Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1876 — Page 8

Curious Indian Relics.

Those interested in antiquarian researches will find matter for speculation in some curious relics' deposited on Monday in the Centennial case in the rotunda of the Southern Hotel. The relics consist of numerous specimens of aboriginal pottery, arrow-heads, implements of stones for dressing skins, etc. The pottery is particularly worthy of note, as it belongs to a period dating anterior to the modern Indians—supposed by some to belong to that mythical period known to ethnologists as the stone period, while the arro% -heads and stone axes arc common to a quite re - cent period, and are found strewn all over the continent. The pltetery was found in the ancient tumuli about two and a half miles from Farmington, in St. Francois County. They consist principally of drinking vessels made of baked clay, and are in general gourd-shaped, with the "neck extending out straight from the center of the globular vessel. The head of the upright neck is frequently capped With the rude head of the iox or other wild animal, forming a very correct likeness. One of the vessels represents a bird standing on its legs, the body forming a capacious vessel for the holding of water, with the tail on a level With the claws, and assisting in keeping the vessel upright. The vessels are of various sizes, from eight inches in diameter across the swell of the globe down to a miniature pot the size of a modern salt-cellar. In one ol these vessels was found a specimen of calc-spar, and in another a fragment of a quartz crystal. The larger vessel, which is a very perfect oblate spheroid, is surrounded with colored zigzag bands, tinted with blue, vermilion and white, but whether the colors are imbedded in life material or put on with a brush is uncertain, though on casual inspection the

former conjecture seems to lie the true one. Besides the drinking dishes there are some shallow vessels resembling the chemist’s evaporating dish, and also a small spoon, siliciiied, wtfh the bowl adapted to a capacious mouth, and with a very short handle. There are also numerous fragments of pottery. Among others a flattened stone, roughened on one side with geometrical lines, and said to be a piece of a coffin found in the tumuli. Tbe person who . was digging in that locality struck two inclined stones, and keeping on with his work at length came to a stone slab, and on removing the slab found underneath a stone coffin. The coffin was tilled with sand, but, having nothing bu: a grubbing-hoe, as fast as he hauled out the sand the overlying dirt tumbled down, interrupting' his work, and he became discouraged and, replacing the slab and shoveling on the dirt, allowed the old mummy, w hose sands of life were running too fast Ibr him, to sleep away until some future explorer resurrects him. It is to be regretted that these exhumations are not made by persons qualified to make a note of the associated relics, their exact position and other data, with a view of determining and settling the question of their origin' Otherwise they are comparatively worthless except as objects of curiosity. Is is said that many pf these remains are found very plentifully throughout Southeast Missouri, particularly near St. Genevieve. and in Scott County. In fact, these vestiges of a once numerous and powerful race are traceable from the rude fortification of Canada and Northern New York to the extensive rivers of Central America. But, according to Prof. Gage, who examined the specimens at the Southern yesterday, all the Peruvian type of pottery found on the continent of North America are confined to the Mississippi Valley. The specimens referred to were brought up by L'apt. A. L. Whitley, of St Louis, who is acting as a volunteer agent for the Centennial.— St. Louis Republican.

An Experiment That Was Balked by an Interruption.

