Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1885 — Page 2

SERENADE TO NORA. BY JT.W. RILWY. • The moonlight is failin’— The rand stars are palin'— TSe black wings of night are a droopin' and trailin'; The wind’s miserere Sounds lonesome and dreary; The katydid’s dumb and the nightingale’s weary. O Nora! I'm tradin’ The grass, and paradin' The dews at ypur door, wij my swate serenadin', Alone and forsaken, . Whilst you’re never wakin' To tell me you're wid me, and I am mistaken! Don’t think .that my stagin' Its wrong tp be Hingin’ Foruinst of the dreams that the angels are brin<’in’; For if your pore spirit Might waken nnd heir it. You'd never be dreamin’ the Saints could come near it. Then lave off your slapin'— The pulse of ine's lapin’ To have the two eyes of j ez down on me papln.’ Ah. Nora! Its hopin' Your windy ye’ll open And light up the night where the heart of • me’e gropin’.

NICKELS PLUGGED WITH LEAD-,, In this time of frequent changes, Friendship broken in a day: Brightest dreams of brilliant future Fad;ng in an hour away; i When the clouds of life are darkest And the fondest hopes are tied, There is nothing half so constant As a nick.e plugged with lead. Oh. how often I have' pondered How to put its worth at pur; Logic—surely a bad nickel’s Worth at least a bad cigar. Still the goddess sits serenely. With her pretty punctured nead. Where a year ago I placed her With her flllet plugged with lead. Scorned by all whom it approaches. Thrust aside by beggars blind, Even in the deacon’s basket Sweet repose it can not find; Doomed to drear aud dire misfortune, To all things rejected wed, 4 Since the social ostracism Of the nickel plugged with load. Still, perhaps, when war is raging It will find s'lreeasc from woe, And, when molded to a bullet, Seek the heart of warlike foe; Or, perhaps, when funds are lowest, Armed with needle, thimble, thread, 1 might make a trouser’sbntton Of the nickel plugged with load. -

A RETIRED BURGLAR.

*** BY ELEANOR KIRK. “Ye?, I am pleased to see you, and you can take my career for a text if that is your object in visiting me; but you are not at liberty tp mention my name. You can call me Jack for short. You see I have had notoriety enough. Your article may be valueless without my name? Very sorry, indeed, but the talker in this case must only be known to the talkee.” There was no way of evading these terms, and they were accepted with thanks. “How is it that my English is so good? Then you do observe a difference between my English and that of most men of my profession? lam glad this is the case, I had a good education ; in fact. I was intended for the ministry. You laugh, my friend? I assure yon that it was only a feather’s weight that decided my vocation. My mind was of a studious, philosophical, and scientific cast. I got into a bog about free-will and predestination, and then I stuck. It was impossible for me to honestly preach either doctrine, and I certainly was bound to commit myself to one or the other. There was still another obstacle in my path. It was: I was born with an overweening desire for the unattainable.” This was certainly a poetic way of getting around the eighth commandment, and the w riter's respect increased prodigiously. “I was so constituted, - ’ the speaker proceeded, “that I could not care for anything, however beautiful, which was within my reach. 5 ow, I was not responsible for coming into the world, neither was I responsible for the law of heredity. It was a great deal safer to address a cultivated audience twice a Sunday, and make a few pastoral calls during the week, than to climb into a man's house at dead of night, and creep into his bedroom and walk off with his pocket-book and diamond studs. I studied theology with the best old man that ever lived, and lie considered me a brilliant and hopeful disciple, but I spent three weeks planning to rob him—to rob him artistically, I mean. I could, have done this without suspicion *ht any time, for the whole house was open to me, but the things that I coveted were not valuable to me until they were locked up. This desire was stronger than life and stronger than death, for I risked death many a time to accomplish it: I could not believe that I had been predestined from the beginning of things that my career was to be that of a burglar, and I knew that I was not a free agent. You can comprehend my dilemma?” This was plausible, though the treatment of the subject, it was observerd, was somewhat new, as well as a trifle mystical. “Yes.” was the calm response. “You have become accustomed to certain terms, certain forms and modes of expression, and you don’t know how to get outside of them. Most men are like you.” 1 “Are you willing to tell me your method of attack—so to speak—or did yon enter houses like other ■” Do-not be afraid of the word. I think my methods were original, if not unique,, though, as I never had any dealings with men of my profession, I may be arrogating too much.” “You never had a companion, a pal ? Was never a member of any clique?” “Never, and my contempt for thieves was probably as great as your own. I had no wish’for such society, and up to the time I was caught and convicted I had as good a name as any other man. A house that was easy to enter I always passed by, for, as -I told you. I eared only for the unattainable. My tools could all be carried in one pocket When I had such work in my hand I always dressed myself scrupulously. The professional burglar can never be mistaken for a gentleman for he looks like the tramp he is. < My linen was invariably my boots were well blacked, and my Whole appearance wnexem>tionablej I should have hluaheil to rob a man in, old clothes.” “And y°u were never caught but “Only though I had two ot three hair-breadth escapes. One of

