Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1891 — Page 3

ROYAL RANGER RALPH; OR The Waif of the Western Prairies,

BY WELDON J. COBB.

’CHAPTER X. THB MODOC CAMP. Tire spot by the river to which the two scouts had come was, indeed, as they supposed.—the general camping (place of the Modoc and Sioux savages. Within an hour after their arrival the thanks of the stream were lined with Icamp-fires and wigwams, and the waripaint of the Indians and the general 'bustle and activity told that some movejment of importance was meditated by tho blood-thirsty hordes. It was destined that Ranger Ralph tshould soon learn all the plans of the and their renegade white allies, land that he should be plunged into active contest within a very short time. • When he so summarily sprang into |the tree where Darrel had been compelled to leave him, he lost sight of his amid the excitement of the [hour. He saw the Indians scour the vicinity, tsecure'the horses, and lead them away; .and then all became still in his immedilate neighborhood. “There's a perfect nest of them around there,” he muttered, grimly. “It’s going to be no easy task to escape. I wonder iwhat has become of young Grey? He Isn’t any too familiar with this kind of work. The Indians seem to be starting out on some kind of an expedition, and while I’m in the corral of their camps I tintend to find out what it is.” Ranger Ralph was an expert scout, land was thoroughly familiar with frontier tactics of craft 'and warfare. He tdescended from the tree and began to (reconnoiter his position. He made out that the main camp of the Indians was directly across and {down the stream a little distance. (Making sure that he was unobserved, 'the scout forded and swam the river, •landed on the opposite bank and then (gradually and stealthily began approaching the camp of the Modocs.

i Ho at last gained a point of espionage anost favorable to his plans, a small ifcnoll of bushes and gtugted trees enabling hm to completely survey the camp and its inmates. •* “Shadow Snake’s band,” he muttered co..ccrnedly, as his eyes swept the scene; ■“and in war-paint, too. It means trouble (for the settlements Ha! It is as I thought! Despard has come to bls old friends. Then the girl Inez must be here also. * The scout’s face darkened and he .frowned ominously as he recognized, as Darrel had done, the form of Dyke Desjpard in the throng about the campfire. As he discerned the number of his en•cmles and realized the hazards of approaeing them any hearer, he reflected deeply. ? He was plunged deep in h's meditations, when the sound of a familiar voice inear at hand startled him and enchained .his attention. “Despard,” he murmured excitedly; •“and Danton is with him.” It was indeed the outlaw leader and his chief associate. . They paused in a careless stroll from the camp and sat down on a log near the vary spot where the scout was sexireted. The latter thrilled with the keenest •satisfaction at this opportunity of over.hearing the plans of his enemies “You wanted to see mo alone?” were Danton’s first words. “Yes. ” “What about?” “Our own affairs; we’ve got among friends, but I ain’t satisfied. ” “Why not?” “I’m uneasy. The old chief Shadow Snake is reckless and revengeful; and if iio should suspect us ” “About the girl?” askod Towner. “White Fawn —yes.” “How can ho?” “Should he meet any of the Nes Forces reservation Indians he would ilearn of our treachery. ” “How?” “They would tell him that the girl .never reached them.” “That’s true.” “So, whatever we do, we must act quickly.” “But we agreed to accompany Shadow .Snake on the raid on tho emigrant train. ” “No; I gave him the information of its whereabouts —that is all.” “But he expects us to go with him.” “Wo will have to disappoint him, (Here we are safe from the vigilantes. That iJ"why I came here. ” “What do you propose to do?” “To remove the girl down the valley tonight.” “Alone?” “No. You and one of the others will •take her away from here about midnight. I will-remain with Vance and guide the Modocs abrossrthe country to the train, mnd rejoin jou later.” “And tho rest of ourband?” “Are at Damon’s Bind. I will send them forward to meet you. Go to the •old rendezvous and wait for me. You see, the Snake agrees to divide liberally for my share in the present venture. Once I get that, I will leave the

camp, for ha will soon find out about ,White Fawn.” i “And then?” queried Danton. “We will carry out our plan to find the 'hermit who has Inez Tracey’s fortune, secure it, and, leaving the boys to their •own plans, go East and enjoy our '■wealth. ” The old scout looked grim as he over,;heard the p ans of the conspirators. He knew now how to act, if he could ■evade the savages and follow on the itrail of Despard’s men. The two men left the spot and returned to the camp, and Ranger Ralph began to determine how he would make a detour and reach a point down the -valley where he might intercept Desipard’s men, who. would leave for the bandit rendezvous that night He began to cautiously work his way back to the river, believing escape by that avenue more easy than by the land. He crept from thicket to thicket and ifrom covert to covert, gradually nearing the stream, and meeting with none of his enemies. At'last he came to a point where he paused in dismay. Since be had last been there a campfire had been built by a Htt’e coterie of savages, directly in his ■course to the river. It cut ofj all safe escape in that direction, and nothing but p bold dash across an open space, or a slow and perilous retreat by the way he had come would avail him. He resolved On the former course, even hoping that by a sudden run across the place he might gain the riv'er unperceived. With a spring he broke from the thicket and started across the open -apace. A series of loud, alarmed yells from the fire told that he was discovered. jyuhln ten feet of a thicket where the .(horses* of the Modocs were grazing, (Banger Ralph’eloot caught In a trailing ope.

He fell heavily. The next moment a score of dusky warriors were upon him. Ranger Ralph was a prisoner in tho hands of his most'merciless enemies. .„,*na ieelrT . Ranger Ralph made a desperate resistaneo against hiS savage captors, but struggled vainly in their iron grasp as they bore him towards their camp-fire with yells of triumph. The demonstration soon drew a large throng to the spot, and the scout, securely bound, was tied against a tree, the cynosure of many murderous eyes and the object of the jeers and insults of his victorious foes. A grim look came over the old ranger's face as he saw the Modoc chieftain, Shadow Snake, approach the spot. With him were his renegade allies, Dyke Despard and Jim Danton. The outlaw leader starts 1, and then stared in mute .wonderment at the man he had endeavored to kill at Ten Spot two nights previous. “Ranger Ralph!” ejaculated Danton, with a savage scowl. “He bears a charmed life. ” The eyes of tho Modoc chief kindled with satisfied hate as he recognized an enemy who had more than once crossed hiktrail to his serious disadvantage. r “The Ranger is a spy,” he hissed. “What brings him here?” The scout was silent. “Yes; he has been trying to incite the palefaces to attack the tribes,” said Danton. “He is a dangerous enemy. ” “Let him diejiefore we leave here at another ordered the Snake briefly to the Indians about him. ' The old scout did not speak. Into his mind came a memory of what he had overheard Despard and Danton say about the daughter of the old chief. He resolved to bring this intelligence to the knowledge of Shadow Snake, but the opportunity was not yet presented. He formed a plan to see the chief alone, when Despard and Danton would not be near to deny his statements or silence him. *For over an hour he remained secured to th’!' tree watching the savages, who paid no further attention to him for the present.

In some way they had secured a keg of liquor, and were intently engaged in disposing of it as rapidly as possible. The old scout knew from experience that as soon as the Indians were fighting drunk they would pay attention to him. He recalled his many battles with the tribe, and knew that they were full of animosity and hatred toward him. To his surprise, however, when they had finished the liquor the majority of them staggered from the camp, entirely ignoring his presence. Only a few sleeping inebriates now guarded tho prisoner. The scout endeavored to free himself, but was not able to break the bonds that secure! Um. In a few minutes tho In Hans returned with a second keg of whisky, from the direction oflhe main camp. They were all, or nearly all of them, very much intoxicated, and straggling along with them wore several other savages from a different camp. One of these attracted tho ranger’s attention by his helpless and reeling condition. As the savages placed the keg on tho grouad and began to drink from it, this Indian stretched himself out on the green sward As if to sleep. His hand almost touched the form of the captive scout, and the latter looked somewhat startled as he observed that, unperceivea by his companions he had drawn a knife which he held half concealed in his hand. The Indian appeared tp be drawing nearer and nearer to tho scout, aira finally stealthily drew tho keen blade of the knife over the withes which secured Ranger Ralph to the tree. The next moment the lariat that held the ranger’s form captive was also cut. Ranger Ralph was relieved of his bands “Don’t move yet!” The scout started as his strange friend uttered the words in a low, cautious tone of voice. “Darrol Grey!” he muttered, in amazement “How did you come here?” “Never mind now, but, act quickly. These Indians are so drirnk they will not notice you. Make no suspicious move while I talk with you, and warn me if any of them seem to notice us or come this way. ” Darrel lay with his back turned to the Indians, who were perhaps ten feet distant. The old scout kept his eye upon them and listened intently as Darrel resumed the conversation in cautious tones. “There is one way to es.-ape safely,” he said. “You must follow that.” “Where?”. “To the east. Once across the river,\ strike to the north and you are safe from ambush, for the savages are intending to move south and are camped in that direction. ” “How did you come here—this disguise —were you not afraid?” “I risked it, and luck has favored me. ” “You cannot long continue it,” remarked the scout. “Why not?” “You cannot speak a word of the Modoc language.” -.“That is why I pretended to be intoxicated. ” “You cannot keep up that pretense all night. ” “I don’t expect to.” “What then?” “To find the girl and escape with her. ” “To-night?" “Yes. ” Ranger Ralph looked serious.

The inexperience of his young friend, he feared, would lead hwn Into trouble. So far, however, Darrel had outrivaled himself in his tactics of dealing with the Indians. “I have marked out a course of; action,” said Darrel, confidently, “and I expect tp carry it out successfully. You finow what the-e red fiends meditate?” “The attack on the emigrant train?” “Yes. From what I have heard, they intend moving at once. The train should bo warned. You can do that ” “How? I cannot reach them in time?" “You can with a horea In a few minutes I will stagger the corral aiad have a horse ready for you. Then you must ride as fast as possible to the trail and give the warning of the proposed attack. ” “I fear that I leave you in danger. ” “No»I am safe for the present, and I believe I shall succeed in rescuing Inez,” replied Darrel. The young scout arose to his feet and reeled toward the thicket where the horses were kept, a minute later. The savages gathered around the camp fire were too much occupied in drinking to notice his absence. Ranger Ralph waited for some time, and then allowed the cut ropes to fall to the ground. Then he sto'e quiet’y to the thicket “Quick! , Here is the horse and there is a rifle and small .arms strapped to the saddle ” “Then it's one of Respard’s horses?” “Probably. Lose no timp. Cross the stream and keep to the north of the pamp. ” The old scout sprang into the saddle and a.minute later the horse was crossing the river. No one' seemed to have noticed his escape, and he made a wide detour of the camp and then directed the steed toward the distant emigrant trail He chose a lonely road, eVading

what he believed would be the course pursued by the Modocs. Twice ho nearly ran into a party of horsemen, and the discovery made him very anxious bo possible that the IndianshaTe started on the war trail already',-” he mutE&jed, concernedly. Suddenly, an hour later, the sound of shooting some distance ahead alarmed him. He hastened toward tho spot. As he emerged from the woods a sight met his vision that thrilled him to the keenest excitement Ranger Ralph was too late with his warning. The emigrant train had already been attacked by tho allied Modocs and Sioux, and the wagons were now the scene <sf an animated contest The red demons were pillaging and burning and killing, while the shrieks of the unfortunate emigrants echoed on every side. “Too late to warn amd save them!” ejaculated Ranger Ralph, grimly; “but not too late to help them against their mqrdered foes.” He directed the horse inte the thickest of the conflict as he spoke and, rifle in hand, determined to sell his life dearly in protecting the lives and property of the imperiled emigrants. It was a brief and sanguinary battle. The Modocs and Sioux and their renegade allies were superior in numbers to tho emigrants, wno were surrounded, driven back, and butchered mercilessly. The bravo old scout saw the horse he rode shot down and himself wounded; he dragged his form to a covered wagon, and crept into it for safety and i oncealmene. Thon, as the blood oozed from a terrible wound in tho breast. Ranger Ralph sank into a blank lethargy of insensibility. When he a'woke it was broad daylight. The wagon was moving, and he peered cautiously forth from a pile of hay in the bottom of the vehicle. Ho was weak and in pain, and almost helpless; but ho made his situation at a glanco Behind tho wagon on horseback weic half a dozen men, doubtless another portion of Des, ard s band. Driving tho vehicle was Jim Danton, and the scout doubted not but that they were proceeding to tho outlaw rendezvous at Lone Canyon. So far, evidently, his presence in the wagon had not boon discovered; ho knew that ho was in a position of great peril, and that affairs were fast assuming a shape most favorable to the plans of Dyke Despard. [to be continued.]

From Cradley Heath.