About a week ago the New York Ledger published the statement that a man in New Hampshire, who had beeD unable to speak for five years, went to sleep one night with a quid of tobacco in his mouth and awoke the next morning with his voice perfectly strong and smooth and steady. Old Mr .Jarvis, who lives out on Pond' street, is sorely afflicted with an impediment in his speech, and often says he would give a hundred dollars if he could only “ t-t-t-t taw-taw talk f-f-f-f fast enough t-'t to t-t tell a gug-gug-gug grocer what he w-w wants bub-bub-bub before hegug-gug gets it measured out.’’ He takes "the Ledger , and had taken it for twenty-three years, and he firmly believed everything he ever read in it: Sylvanus Oobb’s stories, Mr. Parton’s Lives of Eminent Americans, the answers to correspondents—Mr. Jarvis had taken them all in and believed every word. He thought that probably this quid-of-tobacco treatment might kelj> his voice a little and he resolved to give it a good trial anyhow. The first trouble was that he didn't chew, and Mrs. Jarvis would never allow a bit of tobacco about |he house. But he begged a big “chaw" of navy and when he went |o bed he tucked it snugly away in his cheek and prepared to sleep in hope. He had his misgivings, and they grew in number and strength as the quid began to assert itself and be sociable, and assimilate itself, with its surroundings. Mrs. Jarvis asked him if he fastened the front gate. “ Um,” said Mr. Jarvis, meaning that he tiad. “ And are you sure you locked the front door'" queried his restless spouse. “Um.” replied Mr. Jarvis, meaning that he had not, for he was by this time in no condition to Open his mouth. “ Hey?” she replied. “ Uni,” persisted Mr. Jarvis. “ What?” she demanded. “ Um-m-m!” protested Mr. Jarvis. “ Well,” said she, “you can’t make me believe you are that near asleep this soon.” “ Um-m-m!” said Mr. Jarvis- meaning that he would get up and bounce her out of that front door if- she didn't hold her L claek. Presently sue sat up in bed. Sniff, sniff! “John Jarvis,” she exclaimed, “if I don’t smell tobacco in this house I’m a sinful woman. Don’t you smell it?” “’31,” replied Mr. Jarvis; which bv interprelation is that he didn’t smell anything and was going to sleep. “It is in this veryroom,” she persisted, excitedly. “Um,” said 3lr. Jarvis, meaning that she must be crazy. “ It’s under the bed!” she screamed. “ There’s a burglar under the bed! Oh, help! fire! police! John Jarvis!! 1” And she smote 3lr. Jarvis a fujrious pelt in the stomach to waken him up. It was a terrific thump and its first effect was to knock all the atmosphere out of Mr. Jarvis’ lungs so far that he conld only recover his breath by a violent gasp, „whfch first carried the quid of tobacco and all the nicotine preparation that it had been steadily distilling down his throat, ap<l was immedi&telv succeeded b r a tremendous cough, as he"struggled to rise up in bed, which shot the quid

squarely in the eye of the shrieking Mrs. Jarvis. "Murder! murder!”” she screamed, V I’m stabbed! I’m stabbed!” And John Jarvis choked and coughed and spft and coughed and choked and clutched Mrs. Jarvis by the throat and tried to choke oil her noise, but he grew so “ill” that he couldn’t hold his grip, and Mrs. Jarvis, the moment her throat was 1 released from his trembling pressure, rose from the half-strangled gurgles to the sublimity of douhle-edgea screams, and made Home howl with melody. And the neighbors broke into the house and found a Bfed -room that looked and smelled like a jury-room or a street-car, with the sickest man they ever saw lying with his head over the side of the bed groaning at the rate of a mile a minute, and the worst frightened woman since the flood sitting up beside him screaming faster than he groaned, while one of her eyes was plastered up with a black quid of tobacco. And that is the way Mr. Jarvis came to stop his Ledger and denounce it as the most infamous, mendacious, pestilent sheet that ever disgraced American journalism. —Burlington Hawk-Eye.

Interesting Correspondence.

The following is-from the Washington Chronicle of alate“date: Some time since a young gentleman possessed of considerable inventive genius, while- peregrinating through California, lell short of cash, and, being averse to labor, be decided to raise the wind by representing himself to be a nephew of the Secretary of the Navy. With a shrewdness that did credit to his penetration lie selected several marine officers to operate upon. These gallant defenders of the country were only too pleased to lend every assistance in their power to the relative of the distinguished head of the servjce which included them as members. Accordingly they feted him like a prince, loaned him money ufatii he should receive a remittance from the East and paid him every attention in their power. This was kept" up some weeks and Mare Island was a gay and festive place during the stay of the fraudulent nephew. An expose came at lag, as it always must in such cases, no matter how nicely the plans are laid. The nephew skipped, and the marine officers were left to mourn several dollars permanently invested with the fellow who took tlieffi iu, and ail almost incalculable amount of fawning which would never bring a return.

Whether the success of the representative of the Robeson family inspired a similar attempt on the part of another individual to pass himself off as a brother of the Honorable Secretary of the Interior, or whether the atmosphere of the Golden State is peculiarly conducive to speculations of this character, it would be difficult to decide. But a day or two since the Secretary of War received from the commandant of the barracks at Benicia, not far from San Francisco, the following telegram : The Hon. W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War: A brother of the Hon. Secretary Chandler is here on inspection duty, and desires* to have arms furnished him. Shall I provide them ? , Commanding Post. The reception of the message somewhat surprised Secretary Belknap, who could not imagine’ what peculiar kind of inspection the reputed brother of Secretary Chandler could be engaged in which would require arms. He atcordingly communicated at once with the Secretary of the Interior, sending him the following telegram • Hon Zachariah Chandler, SecretAry of the Interior:

A man representing himself to be jour brother is at Benicia Barracks, California, on inspection duty, and desires to be furnished with arms. Shall I order him to be provided ? W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War. It was not many minutes before the following characteristic reply was received at the War Department : JfoHon. W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War: I have"no brother. Arrest tfig scoundrel. In the language of the Chronicle: “ Let no gilt-edged man escape.” Zachariah Chandler, Secretary of the Interior. Upon the reception of this reply the Secretary of War at once telegraphed to California to have the bogus brother arrested, but the bird had flown. Yesterday, however, the police got track of him, an.d at once placed him in durance vile in San Francisco, where he was captured. Intelligence of this w T as at once sent to the Secretary of War, who made haste to communicate the news to his brother Secretary in the following terms: Hon. Zachat-iah Chandler, Secretary ot the Into ior: Capt. Jones, alias Capt. Middlesex, alias Col. Smith, alias Maj. Barclay, alias Lieut. Breeze, alias Lieut. Dodge, alias “ your long lost brother,” has been captured in San Francisco, and safely lodged in jail at that place. Any fraternal or loving message or words of coudolenee you may wish to forward I shall take pleasure in having transmitted and communicated to him. W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War. To which the following brief reply was sent, closing, for the present, the correspondence on the subject: The Hon. W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War: Please have the man of many aliases examined, and if he has an unusually larae strawberry mark on his shoulder have him hung. If he is unmarked, have him hung anyway; for it is better that ninety-nine innocent men should be hung than that one “ gilt-edge” man should escape..

ZACHARIAH CHANDLER.

Secretary of the Interior.

—A strapping big stranger entered a store on Woodward avenue yesterday and leaning too heavily on the show-case broke one of the panes of glass. “That will cost you two dollars,” said the proprietor. “ Haven’t got the money,” replied the stranger. “ Well, you can’t go out of the store until yoh pay for that glass,” said the storekeeper in a determined, voice. “ I’m sorry, but I’m willing to be licked, if that will do you any good," replied the stranger, rapidly getting out of two coats and a vest and showing arms like 1 joints of stove-pipe. “ Oh, I guess it was purely accidental,” said the shop-keeper in an altered voice, as he got behind the counter in a hurry, “ and you needn't mind about waiting around* here any longer. Here’s a car ticket if you are going up the avenue.” — Detroit Free Press.

—A little boy was being instructed in morals by ‘ his grandmother. The old lady told him that all such terms as ” by golly,” “by jingo,” by thunder,” etc., were only minced oaths and but little better than any other profanity. In fact, she said, he could tell a profane oath by the prefix “ by.” All such were oaths. “ Well, then, grandmother,” said the little hopeful, “ there’s a big oath in the newspapers—‘By•telegraph.’” The old lady gave it up and the boy is bewildered on morals.

—lt is feared that the houses entered for the SanlFrancisco four-mile-and-repeat race will die of old age before the trot comes off.

Stick to Your Business.

There ia nothing which should be mon frequently impressed upon the minds of young iq|n than the importance of steadily pursuing some Qne business. The frequent changing from one employment to another is pne of the most common errors committed, and to ft may be traced more than half the failures of men jn business, and much of the discontent and disappointment that rendet life uncomfortable. It is a very common thing for a man to be dissatisfied with his business and desire to change it for some other, which it seems to him wait'prove a more lucrative employment; but in nine cases out of ten it is a mistake. Look round you and you will find among your acquaintances abundant verification of our assertion. Here is a young man who commenced life as a mechanic, but from some cause imagined that he ought to have been a , doctor; and after a hasty and shallow preparation lie has taken up the saddlebags only to find that work is still work, ami that his patients are no more profitable than his wofk-*bench, and the occupation not a whit more agreeable. Here are two young men, clerks; one of them is content, when his first term of service is over, to continue a clerk till he shall have saved enough to commend business on Ins own account; the other can t wait, but starts off without capital and with a limited experience, and brings tip after a few years in a court of insolvency, while his former comrade, by patient perseverance, comes out at last with a fortune. That young lawyer, who became disheartened because briefs and cases did not crowd upon him while he was yet redolent of calf-bound volumes, and hud small use for red-tape, who concluded he had mistaken his cijling, and so plunged into politics, finaltyvsettled down into the character of a middling pettifogger, scrambling for bis daily bread. There is an honest farmer who has toiled a few years, got his farm paid for, but does not grow-rich very rapidly, as much lor lack ot contentment mingled with his industry as anything, though he is not aware of it. He hears the wonderful stories of California, and how fortunes may be had for the trouble ol picking them up; mortgages his farm to raise money, goes away to the land of gold, and, after many months of hard toil, comes home to commence again at the bottom of the hilt for a more weary and less successful climbing up again. Mark the men iu every community who are notorious for ability and equally notorious for never getting ahead, and you will usually find them to be those who never stick to any one business long, put are always forsaking their occupation just when it begins to be profitable. Young man, stick to your business. It may be you have mistaken your calling; if so, find it out as quick as possible, and change it; but don’t let any uneasy desire to get along fast or a dislike of your honest calling lead you to abandon it. Have some honest occupation, and then stick to it; if you are sticking types, stick away at them; if you are selling oysters, keep on selling them; if you are at law, hold hold fast to that profession; pursue the business you have chosen, persistently, industriously and hopefully, and if there is anything of you it will appear and turn to account in that as well as or better than in any other calling; only, if you are a loater, forsake that line as speedily as possible, for the longer you stick to it the worse it will "stick” American.

A Gastronomic Curiosity.

We dare say that there are a great many people who, if asked whether they could or would partake of so toothsome a dish as a broiled quail on toast once a day for a month would stare at the questioner in astonishment and express an earnest desire to be afforded the opportunity. And yet we can positively venture the assertion that not one person out of a thousand would continue the diet for a fortnight. This is not because of the quantity of meat, because anyone's ordinary dinner aggregates an immensely larger amount, nos is it due to a surfeit of one particular kind of food, for roast beef might be eaten everyday for a year with relish. The difficulty lies In, the flavor of the meat. Delicious as it is as an occasional delicacy, it it be eaten daily for ten days or thereabouts it becomes excessively nauseating. The flesh seems to acquire a rank and bitter flavor; and if the diet be persisted in the stomach revolts and rejects the food. Whw. this should be so we have never heard scientifically explained; but it is probably due to some medicinal effect of the meat which shows its results, through regular dosing, just as do some kinds of physic, which, if taken once or twice in smalt quantities, are imperceptible to the system, but which, if administered regularly in the same amounts for lengthy periods, act powerfully. on the constitution. Be this as it may, an individual named O’Donnell, who lives in 31adison, Ind., has brought himself into notice by accomplishing the hitherto unparalleled feat ton a wager) of eating thirty quails in as many consecutive days, and this without any inconvenience or disgust. The case has attracted some attention from the medical fraternity, and sundry individuals are making Mr. O’Donnell’s marvelous stomach the subject of extensive bets. It is now reported that he is to undertake the delectable task of repeated and prolonged meals of raw oysters and brown sugar;’,a process which might fitlv terminate iff a gastric malady which would annihilate the much-abused stomach and its owner at the same time.— Scientific American.

Remarkable Rainfalls.

Mr. J. Puckle writes to Nature that he once registered at 'Bangalore, in the Mysore Province, in India, an inch and a quarter of rain that fell in twenty minutes, lie also states that seven and eight and even more inches have been gauged in that district in &r«in of twenty-four hours. About the year 1856, yhen particularly disastrous floods occurred in India, Mr. Puckle declares that, at Madras, more than twemy-ikree inches of rain fell in twentyfour hours! and that more than seven inches fell within six hours. This was gauged at the Madras Observatory, and registered every hour. “A coffee-planter on the IV estern Ghauts of Mysore,” continues Mr. Puckle, “told me that, at Hoolikul, he had gauged in August, 1874, thirteen and three-quarters inches in one day and ten and one quarter the next. He described it as, a sullen, intermittent, continuous downpour, the monotony of which was very depressing. At ‘Mahablesbwar, on the same line of Ghauts, the average fall is 240 inches, chiefly in the four or five months from May to September inclusive; while at the Cherrapoorji Hills, not very far from Calcutta, the average fall is over 600 inches, or (say) seventeen yards of rain!” The Samoans have no faith in a man who is not a good smoker. h

An English Prison as an Abode of Luxury.

