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B.F. SOHWEIER,
THE 00IST1TU TIOI-TKE TJIIC3 AX3 TIE Q70S0IHHT 0? THE LAVS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XLI.
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 23, 18S7.
NO. 13
F.
Would We Itetorn ?
K .Tth gtc which close upon the
vcre penJ wU for n "J If th der
RemimWd pathway stretch! before us
To lejr" bick t0 youth' lost UnJ
Wterao'n Hfe'i April shadow. lightly caat
VTiih all their faded hopes and brought
TbUr-ofT streams iu which oar skies
were e'.ss1 '
Did ftf Koitareams which wake the soul s
aad vearnics
But live one more and waited our return-
""' Would we return".'
Would we return
If love's enchantment held the heart no
And nW come to count the wild sweet
XU, "distress, the lavish tears but
Had'cooled the heart's hot wounds amidst
the roar
Of mountain gales, or, on some alien shore
Worn out iht soul's Ion anguish and had
slain
At lat the Urjzon of despair if then the
train , . i ,
Of v-iiukljears came back, nd, as of
j ore,
The same voice called, and with soft eves
Ix-'uiii:)?, ...
Our lost love lieckoneJ. through uuie s
Cray veil srnilin;;,
Wo:; Id we return?
Would we return
0Bce we lad crossed to death's unlovely
land
And trod the l .wmless ways among the
dead , a
Lone and unhai-py ; a:tr years had fled
Vi:h twilight iegs along that glimmer
ins sir.iud.
If '.Lee au anfi"! ciuie with outstretch
ed Lind
To lead ns tnck. and we recalled iu dread
How m .u the tear that once for us are shed
May now lor ot Lers how like words In
6.11. J
Our uitumry fad -s away how ott our
i'k:lU
Jlijht vti il.e living with the dead heart s
Woa'.d we return,
Would we n-tura ?
THE CRISIS.
"EniJV Mi' Trendfniiis raised her
Landsonie head from its droop of twi
light revery. and glanced around with
languid curiosity for the owner of tlte
sLaruiv called lume. Tlie long piazza
was shrouded in jaMuine, and the iuqui
hng glance uat only glossy leaves, min
gled with dusters id fragrant golden
bell
"About the twentieth time I have
heard that shriek since we arrived,"
said M: Tien Icnii'.s, yawning behind
a gracefully arranged screen of jewelled
fingers. But the respondent seems in
visible." "So," said her companion, a young
mm of Ilfivuleaa dimensions and aris
tocratic bearing, who luid been restlessly
lacing the razz, and now stopied be
fore a break: in the jasmine wall.
"There r-he is. Lo k, Iris, quickly."
But M:s Trendennis' curiosity was
Dot sufficient to lead her across the in
terveniii ?pA-i and Ait said:
"I will Le cute::t with your descriiv
ton."
'jhe i coiniiig up from that marvel
of a flower garden, dragging a hoe in
one hand and a huge watering-pot in
the other. A curious flat liat lias I';illeu
from her head to her shoulders, and her
ha r isflyin? all around it Handsome,
Iris; no mi-take."
"The flat, or the girl, or
"The hair. Magnificent red gold,
wavy and thick, as you e er wtw."
"How is the fai-e':"' queried Miss
Trendeniii, with mild interest.
"Very expieive. Fine eyes and
good color. Features so-so. A ptUU,
graceful figure with plenty of elasti
city." The young man lowered his voice as
light fuutteps sounded uion the walk
near by, accompanied by the rattle of a
trailing hue and lew, sweet humming of
a Scotch ballad.
"An excellent voice and well-trained,"
saia ML-s Trendennis, when the
sounds were past.
"Whom c n fclie be?"
"Lady help probably. How was she
dressed?'1
"Oh, plain enough. Some sort of
gray," an I the gentleman returned to
his pacing up and down. "Do you sup
pose. Irk,"' he exclaimed, suddenly,
'"that she hijcs for a living?''
Miss Trendennis smiled reassuringly.
"Oh. no! he is most likely assistant
housekee!er, w ith a jienchant for flori
culture." ''What a perpetual curse" began
the gentleman, breaking another silence
with an eneigy that startled his coui
puiioninto opening her tranquil blue
eyes unusually wide "what a perpetual
curse su-!i a life must 1 to a high
minted girl hke that. I assure you,
'tis, wbca I think of such a frail, sen
sitive creature working for bread, I feel
terribly ashamed of Donald Grey, a
strong man, idling about with the for
tune that other hand earned for him."
Miss Trendennis glanced with some
admiration at the "strong man," but
there wax a shade of disapproval in her
tore as she said:
'Ik11', 1 on, you are premature.
There may le no occasion for such sym
pathy." He answered her with an impatient
wave of his hand.
. ''1 understand," with a sympathetic
intonation, and eyes serenely smiling
JIK.u the contracted brow and self-cou-aemmng
eyes of Mr. Grey. "Butjou
ao your part, Don, and ought to be con
tent So one man could make all the
crooked puces straight."
"You always understand said Grey,
Jtoppiiig lie.si le her and clearing his
brow as his eye? rested on her face.
Lndetsland and svmpathize, but yet
yuo are so cold, Iris."
j"'53 irendeiims laughed softly.
'1 think I am asleep," she said. "15
ut
"ie a, another extreme."
"ies. you think me a very unsafe
ajamal, no doubt," said Grev, smiling,
i "en gloomily, " am rather a savage,
put it is your work, iris. You keep me
n a constant state of restless lwpeless-'essand-and
jealousy."
Miss Trendem:!1 w
V).itajre on her engagement linger, :
Wiedrew it off and on slowlv.
. . Gey, bending to kiss
and
the
. , r l. "al"'' d"d I am very proud
si Vei'7 :ai'!'y wheu 1 aul ,10t afraid."
replied- UI luestioi"8lyi and he
ti,".?L?,U.llave bee" candid. Knowing
2 ' m the house holds as
?h.,yUr 1,feart asI."w can I
uiore?tOUeor thera mynot win
mu1.1e trouble
rU irouble trouble vou
T Just tr.,ublc trouble
dh ui uuoush and through."
quoted Hiss Trendennis, rising as a
loud-tongued bell announced tea time.
"I am very likely to follow the last
line," said Grey, laughing comrortably
as he noted the envious glances that
greeted his entrance into the dining
room beside the beauty of the house.
'She is charming," acknowledged
Miss Trendennis, when Iter exploring
glance had discovered the little figure
in gray who was industriously pouring
out tea and coffee.
The sombre dress was enlivened by a
cluster of roses at the belt, and the red
gold hair was decorously braided, coro
nal fashion, around the head. Her
manner was unmistakably graceful and
refined.
"1'ou are right," said Miss Trenden
nis. "Mie doe3 not belong here. "
"My dear," interposed Mrs. Trenden
nis, a practical, self-satisned old lady,
"people belong where they are put."
"Don't you think they tumble around
sometimes accidentally wrong?" said
Grey.
"Certainly not," asserted the old
lady.
"I do not know said her daughter,
musingly. "What makes all the strug
gling then?'
Dr. Hamilton, listening from across
the table, smilingly asked:
"Did you ever see Grey go up stairs,
Miss Trendennis?"
"Three step3 at a time?" said Iris,
looking puzzled.
"Exactly. 1 think that is what's the
matter. It is not that we were placed
wrong, but irregular j umpings over the
next step have made commotion iu the
originally orderly procession, and
brought the 'tumbling around accident
ally wrong' that Grey described."
"How about standing still? ' asked
Grev.
"That is bad, of coune: but there is
one consolation in it if you are knock
ed down by the jumpers, you have not
so far to fall."
"Well." said Miss Trendennis, laugh
ing, "mamma and 1 always take the
next step and hold on to the banisters."
liut she added in a low tone to Grey,
"I think the fair Enid cau afford to
jump ovor those tea-cups, and she
halL"
That was how it happened that Enid
Trenton, sauntering iu her flower gar
den after tea, heard the rustle of dainty
draery behind her, and tuined to meet
the leaiitiful Mis lrendenuis.
"l'rav forgive me if I am intruding.
but I am very fond of ilowers, and yours
are so unusually lovely."
The tone and smile quite won Miss
Trenton's heart. She showed her flowers
with evident pride and pleasure, arran-
ins a boquet for il iss 1 rendenms, and
ehatt ring in a cordial and easy way
that surprised and delighted that lady.
"I have gained wonders m health
and strength from my garden. I have
done all the light work myself," said
the fair Enid, with a contented look
around the well-weeded domain.
Miss Trendemiis thought of the hoe,
and glanced toward lier companion's '
hands. They were small with taper
lingers, but rather browned. The owner
held one, laughing as she showed an
embryo blister inside.
"It is my fault and not the flowers',"
she said; "because I dislike gloves,"
"You make me feel very small," said
Iris, smiling at the remembrance of het
wasted sympathy and intended patron
age, Evidently this young lady was
contented with he lot
"Suppose you reform," suggested
Enid gayly. "I will make you my chief
weeder."
Miss Trendennis lifted her head
slightly, opining that the young house
keeper had some surplus assurance.
"Ah, here comes a more promising
recruit," she contiuued as Mr. Grey
approached them.-
Miss Trendennis introduced them.
"I am glad to meet you and thank
you in propria person," said Enid,
smiling bewi chingly upon him. Then
she; turned to Iris. "You must know
that he came to the rescue most gallant
ly this morning when I was besieged iu
mine own castle horribly."
'It was only a harmless old black
snake." exclaimed Grey, smiling at Iris'
nivstiucation. "He would not have
been worth killing but for having
frightened Miss Trenton."
Miss Trendennis mused a little upon
their evening's conversation and the
omission of this episode, but was soon
attracted by Euid"s merry chat She
was an excellent mimic, ana ner oram
seemed overflowing with gay anecdotes
and brilliant repartee. Truly so charm
ing a creature was excusable for forget
ing her position, thought Iris, and she
was not surprised that her fiance grew
complimentary. The three were saun
tering along, fast growing friends,
when "Enid!" rang out unusually sharp
and shrill interrupting one of Enid's
bright remarks, and bringing a dis
maved expression to her brown eyes.
'Oh, I forgot!" she murmured, as
remembering a disagreeable task ne
glected, "l'ray excuse me." And she
hurried away.
"Gone to wash the dishes, I suppose;
growled Grev, adding, "what an old
horror that shrieking woman must be!"
"Don, does it perchance occur to you
that there may be some jealousy in my
disposition?"
Don started and glanced around
quicklv, but meeting an arch smile, half
frowned and gnawed his mustache in a
disappointed fashion.
There would be some chance for a
fellow if you would be jealous," lie said;
and she answered merrily:
"I am rather sure of you, Don; but it
is your fault"
"Yes, I Lave been a troublesome
bore; but be not too confident, my Lady
Iris; 'it's never too late to mend.'"
And Mr. Grey looked mischievously at
his betrothed, who appeared a trifle
annoyed.
"Don't be foolish Don," she suggest
ed. "No I shall turn optimist, and
entertaininir our hand
some fellow boarders, console myself
with the smiles of the prettiest; gin
come-at-table."
"Xamely, Enid Trenton?" sail Miss
TrpTilpnnis
"She would not be half bad," was the
answer, and Iris glanced askance at her
lrtvor with rnriositv and astonishment.
They had reached the house, and met
Dr. Hamilton in tne uoorway.
"Ah, Miss Trendennis, I am just in
time. We are troinz to climb the moun
tain for a moonlight view that is "re
ported magnificent Will you not
come?"
"She assented, with a half glandeat
Grey, who whispered laugning.
"I am going to the lower regions."
Tin started for the culinary depart
ment, but found Miss Trenton in the
hall, and persuaded her to join the
climbers.
Iris found Dr. Hamilton entertaimn
the view cliarming. The conversation
turning upon their companions, Enid
Xieuaa was meouonea.
"Slio is a lovely girl," said Miss Tren
dennis, "and strangely enough she
seenis content with her position."
"Pardon me why strangely?" quer
ied Dr. Hamilton, coldly.
Miss Trendennis lifted her head
slightly.
"Have I made a mistake? Is she not
under orders?"
The gentleman seemed annoyed, and
answerea wiui some hauteur:
"Our lady proprietor lias losi her
housekeeper and Miss Trenton, who is a
distant cousin, good na urodly consent
ed to rule until the place is supplied.
The position ii a curious one. cei tainlv.
for a lovely heiress, but Miss Trenton is
tjuixouc and rather loud of her cousin.
who is helplessly ignorant of her own
business."
"And I was going to be patronizing
and give her a lift in the world!" said
Iris, laughing, a little embarraseed as
she noticed Mr. Hamilton's hauteur,
and remembered having heard of his
uevoiion to nower gardening.
She gave him a propitiatory glance,
and asked merrily:
"As a sign that you both forgive my
impertinence, may I congratulate you?"
The doctor smiled brightly, but shook
his head.
'You see there are so many competi
tors, and the last arrival, 1 fear, may
prove formidable."
"Mr. Grey?" asked Iris, much sur
prised. "Why, lie is only just intro
duced." "liut he has been looking at her for
three davs."
"Has "he, Indeed?" thought Miss
Trendennis, and was rather silent du
ring the return to the hotel.
"You see," said the doctor, as they
reached the jasmine-covered piazza anil
found Mr. Grey and Eukl talking in
friendly fashion on the steps.
Miss Trendennis smiled serenely, but
it was with an effort.
"You are rapid walkers," she said, as
she mounted the steps. .
"Miss Trenton came down the moun
tain like a chamois," tirey said, with an
admiring glance at the graceful little
figure beside him.
Miss Trendennis passed on slowly.
She remembered Grey's remarking once:
"Your step is too stately for niouutain
climbing. Iris."
"See here, ladies and gentlemen, it is
early, and the moon equal to anything.
jet us practice archery until the strag
glers of our party return."
It was Dr. Hamiton's suggestion, and
received a ready assent. Iris and Enid,
both being adepts, were well pleased.
One young lady of the party was a nov
ice, however, and her attempts at aim
ing made the spectators rather nervous.
"Ihat child will shoot someone yet."
Mrs. Trendennis predicted from the
piazza, as the novice's arrow struck
unusually far from the bull's eye.
Miss Trendennis strolled near the tar
get when the third failure was in order.
Dr. Hamilton made a stride forward,
but Grey was before him. Miss Tren
den ni j who was Tousod from her fit of
mu-iing by a strong arm lifting heraside,
and the whiz f the arrow past her head.
She shuddered and looked up, rather
pale, to thank Don, gave a cry of terror.
The arrow was fastened in his shoulder.
' On Don, Don'."
The passionate tones brought a flash
of triumph iuto Grey's face.
"Thank Heaven!" he said, and rev
erently kissed her trembling lips.
They were a little apart, and in the
shadow of some trees; but it would have
been all the same to Don, just then, if
daylight and all the world had been
looking on. Iris touched the arrow
fearfully, and lie drew it out
"A mere scratch, but it would have
hurt you," he said. Then, smiling, ''I
would not take the world for it."
Miss Trendennis diew a breath of in-t-nse
relief, and blushed a little as she
iid:
"I do not think it was that alone."
And she glanced toward Enid, adding
shyly, "Dou't do so anymore, Don."
"Xo. I am content," Don said.
At the stroke of the arrow Dr. Ham
ilton had started toward the victim, but
Enid, with wonderful sagacity, recalled
him.
"Are you crazy, doctor? Cannot you
see that it is a crisis?"
Dr. Hamilton stared, then smiled.
"The wound must Le slight, but
ought to be attended to. They can set
tle the ciisis afterward." And he start
ed again.
"Hut, doctor, it is icrfeetly in order
f r ns to be blind with terror j ust now. '
Enid insisted, speaking rapidly to detain
him. and calling attention to the rest of
the party as example, for they appeared
spell-bound with bewilderment and
fright "I heard from a mutual friend
of the long courtship, aud how the lady
finally yielded to the over-persuasionsoi
her lover and friends, aud never found
she had a heart until the crisis don't
you see?"
"1 see, saia the uoctor, wuo naa trans
ferred all his late interest in a patient to
Enid's animated face. Lookmg very
much as if it were a sudden hjppy in
spiration, he added: "If I let some one
slioot at me, will a crisis "
But Miss Trenton interrupted, laugn
ing, and blushing prettily.
"I think we may recover from our
fright now, and inquire after Mr.
Grey's hurt" And she moved demurely
toward the scratched gentleman.
The Little Boy's Gift.
1 have a true story, which is well
tpUiiHr. Last Sunday a young
clergyman from a young congregation
preached, by exchange, to a congrega-
lion WU1CU la vim - " ...mv.,
Kn.lictnrluvl ftort where the
iasiuuui-u, - "
rising generation's undoubted human
nature is auoweu tor m a ijuki fu
sible way. The visiting clergyman re
mained in the Sunday-school, and after
the exercises are about half finished he
rose to make a little speech. "I know
that vou are an enterprising Sunday
school," he said, "because I see you
have so many new books I know that
you are a happy Sunday-school, because
I see so many smiling faces around me.
Vnd 1 know that you are a generous
Sunday-school, because that little boy
over there by the long pew door of
ferred me a ianut as I came in.
The attention of the assembly was
instantly directed to the little boy, who
bean to snicker uncontrollably to him
self. "Well, what's the matter, my lit
tle man?" asked theclergyman. "You're
not sorry you offered me the peanut,
areS' "Did you th think that
was a peanut I gave you?" asked the
little boy, still snickering violently.
"Why, yi: ' uSo-o-ol
'twas only a shell!"
Modesty In your discourse will Rive
lustrV to truth, and an excuse to youi
erxac.
PARTED IV AXGElV
An Old Servant' Sad Story
Lady Blanche was my lord's only
child, and he thought all the world of
her and so did every one else; she was
like a bright fairy in the house, always
full of laugh, and always so happy, sal"!
the old steward.
The Earl of Graudon lived then in a
big house, and his nephew, Mr. Arthur
Woodville, used often to come down
there to hunt, and he'd stay for week?
together. It was not very long before 1 1
began to see that something more than
the love for hunting brought him so
often to his uncle's house, and pretty
soon other people began to think as I
did. Any one who saw Lady Iilanch
and Mr. Woodville together would havt
said that they were just made for on
another; and they thought so, too.
themselves.
Now the young gentleman, though he
was the nephew of an earl, was poor
himself, and as his uncle had plenty of
sons of his own, it was very plain that
MA rnilhl prnm-i iii-itliinrr tmm lilm Alt!
if he had ouly been rich, things might
have been so different now.
My lord was not alwavs-just-just
what he is now. He was a little wild
in mose uays, Jiiie most young noDie-i
inon ttn1 liA tA Tint wont, nia nnlv nliilil
to marrvanoor man; im 1, an.lLad
... , . . . . .
ifiancne naa same trouiiie auouL air.
Woodville.
My lord said that she should dismiss
him, and she declared she never would
and that her father was unjust. Well,
well, maybe he was, just a little. Hut,
then, my lord might have had reasons
that no one knew about. But it did
seem rather hard to part a young couple
who loved each other, just because the
gentleman was not rich. Lady Blanche
thought it was, anyhow, and so she kept
on being just as kind as ever to Mr.
Woodville.
They often ro le horseback together
and I always went, too. My lord did
not want to offeud the earl, who was
his friend, by forbidding his nephew to
come to the Grange, and so he had to
let things go as they were.
One morning Lady Blanche told me
to have her horse and mine ready, as
Mr. Woodville was coming to ride with
her. I brought the animals round to
the door, and, as Mr. Woodville had
not come yet I tied them and went into
the house". As I passed the drawing
room door I heard my lord aud Lady
Blanche talking. My lord was very
angry I coull tell that from his loud
voice and Lady Blanche was trying to
calm him.
1 went out to the front again and
waited with the horses, but even there I
could hear my lord's passionate tones.
Mr. Woodville soon rode up and Lady
Blanche came out, looking very pale
and distressed in spite of all her efforts
to look gay. My lord came out in the :
hall with her, and I heard him say, too
IVM, U1 Jll, I, vuuiuiu .u 1. V i. . .
"Xow, mark my words, Blanche; if,
wheu you come kick from this ride you
cannot tell me that you have given
Arthur Woodville his dismissal this
house will no longer be your home, lie
inember!" I dropped a good way behind them,
as 1 always did, j ust keeping within calk
I could see that tuev were talking very
earnestly, and ouca Mr. Arthur pointed
to a little chapel ju t ahead of them.
but Lady Blanche sliooK lier head. 1
misdoubt that he was asking her to
marry him then and there aud so ends
mv lord's opposition. Ahl no one will
ever know what they talked about.
They had lust pass.-d the cliapel when
a deer buret from the. woods and sprang
across the road just before them, aud
mv lady's horse a wild thing that she
ought never to have mounted became
perfectly frantic with the sudden fright.
Mie couhl not uoiu uiui iii, unu ueiore
Mr. Woodville could catch the rein he
sprang away down the road at a terrible
pace. The young gentleman, his face
as white as a sheet, dashed alter, and 1
followed full speed.
It was au awful place tor a norse to
get frightened, for not half a mile
ahead the road comes to a sudden stop
on the very brink of a cliff with the sea
roaring 2 JO feet below. We all three
of us thought of this, and my lady tried
to turn her horse, but the animal was
m id with fear and minded her no more
than a fly. Mr. oodville pushed his
own horse forward and just as the Ara
bian reached the cliff he managed to
pass it and then turned his ow n horse at
the very end or me roaa so as w com
pletely block it up.
On came the Arabian, and instead of
stepping, as we all thought he would,
he came, full speeu, right up againsi
Mr. Woodville's horse I Oh, I shudder
now, when I think of that terrible mo
ment! Lady Blanche's Arabian was a
powerful animal and the other sUigger-
ed under the shock.
The next instant I saw both horses,
with their rider, go over the cliff to
gether! How I got home to tell the tale
1 scarcely know. They never found the
U mUcs the sea swallowed them up.
I was sick nearly to death for a month
alter; and when I got about again my
lord was like another man kind and
gentle, and nearly heart-broken, just
like he is now. He has never spoken a
harsh or angry word to any one since.
He parted from Lady Blanche in anger,
aud he never forgets that, God bless
hi in!
Will, they will meet again, and then
there will be no more anger between
them nothing but love.
THE li.VKfi DWEIjTjERS.
.l:ii!iibiou-i Life which Some Indians
of Mellon Lt'ad- Peculiar For
mation of the Mexican Lakes.
looking towards the lakes one day I
caught sight or me spires oi a small
town on the margin of the water. In
quiring of a Mexican friend, he said:
"That is Chalco, lying at the head of
lake navigation, once a very notable
place. The town is now dead, or dying,
silled by the railroads. Once it was the
point of shipment of tho products of the
tierra caheute, and great quantities of
rum, sugar, grain, and tropical fruits
were transported thence to Mexico,
twenty-five miles distant, in fiat-bottomed
boats, propelled by the Indians
with long poles. There are some re
minders of the traffic yet, but a for
eigner would probably find more inter
est in the Indians, who live in a kind of
house made of reeds, and almost floating
on the water." My friend could not
have suggested an excursion more apro
pos to the mood of a person deeply
interested in the indigenous races and
their customs. In two hours t me I
hid descended from my crow's nest on
the hill to the lake and was negotiating
with the head man of the town for a
canoe and a couple of stout Indians to
take me to the pueblo of tho Lake
Dwellers.
And hero a first surprise awaited me.
The lake which I had seen glistening in
the sun from the elevated post of obser
vation nowhere appeared when I arrived
at its margin. In its place was a vast
expanse, for miles, of reed-, swaying
and drifting before the breeze. Herds
of cattle waded and w illowed in this
sea of green, feeding on the nutritious
aquatic plants and grasses, aud their
fine condition and sleek hides showed
that this amphibious life was not un
congenial to them.
A narrow waterway leads from the
town, disappearing slowly among the
reeds, and upon this we embarked in
the Indian's light chalupe. As we
passed along this canal I noticed that
the water was clear and pure, but the
bottom composed of a spongy bed of
vegetable matter. In some placei the
Indians had to get out and pull the
canoe past the long barges, laden with
wood, on their way to Mexico, an 1
which entirely monopolized the narrow
channel. Their weight would submerge
what appeared to be, a moment helore.
nrm ground. hen the loaded barge.-
I "uckf, their swarthy conductors had
i Uie ' fitting out and springing
1 up and down this vegetable mass, at the
! P and down tli
J Plnt r adhesn
point of adhesion, securing thus tvv or
three feet of water where none had hi-cn
I DGIOr.
At times there would come to my ears
SIrnfrA anil mmirnfill Oiiinil fr.on f h
" -
encircling reeu ineaiion s.
Boatmen! What sounds are those
like the moaning of persons in dis
tress?"
".Nothing, senor! Only the chatting
of fishermeu and the laughter of child
ren."
This statement turned out to be cor
rect. At intervals we caught glimpses
through the tall reeds of intricate jus
sageways, just Lirge enough for the en
try of a very small canoe. In these
canoes were women and children enga
ged in fishing and the other industries
peculiar to the lake. It was their con
versation and laughter, filtered through
the forest of reeds, that pro lured 11;
mournful sounds before alluded to.
"But what kind of li.sh do tliy
catch?" we next asked
"Mainly frogs, polly wogs, worms and
las?cts, senor!" washissurprisingreplv.
It was difficult to Udieve my ears, bnt
subsequent investigation proved this to
be the mam industry of tha Lake Dwell
ers, apart from their ieculiar agricul
ture, of w hich I shall sieak later on,
There arc three species of frog3 inhabit
ing the lake. Thev are prepared for the
table, with suitable condiments, and are
sold extensively even among the well-to
do classes, being esecially popular du-
ruig Lent as a substitute tor animal
food. The spawn of the frog, and the
Tittle animals so ridiculous and repug
nant to civilized taste, pnpu'arly called
.ollywogs, are only used among the
poor, and are served on leaves of maize.
But the insect industry surpasses by
;u-J:. lt'e;-cauuiii,; mis iies. . oLat
is a sort of water-fly, called by the In
dians axayacatl, which frequents the
lakes in prodigious nuuiliers, and which
is peddled through the streets of Mexico,
with the shrill street cry, "Flies for bird
food." As themumber of birds kept iu
private houses is very large, a single
family often possessing twenty or thirty,
the fly trade is correspondingly brisk.
The insect is about the size of a graiu of
rice, has six legs, swims on the water
with great force and rapidity, and
though it has wings has never beeu
known to use them. When caught they
are either dried or kneaded into a paste,
cooked in water with salt, and eaten
with much relish by the natives. The
eggs and larva: of this interesting crea
ture have equal valiu. The Indians
plant the stems of reeds in the shallow
parts ot the lake, about a yard apart, so
tliat the upper end shall project above
the surface. The female of the axay
actayl deposits her eggs upon these seve
ral layers deep, so that they not only
cover the reed stalk, but also hang iu
bunches from it At regular intervals
there are collected, dried on mats, and
these form the marketable products
called ahuantle. This, ground and fried
in lard with hen's eggs, makes a dish
very much like fish eggs, and Ls much
used when the precepts of religion pro
hibit flesh eating. When the larva; are
hatched and appear as little white
worms they are caught in great quanti
ties and eooked entire or ground into a
paste. This delicate dish is called puxi,
and is considered very nourishing.
As we nearel the little Indian village
of Yico, which was to be our point of
destination, the boatmen became com
municative, complaining bitterly of a
kind of floating mass of reeds and grass
called yondoleros. These floating ban'is
have a thickness ranging from half a
yard to a yard and a half, and are coai
posed of the woven roots of plants,
living and dead, the remains of the
creatures that inhabit them, the mud of
the hike bottom, and dust brought by
the wind. Solidly knit together, and of
less density than the water, they shift
from point to point with the w inds aud
currents. It is dillicult to account for
their formation; but nature works with
s-jcli skill in their construction, and
gives them such solidity that, in times
of drought, the natives transport their
cattle -to them for pasture, and the
banks sustain the weight, only yielding
and sinking under a foot a little a
would be natural.
History tarKt-t.
In 1735 English Axiuinsters were firs
made. But it was not until 1749 that a
loom was constructed which would pro
duce a Brussels carpet; and just hero is
an exceedingly interesting anecdote,
which has been handed down fr in
father to son as an inviolable truth.
During 1730 and 1735 John Broom trav
eled through Tournny and Brussels,
studying the stitch which was then
known as the Brussels stitch. In Brus
sels particularly weavers were at that
time making a carpet named after the
town the Brussels carpet Broom
studied with much earnestness the mys
tery of the manufacture, and finally
made the acquaintance in Tournay of a
weaver understanding the secret He
and his weaver immediately repaired to
England, and near Mount Skiiet, Kid
derminster, they put up the first Brus
sels loom in 1749. They operated in
absolute secrecy, but in time their mo
dus operandi was exposed. Broom and
his Belgian workman labored night and
day, and, it being well known where
their operations were conducted, some
enterprising tellow climbed to the win
dow, and night after night from his
perilous perch outside he studied the
operations of the mechanism within
until he was able to carry in his mind a
model of the Brussels loom.
Self Is the shadow that tiarKens our
lives and prevent us from being bright '
companions,
KEPORTOHIAIi CHEEK.
How a Young Pre Representative
Entertained Two Children of
Royalty.
" When the Princess Louise, accompa
nied by her brother Prince Leopold,
visited Xiagara Falls about seven years
ago, she was for the first time acquaint-
eu wun rne quality or a genuine Ameri
can reporter's cheek. Half a dozen
lackeys and a score of Canadian newspa
pcr men accompanied the distinguished
tourists from Montreal. Two Buffalo
reporters were at the Prostct House,
adjacent to the Horseshoe Falls, to meet
the visitors. One ot the Montreal re
porters, apparently the chosen leader of
the Canadian press delegation, patroniz
ingly offered to take the American
knights of the pencil nnder his wing.
He proudly affirmed that he was "solid,"
with the man who looked after royalty's
baggage. "Thank you old boy, I guess
we cau get along," said one of the Buf
falo reporters a handsome cheery and
gentlemanly lad to whose cheek the
blush of diiliJence had never come.
Wheu Iouise and Leopold drove up to
tha hotel the lackeys and the Canadian
reporters respectfully drew back and
uncovered their heads. The breezy
young American reporter advanced to
tho carriage, tipped his hat gallantly,
aud gracefully assisted the yueen's
daughter to alight.
"O, where are the falls?" the Prin
cess exclaimed with the enthusiasm of
great, but long-deferred, exiectations.
The young man from Buffalo coolly
assuming that the question was directed
to him personally, said: "The best sight
can be obtained a few rods down the
road. Allow me to show you the way."
Bowing pleasantly to Prince Leopold,
the young Buffalonian, placed himself
at the Prince's side, aud by that rare
and irresistable nerve force that forms
the basis of mouumental cheek, he iin
lelled the two children of royalty, to
trudge down the dusty road with him.
"There are the falls. What do you
think of them?" said the reporter as
they reached a commanding eminence
on the river's bank.
"Very fine said LeoiKild.
"Beautiful! Grand! Sublime!" said
the Princess, earnestly. "What a won
derful manifestation of power!"
"Yes, it is au impressive sight," re
sjiouded the reporter, with au effort to
place himself en rapport with the Prin
cess. For several minutes the trio stood
looking at the great cataract, and a few
more adjectives were uttered. The con
scienceless interviewer plied his arts
skillfully and succeeded in putting both
the Prince and Princess in very good
humor, lie supplied thein liberally
with "facts" concerning the falls, the
whirlpool, tho suension bridge and
table rock, near which they stood, and
he threw in one or two neatly-phrased
funny stories by way of seasoning.
"By the way, who are you?" said
Leopold after -l4d laughed for the
fourth or fifth time at the reporter's
drolleries.
"O, I am a reporter for tiie Buffalo
," said the young man with beani-
iug frankness.
"What! a reporter?" exclaimed the
Prince in a tone of alarm.
"But you are not a bit like other re
porters," said Louise, graciously, as her
plunce turned instinctively to the group
of Canadian reporters who were wait
ing patiently to witness the discomfiture
of the cheeky young American. "I am
very much obliged to you for vour kuid
attentions, and 1 am glad that we met
you," concluded the Princess, cordially,
meanwhile extending her hand.
"1 hank you Princess," responded the
BufTaloniau heartily, as he clasped the
proffered hand.
"And I also am obliged to you," said
Leopold somewhat stinly.
'1 hat's all right, Prince," responded
the reporter geniallv, as he bent his
steps toward the hotel.
The Capital of Bohemia.
A general view of Prague, writes a
correspondent, gives an. impression de
cidedly Oriental. Some of its church
towers seem like the mmerets of mosque.
Others have a Byzantine look. Iu no
other city of Europe are massive build
ings large enough to bo called palaces
more numerous. One of the old palaces
near the station where you arrive in
coming from Dresden has been trans
formed into a powder magazine. The
old palace of the Kings of Bohemia
close by is now a barrack. In the old
portions of the city, on the right bank.
there ls still some ot tlie strong aspect
of the Hradschiii, but common is
gradually softening it .New streets are
being made that are hlled with hand
some shops. Broader thoroughfares are
being set with trees, and there are some
well-kept larks and public gardens
The public buildings, aside from the
palaces, are not remarkable for beauty,
though there are exceptions. The City
Hall, which in the German-siiea'iiu'i
countries of Europe is called the Bat
house (ltathaus) is curious architectu
rally, and remarkable for its astronomi
cal clock, which excites the attention of
every tourist. It is a full curriculum in
the study of the service oi astronomy.
.Near by is a churct winch contains the
tomb of Tycho Brahe, the Danish
astronomer, who came here at the invi
tation of the Emperor Rudolph II.
Prague, like other European capitals,
has its Academy of Fine Arts, and Ls
well provided with charitable institu
tions. Its public monuments in the
way of fountains and statue, though not
as numerous, are in sufficient number
to shame the poverty in works of art in
the metropolis of America.
Paper Making In China.
Eighteen hundred years ago the Chi
nese made paper from fibrous matter
reduced to pulp. Now each province
makes its own peculiar variety. The
celebrated Chinese rice paper, that so
resembles woollen and silk fabrics, and
on w Inch are painted quaint birds and
flowers, is manufactured from com
pressed pith, which is cut spirally by a
keen knife into thin slices six inches
wide and twice as long. Funeral papers,
or paper imitations of earthly things
which they desire to bestow on departed
friends, are burned over their graves.
They use paier window frames, paper
sliding doors and paper visiting cards a
yard long. It is related that when a
distinguished representative of the Brit
ish government visited Pekin several
servants brough, him a huge roll, which,
when spread out on the floor proved to
be the visiting card of the emperor.
In ourselves, rather than In material
nature, lie the true source aud life of
the beautiful
PEOPLE WITH BIO STOMACH-?.
Enormous Meals That Have Been
Katen by Gormandizers.
Haydn, the great composer and equally
great consumer, liked to dine alone.
It was his custom to order dinner for
five, and then at the appointed hour to
devour the whole banquet. On one oc
casion he corrmanded the waiter, who
was not acquainted with the great musi
cian's peculiarity, to serve the dinner.
"The dinner is ready," said the wait
er" bowing, ' but monsieur, the com
pany has not yet arrived."
"Do gompany," retorted Haydn,
contemptuously, "de gompany? 1 am
de gompany."
The dinner was at once served to "de
gompany," who demolished it quite as
effectually as any ordinary company
could have done.
Another lordly feeler was a contem
porary of Haydn, the duke of Norfolk,
who would eat at a Coveut Garden tav
ern, food enough forflye persons; but he
pjssessed a more sensitive temperament
than the musician, and would never eat
five dinners in one a second time at tl.e
same hotel, not caring to encouuter
again the obvious amazement of the
waiters.
The Cure de Brequier is immortalized
by Brilliant Savariu. This revereud
gentleman would e it at a single sitting
as much food as would serve a working
man for ten days. Brillat Savarin once
saw him, in three-quarters of an hour,
sweep into his capacious stomach "a
quart of soup, a plate of lounli, a
large leg of muttou, a superb ham, a
copious salad, a pound or two of cheeve,
a prodigious quantity of bread, a bottle
or wine, another of water anl a cup of
coffee." Tlie narrator is careful to state
that the cure did not eat either the ham
bone or that of the leg of mutton.
"After this exploit," says Brillat Sava
rin, "ifse reposa.
The president of the tribunal at
Avingntn, an excellent judge of good
cheer as well as of law, was relating to
an auditor the delights of a dinner from
which he had just come. "We had a
superb turkey, tender as a chicken, fat
as a ortolan and stuffed to the beak
with truffles. We left nothing but its
bones.
"And how many were there of you?"
asked the hearer.
"Only two. There was myself and
there was the turkey."
We are told of au Englishman of
letters aud politics who ate at a solitary
dinner seven poumls and a half of solid
meat. At the shop where he performed
the feat the customers were at liberty to
eat as much as they liked for a certain
mi, but its keeper had never Lefoie
encountered a man of his ilk.
'Capital b:f," said the gourmand.
wl.en at length In appetite was satis
fied; "Here indeed a man may cut and
come again."
"You may cut, sir,' said th irate
purveyor of good cheer, "but IU be
if you shall come again!"
It was this story which gave the Bev,
Rowland Hill his irreverent simile fi r
the divine grace. "The grace cf God,"
said this earnest, but jocular preacher.
"is like a round of beef you may ci.t
and come again."
Lucullus never dined more sumptu
ously than when he dined alone, ai.d
on occasion upraided his cook for serv
ing him with a cheap repast when "Lu
cullus dined with Lucullus," the cost
of which was only about $."W0.
Among the modern extravagant epi
cures, we have the icomte ue ieil
Castle, who wagered that he could con
sume 5UU francs' worth of food and
liquor in two hours. His order consist
ed of twenty-four dozeu oysters, a soup,1
a beef-steak, a pheasant stutreu with
truffles, a salmi or ortolous, a dish of
asparagus, a plate of young peas, a pine
apple, a dish of strawberries, five bottles
of wine, coffee and liquors. He won
his wager in one hour and fortv min
utes.
Napoleon I. ate little, and that rapid
ly, as if he grudged the time. His two
favorite dishes were a breast of mutton
grilled and lentils. NajoIeon III, re
sembled his uncle in gastronomic indif
ference and sobriety, and had no care
about what he ate, while Louis XVIII,
was more interested in a menu than in
au act of Parliament
Remarkable Trout.
Dr. John D. Quackenbos, the eminent
ichthyologist, has a remarkable speci
men of trout taken from Sunapee Lake
X. II. The fish measures '25 inches iu
length, and when caught weighed seven
!ounds. The species of the fish is in
dispute, but according to Dr. Bean, the
ichthyologist of the United States Fish
Commission, who has examined several
specimens of the kind, it is identical
with the common blue back of Maine.
Several years a lot of blue tracks were
transplanted from the Uangely Iike
and other waters in Maine to Sunapee
I-ake, and the remarkable point of dif
ference now is that by transplanting
they have grown fourteen times larger
than if they had remained in their na
tive brooks. The caudal I'm of the Suna
pee trout, however, is not bifurcated
and forked like those of the Oqtiash
type, and Col. E. B. Hodge, Fish Com
missioner of Xew Hampshire, holds that
the two types are dissimilar. In sup
Krt of his claim Col. Hodge has brought
forward some of the oldest inhabitants
who declare they have caught fish like
the specimen now on exhibition years
before the blue backs were transplanted.
History a Poem.
The world's history is a divine poem,
1 I
canto, and every man is a word. Its "
strains have been pealing along down . Thehe'ghtsof different monarchs
the centuries, and though there have j is thus given: The Emperor of China
been mingled the discords of warring; i only live feet tall ; the Emperor Wil
cannon and dying men, yet to the Chris-1 liani of Germany is the tallest, being
tian philosopher and historian, the hum-! lut six feet: Prince Albert or Germany,
ble listener, there has been a divine j nephew of the Emperor, is six feet six
melody running throueh the song which
speaks of hope and lialycon days to!
come.
Xetcs of the greatest petroleum well
ever known comes from Russia. It
bursts forth, fountain-like to a height
of 224 feet, discharging oil at the rate
of 33,000 poods, or nearly 500 tons au
hour. It far surpasses the famous
Droojba fountain.
Ssobberlt "I don't think I'll go
to the theatre again for sixteen million
years. An awkward usher poured a
glass of tee water down the back of my
neck."
Charlie Knickerbocker "But what
has sixteen million years got to do with
it?"
Snobberly "In sixteen million years
Huxley savs there will not be a drop or
water on th face of the earth."
NEWS IN BRIEF.
raris recently reached a record of
300 divorces in one day.
A rich vein of iron ore has been
struck at Amity, X. J.
A death from cigarette smoking Is
recorded at Keyport, X. J.
Washington's new $2,000,000 hotel
is to be called the Windsor.
Last year 1,802 locomotives were
constructed in the United States.
People in Barter county, Kan., will
cultivate Russian sunflowers for fiel.
Cabbages are being shipped from
Redwood City oa the Pacific coast to
Chicago.
A brook troct, just dead at Lafay
ette, X. Y., was undoubtedly thirty-six
years old.
Harvard College library is reported
to contain 240,800 volumes and 2o3,000
pamphlets.
The Etruria's last trip was made
at an average speed of 19 knots, or 22
statute miles per hour,
Woodlte is a new material, said to
be non-inflimm ible, impervious to wa
ter and as elastic as rubber.
Germany has 23,000 miles of under
ground telegraph wire3 and Frauce
7,200, all in successful operation.
Japanese orange trees are being In
troduced into California. They will
give a new anl excellent variety of
fruit.
More tban 22,000,000 feet of lum
ber has been used in the construction
of snow sheds on the Xorthein Pacific
road.
Asphalt is Stated to have been dis
covered in Morgan county, Ala. It U
said to be the only large deposit in the
United States.
"Eyesology" is now chronicled as
fashion's latest Tad, and it means the
telling of character from the color of
the eyes.
At Fort Keogh, Montina, a varia
tion of ninety degrees in the tempera
ture is said to l ave occurred within
twenty-four hours.
A syndicate of Amsterdam baukers
has purchased O'JO square miles of tim
ber land in western Flor.da on which
to found a colony of Hollanders.
A new pocket camera has been In
vented. It Is enclosed in an ordinary
silver watch case and is said to do very
good work by the dry-plate process.
At an inquest held not long ago at
Batb, Eng., respecting the death of an
old lady, it was found that she had
died from the results of a wasp sting.
There are 18.000 operatives engaged
in the shirt, cuff and collar trade of
Troy, X. Y., and the amjuat of their
waees for a year amounts to searly
17,000,000.
Natural gas, it ls asserted, was
used in China lonz as:o in the mechanic
arts, being conveyed from natural wells
in bamboo pipes and consumed by the
aid of terra cotta burners.
The Jouni'il of Ojinintrce's annual
trade review for 1330 shows the value
of the productions of California for Pie
year were s202,000,000, equal to f 2A
for every man, woman and child m the
State.
A recent storm la Geneva. Italy.
damaged the telephone system there to
me extent or fc0O,Q0O, according to a
statement of the "director ot tele
phones," who ordered all the offices
temporarily closed.
The people or Sea Girt. X. J.. hay
ing teeu refused by Congress 820,000
for a light house at Siiuan Inlet, now
propose to apply for $ 100,0 X) for the
same purpose. Tcey think their former
application was too small.
Massachusetts is said by a local
naturalist to hive fifteen indigenous
species of snakes, of which only the
rattlesnake and copperhead are poison
ous. Others are ferocious and will bite,
but no ill results follow the wound.
Pall Mall Is a street in Iadon
named from the French game of pal lie
maille, formerly played there. During
the last century it contained many tav
erns. The street was iuclofed about
lt90, and was a fashionable prome
nade. Mrs. John C. Miller, of Keysville,
Mo., has a ship biscuit which, it is said,
was brought from England ia 1630,
and which has been handed down from
generation to generation. It is kept
In a glass bottle, and is as hard as
stone.
The Latin School of Boston ls an
ancient school foundation, and is the
oldest institution of the kiud in Amer
ica. It originated in 1034. Benjamin
Franklin, .sm Adams, John Hancock,
Cotton Mather and other celebrities of
early days have been pupils of this
school.
A vessel with a cargo of forty-four
ostriches arrived receutly at Galveston,
Texas. This is the second cargn with
in twelve months. The birds are for
ostrich farms in California, where this
peculiar industry is coniinar into favor.
The birds came from Xatal, South
Africa.
The first copy of the original edi
tion of "The Letters of Columbus." in
Latin, printed in 1493, the yeir after
the discovery of America, was recently
sold in Cologne for CCJ0 marks (tlOOO).
said to be the highest price ever paid
for a single book in Germany.
A new form of railway scat spring
has been devised in England and is
highly spoken of. The entire seat is
carried on a coiled spring of peculiar
form, and ls free to move in all direc
tions, bo that every jerk and oscillation
which the car can receive is perfectly
tatran n r
incnes tall; tae Emperor of Russia is
nearly six feet.
In Bavaria It Is not good form for
a lady to shake bands with a gentleman
untU she is very well acquainted with
him, and no unmarried woman is al
lowed to speak on the street to any of
her friends of the opposite sex, no mat
ter how well she may know them.
A ntw method of securing veneer to
its base consists In spreading glue or
other adhesive matter between the
veneer and the bae, passing tho two
secured i arts nnder a heated roller to
melt the glue and cause it to enter the
pores to the woo l, then finally passing
the connected base aud the veneer
under chilled rollers to harden aud set
the glue, and prevent the warping or
shrinking of the veneer consequent
In me gradual coo.ing ana drying of
the glue.
4.
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