Recently a deputation of women went frpm Cradley Heath, in England—a pla o where women are* employed at heavy work in gorging chains—to London, to protest against tho passage by Parliament of an act which proposed to prohibit the use by wemon of a heavy forging implement known as the “Oliver. ” They objected to the passage of the bill on the ground that it would deprive them of employment At London they were questioned at length upon the manner of their employment by the Home Secretary—an officer whose position in the British Government is much tho same as the Secretary of the Interor oi this country, Between Mr. Matthews, the Secretary, and the chain-woman the following dia logue took p ace: Mr. Matthews—And what is the pro else nature of the employment''!!! whicj you are enga Chain-woman (breaking in) —I doan’l want my work taken awaay from me! Mr. Matthews (blandly)—Pardon me, that Is not quite the point on which I desire Information. If you will please explain to me the nature of theopeiation in which Chain-woman (firm though flustered, and determined to get out what she had come all the way to London to say)—lt never done me no harm, sir! Mr. Matthews—But, my good woman, if you will suspend your observations long enough to communicate some idea Chain-woman—l likes the ’eavy work, sir; an’ I says, Let each one do what they can! The interview proceeded in this unsatisfactory way until a questioner was found who could talk to the chainwomen in their own language.

Evolution of the Knife.

“This case full of instruments which we have newly placed on exhibition is designed to show the development of the tool which we call the knife, beginning from the earliest times,” said Prof. Mason at the National Museum. “First, you observe, is the fragment of flint, which the savage split by banging it on top with a stone hammer into a number of flakes. The smaller ones were used for arrow points and the bigger ones for knives, their edges being split off so sharp that you might almost shave with some of them. Next you see the flint inserted into a handle of split wood or bone, and. as further improvements, the fastenings of this primitive knife in thp handle by the rosin of trees and by cord of one sort or another bound around to secure it. The most beautiful knife in the collection is this exquisitely molded blade of greenish jade, belonging to the stone age, handled with a walrus tusk. You can hardly find a more admirably formed weapon among the proifucts of modern cutlery wares. Most curious of the modern tools here is this sailor’s knife, square at the end instead of pointed, to prevent stabbing in a row, or the dangerous falling of the weapon from aloft. Its blade drops out' of the end of the handle when a spring is touched, so that Jack can hold a rope with one hand and open the kflife for service without the need of tenfingers.” Washington Star.

Prayer for the Ralph.

I have heard my father say that tn the days of his early manhood, which dates back to more than a century, in a season of protracted drought it was a custom for the deacons of the church situated in the old town of East Windsor to call together the niembers on a week day and put up petitions for rain. And he has assured me that these meetings were always followed by rain. He failed to tell me just how sion Among those always in attendance was a man of the name of Potwine, one wonderfully gifted in prayer. My father called to mind some of the pious man's earne-t expressions, such as “Send down the rai j,.0 Lord! not in torrents but in eupious | sic | effusions. ” On an occasion of extraordinary and proloageirdrought he put his petitions nearly in the form of a demand. Rain they must have, rain they would have, and they could not do without it Realizing that he bad gone top far in that direction, he qualified his demands by saying, “O Lord! we do not wish to dictate, but only to advise.” —Hartford Times. The Professor had just explained that in mediaeval times they used to bring brute beastsi and Teptiles into court and try them for misdemeanors. “Professor,” asked a young ,man in the rear eeat, “is that the oiigin of the frog felon ?” It is very discouraging to have yout tailor tell you that the most desirable thing this season for clothing is a large check.

FASHIONS FOR YOUTH.

CHARMING COSTUMES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. Pretty Promenade and Calling Dress lbr\a Yotswg OIVI—A Moat Stylishly and Fasli-X, ionaMy Clad Young Man—Hats In Soft Felt Plud Much Favor—Maternal Dignity of tho Mother.

Children’s Clothes.

Mothers extract a double pleasure from the task of dressing their children prettily and tastefully. They satisfy the matergAw nal instinct which fit prompts them to shield the little forms from cold and exposure, and m ~ they gratify their pride and general Q W desire of commongj dati on at tho u hands of their fellow beings. True, 2* 1 the world is malicious enough at

times to take advantage of th s weakness, if it may be called such, and to warp the mother’s better judgment by heaping undeserved praise upon her child, but there is no doul t about the fact that there is an education in a welldressed and well-behaved child which you can’t find in your philosophy that Hamlet sneered at so contemptuously. Good clothes have the same effect upon little folks that they do upon children of larger growth; they inspire self-respect, and refine the instincts and soften the manners. When a sudden quiet happened to fall upon a crowded drawing room, someone asked the meaning of it. “Why, everyone Is looking at my diess,” exclaimed little Lady Plnkandwhite, fully persuaded that her pretty gown must be the cause of the sudden hush. There is no particular harm in this petty display of egotism. It is always much safer to be too much afraid of what the world thinks and says about us than not to care at all about public opinion. From th) drift of my thoughts says our New York fa hlon writer, you may easily see that I contemplate a chat with you upon tho subject of fashions for youth, and I am quite certain that whether you are a mother or not, you’ll fee interest; d in the subject, for, although many, very many, of us never

