Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1888 — Page 2

CHRISTM AS THOUGHTS. Lends luster and peace to th* year. And th* lin*r-k>n«-lill» of th* bell* that ring Tell only of Joy cheer ’ I hear to their sweet. wild mu’lc «*— t These words, and I bold them tru*. "TTrttTfcrtot who waa bom Mt Qhrittmaa morn Did only what yon can do.” —lb sutf Uni am vi wnh xtrt tefttg la touched with heaven'* own fire. Kach living man ia part of the plan To lift the world up higher. No matter how narrow your limit*, ’ ' > Go foi th and make them broadl You are. every one. the daughter or eon - Crown Prince nr hrinces* of God? Have you ainnedT it is only an error-.-Your rptrit is pure and white. It i* truth’* own ray and will find its way Back into the path of right. Hav* you failed T It I* only in seeming- - Th* triumph will come at length. You are bom tn succeed--you will have what you need, * • . If you will but.believe in yonr strength. No matter how poor your record— Christ live* In the heart of jou, And the shadow* will roll up and off from your soul If you will but own thia trtw For “Christ” means the epl-It of goodness. And all men are good at the core. Look aearcbingly in froMbe costing < t alu And lot there ia Truth to adore! Believe ia ydur elf and your motirrs. Belkve to your atreu.tn md your vorlh, Believe you were aent l.ca God'* fair firmament To aid and ennoble the earth. Believe in the Savior within you Kn>w Christ and your spirit ar* one Stand forth deified by your own noble pride, find whatever you ask shall be done. —Ell* Wheeler Wilcox.

A SAINT BY ACCIDENT.

My Painful Adventure on Chrismas Eve.

Charles H. Dennis. I suppose Christmas has its bright side for some people, though I don’t think much of it myself. All this precious nonsenfee about Santa Claus makes me sick. The fact is I did the Santa Claus act last year, and I didn’t like it. Since then it hurts my feelings if any one mentions Christmas in my presence. Though I am of a sensitive disposition, I have achieved prominence in my calling. lam prepared to affirm, with becomingmodesty, that I was a first class journeyman burglar when I met with a painful adventure on Christmas eve of last year. I had been taking life easy for some time, merely doing a quiet job of housebreaking to keep my hand in. So it happened that the day before Christmas I found my pocket nearly empty. That discovery set me to work at once picking I chanced to fall in with on the crowded street corners, but I quickly grew disgusted with the undertaking. Purses were plenty, but those which I gathered in made me none the richer, except by a few stray dimes. The substantial dollars which I hoped to find had been invested in woolly dogs, wooden elephants and rubber dolls, to be hung on Christmas trees and chewed up by red gummed babies. The shopkeepers had already helped themselves to the contents of those purses,and I was nowhere. richly dressed lady on the street was out shopping with only a battered nickel, a crooked hairpin and a crushed caramel in her purse. I actually blushed with shame when I discovered that the silvermounted pocket book of a prodigious swell who chanced to pass contained only a frayed pawn ticket and three coffee grains. Though I disliked to devote myself to professional duties on Christmas eve there «ppeared to be no help for it, I decided to do a burglary or two that night, and thus lay by a little nest egg for the holidays. Those who have neyen done anything in the burglary line’cannot fully realize how much harmless enjoyment they have missed. There is something decidedly alluring ’'in the aspect of a wealthy citizen’s private establishment as it appears when viewed from the interior at two or three o’clock in the morning. You feel a certain sense of proprietorship in all that lies around you as soon as you have crawled through the area window or let yourself down from the trap door in the root As you stroll through the handsome roomil, dark-lantern in hand, you meet with agreeable little surprises in the shape- of gold-lined goblets, diamond rings, and other desirable objects which seem to be waiting for you to take them ip charge. Gentlemen of the profession are not given to boasting, but if they should overcome their -natural modesty they might tell stirring tales of happy moments spent under the hospitable roofs of the most distinguished families of the land. Not a few of them are fond of art bric-a-brac. A friend of • mine, for instance, has made with some pains a collection of massive punch-bowls which formerly’belonged to noted statesmen and financiers. As he shrinks from notoriety, I shall not mention his name..... ' '~‘i•’ j On the Bight of which I have been speaking Tyemoved a pane from the kitchen window of a mansion on afashionable avenue. Then I scrambled through the opening without taking the trouble to send up my card. There in the darkness I adjusted my mask and lighted my lantern; then I started to makes tour of the premises. 'I was not - long in finding a quantity of things which I desired to posess I immediately began gathering them up preparatory to carrying them away. i While I was standing on tiptoe in order

to reach the top shelf of the china closet something remarkable happened. Somebody behind me spoke. It was a man. He said: < “George, here’s Santa Clause now.” I turned about and reached for my revolver. The next instant the ugly brown muzzle of a shot gun was poked in my faee,- Lthrew down my lantern and threw up my hands. “Merry Christmas, Santa Claus,” said the young man who held the gun at my head. “Delighted to see you. May I be so bold as to inquire what you are doing in his closet?” “It aas an—an accident,” I stammered. “You see, I—l made a mistake—”

“Well, don’t feel badly about it,” said the man with the gun. “It’s all right, Santa Claus. Make yourself perfectly at home.” - . “Invite your friend to step this way, Bob,” said another young jnas who had been leaning negligently on a big iron poker near by. As he spoke he turned toward a door leading to an adjoining room. “With pleasure, George. My dear Santa Claus, will you be so good as to come with us? - ’ Ihe muzale of Bob’s gun silently repeated this polite invitation, and I had no hesitation in accepting it. On reaching the next room the young man with the poker turned to me and said, with a sweeping gesture in the direction of a big Christmas tree which towered at his side: , “Behold, Santa Claus, what you were doubtless ‘ooking for when we intruded upon you? “Let me suggest that any little token of affection which you may choose to leave for the, occupants of this house might very well be tied on the branches of this tree as we carelessly neglected to hang up our stockings. We shall be happy to render you any assistance we can.” —“Gent’s,” I said, “ if you’ll let me explain-”

“Now,” exclaimed Bob, “I insist, my dear Santa Glaus, that no explanation is necessary. This being Christmas eve, nothing is more natural than that you should give us a call. I assure you that you are welcome. Your appearance is not precisely what I should have expected, but that is a mere trifle. Now shall we proceed to business?” “Anything that suits you, gents,” I muttered. The two were such cool hands thaLLma ready to drop with amazement. _ " ~ —“George,’ 2 said the chap with the shot-gun, “be good enough to assist our distinguished friend to arrange his presents on tne Chritmas tree.” “With pleasure,-Bob. Santa Claus, if you will keep your hands above your head in that graceful position a little while longer I will attend to all the minor details cf the ceremony.” With that he dived into my pocket and fished out my revolver. “What a pretty toy!” exclaimed George as he turned it about in his hands. “That will have a charming effeet when hung properly. n * He mounted a step-ladder and tied my revolver to the topmost bough of the tree. “Ah, what have we here;” exclaimed George, as he reached into my pocket again and drew forth a sandbag, a little weapon for which I have a special fondness. “This is almost as pretty a trinket as the other.” Then he hung it on the "tree. ; \ ■ After that he strung up my dark lantern. Then in turn he pulled off my mask, robbed me of my jimmy, a bottle of chloroform, a bunch of skeleton keys and several other instruments peculiar to my line of business. He also pulled my shoes out of my pocket, where I had placed them before entering the house tor sate-keeping until I should be ready to depart. All these articles he gravely tied on the branches of the Christmas tree. When George had swung my shoes across a bough and had trotted down the step ladder for the last time he struck an attitude and said: - “I am charmed, my dear Santa Claus, to have the privilege of returning thanks for these beautiful presents. Your taste is excellent I trust you will give ns permission to distribute them as we choose among the other members of our family. Ah, thanks; I see that you consent. And now, Santa Claus, I and my emotional friend at your side have a confession to make. For some years past we have been skeptical regarding your existence. We doubted whether you would come to-night to deck our Christmas tree, and so we arose from bed at this unholy hour of night to deck it ourselves. But our skepticism has been properly rebuked by you and we humbly beg your pardon. Do you grant it? Ah, thanks” ~ I made no attempt to reply to this rubbish. After a painful pause I said: “Gents, with your permission, I think I’ll be going.” “So soon!” remarked Bob, getting a better grip on his gun. “This is hard,” he added, pretending to weep. ♦ “Adieu, Santa Claus,” said George. “Don’t forget to make us another Tall next Christmas.”, I started for the door. “The chimney is over yonder, Santa Claus,” said Bob, wagging his head in the direction of the fire place. It tookme a full half minute to catch his meaning. *l—l think I’ll leave by the door,”

I stammered. I hoped he was only joking. / < “ What! Don’t you always come and go by way of the chimney?” “Not always.” w “Can it be possible that the story books are mistaken on this important point? It is oruel to rob ufi of our childhood fancies. I think,** and Bob held-the muzzle of his gun close to my ear, “I think, Santa Claus, we’ll cling to the old custom. Oblige us by gliding up the chimney in your own airy fashion.’ I hesitated. Another glance at the muzzle of the gun decided me. I said:

“All right, gents, I’ll not make trouble about a little thing like that.” . c? I drew off my coat George caught it up and t ssed it into the branches of the Christmas tree. I stuck my head into the chimney. It was a tight fit when I came to my shoulders, and I started to draw back. I instantly felt the muzzle of Bob’s gun prodding me. I set my teeth and squirmed my way into that horrible black tunnel.

It was a full hour before I dragged myself out of the top of the chimney and stood on the frosty roof in my stocking feet. I was as black as a cinder and was nearly tired to death. ~ When I had pulled myself together, after a fashion, I slid down the rain spout and limped home. Luckily I met no policeman. If I had the chances were about even that either I would have frightened him to death or that he would have shot me for ?n escaped gorilla. This experience weighed upon my mind so heavily, that I /pformed and gave up burglary. I ana now a respectable highway robber.

A RIDE UPON THE GOAT.

A Splash, a Gurgle, and the Candidate was Wet and Duly Initiated! Baltimore American. Last night a reporter attended the taking of the first and third degrees by two new members of a secret life insurance fraternity, composed mainly of employes of Posner Brothers. The heartrending ceremonies took place in the dead of night in the Covenant Hall, corner Lexington and Howard streets. Thirty “brothers,” in black shrouds and their faces covered with ditto masks, sat in a semi-circle in the dimly-lighted hall in secret session. The first victim was then oound and gagged and dragged before the “altar,” the Super Divine Grand Master and the Extra Fine Lord High Executioner asking the members what they proponed to do with the prisoner. Five sh ning daggers were at once pointed at his heart. But wiser counsel prevailed. At a signal—three loud raps, followed by a dull, sickening, etc., thud—the entire society formed in single file and marched about the hall. When they were breathless the candidate was made to climb the “heavenly ladder,” with a bucketful of coals in one hand and a dozen volumes of the Congressional Record in the other. After this climbing of the all but golden stairs he was made to face a grinning skeleton and totouchit,being informed that “this was all that was left of a traitor to the society.” When they sung the doxology later, a red-hot iron rod was brought on and the sufferer’s breast was bated that the “secret letters” might be branded upon it. But they didn’t. At last he was placed before the “altar,” behind which wasw huge-tank-mid' coid bucket. - , “Watchman, what of the night?” was the awful question. 2, “The night is dark and dismal.” “How stands the water in the tank?” “Three foot* sir.” ’ A splash, a gargle, a struggle ,and a sneeze—and the candidate was wet and initiated.

Old-Time Customs.

In the Paris of 170 Q , a man i u a fine laced coat, well dressed enough to be taken for a military officer, could paaq into any kind of assembly without asking or being asked. Np Swiss or King’s Guard would take it upon him to turn him back. The chief terror of those clothed in fine raiment was the mud in the streets, and it was especially fatal to the fashionable scarlet cloth, which has since descended to pur “thin red lines.” Crowds of loafers made a good livelihood as decotteurs by cleaning off the spatters and splashes.

The town watch, or mounted guard of 200 men, patrolled the streets after nightfall, and they were pretty safe until ten or eleven o’clock, when the cases, the rotisseurs and the cabarets shut and all coaches and pairs went home. When out after dark it was well to be accompanied by friends and to have all your valets walking in front with torches, but about 172 Fthe Duke of Richmond was attacked in his carriage while crossing the Pcnt-Neuf at midnight and run through the body. Even in the day time catpurees were active, and one went in peril of his life in a crowd, for nothing was commoner than for some bully to fix an instant quarrel on a stranger for some inoffensive touch in the press of passing. There no saluting in the streets, chiefly, no all the difficulties of getting along were quite sufficient occupation for every one, and, intact, the best thing to doto save your shoes, stockings, clothes and wjg—to say nothing of vour money or your life—was to ride in a coach. There are 3,00) postmistresses in the ; United States

CHRISTMAS CHIMES.

Hail, merry myth, of love designed liege of our sovereign pleasure; old Santa Ciaus, the jolly cause of bounty’s loving measure. Obedient to sentiment subject to mandates pleasant; old hale delight, who comes at night, supreme and MBhipresent. From temperate to torrid zone to glamoured distance frigid, to charm away distemper gray and bend composure rigid. To warm the heart with servant thrills, urge paeans of thanksgiving, so cynic mind perforce must find there lies some good in living. Revive declining fervency that else to waste would dwindle, and capture will with hearty thrill affection’s fire rekindle.

So do we pay, sweet holiday, our tribute to the season, as friend to friend the gifts we send, or maybe love’s the reason. Our treasures buy in purchase sly, strive to be undetected, and check surmise with chilly guise so gifts come unexpected. Contagious time, of song and chime, and epidemic laughter; rare vertigoes of happy throes, relapsing surfeit, after, when just below the mistleto the lad his lass has captured, and from the miss he steals a kiss, she startled, he enraptured; or in retreats exchange of sweets and privileges tender; the blushing maid yields half afraid in roseat surrender. Now romping night of wild delight, in childhood’s brief elysian, subjects the day to frolic sway, claims all that meets the vision; sweet little elves of smaller selves, deny them not their pleasure; their privilege ’tis to besiege our bounty’s largest measure, to fill the air with trumpet blare, make shout with fife

emphatic; their vim employ in noisy joy, from cellar unto attic. Seek not to lace their supple grace, with sober-stayed gallantry; speak not of ache from sweets or cake, or forage in the pantry. If unawares adown the stairs, on depredations sally, they would compel the citadel to open to their rally, the citadel, the pantry deep, where pies and sweets unnumbered and other cheer all through the year t ne groaning shelves have cumbered. Yet bolts and bars have held its jarsand locks have pastries hidden—a rare retreat of tempting sweet save on to-day forbidden. And stern reproof held them aloof from this preserve of pleasure. But all give way on Christmas day and let them have their measure.

From zone to zone its sway we own, the north wind in his palace; iis greeting blows—while glows the aurora borealis. The Esquimau upon the snow, their chilly homage tender, and dance all night in gleams of light through iceberg prismed splendor The polar bears steal unaware adown some icy chasm, and make a meal of lagging seal, with warm enthusiasm. The gales accost old etcher frost and echo shouts with laughter, while drifting floes and shifting snows clash icy mu'sic after. 1 Then Auster blows his torrid glows and Zephyrus comes later, and languor swoons ’neath suns and moons that glamour the equator. Here spicy gales steal through the vales in lyric languor humming. “Ho! ho! laugh they, “with oaded sleigh, old Santa Claus is coming. He brings the maid of dusky shade a talisman for lovers, so native art may win the heart thrit ’twixt two choices hovers. Old Rum Ti Foo, the monarch too, with tourist sits hobnobbing; he nods and winks, he drinks and drinks until his head goes bobbing. Each spicy isle is all a-smile with Christmas cheer entrancing, and happiness in wild excess whirls dizzily a-dancing.” Then “Hi hullo” his reindeer go ’twixt torrid and ’twixt “frigid, where mistletoe and rosy glow confront objection rigid. When trembling age turns back the page, and eyes have transient twihkles, and adds to wills rare codicils for knaves who kiss their wrinkles. When youth must kiss some ancient miss, some sallow-hued relation, for wealth, you know, and mistletoe, enforce the obligation. Once more away, the dawn is gray,

►Aurora's face appearing; unwary feet advance, retreat, unsteadily careering. Hale fellows met to drown regret and real in tipsy dances, and rasp their throats with husky notes and maudlin dissonances, uptil each knave tips us. a stave, with nerve and sense a tingle, and reel a'ong unto the song in honor of Kris Kringle. “Hail merry time of song and chime, the mistletoe and holly; hail pleasant cheer that crowns the year, rail everything that’s jolly. May sweets invite and gifts delight, may frolic urge to laughter; rare bits entice and all that’s nice, come plentifully after. Ho merry time of song and chime, joy speed each flying minute; bach moment dear because the year has but-pne Christmas in it” f 1

The Boyson the Streets.

Indianapolis Sentinel. , - The general trend of the debate yesterday was that some home should be provided for the boys; that Congress should be petitioned to build such institutions; that such homes should be merely places where the boys could be cared for until employment could be p]> tained for them or until their difficulties could be bridged. It was unanimously agreed that prieons of any kind were bad for boys; that pethicioua literature and obscene pictures are highly demoralizing to them; that to send them out of town on short notice to leave was absolutely wrong, and that the young gamim was altogether a hard citizen to handle

properly. In the evening Colonel Ritter made a particularly strong address. Judge Jordan gave some ideas on the subject that had not been broached during the day. He said the government was running into the institution business too much. He didn’t like it. The its humeebaracter. Virginia has departed. He thought that the convene tion was beginning at the wrong end. It crushes the manhood of a boy to put'him into an institution. In order to bring about the great reform it requires individual exertion and a more of a home character in the people. He finally said, however, that he favored homes for the boys that would be sort of clearing houses, merely temporary abodes to the boys while awaiting the finding of permanent homes. This is one of the subjects of the convention.

White Slaves in Turkey.

Sheffield Daily News. There is said to have been considerable sensation created in Constantinople by the discovery that a market exists there in which European girls are imported for the purpose from Germany, Austria, Italy and Rus -ia an are publicly sold as slaves. The matter is said to have been duly authenticated and is now occupying the attention of the Embassies. The statement is that every week large shipments of German and Italian girls arrive via Verna, Odessa, Salonica and from the Adriatic ports. Needless to add that this human freight is not disembarked on the ordinary custom house quays of the Golden Horn, where passengers and cargo are usually put ashore and where iti presence" would speedily have attracted the notice of the Consular authorities. The girls are landed in small boats at the Turkish quarantine statfin at Kawak, wheneb they are broug t overland through Bujukdere into Constantinople. None are aware of the fate in store for them, having l.een lured to undertake the trip to the Turkish Capital by means of promises of munificent remuneration as governesses, pianistes and other forms of respectable and honorable employment. On arriving they are taken to a place called the “Casino,” and which is nothing more nor less than an exchange or market where human cattle are dealt in as freely as breadstuff's on the Produce Exchange in New York.

Sanitary Marriage.

Dr. Stickney, in St. Louis Magazine. There are thousands of young men and women, who, by reason of their infirmities, ought never to marry. These infirmities come from our schools, on account of the absence of a proper system of physical culture. They come from illy ventilated counting rooms and factories; from foul tenements and close parlors. Pale and puny, these young men and women present every phase of bodily imperfections, —clearly proving that the first lesson that should be impressed upon growing youth, is the supreme importance of healthy bodies. No young woman is handsome unless Wealthy... The beaut y _o£ health continues to old age. The Spartans worshipped the beautiful and useful, and took means to secure them. Bodily perfection was attained by enforced, wellappointed exercise. No sickly man or woman was allowed to marry, and all in health were compelled to do so; if they refused, they were punished. Bachelors, after a certain age, were shut out from the society of women, and once a year were publicly shamed. No one was allowed to marry until full maturity waa reached. The result was for 50C years the Spartans produced the strongest and bravest men, and the most healthy and beautiful women that the world has ever seen. A little Spartanism would *be of incalculable benefit to Americans.

To Take Away the Savages' Firearms New York Sun.

Many hundreds of natives chiefs in As learning the use of firearms and the power these weapons give them, are to be deprived, by the joint efforts of several governments, of further supplies of ammunition and guns. This step is deemed necessary for two reasons. In the first place the greed for firearms is the great incentive that induces the chiefs to make war on their neighbors for the purpose of supplying slaves to the Arabs in exchange for guns and powder. The prohibition of the firearms trade will be of important service in destroying the slive traffic. In the second place thealarming multiplication of firearms in inner Africa threatens every white interest developing there. Guns and ammunition must be kept out of the hands of the uncivilized hordes if white men we ever to dominate the country. r

Hard-Worked Citizens.

Pblla'lelphia Record. Mrs. Winks: “You surely are not going out to-night ?” Mr. Winks: “Yes, my dear; election, you know.” Mrs, Winks; “The election is over.” Mr. Winks: “Um—er—yes, my deqr, this one is, but there’ll be another election in four years, mV dear, and every good citizen must begin to think about candiyeu know, my love. I’ll be back early.”’ _____ Little Dick: “I am eo glad I have » new little brother now? He and sister and I make three, dont we?” Mamma:, “Yes, dear, but what of that?” Dick: “Well, there’s only two drumsticks to a chicken, and one of us will get some other part now. I’ll be the one sometimes. I’m tired of drumsticks,”

SHERIDAN’S RIDE. Up from th* south at break of day, v Bringing to Winchester fresh The afli ighted aifwith a ah udder bore. - Like a herald tn haste, to the chiefta< n’a door. The terrible grumble, and rumble, at d roar, , Telling the battle was on once more—--", L And Sheridan twenty mile* away. ■ And widerstili those billow* us war —•— Thundered a’ong the horison’s bar-. And louder yet into Winchester rolled The roar of thst red aea uncon rolled, Making the blood of the listener co'd As he tbbutfht of the stake in that fiery fray. With Sheridan twenty mile* away. But there's a road from Winchester town, es A good, broad high way leading down, And'the-e, thro’ yie fla»h of the m- ining light, A steed a* black aa the steeds of i.fght Wa«seen to pass as with eagle flight; As if he knew the terible need, He stretched away with the utmost speed; 9 Hills rose and f*n-.-but hi* heart was gay. With Sheridan fltteen miles away. Under his spurning feet the ro»d Like an snowy Alpine river flowed, And the landscape flowed aw-y behind. Like an ocean flying before the wind; And the steed, like a baik fed with furnace lie. Swept on with hla wild eyes full of flrel But lo' be is nearing his heart’s desire, He is snuffing the smoke o's the roaring fray, •» With Sheri-lan only Are miles away. The first that the general saw were the groups Of stragglers, snd then the retreating troops; What was done—what to do—a glance told him both. And, striking his spurs, with a terrible oath. He dashed down the lines 'mid a storm of hurrahs. ;■■■. >And the wave of retreat checked its coutse there became - , The right of the master compelled it to pause. With foam and with duct the bladk charger was grays Bu* the flash of his eye and his nostrils’ play He seemed to the whole great army to say: “I have brought j ou Sheridan all the way From Winchester town to save the day!” Hurrah! hurrah! for fberidan! Hurrah! huTr&h! for h . rse arid maul And when their statutes are placed on high, "Under the dome of the union sky— The American sol lier's temple of fame— There, with the general’s glorious name, Be it said, in letters both bold and bright: ‘ Here is the s eed that saved the day By car-ying Sheridan into the fight • From Winchester, twenty miles awayl’’ - Buchanan Read.

SOME ODD THINGS.

One of the promised sensations of the Paris exhibition will be given by a man who will make daily balloon ascensions mounted on a ’iorse. A fady has been appointed professor of wood-carving in a Western college. Her first labors should be to teach the young ladies how to sharpen a leadpencil. A Tennessee salesman has been cut out by his father, a widower, who has married the girl to whom his son was engaged. There are many occurrences that more readily excuse the quotation of that ph-ase about the most unkindest cut. Constable Sullivan, who arrested Sheehy practically in the house of commons, has been declared guilty by the house of a breach of privilege. A like thing in the time of the first Charles came near causing a breach in various skulls, but that was a time of tyranny. British reform has brought to light a forgotten personage known as “Chaff Wax.” His real title should be Chafe Wax, and his duty was the preparation of wax for fitting tho writs issued from the Court of Chancery and for the official seals. He has long drawn a salary for doing nothing, but he has at last been found o ut, and will be abolished.

Edwan A. Barber, of West Chester, Pa., who is an antiquarian, has just procured a Chinese bank note of the fourdynasty,made of fibrous paper cf a grayish color, covered with Chinese characters. Mr. Barber says that there are only two specimens of this note besides his in existence, one being in the Imperial museum at St. Petersburg. Mr. Leary’s big raft, which went to pieces off Nantucket a year ago this month, did the world the greatest service possible to it in doing that, since the logs have been a means of enabling the hydrographic office to make a chart showing the various ocean currents. The places in which the logs were met by vessels were carefully noted by the captains, and facts were thus obtained which could be had in no other way. It has been estimated that an average of five feet of water falls annually over the whole earth. Supposing that condensation takes place at an average height of 3,000 feet, remarks Gen. Strachey, the force of evaporation to supply such rainfall must equal the lifting of 322,00J.000 pounds of water 3,000 feet in every minute, or about 31X1,000,000 horse-power constantly exerted. ' Of this great energy a very small part is transferred to the waters that run back through rivers to the sea, and a still smaller fraction is utilized by man; the remainder is dissipated in space. i &

Siamese Crashiers.

, The Siamese ape is stated to be in great request among Siamese merchants as a cashier in their counting houses. Vast quantities of base coin obtain circulation in Siam and the faculty of discriminating between good money and bad would appear to be possessed by these gifted monkeys in such an extraordinary degree of development that no human being, however carefully trained, can compete with them. The cashier ape meditatively puts into his mouth each coin presented to him in business payments and tests it with grave de'liberation. His method of testing is regarded in commercial circles as infallible, and, as a matter of fact, his decision is uniformly accepted by all parties interested in the transaction.