Through the massive portal 4 of the outer gate we have come, and, entering into the jail through that handsome door in the iron railing that closes the inside entrance, we find ourselves in a building in which three or more wings converge to the center hall. Each wing is divided into three stories. Along each story runs a light iron gallery which you can gain by mounting that ornamental circular stair running from top to bottom. Above, large glass skylights give ample light and ventilation. Everything is light, airy and cheerful. The brasses shine as only in jails and men-of-war. Here is a man making a pair of boots, and seemingly rather comfortable and happv. He has been twenty times committed for drunkenness. He is only a drunkard, so we may feel a certain amount of satisfaction that he is not very miserable. What a difference for him is his time spent in jail from the interval freedom. Here he works between six and seven hours a day, and out of his earnings he receives an allowance larger than ever was left him by the public-house when at home. Around him everything is exquisitely clean. His cell is boarded, and measures twelve feet by seven. It is ten feet high, and lit and ventilated in the most perfect manner. On his shell are his dish for porridge, and tins bright as silver for soup and milk. A clean ham mock, in which you flight sleep comloitably, is neatly folded and hung against the wall. In a Corner is a basin with water laid on, ill which lie can wash himself if he chooses. In winter the apartment is kept at a comfortable temperature by hotair pipes and a gas-burner diffuses a cheerful light iu the long winter evenings. Shouid hel'eel ill, lie pulls a bell-handle, on which a gong sounds in llie center hall and from his door the number of his cell starts out; and no millionaire at Claridge's is half so punctually answered as he is by the turnkey on guard, who inquires into his wants, and if necessary a doctor is at his bedside long ere tiie Union doctor could be found and persuaded to visit him were lie ai home. As he seems a quiet fellow we do not feel much regret that he has had the good fortune to become an habitual drunkard; but wliat shall we say to the occupant of the adjoining—well, cell? Here a burly ruffian is engaged in making mats. The work is pleasant; the cell a sac simile of the one described; and if we listen to the details of the crime for which he is undergoing two months’ j “ punishment” we cannot help contrasri&g his pleasant lot with the squalor and misery of his lazy, idle, polluted life outside, and feeling that in so punishing a ruffian for a brutal assault upon a woman humanitarianism has become a crime, and set up in our jhils a temptation to idle rascals to "come in and be happy,” against which it would require a large amount of abstract morality to struggle.— Belgravia.

Rob.

He was a magnificent Scotch dog of great size, braver than a lion. He liad< but one bad habit when I had him—to see a cat was to fly at it. This ended in his worrying to death a favorite grimalkin belonging to a neighbor, and tliq catastrophe raised a fearful commotion. So, with many regrets, I sent him to Brechin, fifteen miles oft. There, early on the following Sunday morning, Bob was observed with head and tail erect, and a resolute purpose in every look and movement, "taking his way toward home. Whether he had kept the road, or come by some path across the country, I know not; but when I was leaving the church, about one o’clock,*-1 was met by the beadle, with his old face lighted up with an unusual expression of glee, and exclaiming—for my dog and Johnny had always been fast friends—“ You mauna put him awa’, minister, though lie should worry a’ the cats in the parish.” On going to the manse 1 found Bob outside the gate as fiat and motionless as if he had been stone dead. It was plain he knew as well as 1 did that he had been banished and had returned without leave, and was liable to be hanged, drowned, shot or otherwise punished at my will. I went up to him and stood over him for awhile in sitenee. He lay as if he -tiad been killed and flattened by a heavy roller,* only that, with his large, beautiful eyes half-shut, he kept winking and looking up iff my face with a most pitiful and pleading expression- Though I might not go the length ol old Johnny in making free of all the cats in the parish, there was no resisting the dumb but eloquent appeal. I gave way, and exclaimed in cheerful tones: “Is this you, Bob?” In an instant, knowing that lie was forgiven, he rose at one bound into the air, circling round and round me, and, in his joy, leaping nearly over my head.— Remarkable Animals.

Sancho, of Milwaukee.

