THE FARMERS OF SIAM. RAISING kICTE AND PEPPER IS THEIR PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION. All the Ijand is Owned by the King- Flooded Farms—Methods of Ir -1 rication—Primitive Implements, j' Siam, says Frank S. Carpenter in the American Agriculturist, is a great wedge at the lower end of the vast peninsula of Indo-China. It is bounded on the sides and at the top by the French possessions of Tonquin and the English principality of Burmah. These two nations are cast ing their covetous eyes upon it. It is a land of some mountains and many val leys. The mighty Menam River flows from north to south through it.and the valley of this is one of the richest agri cultural regions of the world. Forty miles from its mouth lies Bangkok, a town of about 700,000 people, 600,000 of whom live in floating houses fastened to piles along the banks of the rivers. These floating houses are found all along the valley of the Menam, and they line the rivers of the interior. During tho rainy season a vast part of the country is flooded, and the farmers go from one part of it to another in boats. Many farmers live in floating-houses, and when their estates lie along the banks of the river they can float from one end of their little plantations to the other by simply loos ing the bands which bind their houses to the piles. The country has a system of laud laws, and though the King really owns every foot of it, and could confis cate estates if he would, the farmers have a certain right of tenure to their lands, and as long as they pay their taxes they can buy and sell them and will them to their children just as they do in other countries. The taxes constitute the King's rents, and these are very high. All land is taxed at ten per cent, of its value. The crops are taxed, and in fact everything that vha farmers own must pay a high rate of taxation. The biggest tax, however, is that of labor. The big Farmer-King has the right to call upon every one of his tenants for three montha of hard labor during the year, lie dele gates this right to the governors of his provinces and the heads of villages, and the result is that often when the farmers should be harvesting their own crops they have to turn in and harvest those ol the King. The women, consequently, have to do the greater part of the work, and the men are little better than slaves. This three months may bo increased, as the necessities of the King demand. The Siamese farmers, like those of all other Eastern countries, huddle together in little villages and they go out from these to work their fields which surround the towns. The fields are unfenced, and cattle are herded all the year round. Cat tle thieves and crop thieves aro numer ous, and it is only by eternal vigilance that the farmers are able to save their crops. The principal Siamese crop is rice, and rice constitutes the food of the people. There is no better country in the world for raising it than Siam. The lowlands are easily irrigated and tho rainy season lasts from Alav until Octo ber. The climate is tropical and the winters are like our summers. Every thing grows almost spontaneously, and two crops a year are not uncommon. The rice fields are laid off in lots of about one-third of an acre, each surrounded by an embankment of earth about a foot and a half high for the purpose of holding water when the land is prepared for planting. The rice is first sprouted in little patches, and when it is a foot high it is pulled up, tied into bunches and taKen to these little fields, which are then covered with about six inches of water. It is there transplanted, the men, women and children bending over and thrusting the stalks deep into the soft mud under the water. A good workman can set out about a third of an acre a day, and the planting season is any time between June and October. Tho harvest time comes along about Christinas, and in many parts of the country these rich fields are artificially irrigated, i The irrigation of Siam increases every year, and it is chiefly the work of the Chinese settlers. These Chinese have in troduced their methods of irrigation,and there are others which have been in use from timo immemorial. The ordinary methods are much the same as those of Eastern countries. Two women or girls dip up water in a basket, pitched within and without to prevent its leaking. They stand on the higher bank above the caual and give the basket a swing by four strings which they have attached to it. They pull these strings as it dips into the water and lift from six to eight gallons to the higher level where it runs otf into the fields. The system of having small buckets around a great wheel, which is turned by a man or a woman walking up it like the dog on the churn, is also in use and in some places the old-fashioned well-sweep is used. Labor is very cheap. Farm hands get from $1 to $1.50 a week and board themselves, anil there is, a great deal of debt labor. The farming implements of Siam are of the rudest description. The cultiva tion of the whole country is done with a plow that an American farmer would not use. It consists of a crooked stick with one handle, and it has a plowshare of cast iron about as big as a mau's hand. This plowshare has a little hole in one end of it in which one end of the crooked stick is put, and the whole outfit costs about $1.25. It cuts a furrow of about two inches deep and five inches wide, and it is firawn by an ox or buffalo which is attached to it by a yoke and rope har ness. When two oxen are used the plow has a sort of tongue which is fastened to the yoke on the necks of the team and in both cases the animals are driven not by lines but by a sort of rope halter fastened to a hole in the nose of the ox. The harrow is equally rudo. It consists of n long rake with wooden teeth attached to a bamboo tongue which is fastened ti the ox's yoke. It has an oval handle which the woman or man holds am; upon which she bears down in order tc break the clods and drive the teeth in deeper. One of the most profitable crops is the pepper crop, and Siam exports about $200,000 worth of black pepper every year. The pepper plantations are large ly managed by Chinese. The berries grow in racemes, like currants, from a climbing vine trained like a hop vine upon trees or tree stumps which have been cut off high up from the ground* and good-bearing vines will yield two good crops a year. Very little cultiva tion is needed. Cuttings of the vines about eighteen inches long are buried at the root of the tree, and as they grow the vines are trained toward the trunk. On dry soils it is necessary to water the plants every other day during the dry seascns, for the first three years, and at the age of four or five years the plants begin to bear. They continue to bear from seven to fourteen years, and I am told that the crop is a most profitable one. The principal crop is harvested in December and January, and the other becomes ripe about July or August. The harvest commences as soon as the berries begin to turn red and they are collected at this time and dried for the market. A good average yield for a plant is two pounds of pepper per annum. SELECT SIFTINGS. A Bowery museum advertises the "biggest dwarf" in the world. To salute with the left hand is a deadly insult to Mohammedans in the East. Until 177G cotton spinning was per foimed by the hand spinning-wheel. Germany manufactures over $10,000,- 000 worth of children's toys every year. Lewis Ledger, of New York city, on a wager recently ate thirty hard-boiled eggs in fifteen minutes. The proportion of married couples who live to celebate their golden wedding is under one in a thousand. The old Craddock fort on Ship street, East Medford, Mass., is the oldest house in America. It was begun in 1631. A New York broker has just paid $15,- 000 for a half interest in a salmon stream that flows into the Itestigouchc, in Canada. The presence of a well developed apple growing on the grapevine at Ports mouth, Ohio,is ascribed to skillful graft ing. A sparrow at Colestown, Penn., built a nest in the running gear of a farmer's wagon, and makes a trip to market every week. In the maw of a cow killed near Darien, Ga., a few days ago, was found a pound of six penny nails and a live cent piece. With the present rate of increase as a basis,it is estimated that a century hence this country will have a population of 9C4,921,656. Napoleon 111. got his title, the third, for the second never reigned, by a com positor mistaking the exclamation points—"! !I" for the Homan numerals 111. A marine on duty at the Brooklyn (N. Y.) navy yard, is unable to speak above a whisper, in consequence of hav ing habitually eaten gunpowder for years. The reason why firo crackers are nl ways covered with red paper is that red is the festive color in China, and that firecrackers are used chiefly on festive occasions. The oldest man in Great Britain is Hugh MacLeod, a Scotch crofter, who was born on the 24th of November, 1783. He lives in County Ross, and i3 still healthy and vigorous. The boundary line between the United States and Canada is distinctly marked from Lake Michigan to the Paci fic by cairns, pillars of iron, earth mounds and timber clearings. Prince Herbert Bismarck cherishes carefully the wreck of a watch which ho carried during the Franco-Prussian war and which stopped a bullet that other wise might have ended his life, The great exhibition held in London, England, iu 1851, was attended by 6,039,195 persons and left a profit of $1,066,525. It remained open from the Ist of May to the 11th of October. The Pacific coast has not a complete monoply of big trees. There is a cypress tree at Enterprise, Fla., that is over ten feet in diameter and has a trunk reach ing up forty feet to the first branch. Few people know of the origin of the name Bismarck. The castle of the Chancellor's ancestors received its name from the "marca," or boundary line, formed by the lliver Biese, Bicse-Marca became Bismarck. A queer white and red robin aston ishes the fishermen at Quonochoutaug, R. I. It has built its nest in a shaggy reach of pasture near the thundering ocean breakwater. The bird's body is of a snowy white, even to the tip of its tail, except its breast, which is of a rosy red. The food of a "ZQO" hippopotamus is estimated to be about two hundred pounds a day in weight, and consists chiefly of hay, grass and roots. The daily provender of a giraffe weighs about fifty pounds. The lions and tigers ob tain about eight or nine pounds of meat a day. For fifteen years a Portland (Me.) business man has received from the florist's every other morning a fresh bunch of flowers roses, heliotrope, forget-me-nots and the like, and placed it directly in front of him upon his desk. By thus looking upon the bright side of life ho has undoubtedly added to his happiness. ■ Dclmonico's Poiupeiian Pillars. When Delmonico's Hotel, at the cor ner of Beaver and William streets, was built, in 1835, two handsome marble pillars, with their corresponding steps, were brought from Pompeii and erected at the entrance. They had previously been at the entrance of some old temple. When the hotel was demolished many persons expressed a regret that the pil lats should be lost. They have been re stored, however, to their old position at the entrance of the new office building which the Delmonicos are erecting.— York Mail and THE FIRST PATAGONLAN& ORIGIN OP THH IDEA THAT PATA GONIA IS A REGION Of GIANTS. The Spanish Explorer Magellan Finds Two Gigantic Natives and Carries Them Off to Spain. Magellan's first American port was the Bay of Rio Janeiro, to which he gave the name of Santa Lucia. It had been explored by Lopez four years before, and even before that time. There was one Portuguese trader settled on an island in the bay, the pioneer settler of the great city which stands there to-day. The whole crew delighted with the lux uries of the climate and the cordiality of the simple n«tives. "You can buy six hens for a king of diamonds," says Paga fclta, the amusing historian of the voy age. "They are not Christians, but they are not idolaters, for they adore nothing; instinct is their only law." This is his summary account of tlieir religious habit and condition, an account proved to be quite inadequate by more careful inquir ies. After thirteen days spent in this bay the squadron resumed its voyage of discovery. They looked in at the great estuary of the river La Plata; but Solis, who had lost his life there, had already discovered that this was not a passage to the Pacific. Btill coasting southward, they sighted and perhaps landed on the Island of Penguins and the Island of Sea Lions, and here were struck by a terrible storm. Not far from these islands, on the shore of the continent, they discovered the Bay of San Julian, and here Magellan determined to winter. Magellan made the ships secure at the shore, built a forge and storehouse, and some huts for barracks, and established a little observatory, where Andres San Martin determined the latitude. Longi tude in those times, they could not well determine. While they were thus occupied, a little party of natives appeared, and after some friendly signaling one or more of them came on board. Magellan directed a sailor to land, and to imitato every gesturo of the first who appeared, as a token of frindship. The man acted his part so well that the gentle savage was propitiated, and readily came to an inter view. On this or auother occasion, six Indians consented togo on board the flag-ship. Their Spanish hosts gave them a kettle full of biscuits—enough for twenty men, in the Castiliau measure of appetite. But the hungry Indians de voured it all. Two, at least, of these visitors were of unusual size. The Span iards only came up to their girdles. But, as the childreh's books say, these were "friendly giants." One of them saw the sailors throwing rats overboard, and begged that he might have them for his own. Afterward he regularly received the rats caught on board the ships as a daily perquisite. Before their voyage was over, Magellan's sailors were glad enough to follow his example, and to place these fellow-voyagers on their bill of fare at the rate of a ducat apiece. This party of six—and a party of nino seen at another time—which may have included part or all of the first six, are all of the natives whom Magellan and his men ever saw. Of these, it seems certain, that two at least were very large. All the Indians wore large shoes, which they stuffed with straw for warmth. From this custom the Spaniards gave them the name of Patagons, meaning in Spanish those who have large feet. When Magellan was about to sail, he de termined to carry the two giants homo as curiosities. It was impossible to over power either of them in fair contest, and he resorted to treachery, which can only be excused on the theory of the Spaniards at that time that these savages were to bo ranked among brutes, over whom Christian men had certain special rights. The two friendly giants, being about to leave the ships, Magellan loaded them with presents, lie gave them knives, mirrors and glass trinkets, so that their hands were full, then he offered to each a chain. They were passionately fond of iron, but could not take the chains from very embarrassment of riches. With their fall consent, therefore, Magellan bade the smith fasten the chains to their legs by the manacles which were attached to them. When it was too late the poor giants found, as so many wiser men have found, that they had accepted too many presents, and that in their very wealth they were made slaves. When they dis covered this they were wild with rage, and vainly called on their god Setcbos to come to their succor. Not satisfied with this success, Magel lan tried to make more captives. He di rected Dine of his strongest men to com pel the Indians to take them to the sta tion where their women were. One of them escaped, but the other was sub dued after a hard conflict. He consented to lead them to the wives of the two prisoners. When the women heard of the fate of their lords they uttered such screams that they were heard at the ships far away. The Spaniards had such su periority in numbers that they expected the next morning to carry the Indian women and their children on board ship. But meanwhile two Indian men came, who spent the night with them, and at daybreak the whole party escaptd to gether. In their flight they killed one of the Spaniards with a poisoned arrow. Magellan sent a large party on shore and buried him. A.nd so they parted—the Spaniards and the Patagonians. The two giants were separated; one was placed on the Trin d*d, and the other on the Sant' Antonio. It was from these experiences that Europe took the notion, which is, per., baps, not yet fully dispelled, that Pata gonia was a region of gianta.—Harper's ilcmazine. Mrs. John A. Logan says she has taught herself the use of carpenter tools until able to build a cupboard or put a new shelf in the pantry. She smashed one thumb, sawed the other half off, crippled two fingers and knocked her knees, but perseverance won and the jack-plane is king. NEWS AND NOTES FOB WOMEN. "Cigar" is a new shade of brown. Beach tan is now the fashionable color. Archery is again the most popular pas time. Flannel dresses ore the most worn by young girls. Women are eligible to school offices in lixteen States. Jenny Land's grave is covered with fresh flowers every day. Princess Mary of Teck is one of the prettiest girls in England. Turkish women eat roso leaves with butter to secure plumpness. Queen Victoria, of England, is in favor of Sunday music for the people. Nearly 15 J women are buying and sell ing real estate in Superior, Wis. The Archduchess Valerie's wedding dress had a train fourteen feet long. The ladies of Chicago will receive and entertain the Federation of Women's Clubs in 1882. The Misses Emily and Georcjiana Hill have started a school of journalism in London, England. Clara Morris, the emotional actress, is t, great lover of birds, and has a regular aviary at her home. The very English girls along the Hudson and about the bay wear white iluck yachting suits. Rosa Bonheur claims that she has painted her best pictures since she at tained the age of fifty. Deep girdles, well boned after the peasant bodice, are put on the new toil ets of white and figured silk. Sweet-pea blossoms, white and col ored, real and artificial, are the popular decorative flowers of the moment. Gold bracelets made of satin gold and fastened with small padlocks are very fashionable and equally expensive. One of the prettiest dress patterns for all round wear is a black Inilia silk flowered with pink and green posies. The "robe" dress is shown in hand worked trimmings and hand-painted velvet for the culls, collar and brelettes. Mrs. Theodore Irving, the founder of the order of Kiny's Daughters, is the widow of a nephew of Washington Irv ing. A new impetus is given the cape, which appears in all styles of creamy lace and net, and also in ermine and lamb's fur. Tho favorite flower of the Princess of Wales is the Alexandra orchid, which was named for her soon after she went to England. Miss Juliet Corson is obliged to sit in an invalid chair while she directs and il lustrates her methods of cooking before her classes. Sarah Bernhardt, tho great French tragedienne, is the owner of 120 birds, and has for other pets a large black cat and half a dozen dogs. The most stylish sleeve is the full bishop, made with a loose slip wristlet | one inch wide and banded just above tho elbow with a two-inch ribbon. A young woman in Florida has just died in untold agony from the results of a bite of an insect which was concealed in a bunch of flowers she wore at her neck. Beautiful white toilets for receptions and dinners are made of the finest and richest of China and India silk scattered over with tiny white silk buds, loaves or rose spravs. A iancy is shown for velvet bands on white mull and flannel dresses. Generally a Grecian or scroll pattern is worked on the black ribbon velvet with metal or white cord. A bill making women eligible to tho office of notary public has passed tho Dakota Legislature, aud Mrs. C. 8. Thorp, of Britton, has received the first commission. The board of education in Columbus, Ohio, has decided that hereafter there shall be no difference in the salaries paid to men and women who are teachers in public schools. Fine Irish point lace, in pure white an I pale beige tints, is made use of for bonnets, for evening drives, and is also much used on sador and garden-party hats of Neapolitan braid. As many as three or fivo rows of tiny buttons are seen on bodices, and they are also plentifully on cuffs, collars and coat tails. These coat-tail basques will be the thiny for all irtll »uits. The first colored graduate lrom the Department of Music of the University of Pennsylvania is Miss Ida E. Power. She is an accomplished violinist and,has written several short sonatas. The ex-Empress Frederick, of Ger many, and her daughters have laid aside their weeds and drive about Windsor, England, dressed in monk's brown, with hats, gloves and shoes to match. Mrs. Millais, wife of the famous Eng lish artist, is said to be the happiest woman in Europe, though it is hard to reconcile this statement with tho fact that she keeps fifteen servants. A charming toilet recently worn at a fashionable garden fete was of white foulard, with a broad rose-pink stripe I in it and a delicate and beautifully shaded flowering of pink roses between the stripes. The reefer coats, warranted to resist tho elements, are the rage just now. They are lined with brilliant silk, cut hip deep and double breasted, closed with eight brass buttons and finished with a step collar. Brave Catherine Watson, of Glasgow, Scotland, a young art student, lost her life a year ago in saving a little boy from drowning. Her heroism has been com memorated by a Celtic cross reared on « rock at North Berwick. Sleeveless and zouave jackets are worn on some of the summer toilets. The ma aterial used on cotton, muslin and ging ham dresses is generally fine velvet, but against silk there is nothing prettier than embroidery or Irish lace. "Why not tave vour clothes, by urine the besti purest, mngt economical soap, Dobblns's Kloo, trio. Made ever since 1884. Try it onoe will use it cUwayt. Your grocer keeps it or w 111 get it. Loot for the name, DobMnt. THE Chinese and Japanese have no Are ap paratus beyond a water pail. Rev. H. P. Carson, Scotland, Dak., says: "Two bottles of Hall's Catarrh Cure complete- my little girl." Sold by Druggists, Niw YORK IS to have a home for vagrant cats. Gratifying ta All. The high position attained and the universal acceptance and approval of the pleasant liquid fruit remedy. Syrup of Figs, as the most excel lent laxative known, illustrate the value of the qualities on which its success is based and are abundantly gratifying to the California Fig Syrup Company. FITS stopped free by Da. KLISI'S GREAT NERVE RESTORER. No Fits after first day's use. Marvelous cares. Treatise and $2 trial bottle free. l>r. Klinp,ii.'sl Arc.h Ht., Ph!la., Pa. Beeoham's Pills act like magic on a Weak Stomach. It was Ben Johnson, we be lieve, who, when asked Mai-! lock's question, " Is life worthj living ? " replied " That de pends on the liver." And Ben Johnson doubtless saw the double point to the pun. The liver active—quick— life rosy, everything bright, mountains of trouble melt like mountains of snow. The liver sluggish—life dull, everything blue, molehills of worry rise into mountains of anxiety, and as a result—sick headache, dizziness, constipa tion. Two ways are open. Cure permanently, or relieve tem porarily. Take a pill and suf fer, or take a pill and get well. Shock the system by an over dose, or coax it by a mild, pleasant way. Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets are the mild means. They work effectively, without pain, and leave the system strong. One, little, sugar-coated pel let is enough, although a whole vial costs but 25 cents. Mild, gentle, soothing and healing is Dr. Sage's Catarrh Remedy. Only 50 cents. Instantly-Stop Pain IHh. ANBSmoiIYCURCAU A representation ol the engraving on our wrappei—mPWA* & 00. MEW YORK* WNI. FITcH & CO., 102 Corcoran BulUllng, Washington, D. C. PENSION ATTORNEYS of over years' experience. Successfully prow cute pensions and claims of all kinds In shortest possible ttma. gT"No FEE pklsbh Buocsaaarru nriinmim old claims settled HhNXIIINX under, NEW LAW. ■ i-"sUlw IIV Soldiers. Widows, Parents, send for blank applications anil information. PATRICK O'Fahrkll, Tension Agent, Washington, 1). C. mm A ■ rn ■ Thousands entitled DLNGIIIftIV under the SewAot. r C KldlUllo plication. Employ the old reliable firm, J. B. CRALLE A CO., Washington, D. C. IfiTHt wonderful i/« LOBURGACHAIRIb^K^gj^ »«Uil *t tho 10w,,t vhoi'mi* /arf»rvf KFfc IPjfffSHl WBHLciuaS paid for on deuvsvy. ttnl uisfc Band stamp for Cata-. SPECIAL FRKB lOfue. Name good* desired. V*-|y DSLITKBI i ItUWJBO MFG. CO., 14511* Bth at, fhilsSa^fa «QUNCH"saysy ' «- Ouighb stends for nohh \n£ ISjieiaoiaseotighh Vo bed earned < wirhtjS&jp o fio.Try& c&kei n.your nexb i hoias , e>ded.ni &ndl>e convinced "IGNORANCE ofth n e 'aw excuses "" man, and ignorance no excuse for a dirty house or greasy kitchen. Bet clean them in the old way than not at all; but the mod* and sensible way is to use SAROLIO cn paint, on floors, windows, on pots and pans, and even on statuary. To ignorant of the uses of SAPOLIO is to be behind the ag I'm So Hungry Says Nearly Everyone After Taking A Few Doses of i Hood's SarsaparillaJ N Y N U—3l WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS That Dr. Tobias' Venetian Liniment is the greatest nain reliever in the world, while for stints of insects and mosouito bites it is infallible. Truth, and nothing but the trnth. All drngglfta. Price 25 and 50 cent*. Depot, 40 Murray Bt., N. Y. pil|T|f|M W. L. Douglas Shoes urn t#Hv I lUlla warranted, and every palp lina his uame and price stamped on bottom* $3 SHOE GENTLEMEN. |JT\Send address on postal for valuable information. W. §4. IK)l (;i,AS, Brockton. Maw. HSf 1 M Best ('oiiph Syrun. Tnftes good. Use gl Cd iu time. Hold by druggists. gl We offer you n ready made medicino for Coughs, Bronchitis and other dis eases of the Throat and Lungs. Lika other so-called Patent Medicines, it it well advertised, and having merit it haa attained to a wide sale. Call it a "Nos trum" if you will, but believe us when we say that at first it was compounded after a prescription by a regular physi cian, with no idea that it would ever go ■on the market as a proprietary medicine. Why is it not just as good as though costing fifty ccuts to a dollar for a pro scription and an equal sum to have it put up at a drug store? ERAZER^I best in the would 12 It Lflw *■ %W Got tho Genuine. Sold Everywhere. FfcFMglAM JOH:sw - inflßllls ' ItlVdlUni Washington, D.C. "Successfully Prosecutes Claims. Late Principal Examiner U.S. Pension Bureau. 3.yrs iu last war, 15luUudicatingclaims, atty slnc<v nrypinu NEW LAWCLAIMS. llrnuch OBlcen, Clevclunil, I»etroit.l'hlcit«o. AIIIIIU HA HIT. Only Cnrtaiu and II PIIIMR Ki'V ('IKK Iu the World. Dr. 111 IV 1(1 J. |„ STEPHEN*. Lebanon. D. flow d bodyDUJJ it. The beat, cheapest and moat popular wora erw laaued on Building. Nearly our hundred A book in size and atyle, but wo nave deUnninadlO make it meet tho popular demand, to auit the timet ■othat it can t>e easily reached by ail. . . MdoSuaUU S? U lare? Ml owning Rjarssss city bubiirbs, town and country, hoa»«J lor tne J»n» »nS workln.roen'a homo, for2p.'»BarSt country, and coiling from n.™, htablaa, School House, I own Hull. CtarenjoiiM other publlo bnildlnm, together with tpeclftcatlona. I form of contract, and alarje amgunt of lnforjnaUga on the ereotlon of bntlalnirv selection of | OP"Mention Thia u 1 preaedbo and fully an* dorae Big (« as the only . Oor*« in specific for the certain car® TO 5 of this disease. not Ml Q. H. IN M. D-' fgg •aaaaStrlottu-c. » Amsterdam, N. Y. E9 Mr a only by tfca Yvo bavo sold Ble G foi i Action. Ohio. VV D. R. DYCHE & CO.. I Chicago, lit At- b" Dnirrlatia
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers