fill!
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Edltorand Publisher. NIL DESPERANDUM. Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL.fni. - BIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY' JULY 13. 1882 NO. 21.
Christian Roth's Story.
rstuttunrt. lln. 1882.1
I've culled, Mr. Consul, Mils morning, to nsk, If you
please, your nuvitw
On ft matter that gives mo great worry" Let's
hear It (wants money I know)."
Here's my citizen-paper ("All right.") I was born
In the Schwarswaldcr Krcis,
At Schramberg, and went to America forty-flvo
years ago.
Yes, I'm near seventy now, and yon sec that my
step Is unsteady
Plenty of trouble, I tell yon I settled In North
Illinois,
And there, ever since, I've been working and sav
ing np, so that already
I've got a nice farm, Sir. Consul, that goes by-and
bye to my boys.
How many children 1 There's four, three boys and
a girl. We've had seven ;
But when the war came along, my William and Carl
marched away.
Doth of them fell on the field, and last winter the
good Lord In Heaven
Called home our dear little Iinnie--8he's twelve
years old to-day.
Ves, the old woman Is living. She's there with the
boys on the place,
And our Una keeps house for them all. Next
spring she'll bo just twenty-four.
She's tho handsomest girl in tho county; there's
sunshine all over her face j
I can hear even now her sweet voice as she told me
farewell at the door.
Why I left ? Well, pc rhnps, Mr. Consul, 'twere bet
ter the truth weren't told.
But no matter It wasn't my fault. My old woman
and I had a fight.
She is sick and can't work any more, and she's idle
We're both getting old ;
So she's cross, and will have It that I'm always
wrong and that she's always right.
It hasn't been always that way. In the days when
we worked for our bread
And hadn't a dollar laid by in the bank, she and I
were all good
And happy together; but since wo began to be get
ting ahead
She has tried to be boss over mo, and I didn't in
tend that she should.
And when our poor dear Minnie died, I had hoped
that the fight would die, too,
But no ! it lived on just the same, and one day, about
four weeks ago,
The old woman sent out for a lawyer, and then, for
. the first time, I knew
Thnt she wanted to separate from me f rom me, who
have borne with her so.
And the boys they all tried to make peace ; she
would listen to naught that they said,
But my Lina stood up by my side though she spuku
not, 'twas easy to nee,
As she put her sweet arms round my neck and rested
her beautiful head
On my breast, that her dear heart was full of the
tenderest pity for me.
And I said: "My Christina, we've labored and
struggled together till now ;
Our children arc grown, and you want us to sepa
rate, now wc are old ?
No lawyer can part us, Christina, no lawyer can
sever our vow,
But I'll leave you and go forth alone on my wy
through the rain and tlie cold." ;
Then my poor Lina cried, and sho bado me re
flect, and tho boys they said " Stay I"
And I paused for a moment and looked at Chris
tina she said not a word.
One word would have kept me. Hut no, it came
not, and I hurried away.
And my Lina's sweet voice, "Oh, dear father, come
back," was the last that I heard.
And so I have wandered back here to the scenes of
my childhood and youth ;
Have Btood by the grave of my father and mother
have seen the old home M
On the hillside at Schramberg and yet, M r. Consul,
to tell you the truth,
I find that I cannot be happy while far from the
loved ones I roam.
For my sweet Una's words, " Oh, dear father, come
back," always ring in my cars,
And I'm going this day; but for fear there should
come on the journey some ill,
There's no telling, you know, what might happen,
perchance, to a man of my years,
I have come, Mr. Consul, this morning to ask you
to draw up my will.
And I want you to make my old woman entitled to
all that I've goi
In case of my death. After all I can trust her to do
what is fair
By the children in case she survives me. Just say
that I, Christian Itoth " What!
Is your name Christian Koth 1 Here's a letter ad
dressed to you here in my care."
A letter! My Lina's handwriting, and postmarked
at Scott, Illinois;
Here, quick, let me read it: "Dear father, my
mother implores you to come.
She tenderly a-ks your forgiveness; and now, she
and I and the boys
Arc lovingly waiting your coming, nnd eager to
welcome you home."
Ocoiye L. Catlin.
(f
IT.
99
FIIOM TUE GERMAN OF ALEX V. ROBERTS.
fTho original of this translation, by Mrs.
Rosalie (Jrtlitilor, of Albany, N. Y., is a prize
story written for the Vienna AllQtmeineZeit un g.
There were eoven hundred and fifty contribu
tions handed in, and of these Mr. Roberts'
"It" took tlio iirat prize, 3(10 florins. The
judges were some of the most enlightened men
of German literature Bauerufeld, Laube,
Gross and several others.
Returning from a business trip, I
entered my wife's boudoir, and found
hfr kneeling before a low-chair, on
which sat a boy-baby with large, round
and wondering eyes. She got up and
camo rustling in her silken robe do
chambre to meet me. She reached out
her band and greeted me not more
heartily nor yet more formally than we
were accustomed to greet each other in
those days.
"There it is," said my wife, pointing
to the child.
" What ?" asked I; but she stooped
down before the little stranger, held a
biecuit clote to his little upturned face,
and half turning toward me, replied:
' Well, you know did we not read of
it in the newspaper? Don't you remem
berthe day before yesterday ? And is
it not beautiful ?"
Now I did recollect that a few nights
before she had held the GazeUe under
tho light of my student-lamp, and point
ing with her finger to an advertisement,
said to me: "Please read that." It was
the well-known appeal, the cry of de
spair from a bleeding heart, addressed J
" to good people." a child was offered
for adoption to persons well off. "What
would you think of our taking it?" my
wife bad said, and I had returned the
paper to her with a shrug of my shoul
ders. " But, Martha, what havo you done?"
cried I, in a tone vibrating with anger,
"You have really "
"Certainly, as you see. And then it
belongs to mo; I myself have settled
everything with the poor mother, who is
in reality to be pitied. I have sworn
to take good caieof it; and so I will in
deed."
She took the little bend, with its
blonde silk curls, between her white
hands and fondled and caressed it.
"Is it not eo, little one ? you will be
loved ?"
But the somewhat sickly and delicate
little face showed no sign of understand
ing, except that out of the heart-shaped
little mouth came one of those sighs that
sound so strangely from children.
I at once gave up all serious objec
tion. Had we not been accustomed for
years to act independently of each
other ? Our marriage was not a happy
one, although we had not married for
love. During the noiso and bustle of
the crowded exchange, onr fathers had
contracted this union. She bad to tear
her heart from a beloved one, and in
mine glowed a passion not yet outspoken.
But parental wishes conquered. We
chose to be obedient children; and so
it happened.
At the commencement we were to
each other a silent reproach; after
which followed a declared war, until
linally we came to a polite but gloomy
peace.
To be sure she was beautiful, 6ho was
good and bright and sparkling. Others
called her an ngel. And 1? Well. I
believe that I was no monster either.
Tho analysis showed the brightest ecl-1
oi s, still the sun was missiDg. We were
six years married and had no children.
Perhaps had heaven sent us them well,
this child belonged entirely to her 1 I
heard later that she had given the
mother a thousand dollars, the price of
a set of jewels which she sold secretly.
"Why did you not tell me of it?"
said I, half angrily.
"Because it would have been too
late if I had waited for your return to
the city ; and besides I wanted to have
it entirely for myself ; I want to call it
my own," said she, poutingly.
My horses, my dogs ; her canaries,
her gold fishes that I could endure ;
but that she wanted to have her child
for herself alone, that was too much for
me. Tho thought of it tortured me
ono, two days long. On the third day,
my wife having gone out in her carriage,
thcro came a veiled woman and de
manded entruncs. It was the mother.
Like a shadow she glided into the room,
and, with a hnlf-suppressed sob, begged
to see her child once more. She could not
part from him forever withont imprint
ing one more kiss upon his checks. I
opened ray safe quickly: "Here, my
cod woman," said I, "take that, they
have not given you enough." Hot tears
full down her wan cheeks; she begged
me not to judge her too harshly; she
hud another child, a cripple and help
less; she herself was sick and would not
live much longer, and what was to be
come of the children? Then she
hought I myself had to iinish the
'entenee, which a violent fit of cough
tiighad interrupted. "Yes," sho had
'.hought, "I will sell the healthy one,
in order that tho money may help the
.u-ipple when I am dead and gone."
No, she must not ba judged harshly;
so rich ones know but little of the trials
aud temptations of the poor.
When my wife letnrned I gave her
an account of the call I had had, adding
I but I had given to the unfortunate one
exactly the same amount as she had
"And now," said I, "you see the child
belongs to both of us." Sho bit her lip
with her little white teeth.
" It is all the same to me," said she
after a moment's reflection, and with
that she preflsed a tender kiss on the
little boy's mouth. It sounded almost
like a challenge.
" Oar child I" I scarcely ever saw it.
And the cbanges that were made in our
household for his sake were made entire
ly without me. Sometimes, after the
most important things were decided,
my consent was then asked. " We are
obliged to have a nurse, I hired one,
Anselm" I nodded silently " We
must fit up a nursery ; that room is too
warm for the child." I no.ldod silently,
but I heard the eonnd of tho workmen,
who were already busy in the hall
What could I do better? Was it not all
done for our child ?
