SULLIVAN REPUBLICAN. W. M, CHENEY, Publisher. VOL. IX. Kansas has more mile3 of railroad tlian all the New England States put together. Brazil is larger than the United States, but in the whole twenty States, which make up the Republic, there are not as many people as we have in New York and Pennsylvania. The value of a large coal traffic to a railroad is indicated, thinks the Mail and Mxpre&s, by the fact that the coal tonnage of the Northern Pacific is greater than its tonnage of wheat. The wholesale price of whalebone is now SIO,OOO a ton. A project is on foot to organize whaling expeditions from Australia to the Antartic seas, where it is believed plenty of whales arc to be found. It is an almost untouched whaling ground. "Sundown Doctors" is the appellation said to be applied in the city of Wash ington to a class of practitioners who are clerks in the Government offices, and who have taken a medical degree with a view to practicing after the hours of their official work are over. While an Austrian regiment was on dress parade recently, says the Detroit Free Press, a bug crawled into the ear of n sergeant. He put up his right hand to remove the insect and a court-martial reduced him to the ranks, fined him §lB and obliged him to carry a weight of sixty pounds on his back for fourteen days. It is the big bugs who have the call over there. The Boston Cultivator admit 9 that "improved farm implements have un doubtedly enabled farmers to cultivate and harvest larger areas; but it is not certain that crops by them cost less per bushel than they used to do. The more a man can do the bigger wages he claims, and this, with cost of machinery, its wear and tear, and the lower prices con sequent on increased production, have given to the worker rather than to the capitalist or owner of laud the advan tages which improved machinery have conferred." The Germau Emperor will shortly is sue an edict to the Prussian ministry di recting that teachers in national schools must be familiar with the principles of political economy, to enable them to demonstrate the errors of socialistic teachings. In religion less attention must be paid to momonic exercises and more to the comprehension of the ethical side of religion. In the higher schools recent modern history, especially of Prussia, must be taught, and the bene fits which Prussian Kings have always conferred upon workingmeu must be in culcated. It is stated that the edict was drafted before Prince Bismarck re signed. The degree to which America offers prominent advantages to the emigraut is just now shown strikingly, notes the Comvurcinl by the existing conditions in Iceland. It is said that that country is gradually becoming de populated, owing to the constant emigra tion of its people to the shores of Canada and'the United States. These emigrants send back such favorable accounts of their new home that others quickly fol low. It is estimated that 20,000 natives, nearly one-quarter of the whole popula tion, have left the country in the last vcar. The emigrants are said to be chief ly from the northern and eastern dis tricts, where laboj is carried on only under great difficulties, besides which recent harvests have been very bad and have entailed much suffering. Chief Van Demau, of the Pomological Division of the Department of Agricul ture, predicts that the cultivation of nuts is soon to be one of the greatest and most profitable industries of the United States. The pecau, he says, is the nut of the future, but he also forecasts big returns for walnuts, chestnuts, pine and hazel nuts, almonds, filberts and other varieties. One man in Florida has now a grove of 4000 pecan trees six years old. When tliey begin to bear their product will be worth $300,000 yearly at whole sale—a figure which certainly makes to baccco-raising and orange-growing seem far less tempting than they are held up to be. What about the peanut? Well, despite its name, it isn't a nut at all; it is a sp.-cies of pea—an atinual that has to be planted every spring. Thus, la ments the New York Telegram, departs another cherished tradition, but tht humble roasted goober will not, ou tlmi account, lose its ll:iv<*r WHEHE I .IBS THE LAND? Where lies the land? I asked, in sorrow drowned— Tell me, I pray, where the enchanted ground That knows not weary heart, nor aching head, Nor wild regret, nor sore and anxious dread, And I will seak it to earth's utmost bound. Here my voice faltered—dropped to faintest sound; A whisper startled me, and. looking round, I heard an echo mocking me, which said, Where lies the land? My eyes then caught a little grass-green mound, With pure white roses and with lilies crowned, That sweot fragrance all around them shed, And as I looked upon thatqpiet bed, Full answer to my question I had found. Where lies the land? —Charles D. Bell, in Lippincott. THE DOWNWARD STEP. BY ANSA SUKILDS. Some four miles from the centre of the busy manufacturing town of B there is a row of small cottages, very simple in construction, and having little attraction, excepting the low rent de manded for them. They are far from town, and there is no public conveyance to shorten the distance, so that only those who are compelled by poverty to choose a cheap residence reside there. But each house has a little gardeu at tached to it, with hedges between, and some of these wen domains were bright with llowers. One day, two childreu sat under one of the hedges, busy in build ing a house of chips. Close enough to touch them, but separated by the hedge, a man crouclied, listening to the baby prattle as eagerly as if it held important information. "If we touch any of old Bates's posies he'll eat us. Hannah say so!" said the younger of the children, a bright boy, three years old. The other a grave-looking little maiden of live, answered, seriously: "Men don't eat boys andgirls. Mamma says we must say 'Mr. Bates,' not 'old Bates.' And she says perhaps he's not cross but sick or sorry. He looks cross!" "Mamma says not to touch his posies, 'cause it's stealing!" "We've got some!" said the little girl; "but mamma's so busy, she can't have posies." And, indeed, there was a strong con trast between the few poor plants in Mrs. Grey's garden and those that met the eye in the next one. The old mau who lived there alone, ragged and for lorn, seemed to have but one pleasure, and that was working in the tiny gar den, making every foot of it beautiful with choicest flowers. That he always listened intently to every voice from his neighbor's cottage, drawing as close as the hedge permitted to the open win dows, none knew but himself. He had been three months in the poor house, and listened eagerly to any scrap of gossip about Mrs. Grey. He heard the servants pitying her "come down" when her husband's failure in business was followed by his death. He had heard Hannah, the one servant telling another from across the street of the luxury her mistress had enjoyed only one year bo fore, and bewailing tlje poverty that made her walk to day after day, to give music lessons to support her chil dren. Ever shrinking from notice, Mr. Bates was as watchful of his neighbor as a detective. He was a tall man, bent over as if crippled by age or pain, and his face, deeply lined and very stern, was shaded by gray hair, soft and abundant. Green spectacles concealed a pair of large, dark eyes that softened strangely as he listened to the children. Many times he had seemed about to speak to them, starting forward, but al ways drawing back with a muttered "better not! better not 1" But on this day he went from bush to bush of his rarest flowers, until he had his hands filled, when he tossed the whole fragrant mass over the hedge into the laps of the astonished children. When they looked up, a face over the hedge amazed them still more, for the old man was smiling. This was the beginnig of their friend ship, and every day saw it grow stronger. Evening found Mrs. Gray at home,and at bedtime there was always some new story of baby prattle, telling how Mr. Bates had let the children wander about in his house and garden, in perfect freedom. But he avoided her, giving her no oppor tunity to thank him. She would have been glad, out of her own scanty means, to offer some neighborly help to his greater poverty, but there was something repellant in his face and voice that held her back. She wondered even trait the children were not afraid of him. It was in September that for the first time she, too, crossed the boundary of his garden, timidly, for she was a shy, gentle little woman. Only twenty-five years old, she looked, in spite of her heavy mourning and pale, sorrowful face, even younger. Widowed and an orphan, her life was centered in her children, and she could not be ungrateful for kindrcss shown to them. So when they told her their eccentric friend had "hurted his foot dreflul bad," she conquered her shy timidity, and went to offer assistance. "It was nothing," he told her, gruffly, as she entered the bare, mean sitting room, where he lay upon a sofa, but ho let hci bring hi LU soiw dinuut USD U*A LAPORTE, PA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1891. J upon him, owning that the pain of a bad sprain had prevented his cooking for himsrff. The children trotted to and fro, delighted to wait upon him, but he was not very gracious, and said but little until Mrs. Grey said: "Cyril, dear, get mamma another slice of bread." "What did you call the boy?" he asked, sharply. "Cyril. Oh. you have only heard his pet name 'Birdie.' Birdie, come here aud tell Mr. Bates your name." "Cyril Preston Grey," said the child. "Cyril Prc3ton!" said Mr. Bates, harshly. "I knew a man of that name once." Every shadow of color left the widow's face, and she looked for a moment as if she would faint. Then, conquering this weakness by a violent effort, she said: "You knew him?" "I know no good of him," was the qnick reply. "He was a thief!" She tried to speak, but her white lips made no sound. "The man I mean," continued Mr. Bates, "was a defaulter from tho B Bank. He had been cashier there, and he stole money." The blood rushed back to the widow's face, and her voice trembled with anger, as she said* "Since you know that, you should also know that Cyril Preston repaid every dollar, principal aud interest, to the bank, five years ago." "You knew him, too?" "He was my dear brother." "Dear? You surely do not hold a brother dear who disgraced you!" "Cyril," the mother said, "whnt do you pray for every night?" The child repeated a baby prayer, and added: "God bless dear mamma and Nannie, and bless dear Uncle Cyril, and bring him home to mamma!" There was a moment of silence, and then Mrs. Gray sent the children away. When she was alone with her neighbor, she said • "You say you knew my brother. Can you tell me anything of him? Oh, if you could know how I long to hear!" "Is it not better to know nothing of a man who was only a curse to those who loved him?" "You are a harsh judge. If he sinned, he atoned. He has repaid everything." "Killed his parents?" "Not so. If they sorrowed for his sin, they rejoiced in his repentance. His name was never harshly mentioned iu his home, and earnest prayers were daily offered for him. Where is he? Tell me all you know of him." And then, with a sudden movement, Mrs. Grey bent her head and broke into a passion of tears, sobbing: "My brother! My brother!" She had wept violently, but when her sobs grew more quiet, a gentle hand was put upon her bowed head, and a low, tender voice said: "Anna!" She looked up. A gray wig lay 011 the floor, and on that a pair of green spectacles, but the face bending over her was that of a man of thirty-five or six, with brown hair and soft, dark eyes. It was ten long years since she had seen that face, and sorrow had made it far older than the years would have done, but she knew it at once. "Cyril! Cyril!" she cried, kneeling beside him, with her arms around his neck. "Oh, my dear, dear brother!" "You are glad!" he said in a low voice of amazement. "Glad to see me!" "Glad, for I love yon! Who was al ways the kindest brother to his little sister? Cyril, could you think ever I did not love you?" 44 A thief! A forger!" he said, bitter ly. "I have no excuse for my sin, Anna, save that mean one only too often plead ed, that I meant to replace the money. It was lost in gambling! My feet were on the highway to ruin, when I saw that discovery of my theft was inevitable, and I fled. But my punishment began at at once, and never was remorse more gnawing, penitence more sincere." 4 'You were never out of our prayers, Cyril." "Darling, that was as the bitterness of death, that certainty that I had brought disgrace upon my home—made my father's name a reproach." "But you did all you could to atone." 44 You can never know, dear, through what privation and toil I earned the money to pay the bank. I wont hungry, half clothed and half frozen, working early and late, saving every dollar. But when the debt was paid, fortune smiled on me. My employers were kind men, and they gave me an opening in their factory. Do you remember, Anna, how I was laughed at because I thought I could invent? I think, even now, if father had let me have my dearest wish and study machinery, I migh» never have fallen. But I hated the bank, and any temptation is doubled to escape from drudgery. My love of machinery was | laughed out of ine at home, but it be i came my friend when I needed one. In ! the short intervals of leisure I had at the factory I peifected a patent that my cm ! ployers adopted and helped me to intro ! duce into other factories. It has made ■me a rich man, Anna. But I craved a sight of my old home, and the dear faces | there, and so I carae to B . My parents were dead, and you a widow and | poor. Dear, do you guess how I have | longed to help you since I cnuie to he ! your neighbor, aud yet feared you would j curse ine if I spoke?" | 4, Hußh!"slie said, softly, "I am al- I 'if/-' awry you w* .ufili, Cyril. 1 was thinking of the Joy it would bo to me to work for you." "You will go with me, Anna, to my own home. I cannot stay here. Every face in B—would seem to reproach me. But I have a home where you and your children can be happy, and where you can fold your hands in idleness, if that will please you. It is a lonely, desolate home now, Anna, but you will brighten it for me!" "Glidly." He held her in a close embrace for a few minutes; then lie said whispering: "Anna, tell me where Lena is?" She shivered a moment, and her voice was full of sorrow, as she said: 4 'Lena is in Boston." "Married?"' "Yes." "She did not forgive me?" "No; she was very bitter." "I deserved it. I had no right to risk her happiness as well as my own name. How could I ask her to marry me after I became a shame to all who loved me? Y*et I loved her, Anna." "I know, dear; but Lena was proud." "She was right to forget me. I sinned and was justly punished. But, oh! if I could make all young men, all boys real ize the importance of that first step in dishonesty, I would gladly give my life. Only a five-dollar bill, Anna, at first, but the temptation was repeated,the strength to resist grew weaker, until the end. Can you—dare you trust me, dear, with those young lives so dear to you?" "Yes; more willingly than I would to one who did not know the bitterness of sin and penitence." So two cottages were vacated, and in her brother's beautiful home Anna Grey tries to make the life of a repentant sin ner one of peace and usefulness. Cyril Preston, humble and penitent, thanks God daily for the love that could not die, even when bitter shame came to crush it. lie is a prosperous, envied man, but ever in his heart is the sorrow and shame that will follow sin, no mat ter how deep the repentance. And ever his prayer is that Cyril, his nephew, may learn from him to avoid that first down ward step that leads to sin.— The Ledger, Alaska's Agricultural Possibilities. Alaska is almost the last place in the world where one would think of prosecu ting agriculture, though popular knowl edge of the subject may be said to be limited to generalities. The Seattle (Washington) TeUjraph the other day reported Governor Ivnapp, who is down from his northern proviuco for a few weeks, as follows: "Agriculture in Alaska is as yet only a matter of theory. Very little has been done in the way of agricultural pursuits. Special farming, like cultivatio of roots, berries, and the keeping of airies for local demaud has proven very advantage ous. The climate is too cold and wet for the cultivation of grains. Further more, clearing it is to difficult for rapid development of the country, and even if our experiments should prove successful we should have no markets for our pro duce. The potatoes, cauliflowers, onions and turnips raised in Alaska are the linest I have seen anywhere. We had some cauliflowers that we intended to send t« the Spokane Falls exposition, but our poor transportation facilities prohibited us from doing so. "Alaska abounds in berries. Along the Chilcat River, the Yakuat River, Prince William's Sound and on Corak Island fine and good strawberries are raised in abundance. Our cranberries are smaller than those raised in the States but excel them in flavor. We have a kind of berry called the salmon berry, which is similiar to your raspberry but larger. Our blackberries are not by any means like the eastern blaekeerries. They are similiar to the blueberries, but a little more tart and probably are a variety of the blackberries. Timothy grows fine. The great draw back is the weather, which does not allow us to cure the grass. Cattle live out-doorg without bciug fed except dur ing winter, when it is extraordinarily cold. The snowfall is light and the winters are not very severe. In Sitka the thermometer has been down to zero only once iu forty-six years. Last year it reached four degrees above .zero in one night. "The product of roots and vegetables does not as yet supply the local market. The interior of Alaska has, in my opinion, great possibilities as regards agriculture. The climate is not as wet as it is along the coast, but private enterprise cannot afford to experiment with it. The Gov ernment should take some steps to solve the question." An Oil Projectile. Among the latest inventions patented in England is a projectile, containing a reservoir of oil, to be shot nhead of a ship for the purpose of calming the an gry waves. Of course everybody is aware that the phrase "pouring oil upon the troubled waters" is nowadays ac cepted in its literal, not merely in a figurative, sense. The new projectile is of the shape of au ordinary cartridge and may be discharged by means of au explosive, compressed gas, or a spring. On touching the water the oil cylinder is released and the contents spread over an area commensurate with the calibre of the cartridge. The invention is mani festly a valuable one, inasmuch as it will subdue the waves in front of a vessel rather than immediately around her or j in her wake, aud the expenditure of oil ; will thus be economized.— JScts York ! Tr.Ugvam. Terms—Sl.2s in Advance; $1.50 after Three Months. How Tin Soldiers Are Made. M. Leon Duplessis, the Vice-Consul of France at Nuremberg, has contributed to the Bulletin Contulaire a very interest ing description of the manufacture of the toy soldiers iu lead for which the arti sans of Nuremberg and Purth have long been famous. The first thing is to make sketches of the intended figures. Great pains are bestowed on them. The best artists do not hesitate when asked to sup ply models for these toy soldiers, and in making their sketches they have to bear in mind certain fixed rules, while when they make colored sketches they have to avoid deep tints and select gaudy colors, which children so much prefer. They must also possess a full knowledge of the military costumes of the period to which the soldier they represent be longed. At Nuremberg and at Fruth slate molds are used for the plain figures, while brass molds are employed for those in relief. The slate for the former \s bought at Sonneberg, iu Thuringia, and the tin, which is purchased in England, is melted aud poured into them through a small orifice. The metal soon, hardens' when it has been poured in, and the workman then removes the figures, cut- ( ting off any excresenceq which may Ifave been caused by thgjnoltcn mc.tal running over into the inteP|ttces. The soldiers then have to be painlm. and this, is al ways done by ho" work at home, each woman being given a certain number of figures at* the beginning of the week. The system generally adopted is to place a dozen figures or so upon a piece of wood slit up the centre, to hold them iu a fixed position. When one side of the figure is dry iwig it round and paints the other. Iler wa'ges are very poor. The final process, also intrusted to women, in that of packing the soldiers, which are placed in boxes of 30, 60, 120, or 240 pieces (weighing one-eighth, one-quarter, one-half, or one pound) for the infantry, and of 12, 24, 48, or 96 pieces (of the same weights) for the cavalry. New York'* - .ians. Recent o-curren In New Orleans have drawn public .«ttcntion to the ex traordinary growth of our Italian popu lation, savs a New York letter in the Pittsburg Ditpatch. There are 50,000 Italians in this city alone, and they are coming in at the rate of about 2000 per week. Most of these come from lower Italy and sail thence from Naples, though they aie not Neapolitans by any means. The abolition of the padrone system in New York has rather encour aged Italian emigration than decreased it. The padrone system, while it seemed to offer an easier way for poor Italians to come to America, kept them in slavery while they were here for such a leDgth of time that it served as a warning to those of their native land to remain where they, were. The laws of the United Statt/. which have operated beueticially »or American labor, have also operated in favor of Italian emigration. It would really seem as though the de scendants of Christopho Columbo had made up their minds to claim this coun try. So far as the Italian population of New York is concerned, they form a very industrious feature of the community without being degraded to the extent of the Chinese. They are also economical livers, and quite as desirable as American citizens. They have monopolized here the larger portion of all the smaller trades, and especially that which relates to street traffic of all kinds. As most of the Italian emigrants stop here in New York, it will soon form a difficult prob lem to grapple with. Folding-Guns Instead of Stilettoes. The Italian assassin of New Orleans has long siuce abandoned the stiletto. Occasionally the banana knife, a more effective weapon, is used, but the blun derbuss or sawed-off gun is the favorite. It is objectional in this, that it makes a noise that alarms the police, but it has the merit that it never fails.. The assas sins take an old double-barrelled guc and file off the barrels, leaving them about fifteen inches in length. The stock is also removed and fitted to it with a hinge. The weapon, therefore, is like a clasp-knife, three feet or more in length, but when closed only fifteen inches. The Italian using it can easily conceal the gun in his coat or pants, effectually hiding it. When it is ready for use, he opens it and he has a double-barrelled musket, which will shoot further and better than a re volver. This is loaded to the muzzle with rough slugs, which scatter in firing, and which tear the victim badly. Near ly all of the men killed by the Stopag herra have been found with from six to ten fatal wounds.— Philadelphia Presi. Where Most Violins Are Made. There is really but on<» place in the world where violins are made extensive ly. That place is Markneukirchen,with its surrounding villages. There are al together about 15,000 people living there who do nothing else but make vio lins. The inhabitants, from the little urchin to the old gray-headed man, the small girl and the old grandmother, all are engaged in making some part of a fiddle. Time: The year 1930.—The Tourist— "What is this spleudid old ruin over grown with wild vines, untenanted aud neglected!" The Guide—"That, sir, is the remnant of a once famous university whereiu, in the latter part of the last century, athlcfics were opposed by the faculty."— Week's Sport. NO. 12. SUMACH. Coarse-grained and harsh the slender stalks Of wayside sumach stand; And each lithe branch upliftad seems ' As some cup-bearer, tanned. Who holds to autumn's lips divine A goblet of sun-tinted wine With mute, adoring hand. And deeply to the very lees 't The russet goddess drains These jewel cups that erst were filled From summer's glowing veins- Red draughts that hold the subtle sense Of pungent sylvan frankincense And misty later rains. Then, like some alchemy of old. The magic ichor flies From pulse to heart, and rising lends New glory to her eyes, Where shadowy lire an instant leaps As lightning from a cloud that sleep 3 Fast moored in stormy skies. And blithely as she passes on autumn's chariot-wheels. As gliding through her being swift ■ Tift sumach's life she feels; Whi<4 ever all the landscape brown A flood of sunlight rush es down And baffled winter kneels. —Ernest McGaffey. HUMOR OF THE DAY. Playing the gentleman—The bunco stcerer. Pry books cannot be expected to satisfy a ' irst for knowledge.— Puck. "No; hakespeare never repeats." "Yes; I't noticed it in his autograph." —Puck. » Washington's most famous ride was when he took a hack at the tree.— JF««A ington Star. Flute—"l wish I could get out on a toot." guitar—"Well, go, there are no _ s # on you."— Puck. The moon shines down for two short weeks. And then a rest a while it seeks, While on the clouds the fairies sit, And try to shine it up a bit. —Judge. There's a time for everything. Taking off your boots after you get in bed indi cates a high old time.— Buvjh.am.ton Leader. A woman may not be able to find her pocket, but she never has it filled with letters she has forgotten to mail.— Elmira Gazette. "This is the worst snap I ever struck," remarked the wooucLuck when he got caught in a steel trap. — Binghamton Re publican. This world is like a fruit-basket. The big and attractive get on top, while the little ones are crushed out of sight in tho bottom.— Puck. A worm has been discovered which .«eds on steel. There seems to be such a thing as hard eating as well as hard drinking.— Pack. You must call me early, mother, For I'm learning politics; Learning how to prove another Man's half dozen isn't six. —Pittsburg Bulletin. Maddox—"l suppose you call that politician 'Razor' because he ;"sso sharp?" Gazzarn—"No; because he aas a pull." —New Fork Sun. The reason why women do not pro pose is supposed to be due to the fact that they want to have the last word.— Boston Transcript. "Do you distrust fat men, Captain?" "Well, no," returned the old sea dog; "not exactly, but I always give them a wide berth."— Harper's Bazar. '?his world is like a crowded 'bus, A few good men, perhaps, Mav find a soat, but most of us Must hang on by the straps. —Chicago Journal. When a man goes upstairs late at night and skips every other step inan eudeavor to keep quiet he always seems to skip the steps that don't creak.— Elmira Gazette. Budgkins (about to get his life insured) —"Now, what kind of policy would you advise?" Blinkins—"Well, I've always heard honesty very highly recommended." —Boston Post. Father—"Why don't you work?" Son —"Why, I am as busy as a bee." Father —"You do nothing but eat." Son— "Well, that is all the bees arc doing just now."— New York Herald. A man with a feverish love of gold Will find no sure cure nor reliever, Because in all life's list of ills, One of the worst is yellow fever. Philadelphia Times. The Edge Was Taken Off.—Maid (to ue esthetic mistress) —"What, madam, is broke in French?" Madam—"Casse." Maid—"Oh, yes! Well, I think your royal Worcester centerpiece is casse."— American, Stationer. Doctor—"l have the pleasure of in forming you, Mr. Captious, that you are the father of triplets." Mr. C.—"Ex cuse me, Doctor, l>ut as there have been so many discrepancies in the census lately, won't you oblige tne with a re count."—Mercury. "Grindstone, were yoi. ever a candi date for office?" asked his friend. "Yes, I went through a campaign once as a candidate," replied Grindstone, as a look of pain flitted across his face, "but I lived it down, Kiljordau—l lived it down."— Chicago Tribune. "Talk about extravagance!" exclaimed a Marseilles man, to whom some one was recounting the luxury of the Parisian youth, "why, I know two young men who actually keep a couple of African servants merely to briug up black edged letters."— London Globe,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers