I fitly
B. F. SCHWEIER, . the OOISTITUTIOI THE TTHIOI AID THE FJJTOBCEMEUT OF THE LAWS. Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XXXIV. MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PENNA.. AVEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1880. NO. 19.
I
H. T. HELMBOLD'S
COMPOUND
FLUID EXTRACT
BUCHU
PHARMACEUTICAL
A SPECinC REMEDY FOR ALL
DISEASES
or TH1
i
For IVVilitv, Loss of Memory. IndUposU
tton to Exertion or Buiucs, hbortnese of
limttb. Troubled with Thnnents of Disease,
IHruncrsof Vision, fun iu Uie Back. Client,
and Head. Rnsn of Illood to the Head, FaJ
Countenance, and Dry Skin.
If these symptoms are allowed to go on,
verv ireauentrv Epileptic Fits ana Con.
sumption follow, when the constitution j
becomes affected It requires tbe aid of an
Invigorating medicine to strengthen and
tone up the system which
"Helmbolds Buchu"
DOES IN EVERY CASE.
IS TJNEQUALED
Bt any remedv known. It Is prescribed by
the most eminent physicians all over tba
world, tn
Rheumatism,
Epermatorrhoaa,
Neuralgia,
Nervousness,
Dyspepsia,
Indigestion,
Constipation,
Aches and Pairs,
General Debility,
Kidney Diseases,
Liver Complaint,
Jfervous Debility,
Epilepsv,
Head Troubles,
Paralysis,
General Ill-Health,
Spinal Diseases,
Sciatica.
Deafness,
Decline,
Lumbago,
Catarrh,
Nervous Complaints,
Female Complaints, &c
Headache. Pain In tbe Shoulders, Congb.
Dlzziuesa, Sour Stomach, Eruptions, Bad
Taste In tbe Mouth, Palpitation of tM
Heart, Pain In tbe region of tlie KMneys,
and a thousand other painful symptoms,
are the otfiprlngs of Dyspepsia.
Helmbold's Buchu
InYi,vrates the Stomach,
And stimulates the torpid "vet. Bowels,
and Kidney? to healthy action. n,cJ"n
tbe blood of all impurities, and Imparting
new life and vigor to tbe whole vm;
A single trial will be quit sufficient tfl
eonvlnS the most hesitating of Its valuable
remedial qualities.
PRICE 1 PER BOTTLE
Or Six Bottles Cor I&
Delivered to any address free from observa-
""ratlents- may consult by let tlj
tng the same attention as by calling, vj
answering the following questions.
1. Give your name and postfflee addrssa,
eonntv and State, and your nearest express
omcet
S. VourageandsexT
I. Occupation i
4. Married or singlet .
i. Height, weight, now and In bealtuT
s. How long have yon been sick' r
7. Your complex ion.color of balr ana eyesx
a Have you a stooping or rffal"
i, i.hA.it reservation all yon
know aqont your case. "
aseons-lUitlon fee. Your letter will then
" . i:n,KM one dollar
receive oar attention, ana we wm B" ."JT
the nature of your Veae and our candid
opinion concerning a cure. .
Competent Pbyslelans attend to eorresv
iwndent. All letters should ?ddrff
l.o Dispensatory. 1" FUbert treet, Phils,
molpbia. Fa.
H. I. HELM BOLD,
Druggist and Chemist,
rhlladslpala, Pas
TfiK FOOL'8 PRATHL
Ills royal feast wm don j tbe King
Sought some new sport to banish ear.
And to this Jester cried, flir Fool,
Kneel now, and make for na a prayer !"
The Jester doffed his cap and bells.
And stood the mocking court before j
The? could not tee the Litter smile
Behind the painted grin he wore.
Be bowed his bead, and bent bis knee
Cpon the monarch's ailken steal ;
II i pleading voice arose : 0 Lord,
e merciful to me, a fool !
"No pity. Lord, could change the heart
From red with wrong to white as wool ;
Tbe rod most heal the sin ; but. Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool !
"Tie not by guilt the onward sweep
Of truth and right, O Lord, we stay ;
j Tii by onr follies that so long
We hold the earth from heaTen away.
; "Tbese clumty feet, still in the mire,
! Go crashing blossom witbont end ;
fbtse hard, well-meauing hands w thrust
AmoDg tbe lwart-ttrings of a friend.
"The il-ttmed truth we might hare kept
Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung ?
i The word we bad not sense to say
j Who knows how grandly it had rung ?
j 'Our faults no tenderness should ask.
The chastening stripes must clease them all ;
I But for our blunders oh, in abaai
lk fore the eyes of hesTen we fall-
! ' Earth bears no balsam for mistakes ;
j Meu crown the knave, and scourge the tool
j That did his will ; but Thou,' O Lord,
j Be merciful to me, a fool !"
The rooa was hashed ; in silence rose
The King, and sought bU gardens oooL
And walked apart, and murmured low,
"Be merciful to me, a fool 1"
Blake's Widow-
Jem Blake was shot dead In his own
doorway by Antonio Gueldo, and the trial
was to come off directly.
Tbe extraordinary interest in the affair
was less due to the mtirdcr and its peculiar
circuaistauces, than to the fact lha this
was the first case tried at San Saba in any
more formal fourt than the time honored
institution of Judge Lynch. Jem bad been
a quiet man and a good neighbor, with a
hand always ready to help one who was
out of luck, so public sentiment ran pretty
high against Antonio. If the general incli
nation had been followed as, up to that
time it always had the last-named gentle
man would have found very scant oppor
tunity to make any remarks in his own be
half. However, thing were advancing at San
Sabu as well as elsewhere, and it wouldn't
do to bang Antonio without a regular trial,
no matter how agreeable such a proceeding
might be to the people at large.
