$ w 'H. i . ' i : j. T ' ? i: fmM: ' iij jh bk' .... . . - - . , 1 1 , . . i , , ., i ' i ... ,. , , .. iflL Sit B. F. SCIIWEIER. THE COHSTITUTIOH-THE 0105110) THE ETF0E0EME3TT OP THE LAWS. Editor and Proprietor. VOL. XXXII. MIFFLIN1WN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PENNA., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1878. NO. 23. II. FJ f II Mill I r A WAY-SIDE MEJIORT. Cuder tke silTer fringe Of the willow bongba that swung A -glitter in the sunshine, With frozen jewels strung. With smouldering fire of opals. Of pearls and chryaoprase. And the twinkling diamond drops that set The frosty morn ablaze. Under the swaying willows. Where the tall green rushes sprang. The way-side spring of my childhood Babbled and laughed and sang Bubbled and rippled orer, Aa the blithe winds came and went. And dimpled all day in the sunshine With a gurgle of glad content. Through the chink of the mosey boulder Its living waters purled. With inarticulate whispers Of the wonderful under-world ; The tall ferns nodded wisely With every frond and feather The brown reeds bent to listen. With all their heads together. Under the wintry starlight. And under the summer noon, Its ceaseless silvery babble Was set to the self -same tune. The rushes on its margin Were the greenest that ever grew And moss and brake, for its sweet sake. Were golden through and through. When the skies were red with tempest. And the landscape bleak and bare. It seems like a joyous presence In the midst of grief and care ; Like a cheery, happy nature No cloud can overcast. In joy or pain, in auu or rain. Contented to the last. Some One in the Room. Elijah Crowley, my husband, was ow ner and captain of a coasting vessel, doing a good trade; and we occupied an old-fashioned and somewhat dreary house at Stepney. Elijah liked the pl-ee more than 1 did, and it was on his account that we staid there so long. I thought that it could make very little difference to him where we lived, for tie was at home only two or three weeks out of every ten. I was often alone two months at a time; and lonely enough it was sometimes. "Get some one whom you like to stay with you, my dear," the captain said, when 1 told him one day how unpleas ant I felt to be alone so much. "Get any one you please, and before long 1 hojie I shall be able to stay at home with you myself." 1 took his advice, and after some in quiry, I found a woman who I thought would suit me. Her name was Emily Sands, and she was a pleasant-faced wo man of about forty. She told me 6he had been left a widow with no means, and had since earned her living by needle-work; and although I had intended that the woman who came eveo' morn ing to do my housework should still come, I found Emily so handy and so willing, that I soon discontinued the services oi the other. She was so tmiable and so virtuous, that 1 was sat isfied that 1 had done the best that I could do in the matter. 'I hope so," he said, doubtfully. "And don't you think so?" I asked. "Well, no," he replied. "Xow, I'd like to know why, Elijah, bo you see anything wrong about her? "I can't say that I do: I presume it is only a notion ; hut I have some way conceived a kind of distrust of her face. I can't explain it, ami you had better not be prejudiced by it." "You may be very sure I shall not," I rejoined, "if it has no more founda tion than this." And this is all that was said between us on the subject. I was too well ac quainted with the captain's sudden whims to attach much importance to tins one. The captain remained at home this time barely two weeks. On the morn ing that he left to take his vessel for another trip, just after he had taken up his hat to go, he called me into his chamber and shut the door. "Here is something.Fauny," he said' "that I want you to keep safe for me till I come back." And he took a pa per package from his breast-pocket as he spoke. "There are ten fifty-dollar notes la it five hnndred dollars in all. I will lock it up here in this bureau drawer, and give you the key." And lie did so. "Xo one would think "of coming here for money." "Do you think you had better leave it here. Elijah?" I asked. "Why not put it in the bank?" "I meant to; but I shall not have time. The money was only paid to nie last night. But no matter; the money will be safe where it is, and there will be no danger about it ; or if you don't think so, you may deposit it yourself." My husband took little thought of possibilities, and I presume that be never once thought of money from the time he left the house until he returned. As for myself, I was not si easily satis fied. I had heard enough of house plttnderings and outrages of that kind to make me afraid to keep this large amount with me. My uneasiness in creased as the day wore on, and about three o'elock the same afternoon, I took the money and w ent to the bank, deter mined to deposit it. The bank was closed ; all the banks were closed, for it was Saturday. I took the package home again, re placed it iu the bureau drawer, locked it, replaced the key in my pocket, and resolved that I would not worry any more about it. Emily called me to tea in a little while, and though not hun gry, I went into the dining-room and sat with her while she d-"k her tea, and laughed and chatted in her viva cious way. The evening wore rather long, and Emily and I sat together in the dining room after the table was cleared, she reading aloud, and I listening, as was our custom. Wnen the clock struck ten, she laid down her book, and I took my lamp, and, bidding her good-night, went up to my room. My chamber occupied the whole front of the second story, and Emily had a back room upon the same floor. A bell wire ran from my room to hers, so that i coum summon her at pleasure. I placed the lamp upon mv bureau. shaded it, and returned and closed the door. Then I drew my easy chair to the middle of the room, put on my slip pers, and sat down for a few minutes before retiring. And Immediately I became vexed at myself to find that I was looking at the drawer that held the money, and that 1 was feeling In my pocket to see that the key was safe. I felt no alarm; I had almost cured my self of mv uneasiness; but it seemed as if that money, and the danger of Iu custody, would obtrude upon me. In the impatience of the moment I turned my chair half around, and looked to wards the opposite wall. The shade that I placed over the lamp confined its rays within a small circle, beyond which the bed, the furniture, the car pet, and the wall paper were obscure. In the corner to the riifht of the door was an antique, high-backed chair, a favorite bit of furniture. As I turned my own chair from the bureau, my eyes rested on this object, and I saw by the same glance that a human figure was sitting in it. I could not at first make out whether it was a man or a woman ; I only became conscious, as I sat iu bewildering, dumb terror, that I was confronted by a stranger there in the semi-darkness by some one who had hidden in the room for some object, and what that object was I well knew. A person wiio has never been placed in such a terrifying situation cannot describe the sickening feeling which tor a moment takes pos session of the heart, and I can only say for myself that 1 sat motionless for a time I knew not how long thinking of my helpless situation. There I was locked up in a room alone with a ruf fian, waiting, trembling, and expecting to hear him speak, or become the object of some violence. For although, as I have said, I could not distinguish whether it was a man or woman, yet 1 did not doubt that it was the former, and one of the most desperate of his kind. And presently as my eyes fell to the floor, I saw a great pair of boots thrust out upon the carpet within the radius of the light. I do not know how long we sat there in the semi-darkness of the room, fa cing each other, but motionless and si- ient; it mifht have been three minutes or thirty. The thought of alarming Emily suddenly occurred to me, and I reached out for the bell-cord. It should have been within easy reach of the sjot where I sat; but my hand failed to find it. A low chuckle came from the occu pant of the old chair. "That was a clever thought of you, missus," came forth in a deep, rough voice, and in a tone of easy insolence, "clever thought, inarm; but bless your simple soul, do you think I was going to leave that 'ere cord there for you to make a noise with? Xot by any means. It's well to be careful when you're in this kind of business, inarm, and when you left me alone here before I then being under the bed, you sec 1 crawl ed out and took a survey of the place." My strength was returning; I oe- came reassured as I saw that the man intended no violence to mvsclf. "What do you want?" I asked. "Xow that's good; you're a business woman, marm; you come right to the point without any nonsense. I'm going to tell voii what I want." He rose from the chair as he spoke, and crossed the room to the bureau, passing so close to Hie that his boots brushed the skirt of my dress. I shud dered and drew my chair back ; I could not help betraying my fear. "Be quiet, marm," he said. "I don't mean to hurt you if I can help it. Keep still and I won't. Let's have a look at each other." He removed the shade, and looked at me for full half a minute, as I sat in the glare of the lamp. He was a large, brawny fellow, full six feet high, and dressed iu an old suit of fustian clothes. His face was entirely concealed by a crape mask ; not a feature of it could I see, from his neck to the crown of his head. He leaned one arm upon the bu reau, and regarded me attentively "You don't know me," he remarked, in an ordiuary tone. "Xo, of course not; it's best for you that you should not. I thought at first there was some thing familiar in your face ; but I fancy I was mistaken. Well, to business, marm." And he assumed a sharp tone, and looked carefully at the bureau. "I've got a pistol here, misses" and he slap ped his pocket; "but you re too sensi ble a woman, I take it, to make me use it on j'ou. I want that money. 1 here's $500 in that drawer; you have the key give it to me." I lianuea it to mm wuuout a worn. "I'll leave vou now in a minute, mis sus," he said, rapidly inserting the ker, turning It, and opening the draw er, "with many thanks for your good behaviour. Is this it?" He took out the package and held it up. "That ia the money," I said. " "She might deceive me, after all," I heard him mutter; and thrusting his forefinger into the end of the envelope, he ripped it open, and pulled the end of the notes out intosight. "Yes, here it Is. Xow" He had thrust the package into his pocket, and was about to close the drawer, when his eye was caught by something within it. He started, thrust his hand into the drawer, and taking out an object that I was acquaint ed with, he bent over and scrutinized it, holding it closer to the lamp. How I did wish that I could see the expres sion of his face at that moment. He held in his hand an ivory miniature of my husband's face, a faithful picture, made by an artist years before at my request. Whose face is this?" the robber de minded, in a voice that trembled with eagerness. "My husband's," I replied. "Your husband's. Yes, yes hut his name?" "Elijah Crowley." "Captain Crowley?" he demanded, in the same tone. "Yes." "The same who commanded the bark Calvert, that used to run out of Liver pool?" I nodded my head. I knew that the vessel named was the last one that my husband had sailed on the ocean before he bought his own coaster; iu fact, it was the same iu which I came to Eng land. "And this is Captain Crowley's money, this is his house? you are his wife?" he asked, giving me no time to answer his questions. "Yes, yes, I see it all. Great God! to think what I was just about to do!" Hed-opped into the nearest chair, apparently faint w ith emotion ; but while I sat in deep surprise at the un expected turn that this affair had taken he said. "You have no reason to fear now, 1 will not rob you; I will not harm you. Only don't make a noise. Please open the door, and you will find Jane your woman, I mean waiting iu the passage." I obeyed ; I did not know what else to do. I unlocked and opened the door, and there, to my astonishment, stood Emily Sands, arrayed iu her bonnet and shawl, with a bundle in her hand, waiting, 1 have no doubt, for a signal from within. She started upon seeing me, but the man immediately called to her by the name of Jane, telling her to come in. She passed by me as she did so, and I whispered, "Oh, Emily, how could you betray me?" She manifested no shame or sorrow, though I know she must have heard the whisjieriiig words; her face was hard and unwomanly, and iu expres sion was sullen. And I could not doubt that she had played the spy upon my husband and myself, and had be trayed us to the man. "I've a very few words to say to you, ma'am," said the man, and ail the bold ness and insolence had gone out of his voice, leaving it gentle and sorrowful. "Just a few words to ask you to forgive us for w hat we meant to do, and to tell you what has huppehed to change my mind so suddenly, and why we caii't rob you as we meant to do." He took the package from his pocket with the w rds, and tossed it into my lap. "That money belongs to the man that 1 love and honor more than any other on earth. I'm a hard customer, ma'am; we live by dark ways and do ings, Jane and I, and I wouldn't have believed when she let me in here to-day and hid me, that I could leave the house without that money, but if I'd known w hom it belonged to, I'd sooner have held out my right hand to be ci!t oil' than come here as I have, and for what I came. I used to be a sailor, and was w ith Captain Crow ley iu the Calvert. He was the very kindest and let mas ter that ever handled a speaking trum pet, and there wasn't a man aboard the hark but loved him. One night off Hat teras all hands were sent aloft to reef in a heavy gale, and when they came down again I was missing. ''Where is he?' the Captain asked. hut no one knew. They hadn't noticed me since we all sprang into the hrouds together. "Overboard, I'm afraid,' said the mate, and the men all seemed fearful that I was lost. The captain hailed me through his trumpet, and there came back a faint, despairing cry, only just heard altove the piping of the storm. Captain Crowley never or dered any one else up; he cast off his coat and threw down his tiumpet, and went aloft before any one could get ahead of him. He found me hanging with one elhow over the foreyard, and about ready to fall from weakness and pain, for my other arm was twisted out of joint at the elbow by a turn of the ropes. He caught me, and held me there till help came from below, and then they carried me down. It was Captain Crowley that saved me from a grave iu the sea, and I would have robbed him to-night. Forgive us, mad- ame, if you can. We will leave you in peace. Come, Jane !" Story of a Frbble. Eighty years ago, a young actor of Munich so utterly failed In his perform ance as to be peremptorily dismissed by by the enraged manager, whose comedy he had marred, if not endangered. And well might he be sad ; for, to add to his disappointment, iu a wretched gar ret lay his father's corpse; his widow ed mother looked to him as her only stay ; and a group of little brothers and sisters depended on hiiu for their daily bread. With indescriable grief, there fore, and a few scrry crowns in his pocket, he left the theatre, bought food for the hungry family, and ordered a coffin for the departed. That night he watched by the side of his father's remains; in the morning he followed them to the grave; and then wan dering on the banks of the neigh boring river, thought for an instant oi throwing himself in; but, shuddering at the crime to which be was tempted, he knelt down to ask forgiveness of God; and at last, absolutely worn out, he sank down on the grass to sleep. As be awoke with the rays of the morn ing sun, and amidst the merry chirping of birds he felt refreshed and thankful that he was still alive, and now resolved to return to the city. But a pebble caught the eye. It was white, for it was a chalk-stone, and on it was the exquisite tracing of some little creature. As be brooded over it with profound attention a thought struck hiai ; others succeeded; experiments followed; he saw, at length, the possibility of en graving on stone, and obtaining there from some beautiul Impressions. That young man was, in fact, Aloise Sene- felder, and the white pebble was the cradle of the art of lithography. The Xational Union of Young Men't Catholic Society held their fourth annual convention In Buffalo, New York, May 22. The object of this Union is to band together "the various sodali ties, literary and benevolen associations throughout the Uuited States, and to form new societies in every paiisn where none exist." It baa been in operation for three years. Holding the Breath I'nder Water. It ia probable that the entrance of water into the lungs has a great deal to do with the painlessness of drowning. It is certain that unconsciousness comes on more quickly when the person is de prived of air because the lungs are filled with water, than when the air-passages are closed, while the lungs remain intact. Most persona can hold their breath for a minute, very many for a minute and a half, some for two min- utes. In one of the variety theatres of Xew York appeared recently "The Brilliant Tear! of the Enchanted Grotto, christened Undine, who performs, while under water; Incased in mam moth crystal illuminated glass tank, feats of astonishing suppleness and al most unbelievable endurance." This performer can probably remain under water, holding her breath voluntarily, two. minutes, and perhaps more. I have seen Johnson the cele brated ocean-swimmer, remain under water, in a tank before an audience, for the astonishing space of three minutes and twenty-seconds, and, before he rose, the involuntary contractions of his respiratory muscles were uncomfortable to witness. In such cases, although extreme distress may be felt, there is no approach to unconsciousness. But, if a person's head is under w ater, and lie does not bold his breath, unconcious ness usually come on in one or two minutes at the farthest. The Sorceress' SplL I was.invitcd to spend a few weeks with a friend at a town not far from Paris. My friend was married. I had calculated on this circumstance as likely to be troublesome, seeing that it might interfere wi'.h the bachelor luxuries of cigar-smoking and unrestrained chat; but my friend's wife was so charming a woman that I soon decided things to be better as they were. She doted upon her husband, and he was not behind in reciprocating the feeling. They had two pretty children, whose smiling fa ces and delightful prattle would have made any one envy the parents. To the pleasure derived from the society of my host and hostess wus added the en tertainment arising from an occasional reunion of all the magnates of the place around the hospitable board of mv friend. Fortune-telling became the subject of our converse one evening. The Mayor of the town, whochanced to be present, and w lio thought it befitting his ottice to seem as wise and enlightened as pos sible, gave us a descant on the folly of such superstitious practices. Hecalled divination by cards and palmistry a remnant of the barbarism of the Middle Ages, and altogether unworthy the il lumination of modern days. The school master and notary of the town, as in duty bound, thought as the Mayor did. In fact no one dissented from the oracle of the place. Flushed with his triumph, the Mayor turned to our hostess, and continued confidently : "I am sure, Madam, you have never had recourse to fortune-telling?" I had noticed something like a smile on the lady's lips during the harangue of the Mayor. "The smiles now became marked and undeniable, and on her hnsband's lips there played a similar expression, as the two glanced at each other in obvious intelligence. "Yes, sir," said our hostess, at length, replying to the Mayor. "I have had recourse ere now to fortune-telling.' She again looked at her husband. and it was plain that some pleasant reinini-i seenee w as embodied in the glance, for they reciprocally held out their hands, and my friend pressed and kissed that of his w ife. These signs of mutual feel ing did not pass unnoticed by any member of the company. Seeing their faces full of inquirng interest, the lady continued : "I observe you are all surprised; but there is nothing extraordinary in the matter. Listen and you shall judge. "My marriage with Alphonse (her husband) was nearly arranged. Incli nation, parental consent, and, in short, every favoring circumstance, were on the side of our union. Alphonse had the free entry of my father's house, and we had leave to see each other, to talk together and to walk together. All went ou pleasantly, till one flue day Monsieur Alphonse chose to assume a cold look, to speak in monosyllables, and, in place of calling me Anne, to call me Ma'mselle. I wept the whole night after. To what cause to attrib ute this sudden coldness I knew not. I was in despair, but loo proud to seek an explanation. I concealed my un easiness, and even affected unusual gayety before my lover. Foor Al phonse! I have since learned what he suffered, but, indeed. I might have known pf etty well at first, from a con sciousness of my own tortures. "Alphonse was jealous of one of my cousii s, a student of St. Cyr, who was then passing a few days of his vacation with us. This youth had taken the liberty of saluting me, and, perhaps, of putting his arm around me. Alphonse was neglected oue whole day for the little cousin. " 'Doubtless,' thought he, 'this cousin is preferred. As for me, the marriage with which lam to be honored is plainly a matter of convenience, and Heaven knows what my fate may be afterward. "Hence the frozen aspect, the Othello-like visage of Monsieur Alphonse; and my assumed gayety seemed but to crown my perfidy. He felt himself bound to quit such an ingrate to ban ish from his heart a love so unworthy. " 'Let her go and marry this cousin,' thought he, 'since she will not take the trouble of even dissimulating before me.' "As for himself, he would go abroad; nothing like traveling for banishing the recollection of an unfortunate love. "While Alphonse was occupied with these thoughts, all at once an idea struck him he would consult a fortune teller, who lived in the town, and with out any delay, he hurried to the hotlse of the sybil. He waited not to knock at the door, but entered, and rapidly mounted the stairs leading to the wise woman's room. The prophetess was at the moment engaged with a young girl, and both of them were so entirely ab sorbed with the matter in hand, that neither of them perceived or heard the approach of the new visitor. The chamber of the sorceress was dark and gloomy. Alphonse placed himself in a corner to see what passed. The old woman was looking attentively at the girl before her, and examining now and then her visitor's hand. Then she placed her hand over the girl's heart. and a card was drawn. The meaning of this card was explained by the old woman. " 'At this moment you have a great trouble oppressing you, which would cease if you dared to speak ; but you have a lucky star, and the person who causes your uneasiness will soon. see his error and atone for It.' " Oh, my good mother,' cried the girl, 'cau this be true? Read it ag&in.' The old woman did so. 'Oh, if this be true!' cried the girl, shedding tears, 'how happy you have made me by giv ing me this hope ! Here is some recom pense for you,' at the same time giving her several francs. She then turned to depart, murmuring, 'dear Alphonse! he will yet be mine!' "But Anne, for you may guess that it was I," said our hostess blushing, "started, and uttered a cry of surprise on meeting Alphonse face to face." " 'How,' said she, 'have you followed me hither, or have you, too, come to hear?' "'Yes,' said Alphonse, in a voice more tender than ever I had heard it before; 'yes, my Anne, my angel, I came to learn my fortune, but you have fixed the fate of both. Pardon me love is suspicious.' " 'I told you this,' said the sybil, tri umphantly, 'the cards never fail.' "Alphonse and I came away together, more attached than ever. Alphonse explained the affair of the cousin, and I wondered that he could have been disturbed by such a trifle. But I took care that no trifle of the kind should ever occur to disturb him'again. This is our story; and this, Monsieur Le Mairc, was the occasion on which I haikj recourse to fortune-telling. You see that it sometimes leads to a happy is sue, the old woman still lives close by, and the Mayor may, perhaps, And a good wife by consulting her." This remark suggested an idea to me. "Come," said I, "let us all go and see this wonderful sybil, and hear what she lias to promise to each of us." The Mayor, mindful of his eloquent tirade, was alone disposed to demur to the proposition. He muttered some thing about the "gravity of his office," but we all promised to keep the matter secret, and curiosity led the worthy magistrate to forget that the middle ages were past, and to go with the rest. The sybil received the party politely. and bent on us a pair of quick and searching eyes. The Mayor tried the cards. Thev announced to him that he was to lose his office at the next muni cipal elections. (When they occurred he was turned out.) The notary's jolly red face grew rather lengthy when it was foretold to him that a paralysis would unfit his fingers for holding the pen of oflice. (The poor notary was, ere long, obliged to resign bis pen from this Very cause.) In short the prophet ess gave us all something of the same character to look forward to; and our visit closed with a rather different tone to that in which it commenced. luirwlucinc Travelers. "I say, conductor, do you know who that good lady is there with a book ?" "Yes, I've seen her a few times." "By Jove ! she's splendid." "Yes, I think she is." "Where does she live?" "In Chicago, I believe." "I'd like to occupy that 3eat w ith her." "Why don't you ask her" "I don't know but it would be out of order." "It would not be if she was illingto have you occupy it. f course you claim to be a gentleman." "Oh, certainly ! if you are acquainted with her, give me an introduction ; that is, if you have no objeciions." "Certainly not." "How far is she going, do you know." "Rochester, I believe." Fixing his hair, moustache, and whiskers in becoming style, he followed the conductor, who, on reaching the seat where the lady sat, said, with a twinkle in his eve: "My wife, Mr. X , of Xew York, who assures me he will die before reaching Letroit, if he does not form your acquaintance." The gentleman stammered, stuttered. grew red in the face, faltered out some excuse, and retired to his seat, leaving the lady in company with her husband to enjoy the joke. Aqua Tofkna. Th's is the name of a poisonous liquid, which excited an extraordinary amount of attention at Naples, at the end of the seventeenth and beginning of the eigh teenth centuries. Tofana, a Sicilian woman, seems to have invented it. According to Lobat, after she bad mur dered many hundred men, she was strangled, although, on the discovery of her guilt, she fled to a convent. Keyssler, on the contrary, affirmed that she was alive in prison, in 1730. The drink is described as transparent, taste less water, of which five or six drops were fatal producing death slowly, without pain, inflammation, convulsion, or fever. Gradual decay of strength, disgust of life, want of appetite, and constant thirst were the effects, which soon changed to an entire consumption. That the exact day of death could be predicted, is a mere fable. The stran gest stories with regard to its composi tion have gone abroad. A solution of crystallised arsenic seems to have been the chief Ingredient, to which some thing else was added, probably to con ceal the presence of it. Humors of Eating and Drinking. Sheridan, and Campbell, the poet, were invited to dine at the house of a mutual friend. Sheridan repaired to the hospitable mansion of his friend in good time, knowing that the good wines and the good liquors (famous among other good things) were awaiting him there in the utmost profusion. Camp bell's characteristic phleghm,onsucb oc casions rendered hira late; the dinner being well over before he reached the house. On entering, and about pro ceeding up stairs, he was very much startled by the noise as of some one tumbling down. He nervously shouted out, "Who's there?" "Tis I, sir, (Iser rolling rapidly," replied a voice, which, as a matter of course, was Sheridan's. Schopenhauer, the German philoso pher, when at Worms, was accustomed to stop at a first class hotel, patronized by the elite of the noble officers of the garrison. Whenever Schopenhauer got down to his place at the table, he pulled out a bright gold piece, put it before his place, and, in getting up carefully pocketed it again. Several of the noble officers, having observed this little Schopenhauer game during three con secutive days, made bold to ask him the reason of it. "What will you?" replied the philosopher; "I am some what after the style of Diogenes, and I have vowed to give this gold piece to a beggar the day you and your colleagues stop talking about women and horses. I have been waiting ten years." Rossini had a favorite provision mer chant. One day the latter rather bash fully said to Rossini : "I have for a long time wanted to ask a favor of you." "Name it," said the ntiestro. "It is," replied the merchant "that you will give me your photograph with a few words under it." "Willingly," responded Rossini, and he took a photograph from his pocket-book and wrote under it: "To the friend of my stomach." The great Antony was so irregular on coming to his meals that his cooks were accustomed to prepare the same dishes in different stages of preparation so that no matter at what hour he came in he would find his meal ready. Cyrus, King of Persia, cared very little for the delights of the table. At the entreaty of one of his friends he en gaged to take dinner with him, and was desired to name his dUhes. Cyrus re plied, "It is my pleasure that you pre pare this banquet on the side of the river, and that one loaf of bread be the only dish." Dionysius, on the other hand, was not so simple in his tastes. At a dinner given him by the Lacedemonians, he complained of the black broth. "Xo wouder," said one of them. "It needs seasoning." "What seasoning?" said he. "Labor," replied the citizen, "joined with hunger and thirst." The philosopher Descartes was an epicure. A foppisli nobleman seeing him enjoying himself at table, having expressed his astonishment that a philosopher should exhibit such fond ness for good cheer, got this answer for his pains: "And pray, my lord, did you think that good things were only made for fools?" lutual i'neml. Human nature is the same the world over, as the following incident will help to siiow. A Danbury insurance agent called on two of his customers, whose premises adjoin, for a renewal of their policies. The first one is a gro cer. The agent said to him : "I suppose, Mr. , that you will renew your policy which expires next week ? I have called to see about it." "Well, I suppose I'll have to," said the grocer. "As far as I'm concerned there is no need w hatever that I should insure. I am here all day to look after things, and there ain't a bit of danger of fire from my place. But there's no telling what that fellow next door will do, and as long's he's there I've got to keep insured." The agent called on the customer next door, who is a baker. He could not help reasoning that if the danger in that establishment was so great there was a possibility of having the amount of its policy doubled, at least. He told the baker why he called, and hinted that there might be a probabil ity of a desire to increase the potiey. "N'o," said the baker, scratching his head thoughtfully, "I don't believe I'll add any to it. 1 wouldn't insure at ail if I wasn't where I am. lou see 1 m up all night baking, and can watch things, so there's no danger here, but there's no telling what that chap next door will be up to. if it wasn't for him I wouldn't insure a cent. But as it is, I've got to do it." The I'm of Ear-King. The nothing-new-under-the-sun prin ciple applies to the custom of wearing pendants from the lower part of the ears as well as to many other things. It appears to have taken its rise in the earliest times among the nations of the East. The prophet Isaiah reproaches the daughters of Zion with being too lavish iu ornaments of this kind, and several parts of the Scripture make al lusions to the spoil of ear-rings, etc., which was dedicated to the Lord. This trinket, of rings and jewels, appears to have been as much worn by men in those days as by the same sex that now lay almost undisputed claim to them. It would seem that the ornaments had been used for idolatrous purposes pre vious to this time, since Jacob, in the injunction he gave to his houshoid he commanded them to put away "the strange gods which were in their land and all the ear-rings which were in their ears." These ear-rings, or jewels, worn by Jacob's household had prob ably been consecrated to superstitious purposes, and worn as a sort of amulet, for it is known that rings, whether in the ears or nose, were first supersti tiously worn in honor of false gods, and probably of the sun, whose circu lar form they were designed to repre sent; and, indeed, rings and vessels among the heathen nations oftentimes had the image of the sun, moon, etc., engraven upon them. The prophet Uosea soaS of the women of Jerusa lem as indulging iii the lying vanities cf ring ilerercil to the idol deities. The Roman ladles of olden times used ear-rings of pearls and of precious stones, and not unfrequeutly, like some oftheXorth American Indians, they had three or four of these ornaments pendant to each ear, which, unlike the Indian trinkets of the present day at least, were of immense value. The Moots of Africa were also noted for the use of the san:e ornaments. Many of the busts of the heathen gods have been found to have ear-ring, or holes pierced in their ears for that purpose. Some investigators of antiquity have con sidered tliis to be characteristic of the busts of divinities, but this opinion does not appear to be well founded, as there are many well known statues of mortals which have the ears pierced. The tine bust of Caracal la, in the villa Borghese, which is affixed toa statue of Hercules, has only the riyht ear pierced. Without rood for a Year. The Buffalo Courier tells, w ith entire seriousness, of a very remarkable case of nervous affection in that city. The facts, as it states them, are that the twelve-year-old daughter of a Mr. and Mrs. Wagemann lies in an unconscious state in their honse. and has so lain for over a year, during which time she has taken no food The details, given re luctantly by the parents, w ho will not " g'atify the morbidly curious" by let ting them see the girl, are given by the Courier as follows : " The parents sta ted that the little girl had been ex tremely studious, and had exhibited marked piety iu her intercourse with those about her. More than a year ago last January she complained of great pain iu tiie back of her bead and neck. This was followed bv the gradual loss of the use of her limbs. For three hours each day, during a period of six weeks at that time, she lay in a trance, and ujion coining out of it, would talk of the beautiful land she had been to, and the supreme happiness she had enjoyed.- A physician was called in to attend her when the first symptoms were manifested, but after she began to have her subsequent experience she refused to take any medicine. The doctor soon after came to the conclusion that he could do nothing for her in any event. In January, 1S77, she one day became unconscious, and has remained soever since. It will be a year ago next month since a particle of nourish ment has been administered to her, w ith the exception of water, ice or ice cream. Three months since she begau to be affected with w hat may be termed spasms, although there is no evidence of pain or suffering w hen they occur. They come on every alteri.ate hour and last just an hour. At first they were very strong, but of late have grown milder every day. When in this par ticular condition she rocks that portion of her body extending from the top of her head to the waist, from side to side on the lounge upon which she lies. The motion can be nest understood when It is described as reminding one of the action of a pendulum w hen in action. When passive, both hands fit carelessly pou her breast; when the spasm is on they are held up. As she rocks to the lelt, the left hand is carried to the fore head and the right falls upon her breast. In her reverse motion the left hand is carried over upon the right, and in ev ery instance the hands fall unfailingly upon the same spot never varying a particle. Her body is usually very cold, but during the spasms it becomes clammy and feels like that of a dead person. The little girl (adJs the re porter who saw her), is very pretty and w hen lying quiet preseuts an interest ing apearance looking like a beauti ful child enjoying a peaceful slumber, w ith the exception that the respirations are not as marked." Aa Expensive Family. The household of Queen Victoria is an extensive one. X'early one thousand persons are attached to it, and the sal aries of the leading officials amount to the trifling sum of $21.9,070. The hereditary Earl Marshal, the Duke of Xorfolk, heads the list and gets no pay, as th a: is an hononary position and the duties are probably not onerous. Earl Beauchamp, the Lord Steward, enjoys a salary of $10,OoO. The Treasurer, Lord Henry Tbynne, receives $4,500 for his services; the Comptroller, Lord Somerset, gets the same salary. Then there is the Master of the Household, Col. Cowell, necessarily a very impor tant official, who gets about $6,000. E. M. Browell, Esq., occupies the position of Secretary of the Board of Green Cloth, at a salary of $1,500. The name "green cloth" in this country has a sinister meaning, but Mr. Browell does not in dulge, of course. Mr. T. C. Marsh gets $2,500 as paymaster, which, considering the sum disbursed, is not an unreasona ble stipend. The department of the Lord Chamberlain, presided over by the Marquis of Hertford, with a salary of $10,000, has another long list of treas urers and disbursing officers, comptroll ers, gentlemen-at-arms, yeomanry, masters of ceremonies, grooms !n wait ing, extra grooms in waiting, gentle men ushers, daily, quarterly and extra "waiters" all "honorable" gentlemen at salaries ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 apiece. The "Black Rod" (Ad miral Clifford), Lord High Almoner, Dean of the Royal Chapel, Sub-Dean, Clerk of the Closet, get no salaries. The occupation of the last-named gentleman, the Bishop of Worcester, is necessarily of a gloomy description, not unmixed with fervent devotion. The Duchess of Wellington gets $2,500 a year for a hy pothetical custody of the robes. The eight "Ladies of the Bedchamber" get $2,500 each. The "Bedchamber Wom en" get $1,500 apiece. The Poet Lau reate, Tennyson, gets a stipend of $500. Mr. Pigott, the Examiner of Plays," gets $2,000 a year. The stable depart ment costs, in salaries alone, over $70, 000. The salaries and expenses of this distinguished household cost last year exclusive of the Queen's privy purse of $300,000,the somewhat extensive amount of $l,51S,800,and Her Majesty wasallow ed also for "alms and special services" a further sum of $6,6000. The Queen's own allowance is $1,910,000, and the royal children receive annuities amount ing to $785,010. The Phonograph lu Court. The court at L , recently made a bold step in advance by ordering all the practicing attorneys to provide them selves with phonographs and present their views to the court through the medium of these highly useful instru ments. The learned judge in making the order premised by saying that as some of the attorneys were addicted to the annoying habit of talking at all times, both in season as well as out of season, the adoption of the phonograph would enable the court to control, as it were, each legal windpipe and in that manner each attorney could be heard by the court at the proper time and in due order. His Honor pretty plainly intimated that should any counselor be come Inclined to phonograhic winditess bis Instrument wold be sent down stairs in charge of a tipstaff, with directions to turn the crank on the front steps. Counselor X , who takes a supreme delight in being always abreast of the times, bought himself a superb, gold mounted, diamond-studded phonograph of the double-barrelled variety, with a revolving double-jointed, back action attachment for the gestures, and, having "a very important case" to argue in the "Sessions," set about at once to fix the thing ready for His Honor to turn the crank. He was so much tickled with the idea, that he invited a number of intimate friends to a private room in the H House to witness the inter esting and delicate. operation of charg ing the instrument. Among other ac cessories at the operation were sundry glasses of beer and a deck of cards, In terspersed with profuse and alarming violations of the third commandment. After three hours of incessant applica tion and labor the whole party, includ ing the phonograph, were pretty full charged. Xtxt morning the court sat, but Counselor X- was absent. A tipstaff was sent out in search of the "missing link" in the chain of argu ment. After half an hours absence the officer returned with the aforesaid double-barrelled phonograph, which he handed to His Honor with due solemn ly and the remark that the Counselor was ah! "indisposed." After compli menting the absent Counselor upon the fine taste and excellent judgment he displayed in the selection of au instru ment, tiis Honor placed the phono graph, attachment and all, upon the rostrum in full view of all the specta tors, and proceeded to turn the crank, with the following result: "May it please the court fellows, I'm dry, let's have some beer I would respectfully call the attention of Johnny, send up some cigars to the fact that spndes are trumps my client occupies an ex tremely unfortunate position, being under indictment for slipping jacks from the bottom of the deck is very unfair having cheated a poor widow of a 'lone hand by Jove short-horned cow with the left beset and two aces." At this His Honor, being disgusted with the apparent want of continuity in the argument, turned the crank violently the wrong way, when a fearful cry of 'you mad dog! you mad dog!" came from the innocent looking instrument, while at the same time the revolving attachment gave the opposing counsel a fearful swipe across the mouth, send ing him to the carpet in regular P. R. style. Amidst the direst confusion the District Attorney, who was au fait In all matters pertaining to the phono graph, arose and explained to the court the meaning of the two last expressions, alleging that they embodied a palpable violation of the act of assembly prohib iting profane swearing. Bills of Indict ment for profanity and an aggravated assault and battery were then ordered to be sent before the inquest, against the unfortunate Couuselor. Order be ing restored His Honor, with placid countenance andlnnrntlled brow, hav ing, however, first put up a barricade of chairs and books between himself and the attachment, proceeded to turn on the gas again : "My client declares that he 'wont go home till morning' " sang the instrument, while the attach ment made a vehement but fatal at tempt to embrace the court crier "is entirely innocent of having stocked the cards used any Roman punch for a night cap artifice in inducing the aforesaid widow to play a game of poker for beers part with her short horned Queen of Hearts Is led cow, and that he paid her a dollar I see and go one better fair equivalent for her." Here there was a fearful outburst of profanity, while the attachment made a frantic effort to clutch somebody by the hair. Amid loud cries of "let me at him," "let me go," "I'll put a head on him," etc., the phonograph was dragged off to the station house by sev en policemen, while the clerk of the court was ordered to enter a fine of one hundred dollars against Counselor X . The court has now under con sideration the propriety of appointing a "Censor of Phonographs," whose duty it shall be to be personally present at and supervise the charging of phono graphs. Dead-Letter-Omee Facts. There are $4,000,000 dead letters re ceived annually at the Dead-Letter-Of-tiee. Three hundred thousand without stamps. Fifty thousand, partially addressed. Six thousand, no address. Forty thousand dollars In money, nine-tenths of which is returned the balance remaining in the Treasury, subject to application, for four years. One and a half million of money-orders and drafts of money-value. Forty-five thousand packages contain ing property. Fifteen thousand photographs. European letters are returned un openedone quarter of a million of these. One-tenth of all letters received con tain property. Ten thousand applications for letters reported lost; the great proportion found and delivered. t 41
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers