Jiitsiiif it
wP Wly
B. F. SCHWEIER,
THE O0H8T1TUTI0I-TKE TJSIOI-US THE EITOXOIEIT 0? TEE LAWS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XXXVIII.
' MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. "WEDNESDAY. MAY 14, 1884.
NO. 20.
SNOW-TRACK.
It sw-ms to-night as thonph I walked
Tue old, snow-clad way with yon;
It wins this boar as though I talked
Of what the star withheld from view.
I feel again the white flakis crisp
And yit-ld beneath onr loitering feet
I hrr the winter's sers leaves lip
Sucseslions of a spring complete.
Yonr clinging pressure binds my arm,
Yonr blonde hair blows across my face;
Around me lingers all your charm,
iy soul responds to all your grace;
And then, lost love, the lights burn low,
The chill is here, my pulses slack;
Tb way we two no more may know,
lias lust all memory of our track.
UOLLTTS FLIUTATIOX.
I am Kitty, and Dolly is my twin
sister. I was always sedate, mother
used to say, but Doily was giddy, and
fond of flirting.
When we were seventeen, Dolly be
came encaged, with cur mother's con
sent, to Frank Wilmot, a young fellow
of twei ty-four, son of a banker, free
and cheery in manner and disposition,
lie was very indulgent to Dolly, for lie
felt so confident or her love, and was
himself so sincere, that the ad miration
she excited was his triumph. The free
dom with which she received a:id en
couraged it, never pained him, though
mother and I used to watch her with
serious anxiety.
Sometimes our mother would say a
few impressive words; then Dolly would
throw her arms around her. and with
kisses assure her she would be a bette'
pirl. or she would pout a little, with
tars in her bnelit blue eyes. She
would be very demure through two
balls, and at the third worse than ever:
scarcely could Frank get one waltz for
himself.
One evening he brought to our house
a cousin of his, a barrister, a man some
years older than himself, lie was
rather famous, though only thirty.
being an acute lawyer, and be was con
sequcntly looked up to at the bar.
Dolly owned to me that evening that
Frank had confided to her that 1 was
Jack Dacre's ideal woman.
"Don't blush so angrily, darlin
said she. "for it wouid be the .niosi
delightful arrangement. He is Frank
ideal man, snd dearest friend. It woul
be the happiest thing lor us all!" And
Dolly gave me a hug and kiss, and ran
off to bed.
Mr. Dacre came very often after that
one visit, and 1 boon found that he was
mv ideal man, for he strangely reseni-
lied my father, both in manners and
ch valrons courtesy to women, as well
as in aiiearauce. It was with a chill
at mv heart that I was the first
make the discovery that he was falling
in love with Dolly he, the soul
honor, seemed bewitched by the charms
of his bosom friend s alhauced wile.
1 knew it before he did, but of course
not liefoie I:lv, who had a genius for
unerru'jr'v deleting tvery yuiptom.
however obscure, of dawning love, either
in her own case or another's.
Mv mother and Frank were utter!
blind to the danger. 1 was very unhap
py, and exceedingly sorry for Dolly, for
irank, for Mr. Dacre, and. I own it,
tor myself; tor, though I had not fallen
in love with Frank's cousin, I must say
be was the only man 1 had seen whom
felt 1 could fall in love with.
But an accident brought matters to a
climax.
We were sitting in the drawing-room
after dinner, one evening, when a noise
ia the street drew us to the window.
The pole of a carriage had entered the
shoulder of a cab horse. Dolly became
ill and faint at the sight, and Mr.
Dacre, who was at her side, threw his
arm around her to save her from fall
irg. lie led her to a sofa, and stood
aside as Frank drew near; but from
that night he never came any more.
He and I had seen the half petulant
way in which Dolly had turned from
Jtrank, had caught another expression
oa her face, had seen her vivid blush.
From that evening she became cold,
petulant, teasing to Frank, at firrst he
laughed, then was hurt, and finally the
engagement was broken off.
This sxm told; but what my mother
and 1 suffered, must be imagined.
dared neither to tell her truth, nor to
Lint to Dolly that I knew to whom her
heart was given, though I loved her so
dearly; and 1 felt so sure that this was
the lirst true love of her life. This
determined, decided, somewhat, stern
man, was sure to charm our little but
teiily, if she noticed him at all.
Mother and I arranged that Dolly
should go away on a short visit. Frank
was to cr.nie one evening, to return the
letters Dolly had sent him. They
would not feel the abiuptness of thii
rupture so much if they were place 1
personally by him in my hands; and I
had his letters also to give him. Mother
was quite unequal to see him, for she
loved him dearly, and the task was left
to me, I was not sorry, for I felt I
could say all that was likely to comfort
mm, loving both of them so deeply.
So iioor Frank produced bis sorrow
ful little packet, received the one I had
lor him, and stood leaning against the
cuiumey-piece, while 1 sat quite unable
to utter a word, but with tears drop
ping quietly from my eyes. At last he
told me that he knew Dolly had been
faithless to him. lie felt sure that she
and Jack Dacre loved each other, and
he spoke so humbly of himself, as if it
was quite to be expected that his cousin
should be preferred above any other
man, that I was greatly touched, and
tears leu laster and faster.
"Jack is the soul of honor, Kitty, but
I must make it clear to him that he is
free to do as his heart dictates. His
ana her happiness must not be wrecked.
I will get my father to send me to our
branch nouse in India, and will not
return tin they are married. Jack is
rich enough to marry at once. I shall
embark on Thursday."
alien he charged me with tender
oiessmgs for Dolly, and, at his request,
1 went to ask my mother to bid him
wrewelL Presently she glided in, pale
as death. She held out her trembling
and in silence, but Frank folded her
jo his arms, and she sobbed on bis
oreast. I stood ty, weeping bitterly,
no, when we were calmer, Frank em
Maced us both, finially, and placing me
my mother's arms, left us. Poor
Kilow, how brave he was, how gentle
toipatientl
In a month from that time Dolly was
anced to Mr. Dacre, and the mar
?e was arranged to take place at the
ginning of the long vacation. We
we by this time convinced that it
we best thing that could happen.
one could see Dolly and doubt that
. was the only man she loved. His
calm, intense character impressed her,
his great talents awed her, and her
pretty, innocent pride in her manly
lover, her meekness and quietness, were
most promising symptoms of happiness
in her married life.
Dear mother was so supremely happy,
I was very fond of my new brother; be
was such a power for good and peace in
our home that we never had been
contested before. Frank wrote freely
to us, manly, patient letters, full
unselfish interest in all around him.
His sorrow had sweetened, not euibit
tered his character. He had set him
self to alleviate his anguish by doing
good, and his first act on reaching bis
destination bail tteeu to use bis keen
commercial gifts for tne welfare of the
widow and children of an officer of the
army, and at the cost of time, talent
and energy, to rescue her small fortune
from unsafe baud?, and invest it profit'
ably. His letters were tilled with siini
lar incidents, naturally and simply told
and our affectou inqreased for this truly
brave man.
Dolly's grandmother took it into her
head that it was her grandchild's duty
to pay her a farewell visit before her
marriage. Though, as she had never
troubled herself much about us, we
were rather startled at this demand w
all thought it would be best to accei
the invitation for mv sister was not
looking well and it was settled that
she should go and spend a month with
the old lady in her lovely north country
home. Mr. Dacre was pressed to go as
often as his protessional engagements
would permit; so Dolly left us In pretty
good spirits, in charge of the elderly
sen ant who was our substitute for
regular ladies' maid.
She wTote to tell us bow sue was en
joying the repose and beauty of the
country. Mr. Dacre had managed to
run down from Saturday till Mouday at
the fust week, and had of course made
a great impression, but was a! raid he
could not come again a long case was
pending at Westminster. The letter
which followed this, 1 give iu its iutej
rity:
Hkjiiwood, July 20.
Dearest Kitty: I he you will get
this in time to send my bat nere instead
of to grandmamma's. 1 am on a fort-
night's visit to Lady Millicent .North.
Such a charming woman a widow
about twenty-eigiit years old. She per
suaded Mrs. Lloyd "to let her have me
for a week or two; and, as her daugh
ter-in-law. a coutirmel invalid, was
coming to siend just that time with
her, my grauduiotlier was glad to get
meoutof ber way, 1 know, i can t
w rite much, for the post leaves here at
eight! o'clock, and w e drop our letters
into the hall box. as we go in to dinner.
I expect the gong every minute. This
place is lovely, and the new baronet
MrChailes is the dearest Ihe gong.
Your own Dolly
I felt uneasy concerning this letter,
I was sorry Dolly should have left her
god-inotlier's quiet home, just as she
was sobering down and growing such a
thoughtful little love. It might unset
tie ber again to pass a fortnight in
country house with a fascinating ban
net; and I knew Jack Dacre would
never permit, never pardon, the small
est suspicion of flirting. He had par
doned her defection in i rank s case,
for Frank himself had pleaded elo
quently saying that she was very young,
so naturally affectionate. But mamma
and I felt sure that not for one hour
would he permit the slightest approach
to disloyalty to his deep tenderness for
his girlish betrothed. .Neither her
youth, her love of fun, nor her merry
heart, would plead oue atom in her
favor; so I read this letter with a heavy
heart. My answer was as follow:
Dearest Dolly: Your letter reached
me in time to have the box sent to
High wood. You will receive it soon
after this reaches you. Write very fully,
for your letter was tantalizing, Send
me a full description of every one, for
you have roused my curiosity; as to Sir
Charles, who is "the dearest"'
The res.t of my letter contained boms
news, and X need not transcribe it.
Cut Dolly's answer I will transcribe
lou ask me for a description of
everybody, darling. Lady Millicent is
very beautiful, very clever, and devo
tedly attached to this Sir Charles; but I
feel sure ber heart is buried in the grave
of her noble husband. send her pho
tograph, so need no words in describing
her,
Sir Charles h very fascinating,
though I fear mv description may not
predispose you in his favor; but you beg
me to be particular. He is short and
stout, has a very tine head, but rather
thin light hair, fine eyes, good mouth.
but not much of a nose in fact, it is
all tip very nice hands and feet. He
is, I believe, very talented, but does not
employ his gifts, seldom talks, never
reads. Is a little fond of eating, in
spite of these drawuacks, be is very
charming and all the girls, far and near
make a great deal of him. Of course
be is rich. He likes Lady Millicent to
live in the house, she has complete
influence over him."
I wa3 much relieved after reading
this letter. I felt so easy in mind that
told Dolly bow I had feared for her.
"But," I wrote, "of course you never
could really admire a fat little man, who
never reads or talks, and with a nose all
ip, and who cares for nothing but eat-
U)S- . ...
It turned out that tne most uniortu-
nate thing I could have done was to
confess my fears to my provoking sister.
She answered me vehemently, declaring
that Sir Charles was the most lovable
fellow she had met for a long time, and
really was so excited that I posted a
letter to her at once.
"You distress me, Dolly. You know
Mr. Dacre would never lorgive you if
he saw your letters. I bide them even
from mother. Oh, pray do think before
you madly risk the loss of bis love, for
that will follow the very hour be loses
his high opinion of youl"
This is how Dolly answered my ten
der appeal:
What a lecturing little tning you
are getting, Kittyl I am very mucn
attached to Sir Charles, and if Jack is
ever so angry, I can't help it."
Thus flippantly the letter ran on.
I was really angry and distressed, but
resolved to try no more lectures, they
clearly made matters worse, bo, the
next time. 1 cave a run description oi a
day we had spent in court, bearing Mr.
Dacre plead. I described his dignified
appearance, his easy, graceful gestures
above all, I dwelt on the beauty of
his nose.
Dolly answered:
"I am auite shocked at you, kitty, to
make such an idol of a nose!" and then
she continued, as usual, anoui oir
Cbarles.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dacre seemed quite
happy, and said be bad daily letters
from Dolly as regularly as w ben she was
witn .Mrs. idoyd. Was my beloved
sister growing-deceitful?
1 kept all this from my mother; but I
grew more and more wretched over
Dolly's letters. A picnic would be
"glorious." for Sir Charles was going.
She had spent the whole morning
"quietly with Sir Charles." Once be
was iauisposed, and she had "nursed
him, played for him, sung to him."
Well, I could do nothing more. I
resolved to say not another word about
him to anyone else. I began to dislike
the very sound of his name, or rather,
the sight of it; and, when Dully declared
I should like him as much .as everyene
else did, 1 made up my mind that I
hated him. I wrote one more tender
appeal, which I said was my last.
Every Tuesday, mother and I had
Dolly's letters, but one day there was
none by my breakfast plate as usual.
Mothefread hers.
"Dolly says she had written to you,"
she observed presently. "How can it
be that you have not received it?" .
Mistakes of the postoffice are so rare,
we could but suppose she bad omitted
to post It, by the next delivery, how
ever, I received a letter from M. Dacre,
coutaiuing an inclosure which turned
out to be a letter to me from Dolly. A
few lines ran thus:
"Dear Kitty I had read too much
of the inclosed before I discovered the
mistake: If you receive a letter from
Iolly before this reaches you, you will
have discovered she has missent the
letters. I shall run down to Hizhwood
w itnout loss oi time."
I had not received any letter then.
but by the second country delivery
came one directed to Jack at once.
Ihe letter be baa read began thus
"All you say is useless, mv darlinir.
I love Sir Charles devotedly, and he has
this cay declared be loves me. You
ask hm, does he know I am engaged ?
1 told bun a gentleman was coming to
see me; out lie seemed little concerned
at this piece of information."
So far Mr. Dacre had read, and the
mine was sprung,
I locked my room door, and fell back
despairing into an easy chair. I was
resolved to hide all from my mother till
Air. Dacre bad seen Dolly. I bunted up
Bradshaw, and found that a train started
about four o clock that would convey
me to Highwood by 7.50. If Dolly
wrote to me at once I should get her
letter by Thursday; but of course
should hear from Jack on Wednesday,
I dreaded every ring, every postman's
knock. All day Wednesday passed and
no letter arrived from my sister and her
lover.
On Thursday morning I ran down
when I heard the usual welcome sound
On the table lay a thick letter address
ed in Dolly's handwriting. I ran up to
niainma and gave ber the one I found
inclosed in it for her; then I sat down
to read mine, after fortifvinsr myself
with a cup of coffee. I must give every
word ot it
"You are well aware that a catastro
phe has happened through my heedless
ness. The best thing will be for me to
describe fully the whole consequences
of that misfortune. On our return
from the garden party on Tuesday, I
found a telegram awaiting me from
Jack 'Shall be with you by 7-55.' Of
course this awoke no fears in my mind,
for I knew Jack might run down at any
moment the trains permit. Lady Mali
cent sent me off at once to be dressed
by .er artist-maid. What she made of
me you must have seen to believe,
Kittv. I would not look at myself till
the whole process was complete; and,
when I glanced in the long glass, 1 was
really amazed at what I saw. It was
the result. I now know, of many dis
cussions between Lady Millicent and
this gifted young person. You may
imagine how I exulted in the thought
that Jack would see me look as he had
never seeu me look before, for 1 am so
improved in health that my whole ap
iearauce is changed. Well, the bell
rang. Lady iiiincent received Air.
Dacre in the morning room, and came
to send me down at once.
'I ran down with my heart bounding.
I entered the room. I noticed Jack
give one start; but be received me in
such a very un-Jack-like manner that I
was terrified. 'Mamma Kitty r l
cried. 'Quite well when I left them,'
said Mr. Dacre; but when be placed me
in a chair, and took one opposite me, 1
felt matters were desperate. 'What is
wrong?' I gasped. 'Dearest Jack, pray
speak I' 'Only an address,' said he, and
put the unfortunate envelope in ray
hands. 'This contained a letter for
your sister, which I, perhaps fortunate
ly, read before 1 perceived tne miataKe.
I have just seventeen minutes before I
leave for the return train, so if you wish
to say anything, let me beg of you to
siteak at once.'
'I sank back in my chair and covered
my face with my handkerchief, tremb
ling with agitation. Will you hear
my explanation?' I stammered. 'Xeed-
Iess; the letter can nave dui one mean
ing. 1 came to release you irom your
engagement with me. Did this scoun
drel know you were engaged?' I cov
ered mv face again, lo bear Sir
Charles North criled a scoundrel was
too much for me. I did not speak for
several minutes; but time was flying
fast, and at length I said, 'if this in
truth our last meeting, grant me one
favor? Say that you will before, I tell
you what it is. ur course it is a rea
sonable, honorable request that I wish
to make; but I own it is one yon will
not bke to grant.' lie paused a mo
ment, and then said, 'I will do what
ever vou ask.' I ask you to see Sir
Charles North.' He winced, but bowed
silently. I left the room to see the
baronet. I found him in bis own room,
intently studying an immense book-
but only the illustrations, I believe. I
asked him to come with me to speak to
gentleman who was waiting to see
him. He flatly refused. Tune was
rushing on. I knelt by him, implored
him. At last I kissed him, and he
yielded.
"Taking my hand in a firm clasp, he
descended with me to a room where I
had left Mr. Dacre. Jack stood, moody
and stern, pale as ashes, where I had
left him. We entered. I led Sir Charles
toward him. 'Mr. Dacre,' said I, let
me present you to Sir Charles North,
baronet;' Jack startled, paused, seized
Sir Charles in his strong arms, and
threw him ont of the window? no,
kissed him! For, this 'scoundrel,' this
'fat, greedy, idle little man is the dear
little son of Lady Millicent, aged just
two yearsl Now you see. Miss Kitty,
you had better have had a little faith in
your sister for once. You put all this
into my head, and I could not resist the
joke: but it shall be my last, for never
more do I wish to see such a look of
pain in the face I loved best in all the
world.
"Jack did not go back by the return
train, though he was obliged to leave
early 1 his morning; but I do not think
lean go nwav from turn one day over
month. Lady Millicent says you must
come te take my place. She will write
and ask mamma You will soon be as
madly in love with Sir Charles."
And so it proved. I went to stay
witn Lady Millicent; and of all the dar
ling, quaint, noble, chubby little pets I
had seen. Sir Charles was the King.
At the end of the year Frank returned
in time for Christmas. He did not go
back to India; he settled in England.
He and I were married about six
months after Dolly.
We both lived in a lovely part of
Kent. Dolly's husband pets and loves
her devotedly. My husband adds to all
his love . a delicate tender homage,
infinitely previous to me.
"Kitty, dearest," my mother once
sail to me, "you and I have tasted the
fullest earthly happiness. We both
know that reverance is the perfectly
peerless jewel In love's crown; but we
must earn it."
A brave Eton boy spends as much
time with us as his mother can bear to
spare him. and th mast welcome guest
m Jack Dacre's home is Sir Charles
North, baronet.
Our Feathered Fete.
"There is no large establishment In
the United States where birds are
raised," said a Detroit dealer recently.
"Most of our birds are imported from
Germany. The few that are raised here
are raised by private individuals for
pleasure. It is cheaper for us to buy
them."
"What kind of canaries sell for the
most money?"
"The English crimson is the most ex
pensive, the prices ranging from $3 to
$12. Then there are what are called
trained singers or Andre3 rollers. They
are very highpriced because they have
the greatest variety of notes."
"What do you mean by trained sing-
ersr-
" hen young, the birds are placed
in a twilight room in company with
whistling birdi, such as the skvlark.
In this way they acquire successively
the bell, water and flute notes. The
English thrush is a beautiful bird. Its
song is sweet and harmonious. They
sell at seven and eight dollars. Those
in that caire are what are called the
Australian paro.'iuettes or love birds."
said me draier, pointing at two beauti-
iui, green tinted members of the fa
thered tribe. " ou see they are called
love birds because thev sit side bv side
and almost continually coo to each
other. They seein to be so affection
ate "
"Don't you sell a great many birds
mat uou t sing at a.l?"
No, not very nianv. Ilowevpr. I
sou one yesterday mat ne'tber sings
nor tains, it is called the blue meun
tain lori. Parrots are in great demand
at preje.it The double yellow head
sjtecies is the best, it being the har
dies-t."
"Can people in general tell the differ
ence between a good bird and a poor
ouer
'Most people who come in have not
the least idea of what thev want. Some
of them ask me to give them a good
bird, oue that will sinz well. Now, in
uiue cases out oi ten after I have ;
lected what 1 consider a fair bird they
: 1 1 . . , ...
nui turn nzut around and tate an
other. They are generally attracted by
me appearance of a bird. 1 guess I sell
more veuow-plumed canaries than anv
ouier iuuu just because tuey look dain
ty."
'Can you tell the age of a bird?"
'Yes, 1 can form a very zood opinion
of a bird's ace by the feet and lees.
Ihe older they grow the more stumpy
aud heavy their legs become. Age acts
on a birds legs just as it does on a
tree."
"What is their average age?"
"About live years, although I knew
of a bud that lived twenty years.
Those raised in this country sing best
when tney are about two years old, but
German birds sing ai well when they
are tour months old as they ever do. '
Wire Do.
Do remember that you are married to
a man and not to a god; be prepared
for imperfections.
Do anticipate the discovery by your
husbaud that you are "only a woman
it you were not he would not care about
you.
Do, once In a while, let your husband
have the last word; it will gratify him
and be no particular loss to you.
Do be reasonable; it is a great deal to
ask under some circumstances, but do
try; reasonable women are rare be
rare.
Do remember that servants are made
ot the same material as you are; a little
coarser-grained perhaps, but the same
in essentials.
Do try and forget yourself; sj for
your husband, forget that you married
him, aud remember mat ne married
you; he will men proboiy oo me re
verse.
Do let him read the newspaper at the
breakfast table; it is unsociable, but
then it's only a trifle after all, and he
likes it-
Do let him know more than you do
once in a while; it keeps up bis self-
respect, and you will be none the worse
for admitting that you are not actually
infallible. -
Do lemember that the interest of life
is not centered in your home circle; do
familiarize yourself! in outside events.
Do leal something in the papers be
sides fashion notes and society columns;
have some knowledge of what is going
on in foreign countries.
Do be a companion to your husband
it he is a wise man; and if he is not.
try to make him become your compa
nion; raise bis standard, do not let him
lower yours.
Do respect your husband's prejudices;
do respect his relations, especially his
mother; she is not the less bis mother
because she is your mother-in-law; she
loved him before you did.
meep.
Every man must sleep according to
his temperment. Eight hours is the
average. If a man requires a little
more or less, he will find it out for him
self. Whoever, by work, pleasure,
sorrow, or by any other causes, is regu
larly diminishing his sleep is destroying
his liie. A man may hold out lor a
time, but nature keeps close accounts.
and no man can deceive hex.
Cmtch aa Catch Can."
When the train from the East entered
"the Union depot at Cleveland recently,
a frisky old gentleman, with half an
apple which he was industriously
munching in one hand and seventeen
bundles in the other, stepped lightly off
followed by a very stern, faded o!d ladv.
He bad just turned his head to answer
some sbort-quick-sudden sort of remark
which escaped from the lady, when his
foot struck the handle of a wheelbarrow
and he suddenly changed his mind and
hit her in the eye with an apple core
instead, at the same time throwing 17
packages in 17 different directions. By
this time the wheelbarrow bad go, its
dander up, and as the old gent threw
his whole weight on both bandies the
rear part flew up passionately and bit
him iu the head. This made the old
party mad, and getting a grapevine
lock on one handle and the hind wheel
with his arms and legs he took a fall
out of the wheelbar owj There they
wrestled fiercely at catch-as catch-can
style, during which the old gent seemed
to get the advantage occasionally, but
the wheelbarrow was usually on top.
The depot police were finally attracted
by the uproar, and Detective l'aul
Leuhrs, together with Policeman
Willis, held the wheelbarrow still while
the old gent crawled out from under it.
He was finally taken in tow by his wife
and after a short but animated conver
sation, they seemed loving enough until
be went out and returned with his hat
hanging over his left ear and a five-cent
cigar sticking between his teeth. His
wife looked at him three times before
she recognized him, and then started a
conversation with him on home matters
in a voice which was remarkable for the
wide range, flexibility and iiigh pitch
at which it was attuned at times. She
proved to be a conversationalist of such
rapidity and vehemence that the old
gent went in the baggage room and sat
on a box behind a big trunk untu tram
time.
How to Karp a Maw Fiaao clean.
Pianos are common in all parti of the
country. To keep them clean, dust the
piano only when necessary, and alway
very lightly. A soft leather duster is
best, but the ends of the feathers should
be uncut. A very soft cloth or chamois
my be used. The surface of a new
piano being very bright, it is easy to
dull it by bearing heavily on it, even
when the softest fabric is used, lor the
dust that may be lying on it causes the
scratches, ior this reason a feather
duster such as mentioned is the best.
Often has the remark been made to me,
"Whyt the more I rub Hie surface, the
worse it appears, even when I make use
of a silk handkerchief. Exactly so,
and for this reason it must not be
rubbed. Dust the piano only when
necessary, and always lightly as possible.
uui it may be observed, "it is very
hard to keep the piano clean and free
from dust." Not more so than other
articles, except that the dust shows
itself on a dark and polished surface.
Be careful to cover the piano when
sweeping the room or dusting the fur
niture. Hand marks should be wiped off as
soon as possible. They can be removed
easily if done immediately. If difficult
to remove, breathe on them as you
would in cleaning a glass, or you may
use a damp chamois, using a gentle
pressure. Do not permit the rays of
the sun to fall on the Piano. Keep it
some distance from the heater or regis
ter, and if placed near a window, keep
the latter closed, especially during
damp or wet weather. If near the sea.
or any damp locality, it should be kept
well covered. Be careful not to place
anything damp near the strings, other
wise tney will ruw, which will not lm
prove the tone and will cause them to
break eventually. It is alwavs well to
keep tne instrument closed when not in
use.
BaadlBf the Haromotar.
Higher barometer means that the
mercury is rising and lower barometer
it is falling.
Higher pressure is svsonvmous with
higher barometer, and lower pressure
with lower barometer. In case of a
higher barometer it indicates a colder
and contracting atmosphere and conse
quently a diminution of moisture.
A lower barometer indicates an ex
panding atmosphere with greater capa
city for holding moisture.
In case of rising barometer it indi
cates a decrease of moisture and dimin
ishes the liability for rain.
A falling barometer indicates an in
creased amount of moisture and greater
liability for rain, and with it we have
an increase in cloudiness.
When the barometer rises in cloudy
weather it is generally an indication
that the clouds will break and be follow
ed by fair weather.
A sudden change in the barometer.
either rising or falling, is a fair Indica
tion ot approaching high winds.
At sunset if the sun goes down be
hind or is obscured by a bank ot clouds
with a falling barometer, rain will fol
low in nineteen cases out of twenty on
the succeeding day. II the sun be obs
cured at its setting by clouds with a
rising barometer and cooler winds, the
chances are nineteen to twenty no rain
will fall on the succeeding day.
. mere are three fair weather sunsets
the red, yellow and green. Green and
red are exceptional, the green more so
than the red.
It will seldom happen that we will
have a rainfall on a day succeeding one
on which any of the three above eolors
are dominant at sunset the day before.
It occasionally liappens, however, that
rain will fall when no indications what
ever on the proceeding day would lead
one to expect it.
Coaum of Error.
A curious and somewhat perplexing
case of confused identity has for some
years past existed in the United States
in reference to two public men who
are no w occupying important di plomatic
positions in South America Governor
Thomas A. Osborne, formerly Minister
to Chili, now Minister to Brazd and
Geu. Thomas O. Osborne, Minister to
the Argentine Republic. Both of these
gentlemen are well known, not only
in their own States, but elsewhere; yet
owing to a similarity of name and
position and a brief association in an
important diplomatic service, their
names and positions have become so
wildly confused as to cause them con
stant embarrassment and annoyance.
Through this absurd confusion their
positions are frequently transposed and
they are made tne recipients of each
other's correspondence and credited
with each other's actions. It is, in fact,
a veritable, "Corned of Errors."
Maala In tha White Bnua
Mr. Crump, the steward of the White
Honse noder Presidents Have" and Oar
Held, left the President's mansion after
six month of Arthur's administration,
and he is now keeping a reetanrant in
the oil club honse building on New
York avenne. During the illness of
rresidrnt U iraeld he was constantly by
his side, both day and night, and the
strain which h-s nervons system under
went dnring that time ban injnred him
for life. In lifting the President he
thinks he hurt his back, and siuee then
he has not been able to bend over to
pick np. anything, and even now his
shoes have to be pat on for him. His
nervons sytem is such that the least
excitement or overexertion brings on a
fit of sickness. Wheh the bills for
Garfield's treatment were presented, the
eo nmittee recommended that be be paid
$3,000 extra salary. Judge La wrenee
ont this down to $300, and this is all he
has ever received.
I dropped into his place the other day
tor a ciam cnowaer and bad an interest
ing chat with him about the Presidents
he has served. Said he: "The position
of steward of tha White Honse navs
fl,800 a year, and it was under Hayes
a very nice position. The steward hai
full charge of the White House. He Is
responsible lor everrthinir. Ho must
m about the ttble, attend to the cater
ing and keep the servants and the honse
in order. When Hayes and Garfield
were at its bead the position was easier
than now on account of the good hoars
they kept. Each of them had his last
meal over by 8 o'clock, or a little later.
and we got through dih-washing by 8.
to that the men could go away. Of
oonrse, I refer to ordinary days, when
there were no state dinner. Mr. Arthur
has dinner betreen 8 and 9 o'clock, and
his frieuds often sit at the tab'e until 12
or 1 o'clock. The hours are all changed
now. The President eats a very light
breakfast between 9 snd 10 o'clock.
merely a cracker and a cap of coffee,
witu perhaps a piece of salt tiih, and
then he eats toircelr anything until
dinner. Diuner is his big meal, and be
generally has friends to dine with him.
He is a high liver, and a was has wine
lor dinner wheu be has friends present,
ana sometimes wnen be has not.
"How about General Girfleld?"
"PreHldent Garfield." replied Steward
Crump, "was verv plain in hii diet. He
came into the bite House with dys
pepsia, aud he was doctoring ail the
t me up nutil ho was shot. He ate no
rich lo d and was particular about his
hours. He had breakfast at 8.30 m the
morning, when he would eat a good
beefsteak aud some bake 1 potatoes with
cream poured ovi them. This was a
favorite dish of (Ja-field's. and it was
oue which he ate wnen he could ea'
uothuig else. It is delicious, and far
surpa-sea baked potatoes and gooj but-
ut. .men Uarheld was also loud of
little mea baxn fried to a crisp, and
thin, with a few tide dishes, made up
hia breakf&ft. Dinner he ate at 3 p. m..
and ttils meal was ran -h tue ataie an his
breikfaHt. He always had his beef-
ft -at, and neither he nor Mrs. Garfiel,
wtra uig eaters. ADont 7 oclocK we
hai tea, aud this was a very light meal
also. There was generally some one
present to dine with tbe family, bu
tuero was no wine in the Wane House
during the Garfield administration."
"Tell me something abont Have.
"Dunns: the administration of I'mi-
dent Hayes there was wine nsed at Only
one oi luer, and that was at the oue
giyen to the Graud Duke Aleiis. Dur
ing their family meals tliera was never
wine on the table, nor was there anv at
the state dinners. The Hayes family
were good livers, and thev were alio
great entertainers. Daring the last
three mouths of President Hayes's term
nere was an average of thirty seven at
each dinner, and he alwayi had a house
inn ot guests. It is not true that he
was Btin,jy and parsimonious in his
management of the White House ex
penses, lie never bothered himself at
1 about my accounts. I had carta
blanche as to buying things for the
taoie, and 1 always got tne best ot
everything in the market. Mr. Hayes
spent as much or more in entertaining
at the White House than any other
1 resident before or since. It must have
cost him the greater part of his salary
to pay the excuses of the house, aud
he was niggardly in nothing-. The
eatables alone at his state dinners com
irom 11 to I7 a plate, and the decora
tions made them coot much mure. It
cost a Kood deal to rnn tha Whit
House, I can tell von, aud Arthur will
have to have a great many t'uuga sent
in ut me neienbors U he carnea mnch
of his salary away. President Hayes
bad a number of frierda. such as Major
McKiuley of Ohio and others who had
standing invitation to be Dreseut at
nis lamny dinner. We never set the
talilje for less than fourteen, and they
were generally lull. So you want to
snow wbat .'resident Hayes ate." con
tinued Mr. Cinmp. "Well, his hours
were breakfast at 8 or 8.30. lunch at 1
aud dinner at 6. He was a great lover
ot oatmeal and gnu. and we always
had these on the table as a part of tue
breakiast. Then he would have fruit
the season, good steak or mat to a
chops, buckwheat or corn cake. The
President and his family were very
lond of these, some little side dishes
and always good coffee. President
Hayes is a great coffee drinker. We
used the best, of oonrse a mixture of
fine Mocha and Java. At Innch we had
co d meats, roast turkey, due or beef
cat down in slices, cofiee and tea, with
bread ana butter, and some kind of
salad. Dinner was the big meal, and it
was, of course, served lu courses. Fust
we bad oysters ou the half shell, then
some kind of son p. then a fillet or a
roast of beef or lamb, with potato cro
quets or sometimes chicken croquets,
aud bide dishes of vegetables, then a
course of same of some kind Mr.
Uaes liked duck very much and we
numbed up witn fruit, candy and nuts.
Cake was also on the table, and among
other kinds we always had angels-lood,
which was a favorite of Mrs. Hayes,
we always had d.ffae with dinner,
aud apoiliusris water was always on the
table."
"Was President Hayes icuji. of a
candy eater?'' I asked.
"Wind?" replied tie Steward. "Why,
sir, he bad a sweeter tooth than any
child in America. All of the family are
very fond of candy, and we always had
it oo the dinner table. It was of the
assorted kinds, and it was eaten of lit
erally. Mr, Hayes did not like pork.
He said he had ha 1 enongh of that in
the army to do him a lifetime. Mr.
Hayes was a pleasant man to work for,
and Mrs, Hayes was one of the kindest
ladMS) tha Whit House ever had.
kept a list of ail tbe callers upon Mrs.
Garfiel-I. and some of those who called
npon Mrs. Haves. At one of Mrs.
Garfield's receptions, Gnitean was pres
ent.
"Tell me something of Garfield as a
patient, said J.
-tie was very qniet and very re
signed. Ha once said to me he could not
see why Guiteau had shot him, sod he
thought he might have waited nntil he
had returned from bis little vacation.
He thought be was going to get well as
long as Mrs. Gai field bad any hopes of
it, but as soon as she gave ud be left
all wis lost. Tha strain I underwent
in taking care of him was temb'.e, con
sidering that I had to manage the
White Honse at the same time. After
hts death, I went to Europe, by the ad
vice of mv doctors, for my health, but
I have not recovered it. I left the
White House six months after Arthur
came in. A colored man. who was
Roecoe C'onkhng's messenger, took my
place, but he has nothing to do with the
catering as I had. He only manages
the general keeping of the bouse. Ar
thur has a French cook who attends to
all thing connected with the table."
"Is the position of steward a desir
able one?'
"Not very at this time. The work is
very hard, but 1 liked it under Hayes.
Mrs. Hayes was with the general in the
army, and I had gotten to know her
very well She treated me very kindly.
In addition to the catering and seeintr
thst the house is kept In order the stew
ard has to watch the relic-hunters. It
is outrageous hew strangers will cut and
destroy the furniture. We often found
the carpets cut after a bie recertioD.
snd it was a common thing to see a hole
cnt ont of a lace curtain. Sometimes
the chairs would be cut, and at one time
piece large enough to make a cane
was broken ont of a sofa back. In the
east room inat under the mantle there
are a number of little carved gdt knob
wnicn screw into the woodwork, and at
one reception seventeen of these were
toien.
Thimbles.
The thimble is a Dutch invention
tnaj was nrst brought to Eastland in
1695 by one John Lofting, who began its
manufacture at IsliDRton, near London,
gaining thereby both honor and profit
Its name was derived from the words
thumb and bell, being for a long time
called tbumble, and only lately thimbla.
Old records say that thimbles were first
worn on the thumbs; but we can scarce
ly conceive how they would be of much
use there, formerly thev were made
of brass and iron only, but of late years
steel, silver, gold, horn, ivory, and even
pearl and glass have all been used for
making thimbles. I sa some very
oeaucuui ones in uuina that were ex
quisitely carved, of pearl, and bound
with gold, and the end also of gold,
these pearl thimbles are quite as costly
auu jar prettier man tnose made entirely
of gold. Usually there is a pearl s beat a
for tbe scissors, and a dainty needle-
book of pearl edged with gold to ae
company the thimble, and the whole is
inclosed in an exquisite little pocket case
shaped like a book an! bound in satiu
and peat I.
A thimble owned by a queen-consort
of Siam is shaped hike a lotns bud, this
oeing tue royai nower ot that couutry,
and almost everything about the court
bearing, in a greater or less decree,
some impress oi tlie lotns. This tbim
ble is of gold, thickly studded with dia
monds, that are so arranged as to form
ths lady s name and the date ef h
mrriage. It was a bridal gift from the
king, who, having seen the English and
American ladies at his court usio? thim
bles, took this method of introducing
wtfiu among jus own people.
In Naples, very pretty thimbles com
posed of lava from Mount Yesnvina am
occasionally sold, but rather as curiosi
ties than for real utility, being, from
me extreme orittieness of the lava verv
easily broken. I nve heard also of
thimbles made of asphalt urn from the
una aea, and of one composed cf
fragment of the old elm tree at Cam
bridge, Mass., under which General
XI- I . i , ...
aiumgtou swxki wnen takinsr com-
mand of the United States armv in
July, 1773; but I do not tnppose that
auy vi uiese were ever inteuded to be
nsesl in Bewlng.
in the ordinary mannfactnre of enld
and silver thimbles thin plates of tli
motai are introduced into a die. and
then punched into shape. But in Paris
the Jfc rench have a way of their own.
quite different from ours, for making
gold thimbles that are said to be mncn
more durable than these made in the
usual way. Pieces of very thin sheet
iron are cnt into discs of abont two
inches diameter. These, after being
heated to redness, are stuck bv means
of a pnnch into a succession of holes of
gradually increasing depth to give the
proper shape. The thimble is then
tr onmed, polished and indented aronnd
its outer surface with tiny holes. It is
next converted into steel bj a process
called cementation, then tempered,
scoured and brought to a blue color.
After all this is completed a thin sheet
of gold is introduced into the interior
and fastened to the steel by a mandrel,
wiuie goia leat is attached firmly by
pressure to the outside, the edges beans:
seamed in a small eroove made to re
ceive them. This completes the opera
tion, and turns out a very beautiful
thimble that will last for years. The
steel used in its construction will scarcely
wear oni in a long life-time, and the
gold, if worn away, is easily replaced.
The Blaine Ulrl's Chewing-Gam.
It costs S'2,000 a year to keep Augus
ta, Maine, citizens in chewing-gum,
Young ladies, especially those in school.
are proverbially gum-ebewers, and it
takes no small amount to keep them
supplied. Recently a Frenchman from
Horeb Falls was iu town and marketed
125 ponnds of the spruce article. One
drnsgist bought 75 ponnds. It cost in
tbe neighborhood of SI a pound. It
was prime gum, white and free from
imperfections, was in lumps, and had
been carefully scraped and cleaned.
The man said that he had 200 ponnds
of gim at home which he proposes to
market in Belfast. Gum from young
trees is tbe best, being of a lighter
color and of better flavor than that
taken from old tree?, which is of a
darker shade and has a rank ta-t .
There axe men who make gum-gatherinx
a business, a ad derive a snag little in
come from this source. Bat the spruce
forests which grow this stuff are f ii.Ing,
and the day is not tar distant when
there will be a famine in genuine cum.
The lumberman Is making enormous in
roads into the ranks of the tree and
tne spruce-worm has injured or killed
tboruanda.
NEWS IX BRIEF.
There are 228 submarine telegraph
cables now at work.
Over 3,000,000 trees were planted
in Great Britain in l?Si
Meerschaum has been discovered in
parts of North Carolina.
Xew Orleans wants a railroad
bridge across the Mississippi.
An Ohio physician is preparing a
medical lexicon in 42 languages.
800.000 bushels of wheat aie used
very day m the United States.
It costs $30,000 a year to light the
United States Capitol and grounds.
Settlers in Yakima. W. T., are to
test the benefits of artesian wells.
Pennsylvania has a !arger number
3f Post Offices than any other State
The bay leaf was formerly supposed
to protect the wearer from thun-'er.
In narrisburg tliey make the
tramps clean the street crossings.
Florida oranges are cheaper in
Hartford than at the Florida groves.
The Post Office Department uses
ISO.000 worth of wrapping twine a
year.
The Western New York Farmers'
Club thinks eggs should be sold by
weight.
Mr. Mapleson says that he has
made 170,003 clear by his San Fnm
sisco trip.
It is estimated that only two in
In every one hundred Berliners are
church-goers.
The State railways of Germany are
experimenting with American paper
car wheels.
Insurance publications state that
the losses by fire in the United States
in 1SS3 aggregate S103 000,000.
Mrs. Cunio. an Italian woman of
Boston, has a babe which at birth
weighed 2IJ pounds.
The Spanish armv averages one offi
cer below the grade of brigadier-general
to every five privates.
Queen Victoria saves annually from
her Parliamentary allowance, five hun
dred t ouand dollars.
One Hungarian out of 200 In Beth
lehem has paid his tax. The tax-col
lector feels greatly encouraged.
A company of Scotch capitalists
have bought 500,000 acres of land In
the western part of Florida.
Craig Co., Ya, has a citizen who
is U4 years old, but only 50 pounds in
weight, aud of a boy's stature.
Four millions three hmidred and
forty thousand boxes of sardines were
packed in Lubec, Me., lat year.
The orange crop of Florida this
season is estimated at 60,ini').tHH) oran
ges, netting the growers jl.2-nJ,U00.
A Kansas woman has died from
blood poisoning received by wearing a
green veil over a scratch on her face.
The Quebec Legislature, it is said,
contains but twelve English-speaking
members out of the sixty-five who com
pose it.
A Mrs. Renney, of Rochester. X.
Y., who was !j years old last month,
walked to church, one mile, and homo
again, recently.
Minnesota lumbermen cut 317,000,
000 ieet of lumber last winter, thus
making a total supply now on band ot
523,500,000 feet.
A citizen of Butte county, CaL,
has been rendered temporarily blind by
using a toothpick which Le cut from
the twig of poison oak.
An old bachelor died at Ewt Al
burgh, Vt.. the other day, and $60,000
in bonds, notes and certificates wero
found in the linings of his clothes.
France has among European coun
tries the largest number of electors, its
percentage being twenty-six in every
100 inhabitants; England ranks fifth.
In Boston the stock of Wagner's
programme books was exhausted at the
opening of the series of concerts, and
copies commanded a dollar premium.
California temperance people have
begun a crusade agaiust grae culture,
it is reported, on the ground that grape
growing tends to increase drunkenness.
Four of the seven persons who
assisted in eating a fat pig. raw. at
Loyalhanna, are now dead. The others
will probably die. eaten alive by trichi
na.
Barbara Fntchie's clock is said to
be in existence vet, with its bands fixed
at 10 o'clock, the boui at which its pen
dulum was shot away by a soldier's
bullet.
It requires three days In which to
complete the marriage ceremony in
China; but when it, is done, it is a
strong job. .Nothing short of death
can break it.
A banana eating contest between a
young man and a young woman at Mon-
teruma, Ua., recently, was won by tbe
former, who ate 20 bananas to the other
contestant's 18.
G. C. Schwabe, of Liverpool has
presented to his native city ot Ham
burg his splendid collection of paint
ings, containing, among others, some
of the masterpieces of the modern Eng
lish school.
The Governor of the State of
Colima, Mexico, has commissioned
Emillo Mahlo to map the lake of San
Pednto with a view of draining it. It
is supposed that this lake Is the cause
of the annual yellow fever epidemic.
The Austrian Government has
finally consented to the removal of tbe
remains of Beethoven and Shubert
from the "Wahringer" Cemetery,
where they have so long reposed almost
side by side. They are to be re-inter
red in the Central Cemetery.
Dancing is permitted on Sunday
evenings m some parts of Northern
Sweden, while on Saturday night it ia
considered a crime. The aabbaih, as
once was the ease in Connecticut be
gins at six o'clock on Saturday evening.
The latest use devised for paper is
the making of carpets. A Conueticut
man is reiorted to have taken out pat
ents for processes by which beautiful
and substantial carpets can be made ot
paper at very low prices.
M. Fasteur and his assistants have
announced to Ihe French Academy of
Scieuces the fact that by inoculation
they can render all dogs absolutely
proof against the effects of rabies, in
whatever way or quantity the virus may
be administered.
Great numbers of bats recently
took possession of a church in Solano,
Col., and so thick and aggressive did
they become that tbe service was neces
sarily postponed. The deacon inaugu
rated a bat hunt and behind one of tbe
window casiings found and killed, two
hundred and forty-one of them.
1