Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1883 — Page 3

THE BAD BOY.

“Hello, Henhery,” said the grocery nan to the bad'boy, as he came in holdng his sides to keep them from burstng with sujipre3sed laughter; “what has jccurred to cause a pious young man to laugh in that wqrldly manner? You must try to cultivate a long, mournful jountenance, and learn to sigh and look jiek when you are the happiest," and the grocery man weighed out a couple of pounds of buckwheat flour for a hired girl. “Has your pa joined the police force ? I saw him driving a lot of hogs to the pound yesterday.” “That’s what I am laughing about,” said the boy, as he put an apple on the stove to bake it. “Pa has gone to the pound after the hogs this morning. You see, I have been taking lessons in painting and drawing, and the other day I surprised pa by showing him a picture of a blue cow, with a green tail and old gold horns, and he told me he never saw anything mojje natural, and he advised me to turn my attention entirely to animal painting. Pa keeps four hogs in a pen in the back lot, and every day he turns them out in the alley and lets them ran, and takes them up when they come home. The hogs are large white ones, regular beauties, and pa thinks about as much of them as he does of me Well, pa told me to go and turn the hogs out-yes-terday, and I took my paint brush along •nd before turning them out I painted black spots all over the hogs. You never see a lot of speckled hogs, where the spots were put on any better. The hogs looked at each other kind of astonished, and I turned them out. In the afternoon, pa went out to the pen and began to call, ‘poig, poig,’ and the pigs came running up the alley. Pa saw the strange hogs coming, and he got mad and drove them out of the alley, and then he called for his pigs again, in a muscular tone of voice, and the speckled hogs came again, a little slower, and seeming to wonder what ailed pa. They acted as though they felt hurt at being received in such a violent Pa met. the speckled hogs with a broom, and he run them down the alley again, and the hogs stood off and looked at him as though they thought he had the jim-jams. You’d * dide to see pa drive his own hogs awqy, and talk sassy. He got a pail of swill and called the hogs again, and they came on a gallop, and then pa called a policeman and they drove the hogs to the pound. I didn’t see pa last night, but the first thing this morning I told him I had taken his advice, and turned my attention to animal painting, and that I had painted spots on our white hogs, and made speckled hogs of them, and that speckled hogs were worth 1 cent a pound more than white hogs. Well, pa didn’t faint away, but when it all came over him, that he had drove his own hogs to the pound, he was so cross he could have bit a nail. Bu,t he didn’t say anything to me, ’cause I s’pose he didn’t want to discourage my artistic ambitions, but he has gone down to the pound after the hogs. May be the rain has washed the spots off, and the man that keeps the pound will not let pa have white hogs when he left speckled ones there. However, I didn’t warrant the hogs to be fast colors, anyway. Do you think it was wrong to put spots on the hogs?” “Wrong?” said the grocery man, as he put some white flour into the sack of buckwheat flour and mixed it up; “it was a condemned outrage and deception on your pa, and you ought to be punished. But that was not as bad ~as your wheeling a nigger baby behind your pa and ma, when they were coming from the museum. W hat did you do that for?” “Well, the colored baby was sawed oft onto me, and I had to wheel it,” said the, boy, as he ran his teeth into a baked apple he had taken off the stove. “You see, us boys had been sawing wood for the ladies that keep the foundling asylum, and when we got through I asked the boss woman, the one who warms the milk and puts it in the bottles for the babies, if there was anything more we could do. Well, she said it was a nice day for the babies to be outdoors, and if us boys would wheel the babies around a block, on the sidewalk, and give the poor little things a little fresh air, they would be real glad, so I told them to trot out the baby wagons, and .we ing those poor little infants. 1 guess they have about forty, and they look awful sad. Gosh, I wouldn’t like to be a foundling, with no pa nor ma, except a rubber nursing bottle, would you? If those ladies that take the foundlings and bring them up, don’t get to heaven without any questions being asked as to what church they belong to, then St. Peter is a different kind of a box-office ticket seller than I take him to be. We boys took two babies at a time, in baby wagons, until we had given ’em all a ride but one, and I tell you it did us good to see the poor little things look around at the people we passed, as though they were looking for their parents. I don’t suppose they see any parents, but I noticed a couple of young fellers get on the other side of the street mighty quick when they saw the procession coming. Say, some of those babies are just as smart as anybody’s babies, and after they had been out a little while in the sunshine they would laugh and look so pleasant and happy that I had more fun and felt better than if I had been in a circus. But when the last baby came in, it was a colored baby, and ns boys looked tired. My chum he kicked qn wheeling the colored baby, ’cause he is a Democrat, and the other boys said it was time for them to go home, and finally another boy and me tossed up a cent to see which should wheel the little black fellow. It c mie tails, and I lost, and the lady put the baby in my wagon, and I staffed off. The firs t thing that colored baby did was to look up at me and say ‘papa.’ Gosh, I thought I should die, and I turned round to slap it side of the head, when the boys and the lady laughed. But when the lady said they had taught it to say ‘papa,’and I looked at it, ami it was laughing and kicking and having fun, I was kind of mashed on that nigger baby, and if it ever wants a friend all it has got to do is to send a postal card to Hennery. I had more fun with that baby than you ever

see. I would wheel it along behind a gentleman and lady who were talking earnestly, and it would say ‘papa,’ and they would look scared, and the lady would look offended, and they would turn a corner and go off and wouldn’t speak to each other. One fellow gave me half a dollar to take it away, and I gave the money to the lady that keeps the baby livery. Well, just before I took the colored baby back to the Home, I see pa and ma going along on the sidewalk, and pa was explaining to ma how it was that he was out till 12 o’clock the night before, at a fpjcial meeting of the. lodge, and ma didn’t believe it as well as pa thought she ought to, and just then I run the baby wagon right up between them, and the colored baby said ‘papa,’ and I laughed, and ma said ‘ Hennery, where on earth did yon find it,’and pa leaned against the fence and turned pale and said, ‘lt’s a condemned lie,’ and the baby laughed, and then I told them I was working for the foundling asylum, wheeling babies for fresh air, and they went home, but pa walked awful tired. That’s all I did to trifle with pa’s feeling s, and I didn’t think it was very bad, do you ?” “No, sir,’’ said the grocery man, as he took the boy by the hand and pressed it heartily. “A boy who can take pleasure in doing good like that, to poor little foundlings that are despised, I' a friend of mine, and you canpaint all the speckled hogs in this ward if you want to., As Shakespere says, ‘lnasmuch as ye do unto the least of these, ye do it unto yours truly.’” And the grocery man drew some maple sirup out of a molasses keg for a board-ing-house keeper, and the bad boy went out to help his pa drive the speckled hogs home. —Peck's Sun.

A Bail Place.

The country hotel is not a place of blissful repose, and there is one in Arkansaw which is rargly visited the second time by the same man. Several nights ago a gentleman, hungry, wet and tired, stopped at the place, and after partly satisfying his appetite with corn bread and bacon, went to bed. Just as he sank to sleep, a negro entered the room, shook the tired man, and said: “Boss, yer’ll hafter git onten dis bed. De boss’s son hab jes’ got married an’ hab fotch his wife home. Hate ter ’sturb yer, but de happy pa’r must hab dis room. ” “Why didn’t you tell me before I took the room ?” said the tired man, arising. “Case da wan’t married den, sah.” “Didn’t you know that he was going to marry?” “Sorter ’spicioned it, sah, but yer see de lady dun fooled de boss’ son three times, an’ we didn’t know but she was gwine ter fool him agin.” “I wish she had. I don’t see why people want to marry when it imposes a hardship on others. ” “Doan see myse’f, boss. Jes’ step dis way, an’ I’ll show yer a good room.” The tired man was shown into a room which could not h ive been much worse than the one he had just left, and which was certainly no better. He threw himself on the bed, and had probably been asleep five minutes, when the negro entered again, shook him, and said: “Hates ter interrup’ yer, Colonel?” “Then why the devil do you?” “Showed yer in the wrong room, sah. Dis one hab dun been engaged by a travelin’ gentleman.” “He can’t have it.” “I’d ’vise yer, boss, not ter argy wid him. Bad man an’ totes a self-cocker. Shaw yer ter yer room, sah:'’ The tired man followed the colored gentleman to another room, which was little better than a stable., “Yer ken rest here, sail, mighty-peaceable. ” The man was soon asleep, but after awhile be was aroused by the negro, who said: “I haster ’sturb yer agin, san. Travelin’ man down stairs what ’gaged dis room. Said dates I didn’t give him de room or de dollar extra what he paid fur it, dat he’d kill bof ob us.” “Here, take him the dollar. ” “Thankee, sah. I feels safe now,” and he left. The next morning the man learned that there had been no marriage, bnt that the negro had been paid extra by travelers for the best rooms, and that the dollar secured him his room, as the last man who arrived only offered the black yagcal 50 cents. —Arkansaw Traveler.

A Business Proposition.

A cowboy, who had latelv arrived in Austin from the Panhandle district, stepped up to the ticket-window of the International railway-station, and 'inquired the fare to a certain place. “Eight dollars,” replied the agent. “But can’t you let me down a little easier than that?” he said. “Come, now. I’ll give you $5.” “There’s no jewing down of prices here,” said the agent; “do you want a ticket ?” “Well, don’t get up on your ear about it,” said the cowboy. “Gently, gently, be you the man that’s going to ran the train out of here ?” “No, it’s another man.” “’Tis, eh? Well, w r on’t you just ask him if,' he won’t take me for less if I’ll let him run slow, and save expense of wear and tear on the machinery and road-bed? I ain’t in no particular hurry.”— Tejcas Siftings.

“No, I Thank You.”

Jennie Jones was a pretty little girl, and it was the only time she had ever been visiting by herself. She was spending the afternoon with one of her ’schoolmates, and, when it came tea time, Jennie was invited to stop to tea. “No.- I thank you, ma’am,” she said shyly. “I guess you better,” said her little friend’s mother, good Mrs. Morse; “sit right up to the table-—won’t you now?” Jennie fidgeted, twisted her apron, put her finger in her month, and finally electrified the company by remarking: “Well—l don’t know; -ma said I was to say, ‘No, thank you’ the first time I was asked, but—but—if you urged me, I could stay!” It is scarcely necessary to say she’stayed. He that calls a man ‘ungrateful sums up all the evil that a man can be guilty of.— Swift,

AGRICULTURAL.

One of the best farmers in Maine is Miss Sarah L. Martin; of South Auburn. She carries qn a farm successfully, and pays much the raising of fine stock.' T, A practical farmer recommends the growing of two crops of buckwheat in succession as a means of exterminating wire-worms. They will not eat buckwheat, and are starved to death. The experiments of Wolfe and others at German experiment stations show that a horse weighing 1,100 to 1,200 pounds would eat from 22 to 271 pounds of hay if no other food were given. With grain 20 to 25 pounds was usually eaten by working horses of that weight. Lighter horses would not need quite so much, but we can find no data of experiments with horses weighing less than 1,000 pounds.— Country Gentleman. Sheep are one of the best kinds of stock to keep in an orchard. After a little practice they will pick up fallen fruit quicker than hogs, and this is often very important, as the codling moth worm generally leaves the apple soon after it drops. But, with either sheep ‘or hogs, sufficient food must be supplied, or the trees will be barked. The food thus given goes, however, where it will do the most good, in the production oi the largest and fairest fruit. A correspondent of the Ohio Farmer gives the following about the peach tree borer: “The beautiful .blue fly, resembling a wasp, which lays its eggs just at the surface of the ground in the stem of the trees, may be seen occasionally at this time pursuing its alloted task. The simplest remedy, or rather preventive of its attacks, is a piece of stout wrapping paper a foot wide wound around the stem of the tree just above ground. A little dirt should be drawn up around the bottom of the paper, while the top can be tied with a cotton string,” If the farmers of the country who own worthless dogs—curs without any breeding—could be induced to destroy them, and substitute one well-bred shepherd pup, not more, to each farm, the wealth Of every farming community would be vastly increased in many ways. Farmers soon find the collies saving them many a step. Eager and anxious to learn, willing to do anything within his power, the young dog needs only a wise and patient restraint and intelligent direction to become the most useful hand oh the place.— Cotton Plant. By carefully weighing a small sample •of wheat, counting the number nf kernels in such sample, and multiplying by the number of times the weight of such sample is contained in the weight of a bushel, we have found that of good plump kernels there are from 650-.000 to 750,000 in a bushel. Accordingly one bushel of seed to the acre will allow from fourteen to seventeen kernels to the square foot, or one plant to every third inch in either direction. If all the seed grew this would be quite thick enough, as one plant often sends up a dozen or more stalks.— Tribune and Farmer.

Training Horses. —Except for breeding purposes, cattle, sheep and hogs are sold by weight for a value determined by the human food they represent. But with the horse the case in different, for his worth is dependent upon his style, action and general purposes. Viewed in this light it would seem that farmers do not realize as much as they might from the sale of their young horses were a different course pursued. The young horse, but half broke, is sold to the city buyers, and after a few weeks’ fitting it is again sold, often for double the original price. Why should not the first owner fit the horse for market, and thus secure at least a “dividend” with the city dealer ? With the other stock they are soon killed and sold out pound by pound; but the horse is made a servant of and is among men for years, hence his greater value. There is no reason why the farmer should not teach the colt and young horse some of the habits of trained horses, rather than to pronounce him “broke” when it is not possible to drive him along a straight road, and find soon after, that in a coltish freak, the wagon and harness was “strung,” and the driver had a broken leg or arm.— Cleveland Herald. Digestibility of Stock Food.—G. Kuhn"fias compared the of' three samples of hay and three samples of wheat-bran, when fed drv, to that of the same fodders variously treated. Moistening of the hay or bran immediately before feeding with a quantity of cold w’ater insufficient to satisfy thirst of the animals (steers) hail no recognizable effect on the digestibility. Moistening the bran with cold water twentyfour hours before feeding had no effect on its digestibility, providing the quantity of water was so limited that the amount drank by the animals did not fall below 50 per cent, of that drank when the ration was given dry. When the amount of water nsed to moisten the bran largely exceeds the limit just mentioned, indications of a decreased digestibility of the crude proteine of the total ration were observed. Treating the bran with boiling w\ter tw’entyfour hours before feeding caused an undoubted decrease in the digestibility of its crude proteine, which was greater the higher the initial temperature, and the longer the action of the heat continued. The other constituents of the bran were unaffected. Giving the bran stirred into water as drink, along with dry hay, had no noticeable effect the digestibility of the total ration, compared with tliat observed when similarly prepared bran was mixed with the hay. The experiments gave also the interesting and important result, that the extent to which the same fodder is digested by the same animal may vary at different times. A new source of error in digestion experiments is thus . brought to light, and one which must receive serious consideration in all future experiments and lead to new caution in accepting the results of old ones, especially in the ease of concentrated fodders, since the calculation of the digestibility of the latter is based on the assumption of unaltered digestibility of a coarse fodder for two consecutive periods. These experiments are worthy of notice also for the care

and conscientiousness with which the limits of possible error are taken account of in the discussion of the results. They afford, in this respect, an excellenf example of really scientific investigation, and contrast favorably in this particular with many agricultural

Stained F[?]oofs.

The popularity of stained floors goes on increasing. Nowhere are they more appreciated than in sleeping rooms, where sweetness and freshness are the i main considerations. Just what is the best stain is a difficult question to decide. A writer in a cotemporary is of opinion that permanganate of potash is the best. It is milch used in the navj, and is verysatisfactory in sitting-rooms. As most people know, permanganate of potash not only stains, but purifies and disinfects the rooms which are stained. The mode of procedure is this: Procure a good quality of permanganate of potash, dissolve about an ounce and a half of the crystals in a gallon of boiling water—this will make quite a dark stain—use a stick to stir up the mixture ; then with a painter’s flat brush lay on the stain, working the way of the wood quickly and boldly. A small brush is useful for corners and crevices, and\a pair of heavy gloves should be worn while at work, as the permanganate stains very considerably. Salts of lemon, or the lemon juice, will, however, quickly remove the stains from the hands. When dry, the staining can be repeated if the color is not dark enough, and then, when perfectly dry, the floor should be rubbed dry with an old duster, and linseed sil should be rubbed on freely with ayiece of flannel, always applying it with the grain of the wood. Two or three layers of the oil are an improvement and firmly set the stain. The floor is then ready to be polished with beeswax and turpentine. To prepare this, spread or cut up the wax into small pieces; put it into a gallipot, and pour sufficient spirits of turpentine over it just to cover it. Set the pot in the oven or on the stove until the wax is thoroughly melted, then set it aside to get cold, when it should be of the consistency of pomatum. Put on the wax, not too much of it, with a piece of flannel, and polish with a polishing brush or a big silk duster. This mode of treating floors is quite the best and most welcome for bedrooms, which should be stained all over, under the beds and everywhere. They can be kept very clean and bright by a daily rubbing with the duster and a weekly application of beeswax and turpentine. Turpentine is cleansing, and floors so treated do not require the weekly scrubbing, which is so much labor ; but after they are once well polished the labor is not more than scrubbing floors and washing oil-cloths, and they take away two-thirds of the terrors of house-cleaning. Those who like the more common varnished floors should stain the floors as above; but instead of linseed oil a coat of size should be laid on. This can be obtained at the paint-shops, and should be dissolved in boiling water to the consistency es thin, gum, and then laid on with the brush evenly, and with the grain. When the size isjperfectly dry and hard, it can be varnished with one or two coats of copal or egg-shell flat varnish. These floors require to be dusted daily, and to have a little linseed oil rubbed in occasionally. These require less care than a waxed floor, but when they get shabby they are not so readily renovated. A flannel bag, in which the broom can be incased, in the best floor duster, and one most easily managed.— Oil and Colorman's Journal.

A Witty Retort.

Belford is the red-headed, redbearded, red-nosed Congressman who has represented the great State of Colorado all alone for years in the Lower House of Congress. He was once counsel for the defendant in a Denver case in which Secretary Teller’s brother was counsel for the plaintiff. The case was an interesting one, and both were excited. Belford Was rather personal ini his reply to Teller's opening speech. He made the jury and the audience laugh’ at some of Teller’s peculiarities. Teller said nothing. When he came to close, however, he devoted a few minutes specially to Belford. “Gentlemen of the jury,” he said, “my brother here, Mr. Belford, has been seriouslv cou- ’ ’ s rwenfiy'”bn "the subject"iff religion. The other day he carried his fears and hopes to an old Baptist minister, his life-long friend. After a long conversation his friend said to him that he seemed to be in a very hopeful state. So well advanced wae he that the good old man thought him worthy of baptism. ‘That is the first ceremony upon admission to your church, is it not?’asked Belford. ‘Yes,’ said the clergyman. ‘And how will it be administered? 1 asked Belford. ‘As is usual in our church,’ said his friend, ‘by immersion.’ ‘Then,’ said Belford, very sorrowfully, ‘I must stay outside; I could not consent to disappear so long from public view-.’ ” Belford, had to join in the loudest laugh of that day.—Correspondence Philadelphia Record.

The Wedge of Republicanism.

Bishop Warren, of the Methodist church, is enthusiastic over American progress. He proudly declares that our country is one that in a hundred years has taken a respectable rank in literature; that has made fourteen inventions, which have gone wherever civilization has gone, while all the rest of the world has not made half that number of equal importance; that has revolutionized land warfare once and naval warfare twice; that has solved social problems which the world has blundered over for ages; that has abolished a feudalism and serfdom; that, taking the Bible declaration that God has made of one blood all the nations, has made one family out of representatives of every kindred and tongue and people and n&tjon; that has founded its institutions on the rights of man and the laws of God, and that has already driven a wedge of Republicanism nearly to the heart of Europe. A xew fabric has appeared on the market called bison.cloth. It is not a relative of the buffalo robe.

THE CURRENCY.

Extract* from Controller Kook’s Report. Controller of the Currency Knox report* the organization of 262 banks for the year ending with last month, leaving 2,522 ha operation, the system extending into every territory. The bonds outstanding, which can only be redeemed by purchase in the market, aggregate $1,052,570,061 The Government has gained about $4,000,000 by the accidental destruction of bank notes, and the whole cost of the system in twenty years has been but $5,610,669. Controller Knox thinks the true policy to avoid contraction of bank circulation is to reduce the redundant revenue. Ab to the extension of the corporate existence of National banks, the Controller says: At the date of my last report the corporate existence of eighty-six National banks had expired, and thirty of these banks had extended their existence under the act of July 12. 1882, fifty-two banks went into voluntary liquidation, and were succeeded by other associations organised in place thereof, chiefly previous to the act of July 12,1882, which authorized the extension of the corporate existence for a new period of twenty years of National banks whose franchises were about to terminate. The four remaining banks expired by limitation, and did not effect new- organizations. The number of Nationaffbanks organized under the act of Feb. 25, 1868, which were in oj>eration at the date of my last report in December was 307. Of these banks, 273 have extended their corporate existence under the act of July 1X 1882, seventeen have been placed in liquidation by vote of shareholders of the bank, and four have expired by limitation. All of these banks which have been placed in liquidation and have expired by limitation, with the exception of two, have been succeeded by new associations, organized in the same localities with different titles. The whole number of banks now in operation which organized under the act of June 3, 1864, whose periods of succession will terminate during each year previous to 1900, is 195. The number, capital and circulation of banks expiring in 1884 und 1885 is as follows • Years. No. of banks. Capital. Circulation. 1884249 $ 89,611,570 $ 60,526,825 1885 727 185,936,715 124,807,450 As to the relation of the banks to the bonds, the Controller of the Currency says: The average rate of interest now paid by the United States on the bonds deposited as security for circulating notes is about percent, upon their par value, but it is equal to about 3.19 per cent, only of tne current market value of the bonds. The banks now hold $41,000,000 of 4Vjs, $106,000,000 of 4s, and $21,080,000 of 3 per cents, which have been refunded from 3J6 per cent. More than one-half of the bonds now held by the National banks are 3 per cents. If the public debt continues to be paid as rapidly as it has been dmlng the past all of these bonds will certainly be called within the next three years. Those of the lower numbers, which it is safe to estimate will not be called within the next ten years, cannot be purchased for a premium of much less than 2 per cent., and at that price there will be a loss upon circulation based on this class of bonds if they are redeemed within three years. The profits on circulation baaed on other bonds held by National banks are merely nominal. STATISTICAL. Of the amount of United States bonds held by the National banks and bv banks organized under State laws the Controller says: Through courtesy of State officers, the Controller has obtained official reports made to them under State laws by State banks in twentytwo States, by trust companies in five States, and by savings banks in fourteen States at different dates during the year 1883, and from these returns the following table has been compiled: Held bv 754 State banks in twentytwo States... ; $ 5,287,606 Held by thirty-four trust companies in five States.. 17,487,990 Held by 630 savings banks in fourteen 5tate5219,017,313 T0ta1.5211,742,909 The interest-bearing funded debt of the United States was November 1, last, $1,273,475,450. The total amount of bonds held by the National ($379,486,350) and State and savings banks ($211,74X909) was $621,229,259, which is not greatly less than one-half of the interest-bearing debt. The U nited States bonds held by State banks is given by geographical divisions for the years 1880,1881 and 1882, 1883, as follows: Geographical Divisions. 1880. 1883. Eastern 5tate5.45,230,098 $ 37.399,819 Middle 5tate5......... . 157,563,757 182,847,588 Southern States 958,470 646,500 Western States.. X67X242 3,105,024 Pacific States 7,240,835 17,743,978 ■ Total. -." 7:. $213,665,402 $241.74X909 Illinois has advanced from sixth to fifth place in the National-bank capital. Kentucky has displaced New Jersey, ana Minnesota is now the fourteenth State, taking the place of Vermont and displacing lowa and New Hampshire. Virginia is superseded by Wisconsin, Texas, and California. The Controller says the section of the Revised Statutes which places restrictions upon loans should be so amended as to exclude from the limitation mentioned legitimate loans upon produce or warehouse-receipts and some other classes of collateral security, as well as loans upon United States bonds.

WAR.

Synopsis of Secretary Uncoin’s Report, The report of the Secretary of War gives a pretty full history of the operations of his department, but has not much to offer in the . way of active military operations. After referring to the retirement of Gen. Sherman from command of the army the Secretary says that the only active employment of troops was in the brief Apache campaign last summer under Gen. Crook. He adds: As for some time past the only Indian outbreaks have been in Arizona, special attention has been directed to an endeavor to secure for that region ot the country the same quiet which exists elsewhere. After careful consideration of the difficulties Involved, an arrangement has been made between the Interior department and the War department, under which the police control of all the Indians on the San Carlos reservation has been given to Gen. Crook, and he has been charged with the duty of keeping the peace on the reservation and preventing the Indians from leaving it. Gen. Sherman expresses the belief that if Gen. Crook is permitted to manage the Apaches in his own way, all wars will cease in Arizona, and that with them will disappear the complicated Indian question which has tested the patience and courage of our people ever since the first settlement by whites on this conThe number of desertions from the afmyffi the past year was nearly 3,600; only a few less than the extraordinary number of the year before. As a means of checking the evil, the Secretary recommends that the pay of enlisted men be raised to sl6 a month. He also recommends that enlisted men be retired on full pay after thirty-five years' continuous service. The whole number of national cemeteries now under the care of the Quartermaster’s Department is eighty-three, containing 321.369 interments. There has been some delay ia prosecuting the work of providing beidstones for the soldiers* graves in private, village, and city cemeteries, but the work will be continued until brought to a satisfactory close. Referring to the improvements at the mouth of the Mississippi river, the Secretary says: The last annual report ot this department brought the history of this work to Sept. 9,1882. During the four quarters ending Sept. 9, 1883, there was no failure'of maintenance of the channel. From Sept. 10,1882, to Sept. 9,1883, both dates inclusive, four quarterly payments for maintenance, amounting to $160,000, and two semi-annual payments of interest on the sl.000,000 retained, amounting to $50,000, were made, the total expenditure for the improvement to the latter date being $4,850,000. A considerable portion of the report is given to a history of the Proteus expedition, but beyond a mere recital of the facts the Secretary does not go, as a court of inquiry is now in session investigating the causes of the failure of the expedition. Referring to the militia the Secretary says: "X earnestly recommend that'the attention of Congress be invitedto,the subject of giving substantial encouragement to the formation of volunteer militia organizations in every State, and in the District of Columbia, by liberal appropriations to supply the neosary arms, equipments, tents, ammunition, and other ordnance stores. With our small standing army our main dependence for public defense must be on our militia; and the wisdom of the comparatively small expenditures which would encourage their organization and their efficiency in drill and discipline seems apparent. In the last Congress a bill on this subject was reported from the Senate Committee on Military Affairs (8.1596) by which it was contemplated that, in dfeu of the annual sum of $2«0,900 provided by the act of the 23d ot April, 1806. the mm of $600,000 should be annually appropriated, the purposes for which it should be used being more extended than under the provisions of the old act. A careful consideration of this proposed act lei ds to the belief that its enactment would be a great public benefit, and I strongly recommend the passage of such a law.” Tea plants are growing in portions of Mississippi and Louisiana, and poor people pluck the leaves and steep them* The plants have had very little attention, and yet they are of fair size and appear hardy

FINAMCE.

