vJ WP WSy llw
B. F. SCIIWEIER,
TEE COSSTmiTIOI-THE TUIOI-AID TEE ESrOBGEMEfT OF TEE LAWS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XXXII.
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PENNA., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1878.
NO. 12.
FAILED.
Yes I am itu Djdmui, Kate! everything goo
atlaat.
Nothing to abow for the trouble and toil of the
wean years that are past;
Houses and laods and money hare taken wings
and fled.
This very morning I rigned away the roof
from over my bead.
I shouldn't care formvse'f, Kate; I'm used to
fie world's rough ways,
I've dug and delved, and plodded along
through all my manhood days;
But think of yon and the children, and it
almost breaks my heart.
Fcr I th roght so surely to give my boyi and
girl - a good start.
So many years on the ladder, I thought I was
near the top
Only a few years longer, and then I expected
to slop.
Anil put the boys in my place, Kate, with an
easier life ahead.
But now I di.4 give the prospect op: that
comforting dream is dead.
I'm worth more than my gold," eh? Tou.re
g J to look at it so.
But a man isu worth mn.-h, Kate, when his
hair is turn nj to i o ;
Sly poor little girls, with the r soft white band
an innocent eyes of Line,
Turned a !r ft in the heartl ea wor'.d what
can and what will they di?
An honest failure? in'ecd it was, dollar for
dollar paid.
Sever a creditor suffered, whatever people
have said.
letter are ras and a eonee'enoe clear than a
pslaoe and flushes of shame.
One thing I shall leave to my child' en, Kate,
and that is an honest name.
What's tha'? "The boys are not troubled?
They are ready now to bein
And ! ain ns auoth r fortnne, and work
through thick and th n?"
The n ble fell wal already I feel I haven't so
much to bear.
Their courage baa lightened my heavy lo d of
misery and dee; air.
-And the fs rU are so glad it waa honest?
They'd rather not dresi so fine.
And think they did it with money that wasn't
honestly mine.
The . 're ready to show w at they're made of,
iuick to earn and t tave ?
My blessed, good little dau,h era, so generous
and so brave.
AuJ you thiuk we needn't fret, Kate, wh le
we have ea h other It ft.
No matter of what pow-s on our lives may be
ben ft?
You are rig-.t. With a qniet cons iea- e and a
wife so good and t ue,
I'll put my baud to the p'.oagh again, and I
know that we'll pull through.
A Lucky Shot.
"Very wet day, sir." Paid the cheery
host of the "Traveler's Kest," as he
assisted me to take off my heavy riding
coat.
"Very wet, indeed," I replied. '-I've
had my share of it during my thirty
mile ride to-day !"
Mine host conducted me to a room
with a cheery fire burning in the grate,
xml havinsr been served with a good
hot supjier, and my favorite glass of
hot brandy, 1 began to leel more com
fortable. I drew up my chair to the
lire, encased my feet in a pair of easy
slippers, and tilled my pi'ie, prepara
tory to a quiet smoke, when 1 was dis
turbed by the entrance of my host.
"Won't vou ioiii the company in the
nest room, sir ? We have a social club
held here twice a week, and perhaps
thev mar amuse you during the even
ing." "With pleasure:' I replied. So,
taking my glass and pipe, I followed
my landlord into a large room, which
was almost filled with a numerous com
pany. At the moment of my entrance
they were listening with evident satis
faction to a story told by one of their
number. My host briefly introduced
me. ami I took a chair close to the
story-teller, and prepared to enjoy my
smoke.
"Now, Mr. White, you must begin
your story azaiii, in honor of the gen
tleman. ' So Mr. White recommenced.
"You must know", gentlemen," he
began, '"that the scene of my tale lies
in Australia, just about the time of the
gold lever there."
The tones of the speaker's voice see
med familiar to me, and I gave him a
searching look. What did I see The
lobe of his left ear was missing. I half
started from my seat, upsetting my
glass of brandy by nir elbow, and
startling the company generally.
"I beg pardon, gentlemen ; asudden
pasin that is all !" I stammered out.
'It is the same man," I soliloquized
I was supplied with a fresh glass of
brandy, and Mr. White resume! :
"Well, I was only a young fellow at
the time, and I got bitten by the gold
lever, like many other people besides.
Kvery paper contained dazzling ac
counts of the riches to be found in that
far-off land, so at last I made up my
mind to go and try my luck. When I
told Mary, she cried, and tried to dis--uade
me, but it was of no use; I was
letermined, and soon after I left home
for London, where I entered my name
on the lHx.ks as a steerage passenger on
board the clipper-built lii.er, Austral
ai::. "Mary was his sweetheart," inter
losel my left-hand neighbor.
"I we'd rememler the day ve sailed.
The scenes at the docks were very af
fecting. Husbands were parting from
wives, brothers from sitters, young
fellows from their sweethearts, and I
was not sorry when the tug towed us
out to sea. We were a motley company.
There were representatives of all clas
ses laborers, mechanics, broken-down
lawyers and students, clerks, a goodly
sprinkling, too.of the hangers-on tbout
tow n, and even a couple of Methodist
ministers. All were going to try their
fortunes at the new Eldorado. We
had very good weather during our voy
age, and I suffered but little from sea
sickness. I made many companions,
but there was one man I took an aver
sion to. He was called Wapping Bill.
He was a tall, broad-shouldered fellow,
w iik a great shock of red hair, and a
close cropjved beard ; a pair of small,
ferret-like eyes that seemed to Tanish
bereath his shaggy eyebrows when any
one addressed him, and an expression
that showed bim to be the reverse of a
quiet and respectable man.
"In due time we arrived at Mel
bourne. It was then a mere collection
of wooden houses, and hastily throw n
up shanties, and was peopled by repre
sentatives from nearly all civilized na
tions on the face of the earth. Twenty
or us formed a party, bought some
tools, and proceeded to the diggings on
foot. Arriving there, we bought
claims and set to work to unearth the
long-talked of gold. My chum was a
steady-going fellow, called Sandy, a
Scotchman. We dug a shaft, hauled
up the gold bearing earth, and washed
it in a large box with plates full of
holes. The w ater washed away the
earth, leaving the gold in the form of
nuggets and dust on the plates. For
a week or so we found little or nothin
and my golden dreams began to wane.
Then one morning, Sandy gave a shout
of joy, and, hastily ascending the shaft,
I saw iu the cradle several nuggets of
pure gold. I was half mad with de
light, and tor the rest of the day I
worked with the energy of two men.
Before nightfall we bad more than 20
ounces of small nuggets and dust. We
stitched it up in small canvas bags, and
hid it for safety in the floor of the teut.
We went on in this way for months,
then our claim began to give out.
"Just about this time a convoy was
going to Melbourne to take some gold
lo the bank there. We therefore
agreed to send some of ours to be de
posited in the bank, and get notes in
exchange. When we got to the place
of starting. I was surprised to see
among the mounted troopers forming
the escort, my shock-headed fellow
voyager. I mentioned my distrust of
hi in to my chum ; and, in consequence,
we only sent half of the intended
quantity. The fellow evidently knew
1 distrusted him, for when I went up
with our parcel, he gave me a malicious
look that tioded me no good. The es
cort numbered about ten or fifteen well
armed trooiers, with a four-horse wa
gon, and they left early in the morn
ing for their destination. We gave
them three ringing cheers at the boun
daries of the camp, and wished them a
safe return. 1 had a singular forebo
ding that I hud seen the last of my
gold, bu; I mentioned my fears to none
but my chum.
"The day follow ing I went to Mat
Durn's drinking hut a place frequent
ed by the lucky finders and loafers
to hear the day's news. The saloon
was full of diggers, etc. . Some were
discussing the day's finds; others were
playing poket, the stakes being nug
gets or dust; the majority were stand
ing at the bar drinking and smoking.
I called for a drink, tilled the short
cutty, and took a seat among the card
players. "Well, Tom, how 's vour luck ?" said
a broad-shouldered Yorkshireinan,who
had come over w ith me.
"Very poor at present," I replied.
"'Have a hand then, man; winning
dust at poker is better than digging."'
"I joined the game, and played for a
while. At last one ot the players
threw up his hand, and said he was
cleaned out; so, thinking it might be
my turn soon, I stopped. I finished
my glass and prepared to leave the
room. Just as I got to the door,a burly
digger came rushing in, almost upset
ting me, and uttering the most fright
ful oaths. The entire saloon was in an
uproar in an instant. "Revolvers and
knives were drawn, aud a dozen voices
shouted out, "What is the matter?"
'Matter enough !' " replied the in
vading digger, with another volley of
expletives. 'The escort's been attacked
and the gold's gone !'
"Words fail to describe the scene that
ensued. Men swore, tore their hair,
danced,and raved like madmen. When
the tumult hail somewhat subsided, I
managed to make out that the wagon
had been attacked in the dead of night,
by a party of armed rangers. A fight
had taken place, but a trooper had
been killed, aud the gold had been
taken. The attack had evidently been
pre-arranged, for half of the troopers
had been found drugged, and were
consequently unable to fight. Three of
them were reported mssing, Wapping
Bill amongst the number. I went off
to our tent and told Sandy. ' "You're
right about the villain, but we'll be
even with him yet.' "
"We went back to the saloon, where
we found nearly all the diggers assem
bled, listening to an account of the af
fair from one of the troopers. It ap
peared that shortly after leaving the
camp the axletree of the wagon broke,
necessitating a stoppage. Xight came
on, and found them still delayed by the
broken wagon. Rain fell, aud some of
the troopers took a little spirits to keep
out the cold. About midnight, the
troopers who were acting as sentries
were alarmed by the ruth of half-a-dozen
mounted bushrangers. They
endeavored to wake up the others, but
they were overpowered, and fastened
to the trees. The contents of the wagon
were divided among the gang, and
they soon rode off, followed by Wap
ping Bill and three troopers. In the
morning, the bound troopers managed
to aw ake the others by their cries, and
then it was found by their condition
that the spirits must have been drug
ged, hence their inability to offer any
resistance.
"We held a hasty council and deci
ded to send to a station four miles away
for fresh troopers. By means of a
fleet messenger, a search party was or
ganized, and they left the camp two
hours later, preceded by the black
trackers to point out the trail. Luckily,
I managed to be enrolled among the
party, much to my satisfaction. I had
a score to settle with Wapping Bill, and
I intended to give a good account of
him if we met. We numbered twenty
resolute, well armed fellows, carrying
revolvers and knives, whilst the twelve
troopers with us had revolvers in addi
tion. "We proceeded first to the scene of
the encounter. We found the wagon
drawn off the track and overturned.
The black trackers soon took up the
trail, and we went Into the bush in In
dian file. Our progress was necessa
rily slow, but we were quite certain of
coming np with the rangers at last.
We followed the blacks for a couple of
hours, then one of them suddenly set
up a warning cry, and we rushed for
ward. In the centre of an open glade,
we saw the body of a man laid upon
the ground. Scattered around were
bits of canvas, and grains of gold glit
tering in the grass. Examining the
body we recoguized it to be a person
some of u had seen hanging about the
camp a few days previous to the start
ing of the escort. A small blue hole in
his forehead told what had happened.
Evidently a dispute had arised among
the rangers, and this poor fellow had
been shot for his obstinacy. We again
took up the trail and proceeded. The
bush now became less dense, and we
made greater progress. About a mile
further on, one of the blacks, who was
some hundred yards ahead, suddenly
dropped flat on the grass, and gave us a
warning signal. Advancing cautiously
to his side, we peered through the
bushes. Down in a hollow were six
bush-rangers, seated around a small
fire. Their horses were tethered near
them, and various packages were scat
tered about. Our plans were soon
laid. We made a detour,and completely
surrounded them. I crept quietly
through the underwood, intending to
reach a tree, which grew about twenty
yards from the fire of the bush-rangers.
Suddenly a hand was laid on my shoul
der. I hastily turned, and saw a tall
ranger close by my side. He gasped
me by the collar, and presented a re
volver to my forehead.
"Oue sound, and I'll blow your
brains out.' " he hissed.
'Resistance was useless, so I submit
ted. He disarmed me, flung me on the
ground, and fastened my hands behind
me w ith a cord he pulled from his
pocket. He then went a few yards
away, to warn the rangers, I suppose.
I heard a ringing cheer, shots, oaths,
and all the usual noise of a band-to
baud encounter. Giving a short and
sudden wrench. I got loose and rushed
forward to see t!.e result of the fight.
Just as I advanced, I heard two shots
fired almost simultaneously, and a bul
let shaved past my head. I clapped my
hand to my left ear. Heaven ! the lobe
wos shot away. Another inch, aud I
should have been killed.
" 'Rather a narrow shave, that,' said
one of the troopers, coming forward.
I just saw the fellow drawing a bead
on you when I dropped him.'"
"1 went forward and found the vic
tory had been ours. Three of the ran
gers had been shot down, one of them
being Wapping Bill. Two were wound
ed, and lay ou the ground, whilst one
had escaped. Judge Lynch soon set
tled the two prisoners.
"We recovered all of our. gold, and
made preparations for our return.
We gave the dead a hasty burial, easing
them, of course, of all valuables, etc
I found a pocket-book on the body of
mr would-be slayer, and from it I
gleaned a full account of the gang.
From information therein contained,
Sandy and I, some weeks later, made a
little expedition of our own to a place
in the bush, where we found quite a
large collection of nuggets and dust
the result of many months of a bush
ranger's life. As it was impossible to
restore the treasure to its lawful own
ers, we were obliged to keep it. We
returned to camp; and in consideration
of our successful efforts, we received a
share of the gold. Some months later
I left the diggings, and returned home(
married Mary, and settled down here.
I ought to add that I gave the trooper
who so bravely saved my life, an old
silver ring, to wear for my sake. I
have never seen him since; but if ever
I do, he shall be welcomed as a king.
Such, gentlemen, is the story of the
"Lucky Shot."
The hearty thanks of the company
were voted to Mr. White, for his story,
and the company drank the trooper's
health.
"You never saw him after?" I asked
Mr. White.
"Xever, sir."
"Could you recognize him if you
were to see him?" I asked.
"I can't say ; he may have altered
considerably; but I should recognize
the ring immediately."
"Then is that it?" said I, putting out
my right hand, on the little finger of
which was the Identical ring.
"It is; and you are Jack Fox."
"I am ; and I am exceedingly glad to
meet an old friend once more."
Loud were the exclamations of joy
at this disclosure. We had fresh bump
ers, and we caroused until the small
hours, fighting our old battles over
again.
1 accepted Air. n lute s invitation to
stay with him for a short time, and I
must admit that I spent some very hap
py hours in "The Traveler's Rest."
Amerleaa MtUionaJrae.
Xo street in the world represents in
the short space of two miles aud a half,
anything like the enormous aggregate
of wealth represented by Fifth Avenue,
Xew York, residents between Washing
ton square and Central Tark. We give
haphazard a few names: Dr. Rhinelan-
der, $3,0(10,000; M. O. Roberta, $5,000,
000; Moses Taylor, $5,000,000; August
Belmont, $9,000,000; Robert L. and A.
Stuart, $5,000,000; Mrs. Paran Stevens,
$2,000,000; Amos R. Eno, $5,000,000;
John Jacob and William Astor, $60,
000,000; Mrs. A. T. Stewart, $50,000,-
000; Pierre Lorillard, $3,000,000; Jaa.
Kernochan. $2,000,000; Wm. II. Van
derbilt, $75,000,000; Mrs. Calvert Jones,
$2,000,000; Mr. James Gorden Bennett,
$4,000,000; Mr. Fred Stevens, $10,000,
000; Mr. Lewis Lorillard, $1,000,000;
total, $248,000,000. Here we have some
eighteen families, living near each
other, who derive fixed yearly incomes
from a capital of between $240,000,000
and $250,000,000.
A family near Evansville, Ind.,
consisting of a father, mother and wn,
have all committed suicide during the
past four menths. 4
Horace Greeley a a Borrower
Much has been said of late concerning
Greeley's folly in lending such enormous
sums to worthless applicants who only
repaid him with ingratitude. This was
a remarkable weakness, but It may to a
degree be explained. Greeley was
during the first seven years of his Xew
York lite a poverty stricken adventurer,
who failed iu every effort. He bad
hopes of making the .Vets Torker a
success, and indeed it was the best
weekly ever issued In this city, but it
was swamped by the hard times which
followed the panic of 1S37. In 1810 he
found himself without a dollar, and
was glad to engage in the service of the
Whig party as editor of the Log Cabin.
Tue salary was $20 per week for six
months, which was considered very
iberal pay. When the campaign was
over Greeley determined to start the
Tribune, but unfortuuately he had no
capital. He tried every way possible to
obtain a moneyed partner, but was un
successful. McElrath had a few hundred
dollars, and at List Greeley was glad to
accept him, especially as he was a ready
business man. Wnen all other applica
tions had failed, the ambitious editor
remembered a noted resident of Jersey
City who bad large resources, and he
determined to try another effort. Ue
therefore made a call on this mau (the
late Dudley S. Gregory), and having
mentioned disease, asked for the loan ol
$1,000. Alternate hojtes and fears
moved his breast until he saw Gregory
till up a check for the amount, and thu
editor departed with a light heart. This
loan enabled him to start the Tribune,
which was the great success of his life,
and gratitude so wrought upon him
that he determined never to refuse any
similar application. This rule not onl
bound hiai permanently, but Its power
so Increased that at last be lost all
his ability to refuse. He paid Gregory
with his first earnings, and after that he
lent indiscriminately to all who wished
to bleed bim. Whenever a loan was
solicited he always recalled the scene
wheu he, too, was a borrower. He re
membered how he then felt the im
mense importance of those little words,
jes and no. if Gregory had uttered
the latter the Tribune might never have
been more than a young editor's dream.
That fatal word, however, was not
spoken, and Greeley ever afterwards
followed Gregory's example, though It
cost him nearly one hundred times the
amount of the original loan.
The Stinging Tree.
Though the tropical schrubs of Queens
laud are very luxuriant and beautiful,
they are not without their dangerous
drawbacks, for there is one plant grow
ing there that is really deadly in its ef
fects that is to say, deadly in the sime
way that one would apply the term to
tire, as if a certain proportion of any
one's body is burnt by the stinging
tree, death w ill be the result. It would
be as safe to pass through fire as to fall
into one of these trees. They are found
growing from two to three inches high,
lo ten and fifteen feet; in the old
ones the stem is whitish and red berries
usually grow on the top. It emits a
peculiar and disagreeable smell ; but Is
best known by its leaf, which is nearly
round, and having a point at the top, is
jagged all round the edge, like the net
tle. All the leaves are large larger
than a saucer. -
"Sometimes," says a traveler, "while
shooting turkeys iu the schrubs, I have
entirely forgotten the stinging tree, till
warned of its close proximity by its
smell, and have found myself in a little
forest of them. I was only once stung,
and that very slightly. Its ejects are
curious; it leaves no mark, but the
pain is maddening, and ' for months
afterward the part, when touched, is
tender, when raining or when it gets
wet in washing. I have seen a man
who treats ordinary pain lightly, roll
on the ground in agony, after being
stung, and I have known a horse so
completely mad that he rushed open
mouthed at everyone who approached
him, and had to lie shot in the schrub
Dogs, when stung, will rush about,
whining piteously, biting pieces from
the affected part. The small stinging
trees, a few inches high, are as danger
ous as any, being so hard to see, and
seriously imperiling one's ankles. This
schrub is usually found growing among
palm trees.
Not Quite an Editor.
Mark Twain gave the following talk
to a young man, who recently called
upon bim at the oflice of the Hartford
Cvuraiif.- "Come into the house, where
no soul can overhear, and I'll do the
square thing, young fellow."
He led the way into his study, and
carefully locked the door. Itisastrange
apartment. The floor was littered up
with aconfusion of newspapers, news
paper cuttings, books, children's toys
piies, models of machinery, and cigar
ends. Twain's method is to drop every
thing when he's done using it, but he
will let nobody else interfere with the
arrangements of his study. "I am
naturally lzy," he 3ays. "aud I wish
to conquer the detestable habit by impo
sing on myscll a certain amount of do
mestic work. I take care of tha room
myself." Iu one corner stood a stack
of his patent self-gumming scrapbooks.
This invention, I am told, is the source
of a considerable income to Mr. Clem
ens. On the mantel, w here the bust of
Calvin stood, until Mark destroyed it
with a poker in a moment of religions
frenzy, I noticed a pitcher that looked
as if it contained beer. On the table
were many manuscript sheets of Mr.
Clemens' unfinished historical work,
The Mother-in-Law In all ages."
Seating me on top of the scrap-books,
andhimself in the only chair that hap
pened to be in the room, Mark Twain
began his confession.
"Iam aware," said he, "that the
world regards me as a proud, cold,
haughty being, too far above the level
of average humanity to be actuated by
human weaknesses. This is not so. I
am a creature of impulse, sensitive to
the opinion of others, and ea ger forap
probation. You look incredulous. You
don't believe it?"
There was an earnestness in his tone
that inspired confidence, and I told him
so.
"Latterly," he continued, "I have
been down in the mouth. I began to
think my 1-ick was down on me. My
speech at the Whittier dinner didn't
exactly take. I meant it merely as a
cheerful conceit, and yet people would
not laugh. My article in the Atlantic,
containing the joke about two dying
soldiers quarreling for first choice of
coffins, seemed to fall flat. A good
many well-meaning people refused to
see it in the spirit intended. I got
gloomy. I smoked all day and almost
all night. I thought that humor was
played out in America. I had nearly
resolved to go to Constantinople, offer
my services to the Sublime Porte, and
be a light hearted Bashi Bazouk, when
it occurred to me to test public senti
ment, and see whether my fellow-citi-
zens cared for me still. Well, I threw
out this feeler."
I nodded.
"Perhaps it was weak ; perhaps I was
rash, thoughtless but do you blame
me? The response of the press of
America was astonishing. The kind
things they said of nie, the encourage
ment they gave me in my supposed en
terprise, their invariably flattering com
ments upon my genius and personal
beauty, renewed and restored me. They
are good fellows, after all, these news
paper editors, and really, now,I should
l:ke to be one of them, if 1 thought I had
the mental capacity."
Here the famous humorist buried his
face iu his pocket handkerchief. I felt
for him strongly.
"I will communicate your explana
tion to the public," said I. "Xo doubt
it will be regarded as satisfactory .Then
you never had any idea of becoming
editor of the Couranl?"
"Xever dreamed of it, my dear fel
low," said he, brightening into his old
manner. "You must excuse ine now,"
he added, looking at his watch, "it is
time for me to begin to gum."
"To begin to what?"
He took from the pile on which I had
been sitting on an ungummed scrap
book, and picking up from the floor a
brush and a pot of mucilage, industri
ously began lo apply the cohesive sub
stance to the yellow pages ou that beau
tiful, rectangular system which will
long be inseparably connected w ith his
The Chimpanzees.
The Chimpanzees in the Garden, in
Xew York, are of more val ue than many
gorillas, and they will never hug their
fellow man to death, nor carry off a
beautiful frightened maiden to their
lair. They are about two feet long,
weigh nearly twenty pounds each, and
are supposed to be three years old.
When full grow n they will be five feet
long. Their faces, hands and feet, have
a mild mulatto flesh color, and their
bodies nre covered with coarse black
hair, two or three inches in length.
The Height of their foreheads is one
inch; their eyes are round and hazel
brown; their noses are well-nigh flat;
their jaw s are as prominent as some ne
groes' jaws, their teeth resemble the
teeth of children, their ears are large
and hairless. They laugh, and grin,
and pout, and put their finger in their
mouths and look silly. Their prevail
ing expression is one of sadness, not
unmixed with satisfaction. One of
them, the male, is not at all well, hav
ing a slight cough, night sweats, and
an impaired appetite, and being threat
ened with pulmonary consumption.
Like his mate he came from Congo,
Africa, and is the first importation of
the sort to this country.
"You will see," said their superin
tendent, "that they differ somewhat
from gorillas. The gorilla has a black
face, but the chimpanzee a flesh-colored
one; the gorilla has larger arms,
and, when full grown, a larger brain
and facial angle." Here the female
chimpanzee stuck her tongue out and
then put her finger in her mouth.
"But both," continued the speaker,
"have protruding negro lips. The go
rilla's forefinger and third finger are
partly united, but the chimpanzee's
fingers are all as distinct as a man's.
A chimpanzee will point with his fore
finger." Here the female chimpanzee
assumed an incredulous expression and
buried her face in a blankut.
"What do you feed them with?"'
"With what babies get," he replied;
"with milk, biscuits, and so on."
The resemblance between the crea
turesand human beings was constantly
on the superintendent's lips. This man
is a Darwinian of the first water. He
expatiated fondly upon the structure
of the female's foot, showing that
though her great toe was perhaps ab
normally developed, yet that the foot
was a real foot, and could not truthful
ly be called a hand, "I threw," he said,
"a biscuit into her cage the other day.
It was a little difficult of access, but she
scratched for it until she got it. The
next day I showed her another biscuit.
What did she do but go to the very same
spot and scratch again ! The association
of ideas, you see; the genuine working
of the brain."
"Come here, Wallie," he exclaimed,
going to the other end of the cage, and
addressing what he takes to be his cou
sin, lie held his watch in his hand and
she had been attracted by it. Then,
opening the door, he extended his arms
to her; she jumped into them and
threw her arms about his neck. "They
are affectionate creatures," he observ
ed, "they don't like to be alone."
When they langh, it needs only a
more perfect facial expression to make
the act seem human; when they grin,
they stretch their mouths from ear to
ear; when they are displeased, they
pucker and push out their hps as chu
dren sometimes do. The superinten
dent is doctoring his consumptive pa
tient, but he declined to tell what medi
cine he is using, because "eyery doctor
who reads what you write will think
that another remedy might have been
a better one." Meanwhile, the sick
chimpanzee, with a deeply pathetic,
woebegone expression, was cuddled to
his keeper's breast. He cannot talk,
but he keeps up a deal eff thinking.
A Cinerary Crn.
In a recent Lecture upon Egypt, Dr.
Merrill said among the relics which
brought from the East is a pottery Jar
which would hold about a quart. It is
globed-shaped, with one handle and a
small neck, and when found was half
full of ashes that were almost as fine as
dust. I stopped the mouth of the vessel
but a good deal of the dust sifted out
and was lost on the way. A very large
handful remains, however, and portions
of this have been subjected to a careful
examination. The analysis shows that
the powder is of an animal and vege
table origin. The vessel is of such a
great age that it is decomposing in our
atmosphere, I suspect that this jar Is a
"cinerary urn" and contains the ashes
of some person who was cremated in
ancient times. The real nature or im
portance of the article did not occur to
me when I found it. I do not think
that I regard It now with anything like
sacred feelings, yet my imagination is
strangely busy when I reflect upon
what these silent ashes may have been.
The jar stands quietly In my cabinet,
and I consider myself the owner of the
mysterious dust which it contains, and I
hope that no ghost will ever appear to
dispute my claim.
I found the jar in Egypt. In 1374-5
a short piece of railroad was built con
necting the one leading from Alexandria
to Cairo with that leading to Ramleh, I
believe. Near Alexandria a cutting
had been made through a hill which
was from forty to fifty feet high. On
the top were some ruined, military
earth works. At a depth of about thirty
feet from the top of the hill an old grave
yard had been struck and cut through
so that the level of the road was twenty
feet below it. The coffins were all of
terra-cotta. There were six, and at
one point as many as eight tiers of cof
fins. One tier would be crossways of
the one below it, and they were all laid
without any regard, apparently, to the
points f the compass. Multitudes of
the coffins had been broken, and the
debris was abunbant. Great numbers
projected from the banks and were still
perfect- A good many of these I broke
open, but found in most of them no re
mains except a little fine dust. I found
a good many small pottery objects,
vases, bottles, etc., some of them placed
about where the bands of the dead body
would lie. These objects were unmis
takably Egyptian in their ornamenta
tion. The coffins themselves, I ought
to say, had no ornamentation so far as 1
observed. Iu the coffins I found the re
mains of what were doubtless personal
ornaments, bracelets, rings, etc., mostly
of copper.
When the cutting was first made
through this graveyard a number of
valuable objects were found which went
immediately Into the collections of pri
vate individuals, English, French, or
others. Just beyond these beds of
coffins, near the foot efthe present hill,
and about on a level with the road bed,
there were the remains of what had
been several furnaces. These, being
fouud so near the coffins, were much
more interesting than the coffins them
selves. So far as I could judge of their
original form, they were six feet deep,
four feet in diameter, and shaped at the
base like the big end of an egg. The
form of the top I do not know. They
were built of large bricks, and a glance
revealed the unmistakable fact thatthey
had heen subjected to very great heat.
By the heat and age, perhaps, the bricks
forming the walls of these furnaces
had been concreted Into a solid mass.
These furnaces, if they were such, were
considerably below the present surface
of the hitl. and also considerably
below the level of the lowest tier of cof
fins. They may originally have been
on a plain, or at the foot of a saiall hill,
on the top of which would be tbegrave
yar 1. How the graveyard came to be
buried thirty or more feet below the
present surface of the ground is some
thing which I do not attempt to explain.
The fact, however, is well known to
explorers in the East, that one must
penetrate far beneath the surface if one
would find the genuine remains of
remote antiquity. The excavations
that have been made at Mycenss,
Epbesus, Troy, in the Euphrates Valley
in Egypt, aud in Palestine as well,
all prove the statement just made. It is
well known that at Jerusalem excava
tions extended to a depth of sixty feet
in one case and eighty feet in another
before the original ground work was
struck.
The Great Monopoly.
The city of Lendon is a confederation
of monopolies. The city Government
itself is a kind of central figure, and
the city companies, with their Immense
wealth and patronage, are scarcely less
conspicuous. They began In Norman
and Plantagenet times as simple trade
societies, though they were not char
tered until the fourteenth contury. The
oldest charters are those of Edward III.
A few, like the stationers and apothe
caries still retain their trade character
but nearly all have lost that character,
and have not the remotest connection
with trade. The elder functions of
many seem to be gastronomic. The
Worshipful Company of Fishmongers
would feel much scandalized if a real
fishmonger should presume to ask for
membership. Xot one of the Tallow
Chandlers has probably ever so much as
dreamed of following that calling. They
are mostly associations of gentlemen,
and the tie that holds them together is
the wealth and social standing of the
companies to which they belong.
Twelve are known as the Great Com
panies; and among the leading ones are
the Mercers, Grocers, Fishmongers,
Skinners, Goldsmiths, Merchant Tailors
and Drapers. There are in all 82, and
about 60 have halls.
In 1384, twenty two Peppererg, carry
ing on business in Sopor's lane, Cheap
side, met one morning and agreed to
form a Guild, and each contributed a
shilling towards the expense. They
elected a Governor and a warden, and
engaged a priest to sing and pray "for
the brotherhood and for all Christian
people." That waa the beginning of
the present Grocer's Company, which
now possesses great wealth.
In royal and civil pageant, the city
companies have always played an im
portant part. Their wealth made them
powerful, and their gorgeous banners
and livery added much to the display of
such occasions. Their privileges have
always smacked of monopoly. They
had absolute control over their trades,
and no master was allowed to keep an
apprentice or journeyman who had not
served his full time to the craft. Henry
VIII. hit upon the plan of compelling
loans from these bodies, which had
then become quite opulent; and from
that time they were long the regular
resort of sovereigns whose exchequers
had run low. At the time the Groeers
alone bad to furnish as their portion of
such a forced loan, $45,000 an enor
mous sum in that day. The records of
the Brewer's Company relate that a
certain Lord Mayor behaved very well
toward them until within a few weeks
of the close of his official term, when he
began to annoy them. They ''assuaged
his displeasure" wli at a soft name for
bribery by presenting him a boar,
price 20 shillings, and an ox, price 17
shillings.
In 1724 she Ironmongers received a
bequest, with the condition that one-
half the interest was to be expended in
ransoming British subjects captive in
Barbary or Turkey. It is scarcely pos
sible that any part of it would need to
be so expended now. Property in
Biehopsgate street was left to the Mer
chant Tailors, to furnish twelve poor
men, yearly, with twelve gowns of
Welsh frieze at six pence per yard,
twelve shirts at two shilling each and
twelve pairs of shoes at one shilling the
pair. Twelve poor women were
similarly provided for. The income
from that bequest is now almost prince
ly. The Clothworkers were left $100,-
000 "to make themselves comfortable."
The most particular person In the world
could not accuse them of any failure to
carry out both the letter and spirit of that
legacy. It is a signal example of per
fect obedience. In 1812 the Goldsmiths
built an almshouse for twenty persons,
at a cost of $60,000, that is $3,000 for
each person. Many bequests were left,
the interest of which was to be nsed in
pensioning "decayed tradesmen." It
is a misnomer to call the pensions now
given by the name of charity. Decayed
goldsmiths often receive $1,C00 per year
as pensions.
In 1S37 the Income or the Drapers was
officially stated at $120,000; it cannot be
less then twice that sum now. In the
same year they spent $25,000 on dinners
and entertainments. Their hall cost
$350,000. The Goldsmiths are said to
expend $150,000, yearly, in banqueting.
Bacchus might well be chosen as patron
saint of such a society. The Stationers
lost property to the value of $1,000,000,
in present money, In the great fire of
16G6. 1 mention that as showing the
amount of property of which some com
panies are possessed. Careful statis
ticians have estimated that the livery
companies of London receive and dis
burse not less than $ J.000,000 yearly.
Frettie.t Woman In Washington.
The prettiest woiuau in Washington
is the wife of Representative Willis, of
Xew York. Yet she is the hardest one
to describe. Her hair is dark brown
and waving, she parts it in the middle,
combs it smoothly behind her ears, and
ties it in the nape of her neck ; braids
the ends in two braids about an inch
wide, and wears them in loops very low
in the neck. The style is girlish, and
shows the contour of her finely shaped
head, and the way it Is dressed one can
see that there is no false hair worn.
She is rather tall, finely poised iu figure,
neither fat nor slender. Her eyes are
blue, dark lashed, expressive. Her
face rather long; teeth pretty; nose
perfect, and complexion with roses of
health on her cheeks. She is always
dressed in such a way that her clothing
does not attract attention. It is her in
describable beautiful face and fine form
that you admire. She has no need t
depend on dress for beauty. Her hus
baud is immensely wealthy. I have
seen her often in the gallery of the
House, accompanied by one of her
children, a little girl, three years old, so
angelic in her beauty that no painter's
brush could ever paint her as she is.
The night of the reception, Mrs. Wil
lis wore pale blue brocaded silk, high
necked and elbow sleeves. Her hair
was braided in school-girl fashion, and
one deep red rose stuck straight up in
the top of the plait as any child might
carelessly put in. Her husband eyed
her with admiration all the evening.
He is a fat, black-eyed, bald-headed,
good natured man, scarcely as tall, at
least no taller, than bis wife.
"Do take me home?" she wid, late
at night, coming from a brilliant circle
of gentlemen by whom she had been
surrounded toward her husband, stand
ing near me.
"Say please," said the tyrant.
"Please take me home," she repeated,
with mock humility, and they started
off, arm iu arm, laughing like two
ohildren.
Comparative Mae of Countries and Waters,
Greece is about the size of Vermont.
Palestine 1s about one-fourth the size
of Xew York.
Hindostan is more than a hundred
times as large as Palestine.
The Great Desert of Africa has nearly
the present dimensions of the United
States.
The Red Sea would reach from Wash
ington to Colorado, and it is three
times as wide as Lake Ontario.
The English Channel is nearly as
large as Ijike Superior.
The Mediterranean if placed across
X'orth America, would make sea navi
gation from San Diego to Baltimore.
The Caspian Sea would stretch from
Xew York to St. Augustine, and is as
wide as from Xew York to Rochester.
Great Britain is about one twenty
fifth the size of the United States.
The Gulf of Mexico is about ten times
the size of Lake Superior.
The Chinese government has de
cided to establish a Consulate at San
Francisco, in view of the colony of it
subjects on the coast of California.
Enforced Daaelna;.
In the days of our fathers there lived
in Virginia an old planter, Major Han
ley, who was an oddity in his way.
Some said he was crazy, while others
declared that an inordinate love of fun
gave rise to his quaint doings. He
might be called a practical joker, and
it was said that he never allowed a
stranger to come and go w itliout play
ing upon him one or more of his ridicu
lous tricks.
One chill, drizzly autumnal evening
a horseman pulled up at the major's
door and requested hospitality for the
night. He had wandered from his way
and it was now too late to rectify his
mistake.
He was warmly welcomed and when
his horse hail been taken in charge by
a comiteteiit servant, and his saddle
bags removed, he was ushered into the
great living-room, where a cheerful
fire blazed in the enormous fireplace
and where candles were lighted.
The major was a large, strongly-built
man, of middle-age, bald-headed, rather
red in the face, with an eye deep-set
and twinkling.
The guest was also of middle-age,
tall ami spare, but compact and mus
cular, with features of a decided leonine
cast, strongly marked, heavy brows,
and a shock of thick, crisp hair, that
stood up on his large head like the
mane of a lion.
Supper was announced, aud after
that the evening passed on pleasantly.
As tne clock struck nine the host arose
and excused himself for a few minutes.
When he again returned he was accom
panied by a negro w ho carried a fiddle
and bow, and the n.ajor himself had a
large horse pistol in his hand.
"My dear friend," said the host,
with a bow and a smile, "we must not
let the evening pass without a little
amusement. From your looks I know
you can dance. I have one of the best
fiddlers in the world; he learned to play
in Xew Orleans, where music and danc
ing are cultivated. So, sir, you will
take your place upon the floor, and
dance us a reel. Let it be a Scotch
reel you look like a Scotchman. Come,
make no delay. Strike up, Pomp."
The guest protested that he could
not dance. He had not done such a
thing since his boyhood. But Major
Hanley would not take no for an answer.
He cocked his pistol, and sw ore that he
would shoot the guest if he did not
dance. The negro had begun to tremble,
and once or tw ice he seemed upon the
point of crying out, but fear of his
master witheld him.
The guest seemed to consider the mat
ter. He looked at the major and at the
pistol. The man might lie really in
sane, though if he w as there w as much
method in it. Howjver, he was there
alone none to behold his discomfiture
and mayhap, he thought, the tables
might yet be turned.
"Come come! Dance, or I fire."
The guest arose and stood in the mid
dle of the room, and then began to
dance to the negro's music; but the
music was wretched so w retched that
the major more than once threatened to
shoot the negro if he did not play bet
ter. The poor wayfarer danced until he
was fairly tired, and then stopped. The
host was upon the point of urging him
on, when a horse's tramp was heard at
the landing, and presently a servant
put his head into the room and called
the master out. Whether he forgot
what he was doing, or whether he
cared not to be seen outside with the
pistol, we cannot say, but he left it on
the table when he went out. As soon
as the door w as closed the guest went
to the table, and took the pistol in his
hand. As he had half suspected, it was
not loaded ; it was as innocent as a horse
shoe. But the traveler had his pistol
ammunition in his pocket, and he
quickly loaded the weapon w ith powder
and ball, calling upon the darkey to
witness.
Shortly the major returned, and his
first movement w as to look for his pistol,
which he found missing.
"My dear sir," said the guest, with a
low bow, and one of the blandest of
smiles a smile, however, quickly fol
lowed by a look that might have made
a hero quail "I found yourpistol sadly
deficient; but I have rectified all that.
You see I have my powder-flask and
ball-pouch. The pistol is loaded, sir,
tecundum artem. We w ill continue the
amusement by a dance executed by the
master of the house; ami let me assure
you that I can use a pistol much better
than I can dance a reel. Dance, sir, or
by the eternal, I'll put a bullet through
your legs, if not through your head !"
The major was startled. There was
something in the man's words that
almost lifted him from his feet, and
took away his breath; and in the look
was a command he could no more have
disobeyed than he could have hushed
the throbbing of his own heart.
He danced. The negro played now
with unction played in a manner to
reflect credit upon his Xew Orleans
teaching. More than once the dancer
begged to be allowed to stop, but that
pistol, held by an iron hand, kept him
moving. Had the weapon been aimed
at his head or heart, he might have run
the risk of the man's firing, but he
really believed the irate traveler would
as lief break his legs as not.
At length the visitor went to the fire
place and discharged the pistol up the
chimney, and the major w as suffered to
sit down. As old fompey passed nun
he stopped, and bent over, and whis
pered into his master's ear :
"For de Lor' a massy's sake, mars'r
don't ye go for to cut up no more. I
tell ye 1 knows ue man : hough :
who d ebber forget Mm ! He's Gen'rT
Jackson der rale Ole Hickory, an no
mistake !"
Major Hanley opened his eyes wide.
There is no knowing what he might
have done, but as he was starting up,
pale anil affrighted, his visitor, who had
heard Pompey's revelation, put out his
hand, and said, with a smile :
"Hold on, major. Xot a word. If
you can be satisfied, I can. Let us have
a bit of repose, and a bit of punch with
It."
The punch was brought, an4 as soon
as the host could regain his spirits jol
lity ruled the hour.