A very handsome dog is Sancho, of Milwaukee, Wis., and well satisfied with himself. When Sancho’s master comes home in the evening and puts on his dressing-gown Sanclio is always on hand to hunt up the slippers. If they happen to be out of place it makes no difference, for he will rummage around until he finds them, and bring them in, wagging his caudal appendage vehemently. He exchanges the slippers for his master’s boots, which latter he carefully deposits at the foot of the bed. Sancho has been petted, of course, until he deems himself of much importance, and this has bred jealousy. That dog flies into a terrible passion of anger and grief if his master caresses his wife,* or the wife the husband. Occasionally, in order to test the feeling, the wife will pat the husband’s shoulder. It's worth more than a circus to see Sancho under such circumstances. A dissatisfied, protesting howl and bark is given, and he then tugs at his mistress’ dress, pushes her away from her husband, and crowds himself between them. There is a huge old dog, belonging to a neighbor, which occasionally trots over and pays a visit to Sancho’s master, receiving kind treatment and petting. Being of double Sancho’s size he pays no attention to him, but Sancho becomes furious, not only at sight of his rival, but at the mention of his name. If the master happens to mention in Sancho’s hearing the name “ Hector,” a low growl, a short bark and angry snap to the eyes show that Sancho understands. The dog is under perfect control of his master's voice. Without raising the tone of voice, or pointing, the master says: “ Sancho, 1 think you're too near the fire; you should go under the piano” (for the i dog is allowed in the parlor), and Sancho ! doesn’t stop to quesiion it, but immediately obeys—Bemark Me Animal*. “ Mrs. Sage, I should like to know whose ferry-boats these are that I tumbled over in the hall ?” “ Ferry-boats, indeed, sir! Those_are my shoes! Very polite of .you to call ’em ferry-boats!” “ Didn’t say ferry-boats,-Mrs. Sage;you misunderstood me^fairy boot* dear friend.” *

Celtic Legends of Sunken Cities.

There is one myth common to ths Celtio race in many places, a myth which telle of . a mighty for the wickedness of its inhabitants. In Ireland the waters of Lough Neagh are supposed to cover *the vestiges of such a city, and in Wales Bay of Cardigan. But the myth has associated itself, in most detail and consistency, with the Bay of Douarnenez. As a matter of fact, traces oi Roman roads leading from inland to the hay, traces of Roman buildings on the De Tristan, and at many points of the shore near the town of Douarnenez, point certainly to an important stution which existed at this point of Gaul, and on ground upon which the sea has at least partially encroached. These remains, in the days when legends grew, must have been far more conspicuous than now. The popular imagination seems to have taken hold of them, and of the reputation of a certain Gradlon, who, as far as real history shows, seems to have had a historical existence as Count over a small principality in the Black Mountains in the sixth or seventh century. With these data, and with that national myth of a submerged city in their brains, they have fashioned a legend like this : " Gradlon the Great was King of all Cornwall, and had Jiis capital at Quimber. When he and his Kingdom were converted by St. Corentin he madeover the city of Quimber to the Government of that saint, and went to live and rule his dominions from another city by the sea. This city was called Is, and was one of the mightiest and godliest in the world; but men lived there too riotously. It was built on low ground beside the sea, and the waters were kept out by a pair of great sluice-gates of which no man had the key—a key of pure gold—but the King only. Now King Gradlon had .a daughter, the Princess Dahut, and loved her dearly. But Dahut cared neither for God nor man, and was first in all manner of riotness; and the lovers that were brought to her nightly she was wont to murder before dawn, and send their bodies to be flung into a pit far within the country. So God was angry against Daliut anti against that city. And one day King Gradlon met St. Corentin (or as others say his disciple Saint Guennole) in the forest of Nevet; and the Saint said to him: ‘ Beware, for the wrath of God is abo|d to make itself felt against thee and tlnne.’ But the King took no heed. And one night after the feast was over the foul fiend came in the guise of a lover to Daliut, and caressed her and asked her for the golden key from about her father’s neck. And Dahut went to fer father where he slept, and took the ey from about his neck and gave it to her lover. And the foul fiend vanished away, and took the key and turned it; and the sluice-gates were opened, and the waters went over the city. And King Gradlon leaped upon his horse and rode for life j and Dahut begged with a great voice that he would take her behind him. And he took her behind him; but the sea pursued them; and a voice cried: 4 Let go the accursed one that rides behind thee;’ and Dahut’s arms were loosened, and she fell and was drowned, and the waters were stayed, and the place where she fell is called Poul-Dahut to this day.” — Cornhill.

Variability of Instincts.

Though the instincts of animals appear and disappear in such seasonable correspondence with their own wants and the wants of their offspring as to be a standing subject of wonder, they have by no means the fixed and unalterable character by which some would distinguish them from the higher faculties of the human race. They vary in the individuals as does their physical structure. Animals can learn what they did not know by instinct and forget the instinct* ive knowledge which they never learned, while their instincts will often accommodate themselves to considerable changes in the order of external events. Everybody knows it to be a common practice to hatch ducks' eggs under the common hen, though in such cases the lien lias to sit a week longer than on her own eggs;- I tried an experiment to ascertain how far the time of sitting could be interfered with in the opposite direction. Two hens became broody, on the same day and I set them on dummies. On the third day I put two chicks a day old to one of the hens. She pecked at them once or twice; seemed rather fidgety, then took to them, called them to her and entered on all the cares of a mother. The other hen was similarly tried, but with a very different result. Bhe pecked at the chickens viciously, and both that day and the next stubbornly refused to have anything to do with them.— D. A Spalding, in Popular Science Monthly.

Activity Is Not Always Energy.

There are some men whose failure to succeed in life is a problem to others, as well as to themselves. They are industrious, prudent and economical; yet, after a long life of striving, old age finds them still poor. They complain of ill-luck. They say fate is always against them. But the fact is that they miscarry because they have mistaken mere activity for energy. Confounding two things essentially different, they have supposed that, if they were always busy, they would be certain to be advancing their fortunes. They have forthat misdirected labor is but a waste"of activity. The person who would succeed in life is like a marksman tiring at a target; it his shots miss the mark they are a waste of powder. So in the great game ot life, what a man does must be made to count, or it might almost as well have been left undone. Everybody knows some one in his circle of friends who, though always active, has this want of energy. The distemper, if we may call it such, exhibits itself in various ways. In some cases the man has merely an executive faculty, when lie should have a directive one; in other language, he makes a capital clerk for himself, when he ought to do the thinking of the business. In other cases what is done is not done either at the right time or in the right way. Energy, correctly understood, ig activity proportioned to the end.—Scientific American. Mr. Jam,es T. Fields visited Pomeroy, the boy murderer, in jail recently, and learned from him that he had been a freat reader of blood-and-thunder stories. le had read sixty dime-novels, all about scalping and other bloody performances, and he had no doubt these books had put the horrible thoughts into his mind which led to his murderous acts. J I - ! - “Charlie,” said*little Annie, looking at a picture of Santa Claus, think he could waddle in so many clothes.” “ And then you know, Annie, every time fie goes down a chimney he gets a fresh soot. ’ Time*. Five brothers in 1 ork County, Pa., are the fathers of fifty-three children.

How He Recovered His Place.

Mr. Raymond, a Government official/ under the First Empire in France, haa just died, leaving all his fortune, 40,000 francs, to the gendarmerie. The following story is told of M. Raymond, when he was a secretary in the War Department: “An employe in that department had been unjustly dismissed. ,He appealed in vain many times to the War Minister. His letters were ignored. While despondent in consequence he met one day M. Raymond, the Minister’s secretary. He told * him his case and said: 4 You are a man of honor; can you understand such a denial of justice?’ ‘Listen,’ answered Raymond. ‘Your writing is useless; by it you will accomplish nothing. Do you want me to advise you as a friend ?’ 4 Yes, indeed.’ ‘ Well, then, you see that little window' at the angle of the gallery. Every morning at seven o’clock the Emperor shar es there before a little mirror suspended on the window-sash. To-mor-row morning put your petition on the end of a stick and wave it before the window until the Emperor notices it. You can be sure he will send to ascertain what it means.’ . So, the next morning at the hour designated, the employe, stationed in front of the window, was seen violently waving a stick with a sealed packet fastened to it. An officer came up to him and asked what he meant by that proceeding. “Sir,” was the answer, "lam the victim of an outrageous piece of injustice on the part of the War Minister, and I want the Emperor to know it.’ 4 Give me your petition; I am Marshal Duroc.’ The same day the petition was sent to the War Office, with these words written on the margin by the Emperor: 4 lf what this man says is false let him be arrested. If it is true let justice be done him within twenty-four htffirs.’ The next day the ’petitioner was reinstated in the vv ar Department.”

How John Bull Circumvented Johnny Crapeaud.

Apropos of England’s purchase of the Suez Canal, Kate Field tells a story which as an example of 44 smartness,” could not be excelled by the sharpest of Yankees: Do you know where Aden is ? Get out your map of Africa, and you’ll see that Aden is at the head of the Straits of Babelmandel. ,Well, it has long been an English fortress, but it does not command the Red Sea. France found this out some years ago, at the same time that she discovered the Island of Perim to be the proper place to hold. She sent a fleet to quietly take possession, this being the way that a foothold in Africa is made by European powers. Instead of going direct to Perim, the French fleet stopped at Aden, where the officers were invited to a banquet by the English authorities. Johnny Crapeaud went, was sumptuously entertained—in fact, so overwhelmed with hospitality that it ffiew to his head, and, in a moment of effusion, he confided his secret mission to the attentive ear of sober John Bull. " The fact is,” whispered Johnny Crapeaud, “ we’re going to do an immensely clever thing to-morrow morning. We’re going to plant the French flag on Perim.” John Bull had not given his banquet in vain. Without leaving hia seat at table he wrote and dispatched orders for the immediate departure of a vessel for Perim, with instructions to take possession of the island in the name of Great Britain. When Johnny Crapeaud waked up the next morning he set sail for nis coveted prize, and, on arriving, found the Union Jack flying! This ia how the English took Perim—in itself a rock, but a rock like Gibraltar. Who holds it rules the Red Sea. You hear a great deal about Aden and nothing about Perim, because it is British policy to be very quiet about this very importantstronghold. Can’t you see Johnny Crapeaud tearing his hair at his own lolly and his neighbor’s quick-wittedness!

Mysterious Kidnaping and Return of a Boy.

Some time ago the people of Marianna, Fla., were excited over something like a Charlie Ross case in their midst. A little boy named Charlie Burgess was kidnaped and no trace could be found subsequently of either him or those who had carried him off, though every search was made. An account of the aflair lias traveled through tire newspapers of the country and the sorrow of the bereaved family has been shared by many. Now comes the sequel to the story, which is pleasant. On one Sunday night lately the family from which the boy was stolen were gathered in the house with doors and windows closed against a bitterly cold wind which was shrieking outside and were wondering, it may be, of the whereabouts on such a night of the missing boy. All at once some one heard a cry, which was repeated; it came from the front of the house. A search was made to learn the cause of the strange sound, and the mother peering out into the darkness saw something upon»the front steps. In another moment sMe hau her lost boy in her arms. At the same time a man who had been concealed in the shrubbery of the garden darted away and could not be overtaken. That is the whole of the Story and the entire affair is a mystery. It re supposed that the man who brought the chikfback wasoneof'thekidnapers, but the original cause of the abduction and of the child’s return remain alike unknown. The mother is satisfied with her Christmas gift, though.— St. Louis Republican.

A Remarkable Meeting.

Seventeen years ago William Lester, a poor carpenter, died at Boston. Three ot his children were taken West by a friend, and the fourth, a little girl, was placed in a Boston asylum. Last September the only survivor of the Western members of the family came East in search of nis sister, having himself become very wealthy. He found that the.girl had been adopted by John Wheeler, a dry-goods merchant, but he had been dead a dozen years, and there was no trace of the girl’s whereabouts since. Being discouraged, he started West again, but on the train R little way out of Boston he noticed among a bevy of girls who entered the cars one who remarkably resembled his mother. He left the train when they did, and soon found that it w r as indeed his sister, who was living with her poor adopted mother. She had never been told that she was an adopted child, and it was long before she realized her situation. The young lady could not be prevailed upon to accompany her brother West, but as she looks upon the luxuries with which she and her adopted mother have been surrounded by her brother she enjoys the pleasure of a real romance.— Boston Traveller. • Tweed in exile should not be oblivious to the sendees of Judge Comatock, of Syracuse, N. Y., who, the Syracuse Standard says, is about to begin a suit against the late guest of the metropolis “ for legal services in freeing him from Blackwell’s Island.”