So ran the opinion expressed by Judge
Pitblado whose ideea on such subjects
were usually accepted without comment.
Nevertheless there was more than one
dissenter in the present instance, to whom
it was by no means clear that there could
be any sense or profit in thus beating about
the bush.
'Ef Antouio's goin ter be hung, why in
don't we hang him?"
This was the pertinent query of Jake
Smith, the leader of the opposing faction,
and his view of the question put it in so
clear a liirht that the Judje had great diffi
culty in impressing people with his con
viction. . Xle said that things had gone on
in an irregular way long enough; and here
was a way to start the law in properly.
and gire it a lair show. Besides, it didn't
make any kind of difference; Antonio had
shot Jem, hadn't he ? Well, then, whst
was the use of taikinz? All the Jury
would have to do now was to return their
verdict of guilty in the first degree, and
there you were all comfortable.
It wns just the same thing intheend-v
exactlv.
"I tell yer," said the judge, who felt the
weurht of his title, albeit he same was al
together one of courtesy; "I tell yer there's
nothin' like doin' a thing reg'lar; partiker.
lally when yer know just how It s comin
out."
So the iudac's argument, supported by
his influence, and increasing bias at San
Saba in favor or more civilized views, set
tled the matter, and it was decided that
Antonio Gueldo should be tried before he
was hanged.
As there was no place specially arranged
for such ceremonies, Judge Pitblado hos
oitablv offered the use of his shed..
Ilere a rough table and chair were placed
for the 1udre. the other necessary furni
ture, intended to represent the -dock, the
stand, etc, being eked out with boxes
from Silas Baggett s giocery store.
Jake Smith looked on at these prepara
tions for a time with frowning discontent,
and then strolled down the road, turairg
into the lane that led to Blake s.
When he reached the door of the shanty
he learned against the jamb and poked bis
naked head inside, fanning himseir In an
embarrassed way with his greasy fragment
of a hat. He had come there wun uie in
tention of saying something, but the right
within made him forget it.
Blake's widow tat there, as she had sat
nrpttr much all the time since the murder,
staring straight before her, with her chin
in her nalm. The sunlight struck through
the foliage of the red oak trees that grew
before the door, and checkered wim met
ering brightness the floor and cradle in
which Jim's baby was sleeping.
Thf re it was' lust as it had been three
days ago; (could it only be three dayst)
just a? it had been when sue went out
mnmincr to look after the drying clothes.
h left him standing in tbe door by the
an fond he was of the baby?)
just s it was when she beard the crack of
the pifto!, and ran in wim mn
of suffocating fright; just the same asshc
had found him lying upon the cradle, dab-
Win, its white linen with nu niooo, uu
the baby playing with his hair. She
-.mi onre. the first ana last comu.
. WrH her make, then she was
quiet and helpful through it all; when ths
.nrl lifted him bp; when they
room; when they carried him to the grave
she following with the baby in her arms.
Jake Smith was trying to find the link
missing in his thoughts; he sniffed with
perplexity or something and Blake s
widow looked up without speak! nj.
Jake nodded pleasantly four or five
times.
Poorty chipper t"
"Blake's widow smiled sadly, bent ove
the sleeping child and smoothed the clothes
with a tender touch.
"They're agoin' ter try him in a court,"
Jake went on, "an' 1 don't believe "
"Try who Antonio!" she turned to
ward the burly figure in the door with a
flash of interest in her black eyes.
Tea. The judge is making court
out of his shed. I hope it'll turn out all
right, but it seems like giving that Mexi
can devil a cliance he oughtn't ter have.'
'He can't get clear, can be!" she asked,
rocking tbe cradle gently and patting the
coverltL
'I don't see how, but he's got some
kind of a law cuss to speak for him a fel
ler that stopped here a day or two ago on
his way to Galveston, and it makes me
kind o' nervous."
Brake's widow did not appear to notice
tbe last remark, for toe child, disturbed by
the talking, had awakened and sat up in
his cradle with a wondering look.
"Pooty, aint he ("said Jake, regarding
the small figure with interest. "Looks
just like ahem: you. Poor little I a
" he stamnured and treated his bat like
a mortal enemy. "Of course he's had
you've got there aint nothin' I could do
fur yer, maybe V
She answered with a grateful look, but
it was accompanied by a shake of the
head.
Jake bent down, and, with his big fore
finger, softly rumbled the hair of the baby's
head: then he went out and left them,
Blake's widow sitting as be had found her.
and the baby staring down the path after
him.
He walked on until he reached tbe top
of the little hill, where he could look down
upon the roof which covered the piteous
scene he had just left, nere he seemed to
have half a mind to turn back, for he
hesitated and stopped, but he changed, Jliis
partial intention after lingering a moment,
and walked meditatively onward, with the
exclamation, "Wall, some women do beat
the d 1 aniazin'."
Of course everybody came to the trial-
The arrangements were soon found to be
altogether too meager. Pitblado's shed
was filled to overflowing, and Baggett
made a clean sweep of every empty box in
his store.
Antonio's lawyer, a sharp-eyed, sharp-
featured fellow from Galveston, had bus
tled about with surprising agility on the
day previous, holding mysterious confer
ence with Ill-conditioned fellows of
Gueldo's kidney.
Jake Smith was highly dissatisfied, and
even tbe judge was heard to utter some
misgivings, however; by the time the pro
ceedings bad really commenced he gained
cccJdence.
The court was assembled, tha jury bad
been chosen, and the witnesses were all
present save one Blake's widow.
Pretty soon there was a stir at the door
then a murmur of surprise ran through the
crowded room.
May I be d d," said Jake Smith.
audibly "if she hasn't brought her baby.'"
What reason she may have had for no
leaving the little thing in charge of some
sympathizing woman and there are plenty
who would have been glad of the trust
was not apparent; however that might be.
there it was clasped firmly in her arms, its
bright red checks contrasting with her
whiteness, aid its father's sunny hair
mingling with her dark locks.
With some difficulty way was made
through the throng to her scat, which bad
been placed on the side of the judge, di
rectly opposite the candle-box on tbe other,
where Antonio sat. She took her place
and never moved during the whole trial,
excepting as she was required to testify,
and once when the baby tugged at some
glistening thing that lay bidden in the
folds of her dress, at which she took pains
to distract its attention with a chip from
the floor.
As for the baby it sat there with its big,
blue eyes open to their fullest extent, en
tirely absorbed in the novei scene, save
when that irresistible glitter caught its
eye.
Every one being now present, the trial
went on in eood earnest. A nuniDeror
witnesses were examined, whose testimony
showed that Gueldo's had had trouble with
Blake, and more than once threatened his
life; that Gueldo pistol was one charge
empty on the evening of the day of tne
murder, whereas in the morning it had
been full; that be was seen that morning
around Blake's house, and more than that
Blake's widow had heard Gueldo's voice
just before the fatal shot, and had seen his
retreating form as she ran out.
At this last point tbe Galveston lawyer
asked the witness a few questions regard
ing how she knew it was Gueldo's and how
she had recognized the voice for his. She
rtirl not know how exactly, but was none
the less sure for that.
There bad been a rumor about that some
one bad heard Antonio make a boast of
having "done for Blake this time," but If
there were a witness for this he could not
be found now.
And so the prosecution closed.
The Galveston lawyer began by Involv-
ing in a whirlpool of hopeless contradic
tion, the witness who had sworn to having
seen Gweldo near Blake's house. Then he
expatiated on the ctse with which one per
son may be mistaken for another, and
brought a witness to show how Gueldo
had already been said to resemble someone
in the village. Finally, he produced three
of the ill-conditioned fellows before referred
to, who swore that Antonio was with them
on a hunting expedition during the whole
of the day on which the m order was eom
mltted.
It was a clear case of alibi. Jake
Smith's astonishment atjhe ease with
which the thing had been accomplicbtd
was unbounded. He threw a dugusted
look towards Pitblado, but the judge was
nonplussed, and didn't seem to be inter
ested with things in Jake's vicinity.
Gentlemen of the jury," said he, "things
has took a turn I didn't altogether expec'.
I don't know as there's much to be said. I
suppose you've got to go by the evidence,
an' that don't need any explaining Ef
you kin make out accordin' ter that, that
Aqlouio Gueldo killed Jem Blake, why,
just recollect, that's what yer here fur."
The jury filed out, and the expectant
audience occupied itself with tobacco and
whispering comments.
Jake. Smith fidgeted about on his box,
and cast anxious glances through the open
door towards the clump of nopals where
the jury were deliberating.
Antonio talked and laughed in an under
tone with his counsel, and Blake's widow
sat staring at them with compressed lip",
and a sireng expression of determination
coiling into her face.
It wasn't long before the jury filed in
again, all seating themselves by the spokes,
man, and Judge Pitblado rose wiping his
forehead with his shirt sleeve.
'Straightened it out, have yer?" asked
he, nodding to the Spokesman.
The man nodded slowly in return.
"Wal. It's have it then."
"Ter see," said the spokesman, with a
hesitating and disappointed air, "ef yer
hadn't a corralled us with stickin' ter the
evidence, we might a done butter, but ac
cordin' ter that, Antocio wasn't thar when
the murder was done, an' ef he warn't
thar, he couldn't a done it, an' ef ho didn't
do it, why then of course he's not
guilty."
Pitblado didn't dare to look at any
body; he stared up at the ratters down
at the table nowhere in particular, and
then turned half-way towards Antouio.
"You kin go" said he, speaking with
great deliberation, bul I wouldn't stay
round here too long."
There was a dead pause for a moment,
and nobody movL
Jake Smith exploded a singlo expressive
word, which be had held hi for some time
past, and Blake's widow stood up.
"Have you got through, judge I
she
asked.
"Wal I e'pose so."
"And there is nothing more to be
done?"
"I'm afraid ther aint."
"And he's free to go!"
"Y-a-a-a."
Antonio Gueldo rose with an insolent
grin, and picked up his hat.
The baby crowed, for it saw the glitter
ing thing again.
There was a sharp report Autonio
pitched forward in a heap upon the lloori
and Blake's widow stood with the pistol
pressed to her breast.
A line of clear blue smoke curled up
from the muzzle of the weapon, and
formed a halo around the child's flaxen
head. The glittering thing was quite
near the little hands now, and they took it
from the yielding grasp of the mother.
Blake's widow looked steadily at the
figure on the floor it was quite motionless
then she turned, and went through the
wide passage opened for her by the silent
crowd, holding the baby very teaderly,
and the baby carrying the pistol.
The child laughed with delight; it had
got its shining plaything at last.
rereonal Peculiarities,
About forty years ago I had a lad in my
employ who had the habit when unexpect
edly spoken to of pricking up his ears in so
decisive a manner as to remind one oi tne
ears of Puss or of Tray when suddenly
called. Marie Louise, the secoud wife of
the great Napoleon, was in the habit of
amusing the ladies of her court at their pri
vate soirees by turning her cars almost com
pletely round, and in a manner closing
them up. She did this by a peculiar mo
tion of tbe jaw, and she is said to havo
prided herself on the exploit not a little.
A man 1 knew well wore, an enormous
shock of raven hair, and would allow him
self to be lifted by the hair from tbe ground
bv any one strong enough to do it, and to
be swung to and fro like a pendulum, or to
be dragged along the floor.
Tbe faculty of sleeping at will was one of
tbe endowments of the first Napoleon, who
it is said could sleep any leDth of time,
long or short, and awake at the time, al
most to the minutc,,he had lesolved upon.
Among the muscular movements not
common, 1 nave noticeu several instances
of persons who could throw back the fonr
flngers of either nana until tney stoou pcr
pmdicular to tbe back of the hand and
wrist. Other instances I have seen, though
bu' a few, of persons who can project the
lower joint of the thumb almost into tbe
hollow of the palm. In neither of these
persons is the ordinary use or tbe symmetry
of the band at all affected. Of lelt-bandcd
people we have all seen many, and they
abound among the working classes ; but of
the artihandist, or both banded, that is, of
persons who could do everything with either
hand, as weil with one as the other, I have
known but one in the whole course of my
life. This was an orphan boy, who had
had no parental care, but had been left al
most to himself from infancy. Quick, ac
tive, and sharp-witted, be had taught him
self many things tolerably well, couia araw
fairlv. could play the fiddle and the Cute,
and wrote admirably and with unrivalled
raDiditr with cither hand.
There are many persons w no. iroin caiues
they can never explain, have a repugnance,
almost amounting to horror in some coses,
Tor certain animals. The French General
Junot. who was as cool as a cucumber
amidst a perfect storm of Duiicis, anu
would face the cannon's mouth unmoved,
would take to his heels at the sight of a live
frog, and would not recover his equanimity
for hours.
I have known a man who would not touch
mutton, however cooked, while he would
eat heartily of any other meat. Some there
are in whom the thought of eating bare or
rabbit excites loathing; some who would
starve rather than eat shell-fish of any kind
and there are not a few to whom butter and
cheese are abominations. Others are equal
ly prejudiced against certain vegetables, but
why or wherefore they can never ted you.
The mind builds Iti own bouse.
Gaiety Is nature's garb of health.
The greatest fanlt is to be eonsdous
of none.
A Digb-Toned Cook.
Mrs. Vandewater has lately experienced
a great deal of trouble in securing a go id
servant girl. The last one she bad was
told to boil an egg in the coffee, and she
put it in whole. On another occasion.
when instructed to stuff tbe ducks with
onions and potatoes, she put them in whole.
She also made apple pies in a similar man
ner. Her predecessors were equally neg
ligent and ignorant, and Mrs. Vandewater
determined to have a better girl at all
hazards. It was with the intention of se
curing one that she went to the city. She
went to an intelligence office and asked to
be shown some of the best specimens in
stock.
A burly girl ef thirty-two stepped for
ward, and tbe following dialogue took
place:
"Can you cook in the French style?"
'Yes, mum."
"Can you get up German dishes i"
'Yes mum."
"I suppose vou are a church member?"
"Yes."
"You have no objection to splitting
wood?"
"Not any."
"What time do you wake up in the morn
ing?" "Five o'clock ; and I can play the gui
tar." 4
"You never kindle fires with kerosene I"
"Never, missus, never; and I aint strong
minded. I ain't in favor of women vot
ing." She suited first-rate; but before she con
sented to be engaged, the wanted to ask
some questions:
"How many folks in the family t"
"Five."
"Husband drink any?"
"No."
"Po your daughters whistle 'i'inafore'
airs?"'
"Never."
''Have you sny oil paintings in the house,
and AXminister tapestries, and pots of hya
cinth on the shelf i "
"I liave."
"Have I got to hunt off book sgents!"
"I'm never troubled that way."
"Do you expect me to wash the dog ?"
'I have none."
"Do your boys go out crabbing andcomo
home covered with mud, and have four
shirts apiece in the wash every week!"
"My children are all girls."
'What part of the city do you live in?"
"I live in Patcrson, N. J."
"Then you can't hire me. I don't
go to the country if I knows myself. My
beau don't get tlirough work till seven
o'clock, and by the time he'd get shaved
and put on his swallow-tail coat and get
out to Paterson, it would he breakfast time.
I don't wan't country in mine. I'm a city
gal."
Then she took her place on the bench,
and waiting for an eligible employer to
cmie along.
"Usually," said Mr. Carter, "young men
who are in a position to handle much
change begin to notice the old American
cents and to lay tbctn aside. They soon
become interested in making a complete
series of them and the tast then develops.
Soon they begin with half-dimes and then
dimes. Then the appetite gowa and they
undertake a collection of quarters, and so
they go through halves and dollars. Though
in tuc American mint series there is noth
ing of interest but the date, still curiously
enough the few rare dates in fine condition
will commoni higher prices than the rare
coins of almost any other series. In war
times, when ixoney was high, I have known
an American dollar of ISO to sell for $700,
and since then dollars of that date have
several times brought as much as $ ;00.
American cents of 179:1, 1T'j9 and 1 Sol are
very rare and bring hig'i prices. Of course
n.uth of their derived value depends on
their condition and color. A coin that
docs not show the marks of circulation and
still bears the mint lustre is much esteem
ed. Some collectors take great pride in
matching their sci ies in color, and while
one has a taste for purple cents Another
prefers the olive,"
"Is not th:s a costly diversion:
'The American coins can be collected.
with a few exceptions of very rare coins,
at a slight cost. But frequently when
fathers are called upon to pay the bill for
the collection which their sons have made
they begin to take an interest in the sub
ject. In my own ease 1 of course wanted
to do something a little better than my son
had done, and I began collecting ancient
itorrian and Greek coins, in which I took
much interest. In these old coins I found
a link to the dead past, and when 1 ead of
Greek and Iionian wars and hold in my
hand a coin of the dates in question, or
commemorative of some battle or some
fighting emperor, . I feel that 1 have sjnie
tiu-'gihle connection with the events wl:ch
otherwise must seem too long past to bt
much interest in this age. The Homan
coins are interesting for the portraits which
they bear of the emperors. And thus one
becomes interested tn the history of the
people who bought and sold with these
antique and missuappen pieces of stamped
metal."
