Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1888 — Page 2

8 Ijelkmocriitif Sentinel RENSSELAER. INDIANA. . J. W. MoEWEN, ... Pvjfam

THE NEWS RECORD.

A Summary of the Eventful Happen* ings of a Week, a& Reported by Telegraph. Political, Commercial, and Industrial News, Fires, Accidents, Crimes, Suicides, Etc., Etc. A STRUGGLE IN CONGRESS. After a struggle lasting an hour in the House the 23d over the order of business, the Public Buildings Committee secured the floor, and Mr. Biddle of South Carolina called up the Senate bill for the construction of a building at Portland, Ore. By an amendment the amount was reduced to <200,000. The whole afternoon was spent in the effort to get a quorum, and failing tn secure one on a proposition to report the Portland bill favorably, the House adjourned. CROP CONDITION AND PROSPECTS. Kains Having' Good Effect in the Northwest—Harvesting in the South. The weather during the past week in the grain regions of the Northwest has been generally favorable to growing crops, and conditions have improved in the Upper Mississippi and Missouri valleys and in Michigan, although heavy local rains in Missouri are reported to have injured wheat and delayed harvesting. An excess of rain is reported at Washington, from Arkansas. Louisiana and Mississippi, which has been unfavorable to the cotton crop. In the west portion of the cotton region less rain and clear weather would, doubtless, benefit the growing crops, while in tho east portion, including Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina, tho weather has been favorable for all crops. In Ohio, Indiana, and Connecticut more rain is needed, while generally throughout the Middle Atlantic and New England States the weather of tho past week has improved the crop conditions. Harvesting is in progress in Tennessee and Kentucky, where the weather conditions have been favorable for wheat and corn, but unfavorable for grass.

VICTIMS OF THE WAVES. A Steam Yacht Runs Aground and Upsets, and Six Passengers Are Drowned. A party of sixteen ladies and gentlemen of Newark, N. J„ hired the steam yacht .Olivette and left that city for a pleasure excursion. It being flood tide the jetty at the mouth of the bay was covered with water. The pilot had scarcely got his bearings when ho heard a sharp, grating sound, and realizing that he was on the jetty, stopped the engine. Several of male passengers jumped over on the jetty and in doing so the boat lurched and slid off Into deep water. The girls then made a rush for the side of the boat. This caused her to keel over suddenly and in a second she turned bottom side up. Itescucrs hurried to the scene, but were unable to save all. Louis Graff, Gussie Lutz, Lizzie Celius, Minnie Burg, Gussie Webber and Annie Fricke were drowned.

ROBBED A TEXAS STAGE. A lone Footpad Hohls Up the Passengers and Secures SSOO. A dispatch from Ballinger, Tex., states that the mail coach running between that place and San Angelo was robbed by a lone highwayman, who was traveling on foot along the road. He wore around his shoulders a large red bandana for a mask. He made eight passengers alight, stand in line, and walk up and deliver one at a time. He used a navy six-shooter,. None of his victims was armed. When he had secured about SSOO and some jewelry he took one of the stage horses and told the driver to substitute for it a lop-eared mule in a field near by. which was done. The thief did not disturb the United States mails. A TOWN NEARLY WIPED OUT. Flames at Holbrook, Arizona, Destroy the Business Part of the Place. A fire at Holbrook, Arizona, destroyed the entire business portion of the town. Ten thousand pounds of wool were consumed. The Holbrook House was burned, followed by the Atlantic and Pacific Depot, section house, two cars loaded with Government merchandise, and twelve empty freight ears, stores, dwelling and lodging houses, i.ud Wells-Fargo’s express office. Considerable local freight burned with the depot. The loss to tho railroad company will be over SSO ,000. The loss on other- property is not less than SIOO,OOO.

Terrorised by Mad Dogs. A dispatch from Wichita, Kan., reports that Greenwood County is terrorized by rabid dogs. Nine persons have been bitten, and three have died from hydrophobia. A month ago a mad dog bit several other dogs and a number of cattle. Two weeks ago a dog ran into the yard of William Jones and bit Mr. Jones and two of his children. All three died in great agony. A mudstone was circulated among the persons who had been bitten, and a wholesale slaughter of dogsis going on. Base-Ball. The following table shows the relative standing of the clubs composing the four principal associations in their race for championship honors: League. Won. Lost. Interstate. .Won. Lost. Chicago 33 14 Davenport 29 8 Detroit 2.9 17 Peoria2B 8 Boston3o 21 Dubuquel9 15 New York 27 21 Crawfordsville. .17 18 Philadelphia... .23 23 Bloomington... .13 17 Washingtonl6 31 Danvillel2 21 Pittsburghls 30 Rockfordl2 23 Indianapolis ... .15 32 Lafayette 0 5 American. Won. Lost. Western. Won. Lost. Brooklyn 37 16 St. Paul2s 14 St. Louis3o 15 Des Moines 24 14 Athletic 30 19 Milwaukee2l 17 Cincinnati 29 21 Kansas City2l 19 Baltimore 24 25 Omahal9 20 Clevelandlß 30 Chicagolß 20 Kansas Cityl4 82 Minneapolisl6 27 Ixniisviile.l4 86 St. Louis. .14 27

