Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1876 — Page 6

Tire Russian Village Cemmune.

Ab an organ of local administration, the rural Commune in Russia is very simple and primitive. There is commonly but one office-bearer, the Village *' Elder" (Starnsta frftm story old); but In the larger (Communes there is also a Communal taxgatherer. The office-bearers arc simple peasants, chosen by their fellow-villagers for one, two or thixfc years, according to local custom. Their salaries are fixed by the Commune, and are so small that “office" in these village democracies is regarded rather as a burden than as an honor; but a peasant, when once chosen, must serve, whether he desires it or not. If he can show good and sufficient reason —such as ill-health or frequent absence—why he should be exempted, the Commune will generally free him from the burden on condition that he treats the members present with vodka (rye-spirit); but the simple desire to escape trouble and annoyance is not considered a valid ground for exemption. The chief duties of the Elder arc to preserve order, and to act as a connecting link between the Commune and tire higher authorities. Beyond this he has very little power, for all the real authority resides in the “ Village Assembly." The Village Assembly (•eMi sktod), in tlie wider sense of the term, comprises nil the adult members of the Commune. When matters of great importance are under consideration, the heads erf houses alone take an active part in the discussion. I say the heads of bouses, and not the fathers of families, because the Russian term Uumain (head of tlie household) does not indicate blood relationship; and it frequently happens that the pnfria poteeta is in the hands of tlie oldest brother or of tlie mother. Thus, strictly speaking, the Assembly is composed of the representatives of families, and when the head of a family hapi>ens to be absent from tlie village, his place is taken by some other member of the household, male or female. In the Northern Provinces, where a large part of the adult male population annually leaves home in search of work, the female representatives sometimes compose the majority. The meetings are held in the open air bv tlieside of the church’, oriu front or the Elder’s house, or in some other convenient place where there is plenty of room and little mud; and, except in the case of matters w hich will not admit of delay, they take place on Sunday or on a holiday. Toward afternoon, when all have enjoyed their after-dinner siesta—or, it may be. immediately after the morning senice—the villagers may be seen strolling leisurely toward a common point. Arrived at the village Forum, they cluster together in little groups, and talk in homely fashion about the matter they have met to consider. The various groups pay no attention to each other till gradually one particular group, containing some of tlie more intelligent and influential members, begins to exercise an attractive force, ami tlie others’gravitate toward the center of energy. In tins way tlie meeting isoonstituted.or, more strictly speaking, spontaneously constitutes itself; and the . same absence of formality continues all through the proceedings. Two, three or more peasants often speak at once,and when t the discussion waxes hot the disputants probably use freely such unparliamentary expressions as "Burak!” “Iwton/” (babbler), “Arfwm.*’ (scarecrow); sometimes even stronger expressions, unsuited to ears polite. Strange to say, these strong terms never raffle the good nature of those to whom they arc addressed, and at most evoke a retort of the tv quoqve kind, which, if well put, produces roars -of laughter. If we hear a shrill female voice rising above the general hum, we may be sure it is that of a widow, or a wife whose husband is absent. Some of these female members possess great volubility, and a considerable power of pungent invective; unfortunately. their dialectical eflbrts are in part counteracted by a tendency to wander from the subject, and to make indelicate, irrelevant allusions to the private life and domestic concerns of their opponents. In general there are no attemjds al " speech-making, but occasionally some young “ village Hampden/* who has been to Moscow or St. Petersburg, and has brought back with him a jaunty air and a large dose of selfconceit. makes something like a speech, and enjoys die sound of his own voice. Eloquence of thia kind is. of course, apjpreciatal only by the younger members, jmd makes no impression iip the bulk of the audience. Veiy soon it Is sure to lie interrupted by some older member with a laconic" Mottehi kratndW!” (hold your tongue, fine talker), and the abashed orator,hearing the Utttff of his former applauders, uiumbleis out a retort, or hides - his diminished head behind the broad shoulders of a comrade.. The subjects brought before these meetings are of the most varied kind, for the Village Assembly has no idea of law limiting its competence, and is ever ready to discuss anything affecting directly or indirectly the communal welfare. It may be that an order has been received from the higher authorities, or a recruit has to bfi given for the conscription, or a herd-boy has to be hired, or a day sos the commencement of the plowing has to be fixed, or the drain across the stream is in need of repairs. Such are a few examples of matters discussed. The manner of deciding them is quite as informal as the mode of discussion. Rarely, if ever, is it necessa ry to put the question to the vote. As soon as it has liecome evident what the general opinion is, the Elder says to tlie crowd: "Well, Orthodox I you have decided so?" “ Ladno! Ladno!" (agreed!) replies the crowd, and the proceedings terminate, unless where the decision re fees to some future contingency, in which case it is committed to writing and duly signed by all present.— MaemiUan't Magazine. ~

