Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1895 — Page 5

A COLDEN DREAM

CHAPTER XVL Everything was dark and strange to Panl Lowther. coming in as he did from the glaring tropic sunshine, but he rushed forward excitedly at Aube's cry, and dimly made out a figure in white, whose hands were eagerly stretched out to him, and, obeying the natural instinct of the moment, he clasped that figure in his arms. “Aube, my darling!’’ he cried. She shrank from Paul’s embrace trembling and confused, as Xousie looked wildly on, and a loud, angry ejaculation came from Saintone. which made Paul turn upon him, seeing more distinctly now. But this glance at the stranger was only momentary, and he turned again to Aube, looking wonderingly at Nousie, then at the place, and back at Aube, whose hand he still retained. “I could hardly find you.” he said. “I have only just landed from the packet. “Mr. Lowther!" faltered Aube, as she gazed at him wildly. "Why are you here ?” “Can you ask that?” he said. Then, with his eyes wandering once more about the place, “but my dearest girl, why are you here? This gentleman—will you introduce me?” As the words left his lips Saintone could contain himself no longer. Halfmaddened before Aube's firm refusal, the sight of this stranger who had been so warmly welcomed roused him to a pitch of fury, and he raged forth: “Aube! AA’ho is this man?” “My friend, Mr. Paul Lowther. sir,” said a sharp voice from one who had come forward unheeded, “and my name Is Durham —Englishman— at your service. Who are you?” Saintone glared at the speaker in astonishment, but turned back directly to Paul, who changed color, as he said: “I beg pardon if I have come unceremoniously, but I thought this was a cabaret. Mademoiselle Dulau, in heaven’s name, why do I find you in a place like this?” Aube’s lips parted, but her emotion checked her utterance, and she crept to Nousie's side, catching at her arm for support. “Oh, I beg pardon," cried Paul, hastily, as he struggled with the undefined apprehension, which attacked him. “You live somewhere near. You will take me to Madame Dulau.” He bowed slightly to Xousie, whose eyes were fixed upon him angrily. “And this lady,” he said, -“is ?” There was a pause, during which Aube’s lips struggled for utterance, and Nousie stood motionless and listening as a prisoner awaits the death sentenoe from the judge. It was from no shrinking at her task, for Aube's heart beat loyally and warmly then. She had chosen her path, and, martyr-like, she was prepared to pace it to the end, but no words would come. She glanced at Nousie, and saw that she was white and trembling. She could see Paul’s color coming and going, but the agitation of neither broke the spell which bound her, and her eyes wandered to Saintone, who was gazing at her fixedly, with a sneering laugh faintly appearing about his lips. That aroused her just as Paul said again rather sternly: “Is it your servant? Am I wrong in asking what I did?” “No,” said Aube, simply, as she passed her arm round Nousie's waist. “Mr. Lowther. this is my dear mother, Madame Dulau. Mamma,” she continued, quietly, “this is Mr. Paul Lowther; dear Lucie’s brother; and his friend.” She held out her hand to Bart, who drew a long breath after watching her keenly. “You brave little darling,” he said to himself, as he took her hands, and then aloud, “I bring you dear Lucie’s love. My dear Miss Dulau, I am glad to see you again. Madame Dulau, I am afraid we have taken you by surprise.” He held out his hand now to Nousie, who drew a long breath, too, and caught it eagerly, and held it for a few moments, smiling pleasantly in a face whose frank honesty impressed her. “Yes.” she said, quietly; “it is a great surprise to us both. Lucie's brother and his friend. You are very welcome to my poor home.” Paul seemed dumfounded, but at last, evidently suffering painfully, he held out his hand to Nousie, conscious that under her mask of calmness, Aube was suffering agony, and watching her, wondering what she would say or do. Nousie’s brow wrinkled and her face puckered a little with a deprecating smile as she looked at the extended hand, but she did not take it. It was not from gialice, but Paul’s words had cut deeply, and she epuld not help saying with a slight shrug of her shoulders: “You wish to shake hands with me?”

“ Yes,” stammered Paul. “AYith Aube’s mother. I beg your pardon. I did not know.” “No,” she said, simply; “how could you? lam not a lady. Only the keeper of this poor place.” She laid her hand in his for a moment, aud as his own was once more free, Paul looked confusedly from one to the other. His eyes lit last upon Saintone, who stood watching them savagely, and as the young men’s gaze encountered, Paul’s confusion passed away, for instinctively he knew that he was face to face with a rival. “AVill you come in, gentlemen?” said Nousie, quietly. “Mademoiselle Lucie’s friends are very welcome here. Aube, dear, show the way. Monsieur Saintone,” she continued, “I will not ask you to join us, after what has passed.” “I understand,” said Saintone, speaking to Nousie, but with his eyes fixed on Paul in an insolent-looking stare. “I’m going now, Nousie, but I shall come again.” He nodded at Aube, who looked at him calmly, aud walked toward the door, but turned back djrectly. “Ah,” he said, “I really forgot. Did I have anything to drink?” As he spoke he threw a coin on'.the front of the buffet. “No, Monsieur Saintone,” said Nousie, calmly, and she took up and held out the piece. • 1 “Keep it,” he said, contemptuously, and the blood flushed in Aube’s cheeks at his manner toward her mother. Then in a whisper Saintone continued: “Send those men away while their lives are safe.” | Nousie locked up at him sharply, and lie returned the look as it these were a

peculiar and well understood import to all this. "I am one of you now.” he continued in the same tone, “and I am not going to be cast aside like this.” CHAPTER XVII. Back in the evening, through the dark shadows of the great leaves, where great moths flitted over the cloying scented flowers, and the fireflies scintillated among the bushes as if there had been a shower of tiny stars. “It's maddening. I tell you, maddening!” cried Paul, hoarsely. “Oh, I don’t know,” replied Bart. "Rather warm though, here. Paul, old chap, if we stop here long I shall take to collecting. Look at that moth. Why, he’s big as a bat.” “Are you listening to what I say?” cried Paul, angrily. "My poor darling! It is horrible. The woman deserves ” “What woman? That black servant?” “No, man, no; the mother.” “Oh, come, I say, don’t speak like that of our kind hostess.” “But to send for that poor girl home from such a life as hers to a common pothouse frequented by a pack of niggers——” “I’m afraid this delicious night air is exciting you, Paul, old man. It isn’t a low pothouse, but a pleasant roadside auberge or cabaret, kept by a very sweet pleasant woman.” “Bart, you’re mad.” “Not quite, old fellow; but you nre getting on. Now be reasonable, and put the case fairly. Here’s a nice sweet creature left a widow; she has a dear little child—a girl—and she says to herself. ‘This place is not good enough. I'll send my darling to Paris to be well Taught and brought up. Never mind the expense.’ Well, she does this, and at last thinks - small blame to her—that she should like to have her daughter back, and she sends for her. Here's the history in a nutshell—a cherrystone if you like.” “But, Bart, m,v darling Aube. Man, man. would you like to see Lucie there?” “Honestly, no. But if Fate had placed her there, she would be Lucie still, and I should not howl about it.” “You'd be mad as I am.” “Not I, dear boy—not half. I know what I should do.” “Yes; what? Don't talk so slowly.” “Marry her, and get her away as soon as I could.” “Of course, yes. She must be got away at once. There was.that black-looking fellow there, too. It’s of no use for you to contradict me; he’s in love with her, and as jealous of me ns can be.” “I’m not going to contradict you. I should say he is that way; Well, no blame to him. Any fellow would fall in love with her. I should if there was" no Lucie in the world.” “She must be got away at once, and as for that, half-nigger follow, he had better mind.” “So had you.” said Bart. “But if that man goes to the house I shall shoot him.” “Mind he don't have the first imp at you, old man. Recollect that the nigger is lord paramount here; be ruled by me, and don’t do anything rash. If you get showing tight our lives will not be worth an hour's purchase.” “But look here-—” “I do, old fellow. I'm insured heavily in a good office with leave to travel, and the officials were so kind and friendly that I wouldn't for'the world behave badly to them.” “What do you mean?" “Get killed and have my heirs, execu-. tors, administrators aud assigns come upon them so soon.” "Now, my dear Bart, is this a time for your beggarly attempts at wit?” “Best I’ve got in stock, old fellow. But come, be reasonable. It’s hard, I know, to find that the lady we had stamped a lady is not a lady after all. But she’s a precious, nice, sweet woman,; wonderfully proud of her child, and that black Cherub worships her, and so do the: niggers all about.” “How do you know?” “She told me. There, let's have a cigar’ and a quiet think. You are. of course, upset by all this, and not in a position to' judge calmly. To-morrow we shall see things in a very different light.” As Bart spoke he glanced behind him i once or twice, trying to pierce the dark-: ness. “I suppose you are right,” said Paul, i sighing; "but I shall never rest till I have ■ her away from that wretched place.” Bart paused, took out his cigar case, , and offered it to Paul. “No, thanks. I can’t smoke.” “Yes; take one,” said Bart, in a low voice; “and as we are lighting up give a good look around without moving or seeming to notice anything.” “What do you mean?” said Paul, taking a cigar. ' “We shall have to try the native weeds,” snid Bart; “these are nearly the last. Ready for a light? Now, then.” He struck a match s>m] held it up to his friend’s cigar; then struck another to hold to his own. “Fancy—being followed—heard a rustle —at the side,” he said, in the intervals of puffing. "Be cool. Are yon alight?” “Yes.” “Then come along.” “See anything?” he continued, after a few moments. “I thought I saw the gleam of something bright.” “Nigger's eyes,” said Bart. “I saw a black fnce. We're being watched, old man. Let’s get home to shelter. Don’t take any notice. It may mean to, see where we go.” Nothing more occurred till they reached the place where they had left their luggage, when Paul said, upeasil'y: “Think that meant anything?” “Yes. Black shadows,” replied Bart. “I don’t like weapons, old fillloW. but we are neither in well-policed,.Paris nor within call of the Bow street bobby, so let’s unpack our revolvers, and thke them with us when we go out,” Paul nodded, and then relapsed into it thoughtful state. “And I laughed at him when he proposed bringing these tools. Said a lancet would be good enough for me,” mused Bart, as he unpacked his portmanteau and took out a brand-new six-shooter to turn it over. “Well, if I have to fire I hope I shall not hit Paul—or myself. I don’t think I could hit any one else if I tried.” An hour later he was fast asleep, and Paul was lying thinking, tossing fever-

