0 G
r( Hl
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL, DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. XI.
NO. 44.
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUKSDAY, DECEMBEB 22. 1881.
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The Christmas lime.
Blow I winds of winter 1 blow I
Stretch forth your viewless hands
And waiter, every living thing
Through all these frozen lands t
The branches of the gnarled oak,
The hemlock's swaying limb,
All trees and shrubs, wake these to Join
In one harmonious hymn (
For is not this the Christmas time,
The loving, hopeful Christmas time,
Long waited for, with faith sublime I
Fall fast I Oh, fleecy enow I
Thy ministry is good ;
The earth our greater human needs
Has little understood.
With thy deft fingers woave
A robe, of faultless seam,
And white, as angel-vestments are,
Of which tho poets dream
For lo ! tho earth receives King,
And thou, Oh, snow 1 a robe ehalt bring
To grnce tho happy welcoming.
Fly swifter 1 Oh, ye clouds I
Through all the realms of air ;
Chase day and night the world around,
And tell it everywhere
To peopltB, lands a Christ is born
For ovory race and creed
A living, sympathizing soul,
Tho very Christ they need j
That this is now the Christmas time,
The loving, hopeful Christmas time,
When wont is tin and greed a crime.
C ?at (tint I Oh, tLrobbing heart I
And yield I Oh, stubborn will 1
In Code good timo, Ho came at last,
J.ovc'a mission to fulfill
He enme, with pleasant words and way.",
Tho world's llcdeemcr, guest ;
Oave nianua to the hungry soul,
And to tho weary, rest
Gavo to tho world such hopes and cheer
As prophet tones or lips of seer
Could never breathe in human ear.
Vain is your task, Oh, winds 1
And yours, Oh, fleecy snow 1
In vain tho swift-winged clouds
Upon their mission go ;
In vain, Oh, throbbing heart 1
Is prayer, or song, or creed,
Unblcst by love's Bwcet ministry
Here find the Christ you need.
By this sweet grace, and this alone,
His praise shall spread from zone to
zone,
'Till all the earth His sway shall own,
Ira E. Sherman.
THE DEACON'S CHRISTMAS.
Cui'ftmas day dawned bright and
fair ui d rol l.
All ilie liiiJs around the little country
villi :(. of Lunboriiton were white with
Miovv. The rouds were trodden hard,
and t':o prosj eet for line hleigbing un
der tii;: light of a nearly full moon
never was bi-tter. Dia'"on Haines1 wife
Mghcd as she put back the curtain from
the bedroom window that morning and
looked ou.
Five years ago, that very day, the
great sorrow of her life had come to
her. How well she remembered that
fateful morning, when, though the eun
phone gloriously, and the heavens were
blue and ciiudle.'-s, all the life and joy
went ont of her life and left the world
a blank of gloom, almost of despair.
Twenty-four years she had been
John Urines' wile, and in all these
years bho had never repented of her
choic-T There had been many times
when tlio man's hard nature had
wouueted Ler sensitive spirit, but she
trusted r.ll things to heaven and uttered
no complaint.
J a t, upright in his dealings, eacon
Huilos was a man who never erred in
his own judgment ; and mercy was a
word unknown in his vocabulary. If
jooplo would live as they ought to and
us they might, ho was wont to say
sternly, they wonld not need to be for
ever crying for forgiveness.
If the deacon's right hand had
offended him ho would have cut it off,
thus obeying the Scripture literally,
lie was religious to a fault, for there is
such a thing as carrying even one's
piety too far, until it becomes a curse
instead of a blessing. In the simple
fa.il li ot an obedient soul there is peace
aud rett, bat in the bigoted fanaticism
of n Fclf-righteous man well never
mind the lust, I am writing a story
and not a serine n.
. Dncon Haines had only one child
a beautiful, fair-haired, blue-eyed girl,
and in his stern, ascetio way, he idol
iz d this girl. When she was eighteen
years of age she fell in love with Royal
Clayton.
When the news of this reached the
deacon his rage was terrible. He
struck his foot upon the floor and
rued with what was almost an oath,
that if ever she spoke to him again he
would disown her forever. Emma had
something of hor father's own spirit,
and the loved Koyal with all the
strength of her fond young heart, and
she told the deacon without hesitation
that she would follow love instead of
duly.
Five years before, on that Christmas
day, Einnia had left her home without
the knowledge of her parents, and be
cumo the wi:'e of tho man she loved.
Immediately after the ceremony the
young couple had taken the cars for
tho West, and only once had any tidings
of them reached Lanbornton. A letter
cacao to the deacon in Emma's hand
writing, but the inflexible old man had
brought it himself from the postoflioe,
and in the jjjscnce of his wife had
laid it unopened upon the fire and
watched it shrink to ashes.
He had no child, he said, sternly
he would hold no communication with
one who was none ot his.
Emma's name was forbidden to be
mentioned in the household. A servant-girl
who inadvertently referred to
Miss Emma in the deacon's hearing
was at once dismissed, and poor Mrs.
Haines, having once been betrayed into
a burst of tears by coming suddenly
upon some article of clothing which
baa been last worn Dy Her child, re
ceived tuck a dreadful admonition that
she did not get over trembling for a
week.
Mr?. Haines was one of those gentle,
clinging creature s, who ought to be
loved and cherished by some true, ten
der heart, but who usually fall to the
mercies of just such iron-natured men
as Deacon Haiues. It is a law of
nature, I suppose, and who shall again
say it ? She submitted to him in every
thing, and would no more have thought
of disputing the right of the wind to
blow in a northeast snowstorm?
But nights, very often, when tho dea
con was fast asleep, she would Bteal
softly up to the chamber which had
been Emma's, and there upou tho cold
pillows last presRed by the head of her
darling would she weep away the sore
ness of her heart.
She hoped always that some letter or
message might come to her ; she would
risk the deacon's anger, and write just
one little word of love to her daughter ;
but she hoped in vain. No tidings
ever came.
Days and weeks and months passed
by, as (Oh I Heaven, be pitiful I) they
will drag by, whether wo soar to heights
of ecstasy or sink into depths of despair
as they have dragged on ever since
creation ; as they will go on forover I
This beautiful Christmas morning
Mrs. Haines went about her plum pud
ding an her chicken pio and her
spongecake nnd tther dainties with a
heavy heart. She never dreamed of
omitting a single item in tho Christmas
bill of fare, for tho deacon was a me
thodical man, and if there had been so
much as a dih of preserves missing he
would have demanded the reason of it.
He would have looked upon it as a crying
sin against the faith of his forefathers if
Christmas had not been kept in the way
he had kept it from his youth up.
So, though the mother's heart was
full of sorrow and heaviness, she re
membered tho exact quantity of spice
to be put in the mince meat for the pies,
she kept in mind just how much short
ening must go into the crust for the
chicken pie, und t-lio trussed thefat tur
key, and filled h,m full with stuffing,
and watched him while he was roasting,
just as solicitously as if she was not
ready to sink down and weep her life
away for her lost child.
By 4 o'clock in the afternoon every
thing was ready. Dinner smoked on
the table, and filled tho great kitchen,
when tho table was set out with a
savory smell.
The weather had changed suddenly,
and heavy storm clouds drifted across
the sky, driven by the fierce wind, and
the distant hill-tops were wrapped in
mists of snow. Lanbornton was near
the sea, and the low beat cf the waves
on the broken beach came ever and
anon to the ear in a wail of despair.
Mrs. Haines lighted the candles in
the tall silver candlosticks,and set them
on the table. TLo voico in whiel1
she called her husband to dinner
trembled; she was wondering if Emma
bad a Christmas dinner that day, or if
indeed she was still uiive und a dweller
in a land where Christmas was remem
bered. The deacon sat down at the table,
put his steel-rimmed spectacles on his
nose, and opened the large Bible which
lay beside his plate. It was always his
custom to read tho fm,t passage on
which his eye rested, and on this occa
sion he read aloud.
"For if ye forgive men their tres
passes, your Hearc-nly Father will also
forgive you; but if ye forgivo not men
their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your tiespasses."
There was no softening of the stern
voice as he read the beautiful words; no
tenderness of feeling crept over his
luce at the thought of the loving Christ
who uttered them. But Mrs. Haines'
eyes ran over, and she bowed her hoad
upon her hands.
"Oh, John," sho cried, "think of
Emma I five years ago to-day since she
went forth blighted by a father's curse
and heaven only knows if she is itill
among the living I Ob, my child! my
child !"
The deacon rose slowy from his seat,
his face pale as death, his long right arm
extended solemnly to heaven.
" Martha," said ho, deliberately, "if
you were not my wife I would tura you
trom my door. Such passages of
Scripture as these have no reference to
wicked and disobedient children who
persist in going to ruin in spite of
counsel and admonition from their legal
guardians 1"
There was a faint moaning sound at
the door, and the quick ear of Mrs.
Haines caught it at once. So did the
old house dog, for he leaped from his
warm corner by the fire and sprang to
the door with a cry of welcome.
The deacon took a step forward, but
his wife was before him. Perhaps some
subtle prescience helped to prepare her
for what she was to see, for she did not
cry out cr faint at the sight.
Across the doorstep lay the still fig
ure of a woman, holding in her arms a
little child. The snow was drifting
over them both, but the light from the
blazing hearth shone out broad and red,
and tinged with roseate bloom the wan,
white face of Emma Clayton.
Mrs. Haines was a slender little
woman, but she never felt the weight cf
her unconscious daughter as, lifting her
into her arms, she bore . her into the
warm kitchen and laid hor on the lounge.
Livid with rage, the deacon strode to
ward his wife and laid a rough hand on
the shoulder of the unconscious girl.
Rut for once Mrs. Haines did not shrink
from her husband in his rage.
"John," she said, firmly, "she is my
child ; I will do a mother's duty to
her!"
" She is no child ot mine !" said the
deacon, fiercely ; "she chose her path
in life, let her walk therein I" And he
laid his hand on the girl and wonld
have dragged her to the door, but Mrs.
Haines stepped before him, Her face
was white as death, and every vein stood
out like cords upon her forehead.
" Deacon Haines," said she, " do this
tiling, and though you were thrice my
husband I will not remain under your
roof another moment after she is thrust
out I and may God judge between us I"
Just then, while the deacon, para
lyzed wit a amazement, stood motionless
before his wife, the little child crept to
his side and put two warm, soft hands
around his fingers. The Eweet, grieved
face, with the soft, blue ejes lifted to
bis stern countenance, might have
melted anything but a strong human
neart. -
"Grandpapa," said sho, "please don't
hurt poor mamma I Sie is Mck, and
she has come so far in the cold !"
"Grandpapa !" the word ho had never
expeoted to hear addressed to himself.
His memory went back over half a
oentury and more to the gray-haired
man he had called grandpapa the
man who was always kind to him, who
petted him and made him whistles and
wooden horBes, and told him quaint
stories of old, old times when tho
country was new, and bears and Indians
plenty as blackberries. He remembered
when he stood beside that kind old
man's deathbed, and felt the withered,
trembling hand, cold with the dews Of
death upon his forehead he remem
bered the grieving tones of the failing
voico which said :
"God's blessing upon you, John I
and when you, too, lie down to dio,
may your grandchildren stand around
your bed, and comfort you in your last
Lours I "
This aged man had died and gone to
heaven.
The deacon shrank from tho inspec
tion. For one moment, with that child's
clear eyes upon him, ho saw himself as
he was a hard unyielding, unmerciful
man dead in tresspasses and sin.
He sank down on his knees and
buried his face in tho clustering
golden hair of his wondering grand
child. "Martha!" he cried, bitterly, "I
have sinned and fallen far short I Do
as you will and may God show me
the mercy I have never shown to niy
fellow !"
Emma Clayton lived, though Bhe was
never very strong but never was
daughter loved and cared for by a
father as she was. And little Annio
was in sore danger of being spoiled by
the indulgence of her grandfather.
Everybody noticed the great change
in tho deacon he grew humble and
forgiving, and his prayers in the public
meetings were no longer full of vin
dictive threatenings hurled at the sin
ner, but were rich in mild persuasions
and gentle intimations to try the good
ness of God.
Royal Clayton was dead ; and Emma
lived always with her father. Every
thing was forgiven everything forgot
ten except the love which united the
family ever after in a bond of unbroken
peace.
Deaduian's Land.
A writer connected with one of the
Arctic exploring expeditions says :
While tramping around beyond Green
Harbor, near where I found thecanpori
ball s'tones of such peculiar formation.
I came upon several wrecked anl rifled
graves. The men must have been
buried before the frost was out of the
ground, for the coffins were not covered,
but seemed to have been put into a
slight depression scratched in the clay.
The coffins had partially rotted away
and broken, and the grinning skulls
and bleached bones were strewn about
in horrid disorder, indicating that the
fox and bear had disturbed their rest.
I speut some timo in gathering the
bones of those poor fellows into their
original ret-ting-place and covering
them up with rocks and sods of moss.
No history of these lonesome graves
could be gleaned, but it is likely that
they were those of Norse or Russian
victims of the Ecarvy. It is possib'e
that tney fell in some of those bloody
lights, gossips of which are still cur
rent among the fishermen and hunters
of Northern Europe. Tho tradition
runs that more than two hundred
years ago the Dutch and Russians,
who came hero to harpoon whales,
divided their time in bloody combatB
in which no quarter was given. Tho
whale fisheries were then very valua
ble and worth fighting about, so every
ship sent out was fitted for offense and
defense. Some attempts at coloniza
tion were stamped out in consequence
of this feud. If a colony of Russians
managed to survive tho scurvy for a
winter and a Dutch ship arrived fresh
from the south in the springihe colony
was sure to be obliterated, and the Rus
sians treated the Dutch with the same
kind consideration when they arrived
first. The finding of unknown graves
is quite common on the shores of all
the bays and fiords of Spitsbergen.
This dreary, inhospitable place might
fittingly bswcalled Deadmau's Land, a
name given to a small spot just outsido
of Green Harbor in Ice Fiord,
Struck by a Waterspout.
One morning recently the spick-and-span
new brig Moses Knowlton, of
Baltimore, found herself in Caribbean
waters, about half way between Trini
dad and Morant Cay. It was squally
and the cantain. A. H. Tnm'n nr,l
his crew of five men to rem'ain on deck.
