THE MIDDLEBUBGH POST. GEO. W, WAGEXSELLER, 1" J iter and Proprietor . MlDDLF.Bl Kdlt, Pa., Al OlST '! , 1 897. Out of the 400 young men graduated from Harvard College this year not a single one intends to take up the study of theology. A genuine hearty laugh is an aid to digestion, a stimulus to the circula tion of the blood and a positive beauti fier. The whole Fystem is benefited by a cheerful, merry laugh, and one's friends are attracted by the bright, wholesome nature that ripples out in sunny music like a happy woodland stream. Says the Philadelphia Call: These evidences of wealth, particularly the irresistible fascination of gold, have started a tide of emigration to Alaska that will coyer her barren wastes with the evidences of civilization. Cities and towns will spring up. Railroads and other means of transportation must follow, and Alaska will not be long in seeking admission to tho Union. The Florida Citicn says: A pretty girt of sweet sixteen in Pennsylvania reached for a flower and a snake on the bough bit her arm. She fuiuted and a young man found her, threw water in hor face and was hybterically told sho had been bitt.eu by a rattle, snake. Ho drew away the poison with his lips, and now there is the founda tion for a thrilling romance. But after they are married some crusty old fellow will tell her that a rattlesnake cannot climb a bush, and then sho will know that the blacksnake is harm less. Will there be a divorce? But John has not told Bertha yet. Statistics of tho foreign trade of Germany havo just been published showing that its exports and imports Lavo both increased year by year, the latter hnving moro thau doubled in a decade, whilo the former have goue ahead steadily, though in a less degree. Caprivi's commerciul treaties with Bussia and Austria have worked well and, notwithstanding much initial op position, their good results are now apparent to everybody. Since they Vent into effect three years ago the imports have increased 272,500,000 marks, and the' exports 702,800,000 marks. The Agrarians 'foughVIhe treaties at every step, but in the fuco of their prosperous effects they ore now mute. There are in this coun try, states the Newcastle (England) Chronicle, 180, 000 families dependent on the bicycle trade; nud tho trade is sure to increase, as peoplo will come to look upon a bicyclo as they now do a suit of clothes, not as if it were an obelisk designod to last forever. When this time comes, says a writer in a contem porary, a man will buy a now bicyclo every two or three years and bo hap py. This year persons in tho British Empire will spend about $117,000,000 on bicycles, and if the steel required to make these hundreds of thousands of wheels wero converted into war ves sels, the result would bo a licet of fihips snflicient in numbers and power to make any of tho smaller Continen tal Powers feel distinctly uncomfort able. Ono cannot cat bicycles. But bread is tho staple food of many peo ple, and this year wo shall spend more money for bicycles than for broad, and nearly as much as we shall spend for meat. Tho failure of Decker, Howell & Co., prominent brokers of Wall street, New York City, occasiouod by the rise in sngar, recalls the fact that this firm failed in the "Baring panic" of Novem ber 11th, 1 8t)0, with liabilities of $12, 000,000. Tho New York correspond ent of tho Philadelphia Lodger fur nishes tho following interesting and concise history of that event: "The incident is notablo in tho history of the street as one of tho casos of phe nomenally rapid recovery of financial standing and for one of tho biggest fees ever paid to a lawyer. Decker, 'Howell & Co. were Mr. Villard's brokers. The panic swampod them. 'William Nelson Cromwell, their assig nee, succeeded in straightening out their affairs, paying theircreditors iu full and getting them in condition for a new start in business in sixty days. The statutory fee received by the as. eignee was $250,000, and so pleased were tho creditors with his work that they afterwards presented to him a set of silver plate, valued at $50,000, as a testimonial. It remains to be seen whether so happy a result all around 'will follow the present complications rosslbly It Is the menu people who (Start th Lad "storleK," but Uu good people keep them going. - THE WIND BLEW IN THE WHEAT. A tkle moon hnnir low and white, ta the edge of a golden west. ' With clanging bells the herd came home; and mother birds on the neat Thrilled to the song that U never sung so soft! so wildly sweetl The whlppoorwiU la the marsh-land called, and the wind blew la the w'aeaU nigh summer had broken to hedge-row waves with a foam of elder bloom. lly waste and way-side the sweetbrier stars showed faint in the tender glooraj And ulbliling hares crwpt out to play, on silent velvet toot. As waxing dewdrops timed the chant, the wind blew In the wheat. "Benlson to each bearded head, tn the land of golden grain) Ye shall driak of the sun, in strength and power, nor lack the grateful rain. In the bursting mill, in the ocean pressed with the keels of a laden fleet, Te may read the smile of the Lord of HosM," the wind blew tn the wheat. Martha McCulloch-Wiltiams, in Harper's Weekly. A R AI LWAY Dy MAX N this night the windows of the crowd ed cafe had been thrown open, and the fresh, cool air of the spring night strug gled for mas tery with the close tobacco-laden at- niosnhere which filled the large hall. A glance out into the night showed the deep-blue heaven overhead and a brilliant full moon, whose cold, clear rays sparkled on the frosh foliage of tho budding trees as they swayed gently to and fro iu the light breeze. The members of the society to which I at this time belonged had been accus tomed for Homo timo past to reserve a certain table in the cafe for them selves, where they met every evening to chat over and discuss the events of the passing hour. They were, for the most part, respectable citizens, who had far more appreciation for bright gas-light and a good dinner than for the charms of a glorious spring night, and nothing was further removed from their thoughts on this particular occa sion than u romantic contemplation of tho beauties of naturo. On tho night I am speaking of our conversation wos of a prosuio enough character, as was only natural in a small town, ami exhuusted itself in discussions about local matters, the theatre, taxes, and similar to an outsider extremely un interesting topics. Through some chance remark, how ever, whicli I can no longer recall, the question had sprung up if it were really credible that a man's hair could snddeuly become grey in consequence of a violent shock to the mind. Some of those present were only half inclined I to disbelieve this somewhat startling theory, whilst others could not be .fBuffleioulIy scathing iu the remarks they madeconceruingpeonlo who wero simple enough to pluco any credence in such nursery tales. As tho discussion grew warmer and warmer, until every member of our party was engaged either iu champion ing or combating tho question in point, a man, seated near us, roso slowly, pushing his chair from him, and ap proached our table. He was a fine, tall fellow, of herculean build, and his in telligent features, which bore an ex pression of great determination, were rendered very striking by a pair of keen blue eyes; but what made his appearance still more remarkable was the fact that both his hair and beard wero as white as snow, although they surrounded a countenance which would not permit one to reckon his age at more than about thirty-live. "Excuse mo, gentlemen, if 1 am in terrupting your conversation," ho re marked, bowing politely to us. "You were just discussing a subject that has more than an ordinary interest for me. I happen myself to be a living proof that, under certain circumstances, a terrible shock to tho mind can pro duce that self-same physical effect of which you wero just speaking, and which tho mnjority of you seem to dis credit." These words naturally excited the curiosity of all present to tho highest degree. We quickly made room for our new acquaintance nt tho table, and, when ho had seatod himself comfortably, urged him to relate to us the circumstances which had pro duced such a strange and sudden change in his appearance. The stranger feigned no great shyness, aud acquiesced iu tho most pleasant manner possible by relating to us the following: "If any of yon gentlemen have over interested yourselves more closely in American affairs, tho name of Auburn cannot well be strange to you; it de notes much tho same for the Unitod States as Spielberg does for Austria. You must not picture Auburn to your selves merely as a gloomy and exten sive prison as one large, solitary building no! It is rather an entire colony of criminals, a sort of town or metropolis for the wretches that the community has thrust out. "Shut in by immense walls, which rise up from the level plain to a con siderable height, are crowded to gether a large number of detached buildings houses that contain the prisou-cells, warders' dwellings, hos pital, and workshops all sullen aud forbidding-looking; aud here and there dotted about may be seen a small patch of grass, a few trees, and, very occa sionally, a flower-bed, like the last lingering recollections of innocent childhood amongst the black thoughts of a criminal. "Certain events, which would have but little interest for you, had led to my journeying from Hamburg my bktlipiaca to America, iaaialiats-'y . B B B lip ADVENTU RE. 2 B B NORDAU. after the completion of my studies, and, after a short stay in New York, I ac cepted the post of prison-doctor at Au burn, which, as you perhaps know, is situated in the State of New York. I was intrusted with the medical su pervision over that part of the prison which was set apart for the worst class of criminals men, or I should say, human hyenas, whose blood, as Mephistophelcs says, had already ceased to be 'a fluid of rare quality. ' "Two of these wretches were des tined to spend the remainder of their duys in the prison, and they, by rea son of their great physical strength as well as by the extraordinary cunuing they had evinced in several desperate attempts to regain their freedom, were subjected to even closer super vision than the rest of their compan ions. I was an object of particular hatred and disliko to these two scoun drels, because I had been instrumen tal m the discovery of a number of iron implements which they Clod only knows how they had obtained possession of them! had concealed under their clothes; and again on another occasion, because I had re fused to receive them into tho hospi tal when they feigned illness, expect ing . doubtless when they were once iu there that they would find more favorable opportunities for ac complishing their escape. The ruf fians wore separated and placed iu re mote parts of tho prison, and were laden with chains; but in spite of all these precautious, one fine morning tho one,, and a few days later tho other, together with their chains, had disappeared without leaving a trace behind them. "It must have been almost a fort night after tho flight of these two criminals, which had caused the ut most consternation amongst the authorities at Auburn, that I ordered my horse ono afternoon, and started off for a rido to Cayuga Bridge. It was midday when I reached -the end of my journey, and I stood still for some time contemplating with silent delight the exquisite scenery which lay stretched out for miles before me. Tho Cayuga Lake, one of those which, together with Lake' Erie, compose that vast system of inland seas in the State of Now York, lay in all its beauty at my feet. The long, slender streak of silver wound in and out of tho rugged black cliffs which hemmed It in, and which rose sheer up out of the lake, facing each other like grim opponents who hnd for thousands of years bid ouo another defiance. Far down the lake, which is forty miles long, and ut this particular spot about one broad, I could discern the enormous trestle-bridge, a marvel of American engineering skill, which carries tho Auburn division of the New York Cen tral Railway across, passiug on its way through tho small station of Cayuga Bridge. "My business iu the villago was soon finished, and towards evening I started homo again. Do you know how de lightful a ride on a summer's evening is? Cayuga Bridge is surrounded by extensive oak forests, through which the greater part of my journey lay. The gnarled and massive trunks cast long shadows, and the foliage rustled so geutly in the soft evening breeze, that one soemcd rather to feel than to hear it. As I rode between these giants of tho forest, sweet recollections of my distant home crept into my heart, and, sunk in my thoughts, I let tho reins fall on my horse's neck, who trotted steadily forward. I admired the mar vellous variety of color that the rays of the setting suu produced as they shone through the mass of dark-green leaves, and seemed to kindle their edges into flame. "Suddenly I was startled out of my reverie by a slight noise which ap peared to come from tho undergrowth on either sido of the road. Turning sharply round, I grasped my rovolver, but in the same moment I received a stunning blow on the back of my head, which knocked me senseless from my saddle. Once more I recolleetopening my eyes, and thinking that I could see indistinctly ouo of the escaped criminals bending over me, aud then all became a blank. "It must have been late in the night when consciousness again returned to me. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw far above me the dark blue vault of the sky, and the full moon shining bright ly. A dull, painful sensation at the back of my head prompted me to place my hand there, and then I discovered that I was bound hand and foot. Grad ually I collected my thoughts; I re membered now the murderous attack iu the forest, and a fearful foreboding flashed through my mind, which al most caused my heart to stand still. I felt that I was laid across two sharp parallel projections, whioh out into my shoulders and the back of my legs, causing me intense pain, and far be low me I could hear the geutlo plash ica of water. "Heavens; there could no lonaeie be any doubt : I was lying stretched across Cayuga Bridge, bound, incapable of moving an inch, with the hideous and absolutely certain prospect of being cut literally to pieces by the next train that passed. For the second time that night I almost swooned as I realized my situation; but by a powerful effort of will I recovered myself, and tugged desperately at the ropes that bound me until they cut almost into my muscles; I shrieked, and wept finally like a child. I made mad endeavors to roll myself into another position, and then recollected that a careless movement might precipitate me into the flood be low bound hand and foot, to sink like a stone! "A shudder ran through my frame, and I lay motionless again; but not for long, for the light of the great almost fearfully bright moon overhead, the ripple of the water deep below me, the breeze that came in light puffs, and then died away again, giving place to a death-like stillness, occasionally broken by the scream of some distant night-bird all was unbearable, and caused me the anguish of death. And then tho rails! the rails! My thoughts were torturing me, and yet I could not escape' them. The wooden beams of the bridge vibrated perceptibly from the movement of the water below, and I thought that I could already feel the approach of the train, and my hair bristled with the horror of it. The breeze now blew somewhat stronger, and I imagined thnt I could already hear, far away in the distance, tho puffing and panting of the locomotive, and my heart stood still, to beat with redoubled force the next mouieut. "There are certain things, gentle men, which are absolutely incompre hensible to me: one of them is the fact that I was able to survivo that night. One thought stood ever clear in my mind: I must endeavor by some means to shift my position if possible, to one between the metals if I did not wish, possibly even in tho next mo ment, to become the prey of the most awful death one could conceive. And I succeodod! I strained every muscle, every sinew, till I could strain no more. I wound and twisted myself, aud panted until I thought my head must burst, aud after superhuman exertions, which appeared to last an eternity, and perhaps lasted but a minute, I found myself in the hollow between the rails. "Was I saved? I had no time to oonsider that, or to rejoice over tho fresh chance of life which was now offered to mo, for my whole being con centrated itself in intent listening. Far away in the distance I could now bear first of all indistinctly, and then gradually increasing as it drew nearer aud nearer the regular, monotonous panting which heralds the approach of a locomotive. The fearful stillness of the night gave way, as each minute passed, to the more fearful noise, to the clanking and thundering of the en gine as it raced on towards me nt the headlong speed' of American trains. Now a thousand feet more now five hundred all the horrors of hell pos sessed me; but I. lay without moving a muscle. Once, indeed, I triedto scream. I could no louger hear my own voice; how, then, could the people in the train be expected to hear me? And now for an immeasurably short space of time a blaze of light bout down upon me, and a blast of hot air rushed over mo, then everything became dark, and I heard a thunder as if the heavens were crashing in. Close, quite close, at scarcely a hairbreadth's distance, rushed the enormous mass over inc. I was saved! "Already half-unconscious, I was still sensiblo of a deafening clattering aud roaring above me, and I saw shadow-like masses flying past; still one moment more of deadly anguish one of the coupling-hooks, banging some- what lower than the rest, had caught aud dragged ino several yards, tearing hnnlly a largo piece out of the breast of my coat then all objects seemed to whirl around me, the moon, the bridge, and the lofty dill's, in one mad dance, and I became insensible. When I next woke I found myself in my own bod, and around me woll- kuown faces. And now to be brief: I bad been found on the morning after that awful night by a plate-layer who bad recoguized me, and had brought me back to Auburn. For a fortnight I lay delirious with brain fever, hover- iug between life aud death; but my strong constitution pulled me through. Tho first time after iny recovery that I hud occasion to use a looking-glass, I saw what traces those moments had loft on me." The doctor ceased speaking : but his pnlo face, the look of horror, and tho great beads of sweat on Ins forehead all showed how keen his recollection was of that terrible experience. We also had listened to his narrative with breathless attention, and it was some time before we could shake off the im pression it had left upon us. From the German, in strand Magazine. When Blomlln Was Afraid. WlienBlondiu was astonishing the world by exhibitions of his wonderful feats of balancing, ono of his favorite jokes was to offer to carry some dis tinguished spectator across the rope with him on his back. Everybody naturally refused, aud the great equi librist, with a geuiul smile, would say: "I am sorry you are afraid I should drop you." But he was hoist once with his own petard, and the story is told in the Washington Post. He was exhibiting in Paris, and was about to cross the Seine on his rope. . Cham, the great caricaturist, had come to make a sketch. Blondin, recognizing him, at ouce invited hiin to cross with him. "With pleasure," replied Cham, "but on one condition." "And that is?" queried Blondin. "That I shall carry you on my back," answered Cham. "Not if I know myself," an swered Blondin. "Ah," triumphant ly exclaimed Cham, "this time, M. Blondb, it is yon who are afraidl" t i n 1. 1 i i'i "i 1 1 I' i'i i in auaiisi niHiTu 1 1 n i i i'hii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 n ITf ' """""' i The Country School If the elementary principles of soil fertility and plant growth are to be taught in onr country schools, some. even, of our most successful teachers will, perhaps, need to "post up" on these branches, and we repectfully suggest that they might do well to be gin now; the country school is bound to grow bigger, broader and better; it has the people back of it; they must know more about the common things witii wbieU they come in daily contact and the mighty forces of nature with which they have to deal. The Epito mist. Inrrcaslng a Wheelbarrow's Capacity. When wheeling corn, fodder, and other light stuff, a wheelbarrow's ca pacity is too limited for convenience. The illustration shows a simple attach- WHRET.BAHnOW ATTACHMENT. ment that can be slipped into tho bar row on sueli occasions, to the great increase of its capacity. The side pieces should bo hardwood strips. The attachment may bo supported by hooks from tho strips to the top of the wheel barrow's back if preferred. American Agriculturist. The Oamtilicll Farm Cu Iture. We might assume that our readers are familiar with the nature of the "Campbell method" of farm culture, as wo have once or twice described it, but we muy repeat that it consists, first, in thoroughly pulverizing tho upper three or four inches of the soil iuteuded to bo cultivated. This is best done with n spader or disk har row. If the soil is already in perfect condition this operation may bo omitted. In this upper strutum, at the end of the summer, is concentrated the most of tho available plant food. Secondly, the ground is plowed to a uniform depth of eight inches, by measure and not by guess, tho fnrrow slice to bo turned completely bottom up so that the pulverized surface soil containing the humus may bo in a po sition to form the rootbed for the coining crop. Third, the plow is to be immediately followed by a tcjl called the sub-surface packer, which thoroughly firms the lower four inches, but leaves the upper stratum in a fri ablo condition suitable for a seedbed. The object of firming the lower four inches is to prevent drying out by a too free circulation of air, and to in crease the inflow of water to rot the vegetable matter in the rootbed. Fourth, (he grain is sown in drills, eighteen or twenty inches apart, and the cultivator kept going in it every week until headed out. This surface cultivation is only about two inches in depth, and with a proper tool can be dono very rapidly. Corn aud other hoed crops are planted at usual dis tances and tended to maturity. There is no doubt as to the result of such cultivation wherever the aunual rainfall is snflicient to make a crop, and very little rain is required when the woter is all saved. That it is saved by this method has not been de termined alone by the size of the crops, for other reasons might be alleged for this, but more accurately by anulyses of the soil to a depth of u foot compared with the analyses of adjoining soil not so cultivated. In the one case there was always fouud sufficient water to make a crop, and in the other case it was not found. The question to bo settled is whether it will pay to raise good crops at the cost of so much labor. As to this the data are not forthcoming, although they doubtless will be supplied in the course of the season. In different climates, with different rainfall, and in different years, there will doubtless be a variation fci the number of cultiva tions possible or profitable, but it seems evident to us that this method is certain to open to profitable culti vation largo areas of arid lands hither to considered worthless, and wo be lieve it to be desirable that experi ments should be at once made in this State with the view of determining what the results will be here. There is more or less of summer rain in the districts where it has thus far been tried, but among the missing links in the evidence hitherto supplied is tho rainfall by months, ou the farms worked by this method. San Fran cisco Chronicle. Feeding, Dressing and Marketing Capons. To have good profitable capons the chicks should be batched in April or May. The summer and fall hatches can be capouized and held for the March aud April market but they will not be as fine as the early ones which can be sold by the holidays. A point in favor of caponizing all surplus cock erels is the fact that they are growing into good money during the fall and early winter months while the hens on the farm are taking a rest from egg production and are giving but little or no return for the feed they ore con suming. Do not expect that a 12 or 1S ound capon from a bird that would have weighed 6 or 7 pounds in his natural state. About 1 pounds gain 'can be expected on every five pounds, or a bird that will mature into a five pound rogata will weigh about Cl sounds at the same acre if canonize.l ... i . I a minx m ifil pound rooster will reach p ! I, pounds U caponued. A c.pcn that will weigh only 5 to 7 pounds dress,3 will sell at the holidays for about flf teen cents per pound. That is . t pound bird will sell for $1.03 :?.' v .. u. ur , pounds will I sell for eighteen cents an.i .:n . . I $1.02, leaving a differenceof fiftv-s?l .... Vl ,u aeavv There is no danger of getting then." too heavy. m About three weeks before tkev.r. to be sold DUt fifteen yard and roosting house and fw,i iiirm mi uio ih iorming food, the Will nnnunma Wlmln J I bran, middlinirs. nnimnl r,,.,ni 'I a little linseed meal ore perbaDs'thJ ..unv a-uuauio mcim ior a larraer Give all the milk they will ,irj,lk' Keep plenty of fresh water and ji by them. See that they do nut gt tc iuiuuit immug. oiiouiu tins occur in. crease the meat ration and put a littlj salt into the mixture. The spurs of a capon do not become naru uae mose oi a cock, but remain softenod and rather loose on the shank, neither do they grow long He will sometimes play, but will do little or no flirhtinir. Tim nnmi. i wattles do not grow any more after me operation. rue nead is slim ami nas a paio, lifeless appearance. The growtu or leatners is very profuse, and the tail feathers especially gro to remarkable leugth. When ready to butcher, h nnrr ().. I capon by tho leers by cood LJ cords. Kill by bleeding in tho roof of I tne montu. no caretul to keep all the blood and dirt off tho feathers m.i of which are left on and shipped with I tne mm. leave on all long feathers next to head, those on tliiili ir,,,. from first joint out, all of the tail sujl tuose a little way down ou the hack from tail. Drv tiek. Wnsli il mouth aud feet. Hang in a cool plure. I and tie sure tne animal neat is all out beforo packing. In advance of dress ing the capons find out how the com mission man wants them. Konm uunt all tho feathers scalded, others nirkpil off dry. I have given New York style, I Licave bead and feet on and do not re move the intestines. Coffee boxes aro very suitable for nackazes. Line them with nln I white paper, then snugly pack, 'placing I ine iowis as straignt as possible. Aaill tho box securely, mark nluiulv. uivinrl gross and net weights and to whom shipped. Tha flesh of the capon is the finest iu the world. American Agri culturist. Splits In Fruit Tree. If a fruit -tree is trained properly from the nursery to the bearingperiod, the danger from a. splitting of the trunk or a splitting off of some limbs from tho trunk would perhaps not be I very great; but, as a matter effort, many trees do thus split, and a knowl edge of the proper treatment of each I wounds is therefore important, boiue- times the two split portions of a tree! aro brought together and an iron rod I passed through both parts, the end being secured by a bolthead and by I nut. Such material is nut always ntl hand, ami costs, moreover, more thn is necessary. American Cinrdeningl suggests an improvement as follows: If a coil of stout, galvanized iron I wire (No. 12,at least,) is kept on band, a split limb can be instantly replaced, and a figure eight pluced about it anil TREATMENT OP TREE SrLITl its neiehhor. as shown in the illtistra- tion. Severals strands of tbe iw fllwmld lm nucwl nnnnrdini? to U1 amount of weight to be supported. A bit of Bheotiron, tin or zinc, piaity the sides will keep tho bark from be ing cut by the wire. Such wire w ceodingly convenient iu mendine brenks of many kinds, and may el be kept always ou baud. Lost at Hen." that mi -'V " -" . ai. ni. f ...ui. liar n n. men nui terincr cnilv from the "main trues comes in by Cape Ann, ou her returj fmm y.o. "liuni. tuiih 1iir colors a half-mast. A dory or two lost in 1 1 fog or run -clown in thick wentbeM an ocean greyhound that no more ij the collision than if it crushed an m shell at all events, a couple or w or more for Davy Jones's lockor " is only too often the tale bretig uacs: irom tne iisuiug s1" a Gloucester, our chief fisbiug P1 Tears at parting, weeks of suspense, and when the skip home tears again for a lost "u8bH son, or brother that story is con enough on Massachusetts Buy. ) even if neighbors say, "DoBV3 . . ? , .,( dearie I Perhaps some snip " r . him up, and he'll como bwk,J?2 V tne nope is snort-nvea. - sea" is a familiar line in the oe column of the Gloucester paP St, Nicholas. ff
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers