Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1893 — Page 4

SUPPOSE. Suppose, my (bar, that you were I And by your side yoifr sweetheart sate; Suppose you noticed by and by The distance ’twixt you w- re too great; Now tell me. dear, what would you do? I know —and so do you? And then (so comf riably p aced!) Suppose you only grew aware That that dear, dainty little waist Of hers looked very lovely there; Pray tell me, sooth —what woull jou do? I know—and so do you! Then, having do :e what I just did With not a frown to check or chill, Suppose her red lips seemed to bi t Defiance to your lordly will; Oh, tell me, sweet, what would you do? I know—aud so do you! [Eug no Field.

Hunting a Moonshiner.

BY M. M. FOLSOM.

“We were very much puzzled over n certain locality in the Cut Log region of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” said Revenue Collector Chapman, as he leaned back in his chair. “We knew very well that whisky was being made in the neighborhood, but so carefully concealed was the habitat of the moonshiners that we were unable to obtain any clue to it. There had been a distillery in that neighborhood some ten or a dozen years ago, run by a noted moonshiner—old Reub Davis —but times had become so hot for him that he suddenly decamped, giving out the report that he was going to Texas. It has been so long since his disappearance that people had almost forgotten him. “Still we were puzzled. Our deputies could find evidence unimpeachable of the existence of a contraband distillery by hanging around the little cross-roads vil-' lages aud attending the dilferent gat herrings where ‘corn juice’ and apple jack were plentiful; but although the base of supplies could be traced al most to thefountaiu head, the exact place of deposit could nevdr be found. Many and many a weary tramp did we take among those rugged mountains and dark ravines, night and day, in sun and ruin, but still we were baffled.

“Finally we decided on making a regular ring hunt for the culprit, and bright and early one morning I started out with three of my keenest deputies, determined to make a haul before night or else spend the frosty night in the woods. 1 sent two of the men in one direction and set out across the Cut Log ridge with MoDonald. “Reaching a point near the summit, I caught a whiff of the familiar flavor, and halting began to look around for some clue ub to its source. Perched away up on the mountainside, overhanging a brawling brook that came tumbling down across the road we were traveling, I spied a shabby-looking cabin whioh would have appeared uuinhabited save for a little curl of smoke ascending lazily from the rough rock chimney. Bidding McDonald remain with the horses, I climbed the mountain, and upproaching the low doorway I accosted an old woman who was looking after her household work. Everything was as innocent and unsuspicious as if there was not a drop of contraband in forty miles of the spot. “ ‘May I get a light for my pipe?’ I asked. “‘Ya-as; wait a minit and I’ll fetch you a splinter.’ “ ‘No, don’t trouble. I’ll just come in and get it myself.’ “ ‘Oh, the house ain’t fitten for ye to come into,’ she replied, eyeing me suspiciously. “ ‘That’s all right, ma’am. I’m used to that sort of thing.’ “As I said this 1 stepped in, and, advancing to the fireplace, I stooped as if to light my pipe, but at the same time it occurred to me that the chimney was unusually thick in the back wall. “ ‘Your old man isn’t in?’ I said. “ ‘I hain’t got an old man.’ “ ‘You’re a widow, then?’ “ ‘Yes, so fur as I know. My old man went off inore’n ten years ago. Said he were a-goin’ to Texas, and I hain’t hearn a word from him from that day till this.’

‘“Why did ho leave?’ “ ‘On account of therevynue men. Ye see he used to make a little licker and they found out about it, and he had to skin ont.” *• ‘What is your name?’ “ ‘Davis, Surah Ann Davis. I’m havin’ a hard time of - it, and have had these many yeers, with nobody to look after me but myself; but thank the Lord, I’ve managed to keep soul and body together.” All this time she was talking in such a meek and innocent way that my suspicions were half disarmed; but still I was unsatisfied, as that whil! of savory steam, that thick-back chimney, and the name of the woman, coupled with the history of old Reub. Davis, had aroused my suspicions. “ ‘i suppose a traveler couldn’t get a little dram hereabouts?” I remarked? “ ‘God bless you, not as I knows of. I never tech it, for I’m a strick church member and es I did I wouldn’t know whar to start to git a drap of licker.’ “ ‘Much obliged. Good morning.’ “‘Good-by, sir. Wish I could accommodate ye, but I can’t.’ “Descending the path I met a gawk-ish-looking lad driving an ox-team, loaded with wood, up a crooked road toward the cabin. He eyed me askant, but continued his toilsome journey without stopping to speak. “ ‘ McDonald,’ said I, ‘ you may think what you please, but we’re right close to the den, if wc only knew how to locate it.’