About the middle of tho morning,
while the Knnwltnn wm ninnin
" tuu.u uc
the wind, sho was suddenly struck by a
waterspout, iaer oows were luted a
creat distance, anil her . .loot a n,va
swept and overswept by seething white
niitcnt aucu mo n mil huu water seemeu
t m'nl.- fliA 1-ii'ify mi lwulilv In 4ln
howling of the tempest Turpie shouted
a uuuiumuu lur um men to leap over
hoard. Thpv hpnnl ami nliAvol nartti
struggling to reach some such object as
. i. a. ii i i i i
a i-num uux ur guiiey-iop iiiut nau ueeu
Vlll infrt tlio Baa of. fha fivaf c4-s1-A
v '-' - DV.W V wuv Uiau DllVliCi
A few moments after the Knowlton was
deserted sne was picked up and turned
completely over, her masts pointing
ciownwara ana ner Kneel Deing abov
the surface. The waterspout and ac
companying tornado passed swiftly
away. It was then discovered that
Charles MoLeod, sailor,, had. been
rirownftil. CAntnin Tnrnia AimntaA .ia
efforts toward getting the nearest of the
smau ooats, wmcn was lasned to the
davits twelve feet under water. He
swam down, knife in hsnd, and desper
ately strove to out the ropes. Three
attempts were made, and after a long
struggle the bout was released from its
fastenings and hauled to the surface.
The survivors pulled off from the wreck
to remain three davs iu an nncn lmt
without f oodjor water, and to be rescued
in the midst of great suffering by the
Jjritisn bark Elsio.
FOBTY'SETESTH CONUBESS.
Heaatn,
Mr. Edmnnds introduced a bill for defravins
the extraordinary liabilities and expenses in
curred in consequence of tho assault upon the
late President of the United States. . . .Mr. Rol
lins introduced a bill for tho increase of facili
ties for the Just adjudication of pension claims.
.air. uiair sunmiuoa ana asked present
consideration of a resolution instruct
ing tlis committee on education and labor to In
quire into the condition of common school
education in the United States, and report
thereon, and also as to what measures, in the
opinion of the committee, Congress can law
fully and properly enact in am or suoh educa
tion. Adopted.... Mr. Hill, from the com
mutes on privileges and elections,
reported back certain memorials from mem
bers of the how York legislature affecting the
rieht of Messrs. Miller and Iuham to occupy
eata in the Senato, and asked that thov be
tabled and the committee discharged from
their further consideration. Ho stated briefly
that the oommittee did not think any ono nor
all of the five reasons alleged by the memorial
ists as invalidating tuo election were sumcient
to justify further intervention, or did in fact
invalidate it. ...The tariff commission bill was
then taken up and Mosjis. Garland and Beck
denounced and Mr. Morrill defouded the present
tariff. On motion of Mr. Morrill tho bills on
the subject were then referred to the commit
tee on finance.
Mr. Vest presented a bill to incorporate tho
Intoroceanio Ship Railway company, and for
Mher purposes.... Mr. Logan, from the com-
mittoo on military aflairs, reported with amend
ments the bin to place uencral Urant on the
army retired liat. Placed on the calendar. Mr.
Maxey, of the committee, said the roport Just
maue was not unanimous, ana ne would mul
cnto his objections at the croner time Mr.
Fdmnnds submitted a resolution requiring tho
President, if in hia opinion not incompatible
with the pulilie interest, to communicate to the
Senate all the correspondence between the
government or tne united states ana its diplO'
raatio agents in Pern and Chili respective
ly, occurring sinse the 1st of April, 1879,
touching publio affairs in or betwocn those
States, and also such correspondence on the
subject as may -bo in possession of the depart
ment or state. Agreed to witnout dissent
Sir. iioar ottered a resolution, which was
a-loptod, instructing the committee on military
aitairs to inquire wnat legislation, if any, is
needed to enable the widows and heirs of de
ceased soldiers to receive the benefits of botin
i s to said soldiers while living, and remaining
nupata at tne time or tneir decease Mr.
Pendleton s bul to regulate and improve tne civil
service came up. in a speech Mr. Pendleton
urged the necessity and possibihtv or civil ser
vice reform. Messrs. Dawes and Hill also
epoko upon the bill, which was finally laid on
tne table tor tne time being.
Mr. Jones, of Honda, oflered a resolution to-
questing the secretary of war to communicato
information or evidence on filo in the war
oltice relating to tho construction of a ship
cnnai across tne peninsuiaor Honda, including
estimates or the cost of tho work and the sur
veys made by the United States with a viow to
tun contraction ol such canaL .Laid over and
ordered printed.... The resolution of Mr. Hoar,
for a select committco on tho rights of women.
ns taKen up. Mr. vest, ot Missouri, said
lio could see no nocessity for a com
mittee on the subject and regarded tho
resolution as a step toward the re
cognition of woman suffrage, to which he
was opposed on principlo. Action on the reso
lution "was deterred.... The subject of the
presidential snw-veion in the event of the re
moval by doixth, reoignation or inability of both
the President and Vico-Presideut was consid
ered, the, resolutions introduced by Mr. Beck,
of Kentucky, and Mr. Maxoy, of Texas, and the
bill of Mr. Garland, of Arkansas, being before
tho Senate for discussion. Tho matter was Jo
inted without action by Messrs. Deck, Maxe
end Anthony.
Petitions "were presented by Messrs. Sher
man and Ferry for a regulation of in Urea l
transportation routes, and by Messrs. Plumb
and Mitchell for tho abolition of taxes on bank
deposits and checks.... Mr. Sherman, from the
committee on finance, reportod favorably, with
amendments, the bill to provido for thci'seue of
three per cent bonus, lio gave notice ne would
ask its consideration immediately after the
holidays. The bill was placed on the calendar.
