Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1877 — Page 3

The Rensselaer Union. - 'T~~ 1 RENSBELA’ER, - - INDIANA.' »

08. Oil, Vurfet! -To think wra tapping at y*>ur latch; .oteflof Dtflyoun-tknow Hei (xeCty voice i» like the rain oil tHateh— Hw RttVltwg min, with never |a wind to blew )i ; .. , hioautiou* Violet! ~ * Yon sprang ffom.put yonr bed in sn<* n hurry, Tied your cap and laced yonrldrUe blue, Opened the door, all bright with Joyful flurry, And then stood naughty March, awaiting yon! Poor, foolish Violet! Mischievous March, who loves to fool and tease, To tiokle flowers with hands all chilly-fingered, Nip them and pinch, and make them shrink and sneeze, And wish that they in the warm earth had lingered! Misguided Violet! The moment that he saw yon standing there, Be seised and pulled and roughly dragged you out, Out of the door, into the frosty air, And ** April fool” he cried, with laugh and shout. Dear little Violetl The tears axe standing in her blue, blue eyes. Next time my pretty one must be more wary, Keep fast her door, lie still, refuse to rise, A—, wait the summons of the April fairy. -—Susan Coofidge, to If. Y. Independent.

KATE’S ESCAPADE.

It was a cool, beautiful September morning, and Kate Howard sang blithely as she flitted through the wide hall which ran the length of the grand old house, which was her home. She was passing the library door, when her father called her to come in. On entering, she found bim with an open letter in his hand. “I hare just received word from my friend Seymour, that he will visit us next week,” said he. ,Kate shrugged her shoulders; “papa’s friends” arc not generally very entertaining to young people. “He will be accompanied by his nephew, for.whom he has been guardian, who h&q just returned from an extended foreign tour. He is a young man of excellent family, and heir to an immense fortune. It has long been Seymour’s wish—as, also, mine—that you and his nephew should marry when you had reached suitable ages. You are now twenty, and that is quite old enough. They will be here on Tuesday, and I desire that you look your best, and be as agreeable?**He was interrupted by Kate, who, being possessed of considerable spirit, did not relish being thus summarily disposed of. “Do you think lam going to marry a man I don’t know, and never saw?”she ‘ asked, indignantly, “Do you wish to sell me, as if I were a share in railroad stock, or had no more heart or soul than a lump of coal ?" “Kate,” said her father, sternly, “to whom are you speaking?” “1 don’t care!” she cried, “ I hate Seymour and all his relations; 5 and, if his nephew were rich as Croesus, I wouldn’t marry him! There!” It had been a favorite project of her father’s, and Kate had heard it hinted at ever since she had been out of school. She had only laughed. The idea of things assuming such a tangible shape had not occurred to her. *!* In vain her father coaxed, scolded, threatened. Kate was obstinate and de dared shß’d “ never even speak ” to the obnoxious suitor. Thus the tempestuous interview ended, and Kate wept to her room in a high state of indignation. Throwing herself on a low conch, she gave vent dp her feelings in a flood of angry tears. "She soon dried her eyes, however, and began to think about the means by which she could vanquish the enemy. One thing was certain. She wasn’t going to ptay home to be bored by a conceited swell who parted his hair in the middle, and drawled his words—possibly lisped. . ’No; anything w&s better than that. Why nest go to Grandfather Howard's? They were always wanting her to ' Visit them. ' Why not go now? So she immediately wrote tOmem, saying she was coming, and telling when to be at Stanley (the nearest station) to meet her. Grandfather Howard lived In the country, about one hundred miles from the city. He was a warm-hearted, pleasant old gentlemen, and he, and his wife lived alone in a great stone farm-house. The peaceful quiet of their lives was occasionally enlivened by a visit from grandchildren. These, however, wore not frequent, so when Kate’s letter arrived announcing her coming, it was quite an event to tuem. The spare chamber was aired and rearranged, and an endless variety of good thihgs prepared to tempt her appetite “ For,” said Grandma Howard, “ the clear child is fed on confectionery and French cookery, and good wholesome food will do her good." Monday was the day appointed for her arrival, and at five o’clock that afternoon Mr. Howard got out the falling top and drove to the depot at Stanley. Kate was accustomed to doing as she pleased, so Monday morning found her at ■ the depot awaitiqg the arrival of the train. Her brother Charlie was with her, and when the train came in he deposited her safety in the car,,with the brotherly advice “not to * 3tep from the frying-pan Into the ■ fire’ and fall in lovfe while she was gone, ”, gava her a parting kiss, and sh'e was left alone, without a friend in the crowded car. She opened the new book she bad brougbt, but finding it uninteresting, began to look about ber to see who were her fellow-passengers, for nothing so amused her as the study of T Character. The car was crowded. Near the front Was. a nervous old lady who held her ticket tjgHily grasped In one' hand and her portatnonnale m the othel*—all the while looking Tearfully about her. Evidently she was not much used to steam transportation. Near her a Yankee peddler was trying to convince a stout old gentleman at 4u# side that his “ blacking” was “ the -beet that’s made, sir.” Glancing r down the car the usual number of gentte- , Wen engrossed in their newspapers, and of ladies |n novels, met her eye. These, with a few tired,' dirty chfldren r and an invalid, who Upset her camphor bottle, made up the occupants of the car. “ There sawaone,”' thought she, “ who look as if there was a history connected with them.” She was gazing out of the window as they stopped at the first station, and did not notice any one enter, till a voice at her sice murmured: “ Pardon msumadaine, bat this is the only vacant seat” She moved slightly to make room, and a young gentleman sat beside her. Taking out a newspaper, he was soon appar-