Abstract of the Report o< the Secretary «t the Treasury. - I year ending June 30, lives, shows that the oral nary revenues of the Government for the yea* were as follows; Customs, $214,706,49'7; internal revenue, $144,720,369; sales of public lands, direct tax, $18,1*7; miscellaneous. $30,796,695; total, $39h.287,58X Ordinary expenses: Civil and miscellaneous, $68,678,022; Waridepartment, $48,911,383; Navy department, $15,283,437; Indian*, $7,362,500: pensions, $64,01X574; interest on public debt, $50,160,132; total, $265,401,138, leaving a surplus revenue of $12,879,444. This is $7,W>,00 more than Mr. Foiger estimated that the surplua would amount to in his last annual report. Compared with the previous fiscal year, the receipts for 1883 have decreased, in customs $3,704,233; in internal revenue, $1,777426; tn direct tax, $51,986. and in m s-cllaneous, $906,948. They have for reared in sales of public lands $3,202,724. Total decrease, $1X664,367. The expenditure* show an Increase over the year before of $7,526,697 The expenditures of the War department increased $5,400,000; foe the Navy department, $230,000. and for pen-sions-nearly $5,000,000, while the interest on the public debt decreased almost SIXOOO,OOO. Since the last annual report the act ofsta*l4X 1883, diminished the sources of internal revenue and changed the tariff law, soafhat the estimate made a year ago must be entirely revised. Then the receipts expected from internal revenue were $145,000, 000. Now the estimated revenue Is $120,001,000. The receipts from customs have fallen off proportionately. For the four months ending Nov. 1, the total receipts were $124,360,985: for the corresponding months of last year thev wera $114,96X932. For the same periods the expenditures were SBO- - and $18,706,681. By the payment of $207,000,000 of the public debt, the charge for interest will be greatly reduced. It is probable that the receipts will be. alxmt $350,000,000 for the fiscal year 1881, while the expenditures will amount to $265,000,000, leaving a surplus of $85,000,000 over and above the sinking fund. During the last fiscal year the bonds retired amounted to $134,009,750. Since then $38,374,000 of 3 per cents have been paid, and $40,000,000 more have been called. Of this last sum, $5,000.000 has been met already, and is included in the $38,374,000. The Secretary again calls the attention of Congress to the fact (hat the receipts of the Government are greatly in excess of its need*. The dangers of this large surplus to the moriey marxet will be dwelt* upon, and the Secretary will say that there is no method of disbursing this surplus except by payment of the public debt. Payment of the nubile debt, however, is nowinjurious to the national banking system. When all the outstanding calls are paid, the 3 per cents, will be reduced to the nei-'h)K>rhood ot $280,000,000. and of this the banks hold about $200,000,000. It payment of the public debt is to be permitted to go on. even this year, as It has during the last fiscal year, the existence of a good many, national banks is threaten id", and this means a sensible contraction of the currency. If the income »of the Government remains as it is, the Secretary of the Treasury will call at least $50,000,000 more of bonds before the end of the fiscal year, and by the end of the fiscal year 1885 more than half the banks holding 3 s a* security for circulation would have to replace them with 4’s at a great premium or retire their circulation, and thus contract the currency. In discussing t;ie mode of reducing the revenues. the Secretary opposes the abolition ot' the internal-revenue tax. It is estimated that this fox will yield unde.- the present law $120,000,000, and this Is at least $35,000,000 more than the revenue can be decreased. A decrease of the tax on tobacco and spirits does not necessarily argue a smaller revenue, as experience has often found. Therefore, the Secretary recommends a still further reduction ot custom* duties, after a proper inquiry shall have developed what articles can best stand the reduction. Sugar, at least, the Secretary thinks, ought to toay a much smaller duty than it now does. The Secretary is embarrassed by the new law which has so recently been passed that it would seem proper to give it a further trial before endeavoring to change it, but it has not accomplished the purposes which he desired to effect when he last year recommended that a reduction of revenue be made by a revision of the tariff that should reduce the duties on sugar, iron, steel, woolens and wool, cottons and raw material. Therefore these recommendations must be substantially renewed, for the dangers of a large surplus axe even more threatening than they were before the passage of the Tariff act. The Secretary calls attention to the suggestions made by Comptroller Knox, that the rate of issue otortionSl bank notes be increased to 90 per cent, of the market value of the bonds, and that the 4’s be refunded "in 3’s, the bolder* receiving a premium in satisfaction for th* resultant loss of interest.

THE POSTOFFICE.

Postmaster General Gresham’s Report. The report of the Postmaster General is very full and comprehensive. He estimates the revenue of the department for the fiscal year ending June 30,1885, at $47,104,078. and 1U expenditures at $50,062,189, leaving a deficiency to be supplied out of the Treasury of $2,968,111. This deficiency will be caused, it is thought, by the reduction of postage, but the report suggests that figures are purely conjectural. The free delivery system has been largely extended during the year, and is now In operation at 154 offices. The total appropriation for this service was $3,200,080, including a special appropriation of $200,000 to carry out the provisions of the act of Aug. 2,1882, an increase of $575,000 over that of the preceding year. The tot al cost of the service was $3,173,336.51, leaving an unexpended balance of $26,663.49. The increase of the cost over the preceding year was $550,073.77. The present status of the Star service shows for 1883 a cost of $4,739,478, with 77,998,782 miles of annual transportation, against a cost of $7,321,499, with 76,070,995 miles of annual transportation in 1880, being an increase from 1880 of 1,927,787 miles of transportation and $2,582,021 decrease in cost This service is nowall performed under contracts made upon proposals submitted in response to advertisements. An interesting statement, showing the development and cost of the railroad service from its commencement until June 30, 1883, is presented. It fe the general opinion that the rates of pay have been greatly increased of late years; the fact is otherwise. The cost per mile of transportation in 1854 was 11.4 cents; in 1883, notwithstanding the enormous increase in weight of mails and the superior facilities provided for distribution, the cost is 10.76 cents per mile. On the aoth of last June there were 5,927 mon-ey-order offices in operation, whose transactions during the year, or domestic orders issued, amounted to $117,329,409.31, and of domestic orders paid and repaid to $117,344,281.78; of internationalorders inued to and of international orders paid and repaid to $3,063,187.05; a grand total in issues of . $125,047,328.42, and in payments and repayments of $120,407,468.83. The fees received in domestic orders issued aggregated $1,101321.80, and on international orders $170,238.80—a total of $1,272,060.90. The gains were, in domestic transactions, about 35s per cent., and in international transactions from 1.85 to over 56 per cent.; in domestic fees about 4J* per cent., and in international fees from .56 to over .54 per cent. The Postmaster General opposes the proposed reduction of postage on drop letters from 2 cents to I? on the ground that it would increase the cost of the carriers’ service and lead to a darner for its extension, but he is in favor of increasing the single rate limit on all letters from a half ounce to an ounce. He also recommend* that the rate of postage on transient newspapers and periodicals be fixed at 1 cent for every three ounces, instead of 1 cent for every two ounces as now. On the subject of postal telegraphy, ths Postmaster General is diffuse. He aayst “From the best consideration which I have been enabled to bestow upon the subject, I have reached the conclusion that Congress has the constitutional power in providing for the postal service of the country to avail itself ot all the facilities devised by the inventive genius ot jpod rn times for transmitting messages and intelligence, and that it has full authority to adopt either of the first two plans which I have mentioned. ~The establishment and operation ot a postal telegraph ss a monopoly, or in competition with private companies, would, it is instated, reduce rates which are now exorbitant and protect the public against the abuses and evils deemed to be inseparable from the service as it exists. In either event an enormous expense must be incurred. But without dwelling upon that consideration. it is clear that an efficient execution of either plan will necessarily involve the employment of a multitude of operators, messengers, mechanics, and laborers, and thus largely add to the patrqnge of the Government. An increase of that patronage bevond What Is ladlaDensa' ble to the public service ia to be deprecated and avoided, nd it is one of the dangers which threaten the purity and duration of our institutions. In Europe the telegraph is under the control ot the public authorities. With us, the administration is the Government tn action, and may. for the time being and for all practical purposes, be considered the Government itself. In seasons of political excitement, and, to some extent at other times, is there not grcuud for serious apprehension that the telegraph, under the exclusive control of the dominant party, might be abused to promotq jpartisan purposes and perpetuate the power ot the administration? But if it equid be kept entirely free from such influence, 1 should hesitate to sanction a measure providing that the United States shall become the proprietor of telegraph lines, and operate them by its officers and agents.*