Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1886 — Page 2

*OU ASK ME HOW I LIVE. BY R. H. T. Living friendly, feeling friendly, Acting fairly to all men. Seeking to do that to others They may do to me again; Hating no man, scorning no man— Wronging none by word or deed — But forbearing, soothing, serving, Thus I live!—and this my creed. Harsh condemning, fieroe contemning Is of little human use, One soft word of kindly peace Is worth a torrent of abuse ; Calling things bad, calling men bad Adds but darkness to their night; If thou wouldst improve thy brother, Let thy goodness be his light. I have felt, and know how bitter Human coldness makes the world— Ev'ry bosom round me frozen, Not an eye with pity pearl'd ; Still, my heart, with kindness teeming, Glads when other hearts are glad; And my eyes a tear-drop findeth At the sight of others sad. Ah I be kind—life hath no secret For our happiness like this— Kindly hearts are seldom sad ones— Blessing ever bringeth bliss. Bend a helping hand to others, Smile, though all the world should frown; Man is man, we are all brothers, Black or white, or red or brown. Man is man, through all gradations, Little recks it where he stands— How divided into nations— Scattered over many lands ; Man is man, by form and feature, Man by vice and virtue, too — Man, in all one common nature, Speaks and binds us brothers true.

REMINISCENCES.

BY GAPTAIN JAMES MONTFORD.

The ladies of the Colonel’s family were “discussing” the war one evening. One proof of the strong effect the war had upon the popular mind is that it is often, even to-day, the subject of conversation in numerous families. It is not the wonder of nine days, or nine years, but the recollections of a generation. The Colonel’s wife had imbibed a great many of his opinions, and she was almost as good a soldier—to talk—as the worthy Colonel himself. “No,” she said, in response to some suggestion from her niece, “the Colonel does not think the Southern women were worse in war-time than those of the North would have been under similar circumstances.” “Perhaps he really does not think so,” said the young lady, “but he always leans that way.” “Well, here he comes. He can argue it out with you himself.” A moment later footsteps approached the door and the Colonel entered. “We have been criticising your stories, papa,” said his daughter, “and cousin thinks you are rather hard on the ladies.” “I do nos intend to be. I merely relate my storius because they are dramatic.” “The only way you cnn make amends is to tell another story, where the ladies are better disposed,” cried his niece, smilingly. The Colonel shook his head as he sat down.

“I scarcely know whether I remember a story of that order or not. I have noticed that adventures with ladies usually happen to the bachelors, and 1 was married before I went to the front.” • “Then you can entertain us with something that occurred to a single man.” “Well,” said the Colonel, after a moment of thoughtfulness, “I remember a story that caused some talk at the time.” He lighted his second cigar, and conlinued as follows: “About the first thing a soldier becomes impressed with is the idea that he deserves something better to eat than the commissary affords. At moments of leisure his thoughts usually turn upon eating. “In consequence, they were often making excursions in search of pigs and poultry. Some would roam about day after day and find nothing, while others were more fortunate. “Charley Wise was said to be very lucky in this respect. He seemed bom "for the good things of this world. The best green corn and the plumpest chickens—at least, so his comrades declared—fell to his lot. “Early in 1862, when the Army of the Potomac moved from Washington, nearly everyone was in good spirits. It was the general opinion among the troops that we wer9 to put a period to the Confederacy. “The first discomfort we sustained was when we went on board the little steamer, and when forced to disgorge the most choice contents of our knapsacks. This forced yielding up of the treasures we had hoarded caused a little discontent, but it soon wore off. “The next day after boarding the steamer we arrived at Old Point Comfort, and our tents were pitched amid the ruins of the once beautiful village of Hampton. “We were not pressed for food at that time, but many, partly excited by the strangeness and beauty of the country, partly by the idea that rests upon the soldier that he deserves something unobtainable, wandered about ‘in search of whatever they might devour.’ “Late one afternoon Charley Wise started out alone.

“He was a tall, well-made fellow; strong as a mule, quick witted, and venturesome to a degree. He soon had left the camp far behind, and, wandering around, lost his way just as darkness set in. “This disturbed Charley very little, and as he came in sight of a brightly illuminated farm house he resolved to enter the E remises, and if he could pick up anything e wanted, to do so; if he failed, to inquire his way back to camp. “As he advanced he saw that the building was large and well appointed. There were an unusual number of lights, and he guessed that some festivities were in progress. “Entering the orchard, which was upon the left side of the building, he made his way cautiously around toward the back of the house, where he supposed the outbuildings were situated. “He discovered the stable and its appendages at last, but was forced to take a roundabout course to reach it. Beaching the front comer of the building, he suddenly found that further progress in that direction was cut off, “Two darkies sat upon the steps of the stable. “Glancing around the corner, Charley could barely distinguish their forms. “Fearing discovery— gentlemen engaged in business similar to Charley’s were occasionally caught, and roughly ÜBed— he stood quiet for a moment. “The negroes were talking together, and, being but a few paces distant, their words were plainly audible to our adventurer, “ ‘Major am berry brave,’ one was saying, ‘but I heerd Massar Sim say dat he ran g~at risks in cornin’ here to-night.’

“ ‘Oh, ho,’ thought Charley, ‘that accounts for all those lights back there.’ “ ‘I doan think 60,’ drawled the other black. ‘De Major am a fignter, I tell yo; if dem Yankees do cum, dey’ll cotch it.’ “Charley moved cautiously back, and was soon out of hearing. Then he began to consider the case. “It was quite evident to him that an officer of the Confederate army was in the farm-house. Should he (Charley) hurry back to camp, and give warning of the Major’s presence in the country? That would be quite a nice commencement for him, he thought; but, then,.the officer had stolen home to meet his .wife and family. That would be rather mean, too. ‘ “He had at last concluded to allow matters to take their proper course, when he heard the sound of horses’ hoofs, and a few moments later several mounted men rode up to the house. “The negroes left their position in front of the stable, and ran toward the house. Soon after, the sound of angry voices reached Charley’s ear, and he came around in front of the barn. “At the side of the house he saw the horsemen now upon the ground; there was a handsome young gentleman in their midst. “He was evidently the Major of whom the darkies had spoken; but Charley could not understand who the horsemen were—they wore no uniforms. “An old, gray-haired gentleman, the Major's father, evidently, several women and servants gathered about. Charley was several rods away, and was unable to hear or understand what was going forward, but at last all the company entered the house. “Then Charley determined to right the mystery, and stole noiselessly to the house. The windows were open, and, as he determined to make no ill use of the information so acquired, he was not ashamed to listen.

“A great deal of high talk took place. The men were Southerners and neighbors, but were ill-affected in the Confederacy. Their leader, a large man, with a proud, sour-looking countenance, was the Major’s enemy, and had seized him as a means of revenge. “As Charley learned this, one of the captors came to the door to look after the horses, and he was driven back in the direction of the stable. “He was determined not to leave the place without paying himself for the trouble of the visit, and he no sooner spied a number of fowls which roosted upon a short piece of fence at the side of the stable than he grasped one. “He did not secure him very firmly, for, with a squawk, he escaped from his hands and flew fluttering along the ground. “Charley saw him enter the stable, the negroes had left tne doors open, and, thinking it would be less trouble to find him in the barn than to take another from the fence he pursued him inside. “After a troublesome search the rooster was a prisoner, and Charley was about to quit the premises in haste when a woman entered the stable. “Charley saw her enter; she was one of the ladies he had seen at the house, and was doubtless the Major’s wife. “She was bareheaded and seemed in haste. Charley tried to escape her observation, but she saw him at once. “ ‘Who are you?’ she demanded, in a tremulous whisper. “ ‘A friend.’ “ ‘lf you are, aid me to saddle the horse,’ and elie pointed to a magnificent bay that stood in a stall directly behind the adventurer.

“The latter hesitated for a moment. He imagined the horse was for the Major’s escape. “The woman understood what was passing in his mind, and her face became pale as death. “ ‘l’ll help you,’ cried Charley at last. “The woman uttered a cry of joy, and a moment later a saddle was placed upon the bay, and Charley led him softly from the stable. “Quick as thought the woman sprang into the saddle, and urging the horse around the side of the barn disappeared. “At that instant there came a confused 11 from the direction of the house, and, ruing, Charley saw the captors rushing nvard the stable. “They poured a volley of questions at Charley, and when they found the woman had taken a saddled horse from the stable became furious. “Our fiiend would have suffered had it not been for his uniform. All but one hurried off in the direction of the orchard, making a vain attempt to retake the prisoner.

“The man who remained was very communicative, and Charley was soon in possession of the entire story. “When they had entered the house with the Major that gentleman and his friends appeared without hope. “But as they were preparing t@ leave the officer desired to enter another room, to take leave of his wife. “The leader of the visitors was against this; but his companions outnumbered him in their assents, and the prisoner passed from their sight, accompanied by his wife and mother. “The leader became impatient as the moments passed; but as the sound of voices still came from the adjoining room, the door of which had been left open, he contained himself for some time. “But at last he entered the apartment, and found the Major and his wife had both escaped through the window. While the mother had been talking to the empty walls, her son was waiting in the orchard for the steed which bore him away from his foes.”

A Curious Case.

There have been all manner of odd health resorts; places people could eat grapes, drink skim milk, or where they could bathe or walk themselves into health. But the most singular cure in Europe is that of Lindewiese, an obscure village in Austrian Silesia. People troubled with the rheumatism, gout, dyspepsia, and all allied disorders, throng this place, and many declare they are benefited. Six weeks effects the cure, during which time no water is drank and nothing but dry bread eaten. The patients are subjected to frequent packs in ice-cold water, which induces profuse sweating. There are three days in the week when drink is allowed, but it is a fermented mixture native to the country. Every patient, of course, loses weight, often as much as fifteen or twenty pounds, but very many are benefited by the entire change of life, and what they call the “blood-sweat.” — Demorest’s Monthly.

PICTURESQUE CAVES.

One of the Wonders of Nature Found in Southern Oregon. The new discovery is a multiplicity of grotesque and fantastic-looking objects of natures fashioning. Persons of lively imagination can, out of the scenery, make perfect in their minds almost any archetype, and, many different parts of many different animals. The numerous chambers and many narrow passages with different shaped, fashioned, and molded scenery are surprising and astonishing. A man can go through what is discovered, and does go through it; the writer has gone through part of the discovery, but he believes that no one person who does go through it has a mind large enough to take in and hold all that is to be seen in that arcadian formation. If lamps with large, brilliant burning flames to emanate streams of light on the surroundings were placed there, the sights would be dazzling. The snowy white and wax-colored stalactite, and incrustations that coyer the sides can not be reproduced in pictures. The wax-colored and vitreous stalactite pendants hanging from the lower extremity reflect flashes of the light, and when the burning candles are held still the visitors behold the appearance of innumerable splendors. The incrustations on the bottom of some of the chambers include patches of imitation hoarfrost, which is so hard and sharp that it makes prints in the bootsoles; but its glistening in the candle-light is like a body of newly fallen snow when the early sunbeams strike it in the morning air. There are imitation sponges that look soft and velvety, but hard and sharp to the touch of the hand; imitation coral and coral fringes of very beautiful shapes and colors; a body of stalagmite resemblmg the snow-clad Mount Hood and the ghost chamber that came near scaring the life out of the cave man when he discovered it.

Before entering into the big chamber there is overhead a vertical aperture that seems to run up the distance of thirty feet, and all the way it seems to have the same diameter. A strong cuirent of air spins through, and visitors have to take extra care of their lights or they may lose them. The big chamber is well named. It is a spacious underground room, being 364 feet long, 50 feet wide, its vaulted roof rising to a height of from 50 to 75 feet; and its size imposing to the beholder. Its sides and roof consist of rock, differing from any other cave chamber that the writer has seen; enormous bowlders cover the bottom, and on sides bunches of gravel are sticking that contain variously colored pebble stones.— Grant’s Pass Circular.

