Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1879 — Page 4

MAJOR BITTERS * SOM. ZvMU itrt -rnX Proprietor*.

SANTA CLAUS. Th» new moon saw a funny Sight, , A. ft looked on the world one winter's It mw old Santa Claus, presents and all. Sitting above a chimney wall, Where be had been caught, in a wretched found the chimney wall so tight . That his knee was skinned and his pants were torn. And poor old Santa Claus felt forlorn. . •» Surely I’ve grown a trifle stout, Since a year ago I went about. Or, ft may be, the chimney has narrower grO-MU. Yet such a thing was never known; I have ft! the fall'of snow last night Has filled the chimney and made ft tight. ItlnU’ht have been worse," he said, at last, “ For a little smaller and I had been fast; And the world had forever laughed o er the fate 1 Of a Santa Claus trapped by his heavy weight." Then be sat himself down in the soft, white snow, To make up his mind where he should go. “ One thing is certain, twill never do # To try to go down a fashionable flue. So the rich must look out for a different way To make themselves happy on Cristinas Day. Tia a Messed day the poor can have. Where the chimneys allow me to enter and A nd* 1 he gathered together his wonderful An<Tttra’pped ft anew upoq his back. Then he jumps in bis sleigh and took up his reins. And his retbdeer ponies thought ft strange. That he drove to the houses where dwelt the • poor. Instead of the rich man’s cheery door; Then out in the Country, o’er fields of snow. Where the children scarce a Christmas know. And down the broad chimneys a century old. Leaving gifts that were better than silver and gold. The moon smiled to sec him look down at his knee-. And say to himself, “ Who will mend this for me? Hure, for once in my life. I’m a regular hem. To go In this way with the weather at aero.” When the children awoke, there were shout ings of joy Buch a« never were heard. And many a boy. As well as his sister, said, "what can ft m<*an, Such beautiful things we never have seen. I am afraid we shall find there has been a mistake. Or else we are dreaming, and not halfawake." While rhe irrumbltnirs, and poutings, and murmurings loud. From the children whom fortune bad spoiled and made proud. Were soon all forgot in the general glee (if Christmas games, candies and beautiful tree. Old Santa drove off to his home at the pole. Delighted and jolly: said he,“ 'non my soul 'Tis the best Christmas work I ever have done? To make the poor happy is marvelous fun. With ten thousand or more to visit next year I’m sure to be busy, and sure to bring cheer. How people can live who have but a few Is a marvel to me. Pray, what can they do?” ■i —Jfwjir B. PuJu, in AUianee.

A HARD OLD CASE.

“ Yes, he is a hard bld case, that’s what even body says, so it’s bound to be true.” Then, didn’t he refuse to give good Mr. Doodluiu a single cent for the purchase of damask curtains and velvet cushions fora South Sea Island Church ? Anti didn't he telkMrs. Sniffle he hat! better use for his money than wasting it on the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Sea Serpents? . . Mrs. Sniffle, kind, thoughtful creature, says- she “prays every night for that poor hardened sinner’s soul.” Once, when the minister referred to the hard of heart, the last person in church knew he meant Stephen Somerville. They say he makes “ lots” of money, ami hides it away—the miserly fellow! They say be is awfully stingy, and as unsocial as a turtle in its shell. They ' say—how simple the words, yet what cruel scars they carve on many a fair name! To how many bitter and unkind thrusts arc those two cowardly little words a prelude! They say he is a perfect Tack let on in gruffness, but somehow, all little children seem to loVeliini. You see, they, haven’t yet learned to reason themselves into likes and dislikes, but rush blindly into -friendships and hates. Poor little innocents! But semie persons believe the ,• little ones are blessed with a God-given intuition that makes them know the pure and the true from the false. , - Therejs an almost imperceptible soft dight in Stephen Somerville's grave eyes, and a nameless something -winning in the lines around his mouth; but what •are those insignificant little gleams and curves compared to the “they says” of society? Anatomists say we all have such a thing as a heart, but no one imagined that the hard old case , owned such a piece of property, until he fell in love with pretty Kate Lawrence. But she was too well aware of his reputation for being penurious, cold and selfish, to trust her life in his care. Still, at times, she could not conceal from herself the fact that one word from quiet Stephen Somerville interested her more than all the brilliant compliments showered on her from other lips, and that one of his rare smiles haunted her for days. But she didn't love him, of course not! The Lawrences are mat-ter-of-fact, sensible people, and not likely to indulge in such a weakness as falling in love with marble statues. Her most devoted admirer was Mr. Legay, a vivacious, courtly, captivating, carpet knight as elegant and demonstrative as poor Stephen was blundering, and reserved. His tact and winning ways soon rendered him the honored favorite of St. Mary’s best society in general, anil of Miss Kate Lawrence in particular; so said Dame Rumor, and she knows everything. To study hum in nature in its most undisguised state, travel on an uncomfortable stage over bad roads. We may meet' people in the ordinary social circle for years without gaining half the insight into their character that one day’s travel together over rough roads will afford. Under these adverse circumstances all infirmities of temper and disagreeable traits, hitherto concealed, are brought out as distinctly as “ invisible writing” when, exnosed to the fire. I once heard a gentleman say it was the ordeal by which he intended to test a young lady s disposition before offering his-hand. A good idea, and he deserves .a patent for it. Arnone the passengers on a very uncomfortable public vehicle, advertised as an “ elegant luxurious coach,” winding anil bumping and jostling its way to St. Mary s in December, 1877, was Kate Lawrence, returning home from a little visit. A gleam of surprised delight overspread the countenance of Mr.Ltgay, when, on entering the stage, he beheld his “heart's fond idol.” And, after an hour’s travel, who should appear but Stephen Somerville! As a general thing the reserve of this hard old case was a safe fortress behind which to hide his feelings; but at this unexpected meeting with somebody on the stage, either Mr. Legay or one of the other passengers, a smile and a glow of pleasure played traitor and crept forth from the citadel. And, after the usual greetings, he even ventured on some original observation about the weather being very cold. But Kate replied rather indifferently to this overture, and the hard old case retired, repulsed, to his shell. Mr. Legay improved this .opportunit y of displaying his conversational powers, and his bright, witty nothings were in such marked contrast to poor Stephen's I meteorological remarks that Kate soon ! became an eager listener. Presently he; spoke of the deference due to the “gio- j nous sex ” especially in the matter of traveling, obtaining tickets and giving I

up seats. “Tome,” be said, “woman is ever an object of adoration, whether arrayed in the garb of a peasant or the silken attire of s' princess.” (People in love do talk so extravagantly!) “ And rather than allow a lady to stand in a street car I would walk all day.” “Humph!” retorted the statue, venturing out again. It depends on who the lady is whether I rise or not. Some of your ‘glorious sex’ accept our sacrifices as thanklessly as the goddesses of old did the human offerings laid on their altars. A few, like Queen Bess, repay the simpletons for casting the velvet mantle for their dainty feet, but it’s precious few; and, after all, poor Raleigh won a place in her good graces only to lose his head.” The consequences of this long speech sent Stephen blushing behind his fortifications again, for Kate said: “You’re a severe critic, Mr. Somerville; I really had no idea you were such a student of woman nature! Pray, how and when and where did you acquire your knowledge on that subject?” “ There’s more danger of my losing a heart than a head in the service of my Queen,” murmured Mr. Legay, looking an avalanche of tenderness at Kate. At this interesting iuncturothe “ elegant, luxurious coach’* stopped “ to take in a ’oman;” the driver said: • “ Her husband is as industrious a fellow as ever nailed on a hoss-shoe, or blowed the bellows, but he couldn’t git no work on those bar'n pine hills, so he goes down yonner to Sint Mary's; gets a situashun* an’ sen's fur his famberly. An’ here they comes.” ■ The little old gate creaked the “famI berly” a dismal farewell on its rusty hinges, as a poorly-dressed woman, with a delicate child in her arms, and a little boy clinging to her skirts, came out.

Once more the stage started. The cold became more intense, and before many miles were traversed the little trio were blue and shivering. The mother took off her faded shawl and wrapped her childreh carefully in it. Little Dixie, the boy, sobbed on his rough jacket sleeve, and said he “wished he was in a big ole fire.” At last, all the passengers complained of the cold, except the hard old case, who forgot his former weather observation and grew so warm that he was obliged to lay aside his big, warm shawl.” “Shawls are such a trouble, and I'd be glad to get rid of this one,” he said, handing it to the grateful little mother. She thought he jnust be very queerly constituted, to get too warm on such a day, while Mr. Legay wore two shawls with seeming comfort To Kate the action was almost sublime. and the white lie accompanying it was such as the angels blot out with a tear. The “invisible writing” in Stephen Somerville’s character was becoming clear. For the rest of the ride she could not see the point of Mr. Legay’s witticisms, and replied so curtly to his sentimentalisms that he wondered what could have wrought such a sudden change. “Fair but fickle,” he thought. When the “elegant and luxurious coach” finally lumbered into St. Mary’s, the wear}’ passengers willingly began to alight. Boy-like, i)ixie was among the first to escape from the thralldom; and before bis mother could collect up baby and bundle and basket, he was under the horses’ feet. His mother saw the danger as the wild horses took fright, but was too far off to render any assistance except a useless warning. One swift moment—to her a year!—then there was a child’s sharp cry, a woman’s wail, and the silence of breathless, stifling suspense fell upon the bystanders. Another instant, and the boy, terribly frightened, but safe and sound, was in his mother’s arms, and the hard old case was picked up where the elegant coach, witn its flying steeds, had just stood. Ho was senseless and severely injured. Kate wanted to wring her hands and die, but her good sense prevailed, and she gavd orders for Mr. Somerville to be conveyed to her own pleasant home instead of his distant boarding-house. Ah’, now, in unfading characters, glowing, golden letters, was the writing all revealed! At first the physicians thought there was no hope, but by their skill And the faithful nursing given him by the Lawrences and Dixie's parents, Mr. Somerville began to improve. It was wonderful to see what a tender, gentle nurse the rough blacksmith proved himself. He felt that even a life-long devotion could not express his gratitude to the man who had so nobly risked his life to save his boy. Kate wandered about the’ house like a lost spirit, and her mother was puzzled at her being “so nervous over an accident to a comparative stranger.” But when Stephen’s recovery became certain, the young lady happened to overcome her “nervousness” very rapidly. Christmas morning, with its wealth of evergreens, pearl v-f mi ted, waxenleafed, mistletoe and crimson-berried holly, dawned. Stephen was able to make his appearance in the parlors for the first time, and Dixie came over in all the glory of a bran new suit, full of pockets, which Santa Claus had brought His only shadow of sorrow now was that he didn't have a hand for each cute little pocket. He’ had spent two hours, and nis only “two bits” in a toy store, getting a Christmas present for his deliverer. Kate said it was a jierfect beanty, and the hard old case declared that a toy barking sheep, with l>c;ul eyes, was just exactly what he wanted! Then some mysterious-looking packages were given to Dixie, and he went home with as much tnie happiness stowed under his tiny gray jacket as a little prince ever felt. Then Stephen Somerville summoned up the courage to tell Kate the “ three little words” he had so long wanted to say. I don't know what reply she made, but for some reason she didn't seem to be the least bit annoyed at what he said.— Detroit Free Press.

A Natural Wonder.

From my hotel window I can look out almost any clear dhy and see a dim column of smoke in the’ far southwest. I have asked the cause of it and have been told that it is the vapor from a boiling spring, which has never been found, owing to the impenetrable nature of the swamp in which it is situated- My informants say it frequently deceived blockade-runners during the war. The runners would suppose it a signal from shore and run in to certain capture. I suggested one day that perhaps there might be some illicit whisky distillation going on in that swamp. The possibility, and even probability, was admitted. “ Then none of you, I presume,” I asked, “saw that column of smoke before ;or during the war?” None had seen it until the tax on whisky was levied, for, they said, they had never had their attention called to it l until of late years. ( I accosted a gray-haired negro on the subject of the smoky column: “Well, sah,” says he, “if you was down in de neighborhood of whar datsmoke is, and you should leave a jug alongside de | road wid a quarter tied to de handle, you’d lie mighty ap’ to find dat ju«r filled wid whisky next day.” . “Where would the quarter be. Uncle?” “Dat would be gone, sah.” * l And could I spend a quarter that way every day?” “As many as you like. If you tie half a dollar dey’ll give you half a dollar’s worth of whisky, and dey’ll gib vou good measure,* sure/’

“Do they do much business in that line?” I asked. “I don’t know nuffin about dat, sah. I only knows dat you get as much whisky in de jug as the money tied to de handle will pay for.”. I don’t want the readers of this to discredit the existence in Florida of great springs, natural bridges or sunken lands making room for lakes, for these are natural phenomena, and can be seen and verified.— Cor. Tallahasse {Fla.) Sun. - ■

FACTS AND FIGURES.

In 1878 the real and personal property taxed in the State of Nevada was valued at 828,246,009.89. This year the estimate is >28,786,047.27, an increase of >540,037.88. The values of the main crops of the United States for 1879 are estimated as follows: Corn, >525,000,000; beef, >270,000,000; wheat, >410,000,000; cotton, >270,000,000; rye, >15,000,000; oats. >150,000,000; barley, >25,000,000; buckwheat, >9,000,000; hay, >300,000,000; pork, >250,000,000. Forty-four and four-tenths per cent, of the white people who took the yellow fever during tne late epidemic in Memphis are said to have died; of the black people 16 6-10 per cent. died. There were altogether 1,537 cases of fever and 487 deaths, a total death percentage of 31 6-10. A famous English General says that in a British regiment of 1,000 men there are, in his experience, usually fifty men who, as a forlorn hope, will ao anything; that 900 men who would either gape or run wHI follow the fifty, and that the other fifty are curs who would cringe in a ditch u they could.

During the past season thirteen vessels have been engaged in codfishing in the North Pacific. Most of the fish were caught in the vicinity of the Choumagin Islands and the Ochotsk Sea. The total catch for the season was 1,499,000 fish, weighing about 3,000 tons. This was an increase over 1878 of more than 300,000 fish. Spain has 92 Dukes, 866 Marquises, 632 Counts, 92 Viscounts, 98 Barons. The whole number of persons bearing the titles of Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, Baron and Lord in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is somewhere about 900, but of these only some 400 have seats in the House of Lords. Most of the rest bear merely courtesy titles. The actual returns of the present year’s crops in the South, as far as known, are interesting. The cotton yield is larger by half a million of bales than ever before in the days of slavery; The tobacco crop is greater by twelve million pounds than last year, and the E reduction of sugar exceeds by two undred thousand hogsheads that of 1878. During 1878 the Onondaga Salt Works produced, in the aggregate, 7,126,197 bushels. Up to a recent date this year, the yield is 7,276,062 bushels, .and there is no doubt that the production of the entire year will be very near 9,000,000 bushels, an increase of almost 2,000,000 over last year, and nearly equal to the largest yield in the histoiy of the trade. There has been a surprising development of the gold fields of Georgia. From a yield of >IOO,OOO in bullion four years ago the yield is now over >1,000,000 per annum, and is rapidly increasing. New mines are being opened and new veins discovered. The mining operations extend from Oglethorpe and Wilkes, on the right, to the Alabama line on the left, leaving little doubt that the whole of upper Georgia is rich with gold-bearing quartz. A German return which has been lately published gives the following particulars of the cost of building some of the leading continents theaters: The Stadt Theater, at Leipsic, built in 1868, cost altogether >420,000. The Court Theater, at Dresden, which was burnt down, and which was built between 1838 and 1841, cost >306,000; and the present theater, which took from 1871 to 1878 to build, cost >1,750,000. The Theater du Chatelet, in Paris, built between 1860 and 1862, cost >687,000. The Comic Opera House, in Vienna, built between 1872 and 1874, cost >418,000. The Theater Lyrique, in Paris, built between 1860 and 1862, cost >450,000. The Imperial Opera House, in Vienna, which took from 1861 to 1868 to build, cost altoS;ther >2,700,000. Finally, the Grand pera, in Paris, the building of which occupied from 1861 to 1875, cost >8,000,000. The troubled state of the relations between China and Japan gives interest to an estimate of the strength of the land forces of the former country, contributed to a German paper by a well-informed writer. He estimates the total strength of the army at 662,000 of all ranks. Of these 87,000, in round numbers, are cavalry; 195,000 form the field infantry and artillery, while the remaining 320,000 constitute the garrison of the two latter arms of the service. Although, however, the Chinese army may have this strength on paper, its actual numbers are much fewer. In making any calculation, also, of the armed strength of China, it must be remembered that such troops as really exist are dispersed over an immense area, embracing some 4,000,000 of English square miles, which is traversed by very few good roads; while there are no railways to facilitate the concentration of large masses of men.

A Singular Case.

Several weeks ago Robert Jeffrey, of this city, was robbed while asleep in the office of the Bull's Head Hotel, New York, of his gold watch and chain. John F. Cavanagh was arrested for the theft. He at first denied its commission, but subsequently upon the suggestion of the police sergeant in command of the station to which he was taken that he confess his guilt and give up the watch, he admitted his guilt and conducted an officer to the spot where he had hidden the watch. The two days’ trial of Cavanagh was concluded in the Court of General Sessions Tuesday afternoon, and resulted in the acquittal of the prisoner. His counsel argued that the confession was illegally obtained, and on • the authority of the People vs. Phillips, recently decided by the Court of Appeals and reported in the 42d New York Reports, and a host of other decisions, contended that the confession was clearly inadmissible as evidence, and that, notwithstanding the fact that the police officer was taken by the prisoner to where the property was concealed, as the confession was inadmissible the Judge should charge the jury to acquit the accused. Assistant-District-Attorney Herring and Judge Gildersleeve strongly reproved the police officials for their stupid action in the premises, and the motion of the counsel for the prisoner to take the case from the jury was granted. After Cavanagh’s acquittal he seemed dazed and cpuld scarcely realize how the jury founahim not guilty after his confession of having committed the crime.— New London (Ct) Gazelle. —A man can always write better than he can speajc. This is a rule of universal application. Even when a gentleman •stands on the hank of a stream, he gets no fish by speaking, though he be never so eloquent; but, on the other hand, if he just “ drops a line" to the finny tribe they respond with great alacrity.

DECIDEDLY DRAMATIC.

<wy-*ra>li Kajhrea ta tZirfti Ow ripe P«Me-(W •my Iftterpme as* Amotumw tee OWHOom om Wk left tee Twelve * teplte**«4 RadMaßs Will be >eUv> erefl Vp—T*e AvOeaeT tee Ciaair aflea. Specials to the Denver TVibwne from Loe Pinos dated the 6th, represent that Saturday witnessed some decidedly animated occurrences at the Commissioners’ meeting. After Jack had declined to inform the Commissioners what Indians had been concerned in the White River massacre, the Indians retired to Ouray’s house to debate what course to pursue. No Indian appeared at the agency until Saturday, but they seem to have been engaged at Ouray’s in conducting the wildest dances, and in making fiery speeches. A man was sent from the agency to Ouray’s with feed for the horses of the Indians, and discovered from the noise on the inside that the Indians were greatly excited. They were bedecked m feathers and war paint, and he was so frightened that he turned back and did not deliver the hay. Saturday at twelve o’clock the Utes came into the agency and took seats inside the agency building, Jack, Colmow, twelve other White River Utes, and, of course, Ouray being among the Indians present. When the Indians and Commissioners had taken their seats. General Hatch addressed the Indians, setting forth the full demands of the Commission, its right to make the demand, and the patience already exercised with the Utes. “To-day,” he said, “is your last chance. We will wait no longer. We want your final answer, and we want no evasions.” A list of the Utes charged by the Agency women with taking part in the massacre, was then read, and the question put by Hatch: “Will you surrender the men whose names are in this paper to be tried, the guilty punished and the innocent acquitted?” The question was put twice, and after consultation, evasive answers were returned both times. When the question was repeated a third time, Ouray replied, without consulting the other Utes: “How do we know that these Indians you name were at White River at the time of the massacre? Or, even if they were there, we do not know they were concerned in it. These women mentioned the names which came first to their lips, whether they knew them to be there or not. We cannot depend on what they say.” “That is what we depend on,” said Hatch. Adams then addressed the Indians, making a speech of over an hour’s duration, saying, among other things, that the Commissioners did not want to punish Colorow, Jack and others that took part in the Thornburgh fight, but the cowardly dogs who participated in the massacre of the unarmed men at the Agency, closing by saying, “We want those Utes, and we will have them.” The Indians held a consultation in a low tone of voice among themselves, but did not seem inclined to reply at all, when Hatch again rose and asked if the guilty Indians were to be surrendered, saying he had made a last appeal. Not one moved or spoke for a few moments, when Colorow lighted a big pipe, “the pipe of peace.” Each Indian present drew his knife and laid it on his knees. The question of peace or war being the one pending, Colorow passed the pipe to the next man without smoking, and it went round. When the circle was finished he jumped to his feet, straightened-up to his full height, pulled his belt around until the knifesheath was in front, pulled his knife out, and threw it with force on the floor, quivering and ringing. Instantly every Indian present dropped his hand to his belt and laid his hand on his knife or pistol. The whites did the same, and the two parties stood fronting and defying each other for some moments, each awaiting for the other to make a forward move. There were but six white men, while there were twenty-five Indians in the room. Fifteen soldiers were in an adjoining' room. Finally Ouray spoke: “We cannot deliver up to you those Indians unless they are tried in Washington. They must not be tried in Colorado. The Colorado people are all our enemies, and to give them up to be tried in this State would be to surrender them to be hanged. We will bring those twelve men here for you to see, and then whom you decide guilty shall be taken to Washington, and the President shall determine their guilt or innocence. Douglas will have to go. We know he was in the White River trouble, and you shall decide who else. Upon this condition, and no other, will we surrender the guilty Indians.” This was said with great arrogance and boldness. Ouray said it would take about a week to bring the men in, and Hatch told him he would accept the proposition so far as bringing of the Indians in, but as far as taking them to Washington be had to telegraph for permission to Schurz. Colorow and Jack were immediately dispatched to bring in the twelve named, including Douglas and Persune, saying they would ne back in five days. After they had, taken their departure, Ouray again spoke, reiterating his statement The Utes could not get justice in Colorado, and could only get it in Washington. “Youthere [meaning Hatch, Adams, and the legal adviser, Valoi] are all my enemies. lam one against three.' You hate me. You are all Colorado or New Mexico men, and a French devil. I have not one friend among you. You will not give me justice, and that is why I want to go to Washington, where I can have at least one friend.”

Dknvkr, Col., December ». A special to the Tribune from Los Pinos, dated the 7th, says: To-day’s developments prove that the casting of his knife upon the floor by Colorow, expressed his vote for war, but the fact of the other Indians retaining their knives overpowered his vote. It was noticed that as soon as it was perceived that no other Indians wished to follow this example of Colorow, two Utes arose from their seats in the coun-cil-room and went out, giving away the talking to the Indians outside, who immediately mounted thpir horses and rode away. They had evidently been waiting for the signal which would call them to arms, and at no time were any of them distant a hundred feet from the council-room. Every Ute at the agency carried with him more arms than any two soldiers of the regular army could muster, a Winchester rifle and two revolvers being about the allowance to each man. Yesterday brought out also the fact that Ouray’s respect for the President is due to his thinking that the Great Father is elected by, and rules over the whole world. In one of his speeches he made that assertion, and Mr. Townsend, the interpreter, not exactly understanding what he meant by it, repeated the question, his answer showing plainly that he considered Washington the center of the universe, and President Hayes the ruler of all Nations. He has not been undeceived, and will not be by this Commission, as it is now plain that his friendship for the whites is assumed for policy, and he thinks, if necessary, the armies of the world could be called to crush his tribe. —Presents of mind—Bits of advice.

USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE.

Dmmuorr animals have different appetites, and the habits of each animal should be studied, so as to adapt the feed to each in such a way as to promote the most vigorous growth and health of each. Give the little otes xll the pure milk they want to drink. I lis much better than puddings, pies aid cakes. Do not deprive children of mis excellent food, even though the dairyman’s weekly bill should be larger than the cigar-maker's or the wine-merchant’s.—Xonsmo Jtepuhtsnm. The Germantown Telegraph says that pumpkins, for pies and such, can easily be kept all winter without decaying u kept in a cool, dry place. On one or two occasions the editor kept one or two over to discover how long they would keep, and found them in good condition in'August, but that was about the bnd of their time.

Swink. —Swine that are fattening will do better with soaked com than with Com steeped in water for twelve hours has been found more economical to feed than when ground into meal. The animals are sooner filled, the food digests better, and, consequently, the feeding is finished more expeditiously, and feed—which is money—is saved.—American Agriculturist. Latticed shelves in a frame, some six inches apart, that can be shoved in and out like a drawer, in a cellarthat is not cold enough to freeze, and yet nearly so, is the best place to keep apples through the winter. A layer of time three or four inches thick at the bottom will dry the atmosphere and help preserve the apples sound. So says the Germantown Telegraph. Ivies are among the most attractive of room plants, and easy to manage. It will improve their condition greatly to go over them once a week with a sponge or soft cloth, and wash the dust from the leaves. The operation takes much less time than one would suppose, and it allows the scale insect, the worst enemy of the ivy, to be seen on its first appearance and removed by the use of an old tooth-brush. * Poultry. —Vermin are the greatest pest to fowls. They are worse in the winter than at other times, because the fowls are confined more closely, and have not opportunities to free themselves. Lice may be destroyed by whitewashing the house and roosts with lime-wash mixed with carbolic acid. Fleas may be destroyed by thoroughly greasing the roosts. Clean straw should be supplied to the nests, and glass nesteggs provided for early layers. A glass-covered coop will be useful for an early sitting hen and a young brood of chickens. Horses. —No animal should be permitted to fall off in condition at this season. It is difficult to restore an animal when all the food and vitality are required to resist cold and the hardships of a stormy winter. Horses that are not at work still require good and sufficient food, and warm shelter. Exposure to a storm may throw the whole system out of order, and do mischief that months of effort may not repair. Prevention is the better plan. Good hay, with a few ears of corn, and an occasional warm bran mash, will keep horses in condition, but good daily grooming must never be forgotten.— American Agriculturist.

Save The Hay.

The fact seems pointed that hay will be scarce before next spring unless means are used to carefully save any surplus that may be had. by farmers throughout the country. Timothy in Chicago is worth thirteen dollars per ton, but Chicago is probably better supplied with hay than almost any other city in the Union. There is a vast country tributary to it, and as to Rome, so all roads seem to lead to it. In Springfield, 111., hay has lately sold for sixteen dollars per ton; ia Louisville, Ky., it sold-for twenty dollars per ton. The Prairie Farmer is not given to prophecy. It does not believe in guessing at the future, nevertheless it sometimes makes statements predicated upon the Sects for the future. Why we 3t a scarcity of hay, and consequently high prices, is from these facts. 1. The hay crop of 1879 is not large over extended areas anywhere in the United States. 2. Pastures, although now in fair condition, have been veiybare, and very many farmers have had to feed for the last month. This has seriously depleted the stacks. Some time since in view of the fact of a probable scarcity of hay, and in view of the situation here in connection with the oss of fodder crops in England, we urged the necessity of saving hay. The point is just here, it will pay to save hay m any feasible way this year, in view of a possible want. Corn stalks well saved are fully as good as the best meadow hay, ton for ton of eatable product. Clear, bright straw is almost one-half as good. Therefore the farmer who has plenty of good corn fodder and plenty of good straw, can, by feeding corn, save largely on hay Let us figure upon this question. Hay is worth, in Chicago thirteen dollars per ton; corn is worth forty-three cents per bushel. A ton will require thirty-five and twothirds bushels, worth $15,33 per ton. This will make pretty nearly an even thing between the best hay and corn. When com is cheaper and hay dearer, the footing will be on the other side. Bran is worth $9.25, shorts $9.50 and middlings eleven dollars per ton. Therefore so far as these commodities may be used, they are cheapest. With good hay, fully one-half of the feed maybe a mixture of bran, shorts and middlings. When hay is dear and com is cheap and straw is plenty, straw and com will winter horses, mules, and cattle perfectly. With plenty of com and what straw cattle will eat, they may be fattened thus economically. From present appearances, we think it will pay farmers to save all the hay possible, in view of higher prices.— Prairie Farmer. I

Gather the Fallen Leaves.

If there is one thing of which the gardener is not likely to nave too much, it is leaves, and the time expended in gathering them is time well employed. Their value is admitted in a general way, but few are aware how valuable they are. Let us see. If we would know the best covering for half hardy plants, and for tender seedlings, go to nature. In her gardening sne uses leaves; how lightly they lie over the most delicate plants, their elasticity, or springiness, keeping the heaviest snow from doing injury. If there is danger that the leaves may blow away from the bed lay brush upon them, or, in the absence of this, scatter a little earth over them; anything to hold them until ' the upper surface leaves become flattened down and they are safe. Then for hot-beds, mixed with an equal bulk, or one half their bulk of manure, they give a more useful and more lasting heat than clear manure. In cold frames, if plants such as violets, or Holland bulbs, are in them, to be forced into an early spring bloom, fill up the frame with leaves and cover with boards. In the spring remove the boards and leaves, put on the sashes, and bloom will soon follow. If cold frames are to be sown in early spring, fill up with leaves, cover with boards, and the ground, when wanted, will be unfrozen. In the stable, the pig-sty, the sheep-barn, or wherever animals are wintered, no more cleanly or comfortable bedding than leaves can be given. These leaves, when saturated with urine, form a rich addition to the

compost heap. Why? There is a general notion that leaves make good manure. while few think that their value is due to the ashes they contain. They are very rich in ash. Fallen leaves, when burned, give from four to five times as much ashes as the heart-wood at the tree which bore them. “But we do not burn the leaves.” Tee we do—practically. In the compost the deeay is a slow combustion; the whole texture of the leaf is broken up, and the ash, not having been exposed to the heat of burning, u really in a better condition as a fertiliser than ordinary wood ashes. Leaves are often spoken of—and truly—as the lungs of the tree. It is not far out of the way to liken the leaves to salt works. In salt works a weak brine from salt-springs, or from the sea, is exposed to the neat of the sun in shallow tanks, and when thus concentrated by evaporation, is transferred to other tanks or kettles where, by artificial heat, the remaining water is evaporated and the solid salt remains. The roots of the tree take up water which has several of the solid matters of the soil in solution—a weak —very weak—“ brine,” asit were. The use of some of these matters we know, others, so far as known, are useless to the tree —but are still taken up. This solution from the soil at length reaches the leaves, where most of the water passes off into the air—slowly, but as certainly as if it had been boiled in a salt kettle, while the solid matter mostly remains in the leaves. When the leaves are burned, this solid matter apEi as ash. That this is so—that the amount of ash in the leaves is due b evaporation of the water from the soil is seen by the difference in the amount of ash in summer and autumn leaves. Oak leaves in antumn contain nearly twice as much, and beech leaves contain more than twice as much ash as they did in summer. The richness of the fallen leaves in ash explains why the surface soil of the forest is so rich. The roots have been engaged in bringing up the soluble matters from below, ana these, by the decay of the leaves, have been accumulating upon the surface. When a gardener wishes to make a rich compost he uses largely of woods-earth, which consists of decayed leaves. Evidently fallen leaves are too valuable to be neglected, and should be collected by all who desire a rich, valuable and easily-obtained mulch and fertilizer for their soil. —American Agriculturist.

His Humble Opinions.

The other night about ten o'clock a constable, who was walking up Maple street on business, was halted by a weak-looking little man who was a bit agitated. The officer suspected a family row, but it didn't turn out that way The little naan asked him to step around the corner and take a look at a certain house, and the officer stepped. It was an unoccupied house, and as they halted before it the citizen said: “It is my humble opinion that there is no family in here, and that a waterpipe has bursted. I dislike very much to see any one’s property damaged if I can prevent it” Sure enough, there was two feet of water in the cellar, and more rushing in. “Itis my humble opinion,” remarked the little man as the two looked through the cellar window, “ that some thief has cut off the pipe and the drain is stopped up. Perhaps you don’t want to see this property damaged?” The constable didn’t. In his philanthropy he decided to open the drain, and the little man having procured a candle, the officer waded in water up to his knees, poked around for ten minutes with a stick, and finally opened the drain. “Now, then, it is my humble opinion that we ought to plug up the pipe.” observed the little man and the officer drove a plug into it at the expense of a shower-bath which wet him all oven “ A good job—a good job!” chuckled the citizen, “but seeing that you are certain to be down town in the morning, it is my humble opinion that you’d better call at the water office and leave word to have the water shut off.” The officer agreed. Next morning, as he went past the office, a red rag around his neck and a cold in his head, he left the message and learned that the house belonged to the little man of humble opinions! If the' constable catches him on the street some dark night *•*!!! !— Detroit Free Press.

A Novel Vehicle.

An English publication contains an illustrated description of a curious vehicle which was one of the novelties of the late Royal Agricultural Show. It is called the eudromon (from two Greek words meaning “ well-run-ning”), and is practically a horse-car that carries and lays its own track. This track is composed of plates of hard-wood, faced and strengthened with metal, and attached to two parallel endless chains, which pass round revolving guides or drums at the ends of the vehicle, and both over and under the wheels. “The chief point in which this arrangement differs from others of a similar character is the gain of a fixed rail without loss of power by friction, the endless chain of plates resting on the top of the wheels, and being carried forward by them. In this way a free and noiseless action is secured. The under carriages, constructed on the bogie principle, lock simultaneously, thus causing the front and hind wheels to run in the same track, and also enabling the vehicle to turn a very sharp corner. The shafts, however, can be fixed at either end, so as to avoid the necessity for tumingflin nirrow or inconvenient places. Tne body of the vehicle projects over the wheels, thus giving an increased capacity of over thirty per cent. A light four-wheeled cart fitted with this apparatus, and loaded up to one ton weight, may easily be drawn by one man; and over very heavy or plowed land the gain is proportionately greater. In this latter case the plates of the endless chains are constructed of a sufficient width to cover furrows or ruts.” The first two vehicles constructed under this patent (a farm wagon capable of carrying from seven to eight tons, and a vehicle for goods or passengers, suitable for high speed) attracted much attention at the exhibition mentioned above. The plan really seems a practical and promising one, and we do not see why it may not be applied to street cars in localities where it is not convenient or expedient to lay the ordinary tracks, as well as to agricultural vehicles and heavy machines that need to be transported from place to place.

