The Elk County advocate. (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, June 22, 1882, Image 1

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    iilili
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
Nit DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. XII.
The Dead Stowaway.
"Wsshud tip on the beach by the waves lay
the body of a stowaway, looking horribly bru
tal in He rage, and sought aud cared for by no
one." Report qf a Sttamthip Wreck.
1.
Be lay on the beach, Jnet ont of tho reach
Of wares that had cast him by;
With fingers grim they reached for him
As often as they came nigh.
The shore-face brown had a surly frown,
And glanced at the dancing sea,
As If to say, "Tako back the clay
You tossed this morning at mo."
Great fragments rude, by the shipwreck
strewed,
Had found by this wreck a place;
He bad grasped them tight, and hope-strewn
fright
Sat still on the bloated face.
Battered and bruised, forovor abused,
He lay by the heartless sea,
As if Heaven's aid bad never been mad
For a villain such as he.
ii.
Tho fetter's mark lay heavy and dark,
Around tho pulseless wrists;
The hardened scar of many a war
Clung yet to tho drooping fists.
The soul's disgrace across that face
Had built an iron track;
The half-healed gash of the jailman's lash
Helped cover tho brawny back.
The blood that flowed in a crimson road
From a deep wound in his head
Had felt llcrco-pangs from the poison-fangs
Of those who his young lifo foil:
Cursed from tho very beginning
With deoda that othors had done,
"More sinned against than sinning"
And so is many a one I
in.
He had novcr learned save what had turned
The steps of his lite amiss;
He never know a hand-grasp true,
Or the thrill of a virtuous kiss.
'Twas poured like a flood U rough his young
blood,
And poisoned every vein,
That wrong is right, that law is spite,
And theft but honest gain.
The seeds were grown that had long been sown
By tho heart of a murderous sire;
Discaso and slnmc, and blood aflame
With thirst for tho fountains of fire.
Battered and bruised, forever abused,
He lay by the moaning sea,
As if Heaven's aid were even afraid
Of a villain such as he.
As ho lay alone, like a Bparrow prone,
An angel wandered nigh:
A look she cast over that dark past,
And tearB came to her eye.
Bhe bent by the dead, and tenderly said:
"Poor child, yon went astray;
Your heart and mind were both born blind
No wonder they lost their way 1
Angela, I know, had fallen as low
With such a dibmal chance.
Your heart was ironed, your soul environed,
You were barred of all advance I
Cursed from the very beginning
With doeds that others have done,
Hore sinned against than sinning'
And so is many a one 1"
Will CarMon, in Harper's Weekly,
AN OLD MAID'S LOVE.
I Lad fallen into a doze as the stage
coach elowly progressed along a smooth
and sandy country road. Being the
only passenger so far, I Lai rejoiced in
the luxury of undisputed possession,
and was not overpleased when being
aroused by the stopping of the vehicle,
" I ascertained that we were to take in
two other passengers.
One of these waa a burly, florid,
good-humored-looking man, and, as I
soon learned from himself, was a well-
to-do grazier of the name of Catlin. The
other was of my own sex a little, middle-aged
lady, brisk and bright, who
appeared accompanied by a silky
poodle and a mocking-bird in a cage
besides the usual basket, umbrella and
parcels. Sho entered the coach smiling
ly, apologizing for disturbing me, as I
removed my own parcels from the oppo
site seat, then proceeded to arrange her
effects with the air of one who had just
taken possession of lodgings and w s
putting them in order. The grazier,
though evidently as much a stranger to
her as to me, kindly assisted by point
ing out how the umbrella and parcels
might be more conveniently disposed
of, while I won her heart by notioing
the little dog and suggesting that the
bird-cage might be suspended from tho
ceiling of the coach.
When theso arrangements were
effected the little lady settled herself in
a corner, looked smilingly about her,
and seemed inclined to bo sociable.
Thus falling in with the grazier's
humor the two spcod ly became chatty
nnd communicative, and it was not very
long before I had learned the wholo
of Miss Allison's history. Indeed it
did not take many moments to relate,
being a remarkably ordinary and un
eventful one. Bhe had been born and
always lived on the "little farm" which
was now her own, having been left to
her by her parents. Bhe was not rich,
she said, modestly, bat had more than
was sufficient for her own wants, and
she meant to leave it all to her niece
Alcthia, who was considered the pret
tiest girl in tho county of Gates, and
had taken the highest prizes for draw
ing and French at the Mount Prospect
academy. Bhe was a farmer's daughter,
it was true; but she had very dainty
and delicate ways, and had never been
foroed to do coarse work. Like herself
Alethia was an only child, and her
father, Mies Allison's brother, was
"very well off," and with what she
would get from him and from herself
Alethia would be rich, and a match for
any young man in the county. And
Miss Allison tossed hor head and looked
brightly around, apparently very proud
of her niece, Alethia.
"The young lady's got a fine name
in addition to her other attractions,"
remarked the grazier, good-humoredly.
"You think so?'' replied 6he, look
ing pleased. "They wanted to call
her after me ; and I should have liked
' it if I had had a pretty name. But
Priscilla isn't a pretty na ne," she added,
with a light laugh; "an I, to make it
worse, they call me Prosy. It used to
worry me when I was young, for I liked
pretty names as well as otber pretty
things, so I resolved that my nirce
should be more fortunate than mvself
in that respect. Well, when she was a
week old, I looked 07er all the books I
could find about the house, and at last
came across Alethia, which reemoJ jutt
the right thing. And I think it suits
her, only she prefers to have it Alethe.
That's French, you know."
"I take it, yon know French, ma'am?"
suggested Mr. Catlin, in a complimen
tary manner.
"Oh, no; I had no advantages of ed
ucation, which I've often lamented
over, and that was why I insisted upon
Alethia being sent to Mount Prospeot
academy, and offered to pay for it my
self if her lather wouldn't. I think I
should have made a good scholar," she
added, with a half-sigh, "for I had a
natural liking for books and pictures.
I used to write poetry, too, when I was
a girl."
"Shouldn't wonder, ma'am. And
beia' bo smart, yon rtat'raby looked
down upon the men, and wouldn't be
mean yourself to have one of 'em for
a lord and mnster," said the grazier,
with a good-natured chuckle.
The little old maid laughed, too.
"It wasn't because I had an over opin
ion of myself, but, somehow, the men
I knew never suited me."
"Mebbe the right one hasn't come
yet," he suggested, in a consolatory
manner.
"No, nor I don't expect him to come
at this time of day. He's staid away
too long if he meant to come at all.
After thirty-five a woman's got no busi
ness to be thinking of getting married
and I'm past thirty-five," she added,
with a little deuant""don't caro" air.
"Possible? Well, now I shouldn't
take you for nigh that; and I've always
maintained that no woman can live to
thirty without some time bein' in love.
If she don't meet the right one, why,
she'll fall in love with the wrong one,
and that's the way unfort'nate matches
come about."
"Well, sir, I'm past thirty-five, as
I've said, and very certain am I that
I've never been in love, and never shall
be."
Bhe said this very positively, while
smiling and blushing a little. But at
that moment a sharp exclamation from
the driver, and a sudden stop of the
stage coach, caused us to look from the
windows.
"What is the matter T
We had no need to ask, for there
right before our eyes, in the hot and
dusty road, lay the figuro of a man, ap
parently dead, with a small bundle and
stick beside bim.
We were all out in a moment, and
the driver, assisted by Mr. Catlin, lifted
the inanimate form and bore it to the
shade of the pine trees by the roadside.
He was quite unconscious, though not
dead, as we had at first thought ; and
while I ran for water from a neighbor
ing brook, Miss Allison produced a bot
tle of smelling-salts and the driver a
flask of spirits. Mr. Catlin, meanwhile,
stooped down and carefully examined
him.
"He's not hurt anywhere," he said,
gravely, "but he'o ill, very ill, poor
fellow I"
" What ails him ?" we inquired, anx
iously. The grazier looked up and solemnly
uttered one word :
"Starvation !"
An exclamation of horror and com
passion broke from Jliss Allison. She
hurried to the coach and returned with
a little basket of luncheon. Her hands
trembled and her eyes were blinded
with tears as she stooped down and
placed a few crumbs of bread moistened
with currant wine between the white
lips.
The sight was enough to draw tears
from any one, let ulone the warm
hearted little old maid. There he lay,
a young man of not more than three or
fourand-twenty, with regular, clear-cut
features, clustering brown hair thrown
back in a damp and tangled mass from
his white forehead, and clothes which,
though shabby, worn and travel-soiled,
bespoke him not of the common or
laboring class. And he was starved
worn out and nearly dying for want of
food and from tho heat and fatigue of
traveling on foot through the burning
summer noontide.
As we gazed his eyes slowly opened
beautiful eyes they were large and
dark and pathetic in their wistful half
consciousness. The sight drew a fresh
burst of tears from Miss Prisoilla's eyes,
which were assuming an unbecoming
redness.
" What are we to do with'him ?" I
inquired, anxiously.
" I'll carry him on to Atlees," re
plied the driver. AVe can't leave him
alone on the road to die. Bat I don't
know as anybody there'll take him in.
He's only a tramp, though a genteel -lookin'
one."
"I will take him in," spoke up Miss
Priaoilla, promptly. " We're only six
miles from my house, and there he
shall stay until he's able to tako care of
himsolf. If his mother could see him
now 1" she added, in a faltering aside
to mo; "and if she's dead, I'll take her
place and be a mother to him as well as
I cun, poor young man 1"
In the coach she continued to tend
him most carefully, every now and then
insisting upon him taking a few crumbs
of roll and a sip of her currant wine.
Ho was conscious now, but too weak
even to speak, and we all forbore to
force him to that exertion.
In little over half an hour we stopped
at a white gate opening on the road,
and leading by a short carriage-way to
a pleasant, comfortable-looking farm
house, with a broad piazza in front cov
ered with vines. Here we all alighted,
and while Miss Allison hastened for
ward to prepare things the men assisted
our invalid to tho house, I taking
charge of the old maid's umbrella,
which in her haste she had overlooked
and left in the coach.
They laid the new guest on a snow
white bod in the coolest and neatest of
chambers, and a motherly old colored
woman went to prepare chicken-broth.
I observed Mr. Catlin speak to Miss
Allison aside, and saw him take out a
pletl'.orlo pooketbook, but Bhe per
emptorily pat it away. Then he care
fully pinned a bill in the young man's
breast-pocket, and he and the driver
RIDGWAY, ELK
j de arted, promising to send the dootor
from Altees.
I remained at the urgent request of
Mils Allison. Bhe had learned that I
was going to a quiet little farmhouse
only a few miles distant, where I pro
posed to spend the hot summer months,
and she would not let me continue my
journey through the blazing noontide
sun. In the evening, when it became
cool, she drove me over in her old
fashioned gig, by a shaded woodland
road leading directly from her house to
tho farm, and she expressed the hope
that I would come often to see her
while I remained in the neighborhood.
I was glad to avail myself of this
invitation. I had from the first liked
the bright, lively, kind hearted little
lady, nnd I liked her the better the
more I knew of her.
My first visit to her was made osten
sibly to inquire after her patient. He
had been very ill, she told me, with a
touch of brain fever, and she was still
anxious about him. Her whole heart
scorned stirred with compassionate ten
derness as she related to me what she
had gathered concerning him. He was
a poor artist who had failed in his busi
ness, and, without home, friends or
means, was making his way on foot to
the north, in the hope of finding some
kind of an opening there. What little
money he had possessed was exhausted,
and, having been rofused food or a
night's lodging by one and another on
the way who never took in "tramps," he
finally succumbed to hunger andfatigae,
and would probably have died, Miss
Priscilla said, with a choking sob, if we
had not fortunately found him in time.
When I again called I found Mr. Ar
thur Field so far improved as to be sit
ting up, and even moving about his
room a little. Miss Allison took me in
to see him, charging me not to talk too
much. And how assiduous she was in
her attentions how closely she watched
even his looks and words in her anxiety
to do all that could be done for him.
And how quietly, intensely grateful he
was.
" She is an angel I" he said to me in
a low voioe, in reply to some remark of
mine on her goodness of heart. "I had
no idea that such were to be found on
earth."
Miss Priscilla blushed a little when I
told her of this.
" He's a little weak-minded still, poor
fellow," she said, lightly touching her
forehead with her knitting-needle (she
was knitting him a pair of socks, having
already furnished the rest of his ward
robe). "By-and-bye he T?ill find out
that angels don't go about in calico
dresses and muslin aprons."
Bhe was afraid that he felt it a little
lonesome, she said, as he grew well.
She had written to Alethia to pay her a
visit. They both drew, and they both
liked tho rame books, she had discov
ered. Alethia would make it pleasant
er for him.
After a while I noticed that she
left off calling herself his mother;
and that she took pains with her
dress, and arranged her hair in a
new and becoming style which gave
her a much more youthful appearance.
I even discovered the disappearance
from her temples of a few gray hairs
which I bad before observed there. As
for Mr. Field, he was all tender and
respectful devotion, and evidently did
really consider her as in goodness at
least something very near an angel.
" Priscilla," I said one day (I was
somewhat older than she, and we had
become friendly and intimate), "do you
know that I think Arthur Field more
than half in love with you ?"
" Nonsense 1" she answered. But she
blushed painfully notwithstanding.
" Haen't he told you so?" I ventured.
On this she burst into tears. And
then, in ' .c usual frank and impulsive
way, it all came out.
" I know it is perfectly ridiculous,"
she said; "an old woman like me,
nearly forty years old, and a boy such
as he, not yet fivo and-twenty. But he
insists that years make little difference
where where true esteem and attach
ment exists."