“Then I related all the circumstances, all the time casting about for some solution of the mystery which I became more and more convinced by some vague intuition existed near by. A few steps from the road that led from the woods to the cabin there was a thicket that obstructed the rude track just below where it intersected with the road we were travelling. ‘“Mack, wait here a minute; there is no barm in a little investigation,’ and I made my way down to the thicket, in which I noticed an old door shutter lying negligently, half concealed by the brambles. Making my way to it, I carefully lifted it up, and to my surprise, found the mouth of a cavern, which, though narrow, showed signs of recent use. Calling to McDonald to fasten the horses and join me, we were soon exploring the cave. A descent of a dozen steps brought us to a turn in the cave and a rough door. I gave it a kick, but there was no response, except a hollow reverberation which indicated a considerable apartment beyond. “ ‘Get me a rock and I’ll break it in,’ I called to McDonald, but just then I •was startled by a shriek in the rear. “ ‘Don’t kill him! Please don’t kill him! 1 and down came the old woman I

had scan at the cabia. 'lf you won't kill him I'll let you in.’ “ ‘We don’t want to kill anybody,’l replied. ‘So go ahead.’ “She produced a rusty key and unlocked the door, which grated roughly against the rock as it turned on its rude wooden hinges. “ ‘Come up. Reuben; they’ve found it out,’ she cried, but no Reuben answered. ‘Oh, you’ve scart him clean to death, fur he weren’t well nohow,’ and she dived fnto the cave and we at her heels. A Slight glimpse of a smouldering blaze guided us, and we were soon blundering among tuba and kegs, from among which we dragged the body of a man. “Wake up, old man, and kindle a light,’ said I. “ ‘Mister, J’ll go, es you’ll promise not to hurt me.’ “ ‘No danger of that. Come on.’ “Well, sir, he was the most forlorn and abject speoimen of moonshiner I over saw. He looked as if he hadn’t seen the light in ten years, and I think he hardly had. He had spent his days in the cave since he pretended to leave for, Texas, venturing fortli only at night, and then with every possibleprecaution. “The cave, partly natural and partly artificial, extended as far ns the center of the main highway, which ran along the side of the bluff at that point, and our men had ridden over it unsuspectingly hundreds of times. “He brought the water through a covered pipe from a spring above the house, and by a cunningly-contrived counter-pipe, conveyed the smoke and steam to and up the rear of that double chimney, thus concealing every trace above. Below he let the slops down by a subterranean ditch to a point where the little brook descended into a wild and wooded glen, broken by many cascades, so that no trace of it could be discovered in that direction. “The mouth of the cave was so carefully concealed that in hauling wood a few sticks could be throwii off, ns if by accident, and carried down after dark, as were the raw materials for the distillery, and in the same manner the liquor could be taken out in stnul! kegs and carted away. “It looked almost like a shame to destroy such a place of ingenuity, but of course we did our duty, although the old man fairly blubbered as he saw his still broken up, his kegs removed, his tubs of mash overturned, and all his ingenious safeguards exposed to the gaze of the world. He was sent up for five years, but he did not serve out his time. The discovery and exposure, together with the enforced habits of prison life, proved the death of him.”—[Atlanta Journal.

Rain in Japan.

During the summer season in Japan droughts are very frequent, and the rice fields, before so beautiful, presenting as they do all the different shades of green innumerable, gradually lose their brilliancy of color, turn yellow aud parched and threaten the total destruction of the crop. Not only does the rice suffer, but the wells dry up and necessitate the carrying of water from long distances. So a drought in Japan is indeed a great calamity. After waiting long and hoping for a downfall of rain, the people turn en masse to evoke the power of their deities to send them the saving showers. A procession is formed of perhaps 200 men, nearly naked, who, currying straw emblems representing the' sun with-the rain pouring from it, and with long streamers having prayers written on them flying in the wind, proceed to the nearest river or bay, where the whole company wade into water until they are waist-deep, and, surrounding the emblems, pray aloud and throw water on the images with both hands.

After doing this several times the procession is reformed, when it proceeds to the temple to pray again. This ceremony is repeated several times, and should the rain come in abundance prayers are offered in thanksgiving; should it be only a shower they blame themselves for not having prayed fesveufly enough, and continue their devotions until a downpour takes place. Another form of devotion for the same purpose takes place at nightfall, when a lonfg boat is filled wi*h men and paddled swiftly across tho harbor, accompanying the prayers by the regular beatings of tom-toms and gongs. Sometimes at night, away down the bay, may be heard the weird sound of the tom-toms and the voices of the men gradually growing louder and louder as the boat approaches, each man bending to his paddle in regular time as it passes.us swiftly and gradually disappears iu the darkness, and is soon lost to sight and hearing.

Tadpoles that Stand on Their Heads.

