B. F. SCHWEIER, THE OOISTITUTIOI-THE TOIOI-AID THE UTOEOEMEIT OP THE LAWS. Editor and Proprietor. VOL. XXXV. MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PENNA.. "WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1881. NO. 21. THREADING KEEULKS. Hdre. daughter, thread my needle My sight is growing poor i Tbe silken thread h oiaaed tbe eye A dozen time or mora. 1 mind when firel my mother Tbe ceme thing id to me. Hid u I felt yon mnst not feel Because I cannot ere ; For I remember, year gone by, Jaat eo grandmother said. Now mother eight was failing her and grandmother u d ad bo one by odo we all crow old. An 1 each in tarn mnst auk The yonnger. brighter, better eyes To help a. see oar task. Ah ! well, dear child. tie good tc know That eomewhers, by and by, A strong new eight atia.ll be resto-ed To every failing eye. I like to think, as earth grows dim, Of where I then eball be ; Ere bath not teen tbe wondrous things The Lord bath promised me. Give me tbe threaded needle now, While yonr yonng eyes are kind. And I have each a jojful hope I'm sore I need not mind. Though my sifcht fail as mother's failed. And grandmother's before. And though I mix the needle's eye A dozen time or more Aa Opai Ring. Leopold Aston, with his nappy blonde face and immense fortune, bad brought a letter of introduction to Dr. Sherwood, of the Elms, and Doctor Sherwood bad taken Leopold Aston by tbe band and introduced him to bis two pretty daughters. Now it happened that the latter bad never been thrown in the company of two pretty girls in domestic life, and he found tbe household habits and dainty white aprons of these young ladies very charm ing. In the first dazzle of pleasure, they looked to him very much alike ; but by and-by be found that Arabella and Mildred Sherwood were very different. lie was to stay at the Elms during the summer. In the autumn be waa going abroad. To England, to Germany and to Italy," said Mildred. Yes, and to Paris," responded Arabella; and the shut her thin, scarlet lips tight over some resolve. When Leopold came in from a fine, breezy walk by the river, Mildred was dusting the ornaments on the mantle, and Arabella was arranging some flowers upon a table. lie came straight to the table. " Stock-blue and lilac, and enmsoa and white gladiola?. What superb flowers you have here at the Elms, Hiss Arabella 1" "Do yeu think so? And do you like clove pinks f" she asked, handing him one. "If this concentration of the topics is a clove Dink. ves. I do.' Then let me give you a button-hole bouquet, and taking the pink from his band, she twined It with a bit ol smilax, and fastened it in his buttonhole. And be, looking down, saw tbe curl of in her black lashes, and took the fragrance of her breath. In that instant, he decided that there was a difference in tbe sisters. Arabella was prettier than Mildred. " i am going into the garden for more vines lor my vases. If you like to come, 1 will show you my geraniums," said Ara bella. Leopold took up his hat, which he bad laid down, sad they went out into me sun' shine. Doctor Sherwood, reading upon the piazza, lifted his spectacles from bis news paper ; then took them on, ana ioos.ea up. " Arabella perhaps a father is not the best ludtre but Arabella, it stems to me, is a verv attractive girl t " be said to bun- self. Meanwhile, Mildred had put away tbe duster and gone down into the kitchen to help her mother make florentines for tea. "Mother," she said, absently, after awhile, " I should like to go to Italy." "Well, probably you never will, ray dear. Beat these eggs a minute longer." . At tbe table, a lew bouts later, Mr. Leopold Aston found that the eggs for the florentines bad been thoroughly beaten. "Bow nice!" Mildred heard him say, to Araliella. ' It seems to me that you can do everything!' Mildred was about to remark that Ara bella never cooked, because it made her head ache, when something in her sister's look checked her. She swallowed her tea in momentary confusion, and rose from tbe table with a bewildering thought pressing upon her. Cast it off as she would, it was a thought which persistently returned as the summer days went by. Mr. Aston seemed to find her sister very attractive. Was it possible that this young man of fortune, with all the world before him where to choose, had fallen in love with Arabella that be would wish to marry her! She knew so well all the family affairs how the Elms was mortgaged bow hard they all exerted themselvus to keep up the appearance of prosperity and comfort. It would be a splendid thing for Arabella for them all ! But could it bet And then Adam Neele I One night, when Arabella's voice, sing ing to Leopold in tbe parlor, cam down the stairs,, tbe doctor remarked : "It seems to me that Araliella spends ail her evenings with Mr. Aston." Well, let her, if she likes. I am sure his company is agreeable," returned his wife, with apparent carelessness. But something in the tone prevented the doctor from saying more. He unfolded tbe evening paper thoughtfully, and hold it upside down for several moments. Mildred's quick glance went from one face to another. She thought of the mort gage; she knew her father and mother were thinking of it, too. But she went on silently shelling peas. She had taken the dish from her mother's tired hands lew moments before. Pretty soon Araliella danced by the door up to her chamber. A moment after, Leo pold came out upon the piazza and hghted a cigar. Pretty soon be saw Mrs. Sher wood's lavender cap ribbons, and came to tbe dining-room window. "Mrs. Sherwood. I am called to New York for a day or two. I shall be off be fore you are well astir in the morning." " But Mr. Aston, you will want your breakfast ?" "No, no! I shall take breakfast on the turned and went down into the gar den. "Rebecca," said the doctor, somewhat uneasily, to his wife, " Adam Keele is coming here to-morrow. He promised to come and show ue about the under-draining for next year." "Weill" said Mrs. Sherwood, after a pause. Her tone said : " We shall see what will haDDen then." No one noticed tbe rosy flush which darted like a flame along Mildred's cool cheeks and her white finger-tips when Leo pold Aston, with his handsome presence and mellow voice, came suddenly so near ner. it was too dark. She bad not looked up, and did not see the quiet attention with which he observed her small, busv Sneers. aad bowed brown bead. Tbe next day Adam Neele came, and Arabella was confined to her room all day with a convenient sick headache, and saw no one. He was a grave, brown-bearded man of nearly forty honesty, goodness was stamped in every line of his plain face. He was the best farmer in the county and owned the model farm of the township. "Ararjeual" he said, questiomngly, of Mildred, when they were for a moment alone. "She she is sick to-day." Mildred an swered ; but her truthful eyes dropped and he saw it. "Ask her if she cannot see me for a few momenta," he said. Mildred went up stairs. Arabella lay upon the bed, one arm thrown up, upon the band of which was a beautiful opal ring Mildred had never seen before. " W here did you get that lovely rimr. Am?" ' From Mr. Aston," Arabella said. quietly. She did not seem sick and did not speak again. A tremor ran through Mildred's delicate limbs. She rested a hand upon a chair to steady herself. Will you come down and see Mr. Neele, Ara! He wishes it." "No; make my excuses." Mildred went dizzil7 out of tbe chamber. She was not quite herself, when she en tered the room where Adam Neele was. "She wishes to be excused." Mildred, this rich German " He is not a German." " Is he anything to Arabella ? " " I do not know. He has given her a ring," stammered Mildred, scarcely know ing what she said. "Humph! That is enough." Adam Neele went away from the Elms tbe next morning. W'hea be had gone, Arabella came down and ate her dinner. She took a book and sauntered down into the garden then. When Mildred bad coaxed her mother to take a nap, she fol lowed her sister, and cut gladiolus and pinks 1"T the vases, which Arabella hail neglected entirely for two days. When she came around to the arbor, where ber sister sat, she sat down wearily. " Adam .Neele has gone, Ara. "I know it." "Then you prefer Mr. Aston ?" " I prefer marrying rich man and go ing abroad to marrying a poor man and spending my life at Edgetown." 'Hut you love Mr. Aston. Ars." "Love hunt Pooh! He is just a good- natured simpleton. Adam Neele is Just worth two of him. But I shall marry him if I can. I have meant it ever since be first came here." Mildred gave a little cry. " I don't love Adam Neele either. But I'm sick of work and striving to keep up appearance. We shall all go to pieces soon at this rate. Papa earns nothing. Tbe mortgage will take the Elnia. I am going to bjok out for myself. I would ad vise you to do the same, Milly." "I shall look out for myself. I can earn my living if need be. Earn it I will. I shall never degrade my si If by marrying for a home or for money. Ara, I had rather have my hand burned off than wear that ring as you are wearing it !" There was a step upon the gravel, a put ting aside of the clematis vine. "My ring! Have you found it, Miss Arabella?" Arabella grew red, then white. She pulled the ring from ber finger and handed It to its owner, Leopold Aston. " Where did you find it I" be asked. "At tbe end of tbe linden path," she an swered, in a stifled voice. Then, partially recovering herself : " You are back soon." Y'es," pleasantly. He bad bis valise in his hand. He had just come over from the depot, and went up to his room. Burning with her sister's shame, yet with a strange joy in her heart, Mildred turned and went away from the arbor, (the buried her face among the pinks. "How sweet they are !n she said. " Are we never going to have any more music " asked the doctor. "Milly, go up and play something lively. ' "When I bave finished picking ever these blackberries papa." Tbe twilight overtook the nimble fingers. and Mildred took the pile of jetty fruit out upoa tbe doorstep, under the porch honey' suckle. "Are you always at work I" asked a eentle voice. There was no pained blush now. Mil dred looked up, calm and sweet. " No, I am at leisure now," she answer ed, in a moment. "Then will you walk down this path with me a little way I" He took a soft gray shawl from its peg, and dropped it around ber. As he did so, she saw the gleam of the opal. " Do you like my ring?" asked Leopold Aston. "It is the most beautiful opal I ever saw." "I lost it in tbe garden, the first day I came to the Elms. Do you know the pro perties which inhere in gems I " No." " The ruby restrains wrath, the hyacinth nrocures sleep, tbe topaz banishes sad ness. i And the opal I" " The opal sharpens the sight of the pos sessor. Mildred httle Milly do yu think I do not know what a jewel bejond mice io are f Darling, look up! 1 love you! Could you love me, Mildred?" She looked ud into bis eyes. Y'es, I could love you if you were the poorest, the most unfortunate, man in the world! " God bless my brave darling!" he cried. Ther bad reached tbe end of tbe long. sweet, dewy path, and turned to come back. "And yon promise to be my wife f Let there be no mistake. Let me ue nappy, Mildred!" "1 promise. But, Leopold, I thought it was Arabella whom yoa loved." "Y'ou didt Well, I bad lost my ring then and being without it aid, was a little stupid," he replied, with a slight Diusn. And so Mildred went to Italy, and Ara bella remained at Edgetown, for Adam Neele never cane back to ber. The German Crown Prince and his sec Prinnt Henrv. while snipe-at) oot ing recently near Span da u, turned to with tbe peasants to extinguisn a ore in in brush wood, and shovelled sand upon, it with such a will that by tbe time the fire had been extinguished both Princes were hi tinkers, and so parched with thirst that a timely draught of country amaU-beer supplied by Chief Forester wu bv them nronounced to be "altogether nectarian." - aw Tnry ! TbeaiMlve la tat Slartn Yammer Kwcnrslwae ap tae Hudson. The lite ex-President Thomas A. Scott, of the Pennsylvania Riilroad, did much to build up this great thoroughfare, and by that means to extend, foster and encourage the trade of the whole country. To this work was added that of catering for the amuse aient and entertainment f the peo ple travelers and tourists and lines are opened in all directions by which they can reach prominent and romantic places of summer resort. The plans hitherto pur sued will b? again carried out this summer by the officers and managers of the Jrenn sy Iran is Railroad, with such additions and amendments, as will accommodate tuepeo pie to a still greater degree. Among the many lines of summer travel pro j acted by the Pennsylvania Railroad this summer, excursions up the romantic Hudson stand deservedly preeminent. About the 25th of June, the