r
Hrjf
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HENRY A. PARSO NS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
Nil, riESPERANDUM.
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VOL. XII.
'It Is not Yesterday."
(TBI ANSWEB OF A CHILD.)
Poor red flower of a month, yon qniver so
What ii the matter? Tell me if yon know.
Why don't yon langh out in yonr own one
way?
"Beoanso because it is not yesterday ."
7 1 kno- Oh, yesterday was sweet
It laid its one blue blossom at your foet.
It let you see that gracious old man pass
Leading his cow to find the glad first grass.
To-day is dark, dark, dark. Somewhere I see
Quick lightning, and the sloet is on the tree
Where the bird, fluttering, thought about a
nest.
And so yon cry. Well, sometimes tears are
beet.
I do not know but I could hide my fnoe
Deep in my arm, if 1 but had your grace,
And shed more tears than von cnn nonnt,
I say,
Because, ah mo, it is not yesterday:
S. M. B. Piatt, in the Century.
John Merrivale's Wife.
CHAPTER I.
It was 2 o'clock in the morning, and
John Merrivale still sat before tho li
brary fire, alert and anxious. Whr i
ever the sound of apjroacIiing whc ts
was heard lie held hid breath till they
passed, and then almost breathlessly
waited for others to draw near. Most
men would have eased their anxiety bv
pacing the lloor or looking out of the
window; but John Merrivale was
too much ashamed of his nervousness
to even admit it to himself. lie had
entered his house at 12 o'clock to find
his wife away, .she had not spoken to
him of any engagement or intention of
spending the evening from home. Mr.
Merrivalo did not ignore the fact of
hard words the morning previous. He
had told his wife that he should not be
homo till late that night. She had
wept and he had called her a baby and
a simpleton,
It seemed to him, as he looked over
the two years of his life as a husband,
that his wife had wept everv day since
they were married. Of course she had
no cause for tears. A ghost of a smile
played around his stern but handsome
mouth as he thought of her over
weening fondness for himself and of
her jealousy of every person and pur
suit that kept him away from her.
Now she had undoubtedly planned to
make him jealous by going to some ball
or party without his knowledge.
The sound of wheels grew less and
less frequent, and now the littlH fdiwb
on the mantel struck three. This was
horrible! Ten minutes past three, and
the soft click of a latch-key was heard.
Very slowly and deliberately Mr. Mer
rivalo rose from his chair and opened
the door leading into the hall, lie was
iieadly pale, but his face was iron in its
rigidity.
A gentleman In full evening dress
had entered the house and was re
moving his overcoat when the library
door opened.
"Hallo! Jack is that you?" the new
comer inquired, in an off-hand manner.
'Yes, it is I," Mr. Merrivale re
plied; "but where have you been so
late?"
" To one of the Harrington crushes,"
the young man responded, following
ins companion into tne library, "and I
didn't know as I should ever tret
baclc." fc
"It wasn't so far," Mr. Merrivale
remarked.
" You see I had two ladies to take
home, living in totally opposite direc
tions, and out of regard for horse-llesh
I walked the last mile."
Clarke Denning was an old friend
and chum of John Merrivale's, and
had been his guest for several weeks.
A very natural pride, natural at least
to John Merrivale, restrained him from
immediately speaking of his wife's ab
sence. Then, too, there was something
else. How strange that Clarke had
not remarked upon his being up so
late. He did not usually find him in
the library at 3 o'clock in the
morning. Mildred had doubtless made
a confidant of Clarke and he had felt
it his duty to respect her communica
tion. This was of course disloyalty to
him.
For a moment there was silence be
tween the men, when Clarke said, sud
denly: "I'm going to bed. Jack."
"Yes, presently," Mr. Merrivalo re-
pneu, in a curious tone, " out iirst I
should like to ask you if you know any
thing of Mildred ?"
"Mildred!"
There was surprise enough in Mr.
Denning s tone, but Ins face was crim-
son and his eyes did not readily meet
ma menu w.
- .lea, iuwum, iur. luernvaio re
sponded. " .She has not been homo to
night."
"When did she go out ?"
tins was a practical question that
had not occurred to Mr. Merrivale. He
had been so sure of his wife's motive in
going away that he had not thought
iu inquiring mio ueiaus.
"l aont know when she left the
house; I only know that she is not here
now, and that is quite enough," he re
plied.
"Haven't you spoken to the ser
vants?" That is the last thing I should do.
rid she tell you that wo iiad quarreled
tlis morning, Clarke ?"
