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B.&F. SCHWEIER, TEE 0053T1TUT10J-THE UH01-1ID IBB EHOSOIKEIT 01 THE LAVS. Editor and Proprietor.
TOL." XXXVIII- MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. MAY 7, 1884. NO. 19.
r
TDK LOAFER.
They are sitting around npou boxes and
cuairs.
Discussing their own and tbeir neighbors
analr.
While tbe loot of contentment that s seen
on each faco
gee ml to say: I bar found my appropriate
place,
Sitting Around.
Tbe louug rs they toil not, nor yet do they
pin,
I' ill ens tt be yarns while enjoying tbeir via
M' bile the stories tbey teli aud tbe jukes
which tbey crack.
Show tbeir hearts bare grown hard aud un
doubiedly black,
bitting Around.
TWa iMw amend is a man of no means.
And his face wouldn't pass for a quart of
white beans:
Vt somehow orotherhe makes out toexist,
And is fnuueutly seen with a drink in his
tit,
Sitting Around.
They're a hal.it of talking of other men'
wives.
And they've whittled np sticks w ith their
bone-bandied knives;
They're a scaly old set aud wherever you go
You 11 nod tnem in groups or sirung in
row,
Sitting Arouud.
A KAVOUOF mitlTNK.
Jasou Hall, a quaint, old, castellated
structure of the time ot uueen r.iiza'
beth, situated upon the coast of Essex
and overlooking me tngusu cnannei
was the seat of Admiral Sr Thomas
Strout, a rough, robust oM llritish
sailor, who flourished during the Litter
nart of the Ixst and the beginning of
the present centuries. Originally the
ulace had been called an abbey. The
Admiral had givn it its present name
In honor of the old Jason frigate, on
board which he had served as jiost -cap
tain when it was the flagship of tng
land's sailor-Kins. William IV., then
Admiral, and Duke of. Clarence.
In 1822, the titte of which we write.
Sir Thomas, grown old and battered in
the service, had been honorably retired
upon full pay. He was never so happy
as when he could induce old shipmates
to share his hospitality.
Admirals of the lied, the White or
the Klue were all gladly entertained by
Sir Thomas. 1'ost captains were always
welcome: and even a commander, if his
war record was good, might find favor
in his sight. But lower than that he
did not like to go. In fact, he was un
aristocrat of the tirst water the very
saltest of the salt; aud he would sooner
have admitted to social equality the
boatswains and the gunners of 1 be old
school ihan to have admitted a lieuten
ant of the new.
The only near relative which the old
admiral Lad was a grauddaugbter,
whom he came very near to worshiping.
lie was extreme in almost everything.
Ilis wile bad died when quite oung.
leaving only one child, a beautiful girl,
who the proud father was woiit to
declare was the haud.oinest and' the
best and the most intelligait girl m the
kingdom.
Mie, rather late in life her father
havmg kept the general run of lovers at
a distance became the wife of an earl.
but the ear l was so lwor that when he
died, only live years after his marriage.
he did not leave behind him the where
with to pay his debts; the result being
that Lady lrei.e, the admit al s daugh
ler, came home u her father, bringing
with her an infant daughter f'e little
Lady Emetine.
ai the lime el llie opening ot our
story ir Thomas' daughter had been
dead several years, aud the Lady Eme
tine had grow n to a bwtutilul maiden of
l'J, with a character that lacked nothing
to make it lovely and lovable. And she
had a lover a young lieutenant of the
rojai navy named George Ayling.
He had come first to Jason Hall, having
been suit with a message to the old
admiral by the board of admiialitv.
On that occasion he had to remain all
night, and Sir Thomas had detailed
J-udy Euieline to entertain him. He
was a brave, loyal, true-hearted man;
A ears of age; tall strong and baud.
some so haudsome and so genial and
so pure-minded that his beautiful young
hostess ieil in love with him during that
erst visit.
He was attached to the naval depart
ment at Whitehall, being on the stall of
one of the Lords Commissioners. His
father was only a merchant, but one of
uie most wealthy in London. In fact,
few men had more influence at court
than had the elder Ayling. he having
been a life-lone friend and a devoted
helper of the present king, and he never
obtruded himself. The only favor he
had ever asked bad been in behalf of
his son.
Lieutenant Ayling bad fallen desper
ately 1 1 love with Lady Emeune. and
at length he told her of it, and be told
uer so heartily and so ardently ana so
lovmgjy that she could not keen back
her own confession, but said: "Oh.
George! my love! my heart is all your
own now."
Nut when he talked of sieakinz with
her grandfather she trembled. She
knew the old admiral's whims and in
consistencies, and she feared he would
oppose their uuion.
"xorlune favors th brave." said
George laughingly, "Faint heart never
won lair htoy. I shall beard the tiger
in his den. Surely he cannot eat me.
And. t.n a certjiiii sLt'tjmtwm whn the
lieutenant had brought down a packet
torn the naval office, and had seen and
spoken with his darling, he approached
tbe old admiral in his sanctum sancto
rum and told of bis love for the beauti
ful Euieiine, and boldly asked the vete
ran lor her baud.
bat a shock was Mini fnr th Ttritish
admiral! At first he could not credit the
evidence f his senses. It could not be
possible that be heard aright. And the
ardent lover stated bis case a second
time stated it sn that tharacnilil h
no mistake. And then the wrathful
torrent burst forth.
n uaii A heutenantl son of a London
uiercuani! a mere nobody 1 a stripling,
uo had never smell powder! who had
never seen a fleet put in line of battlel
"arrj with his granddaughter the
guter of an tail! And so be went on
J the close; and the close was this:
"wSouiof nay house, sirl And don't
joii dare to speak with tne Lady Eme
"nj again! You! Youl Youl marry
uh tue gr nddaughter and neiress of
Aauural SirThmua.Strout! By heaven,
" e "idd do sue i a thing as listen to
'J? ot love, 1 would would I
ntkuow what I shou.d do; but, if
!T Ml0"ld marry with you, I'd cast her
" n the msuiui! Sow, go! I think you
"ejournser!
be young and gentlemanly lieuten
tuundexatruck utterly astoun
He gaied upon the foaming old
tiger as be might have gaaed upon
South Sea Islander gone mad.
Well, sir, d'you hear me? Why
don't you move Whut are you waiting
here loir l don't think you've got any
more to say I" blustered the irate adnii
ral, while the extraordinary rush of
blood to the head gave to his rough and
puny race a color purely crimson.
"Only this, my dear sir, for the pres
ent," returned Ayling, mildly and
modestly, and lowing politely. IJwould
like to know, sir, through you, if the
specimen of stieech and behavior which
I have just witnessed may be taken as a
fair sample of the life and intercourse
of the quarter-deck in the historic and
heroic days of his Majesty's royal na
vy"
Having thus sioken he bowed again
very low and then turned to leave the
room, passing out under a torrent of
abuse.
On the broad piazza George met the
Lady Emetine. When she saw his face
she caught him eagerly by the arm and
asked what had happened. He told her
as rearly as he thought proper.
"Oh, George, dear heart, I feared it
I feared it 1 1 have been in a fever of
anxiety all the time you have been gone.
What shall we do alas what?"
".Never .surrender, my own dear
promised one? Let us consider. We
will take time, I have friends in Lon
don who will gladly help us. At all
events, we won't give up the ship just
yet,"
Her lover's strength and heartiness,
his confidence in right and justice, and
his masterful manner of speech and pur
pose soon brought the sorrowful maiden
into a more hoteful state, so that when
he left her he lef', smiles upon her face.
The lieutenant, since his interview
with Sir Thomas, had resolved to re
turn at once to London. The stage
coach from Shoreham to Chichester
would pass shortly, and his nearest way
from the Hall to the highway was
through the great park. He had struck
into the well-beaten path, nud had gain
ed, perhaps, half the distance, when he
was brought to a sudden stop by a
scene that commanded at once bis ear
nest sympathy.
An elderly gentleman, who had evi
dently been on his way to the Hall, had
oeen attacked by a savage stag that had
broken loo6e from the deer park. Ay
ling well knew tbe nature aud disposi
tion of this animal, as he once bad a
bout with him on his own account. He
was one of the largest of his ehiss;
literally, "a monarch of the glen,"
which had been sent to the lord of the
manor trom the Highlands of Scotland.
His widely branching antlers were of
enormous size, and the man w ho should
once get fairly caught thereon might
calculate upon a speedy exit from this
sublunary sphere.
1 he individual attacked was certainly
more than three-score perhaps nearer
to three score aud ten habited in a
sort of undress, free and easy naval
uniform: naturally one would judge, a
pleasant-faced old man; but just at
present so excessively frightened that
marks of character might go for noth
ing.
When our hero first discovered him
he bad dodged behind a large oak trre,
while the sla ' stood leady for a charge
on the opposite side.
Aylmg saw in an instant that when
the stag should make another onset it
would be next to impossible for his
victim to escape; and if the infuriated
beast reached him, what could save him?
The brave youth hesitated only long
enough to fully grasp the situation.
He had great Confidence in his own phy
sical strength, and he believed he could
throw the animal from bis feet.
At all events he would not see a de
fenseless old man killed before his face,
while he had strength and sense to
mike an effort. He took a critical
view of every point, and then, with a
bound and a yell, he leaied forward.
Exactly how he did it he could never
telL. He.caught the brauching antlers,
at the same time staking with heavy
force against the stag's shoulder; then
with all his strength, twisting the head
backward and drawing it toward bim,
while he struck bis foot with a solid
kick against the leg nearest him.
The effort was successful. He
brought the stag down uiion his side,
driving his nose into the gravel and
pressing his nees upon tbe neck and
shoulder. Then he shouted to the old
gentleman to run. There was a gate
not 10 rods away, which he could easily
reach "
Kun for the gate and I will follow,"
was bis command, and the man bad
sense enough to obey, and when he had
almost reached it the lieutenant sprang
to his feet and sped after him, and be
fore the demoralized beast could re
cover his senses both the men were safe.
"Well, young man, you have saved
my life. Don't ou think so?"
1 certainly think, sir, teat 1 saved
you from a great danger."
Ay. you saved my me. no are
you?,:
Ayling was wed satisfied tuat Uie old
gentleman was nothing less than a re
tired admiral, and ne respected mm ac
cordingly.
"I am George Ayling, sir a lieuten
ant in His Majesty's navy."
Are you the son of Arthur Ayling,
the London wine merchant?"
"I am, sir his only son."
"Ay; I remembe-; I gave a word for
him to tbe admlrality when be was
seeking to get a place in the navy for
his boy. Keally, 1 am glad mat i nave
met you. Aud now what are you doing
here?"
It struck the youth that if this man
had influence, aud was at the same time
a friend of Sir Thomas, be might possi
bly help him, so, m a very delicate and
modest manner, be told the whole story
told of his love for the beautiful
Ladv Emeline of her love for hrm, of
his late interview with Sir Thomas and
of the result.
The old man laughed outright.
"Oh, the old sea:dog! What a growl
er Le Is! But, young man, do you come
with me By St. George! I'll give old
Tom a piece bf my mind. Come along;
I wou't let hiin eat you."
Ayling hesitated but for a little time.
His aged friend seemed so confident,
and was so pleasant, eager, so jovial,
that be quickly gave in, and turned
back with him towards the hall.
They bad reached the broad graveled
driveway in front of the mansion when
they dwesvered the Lady Emeline her
self upon the piazz, sitting with her
tread bent upon her band, like one dis
consolate. Hold on," said the old man; "do
you let me go on in advance and speak
a word with the lady before you come
up." And without further remark be
hastened on."
Ayling saw him ascend to tbe piazza.
saw Emeline start quickly to her feet
with an exclamation of surprise; saw
him take her hand and raise it to her
lips; and then be spoke. Presently the
beautiful face was transfigured, and the
dear girl clapred her hands with a cry
of joy. The eager lover could tarry no
longer. He hastened forward, and as
be joined them, and once more took bis
aarung's hand, the good old man bade
them follow him, and, as he thus com
manded, be turned and strode on in tbe
direction of the old admiral's sanctum,
the two lovers, hand in hand, following
close behind.
Having arrived at the sanctum or
the "Growlery," as It was more com
monly called they found Sir Thomas
there alone, with a pipe in his mouth,
aud a decanter and glass at his elbow.
He saw the intruder, and was upon
his feet in an instant, his pipe dropped
and broken, and his red face the picture
of astonishment.
"Wha ! Sirel If my o'.d eyes do not
deceive me, this is a proud and happy
moment!
"Hold on, Tom. I am not to be wel
comed unless you can alto welcome one
of the best and the dearest iriends I
have in the world. And here is Lieut.
Ayling. I propose to make him a post
captain as soon as possible. Say, old
shipmate, shall we be welcome togeth
er?" Ayling, as might be supiiosed. when
he thus discovered that it was his king
wnorn ne nad rescued from mortal
peril, was deeply and powerfully affect
ed, but his senses did not leave him.
He saw the pitiable situation of Sir
Thomas, and in the goodness of his
heart be movea quickly forward to his
relief.
"Sir Thomas," he said, extending his
and, "let us forget the past."
"But don't forget me!" cried the
king, jokingly.
"o danger of that," responded
Ayling, heartily, and with deep, true
feeling. "When a British seaman for
gets England's gallant sailor-king we
may look lor cnaos come again;"
"Well said! You are right, mytruo-
hearted boy I" exclaimed the old admi
ral plainly by way of setting himself
right with his sovereign, and he grasped
the youth's outstretched hand aud as he
added. "That sentiment does you
credit, my boy, and since His Majesty
God bless and keep bim! avouches
for you 1 should be a traitor and rene
gade, indeed, if 1 could refuse tbus to
extend tbe band of friendship. el
come! elcome to the pair of you;"
And then, having taken breath, he
demanded: "Siie, pray tell me, how in
the world did you get here? How came
you and whence"
"My dear old lorn, 1 ran away from
the turmoil of tbe court on purpose to
get a day of blessed rest and recreation
with you. I came in my own coach.
and left it at tbe rear gate of your park,
directing my groom to find the stables
as best he could, while I took a com.
fortable walk beneath vour majestic old
oaks. But it came near tw beingadear
walk to me, and if it had not been for
our brave aud gallant boy here sou of
one of the very best friends Heaven
ever gave me you might never have
seen William IV. of England alive
again. But I'll tell you about it over a
pipe and a glass.'
Shortly after this the two young peo
ple were sent away to look after the
work of the gardener, the king hailing
our hero as he was turning away.
"By the way, Lieutenant 1 don't
like that title. We must make it Cap
tain. You bave lost tbe stage coach
for to-day, so you may tarry over night,
if Sir Thomas can find a bed for you,
and ride back with me."
And then the two old shipmates'were
left to themselves to revel in the scenes
and to fight over again the battles of
the times agone.
We only add, before the young lieu
tenant left the hall he was permitted to
hold the Lady Emeline by tbe hand
nnder the favor of a blessed fortune, for
the old admiral bad smiled upon their
love and given his consent to their
union.
Tanned wad Streteked.
A writer from Florida says; while I
was stopping at a small hotel or tavern
down on the St. John's liiver the pro
prietor asked me in to play a game of
pool one day, while we were awaiting
tbe arrival of a party of gentlemen who
were to join us from Jacksonville. I. be
landlord tossed me a cue, and as 1 ap
plied the chalk I noticed that the cue
was peculiarly heavy and bail the ap
pearance of polished ivory, lie used a
cue of similar pattern, but tbe others in
the rack were quite ordinary. The
covering of the table also attracted my
attention. Instead of tbe sua! green
baize it looked like a peculiar species of
a snioothly-tannedjleather of a dark gray
color.
"What is this cover made of?" I in
quired.
"That?" replied the Southerner,
why, that's a piece of catfish skin It
makes the finest cover in the world
when it's nicely tanned and stretched."
1 ou don't mean to say you got that
off of one fish?" I said incredulously,
as I failed to discover a single flaw or
seam in the cover. "Oh, yes; that isn't
all, either. There was enough left over
to make me a nne pair or waterproot
overalls. Yes, sir, I caught that fish a
year ago List summer about a mile below
Cypress Point, in the St, John's River.
We bad to harpoon mm and land mm
by means of a flat boat and a block aud
tackle. Perhaps you nave noticed tue
peculiarity of these cues, too. Tbey
were made from the horns of that same
catfish."
"And these balls," added the fisher
man, as he emptied the fifteen colored
balls from a wicker basket and arranged
them for tbe game, "are another pro
duct of the same catch."
"How in the world?" I asked, trying
to look serious.
"Well. sir. you may not believe it.
but I sent fifteen of that fish's teeth up
to a shop In Jacksonville im 1 bad them
made into balls on a turning latne."
Am Old Twa. i
The oldest town in Texas and, it is
believed, in tbe United States, is
Ysleta, situated on the Hio brande aud
near El Paso, the chief town in the
county of that name. It has a popu
lation of 2,500 souls. Tbe place is one
of peculiar interest alike from its age,
its people, its agricultural and its
general products. It is a well estab
lished historical fact mat a opanuu
military explorer named Corando visit
ed the town in 1540 and found it tneu
popular and prosperous civilized
Indian community. He was immediate
ly followed by the Franciscan friars
who erected a cnurcn and esiaousueu
schools.
Dear hoottag.
Several years ago there lived In Eli
nois two families by tbe names of Crick-
ley and Drake. There bad always been
a fierce rivalry between the two fami
lies, both in field and farm pursuits,
which rivalry was further intensified
when one afternoon Colonel Crickley,
having followed a wounded buck for
several hours, at last came up with him,
and found old Drake and his sons cut
ting him up. This incident added
fuel to the fire, and from that time there
was nothing the two families did not do
to annoy each other. They shot each
other's ducks in the river, purposely
mistaking them for wild ones, and then
by way of retaliation, commenced kill'
ing off each other's pigs and calves.
One evening Mr. Drake, the elder.
was returning home with his "pocket
full of rocks" from Chicago, whither be
uad been to dispose of a load of grain.
Sam Marston was with bim on the
wagon, and as they approached the
grove which intervened between them
and Colonel Crickley's bouse he obser
ved to his companion:
"What a beautiful mark Colonel
Crickley's old Roan is, over yonder !
"liang it I" muttered old Drake, "so
ItlS."
The horse was standing under some
trees about twelve rods from the road.
Involuntarily Drake stopped his team.
He glauced furtively around, then with
a queer smiie me old nunter took up
nis ruie irom ine bottom ot his wagon.
and raising it to his shoulders, drew
sight on the Colonel's horse.
"Beautiful I" muttered Drake, low
ering his rifle with the air of a man re
sisting a powerful temptation; "I could
orop old uoan so easy."
"Shoot !" suggested Sam Marston.
who loved fun in any shape.
"Xo, no; 'twouldnt do," said the old
hunter, glancing cautiously around
hum
"I won't tell," said Sam.
'Wal, I won't shoot this time, any
way, tell or no telL Tbe horse is too
nigh. If he was fifty rods off. instead
of twelve, so there'd be a bare possibili
ty oi mistaking mm lor a deer, I'd let
ny. as it is, I'd give the Colonel five
dollars for a shot."
At that moment the Colonel himself
stepped fro oi behind a big oak, not half
a dozen paces distant, and stood before
Mr. lirake.
"Well, why don't you shoot?"
The old man stammered in some con
fusion. "That you. Colonel? I I was
tempted to, I declare ! And, as I said,
i n give y u a v ' tor one pull."
'Say an 'X' and it's a bargain."
Drake felt of his rifle, and looked at old
uoan.
"How much is the horse wuth ?" he
muttered in Yarn's ear.
"About fifiy."
"Gad, Cjlouel, I'll do it Here's your
me colonel pocketed the money,
muttering, "Hanged if I thought you'd
tune me up."
With high glee the old hunter put
fresh cap on his rifle, stood ud in his
wagon, and drew a close sight on old
Roan. Sam Marston chuckled. The
Colonel put his hand before bis face
and chuckled, too.
Crack went the rifle. Tbe hunter
tore out a horrid oath, which I will not
repeat. Sam was astonished. The Col'
ouel laughed. Old Roan never stirred.
Drake stared at his rifle with a face
as black as Othello's.
" hat's the matter with you, hey ?
Fus't time you ever served me quite
such a trick, 1 swan."
Aud Drake loaded the piece with
great wrath and indignation.
"People say you've lost your knack
o'shooting," observed the Colonel, in a
tone oi cutting satire.
ho said sot it's a lie I" thun
dered Drake. "I can shoot "
"A horse at ten rods, ha, ha I"
Drake was livid.
'Look here, Colon 1, I can't stand
that," he began.
".Never mind, the horse can," sneer
ed the Colonel; "I'll risk you."
Grinding bis teeth, Drake produced
another ten dollar bill.
"Here,"be growled, "I am bound to
have another shot, anyway."
"Crack away," cried the Colonel.
pocketing the note.
Drake did crack away with deadly
aim., too but the horse did not mind
the bullet in the least. To the rage and
unutterable astonishment of tbe hun
ter, old Roan looked him right in tbe
face, as if he rather liked the fun.
Drake," cried Sam, "you're druuk!
A horse at a dozen rods, oh, my eye I"
Just you shut your mouth or I'll
shoot you," thundered the excited
Drake. "The bullet was hollow, I'll
swear, llie man lies who says I can t
shoot I Last week I cut off a goose's
head at fifty rods, and kin dew it agin,
liy the Lord Harry, Colonel, you can
laugh, but I'll bet now, thirty dollars,
I can bring down old Roan atone shot."
The wager was readily accepted. Tbe
stakes were placed in Sam's bauds.
Elated with the idea of winning back
his two tens, and making an "X" into
the bargain, Drake carefully selected a
perfect ball, and even buckskin paten,
and beaded his rifle, it was now near
ly dark, but tbe old hunter boasted of
being able to shoot a bat on tne wing
by starlight, and without hesitation
drew a clear sight on old Roan's head.
A minute later. Drake was driving
through the grove, the most enraged,
the most desperate of men. His rule,
innocent victim of his ire, lay with
broken stock on the bottom of his
wagon. Sam Marston was too fright
ened to laugh. Meanwhile, tbe grati
fied Colonel was rolling on the ground
convulsed with mirth, and old Roan
was standing undisturbed under tbe
trees.
When Drake reached home, his two
sous discovering his ill humor, and tbe
mutilated condition of tbe rifle stock,
hastened to arouse his spirits with a
piece of news, which they were sure
would make him dance lor joy.
'Clear away," growled the angry old
man. "1 don I want to near any news;
get away, or I shall knock one of you
down."
But, father, it's such a trick."
"Blast you and your tricks."
"Played oil on the ColoueL"
"On the Colonel ?" cned the old man,
beginning to be interested. "Gad, if
you've played the Colonel a trick, las'
hear it."
Well, father, Jed and I, this after
noon, went out for deer "
"Hang the deer, come to the trick."
"Couldn't find any deer, but thought
we must shoot something; so Jed bang
ed away at the Colonel's Roan, shot
bim dead I"
"Shot old Roan!" thundered the
hunter. "By tne Lord Harry, Jed.did
yoa shoot the Colonel's horse ?"
"I didn't da anything else."
"DeviL devil 1" groaned the hunter.
"And then," pursued Jed, confident
the joke part of tbe story would please
his father, "Jim and I propped the
horse up, and tied his bead back with a
cord, and left him standing under the
trees exactly as if he was alive. Ha !
ha ! Fancy the Colonel going to catch
him. Ho ! ho ! ho I wasn't it a joke ?"
Old Drake's bead fell upon bis breast,
lie felt of his empty pocket bo jk, and
looked at his broken rifle. Then in a
rueful tone, he whispered to the boys:
"It is a joke, but if you ever tell of
it, or if you do, Sam Marston, I'll skin
you alive. By Lord Harry, boys, I've
been shooting at that dead horse half
an hour at ten dollars a shot."
At that moment Sam fell into a gut
ter. Jed dragged him out insensible.
Sam had laughed himself almost to
death.
Kolas of the Boad.
"Turn to the right as the law di
rects," is not only law but practice in
all parts of our country. This is one of
the few cases in which we have directly
changed the custom of our English an
cestors without any reason; but while
making the legal change in regard to
the relative movement of approaching
teams we retain their custom of near
and off side, and place our drivers, as
they do, on the right, or off side. Turn
ing out to right or left may be an indif
ferent matter, but tbe driver's seat is
important in either case and our habit
in this regard is not good horsemanship.
The English driver turning to the left
and himself sitting on the right, is near
est to the tesm he avoids, can better
measure his distance from it and may
drive much closer, being able to keep
his eye upon the bubs of the opposite
team. Our driver turning to the right
and Bitting on that side is the width of
his vehicle from the other carriage, and
has the person on the seat with him be
tween. In any case he can only be ex
pected to calculate his distance and
though our drivers become very skillful
in the calculation, inexiierience and
carelessness often hold the reins and we
suffer serious accidents from collision.
In passing heavily loaded teams we find
another diihculty. All our horses are
accustomed to be approached aud ban
died on the left, or near stde. conse
quently the teamster with your horses
and a great load, walks by his team on
the left and is thus exposed to the
wheels of the passing caniage, and has
tbe awkward necessity, if using burses
accustomed merely to the rein, of get
ting hold of a line on the oil side by
reaching over bis horses' backs.
It is true that in this country teams
are usually driven with reins and that
wagoners seldom walk by them and in
that case the objection I have made doss
not appear, but all drivers have seen
what I bave described.
In England the wagoner walks beside
his team. He takes the left side to have
free use of the right hand in dealing
with his horses; hence the phrase "near
side." It is bis natural and proper mo
tion, in meeting vehicles, to draw bis
horses towards himself and let vehicles
pass on the off side. The writer lives
upon a road that connects manufactur
ing villages and muy woodlands witu a
large town aud railroad station, coal.
wool, shoddy or cotton in vast piled up
loads drawn by four and six horses go
one way and manufactured goods, wood.
lumber etc., are drawn to the town; here
tbe American fashion is seen at its
worst; the horses are not raised in the
district and are 'swapped" with l an
kee frequency, consequently they do not
often know the language or manners of
their drivers so that when lie walks by
their side they practically claim the road
I do not expect in these remarks to lead
any reform, but would suggest, especially
to drivers of small experience, tbe greater
safety of sitting always on tbe "near,
or left side of the carriage, so that tbey
can better see tbeir distance from pass
ing vehicles.
Cariosities of Rwui Prison.
The Mammertine Prison consists of
two subterranean dungeons, one below
the other. An old monk with a lighted
lamp conducted us down a long flight of
stone steps to the upper prison. We
found ourselves in a cold, dark room.
built up on all sides and overhead with
enormous stones. In ancient times the
only connection between the upier and
lower dungeons was by a circular hole
just large enough to admit a human
body. 1 brough this opening prisoners
were lowered to the dungeon below. In
modern times a stairway has been cut
around through the rock from the upper
to tbe still more horrible lower prison.
No light of day has ever penetrated
that dark, deep, damp, dismal dungeon.
But the chief interest of the Mmmer
tine lies in the tradition that St. Peter
and SL Paul were confined there just
before their martyrdom. ithout be
lieving or disbelieving the story, we still
get some idea of a Roman prison in St.
Paul's day.
In descending tbe stairs the monk
paused before a rude indentation in the
stone wall, which we could imagine
looked like the side of a man's nead.
There our gui le waxed eloquent and
said: "This is the impression of St.
Peter's head! When the jailers were
taking the apostle to the prison below,
they rudely pushed him against the wall,
leaving this indentation in tbe solid
rock!" In the lower dungeon the monk
showed us a spring, and again becoming
eloquent be said: "Here Peter preached
to two of his jailers until they believed
and asked to be baptized. Then the
apostle touched the floor and this foun
tain burst from the rock; thus by a
miracle water was furnished for bap
tism." But, alas for the old monk's
story, Plutarch tells us that Jugurtha
drauk of this same fountain when be
was m the prison, and that was a cen
tury before St. Peter was born. We
tasted of tbe water and found it pleas
and. Walls ob Ui Sn Coast.
Dr. George H. Cook, the New Jersey
State Geologist, describes tbe success
ful opening of artesian wells, 400 leet
deep, at Ocean Grove and Asbury Park
last summer, and says the character of
the sand and marl found in tbe boring
is so well marked that it may be rea
sonably expected to yield water .for the
supply of all the towns and villages on
the sea coast. The water is absolutely
free from contamination with organic
matters, and is soft enough for laundry
purposes. The well at Ocean Grove is
a.fiowing well, yielding 00,000 to 70,000
gallons daily; it is lined with six-inch
iron tube for oo feet, the bore lower
down not being tubed. The water has
temperature of 0W Jr ., and contains
8.5 cubic inches of carbonic acid per
gallon.
The Turkish Capital.
