South America has tho grentost un broken extent of level surface of any country in tlio world. Tin rj nro 40,000 blind persons in i'rni.oe, nenrly lml f of them from vhnt in now known to be prevontiblc. Great indignation in expressed in Paris beoauso for two jrcntj mining problems tlint ciinuot bo solved have been ni t for tho examination of tho Ecolo Poly technique through the blundering of tlio examiners. A writer in tlio St. James Gazette attributes the "anxious look mid un wholcsoino jinllor," tlio nervous ex liniiHtioti nml headache, often observed among bicyclists, to tho incessant, though unconscious, strain upon the brain nnd nervous system duo to tho Constant effort necessary to maintain equilibrium. Americans who go to Itnly to bo ediientcd in music lmve a grent advan tage if they master tho Italian lnn gungo nnd study its melodic Other wise they have none, maintains tho New York World. The whole secret of tho musical nnturo of the Itnlinn people lies in the musical nnturo of the Itnlmo lnngunge. So one enn Speak it hiibituitlly without becoming unconsciously educated in tho laws of melody which underlio all mimic, Tho Beyrouth, Germany, newspapers record n new sample of meanness. An inhnbitnnt of thnt city was afflicted with cataract in both eyes. Ho con tracted with n skilled physician to bnvo two oporntions performed ono on each eye for 8250. Tho first operation proved very successful, but when tho doctor offered to operate also on tho other rye tho patient refused, declaring that ho could seo as much ns ho wnnted to see with tho ono eye, nnd tendered half of the amount stipulated i. e., 812". Tho physician, however, says thnt ho fixed tho price ns low ns ho did in considera tion of the quantity of pnym .'nt to bo received, not in consideration of the quantity of work to bo doue, and tho uniquo dispute is now boToro tho courts awnitiug a Solomonic settle ment. J ml go Millon of tho law division of tho PoHtofHeo Dopnrtmout has ren dered a decision concerning tho do livery of mnil matter by j til officials to convicts; bud the same ruliug will apply to inmates of charitable insti tutions. Ho holds that "stato nml county institutions for the coufiuo niont mid punishment of parties con victed of crim is havo tho right to pre scribe rules nnd regulations as to communications from outside parties to convicts. While thoy have no right without tho consent of the convicts, to open tho letters addressed to thorn yot they havo the power to refuse to -deliver or permit to be delivered to the convicts any letters addressed to them, unless thoy will consent that the lettora be opened in tho presence of somo officer. Whero mail is ad dressed to a convict, it is proper to deliver the same to the officer in charge of the prison. While this would not authorize the officer to open such letters, he would have the power, if tho state and county laws or regulations of the prison so author ized, to refuso to deliver such letters to tho convict duriug his imprison, nient unless ho consents that they be opened in the presence of the officer." General John Gibbon has written mn article on "Cm West Poiut Be MudeMoro Useful?" which commands moro thau usual attention among of ficers of the Army. He cites that in some rospects tho Military Academy remains the Bame as it was fifty years ago ; that, although tho course of studies has undergone radical change, the number of professors and instruct ors increased, the scientifio apparatus improved, and tho number of cadets increased with the growth of the country, yot the qualification required by law, with some few additions, re main about the Bame, G.-nerul Gib bous makes special objection to the rulo thnt a oandidate of a cortain age and height should weigh at least a cortain number of pounds. He main tains that this objootion may be over come in a few mouths with good ra tions and exeroise, but that if adhered to strictly a Graut, a Sheridan, even b Kapoloon would be shut out. He also says that there is a hurtful pre judice against the Military Academy among the people at large, because of its supposed aristooratio character. He maintains that the academy can be made more useful by extending its education in auch a way as to loaveu tha military element in the oouutry; nd that,, in o.ise of war, the forces would be in better state of prepara tion to take the field than they Lava -ver been before. itnln-lhops on tlif Roof, Hark 1 I hnitr a palter, Falling toft nml sweet Like the dancing footstep Of pomo fairy's font. 