The Way to Drive Horses.

With few exceptions teamsters guide and drive their horses and mules quite too much with the reins. Most teams are so accustomed to be pulled and hauled incessantly by the lines that they do not know how to act when the driver is not tugging away, applying the whip and bawling. Horses should be taught to go where the driver would have them when, the reins are slack. If a horse is headstrong and the driver is required to hold him back with a firm hand, it is sometimes a sensible practice to put on a check rein and require the animal to cany his head* little higher than he is accustomed to cany it without a check rein. When a driver is mowing grass with a machine he should hold a steady rein or a slack rein, and avoid the practice of keeping the heads of the animals moving incessantly to the right and left with a constantly vibeating motion. Let the driver keep his eye on the heads and fore feet of the team rather than cm the machine. Let the eye glance only occasionally at the machine rather than keep looking at the implement, casting a glance now and then at the team, u the team is guided properly

the implement behind tlie team will move in the proper place. A great many inexperienced driver* will watch the harrow, or mower, or reaper, instead of tlie team, and, before they are aware of it the horses or muleswill be two or three feet either to the rigid or left of the proper place. When harrowing we walk by the side of tlie driver and instruct him to look forward of the team along the edge of the harrowed ground, then keep the eve on the head nnd forward feet of tlie animal nearest tlie harrowed ground. Hold the lines steadily, but not too firmly. If you desire tlie team to move either way, pull one rein only a little. Avoid pulling the team so far to the right that you must immediately haul on the left line. When the mowing machine is in use aim to drive straight, which can be done only by holdimr a steady line. Teach the team, if poesibic to go right with slack lines. Almost any team can readily be taught to travel close to the standing grass without lieing hauled by the lines to tlie right or left. When the lines are slack and a team liegins to turn only a trifle too much to the right or to the left pull one rein only a trifle. Let inexperienced drivers lie taught that the common practice of pulling and hauling this way and that way on the lines, and then fretting and scolding at the team because they do not move straight forward, will worry and fret a spirited horse more than all the labor he performs. —N. Y. Herald.

The Morgue of New York City.

