ABOUT GOLD BEATING. AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF TUK CURIOUS TRADE. Rot the Phyileal Effort It Looki, Al though the Hammers l r wl Weigh Many Pounds—Tile Great Cur© dec enary In fh© Progrtas of the Iro ceai. Gold bbating is a trade of muscle and of judgment. There is judgment in knowing just how to strike the little paokage on tho stone, muscle in tho ham mer's clock-like rise and fall. The mo tion is one of the wrist. The workman's olbow joint stiffens, tho hammer fails and rebounds nearly to its starting point. ISO, actually, it is uot the physical effort it soonis, oven though tho hammers, one for each procoss, weigh eighteeu, twelve and soven pounds. Eadh beater rocelvos 50 pennyweight of gold, rolled from tho barlDto tho form of a crinkly ribbon, seven yards long and an inch in width. Cut into 180 nieces those go into the "cutoh." This consists of detaohed leaves of a vegetable iibre, between each of which Is placed a piece of gold. Slipped into a tightly fitting pad, the package is laid on the stone, and the hammer falls again and again, the aim being to drive tho weight toward the edges. From tho "cutch" tho sheets, then leaves, are picked out with curious boxwood pincers. Handling with the fingers, especially at tho latter stages, would be most liable to break the leaf. Each leaf Is then quartered by a section of bamboo cane on a little implement known as a "wagon," but in reality a tiny sled. The second pad is tho "shoder." It has 720 leaves, and is 4 1-1 inches square. The force of tho blows horo is greater. Tho leaves are beaten out to the very edge as thoy were not before, and ttm gold oozes out. These particles aro care fully brushed off into an apron attaclied to the sthno, for tho workman must ac count for every ono of his 50 penny weights. In the third process there aro three "molds" of 900 leaves each and live inches square. Each mold requires some four hours'work. The leaves are now so thin that tho slightest misjudgment will produce disastrous results. In spite of the heat generated by the blows damp ness creeps In between tho edges. Dry ness Is positively ossential here; so, whenever necessary, the mold is placed in a press—not unlike an ordinary copy ing press—Just taken from an oven. A short pressure liberates tho moisture. When sufficiently beaten tho mold goos to girls, who with pincers and "wagon" make up books of twonty-live leaves each, throo and three-eighths inches square. Each workman, from his beating of threo molds, is to iill eighty books. That is called a "tail." For I'. he receives $5. Tho molds show a total number of 2,700 leaves. Eighty books need but 2,000. For overy other book lie can fill, perfect loaves only being used, 6 1-4 cents is paid. Thus, it overy leaf was perfect, he would make $1.75 extra. JgAs tho "wagon" cuts the leaves 3 3- inches square there is a continual wasLt. This, with t.ho imperfect leaves, is pu in with the shoder waste. It is all melted into a "button" and weighed. This must come to 33 pennyweight,- For the eighty oooks 17 pennyweights i allowed, but thoy may weigh what' .or tho workman can make them. The thin ner the leaf, so long as perfect, tho bet tor. Whatever the waste weighs over 33 pennyweights $1 a pennyweight i paid the workman. For overy penny weight under, $1 Is deducted. Thus, al though the gold is used over ugain, it takes 50 ponnywoights to turn out l'i. And again a man, even though ho turns out an over numbor of books, may have such shortages in his wasto as to bring his balance the wrong way. Three beatings a week is tho averng number. The skilled workman can make ! S2O, and perhaps a little more. The ac tual number of men omploved is small, i Most are Englishmen. Gold beating is 1 done principally in tho east, Boston and Philadelphia furnishing most of the ! workmen. It is in the latter city that 1 the largest shop in tho United Slates is located. The fitting out of a gold-beat er's shop where a numbor of men ore employed is a rathor expensive matter. Each man's personal outfit is worth some $250, tho molds alono costing SSO a i piece. Alexander 11. Strphrni' Klndnm. The grave of Rio, Mr. Stophens' favor ite dog, reminds one of tho remark which lie made to his servunts on his departure for tho governor's mansion: "If a dog passes hero open tho gate and give him a bono Instead of throwing a rock at him." Tho many sheds nrouud tho premises re call his remark that lie would never own anything that ho couldn't cover. Under one of these sheds the close earrlngo in which lie made his last cam paign for congress still stands, much the worse for wear. In tnis carriage lie was driven by faithful Harry, and pulled by tho noted "flca-bitton grays," and in it ho received ovations in every county in tho Eighth district. His open carriage is in good ropair, in the ownership of Mrs. banford, and will yot do valuable service. An innocent old quarter-wilted darky shows alike tho liberality of Liberty hull of tho past and tho present. He looks like Darwin's missing link, and is as use less as any creature that crawls. He has been there fifty years. In answer to any question he says : "My name is Mr. Col. Lewis Hawkins; I was culled dat by old marster; I'se always boa'dod at Liberty halland that is tiro extent of his in formation.—Columbus Enquirer-Suu. Tin Oiggc>t Crown Trout. The biggest brown trout ever caught on this contineut was lauded a few evenings ago at Spring Creek, Mumford, N. Y. Tho ilsh weighed six pounds and two ounces, and its proportions and com piietion were perfect. This is one of tho species of brown trout, tho spawn of which was imported from Germany, and received at tho New York state hatchery on Feb. 18. 1881, so (hat its age cuunol be moro than between 5 ami 6 years. Tim largest ever caught previously weighed a trifio over live pounds.—New York Sun. Kftilci of Hero**!!. Two ghastly relics of national iieroe have been presented to the Museum ai the Hague—the tongue of John Do Witt and the great toe of his brother Come, lius. When the unfortunate Do Witt - were murdered by the mob at the Hague In 1072 these fragments wore secured bv Leydon family, and they have been handed down as heirloom- from genera tion to generation.—Exchunqe. Hrvpnup from I'ulpm Dtntl -Incs. For the year ending March, 1888, the revenue of London received no less than £191,585 from the Issue of stamps for patent medicines, this amount being nearly £12,000 in excess of that receive : during the previous year, and very nearly £OO,OOO in advance of the amount re seivod in 1879.—Exchange. TAGAKLTS Or TBM WIST. I Old Time liciiiiulMiuuea Of Kougl) Llfb in >n Arkunwa Town. i Beading the local gossip relating to the curious finding of a jury in Louisiana, Mo., recalls an observation of my own. In 185<i I was on my way to Hot Bprlnga, and I stopped at Ncpoloon, Ark., for a few days, says Judgo Cullen In the St. Louis "Globo Democrat." I drifted Into | the court room and soon perceived they were tryluga man for assault with intent to kill. Tho jury retired, and in a sur prisingly short timo brought In a verdict lining the accused $lO. So novel a ver dict excited my curiosity to know more of the case than I had heard. Later In | tho day I mot one of tho jurors and asked him point blank how they readied ; such a verdict. With a franknoss alto gether characteristic of the Arkansas jurors of those days he replied : "Wall, you see, 11 tho feller had killed his man wo'wouldn't have finod him a d n cent, so wo lined him $lO because he tailed. D'yo see, stranger?" I also observed another peculiarly in torosttng featuro of life In Napoloon at that period. 1 was coming down tho street ono day during my stuy und I ob sorvod a mau with his eout off, two ugly looking rovolvers protruding from his hip pockets and a shotgun thrown ovor his shoulder. Tho man was pacing up and down In front of a store. As 1 was passing a drug store In tho vicinity the clerk hailed mo and said: "Stranger, you had hotter come In hero for tho pres ent. That's tho marshal walking up ar.d down tho street and he's looking for u inombor of tho city council. There's likely to be some shooting going on." Of courso I was glad to avail myself of tho clerk's thoughtfulncss. Tho mar shal ooutlnued to pace back and forth for Bomotimo. I observed peoplo horo and there in the vicinity Uirust thoir heads out of doors and windows and quickly withdraw them, precisely like rats. Af ter a while a half dozen or so ventured out on tho street, myself among them. I went to a billiard ball In the second story of- a building neur by and began a game with a chance acquaintance, mo mentarily forgotting tho marshal. I hutl not been in tho hall long when I heard u shot and a mun canio rushing Into the billiard hall, his head all covered with blood, and going to a dosk got a io volver and rushed down tho stairs again. I don't know exactly how I got there, but I shortly after found myself in a room of an adjoining building, only to be confronted lator by tho man who had run dpwn tho stairway. Ho thrust his re volver In my faco and domandod to know what I was doing in his room. An x --planatiou followed, and ho said, rather calmly, "That's all right, Major, I.UL d nif I didn't take you to be one of the marshal's gang." Wild Gaintt of Alanka, A resident of Sitka, Alaska, says that Alaska fairly teems with animal life. J ho sea along its shores and tho rlvoi s. inlets and lakes aro filled with on inex haustible supply of tho largest and finest lood fish, i ishing is one of the princi pal industries of the country, and fully fifty large factories are engaged in pack ing the fish that are shipped to almost every country in the world. It is a per fect paradise for sportsmen. The ts lands in Behriug sea, as well as in mainland, are fairly overrun with gre,n herds of all kinds of fur-bearing animal.-. Along the north coast aro great held of walruses, which are vnluablo tor their meat and ivory tusks. The sea cow. which used to bo found here, has become extinct. In tho inte rior parts of the country and in tho north are the greatest breeding places for birds in tho world. For miles the conn try will be covered with myriads o. geeso, swans, ducks and hundred olliei varieties of tiro feathered tribe. Thoy feed on tho wild berries and become so iiit towards tho cluso of tho season thai ihey can hardly lly, and the native-, knock them over with clubs by tho hun dreds, The canvas-back ducks have their breeding places on the Yucon, tho principal rivor of Alaska. There is one point on the western coast of Aluska where, on a clear day, it is possible to see tho Asiatic coast, thirty-eight miles away, I'ho natives of Eastern Siberia and Alaska often oxchaugo trading vis its and cross tho strait in open boats.— Philadelphia Press. He Han Bucket* of UOIUM. Hitherto Diflccp Singh's emerald has been considered the largest known, measuring three Indies long, two wide and half an inch thick. The Duke of Devonshire's is the largost. in England, two inches in height, and two and a quarter across—brought, it is said, to that country by Doni Pedro. Rumor has mentioned a hugo eme rald In Persia—as big as a walnut, said the most veracious of chroniclers, but larger, still losserediblo authors stated. Vor this time tho latter were correct. the shah's emerald moasured sovon inches ncross, and tho namos of the Icings who possessed it aro mleroscophi cally engraved on it. The extent of the shah's collection of gems can only be guessed at, as in tho royal treasury they are stored in buok ets, says tho London "Court Journal." The frames of tho potographs of him self bestowed upon the roya! princes, which are encrusted witli diamonds would encroach but little on his stores Imitation* of 01 l Bronze. An excellent imitation of old bronze has boon introduced in somo of the art products of that character. It is well known that the repeated applications to copper or brass of alternate washes of dilute acetic acid and exposure to the fumes of ammonia result in a very an tique-looking and highly prized antique bronze; but a moro rapid method of pro ducing this beautiful appoaranco has long been a dlsidcriUuin. It is now found that this may bo accomplished by immorsing tlie articles in a solution of one part por chlorido of iron in two purts of water, the tone acquiring darkness with length of immersion, or tho materials may bo boded in a strong solution of nitrate of coppor. It is also found praoticabio to insure the desired effect by immersing the arti cles in a solution of two ounces of ni trate of iron and tho snrao quantity of hyposulphite of soda in half a pint of water, drying and burnishing completing tho process. -Exchange. Teetk li a Terrier's Skeleton. borne little children who woro playing tho other day'on a lot near the corner ot Eutaw place and North avenuo dug up a box inclosing a small skeleton. Fright ened, they called a patrolman, who, hav ing a good memory, recalled tho history of tiio skeleton, beven years ago a little biuek-and-tan terrier, a pet of a lady liv ing In the neighborhood, died suddenly, it was supposed of hydrophobia He was buried, and the skeleton unearthed war bis A full set of false teeth found lodged in tho throat of the skeleton smashed the hypothesis that the terrier died of hydrophobia.—Baltimore Sun. The prettiest tea cloths have hem stitched borders. BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. BBCVLIABITIBB OB TITE II Oil EH OB WIN OBI) CBBATUBBI). A Wew England N.wipsptr nan Relates | Ills Experiences While Hunting Kggs. Tne Crow and Ills Kidnapping Pro pensities—How Two Robins Displayed | Reasoning Powers. Home years ago I was presontod with a copy of Samuol's "Birds of Now Eng land, writes a correspondent of the J Lowlston "Journal." It contains com | plote descriptions of every bird that over even visits New England. The ! nests, oggs, habits, plumage are so ac- I ouratoly described that it Is noarly Im possible to mistake any specimen. I was at onee introduced to maDy birds in our midst of whose vory names I had been ignorant beforo. A desire seized me to make a collection of birds and eggs. I had neithor tho skill nor the pa tlonco to stuff birds, but to collect their eggs was an easier matter, A robin's egg and two or throe varieties of spar row's eggs wore quito easily obtained. To preserve thorn I glued them to a thin piece of board 9 by 18 inches. This board was aftorward knocked down and every egg was shattered. Tho lirst egg I got nearly proved to bo the last. A golden-winged wood pockor had a nost in tho top of a high smooth stub. A rough and scratchy top ridor from a fonco formed a conve nient ladder to the nest. Tho holo was too small to admit rny hand, but my knife soon made it larger. Two eggs woro transferred to my pocket, and while doliboratlng whothor to take more —there were six of them—my impro vised laddor suddenly foil down. 1 hugged the treo fondly and slid to the ground. Sundry knots sought to arrest my progress, but only succoodod in stop ping portions of my clothing and cuticlo. With tho eggs in my hand I limped oft' toward homo. There seemed to bo a throbbing or thumping in my hand, and on examining tho eggs I found that thoy wero hatching in ray hand. The eggs of the golden winged woodpecker arc white until their contents aro re moved. A cuckoo's oggs wero found In a robin's nest. The robins had abandoned nest and all. I think tho robin, oftener than any other bird detects tho fraud of the cuckoo, for ouco since then I have found a cuckoo's ogg on tho ground under a robin's nest whero tho birds had ovidently thrown it. Tho cuckoo often builds nests for itself of loose sticks, not very far from tho ground. A visit to the Egg ltocks. near Frank lin Island, yielded nearly a bushel of gulls'eggs of nil shapos and markings. The fresh onus were vory sitnilur to hen's eggs for cooking purposes. They lay on tho bare ledge to be hatched by tho heat of the sun. Tho sand piper lays an egg very large in proportion to tho size of the bird. It seems almost incredible that so small a bird can lay so largo 011 egg. Probably no nest Is so hard to find as tho bobolink's. Often I havo soarchod a Held over In vain, and during a few weeks of tho haying tho Held would bo alive with young bobolinks. The nost of the loud-raouthod crow is extremely easy to locate oither before the eggs are hatched or after tho young begin their dismal crying. I have seen enough of the crow's por orniances to condemn him. I have known liim to come within four foet of tho house aud kidnap a nost of young robins who would havo destroyed more noxious insects in a week than a hundred crows in a year. Recently I saw a crow plungo into an elm pursuod by a pair of robihs. Tim murder was committed beforo I could interfere and a happy home wus deso lated by the wrecked outlaw. Bluejuys are really as mischiovous as crows. As for the English sparrow, it is a pity ho cannot bo sent back to England together with tho criminals and luna tics slio sends to our slioro. It is hoped that our farmers will bo converted, to an English sparrow destroying faith atom next legislature. It is commonly supposed thut birds have groat forethought. Wonderful skill they have but no forethought. I once found a nest of a golden-winged wood pecker dug into tho cast side of a dead treo. There wore six eggs in it. On an other visit i found it nearly full of water. The rain had beaten in and tho bird had to leave. On tho opposite aide of the treo no such trouble would have oc curred. In tho sumo hole 1 afterward found four ogg shupod bodies covered with a dark skinlike substance. Thev withered and dried up. At another time I found a robin's nest built between two small spruces. After the eggs were laid and hatched a heavier breeze than usual brought tho trees together and crushed nest and birds. On tho other hand a pair of robins on a vory windy day un dertook to build on an exposed projec tion of my houso. Tho wind blow away the sticks and straw as fast us they wort brought here. They at last retired, and I supposed thoy had given it up. But no, after consultation thoy bogan to bring clay and plastered it down until they had erected a breastwork, behind which they oasily erected their home. That showed reasoning powers on the part of tho bhds and an ability to provide against present emergonoy, which is, after all, as much as man himself can do! A 57-Uulncii Pack of Cards. Fifty-seven guineas is not a bad price for a pack of cards, and it was given a few days since by a dealer at a sale held in Birmingham. Tho pack Is stuted to bo the only one of its kind In tho world. Every card is specially ongravod, ami the pacu comprises an exhaustive pi. toriul history of tho principal events in tho reign of Queen Anne, down to 1706. They include tho victories of Marlbor ough, tho sea-lightßof Admiral Benbow, all tho various changes connected with the parliamentary proceedings of tnc day, and the conclusion of the treat P. between Eugland and France ami Spain. Tho Queen of Hearts is a very well drawn picture of Queen Annlo herself, and the King of Hearts represents Prince George of Denmark, her husband. The Queen of Diamonds is Anno Sophia, Queen of Denmark; tho Queon of Clubs is the Princess Royal of Prussia, and tho Queen of Spades is the Princess Anne of Russia. The knaves were repre sented by leading politicians of the day. This curious pack was the occasion of much spirited bidding between tho gen tlemen who held commissions for tho purchase. Had thoy gone to one ol' these tho local art gallery would have eventually recolvod thorn. As it is. tholr destination is Shropshire.—Pal! Mall Gazette. Gen. Crook says that Sitting Bull has no reputation among the Indians a a bravo but only as amedicine man. lb ran away at the Custer light, nnd bi.- warlike reputation has been principal!* given him by eastern jwhitos. Gen. Crook adds thut he does not 800 how any one could make a hero of him. HONKBYTNO WITH A BABOON. Th llau of It. Loali Wu Knurked Out In One Round. In the old Bt. Louis museum we hnd, among other attractions, a baboon called Dlok, says a correspondent of tho New York "Sun." He was a solid chunk of a fellow, good-naturod. and a groat favor ite. Ho had ono peculiarity, though, which wo had to cator to. Ho took short naps twlco a day, and If aroused beforo his tlmo ho was as ugly as sin all tho rest of the day. We had him dressed up as a little boy, and when the. tlmo came to take his nap he crept Into an old-fash ioned cradlo, and the fat woman gener ally rooked him to sleep. That vory thing wus quite a draw, and plenty of people camo in solely to see the baboon rocked off to slumber. Ono day, soon after Dlok hnd closed his eyes, a half-drunken chap entered the place and created considerable disturb ance. Ho wont by the name of Awful Tote, and was a hard slugger. 1 tried to reason with him and get him out, but he unfortunately caught sight of tho sleep ing baboon and at onco demanded that the animal be aroused and put through his tricks. I sought to explain, but ho wouldn't have it, saying: "I paid to seo tho bub, and I'm going to see liiin or bust tho b'iler!" "But If you wako him up he'll fight." "Thon I'll wring hla neck !" Beforo I could stop him ho dodged under tho ropo and lifted Dick out of tho cradle. Tho animal woke up and took in tho situation in about tho tenth part of a second, and then lie fastonod his hands into Bote's hair, got a grip with his teeth on tho slugger's nose, and wo had a museum, menagerie, and a circus com bined for tho next fivo minutes. I'eto roared, and whopod, and pranced around in pain and terror, and tho bab pulled liandfuls of hair from his head, and bit nnd scratched like a wildcat. When we finally got him off that sluggor was a sight to bohoid, and had to bo taken lo the hospital at once. Two hours after ho had had ills wounds drossod I wont in to see him, and as soon as 1 spoke lo him ho began crying and asked: "Was it a baboon which did this?" "Yes." "Big as a lion?" "Oh, no. Ho weighs about twenty-six pounds. Why do you woop?" "Hadn't I oner weep?" he savagely de manded, as the tears came afresh. "I've lutd thirteen lights and knocked my man out ovoiy time, and now to be downed by a weazen-facod monkey in one round lias broko me all up." Our Ituaxlun Caviare I'ro.lurt. industry at Delaware City Is tho catching of sturgeon and tho mak ing of "Russian caviare." Thoro are three llrms engugod in tho work, and during Inst spring thoro wero 1,700 stur geons caught. Tlio aggregate weight being about 370,000 pounds. They wero valued at $22,500. Of tho total catch 2,820 wore roo tish, which netted 720 kegs of caviare of 110 pounds each, valued at $19,-140. This caviare is noarly all ship ped to Germany, but some of it returns to tliis country in small tin cans and be groatly increasod in value on account of the duties and foreign reputation. The sturgeons aro put in largo nets, and the roo must be removed while the li - h is still alive, or it is of no use. Tho roe is in largo dark Hakes. It is carefully rubbed through sieves to separate the eggs, about the size of duck liot, from tho Illm or membrane that hold them to gether. Great care is taken to prevent the crushing of the eggs. They are salted and packed in kegs. There is nothing wasted of tho stur geon. The meat is cut into steaks and kopt cold, later in the season being ship pod to Now York and Philadelphia where il sells from 12 to 22 cents a pounds. The hides aro used, and the refuse is sent to New Jersey, where it is converted into oil and compost.—Now York Sun. President Jackson Wan Firm. Many years ago Edmund Drlggs, who died tho othor day, was a member of a committee sent from hero by tiie Demo cratic leaders to get President Jackson to removo Col. Swartwout from tho New York colleotorshlp. Mr. Driggs often relntcd their experience with "Did Hickory." They were received by the general in tho library. He was seated in a largo armchair, smoking a clay pipe with a stem about two feet long. Ilia faeo, like that of tho pedagoguo in Goldsmith"s "Deserted Village," be spoke tho day's disaster to the com mittee, but tho chairman resolutely pro ceeded to state his case. 'i'ho president listonod patiently to the end, and then, after a brief pause, in which the pipo was kopt in vigorous ue t-ion, came tho reply: "Col. Swartwout,' said tho president, "was a good soldier (whilT, whiff*; ho shed his blood for hi--, country (whiff, whilT); ho is a personal friend of mine (whiff, whiff); 1 bollevo him to bo a perfectly honest man (whiff, (whiff); and (this with strong emphasis): he will not lie removed from tiio post of collector of tho port of Now Yolk (whiff, whiff', whiff,) Gentlemeu, I shall bo happy to continue the conversation on any other topic.;' Of eourso, there was little more to bo said. Col. Swartwout remained in offleo.—N. Y. Tribune. Another View of Carlyle. The now volumo of Mr. Carlylo's "Let ters," contains nn inimitable scone, which reveals Carlyle really and truly as he was. A Scotch friend, calling at Chelsea, happened to remark that ho and his mother had boon reading Lord Beaconsfleld's lust novel, whoroupou ex claimed the host, "Then you and your mother are fools." Tho visitor ventured to reply that, at least, tho author of the work in question was a groat speaker. "Young man," replied Carlyle, "I hope that you will live to get sense, ami loan, that words are no good at all; it is deeds and deeds only." Even this, however, did not shut up the admirer of that "melancholy harle quin," and, after quoting an opposite passago from Sophocles, ho presumed 10 observe, "You do not agree with one of tho wisest, of the Greeks, Mr. Carlyle?" to which the sago rotovted, "1 sou what you are now, u damned impudent whelp of au Edinburgh advocate!" Mrs. Car lyle and Miss Jewsbury wero presont at tills delectable dialogue and Carlyle was die sod in "a dowered dressing-gown" and had "a pipe a foot long."—London Truth. liffl Il<m* Movioy to 11 or Counsel. Henry D. Paxson, executor of Sarah J. Whitcling, who was executed for poison ing her husband and two children, has ascertained that tho women loft an estate valued at $3,000, and by the terms of her will this property is bequeathed to Col. Paxson aud ids associate couusol, George Arundel, who defended the 111 ur dross.—Philadelphia Record. The longest stretch across London is from Brentford to Strutford-le-liow, a distance of over twenty-one miles. That is to say, London, Inclusive of suburbs, without a break of houses. The latest order concerning the Rus sian railways is that only men who have served in the army are to be employed on them. TANNED BY ELECTRICITY. WRENCH TANNE Hi mil NO OCT A NEfT BBOVBHH. Amerlram Hard lo Convince That th New Idea Wa Kelly Pracllrul— How the Work I* Done—Over 30 Per r em. Saved hy Thla I.uteit Syatom—The , Speed at Preparation. The process of converting hides into leather, as now followed, consumes a space of time varying from six to twelve mouths. It also demands close a'tcn tion and good management, as well as experience. Great care has to be exer cised in the selection of mnteriul, else a lot of cholco hides aro found at tho ex piration of tho tanning season to havo deteriorated into second or even third quality leather. Tanners, and leather dealers generally, are accredited with being very careful und conservative in all their business methods. With these facts in view it is not sur prising thnt whon it was reported from Franco that leather was being tanned bv electricity, American tanners regarded tho statement as a now paper sensation. Twenty-four iiours was considered pretty quick work for even electricity. It was not until tho doubting Thomases hnd seen and felt that they believed. But now since tanning by this pro cess seems an assured fact it Is no longer regardod as a sort of transatlan tic offset to our electric sugar reilidng. Every item that can bo gleaned i.-> thor oughly discussed und every source Of lll formutiou eagerly sought. That tic outlier efforts in this direction wero fail uresis true, but this was largely owing to a lack of electrical know ledge ou the part of the inventors. They were tin übloto eoouomicully produce an effective current. And again, many experiments wero nocessary io learn the strength o tho mosteffecitvo current. But tins in time was learned, as was also its most < ceuomie tie an .of production. Oniy a uniform current will give good results. •Just what effect the electric curium has upon the liinuin is, as yet. a question of dispute, t-ome claim that its effect is upon the tauiiiu, giving it moro active properties. Others say thut it effects the hide only. Professor b. P. Thomp son, who lie. examined the process, thinks thai the effect is to open tne pores of the hide ami to permit a nioiv rapid access of the .annin solution. An . nor claims that the current rem:.". Ill" gelatine more soluble, so that it e. utile fo combine tuorc rapidly with the tannin. There is reason to believe 'im there is truth In both these sta o . cm., from thu fact that the leather t.- m n more pliable and of greater s.i. , : than that of the long process. A company lias recently been formed in England, which is preparing to tan quite extensively by electric process. The process is desarbed by thoso who havo Been it as a very simple o'ne. Co llides aro plaood iu large cylinder.-, which rovolvo upon horizontal uxl.-s The drum is tilled with a decoction 'Hindu and closed. Provision is made lorllio passing of a currcui of clootie - ity through tuo drum. The drum is kept s.owiy revolving until tho process of tanuiug is completed. The lengtli 01 time required varies with the nature of the hide. For the lighter skins, such 11- sliecp and goat, which used to require ,:uiu three to six mouths, by the eluo trie process are tunned in twenty-four hour.-., 'i'ho heavier hides, such as calf, ox, cow, or horse, require from seventy two to ninety-six hours. By tho old fashioned bark process twelve mouths, or uvou more would have been taken. The cos: of production is gieatly re duced by tills method, for not only is the saving in ti,,.0, but in latior. The actual cost of working is reduced over 50 pei cent. By tho bark process the cost of tanning is from 7 to 8 corns per pound of dry leather, as against thut of 3 or 4 ceula by tho electric methods. And ■twain, whero a force of llfty men were required to produce a given quantity of leather, only ten are needed to produce ti.o same by the new methods, iioioto lore largo capital lias been required to run a tannery having a regular weekly output. As hides often require to lie in the tan vats nearly a year, it will bo seen that a great number must bo iu process of tau tuigo tn ordor that a certain amount ot leather bo turned outeuch week. In ad dition to oxtensivo plant, heavy invest ments aro lepreseuted by the hides iu tunuago. But the oloetric'process com pletely revolutionized this. Hides pur chased on Monday have boon converted inio leather and put on the market by Saturday. A litirky Mining Venture. Tho Helena assay office takes all gold bullion that comes. It may be no more than a spoonful of dust from tho man who is working witli a shovel and wheel barrow and a little sluiceway neur the entrance to Yellowstone Park, or it may be tho single consignment from the Spotted Horse mine in Fergus county, which yielded the owners of tho mine 815, >OB, That was a thirty days' run of the Spotted Horse. Since then that mine has sent in several consignments which proved to be worth from $25,000 to $30,000, Spotted Horse lias a short but Inter esting, history. P. W. MeAdow was iu business at Billings. He crippled him self financially by advuncing supplies to the parties who owned tho mine. The property was put up at sheriff's sale aud MeAdow bid it in to save himself. lie took out $30,000 in thirty days, and re cently sold to Helena men for $500,000 cash. Mr. MeAdow is a member of the constitutional convention, and Mrs. Adow is the head of tho vory persistcut lobby which lias bcou laboring to get wotnar. suffrage in the Montana consti tution. Cashier Deiubo buys this Spotted Horse bullion is tho linest that comes to the assay office. It is nearly us good as gold coin. It gous over 800 tine. -Helena (Mont.) Letter. A Curious I'hait of Insanity. William O. Klommer, of Reading, Pa., some time ago lost considerable monoy, and his mind became affected. Since then the man lias, been a devout wor shiper of Images. They are as odd and hideous as they are varigated iu color and peculiar in shape and size. Thoy are made of clay and plaster of Paris, Iho heaviest of which weighs about 150 pounds. They represent turtles, ali gators, snakes, and men of different races. He keeps a lot of thorn in tho cellar, and at the foot of the stairs lead ing to the apartments is n large mummy. IClemmor takes groat pleasure among his idols, and regularly morning and evening, he assumes to give them water. Iu tho attic ho has also a lot of these Images, but no one elso is allowed to en ter that portion of the house. Mrs. Klemmor does nothing to mnr this seem ing pleasure of her husbnnd. Klommer is a bricklayer, and some time ago he at tacked a contractor on tho top of a high building and was restrained from throw ing the man off the building by the inter ference of the other men.—Now York Bun. COL. ADMTBJPM BABT. The rim fhtld In Oklahoma. Whtrh It Ctont |H to Ram-. Evp,ty)KMly who comes to Kingfisher hears vf Col. J. V. Admire and "Admlre's Haby." The colonel la from Osage City, Kan., ond in receiver of public money*. 110 1r known of all men who come to Klngllshor—rather below the medium height, fat, well rounded, plump ae a partridge In loolce, hie face inclined to he florid, and hie mustache, beard and hair showing a grayish tinge. "Admlre'e baby" Is not quite four months old, blue eyed, thin-haired, but as bright as a new dollar and as chlppet as a lark. Col. Ad mire is not the father of the baby, but Il ls just as proud of It as IT ho wore, ami ho led tho Kansas City "Times" corres pondent around to look at it with a high, prancing ston ond such a look of pride in uls eye that oroneos on tho atroot shied off and gavo full leeway. (Hi the morning of April!M, at 11.10 o'clock, not quite two full days after the opening of Oklahoma, a weak wall under n Mapping wagon eover on tho town sit e of Lisbon, told that a child had been born—the first child lo be born in the new territory. Its mother was Lillic l ewis, a slender little woman barely !l< l rears of ago; its father J. I'. Lewis They came from the panhandle of Texas, poor people, but with plenty of courage uii-1 unlimited faith In the future. The news of tho birth spread like wildlire, and all Kingfishers rejoiced over the honor—unexpected to everybody but the fond parents. (in the same night that the child was l> ii mere was a mass meeting to net • r exchange congra ulations, and i.n irgt.men. arose a- to what tho child -.noiilij u>- cnrisienod. the populace tah eg I' upon lliem-elves to relievo the I ittents of this duty, i inally it was de ehli d to give the privilege of naming the bube, which was a boy, to the hlghe-' bidder. Five dollars was the bid which started the ball rolllag. The figure jumped quickly to $125, then crept, to s:to, ? ld. Only a lank Texan and plump Col. Admire were left in the Held. The latter had the naming of tho child* knocked down to hitti for $52, and to ll omptly christened It Admire Lewi-. Tho $52 unit sl7 collected by sub-u-tlp 't ni wore invested in a Inn.- for Mr. and Mrs. Lewis and y<n ng Adni'io, where they now live contentedly, and where Col. Admlro almost daily dundie. young Admire on his knee and clink, and sings to him with au enthusiasm born of honost prido. Tuii net! Alivts C. H. [Slack, a well-dress young man, was trying to secure subscriptions iq a watch club In the El Dorado street tan nerv. He approached one of th< work uen who was scraping the hair from lud h. 'flic workman scraped away vigorously, and hair and lime were sc.*. cicd on every side, Bluck dodged about, so tluit his immaculate ut.li> should uot be soiled. The work an sc./.ed a hose and turned a stream >•' Miter on the liido to wash away the loose hair. The water splash-d in tit d.reetion of llluck, who nimbly jumpei u.i kto avoid it. Ho had fulled to ob<". i hat old proverb, "Look before \o i leap," and ho went sou-o Into a vat o tanuing liquor. His heels flow up from under him and ho sat. down up to hi neck in the dark brown liquor, wide . splashed all over his head and faoo. As soon as the workmen could slo.i laughing sulllciontly to act. they pulled him out of his unpleasant bulh. and la stood dripping on the walk, looking like some beer god just after a bnth in ihe liquor lovod and protected bv (iambrinus. The hose which had orig inally caused all the trouble was now brought into play to repair damages lilack was made tho target for a stream until as much ns possible of the tanning liquor had been washed from his gai ments, as well as from his faco an . lmuds.£Jlle was taken to his hotel ami put to bed, while his only suit of clothes was being washed, dried and pressed. Before all this could bo accomplished, however, his skin had been subjected to the action of the strong tannin, und despite the uso of every known mean to neutralize It, his skin will for some time bo several shudes darker than i was before his Involuntary bath. lie will have the comfort, though, of know - ing that it will match woll with a pair of yellow shoes.—Stockton Independent, Tile London fog U Healthy. If London is tho metropolis of the Innd of fogs, tliero is much consolation to bo fouuil in tho foot that in spite ol its smoke and its fogs it is not only one of tho healthiest cltios In tho world, but is growing healthier every year. Ac cording to tho ofticlal statistics for one quarter, our annual deaths aio only at the rate of sixteen per thousand. If we could eliminate from tho calculation some over crowded and notoriously un healthy districts tim figure would, of course, drop considerably. Still more remarkable would our sani tary condition appear if tho area wore coullnetl to the high and airy suburbs in which so large a proportion of those who ire by day "in populous city pent" are fortunate enough to dwell. Wo hav only to contrast this condition of things with the statistics of other capitals to ■-co how grout is tho advantage wo en joy. in Paris, which shows a comparative)• good record, the mean annual dentil late is '22.10; in Berlin it is 27.5: in Vienna, sti.7 ; in Munich, 32.!), and in St. Peters burg, 43.7. In Brussels, which appears to be the heali litest of continental cities, it is IS.it. To sum up the case, the death rale during tho quarter in twenty-nine eolonlnl and foreign cities, having an ag gregate population exceeding 8i.000.U00 persons, was 20.0 per 1,000 or more than ten and one-half persons per 1,000 in •.- cess of tho London death rate.—Loud, n Daily News. Wrt'itc of Coal lino to fcvimMitre. The waste of coal by exposure to the weather has been variously computed and depends very much upon tho natuie and quality of the coal and tho climate to which it is exposod. Soft coal suitors the greatest amount of loss, as it crumbles to dust by the action of tho sun, air und rain; its loss in bulk is calculated to amount to 12 per cent per annum, and it deteriorates in quality much more tliuu hard coal. Hard coal exposed to the weather loses in bulk to tho extent of about eight per cent per annum. On tho whole, it is much more econom ical to place coal under cover, as while sheltered it retains its quality and suffers littlo loss. Another serious danger is also avoided—spontaneous combustion, which is attributed to rain falling upon coals after a long drought, causing the small or slacky portion to sweat aiid ig nite.—Exchange. Belgium Drink SlallilUa, Temperance advocatos should cer tainly turn their attention to Belgium. The little kingdom contains 150,000' pub lio houses, about 1 for every 40 of the population, and tho annual amount ol spirits consumed roachos nine litors— nearly two gollons—per head.—Ex change.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers