Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1893 — Page 4

POINTS OP VIEW. "Oh, give me time.” she, trembling, said, “A little time to think it over.” He smiled and kissed her drooping head, And yielded like a ten If r lover. “She’s bat a child,” he mused that night, “Who shrinks from late, afraid to test it; She really seemed quite in a f ight.” He little knew bow ne r he'd guessed it. “How shall I break with Jack ?” she moaned, “He’s got my letters. Oh, good gracious 1 And Harry has my ring,” she groaned ; “He’ll keep it, too, he’s so audacious. “Was ever girl in such a fix ? I must get rid of Wi'l and Stephen, And George, and Archibald; that’s sit. And poor, dear cousin Tom makes seven.” As thus she grieved in accents wild. He said, while joy his features brightened: Yes, she is nothing but h child, And that is why she seemed so frightened.” —[The Club.

SIAM AND ITS PEOPLE.

Public interest in Siam ami curiosity as to the resources, degree of civilization, habits and customs of the Siamese have been quickened by the Franoo-Chiuese imbroglio, and accoidingty the following article will be found interesting aud instructive: The Siamese trace their dement from the first disciples of Buddha. Their descendants having established themselves in a province of what is now North Laos, were so annoyed by their enemies that they deserted their country and founded a city in Western Siam. The conquered Southern Siam, then held by the Cambodians, and changed thiir seat of government to Aguthia, a short distance north of the present capital. The Laotians, the Cambodians, the Peguans from the West, Chinese oaptivesaud Hindus were all brought together in the capital city; and this period (1350; marks the commencement of Siam’s authentic history. Along In the seventeenth century foreign ideas commenced to be kindly received in Siam, and a European merchant who had become a great favorite with the people and the king on account of his practical ability and the interest he took in their welfare, was appointed governor of all the northern provinces. He suggested to the king the propriety of erecting a fort, on European principles, to protect hi- capital. The king accordingly selected a plat of garden ground on the west bank, near the mouth of a canal, and constructed a fort. This garden ground became a portion of the site of the unique city of Bangkok, aud the fort still stands near the royal residence. Aguthia was destroyed by the Burmese when they conquered Siam in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The fort had been erected for a century, and the city of Bangkok had so far advanced in magnificence that a few years after the destruction of the old capital it was occupied by the royal family. The first ki g to hold his court in Bangkok was of Chinese origin, he having deliv ered his country from the Burmese. There is probably no country in Ihe world where Buddhism has so absolute a sway as in Siam. Even more profusely thau in Burraah is the wealth of the kingdom lavished upon temples and priests. It is stated that in the capital alone there are 20,000 priests supported by voluntary contributions. THE SIAMESE CAPITAL.

Bangkok, the capital, is in many respects a singular city. Its population is estimated all the wav from 500,000 to 1,000,000. and is curiously mixed and cosmopolitan. Siamese and Chinese predominate in its streets, though the Malays are also very numerous, and frequent Europeans demonstrate the presence of Western civilization and interests. They are, in fact, the leaven of Siam, and to their influence and the spread of Western ideas are due the various improvements noticeable in the great city from which political power proceeds to the utmost boundaries of Siam. The army is officered by Europeans, chiefly English and Danes; the navy is commanded by Europeans, and of the many business enterprises in Siam, most of those which connect it with the outside world are superintended by Europeans. There is little love lost, however, be tween the native and foreign elements of society, and the intense hatred felt for all foreigners by the large Chinese population may at any moment prove disas trous to all foreign interests. English, French, German, Russian are all alike to the low class Chinamen, who cannot distinguish between their languages, and all are hated alike. There is every reason to believe, therefore, that the presence of a hostile fleet in the river may at any time excite the passions of the populace to an uncontrollable degree, and mob violence in the East has a meaning which is unknown in Western lands. Bangkok is the Eastern Venice. Formerly all its houses were built on the land, but the prevalence of cholera many years ago so alarmed the government that it ordered the houses on the banks to be abandoned and directed the people to live on the river itself. Thousands upon thousands of bouses were consequently built on rafts and moored to the banks of the river, and although the policy of river houses has been to some extent modified by the government, no inconsiderable part of the capital is still on the waters of the Menam; The houses are- of slight materials, constructed on bamboo rafts, each attended by a canoe, for to the rivjr resident of Bangkok a skiff ia as indispensable as a street car to the suburban resident in an American city. Formerly the right to build on the banks was reserved to the king, nobility, clergy and privileged characters. This right has been greatly extended, and now Bangkok has spread its limits on both sides of the Menam. The most striking features of the city are the palaces and the temples. The former are located in a citadel securely fortified against sudden attack or prolonged siege and comprise the palaces of the two kings aDd a variety of temples and other structures pertaining to the court. As the first king has about 5,003 women attached to the court in one capacity or another, the palaces are, as may beAonjectured, very roomy. GUARDS OF TIIE HAREM. Prominent emong the attendants are the Amazon guards of the harems They are women trained to the use of arms and employed to guard the king's wives, and whenever a lady of the harem appears in public, she is attended bv a retinue of these female soldiers, who answer with their lives for her seclusion. Several very magnificent temples are within the limits of the palace walls, the most remarkable beiag that of the “Sleep io" Idol ” and that of the ‘ * Emer aid Idol.” The Sleeping Idol is a statue 153 feet long, overlaid from head to fool with plate gold, in many places covered with inscriptions and representations of the transmigrations of Buddha. Not fur awsy is tbs palsce of the White Elc

