XXKOAITS IMPORTED CIGAR. They gave a hall at .VcSweenej's, Mike Keegan he smoked a e s-var. Ho knew that it "as iui-poor-toa, McGuium'h-) lKort it on akyar. It was wtMrae tbau any sto-gie - Oh, my I though, but wasn't it rank. From tin- way that Keegan smoked it, You'd a thought that he owned u bank. Be smoked it out in the hallway, Wid a plashter lawk iv his neck, And—"The wind blew through his wills- Making of them a total wreck, Through the window he'd left open. He needed a sthill hur-ri-cane ; But 'twill be many a day, though, Before Keegan will siuokoa-gaiu. BJissoa Keegan said, "McSweoney, Mary Ann's put bad eggs in the dull." But Keegan, he calmly stood there, And ho took another long puff. Then some one said, "Thegas was leaking,* "While others, "A rat had died thero," But Keegan, he kept on smoking At the foot of the big hall stair. They ap-pine-ted a com-mit-teo To disclioover the hor-rid smell, Who got onto Kei gan's smoking, For we soon heard an awful yell. Then something solid a sthriking The back fence near the big ash dump. Whisper! Wo found old Towser dead Next day he'd uwhallowud Keogfcu's s thump. —Cotninetviiil Traveller. WITH CRIES OF DISMAY. . -JSSUf* • " Y T - W. E looked every inch fj $5 ft there under the IT K-*evergreens, behind monument le form was clothed in a pair oi ffjja overalls reaching 11 below the knees IJ and a worn-out coat rJ i of tlie Prince Al- U [I berfc variety, evi dently the property of a person several sizes larger than the wearer, while on his shapely feet was a pair of the hugest and heaviest cowhide shoes—a pair which had been an heirloom in the family for many a generation. A huge bulge under his coat and in the vicinity of the breast-pocket was well calculated to suggest ideas ol pirates' booty, bombs, daggers, and all those weird and romantic things, but when a gust of wind blew the coat aside the said bulge proved to be a choice assortment of fiction wrapped in a dime novel, which bore a gaudy frontispiece and the breezy caption, "The Soaring Hanger of ltattlesnake Ranch." In liis hand lie hold a copy of " Old Electricity," and while one eagle eye eagerly devoured its contents, the Other wandered off across tlie ceme tery, to where a fleshy dame, in n tv/i" "CALVIN BAXTER, YOU SCALAWAG ! D'YOt HEAR ME?" calico wrapper, with sleeves rolled above the elbows, flourished a large sapling in one hand, while she limited excitedly under the trees and behind tlie stones, wildly gesticulating and occasionally delivering, in a very loud and high-pitched voice, tho following touching appeal: "Josiah Calvin Baxter Smith, you young skeesics, come here to me this minute, or if I don't warm you up good, now, you young rascal! Calvin Baxter, you scalawag, d'you hear me V" He heard, but his line lip curled as he arose, took a huge quid of tobacco from his jaws, and carefully plastered it over the mouth of the graven figure on the monument, while he muttered in scornful tones: "Yes, 1 hear, Mariar Jane, and if you can trail tho 'Lightning Detective' to his lair before he finishes this novel, you're welcome to apply vour bludgin, to the pants of his breeches." And lie' resumed his reading. Suddenly, however, a howl, or rather a shriek, rent tlie air, so dismal and unearthly that he sprang to his feet and turned to fly, with a vague idea that the spirits of the dead were charg ing down upon him for the purpose of driving him from out their territory. But, turning to look back, lie discov ered the cause of the strange noise. The exploring party had made a rather sudden turn, to look behind a monument of unusual size, when her toe caught, and, with an awful shriek, slie fell. And great was the fall there of. The stick was twisted out of her hand and lodged in tho top of one of the evergreens. "0000-00-oo—kr-r-r-r ouch! Oh, Lordy!" howled the fleshy dame, and llie limped off to the house. The youth resumed his reading. Presently lie heard footsteps ap proaching. It was two gentlemen, and they were engaged in animat< d con versation. lb; listened, and the first words he heard set his blood on lire. "You have heard of the great iob bory, I suppose V" one of the men wai laying. "No; when was it?" "Just this morning. I read a long account of it in the papers. One hun dred thousand dollars' worth of goods. We will get later accounts in this even ing's papers." "Where was it?" "At Chi " Just at this instant the gentlemen espied the detective lying upon the ground in the attitude of listening, with "Old Electricity" at his feet and the roll of profusely illustrated litera ture peeping menacingly from under his coat. When he saw that his lair had been penetrated h< pranj to hie feet, breathless with excitement, and con fronted tlie astonished gentlemen with the inquiry: " Where was tho robbery ? Was it at Tommy Graves'?" (Tommy Graves' was the largest store in the village.) The gentleman was naturally of an obliging disposition, and, observing the great interest taken in the case, lie re plied : "Yes, at Tommy Graves'. One hun dred thousand dollars' worth of goods, and his beautiful grand daughter, Miss Grace, in the bargain." The youth trembled in his excite ment. * But remembering that the "Roaring Banger" did not tremble, even .It'bcn covered by tho weauona of bis enemies, no mue a desperate eitort to control his nerves. The two gentlemen passed on their way, talking and chuckling in a know ing manner. The youth cleared the fence with a bound which would have astonished even the "Roaring Ranger," and which certainly would have struck terrror to the heart of his deadly enemy, "Bleary- Eyed Bill," the fiend who abducted the beautiful Esmeralda. Crouching like a tiger, lie cautiously wended his way homeward, for he well knew that the redoubtable INI aria Jane was ironing clothes by the kitchen window, with a freshly cut "gad" lying conveniently by, and her eyes roaming over the out lying premises for u glimpse of his de voted head. Ho crept—almost crawled—around the house to the apple tree which grew under his bed-room window, climbed the apple tree, and crept in at the window. Safely inside, he made straight for the rag-bag, which lay in a corner, plunged into its capacious depths, and succeeded, after some difficulty, in bringing forth a small wooden box j which contained a motley assortment j of goods. Tho first thing to attract \ attention was a thirty-two-caliber re- j volver, in a very dilapidated condition, | minus both sides of the handle and the | cylinder pin, and having, in place of j the latter useful appendage, a large ; and very stiff wire, which protruded j an inch or two beyond the muzzle ol the weapon, ending in a ring. Among other things the box also contained a bowie-knife, a small mag nifying glass, false mustache and whiskers and several wigs. For half an hour he busied himself with the contents of this box and some old clothing, secured by a stealthy trip to the attic. Then, stealthily as be fore, he descended the tree, crept to the barn, and ascended to the loft. It was a grotesque figure that slipped down from the loft at the hour of nine, and, with a cautious glance around him, started up town. On his head, covered by a wig of gray hair, was a slouch hat with several holes in the crown. Tho coat was a cutaway, and rather large for the wearer, while the trousers and shoes were tlie ones worn through the day. On liis face was a tierce, black mustache, and a long, flowing gray beard, and as the wind blew the loose vest slightly out of place, it disclosed a very bright piece of tin, the bottom of an oyster can, on which had been laboriously worked, in sprawliug characters, the following: "Old Thunderbolt, tho Lightning Detective." As lie stepped into the street he did not notice two dark forms in the door way of his father's abode, that started slightly at first, and then slyly follow ed him. Their actions, however, would not bo hard to explain. A search had been instituted by his parents, and, the father of tho family chancing to question the gentleman with whom our liero had had the con versation in the cemetery, they had started in on tho trail of tho dotect ive, and, having spotted him, they pro posed to shadow him aud get on to his game. "I must start in on tlio trail at tlio point where the robbery and abduction were committed," muttered "Cld Thun derbolt," as wo shall hereafter desig nate our hero. "Once started in on the trail, I will not eat or sleep until I have tracked the villains to their lair." And as he spoke he had a faint recol lection of "Old Electricity," or some other detective, having once used the same words. Gradually the store and residence of Tommy Graves hove in sight, and, as lie came nearer, his eagle eye scanned the premises with lightning-like rapid- Sfe "THE BLUDGEON WAS RAISED, POISED FOR AN INSTANT IN THE AIR, AND * ity for signs of life. Dim lights were shining from various windows in the second story, but everything was quiet. He tried the gate, but it was locked. However, he soon climbed to tho top of the fence, and, with an agile bound, liis lithe form landed in tho yard. Fortune scemedjjto favor the detective. He was not disturbed, and going to tlio back door of the store, he began the search for clews. The search was not very long or difficult. The eyes of the detective i roved about like those of a hawk, and j soon lit upon a button—the regulation | clew—-a small and dirty shirt-button, but a button all the same; and in these days of romance and adventure, it is often, indeed, that life, fortune, and all depend upon a button. As the detective examined tU clew, a fierce exclamation escaped hit?., and a terrible, relentless look came into his fine blue