THE FOREST REPUBLICAN
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VOL. XXVII. NO. 31. TIONESTA, PA., WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21, 1804. $1.00 PER ANNUM,
REP
It is soid tbfit tho rldo from Cannes,
Franco, to Onion, Italy, ie the finest
railroad journey in the world.
San Froucisoo is Raid to bo rapidly
declining in prosperity and tho Cali
fornia ptoplo blame tho Southern Ta
ciflo Railrond for it.
Tho cities of New York owe $171,
030,000; tho towns, 814,000,000, and
ho villngos, ' 2,000,000, whilo tho
bounties owe less than $14,000,000.
Tho egg product of tho United
States in much more voluoblo than is
generally supposed. It amounts to
100,000,000 per nnnnm, about ono
third tho value of tho whout crop.
Sixty-six ont of ono hundred Ameri
can farmers own their farms. Moro
than half of thorn have no incumbrance
whatever. They ore iufluitely botter
off than our urban population and
their conditiou is constantly improv
ing. ' With good roads aud intelli
gence, predicts tho Atlanta Constitu
tion, farmers will bo tho rulers of tho
earth, litorally.
Ono secret of Jopanrsa success is il
lustrated by tho fact, told in Kato
Field's Washington, that tho now
Jopanoeo Minister, Mr. Kurino, pays
snoh special attention to journalists.
Ho will often keop pcoplo who have
important business with tho Legation
waiting while he talks to a newspaper
correspondent about Japan, its peoplo
and customs, tho war, or any other
topio that may bo uppermost.
Who is tho most learned man in tho
world? asks tho Now Orleans Pica
yuue. If degrees count, a good claim
may be mado ont for Ilerr von Ooss
ler, tbo obcrpresident of West Prns
sioi who has just been mado a doctor
of pliilosphy honoris causa by tho
philosophical faoulty of tho Univer
sity of Hallo. Ho istheroby tho pos
sessor of a doctor's diploma in all the
four academical faculties. Ho is a
doctor of law, and a doctor of philos
ophy, and hus attained tho raro 1 1 -
tinctiou of thoso-cilled "doctor quad
ruples. "
Tho money valuo of hands and
fingers has boon mado tho subject of
on interesting estimate by ono of tho
Gorman miners' accident insurance
companies. According to this tho loss
of both hands represents a loss of 100
per cent, ofllciency, or, in other words,
tho whole ability to cum a living.
Losing tho right baud depreciates tho
valuo of 1111 individual as a worker
seventy to eighty per cent., wbilo tho
loss of tho left band represents from
sixty to Beveuty per cent, cf tbo earn
ings of both bauds. Tho thnmb is
reckoned to bo worth from twenty to
thirty per oeut, of tbo earning", tho
tirst finger of tbo right baud is valued
at from fourtoon to eighteen per cent ;
that of tbo left band, at from eight to
13.5 per cent. Tho middle finger is
valued at no moro than from seven to
nine per ceut., while tbo little finger
is worth from uino to twelve per cent.
The difference in the percentages, it is
explained, is occasioned by the differ
ence in tbo trades followed by the in
jured ones.
"The investigations of Dr. Park
burst and tbo I.exow Committoo make
it reasonably certain that in the past
thirty years Now York's police force
has levied and collected 8100,000,000
blackmail. Tho shady houses in New
York have paid in bush money," esti
mates tke Atlanta Constitution, "33,
450,000 a year to tbo polieo officials.
Tho blood money paid by tbo green
goods men amounts to 814,000 per an
num. The policy writers have paid
tho polioo flS.'JOO a year. A con
servative estimate shows that the
gamblers have paid $72,000 a year for
this unlawful protection. About two
tbousund merchants pay $10,000 a
year for tho privilogo of obstructing
the bilk-walks with their goods. Tho
saloon keepers pay about $1,750,000 a
year to escape prosecution for their
violations of law. The evidence shows
that this blackmail has been levied
for thir.ty years, aud at tbo lowest es
timate it must amount to $100,000,003,
and rt may possibly run $"30,000,000
above tbut sum. Such a chapter of
municipal corruption has never before
been exposed. Aud yet it must bo ad
mitted that Now York has many po
lice officers and privates who are us
honest, brave und itUeient us any in
tbo land. But tbo corrupt conduct of
others bus brought tbo entire force
under suspicion. Naturally, tho scan
dal has encouraged tbo lawless classes,
and they are loud in their clauior
against the police. In tho interests
of law und order it is to bo hoped that
there will be a thorough nud speedy
reform. It would be a o. dimity to tho
wholo country to have this state of af-
.irs ooLtinu
d Jtropolu."
in no luuoti longer in tbo
THE CROAKER,
When It ain't a-goln' to blow,
Il'llsnow,
It'll snow I
When tho land wllh cash la bummlh',
Tbnro's a monny panic oomln' I
Wbr-n tho sky Is bnttmln' bright,
There's a hnrrlc.no In sight t
And you'll know,
And you'll know,
It wns him who told you sot
When tho crops aro growln' One,
They'll decline,
They'll docllnel
Whon tho woather's kinder sunny,
All the boat will melt the bonoy 1
When It's lookln' rather wet,
It will drown the ootlon yot I
And you'll know,
And you'll know,
It was him who told you so I
Ho's a great one In his way,
Every day,
Evory day I
ITo is always prophesying 1
Yon nro clthor dead, or dying 1
And no rontter what you do,
It's exactly as ho knew I
And you'll know,
Know, know.
It Was him who told you so I
F. L. Stanton.
THE ABANDONED HOUSE.
BT PRAN'COIS COrPEE.
OR fifteen years I
passed nearly every
day, and some
times twice a day,
through a little
street situated at
the extreme limit
of the Faubourg
St. Germain, and
ending in ono of
those magnificent
boulevards which
radinto about des
Invalided It was
one of those very
rare Parisian by-ways where there is
not a singlo shop. I do not know a
more tranquil spot. Several gardens,
enolosod in long low walls overhung
with branches, shed over the deserted
street in May tho delicate odor of
lilacs ; in June, the heavier perfume
of elderflowers and acacias.
Among thoso was ono abodo even
more isolatod than tho others. When
tho porto coehere openod to admit a
landau or coupo, the podestrian (who
heard the echo of Lis steps on the
pidewalk) saw only a graveled road,
bordered with a bodge which turuod
abruptly toward a house hidden amid
tho verduro. It would have been dif
ficult to find a corner more secluded.
Tho place contained neither gardener's
house nor porter's lodge nothing but
that nest in tho foliage.
The pavilion was inhabited. Tho
garden, gay with flowers, always care
fully attendod to, was a proof of that.
Iu winter, tbo smoke from the chim
neys rose to tho gray sky, and in tbo
evening a light shone dimly behind the
thick curtains, always closely irawn.
Several times I saw going or coming
through the lattice-door an old ser
vant in sombre livery, and with a cir
cumspect, evon suspicious, air. Evi
dently I should gain nothing by inter
rogating him. Besides, what right
had I to trouble with vain curiosity
the unknown host or hosts of tho
closed house?
I respected thoir secret, but tbo
enigmatical dwelling continued to ex
ercise for tne its singular attraction.
One July night, a stifling night, un
der a dark, heavy sky, I came home
about eleven o'clock, and, accord
ing to my nsual habit, I
mechanically turned my steps so
as to pass before the mysterious
pavilion. The little street, lighted
only by three gas jets far apart, which
nickered in the heated air, was abso
lutely deserted. Not a leaf stirred on
the trees in tho garden. All nature
was dumb in the quiet which precoMos
a storm.
I was in front of the pavilion, when
some notes wero struck on a piano
within and echoed in the motionless
air. I noticed with surprise that,
doubtless because of the beat, twq of
the windows were partly open,, though
not enough for one to see tbo interior
of the apurtment. Suddenly a woman's
voice, a soprano of wondeiful tweet
ness and power, burst forth upon the
sileuoe of the night.
She sang a short melody, of Bt ran go
rhythm and the most touching melan
choly, ia which I divinod instinctively
a populur air, one of those flowers of
primitive musio which are never gath
ered in the gardens raked by profes
sional maestri. Yes, it certainly was
a folk song, but of what oouutry? I
did not recognize the tongue in which
the words were written, but I felt
there the plaintive inspiration, and
fancied that I detected in them the
sad spirit of the North. The air was
thrilling, the voice sublime. It hard
ly lusted two minutes, but I never felt
in all my life such a deep musical sen
sation, and long after the song hud
died away, I felt still vibrating within
me the final melodious note, sharp,
penetrating, sad, like a long cry of
pain. 1 remained there for a long
time in tho hope of bearing that do
licious voice again, but suddenly 1
storm burst upon tho city. The wind
shook the trees. I felt a large drop
of raiu on my hand. I was obliged
to make all baste to get home.
Some duys afterwurd I was iu the
Casino at Dieppe with some jolly com'
panions, and took part in an uuiuia'
ted disoussion upon munio. I praised
popular airs, which spring spontuue
oiihly from an innocent sentiment. Iu
aid of my theory, I related my ad veil
ture.
"What do you think of this air?" I
asked irince Khuloll, a young Kus
siun with whom I was very intimate.
"1 shall iiuvux forget i-V I said warm
ly. I proceeded to ising it indifTorenlly
won.
"Well," replied the vonnir nrince.
"yon can congratulate yourself, my
dour sir, in having had such a rare
treat. That melody is a song of the
sailors of Drontheim, away ont in
Norway, and the beautiful voioe must
Lave boon that of Stolborg, with whom
we were all in love two years ago,
whon sbo mado her debut inSt. Peters
burg that Stolborg was the rival of
her countrywoman Nilsson, and who
would ,have beconio one of the great
est singers of the century if sho had
not been suddenly snatched from art,
from tbo stage, from sueccss of all
kinds by her love for Count Basil
Lobanof, at that time my oom
rado in the Guards, when we
were, both cornets in the cavalry.
Yes, fop two years wo wore without
news of Basil. Ho had given up his
commissidn and left Russia without
saying adieu to any one. And we
Only know vaguely that ho had hidden
himself in Paris with bis wrfo; but
wo were ignorant of tho place of his
retreat till you now revealed it by
cbftuoe."
"So," said I, "tho wonderfully
gifted artis( has renounced everything
for a little lovo affair.
"Sny rather for a great passion I"
cried the prince. "Although very
young, St ol berg had had numerous
flirtations when sho met Lobanof. 1
was there in tbo groen room on the
evening when Busil who, I should
toll you, is as handsome as a god was
presented to her, and I saw tho diva
pole with emotion, even under her
powder and paint. Oh, it was start
ling, and I thought that she would
carry off our young friend that same
evening, pell-mell, with the trium
phant bouquets, aftor tho fifth act.
But immediately ho bocamc ao joalous
as a Mussulman yes, jealous of the
very publio when sho Bang. He was
always there in tbo front seats of tbo
orchestra, and at each burst of ap
plause he turned abruptly, and cast a
sombre look over the house.
That look seemed to express
dee ire to slap the whole
audience in tho face. Everything went
wrong. Even when tbe Czar was ""es
ent, the prima donna had eyes ioarto
one but Basil sang always to Basil.
That caused trouble behind the scenes,
and the poor girl decided to leave the
stage. She did so at tbo end of three
months, at the close of ber engage
ment. He married ber- and since
then they have hidden, themselves in
Paris, in the retreat which you dis
covered. They must be dead in love.
But I will wager that Basil will get
over it. He is built like tho Farnese
Hercules, and they say poor Stolberg
is consumptive. They pretend even
that it is disease which gives her voice
its wonderful power and extraordi
nary sweetness and pathos. Her gift
is tbo result 01 disease, like the pearl.
All the same, no matter bow much in
love with Lobanof the poor girl is, she
will die of weariness in that cage in
which ho keeps her. Then she must
sing very rarely, since in the many
times you novo passed before thoir
house you have heard her but once,
that night of the storm. Well, it will
end badly."
The conversation turned to othor
things, and the next day I left Dieppe
to go with some friends to Lower Nor
mandy. I had only been there ten
days when I read accidentally in a the
atrical paper the following notioo:
"We aunounoe with sorrow the death
of Mile. Ida Stolberg, the Swedish
oantatrioe, who shone so briefly and
brilliantly on the stage in Germany
and Russia, and who renounced her
lyrical career in tbo midst of her suc
cess and has been living quietly in
Puns for two years past. She died of
pulmonary consumption."
X bad never seen btolberg. Once
only had I heard that inoomparablo
voice. Still, the reading of this com
monplace notice, which announced to
me the fulfilment of Prince Khaloff's
dismal prophecy, broke my heart. I
knew now the whale mystery of tbo
closed bouse. It was there that the
poor woman had languished and been
extinguished, deeply iu love, no doubt,
but stilled also by the coptivity to
which she was condemned by the
jealousy of ber husband. No doubt,
also, sho was full of regrets lor the
former triumphs of ber abandoned
art. Tbo fate of Stolberg seemed so
sad to mo that I fairly bated the man
who bad sacrificed ber wbolo life.
He seemod to me a fop, an egotist, a
brute. I was certain that ho would
soon console himself for tho loss of
his wife. Unit ho would soon forget
the poor dead woman, aud that, un
worthy of tho love which bo bad in
spired, bo would also bo incapable of
grief or fidelity.
On my return to Paris, one of tho first
persous I met on the Boulevard was
Prince KbalofT. I told him how much
I bad been moved at the news of the
singer's death, and I could not hide
from him tbo instinctive antipathy
which I felt toward Lobanof.
"Behold, you peoplo of imagina
tion 1" cried the prince. "You were
charmed for an instant by this wo
man's voice, and you feel a posthu
mous love for her, and a retrospective
jealousy of my poor friend. I own to
you tbut I have always thought Basil
a wore sensual than sensible mini,
moro passionate than tender ; but I
have seen bim since poor Ida's death,
and he is a prey, I assuro you, to the
most horrible and sincere despair.
When I expressed my sympathy to
him, be cast himself iu my arms, and
repeated to me, us he wept on my
shoulder, that bo could live no longer.
And it was not pretence. He goes at
once to Senegal, to join the Jackson
mission, a party of explorers, who
will bury themselves, probably for
ever, iu frightful Africa. Tbot is not
common, you will own. It is to be
feared that fever or cholera, or a shot
from the nun of a aavuge, will end the
poor boy's lite and sorrows. .Take
back, I beg yon, your rash and pre
mature judgment upon him. Besides,
he had before his departure an idea
which should ocrtainly seem affocting
to you. That pavilion, where bo boa
been so happy and so unhappy, be
longs to him. Well, he has closed it
forever. Basil wishes that no living
being should ever again penetrate
that abode of love and sorrow. You
can pas there now, and see tho
bouse fall into ruin, and on tho day
when they put a notice upon it, on
that day you can say, 'Basil Lobanof
is dead."
I left the prince, and the next day.
reproaching myself for my injustice,
I went to see the dosorted house. The
shutters were closed J tbo dead leaves
of the great piano tree, half-bare (it
was the end of autnmn), covered the
grass of the lawn. Weeds forced thoir
way through tho gravelled wolk. The
work of destruction had begun.
Months passed ; a year ; then anoth
er ; tben the daily papers were full of
the great anxiety felt over tho fate of
Jackson and his companions, from
whom no news had come. You know
that even to-day the world is ignorant
of the fate of those brave explorers.
Living always in the same vicinity
and passing every day before the
abandoned pavilion, I say it decay,
little by little. The rain of two win
ters had lushed constantly the plaster
of the facade and covered it with a
damp mould. Tbon the slato roof was
damaged by wind and rain storms.
Dampness attacked everything. Liz
ards sunned themselves on the wall ;
the balcony was loosened ; tbo roof
bent. Tbo appearance of the poor
houso bccazio lamontablo. As for
the garden, it had returned
quickly to its Eavage state. Tbo
flowers wore not cultivated ; tbo roso
bushes were untrimmed, and had only
leaves and branches; the geraniums
were dead. Tho grass had long since
disappeared under tho dead hay, and
the high stalks of the weeds were dis
dained even by tho butterflies. Noth
ing grew there but thistles and tho
pale poppy. It was a gloomy spot !
Years rolled on. It was now im
possible to hope for the return of the
Jackson party. Evidently those in
trepid pioneers had succumbed to
hunger nn.l thirst in some horriblo
desert or been massacred by tbo sav
ages, and Count Basil Lobanof was
dead with them, faithful to bis Stol
berg. The deserted houso bad fallen
absolutely into ruins. The great tree
which was near tho houso, and whose
foliage was no longer kept in check by
trimming, had thrust one of it3 im
mense branches through the window.
Tho shutters had fallen off, and the
tree had pushed its way into the in
terior of the disembowelled bouse.
There might be mushrooms within
and even gross growing on tbo floor
of the salon. Each time 1 passed be
fore the old ruin which had come to
to the last stages of decay, I thought,
abandoning myself to a romantic rev
ery, "It is better that it should be
so. If they had heard of tbo count's
death, the heirs no doubt would have
caused steps to bo taken at once for its
restoration. They would havo broken
it open brutally, und let in the garish
light of day, to desecrate those hal
lowed associations of love and sorrow.
Basil Lobanof has done well to disap'
pear, and nature lovingly destroys
slowly this old love-nest, and keeps it
from profanation."
The other day I saw the ruin again ;
the branches of the great tree came
through the roof, and there were lit
tle trees growing in the rocks. Then
I met Priuco Khuloff, who bad not
been in France for a dozen years.
Wo walked and talked together, and I
told him all about the abandoned
house, its slow destruction, and tho
thoughts it suggested. Tbo prinoo
burst into laughter.
"Decidedly, my dear fellow, you
will never be anything but a poet.
Basil is married again, the futber of
three children, aud holds the office of
First "Secretary to tho Russian Ambas
sador at Rome."
"Tbe Count Lobanof is not dead 1"
I cried, stupefied.
"On my last visit to Rome bo was
as well as you or I. "
"He did not go with the Jackson
party? Oh, the perfidious muni" I
cried, furious ut my wasted sympathy.
"I should havo suspected him. It
seems that he forgot his dead lovo ut
once."
"Oh no," replied tbo prince.
"Basil is not so guilty us that. Wild
with grief after ber death, bo would,
for good or bad go with tho
party, aud ho set out for Scuoaui
bia. But ou the sixth day of
their march be fell seriously ill aud
wus taken to St. Louis by a caravan,
iu tbe greatest agony. There ho re
covered but it was not his fault. His
friends profited by bis weakness and
lack of energy to carry him back to
Europe, and since then, after waiting
a long time, bo bus consoled himself."
"but then tbe deserted bouse?
What does that rome.ly signify?"
asked I, in a ba 1 humor.
"How severe you nre, my dear !" re
plied tbe amiable Russian. "It is not
a comedy, but it proves ou the con
trary, that tbe oouut is a mau of honor.
Whut did ho promise? That us long
us bo lived 110 one should go under tbe
roof which had sheltered his love. And
he has kept bis word, though it b-ts
oost him u grout deal. Resides, who
knows if he does not ulwuys mourn bis
delightful singer, uud regret bitterly
tho eveuiugs puwcd iu tbut elused
houso, listening to the. divinely sa 1
musio of that voice which caused bim
so much happiness, so much sorrow?
All that I oau tell you," added the
prince with an ironical smile, "is that
with a lurge fortune, a beautiiul f inily,
and a home iu tho Eternal I'ity, a
despairing lovo twelve years oldouqht
to be endurable!" Traubluttl foi
Romance.
Cloves grow wild iu tbo Muluocutt.
SCIENTIFIC A5D INDUSTRIAL,
Tbe whistling buoy con bo heard
about fifteen miles.
Asiotio cholera is tho most rapidly
fatal thing known to medical science,
Carriages propelled by electricity
derived from a storage battery aro
common in Berlin.
A French physician reports a coso
of hiccough successfully treated by
taking snuff until sneezing was pro
voked. Lightning is most destructive in
levol, open country. Cities, with their
numerous projections -and wires, ore
comparatively exempt.
A total absence of butterfly life in
England is noted. Beyond au occa
sional (white butterfly, there aro nono
to be seen this summer.
Irish potatoes in a store, with a cel
lar under them, will stand a tempera
ture of ten degrees, and without a cel
lar a zero tomperature will not hurt
them.
Gardening ants collect pieces of
vegetable and pile thorn up to rot in
tho dark interior of thoir nests until
tbe rubbish is covered with a growth
of fungus on wbiou tbe ants feed.
Peoplo wink becauso tbe eye must
be kept clean and moist, and by tbe
action of tho eyelids tbo fluid secreted
by tbe glands of tho eyes is spread
equally over the surface of tbe globe.
Tbe greatest earthquako on reoord
within the limits of the Unitod Statoe
occurred in California in 1872. Foi
ten days the ground was continuously
agitated, not being perfectly quiet for
as long as a singlo minute.
At the meeting of tho Germon Con
gress of Natural Science in Vienna,
Professor Boltoman delivered an inter
esting lecture on aerial locomotion.
Ho predicted tbo greatest success for
tbo application of aeroplanes.
At rredimost, in Bohemia, where
many mammoth skeletons have been
unearthed, a prehistorio family has
lately been found. The skeletons of
tbe man, woman and children are com
plete, tbo man's being of enormous
size.
A Boston author, who is oonvinced
that tho printing of booksin white and
block is unnatural and trying to tbe
eyes, is about to bring ono out with
the pages blue, preen, yellow, etc.,
purchaser to make choico of bis or
ber own color.
Professor Roux, of Paris, at a recent
hygienic congress at Budapest, asserted
that in tbo Paris hospitals seventy-five
per cent, of tho children inoculated
with Bebring's anti-dipbtboritino
(serum talieu from horses) wero saved,
while of thoso not inoaulated sixty per
cent, died and only forty per cent,
survived.
Released Her Imprisoned Foot.
A women crossing a network of rail
road tracks iu Lonj Island City not
long ago stepped on a frog, which was
unlocked, and pinionod her foot se
curely. There was possibly no danger
from an approaching truin, for there
wero many lnon abont, but her posi
tion was not comfortable.
Her cries attracted assistance to ber
side, and tho groups of men began
suggostiug first one tbiug, tbon an
other to roleaso tho foot. "Givo a
sudden jerk," sugceetod ono. "Slido
your foot forward," said another. Tbo
woman tried, but could not move her
foot.
"No, that won't do," cried a third.
"Get acrowbar. Get anything. Wo'vo
got to pry it out." At this the woman
became hysterical, and the men all
grew nervous. Sovoral ran up the
track, and several down to signal any
approaching train.
Just then, when tho excitoment wns
high, a railroad employo crossed tho
track, swinging a tin dinner pail.
"What's tbe mattor?" ho asked of ono
of tbo crowd. Tho sitnatiou was ex
plained to him. Everything had been
tried, his informant said, and they
wero waiting for a crowbar.
"Why don't pou unlace tho shoo,"
bo said, aud taking a knife from his
pocket be out tbo laces. No one bad
thought of that, but the remedy was
effectual, und in fifteen seconds tho
half fuiutiug woman was able to pull
her foot from tbe shoe, aud a slight
effort then released tbo latter. New
York Herald.
Wuutou Destruction of Reindeer.
Tbo uso of firearms has led to tho
wanton destru3tion of tbo reindeer
for tho sake of their skius, their ant
lers, an 1 their tongue, which aro a
rnro delicuoy. It is to bo fearod that
tbo Urcouland reiudeer will boo u go
tbe way of tho buffalo of our Wester 11
plains; und so of tbe fur-bearing aui
muls iu general. Tbo natural increase
is sufficiently chocked by tho original
native methods of catchiug them in
traps. Tbe seal, also, tbo most im
portant of all tbo animals upon which
they depend for existence furnishing
them food, clotbiug, fuel, und cover
ing for tbo kayak is m danger of be
ing exterminated by tbo more destruc
tive methods of hunting introduced
by modern inventions. Now York
l'obt.
A National t'b)ll;iiiir Dcparl 111 cut."
Tbo men who fought the establish
ment of tbo Department of Agricul
ture u few yeuis ago ou tbo ground
tl'ut it wan unnecessary, will perhups
bo surprised to learn that ono hun
dred years ago there wus a "Clothiiif;
Department," aud that Congress is
sued regulations for a clothier con
era!, a State clothier, a regimental
clothier, uud so ou. A "department
of clotbiug" would excite diii ivo
laughter now. There was a good d':V.
of inquiry aud report 011 the Buujecl
of clothing for tbo continental army,
mid ut one time Gem rul llomtio Gates
repot ted that tho cost ol CiutbiugtUjU
tuuu was fc".;i. '-WiubinQtou btur,
THE VALUABLE FUR SEAL.
AN ANIMAL OVER WHICH GOVEBIC
MENTS HAVE ARBITRATED.
Princely Koynlty Derived by the
United Mate From .Seals Killed
A Remarkable Creature,
THE fur seal (its name should
be furry sea lion) is tbe most
celebrated of all our fur
beareis, and tho United States
Government has been as active in pro
tecting it from destruction as it was
indifferent to tho foto of the buffalo
millions. If our ercat international
dispute with England and Canada
over the fur seal had arisen seventy
years ago, boforo the dnys of peaceful
arbitration, there would surely have
been a war over it. Nor is our inter
est in our fur seal to be wondered at
when we stop to consider that from
1870 to 1890 our National Treasury
reoeived $6,000,000 from tbe Alaska
Commercial Company as royalty on
the animals killed (six-sevenths of tho
purchase price of Alaska). When to
this we add tbo amount rocoived in a
twenty per cent, import duty on tbo
dressed skins as they camo back to us
flora the English dyers, tbe total
revenue derived from tbo fur seal in
twenty years amounts to the enor
mous sum of $8,500,000. Such an
animal was worth saving from destruc
tion. No other quadruped ever bo
came Buch a bono of contention be
tween two great nations for a long
period, the discussion winding up
with a high and mighty conferenco of
arbitration.
As usual, the wholo trouble nroso
through tho greediness of a few irre
sponsible and lawless individuals. Tho
sealers of the Pacific coast insisted
upon taking fur seals by shooting
them in tbe open sea, by which waste
ful process seven were lost for every
threo securod. But if it were not for
tbe loss of money revenue derived
from this animal, it is quite certain
the Government would have allowed
the wasteful slaughter to go on until
the last seal was dead.
The fur seal is not a truo seal by
any means, but a sea lion, with naked,
paddle-shaped flippers and tiny ears.
It is abont two-thirds tbe size of tho
Zalophus, and is therefore tho small
est member of tho soa-lion family.
Mr. Elliott gives the average length
of tho full-grown male animal as six
foot from nose to tail, and weight
from 350 to 500 pounds. The averago
length of tho adult female is a trillo
over four feet, and weight from sixty
two to seventy-five pounds. When
dry, the coat is of a dark, steel gray
color, and only the coarse, stiff outer
hair is visible. Underneath this lies
a dense coat of vory tiuo and soft
light-brown fur, in which lies all tho
valuo of tbo skin. In preparing tbo
pelt, the coarso outer hair is entirely
removed, aud tho underlying fnr is
dyed a shiny, lustrous black, and
sheared down very evenly. For somo
mysterious reason, wo, tho peoplo of
"Yaukeo ingenuity," are actually un
able to dye seal fur successfully, aud this
work is from sheer neocssrty sent to
England. When it comes bock, there
is a high rate of duty to pay, which in
addition to tbe original royalty of
$10.22 paid to tbo Government by tbo
North American Commercial Company
for every skin taken, the very 'oug
bill of transportation chargos, labor,
and profits all along tho lino, from tho
back of tho seal to that of tho fortu
nate wearer, accounts for tbe price of
from $250 to $000 on a seal skin
cloak.
In its habits the fnr seal js a re
markable creature. With C000 miles
of coast to land upon if it chose, 'his
stranue aud ncrverao animal now re
fuses to set flipper upon any portion
of tbe wbolo North American conti
nent, island or mainland, savo tho
two little dots of laud in Bering Sea,
St. Paul, and St. George Islands,
known to tho world collectively as tho
Pribilof Islands. St. Paul is seven
miles by fourteen, and St. George is
only five aud a half by thirteen.
Aud yet, when Mr. Elliott made bis
careful and elaborate surveys of all
tbo "rookeries," or herding grounds
on thoso islunds, iu July, 1873. aud
laboriously calculated tbo number of
their flu footed inhabitants, he found
there tho astonisbiug number of 3,
1U3,420 fur seals. Like sheep iu a
pen, they actually crowded oueunotlier
ou tbo sloping shores of sand, or water
worn boulders, or tables of slaty blue
basalt. Each burly old male appears
a giuut beside the females un I youug
mules gathered around hiiu. -St. Nich
olas. "A Reap ot Milk."
The Earl of Surrey, iu ono of his
best poems, says :
Laid iu my quiet h-dl,
lu muly 11 I wero
I saw wilhiu rnylrouhloj held
A heap ol thoughts appear.
Ho hero uses "heap" in precisely
tbe sense given it by people iu South
ern Indiana, iu Georgia, in Texan, und
geuerully over a largo part of tho
United States. This sense of tbo word
is very primitive. 1 believe tbe t'eu
tury Dictionary gives tho sense of a
crowd or throng us tho" earliest menu
ing of tho word. It was good wheu
tbe first colonists c.unu out of Eng
land. It seems a little mom-troiis uow-u-days
to hear u man speak of bis
cow's giving "a heap of milk," or to
beur tbut "there was a heap of peoplo
at tho basket uieetiu'." Century.
Au Island Inhabited by Turtles.
Cayeay, a West Tudia i.slaud, in in
habited exclusively by turtles, somo
of whi"h grow to au enormous size.
Attempt to establish human habita
tions 01 tho island have always failed.
Tbe tuitle iiudt-ruiiuo tbo foundation,
of tbe house aud Lot pufrequently
attack the iumatas. Niw Yur Mail
and Eiiweb,
COUNTRY.'S MOVm'l
Bay your sny nn' slniiyour song
Country's movln' rli ht nlong !
Rprlng or summer hall of snow.
Country's always on tho go 1
rnmn', blowln".
Hot, or snowln',
Alwnys ffoln','
Coin' !
Coin'!
Say your say hy night an' day--Country's
happy on t he way I ;
Bplto o' wonthcr, spite o' crops,
Alwnys goln' novor slops !
Pumn', hlowin',
Makes a sbowln" j
Alwny3 goln',
Ooln' !
Goln' !
Stormy skle, or weather fair, '
Country's got tho roadway clear ! 1
Storms may howl, or bells may chime.
Country's froln' all tliMime!
Tallin', blowln',
Ranpln', sowln',
Alwnys goln',
G'oln' !
Coin' !
- At ! n nt a -Const it ut Ion.
HUMOR OF THE DAY.
Man wonts but littlo here below
woman-wonts the rest. Trnth.
A man novcr knows how to bo a son
until ho has become ft father. Atchi
son Globe.
With most peoplo, succoss bos
strong tendency to destroy belief in
luck. ruck.
no "I hear tbot you are goins
abroad in a mouth?" Sho "Not
much iu a boat." Truth.
He "I'm telling you tho honest
truth." She "Is there dishonest
truth?" Detroit Frjo Press.
Popularity is ono of the most vogue
and undefined possessions that man ac
quires. Milwaukeo Journal.
When a man goes into business,
everybody wonders "where ou earth
ho got the money." Atchison Globe.
Thl swcot old world Is funuy.
Hut W8 loam It by de(. roes ;
The baes first steal tho houy,
Then we steal It from tho boc !
Atlanta Constitution.
The trouble about the trials of this
life is that a follow always wants to
render his own verdicts. Clevclaad
Plain Dealer.
Visitor (discovering acquaintance)
"Hollo, what nro you hero for?"
Trisoner (briofly) "For six mouths."
Dotroit Freo Press.
Tho Author "I trust you enjoyed
my play?" Tbe Purveuu "Yes, in
deed. Tho ontr'actes aro so delight
ful." Chieogo Record.
Nor bruised nor bloeiln wis tho man
Who near tho car's Irout look a seat j
No brokon bouos had he, although
He'd lallon over lory loot.
Puck.
"I wont a position for my son as an
editor?" "What aro bis qualifica
tions?" "Failed in everything else."
Atluuta Constitution.
"Did you tell yonr mistress that I
called yesterday when sho was out?"
Maid ' 'It wasn't necessary. Sho siw
you coming." Iuter-Oooou.
"Flo.ssio has accepted that horrid
old Goldbeap. What do you suppose
bIih was thinking of?" Hottio "Her
self, dear." Chicago lutor-Oeeau.
Sho Inuirhcd at every littlo jost,
Evon though It might bo stmplo j
It wasn't a wiih to show hertaslo,
Hut a cunning littlo dinipio.
Cbic-aco Iuter-Oecun.
Agent "Bunker is o social philoso
pher." Caller "In what respect?"
inirnf. "Hn never kicks when we dun,
1 him repeatedly for bis rent. He jiibt
I moves."
I Dr. Emdeo "Years ago tho doctors
used to blood their patients for about
' everything they had." Van Polt
j "Tbe pructbo doesn't change inuoh,
' docs it?" Truth.
I Kashem "Why don't you put a
1 check to that fellow who is cverlast
' iiiglydiiiuiiii;,'Vou?" Bilker "Whot'd
I bo tbo use? The bank wouldn't pay
' it." Buffalo Courier.
I Old Lady (proudly) "My boy is a
hustler ull tho time, but ho is hump
iMrrl.iM.u. lrliere lutelv." Visitor "Is
that so? What bicycle docs he ride?"
Detroit Freo Press.
Now all the college boys b wtow
I' poll their hair aud mils -lo
Coubiiinmtito earo, hoeaiisothey knO'.V
Iu tootbttll theviuust hustle.
Wnsl.lugtoa Star.
Minks "There is ono great objec
tion to onions." Winks "What's
that?" "They nre wholesome. ' "Do
you consider that an objection?" "Cer
tainly. Peoplo who nro fond of them,
dou'l dio bail so soou us you'd like
them to." New York Weekly.
"Yus," said Mr. Jason, "I r.llovr
that women uir tbo sentimental box
und nl! that sort of thing, but I've
allays noticed that wheu a oouplo git
enguge.l it is tho woman that first
thinks of liggeriu' out bow they air
to live ou bis s:;lary. " Indianapolis
Jourual.
ludicutivo: "What makes yon think
Jack Youngley is going t- propose to
you?" "Why, wo were dancing tho
other uight uu 1 I complimented him
upon tbo eusv way iu which he held
me. 'Ob, yev,' lie k:;U, 'it's idwuy
easy lor mo to hold luy own.'"
Brooklyn Life.
tirass (roniiiir a Scleii'V.
Since grass growing bus become A
science uud an urt you limy hire a muu
to creute a lawn for you in u tilth of
the time once thought necessary for
b-.ich a i-reiition. Thick and luxurious
lawns lire produced between spring
und autumn, and a lawn o; two yearn
under tho modern, forcing prunes may
easily rivul ono 01 fivcyo.trs uudt-r tlu
o'd-fuHhiuned nyuleiu. Avtiiieul ttiiu
u lull la aud ab-iudaut water aro ru-t-pousihle
for the new older ot thitgt.
Cbicuiro lierulJ.