Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1892 — Page 5

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

* The Waif of the Western Prairies, * BY WELDON J. COBB. CHAPTER XXlll—Continued. Darrel seized the bandit’s arm and forced him through the doorway. Despard made no resistance a> Brown snatched his revolver from his belt Standing in the darkness near the door was a queer-looking vehicle with a rear grated door. “Get in,” ordered the Sheriff, steraly. “What am I arrested for?” demanded Despard. “Ne'er mind; if you don't want to be lynched you obey orders ” “This is an o d treasure wagon, and 6tout and secure,” ;aid Brown to Darrel. “There is a driver?” “Yes.” “And he has orders to proceed to Miners’ Gulch?” “Exactly. Here is the key t® tire vehicle. Get in with your prisoner, and leave before the miners know of the capture. ” “There was an aooompl ico of this man. " “Where is he?” “Escaped.” “I'll try and find him. Drive ahead.” Darrel sprang into the vehicle and closed the door. It shut with a spring lock. Darrel held his revolver ready for use. Despard, sullen and silent, sat glaring fiercely at him. The vehicle left the plqf e and started for the mountain iroads. The capture of the bandit had been aocomp ished most expeditiously. Darrel well knew, however, that he must he very watchful of so wily a foe. For over an hour not a word was spoken, and the vehicle proceeded on its way. There was a smaill -shelf in the forward part of the wagon. Here a little lamp cast dim rays of light ever the Interior. “I think I know you ait last,’’remarked Despard, finally, in a sullen, sneering tone of voice. , “Indeed!” “Yes. You are'the ifriend of Ranger Ralph.” “And his avenger. ” “You expect to prove me to'be his assassin?” “And thatef the ethers —yes. ” “Where are you taking me?” “To Miners’ Gulch.” This seemed to alarm and subdue Despard, for he relapsed Into silence A casual glance from the rear barred window showed that the vehicle was slowly treading a dangerous road on the ■very edge of the mountains. Suddenly he started. He was positive that .a figure on horseback had fitted by the vehicle. A minute later there was a shot It was succeeded by a cry for help.and then a fall. “Whoa!” The horses came to a halt. The voice was that of Danton. A revolver was thrust through the b&rs. Its possessor was sheltered by the darkness beyond. “Move, an,d you are a dead man,” spoke Danton’s voice. “Whoever you are, you are in deadly peril. Icau see your every movement. Listen to what I say. ” These words were directed to Darrel. He clutched his revolver and was silent “Your driver I have disposed of,” spoke Danton, “You are in my power. Despard, who is this man?” “The scout’s friend. ” “Grey?” “Yes. ” “Mr. Grey, you will first hand out the revolver you have in your hand. ” Darrel moved as if to obey Danton’s request Instead, he raised it suddenly and fired. Danton drew back. The horses, alarmed at the shot, started off. With tremendous velocity the vehicle was dragged down a steep grade. Without a driver they dashed madly forward One glauce Showed Darrel their awful peril. They were so near the edge of the precipice that it seemed as if it would go'Over the edge of the declivity. Despard himself, terrified, sprang excitedly to Ms feet A yawning abyss showed as the wagon struck a tree. The horses broke 100 e and dashed away. The vehicle tottered, crashed, and fell over .the steep mountain road.

CHAPTER XXIV. A THRILLING ADVENTURE, It was some minute# 'before the two men in the locked wagon box could fully realize what had occurred. They knew that the horses had run .away, and, the wagon colliding with a tree, they had dashed madly onward, deserting the vehicle. The wagon had tottered on the brink of the abyss, and tjien. .turning, jell downward. Darrel Grey caught .one glimpse of the gloomy depths of the vaLley below, and gave himse f iup for lost. To his amazement. the wagon whirled downward only a few feet Then it .came to an abrupt halt. Its sudden stoppage brought him and Despard together with a shock. Amid the excitement and peril of the occasion, Darrel thought not of treachery on the part of his companion. The latter seemed paralyzed with terror, and his face was white and craven. “We are doomed!” he muttered, In a frightened tone. “Not at all,” replied Darrel. “We are enemies. Dyke Despard, but lor onee we had better act ill unison. * • “Anything to escape a fall into that dark abyss. ” Despard shuddered as he pointed to the yawning depths below. The lamp in the wagon had been extinguished by the shock cf the fa I, but the moonlight outside revealed their surroundings plainly. Darrel soon learned their real situation. The wagon lay on its side, about ten feet beiow the edge of the road. It had fallen partly on a shelf of rook, parti y’aeross a tree, and these supported it temporarily. The hod was a frail one, however, and the least dislodgment might send them whirling to death a hundred feet below. Darrel groped his way to the door and unlocked it. “If I allow you to follow me, will you agree to make no resistance?” he asked of Despard “I promise,” replied the outlaw eagerly. “Very well; by clinging to the shrubs and rocks we can reach the cliff.” Darrel stepped out the door ana clambered over the shelving rock. By careful c imbing he reached the cliff in safety. He aided Despard, who had followed him, to reach the same place. Both breathed relievedly at their marvelous escape %-om death. Darrel was once more on his guard, and the relentless captor, as he clasped his revolver in his hand. “March on,” he said, gently, “we have lost time. ” He glanced up and down the deserted mountain road There was no trace of either Danton or the horses that had broken loose from the wagon. “Hold on, ” said Despard. “Well, what is it?” “You intend to take me to Miners’ Uulch?”

•Yes. * “What for?” “Can you ask? Your many crimes!" “It will be poor satisfaction to you." “Why?" “You are losing tiraa ” “In what way?” asked Darrel. “In seeking revenge on me, you are leaving your friends in danger. ” “What friends?” “Ranger Ralph and the girl, Inez Tracey?” “Ranger Ralph is dead.” “No; he escaped at the old hermit’s cave. I saw him. ’’ “Allowing that, he can take care of himself.” “But the girl. She is a prisoner with the Modocs. See here: I’m willing to help you find her, if yo.i will allow me my liberty. ” “No; I shall place yo i in safe hands. Then I shall find the girl alone and unaided. March on!” Desp’ard obeyed the mandate, and started down the road with a sullen face. The menace of Darrel's revolver was sufficient to make him an abject and unresisting captive. Not a word was spoken as the journey was resumed. Darrel resolved to convey his prisoner to the next mining settlement, and there make known his crimes, and return to search for the driver of the wagon, who had been shot by Danton. Later, he learned that the driver had escaped with a slight wound. For over an hour the lonely tramp continued. Several times, as they came to where the road wa3 more tortuous, Darrpl pa ised. He imagined he could hear horses’ hoofs in the distance, but finally attributed the sound to some ravine waterway or cataract He was not aware that a wily foe was upon his trail, that Despard’s accomplice, Danton, had followed them, intent ‘on rescuing the former As they rounded a point of rocks, Grey started quickly. Too late to avoid a catastrophe, Darrel e sayed to fire at an advancing foe sudden y revealed behind them. It was Danton, and he was on horseback. With a deft movement a lasso shot out from the saddle bow. The rope enclosed his form, pinioning his arms tightly. The revolver fell to the ground. With a cry of fierce delight Despard seized it. Danton gave the lasso a tightening jerk, secured the other end round his waist, and faced his captive with malignant joy depicted on his evil face. “The tables are turned, my friend,” he jeered. Darrel was silent with discomfiture and chagrin. Despard proceeded to see that the lasso was firmly tied around the prisoner. “We won’t delay here,” remarked Danton. “Some of this man’s friends may be on our trail. Come along, Captain. ” Danton urged forward his horse. Despard walked by his side conversing with him. Darrel was compelled to keep pace with them, secured to the other end of the rope. He could hear enough of the conversation of his captors to knew that they were discussing his fate. He made every effort possible to release his hands, and had almost succeeded in getting one arm loose, when Danton suddenly halted. “What is it?” asked Despard. “Look ahead.” “A fire!” “Yes.” “Perhaps a camp-fire of the Indians. ” “That you must learn. Reconnoiter and see who it is. Despard left them and went in the direction of a glow of light in a thicket a short distance away. Danton sat carelessly regarding Darrel, until Despard returned. The leader reappeared finally greatly excited. “We’re in luck, Danton!” he cried. . “What do you mean?” “It is a camp yonder in the thicket” “Redskins?” “No.” “Vigilantes?” “Ha” “What then?” “A dozen of one of our old bands ”

Danton uttered a satisfied ejaculation. He started the horse forward so suddenly that Darrel was thrown from his feet. The latter was at that moment near the edge of the cliff aud fell precioitate}y over it With a yell of fright Dauton was dragged from his horse. The astounded Despard saw the two men Disappear from sight with a cry of alarm. The lasso, attached to both, whipped around a tree that grew near the edge of the road. Glancing over, Despard saw the two men come together with a shock. Their weight evenly balanced, they were unable to ascend. Darrel had managed to get one arm free. With this he clutched the lasso. For a moment Danton was terrified. Then he discerned a means of escape. If he could lower Darrel and raise himself, Ihe could reach a place of safety. He. seized the side of the lasso supporting Dairrel and shot up several feet. Then seizing come twigs growing out of the cliffs, he -endeavored to 'ascend still higher. In a flash Darrel comprehended his ipeaiil. He discerned that when Danton peached tbe tree across which they were swiung, he would cut the rope and send him to his death below. With a free hand he seized .the foot of Danton. “Let go!” yelled the bandit. “I wi 10 not. You will let me ascend first or I will hold on to you all night. ” “Shoot himi ” shouted Danton to Despard, wHld with rage. The omtlaw leader leaned over the edge of the cliff and leveled a revolver at Darrel. There was a fla-h and a report. Darrel withdrew his hand from the lasso as a hot, searing sensation coursed his fingers. Despard began to pull at the rope Darrel shot downward and Danton reached the tree. There was a flash of a gleaming blade and the lasso was severed. Darrel fell with terrific velocity. He must have fallen some twenty feet when he stopped abruptly. He had fallen into a tree which swayed aud gave way with a slight crash. Darrel found that its branching top had split and held him a prisoner in the half-severed cleft. For the present he was safe at least. He glanced upward. All view of the top of the cliff was shut out from his vision. Below, far as he could look into the cavernous depths, was darkness and g.oom Evidently his enemies supposed he had been dashed to pieces on the rocks below. His position was certainly a most unenviable and perilous one To extricate himself from his dilemma he knew that he must exert unusal caution and ingenuity. Without much difficulty he released himself from the folds of the lasso and then from the crotch of the tree. A thick furze or underbrush covered the side of the declivity and Darrel determined to descend. He made a loop of the lasso and descended its length clinging to the shrubs. His descent in this way was a laborious one and it was several hours before he reached the ravine below. He regarded his escape as miraculous, and he was so exhausted that he flung himself on the ground and lay there for some time. He aroused himself at last and traversed the banks of the little stream that ran through the ravina Ashe

rounded a projecting ledge of rocks, Darrel Grey paused in some surprise. There was a deep indentation ia the solid rock. Here a light showed. It proceeded from a small hand lamp set on a rock. Its rays showed two persons. One of them was a man fancifully attired, whom he had never seen before. His companion at a glance Darrel recognised. It was White Fawn, the Modoo princess. CHAPTER XXV. THE OLD HERMIT. Darrel Grey did not at once manifest himself at his discovery of his friend Ihe Indian girl. Instead, he stood silently regarding the two persons he had happened to find so strangely. He was, too, somewhat puzzled at the actions of White Fawn’s companion. The whole dress and manner of the latter were strangely peculiar and grotesqua Ho possessed a patrarehlal appearance and wore a white beard coming nearly to his waisr. He wore dark spoctacles and a strange cone-like hat on his head. His dress was a mixture of civilized and savage, and was ornamented with shells and war-paint. On the rock before him lay a small oblong box, from which he had just taken a long reed, which was evidently a musical instrumsnt. So fully was Darrel’s curiosity aroused at all he saw that he strained his hearing to catch the first words spoken by the old man. “You are all ready?” asked the Indian maiden. “Yes,” replied her companion. “We will see what the science of the old hermit can do toward baffling our enemies.” Darrel started. “Tfie strange old man must be the recluse, Walford,” he murmured, as he recalled Ranger Ralph’s reference to the hermit “Am I to wait here?” asked White Fawn- “ Yes. If I succeed at all, it will be unaided. I will bring the girl here, if I rescue her. ” “But how can you hope to do so against so many foes?” The old man significantly tapped the box which he had tied over his shoulder. “Leave that to mo and my science,” he replied, confidently. “The outlaws’ camp Is just beyond the valley, you say?” “Yes. ” Walford, for it was he, left the place. Darrel was about to reveal himself and address the hermit, but hesitated from doing so until Walford had departed. [to BE CONTINUED.!

An Invasion of England.