eyes as lie hissed througa his clenched teeth £ "Ave, villains, you may well trem ble, for the 'Avenger' D on your track. The chase lias commenced, and I will follow you to the end of the earth. I will never cease until tlio innocent is saved and I have dragged your vile " The detective felt a powerful grasp on liis collar and pants, and he was hurled through the air, with terrific, relentless force. His iron nerve avail ed him naught against the powerful enemy who had caught him in that terrible grasp, and as ho was hurled violently to the earth a cry escaped him, a terrible wail, so loud and de sparing thatit must have made "Bleary- Eyed Bill" turn green with envy. All tho tom-cats in the neighbor hood, with cries of dismay, and tails standing in tho air, sought more con genial climes; a frightful din came from the hen-house, and, horrible to relate, there were sounds of surprised exclamations from within tho residence of Tommy Graves. The whole family turned out to see what was wrong, while the abashed detective heard Miss Grace herself exclaim, in a voice of mingled horror and disgust: . "Why, grandfather, was that ugly little rag-muffin trying to break into theater©?" i Some conversation among tnose as j sembled followed, but tho detective ! heard it not. His great mind was | dazed and bewildered, his iron nervo crushed. ; Presently tho detective's father ap | proached him and seized an ear. The I gentleman before mentioned did tho : slime, and together they dragged him j homeward with cruel, relentless force. Yet, in spite of all his reverses, the j indomitable spirit of the detective was | not entirely broken. He still retained j possession of his terrible weapon, and lie managed to draw it forth, at the ! same time exclaiming, mechanically: | "Halt, villains! I've got you cov j ered!" But at the same instant an extra i jerk on the ear, propelled by his father, sent the weapon spinning from his liund. As it struck the ground it exploded, the improvised cylinder-pin at the same time Hying in one direc tion, the cylinder in another, and the revolver in a third, while the hammer, loosened by some internal convulsion, rattled helplessly in its place. "Eli! What does this mean ? The lit tle rascal has got a gun!" exclaimed the father, and ho gathered up the re volver aud carefully deposited it iu his pocket. Again, with a meaning light in his eye, lie seized the detective's arm und the latter was marched on iu grim silence. The paternal al>ode was reached, the gentleman friend bade them good-night, and the detective was left alone with his father. But the look on the latter's face only became more stern and determined, his grasp firmer and more relentless. As lie dragged "Old Thunderbolt," hopeless und dispirited, into the houso, he cried, in a voice of thunder: "Maria Jane, where is tho paddle ?" Maria Jane brought that implement of torture with alacrity. It was an ugly-looking weapon, fully three foet long, and the blade at least six inches wide. "Old Thunderbolt" was led to his room in the same manner as before, aud his father took a chair. Knowing well what was coming, the detective uttered a despairing cry. A malicious, almost Hendish smile played for au instant over the face of the stern parent. Then the detective was again caught up by tlie collar and pants and thrown across his knee, faco down. Tho bludgeon was raised, poised for an instant in the air, and Over the harrowing scene that fol lowed we gently draw the veil. 5Y THE WAYSIDE. BY JENNIE P. MERCHANT. NE day I wanted WW 6 *f 3 prepa " conservatory nor ' garden, though living far out in the suburbs, it became necessary to patronize a florist. So, at the last moment, I made a long trip, and returned with a quantity of choice exotics. Some of the blossoms were very beautiful, but utterly devoid of fragrance, which was very disap pointing. A few days after, having leisure for a stroll through "highways and hedges," I discovered that along the wayside near my home lovely blossoms of almost every hue were growing wild. And how delicious the perfume exhaled by some of them. But they were modest aud shy, and seemed to enjoy hiding among tufts of grass. What a pit asure the gathering of a bouquet afforded me; and as I walked homeward, enjoying the delicacy and fragrance of those blossoms, white, blue, pink, and purple, together with some tine fern-like foliage, 1 fell to musing. Thus ran my reverie: How often is it the case that wo mor tals look far beyond us for the joys of life, unconscious that around us, ou all sides, may bo found what wo are seek ing. Perhaps we sigh for appreciative friends, hoping some day to Und tlieni, when, if wo but tried to look into the hearts of some who seem stolid and in different, if wo would endeavor to find the good side of tho natures of those who daily cross our paths, how sur prising might bo the result. Tlie wayside of life is full of pleas ant surprises and discoveries, let the croakers und pessimists say what they will. • Noxious weeds grow up in our way, but their rank growth may shelter something very sweet and pretty, and so play a good part in the world after all. And in human life those weeds, as well as the sweet blossoms, have their prototypes. Let us, then, have the grace to tolerate the one, while finding and appreciating the other. Then shall we, indeed, have learned a valuable lesson, and wayside blos soms will never more bo overlooked or ignored. When He Left Off. They were walking in front of a tall building that was undergoing repairs. The sun shone vertically upon tho crowded thoroughfare and seemed to drink up eagerly the moisture from tho water-soaked pavement, "Grindstone," said Kiljordan, "is tliis " But the question was not completed. A fragment of briak from tlie top of the building fell upon his head, aud with out a groan he fell to the ground in sensible. Ho wait taken to his homo and for weeks he lay bereft of sense and motion. His friend watched faithfully by his bedside. A consultation of sur geons was held, and it was decided that an operation must be performed to re-; lieve tlie brain from the pressure of a, fractured portion of the skull. This' was done, and the eager watchers wero gladdened by the announcement that the delicate task had been successfully accomplished. Grindstone leaned over the prostrate man and waited breath-! lessly for the first gleam of returning consciousness. It came. With a long,, quivering breath Kiljordan opened his eyes, and tho first words that had passed his lips for many a day broke the painful silenco of tho room. In a quick, distinct voice he said: " hot enough for you 2" The Average Woman. Hotel call-boy Madam, you must hurry if you would save vour life. The hotel is all on lire. This is the third time 1 liavo warned you. Lady guest—Well, tell the firemen iO keep the llama under control until I take out my curl papers and friz my hair. I just know there's a great crow d of men down there, and some of them are newspaper reporters.— Omar ha World, IN THE ROLE OF A SPORT BILL NYE'S EXPERIENCE AT JK RO3IE PARK RACES. An Exciting: Race Between Bill Jack man's Black-ami-Tan Filly am l Tilll j iloustin's Kuan (folding:—Th Humorist ■ Wins a Big: Bot. a PEAKING in a genoral way, | JTmM I um not muoh of a sport I \lk w writes Bill Nyo in the Chi- , cago Herald. I have been present only on the occa xk slon of a lew justly Colo rado n brated trials of speed nt the county seat. Therefore 1 horse-racing as I do about dross and etiquette. The last horse-race I at tended was nine yeais ago 1 wK EI J * have iorgotten whether i' opened with prayer or not but I know that wo had al- M wfMuwrWL moß ' everything else. A s&tr ■ :lee club gang "Shall We Wi \ w/ /Gather at the River?" we * \ TVr/ had greased pig exorcises \j \i and a tall man with a short breath and ooat-tail spoke of the blessings of agriculture. Then Bill Jackman's black and-tan lllly Early Hose ran Tint Houstin'e roan gelding Moses. It was exciting. It was to bo the best two out of three from the iron bridge up to the school liouso and back. I was one of tho judges. I had to either be one of tho judges of tho horse raco or sing "Larboard Watch Ahoy." so I said I would act as judge. Tho first heat Early ltoso did not seem to get down to her work very well, but Moses felt first-rate and. barring a light squeak ing sound caused by the chafing of his sec ond and third stomachs, carried himself beautifully. His large, red nostrils were opon as far back as tho eye could roach and his tongue was thrown back over his shoulder regardless of expense. It was a beautiful sight. I gave tho first heat to Moses and the second to Early Rose. It was very exciting. Betting ran high. One man bet a bushel of Early Dent corn agalust a honoy-comb bed-quilt on Moses, and another man bot a coopful of prize hens against a Queen Victoria cornshellor on Early Rose. At the third heat it was like tho chariot raco in Ben Hur almost. On tho home stretch, about half way from tho school houso, Early Rose stepped in a gopher hole and threw ner rider somo dUtanoe. He rose, however, and, pressing his hand to his brow for a moment us if in deep thought, led Early Rose to tho fence and got on again. Moses was at tho moment ol tho accident about half a length behind. J/2 I Cr/ E - R| which a party of obliging young men agree to take all the money bet and add it up and give back what Is duo ouch man more or less. I got. my friend tc buy mo $5 worth of bet on a horse oalled Erio. it was thon wonderful what hu intorost I left, in Erie. I wanted his au tograph to tuko home with me. Ho looked grand to me. Ho was the most graceful horse I ever saw. Boforo that tho other horses looked tolerably well, but afterward they seemed to iiavo caved in at coituin points and they walked lame. 1 now heurdsome ono say: "They're offl" I saw a roll of dust like a I ig caterpillar crawl around the track, and thon five thousand throats made the statement that Eric had won. With ft mass vo judgment worthy of ono much older than I am, I had won the first money I over made on a horse-race. At first I thought I would go down-stairs and place mys If under the in lluonoo oi a gloss of lager loam. "But no," thought I to myself, "I will not let prosper ity turn my head In this way. I will be calm. First. I will got my money before the cashier is too sorely tempted to HQ away witn rr. o l went down to tne pooi room nnd sont in my ticket. I received my original Investment and sixty cents in currency, which I carefully concealed in the lining ol my chemisette. Ido not know NYE AND THE "CABBY." yet what 1 will do with it. Some think it would be a good idea to go to tho conti nent with it for a few months. Others say buy Western Union, while still others say buy unimproved real estate on l'ulton street and wait for it to advunoo. Ido not know whether I will do either. Possibly t will wait till I got over to Paris, where things are cheap, owing to pauper labor, and thon I will buy a watermelon. I remained a little longer at tho races, but was so wrought up by the excitement that 1 felt quite giddy. That is ono trouble about racing. A winner becomes so ex cited that ho is unfitted for almost any kind of business* afterward. Finally I wont below and ate a ham sand wich, which soothed my nerves a groat deal. Those who have never loft Jerome Bark by means of tho carria.'o gate should try it once for tho exhilaration of the experience. We were told that we could got a carryall there for Fordhum and thus go homo ahead of tho crowded race trains, so went to tho gate. Tho haokmen were there to welcome us and spoak to us. I have a ripe experi ence as a man of the world, having neon chased by hostile Indluns who had never seen mo with iny hat off, und who there fore desired t-o scalp mo. and I have been used as a whisk broom by a large cyclone in dust'ng off the cornices of tho sky, but the gentlemen who caught us at tho gate, yelled in our ears, breathed their hot, adulterated breaths into our wild, seared fases, and palled our grand-stand badges off while promenading over our prostrate remains, reminded mo more forc'bly of boll as It was once described to mo by a cloigymun who felt an interest in my soul than anything I have yet passed through. Grand-stand badges are not taken up, tho coupon alone being removed, and so tho ghouls at this gate can go In and soo the balance of tho raco by rifling the corpses of those who do not know any bettor than to go out that way. People who desire to meet the gen tlemen who robbed the dead at Johnstown can find tho most of them waiting around this gate on pleasant days at Jeiomo Bark, waiting to do tho hyona act in tho broad glare of tho day. They refuse absolutely to return any vital organs to relatives of the doeoased. I may go through that gate again before tho ritct is over, wearing a grand-stand badge on my breast, but. If so, I shall take the p-< caution to got myself liermetloftlly sealed up In a metallic casket. wunteu to surprise Ills Girl. _ —-4-. HE young man Foots went to see his sweetheart, says Texas Siftings, and being quite at homo with the family, thought he would just slip into the parlor unperceived and hide behind the sofa,just to give her a little surprise as she came in to light the gas, for it was early twilight. Ho hadn't been in his place of con cealment but a few minutes when there was a ring at the outer door, and a mo ment later liis heart's delight ushered another young man into the darkened parlor, the ycung lady not seeming to think illumination necessary quite vet. They sat down on the sofa together, and the young lady said : "Oh, Georgo, I am so glad it is you I When t lie bell rang I was almost sure it was that dreadful bore, Toots." l'oots silently gritted his teeth be hind the sofa. "My dear," said the strange young man, slipping his arm around her waist, "who is this follow Poots ? " "Oh, lie's a galoot that comes hang ing around hero once in a while, that we have to put up with because my folks and his folks came from the same place in tho North. He bores the life out of me." "A galoot, am 1?" said Poots to him self, bitterly. "I'll show who I am when that chap starts for homo," and he doubled up both lists. Hut tho cliap wouldn't start for homo. Ho stayed and stayed, and they kept billing and cooing until af ter midnight. Poots' position was very uncomfortable, squatting behind the sofa, and tho love-making that was go ing on did not add to his ease. There is no knowing how long tho entertain ment would have lasted had not tho young lady's father come down-stairs in his dressing-gown and slippers and dissolved tho parliament. When they were gone and all was still, young Poots tried to tip-toe out, but lie stumbled over a chair and mado such a racket as to alarm tho house. The head of the house yelled "Police!" from tho upper window, and Poots managed to get into the cellar, from which ho escaped by crawling up through the coal chute in the back yard and climbing an alley fence. Ho | doesn't call on that orirl any more. The Catcher in Modern Base-Ball. t| modern base-ball opment that must not bo passed by, savs a writer in an Eastern magazine. In the cir cuses there is often a trained athlete, who stands in front of a cannon and catches the ball in his hands when it is fired out, at no very great distance from the gun. Tho charge of powder which sends it, however, is measured, and serious accidents resulting from the undertaking, I think, are not numer ous. But the catcher of the regulation base-ball implement or globe, or toy, call it which you will, takes his life in his hands. He has to catch a ball which might as well be a cannon ball, with little power to tell where it will find him or lie it, and with a certainty that if it hits him serious or fatal injury is most likely to ensue. To make it less possible that his nose or jaw shall be broken, or to prevent his teeth from being knocked entirely out, ho now wears a wire cage over his face, not wholly dissimilar to an ox's muzzle or a burglar's mask. I'noM an extensive series or experi ments it has been concluded that the power of electro magnetic rotatory po larization is common to all substances, whether crystalline or isotropous. Simple substances produce a positive rotation aud compound bodies a nega tive rotation, an liicli last is explained by the fact that tho Amperian cur rents insido compound bodies run in a direction different from that of the magnetic held. SAMBO AS A SOLDIER. THE PART PLAYED BY THE NEGRO IN THE CIVIL WAR. Simon Cameron Was the First to Suggost His Enlistment- General Clietlaln Or ganized the First Black Brigades—Over 200,000 Entered the Ranks, and Tliej Mudo Average Good .So!diors. 11E iirst person to ■fiMnVll suggest recruiting X?' 111 ■ i\lf. anil arming tlio ne v II fv. groes of the South i v &rZ'lJz'li 111 V'/ for service iu the \J%l&±i\ Union army was /'ST.: th e late Simon ffßnf. IGffy) /Cameron, then secretary of War under President Lincoln. This was in 1862. and tho question was considered by the President and Cabinet, resulting in its re jection. President Lincoln did not think tho scheme good policy, although person ally in favor of it. foe tho reason that it would antagonize a large element in tho army and throughout the North, who. al though in favor or pushing the war and saving the Union, would bitterly oppose making soldiers of the negro, as they con sidered it a white man's war exclusively, in which the colored man must have no say. The President's view of tho matter was shared by a majority of the Cabinet, and tho subject was kept in abeyance until after the promulgation of tho emancipation proclamation, when It was Lrought for ward and adopted. Secretary or War Stanton, who had suc ceeded Cameron, was as heartily in fuvor of tho move as the President himself, and lost no time in beginning active operations by placing General Lorenzo Thomas. Adjutant Genoral of tlio United States army, in charge of the work. This was early^in / spring of that your J JflaM General A. L. Chot structlons from Gen. manding tho d i s- OEN. A. L. CHETLAIN. trict. raised a full regimont of freodmon, they being tho first colored troops put in service north of New Orleans. In December, 1863, General Chetlain was commissioned a Brigadier General and or dered to report to General Grant, at Nash ville. for assignment to duty, lie pairing to Nushvillo, he was informed by General Grant that ho had a largo and important work to be done in Tennessee and Western Kentucky, in tho way of raising colored troops, which ho wished him to superin tend, as ho beliovod him well quuliiled for tho tusk of onlisting and organizing tho froedmen into an available and efficient body of soldiers. It may bo stated that Genorols Grant and Chetlain wore well acquainted, they both having lived at Galena prior to tho war, and, together with General Rawlins and others who afterward won fame in tho army, raised tho first company of volun teers sent to the war from that r gion. und which General Chetlain had tho honor of commanding. General Grant, to whom the honor was first tendered, having declined. General Chetlain was informed by Gen eral Grant that tho policy of putting col ored troops In tho service was not popular among army ofilcors, and if ho did not fool liko assuming tho responsibility of tho work, he uid not want him to take hold of it; that it was a task he felt a delicacy in ordering him to. Being assured by General Chetlain that he was there to obey orders, and that he need feel no delicacy in assigning him to any required duty, Genoral Grant contin ued that ho believed ho (Chetlain) could make a success of tho work, arid if he did. it would bo greatly to his credit; that ho believed the black men or the South would make good soldiers if properly handled; that they would naturally loan on their ofilcors much more than tho white man; and, if given good officers, there would be little difficulty in transforming them into soldiers, in a reasonable length of tirno, that would bo a credit to the army of tho Union. How well Gon. Grant had gauged tho §gg|| AT TDK BATTLE OP NASHVILLE. quality of tho freed men and the man he chose to organize them into an army, is a mutter of history. Other officers, high In rank, did not ogreo with Grant on this question, being free in asserting their belief that "Sambo could not be trans'ormed into a soldier un der from one to two years' drilling, and oven then ho would be of doubtful quality. But Gen. Chef lain's belief in tho capacity of tho negro coucided with that of Grant's. work of rocruitlng. At tlio end ofileight months he had iu his command seventeen lull roglments of infantry, two regiments of heavy, and two companies of light artillery. These and all suhsequent'lcoiored troops were officered by white men from tho Union army, chosen by oxamining boards, com posed usually or seven army officers, before whom candidates had to present thomselves properly vouched for as to good moral character and soldierly qualities. After a rigid examination, tho board viould give thorn such rank ns their merits de served. Under this merit system it frequently liapponod that a private from tho ranks would receive a commission as Captain or Major, while some Lieutenant, who owed his present position to a political pull, was rejected, llenco tho colored troops were, as a rule, bettor officered than tho majority of white volunteers, and any Union vet ran who was an officer of colored troops dui ing the war may justly feel proud of tho fact, for It is proof positive t hut ho possossod aiorit as a soldier, and did not in any way owe his position to favoritism. In June, 1864. contral and eastern Ken tucky was uddo I to General Chotlain's Held of operations, with licudquurtors at Louis ville. Great opposition at once sprung up In Kentucky against the Government's put f .ng the blacks of that State in tho nrmy. Tho people of tho State considered it an unwarrantable proceeding on tho part of the Government and a ling ant disregard or Stutes' lights, so dear to their hearts. As Kentucky, being neutral ground, was not directly Included in the emancipatior proclamation, tho poople looked upon th< enlistment of their slaves as a violation ol rights not to bo endured. So bittor wut the feeling iigu'"list tho movement and those engaged in it. that it was reported the Knights of tho Golden Orel* had und/ contemplation the assassination or uenerui Chetlain. A largo delegation of prominent Kentuck lans hastened to Washington, and, with the members of Congross from that State, waited upon, or, rather, rushed upon, Pres ident Lincoln with such an array of ap peals. protests and pleadings as to induce him to roscind tho order for onlisting col ored troops in their domain. Genoral Chetlain thereupon returned to his former post, at Memphis, and contin ued operations in Tennessee and Western Kentucky. Wherever the colored troops wore tested in battlo they wero found to be ut least up to tho average as to efficiency and bravery, and, in not a few instances, proved themselves socond to none. One of many lnstunces In proof of this was shown ut the battlo of Nashville. wnore a origauo or lour regiments unaflj command of CoU T. J. Morgan. several years after the war was a profetiNH In the Baptist Theological Morgan Park, near Chicago, held the treme left of the Union lines, part of General Bteedman's command. DIM had the honor of charging the enomjH earthworks and capturing them, wiflj several pieces of artillery, meeting wits great loss to themselves in killed ang' wounded. c^ar K e one regiment lost no leflfl tnan four color bearers; one after nnothlH of the color guard gallantly snatchod up tm9 llag when his predecessor fell, the fourtffl man falling mortally wounded as ho plantefl the colors on theienemy's works. After thlfl feat Gen. Bteedman, who had been tical as to the fighting qualities of the blacfl men. was free to confess that he regarded] them as brave and efficent in battle as the] average white troops. It will be remembered that the colored' regiment raised in Illinois in 1863 and com manded by Colonel Bross did some gallant work at Petersburg when the mines were exploded, at which time Colonel Bross was killed while gallantly leading the regiment. The negro soldior had one peculiarity, differing from his white brother in that he seldom, if ever, when routed by the enemy, threw away gun or knapsack in his retreat, i }. e r ®treat after the battle of Guntown, i* , e BUmn ior of 1864, when Forrest com pletely routed the troops undor General Bturgls. who retreated pell-mell in a sadly demoralized condition to Memphis, sixty miles away, the white soldiers throw away guns and knapsucks. while tho darky invariably clung to his. In fact, not a few of them came Into Memphis car rying two guns each. One of those, when accosted by an officer as to how he came by two guns, answered. "Why. boss. I done foun' uis odder gun 'longsido do road, an', soein* it's a good gun, tmks I's done bring it 'long, so it don't done gone an' be lostr Wherever tho colored troops wore em ployed in forts, where heavy artillery was used, guarding supply depots, and doing, other duty along the coast of defensos, they wore found to perform their duties most efficiently. In the autumn of 18C4 General Lorenzo BROUGHT IN TWO GUNS. Thomas repot tea tnut tncro were on th 6 rolls and fit for duty 170.000 colored troops in tho service. This would inuko an ag gregate in round numbers of 200,000 en listed men. no moan army of itself, and of which tho colored men of tho United States may justly feel proud. General Chetlain was breveted Major General for his services in the raising o! tills army, and General Lorenzo Thomas, in his roport to the War Department in 1865. paid him a high compliment for the manner in which ho had carried out his orders. Why He Needed Prayer?. Col. Dick Wintersmith, sitting under the trees in front of the Ebbitt House the other day, related tho following /urn: "It seems that the congregation of a church in one of the southern counties of A irgiuia was one day greatly shocked upon hearing that their preacher had departed under most discreditable cir cumstances. On the following Sunday nearly every one in the congregation was desiring of hushing up the scan dal, and under great restraint many interesting conversations were held merely to prove that the members of the church could rise above sensational gossip. Just before the services were closed Brother Elijah P. Brookrod arose and said: " 'Brothers and sisters, since we last met in this house something which seems to have cast a gloom over this congregation has occurred. We were all much attached to our minister; in fact, we loved him, and now 1 propose that we offer up a prayer for the wan derer.' "A sensational wave passed over the audience. Another brother arose, and turning to Elijah P. Brookrod, said: " 'I am astonished that you should desire the congregation to pray for out erring minister—you, above all others.' " 'Why?' " 'Because he ran away with your wife.' " 'Yes, I know,' Elijah replied, 'and that is the reason why 1 think he will need our prayers.'" Washing ton correspondent. Not an Uncommon Name. One of the most prominent citizens of Hartford, says a letter to the New York Sun, is llodney Dennis, the Sec retary of the Travelers' insurance Company. He is not self-important,' liot still is one who expects a good deal of consideration, and gets it. Not long ago the Travelers' made a number of loans through a Colorado broker named, Henry. Interest and principle failed to materialize and Mr. Dennis went/ to investigate. Tlio sole occupant' ol Henry's office was a young man who sat tilted back in a cluiir with his; feet on the window-sill. His response to inquiries was extremely unsatis factory, and presently Mr. Dennis be came angry, and said with emphasis: "My name is Dennis." "That's boon everybody's name hero for a week," said the languid young I man. Definitions. Mrs. Henpeck (to Mr. H., who is reading)— Your little son just asked you a (question, and you didn't notice him. You ought to be ashamed of yourself,! and I shall Mr. Henpeck—l didn't hear him. Mrs. H.—Oh, no, you never hear when a member of your own family speaks to you. You are deaf to the very ones you should love and cherish, deaf to Mr. H.—What does he want tc know ? Mrs. ll.—He asked you what a her mit was. Mr. H.—A hermit, my son, is a mai who loves peace and quiet— New Yorl Weekly. Matrimonial Item. Society man—l say, Tom, you are a married man. Did your wife gorge herself with ice-cream before you mar- { ried her ? Married friend —She did. "And did she stop wanting ice-cream , after you were married ?" "Yes, she gave it up entirely." "That settles it. I'll let you know when it comes off." "What comes off?" "My marriage. It's cheaper to mar ry and go to housekeeping than to keep a girl filled up with ice-cream. I'd have money in the bank right now if I had got married before the season opened."— Texas Siftings.