....Mr. McPherson submittod a resolution ro
ferring to tho committee on naval affairs the
President's recommendations iu favor of a
thorough rehabilitation of the navy. Adopted.
....Mr. Ingalls submittod a resolution in
structing the committee on pousions to inquire
and roport what increase of pension, if any,
should bo allowed tho widow ot Abraham Lin
coln. Adopted Mr. Garland took part in
the presidential succession debate, supporting
)iis own bill against the bill introduced by
Mr. Deck, of Kentucky. Mr. Coke, of Texas,
and Mr. Jones, of Tlorida, also spoke on the
iiniwtioii.
The Voorhees resolution, referring to tho
Dnanco oommittee the parts of the President's
message relating to the repeal of the laws
authorizing silver coining anu me lbsue oi sil
ver certificates, was taken up, and Mr. Voor
hees discussed the silver and greonback ques
tion at length, charging that the recommenda
tion of tho secretary of the treasury for the
early retirement of the silver certificates waa
an assault on the fiuiuioial stability of the
country.
House.
On the first regular " bill day" in the IIoiiso
a flood of bills poured in. Tho introduction of
bills begau at half-past 13, and continued until
the House adjourned, at S o'clock. During the
fonr hours and a half thus occupied 754 bills
and joint rosolutious were introduced. Only
seventeen States wore called, beginning with
Alabama and ending with Massachusetts. Had
the remaining twenty-one been oallod, the
number of bills would have doubtless gone be
vond 1,500. The highest numbor ever intro
duced in the Houso iu ono day was on the first
bill day of the last Congress. The number
then rcachod 1,3S5. But on that occasion all
the States were called. Of the
751 bills and joint resolutions intro
duced, 443 are private bills, 283 publio and 2o8
joint resolutions. Of tho private bills 207 are
for pensions. The publio bills related to al
most every conceivable subject of legislation,
judging from the measures brought in by
them. Mr. Phelps introduced bills to have the
trade dollar made a legal tender, all ship ma
terial admitted free of duty, and the bank
chock tax repealed; Mr. Cook presented bills to
have private claims adjudicated by the court
of claiins; Mr. Marsh proposed bill to havo
United States legal tender note subjected to
State taxation; Mr. Thomas introduced a bill
for tho equalization of bounties; Mr. Springer
desires to have telograph lines appraised, and
to collect information regarding postal telo
graph systems; Mr. White handod in a bill to
distribute $10,000,000 among Statos for educa
tional purposes acoording to illiteracy; Mr. Mo
Kcnzie, of Kentucky, wautod free salt; Mr.
I'.llis, of Louisiana, desired to grant govern
ment aid to steamship lines ; Mr. Knott, of
Kentuoky, introduced a bill to remove the tax
on tobacco; Mr. Gibson, of Louisiana, proposed
bills to reduce the whisky tax to fifty cents per
gallou, to remove the tax on bank checks and
matches, and to iuiposo an income tax ; Mr.
Henderson, of Illinois, sought the passage of
what is known as the Adams' bill for the crea
tion of a board of railroad commissioners.
Many of these publio bills were on the files of
the last Congress.
The call of States for the presentation of
bills was continued. Among bills presented
were the following: By Mr. Robeson, to pro
ride for tho safety of life ou railroads. By Mr.
Hill, to reduce letter postugo to two cents. By
Mr. Cox, of New York, to promote the efficiency
of the life-saving sorvioe: also to rrrant pen
sions to tho families of keepers and crews who
lost their Uvea iu the life-saving aervioe; also
making an apportionment of Representatives in
Congress under ine tenth oensus; also in rela
tion to the Japanese indemnity fund; also
making the trade dollar a legal teuder; alio
a resolution requesting the President to com
municate to this house all correspondence with
the British government on file in the state de
partment with reference to the arrest and ini
nrisonmeut of American oitizene in Ireland.
By Mr. Hewitt, to secure a uniform standard of
vaiuo. ay air. nuuiuson, to reduce letter po-i-sge
to one cent after July , 1882. By Mr.
Xownsend, appropriating $50,000 for the relief
of the widow oi me late President uarneld.
By Mr. Randall, to redeem and rofund portions
of tho bonded debt of the United States...,
Mr. Dibblo announced the death of his prede
cessor, tho late M. P. O'Connor. Tho usual
resolutions of rogrot wero adoptod, and the
houso at 6:15, out ot respect to mo memory vi
tho deceased man, adjourned until Monday.
Old Time Congressional Perquisites.