ishly from one side, till getting into an easier position, he lay watching the stars through the open window, aud thinking of the events of the day. It was horrible! Thst sweet, gentle girl, brought up as a lady, fresh front the seclusion of the convent, to be suddenly brought to such a home as that, and evidently persecuted by the man he had encountered there. *T've made an enemy already,'’ thought Paul, and he began tiiiuking of their walk Itack to the town, past houses, dotted here and there among unbrageous foliage. which offered plenty of concealment for any one who chose to dog their steps. And it was not fancy, he knew, for he was convinced that the glance he had seen when the match was struck was from a man’s eye. Bart had seen a fa«-e. and it was evident that they had been followed. But for what? He had just reaehed this point in his musings when he held his breath, for there was a faint rustling sound beneath the window. It oeased directly, aud Paul breathed freely again, attributing the sound to some nocturnal animal—a rat perhaps. Then he thought of the position of the house where they were staying—a large two-floored building nearly covered with luxuriant creepers that would form a harbor for wild creatures such as were probably abundant there. Just then the rustling sound was repeated. and it struck him that it was like a hand grasping and shaking a stem of the tree trained all over the house. The sound ceased again, hut he lay listening to be quite startled, for the noise came again accompanied by a faint breathing, and, as he lay on his side watching the window, something darker than the darkness appeared in the opening, and he knew that u hand aud arm had been passed in to grasp the window sill. The noise which followed was undoubtedly caused by a foot seeking for a resting place; and as this riistling ceased, something dark and rouud slowly eclipsed a star on the horizon and he dimly made out the contour of a head. Paul’s hand stole beneath his pillow, where he had intended to place his revolver, but he remembered now that with his thoughts on Aube, he had forgotten it, and it lay on the table. AVithout a moment’s hesitation lia sprang out of bed, seized it, making directly after for the window, but on reaching it all was perfectly still below; aud though he peered out into the garden, and tried to distinguish the paths and shrubs, all was black there; and at last contenting himself with closing the window, ho was about to return to his couch when Bart spoke. “AA’hat’s the matter?” he said. Paul fold him. “Shouldn’t wonder, old man,” said Bart. “We dropped into a nice place; but we can prove it as soon as it’s light.” It was nearly morning when Paul fell asleep, and not much after sunrise when he started into wakefulnes, to jiml the window open aud Bart peering out. “Halloa! Awake?” said the latter. “I say, you were right. Someone climbed up here last night. The creeper’s torn just below, and there are the marks of two wide-toed feet pu the soft earth.” “AA’hat do you think it means?” “Don’t know. Pilfering, perhaps. I hope it does not mean the knife. Say, old chap, I’d have practiced for this at a pistol gallery if I had known.” (To be continued.)

GOOD MRS. ROCKEFELLER.

A Charitable Woman AVho Loves to Help the Poor. Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, wife of the millionaire, is said to be at all times a woman of very charitable Inclinations. Her Edith’s intended marriage to Harold McCormack, son of the reaper man, is the talk of the social world across the entire continent. Aud partly to consecrate the event aud partly from thankfulness that her favorite daughter has found so true a heart In return for her own, this good woman has been devoting half of each day to helping those who have no such cause to be happy. The Rockefeller home on the Hudson, where the marriage is being planned, abounds in fruits. Its hundreds of acres bear thousands of tons of apples. There Is no greater apple farm along the Hudson. And this fruit has been made into appetizing things for sick people to eat. Mrs. Rockefeller actually superintends her own cookery as far as the preserving is concerned. She is a AA r eslern woman, strong and brave. The temptations of wealth have never touched her. She Is as sweet and unaffected to-day as she was when the oil well spurted up In her husband’s farm, giving her, a tired, little school teacher, and her bookkeeper husband a chance to enjoy the things that success can bring. At fall Mrs. Rockefeller goes into the great sweet-smelling kitchen that lies In a wing back of the Tarrytown house and looks over the baskets of fruit, rosy and luscious. The mau chef has been left at home In the town house. A capable housekeeper, a couple of assistants and a few of the neighbors’ girls help her. She does no real work ' herself, but superintends it all. She sees the sparkling jelly come firm and clear, and she knows that the neighbor lassies, to whom she Is a benefactress all summer, go home with pockets lilled with silver for their share In the oldfashioned canning. There is a rumor that on the day.of her daughter’s marriage Mrs. Rockefeller will give away forty trousseaux to the daughters of Hudson river farmers. She will certainly fete them, for the Invitations have been sent out. and it will be no wonder, so greatly do the Rockefellers desire to please their humbler neighbors, if the popular young bride and handsome bridegroom dance upon the green with the farmer lads and lasses, as the tenantry of England dance upon their landed estates.

Change in English Sentiment.

The meeting of the Catholic Truth Society in London, which aims to spread Catholicity over Great Britain, was a ' notable gathering last week. Many eminent churchmen were In attendance. The congress concluded on Thursday with a pilgrimage to Glastonbury Abbey, the oldest shrine in England. Thousands "of pilgrims, including 100 robed clefgy, traveled by train from Bristol to Glastonbury. It was not very long ago that popular sentiment would not have allowed such a pilgrimage. On Thursday a large crowd watched with the greatest sympathetic interest the long, banner carrying procession, . composed of Catholic guilds, Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, Benedictines aud Carmelites, alternately singing and reciting prayers. The scene was an impressive and picturesque one, and marked an immense change in the position of the Roman Catholic Church in England.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

In round numbers the United States has produced $2,000,000,000 of gold since the discovery of the precious metal in California. Official reports show that drunkenness in the army was a good deal less prevalent last year than ever ltefore. But as even now 31 i>er cent, of the admissions to army hospitals are for alcoholism, there is evidently plenty of room for more improvement. The ex-Kmpress Eugenie has made her will, and a pleasant excitement among her numerous godsons in France is the result. She constituted herself godmother of all male children Ixiru in Frame on the birthday of her son. The manlier amounts to throe thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, each of whom she has remembered in her will. The latest medical returns from hospitals iu London. Paris and Berlin show that the serum treatment of diphtheria has cut down by one-half the number of deaths of children from this disease. The complete success of the treatment is still far off. but the best experts count upon eliminating the terror of this scourge of childhood. AA'hat makes the treatment more noteworthy is that no evil effects follow tlie use of the serum. Its main effects seem to be the clearing of the pharynx and the reduction of fever. Agriculture iu England is only for the rich. Eiglity-seven farmers in Norfolk gave up their holdings at Michaelmas. aud iu the last fourteen years nearly tliirt.v-six thousand acres in that county have entirely gone out of tillage. It is calculated by experts that in the last twenty years the farmers of Norfolk have lost $1 .*,000.0(10 on coiu crops nlone. The laud owuers are in every bit as bad a position as their tenants. On one of,the largest and best managed estates in (he county the rental has fallen in twenty years from $203,410 to $143,500. The owner of the property receives nothing from his land, as the rents are swallowed up in estate expenses.

“Ouida,” once the fad as a novelist, but always a clever, practical woman, who has long lived in Rome, declares herself unable to see what need Italy can have for costly military possessions in Africa when it Ims within its own borders 100,000 persons dying of pellagra, 0,000,000 living on malarious land, 1700 communes in which grain Is rare, 1400 communes with scanty and foul water supplies. 000 communes without doctors within reach, and over 300 communes which lmve no burial place. Of course, Italy does not look at it iu that light. Charity begins at home; but missionary work is more popular when it is a long way off, and all nations seem to want a slice of Africa.

The American Society iu London lias decided this year to give a Thanksgiving dinner that will make their countrymen abroad weep that they ever left their native land. All the delicacies will be sent over from this side. Some will be raw, some cooked in AVnshingtou, but all will be the best money cun buy and have a genuine Yankee Doodle flavor. There will be, to give due place to the great American standard, fat turkey gobblers from Rhode Island, canvasback duck and diamond-back terrapin from the waters of Chesapeake Raypeerless Lynn Haven oysters, capons from Pennsylvania, juicy hums from old Virginia, the finest mutton from the Blue Grass State, and mince aud pumpkin pies, the like of which no other cooks on earth can produce.

French engineers and railroad men are niueli Interested In the fact that certain Russian railroads have ordered locomotives from an American firm. A lending engineering journal says: “That a new country, as North America must still be regarded from many points of view, should be able to supply its own needs is in itself a*re-, markable fact. This, however, does not seem to satisfy the activity of ils people, with which Europe will have to count in future on the battleground of industry. The news that comes to us from the United States of an order for forty locomotives for Russia, placed with the Baldwin Works of Philadelphia, will be received with a certniu degree of surprise on this side of the Atlantic, especially if, as we are told, this order is to be followed by more Important ones. Already in the, matter of furnishing railroad material American constructors had taken possession of the South American market, and were currying on a formidable competition against the English in their own colonies, especially inf New Zealand and Australia, but it was hardly expected that they would be seen obtaining a foothold in Europe.” Tiie most gratifying and the most suggestive public paper presented for many years to the American people is that just issued by the bureau of education, of which the most distinguished educator of the country is head. Dr. William T. Harris. The report confirms the title of the United Htates as foremost among nations in popular education. The whole number of pupils enrolled in schools and colleges, public and private, exceeds 15,000,000, or more than 22 per cent, of the entire population. The highest figure attained by any other country in rdeent years is a fraction within 20 per cent., and the country piesentlng it was Ireland. After Ireland in rank as designated by ratio of enrollment to entire population came Prussia. England, Canada, Scotland, Belgium, France, Austria, Holland, and following these, but at a distance, Switzerland; still further back Spain, Italy, Mexico, the South and Central Americas, Russia and Turkey. The greatest stride forward was shown during the last twenty years in England, which, only in this generation, has enjoyed really free schools. It is "to be observed that nearly every country has a compulsory school law now on Its books, but in none is the law enforced rigorously. It is proposed to introduce into the public schools of Canada regular inspection of the teeth of all pupils by experts appointed for the purpose. The plan is a good one nnd worthy to be followed elsewhere. Hood .teeth are as important to the scholar, not only during his pupilage, but in his after life, as a good education, and only early atteption and care, not always given by parents nor always possible to them, can assure their preservation. It is not yet proposed to educate the

teachers in dentintry. so that they can personally inspect anti operate on their charges, but it might not be a bad idea to do so. The modern missionary is Instructed in medicine to the end that lie may minister to the physical ills of his convert, and there is no reason why tea client, especially those whose fields of work art* in remote and rustic districts where dentists are scarcer thau rocs’ eggs, should not be instructed iu that brunch of Hit* preservative and healing art. t'auada should try the experiment. and if it thrives in that cold country where teeth are urgently requlred to chatter with, it will Is* introduced to warmer ones where they have other uses, to the great advantage of all pupils, however much they may Ik* against it. The city electrician, according to the New York Post, is coming to he a v«*y Important functionary iu a good many American municipalities, and the tendency to load upon him a variety of new and unrelated'duties is viewed iu electrical circles with some concern, as tin* whole drift ill modern electricity is necessarily towards specialization. The office,owes its creation usually to the existence of a city tire alarm bureau or u police-telegraph system. The movement In favor of underground wires lias in many places added tin* supervision of a subway system; and latterly tin* control of all the interior wiring lias been entrusted to the same official, as in Pittsburg and Philadelphia. Meanwhile, about 2IK> communities of all sizes have established municipal electric-light plants, and, where possible, these are directed by the same city electrician, as in t’hicago. In one or two States there is an agitation afoot for municipal telephone exchanges, mid the overloaded official now has to deal willi the problems of the intricate telephone art. Not only this, lint In Detroit the electrical engineer of the Pity Lighting Commission lias laid lo take the unruly and superabundant shade trees in hand; while in the same city the spirit of Plngreeism has now gone so far as to demand the ninuieiiuilization of tin* trolley-car tracks, .lust where tlds will end no electrician cun well foresee; but it Is already obvious to the professors of electrical engineering in American colleges that their courses cannot lie too comprehensive.

King Curios, of Portugal, who Is now in Paris, is one of tin* heavies! insured liioiiiii'chs iu Christendom, ids insurance amounting to about (HHi, which is spread among ninny Kngllsli mid French companies. The reigning families of Europe are dlents on a very large scale of the life Insurance companies, figuring among their biggest risks. In fact, there are only two sovereigns who are known to be uninsured, namely, the czar of Russia. who is probably regarded by the companies as too unsafe a risk; and Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria, whose policies were canceled by the companies when he embarked upon ids Bulgarian venture. The late Kmpdfror Frederick of (iermnny was insured In tin* neighborhood of $4,000,000, and was regarded as a splendid risk until the sudden and startling discovery only two years before ills death that in* was afflicted with cancer Inherited from his grandmother, the beautiful Queen Louise, of lip* Napoleonic era. The life of the queen regent of Spain is Insured for a large amount In behalf of her two little daughters, she having followed therein the example of her husband, whose death mulcted the various English and French companies in which he was insured to the extent of some $2,000,000. King Leopold of Belgium’s life Is heavily Insured. as is also that of Queen Victoria for the special benefit of her younger children, it was the queen's husband, the late prince consort, who induced her to make provision tor their youngest children In this form, and lie himself was’lnsured for close upon $3,000.(KJ0. tin* Income of which has been enjoyed by Ills widow since his death.

Senator Quay's Modal Farm.

Senator Quay Visited his Lancaster county farm on his return home to Beaver from the meeting of the State Republican Committee at Philadelphia. He had not seen the place since last fall, when he si>ent a day there In company with Senator Cameron. Since then It has been Improved under the direction of Deputy Auditor General Friday, by the addition of a magnificent new barn, fences and outbuildings. This is one of the finest farms In Lancaster county, says the Pittsburg Commercial-Gazette. It consists of i:i“» acres and lies ulong the line of the Lancaster and Columbia Klectric Railway. midway between Columbia and Mountville. It is bounded on the south by the Pennsylvania Railroad, which lias built a small station near by, known as Glen Manor. The land was taken up in 1741 by Christian Garber. It remained In that family continuously until last October, when it was bought for Senator Quay by Mr. Friday. Shortly before the sale the large stone barn was destroyed by fire. The new barn is the finest and most convenient in Pennsylvania. It has a frontage of ninety feet and a depth of ninety-three feet. The basement is used as a stable, and is so arranged that one can stand anywhere on the lower floor and see all the horses and cattle feeding. Each stall is automatically supplied with water from a large spring. The second floor is of sufficient depth to admit of three fourhorse wagons being driven on the floor at the same time. Two immense corn-cribs and an agricultural implement Shed are built in the barn.

A Cyclopean Pig.

A one-eyed pig, which the Covington (Ala.) Times pronounces “the grandest curiosity ever presented in that part of the country,” has been sent to the Atlantic Exposition by its owner, Mr. J. D. Maliot, Seabright, Ala. The creature’s single eye is directly in the middle of its forehead. It has no nose, but a snout about two and one-half inches in length, which resembles an elephant’s proboscis. Its head and ears are like those of a dog, aud there are four tusks in the lower jaw. Us legs are like those of any other hog, but on its feet arc claws.

Valdos. the great Spanish novelist, is a bacbelo- ■•-' 00 and leads a very simple, retirin life.

THE SPRINKLE DOLLARS.

A Kentucky Mystery Which Has Nsver Bssn Unearthed. Joseph Shoemaker, of fSrayson. Carter county. Ivy., received the other day, in payment for a horse sold to au old farmer liviug near the Lewis county line. S4O, among which were three of the famous “Spriukle dollars” of the early thirties. It has been more than twenty years since any of these peculiar coins have been found in this section, and tin* production of these will recall a queer character who flourished in the earlier part of the century and went down to his grave with a secret that lias never been uncart lied, .losinli Sprinkle, the person in question, lived iu one of th« roughest sections iu Lewis county, and on a line proliublv tifty miles from Grayson. In Ids day Washington, the county senteof Mason and one of tin* oldest towns in this end of the State, was thriving. One day Sprinkle,• then well along In years, appeared at Washington with a buckskin pouch full of silver dollars of ids own make, in every reaped they up peered the equal of tin* national coin. The weight was more than present. and the quality and ring of the metal were all that could Im* asked. He spent them freely, and they were taken upon the assurance of Sprinkle that there was nothing wrong with them beyond the fact that lie and not the I’ulted States Mint li.-td coined them. Asked where he got (lie silver lie laughed and shook ids head knowingly; "it does not matter so i get It. and there’s plenty of it left,” was as much as he would ever offer in explanation. The inscriptions on Hie coins were rudely outlined, and in no wise was any attempt made at imitation of tin* legal coin. Rudely outlined on one side was au owl. while a six-cornered star showed with more accuracy upon llie other. The edges were smooth, no attempt having been made nl milling. The coins were considerably larger than the regulation article. amlTliicker as well. I’pon various occasions Sprinkle afterward visited the town, and in every InsUiiiec lie spent them more and more freely. At one time lie volunteered the fact that lie laid r. silver mine in the hills, hut no one ever succeeded In inducing (lie 010 man to allow a sharing of Ids secret. Finally tin* Government agents learned of tin* matter and runic on to investigate. Sprinkle was arrest eh and brought Into court, but iin* dot tars were proved lo in* pure silver, without alloy, worth in fact it trifle more than a dollar each, and after an exciting trial lie readied down iu a cavernous pocket and drew on I a hag of fifty of the coins and promptly paid his attorney in Hie presence of tin* iistonished officials. Spriukle was neve, afterward bothered, and continued tin ill ids death to make tin* dollars. how and where no one ever knew. lie lived practically alone, having his hut away from ills relatives, who lived close al hand, and lie died suddenly, carrying the secret of ids find lo tin grave untold.

Uncle Sam’s Cook Book.

The United -Btnt.es publishes a great limn,f hooks, lint H Is not generally known that among them Is a cook hook. And it Is not for the bciiellt of the White House all her. There Is u While House cook I look, lull it is published privately, and Is as big as the family Bible. Tin* United Slules cook hook is a small one, enlarged slightly, how ever. In tin* revised edition, which, according to the I’itisluirg Times, will lie out shortly. If is for tin* heneiit of the army, and in two sections, the llrst containing rules for the cooks at thi* posts anil stations, and the second f or cooks in the Held. The latter are not hard and fast, of course, Imt suggestions rather, and are the results of actual experience in that line of duty. It Is said that the honk will lie of great value to the army, and If the rules are ol>eye<l Hint can well lie believed, for the nnliy cook left to Ids unassisted intellect does not. rank with the chefs. The copy for tin* new edition Inis been carefully and conscientiously scrutinized by the Secretary of War, wli.o Is understood to lie an excellent Judge of cooking, and it is probable that lie' lias added some useful suggestions. The women show very little interest ordinarily in the publications of the United States government, but It is sufe to say that they would lake pleasure In perusing this cook book.

Machina to Milk Cows.

A milking machine lias been invented in Scotland. It Is said to work perfectly. It is known as the “Thistle,” aud an English farm paper savs of it: “The most successful milking machine yet invented was recently shown at the Darlington fair, where it attracted more attention than any other novelty on exhibition. The machine has been so thoroughly tested by experts that It Is now considered to be almost perfect, and it lias given so much satisfaction as to warrant the erection of large works for the manufacture of tin- machinery, its construction is bused on the principle of suction produced by vacynui iu a teat cup, which, pressed against the teat of a cow. extracts the milk, which is carried off to a receiving pull. Willie the teat is drained of its milk air enters the cup. allowing the former pressure to relax, and the teat is again lilh*d with milk from the udder. Vacuum is once more created in tinteat cup, which again collapses, pressing out the milk into the tube, and it then pusses, to be received as before. The exhaustion is, of course, effected by means of an air pump, which cun be worked by tin- motive power most convenient.”

Voice Heard Eighteen Miles.

Eighteen miles is the longest distance on record at which a man’s voice lias been heard. This occurred in the Grand Canon of the Colorado, where one man shouting the name of “Bob” at one end, his voice was plainly heard at the oilier end, which is eighteen miles away. Lientenant Foster, on Perry’s third Arctic expedition, found that he could converse witli with a man across the harbor of Port Bowen, a distance-of (5,808 feet, or about one mile and a quarter, and Sir John Franklin said that he conversed with ease at a distance of more than a mile. Dr.

Youag records that at Gibraltar the fcaama voice has been beard at a distance of tea miles. Sound has remarkable force mb water, (’alladon, by experiaoenU as the lake of tieoeva. estimated that a bell safemerged io the sea might be heard at a distance of more titan sixty miles. Krsokliu says that he heard the striking together of two stones in the water half a mile away. Over water or a surface of ice sound is propagated with great clearness and strength, says the Oil (Sty Derrick. l)r. Hutton relates that oa a*f lie* part of the Thames, near Uiebea, he could bear h person retd distinctly at the distance of 140 feet, while on the bed the the same could be only heard at aev-enty-six feet. Professor TyndaM, whoa on Mont Blanc, found the report of a pistol no louder thau the pop of a champagne bottle. Persons in a balloon-can hear voices from the earth a long time after they themselves are inaudible to people below.

Prosperity Dependent Upon Riven.

What would happen to tW world if tin* rivers were to dry up? The North American waters arc said to itave Wen in process of drying up for Hie post six or seven years. The water about Montreal is some four feet briow its depth Ibis time lasi your. If tfec *4t_ Ijtwreuee and ils tributaries should fall as much more next year Canada, would lie almost untenable. But this, we may venture to lrredlet, is not going to occur. The conditions as they arc are sufficiently distn“using. *>nr most vital interest in t'anada is tins forwarding interest. Without it. Atootreal would disappear as Palmyra did when caravans look uuother route, and would - probably, after a similar lapse of tjine, show fsr h*ss worthy ruins to mark the spot where once it was. Onr gruln is for Hie present dammed hack iu Hie counts, Um> steam ships coming lo carry it off are tracingtheir hulls on unusual rocks ami getling laid up. Most Interesting is thn commission of the Science Department of McGill University, to meamure the outflow of the river at what w« would fnln hope is tin* lowest point it will reach 111 our day. It lias hern a singularly bland ami bright autumn. Hie lliiesl we have ever known, but let us lie tlninkt'til it is mining to-day.

Liva-Looking Dead Plants.

A curious exhibit is Wing placed in position in tlit* Mechanics’ Fair to-day. li Is somewhat Wluted, lint Hie mure agers of Hie fair were unable U* aeeure It before, it is nothing, more or less, Hutu a display of ‘‘muiuniitted’* plants. II requires n InWl to inform people Hail they are dead, for lfe«* plants appear exactly us if alive and growing. They are ltol made of wu. or of cloth, Imt arc genuine plants that have grown in Hu* i*urtl» until tfegy have’reached it good state of devi'lsp ■ incut, when, by their being Irentevt U» a certain Injection, the growth is arrested. Then comes Hie strange part, for the plants so treated do not droop and die; Hie leaves remain frcali aiftl bright, and the plant stands erect. I* is. moreover, Impervious to Wat and cold, and nothing seems aide to destroy Ils strange repose. The most striking pari of (he exhibit is a collection of large palms used for decorating. These plants are noted for Wing very lender ami susceptible to iilmoot every influence. Those on exhibition hnvo been dead for six months, yet not even when Hie leaves are carefully examined would the fact W suspected.

One Way of Arousing Lodgers.

Umpire Bill Hays, of the Windsor, Inis invented n new system of culling sleepy guests, its very simplicity ta Its supreme attraction. Tin* other night u newspaper time went to the Windsor, and, being «*esirous of being called at an early bowr, left instructions with Umpire Hays to do the work. Sulislied that everything would be lovely the scrilie retired and slept. Early this morning the nnwepuper man was disturbed by a lively ■ tattoo upon tlie door. “Well 7 lie demanded sharply. “I’ve got tin Important message for you,” said Hit- boll buy outside. Yawning until he sprained his face, tlx- scribe jumped out of bed, toddled across the floor and opened the door. The hell boy bunded him an envelope and thou went away. The newspaper man opened I lie envelope and found therein a slip of paper lieariug lh« following: “Why don’t you gel up?’*

In What Month Were You Born?

If a girl is liorn in January she vH Tie a prudent housewife, given to melaucholy, hut of good temper. If In February, n humane and affertiouate wife and a tender mother. if iu March, generous and impulsive, but apt to he headstrong. If In April, Inconsistent, not very hatclllgcnt, hut likely to be gotxLlooliinicIf in May. Imudsoiue, amiable n*d likely to Is* happy. If in June, impetuous, nil mariy early and lie frivolous. If in July, passably handsome, but with a sulky temper. If in August, amiable and prurfleal and likely to marry rich. If iu September, discreet, affable mod much liked. If in October, coquettish and likely to lie unhappy. if in Nqyember, liberal, kind and of a mild disposition. if iu December, well proportioned, fond of novelty and extravagant.

Change in Cotton Culture.

“I was greatly disappointed in * lain trip I made through the South in re good to the cotton farms,” said Mr. T. €L Selby, of California. “I had beard and rend much of the big plantations devoted to the crop, and so I expected to see woe vast tracts of land devoted to its cultivalion. H ere was where I felt disappointed; us » rule there are no big cotton plantations in the South, and small fields of faa nnd twenty acres are about the avenge. “Planting cotton x>n a big scale is a thing ot the past; it disappeared with slave labor. To-day the vast amsaal of it produced is the aggregate yield of thousuns of little patches farmed by tenants, who' give up one-third of whatever is made to the owners of the laud, retaining two-thirds for their labor in making the crop. Of course, the majority of theae tenants are colored men. This year the planters are in great spirits, for while thqy made tbc crop on a basis of getting S cents a pound, they are receiving tram 8 to !) cents, and the difference puts a snug profit in tbeir pockets."