i'StiseaSaefc,!
B.V BOHWEIEB,
IH1 O0r8TITTJTI0I-THB TJII01-AID T3X EITOlOnmrT 07 1KB LAY!,
Editor and Proprietor.
r
VOL. XU.
MIFFLINTOWN, J UN I ATA COUNTY. PEr&A.. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 3, I8S7.
NO. 32.
MewmBKZSEraHtK'u
i
ilnllll Soim.
n. I Ah, thespark
m; lady smiled va
th foam.
All,
A''.
: - I
t
.. 1 a
. r:ti home,
- t-pt tlu air,
.u.lrd liair.
:,i of forgotten meM-
. I: .la
Ih.
itest, sail-
t. ti l -r :
Ali, t!ie bearing
hair
:i tll.'V Wfllt,
itilruiut.'it,
ay
Jul
.in.l s...
r !l .'li :i
onti'.. ov.rrlow
of
rapture .'lit day's
i W.tli: li,
je-ael eyed
juu 1:1,1 no
t .1;: :
i. it ;
.em. TV,
it evt rmon,
r st rriTiT.
, u l y, .iUt.'
turui for
. Ai i tnrs, your smile.
l.oYK AND QUICKSAND.
1; tt.i.-. jt::.z t me hi Southland.
ivlx.ite. c.'.:-:xi-:".iS-I odor pervaded
ti.e.i.r x if a n: r:ad of waiting priests
i-e ! pn .ousiy laden censers
the w.danl chancel of t tit earth
fi,i !.ie sh i '. pt rl uuii'S floated
upward to invisible height, within the
v.: Ke .!.::!. wlw.se ti.tcery was in
Dcfcy cloud-, 1 : shlt-mug tu the cease
j :! .'iv ef . ..'..t from the hastening
9 i.'
I-. ,.,!.-, la the valleys, on
I.-.. .; .-, pai.timr. throbbing nature
1 1 1 -nig-n j forth all tier
trr.--'.
t.i ;..
tree:!
:, , , f 1 1 . - tas, i.f dower, of Ijaf,
, to i'.e su:i. Through the
,i::u. '.-;!. re of Ihe wood burst
cstat..- il.tu.i- the crimson flowers
.Ids
-1 j
e, the yellow jessamine,
us luiuriaiice ot bloom,
. ,n;l trees, entwined
:r.r r-tron,? iirui; huriir
:!i ath'.etic Rruce about
ey Sp.inish uios.s, creep-
! t:uli..
;:i Ira.
ti.e ii: .;
o:.s
pi:i.
. oxfr l:..t a Umber, leaving one
.:.:; "ii. iiitox'.iMtnijt trait of golden
V' el:-! t lr':;;. 1. and lvnJ!ii low to
t.'.e i: .';;:il ki-e I U.e s:uil;nii blue and
w!.:te relets hU-!i were sr-ringing up
evryv:.e;t fi.iu tt.e gr.iai. And
through t!.e silesit forest b eamed, like
u;:.c L ! r.er1, the abuiidaut spray of
He ilcl.c.itf i-r.ipt' rlowers, ad if a wed-ilU-g
Jay were i'u l.n:ul and dryads and
I:a;a.i hy u l were about to move profes
ti.i.ly, to some woodland altar arotiud
wi.xli f.iui.ri would joyously dance.
Ti.cu, li'.iwu au.on,; the low-lauds
:'..iiiitd the trumpet llower from its
retrru. of il.ii'iil!:: leaves, and the
LoLevsixkle si.' wed Us rich blossoms
to the K-ei. Aiu i:: them all, from
out of the iltep ir.eu, jnihsheil, happy
leaves ot the wreat Uiaiinoha tieen.
Like.1, m fa:r .luhets from manorial
iM ea.e:.tJ, the jjre.it white Mowers
tie Tiee-.i tloweis of the southern
w 'oiU, showing their goldeu LearU to
Lf.ive:i. the 3uu, tl.o eartli.
Tl.rre w.is a party or merry-makers
down .oi. the opulence of sprin
t:rns i. ,:y. They had come from
ue.il.! r plautatious on horseback
carrM.'es to a royal resting place
;:fc;u v.- forest, where a spriui of
crvul waui bubbled up from creamy
sand a:..l d ivved mu.iicithy to the almosl
dry U.l of
treat byou, strewn with
"" lei
t.-'itu l;.e
hncd the
It w t
wer- Ce.e
t!dde:i t
Vs.n.d i'.eckedwilh shadows
irt t-s i'.n.l cane-brakes which
i.irs at Intervals,
a birthday anulversary they
talh:. het.e Chenard hal
e v.cmaie folk to a revel
.tu tl." reveling ilowers of spring
tliue, Ai d to remember that she wad
e'iMi'i ::. Liven her sedate father,
Ma;or C'.ieuaiJ, was taken with the
Uoi;:i ,1 a frolic, and omitted his cus
tomary u.in iiii.g ride about h:s planta
tlo:i Ui io h:s fair i!au-hter honor. So
the Lt: C Uier.-i were released from
ork that day and the house servants
erei'..ikeu al.ii. to help, aud thus it
hanei.nl t'.at tiiere was a sound of
m.rtli ai. 1 niiisic under old trve?, and
'! t:a !!.;- uipacy as you could tind
Ui.dtT the -1. !!.!;; suit. The fires roared
where the self-imtx rt".t nesro cooki
were d. ftly preparing dinner; the old
ladies j.it co'.ulottabiy ou improvised
'', d:.-eii-s;r.g neighboring and house
L ihl aiT.i.rs and matrimonial prospects
ot thesis. Klsewbere the negro tid
dlers Tom and .l ike, industriously
plieI their bows on the crepitant string
of the vi. Ur.s. Jate caile-l out the ng
uies in a penetrating voice to the young
aim !.d maidens as they movevl rapidly
1:J K-a el i ly amid occasional peals of
nieny la .-l.ter iu the everchanging
dance.
:'.::!.' on a rustic throne, crowned
w.th C own, was Irene, the picture or
waili-u'.y beauty, surrounded by u
crowd i,f fr.rndH who paid homage to
the Ta.r ipieen of the day. Her slater
ta:i:;y was li.cre, tO.J. She was the
a.ri-V. of them all.
" . ko j :.-.-jj,, ,-10 to purer tiiau
ok oil Uisi.l, like the .li'ilil
1 11 1
'1:.
TUn
in the i
ll.ei were two men stanJ:ii.
;rollL) one. Ila.-rv :innl ;
; J--Jrl "! tei-!ilporiiii town, wiio
:, uaa ridden tilteen miles, not so mu. I
f X Col Sii',-u:.re Mm Ireue as to aer
ber s.jter fanny. For since the gre.i
party at liberal Thornton's, a yeai
: hefoie. he ..1 ( l .... ...!.. . ...
" 'u.y a man who rtally loves for tin
4 erst t.u.e and is t.ot upset and demeute.l
j over ""I' I tty womsn, can love. A
! ,7 C Jo1 !l,lJ uiuturetl judgment
J , llitty tanwood, an iudustrious
j i.iw,.rt of Tl.ry mix!erlt(; me;lns UIlll
! if';'- ,lkn,t t'touiliing ability. He was
not Un.U.nie; was, m fact, to the
! casual observer, decidedly plain m ap
1 rice; but peoj.'.e who Pjoked into
i,f ff,''i: owii eyes and marked tin
' ''it'tice they communicated to l.l
i , ,'uSih'ed him in conversation.
i
i
n . ? LlIU P"3itive!y good looking
ut he w as poor.
The other man who stood there ha.'
" v.8 aunv Hieuard
also, lien
""-1 -Mchols owed
a fine plantatio.
tud.sniue; bad
- . a uiaus.on
lie was rich ati t
ok he was e;csy aU(1 srilcef ul n hi.
awiim and dress; was charming i.
hVl!Ul 'l,1 tnu-1,,J much. II
rtti'ily Vf m"'"I"l'zing talk an.
l l"m'lf- al teast. He
Am de Ul' Lla tuu, arter con
tt rounds, that of all the' girta wuL
i
a radius of twenty miles, which vai the
scope of hia quest, Fanuy Chenard was
the only one who could properly be
regarded by him as the possible future
mistress or ilidhurst, his elegant coun
try home. Like many other men. he
mistook his admiration of her physical
beauty and bis conception of Fanny's
availability as the central ornament of
his home for love. The fact Is, he
sought her a he would an exquisite
copy of an edition tie hue of somu valu
able book for his library. He had about
made up his mind to marry her, although
he had sient some days trying to deter
mine whether Irene would not do as
well. He had, of course, viewed with
no little disturbance tho occasional
visits of Stanwooi to l.'oncsrd Place.
At the Alderson's partv, a few nights
before, he had wa ked the long gallery
witli Fanny in the vvitcheiy or mo.ni
lignt, and had vehemently as-scverated
his love aud had trmly believed that
she wasjeonquered, although she with
drew her hand quickly from his and
said: "Not yell" with some emotion.
This day, he believed, would crown his
heroic latiors Jwith success, and he only
sought an opportunity to renew his
suit.
Stanwood had allowed himself little
ho;, but cultivated much determina
tion, lie hal found a very pleasure
able reciprocity ot tastes and opinion
In his acquaintance with Fanny. Their
differences were few aud rather pleas
urably variant than hostilely so. He
had simply lieen in her presence what
he really was. He had nothing to con
ceal; his menuousnesi pleased her.
And it did more. She felt an Inde
scribable pleasure in his presence,
feebly sought; but she did not press the
quest; she had an instinctive dread or
doing so. Then thare was lieu wick
Xichols, too. She liked him because
lie amused her. She could not couceive
of his really loving her or any other
woman; but yet he seemed as earnest
as he possibly could be. Sometimes
she thought he really fancied her sister
Irene careless, unsentimental Irene,
who never could make a reiig.on of
love, but was content with attentions
and would never break ber heart over
anybody. The sisters d.flVre.l radi
cally; that wai the reon Fanny had
said "Not yet." when lienwicK leaned
over her hand ou that moonlit gallery,
half believing that the conquest was
e.Lsy.
There was a hilarious time at the
dinner, which was taken ul rt'sco aud
in all kinds of attitudes; but it was lise
all such woodland dinners, and leaving
the elders chatting under the trees and
the tiddlers drawing the dancers mer
rily to the changing ligures again, we
will follow two ot tiie guests down the
path to the spring and out on the sands
of the bayou. They were Uenwick
Nichols and Fanny Chenard. Harry
Stanwood was dancing with Irene
under the trees, Fanny looked back to
the gay dancers and saw him there.
The afternoon shadows slanted across
the bayou as Fanny and her companion
walked down to the ribbed bed of
smiil, otoppiug ooedi!mll to gather
dowers which gleamed from the banks
or to gather gay pebbles from beneath
their feet, almost in child fashion.
There was a delicious lanzour in the
a:r, which was laden with perruma of
the great maguolia blossoms In the
woods above, and the two went along
In the alluring way, reach after reach,
wooed by fresh attractions as they
turned each bend.
"foa said to me the other night,"
remarked Uenwick, as he carelejwly bit
off the end of a cigar, 'not yet,1 did you
meau that to-day was to be the limit of
'not yet? Tell me. Miss Fanny."
"You seem to be very comfortable,
Mr. Nichols, with a fate hanging over
your head."
"But you have not answered my
qunsUon."
"I have not."
"Will you answer It?"
"Answer what?"
"Oh, you know!"
"I remember that night you talked
about loving me, and you said a good
many things I am sure you did not
meau."
"Will you not answer my question?"
saiJ Mr. Nichols, with some impa
tience. "What if I say 'not yet,' again?"
"Miss Chenard U capricious!"
"Fot at all!'
"1 tell you. Miss I anny, that 1 love
you aud would give my life for you?;
Indeed I would. I am lonely at Mid-
loirt. and "
"Is it because you are lonely at Mld
hurst that you want me?"
"No, don't be cruel" and Mr.
Nichols bit his li; and switched the
sand off of bis pretty little foot with
h s riding whip. He was impatient,
and showed it.
Fanny smiled.
They walked along In silence for
some time, when her companion said:
"I believe it Is goiug to rain."
There was a sudden stillness in the
air and a grayish mist was creeping
over tho sky; the shadows grew deeper
m the biyou and the greenery seemed
mourning for the withdrawn sui.
"We had better go back." sail
Fanny. ... , .
J ust as she said this she felt her foot
iu to bo insecure. A few steps more
a id she felt herself eiukmg into the
sand, as it drawn by soma invisible
' "Oh, Mr. Nichols, the quicksand!"
It was a cry of terror. There dashed
-r.w Kaunv's mind all the southern
lo.klore she had heard about the mys
teries of quicksand, sna rememoerej
icr old '-mammy s" story of her chilu
ho had leu drawn down into treach--lous
aud hungry sands which em
it iik a devil tish and crushed
. nf r,r it Sh struzzled to dis-
,Ur;r: threw her arms wiiJiy
.itiinr a.nii thltuer: sue was
" ..... . . I ,- ninl'lnT -f
ii:it aha was certain.
The vision of the bright spring morn-
. . . . : il ....ara ami mvrhlll
our ana tne aiuuuu u j t j
dewdrops glittering in the joyous sun;
the merry throng iu the woods; Irene
'au"hlng In luuoiescenL icuuuuvj ,
ill this passed before her like a beauti
ful dream. . , . .
Uenwick Nichels had, at first, laughed
ind extended his hand, thinking lightly
.i ll h.nl heard Cirls shriek
A-hen treading upon toads or when get-
ing their leet wet. -.is
hand with a desperation Uia.
. -ichtened him. He took her by both
er arms and essayed to draw ner t
irmer ground; but it was useless; la.
lnvnminir insecurt
hey stood on a bed of the most tread -rnus
and relentless quicksand, m-
r.fi .-.n.ahnft feet were goin
iown. but be threw himself out on tht
... tiQimr his full strength.
puUed on the beautiful orm Uich
ras apparently uisaoiicaiuis. -f
in u. nv situation before
.. n ti her waist in Bof
oozy staff and his strength was not
sufficient to keep her from sinking.
He could swim; he was an expert In
that art; but nobody could swim in the
sand. Given a pond aud young la3y
Tallin Into it. and he would have
plunged la the water with his boots ou
and drawn her out, without thinking
anything of the occurrence. But here
they were, two miles from the picnic
ground in a place where it was not
likely any help could reach them, with
the raindrops already beginning to fall
and the consciousness that in an hour
or two the bed of the bayou might be
filled with the roaring, dashing torrent
of tawny water.
He lay on his breast with both arms
extended, hallooing with all Ids might,
holding to Fanny's wrists with the
grip of a vice. A ;eal of thunder
reverberated through the woods and the
lightning diffused unearthly luminous
uess about the bayou.
"Let me go," cried Fanny, "and get
some rails. I have heard that Is the
only way to save people. I'ut them all
about me like a platform."
"For God's sake II ss Fanuy; don't
let goof iuv band! How can 1 leave
you in this terrible place for an instant?
No, I shall not leave you."
"But you must get the rails," said
the beautiful cirl, "or 1 am lost."
She was calm for one in her situa
tion. She had heard that one way of
extrication was by flinging the body
from side to side; but this action had
only accelerated lier descent.
"Mr. Nichols, I command you to get
rails, branches of trees, anything to
put under my arms! Do you want to
see me disappear? Something must be
done and at once." And Fanny began
to sob.
Nichols was the mjst perplexed man
in t:ie world. During the whole terri
ble t;mi he could not help sayiug to
hita elf. If 1 can only get her out,
what a triumph it would be! She must
love mo then." But he did not get her
out and he could not. His attitude
was painful, grotesque. The sand was
yielding to the pressure or his elbows
as he traced himself up to hold his fair
companion. He felt that he must
shift his position, or he would be sucked
down head foremost, down, down, even
to Miss Chenard's feet, la the relent
less sand, leather than both perish, it
was better to make an effort to get the
rails; but where aould rails be found in
that wild vicinity? "
"Do you think you can keep up while
I run to the woods and get branches
aud rails ?
"Go at once," cried Fanny. "You
must do something. We are both going
down!"
Uenwick Nichols, with a superhuman
wrench, succeeded in gutting ou iiriner
ground, aad sprang to the precipitous
bank of the bayou. There was a dense
cauebrake tltere. He took out his
knire aud began cutting wi!d'y at the
slender canes.
"They won't do," moaned Fanny,
from her sandy grave.
It began to rain iu torrents. Nichols
was almost bcslue himself.
"Oh. my God!" mm"" -. r -
Heuwlck shouted a despairing shout.
He tried to fling himself into the cane
biaku to get up the bauk. He ran
wildly alonii the edge to find an opsn
iri. Fanny was still sinking, sinking.
"My God, Stanwood, is this you?"
cried Uenwick Nichols, as with clothe3
torn to shreds, dripping with water,
covered with sand, his face scratched
with briars, he emerged from the cane
brake at the top of the bayou, and met
Stanwood aud Irene running, pauting
to the fatal spot.
-'Where is Fanny, oh, Mr. Nichols,
where Is Fanny?" cried Irene, who,
after her hasty trip through the woods
In the rain, looked like a drenched
angel strayed out of paradise.
"Down there in the qulckstand!"
cried Nichols, as he seized Stanwood
by the arm, and they all three rushed
into the tortuous passage made by
Nichols In his painful ascent. Stan
wood, without a word, ani with com
pressed lips broke through every obsta
cle, and was in a moment on the sand
as near to Fanny as he could get. He
took in the situation at a glance. His
sharp eye detected in the fading light
soma old driftwood lodged on the side
of the bayou. They were heavy limbs
of trees and logs, half buried In the
canes.
"Come!" he shouted to Nichols, in a
Grni tone, as he cautioned the shrieking
Irene against going In tho vicinity ol
her sister.
Be ratient. Mis tanny. and it w.ll
be all right," he said, as he aud Nichols
rolled the large trunk of a fallen tree
towards her. Quickly aud silently
Stanwood placed brush and timber on
each side of the partly buried fiirl. until
platform of considerable height had
been raised. Then he anu icuois
stepped upon It. anl taking Fanny-
under her shoulders, woraiuz uer uacn-
ward ani forward as one would a
stake, and the girl soon found herseir
gradually dr own from out her horrible
rison. In hail an uour, anu just m
the timber supports they baa erectea
were disappearing, they drew auny
out and bore her exuaustea, almost
fainting, to the woods above, Irene fol
lowing, wringing her hands and crying:
"Oh. she's deal! She's dead!"
"There's nothing to do save to carry
her to the picnic ground,' aaid suiu-
wood. "They've all gone home, or
course, forgettiug us, in their hurry to
avoid the rain."
-I can walk," said t anny. reemy.
She looked like a rumea v enus ai
Med'.cl, and very evidently neeuea res
toration. Irene hung about her neck
weeping for very joy. Uenwick Nichols
thought they had belter move on. So
Stanwood supported Fanuy on his arm
aud Nichols took charge ot Irene, and
the wet and bedraggled procession
began a forward movement ior reuai.
It was a ara ana raining m wucua,
and neither or tne geuuemea nu a
compass or knew the bearings, aney
Toped along, however, anu mere was
a prodigious amount of talking in whis
pered tones; talking which was engen
dered by the rather romantic surround
.ng3 and the events of the day, and
talking which was almost as pleasing
to them as if they were in party dress
and promenading brilliant parlors or
moonlit galleries and garden walks.
"Fanny, my child, thank God you
ere not by yourself! That is the
most dangerous place on Sandy bayou.
God bless yon, genUeman, for saving
uy precious child!"
Both gentlemen remained at Concord
that niuht and the next day.
The major discussed quicksand at the
ate breakrast lame anu ioiu uuw uo
,.;,.if hmi once been caueht on horse-
of those desperately bad
places; and when he had kissed his
daughter and mounted his horse to take
um m..rninir ride over the plantation.
a winked and said: "Don't get into
any quicksands to-day, girls!"
The jealou sun had thrown aside the
shroud of rain which night had placed
over the blossoming earth, and the
hours moved processionally along, ban
nered in green and blue aud gold; the
birds in orchestra unity and diversity
diffusing overtures and symphonies,
and from far off In the woodland came
the sweet, low cooing of the mauve
breasted doves.
Stanwood walked the gallery with
Fanny, ltenwlck Nichols was In the
garden with Irene. This disposition of
individuals was after all natural. Irene
might have been heard by a stray
dove, saying softly, under her auroral
blushes:
"I'm not a bit sorry that Fanny got
into the quicksand!"
And Kenwick Nichols who had his
hand around her waist, smiled as he
felt the quickened throbbings of her
pulte.
In the gallery, Stanwood looked into
Uio depths of a pair of lustrous eyes,
and pressed both her hands in his, a3
he smiled and gleaned his Lead down
to hear Fanny say:
"I'm almost glad that I sank In that
dreadful quicksand. I thought I loved
you; now I know 1 do."
Then, like a soft, sweet echo, floated
from the woodland the morning sym
phony of a thousand birds.
Kisli an Kood.
Fish has always, within historical
times, been an important article or diet.
In some parts of the world it is the
staple article of food. The huge shell
heaps is Europe and America the re
mains of tribal feasts in periods long
anterior to written records how how
greatly shell-asli entered into the diet
of aboriginal races.
Fish is cheap. It furnishes to most
people an agreeable change with meat.
Salted and dried, it Is in season at any
time of the year, and can be exported
to regions where fres'a uh is unknown,
or rare.
It is held by some authorities that It
contains elements of s;ieclal valus as
fix)d for the brain, nerve i and bones.
But, in the matttrof diet, we need to
plan for weak stomachs. There is a
difference of digestibility in fish. Some
contain a large proportion of oil, and
are therefore cf more value to such ai
can digest them. Others are compar
atively free from olL There is much
difference also In the muscular fibre of
fish, which In some is short and tender.
Salt fish is more dildljult of digestion
than fresh.
The manner or cooking lisli make3 a
difference la digestibility. Fish fried
in butter is t asier of digestion than fish
f r ed Inordinary fat; boiled it is still
easier, and steamed it is easier stilL
It is a common belief that fish Is a
very good dish for the sick, when con
valescing. But a writer hits found
cases frequently occurring in his prac
tice In which a dish of It hal been fol
lowed by dangerous and even fatal re
lapses, and he had become accustomed
to restrain its use. He afterwaitU.
however, concluded U)
,i'tt .o t,. .j.'il itr.
Ho says:
For this hint I am indebted to tin.
iutell'gence of a patient. I had, as
usual, forbidden fish, and explained my
reasons. I was told that tish steamed,
as was dene in that house, was len
der, and never disagreed with the pa
tient, but was partaken ot with relish
aud benefit. I got a steamer for my
self, have since recommended this plan
ot cookery to my pitient. and have had
satisfactory results. Dieting is the
hair, and sometimes the best hair, or
medical treatment; and perhaps, a lit
tle to my chagrin, I tind that this sys
tem of preparing fish has been especi
ally recommended by various schools of
cookery.
Charanlnir Toi for Hoys.
One of the p'.easal.teit cbi'.dicu's
pUythlngs that we have rce:: for some
time Is called "the young protector
pistol," a plaything, moieover, which
"can be carried iu the waistcoat
pocket." l'arents will be gratified to
learn that in this pretty toy a iellet
may '"be driven cleau through a half
inch board" at a distance of twenty
feet. Scientific papas aud mammas
may find pleasure in calculating how
far a pellet that would go "clean
through a half-inch board" might ier
meate their own Interiors. That this
valuable addition can be made to the
already rich treasures ot a school-boy's
pocket for tho low price or 7i. 61. (by
pjst, 7s. DJ.) is a matter for agreeable
reflection. The weapon, in our opin
ion, would bo tare, provided one could
be sure that a boy would endeavor to
take aim at once with it, but if he were
l try to hit 6o:na other object we
would not guarantee that an accident
might not happen. It is pleasant to
read that "several thousiuds" of the
'young protector pistol" have already
been sold, aud so creat has been its
success that its makers have been "In
duced" t bring out another pistol, cost
ing Is. more, which will "fire a ball
sixty feet with the greatest accuracy."
This beautiful instrument is only four
inches long, and might ba mistaken by
the uninitiated for a Derringer. It is
a comfort to think that every other boy
one meets may have one of these
weapons in his pocket. But the nicest
of all playthings for children that has
come under our notice is a "powerf ul
six-chamber revolver." which can ba
obtained at a certain toy shop for 8s.
Cd. Like the other pistols that we
have noticed, it has the advantage ot
being without any guard for the trigger.
A papa wun a revolver is not in
variably a very safe person, but a boy.
of course, always is. Children whose
parents object to their using urearms
may console themselves Dy ouying at a
well-known toy shop a sword-cane hav
ing "all the appearance of an ordinary
walking-stick, the sword being inside
the stick," for Is. 0 1. By the way, we
wonder if there is any shop now where
birch rods are sold.
How to Detect the 1'iescuce of Scwcr
(flU.
"Is there any test by winch the pres
ence of sewer gas may ba determined?"
was asked ot a health inspector. "It
is certainly a very Insidious poison,
he replied, ''and generally one lias to
rely upon the sense of smell, but this,
as a general thing, is not acute enough
to make a certain test. The only me
chanical test I know of is made by sat
urating unglazed paper with a solution
of an ounce of pure lead acetate in a
half pint of rain water. When it is
partly dry expose it where sewer gas is
expected, and if there is gas in any
considerable quantity the fact is made
known by the dark hue that comes
over the paper, a tiny bit of pure air
coming steadily into an apartment ren
ders sewer gas comparatively harmless.
It beats all of the sanitary plumbing that
usually makes one house so fitted up a
vent toi the sewer of the vicinity.
RUSSIAN COUItTSIIII.
row the rteantiful Klavonlo Girls ara
Wooed anil Wnti.
. I will tell you a story of 'ovemaking
I Russia, of which I will endeavor to
' caw a pen picture and show my Ameri
tu readers that tna young men and
i laidens of my country are iu no wise
Afferent from those of other and more
vored climes. They are, perhaps, a
Itle more demonstrative, le?s given to
fincealing tbe feelings of the heart,
id less inclined to regard money as a
ecessary consideration in tbe ftettle
ient of heart affairs. When a Russian
!rl loves, it Is wUh her whole heart;
ix love surmounts all obstacles. 1
peak from experience.
; It is the custom of the Russian young
ilks to meet together by appointment
1 the long, stormy winter evenings,
fleeting the house of each one in tarn.
Eoya aud girls come gayly dressed In
iliday attire, tbe latter carrying their
as and linen thread, which they are
opposed to convert Into the much
rized linen. These pretty young
I'ases pass the hours in Idle gossip
ntd the time approaches for the ar
Ival of the sterner sex, when each one
'es to her loom and begins to work
lost earnestly, by which meant they
frek to impress on Uio minds of their
!vers their capabilities for becoming
ood wives and bousekeei-ers; but this
kigned Industry does not last long, for
when the male members have entered
Vie work is suspended, and pleasure
Segms by the young men Inviting their
feir friends to join them in forming a
drcle. This done, they all join in
4nging. after which one of the girls
fleets her young gentleman (mol miloi)
aay love, as she calU him, aud leads
tpm in the middle of the circle, then
walks back and forth chanting a love
sbng, in which the ret of the guests
iln. In the song usually Delected she
trlds of the beauty of the lover she has
cftiosen, how much she loves him, bow
me would leave boms and parents,
tirothers, sisters and friends, and follow
u)in the wide world over. As the song
runs she would follow him across the
ven oceans, or over seven high moun
tains, and rest under their shadow,
Where she could enjoy hir happiness
undisturbed.
So in turn each girl selects mol mllol
aodleads him into the circle, when the
same love chanting is repeated until
all the girls have in ado their choice.
Next In tarn come the young men,
who each select a partner and go
through the same performance, the
bole affair terminating with dancing.
At the conclusion of this dance each
?oung peasant escorts the object of his
choice to her home. At these gather
ings they are as free as birds of the air,
And take for their mate whomsoever
they will, without "any regard to a third
party. When the time arrives when a
formal declaration is made, the youth,
.iccompanlel by some member or mem
irs of his family, who are supposed to
.- mvtri,,Lly iu obtaining the parents
'jOtistnt, proceeds to tho home of his
love ana there makes known his
Mies co the father and daughter.
The mother, not at all surprised.
usually reads the yautijr maa lung
ltctuie on the duties and burdens of
married life, bewailing ail the ills and
speaking of few of the blessings, and
ends by declaring her daughter too
young to marry yet, too young to be
given over to tho cruel tyranny of an
exacting husband. She prefers to see
her as free aud happy as the birds of
her native woods. All this Is but a
custom which niii?t ba observed, so
fearful are they that the young man
might suppose his bride toj easily won.
The suitor, further to conciliate the
mother, now begins to lavish all kinds
of presents on her, according to his
means, at the same time telling her
how much he loves Iter daughter aud
how happy he will make her darling.
A glowing description or how bright
he will make her future life follows.
To his vivid imagination everything is
rainbow-hud, and iu a lan u ago so
;otftical as the ltusslan It is grand and
impressive to hear this suitor for the
daughter's hand pour forth bis torrent
of eloquent words.
The mother listens attentively to the
burning, soul-stirnug language, ap
parently welching in deep thought all
he says, looking occasionally at the
presents presented to her, which. I
much fear, are the key's which unlock
the door of her heart. She finally gives
a rather unwilling assent, with the
proviso if the father is willing. This
is a needless precaution on her part.
tor, as a rule, the father u only too
wil.ing to ease himself of the burden or
a daughter's support.
But you will naturally ask where tbe
poor victim is all this time. Why, in !
the next room of course-, where every
word uttered by her lover falls like
sweet music on her ears. She under
stands her mother's tactics, and yet it
must be with trembling heart that she
awaits the sealing of her fate. All
preliminaries arrauacd between mother
and lover, the daughter is called into
the room to receive the parental bles
sing, instead of which she kneels to her
mother, praying not to bo taken from
her. She describes the beauties of her
virgin life aud declares she has no
wish to change it, prefers her freedom
to all else, and begs that her mother
will not make for her the bated red
petticoat, which constitutes the princi
pal portion of the wardrobe of every
peasant bride. The daughter pleads,
the mother caresses and seeks to per
suade her to accept the lover to whom
but a short time before she refused to
eive her. The mother, while gently
stroking the glossy hair of her child,
tries to persuade her that after all a
virgin life is not the most desirable;
that God has placed her iu this world
with a mission which she must seek to
fulfill; that she cannot always remain
at her mother's side; she must go out
from the parental roof and inaiQ a
home for herself. AU tl.es& things and
many more are said in vindication of
the life apparently forced upon her.
The mother concludes by repeating to
the daughter all the lover has told her
of his brizht hopes tor the mture, ana
the sacrifices he is willing to make for
her happiness. The daughter finally
yields under such persuasive words.
and who would not unless It were a
heart ot adamant?
The young people th?n kneel to re
ceive the parental blessing, which is
given with a creat deal ot ceremony,
Then the priest 13 called upon to be
stow his blessing, which is very beau
tiful and impressive. At its conclu
sion he places a ring on the hand of
each. This ceremony is called od
seechiny and is considered even more
sacred than marriage itself. The par
ents ot the engaged girl arrange long
tables, on which they place the sain
over and summon the neighbors to
share in their rejoicing. Tiie girl pre
pares tea, the first cup ot which she
hands to her accepted lover, then to
her father and mother, and lastly to
each of the guests. This duty per
formed, she appears to lose all bashful
nes3, and she who but a short time be
fore bewailed her fate so loudly now
accepts and even glories In tbe choice
she has made.
To the world the Is oblivious and
thinks of none bat her lover, upon
whom she lavishes all the love of her
young heart, showing by every endear
ing term aud caress how great Is her
worship for her hero. This change In
the girl's manner Is not noticed by par
ent or guests, who continue their tea
drinking and gossipping. These en
gagement ceremonies are possessed of a
weird and impressive grandeur, which
no pen can describe in their realistic
beaaty. The pretty bit of hypocrisy
practiced both by mother and daugh
ter the one unwilling to give up her
child, the other to leave ber homo is a
custom handed down from generation
to generation, and though Insincere, is
full of beauty and pathos. Tbe custom
is purely Slavonic and is accepted only
by merchants and peasants. The cus
toms of the nobility are entirely differ
ent from those adopted by the middle
and lower classes. Now that the en
gagement has been entered into we will
follow our young people through its
devious windings. They are now free
to make their own arrangements in re
gard to the marriage, when and where
it shall take place aud who will be the
guests. They vssit and receive Mends
and are considered almost the same as
married.
FAMOUS SONGS.
Who Their Authors Were, And What
TUey lteorived For Them.
Foster got fifteen thousaud dollars
for writing "Old Folks at Home."
Charles Dibdln netted several weeks'
board for writing "l'oor Jack," while
his publishers made twenty-five thou
sand dollars out ot it.
Robert Treat Fayne wrote "Ye Sons
of Columbia" early in 1S0U, under the
title of "Adams and Liberty," and
was paid seven hundred and fifty dol
lars for it.
America" was written by the Be v.
Samuel Francis Smith in 1332, and it
was first sung In Boston on the Fourth
ot July in that year.
"Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,"
was written by Thomas a'Becket, an
Ingush actor who in 1S79 was a
teacher of music at Philadelphia.
The tune of "John Brown's Body"
Is ot Methodist camn-meetlnz orlein.
It was adapted to Us present use by an
organist in Harvard Church in 1301.
Crousb, the writer ot "Jh-atuleen
Mavourneen," received twenty-five
dollars for the production, and after
ward became a begging tramp, while
his publisher could have built a brown
stone front out of its sales.
"The Star-Spangled Banner" was
written by Francis Scott Key while
watching tiia bombardment of Fort
McIIenry In The song wa prin
ted eight days after the battle under
the title of "The Defence of Fort Mc
IIenry." George 1. Morris wrote "Woodman,
Spare that Tree," because the pur
chaser of a friend's estate wanted to
cut down a tree which his grandfather
hal planted. His friend paid the pur
chaser ten dollars to spare it. Morris
was so touched by the story that he
wrote the song.
John Howard l'ayue's "Home, Sweet
Home" was written for an opera. It
was first sung in the Coveut Garden
Theatre, at Loudon, aud made iMg
hit. One hundred thousaud copies
were sold the first year, and by the end
ot the second its publishers had
cleared ten thousand dollars from it.
The author of "Maryland, my Mary
land," lives at Washington. His name
is James It. Uandall, aud he is a modest-looking,
dark-camplezicned man of
forty. He was very young when he
wrote that beautiful poetn. His ideas
aie broader now.
"Hail, Columbia!" was written by
Jos. Ilopkinson in the summer of 17M,
and was first called the 'President's
March." It was always sung when
Washington came into the theatre, and
o:.e of the objects of its writing was the
cultivation of a patriotic spirit among
the people of the new republic.
Dress iu America.
There are no women In tlat world,
in my opinion, who knows s much
about dress and who dress as hand
somely as the American women. An
American woman knows how to dress
for every occasion, and she dresses in
better taste than any other woman in
the world. She is sensible enough to
kuow that irood clothes make one feel
easy in company and help very much
in the social world.
Wa will give to tha French the credit
of originating designs. We may say
that they were boru and raised to that.
Thev have tho time to do it. which
in America we have not. Moreover,
the goods are all manufactured there,
and have that advantage over us. Ihe
moment that you see a piece of goods
you get an idea or making it up in
some particular way. Most of the
manufacturers of goods will rurniui
the trimmings free to a dress-maker in
order to cet a customer to introduce
the trimmings or the lace. Tnerefore,
they can afford to spend their time ou
the work. Sometimes they produce a
wonderfully Rood thing, and It is re
markable how they produce it. But I
do not think that Parisians deserve so
much credit. If we bad the advant
age of setting the first cut from the
fabric as it comes oil the loom, ana u
we had the years in the past that they
have had to progress in this matter,
we should do as well as they do. hen
our country becomes older we shall be
as noted as France iu this respect; we
shall not only originate the styles but
produce the goods.
Persian A'Ulijuities iu l'arls.
It has beeu found necessary to close
the gallery of antiquities which have
been lately broujht to Paris from the
excavations among the ruins of Susa
the old capital of the Persian kings.
Ttie atmospheric infiuences were rap
idly destroying the beautiful terra
cotta objects, which had existed uuin
jured since the times of Darius and
Artaxerxes, some 2,300 yeaisago. The
wonderful enamel was blistering and
cracking. After some consideration
among ihe experts it has been agreed
to try a remedy that has been found
efficacious in similar cases. The en
daneered objects will be thoroughly
smeared with pure spermaceti aud
then rebaked at a temperature of
degrees centigrade. The spermaceti
will penetrate Into the enamel, and
fine transparent glazs will be formed
that will defy the infiuences ot the
weather.
Till: LATEST IN CANKS.
A Ilrooklyn Dealer's Chat About tho
Woods Now In Use.
"The very latest thins In canes is
the hazel stick,' said a Fulton street
shopkeeper. "It resembles a miniature
tree. Is big at the end and has a Large
body. Here Is one. You see that the
wood is finely grained and that the
bark is geuuine. These sticks cost
seventy-five cents and one dollar, aud
are much affected by impecunious
young men who ape the New York
dudes. Canes are cut in the rough
and brought to the city in carloads.
In some mountainous districts many ot
the inhabitants do nothing else but cut
and ship eanewood. Iu one factory
In New York, over ten thousand canes
are turned out dally. They are hewed
and turned wholly by machinery. Ex
pert cane-makers can earn big wages."
"What are tbe principal woods now
in use?"
"Florida oak, English hazel, dog
wood, thorn, boxwood, apple, mulberry,
diamond willow, orange, yucca, red,
gum, cedar, chestnut, hickory, pear,
HgnumviUe and bog oak. The last
named wood comes from Ireland and
make a most handsome stick. The
natives are quite clever at Tcarving.
They ornameut the canes with sham
rocks, harps and thistles, while on some
castles in which the Blarney Stone Is
said to be locked up are carved. Here
is a perfect bog oak. You can see that
while the carving is rough it is well
executed. The fine lines show the
best. The work is all done by liand,
and to carve a stick as well as this
must be the work of many days. Bog
oak is found iu the bogs of Ireland.
The older the wood the better stick it
makes. I shouldn't wonder but that
the wood of which this titlck is made
has lain in the water for a hundred
years. No, gold-headed canes are now
not considered fashionable They are
affected by elderly men. Silver-headed
canes will be worn as long as tho dude
continues to exist. 1 heard the other
day that a fashionable young tnuu, a
resident of Brooklyn, was poisoned by
sucking a cane, the head of which
contained brass, but probably this was
a libelous tale," said the man of canes
without blushing.
Continuing, the reporter's informant
said :
"Ebony and rosewood are the stock
sticks. They are appreciated because
of their strength, aud surely what can
be more handsome than a highly-polished
ebony stick with a gold head?
Silver-topped canes sell as high as ten
dollars, but many of those sold by un
scrupulous dealers contain less than two
dollars' worth of silver. The same
f rau 1 is orten practiced In gold-headed
cauer. which sail from twenty dollars
up. The buckthorn stick has had its
day and is now but little used. Tho
cane 13 tierhap3 more popular in Amer
ica than England. Iu the latter coun
try It Is cousidvrcxl -wralkijeas lor a
I.l it II Ui uurjr a chdu and t l.ty two not
affected by the nobility. Light caiies
are preferabla In summer. In um
brella heads many novelties are bhowB.
The natural wood handle is best, I
think, for daily wear, but many prefer
gold aud silver handles. Yes, there is
a profit In this business, but not so big
one as many people imagine,'
said
tho cane man in conclusion.
An A-tiosV Life.
Vouiiu ivorr.fn who are attracted bv
the glamor of the staire, and allow their
vauity to convince them that the at
tentions they may receive will compen
sate for the amount or work involved,
e apt to find that an actress' life is
not the bed of roses they bad pictured.
Iu ihelr efforts to keep up their work,
and also to have the joyous time they
had hoped for, they must either pait
with health or fail to meet honestly the
riaorous demands of their duties. A
well-ordered ambitious life ou the stage
means hard work, quite as hard as any
other line of work could be, but not too
hard for the aim of a lifetime. The
exierience of a single performance be
fore the footlights Is delightful to an
amateur, but would it carry with it
the same degree of pleasure if repeated
sevcu and eight times a week? Let
amateur actors consider what it means
to labor iudefatigably on a production
which mav rail and be cast aside in a
week, or, what is worse (ror the ier
formers) succeeds so well as to ruu a
thousand or more consecutive nights.
It Is In these wearisome repetitions that
the calling of an actor becomes routine
of the most irksome nature to a pro
gressive spirit. The belief is common
that work is lightened by related per
formances. Never was there a greater
mistake. On the contrary, they render
more needful than ever watchful atten
tion and study to maintain that nice
balance of irformance which gained
the applause of the critical at the out
set; aud it will be found most necessary
to broaden his act outside the limits of
that never-ending part, in order that
the final performance does not find him
so uioiced into all Its lines as to taint
all further presentation.
Young women aspirants to tho stage
should also consider it means to act in
sickness as well as in health, to smile
and cair or storm and struggle when
every nerve Is throbbing with pain.
Yei every pang must be hidden, every
aclje suppressed. Audiences are uncon
sciously hard task-masters. They pay
their money not to pity, but to ap
plaud. An Kxpensiic Luxury.
A German, now visiting In this coun
try, writes to his home paper as follows
concerning our colleges: "In America.
in this laud of tho free.it is the sad fact
that university culture is a prize which
is only accessible to the sons of rich
men." His inquiries were very exact.
"Among the 140 students who had
completed their studies at Yale College
this year (1SSC) I obtained answers
from 109. According to their reiorts j
the average cost for four years i
course amounted to $900. There were
great differences in individual case3t 1
one bad succeeding in 'getting through1 j
at the cost of $150 a year; anothei
needed no less than $3,500 annually,
I knew a German porter in the States
whose eldest son passed a brilliant ex
amination at Princeton; but father and
son agreed that it was impossible to .
pursue his studies there on account ol j
the frightful costliness. Study at an
American university is a moat expen-1
sive luxuiy."
Eastern crooks of the worst type
are reported to be actively engaged In
Los Angelos and other California
towns.
NEWS IN BRIEF-
The Governors of Idaho and Ne
vada are brothers.
New England has had a number of
aged suicides lately.
raterson, New Jersey, has a fe
male ghost f or a sensation.
The pawnbroker is now laying In
bis summer stock of winter clothing.
Jersey City has an accumulation
of unpaid taxes amounting to Sd.000 -
An eighty thousand dollar opera
house has been contracted lur at Pasa
dena, California.
Genee has written a new opera,
"Thirteen." which will be produced at
Vienna In the fall.
Six Bridgeport (Conn.) octogen
arians indulged in in an excursion to
New York the other day.
A surplus f cats is said to be
worrying MU JJolIy, New Jersey, and
the cats are "Worried in turn.
In upper 2ew Jersey the farmers
have been mowing bay by moonlight to
escape the intense heat ot the day,
Twenty-two of the crew are said
to have daserted from the . United
States sioop-of-warOssippee, at Boston.
The remains of gigantic Indians
and several arrow-heads were recently
exhumed at East Neck, Long Island.
A Georgian Is retorted to have
shipped over 500 crates of pears, the
produce of only two acres or ground.
A granite tower, 60" feet high, has
liecn beeu adopted as the design of the
Portland (Maine) soldiers' "monu
ment." Not one of twenty-six "tramps"
arrested In one night one week in Ceut
ral Park, New York, was under tVi
years of age.
Salem, New Jersey, has a newly
Completed school census that shows a
decrease in the number of children or
school age.
it is thought industrial education
will be tried experimentally in Now
York public schools during the coming
school term.
In a number of localities along the
Hudson river Concord grape growers
report that phyloxera are gnawing at
the roots of the grape vine.
A new use for tbe tobacco plant
has been discovered. Its stems and
waste, it Is claimed, are equal to linen
rags In the manufacture of paper.
Some of the New Bedford (Mass.)
whalers have beeubaviug splendid luck
this season. Two schooners have taken
S'JJ.OOo worth each of ambergris.
The new College de France, which
has been ttarted in Paris, wUl require
scarcely less than six years tor its
completion, it is stated, aud will cost
12,OtJ(J,OC0 francs.
1 r every horse whose mouth is
v iciously uawe-l anl yanked by an utfly
unvr foil 1.1 KlrTr hi Jnitiir.r in .!.
uiouiti there wouitt uo a liuie InOlo
justice In the world.
A colored woman put 34 In a Bal
timore savings bank In 18.1T, and
when it was drawn out by her do
Eceudents the other day It had in
creased to a little over SiiiUO.
In Natchez, Mississippi, during a
recent fortnight, only six deaths oc
curred but one of them that of a
white jierson, and one was from Inju
lies received. The population is alnut
10.0C0.
A tiamp succeeded in making an
upholstered w ill tt. Peter's Church,
New York, his bed every night for two
weeks before be was caught at it. He
is 'iow on Black well's Islaud for the
summer.
American school books which here
tofore found ready sale lu Japan, are
being crowded from the market by
clever reprints produced by the native
workmen, according to advices received
iu Washinlngton.
The hottest day San Francisco ex
lerienced since the Signal Service was
established there was on May 2$. when
the temieratur) rose to '.'0.'.. The
hottest day. before that was In lell,
when 'Jo. 3 was reached.
A horse owner of Brooklyn, whose
horse was so badly injured by catchiug
one of its feet in a cable road slot that
killing lecame necessary to end tlm
animal's sufferings, has recovered Slit)
from the cable road company.
At Santa Cruz, California, lately,
two large Newfoundland dogs annoyed
children iu bathing by continually
dragging them from the water, evi
dently under the Impression that tho
youngsters were drow ning.
A gamin in New York, vtho was
cut with a whip by the driver while
"catching behind" a loaded furniture
car, waited his opportunity and cut the
rot) that bound the load, jieimittlng a
jortioii of the latter to drop into the
street.
Coins (of what country it is not
stated) or tho date or lu'.Hi and other
yeais prior to ItVJd, were found last
week by a man who was digging a
celllar in Andover, New Jersey. The
coins are said to be ot copier and la
good condition.
ncporrs rroni urfe.iporr. Long is
land, Piouiised Land and other places
of if-udezvous for vessels engaged In the
menhaden fisheries are to the effect that
tbe catch this season so far is much be
low the average, and comparatively the
business is a failure.
Arrangements have been male for
a scientific examination of the water of
the Pasaic and lis tributaries. Sam
ples of the water taken lecently from
the river below Paterson, New Jersey,
showed 33,000 mlcroles in about a
quarter of a teaspoon! ul of water.
A "shinplaster" issued by Allo-
gheuy, Tenna., when it was a borough.
fifty years ago, and which had been
continuously in possession of T. B.
Watford, of this city, since that time,
has been given by the latter to James
Lowrie, of Pittsburg. The note is ol
the denomination of 12j cents aud was
to bear one per cent, interest until re
deemed. A butcher iu Flemlngton, New
Jersey, owns a dog whose barking at
night disturbed the guests at a hotel,
the proprietor or which got out an in
junction against the butcher. After
vainly trying for a couple of nights to
make the dog resect the Injunction,
the butcher has sent the animal away
for the summer.
A brick that is said to have fallen
300 feet from the top of a shaft in the
j great aqueduct in the course ot con
j structiou in New York, itruck Savors
! Siddalia, who was at tbe bottom, on the
head, and though it fractured his skull
' did not kill him. At last accounts I.,
was being attended to In St. Francis
Hospital.
t,
x r