"She didn't need to tell me that.
One look at her face was sufficient."
" Did she say anything about leav
ing or punishing me, Clarke, or any
thing of that sort?" J
" Why don't you ask me if I have
run away with your wife?"
Clarke Denning's eyes Hashed fire as
he instinctively drew a step nearer his
companion.
" I beg your pardon, Clarke. I only
thought she might have poured out
iier woes, and, perhaps, given you a
hint of what she Intended to do."
"Jack, your wife could no more plot
against ypu than she could posonyou, 1
She idolizes every hair of your head,
uuu vou Know It. 1IOW do von tnnm
but something horrible hasn't happened
iu "ci r eitner you nor i nave been
home since morning. I cannot con
ceive why you did not rouse the ser
vants at once and find out what time
Mrs. Merrivale went out. You would
make a bad judge, Jack. You would
never want to hear but one side of a
case.
" Mildred dismissed her maid day be
fore yesterday. That looks suspicious.
Yesterday morning she told me she
was no longer a baby and was defiant
for the first time. To-night I came
home and she is not here. I wait till
dawn and she does not return. Two
and two make four, Clarke, and all the
Information I can get will not alter the
mathematical fact."
"You are cruel and unjust, Jack. If
) ou wui not inquire about her I will,
and "
"No, you will go to bed," Mr. Merri
vale interrupted. " The fact is, Clarke,
the whole thing is so exclusively my
business that you must pardon me for
saying that I shall be compelled to
manage it in my own way."
There was nothing for Clarke to do
but submit, and the two men departed
with a cloud between them.
" Unjust and cruel I" These words
had struck deep. It Mas plain that
Clarke's sympathies were entirely with
his wife. Mildred had doubtless com
plained to him and acquainted him
with her plans.
At breakfast Mr. Merrivale conde
scended to ask a question or two of the
servant who waited on him. Mrs. Mer
rivale had left the morning previous.
Did the servant see her go? Yes. and
thought it strange that Mrs. Merrivale
did not order her carrhnrp na usiml
She wore a black dress- and took noth
ing with her.
Ihe last was an entirelv unnecessary
piece ot information, as Mr. Merrivale
had carefully examined every nook
and corner of his wife's apartments,
even to the little safe in which she
kept her jewels.
Every jewel she possessed was there,
with the exception of two diamond
rings which she had before her mar
riage. Her engagement and wedding
rings were the lirst pieces of jewelry
lhat met his eyes as he opened the safe.
Clarke came down before breakfast
was over looking frightfully haggard
and anxious, and Mr. Merrivale in
formed him of the result of his inter
view. "Perhaps she has gone home,"
Clarke suggested.
" Did she mention such a possibility
to you?" Mr. Merrivale inquired.
" Hang it all, Jack! Haven't I said
that she didn't tell me anything?"
Clarke replied. "And is it possible
that you think I could keep anything
1 might know from you at such a time
as this? Upon my word, vou must
think 1 have suddenly developed into
a villain!" 1
" If Mildred had seen fit to throw a
little light on the subject," Mr. Mer
rivalo remarked, entirelv ignoring his
companion's earnest disclaimer,' "it
would have simplified things consid
erably; but women are as destitute of
business capabilities as they are of
logic. I should not have
put a straw
in her way if she
wanted to leave me."
hud told me she
What use to talk to a man who had
so fully made up his mind?
Clarke once more asked to be allowed
to assist in the search, and was nr:nn
refused, and quite as peremptorily as
Ihere was one chance In one bun-
area, iir. Merrivalo told himself, that
ms wiieinignt nave met with an ac
cident or been the victim of foul plav.
" i-iiauee ne must work.
ihe lact was John Merrivale cared
too much for tho opinion of the world
not to do his part toward discovering
the whereabouts of his wife, but there
wasaiooic in the man's face which
once seen could scarcely be forgotten.
juiuiuig saw it, ana won-
aerea coma it hi possible that ho had
iovea ins wite and was renllv snrrmv
ing for lils loss?
sometimes there seemed little doubt
of it, and then again a few satirical
words pointed as plainly to another
conclusion.
Clarke made several attempts to get
away, but each time his determination
una been overruled.
One day, about two months after
Jirs. Merrivale's ihght, he broached
tne subject again.
" It I were of the slightest use to
you, he told his companion "but I
am not, and I really think I must iro.
Jack."
" You are of use to me," Mr. Merri
vale replied.
" You are very good to say so, but I
don't see it," Clarke responded.
"Vponmy word, Jack," he added, with
considerable feeling, "I would give
several years of my lifo if I could do
something for you, but you have tied
me up so that I don't feel at liberty to
say my soul's my own."
Mr. Merrivale smiled, but made no
answer, and Clarke gave up onco more
his intention of leaving in obedience to
the wiperior will.
CHAPTER II.
Detectives were balked at every
point. Mrs. Merrivale's father had
been traveling abroad for several
months, and the old housekeeper was
interviewed with her knowledge and
without her knowledge by these re
morseless individuals, but it was plain
that she was as ignorant as everybody
else. More than once Mr. Merrivale
had been summoned to the morgue,
with the expectation of recognition!
but Mildred was not there. Once a
mass of long lino hair was the first
thing to meet his eyes, and for an in
stant the strong, stern man succumbed
to his anguish.
" Mr. Merrivale groaned auite like
other folks," the detective said. "II
didn't suppose 'twas ia him," I
HIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUHSD AY, OCTOBER 12.
But the beautiful hair was not Mild
red's; and when John Merrivale walked
out into the sunshine again it was with
his usual stoical composure.
.uuring ail tliese miserable weeks he
had nursed tho thought of Clarke's
L-nntVloHrrn nf 1 i1.It..la nnsivw.t unfit
knowledge of Mildred's secret until
now he was sure of it as of his own ex
istence.
He would gladly have- been in the
great house alone, free to think his
own thoughts and indulge his misery
in his own way, but he was entirely
dominated by the thought that some
time, like "murder," Clarke a con
"pllcity would "out."
"With this feeling stronger than ever
in his mind he, one afternoon, walked
into Clarke's room during his absence
ancuiooKeci about.
He felt like a sneak thief as he did
bo, for his guest's quarters were cer
tainly as sacred in his eyes as his own
private rooms.
Unt he was the head detective, he
told himself, and everything wa3 fair
in sucn an emergency as the present
Jlr. Merrivale started several times
as ho turned over the accumulation of
letters on Clarke's writing t.abl r.Hnt.
ins be be.nrd n t oS,onM- "i
mo ti,,; ;; ,Z r Z:
room with his purpose unaccomplished.
" ' " ulliuvu Myj WftVD LJ1C
JJut here was Clarke's memorandum
book, with ever so manv items care
fully erased, as It was on tho very day
that Mildred left.
This was suspicious, of course. Here
was part ot a letter in which Clarke
bad written of the great trouble of
.jack, with a slight criticism of Jack's
manner of managing the dreadful
business.
Mr. Merrivale was about to abandon
the search, when, upon taking up a
portfolio of sketches, he came upon a
scrap of writing which was as familiar
to mm as lus own. It was the tag end
oi a note, ana reau as ionows;
" and shall be obliged to name
another day. Never mind. It will be
just as well. M. M,
John Merrivale had found more than
he had looked for. Xo wonder that
bis guest was anxious to leave his
house. And this was the sequel to it
all. His wife had left him for
another man, and that man his best
friend, living as a brother under his
roof nnd partaking of hi3 bountiful
hospitality. Mildred's tears were easily
explained now. j. nere was no neceS'
bil.v vl looking lurtner. this was
evidence enough, and now, with his
teeth set and his eyes full of a deadly
uL-ii-iiiuuiaion, me outragea nusuand
si.uKeu out oi tne room.
It was after 10 o'clock that evening
wnen ciarke returned, ana jolin Mer
rivale awaited him in the library with
the same fever of impatience that he
had watched for his wife two months
ueioie.
" I am glad you are home, Jack!" the
newcomer exclaimed as he drew a
chair close to his friend's. " I've heard
some news."
"Ah!"
"Mr. Harding returned from Europe
to-day, and Charlie Wellington says
there was a lady in tho carriage with
him whom he could almost swear was
-Mil Mrs. Merrivale,
There was something in his com
mnion's face and manner that didn't
seem exactly favorable to first names,
aim ciarke awkwardly corrected him-
self.
it uoes seem tnougli " lie went on.
mat it .Mrs. Merrivale had taken
passage on a steamer from New York
that you would have found it out."
1 es, Mr. Merrivale responded
with singular deliberation: "but mv
wife did not go to Europe and you
know it."
me speaker aid not see the color
me out or ins companion s face, for it
was an impossibility for John Merri-
vale even to accuse his friend of crimp
and look him in the face at the same
time.
