Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1893 — Page 6

In Sheep's Clothing.

By Capt. Ormond Steele

CHAPTER Xlll—Continued. Off Montauk Point It was discovered that one of the middle chains was broken, and the better to repair it sail was taken in, and the Wanderer came to anchor. Capt. Denham and every man on board the ship, with the exception of "Fox and Frenauld. believed that the break in th'e'middle chain was the result of accident. Capt. Fox and his Lieutenant arranged the accident in advance, and they even knew the point where it was to happen. “The Wanderer needs overhauling, and 1 hope to be able to do so in New York," said, Capt. Fox, coming down to the cabin ‘where Ralph Denham was reading. * .< “How longwiß. tne break detain you?” asked Ealph, who was naturally anxious to report in advance of the timo named in the Governor’s order. “It is Worse than I at first supposed, but we shall be under way again early in the The only way is to have patience." “Patient 4« very essential to the sailor. But this is not a bad place to be Imprisoned for a few extra hours, ” said Ralph, looking admiringly about the luxurious cabin.

“Consider it all yours, my dear Capt. Denham. We shall have dinner in an hour, and If you feel like turning in after that, Don,” nodding in the direction of the bright-looking cabin boy, “will show you to your .cabin; by the way, it was occupied for a week by an Indian princess, the daughter of the King of Oude.” “That certainly will not be an objection,” laughed lialph, his thoughts going back to tds own beautiful princess, to whom, he felt very confident, all the rest,of the world could not produce an equal. It was the custom in Ihis era, on land and sea, when the elements permitted, to dine at high noon. Promptly at 12, Don came to announce dinner. It was served in another cabin, with plates for three. At the fete given on board the Wanderer, Ralph Denham was amazed at the lavish display of costly plate, and the extravagant libations of rare wines. He then supposed that this was the grand effort of a great occasion; considerable then was his surprise at finding the'eabin table as richly set as at the fete, while the dinner itself was such as the Governor of the province j could not duplicate with all the re- [ sources of.the city at his command. “I am afr«,i£i,” said Ralph Denham, : when he, Fo£and Frenauld were seated i at the board, that if I were to remain ' long with you, that I should be wholly j unfitted for service on board a ship where the officers were forced to depend on their rations for subsistence, and their own small pay for luxuries.” “You would soon get used to it, and like it,” said Captain Fox, refilling Ralph Denham’s glass from a flagon, of which neither he nor Frenauld tasted. “A sailor’s, life, the best, is one of danger and privation, and my motto is to make the best of it. Thanks to my ancestors, I have a large estate in England, and the question with me, when I first got command of a ship, was, ‘shall I let that property go on accumulating on shore till I retire, and am too old to enjoy it, or shall I spend i a goodly portion of it for the enjoyment of myself and shipmates?’ I decided on the latter course, and so far I have no reason to regret it. ” “You hive, no doubt, acted wisely, but had- I been in your place,” said Ralph, “I think I should have dreaded to make the experiment.” “Why so?” “Luxury would demoralize me, perhaps because I am not used to it; and then my men, who are provincials, and, outside of duty, think themselves just as good 5.31 am, would growl unless I Shared with them. ” “My men have their share of the Captain’s good things. If the authorities knew of it, of course there would be no end of trouble, and they would accuse me ol injuring the service; but whenever the time comes for hard work, in storm or battle, my men are not found wanting. ” “They certainly behaved admirably well while in Sag Hi-rbor,” said Ralph; and he uttered no compliment, for the crew of the Wanderer, though as fierce a looking lot of desperadoes as ever put foot on shore, behaved themselves in a way that excited tnanflmiration of the settlers.