his court* his attendants, his throngs of servants, and is treated like a prince. The White Elephant is an albino, not completely* white, but here and there having spots of cream color over his otherwise dusky hide. The Emerald Idol’s temple is a wonderful structure of the utmost magnificence, the doors and much of the wall being plated with gold. The idol itself is said to be a solid emerald twelve inches high by eight wide, the liair and dress of the rude figure being made of gold studded with precious gems. Siam is one of the least known df the great countries of Asia. It lies at the lower part of the peninsula of iarther India, and it is out up by the gulf of Siam. The mighty river Menam runs through it from north to south aud the whole country is a network of canals. In the winter a large part of it is covered with water and the people go from house to house aud from place to place in boats.

Siam is about four times as big as the State of New York; it contains about 10,030,000 people, and the country and the people, body and soul, belong to the king. The king has the right to every man’s labor, and any woman whom he calls upon must enter his harem. He has the most arbitrary power of any king of the East, and he is one of the rich inonarchs of the world. TIIE ROYAL PALACE. His palace in Bangkok is a magnificent structure, with golden elephants guarding its entrances. It has twentyfive acres of ground about it, and it is said that 5,000 people live within the palace walls. The king is said to have 300 wives, but the queen, who is the chief of these, is his majesty’s half sister. She is a very bright woman and has made herself noted for her charity. Sho rrilcs the harem and smokes cigarettes. Siam is the home of Buddhism. There are 25,003 Buddhist priests in the Siamese capital, aud these are of all ages, from 10 to 80. They go about with shaved heads aud yellow stripes of cloth wound about their half-naked bodies, and they chew the betel and smoke cigarettes as they go begging from house to house.

Chululong Korn, the king, is one of the brightest of Asiatic rulers and lias done much to advance civilization in Siam. He hns put telegraph lines throughout a great part of his kingdom. There is now a street car line in Bunkkok and the city has electric lights. It used to be that the money used in Siam was cowrie shells, or silver and gold buttons. The king hasadopttd a coinage, making money much the same as that of ours, lie has a mint of his own, and he imports Mexican dollars and recasts these into coins for the use of his people. The unit of value in Siam is the tecal, and the chief silvei coin is about the size of a half dollar. He has a post office department, and Siam belongs to the international postal union. The king talks English, and he is thinking of building a railroad which will open up the interior of his rich kingdom. Siam is full of valuable resources. It has mighty forests of teakwood aud its mines contain the finest of gold and silver. The king has an income of about $10,000,000 a year, aud lie is said to have about $50,000,000 stored away in his coffers. He has his own secretary of the treasury, hut he signs all the checks himself, and is said to he a very fine business man. He has his cabinet, just as our president has, and he lias his war department, state department, interior department and agricultural department. His country is divided up into fortyone provinces, presided over by governors, and he runs things to suit himself, making such appointments as he chooses. TIIE BURDEN OF TAXES. The people of Siam are taxed for all they are worth. Everything ifuder the sun has to pay a percentage to the government. A great part of the revenue of the king comes from the gambling establishments. The people are a nation of gamblers and the gambling taxes bring in $500,000 a year. The taxes are all farmed out, as are also the people, who as slaves of the king are ordered to work for him a part of every year. It is only the Chinese who are not subject to such service, and they are released from it by the payment of a poll tax. There are many Chinese in Siam, aud it is said that they are fast swallowing up the country. The king of Siam is very anxious to strengthen the relations with foreign powers. He realizes the danger which constantly menaces his country from its geographical position. It is the meat of the sandwich of farther India. One slice of this sandwich belongs to France, and includes Cochin China. The other slice belongs to Great Britain, and it takes up the provinces of Bnrmah. Siam lies in the centre, and it is richer than either.

Both France and England are land hungry, and they look with greedy eyes upon Siam. It is one of the richest plums which still hang on the tree of barbarism in the far East. The army is nothing to speak of. Every man has to serve the state for three months in the year, but there is no armed militia. In case of a war with England or France Siam could not do much, and its chief safety lies in the fact that neither of these great countries wants the other to have it. Probably eventually it wifi he divided between them. The king of Siam is still a young man. He will be 40 years old September2l. He is not over five feet high, hut is very straight and well formed. In his court dress he wears a vast fortune of jewels. His head is crowned with a golden pyramid of jewels. He puts on upon state occasions a coat., vest and brocaded surong, which are loaded down with jewels, and he often wears upon state occasions precious stones which are worth *1.000,000. The Siamese dt> not wear trousers. The surong, which they tic about the waist and tuck in at the hack, takes their place. The king wears silk stockings, shoes which are pointed like those of the Turk, and his costume is a beautiful one. He is not a bad looking man; his face is olive brown, his eyes are black, his forehead is high and his eyes are slightly almond in shape. He has a little mustache and thickest of stiff, black hair. He is very fond of his wife —that Is, half-sister wife—and he makes a great deal of the crown prince. NATURE OF TUB GOVERNMENT. The government of Siam is in some respects much like thut of other countries having a limited monarchy, while in one particular it is curiously different. There are two kings, afirst and a second, each of whom has a state establishment, but only one is honored as a sovereign, the other acting as a sort of prime minister. The whole country is divided into distriots, the government of each being administered by a local official who is Siamese or Luosian, or Malay, according to tbs prominence of the people in these nationalities in the popu iation. The reigning king is Chulalong Kom L, known nlso » Somdetch Pbra Pnrnainde Mahn, whe ascended u»

throes in 1863, and who governs by means of a council of six princes and from ten to twenty members, appointed by himself. Nominally a limited monarchy, there are so many ways of setting aside the established laws of the kingdom that although the Siamese call themselves the Thai, “the free,’’ and their kingdom the Muung Thai, “the free kingdom,” they are practically under the same kind of government as most other Asiatics. The king of Siam is, comparatively speaking, a rich monarch, having an annual revenue somewhat exceeding £2,000,000, of which sum £287,000 comes from the land taxes, £65,000 from the taxes on fruit trees, £IOO,000 from the spirit tax, £120,000 from the opium tax, £IOO,OOO from the gambling tax, £143,000 from the customs duties, £90,000 from the tin tax, £27,000 from the tax on edible birds’ nests, and about the same amount from the fisheries tax. As all the taxes are, however, farmed out, and Siamese tax farmers are no more honest than the people of the same business in other parts of’ the world, his majesty of Siam loses no small sum annually from the peculations and embezzlements of his agents, and it is even asserted that scarcely more than half the amount due reaches the royal coffers. He probably makes up the difference in the personal service exacted from all Siamese natives, every Siamese inhabitant of the kingdom being required, if called upon, to give at least tlitee mouths’ labor in the year to his sovereign. The result may he beneficial, so far as the king is concerned, but ns he frequently calls for this service at a time when the crops should he planted, cultivated or gathered, the result is far from beneficial to either the agriculture or the general prosperity of the kingdom. All the inhabitants are required to render military service, exceptions, however being mude in favor of the priests, of the Chinese, who are taxed instead; of slaves, of government officials and of those who are willing and nble to purchase exemption by hiring a substitute. The whole kingdom is practically, therefore, at the king’s command both in time of peace and of war, and although it is, in some respects, one of the richest countries on the globe, its natural advantages lie unimproved, and a territory almost the size of Texas has thus an annual export of only about $12,050,000 a year, consisting mostly of rice, teak, pepper and other tropical products.

AREA OF THE EMPIRE. The limits of Siam on the north and east have always been rather indefinite, for to the north, adjoining British Burmah, there lay a number of semi-iude-pendeut States, which sometimes owned allegiance to Siam aud sometimes to Burmah, as the influence of one or the other preponderated. The same difficulty existed in the East, where the An unites sometimes paid tribute to China and sometimes to Siam. Siam itself has in times past been a dependency of the Chinese empire, and even now a sort of allegiance is acknowledged and a tribute paid. So far as the Siamese territory can be estimated, its utmost limits at the time of its greatest extent were about 1,200 miles from north to south and 700 miles in width, or very nearly one-third the size of the United States. That, however, was before ttio English conquests in Bnrmah, which considerably reduced the nominal size of the empire. Its present area is estimated at 250,00) square miles, while it has a population of 2,000,000 Siamese, 2,000,000 Luosians, and 1,000,000 eaoh of Chinese or Malays. The Siamese have been given a bad reputation by travelers as beiug turbulent, quarrelsome and destitute of good qualities, but apparently do not deserve it, for the best authorities describe them as a peaceable, polite and kindly people. They are not particularly goodlooking, having a Mongolian aspect, with large heads, broad faces, wide mouths, short noses, low foreheads, and the teeth, ill accordance with the prevailing fashion, stained a repulsive black. Like most nations having little beard, they regard this feature as a blemish, and early in life carefully extract all the hairs from their faces. Except a small tuft on the top of the head, the cranium is shorn, while the clothiug, as is common in Eastern and torrid countries, is of au exceedingly airy aud primitive character.