The dejiot for the unknown dead, and the dead-house which stretches out on the pier in its rear, are places containing such an accumulation of horrors that the stoutest heart cannot inspect them without sickening. Death is awful when it occurs from natural causes, when Its victim has been shrived and is afterward shrouded and projierly prepared for burial. But when it is caused by violence, or the person is stricken suddenly by the fell destroyer, as is generally tlie case of those whose bodies are laid in the morgue, there is no peacefulness, no serenity; but discoloration instead of pallor, ana contortion in limb and feature. The morgue is a room with marble floor, part of which is divided by a glass casing. In this inclosure are marble slabs, on which bodies are placed to await recognition. They lie with heads raised on pillows, and are covered to the shoulders with rubber blankets. Bixiiescan lie kept two months in cold weather, but only forty-eight hours at this season. They are left in the morgue until deconqiositioh begins, when they are buried in a trenchon Hart’s Island. Their photographs are retained, and if recognized after burial, their bodies are taken up and delivered to those desiring them. The line of corpses in tlie morgue plainly betokens the violence of their death. Eyes are staring open, jaws are fallen, necks are twisted, and terrible evidences of contortion are visible. The greatest number of corpses brought to tlie morgue are of those “found drowned.” Some of these have lain in the water for weeks, when their skin is blackened, their heads are bloated and their eyeballs and lips are eaten off. Yet, in this state even, they are recognized by those who love. Hie shape and filling of teeth often indicates bodies when there is nothing beside natural about them. No day passes but persons apply at the morgue for lost friends, and recognize in these ghastly, grinning corpses the one for whom they are searching. Detectives, who are on tlie alert for the reward offered for some one missing, glance through the morgue each morning, with photograph in hand, to ascertain if the prize Is there. After an accident the morgue is besieged by those waiting to see the dead brought in, to find out if some missing friend is among the killed. The agony of suspense is well illustrated by visitors at the morgue. Women go there regularly, fearing to find stretched on the slabs a husband or lover missing. Day after day they come, getting paler and weaker with dreadful suspense, to look through the glass upon the horrors there exhibited. Tlie preparation of the dead before being placed in the morgue takes place in the dead-house, where an inquest is held, clothes are removed, a coarse shroud is placed on tlie corpse, and it is photographed. Through the day and late into tlie evening bodies are brought to the dead-house from city- hospitals and from homes where there is’not money with which to bury them. This house is a long shed with stone floor, about the walls of which hang the garments taken from corpses unknown. These clothes hang one year, When, if unclaimed, they are disposed of. In summer time, when hundreds of victims of sun-stroke daily are brought to the dead-house, theplace is crowded with corpses, and the odor of death is discernable for some distance in the vicinity. Mr. White, the keeper, and the Coroner are then busy in this awful place; but the former has become callous in years of attendance upon the morgue’, handling corpses and holding them in position to be photographed. Every morning at eight o’clock an-artist, with camera, comas to the inside court of, the dead-house, where liodies to be stretched in the morgue are held against a wall, with a white sheet covering all but the head. Stark and stiff, they stand without difficulty, excepting when accident has cut them in two; in such a case two or three attendants keep them steady for this purpose. The picture gallery of the morgue ia directly opposite the glass-en-closed room. Few would care to behold the likenesses there exhibited, as each face is stamped by agony or brutal expression. The face of the man “shot,” “ butchered with a knife,” or who died in “ delirium tremens,” is there. The back of each card describes the corpse and where found. Sensitive women look eagerly through this gallery, and nearly fainting, discover the countenance for which they long have searched. Mr. White relates distressing and affecting scenes that have occurred in this room. Again, there are those who find relations here, pictured who go away satisfled, feeling that they are better dead and buried—even 'in a pauper’s grave. The dissecting-room adjoins the dead-house. Here post mortem examinations take place of many who die in Bellevue Hospital, and of those who are taken off suddenly and the cause is unknown. “ Good subjects,” are here dissected frequently for the benefit of the students of Bellevue College. The room will seat fifty students. A stone couch ii there, on which the body is placed, over which there is a hose with which to wash it when necessary. Students from other colleges can obtain bodies for dissection at the dead-house, by paying for their cartage. The pauper dead of this city are placed in pine coffins, and are buried without funeral service on Hart’s Island. Fifty-nine bodies have been laid in the morgue since January last, and nearly 5,000 have been brought to the dead-house. —N.Y. Commercial Adoertiter. The motion to a churn is always in onjpr.

Washington to His Wife.

Tlie only extant letter of Washington to his wife is an epistle of unusual Interest, both on account of its subject and date. It was written June 18, 1775 ulll i is as follows: My Dearett.—l am now set down to write to you on a subject which fills me with inexpressible concern, and tails con . cern is greatly aggravated and increased when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will give you. It has been determined in Congress that the whole army raised for the defense of the American cause shall be put under my care, and that Jt is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. . - You may believe me, my dear Patsy, when I assure you, in the moat solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this apjiointment, I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it—not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity, and that I should enjoy more, ,44^ Jiappiness in one month with you at home than I have the most distant prospect of finding abroad, if my stay were to lie seven times seven years. But as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my unoertaking it is designed to answer some good purpose. You might, I suppose did, perceive, from the tenor of my letters, that I was apprehensive I could not avoid this appointment, as I did not pretend to intimate when I should return. That was tlie case. It was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment, without exposing my character to such censures as would have reflected dishonor upon myself and given pain to my friends. This, I am sure, could not, and ought not, to be pleasing to you, and must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. I shall rely, therefore, confidently on that Providence which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall. I shall feel no pain from the toil or the danger of the campaign; my unhappiness will flow from the uneasiness I know you will feel from being left alone. I therefore that you will summon your whole fortitude, and pass your time as agreeably as possible. Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this, and to hear it from your own pen. My earnest and ardent desire is, that you would pursue any plan that is most likely to produce content and a tolerable degree of tranquillity, as it must add greatly to my uneasy feelings to hear that you are dissatisfied or complaining at what I really could not avoid. As life is always uncertain, and common prudence dictates to every man tlie necessity of settling his. temporal concerns while it is in his power and while tlie mind is calm and undisturbed, I have, since I came to this place—for I had not time to do it before I left home —got Col. Pendleton to draft a will for me, by the directions I gave him, which will I now enclose. The provision made for you in case of my death, will, I hope, be agreeable. I shall add nothing more, as I have several letters to write, but to desire tliat you will remember me to your friends, and to assure you that I am, with the most unfeigned reganl, my dear Patsy, your affectionate G. W. To Martha Washington, June 18,1775.

How Twenty-two Young Women Were Burned to Death.

The Glasgow Newt gives tlie following account ofc the burning of the mill at Ayr, Scotland, on the 16th of June, by which twenty-two young women perished. Within the third story of the second block of buildings from Fort street the fatal spark was kindled. The operatives resumed work after breakfast, as usual, and all went on smoothly till the hour indicated abovp, when James Barr, a laborer in the worsted department, was alarmed by a “young lass’ 1 * (as he describes her) exclaiming in a state of excitement that there was a fire in the room. The girl had been working at a wool-teaser, and soon it was perceived that tlie wool had taken fire, apparently from friction. Barr immediately called his neighbors, who gathered in large numbers. Three extincteurs, kept on the establishment for emergencies of this kind, were produced, but without effect. No sooner was water poured on one corner than tlie fire spread to another, defying the utmost efforts of all present to keep it within bounds. Some one at an early period called for a sheet with which to “ smother” the tire; but with such alarming rapidity did it. spread, that any attempt in that direction would have been useless, or worse than useless. In a few qiinutes those who had gathered round the spot where the tire originated were compelled to flee for their lives, leaving portions of their clothing and all they possessed in the mill behind. So far ail was right, in respect that no damage had resulted to life, but the sequel of the event which had just been inaugurated Was disastrous and appalling. In the garret overhead of the room described, Janies Barr, aged fifty years, and’ father of the man named above, was working with twenty-five young women under his Charge, and there the.great loss of life took place. James Barr, it is alleged, on hearing the screams in tlie flat beneath, and on being informed that

there was a fire, made an endeavor to keep the cries of those who were apparently terror-stricken beneath from penetrating his own department and causing greater consternation than was necessary. He then ran down stairs, saw the imminent danger of the whole establishment, rushed up again and gave the alarm, twit was too late to effect an escape for himself or others, as the staircases were all ■ “ ablaze,’’ and the smoke and fire were such as no one could pass through and live. A scene more easily imagined than described followed. The young women rushed to the windows and called for that aid which could not be afforded them. They gesticulated and screamed and sobbed in the prospect of death, and implored those outside to save their lives. Meanwhile the fire spread rapidly, the buildings, one by one were enveloped, the flames shot high in the air, and before long the spot where the helpless females had been vainly seeking for succor was reduced to ruin, and those who occupied it were lost beyond hope of recall. Sevpainful incidents are reported in connection with this event. The old man Barr was, before the fire obliterated everything, seen atone of the windows wav. inghis hands, apparently calling for rescue. and a large number of girls were holding by him in the last lingering hope of haring their lives spared., One young woman, named Catherine McKinnon, jumped from the height of four stories, and fell the ground beneath. Se was taken up insensible, placed on a mattress and removed to the Ayr Hospital. She was. alive when the hospital was reached, but expired in a few minutes. The poor girl, who was sixteen

years of age, fell on her forehead. Her skull was fractured, her arm broken, and other injuries sustained, so that all the skill which could be brought to bear could not save herlife. Another young girl, named Biini>son, residing in High street, came to a window screaming. Her sister, who happened to lie beneath at the moment, called out: “Jump out,, or you’ll be killed,” and the little girl instantly leaped over. The sister endeavored to catch Her, but as the height from which the leap was taken was very great, both came into violent contact and were thrown down. The sister escaped unhurt, a fact which is marvelous, considering the whole circumstances, but the voung girl was a good deal bruised, it is feared seriously so. Her hair was burned with the flames, which just before her leap were devouring all liefore them. Those who had found an exit from the works now made the best of their good fortune and ran from danger, while the unfortunate persons left behind were at the mercy of the devouring clement. Mothers appeared on the scene in terror, asking for their daughters; brothers and sisters looked everywliere for their relatives, who, alas! could not be saved. It was impossible to say who were and who were not among the unfortunate victims till well on in tlie evening, when the fire had been subdued. Hoping against hope, parents expected that their children might return home at the usual hour, and watched with eager anxiety their appearance.

Children.

“ A little child shall lead them." One cold market morning I looked into a milliner’s shop, and there I saw a hale, hearty, well-browned young fellow from the country, with his long cart-whip and and a lion shaggy coat, holding up some little thing and turning it about on his great fist. And what do you suppose it was? A baby’s bonnet. A little, soft, blue satin hood, with a swan’s down lx>rder, white as the new fallen snow, with a frill of rich blonde around the edge. By his side stood a very pretty woman, holding with no small pride the baby—for evidently J t was fAe baby. Any one could read that fact in every glance as they looked at each other, and the little hood, and then at the large, blue, unconscious eyes and fat, dimpled cheeks of the little one. It was evident that neither of them had ever seen a baby like that before.

“But, really, Mary,” said the young man, “ isn’t three dollars very high ?” Mary very prudently said nothing, but taking .the bonnet, tied it on the little head, and held up the baby. The man looked and grinned, and without another word down went the tliree dollars —all that the last week’s butter came to; and as they walked out-of the shop it is hard to say which looked the most delighted with the bargain. “ All! thought I, ‘ a little child shall lead AheinJ - r Another day as I was passing a carriage factory along one of our back streets, I saw a young mechanic at work on awheel. The rough body of a carriage stood beside him —and there, wrapped up snugly, all hooded and cloaked, sat a little darkeyed girl about a year old, playing with a great shaggy dog. As I stopped, the man looked up from his work, and turned admiringly toward his little companion, as much as to say: “ See what I have got there.” “Yes,” thought I, “and if the little lady ever gets a glance from admiring swains as sincere as that, she will be lucky.” Ah, these children! little witches! pretty even in all their faults and absurdities! winning even in their sins an<J iniquities! See, for example, yondet little fellow in a naughty fit; he has shaken his long curls over his deep blue eyes; the fair brow is bent in a frown; the rose lip is curled in infinite defiance, and the white shoulders thrust haughtily forward. Can any but a child look so pretty even in their naughtiness. Then comes the instant change, flashing smiles and tears, as all the good comes back in a rush, and you are overwhelmed with protestations, promises and kisses! They are irresistible, too, these little ones. They pull away the scholar’s pen, tumble about his papers, make sommersets over his books, and what can he do ? They tear Iffs newspapers, litter his carpets, break, pull, upset, and then jabber unintelligible English in self-defense, and what can yon do for yourself * “If I had a child,” says the precise man, “you should see.” He does have a child, and his child tears up his papers, tumbles over his things, and pulls his nose like all other children, ami what has the precise man to say for himself? Nothing. He is like everybody else: “ a child shall lead him.” Poor little children! they bring and teach us human beings more good than they get in return. How often does the mother repay this by doing her best to wipe, even before the time, the dew and fresh simplicity from childhood, and make her daughter - too sooaa woman of the worid, as she has been. The-hardened heart of the worldly man is unlocked by the guileless tones and simple caresses of his son, but he repays it in time, by imparting to his boy all the crooked tricks, and hard ways, and callous maxims which have undone himself. —lnterior. A Piute sport from Stillwater came ever a few days since and tackled the Austin Indians in a game of Indian poker. The game commenced late Wednesday night and continued till yesterday morning, when it ceased and left the Austin Indians a busted community. The Stillwater fellow won over S3OO in money, a small herd of ponies, and a wagon-load of blankets, stiff-brimmed hats, and linen dusters, with which he returned to his home.— Austin (Wee.) Reveille. Up to the 23d<tff*June the quantity of coal sent from the Pennsylvania coal mines since the first of the current year was: Anthracite, 7,118,544 tons; bituminous, 1,522,703 tons; total, 8,641,247 tons, against 6,080,062 tons anthracite and 1,542,6<3 tons bituminous;total, 7,622,735 tons for the corresponding period last year. Increase of anthracite, 1,038,482 tons; decrease of bituminous, 10,970 tons. ■ *'» You may preserve smoked meats for the summer if you will pack them in clean, sweet hay before the flies attack them, cover the box or barrel tight and keep in a dry place.— Pomeroy'» Democrat. —Washington’s shoulders were higfi and narrow, and his hands and feet were enormously large. Besides, he was corpulent. This is the testimony of an eyewitness. Eight savings banks in New York have been closed within the last year. In each case there has been bad or ignorant management, poor investments and extravagance in expenditure.

CENTENNIALITIES.

• —Fifty-two thousand five hundred and sixty-two persons visited the grounds on the 6th, the receipt® being $23,025.50. —One erf the most life-like pictuses to be seen in Memorial Hall is a full-sized portrait of Abraham Lincoln, which stands at tlie right of the main en>l trance. —The United States Marine Band is to receive $7,000 for one months’ services in the Exposition. It will give two enter, tainments each day at the pavilion in Landsdowne Valley. —Tlie Michigan State building was formally opened on the 6th, Gov. Bagley delivering the address. But as the building had been open to visitors for some weeks, tlie formal opening was of little moment. —There is a display of potatoes and onions from Bermuda in Agricultural Hall worth looking at. The vegetables are of the largest size and the finest quality, showing tlie productiveness of the soil in that fertile little island. A good many of the potatoes would weigh a ton, while the largest of the onions is so immense that sixteen persons could stand around it and shed tears together. —The commissioners had another very knotty question on hand the other morning. It was proposed to thank VicePresident Ferry for attending the Fourth of July ceremonies, but the feeling against it was so evident that the motion was withdrawn. One of the members said that it was simply in the line of his duty to attend, and that he was paid to be there, just as much as the band or the policemen. —The Centennial lodging-house agencies are on the verge of starvation. They say that they nevw expected any business until the overcrowded hotels swept a myriad of sleepy victims into their hands, but as the hotels have not l»een full their business has been minus. Tlie largest of them is about to move its office into an obscure street, from which it can step gracefully down and out without attracting any attention. —The bust of Abraham Lincoln, has arrived at the Illinois Headquarters, and has been placed on a handsome pedestal, eight feet high, in front of the State Building, and a few yards from the main entrance. It is a large, handsome bust, made of galvanized iron, and a remarkably fine representation of the head and face of the murdered President. A handsome bronze eagle has also been placed over the main entrance of the building. —ln Agricultural Hall there is a windmill, said to be a sac simile of an old mill still standing on Long Island, at East Hampton, about eighty miles from New York, which was a representative flouring mill for that period—loo years ago. The mill had a capacity for grinding out eight barrels of flour per day, when the wind happened to be favorable. The sac simile is exhibited by a New York milling firm, whose steam flouring mill in that metropolis has a capacity of 2,500 barrels per day. ~

—A new style of refrigerator is on exhibition in the United States Government Building. Tlie sides are principally of glass, and through them may be seen several large fresh fish (one of them being a sturgeon nearly four feet long), some strawberries frozen into the ice, a cake of ice from which not a drop of water is seen to run, and several other objects indicating that the temperature within the “cabinet” is very cold. Indeed, there is a large thermometer showing tlie mercury to be twenty degrees below zero, notwithstanding that it is from ninety-five to 100 outside. If sweltering visitors could be permitted to crawl into that refrigerator only for a few moments, they would soon sigh for summer again. —At the crossing of the narrow-gauge railroad near the north center of Machinery Hall, a telegraphic alarm has been constructed, similar to the alarms used in the “block system” on the Pennsylvania Railroad. A telegraphic wire laid under the track, and extending about a hundred yards in each direction from the station, communicates with a gong bell at the station platform. Whenever a train is approaching, from either direction, the alarm is thus rung automatically, and kept ringing till the train stops. If, with this rattling and jingling of the alarm, any person persists in being run over and killed, his or her death will not be a “ mysterious dispensation of Providence,” but a clear case of inexcusable recklessness.