My wife and I did not talk much
about the child, and when we did men
tion it we used only tho name "It."
But this " It" could be heard through
the house at almost any time of the
day.
" Hush ! not so much noise ! It sleeps,!
It must have its dinner. It should be
taken out for a drive. It has hurt it
self !" And so the whole house began
to turn round our " It." This nameless
neuter vexed me.
" It must haveit3 own name," said I.
one day.
" I entirely forgot to ass the mother
I mean the woman what its name
is," answered my wife. ' She intended
to come again. But she does not
come, she is certainly sick. Now, I call
it Max. Max is a pretty, short name; is
it not ?" "Him," returned I, between
two draughts of my cigar; ' Fritz would
also ue a quite pretty name." "One
cannot change the name now on ac
count of the domestics," answered she,
shortly; and then called out loudly:
Is Max up already?" Never mind.
was it not our child !
Once, though, I played my justifiable
part toward our child. At dinner it was
always served at a little table in an ad
joining room. At such times we could
hear, between the scantily-dropping
phrases of our conversation its merry
prattling, accompanied by the clatter
ing of its spoon. My wife had no rest;
there was a continual going and coming
between us and him; thn soup might be
too hot and he might eat too much I
"Wife," said I, very quietly but very
decidedly, "from to-morrow it shall eat
with us at our table. It is old enough
now with its two years."
From that time on " It" ate with us.
He sat there in his high chair like a
prince, close to my wife; both opposite
to me like declared enemies, as it were.
The yellowish paleness of poverty had
yielded to a fine aristocratic pink in his
little cheeks, whioh, now becoming
quite chubby, sut comfortable on the
stiff folds of the napkin. It worked
powerfully at its soup; and now that it
bad finished, set np the spoon like a soep .
terin its little round fist on the table. My
Wife and I had exchanged a few words,
and now again we sat silent. Apparently
on account of this silence, its large eyes
began to open wider and wider. They
stared on me, stared at my wife, with a
surprised, almor.t frightened expression,
as if they had a presentiment that all
was not right between us. I confess
that these eyes embarrassed me, and
that I had a feeling of relief when
Frederick entered with a dish. And I
think that my wife felt the same.
And the following days there were
the same large, wondering eyes, like an
appealing question, staring into the
pauses of onr conversation. It sounds
ridiculous, but it is nevertheless true;
we were culprits before the child, we
two grown persons I And by degrees
our conversation became more ani
mated. The occasional prattlings of the
little one were noticed and spoken
abont; indeed sometimes there was
mutual laughter at his attempts to
speak.
Ah ! how light, how bell-like pure
sounded her laughter! Had I never then
heard that before ? And what was the
matter with me, that I sometimes bent
over my writing desk, listening, as
though I heard from a distance these
same silvery tones ?
With the hrBt sunny spring days "It"
began to play in the garden, which I
could overlook from my seat in my
office. She was generally with him. I
could hear the sound of his little feet
on the pebbles, and then her footsteps.
Now she would playfully chase him,
and a chorus of twittering sparrows
Would join their notes with the merry
laughter. Now she would catch him
and kiss his cheeks over and over. Once
I opened my window; a warm, balsamio
air streamed around me and a butterfly
fluttered in and lit on my inkstand
Just then 6he came out of a green, vine
grown bower; she was dressed in a
dazzling white negligee, trimmed with
costly lace; all over her streamed the
golden sunshine, except that her face
was overshadowed by the pink of her
parasol.
How slim she appeared 1 how graceful
in her movements I Had I been blind ?
Truly the aunts and cousins were right;
she was in reality beautiful I A sweet
smile transformed her features; she was
happy certainly in this moment she
was and her happiness came from her
child. Then a voice made itself heard
in my breast, which said very plainly:
"You are a monster ?" I got up and
walked to the window. "It is a beauti
f ul day," called I. I know how cold and
prosaic it must have sounded to her. It
came like a heavy cloud-shadow over a
sunny landscape. She answered some
thing that I did not understand; but
the brightness was gone from her little
face. Then she took up the child, who
was stretching out his arms to her, and
kissed and caressed him before my
eyes.
There it was when the first feeling of
jealousy was aroused in me; a jealousy
truly, but what a strange jealousy,
which could not make clear to itself
who was its object I If "It" said
" mamma'1 to her, there came a pain in
the heart; and the caresses with which
she overwhelmed him almost drove me
wild. I was jealous of bothl It
pained me that I had no part in this
weaving of love; that I was not tho
third in the union. I exerted myself
to gain a part of their love. I did it
very clumsily. The child persevered
in a certain shyness, and she had I
not kept myself forcibly away from
her during thso long, long years?
Ono day at the dinner-table, after a
skirmish of words, came a great still
ness between us, a stillness more pain
ful than it had ever been. I glanced
down at the flowers on my plate of Saxon
porcelain, my displeasure showing in
my face; but I felt plainly that " It '
hud its eyes fixed on me, and also her
eyes ! It was as if those four eyes
burned on my forehead. Then sound
ed suddenly in the stillness, " Papa I"
and again louder and more courageous,
" Papa I" I shuddered. " It : sat theru
aud stared, now very much frightened,
over at me, wondering, perhaps,
whether a storm would be raised by its
"Papa." But her face was suffused
with glowing redness, and her half
open lips trembled slightly.
T here came a flood of gladness over
my heart.- Certainly no one but her
had taught him this " Papa." Why did
I not spring up, bound toward her, and
with one word, one embrace, strike out
the loneliness of these last six years?
One right word in this moment and all
would have been well. It remained
unspoken ; I seemed to have lost all
power to act; but on a certain page
of my ledger are still traces of the
tears I shed in anger at my own
stupidity.
There was no doubt about it ; another
spirit had stepped in with its little
curly head the spirit of love; and
that made me a stranger in my own
house. A precious sunshine brightened
the rooms, even when the one in the
heavens was hidden by clouds. The
face of the servants and even inanimate
objects streamed back this radiance.
But . me, only, the sunshine did not
touch.
I felt myself always more and more
unhappy in my loneliness. Jealousy
grew in me ; it gave me all sorts of
foolish thoughts. I wanted to rebel
against the little autocrat, but that
would be ridiculous. I wanted to give
her the choice between him and me.
I, audaoious one. I knew very well
which side her heart would choose. At
auother time I was ready to take steps
in order to find the mother, and, with
the power of gold, force her to take
back her child behind my wife's back.
That would be cowardly.
I could no longer fix my mind on
business. I mistrusted even myself.
People asked what was the matter with
me. I feigned illness.
Tho sunshine would not let itself be
banished, and the spirit of love was
stronger than I. With bis flaming
sword he drove me out. " I must take
a long journey, Martha." My voice
trembled as I said this. My wife must
have noticed it; for something like
moist, shining pity shone in her
beautiful eyes. At my taking leave she
held the little one toward me and asked
in soft, caressing tones: "Will you not
say adieu to our child ?' I todk up the
little one, perhaps too roughly; at all
events, he began to cry and resist my
caresses. Then I put him down and
hastened away.
I traveled in uncertainty through the
world and behold I after the first few
days in addition to an ordinary travel
ing companion, bad humor, there came
another fellow who told me plainly that
I wai a fool. First it sounded like a
whisper, then louder and louder; "You
artt a downright fool." Finally, I read
it in the newspaper before me; it was
traced on the blue mountains; the loco
motive shrieked it to me. Yes, I be
lieved it; why did I not then and there
turn my face homeward? Well, the
fool must first travel it all off before
everything would be right again.
At last, one day, with a violent beat
ing of the heart, I again entered my
dwelling. What a solemn stillness
reigned there t I could now hear the
sound of whispering voices; my wife
came toward me: " It is very sick,
very sick," moaned she, " It will surely
die 1" I tried to comfort her. Only a
short time, however, proved that her
fears were but too well grounded.
During the night we both sat by the
little bed; she there and I here. Each
of us holding one of his little hands.
Ahl those feverish pulse beatsl every
stroke sounding like an appeal: " Love
each other, love each other; be good!"
We felt eventually these throbbings
and we understood the appeal. Our
eyes met full and earnest through the
glittering tears, as in a first holy vow.
Words would have seemed a sacrilege
then.
Not long after we laid our darling in
the warm spring earth.
When we again sat down at our table
there was a stillness between us; but it
was not the same stillness as that which
the little straager had broken in upon
with his parting "Papa." By the
wall stood his high arm-chair, and on
the little board before it lay his spoon
scepter. My wife reached her fine, white
hand over the table, and asked: " Did
you also love it? at least a little?"
Her voice trembled. "My wife 1 my
sweet, my own wife I" called I. Then I
fell at her feet and held her hands fast
in mine. " I love thee, my wife, ob.
wife 1"
After the first emotion had subsided
I pointed to the arm-ohair: ' 1 The little
one came to teach us love," whispered
1. " And when it had finished its teach
ing it went again to the angels," added
she, through ber tears.
One day the physician stepped out of
my wife's room, with a smiling fuoe.
He touched the little arm-chair as he
passed it, saying: "Let it stand there;
you will need it again."
Really? Was it possible ? Had I de
served such happiness?
As I held my wife close to my heart
in my irrepressible joy, I could not for
bear to bend down to her blushing little
face, and say: " We will love it dearly,
very dearly. Is it not so?"
The Opium Evil.
The use of opium in the United
States is increasing at an alarming
rate. The amount consumed has rapid
ly grown until in 1880 there was im
ported 533,451 pounds of opium and
8,622 ounces of morphia. In 1876 it
vras estimated that there were 200,000
opium eaters in the United States, con
fined principally to the well to-do
( Usees, and it is said that the number
now reaches 400,000, who spend S5,000,
000 annually. It is also estimated that
upward of 6,000 Americans are opium
smokers, and smoking dens are in full
blast in New York. A great deal of the
drug is absorbed in cigars and ci
garettea. The opium is used in a liquid
state, the tobacco being saturated with
a solution of greater or less strength.
This must generate an appetite for
opium that will lead to the use of the
paro article. A druggist in New York
asserts that its use has greatly increased
since the introduction of hypodermic
injeotions. Large quantities are also
used in a number cf quack rredicines,
whioh thus become a prolific source cf
evil. Albany, New York, consumes
annually 3,000 pounds of opium and
550 ounces of morphia, four-fifths of
which is said to be consumed by women.
One of the most deplorable facts in con
nection with the custom is the preva
lence of the habit among women. There
is sufficient cause for alarm, aud Ije
Friends have done well to call atten
tion to the impending danger, and their
address will do much to form "a healthy
and well informed publio opinion op the
evils and extent of opium use, whicb
are comparatively little understood. "
To be forewarned is to bo forearmed.
The evil could be successfully dealt
with now, and if tho people of tho
United States cm be awakened to a
sense cf their danger the thing may be
nipped in the .bud. If the habit is al
lowed to grow it will speedily assume
the form of a difficult sooial problem.
Guardian,
countered on the Doctor,
Dr. Louis, of New Orleans, who is
something of a wag, called on a colored
minister, and propounded a few puzzling
questions. " Why is it," said he, "that
you are not able to do the miracles that
the Apostles did ? They were protected
against all poisons and all kinds of
perils. How is it you are not protected
now in the same way ?'
The oolored preacher responded
promptly : " Don't know about that,
dc.itor. I speot I is. I' re taken a
mighty sight of strong medioine from
you, doctor, and I is alive yet."
After a cruise of a few months in the
South Pacific a French man-of-war was
recently found to have Specimens of
living corals growing upon her hull,
The interesting discovery has thrown
some light on the question of the rapid
ity of growth of corals. Tho evidence
tends to show that tho vessel, on pass
ing a reef of the Qambier Islands,
against which she rubbed, had picked
up a young fungia, whioh adhered to
the sheathing and grew to a diameter of
nine inches and a weight of two and
one-half pounds in nine weeks.
Oregon a wool clip last year was
8,000,000 pounds, and this year's yield
is expected to be 1,000,000 pounds
greater.
ARCTIC HEROES,
The fortitude Displayed by De l.ona and
ills Companions Loyal to the Last.
The diary of Lieutenant De Long,
found beside his body, extends from
October 1 to October 30, 1881. It is
the record of terrible suffering borne
with indomitable, heroism and ending
in death. There is not in literature a
nobler or more pathetio story.
De Long and his men died of cold
and hunger. They supported life
during thirty days by the adoption of
every means known to shipwrecked men
except cannibalism. No one seems to
have thought of that horrible expedient.
At first they had a little dog meat, and
they managed to shoot two or three ptar
migans : then they were reduced to tea
made of willow twigs and to alcohol. At
last they gnawed the leather of their
boots and bits of deer-skin, and then,
too weak to continue their march, lay
down to die. They were slowly dying
of starvation for fully three weeks, and
in this condition had to resist as best
they could the terrible cold. Through
it all they never lost their courage.
"All bands weak and feeble, but cheer
ful," wrote De Long, when it must have
been perfectly clear that nothing but a
miracle could save the party from death.
There is not a line in the whole diary of
complaint or murmuring against God or
man.
It too often happens that discipline
vanishes among shipwrecked men, and
that the selfish desire for life leads to
inhumanity, if not to actual crime.
There is no such stain in the story of the
crew of the Jeannette. De Long
seems to have maintained his authority
unquestioned to the last, and his men
evidently shared his generous spirit.
For days they dragged a sick comrade
with them lashed to a sled, and never
seem to have thought of abandoning
him in order to increase their own
chances of reaching a settlement. The
officers and men never manifested the
slightest hesitation between duty and
selfishness. They clung together and
helped one another loyally while living.
and so long as the survivors had
strength their dead comrades were
given Christian burial. There was ap
parently no difference in the bearing
and devotion of De Long, the Ameri
can, ErickBon the Dane or Ah Sam the
Chinaman. Every man of the little
bund was a hero, knowing how to do his
duty and doing it with unflinching faith
fulness. In their distress the shipwrecked
men turned for help to Gd. In De
Long's diary there is constant mention
of religious service?. When the faith
ful Alexy was dying the surgeon bap
tized mm, and when all hope had gone
wo are told that "all bauds united in
saying the Lord's prayer and Creed."
The humble, cheerful trust in God and
submission to His will, of which Da
Long's diary gives constant evidence,
show us that it was a band of Christian
heroes that perished in the Siberian
snow.
Bitterly as we may at first sight re
gret that so many noble lives have been
lost, the men of the Jeannette's crew
did not die in vain. Their fate suggests
that beautiful passage in the prayer
book where wo thank God for those
who have departed this life in His fear.
DeLong and his men have made us
prouder of our humanity. They have
shown us to what sublime heights of
heroism educated officers and ignorant
seaman can alike attain. They have
given an example of calm and cheerful
performance of duty which is without
once. They have shown us once more
that faith in God can survive all suffer
ing. Let us thank God for the life and
death of these heroic men. It is im
possible that their heroism can fail to
bear its priceless and perennial fruit.
lsnt let us have no more costly sacn-
lioes of life in the vain search for the
pole. It is idle ns well as ungenerous
o blame the projectors of the JeanneMe
expedition for its disastrous failure.
The vessel was to follow a route hither
to untried, and there wa3 ample ju3tiii-
atton for testing the question whether
the polo could be reached by that route.
Exploration becomes unjustifiable only
when it is demonstrated tbat the end
sought cannot be attained in spite of
every effort and saorifi :o. When the
Jeannette sailed it had not been de
mons! rated that the polo could' not
ba reached by steeiiDg northward
from Wrangell Land. Her experience
has now proved that the ice barrier is
as impenetrable in that direction as it is
wherever else it his been attaoked.
The chances that the pole can never be
reached are now so lniinitesimally small
that we are not justified in wasting any
more lives in polar expeditions. To
send out another expedition would
show a reckless indifference to human
life of which any nation ought to be
ashamed. Let us close the record of
hopeless heroism ar-d useless suffering
in the frozen sea with the story of the
noblest of all the Arctic heroes, George
W. De Long. New York limes.
Accident In a Sulphur Mine.
The Gazzetta Piemonttse reports a
terrible accident in one of the sulphur
mines at Caltanisetta, in Sicily. The
rope by whioh a wagon heavily laden
with sulphur was being drawn up an
incline out of the "Tumminelli" pit
suddenly snapped. The wagon there
upon commenced descending again, and
there being no possibility of stopping
it the wagon rushed at a tremendous
speed to the bottom of the pit and was
instantly dashed to pieces. Oiing to
the high friction the brimstone burBt
into flames, with the most disastrous
results to the miners, who were all at
work at the time. As soon as tbe fire was
extinguished there were no fewer than
thirteen bodies taken out of the pit, the
victims having all been suffocated and
burned to death. There were, in addi
tion, upward of thirty miners who had
received injuries, chiefly burns of a
more or less serious character.
W. Smallwood, of Lula, Ga., is the
father of eighty living children, and as
improbable as the statement appears it
is vouohed for by the Athens Banner,
idis age is given at eighty-six years.
Queen Victoria has finished the forty
fourth year of her reign.
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Salt and Corn for Cows.
Oows will rarely take too much salt if
it is freely offered to them, but if it is
given to thera very seldom and they get
hungry for it they may take too much.
One ounce a day is not too much, but
ten ounces in one dose every tenth day
would be dangerous, and it might possi
bly be swallowed. It is safest to give
salt regularly in stated quantities and
then a cow might be safely left with a
barrel full near by without risk. Dry
cum is not a right food for cows. Meal
may be given, but not the grain, which
would bo swallowed whole and nut di
gested, and indigestion produces loss of
cud.
Hod as a Fertilizer.
An old farmer writing to an exohango
says: There is no way manure can
be furnished so cheaply as in sod. Sod
not only enriches the land but improves
it mechanically, the decay of the roots
in the sod making the soil, and that, too,
of the best quality. Sod manure is al
ways adapted to the soil, and no test
ing is necessary to know whether it will
benefit the crop or not as with com
mercial fertilizers. With the Rod ma
nure it is all gain, both in mechanical
and fertilizing effects. To get best re
sults tho rotation of crops should be
quick and the land got into clover
and grass sod as quick as the fourth
crop, so that the organio elements of
the soil are not too heavily drawn
upon.