A sudden thought flashed upon me,
and I spoke it ont at once in my fear
for her.
" He is poor, and you have money
enough. Perhaps he is influenced by
that consideration."
"No," she answered, quite calmly.
" I told him some days since, when he
was talking about leaving and looking
for work, that he must stay here and
take care of my little place. (It needs
looking after, you know, and he'll soon
learn), and I promised to provide for
him. Alethia will have enough of her
own, even if she don't marry. In fact,
I told him that I would look upon him
as an adopted son and make him my
heir, and so he need not feel anxious
about the future. Aid then he well"
blushing a good deal and her hands
trembling a little "he proposed that I
should take him as a husband instead
of a son. And he said I was still young,
that people didn't grow old at five-and-thirty,
and that for himself, after all the
terrible trials he had gone through, and
all my goodness to him, he should never
love any woman as well as he does me.
It's boyish talk, you see."
Despite her attempt to speak lightly
there was a light in the old maid's eyes,
a softness and tenderness in her voice,
which betrayed that to her this offer of
youthful love the first ever laid at her
feet, probably was the dearest to her
heart of anything on earth.
"If I were young," she continued
and there was a positive sharp pain in
her voice and expression " if I were
young and pretty as I once was, I might
think of it. And if I had met him then,
so exaotly like what I used to think
as the sort of man I could love, bo re
fined and noble and handsome, so dif
ferent from the coarse men I was ac
customed to why, we might have
suited each other and been happy to
gether. Bat an old maid like me why,
it's ridiculous, isn't it? People would
make no end of fun over it."
Notwithstanding all this things be
gan to assume a definite shape, suoh as
it was impossible to mistake, and I was
not at all surprised when Miss Priscilla
admitted to me in confidence that she
and Arthnr Field were to be quietly
married in Ootober. And, meantime,
Bhe added, Alethia was coming to atay
with her until the marriage should take
place.
COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY. JUNE 22. 1882
Owing to circumstances it was two '
weeks before I again saw my friend
Miss Allison. Then riding out to spend
an afternoon and take tea with her, I
came suddenly upon her in the fields,
walking very fast and nervously, and as
if with no gpeoial aim. She warmly
welcomed me, but not in her old bright
happy way, and I notioed that she was
looking badly.
" Where is Mr. Field V I Inquired.
" In the house."
"What, by himself?"
" Oh, no; Alethia is with kirn. Did
von not know that she had come ? Been
here nearly two weeks."
I had, in fact, forgotten A'.ethia's ex
pected visit, but presently approaching
the house, saw Mr. Field bending over
the shoulder of an extremely pretty and
delicate-looking girl, apparently di
recting her in a sketch she was making.
Glancing from them to Priscilla I saw
her lips unconsciously contract into an
expression of repressed pain whioh at
onoe revealed the whole story.
It waa wonderful what self-command
she exercised during the evening. I am
quite sure that neither Arthur Field or
Alethia suspected that she was suffering.
But, indeed, they appeared too much
absorbed in themselves and each other
to bestow much notioe on other people.
I repeated my visit on the following
week. It was now the young people
who were looking miserable. Arthur
was seated beside Miss Priscilla, duti
fully reading to her from a newspaper,
soarcely glancing at the young girl who
stood with her back to him, looking
from the window. By-and-bye she went
ont.
"Take this shawl to her, Arthur,"
said Miss Allison ; "she has gone to
walk in the garden, and I fear it is
cool."
"I don't think it is cool," he an
swered, dully, "and I would prefer
staving here, if I am not in your way."
But I saw, and so did Prisoilla, that
his glances involuntarily wandered from
the window toward the slender figure
loitering amid the rose bushes in the
garden. Perhaps she expected him to
follow, but he conscientiously resisted
the temptation.
On the Sanday following I met all
three at the country church. Miss
Allison was looking very badly, pale,
nervous and hollow-eyed ; but both the
young people were radiant They were
a remarkably handsome couple as they
sat one on each side of their older com
panion, who looked older than ever from
the contrast. Yet both were most ten
derly solicitous for her comfort, and
Arthur conducted her on his arm to her
old fashioned carriage with an almost
chivalrio devotion. I rode home with
them at her earnest request, and after
our early tea we walked in the rose
garden together, leaving the young
couple to themselves.
" What day have you fixed upon for
yonr marriage V I inquired.
She drew a quiok, sharp breath, but
answered calmly:
" That is broken off. I shall never
marry."
I was almost prepared for this.
" It was an absurd notion from the
first," she continued, "and I am
ashamed of myself for having dreamed
of it."
