The Forest Republican. (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, September 24, 1890, Image 1

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    THE FOREST REPUBLICAN
U pvbllihed erery Wded7, fey
J. E. WENK.
Offloa In Bmaubaurh & Co.'a Building
Tarma. ... ll.BO ptrTnr.
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Two Bqnare, on year II
Quarter Colnmn, one year MM
Half Column, on ra fOM
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let) advertisement! lea cent par lit aack la
.rlioa. Marriage and death notlc.ee gratia.
Alt kllla for yearly adTertlarments collected no
terly. Temporary advcrtiiemeDt. nuit te paid la
adfanc.
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tnbMrlpllrni ne4v4 for 1 aartr Mrlod
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VOL. XXIII. NO. 22. TI ON EST A, PA., WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24, 1890. S1.50 PER ANNUM.
Forest Republican.
The Mormons are gaining n foothold
in tho Canndiau Northwest, anil It ii
bcliuvod will mitko trouble for tho Gov
eminent. Tho Chicago Sun predict that tho
standing armies of Europe will bo dis
banded beforo many years, and tho pub
lie debts wiped out.
During tho past fiscal year export
from tho United States reached tho high
est figure over known, viz., $353,000,
000; value of imports for tho amo time,
$780,000,000.
Dr
Dr. Junkff, whp
rica to livf on f is .
earned in Central
Africa
and various other
delicacies of the s
irn nations, sajsthat
wfflld accustom t hem-
if whifo explorers
selves to nativo food they would keep
In better health and would not mind
when their European resources woro
exhausted.
Count Pupponhoim, of Germany, has
been compelled to chooso between his
American 'wifo and his title, aud has
. surrendered tho latter. It may be said,"
cynically observes tho Detroit Fret Press,
"that tho wifo had mouey and the titlo
did not; but, still, tho Count is entitled
to credit a thing ho could not obtain
beforo marring"
t ' ' 1
An oflicial in tho Census Bureau says
that there are 134 religious denomina
tion in the United States .'fPthat it is
estimated that the church membership
ill reach 25,000,000. The leading de
nominations will run about as follows'
Methodiats, 5,000,000; Baptists, 4,000,
000; Catholics, 4,000,000; Presbyte
rians, 3,000,000, and Episcopalians, 2,
000,000. Lawrenco County, Tenncssco, is plan
ning a monument to Davy Crockett, who
begiiu his remarkable career at Lawrencs
burg as a Justice of tho Peace, and
ended it in glory at tho Altno, Texas.
Ho was a famous backwoodsman, an un
Iquo bordier soldier and a politician of a
peculiar aud striking typo. It was he
who said, "lie sure you aro light and
then go ahead."
If you have ever paid moucy to see a
gorilla go and demand it back at once, is
the advico of the New Orleans Picayune,
for the most eminent naturalist in tho
country suys that no gorilla no genuine,
straight edged gorilla has even been
captured by man, and that if be had ho
would never live to make tho journey
from Africa. They simply have been
giving us out grown monkeys.
It would seem, remarks tho National
Horse Breeder, that all blacksmiths
should have a thorough knowledge of a
horses foot, but bucIi is not the case, for
there is perhaps no trade in the world,
where thcro aro moro botch mechanics
than among blacksmiths. This should
not be, for incompetent and thoughtless
smiths do a great amount of damage and
cause much suffering to tho cquino race.
During Senator Jones's recent exhaus
tive speech on tho silver question, say
tho Pittsbuig Dispatch, ho referred to
fact that in the ancient days of Massa
chusetts oyster shells were used as
money. Mr. Hoar nodded his venerable
head and whispered to Senator Grayi
"Yes, and very good moucy it was. If
a man in. these days wanted to order a
dozen on tho half-shell, ho could do it
with perfect safety, knowing that bo
could pay for them with tho shells."
The achievement of the naval ordnance
officers at Washington in firing a pro
jcctlo filled with euiuiensite through a
two-inch steel p'.ute nnd exploding it on
tho other side is something that the
Timt$ Democrat thinks will open the
eye of experts all over tho world. This
feat is regarded as one of the most im
portant development in tho field of high
explosives. It is said that no doubt is
felt that the explosive can be successfully
fired from tho new largo-calibre rirted
mortar which tho Ordnance Bureau has
under consideration.
The Button Cultivator says: "Tho use
of air btakes on passenger trains is now
general, and it probably soon will be on
freight trains as well. It is much safer
and quicker than the old-fashioned hand
brake, and freight trains are now com
monly run at such rates of speed as to
make them very unsafe without air
brakes. Tho process of slowing up a
heavily loaded train by baud brakes was
always too long a job to keep it from
running over an obstruction not seen
some considerable distance ahead. By
adaptiug air brakes for freight trains, tho
engineers can do the work, relieving tho
company of tho necessity of employing a
lurge forco of brakemen, who as they
stood on tho steps or platform were al
ways peculiarly exposed to danger. No
body need feel sorry to have tho brake
men go. As many meu will bo needed
in railroad work as ever, and probably
moro, but it will be iu work: much plea.
santer and much safer to life than that
of the brukeuiau,"
VVHEN TWILIOHT FALLS.
When twilight falls In splendor drest,
His couch tho sun welts in tho west,
Portward tho toiling flshpr wend.
And from the task the swain unbends,
With simple thought of home and rest.
A lingering thrush, his joy expressed
In one last anthem, seeks hi nest;
And qulot with the fow descends,
When twilight falls.
The lilting music in the breast
Of duty done of fault confest-r
Of trespass softened by amends
Of love surpassing lovo of friend
Ah I would ah I would this were my rest,
When twilight fall.
A'eio York Observer.
THE DONATION PARTY,
tT KI1P.M E. REXPOHD.
"We're great on donations, elder. Wo
jest go in heavy on them things."
Deacon Spears mado the announce
ment to the new minister with on air of
stating the possession of a great uiorul
virtue peculiar to the people of Scragsby
Corners.
"I have never found donation parties
very satisfactory," said the minister. "I
would greatly prefer having a stated
salary, and having it paid in cash."
"Wall, yes I s'poso yo would," said
the deacon. "That' what all tho minis
ters ny. But, yo see, 'twon't hardly do,
here in Scragsby Corners."
"Why pot?" asked tho minister.
"O, they've got in tho habit o' bavin'
donations, an' they expect 'cm, yo sec,"
replied the deacon, "an' they'd feel sor
ter olTcndcd cf a preacher sot hi foot
down an' said he wouldn't have 'cm.
Some folks give suthin' in that way that
wouldn't give nothin' in cash, and we're
bound to git all out o' tho c'mmuuity
that we can, ye see."
"My experience has been that a great
deal of what people bring to a donation
party 1b worthless or useless," said tho
minister.
"AY oil, yes, I s'posc so," assented the
deacon. "But 'twouldn't do to kick
ag'in' donations on that account here.
Ye'd havo tho folks down on yo in no
time."
"Well, then," said tho poor minister,
with a sigh of resignation to tho inevit
able, "I suppcBo it will have to be." Ho
thought of his last donation party with
its dozen loads of dozy, half-rotten stove
wood ; wood which wo worthless to tho
donors, because it had been cut so long
that it was unsalable, aud which they would
never have thought of using at home.
Moro than once his wife's temper had
been sorely tried with the miserable stuff,
and sho had threatened making a bonfire
of the wholo lot, and probably would
have attempted carrying tho threat into
execution if she had had any idea that it
could have been coaxed to burn itself
up.
"Dear me!" exclaimed Mrs. Spooncr,
in dismay, when her husband tojd her
that a donation party was being talked
up. "I did hope wo might escape the
infliction when we came here. I don't
think I was ever more vexed than I was
tho morning after tho last one. There
wasn't a room in the house fit to uso
until it had been cleaned. There was
half a chocolate cuke between the pillows
on the parlor bed; pie in the bureau, and
some one had emptied a plato of baked
lx'uns behind the sofa. It took me all
of two weeks to get straightened around.
And now that we'vo just got settled,
there's to bo another. It' too bad, but
I don't know that we can help ourselves,
since a minister and his family are con
sidered objects of charity, and, there
fore, obliged to take up with whatever
the people seo fit to give them, without
tho chance to say a word for them
selves." "A donation party will be held at
Elder Spooner' next Thursday evening,
tho Lord willin', an' it's hoped cv'rybody
Ml turn out, an' bring suthin' for the
'port o' tho gospil," Deacon Spears an
nounced, one Sabbath, after service.
"Tho Lord loves a cheerful giver," he
added, in a sort of postscript, after which
he blew his noso vigorously on a great
red and white bandanna, in a manner
that suggested applause, over the neat
way in which the announcement had been
mado, and then sat down.
Immediately there was a buzz among
the femalo portion of the congregation,
and little groups of women put their
heads together and began discussing what
to carry in the shape of eatables; whilo
the men got together in tho vestibulo of
the church, and consulted with each other
on what they wero to "donate."
"I reckon I'll take beans this year,"
aid Mr. Wade. "It's been a great year
for beans. I hain't raised so big a crop
enny year since '65, ' I cau-recollect. I
can give beans 'thout fceliu' it much."
"So can I," said Mr. Pettigrew. "I
got a jofired big crop off'n tho sido-hill
lot. I guess I'll take beans, too. I can
spare 'em bcttcr'n enything clso, an' they
ain't a-goiu to sell fcr much this year,
'cause they're so plenty."
Several others who listened to their
conversation concluded to take beans
also, fur it bad "been a great year for
beans" in Scragsby Corners, as Mr. Wade
had said.
"I've a good notion to take some o'
my Aliuiry's c'o'es," said Mr. Deacon
Spears to Mrs. Pettigrew. "She's out
grow'd 'em, but they'd jest about fit the
elder' oldest girl, I h'd jedge, an'
they're most as good as new, soin on
'em. You don't s'pose Mis Spooner 'd
feel put out about it, do you now, Mis
Pettigrew.
"I "can't sso why she should," re
sponded Mrs. Pettigrew. "Clo'es is
clo'es an' minister's folks hadn't ought to
git mad at what's givo 'em as long as
they hev to depend on us for a livin'.
'Tain't as if they could afford to be in
dependent, y' know. I s'pose I might
take some jackets an' trowsis that air
gettin' putty snug for the boys. I will,
if you conclude to take some o' Aliuiry's
dresses, Mis 6pears."
"Wall, then 'pose wo do," responded
Mrs. Spears.
The evening of the donation party
came.
The first arrival at the parsonage was
Mr. Wado. Ho met tho minister, who
camo to tho door in answer to his knock,
with a two-bushel bag full of something
on his shoulder.
"How'd do, elder. Beautiful night
fcr tho donation, ain't it?" was his
greeting, a he shook hands with the
minister. "I've brought some beans fer
ye. Fust-rato beans, too, ye'll find.
Bean is healthy livin, elder. I was
raised on 'cm. Nothin' better fergrowin'
children."
"You can put them in the wood-shed,"
said Mr. Spooner. Just then Mr. and
Mr. Pettigrew drove up. .
"Hello, elder, g6od evenin'," called
out Mr. Pettigrew. "I've got omo
beans here for ye. Wher'll ye hev 'em
put?"
"In the woodshed," said the minister,
with a smilo at his wifo. "It's going
to bo bean this year, my dear," in a
whisper.
Then other arrivals followed in rapid
succession, and at least three out of every
four brought beans.
"I've counted fourteen bushels al
ready," whispered the minister to hi
wife about eight o'clock, "and still
there's moro to follow."
"It's old clothes in my part of tho
house," said Mrs. Spooner-. "I do be
lieve there's enough to last the children
till they aro all grown up, if they'd fit
till that time. I can imagine the appear
ance they'd make in them. No two
alike, and probably not one that would
fit one of the children. It's too provok
ing for anything. It it wasn't for mak
ing tho peoplo mad, I'd sell the wholo
lot for rags to tho first rag peddler that
comes along."
"Brothers 'n'sisters.'n'fricn's 'n'neigh
bors," announced Deacon Spears, after
supper, when tho party was about ready
to break up, "the proceeds of this 'cro
donation amounts to twenty-seven bushel
o' beans, three turkeys, a pig, two bush
els o' potatoes, an' a large amount o'
clothin', an' some other things. In b'half
o' the elder on' his folks, I think ye fcr
y'r lib'ral'ty. Y'r kindness is appreci
ated by hi in 'n' his'n, I feel sartain, an'
I'm shurc his heart V han' is strength
ened by this evidence o' fellowship on
your part. Truly, as tho psalmist says,
'It is more blessed to givo than to re
ceive.' "
"I cordially endorse the sentiment
from the receivei's standpoint," said Mrs.
Spooner, as they looked over the "pro
ceeds" of the donation-party when they
were alone. "Just look at the collection
of old clothes, Henry. I suggest that you
give up preaching and move to the city,
and start in business as a bean broker,
and I'll run an old-clothes store. We'd
be well stocked up to begin with."
"What will you do with tho stuff?"
asked tho minister, turning over old
jackets and aprons, and other articles of
clothing with a comical look of dismay
on his face at tho formidable collection.
"I think I shall make about a hundred
yards of rag-carpet," answered Mrs.
Spooner. "That's about all a good deal
of it is fit for."
One afternoon in the following week
the minister sat down to prepare a ser
mon for tho coining Sabbath. As was
often the case, he talked it over with his
wife. When he named the chapter he
proposed to read at the opening of the
service, a sudden gleam of mischief came
into Mrs. Spooncr's face. But she said
nothing.
During the week Mr. Spooncr wrote to
a friend in tho city, asking him if there
was any salo for beans there. Ho had
twenty-five bushels to dispose of, at a
low price, ho wrote, adding that It had
been "a great year for beans in Scragsby
Corners."
When Sunday morning camo Mrs.
Spooner sent her husband on to church
ahead of her, under the plea that she had
not got the children quite ready. "Don't
wait for me, Henry," sho said, "or you
may be late. We'll get there in time for
the sermon."
Ho was reading a chapter from tho
Psalms when his family arrived. He had
reached the verse in which the lily of tho
valley is spoken of, and these words
rolled off sonorously front his tongue just
as the door opened and Mrs. Spooner,
followed by her childrcu, filed slowly
and impressively in
" 'Verily, I say unto you, even Solo
mon in all his glory was not arrayed like
cne of these."
As he finished the verse ho looked up
at the advancing arrivals, and the specta
cle that met his eyes tested his power of
self control moro than anything else he
had ever experienced, ho afterward told
his wife. His mouth twitched, and a
smile flickered about his eyes, but he
managed to keep back the grin that
would have appeared at the faintest en
couragement. Such a sight! The eldest girl was ar
rayed in Aliuiry's cust off dress, of navy
blue, with some other girl's polonaise of
red. Her sister was resplendent in a
dres of Scotch plaid pattern of most
gorgeous colors, originally, but now
somewhat subdued by time and wear,
still very vivid, and over it she wore a
jacket about three sizes too small for her,
the picturesque costume being topped oil
by a hat trimmed with old ribbon freshly
dyed a very bright mageuta color. The
oldest boy had a pair of trousers which
fairly dragged at the heels, aud a jacket
which was long enough for an overcoat,
while tho other boy wore trousers so
short that they failed to meet the top of
a pair of bright blue stockings, while his
jacket refused to keep company with tho
top of his trousers. Each article bad a
peculiar color of its own, and the general
effect was, as has been said, decidedly
picturesque.
The minister had no inkling of what
hjjj wife intended to do, and the sight of
his family in such fine array so upset him
for a momeut that he read tho verse he
had just finished over agaiu
" 'Verily, I say unto you, even Solo
mon in all his glory was not arrayed like
one of these.' "
A very audible titter went through tho
younger portion of tho congregation.
Borne even laughed aloud. Mrs. Wade
looked at Mrs. Pettigrew to see what
that estimable woman seemed inclined to
think of the proceeding, but she couldn't
cstch her eye. She was too busily en
gaged In following tha scripture lessoi
to look at any one.
"I'll bet she' mad, though," thought
Mrs. Wado. "One o' them jackets an'
one o' them trowsis came from her. 1
dunno, though, 's they look enny worst
than that dress o' Almiry' does. 1
didn't 'poso they'd think of riggin' the
children out in 'em to wear to church.
I'll bet Mis Spooner' done it a pur
pose." Mr. Spooner had "done It a purpose,"
as sho admitted to her husband, on their
way home.
"I don't think you ought to have dono
it, Susie," he said gravely, but there wa
a laugh in his eye as ho said it, as ho
looked at tho motloy group ahead."
"Perhaps not," was his wife' reply,
"but I wanted them to see the striking
effect resulting from their generosity. Of
course they can't get nngry about it,
since they gave tho clothes to bo worn.
I do think it'll have one good effect, and
that ii, that old clothes won't bo one of
the important features of the next dona
tion party here."
Mrs. Spooner wa right. When tho
next donation party occurred not one old
garment was "donated." Mr. Spooner
at last succeeded in disposing of his
beans, but he had to do so at a sacrifice,
on account of its having been such a
"great year for beans in Scragsby Cor
ners," that they overstocked tho market.
Yankee Blade.
Lock Stealing;.
In years gone by, before tho beginning
of the present generation, "lock steal
ing" was very common; in fact al
most every dealer in human hair had a
"stealer" as they wore called, whoso duty
it was to rob young and old women as
well of their hair."
In France, during tho sixteenth, sev
enteenth and eighteenth centuries, as well
ns in tho early part of this century,
"lock stealing" was so common that
youug woman used to go about with their
hair tied up in wire nets. Then hair
was worth from $75 to $100 a pound,
and it always found a ready market.
Since tho beginning of tho present
century tho hair dealers have procured
their stock in trade mostly from the nun
neries and monasteries of Frnncc, Ger
many and Austria, whero barbers aro ap
pointed who at certain intervals visit tho
homes of these holy peoplo nnd cut from
their heads such portions of hair as are
of a marketable length.
"There is probably less false hair worn
in New York than in any other city In
tho world," tho lady said. "Neverthe
less there are thousands of men and
women who do wear falso hair, aud who
keep several hundred hair establishments
running throughout Manhattan Island."
Neio York Journal.
Agriculture in Africa.
Although Africa is being partitioned
with a fatal facility on the map, the Eu
ropean nations who are so eager to estab
lish colonial empires within its borders
will find their task a slow and often dis
heartening one. The administrator of
the British colony of Gambia on the
west coast writes in an almost hopclcts
way of the "attempts to introduce higher
forms of agriculture and new industries.
While plows and other implements are
rusting in stores the natives have been
found turning over the soil with a
piece of hoop from an old cask. Nature
is to some extent on their side, as deep
digging is inimical to the proper devel
opment of the ground nut, which is the
staple export, and abstract demonstra
tions that other products and greater
effort will produce better results is of no
avail. It is suggested that the only
hope of inducing the aborigino to adopt
improved methods, is to introduce a su
perior race like the Chinese or Bengali
laborer, who will lead the way. Tho
assurance that he will reap the reward
of his labor must also tell in the long
run. None the less, the task of civiliz
ing Africa is certain to bo slow and
onerous. Pall Mall Gazette.
A Wily Professor.
Two teachers of languages wero dis
cussing matters and things relative to
their profession. "Do your pupils pay
up regularly on the first of each month?"
asked one of them. "No, they do not,"
was the reply, "I often have to wait for
weeks and weeks before I get my pay,
and sometimes. I don't get it at all. You
can't well dun the parents for the money."
"Why don't you do as I do? I always
get my money regularly." "How do you
manage it?" "It is very simple. For
iustance, I am teaching a boy French,
aud on the first day of the month his
folks don't pay the money for tho lesson.
In that event I give the boy the follow
ing sentence to trauslato and write out at
home: 'I have no money. The month
is up. Hast thou got any money? Have
not thy pareuts got money? I need
money very much. Why hast thou not
brought the money this morning? Did
thy father not give thee any money? Has
he no money iu tho pocketbook of his
uncle's great-aunt?' That fetches them.
Next morning that boy brings the
money." Neat York Star.
Gold Is Practically Indestructible.
Gold may be suid to be everlasting and
indestructible. The pure acids have no
effect upon it. Air and water alike are
unable to work its destruction. While
to tho baser metuls they are decay, to
gold they uro innocuous.
Bury it through tho long ages, and
when the rude tool of the excavator
again brings it to light, while everything
around it or orignalty associated with it
is returned to dust and the delicate form
which it adorned has become a powder
so impalpable as to be inappreciable, tho
delicate tracery of tho finest gold thread
remains.
Days, years, century upon century may
roll by; mighty Empires rise und full;
dynasties which deem their power ever
lasting and armies which have marched
and conquered may become nerveless;
cities teeming with uiillii us may become
the abode of the owl, yet the thin fila
ment of gold remains to-day as it was
5000 years ago. Truly gold U a noblo
metal. Jewelers' Weekly.
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.
The sun yields 800,000 times tho light
of the moon.
Babbitt metal consist of eighty-n'mo
part of tin, three of copper and eight of
antimony.
Athens, Greece, now boast of possess
ing the largest electric-light plant iu
eastern Europe.
Europe and America electricity I now
largely employed for the electrolytic de
position of copper.
A hundred laying hens produce in egg
shells about 137 pound of chalk or
limestone annually.
The corporation of London has made a
contract for supplying electric lights to a
large portion of the city.
Mibtary men aro very highly pleased
with the new repeating carbine which
has been adoptod for the French cavalry.
A Professor Adametz has discovered
that a soft cheese, near tbo periphery,
contain from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000
microbes.
A luminous buoy has been invented,
the light for which is produced by phos
phuret of calcium, and is visible two and
a half miles away.
Electrically deposited copper is so
ductile that it can be drawn down until
it resembles the finest hair, and this, too,
without annealing.
The application of electricity to the
testing and working of metals goes on
apace, and nearly every week sees somo
new development of electrical arts in this
direction.
During the last two or three years tho
firoccss of electric welding has sprung
nto prominence, and it is now being cm
ployed in a variety of ways, such, for
instance, as the making of wheel tires,
boiler tubes, chain links, shells for large
guns, etc.
In the process of photographing col
ors, lately discovered, tho photographs
aro taken on glass and paper, and the
tints range from a deep red,thorugh yel
low, to a bright blue, but green is absent
in all the positives. Very long exposure
is required.
Tho a'rophor is a new invention from
Germany of grent importance in textile
factories, and is being introduced into
the factories of England as well as Ger
many. It is an apparatus to diffuse moist
ure necessary for spinning without injury
to health or machinery.
A school of modern agriculture is to
be established on a Government farm in
one of the provinces of Spain. Lessons
are to be given in plowing, drilling,
threshing grain, etc., aud the implements
will be let at moderate price to farmers
who have learned- their use.
Among the most important subjects
for investigation by our scientists and
experiment stations are the discovery and
propagation of friendly insects or para
sites which may hf)ld in check somo of
the many insect foes which infest the
field, the garden and the orchard.
Wcldless tubes of steel are now mado
in Germany by the Mannesman process
out of solid bars. A pair of rolls revolve
at the rate of 200 or 300 revolutions a
minute. A bar of hot and therefore
plastic steel is delivered to them, and by
their action it is stretched and a hollow
is made in the centre. The tube made
by this process are peculiarly strong and
light.
America's Yalnnble Mineral Springs.
Dr. Frank Bosworth, the eminent
throat specialist of New York, who is
now in Paris, thus discourses oil Ameri
can springs: "No country in tho world
has more valuable mineral springs than
America. Their lack of recognition I
believe to be due simply to the fact that
their waters have not been so thoroughly
tested a those of the European resorts ;
still more, that medical men in charge
either have not or cannot enforce a per
fect system or regimen which regulates
cures well adapted to Americans. The
system of tho foreign spas is largely
organized for well-fed, beef-eating Eng
lishmen or robust Germans, who, as a
result of sedentary habits or of overeat
ing, have got their digestive apparatus
out of order, and for these a three or
four weeks' course of treatment nt Carls
bad, with its severe system, " is of im
nicuso benefit. If, on the other hand,
you object to this course an American
whose disorders aro the result of over
work, and whose nervous system has
been severely taxed, the result is liable
to be disastrous. At most wcll-kuown
European resorts the physicians in at
tendance recognizo these facts and avoid
their dangers. These facts should bo a
warning to the large number of traveling
Americans who aro tempted to make a
trial of foreign waters without profes
sional advice." Timet-Democrat.
Tho Grocer' Polite Horse.
A horse belongiug to a Brewer grocer
appears to hold the palm for politeness
just now. One day recently he had been
backed up to the door to receive his
load, so that the wagou stood directly
across the sidewalk. Turning his head
he saw some one coining nn the side
walk, and deliberately, although those
iu tho store kept calling him to stop,
stepped into tho road aud stood there
with plenty of room for passing, nor
would he return in spite of all com inn Is
until the traveler had gone on his way
rejoicing that he had not been obliged
to go out into the muddy street. Kennt
lee (Me.) Journal.
Hypnotising One' Self.
It is not a difficult thing for some
people to hypnotize themselves; that is,
to a certain degree. They ussume an easy
position, sitting up or half reclining, and
breathe deeply aud evenly, and at the
same time rapidly. Very soon sleep en
sues. And after retiring, if troubled
with wakefulness, it can generally be
quickly overcome by this simple pro
cedure. Another way is to take an eusy
position and steadfastly gaze at a small,
shining object placed about tw.i fee',
from the eyes aud a little above tiieir
level. Sleep will .ten eusue within five
minute. Chicago J Ural I,
GIANT ABALONE SHELLS
A MODEST M0LLTJ8K WITH A
MIGHTY CHIP.
Ill Polished Shell Makes Beautiful
Ornaments and HI Flrah En
riches the) Chinaman's Soup.
Tho Chinese and Italian fishermen who
live on the snnd-floorcd bays of tho
mighty cliffs of tho coaRt from Cape
Mendocino southward to Point Concep
tion know the abalono thoroughly, and
they never despise tho muscular grip of a
large one. They carry pointed bars of
iron, with which to pry them off tho
rocks at low tide; they cut them out of
tho half-shell, for tho abalono is a "uni
valve mollusk," to use tho phrase of the
professor of natural history, and they
broil them for dinner, or dry them for
market. But they seldom venture to
stoop in a cramped position down tho
rock-crevices to pluck a giant abalone
from his hold, without having tho iron
handy. Three or four times tho body of
a drowned fishcrnan, who tried that once
too often, has been swept ashore a day or
two later, when the mollusk released its
hold. Once, down at Point Sur, a China
man was drowned in this way, and the
rest of the fishers in the village of black
huts under the yellow cliff deserted the
place within a week. They said that the
ghost of tho dead Chinaman had turned
into an abalone, nnd would seek another
and another victim until tho Inst of his
comrades were dead. I redo by that
day with a friend, nnd saw them pile the
dead Chinaman's -lothes and belongings
on the teach and burn them. Then they
put a sign in Chinese on the top of the
cliff, and, as I havo heard, no Chinaman
has ever since ventured to fish in thai
cove.
Polished abalone shells, and ornaments
made from tho "buttons of pearl" which
every largo shell contains, arc very com
mon in California, but one sees littlo in
these days of the old native Californian
use of them on saddles and briddlcs. If
a vaqucro were too poor to sport pounds
ot silver on bridle rem nnd saddle Icath
cr,hc could at least wear abalone buttons,
polished by hand. The shells, too, were
carried far inland, aud used on hundreds
of ranches for such homely purposes as
soap-dishes and candle holders. Up and
down tho coast, in willow copses, or set
in sens oi tule, are the ancient "Kitchen
Middens, ".where, mingled with oyster
shells, broken abalone shells often form
the greater part of the vast mound of
debris. Inland, too, in the valleys whero
Indians onco lived, abalono shells are
found, carried there ages ago. The aba
lone must have been ono of the principal
food-resources of the California soa-coast
Indians, and was probably exchanged by
them for the acorns and pino-nuts gath
ered by the Indinns of tho interior.
The abalono is fast disappearing. Tho
Chinaman has conquered. The profits
of tho modest mollusk, when dried and
shipped to China for tho soup of tho rich
merchnnts and high dignitaries of the
Empire, nre so great tint ho is pursued
summer and winter, and thousands of
tons of him have been dried, sacked and
shipped away. There aro but few largo
abaloucs left. One can find wave-wore
shells on the beach, or in tho deep lime
stone caves, that are larger than any now
obtained. You will still find thousand;
of about the size and shape of a gentle
man's watch-crystal, but tho shells that
aro eight inches across only turn up al
rare intervals, nnd aro much sought foi
by collectors, aud jewelers who know
their beauty when polished. There are two
sort of abaloncs on the Californian coast,
one black on the outside, tho other red.
Whcu this outer shell is ground partly
through the effect is either black or red,
as the case may be, on a pearly ground.
The abalono pins nnd sleeve-buttons that
coutain green or blue shades como from
the pearl button in the black-backed
abaloncs, while those thatcontuln silvery
aud gray tints, come from the buttons in
In tho red-backed species. Neta YorX
Tribune.
Checkers Among- the Fire Fighters.
About as hard n customer as ono may
wish to tackle in a game of checker is
the average firemun. Tho game is a popu
lar one in all the stations, and tho long
hours of "waiting for something to turn
up" givo ample opportunities for indul
gence iu it. Some wonderfully scieutitic
games are played, and souio of the lire
laddies have great records. The game of
checkers as played by firemen h:is ono
distinct drawback. A pluyer may havo
au elaborate plan of campaign worked
out. Ho is gradually working up to his
:'limax. His adversary is making just
the moves he wishes him to. The final
moment nrrives. Tho would-be victor ii
lifting his finger to make the iuitiul move
of the series that will bring him hit
triumph when bung! goes the alarm, and
in a jiffy the board and tho "men" upon
it are jerked seven ways for Sunday as
the players fly to their posts. The alarm
turns out to be from a distant part of the
city, however, nnd the destruction of the
game unnecessary. A new one must be
started, of course, ami thus anothet
triumph is nipped in the bud. Tho only
comfort the sufferer has is in knowing
thut it's ull the same for everybody and
that his adversary may be the victim aud
himself the beneficiary of the iutcrruptiou
next time. Xtio York Times.
Living on an Unknown Island.
Captain Fairchild, of an Euglish ves
sel, recently landed on Sunday island,
one of the Karmadce group in the South
Sea, ami popularly supposed to be uniu
habitable. lie was surprised to 11 ml a
countryman, William Bell, living thcro
with his three daughters, four sons aud a
Scotch ex-schoolmaster. The daughters
were grown up women, but had not seeu
an unfamiliar fuce since babyhood.
They wore niulo attire, but through the
efforts of the Scotchman were highly ed
ucated Hud, says the Captain, very beau
tiful. It was some time beforo thuy
could be induced to remain iu the pres
ence of the strangers, but in a day or two
their shyness disappeared ..Yetfl York
free,
BALLADE OF THE BABY. '
Cheeks that are dimpled and pink.
Twin roses abloom on a spray;
Ked lips full of love to the brink;
Soft glances, that, pnnslve or gay,
A world of sweet meaning convey;
Wee flngoT that flutter nnd cling,
A snowdrift of crumpled array
This is the Baby, the King!
What though h tip over my Ink, "
And drives my live wits all astrayf
Shall I grumble Indeed do you think, J
Because, in his Innocent way, '
He wakes me long hours before day
And wants me to walk and to sing?
Why not, if it pleases him, pray?
This is the Baby, the King!
Our fortunes thoy rise and thoy sink.
We let the world wag as it may ;
Our lives narrow down to the chink I
That encircles his Majesty. 'ay, ; . '
Our lives and our fortunes we lay
At his feet, with his rattle and ring,
Content to adore him and say,
"This is the Baby, the King f '
ENVOY.
Prince, you may boast of your sway, '
'Tis but an ephemeral thing!
The Empire of Hearts is for aye,
This is the Baby, the King;
Margaret Johnson,
I1UX0R OF THE DAY.
A titlo will often sell a book and al
ways buy an American girl.
The hen is not a cheerful fowl. Sho
broods a great deal. Boston Bulletin.
Fcnderson always spenks of his son'
allowance as tho fresh heir fund. Botton
Post.
That man is lucky who can partake of
meals that his cook also relishes.
Park.
People who say sharp tilings often get
tho reputation of being blunt. Balti
more American.
Ice is very high in Switzerland. Somo
of it on Mount Blanc is over 10,000 fect
above the sea level.
"Look out 1" cried tho pebble to tho
clam shell; "there's a cold wuvo com
ing." Harper' t Bazar.
"Did your father leave a will?'' "No,
no will; nothing but plain every day
bills." M'athin'jton Pont.
The dressmaker doe3 her work with
mathematical accuracy. Sue is great ou
figures. Washington Pout.
Misfortune and poverty bring out tho
good points of a man including his el
bows. Burlington Free Press.
The man that can't sing and won't sing
deserves the sincere thanks of n niu .ical
community Som'rcille Journal.
Traveling Agent "Are you tho head
of the house, sir?" Mr. Cowed "llemt
Ah! I represent her." Pack.
Man proposes and than goes homo
wondering how ho managed to make
such a fool of himself over it. Puck.
If glasg was not discovered, so to speak,
Until th'j world had reached a quite old
date.
What did the fishermen beforo that timo
Use instead of it to hold their bait?
Philadelphia Times.
There never was a woman who didn't
long to tell some other woman just how
she ought to do up her hair. Sjinervilla
Journal
In large families it has been found that
the olive branch of peuco is not equal to
ho well-matured hickory yearliug.
Dallas Xcics.
"Papa," said Willie, "what isarara
avis?" "A rara avis, my son, is a dudo .
with bruins. You hardly ever see one."
-Ai York Sun.
Beggar "Please, sir, givo mo n few
pennies. My wife is dead." Mr. Hen
peck "Man alive! What more do you
want?" ftjtton Advertiser.
Uncle Sam is frequently depicted ns a
slim, cadaverous looking man, but he
has a mighty strong constitution just tho
same. Vommercud A drert iser.
it is not true that tho rain falls alikft
upon tli. just nnd the unjust nowadays,
it falls more upon the just, because tho
other fellow has stolen his umbrella.
She wan only a suinmar girl, 'tis true,
But when he mtiio her Ins wifo
Iu memory for those times she made
Jt hot for hiiu all his lite.
I'hiliulelphia Times.
Speaking of maternal instinct, a
marina exchange has an article on "De
voted Mother Whale." So does tho
devoted father, only he lays it ou harder.
PliiladelphM Press.
CONSTANCY.
If you offer your baud to some Julr maid
As to wedding, perhaps she'll scutT,
But if youotfor it to a buzz saw
The alfair's likely to come oir.
I'liiladtliihia Times.
Judge "This gentleman can ideutifj
the watch, because his initials an
scratched on the inside of the case.'
Prisoner "No, he can't; I scratched
them oil." Clothiers' and Furnisheri
Oiisette.
Yeast "Here's an account iu the pa
pers ot a man holding his breath for
one hour. Do you belicvo that!"
Crimsonbeak "Certainly. Why, Me
thuselah held his breath for ever uim
hundred years." Statesman.
Weo Wife "Love you? Of courso 1
do. You dear, blescd old peach ciop."
Big Husband (loving, but luckless)
"Ureat Scott! Why this new title?
W. W. "llecauso you are such a perpe
tual failure." .Viluaukce .Win.
AI'I'ICAKANCKS DECISIVE.
A swell may suuk to cut a la-ti
With flannel suit, silk shirt an 1 cane;
But frequently lilt) thiet sa?.h
Will hido the most distrein paiu.
AVit Yurk .Itmrnaf.
"What is necessary when you wish to
beat a retreat i'' as ted au old military mar
at Fort Washington. "I suppose you'd
have to retreat faster than the othur fel
lows," was tho reply that cams after
some deliberation. Wuhuijtoa Put.
Hand to Mouth. Suaggs "Hello,
Baggs! lluven't seen you for year..
How aro you living now?'' 13 41,':;
"Haud to mouth." Smiggs "Yon
don't say so. Hy Jove, I wouldn't huvo.
thought it." Biggs Why uot? Can't
a man be a deutist and be respectable.!"
Burlington Frte Press.