The Washington correspondent of the
Louisville Courier Journal, discussing
the impropriations for contingent ex
penses, writes that the first appropria
tion was an item in the appropriation
act passed in September, 1789. The
accounts of contingent expenses of the
Senate, commencing as early as liav,
contain many items which show that
Senators in those days, as well as now,
liked their perquisites. In the early
days of the republic, Senators the very
fathers of the country subscribed for
manv naners, and the subscription
prices thereof were paid out of the con?
tingent fund. Stationery they put their
hands apon without limit. They used
larcre Quantities of English gut-edged
paper at 89 and $10 per ream. Not
only did they take stationery, but the
records snow tnat our reverea lore
futhers were as agile as their descend
ants in evervthine that was " contin
Kent." Penknives in those days were
bought by the dozen, and so were silver
pencil cases, seals, memorandums and
wafer boxes. When a committee of
Congress called upon the President of
tho United States, its hack hire was
paid from the contingent fund. The
congressional funeral was a nice little
jaunt nobody can Bay that such is not
tho case now. Hundreds of yards
of black crape and of white sar
cenet were used in making mouruing
scarfs, and gloves wore supplied. Some
preferred white kid. while others were
more practical, and with an eye to the
future utility of the funeral hand
covering, took beaver and buckskin
gloves. Francis Maloone, of Ithode
Island died in 1809. His remains were
interred in the Congressional cemetery.
Among the items of expenses for his
funeral were tho following : Sixteen
pound of crackers, $3 ; eleven and a
quarter pounds of cheese, $2.81. Tho
committe to audit tho expenses of the
Senate evidently thought that though
their brothern seemed to be on pleasure
bent, they should have tho accompani
ment of a frugal meal. Therefore
they economically ordered that pay
ment be made for the crackers, but re
jected the claim for the cheese. This
same committee also had presented to
it the following voucher :
Seven gallons beet Madeira wine J2S 00
Four gallons Cognac brandy H 60
Twelve pounds almonds 4 80
Ten pounds ot raisins u ho
Total tlli 00
The committee, after cogitating the
matter, camo to the conclusion, per
haps, that the partakers of these lux
uries Lad had almost too good a timo
of it, and eo they only allowed "for
four gallons of wine and three quarts
of brandy, $22." At tho same time,
however, tney passed anotuer voucher
" for fourteen pounds of cake, $7," and
" twelve pounds of crackers at SI. 50."
The following is in the account of the
benate contingent expenses for 1809:
Thirty-four gallons syrup, S103: fif
teen gallons syrup, Sifi; fifteen gallons
syrup $1G; fifteen gallons syrup, 40,
thirty-five gallons syrup, S1G; fifteen
gallons syrup, 19; total, S333. What
this syrup was does not appear. There
is a tradition among the older olhcers of
the Senate that it was used in the con
coction of a beverago known as "switch-
el." This is corroborated by a voucher
passed for two-quart decanters, evi
dently to hold the syrup. The items
for beverages of ditter.nt kinds scat
tered over the books of accounts for
contingent expenses ere curious, and in
the nineteenth Congress lure is cne of
$123.37 for "soda water and srup."
Umbrellas, congress water, engraved
seals, pearl nail knives and toilet sets
wero then secured by Senators
out of the contingent expenses.
L'heninir Gum.
Forty thousand dollars worth of chew
ing gum is gathered in the State of
Maine every year. Jn Oxford county
is a man who makes it his business to
collect spruce gum. Every year he
buys from seven to nine tons. The
gum is found chiefly in the region
about Umbagog lake and about the
Rangely lakes. A number of men do
nothing else in tho winter season ex
cept collect gum. With snowshoes,
ax and a eneooygan, on wnicli is
packed the gum, they spend days and
nights in the wood. The clear, pure
lumps of gum are sold in their native
state, tho best bringing 1 per pound
Gum not immediately merchantable is
refined by a peculiar process, fcieve
liko boxes are covered with spruce
boughs, on which is placed tho gum
Steam is introduced underneath. The
gnni is melted, is strained by tho
boughs, and then passes into warm
water, whero it is kept from hardening
until the packer takes it out, draws it
into sticks, and wraps it in tissue paper,
when it is ready for narket.
The gum meets with a ready sale.
There is not a village, town or city in
Maine whero it is not in demand. One
dealer last year sold 81,400 worth. In
the larpo mill cities gum hasa free pale.
In Biddeford, Lewiston, Lawrence and
Lowell the factory girls consume large
quantities, li is said that in the lum
ber camps tho gum is used as a means
of extending "hospitality. After meal
time tho host fills his own black clay
pipe ana nanas ic to his guest. .Later,
clear lumps of spruce gum are placed
before the visitor, and lie is asked to
take a chew. Maine produces $40,000
of gum ia a year, some of which tads
its way to this market, from which it U
distributed to the various outlying fac
tory villages, where, as Btated before, it
in in good demand. Spruce gum is adul
terated, and those who adulterate take
the trouble to fashion the pieces of gum
to appear like those taken in a pure
state from the trees. The ingredient cf
adulteration is supposed to be the gum
of the pine tree.
Iowa la'st year dug 8,600,000 t ns of
coal, worth $7,000,000 on the demps.. Jt
has 550 mines in operation, employing
6,176 men.
FOR THE I, DIES,
Winter Ilonnet.