" Has he said anything?"
She interrupted mo quickly.
"No, no; not a word. On the con
trary, he insisted upon it until until I
succeeded in making him believe that
I had never really cared about it. You
see, he held himself bound in honor.
But they were so unhappy, he and Ale
thia poor child; and how could. I be
so hard-hearted as to separate thorn?
So I talked to them both, and " here
she broke down into a little gasping
sob "they are to be married at Christ
mas." " Does Alethia's father consent ?"
" He did not at first. He came down
for a day or two, and I had to talk him
over to it. I mean to leave everything
of mine to Arthur; and shall meantime
make over to him sufficient to prevent
its being said that Alethia married a
beggar. And in every other respeot
he is her equal, if not her superior."
The generons, unselfish little old
maid I I could have kissed her in my
admiration and sympathy, and I quite
agreed with Arthur Field when he said
to me again, with great fervor and a cer
tain moisture in his fine eyes:
" Bhe is an angel 1"
I was not at the wedding, but Pris
cilla herself sent me a piece of the wed
ding cake. She wrote a few lines cheer
fully, telling of their plans, and of how
she had purchased a few acres more of
land to make the farm larger for Arthur.
But I do not believe that the little old
maid, though she makes a first-rate
aunt, ever got entirely over the first
love that had come to her too late,
alas, to be to her a joy and a blessing.
Oh, youth, youth, what an inestimable
treasure thou art; bo often lightly dis
regarded to be afterward lamented in
vain regret and yearning. Susan Arclur
Weiss
A Kan Who Has Walked 175,200 Miles.
George Fawcett completed in April
last his forty-seventh year of service in
the English postoffioe as a rural mes
senger. From 1835 to 1842 he rode
between Sedbergh and adjaoent sta
tions, carrying mails in this way a total
distance of 67,160 miles. From 1842 to
1882 he has walked daily between Sed
bergh and Dent, thus traversing 175,.
200 miles. His entire travel as post
nan foots up 242,300 miles, nearly ten
times the distance round the earth, and
2,360 miles further than from the earth
to the moon.
A young woman at a pionio near Mad
ison, Indiana, was warned by the young
man with whom she was walking against
tumbling down the cliffr near them.
But she thoughtlessly went ahead and
plunged over a precipice of rugged
rocks seventy feet high. She waa so
lucky as to miss them all, landing in
the mud face foremost, whence he
was pulled out with no broken bones
and only a slight bruise. She will learn
to listen more attentively to what young
men Bay to her.
It is said that the Australian colonies
are the richest, per capita, is the world.
Among their possessions are 80,000,000
sheep to a population of only 8,U0O,OOU
souls.
FACTS AJfD COMMENTS,
An ingenious swindle has lately bee
exposed in London. It consists in ar
tistically coloring fish, meat and game
so that they appear to be of the finest
quality, and hawking them about the
Btreets at tempting prices. A fish thus
prepared, which had passed the Inspec
tion of a wary housekeeper and an
expert ccok, was dropped into the pot
as a salmon of particularly aristocratic
hue and came out a codfish of tho most
plebeian type.
The laboring classes in 8pain have
been for some time past suffering great
ly because of the long continued
drought. Snch extremities have been
reached that the government was forced
to furnish large amounts of money to
the authorities of Andalusia to be ex
pended in giving employment to the
people. The wisdom of this plan In
aiding those actually in want can read
ily be seen. The government does not
propose to aid its citizens as to encour
age laziness, but only will assist those
who aro desirous of employment and
cannot on account of the drought pro
cure it. This is an example of publio
aid such as can be followed by all na
tions without danger.
Immured within the triple walls of
Gatschina, and guarded by a host of
sentries, the Czar Alexander III. still
suffers constantly a nervous terror that
threatens to dethrone his reason. Hav
ing overcome his fears sufficiently to
visit his father's grave on the anniver
sary of his death, he resolved on re
turning to test the efficiency of his
guards. To his unspeakable horror he
was successful in eluding their vigi
lance, and regained his apartments un
seen. It is generally believed in St.
Petersburg that he never will summon
up courage enough to endure the ordeal
of a publio coronation, although some
of the ambassadors have rented palaces
in Moscow for the event.
A writer in the Cornhill justly gives
the palm of cheap places to live in to
Belgium and Italy. At Ypres or Ma-
lines an ordinary ten-room house may
be had for 8100 a year, a good Flemish
cook for $4 a month, and a housemaid
for 83. Milk, eggs, poultry, fruit and
vegetables are about forty per cent.
cheaper than in American cities. Schools
are cheap and good. Italy is still
cheaper than Belgium to those who
know Italian, but Americans and Eng
lish must take very good care to ascer
tain what prices really are or they will
be charged tenfold. Bargaining iq ab
solutely necessary, and, as a rule, it is
best to oner at hrst one-thud of the
price demanded. Borne, Naples, Turin
and Florence should be avoided by
mose Dent on nugai living.
Our Canadian neighbors are entitled
to tally one on the score of making
) noise in tho world, a New York firm
having abetted, by furnishing to an en
terprising lumber concern of that sec
tion what is, so far as we are aware, the
largest steam whistle on any industrial
establishment in the world. This
whistle, which stands four feet nine
inches high, has a bell twenty inches in
diameter, and is attached to the boiler
by a four-inch connection. It is made
entirely of composition (bronze), and is
highly finished all over, it will re
quire a liberal battery of boilers to
supply the steam for on extended
"toot," and the musio will undoubtedly
sound charming from a distance. We
heartily sympathize with the hapless
people who live in the particular section
tn which this whistle is to be located.
The criminal news of a Dingle week
from all parts of tho United States
makes a sad showing of boyi&h deprav
ity. A boy of Belleville, 111., killed
the girl who rejected his addresses on
account of his dissipation. Two Arkan
sas boys quarreled over a rabbit hunt,
tmd one slew the other with an ax. A
St. Louis boy 6tabbed the playmate
who teased him for his ignor. nee of
English. A West Virginia boy shot his
rival in his gill's affections. A Vir
ginia boy confesses the poisoning of
two persons. A Texas boy shot a little
girl because she refused to put down a
pail when he ordered her to. A Kansas
boy is on trial for intentionally drown
ing a playfellow. Two Wisconsin boys
maltreated a child nearly to death.
Three boys pleaded guilty to highway
robbery iu Chicago. An Iowa boy is a
forger. A Missouri boy set fire to a
Lou He. A New Mexioo boy shot a baby.
A Colorado horse thief is aged eight
years, and none of the other criminals
mentioned was over sixteen.
A New York doctor who had a patient
who was afilicted with nervous prostra
tion, catarrh and indigestion, and at last
had become a confirmed invalid and
had kept his bed a larger part of the
time, discovered that the trouble was
caused by a defective construction of
the eyes. After medical treatment and
the nse of proper glasses he recovered.
Other cases of nervous trouble, irrita
bility and lack of nutrition were cured
by the use of glasses. Of 100 cases of
neuralgia, epilepsy, hysteria, stomach,
kidney and spinal troubles the
ance was traced to disturbances in the
eyes. He has taken observations for
many veers before announcing his dis
covery. These diseases arise from lack
of consideration in the vision; that is to
ear, both of the eyes do not see the ob
ject looked at from exaotly the same
angle, producing irritation cf the
organs. This is remedied either by
glasses or by straining the necessary
muscles of the eye. One case of epi
lepsy and sleeplessness was cured by
severing the muscle. Prominent phy
sicians of New York, although believ
ing that he carries his theory too far,
are inclined to admit that he has dis
covered a new and important fact in
physiology.
M. Veres tchagine, the painter of bat
tie pictures, Has recently bad two sin
galar compliments paid him by Conti
nental Governments. So vividly has he
depicted tne norrors of the battle-neld
that in Russia the publio exhibition of
his paintings was altogether interdicted,
while at Berlin the military authorities
lornaae soldiers to pay them a visit.
Esquimaux Weapons.
If you were to examine the queer
weapons by whioh the Esquimaux man
age to capture their seals specimens of
tbem are in the national museum at
Washington you would be astonished
at their roughnoss. It is very difficult,
especially lor the northern bands, to
get any wood, excepting sticks that aro
washed ashore, and a pine? long enough
to make a good spenr handle is extreme
ly rare. In most cases, therefore, they
are obliged to splice two or three
snort pieces together, and this they can
only do by slanting both ends, and
binding the pieces nl their juncture
with strings of rawhide or iitrips of
intestine. The striking end of tho
epear usually consists of a long and
pretty straight piece of bone, such an
can be got from a whalo's or walrus'
skeleton, and this is tipped with a
sharp point of bone, or flint, or (nowa
days generally) of iron. Sometimes
this tip is movable, so that when it
penetrates the prey it will come off and
only be held by the line, while the
handle floats, secured by a loop. Other
spears have each a skin buoy attached,
this making it more diffiault for the
poor animal .to swim away, and also
neipmg to float tue weapon if the nun
ter misses his aim. The stout lines are
made of seal hide, or sometimes of
braided sprnoa roots. The "hooks"
mentioned pbove have wooden or bone
shafts, to the end of which a curved and
sharpened hook of bone is firmly
bound. Besides, there are other rough
Weapons and a kind of net, in all of
which the seal's hide and bones contrib
ute to his tribe's destruction, and which
are marvels of savage ingenuity.
JUauy of tuem are used later when
the ice breaks up and tho Esquimaux can
go ont in their kayaks. The kayak is
about twenty feet long, but can be
carried by the one man who forms the
crow. It is all decked over, excepting
a little round hole throucth which the
young Esquimau squeez:s his legs and
sits down. Then he puts on a tight
oilskin coat over his garments, and tics
it down to the dcok all around him, so
that no water can pour in " tween
decks." But on the other hand, he must
untie the knots before he can get out;
so if by chnnce he capsizes, he must
either bo content to navigate head
down and keel up, or else must right
himself by a sort of somersault, which
6hall bring him up on the opposite side
and this he often actually does. St,
Nicholas.
HEALTH HINTS.
Do not force children to eat at this
time, and do not allow them, unless in
the most sparing measure, pastry or
sweetmeats to tempt their appetite or
for any other reason when they seem
unwilling to eat. Plain bread and but
ter, with plenty of oatmeal or craoked
wiicat mush, well-cookod vegetables
aud lean meat, and plenty of fresh fruit
if accessible, particularly oranges, form
a suitable diet for young or old.
There is no danger that children can
slesp too much. The old pro verb, "Who
sleeps eats," is illustrated in those
little ones who sleep most. Wakeful
children are usually peevish, irr'table
and lean. If they can be induced to
tleep abundantly, they are quite likely
to become good-natured and plump.
Their sleep should bo as much during
the hours of darkness as possible, and
therefore it is belter that they should
go to bed early to have their sleop out
tnan to sleep long alter sunriso in the
morning, it is well to let any health
ful, growing child or young person to
sleep until ho wakes himself, and then
give him such a variety and amount of
outdoor exerciso as shall make him
glad when bedtime returns.
Fires. If the clothing of a person
takes fire, wrap tbem about at once and
completely with blankets to extinguish
the names. If caught in a bummer
house remember the best air to breathe
is near the floor, and that a wet hand
sel chief placed over the nouth permits
breathing nnd excludes smoke, thus
avoiding suffocation. Br.Foote's Health
Monthly,
WISE WORDS.
The stoutest heart loses hope under
repeated defeat.
Better bend the neck promptly than
to bruise the forehead.
Wit is a merchandise that is sold but
can never be bought.
He who proposes to be an author
should first be a student.
If the power to do hard work is not
talent, it is the best possible substitute
for it.
As any man may be compelled to eat
his words, he should never indulge in
bitter speeches.
There is no strength in exaggeration,
even the truth is weakened by being ex
pressed too strongly.
Excess generally causes reaction, and
prudence a change in the opposite
direction, whether it be in the reasons,
or iu individuals, or in governments.
Men in responsible situations cannot,
like those in private life, be governed
solely by the dictates of their own in
clinations, or by Buoh motives as can
only affect themselves.
No man can go into bad company
without Buffering for it. The homely
old proverb has it very tersely: "A man
can't bite the bottom out of a frying
pan without smutting his nose."
Manners must adorn knowledge and
smooth its way through the world.
Like a great rough diamond, it may do
very well in a closet by way of curiosi
ty, and also for its intrinsic value,
If honeet fame awaits the trnly good;
if sotting aside the ultimate success
excellence .alone is to be considered.
then was his fortune as proud as any to
be found in the reoords of our an
cestry.
'Many who seem to be struggling with
adversity are happy; while some in the
midst of riches are miserable, This is
the case when the former bear the pres
ume wun constancy, ana tne latter em
ploy their wealth thoughtlessly.
On starch, grape sugar and cant
sugar gastrio juice has no perceptible
cueoi.
NO. 18..
Discontent.
In the pleasant autumn weather,
When tho golden fruit wo gather,
0:'t I think Hint I would rather
See the whiter come.
H'r the til ri'iug nuitli wind roaring
Through ilia tico-toysbaro and brown,
Than tlil- cprsp'cs rustle, rusllo
Of the aero luiivua falling round."
But when comes the winter dreary;
Though the health fire Mazes choory,
And tho evening stents are merry
As in veirs gono by,
Fuin I'd eco Ihn spring buds bursting
On the tree-tops bare and brown,
Af,'ht but this continuous sifting
Of tho white flake falling down.
When with icy fetters brokon,
Though by human words unspoken
Spring comes, fitting sign and token
Of the resurrection mnrn;
Then I saw thee summer haston
With thy gorgeous sunset hues
And thy genial warmth and sunshine,
And thy gently falling dews.
But when summer's thunder crashes,
And the fiery lightning flashes,
And the wild wave fiercely dashes
On the rock-bound coast,
Than I long again for autumn,
Autumn with its burdened sheaves,
Autumn with its golden foliage,
And the falling of the leaves.
HUMOR OF THE BAY.
A writ of attachment A love letter.
Women's temper and the stook mar
ket are very uncertain.
All Indian remedies for bringing on
new hair will be regarded with distrua!
by a man who has been scalped.
"Are yon lost, my little fel
low ?' asked a young gentleman f a
four-year-old. " No," he Bobbed, in
reply, " b-but m-my mother is."
"Violet, dearest, do you play thnt
tune often ?" asked Hugh Montressot
of his affianced. " Yes, pet, and when
we are married I'll play it all the time."
Then Hugh went out and shuddered
himself to death.
Miss Brown, who is no longer young,
was chiding Miss Moire for her foolish
ness in carrying a parasol, which Miss
Brown said was useless and a piece of
affectation. " I never carry a parasol,"
she said. " No," replied Miss Moire ;
" people on the shady Bide of life hava
no use fcr them."
" Tell your mother I'm coming to sno
her," said a lady to another lady's lit
tle boy, who replied : "I'm glad yon
are coming. Mamma will be glad,
too." "How do you know your mother
will be glad to see me ?" "Bocause I
heard her tell papa yesterday that no
body ever came to the house exoept
men with bills to collect."
"No man shall ever kiss me exoept
my future husband," she said, as bo
was about leaving the gate. "Suppose
I agree to be your future ."
"Why, then I'll hir.e yon," she replied,
eagerly, and she did. Her mother waa
informed that he had proposed, and the
old lady called around next day to set
tle matters, and before ho knew it he
was eternally hooked. It was a mean
advantage, but a bird in the hand iu
worth two on tho front gate.
A farmer who had some cider to sell
was pricing to'.u, and found that they
had risen Feveial certs a pound.
Wliat'n ln.i.l.i tra riz ?" said ho.
" Scarcity of lea elits," baid the mer
chant, llowi v r, lie agreed to take
some to lo paid fir in cider. How
much'u yonr cii'e if" asked the mer
chant. 'IVmiiy centa." "Twenty
cents!" rr.nd tba merchant. "Whi'.
we you i.si;iu4 biich a price asthat for 1"
' Cause bung hoies u scarce, said tue
farmer.
Lydia Adams, who died in Missouri a
few days ago, sold peanuts to Wash
ington s soldiers. This is a meet im
portant fact brought to light. We hail
beard of the torn clothing of the Con
tinentals, of their long weary maiohe
and their bloody footprints in the in&
and snow over which they traveled;
but never were we aware that they were
regularly regaled on the seductive pea
out. We are glad to know that aniiil
ill their hardships and sufferings thj
peanut was an ever-present ark of ref
uge and puissant tranquillizer in their
lay of trial.
A gentleman of Columbus, Ohio, cf
rather an eccentric turn, visited New
York and wandered one Sabbath into a
fashionable church and complacently
seated himself in a vacant pew. noon
after a gentleman and his wife came ir.
and eat down in the same pew. Tbu
gentleman eyed the stranger critically
for a minute and then wrote on the fly
leaf of his prayer book, " My pew," au 1
passed it over to the intruder. Tlri
Ohio man read it, smiled sweetly, ami
wrote under it, lieal nice pew. What
did you pay for it?" The New Yorker
learned that he was an Ohio man au.l
invited him to dinner.
A Touching Incident,
A child's bouI in the act of grand
endurance passing out at the pressur r.
of his mother s kiss is a noble subjee'.
Says a Western exchange :
A ten-year old boy, whose legs wen
recently cut off by a train of cars n
Dubuque, Iowa, was too plucky to niak
any fuss over the incident. When tl.i
little fellow was taken home his legi
hung limp, but he did not complain.
Hoi a tear stood in his eyes, but tut
tender look he gave to those who stool
by his side told plainly that he was
suffering great agony. After tne uoo
tor had dressed his wounds he callu l
his parents, bitten and brothers to hi j
bedside, khsed one and all, and left
tear upon their cheeks. A second tin-
he called his mother to his side, plact A
his arms about her neck, and said :
" Mother, I am going to die in a fe ?
minutes. Please forgive me for not
minding you."
With this the little fellow fell back,
aud as the mother said, "Yes, u.y
darling," and took another look at hii
face, Bhe found him beyond all pain,
The output of coal from the mines ot
Alabama has increased from 10,000 ton
in 1372 to 100,000 tons in 1881.