The fertility of the cultivated laud iu the Menang valley is described by travelers as something wonderful. Most of the river valley is what is called in this country bottom land, which is annually overflowed and fertilized by the river, and is described as yielding as bountifully as the valley of the Nile. The wealth of the forests is wonderful, but on account of the climate large tracts have never yet been explored, and what may lie beyond is unknown. In the tropical jungles of Northern and Central Siam, however, grow the gutta-percha and lac, dozens of odoriferous woods and hundreds of medicinal herbs. The bamboo is found everywhere, and it and the rattan form a large portion of the houses of the population; teak, rosewood, ebony and other valuable timber trees are found iu profusion, and must in time become sources of great wealth to the power falling heir to the kingdom. That power will also fall heir to a good deal of trouble with the population, which is of so mixed and heterogeneous a character that the elements of serious difficulty are always present.

Why Trees Attract Lightning.

No tree is entirely protected against being struck by lightning. When the atmosphere ia overcharged with electricity all of them are liable to become the aim of some holt, but the beech is the one in the whole category of trees that is more rarely struck than any other. Professor Heilman, in his statistics on this subject, says that lightning strikes pine wood trees fifteen times oftener and oak trees fifty-four times oftener than the beech. This fact is very well known to frequenters of timbered regions. Traces of lightning bolts are most frequently found on oak trees, while only rarely are they found in the beech. It was thought at first that the condition of the ground had much to do with this unequal distribution of lightning strokes of trees, but this is not the case. It is the characteristic condition of the tree itself that accounts for it. Trees which contain oily substances to a high degree, even in the summer, may be regarded as comparatively lightning-proof, while those containing glucose matter attract the lightning more frequently. Dead branches are very apt to increase this danger. It need only be cited that acorns are valuable because they contain fiftyfive per cent, of glucose matter and only four per oent. of fat, while from the nut of the beech, pig-nut oil is made.—[St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Propaganda has begun negotiations (or the opening of two Catholic seminaries la India.

FOR THE FAIR SEX.

CORN STARCH AND I’OWDRUv Every season the young woman who assumes great superiority to her kind because she doesn’t use powder, “but merely corn starch,” appears upon the scene. There is no more virtue in corn starch than in well-selected powders. It does not contain mineral substances injurious to the skin, as some cheap powders do, but it has exactly the same effect in clogging the pores of the skin. It is, moreover, somewhat coarser than the best powders prepared for the face, and is, therefore, not quite so soothing. If women must powder let them buy a good, simple face powder and use it as lightly as possible. And let them remember to wash their faces very carefully with hot water after using it, in order to clear and open the pores of the skin. —[St. Louis Star-Sayings.

NEWEST OUTCOME IN' HOLLAND. The brown Holland suit, though popular several years ago, was never pretty in itself nor becoming to its wearer unless her complexion was youthful aud beyond reproach. Still, in point of cut, it was superior to the newest outcome, in holland. This has a skirt extremely wide around the hem, standing away from the feet on the front and sides. A pleated trimming divides the skirt midway of its length. The coat is shorter than an Eton jacket, so as to reveal a bit of the blouse bodice all around. This jacket has revers out of proportion to its size, and these, as a rule, are overlaid with linen gimp. Anything better calculated to cut up the figure cannot well be supposed.—[New York Post. USES OF PENNYROYAL. Sprinkle a palm leaf fan with peunyloyal extract or the oil of pennyroyal, diluted a little, and not a mosquito will dare approach you as you sit on the porch. The pennyroyal plant, like the jolinswort and the tansy, should be gathered and hoarded like gold, being careful not to tear them up by the roots, so that more will grow. Both of the former come out- of the ground, too easily for the gatherer, so take your scissors along when you go hunting them. Pennyroyal, although far too burning to be applied undiluted to the skin, reminds us of Shakepeare’s saying: “Like parmaceti for an open wound.” It salves a wound before you get it hv keeping away the noisy little winged lancet and blood sucker. The mosquito hates the smell of it, and you can easily run all such invaders away.—[New York Advertiser. PAINTING WITH THE NEEDLE. Au authority on needle painting says of embroidered roses: “Au artist in embroidery does not stop at embroidery silk for color. Whatever she feels she needs in her work she must find in some way, when it is impossible to get it by mixing colors or in the regular grades of any of the different makes or dyes. Sometimes a color is too bright; wash it and hang it in the sun for days and it will soften. Ravel dress silks, ribbons, nuy material that has the color. Furniture textiles often have charming colors that can not be found anywhere else. To be sure, these will not do to work a whole leaf or petal, but they will serve admirably for shading or touching in places. Another rule for the good workwoman is to employ more than ope kind of silk. Use filoselles or filo-fioss, as well as Roman floss and twist floss—this last being for turnovers, which, if well done, give beauty, depth and expression to rose work. Some of the Dacca silks are exquisite in coloring, but they must be split, and as they are twisted it leaves a little crinkle, which is not objectionable in a leaf. It is well, also, to remember, after your roses are finished, whether merely a spray or mass of roses, a day’s work in touching up must he done. To do this the piece should he fastened up abont as a picture is placed, and examined. Take it (town, put a stronger touch in a bud, a darker shade in a petal, deepen the heart or raise a turnover, or shade it.”

’the music myth. By the “music myth” we mean the old-fashioned idea that a young woman’s education is net complete unless she can perform on the pianoforte or some other musical instrument at least well enough to accompany her own voice in song. There is reason to believe that this myth is going out of fashion. It has long been insisted on, with a more or less cruel disregard, at times, of the wishes of the young lady herself, and of the enjoyment of the company for whom she is asked to perform. It is now seen, even by a great many proud parents, that unless Miss Mary has a taste for music, just as Miss Martha has a taste for drawing aud painting and Miss Elizabeth a taste for housekeeping, it is useless to drive her to the piano stool for a certain number of hours' practice daily; for it is the lesson of experience iu many househo’ds that Miss Mary will get out of practice just as soon as she has a sufficient excuse for avoiding her irksome daily task. And if her voice is more musical on the easy level of conversation than in climbing up and down the stairs of the diatonic scale the comfort of others, besides that of Miss Mary, comes into the question, with a title to be considered.—[New York Press. DIFFERENT IDEAq OF BEAUTY. The ladies in Japan gild their teeth and those of the Indies paint them red. The pearl ol teeth must be dyed black to he beautiful in Guzurat. In Greenland the ladies color their faces with blue and yellow. However fresh the complexion of a Muscovite may be she would think herself very ugly if she were not plastered over with paint. The Chinese must have their feet as diminutive as those of the she goats, and to render them thus their youth is passed in tortures. In ancient Persia an aquiline nose was often thought worthy of the crown, and if there was any competition between the princes the people generally went by this criterion of majesty. In some countries the mothers break the noses of their children and others press the head between two boards that it may become square. The modern Persians have a strong aversion to red hair; the Turks, on the contrary, are warm admirers of it. In China small, round eyes are liked, and the girls are continually plucking their eyebrows that they may he thin and long. The Turkish women crip a gold brush in the tincture of a black drug, which they pass over their eyebrows. It is too visible by day, but looks shining by night. They tinge their nails with a rose color. An African beauty must have small eyes, thick lips, a large, fiat nose and a skin beautifully black. An ornament for the nose is necessary for the Peruvians. They hang on it a weighty ring, the thickness of whieh is proportioned by the rank of their husbands The custom of boring it. M our Indies do their ears, is very com-

ffciJtt in several natrons* Through the perforations are bung various materials —gold, stones, a single and sometimes a great number of gold rings. The inhabitants of the land of. Natal wear caps or bonnets, from four to six inches high, composed of the fat of oxen. They thou gradually anoint the head with a purer grease, which, mixing with the hair, fasteus these bonnets for their lives!—[Kansas City Times. FASHION NOTES. The hair at present is completely waved all over the head. The dark girl is again the rage, and deep chestnut hair is the fancy of the hour. Pin-dotted Swiss muslins are very fashionable for summer gowns,. Lace is extremely popular, and is the prevailing trimming for summer dresses of silk, gingham, net, grenadine, and o':her light materials. The Infanta hats and bonnets are now the popular fanoy. Yachting costumes fpr women are far more stylish than nautical. The Isabella ring continues to be the most popular in the line of silver. A new and unique bracelet is made of two strands of tiny gold and silver shells. In both London and Paris at present many women of fashion carry a walking stick on the fashionable promenades. A new napkin holder is made in the shape of a small silver clothespin, the napkin, of course, being folded flat and thrust in between the prongs. A pretty little pocket pincushion is made in the shape of an acorn. The cup is crocheted iu nut brown silk, while the rest of it is of olive green satin, filled with bran, and the stalk is finished with ribbon. Accordion-plaited skirts of extremely thin material in very light colors are trimmed with rows of plain satin ribbon. They are worn with fancy waists mode of lace with an abundance of ribbon in rosettes, bows, loop ends and streamers, and a very wide and full corselet belt of silk to match is a necessary accompaniment. The low-out lining for very thin dresses is again approved, and it is said that we are to have bare arms at dinner and all dressy afternoon entertainments as well as for evening. The first might be tolerated, the last may be as well left out of the regulations of the American society woman. Dresses of white linen duck and serge are usefully and stylish. They are somewhat difficult to clean, however, and are better adapted to women with large means than to her who must study how to make the best appearance on a moderate amount of expenditure.