GIRL’S CLOTH DRESS.

get any further than cutting out and making dres;es for our dolls, yet there never comes a time when these buds of humanity haven’t tho power to set our heads nodding in friendly fashion In my Initial illustration you will find repre-ented a very pretty suit for a young girl. It may be made up in pearlgray ajnafon cloth, the corsage closing in the middle, and is trimmed with a pleated pla tron of white surah, or, if you prefer, of the same .'hade a< tho cloth laid in the lining. Tho fronts of tho cor age are double. 1 hey are both sewed to the sides, and with these are cut awav from tho shoulder s< am. They arc cut h’art shaped and meet at a point in tho back. You would do well to cut them out first in muslin. They should bo piped and not fastened to th ■ lining until the plastron has b cn adjusted. The little figaro is shaped as indicated and is caught in the shoulder scams, in tho arm-ho os, in the seams of the third side ph ce. It shou’d be lined with silk and should be edged with b ack pearled bobbin. Tho figaro is shorter In the back than in the front. The two narrow ba-'que vo ants are cut away in front Those volants are gathered most at the back. The leg o’-mutton sleeves aro ornamented with three rows of pearled galloon. The skirt foundation may be of silk or alpaca, should be bordered with a small pleated ruffle, and there should be a drawing string m dway in the bick breadth. The bottom of the skirt Is garnitured w.th two volants, both leaded with galloon. The charming costume pictured In my second illustration is suitable both as a promenade and calling dress for a young girl, and may bo made up either in a fawn or marine blue vicuna or cloth. It

A WELL-DRESSED DAD.

is paftly lined with muslin and has an underskirt of the dress material; 'for, as will be noticed, the dress skirt is caught up on the right side, and hooked at the waist line. The corsage is flrapefl as indicated. The embroidered standing collar closes in front. The skirt fa tfimmed with a broad bias bami of embroidery. So also is there a band of embroidery on the corsage and at the cuffa Of late years a great deal of attention has been bestowed upon boys’ clothing,

and ths consequence Is some attogAtticf delightful results have been attained—results combining stylo and picturesque effect tg g high degree. The schoolboy P? ,0 ”F' !r > as Sbakspeare’s time, goes crawling alcng unwillingly to school with a shiny face and stubborn hair projecting from beneath a rode and homely cloth cap He stops along like a little 'tentloman; his natty student's cap set jaitnii.y on the back of his head shows h's camnUy cut and smoothed hair, while the most perfect taste is displayed in every detail of his toilet He looks the little aristocrat, or at least, the polished and well-bred little citizen, whose smiling face and laughing eyes will soon bo overspread with the earnest expression of the collegian with thought upon the awful responsibilities of foot-ball, the eight-oared barge, or running high jumps. You will find this little man most stylishly and lash onably clad in my third illustration. Ho wears a suit of blue chev ot. Tne blouse opens on a blue and white plastron. A highly polished white llren collar has folded-over ends, and the laced shoos have patent leather tips The overcoat, made in thorough y fashionable style with a velvet collar, is thrown back with an easy grace to show the handsome chocked lining. It must be confessed that the little man thus completo'y ready to show himself in public presents a very intelligent and at-

A STYLISH FELT.

tractive appearance—possibly not quite so quaint and picturesque a figure as the little princes in the Tower of London, but, all in all. a croditablo specimen ot that refinement and good breeding so often mot with among the boys of this practical and mattor-of-fact age. I have noticed many charming bits of headgear for childpen this season. They are plain felt or boavor and aro most tastefully trimmed; also In rough felt and soft felt. Sailor hats, too, I note still continue popular for young jglrls. They are far more elegant and dressy than they were last season, and are made up in combinations of cloth and Velvet Ono, in particular, which attracted my attention, had a brim of black velvet edged with jot beads and a crown of creamwhite cloth, surrounded by several folds of cloth with a wisp of white aigrette held by a pair of small, black birds Another style has a velvet brim wider than the sailor hat and Is smoothly overlaid with a piece of Irish point lace. At the back is a bow of black satin ribbon mounted with a bunch of lyre bird feathers. Young girls also look oxtremc'y wo 1 in the little Henry 11. capotes with their pastrycook crowns and nodding plumes at the back. For those who like to wear something of tlio masculine mode, Tyrolese, the riding hut, and the Brighton, all In soft felt, w.ll be sure to find favor. You will find a very pretty hat represented in my fourth illustration, a red felt for a little girl. The trimming consists of two bows of cream woolen stuff with red dots and large eock’s feathers held in plate by a pleated band of the stuff. Felt turbans, too, are very popular. They are trimmed with Silk ribbon and have one or two quill feathers, or are both trimmed and bound with ribbon. The soft heather felt runs In many shades and can be made very dressy. The conical crown turban and

MATERNAL DIGNITY.

the derby are also favorite forms. All, however, lies in the trimming;. This must be rich, original and full of style, care being had to hit upon exactly the right shape to bring out all the good points of your face. With the approach of winter, the careful mother bethinks horself to provide long warm wraps for the little ones, and in this line nothing could be more serviceable than the double-breasted paletot, wht h may bo made up in a handsome French plaid, in drab cloth or in a darkblue serge. It should be trimmed with fur of some kind, and the hat must match, of course. With such a long coat a Tam O'Bhant?r looks well, with a single quill feather at tho side and a dainty little muff mado up in the same material and trimmed with the same fur completes the costume. The tailormade long coat in beaver doth is very stylish for young girls. It shou'd have broad cuffs and turn-down collar in asfirachan. Tho double-breasted reefer coat will cons nun to be popular for young people. They must be tailormade. For ordinary crisp weather the cloth mante is a seasonable garment for a young girl, adjusted to the figure at the back, loose fronts ana double sleeves, tho outer being loose and full and set hgh on the shoulder. Ar;d here we end our talk about what little men and women should wear in doors and out. Of course much depends upon the taste and ingenuity of tho mothers, and 1 should add, their patience, too, for quite as much patience and good judgment are required in dressing a trio of little gir.s as in working out a problem in statecraft or higher mathematics. But after tho task Is done comes full and deep satisfaction The mother, as she gazes upon her work, has good reason to be sat sfied. She has added largely to the happiness of those dear to her, whl h is her mission in Ijfe. My last illustration portrays the mother in her pose of maternal complacency and dignity, bho presents a very sweet and gentle picture as she follows the movements of her children in the joyous throng of little ones A fivb-mile tunnel, to cost, 8750,000, is projected by Leadville (Col.) parties. It will drain,the principal mines below that city, and is expected to be years tn cour e of construction.

BOKHARA RUG.

fhdjr by the Toorkoman gbepberd Women. #. G. W. Benjamin says in Harper's itazirr: The Toorkohiuns who weave the futnoUs rugs attributed by us to Bokhara aro a hordo th* precious ruffians, half shepherd, half robber, who ot ->ne time swept over the plains of Persia almost to the capital, and carried off the people into hopeless shivery, exactly us the Corsairs ot Algiers once harried the coasts of Italy and Spain. I never shall forget meeting a troop of Toorkoumn* on the border of the desert of Khorasstiu. Perhaps the circumstances added to the grotesque picturesqueness of their appearance, We hud boon travelling ull night, and now, as the sun was- rising, looked anxiously towards the little-wall*! town of Aivunketf clinging to the- slope of a treeless hill, where we looked for shelter from a limit that already at that early hour was 107 deg. in the shade. (Jut from the gates rodrf a traim of twenty or thirty Toorkonmns. They wove mounted on bony but sinewy and powerful steeds, and like all Orientals, were perched on lofty saddles that made them look gigantic. They were armed to th* teeth; their huge beak-like noses mid keen dark eyes gave them the aspect «f ravening eagles; their mussive mustaches swept their bosoms. But what gave them an especial appearance that I never shall forget, emphasized as it was by the long shadows they east on the ground, was the immense turban each one wore, reaching out like a sombrero, but of course far more massive. They looked like huge animated mushrooms. However grotesque their appearance, the lowering cowl each one bestowed on me tis ho passed caused nm involuntarily to soo if my revolver was in place, hnuily for immediate use if needed. Now it is to this very people, these roving tribes of slave-catching shepherds, once subject to Persia, but now to Russia, that wo owe some of the very finest rugs and textile fabrics made in the East. Every one Ims heard of the Bokhara rugs, Hut in Persia they tiro called Toorklinun or Toorkoman. Probably they uro attributed to Bokhara because the first rugs of the sort, to reach the European market may have boon taken thoro by travelling merchants trading between Russia ami Bokhara, which is one of the chief marts of the triinscaspian region. The Toorkoman or Bokhara rugs are made by the shepherd women foroxeluslve use in their touts, to spread over their bods, or to servo as portieres to the tent doors. A certain conventional polygonal pattern is peculiar to these rugs composed of nn agreeable arrangement of various tints of a brownish maroon, red, blue, and creamy white, the last tint being obtained by using unblonohod wool. But this design has endless variations. No two rugs are precisely alike. While of u close and durable texture, the Toorkonuin rugs aro generally quite flexible, and the close short surface of the pile is delightfully soft. Nothing cun exceed the tender bloom which the colors of a Toorkoman rug of prime quality assume when mellowed by time. But, on the other hand, one must bo on his guard in purchasing Toorkoman rugs of recent make, us they are liable to bo injured both in the durability of the tints by the intermixture of aniline colors.

The World’s Largest Orchard.

In the wild district between Hana and Haiku during July and August the most beautiful ana largest apple orchards in the world cun bo seen. The Wilderness of Koolan, us the district is called, contains u forest of native wild apple trees, Countless in number, stretching from the sea fur up the mountain sides. The trees vary from forty to fifty feet in height, and in the harvest season, from July to September, aro loaded down with fruit, some white, but mostly rod. A person standing in the midst of this orchard can look around him for miles, up the mountains and towards the road, and the only thing in view will bo ouo vast grove of apple trees literally rod with ripe and ripening fruit, the branches of the trees bending to the ground with the bounteous harvest. The crop of this extensive apple orchard which nqture planted in the solitary waste would fill a tieot of 100 steamers. The orchard stretches over a country from five to ten miles wide by twenty miles long, and many of the larger trees bear at least fifty barrels apiece The fruit is delicious for table use and will appease both thirst and hunger, but as yet no one has taken the trouble to make any commercial use of the apples. When ripe they will not keep more than a week, but. they make excellent jolly and jam, and simply for the luck of a little American enterprise millions of barrels of apples uro permitted annually to full to the ground and rot.—[Honolulu Letter.

Sexes of Trees.

As a general rule the sexes of both our forest and cultivated trees are only to be determined when the trims are in bloom for tho pistillate and staminate flowers are produced i-ithor in the same cluster, raceme, bunch or only separate on the same twig or bunch, while in the wildcherries, apples, papaw and similar fruit tho organs of both sexes are to bo found in each individual flower. The long catkins of tho chestnut, oak, hickory and butter-nut are tho staminato (male) flowers, while the pistillate are small and quite inconspicuous, always situated at the apex of tho embryo nut. In the common red, white and sugar maples both sexes uro in the same crowded umbel-like cluster, inconspicuous at first, but soon the pistillate flowers enlarge and become a two-winged fruit or seed. But in the box-elder or negtindo maple we have a very different arrangement, for the two sexes are not only in separate flowers, but on different trees, and for this<renson the species is said to be dioecious--that is, stamens and pistils in separate flowers on different plants. In tho neguudo mnplo the staminate flowers uro in small clustered pdflicets, while the pistillate are in long drooping racemes and the two sexes on different trees. Those bearing seeds are of course pistillate (female), but there is no way of distinguishing the sexes of the trees except when iu bloom orbearing seed, —[New York Tribune.

Ancient Dentistry.

There was a great deal of interest felt among dentists some years ago when one of the royal mummies taken from the Egyptian catacombs was found to be fitted out with an upper set of artificial teeth. The plate was of wood, carved to fit the roof of the mouth, aud tho teeth were of brass, the natural shape of the tooth being quite closely imitated. It shows that some one of the Pharaohs felt the loss of his incisors and grinders and had the court tooth-doctor do the best that could be done for him. Before this discovery it was commonly supposed that artificial teeth were a modem contrivance, b.ut false teeth in ancient Egypt furnish convincing proof that there is nothing new under the sun.

ZULUS IN SHAM BATTLE.

It Looks More Like the KMR Tiling than* n Counterfeit and Is Impressive. A sham fight among the Zulus i» an impressive spectacle. The dusky warriors are fine, muscular fellows, athletic and highly trained. The rank and file, untramrneled by oma- : ments and dress, move about with grace and freedom. The officers,» chiefs and head men wear coronets of ostrich feathers, which rustle freely with every movement of the body; circling their brow are rolls of tiger skin from whidh descends fringes of coarse hair; from the neck and shoulders to the knees their bodies are covered with the tails of monkeys and tigers and stripes of various hides strung together in girdles; their waists are girt about with tufts of lion’s mane and cow hair, says the Detroit Free Press. Forming into line, their variegated shields are so clsse and regular that they appear Interlocked, while above they bristle rows of gleaming assegai heads. The foe is imaginary, aseven among their own tribes they are roused to such a pitch of excitement, that hail they any though only in mimic warfare, they would be so tar carried away by their feelings that at close quarters bloodshed would inevitably result. At the word of command they advance in precise order, first slowly, then at a quick march, then double, and with a Shout <St “Chielal* (imaginary enemies) the battle becomes fast and furious. Brandishing their assegais, stabbing and lunging with strength and dexterity, each stroke accompanied by a tierce grunt of satisfaction, stamping, gesticulating, and gnashing their teeth, they work themselves Into a mad frenzy, in which their features are distorted, and their eyes glare with a tierce lust of blood. Suddenly the command is given to retire, and, as victors shouting triumph, they march from the field. Them appears upon the scene a horde of wild-looking creatures, running and leaping from place to place, screaming demoniacally, and frantically beutlng the earth with thick, heavy dubs. These are the women and they are engaged in the horrible atrocity of killing the wounded. After a sham fight the night is spent in. feasting and revelry.

JOHN W. KEELEY,

The Inventor of mt Allejoil Motor that Firmly RofUxe* to HtMge. It is seventeen years since John W. Keeley astonished and mystified the world by his incomprehensible motor, and yet the mist which envelops the invention and the inventor isas thick as ever. Meanwhile the author of this hidden agency lives in luxurious obscurity in a mansion in Philadelphia. A few years ago George W. Brown, of Brooklyn, N. Y., accompanied by a reporter, called upon Keeley for a demonstration of his

powers, but Keeley had no time to; give exhibitions, not even for a compensation. Then began a series of questions which plainly outlined thetheories upon which the reduplication proceeded and the magician blandly wafted himself Into a heaven of polar sympathy on a cloud of words. It Is not a Jest, but a matter of fact, that the professor of Indian archaeology of the University of Pennsylvania Is the only man who has ever been able to translate a section of Keeleyese into language intelligible to scientists and laymen. The visitors were therefore denied theprivilege of seeing how the magician annihilated gravity.

The Eastern Boundary of Alaska.

A Government coast and geodetic survey party, who have been two. years in Alaska ( have recently reported that the Yukon gold fields, which, have thus far attracted the most attention, are in Canadian and not in United States territory, as had' hitherto been supposed. The boundary line is the hundred and forty-first meridian of west longitude, but its,' location had not before been marked' by the surveys, and will now have toibe more exactly fixed by a joint com-, mission of the two Governments., There were several hundred miners, in the district, and the upper Yukon territory lying Just along, the border line is said to be at-i tract! ng large numbers of seekers for, the precious metals.

Clergymen's Children.

A French scientist has compiled, some interesting statistics to show; that a large percentage of the world’s) most famous men of learning haves been clergymen’s sons. This deals at blow at the old saw about “minister’s; sons, ” and as for the “deaCons’ daughters,” many of them, like Mrs. Stowe,, the Brontes, and Mrs. Trollope, have, been famous.

A Relic of Past Age.

Dredgers working in the Tiber to* prepare for the construction of a new embankment have brought up a magnificent ancient Roman bronze helmet. It is perfectly preserved and is decorated with bas-relief. Signor Rossi, the Italian archaeologist, assigns it to the second century before the Christian era.

A Fair Financier.

Cobwlgge?—The material for this quilt must have cost a pretty figure. Mrs. Cobwigger—How can you say such a thing? Anyone but a man would know that it is made of pieces that were left over. Why, ever since we were married, whenever I bought a new dress I got an extra vard or so. for this very purpose.