T
iiiti
7
.
33. F. SCIIWEIER.
THE COUSTITTTTIOir THE XmOU-Ain) THE E3TT0ECEMEST OF- THE LAVS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XXXII.
MIFFLINTWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PENNA.. 'WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1S7S.
c
ir
NO. 43.
GOlDEJf SOD.
fiTieh fortune waves her wand of gold
O'er cities by the sea,
Xjo wild sea-shore takes Fashion's mouiX
And blooms in gayety.
There Pleasure brings her iria throng
To fret the dark clilTa way, -And
mock nith airy dance and song '
Tie ocean'a sombre away.
Ail summer long the cream-white salt
Laughs at the eea-gn Ta tz'X '
And brazen hoofd like quick -dropped ball
Beat the surf-haunted soil.
And lightest fall where grandest meet
The trystieg land and sea
Sweet tows cf love, formed but to greet
The lips of revelry.
In Life. then, such an idle fete,
A wild swift danoe and free,
' Wi n ravisbed draught of wine poured late
In dream-lands by the sea? '
Ay. Gayety 'tis bnt the man.
Subtle aa Sorrow' own.
To bide wan prayers that vainly aak
And tears thatamiles disown;
Tj bide the heart's pent woes that wale,
O restless Sea, with thee,
Whose bi.lowa set to r. ythms that ache
A reckless melody;
To hide the soul's linked-dtiep tiniest,
With thee, O dreaming Sea,
Whose Idas is on the horizon's brca.it,
Whirs heaven B too pa to thee.
Tho Ghost of Holly Lodge.
"The old lady has taken Ilolly Lodge
for three years."
A low whistle escaped from the lips
of a somen bat "swell" specimen of the
clerk variety, on this announcement.
'Rather be myself than you, In that
case, Charlie. Although from nine to
rive 0 rather too much of a good thins,
when that thing is a desk, still there is
compensation to a certain degree."
"Xot a bird a fellow can shoot," went
on Charlie, "or a hare, or it rabbit;
not a bit of hunting; not a pack of
hounds for ruilesaround. TheseGrim
shaws have done it got round my
mother, knowing that she has daugh
ter's, and son" (with meek emphasis) ;
"'and now she is in for that horrid old
rookery for three years! The Grim
shaws have just gone out. and made a
convenience of the matter."
"If I were in your plice, I'd soon do
the business; but, Charlie, you're a
muff! such a dear darling pet! you
could not think of being naughty ! Xo,
not you !"
Sow Charlie was a good fellow in
every sense of the way, but be had a
weakness. Who has not? He admired
his brother as "a town swell," as he
called him, and also for his personal
appearance and tavoir faire, but he was
not above feeling justa little jealous of
Lim, especially when the last recora
medaiion was considered; and Frank
could stimulate him toattcmptany thing
by merely saving he could do it.
Charlie pufftsl his short pipe for some
moments iu silence, the puffing becom
ing more rapid as time flew, until at lust
be reemed to have a gleam of inspira
tion shed on him through the haiy
clouds which filled the room.
"I would not mind bettiug a hamper
of champagne that before six months
are ever our heads, we are out of this
unpleasant hole."
'Done ; a doten drank on the premi
ses here or there ! now do you mean
to effect ejoctinent?"
"That remains to be seen. I have not
hit it off yet ; but if you could do it why
should I not, being your senior by eigh
teen months?"
Frank looked at Mm to see if there
was a gleam cf humor iu his brother's
meaning, but his face confirmed what
his lips uttered in singleness of pur
pose, lie evidently believed In his su
perior age.
And then each went his way for a
time. Charlie to the country, to help
move his "people," as he called his
mother and sisters, to their new home.
Cp to the house and dowa the house,
and round the house, and loitered and
moved, and racked his brain to think
of something as knowing and sharp as
Frank would have thought of, to make
the house untenable; but he was at his
wit's end, and there seemed to be no
weak point to assail. He thumped the
walls for bidden passages, in hopes of
getting rip a ghost, but even there he
was baffled. There was what is called
a weil staircase that is, spiral with .
no break to the succession of sharp-1
pointed stairs encircling a rail of bal- j
usters which w ound up three stories j
above, and down to a celler below. J
There was no door to the cellar be
low, and as the kitchens and offices
were behind In a wing, over which were
the servant's rooms. Charlie dwelt in
tha horror of rats, but his slaters did
not mind ; the rats would go if Charlie
would only get a terrier or a ferret;
while his motherhintcd at a cellar door
someday. So he had tolet the stair
case, and the dancer to the household,
and all his other arguments, be as they
say; but still be haunted the house dur
ing the interval of moving In. After
peering into garrets, and getting bim-
- self into state of dust and whitewash
which would have horrified bis fastidi
ous brother, he was about to give it up,
and forfeit the champagne, when, ac
cldently kicking an iron bolt from the
skylight which was lying on the floor,
- It started on its travels, and, to the
' amazementof our bero, gave blm a long
chase before he regained it, in conse
quence of the obnoxious staircase, that
gave out echoes in Its descent which
would have startled any nervous fami
ly into convulsions. Ash first rushed
down to secure the fastening, and pant
ed cp again to replace it. the mind of
Charlie Dalton took in a new flash of
inspiration. He stood midway and look
ed op, and then be looked down, and
then he looked into all the rooms, to
see if be were alone, to make sure hi
secret was a secret still, and then he
went away, "Whistling gently, medita
ting meanwhile. Suddenly he became
.reconciled to the house. He told bis
mother he would give up the Idea of
hunting, flshingand shooting, and take
to literature and farming that being is
allusion to the few acres, call! o-r.n.
llloquently thedouaain.which surround
ed the bouse.