What to Remember.

We may assume that there is an average consumption of honey by each colony of bees for every month in the year; and this may vary in reference to the size of t the colony , temperature and brood raising. In this we have some important items that every beekeeper must notice. If the bees are stinted in this average supply of honey during the breeding months, as from March to September in the North, or February to Octobef in the South, brood raising will be checked, or entirely suspended,' aMtl the prosperity of the icoiony seriously interfered with if not properly cared for by feeding, which will be essential to restore, them to prosperity and prevent starvation. In the next place if the average supply of honey is very short it may be the cause of many colonies swarming out and leaving their hives in the fall and spring, and even is winter if the days are warm enough for them to take a general fly. To prevent them from thus deserting their hives feed them sufficiently to supply all their wants, and that too before they become impressed with the certainty that they must leave or perish. Instinct leads them to gather a bountiful supply, if they can find it in the flowers. It also leads them to cease rearing brood when the supply is short; and hence colonies that are so situated maybecome lessened in numbers and ultimately •leave the hive and perish. Where an increase of pasturage will not furnish the amount of honey required to keep them in good condition, the only alternative is to feed sugar, syrup, or honey from other colonies. But provision should be made for all this, in the cultivation of a greater amount of honey-yielding plants and trees, and more of the deep-rooting plants, which yield honey in the driest seasons of the year. There is a difference in this respect, as well as in the atmospher, ic chaages above them. When breeding is discontinued the stock becomes depopulated as fast as the bees die or are lost while out hunting for honey, and therefore will perish in winter from an insufficient number to generate the required heat, or lack of food, or both combined. Only colonies with a full supply of bees and honey are safe in these northern reS'ons, but they may not require either of ose so nicely balanced in the South. In the cold regions there should never be less than four quarts pf bees for winterng safely, and a large proportion of these should not be very old, for, if too old, this too may be the source of an unexpected loss of many'stands of bees. If there is

one gallon of bees a good cluster will be made and tlie required amount of heat generated, provided they have sufficient honey always within their reach, even in very cold weather, and are protected above by some warm, protecting absorbants, such as quilts or articles that take up tlie moisture, keeping the combs clear of dampness and mold. Never let a current of air pass through the hive during the cool season of the year.— JetoeU Davit, in the Bee World.

Porpoises at Cape May.

The porpoises are extremely fond of the shallow sea in front of Cape May, for some reason unknown to tlie naturalist, and swim along the length of the beach, plunging in their usual gamesome style, in great numbers. One would imagine, to see them within the lines of the surf, that they would lie carried to shore in spite of themselves by the force of the breakers. But they are an exceedingly wily and sagacious animal. Some strangers of a speculative turn, who had observed how numerous they were in this locality, formed a company for the catching of the porpoise and the expressing of hits oil, and they established works for the latter purpose. They m&de huge nets of the strongest materials, the ends of which were to be drawn in by windlasses. Then they laid their nets and waited developments. That unlucky morning the porpoises were in full force, and when tlie operators thought proper to begin hauling In, there were more than 100 in the toils. As soon as they felt the meshes they swam toward the shore rapidly, then, suddenly turning, they charged the net in a compact body, moving with inconceivable swiftness, and the unfortunate net of • the speculators was broken to pieces. One bold porpoise was stunned in the charge, and remained in the net when its remains were dragged to shore. It was eight feet in length, and the people that crowded to look at him were strangely impressed by the large blue eyes, shaped like those of a horse, that followed all their movements, and seemed almost human in their varying expressions. “ It’s a shame to kill such a creature,” observed a gentle lady, “just look at those eyes.” “ Just look at our net, inarm,” responded one of tlie porpoise company, “ broken to smithereens, and the whole company busted. It would be a deal more shame to let him live after the damage he’s done.” Sosaying he dispatched the solitary victim, and the beautiful eyes scon became glazed and fishy. But fffe company came to the conclusion that porpoises were too smart to be taken that way, and as it would not pay to fish for them with the harpoon, they remain masters of the situation, and gambol along the line of the beach to their heart’s content unmolested by any man, — N. Y. Timet. —The contest between the military bands for a prize and immortal glory, that was to have been played in the Landsdowne ravine on the 6th was given up. Of the six entries in the musical race, four were such unimportant and unheard-of bands that the other two did not care to compete with them. Late in the afternoon the West Point band and the United States Marine band blew themselves quietly over the course, without opposition, judges or prizes. A Cincinnati firm expects to manufacture 40,000,000 of flags this year.

The War Against Disease.

The war waged against disease by Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters goes bravely on. DisEatches are constantly received from the cured idicating the decisive nature of the advantages obtained by the great botanic cordial over its formidable adversary. Malarial fevers, constipation, torpidity of the liver and kidneys, general debility, nervousness and rheumatic ailments invariably yield to this conqueror and preventive of disease. For the infirmities incident to the decline of life it is also an excellent specific, it hastens convalescence and repairs the ravages of illhealth by facilitating the conversion of food into blood of a rich and nourishing quality. The appetite is improved by it, and' in cases of nervous disease it tranquilizes that great sensorium, the brain, far more effectually than any mineral sedative.

Liver Complaint.

By R. V. Pierce, M. D., of the World’s Dispensary, Buffalo, N. x., Author of “The People*sCommon Sense Medical Adviser,” etc., etc. The Liver is the great depurating (purifying) organ of the system, and has very appropriately been termed the “housekeeper” of our health. I have observed in the dis-secting-room,and also in making post-mortem examinations of the bodies of those who have died of different diseases, that in a large proportion of cases, the liver has given evidence of having at some time been diseased. Liver affections are equally prevalent in beasts. Every butcher knows that the livers of cattle, sheep, and swine, are ten times as frequently diseased as any other organ. A healthy liver each day secretes about two and a half pounds of bile. When it becomes torpid, congested, or if, from any cause, it be disabled in the performance of its duties, it is evident that the elements of the bile must remain in the blood, thus irritating, poisoning, and perverting, every vital process. Nature attempts to rid the system of these noxious materials by means of other organs, as the kidneys, lungs, skin, etc., which become overtaxed in performing their additional labor, and are unable to withstand the pressure. The brain, which is the great electrical center of all vitality, becomes overstimulated with unhealthy blood, and fails to normally perform its functions. Hence there is dullness, headache, impairment of the memory, dizziness, gloomy forebodings, and irritability of temper. When the blood is diseased, the skin manifests discolored spots, pimples, blotches, boils, carbuncles, and scrofulous tumors. The stomach and bowels, sooner or later* become affected, and constipation, dropsy, dyspepsia, or diarrhoea, is the inevitable result. SYMPTOMS OF LIVER COMPLAINT. A sallow color of the skin, ®r yellowishbrown spots on the face and other parts of the body; dullness and drowsiness, with frequent headache; dizziness, bitter or bad taste in the mouth, dryness of the throat, and internal heat; palpitation of the heart, a dry, teasing cough, sore throat, unsteady appetite, sour stomach, raising of the food, and a choking sensation in the throat; sickness and vomiting, distress, heaviness, and a bloated, or full feeling about the stomach and sides; aggravating pains in the sides, back, or breast, and about the shoulders; colic pains and soreness through the bowels; constipation, alternating with diarrhrea; pilus, flatulence, nervousness, coldness of the extremities, rush of blood to the head, with symptoms of apoplexy; numbness of the limbs (especially at night), and chills, alternating with hot flashes; kidney and other urinary Jifllculties, dullness, low spirits and gloomy forebodings. Only a few of these symptoms will be likely to be present tn an v ease at one time. 12. i THEA TMENT.—Ink.c Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery, with small doses of his Pleasant Puryattve Pellets, which act as an alterative on the liver. For Liver Complaint and the various affections caused by a diseased liver, these remedies are unsurpassed. The Golden Medical Discovery does not simply palliate the disease, but It produces a lasting effect. By its use, the liver and stoneach are changed to an active, healthy state, the appetite is regulated, the blood purified and enriched, and the entire system renovated and restored to health. The Discovery is sold by druggists. R. V. Pierce, M. D., Proprietor, World’s Dispensary, Buffalo, N. Y.