these was when I attempted to rob a house on the Hudson, said to be as impregnable as a fortress. It took three hours of the hardest work I ever did to effect an entrance, and after I had succeeded in doing so I found, to my great chagrin, that I did not feel at home.” “Feel at home? That is funnidr than all the rest” “A great psychological trqth underlies that feeling, sir. If I ’could not hold my head up in a man’s diningroom or library, and feel/in a large and comfortable sense like the proprietor, I was in danger. In the house I have mentioned I was indeed a cat in a strange garret But, like other fools, I ignored the warning, and proceeded to investigate, I had not gone far when a door softly opened, and a woman met me upon the threshold.” “But you were not afraid of a woman ?” “I was never very much afraid of a man. This woman was as calm as the summer night, or rather the summer morning.for then it was nearly 3 o’clock. ‘What do you want?’ she as ed coolly. I glanced into the room and saw that she was alone. ‘What do you think I want ?’ I replied. ‘lf you did not look so much like a gentleman,* she answered, ‘I should, of course, think that you had come to rob us. ’ ‘Thank you for the compliment,’said I; ‘but where is your husband?’ ‘He is in Toronto,’ she responded. ‘Perhaps you bring bad news of him ?’ ‘Oh, no, madam,’ I answered, reassuringly; ‘but it cannot be possible that your" husband leaves you alone in this great house ?’ ‘By no means; my servants are all within call,’was the suspicious response. ‘But will you not be seated ?’ she added politely. This was a poser. Now I never struck, abused or insulted a woman in my life, and the most disheartening feature of my self-imposed employment was that I was sometimes compelled to frighten these tender and susceptible creatures. I took a seat near the door, so that my companion could not possible give the alarm, and she sat down on the other side of a large center table, and as she did I distinctly heard the click of a pistol. She had cocked the pistol and was ready for me. “This incident happened at the height of the Beecher trial in Brooklyn. That woman was game and I knew she would never let me leave those premises without a spunky attempt for my apprehension. Most of my surprises have come from women, but I was never so utterly dumfounded as when this one calmly asked me for the latest news in the Beecher trial. I have tried to show you that only a small part of my nature was really burglarious, and that in all other respects I was a gentleman. When I found that this woman was alone, I would no more have placed a hand on any of her possessions than I would have cut my own throat. There were two reasons for this. The first 1 hope was my innate respect for women in general, and my great admiration for this woman in particular, and the next was because of the predominant trait of character which made everything valueless -which was not obtained by the hardest work. I could have taken this woman’s little toy away from her, and locked her into her room w r ith the greatest ease, and I would not have hurt a hair of her head; but such a tussel would have been unmanly and ridiculous. So I answered her inquiries as politely as I could, and now comes the part which will doubtless seem incredible to your practical mind. I became so interested in this singular ci nversation that a whole hour passed without my being aware of it. “My hostess”—a curious smile flitted across the ex-burglar’s serene countenance as he uttered this word—“was talented, refined, well informed. She regarded the matter from the standpoint which was always most fascinating to me—that of philosophy and precedent. She was analytical, and I discovered in the course of the conversation that she was a close psychometric student. I forgot my inglorious intentions entirely, and was only recalled to the object of my visit when my companion, with the dash of a gazelle running away from a rifle, threw up the window and screamed at the top of her voice. I heard the rumbling of a wagon, and the shouts of men, and had only time enough to escape by the back door into the woods. I take oft’ my hat to that woman —metaphorically—a dozen times a day. “I told you the narrative would seem incredible, but notwithstanding my past career, which probably appears to you allied to every other weakness and wickness, I am not, and never was, a liar. “ One other experience I will recount before I make the application of the sermon you are to preach for me. I had resolved to rob the house of one of our millionaires. This had been attempted several times by others, and their failure was, as usual,- an inspiration to me. So I dressed meself in my best clothes, took my little tools, and started one dark night about 12 o’clock. It was nearly 2 before I got in, and here, as in the other house I have told you about, I did not feel at home. I was an alien and a stranger. The sound of my own footsteps made my heart beat audibly. But I was a fool again, and did not fly as I should have done. I had lighted the gas in the'dining-room, and was about to reconnoiter when I heard a quick step, and in an instant a man was upon me. I had time to seize my hat,which I had dropped upon the table, strike a dignified attitude, and await developments ‘Well,’ said the man rather sharply, ‘what do you want ?’ I turned, and this time met an old chum of mine whom I had not seen for fifteen years. ‘Why,’ he exclaimed, calling me by name and extending his hand cordially, ‘what in the world brings you here at this time of night? lam delighted to see you.’ I responded in perfect good faith,'and I don’t wonder you say this time of night But I have been here since, lljtf siting for Mr. s’calling the millionaire by name. ‘And he is not in yet,’ my companion replied. ‘Come into the library and have a glass of wine with me. He will to be here very soon now, you see,’ he added, aS I followed his lead, with my K heart in my mouth. ‘I got interested in a . book, and forgot about the time. lAn thankful that I did, and now how m e

you, old boy?’ There are some moments in a m'an’s life which no words can eve? describe. I made up my mind if I got out of this house with my real character unsuspected, that I would kill myself as soon as I reached home. ,1 “My old friend’s delight at seeing me distressed me, and for a few moments I forgot the danger of my position and everything else save nay own unworthiness to grasp a good man’s hand. He told me that he was a tutor in the millionaire’s family, and was perfectly happy in his vocation. He offered me wine and I drank it. He gave me a cigar, and I lit it, and did my best to keep it glowing, but the fire went out repeatedly. Once I had a wild thought of telling him the nature of my to this house and throwing myself upon his mercy and generosity, but I could not do it To watch this man’s face as I sank lower and lower in his estimation was a process I could not bear. No, I must get out of it some other way. My companion listened occasionally as the sound of wheels was heard, showing that his employer was expected in a carriage. I listened for wheels also, and if you are possessd of imagination you can form some idea of my state of mind. “At last the clatter of horses’ hoofs drew very near. There was a halt, the quick closing of a gate, and my friend rose and went to the window. “ ‘Mr. has come at last,’ he said. “My companion’s back was turned for a moment, and I took a quick advantage of this fact and hurried out of the room. Once out of his presence fear and shame lent me wings and I reached the back window through which I had entered to hear the voice of the millionaire whom I had intended to victimize close beside me. ~ “ ‘You had better give Kate some water.’ he told his coachman; and as he spoke I could have reached out my hand and touched his sleeve. But I kept in the shadow and as soon as the coast was clear I took myself out of the way. “And you did not kill yourself?” “No. Once safe, the old love of life returned and the keenness of my shame soon became blunted. If it were not for this dulling process, this world would consists of graves and lunatic asylums only.” “And you were at last caught and sentenced. You did not serve youi' whole time, I believe.” “Scardely half. Good behavior and paralysis opened the prison doors for me. I was caught in the act of robbing a safe in a bank. It was my first and last attempt at a bank robbery. I never stepped upon so homelike a scene as this was. The atmosphere of the p|ace was entirely nexy to me. I had never had a bank book, never been a president, cr a defaulting cashier, and I tried to convince myself that this was the cause of the strangeness. But it was the old warning, and it served me right that I did not recognize it. A night watchman and a policeman swooped down upon me, and the result, as you know, was a sentence for ten years’ hard labor in states prison. I came out in less than five, a whitehaired, decrepit man; old before n»time, with nothing pleasant in the piw to look back upon, and no chance jBl contentment or usefulness in the future.” * “If you were in good health, what do yotwthink would be the chances of your old occupation ?” “I often ask that question of myself, but I have never ahswered it. • The old Adam might be strong within me if I wers as well as formerly. It does not seem so, however; though with xny experience to refer to, it would be very illogical for me to predicate anything of a healthy condition from a diseased one. I feel at times perfectly convinced that my sbamo and remorse are genuine emotions, and the old longing for—” “For the unattainable—” “Thank you—for the unattainable is dead. I have found out that there is a moral as well as a physical scrofula, and if a single precedent had been established whereby I could have made known my sickness to some soul physician wise enough to deal with it, I might have been cured. When a man afflicted with moral scrofula can consult a physician for that disease with as much freedom and as little shame as a man suffering from blood scrofula, then and not till then will the ranks of evil be thined. The rule of heredity obtained in my case and I know the source of my taint. But to speak of it was to confess myself defiled, and beyond the pale of human sympathy and respect The time must come when a moral disease will be no more of a disgrace than physical sickness. Both are entailed and science should bestir herself. “I haven’t perhaps, given you much that is sensational, but you are quite welcome to it, and I wish you would use your influence and your pen—if it has a good point->-in behalf of those who are morally sick. Come again.” These was food for thought in this strange sermon, and as it was received it is given again.