"I know it, Clarke repeated, with
a pitiful quiver in his voice. " Your
wife did not go to Europe and I know
it?'
"Yes, and you know it," Mr. Merri
vale responded, driving back with a
supreme effort the demon that thirsted
ror quick and summary vengeance. " I
have found you out," he went on,
"and all I now ask is that you tell me
wnere jsirs. merrivale is hiding."
" Oh, Jack, can it be ?" Clarke began,
"Drop that," his companion replied.
sternly. I want to know where niv
mio in, aim men, neaven help me. I
never want to see your face again in
this world or tho next, Speak quick-
v, mini mis nissea between set
teeth "or mr patieneo win ,ri
"Let it give out and bo hanged to
it !" Clarke evH.nin,o,i n,.. ' ,, ,
with rage. "My patience has triven out
and what are you going to do about
it ?"
"Xothing, but ask you to read this."
and Mr. Merrivale passed him the scrap
of paper.
Clarke took it, looked at it like a
man in a dream, then walked over to
the table and examined it by the light.
"Letters from mv wife must bsivn
been frequent if you cannot remember
the occasion of this," Mr. Merrivale
remarked, in his coolest manner.
"And shall be obliged to name an
other day," Clarke read aloud in a be
wildered fashion, which, if assumed,
was certainly an excellent piece of
acting.
" Oh, I know!" ho exclaimed at last,
all the anger dying out of his face.
"Why, Jack, that note was written
when you were in Albany and Mrs.
Merrivale was in Atlantic City. A
party of us was going down to spend
the day, and "
- You lie!"
"Jack!"
" I say you lie and I say more, you
ao an iniiiiiui cowara as well as a
scoundrel. Tell me where my wife is
or, by heavens, I'll shoot you as I would
dog " '
John Merrivale pulled a pistol from
his pocket and deliboratcly cocked it
At that instant the silken portiere
that separated the library from the
drawing-room was thrown one side
and Mrs. John Merrivalo appeared on
I -v-r , . f
tne scene. No sweeter vision could
possibly be imagined as tho beautiful
woman glided swiftly to the side of
ner nusuand.
Fair, petite, graceful, childlike, yet
with a womanliness that made itself
felt above even the passion and wretch
edness or this critical moment, she
held out her hand for the pistol.
" It will be safer with me." she said.
John Merrivale laid the pistol on the
tauie witnout a wow.
"Clarke is right about the note,"
sne went on. " l ou see, I have over-
beard some of your conversation. It
was a business communication, the
first, last and only one. I left this
house, John, beiause I could not live
In it any longer lind keep my self-re
spect, x ougnt t nave written vou.
but I was too wikJy wretched for that.
l ou nave been a t;rant and I a slave.
. V em. 10 ij0n,lon P mv "hcr, "o
t,lu not arrive ormy course and ad-
vised mV immediate return. Ho came
I ,UL . 1 . La. f n, ,
...v, .w-iiigiiv.' x tint owl IV, v.lfllir,
mat you nave bad to bear so much on
my account, nnd .dense try and for
give me.
Mrs. Merrivale extended her hand to
her friend and thtn turned to leave
the room. Her hisband placed him
self in her wav.
" You haven't asked me. to forgive
Vnil 1' tin '' ...... ... A.
4 iiu oaui, in mi uiittu'miy tone.
-j. trieu to ue a aooa wile, she re
plied, simply. "I failed sometimes.
1 orgive those times if you can."
Uarke turned to leave the room.
"lor heaven's sake. Clarke, don't
go! Mr. Merrivale exclaimed. "I
have been a bmte and a fool. For
give me, old fellow, and try and remem
ber the awful provocation I thought I
nail, bay yes. Clirke."
For answer the magnanimous fellow
extended his hand in token of full
forgiveness.
A ow Mildred "Mr. Merrivale was
getting back a little of his old mauner-
"1 entreat you to tiy and f orgi ve mo. 1 1
seems to me I have suffered mo;t
enough. Here are your rings, dear,"
and Mr. Merrivale drew .the jewels
iroiu ms pockes ana placed them on
i n . . .... . . . ... .
ner lingers, ".uiiurea. 1 will be a
tyrant no longer. I will love vou and
cherish you as my own precious wife
so neip me uoa, as long as we are
spared to each other. Mildred, darling.
you did right to leave me. It was a
lesson I sadly needed. liut forgive
mo and trust me now, or I cannot
bear it."
r or answer a radiant lace was up
turned to him and a pair of loving arms
eiicircieu ins ne3k.
Three Bears Killed and a Boy Saved.
Robert Lyon.of Cliff Glen, Ventura
county, (Jal., coiinmnicatcs tho follow
ing to tho Vinttm Swnal: The tim
ber-clad hills atthe head of the Ma-
tilija seem to be teeming with droves
of grizzly bears. Last week nine were
seen in one;day aear the ranch of Ua-
lael luuz, sjineof them monsters in
size; and or. last Thursday Senor lia-
"ion Ortega shot three grizzlies. Ortega
arul twave-year-oid boy were ruling
in the hills ibove tho Matiliia lookinu-
ior cattle, when one large gnzzlv and
uvo mat were consideraidy smaller
came out of the brush and halted not
uore than hfty yards from them. Or-
tega lumped from his horse to iret
good shot, when his horse irot fright-
('nPa ilt the sight of so many bears and
started and ran away about 100 vards.
wnen lie stepped on his bridle and
stopped. Ortega took a good aim at
tie big bear, and dropped it dead
at the first shot. Ho then
urew on ono of the sundler
bears, and it too tumbled in its tracks.
never rising again The other bear
then took to the brush, followed by a
savage dog. After assuring himself
that the two bears were dead. Mr.
Ortega sent his boy on foot to bring
nack ins horse, ino poy started, but
uetoro lie got to the horse, his dog.
cioseiy pursued ny a savago ana angry
bear, overtook him. As soon as the
bear saw the boy he rushed at him.
paying no more attention to the dog,
ana tho boy was too inglitened to do
anything but stand still and call to his
father to save him. Ortega seized his
rillo and lired just as tho bear raised
on his haunches to strike the boy; the
bullet knocked tho bear down, but he
raised and again rushed at the boy.
the blood streaming lrom a bullet-hole
m BUI. anJ l"is time he rushed at
" ft'a!i,ral.yml wthflUuJ
fyes and foaming, open mouth. With
a last cry " He's got me, father!" tho
trightened boy sank to the ground.
and the desperate father sent a second
bullet lrom his laitbtul repeating rifle
crashing into the bear's body, and with
an almost human cry of agony the sav
ago brute fell backwio-a and rolled
down the hill. Ortega rushed to the
boy and found him uninjured. And
then the great hunter, who had kille4
more grizzly bears than any man in
Southern California, thanked God foi
the miraculous preservation of his
boy's life, and for gome time he was
too weak from the shock of his boy's
great peril to even lift his rifle. He
did not hunt for the wounded bear, for
tho brush was very dense t the bot
tom of the ravine, and lie thought lie
had had adventure sufficient for one
day. The largest of the two dead
bears would weigh over 1,500 pounds.
It was all two strong horses could dc
to drag it to a tree near by. The
other, which was quite poor, would
weigh about 700 pounds. From Ra
mon, who was in town this week, says
the Hiijnal editor, we learn that he
afterward got tho wounded bear. One
of his friends tells us, in speaking ol
his bear adventures, that in one win
ter, on the Sespe rancho, Ortega cap
tured fifty-four bears witU the lasso,
SUNDAY READING.
TbanUftil for the Ilarreit.
We are singularly dependent upon
God ; far mere so than most of us
imagine. When the children of Israel
were in the wilderness they went forth
every morning nnd gathered tho
manna. Our manna does not come to
us every morning, but it comes onco a
year. It is as much a heavenly supply
as if It lay like a hoar-frost round
about the camp. If we went out Into
the field nnd gathered food which
dropped from tho clouds we should
think it a great miracle; and is it not as
great a marvel that our bread should
come up from tho earth as that it should
come down from the sky? The same
God who bade the heavens drop with
angels' food bids the dull earth in its
due season yield corn for mankind.
Therefore, whenever we find the har
vest comes, let us bo grateful to God
and let us not suffer tho season to pass
over without psalms and thanksgiving.
