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Entered at tho Postoffloe at Freeland. Pa,
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Make all money orders, checks, etc., pay ibis
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Andrew Carnegie will easily be first
In the libraries of his countrymen,
Frederick Harrison, the English
writer, pays this very handsome com
pliment to America. He declares that
he was much impressed by the observ
ance of Washington's birthday in this
country, and said that Washington
was the only patriot who perfectly
reached his Ideal. He is also im
pressed with the liberality cf Ameri
can rich men, and says that such un
precedented philanthropy as had been
witnessed here was impossible in Eng
land, where every rich man is- made a
peer and then is compelled to buy up
a county and establish a "family."
The inventive genius of the Amer
ican people will he illustrated in many
ways at Buffalo, observes the Balti
more Sun.. The World's fair at Chi
cago was an admirable portrayal of
the abilities of Americans in the me
chanical arts. The years that have
elapsed since then will he especially
noticeable in the part electricity will
play in the Pail-American exposition.
According to Harper' 3 Weekly P.us-
Eia holds the peace of the world in her
keeping, and peace or war is simply
a question of psychology. There is no
great policy involved, no great lust of
conquest, no wrongs to bo avenged.
Peace or war—simply the mental atti
tude of a group of ministers. Peace—
and a throne may he overturned. War
—and an empire may be destroyed—or
saved. Which shall it be?
The recent purchase of the Isle of
Man by the British government has put
an end to a curious coronation cus
tom. When the little island was
granted by Henry IV. to Sir John Stan
ley and his heirs in 1406, the condi
tion was imposed upon the grantee of
presenting two falcons to the king of
England at the time of his coronation.
George IV. was, however, the last
king to receive the gift, the Duke of
Atkole presenting the birds.
It is a singular thing that a surplus
in the national treasury causes almost
as much anxiety as that unfamiliar
condition, a deficit, would. Whatever
money accumuliates either in the
treasury or in private hands is with
drawn from geueral use and tends to
disturb business conditions. More-1
over idle money, with nations as with }
individuals, is always a temptation to
extravagance. Still very few of us
are so afraid of getting a little money j
ahead.
To stem the tide of emigration of
farmer boys to the cities will hereafter i
he one of tho duties of the Illinois dls- J
trict school teacher. This has been de- >
cided on in convention by the county |
school superintendents, who find that ;
the attendance at country schools is !
tailing off so fast as to threaten the
Ktinction of some of them. Their I
view in this matter i 3 confirmed in a
measure by the last census report, ,
Which indicates clearly that the rural
population of Illinois is drifting grad- j
ualiy to the cities and larger towns, |
saving the farms with a smaller pop- j
ulation each year. It is a develop- j
ment in tho agricultural states of the..
West of a movement which has almost
passed beyond comment in the eastern
states. It will not yet he accepted in
the West, however, as an uucontrolla- j
ble movement, and the method adopt- j
ed to check it in Illinois is to increase I
in the school children a love of the
farm and its work, and to increase tho j
interest in agriculture by instruction .
along its scientific and business sides. !
By the adoption of a new course of
vtudy, patterned after that in the col-,
lege of agriculture in the University
of Illinois, it i 3 hoped to convince the :
boys that farming is not necessarily
a drudge, that it can he made a pleas
ing employment, and. what is more to
the point, n profitable one.
COMPENSATION.
j tVho fails to sow for fear that he
Shall not he here to reap
Uust lie in bleak obscurity
Through all his final sleep.
Tile bard who sang, long, long ago.
When no one lent an ear,
Sang on for love of singing, though
Tliey scoffed who chanced to hear.
Today men seek his grave and bow
Beside liis monument—
vVe laud the noble poet now
Who couldn't pay his rent.
S A CHANGE OF PURPOSE. ?
t i
It was a bright morning, and a girl
Was breakfasting alone in the some
what dingy sitting room of a Blooms
bury lodging house. She was young
and pretty, with delicate, thoughtful
looking features. She glanced at the
clock —it wanted a few minutes to i) —
then rose from her seat and walking to
the window, pulled hack the faded red
I :urtains.