According to popular estimate, it requires not less than three generations of wealth to evolve a gentleman from the common herd of humanity. By this standard of measurement Mr. W. Astor (it is not necessary to follow the custom of New York papers and use type enough to spell his entire name) is a gentleman, as are many other descendants from the traders, smugglers, and fishermen of old Manhattan. His grandfather, who smelled strongly of salted pelts, In which he dealt, has left the Englishspeaking business world the invaluable symbol “O. K.,” which he first used, these letters being the initial ones of the two words? “Oil Korrect, ”as that dealer in hides spelled them. Somewhat to the consternation of New York society, Mr. Astor, he of the third generation, actually contemplates going to London to reside. Now, no one questions his right to reside where it pleases him best* for he is only one of many who look upon America in its newness and rawness as only suitable for mon-ey-making, but as not the place in which to get the best things out of this life. How common the expression, “Europe is the only land in which to live.” The Astors have always been noted for looking well to the interests of the Astors, and the present possessor of the Astor estates may reside where it best suits him, and none need seriously Question his taste or resolve. In England, especially in London, a gentleman can always have the society of gentlemen, especially when, like Mr. Astor, he has more than a pecuniary independence. According to the rule above cited, Mr. Jay Gould cannot be regarded a gentleman, and that title can only rest upon his grandson, should a goodly proportion of the Gould wealth be preserved for him, and this long after the ancestral Jay, like the ancestral Astors, has found oblivion in the tomb. Who knows but that the great and powerful families of England a generation or two hence may be the Astors, Vanderbilts and the Goulds. England may manage American breweries, while the “irony of fate” is likely to “even up” this invasion of of our malt interests by furnishing the sea-girt isle with her “first families.”

How the President Is Paid.

Just how President Harrison is paid perhaps one man in a thousand knows. It is taken for granted, though, that the President gets his hands on his salary in some way and spends it very much aftejj the fashion of other men. The statutes of the United States fix the salary of the President and other public officials. Mr. Harrison is entitled to $50,000 a year, and is supposed to be paid quarterly. In fact, he is not. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Crouns has charge of the payment of salaries, aud once a month he sends to the division of accounts a document addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury in these words: “Please cause a warrant ,to be issued in favor of Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, for the sum of $4,166.67, with which he is to he charged and held accountable under the following head of appropriation.” The section of the statute is quoted and the document signed by the assistant secretary. The warrant for this amount > issued and recorded in the proper books, when it is sent to Treasurer Nebeker, who issues his draft on the United States Treasury in favor of the President. This draft is no different from any other, save that it is in the name of the President alone. If the chief magistrate is in the city it is sent to the White House by a special messenger and delivered to the President or his private secretary. After the President puts his name on the back o£ the draft it becomes negotiable paper, the same as any other, and is sent by him to the Columbia Bank, where it is deposited to his credit and becomes a part of his private account.

A surgeon in Manchester, who has operated in 139 cases of cancer of the tongue, reports 119 recoveries and twenty datha

PLAIN-LOOKING GIRLS.

THEY SHOULD DRESS WITH RICHNESS AND TASTE. Anxious and Bewailing Mothers Should Do for Their Plain-Looking Daughters What the Fairy Godmother Did for Cinderella—Some Exquisite Styles for Young Ladies. Tress Them Richly.

QUESTION whleh often agitates the minds of mothers is: What shall we do with our plain daughters? Everybody wants the pretty ones. Attentions, invitations and presents galore arc showered upon them, but we sit and wait in vain for some good fairy godmother to rescue our Cinderellas. My advice to these anxious and bewailing mothers, says our fashion writer, is to do for th o plain-looking daughters exactly what the fairy godmother did for Cinderella. Dress them

as richly and becomingly as possible, study their good points—for what girl has not some good points—and above all impress upon their minds the necessity of making a greater effort to please than is required of her more favored sister. If the plain girl has a good figure, take good care that it be accentuated. If her strong point be her complexion, exercise the greatest skill and care in selecting the proper tones to enhance its beauty. The plain girl often has what is known as style. In‘that case, the mother should sit up nights thinking out ways and means to underscore this strong point. A simply pretty woman is generajly annihilated when she comes in contact with a thoroughly stylish woman. Style may be indefinable, but it has a dynamic force that impresses itself upon the mind of every beholder. Men adore style, and the charm of style is that ago cannot wither it nor custom stale it. But clothes may injure or suppress it, and therefore should these same anxious mothers take heed lost they mar a charm more valuable than beauty itself. But, still urges this anxio'j j mother, “Dress is so expensive, and when one has an unlimited supply of daughters and limited means it becomes a question of terrible seriousness how to make them all look when nature has done so little for them.” In my initial illustration I present an exquisite ball toilet for the non-dancer,

IVORY SILK AND SATIN.

who, either because her husband objects or her embonpoint forbids, never essays the triple beat of poetic motion. This gown is a white cloth embroidered with chrysanthemums in a delicate cream, the bottom of the skirt, sleeves and bodice being outlined with swan’s down and the corsage filled in with white lace or chiffon. A band of the swan’s down also serves for shoulder straps. ,Of eourse, it would be out of the question to think of waltzing in this elegant costume, but it would serve to make a box glow with a radiance powerful enough to attract all eyes, and therefore it would accomplish its purpose, for the world may be divided into two classes, the lookers on and the looked at, and many of our professional beauties are like spatula paintings—they must be surveyed from an artistic distance. My second illustration portrays quite another type of costume and character — the ingenue. The ingenue is not native here and to the manner bom. She belongs, strictly speaking, on the other side of the Atlantic, but still she is occasionally met with among our society people. It is hard to tell exactly what an ingenue is. Possibly you might say that she is in the world but not of it. She is a child woman, who wonders but doesn’t comprehend. Something tells her that she has a power of fascination but, like the newly fledged bird, she hops on the ground, not daring to use her wings. Many ingenues are spoiled in dressing, just as pictures are spoiled in framing. This particular ingenue

MODISH COIFFURES.

wears an ideal gown for such a person—an ivory silk made up with extreme simplicity, having a broad eeinture of white satin and a large white satin bow at the back with long ends, and a white satin ribbon tied around her hair as Indicated. A white feather boa completes her costume. The only jewels permissible are a plain string of pearl beads, not real,

TT around the neck. Slio thus stands elad in her own beauty, aud, although she may apprehend its charm, she hasn’t the necessary guide to attempt to please for the mere pleasure of pleasing. My third and fourth illustrations will give you an excellent idea of the latest styles of coiffure. To attain the charming effect shown in number three, you divide the hair in two parts from the forehead to the nape, and then from each side you take small locks for waving purposes. The hair which usually goes to make the braid is twisted into a small chignon with crimped ends. The frizettes cover the whole top of tire head, reaching down on the forehead. Three rows of pearls are made use of for ornaments. With this particular coiffure, as represented, is worn a marabout ruche, the feathers being laid on a pleat ed band of crepe de chine. On the inside there is a bullion, and the lower portion has also a bouillon and a pleated volant. The coiffure represented in my fourth illustration is intended for a young girl. To accomplish it, you take a strand of hair extending from the forehead to tho back of the ear and wave it, combing it backward. With tho remainder of the hair you make a small chignon, crimping the ends in curls which fall forward and baokward. The frizettes are carried backward. No matter how much pains you may take in making up a cloth dress, when you put it on a plain girl the combination is not entirely satisfactory. The ensemble is too plain, but by the simple addition of a narrow astrakhan trimming round the bottom of the skirt, down tho front of the long jacket bodice, and also edging the collar and basques, you at once help out the plain girl amazingly. I may say, before leaving this

COIFFURE FOR YOUNG Girl.

subject, that very few skirts are now made without borders of some kind, velvet being commonly chosen, either ol the same tone or of a contrasting color. And in many cases you see such a border headed witli a tiny lino of fur. If you prefer, instead of a single band, you may trim a skirt with three bands of colored velvet. It Is also quite necessary that there sho.uld be a velvet corselet and collar. The princess skirt is quite in vogue again and I have seen some finished with a deep band of embroidery on cloth or velvet.

Now for a hunt for a house dress. Nothing can be prettier than the modish gray crepons of a soft steel tone, but, made up ever so tastefully, it will not help the plain girl out. (she may still remain somewhat of a disappointment to her solicitous mamma, who so often wonders where her daughters got their plainness from. Let her not despair, the crepon meeds something to set it off, to give it character. The tiling is easily managed. Make it up with a dark-green velvet corslet, having long' basques, and cross the ends of the oorselet stylishly over the bust, then edge this velvet addition with jet and you can at once impart ti> the plain costume the very something which it needed in order to help the plain girl out. The collar too, I should have added, must be velvet. There is this consolation about the plain girl that, while she may be more difficult to dross effectively than her pretty sister, yet when you do hit her peculiar style the surprise is as startling as it is pleasing. Although this is of ail times the time to dance, yet many of our fashionable ladies never attempt that most difficult of feats, th<% waltz. There is but one thing more difficult to do than to waltz gracefully, and that is to walk graeofully; but walk we must, gracefully or not, while there is no compulsion about waltzing. Hence many there are who go to balls as they go to concerts, not for the music's sake, but for the occasion’s sake. Nothing puts the dotlet on the "i” of finish to an elegant ball dress so much as a stylish coiffure, arranged to suit the

