SULLIVAN JB&I REPUBLICAN. W. M. CHENEY. Publisher. VOL. XIII. It is said that tho rldo from Cannes, France, to Genoa, Italy, is tho finest railroad journey in the world. San Francisco is said to bo rapidly declining in prosperity and tho Cali fornia people blame tho Southern Pa cific Bailroad for it. Tho cities of New York owe §171,- 030,000; tho towns, §14,000,000, and tho villages, §2,000,000, while the counties owo less than 514,000,000. The egg product of tho United States is much more valuable than is generally supposed. It amounts to §100,000,000 per annum, about one third tho value of tho wheat crop. Sixty-si* out of one hundred Ameri can farmers own their farms. More than half of them have no incumbrance whatever. They are infinitely better off than our urban population and their condition is constantly improv ing. With good roads and intelli gence, predicts the Atlanta Constitu tion, farmers will bo the rulers of tho earth, literally. One secret of Japanese success is il lustrated by tho fuct, told in Kato Field's Washington, that tho new Japanese Minister, Mr. Kurino, pays such special attention to journalists. H<) will often keep peoplo who have important business with tho Legation waiting while ho talks to a newspaper correspondent about Japan, its peoplo and customs, tho war, or any other topic that may be uppermost. Who is the most learned man in the ■world? nsks the Now Orleans Pica yune. If degrees count, a good claim may be made out for Herr von Goss ler, the oberpresidoiit of West Prus sia, who has just been made a doctor of pliilosphy honoris causa by the philosophical faculty of tho Univer sity of Halle. Ho is thereby the pos sessor of a doctor's diploma in nil tho four academical faculties. Ho is a doctor of law, and a doctor of philos ophy, and has attained the rare dis tinction of tho so-called "doctor quad ruples. " Tho money value of hands nnd finders lias l>oen mado tho subject of nn interesting estimate by one of the German miners' accident insurance companies. According to this tho loss of both hands represents a loss of 100 per cent, efficiency, or, in other words, the whole ability to earn a living. Losing the ri; ■ Lit hand depreciates tho value of an individual as a worker seventy to eighty per cent., while the loss of tho left hand represents from sixty to seventy per cent, cf the earn ings of botii hands. The thumb is reckoned to bo worth from twenty to thirty per ceut. of tho earniugs, tho first linger of tho right hand is valued at from fourteen to eighteen percent; that of the left hand, at from eight to 13.5 per cent. Tho middle finger is valued at 110 moro than from seven to nine per cent., while the little finger is worth from nine to twelve per cent, -the difference in tho percentages, it is explained, is occasioned by tlio differ ence in tho trades followed by the in jured ones. "Tho investigations of Dr. Pnrk hu'rst and tho Lexow Committee make it reasonably certain that in tho past thirty years New York's police force hns levied nnd collected 8100,000,000 blackmail. The shndy houses iu New York have paid in hush monov," esti mates tho Atlanta Constitution, "83,- 450,000 a year to the police officials. Tho blood money paid by tho green goods men amounts to 814,000 per an num. The policy writers have paid the police 81i','2t)0 a year. A con servative estimate shows that the gamblers have paid £7:!,000 a year for this unlawful protection. About two thousand merchants pay SIO,OOO year for the privilego of obstructing the sidewalks with their goods. Tho saloon keepers pay about 81,750.000 a year to escape prosecution for their violations of law. The evidence shows that this blackmail has been levied for thirty years, and at tho lowest es timate it must amount to 8100,000,000, and it may possibly run 850,000,000 above thnt sum. Such a chapter of municipal corruption has never before been exposed. And yet it must bo ad-' mitted that Now York has many po lice officers and privates who are as honest, brave and efficient as any in tho land. But the corrupt conduct of Others bus brought the entire force under suspicion. Naturally, tho scan dal has encouraged tho lawless classes, nnd they are loud in their :clamor against the police. In the interests of law and order it is to be hoped that there will be a thorough and speedy reform, ft would be a calamity to the whole country to have this state of af fairs continue much longer iu the metropolis." THE CROAKEn. When ft ain't n-gola' to blow, It'lljguow, It'll snow! i When tho land with oash Is bumratn', There's a monoy panto comln' I When tho sky Is buamln' bright, Thero's a hurricane in slight 1 And you'll know, And you'll know, It was him who told yoa so 1 When tho crops nrogrowln' ilno. They'll decline, They'll decline! When tho weather's kin.lor sunny, "All tho heat will melt tho honey! When it's lookiu' rather wot, It will drown tho cotton yot! And you'll know, And you'll know, It was him who told you so I no's a groat ono in his way, Every day, Every day! 110 is alwnj-3 prophesying : You nro eithor dead, or dying; Anil no mntter what you do, It's exactly as ho know 1 And you'll know, Know, know. It was liiui who told you so! —P. h. Stanton. THE ABANDONEI)~HOUSE. BY FRANCOIS COFFEE. fa OR fifteen years I ' passed nearly cfvery day, 'and some times twice a day, through a littlo street situated at the extreme limit of tho Faubourg St. Germain, and ending in one of thoso magnificent boulovards which radiate about des Invidides. It was one of those very rare Parisian by-ways whero thero is not a single shop. I do not know a more tranquil spot. Several gardens, enclosed in long low walls overhung with branches, nhed over tho deserted street in May the delicate odor of lilacs; in June, tho heavier perfume of elderllowers and acacias. Among those was one abodo even more isolated than the others. When the porto cocliero opened to admit a landau or coupe, the pedestrian (who heard tho echo of his steps on tho sidewalk) saw only a graveled road, bordered with a hedgo which turned abruptly toward a house hidden amid tho verdure. It would have been dif ficult to find a corner more secluded. Tho place contained neither gardener's house nor porter's lodgo—nothing but that nest in tho foliage. Tho pavilion was inhabited. The garden, gay with flowers, always care fully attended to, was a proof of that. In winter, tho smoke from the chim neys roso to tho gray sky, and in tho evening a light shone dimly behind tho thick curtains, always closely drawn. Several times I saw going or coming through tho lattice-door an old ser vant in sombro livery, and with a cir cumspect, even suspicious, air. Evi dently I should gain nothing by inter rogating him. Besides, what right had I to troublo with vain curiosity tho unknown host or hosts of tho closed house? I respected their secret, but the enigmatical dwelling continued to ex ercise for me its singular attraction. One July night, a stifling night, un der a dark, heavy sky, I camo homo about eleven o'clock, and, accord ing to my usual habit, I mechanically turned my steps so as to pass before the mysterious pavilion. The little street, lighted only by three gas jets fur apart,which flickered in tho heated air, was abso lutely deserted. Not a leaf stirred on the trees m the garden. All nature was dumb in tho quiet which precedes a storm. I was in front of the pavilion, when somo notes wero struck on a piano within and echoed in tho motionless air. I noticed with surprise that, doubtless because of tho heat, two of the windows wero pnrtly open, though not enough for ono to see tho interior of tho apartment. Suddenly a woman's voico, a soprano of wonderful sweet ness and power, burst forth upon the silence of tho night. She sang a short melody, of strange rhythm and tho most touching melan choly, iu which I divined instinctively a popular air, ono of those flowers of primitive music which are never gath ered in the gardens raked by profes sional maestri. Yes, it certainly was a folk song, but of what country? I did not recognize tho tongue iu which the words wero written, but I felt there the plaintive inspiration, and fancied that I detected in them tho sad spirit of tho North. The air was thrilling, tho voice sublime. It hard ly lusted two minutes, but I never felt in all my life such a deep musical sen sation, and long after the song had died away, I felt still vibrating within me tho final melodious note, sharp, penetrating, sad, liko a long cry of pain. I remained there for a long time in the hope of hearing that de licious voice again, but suddenly a storm burst upon tho city. Tho wind shook tho trees. I folt a large drop of rain on my hand. I was obliged to make all haste to get home. Somo days afterward ' was in tho Casino at Dieppe with some jolly com panions, nnd took part in an anima ted discussion upon music. I praised popular airs, which spring spontane ously from au innocont sentiment. In aid of my theory, I relatod my adven ture. "What do you think of this air?" I asked Prince Khaloff, a young Rus sian witjv whom I was very intimate. "I shall never forget iA," I said warm LAPORTE, PA., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1894. ly. I proceeded to sing it indifferently well. "Well," replied the young prince, "you can congratulate yourself, my dear sir, in having had such a r iro treat. That melody is a song of the sailors of Drontheim, away ont in Norway, and the beautiful voice must have been that of Stolberg, with whom we were all in love two years ago, when sho inndo her debnt in St. Peters burg—that Stolberg was the rival of her countrywoman Nilsson, and who would ihave become one of the great est singers of the century if she had not been suddenly snatched from art, from tho stage, from success of all kinds by her love for Count Basil Lobanof, at that time my com rade in the Guards, when we were both cornets in the cavalry. Yes, for two years wo were without news of Basil. Ho had given up his commission and left Russia without saying adieu to any one. And we only knew vaguely that ho had hidden himself in Paris with his wifo; but wo wero ignorant of the piaco of his retreat till you now revealed it by chance." "So," said I, "tho wonderfully gifted artist has ronounced everything for a little lovo affair." • C°v rather for a great passion I" cried tho prince. "Although very voung, Stolberg had had numerous flirtations when she met Lobanof. 1 was there in tho green room on tho evening when Basil—who, I should tell you, is as handsome as a god—was presented to her, and I sow the diva pale with emotion, oven under her powder and paint. Oh, it was start ling, and I thought that sho would carry off our young friend that same evening, pell-mell, with the trium phant bouquets, after tho fifth act. But immediately ho became ao jealous as a Mussulman—yes, jealous of the very public when sho sang. He was always there in tho front seats of the orchestra, and at each burst of ap plause ho turned abruptly, and oast a sombro look over tho house. That look seemed to express a desire to slap tho whole audience in the face. Everything went wrong. Even when the Czar was pres ent, the prima donna had eyes for no one but Basil—sang always to Basil. That caused trouble behind tho scenes, and the poor girl decided to leavo the stage. She did so at tho end of three months, at tho close of her engage ment. He married her- and sinco then thoy havo hidden themselves in Paris, in tho retreat which you dis covered. They must be dead in loves But I will wager that Basil will get over it. He is built liko the Farnese Hercules, and they say poor Stolberg is consumptive. They pretend oven that it is disease which gives her voice its wonderful power and extraordi nary sweetness aud pathos. Her gift is the result of disease, liko the pearl. All tho same, no matter how much in love with Lobanof the poor girl is, she will dio of weariness in that cago in which ho keeps her. Then sho must sing very rarely, since in tho many times you havo passod before their house you have hoard her but once, that night of the storm. Well, it will end badly." Tho conversation turned to other things, and tho next day I left Dieppe togo with some friendsto Lower Nor mandy. I had only been there ten days when I read accidentally inn the atrical paper tho following notice: "We announce-with sorrow the death of Mile. Ida Stolberg, the Swedish cantatrice, who shono so briefly and brilliantly on the stago iu Germany and Russia, nnd who renounced her lyrical career in tho midst of her suc cess and has been living quietly in Boris for two years past. She died of pulmonary consumption." I had never seen Stolberg. Once only had I heard that incomparable voice. Still, tho reading of this com monplace notice, which announced to me the fulfilment of Prince Khaloff's dismal prophecy, broko my heart. I know now the wholo mystery of tho closed house. It was thero that the poor woman had languished and been extinguished, deeply in love, no doubt, but stifled also by tho captivity to whioh she was condemned by tho jealousy of her husband. No doubt, also, sho was full of regrets for the former triumphs of her abandoned art. Tho fate of Stollierg seemed so sad to mo that I fairly hated tho man who had sacrificed her whole life. He sectned to mo a fop, an egotist, a brute. I was certain that he would soon console himself for the loss of his wife, that ho would soon forget the poor dead woman, and that, un worthy of the love which ho had in spired, ho would also bo incapable of grief or fidelity. On my return to Paris, ono of the first persons I met on tho Boulevard was Prince Khaloff. 1 told him how much I had beon moved at tho news of the singer's death, nnd I could not hide from him tho instinctive antipathy which I felt toward Lobanof. "Behold, you people of imagina tion!" cried tho prince. "You were charmed for an instant by this wo man's voice, and you feel a posthu mous love for her, and a retrospective jealousy of my poor friend. I own to you that I have always thought Basil H more sensual than sensible man, more pastiionato than teudor; but I have seen him since poor Ida's death, and he is a prey, I assuro yon, to the most horrible and sineero despair. When I expressed my sympathy to him, he cast himself in my arms, and repeated to me, as he wept on my shoulder, that he could live no longer. And it was not pretence. He goes at once to Senegal, to join the Jackson mission, a party of explorers, who will bury themselves, probably for ever, in frightful Africa. That is not oommon, you will own. It is to be feared that fever or cholera, or a shot from the gun of a savage, will end the poor boy's life and sorrows. Take book, I beg yoa, your rash and pre mature judgment upon him. Besides, he had before hia departnro an idea which ahould certainly seem affecting to you. That pavilion, where ho haa been so happy and ao unhappy, be longs to him. Well, he haa closed it forever. Basil wishes that no living being should ever again penetrate that abode of love and sorrow. You can pass there now, and see tho house fall into ruin, and on tho day when they put a notioo upon it, on that day you can say, 'Basil Lobanof is dead.'" ' I left the prince, and the next day, reproaching myself for my injnstioe, 1 went to see the deserted house. Tho shutters were closed; the dead leaves of tho great plane tree, half-bare (it was the end of aatnmn), covered the grass of the lawn. Weeds forced their way through the gravelled walk. The work of destruction had begun. Months passed; a year; then anoth er J then tho diiily papers were full of the great anxiety felt over tho fate of Jockßon and his companions, from whom no news had come. You know that oven to-day the world is ignorant of tho fate of thoso brave explorers. Living always in the same vicinity and passing every day before tho abandoned pavilion, I say it deoay, little by little. Tho rain of two win ters hail lashed constantly tho plaster of tho facade and covered it with a damp mould. Then the slate roof was damaged by wind and [rain storms. Dampness attackud everything. Liz ards sunned thcraselvos on the wall; tho balcony was loosened; the roof bent. Tho appearanco of the poor house becasio lamentable. Ab for tho garden, it had returned quickly to its savage state. Tho llowers were not cultivated ; tho roso bushes wero untrimmed, and had only leaves and branches; tho geraniums wero dead. Tho grass had long since disappeared under tho dead hay, and tho high stalks of tho weeds were dis dained even by tho butterflies. Noth ing grow there but thistles and tho palo poppy. It was a gloomy spot I Years rollod on. It was now im possible to hope for the roturn of tho Jackson party. Evidently those in trepid pioneers had succumbed to hunger an.l thirst in some horriblo desert or been massacred by tho sav ages, ond Count Basil Lobanof was dead with them, faithful to his Stol berg. The deserted house had fallen absolutely into ruins. The great tree which was near the house, and whoso foliago was no longer kept in check by trimming, had thrust one of its im mense branches through tho window. Tho shutters had fallen off, and the tree had pushed its way into tho in terior of tho disembowelled house. Thero might be mushrooms within and oven grass growing on tho floor of the salon. Each time 1 passed be fore tho old ruin which had como to to tho last stages of decay, I thought, abandoning myself to a romantic rev ery,—"lt is better that it should be so. If they had heard of the count's death, tho heirs no doubt would havo caused steps to bo taken at once for its restoration. They would have broken it open brutally, and let in tho garish light of day, to deseerato thoso hal lowed associations of lovoand sorrow. Basil Lobanof has dono well to disap pear, and nature lovingly destroys slowly this old lovo-nest, and keeps it from profanation." Tho other day I saw the ruin again ; tho branches of the great treo camo through tho roof, and thero were lit tle trees growing in the rocks. Then I met Prince Khaloff, who had not been in Franoo for o dozen yetfrs. Wo walked and talked together, and I told him all about the abandoned house, its slow destruction, and tho thoughts it Buggested. Tho princo burst into laughter. "Decidedly, my dear fellow, you will never bo anything but a poet. Basil is marriodragaiu, the father of three children, and holds the ofllco of First Secretary to tho Russian Ambas sador at liome." "Tho Count Lobanof is not dead!" I cried, stupefied. "On my last visit to Rome ho was as well as you or I." "Ho did not go with the Jackson party? Oh, the perfidious man!" I cried, furious at my wasted sympathy. "I should have suspected him. It Beeras that he forgot his dead love at once." "Oh no," replied tho prince. "Basil is not so guilty as that. Wild with griof after her death, ho would, for good or bad go with the party, and ho set out for Sonogam bia. But on tho sixth day of their morch ho fell seriously ill and was taken to St. Louis by a caravan, in the greatest agony. There ho re covered —but it was not his fault. His friends profited by his weakness and lack of energy to carry hitn back to Europe, aud since then, after waiting a long time, ho has consoled himself." "But then the deserted house? What does that comedy signify?" asked I, iu a bad humor. "How severe you are, my dear !" re plied the amiable Russian. "It is not a comedy, but it proves ou tho con - trary, that tho count is a man of honor. What did ho promiso? That as long as he lived no one should go under the roof which had sheltered his love. And ho has kept his word, though it has cost him a great deal. Besides, who knows if he does not always mourn his delightful singer, aud regret bitterly tho evenings passed in that closed house, listening to tho divinely sad musio of that voice which caused him BO much happiness, so much sorrow? All that I can tell yon," added the prince with an ironical smile, "is that with a large fortune, a beautiful funily, and a homo in tho Eternal City, a despairing love twelve years old ought to bo endurable I" —Translated foi Romance. Cloves grow wild in tho Moluccas. SCIENTIFIC AUD INDUSTRIAL. The whistling buoy can be heard •bout fifteen miles. Asiatic cholera is the most rapidly fatal thing known to medical ecienoe. Carriages propelled by electricity dorived from a storago battery are common in Berlin. A French physician reports a cose of hiocough successfully treated by taking snuff until sneezing was pro voked. Lightning is most destructive in level, open country. Cities, withthoir numerous projections and wires, are comparatively exempt. A total absence of butterfly life in England is notod. Beyond an occa sional |white butterfly, there aro nono to bo seen this summer. Irish potatoes in a store, with a cel lar under them, will stand a tompera titre of ten dogrces, and without a cel lar a zero temperature will not hurt them. Gardening ants collect pieoes of vegetable and pile them up to rot in the dark Interior of their nests until tho rubbish is covered with a growth of fungus on whicn tho ants feod. Peoplo wink becauso the eye must be kept clean and moist, and by tho actiou of tho eyelids tho fluid secreted by the glands of tho eyes is spread equally over the surface of the globe. The greatest earthquake on record within the limits of the United States occurred in California in 1872. Foz ten days tho ground was continuously agitated, not being perfeotly quiet for as long as a singlo minute. At the meeting of tho German Con gress of Natural Science in Vienna, Professor Bolteman deliverod an inter esting lecturo on aorial locomotion. Ho predicted the greatest success for tho application of aeroplanes. At Predimost, in Bohemia, where many mammoth skeletons havo been unearthed, a prehistoric family has lately been found. Tho skeletons of the man, woman and children are com plete, the man's being of enormous size. A Boston author, who is convinced that the printing of books in white and black is unnatural and trying to the eyes, is about to bring one out with tho* pages blue, green, yellow, etc., purchaser to make choice of his or her own color. Professor lloux, of Paris, at a recent hj-gienfc congress at Budapest, assorted that in tho Paris hospitals seventy-five per cent, of tho children inoculated with Bohring's auti-diphthoritino (serum taken from liorsea) were saved, while of those not inoculated sixty per cent, died aud only forty per cent, survived. Released Her Imprisoned Foot. A wonion crossing a network of rail road tracks in Long Island City not long ago stepped on a frog, which wa;i unlocked, and pinioned her foot se curely. Thero was possibly no danger from an approaching train, for thero wero many men abont, but her posi tion was not comfortable. Her cries attracted assistanco to her aide, and the groups of men began suggesting first ono thing, then an other to release tho foot. "Givo a sudden jerk," suggested one. "Slide your foot forward," said another. Tho woman tried, but could not movo her foot. "No, that won't do," cried a third. "Get a crowbar. Get anything. Wo'vo gotto pry it out." At this the woman beoamo hystorical, ond the men all grow nervous. Several ran up tho track, aud several down to signal any approaching train. Just then, when tho excitement was high, a railroad employo crossed tho track, swinging a tin dinner pail. "What's tho matter?" ho asked of ono of the crowd. The situation was ex plained to him. Everything had been tried, his informant said, and thoy were waiting for a crowbar. "Why don't pou unlace tho shoe," ho said, and taking a knifo from his pocket he cut tho laces. No one had thought of that, but the remedy was effectual, and iu fifteen seconds tho half fointing woman was able to pull her foot from tho shoe, and a slight offort then released tho latter. —New York Herald. Wanton Destruction ot Reindeer. Tho use of firearms has lod to tho wanton destruation of tho roindeer for tho sake of their skins, thoir ant lers, and thoir tongues, which aro a rare delicacy. It is to bo fearod that tho Greenland roindeer will soon go tho way of the buffalo of our Western plains; and so of tho fur-bearing ani mals in general. Tho natural increase is sufficiently checltod by the original native methods of cateliing them iu traps. Tho seal, also, tho most im portant of all the animals upon which they depend for existence—furnishing them food, clothing, fuel, and cover ing for tho kayak—is in danger of be ing exterminated by the more destruc tive methods ot hunting introduced by modern inventions.—New York Post. \. National <»Clothiug Department." Tho men who fought the establish ment of tho Department of Agricul ture a few ycais ago on tho ground that it waG unnecessary, will perhaps be surprised to learn that ono huu ■dred years ago thero was a "Clothing Department," and that Congress is sued regulations for a clothier gen eral, a Stato clothier, a regimental clothier, and so on. A "department of clothiug" would cxcito derisive laughter now. Thero was o good deal of inquiry and report on tho subject of clothing for the continental army, and at one time General Horntio Gates reported that the cost of clothing each man was $23. —'Washington Star. Term*—sl.oo in AdTAnoei t1.25 after Three Months. THE VALUABLE FUR SEAL. AN ANIMAL OVER WHICH GOVERN MENTS HAVE ARBITRATED. Princely Royalty Derived by the United states From Seals Killed— A Remarkable Creature. THE fur seal (its name should be furry sea lion) is the most celebrated of all our fur bcareis, and the United States Government has been as active in pro tecting it from destruction as it wai indifferent to tho fate of the buffalo millions. If our great international dispute with England and Canada over the fur soal had arisen seventy years ago, before the days of peacefnl arbitration, there would surely have been a war over it. Nor is our inter est in our fur seal to be wondered at when wo stop to consider that from 1870 to 1890 our National Treasury received §6,000,000 from the Alaska Commercial Company as royalty on the animals killed (six-sevenths of tho purchase price of Alaska). When to this we add the amount received in a twenty per cent, import duty on the dressed skins as thoy camo back to us from the English dyers, the total revenue derived from tho fur soal in twenty years amounts to the enor mous sum of §8,500,000. Such an animal was worth saving from destruc tion. No other quadruped over be came such a bono of contention be tween two great nations for a long period, the discussion winding up with a high and mighty conference of arbitration. As usual, tho whole troublo aroso through tho greediness of a few irre sponsible and lawless individuals. Tho sealers of tho Pacific coast insisted upon taking fur seals by shooting them in the open sea, by which waste ful process seven were lost for every three secured. But if it were not for the loss of money revenuo derived from this animal, it is quite certain the Government would havo allowed tho wasteful slaughter togo on until the last seal was dead. The fur seal is not a true seal by any meaus, but a sea lion, with naked, paddle-shaped flippers and tiny ears. It is about two-thirds tho size of tho Zalophus, and is therefore tho small est membor of the sea-lion family. Mr. Elliott gives tho average length of the full-grown male animal as six feot from noso to tail, and weight from 350 to 500 pounds. Tho average length of the adult female is a tritlo over four feet, and weight from sixty two to seventy-live pounds. When dry, tho coat is of a dark, steel gray color, and only the coarse, stilt outer hair is visible. Underneath this lies a dense coat of v?ry tino and soft light-brown fur, in which lies all tho value of the skin. In preparing tho pelt, tho coarse outer hair is entirely removed, and tho underlying fur is dyed a shiny, lustrous black, and sheared down very evenly. For eomo mysterious reason, we, the peoplo of "Yankee ingenuity," are actually un abletodyeseal fur successfully, and this work is from sheer uecessity sent to England. Whou it comes back, thero is o high rato of duty to pay, which in addition to the original royalty of §10.22 paid to the Government by tho North American Commercial Company for every skin taken, tho very 'ong bill of transportation charges, labor, and profits all along tho line, from tho back of tho seal to that of tho fortu nate wearer, accounts for tho price of from §250 to §GOO on a seal skin cloak. In its habits the fur seal is a re markable creature. With 6000 miles of coast to land upon if it chose, his strange anil perverse animal now re fuses to set flipper upon any portion of the wholo North American conti nent, island or mainland, savo tho two little dots of land in Bering Sea, St. Paul, and St. Georgo Islands, known to the world collectively as tho Pribilof Islands. St. Paul is seven miles by fourteen, and St. Georgo ia only five and a half by thirteen. And yet, when Mr. Elliott made his careful and elaborato surveys of all tho "rookeries," or herding grounds on those islands, in July, 1873, ami laboriously calculated tho number of their fin footed inhabitants, he found there tho astonishing number of 3,- 193,420 fur seals. Like sheep in a pen, they actually crowded one another on tho sloping shores of sand, or water worn boulders, or tables of slaty blue basalt. Each burly old male appears a giant beside tho females an I young males gathered around him. -St. Nich olas. "A Heap ot Milk." Tho Earl of Surrey, in one of hia best poems, says: Laid In my quiot bed, In study as X were I saw within my troubled head A heap of thoughts appear. He hero nses "heap" in preciselj the sense given it by people iu South ern Indiaua, in Georgia, in Texas, and generally over a largo part of tho United States. This seoso of tho word is very primitive. I believe tho Cen tury Dictionary gives the sense of a crowd or throng as the earliest mean ing of tho word. It was good when the first colonists came out of Eng land. It seems a little monstrous now a-days to hoar a man speak of his cow's giving "a heap of milk," or to hear that "there was a heap of people at tho basket ineetin'."—Century. Ail Island Inhabited by Turtles. Caycay, a West. India island, is in habited exclusively by turtles,* some of which grow to an enormous size. Attempt? to establish human habita tions oi the island lmve always failed. The turtles undermine the foundations of the house >v and not (infrequently attack the inmates.— New Yori Mail and Eajwew. NO. 6. COUNTRY'S MOVIWM Bar your say an' sing your song— Country's movln' right along ? Spring or summer—hall or snow. Country's always on tho go! Puffin', blowln', Hot, or snowin', Always goln',' Coin'! Coin'! Say your say l>y night an' day—» Country's happy on tho wny ! Spite o' wouthor, splto o' crops. Always goln'—nover stops! PuiTln', blowln', Makes a showin' ; Always goln', Ooln'! Goln'! Stormy skle«, or weather fair, Country's got tho roadway clear I ' '• Storms may how), or bells may chime. Country's goln' all the time! I'uflln', blowln', Reapin', sowln', Always goln', Goin'! Goln'! —Atlanta Constitution. HUMOR OF THE DAY. Man wants but little here below— woman wants the rest.—Truth. A man never knows how to be a sou until ho lms become a father.—Atchi son Globe. With most people, success has a strong tendency to destroy belief in luck.—Puck. He —"I hear that you aro going abroad in a month?" She—"Not much—in a boat."—Truth. He—"l'm telling you the honest truth." She— "ls there dishonest truth?"— Detroit Frjo Press. Popularity is one of the most vague and undefined possessions that man ac quires.—Milwaukee Journal. When a man goes into business, everybody wonders "whero on earth ho got the money."—Atchison Globe. This sweet old world is funuy. But we learn it by decrees; Tho bees first steal tho honey, Then wo steal it from tho boos! —Atlanta Constitution. The trouble about tho trials of this life is that a fellow always wants to render his own verdicts. —Cleveland Plain Dealer. Visitor (discovering acquaintance) "Hello, what nro you hero for?" Prisoner (briefly) "For six months." —Dotroit Freo Press. The Author—"l trust you enjoyed my play?" The Parvenu —"You, in deed. Tho entr'actes are so delight ful."—Chieogo Record. Nor bruised nor bleeding wis tho man Who near tho cur's front look :i seat; No broken bones had he, although He'd fallen over forty loot. —ruck. "I want n position for my son as an editor?" "What are his qualifica tions?" "Failod in every thing else." —Atlanta Constitution. "Did you tell your mistress that I called yesterday when sho was out?" Maid—"lt wasn't necessary. Sho saw you coming."—lnter-Ocean. "Flossio has accepted that liotrid old Goldheap. What do you suppose she was thinking of ?" Hettio —"Her- self, dear."—Chicago Inter-Ocean. Sho laughed at every little jest, Even though it might bo stmple; It wasn't a wish to show her tasto, 13ut a cunning little dimple. —Chicago luter-Ocoan. Agent—"Bnnkor is a social philoso pher." Caller—"ln what respect?" Agent—"Ho never kicks when we dun him repeatedly for his rent, lie jUbt moves." - Dr. Emdee—"Years aero tho doctors used to bleed their patients for about everything thoy had." Van Pelt "The practice doesn't chango much, does it?"—Truth. Kashem—"Why don't you put a check to that fellow who i3 everlast ingly duniiiugyou?" Bilker "What'd be the use? The bank wouldn't pay it."—Buffalo Courier. Old Lady (proudly)—"My boy is i» hustler all the time, but he is hump ing himself here lately." Visitor—"ls that so? What bicycle does he ride?" —Detroit Freo Press. Now all tho collego boys b?sfow Upon their hair aud muselo Consummate eare, lieeausothoy know In iootbull they must hustle. —Washington Star. Minks—"There is one great objec tion to onions." Winks—"What's that?" "They are wholesome." "Do you consider that an objection?" "Cer tainly. People who are fond of tliem don't die half so soon as you'd like them to."—New York Weekly. "Yas," said Mr. Jason, "I allow that women air tho sentimental sex and all thot sort of thing, but I've allays noticed that when a couple git engaged it is the woman that first thinks of figgcriu' out how they air to live on his salary."—lndianapolis Journal. Indicative : "What makes you think Jack Youngley is going to propose to you?" "Why, wo were dancing tho other night an-l I complimented him upon the oasy way in which he held me. 'Oh, yes," lie said, 'it's always easy for mo to hold my own.'" — Brooklyn Life. Grass Growing a Science. Sineo grass growing has beoome A science and nu art you may hire a man to create a lawn for you in a fifth of the time once thought neoessary for such a creation. Thick and Insurious lawns are produced between spring and autumn, and a lawn of two years under the modern forcing proccas may easily rivol one of five years under tho old-fashioned system. Artifieal stim ulants and abundant water are re sponsible for the now order ot thing*. —Chicago Herald,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers