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TIB OOX8T1TUT101-TSE UTI0I-1ID TEE DTrOianfEJT 07 THE LAYS.
Editor and Proprietor.
B. F. SCHWEIER,
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. "WEDNESDAY. APKIL 2, 1884.
NO. 14.
VOL. XXXVIII.
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ONLY A WEAK EM AN.
Only a brakeinan ! killed by the train;
Only a brakeman ! by accident slain
Onward, rush onward, no time for delay;
Blow the shrill whistle and hasten away.
Only a brakeman ! cried the wild throng;
Only a brakeman t been called by Death's
gong.
Why should the eye glisten? Why should
the heart ache?
'Tls only a brakeman who's set his last
brake.
Only a brakeman! is flashed through the
air;
Only a brakeman ! for his body prepare;
On the morrow 'tis shipped as poor com
mon freight
As only a brakeman who has gone to his
fate.
Only a brakemanl the editors write;
Only a brakemanl 'twas late in the night,
lie was doing his duty the train bruke in
two;
When down to his death, the brakeman fell
through.
Only a brakeman I but the pride of some
heart
Only a brakemanl but in some busy mart
Are eyes that are weeping, and homes that
are hushed.
Because a poor brakeman was yesterday
crushed.
Only a brakeman! but a true hearted boy;
Only a brakeman! but a fond mother's joy,
For whom there's no inutile for the coarse
iron wheel
That grinds on her heart as on the grooved
steel
DSEAM.
1 am a little skeptic about dreams,
spirits, warnings and everything else of
that description. I put no faith iu
haunted houses, spirit rappings and the
like; but I heard a story hist year which,
althoughjit had not shaken my opinion,
still to me it remains a mystery wholly
inexplicable.
1 had been ill all winter, expenses
had been heavy, and whea vacation
came Niagara, Newport and even
Coney Island were sealed books for me.
"Where should I go?" was the question
I had ask myself a dozen times a day
without any satisfactory answer.
Walking down Wall street one morn
ing with the inevitable question run
ning through my mind, I was nearly
staggered- by a blow from a familiar
hand. "Halloo, old fellow, in the
clouds 1"
"Why. Scott, you here?" I answered;
"I thought you were basking in the
smiles of your fair Dulcinea."
".No; she has gone West this summer.
Saratoga, in consequence, becomes a
howling wilderness. So here I am en
route lor Nova Scotia to visited the old
homestead. Come with me I"
Here was an answer to my question,
and I at once availed myself of it. 1
rather surprised Scott by the warmth
with which I accepted his invitation
and by my assertion that 1 could be
ready in two hours.
"Very well, old fellow; hope you
won't iind it dull. 1 have no pretty
sisters, you know."
Two days afterwards we landed at
Yarmouth, ami i welve hours' ride in
au oid-fashioav.J st-ige coach completed
our journey.
Fort St. Cyr is along, narrow village,
straggling up a hillside. At the foot
of the hill is a post-oflice and variety
store, and at the summit is the meeting
house.
I was warmly welcomed by Scott's
larents and for a week or so lived in a
kind of idylic dream, fishing, rowing
and smoking.
In one of are fishing expeditions
Scott and I had rowed considerably
farther than we intended, and the fog
closing in suddenly, as it does in those
regions, made our homeward row rather
dangerous. Still, we attempted it, and
after two hours' hard work found our
selves no nearer our destination than
before.
"What shall we do now?" I inquired.
"Make a night of it?"
"No necessity of that; but I really
don't like to try the inlet in tbe fog, so
I'll take you around to Arne's Point.
It may amuse you."
Arne's Point is a ruggy promontory,
extended far out into the bay. Near
the extremity is a round tower used for
a lighthouse. The land about the light
house is bare and rocky, and nine
miles of woodland lies between the
point and tbe nearest village.
"What a wild dreary place," lex
claimed, as we moored our boat and
sirari g up the steep sides.
"Wild enough," replied Scott, "but
inhabited by an old couple as hospitable I
as Baucis and I hilemon."
A few moments later we were safely
housed in the old lighthouse, enjoying
a plentiful repast, spread for our bene-lit-
"Are you alone. Aunt Patty, nowa
days, wheu Uncle Eben goes to
Baring?" asked Scott after Aunt Patty
had informed him that her husband
was absent.
"Sometimes, child, but now Minnie
l)rew is with me most of the time."
"Little Minnie Drew! Isn't it too
dull for her?"
fcShe is so lively and gav," replied
Scott.
"She was, you mean. Poor child;
she is not quite herself since she lost
Ben."
"Bea Hartley I Why, what has be
come of him?"
"It is a sad story, Master Harry.
You have been away so long that you
know nothing about your old play
mates." "That is so, Aunt Patty. No one
writes me from home except mother,
and her letters are full of advice to
her unruly son."
"Well, Minnie -will tell you herself,
no doubt. It does her good to talk
about her trouble."
She quit the room, and a few mo
ments after a tall, graceful young girl
entered.
While she and Scott were exchang
ing greetings, I had time to observe her
ueiicate features, rich brown hair, large
gray eyes, which must have been beau-
uiui when lit up with joy and felicity,
hot now seemed heavy with unshed
tears.
Later in the evenine our conversation
tumed on dreams, and I declared my
"na unbelief in any warnings connected
won mem.
"You do not believe in warnings.
sir?" asked Aunt Patty. "Ah 1 if you
naa seen dreams come true, as I have."
i believe in warnings," said Minnie,
iu a musing tone. "Ah, poor Ben!"
"Do you know, sir," she resumed,
turning to roe, "I once dreamt of the
death of a dear friend, and it was true;
"las! too true?"
She buried her face in her hands.
" all maintained a sympathizing
silence. Finelv she lifted her head.
and, turning toward Scott, she said:
kl itl 1 1 C O AJ. 1 T 1
au. aeon, you miew ixu, anew
how brave and noble he was. That
last day I saw him I never can forget.
He was so loth to go. After he had
bid me good-by he came back and says:
'Minnie, I cannot say good-by. It
seems as if I must stay.' And then
he sat down on the milk-room window
seat, looking the picture of despair.
"I was washing out the milk pans,
and felt quite bad also, but I tried to
cheer him up, so I said: 'It is only for
a little while, Ben. You will soon be
back.'
' I know;t,but yet ''and burying
his face in his hands he sobbed aloud.
"There is nothing so pitiful as to see
a strong man cry. I hurried to him
and comforted him as well as I could
"'Well, Minnie,' he said at last, 'I
must go. Good-bye, darling; whatever
you do, don't forget me.'
"One parting kiss and he was gone.
"Ben and I had been lovers for six
months and more; indeed we had been
keeping company, as the saying was,
much longer. Now, after this voyage,
we were to be married, if it was a
prosperous one.
"Ben was terribly loth to go. Never
had I seen him feel so bad about leaving
home before. We had parted so often,
for Ben was a fisherman, and we Usher
wives become used to jartiiig with
husbands and fathers. I still sat iu the
milk-room, lost in reverie, wheu Ben
put his head in again,
"Good-by. Minnie; don't forget me.
It seems as if I should just as lief die
as live if you go lack on me.'
" 'Go back ou you, Ben! You know
better.'
" 'I trust so,' he said, as lie walked
away.
"I stood watching him ouj of sight
when auntie came in.
" 4 Watching Beu out of sight, Miu
nie? Don't you know that is unlucky,
and why has he come back so often?'
Auntie walked off, shaking her head.
"I went about my usual work, but a
dismal foreboding Ulled my heart.
"My lather and brother were lioth
lost in ttie bay while fishing, and my
uncle had been drowned the year before
on his way to set his nets.
''Nevertheless, 1 had let Ben go, sea
son after season, and never felt any
fear until now. I tried to shake It off,
but I was scarcely myself all day.
"Towards evening Charlie Snow,
Ben's cousin, came in.
'Well, Minnie, iu tears?" he asked.
" 'No, I am not in tears; but, Char
lie, 1 should really like to get some
word to Ben,' I answered.
"Uun up stairs and write your word.
The Snowdrop will ;iay off Barrow all
night, and I'll take it around to him,'
he said, good-naturedly.
" 'Will you? Oh, how good you aie,'
I replied, and ran up to my room to pen
as long a note as I bad time for to Ben.
"I told him to t;ike eaie of himself;
to be careful when he went out fishing;
not to swear, and be as near a-Christian
as he could, and with a few more words
of counsel 1 sealed the letter and hur
ried down to give it to Charlie.
'"How kind-hearted and unselfish
you are,' I said as he prepared to de
part. " 'Not as unselfish, ierhaps, as you
think,' he answered, and Auntie called
after him some remark about Nettie
Grev. living at Barrow.
"After Charlie's departure I felt
more light-hearted, and, singing song
after song, I went gayly about my even
ing tasks. Several callers came in, and
it was quite late when I retired.
"It was a bright moonlight night,
and as we were short of oil I went to
bed without a light. I drew up the
blind and let the soft moonlight stream
into the room.
'I lay down to sleep, and I remember
hearing the clock strike eleven before I
went off into a doxe.
"I had such a curious dream: I
dreamt some gieat danger threatened
Ben, and 1 thought I was striving my
utmost to avert the danger, which grew
more teirible. finally 1 seemed to
awake only to see Ben standing on the
balcony looking in my window through
the vines. I tried to speak to him, but
I appeared paralyzed. When I did
awake 1 saw only tbe clear moonlight
shining through the vines.
"Next morning I told Auntie my
dream, and she .again shook her head
and looked sad.
"1 felt a little provoked, but then I
said to myself, 'Auntie is full of signs.'
"It was late in the afternoon when
Charlie came in with a letter and a
package from Ben.
" 'I never saw a fellow so lotli to go
in my life,' said Charlie, 'and I don't
blame hiui, for he has got a captain
that I would not go with.'
'Why?' I inquired.
" 'Because he is brutish. He knock
ed a man flown with a belaying pin last
summer and beat bun until he was all
but dead. I coaxed Ben to leave,
especially as they are a pretty rough set
the crew, I mean. Why, the ouly
decent chap there is Freeman Hunt,
and you know what he is.'
" 'O! Ben will get along,' replied
Auntie; 'There never was so peaceful a
chan.'
"1 left them cluttering away, and
went to my room to read my letter.
"It was a long letter, and just like
what Ben usually wrote. After a page
about our plans and his journey to
Barrow, he wrote:
"Dablixo: It seems as if some
thing warns me not to go. but times
are hard and the pay is large, so I'll
stick to my bargain. You know dear,
you told me to be a good boy; well, it
will be very hard to be a Christian with
such a wicked crew. And, another
thing, I've got to fish on Sunday, some
thing I never did before, but I'll try
and be as good as I can. (Dear fellow!
aneels could sav no more.) But, Min
nie, do not worry about me. I will go
in the same boat with Freeman Hunt,
and we will keep close to the other
boats. I will try and -take care of my
self, for my life is very precious now,
and will continue to be so as long as
you are true to me, Minnie, dear,
there will never be any trouble between
us unless you make it. Take care of
yourself, and use the inclosed for any
thing you may want I send my
photograph; it is not a very fane one,
but still I hope it will suit you. And
now. cood-bve.
"My letter ended very abruptly. I
turned to the package. It contained
Ben's picture and a purse with $20.
"Did Ben think I would accept and
use it for myself? I put it away for
him when he should return. '
"Soon after my aunt was taken sick,
and for the next fortnight I was very
busy, but my thoughts were with Ben.
"Again 1 had a warning. One night
I went out for some medicine to a
neighbor's. Coming borne, across the
fields, I thought I saw Ben ahead of
me.
"Quickening my footsteps, I nearly
reached him, when the v.sion faded
awav.
"More dead than alive I dragged my
self borne. Auntie inquired what
made me so wliite and wan, but 1 put J
her off with an evasive answer.
"Nearly six weeks after the Snow
drop sailed 1 had another dream.
"I dreamt that I was looking on a
broad expanse of water. At first I
saw nothing but fog enveloping a small
boat, then gradually it cleared away,
and I saw the Snowdrop with the crew
on board.
" 'Captain,' asked one of the men,
'where are the other two?' And one
called out something about there being
lost in the fog, and asked if they had
better go and look for them. With an
oath, theCaptaiu answered: 'More like
they are loafing around somewhere
without fishing. Go after them? No,
indeed I want all hands on deck now.
They will come along by and by. '
"Then 1 turned my attention to the
boat again, where two men Ben and
Freem Huut where rowing around
and around, striving to gain the ves
sel. "At hist they laid down their oars as
if discouraged.
" 'No more use trying. Ben. We .are
only going farther off,' I heard Freem
sav.
"I can't give up,' moaned Ben.
'Do you think the Captain will seud for
us?'
"'Not he,' answered Freem. 'God
help us, Ben, we are iu for it now!'
"My attention was agaiu turned to
the vessel. All her sails were set and
she apiieared to stand off on her course.
" 'Captain, so you won't send some
one to look for those poor fellows?'
asked a kind-hearted-looking fellow on
board.
" 'Curse you, no! They are both
drowned by this time, If you say
another word about it I'll knock day
light into you with this belay iug-pin,'
was the answer.
"The man turned away, and I saw
them left to their fate and such a fate!
Lost in a fog iu au oiu boat, I tried
to scream; 1 tr:ed to pray; but no woids
came at my wilL Again 1 saw the
boat with Freem and lieu locked in
each other's arms.
" 'Trust in God, Freem. lie is our
only hope.' and Beu clasped his hands
in prayer.
" 'O, my mother, pray for your lost
b iv,' moaned Freem.
" 'Minnie, God bless and protect you,'
1 beard Beu say, and then 1 became
unconscious.
"When 1 awoke it was daylight, and
it was a long time before I Could col
lect my scattered senses.
"My dieaiu of the night before re
turned agaiu and again to me.
"I aiu not naturally superstitious,
but still this had bveu so vivid that 1
could hardly persuade niyself that it
was only a dream.
"I did not tell auntie at first, but
when, late in the afternoon, Charlie
came in to bid us good-bye be was
going on a fishing voyage to the Bay or
Chaleurs I told them my dream, aud,
bursting into tears, I said that I uevef
expected to see Ben any more.
"They did all they could to comfort
me, and finally I began to smile at my
fears. Mill, day alter dav I looked for
news of some disaster, but when a week
had passed I thought my auxicty was
idle, and tried to shake it off.
'Just a foranight after Charlie sailed
I was down to the poat-oilice to see if
there were any letteis. I did my
errand, aud was just turning away
when a man came running iu.
" 'Have you heard the news?' he
cried, panting tor breath.
'"Au; what news?' inquired the
postmaster.
"'The Snowdrop has been spoken
and she has lost two hands, Freeman
limit and Beu llart't-y. It seems they
were lost '
" 'Hush! She is engaged to Hartley.'
"But the warning came too late. I
heard, and with a shrill scream, faiu-
ted.
'For a long while my life was des
paired of. How 1 wish I could have
died. It was so hard trying to live
without Ben, To think I never would
see his face again. To be uncertain of
his fale. Many thought some outward
bound ship might have picked them up.
and I tried hard to believe so too.
Some time afterward 1 lie. rd that a
fishing brig had picked up a boat con
taining two skeletons locked together.
It might have been them or it might
not."
We were visibly affected. Poor girl!
No wonder she believed in warnings.
Next morning Scott and I returned
home, aud after a few weeks longer
sojourn in Port Si. Cyr we found our
selves en route again for New 1 ork.
I kept jioor Minnie's story in my
remembrance aud, thinking others
might be interested in it, as I had been.
I give it to all who, like myself, are
non-believers in supernatural visions
and warnings.
Car of Koow.
it :s o economy to with lets than
three broom, one made of the shott
trioin-coro for the parlor aa.l bed-roouis,
a larger o.ie f r the more frequeut uses
and an o il one for the kitchen so I wslk.
A wbiek-vrnom fir corn-jis sad luroiture
npbols'eted in worsted, wooden skewers
to i enu re i he dirt from the corners of the
door-tills and steps, a feather-duller for
looks, pictures and ornaments, a shott
haudled bru6o uiado of bristles to brush
the bicks of picture-frames, iudow
Ulnds and screens though this can be
done with a whisk-broom if both einnol
be aff rded will be found necessary
weapons of warfare in the contest with
dust sad dirt. Bass made of caoton
flannel, fuzzy side out, and with a draw
stricg to be tied over the broom to dust
walls and hard wood fljors are very use
ful, as too much wiping with a damp
cloth will injure the lustre of the wood.
Chamois skins make the best duller lor
furniture and can be bought lor thirty
cents, and with careful washing will I
for years. They should be washed in cold
water with soap, nosed in clear water.
and bung in the shade. Before their are
entirely dry tbey can be rubbed and pulled
till tbey are soft again, Squares ol cheap,
soit. gray lineu or fabric, with all taw
edges hemmed, are the next best, and
these shoula be washed every week after
the Friday s sweeping. Ve have every
thing to work with, except covers for the
large pieces of furniture which cannot be
removed before sweep a . Old sheets can
be used, or squares can be made of cheap
calico or unbleached muslin, and kept for
this purpose. There should be one large
enough to cover a piano or a bed.
Calmness and deliberation at a time
of extreme irritation will do away with
a great deal oi alter seu-conaemnauou.
Joaquini Antonio da Macedo, In his
historical sketch of Lisbon, goes back to
the legends of fable. It is stated that
Ulysses, after the destruction of Troy,
in his wanderings stopped here to repair
his ships and for repose, after contend
ing with tempestuous weather, and
while here founded tbe city and called
it Ulyssippi, and built in it a temple to
Minerva. Bacchus, too. in his travels,
accompanied by Lusus, "the loved
companion of the god," lingered here
to revel in its elysium. Hence the
name Lusitanium tbe ancient.uame at
the time of the Roman occupation.
But leaving fiction aside, aud entering
upon mora reliable history, the same
writer tells us that Lisbon was reduced
by the Carthagenians, under Hannibal,
aud after passing under the control of
the lionians, plundered by the Vandals,
Sucn, Goths and Moors, assisted by a
body of English and Flemish Crusaders
ou their way to Palestine, Lisbon en
tered upon a more stable future. To
day. all that can be seen in Lisbon is
modem. Tbe earthquake and the iu
1755 destroyed all its ancient structures
and souveuirs of its history and buried
in its ruins 40,000 of its citizens, leaving
as the only relic after that fearful visita
tion that can be seeu to-day the ruins of
a church of Gothic architecture founded
in 1389 and completed in 142 J. The
harbor is one of the best in Europe.
The city is built on a group of steep
hills aud deep valleys, and, strange
enough, the modern tramway traverses
the principal streets, notwithstanding
the unfavorable surface for such con
struction, requiring four stout mules
for a car of twenty seats. Indeed,
there are no vehicles here with less than
two mules or horses, and sometimes
they have six. Tbe streets are exceed
ingly well paved and clean. The foot
ways or sidewalks in many places are
paved very artistically with different
colored stones, resembling somewhat
the ancient ltoman mosaic. The ap
pearance of the men does not impress
oue favorably, and the soldiers do not
suggest the hardy followers of Priuce
Alonzo Enrique of Castile, one of the
early kings of Portugal, aud famed for
his prowess against the Moors, and, it
I may be pardoned for want of gallan
try, the women are not good-looking.
The houses, many of them, are veneered
with tiles up to the second story of va
ried colors and fanciful designs, produ
cing certainly a novel appearance if
without merit in other respects. The
tourist finds little to enjoy iu Lisbon,
but much iu its surroundings. Cintra,
fifteen miles distant, is regarded as au
earthly paradise The well-to-do citi
zen hastens to enjoy its delightful
shades when the heat of summer invites
him from his city home. A more lovely
retreat caunot be imagined.' High
above the city, and in its valleys, teem
ing with fruits and flowers of every
cbuie, are villas of tasteful designs,
nestling in fairy-like place, embowered
in flowers of sweet perfume and re
splendent in colors, and shaded by
stately trees from distant lands. The
trees of tropical Brazil and Australia
are the most noted. They are rich and
abundant in foliage, with spreading
branches, which, with sparkling foun
tains, complete a picture of surpassing
beauty, and not uncommon in this
charming summer retreat. Near by
is Castle l'ena, a strange compound oi
Moorish and Christian architecture,
tamed iu history. It is perched ou a
pinnacle of a high mountain overlooking
country and sea for many miles. It
was once the stsonghold of the Moor,
who doubtless dreamed when theie of
the paradise premised in the Korau to
the faithful followers of the prophet.
A Uesparado's Cowarilio.
About the year 1)451, the most lnfluen
i' man in can Autonio, was an alleged
s;H-rado, named Hob Augustine lie
came to Sm AuUnio with a tearful record.
lie enjoyed the reuutat ou of having killed
a dozen or to of men, and was respected
accordingly. While he was in San An
tonio he aid not reduce tbe census at all,
but Its', was not his fault. lie had a
seductive way of drawiog his eighteen-
iuc i Arkausas toothpick, and examining
il critically, wilu a sinister smile, while
humbly n-quettlnic the temporary loan oi
five dollars, thus it was that Kjb went
about acquiring wealth and warm per
sonal fr.euda, but creating no funerals.
There were rumors that Bjb was playing
bluff, but that was after he had marched
awav.
It was during tbe reign oi Boo auirti!-
lino. "the long-rangea roarer oi Calave
ras cauvon. as be familiarly called
h unelL that a young man from Boston,
naaied Johu Winthrop. came t) San
Antonio, presumably in search of hea'.th.
as he brought very little with him. He
was far g.me in consumption, and nothing
but the tact that he had but a short
time to live, unless the climate of
Wealeru Texas saved him, induced him
to come to San Antonio. As everybody
carried a Distol. Winthrop did not car)
to insult public decency by going un
armed. Besides, such a course might as
seriously interfere with his restorauoa to
health, as pulling on a lean shirt,
ilia Puritan training caused him to re
volt at the idea of carrying firearms, so he
resorted to artifice. He wore a bolster,
but instead of keeping a pistol in i', he
had his cash funds stored away in it, and
nobody was the wiser. On the contrary.
Wimhrop was looked up to by the best
citizens just the same as if he was loaded
down with deadly weapons. Of course
everybody tried to make the stranger from
Massachusetts feel as comtortaDle as li ne
was at home. Bo he was told all about
Bob Augustine, the long-ranged roarer, at
least ten times a day. and he was advised
not to be particular in asking security for
the debt, in case the roarer wanted to
borrow a small loan, unless be, (Winth.op,)
did net wish to regain his health.
As mii(Lt have been expected, the long
ringed roarer sailed on Winthrop to collect
his usual assessment on strangers. Win
throp was of the opinion that if be would
save his hie and lose all his money, he
would be d ine unusually welL - The
long-ranged roarer's idea was to chese the
blue bellied Yankee around tne room tor a
time or so, collect five or ten dollars, and
perhaps make some ear marks, a la Win
ters, so he would know him in a crowd,
if he should happen to meet buu again.
Tbe long-ranged roarer sauntered into
Wimhron's room at the hotel, but before
the desperado could opeo his utouth or
draw a weapon, the unfortunate Yankee
ttrew M';k his coat, and with trembling
Augers tugged at bis pistol bolster to gel
ai his money to appease the would be as
sassin.
On the other hand, as soon as the roarer
aaw Winthrop trying to get out his pistol.
he turned as pale a ghost. Tbe alleged
desperado' knees knocked together, the
cold sweat boiled out all over him, and he
extended his hand, and said, tremblingly:
I "Don't draw, aood Mr. Yankee. 1 was
only trying te fool you. My bold At Kan
sas heart beats for you, sny boy. I jest
wanted to teaoh you a lesson. Never let
any darned galoot get the drop on you.
If anybody insults you, just tell them that
Bob Augustine, the roarer, u your friend."
Winthrop, who was more scared, it pos
sible, than the rawer, replied:
"Oh, I'll give you what you want," and
be kept on tugging at the holster, which
came unbuckled.
With a yell of dismay the d esperado
pawed out through the window, carrying
off the sash, and ran down Commodore
Street, the principal thoroughfare, with
the sash on his neck, howling, "Police!
policel" closely pursued by Winthrop, who
kept on tugging at his holster, trying to
get out his money, he believing that the
desperado was tunning to his room to pro
cure a shotgun with which to commit
murder. All that afternoou Winthrop
kept on bunting the roarer, to purchase
peace on any terms, and tbe roarer bid
himself to avoid the pistol of the Boston
man. Next morning the "long-raniicd
roarer of Calavera canyon, " was I'liasing,
ant Winthrop was the ll n of the day. for
having run uff the terror of Alamo City.
Americas and British Hallway.
A correspondent of the Scotsman,
published at Edinburgh, Scotland, thai
draws a comparison between the Amer
ican and British railway systemsto the
disadvantage of the latter.
Sm Circumstances of friendship
called me suddenly in October last to
the Northwest of America. The sum
mons came by telegram on a Thursday.
On Friday I secured, by the same
means, a berth in the celebrated steamer
Alaska, which left Liverpool next fore
noon; and in seven days one hour from
Queens town I landed at New York.
Two days later I left for the West by
the limited express of the Pennsylvania
Central railroad. My ticket, which I
bad secured the day before at one of
the railway offices in Broadway, not
far from the hotel, cost $20 to Chicago,
with $10 extra for the use of sleeping
and dining cars. The distance by this
road is a little under 1000 miles, which
was done in twenty-five hours and
thirty minutes, and the cost was less
than for a corresponding distance at
home. But in the manner of traveling
the difference is overwhelmingly in
favor of America. The car by which I
journeyed was built of mahogany, in
laid with graceful floral decorations,
and .furnished in the most sumptuous
manaer. Heated by concealed steam-
pipes, a comfortame temperature was
maintained night and day, and, al
though snow streaked the Allegbenlea,
and smaller streams were covered with
ice, nobody among the passengers
seemed to think rugs, etc., a necessary
portion of their traveling impedimenta.
At either end of the car were capacious
lavatories and relative conveniences
one for ladies, the other for gentlemen,
equipped with soap, clean towels,
brushes, combs, etc., and a filter with
fresh drinking water. From the time
of leaving New York, till arrival at
Chicago, no passenger need leave the
cars. Attached to the sleeping car is a
dining car, equally sumptuously fitted,
and also a smoking car, both of which
are specially reserved for those who pay
the extra $10, aud which, therefore, in
reality constitute first-class accommo
dation. In the dining car, at $1 each,
one can have three meals daily, front a
bill of fare that erred only in its profuse
abundance aud variety of well-cooked
food.
On my return at the end of Novem
ber, and having no use for rugs, etc.,
and in the comfortable cars, I checked
all my baggage, save a dressing bag,
from a station not far from the Mani
toba frontier straight through to New
York. On my arrival there three days
afterwards, instead of "checking" my
baggage to tbe hotel where I intended to
put up, 1 "checked" it to the dock of the
steamer by which I was to sail the fol
lowing morning; and there, on arriving
from the hotel, I found it awaiting me
at the shore end of the gangway as I
was about to embark never having
once seen or troubled myself about it
since I left Litchfield, 2000 miles away,
and having changed cars and lines of
roads twice at St. Paul and Chicago.
.Now mark tbe contrast. 1 arrive at
Liverpool, give up my baggage to the
Northwest Eailway Company, without
any voucher or check being inter
changed, and proceed to Lime street by
a suburban railway from the dock gates
in evil-smelling carriages which my
American fellow-travelers scornfully
stigmatised as "bunks, "and into which
we were locked like criminals. It was
a wet, gloomy day, and after my pleas
ant American experiences I felt like
one who had "come down in the world. ' '
On afterwards applying for my baggage
at Lime street station, I was not only
obliged to produce my card as evidence
of identity, but I bad to go down Into a
deep dark cellar to point out the pack
ages; and after all this unnecessary
bother l had to pay more than at .New
York, where baggage was carried double
the distance. But the charge Is a mere
secondary consideration. It is the
restless anxiety and worry our system
or rather eatire want of system need
lessly impose on you from starting till
arriving at your destination that is so
provoking.
But the most remarkable contrast
was reserved for my return to Scotland.
Traveling down by a night train, I was
half frozen with cold till arrival at
Carlisle, where we were detained an
hour and a half for the London train,
and where the fire in the waiting room
merely served to remind one how cold
and comfortless the place was. Sleep
was out of the question, and I landed
at the Princes' street station stiff and
almost numb with cold.
Americans cannot understand how
we quietly submit to travel in carriages
in which we are half frozen in winter,
which are very, very stuffy in summer,
and in which murder and other out
rages may be committed with impunity,
while our baggage system they regard
as simply barbaric
It is because 1 agree witn my Ameri
can friends that I have noted down
these reflections, in the hope that tbey
may contribute, in however small de
gree, to rouse our railway directors to a
recognition of the disgracefully uncom
fortable and inconvenient accommoda
tions afforded by them to the traveling
public. I am, etc Scott; s.
A lady addressed a letter to a New
York editor the other day, stating that
her husband was a confirmed snorer,
and asking for a cure. The eallous
hearted editor, instead of recommend
ing a divorce and a new, non-snoring
husband, advised her to hit the patient
on the nose with a sledge-hammer.
Somewomen's destiny is to love down,
excusingiy, pityingly.
Heavy Ban.
Guns bava been coatrno!ed claimed
to have capacity to throw projectiles a
distance of eight miles or more with
gunpowder, imt the claim has not been
accompanied by the assurance that any
great injury to persons or property la
likely to occur. It in well understood
that at the extreme range attainable
ith gunpowder the penetrative force
of the projectile its spent and lit
tle injury result; and that so sensitive
an explosive as dynamite cannot be con
veyed within the miiuule by the abrupt
action of guuiiowoer, ss thd shock
would explode the dynamiie before the
shell containing it could leave the gun.
While the new projectile thrown by
compressed air ia capable of au effective
range as great as that of tbe ordinary
gunpowder missle, iu destructive power
is developed at the instant of contact
with the object upon which it strikes by
the explosion of its dynamite oartridge
legaruless of tlm distance it may have
avdleotr.
One of the advantages claimed for
this mveutioti is im adaptability to har
bor anJ liver defenses, owing to the
Bmall cost and tiliort time requisite to
construct tbe neces-ary apparatus. No
special machinery or tools are required,
as any shop, suitable tor constructing
steam engines, could be ued without
the col aud time required to bnil.l a
Wuolwirb. aiseiial and shops. To de
lead rivers and harbors it ia said that
small tteam launches pruviiie.l with
dyuhiuiie guns and apparatus could be
effectively urea agi.iu.-l armored hhipt;
and eveu smdler trait with purUOie
reservoirs, previously prepared, cuuid,
under cover of UarkutS', hurl tbe:C
destructive eliurgja of uynauute np i
the deck of a ship witnout duclosiug
to the enemy their location, by rhtali or
sound of gunpowder, or the sparks from
a steamer s funnel.
Technical experuueuu with the guu
and dart are being conductei by order
ot the War Department, at Fort Hamil
ton, under the supervision of Colonel
John Hamilton, commaudaut ot Forts
Hamilton, Wadsworib. utid Lalayet'.e,
and under the aiet-ial direction of Lieu
tenant . L. Zaluuky, au expert i ar
tillery. It is beneved by may promi
nent officers that the experiments will
lead to satisfactory lesults. The larger
experimental guu nearly sonipleteJ at
the Hd'amuter Works is another siep iu
the development of au auxiliary to our
present deiences, aud an imp.emeat well
auapteii lor thu use ol light cruisers
especially couatructed with a view to
speed and expert LauoJiug. Tue
opiniou Las also been expressed that
the A stem iingul be probbtbly employed
llii armies iu the field.
llo of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon ban commouly
been credited to the Iiev. Solomon
Spalding, a Presbyterian minister
roiuauce purport ng to give the origin
aud history of the American Indians,
tie sought to find a publisher for his
sioty iu Pitbsbarg, but was ansucceas
ful. Tue author died a few years later.
The manuscript of this story unaccount
ably cnsapjieared, though it was geuer
ally Uiieved that one Sidney Itigdou, a
pnutir, alter ward a Mormon Bihoj
Koi possession of the same, altered and
addi d to it, and, thus altered and ameud
td, was sent forth to the world as the
Moi iiiou Bible. This point ia explained
oy the follow fijg letter from Mr. James
Jcfliiep, of Uariord county, Maryland,
hove boyhood wan opeut a lew miles
from Pittuburg: "I know more aliout
the Mormons than any man' east of the
Allegbeiues, although i have g veu no
attention, to the mutter tor lwcii;-dve
years. I did not ki.u v i w.m in -siou
oi any uf tuj...... , c uaiuu,, me
origin of the Book o- Moruiou un
known lo others. 1 supKej tnai as
liigdon wa so open with uiu he hl told
others the same things. Forty years
ago I was in business in St. Louis. The
Mormous then had their temple iu
Nauvoo, Illinois. 1 bad busiueas trans
actions with tuem. Sidney liigdou I
knew very well. He was general man
ager of the allaira of the Mormons,
itigdon, in course of conversation, told
me a number of ttsien bat there was iu
the printing effiue, witu wb.eh he was
connected in Ohio, a manuscript of Rjv.
Spalding's, tracing thu origiu of the
Indian race from the lout tribes ol
Israel; that this manuscript was iu liie
office for several years; that he was
familiar with it; that Spakling had
wanted it printed, but had uot had the
means to pay for the printing; that he
(Iiigdou) and Joe Smith used lo look
over the manuscript aud read il over on
Sundays, ltigdou and Smith took the
manuscript aud said 'I'll print it,' auu
weut oil to Palmyra, N. Y. I never
knew this in formation was of uy im
portance; thount others were aware
ot these fac.a. I do not now think the
matter ia of any importance It will
net in jure MormoniMu. That is an
im,' and chimes in with the wishes oi
certain ol amies ot people. Nothing will
pnt It dowu but the strong arm of the
law."
A Cut LavnaWiy.
"For cuteness I think my landlady is
entitled to go np head," said a young
man in the smoking cat betweeu pull
at his cigar, "When I moved into my
rocm on West W ashington street she
wanted 815 a month for it. I jewed her
down to $13, which she said was too
low, perfectly ruinous, but she'd take
it. Y ell, just as 1 had got nicely set
tled, all my things fixed up, my pic
tures hung, my trunk unpacked aud got
to feeling at home, in she popped one
fay with 'Lxcnse me, but here s a gen
tleman looking through the house.' A
chap came in with her, looked all
around, aud wound up by saying: 'This
room just suits me, and I'll give you
$18 a month for it. Wheu will it be
vacant? Ion can imagine the resu.t.
She said she was very sorry to disturb
me, and woaldu t like to have me leave;
but as I could see she could do better
with another party, etc, 1 could stay
for $16 if I wanted to, aud then she d
be out $2 a month. But 1 was such a
nice young man, and all that. Well, of
coarse my pride was roused -no man
likes to be routed out in that style for
a matter of Si, or $8 a month, so I paid
her $16. A few weeks afterward I hap
pened in the bouse at au unusual hour,
and as 1 passed through the hail if
there wasn't that same chtp making
her aa offer for th room of another
gaeet, I kepi still, though, and tbe
other fellow bit too. Bat when I told
him of the racket a few days later he
was mad and leit the house The chap
that was so liberal with bis offers was
the landlady's nephew. That woman
won't die poor."
Fraakliai aa A Jams a gswa-msm.
Sere is a funny old story, which has
never seen print, and it is true,' having
eome down among the tradition of the
old families of Massaehnsetts: Some
time during the revolutionary period,
or a little after, John Adams and Ben
jamin Franklin were dispatched from
Philadelphia, I believe, to Massachu
setts on a pnblic errand. Adams had a
mortal antipathy, shared by him along
with the majority of mankind at that
day, against the night air. He believed
that if he kept his bedroom window
open even a craek at night he would
surely die. Frmklin, on the other
band, was a disbeliever in the theory of
danger in the night air, and he had
many arguments with Adams thereon.
Circumstance, and the crowded condi
tion of many of the taverns they
stopped at on their journey eastward,
compelled them frequently to occupy
the same room, and often the same bed.
Adams always opposed raising the win
dow, ami poor Ben nearly suffocated
reviled Adams on waking for his
wretched theory of the deadly effects of
nature's universal medium of breath.
One night Ben siyly raised a window in
their common chamber, but A lams, on
the alert for his friend's little games,
insured that it should be closed at once.
Said crafty Ben: "Now, Mr. Adams, we
will go to bed with the window up, and
I will convince you why it will not be
harmful to us to permit it to stay open.
If I cannot convince yon of the reason
ableness of my theory, I wdl myself
get up and close the window." Adams
weakly contented, and Ben began to
reason with him. Finally poor Adams
was ta ked to sleep, and Ben tranquilly
resigned himself to slumber. .Next
morning great was Adajn's horror at
fiudiug the wiudow up, but not having
died .turiDff the night, aud feeling no
ill effects from having breathed the
night air. he became a Convert to sly
Benjamin's night-air theory. The author
of a history of America during the
colonial epoch told me tnis anecdote as
something amusing, which had hitherto
escaped type.
Gotha'a crematory.
The practice ot cremation appears to
lie gradually gaining ground in Ger
many, there being a steady increase in
the number of bodies brought for this
purpofe to Gotha which contains the
sole establishment In the empire. It is
under the control of the city authori
ties, and the cremations up to the end
of 1882 were 84, viz.: 17 in 1379, 16 In
1.8S0, 33 in 1881, and 18 up to Septem
ber, 1882. All parts of Europe con
tributed to the business of the institu
tion, while several bodies have been
brought thither from America, in which
couutry the cost ol fashionable inter
ment is so great that it is but a slight
ly increased expense to have the re
mains cremated at Gotha. Tbe princi
pal items of this expense are: The re
moval of its corpse from the railway
station to tbe crematory, 30 shillings,
and l lie cremation itself, HI 10s. The
Gotha establishment, which was erect
ed 1878, is very complete, and cost for
the machinery and buildings nearlv
i.'o,000. The apparatus is made after
tbe Italian model, aud consists of a
large coal-furnace for the production of
the gas, which is conducted by a pipe
to the heating chamber in which the
body is placed, this chamber being 21
feet in length b" 13 feet iu height, and
divided into two parts. The gas is first
of all let into tbe nearest section.
where it burns until a white heat is
produced. At the time of the
operation the body is lowered into the
second compartment and the gas ad
mitted from the other one, when fie zinc
c-.VMt rapidly melts, the garments liems
'Ueii consumed, aud the whole prceos
occupying about two hours.
Tbey 9rtieiNt Oay.
In Albany, N. 1'., a party of legisla
tors arose from the green-covered table
with empty pockets and craving stom
achs. It was too late to get anything
to eat at their respective hotels, so they
adjourned to a well-known restaurant
aud enjoyed a hearty repast.
"How are you going to liquidate''
asked one of the party, picking his
teeth reflectively.
"That's what I've been thinking of,"
said another, who halls from the land
of bards, saints and statesmen, "and 1
want you to stand by me in what I'm
going to do."
The waiter was rung for and to him
the Celt explained thus:
"Boss we've got into a little difficul
ty here. Each one insists on paying
the bill, and, as we are all pretty flush,
neither oue will give way. Now, then,
to settle it, T propose that we blindfold
you, and that the first man you catch
iiays the score. It will lie worth a
couple of dollar) to you."
The waiter grinningly consentad;
they blindfolded him with his own
apron, and he started with outstretched
hands to capture his man. After tum
bling over everything in the room and
snstaining several severe bruises, he re
moved the blindfold and found himself
Hie only occupant ot the room! The
festive feasters had slid out as soon as
the apron had been tied.
It will not take awav any from the
joke to say that the bill was settled and
au explanation given the next morning.
KlSbt VolllM.
To think that the more a man eats
the fatter aud stronger he will be
come. To believe that the more hours chil
dren study at school the faster tbey will
learn.
To conclude that if exercise is health
ful, the more violent and exhaustive it
is the more good is done.
To imagine that every hour taken
from sleep is an hour gained.
To act on the presumption that the
smallest room in tbe house is large
enough to sleep in.
To argue that whatever remedy makes
you feel immediately better is good for
the system, without regard to ulterior
eriects.
To commit an act which is felt m it
self to be prejudicial, hoping that some
how or other it may be done in your case
with impunity.
To eat a hearty supper for the pleas
ure experienced during the brief time
it is passing down the throat, at the ex
pense of a whole night of disturbed
sleep and a weary waking in the morn
tog.
A Largo Holl.
Tbe largest bell in the world is now
said to be that at Kioto, Japan. It is
twentv-f our feet hign and sixteen inch
es thick at the rim. It is sounded by a
suspended piece of wood, like a batter
ing ram, whieh strikes it on the outside,
and its booming can be heard fbrmllsa.
rail mowing.
There is much difference In opinion
aa to tbe best time of the year in which
to plow different soils. Many farmers
are willing to admit that fall plowing is
desirable upon heavy soils, but coutend
that spring plowing is best upon light
soils. All are willing to grant that the
tenacious character or a clay sod is re
duced, and its texture opened and
rendered less compact by tbe operation
of frost. The lumps fall apart and are
disintegrated by the mechanical effects
of expansion, caused by the freezing of
the water held between the particles.
The field, which was left by the plow
in a mass of lumps, is mellowed and
brought into a condition, through this
influence, that any amount of ulowinir
and harrowing would have failed to bring
about.
The same force which has caused th
clods to fall apart, also performed a no
less important chemical work by render
ing the soil more soluble and making
available the supply of plant food which
would otherwise have remained locked
up.
Now, is it possible that this change
can only take place in a clay soil? Dif
ferent soils are made by the varying
proportions of the constituents, which
go to make up a soil. If, then, a clay
soil is benefitted by fall plowing, is not
aiso a clay loam.' And if a clay loam
is benefitted, a sandy loam must be
benefitted in proportion to the amount
of thee properties therein contained.
wmcn iorminecniet constituents of the
clay soil.
I do not claim that it is advisable to
trust to fall plowing alone for it often
happens that a winter is open and wet
and the ground becomeicousiderably
pacaeu, so mat ine cultivator is hardly
capable of loosening it up. In such
cases it should be replo wed iu the spring
and thoroughly harrowed until in good
condition for seed.
There is still another advantage in
fall plowing, and that is, that it enables
the farmer to get his seeding done earlier
in the spring than he could have done
had the plowing been left over winter.
Work is more evenly divided for both
teams and men, when plowing is done
in the fall, while the weather is cool
and no other work pressing.
Three years ago it was so wet in the
fall that the farmers of this section got
very little fall plowing done. The suc
ceeding spring there was a great de
mand for horses snd men, the supply
falling far short of the demand Many
fields were plowed in the worst possible
condition, while those who waited for
good weather were many days lat
with their seeding. The yield per acre
that season was a third less than the
average. This experience was not
without good, as it converted many,
before indifferent, into staunch believ
ers in fall plowing. Well plowed fields
m October indicate good farm manage
ment.
Th Prlno ot Bulgaria.
Alexander of Bulgaria, is a fine-
looking, handsome fellow, of comman
ding height, aud when on horseback,
dressed in the huzzar uniform of his
body-guard, has just the chivalrous ap
pearance that attracts a rude people
with whom military display is the evi
dence of power. His gay, debonair
manner made him the favorite of all
when he was first called to his present
high position, but his popularity has
greatly waned of late years, owing to
his having thrown himself so completely
into the hands of his Russian advisers.
His visit here will cost a little sum, as,
independent of the new decorations and
furniture of tbe yacht, for which carte
blanche was given to a local upholsterer
io.ono has been expended in the repairs
ot lae pa.ace at lae Sweet Waters of
Asia, where the Prince is to be lodged
during his stay in the Turkish capital.
the ' Guek-Sou Kiosk.," as it is called,
was built by Abdul Medjid during the
latter part of his reign, and became his
favorite summer lounging-place. Sit
uated at the mouth of a charming
valley, opening on the Bosphorus, the
kiosk" commands a magnincent view
in all directions, besides being or easy
access, sinue the death of the above
mentioned Sultan the place has been
much neglected, not having beeu used
as a residence from the time when
Prince Couza tame to do homage to
the ruler of the Ottoman Empire on
being raised to one of its vassal thrones
that of Moldavia-Wallachia, now the
independent kingdom of liouniania
Kings Charles and Milan, wnen visitmg
Constantinople for a similar purpose,
were lodged at Uie Beicos Kiosk at the
upper end of the Bosphorus. The Em
press Eugenie was assigned themagnifi-
ceut palace at Bey Corbey, while the
Pnuce of V ales found accommodations
in a "Serai" at Galeh-Baziar which fell
with his views as to sight-seeing
much better than a kiosk on the Bos
phorus would have done.
What frcTontea?
He had been stopping at a hotel for a
day or two, seemingly unnoticed by any
of the clerks or employes, and it struck
him so queerly that he sat down be
side a man, who appeared to be a guest,
and said:
"Good many of us here?"
"Yes."
"Some going and some coming all t&e
time?"
Tea."
'1 don't see why I couldn't walk out
and take the tram for home without
psyuig my bill "
The other made no reply, and after a
minute the first one continued:
'What's to prevent me from jumping
my bill, as I have no baggage?"
"Oh, nothing much, except that I'm
employed here as a spotter, and have
had my eyes on you ever since you reg
istered!' Ten minutes later the stranger settled
his bill up to the next day noon, but he
continued to carry the look of a man
who'd like to kick somebody.
Some !ww O.
A country tramp wno brought up at
f rmhnimfl a fnw rlavs acn claimed to
have had all manner of bad luck, aid
among other things he mentioned that
three fingers ot his right nana naa been
so badly frozen during a cold snap in
Dakota, that tne doctor naa amputateu
them.
"It ma ae " said the farmer, and a
dirty paw was held out in response.
" V uy, your angers are aii uere auu
all right."
"Ob, or course, tney are au ngui.
now, but during the three years it took
to grow new ones I got so badly in
debt that I lost all hopes and took to
tramping!"
He got his ainner, nut mo
was In Detroit the next day making in
quiries about the wonderful western
climate.