Nothing can be more beautiful than
the Booporns, an immense river bound
ed by Europe aDd Asia. Through a
max j of windings which seem planned
so as to show off to advantage the
splendors of both banks it meanders
between hills sometimes snrmoanted by
fortressde and batterres of cannon,
sometimes covered with country Looses
and paiMces. Oi the right are the fort
ress of Mahomet the Second, R mmoli
Issar, and tbe delicious Gulfs of Buy-
ukdere and Therapia, the favorite resi
dence of the rich Greek and Armenian
ambassadors and merchants; on the left
the picturesque towers of Anatoli Isaar
and the palace of Berheybev. Bat be
hold! now appeared SUmboal, a pro
montory jutting oat like a headland be
tween the SsM of Marmora and the
Golden Horn, Stumlxml with the im
posing dome of St. Sophia with iU min
arets and moeqnee; then Scutari, on the
Aaiatio coast; Per and Gslata on the
European side; all glittering like gold
in the glorious sunlight. A forest of
masts fids the Galden Horn; steam
boats, barges and skills go to and fro
between Europe and Asia. It Is, says
Mgr. Mtslrn, the most magnificent sight
i". the world.
We were at Constantinople! Bat bow
suddenly the eacbantment of the Bos
porus lades away. Constantinople is as
nglr within as it appears piJtureeqae
aud beautiful from without. We crossed
the quarter of Galata to reach Pera,
and such roads as we had to traverse,
dirty, crooked, fall of holes, without
pavement, crowded with haamals or
porters, who jostle you; men carrying
leather bottles full of water, who splash
you all over if yoa don't take care;
donkeys laden with boards or bars of
iron, which they drag along the ground
like a harrow, tor here tracks aud carts
are unknown. Bat what strikes one
tbe most is the number of dogs lying ir
ruuning about the roads, and tbe
gronps of dirty, ragged Turks stretched
in the shade on tun footpath, smoking
narguiii, devouring watermelons or
playing at draughts and dominoes, when
they are not sleeping.
From the top of the tower of GalaU,
which is very high, one can take in at
a glance the whole ex ent of Constan
tinople, or rather the three towns which
together form that incomparable capital
of tbe Saltans. First of all, ou the
west, almost at your feet, aud separated
ouly by the Golden Ham, is Stamboul,
the ancient Byzautiam ot the Greeks,
lhi ne Rjme of the Enperors, the
bulwark of Islam. Ssamooul baa the
form of au immense triangle. Its base,
fortified by tbe cast e of the Saven
Towers aud a triple line of ramparts.
ollered ou the side of the mainland a
tormidable barrier, which, horever,was
not sufficient to check Mahomet the
Second, the Conqueror. An iucloaure
cf walls protected the two other sides
of the triangle, although they had a
natural defense iu the Propontia on the
right and au arm of the Goldou M rn
on the left. The point sinks into tbe
waters of the Bosporus it is what one
sees first. It is here, at the point of
Stsmbjul, that the famous palace of the
Emperors, aud later ou the seraguo of
tue Sultan, stoo l. Of this seraglio,
destroyei br tire, there reaiain only a
few rams, closed t j the traveler. St.
Sophia adjoined the eeraglio; the cele
brated hippodrome completed the spot
where tbe tate of the Eastern Empire
was bo often decided. Stamboal is the
centre and the home of lslamism. It
is here the Mahometans have, so to say.
coucvutrated taeir forces, tneir richess
aud their eiorr. No Curistian lives in
Stamboul.
Stumboni presents the biat a-p jet one
can bave of Cjustautin3p e. It coutains
the h:iitiet mosques with tbeir inaumer
able minarets. A bttle to the right
n-es the high tower of Seras-Kterat; at
its base are tbe palaces of the Ministers
of finance and War: beneath, to the
lelt, the bazars with their low cupolas.
In the distance the residence of the
Patriarch of the Greek schismatics and
the ruins ot the ancient and lamous
castle if tbe Biacqaerual. Scutari, to
the east, ou the coast of Asia, rises bke
an amphitheater, and numbers already
n;ty thousand inhabitant, lbe eele-
orated cemettry, called by the Turks
tbe "Holy Ground, because it was tbe
siiot whence lslamism was to bave
spread over Europe, is one of the chief
objects of interest in Scutari. I he
rurks consider it a great honor to be
buried in this cemetery, which covers a
square mile of land, aud whose cypresses
appear in tbe distanoe bke a forest of
verdure. One of tbe finest monuments
covers the spot where Mahojiet's horse
was buriel
Until 1153 SL Sophia was one of the
greatest glories of Christianity, but at
tue takiuir of Constantinople by tbe
forks, MaLo-net the Conqueror, riding
mto the sacred edifioj aud leaping onto
the altar steps, ex claimed; "ihere is do
God but God, and Mahomet is bis pro
phet. His words were the signal of
destruction. AU the Christians who
bad taken refuge la the Temple were
massacred, its treasures were pillaged,
the Cross was overthrown, and St.
Sophia, desecrated and stripped of its
glory, was transformed into a house of
Islam, tae tuecumle of Meco The
exterior of St. Sophia is disfigured by
tbe clumsy-looking buttresses which
support the dome. Bat tbe moment
one enters the building, after having
traversed tbe immense outer court
which surrounds it, one is lost in ad
miration at the majesty and grandeur of
tbe place. To me it seemed even more
imposing than ot. reters at Itame.
The reason is that St. Peter s, like all
great cathedrals, has the form of a
Lit in cross. Tbe first thing one sees is
me long nave; the dome is approached
gradually, and one is more or less pre
pared lor it by tne wonderful p.-rspec-
ure of tue converging aisles, in St.
Sophia, on the contrary, whioh is a
type of the Ureek cross, at the first
step yon hud yourseii oeneatn me
gigantic cupola, aud suddenly over
whelmed by its mujestio proportions.
It would require volumes to djscribe
the plaa of turn work of art, and to
enumerate its marvelous perfections.
Suflitt it to say that the interior was
adorned with iieaati.nl mosaics on a
gold ground, representing saojects from
the O.d and JNo rdUmdht, bat as
the Korau lo.b.ds tbe painting of bam in
figure, tne Tarts nave plastered over
the vault of the cupola and painted
stars ou it. Cut. in spite of the layer
of pisster, oue can still distinguish
npou one arch the image of the Dirme
Wisdom with extended arms. We also
rejoiced to see over a door a small cross
m atone, whion has, no doabt, escaped
tbe profanation of tbe infidel, and re
mains there as an emblem of hope for
the future.
