Republican news item. (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, September 29, 1898, Image 2
Golf is recommended as a sure cure tor degeneration,especially that whiob accompanies old age. There is a growing impression thai most of the wealth in Alaska was • brought there by people desirous of getting rich. St. Louis, Mo., has issued instruc tions through superintendents to the principals and teachers that there is to be no more home work that shall in involve the study of text-books. In an article in the Revue des Deux Mondes M. Fouille declares that, while the modern Greeks are not de scended wholly from Slavs, as some have maintained, they certainly are not lineal descendants of the great peoples who made Greece famous. Apropos of the anti-vaccination crusade going ou in London, it is in teresting to note that in Norway and Sweden and Denmark vaccination is enforced in a novel way. People can not be married without each produc ing their certificate of vaccination, Without this the minister cannot per form the ceremony. Professor Mommsen's complacent prophecy that the British empire will soon disintegrate, and that in the process France will get Egypt, Russia will take India, and Germany will ap propriate South Africa, is redolent of the jjerfume of the cloister. He seems to forget that across the north ern frontier of India nature has stretched almost impregnable fortifi cations in the steep mouutaiu range that guards the border; that Egypt will be quite as difficult to take and keep today as when Napoleon tried the experiment, and that Germany in South Africa is helpless against Brit ish sea power. St. Petersburg dispatches indicate that Russia may again require Ameri can wheat and corn to eke out her needs. In many provinces, contrary to expectations, the crops have proved a total failure, and famine is impend ing. This will tend to arrest decline of prices for wheat and other cereals consequent upon the heavy crops in the United States, for the Russian government is already taking steps to purchase large quantities of these sta ples abroad. American farmers should not forget that it is chance and not their own foresight in this in stance that will have enabled them to realize fair prices for their products. A pathetic commentary on the es teem in which the world holds the memory of Prince Bismarck is to be seen in the fact that hardly a word in the vast Hood of mes sages of condolence that flowed upon Fried'ricbsrulie spoke of human pity or human love for the dead, observes the Christian Register,. It seemed that even Germany had ceased to re member that Otto von Bismarck was at any time a man, but regarded him as a fallen political colossus whose im passive brow had reached far above the lightning and the clouds; a sort of modern Zeus, at whose imperious nod united Germany had arisen out of chaos; a divinity whom human maligni ty might and did reach, but who was beyond the love of man. Germany laid her legendary hero into the grave with vaunting upon her lips, but the scalding tears that were shed by the world when Gladstone was committed to earth were wanting at the cold and formal obsequies of Prince Bismarck. An interesting example of how na ture accommodates herself to circum stances, is related by a resident of the arid section in the western part of Texas. It was in connection with an experiment in coaxing plum trees tc grow. In a portion of this arid re gion near Alpine, a stream of water runs from thirty to forty feet below the surface, too far for the roots of trees to reach it, and the country, therefore, was treeless. But an emi grant from Ohio thought out a way to force a tree to bore for water. He selected a hardy plum, cut off the small roots, leaving only the tap root, and planted it deep. He fed the root with water daily, throngh a hole in the ground, and by cutting off the sprouts as they appeared, he concen trated the growth of the tree on the tap-root. He proved his theory. In time that tap-root reached the under ground water supply, and no further care of the tree was necessary. Other trees were treated in like manner, and the result is a thrifty orchard in a re gion where rain seldom falls. An other unique development is that trees grown from the seed of the Ohio man's stock need no education. They bore for water as soon as they are set out, and there is little or no growth above ground until the wW«* if reached. Spain's diplomats seem to be hop> ing for an unforseen mine explosion under the peace negotiations. The value of American manufao turers sold abroad last year was $288,- 871,499, an increase of 100 per over the figures for 1888. The returns show that in the war with Spain twelve men were killed in the navy—not quite one-twenty-sec ond of the number killed on the Maine in a single instant of peace. According to returns published by the British boa>'d of trade, the im ports of American pig iron into Great Britain during the first six months of 1898 aggregated 30,231 tons, valued at $332,155, and of American steel, unwrought, 12,832 tons, valued at $325,980: Maine is again to enter the list of copper-mining states. The deposits, which are numerous and valuable, were worked more than twenty-five years ago, but a sudden decline in the price of copper made them un profitable; improved and cheapened method of production is the cause of resumption of work. A San Francisco court has just de cided that couples wedded at sea are not legally married. This ruling brings consternation to many families in that city. Some months ago a ro mantic pair hired a tug aud steamed out on the Pacific to be united in the holy bonds. The idea caught the fancy of young people, and since then there have been forty or fifty mar riages of that sort off the Golden Gate. Here are some of the conclusions that English experts have arrived at concerning the naval features of the war: Fast battleships are everything; have big batteries aboard; teach the men to shoot well; as for personnel, the Anglo-Saxon cau beat anything that floats. These specifications cover the ground pretty well, though it might be well to mention the im portance of personal heroism,says the Boston Herald. The only significance in the small increase iu railway mileage iu the United States last year is that pretty nearly every available section of the country is now fully accessible by railroad. The railway mileage will of course continue to increase in the fu ture, but not at such a rate as in the past. With improvements that have been made in engine power and car rying capacity of cars, moreover, the present lines are able to accommo date mora traffic. This means that fewer railroad lines are likely togo into the hands of receivers hereafter and at the same time that demands of traffic will be met. The prune industry in California has had a remarkable growth in the last decade. In 1888 there were about 11,000 acres of bearing prune trees, and about GOOO acres more of young orchards. Between 1890 and 1894 about 40,000 acres of prune orchards Were planted. Since then the growth has proceeded in lesser degree, but the total bearing area is now estimat ed at 55,000 acres, with 10,000 more to come into bearing within the next year or two. The investment in lauds, trees, irrigation systems, agri cultural tools, aud packing houses is estimated at 525,000,000. This year's production of green fruit will amoftnt to about 84,000 tons, and growers an ticipate a crop of 100,000 tons within I few years. Of this year's yield, jibout one-fifth will be shipped east as green fruit; the remainder will be dried, making, with the water evapo lated, about 24,000 tons. A writer in the Scientific American »jems to have taken careful note of Hie lifeboats on oceau steamers. He lays: "Any one who has traveled to »nd fro a few times can but notice the paucity of lifeboats and the fact that ihe davit room is not all utilized. The examination of fifteen photographs, representing as many liners,showed an Average of seven boats on each side; one ship only showing an interrupted /ine of ten large boats on each side. What does this average of fourteen boats to the ship represent? The fact that only those on the lee side can be used iu rough weather reduces the total to seven; two must be consid ered as sacrificed, smashed or cap sized during launching. Five are left, with a capacity of about 140 persons —less than the ship's crew. Life boats? If they are lifeboats, why do they fill aud sink with such rapidity? What use are rafts and life preserv ers in such calamities as that of the Elbe and the Bourgogne?" These are farming statements, and they are ev idently made by somebody with \nowledge of his topic. MOTHER'S VOICE. A mother sun* to her ohlld one day A mother spoke to her child one day A song ot the beautiful home above | In an angry voice, that made him start San(j it as only a woman sings As If an arrow had sped that way Whose heart Is tall of a mother's love. And pierced his loving and teuder heart. And many a time In the years that came And when he had grown to man's estate, He heard the sound of that low,sweet Bong; And was tempted and tried us all men are. It took him back to his ohlldhood days: He fell; for that mother's angry words It kept his feet from the paths of 'wrong. Had left on his heart a lusting scar. j MISS UPTON'S FIRST "ASSIGNMENT." I BY JOHN J. A'BECKET. P As the Uptons were in that condi tion of respectability and limited meanß which involves much sacrifice of comfort to appearances, Letty Up ton had resolved to do something that would add to the family income and bring to her the satisfaction of being self-supporting. Miss Upton was a trim, bright little body of 20 years; pretty, in a fresh, winning way, and naturally vivacious and eugaging. It had seemed to her that this personal equipment was a qualification for newspaper work. She had not the training necessary to se cure a teacher's position; the drudgery of typewriting was uncongenial, aud togo into a shop as a saleswoman was only to be thought of as a last re sort. Letty had seen in the Sunday pa pers long accounts of very wonderful experiences to which were affixed the names, real or assumed, of women writers. She thought she might be come, in time, a writer of such signed articles aud obtain high pay for them. Could she not write as well as those women? From the "stories" in the papers things seemed to come their way easily enough. Like many a reader of such "stories" Letty did not stop to reflect on the labor aud time expended on them, nor did she know anything of the trials aud disheartening rebuff's which have been encountered in "working them up." She was fortunate enough to ob tain, through the influence of a friend of her father, a position on the staff of writers for the Sunday edition of the Duily Investigator, one of the promi nent New York papers. The quarters of these writers seemed to Letty smaller aud more "cluttered up" than she had expected. There were three or four small rooms with roll-top desks in them and one or two chairs. The editor of the "Woman's Page" had her office in one of these rooms. She was a woman of about 40, with grayish hair and rather sharp features. Her glance was keen, her manner of speaking brief and to the point. Letty, when called before this edi tor to receive her first "assignment" or subject to be written up, obeyed the summons with eagerness and some trembling. What would she be sent to do? Oh, that her subject might be one on which she could be brilliant with ease! "Miss Upton," said the editor of the Woman's Page, holding a small slip of printed matter in her hand, "here is a report that Mrs. Harmon's daughter is going to marry a distin guished foreigner. Mrs. Harmon and the girl have been traveling in Europe for a year and are just back. The girl may have caught an Engish duke or something, as these Harmons are so rich. See her, find out who the man is, and write up all you can get about it. If it's true, the woman will be glad enough to talk about it." "Where does Mrs. Harmon live?" asked Miss Upton, taking the "cut ting." "Oh, I don't know," replied the editorial lady with a touch of impa tience, as she snipped out another paragraph marked with a blue cross from the paper before her, giving four quiok clicks with the office shears. "You'll have to get that from the di rectory or the 'Social Register.' Miss Jameson!" she called, sharply, takiug the freshly cut slip iu her hand aud looking past Letty with an air of to tally dismissing her from her miud. Letty withdrew, got the directory and looked for "Harmon" There were so many Harmons that she con cluded she had better try the "Social Register." The "Mrs. Harmon" whose daughter wastoluake a brilliant i>"u riage would b6 there, and several o the directory Harmons would not. She took down the names of half a dozen Harmons, with the addresses. She very much wished to ask the so ciety editor which "Mrs. Harmcn of this city"—that was all the slip said— was the Mrs. Harmon of her list; but she felt it would be more creditable to find that out herself. So she arranged her list in the order of their resi dences as she would have to take them on her way tip-town and sallied brisk ly forth. Miss Uptoii had determined that she was not going to be a "lady jour nalist" or "a lady who writes for the papers," but a "newspaper woman." This title seemed to her honest and direct and dignified. A "newspaper woman" would get sooner to writing those long, illustrated,signed "stories" in the Sunday paper than either of the other kinds of writers would! She called at the first place on the list and sent in her card by a maid who returned with the request that Miss Upton would state her purpose there, as Mrs. Harmon was very busy. Letty did not wish to aunounce herself to a servant as a "newspaper woman"—she could convey that in formutiou with better results if she did it personally. Some people had a prejudice against "reporters." Now she said simply, "I am from the Daily Investigator." "Mrs. Harmon never sees newspaper people," said the maid. "If you'd said that at the start I could have told yon, for those are my general or dara." "I should like yon to tell your mis tress that this is about something which she is interested in and that I will not detain her long," said Letty, with aggravated diguity. The maid reluctantly obeyed, or at least disappeared for a short time. Then she came back and said, "Mrs. Harmon begs to be excused." Letty was a little crestfallen. She did not believe the maid had been near her mistress again. How very mean in a rich woman with plenty of leisure to refuse even a reception to a girl seeking to earn a living! "Has Mrs, Harmon been abroad this year?"Letty asked the maid. In case this was the Mrs. Harmon there would be no object in calling on the other unimportant bearers of that name. "No," said the maid, as she closed the door iu Miss Upton's face. "Then she isn't the one I waut," said the newspaper woman to herself, "aud I have no more desire to see her than she has to see me." Trying to keep up her courage by this reflection, Letty made her way to the next house ou her list, and there —affecting a slightly haughty air as being likely to impress the servant and thereby, possbly, the mistress— she said, "I should like to see Mrs. Harmon for a moment." The servant looked at her with some surprise. "Mrs. Harmon is dead this two years," he said, deliberately. "Oh, really!" replied Letty, he;- haughty air suffering a sudden col lapse. "Perhaps I have made a mis take. This—isn't—Mrs.Nugent Har mon's?" This was the next Mrs. Har mou ou her list. Letty was proud of her finesse. "No. This is Mr. Thomas Har mon's; but Mrs. Nugent Harmon is dead, too," replied the man,regarding her with increased curiosity. Letty blushed furiously and felt a wild desire to laugh. This would cer tainly not have enhanced her standing iu the servant's eyes. Then, since this man seemed so acquainted with the Harmons, she was tempted to ask him if he knew which was the Mrs. Harmon whose daughter was to marry a foreign nobleman. Hut Letty could not quite bring her self to gleaning the uews she needed by friendly,confidential talk with men servants. So she only said, nervous ly, "There must be a mistake some where. Thank you," and hurried down the steps, feeling as if the mini's inquisitive eyes were burning into her back. All this wasn't very uice. In those "stories" of the Sunday papers there had been no preliminary failures to find the person. The reporter had al ways called at Mr. Whoever's and had "been cordially motioned to a chair," and then Mr. or Mrs. Whoever had proceeded to tell him all he wanted to know iu the most friendly,considerate way. However, to be discouraged would never do, so Letty, after a little sigh as she saw two young girls of her own age roll by in an elegant Victoria, went to the next Mrs. Harmon, wondering whether she were dead, too. liut she would have no mistakes here. She wrote on her card, "Will Mrs. Harmon please see Miss Upton of the Daily Investigator for a mo ment in regard to her daughter's en gagement?" Ah! Here was the reward of indus try. The servant said, "Mrs. Harmon will be down in a moment, miss. Will you please sit down and wait?" Iu a few moments Mrs. Harmon came in. She looked like a wealthy society woman, though younger than Miss Upton had expected to find her. She had a pair of keen, black eyes,her face was a sharply pointed one, and her lips were rather thin. She bowed to the reporter pleasant ly enough,but did not offer her hand. What could she do for Miss Upton? She kueAv the Daily Investigator very well. There was a slight accent on tiie "very." "There is a report, Mrs. Harmon, that your daughter is to marry a fov eigner of title, whom yon met during your travels in Europe this past year," said Miss Upton, with her most ingra tiating manner. "Won't you tell me some of the particulars?" "Do yon want to publish what I say in The Investigator?" asked Mrs. Har mon, quickly. "Why, of course,l want to print all that you are willing should appeal about the matter. The public, nat urally, has a great interest in the sub ject and wants to know about Miss Harmon's fiance?" Mrs. Harmon's eyes twinkled, and she drew in her lips a little strongly. She seemed amused. "She's tickled to death over it and will tell everything there is," thought Miss Upton, with an approving reflec tion on her own diplomatic tact. "Well, you must ask me what you want to know," said the lady, good naturedly. "Is the engagement announced yet?" asked Miss Upton, affably. "No," replied Mrs. Harmon, with an air of being very pronounced. "I can truly say that it is not announced yet. I can't imagine how the report that my daughter is engaged could have got out. What wonderful people yon newspaper folk are!" "I understand that the engagement id not announced," Letty went on, with a smile that seemed to say to Mrs. Harmon that she could appreci ate her way of not telling a thing. "Can't you te'l me who the young man is? I suppose I ought to say the young lord?" "Oh, how did you know it was a lord?" Mrs. Harmou cried, smiling with artless enjoyment over the news paper woman's acuteness. "I didn't say it was a lord. The next thing you'll be asking me is where the duke's country-place is!" Mrs. Harmon paused a moment as if thinking deeply. Then she said, absently, "Do you know if there were any Americans at Grantham Court last autumn?" "I'm sure I don't know," Letty re plied, cheerfully. The way Mrs. Har mou was "letting things out" was in teresting. Miss Upton was getting "points" for her story. Engagement not announced yet—duke—Grantham Court—splendid! "When do you suppose the wedding will take place?" she asked, with piquant directness. Mrs. Harmon burst out laughing. "Why, the engagement is not an nounced yet, and you want the date of the wedding! I can assure you it will not be before next fall. That is sure." Mrs. Harmon seemed to find pleasure in comiug out strongly ou a point when she could, even if it were only a negative one. "Did you get Miss Harmon any things while you were abroad?" con tinued Miss Upton. Mrs. Harmon's diamond brooch must have cost a pretty penny. "Oh, a few little things, yes. Things I knew she had to have." Mrs. Harmon bad recourse to her handkerchief for a moment. "How old is Miss Harmon?'' asked Letty, with interest. The mother was so young and girlish! She took the matter so lightly, and it seemed so amusing to her! "Don't I look young enough to be spared having to tell my daughter's age?" that interesting lady laughed back; "but Miss Harmou is not 17 yet. Don't press me too closely." "Will it be a church wedding? And will Worth muke the gown?" Miss Upton felt that Mrs. Harmon was willing enough to have the facts come out, but did not wish to have told them. "i r ou are a perfect inquisitor," laughed the lady. "I am going to send you away," she added, rising. "You have led me on so aud made me talk when I told you that the engage ment wasn't even announced yet. Re member that I haven't told you a thing. I can't imagine how the news papers find out everything. Will it be in tomorrow's paper? I meau are you goiug to write anything about it? I shan't see another person from a paper. It's too dangerous." She was evidently putting an end to the interview to keep herself from telling a quantity of things more which the wily Miss Upton would worm out of her. The young "newspaper womau" was pretty well content. She had learned enough in this indirect way to embellish her information into a most interesting story. This she did and thrilled with pride when she saw it in the next day's In vestigator with a head-line of great prominence. The Search-Light, The Investigator's bitterest rival, hadn't a word about the thing. The editor of the Woman's Page bad asked her why she did not get a photograph of Miss Harmon. Letty had not thought of it. Well, she could try aud get that later, and they could print it on Sunday. Miss Upton was sure she could get it from Mrs. Harmon. In her« story Letty said that "the young fiancee of the proud English title is a graceful, sweet girl verging on her 17th birthday. Duriug the past year abroad she had received the finishing touches to her education,and the wedding will probubly occur next autumn. The family are extremely reticent about the engagement." On the day following that on which Letty had glowed over her own peri ods in all the dignity of type,she came to the office bright and early,thit sting for more Mrs. Harmons. Newspaper work was fasciuating! Her enthusiasm was dampened by a little note ou her desk. She read in consternation that her resignation was requested! She hurried to the editor of the Woman's Page and showed the note. "Oh, what does this mean?" she al most wailed. "I don't understand." "It means that you made the paper perfectly ridiculous and let a woman get even with The Investigator for a past story about her," said that lady with untempered severity. "There," aud she handed Letty a slip, "is what The Search-Light has this morning!" "I don't suppose you have read the daily papers," she added,sarcastically. "The Mrs. Harmon that the paragraph I gave you was about lives in Orange, as yon should have found out. That is the picture of the 'Miss Harmon' about whom you wrote your story." It was the woodcut of a dear little baby girl iu long clothes, labelled "Mrs. Harmon's Only Daughter."— Youth's Companion. A Sultaii'a Adventure. A misad veil tare haß happened to the sultan of Sulu,a part of our Philippine possessions. He is a Mohammedan, and recently made the pilgrimage to Mecca, takiug his crown with him. On his return, while stopping at a Singapore hotel a thief broke into his room. The sultan awoke and grap pled with the man, who, however, broke away and escaped, taking with him two boxes that contained Sulu's crown and other jewels to the value of $14,000 aud some important state papers. «ELPS FOR HOUSEWIVES. To Take Out the Creak. A creaking door or hammock book which mftkes a hideous noise at times can be silenced by rubbing brown hard aoap upon hinges or where the hooks rub together. To Iteuove Fly Sperkfl. Fly specks upon oil paintings can be removed by dipping the fingers in warm water and gently rubbing the canvas. After the specks disappear, wash the whole picture with warm water. Cover with cheap tarlatan in summer. All valuable pictures should be covered. Put away iine books if you value their appearance. A Bed Pocket for Invalids. A bed pocket is an acceptable gift to au invalid. It is made of cloth, silk or colored cretonne, in the forfh of a wall pocket, and if desired may have various compartments. It is hung at the head of the bed, and should contain the handkerchief, watch, brush and comb, hand-mirror and all the other etceteras which make the tedious life of the invalid com fortable. Turkish Portieres. . A pretty portiere, if one does not mind taking a good deal of trouble, is made from the small embroidered Turkish squares sold for finger doilies. Select those in light colorings. The squares are put together with strips of pale yellow material, the fabric used being according to oue's taste and purse. A lightweight satine does admirably, or a China silk of a cheap quality is still better. The whole thing should be lined with a thin yel low material, preferably the silk. When hung in a room done in light colorings, particularly a white and gold room, it is wonderfully ef fective. The same idea can be carried out in a size to cover a sofa pillow and can be made extremely beautiful by having the squares put togethei with a pale yellow or green velvet. To Clean Ostrieh Plume*. The following method of cleaning white ostrich feathers is given by a Fhiladepliia reader: Cut some pure white soap in small bits and pour boiling water 011 tbein and add a little mite of sodn. When the soap is dissolved and the watei cool enough, dip the feathers in and draw them through the hand. Da this several times, until the lather is dirty; then make a clean lather and repeat the operation. Afterward rinse the feathers in cold water, slightly blued. Put the feathers be tween the hands and shake them over the fire, until they are perfectly dry. Curl them by drawing each fibre be tween the thumb and the dull edge oi of a silver knife. With a little care and patience the result will be all that can be desired.—New York Trib une. To C»n Corn. Split the kernels lengthwise with a knife, then scrape with the back ol the knife, thus leaving the hulls upon the cob. Fill cans full of cut corn, pressing it very hard. To press the corn in the can use the small end ol the potato masher, as this will enter the can easily. It will take ten 01 twelve large ears of corn to till a one quart can. When the caus are full, screw cover on with thumb and first finger; this will be tight enough. Then place a cloth in the bottom of 0 wash boiler to prevent breakage. On this put a layer of caus in any posi tion you prefer, over the cans put e layer of cloth, then more cans. Fill the boiler in this manner, then covei the cans well with cold water, place the boiler on the fire, and boil three hours without ceasing. On steadj boiling depends much of your suc cess. After boiliag three hours lift the boiler from the tire, let the water cool, then take the cans from the boiler and tighten, let them remain until cold and tighten again. Wrap each can in brown paper to exclude the light, and keep in a cool, dry cel lar, and be very sure the rubber rings are not hardened by use. It would be best to use new rings, as poor l ings are the cause of much fruit spoiling. The corn in the cans will shrink by cooking, but do not, on any account, open them. Keol|ien. Fritters of Calf's Brains—Scald and pick out any threads; beat up with pepper, salt, a little nutmeg, thyme, parsley and tablespoonful vinegar. Add the yolk of an egg and flour for batter. Drop into hot fat and brown. Serve at once. Pop-Overs—Take the yolks of two eggs well beaten, add two cups of milk and two cups of flour alternate ly and a pinch of salt. Flavor to taste; then add the whites of eggs, beaten light. Bake in high, old fashioned teacups well buttered, only half full, one-half hour. Mushroom Stew —Put a tablespoon- Cul of butter into a saucepan, add the mushrooms, cover and cook for ten minutes; then add half a teaspoouful of salt and a dash of pepper. Rub into a smooth paste three hard-boiled eggs, and add, gradually, a gill oi cream. Strain into a saucepan, bring to a boiling point and serve either in patty shells or with a garnish of toast ed bread. Macaroons —Take the whites of font eggs beaten stiff. A half pound oi almonds are first blanched, cooled and pounded to a paste with a little rose water, adding the latter as you pound them to prevent the almonds from oiling. Beat a cup of powdered sugar with the eggs, and add the almond paste, a tablespoonful of cornstarch and tun drops of essence of bitter almonds. Beat thoroughly, and drop by small spoonfuls on buttered paper laid in * baking BWD Itak* quick ove'- *