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
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