Water Horses Often.
Says the Farmers' Magazine : Horses
require water as often as do men, and
should have it every five or six miles,
if the weather ia warm. If the horse
is very much overheated, just before
coming to a watering-place, say a quar
ter of a mile or so before, ''slow up" to
a waiK, and when you get to where you
can give the horse water he will bo
cooled off considerably ; then, too, he
should have his mouth sponged out and
about a half bucketful of water. Noth
ing refreshes a tired, jaded horse so
muoh as a drink of water, and if he has
it at regular intervals he will keep up
over a long distance. He can do much
better for a whole day and over a long
journey without food than without
water. If this item of watering was
more carefully attended to we would
hear of fewer cases of horses being
overcome by the heat during the warm
summer months.
Sunflower Heed for Poultry.
Every exhibitor of fancy poultry
strives to get his fowls in good condition
for the shows, and hundreds who do not
exhibit at all are just as desirous of
seeing the plumage of their fowl pets
looking bright and glossy. Corn, oats,
wheat or any other kind of grain can
not always bo relied on to effect this,
aud to sunflower seed belongs the credit
of being able to do it.
The ripened seeds of sunflowers have
boon known for years by those who
have used them to have properties of
imparting to the plumage of adult
fowls a superior gloss that no other
grain will produce. A small quantity,
fed occasionally during the process of
molting, and again before preparing
for exhibition, will necessarily uid in
giving the desired glosa, as has been
determined by frequent practical ex
periments. There is no doubt, if fowls are fed
too often on the seeds of the sunflower,
and in large quantities at a time, to the
exclusion of most othor kinds of food,
they may causa an injury to the crop,
owing to the tough or leathery nature
of their covering. Some times we hear
of fowls being crop-bound by eating
sunflower seeds, but it is well known
fowls have been crop-bound when
they ate other kinds of food. Sun
flower seeds are best when crushed and
mixed with meal.
Fowls liko this seed when they be
come accustomed to it. The common
snr.flnwer has been grown by well-informed
fanciers annually for the pur
pose of giving a bright and glossy ap
pearance to the plumage cf thoir fowls.
It is very easily raised on most any
kind of mellow soil. It should ba
planted in May, and we recommend the
mammoth Russian variety to be the
best, principally because it will yield a
heavier crop. Poultry Monthly,
1'iirin and Garden Notes.
Early cut grass makes better
hav
than that which is cut late.
The best cure for harness wounds on
horses is burnt leather. Bub the ashes
on the sore and a cure is soon effected,
The nearer a fattening animal ap
proaches maturity the greater is the
proportion of fat in the gross increase
obtained.
The slovenly management and waste
of manure is one of the most general
specimens of the ignorance or careless
ness of farmers.
A tiee overloaded with fruit can
neither perfect the fruit nor ripen its
wood properly. A great many trees are
annually ruined by too much cropping,
All concentrated fertilizers should be
applied by broadcasting, in preference
to placing them in the hill, as too large
a quantity in a small area is sometimes
fatal to seeds.
Horses are sooial animals, particularly
so in the case of young horses. They
thrive best when in the society of others,
hence the advantage of pasturing several
in one held when practicable.
For iron rust take dry cream of tartar
and rub on with the finger while the
cloth is wet. Hang or place whero the
sun will shine directly upon it. Should
the rust not come out with the first ap
plication repeat.
In order of earliness cf green fodder
plants that have been cultivated at the
experimental farms, lucerne is first,
then cumfrey, red clover, rye, tares,
oats, millet, rape, corn and cabbage
Au average production of thirteen tons
green weight and three tons dry weight
was secured.
Remedies for diseases of sheep are
many, but few are effectual. This js
owing to the fondness of sheep for com
panionship. Disease once introduced
into a flock spreads rapidly, and sick
sheep, as a general thing, never get
well. Farmers who wish to be success-
ful with sheep should guard them
against exposure aud contagion.
Mr. B. Hurlbnt, Portland, Mich., says
he knows by two years' successful ex
perience that a dash of soapsuds is
death to currant worms. "Try it," he
tells the Fruit Recorder, "in just such
strength ai will curl them in a seoond
of time." He uses it very strong, and
after it has served this good purpose
the rains wash it down and it acts as a
stimulant to the bushes.
Two or three hives of bees can be
kept as well ns not on every farm, and
with the present progress of bee-keeping
a large quantity of good extracted
honey can be procured at no expense,
except for starting. With movable
frames and a smoker, bees are as trac
table as chickens, and comb foundation
can be bought and placed in the hive
and the bees can go right to work.
The observations of Dumas, Peyen
and Bouissingault have shown the fact
that a cow gives healthy milk in exact
proportion to the surplus of food be
yond what is necessary for her own
maintenance. If the animal is kept on
food barely sufficient for proper nour
ishment the milk produced must be at
n loss of animal tissue, with general
deterioration of the milk and also of
the cow.
Most growers concede that three feet
six inches each way is the best distance
for planting corn, dropping three ker
nels in a hill as nearly as possible. The
argument in favor of close planting is
that it admits of more thorough culti
vation, allowing the cultivator to meet
between the rows and stir all the ground.
The Chester county mammoth and othor
tall growing varieties, however, will do
well if planted three feet six inches
eaoh way.
Ono of the most prevalent errors
among average farmers is tho neglect
of making and preseiving manure and
also its improper application to the
ground. Collect all the refuse material
you can, use your chip dirt from the
wood pile in absorbing liquids. Apply
it to the flat lands at any time during
winter. It can then be thrown on
broadcast and plowed in as soon as the
grour d opens. Tho necessity of return
ing as much vegetable nutriment to the
ground as has been taken off by the crop
cannot be too strongly impressed upon
the attention of our farmers.
Keep nursing ewes by themselves and
give scalded bran or oatmeal daily.
Sugar beets or potatoes, sliced and
sprinkled with a quart of middlings or
bran for each ewe, will produce abun
dant and rich milk. Keep lambs where
they will have plenty of sunshine.
When rouh, shoddy wool appears in
the fleeces or tlio wool drops off in
locks, the sheep are not healthy, or the
food bus been too dry and heating.
Stop the commeal and give some lin-
seea oil-cako meal; a fow potatoes will
bo useful if roots aro not to bo had.
Give salt frequently aud freely.
UfClpPB.
Calbcannon. Make some
good
mashed potatoes in the usual
way, to
which add about one-third of the quan
tity of finely chopped greens. Mix
them together, season with pepper and
salt and serve liko mashed potatoes.
Pickled Pears. Ten pounds of pears.
three pounds of light brown sugar, one
quart of vinegar, one ounce of cinna
mon, one ounce of cloves (ground) ; put
all together and boil till the pears are
tender ; skim the pears out and let the
syrup boil a half an hour longer.
Ox-TaijCi Sotjp. Take two tails, wash
acd put into a kettle with about one
gallon of cold water and a little salt.
Skim off the broth. When the meat is
well cooked, take out the bones an t
add a li'tle onion, carrot and tomatoes.
It is better made the day before using,
so that the fat can be taken from the
top. Add vegetables next day, and boil
an hour and a half longer.
Moonshine. This dessert combines a
pretty appearance with palatable flavor,
and is a good substitute for ice cream.
Beat tin whites of six eggs in a broad
plate to a very stiff froth, then add
gradnally six tablespoons of powdered
sngar, beating for not less than thirty
minutes; then beat in about one heap
ing tablespoon of preserved peaches cut
in tiny bits (soft, ripe, fresh fruit is
better if you can get it, or some use
one cup of jelly). Set on ice until
o joled. In serving, pour in each saucer
some rich oream sweetened and flavored
with vanilla, and on the cream place a
liberal portion of the moonshine. This
quantity is enough for eight persons.
Household Hints.
Kerosene lamps which are trimmed,
daily never explode.
Leaves of parsley eaten with a little
vinegar will prevent the disagreeable
consequences of tainted breath by
onions.
If jou desire to restore velvets, hold
the article over a basin of boiling water,
back down. It will require a long time,
but the nap will surely rise.
You can get a bottle or barrel of oil
off uny carpet or woolen stuff by apply
ing dry buckwheat plentifully and
faithfully. Never put water to such a
grease spot or liquid cf any kind.
It is a good plan to boil onions in
milk and water as it diminishes the
strong taste of that vegetable. Chop
them after they are boiled and put them
in a stewpan with a little cream and
let them stand about fifteen minutes.
This gives them a fine flavor and they
should be served hot.
Representation in legislative bodies
is much smaller ia the United States,
in proportion to population, than in
any of the leading countries of the
world. While tho United States, with
a population of 50,000,000, have only
369 Senators and members of Congtess,
Genaauy with 45,000,000 has 397 dele
gates; England, 34,000,000, has 658
members of parliament; France, 86,
000,000, is represented by 950 senators
and representatives; Spain, 17,000,000,
population, has 387 deputies ia the
oortet ; and Austro-Hnngary with - 85,
000.000 people has a legislative body of
1,600 in the two houses. If the United
Stales had a representation in Congress
upou the tame basis as Austgo-Hungary,
there would be no less than 2,286 mem
bers of Congress and Senators.