The tadpole is not, perhaps, a creature which commands universal admiration; but there is a healthy brood of tadpoles now at the Zoo, which are, for many reasons, deserving of notice. To begin with, they have not the black and forbidding aspect of the tadpole which is one of the common objects of a country walk in March. These tadpoles are largely colorless, and have an engaging way of balancing themselves on their heads, instead of wriggling up to each other like our familiar acquaintances. Their chief merit, however, is the fact that they are the off-spring of their parents. They come from eggs deposited by an African frog, which has the rather doubtful distinotion of Seeing more like a newt than any other frog; this frog, known technically as Xenopus levis, has never before condescended to breed at the Zoo, or in captivity, bo its young were very imperfectly known. As the frog itself is one of those links in creation which are fortunately not missing, a good deal of interest attaches to the tadpole, which might be fairly expected to go one better than its parents. It does, as a matter of fact, realize these expectations, for it has a pair of long feelers on its chin, whioh are exactly like the barrels of fishes. The frog has resemblances to animals lower in the scale, and the tadpole has affinities to animals a stage lower again.—[London News.

Accomplishments of a Montana Girl.

Paul Van Cleve, a member of the Montana Legislature, own s a big sheep ranch in that State. His daughter Helen, aged fourteen years, is his constant companion in his rides about the ranch, and is reputed to be one of the most accomplished riders in that part of the country.' She is a picturesque figure on horseback, as she dresses somewhat after the cowboy style, wearing trousers, colored shirt and broad sombrero, and rides in the true cowboy fashion, often bareback. She is also a good shot with the rifle. Although living in an isolated spot, Mr. Van Cleve has had his children carefully educated and his home is one of refinement, being in fact, a favorite social gathering plane for ranch-owners for mils* around.-[lllinois State Register.

THE JOKERS' BUDGET.

JESTS AND YARNS BY FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. Ought to Suffer—No Change in the Name—Circumstances Alter Cases — Natural Sight, Etc., Etc. a OUGHT TO SUFFER. Barber—Does the razor feel sir? Patron (groaning)—Umph! I hope It does. It deserves to.—[Chicago Record. NO CHANGE IN THE NAME. Scene on the deck of a mail steamer at sea. ./Esthetic Passenger (to Old Salt) —Can you tell me, my good man, the name of that fine bird hovering about? Old Salt —That’s a halbatross, sir. /E. P.—Dear me! quite a rara avis, is t not? O. S.—Dunno, sir. I’ve always heerd it called a halbatross. JE. P.—Yes, yes, my good fellow, but [ call that a rara avis just as I call you a jenus homo. O. S. (indignantly)—Oh, do you? Then I calls that a halbatross, just the mine as I calls you a blooming humbug. -[Tit-Bits. CIRCUMBTANCEB ALTER CASES. At the Hospital.—The physician on luty approached abed and felt the pulse )f one of the patients. “Ah!”heexilaimed, “he is much better than he was festerday.” “That is true,” answered the nurse, ‘but it isn’t, the same patient; the other nan is dead and this one has taken his place.” “Ah! that alters the case. Well, never nind, go on with the same treatment.”— La Moda. NATURAL LIGHT.

Shingiss—How’s trade, Dinwiddie? Dinwiddie—Light; decidedly light. Shingiss (with malice aforethought)— But I thought you were in the heavy cast - ,ng business. Dinwiddie—No; quit that two months tgo- I’m in the feather trade now.— Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph. A TRICK OF THE TRADE. Newsboy (a novice) —Extry specl-alll Collision of two men-of-warl Four hunJred killed! Bigger Newsboy—What an ass you ire! If you go and tell folks all about it, nobody will want to buy the paper. Let ne show you what you’ve got to shout; his is it:—“Extra speci-all! Aw, aw!— )h, oh!—wah, wah!—wow!—ho!—wah, wah, wah!—hoy!’’—[Zur Erheiterung. SHE WAS BOUND TO SAVE IT. It was the highly cultivated girl’s first tffort at baking. “Dear me!” she said; “there must be lomethiog wrong with that loaf of Dread." “I think,” replied her mother, gently, “that you had better throw it away. ” “Throw away the first bread I ever naked?” "Yes; most of us have to, you know.” “Never! I know what I’ll do. I’ll put some cuneiform inscriptions on it ind send it to the seminary museum.” —[Washington Star. A HUNTING EPISODE. “Gee-Whittaker, Nimrod 1 You’ve (hot your dog.” “Thank goodness 1 I’ve succeeded in sitting something at last.” —[Truth.

DOUBLY DISTRESSFUL. His borrowing has caused a loss To him as well as me; For I have lost the money loaned, .And he his memory.—[Puck. PLACING A LIMIT. “Will you love me forever?” she queried, “Forever, dear, sir, and a day?” “Y’es, indeed,” he with fervor,responded, “At any rate—er—for a day.” —[Kansan City Journal. A MATTER OF DOUBT. Mr. F.—Your former servant girl srants me to hire her. Is she honest and reliable? Dressmaker—l oan’t say. I have sent her to you with your hill five or six times, but she has never brought me back my money.—[Texas Siftings. WHY NOT? Bobby—Pa, do they call a young eagle an eaglet? Pa—Yes, Bobby. Bobby—Then 1 suppose a little bull is a bullet.—[Judge. AN UNBLUSHING CONFESSION. I held her hand, her little hand, So soft, and small, and white, I pressed it often to my lips, And clasped its fingers tight, That loving clasp my love declared, And I was not ashamed To own I loved her, for who could For loving her be blamed?