STYLISH GRAY FELT.

shape of the head and the contour of the features. In fact, it is an Indispensable adjunct to evening dress and is justly regarded as the outward sign of culture and refinement. The exquisite floral ornaments, which the art of to-day fashions so like nature herself, make charming decoration for the hair, either in coronal or wreath shape. The novelties run in daisies, tiny rosebuds and forget-me-nots and are altogether dainty and refined.

My last illustration pictures a very becoming light-gray felt, ornamented with a ruche of white faille ribbon having a small roll of corn-colored velvet running through it, and holding It in place. At the back on the turned-up there is a bow of yellow velvet and araped faille ribbon. To the right is placed two small birds, with long extended wings. I see many charming round hats In velvet trimmed with velvet ribbon-wise in front and a Prince of Wales aigrette at the back. The capotes still retain their pastry cook’s crowns, the brims being lattened so as to retain the bent outlines given them. The Russian toque in chinchilla Is also much affected, and sometimes has a bird placed at the front. Muff of the same fur, which also appears as trimming on the velvet jacket, the latter opening on a plastron of the chinchilla. A surprising phenomenon occurred the other day in Warren, Ohio. A young man took refuge under a maple tree during a thunder-storm. Lightning struck the tree and killed the man. An examination of him disclosed the amazing fact that the lightning had photographed on various portions of his body pictures of the branches and leaves of the tree.

HERB-GATHERING.

THE GREAT SOURCE OF VEGETABLE MEDICINES. How a Big Business Has Been Built Up—Tho Collectors and Their Methods. The curious reader who may have passed the stores of the botanic medicine dealers in John street, New York, has wondered, no doubt, whore the curatives came from, lind he naked the dealer ho would probably have been told that twothirds of thorn wore gathered in tho Blue Ridge districts of North and South Carolina and Tennessee. Tho business of collecting them is wholly in tho hands of one firm, Messrs. Wallace Brothers, of Statesville, N. C., who have several hundred thousand dollars of cupitul invested, and employ 300 agents and 00,000 collectors throughout tho mountains. Statesville, writes a correspondent of the Now York Evening Post, is tho county seat of Iredell County, in Western North Carolina, a pretty town of some fifteen hundred inhabitants, set in the midst of cotton, tobacco and grain fiolds. 1 was introduced to its loading industry-—herb-gathering—in n somewhat picturesque fashion. The wide main street was filled with vehicles of various descriptions—coaches and carriages of tho gentry, heavy, farm-wagons, ono-steer-oarts laden with colored folk, aud the white-topped canvas-covered wagons of the mountaineers —prototypes of thoso “prairie schooners’’ in which the early emigrants navigated the boundless prairies of tho West to found new States. Tho canopies of these wagons projected fore and aft like the bow and stern of a schooner, hence their name. Peering curiously into one of them as it stood drawn up by tho sidewalk, l found that it was occupied solely by huge bags of fragrant horbs, roots and barks—tho aromatic sussnfras, birch, and wintergreen predominating. Presently it moved on, and following it down a side street, I came soon to two Immense warehouses —tho horbarlum of the Messrs. Wallace Brothers. The story of the origin and growth of their somewhat unique inustry is not without interest.

A walk through the grout warehouse with Mr. Isidore Wallace us cicerone is a very interesting experience. There aro forty-four thousand square foot of floor space in the two warehouses, and on this, in deep, dark bins, or iu tiers of huge bales or sacks, or loose on tho floor, were stored sovorul hundred tons of roots, herbs, harks, gums, and mosses, some varieties in lots of many tons ouch. The yearly business of the firm amounts to one million fivo hundred thousand pounds. This mass is brought in by collectors, or sent in by country merchants who act us agents for the firm,tho greater portion coming from North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida, 01 this, by far the greater share comes from tho mountain districts. It is delivered usually in sacks. Experienced men then sample it by removing specimen bunches from the center and bottom. It is then weighed, sproud on tho floor to dry, and when In marketable shape it is shipped to all parts of the world. The office of tho firm is adorned with engravings of plants and samples of herbs in bottlos, with a fino botanical collection, a minerulogical cabinet, Indian relics, etc. The following extracts from the firm’s order-book for January will oonvey a good idea of tho volume of its transactions, ouch order boing from u single firm: “Fifty thousand pounds of mandrake root, 15,000 pounds of black cohosh root, 12,1KK) pounds of wild cherry bark, 24,0 CR) pounds of sassafras hark, djtRRI pounds of birch bark, 8,000 pounds of rod-olovor blossoms, 12,000 pounds of ponnyroyal leaves, !),000 pounds of catnip loavos, 8,00 t) pounds of stramonium leaves, 8,000 pounds of witohhuzel leaves, B,(HR) pounds of yellow dook, 6,600 pounds of queen’S-deliglitroot, 3,<RR) pounds of unicorn root, etc.’’ Most of the orders come from manufacturing chemists and Owners of proprietary medicines, both in this country aud in Europe. “Which is tho most valuable herb?” I asked.

“Ginseng, or ‘sang,’ as the oolleotors call it. Wo pay from $2.75 to $3.00 a pound for it. 'Phis costlinoss is duo to two causes—its scarcity and the groat demand for it. This demand comes almost wholly from China. With the Chinese it is the herb of herbs. It is their chief curative agent, a specific in their opinion for all diseases. They also wear it as a charm on their bodies to ward off evil spirits, and worship it in their joss-houses. It was discovered growing wild in Chinu a sow years ago: before that it was worth six dollars a pound. This demand has caused it to be so persistently sought for that it was nearly exterminated, the collectors gathering it boforo the seeds were fully mutured, in defiance of a State law which forbids the collection of ginseng before September. It is a small plant growing about two feet high, with a peculnrly shaped root, double pronged, as you soe, which, perhaps, leads the Chinese to attribute sovereign virtues to it. It is all exported to Chiha through Chinese agents in New York. In this country it holds an insignificant position in'therapeutics. It has come virtue as a light tonic, but is noj valued. It is indigenous to America*, growing in mountainous sections, but cannot be successfully cultivated.’’ A more romantic interest attaches to the collectors. More than thirty thousand of these, Messrs. Wallace estimate, aro employed in collecting this vast body of simples. These poople comprise men, women and children, white and black, plainsmen and mountaineers. All the outfit required is a mattock and a large sack holding about two bushels, which the collector throws across ono shoulder and under the other arm like a sower's seed-bag. A certain knowledge of herbs, how properly to secure them, at what seasons, and how to prepare them for market, is a necossury outfit for the collector. The Messrs. Wallace have spent much time and money during the past twenty years in imparting this information. Several hundred of these people, principally colored, reside in and around Statesville, and ply their vocation in the neighboring fields aad forests. Most of the great army, however, live in the mountains in small log cabins of one room, and pursue their novel calling in the shadow of the deep cliff's, under the mighty forests, on the open summits of the lofty peaks, or in the deep gorges of the great Appalachian chain. In these almost inaccessible solitudes, the ginseng, snake-root, lobelia, blood-root, mandrake, unicorn-root, and scores of other varieties are found in abundance. These the mountaineer collects, carries to his cabin, and dries. When he has a cargo sufficientto load his “schooner,” he hitches up his ancient mules, and transports it over the mountain roads to the nearest town or settlement, where he exchanges it for tea, coffee, sugar, snuff, nod tobaoco. The Messrs. Wallace have

some three hundred of these merchant agents scattered throughout the mountains, and once a year —usually in June —a member of the firm in a two-horse buggy makes the tour of all, often driving a thousand miles over the rough mountain roads, settling accounts with the merchants, establishing new agencies and taking a general survey of the field of operations.—[Now York Post.

LIGHTNING CHANGE MEN.

Wonderful Expertness in Handling Coin at the Cashier’s Desk. There are men and women in New York,writes a correspondent of the Pittsburg Dispatch, who handle money in small quantities from fivo to ninety-five cents who,acquire a skill and dexterity absolutely marvellous. They are cashiers of restaurants, popular dining and lunch rooms,where,the rush is very great at certain hours during the day, * and where everything in, the shape of payment comes along in what is called “change," that is, in amounts less than 81, and never uniform. It maybe a young girl, or a young man, who never Imd any former experience in handling coin and notes, but lie, or she, becomes so expert that it makes an ordinary- business man’s head swim to watch them. One of thoso lightning change artists, a rod headed young limn named Hayward, who is hi a big lunch room near the post office, has a long standing wager of $lO,IKR) that he cun beat anybody making change, bar none. And thut young man is certainly wonderful. He has the touch of instinct. Like those of many women in tho Redemption Bureau of the Treasury at Washington, his motions are too swift for tho ordinary eye to count, saying nothing of tho money feature. But the work of the Treasury woman expert counters is with round numbers and bills alone; This involves constantly varying amounts of minor coin and lulls together. Certain hours of every day will find an unbroken line of customers with lunch chocks and money passing tho cashier's desk. To see young Ilayward manipulate those checks and coius and bills is a curiosity. “Bad money? I can tell a bad coin at tho touch,” said ho. “Dimes aro the most common counterfeits. Anybody oun tell bad money, time enough, but I've bocomo able to detect at the touch—not rubbing—l haven't tin# for that—in a flash too quick for the eye. I couldn’t explain it—and to know anything is quicker than to see it. There are bad dimes passed hero every day, most of thorn by our regular customers and with unquestioned innocence. No, we'd rather lose motley than call a man buck before the crowd and charge him with passing a counterfeit. And thore'd be twenty people blocked up here in front of mo in two minutes. It wouldn't pay. Range? I havoovorythingnndevery combination, from a two cent piece to a SSO note every day of t||n year wo run. It must bo done instantaneously. No bank note doted* to s or consultations or comparison or any of that sort of thing. A mostly from a lot of people you never know anything about. It ought to mukn a man export, anyhow."

Contented Blind Men.

"I see Alphonse Daudot is very feeble and almost blind,” said Mr. J. W. Willard. “And yet,” he went on, "he is dictating to his wife wbat will probably bo his lust novel. It is curious to note the different spirit in which different great men moot affliction. I remember a German savant whoso one object in life was learning, and when his sight was gone he oonnnittod suicide. That gone, the world to him was us the darkness of tho tomb. Milton felt his blindness keenly, ns in his pathetic sonnet he lets the world know, but ho did some of his greatest work while suffering under the calamity. Heine, in his six years of suffering uud anguish, spent in what ho himself cynically terms his ‘graveof mattresses,’ wrote some of his most touching poems. The blind ohupluiu of Congress —Dr. Milburn —is one of tho happiest of mortals; so was tho late Mr. Fawcett, Postmaster-General of Englund, and I know a doctor near Chicago who, though blind, is one of lho cleverest of his profession. He not only attends to Ids large circle of patients, but is u writer on medical subjects as well, and operates tho typewriter with the skill of a professional. In company he plays tho most trying games of cards and is tho brightest man at the tublc. After ull, it seems to be a case of a man having tho inind to rise superior to tho troubles of life, and recognizing that oven undor attliotion there are things worth living for.”—[Bt. Louis Globe-Democrat.

A New North Pole Scheme.

A scheme for reaching the North Pole totally different to that proposed by Mr. Nansen has been originated by M. Ekroll, a Norwegian, who intends to put it to the tost in the summer of 1893. Having established a depot of supplies at Cnpo Mohn, on the east coast of Spitsbergen, he will start northeast across the sea to Peterman Land, the most northerly known part of Franz Josef Land. Five men only will accompany him> and they will have six small sledges drawn by dogs. \ln the very probable oase of their coming to open water the six sledges can be joined together with little trouble or timo and converted into ono huge boat for sailing or rowing. From Petermann Laud Mr. Ekroll will shape a straight course for the pole, but if the southern ico drift is to great for him to overcome he will retreat to his supplies on Spitsbergen. If, however, he reaches the pole he proposes to rotum by the east or west coast of Greenland, eking out his food resources by drawing on the provision depots left by previous explorers at Lady Franklin Bay or Scoresby Sound. How he will feed his dogs und how he can use them if he meets broken, hummocky ice w not explained. But, nevertheless, his invention of converting the sledges into a boat seems to bo of practical utility and a valuable addition to appliances for arctic work.

A Hermit in a Hole.

Nelson Purdum, of Jefferson county, Ind., disappeared from his usual haunts a couple of months ago, after having squandered a big pension allowance. No trace of him oould be found until a few days hunters came across him on the bank of the river near Madison. Smoke was issuing from the ground. ond an investigation led to their finding a room underground, in which Purdum was living. A rude cot, a sfove, and a quantity of provisions were found, but the man, whose long gray beard and locks gave him a wild appearance, de clined to come out. The rise in the rivet is likely to flood the hermit's place of abode, but no amount of persuasion will make him desert his strange home.— [Courier-Journal.