At length au event occurred which
disturbed the.sereuity of the whole
iamuy, servants Included, which be
came the talk of the neighborhood for
aays; and which finally effected a do
mestic revolution. It was between
eleven and twelve Hearing the witch
ing nour when all the ervanta were
asleep, and the ladies were uearlv so.
Charlie declared he was dreaming of
opemnga hamper of wiue, with Frauk's
acceptance, when he was awoke by one
of the most "awful rows" he ever heard
in his life, and jumping up to find out
Hie cause, met his mother, her head an
editiee of white Irills. aud her nerson
Inelosed in a crimson flannel dressing
gown. In a second one door opened,
then another, and then from each em
erged a scared, ghostly figure, in un
recognizable attire.
".Did you hear that?" -'Oh, what
was it?" "Cannot imagine." "What
can it be?"
rerbaps Charlie himself was the most
demonstrative, though in a quiet way
He was awe-struck.
"We must look into thls.but it is too.
cold fot you, mother. We will see
about it."
So a procession was formed, each
holding a candle for fear of some being
blown out. From the cellar to the gar
ret, and down again, they followed each
other, but perfect tranquility reigned
everywhere. "Nothing out of place,',
they all declared. So they went to bed,
to think and tremble, for few could
sleep; ai.d then they got up to whisper
mysteriously, wonder, and to consult
the elder Miss Grimshaw. who was on
a visit, and who declared that in their
time nothing of the sort ever occured.
And when Charlie looked stern and
sad, and they asked him th cause, he
said as he rushed out to tee what it was
a cold blast passed him when the door
was opened, aud when his sister sug
gested certain scientific reasons for this
phenomenon, he looked sadly scornful,
and ejaculated "Stuff!" in a hollow
voice. The next night a similar sceue
took place, and then the family resolved
that some one should sit up and watch
for it. For some time it was difiicult
to get a volunteer for the first watch,
even Charlie, the household protector,
declaring he was not inclined to meet
a f pirit alone.
"Anything that has flesh and blood
in it I am ready for, and I flatter my
self equal to; but anythingdisembodied
is beyond my range and experience."
The unearthly noise was heard once
more, and then every two or three
nights it was repeated, until they fear
el to leave their beds, but cowered,
covered their heads and wondered. Mrs.
Dalton looked pale and worn, and Lucy
and Jane serious and thoughtful. The
house became funereal iu iu air rnd
tone. '
"Oh, Charlie! Jo beg mamma to try
and let the place, and go somewhere
else," j
"Xo, Indeed, Lucy. I did what I
could before we came ; she would not
listen to me. You would not back me
then ; now we are in foi it-"
"I should die before the time expired
If we remained. Every one Is talking
of it, and the Grimshaws will have it
there Is something we have brought
with os some spirit belong'ng to our
family, you know; and Anne aays the
butter woman says a servant disappear
ed from here some years ago, and per
haps she Is buried in the cellar! I
should lose my senses if I saw her."
Charlie shrugged hi3 shoulders.
'Women arc never satisfied," he said.
But the end of all was that Mrs. Dal
ton found that sea air was necessary
tor Lucy; and Mrs. Grimshaw consen
ted to take the house off her hands, on
condition that she paid the rent until i
tenant was found. Charile remained
behind, reluctantly, as he declared, to
send off the luggage and save them the
trouble. . Then when the gates closed
on the carriage, and the family were
off, the dutiful son proceeded to his
sanctum, and laughed loud and uproar
iously. He looked at his watch.
That eveuing a fly drove Bp to the
Laurels, aud from it emerged Frank.
The brothers "sdd-fellowed" each oth
er after a few moments of settling and
unwrappins, found themselves tete-a-
tete, seated one on each side of the fire,
looking . good-humoredly Into each
other's faces, Cbarl'e with his bands in
his pockets, and meekly triumphant;
Frauk trying not to see it.
"Well." said he. "I've won the cham
pagne. I suppose Jane has told yoiu
the sort of a place we are in 7"
"Tes, my fine fellow, and I twigged
who was at the bottom of it, and but
for my deep sense of honor' might sug
gested an idea to her. Her letters were
great tun, holding as I did the key of
the cypher."
It was in vain, however, Frank peti
tioned for a rehearsal. Charlie way in
exorable. J
"Go to bed, old fellow. It never
comes when its watched for. I thought
you knew that." .-
Frank, however, was scarce warm in
the sheets, when, aa if struck by an
electric shock, he sprang out of bed,
and rushed to the door.
"What is that? I say, Charlie, what
is it? Is that the thing? By Jove"
Loud derisive laughter greeted him
from above, and then the younger
brother rushed up stairs.
"Is that it?"
"Tes, that's It," said the other, very
gently.
."Well, no wonder they couia not
stand it. Why.it made me jump out
of bed, although I was prepared for the
material instead of supernatural Show
os the trick, old fellow."
"You would not make a bad ghost
yourself, as you are. Well, really,
Frank, I am surprised !"
. Thus rebuked, the junior clad him
self In some of the garments from hie
brother's store, and, clothed to a cer
tain extent, followed Charlie down to
the cellar, and there at the foot of tho
stairs lay a chain, to one end of which
was attached a small cannon balL
"Xow do you see it?" .
"IJsee nothing," and as he said this
be kicked the rusty affair out of his
way.
"Take care, old fellow, that's it," and
Charlie raised the chain, and held it
up by one end. "Here he or she is,
sir, the author of our say rather, my
release," ...
"I do not understand."
"Come and see; or rather stand and
hear."
"Xo; I will go with you."
So they went up to the top laodiug
close to which was Charlie's door, and
then be suddenly dropped his burden
Down went the shot over the corners
dragging the clanking chains after it.
and making unearthly echoes through
the deserted mansion.
"Well, I give in. The cleverest trick
I have seen for many a day. But, then
you have eighteen mouths the start of
ma."
"I smoked a pound of Cavendish be
fore I bit it off to my satisfaction, be
sides my regular allowauce. But you
known in time it would have shown on
the stairs. Look here!" and he rro-
duced a few round stones about the size
of his fist.
One of the boards on the upper step
was loose sufficiently so to admit of
his pushing iu a stone; and then some
thing nearly as deafening as the first
exhibition ensued. It was only more
muffled.
"I hit on that in case of the other at
tracting notice. They arequeerly built,
you see; such a space between the steps
and the lining, and nothing to check it
from top to bottom. An acoustic phe
nomenon!, nothing more. Bat come in
and begin to spend the evening. I only
sent you to bed to heighten the effect."
"What about the howls?"
"A cat I kicked down ; and then look
hei e." Concealed under the step was
gong.
So they sat down, aud having, after
the manner of men, accomplished their
object, began to feel remorse for it.
After a mutual silence, Charlie said.
I say, Frank, I tell you what we'll
do throw in your savings, and never
mind the champagne, I'll make up the
rot, and we'll go to sea, when you can
get a day. some way. Some day I'll
tell Lucy in confidence, for I should
not like to mislead her young mind on
the subject."
But whether he did or did not, the
subject has remained a mystery iti the
neighborhood, as far as I am aware, to
this day, aud during the lung u inter
evenings the rustics often talk of the
"Ghost of Ilolly Lodge."
fhyaionomjr.
They were iu a railroad car, journey
ing to Chicago. On tiie opposite seat
was a man of commanding figure, mas
sive brow, and thoughtful expression.
"What a fine countenance, James. I
wish I knew hU occupation."
"Maybe he's a lawyer, Amelia."
"Xo, he's not a lawyer. There's too
much benevolence iu that face for a
lawyer."
"lie may be a bauker."
"Xot a bit of it ! A man with such a
heavenly expression couldn't content
himself with money getting. His aim
in life is higher than that."
"Do you think he's an editor?"
"An editor with such a face. A a ed
itor saying hard things ubout every
body, ridiculing long dresses, aud abu
sing bis mother-in-law. An editor,
cutting and slashing his enemies, skin
ning public men indiscriminately, and
mercilessly slaughtering his best friend
for the sake of a three-line paragraph !
Xo, James, he's a philanthropise. He
is a Christian minister, or a learned
professor, spending his life for the good
of mankind. His face plainly indi
cates that he is all that is noble, pure
and true."
"I guess yon are right, Amelia. I'll
take your word and his face for it."
At the next station an inqnisitive
farmer took scat beside the man with
noble brow, aud asked him about his
vocation. Amelia held her breath and
listened to the reply. It was this:
"I keep a saloon and meat shop. My
wife sells beer, and I do my owu but
cheriu'I" Alpine Flowers.
The Alpine flowers have remarkably
deep and vivid coloring. The most
brilliant blues and red, with a rich
brown, shading to black, are observable
amidst the white and yellow flowers of
the low countries, and these tint3 like
wise seem to assume a purer and more
dazzling hue in these high regions. A
similar richness of color is met with in
the vegetation of the polar districts,
where the hues not only become more
fiery, but undergo a complete alteration
under the influence of the constant
summer light and raysof the benighted
sun, white and violet being often deep
ened intoa glowing purple. The Alpine
plants often grow in dense masses, and
their extraordinary splendor of color
ing lends that magic charm to the fresh
green turf which renders the pasture
lands of the High Alps so famous.
Xot sn Entlrsi Success.
Among the young ladies who sat at
the receipt of customs In a western
church fair, and retailed kisses at the
nominated value of ten cents each, was
vlnegar-visaged old maid, who had
crowded herself in on the gauzy pre
tense that she felt It her duty to do her
share toward helping along the good
cause. When it came time for closing,
the young ladies' turned over to tha
church treasury from $5 to $10 apiece,
while the ancient f emale handed in a
solitary dime, the value of one kiss that
she received from a blind man whose
taste was so vitiated by tobacco chew
ing that be 'was unable to detect the
imposition.
The Boyal Foundry of Munich has
just completod a colossal bronze of Aiex.
V. Humboldu meters in height. It
is intended for the city of St, Louis.
The Dn ice of Norfolk has given land
in three different places in Sheffield to
the eornoration. to be Preserved as re
creation ground for the people forever. 1
Be Talked.
"Ah! I'm in luck," said Jones as he
entered the barber-shop and found the
barker reading a raper; "won't have
to wait for my next," and he tossed his
hat Into a corner and seated himself for
a shave.
"How la this?" said the barber, read
ing from a paper that marks its witty
column with a blue pencil; "by George,
bow's this; pretty good, I take It," and
he read :
"Did you ever see a pump handle
anything? Did you ever see a witty
clsm ? Who ever saw a dog call her?"
and the good brrbcr laughed heartily
at these sciutillations of wit, and said
that "some of them fellers are most
blamed clever."
Then he turned to the yellow fever
department, and, after reading three or
four dispatches, asked Jones if he
thought, the scourge would reach Oil
City.
Jones said there was a possibility that
it would get here by the middle of the
winter, and he would like to be shaved
and fixed up before it arrived.
The barber said it was a terrible
thing, yawned, laid down the paper
and shuffled up to the chair. He ar
ranged the towels about Jones neck,
felt his beard, run bis fingers through
his hair, scrutinized a wart ou the side
of bis nose, turned his chin and asked
him if be had his tooth fixed in the OU
regions or in Xew York.
Jones answered as best he could, con
sidering that the barber still kept his
lip hauled dowu taut.
After examining the dental work on
the tooth, which be unhesitatingly
pronounced a "good job," the barber
let go of Jones's lip, and Went out to
throw a stone at a dog that was barking
at a cat iu the back yard.
When be came back Jones said be
would like to be shaved as quickly as
possible, as be was iu somewhat of a
hurry.
Certainly, certainly," said the
barber, and he spread the lather over
Joues's face and began to. hunt for a
razor. After examining several, he
began to slap the strap with one, while
he remarked that fall had probably set In
in earnest, and that the bae ball fever
was about as bad as ever, Aj. Giving
the razor one pull down over the side
of Jones's face, he wiped off the blade,
laid it down, took up auotner, examined
its edge and whipped the strap with it
as before, asking Jones if he thought
business wasreally picking up any, and
if he thought it would rain.
Jones moved uneasily on the stocks.
and said he was sure there would be a
storm, and he wanted to get shaved and
have bis mustache waxed before the
flood came.
The barber grew pale around the
mouth and his lip quivered. "You said
that once before," be remarked curtly.
"Don't say it again, please, or there'll
be trouble. I'm a gentleman when deal
ing with a gentleman, but I know when
I'm insulted, sir."
"Well, confound It all," exclaimed
Jone6, very much out of patience, "I
came here to be shaved and not to be
talked to death."
"O, you want to be shaved, do you,"
exclaimed the barber in a rage. "You
don't want to be talked to death, don't
you? A barber can't open Ms mouth,
can't he? O, no, a barber Is a doggoned
machine, I suppose, and must move
about his work like a wooden Injun in
front of a cigar store. All right! all
right! You shall be shaved and have
your mouslache waxed so blamed fast
I'll make your head swim!"
And buckling down so hi work he
shaved Jones in two minutes and a hall
by the watch, aud cut him seventeen
times by actual count.
Moral Let a barber talk. It is
cheaper than to be kept away from
business for two or three days while
you stop bleeding.
Am Actor's Terrible Death.
Mr. McvVade, the popular actor.gives
the following account of the death of
Tom Jourdan, at Cynthiana.Ohio. Our
company was completely broken dowu
bv the terrible calamity. Tom's death
was one which few could witness and
not afterward remember till the day of
udgmcnt. 1 trust my eyes may never
again sup upon such horrors. Poor
Tom ! He went out to meet the incom
ing train which was expected to bring
him a package of the material out of
which we make stage lightning. Call
ing to a friend to watch him board a
train as they do in Texas, he made the
fatal jump. His left hand missed its
hold, throwing his body backward be
tween the cars. When the train had
passed over him be dragged his man
gled remains to the side of the track.
Just then he presented a horrible spec
tacle ; both legs and feet were mashed
as you have seen pins laid upon the
track masbed. Ills clothes were liter
ally torn from his body. The flesh
about the abdomen was cut and torn,
and hung in bloody chunks, while the
viscera oozed and slipped out. Warm
blood, which seemed to come from the
heart, poured down and bathed the
pulpy mass, Tom raised himself upon
his bands and looked dovn upon
his awful condition, and moaned out:
"My God, what a sight for a man to
look at!" He was as conscious of his
condition as you are of yours at this
moment. Some one of the loungers
had run to a train that was on the point
of leaving the depot and brought from
it a priest who was about to start on a
Journey.
"Mv son, do you know me?" asked
the priest, rushing up to the mangled
mass of flesh.
Tom opened his eyes and cried pite
ously : ' . . ' '
' "Oh, Father, forgive me, for I have
sinned."
-The good man "waved away tho large
crowd ont of" hearing distance, and
there upon the railroad bed, beneath
the canopy of the sky, and with the
graveled earth for a death bed, he took
poor Tom's confession. Meanwhile,
be sent for bis robes and parapherna
lia, which came In time for him to ad
minister the rite of extreme ti action to
the slowly-dying man. Jourd iu was
conscious aud able to make all the
sponses, though he could only keep his
eyes open by great efforts. They would
close in spite of his efforts to keep the
lids up. "Keep your eyes open as long
as you can. my son," urged the priest.
At last they closed forever on the
world before life and consciousness
left them, however and he piteously
moaned, "I can't keep them open any
more." While all this had been going
on, a bystander picked up a huge huuk
of flesh which lay on the track ten feet
away, and placed It near the mutillated
body. When I came up to the horrid
scene, Tom looked in my face and
groaned, "Oh, Mr. McWade, isn't this
an awful condition ?" Poor Tom ! He
lived three-quarters of an hour, and
was conscious to the last. His body
was completely paralyzed, and he suf
fered no pain whatever. He begged of
me to take charge of bis remains and
see that they were decently interred.as
he had not a friend in the world outside
the profession. The kind father who
solaced his dying moments, sang high
mass over the remains next morning.
I never shall forget that soal-sickening
death by the railroad track. That
three-quarters of an hour seemed au
age to me, but what an eternity It must
have been to poor Tom.
Ilijah Encased.
Just as the old man was getting his
parlor in order for visitors he received
notice that his presence was desirable
at the Central Station. M.ikinghis wav
down town he was kindly greeted by
his nonor, who tossed the remains of a
Suae Fair .egg-pl tun out of the alley
window and said :
"There are four or five caes here
which seem to concern you more or
less. There is, for one, a female in the
idor who says she is engaged to
you. If such is the case I don't want
to send her up, of course."
Kngnged to me! Great Heavens!
but I was never engaged in my life!"
exclaimed the seemingly astonished
Bijah.
"Well, that's what she says. I don't
know anything about your love af
fairs, though I have had inanv hints
that vou were about to take a wife."
"Let me sec the demoness who dares
make anidavy that I am going to build
fires for her this winter!" demanded
the old janitor, bis eyes as wild as those
o' a runaway horse, ami he was shown
into the corridor.
She wa there. She sat on an inver
ted bushel basket belonging to the City
Sealer of Weights and Measures. She
looked about forty years old, and she
had banged hair, a thin nose, and a
chin sticking out like a buy window.
She knew him at sight, and she rose up
and called out:
"Darling, I knew you'd come!
Bijah stood before her without a
word. The wobble of his kneed was
plainly heard by the audience, and he
breathed like a boy running out of a
melon patch with four dogs after him.
'Don't you recognize me, Bijab !"
plaintively inquired the woman.
"Xever, never!" he shouted, dan
cing around on his toes. "I never saw
you before I don't kuow you I won't
know vou!"
'My love, have you leeii drinking?"
she soltly asked.
Don't call me your love don't put
on them ere grins for my benefit? You
lire au old impositorcss, a jaekaless, a
sw iudlcress, a Jeceitess, and If you do
not own up that you have been lying,
I'll sue vou icr slander!"
"And only last night he called me
his silver plaited coal stove !" she said.
turning to the reporters, with a gesture
of despair.
'! never did! I'll make oath on the
Bible that I don't even know her name !'
"Boy, beware!" she hissed, as she
pointed her slender finger at her nose,
"if you turn my love to hate it will be
the worse for you !"
"Let 'er turn ! Let 'er turn! I say
yon are
She clawed out for him, and she just
reached him. Four of her finger nxils
raked his nose from bridge to end, and
the other hand would have gathered up
all the hair on the top of his head if he
hadn't been bald.
''Serpent!" she hissed, through her
clenched teeth, "when I get out I'll
meet you on the street and throw snuff
into your villainous eyes!"
"You'll never get out not for one
thousand years!" he called back, one
hand holding his nose and the other
keeping her off. She was then sent up
for six months ou a charge of drunken
ness and disorderly conduct. When he
went up and inquired :
"Mary Ann, why did you try to play
that on me ?" sbe yelled back :
"Wait till I come out!!"
Can of Goldflsh.
When purchasing a globe, procure as
widcinnntbed one as possible, and when
In use it should never be more than
three parts full of water. By these
means you will secure as much air as
possible for the fish. Keep the globe in
the most airy part of the room neither
in the sun nor near the fire. Change
the water daily and handle the fish ten
derly when doing so. A small net is
the best thing with which to remove
them. The best plan is to have two
equalized globes and change the fish
from one to the other daily, always be
ing careful that the fresh one is perfect
ly clean, and the water (river water is
far preferable) is fresh andVlean. Xev
er fcive the fish food ; all they require is
plenty of fresh air and fresh water
they will derive sufficient nutriment
from the anitnalcuke contained in the
water. Xumbers of people kill their
fish by giving '.hem bread; for. though
bread is good for goldfish,-and they will
eat it, the uneaten crumbs IntmeOiatly
get sour and deteriorate the water, to
the great Injnry of the fish. Keep the
globe out of the reach of cats and dogs.
Every burden' of sorrow seems like a
stone hung around our neck, yet they
are often like the stones nsed by the
pearl divers, which enable them to re.cn
the prise and to rlae enriched.
As Alpine Trip.
A Philadelphia traveler thus describes
a trip from Chamonnix to Martigney.
We started soon after daylight ou a
eold, clear, l'rostv morning. Mont
Blanc aud all of the two grand ranks of
snow-covered mountains that enclose
the famous valley were clearly visible.
The glaciers glistened and the hoar frost
whitened everything. The town was
alljistir.forthe trip negotiation hadexci-
ted the people,and they gave us a roval
send-off iu bouor of the victory over
the Swiss. The Chief assisted us into
the wagons, and the men aud women
all along the road as we quickly trotted
out of the town, bade us God speed. It
was the the first time ever I knew hack
men to be so much more delighted at
taking less. We were pleased too, as
they were, though it was very cold, and
Jack Frost made the ears and toes tin
gle. Yet, cold as we were, there were
women and children out in the little
cultivated patches of ground, some of
them barefooted, digging potatoes, and
the entire valley was resonant with tow
bells, as all the animals were being
driven to pasture, each with its tremen
dous bi ll arid its guardian, the latter
often being women who carried babies,
and knitted as they trudged along. The
road passed eastward up the valley,
ith the swift-ru.sbing Arve coursing
along first on one side and then on the
other. It was a narrow, winding way,
originally intended only for a mule path
and all along huge stone piles were
placed ou oire side, intended as buoys
to mark the route when the valley is
covered with snow. We passed the
Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) with a mag
nificent view, and the little stream into
which this great glacier resolves itself
came rushing, through a vast morain
of debris, down to our feet. Then we
toiled up a tremendous hill and came
in iidl view of the uountaiu known as
the Silver Needle, which sends down
another great glacier, and getting grad
ually into a ravine which led away
from the Arve, we mounted up a height
of 5(o0 feet and crossed the summit of
the mountain pass known as the Mon-
tets. This was one of the wildest ami
most desolate regions I ever saw. No
body lived there; nothing grew but
stunted grass aud moss; there was
scarcely a tree or bush to be seen, but
the whole thing was eovered with huge
boulders dropped about indiscriminate
ly, ami some of them as large as a three
story house. Even the cows and goats
w hich we saw almost everywhere else
desertedthis iuhospitable regio.T.around
which barren rocks kept guard, run
ning np to the snow-covered mountains,
whose rocky, bare peaks stood up
against the sky. It was a tremendous
hill to climb, but the Chammounix
horses were used to the work. The men
all w alkeJ, t litis lightening the road.
Having crossed the summit, the head
of the Eau Xoire, or Blaekwater, ap
peared, and we began descending ou
that side, to go around the dark and re
pulsive mountains that gives its name
to the pass, the Tete Xoire, or the Black
Head. Bocks and desolation reigned
on this side, but the road was down
hill, ami that was a satisfaction, though
it brought ns deeper aud deeper into
the dark and narrow valley. Here to
comfort us was a monumenterected toa
French nobleman, some time age over
whelmed in this pass by an avalanche.
Down through the savage and barren
regiou we went at a brisk pace, because
the Swiss aud Savoyard horses al way i
trot down hill, as it is the only chance
I hey have to trot at all, but the road
was frequently a breck-neck one, nar
row, filled with stones, and as uncom
fortable to ride on as some of our Phil
adelphia cobble stone streets. Directly
an occasional hut apeared, an.l then a
cow or two was seen hunting for herb
age, and afterwards we passed some lit
tle sad-looking villages, with miserable
houses, aud a most poverty-stricken ap
pearance. Getting finally to the bot
tom we passed the pretty cascade of
Barberine, and Just beyond it crossed
the boundary between France and
Switzerland, marked by a square stone
by the roadside. There was no custom
house, for there did not appear enough
vegetution i:i the whole valley to sup
psrt a revenue oflh-er. Then we left
the Blaekwater, and gradually toiling
up the side of the Black Head mountain,
mounted towards the terrible-looking
gorge w hich gives this route the name
of the "Mauvais pas" or the Bad Pass.
Ilere.at a small Inn by the roadside.we
stopped to refresh the horses. From
the front door you look up thousands
of feet to the mountain top, whilst from
the back door a stone would drop a
thousand feet into tho torrent below.
At this inn were a half dozen of those
famous St. Bernard dogs that do such a
good service in these Swiss pastes iu
times of snow. They were large, good
looking and hungry aud, very much
like dogs at home, gathered around the
table to pick up scraps. For a hundred
francs I could have bought a little fellow
four weeks old that the landlady was
anxious to sell as she had enough St.
Bernard dogs already.
After the rest, we started again, and
found that the route diverged Into two
gorges.onegoingoff through theTrient,
and the other, which we took, turning
suddenly to the right between two
mountain.'. This was the worst portion
of this very bad pass. The narrow, de
vious road, more fit for mules than wa
gons, and on which there was only oc
casional room for two wagons to pass,
toiled up hill again, being hewn out of
the rocky aide of an abyss, the bottom
of which, far down below, was filled
with boulders, snagged trees, and all
sorts of rubbish brought down by the
torrent. Up we toiled through the nar
row defile, occasionally peeping over
the edge, or dropping a stone whose
fall was so far off we could not hear it.
and this was unanimously voted about
the worst looking region that nature
could possibly invent. There was not
a redeeming feature, and scarcely a
foothold for the road excepting what
was artificial. But we got through it
safely, though sometimes with bated
breath, and, coming out, saw in full
view in front of us the glacier of Tricnt,
flowing down the mountain side, which
forms the torrent that runs through the
bottom of the defile. The mountain
stood up in front of us like a-wail, but
away up in a little Indentation was a
hut. We Asked if men could possibly
live in such a place. The answer,
laughingly given, was that they could,
aud that we would see bow they lived
there, for that hut stood ou the summit
of the Forclaz, the mountain that we
must go over, and that the road led to
the hut. We were astonish vd, but sub
missive; in fact were willing to go any
where to get away from the miserable
regiou we had just passed through
Then the road began to ascend, zig-za-i-roundabout,
turning and twLstiug, up
the most perpendicular side of the hill.
It was a hill of hills; a most exhaust
ing drag up, we did it; got tothe hut
ou the summit ; found it a little inn,
and then were rewarded w ith a mag
uificent view. Ou one side of the nar
row ridge on which we stood was the
deep valley and the terrible defile
through which we had passed, with all
the Mont Blauc range of Alps behind
it. Walking a few feet to the other
side was seen the valley of the Rhote,
two great mountains guarding the head
of Lake Lcman, and the Jungfrau and
the Bernese Alps faraway behind them.
The horses rested a few minutes and
then started dow n hill again, for the
road zlg-zagged down that sido in the
same fashion as it zig-zagged up on the
other. There was Martienv. almost
beneath us, looking so Dear, though far
below, that you could almost throw a
stone and hit the little church spire.
We trotted briskly down hill, sometimes
in imminent danger of rolling over a
precipice; sometimes through woods
and bushes; sometimes on so narrow a
ledge that there was scarcely room for
the wagon ; and the further we went,
though still down, down, the more dis
tant seemed the town. Occasionally a
cow disputed the road with us, and
there was as much trouble getting her
out of the way as there usually is with
a cow on a railroad. We jolted over
stones and went around sharp angles,
all holding on tight, and the wagon-
brake fixed firmly. It was one of the
worst rides that any one could take, and
after two hours of it dowu hill, with
every bone bruised sore, we at length
got down to Martigny, which had seem
ed trom the summit to be so near; ami
near it wa, so far as horizontal im-as-urement
weut, but perpendicularly it
was a great w ay off. After nine hours'
ride we turned into the great St. Ber
nard road, and the horses trotted mer
rily into the tow n. They had accom
plished the worst day's work they could
be put to, and we had ridden through
the w orst pass iu Europe.
It Wuii't tier Hale at AO.
Recently a couple of gentlemen w ere
walking down Main street, and a lady
with one of these pitch-forward hats
was w alking ahead of them a few feet.
Said one of the gents, "Did you ever
see hair put up in that style before?"
"Upon my word I never did. It's
enough to spoil the best hair In the
trade."
"And then the color why.it Is en
tirely off style."
"Went outof fashion two years ago."
The lady looked mad enough to eat a
fire plug.
"And just think of charging seven
dollars for a lot of hair like that."
"If I had it in my store I wouldn't
get rid of it in five years unless some
lunatic dine along."
"It can't cost less than three hours'
work each day to keep that miserable
toiisle in order. The woman's husband
that"
And then the lady In front turned
around w ith fire and furv iu her eves.
"You miserable puppies, I'd thank
you to let my hair alone. If you dare
to say another word I'll scream polii.'e'
and have you arrested."
As soon as the gentlemen recovered
their brtalii the Pittston man ex
claimed :
"Your hair, madam ! your hair !'
"Yes, my hair. You just keep your
impudent tongue off it."
'"I positively declare neither of us
saw you or your hair."
"Theu w hat were you talking about
It for?"
"Talking about it: We were not
even thinking about it."
"Then what were jou talking about
it in that contemptible style?"
"Why, madam, I do business in that
town, and that gentleman deals in hair
iu Scranton, and we were conversing
about a lot of hair we saw together in
Philadelphia yesterday and ou which
the dealer tried to cheat him."
"And that is all?"
"Upon my honor that is all."
The lady looked a little uiollified, but
remarked with a slightly scornful ac
cent: "It may so, but I don't believe one
word of it."
And she sailed off with her nose well
up in the air, while the two greatly
startled gentlemen stepped into the
National House for something to stea
dy their astonished nerves..
DiSualoB of Powerful Odor.
It is said that a grain of musk Is ca
pable of perfuming for several years a
chaiiioer twelve feet square, without
sustaining any sensible diminution
of its value or its weight. But such a
chamber contains 2,963,004 eubic Inch
es, and each cubic inch contains 1000
cubic tenth of an inch, making in
all nearly three billions of cubic
tenth of an inch. Xow, it is pro
bable, indeed almost certain, that each
such cubic tenth of an inch of air of the
room contains one or more of the par
ticles of the musk, and that this air has
been changed many thousand times.
Imagination recoils before a computa
tion of the number of the particles thus
diffused and expended, yet have they
altogether no appreciable weight and
magnitude.
There is a time in early life when we
know everything.
Blotting Ont the Sua
The government party stationed at
Pike's Peak to observe the late eclipse
of the sun, had a fine opportunity to
w itness that event. The sky w as per
fectly clear, not a cloud being visible,
for indeed spectators at Pike's Peak
were above the clouds. Probably uo
better point could have beeu selected ou
the path of totality, as the reports ot
the astronomers will show. For two
minutes and some odd seconds old Sol
was completely shoru of his glory. It
was a scene of awful sublimity, from
first to last, and looking now at th. ma
jestic orb of day, slow ly retreating in
the west, it seems impossible that but a
few moments since he was utterly ex
tinguished l'roui the earth. There was
no want of preparation for the grand
event. The instruments were perfectly
mounted, the observations were instan
taneous and all that could be desired,
and the photographs taken have never
been equalled in iiumt.tr or accuracy of
execution. A few minutes before the
contact '(2.37), every man wxs.,.a his
post, breathless with expectancy. By
degrees the brilliant blnze and scorch
ing heat of the sun gradually dimin
ished, and as the black disk of the moon
crawled onward and upward, slowly
blotting out the daylight and is king,
the spectacle became more and more
impressive. Gradually Hie fullness of
day dissolved into a dull, reddisn-gray
twiiight, that looked like smoke or fog,
but was too transparent to be mistaken
for either. The twilight perceptibly
increases. We smtddcr with the cou
ciousuess that we afe passing iuto the
valley of the shadow ot a darkness that
can be felt. The- moon steadily but
slowly overlaps thediscof the great lu
minary, but its shadow swecpsover the
mountain tops in many lines of light
and shade more r ipidly than the fastest
locomotive on a descending grade.
Gradually the sun seems to have become
a mere cone, and the opaque body of
the moon appears to be eating out the
light from this cone between her own
sphere and the vortex. We are becom
ing involved in the blackness of night.
The brighter stars and planets near tha
region of the sun aiH moon appear.
The air has grown chilly. The plants
about us show how rapid is the action
of light, by yielding to the influence of
the eclipse phenomenon, poppies and
night shades, which had been closely
shut, gradually unfolding as the dark
ness increases. Birds fly to their nests,
fowls to their roosts, and chickens to
tho 'friendly wings of shelter. The
horses stand w ith heads and tails erect,
and wi!h a startled and frightened
look. Dogs gaze in wonder at the ter
rible appearance of the sky in wonder
ment and alarm. A deadly ashen hue
has overspread the faces of all present,
and for a while the firmest hearted are
terrified. We have readied the verga
of total obscuration. The thin white
crcsceut has at length become a spark
liug corona, m arly rhomboidal in form,
distinct and extending at some points
half a degree beyond the edge of tho
un'sdisk. Kose colored protuberan
ces appear, like flashing beads, whih
the black ledge of the moon seems to
stand out like a stereoscopic picture.
The mercury in the thermometer has
fallen thirteen degrees, and we have
become thoroughly chilled by the sud
den change. "There is a peculiar gloo
my appearance iu the entire landscape,
the foliage of the trees having the pe
culiar color produced by an electric
liht. The limbs of both stiuaudmoon
--em shaking violently. Mercury and
Venus are pfaiuly visible. They do not
itqar as ordinarily at night, but seem
lo shine with a soft and slightly diffused
white light. The sky in the vicinity of
the sun has changed from blue to a pe
culiar milky hue, in the zenith toa pur
plish tinge and a more gloomy aspect,
while the east is lighted up w ith a lu
rid glare similar to that which some
times attends an autumn sunset. The
darkness is now so great that the sight
presented to the unaided eye is superi
or to that of the telescope. Momenta
rily the shadow is increasing, the foli
age of the trees is no longer visible, the
moment of total obscuration has ar
rived. Xaught is to be seen above but
tne stars and a circle of light around
the moon, the clouds becoming arrayed
n all the colors of the rainbow. It is
dead midnight at 3.12.15 P. M., local
time. The moon has occupied about
one hour, or accurately one hour and
four mi jntes in reaching this po-itiou.
Xot a second has been lost by the as
tronomers iu noting and recording ob
servations. The photographers have
w orked incessantly. The professor de
tailed to note the time by the chrono
meter, and during the entire eclipse,
from its comment-cnenr to its close, has
never fora moment allowed bis eve to
wander from the dial plate, thus losing
sight of the eclipse lu any of its pha
ses. The solemnity of death seems
upon ns. Xot a word is spoken, aud
the silence is appalling. The duration
of total obscuration is but little more
than two minutes, but the suspense is
fearful. We are iu the pali of dark
ness relieved only by cheering ray of
promise from the planets and fixed
stars, which increase the awful sub-
imity of the passing moments. Only
the brilliant roy jets, caused by the re
fraction of light, are visible to mark
the sun in the heavens. And now the
bright rim slowly emerges, and as the
glorious sunlight reappears a shout of
joy and exultation goes up from the
whole Assembly. The change seems
more rapid now. As the eclipse cams
on the daylight seemed' gradually to
diminish as thephenomenonapproached
the total phase, but the instant the sun
began to reappear the full brightness
of daylight seemed to have returned.
In like manner we notice the gradual
lessening of the daylight before sunset,
but not its Increase before sunrise. The
gloomy Aspect of the mountain was
soon relieved, the chilliness of the at
mosphere moderated, the planets soon
became invisible, the clouds lost their
bright peculiar tints, and at the hour
of 4.47 the final contact was announced.
Tax "sweet by and bv"ia now spoken
of as the "saccharine future."
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