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,M:i:iiiiiuir;i! on.
Vol. XV. No. 21. TIONESTA PA. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1882. $1.50 Per Annum.
Midsummer.
Life ! a splendid flowor
With Its tender loavos uncurled,
With its passionate breath of an hour
On a thousand broezos hurled I
Giving, ay, string to all
The throbs of a heart so sweet I
What though its potals fall
To He 'ne .th the careless foot ?
We live tn a world of tloom,
We are lost in a sea of cound,
We are wrapt in a rare perfume,
We are lost in a joy profound I
Ah I sweeter for us the note
Than fairy bugles wind ;
And rich are the sunset dyes,
But man is dull and blind I
01, Lifo, with your wondrous song
That angola might long to sing,
Shall we think of oar sin and wrong,
Of our sorrow's pain and sting f
Shall we dwell on our discontent,
And the sin that gare it birth ?
Not while a sky of tend'rest tin
Broods o'er a porfoot earth I
Life I You are true and sweet,
And God is the heart of all
in the daisy at my feet
In the south wind's sighing call.
I am one with the bird and flower ;
I am one with the vagrant bee,
Till the Joy and light of a happy world
Is contcrod and dwells In me.
And I revel in my domain
Till the world la a plsasant dream,
And Care is but the shade
Of the cloud upon the stream.
Katt L. Brown, in Boston Trantoript.
"ARTFUL DODGERS."
Clang I swish I ramble I and amid
trundling of baggage-barrowa, hustling
of offioiala and rushing of outward-bound
ticket-holders to seoure Rood Beat, a
train rolled into the depot of a large
New England town. Two bright-faced
girls of, twelve and fourteen, in dark
bine flannel suiU, with fluffy golden
hair surmounted by bewitohing blue
bows, and black felt hats, harried
eagerly along the platform, scanning
tho faocs of those who alighted.
" She hasn't eome I" said the younger,
a sudden blankness overspreading the
sunny faoe.
" How disappointed papa and mamma
will be!" said the elder. "Perhaps
she has gone into the ladies' waiting
room. Let's turn back and see."
A quick step beside them, and a
dainty little hand on tne shoulder of
eaoh, arrested the turning process, and
they found themselves faoe to faoe with
a third girl, in a brown suit, with
similar fluffy hair, blue bow and felt
hat. Then followed a scene of kissing
and embracing, and a flood of girl
chatter, till a crusty old bachelor buying
a newspaper soowled, and a motherly
fat woman, hurrying along with three
children, a bird-cage and two baskets,
gave them a benevolent smile, and
murmured, "Fretty oreetursl" as an
offset
"Oh, Nonie, if you hadn't cornel"
duetted the two younger girls.
" What news ? Has Dit set the house
on fire more than three times, and have
yon broken any looking-glasses, Metal
Papa and mamma are well of oouse ?" '
The others shook their heads.
"Papa is down with rheumatism
and poor mamma is tired out."
"Oh, why didn't yon send a postal?
I would have come right home. I had
hard work to get away, as it was. Jessie
was so determined to have me stay for
Thanksgiving."
" Oh, we're getting along all right,
Joanna's as good as a regiment, you
know, and papa only took to his room
yesterday. Mamma is around yet, but
sho acts as if she would be down with a
slow fever before many days."
" No news from Elmer, I sup
pose?" this with a sigh and all three
faces clouded.
"No news."
This was their one sorrow. Elmer,
he gay, handsome, hii'h-spirited broth
er, oc year older than Nonie, had left
his pleasant home two years before,
leaving no clew only a half-defiant,
half-regrotful note. Poor Elmer I Poor
loving, longing home group, with for
giveness ready and yearning in their
steadfast hearts!
The sisters walked on silently for
some moments.
" I'm sorry I couldn't ' bring you any
presents. Rirls," said Nonie, "but I
spent all my money, and didn't like to
send to papa for more. Money goes so
fast in Boston, you know, even in a
two-weeks' visit, and I had to buy
another pair of gloves. Somebody spilled
ice cream on my best ones at a socia
ble."
"Never mint? . We don't care. You're
present enough yourself, Nonie;" and
Xil and Meta gave furtive little hugs
nndev the brown dolman.
"I'm bo glad I didn't stay a day
longer. Poor papal How he must
wnrrv about not Retting to the store 1
I've a great mind to ask Mr. Stedman to
take me in papa's place till he gets
well."
"Winona Derrell! A girl like you
keen books for that large shore I Have
toq lost vour senses ?" exclaimed Dil
ishort for "Delia. ," which hhe unrea
.intihlv hatedk
"W'hv couldn't I do it just as well
there us when I help papa at home?"
renlied Nonie, quietly. "The salary
could Ro lipht on, and we can turprise
imn-t with it when he trets well. I shan
toll mnmma cither. She'll think I'm at
Aunt E -lie's, laving lessons with Grace,
" And you'll have to give up your
lessons, fust as you are doing tout
German so beautifully and it's so kind
of Aunt Edie to have you share Grace's
advantages I Papa may be sick for two
or three months. I wish I were half so
good as yon, Nonie," said Meta, with a
hopeless little sigh.
Nonie pressed the plump arm, and
gave her sister a loving smile.
" I can catch np evenings. There is
Mr. Stedman'a store now. Let's go
right in, and have it settled," said
Nonio, with a qniet decision. She had
shared her parents' burdens since she
was ten rears old, and while it had not
robbed her of girlish brightness, it had
made her constantly thoughtful and
helpful.
Mr. Stedman was naturally surprised
at three such golden-haired lasses in
vading his business sanctum, and bent
his brows rather gravely at Nonie's
proposition.
"I can try it, sir, if you will only let
me," said Nonie, modestly. "I always
help father with the books at home,
and he says I can do it as well as he
can. It will keep the place for father
till he gets well, and, of course, we
couldn't ask you to do that unless we
supplied a substitute."
"You're a good girl a good girl.
Come here," said Mr. Stedman, abruptly,
and led her to a desk covered with ledg
ers and day-bocks, " Give me a speci
men of your work, and we'll see." He
watched her from shaggy (though not
ankind) brows, as she neatly and rapidly
executed the little task he assigned,
and, woman-like, carefully wiped her
pen before replacing it in tho rack.
" Bravo I Consider yourself engaged
for 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. We'll
see you in a mercantile establishment
of your own one of these days," and
Mr. Stedman bowed the party out with
delightful, old-fashioned courtesy,
though they were "only his book
keeper's daughters."
Now, not a word to papa or mamma,"
said Winona, gayly. "Won't it be
delioious to hand him the salary when
he gets well I I'll beg Aunt Edie not
to tell."
" What will you say if they ask you
about your lessons?' said Meta, who
was a trifle given to seeing " lions in
the way."
"Dodge it," was the brief reply;
" and so must Dil and you." '
" Let's get up all sorts of surprises.
We'll be 'artful dodgers' form a club
of three, called the 'A D. 0.,' and not
a soul but ourselves will know what it
means till we choose to tell them," said
Dil, in high glee. She loved mysteries
innocent, pleasant ones.
"So we will! It'll be jolly I" chor
nsed the others.
By this time they had come to a
home-like house on a quiet street, with
no style about it, but "heaps of com
fort," as the girls said. Nonie rah up
the steps and flew into the arms of a
pale, but pleasant-faced, dark-eyed lady,
who had been watching at the parlor
window for the first glimpse of her
sunny daughter.
"Precious little Noniel Did you have
a real rest, and a beautiful time, dearie,
as tou expected ?"
"Oh, yes, indeed! Splendid! But
how pale you are, mamma darling I"
etc
" Now we will ro np and see poor
dear papa," said Nonie, and the suffer
ing father almost forgot his pain in the
greeting of his bright eldest daughter.
Nonie settled down to tell of her visit,
while the girls brought her dinner up
stairs and hovered lovingly around her,
as she satisfied a healthy girl's appe
tite. After dinner, Joanna must be
visited in the kitchen. Nonie's trunk
was brought and unpacked, and the
evening slipped away in the dear old
shabby house.
"Girls," called their mother feebly,
as tne little troop mea past ner aoor
the next morning.
" Mamma s down now I iter voice
sounds sick I" said Dil in dismay, and
they all went in to pet and pity her and
reoeive orders.
4 ' I can't get up, dears. Joanna and
you will bavo to manage lor a wnile,
and you can take turns waiting on papa.
It a too bad, just as Nome nas come
home, and I wanted to make such a
good Thanksgiving for you all I" She
thought of Elmer and sighed, pressed
their little hands close to her face and
kissed the rosy fingers. She "babied"
her girls though they were fast grow
ing up.
'Never you worry, mamma dear,"
said Dil. " We'll get along beautifully
and take splendid care of papa and
you, too."
She smiled at their affectionate eager
ness. " lm not eick enough to need
much waiting on. llest is all I want,
Just bring me a cup of tea, Dil, and be
sure to have papa's toast nice and
brown. Don't think of staying at home
from Aunt Edie's, Nonie child, we shall
not need you. Now rnn along, Joanna
is ringing the breakfast bell."
With a conscious flush at the allusion
to Aunt Edie's, Nonie kissed her mother,
and the three hurried downstairs. Dil
prepared two ravishing little brekkfast
trays, which Meta helped to carry up.
" How doleful breakfast is by our
selves I" sighed Meta, afterward.
"Don't croak. It isn't healthy,
while you eat," said Dil, who never
made a fuss over what couldn't be
helped. "It's twenty minutes before
eight, Nonie, you'll have to hurry.
Don't let any of those clerks make eyes
at you; and be sure to buy a little
something hot and comforting for your
dinner. You'll miss Aunt Edie's nioe
lunches as well as the lesioos."
" I shaa't starve," replied Nonie,
blithely, keeping her own counsel in
regard to buying " southing hot and
comforting." "Now, good-bye. Be
sure .to dodge every time ;" and with a
quick, little peck of a kiss on each rosy
cheek, brave-hearted Nonie trudged
away.
"Now we'll get ready for our sur
prise," said Dil, as the street door
closed. "Nonie needn't be the only
saorifloer! What do you think ?" Then
followed an absorbing conversation, of
whioh more anon.
Nonie was abundantly equal to the
new situation. At noon she ran around
to Aunt Edio's to explain, and was re
galed on goodies, while the bright eyes
of her father's only sister glistened ith
a suggestive moisture, as she promised
to keep the secret, and "dodge" most
ciroumspeotly, whenever she should call
at the Derrell mansion.
Pleasant odors greeted Nonie's en
trance at G o'clock. The tea was spread
with delicacies (inexpensive but appetiz
ing), and the girls were in a chronio
state of giggle. "Don't ask questions.
Eat your supper first, and tell us if it's
gbod," said they.
"This cream toast is delicious and so
are the 'Saratoga' potatoes. Joanna
fries them better and better," said hun
gryNonio. The girls gave an unequivocal titter.
"What is the matter? I shan't eat
another mouthful till you tell," said
Nonie, holding a particularly tempting,
brown, bloated "Saratoga" suspended
in mid-air.
"Joanna didn't do it! That's the
Joke. Dil and I got it up," said Mesa,
"Joanna's gone'"
"Joanna gone! Oh, slot for good?"
oried Nonie, with an apprehensive start.
" You haven't gone and had any trouble
with Joanna, girls?" and the fort
dropped from the unnerved fingers.
" We had no end of troublo to make
her go, but We're just as good friends as
ever," said Dil.
Nonie looked completely puzzled.
" Yon see," said Dil, bringing some
hot dream "dip" for the toast, " Meta
and I made np our minds that we would
have a surprise, too; so we explained it
to Joanna, and, after a great amou
coaxing eh consented to go to he
ter s lor a lew weeks, but mac
promise solemnly that we would
for her if we got into any very
scrapes. We may just as well do
work while mamma can't hear cur les
sons, and we shall save $2.50 a we
k
beside Joanna's board, and that will
toe
our share toward the Doings of
the
Dodgers.
Nonie gave a tragio groan. " You'll
never be able to keep it up, in the
world ! It would be hard enough to
do if mamma was around, but with both
of them siek upstairs you will half kill
yourselves 1" 1
" No, we won't It will make more
dodging, of course, but it will sharpen
our wits and train us in housekeeping.
Here's Mrs. Boecher's blue book, 'AH
Around the House,' and plenty of good
recipes besides, and you acknowledge
that the supper iti superb," argued ,Meta,
ladling out another generous spejonful
of Saratogas for her sister's plate.
This is a chronicle of surprises. It
will, therefore, be sufficient to state that
the domestic machinery creaked omin
ously a few times, and onoe or twice
came perilously near to a deadlock, but
the blue book invariably afforded Lil for
the springs and wheels, on consultation.
Meta spiced the gingerbread with mus
tard, brought boiled beets to table in
their dusky overcoats, put too i much
Eowder in the washtub, and blAtered
er hands, and once actually brbwned
the baefsteak in lard I Dil scorched her
prettiest rn filed white apron one droning
day, and burned her plump wrist be
sides (but zealously hid the sua J from
the unsuspecting eyes upstairs), Jgrated
too much nutmeg into a rice pc jding,
and baked beans (the first time) with
out putting any water in the bet a pot.
Through all culinary " tribbeU. 'ions,"
however, the invalids were tende I most
faithfully and cheerfully. The a nount
of dodging required was we t-nigh
Machiavellian, but with help froi i Aunt
E lie and the family doctor, the happy
pilots steered their craft of irfnocent
secrecy past all reefs and snags. f
Two or three days before hanks
giving Nonie acted strangely, gave ir
relevant replies, several times seemed
on the point of making an important
communication, then provokingly
oheoked herself. (
"What can be the matter?" said Dil
to Meta. I
"I just knew those horrid, clerks
would flirt with her! I suppose one
of them's the matter I" groaned Meta,
in disgust.
"Nonsense! Nonie don't lose her
wits over boys with fancy check-ties
and their hair parted in the middle.
Nonie has some stamina t" (This was
Dil's favorite term of admiration for
her elder sister.)
" Whatever it is, she 11 tell us before
long. She can't keep it to herself,"
said Meta.
Dil likewise became infeoted with
secreoy, and went through mysterious
performances in her own room the day
before Thanksgiving. She dressed
herself for going out, made a dive at a
certain little drawer in her own special
bureau, took out and replaoed a dozen
times, with fond looks, a square,
whitish-brown envelope containing an
important little book, then suddenly
braced np with the air of a general
Roing into battle: " For shame, Dil
Derrell! You're a selfish good-for-nothing!
Stand up to your colors,
like a man I You started the clubl"
She seized the envelope resolutely,
snapped the empty drawer and was out
dt of
n sis-
la no
send
bad
Ihe
of the house before she had time to
change her mind again. She returned
in half an hour with suspiciously red
eyes, whioh might have come from
walking in the wind.
The invalids were to come down to
dinner, on Thanksgiving day.
"Do yon suppose we can manage
that turkey, Dil?" said Meta, appre
hensively surveying the sprawling
specimen which the grinning market
boy had just deposited on the kitchen
table.
" I'd like to see the turkey that I
couldn't manage with plenty of stale
bread and seasoning," replied Dil, vain
gloriously, pinning up her sleeves,
and going briskly to wcrk.
Meanwhile, Nonio, dusting the par
lor, communed with herself. Throwing
down the duster, she said, " I will tell
Dil ! It's mean not to I" and, opening
tie door, she called her Bister.
" Is it anything special ? I'm up to
my elbowB in crumbs, but I'll be there
in three seconds," said Dil.
Nonie took from her apron pocket an
advertising Blip from the principal
daily paper of the town, and passed it
to her sister. It ran thus :
" Sorry. Very. Will N. please call
at 55 State street, if agreeable.
" L. Mubdie,"
" Vhat does it mean ? We don't
know any such person," said DiL
Nonie made a low-voiced, but ex
oiting communioation, at whioh Dil
jumped up and down, clapping her
hands wildly.
"Oh, it's too splendid I Did you go ?
But of course you did I"
"Certainly. That's what made me
late on Monday night.- And this after
noon at dinner-time " . Then followed
another explanation whioh increased
Dil's delight, till a sudden thought
struck her : "But, will it be the best
way ? Would Dr. Grisooja allow it? It
might do harm."
"Not a bit of it. I made sure of Dr.
Griscom's consent. He said it would
make them well sooner than anything
else. We won't tell Meta till the last
minute. Now we must hurry, or we
shan't get down in time," and Nonie
gave her duster a fresh whisk.
Dil went back to turkey-stuffing with
her thoughts in a whirl. "It is a per
fectly splendid plot I Nobody would
have thought of doing it that Way but
Nonie the darling 1"
In the midst of a vigorous tussle with
the unweildy bird, the girls, weak with
laughter and exertion, did not hear the
kitchen door open and shut A familiar
voice exclaimed : "I was jest bound I'd
come and cook the Tuanksgivin' dinner
for yon, anyway. Haint them poor sick
folks 'most dead, with your tricks and
capers ?"
They flew to embrace the weloome
intruder.
"Oh, you blessed old Joanna. How
angelio of you to come I It will be a
great comfort to have it off pur minds,
but we could have done it ourselves."
They gymasted joyously around the
old kitchen, wnile Joanna, smiling odd
ly, took off her shawl and bonnet and
went systematically to work.
The dinHer-table was spread in the
back parlor, that being the warmest
room, for father ani mother. Very
carefully and lovingly were they pro
tected from possible dranghts and led
down to the little bower of comfort
prepared for them. The "Dodgers"
had had a new inspiration since Joanna
relieved them of the dinner problem.
Buying a few spruce wreaths they
erected a dome of greenness "fear
fully and wonderfully made" just
above the two arm-chairs, trimmed pic
tures and festooned windows, as if it
were Christmas. One far corner was
mysteriously curtained off by Dil's old
shawl, from behind whioh came the
thrilling sound of tack-hammering and
occasionally a stage whisper.
A little bell tinkled and the three
girls emerged, carrying in their belts
official-looking documents sealed with
red wax and tied with ostentatious pink
tape. Joining hands they danced a
most unheard-of jig, and, to a weird,
Macbeth-like melody, Bang the follow
ing lines:
"We're the 'Artful Dodgers' three.
Maids of plot and mystery.
What we've done you soou shall see,
Beware I Oh, tako care 1"
It ended with a wild waving of the
aforesaid documents. Nonie then laid
in her father's hands ber envelope
superscribed, " Bookkeper Nonie pre
sents an installment of salary, with
compliments." He broke the seals, and
the crisp bills fell out, with a refreshing
rustle. Before he oould ask a sin vie
question, in his surprise, Dil and Meta
dunoed up with a joint package for their
mother. It contained no mosey only
a half-sheet of foolscap sorawled all
over with the following calculations
(Dil hated to make figures they
usually resembled giraffes and camels,
on a small scale :
"Wages saved by doing without
Joanna three weeks 82.50 with love
from Dil and Meta."
Dil now presented her individual
packet to her father, saying, with a
little choke and tremble in her voioe :
" Don't scold, please, I wanted to do
something besides helping with the
housework."
Doctor Griscom's receipted bill I
" Why, Dil 1 how did you ever pay it?"
oried the girls, thoroughly surprised,
while the parents, from love and pride,
oould not restrain their tears.
" I took my savings bank money,"
was the brief reply.
"The money that you were caving
for music lessons I Dil, you're a perfect
cherub 1" and the girls crowned her
with a chaplet of spruce, which imme
diately fell over her nose,
Who shall describe the pure joy of '
this unselfish little band, and the pa
rents' pride and gratitude, when ex
planations were made? Ab, does not
the simple gift compassed by true love
and self-denial far outweigh jewels,
silver and fine g61d?
At a signal from Nonie, Dil and Meta
took their stations at each side of the
curtain, and Nonie, with moist eyes and
tremulous accents, delivered the ensu
ing speech:
"'The Artful Dodgers' have one
more trick to exhibit, with whioh the
performance will elose. If papa and
mamma will be kind enough to wish
very hard the 'Dodgers think they
are prepared to give them something
very much dosired."
Her cheeks glowed, her eyes drooped
a strange solemn hush fell on the
little group, and Dil and Meta drew the
curtain. On a dark background, in a
walnut frame, on a crimson-covered
table, stood a pioture a portrait vivid
startling of the lost Elmer ! The
handsome features, the bright blue
eyes, the sunny hair tossed back from
the broad forehead tru9 as life in their
motionless, appealing beauty all were
there. The parents silently clasped
hands and Nonie made another signal,
this time to the picture itself. The lips
part the eyes flash it moves it
thrills !
"Elmer! It is my boy my first
baby I ' cries the startled mother, spring
ing from her chair, unmindful of her
weakness and, in another instant the
wanderer's head is pillowed on the one
bosom that never grows cold (except in
death), the bowed form is clasped by
arms that never foli in utter unforgiv
ingness !
And then it all came out. Elmer,
whom a whaling voyage had thoroughly
disenchanted, shrank from ooming
direotly home, and advertised in the
daily as "L. Murdie," hoping (and
rightly) that Nonie's quick wit would
fathom it. She planned the pioture
rose, with Dr. Grisoom's full sanction,
and brought Elmer into the house just
at the last, before the parents came
downstairs,
They were almost too happy to think
of dinner, till a ring at the front door
announced Aunt Edie and Grace, and
at the same moment Joanna bounced in
with:
" The turkey's gittin' as brown as a
but'nnt, and the sauce an' things won't
be fit to eat, ef they hain't fetched in
sometime 'fore dark !" Springfield Re
publican.. WISE WORDS.
Our deeds determine us as much as
we determine our deeds.
Half the ills we hoard in our hearts
are ills because we hoard them.
Wounds of the heart are the only
ones that are healed by opening.
Great men and geniuses find their
true places in times of great events.
Troubles borrowed and stolen out
number by far all others in the world.
The means to promote any end are
as necessary as the end to be promoted.
It is easy to look down on others; to
look down on ourselves is the difficulty.
On the neck of the young man
sparkles no gem bo graoious as enter
prise, i
. The reproaches of enemies should
quicken us to duty, and not keep us
from it.
He who lives only to benefit himself
confers on the world a benefit when
he dies.
It is easier to set a man fighting
against all the world than to make him
fight with himself.
In all matters of right and wrong
judge for yourself, decide for yourself,
stand by yourself.
When a man has not a good reason
for doing a thing, he has one good
reason for letting it alone.
Make no more vows to perform this
or that ; it shows no great strength, and
maVea thee ride behind thyself.
We cannot conquer fate and necessity,
but we oan yield to them in suoh a way
as to be greater than if we oould.
If you have an opportunito to do a
generous action, do it. It is a very
pleasant reflection to go to sleep with.
Man wastes his mornings in antici
pating his afternoons, and wastes his
afternoons in regretting hi mornings,
Mirth should be the embroidery of
conversation, not the web ; and wit the
ornament of the mind, not the furniture.
An Armless Horse Thief,
Dallas, Texas, has had a visit from
a singular character Jack Hall, alias
No Arm Jack en route to Stephensville
jail, from which institution the prisoner
escaped six montns ago after receiving
a sentenoe of ten years in the peniten
tiary for horse -stealing. Both his arms
are off above the elbow, having been
crushed in a sugar mill when he was a
child, but the bones grew out several
inches fromjbe flesh, and their surfaces
are rough like corncobs, and Jack
writes a beautiful hand by holding a
pen beside his chin and pressing the
protruding bone against it. He shoots
a pistol or firearms expertly, and man
ages a horse as well as the average two
handed man. The height of his am
bition appears to have been stealirjg
horses successfully. He is about thirty
years of age. He was arrested in tho
Choctaw Ration.
The marine fauna of the coral region
of South Florida is said to be a West
Indian colony, engrafted on the North
Amerioan fauna of the east and wee)
coasts of the peninsula.
A Wedding la Chinese High Life.
Among the pure Chinese, and espe
cially among the higher olasses, a wed
ding is a long and serious affair. From
the almost Turkish strictness with
whioh females are secluded, it is com
paratively rare that a couple see each
other previous to betrothal and still
more so that there should be any ac
quaintance between tnem. This has
given rise to the necessary employ
ment of a character equivalent to
the batvalan or marriage broker
of ancient Brittany, to Mr.
Foy's Parisian Matrimonial Agency of
fice, or the daily marriage advertise
ments of our own papers. If your wish
is for marriage in the abstract, the
broker will find yon a fitting partner
first, and negotiate the transfor after. It
you are less purely philosophical, and
wish to consult your own tastes as well
as the interests and increase of the
nation, you are only to name the party,
and the broker becomes your accredited
ambassador. There is, however, one
preliminary point to be ascertained.
Has your intended the tame sur
name as yourself? If so, it is a fa'al
difficulty, as the laws of China would
not permit the marriage. If, however,
she is Chun and yon are Le, or she is
Ewan or Yu, and you rejoice in any
other pattonymio monosyllable, the
next step is for the broker to obtain
from each a tablet containing the name,
age, date aod hour of birth, etc. These
are then taken to a diviner and com-
Eared, to see if the union promises
appiness; if the answer is favorable
(and crossing the palm with silver is
found to be as effectual with fortune
tellers in China as it is elsewhere), and
the gates are equal, that is if the station
and wealth of the two families are sim
ilar, the propocal is made in due form.
The wedding presents are then sent,
and if accepted the young couple is.
considered as legally betrothed.
A lucky day must next be fixed for
the wedding, and here our friend the
divinr.r is again called upon. Previous
to the great day the bridegroom gets a
new hat and takes a new name, while
the lady, whoso hair has hitherto hung
down to her heels in a tingle heavy
plait, at the same time beoomes initiated
into the style of hair-dressing prevalent
among Chinese married ladies, whioh
consists in twisting the hair into tne
form of an exaggerated teapot and sup
porting it in that shape with a narrow
plate of gold or jado over the
forehead, and a whole system cf
bodkins behind i. On the wedding
morning presents and congratulations
are sent to the bridegroom, and among
tho rest a pair of geese; not sent as wo
might imagine by some wicked wag cr
irreclaimable bachelor, as a personal
reflection on the intellectual state of his
friend, but as an emblem of domestic
unity and affeotion. The ladies, too,
in China, as well as elsewhere, indulge
in a little fashionable crying on the
occasion, and so tho relatives of the
bride spend the morning with her,
weeping over her impending de
parture, or, more probably, their own
spinsterhood. Thew do not, how
ever, f orgel to bring eome contributions
for her trousseau. In the evening oomes
the bridegroom with a whole army of
his friends, a procession of lanterns, a
long red cloth or silk tapestry embroi
dored with a figure of the dragon borne on
a pole between two men, and a large
red sedan covered with carving and
gilding, and perfectly close. In this
the biide is packed up securely out of
sight, "and the whole procession, pre
ceded by a band of music and the
dragon, and closing with the bride's
bandboxes, starts for home- On arrival
she is lifted over the threshold, on
which a pan of charcoal is burning,
probably to prevent her bringing any
eril influenoe in with her. She
then performs the kotou to her bus
band's father and mother, worships the
ancestral tablets of her new family, and
offers prepared betel nut to the assem
bled gueBts.
Up to this time she has been veiled,
but she now retires to her chamber,
where she is unveiled by her husband;
the then returns, again performs obeis
ance to the assembled guests, and par
takes of food in company with her hus
band; at this meal two cups of wine,
one sweetened, the other with bitter
herbs infused in it, are drank together
by the newsKmarried pair, to symbolize
that hensrth they must chare
together 1 f on sweets and bitters.
The bride then retires esoorted
by the matrons present, some one
of whom recites a charm over ber, and
arranges the marriage couch. The next
morning the gods of Ijhe household and
the hearth areworahiped, and the six
following days are devoted to .formal
receptions at home of different mem
bers of the two families or equally
formal visits paid to the family of the
bride. During the whole of this period
she still travels in her red and-gold
sedan, and is still escorted by her band
of music and dragon. Templt Bar.
A Philosopher,
Some men never forget their philoso
phy. A ConnecticuT lover who had his
eye put out by one of his sweetheart's
hairpins, received the condolences of a
friend over the sad accident.
"Oh, I don't mourn about it," he re
plied, cheerfully. " What's the use ?"
I'm just as good as ever, and, besides,
in that sort of business it's a heap nicer
when you go it blind."
The inteiost on our public debt is
now about 81 08 for every inhabitaut.
In 1875 it was more than twice this,
being $2.20 por capita, and in 1SB5 it
was as high as $1.9 per capita, or If 150,
P77,0y7 tj be pajj by 35,409,000 peo !