild flowers or ferns carry a close-fitting
tin box, and have a wet sponge and
a basket, the smaller flowers shut in the
box, and stems of larger flowers in
serted in me pores oi iuh sponge, which
you carry in the basket. Flowers
should always be transported, fn air-
TRiSON LIFE
Imilos-ment4, Vict niil Tricks of the
- Convicts at Anbum, N.I,
A letter from Auburn, N. Y says:
There are many "desirable situations"
even In a prison, and the strife among
convicts to secure these places is as
tonishing. The position of waiter is a
particularly good one . A waiter's duty
consists of taking care of the shop, office,
hall, or wing where employed. There
is but little to do, and the convict is
enabled to read, chew tobacco and talk
to his heart's content. A place as at
tendant in the hospital is one of the best
in the prison. The convict has many
opportunities to secure a dish of milk or
some delicacy purchased for the patient.
The men in the hospital live like kings,
so to speak, and enjoy many advantages
that ttie convicts in the shops never
know. The kitchen is a place much
sought after as the men can once in a
while make little dishes for themselves,
such as they would not otherwise ob
tain. There are convicts who have
more influence witli the officers than
would ba imagined, and not infrequently
they exercise it in securing"a position.
Gambling is carried on to a great de
gree. The convicts do not use cards, as
one would suppose those are too liable
to detection. They bet on events,
changes in the weather, the time of day,
and everything ot mat character, iney
also " odd andeven," " flip," " match,1'
" roll," " throw for th crack," nnd the
like. Convicts are not supposed to carry
money, but they do just the same, and
sometimes considerable sums. As they
are carefully searched and their clothing
taken trom tnem, tne men cannot take
money into the prison with them. They
obtain their money usually from friends
wno visit tnem.
They sew the money up in their cloth
ing, and it is seldom that it is discov
ered. Occasionally a man will be found
with ten or twenty dollars in coins in
his coat collar, or other parts of the
clothing. There are pawnbrokers and
money-lenders. These criminal Shy
locks are more exacting than the
"uncles" of the street. The convicts
"put up" some trinkets which they
mostly all have, or pledge something
else to get a few dimes or pennies.
Gambling is the great evil, but it is the
only exciting pastime the convicts have.
If a keeper or guard can be "bought"
the convicts will pay him a good salary
right along to perform services for them,
such as bringing in papers, tobacco and
edibles, and taking out letters. Some
convicts keep up a regular correspon
dence with friends outside. The letters
"pass through the underground," as the
officers term it. A convict prevails upon
the foreman of his shop, who is always
an outsider, or some citizen, as there art
many of them employed in the fine work
in the prison, to carry out his letters and
bring back the answer. Thus icttcrs go
in and out. The New York morning
papers reach Auburn at four o'clock in
tho afternoon, and the same afternoon,
and the same evening the convicts may
be found reading the news of the day
" on the sly " in their cells. How the
prisoners secure the papers is a mystery
to many. Tho foreman of the shops, or
perhaps tho officers, bring them in.
The convicts will give a grefit deal for
New York papers, and thev will have
thcin at any price. The prisoners keep
well posted on the events of the day,
and discuss with intelligence any sub
ject that is being treatedin the papers,
if there is one thing more than another
that a convict likes to do it is to
' trade.''
Tho men are bartering constantly,
and some get considerable " property,"
which, however, they must at all times
keep concealed. Not so very long ago
an enterprising convict established a
distillery in tho prison and engaged in
the manufacture of liquor, lie ex
cavated beneath a stone in the floor of
the kitchen, where lie was employed,
and set a small tub in the hole. With
hops used in making yeast and corn and
barley Used in making bread and soup,
he produced a potation that would in
toxicate. Drunkenness bc-cr.ms quite
prevalent, and finally tho distillery was
discovered and the "moonshiner "put
i'l the prison jail on bread and water.
While he ran the distillery he did well,
and would in a short time hare been
comparatively wealthy. " Beer," as it is
called, is made to this day from the
bread crusts, but the makers have to
exercise caution. One man raised a
quantity ot tomatoes on the window
sili of his shop, and sold the crop for a
large sum. Smoking, although strictly
prohibited, is indulged in at night after
the men are "locked." A spell ago' a
watch was taken from a man. The con
vict carried it in a leather bag sus
pended in his trousers' leg by means of
a string. The convicts pin things in
side tneir clothing to keep them lrom
the cilices, and carry knives and other
implements in their hats and shoes.
A Rat With a Collar.
Mr. J. Enthoffer, employed on tho
United States coast survey, has Contrib
uted a curiosltv to the Smitltsdniiirl in-
aULUtioil, which, if it adds nothing to sci-
entino knowledge, will be regarded with
ruu.li interest by all persons interested
in the habits and adventures of rats.
Mrs. Enthoffer had been annoyed for
some time by a persistent rat. She oc
casionally caught a glimpse of it, and
was surprised to see it wore wunt ap
peared to be a yellow collar. This fact
gave rise to much speculation in the
family as to how the rat came into pos
session of the collar. The mystery was
solved a few days ago when the rat
wearing the collar was caught in a trap
Unfortunately the rat was killed by a
dog, but upon examining the body it
Was found that the collar was a ring oi
bone fitting tightly around toe animal's
neck. The theory is that the rat when
it was small had found a bone, and
gnawing the center, pushed his bead
through, and was unable to extricate it
As he grew larger the ring of bone tight
ened about his neck, and he wore it until
his death as a badge of his enterprise in
tne search lor looa. wammgion acpuo
lican.
It is tho man with onlv one suit of
clothes and a small salary, my son. who
has to be polite and agreeable and a
rigid, faultless observer of the strictest
points and forms of etiquette. The man
worth $50,000 mav tramn on vour corns
walk across your wife's train and eat pie
witn a knife and it is all right; his
Bianuing m society isn't anected by it
But you don t vou. on vour Dresent
salary, attempt to drink soup out of the
side of your plate, if you want to marry
an heiress. You can't ,fford to act t hnt
wnv iuat. vof. JTi . i '
FUR THE FAIR SEX.
t,afllF' FM ami Vlner nrctiflji.
The earliest importations of French
dresses are made up of short dresses for
day wear, with very long trained skirts
for full dress; the medium demi-train
does not appear in the filet invoices.
Very rich fabrics that give the greatest
appearance of warmth are used, such ns
the polka-dotted velvets, brocaded vel
vet with large detached figure, and
plush, with clcth for plainer costumes)
the warmest colors' also appear in abun
dunce, especially in the accessories that
form trlm!?iing8, thougli many beautiful
costumes are shotffl in two tones of the
same color, especially w"heft heliotrope
or other purples are employed. The dull
copper reds are very stylish as an illu
mination for black ; heliotrope and lav
ender Bre also effectively used with
black. The satin employed for draperies
is very soft, and is called Surah satin,
though its lustrous surface requires close
weaving that conceals the twills that are
the special feature of Surah silks. The
corsages of new dresses are made with
as few scams as possible, nnd are there
fore of the simplest shapes. The short side
forms of the back are used almost with
out exception, though some modistes still
prefer having wo side forms in the way
introduced by Worth several years ago,
Skirts of French dresses are fuller than
they have been made at any time sinca
short skirts were revived, thougli they
are not made in the classic shapes popu
lar here that depend so entirely upon
their fullness that drapery is dispensed
With. On tho contrary the first importa
tions show a great deal of - drapery very
bouffantly arranged, with scurf sashes
that pass around the figure, and give the
fullness of paniers below the hips. In
deed, cash effects are given in many
ways, not only with the gay fabrics of
trimmings, but with whole breadths of
the dress material that are draped quite
straight, or elso doubled at the lower
en without being cut apart, or perhaps
they form one mammoth bow on the
left side and a pointed corner on the
right. The front and bide gores arc
Clinging, and these are still made the
objective points for trimming. For in
stance, shirring, which has now ex
tended to heavy cloths, will cover the
upper half of the front and side gores,
while below this will be square points
of handkerchiefs, or receding scarfs
opened over plaited flounces, or perhaps
a series of scarls of satin will be
shirred at intsrvals across the tront
gore, and pass under brocaded side
breadths that are as flat as panels, but
which are faced with a contrasting
color of satin, velvet or plush, that
makes itself visible without being too
conspicuous.
The Jersey jacket worn during tho
summer has given suggestions for some
ol the new features ol cloth and camel's
hair costumes, and in some suits the
Jersey webbing, like stocking-net, is
U3ed for the clinging waists or polo
naises of such dresses. For instance, a
navy blue costume has a polonaise
luced behind made of Jersey webbing,
fitted by a middle scam in front, and
Uiiderarm seams without darts. The
collar and the sash drapery are of blue
plusfi lined with light yellow Surah,
while the skirt is blue clotli laid in kilt
pleats. Another costume, entirely of
blactt Das the Jersey polonaise oi wco
binz. without darts to which is at-
tacucd a kilt of biack camel's hair; a
.tali of polka-dotted black satin forms
the bouffant drapery, and conceals the
seam that joins the kilt to the polonaise.
1j?ss conspicuous than these dresses,
which are meant only for very young
ladies and misses, is the Jersey basque.
which is fastened in fint, but is based
pon the Jersey idea ot dispensing with
ieles3 seams,, and is thereforj made
with the French back that has no side
bodies, While the fronts have but one
dart, though there is often a narrow
plastron or a slender vest'added, whicli
compels another seam, though conceal
ing it at the same time, and this gives
the fullness required for the bust, which
i3 usually mado by the second dart.
Tuis is handsomely illustrated in a black
tuieJ s naif suit that has coppor-ron r.at-
with black polka dots ror trimmina.
This cav satin forms a narrow vest not
four inches down the front of the black
asque, also ft Bhirred round collar so
deep as to nearly cover the shoulder.
A breadth of this satin is draped like a
panicr sash on the edge of the long
lain basque, which with its lew seams
is made to follow every outline of the
gurc lrom the throat down low on tne
ios. The sash is shirred to the front
ol the basque, and is fastened on the left
side under a cluster ot loops ot black
satin ribbon that is copper red on the
wrong side; the sash is spread out
wider across the btlck, and forms an im
merse bow, with ends that hang almost
to the edge of the skirt. This skirt has
first a silk foundation, which is faced at
the bottom with a camel's-hair, on
which is a narrow plaiting of red satin,
and aldo one ot block ( beneath this is a
baiayeuse ot white muslin e.nbroidercd
with red. This whole silk Skirt Is then.
concealed by .one long kilt-plaiting ol
uiack camel s-uair seweu on a iew
inches below tho belt, so that it will not
be clumsy around the hips, as that would
spoil the fit of the close Jersey basque;
this kilting stops just below where the
satin plaiting borders the foundation
skirt of silk.
Quite different from these suits are
other cloth dresses that are made gay by
combining them with tartans or Madras
plaids ot satin Surah, the corsage is a
habit baenue of cloth, cither olive or
seal brown, with shirred plaid Surah
passed around the neck and down eaca
ide of the front, and has most bouff ant
draperies of the plaid Surah arranged in
points like handkerchiefs at the bark,
and held bv bowsot many loops oi green
satin ribbon, with red on the reverse
sid.?.
For later in the season, cloth dresses
are combined With striped velvet or
plush, and there are velvet costumes of
new and elegant designs, a prune vel
vet suit is embroidered au over wiui
Dolka dots of the same shade, and trim-
mod with shirred Surah satin scarfs that
cross ttie lront and extend down me
sides in panels. The bounant drapery
of the back is formed by the Surah ar
ranged in sasu enects, and Doraerea
with tne velvet, xne waists oi sucn
suits are single-breasted coats ol tne
velvet, with deep shirred burah collar,
or else abroad Byron collar of the velvet
piped with Surah. Large square pockets
on the sides. In othtr oostumei the
Surah satin forms the great-coat, with
Louis Quatorze vest of brocaded velvet,
in which the detached flowers are as
lame as a ladv's hand. Rich passemen
terie ornaments trim the panelled sides
of such dresses, and a row of cheaille
fringe often edges the panel where it
itiJU on the border fl unce. ifarper's
Reaping.
Every one is sowirg, both by word and deed;
All tnnnkind are growing cither wheat or
weed?
Thoughtless ones are throwing any sorto
seed.
Serions ones are seeking seed already sown
Many eyes are weeping now the crop 1
grown;
Think upon the reaping each one reaps his
own.
Surely as the sowing shall the harvest be
See what yon are throwing over bill and lea;
Words and deeds are growing lor eternity.
There is one all knowing, looking on alway
FrnH to him is flowing, loeling for the day
Will yoor hearts be glowing in the, grand
array?
Yea, that would be bringing Bheaves of golden
grain,
Mind what yon are flinging both from hand
and brain,
Then 'mid glad songs singing, you shall glean
great gain.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
There is a large industry in Europe in
the making of vegetable parchment.
Mr. Moody says there are more than
1,500 sermons in tho sermon on the
mount.
Five prominent Prussian officers have
entered the service of the Sultan of
Turkey.
Tho personal property of California is
valued at $113,304,451, and the real
estate at $446,873,885.
Twenty year? ago Great Britain sup
plied nearly three-fourths of its own
wheat; now it supplies less than two
filths. A careful trave.cr says that ho rides
in the rear car of an express train and
in tho forward car of a slow train
It is said that over ten thousand deer
were slaughtered in Jackson county,
Oregon, during the past nine months.
When a Californian picks up a stone
to throw at the hens, he always ex
amines if it does contain $50 worth of
gold.
There is a family living in Metcalfe
county, Kentucky, composed ot eleven
members, none of whom know the let-
rlersof the English alphabet.
Prince Bismarck following tho advice
of his physicians, indulges in afternoon
naps. The prince is a great eater and
worker, though a poor sleeper.
The New York Commercial says the
position of "Old Probs;" should be be
stowed upon the man who has per
formed tho most signal service lor his
country.
The German government will con
struct a railroad through the flooded
districts of that empire, in order to
give the victims oi ttio deluge suf
ficient wori to keep tlifiii alive.
Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The spot loss shirts ol hotel clerks do bear !
Full miiny a simple, ignorant sardine
ueuevus taem purest stones oi value rare !
B id aloErpr ess.
" Do you think," nsked Mrs. Pepper,
that a littlo temper is iv bad thing in a
womAn." "uertainty not, ma'am," re
plied a gallant philosopher, " it is a
good thing, and she ought never to
loose it."
A natural result of hard limes in Ire
land is a decrease in the nutn'.er of mar
riages. In 18a the number was '4f,JiJ,
or 3,598 below the average of the twelve
preceding years, and 140 less than tho
total for Scotland, where the nopuhtion
is below that of Ireland by 1,702,298.
Among the replies to an advertise
ment of a music committee for " a can
didate as organist, music teacher." etc.,
was the following one: "Gentlemen,
I noticed your advertisement for an or
ganist and music teacher, either lady or .
ucnticman. Having been botli for sev
eral years, I oiler you my services."
Words or Wisdom.
An ounce of coaviotion is worth a
pound of concern.
One dav is worth three to him who
does everything in order.
He is not only idle who does nothing,
but he is idle who might be better em
ployed. Tlin vouth who thinks the world his
oyster, and opens it forthwith, finds no
pearl tnerem.
Nature makes us poor when we want
necessaries', but custom gives iu nni
of poverty to .tho want of superfluities.
Poverty often deprives a man of all
nirit and virtu '. It is hard lor an
empty bag to stand upright.
No place, no company, no age, no
person, is temptation iree. ii uu uu
boast that he is free.
The time for reasoning is before we
have approached near enough to the
forbidden fruit to look at it and admire.
Those who. without knowing us,
think or speak evil of us, do us no harm ;
it is not us they attack, but the phan
tom of their own imagination.
There is a joy in good fortune. There
is a lar higher in the mind's gain of
knowledge or truth. Bu there is not
joy like the joy of resolved virtue-
Things it Would be Fanny to See.
A patent niodicine that wasn't war
ranted a dead shot for anvthing, from
corns to consumption.
A rose without a thorn and a woman
without a fault.
A tarpaulin stout enough to keep the
rain from soaking through the backs of
our mukman's cows.
A poor plumber ana a rich newspaper
man.
A man who can rap eternal smash
out of his favorite bunion while making
a tight croquet and still keep tne air
brake on his tongue.
The man who wasn't always able ana
willing to give an editor a few pointers
in the newspaper business.
A doator who hadn't bolieved all
along that Tanner would come out all
right. ,
A bald headed man who never lost
Lit temper.
A circus just to relieve the monotony.
A chromo of the man who invented
the dance called "the r.vcket." Fctrw
kwii WqrW,