"What, Mr. Carter, is the assurance of
the genuineness of these old coins, and how
can one trace the coins from the coffers of
Couimodus through the ages to the collec
tor s cabinet, tor instance, in modern
Brooklyn!"
"It is difficult to explain how we Know
a genuine antique. But tuero are no tws
ancient coins alike in shape and appear
ance, and an expert wul sort out the coun
terfeits which are common, and, as I un
derstand are manufacture-! in quantities in
Birmingham as readily as a bank teller
will detect the bad bills which may pass
through his hands. The. appearance of a
genuine old coin is unmistakable and in
imitable." Sand I'lllara.
We have often witnessed a phenomenon
on the sandy plains of Central Asia, which
accounts in some measure for the innum
erable sandy mounds that are found in
some rernons. i ben seen at a distance
for the first time, it made a strong impres
sion upon my mind. About twenty pil
lars were in view, wheeling round and lick-
ing up the sand. As they passed along a
cloud of dust was raised on the ground,
apparently eieht or ten yards in diameter.
This gradually assumed the form of a
column, that continued to grow in height
and diameter as it moved over the plain,
appearing like a mighty serpent rearing
his head aloft, and, twisting his huge body
into contortions' in bis efforts to ascend.
The pillars were of various sizes, some
twenty or thirty feet hign, otner niiy,
sixty, and one hundred feet, and some as
cended to nearly two hundred feet. As
the whirlwinds began gathering up the
dust one might have fancied that antedilu
vian monsters were rising into life and
activity. The smaller ones seemed to trit1
It ligh'ly over the plain, bending their
bodies in graceful curves as they passed
each other; while those of larger dimensions
revolved with sravity, swelling out their
trunks as they moved onward, .till the
sandy fabric suddenly dissolved, forming a
great mound, and ereatinf a cloud ef dost
i sat was swept ever tne sen.
A Mile la Mid-Air.
Barrington Brown, during his memorable
survey of Guiana, reached the foot of Kora
ima and ascended its sloping portion to s
height of 6,100 feet above the level of tbe
sea. Between the highest point he reached
and the foot of the highest perpendicular
portion which towered above is a band ol
thick forest. Looking up at the great wall
of rock 2,000 feet in height, he could see
tliat a forest covered its top, and that in
places on its "sides where small trees or
shrubs could gain a hold, there they clung.
The gigantic cliff itself is composed of
beds of white, pink and red sandstone.
interbedded with layers of red shale, the
whole resting on a great bed of red dionte.
The length of Uoraima is about eight or ten
miles ; Kukeuara is perhaps larger; and the
area of lllebeapeus is certain)- more exten
sive. It is impossible to view this wonder
ful group of mountains without realizing
that far back in the youth of tbe world they
formed part of an archipelago in tropical
seas. That they are well wooded and
watered is made certain by visible trees and
the enormous waterfall which pours at least
from Roraima. A grand view of this cata
ract was obtained by Barrington Brown
from the mouth of a cave, inhabited by
guacbaro birds, and situated 1,842 feet
aliove the level of the sea. Through the
clear atmosphere was distinctly visible at a
distance of thirty miles the white thread of
the waterfall. The Indians said it was the
head of a branch of the Ootinga river, but
it is more probably the head of the Carom,
a branch of of the Orinoko. This tropical
Staubbach is probably the highest foil in
tbe world, and is at the same time of con
siderable bulk. The cliff of Koraima is 2,
000 feet in height, "over the upper half of
which it fell like a plumb-line and then de
scended with a slight slope outward. The
remaining 3,000 feet to ti e valley below
slopes at an angle of forty-five degrees, and,
ling tree-covered, the rest of the fall is
hidden by foliage. The invisible attraction
of the curious range of Savanna island
mountains to naturalists arises from the in
accessibility. This should not be under
stood as the mere desire to excel others in
a feat of climbing, but as the hope that
some relics of the mammillian life of the so
called "uuocene" period may have survived
on these isolated altitudes, cut off from ail
communication with the living, moving
world. If any of the "miocenc" mammals
lived upon them when the sea washed over
their bases, the descendants of those ani
mals may exist there s'.ilL as the lemurs ex
ist in Madagascar, and whole family of
marsupials, such as the kangaroo, in Austra
lia. Perhaps a balloon may one day solve
the mystery which lends a charm to these
island mountains, and the happy naturalist
who lands as one will, of course, and in
time on the summit of Korainia, may fir.d
himself among the descendants of the rarei
long since blotted from the lower world in
which the evidence of their existence is re
corded in the great stone books alone.
iVmid the forest depths, on which rests a
huge cloud, be may find not the gigantic
saurians of the youthful world, grim mon
sters of tlio fish-lizard and bird-lizard
form, but the great progenitors of existing
mammalia. Leaving the tapir, ote of the
most ar dent of extant creatures, at the bot
tom of the Roraima cascade, be may find at
its summit its gigantic cogeners huge her
bivorous animals fifteen and eighteen feet
in length; the dinotherium, a tapir-like
creature, larger than the elephant ; antique
analogues of the mastodon ; ancestors of
the horse, the hog and the greater cats,
which in the known parts of the continent
are represented by the jaguar, the puma,
and the ocelot. A prospect of the dino
therium alone would be sufficient to com
pensate an enthusiastic naturalist for the
labor of years. It is the largest of tbe ter
res'rial mammals which have inhabited our
globe, and deservedly stands at the head of
the thick-skinned animals, as the megathe
rium or gigantic sloth at that of the tardi
grades. Probably the dinotherium would
be found, if found at all, pursuing a life
like that of the hippopotamus. Its great
head and tusks are tilted for grubbing up
aquatic plants, and like those of the walrus,
for helping the animal out of the water.
But the dinotherium is but one of the start
ling forms which might be looked for on
Roraima if its cliffs be really as ihtlicul as
pataled. Lizards in the semi-ophadian
stage might be encountered, and other ani
mals which, as the little boy said who bad
been taken into a lecture of Prof. Owen's,
bad not quite made up their minds what
they were going to be."
Ancient Modes of Torture.
Everybody who goes to Nuremburg must
visit the torture chambers. Une aimct
writhes at sight of the rack which 400
years ago was in actual use, and trembles
at the presence of the Iron Virgin, as she
is called. It is an Iron ease in the shape
of a woman with folding doors, which open
in front. The victim stepped inside, and
the doors, into which are fastened eight
sharp spikes which pierce the eyes, were
gradually shut. It was a slow death, and
long dreadful hours passed, (luring wmca
the spikes were driven deeper, until at
last some vital spot was reached. Alter
death a small trap door was opened and the
poor fellow dropped into a machine in tbe
room below, where he was cut into bits
about three inches long, and then thrown
into the canal. Te see such things makes
one glad to live in the 19th ceutury, where
even the worst criminals are at leasiireateu
with that mercy ;which ought always to
temper justice. The object of the olden
time was to keep a villain alive as long as
possible. To-day, on the other hand, we
are trying to devise some means by which
death may ba caused painlessly and sud
denly. There is one instrument in this
torture chamber however, which we would
like to see revived. It is a frame work in
which those who adulterated food were
placed for punishment. The:r heads and
hands were firmly tied, and then the whole
thing was let down by a strong rope into
the river. The criminal was ducked ntu
he promised to commit the offence no more
and then ducked once again, just to empha
size his promise.
Judges erthe rnlied States Supreme
Conn.
Justice Strong Strong has the spare form
and refined face of an ascetic; he is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, a rigid observ
er of bis religious duties a strong temper
ance man. and a model husband and lalber.
Judge Bradley is of short statue, scholarly
and very courteous. lie looks very wise
and very severe while on the bench. Judgo
Harlan has a boyish, smooth face, full of
good humor and kindness. He maintains
majestic gravity during an argument.
Judge Clifford has a rosy, benevolent face,
and his large white neckcloth sets off the
somberness of his silk gown. Mr. Justice
Clifford has the most exalted idea of the
court, ranking: it next to heaven. He
would readily pass for a worthy Bishop,
and never tolerates anything bordering on
liberty. Judge Swayne is portly, and has
an intellectual head and face. Judge
Miller has a large, ponderous frame, and is
the embodiment cf legal lore and the re
sponsibilities of his high office.
O'Leary, the pedestrkin, Is said to
be worth M,09.
A !ew Swing for Ladies.
A smart Illinois bov, named Sloane in
vented trap on the principle of those user
in Africa for trapping game that is to say.
be constructed a slip-noose of thongs, ant
attached it to the top of a stout sapling,
which he bent down by the aid of a hoist
ing-tackle, and fastened it to the ground.
Now Master Sloane had a sister, a younc
lady of great worth and of very decider:
character. Other girls, who were enviow
of her beauty, said she was an ill-tempered.
red -haired thing, but this was prohamv
mere calumny. At all events, so thought
the young minister who was settled ove:
the Seventeenth Congregational Church.
and who was generally believed to be Mi
Sloane s accepteiTIover. That he went t
see Miss Sloane on the very evening wher
the reckless boy set his Central Africa trar
was not strange, for he usually spent thret
or four evenings every week at the Sloant
mansion, but is was a coincidence that od
that precise evening he proposed a walk,
and led Miss Sloane toward the identical
lane where the trap was waiting for victims.
Uow it happened that neither the youas.
minister nor Miss Sloane noticed the beni
sapling or the rope, no one can understand,
unless they were so deeply engaged in the
discussion of theological questions that they
were oblivious to all earthly things. Stii.
more difficult is it to comprehend how tl.ej
could both have stepped within tbe noose,
not mote than a foot in diameter. It u
plain, however, that the lady was readini;
a hyuuibook and that her companion had
approached extremely close to her in order
to see if the hymn was correctly printed.
liowever this may be, the fact remain
that Miss Sloane and the minister wen
just within the noose when the
trap sprung, and the elastic sapling
suddenly lilted them twenty feet in the
air, where they remained hanging like two
cherries on a single stem, and expressing in
lively tones their suspicion that something
unusual had happened. Half an hour lafei
the Clinton and Holniesville stage passed
that way, and tbe driver and bis passen
gers were astonished beyond measure.
For some time it was supposed that some
new and curiously complicated auiinai
was swinging from the top of the sapbng;
but just as one of the passenger was aboul
to tire at it, the driver recognized the min
ister, though he was not able to recognize
his fellow-prisoner. The latter's voice wot-
somewhat muliled, but she was dislinctl
heard to revile the minuter, and to assert
that she never would forgive him, no mat
ter how ho might try to excuse himself.
Six strong men finally best down the sap
ling, re'eased the victims. Fortunately,
neither of Master Sloane's victims were ser
iously injured, and were both able to walk
home on opposite sides of the street. The
result of this affair were numerous. Mis
Sloane left town the next day on a visit to tht
East, and has not since returned. The
minister was tr,ed for indiscreetly banging
from the tops of trees with young hiJies,
ami thereby bringing reproach upon hi.-
profession, but was acquitted by a close
vote. As for Master Sloane, is is belicvuu
and hoped that his father has killed him.
At any rnte, he has not been seen, and the
rumor thai be has been s-nt to the House
of Refuge in Chicago is not generally be
lieved. Hie Cod.
Besides being the most prolific of f-vxl
fishes, he is large, easily taken and quickly
prepared for market, while his 'different
parts are utilized as generally as those ot
his land rival hog. Professor Baird says
that besides the muscular parts, the sounds
and roes are used as food, the oil is valuable
for medical and mechanical purp , the
offal is converted into a valuable manure,
the bones make good fuel, while the skins
serve many nations for leather and cloth
ing. This fish, like the mere prominent of
his relatives, is at home only in cold water
the latitude of Cape May being his extreme
southern boundary, while he lives as close
to the pole as he can without risk of being
frozen ia. He probably exists farther south
than the line indicated aliove, but if so, it
is in cool depths too retired to admit of
successful interviewing. At certain points
off the Massachusetts coast he finds a suffi
ciently low temperature in (hallow water,
and at tbese places he is frequently seen
and caught by fisherman, but his favorite
American haums are the semi-inclosed
waters of the coast of Canada and adjacent
islands. Fond, however, as he is of very
cold water, there are temperatures which
be will under no circumstances endure,
even though they be but two or three de
grees removed from the normal. Among
these is the water that comes from melting
salt ice, and slowly sinks to the level to which
its specific gravity entitles it. In such
water the cod will not remain ; be will not
go through it, even though his dinner be
on the opposite side, the distance very
short, and the cod very hungry. He pre
fers to circumnavigate such an inhospitable
region if he has business on the other side,
as rishcriiian have learned to their own ex
ceeding profit.
Tbeie are different atinevcs of tbe cod,
and the entire lack of evidence of mixed
blood, and the rarity with which more than
one variety is found in any giving locality,
prove either that the cod is a non-migratory
fish, or that he regards the preserva
tion ot caste as a paramount duty. Like
aristocrats everywhere, be is an omnivorous
feeder. The "dredge is considered by
naturalists to be the best implement with !
which to otrtain information upon deep-sea .
life; but Professor Baird says that the
stomach of tbe cod is the best of all dredges,
for it generally contains morsels of every
sort ot marine resident within reach. With
a high-born contempt of the requirements
of trade, the cod feeds largely upon herring
and mackerel, but he Is partial to crabs,
lobsters; and most other fish. As his diges
tion is not equal to tbe task of assimilating
these last-named items of the ocean menu,
he stows then away in the tide of his
stomach, and when the quantity becomes
burdensome, he disposes of them according
to the method to which Jonah owed his es
cape from submarine lodging. While not
migratory by inclination, any failure or de
terioration of his habitual larder will cause
him to remove to the nearest resort of good
livers. 1 'n ago cod-fish were quite
plentiful off Newburyport, Massachusetts,
but disappeared as tbe Merimack River
was depleted of fish ; since the restocking
of the river, however, with shad and ale-
wives, the cod has reappeared at his old:
dining-place, gladdening the hearts of tbe the perfect trust in which it grows. Skele
flshermen, and gracing the Sunday break- tonized leaves and capsules appear to gain
fast table of the descendants of the Puri- in the process a toughness and durability
tans. not poesessed by them in their natural
The cod resorts to the shore for feeding : state
purposes; but who that is not a rook or a ! Rather slim!
scullion cares always to be in the vicinity J
of the dining-room? Naturally he is an i Recently at the Pinafore matinee a long,
off-shore, deep water fish, for at a distance ! giunt individual, with legs as thin ai whit
from the land he is always sure of finding ! tied matches, came into the theatre and
those strata of cold water In which he do- I stood in front of some gentleman, sautting
lights. There are times when he will not out their views of the stags. ;ie of the
leave these, even fir food; but the seasons j party said: "If you gULss what that is
in which fresh-water fish revisit the scenes before us, I'll put a label oa it.'
of tbelr childhood are also the seasons when ''It's a plumb-lice so:ne'xly hai drop
the water is cool inshore. While hot ! ped down from the family circle," remark
weather remains, with sea-water warm en- ed another, and the thin man begaa to
ough to lure human beings into the surf, move aside.
the cod abhors the beach, anil takes what "Next to boarding house s mp it's the.
food is nearest at hand, preferring, like ; thinest thing I've seen,' said a third party,
summer lodgers elsewhere, te enduie the I aad the slim maa get uneasy an i sat down.
plainest fare for the sake of cool quarters.
VVhen, however, the temperature of the
water allows him to follow the shad and
3sh to the shore, he never tnvtls alone ; if
ne is not accompanied by a family, he takes
to much company with him that lhoe who
extend hospitable seines to receive him
-ake sometimes as many jis thirty thousand
ish at a single haul.
The cod is wonderfu'Jy prolific, deposit
ing from tLrv-e to sjven mi!scs of eggs at
i time. It not only prefers to spawn la
he winter months but in tha coldest water
it can find, and yet avoid an icy coverlet;
t temperature of thirty-two degrees is the
favorite, while nothing above forty degrees
iS tolerated. The largest spawning grounds
jf the cod are in the vicinity of the Lof
ioilen Islands, though the Americw mein
jers cf ihe family put up with such ar.om.
nodalioss as they can hud ce.tr home.
The domestic arrangements of this fish are
so informal that tha cys have no Bpecial
abiding-place, dot any protection what-
ver. ot the millions of egjs that srj de
posited by a single femal not mora than
a hundred Ihousan.L probably not more
ihan ten thousand, rtsnil in lull-grown fish.
Like the small boy wh -, if he could not
whip a larger boy, csuld at least make
.aces at his sister, the small tis'i upon which
he cod preys nud Ueliciojs t-:Tcu 'e in ett-
ing the eggs of the latter, wuiie the mass
ot "low down" inhabitants of ths ocean are
true to the instinct of low-downers every
where to prey uponar.a oeraey, paiticuar-
ty upon the younger scions lurejf. It is
probable, too, that many ol the egs which
escape tne keeu eyes of seurciiers after
delicacies do not lx.co.ne fcrtilizuX
The Telearaun, folk.
When the news came of the revolution
in Turkey and the disposition of Abdul
Aziz, Q'leen ictoria, it is said, lost no
time in lulcrvtmiflg in his behalf by tele-
graphing to l on-tuutino:.c and expressing
aer hope tluit the ex-Suliaa would not be
subjected to any violence or ill-treatment.
o.gnes le bleu (take good care of him)
said lui maj"Sty; b-it the cruel telegraph
jiiitle her say 'Sa:gucz le lcin,'' bhei him
ell; and how they h:ed him ad the world
Snows, l he story is not liniHusible.
In his last annual report the Poitmaster
uencral owns that a poor woman te eraph
ing to a relative, ".Mary is bad," had her
jaessage rendered, .Mary is dead," and
.hat a pleasuie party w ihing to advise their
iriends at home of their saiety by the as
surance that they hail "arrived all right,"
scandalized the anxious one with the an
nouncement, "We have arrived all tight."
But many jukes aro perpetrate.! by the
wires without otlicial recognition.
King John of Saxony was prone to
dropping in upon officials when they least
xpected him. O.ie day hu appeared at
the telegiaph office of a small stauon. The
clerk app i-ed kis colleague at the next
station ol the unwelcome vUit, and before
an ac!in'iwledgeaient ot the warning came
was called upon to enlighten the inquiring
monarch res(ecting llu busim-ss of his of
fice. Presently a message came along the
wire, and his majesty desired to be ac
quainted with it? purport. He was told it
was unimportant; but was not to be put
off, and insisted on the mes.ie being re.
peateJ to him: so tbe stammeriug clerk had
no choice but to regale the royal ears with
th? German equivalent for: "The King
pokes ills nose into everything." If King
John was annoyed bv the impertinence,
he had to thank himself for it.
Such was hardly the case with the late
Karl Russell. One evening when he was
the Minister in attendance at Balmoral,
a little old man, burie 1 in a great coat,
handed a te!egta:n, addressed to one of thu
m.nL-ters in London, to the telegraph clerk
in one of the s:a i ;ns oa the Deeside rail
way. Thi c erk, af er g a icing at the
messenger, thiew it con;emp:uou.-ly bi.ck
w.th: "Put your name to it. It's a pity
your master docs not know how to send a
telegram." The name was added. "Why
you can't write! " exclaimed the clerk,
after vainly trying I make something of
the sir.a ure. "What's your name?''
"My name?'' said the messenger "my
name is John Kusm.'1L.
Tne el: r'i was trai s'erred to another of
fice bt fo e many days passed.
Writing of tha uitliuulty Eailish engi
neers experienced iu making educated Per
sians understand the working of the elec
tric telegraph, Mr. M uasey siys: .Mucil of
the tim'j of one of our otiieers was occu
pied during several weeks in attempting to
enlighten the mind of a provincial gover
nor, who had got it into his hea l that the
wins were hollow tubes, and that mes
s iges were transmitted through toem a9 ia
a pneumatic post. Ia vain was the whole
apparatus thown to his highuess; iu vain
even all its parts explained and re-explained
he stuck to his idea: and it was only by
Uie suggestion of the following simile that
he was at last induced to relinquish it and
declare himself satisfied: 'Imagine, said
the otficir. "a dog whose tail is here at Te
heran and his muzzle in Ljndon; tread on
his tail here and he will I ark the.-e."
8keleto 1 1 eavea.
At a recent meeting oi ine scientific com
mittee of the Royal British Horticultural
Society some beautiful specimens of skele
ton leaves were shown, the exhibitor stat
ing that they were prepared in accordance
with these ireneral principles: For the dis
section of leaves maceration is too long and
tedious, to say nothiug of the uncertainty
as to the lesuita. 1 be use of alkali in sat-
urated solution is preferable, the specimens
to be introduced while the liquid is heated
to boiling point. The time of immersion
is t be regulated by the character of the
various leaves, and the nature of the epi
dermis to be removed. When the speci
men is freed from epidermis and cellular
tissue, it must be subjected to tbe action of
chlorine to destroy tha coloring matter.
The introduction of peroxide of hydrogen
serves not only to render the lace like sped,
mens purer in color, but preserves it also.
In destroying the coloring matter in ferns
this is also invaluable: added to the chlo
rine it gives a solidity to the bleached
fronds, and appears to equalize the action
of the chlorine. For skeletonizing cap-
i sules, the slow process of maceration by
steeping in rain wa'er is alone available
moderate heat may be applied to hasten
the process, but alkali is useless. Tbe only
known flower which can be dissected is tbe
hydrangea Inponica. .The fibrous nature of
the petals rendeis it easy to skeletonize in
.1
1
laid him en tht rough bed In ths other
OLD STtSTWHBM