superb steamer 'Richard Stock ton" will be restored to the Neburgh route. She is now being fitted np in a complete manner for the summer service, and will be as popular this summer as she was in 1879. Captain Bloomsburg will be at the post of command; there will be a full and excellent band of music on board. the restaurant will be coaducted on the basis of popular prices, and no intoxicating drinks will be sold on board. Theie features of the ex cursions cannot fad to commend them to the confidence and approval of tourists who wish safety, pleasure and profit com bined in one trip. The Stockton will run every day, including Sundays, at the low and popular rates of 1879. She will leave the Pennsylvania docks at Jersey City at 9 A. M., excepting Thursdays, when her leaving time will be thirty ruinates later. The Stockton will stop at Cozzen's Dock, West Paint, in both directions, and passen ger will have an hour and a half, at that point, to view the place and its o'muois of interest. She will also remain half an hour at Newbur,rh, which is fill of histori cal memorials. Jersey City will be reached at 6. 30 P. M. At this point connections will be made with Brooklyn Annex boats. and the trains of the Pennsylvania Rail road. From Jersey City and Brooklyn, the price for tbe round trip wdl be naif a dollar, and children half that amount. This will be a delightful summer jaunt. and tbe price is put on such a popular basis as to enable all classes to visit and enjoy the picturesque and varied scenery of the Hudson river. A Model Police Chief. Our three young Americans had been In tbe meaniimc introduced in due and an cient form to the police magnate at Duran- go, Slexico, but their piesence seemed at turns to intimidate him, then again to ex cite his wrath. At nearly every street-corner he would stop short and deliver in a stentorian voice one of bis choicest and most eloquent Spanish harangues, full of emphasis and wild gesticulations. Ha! you are American si Good! Long may live the United States, but may its in habitants all go to 1" (Ue did not exactly mention the antarctic pole nor Lemp s ice-house at the time, you bet!) 1 know wbat you came here lor, you came here to rum or steal my country; but you cannot do it until you cut my throat and crawl over my dead body!" And to show how easy it could be done he used to squat down on all fouia and bowl like a wounded lion. "I am an Indian, I know: I am not ashamed to acknowledge it, but I can die for my count, y, and will do it sure, before you Americans can get a foothold here. Three cheers for General Washington; be was a brick, but d the Americans!" "W hat is it you want here, anyhow My country! Y'ou can't bave it without first taking my blood, and here it is if you want it! Wbat else do you want! You want to drink? Here! Bring us something to drink!" The mozo with tbe beer would then come forward, brandish bis bottle and exclaim victoriously: "I have no cork-screw" hat else, then, do you want!" would continue the chief. "Is it money? Here, we have lots of it; throw it to them, throw it." The mozo with the dollars would throw some, but very caret Uily pick them up again. At every corner tbe same scene was re peated. The patrolmen, with lantern in band, stood spell-bound, not knowing what to make out of this. One of them, older or more independent than the rest, slightly intimated to tbe chief that he was really staking a disturbance. "Hal " shonted the chief, "I am an Indian! I am a Mexican! I love my country and respect itsauthonty! Yes, I bow to tbe authority! 1 es, 1 bow to the authority, look here if I don't!" And be knelt down and kissed the dirty toes of the patrolman. With slight variations tbe orations and scenes were leveral times repeated on the way, until at last the bouse where the dance was going on was reached and entrance ob tained. By that time tbe procession was quite imposing; for every patrolman met hafl followed at a abort distance with Ian terns in band, wondering who was to be slaughtered the chief or the Americans. However, before half an hour had elapsed tbe proprietor of the house found it abso lutely necessary to order a forcible eject ment of the little chief of Durango. Vain ly he defended bimself with knife in hand; four men got bold of bim and carried him bodily into tbe street. To-day, if he is sober again, you'll see him bowing to the Americans, and assuring them that he loves them from tbe very bottom of bis heart, and is glad to see tbem come to help to develop the industries and the wealth of bis country, and so tot to ad infinitum tinexpceted Auvtr. Talking to tbe boys in public meetings is getting to be an art and a science. Billy Ross is a great temperance lecturer, and at Kosherville, ilL, was preachin to the young on his favorite theme. He said: "Now boys, when I ask yoa a question, you mustn't be afraid to speak right out, and answer me. ben you look around. and see all these fine houses, farms, and cattle do you ever think whs owns them til now? Your fathers own them, do they not?" "Yes. sir!" shouted a hundred voices. "Well, where will your fathers be in twenty years from now!" Dead! shouted the boys. 'And who will own all this property then!" "Ca boys!" shouted the urchins. "Right! Now tell me, did you ever, in goingalong the streets, notice the drunk ards lounging around the saloon door, waiting for somebody to treat tbem!" Y'es, sir, lots of them!" "Well, where will they be in twenty years from now?" "Dead! " exclaimed tbe bo vs. "And who will be the drunkards thenV "Us boys!" Billv was thunderstruck for a moment: but, recovering himself, he tried to tell the boys bow to escape such fate. - Abeur ome ruh. In 1673, while sailing south, a dolphin was caught which wasof unusual size.some 4 feet 0 inches long. It is exceedingly in teresting to examine the stomach of all fish. In this dolphin, however, nothing very curious turned up. though tbe veracity of the fish was quite evident when the con tents of the stomach were exposed. A lot of coal cinders were found, and at least a half-pound of S-inch wrought-iron nails. An explanation of how the fish had swal lowed such strange and indigestible hard war was readily found. The ship's cook was in the babit of cleaning out his stove every morning at 4.8V o clock, and had been burning a quantity of old passengers' berth-boards which had been held together by wrought-iron nails. These were the nails, mixed up with the cinders, which the dolphin had swallowed. An instance ol voracity of a similar character may be told of a shark. In the spring of 18(1. while at anchor off the coast of Georgia, a ship's crew amused themselves by fishing. Their luck was poor. For some days all tbe lines were severed, and there was no sport. A pilot beat told us that a tiger-shark was under our bottom, and that it had taken all eur bait. We set to work to catch him. . A sb ark-hook was baited with a piece of pork and this soon brought him to grief. We rigeed a running bowline, a kind of nauti cal lasso, slipped it over his head, and soon bad him hauled on board, stern lore most. After severing bis vertebral column, we disembowled the monster. Tbe contents of the shark's stomach were exposed to view. Among many minor items were several large lumps of clay, fully a paok of beef bones, many fish-hooks, with pieces of the lines, belonging to us, two horse-shoe crabs, 7 inches wide, pieces of stones, prob ably ballast, and a half-worn boot, the most interesting point of this fish story is the finding of the fellow boot and its owner. The inquisitiveness of the writer led bim to examine the boot most carefully to find out what had been the effects of the gastric juices on the leather and tbe nails. On the upper some few spots of green were visible. This was determined to be green paint. The evidences were that somebody bad been engaged in painting a short time before. But had the artist dropped over board from some vessel, had he been swal lowed by the shark, and was this boot tbe sole mortal remains of the painter? Thai day a pilot was bailed, whose sides had just been newly painted. A kind of coro ner s inquest held by me brought out tbe fact that Captain Smith, of the pilot-beat Savannah, had been decorating his boat, had accidentally dropped a boot overboard, splashed with green paint, and that the shark had swallowed it. In order to claim property the boot was presented and iden tified. Tbe boot was then returned to its rightful owner, and, for what I know, this jetsam boot, miraculously saved from a shark's maw, may be still among tbe heir looms of tbe Smith family. The intelligence of fish remains as yet an unwritten chapter, which requires future study. What instincts we may allow birds in their migrations are followed out even more miraculously by fish, if birds can see landmarks, it is not improbable that the water fish can be guided by their eyas. Think of the shad in Chinese waters which mount up from the sea to tae head of a nver 2,000 miles distant from the ocean. There must be exceeding intelligence ia the black bass, who protects her young as va liantly as does a ben her chicks. Think te of that fish which secures his food by a co ordination which is really not equalled by any other creature. The fiah sees an insect on a leaf or spear of grass overhanging the water, be arises to the surface, sights the insect as a rifleman would his weapon ef precision, and unerringly fires a drop of water, which never misses the tiny mark, the insect, which, knocked off its perch by the globule of water, falls into the stream, and is swallowed. The assumption that fish possess a great amount ot natural intelligence need not be doubted. A certain sagacity is absolutely necessary in order to enable fish to over come the difficulties they must encounter in obtaining food. An instance of this character may be cited. Near the Mar quesas Islands, the peaceful waters abound in fish and birds. 1 here are constant schools of flying-fish and bonitca. The latter exist almost entirely on the former. Tbe flying-fish, by clever flying, are always endeavoring to escape the jaws of the boni tos, while the devourers are up to all kinds of stratagems to circumvent their agile prey. The bonitoes seem to study the curve the flying-fish will take in the air and the deflection, caused by the wind, and shooting across in a straight line, will catch the flying-fish as be touches the water at the end ot his flight. On one occasion, when th sea was smooth and the wind light, opportunity was taken to throw out a surface dredge in order to secure speci mens. This oredge was made of gauze. For several evenings iu succession I observ ed that shortly after sundown there were to be seen on the surface of the water num. bers of flying fish. Many of them were caught in the dredge, and when taken out were found to be disabled or dead. 1 his occurrenoe was so remarkable that I waa led to ask the reason why, and at once set about finding the causa. Watching tbe from a position taken on the bow of tbe ship as she was slowly surging through the water, 1 observed a large school ol bontloa, who separated into three divisions. One look position directly ahead of the ship, tbe other two at some distances on either lw. Presently the party on the starboard at tracted my attention by a disturbance on the surface. I saw them driving a school of flying-fish, who, to svVid the bonitos. tiled to pass ahead of tbe ship, but they were prevented from doing so by the party on the larboard side. Frightened, then. by the bouitoa advancing towards them and flanking them on both sides, they took wing, and after a few moments of hesitation, flew directly towards the ship's bow, always pursued by their enemies. They were cor- raled to their fate. Hundreds were dashed arainst the ship's prow, and fell into the water, maimed or killed, to be immediate ly gobbled by the bonitos, who waited the ship's coming, passing astern to gorge themselves on their victims. This act was plainly observable from the stern ef tbe ship, where the movements of tbe bonitos could be studied. With Tulcmnlzers in which tbe re quired temperature Is obtained by con fining tbe steam, especially tbose used by dentists, the proper regulation or the temperature Is of tbe utmost im portance, and has heretofore been at' tended with difficulty. Tbe msual method la to regulate tbe flow of gas to the steam generator by hand ; but such method Is unreliable. Jrlr. w mum jt. Gwyer, of New York city, has patent' ed an improved governor for apparatus worked by tbe steam prestnre, and consequently the temperature, la main tained at a nearly uniform point. The Invention const its In a grs took opened by a spring and closed by steam pres sure, lor regulation oi ine now oi gas A sroM coating for steel : For small articles clean and plunge tbem In a mixture of