an
null
t t
D. F. SCIIWEIER,
THE COUSTITUTIOH-THE mHOS-AlTD TEE ESrOEOEMENT OF THE LAWS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XXXII.
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, FENNA., WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1878.
NO. 21.
V
IRISH SONG.
Ob ! the Spring's delight
Is the cowslip bright.
As she laughs to the warblim' linnet !
And whiatliu' thrush
On s white May bash.
And his mate in a nest widin it ;
Summer she shows
Her ruse, ber rose !
And oh ! all the happy night long
The nightiDgals woes her !
At n the lark sues her
Wid the crystal surprise of her soug.
Jung Autumn's crown
is the barley brown.
Red over wid rosy fruit ;
And the yellow trees,
A they eish in the breeze.
Are the strings of his eo'.emn lute.
OiilJ Winter's breath
Is could as lteath.
H irra .' lonesome he's left the earth ;
Yet the thrush he sings
And the rose she vprings
From the Same of his fairy hearth.
A Close Shave.
" Another step, and you are a dead
man!"
" Bv what authority do you bar my
passage!1"
'Authority? Ha. ha! If this ain't
enough," holding out a revolver in each
hand, with a hideous leer in his evil
face, " I reckon I'll have to explain
furtlier. By the authority of the Road
Agency of this preat overland route."
It was in the days w hen Ben llalli
lav and the pouy express served in lieu
of locomotives and telegraph Uues.
When might was right throughout a
region extending over nineteen hun
dred miles, from St. Joseph to Sacra
mento; when the stage run the gaunt
let of road agents and Indians, and
bones, many of them human remains,
grinned up at the traveler unexpectedly
as he crowed the plains; when to he
"quick on the trigger" was worth
more to a man than all the wealth, all
the culture, and all the courage in the
world.
Dick Hartford looked into the man's
face calmly, looked into the muzzles of
the pistols, smiled and uttered a single
word " Well ?"
' lont you aggravate me, or I will
fire and serve you right."
" I never flinched in my life. I won't
flinch now. What do you waut!"
" Throw down your revolver. Now
turn round, and if you budge a hair's
breadth. I'll blow your brain's out."
Hartford obeyed. He permitted his
hands to be tied behind his back. He
saw his jMH-kets turned inside out, his
money appropriated, his watch pock
eted, and only remonstrated w hen his
captor ielt for a money -belt. " Don't
cut me, there's no belt on nie."
"O! you did feel it then. Thought
I had a bank to pry open. Xow then
march. There's good ground here, and
plenty of it. It will do you good to
stretch your legs. Keep right on to the
clump to the left, and mind you, don't
stumble, for like as not you'll never
get up. There was one fellow stumbled
here about six weeks ago, aud he never
gt higher than his knees. I'll show
his bones d'recklv."
Was it a lie, a threat? Hartford
cursed himself lor refusing to listen to
the advice of the conductor of the stage
who warned him to hew are of the road
agents. He had answered that he would
take the risk. He desired to see for
himself if the stories told of the robbe
ries and murders on the route were
true. And he was learning.
The road was unbroken, but the dust
was stilling, and it blew from the hor-st-'
feet to the captive. The captive
kept his head up and strode on.
"Rough, isn't it? Xow, I suspect
you came out to capture some one. Like
as not Jim Porter?
Xo response from the captive.
" They do say there is a party look
ing for us. Porter isauxios to see them.
Tliis yer's a god-send. Never thought
to meet ye this way. Got tired riflin',
I Mipixtse. Thought you'd lay over, do
up a little business.and take next stage.
Xow, I never knew a man to lay ovor
that didn't rue it. There was a man
from Illinoy laid over about three
months. ago. Had some instruction.
He was mighty sly, that Illinoyian. I
reckou he'd furnish a regiment ol vigi
lantes with cunning. Kind o saun
tered out of same town you left an hour
ago, but he had some company. He
wasn't such a fool as you. And his
company went back on him. Shot him
through the spine, then tickled his ribs
w ith a knife. He was a powerful, ac
tive vigilante, was the company. He
was too much for the Illinovian."
" J ust as you were too much for me."
' I like your pluck now. You do
keep a stiff upper lip. But it'll be all
day with you the moment Porter claps
eyes on you. He makes short work of
spies. I reckon that's your line."
The captive did not repiy. ' At that
moment his thoughts were on home.
A mighty throb rose in his throat a
suffocating throb wrenched from him
by that one thought of home. His w ife
and child, his boy that he would never
see again. It was hard. He had played
a bold game and he had lost. The vigi
lantes were in league with the road
agents. He had been outwitted. The
stage company would be short another
man. and the road would be under tri
bute as before. His plans, so carefully
concealed in his own breast, were
known to the murderous gang. Per
haps in less than an hour he would be
dangling at fie end of a rope. He half
turned as he tiiought of the end.
" None o' that, unless you want your
early pill, in which case I'm bound to
accommodate ye. Porter didn't say we
were to run risks. He does like
f riendly chat, and he pumps some peo
ple as dry as a limekiln."
I'll make you au offer."
" Crack your w hip."
" I'll fight you fair, like a man. Tie
One arm down, give me a pistol, and
let up take a shot about, you the first."
" Sho', now."
" Or I'll allow you two to one."
"Yes, I see you can allow almost
anythin. but unless you move right
on, ana seep movln', I'll make short
work of ye."
- wjuw rose siowiT I rem a sae
brush, looked at them sneakiugly over
iiis snouider, then trotted slowly awav,
A noisome bird of prey rose slowly from
the carcass of a mule, flapped its w ings,
lazily, sailed slowly through the air,
then settled down upon a rib that pro
truded from tho sand. The sun's rays
poured dow n uj-ou the plain until the
dust and sand seemed to melt in the
fervid heat. And, to crown all, t he
captive suddenly experienced the agony
oi excessive thirst.
A faint sound in the distance arrested
his attention. Was that not the sound
oi Horses' feet? What if it should
prove to be his friends the Vigilantes?
Impossible. His morning stroll was
unknown to them. The sound came
nearer and nearer to him. Then he ob
served for the first time a roeky defile
rurther to the left, as though a chasm
lay there, or a stream chiseled out its
course across the plains. Xow there
could be no mistaking the sound. The
steady trot of horses' feet and the clank
ing of spurs could be heard. Suddenly
half a dozen horsemen swept around a
low rock, at sight of whom the captive
grunted.
ti ere s captain Jim. Mind your
manners now, for he the perlitest man
you ever met."
The captive shivered. When a bov
he was detected in au act that brought
upon bun the wrath of the teacher of
the school in the Xew England village
he would never see more. The eagle
eye of the teacher singled him out from
score of mischief-makers, and he
shivered as he felt that the punishment
awarded incorrigibles was unavoidable.
But be braced himself, walked out
promptly to the middle of the floor the
moment his name was called, and, to
his lasting surprise, was let go with a
mild rebuke. In much the smne man
ner Dick Hartford braced himself for
the interview with the leader of the
most desperate gang of miscreants that
ever levied a tax upon the travelers
who crossed the plai us. This was the
man he had dreamed of circumventing.
The case was reversed.
The road agents rode forward with
out order, and surrounded both horse
man and captivs.
" What have you got, Barbara ?"
" Make your bow. It's captain Jim,"
said Barhain. Then to Captain Jim's
query : " That's for you to find out. I
obeyed orders."
What a magnificent front the captive
presented. His gaze was as clear and
steady and level as though he were look
ing right through Captain Jim, away
beyond the rauche, and off to the moun
tains in the distance.
What have you got to say for your
self, anyhow ?" Captain Jim's sinister
face clouded still more as he met the
unwavering gaze of the captive.
" Xothing," replied the captive, as he
walked in front of the leader.
" You are locked up, and the keys
lost," said Captain Jim, sneeringly. "I
think I know your business. I've a
mind to send Ben Haliday your ears.
Xo, I'll send him your heart. This
trip's a failure and Ben ought to know
it. It you won't talk"
"I'll die first!" The words were
flung at hi in so passionately that even
Captain Jim was moved to admiration.
' Die it is then !" exclaimed one of
the gang.
" You are seven to one," suid Hart
ford. " We are in the majority mostly,"
said Jim. " But I'll give you a chance.
You are plucky. Xow, w hat does a
milksop life do for you? Come along
with us, share and share alike, and
we'll give you excitement, and oppor-:
tnnity to show the stuff you are made
of."
" To make one of a gang of murder
ers w ho are afraid to cope man to ui an.'
said the captive.
' One of the gang at that moment lev
eled his pistol at Hartford's head. But
the leader ordered him to keep his fire
until there was need for it. ' Let us
do this thing in order," said Captain
Jim, as the scar on his cheek became
livid, then a dull red. " We'll ride
down to the old place and pull him up
like a dog. You got what was on him?"
to Barhain. Barbara nodded. There
was not a word said further. The party
rode on perhaps twenty minutes, when
the defile deepened, narrowed, and the
rocks shut over the horsemen's heads.
Then at a word from Jim the men dis
mounted. Advancing to Hartford, he
said with a cruel smile:
" Say your prayers, you have got five
minutes to live. Mount that stone."
There was a ledge above the captive's
head, w ith a jutting poiut, over which
a rope was thrown, and a noose made
at the end of it.
' Will you allow me to speak'"
" Blow away," answered Captain
Jim. " I may as well tell you w e know
all about you. You've traveled fifteen
hundred miles to trap us. You gave
yourself away. You expected to mas
ter the road, and the biggest booby
among us mastered you. Xow fire
away."
' Well, then, let me predict what
your end will be," said the captive.
With the noose around his neck, and
gloating eyes and fierce faces for his
audience, he spoke out clearly, defi
antly. ' When you've murdered me,
you may prepare lor the hereafter.
There will be no rest for you. A man
w ill ome after me who will hunt you
down like the cowardly dogs you are.
He will never rest until you are driven
out of the country, and his reach will
sweep to California. Once he marks a
man, that man's fate Is sealed. He is
not my friend. He knows my mission,
and, if it fails, he w ill shoot every man
down with his own band whom he sus
pects of knowing anything about me,
or my death. That's all. I'm ready."
" What's that !" exclaimed one of the
gang listening.
"Upwithhim!" The rope tightened
around Hartford's throat, he felt him
self strangling, the color faded out, he
was in a void, then, shooting paius
pierced hit temple, myriad sparks
played before his eyes, blended into
brilliant colors, and still he could hear
the voice of Captain Jim. Xow it was
a stream of oaths, an exclamation,
fhe lgilantes are upon us !" a blur
ring of sounds, as he swam, or rather
floated out upon the great void, and
then all was oyer.
It was true. A cloud of dust rolled
up frera Overland City, swept down to
wards the narrow defile from the rear,
and sent a shiver of fear through the
road agents, who scrambled hastily to
their saddles and galloped off in the
opposite direction. All but one. Cap
tain Jim, who deliberately approached
Hartford as he lay on the ground where
he fell when the crowd dropped the
rope, and placing a revolver against his
temple, pulled the trigger. The pistol
snapped fire, and Cm plain Jim rode off,
turning in his saddle and aiming a sec
ond lime at the apparently lifeless body
of the prisoner, shot him in the arm.
But it would have been better for
Cairtain Jim had he never Diet the pris
oner, tor another party, also Vigi
lantes, armed to the teeth and superbly
mounted, encountered the road agents
as they emerged from the defile, and
although the latter put their steeds to
the gallop, urging them on with oaths
and spurs, the Vigilantes surrounded
them with lightning-like swiftness.
and standing up in their saddles opened
fire upon the gang, who returned it
and died like desperadoes as they were,
either in their saddles or dropping from
their horses' necks. Captain Jim proved
the most cowardly of the lot. He beg
ged for quarter, but for answer was
riddled with a dozen bullets.
When the fray was over and Dick
Hartford sat upright, listening to the
account of the tight, and of the severest
and sharpest the Vigilantes experi
enced, he was complimented upon his
courage, and, in turn, thanked his res
cuers. In reality, he had performed
his mission, but not in the manner he
had planned. That he did not succeed
in carrying out his plans was owing to
the merest accident. The Vigilantes
had been summoned at his instance, and
were in time to save bis life. " A close
shave," as Bris Martin, the captain,
remarked. " However, a miss is as
good as a mile."
Egyptian Colossal Work.
The notion of bigness seems to have
held a closer grip over the despotic
Egyptian mind than any other psychol
ogical specimen with which we are ac
quainted. It does not need a journey
up the Xile to show us their fondness
tor the immense, half an hour at the
British museum is quite sufficient.
Xow, why did the Egyptians so revel
in enormous work of art? This ques
tion is usually answered by saying that
their absolute rulers loved thus toshotf
the vastness of their power; and doubt
less the answer is very true as far as it
goes, and quite falls in with our theory
given above. But it doos not happen
that despotic nionarchs build pyramids
or Aleinnons, and the further question
suggests itself what was the circum
stances of Egypt which determined this
special and exceptional display of ar
chitectural extravagances? As we cast
about for an answer, an analogy strikes
us at once. Taking the world as a whole,
I tMnk it will be seen that the greates
architectural achievements are to be
found in the great plain countries, aud
that mountain districts are compara
tively bare of large edifices. The plain
of Lorn tardy, the plnln of Low Coun
tries, the plain of Chartres, the lower
Rhine valley, the eastern countries
these are the spots where our great
European cathedrals are to be found;
and if we pass over to Asia, we shall
similarly discover the country for pa
godas, mofques, aud temples in the
broad basins of the Euphrates, the
Ganges, the Indus, the Uoang-Ho, and
the Yang tzekiang. Xo doubt castles
and fortresses are to be found every
where on heights for purposes of de
fense; but purely ornamental archi
tecture is most flourishing in level
expanses of laud. Xow there is no level
expanse of land in the world habita
ble by man so utterly unbroken and
continuous as the valley of the Xile.
Herein, doubtless, we have a clue to
the 8ecial Egyptian love for colossal
undertakings of every sort.
Worth ftrnaeiabrrins;.
It is the penny saved more than the
penny earned that enriches; it is the
sheet turned when the first threads
break, that wears the longest; it is the
damper closed when the cooking is
done that stops the dollars dropping in
the coal biu ; it is the lamp or gas burned
low, when not in use, that gives you
pin-money for the month ; it is the care
in making the coffee that make3 three
spoousfuls go as far as a teacup ordi
narily; it is the walking one or six
blocks, instead of taking a cab or omni
bus, that adds strength to your body
and money to your purse; it is the
careful mending of each week's wash
that gives ease to your conscience and
length of days to your garments; and
last ol all, it "is the" constant care exer
cised over every part of your household,
ami constant endeavor to improve and
apply your best powers to your work,
that alone gives peace and prosperity
to the family.
Manafactwr of Hair Cloth.
Hair cloth is made from hair of horses'
tails, which is brought, some of it from
South America, but more from Russia.
In the latter country it is collected at
the great fairs of Xiani Novgorod and
Isbilt. It is of all shades of color, and
for use is dyed black. The poorest
quality sells for about 60 cents a pound ;
the best for f 4y the price rapidly In
creasing as the length exceeds twenty
four Inches. In the fabrication of hair
cloth the hair is wet with water, and !
when well soaked is put in the loom to
be woven with a cotton warp. The
weaving mechanism is so perfect in its
operation that if one of the hairs form
ing the weft is missed, the device acting
upon it continues to work until it has
grasped It, all the other parts of the
machine standing still.
Singular Wagers.
When Mr. Penn ajiatched himself
against lion. Dan vers liutter, to walk
from Hyde Park Corner to Hammer
smith for a wager of 100 guineas, some
body remarked to the Duchess of Gor
don that it was a pity a young fellow-
like Penn should -always be playing
some absurd prank. "Yes,' the old
lady retorted, "it's a pity, but why
don't you advise him better? Penn
seems to be a pen that everybody cuts
aud nobody mends". What would the
free-sioken dame have said to a couple
of clergymen runuing a race on a Sun
day for a crown a side? Such a thing
has been done. Soon after Swift re
ceived his deauery, he dined one Sun
day with Dr. Raymond, of Trim, whose
house was about 200 yards from his
church. The bell had nearly done ring'
ing for evening service, when Swift
exclaimed, "Raymond, I'll lay you a
crowii I begin prayers before you."
"Ione !" said the Doctor, and off they
ran. Raymond, reached the door first,
and, entering the church, made for the
reading desk, at as quick a walking
pace as his sense of propriety permitted
.Swift did not slacken speed in the least,
but ran up the aisle, passed his oppo
nent, aud, without stopping to put on
a surplice, or open the prayer-book, be-
gau the Liturgy and went on with the
service sufficiently long to win the wa
ger.
Nor
-A Tale of 1675.
Heavily chimed the hour, breaking
upon the stillness of the night like the
voice of an accusing angel. It was
midnight. Had the time at length
arrived, and must I now, like the spirit
of desolation and evil, steal from the
hospitable roof that had sheltered my
infancy from misery, and my youth
from guilt and all its attendant horrors?
Heaven knows the thought was agony?
Turning, I half retraced my steps when
I thought of Metacom. Disappoint
ment acting iiK)ii the wild fury of a
teniier soured by adversity, alas!
perhaps by crime, rushed upon my re
collection. I loved hi in almost to mad
ness ! Could ought else have prompted
this rash, this treacherous flight? IH
you ask me why I loved him? For his
very savageness to others.
I had ever appeared gentle, playful
and timid as a young bird, but the
spirit of my Indian race dwelt deep
within my bosom .like an unquenchable
fire, burning forever amid the bow els of
the mighty earth, on whose stirfaw
blooms the fragrant flowers and rich,
wide-spreading verdure, until the voice
of nature, amid the strife and clash of
elements, sends it forth to desolate and
overwhelm the dand. Metacom was a
savage. The oright and glowing image
of the Deity wasstamped ujkiii his brow.
What to him were the inventions ol
civilized man? Their luxuries but
enervated, and the strong arm of the
law executed the revenge which their
pale and cowardly souls shrank trem
blingly from wreaking. Had not the
dominion of our fathers extended from
the green isles of Aquetuet far into the
distaut wild, where the foot of man
grew weary with wandering? And now
Metacom was a wanderer and a fugi
tive! Such were the thoughts that agitated
my bosom as I crept with stealthy
steps through the quiet and soundless
streets.
How solemnly falls the moonlight
upon the dark foliage of the forest, like
bright shadows of the past, illumining
with a momentary lustre long years of
misery and despair. Nature aud man
alike appeared to repose. At this hushed
and holy hour the spirit of solitude,
with her deep mysteries and early
sujierstitiotis, roamed unmolested by the
contaminating presence of man. A
strange feeling of awe for the first time
oppressed my spirits. Hark ! a crashing
of boughs, a light quick step, and Meta
com stood beside me.
"Xora!" he murmured.
At the sound of that loved voice,
which thrilled through my frame, I
raised my eyes to his and met his kind
ling gaze of rapture and of love.
"Speak, my beloved ! Xora lives but
in the joy of thy glance.
Slowly and sadly he spoke, .
"The eagle flies to the mountain, ami
the panther to his lair, but Metacom
hath no refuge from the storm. When
I cross the silent water or gaze upon
the lightning's flash, in the dark hour
when prowling wolves are heard, by
day, by night, the spirit of my father
shouts, 'Metacom! revenge! revenge!'
They have passed like snow flakes upon
the mountain when the hot sun glares
fiercely on its side. I must perish,
Xora; the last chieftain of my race.
Listen : ere morn breaks upon your
smiling village, wrapped in a cloud of
flames, thru shalt behold it cracking
aud blazing, a bright hecatomb to the
manes of my slaughtered followers.
Then the remembrance of the past in
juries will cease, and the sweet stream
of revenge, like the balmy fountains of
the West, will heal my wounded spirit.
All must perish ! The home of my child
hood, she who snatched thee from the
buruinghut, (w hen the pale fiends upon
our people burst, nor spared, of all our
great and happy tribe, scarce one to
tell the tale) she who nourished thee
with all a mother's love, must perish !
Remember the wide forests that our
fathers swayed, their bones that bleach
upon the scorching plain, a ierished
race of warriors, and I, homeless, pro
scribed, a price upon my head shrink -est
thou ! Have I not sworn by the
Great Spirit we worsnip. by all the
powers of darkness and evil, to fulfil my
vow?'
"Xo, Metacom, I think not."
"Tis well. The western tribes have
leagued together. Like the roar of the
torrent in its strength we will rush
upon the pale-faced race."
Silently and swiftly the chief depart
ed. I returned to that dwelling which
was soon to be wrapped in desolation
and despair, At the fifth hour I hail
vowed to fire the roof, which was tobe the
signal for the work of murder. Heavily
crept the time. I nerved myself tor the
task. Snatching brand from the hearth
I threw it upon the bed, and watched,
with a savage satisfaction, the progress
of the flames. Another moment, and
the yell of myriads burst upon my ear.
Opening the window, I sprang out and
fled to the shelter of the forest. Could
I remain in safety, and he, the idol of
my existence, jerilling his life amid
the fiery element? I rushed back to the
village. Oh heavens ! what a sight met
my agonized gaze? Mother and child
crushed and bleeding! The foster
brother of mine infancy, the playmate
of my childhood, the k'.nd, the gentle
boy turned his gaze upon me. I fled
along, seeking him for w hose love I had
(terilled soul and body. I found him.
Great Heaven ! have mercy on me ! My
blood runs thick, and my brain is whirl-
inli now. Must I never forget his
frantic look, his demoniac gesture, his
body dreuched in blood, and that fair
young child clinging for mercy ! He
raised his arm the murderous axe
gleamed in the flames utterence failed
me I essayed to speak the words were
clicking in my throat. I shouted
"Metacom!"' It was too late! The
heavy weapon cleft that innocent brow,
blinding iny maddened gaze w ith the
blood of the young martyr!! wouldhave
fled, but Metacom, detaining me in his
grasp, exulting!- cried.
'Shades of my father, well art thou
avenged !"
At that moment of triumph and
exultation a ball from au unerring
rifle pierced his heart. Bounding from
the earth, he fell without a moan. What
became of me I know not. Years
passed on. unheeded and unknown,
and I awoke to reason and misery
within a lone and gloomy cell. They
told me I had been mad. I cared not,
for the evil spirit had departed, and I
could now otter at the shrine of heaveu
a penitent and contrite heart.
The Son of a Kins;.
Prince Luclen Charles Francois Na
poleon, second son of Joachim Murat,
King of Naples (1S0S), by Caroline,
third sister of Xapolcon I, died recently
in London. He was born at Milan,
May 16, ISO'S, and on the overthrow of
the Empire and the execution of his
father, in ISio, was obliged to take re
fuge under a foreigu flag. For some
years he resided at Trieste, subsequently
at Venice, and in 1824 took ship fur
America to join his uncle, the ex-King
Jerome, and his brother Achille. The
vessel on which he sailed was wrecked
on the Spsnish coast, and he was taken
by the hospitable Spaniards and Incon
tinently cast into prison. Eventually
he regained his liberty and carried out
bis projected journey to the United
States. Here he married a Miss Caro
line Georgiana Fraser, an English lady,
and after an unsuccessful attempt to
maintain himself by entering into com
mercial affairs he was forced to depend
tor subsistence upon "le produit d'une
ecole de jeunts filles tenue par da
femme." Twice he endeavored to re
turn to France in 1S39 and 1S44 but
each time was refused permission by
the existing Government to enter the
country. In 1M the death of his uncle
made him heir to the pretensions of the
Murat family, and the proclamation of
the Republic of '49 enabled him to re
turn to France. This change in his af
fairs put an end to the school for little
girls kept by Madame and to his very
unroyal revenue derived from that
establishment. He was elected to the
Assembly from the Department of Lot,
vigorously supported the pol.cy of the
Prince-President and was returned at
the next election from the Department
of the Seine. In October, 1S4'J, he was
nominated Plenipotentiary at the Court
of Turin ; was made Senator January 25,
1? 52; aud was allowed to bear the title
of Prince by a decree issued in the fol
lowing year. His name was freely used
in connection with the succession to the
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and after
the expulsion of the Bourbons he made
a formal claim upon the crown, a claim
that was not admitted. His latest ap
pearance in public was as a companion
of Bazaine at the surrender of Metz.
The Two Farms.
Twenty years ago two young farmers
bought one hundred acre farms adjoin-
ng, that were alike as regards soil and
mprovement, or nearly so. Both were
paid for, and each farmer had about the
same cash capital. These men were
named A and B; and I will now show-
how they conducted their business, and
the condition of the two farms in 177.
A was energetic, took several agricul
tural papers, worked eariy and late,
always said "come boys" to his hired
help, he taking the lead, spent no time
in needless talking while at work, pro
vided in advance work for rainy days,
bought the best farm implements that
could be obtained, secured first-class
livestock of all kinds, built commodious
out buildings as the profits of his farm
admitted, set fruit and ornamental
trees around his dwelling, made good
gravel walks, built fine, substantial
fences around his house, kept them well
painted, and also his house and out
buildings; and to-day he has one of the
most beautiful and productive farms in
the State, with some $10,000 at inter
est. Xow, B was a different man. He had
no energy of character, took things
easy, subscribed for no agricultural pa
pers, was opposed to "book farmers,"
said to his help, "go boys, I'll be along
by-and-by," was constantly on the
watch for somebody to talk to, while
bis work was delayed, never had any
work ready for rainy weather, consid
ered the 'new-fangled' farm implements
a humbug, was opposed to "blooded
stock,' set out no trees around his
dwelling, considered the old out-buildings
and fences "good enough," didn't
think that paint was of any benefit on
anything. B spent a good share of his
time in the village talking politics; and
now his farm is worn out, the fences
are out of repair, his house is so leaky
that it is dangerous to live in it, his
barn and shed are tumbling down, and
the saddest of all is, the sheriff has ad
vertised the place for sale. Farmers, it
pays well to attend to your business
energetically and thoroughly.
A Pnnster Fiend at Large.
I met him in the cars on my way from
Albany. He was a pleasant-looking old
man, and his better-half sat beside him
The car was as full as an election-day
politician, and I was compelled to take
a seat immediately in front of the happy-
couple. There was something about
him, however, that made me feel sorry
right away. He had more talk in hiu
than a school boy's bead has of some
thing else, and I hadn't fairly settled
before he began to unload some of it
"Xice day I"
"Beautiful."
"Fearful road."
"Fearful."
Here was a small opening for him.
and he got the wedge in. Oh! if I'd
only made believe I was deaf and dumb
"I've traveled all over this country,
aud I never saw a worse road in all my
life. Why, the road over the Rocky
Mountains ain't half so rough."
"Summit better," I responded.
He looked at his companion, whom
he called Minnie, winked, and said :
"r unny man I Wonder who 'tis.
Looks like Mark Twain "
Then he paused, and just as I was
bracing up and endeavoring to put on a
Twalnish look, he continued by saying
"Around the feet."
This made me mad.
"You've been all over the United
States, have you ? Then of course you
know Xew York. How is he getting
along?"
"Oil, he Kentucky way as much wins
Icy as ever."
"Much Florida, in consequence, 1
suppose," I suggested.
"Utah thought so if you'd seen bim
when I did "
Here the passengers began to look
worried, and one of them asked the
conductor how far it was to the nexi
station. Another ventured that maybt
we weren't going far.
"Yes," continued the old party, "he
tried to make love to Minnie when I
saw him last."
"Arizouia foolin'," blushingly re
marked the old woman.
"Minnesota liked it, didu't she?" 1
asked, and gave him a look that inti
mated that 1 guessed that would settlt
it.
"You musn't call her Minnie. It
makes her mad. She'd have Georgia if
she'd heard you. She Kansas back
when she wants to."
"If it Illinois her, of course PIT rV
frain," I answered.
Here one of the passengers was car
ried out to the rear platform, and nine
tenths of the others were tearing the
lining oat of their coats for wadding to
put in their ears.
"Perhaps Iowa au apology," I contin
ued. "Xo, I guess not," he said, without
moving an eyelash. "It Texas English
people to understand folks. It don't a
Montana thing. Tennessee-sary."
I felt for my pistol. At this moment
the cars stopped at a station, and iuot
of the passengers got out and waited for
the next train. ' The majority had their
heads tied up. I was determined to
tight it out to the bitter end, if it took
every State in the Union. As the train
moved out of the station the conductor
came up and asked me to keep still, for
God's sake. He said the wheels were
getting weak, and the coal bad refused
to burn. The passengers had all de
parted to the other cars, with the excep
tion of six. I here looked determined.
They were not even pale. I was satis
fled to give up If he was. Just as 1
had made up my mind that the whole
thing was settled
"Ohio!" yawned the fiend. "I'm
getting tired of this journey."
"I think it has been very pleasant.
Wouldn't M ichigan for $100. Jersey ?"
Without noticing the last query he
said : "Hope we'll meet again. I
Xevada pleasanter time. Hope I M&ine
never have a worse."
At this point one of the passengers
fell off his seat. He died in a few min
utes. Before the conductor could get
to the water tank another one breathed
bis last. Two of the remaining ones
were staring at each other, and it was
found that they had both gone crasr.
The remaining two weredeaf and dumb.
I grasped my valise as the train readied
Jersey City, and started for the boat.
As I was passing out of the door the
fiend yelled after me :
"Yes, I Xew York and Xew Jersey
and Xew Hampshire, I've Rhode Island
Connecticut. Idaho-ln lot of land in
Colorado. 1 Mississ The doctor
says I shall be better iu week or so.
A Broken-Nosed Boy.
Things are upset. The breakfast was
very late. There was last night or
early this morning an unwonted stir or
bustle in that house a hurrying to and
fro, a tramping of feet, a slamming of
doors, a gleaming of lights from room
to room, the sound of strange voices
and a noise of carriage wheels. I am
aroused by all this confusion, and then
told to "lie still and go to sleep." I
wonder what they think a child is made
of. Under circumstances utterly im
possible for a grown person to be quiet
and composed, I am always told to "lie
down and go to sleep."
If the house is on fire or a murder is
being committed in the next room I
must be still and go to sleep until it is
somebody's pleasure to come and take
me out of the way. Or if any explana
tions of occurrences extraordinary are
vouchsafed, I am always told some
trumpery story whose bottom falls out
)n time. I have come now to distrust
the whole breed of grown-up people.
The morning has come; I am denied
access to my mother's room ; I am told
she is sick ; strange people are about
the house. A large, important looking
woman bustles in and out of the cham
ber: she seems to be in authority. I
hate her. She disposes of me at once.
I am told to be a good boy, to go and
play, to make no noise and keep out of
the way, all of which arc at present im
possibilities in my present state of mind.
Father, too, is home, for a wonder,
on a week day. But he seems of little
importance in the house. He remains
in the back pallor, tries to amuse him
self with a book, and is in frequcntcon
sultation with that abominable large
woman. He is being sent out contin
ually on errands, and returns w ith pack
ages, boules,and vials.
Well, this is all very strange. I
wander down into the kitchen, w here
I am as much out of place as anywhere
else. They seem to be having it their
own way ; there is a smell of gin ; Susan,
the chambermaid, looks at me curiously,
and Hetty, the cook asks me how I
would like to have "my nose put out of
joint," which I do not understand at
all; whereat they all laugh boisterous
ly, and I am disgusted and icturn up
stairs. 1 have no appetite for the noon meal.
Father scarcely eat3. The abominable
woman is present and eats hastily and
heartily. The whole house is filled
with an atmosphere of gloom, uncer
tainty and appreheusioii. The doctor
comes again and departs. I go about
in tears and distress, aud am told by
father not to cry that mother will
soon be well, that I must be a good boy
and then he gives me some pennies to
buy candy.
The large woman appears, cuts
short our conference and father darts
off again. The afternoon sun seems to
shine gloomily. I am about to leave
the house and buy candies, when the
fat woman confronts me and tells me I
must not stir out of doors. Then she
orders Susan to do something. There
are words between her and Susan.
Susan seems in rebellion. Susan and I
joi u forces and go out for an afternoon's
walk. I ask her what is the matter
with mother, and she replies absently
aud mysteriously. She meets another
girl and a long conference ensues be
tween them, to which I am not admitted.
1 am a miserable Pariah. The whole
world for me seems full of nods, winks,
whisperings and sidelong glances.
Well, there is candy left ; that is one
satisfaction ; I go by myself, and effect
the purchase of a stick from Mrs. Baker.
She asks after my mother, and while I
am (trying to tell her, Sus: n enters.
More whispering, and Mrs. Baker says
"Oh," in a manner which shows she
has game J some information which she
understands. Then ensues between
her and Susan another conference, to
which, as usual, I am denied admit
tance. I try to console myself with
candy.
About four o clock we return home
1'hiligs sre-nraltered, and for the better
The air is not so-havy".witrra;prehen-sion
and anxiety. Father seems
happier and the cook grins. I am
taken to my mother's chamber. Before
entering I hear a cry, a new cry, a sort
of half strangled, half choked cry.
Well I've got my mother back again,
anyway, if she is so pule and thin. Xo,
I haven't her entirely hack to myself
as liefore, some one has arrived to dis
pute possession w ith me. There is a
mall red object on the bed beside
mother. It is a head with a little soft
black hair and all wrapped In a bundle.
It is simply a red pucker of eyes, no-e
md mouth. Father stands by with a
gratified air and asks me how I like my
"little brother." Little brother! I
don't like it at all. So this is the dis
turber of the household ieace! It's all
a mystery. I want to ask where he
came from, but I know I shall get no
atisfactiou, so I hold my peace. For
I've begun to find these people out. I
must not tell a lie, but they will. I've
caught them already in several, even
my father and mother. They seem to
think it's a treat to show me this this
thing, but I don't think so. It's ugly.
When next I go down to the kitcHen
the cook asks me "how it feels to have
my nose put out of joint." My nose
isn't out of joint, I feel of it and look
at it to assure myself of the fact. It's a
Hrfect nose at least as perfect as it
ever was. I don t understand tlieiu
;ind it's all a mystery.
New Industries Wanted.
The following new industries are
much needed and could be prolitably
conducted :
1. The establishment of thebeet sugar
industry.
2. The establishment of flax growing
and linen manufacture.
3. The manufacture of earthen
tone and china ware.
4. The manufacture of gold, silve
and plated ware.
a. I bemanufaetureof watehes,cloc
mathematical, philosopical and otho
instruments.
6. The production of ebonite, Tulcan
ite and kindred articles.
7. The production of vegetable oils.
8. The production and manufacture of
silk.
9. The production of opium and opium
extracts.
10. The production of a variety of
chemicals, dyes and drugs.
11. The brewing of better and cheaper
ales.
12. The manufacture of ivory, bone,
bristle and other toilet articles.
13. The manufacture of buttons.
14. The growth and preparation of
chicory.
arblelaed Slate.
The turning of slabs of slate into imi
tations of marble has now become an
important industry. The slabs of elate
are first surfaced by a planer, and
brought to the required thickness, and
patterns are then laid npon the slabs.
and the mallet and chisel work out the
desired forms and mouldings. The
peculiar feature in the operation, how
ever, is the marbleizing. The material
for the latter is prepared in a vat, and
the slab is let down the composition.
which adheres to the surface of the
slate; the slab is next baked in an oven
for one night, then coated with a var
nish, manufactured for this special pur
pose, and after six repetitions of these
processes, it Is finally removed and pol
ished, the surface presenting, as is well
known, a beautiful appearance, and so
firmly united to the skte Is this coating
that it cannot be scaled or chipped off
without taking the slaty particles with
it,
Deadly Weapons.
Fleet Surgeon A. B. Mes.-er, M. D.,
has been continuing his Inquiry into
the reputed poisonous nature of the
arrows cf the South Sea Islanders.
There now remains little doubt that in
of the islands between Erromana (Xew
Hebrides) and the Santa Crux group,
the natives prepare and smear upon the
arrows substances from various plants
which they believe to be poisons. Dr.
Messer gives a description of them. A
plant named toto seems most in favor;
it belongs to the Euphorbium family
and has a milky sap, which is irritating
aud painful when applied to the ejes
or lips or to a sore. But from all ac
counts obtained from missionaries aud
others ne poisoning, strictly speaking,
has ever been observed as the effect of
wounds by arrows supposed to be thus
poisoned, tetanus being the only result
recorded, and not being of such a char
acter or following so often as to en
title it to be considered directly due to
the substances smeared on the arrows.
Tetanus is of very frequent occurrence
in the South Pacific Islands, and wh. n
it follows after wounds or iujuries it is
almost always fatal. This may natur
ally be attributed by a superstitious
people to the power of the enemy or bis
weapon. The "man a" or supernatural
power which the Polynesian rates
believe to exist in certain persons or
things is a most potent influence.
Some man or family may easily become
famous as having the most deadly
arrows, and would, of course, strive to
make them as irritant and powerful as
possible, with a view to increase the
fears of the wounded.
This explains how the arrows of one
island may become more deadly than
others, for if native believes that he
Is shot by an arrow, for instance, from
Mai wo or Auroia Island, which is said
to produce the most deadly arrows In
hat district, he will at once expect
tetanus, and give up hope; and if it
occurs and proves fatal, as it almost
certain to do, the snperstition will In
crease. We saw how painful and de
structive was the mental influence in
the case of those wounded on board
the Pearl. In this superstition may
be found an explanation of the trouble
taken to smear arrows with substances
the poisonous properties of which are
at all events doubtful. Dr. Meser give
an account in detail of fifteen experi
ments he has been making upon three
dogs and two rabbits, with toto, and
another plant of great repute, and with
four different kinds of arrows (one from
Maiwo), supposed to be poisoned. Xo
sign of poisoning followed. One of the
dog3 while under observation broke his
chain and ran loose for two hours
among some grass and scrub, where it
was known tnat snakes anJ scorpions
abounded and on the next day symp
toms of ii jury by a sting were observed ;
but the dog showed no sign of tetanus
and quite recovered.
One of the rabbits inoculated with
toto, inserted under the skin, was
found on the third day unable to stand,
and on being touched wis thrown into
spasms somewhat resembling tetanus,
but more like the effect of an injury to
the spinal cord, and in a few hours the
animal died. Unfortunately, but a
slight examination of the body was
made; but the lid of the box in which
this rabbit was confined, being broken,
was frequently falling down upon the.
animal, and might thus have injured
its spine, and so caused its death. Dr.
Messer at once inserted tins supposed
poison under the skin of another rabbit
and two dogs, and increased tjie quan
tity, but the wounds simply suppurated
slightly, and the animals remained in
perfect health.
Sagacity of the Deer.
A Ximrod who has been in the
habit of hunting deer in the Adiron
dack mountains, is of the opinion that
the deer is often more than a match for
a dog in sagacity. The deer seems to In
well aware that the dog is guided by
his faculty of scent in tracking him;
and all the deer's efforts are directed to
battling and thwarting this keen and
wonderful sense with which the dog is
gifted.
With this purpose the deer w ill often
make enormous leaps, or run around in
a circle so as to confuse and puzzle his
pursuers. He will mount a stone wall,
aware that the dog cannot scent him so
well on the rock as on the grass. If lie
can find a pond or stream of water, the
deer will plunge in and swim a long
distance, so that the dog may lose his
trail.
It is a joyful sound to the poor,
hunted deer when the dogs send up
that sad, dismal howl, which they give
utterance to when they lose all scent of
the deer, and despair of finding it. He
is then a happy deer. He hides quietl y
in some covert among the bushes, and
he will take care to place himself w here
the wind will carryall odors of hislxxly
away from the direction where he sup
poses the uogs to be.
The Shrill Voice of Americas Women.
The Rev. Edward E. Hale does not
like the voices of his countrywomen.
He says that most of them talk with a
shrill voice, and if they w ish to gain
power seek it by sharpening the note,
or screniing, rather than by giving more
volume, and adds: "I remember at the
great dining saloon of the Bauer au Lac
Hotel, in Zurich, both the largest and
finest dirdng hall I ever saw, when five
hundred ptv.-le were dining at once at
their different tables, i could single out
iny own countrywomen In all pars of
the hall, no matter w hat their ditance,
by the shrill yell, more or less nasal,
with which they summoned the wait
ers, ordered soup, asked for a napkin or
passed from pastry to icecream. Above
the general buzz-buzz-buzz of five hun
dred voices in conversation you could
distinguish the war cry of thee eight
or ten American women, as you distin
guish the signal rockets at night above
a long and dark line of entrenchments."
Mr. Hale ascribes these unpleasant
tones to the custom of making little
girls read iu aloud ru1 unnatural fash
ion in the gramma? aud primary
schools.
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