A Sociable Policeman.

A gentleman who rented a country house near New York City experienced much annoyance from thieves who robbed the apple trees, but was never able to catch any of them. Coming out unexpectedly one afternoon, he discovered a man hidden among the foliage of an apple tree, presumably with larcenous intent. “You had better come down from there or I’ll send for one of the mounted police and have you arrested,” said the man who was trying to raise apples. The offender cooned it backward down the tree, when, to the amazement of the amateur horticulturist, who should the guilty party be but the mounted policeman. “I thought I heard you say you wanted a policeman,” said the uniformed protector of prpperty, as he picked up some fruit and concealed it in his bulging pockets. “Well, vou are a cool one. Don’t you want to borrow a basket, to carry some more home ?” The policeman mounted his horse, whieh wks tied outside of the lence, and, as he rode off with his booty, he said: “We mounted police in the suburbs >don’t ?ut on as much style as them New ork City cops. We are more sociable, we aye.”—Texas Siftings.

WHY CAN’T A WOMAN BE A MASON.

A lady friend of ours and wife of a brother in good standing. has frequent* ly importuned us to disclose tho reason "Why a woman couldn’t be made a Mason.’’ We have thus far failed to comply with the request, but happily find a solution to the proposition in the following from an address delivered by Major Sherman at Austin, Nevada: “Women sometimes complain that they are not permitted to join our lodge and work with the craft in their labors, and learn all there is to be learned in the situation. We will explain the 1 reason. We learn that before the Almighty had finished his he was in some doubt about creating Eve. The creation of every living creeping thing had been accomplished, and the Almighty had made Adam (who wast the first Mason), and created him for the finest lodge in the world, and called it Paradise No. 1. He then caused all the beasts of the field and fowls of the air to pass before Adam for him to know them, which was a piece of Work he had to do alone, so that no confusion might therefore arise when Eve was created, whom he knew would make trouble if she was allowed to participate in it-, if he created her before hand. Adam, being very much fatigued with the labors of his. first task, fell asleep, and when he awoke he found Eve in the lodge with him. Adam being Senior Waiden, placed Eve as the pillar of beauty, in the south, and they received their instructions from .he Grand Master in the east, which when finished, sh ? immediately called the Craft, from labor to refreshment Instead of attending to the duties of the office as she ought, she left her station, violated the obligations, let in an expelled Mason, who had no business there, and went around with him, leaving Adam to look after the jewels. This fellow had been expeled from the Lodge, with several others, some time before. But hearing the footsteps of the Grand Master, he suddenly took his leave, felling Eve to go making aprons, as she and Adam were not in proper regalia. She went and told and when the Grand Master returned to the Lodge, he found his gavel had been stolen. He called for the Senior and Junior Wardens, who had neglected to guard the door, and found them absent. After searching for some time he came to where they were hid, and demanded of Adam what he was doing there, instead of occupying his official station. Adam replied that he was waiting for Eve to call thp Craft from refreshment to labor again; and that the Craft was not properly clothed, which they were making provisions for. Turning to Eve, he asked her what she had to offer in excuse for her unofficial and unmasonic conduct. She replied that a fellow passing biinself off as a grand lecturer. had been giving her instructions, and thought is was no harm. The Grand Master then asked her what had become of his gavel. She said she didn’t know unless the fellow had taken it away, .Finding that Eve was no longer trustworthy, and that she had caused Adam to neglect his duty, and had let in one whom he had expelled, the Grand Master closed the lodge, and turning them out, set a faithful Tyler to watch the door with a flaming sword. Adam, repenting of his folly, went to work like a man and a good Mason, in order to get reinstated again. Not so with Eve—she got angry about it, and commenced raising Cain. “Adam, on account of his reformation, was permitted to establish Lodges and work in the degrees, and while i ve was allowed to join him in acts of charity outside, she was never again to be admitted to assist in the regular Lodge work of the craft. Hence the reason why a woman cannot become an inside Mason.”— Oconomowoc Times,.

Teaching the Blind.

A class of little boys sat around a table in a plea Sent room of the Pennsylvania Institution for the instruction of the blind. They were modeling in clay, and under their nimble fingers the outlines of boats, houses, and other familiar objects began to appear. It was semi-twilight in the room. Outside murky skies, mist, and a drizzling rain darkened the surroundings. “We do not realize that these little fellows are working in the dark,” said Assistant Principal Battles to a visitor, softly closing the tall shutters of the wind6wl The room was pitch dark. The busy modeling fingers could only be heard. “Oh. Mr. Battles, just look at my cup. Wait and see me put a handle on it.” Mr. Battles threw open the shutters and out of the mist and rain the feeble daylight crept back into the room. The class,with clay-begrimmed fingers, worked at their boats and houses, and the youngster held out his finished cup for his teacher to look at. Daylight and darkness were alike to them. “We only teach the blind those trades in which machinery does not compete,” said the assistant principal. “Whenthis institution was founded a ropewalk was also constructed, and its inmates followed that occupation for years. After rope-making, the manufacture of shoes was taught, and since then, making of baskets, brushes, doormats, mattresses, and carpet-weaving. Machinery fisst took from the blind the rope and twine making industry, afterward the weaving of willow baskets, and later shoemaking. To-day the blind are taught to make brooms and brushes, cane chairs, weave carpets, and make mattresses. These occupations are taught especially to the boys and men, while sewing by hand and machine, Knitting, embroidery, crocheting, and fancy bead-work are taught to girls and wojnen. “All pupils are instructed in music and given a first-class musical education it they show any aptitude for the study. Many of them became Organists and music teachers. A most important business in which the blind ai e becominjTvery expert is the tuning of pianos. There are now about twenty expert blind piano-tuners <jn this city. In Boaton all the pianos used in the public schools are kept in tune by pupils of the Massachusetts institution for the blind. The use of the type-writer is now being taught the blind. They become very expert with the machine, ■. ' * ' ... *-7

handling it as the piano-player does the keys of his instrument, but of course they can only be of service in writing from — Philadelphia Times. ,

Marching Through Georgia.

Dawson Oouifty, Georgia, boasts a three-legged qat. Wherein it is better than a four-legged cat is hot reported. A- Wilkes County, Georgia, chicken, on being dissected, was found to have three brass buttons and a pistol cartridge in its gizzard. As none of the local militia are missing, the spurce of the chichen’s military supplies remains a mvstery. ' * There is a small stream in Irwin County, Geofgia, that rises and falls with the changes in the moon. When the moon is full, it is full, When the moon is in its last quarter the stream is perfectly dry. In this it differs from the average Georgian, who is hever perfectly dry while the last quarter lasts. A Clayton, Georgia, farmer lost a fine milch cow, and upon inquiry for the cause of her death, a sewing needle was found in her heart This is only the beginning of the story of the cow and the needle. When it gets as old as the woman and the needle story it will be painful to read about that cow. The reporter of the Athens, Georgia, Banner-Watchman was sitting out in front of a store on Broad street, having given up news as a thing of the past, when he was approached by a gentleman from an adjoining county, who inquired if he was anxious for an item. The reporter at once jumped to his feet and told the gentleman to' shoot ahead. As the gentleman began to expatiate upon his topic, the reporter began, to grow interested, and after obtaining all the facts he comes now to give them to the public. A certain lady who lives in an adjoining county, but who wishes her name withheld, has been so unfortunate as to have been unable to eat anything for the last twenty-two days. It first started with a gradual loss of appetite increasing day by day until finally she had no appetite at all. She had physicians to attend her. who gave her medicine of all kinds, but all to no purpose. She has grown very thin, looks poor and emaciated—in all, a living skeleton. She has tried repeatedly to eat, but of no avail. If she forces herself to eat she cannot retain it, and it seems to be only a Question of time as to the number of het days.

The Inventor of Lucifer Matches.

According to a German paper, the inventor of lucifer matches was a political prisoner, who perfected his idea in 1883, within the walls of a state prison. Kammerer was a native of Ludwigsburg, and when sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at Hohenasburg, he was fortunate enough to attract the notice and to gain the favor of an old officer in charge of the prison, who, finding he was studying chemistry, allowed him to arrange a small laboratory in his cell. Kammerer had been engaged in researches with a view of improving the defective steeping system, according to which splinters of wood, with sulphur at the ends, were dipped into a chemical fluid in order to produce a flame. If the fluid was fresh the result was satisfactory, but as it lost its virtues after a time, there was no general disposition to discontinue the old-fashioned system of using flint and steel. After many failures Kammerer began to experiment with phosphorus, ahd had almost completed his term of imprisonment when he discovered the right mixture, kindled a match by rubbing it against the walls of his cell. On coming out of prison he commenced the manufacture of matches. JJnfortunately, the absence of a patent law prevented his rights from being secured, and on Austrian and other chemists analyzing the composition, imitations speedily made their appearance. In 1835 the German states prohibited the use of the matches, considering them dangerous.. When they were made in England and sent to the continent these regulations were withdrawn, but too late to be of any benefit to the inventor, who died in the madhouse of his native town, in 1857.

Old-Time Partisanship.

In the election of 1792, George Clinton was the candidate for governor of New York on one side, and-John Jay on the o her. The returns showed a majority of about 300 for Mr. Jay, but in the counties of Clinton, Otsego, and Tioga technical errors were discovered in the returns which threw out Mr. Jay by 108 adverse majority. The counties of Clinton and Tioga offset each other, and’the result was due to the manner of dealing with the Otsego county returns. The law required that the returns from each county, after being delivered to the sheriff, should by him be delivered to the State canvassing committee. A man named Smith had been sheriff of • Otsego county, and, when his term ran out, had been reappointed. He declined the second term and his successor was named, but did not receive his commission until after the election. Smith therefore received th? ballots and sent them to Albany. The majority3of the canvassing committee, being Clinton’s partisans, decided that Smith was not the legal, sheriff at the time of the election, and threw out the Otsego returns altogether, thus changing Jay's majority of 300 to 100 majority for Clinton. Notwithstanding great* political excitement. Clinton was duly - inaugurated and served out his term. This precedent, ninety-two years ago, shows that in the “good old times” partisanship was as violent and unreasoning as it is now.— Hartford Courant.

Due to the Toughening Qualities.

A statistician has found that the average age of men in the past forty years has advanced Ihree years. This is partially due to the toughening qualities in the modern adulteration of foods and liquors. Logwood port wine, molasses whisky, oleomargarine, glucose, ootton oil, and other vegetable and mineral constituents of the refreshment supplies were strangers to the good old times.— Chicago Herald. The most completely lost of all days is the one on which we have not thought.— De Finod.

The Mangrove and Oyster in Western Florida.

I am inclined to believe, in the economy of nature, so far as constructive process goes, the mangrove, in combination with the oyster, has had much to do with.the building up of this western fringe of Florida. There is that factor of resistance or obstruction to a passage which renders a mangrove . thicket impossible to traverse savfe by raccoons, snakes, or birds. Starting in a delicate way„ with a single thin, pliant stalk right in the salt-water, after a while, when the mangrove grows to some four or five feet high, it throws down suckers from its trunk or branches, which meet the waters again. -In time, the suckers being all around, the main trunk seems to hitch itself clear out of the water,. and to stand upon its lower branches like a chevaldejrise. Now suppose a manufacturer of gas fixtures had made a hundred big candelabra, and had stacked them in a disorderly way in a large room, the main pipes upward, and the crooks and querls of the branches on the floor. If you were requested to walk across that room you never could do it You can fight through an alder thicket, but never through a groth of mangroves. I do not think sufficient importance has been given to the role the oyster plays in conjunction with these trees. Wuenthe mangrove grows on the oUjter edge of the water-line, and drops its . aerial roots, no sooner are these at the surface than at once the spat of the raccoon oyster finds a lodgement, for there can be no waters so charged with life as those in these warm seas. Ostrea parasitica nature originated to weight down the mangrove and anchor it in place. These oysters accumulate, growing in bunches as big as a man’s head. In time these run through the cycle of oyster life, die, and drop from their branch, and fall in the shallow water. The calcareous portions of the shells dissolve in part, but some of the debris, with the silicious matter remains. A little more soft under water is made, and here will sprout another mangrove, certain in time to have its oyster appendages. It looks to me as if the trees on the very outer edge of the clump show greater activity in this double vegetable and molluscan life than the trees on the inside. Growth, then, seems to be arrested at certain points in this dual system; and to be „ advanced at others. One, two, or three 'k of these thickets are separated, and may remain apart for years; then a seed falls, 1 finds its proper depth, a new mangrove rises, and another and another, and the many islands become one. Mangroves are always growing, oysters depositing, thbn perishing, the shells dropping, and so nature’s laws of life and death are balanced, and make up that grand everlasting harmony.— Barnet Phili ps, in Harper’s Magazine.

Hanged by a Single Hair.

An explanation of the hanging of the murderer Waiselewsky, at Ban Jose, by means of a single hair, is as follows: The gallows trap on which the condemned stood had double doors, swinging from the center to both sides; These doors, constituting the trap, were held in position so as to form a' part of the platform of the gallows by a spring bolt. This bolt was sprung, thus opening the man weighted trap, by the falling of a fourteen-pound weight. This weight was suspended by a small cord, which came up to the. rail on the gallows back of the condemned. The cord, instead of being at once and simply fastened, was wound, around a “barrel.” This “barrel” was lying in a horizontal position, parallel with the rail, and held a few inches above it by upright supports at either end. The cord holding the weight was wound around the barrel until the re-. sisting power of t e friction almost held the weight. This “almost” was arrived at by previous experiments, until it was reduced to such a fine point that the additional strength of a single, hair waS enough to suspend the weight; or, more properly, prevent the from slipping. One end of the hair was fastened to the cord and the other end to a screw driven in the barrel. When the hair was cut the card slipped around the barrel, the fourteen-pound weight dropped ten feet, springing the trap-bolt, and Waieslewsky shot through the opening. It is said that Judge Belden, who tried Waieslewsky, suggested this peculiar- scheme of retributive justice, but the detils were worked out by {Sheriff Branham. The hair which was used came from a lock of the murdered woman’s hair.— Ban Francico Bulletin.

John Howard Payne.

The remains of John Howard Payne, the author 6t “Home, Sweet Hbme,” were brought to America and interred in Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D. C., June 9, 1883. He was buried in Tunis for a number of years, the United States Government placing a slab with the following inscription over hisgrave: “In memory of John Howard Payne, twice Consul for the United States of America for the Kingdom of Tunis. This stone has been placed here by a grateful country. He died at the American Consulate in this city after a painful illness, April 1, 1852. He was born in the City of Boston, State of Massachusetts. June 8, 1792. His fame as a poet and dramatist is well known wherever the English language is spoken, through his celebrated ballad of •Home, Sweet Home,’ and the popular tragedy ‘Brutus,’ and other similar productions.” ) .

He Needed a New Watch.

“Mary," remarked old man Orosseam to his wife at break l ast, “was Will Trimble here to see Katie last Night?” “Yes, my dear.” * . . . “What time did he leave?” “I heard him say it was 11 o’clock by his watch as he went out.” “What kind of a watch does he carry?” “A patent lever, he told Katie.” “A patent lever, eh? Well, yon tell him, with my compliments, that if he wants to remain healthy he had better change that patent to a 10 o'clock leave her., I was young -once myself, and know what time of night 11 o’clock is . by tfiose patent levejr watches.”—Merchant Traveler. "'7 Bob Ingebsoll has taught his two daughters sO Swim like ducks.