Small bonnets made entirely of
feathers arc anion? the recent imporfn
tions, and are offered in lien of ihe
feather turbans which havo already be
come so familiar, and are copied in such
coatso fenthers that they are losing
favor. These bonnets are made of
breast feathers laid close over the entire
frame of small capote shapes, and have
for trimming a bird perched on one
side, or else two heads are crossed nar
the top. The lining of the brim shows
in the front and is made of glace plush
that combines the colors in the feathers,
and the strings are of changeable plush
ribbon to match. These bonnets are
very handsome in blue-green impion
feathers; and iu the brown and red
mixed pheasant feathers they are also
useful, as they are appropriate with
suits of any of the varions colors t that
appear in the feathors, as well as 'with
black costumes.
Red bonnets are the favorite of the
winter. The tasto for the gay red
plumes that were seen on so many
round hats at the summer resorts has
increased until entire bonnets or great
round hats of this single color, through
various fchados, from shrimp pink to
garnet, are seen. There are street hats
for morning of red felt and beaver, and
the most dressy hat for receptions is of
red plush with shrimp pink feathers.
loung ladies cuoo.so for the street the
tall crown and wido-brimmed Mother
Shipton hats of dark garnet felt, or per
haps with fur-beaver edges on the
straight brim, though it is equally popu
lar to have a puff of velvet or plush as
a binding on the wide flat brim. A row
of nodding ostrich feather tips in red
shades is then sot around tho crown,
and completes the hat. This hat is
most picturesque when set straight on
top of tho head, shading the forehead
well in the way similar hats are worn by
peasants, rather than iu tho Gains
borough fashion, far back on the head
to display the coiffure. For ladies
who prefer bonnets, and for
dressy receptions, there are the
ew round crown pokes with brim
oi ecting downward, made of red
velvet or plush. There are always two
kinds in such pokes a smooth fabric
for the crown, and figured velvet or the
new pomponetto plush for the brim.
The smcoth material drawn over the
crown in a single piece, instead of being
cut to lit it, and the front is laid on in
folds, wrinklos or plaits ; shirring is
very little used iu this way at present. A
single oht3tcr of ostrich tips on the left
is n nigh trimming for such a bonnet,
and suvngs may bo dispen led with.
Small bf-nue's are pteferi'rd for iIicrr
by ladies who adopt here tho prevail
ing Parisian ttylo. Cream white aud
shrimp pink are tho culors most u srd
for these, and t lir materials of white
bonnet are of remarkoble fine bpaded
net snd luce, with white pearl or irides
cent beids in Spanish designs. This
lace is laid over satin, and droops over
tho coronet front, leaving the scallops to
rest cn the hair in a most becoming
way. Three comb-like curves of beads
are" on the crown, and the only trim
ming is the p".uache of white ostrich
tips on the left side. White moire or
plush strings. A shrimp pink plush
similarly made has white Oriental )a?e
for its trimmings.
The favorite black bonnet that forms
a part of almost every lady's outfit is of
plush this winter in preference to vel
vet. ihe front of tho brim is of pom
ponetto plush, or else of plain plush
nearly concealed by the ostrich feathers
that are laid close upon it. The crown
is plainly covered, and is quite promi
nent by reason of its height, and be
cause it is left in relief by the trimming
being placed far forward on the brim.
Two or three rows of jot faceted beads
are inside the brim, and the strings are
moire or plush ribbon. For a more
youthful black bonnet, tho Bolero
bat is covered with black plush quite
smoothly, aud feathers are the only
trimmings. The inexpensive black hats
for general wear that ladies are apt to
arrange at home havo small crowns of
black felt broad crowns belong to last
year's bonnets with long napped brims
in poke shape. A large bow of ribbon,
either black or colored, is placed on the
left side, and one or two domi long
plumes, held by this bow, droop down
the right side. The brim is left " raw"
that is, not bound aud a facing of
plush is iuside, beginning two inches
from the edge, and under this is a wire
to keep the brim in shapo. The strings
match the bow of nbbon on tho out
side. Bazar.
Fashion Pnncles.
Muffs are worn very small.
Fur-lined wraps are in demand.
Plush in fancy colors is made into
evening bonnets.
Handsome wraps are edged with
beaded plush baudp.
Copper, brickdust and tern cotta aro
the fashionable colors.
(Jioaks aro worn longer this season
than for some time past.
Grecian bands for the hair are made
of silver inlaid with mock gems.
Watered silks are more in demand
than they have bctm for some years.
Plushes and velvets, plain and era
bojsod, are U68d for trimmings of satin
Surah and for wool stnlls.
While bead passementeries are on the
wane as fashionable trimmings, black
jet is more worn than ever.
Earrings, except where brilliant soli
taires or other gems are to be exhibited,
are less worn than ever before.
The largest cotton producer in the
world is Mr. Hi. Kichardson, of Missis
sippi. He hits 52,000 acres of land,
and raised last season 12,000 bales of
cotton. He expresses tho oil from his
cotton seed, obtaining thirty-five cab
Ions from a ton worth $12.25, while tho
cake sells at from $0 to (7 per ton.
Marwood, the new English hangman
baa invented an ingenious slip noose,
mat nas been adopted by his govern
ment, which is making nooses after
Mar ff cod s design and sending to vari
oui parts ot the world where there is
' possible demand for them.
WISE WORDS,
Strontr language utterly fails to
bolster a weak argument.
When you face a difficulty never let
It stare you out of countenance.
No principlo is more noble, os mere
is nono more holy, than that oi wuo
obedience.
Tipflerit nnon vour present blessings,
of which every man has many ; not on
your past misfortunes, of which all men
have some.
Oarner up pleasant thoughts in your
mind, for pleasant thoughts make pleas
ant lives.
No man was born wise ; but wisdom
and virtue require a tutor, though we
can easily learn to be vicious without a
teacher.
Earnestness is the path to immor
tality, thoughtlessness tho path to
death. Those who are in earnest do
not die ; those who are thoughtless are
as if dead already.
There is no truth that our young men
have to learn more important than this
that to admire that which is right is
one thing, but to do what is right is
another.
The best people need afflictions for
trial of their virtue. How can we ex
ercise the grace of contentment if all
things succeed well ; or that of for
giveness, if we have no enemies ?
Mutual affection and respect and con
genial tastes always have been and
alwavs must be the true basis of con
jugal happiness, whatever the- views of
philosophtrs and theorists to the con
trary. Tho Wine Tress In Hungary.
I had had dim ideas of snowy gar
ments dyed purple with the juice of
grapes, and the delicate feet of girls
treading the luscious fruit under tho
shade cf vine-clad trellises in the open
air. In my imagination thore were
fountains of pure water washing away
all stains and impurities, and long pro
cessions of men and maidens bearing tho
fruit on their heads, all decked with
flowers, and singing aud dancing to
tho sound of harps and flutes. Had I
not seen pictures to that effect, read
pootieal descriptions of it, aid had I
not always been encourage. 1 by my
childhood's instructors in this delusion ?
And now, behold, there wero not any
snowy garments nt all; tho Hungarians
had on coarse shirts and loose drawers
tucked above tho knee, and I came to
tho conclusion that they Lad never seen
anv fountains of pure water, ana
wouldn't have known the uae of them if
they had. For there was a kind of grim
ness about them, burued in by the tun,
which1 seemed to indicate tlita they
never washed either themselves or their
lothes. In fact, they had a lino con
tempt for the ordinary rules of cleanli
ness. One blacK-eyed, vnrpie-ipggca
ellow, with the grape juice j ist drying
on his bare feet, seized a basket, and
ran off down the steps aud into tho
ineyard, and presently rc'mniug v i:li
load of the frait, shot it into the nrei s,
and, with all the dust and dirt of the
road still clinging to. his feet, mounted,
and began to tread the grapes, and soon
stood almost knee-deep in the liquor,
which, having served him as a sort of
foot-bath, was to bo thedriiiK.pcrnaps.of
future generations of refined, fastidious
palates Having seen this I becamo
melancholy, and prefeired to leave the
rett of the manipulations of earths
choicest nectar !iu obscurity. London
gosy.
Firewood.
Wood seasons much more rapidly
when split, therefore it is economy not
only to fell and haul wood for fuel
from the lot before stormy weather and
heavv roads are at hand, but to cut it
in shape for stove and fireplace at the
same time. Wet, sppy wood is not
only wasteful, but it is sure of vexation
and discomfort. In the burning of dry
wood the heat is nearly all of it avail
able, while from one-half to two-thirds
of the heat produced during the con
sumption of green wood escapes latent
and useless m the evaporating sap and
water.
In selecting wood for fuel it becomes
a matter of economy to take for fire
wood such sorts only Ts will do best
service in range and stove, leaving
behind for rails, timber and fence posts
the varieties which, while possessing
littlo value as regards their heating
qualities, 6tand in the foremost rank
for durability under exposure to the
weather, other things being equal.
Shell-bark hickory ii regarded as repre
tonting the highest standard among
ferest trees for fuel, aud calling that
100, other trees will compare with it for
real valao as fuel as follows : Hhell-
bark hiekorv, 100; pig-nut hickory, t)3:
white ash, 87; white oak, 83; dogwood,
75; scrub oak, 73; white hazel, 72;
apple tree, 70; red oak, 07; white
beach, black birch, bl; yellow oak,
CO; hard maple, 59; white elm, 53; red
cedar, Db; wild cherry, 55; yellow pine,
51; chestnut, 52; yellow popular, 44;"
butternut and white birch, 43, aud
white pine, 30.
Measuring Dreams,
The longest dream, says the Medical
Monthly, lasts less than tun minuter.
A man fell asleep as the clock tolled
twelve. He wakened ere the twelfth
stroke died awav, having In the interval
dreamed that he committed a crime
was detected after five years, tried and
condemned. Shock of finding the
halter around his neck awoko him to
consciousness, when he disco voted that
all the events had happened iu an in
finitesimal fragment of timo. Moham-'
med, wishing to illustrate the wonders
of sleep, told how a certain man, being
a sheik, found himself, for his pride, a
poor fisherman; that he lived for sixty
years, bringing up a family and working
hard; and upon waking up from his
long dream, so short a time had ho
been asleep that the, narrow necked
gourd bottle, filled with water which
he knew he overturned as ho foil 1 sleep
had not had time in which to empty
tself.