She let her hand, her little hand, Rest lovingly in mine, My tender pressures she returned. Like tendrils of a vine, Her littlo fingers clasped mine close, And her affection told. And why not? She’s my daughter, and To-day she’s four years old. —[Somerville Journal. NO ESCAPE. I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls; I felt at ease, with life content, Till fancy brought the landlord’s call; He came, alas! to get the rent. —[Buffalo Courier. A NICE DISTINCTION. Tourist—l notice you charge different prices for seats in your omnibus. How is that? Omnibus Drive—lt’s this way. When we get to a hill the first-class passengers may keep their seats, the second-class passengers must get out and the thirdclass passengers must shove behind.— [Fliegende Blaetter. THE GIFT d* A SEASON. Sir Edgard Fitz Wales—Your Amewicans aw so chahmingly thoughtful, ye know.” Mr. Hobbles—ln what way? Sir Edgard Fitz Wales—Why—aw—after you’ve had your own summer, ye know, you have an Indian summer—foh the pooah natives, I suppose.—[Chicago Record. - A NUPTIAL DISCOVERY. “Why don’t you want me to call you ‘dear?’ ” “Because it makes me feel so cheap.” —[Puck.

CLASS IN GRAMMAR. Teacher—Parse the sentence, “Yucatan is a peninsula.”. Pupil (who never could understand grammar, anyhow)—Yucatan is a proper noun, nom’tive case, second person singular— “ How do you make that out?” “First person Icatan, second person Yucatan, third person Hecatan; plural, first person, Wecatan; second per ” "Go to your seat!”—[Chicago Tribune.

Lisa TWO PEAS. Hicks Speaking of the Foglesby twins, are they really so much alike! Wicks—Yes, indeed; when one of them lies, the other will swear to it.— [Boston Transcript. A CASE IN POINT. A late judge, whose persenal appearance was as unpreposessing as his legal knowledge was profound and his intellect keen, interrupted a female witness. “Humbugged you, my good woman? What do you mean by that?” said he. “Well, your honor,” replied the woman, “I don’t know how to explain it exactly; but if a girl called you a bandsome man, she would be humbugging you.” TODGH ALREADY.

“Well, Willie, how did you like it?” asked the fond mamma, when her angel child returned from his first day at the public school. “Bully!” ejaculated the cherub, with a new light in his eyes. “But, say, don’t call me ‘Willie,’ my name’s Bill.” —[Detroit Tribune. A SOFT TLACE. , Tramp—Say, boss, don’t yer want ter hire a man? Farmer—Wal I dunno; I s’pose, l might use you a i a scarecrow. Tramp—Thank yer, boss. That’s the first encouragin ' word I’ve hid since money went up er a premium in New York.—[Bojston Transcript. A LJ ROE FIGURE. “I understani Philpotts is a largo figure in locnl p litics?” “ You bet. Philpotts weighs 324 pounds.—[Chicago Record. LIE IN WEIGHT. Boxer—Who do you think are tbs champion light i eights of America? Sparrer—Coal dealers. —[Harlem Life. Al liIGUOUS. Screeder—Doi’t you think my literary distinctly origin; 1? Snarler—Certa uly; nobody ever wrote in that style bef< re.—[Judy. HI REASON. “Why do yoi cut up such antics when you feed j-our turkeys, Mr. Farmer?” “Ohl I’m trjing to make game of them.”—Washin jton Star. A HO IE REMEDY, “What ails yei, sir?” “My conscience is troubling me, Brid get.” “Why not put a linseed poultice on it, sir, that nivgr fails to cure.”—[.Harlem life. CRYlio FOR HELP. “What is the idea in calling a consultations of physicians?” “Oh, that’s when the doctor, who originally took the case, can't think of any more excuses to give to the family.” —[Detroit Tribune.

A PLACE TO SHUN. He—l like the room, and perhaps T’ll hire it, but I hope no one in tho house plays the piano. Landlady—Only my youngest daughter, ana she is only just beginning!— [Fliegende Blatter. MONEY GOING ABROAD. “My wife has an absolute genius for making money go a long way, especially in the matter of dress.” “Indeed! ” “ Yes; she buys all her gowns in Pari now.”—[Detroit Tribune. NOT ENCOURAGING. Nervous passenger—Why are you steaming along at such a fearful rate through this fog! Ocean Captain (reassuringly)—Fogs are very dangerous, madam; and I am always in a hurry to get out of them.— [Tit-Bits. SELF-SATISFIED. Figg—What! you don’t call Muliman an opinionated man? Fogg—l consider Muliman, as the world goes, a fair minded fellow. He is never biased in fayor of other people’s opinions, and he is entirely devoid of prejudice against his own convictions.— [Boston Transcript.

GOLD BULLION.

The Interesting Process by Which It Is Refined aud Made Into Coin. Though the show of gold at the Treasury in Washington in not impressive at the first glance, one has more respect for it when the contents of the bags are enumerated. Stacked in heaps around the compartment referred to are ninetyeight sacks, each containing 1,000 yellow double eagles. Poured out on the floor they would make a very decent pile of glittering metal, representing altogether $1,900,000. Besides these there arc 409 bags, each holding 2,500 shining eagles, or $2,945,000 in all. Then there are 198 sacks,each containing 1.000 iive-dollar pieces, of a total of $5,990,000. Lastly, there are fifteen sacks, each filled to bursting with 1,000 of those anuoying two-dollar and-a half pieces, which are so easily mistaken for cents that no more of them are to be coined by the mints. One of the most interesting sights in the world is the refining of the raw gold bullion at the United States Assay Office on Wall street. Arriving there from the mines it is first melted, to free it from all earthy matter and other foreign substances. Then a certain quantity of silver is added to it, and the mixture is immersed in a bath of nitric acid. The acid has no effect on the gold, but it dissolves the silver into a liquid which looks just like pure water. This limpid liquid is drawn off, leaving the gold al the bottom of the tub. The precious metal thus purified looks like so much tine red gravel. To get rid of all moisture it is subjected to pressure. On coming«out of the squeezing machine it appears in the shape of big cakes, resembling angel food cakes in form. These cakes are worth about $25,000 each, and one could afford to pay $2,000 for a slice of very moderate size. Th ; s is the material out of which the gold coins are made. The gold is melted in a crucible, from which it is dipped out with a ladle and poured into iron molds. When cooled the molds are unlocked and taken apart, the precious metal then appearing in the shape of what are termed “ingots.” For the coinage one-tenth part of copper is mixed with the gold, but the Government also makes a business Of manufacturing “merchants’ bars” for the use of jewelers, gold leaf makers and dentists, who require the virgin metal in their trades. Such bars are as near to perfect purity as can be, being 999 fine out of a possible 1,000. The Government, while it makes a big profit by coining silver, gains nothing by minting gold pieces, the intrinsic value of which is equal to their face. There is always some loss by wasting, too. The sweepings of the Philadelphia Mint alone sell for $23,000 annually.—[New York Commercial Advertiser.

SOMEWHAT STRANGE.

ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. Queer Facts and Tlirllllnz Adven Sure* Which That Truth is Stranger T han Fiction. A single sponge has been found on the coast of Florida with a circumference of live feet six inches. J. W. Garrison, of Flat Creek, N. C., boasts of a pig which has two heads, two Bets of teeth, three eyes, two tails and six legs. A woman named Marm Smeaton, residing in the suburbs of Cincinnati, although past the age of ninety-one, has within the last year cut four new teeth. A little dog at Woburn, Mass., whose master had taken a passenger train, followed it on a run to the next station, which it reached only 200 yards behind the iron hoise.

After a separation of sixty-four years William Shaw, an inmate of the Binghamton, N. Y., county farm, has been restored to his family.. Mr. Shaw is reputed to be nearly 105' years old. A living curiosity is in the possession of Henry Gerbending, of Fort Wayne, Ind. It is a freak of nature in the shape i>f three kittens which are inseparably joined at the hips. There are three heads, six fore feet and only three belied. Samuel Leffeiis, an aged resident of Moraine,- N. D., who has been a great sufferer from rheumatism for over twenty years, has been entirely, and, it is thought, permanently cured by a slight stroke of lightning. A horse that fell down a well on the Bailey farm, in Polk County, Oregon, recently was rescued in a novel manner. Straw was thrown down the well, and the horse tramped it and rose until he was able to climb out. An English sparrow met a curious and untimely death in London recently in trying to take a drink of water from the famous Temple fountain. A gold fish, it is declared by witnesses, jumped up and seized the bird by the leg. A second fish did likewise by the bird’s other leg, and between them the sparrow found a watery grave.

Three years ago William Brown, of Lost Creek, Pa., walked down a mountain path to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad tracks just in time to have his leg cut off by a passing train. A few weeks ago he was on the same mountain, walked down the same path, and at the spot of his former misfortune, he tripped and fell and had his remaining leg taken off by the same train. A natural wonder of British Guiana is Mount Ror&ima, a peak famed for its inaccessibility and peculiar formation. It is only 6,000 feet high, but the last 2,000 feet of the ascent baffled the attempt at exploration until 1884. This main peak is a solid wall of sandstone, flat at the top, except for depressions and cavities worn by the rainfall. From the table-top are supplied innumerable streams, and equally numerous lakes in the depressions make natural reservoirs. A flower lately discovered in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is white in the morning, red at noon and blue at night, and is called the chameleon flower in default of any botanical name. It is probably a species of the hibiscus mutabilis. The colors do not pass abruptly from one shade to the other, but change gradually from the white of the morning to the pink and red and thence to the blue at night. The Tehuantepec tree grows to the size of a guava tree and gives out a slight perfume when the flower is of a red color.

A proposed fox hunt at St. Joseph, Mo., recently, was prevented by the persistency of the hounds. The tale reads as follows: “A fox was taken out of tight of the crowd and freed. The dogs were released, and before the fox had got twenty feet away hud killed it. The crowd patiently waited half a mile away. As a sort of consolation race the fox was attached to a bicycle and the cycler started off before the people, and the dogs caught the fox within a dozen steps and pulled it loose, and that ended the sport.” Thb English papers tell the following story of a badly malformed lamb: Mr. W. Hewitt, of Harrington Mills, has ewe which this spring yeaned a lamb that is certainly curiously and wondrously made. It has two eyes, both in the centre of the forehead and in a single socket, both covered with one eyelid. One ear is situated at the back of the head and the other directly under the lower jaw, near the hinge. It has no tail, but in the place of that very necessary appendage a fifth leg almost as long as the other four, fully equipped with hair, hoofs, etc. It was living at last accounts, being almost three months old.

The oldest one of the white elephants, which was born in 1770, died in its temple at Bangkok in November last. Everyone knows that the white elephant, before whom a whole people bow the knee, is the emblem of the Kingdom of Siam. It is honored with the most beautiful presents, for the Indians, full of the idea of metamorphosis, etill believe tlmt so majestic an animal could only be animated by the spirit of heaven or of an emperor. Each white elephant possesses its palace, a vessel of gold and a harness resplendent with jewels. Several mandarins are attached to its service and teed it with cakes and sugar cane. The King of Siam is the only person before whom it bows the knee, and a similar salutation is rendered it by the monarch. A few days ago William Bell was released from prison at Birmingham, Ala., after having been convicted of murder, and sentenced to hang. He managed to get a new trial and proved an° alibi through a Memphis man, for whom he was working when the crime was committed. It appears that the murder was committed by n man named William Bell, who very much resembled his innocent namesake. This man moved to Memphis after the crime, and joining the church, got so much reputation for piety that he became a deacon. The other night Mr. Persica, of Memphis, found a burglar on his premises and blew off his head with a shotgun. It turned out to be William Bell, and the facts, which came out ut the inquest, proved that he was the wanted murderer.” Edward Lane, a painter employed in painting the smokestack of a flouring mill in San Diego, Cal., recently passed through a thrilling experience. He had painted'hnlf of the stack, 120 feet high, and had jnst been drawn to the top when the hook holding his platform gave way. He fell twelve feet, striking a guy rope with his legs, whioh he wound afound the rope in a twinkling, but without effect. He fell again, dropping fortv feet further, where he struck another guy rope, luckily catching it with both hands and feet. He held on pluckily, although considerably bruised on the breast and

shoulder, until help reached him, and he was lowered to the ground. It was a narrow escape, but he did not appear to be especially disturbed over his accident and was at work next day as usual. Hat stealing is said to be one of the favorite occupations of the footpads in the City of Mexico. The scoundrel marks his victim, often in the most public streets and in broad daylight comes up behind him, grabs his hat and makes off at the top of his speed; and from his knowledge of the byways aud hidingplaces of the city usually succeeds in making his escape. An ordinary American reader will wonder why anyone would want to steal a hat, but perhaps he does not know that the hat, or sombrero, affected by the average Mexican is the most expensive part of his apparel. These hats are very large, made of the best of felt, and often elaborately decorated with gold and silver embroiderv. A Mexican oowboy will wear the biggest and costliest hat that he can afford to buy, and it is not uncommon to see them with hats worth from S3O to SSO, when all the rest of their garments would not be worth $5.

Mind-waves which strike separated friends at the same time and make each sit down and write to the other after six months or six years of silence are common enough. But the case of two brothers living in the South comes a little nearer the rarity of cases placed high in the investigations of the Psychioal Research Sooiety. It appears that recently a Mr. McCrory of Oglethorpe decided at a certain hour on a certain night to visit his brother, who lived in Florida. It had been a long time sinoe the two brothers had seen each other, and the strange part of it is at the very hour on the same night the Florida man had decided to visit his brother in Georgia. They both started about the same time and were both eminently successful, for each reaohed the home of the other about the same time and was much sui prised to find the other gone. One of the most curious applications of the phonograph to praotical use was made by an American student of languages. Being desirous of studying Chinese so that he might speak it, he asked an acquaintance to send him an instructor. When the latter arrived he proved to be a Chinaman of unpromising exterior but fair English. Teacher and pupil got on well the first day, but the latter found his instfuctor so offensive in personal characteristics that, he decided to avail himself of his knowledge without enduring his presence. So the Chinaman was set to work to talk his lesson into a phonograph, and at night the pupil, having gone to bed with the lights out, turned on the phonograph and memorized the lesson. He gave up, the experiment, however, for the whimsical reason that he dreamed of Chinese dragons and other hideous products of Oriental art.

An amusing story comes from the South Sea islands. A missionary there not long ago concluded that his house would look better for a coat of whitewash, and to get the lime burnt sonw coral. This operation the natives watched with a good deal of interest, thinking that the coral was being oooked for the purpose of being eaten. They were greatly disappointed when they found that this was not the case, but when in a short time they beheld the missionary’s cottage gleaming in the sunlight as white as snow, their delight knew no bounds. They danced, they sang, they screamed with joy. The whole island was in confusion. Whitewash became the rage. Happy was the coquette who could enhance her charms by a daub of the white brush. Contentions arose. One party urgfed their superior rank; another obtained possession of the brush and valiantly held it against all comers. A third tried to upset the tub to obtain some of the precious cosmetic. To quiet the hubbub, more whitewash was made, and in a week not a hut, a domestic utensil, a war club or a garment but was as white as snow; notan inhabitant but had his skin painted with grotesque figures; not a pig that was not whitened; and mothers might be seen in every direotion capering joyfully and yelliag with delight in the contemplation of the superior beauty of their whitewashed babies.

A correspondent witnessed a strange duel on one of President Crespo’s big cattle ranohes in the interior of Venezuela. Two vanqueros, or cowboys, were enamored of the same dark-eyed little Indian girl of the great Orinoco plains, and they decided to settle by a duel with the lasso which of them should take her to wife. A dozen fellow vaqueros assembled to witness the fray. The lovers soon appeared mounted on mettlesome mustaDgs, each with a long powerful lariat of tough cow hide. They were both experts with the lasso, and their horsemauship was a marvel. They approached to within forty and fifty yards of each other and then began to manoeuvre for a deciding cast. After several feints the lariat of the younger of the rivals, a handsome, sun-bronzed fellow from Carabobo, went whizzing through the air so swiftly that the eye could scarcely follow it. The other sank his spurs deep into his mustang. The animal sprang lorward just in time, to save his master from the noose, and as he did so the second lasso rose in the air and settled round the shoulders of the man who missed, pinning his arms to his sides as in a vice. He was jerked headlong out of the saddle. His successful rival drew him along hand over hand, half lifting him from the ground by the tenacious thong, and put a bullet square between his eyes. He then turned and rode directly to the :amp where lived the cause of this barbaric scene. She mounted behind him and he came gal loping back swinging his sombrero.

Fish Are Wide Awake Creatures.

Do fish sleep? asks the Fishing Gazette. No absolutely certain answer can be given, says Medicus, in the Gazette. My own impression is that they do, but when I say this let it not be supposed that I confuse their slumber, coma, or rest—call it what you like—with the sleep of animals., It is the same only in generic kind, inasmuch as that it relieves the function as analogous slumber does in the higher animals. To understand the meaning I wish to convey it is necessary to bear in mind that the fish is eminently endowed with muscular and, consequently, great locomotive power. Moreover, as it consumes but little oxygen, the waste of tissue is not great, hence fish have been known to do without food for a great length of time. Similarly the stress on the vital powers is not great, oompared with that produoed by the difficulties of movement in land amimals. These facts, viz., great muscular power, easy locomotion and small consumption of oxygen, being borne in mind, we can understand why the necessity for sleep is smalt, and are prepared to find that fish sleep but little. Fpain in 1855 had 31,880 schools, 86,000 teachers and 1,843,000 attendance.

MY BROTHER GARDNER.

A Few Remarks on the Improvidence of Colored Folks. “I hold yere _n my hand,” said Brother Gardner at the regular meeting of the Lime-kiln club the other night, “a letter from Gineral De Soto Jones of Mississippi, who am a white man, axin’ me if I hev obsarved a tendency on de part of our people toward economy. In fact, he wants to know how many members of dis club I kin pint to as practical economists. I shall be obliged to reply dat we haven’t one single member. De tendency of our people am right in de opposite direckshun, and whar it am gwine to stop no man kin tell. It has bin a source of sorrow and disappointment t« me fur a y’ar or two past, an’ I feel it my aooty to make a few remarks on de subjeck. Brudder Bebee, stand up.”

Brother Bebee bobbed up with ascared look in his eyes, and the president regarded him for a moment over the top of his spectacles and then said: “A few evenin’s ago I met yo’ in de grocery. Yo’ had bin buyin’ Spanish mackerel and Bermuda onions, an’ when yo’ went out de grocer axed me how many millyon dollars yo’ was wuth. Spanish mackerel an’ Bermuda onions on a salary of $9 a week. Whar do yo’ expect toeand up, Brudder Bebee!" “Ize quit, Bah,” muttered the member, as he shifted around on his feet. “I hope yo’has. Seems to me you’sgot sense ’nufl to see dat bar-futted chill’en, back rent, borrowed money, and Spanish mackerel doan’ mix well • together. Elder Toots, whar’ ar’ yo’ at?”' “Heah, sir.” “So I see. What happened at yo’r cabin de odder night, elder?” “We gin a leetle party, sah.” “ Y-e-s ! Yo’ had ice cream, angels food, coffee, an’ coco. Befo’ givin’ departy yo’ had to buy some new turniture. One of d’ articles yo’ bought was a chiny i spitbox dat cost 75 cents. Yo’r incomeam from $7 to $8 per week. Yo’ owe two months back rent, y’or pew rent am way behind, an’ Brudder Watkins am threatenin’ to sue yo’ fur borrowed money. He president of de United States am satisfied to spit outer de kitohen winder, but yo’ must hev a chiny spitbox t De gov’nor of New York can’t afford anythin’ better dan gingerbread when he gins a leettle party, but yo’ must set out angels’ food and bass it around twice 1 Sot down Elder Toots! You’s got sich a goneness in de head jist at present dat yo’ can’t think of any excuse. Sir Isaac Walpole, will yo’ riz up for a minit. I want de people to see yo’ in all yo’r glory. How much did dat red necktie cost! ” “Six bits, sah.” •‘An’ yo’ use b’ar’s ile on yo’r ha’r?” “Yes, sah.” “An’ yo’r suspenders cost 50 cents a pa’r?” “Yes, sah.” “An’ I am told yo’ wa’r a regular chist purtector, bought at de store?” “Y-yes, sah.” “H’m. De guv’nor of No'th Cariliny goes over to wisit de guv’nor of South Cariliny w’arin’ a 2-bit necktie, cottonseed ile on his h’ar, an’ his trousers held up by a piece of rope. You’s got to be a great man, Sir Isaao—a werry great man! How do yo’ manage to do all dis on an income of $6 or $7 a week?” Sir Isaac’s legs began to wobble about and he sat down. Judge Cahoots just then made a sneak for the door, but the president stopped him with: “Excuse me, jedge, dat I didn’t see yo’ befo’. I wish to congratulate yo’ on getting ahead in the world. Sur a man who has bin outer work half de time fur de last y’ar yo’ am pushin' to de front powerful fast. Dey tell me yo’r wife has dun bought six plates on which to sarve raw oysters. As I passed yo’r cabin de odder day I noticed a doahplate on de doah. It has also come to my ear dat yo’ has got a regular fire screen in de parlor an’ an eight-day clock. yo’ give de rest of us a pinter on how to git rich on nuffin? De guv’nor of Texas am glad ’null to git a one-dav clock, but yo’ feel obleeged to go him seven better. De king of Portugal eats his oysters off a pie tin, but dat han’t style ’null fur yo’! Sot down, Jedge Cahoots. We can’t offer you no silk upholstered cha’r, but mebbe yo’ kin stand it fur a few minutes. “Dar am a score of others heah who could be called down in de same fashion, but it would be lime frown away. De fact am, we is follerin’ in de futsteps of de white race. If we han’t got no sense we an’t to blame fur it. Seben outer ebery ten white men in dis kentry am dodgin’ creditors. Sebenteen outer ebery twenty am libin beyond their incomes. De man who owes de most ginerally dresses de best. De wife of a man aimin’ sl2 a week has mo’ diamonds dan de one aimin’ SSO. Fo’-fifths of de people givin’ swell parties am under mortgage. Half of de furniture which goes out o’ de stores am brought baok unpaid for. While dese things grieve me, as I said befor’, I hev no fault to find wid yo’. We has been brung up to Jjelieve the white man knows it all. We hev felt it a privilege to imitate him. We’s got in de habit an’ can’t stop, an’ he must not turn on us an’ hold us responsible dat we reflect his vices as well as his varchews.”—[M. Quad, in Chicago Times.

Californian Miners for Africa.

Some practical gold miners of Sonoma county, Cal., are preparing to move in a body upon the gold fields of Africa. The party will consist of twenty-five persons, all practical miners. Nobody has been enlisted who cannot wield the pick, put in a blast, and do all the other work that is required of a skillful gold-seeker. The expense of reaching Africa is estimated at from #4OO to #SOO for each man. Plans to organize an expedition were begun on the receipt of some rather sensational news from one Sam Connors, who was formerly an engineer on the Comstock and is now the general manager of a rich gold mine in the Johannesburg district. He wrote home to his old friends of tho California placers that the prospective wealth of the African fields was almost fabulous, and he promised them employmen* if they would join him. Practical California miners who are willing to work are sure of a comfortable subsistence, he says, and many of them should be able to amass large fortunes. Connors adds that he is now preparing to erect the largest quartz mill in the world, and that the mines have a rich outcropping for twenty miles in ail directions. [Picayune.

Fall of a Meteor.

A large meteor is reported to have struck the earth about two miles west of Connel, Ore. It fell about SCO yards from the railroad track, and the trainmen on an extra freight were blinded by the brilliant light it made. The country for miles about was lighted up. and the meteor made a loud hissing noise as it passed down to the earth.—[New York Post.