'TIs the snuml of raindrops Raindrops on the roof. Fairy little raindrops, Raindrops on tlio roof. Oil ! limy sing of Mowing, From til Father's liaii't As they fall no gently On tlio thinly Intnl. I. Men to the raindrop', It-iln Irops on tlio roof. Hippy, umlllint rnlti'lwps, linlndrop on the roof. Falling, gently falling. Vhlp'rlng soft ami Ion, Of His lure ami goodness, Telling as tliey go. Hear the pntt'rlnir rnlnlror It.ilndrop on tho roof, Hoftly wliiprlng raindrops, Raindrops on the roof. LnTTt O. Miner. THE AERONAUT'S STORY. Is Jack Tiinuioliffj going with you to-morrow. Tom?" said my wifo to me. "I wish you wculd tnko some ono rise." "Why, Xornh?" I asked. "He's been strnnger than ever in his manner sinco his wifo died, I hear. In fuel, I'vo been told by more thau ono person that he's qitito insane nt times. It's not to bj wondered nt if ho is, poor fellow. I don't know a sad der enso. He'd only boou marriod a week. Such a horrible death, too I It's enough to turn a man's brain, nnd I must confess, Tom, I wish Jnck was not going with yon." "Nonsense," Xornh t Pooplo al ways exuggornto nml tnnko tho worst of things, ns you know. If a man's nt nil original or eccoiitric, it's at oneo assumed that he's non compos. Of course, Jack's low-spirited ami absent minded, nnd perhaps bit poculinr at timos. How can ho help brooding ovor his terrible loss? Ho wants some exciting occupation to take off his thoughts from his troublo. Ho' as fond of ballooning ns I nin, and a trip will do him nil til ) good in the world.', Tho above conversation between my wife and myself took plnco on tho evening boforo tun day which I had fixed lor a balloon ascent. Billoon ing was my hobby. I had conceived a liking for it on my very first ascout. This liking had become a "craze,'' for tho novel experience and Btrango sensation of Bailing over houses and trees, and of soaring into tho clouds had a peculiar fascination for me. Recently, I had trid to combine, utility with pleasure, and had made somo ascents solely for scientifio pur poses. I had found a kindrod spirit in young Tiinuicliffj, and we had had many delightful and successful trips togethor. Owing to the untimely death of my friend's wifo, our aorial expeditions had baen suspondod for a while. As several weoks had elapsed sinco that sd event, I felt anxious to resume this expeditions, and at Tun nicliffe had expressed his willingness to accompany me, a day had baen fix sd for our next trip. It was when I was talking to my wifo about this solf-samo trip that she expressed her regret thnt Jack Tunnicliffj was goiug with me. I had not much difficulty, howevor, in overcoming her objections and al laying her fears. She was not averse to my hobby, and had even acoom pauied me in one or two of my jour ney in tho air. Moreover, she sym pathized with me in my desire "to make aome useful discovery," and was therefore unwilling to damp my ardor, or hinder the progress of my observa tions. tShe had felt the exhilarating effect of a balloon ascent, and my ref erence, to the benefit young Tunui cliffo would probably derive from the projicted trip appealed to her ex perience as well as to Lor tender heart. Accordingly, next day at tho ap pointed time, everything being in readiness, we started on our aerostatic journey. Tunnioliffe, contrary to his usual demeanor, seemed a little ex cited, but this caused mo no appre hensions. His interest had apparent ly been uwakeued, and it was only natural that he should be animated on sueU an occasion. The balloon was set at liberty as soon as we had taken our seats, and the machine roso b-iutifiilly. There was a gentle breeze, whioh bore us slightly south ward. We rose slowly at first, aud bo had plenty of time to gaze on the vast aud extending panorama below us. Presently we enterod a huge bank or mountain of oloud of the kind called cumulus, aud were surrounded by a chilling mist which iuduoed me to put on the wrap we had brought. When we emerged from the oloud seo no of fairy-like beauty suddenly burst upon us. We were in a kind of basin surrounded by mountain of cloud of the most fantastio shapes, of enormous size nnd of dazzling bright ness. Now nnd then, as wo rose, we cnuglit sight nlso of wondrous ravines of curious ahnpo and great depth. Theso mountains of cloujs, with their silvery nnd golden sides, their dark shadows, their varied tints nnd sum mits of dazzling whiteness, presented to our wondering gaze n scene of sur passing beauly mid grandeur. This sublime spectacle evoked my highest admiration, wliilo the silence nnd vnstnoss of spneo inspired mo with nwe. I drnnk in theso exquisito nnd varied delights with such avidity ami with such absorbing interest, that I had scarcely looked nt, or spoken to my companion sinco we had started. Hut nn exclamation from him now diverted my attention, nnd glancing at him, I was surprised to seo thnt ho had risen and was mneh excited. "What is it. Jack?" I naked. "Isn't it glorious?" ho replied. "1 wonder if heaven is nino'i more beautiful? How delightful it would bo if wo could roach it I I should see my Ada ngnin, then." "My denr follow I" I intorposod, h'istily, somewhnt alarmed uot so mneh by his words ns by his excited manner nnd wild look "you think ti much of these things. You have boon brooding over your loss more than is good for you. Will you " "At nny rate," cried he, vehement ly, "it's worth trying, so hero goes," nnd seizing ono of tho sandbags ho throw it over. Tho lightcue I balloon at oneo began to rise more quickly. "What nro you doing, Jack?" I shouted. "For heaven's sake, keep calm. Wo nro a good height nlready. Wo shan't bs able to breatha if wo go much higher. It's gotting uncomfort able ns it is." "Shan't wo? We shntl seo nbout thnt. I'm going to try, anyhow. Bj aides, I don't cure if I can't breathe. I want to seo my Ad i. That's nil I care about." I began to fear the worst. Was ho giing mad? Were tho reports my wifo bad heard literally true, nnd not exaggerated nftcr nil? What a fool I had boon not 'to ha mire evitious! Whether ho was mad or uot, ho was iu a dangerous mood, nnd my posi tion was far from plcnsuut. To op poso him would evidently aggravate him and mn'io matters worse. To humor him was undoubtedly thj wisest course. "Look here, Jack! I cried. "You say you want to sod Ada. I can tell you of a bottor and surer w ay of goiug to her than this. If you will listen to me thero I involuntarily moved my hand toward tho valve-cord I if you will listen to mo I " None of your blarney, mm? I'm not to be wheedled so. I'm to old a boy for that. L javo tho cord alone, cau't you? I'm not going down ngaiu to-day. I'm going to see what's up there, and don't you try to stop ins," and he glared fiorcoly at me. - The horrible nature of ray situation was now only too apparent thire could no longer bo any doubt of Tun nioliffV condition. I was in a bil Ioon with a mad mm, and about four miles from the oarth. I felt tho cold sweat ou my brow, aud my brain be gan to rest Bat with a tremendous effort I pulled mysslf together for my only chanoo of safety was in re taining my self-possession. To at tempt to overpower him was out of the quostion the strength of a mid man i o well known My only hope of escape was to outwit him. But bow? Forced into unnatural activity as my brain was by my desperate situation, nnd by the nesessity of prompt action, I could think of no deviuj or ruse that would do any good ; I was completely at the mercy of the madman. Wo wore now at such a height that asphyxia was imminent, 1 could hear my benrt throb quite plainly. I breathed with difficulty, and a hor rible sensation like that of sea siek ness camo over mo. Tho cold was so intense that I shivered, notwithstand ing my wraps. The mental strain was terrible. I was almost frantio. Knowing, howevor, that iu a few min ute I should be uuconscious, and that then all would be over with mo, I nerved myself for one last effort. As I rose from my seat my eye fell on the grapnel. Fortunately it was ou my side of the car. A sudden idea struck me, here was a weapon to hand. It waa an awful thought it would be terrible deed. But there wa now no alternative, no time for delay. My sense ' were going. I stretched out my baud, but the madman, who never took bis eye off me, bad deteoted niy purpose. With a