Tea Cultivation in Japan.

The tea-plant, like many other plants, can not be transplanted or multiplied by slips or by grafting, but must be raised from the" seeds. It requires a temperate climate, too great heat or cold being injurious to it. The best time for sowing is from December to the end of January. The seeds are placed in circles, slightly covered with earth, over which a layer of rice-husks is spread in order to protect them against the hoar-frost. The first shoots appear in the following May or June, the roots developing in proportion to the plant. If the seeds are sown too late, the roots have not time to expand before the rising of the stem, which injures permanently the subsequent growth of the shrub. No manure is required during the first twelvemonth after the appearance of the plant. During the second year animal manure diluted in an equal amount of water is applied. From the third year the stem is surrounded three times yearly with pure animal manure or oil-cake, i. e., the residue of the oil-press. At the end of the third year the shrub is topped, in order to increase the power of forming lateral buds. The first leaves are gathered in the fourth year. The harvest commences in the beginning of the summer, when only the youngest leaves are picked. Thirty days after the first gathering the second takes place. Some teagrowers have lately made a third pickr ing, in consequence of the rise in the price of tea, but this proceeding ought to be energetically discountenanced, as it has proved most injurious to the plant.

The leaves, immediately after having been gathered, are taken to the factory. Thte ea-plant abounds in stipules, andis thus unlike other plants of the order of the Ternstroemiacese, which are usually ex-stipulate. Here the stipules are separated by means of a bamboo sieve, and all impurities are removed. This done, the leaves are exposed to the action of steam, by placing them on a bamboo hurdle over water heated to 200 degrees F. in a covered pan. Those intended for tea-in-leaf are steamed for fifteen seconds, those intended for powdered tea for half a minute. After this they are uncovered, turned .and aired by means of fans. The leaves, when perfectly dry, are removed from the second lioiro into sieves of copper-wire, into which the petioles, which may have remained attached, are separated by gentle rubbing between the palms of the handfij After having been winnowed, the leaves are assorted into three qualities and sifted through bamboo sieves, of which there are six different degrees of fineness. Common tea is sifted but once, the better qualities from six to seven times, and the powdered tea even as often as ten times, which expenditure in time and labor renders this kind of tea extremely deal 1 . The tea-leaves, after having been prepared for use in the manner above described, are in June exposed to the action of a gentle fire for several hours; then spread out in ft flat pan and

fanned until they have cooled. Then they are put into glazed earthenware jars, Which are methodically moved and shaken until they settle firmly, fresh leaves being added by degrees until they are quite full. These jars are closed by stoppers, likewise of earthenware, which are wrapped in several layers of paper in order to make them air tight. The jars are removed to the upper floor of the factory, and stored in a room which must be well aired, cool, and perfectly dry. In August the tea is again fired and treated in the same manner as. in the preceding month, and this process is repeated in the following months of November, February, and March, the tea being fired altogether twelve times during the twelvemonth after the harvest. Tea, for the inland transport, is packed in boxes macje of the wood of the Kiri, the Pawlownia imperialis. For export air-tight tin boxes are used, which have a casing of the wood of Sugi. the Cryptomeria japonica. Smaller quantities are kept in well-stopped glass jars, made air-tight with pitch.— English Illustrated Magazine.

The Centipede.

Centipedes can be found without much trouble, particularly if they happen to be in your clothing, but the best place to study the tou'mure of the insect is at a drug store. Most Texas druggists keep a few centipedes and tarantulas preserved in alcohol as a kind of an attraction. Although resembling the desperado in many other respects, when the centipede is in liquor he is.calm and genteel, and it is perfectly safe to make remarks about him. When the desperado is in whisky he is apt to resent familiarities, otherwise there is not much to choose between them, except that the centipede can’t shoot off a six shooter and defy the local authorities. This goes to show that like causes do not always produce the same effect.

T he centipede is not a very active insect, and he is not much of a vocalist, but the quantity of latent energy and the spontaneous flow of eloquence that he can coax out of the most quiet of men is surprising. When he seizes the cuticle of a victim with his jaws, anchors his two hooks iu his flesh, and, humping himself, clinches his numerous sharp-pointed toes, the geology in that part of the county, and also the fourth commandment, is liable to be wrecked by the violence of the behavior of the aforesaid sufferer. It is a fact, however, that very few persons die from the bite of the centipede. It is the centipede that dies. The centipede has a worse enemy than man. It is a bird with a long tail and a top-knot, whose mission seems to be to decrease the number of centipedes. The bird is called by some the chapparal cock, by othsrs the road runner. The Mexicans call him el cctpora or the corporal. Why the Mexicans give this bird a military title I can’t tell. Perhaps it is on account of his top-knot, or, more plausible still, because he can run so fast. The corporal in the Mexican army is almost as hard to overtake as a general, and this road runner is remarkable for his speed. He can give points to an absconding bank cashier. He runs like compound interest on a note of hand.

\Y ell, this would-be reformer regards the centipede as an offensive partisan, and removes him so effectually that the centipede finds himself in a distressing minority. Although the centipede is copiously provided with legs, one road runner can run faster than all the centpedes in the State of Texas. When the road runner, or chapparal cock, overtakes an offensive partisan of a centipede he seizes the obnoxious insect by the head and gives him a shake to straighten out the kinks. By a peculiar motion this reformer passes the centipede through his bill sideways, pretty much as a linen collar is passed through a patent clothes-wringer, and lets him drop on the other side. After that the centipede is destitute of political aspiration. He makes no objection to being swallowed. He is crushed. Then the bird gobbles up the centipede endways, very much after the manner of an Italian lazaroni hiding away a few feet of macaroni. One Sunday morning a colored clergyman was preaching with great fervor in the Austin Blue Light J abemacle on the worldliness of mankind. He said, earnestly; “De trubble wid de most ob you niggahs am dat you hab got yer eyes sot on de dings ob dis yarf. Belubbed breddren and sistern, look at de dings what am above, and de Lord will shower down blessing on yer heads.”

As he muttered these words he rolled up his eyes until the whites, or rather the yellows, alone were visible; but all at once, “a change came o’er the tablet of his thought,” and with the yell of a ten-dollar lawyer pleading a case before a justice of the peace he bounded into the aisle, where, as pale as a piece of aged tripe, his legs vibrating with terror, which also straightened out the kinks of his wool, he pointed upward, and in a tremulous voice, exclaimed: “Jess, jess look at dat ar cussed insec'.”

Sure enough, slowly, crawling over the ceiling just above the sacred desk, was a green centipede of about the size of an ordinary table knife. He was liable to drop down on the congregation at any moment, instead of the promised benedition. This is about the only time I ever heard of anybody looking up to a centipede.— Alex. Sweet.

“What side of the street do you live on, Mrs. Kipple?” asked a counsel, cross-examining a witness. “On either side. If you go one way, it’s on the right side; if you go the other way, it’s on the left. ” To reason with the angry is like whispering to the dgaf.

HUMOR.

What this country needs now is fewer lays of the poet and more lays of the hen. No explorer has yet discovered the country where lived the man that wanted but little here below. No European country is complete at present and first-class in all respects unless it has a crisis on hand. A bullet travels a mile at the rate of three and one-fifth seconds, and a messenger boy travels a mile at the rate of—(?) — California Maverick. The Czar speaks three languages, but when it comes to dodging nihilistic dynamite bombs he could be just as agile in one.— San Francisco Maverick. “What is your full name?” asked the magistrate of an individual who had been absorbing more mountain dew than he could carry. “Same as when I’m sober (hie). Did yer think I changed it (hie) when I took a drink?” “Sixty days .’’—Pittsburgh Chronicle. When placed under a microscope the sting of a bee presents a polish of dazzling beauty; but when placed in the end of a man’s nose the polish is missing, and the apDearance more like that of a rat-tail file dipped in vitriol. This is official.- Chicago Ledger. “Fine sermon, wasn’t it ?” said a man to a sleepy-looking brother, as they came out of church on Sunday morning. “Yes, very fine,” gasped the.other. “Were you not struck with the brilliancy of that passage beginning, ‘Courage, ye saints ?’ ” “Oh, yes; but I was more struck with the passage beginning, ‘Finally, brethren.’” “All is over between George and myself,” said Clara, as she sank wearily into a chair; “I can not trust my future happiness to such a man. I shall write him at once that we must part.” “What is the trouble?” “I met him in the street to-day, and he wore ear-muffs.— New York Sim.

“How did you break off your front teeth?” asked a visitor of the same small boy. “I didn’t break ’em,” replied the youngster. “I was just fooling a teentv bit with a horse’s tail in the street up at C . The man that picked me up got his hands and vest awful bloody. It wasn’t my fault.”— Poston Pecord.

Lady (to tramp at the door) —“Certainly, my poor man; just go around to the kitchen door, and the cook will give you a nice piece of roast turkey and some mince pie.” Tramp (with disgust)—“There it goes again; turkey and mince pie! I ain’t had nuthin’ but turkey an’ mince pie for a week back. I’ll be glad when the holidays are over.” — New York Times.

Says the Pittsburgh Telegraph: “Wanted—A fresh mother-in-law joke that is not silly or far-fetched. Five dollars a word will be paid for it and no questions asked.” It will not be easy to supply such a joke, for there are no fresh mothers-in-law. The mother-in-law has been through the mill, she is experienced, there is no freshness about her, and that is why she is such a terror to sons-indaw.— Boston Courier.

“You are charged with playing a flute by an open window at m'dnight, to the annoyance of your neighbor,” said the magistrate; “guilty or not guilty?” “Guilty.” “Five dollars fine.” “But, your Honor,” protested the neighbor who had preferred the charge, “considering the circumstances, the fine seems insufficient. He played over and over again, ‘We Are Very Wide Awake, the Moon and I’.” “O! Fifty dollars fine.”— New York Sun.

BABY MINE. There is no joy in the world like you, No music sweet as your “goo ah-goo,” No skies so clear as your eyes of blue— Baby, O my babv. But when you ground on the secret pin And open your valve and howl like sin, No gong can equal your little din, Baby, O my baby. My heart is glad when your face I see, My joy is full when you come to me, I jaugh with you in romping glee, Baby, O my baby. And oftentimes my midnight snore Is broken short by your screaming roar, And till morning dawns we walk the floor. Baby, O my baby. —Burdette.

De Iyaggs —“Newspapers! I’m sick of them! Full of lies, every one.” Dusenbnry—“You are too severe.” “Ami? Listen to me. I had a private party at my house the other night, and just to make the neighbors feel tired I mentioned to a reporter that I had as guests a dozen prominent army and navy officers, two Judges, a Professor, and a famous traveler. Ga e the reporter their names, you understand.” “Well?” “Well, what did the paper do? Come out with an accurate account of the affair! O, I tell you the tyranny of the press is awful!”—Philadelphia Call. Courtship in Zululand has several advantages over the same sort of agreeable pastime in this country. When a Zulu girl takes a fancy to a young warrior, she leaves her father’s house, and, at dusk, stations herself before the hut of the favored one, remaining perfectly silent. If her attentions are favored, she will be asked into the hut, and remain a week or more. This obviates the necessity of the young man walking a couple of miles, perchance, along a dark and lonely road six or seven nights a week, after midnight; and the girl’s father doesn’t find his coal and gas bills augmented during the courtship. —Norristown Herald.

A spiny African caterpillar, seven inches long and of a steel-gray color, was exhibited at a recent meeting of the Linnsean Society of London. Theodore Roosevelt smashes another idol. He says the grizzly will fi«bt only when oornejed. ,