i enlly buried In ita content*, and Kate hail an opportunity to study her new compan ion. He was a gentleman, and quite tfijtintnu, the first glance decided, handsome? Tea, undoubtedly handsome, though rather a peculiar style, for hair, and mustache were jetty black, and , the eyes, shaded by heavy brows, were blue as the sky. r “He most be twenty-five,” thought she, unaware how closely she was scrutinizing him, till the blue eyes were sud denlv raised from die paper and met hers with a trank and rather curious look. Blushing deeply at being caught in such a rune act, Kate drew down her vail and gazed studiously on the passing land, scape. Station after station was passed. Half an hour more and she woujd be in Stanley, free from Seymour and his nephew. The very thought was refreshing. She almost laughed as she thought of the discomfiture her departure would cause both the “contracting parties,” as brother Charlie called her rather and Mr. Seymour. Her reverie was broker? by the stranger, who courteously offered her a book he had just taken from his sachel. Kate accepted his proffered kindness, and, more for politeness’ sake than any other rea son, began to read. A qu.ck jerk, & crash as if the heavens were falling, a sudden stop, and Kate was precipitated into the arms of the gentleman at her side. Everybody was frightened. The ladies shrieked and gentlemen looked anxious. The peddler grasped his sachel containing the “superior blacking,” and the maiden lady still held fast to Her pocket-book as she cried out: “I alius said so! These cars are mighty unsafe!” No one knew exactly how it happened, but the engine had been precipitated down tire steep embankment dragging the bag-gage-car with it. Fortunately no one was injured, though some were considerably shaken. Of course everything was con fusion, thje'gentlemen all"left the cars, and several lpns- inso, Kate knowing the danger, if any, had passed, remained in her seat The stranger, after ascertaining th» extent wf the damage and probable ddfoy, returned. Kate questioned him, eagerly.; “Thereis,” said he, “no danger, the engine has been precipitated down the embankment and it will be several hours before toylirain can move on.” - “ "What it the distance from Stanley ?” “ Only fi mile and a half. As it is my destination, lam going to walk. I shall be glad?’’ )ie added, “ If when I get there I can be of any service to you.” “Thtol£ you,” she replied, “I, too, am only going to Stanley, and as the distance is so short, I will walk, too." He picked up her light hand-bag and his own mfire substantial sacliel, and together they left the car. The ice of conventionality being broken, they conversed pleasahtw on different topics, and 'very entertaining and agreeable Kate found ber strange companion. He, 1 oh reader, is the veritable nephew of Seymour. Having no desire to be married to a simpering boarding-school miss, as he mentally pictured Kate, he had left his fuardlan to proceed alone to the house of is friend, while he went to Stanley to visit qnpld college chum. As he walked and talked with Kate lie thought more thantittteg, if some one as bright and witty as she had been his uncle’s choice, Ins would not have been so terrible sfate aftefi all. / \ The conversation turned on bopks, and they were Ip the midst of an Animated discussion concerning their favorite authors- when tite*-depot at/Stanley was reached, and Kate was wapmly welcomed by her grandfather. Near him stood a young gentleman, to whom he had evidently been talking. This young man seized her companion by the hand, and after a hearty /shake, turned tod introduced him ttr Mr. Howard as Mr. Cecil Ailand. After the usual greetings, Mr. Howard presented his granddaughter to both the young men, and Kate had the opportunity of thanking Mr. Ailand for his kindness to her. She rather wondered at the peculiar smile which pervaded his countenance, ad her grandfather pronounced her name, but it passed away as he acknowledged her thanks, Tiy a graceful bow, and assured her “ ’Twas nothing.” Mr. Howard, after a cordial invitation to Mr. Davids, to bring bis friend to the farfii-house, took Kate' to the carriage, and they rode away. A short drive over a smooth, quiet road, brought them to the farm-house, and Grandma Howard received her guest with open arms. Kate found her visit, as she expected, rather quiet, but the woods were beautiful and she took frequent rambles, bringing as trophies of her search great handfuls of lovely leaves, or a new scene in her sketch-book. Sometimes she would take a book and read an hour in the calm autumnal solitude. Thus the davs fled. True to his promise, Mr. Davids' brought his friend out to call, and after that almost every evening found him at the farm-house, occasionally with his host, but oftenest alone. He knew Kate was the “simpering miss” he had purposely avoided and chance had so opportunely throwh In his way, but she evidently did not identify bim with the one whom he was positive she had left the city to evade. He often laughed in secret over their escapade, and blessed kind fate and the railroad Adcfdent which, contrary to their designs, had thrown them together. Kate had been from home a month, but it did not seem nearly so long. She could not help admitting that looking forward to the evening made the days pass swiftly, for now she" had grown to expect Mr. Ailand with the growing dusk. Her brother had written that “ Seymour had arrived without his nephew,” but she had lingered still. Even after hearing of his departure she was loth to go, but it must be. It was her last evening at the farmhouse. Mr. Ailand came as usual, and Kate told him she wus going homa the 3 ext day. “I have made a tong visit,” le said; “longer than I intended.” Then the recollection of the object of her visit caused her to laugh aloud. Though readily guesting, Mr. Ailand Inquired the reason of her mirth. Kate gave him a graphic description of the stormy interview with her father, and her escapade, adding, “He mast have equally dreaded me, for he didn’t come with his uncle, and! ran away for nothing, after all.” “ For nothing, Kate ?” , A warm hand grasped hers, and a soft voice whispered In her ear the old, old story of love. She must have been a willing listener, for the hoars rolled by unheeded, and Mr. and Mrs. Howard had long been dreaming when he pressed the last good-night kiss on her forehead, and was gone. The next day fonnd them seated In the train Bteaming toward the city. Kate was rather troubled as visions of her father’s indignation fluted through her mind—for he was determined she should marry a wealthy man, and her lover, alasl assured her he was not rich. But as she glanced at his manly form, and thought of the rich graces of his mind, she felt she.

would not give him upfor all the wealth the world contained. • When they reached the city Kate wished him to allow her to ge home alone. i. . . ", I know papa wtR be furious, And he might say something you would not like. Indeed. I’d rather pee him first ahd prepare his mind fur what’s coming, you know,” she said, laughing. But with the same curious smile she had before observed ho Insisted on accompanying her. ‘‘Better have it over with at once,” he [k> it was with secret misgivings she entered her own ‘ drawing-room, and found her father and brother there. The usual home greetings were over, and Kato felt rather than saw her lover draw heir father aside, and in a low tone say somefolngwhich she knew concerned her. Mr. Howard demanded in An icy tone: “Who, and what are you, sir?” To which he answered something that that caused her father to break into a hearty laugh as he seized him by both hahds and led him to where Kate sat. “My dear daughter,”'said he; “here is Cecil Ailand, Mr. Seymour’s nephew. He wishes to marry you, but as you have so emphatically declared you’d never speak to him, I am obliged to tell him his suit is hopeless.’’ iBut Kate was already in her lover's arms. To this day (and they have been married a year) he teases her about her escapade. -—Cincinnati Timet.

Later From Stanley, the African Explorer.

We are in receipt of three deeply interesting letters from Henry M. Stanley, the joint commissioner of the Herald and London Daily Telegraph, now exploring the equatorial regions of Central Africa, aud determining the location and character of the several sources of the Nile. Two maps accompany the letters, and illustrate the various routes and explorations made by Stanley since the date of the dispatches which were received from him In October, 1876. The letters are dated from Ujiji, on the the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, and on the 7th. 10th and 18th of August, 1876, respectively. After exploring the hitherto unknown region between Lakes Victoria and Albert N’yanza, and discovering the great River Kageera, which flows into the Victoria N’yanza from the southwest, Stanley took a southerly route toward Ujiji, the place where he first met Livingstone. In the course of his journey he discovered Lake Windermere, an enlargement of the Kageera, and also a body of water which he named Kageera Lake. But by the ferocious hostility of the natives of the region called the Warundi, and being brought to the verge of starvation, Stanley was forced to retire into a more hospitable country and abandon for the time being the further exploration of the Kageera and its wonderful valley, and his efforts to reach the southern eud of Lake Albert N’yanza. Pursuing his course toward Ujiji, Stanley crossed into the country of Unyam. wesi, and, after traversing its ridgebroken expanse, reached his destination in safety. The details of this perilous journey are given in his letter. After fitting together and launching the exploring boat Lady Alice, which rendered such good service on Lake Victoria N’yanza, Stanley commenced his survey of Lake Tanganyika. Starting from 'Ujiji, he made a complete circumnavigation of the lake, ahd verified many observations made on that portion whidli he had previously visited and explored in company with Dr. Livingstone. Stanley has settled the question of the River Lukuga, which Cameron supposed, was the outlet of Lake Tanganyika toward the west and into the system of lakes which form the headwaters of the Lomame or Lualaba of Livingstone. Stanley’s letters indicate that Cameron was both right and wrong with regard to the character of the Lukuga River. At presseut it is only a creek, running inland through a deep depression, which extends westward for a great distance. But the lake, bv constantly Increasing its area and risifig In level, will eventually find an outlet through the Lukuga River. Stanley’s Investigations on and around Lake Tanganyika are most curious aud complete. At the northern end of the lake he found a spacious gulf, which will henceforward be Known to geographers as “ Burton Gulf,” after the celebrated African explorer of that name. In his second letter Stanley describes some very important discoveries respecting the Kageera River, which empties into Lake Victoria N’yanza on its western side. He attaches vast importance to this stream as a feeder of the great lake. He compares the ShTmeeyu, which flows into the Victoria N’yanza from the vast swampy regions southeast of the lake, through whiqh he first /approached its shores, to the River Thames, but the Kageera to the Thames and Severn combined.

The purity and color of the water of the Kageera, he declares, indicate that it rises either far to the westward of Lake Tanganyika or that its course is interrupted by a lake, where the waters are purified as in a' neat settling basin. Stanley’s investigations go to prove the existence of such a lake of considerable extent, and Which is known by several names. To the river and lake Stanley gives the name of “ Alexandra,” in honor of the Princess of Wales. " r^'~~Twr r He proves that the Egyptian Nile is the issue of the united Blue and White Niles, the former flowing from die mountalnpus region of AbysSima and the latter from the equatorial lake system. The White Nile is the issue of Lake Albert N’yanza, which derives its waters from the vast watershed that immediately surrounds it. The Victoria Nile is the Issue of Lake Victoria N’yanza, which is fed by numerous rivers, such as the Shimeeyu, the Duma, thC Kuana. The Kageera or Lower Alexandra Nile issues from Alex* anara Lake, which latter body of water is fed from sources yet unexplored. The natives say that Lake Alexandra is two days’ canal sailing in width, and lies beyond the mountains of Ugufu. It is called by them N’yanza Chu N’gonia. Stanley’s latest letter, dated UjijL Aug. 18, reports an outbreak Of small-pox and fever in the district. This visitation obliges him to prepare for an early departure from the place. He proposes to cross the Country to N’yangwe, westward of the northern end of Lake Tanganyika and on ihe Lualaba or Webb’s River. He will there determine on his final course.— London {Marsh 12) Dispatch to N. T. Harold: —A New York doctor says that a person with a sore throat, shouldn’t kiss one whose throat is sit right, as the complaint can be communicated. Girls with sore throats should wear a bell. Taut man who takes the most interest in his business—the money-lender.— Bottom Commercial Bulletin.

Snake-Charmers' Humbugs.

One by one science is annihilating every notion which ascribes to any person or class of persons phenomenal powers. Dr. Fayrer, in his splendid and valuable work “The Thanatophida of India,” says that the famous East Indian snake-charm-ers are impostors, and that he bap repeatedly detected them in attempting, by subtle impositions and olevor acting, to delude looltera-on into the belief that they were dealing with veritable wild Snakes, when all the time the dancing cobras that made their appearance at the sound of the pipe were some of their own tame snakes, placed in certain spots beforehand. These professional snake-catchers are many of them, in addition to their regular vocation, most expert Jugglers, and exceeding adroit at al? kinds of sleigbt-of. hand tricks. It is their constant practice to “ turn down ” a few tame snakes in a garden hedge or somewhere close in the vicinity of a house they intend paying a visit to, ere they present themselves before the sahib, the owner of the premises; and then, with every appearance of good faith, the rascals request permission to be allowed to clear the compound of snakes; at the same time stipulating for a reward, perhaps one rupee a head for every snake they succeed in catching. If the gentleman of the house should happen to be a griffin, or new-comer, likely enough he ?yill be induced to lend an ear to so plausible a request, and at length promise these crafty rogues so' much for epch snake they succeed in catching. Boon, to his horror and amazement, hideous ser. pents of various dimensions are produced, one from the straw in an empty stall in the stables, another frdm the'garden hedge, and so on; till at last, perhaps, the fraud is carried too far and discovered.

Dr. Fayrer states that certain' descriptions of serpents—chiefly of the genus nqja —most undoubtedly are susceptible to, and in a measure become fascinated on hearing, musical sounds. “ I have constantly seen,” he says, “ tame snakes in the possession of snake-catchers, on hearing the sound of the pipe, erect themselves and sway their heads from side to side, and beyond a doubt show pleasure at the strain; but I have never once seen a wild snake go through the same performance; and 1 believe that only tame reptiles carried about in baskets and ‘ broken in’ for such an exhibition so conduct themselves. I have repeatedly offered snake charmers five rupees to bring out from its sanctuary, by means of music, a cobra known by me to be ‘ at home,’ but invariably all their efforts have been in vain.” There are many who actually believe in the efficaey of stones which, when applied to a snake bite, are supposed to withdraw the poison; but if such a very simple remedy were really effectual, and a genuine specific, the snake-stone cure would speedily be brougbt into universal use. “It would appear, however, that these people really prize these so-called stones, tor I have been present when money has been offered to them to part with one, but declined.”

Perhaps the strongest argument against this snake-stone cure is that these very men often themselves fall victims to the bite of the cobra, though at the time in possession of a stone which they assert to be capable of working a cure. Moreover, when these professional snakecatchers have to deal with an undoubtedly wild cobra in full vigor—although as a rale they display extraordinary pluck, skill and resolution in capturing it, and, on the first favorable opportunity-, will with wonderful quickness seize hold of and secure it—an attentive beholder cannot fail to remark the extreme caution and watchful management they display on first clutching hold of the animal, their whole demeanor and action differing unmistakably from the off-hand, careless manner which they assume when grasping one of their own harmless specimens; and it is an undoubted fact that these men really dread the consequences of a chance bite from a wild cobra quite as much as other mortals do, and are well aware that nothing can withdraw the deadly venom from a wound, or save life, when once the poison has mingled with the blood. But, even with all the remedies as vet known, including copious doses of brandy and ammonia, ana the immediate efforts of skilled surgeons, it is said to be told by men such as Dr. Fayrer, and others who have devoted time and energy to the subject, that there is almost no hope of saving life if the bite has been inflicted by one of the most venomous snakes in full health and vigor. —Scientific American.

How Petroleum is Found.

The Pennsylvania petroleum is found in anandstone formation fully 7,000 feet below the lowest coal measures, the Butler County oil-bearing rock lying fully 800 feet below the level of the sea. The general public entertain the idea that it is the result of the distillation of cdal; but scientists and practical operators deny any connection between the coal and oil measures. Hitherto science has afforded but little light upon the origin of rock oil, while operators have given more attention to processes for extracting it from the earth than to the investigation of the question as to how it came there. There are but few facts which wiH support any theory whatever, and these point to a product ot the decomposition ol aquatic plants and animals, as coal is the result of enormous deposits of vegetation. Other authorities have asserted that it is the result of distillation in the earth’s crust. As yet its origin is utterly undetermined. In foe winter of 1868-9, Col. E. L. Drake, of New Haven, Conn., started an artesian well on an island in Oil Creek, a small tributary of the Alleghany River. A neighboring spring had for a long time gjven out about twenty barrels of petroleum in each year, which had been bottled and sold sot medicinal purposes under the name ot “ Seneca Oil.” It was with a view of increasing this yield that tbe artesian well was started. In the latter part of August, 1859, the drill reached the oil-bearing rock at a depth of seventyone feet, and resulted in a yield of over 1,000 gallons per day. For centuries the Indians of that section had collected the oil from fce creek by spreading their blankets upon its surface, their labors being rewarded by small lots, with ffrhich they mixed their war paint, or which they burned to illumine their feasts and war dances. During these centuries no effort had been made to secure it in large quantities, and the first one to drill for the product had caused a glut in the market by producing twenty-five barrels per day. Bat subsequent events showed that Col. Drake bnilded greater than he knew. Its near resemblance to erode coal-oil —tile first product of the destructive distillation of coal—led manufacturers to subject petroleum to those same processes to which crude coal-oil was subjected in the manufacture of an illuminator, and in a day a demand for the product was created. From a daily yield of twenty, five barrels, 50,000 barrels production bas been reached and passed. From sales of

fifty-cant vials for corns, chilblains and rheumatism, transactions hare enlarged lo entire cargoes and are daily carried from our shores to every part of the globe. From seventy-one feat—the depth of the initial effort—the oil-driller of to-day sinks a shaft 1,700 feet deep—nearly one-third of a mile. Indeed, some wells have been drilled to a depth of nearly 8,000 feet Instead of a twenty-flve-barrel ” pumper,” the oil operator has sometimes been rewarded by a 8,000-barrel “spouter,",and one well on the Dougherty farm, nearPetrolia, flowed 4,800 barrels during the first twenty-four hours. From a product unknown among American exports, petrolettm arose In a deoade of rears to the third position, being surpassed only by grain and cotton. Between the inception of the industry (say 1860) and the beginning of the year just passed (1070} It has brought Into the United States more than 1400,000,000 in gold—almost equal, if the heavy premium on gold during the civil war do considered, to the entire amount of the circulating medium of the Nation, including the Treasury notes and National Bank circulation. From serving at feasts and orgies of savages it has arisen to the foremost position in the world as an illuminator, and now enters millions of households, carrying humanizing and civilizing effects which can hardly be estimated. From Col. Drake, the solitary op. crator of 1859, with his single assistant, the number reoeiving employment from drilling has increased to 8,000 men, while those who derive support from pnmping, refining and transporting petroleum, together with the mechanics, salesmen and clerks employed in various dependent industries, and among whom may be included machinists and manufacturers of barrels, boilers, drilling tools, chemicals* {;lue, lamps and the like, would form a arger army than won for us American independence. Nor is the sudden growth of this industry the most remarkable event in its career. Colossal fortunes have been made and dissipated by dealing in a staple which has ever been subject to the most violent of fluctuations in prices. Crude oil has sold as high as sl4 per barrel at the wells when demand has exceeded the supply, and, when the scales turned contra, ten cents per barrel has darkened the hopes of producers. Wonderful improvements have been made in all branches of the industiy, and Yankee ingenuity has been taxed to the utmost. It took Col. Drake eight mouths to drill seventy-one feet in 1858-9; but in 1876 Mr. Charles 8. Clark drilled over 1,500 feet in twentyeight days, the usual time being six or eight weeks. In the refining oranch Seat improvements have been effected. any will remember the dark color of oil turned out by refiners in early days. Its offensive odor made even the presence of a lamp an objectionable feature in any rtom, while the fumes arising from a burning lamp were almost unbearable. Crusted wicks and smoky chimneys attested the imperfections of the refiner’s art, annoyed the thrifty housewife and contrasted strongly with the pore waterwhite color of the premium safety oil, its freedom from odor and its superior burning qualities. Again, the volatility of the liquid made its confinement difficult, even in the most skilfully-prepared barrels. Oftentimes a lot of oil would shrink twenty, and sometimes even fifty, per cent, while being transported to the retailer. A day’s exposure on a platformcar or at a freight depot, in a hot buu or a searching wind, would make sad havoc with the dealer’s profits; or it might be carefully placed by the side of a hogshead of sugar, only"to escape from itsbarrel and quietly take up quarters in the hogshead with its neighbor.— Boston Transcript.

Death of a Remarkable Woman.

Mrs. Mary Patton, who died of Thursday night last, at her residence in Bridge street, of heart disease, was the Widow of Capt. Patton, of the old clipper ship Neptune’s Car, which was made no less famous than the lady herself by the part which she played aboard it in 1856. The vessel sailed from New York for California in the summer of 1856, with a cargo worth $1,000,000, and Mrs. Patton accompanied ber husband, who had command. When a few weeks out the first mate was put in irons for attempting to incite a mutiny, and as the other two mates were ill with fever, the entire responsibility fell immediately upon the Captain. Worn out with his arduous duties, he too fell ill with congestion of the brain, ana when Cape Horn was reached, he was stark mad. His wife, who was then but twenty-one years old, had learned navigation, and acquired quite a knowledge of seamanship, on her wedding trip, made aboard the Neptune’s Car, three years before, when Capt. Patton secured the permission of the owners for his bride to accompany him upon his year and a half’s voyage around the world. In this emeigency her skill was brought into full play. Hhe took command and sailed the ship safely into Ban Francisco, on Nov. 13, 1856, having tenderly nursed her husband as well. The New York Board of Underwriters presented her with a purse of $1,900, and parties who were interested in the Neptune’s cargo made a further contribution ofst,soo. The death of Capt. Patton occurred shortly after, and she moved to Boston, returning subsequently to New York. For tbe lsst five years she has lived in this city. She was forty-one years of age when she died.—Brooklyn Union and Argus- ■—.. .. - i

The Difference.

They were pretty, and there was apparently five or six years’ difference in their ages. As the train pulled up at Bussey, out on tho A., K. & D., the younger girl blushed, flattened her nose nervously against the window, and drew back in joyous smiles as a young man came dashing into the car, shook hands tenderly and cordially, insisted on carrying her valise, magazine, little paper bundle, and would probably have carried her had she permitted him. The passengers smiled as she left the car, and the murmur went rippling through the coach, "They’re engaged.” The other girl sat looking nervously out of the window, and once or twice gathered her parcels together as though she would leave the car, yet seemed to be expecting some one. At last he came. He bulged into the door like a house on fire, looked along. the seats until his manly gaze fell on her upturned, expectant face, roared, “Come on! I’ve been waiting for you on the platform filleua minutes 1" grabbed her basket and strode out of foe car, while she followed with a little valise, a bandbox, a paper bag foil of lunch, a bird-cage, a glass Jar foil of jelly preserves and an extra shawl. And a crazy-looking old bachelor In foe further end of foe car croaked out, in unison with foe indignant looks of foe passengers, “They're married I” —Burlington Hawk-Eye. —A sinful Rochester girl acknowledge* that she goes to church on purpose to flirt.

FACTS AND FIGURES.

Some one has estimated that each person on the flpbt wquld receive two dollars If all the gold was parceled out, .: i t The amount Of gold coined la the Sen 857 400* Tun Banker and TrdAeoman gives It u its opinion that it wiH be imposeible to resume specie payments by Jan. I, 1879. Calling the present atoek of gold in the oountry $150,000,000, it thinks there will lie required a further accumulation of $250,000,000, $400,000,000 in ail, before specie payments can be resumed. TMn latent official statistics spow that France baa a population of more than 36,000,000. Of these 87,927 are Mind, ahd 29*512 are deaf and dumb—making an average of one blind person in every 900, ana oqe deaf and dumb person fir every 1,220. In Paris alone there she 7,sss lunatics, while in all France there are i7,128 insane men and 14,964 insafie wdmen. The Railway Age makes the startling statement that, during the year 1876, thirty railroads, operating 8,846 miles of railway, and having $217,848,000 of securities, were sold under foreclosure. Fiftysix other roads, operating 10,883 miles, and having stock and bonds of the nominal value of $094,061,000, Were ordered into charge of receivers, or subjected to proceedings for foreclosure on default made prior to 1870 v or default daring that year. And even these enormous figures are supposed to fall below the truth. A thousand million dollars lost in financial disaster to railways in a single year! The import trade of .England' has remained stationary for four years, as far as values are concerned. .It »waa in ,1876 £374,003,771. Her export trade has fallen off one-fifth in the same time, being in 1876 £200,575,856. The quantity of goods handled was, however, a little larger than usual, showing that the principal trouble was the fall of prices all over the world. The Pall MaU Gazette finds encouragement in the state of England’s trade, Us follows: “If, however, our export trade is doomed to fall off, it ought surely to be a consoling and not a discouraging reflection that our import trade shows no falling. The,export trade Is, after all, a test of the condition of our foreign customers. The import trade indicates the condition of our own fellow-countrymen. ’ ’ A rapid penman can write thirty words in a minute. To do this he must draw bis quill through the space of a rod—sixteen feet and a half. In forty minutes his pen travels a furlong, and in live hours And a third, a-mile. We make on akaverage sixteen curves or turns of the pen in writing each word. Writing thirty words Aminute, we must make 480 curves to each minute; in an hoar, 28,800; in a day of only fiYe hours, 144,000, and in a year of 800 days, 43,200,000. The - man who-makes 4,000,000 strokes with a pen It? a month is not at all remarkable. Many men,' newspaper men, for instance, make 4,000,000. Here we have, in the aggregate, a mark 300 miles long, to be traced on paper by each writer in a year. In making each letter of the ordinary alphabet, we most make from three to seven strokes of "the pen—on an average, three and a half to four. How much better, therefore, would it be to dispense with tbe present unwieldly and tedious form of writing, and tbe phonographic system, in which lines and curves represent consonants and dots vowels; and by which a skilled Writer Can write as high as 200 words a miqute. —Exchange.

An Earnest Life.

Earnestness does not always ihove with a clatter. There are other things in this world vfhich are quite as pleasant and edifying as foe rub-a-dub-dub of a snare drum. In fact this kind of melody is not generally the highest style of. music. Have you never known a man 'bustling and' officious, and cl&moroaa and loud, but who did not weigh heavy, after all—a thing veiy well understood by everyone except just foe man who might have profited by that piece of infonpstion. And have you never known a. man quiet and unostentatious and faithful, and who was a perpetual blessing, a golden man, deep-souled and true, whose memory lingered long after he was gone, like- light upon the hill after a gorgeous sunset? The shallow stream rattles along ita course, but when Kis met and "drowned by the majestic tides rolling in .Jftan the seas, there is silence on foe hills. In foe great tide there is the power of more than a hundred rivulets, yet its coming is almost as quiet as the celestial forces that bring it. The tide fldws down ami shallow grows the stream, and again foe empty clattering goes on. And this is what we wish to say: that things most potent, although demonstrative, as indeed they most be from their effects, are not necessarily noisy. A strong and earnest life need not make what people are in the habit of calling “ a foss.” It is better to be known by foe lead that strikes than b the bang of the gun that sends \t.—Ex thongs. --—.‘ i ' - ■ V

Slide Off.

It k always in order to begin * little story of foe affections with foe remark that the course of true love never did run smooth: the maxim k trite and true, and justified by centuries of usage. It applies to a recent incident at a) little place called Casey Station, ip Tennessee. There lived near foe station a family with a blooming daughter; "and, as a matter of course, there was a young man around who loved foe blooming daughter and whom the blooming daughter loved. It Is to be regretted that testimony cannot be borne as to foe good taste of the blooming daughter, but the facts must he told, ana it is necessary to state fofat the young man in foe case was addicted to the flowing bowl to excess. The fafoer in foe case was opposed to foe marriage of foe lovers, and the gjrl finally yieldea to her lover’s persuasions and "eloped with him. The two went to Union City so get married, but couldn’t, because they had no license. Meanwhile the irate parent arrived upon tbe scene. There was a quarrel, and foe young man gotdrunk. The fafoer was on a mule, anaTtakingbis daughter up behind him, started for home. The lover was on hand, and not too much inebriated to be senseleraof his loss. He could not follow on foot, but could yoU, and did so: “Martha, if you love me, slide off!” Whereupon foe girl dipped off as though the mule was greased. Again die waa put up, and 'they were about to leave, when he said again, u No#, Martha, yon are twenty.throe. and If ycm.lqyeme, dide off!” And again she slipped off. The third tiine her fafoer held l her on, and would not let her " dide off j" his heeta were dug into foe sides of foe mule, and foe lover waa left lamenting with a dkIffiS&'TftSti 'SUi'SJSItI true love, anyhow.— St. Untie Republican.