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B. F. BOHWEIER,
THE O053T1TUT10I TEE TTUOI U3 TEE ZIT0X0Z1CIIT 01 THE LAYS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XL.
MIFFLINTOtVK, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 27, 1SSG.
NO. 44.
'a
II
Old Programme. .
jeklBC my treasure, over
foamy i upuu
i pickice of party programmes
pnced through winter gone,
A. I looked tbe lone list over,
jjjit told of tbe midnight whirl.
T wradrreJ a little sadly
jf I were the same clad girl.
OaJriiie, waltrand pollca,.
Jim uJ George and John
Something an thai order .
im-s and dances are down,
Qrtt tbe names I ponder
Full half I can't recall;
Xtn who were bowed to danced vrith
And forgotten after the ball.
Bat tbroKcb hs eeasoa' programme
The single letter tl
Ji written over and over
How much it meant to mef
Jltn acd names are forgotten
Gav partners by the score
5u: the letter G and the writer -Are
rem mbered forever more.
All! each life has its programme
With its mystic letter ti.
And to all its inner secrets
That letter is tl key.
But still we strive and we conquer
We (tea -fast are and brave
And that one single letter stands,
Like tombstone by the grave.
A MISUNDERSTANDING.
"So sorrv, my dear." said bustling
iittle lira. Dornian, when she had enu
merated her guests to her friend, Miss
Styles, who had just arrived. VSo
sorry about Alec Thornton, know you
don't like hlui bad taste, by the way
but I make uy parties as I do my
aXt. Just by a recipe, and thai says
don't mind conflicting tempers. The
mistake is ail my dar, stupid husband's
jtopidity. Alec was to have been in
tarty number two got him changed
' . i - . t ' m - i i ,
With your great inenu, r ena a uuieit;
couldn't give him up, though, after it
was found out, you know spoil our
numbers must have men, you see
great nuisance, very sorry, but you
won't wind I hope; nothing to do but
let him alone other women all want
him; you are getting your knot a little
too low, dear there, that's perfect;
you are pile and tired after your jour
ney no, right in this chair, while I
get a glass ot wine," and the erratic
Mule hostess wa3 out of the room and
back before Miss Styles realized fully
that she had been a little faint and fol
lowed Mre. Forman's directions to take
a cUir.
".Don't go down to-night, my dear,"
that lady said in conclusion; "the men
have U-en out all day, and will be un
usually stupid. Fenn Triplett is clever
enough, but he hasn't a cent on earth,
you know, the others suit perfectly,
some witty creature's, picture of hunt
ing 'a gun with a bail at one end and
a fool at the other' all but Alec, that
e as you don't like him."
JLss Styles bad not interrupted ber
friend. ! .at nt w sbe put our a detaining
baud as the Vtuer was auout to leave
ber.
"Catharine," with a little hesitation
in btr voice, "I couldn't get a train
hack tar's to-morrow morning, could
I?"
"A train back? A train back?'
Mrs. D.rman could but repeat the
words, "A train back? Why, Mary
Styles, what is tbe matter? A train
back? Of course you can't, and if you
could you shouldn't take it; a houseful
of people here expressly to meet you,
too I" she exclaimed, with real annoy
ance In her tone. "What can be the
matter?''
"Nothing, " the young lady began
iowly "nothing except "
"Except what?"
The answer was a very womanly one.
recourse to a delicate lace handker
chief.
S how age is telling on my nerves,'
the young lady said after a few mm
ntea. "A bit of bad news and a half
day's journey can knock me up like
this."
Poor Mrs. Dorman looked utterly at
sea as to where the bad news could
have dropped from; she had surely told
none.
'I Lave not seen Alec Thornton for
ten years," Miss Styles began slowly,
"and you must hear how I saw him
last. We were engaged for one happy
month in Florence. I believe I really
loted Lim and thought that he loved
me; why else had he sought me? lie
not need my money; and it had not
then become the fashion," she said a
htt.e bitterly, "to admire me. A little
misunderstanding, growing out of my
possessing a photograph cf an English
man whom Alec disliked very much,
ended like most lover's quarrels. After
a few days' coldness we were reconciled
tod exchanged pledges, blue violets for
k-m, fjr we white ones. I keep mine
as a commentary on human nature's
fidelity. 'e had made friends one
morning that afternoon when going
to drive witli maiuma, wishing to give
still greater proof of my submission, I
left on the gallery table, where he
would, if coming in my absence, be
sure to se? them, a genuine woman's
note of submission, the photograph
over which we had quarreled (I gave
that so he might destroy it if he liked),
and to niy saenlical pile I added another
testimonial of my fidelity, a trio of blue
violets taken from my belt- tSince
that morning 1 have not seen Alec
Timniton; he left Florence the next
day."
"living no reason?"
''X ne save a few words written on
back of my note. The significance
of my action, he said, was unmistak
Ue; he boned to my decision, and
fece Le could not so suddenly face the
inevitable with fortitude he must bid
"near, indefinite farewell."
Little Mrs. Dorman was quite breath
less with interest and astonishment.
"And vou have never had any
wrther solution."
"None; to this day I have not solved
"is cowardice. He might have braved
tte honest confession that be no longer
joved me, and I should have survived
jV' she said in a bitterly sarcastic tone.
i have forgiven him," she added,
waving a hand as if dismissing the
nbject, "but mv memory doesn't lose
teeth with years, as Mr. Lowell says
us does, and 1 much prefer not meet
nAlec Thornton."
"O, my dear, of course, of course,
ts so jieifectly mysterious. Can't
understand it, always liked Alec, has
Ht sort of suppressed sorrow air, so
Cresting. Maybe there is an expla
nation." "There could be none, I would not
arot it,"Mis3 styles said quickly.
-H it is perfectly plain, he never
ed we, aud had only used the photo
graph as a ureteit. which I was too ab
sorbed to see until too late. We have
"Mil now, though knowing the same
jp!e, avoided each other successf uliy.
"e luestion is, shall we not continue
to do so? and is it not best that 1 go
awavf't
"Ho, no, a thousand times no,"
am. uorman said vehemently. "He
anew you were coming, knows you are
here, and would knbw why you went
away. I told him this morning you
numu ua uera."
"And he said?" '
"Keally I can's remember that he
uttered a word, looking at me a little
oddly. I remember now of bearing
him ask Mr. Dorman after that, if the
'11100 people were at home, wanted
to go over there for a little stay, but
the house Is closed, all abroad." Mrs.
Dorman rose and said: "Why not put
this off for a fortnight? it was all so
long ago. Alec's veiy charming, quite
the choice man in onr collection, but
I'll send him away rather than worry
you."
"No, no," Misa Styles expostulated.
"Well, then I won't, but I must
keep you. About to-morrow, let it
and Alec shift for themselves. "
The explanation which Miss Styles
had just given her friend had not been
vouchsafed to the Anglo-Florentine
world two years ago, when it became
known there that Dr. Thornton had
suddenly left town, and the news grad
ually spread abroad that his engage
ment with his beautiful cousin was at
an end.
To be sure, the young woman de
clared with charming paivcte that she
had been jilted, but none thought she
meant to be believed, and though she
lost her roses she was gayer and more
charming than ever", having during the
following season a pair of counts at
her feet.
Mary Styles now no longer posed for
the blushing maiden. She was begin
ning, so jealous mammas declared, "to
change her pink roses for saffron ones.
ana would soon hang to the charmed
"and charming circle by the eye-lids,
since her handsome blue eyes were the
only feature time was leaving her un
impaired." The women voted her horribly nasse.
the men loved her still, called ber a
miracle of loveliness, but so cold! To
night she had arrived at 7 o'clock for a
fortnight's stay with her old friend and
schoolmate, Mrs. Dorman.
There were several guests already
assembled around the table when Miss
Styles entered the breakfast room next
morning and was assigned a place
between Mrs. Dorman's 16-year-old
daughter and an old friend, Mr. Trip
lett, A few introductions to those
immediately about her followed.
"Miss Styles," Grace Dorman began.
after a short space given to greeting
and the weather. "I was taking the
views of the company when you came
in regarding their trimmings. Mr.
Triplett objects to blue thistle for his
plate decoration. If you know him, as
see you do, you will testify be could
not be more appropriately trimmed."
Miss btyle' handsome eyes, which
matched her dress in color, were raised
to her neighbor's face as she said, stud-
lug: - -
"I must consult a floral album before
venturing to commit myself, and shall
hope to find a compliment in my own
surroundings," she said, taking up two
of the morning glories scattered about
her plate. "How beautiful and how
pitiful that things so lovely should l
so short-lived. 'The good die first,' "
she quoted.
"But they whose hearts are only as
summer's dust burn to the socket,"
Miss Dorman continued. "I rrefer a
sprinkle of dust, and will flicker awhile
in my candlestick, thank you. So, on
reflection, though I was inclined to
feel jealous at first, you are welcome
to the fragile compliment your vis-a-vii
has paid your appearance this morn
iuz."
Miss Styles raised her eyes and met
those of a gentleman who was just
taking a piace opposite her Dr. Alec
Thornton.
"I am flattered to have remained
amongst Dr. Thornton's memories.
Miss Styles said, bowing in acknowl
edgement of that gentleman's greeting.
"Never having seen you." Miss
Dorman went on. "I had to call on
another genius who had, though after
all he would only ba general, and se
lected what would suit any wile,"
wasn't that it, doctor? 'Fair and
tickle' he says they are," she added,
much surprised at the expression she
saw on Dr. Thornton's face and not in
the least understanding it.
Miss Styles turned to the gentleman
at her side, and took up the flowers
again as she said:
"At least we are charming while we
last, and if too much sunshine is fatal
the weakness is human. Where is the
man who can endure unlimited pros
neritv?"
"Give the Dgure a sentimental turn,"
tbe gentleman suggested, "ana lor
prosperity read affection, the morning
glory illustration is not happy."
"I shall certainly claim thick clouds
and rainy weather at once, and my
'glory' will thrive the better. The
closer analysis develops new charms,"
the young lady continued, "ana i ieei
myself indebted to Dr. Thornton for
the compliment he has paid my woman
ly nature."
That gentlemen bowed again as he
said. "They are beautiful, certainly,
but uueuduring, despite your inge
nious argument."
"Fragile is a better word." and the
young lady pinned a few blue bells at
her throat.
"Violets would suit you perfectly.
Miss Styles," Grace Dorman satd.
suddenly, "just match your eyes. ut.
Thornton, why didn't you tell me vio
lets!" she said, reproachfully.
"I dislike them," we genueman
said, shortly, as for an Instant his eyes
met those of Mary Styles.
'And with me they are lavonie
flowers," the young lady lifted a locket
trhinh hunir on her chain as she spoke,
touching a spring, displaying four little
pale faces in the case.
I'Vnn should wear really violet ones,"
Miss Dorman said, taking the locket.
these are white." .
"Yea, and old. A charm against
fever," she added, laugmng genu,
"rnt wnm for their beauty now"; as
she spoke the glass case dropped from
its place ana ine rour uiaus uwuj i
on the cloth, crumbling to powaer.
"No matter, I assure you," Miss
Styles hastened to reply to Mrs. Dor
man's exclamation. "I no longer need
them. I hope Dr. Thornton," she
added innocently, "the odor does not
ivfonvenlence you. I assure you they
are very old and dead."
She blew the ausi irom uei dud
a' physician should learn to keep
his nerves weU in hand," that gentle
man said gravely. "I have been the
indirect cause of tne acciaent; u, u uul
just I should suner inereoy. om.
pass your chocolate?"