I believe I shall be correct if I say that
there is, never in the world, as a rule,
more than sixteen months' supply of
food that is to say when tho harvest
is gathered in there may bo sixteen
months' supply; but nt tho time of
harvest there is not usually enough
wheat in the whole world to last the
population more than four or five
months, so that if the harvest did not
come wo should be on the verge of
famine. We still live from hand to
mouth. Let us praise and bless God,
and let the joy of harvest be the joy of
gratitude. To the Christian it should
be great joy, by means of the harvest,
to receive an assurance of God s faith
fulness. The Lord has promised
mat secumne ana harvest, sum
mer and winter, shall never cease;
and when you see the loaded
wain carrying in the crop you
may say to yourseil: "Uodistrue to
His promise." In the joy of harvest
there will always be the joy of expec
tation. As there li a harvest to tho
husbandman, for which he waiteth pa
tiently, so there is a harvest for all pa
tient waiters who nre looking for the
coming and appearing of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. The mature
Christian, like the ripe ear of corn,
hangs down his head with holy humil
ity, wnen be was but greeifinthe
things of God he stood erect, and was
somewhat boastful, but now that ho
has become full of the blessing of the
uie ljora ne is humbled thereby and
bows himself down; he is waiting for
the sickle, and he dreads it not, for no
sower or reaper shall come to gather
God's people He Himself shall reap
i .. i . f . . . . . .
urn uiirvesi oi me woriu. "jyarm Her
mons," ly C. 11. Spurrion.
ICcIIhIoii New mid Mote.
Ihe JJaptist Weeki says that the
evangelistic work at Saratoga this
.summer, conducted by the Rev. Wil
liam Hunipstone, has been a means of
great good, and secured the favor of all
Christians of all denominations.
The old African church in Rich
mond, Va., has recently dedicated a
new house of worship which has cost
if-'SO.OOO, $24,000 having been paid
thereon; nnd this has been done by
the little mites given Sunday after Sun
day for six vears.
Tho supreme court of:Xew Hamp
shire has decided that tho right of the
pew-holder is subordinate to the right
of the society to repair or remodel the
ciiurcn, and, upon making compensa
tion, to remove or destroy the pew for
tho purpose of making needed alter
ations and repairs.
Tho first meeting of the united com
mittees of tho various Methodist
churches in Canada was held at Ham
ilton a short time ago, to consider the
question of Methodist union. The
question was discussed, and a motion
setting forth that the time has come
when all reasonable efforts should be
made to ascertain a basis of .agreement
on which to unite tho various Metho
dist churches in Canada was carried
unanimouslj.
Some one tells the story of a little
girl who was curious to know how tho
Lord took evil spirits out of a person
and put a good spirit in. Her prac
tical comment was that she would be
willing to have the bad taken out of
herself "if it wouldn't hurt any." This
is a representative case, illustrating
the feelings of older persons. They
desire a religion without cross-bearing
.1 11- . THAI i .
nu eii-ueuiai. ii tney can be unriB-
tians nnd not hurt the old Adam any,
they will not object, but if they must
mortify self, give up worldly ambition.
forgive those who injure them, they
pray to be excused. Helijious Herald.
A Great Storm Predicted,
According to Dr. E. Stone Wiggins,
1 new weather prophet of Canada,
who somo time ago predicted that the
recent gale would sweep from east to
west over the continent, says a great
storm will strike this planet in March
next. The following warning is issued
by Dr. Wiggins:
It will bo first felt In tho Northern
Pacific, and will cross tho meridian of
Ottawa at noon (5 p. m. London time)
on Sunday, March 11, 1883. Xo vessel
smaller than a Cuna der will be able to
live in this tempest. India, the south
ot Juirope, Lnglani', and especially the
North Ann-ikiin continent, will be the
theatre of its ravages. As all the low
lands on tho Atlantic will be sub
merged, I advise ship builders to place
their prospective vessels high up on
stocks, and farmers having 1 oje val
uables, such as hay, cattle, etc., to re
move them to a place of safety. I beg,
further, most respectfully to appeal to
the honorable minister of marine that
ho will peremptorily order up storm
drums on all the Canadian coast not
later than the 20th of February, an !
thus permit no vessel to leave the liar
bor. If this is not done, hundreds ol
lives will be lost and mlilions worth ot
property destroyed.
1882.
FACTS AJfD COMMENTS.
If insanitary Engineer can be cred
ited, the consumption ' of the smoke
from locomotives is just as prac
ticable as the consumption of that from
stationary boilers. An engine invented
by a Califortil.t mechanic has been ex
perimented with, and Hot only con
sumed the smoke, but saved fifty1 per
cent, of fuel in doing so. The con
sumption is effected by a downward
draft which tlirows smoke and cinders
into the lire box. If the invention
really is a success it will rob railway
travel of one of its worst terrors.
St. Isaac's, the great cathedral at St.
Petersburg, which was finished in 1859
and cost $25,000,000, is slowly sinking
into the ground, and the authorities do
not know how to stop it. The ltus
Bian capital is built ujion a marsh, nnd
the site of St. Isaac's is on one of its
softest parts. Over $1,000,000 was
originally spent in driving piles, but
the building has never been firm, and
now threatens to-topple over at one
corner. A recent examination showed
that on one side the columns had sepa
rated from the architrave, leaving a
Bpace of three inches between. The
roof was at once lightened by remov
ing large stones, but new fissures ap
peared as' the work went on; the work
men left in fear and the engineers gave
up the job as a bad one. Since then
nothing has been done except to hold
consultations and reject unpractical
plans for saving the building.
The prospects of Mexico were never
more encouraging than at this mo
ment. With the introduction of
American capital and enterprise the
country seems to have started upon a
new career of prosperity and peace.
and the message (if President Gonzales
to tho congress of the republic, at its
recent opening, does not in the least
exceed tho probabilities of the case
wnen it predicts for it a future of sub
stantial progress in all the elements of
prosperous statehood. An official state
ment shows that tho revenue of the
republic for the last fiscal year was
$30,000,000, while from 1S07 to 1877 it
averaged only $10,000,000. As the
country is opened by the railways now
being constructed, and its resources
are made accessible, the present pros
perous pace will he great ly accelerated,
and men now in middle life may live
to see the completion of the transfor
mation which American inlluonco has
so happily begun.
Another myth is going the wav of
all the earth. A scientific investigator
says that the stories of the pomp, the
riches, the palaces, the gold and silver
of tho Aztecs was a Spanish lie told by
uortez to enhance the romance of his-
conquest. The scientist reasons that
it would be utterly impossible for a
race to disappear arid tako with it all
tho evidences of its civilization as the
Aztecs must have done if tliev are
what the Spaniards represented them.
Tho ruins found in Central America'
belonged to an older and different race.'
The Aztecs were never civilized. In
tho time of Cortez they were precisely
like tho Pueblo Indians of modern
days; their cities were nothing more
than vast communal houses like those
in which the Pueblos live, and all the
stories of their magnificence anil of
the wealth and civilization of the Az
tec empire were invented by the Span
iards. They adopted the methods
of building employed by the Spaniards;
suiiereu their old communal houses
made of sun-dried brick to crumble
into shapeless mounds, and learned the
art of revolution, and so became the
Mexicans of modern times.
The Japanese nre making very rapid
progress in education. It had its be
ginning not quite eleven years ago. In
1872 not less than 53,000 government
'tools were established, conducted on
European principles, tho average of
schools being one to every 640 in
habitants. In two years the number
of schools was augmented until the
pupils exceeded 400,000. If at the
commencement of this wonderful
educational movement there was some
confusion, owing to the incapacity of
European teachers and the want of in
terchange of language, these troubles
passed away. The number of pupils
liiiuieuiaieiy alter inn rapully in
creased, until in 1877 in the seven
school districts nearly 57,000 male
teachers, with 1,275 female teachers,
were educating 1,552, 110 male and 543,
708 female pupils. There is, then, an
elementary school for every 1,345 in
habitants and for every four and one
eight square utiles of the empire. Tak
ing the total children in Japan of an age
to go to school m 5,251,807, seventy,
one per cent, derive the benefits of in
struction. Leaving out of considera
tion the higher branches of knowledge,
only derivable from special schools,
the effort seems to tend toward tho
education of the masses. Looking at
the expenses, some live years ago, with
an appropriation of j5,3(4,870, the
cost of education was ten shillings, say
$2.20 per pupil. The liberality of the
Japanese and their linn belief in the
great advantages to be derived from
this general education becomes .mani
fest when it is learned that in five
years about 48,500,000 of our money
has been bestowed by private indi
viduals for the school fund, together
with a great deal of valuable real
estate. Three years ago there were
2,319,000 pupils, and, from such ac
counts as may be gathered last year, the
total number was near 3,000,000.
There is one point which, in an educa
tional sense, requires correction, and
that is in regard to tho Japanese girls,
as the number of these is very small in
proportion to the boys.
It is supposed that Adam set the
earliest winter fashion since the only
coat he wore was i bare skin.
NO. 34.
Tho Pasture Bars.
If nil the okiea, I do beliere,
Had all the yenr withholden
Thoir gala tints to guild tbnt eve
It would tin been more golden
The wee birds would na sing so fin
If they find been Invited )
The cows enme proudly in a line,
As if they were delighted.