six grammes each of sul phate of copper and chloride of tin In a quart i water. A Queer CaUIlnc A petite lady in a neat, though notice ably plain attire, and carrying an armful of books, brushed into an alcove in which a reporter was seated at Mercantile Library Hall, St. Louis, the other day. She begged pardon, and began a hasty retreat, when tbe newspaper man remonstrated and argued that the recess was common property. She acquiesced in this liberal view, and after depositing the volume seated herself within a few feet of the only other occupant. After quickly glancing over the title pages of half a dozen ot the volumes the lady drew a note-book from her pocket, remark ing that she had a two hours' task before her. This fractured the congealed water, so to speak, aLd a conversation was opened. "These are all books on tbe subject of writing letters, about which there is as much Ignorance, even in polite circles, as there is alxxit deferential circulars or the contents of the Koran. It has been em bodied in works on etiquette and cure-all-books that contain something of everything and nothing complete or absolutely correct about anything." "Have you directed especial attention to it!" "Well, yes, I bave, inasmuch as I have selected it to furnish the wherewith to keep body and soul together, a problem for which I find this following an intelligent, respectable and lucid solution. I am a professional letter writer." From her pocket she produced and banded to tbe re porter a neatly inscribed card, with the name, Aglae Beaumond, Letter Writer. 'Have you been located in this city very long!" "I have been here for two years. Pre vious to then 1 was in Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, Brooklyn. Dubuque, Milwaukee and a number of smaller towns. In .New York there are half a hundred persons do ing this work, but in this city there is scarcely any competition. The only other person I know who is a professional letter writer is a man at No. 701 Chestnut street, and his business is really teaching pen manship, though be advertises as a letter writer." "What is the character of patrons ?" "They are of all stations of life but really can be divided into two classes ; those that cannot write and those who are educated but desire to frame their crude thoughts in language with which they are not capable of clothiug it or else are particularly anxious to be absolutely correct both grammatically and rhetorically. Of course, one ef the first requisites is to write an elegant and a very varied style of hand. The first is ab solutely necessary, while the great need ef tbe second quality will soon suggest itself to any one adopting this queer mode of making a living. "Do ou devote your time exclusively to letter writing t" "Yes. When I first began this work, about five years ago in Cincinnati, I also did inscription work, writing cards, formal invitations, family records in bibles, and inscriptions in books, albums and similar presents. Since then I have found ample remuneration in letter writing." "Well, there is no market price regulat ing the sale, and I might say that I charge from nothing at all for some work and up to what you would consider a fabulous price for more. Tbe class of work you speak of is always done at bed rock prices, of course, for the usual customers for this are poor and uneducated persons. For these no great care is required, and I will give them a letter for nothing ; or, if tbey are anxious to pay and are capable of do ing so, I charge them 25 cents, or some nominal amount Y'ou will readily con ceive that this class of customers are not greatly solicited, though I must say that 1 havo worked hours in this way with the utmost pleasure. Much of tbe work I do is for young men and shop girls, and it is needless to say that the correspondence in these cases is all of the lovely stamp. I soon comprehended the necessity of writ ing a bold male hand when I embarked in this calling, and can dash off an accurately worded epistle or write a neat, sweet love letter in a hand that no expert in the world could pronounce a woman's. These letters are paid for in accordance with the ability of tbe customer. I have recti yed as much as $25 for a letter of this descrip tion, and usually charge 1 2 when of any nirth. Between 2 cents and $i the prices range, though, as I said, I frequently receive much greater sums for work." "W hat is your object in taking notes from so many books!' 'Well, they are all on this subject, and nearly all incorrect in some points. I am now at work on the manuscript of a book which I propose shall contain all the ex cellences and none of the glaring mistakes of these. 4 have written several magazine articles on this subject, and now intend to compile these and other article appertain ing thereto. I bave just returned from New York, where 1 have been for some weeks making arrangements for my book." 'You are, I suppose, tbe repository, of many secrets t'' "l es, I have some very queer customers and experiences, but 1 enjoy and am in structed by tbem. By the way, I am just meditating organizing an epistlelory society for ladies and gentlemen. iou cannot coaceive how much ignorance there is con cerning this, and even about addressing persons in this county. I have spoken with several ladies on the subject and think it will be a success." S oleee 1st die Telephone. Having remarked that telephones trans mit along with speech sounds ot an un known origin, the author has undertaken experiments in order to find out if the causes of these sounds are not tbose which oppose telephonic communication in great distances. To eliminate all possible sources of error, the following arrangement was adopted. A line ot twenty meters was laid on the floor of several rooms, all tbe doors of communication being closed. - It was connected at one end to a pair of telephones by means of flexible conductors, designed to arrest scunds which mieht eommunicate themselves mechanically along tbe metal to the telephone. The circuit was completed between these con ductors by another flexible wire, on the path of which was an interruption pedal. rendering it possible to cut the circuit without changing at all the nature of the communications between the line and the telephones, and to prove that tbe sounds heard bad an electric origin. Tbe operator acted at the other end of tbe line which was not connected, directly or by Induction, with any electric -generator. He observed that the current produced by the friction of two wires of the same kind or of differ. ent kinds and that produced by closing a pressure screw were henrd in the tele phones. It is easily understood that when suspended, telegraph wire serve for tele phonic transmission , this cause may occa ioa much trouble, sicca these lines are formed of pieces of iron wire connected to each other and to the stretchers by liga- turua, more or less perfect, which are in a state of constant agitation. But this cause of failure may be removed by soldering the wire Instead of tying them. Cnfortu- nately there is another cause; the currents due to tbe influence of the vibrations them selves. To verify this hypothesis, the author placed In the circuit, at the end op posite tbe telephones, a rod of iron 1.50 meters in length, and connected to the system by supple conductors. This rod was struck sometimes transversely and sometimes longitudinally with a hammer. The sounds occasioned by tbe blows were distinctly reproduced by the telephones with their peculiar characters. This ex periment if repeated with copper or brass rods, gave merely negative results. It seems that the phenomenon is only pro duced as an effect of the vibrations occa sioned in tbe wire. Future experiments must decide whether it is due to a molecular change which the metal undergoes or to a peculiar action. If, as It is probable, the vibrations caused by the wind act upon the lines of iron wires like the blows upon s rod, it appears difficult to correspond at greet distances with the existing means of transmission, till a method has been found of causing the telephones to speak by the aid of electric action so powerful that tbe currents arising in the line itself cease to be an appreciable cause of disturbance. To Jail He Went. They give a man a chance out West. In Deadwood, Custer, or any of tbose new Western towns, the spirit of fair play crops to the surface even in judicial proceedings. In March last, a Michigan man who keeps an eating-bouse at Gunnison, was over particular about taking a counterfeit half dollar, and in tbe row which resulted be was considerably battered. He therefore called upon the Justice of the Peace and stated his case and asked for a warrant. " I guess I wouldn't make a fuss over it," replied the official. " But he meant to kill me." "Yes, I presume so, but he'll leave town and that will end it." ".lut he's a dangerous man." "Y'es, they say so; but no one hi afraid of him." "Judge, do you know wbat be said about you when I told bim I'd have him arrested?" "No." '.'Well, he said you were a blamed grass hopper eater!" " Yes, but be didn't mean it." ' And he called you a reptile. " Well, be was mad, I suppose." " Yes, and he was mad when he said you didu't know enough to write your own name, and therefore couldn't iseue a war rant 1" "Did beaiy that!" "He did." "Then I'll issue on him like a ten ton avalanche on a yaller mule! The man who sneezes at my larnin' must bave a contempt for the judiciary." The warrant was issued the party ar rested and tried, and the verdict of the court was: Gunnison William, the verdict of this court is that you are guilty, and the sen tence is a fine of (25 in cash. This court cau't get over the fact that you vilified its mental calibre. It is also aware of the fast that you haven't a red to pay your fine with. Now, then, if you will meet this court back of this building on the level it will either git away with you in six and a half minutes or remit tbe fine. I want to prove to the citizens of Gunnison that in electing me to tbe judiciary they have cast their votes for a man who can spit on his hands in six different languages and git away with a bog-pen full of rouglis without having an ear scratched. Prisoner at th bar, have you anything to say ? The prisoner had. He said be d rather go to jail, and to jail he went. Tne Eleetrte Railway m ttarlln. It U announced by telegram that the electric street railway of Dr. Siemens, in Berlin, was opened for public travel on the 12th of May, with much success. A num ber of prominent officials and scientists were present. It is a narrow guage eleva ted street railway, mounted on posts placed on the street sidewalks, something like portions of the elevated railway in Jiew York, but on a smaller scale. Tbe new railway is located on the outskirts of Ber lin, and extends from the suburb known as Lichterfeld to Y'eltow, a distance of about two miles. The passenger cars are narrow and short, carrying only fourteen passcneer. 1 here are two tracks, i ne cars are propelled by a dynamo electric machine, which receives electricity through track and a suspended cable, from an elec tric generator, one at each end ot the line, each generator driven by a sixty horse en gine. An average speed of twenty miles an hour was expected to be realized. The original electric railways, which were tried as experiments at Berlin and Durseldorf exhibitions of 1S79 and 1830, were worked bv locomotives whose mecha nism resembled a fixed dynamo-electric machine. The rails of the line and the wheels of the locomotive engines were made of use to conduct the current of elec tricity and produce the necessary motion. The second conductor conveying the cur rent produced by tbe stationary machine to the locomotive was. c nnected with a system of brushes attached te the locomo tive. These brushes touched a high eded rail running in tbe middle of two other rails and h.ulat:d from the ground by a longitudinal sleeper. In practice, however, it has been found that this arrangement is exposed to serious interruptions. The wet, snow an.l mud which (according to the season) collects in the ordinary course of traffic upon tbe middle rail interfere very seriously at times with its conductive ca pacity. It has accordingly been deter mined on the Berlin electric line to couuuci the current by means of a copper wire properly insulated, and attached to pillars erected alongside tbe line, the current be ing conducted from the copper wire to tne locomotive by means of contact rollers. Win Shsald Bow nrtT A genllernan should always bow fir3t to a lady, no matter whether she returns it or not. if he sees by her face that she does not wish to return it be can refrain from bowing tbe next time. This is on the ground that a lady particularly an elderly o.e or a a society leader, perhaps, has so many ac quaintances that she does not remember all the young men who have been presented." This, however, does not seem to settle the question conclusively, for it may be that the young man has quite as many acquaint ances as the lady, even if an elderly one. He may himself, too, very likely be a so ciety leader; in fact, a very large number of the leaders of society at the present time are of hat would have been considered fifty years ago a comparatively immature age. Our own opinion is, and it has been arrived at after reflection, that both persons should bow simultaneously. Perhaps, in the case of very near-sighted persona, L'ttle latitude might be given, providing the fact of myopia can be clearly proved by medical evidence. There is however, always danger in these exceptions to social rules, and therefore it may be safer for near-sighted persons to bow in all cases of doubt, accustoming themselves to do this with uniform courtesy whether they are themselves recognised or not. The (Jolted Latchkey. Edward Burke a well meaning citizen of Ohio, lately took unto himself a fab daughter of the Blue Grass State for a wife. Unfortunately tor him, his pretty spouse was not tbe mildest-tempered woman living, and shortly after marriage she evinced a disposition to make his life miserable. For some time he bore np manfully un der bis severe probation, but at last, over come by the weight of his sorrow, and the disappointment of his fondest hopes he ap plied to a friend, one Ebenezer Bliful, for a specific to ameliorate his condition. Tbe latter advised him to join a certain dub, Tbe United Latchkeys, for the most part composed of bachelors, who met every evening. Furthermore, BUful, being a member, undertook to introduce him. That evening both wended their way to the club house. On the road Blifui in formed Burke that previous to being con sidered a brother member be must undergo initiation. He did not relish this idea, for he had beard what it was to be initiated ; but he was not the msn to falter, so he nodded approvingly. They arrived at their destination, and Bliful gave three loud knocks on the door. " Who goes there?" asked a deep voice from the other side. "Tbe ace of spades," responded he. The portals were thrown open, and they passed in under the leadership of a man robed in white bis face concealed by a black mask, and armed with a large cavalry sabre. They were ushered into a luil. resplen dent with the light of wax candles. On au elevated chair sat a man dressed like their conductor, but whose head revelled in a cocked hat. Around bim on chairs sat the remaining members of the society, masked and robed in white. As sooo as the three entered the hall, all stood up, aud the man in the cocked hat asked in a bass voice : " What unlielievvr dares to intrude upon the pr.vacy of our templet" Bliful answered: "A poor deluded married man. Most Worthy Chief, who desires now to become a brother. Tis well!" responded tbe Worthy Chief. He then struck a table near bim three times with a gaveL and the crowd gave three loud groans. Burke was now bbndfolded and conduct ed to a post which stood in the centre of the room. This be was commanded to climb. He did so and reached within a few feet of the top, when he thought he would descend, lie came down, and very rapidly, as the post was greased, a fact which escaped his attention in the pro ess of ascension. However, he did not reach the ground immediately as in the interval of his climb ing a tub of ice water bad been placed be neath him, into which he disappeared. After allowing him to float about pro miscuously for a few minutes, two of the members pulled him out, and unbinding his eyes, gave him dry clothing, and a few minutes to prepare for the next ordeal. They brought him forward again and be looked as prune and as fresh as a ro-e, after his ducking. A foot-ball was then placed before him. at which he was to kick. He asked if be might run at it and was answered In the affirmative. Mow, Burke was not backward in athletic sports, so be made a tremendous kick at the ball, but it didn't budge. And why should it, when it was kded with lead. It the ball was not put in motion, however, Burke was, for, with a cry of pain, he grabbed bis foot and waltzed around the room very rapidly. After awhile his unseemly exuberance o animal spirits was spent, and be was re quested to bring to the chief a poker that reposed in the corner. He seized it but Stop ; let me ask a question. v here is tue man who can bold on to a poker raised to a high degree of heat ? Alas ! with the stump speaker I must an swer, "Nowhere, sir nownere, anu i aery anybody to deny it." Burke was mortal so it is natural to ex pect that be dropped tbe poker, and imme; diately euiieavored to put bis whole hand into bis mouth. His initiation here ended, and, the mem bers throwing off their disguises, he recog nized amoag them many of his acquain tances who complimented him on his grit and endurance. They then gathered kt a table, and tbe bottle was passed around freelv. Burke became very tipsy, and arose to make a speech. Feller citterzens and women lolk he said, yer all see 'fore yer a wreck ot hu manity (hie) a man (hie) bowed down by weight of woe I Y'esh teller 'panions this is the winter of our discontent, and 1 fear gen men, I fear (hie) everybody ain't all right no shir t I'm quite sine somebody's wrong cause s ciety is based oa rotten foundations, gen men, as my friend Bliful will speechify " At this point the Club cheered lotKliy, and Burke sat down, with the corners of his mouth meeting at the back ot his neck. In other words, be was smiling actually smiling. The meeting continued half an hour longer, and during that time Burke talked about every imaginable thing, and sang more songs in five minutes than a profes sional singer could give vent to in an hour. After the members adjourned, he staggered home, and on the way excused himself to three ash barrels aud a bunp pool for falling against them. Arrived at his residence, ne got saleiy in, but net oeiore ne uaa wasieu iuuy fifteen minutes in vain endeavors to open the door with a button book, all the time muttering, "Somebody's been foolii.' with the com'iinashun ! Women na fnpltallata. Of the X34,,M5,SOO of 4 int 41 per cent, national bonds held in tiiis couutry by individuals, women hold Xiz.niz.soO. This by no means shows the interest of the women ia these bonds, for especially in tbe eastern and middle states, women own bank stock, ot are depositors ia savings banks, to a very great extent- If to this we add tbe fact that women in these days own real estate in their own names, and at their, .practically speaking, absolute disposal, we shall see thri the women of this country have a large interest in it. And this is a conservative factor hi our hiitory. Whatever may be said as to tbe matter of universal suffrage for women, there is no question that those who have property will seek to know something of the reason for its taxation, tbe mode in which the money is spent, and mote or less of the fundamental principles and duties of government, rior is there any more doubt that the intent of this class would be to obtain or maintain an honest and able and economical government. Tbe changes in our laws which have given the women so much right in and bberty of disposition ol her own, have been more equitable to ber than they bave been valuable in steadying tbe general judgment. VEWs IN BKJKF. Guy Fawkes was executed in MOS. The crown of England Is valued at 1U 000. Germany has $100,000,000 In silver tn circulation. Cromwell refused the crown ( England In 1S5S kterk eoHaty hat factories turn out 1,800 dozen a day. Victor U igobas a$3S0,C00 Inter est In a Brussels bank. A Broadway milliner has an In come of $30,000 per year. A Swiss colony Is about to settle in Laurel cojney, Kentucky. Dice was Invested and used exten sively in gambling 1500 B. C.J There are now about forty lady students in the Harvard Annex. Germany has put 1,300 miles of ber telegraph system underground. The circulation of the national bauks now aoieuat to $352,700,000. It 1 said tl.at there are 23,000 fenuulbe farmers in Great Britain. The Bink of England wa founded In lt'y4. The capital Is 14,533,001'. Incendiarism has been a capital ofleue in South Carolina since 1S7S. Tbe first volume of Gn. Beaure gard's history of the war is completed. The number ol miles of teleirraph wires In the world is placed at 4X1.573. About 3 000,000 copies of the re vised Testament have been sold al ready. The mileage of telephone wires in tbe United States is estimated at 00.0 Kl miles. The resignation of Gen. MeIikII has been accepted by the Emperor of Kussia. England manages to keep up ber ppirus on iaO.lOO.OOO worth of liuuor annually. The new Texas t'sDital will cost l,aO0,0O0,and will bo built bv a Detroit architect. The desert Interior of Australia probnbly affords the hottest cllm ite in the world. The population of Prussia Is .a the proportion of eleven Protestants to seven Catholics. More than 33.000.000 nound of honey are produced and sold in this ejur.try auuually. Nebraska has a school DODulatlon of 112,345 and an enrolment of 'J2.59I. with 4,100 teachers. Since 1S0C 9,000 divorces have been granted In Italy, Milan being set down lor no less than 8,000. The first normal school on rhU sl.l of the Atlantic was established at Lex ington, Ma's., In 17S9 Lord Caithness was buried In the chapel of Hulyrood which, stranga to say, remain roofless. J.iv Cooke has DaU all bla omllr.n In full and purchased his country seat Ogontz, near Philadelphia. In the whole commonwealth nf Massachusetts, only 4.353 women hav voted In the last two years. The gift of the Anelent Order of Hibernians to the Irish land league w-11 amount to about $25,000. Since gold was discovered In Aus tralia in 1351, ore to tbe value of $1,355,010,000 has been dug out. FLrtial records of tbe livestock In terests of Texas show a yearly yield ot something over 400,000 head ot cattle. The reportof tbe ilarvlebone 6'lub. the most prominent cricket club iu England shows a membership of 2,57!t. The Common Council of Bjcton has appropriated $18,000 for the cele bration of tbe coinln FonrtU of July. Louisiana and Florida are the warm est climates In the United Slates; Min nesota and Wyoming Territory the coldest. Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett. otherwise known as the husband of the Baroness Burdett-Coutt. will visit this country in June. In 1350, P-Sol hands were emnlov- ed In tbe uianutacture of agricultura' machinery. Last year 40.CSO were so employed. Tbe receipts of tbe Cunanl Steam ship Company for IStIO were close on 1,400,000 and the net profits abcut 200,000. Tbe gross value of tbe manufac tured silk products in the United States for tbe census vear 1SS0 was $40,875,235. The total debt of the United States oataUiullng Is now $2,050,243,433. De ducting tne casti in the treasury It Is $1.S4,072,6,J3. The Cowpens monument was un veiled at Snartansburg, South Caro lina. on tbe lltb o( May.lq tbe presence of 23,000 people. The school fund of Soutb. Carolini amounted to $351,415.50 In 1S30. There were2,'Ji3 sctioo! in the State, with 134.K72 pupils. two "toston Hotels, which last summer paid $ti a ton tor their ice, have this year contracted for their supply at $2.23 per ton. The Indian Commissioners con tracted In New York the other day for 20,000,000 pounds ot beef for Indians at $3.4t per cwU Moody ami Sankey will sail for Scotland in October. Mr. Moody is now at North field, Mass., ami Mr. Sinkey at Brooklyn. The gross earnings for April, 1881, ol forty-two railroads amount to $.', 235,494. For the same month last year hey w?re $9,1,2S4. The French ascribe the invention of bill birds to Heurio'is Devlgne, In tbe reign of .Charles IX., about 1571. Slate billir. a tables are very modern. A bronze statue of Dante has late ly been set up In the square of the Col lege de France, this being the quarter in which he lived when In Paris in 1302. A company baa been formed in Chicago with a capital of $00.000 to run tbw 300 Uerdic coaehes on the str e'J of that olty. The fare is to be five cents. Ex-President R. B. Hayes has been elected President of the Board of Trustees of the Green Spring Acad emy, recently founded at Green Springs, Ohio. Judge Robertson, the new Collec tor oi the port of New York, is fifty eight years old. His hair Is a gray white, and he wears a Urge goatee. His eyes are blue. The Revolutionary war cost the United Starts $133,13,703. Great Brit ain lost 0,0U men, Incurred a debt of 100,000.000 or $5o8,000;0t, and lost her American colonies. The United Brethren of Christ re cently held their eighteenth quadren nial session at Lisbon, Iowa. The de nomination bu a membership of 160.. (MK), and 3,243 churches. 4 if I. 1 i t I
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers