The Democrat.
FBI DAY, AUGUST 2, 1889.
'FOB a vacancy which will occur in the
corps of chaplains in the army on August
29th, there have been filed already 2SO
applicants.
DAUDBT'S last work is written to prove,
by illustration mainly, that literary men
and artists ought not to marry. As usual
with such demonstrations, the brilliant
exceptions only prove the contrary rule.
GOVBBNOB Boss, formerly of Kansas,
and one of the United States Senators who
stood by Andrew Johnson in the im
peachment proceedings,'is now employed
as a printer in the office of the Santa Fe
New Mexican.
A JUDGE in Ohio has decided that ice
cream is a necessity and-not a luxury, and
thus charged a Cincinnatti jury last Mon
day. In the event of female suffrage ever
becoming a law that Judge's politics
future is more than assured.
Miss ALBBBTA GALLATIN, a grand
daughter of Albert Gallatin, one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independ
ence, and Miss Alice King Hamilton, a
descendant of Alexander Hamilton, have
been engaged by Daniel Frohman for the
Lyceum Theatre, New York.
THE practice of cremation is spreading
rapidly in Italy. In forty-two communi
ties it has been adopted to the exclusion
of every other method of disposing of
dead human bodies. In twenty-one com
munities furnaces have been in operation
for several years. In nineteen communi
ties the authorities are trying to raise
money for the erection of crematories.
TUB New York Herald has become a
great newspaper. Hence it pokes a li' tie
fun at the editor of iis modest contempo
rary, the Dexter Sentinel, who announces
his matrimonial felicity in his own edito
rial columns thuswise : Ye editor was
married yesterday to Miss Mary Sellett,
one of the most charming ladies we have
ever met. Those owing us on subscrip
tion or job work will greatly facilitate the
purchase of rag carpets, cord wood,baby
carriages, &c., by settling at once.
Tin;. Attorney-General has given the
Secretary of the Treasury an opinion to
the effect that there is no legal objection
to the transit through United States terri
tory of the Chinamen recently arrived at
New Orleans from Cubaenrouteto China,
Via San Francisco. The Chinese Minister
has asked that these men be permitted to
cross the United States on their way home,
and it is probable, in view of the Attor
ney-General's opinion, that his request
will be granted. This opinion is in ac
cord with the decision given by Solicitor
Hepburn on the same question some weeks
ago, which was, however,not accepted by
the Treasury Department.
IS IT GKKUNE
Au Old Dove Letter Attributed to the Hon.
Jefferson Davis.
Krom the Globe-Democrat.
The following letter from Jefferson
Davis, then a Lieutenant in the army, to
Miss Sarah K. Taylor, who subsequently
became Mrs. Jefferson Davis, was cap
tured by an Illinois soldier during the
war, and is now published for the first
imo:
FORT GIBSON, Dec. 1(5, 1834.
'Tis strange how superstitious intense
eeling renders us, but stranger still what
aids chance sometimes brings to support
our superstition. Dreams, my dear Sarah,
we will agree are our weakest thoughts,
and yet by dreams have I lately almost
crazed, for they are of you, and the sleep
ing imagination painted you uot such as I
left you, nor such as I could like and see
you, for you seemed a sacrifice to your
parents' desire, the bride of a wretch that
your pride and sense equally compelled
you to despise; and a creature here tell
ing the on dits of the day at St. Louis
said that you were "about to be married
to a Dr. McLarmin," a poor devil who
served with the Battalion of Bangers.
Possibly you may have seen him—but
ast night the vision was changed; you
were at the house of an uncle in Ken
tucky; Capt. McCru was walking with
you; when I met you he left you, and
you told me of your father and of your
self almost the same that I have read in
your letter to-night. Kind, dear letter!
I have kissed it often, and it has driven
many mad notions from my brain.
Barali, whatever I may be hereafter I
will ascribe to you ; neglected by you, I
should be worse than nothing; and if the
few good qualities 1 possess shall under
your smiles yield a fruit it will lie yours,
ae grain is the husbandman's.
It lias been a source productive of re
gret with me that our union must separate
you from your earliest and heat friends, a
test to which the firmest of few are equal,
though, giddy witii passion or buoyant by
fiie hope of reconciliation, there be many
who brave it. From you I am prepared
to expect all that intellect and dignified
pride brings. The question as it has oc
curred to you is truly startling. Your
own answer is the most gratifying to me
that I should expect from you, for as you
are the first one with whom I ever sought
to have one fortune, so you would be the
I ast from whom I would expect desertion.
When I wrote to you I supposed that
you did not intend sooner to return to
Kentucky. I approve entirely of your
preference to a meeting elsewhere than at
Prairie du Chien. and your desire to
avoid any embarrassment which might
widen the breach made already; it can-
not be greater than ray own. Did I know
when you would be In St. Louis I could
meet you there ; at all .events we meet in
Kentucky. Shall we not meet, Sarah, to
meet no more ? Oh, how I long to lay
inyhead upon that breast which'belongs
in unison with my own! To turn from
the sickening sights of worldly duplicity,
and look in those eyes so eloquent of
purity -and love!
Do you remember the " heart's-ease "
you gave me ? It is as bright as ever.
How gravely you ask leave of me to ask
a question. My dear girl, I have no se
crets from you. Have a right to ask me
anyquestion without even an apology.
Miss Bullitt did not give me a guard for
a watch. But if she had do you suppose
I would have given it to Capt. McCru ?
But I'll tell you what she did give me—
a most beautiful and lengthy lecture on
my and your oharms, the which
combined once upon an evening
at a " fair" in Louisville. As
she was one of the subjects of conver
sation we had apart from ourselves that
evening, you can and I have left you to
guess what besides a sensibility to your
charms constituted my offense.
The reporters were absent and the
speech I made is lost.
Pray what manner of messages could be
better than Elvin lias sent you concerning
me ? I hope no attempt to destroy har
mony. I laughed at her demonstrations
against the attachment existing between
myself and a subaltern of dragoons. But
that between you and me is not a fair
game; it is robbing to make another
poor; but no! She is too discerning
to attempt a thing so difficult, and m
which success would be valueless.
" Miss Elizabeth, one handsome ; lady "
at Knox. What did you put that semi
colon between handsome and lady for ?
I hope you find in the society of the
Prairie enough to amuse if not to please.
The griefs over which we weep are not
those to be dreaded. It is the little pains
—the constant falling of tiny drops of care
—which wear away the heart.
I join you in rejoicing that Mrs. McCru
is added to your society. I admire her
more than any one else you could have
had.
Since I wrote to you we have abandoned
the position in the Creek Nation and are
constructing quarters at Port Gibson. My
lines, like the beggar's days, are dwind
ling to the shortest span.
Write to me immediately, my dear Sa
rah, my betrothed. No formality is
proper between us. Adieu. JEFF.
To Miss SABAH K. TAYLOK, Prairie du
Chien, M. S.
A GENKKOLS GIFT.
A Brooklyn Man Sends Toil Dollar* to Lit
tle .loe Dixon—Joe Ha* Received tlie
Money and Says He in All Right.
Yesterday we received the following
letter from the editor of the Brooklyn,(N.
Y.,( Daily Standard-Union.:
BROOKLYN, N. Y., July 23,188 U.
To the Editor Johnstown Democrat :
DKAR Slß— Knelosed please find clieck from
Mr. Alphonzo Smith for Joe Dickson, mentioned
In clipping attached. The check was given us to
forward to him, which we do through you.
Will you please see that he gets It, and have
him acknowledge It In some way to this office ?
Brooklyn's sympathy for you all In your great
trouble has been sincere and responsive.
Very truly yours,
WM. HERRI. Standard-Union.
The check for ten dollars has been
handed over to Joseph W. Dixon, the
newsboy, whose staud is north of Lincoln
bridge, near the Pennsylvania Railroad
station. He expressed his thanks nicely
for the kind gift of Mr. Alphonzo Smith
and for the interest the Brooklyn Stand
ard-Union took in sending the money.
The following is the "clipping" that
attracted Mr. Smith's attention :
! INCIDENTS IN THE RUINED CITY —LITTLE JOE
DIXON'S MISFORTUNE —THE VELOCITY AND
HEIGHT OF TUB FLOOD.
JOHNSTOWN, June 10.—One of the char
acters of Johnstown who did not drown
is little Joe Dixon, the fifteen-year-old
newsdealer. A few days before the flood
lie purchased a news stand of his own for
8100 and thought his fortune already
made. A stout friend picked him up and
carried him to a place of safety when the
wave swept over the town. From where
lie stood he could see his $l5O business
going up into the air, stock and all. His
father was drowned, his mother badly in
jurned, and all that the family owned was
destroyed. Their sole dependence now
is upon little Joe, who is already trudging
about peddling papers as contentedly as
though he had never tasted the sweets of
being an independent proprietor. He is
actively at work, however, disputing for
a share of the business with the only firm
of regular newsdealers that survived the
flood, and expects to be ready to set up a
store of his own as soon as the town Is re
built. lie is short and stout, wears
knickerbockers yet, looks about twelve
years old, and talks business with the
dignity and ease of a man of mature
years. He laughs about the way his $l5O
flew up in the air when the water struck
it, but adds, more soberly :
Good Work.
The goodly services rendered to the
people of Johnstown by Mr. George L.
Hcrrington, one of the partners in the
firm ot Farrel & Co., must not be over
looked. Notwithstanding much impor
tant work which required his services in
Philadelphia, he forsook everything and
lauded in Johnstown on the fourth of
June, when he commenced his work of
recovering safes under almost isur
mountable difficulties. He and his staff
Of men were to be met with everywhere—-
now ou lop of a pile of debiis, again bur
rowing beneath it—but always successful
in the issue. The amount of work ac
complished by him before leaving, cer
tainly deserves the highest thanks the
people of Johnstown can give.
Latitude Was His Pride.
" All your show cases are upright ones,
I see." id a customer to a Broadway
storekci per.
" Yes, sir," was the proud reply. "We
aim at consistent rectitude all through
the establishment."
The sun-flower is blooming over the
garden wall.
THE FIRST SUIT.
LB6AL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT
AGAINST THE SOUTH FORK CLUB.
The Widow off John A. Ltttle f Drowned In
the Flood, Asks Tor Fifty Ttrousand
Dollars Damages—The Action Entered
In Allegheny County Courts.
Suit was entered in the Courts of Alle
gheny county Saturday against the South
Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, by the
widow of John A Little, the commercial
traveler, who lost his life in the Hulbert
House. The amount asked for is $50,000.
After a long statement by the plaintiff's
setting forth the reasons for bringing the
action, the Pittsburgh Leader says :
" After the filing of the above suit yes
terday an effort was made to see James
H. ltecd, Esq., one of the prominent
members and presumed legal representa
tive of the South Fork Club, but lie was
out of the city. In a former interview
had with him on the subject, however,
he said that he had most carefully exam
ined into the question and could not see
how a suit for damages could stand. The
breaking of tho dam was caused by ex
traordinary circumstances over which
the Club nad no control, and which no
one had any idea would ever arise. There
was no negligence on the part of the Club
as it had engineers to examine the dam,
and these engineers had pronounced it
safe.
ANOTHER SUIT TO UK BROUGHT THIS WEEK.
Messrs. John Thomas & Sons will likely
enter suit against the same Club this week.
In an interview Saturday Mr. Thomas
said :
" We have all the financial backing we
want and the money is all ready as soon
as Mr. Itose is able to go ahead. We
have also had advice from prominent law
yers of other places that we have a good
case, and you may assure the public that
it will be pushed vigorously. We have
moved somewhat slowly in the matter,
preferring not to make any mistake, but
everything is ready now. Other promi
nent attorneys have been engaged to assist
Mr. Rose, and while we arc anxious
that he should take the lead in the matter,
if his health continues so poorly we may
be obliged to ask some of the other attor
neys in the case to enter the suit. No,
there is no intention of letting the matter
drop, and suit will likely be entered next
week." "As to our chances of success,"
said Mr. John Thomas, "we are very san
guine, and all our counsel have advised us
that we will certainly win. The fishing
club was a chartered institution, and as
such was obliged to use necessary precau
tions to make their dam safe, and have no
excuse for maintaining a nuisance that
was a menace to life and property, as this
dam was."
FELL t'KOH THE SECOND STOKY.
A Daughter ot Mr. John Stenger Falls
Twenty Feet and 1M lladly Injured.
Saturday morning about 10 o'clock,
Gertrude, the fourteen-year old daughter
of Mr, John Steuger, fell from the second
story of her father's building on Main
street, into the cellar, a distance of some
twenty feet. She alighted on her head, and
sustained serious injuries, though not nec
essarily fatal unless inflammation should
set in. A severe gash on left temple clear
into the boue, and small fracture of the
skull are the worst injuries, though she
was bruised and shaken all over
the body. Drs. Wakefield and Schill were
summoned, and done all they could for
the child. She was resting somewhat
easier last evening, but is not out of dan
ger by any means.
- ♦
Not the Facta.
Our attention has been called to an ar
ticle in a Pittsburgh paper of yesterday
(Sunday), in which, under the heading of
" Miss Barton's Tea," that lady is repre
sented as expressing very " vigorous
views " upon the saloons, their occupants,
and occupations in this town. We were
present at that gathering, and we confi
dently say that every person present will
bear testimony that not the slightest allu
sion was made in any manner to this sub
ject, or to any other which could possibly
call in question the doings of any person
or class of citizens. Miss Barton would
naturally|not be supposed to favor the too
free use of intoxicating liquors, but has
not the bad taste to invite the citizens of
this town to a repast and make the occa
sion an opportunity for a public attack
upon their neighbors.
SI >re lieliet for Johnstown.
The If. W. Grand Master of Masons of
Pennsylvania, Clifford 1. McCalla, was in
town on Saturday last for the purpose of
arranging for the distribution of the fund
of over $41,000 in his hands to the Free
Masons of Johnstown, their widows and
orphans who are sufferers from the flood.
The best spirit prevails, and the Grand
Masters views have been unanimously ap
proved by the representative brethren of
both of the Johnstown Lodges. There
also arrived from Philadelphia, Charles
D. Freeman, D. G. Master of the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania, I. 0.0, F. James
B. Nicholson, Grand Secretary, and Col.
M. Richards Mucklc, Grand Treasurer,
who after visiting the headquarters of the
Red Cross Society, and paying their
respects to Clara Barton, met at the Odd
Fellows Hall. Col. John P. Linton>
Chairman, and Wm. T. Colliver, Treasurer
of the local committee of Odd Fellows,
was paid over a check of $23,000 for
further relief of the members of the order,
widows and orphans suft'orers by the
flood disaster. This sum in addition to
the $30,000 left with the committee a few
weeks since, makes $53,000 contributed
for the purpose and turned over to the
local committeo.
THK HOSPITAL.
The Philadelphia Hrancii of the Ked Cross
Society.
The following is the Stuff: Command
ant—Robert S. Wharton, M. D.: Chief of
Staff—Dr. 11. A. Starkey ; Assistant—Dr.
R. T. Garrett; Commissary—Charles 8.
Harvey; Quartermaster—B. 11. Evans ;
Nurses—li. W. Bacon, Jr. ; W. T. Mont
gomery; Matron—Miss Isa Irviti; Nurse
—Miss L. L. Dock : Ambulance Driver—
W. Williams.
Since the great calamity which visited
Johnstown on that black Friday, the 31st
of Mav of this year, the Philadelphia
Branch of the lied Cross Bociety has ex
pended through the medium of the above
staff of officers the munificent sum of $25,-
000 in relieving those who suffered by the
flood. The Society ariived hereon June sth
by special cars, and located itself on a sid
ing in front of Sandy ville Cemetery at Hor
nerstown. Dr. J. Wilkes O'Neill was then
in command. On the morning of the 6th
June, tents were pitched alongside the
Poplar street bridge, and the work of the
society commenced in earnest. Miss Clara
Barton and her staff occupied adjoiniug
tents, her work being principally in dis
tributing raiment. The Philadelphia
branch brought along with it a full car
load of provisions and immediately open
ed their commissary under the charge of
Mr. Charles S. Hurvey, with Mr. G. H.
Prindle as quartermaster, in relieving the
immediate wants of the starving multi
tude. Two hundred families were thus
supplied daily, and in addition to this, the
whole staff assisted in the burial of the
dead, the liev. Father Field, of St.
Clement Church, Philadelphia, conduct
ing the services. This noble work was
uninterruptedly carried on until the 14th
of June, when it was unanimously de
cided by the Philadelphia branch to es
tablish a hospital for the better relief of
the sufferers.
A fine hehlthy site was chosen in what
is called Orn's Orchard, and an applica
tion was made to General Hastings for
twenty-one tents which was im
mediately granted and the fol
lowing morning saw the military
arranged hospital as it stands to-day. At
first Dr. Alexander Riddle was in charge,
but as time passed on, his return to Phil
delpbia was an absolute necessity and
Dr. H. A. Starkey succeeded him.
On an average,including the dispensary
work, thirty cases have been treated
dady. The principal affections • icalt with
being malaria, measles, dysentery, diar
rhoea, cholera morbus, nervous prostra
tion, diphtheria, and erysipelas, surgical
cases, caused by the flood, and otherwise;
fractures, and contused wounds. The
time is now approaching when the ser
vices of this temporary hospital will be
consolidated or dispensed with. If the
former, it will go to form the nucleus of
the Clara Barton Memnral Hospital to be
erected on a suitable site in the vicinity
of Moxham. If the latter, it will retire
from Johnstown crowned with the green
est laurels ever earned by any charitable
institution and the tearful thanks of a
grateful people.
Military News.
Colonel Thomas Potter, whose hand
some presence and kindly manner has
made him one of the most popular officers
stationed in Johnslown since the flood,
takes his departure for Philadelphia on
August 3d, and will enrry with him the
well wishes of all who knew him during
his sojourn amongst us.
Porch Bros, have kindly lent the officers
stationed at Camp Hamilton, one of their
fine organs, and sweet strains of melody
may be heard floating around the camp
every evening when work is done.
Vocal concerts are held nightly at Camp
Hamilton, assisted greatly by Captain
Nesbitt and the officers of the 14th Regi
ment, who spend almost every evening in
this delightful pastime.
Sergeant J. W. Beam, of the 14th Reg
iment, as Commissary Sergeant, is giving
great satisfaction at headquarters, by
the excellent cheer he is providing for
Company C.
Dennis O'Conuell, one of the employes
of the State Arsenal, assisted by Sergeant
11. P. Moor and Corporal J. M. 8011, is
proving himself a reliable and efficient
servant by the praiseworthy manner in
which he is looking after the State and
Ohio canvas.
Hat Flirtation.
From the Boston (ilobe.
Wearing the hat squarely on the head—
I love you madly.
Tipping it over the right ear—My little
brother has the measles.
Pulling it over the eyes—You must not
recognize me.
Wearing it over the back of the head—
Ta, ta ; awfully awful.
Taking it off and brushing it the wroug
way—My heart is busted.
Holding it out in the right hand—Lend
me a quarter.
Leaving it with your uucle—l have
been to a church fail'.
Throwing it to a policeman—l love
your sister.
Using it as a fan—Come and see my
aunt.
Carrying a brick in it—Your cruelty is
killing me.
Kicking it up stairs—ls the old man
around ?
Kicking it down stairs —Where is your
mother ?
Kicking it across the street—l P U en
gaged.
Hanging it on the right elbow—Will
call to-night.
Hanging it on the left elbow—Am badly
left.
Putting it on the ground and sitting on it
—Farewell forever.
NOBLE RED MEN.
OBEAT CHIEFS OFTHE IMPROVED OR
DER OF RED MEN IN THE CITY.
Fiv® Thousand Dollars Distributed to tlie
Members of Thet Organization Desti
tute Families Ware Cheered by Tlielr
Generosity.
The Great Chicfi <*f the Improved Or
der of Red Men of Pennsylvania, during
the past two days have been welcome vis
itors in this city. They met the members
of Kickenapawling Tribe, No. 00, and
Kiskiminetas Tribe, No. 60, at Upte
grave's Hall, on Locust street, yesterday,
and generously and with painstaking care
distributed about five thousand dollars
among the members who have suffered
by the great calamity.
The gentlemen in charge of the funds
were William G. Myers, Great Sachem;
Thomas K. Dounelly, Great Chief of Re
cords, and George W. Kramer,
Keeper of Wampum. These geutleinru
quietly and kindly performed their mis
sion, and many destitute and suffering
families were cheered and made glad by
the visit of these noble and distinguished
Red Men. Many of the beuevolent organi
zations of the State have been generous in
their help to the members of their organi
zations in this place, but in proportion to
the number of membership and wealth,
the Improved Order of Red Men is second
to none in good deeds of charity.
The Great Chiefs departed yesterday af
ternoon for Willia-nsport, where they will
distribute the balance of their relief fund.
ALMOST A FRIGHTFUL WRECK.
Runaway Cars in the Company's Yard
Rarely Mist* Killing a Number of
i'eople.
\V (Mine., day forenoou just as the Day Ex
press pulled into the station, people on
the platform were alarmed by a terrible
crash, seemingly on the opposite side of
the track. Passengers from the train
quickly alighted when it was discovered
that a wreck had occurred in the yards of
the Cambria Iron Company adjacent.
It seems that a train of about lifty coke
cars that had been standing above the
blast furnace, by some means were start
ed down the track. The grade is steep
there and as there was no one to control
them they soon gained rapid headway.
Mr. William Wilson, foreman in the yard,
and Mr. Edward Hayes, engineer of
one of the engines, happened to be
standing near this end of the ti nek. Wil
son told Hayes to hoard the train and
draw the brakes while he ran to the
switch. He got there ahead of the train
and opened the switch to run the cars out
on the siding and tip along the Pennsyl
vania railroad. Seeing crowds of people
there, however, who would have no warn
ing whatever until the cars would
be upon them, he acted on his next
impulse and switched them on the
sidetrack ending 11 the corner of the
yard. Here the runaway train struck
two box cars ntul a passenger car that
were used by the employes of the freight
and passenger .station, for sleeping quar
ters. Iloth box cats were broken to
pieces, half a dozen coke ears were
knocked off the trucks, and another
box car was shoved off its trucks
and through the fence. Three
cooks were preparing dinner in one of
the box-cars that was demolished, but,
strange to say, they were not seriously
hurt. While the accident was serious
enough, it was indeed lucky under the
circumstances that n . one was killed.
Mr. Alex Starkhouse, iperinu ndent of
the Motive Department, who ws present,
is at a loss to understand what caused
the cars to start, as they had been stand
ing still full twenty minutes.
RESCUED FROM THE FLOOD
And Get Seriously Hurt in it Runaway—J.
11. Strayer and Family, Formerly of
Market Street, Thrown From a Wagon
in Hudson, lowa.
At the time of the great flood here Mr.
J. B. Strayer, wife and child, lived at No.
03 Market street, and their house was
swept away. They with many others were
saved in the attic of Doctor Walter's
house. Mr. Strayer was considerably
injured in the Hood, and on account of
his poor health they concluded to visit
his brother and sister who lived in Black
hawk county, lowa.
It seems, however, that they had not
met all their bad luck, for ou Monday of
this week they met with an accident that
came near ending their lives. They were
all in a dog-cart driving out from the Mi
lage of Hudson, when the horse became
frightened and ran away. As they reached
a bridge Mr. Strayer was thrown out
against the timbers with such force as to
render him unconscious. His wife and
child were thrown out a few rods
further on, and as they rose to their feet
were appalled to see Mr. Strayer drop
into the creek below, a distance of six
teen feet. Mrs. Strayer's screams that her
husband was killed soon brought assist
ance, and in about ten minutes from the
time he fell, he was removed, he having
regained consciousness nfter striking the
water, but was unable to move on account
of injuries received. Medical aid was
summoned, when it was found that all of
the party had received very severe bruises,
Mr. Strayer's injuries being the worst, as
several bones in his leg were broken,
and it was severely lacerated. From a
letter received yesterday it is stated that
while the injuries of all three are very
painfi' 1 , they are not thought to be alarm
ingly serious.
An evening bath i 9 a great luxury at
this season.
MARMIAOB OF XBK BTLQXrLAAf >
Cmmonlti Petforaad kr tit* I*dlaat
of Brltltlt Colombia.
Fh. Jacobsen, In a letter to bla well
known brother, Capt. A. Jaeobeen, which
is published in "Solence." gives the fol
lowing description of the marriage cere
monies of the Bllqula Indians of British
Columbia. An Indian who Intends to
marry calls upon his intended wife's par
ents and arranges with them how much
he is to pay for permission to marry the
girl. Among people of his descent this
is done by messenger, sometimes As
many as twenty being sent to call on the
girl's father. They are sent by the man's
parents before the young man is of age.
In many instances both man and gill are
not more than 8 or 9 years old.
The messengers go in boats to the
girl's house and carry on their negotia
tions without going ashore, where the
relatives of the girl are standing. The
me---engers of the young man's parents
pi aise his excellence and noble descent;
the great exploits of his father, grand
father and ancestors; their wars, victories
and hunting expeditions, their liber
ality at festivals, etc. Then the girl's rela
tives praise the girl and her ancestors,
and thus the negotiations aro carried on.
Finally a number of blankets are thrown
ashore by the messengers, and the girl s
relatives protest and maintain that the
number Is not sufllclent to pay for the
p- rm isslon to marry the girl. In order
to obtain their consent new blankets are
thrown ashore one by one, the messen
gers continually maintaining that the
price paid is too great. Generally from
twenty to fifty blankets, each of the
value of about 50 cents, are paid.
After this the boy and the girl are con
sidered engaged. " When they come Ao
be grown up the young man has to serve
a year to his father-in-law. He must
fell trees, fetch water, tlsh and hunt for
the latter. During this time he Is called
Kos, which means "one who woos.'
After a year has elapsed the marriage is
celebrated. At this time great festivals
are celebrated. Seven or eight men per
form a dance. They wear danolng aprons
and leggins, trimmed with pufßn-bcaks,
11 oofs of deers, copper plates and bells.
If the groom should be a wealthy man
who has presented to his wife many
small copper plates, such as are use?! as
presents to a bride, these are carried by
The dancers. The singing master, tho
I >'Uts a drum, starts a song in which the
<1 .mere join. The song used at the
. lurriuge festival is sung in unison, while
in .ill other dances each dancer has hi
own tune and song.
The ilrst dancer wears a ring made of
cedar bark. His hair Is strewn with
eagle down, which flies about when he
moves and forms a cloud about his head.
1 he groom presents the llrst dancer with
a piece of calico, which the latter tears
to pieces, which h throws down in
"rout of each house in the village, crying
•'Holp!" In order to drive away evii
spirits. These pieces of calico which he
• hrows down in front of the houses have
a. lucky meaning, and at the same time
express the idea that tho groom when
he comes to be a wealthy man will not
forget the Inhabitants of any house when
giving a festival. The dancers swing
their bodies and arms, stamp their feet
and show the copper plates to the
lookers-on.
Thou the bride's father brings a great
number of blankets, generally double
the number of those he had received
i. urn the groom, and gives them to hit?
daughter. Tho bride orders a few blank
i's to be spread before the groom. Jihe
sits down and he puts his hand upon her
head. Then tho groom is given for each
of the parts of his body one or more
blankets. Finally ho is given a new
blanket. After the bride's father lias
given a blunket to each dancer and to
the drummer, the villagers are invited
to a great feast. At this timo groom
and brldo eat for tho first time together.
Death of a Famous Negro.
Charles Parrish, a colored doctor,
known as Black Hawk, died recently at
Siloarn, Ga. He was a remarkable negri*
A typical African in appearance, tail,
large and intensely black, he would at
tract attention anywhere. When a small
boy, just from the dark continent, he
was captured by the Seminoles in Florida.
While with them ho learned their knowl
edge of roots and herbs. During tho
Indian war he was recaptured by the
United States troops and sold by the
government on tho block at Charleston.
Ho was then grown. Ho was bought
by Col. Reuben Jones and taken to Ala
bama.
During the war his ownor loft him in
charge of his wife and children while
ho went to tho front. Ho was faithful
to his trust. Armed with a
lie patrolled the farm, and one night he
stiot two army strugglers who were rob
bing the smokehouse. Ho was captured
by Wilson's raiders, owing to other dark
ies calling him a white man's negro. He
escaped from them and went back to the
farm and his guardianship of tho familj.
In 18H7 ho was brought down to Baker
county by Col. Jones. He remained with
him several years, but his wonderful
knowledge of plants was gradually
brought into use. Ho made many re
murkablo euros on the plantation, and be
ing recommended by his white friends,
gradually made that a business. He was
well-known throughout Georgia auft
Florida, where he sold his medicines aud
iiiude cures. At some of the towns he
paid as muck as SOO per day license 10
sell his medicines. He was successful in
life and leaves a snug property,—Atlanta
Constitution.
'rite World's Shipbuilding.
At no period in the history of ship
building has such rapid progress been
recorded as is now being made. Every
large liner which is launched has im
provements on its predecessor, which
all go toward increasing speed, safety
and general comfort. The uuiount of
machinery in a largo steamship is very
great, and now applications of steam ap
paratus aro continually being found.
Refrigerating, distilling, electric light
uud improved blowers are among life
latest additions. During the last yea*
there were built 7GI vessels having a ton
nago ol ',127,000. Of these Great Britain
built 18-1 having a tonnage of 777,1)10, or
per cent of the total number. Ger
many comes noxt with thirty--, .en VC3-
sols of 40,000 tons and the United Mutes
built seventy-three vessels of 35,000
tons. The lust named were almost en
tirely of wood.—Exchange.
A Clever Thief.
Trembling all over his body, a young,
man entered with tottering step a shop
in Odessa, in which there was no one
else but the assistant, and pointed in
dumb show iirst to his throat and then
to his chest; then all at once he fell to
the ground, exclaiming. "For pity's sake
—quick—an antidote 1" Ho writhed and
tWistod as ho lay on the floor, nnd re
peated his request for an antidote, as ho
had taken poison. The assistant, at a
loss what to do, rushed into the street
and wont to fetch the nearest doctor. On
riwdrning with him to the shop iio found
that the patient had apparently recov
ered, for he had disappeared—so had the
till.—Novoye Vrotaja, *