Hrhe fortnight was over, and the soft
moonlight was flooding everything on
tbe lawn with its radiance, as Miss
Styles, the evening before her depart
ure from Seven Oaks, ran lightly down
the gravel path to a summer house, in
search or a shawl left there at afternoon
tea. The wrap had been secured, and
she paused a moment on the broad
stone step to note the effect of tho
moonlight on the silvery thread which
wound at the foot of the garden, when
a voice at her elbow made her start.
She recognized it at once. The gen
tleman threw aside a cigar, as be said:
"I almost feel your coming here an
inspiration, I was thinking of you."
He was standing by her now and look
ing directly down upon her. "I have
something to tell you, Mary; will you
hear it?"
She stood with her face averted, her
gaze still fixed upon the nver.
"No, there could be nothing you
could have to say to me that I would
wish to hear," she said, coldly.
"But there are duties one cannot ig
nore on a question of what Is agree
able," the gentleman went on, "and I
ask you to hear me as simply a matter
ot duty."
"Duty Is an odd word from you to
me,'' Miss Styles turned and met the
full gazj of a handsome pair of gray
eyes. J-
"les; an unrecognized quantity be
tween woman and man," the gentle
man said. "Vet a woman at least
owes a hearing to the man who loves
her. Whatever weight the words
might carry," the young man went
on, "and whether well or 111 chosen I
must speak. I tell you, against reason,
ajairtst my best judgment. In defiance
of pride. I tell you that I love you un
reasonably, blindly, with an intensity
that conquers pride and defies my judg
ment, with a love which, after ten
years' waiting of silence and separation
and an ever-present sense of hopeless
ness, is still unconqueredaud enduring.
I claim by these feelings, which you
alone have brought to life, the right to
plead their cause. I claim this right,
Mary," he added, with infinite tender
ness in the tone, "and beg to win your
lave."
"Those are strange words from you
to me. Alec Thornton. Are you act
ing a farce?"
"Is It then Incredible that I still love
you? It ts strange that my love has
not died, yet I must confess its vitality.
In the first hour of our meeting at
Seven Oaks I knew that my heart had
never dethroned its queen, that, how
ever cruel, she must always reign."
lie paused an instant as Miss Styles
said sneeringly; "We grow quite ro
mantic; how unfortunately harsh facts
are. lour vivid Imagination ha)
woven fancy colors about a few in your
life and mine about ten years ago. "
-No, l remember with painful ac
curacy," the young man replied slowly,
as with folded arms be stood facing
ber. "But what is pride? When one
loves one's very life is involved."
Miss Styles measured her full height
tu U)t tii scjrntcliy.
"lour renunciation has cost me
nothing, as you sec"
"My renunciation?" the tone was
one of great astonishment.
"The recollection is not flattering,"
iiiss styles continued, "let l am
able to endure it with composure.
though not apt to forget that my re
lease irom an engagement was gra
tuitous."
"Gratuitous? Your release gratuit
ous?" the young man repeated." "Un
less you have lost your candor you
must own I never released you."
"Thi? borders on insult. Alec Thorn
ton," Miss Styles said quickly, and
looking steadily into the eyes that were
fastened with equal earnestness on her
own. "Fortunately I have your let
ters.'
"And I, equally unfortunately, have
not yours, but I have what will, and
did tell its own story my rejected
pledge, the little violets."
"Your rejected pledge?" Miss Style3
asked curiously.
"Yes, my rejected, returned pledge.
he repeated. "Possibly circumstances
which have been burned into my mem
ory liave escaped yours. I went to your
house one evening tea years ago, a
happy lover, believing implicitly in the
woman who had that morning, with
words she well knew how to choose.
disielled my doubt3, and I think par
donable jealousy. I round, when the
servant answered me, you had placed
a full explanation of your absence the
photograph of my hated rival and my
poor violets. There was no need for
more these told their own story. You
could not face me with the truth; the
English Captain had stolen your love
from me, or I had never possessed it,
and you chose this manner of breaking
the news. I tried to return your
(lowers, but could not. The little ones
folded in my hasty farewell, scribbled
on a stray sheet I found on the table,
were taken from a vase ou the gallery.
Yours lie where your own Angers
placed them that morning. From that
wretched hour of awakening 1 vowed
to forget you; but I have not alas, 1
cannot Once more, Mary, I ask you,
may I try again to win your love?"
There was a momentary silence, dur
ing which Miss Styles seemed oddly
moved; strength shejsaid in a low voice
and looking quite away from her com
panion: "Do you mean that you did not read
the note?"
"Can you mean that you wrote me
one?" he asked eagerly.
"And the flowers you left were not
those I had given you." Her tone was
beginning to tremble perceptibly.
For answer be touched the spring of
his watch aud showed, lying upon a
bit of white velvet inside the extra
case, four little purple violets. '-You
laid them there," ne saia in a row, ior-
cible, calm voice.
Marv Styles droppea ner lace in ner
hands, as she said m broken tones, "O.
Alec, what have you tnougni ot mer
"Consider rather wliat you may be
giving me reason to think of you," the
young man answered, touching care
lessly her soft hair; then after a mo
ment. "Will you teu me ir mere was a
letter and what it said?"
"There was one on the same sneet
with yours if you had but turned it
over."
"And it said "
"Some verv foolish words. I fear,"
Miss Styles replied slowly, and lifting
her eyes for the first time to her com
panion's face, "but none of dismissal."
"Rut the flowers." and his strong
hmirn finsrers possessed themselves of a
strangely unresisting slim white hand
"Were taken irom my rjeit a iew
moments before. Your flowers I kept
until a fortnight ago," she said, smil
ing up at him; "do you not remember
them?" . .
"And may I repiace tnem wun ine
old significance?"
"However COUia l imagine juu uau
not read my letter?" Miss Styles said
after a while, still feeling something
very unreal in her attitude toward her
lover. -
"And how could you ever believe
that having done so I could leave Flor
encer"
So Alec Thornton and Mary Styles
turned another leaf of life's book may
tt prove a fair, unwritten sheet.
JAPANESE TSAPKIXsw
Fanny Little Mouth Wipers Made
From ltice Paper.
'Taper napkins! Who ever heard of
such nonsensel What good are they?
were among the many exclamations
uttered by good housewives when they
first learned that paper napkins were
being sold for table nse. They pictured
to themselves squares of thin, white
paper that would break at the first at
tempt to put them to use, and sighed
over the frivolity ot the Japanese for
bothering to make such articles.
Now, however, since their value has
become known, every picnic party
must be well supplied with these little
squares of Japanese art. Hotels and
boarding houses have began to use
them, greatly to the delight of their
guests, and it will not be long before
restaurants, steamboats and even pri
vate families will have them for use.
"We make no pretensions to what
Is called style. We are still in that
social stratum where the article called
the napkin ring is recognized as al
missible at the dinner table. The
napkin ring is the boundary between
certain classes," says Oliver Wendell
Holmes in his most recent story, "A
Mortal Antipathy."
But the introduction of paper nap
kins will do away with this social
stratum, and instead ot a clean nap
kin once a day, or twice a week, as the
rule may be. every one may be even
more fastidious than a Vanderbllt or a
Gould, and have a dainty and new nap
kin three times a day, and at a very
trining expense.
For a family ot six three napkins for
each one every day would make 126 a
week, which is quite an "extra" In the
wash, besides the care to keep them in
nice order.
Tbe reporter visited a quaint little
Japanese store on Broadway, which.
strange to say, is kept by a Turk and a
youth from the Mikadj land. Queer
little dolls with bald heads and bright.
black eyes peeped out from Nankin
bowls and Toklo pots; mattings and
hammock, tans and umbrellas of won
derful size, spangled with impossible
Japanese ladles and gentlemen in pain
ful attitudes of Japanese grace; funny
little ivory "back scratchers.'' tobacco
jars, tea sets, bamboo chairs and hund
reds of other odd, yet useful, articles.
which the two countries have taught
us how to use for our own comfort.
filled the little place.
"Abou Ben Adhem," in a Cowing
gown ot soft red silk and a littld cap
on toe buua t hta Liuad ut a, st m
the back ot the shop on a square box
covered with a bright rug, and purled
calmly away at his long ripe, while
his Yokohama assistant flitted about
with a big silken handkerchief flip
ping specks of dust from the thousand
articles or hnc-a-brac
The reporter asked the little Japan
ese if he sold many raper napkins.
"How many hundred you want?"
he said, bringing out four or five
packages, "tor picnic these very
nice. Sell for fifty cents 100," and
he took out a soft bit of crumpled
white stuff bordered with pale blue
mandarins, each one trying to hit his
neighbor with a mushroom-like para
sol, while a big mandarin sat m the
center in seeming bliss.
"We sell great many of these for
picnic. Americans say they are
'funny. I see no funny, but still
like they please. Here some more
fancy Si one hundred. These good
for owa dinner table."
The more expensive napkins were
not generally comical in design, ac
cording to the Japanese idea. Some
were as soft as silk, and could be
doubied up in the palm into little
balls and smoothed out again without
a break. They were in white, pink
and blue, an 1 while the majority had
only borders of a different color about
them, many were covered with birds
and flowers, umbrellas, weeping wil
lows, teacups and pots, and every kind
of a Japanese figure.
"Do you sell many of these?"
queried the reporter.
"Oh, yes! We sell this warm time
thousands and hundreds. They go for
picnics, they go for summer resort
cottages where ladies want no trouble
with washing. They go with travel
ins parties, who like them at all times.
Then we sell them for decoration of
parlors,"
"Do the Japanese use them?"
"Oh. ves. at all times. We have
only the rice and the bamboo for our
house. Out of rice we make our food,
our paper, soae of our wraps. Kice
makes the soft paper HKe mis, tan
does not break. Other things we
make of bamboo.
The reporter learned that scented
paper uapKins, as nign as uuy ceuui
each, are used in New lork. jay
Gould and many other men oi weaan
have them for their vachts. and many
of the cottagers at Newport and Long
Branch are using them this summer.
For watermelon or berry parties.
for picnics and garden parties, they
are considered just the thing. Fine
linen is apt to become stained or get
lost, but paper napkins aie sweet and
fresh, and may be thrown away when
used. The Japanese expect. 10 anve
a big trade in them next winter, and
several cargoes have been sent here.
Queer Currency.
In some portions of Dakota where
tbe county authorities pay a premium
at five cents apiece for dead gophers the
animals tails are currency and are re
ceived as such everywhere, from the
saloon bar to tbe church contribution
box. The old bounty of fifty cents
each on woodchucks was until recently
paid bv the Selectmen of the adjoining
towns of Avon and Canton In the Litch
field Mountains ot Connecticut. In
Avon the tails are required for vouch
ers, in Canton the ears. By accident
it was found, that tne wooucnucK Dins
of the two town3 for a given period
were the same. 1 olio wing up the
clew, the farmer-boy hunters were dis
covered to be collecting two prices for
one animal, offering the ears to one set
of Selectmen and the talis to those of
the next. There is at present no tariff
on woodchucks in the Litchlleld
Mountains, and local crisises are im
pending. These are stories that recall
the days oi iavy orocKeu anu ms
electioneencj tours.
SPIRES.
The
Inlluence or Race and History
a., l: . . . - - .
d.tvu .in-micc'iure.
The tall spire, conveying to the mini
the idea of immeasurable height, and
seeming to fade away in a point, is,
perhapi, the most perfectly beautiful
external feature of the pointed or Chris
tian styles of architecture to which it
propeny iielongs. I n all asres and coun
tries there has been an apparent tend
ency to carry buildings to as great a
height as possible, and hence have orig
inated the various architectural formt
of pyramids and obelisks, towers in end
less variety, domes of various shapes
classic, Byzantine and Saracenic the
minarets of the east and tall monu
mental pillars; but the spire, obvious
as its form seems in Us pure sim
plicity, was unknown in architectur
until tovr ird the end of the eleventh
century. There have been many dis
cussions, somewhat unprofitable,
thou;-;! interesting, as to the source
whence the mediaeval builders drew
tbelr first ideas of the pointed arch and
spire, an! general opinion has appar
ently settled to the conclusion that the
pointed arch was simultaneously sug
gested to the various nations of Europe
by the sight of the Saracenic arch dur
ing the crusades. If this were really
so, it must be added that the Christian
builders improved so vastly upon any
hints tiiey niay have received from the
east that all traces of such origin rap
idly disappeared. The spire, however,
is a purely self-evolved feature, which
originated in the general tendency oi
pointed architecture, completely inde
pendent of external hints or examples.
Among other suppositions it has beer
said that the form of tbe spire might
havs been suggested by the pyramids oi
obejisks of Egypt; but there are sc
m3n? points of dissimilarity betweeD
these objects and the true spire that it
is exa-emely unlikely.
t
Discoveries About the irtpliinx.
An undertaking has begun whicl
ought to yield results of special in
terest. This is the removal ot the
sand from around the sphinx. Th
sphinx occupies a position where tin
nncteachment of the desert is most
conspicuous. At the present day noth
ing is to be seen of the animal except
its head and its neck; but the old
Egyptian monuments on which it i:
figured show not only the entire bod)
down to the paws, but also a large
squAr; plinth beneath, covered witt
ornaments. Since the time of the
Grteks, perhaps ever since the reigr
of Thothmes IV., this plinth has dis
appeared beneath the sand, and its
very existence had been forgotten.
It is generally supposed that tht
sptinx is hewn out of a large iso
lated rock, which overlooked th
pLn. But M. Maspero's researches
surest that it is a work yet mor
stv-jndous. He has proved that tht
tji r.. occupies uio Cciicoi or an am
phkhe.i'.er, lorming a kind of a rocky
basin, the upper rim of whieh h
about on a level with the head ot the
animal. The walls of this amphithe
ater, whenever visible, are cut by the
hand ot man. It seems probable.
therefore, that in the beginning there
was a uniform surf.tce of rocks, ir
which an artificial valley had beer
excavated, so as to leave in the mid
dle a block out of which the sphini
was hually hewn. The excavations
now being carried on will doubtless
verify the existence of the plinth
shown on the old paintings, and alsc
furnish evidence, bv the ornamenta
tion of tbe plinth, of the true age of
the monument. M. Maspero is In
clined to assign it to a very great
antiquity possibly higher than in the
early dynasties, i. e., than the first ie
riod of Egyptian history. As the re
sult of last winter's work, t'.ie sand
round the sphink has already been
lowered by about thirty meters.
Indian Sword I Vats.
The favorite swe:il for performing
feats in India is the gauntlet-handled
pita. The swordsman will first show
tbe keenness of his weupon and hi
command of its weight by cutting in
two a leaf laid flat on the outstretched
pu'.a of a friend, or by cutting a cloth
hanging loose in the air. He will put
one sword on each hand, aud so armed,
springing from his feet on the bare
ground, will throw somersaults back
ward and forward, following each
movement with a wondrously compli
cated and simultaneous gyration of
both swords round his head and body.
He will have the naked sword, more
than five feet long, double edged, sharp
pointeJ, and keen as a razor, lashed
from the back of his neck down his
back, and will ayaln, from his naked
feet, repeat the somersaults. Again,
with sword and shield in bis nanus, lie
will leap headforemost through the
stretched outloopof a roe,beld by two
men at the height of their heads, as a
circus rider leaps through a paper hoop
and light safely on his feet. Small
wonder if the gaping crowd of specta
tors applaud vociferously; that the car
pet of the piucky athlete is soon cov
ered with a harvest of small change,
and that the recurring festivals, with
these profitable opportunities, prevent
the knowledge of the oil sword play
from dying out.
A Parisian Swindler.
Xoblemea are so plentiful in Pans
that the wonder is an adroit swindler
should find it worth bis while to assume
a title to which he has no right. Yet,
savs the Far is correspondent of the
London News, it appears that calling
one s self a marquis, count or baron
belts to obtain credit under false pre
tences from the highest class of trades-
mea. A certain jail bird named Grand,
who was formerly a shop assistant, has,
thanks to an aristocratic appearance,
a good tailor, and his self-assumed title
of Comte Maurice de Talhouet, been
making quite a fortune a3 a swindler.
The most curious fact in connection
with his case was that jewelers and sil
versmiths allowed him to carry away
objects, of great value, to which, while
buying relatively cheap trifles he took
a fancy. They said, in giving evidence
to the police magistrate, that had he
aVced for larger credits they would
probably have accorded them, he bad
such an air of genuine wealth. He
went abvit in an elegant brougham.
In which ne carried off the articles ob-
taned on the strength of his fine ap
pearance and visiting cards. He was
always making wedding presents to fair
yung relatives, none of whic'i, of)
cturse, have been paid for. The Comte :
Xaurlce de Talhouet is low, as an old
oueuuer, m ueicuiauu au jiaiaj, ocuu-
tt i i . . - . t ,r ...... 1
ug his trial before the assize court,
THE SOUTH AFRICAN'S POISONS
Those Used by the Bushman in Kill
log Game Curious Eficctft-
There are several poisons In ust
among the aboriginal tribes of South
era Africa, but that extracted from i
caterpillar and designated by the native;
"mangue," is the most fatal. Tht
pain which the victims suffer who havt
been inoculated with it must be fearful
indeed, but it is not long endured, for
two or three hours geuerally put an
end to the stricken animal's existence.
Of course, this time is more or less pro
tracted by ti e size of the wound, tht
locality in which it is situated, and tht
quantity of the venom used; for in
stance, on one of the tributaries of the
Zambesi, a lioness that had been
wounded at sundown did not expire till
tbe following daybreak, durinz all
.TtVm
fearfully the poor creature was suffer
ing. On examination, this victim of
the poisoned arrow only had a slight
puncture beneath the skin close to the
flank, but the firmness ot the hide had
prevented the missile from falling from
the wound.
As the habits of semi-barbarous peo
ple always possess great interest for me,
I trust they do so for my readers, and
I will therefore describe the two other
poisons in use among the Bush people,
and the manner ia which they are em
ployed to serve their p'irpose. First, I
advert to the juice of the euphorbia.
This is a family of plants all alike for
eign 10 tne i-uropean eye in appear
ance, although not by any means
strictly tropical. Some species possess
much more poisonou3 matter than
others, the most deadly being in appear
ance like a crooked pole w ith a bunch
of long, hard leaves decorating its sum
mit. When employed by the native
for the purpose above spoken of, it if
collected in quantities ou the margin
of a small vley or pond of water, when
it is beaten between two stones till tht
necessary quantity of the juice impreg
nates the water.
At night unconscious game, probably
thirsting from the hours they have
passed in the sun-di ied desert, come tc
the vley to satisfy their craving foi
drink, but scarcely have they done sc
when they become intoxicated, and
soon after lie down to sleep the sleei
that knows no waking. It is strai;gt
that this poison Is much more injuriou;
to hoise, zebras, and quaggas, thau it
is to cloven-footed or horned animals.
In carnivorous anitrals, such as lions,
leopards, dogs, etc., it does not product
death, but only stupitles them for tht
time being; at least such was my ob
servation in reference to my dogs, when
I knew they had drunk a quantity ol
the diluted water.
The third poison used by these most
interesting natives, the Bushmen, if
that taken from the glands of the
Mamba cobra, or puff-adder, with
which the points of their arrows art
thickly cotted. Exposure appears to
weaken thes-e reptiles' virus, for pre
vious to any important hunt taking
place, the barbs of the tiny weapons
receive a fresh dressing of the baneful
fluid. Game killed by all the above
methods is eaten by the human fanillv.
or carn.vora, without proiucing any il.'
effects.
An I'k'' llcptile.
I want to show vou a new and
wonderfully living thing that arrived
at the garden recently," said Head
Keeper llyrne, as he led the way t:
the snake-house. The new arrival is
about a-5 horrible and yet as dandi
fled a looking fellow, as can be found
ou the banks of the Schuylkill. He is
in a glass case. It is the iguana, a
species of the lizard family, ami w.is
forwarded to the garden by the Com
missioner or Fisheries of Massachu
setts with the request that when he
dies his body shall be sent to the Smith
sonian Institution at Washington. Tht
iguana does not look much like dying,
although the only one of its kind that
was ever previously brought to lU
country died the day he was brought
to the Zoological garden, some years
ago. His neck and head are erect; he
has a long tall like an alligator, and
four paws which spread out H it upon
the sand in his warm cage just like a
lizard's feet. Sticking out from the
center of his back, from the head all
the way down toward the tail, Is a row
of black bristles, which stand erect
and d3 not look as though they would
make a person comfortable who would
have the temerity to sit down upon
them.
"The most wonderful thing about
the iguana Is his appetite," said Mr.
lSvrne. "lie eats the most delicate and
choicest (lowers, and a white rose is
the sweetest morsel that we have yet
found for him. He eats it w.th avid
ity." Mr. llyrne disappeared for a
moment aud returned with a Jacque
minot rose, which he inserted iu the
cage. The curious looking reptile
lowered his head, and with a quick
motion seized the pretty Cower and
swallowed it. Its eyes are intensely
black and snappy, and from around
tho mouth there hang curious pieces
of .'-kin looking like plaited armor.
The iguana is found in lirazil, and
the epicures of that country are said tc
highly prize its flanh for food. It is
the toothsome terrapin of South Amer
ica. When the iguana is stretched out
he will probably measure Gve feet id
length. There Is a pool of water in the
cage, and he occasiobally takes a bath.
octtiiiK Even with liis Tormentor
A friend of mine has a rough-haired
ollie, wise and exquisitely modeled.
One evening a lady of the household,
with whom he was a special favorite.
stooped quietly, as he lay half asleep
on the rug, aud placing her face close
to his head, blew sharply with a slight
ehout in one of his ears. T'ck ed and
startled, he jumped up and moved off.
seemingly somewhat offended. In the
course of the evening tbe lady hap
pened to be redlining in an easy-chair,
when the collie was observed by some
of the inmates to rise, and making a
circuit, to move stealthily toward the
chair, put his fore paws on one of the
arms, and, placing his nose to the
lady's ear, gave a sharp bark and in
stantly bounded off.
Man Is more than constitutions.
Crows have been known to free
themselves from parasites by standing
over an ant-hill and allowing the ants
to destroy the troublesome vermin.
Water houss plants only when they
require it. This may be from two
to three times a week, depending on
, . ... .,!, .,, i ,w
uow luc ou" u'lca UUk " kUO
MAZEPPA,
Tbe Hero of the Circus Was a Real
- Mao and He Sat for a Picture. j
A portrait of Mazeppa. painted from
life, has been discovered at Keif, in
Southern Russia, and is engraved by
the Russian academician, Demetry j
Kowkosky. It will surprise nearly ;
every one who hears that Mazeppa was !
a real living man, who could sit for his ;
portrait he seems so like a purely
mythical being, like Bellerophon or like
one of the Amazons. He is associated
in our minils altogether with the very
unreal world of the circus ring, with
bare-back riders and trained norss.
Indeed, he may be said to resemble a '
centaur, for he and the fiery steed can
hardly be thought of apart. Vet he
was a real man, and cut quite a figure
in this part of the world UoO years ago.
This portrait probably represents not a
andudduigoustache, but a grizzled
swaggering youth with curl:ng locks
warrior in Kussian uniform and deco-
rated with military orders.
John Stephanovitch Mazeppa was a
Cossack, who made successful war '
upon the savage Tartars who desolated :
Southern Russia, driving them back to
the Caspian. This so recommended
him to Peter the Great that he invited ;
, I . , (. . . I. ; . 1 1
him with honors and gifts. Rut when
Swedes under Charles XII, he be -
trayed the Hussians and went over with .
his followers to the enemy. Peter de- ,
feated them both and drove them into
Turkish territory, where, fearing to fall
Into the hands of his former relentless
master, Mazeppa killed himself. He had '
before this hidden all the treasures
which he bad amassed in his wars aud
through gifts from those he had served
iu caverns in tbe hills around Kief. '
The portrait now discovered was prob-
ably hidden at this time. '
The incident by which alone we know
him actually did occur. He was by !
birth a Cossack, but when very young
he was sent to serve as a page in the
court of the Polish king. There his
beauty and bravery won him greaS
favor, especially with the ladies. With
one of them, the wife of a certain
noble, he was supected of too great an
intimacy, and the jealous husband in
revenge .ordered hiu to be bound naked
to the back of a wild horse that bad
never been ridden. The horse was a
Tartar horse, from the Stepis, and
when loosed rushed madly back to his
native country with the unwilling
rider bound to his back. The Cossacks
received the unhappy youth when
nearly dead from exhaustion and ha
grew up among them, remarkable for
strength and bravery, Byron got his
story out of Voltaire's "Lire of Charles
XII," and worked it up into his
dashing and attractive poem. A story
so dramatic was at once seize 1 upon for
adaptation to the stage, and it was pre
sented here as early as 1823 by an Eng
lishman named Hunter. lie also was
a very handsome man and made a great
Btlriu Hie town. The picture of Mazeppa
boind to the horse's hick, whHi every
body knows so well, was painted by
Horace Vernet, one of the greatest of
French artists. Vernet, of course,
got his inspiration from Byron, to
whom we all owe whatever knowledge
we may have of ttte brilliant Cossack
rider and soldier. i
Mazeppa's real motive for betraying
Peter are not certainly known. Tiie
Poles, who look uponhiinas a Hero,
always have maintained that he had in
view the welfare of the Polish nation,
and they point to the fact that he stip
ulated with the Swellsh king for ti e
independence of Poland. If this lie
the truth it gives a certaiu dignity to
the act, but the Uussiau story runs
more in accordance with what other
wise is known of him. They say that
he was led to go over to the enemy by
the blandishment of a certaiu Polish
princess. Tuis would better corres
pond with the rest of his adventurous
career. Few men, however, who are
simply adventurers, get their actions
recorded by a historian like Voltaire,
and celebrated by a poet like Byron,
and painted by a master like Vernet,
and get to be known by all school boys
who speak the English language and
all this, not from auy act of doing, but
one of suffering merely. A better
man might find it disageeable to be
personated before the public by some
of the persous who have represented
Mazeppa m this city in recent time.
What lJccame of the lVar.
In on 3 oi tne suouruan towns there :
lives a man who does his business in :
Boston, and who has a great passion
for cultivating new and choice varie
ties of fruit on his pretty place. He
took particular pains to get a pear tree
of a rare sort of golden russet variety, '
and planted and nursed it with Infinite
solicitude. By and by it got ready to
bear. It blossomed last spring with
fair profusion, but it bore much to the
disappointment of its owner, but a
single pear. That one pear, however, '
grew to be a splendid specimen, and
was prized ia proportion to its rarity.
The owner of the tree was very anx
ious that it should mature and rleu.
But he had a small boy, Charley bj
name, who looked upon t le pear, as the
boy's father bad observed, with covet
ous eyes. So the father laid his ban I
on the boy's shoulder one day aud said;
"See here, Charley, don't you ever ;
pick that pear. If you do I shall pun-1
Ish you most severely." !
Charley promised faithfully that he
wouldn't, and the father waited a few
day's longer for the iar to ripen. But
the very next day, when he came home,
tbe pear was gone.
He took his boy and led bim to ihe
tree. ;
"Did you pick that year, Charley?"
"No, sir; truly I didn't pick It."
" You didn't! And what do you sup
pose became of iff"'
-I-I-I "
"Y'ou what?"
"I shinned up the tree and eat it, 1
papa, but I didn't pick it!"
The father looked up into the tree
and saw that the stem of the pear still
hung to its branch. The boy's story
was true. lie had climbed the tree and
lain on his back on a large limb under-!
neath the pear, and had eaten it from '
the stem. But he hadn't pickel itl !
Origin of the Name Campbell.
The Cainpliells, as are all the great
nobility of the three llritish kingdoms, :
are of French, Norman or Frt.-nch-An-genne
origin. The founder of the
family was a BeaucliHinp, a Norman
from Itouen, who followed William the
Conqueror to whom William gave large
estates in England. In the Thirteenth
century it was customary among the
nobility to give Latin names to their
lata tea
NEWS IX BRIEF
California has
earthquake insur-
ance companies.
During the year ending last
June
nine Oregouians died aged 100.
Two of the thrones of the last Na
poleon are for sale in France at 5100
each.
Succi, the Italian faster, completed
his task of living thirty days without
food.
Coal has been discovered on the
Sabiuas river by the Southern Pacilic
people.
Country po.stir.en ia France are be
ing supplied by the government with
tricycles.
The iron works at I.e Cruit.
France, burned recently, causing a loss
of S2J0,0UU
, HUTfUOO people have bee,
Cilice the creation of the world
a killed by
, earthquakes.
Nuiall-pox has become epidemic in
Testd, Hungary, and numerous deaths
are reported,
The deficit in tho French budget
this year is expected to amount to 71,
000,000 francs.
Two hundred si.ee; butchers of
"IC' . f" !
for teu cents
', The ('hiricahua Apa.dies have been
nmi-n in run iiKinon, near .Au
gustine, I'U, and ;irj held as prisoners.
The newest weapon of war is an
eh ctrlc sword. Kun a fnema:i through
with it and death comes from the
shock.
The Italian goveniuient has re
solved to enforce existing laws, which
will result in tht; ex;u'. :i of all Jesu
its from Italy.
The largest ll.it in the wor'i 1 is sit
uated on the comer of Mott and Eliza
beth streets. New Ycrk, and affords a
home fur 1,5'XI fo; l-'.
A beautiful custom is .-aid to nre-
vail with the natives of Java. A lather
when his child is l orn, plants a tree,
an-i thus s!;,'iia;:zfs the birth.
Sweet lemons :ire a favorite Mexi
can dainty. They are the shape, color
and s:. of tii-- ! ai ins or commerce
but are swett r than b.iii u:a ;.
An Arizona pa r offers a priz- of
a demijohn oi gin to any one who will
furnish it with a correct list of the
. twenty w rst nan in the town.
Every morning the a-.'e-l president
of William and Mary College, in Vir
ginia, rings the college bell and, though
no one responds, the coll -ge no;eii ami
still retains its charter.
The ancient K.jmans werrf by no
' means powerful ou the sea, aiid their
navy w:-.v by no means njual t their
army. The Mediterranean was the
only sea they wished to command.
It is mentioned as a cuiiom fact
that a line building stono is imported
from Ireland for use in New York
city. It comes from liallinnsloe, at
Counaiight, County It'srornmon.
The World, following in I.e v.mKo
of the Press and Lnu keri oefcer, has
interviewed various New York mer
chants and manufacturers and iinds a
steady improvement m busine-s along
, the entire iine.
A good Cremona violin has tifty
e X'ht divisions. The back, neck, sides
and cire'es are of sycamore; the belly,
la.-e bar. sounding and s:x blocks
of deal; the linger board and tailpiece
of ebony.
llati'l-shave I shingle.- mile I by
the eccentric preacher, I.ori nz j Dow,
upon a roof in MontviMe, Conn., sixty
mx years ago, are said to be as sound as
when first put dawn, although the house
itself is much the worse for wear.
Ti e vestal virgins were memlien
of a Komaii sisterhood who dedicated
them -t Ives unih r a vow of cha.-t;ty to
the service (.f the godde-s Vesta, In
whose temple they m.ni-tered as priest
evirs, and Wat -he 1 hy day and night
th-s.icicd f.ie ke; l I n; ning upon her
aitar.
For the in s l ii.e tree i f Texas it is
c!aim-d that, tie- h.uk y;t- ds in ire tan
nin thaa that of re I oak; that the wood
is good for cabin, t W )ik a:id is excel
lent for fence posts and ties; that ttie
iean which the tree produces in abun
dance is excellent food for btock; and
that its gum makes as go-a! a mucilags
as gum arable,
Uenvenite, the country seat of
Hamilton S. Fletcher, about six miles
from Washington, K ippahannock coun
ty, Virginia, was recently the scene of
the marriage in which the groom and
the bride have lven betroth-tl since the
seventh birthday of the bride.
To kill one fly in March is estima
ted to 1 as irood a work as killing 8,
lo'l.mxt In August, the increase and
multiplications of the fly population be
ing figured as follows: One l!y on the
Joth of March is represented bv 2MJ on
the tM'.h of April, by 'J,rirj on 'the 23th
of May, by 27.'"p'',oti ,m the 21 of
July and by !-,loo w,1'' oathe Sth of
August.
A gentleman who has made a
sptcial study of rats savs a rat, by na
ture is compelle 1 to gnaw; if he does
not his teeth grow so rapidly that his
jaws become locked. lie n one of the
most in rvous, cunning and sensitive of
creatures, and when cornered is very
vicious. They are easily alarmed by
rumbling or jarring founds.
Washing day was by no means
very exhausting in the reigns of the
Tudors in England. In one grand
house, w here there were more than 'ft
p -rsiiu ami City strangers daiiy, there
were nine table cloths and no sheets at
all, and the washing biil for the whole
3 ear was cnly forty shillings, including
the charge for cleansing the linen be
longing to the chapel.
A curious spring eleven miles from
Moortiehl, W. Va.,tl)ws from July 1
to August 31, and at no other time,
every year. The flow of water only
lasts fifteen minutes at a time, when it
recedes with a rushing nois back into
the hills and remains dry fifteen min
utes, when the Water will again rush
out in a stream sutiiclently large to
turn aB ordinary mill-wheel. The water
conlf 9 rushing under the ground like a
uistani. winu siorrn.
Si'd of copier usually r-garded as
very poisonous have been administered
by a French chemist to dogss and rab
bits without serious effects, either from
large doses or from a long-continued
regular use of the substance.
77i silicified forest of Arizona, known
ai Chalcedony Park, covers 1,000
acres, and consists of fallen trees which
have become buried and silicified into
agate and jaser. It is the most beau
t. fully colored siliciiled wood in the
world, being every ima;inab'.a shade
of red, brown and green.