We linger'd bjr the pasture bars
Till sonnet changed to gloaming,
Till twilight clustered into stars,
And through the clouds went roaming ;
And when the moon glowed up the iky
It found us still belnting ;
Yet none but my own Joe and I
Knew why the cows were waiting.
James Judson Lord.
HUMOR OF THE DAT.
A man Is known by the company
he keeps away from. Picayune.
What is the difference between
freight and cargo ? A horse-car con
ductor says the papsengers make the
freight and the horses make the car
go.
It has been ungallantly said that tho
telephone does what society rules have
always been unequal to compels
women who use it to talk one at a
time.
Yesterday we saw a man with a
black eye, a skun nose and arm in a
sling. He had a revolver and wanted
to know who invented hammocks.
Voston Post.
When a man kums to mo for advice
I find out the kind of advice he want:
and I give it to him; this satisfys him
that he and I aro two az smart men a:c
there is living Josh Billings.
A sad-hearted poetess asks in the
columns of the Philadelphia Bulletin.
"Why do we sing?" Perhaps it's be
cause you don't know what the public
feeling is in your immediate neighbor
hood. When Hood wrote "There Is a happi
ness that makes the heart afraid," he
was probably thinking of one evening
when he sat up very late with his girl
and did not know what minute tho old
man might come thumping downstairs.
In some of the mountainous sections
of Pennsylvania real estate has taken
a sudden downward tendency. About
two hundred acres slid down into tho
valley the other day. It will be some
time before it goes up to its former
I I ei gh t . S' it ings.
An easy time of it" I don't want
any man's advice," said the man with
the big bump of self-esteem. "I do
my own thinking.". "Yes," mur
mured Fogg, "1 should think you
might and not be greatly overworked
either." Boston Trumcript.
The title of tho lesson was: "Tho
Rich Youg Man," and the golden text
was: "One thing thou lackest." A
teacher in the primary class asked a
little tot to repeat the two, and looking
earnestly into the young lady's faco
the child said: "One thing thou lack
est a ricn young man."
" Where are you going, anyhow ?"
asked an irate conductor on the Central
Pacific the other day to a "beat"
whom he had kicked off five or six
times, but who always managed to get
:m again just as the train started.
' Well," said the fellow, quietly, "I'm
going to Chicago, if my pants hold
out." (JMcugo Tribune.
A contemporary tells a yarn about
i setter dog which trotted up to a small
boy and dropped from bis mouth into
the boy's hand a new jackknifo which
the dog had just found. This is, how
ever, no circumstance to the Philadel
phia dog which trotted up to a boy and
.Iropped at his feet a tin can and a
piece of string. I'Jiiludelphia News.
Two Singular Men.
A stranger with long hair, a white
coat, a white hat with a crape band
and other evidences of lunacy, entered
a Griswold street restaurant yesterday
and said to the proprietor:
" Sir, let mo explain in advance that
I am a singular man."
" All right, sir. A singular man's
order is as good as any one else's."
"I want six oysters on the half
shell on the left hand half, if you
please."
The oysters were opened and placed
before him, and when he had devoured
them he said:
"Now take six oysters, run them
through a clothes-wringer to remove
the dampness, and fry them for me in
olive oil."
This order was also filled, when be
called for a cup of salt water, added
milk nnd sugar and drank it down and
asked for his bill.
"I also desire to explain in advance
that 1 am a singular man," replied tho
proprietor. " Your bill is $2."
"Impossible !"
"Just $2, sir."
" Hut that is monstrous !"
"Perhaps it seems high, but that's
my singular way of charging for singn
lar lunches."
" I'll never pay it 1"
" Then I'll sadden your heart !"
The sad proceedings were about to
begin when the long-haired man forked
over and walked out. The lesson
seemed to sink deep into his heart, for he
halted at a fruit store and, without any
explanations in advance, paid the usual
price for a banana and carried it oil
without asking the seller to dip tho
ends m rose-water. Free Press.
Alfred Krupp's gun business at
Lssen, Germany, is tho wonder of tho
world, as the statistics will show that
It ought to be. The population of the
Essen works is 15,700, and the number
of boilers and engines is as follows :
12'J boilers, 453 steam engines, with a
horse power of 18,500 ; 82 steam ham
aaers, and 1,556 furnaces, of which
ol,,warehl8u furnaces, producing
300,000 tons ot steel and 20,000 tons of"
Iron yearly. -
n