sudden movement be darted forward and seized the grapnel, but in bis eagerness to fore stall me be bad prooipitated bimself too far over the side of the oar and al most lost his balance. Ha made a desperate effort to recover himself, but, seized with a sudden nnd irresist ible impulse, I pushed him over, ami with a horrible yell, which rings in my onrs whenever I recnll tlio occur reuco, the mailman disappeared from my sight. Almost mail myself I nm not sure that I was not quite so just then 1 climbed Into the ring to reach the valvo lino. Hut my hands wero so stiff and numb with the cold that 1 could not grasp the cord. By a kind of inspiration which seemed provi dential I eoizeil tho cord with my teeth, nnd after two or throe tugs tho valve opened with n loud clang, nnd the bnlloon began to descend. Thank heaven I I wns saved. My hnuds be ing useless, I was obligod to throw up my nrms nnd drop into tho enr, whero I lay motionless aud unconscious for n while. My swo jii could not hivo lasted more than a few seconds, for when I recov ered tho barometer showed that I was stilt iu a high altitude, although tho balloon "ns descending rapidly. I rubbi) 1 and beat my hands uutil tho circulation was restored. Then I set about taking tho necessary precautious n'ainst a too rapid descent. But I acted moro like an automaton than a conscious agent, for I s3emod iu a kind of stupor or franco all the time. How nnd where I reacliod tho solid onrth I cuniiot sny. I have only a dim, hazy recollection of boiug sur rounded by a crowd of pooplo. Hjino were bending owr in a and seemed to bn questioning me, but I couldn't mako out wdint they said. I felt nil awful pain in my bond, nnd remember nothing moro until I found myself in bed in a dark room and my wifo bend ing over me. This was several dnyi nfterwnrd, anil I learned then thnt 1 had been brought homo in a delirious state and hud had brain fever. When I recovered my friends con gratulated me, nnd tried to persuade in that ns my homicidal net wns done i:i solf-d.;fe:ico it wns justifiable. 1 hope it was, but I enn never recnll it without misgiving and horror, nnd 1 have never made a balloon ascent siuce. Tit-Bits. Credit In Foreign Ciiuntrles. In Austria a credit of six mouths is generally allowed. Iu Italy but little credit business is done, nml none without good security being given. Iu Cub tho time fixed for pnymont is from four to fivo mouths after tho delivery of tho g Kids, Iu tho lljrni'iilus accounts nro settled but oneo a year. Juno 3) is the day usually fixed for tho payments. Iu Austria it is scarcely possible to do business without allowing a long credit, which is unully one of aix months. Iu England a payment of tho price of goods delivered is required at the end of three mouths, dating from the day of shipment. Iu Spain four-fifths of the trausao tions nre doue on a cash basis, while iu Portugal groat liberality is shown and quite long credit is generally al lowed. In Turkey ovon objoets of prime necessity aro sold on credit, and in that oouutry, as well as iu Russia, tho time allowed is, in most cases, twelve mouths. In Mexico the largo commercial houses willingly give credit from six to eight months, and in real estate trade long terms are given customers in which to settle their aooounts. In China it is not customary to give credit. Mouey is obtained from Ion ders, who exact an interest of eight to twelve per cent. Businoss is nearly always conducted on a cash basis. Iu Canada settlements aro made at tho end of thirty days, with a dis count of five per cent. Sometimes a credit of from three to six mouths is allow od, but iu this case there i no discount. . Jlm" FlskV Fortune. A current paragraph says that at the time of bis death Jim Fisk was sup posed to be worth $2,000,000, and that it is hard to believe thnt tho only meant of support Fink's widow now has is small income from property in Ver mont wliioh came to hor from hor own family. The writer of the paragraph is seemingly ignorant of the populai legond that Jay Gould quietly and re morselessly gobbled up every ponny of Fisk'a bolonging as soon aa Fisk breathed bis last. Tbe two friondt bad offices adjoiuiug eaoh othor, and between them usod one safe. After Fisk's death an examination demon strated that there