Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1876 — Page 8

A Commercial Traveler's Romantic Adventure.

<mam dW* bUftiIWSS §OO miles of Nashville a few nights ago. Overtaken by darkness and being alone in a locality which had been the scene of several deeds nt honor in days gone by, be was naturally very anxious to reach ' some shelter from the ftiry of the storm which the incteasing blackness of the sky and the moaning of the wind through the leafless trees betokened. After riding rapidly for an hour he detected a light gleaming from a farm-house a few rods distant. He hurried on, and reaching the gate passed on through to the house. His approach being heralded by a watchftil dog, a negro came to the door, and after dur commercial friend had explained the cause of his visit the servant conducted him to the door of the Blor, and, knocking at it, returned and t the horse to the stable. The rap at the door was answered by a young lady, to whom the Nashville young man related his mission, and was invited in. The lady explained the reason of her being alone by saying that her parents had been summoned to the bedside of a sick neighbor and she had been left to take care of the house. The hours swiftly glided by, and it was with a spirit of genuine reluctance that they parted. The young man was shown to a room by the negro who had cared for his weary steed. Taking a seat beside the cheerful fire he sat until after “the witching time of night,” thinking of home,but principally of his new female friend, and listening to the deep mutterings of the distant thunder and the beating of the rain against the window. In the midst of his meditations he was startled by a scream which seemingly proceeded from the parlor downstairs. Hastily grasping his revolver he dashed down the steps and sprang into the parlor just as a bullet whizzed, past his head. By the reflection of the fire he observed the lady struggling with the negro who had met him at the door upon his arrival at the house. With a well-directed blow he hurled him across the room, and as the duskv assailant sprang through the door several leaden missiles followed him in quick succession. Turning his attention to the young lady he discovered that she had fainted. Applying restoratives, which he happened to nave w ith him, he was soon very much gratified to see her open her eyes. Ip a few moments she had fully recovered, •nd after thanking him for his opportune aid related her story. She had fallen asleep and slumbered until she suddenly •woke and saw the negro servapt endeavoring to open her father’s desk, in which • large sum of money was kept. Being of a timid nature, she had placed a pistol Minder her pillow when she retired, and grasping this she rose, and in doing so made a slight noise. The burglar turned around, and when she saw him draw a glittering knife from his belt she screamed. He sprang toward her, but she eluded him and ran around the room, the negro following. He finally caught her, and as the young man entered the door she fired •t her assailant, but unfortunately It is perhaps needless to say that the young couple chitted away until the return of the parents in the morning. They had been compelled to remain at their neighbor’s house all night on ac•count of the storm, and when their •daughter recounted her adventure it was no wonder that the old folks were very . grateful to her deliverer. In compliance with the request of the trio the young man remained much longer than he at first intended. But before he left he obtained the promise of the lady to devote the life he had saved to making him happy as long as he lived. So, when they stand before the altar in a few weeks, he will doubtless bless the storm that Soved such a source of joy to him.— aehville (J'enn.) American.

A Pennsylvania Amazon.

A letter from Milton, Pa., to the New York 4htn Says: Away up here in this quiet region lives one of the most remarkable psychological creations of the nineteenth century. It is no less than a woman who is a woman only i i sex, presenting the peculiarities which would have entitled her to a high rank among the famous women of that mythical age when Thalestris made love to Alexander when Hypolyte fought Hercules for the belt ana when Panthesilea lost her life in her duel with Achilles. The person of whom I write lives at jLewisburg, on the Susquehanna. Respectnble, dressed in woman’s garb, yet as devoid of womanly qualities as an iceberg is of heat, adoring her mother with childish devotion, yet shunning and avoiding all other women; gay, lively, dashing, expert, tolerably well educated, partaking of everything partaken by mad in the shape of legitimate sport, pastime, food and drink; such, in brief is the weird, wild creature, but better known over the whole country side as ‘Johnny.’ She is above the medium height, is fleshy and well formed and weighs about 140 pounds. Her black hair hangs loose about her shoulders and a seal cap hangs jauntily upon one side of her head. Her short coat has broad lappels and big buttons and her plain brown dress descends, modestly to a pair of pretty-shaped feet in heavy morocco boots. A white silk handkerchief, heavy gold chain and necklace are about her neck. Her hands are ruddy and rough and rarely incased in gloves. She is twenty years of age, was bom near Lewisburg, and is from a respectable fam ily. Her father is dead and her guardian has some funds belonging to her, which enables her to travel about from place to place, visiting the ‘ boys.’ She can skate, drive, run, play baseball, bat, catch, bet, talk slang, take a hand at draw-poker or cribbage,' smoke, dance, drink beer, ride horseback, swim and dive with the best and worst of men, St there is no person in the village who r a moment thinks ‘Johnny Britton’ is a very bad girl. I was looking at a photograph representing her dressed in a base-ball suit. There seemed to be a shadow ot shame on lier features. ‘ I tell you I hated the idea -of being wound tip in those tags, and I .shall never be caught intiiem again,’ she aaid. “ 1 want to keep tn my own har■«g, although I hate those who wear it.” She has a broad forehead, clear blue prominent pose, finely-curved lips, pretty teeth, round, dimpled chin, fair •evaral prizes for fine skating and can outstrip the fleetest young man in the neighborhood. She seems to be particularly fond of ball-plying; throws a heavy! base-ball with great force, swiftness and regularity, and can catch swiftly-thrown balls with great ease and certainty. On skates she can jump fifteen feet and execute the riiost difficult figures. At-fitly yards she can hit a man smack in the

face with a ball nearly every time; that is, if the ball is not stopped by the catcher's hands. She has run 100 yards in thirteen seconds, which is good time, even for a man; and can saddle and bridle a horse as well and as quickly as any jockey. She is an expert rider and driver, brave, almost reckless, and no horse can go tod fast for h<t At a race or match of any kind she’ll join the sporting-men, buy pools, and wager her money with the rest of them. She will stand at a bar, call for drinks, swallow liquor, pay for it, smoke, and talk horse. She detests tobaccochewing, rarely indulges in profane language, but never Jn-vulgarity. She abhors and looks with contempt upon any person who dares to use indecent language in her presence. Hence she is treated with great respect by those who know her. She is never seen intoxicated, and when at home is rarely out of the house after sunset. In any athletic sports she generally leads all her companions; and when any deviltry is concocted that she thinks is not rascally or dishonorable she is at all times ready and willing to lend a hand. She is an expert marksman with rifle or pistol. As an off-hand shot her skill is simply marvelous. At quoit-pitching she shows to good advantage and she can swim a half mile very easily. She detests show and display and says that she frequently regrets that she is the object of so much idle curiosity wherever she goes. I asked her what induced her to become so unwomanly, and she replied that she always wanted to be with the boys. From her earliest recollection she was extremely sorry that she was born a girl. She remembers having stoutly protested against wearing dresses when quite young, and she vowed then that she would be a man in spite of all of them. There is nothing foolish or frivolous about her, but she appeals to be a sensible, thoughtful woman, fully cognizant of what she is doing, and at all times ready to defend her position by argument that has a sound ring. 1 ’ She is a curious creature at best, and the more she is known the more of a puzzle she appears. She lately visited Philadelphia to attend the Moody and Sankey meetings, and since her return I am told that she* is turning over a new leaf, but that is not certain. She always said she would never marry. She liked men as companions but she could not think of being the wife of one.

Eating Thirty Quails in Thirty Days.

A little more than a month since there appeared an article, which went the rounds of the city press, setting forth statements to prove the impossibility of an apparently very simple and feasible accomplishment. The proposition was that no man was capable of eating thirty quails in as many days, allowing that he ate only one quail a day. the bird to be cooked in any manner that he might desire. Among the instances cited to prove that such a thing had never been done were numerous vain attempts in England, France and America. The most striking case was that of a man in Cleveland, Ohio, who boasted a stomach like that of an ox (or f as a matter of strength}, a hog or any other beast. This individual wagered SIOO against $30,000 that he could eat thirty quails in the manner prescribed. He lost. After eating only a few of the favorite fowls he grew very sick and then threw up—the sponge. A certain Main street merchant in Louisville carefully took notes of these statements, and, becoming convinced of the truth of them, introduced the subject while at dinner in his boarding-house one day. The proprietor, who was no less a personage than Mr. G. F. Bronnert, the French restaurateur on Market street, near Fourth, said he knew he could eat them and not half try. Thereupon the merchant proposed a wager of a champagne supper for twelve persons that he could not. Mr. Bronnert readily accepted the bet and Mr. Alex. De Maret, the umbrellamaker, who was also sitting at the table, proposed to “go him halves.” The proposition was accepted, and preparations were made at once, a friend of the merchant agreeing to pay for the birds. Thirty days ago last Wednesday Messrs. Bronnert and De Maret ate their first birds, and at noon Wednesday ate their thirtieth, every quail being broiled. In order that no cheating could be done witnesses for both parties were employed, who saw that the terms of the wager were faithfully complied with. Many wiseacres, among them numerous sagacious M D.’s, during the <Mscu s sion of the subject caught up the various suggestions in the experiment and were free to declare their belief in the impossibility of the thing. Borne went so far as to say that a man would die before he could devour the number specified. But, notwithstanding all these discouraging and terrifying opinions, Messrs. Bronnert and De Maret were looking as well last night as ever they did in their lives, and were in a jubilant condition of spirits over their triumph. t Mr. Bronnert was confident that he could eat thirty more broiled quails, and said he would not be afraid to try it, notwithstanding he has been told by two physicians that he will have a very severe spell of sickness in less than sixty days. He said, however, that the feat was not accomplished without a great deal of difficulty and suffering. After the fifth day he became very sick, and it was with the greatest force that he swallowed the sixth bird. From Christmas Day to Jan. she suffered great nausea, and each bird was eaten with equal difficulty and disgust. He said that if he hadn’t got mad eventime I** sat down to his bird he never would have accomplished the undertaking. Said the little Frenchman: “ Ven I sit down ze bird he look good, but I feel zo zick in ze stomack I think I can’t eat him no more, but I go mad. I chew him up bones and all.” Mr. Bronnert further explained that when h<telt so sick of the eating that he thought it impossible to refrain from vomiting he would take a glass of wine and after a while would get ail right again. After the sth inst. he suffered no more sickness, and has eaten his last seven quails with a great deal of relish.— Louir ville Courier-Journal. —Walter Dumont, the young man who so courageously risked his life in rescuing passengers with his boat from the iilfated Sunnyside, which Was wrecked recently in the Hudson River, has received from the Humane Society of New York city a gold medal and SIOO. —The Methodist ministers of St. John, N. 8.. have decided to omit reading from the pulpit numerous notices of lectures, entertainments, etc.; which they are constantly called upon to advertise. s—When a man drinks himself to death in Charleston, 8. C., they call it death " from natural causes.”

Kissing Hands.

In Morocco the number “ five” Is never mentioned in the Sultan's presence, because five is the number of the fingers of the hand; and the hand, as the wislder of scepter, sword and pen should be, is the symbol of authority all the world over. This gives a meaning to the custom of saluting a ruler’s hand by way of homage, and no courtly ceremony can boast a greater antiquity than that of kissing hands. . Priam, supplicating Achilles to restore the body of Hector, calls himself the most miserable of men in being forced to kneel before the murderer of his children and kiss the hand yet reeking with their blood. Roman soldiers kissed the hands of their Generals; Consuls, Tribunes and Dictators permitted a favored few to pay them the same mark of respect. Under the Emperors kissing the imperial hand was held an essential duty on the part of couriers of high rank; and, taking a leaf out of the pagan’s book, as was too much their habit, the Bishops of the early Christian church gav€ their hands to the lips of inferior ministers. The wearers of the triple crown were content with being honored in the same fashion, until one of the Leos, not caring to exhibit a mutilated hand, substituted his foot, and, no one daring to protest against the innovation, his successors were careful not to resort to the less abject ceremony. It may be doubted if any Pope would have persuaded Cardinal John of Lorraine to kiss his toe. When the Duchess of Savoy proffered her fair fingers to that lip-loving churchman he declined the favor with disdain, declaring that he was accustomed to make free with the lips of the greatest Queen in the world, and was not going to do less by a dirty little Duchess; then, seizing the astonished lady by the waist, the bold Cardinal, spite of struggles and perturbations, kissed her thrice upon the mouth. With equal disregard for etiquette, but with more simplicity, did the country dames, to whom Charles 11. presented his hand, put up their lips for the King to kiss, a breach of custom the merry monarch readily forgave ; forgave, we may be sure, with more sincerity than James I. forgave Sir Henry Yelverton for speaking disrespectfully of his countrymen, when, in token es pardon, he allowed the indiscreet orator to kiss his royal hand thrice before he left the presence. Kissers at court are, we believe, forbidden to appear with their hands • gloved. It was not always so, for in a letter dated 1625 We read: “ This day my Lord Coke, with his gloves on, touched and kissed the King’s hand, but whether to be confirmed a councilor or cashiered I cannot yet learn. ” From kissing hands at court came kissing hands in courting, a practice the learned Seldon considered as foolish as to eat the paring of an apple when one might taste the fruit itself; and from kissing hands (for love came kissing /hands for politeness 1 sake, and the use of the phrase, “ I kiss your hand,” as a salutation upon leave-taking without a thought of suiting the action to the word. A story is told of an old laird, who, being presented to George the Fourth at a levee, in his ignorance and anxiety to get through the business, ignored the hand extended to him, and, with a hasty bow, edged toward the doorwith all speed. Brought up with Lord Erroll’s whispered reminder: “Kiss hands! kiss hands!” the startled old gentleman, facing about, kissed both his hands at the King, as if wafting a cordial recognition to a friend at a distance. All unconsciously the laird was acting according to ancient rule, for only the greater subjects of the later Caesars were permitted to press their lips upon imperial fingers. Interior folks kissed their own hands, as they were won} to do upon entering the temples of ; a custom Pliny set down among those which were followed for no known reason but their antiquity.— AU the Year Round.

How the German Is Controlled.

In her “ German Home-Life" articles, in Frazer'» Magazine, 'the Countess von Bothmer illustrates the thoroughness of discipline and authority of social law in Germany, as follows: In everything is controlled. He is controlled in his love-makings and his marryings; he is controlled in the utterance of his opinion; he is controlled m his goings out and his comings in. The journalist is liable at any moment to fine and imprisonment; the caricaturist to arrest; of liberty of the press there can be no question; of the license of the law no doubt. In the old gambling days of Baden and Homburg no native officer was permitted to play at the tables; the money of the State must remain absolutely in the State pocket; but this fatherly solicitude for the coin of the country did not extend itself to the pocket of the peasant, who would stand gloating through long Sunday afternoons at the heaps of gold, venture at last his florin or his thaler, and retire into his work-a-day world on Monday a disillusioned chaw-bacon. Control touches even the follies and flirtations of the, young. Lately in a northern capital garrisoned by Prussian troops an ardent young Lieutenant and a coy and bashful maiden found themselves for a moment, by some rare chance, in a deserted tea-room alone. The enamored youth had just caught his fair one by the hand, when her most intimate of intimate bosom friends entered. The poor girl started up in terror and, forgetful alike of her love and her lover, broke out: "Pray, pray, best Evelina, do not say what you have seen.” Evelina promised and the imprudent maiden returned at once to the ballroom. But lo! next day the story, with various embroideries, was circulating through all the Kaffeez, and behold! the day after the ardent Lieutenant was summoned to an irate General’s presence. "Young man," said his stern Vorgesftzter, glooming down upon him in grim regulation wrath, “ you are transferred to depot duty on the frontier; there you will have ample time to reflect on your indiscretion.” And forth, like ball from the cannon's mouth, behold our gay young militaire shot over the frontier! Hear this, gallant young English gentlemen, horse', foot and dragoons; hear it, too, young English maidens inclining tender ears to manly pleadings, and be thankful that your bosom friends are not spies; nor, as a rule, the Colonels of our regiments martinets in matters of the affections!« This is a scene on the door-steps of a Portland doctor, as.related in the Adcerriser of that city: “Is the docther in?" “ He is not at this moment,’’ said the doc tor’s wife. “ What shaft I tell him when he returns?" “ Well, ye see, mum, me little b’y was sick a sphel ago, and the docther came to him, an’ heiould me thin he would die, an’ he did die" an’ now the wife is tuck sick, an’, be gorra, I want him to pass the same judgment on the old woman." “Go out, young man; she’s not here,” said a Pennsylvania preacher, the other Sunday, in the midst of his sermon, to a youth whom he saw standing hesitatingly in the doorway. }

Dancing on Wheel Skates.

Writing from Brighton, • correspondent of the London Daily Netee says: Skating on wheels, advancing by leaps and bounds, like the commercial prosperity of Great Britain under the administration of Mr. Gladstone, has now reached a stage of perfection at which skating merges into dancing, and a skating party becomes a ball. Buch an entertainment was given here last night by some of the officers of the Scots Greys, stationed at the Preston barracks. Cards were issued for a dance, the ball-room being the grand rink in West street. Under the direction of Mr. Mellison. This was a splendid building, formerly, I believe, a concert hall, and now admirably adapted for the purposes to which it has been devoted, having a fine stretch of asphalt, covered in by a lofty and well-ventilated roof. Eight o’clock was the hour mentioned for the ball .to commence, and shortly after that -time the company began to assemble. Morning-dress was, of course, worn, no roller-skate and no style of skating yet having been invented which would make it possible to cut the outside edge, cross or go backward in the graceful blit inconvenient trailing skirt with which ordinary dancing is mosjf or less successfully managed. But nevertheless the scene was a pretty and animated one, with the many colored dresses, seasonably trimmed with fur, the saucy Rubenj hat, and here and there that ghost of alongdead past, the coal-scuttle bonnet. About 250 invitations had been issued, and there was present a company not far short of that number. There was perhaps something a trifle monotonous about the pretty little cartes de danse supplied to each of the guests. Eighteen dances were set down and each was a waltz. The fact is that skating on wheels lends itself naturally to the time and swing of the waltz, and may be successfully adapted to other sorts of dancing only after a severe course of training, such as could be undertaken by few except professional acrobats. A quadrille may be managed in a space that will allow of considerable margin (we had the Caledonians just before midnight), and with a band skillful at filling up interludes, during which partners who have overshot the mark are struggling back to the square; but the general result is not satisfactory, and the game is usually considered not worth the candle. The motion of the skater and the time observed are so nearly akin to waltzing that when the band plays the “ Bri»e dee Nurte," or “ Queen Mab," one naturally lapses into the waltz. One consequence of this is, that when, according to the programme, and, with very few exceptions, according to the fact, everybody was waltzing, the scene presented differed in an almost inappreciable degree from the sight witnessed on ordinary club nights. Here and there two ladies or a lady and gentleman broke into a waltz proper, moving round in due form and sliding through the steps of trois tempe; but for the most part the company contented themselves with skating round the rink in waltzing time, and swaying right and left on the outside edge to the waltz measure." To those who looked on, expecting novelty, this was somewhat disappointing, but to the company of skaters gliding across the smooth floor in an endless band there were no spots on the sun. They skated and danced with energy that seemed inexhaustible, halting only at eleven o’clock for such brief time as supper demanded, and then setting to again at the interminable waltz, the endless band growing thinner, but not finally breaking till an •arly hour this mornirfg. f

Bailway Traveling in Germany.

The German railways are not intended for through travelers. The railway lines laid upon the map look like a lace pattern—there are no straight lines. You are always going round to call at some town or another, which is uninteresting for a stranger who has no friends in the towns. Not more than one express train a day seems to go in any direction, and all the others are as slow as a New England deacon’s horse on Sunday. However, I don’t mean to complain of German railways; they are safe and (Comfortable; if you want speed and damages you Americans know where to go. A compartment of the second-class, holding eight persons, in a German carriage, is a snug place for a winter ride. It is so well upholstered that you can ride on the seats without fatigue, and sleep at your ease. The compartment of the first-class is in the same carriage, and differs only in a little more luxurious upholstering. For winter travel, when there is nothing to see, these compartments are very nice; for summer I prefer an American palacecar. But when the wind raves over a desolate country there is a feeling of snugness in these little apartments. The windows are all closed, everybody lights his cigar, the lady, if one happens to be present, does not ever think of saying that she likes smoke—that is taken for granted—and soon the air is so thick that you might imagine yourself jn a beer-hall, enjoying yourself to the utmost. Not that you are obliged to ride in smoke; on probably all the trains there are compartments distinctly set apart for the not-smoking, and generally there is a separate compartment for ladies.—Cor. Hartford Courant.

An Idaho Incident.

A of the Idaho World gives particulars of the terrible hardships endured by a man named Charles Blearing, who left South Mountain last spring and passed the summer prospecting on Snake River. It appears that several weeks ago he crossed the mountains from the Payette on his way to his home in Camas Prairie, Idaho County. While pursuing his way alone in the mountains away out beyond the Payette he was taken with a pain in his side, and was unable to travel for several days. He had a limited quantity of provisions, and had to kill his horse to supply himself with food. He had nothing in the shape of arms except a pocket-knife, and broke that whittling kindling-wood. When his provisions gave out he tied the broken knife on the back of an old comb and killed and skinned his horse with it. It took him five days to cross Packer John’s Mountain, a distance of about eighteen miles, and during these five days he had nothing to eat and no blankets, having in his sickness burned his blankets and all extra clothing to start his fires. He wandered about in the snow and at length arrived at the habitation of Scribner & Wai-! lace, in the vicinity of the Copeland Dig- , gings, as nearly as we are able toJudge from the letter published in the World.,. He was in a wretched plight, his feet and hands being badly frozen. ' A Nkw Oruuks paper, which prints a long editorial headed: “ The treasure of wickedness profits nothing,” has its first page entirely occupied with the advertisement of a huge lottery swindle.

The Navigstor Islands.

For mere beauty of scenery the Navigator Islands are probably equal, if not superior, to any in the Pacific. The scenery of the Sandwich Islands, although grand, is somewhat cheerless; the Friendly Islands are superlatively fertile, but too tame and low-lying to be thoroughly picturesque ; Feejees are in many places sterile and forbidding, while Ceylon, perhaps the most fertile island in the world, is so only in the interior. Alone of all the ocean groups, the Navigators do not disappoint. Seen from the deck of a vessel, a few miles off the land, there are not many tropical islands that present a more beautiful or picturesque appearance than Upolu. Though not so high as Savali by 1,000 feet, it nevertheless shows a bold and majestic front Perhaps, indeed, the weatherbeaten rocks that form the mountain summits are, if anything, too stern and gloomy fora purely tropical landscape. They tare, howevCT, not often visible, but are generally shrouded by fleecy masses of vapor, or wrapped in mist and stormclouds. . * „ Immediately below this stony region vegetation commences. At first the trees are small and stunted, and the undergrowth thin. But every foot of descent the vegetation changes rapidly in character, until within an incredibly short space of time the forest becomes thoroughly and completely tropic. Trees of a hundred different species now struggle with each other for sunlight and air. The soil is a rich loam, composed of decaying veg. etable forms. Overhead the trees meet, forming a leafy canopy through which the vertical rays of the sun strive in vain toijierce. Beneath this the traveler walks in dim, uncertain twilight. Around him all is hot, moist and decaying. The air issickly and oppressive, the grass rank and matted, while from trunk and bough hang long, snake-like creepers and supple vines that trail along the ground, and at every step trip up the unwary. On the trunks and branches of the trees are clusters of rare ferns and orchids that would be the glory of an American hot-house. They grow luxuriantly on the moss-covered bark and dead wood, and reck little of sunlight or fresh breezes. Among these forest-trees are many on which the natives depend for life. There is the ivi (whose bitter nuts are eaten in times of scarcity), the orange, the luin and the bread-fruit. Then there is the stately cotton tree, the somber dilo and the cocoanut-palm, with its leafy crown, at once the glory and wealth of the South Sea Islands. The ground in many places is covered with flowers as with a carpet, while in others it is grown over with a dense and impenetrable mass of shrubs and flowering plants. Here is the home of the wild indigo and yam, the nutmeg and arrowroot, the hibiscus and the oleander, the sweet potato, the banana, and, lastly, of that shrub from which the natives extract the strange drink they call kava.— Overland Monthly.

The Good Princess Marguerite.

You should see the Tiber flood advance up a Roman street. It comes very stealthily ; the yellow waters curl in little rings and then spread with a soft “ slush” and then curl again, ooze up through the stones and unite and go on spreading. You wonder at first how it can be so dangerous,, but suddenly you find it assembled in full force, resting its thick masses against portones and shops, filling court yards ana cellars, and doing all its fearful damage noiselessly. If ever you are ifi Rome during an inundation do not fail to go to the sacristo door of the Pantheon and see the great dome reflected in the waters that cover the stone floor of the old temple; it is a strange sight, and, although so sad and comfortless, it has a sort of grandoito effect if you arm in the humor to enjoy a tragic scene. Out Port Angelica the river rushed, and laborers were there night and day during the swell in boats so as to help the inhabitants of the Prati. When the great swell went down the bonny Princess Marguerite drove out there. The men had not yet left their posts; they ranged themselves along the road and cheered the pretty, good Princess with all their might, while she gave to the haggard, dirty men her best and sweetest smiles. As she looked at them the tears came into her eyes. After she had driven on a little distance the carriage stopped, and the Captain of the boat service was summoned. The Princess wished to speak to him. He went to her. “ How- long have those poor men been working in that wet place ?” she asked. “Two days and nights, M your Royal Highness. “ Poor, poor creatures!" she 4 said, with a trembling voice. “ Give them this for wine.” And she handed him a 100-franc note; then drove on. The men sent up a shout when the Captain returned with the money, a shout that might have reached Ponte Molle. The Captain sent off for bread and preeciutta (ham) and wine. The men had a grand feast; they (frank the Princess’ health again and again. After their improvised banquet was over there remained three francs apiece for each man, which he had over and above his wages.— Rome Cor. Philadelphia Bulletin.

A Romance of Chicago.

Yesterday evening a pale, thin woman, meanly clad, was seen shivering on the doorstep of a fashionable mansion on Ashland avenue. Her whole appearance betokened poverty and misery. The master of the house, a comparatively young man, clad in a costly fur overcoat, ran up the steps at the same moment and gave the poor creature a quarter, which she received with profuse manifestations of gratitude. It seems romantic, but it is a fact that eleven years ago that young woman lived in that same mansion, the beautiful, accomplished and idolized daughter of wealthv parents. Two suitors sought her hand—one was a fashionable young man, the other the plumber’s apprentice, who, while visiting her father’s lordly mansion to thaw out the water-pipes, saw and loved the beautiful apparition. He preferred his suit in a blunt, manly style, told her that his time would soon be out, and showed her how the bills were made out to meet her objection as W. Iris lack of fortune. The naughty and infatuated girl rejected his suit and married the handsome young man, with whom she set up housekeeping in the costly mansion on Ashland avenue. Wonderful are the alternations of for-i tune! The plumber rows steadily, became wealthy, and purchased the family mansion when the young husband was compelled, through going short on No. two spring at an mopportune moment, to sell out his property. The young husoand took to drink, and finally was buried in a pauper’s grave, and last e’vening his starving widow asked and received alms on the doorstep of a house formerly her own, from the hands ot’ her discarded plumberlover, now its owner and a millionaire.— Chicago Tribune,

The California Pitcher Plant.

One of the most remarkable products of the vegetable world, for which this coast is famous, is the singular plant which is familiarly known by the above title, but which among botanists is better recognized as Darlingtonia Caltfarnica. It is a native of the northern portion of . the State, chiefly of the district around Mount Shasta, where it grows in boggy places on the slopes of mountains. It belongs to the natural order sawac«i»dcea, and is the only species of its genus, though several of its near relatives are found -in the swampy districts of the Atlantic States. Darlingtonia is remarkably for its habit of entrapping insects which are attracted toward the hood at the extremity of the tm bular leaves, probably by its bright color* and its resemblance to a flower. Once inside the hood, .they pass down the tube which forms the stem, and on attempting to escape find their exit prevented by a number of fine hairs pointing downward, which offer a secure meaps of imprison, ment for the unfortunsppthsects. It is not unusual to find the leaf stems at their base filled tp the depth of four or five inches with insect remains. Mr. Henry Edwards, who has recently spent some time in the region of Mount Shasta, and who has brought to San Francisco some admirable specimens of the Darlingtonia, informs us that he counted no less than thirty-six species of insects of various orders which had met their death in the embrace of this curious plant. It is somewhat singular that Darwin, in his new book on “Insectivorous Plants,” makes no mention whatever of this species, particularly as the plant has been successfully cultivated in England. Mr. Robinton. of the Field newspaper, made a journey to this country two years ago tor the express purpose of investigating it in its native wilds. The observations made by Mr. Edwards, especially those with reference to the species of insects entrapped, will at once be forwarded by that gentleman to Dr. Darwin, by whom they will probably be employed in a future edition of his book. The specimens which have given birth to these remarks have been admirably photographed by Bradley & Rulotson, and have been placed by Mr. Edwards on exhibition in the garden of the Mechanics’ Fair.— San Francieco Bulletin.

A Word for the Women.

We do not hesitate to say that the average woman, educated in the better class of schools in this country, is a better scholar and a more capable and accomplished person than the average college graduate of the other sex. What we want is cheaper schools of an equal excellence. The farmer’s boy goes to college, finds cheap tuition, wins a scholarship, perhaps, boards in commons, earns money during vacation and gets through, while his sister stays at home because the only places where she can get an equal education are expensive beyond her means. There is no college that needs to be so richly endowed as a woman’s college. Women are not men, quarrel with the fact as we may, and they cannot get along so cheaply Jand with self-helpfulness as men while going through the processes of their education. If we are to have women’s colleges we musthave well-paid professors, philosophical apparatus, cabinets, collections, art galleries, laboratories, and they must be provided for by private munificence. Provision should be made for the poor so that high education shall come within the reach of all. There is not a woman’s college or an advanced public institution for the education of women that is not to-day in need of a large, endowment for the purpose of bringing its advantages within the reach of those whose means are small. Now we commend this matter particularly to rich women. There are many scattered up and down the countiy who are wondering what they shall do with their money when and even before they die. -To all these we beg the privilege of commending thisegfeat object. Let the boys alone. They hive been pretty well taken care of already and the men will look after them. It is for you, as women wishing well to your own sex and anxious for its elevation in all possible ways, to endow these institutions that are springing up about the country in its interest, so that the poor shall have an equal chance with the rich. You can greatly help to give the young women of all classes as good a chance as their brothers enjoy, and you can hardly claim a great deal of womanly feeling if you do not do it.—Dr. J. &. Holland, in Scribner.

Startling Prophecies.

Zadkiel’s Almanac, a singular London publication which has reached its fortysixth edition, makes some startling astrological prophecies for the present year. In one of the diagrams there is a direful array of contending armies, with a background of coffins; there is also a theater on fire, with a grisly skeleton brandishing a death like javelin and a flag somewhat resembling the stars and stripes. In another compartment there is a lion walking up a mountain on its hind legs, with a sword in its mouth. In January ultramontane intrigue is to be in the ascendant in England. A warlike disposition is to animate the Germans. The peace of England, Germany and Denmark is to be threatened. During February the same nations are to be in trouble, while Spain enjoys a temporary lull. March is to see the people of Ireland stirred up. April will be bad for Spain and Portugal. A conflagration will rage in London about the 12th or 19th of the month. May is to be pad for people born on or near the 28th. June is to be prosperous, but people born near the 27th February and Ist September must look out for their health. In July the Prince of Wales is to be lucky. On the 14th of that month marriageable young ladies will receive advantageous offers. August is to be a sad month for earthquakes and storms. France and Italy are to be “Shaken. September will threaten England with cause for grief. October promises peace for Spain. November, good fortune to the King of Italy. Mariners born near the 16th or 23d will be in danger from the sea. December threatens a conflagration in Dublin, but Spain is to be all right. Nothing about the United States, sq that people may keep their minds easy. “Zadkiel" has evidently forgotten us, and no news is good news.— Chicago Inter-Ocean. There is a strong flavor of common sense in the remark ot a Boston lady, who had successfully managed a large estate for many years, that, ‘*so long as the people of this country Continue to eat roast beef when they have only money enough to pay for salt mackerej,'they will have, and deserve to have, hat'd-times.-’ Lewiston, ike., has a religious society, one article of whose creed is never to call a doctor, but to heal the sick by prayer and laying on of hands. * They believe also in the gift of tongues as in apostolic days.