"A clear sky—there will he a splen
did light soon for Phil," she exclaimed.
She turned and made her way hack to
the fireplace. An envelope on the man
telpiece caught her eye. It was an old
one, and had been there for some
weeks, but she took it down once
again, and drew a card out —a mere
ordinary card, with the words, "Madge,
from Dick," written upon it. She
gazed at it reflectively; then replaced
it with a little sigh.
"Ah, Dick!" she murmured, "if only
things had gono a little better with
us!"
The chimes of a clock striking the
hour caught her ear, and she made
hurried preparations for her departure.
On her way down she tapped at a door,
and opened it half an inch.
"Many happy returns of the day,
Phil, dear!" she called out "It's a
lovely morning. Good-by!"
She ran down the staire lightly. In
the hall she was met by an elderly
looking man in a velveteen coat. She
nodded brightly to him, and he opened
the door for her.
"Your brother's birthday?" he asked
with a smile.
"Ye 3. We must do something to
night in honor of it. and you must
help us, Mr. Lintell! Good-by —I shall
be late for my 'bus!"
About an hour later Phil Halstan
emerged from his room. He was a tall,
well-built young fellow, with a some
what heavy, indolent looking face. He
ate a leisurely breakfast, then, lighting
a cigarette, dropped into an armchair
by the firo and let his eyes travel slow
ly round the dull room. A look of dis
gust crept to his face.
"Ugh!" he exclaimed. "How horribly
mean and sordid it all looks! Shall I
ever get out of it!"
Presently he rose, and, going to a
corner by the window, drew forward an
easel. Ho sat before it and gazed at
the blank canvas. Then he felt for his
box of brushes and fingered them med
itatively. Finally he laid them down
and looked out of the window.
There was a tap at tho door, and
the next moment old Mr. Lintell en
tered. He lived on the upper floor
and had got to be very friendly with
Madge and her brother.
"I won't Interrupt you," he began
with a glance at the easel. "I only
came to offer you my best wishes!"
"Thanks! Please don't go," cried Phil,
as the old man moved toward the door.
"Fact is, I don't think I shall do much
more work now—rather thought of
giving myself a holiday. My birthday,
yoTt know!" he added half jocularly.
Old Lintell came forward slowly. lie
looked at the blank canvas.
"It's going to be a great thing!" ex
plained Phil. "I'm working out the
idea now—it takes time, you know."
The old man nodded and looked out
of the window. He had been thinking
a good deal of Phil lately —this boy
who got up late, sat dreaming half the
ilay, and loafed the other, who had
never earned a penny in hiß life, kept
| !n idleness by a devoted sister who.
I as typist in a solicitor's office, worked
! hard from morn to night, believing in
, him heart and soul.
He glanced up sharply at Phil,
j "Might I see your portfolio?" he
j said. "I used to know something about
! irt."
| Phil pulled it out with alacrity, and
I Dpened it for the old man's inspection.
; Mr. Lintell turned them over one by
! one. They were crude and badly done,
| with no sign of distinctive ability
whatever.
| "Well?" asked Phil eagerly. He
shared his sister's belief in himself.
I "Give nte your candid opinion."
! Mr. Lintell wiped liis glasses and
proceeded to oblige him. He told him
t the truth, the unpleasant, naked truth
1 —and a wave of color swept over young
! Phil's cheek. Then he laughed,
j "It's too ridiculous," he cried.
I Old Mr. Lintell rose from his chair
! and made his way to the door.
] "Im sorry," he said, "but I thought
! you ought to know."
! Phil laughed again as the door closed
on tho old man—but it was an uncom
fortable sort of laugh—the laugh cf a
man whose mind had been suddenly
| confronted with a new aspect of the
I case. He strode up and down the
| room.
"Of course, I shall be famous some
j day—shall pay little Madge hack a
i thousand fold —and she doesn't mind
| working at present!" he l—flected.
j "And he said I hadn't a particle of
ability, that I was wasting my time,
that I ought to be earning my living,
keeping Madge, instead of letting
her —!"
Ho glanced toward the window. The
sun was shining temptingly. He
walked to the mantelpiece and found
two half-crowns which Madge had left
i there. Unthinkingly lie slipped tneso
I
Who idly stands and shakos his head
And sighs and murmurs: "No!
Ere reaping time I shall be dead,
Why bother, then, to sow?"—
For him no shaft shall ever rise
To claim the pilgrim's gaze,
No love shall center where he lies,
No honor crown his days!
Who plants has hope, and though he
may
Not see the fruitful fall.
He has foreseen a glorious day,
And triumphs, after all.
—S. E. Kiser.
into his pocket, then, taking hat and
stick, made his way out of the house.
He meant to go for a long walk, to
think out his great idea. But ho
found he could think of nothing but
old Mr. Llntell's words. The idiotic
sentences kept running through his
head. He, Phil Halstan, a mere loafer!
The thing was absurd; Madge herself
would bo the first to say so.
He walked for some time, and made
an effort to think of something else.
Presently he dropped into cheap res
taurant to have lunch. He sat down to
a table; next to >.im two men were
talking rather excitedly.
"I don't care who it is!" one was
declaring emphatically. "The chap
who loafs while a woman works for 'im
is a 'ound, and deserves to be kicked!
Why, I'd sooner sweep the roadway!"
Phil, with a red face, rose and hur
riedly left the place.
It was half-past two the same after
noon when Madge ran lightly up the
staircase of the house in Bloomsbury,
and burst into the sitting room. Her
face was flushed and her eyes sparkled.
She saw a young man standing by the
window. His back was turned to her.
"Phil!" she cried joyously, "I have
a half holiday!"
The figure in the window turned and
she gave a little cry of surprise.
"Dick," she gasped in astonishment.
Dick Evington came toward her,
holding out his hand.
"Just Dick," he answered with a
smile. He caught her hand and stood
locking into her face. "Something has
happened, Madge, and I've come up at
once from Anington to tell you about
it."
There was a dainty flush on her
cheeks; he thought he had never seen
her look so beautiful.
"I hope it is something good for you,
Dick," she said. "Is it?"
"X don't know—yet," ho said slowly.
"That is, until I've heard what you
have to say."
Now it happened that at this mo
ment Phi' Halstan was wending his
way horn vards. He let himself in
with his latchkey and went up to their
room. The door was not quite shut,
and he heard voices—Madge's and an
others. He recognized it after a mo
ment. Then he caught a few of the
words. He glanced around. The land
ing was dark. Hardly knowing what
he did, he sank down on the flfst stair
and listened.
"I knew things would come right
at last, Madge, dear!" Evlngton's
voice was saying. "But I didn't think
it would be as splendid as this. A good
post abroad —only open to a married
man, too!"
There was a pause. Outside Phil
grasped the bannister. There was a
...ight movement by him, and turning
his head he found Lintell had crept to
his side.
Then they heard Madge's voice. It
was low and tremulous.
"I'm so sorry, Dick, but —"
"Why, Madge, you lovo me?"
"Yes, love yon, Dick—always have
loved you—always shall! But—" There
was a pause, then in a whisper,
"There's Phil!"
Old Dintell laid a hand on the young
man's shoulder,
"But surely Phil won't mind!" cried
Evington. "He is a man and can earn
his own living. He would not wish
you to give up this.
""You don't understand. Dick!" There
were tears in Madge's voice this time.
"Some day Phil will be a great artist,
be famous, but just now—be wants my
help! Oh, Dick, I'm so sorry, but I
can't, leave him —can't go with you—
though I lovo you so!"
Phil Halstan shook old Llntell's
hand fnpm his shoulder, and rose sud
denly to his feet. He stood for a mo
ment undecided, then crept away on
tip-toe to the stairs. Old Lintell fol
lowed.
"What are you going to do?" ho said.
Phil made no reply. He crammed his
hat on his head, opened the door and
stepped into the street. Old Lintell
went with him, and they walked away
together.
"Are yon going to let her lose her
one big c'.iar.ce cf happiness?" said old
Lintell in a low voice; "or going to
continue to idle your life away—she
keeping you?"
Phil hardly seemed to hear him. He
was striding along with his hand 3
thrust deep in his pockets, hi 3 eyes
taring straight ahead of him. Sud
denly he threw his head back.
"You heard —she doesn't want to go
herself!" lie cried, almost fiercely.
"She'd soon forget all about it."
"A girl with a heart like Madge's
never forgets!" replied old Lintell.
"What are you going to do?" he re
peated, relentlessly.
"A little more time—and I might do
something big!" broke out Phil.
"You've loafed for three years—and
done nothing!" said the old man. "You
know you will never do anything in
art. Y'ou've wilfully shut your eyes,
and used It as an excu3a to yourself
and hor for idling!"
The young man's mouth was twitch
ing convulsively.
"You're right!" he cried, in a hoarse
voice, "but what's there left for me to
do—l know nothing, have done noth
ing!" he finished helplessly.
"Be a man. There's always some
thing for a man to do! Remember
what she has done for you."
They had reached St. Martin' 3
church at Charing Cross. Phil stopped
and passed a hand over his brow. The
old man watched him anxiously. He
saw Phil's eye travel across the road
to where the recruiting sergeants were
pacing slowly up and down, alert for
new blood. Then Phil Halstan sud
denly gave his shoulders a jerk back."
"Yes," he sakl between his shut
teeth. "There's always something left
for a man to do!"
He crossed the road.
That night Madge was sitting alone
reading a letter that had been brought
to her by messenger. The tears came
to her eyes as she read the last few
sentences:
" * • For three years I have
played it as low as a fellow can. But
I'm going to be a man at last, Madge.
If you want to make me happy, dear,
make me feel I haven't quite spoiled
your life. Go with Dick!"
The letter dropped from her hand.
"Go with Dick!" she repeated in a :
low tone.
There was a tap at the door; then a
man was shown in—a young man with
a pale and anxious face.
"Madge, I couldn't leave without ask
ing you once again—Is it quite hope
less?" he began.
She raised her eyes to his, and ho
saw her lips tremble.
"Not quite hopeless, Dick, dear!"she
whispered.—Gilbert Davis in Mai.uly
About People.
QUAINT AND CURIOUS.
One of the latest inventions is an
Imitation vaccination scar that you
can paste on your arm and thus fool
the health officer. The scar costs a
dime.
The largest Bible In the world is
said to be one in the possession of a
German lady. It is two feet six inches
long and 20 inches wide. It is over
200 years old.
Saturday is considered an unlucky
day for .the British royal family. Wil
liam 111., Queen Anne, George 1.,
George 11.. George 111.. George IV., the
Duchess of Kent, the Prince Consort
and Princess Alice died on Saturdays.
Three hundred persons in London
earn a living—and several of them are
growing rich—by providing meals for
the cats of the metropolis, which they
deliver regularly once, twice and
thrice a day, as may suit the owners
of the feline pets.
Mrs. James Little, who lives near
Atchison, Kan., who was herself a
twin, and whoso husband was a twin
and the son of a twin, has given birth
to her second pair of twins, the first
pair being about IS months old when
the second pair made its appearance.
At Naundorf in the Hunsruck near
the Rhine a Roman temple has been
found enclosed In a walled enclosure
measuring 220 by 200 feet. The tem
ple stands in the middle and is CO by
50. It contains more terra cotta ob
jects than have been discovered
hitherto in Germany. They are votive
offerings, about a 100 being whole fig
urines representing goddesses. Small
bronze Etatuettes of Mars, Jupiter and
Mercury have also been found.
The most durable paper is made by
a guild near Nanking, China, which
supplies the government of that em
pire the leaves of its official docu
ments. Some of these are over a
1000 years old. Fireproof paper made
of asbestos is another kind of greater
durability. The drawback to them,
however, for printing purposes, is that
although they will pass through fire
unscathed, they come out snow white,
without a trace of the printed letters
Dr writing that was on them.
Mont I'enple Are J-optitlecl.
"Most people are lopsided." said a
Chestnut, street photographer. "It j
isn't a very nice thing to say. per- !
haps, hut it's true. In my business
have to study people's features very i
closely in order to get the best re- j
suits, and I can safely say that the j
two sides of a person s face are never i
alike. Only about one person in 15
has perfect eyes, and in many cases |
the eyes are entirely out of line —that j
Is, one in slightly higher than the
other. The right car Is also very often
higher than the left, and one cheek is
sometimes noticeably fuller than the
other. Tailors will tell you, too, that
the left leg of most men is longer than
the right. Try it and see. Take a
pair of trousers, hold them together
at the waist hand, and yon will see
that one leg Is made longer than the
ether. One arm is nearly always
longer than the other." —Philadelphia
Record.
" From Her Six Children."
An interesting incident at Windsor
occurred at St. George's chapel at the
time of the queen's funeral. At the
j conclusion of the service a royal ser
: vant appeared, who made a rapid
search among the floral tributes un
til he found a small and simple cir
cle of green laurel leaves, which he
promptly returned to the sacred
building. Few people knew afterward
and virtually none at the time that
this simple tribute in such marked
contrast to the often over-elaborate
devices, sent with better motive per
haps than taste, was the most inter
esting of all. and that the plain card
attached to it bore the brief but im
pressive inscription. "From her six
children." —Chicago Times-Herald.
Berlin has 14 schools in which girls
of 13 and 14 arc taught to cook.
THIS BOY IS A WONDER.
A PENNSYLVANIA LAD WHO IS AS
REMARKABLE AS HELEN KELLAR.
When Y.ve Yours Old He Hud No More
Intelligence Than a Oood-Nalured nip
py—Huiv 11 is Drowey Little Brain Was
Awakened—ls Active utid Sielf-Heliunt.
The fame of Helen Kellar has to an
extent overshadowed that of Tommy
Stringer, although in his way the lit
tle Pennsylvania boy is quite as inter
esting and quite as remarkable as the
little southern girl.
Just a year before the kindergarten
for the blind was opened in Boston, on
the 3d of July, 1886, Tommy was born
near Waynesbury, Penn. He was like
any other healthy, happy baby in his
first few months. But soon after the
death of his mother he had an attack
of spinal meningitis, and on his re
covery, when he was hardly 2 years
old, he was found both blind and deaf.
His father was a workingman with
small means, and he felt absolutely
powerless to help his afllicted little
boy. After a time the blind and deaf
child was taken to the Alleghany hos
pital. He was a healthy little ani
mal, apparently, with no more intelli
gence than a good natured puppy. In
this condition ho was finally brought
to the kindergarten for the blind In
the spring of 1891.
Here he was at once put In the care
of a special teacher, whose duty it was
to give all her time to him. Although
It seemed an almost hopeless task,
an effort was to he made to rescue him
from the prison into which his deaf
ness and blindness had thrown him.
He had never yet walked upright. In
spite of his E years he crawled along,
pushing his way with his hands and
feet, and he always moved backward
to save his head from coming in con
tact with unexpected obstacles. Tho
only sound he ever made was a piti
ful moan, which sounded the same
whether he meant it to express pleas
ure or pain. At times, when he felt
especially disturbed, he would scream
loudly and would strike out with hi 3
hands and tear his clothes.
Before any effort could be made to
reach Tommy's mind his body had
to be put in order. Exercises were
given to develop Ills flabby muscles
and build up tissues. At last the ef
forts were rewarded. He could move
about unassisted, Could feed himself
and even dress and undress himself.
Unlike Helen Kellar or Laura Bridg
man. Tommy seemed very dull and
apathetic. He was unwilling to make
any effort for himself, and his teach
ers often feared that in the end they
must give up the attempt to reach hit
mind.
Many, many months passed before
the drowsy little brain grasped the
fact that things have names, and that
these names may be represented by
the letters of the alphabet made on tho
fingers. But at length, by constant
repetition, by infinite love and pa
tience, the first section of the bridge
as built. Tommy began to realize
the outer world. He walked over the
bridge, and began to take an interest.
Soon he was one of the brightest
children In the kindergarten. Ho un
derwent systematic training at the ba
sis of which was Froebel's principles
of "natural development." Today, at
14 years of age, Tommy compares fa
vorably with other boys of his years.
He is tall, straight and strong. He
has a well-shaped head and his ex
pression Is bright and cheerful. His
mind is full of information, and he is
constantly asking for "more, more"
knowledge.
But he is not a mere lover of books.
He is active and self-reliant. He can
use his hands to better advantage than
most boys who can see and hear.
A year ago last summer, for exam
ple, Mrs. Quincy Shaw (Agassiz'
daughter) gave Tommy a sloyd bench
fitted with all the necessary tools.
Tommy was already fairly expert in
sloyd, because instruction in manual
training had been an important part
of his education. But when he learned
that the bench wa3 to be sent to
Wrentham, where he was to spend the
summer, he immediately said: "Now
I shall take all the care of Mr. Brown's
house." Consequently even on the
hottest days, he was to be found a),
his bench. He replaced worn door
sills with new, made a new barnyard
gate. He replaced loose boards in the
flooring of the porch, made a hand
railing for persons going up and down
the steps. An old smokehouse which
was given him as his especial domain
he improved wonderfully. He took
out the sliding windows, made new
frame on them and swung them on
hinges. Then he put strong bars
across them to prevent the cows
breaking the glass with their horns.
He invented a clever device for open
ing and shutting another window. He
put up shelves for holding tools and
other things connected with his work.
Ho repaired a stone wall near the
i smokehouse, and in other ways Im
| proved its surroundings. He is a busy,
| energetic boy, and generally makes
his own plans for work, and the plans
that he has made he always carries
; out. Before starting for home in the
' summer he cleaned his tools very care
fully, packed in boxes all his cher
i Ishcd bits of metal, nails, screws and
; similar things, as well as the bench
; itself. He examined the premises
! carefully to make sure that he had
: left nothing behind, and, in short,
i .showed himself more practical and
business like than tho average boy
with sight would have been.
In tho autumn of 1599, wlyin Tommy
was entering for his 14th year, he was
placed in one of tho public grammar
schools near the kindergarten. In
spite of his disability it was found
that he was then almost on a level
with boys of hi 3 own age. He started
In the sixth grade, and he has more
than held his own ever since. His
teacher and interpreter. Miss Helen 3.
Conley, of course goes with him, and
through her he holds his own with his
class. His grammar school work ha 3
increased his self-reliance, and he has
been very anxious to keep tip with the
other boys. They on their part are
very considerate of Tommy. They in
vito him to enter into all their games
and sports, and they And him a very
good comrade.
The year before last he had a trip
to Washington, and although not then
13, he showed the liveliest interest in
everything at the capital. He had a
delightful interview with the presi
dent and immediately accepted the in
vitation of the latter to visit the White
House. Tommy eagerly inspected ev
ery room, carefully examining all the
fittings and furnishings, and at last
announced "the blue room is the pret
tiest." He had come to this decision ,
undoubtedly on account of the silk
hangings on the walls. On the way te
Washington he had visited Philadel
phia and had thoroughly enjoyed a
visit to the mint.
Without any dogmatic teaching
Tommy has discovered the existence
of a supreme God. For example, "The
world is very large. Men made houses
and ships, but men cannot make land.
Who made the land?" was a question
that came naturally from him, and as
his inquiries are answered he is grad
ually shaping a creed for himself. Mr.
Anagnos says that as far as the
achievement of results is concerned.
Tommy's record surpasses that of all
other persons in his condition. That
is, he is not second to Laura Bridg
man, Helen Kellar or Willie Robin.
Instead of a helpless idiot, a deformed
Caliban, as he might have been, he is
a bright, intelligent boy. with a face
full of expression. With his bent
toward science and his zeal for in
vestigating, he may some time make
his mark In the world.
Tommy's education is naturally ex
pensive, since the time of one per
son must be given entirely to him.
The 3700 of the past year was con
tributed by 50 individuals and organ
izations in different parts of the coun
try. Kindergartens in various day and
Sabbath schools have been among the
contributors, and many little children
are regularly saving their spare pen
nies to send to Tommy Stringer. A
movement has begun to establish a
permanent fund for Tommy, similar
to that which was raised for Helen
Kellar, for if he continues to develop
as rapidly as in the past, he will cer
tainly be able to return to the world
a greater part of all that has been
showered on him. He is interested in
electricity, and asks extremely intelli
gent questions about its practical ap
plication. His first ride in an automo
bile was an event in his life, and the
gift of a companion bicycle by a lib
eral friend led him to devise a kind
of wooden bicycle which he called a
"foot car."
But above all Tommy's cleverness is
his affectionate disposition, which
makes hint fully appreciate all that
hits been done to bring him out of
darkness. —H. L. R., in Chicago Times-
Herald.
DUC DOWN TO FORT AMSTERDAM.
The New I'o.lom Ilounn Excavations Oct
Down Til roc font uric*.
The excavations made for the foun
dations of the new custom house at
Bowling Green have laid bare traces of
masonry which competent historians
believe are parts of the old Fort Am
sterdam, erected soon after the Dutch
bought the island of Manhattan from
the Indians in 1620. The laborers found
masonry 15 feet below the lowest foun
dations of the buildings which had oc
cupied tho south side of Bowling
Green for the last century. They were
under the Whitehall street roadway
and about 90 feet south of the
building line on Bowling Green, where
the steamship offices used to be.
In the process of removing the or
dinary earth and sand which there tin
derly the street, a strong wall was dis
covered. It was built of rock and
bricks and the joints were of mortar
made by compounding burned clam
shells with sand. Bits of shell were
found all through the mortar. The
bricks had been so much discolored in
the centuries that it was hard to tell
what had been their color when they
came from the kilns. The shape, liow
eer, was that of the Holland baked
brick, of which many of the early
buHdfngs of New Amsterdam were
made.
But it was not without corroboration
that the conclusion was reached that
the wall was a part of the Dutch
sronghold. In the centre of tho square
on which the new custom house is to
stand was found a rounded piece of
stone which was recognized as un
doubtedly a part of the buttresses of
the ancient fort. It was at the same
depth below the present street level as
the wall. The relative position of the
two has convinced antiquarians that 1
the two were part of the same structure.
Tho old fort stood, or at least parts
of it stood, until 1790, when the last
traces above ground were cleared
away to make room for the buildings,
which have but recently given way to
the new custom house.
The New York Historical society has
obtained one of the bricks. Another
has been presented to the Holland so
ciety by Cas3 Gilbert, the architect of
the new Custom house.—New York
Sun.
Work Among Mountain Whiten.
Miss Goodrich, a teacher in a south
ern mountain school, is encouraging
the women in her vicinity to cultivate
madder and indigo, and to use the
color from them for their weavings
in place of manufactured dye. Some
of the coverlets woven there and sent
to New York City recently were dyed
from those products, and others were 4
colored with tho bark and leaves of
trees.