was actually noth ing in the safe but air and dust, aud Gould subsequently testified upon th witness stand that the firm of Fisk & Gould had no assets. Nobody Vuowi where Jim Fisk's two million wout, but everybody oan giva a pretty lur i guess. Chicago Rsoord, J OH I MUM AMI li A It HEX. ri-ntrr thr VAnnn. Wlionover a contagious disease np- poars among fowls in essential to doc tor tho yard ns well ns tho henhouse. This may bo done chonply by dissolv ing ono pound of copperas in two gal lons of boiling wntcr and, when cold, adding one pound of sulphuric ncid. This mixture may bo nppliod to every portion of tho soil by menus of a wntoring pot. Now York World. THIXNINO nP.ETS3. Many of tho boot seeds grow doub le mid two plants will co mo whero ono would be better. This mnkos work in thinning, but it is not nil loss for tho small beets make excellent greens. They can bo used for greens until tho boets nro larger thau a fin gor, and the boot at this onrly stago is moro tender aud has a better flavor than ns it grows older. Thero enn hardly bo too mnny oftlicscbeet thin nings, as tlio spring pigs will cnt them greedily without cooking. They nro one of tho best feeds for sows thnt nro Mickling pigs, nnd tho young pigs will noon learn to eat thorn ns they aro fed to their dam. Boston Cultivntor. FOOD OP TIIE CALF. Tho food of tho cnlf and its prep nrntioii is a most important factor iu tho welfare of tho animal. If tho cnlf bo renred in tha nnst expensive,' stylo, that is to say, is ullowod to run with its mother in tho pastures, nnd to suck hor whouover it fools inclined, it will generally mako good progress, but should tho cow bo hontod through running from tho flies ns the days got long nnd hot, tho cnlf frequently soiiirs, nnd not soldom is past re covery before it is obsorved to bo ail ing. Tlio snmo result will ofton occur when tho animal is housod, not alto gether from tho sains causo, but main ly bee lino somo error has boon com mitted in preparing tho food. Milk at this season, whun pro luood from quick-grown grass, is liable to turn sour nt short uot ice, and under such conditions is bound to do mischiof to cnlvos of tender ngo. Milk substi tutes, whether homo-mndo or miinii factured by experts, aro liable to tho Bii mo defects, and tho utmost cleanli ness iu tho feodiug utensils must bo obsorved, or failurj will follow. So rbins derangement in digestion and fatal attacks of diarrhoea nro goner ally traceable to these anises. Thoy can ouly bo prevented by constant caro and watchfulness. Swoot food is ns essential to tho calf as to the in fant. A MODEL POCLTRT HOfSR. A poultry house costing 88,000 was built for Mrs. Robert Garrett at bor country home, Uplands, lately, and tho general plans wero from ideas fur nished the builders by this enthusias tic lady poultry kocper. Tho building ia all under one roof, and is over too hundred and fifty loot long. It has throe turret towers, one at each end and ono in the center. One of the towers will bo used for choice fowls, a pigeon loft boing in tho socoud story. The food will bo kept in the othor end tower. A rcooptiou room, well fur nishod and equipped witb a library of poultry literature, occupios tho first story of tho con tor tower, tbe secoud story boing tho bedroom of tbe poul try keeker. On the rigbt of tho cen tre tower aro accommodations for brooding two thousand broilers at one time. Brooders are devices for pro viding warmth for artificially hatched chickens, arranged so. that th chick ens may ruu in aud out at will. Tuoie aro outsido yards where the-ehiokens may exercise and obtain fresh air.Com pnrtments for brooding pens of thorough-bred poultry aro ou the loft of tho center tower. Tho house is constructed of wood, aud tho floors are all of couicut. A heavy brick oruumeuted structure for the incuba tors is in tho rear of tho poultry house. As soon as tlio young; chicks are "woll dried, after emerging from, tbe eggs, thoy nro taken from tho inoubator, aud iu bts of ooie hundred are put in tho brooder apartinout. A building especially arranged for fattening, killing aud ilroasing poultry is con nected with tho establishment. Duck and turkey have a separata house in the rear of the mai building. New York Independent HUIJM roil TREE riUNTIKO, Tho following twenty rules are self evident to most tree planters, who, for waut of atteiitiun.brsak aome of them, and reminder therefore ofton useful : 1. A valuable aort is wortb moro than merely a handsome true 8, Good, healthy, bracing roots are of moro importation tban. symmetrical 3. Tho roots should bo long and strong enough, nnd the top made light enough, to obviato any staking. 4. If tho roots of a trco nro frozen, nnd then thawed out of tho groitu 1 or in contact with tho nir, tho tree will bo killed. 5. If frozen roots aro thnwed iu coin pnetly pressed mellow earth, toe true may be inndo to live. 0 Manure should never bo plncod in contact with tho roots when sotting out a tree, but used for a mulch or top-dressing. 7. Trees should nlwnys bo set about ns deep ns they stood in tho nursery, or two or three inches deeper, to nllow for tho settling down of the earth. 8. Spread out tho roots nenrly equally ou all sides, Bo us to brace the trco well. 0. Avoid particularly any smnll envity next to tho roots, but fill com pnetly against them ou nil Hidos with fine mellow earth. 10. A small, thrifty treo with copi ous roots when set out will bo a good bearing treo sooner than a largo tree with tnutilntol roots. 11. Watering in dry wenthor crusts) the surface aud does not rench the roots. 12. Young trees should not be set in a grass lot or among any crops of sowed grain, but the surface kept clean nnd mellow. 13. Shriveled trees, beforo plnnting tuny bo mndo plump, by covering for Bovernl days, compactly, with moist, mellow earth. 11. If newly set onos suffer from drought mulch the ground about them and sprinkle or shower tho stems and branches. 13. Tho roots cxtond ns fnr from the treo ns its cutiro height ; clean nnd mellow culivntion should, thcroforo, cover a circle twico as wido as its height. 10. As a general rulo cultivation should bo continued from six, eight, or ton years from planting, after whioi closoly grazod or luwn-m wod grass inny bo permitted, with frequent top dressing. 17. Tho mnount of manuring or top dressing must vary with tho vigor of tho troes; yonn trees should grow two or three f jot ye irly.'nnd bearing ones ono foot or in ro. 1$. Kicp an eyo to the futuro shnpo of tho trco, nnd timely remove small needless crossing or crooked limbs. This will obviate hoavy prun ing in nfter years. 19. Pruning when dormant tonds to impart vigor; but if done whon growing or in leaf it check growth, and thereforo a feeble treo Bhould nover be primed after growth com mences in tho spring. But healthy strong growers miy bj lightly prunel at cither season. 20. Most of tho "bid luck" with young trees and orchards is the re sult of neglecting the precoding. rules. Southern Farm. FARM AND OABDEX NOTES. See that the stock have access to salt when running at pasture. Alfalfa should be out on the first appearance of bloom, as its nutrition ratio is much higher then than later on. The vory best out feed for horses is made by mixing cut clover bay moistened with oats and corn ground togethor. Permanent aod, without fortilizing, is an injury to tbe orchard. This baa been proved in the experionce of uearly every successful orcharding After all,, why ia not the flesh of the horso just as good food as the flesh, of a steer or a sheep or a hog? It is cer tainly a more cleanly animal than the last named. One remedy for the onion, maggot is to spray the beds with a. solution composed of paramue, oil and water, ono gliissful of oil to six gallons of water, applied with au ordinary spray pump. , For two ou tho road gelding are generally preferred to either mares, or horses, a fact dearly demonstrated; whonever any important consignment of bigh-daaa roadster reaches th market.. The loss of appotito by oaa animal may be due to some, cause that eau. affect tbe wholo, and by attending to the matter in time there, may be a great aaviug in preventing ailments among the other membej of tbe flock or bord. If you keep a large breed of fowls like Cochiua, Brabtuas. eta, you should plaoe the roosts near tho ground, a in jumping to the ground tboir feet become sore, aud oorn or buuchojS develop ou tbe bottom of the foet For lighter breed this precau tion i unneoeuarr, a they are uot o oUiinay.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers