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.