To be in the fashion one must wear flowers according to the season. The flower-garden is the milliner’s calendar, so far as trimming is concerned, and she is most in style who oan duplicate the beauties of the garden border on her dressy millinery. One of the caprices of the moment is a skirt of silk with very thin material draped over it. The silk is of some very delicate or pronounced color, and the drapery material is semi-transparent. To be stylishly dressed, it is not at all negessary to wear all of the fuss and feathers with which the shops are filled. * The fashion of wearing a cluster of real flowers pinned on the bodice has been revived again. Marguerites on snowy satin make a lovely effect. Spangled brocades are among the new silks. Gray, showered with steel or silver, is especially pretty for light mourning. Lace embroidered in colors is a fascinating novelty for evening gowns. Cream lace, embroidered in gold and turquoise, is effective on ivory brocade. All-black organdie and greaadine dresses are trimmed with ribbon and lace, as jet spoils the light delicate, effect desired in summer gowns. The popularity of the Eton jacket seems likely to continue indefinitely, as the Eton and /.ouave effects are seen on many of the new dresses. Shfrred, plaited and folded vests are worn under them. A pretty cape is made of green velvet, fringed with jet sequins and trimmed with perpendicular lines of jet. The upper cape is of coarse black tulle, with falling ends in front. Black accordion plaited lace makes a successful cape if worn under a pointed figaro with wide turn-over collar aud revers of black glace merveilleux, shot with gold and embroidered with jet.

An Entomological Paradox.

Of all the wonderful creations of nature few will excite greater amazement if given microscopic examination and careful attention than the common little iusect known as the “ vine-fretter.” Catch one of these little mites at the moment of its birth, this in the spring or early summer, when they are actually born and not hatched as other insects are, and put it where it has no chance of contact with others of its species Within a surprisingly short period it will give birth to others of its kind. Instantly isolate the new arrivals and after they have acquired a certain growth it will be noted that they, too. are reproducing their kind, just as their progenitor had done; all of which proves that these beings of extraordinary fecundity are real androgynous creatures without distinctive sex. During the spring and early summer, as hinted above, all vine-fretters are viviparous, that is, they bring forth their young alive. Toward the beginning of autumn, strange as it may seem,, all is changed, among the new, as well as the older generations,each laying eggs which are not hatched until the return of warm weather the following spring. There may be other insects equally as paradoxical in the manner of reproduction as the vine-fretter, but ‘‘ye curious man/’ has not yet discovered them.—[St. Louis Republic.

AROUMD THE HOUSE.

To prevent starch from sticking, a good plan is to put a teaspoonful of clean white lard into a pint of thick starch while hot and stir it thoroughly through the mixture. To clean mahogany, take one pint furniture oil, mix with one-half pint, spirits of turpentine and one-half pin vinegar; wet a woolen rag with the liquid, and rub the wood the way of the grain, then polish with apieceof flannel and soft cloth. To clean plush invert a hot flat iron, place upon it a single thickness of wet cotton cloth, lay the plush upon the cloth, with the Wrong side downward, and rub gently with a dry cloth uDtil the pile is raised; then take the plush from the iron, lay it on a table, and brush with a soft brush.

THE BODY AND ITS HEALTH.

Yawning. Although oue yawning does not present a very agreeable appearance, it is very agreeable to himself, for the stretching of the muscles causes a feeling of comfort. It acts likes massage, and is the most natural gymnastics of the lungs imaginable. Dr. Ntegeli, therefore, advises people not to concern themselves with so-called' decency, but every morning and eveuiug, and as often as possible, to exercise the lungs and all the muscles of respiration by yawning and stretching, as mauy chronic lung troubles may thus be prevented. Dr. Ncegcli orders the patient troubled with too much wax in the ear, accompanied with pain, to yawn often and deeply. The pain will soon disappear. He, also, in ease of nasal catarrh, inflammation of the palate, sore throat and earache, orders the patient as often as possible during each day to yawn from six to ten times successively, and immediately afterward to swallow. The result will be surprising. If one looks upon yawning as a natural massage for certain organs, he will reach a satisfactory explanation of its curative properties. | Berlin Unsere Zeit. Hints Aiioitt Eating. —The time at which the principal meal is taken is not, within limits, of such great importance if certain essential conditions are complied with. The selected hour should be adhered to; for the stomach acquires the habit of getting ready at the usual time —if it is disappointed, either the appetite fails or indigestion follows. The food last taken should not have been too recent, nor should there have been too long a fast. The diner should not have been overtired, otherwise the stomach will share in the general exhaustion. If the stomach has been exhausted by efforts to digest too recent a mear, or by too long abstinence, or partake of the general exhaustion of its proprietor, it will be unable to form the juices necessary for digestion. To liis principal meal a man should bring his body fresh and vigorous aud a stomach refreshed by rest after having done work within a reasonably short period. Dinner should never be bolted and hurried over. The food should be well masticated. The materials should be the best obtainable, the meat good and the vegetables fresh. The cooking should be carefully and properly done. Indigestible things, or those which disagree with the individual, should be eschewed. After the meal the diner should rest or have some light occupation for an hour, or, still better, two. He should neither undertake . active physioal exercise—not even moderately rapid walking—nor should he study, think over business, or occupy his mind seriously in any way. It is well to remember that a piece of beef remains and engages the stomach for about three hours, a piece of salt beef or pork four and three-quarter hours. Nor is it right to -sleep for some time after a meal. Duriug sleep digestion is suspended; the food remains in the stomach and undergoes improper changes; digestion is deferred until the sleeper wakens, aud then ligestion takes place imperfectly. Indigestion and nightmare are the consequences. Finally, do not eat too much. It is better to eat too little. The rule to get up with an appetite, though hardly an inviting one, is not without reason. Habitual repletion is much to be deprecated. If people could or would always attend to these simple directions, the benefit so health would be enormous. The gain in economy, too, would be greater than many of us think. It is astonishing how little food a man requires to do hard work and remain in health, if that food is proper in qualify and properly taken. Improper food improperly taken is not only to a great extent wasted, but will, in the end, lead to serious disaster.—[“The Family Doctor,’’ in Cassell’s Magazine.

RELIABLE RECIPES.

Baked Apple Pudding. —Take the yolks of four eggs, six large pippins grated, three tablespoonfuls of butter, one-half cup of sugar, the juice and half the peel or one lemon. Beat the sugar and butter to a cream, stir in the yolk and lemon with the grated apples. Pour this in a deep pudding dish to bake. Whip the whites, and then last grate a little natraeg over the top. Eat cold with cream. Liver.— A very nice and tasty way of cooking liver is to cut it in slices about au eighth of an inch thick, and to make the dish look nice stamp the liver in rounds with a pastry cutter, and season it with pepper and salt; then entirely cover with eggs and bread crumbs and fry in clean, hot grease until a nice golden color. Pry some very thin slices of bacon and arrange them between the liver and pour a thick brown sauce round the dish, and unless you prefer the sauce plain, you will find the addition of a little gherkin and capers will improve it very much. The Premium Sandwich is mads as follows: Break a fresh egg in a bowl and beat thoroughly; add one and onehalf cupfuls of sweet milk, a salt-spoon-l'ul of salt and a table-spoonful of melted butter. Beat well and add lightly one and three-quarters cupfuls of sifted flour mixed with one and one-half teaspoonfuls of baking poowder. Bake in rollshaped gem pans. When cool cut lengthwise with a sharp knife, which will not crumble the crusts. Spread thinly with butter and cover with finely chopped roast mutton, slightly salted. The mutton must not be overdone, but a trifle rare. As they are cut, lay the two parts of eaoh muffin next each other so that they may fit when put together.

Romance of an Orchid Hunter.

Orchid-hunting leads to strahge adventures. M. Hamelin, the collector who has sent home all the specimens of the Eulophiella Elizabeth® that have hither--to reached these shores, narrates in a letter how he won a dusky bride and moreover secured his preserves of the famous plant from all poaching on the part of brother depredators —or, more euphemistically, plant-collectors. While searching the woods of Madagascar he had for guide and hunter the brother of the chief, Mayombosa. This unhappy guide had the misfortune to be so severely mauled by a Madagascar lion that he died and M. Hamelin returned alone to tell the tale. After the recital the irate chief gave the survivor the option of marrviug the widow or being greased and burned. He chose the lesser ■if two evils, but coupled with the marriage contract an undertaking on the part of his brother-in-law to close those lands to all other orchid-seekers.—[Lon-don Telegraph. The idea that this earth is slowly drying up has quite a set-back by a recent announcement of the hydrographio engineers that the Gulf of Mexico is one foot higher now than it was in 1850.

TOPNOODY'S TYPEWRITER.

Mr*. T. Wai Inclined to Raise a Row About the New Acquisition. Mr. Topnoody was eating bis supper very peacefully, and was enjoying it so much that he had not noticed how ominously, quiet his wife was, at the other end of the table. “Topnoody, ” she said, with such force, just as he bit a piece out of a biscuit that he,almost choked on t, “Ii understand you have got a new typewriter In yonr office.” "Yes, my dear, I have,” he replied in innocent surprise. “Well, now,” she exclaimed, growing red in the face, “I won’t have it. A man at your age of life ought to know better, even if he has no regard for his wife and family. There are men who might, with a certain brazen effroutery. do as you have done, but a man of family, as you are, and a member of the church—l am shocked beyond utterance.” Mr. Topnoody looked as if he were suffering from the same sort of shock, for he was absolutely speechless. “Don’t try to deny it or to explain,” she went on angrily, “for you* have not only admitted it, but you have admitted itto me, and I shall — “But, my dear,” began Mr. T., recoveringihis utterance. “Don’t speak to me, ” she said, “.you. have taken that thing into your office when you promised me faithfully you never would have another, and, worst of all, this one is only 20 years old, and the other near 40 if she was a day,” and she began sobbing. “I don’t know, my dear, how old the other one was,” said Mr. T. with, a quiet smile, now that the light had dawned on him, “hut if the one I got yesterday is twenty years old, I’m going to raise a row with the agent whosold it to me, for he assured me it had just come from the factory.” “I’m an idiot,” sobbed -Mrs. T., looking up joyfully. “Yes, dear,” responded Mr. T., taking another bite out of the biscuit.—Free Press.

Long-Period Clocks.

Herr Noll, a mechanician of Berlangen, Germany, has constructed a clock warranted to run for 9,oooyears without winding. Mr. D. L. Golf, in this country, has in his hail an oldfashioned clock which, so lpng as the house is occupied, never runs down. Whenever the front door is opened or closed the winding arrangements of the clock, which are connected with the door by a rod with gearing attachments, are given a turn, so that persons entering or leaving the housekeep the clock constantly wound up. Mr. T; G. Farrer of Fresno, Cal., invented a clock, the only motive power of which, he alleges, is the gravitation of the earth, which keeps the clock running forever without winding. This clock consists of a plate glass dial suspended from the ceiling, and all the parts of it that are visible are the two hands, the pivot on which they swing and the dial. In 1840 Mr. J. Smith, Leeds, England, constructed a. clock, the sole motor of which was-- electricity. He lived to see this clock go for.fifty years. Clocks are now made to run five years with one winding up. In 1881 the Belgian Government placed one of these in a railway station and sealed it with the government seal. It is said to have kept capital time, having only been twice wound—in 1886 and 1891. There is a clock in the church of St. Quentin, Mayence, which is said to have stopped only once during a period of 500 years.— Brooklyn Eagle.

An Unlooked-for Customer.

Theophrastus Escuiapius Stubbe, proprietor of the “Universal LifeEverJasting Golden Bitters,” was in his office, and about him were gathered an eager group, listening to an account of the wonderful cures he had wrought with his medicine. By and by a man in somber garb—a thin, pale-faced man, sedate and melancholy—entered the office ana inquired for the proprietor. “I am the man,” said Theophrastus Escuiapius Stubbe, with dignity. “You are the proprietor of the “Universal Lite-Everlasting Golden Bitters?” said the pale visitor. “1 am. How can I help you?” “I have come to sec if I couldn’t 4et, you to establish an agency for your bitters in our town. i want you to send a smart man—one whocan sell a large quantity of your medicine.” Theophrastus rubbed his lianas and smiled exultingly. “You see,” pursued the somber visitor, “my business is getting dull, xnd I thought with your help we might revive it.” “Can’t you take the agency yourself, my friend?” asked the greatStubbe. “No, no,” said the melancholy man, with a shake of the head. Tt wouldn’t do for me. People might think that I was interested!” “Ah! What is your business?” “1 am an undertaker!”

A Two-Headed Lizard.

Some years ago Prof. Cope caused a sensation among scientific men by announcing the discovery of a fossil saurian, the .brain of which, he claimed, was located in the tail. His announced discovery was pretty generally discredited. Recently Mr. Charles £. Hite, taxidermist of the Peary Relief Expedition, and at present teacher in objects of natural history at the summer school at Avalon, New Jersey, was more fortunate than Prof. Cope, for he was able to exhibit in this office and other places a strange lizard, having, besides a perfect head in the place where it ought to be, a rudimentary head, though perfectly formed outwardly, io the place where its tail ought to be. It is, to all intents and purposes, a lizard with two heads, one at each end of its body—although the one at the tail is useless for any purpose as far as known, it remaining inactive. The little saurian is a freak, the second head not being the usual accompaniment of lizards of that species. It was found in some rocks in Southwestern Kansas by Mr. Hi to during a recent lecture in that locality. Whether or not the rudimentary head contains a brain can only be determined after its death, which, from -present indications, is in the distant future, for the little freak is quite at lively and healthy as lizards of its age usually are. Philadelphia Ledges.