DEATH IN AWFUL FORM. William Pattenion, While Being Slowly Strangled by the Sheriff, Calls Upon the Almighty for Mercy. William Patterson, tried and condemned at Louisville, Ky., as the accomplice of Albert Turner in the murder of Jennie Bowman, April 21, a year ago, suffered an awful death on the gallows. When he ascended the scaffold he made a short speech, asserting that he was innocent of the crime. When the drop fell probably the most horrible scene ever witnessed on a scaffold ensued. The body dropped four feet and then sprung upward. For two minutes it quivered silently at the end of the rope. Then occurred something unprecedented in the history of hangings. In a deep guttural tone from beneath the black cap came distinctly the words: "I curse them." Suddenly the hanging man’s hands, which had been left untied, the arms being pinioned behind his back at the elbows only, came together in a position as if for prayer. Tho legs drew up until they almost touched his breast, and While his body writhed and twisted he uttered in a voice that could be distinctly heard, “Lord have mercy upon me." The rope had slipped completely around and rested •on the joint of his chin. He had hung by the back of his neck until choked from the rear. His sufferings were awfuL

A SETBACK FOR STRIKERS. Decision in the Lynn, Mas*., Banner Case, Granting an Injunction. The Supreme Court of Massachusetts' by decision rendered, has declared it unlawful for a labor organization or striking employes to display a warning banner In front of a business establishment. The decision is made in the famous banner case of Sherry vs. Perkins, of Lynn. Patrick F. Sherry, a prominent Lynn shoe manufacturer, sought an injunction against Charles E. Perkins and Charles H. Leach respectively President and Secretary of the Lasters’ Protective Union, and others, to prevent the display of two banners in front of the plaintiff’s factory In Lynn. The banners bore inscriptions to the effect that lasters employed on the premises were on a strike and that others should keep away. For over a year the fight has been waged with unremitting vigor. According to the opinion of the court it was found that the act of displaying banners with devices as a means of threats and intimidation to prevent persons from entering into and continuing in tho employ of the plaintiff was injurious to the plaintiff, and illegal, and the plaintiff is not restricted*to action at law for remedy, but is entitled to an injunction.

FAREWELL TO EARTH. The Funeral of the Late Emperor of Germany Held at Potsdam the 18th. The funeral of the late Emperor Frederick, took place at Potsdam the 18th. A Berlin telegram says; At 9 o'clock the bells tolled end the ministers who officiated at the Emperor’s funeral took their places around the coffin in the palace. The choir sang the hymns "Soon Thou Callest Me to Higher Joys,” and “Jesus Is My Trust.” Chaplain Koegel blessed the corpse and the mourners, after which the choir sang the hymn “If I Am to Die. ” The commanders of twelve regiments, of which the late Emperor was the chief officer, carried the coffin to the heartt". Eight M.4?rs then took the horses by the bridle, 'and the procession started for the church. All the way from the castle to the Friedenskirsche, where the funeral was to take glace, torches and cressets were seen, illuminatig with their pallid flames the morning light. Every here and there arose huge flagstaffs and poles bearing banners with mourning devices. The troops comprised the entire garrison at. Potsdam and u portion of the Berlin and Spandau garrisons. imposing ceremonies were had at the castle and then the procession moved to the church. There was no sermon. After the firing of volleys and minute guns by the troops the mourners took their departure. Before leaving, the w idowed Empress bent over the coffin and took a solemn farewell look at her husband’s face. Services were also had at many places througoutthe country, also at Washington. THE CROP PROSPECT. Favorable Reports Received the Past Week by the Leading Mercantile Agencies. Bradstreet's in its summary of the past week says: Special dispatches note that while the extreme heat of last week has tended to ehvek trade at Philadelphia, Cleveland, and a few smaller cities, the general situation remains good, and in some instances is improved, notably at Omaha, Kansas City, and St. Joseph. Boston has received favorable advices from the interior, which is having a good effect. A significant feature is found in telegrams frem Louisville, New Orleans, St. Louis, Davenport, and Burlington, lowa, Kansas City, Omaha, and St. Joseph, and the late warm weather, followed by rains, has greatly improved the crop prospects, including wheat, Indian corn, sugar, and rice. In the region tributary to Kansas City and in California wheat harvesting has begun.

A TOWN LAID IN ASHES. Dulmis, Pa., Destroyed by Fire—Loss, 51,000,000 Three Thousand People Homeless. Dubois, a town of 7,000 population in Western Pennsylvania, has been almost literally extinguished by fire. A dispatch from the scene of the disaster says “the territory traversed by the (lie resembles a figure 8, being over a mile from end to end and a half-mile at the widest part. It includes the entire' business portion of the town. Two churches, a dozen hotels, eight drug stores, many dry-goods stores, groceries, hardware stores and innumerable business places of all kinds are in ruins. Several hundred dwelling-houses are also gone up in smoke. Three thousand people have no roof above them. Many of them saved nothing but the clothes on their backs, and unless outside aid shall come immediately much suffering must result. The loss is put by insurance agents at §1,000,000. The insurance is very light. ” A NOTED CHARACTER. Death in London of Dr. Zukertort, the Great Chess-Player. J. H. Zukertort, the distinguished chessplayer, is dead. Dr. J. H. Zukertort was a native of Berlin and a pupil of Anderson, ge went to England in 1872, and has since

been permanently domiciled in London. In the intematronal tournament nt 1883 Dr. Zukertort Won the first prize, having'guined twenty-two out of twenty-three games, losing only one—the best score on record. He obtained the first prize in the Paris tournament of 1878 after a tie with Winawer, Steinitz not playing. In the 1882 Vienna tournament he obtained the fourth and a special prize for best performance against the leading prize-winners.

ACQUITTED IN SHORT ORDER. A Murder Trial Elided in Two Hours, the Jury Deciding in Two Minutes. Patrick Green, a young New York plumbery was arraigned before Judge Cowing, of New York, for the murder of another plumber, John Crowley, on the night of Nov. 30. They had quarreled after a game of cards, and on the street Crowley threw bricks at Green, kicked and beat him, and threw an iron-clad ash can at him. Green, in return, stabbed Crowley in the arm and Crowley bled to death. The jury acquitted Green after being out two minutes. The trial occupied two hours, which is said to be the shortest time on record for a trial for murder in the first degree. * The Drama in Chicago. The Lee Comedy Company reappeared at McVicker’s Theater on Monday, and opened in “The Cavalier,” a new play by Adolph D’Ennery. The story is romantic, and deals with the adventures of Chevalier de Lamoliere, a light-hearted scamp who flour•ished during the regency in France. Mr. McVicker has, at considerable expense, prepared new and elaborate scenery for the entire play, and Mr. Lee new and correct 'costumes, and those who have watched the rehearsals predict for the play a success unequaled by any recent dramatic production. Brutal Stabbing Affray. John Rush, fireman on the steamer Bessemer, was attacked at Erie, Pa., by George Connelly, a deck-hand, who stabbed him a number of times. John Kruger, the other fireman, tried to save his companion's life and was frightfully gashed. Connelly, whose parents perished in the Brooklyn Theater fire and from which he escaped, is only 18, but is the terror of the lakes. Rush is a native of Chicago and Kruger lives in Milwaukee. Connelly was arrested. Rush cannot survive.

Congressional Nominations. Lester Mayor of Savannah, Ga., has been nominated for Representative in Congress from the First Congressional District of Georgia. The convention was in session eight days. Judge J. M. Campbell, of Edwards county, has been nominated for Senator by the Democratic Committee of the Forty-fourth Senatorial District of Illinois. G. M. Saltzgober has been nominated for Congress by the Democrats of the Sixth Ohio District. Lawyer Dunn Sentenced to Prison. John R. Dunn, the lawyer who participated ,in the robbery of the Manhattan Bank with Teller Scott, his brother-in-law, has been sentenced at New York to nine years and eight months in State prison. Fatal Explosion of Powder. An explosion of powder in the warehouse of a fertilizing company at Louisville, Ky., burned Henry Burkhardt fatally, John Johnson dangerously, and John Willets severely. A Swiss Consul Going to Chicago. The President has recognized Jules W. Egmann as Vice-Consul of the Swiss Confederation for the States of Michigan, Wiscosln, lowa, Minnesota, and northern part of Illinois, to reside at Chicago. Appointed to Office. President Cleveland has appointed Andrew F. Shafer of Michigan to be Surveyor of Customs at Grand Rapids, Micij., and Thomas 8. Maxey of Texas to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas.. Princess Albert. A Berlin telegram states that Princess Albert of Saxe-Altenburg, eldest daugher of Prince Frederick’ Charles, is dead.

THE MARKETS.

CHICAGO. Cattle—Choice to Prime Steers.® 6.00 @ 6.25 Good 5.00 © 5.75 Cows and Heifers 3.00 © 3.75 Hogs—Shipping Grades 5.25 © 6.00 Sheep 3.00 © 4.75 Wheat —No. 2 Red -83J4 Corn—No. 2 .. 49’a© .50 Oats—No. 2 32 <<<! .32'4 Barley—No. 2 63 @ .65 * Butter—Choice Creamerylß & .19 Fine Dairyl6 .17 Cheese—Full Cream, flato7 © .6794 Eggs—Fresh 13’6<g, .14)<i Potatoes —New, per brl 2.7-5 . © 3.25 Pork—Mess 13.25 ©13.75 MILWAUKEE. Wheat—Cash 78 @ Corn—No. 3 47 © Oats—No. 2 White ' 35 @ .So’a Rye—No. 1 60 © .60}j Barley—No. 2 59 © .61 Pork—Mess.. 13.50 ©14.00 TOLEDO. Wheat —Cashßß @ .89 Corn—Cash 52,>4© .53J& Oats 34’6© .35’2 Clover Seed 4.20 © 4.30 ST. LOUIS. Wheat—No. 2 Redßs’4@ .86’6 Corn —Mixed,4s&© .46 Oats —Cash.. 32 @ .33 Rye6o © .62 Barley 80 @ .85 Pork —Mess 14.00 @14.50 NEW YORK. Cattle 5.00 @6.50 Hogs 5.25 @ 6.00 Sheeb 3.50 @ 5.50 Wheat—No. 2 RedßJ @ .90 'Corn—No. 2 .57 © .58 Oats—White42 © .47 Pork—New Mess 15.25 @15.75 DETROIT. Cattle 4.00 @ 5.25 Hogs 4.75 @ 5.50 Sheep 3.50 © 4.75 Wheat—No. 2Jled 83 & .89 Corn—No. 2 Yellow 51’4© .52J*j Oats —No. 2 White37’6© .38)6 INDIANAPOLIS. Cattle 4.53 © 5.25 Hogs 5.25 © 6.00 Sheep 4.00 @ 5.25 Lambs 4.50 © 5.25 BUFFALO. Cattle 4.50 @ 5.25 Hogsi 5.25 @ 6.00 Sheep 4.25 © 5.00 Wheat—No. 2 Red 92 @ .93 Corn—No. 3 Yellows29i@ .53 EAST LIBERTY. Cattle—Prime 5.25 @ 5.75 Fair 4.50 (& 5.00 Common 4.00 @ 4.50 Hogs 5.50 © 6.25 Sheep 4.00 @ 4.75 Lambs 5.00 @ 6.W

The British Correspondent.

The one all-pervading, regnant, dominant and rigorous purpose of the British correspondent’s life is to find out all the news himself, but keep his paper from knowing anything about it. I was present at the side of a famous correspondent, who had kindly taken me under his w ing here, when his secretaries came in with the news after the funeral. They had all told their tales and received instructions, when the secretary who had undertaken to do a description of the crowd strolled in. “Ah, Jones!” said the chief, looking the late comer over through his single glass and lighting a fresh cigar, “rawther a big crowd, eh?” “I should say so,” said Jones; “and such a mucky dav. I’ve got everything. ” “What, foh instance.” “A little child was born in the slush and rain in the great jam near the cathedral. ” “What a devilish damp and erratic sort of a proceeding. ” “Shull I write it?” “Er—no.” “Woman climbed up in tree in park,” continued Jones, reading from a voluminous notebook, “named Schwartzgenfelder.” “Name of womjm or tree?” “Of woman. Stayed there all night so’s t’ have good place t’ see funeral procession, froze absolutely to death, and fell down a corpse as parade passed. Shall I write it?” “Er—no.” “Corpse lay there for two hours in a crowd unattended while people stared at funeral.” “Good God.” “Shall I write it?” “Er—no.” “A man, name unknown, paid entire year’s rent of 58 Unter den Linden for window privileges to-day—4,ooo marks. Shall I write it?” “Er—no.” * It went on in this way for half an hour, and then the chief said thoughtfully : “You might write a general paragraph, you know, Jones, about large mass people ’n all that, leaving out details, and say that from inside information received from an indubitably high official source there must have been half a million people present to see funeral. ” “But the regular figures of the Police Department place the number at nearly 700,000. Hadn’t I better make it that?” “Er—no.” Then the war correspondent suggested a snack of beer and the wing of a cold fowl, and we went down stairs while the secretaries ground out the conventional English dispatch of the conventional length, with the same old stale and wearisome presentation of common-place observations, marked “official” and “inside,” as usual.— Berlin letter in New "York Sun.

Landing a Big Salmon.

Before the fly has fairly lit, a great flash of silver darts from the waves close by the boat. He has hooked himself with a rush, and the line goes whirring madly from the reel as he races down the pool. Keep the point of the rod low; he must have his own way now. Up with the anchor quickly, and send the canoe after him, bowman and sternman paddling with swift strokes. He has reached the deepest water; he stops to think what has happened to him. We have passed around and below him, and now with the current to help us we can begin to reel in. Lift the point of the rod, with a strong, steady pull. Put the force of both arms into it. The tough wood will stand the strain. The fish must be moved; he must come to the boat if he is ever to be landed. He gives a little and yields slowly to the pressure. Then suddenly he gives too much, and runs straight toward us. Reel in now as swiftly as possible, or else he will get a slack on the line and escape. Now he stops, shakes his head from side to side, and darts away again across the pool, leaping high out of water. Drop the point of the rod quickly, for if he falls on the leader he will surely break it. Another leap, and another! Truly he is “a merry one,” as Sir Humphrey Davy says, and it will go hartl with us to hold him. But those great leaps have exhausted his strength, and now he follows the line more easily. The men push the boat back to the shallow side of the pool until it touches lightly on the shore. The fish comes slowly in, fighting a little and making a few short runs; he is tired, and turns slightly on his side; but even yet he is a heavy weight on the line, and it seems a wonder that so slight a thing as the leader can guide and draw him. Now he is close to the boat. The bowman steps out on a rock with his gaff. Steadily now ami slowly, lift the rod, bending it backward. A quick, sure stroke of the steel! a great splash! and the salmon is lifted high and dry upon the shore. Restigouche,” in Scribner’s Magazine.

The Inquiring Mind.

Boy—Papa, don’t men pray for success before going into battle ? Papa—Yes, my son. B.—Well, do pugilists pray for successtbefore going into the ring ? P. —No. I think not. A. —Why don’t they? P.—When men are going to merely pummel each other, prayer is not considered necessary. It is only when they are going to kill each other that Heaven is appealed to for help.—Boston Courier. General Fremont’s advice to an office seeker is to “shut his mouth and throw away his pen.” ,

NATIONAL LAWMAKERS.

What Is Being .Done by the National Legislature. . Amowg the measures passed by tho Senate on the 18th inst. were the bills for the representation of the several departments at the Columbus’centennial, with ou amendment appropriating Sffi,000; authorizing tho sale of a i>ortion of the Win, nebago reservation in Nebraska; appropriating $250,000 for a public building at Oakland, Cal.; and authorizing tho construction of railroad bridges at Parkville, Mo., Alma, Wis., and Fort Smith, Ark. The Senate, in secret session, ratified the leng-pending treaty providing for an adjustment of the Venezuelan claims. The House passed bills appropriating $50,000 for a public building at Brownsville, Texas, and $50,000 for the completion of the public building at Wichita, Kansas. BiUs far the appropriation of $40,000 each for the erection of public buildings at Faribault and Red Wing. Minn., were introduced in the House. The naval appropriation bill was reported from tho House Naval Committee. Both houses agreed to the conference report on the Indian appropriation bilL The House went into Committee on the Sun-dry-Civil Appropriation BiU the 19th, and after debate a provision appropriating $500,000 for thelibrary buildings was stricken out. The committee the- rose, and after passing a bill authorizing the appointment of an additional Associate Justice for Dakota adjourned. Messrs. McShane and Laird precipitated a red-hot discussion in the House the 20th, which is of more than local interest to the people of the West and Northwest, When that paragraph in the sundry civil appropriation bill which appropriates SIOO,OOO for protecting the public lands was reached, Mr. McShane moved to amend it by reducing the amount to <50,000. He made a short but vigorous attack upon the specialagency branch of the general Land office. In the broadest and bitterest terms Mr. Laird denounced not only the late Commissioner of the General Land Office (Mr. Sparks) but the» general policy of the office as it relates’to special’ agents. His denunciation of Sparks for suspending the homestead laws was extremely personal. Mr. Weaver of lowa defended Sparks and his policy, and closed by saying: “Thereis not a land-grabber in the country who will not indorse the remarks of the gentleman from Nebraska.’’ McShane’s amendment was lost. In the Senate Mr. Farwell’s bill directing the President to prohibit the importation of the products of foreign states in certain, cases was reported adversely from tile Committee on Foreign Affairs. r lhe House bill appropriating $50,009 to complete the public building at Wichita, Kas., was taken up and passed, with an amendment, increasin ( the appropriation to SIOO,OOO. The Senate then toox up the pension bills on the calendar and passed all of them, ninety-two in number. The. House on the 21ot voted to non-concur in. the Senate amendments to the diplomatic and. consular and District of Columbia appropriation bills, and ordered a conference on the lastnamed measure. The House then went into committee of the whole on the sundry civil bill. The only change made in tho measure was the addition .of an amendment offered by Mr. McShane (Neb.) abolishing the Surveyor General's office at Lincoln, Neb., and turning the papers of the office over to the States of Nebraska and lowa. A debate on the public land surveys followed, but without concluding the bill the committee rose and the House adjourned. The Senate was not in session the 22d. In the House a lively debate resulted over the sundry civil bill, which was finally completed. The House passed the naval appropriation bill. Thirty-seven private pension bills were passed at the evening session. There Was more inter-, set takro iu the bulletins from the Republican Natioitf Convention than in legislation.

How to Prolong Life.

It is tersely said that “all fools are mad, though some are madder than others, ” and, perhaps, among the maddest of them it would be safe to reckon those who, having but one life to live, run through with it in vain lamentation over troubles which they cannot avoid, or, what is vainer, over those which they can, and which, sometimes, are so far in the future that they never come to bother them, To “take Time by the forelock,” is a very profitable grip to hold on that slippery old fellow; is not slippery, and we should practice our haste and activity rather in keeping out of her way as long as possible —to build a wall of mirth, as jt were, between her and us, over which her clumsy feet wouldnever venture* to climb. Gravity is a grave thing. It may be appropriate at certain tipes and in certain, places, but as an every-day dish it is tough and indigestible. A continual diet of India rubber would, perhaps, be as favorable to the growth and flourish of the body and mind. Therefore, if we are wise as well as grave, we can show our wisdom in no stronger way than dropping our gravity and “playing the fool now and then.” Even Socrates himself knew the danger of too much gravity, and frequently took occasion to sink some of it in the gay tide of merriment. “Mirth," says an old writer, “purgeth the blood, confirms health, cau eth a fresh, pleasing and fine color, prorogues life, whets the wit, and maketh the body young, lively and fit for any manner of employment?’ And if we need further proof of its life-giving properties we can find it in the Bible, spread forth in unequivocal and unmistakable words: “A merry heart is the life of the flesh,” saith Proverds; and in Ecclesiastes we are told that “Gladness prolongs a man’s days.” In the plodding, matter-of-fact days of the present, it seems, we have too little time to think of much else than “business, serious business,” and, when we come to think of it, it is a serious business to have oar lives shortened with cares and labors; cares and labors that would be a great deal more palatable and fat less death-dealing if seasoned with a little mirth and nonsense. Let us reform this altogether, and take profitably to heart Shakspeare’s advice: “Frame your mind for mirth and merriment Which bars a thousand harms. ’

Chinese Superstitions.

A girl who is partaking of the last meal she is to eat in her father’s house previous to her marriage, sits at the table with her parents and brothers; but she must eat no more than half the bowl of rice set before her. else her departure will be followed by continual scarcity in thfe she is leaving. jp A piece of bacon and a parcel of sugar are hung on the back of a bride’s sedan chair as a,* sop to the demons who might molest her while on her journey. The, “Three Baneful Ones” are fond of salt and spices, and the “White Tiger” likes sweets. A bride must not, for four months after her maniage, enter any house in which there has recently been a death or a birth, for if she does so there will surely be a quarrel between her and the groom. If a young mother goes to see a bride, the visitor is looked upon as the cause of any calamity, that may follow.— Popular Science Monthly. . j