Thm Ca bloat aad IU M aatlaga.
Very little is known about what goes
uu in uie aumrt meetings. xveKuiarir,
they are held twice a week, on Tuesday
and Friday noon, but when there is any
Important business afoot extra ones
are called. The Cabinet meets in
handsome room on the second floor of
the White House, from whose swelling
windows a wide view down over the
lawn over the Potomac, including the
w asuington Monument and the Long
Bridge, and bounded by the hills ot
Arlington, is spread. While the Presi
dent and his advisers are in session a
throng of correspondents and public
men ait out in the private secretary's
room, waiting to bear if any business
is transacted. Each member of tbe
Cabinet is provided by law with a car
riage. Secretaries Lincoln and Chan
dler never use theirs to come to the
White House, for their offices are oidy
just across tne lawn, urewster's .De
partment of Justice is no further away.
but he always rides. No one ever saw
him afoot. His carriage is well enough
but he has the scrubbiest looking old
nag about the city Jn front of it.
secretary xeuer drives a brisk pair,
never arrives until the last minute, and
is off again before the rest bave pushed
tneir chairs back from the sitting,
Judge Gresham has a smart gray horse
and coupe, lie is entitled to a pair.
but pushing Frank Uatton takes the
other. Judge Folger sometimes walks
and often rides. He never stops in the
White House, but walking over to the
Treasury the reporters generally find
out what has happened. Mr. Chandler
stays and chats with them in Mr. Phil
lips' room, but seldom gives any news.
Mr. Teller sometimes does so. Tbe
rest are never asked, especially Brew
ster, who is avoided by every one on
othial topics, for he never appears to
know what is going on, even iu his own
department. Messrs. Chandler and
leller are the two who keep track of
things, lhey look something alike.
and they are both under fifty. Each
oue intends to be elected Senator
year from this winter. Brewster is the
most punctilious member, Frelinghiiy-
sen the most aristocratic, Lincoln the
quietest, Gresham the ablest and Folger
the most judiciaL Gresham is, I think,
most popular and Chandler with more
irons in the fire. Jude Folger lives
way up on the hill by himself, with his
dapier little secretary, rrank Sperry,
of New York. Last winter he had a
house on Connecticut avenue and
boarded George Bliss, for whose board
the government paid $ W a week. Brew
ster stays in that neighborhood and
gives high little dinneis on occasion.
So does Secretary Chandler in bis band
some bouse, only he never drinks wine.
Frelingbuysen entertains a good deal
in a gener.u way, receptions generally,
when tbe attraction is the people, witu
the tea which Miss TillieFrelinghuysen
charmingly dispenses. Ten of these
does not cast as much as one dinner.
Lincoln does not entertain at all. He
can't afford it, and bis mother's death
is an excuse. Gresham will do some
thing in that line ttiis winter, bat Tel
ler never attempts anything of that sort.
His wife has some very pretty esteru
girls always with her, but it is not an
ambitious household. Brewster is the
only unique specimen of the President's
advisers. lie makes a study of it.
Bo Didn't Ssars a Bit.
On the train from Cincinnati to
Chattanooga the talk of the mo t of six
or eight in the smoking car ran to train
robbery. The subject was canvassed
from every standpoint, and all but one
agreed that a passenger ear could be
robbed without danger to tbe robbers.
This chap was selling drugs for a Balti
more house, and be announced bis
readiness to lay down bis life whenever
an attempt was made to deprive him of
his cash. It was generally believed
that his courage was all talk, and by
and br when he fell asleep we put up a
job on him.
A giant of a chap from Dayton, O.,
was selected to play robber. He was
about the ugliest looking white mux
anybody had ever set eyes on, and he
borrowed two revolvers, removed the
cartridges and waited for the right
moment. As the train stopped at a lit
tle station tbe big fellow opened and
slammed the door and cried out :
"Hands up, gentlemen! The first one
of you who drop a hand is a dead
man!"
Up went our bands, and the drug-
man awoke.
'Up with 'em throw 'em up!" com
manded Dayton as he leveled both
shooters at the drummer and slowly
advanced.
"Not if I know myself!" was the
cool reply, and what did the Marylander
do but out with his revolver and began
popping awayl He bad fired four shots
and driven tbe "roober" to the door be
fore any one could grab him and ex
plain matters. One bullet went through
the big man's cap, a second burned bis
cheek, and the third and fourth went
through the windows. He was whiter
than snow as the affair ended, and re
turning the revolvers to their owners be
stood up in the aisle and said:
"Gentlemen, you can put me down
as the biggest blamed fool in America!
Geod night!"
And be took bis coat and grip and
left us for a seat In another coach.
Aad Tfc-
"Dj those alligators bite?" inquired
a man with hair tbe color of a gosling,
as be poked bis nose around tbe corner
of the door.
"Not very often," replied the editor.
"Are you armed?" asked the light-
haired man.
"No, we never go armed."
"Are you in a pretty good humor?"
"First-rate, first-rate," replied the
editor, who smelled a spring poem, and
quietly drew tbe poker up where be
could reach it to throw.
'Well now, ljust thought I would
drop in and see you. I have a little "
Walk right in," said the editor.
who wanted to get the man in range.
The man walked in, as requested.
"1 want to give you a joke."
"All right; what is itr"
"It is this; You must first say some
thing about a man who cared for noth -ing
outside of horses."
Yes."
"And then say that to him life was
but a span meaning, you know, a
span of horses, and then"
But tbe gosling-haired man Jumped
for the stall way, and left behind bim a
ripple of fiendisn laughter tuat haunted
the building tor tbe rest of tbe day.
Moan spent la paint for farm build
tngs aud implements is not to be eooa-adlost.
Sba Held tne lort.
There were brave girls ainou? the
early French colonists of Canada. The
following striking instance is related of
a mere child defending a fort seven
davs against assaulting savages:
One October morning in 10U2, the
inhabitants of Vercheres. a settlement
twenty miles below Montreal, were iu
the field at work. There were but two
soldiers within the fort. The cjm m in
der and his wife were absent. Their
daughter, Madeleine, a girl of 11, stood
on the landing with a hired man, when
she heard firing.
'Run, mademoiselle! run!" cried the
man. "Here comes the Iroquois!''
Looking round, the girl saw the In
dians near at hand. She ran for the
tort, and the Indians, seeing they could
net catch her, fired at her. The bullets
whistled round her, aud "mode the
time seem very lonj," as she alter wards
said.
As soon as sha neared the fort, she
cried out, "To aruiI to arms!" hoping
that she would get assistance. Bat the
two soldiers were so frightened that
they had hidden iu the block-house.
When Madeleine reached the gate of
the fort, she fouud two womeu there
crying for their husbands, who were iu
the fields and had just been killed.
Madeleine forced them in, aud shut the
gale. Sue iustautlv went to examine
the defences of the fort, and touud that
some of the palisades bad fallen down,
leaving boles through which tue eujiny
could easily enter.
bhe got what help she couli and set
them up. Then the little comuitudur
repaired to the block-house, whore she
found the brave garrison of t o, one
man hiding iu a corner, the other with
a lighted match in his hand.
" W hat are you goiuz to do witu that
match?" said Madeleine.
'Light the powder, aud blow us all
up," answered the soldier.
"louarea miseraole coward. ' said
the girl, "Gj out of this pla-je!''
People areal.vays likeiy to oosy, in
time of panic, tue one person, who
shows resolution aud cooiuess. Tne
soldier did as Madeleine bade bim.
Sue tneu flung aside her bonnet, put ou
a hat an 1 took a gun.
Her whole "toice ' consisted of the
above meutioued soldiers, her two little
brothers, aged 10 and 12, and aa o.d
man of ti'J and some wornm and child-
ceu, wuj did notmu but set up a con
tinual screaming, as sjou as the firing
commenced.
Let us fi'ht to the death," said
brave Madeleine to her little bro:hers,
who seemed to have posseoijd no little
share of her own courage. "We are
lighting for our country aud oar reli
gion. Remember our lather has taiiut
you that geutieuieu are boru to sued
their blood lor tne service of UoJ and
the king.
Maueieine now p.aced ber brothers
aud the soldiers at tne loop-hoies, waere
luey fired at tue Indians lurkiu aui
dodging aoout outside. Tne savages
did not know Low large tue garrisou
was, and therefore hesitated t attack
the fort; aud numbeis ot theiu led be
fore the well-directed shout of the
soldiers.
The girl-commander succeeded, alter
a while, in stopping the the screaming
of the women aud cuildreu, for sue was
determined tuat the enemy should per
ceive no sign of fear or weakness; she
dew from bastion to bastion to see that
every defender was doiu his duty; she
caused a cannoa to be ured from time
to time, partly to intimidate tue sava
ges, aud partly in hope mat the noise
might convey intelligence ot tae situa
tion, and bring tnem uelp.
Thus the light weut ou, day atterday,
uight after mgat, the heroic girl keep
ing up her vigdaut exertions so con
stantly that it was ii hours before she
caught a wink of sleep.
x or a whole week Madeleine held tuo
fort, with no tvoriu cirouuiitauces
but the stormy wea.uer, wuicii pre
vented the Indians from sttiu lire to
ner wooden defences. At tad eud or
that time reiuforctuijuts came down
the river and "raised ths siego."
light Mar la Boston.
"Dj the ladies of Bistoa go to market
is those of other cities do?" a liostoa
reporter asked a markutmm the other
day.
'No, they don't."
'Why not?"
'Well, I don't know. I suppose be
cause their grandmothers didn't do it."
'It s very diMereut in other cities.
Philadelphia, for instance?"
'es, indeed. W by, there, the first
thing alter breakfast the ladv of the
house takes her "tnawket bawsket' aud
'goes to mawket' as regularly as the
day comes round."
'Tney order all the household sup
plies, don't they ?"
ie3, and take them home, too."
'Why, ho x cau they do taat'.''
'Ob, they always buy in small quan
titiesa little butter, laid, molasses
everything, m fact, from day to day."
' V eil, if Boston ladies dou t do the
family marke.ing, wno does?"
"Oh, the man of the house; or more
often the things are ordered through
tbe men sent out wita teams from dif
ferent markets and provision dealers.
It's a great pity," continued the mar
ietrnau, "that Boston laiie. don't visit
our markets of tener. If one of them
takes a .trip to Washington, or almost
any other larga city, the markets form
one of the signts to be seen, aui 1 dare
say many have exclaimed over them
wno never knew experimentally, that
those of Boston are well worth seeing.
From the old crone who sits ou the
steps there selbng water-cresses and
dried yarbs, past uie negro whose apron
and shawl of gunny bas, fa leued m
front with a wooden skewer, accords so
perfectly with bis bgut brown skin,
past the meat-stalls, wueie oue is re
minded of the lady wno said she knew
the aunuals wheu luey were alive, out
she eouldn't ted them wueu tbey were
deal; past the green grocery men, who
will tell yoa uuderf ai taiesot now ibis
caul flower was brouuc way from
France aud those onions from Bermuda,
clear down to tue Uob stalls, wnere the
three hundred pound turtle aud tae one
sided tux hot and tue little pink surims
are so interesting; yes, aud back aaoi
on tne other side it is ail oue lou gal
lery of curiosities. Let tnem try it,
and tney will exciaiiu as one did the
other day: "All this rigut berr iu Bos
ton? 1 wouldo. t have beiieusd ill It
Uie a glimpse of some foreign puce.' "
Dio it ever oajar ts yoi, a a ir, fa
general tljjtmiion ot p.'iuss, taat a a
oralias go "no" ofteaer taJ itaij
eW