—This is the boys’ programm e: “ Kite-flying comes first in the early spring. Then comes marbles, which game lasts for six weeks. Next tops are brought out, and the tops spin in every street and park through August and September. Base ball and other kinds of ball, such as football and rounders, are played from May to December. Archery is a play in July, August, September and October. Some of the boys use slings in April, May and June. Velocipedes are used in summer and sleds, of course, in winter. Leapfrog, mumbly-peg, hoops, stilts and shindy are popular all the year round.” —Mr. John E. Keith, of this city, has presented us with a vegetable curiosity in the shape of a squash which, on being cut open, disclosed that all the seeds had sprouted inside and had roots from an inch and a half to. two and a half inches in length. We never saw or heard at the like before.— Cloverport (Ky.) Newt.

Beligfous. PEACE OH EASTS. “ What means this glory round our feet,” Tbe Mml mused, “ more bright than morn?” And voices chanted, clear and sweet, “ To-day the Prince of Peace is born!" “What means this star," the shepherds said, “ That brightens through the rocky gienF And angels answering, overhead. Said, “Peace on earth, good will to men! k ns eighteen hundred years, and more. Since those sweet oracles were dumb: We wait for Him, like them of yore; Alasl He seems so stow to come! But it was said, in words of gold, No time or sorrow e’er shall dim, That Uttle children might be bold. In perfect trust to come to Him. AR round about our feet shall shine Alight Uke that the wise men saw, If we our loving wills tndine '■ To that sweet Life which is tbe Law. So shall we learn to understand The simple faith of shepherds, then. And kindly clasping hand in hand. Sing, “Peace on earth, good will to men! —J. R. Lowed.

Advice to a Young Man.

And then, my son, don’t be in too great a hurry to accept “advanced opinions.” It is “the thing” to be “advanced” in this progressive day and generation, but there’s a heap of shallowness in it. Did you never notice, my son, that the man who tells you he can not believe the Bible, is usually able to believe almost anything else? * You will find men, my son, who turn with horror and utter disbelief from the Bible and joyfully embrace the teachings of Buddha. It is quite the thing just now, sou, for a civilized, enlightened man, brought up in a Christian country and an age of wisdom, to be a Buddhist. And if you ask six men who profess Buddhism who Buddha was, one of them will tell you he was an Egyptian soothsayer, who lived two hundred years before Moses. Another will tell you that he brought letters from Phoenicia and introduced them in Greece, a third will tell you that she was a beautiful woman of farther India, a fourth will, with little hesitation, say he was a Brahma of the ninth degree and a holy disciple of Confucius, and of the other two, one will frankly admit that he doesn’t know, and the other will say, with some indecision, that he was either a dervish of the Nile (whatever that is), or a felo de se, he can’t be positive which. Before you propose to know more than anybody and everybody else, my son, be very* certain that you are at feast abreast of two-thirds of your fellow men. I don’t want to suppress any inclination you may have toward genuine free thought and careful, honest investigation, my son. I only want you to avoid the great fault of atheism in this day and generation; I don’t want to see you try to build a six-story house on a one-story foundation. Before you criticise, condemn and finally revise the work of creation, my son, be pretty confident that you know something about it as it is, and don’t, as a man who is older in years and experience than yourself, don’t, let me implore you, don’t turn this world upside down and sit down on it, and flatten it entirely out, until you have made or secured another one for the rest Of us to live in while you demolish the old one. If ever you should develop into an “advanced” atheist, my son, just do that much for the rest of us.— Burlington Hawk-Eye,

Desponding Christians.

It would be well for all who are given to despondency to ask themselves, and endeavor to give brief, sharp answers to the question of the Psalmist, “ Why art thou cast down, Omy soul?” Many, doubtless, would be able to refer their depression to real troubles—ill-health, bereavement, want, business or other disasters; but the majority would find that they have no real reasons outside of themselves for their despondency; that it arises from vague and indefinable fears, from imaginary troubles, or from the anticipation of evil; and that the source of it all is a sinful distrust of that everwatchful Divine Providence which notes tbe fall of a sparrow, numbers even the hairs of our heads, and constantly guards and keeps us. The chief source of despondency is foreboding—useless worrying about the future. Men suffer more in anticipation of evil than they do from the actual misfortunes of life. And yet, in nine cases out of ten, our fears about to-morrow are groundless. Very few of the sorrows we have apprehended have ever reached us; and those which have come upon us have always been lighter than we feared, and proved to be less painful to bear in actual experience than the anticipation oi them. When we look at a dark placer it seems very black, but when we are in it there is usually some light. God sends no unmitigated sorrow; every trial comes with its alleviating circumstances. “He tempers the wind to the shorn lamb;” or if He does not make the suffering less, makes us stronger to bear it. “As thy days so shall thy strength be.” He smooths for us the roughest road; and we enter upon it with the assurance that He is with us always, and that His grace is sufficient for us. “In every form of sorrow God drqws near to the stricken spirit, and offers His own joy-giving presence in place of the blessings taken; and many of the afflicted have had in their severest trials far deeper and more heart-swelling views of the Divine love than they ever had in their seasons of gladness. But if we borrow trouble we seize the cup in its untempered bitterness, before the time has come for the infusion of what may sweeten, bless and sanctify it.”

The habit of taking desponding views of the future is utterly useless—and worse, foolish and hurtful. It does no good, has no tendency to avert evils, but may hasten them, by paralyzing the energies, and so preventing the effort necessary to ward off disaster. Under Providence, there are many evils which it is within our own power to either avert entirely, or modify by a cheerful, hopeful spirit, which is apt to see a way out of present, or impending difficulties. But the foreboding, desponding spirit sits down in discouragement, and does nothing to remedy E resent or prevent future calamities. >espondency often fulfills its own dismal prophecies, while the courageous, hopeful soul is able to wring profit out of disaster, and victory out of defeat. ' The best cure for despondency is that of the Psalmist: “Hope thou in God.” Our own efforts may do much to correct our weaknesses, and lessen the evils we cannot avert, but we need also the grace of God and the inspiration of hope in Him to support us. An unknown future lies before us. There hangs over it a veil which no man can lift. We know not what trials lie before us, and it is a blessing that we do not. God, in His wisdom and goodness, conceals them from us, and we ought to acquiesce thankfully in His hand who doeth all things well, and that “He careth for us.” That single truth—God careth for you, heartily believed, will quiet fear, remove despondency, and make the spirit peaceful and hopeful. If the great and good God is watching over us day and night, surely we ought not to be distressed about the future. Let us, then, hope in God, and rest from undue anxiety in the assurance that He who never slumbers nor sleeps, who fainteth not, neither is weary, will care for us, and make all things work together for good to them thaflove Elim. The prospect of a better and enduring inheritance in Heaven should ex-

elude desDondencv. However heavy' our outward burdens and sorrows, if we have Christ within, the hope of glory,, we have the best of reasons for joy r and, if we do not rejoice, may well exclaim, in self-rebuke, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God.” “ How brief the longest space which earthly trials cover! How short the period during which changes can come! How, in comparison with eternity and its ever-growing joy, does all that flesh and heart can bear, on this side of the grave, shrink into utter nothingness!” St. Paul said, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.” And this inheritance above is revealed, that faith may use it here—“that hope may bridge over the few doubtful years that remain with an arch that shall repose at once on a past full of mercy, and on a Heaven where all is sure, cloudless and eternal.” — N. W. Christian Advocate.

The Doctor in the Kitchen.

An English physician is writing a series of papers to prove that doctors might serve their patrons in the kitchen as well as in the sick chamber. The idea is eminently sensible, for the old saw about an ounce of .prevention being worth a pound of cure exactly expresses the situation. People become sick because they have violated some physical law, and nine times out of ten it will be found that the malady began at the stomach. One of the most valuable acquisitions—one which cannot always be had, even for money—is a good cook; but when she or he is obtained, what happens? Nothing, except that the family meals are more palatable than previously thev were, and that there is less to grumble about in matters of variety and seasoning. It is possible to offer a dinner, even in eight courses, which will not next morning color one’s recollections with sad and somber, tints, but accomplished cooks do not always know how to prepare such a one. Their standard of excellence is a pleased palate; nature’s standard is an unperturbed digestion; and as nature is a sort of a shadowy being anyhow, while the average solidity of cooks is remarkable, the cuisiniere has the advantage of the older and, nominally, more respected autocrat, and she uses it to the delight of her patrons and the permanent benefit of the medical profession. In the greater number of families the situation is still worse. If most good cooks enrage the stomach, what is to be said of the oad ones—the servants who are expected to prepare three meals a day, though they never had any instruction in the culinary art? Further, what do the men and women who order dinnersknow of things fit to eat? It is not only a possibility, but a lamentably frequent occurrence, that a meal of which the essentials are good in themselves is ruined for practical purposes by combinations of dishes that can never agree upon transformation into blood, bone and muscle. The condiments, seasoning, etc,, which are supposed to make dishes palatable torment many a good liver to the very verge of Hjprthlessness; while hard meats whose only virtue Is in their flavor, fish smothered in irritating sauces, and desserts richer than Croesus would have dared to be, are through the stomach stupefythe brains of numerous men worthy of at least nobler means of self-destruc-tion. Most of these annoyances and misfortunes the doctor might avert were he sent for at the proper time and shown into the proper department of the household. There is only, one serious fault about the proposed new system—if doctors properly inspect kitchens and give advice to servants and householders, what hope is there that they themselves can earn respectable livelihoods?— N. Y. Herald.

The Trade-Mark Law Invalid.

By deciding on Monday that the statute providing for the registry of trade-marks and prescribing a criminal penalty for their fradulent use is unconstitutional in whole and in part, the Supreme Court at Washington upset an extensive system of mercantile' rights at home and abroad. The subject came before the Court on a division of opinion in the New York Circuit Court and an appeal from a decision in Ohio. A District Court in the West some months ago decided that the act for the registry of trade-marks was unconstitutional, but no appeal was taken, and the PatentOffice at Washington went on with its work. The decision by the Supreme Court apparently cuts up the present system by the roots. The existing law provides for the registry of trade-marks at Washington on the payment of a fee of twenty-five dollars, and gives the owner of a trade-mark more efficient protection than is enjoyed even by a patentee. A liberal provision of the law allowed the privilege of registry to the trade-mark owned by the citizten of any country which permitted registry to American trademarks. Prior to the passage of the law the recognition of foreign trade-marks had been secured by treaties with some European countries, and conventions covering the subject have been negotiated with nearly all European countries since 1870, when the present trademark act was adopted. So far as foreign and domestic rights in trade-marks are secured by Federal registry they will be impaired by this decision, but it must not be overlooked that the right of property in trade-marks is recognized by the common law. .Every trader and manufacturer has a right, which the courts will protect, in the distinctive mark by which he designates his goods. The collapse of the special registry act for unconstitutieffality simply makes the protection of trade-marks more difficult, but it does not deprive them of value, and the law still stands ready to guard customers against the fraudulent use of trade-marks. There will be a’ general interest in learning the grounds of this decision. The Federal statute was passed in the attempt apparently to assimilate the rights of invention and trade-mark, two widely different things, and was currently based on the power given Congress to provide for patent and copynght, ana to regulate commerce. ? *. Many valuable trade-marks are owned by proprietors of medicines. For instance, Perry Davis & Son own the right to name Pain-Killer by originality and long use, and the common law of England and America would protect them, as it would others.— Eastern Exchange. 1

—To Cure Hams.—This recipe is fifty years old, and I think it is the best. To each twenty pounds of green meat make a mixture of one-fourth of a pound of brown sugar and a dessertspoonful of ground saltpeter; rub this well by hand into the meat; then with coarse salt cover the bottom of a barrel, say. to half an inch; put in hams and cover with half an inch of salt, and so on until the barrel is full; hams should remain in a cool place four weeks; when salted, wipe ana dry them, and get some whole black pepper, which you must grind yourself, and pepper thoroughly, especially about the nock and bone; let the bams lie for two days: then smpke for eight weeks.— Cor. N. K 7¥mes. . • ■ - —lt is always the smoke from the other man’s cigar that is offensive to the young lady.