, f '
THE O0I8TITUTI0I-THE UHOI-AID THE ECTOEOQIEST OP THE LAWS.
Editor and Proprietor.
B. F. SCHWEIER.
MIFFLINTOWN. JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 6, I8S4.
NO. 6.
VOL. XXXVIII.
.....
1
60FTEX THE BLOW.
Sometimes we most strike,
Aoci it may be with might.
For to conquer the wroi g
And To uphold the rlLt;
But if one human heart.
Though it b at in t foe.
Is in danger of harm
Let us gotten the b ow 1
Irt us grudge not the time
That we give to another
W hen we plurk out the turn n
That ha wounded a brother.
When we ikuit in the balm
Ttat may sweeten his woe
He is under the rod.
Let us soften the blow I
Have we sad news to bear
To the ile.icate wife.
Better tidings of one
Long the life ot her life?
Must the chililrrn lie to'd,
Who no sorrow yet know,
That their home is despoiled
Let us cvften the blow !
To be gentle to all
Is a lesson well learned
When we take in the ones
Who our anger have earned.
For the tongue shall b praWed
That speaks eomfort below.
And the hand shall be blessed
That can soften the blow.
AS AWAKENED EOVE.
Abiel Grimes was an ol d bachelor.
Some people railed him . an old cut
mudgeon. and some people called him
an old hunks, and these titles were
reallv more truthful than flattering.
The fact is, as the world goes (and
the world goes bard enough with some)
Abiel Grimes was a pretty hard man
hard and cold, selfish to the core, cruel
when his interests were at stake; appar
entlv had no more feeling than a lamp
post no more charity than a tobacco
sign; seemed ever grasping for every
thing, never yielding up anything; liv
ng only for Abiel Grimes, and caring
for nothing beyond himself.
When he was twenty, Abiel Grimes
went to see a younz lady a very sweet
young iatly, everybody called her and
it wss at last rumored that they were
goir g to I married.
But one day, being caught out in the
rain, she allowed another youna man to
hold an umbrella over her while she
walked home by his s3e.
Abiel Grimes chanced to witness the
transaction, and l.ecame furious
dtorni'Eg, raving, and tearing rassion3
to tatters.
He did moie. lie It-ft Mary Albright
with a curse, and never visitod her
again.
She wept and sobbed and was very
disconsolate for a timer and then she
married the kind young man wo had
held the umbrella over ner.
Fronr. that t;me forward nobody ever
heard Abiel Grimes laugh
In fact it is doubtful if he could
lau-.'h.
lie drew into himfelf, like a turtle
into bis shell, and to the world he pre
sented an exterior as hard as that shell.
He bent his whole energies to making
money. And he made it.
Re owned houses and lauds, which
he rented to the rich and to the poor.
But woe to the luckless wight who
came up short on pay-day.
He loaned money on mortgages, but
b? never missed an opportunity to fore
close. He seemed devoid of pity and never
showed mercy.
Into the street went a sick father or
mother or starving children if he failed
to get his lawful duo.
He was no hypocrite, however; he
was consistent with himself.
He gave nothing to churches, because
as he averred, religion was a sham.
He gave nothing to hospitals, be
cause ieople had no business to be si ck.
He trave nothing to charitable sure
ties, because the poor ought to work for
their bread.
In short, he gave nothing to nobody
except Abiel Grmes.
And Abiel Grimes he pamered
There was nothing too good for Abiel
GH- s.
lit bought a splendid mansion, sur
rounded himself with luxuries, and kept
servants who were no better than so
many slaves in his regard.
lib sister kept house for him, being a
poor, quiet, timid, childish widow, with
no other home, nor any means to live
without labor.
Of ail davs in the year. Abiel Grimes
hated Sundavs and holidays.
Why?
Because he could not vex people in his
business transactions on those days, and
because poor people were idle and
seemingly hpppy, and he hated to see
people happy.
If he could have shut them all up in
black pits, and kept them to work there
all their lives for his gun and comfort,
he would have done s .
And of all holidays Abiel Grimes
hated Christmas, and its rejoicings and
festivities.
And in this state of mind, without
ever having had a day's Illness going
on prosperously in worldly gam, and
amassing riches Abiel Grimes reached
the age of forty-five, hale and hearty,
with a sharp face, iron frame, cold grey
eyes, thin hair, and a bald head.
Now it so happened that one hated
Christmas night Abiel Grimes returned
to his elegant mansion at the hour of
eleven.
It was snowing fast, and the streets
were mostly deserted.
The mansion looked grim and dark,
and oold. for there had Wea no rejoic
ing there that day, and the servants had
ail gone to bed.
Only the poor housekeeper was sitting
np lor her brother, to keep the hre
bright and his slippers warm, and his
water hot for his punch, and to be ready
to act as his slave, and minister to his
every whim.
Abiel Grime? ascended the high rear
tie steps in no pleasant frame of mind
It had been a long, disagreeable day
to him, because everytxuy had been too
happy to feel the venom of hate with
which he regarded them.
On the upper step he paused in as
tonishment, which soon merged into
rage.
Somebody liad left a ba ket on that
step a basket with a haudle to it;
basket filled with something which the
fast-falling enow had already covered
with a thm, pure mantle of white.
"The infernal carelessness or impu
dence of seine servant or beggar," mut
tered Abiel Unities through his shut
teeth, as he raised his foot and gave that
basket a vigorous kie-n.
He intended to kick it clear from his
cold, hard marble step not colder and
harder than his own marble heart
into the middle of the street.. But his
design miscarried.
The basket struck against the iron
ran, bounded back, fell over, and
small bundle rolled out.
Then from that small bundle came a
feeble wail a human wail a cry of
Innocence appealing to Heaven against
the cruel neglect and abuse of man
kind. . .
"A livinir child!" exclaimed the as
tounded and somewhat horrified Abiel
Grimes. "And if I've killed it there'll
I the deuce to pav."
Yes, Abiel Grimes, and the Lord to
settle with besides.
For a few moments an almost parai-
vzins terror had possession of this man
of iron, while another pitiful wail came
up to him from that living bundle at his
feet.
What should he do?
Leave the little thing to perish, and
have murder on his conscience aud the
coroner at his door?
Call a policeman and have it removed,
and a report reach the press in such a
garbled wav as to mix him up in a ridic
ulous scandal?
And then startling thought what
If it had already been fearfully injured
by bis brutal kick?
Mieht it not even at that awful mo
ment lie dvinc?
It was a cold night, but great beads of
perspiration came and st4od out on the
thin, hard face of Abiel Grime.
At that moment a rollicking party of
young men turned the corner of the
street, and came singing, laughing and
shouting forward.
In another minute they would pass
his door.
Heavens! they had already seen him
and what if they should hear and see
the child; and find it dying from his
brutality?
There were courts where men were
trial for murder, aud Abiel Grimes did
not like ta even fancy himself standing
in f he felon's dock.
Never did the trembling Angers of
that man work faster than in applying
the key, turning the bolt, and forcing
open the door of that palatial mansion.
Then he seized the child and the
basket, sprang into the marble vesti
bule, and shut the world out just as
those merry young bloods went singing,
laughing, shouting, reeling and rollick
ing past the dark frowning windows of
his hachelor abode
Hastening to his own elegant sitting
room, where his sister sat waiting for
him, Abiel Grimes fairly burst into the
apartment, white and trembling, with
the living and wailing bundle In one
hand aud the basket in the other.
'Here Griselda." cried he, as the sur
prised sister started up in alarm, '-here's
some beggar's child that I've just stum
bled over on my step, and I want you to
;ee if I killed it.
He did not dara to say he hail kicked
it over, even to her.
The poor filter had a k'nd heart she
had been a wife and mother, and had
lost both mother and child and she
tenderly took the poor little waif, un
rolled it. examined it, and then soothed,
and kissed, and hugged and fondled it.
till it opened its sweet little blue eyes,
and fairly laughed in her face.
Oh, you dear little darling!" she
cried, completely oblivious in her ab
sorbed delight to the presence of her
ogreish brother.
"Well," he snapped out at lenzth "is
the child hurt"
'Oh. no; she does not apjear to be,
Abiel."
"Then throw the she into the fire!"
he cried, with a savage stamp of his
foot.
Of course he did not mean to have
his sister literally obey his murderous
order, but only to understand that the
child must be put out of his way. and
that he would have nothing more to do
with it.
"Oh, Abiel, brother, let me keep it,
and rear it, and call it mine," pleaded
the lone-hearted sister "I want some
thing to love in my declining years.
Let me have this. see. dear Abiel,
how sweet the darling looks, and bow it
smiles, even now upon you."
And the little baby did at that mo
ment chance to throw out its little hands
towards the iron man, and did seem to
smile at him just as babies have before
now ieen known to smile upon their
murderers."
Bah!" grunted Abiel Grimes, as he
turned away.
But he had not escaped scathiess.
A beam from that baby's eyes had
darted into his, and that beam had car
ried a ray of God's sunshine from that
pure, innocent soul right straight down
into his. warming one tiny tittle spot, j
and excting one of the strongest sensa
tions of his life.
Abiel hunied off to bed, without
putting on his slippers or making his
punch, leaving his Eister Griselda alone
with the child.
She found and prepared some milk
for it, and secretly avowed it should
never leave her.
That night Abiel Grimes dreamed
that little baby's blue eyes were looking
at him; and be got up and hurried off
the next morning, as if to escape from
the little one and himself.
As he made no further protest his sis
ter kept the child in the mansion, but
out of his sight, and told tne servants
it was an unexpected Christmas pres
ent, which she prized morehighly than
irold.
OBe day, seven or eigui momus later,
Abiel came unexpectedly into nis own
sitting-room, and found the bright and
d avfnl little one tied in a cnair, nam-
merinz its little chubby fists on the
cushion before it, and talking to itself
in th unknown language of babydom.
"Hello!" said Abiel Grimes, halting
in front or it: "you nere vet. ma-
dame?"
"Jal la! iroo! goo!" answered baby.
lookinz uo with a laugh, and making
both hands and feet fly up and down as
if attached to springs.
Aram something shot from that pure
little soul into the dark, bard soul of
Abiel Grimes.
"Confound It." he muttered "I be
lieve vou're a witch!"
Ja I la I goo I goo I ja gooi" laugueu
habv all full of springs.
The next moment she was np in tnose
strong arras, and her little velvet cheek
was soltiy pressed against nis upa.
"I am clad I didn't kill you!" he said.
At that moment his Bister came hur-
rvuisr into the room, but paused with
fright and astonishment on seeing her
brother present, auo oaoy iu iua arms.
"The onlv child I ever saw that
could bear to handle. "he observed, with
a kind of sheepish look, as he placed the
little one m her arms.
Oh, Abiel, she is an angel sent from
heaven for the comfort or us ootnr
cried Griselda with a warming enthu
siasni.
The brother did not answer, and the
sister felt happy that he did not storm
atd rave.
The secret work of heaven had begun.
From that time forward, there was a
change in Abiel Grimes.
The Iron began to melt, the stone be
gan to soften, the soul begin to human
ize, and people who had known Abiel
Grimes for years, began to wonder.
One day a poo- man came to plead
for a little more time in which to pay
his rent.
"My little girl's very sick," he said
in a voice of distress, with tearful eyes,
"and I've beeu obliged to lose time, and
taie the money which I'd saved for you
to btiv medicine with for her."
"You owe me a month's rent!" eaid
Abiel, taking up his pen and beginning
to write.
"And if you give me time "
"You will never pay me!" inter
rupted Abiel, at the same time ban ling
the poor fellow a receipt in full for I he
amount and a five pound note,
"Take that, and go home and nurse
your darling; and if not enough for
your distress, come back to me again!"
"God bless you!" cried the poor man,
bursting into tears.
"He has already!" murmurred Abiel
to himself. He aid it one Christmas
night, when He sent me a little angeL"
"I come to tell you that my husband
is dead, and that I cannot at present
satisfy the mortgage you bold," said a
weening widow to him at another time.
"Take the mortgage iUelf down to
the recorder of deeds, inadame, aad let
him write 'satisfied' on it," was the re
ply of the once hard-hearted man, as he
banded the document, together with an
order for satisfaction, to his astonished
visitor.
Like the pent-up waters ot a stream
when the obstructions give way, so
flowed forth the charities of Abiel
Grimes.aud all who knew him marveled
and said:
"Behold a miracle!
Years rolled on, and a thousand
places felt the secret influence of that
baby darling who had come so mysteri
ously on that cold Christmas night to
the then bard cheerless home of Abiel
Grimes.
As his heart softened under her genial
smiles,the now humanized bachelor had
her named Mary Albright, in memory
of his first and only love, whom lie fan
cied she resembled.
And as she grew in years the once
gloomy mansion was made cheerful for
her sake, and every Christm is there be
came a happy day of rejoicing.
Ten years had pissed, and the thin
hair of Abiel Grimes was becoming
flecked with silver; but bis face looked
fresher, and his heart felt younger, and
his soul was happier.
Into his presence one day came a lady
in black, deeply veiled, and, to his utter
amazement, related the incident of his
finding a baby on his steps.
"I put that baby there,"she went on.
"It was not my child but my daugh
ter's child. I married, aud my husband
died, leaving me a daughter. She mar
ried, and her husband die!, leaving her
a daughter. Then she died, and the
child fell to me I was poor, and you
were rich, an 1 I hoped to interest you
in the lit) e .ink. I did not desert the
child, nor put it there by chance. I
knew you were coming home, and I
watched from my hiding place till you
took the little blessing in.
"Unknown to you I have had an eye
on It ever since. You have cared for it
tenderly, Abiel Grimes, andl feel that
In turn it has cared for your soul. You
have called it Mary Albright. Why?
Well, the name is answer enough. You
have seen a resemblance to one you
once knew, and once loved .but to whom
you did a grievous wrong!"'
"1 did!" burst from the white lips of
Abiel Grimes.
"She forgave you then- forgives you
still and has come to say that you can
have her grandchild for your own.
"Oh. give me herself also," cried
Abiel Grimes with powerful emotion, as
he seized the lady's hand and drew
aside the veil from the calm, sweet face
of his oid love, Mary Albright.
Need we go on with the sequel?
They were married on the next Christ
mas, and have ever since been counted
among the happiest of mortals.
And now, instead of curses, Abiel
Gnmesheaps blessings on every Christ
mas, and all the poor around heap
blessings on Abiel Grimes, and on his
sweet wife, and his good sister, and bis
darling pet, and on all that belong to
him and them.
Imperial Chinese Totnbe.
Among the mountains e.ist of Peking
sre the imperial tomos. me urea
Wall forms the northern boundrr of an
incloeure Ave miles square. Besides
thif, a wide tract outside the boundry
wall belongs to the mausolea, and la
forbidden ground, wherein man is not
permitted to build dwellings or to bury
the deait. Bban-ohih (164 62) and
four of his successors sleep here, with
the heavens, the h lis and the streams
around them. The earlier Manohu
princes are bared at Muvkden. The
tomlm are all alike in essential features.
built on the southern slope, with a
stream in front. In approaching the
tomb the explorer passes fir at two lofty
stone pillars, that serve as a gateway to
ngures of meu and animals la pairs,
facing one another oa opposite sides.
An ornamental archway opens upon a
curved marble bridge of several arches,
witn finely carved balustrade. Alter
orossing the stream the traveler passes
gnard-houses and the saormoiai nau on
the right and left, and eomes upon a
a small buildiig, iu the centre of which
stands, support upon the back of a
huge marble tortoise, the memorial
tablet, on which is written an account
of the deeds of the departed. Halls of
entertainment flank this building; and
farther on in a direct line are the chapel
of the dead, the bright pavilion, aud,
last of all. the earth palace or tumulns,
within which the ocffla lies. When
the body is laid in this earth palace the
door is shut. Behind the doer. Inside,
is a round hole in the stone floor, and
when the door is shut a large ball of
atone follows It, and, falling into the
hole. oreVL-n s the stone door ever open
ing again. The emperor is then said
"to be at peace forevermure."
The number of pupils who are now
studying German in the public schools
of St. Louis is over 20,000, or mere
than half tbe whole number of pupils.
Jf. S. Styles of Warrengton, Ga.,
watched for the robber ot his hen's
nest, and saw a half grown heifer go to
a nest and eat his contents shells and
all
Probably the wealthiest railroad
conductor in America is employed on
the East Tennessee, Virginia and Geor
gia road. He is said to be worth $30,-000.
Beaoty or sua Highland Girl.
The Sootoh are a wiry and hard
nduriDR rather than a musou'arly
massive race, though here and there
the Usandin ivian physique is found to
prevail. In the island of Lswis it is
odd to note how iu the north, where
the names of the villages and moun
tains have Norse terminations (boat
and bbal), the population is of the
stalwart, tall, fair-haired, Scandinavian
type, while the smaller black-haired or
red hair? d Celt occupies the son hero
hair of the island, lu which the names
of the streams and mountains and lakes
are exclusively Celtic The hand
somest man 1 have ever seen was a
boatman on the west of Skye, the calm
and serious dignity of whose fuce
seemed more suggestive of Leonard da
Vinci than of herring fishing, and the
handsomest woman I have ever seen
was a ycung married lady, who some
years ago happened to be traveling in
Clansman, and whose gently modulated
English in lioatod an Inverness origin.
When a Highland gi:L even ot the
peasant class, is pretty (and the phe
nomenon is not a very rare occurrence)
the prettinees is of a refined and intel
lectual type, the forehead high, the
eyes clear, full and contemplative, the
mouth floe, and the expression of the
face gentle yet firm. Wordsworth never
forgot the beauty of the Highland girl
be saw at Inversnaid. IndeeJ, it is
said be had to recur to that fount of
inspiration when he wished to pay a
poetical compliment to his wife. For
the rest, the way in which an educate d
Highland young lady speakes English
is one of the most delightful things in
the world, though no doubt tbe would
be very much turptiaed if she were
tol 1 she had aoy accent at all.
Sunset and tne Seasons.
Though the remarkable sunsets which
continued through the last four months
of 1S83 have not yet entirely oeasel,
scientists seem unable to agree upon
any explanation of the phenomenon.
Mr. Procter shows that the "green sun"
seen in the tropins and the 'red sua'
seen iu the higher latitudes must be
due to the same cause, and that the
matter in the atmosphere wbioh pro
duced the erange eff-ct could not he
at a lower level than sixteen m les. Ho
thinks we must "exnnlpste Krakotoa
from all part or share" in cinsing them,
as volcanic ashes could not be earried
to fie required attitude and over so vast
geographical areas, or remain so long
suspended, as to account for the dis
plays. The explanation that they are
due to unusually high strata ot moist
sir. with accompanying multitudes of
ioe particles, he thinks negatived by
the alaenoe of extraordinary meteoro
logies phenomena. Bat he advance
the hypothesis of "a cloud of meteoric
dust enoountereJ by the earth and re
ceived into the upper region of the air.'
and thenoe penetrating slowly to the
earth's surface.
The mist plausible theory seems to
be that which accounts for the phe
nomenon by supposing an excess of
snspended watery matter in some shane.
When seen in India the spectroscope
in the able hands of Professor Miohie
Smith, of the Mtdras Observatory,
showed that "the intervening medium
through which the sunlight was strug
gling was an extra damp instead o'
dry." But it is important to note that
if either of the three theories proposed
by different scientists is o irrect we
hsve a right to expect an extraordinary
heavy preciptation of rain and snow
over the northern hemisphere this
winter. All known volcanic- and me
teoric dnst gravitates toward the ear.h,
but the condensed vapor of the noper
atmosphere whioh clings to the float
ing particles must fall with them to
levels where it encounters the intense
cold of winter sntl-eyolones, and is
thus converted into rain, snow or "soft
hail. Unless all the above named
theories ot the cause of the strange sky
glows are at a fault, it would seem
highly probable that thU most re
markable phenemenon Indicates a wet
winter, which, however disagreeible.
may be a harbinger of better seasons
for the SKrieultural interests than were
those of 1883.
French nflaanoo oa tha Niger.
The Eastern Soudan has its false
prophet, but he has been preceded by
one In the Western Soudan. The chief
El Hadj Omar, leader of the Tonoon-
leurs, a branch of the great Foulau na
tion, subdued the various tribes of Ma
llnkes and Bambarras who had pre
viously beid the region, around and be
tween the Upper Senegal and the Upper
Niger and founded the sultanate of
Segu. At his death, the empire was
divided among his sons, of whom Ah-
madou rules at begu. some or. we
Barbarras have since become, to a great
extent, independent. At this opportune
moment, the French appeared upon the
scene. An expedition was sent from
the French possessions on the Senegal
to the Upper Niger, forts were erected,
and a railroad is in couse of construc
tion. The village at which t rencn in
fluence upon the Niger is now concen
trated is Bammoko. and is not far from
a series of rocks and rapids which di
vide the navigation or tfe river into an
upper and lower portion. The French,
adhering to their usual policy exempli
fied in their mode of warfare against
the American colonists In the last cen
tury, as well as by their present action
in Tonquin and in Madagascar pro
claim themselves the friends of the op
nrMml Paxran nezroes. whose lands
have been and are now laid waste by
the Mussulman cavabers. I he action
taken bv the French has already made
it-ir flt. and the revolt against the
tyranny of tbe Islamites has become
stronger. The Tonconleur Empire will
probably end almost as rappidly as it
commenced; yet the creed it professes
is pverv where on the increase in the
north of Africa, and the Fonlahs will,
even though French rule be imposed
upon them, pro Daw y remain me uomi
nant rare in the Western Soudan. So
great bas been tbe depopulation of the
region by tbe razzias of tbe Mohammo
dan cavalry, that it is estimated that
not more than 100,000 souls are now in
a position to make use or tne rauway.
The couse of a few years win, however,
alter all this, and the ultimate effect of
thA move unless balanced by a corre-
anondinir' move Inland from Sierra
Tivms on the part of the English, will
he to five the French the control of the
entire navigation of the Niger and to
render France paramount in Western
Africa.
Ilorso Brooding In Teaao.
It set ms only yesterday to stockmen
of Texas when raising horses was con
sidered rotorionsl unprofitable. Tbe
cowman expected to make money out of
bis cattle, and regarded raising horses
as simply a necessary sdjnnct to his
bns'ness Cow ponies he needed, and
it was cheaper for him to raie them
where needed, than to send off and bny.
The idea of raising horses except for
home use on a ranch was not enter
tained, for a' stock of horses could be
bought for a song selling often from
3 to 6 per head, with colts thrown in.
They were rot worth mnch care. The
"gentle bunch" alone received occa
sional attention.
Horses w. re not alwsys salable, bnt
eattle were: as a resnlt horses were
raised for use, and not for sale. Think
of selling 600 bead of horses for $20)0.
Ranchmen, In talking about their stocks,
wonld ssy: '"The horses will come ont
all right.tbere is always grass for them "
If asked why they did not breed better
horses, the response wonld b: There
ain't any rroney in it. These horses
sre good enongh to ran rattle with, and
that is all the nse we have for them."
The legitimate resnlt followed this con
dition of things. Ranches and ca'tle
iccreased, and horses did not. Ranch
men did not miss the water until the
well ran almost dry. Tbe above repre
sents abont the wav things stood then.
Almost at once, oattlemen all over Texas
discovered thst cow ponies were s sr,
and hard to find. Unheard of prices
were aked and paid for the stotk need
ed. Supply was not eqnal to the de
mand. Prices went higher snJ higher.
Even mares became valuable. As soon
as they hid a taDgibla worth, enter
prising dealers began to ship them
North and East
It was a surprise to fine thst they,
the pot-bel'ied. inbred prairie mares
and snrvival-of-the-flttest pony stal
lions, fonnd ready sale. Street car
companies tried them and bought more.
Liverymen fonnd them jist what they
wasted cheap snd serviceable animals.
Fanners bonght the largest of the
marrs as mnle producers, and now rais
ing horws in Texas is profitable. Stock
men are importing well-bred Bullions
for their own use. Companies are being
formed for breeding fine horses for draft
and road purposes. Cow ponies now
oommsnd from 850 to SCO pe' nead.
Herds are in demand st from 820 to StO
per bead, instead of from S3 to 8.
These are sot the prices breeders will
get for their horses in a short time.
A fifteen-band, five-year-old. sonnd,
broke gelding, is worth $100. and that
is the mimmnm price the horse-raiser
will get for him inside of three years.
Becanse he can be raised for $10 is no
reason that he will not sell for 8100. In
the State of New lorrk tne cost of
raising a hve-year-old horse is $300. It
will cost to ship a Texas five-year-old to
New Talk 813. Then why should not
the Texas-raised gelding bring S100?
A sound horse is the exception in that
country; so mno'u of spavins, ring
bones, snd sore tendons prevail, canned
by bard driving on pave 1 and macadam
iaed roads, as to really make those ail
ments almost, it uot quite, hereditary.
A horse that is sound there to-day, may
on the morrow throw a spavin, whioh
ruins him. Onr prairie-raised horses
inherit none of these tendencies, bnt,
on the contrary, their bones and ten
dons ara strong, tealthy aud perfect.
Theu why should not a sound, well
broke, fifteen hands, five-year-old gtld
ing, Texas-raised, be worth 8100'
M k nc Mate oa.
Curiosity is frequently expressed in
regard to the processes and machinery
by which matches are produced. The
article is so common, so neces-ary, and
withal, so multitudinous, that tbe in
quiry how it is made, is one which nat
urally suggests Itself. The methods of
a Utica, Y., establishment of this
kind are thus described:
(Hven the machinery, and the prob
lem of matchmaking is easily solved.
With the aid of tbe apparatue wmch
the Utica company has. two or three
men can turn out from 500 to 600 grosi
of sulphur matches per day. After the
mac ilnery bas been set in motion, tne
first step is to place a block in the splint
machine. With each movement of the
knife twenty five splints are cut, and at
the same time stuck between two slats
in the belt. They are then carried by
the movement of the be't through the
separator, and thence over heated pipe
to dry the timber sufficiently to allow
the dipping mixture to penetrate.
About fifty feet from the starting point
the belt passes under a couple of rollers
which press it lust enough to bring the
ends of the splints in contact with the
melted sulphur, which Is contained iu a
pan or vat and kept in a liquid state by
tbe heat from a small furnace sunk in
the floor underneath. A little t urther
on the belt is again depressed, and the
splints are drawn through a black mix
ture, which gives them the finishing
coat. From this point the matcues
fthev have by this time obtained that
dignity) pass down the hall, still travel-
inz as hitherto, at the heignt oi aoout
a foot and a half from the floor. At a
distance of 200 feet from the starting
point, the belt takes an upward turn,
and after ascending four or five feet,
the matches begin their return trip.
Passinir with the belt over the top or
the iron framework, at an elevation of
about seven feet, they come bf ck over
tbe splint machine, enter tbe room
where the other machine is located, and
are there knocked out, the heads all
painting in the same direction. As they
fall they are caught by a leather be.t
which moves slowly and carries tnem
to a table where they are taken off by a
boy, placed in trays made lortnepur
pose, and taken to the packing room.
The belt completes a circuit once in
thirty minutes, and during the interval
several thousand matches are nmsnea.
The match produced is superior in
aualitv. and will light readily on being
drawn across me winaow sutss. aius
is claimed to be a crucial test, and in
ferior ones cannot be ignited in this
manner. On arriving in the packing-
room, the matches are first placed in
small paper boxes. 100 in each box.
Tbe small packages are then placed in
pasteboard boxes containing one-six
teeuth of one-eighth gross.
A Confederals Rosa.
A strange flower, that is white in the
morning and red at night, has been
named the "Confederate Rose," on ac
count of its blending these two beauti
ful colors. The plant is odorless. It
'grows in great bunches, and Is ius
Iceptiblf of a high degree of cultlva
Fltmy Tree and Miniature Landscapes.
In some ways the Chinese and Jap
anese gardeners are the most successful
of any in the world. They can control
and direct the growth of plants to a
degree that seems really marvelous
until the principle upon which it is
done is known, when, as in many other
matters, it becomes quite simple.
The Chinese have such a strong liking
for the grotesque, and unnatural, that
the hard work of their gardeners is not
as pleasing as that of the Japanese
gardeners. The Chinese understand
the dwarfing of trees; but their best
work is in so directing the growth of a
tree or plant that it will resemb'e some
hideous animal which is only fit to exist
in a nightmare.
The Japanese, on the contrary, are
remarkable for their love of what is
beautiful and graceful, and", conse
quently, ngly forms find no favor with
them. Every Japanese has a garden if
it be possible ; but, as space is valuable
in Japan, only the very rich can have
large grounds, and the family in moder
ate circumstances must be content with
a garden often smaller in area than tbe
floor of one of our hall bedrooms in a
narrow, city house.
.Nevertheless, that small garden must
contain as many objects as the large
garden, and, of course, the onlv way of
accomplishing the desired result is to
have everything in miniature. It is no
uncommon thing to see a whole land
scape contained in a space no greater
tha'i the top of your dining table.
There will be a mountain, a stream, a
lake, rocky grottoes, winding paths.
bridges, lawns, fruit trees, shrubs, and
flowers ; all so artistically laid out as to
resemble nature, itself. In the lake
will swim wonderful, filmy-finned gold
and silver fish, and not infrequently
the tall form of a crane will be seen
moving majestically about the tiny land
scape. This seems wonderful enough ; but
what will you think when I say that
almost the same landscape is reproduced
on so small a scale that tbe two pages
of St. Nicholas, as it lies open before
you, can cover it 1 In this case, a tiny
Louse is added ; delicate green moss
takes the place of grass, and glass
covers the lake where the water abould
be. Counterfeit fish swim in the glass
lake, and a false crane overlooks the
whole scene, just as the real crane does
the larger landscape. The mountain,
winding walks, bridges, and rocky grot
toes are in the little landscape and ;
real trees, bearing fruit, or covered
with dainty blossoms, are in their
proper places.
These trees are of the right pro
portions to fit tbe landscape, and they
are, consequently, so tiny tht one is
tempted to doubt their reality ; and
more than one stranger bas slyly taken
the leaves or fruit between the lingers,
in order to make sure that the d war f
do truly live, and are not. like the fish
and crate, mere counterfeits. These
miniature landscapes have been suc
cessfully brou?ut to this country ; and
on one occasion a lady of San Francisco
ued one of them as a center piece on
the tale at a dinner party, greatly to
the wonder and admiration of her
guests, who could scarcely be con
vinced that the almost mlcroscropic
apples on the trees were genuine fruit.
And now comes the question how is
the dwarfing done? The principle is
simple. The gardener merely thwarts
nature. He knows that, to grow
properly, a tree requires sunlight, heat,
moisture, and nourishment from the
soil. He takes measures to let the tree
have only just enough of these to enable
it to keep alive.
lo begin, re takes a little 9eedlingor
cuttirg. about two inches high, and
cuts off its main root. He then puts
the plant in a shallow dish, with the
cut et:d of tbe root resting against a
stone, to retard its growth by prevent
ing nourishment entering that way.
Kits of clay the size of a bean are put
in the dish, and aie so regulated la
kind and quantity as to afford the least
possible food for the little rootlets whioh
have been left on the poor little tree.
nater, heat, and light are furnished
the struggling plant in just sufficient
quantities to bold lite in it without
giving it enough to thrive on. In addi
tion, any ambitions attempt to thrive,
in spite of these drawbacks. Is checked
by clipping with a sharp knife or searing
witn a red-hot iron
Vandals In Wheeling.
The meet sensational attempt at grave
robbery which bas ever happened was
mart recently near Wheeling, Ya. Tb
would-be despoilers of the grave are
unknown, and co cine to their identity
bas been obtained, but their work shows
them to be experts, and only the extra
ordinary security of the vault prevented
tbe sncoess or their effirtc.
The scheme was a deep-laid one, be
ing no less reckless and sacrilegious a
design than the stealing of the remains
of the hiiht Kev. Bishop R. V.Whelan,
late Cdtholio bishop of the diocese of
Wheeling, whose bones rest in a vaoll
beneath the floor of tbe Whelan memo
rial chapel at Monnt Calvary cemetery,
in the eastern suburbs ot tbe city.
Bishop Wbelsn died in 1874, and was
bnried July 7 of that year in a secure
brick vault, the chapel a'terward being
erected over the spot. The only object
imaginable to induce an attempt to steal
the body ot the bishop is to secure the
large reward that would probably be
offered for the r- turn of the remains in
the event of the theft being successfully
accomplished. The temptation which
the seclnsiou of the cemetery and the
distinction of the deceased prelate nnite
to throw in the way in the way of
gh.onla had been taken into considera
tion, snd tne vault nau oeen snrrounoeu
with nnnansl Faleguards against tmeves
The door of the obapel.tnough strongly
bolted and locked, was forced open with
tie sid of a jimmy. Ths heavy floor of
the room was removed. The earth was
then dng out from one side of tbe vault,
and a portion of the brick snd atone
work was torn away. The inscribed
nlato on top of the vanlt was also
loosened from its fastenings.
It is supposed from the condition in
wh'ch everything about the chapel and
vanlt was fouud on Friday morning that
the wonid-be robbers worked all night
to accomplish their purpose, and flod.og
that they would be unable to finish theu
work before daybreak, left the oemetary
witb the intention of Faying a second
visit. The excavated dirt, the bricks,
the flooring, and the oilo'oth were re
pla i as caret ally as possible and tbe
chapel door closed.
At this time or the year the cnapei is
seldom entered by any one, and the dis
covery was only made by a mere chance.
The sexton, Mr. Burke, was passing by
thedt or and casually eaught bold of the
knob aud turaed it, when, to his enr
prise, the door swung open. The s-x-ton
made a hasty examination of the
premia and everything was appreuti
til right, bnt olueer scrutiny revelled
the fact that the door fastenings bad
been pried off and afterward replaced.
This U to s more thorough search,
with the result described. Word was
at once sent to B slop Eain, and for
two nights armed offioers wjre secreted
in the chapel fully prepared to g va a
decidedly warm welcome to tha noctur
nal visitors, should they again make
their appearance, which, however, tiey
failed to do.
Mgr. Sullivan stated that, in his
opinion, tbe gbouls could not havs
reached the coffin containing the bishop's
remains if tbey bad been granted a fort
night in which to accomplish the wort.
He ennsiders the vaalt completely ghoul-
proof, bnt there is a differenos of ooiu
ion in regard to this. Taere is intense
excitement throughout the city over the
affair.
The Passion mar.
An eastern letter-writer says: It has
been my privilege to witness what trav
elers nil the Persian Paseion Play. T le
Persians claim that All, the son-in-law
of tbe Prophet, was rightfully the im
mediate successor to tbe kaliphate.
Upon the death of Hussein (one of the
two fous of All), the Persians founded
their great religious festival, which occurs
in. and takes Its name from, the month of
Moharetn. In the Mohammedan year. Not
only in their own countrv, but even in
CoDS'antinople, they celebrate the day
with a grief apparently as freh and f He
naot as if tbe tragedy had occarred bnt
yesterday.
We passed the entraace, and found the
court packed. In tbe midst of a throng
were two farted banners, behind which
stood a borne covered with rich iJrsian
shawls. Two long lines of men were
drawn np facing each other at a distance
of twelve feet apart In a space wbfrn was
readily kept clear for them.
There were about 200, all with bare
shaven beads, their dress mainly a white
raiment extending from tbe neck before
and behinr' town to tbe hips.
Tbe Consul welcomed and gave us
chairs, and we sat down until the ceremo
nies should commence. Ripes were
drawn in front ot ns to define tbe line of
march, and st tbe same time to keep the
mon away from ns. a strong g-iard of sol
diers with fixed bayonets standing in the
ring.
At intervals of about thirty feet all
along the route of the procession standards
were fixed iu the ground, supporting st a
height of live or six feet large receptacles
ot open iron work filled and heaped with
wood to furnish light for tbs occa-ion.
Men went around lighting tbe Simbeaux
of which I have spoxen. They biased
high and brightly, making it very easy to
see with a good deal of distiactness what
wis going on in tbe court.
Almo-t immediately after they bad been
lieh'ed we heard tbe sound of whst we
knew to be tbr procession on its way. At
ttrst it was a chant that we heard, with a
sound as of bare feet on tbs pavement,
keeping time to tbe rhythm; then a vo o?
would rise above the others, yet fine, clear,
and pure Id tore, and, as it soared up tbe
other voices busbed, as did tbe music and
othe- sounds around it.
It was tbe recital In Eastern song of tbe
harrowing story they commemorate, and
sung by one who.e snle profession is to
touch the hearts of tbe hs-.ewia. Tie
voice was beautifully musical, sod it
tbriliel and quavered through tbe peculiar
melody, while tbe dead si'ence around tes
tified to its effec's on tbe people.
When it ceased a great shout arose as
of some name or names uttered by all. and
then the cbantii.g and marching were re
sumed. It seemed a long time for then to come
to a p Int near enough for ns to see them.
When they did come, we saw fl st the two
banners, then several men, naked to tbe
waist, snd each thrashing his own tsck
with a branch of chains, wh'ob be wielded
with all bis might.
After tbein came a bone rich'y drck'd
sod bearing a ll'tle girl of sotj three or
tour years, absolutely swathed from bead
to foot 10 blvk. B'ack bands p-nlv con
cealed her Ut litt'e lace, and with her
nan.ls. which were free, she was throwing
ashes over her he I.
She was followed by a long procession
of men besting their bare bmasts with their
palms, some violently, snd all groaning,
ilaasao, Hussein," to tnis accompani
ment.
So they moved psst us very slowly, on'y
a few inches at a time, and we could see
that ths regular beat, as ot tramping feet,
we tad beard at a distance, was really
alone this body ot men pounding their
cbeta.
Three times the procession moved be
fore us la the same order, and witn the
same characteristics as at nrst, tnoun
more rapidly, and seemingly with in
creased numbers.
At lbs fourth circuit et the khan, follow-
la: tne men with chains, whose backs
kjoksd black where tbey bad been beaten,
but who were working with the same en -ergy
as before, were three horses. Tre
white trapping ot the first were sprinkled
with blood. Upon us saldla stood two
white doves, whose plumage was dabbled
with blood, and upon tbe pummel of tbe
saddle were fastened two short, curved,
naked swords. The second also bad
bloody trappings which was stuck full of
long fea-.bers, mala to represent arrows.
Then came the horse bearing tbe httre
iri-
But after toe Dream-oeaiers wan ioi-
lowed we could at first see a gleam of
white, and now and then the gli'ter of
steel; and when they came near 400 men.
with swords, snd clad as I note I at nrst,
tbe white almost covered with bood.
which flowed freely from tbeir beads, tbe
swords brandished and nlooay, tbe men
bowling lire demons. Each clutched wub
bis left hand tbe girdle of his companion.
while he nstd tne sword in bis hand to
hack swsv at his own bead.
Then tbs beings who bsd so terribly
mutilated themselves began to cross tbe
darkened court, tbeir beads bound np in
the once white aarments tbey had wore,
and tb3ir faces covered with tbe gore that
bad dned upon them.
Borne ot the A could not wilt alone.
and bad to be tuppjrted on each side; but
most ot them clang to tbeir sword as If
tbey could not trust tbeji out of-their
hands for a moment even.
After one of them bad left bl wsapon
ia tbe bands ot another friend and bad
gone away, we approached and asksd him
if be would sell it.
"No.'' be raid, "l will no, sell it.
Tbe sword bas become sacred with blood
of a believer, if yon want sworls, buy
tbeoi la the hi
The Clvde is Stt miles long, drains
an area ot 945 square miles, and dis
charges into the Atlantic Ocean 43,
000 cable feet of water par minute.
Maine's Sardines.
Nice-tenths o' ;ue anr lines consumed
n the Uoi eJ Ul.-s roaie from Maine.
Very few of the r-a! French fish are im
ported cow. Tae Tanker said nes are
nothing but smttl herring put up ia
boxes, witb gaudy Uhels and Krenci In
scriptions. Ia E .ip rt ttiere are nine
tten places where they turn om, sardines,
besides three at L'lbec, two at Jones
port, and one eac'a at 5MI,rir,ge, La
in one and Kb' lnstim In 1876 a Aew
York firm did a lucrative bnsirms pick
ing "K'lssisn snlirM-9" In import
these were little herring packed in small
wooden kegs and preserved wi'b rpices
of different kinds. It occurred to one
member of the bs that these little flab
might be nUizsJ to better advantage by
cooin them and packing then in oh re
oil, like the french sardmej. The experi
ment had been tried several years before
without success. The fliiBjj'.ty was to
eradicate the tasie of th? herroj. It was
easy to cook the hairing, pack them in
olive oil in tin cans, and seal them air
tiglr, but when they were opened thay
bad not the rich, spicy fUvor of the reu
uiar French sardines. After a great many
experiment, one of the manufacturers
succeeded in procuring a mixture of oils
and spices which rtmoved the d.fflculty.
Tbe herring c-ed for making sardines
sre about four inches long, and sre taken
in great qua ilitits aloig the Maine and
New Brunsvi;:; rxmsi. They can be
bousrht of the fteiieruien for about $3 a
boeshead, aithoni.l when the flsh are
scarce, ss tbey ot en are In ths spring,
they bnoz as much as $13 a bogahead.
To edeh tbe C-U s na'l. trees or brash are
thrust into the sandy bottom of the sea,
arranged ia a lice running out from tbs
shore some 75 or 100 feet, and then curved
ba-k like a bor9eahoe. Inside this trip is
a net. When tbe title is lulling the net is
raised, and tbe Csh are ta ceo out with huge
scoop ne:a. The citci is always very
uncertain; somniiuos on' 7 a bushel or twj
will be taken, and often so many are
caught as to endanger the nut.
There is acolhcr way ot capturing tbs
tlsh. H?rnnz, like m-ickerel. go la
schools, and, fur some reason, always fol
low tbe liubt. Two or tLree O.-hermen
provide ihtmrclves witn torches made of
potion batting satnra'ed witb kerosene.
an l cn a irk nights row a'ong tue snores
w. lb a toruii in ti e bo of ibe boat. Wbta
tbe school is f juj'l the herring dart af:er
the boat, emiog so close tht tbey are
dipped up in nets a'tactud tJ short poles.
After being captured the Sell are taken
immediately to tbe factory and laid In
heaps upon lorg tables. Tb? first thing is
to decapitate and ci: ta the fUh. The dex
terity with which this operation is per
formed by the chi dren who are employed
is remarkable. Oa an avenge seventy
five nsb are cleaned and decapra'el every
minute by eacn child. B;tu operations
ve performed witb one stroke of a sharp
k .life. A liox hohi.n ; aoout a busbsi lies
at tbe feet cf each operator, and as the
cleaning is completed the bib aiida lata
tbe box. The pi? for tbu work is ten
cents per box, and no of the children
mska a dollar and a half a day.
Atter beia wusued liia bernag are
pickled fur ha.t an hour, and are then laid
upoc trays and placed in a l&rga drying
r torn bea'ed by steau. After dryin? the
fl.-h are tnroxn into lare, shallow paris of
baling oil and th.mu;h!y cooked. They
ate then packed in tin ones bf girls and
women, ani in each box !s poured a q nn-
tity of tbe pneut mixture o! ails aui
spices. Civers are then fl ted to the
boxes and sealed oa by m.a. As air
must be exciuled, lUe cans, when sealed.
are placed in a tack ot boiling wit-r when
(bey remain bait an h ur and are then re
moved and placed on as inenned plane, so
that the air inside rashes to one coiner of
the be x. This corner ts p-mctured with
an awl, tbe hot air esc-ipes, and lb9 can
is made air-tigut by a drop of solder. Tbe
boxes are then ornamented, with attractive
French labels, stating that the inclosed are
"Sirdmesa la Fraai:a.8;' soiae are la
beled "a l'buile d'oilva.'' Tbe oil ueed U
cotton-seed oil, such as Is mad : la So-itb -Carolina.
It is not always tbe best quality
f oil. The best oil is uae J, however, for
the dth sold as "prim". "
Brica-Rrae.
A marshal of tue Urvted S'ates,
whose bailiwick comprehends an impor
tant Southern State, tells a story of a
seizure reoent ly made ui.d -r the re' enue
laws that embrae-e-J four kegsef wbisiey
and oae keg of water. W nen the usual
notice was published for the owuers of
the i r iperty to come forward and de
feud the libel proceedings, there was a
prompt response, so far as the whiskey
was concerned, out tne untonunate
ruilet of uqua pura cou d find no one
to put in hii appearance on its behalf.
The sp rits were rescued from the
clutcli-3 o the law, and while the judge
was filling oat the order to restore it to
its owners, the marshal spoke up and
said:
'This s.ttles the whiskey case all
right, vour honor, Lut what am I to do
with this keg ot water."
"Sell it." responded the Judge briefly
as he h inded over the authority to dis
pose of this also.
"But, J uuge, who in tne tuunaer ao
you suppose i can una iu tne siie ot
to bid on a Keg or water.'"
"That's all nsht." said the judge.
uTou go ahead, do your duty, aui put
tbe property up ataujtion. 1 ou'll find
bidders, borne one or tnese reu-no3ea
old citizens here will buy it as a curi
osity. It will be regarded by thetn as
a piece of bric-a-bra3, to ba placed in a
proujuieuL jiivjo i'i fii-n v"11'3-
Pckla.
ft-kin is tbe only Caioete city with
straight and broad stre-ts. but these are
eatirelv without pwement or macadam,
and. frequented by thousands of vehi
cles, camels and hordes, are full of mud-
holes in the vile tilth of wbtcn tbe ani
mals are buried chest-deep in times ot
rair, while in tbe dry season tbe black
soil, triturated for centuries, is converted
into tbe finest duV. wbici obscures the
atmosphere, impeles respiration and in
vades tbe precincts ot tue most retired
private houses. Tbe city is totally un
sewered and nncleanlv; garbage an i or
dure forin repugnant hillicii before
every house; dead animals putrefy in tbe
streets without disvneting any one, anu
the inhabitants ot the male sex, with a
cynicism which shocks newcomers among
tbe European population, attend i an
tbe calls o! nature in tbs public street
Filthy pools of water ia front of tbe
bouses, mud, dust cba-ged with ammo
nia and the scents if decomposing ani
mal matter compose a sickening at'uos
pbere which notie can form so ides of
without experience. In no pirt or the
world does mendicity present ltlt nn lcr
more horrible f wm. - A moo r masses of
rajs without djoue color Cin be seen
laces and members witb all tbe diacol
oratsoos, wouada aud deformities that can
be imagined; squaild bodies and skeleton
hands that seaic wiih avid.ty tor irsefj
para-ites and crry them to tbe mouta