This was the result of the strictest discipline and constant watching. There was not a sailor on the Wanderer who did not'understand the true, character of his ship, and who did not appreciate the for caution. And then, had one of them broken the rules, that were kept In their minds morning, noon, and night, he well knew that the penalty would have been chains and the lash, and for the second offense death. “When it oan he dene with safety to the ship and without dishonor to the service, I relax and let the men go ashore and get rid of their excess of spirits. They are devils here, sure enough, but they come on board thoroughly exhausted and as tractable as tame lambs. Try a little more of this wine. Captain Denham. 1 I will guarantee that there is not a headache in a cargo of it,” said Fox, again raising the particular flagon. “But I am not accustomed to wine,” replied Balph, who did not like it; neither did he wish to appear indifferent to the conspicuous kindness of his host. “You cannot cultivate the taste for this particular brand, I am sorry to say, for I don’t think there are ten gallons of it in this hemisphere. There, one more glass will not affect you, unless,, indeed, it makes you feel sleepy, and if it should, I promise you that you will rise refreshed, and there is your cabin,” said Fox, pointing to an open door. Before-Ralph could refuse a second time, Frenauld reached out his glass, and said: “I diftrk to you, Capt. Denham.” Asitwouid have been a discourtesy to refuse the pledge thus offered, Ralph 1 raised his glass, bo we 1 to Frenauld, eed then drank down the deliDinner over; Ralph felt exhilarated. He went oupjft and it seemed to him - 'that ire was walking on air. He felt, very happy, and inclined to laugh every little Incident that ordi r nutty wdula not have attracted his I resized that he was in danger of himself ridiculous, so he made hht way—lt seemed to him he was float'WTould yen Uke to lie down, sir " «*•* Don, the cabin boy. opening the

door of a splendidly furnished apartment, which, to the excited imagination of Ralph, appeared to be one of more than Oriental magnificence. “Yes; I will, though I do not feel sleepy. That was rare wine, boy, that you served me at dinner,” said Ralph, nodding and laughing, yet fully aware that he had said nothing provocative of hilarity. “It sometimes makes one sleepy,” said Don, taking the Captain's coat and preparing to remove his pumps. “Very well; Jet me rest for a short time. If I should go to sleep, which I rarely do in the daytime, wake mo in an hour or so.” Ralph Denham threw himself on the luxurious couch, and as Don closed the door there Was an expression of minged pity and admiration on his face. Captain Denham, though fully aware that the ship was at anchor in a calm sea, felt that he was being rocked and swayed by gentle, Invisible hands. Through the open port-hole that admitted light and air to his room, he heard the splash of the rippling water against the ship, but it was transformed into music, moro soothing than was ever blown from the shell of a triton or fell from the seductive but treacherous lips of the fabled mermaid. The music and the swinging kept on till the cabin expanded into a gorgeous arcade, down which he floated to music of increasing rapture, while maidens of exquisite form, with golden tresses that shimmered in the rosy light, beckoned him on, and Lea Hedges led them; he could not be mistaken in the cornelian lips and teeth of pearl. What cared he now for earth? He was in an elysium more refined and glorious than Mahomet promised to his iaithlul followers.

1 The earth had sank beneath him; it had rolled up like a vesture and passed away, and he had become a part of that illimitable space, about which he had often thought, and the new life on which he had entered was bounded by eternity. “Is he asleep?” asked Frenauld, coming into the cabin on tiptoe about the middle of the afternoon, and addressing Don, who had been ordered to remain in attendance on Captain Denham. “Yes, sir, dead asleep,” was the reply. “Then,” said Frenauld, "goon deck and tell the captain to come down. ” CHAPTER XIV. captain* pox and lieutenant frenauld PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER. “Asleep, did you say?” said Captain Fox, when he joined Frenauld in th 9 cabin, and made sure he could not be overheard by the unconscious man in the next room. “The hasheesh ha 6 had its effect,” replied Frenauld, “and he is as indifferent to life as if he were lying down there beside the anchor.” “Good; the,point is to keep him in that condition till I am ready to act ” “That can be easily done. While in that sleep he will obey. If I were to tell him to get up, go aft and leap overboard, he would do it.” “But the effect will soon wear off. I had an opportunity to look into the workings of the drug, as given in that wine, when we were in Bombay; but I bad no idea that I would ever need to emDloy it. Confound it. I am as wicked as the next man, but I dislike sneaking methods. I’d rather knock a man on the head than drug him to death,” said Fox, as if he felt that he was saying something rather commendable. “That is a matter of taste; I look at the end rather than the means. If you desire to carry out Colonel Graham’s plan we could toss him into the sea through an open port to-night, and that would be the last of it”

“But, Frenauld, I told you that Ido j not intend carrying out Colonel Gra- ; ham’s plan. Tou know the whole story of my first interest in Denham? ' “Yes; when he was a little boy and his father was drowned you saved him, and, with the uncle, took him off to another Long Island. Oh, I could sit down and tell you all from Ato lzzard, or put it all down in the log as straight. as one of them lawyer sharks. ” “Yes; well, my heart was tonder then —it’s tough enough now,” said Fox, i with a laugh that told he felt no sense of degradation at the change in his ; feelings. “Then it is not a feeling of humanity that leads you to save his life?” “Did I say I was going to save his life?” | “I so understood you.” “I told you, Frenauld, that I would save him until I had drained Graham of his last ducat, or exhausted his last vestige of power.” “You don’t like tho old Colonel?” “Fudge, Frenauld, you know with us it is not a matter of like or hate, but of success. We want to win, and when we are rich enough to retire, we can sink the ship and go home to England, and live in luxury and all the glory that wealth brings, to the end of our days,” and Fox’s blue eyes flashed at the picture he had conjured up.

“But if you carried out Graham’s wish and got rid of this fellow,” Frenauld nodded towards the room in which Captain Denham was sleeping, “don’t you think you would make him more securely your friend?” “My friend?” “Yes, he has the power.” “I know he has, but he never has and never will use his power, or his wealth, from a sense of friendship. If Graham were sure that Ralph Denham was dead now, he would hasten to give warning that I was a pirate in these seas, and he would exhaust every power to destroy me.”

“He does not like you, then?” “Men never like men they cannot ; trust, and we can never trust our part- | ners in crime. I see, Frenauld, you look as if you thought this remark had a decided personal bearing, and I confess it has. Now, what keeps the officers and crew of this ship together, as closely as if they were bound by the strongest ties in the world?” “Interest, Captain.” “There you have it It is all interest, all self. Now, take away the hope for : gain which is the interest, or let a greater gain be held out to those who would betray or turn queen’s evidence, [ and every man and officer in the ship j would be breaking his neck in order to | bo the first to reap the reward, and in- > sure himself the safety of the law. I j have looked into the question from all j sides, and I have come to the conclu- j sion that it is self-interest that rules | the world. I know my knowledge of this j fact enables me to rule this ship." “I think you are right,” said Frenauld. “There is no doubt about it.” “But if Denham were dead and Colonel Graham betrayed you, could you j not then retaliate by telling all about I the murder of his brother and the ab- j ductlon of his nephew?” “I could do so, but it would not save me. It is the first successful blow that tells in a fight A pirate in chains makes but an indifferent accuser of the man who brings him to justice. The accusations of incarcerated criminals have but little power to defame a char- 1 actor. ” “Bat a« Ralph Denham, as he Is-call-ed, is believed to be dead, I cannot see how his existence comes into the case at all,* said Frenauld, who, though a

man of large intelligence, had not the intellectual grasp to seize his superior’s plans, or the penetration necessary to see through them. “His being alive or dead forms important factors In the case. There has long been a belief in England that Colonel Graham is criminally responsible for his brother’s death, and there is a very general belief that the child was not drowned. The mother, a wealthy lady in her own right, has never ceased her exertions to find her boy. and I am informed by the Colonel that she is now in the new world prosecuting her search." “Has Graham children?” “He is not even married. I doubt ts he could get any one, even among the peasants of his estates, to marry him.“ “Could you not make more money by communicating with the lady?.’’ “No; and then a man who was privy to her husband’s death would not be apt to find continued favor in her sight, even if he restored to her her son. Now, as to Ralph Denham living or dead; let me say that with him alive I could prove my case beyond all dispute, for not only is his old nurse Dinah alive, but he is as like his father, as I remember him, as it is possible to conceive.” “Thatls an important point.” “A very important point, Frenauld.” “But when you have accomplished your purpose, what is to be Denham’s fate?” “I will leave him in the hands of the Indian, Uncas, who pledges himself to keep him secure and concealed for six months. At the end of that time the chief will be more than ready to slay the man who has provoked his jealousy, and I think I shall be willing, for, as I believe, he has provoked my jealousy,” said the Captain, laughing lightly, and going over and opening the door of the room in w.iich his victim slept. Closing the door again, he came back with a pleased expression on his face, and said: “He sleeps like a child.” “And I will show you how to keep him asleep.” “Ah yes, Frenauld, I was going to ask you how that was done.” “I told you that people in this state obey those who speak to them; all their own will power being deadened by the drug. ’’ “I see.” “Then, you can see, it is an easy matter to feed him, and keep him in that condition as long as you please. ” “So it is. Now, let me give you instructions.”

Suddenly Fox’s manner changed from that of an equal to that ol a superior, giving an older which he expected to have implicitly obeyed. “Get together whatever food and clothing you will need for five days, for yourself and two men, whom you can select from among the craw. To-night, when I see a signal fire burning this side of the beacon hill, on Montauk headland, I will send you ashore. Uncas will not join you till to-morrow night, but ho will send a messenger, and for this messenger I will give you a note that will announce to the chief your arrival. In the meantime, you can spend your time examining the coast, with a view to secreting the greater part of the treasure now on board. ” “I understand, sir,” said Frenauld, who rose to his feet, and stood, while the captain gave his order; “but permit me to ask how I am to know of your return?" “Should I come back by day, you can see the ship. Should I return by night, keep a fire burning at the same point, and I will come ashore to you in the gig-” “And bring him, sir?” Frenauld jerked his thumb in the direction of Ralph Denham. “Yes. if I can keep him alive on your prescription. ” “Follow it out, sir, according to directions, and you can’t fail,” replied Frenauld. |TO BE CONTINUED. I

Insect Chemistry.

A singular discovery was announced by Mr. Oswald Latter at the November meeting of the Entomological Society in London. It was that the image of the moth known as Dioranura vinula secretes caustic potash, which it uses for penetrating the cocoon in- which it is Inclosed. Caustic potash, as every one knows, is a powerful cautery which destroys the skin when brought in contact with it. That it should be secreted, or formed, in the mouth of an insect, as Mr. latter says, is very curious, and Professor Meldola, in discussing the discovery, remarked that the fact that any animal secreted a strong causic alkali was a new one. The Dicranura moths —the name means “forked tail”—not only appear to be, insect chemists of no small skill, for their lame secrete formic acid, but they are very Interesting on other accounts. In the larval or caterpillar form they inhabit poplars, willows, and similar trees in midsummer, and possess an odd means of defense against the annoyance of small flies. Their forked tails consisted of two tubes, each of which contains a long thread-like organ, and when the caterpillar Is irritated it runs out these threads and lashes the sides of its body with them. It has long been known that the I forked-tail moth used some liquid to 1 soften the cocoon when it was ready to j emerge, but Mr. Latter’s experiments j have for the first time disclosed the nature of that liquid. He incridsed the moths in artificial cocoons, and. collecting the liquid which they ejected in i breaking their way out, subjected it to j chemical analysis.

He Sold Both Pills and Public.

A well-dressed man, leaning against a lamp-post’, apparently sleeping the sleep of the just, created a deal of interest in a busy London street the other day. He sat upon a box which he seemed to have been carrying; evidently being suddenly overcome with drowsiness. he had plaoed it on the curbstone, and sitting down upon it, fell asleep. To those who succeeded in getting near enough to the man, his gentle, restful snore dispelled the fear that he j might be dead. The side of the face was exposed, and portrayed no sign of ! Intoxication. It was the judgment of everyone that he was sober, in good health, and simply taking a quiet snooze. ; When the crowd became so dense as to threaten, a blockade, the supposed | sleeper 'suddenly jumped to his feet, j mounted his box, and flourishing a j couple of bottles over his head, ex- ; claimed: “Now, gents, seein’ that you are all here, I rise to a question of privilege; and, after thankin’ you for this most ! cordial reception, which I assure you ' will long remain upon the tablets of my memory, I wish to call your attention to ! my world-renowned Paradise Pills,” and so on in the usual style.

For Electrical Research.

The students at Harvard University J have reorganized the Harvard Electric : Club. Prominent electricians will address the club, and members will read papers before it. The club is not to be a purely social organization, but its object is to promote knowledge of electricity and kindred subjects. j. { * Conecte’s crusade was continued ! in every country of Europe till, reaching Rome, he attacked the clothes and morals of the Cardinals,, was accused of heresy, and burned at the stake.

HANDLING A HERD OF CATTLE.

Skill and Daring Required to Avert a Stampede on the Trail. The task of the drover and his assistant cowboys In getting the herds from the Southern ranches to the Northern shipping points was one Involving both skill and daring, says an article in Scribner’s Magazine. The daily programme was as regular as that of a regiment on the march. From morning until noon the cattle were allowed to graze in the direction of their destination, watched by the cowboys in relays. The cattle were by this time uneasy, and were turned into the trail and walked steadily forward eight or ten miles, when at early twilight they halted for another graze. As darkness came on they were gathered closer and closer together into a compact mass by the cowboys riding steadily in constantly lessening circles around them until at last the brutes lay down chewiDg their cuds and resting from the day’s trip. Near midnight they would usually get up, stand awhile, and then lie down again, having changed sides. At this time extra care was necessary to keep them from aimlessly wandering off in the darkness. Sitting on their ponies or riding slowly round and round their reclining charges, the cowboys passed the night on sentinel duty, relieving one another at stated hours. When skies were clear and the air bracing the task of cattle driving was a pleasant and healthful one. But there came rainy days, when the cattle were restless and when It was anything but enjoyable riding through thejpteady downpour. Then especially were the nights wearisome, and the cattle were ready at any time to stampede. No one could tell what caused a stampede any more than one can tell the reason of the strange panics that attack human gatherings at times. A flash of lightning, a crackling stick, a wolf's growl—little things in themselves, but in a moment every horned head was lifted, and the mass of hair and horns, with fierce, frightened eyes, gleaming like thousands of emeralds, was off. Recklessly, blindly, in whatever direction fancy led them, they went over a bluff or morass, It mattered not, and fleet were the horses that could keep abreast of the leaders. But some could do it, and, lashing their ponies to their best gait, the cowboys followed at breakneck speed. Getting on one side of the leaders, the effort was to turn them a little at first, then more and more, until the circumference of a great circle was being described. The battle behind blindly followed, and soon the front and rear joined and “milling” commenced. Like a mighty mill stone, round and round she bewildered creatures raced until they were wearied out or recovered from their fright. But the cowboy, with his white, wide-rimmed hat. his long leather cattle whip, and his clanking spur, is now a thing of the past.

A Fairy Godfather. Two gentlemen, one an American and the other a Viennese, met at an Austrian watering place, and, after a short but delightful acquaintance, the Viennese discovered that the American, who had given his name as Hunt, let us say, was a banker. “Are you, then, the head of the house of Hunt, in New York?” he asked, in surprise and interest. “I am. ” “How very strange l” “Why strange?” “I cannot give you a satisfactory reply without telling you a sad story,” was the answer, and he went on to relate the following incident: Two years before a charming girl who was under his guardianship had married a man who had at once set up in business on his wife’s capital, and had become bankrupt. The next step was his disappearance, and so discouraged had he been over his ruined hopes that every one believed him to have committed suicide. Within a few months, however, his sorrowing wife had received a letter from him written from a town in one of the Western States of America. He begged her to forgive him for leaving her, and promised to send for her as soon as fortune should once more favor him. Letters continued to come, now from one city aDd now from another, until he wrote from New York, saying that he was in the banking bouse of Hunt, at a salary too small to allow him to send for her, though if industry and perseverence could advance his interests, she should not have long to wait. “And now,” said the Viennese, “do you know a clerk of yours named Pray?” “No,” was the reply. “I left home months ago. But your story is so interesting that we ought, if possible, to spell out the sequel. I will cable home this minute.” “Have we Clerk Pray in our service?” ran the message, and next day came the answer, “Yes.” “What salary?” ran the next message. “Is he satisfactory?” The reply to this was a condensed certificate of character of which any clerk might be proud, with the additional information that Pray’s exceptional virtues were paid for at the rate of S4O a month. “Pray promoted,” cabled Mr. Hunt. “Quadruple his salary.” A day later the forlorn young wife in Vienna received a mes«age from her husband, delightedly hinting at good-fortune and urging her to come to him at once. Mr. Hunt, of course, heard the news, and, no doubt, congratulated himself on his ability to play fairy godfather at the right moment.

A Telephonic Newspaper. The London Standard's Vienna correspondent tells us of the very newest thing in news—a Bellamyidea translated into fact. The first socalled “telephonic newspaper” appeared in Pesth yesterday. In other words, the latest items of news—political, local, commercial, sporting, and other—are sent out from a central office by telephone to the subscribers, who for this Intelligence pay the very modest sum of 75 cents a month. This novel undertaking comprises at its central office two departments—a regular editorial office, which receives the telegraphic and oral messages and works them up into leaders or paragraphs, and a sped a} tele-

phonic publishing department, where experienced speakers, each possessing a soft but distinct voice, transmit through the instruments the contents of the manuscripts delivered from hour to hour by the first department. There are two languages used, German and Hungarian, The news includes stock exchange quotations and financial articles, reports of theatrical performances, book reviews, and paragraphs on all the miscellaneous topics found in a daily newspaper. The subscribers who receive the news have a square wooden tablet before them, from which are suspended two tubes long enough to reach their ears when they are sitting in an easy chair or at a writing desk, or even when lying in bed. The service commences at 8 o’clock in the morning and lasts until 9 in the evening. The novelty has so far been very well received in the Hungarian capital.

The Enfant Terrible. • They had just settled down for dinner, and the nervous spinster who had the guest’s seat was still primping, as persons of her class will, when the family infant let out a whoop that told of grief and terror which could no longer be suppressed. “What’s the matter, dear?” inquired the visitor, in a voice of the deepest solicitude. “You go ’way from our house,” was the shrill and startling response; “you’re just killing my mamma, so you are.” “Why, Mary dear, how you talk,’’from the mother. “What do you mean anyhow talking like that?”. “You sa-said, mamma, if that 01-old ma-maid st-st-stayed for dinner sh-she would b-be the de-ath of you, soyo-you did, boo-hoo!” Then there was a scene that beggars description, and when the ancient maiden flounced through the front door she was coldly congratulating the mother upon having so charming and so courageous a little child as the one who had just saved her life. A minute later the merry sound of the maternal slipper in active service was mingled with the cries of the enfant terrible.—Detroit Free Press. Chronicled in a Woman's Album. Pierre Loti’s likes and dislikes were chronicled by him lately in a lady’s album. His favorite color is “changing mother of pearl.” his favorite perfume the wild “pinks of the dunes,” his favorite animal “the cat,” his favorite color for eyes and hair “it has often changed; it depends upon whom I care for.” In answer to the question, “Which is the vice you most detest, and why?” he writes: “None. I have immense pity for them all.” His favorite occupation is “to wander about in the open air in the East,” his. favorite pursuit, “riding or gymnatics.” His ideal of earthly happiness is “to be handsome, young, agile, and strong;” the pleasantest time of day, “the evening on shore or very early morning at sea,” the country to live in, “India, Persia, or Mohammedan country:” his favorite nation, “the Arabs, because of their tranquillity.” As to his hero of history he write: “I know so little of history." As to his hero of fiction: “I have no interest in any.” As to his favorite writer: “I do not read.” Practical Boston. Boston notions are numberless and very apt to be good. In that city notices in English, French, German, and Swedish are hung in the waitingrooms of the railway stations and pier sheds warningyoung girls against strangers and stating at what hours a matron, who will be recognizable by her prescribed badge, maybe found to give all needed information and advice. In the same city, which is peculiarly the home and originating place of practical charities, a second good scheme is that of the Young Travelers’ Aid Society. Under its auspices matrons meet the chief trains, both incoming and outgoing, and aid by suggestion or information the traveler who needs it. A country girl, a foreigner, a mother wrestling with an unwieldy family of slippery children, particularly if she is a stranger in a strange land—these and similar helpless and distracted wayfarers are righted, relieved and sent on their way rejoicing.

Now, Boys, Now. Boys, above all, don’t by will or deed, add to the burdens of your mother; remember that she loves you as deeply as when you were a clean, white little babe, though you may now. be a “tough kid” whom everybody dislikes. She is not so strong as she once was; the hand of time, maybe, has touched her hair and left it gray and streaked where it was once beautiful and glossy. Her step is slower than it used to be. Be a man; respect her, live right, and when she dies who loves you more than any one will ever love you again, when the wasted, tired hands have been folded for unbroken sleep, there will go with you sweet and tender recollections like guardian angels along the rugged road of life. Now is the time to begin to be a man; don’t wait until you are grown up.— Cass County (la.) Democrat. “Nothing Like a Good Old Mother.” An English paper tells a story of a well-known bishop who suffers from impaired vision. He recently held a levee. At length a guest approached and said: “How do you de, my lord? My mother wishes to be kindly remembered to you.” “Ah,” said the bishop, “that is very good of her. And how is the dear old soul? Nothing like a good old mother! Be sure to take care of your old mother. Good-morning.” The bishop did not in the least know who his visitor was, and said to his footman, “Who was that?” The servant replied, “The last gentleman who left your lordship’s reception is the Duke of Connaught. ” The Queerest of Railroads. One of the queerest railroads on this continent is the Salisbury and Havey, in New Brunswick. It is but twenty miles long, and although it connects with the Intercolonial Boad, an admirably constructed line, it is confessedly unsafe. A printed notice hung up in the cars cautions passengers that it is well to get out and walk on reaching a certain bridge, and it was long the custom to push the cars over this crazy structure before the mighty engine was trusted upon its rotten timbers. Poor Kansas. There is danger of a rabbit plague in Kansas similar to that of Australia.

THREE APPOINTMENTS.

Office* to Which Gray, Maxwell and Collin* Were Nominated. Among the recent nominations of President Cleveland are those of exGov. Isaac Pusey Gray, of Indiana, to be Minister to Mexico; Kobert A. Maxwell, of Batavia, N. Y., to be Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, and Patrick A. Collins, of Boston to be Consul General at London. Mr. Gray was born of Quaker ancestry in Chester County, Pa., in 1828. When a child his parents moved to Ohio and in that State Mr. Gray grew to manhood. In 1855 he located in Union City, Ind., and in 1889 took up his abode in Indianapolis. He was captain of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry during the civil war and also

ISAAC PUSEY GRAY.

served with the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Infantry. He began life as a dry goods merchant in Union City and afterward studied law. At the outset of his political career he was a, Bepublican. In 1876 he was elected Lieutenant Governor on the Democratic ticket and in 1884 was elected Governor. He was a candidate for the Vice Presidency in 1888 and was a Presidential possibility last year. Robert A. Maxwell is 55 years old and has acquired considerable money as a malster. In 1881 he was elected State Treasurer by the Democrats, and after two terms retired to become Superintendent of Insurance, an office of which he was deprived by Gov. Hill. Patrick A. Collins was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1844. When 4 years old he came to this country. In 1868 he became a student in Harvard Law School, and three years later was admitted to the bar. Meantime he had attracted the attention of the Democrats and in 1868 and again in 1869 he was chosen a member of the House of Representatives. In 1870 and 1871 he served as State Senator. In 1875 he was chosen Judge-advocate-general of the commonwealth. In 1880 he declined the nomination for Congress, but was induced to accept it and was elected in 1882. He was returned to Congress in 1884 and 1886. In 1888 he was Chairman of the National Democratic Convention. For six years he was at the head of the State Democratic Committee.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUN.

A Snap Shot Will Portray the Swiftest Movement of Any Living Thing. Recent years have seen great improvements in photography, and it is daily becoming more and more indispensable in many fields of science, art, and industry. The camera now does work that was deemed impossible only a generation ago, and does it without exciting very much comment. People have become so accustomed to the wonders of instantaneous photography that nothing now seems to surprise them. The latest contrivance for this purpose is

USING THE PHOTOGRAPHIC GUN.

a photographic gun, which, it is claimed, will secure pictures at the rate of a dozen a second of any object aimed at, no matter what its position or how rapid its motion. The gun is the invention of a Frenchman, and is a breech loader. The enterprising amateur may now go forth in quest of his game looking like a sureenongh sportsman, a gun on hia shoulder and a belt full of cartridges about his waist—only the cartridges will contain extra sensitive dry plates, which, though sure enough on suajl shots, will not prove deadly. Attacked by Docks. The captain of a steam tug, which lately reached Philadelphia frojp Boston, says that in Vineyard Sound during a tremendous storm, the vessel was attacked by an immense flock of wild ducks, which had apparently been blown off the land by the wind. They fought desperately against the side of the tug’s house, and the electric light at the masthead, which seemed to be the object that had attracted them. The mate, who ventured on deck was knocked flat by a duck that flew directly against his breast. Fully fifty of the ducks were caught Hartford's Old Men. • There are some old men in Hartford, Conn. Hubbard Hollister is now nearly 88 years old, yet he takes care of the horses, barn, and stable as effectively as ever. Dr. David Crary, 13 Seyms street, is now in his 88th year, yet he goes out with the Fox Hunters’ Club occasionally and bags a fox or two on Talcott Mountain. Deacon Morgan Lewis, 905 Main street, is also 88, and he still drives about, more or less. There are in the town a number of other old people of 88 or along there who keep tolerably lively for that age.

HUMOR OF THE WEEK.

STORIEB TOLD BY FUNNY MEN OP THE PRESS. ■My 044. Cnriou, *ad Laofhabl* PbatM of Human Nature Graphically Portrayed by Eminent Word Art Uta of Our Own I>ay. L«t Us Laugh. If the ballet dancer didn’t kick for her salary she wouldn’t get a cent.— Troy Press. It’s odd that when we want a watch to run we have to set it,— Yonkers Gazette. Any euchre-player knows that hearts beat quicker when they are trumps.—Troy Press. The candidate who shakes hands is not necessarily in touch with the * people.—Galveston News.

A Germantown poet is writing a poem entitled “The Lay of the Easter Egg.”—Philadelphia Record. Too many men try to pull themselves out of trouble with a corkscrew.—Philadelphia Record. A bald-headed man’s powers of reflection are greatly increased under an electric light.—Boston Transcript. While some things find it difficult to get along, the measuring stick does pretty well, as a rule.—'Troy Times. Hot Head —Then I’m a liar? Cool Head—On the contrary, my dear fellow, you have just spoken the truth.—Cincinnati Times. “How is your little brother? Likely to get better? “Oh! yes; he got his first thrashing to-day since his illness.” —Deutscher Reichsbote. The donkey is generally regarded as the most stupid of animals, which is odd in view of the fact that it has the most brayin’ power. —Philadelphia Record. Jennie Premier (at the amateur theatricals) —I say, old man, have you got the stage fright? Heavy Villain —No, I think she’s in her dressingroom.—Truth. Influence will make itself felt in politics. Even the humble lettercarrier when he comes to the door shows what it is to have a pull.— Philadelphia Times. “Say, Chimmy,” said one messenger boy to another, “if there’s anything I hates its a crowd.” “Why?” “Cos yer got ter hurry er git walked over.” —Washington Star. A Maine man will send to Chicago a fir spar sixty feet in length and without a bend or crook in it. It would make a flr straight flag staff. — Philadelphia Ledger. Says a fashion note: “The return of the shawl is prophesied.” And now will somebody be sufficiently brave to predict the return of the umbrella?—Boston Transcript. First Child —What’s the matter with Nellie Newcomb? Second Child—She’s got the chicken-pox. First Child—l guess she can’t have it very bad. She lives in a boardinghouse. It is.a little discouraging to a man to carry a yowling, squalling,baby around for half a night, then sit down and reflect that “of such is the kingdom of heaven.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer. “And now, my dear children,” said the professor, “will you tell me what velocity is?” “Please sir,” said a bright youth, “velocity is what my father puts a hot potato down with. ” —Quips. Lady of the House —“As I wish to make the tea agreeable, will vou gentlemen please say with or without cherry brandy. Well, Mr. Forester?” Mr. Forester—“lf you please, I should like mine without tea.”—Bar.

Mrs. Stacksley “Ain’t you ashamed to talk like that to me, John? Why, before we were married you used to say I was an angel!” Mr. Stacksley—“See hero, Mary, it isn’t fair to twit a man about the lies he told ten years ago.”—Quips. Queen Victoria was so charmed by a piece of music recently played in nublic by the band at Osborne that she sent an attendant to learn the name of it. He returned with the information that it was entitled “Come Where the Booze Is Cheaper. ” Miss Poe tique—“How dreamily delightful is the soothing sound of old ocean’s waves rolling up in the moonlight upon the silver sands!” Miss Practicale—“Yes, I always did like to hear the water sloshing ’round upon the beach. ” —Somerville Journal. At a Swiss Hotel. —Landlord— “Go and wake the gentleman' at No. 7.” Boots—“ But he told me to waken him in a couple o f hours.” Landlord—“ Nonsense! Wake him now. He neither eats nor drinks anything so long as he is asleep.”— Dorfbarbier. . Little Dot —Grown folks don’t care anything for circuses. Little Dick—Yes, they do. Little Dot —No, they don’t. They only goes so as to take the childrens. Little Dick—yes, that’s what they say; but they never takes any books along to read. —Good News. First Artist —“ Well, old man, how's business?” Second Artist—“Oh, splendid! Got a commission this morning from a millionaire. Wants his children painted very badly.” -First Artist (pleasantly)— “Well, my boy, you’re the very man for the job. ” —Life. Dusty Bhodes —This paper says surgeons cut open an elephant’s stomach and took out a cable chain weighing ninety pounds. Fitz William—How do they account for its being there? Dusty Bhodes—The supposition is that he swallowed it while eating in the dark, when the chain was young and very small.—New York Times.

Wary.

Mr. P. H. Winston and H. A. Gilliam were for years leaders at the Bertie County (N. C.) bar, and had each a full appreciation, from experience, of the skill of the other. At. one term Mr. Winston was suddenly called away, and placed his business in the hands of his nephew, Duncan Winston, a recent acquisition to the bar. “Now,” said he, “Duncan, if Gilliam makes you any offer of a compromise, decline it. If you make him one, and find he is about to accept it, withdraw it immediately.”