Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1877 — Page 6

The Boiling Lake on the Island of Dominica.

«**« out of Roee*a and set oar horses’ Leeds sad our owcroutward, in quest of tbe "Boiling Lake.” Our way led flrst up the beautiful Boeeeu Valley, with Us deep ctlfls and overshadowing wood*, mingled with the bright yellow of ripening cene fields and the darker foliage of oocoa or coflVe plantations, with small Karopean residences or negro huts peeping out here and there, till we came in sight of the great waterfalls, each a hundred feet tn height, by which the waters of the Roseau River «g* themselves headlong from the central range. Higher and higher wo climbed the mountain side, amid that scenery which description has so often attempted, but can fever realize for those Who have not themselves witnessed it—the scenery of the West Indian tropics, whsre the nohlest forest growth that fancy can picture, mixed with tree-fern and palm, over canopies, bank and dell, thick nitilted with fern, golden, silver maidenlair. every lovely variety of leaf and tint, amid red-flowered ballsier*, Vhite-blos-aomed arums, and a thousand other gems of Flora’s crown, the whole lit up by the purest sunlight, and glittering as it waved in the glad morning breeze. As the ground continued to rise, the forest trees diminished in height and size, while, on the contrary, tnc undergrowth of bush, often troublesome from its thorns and prickles, continued to Increase till we reached the margin of a deep ravine, down which a rapid stream rushed on its wny to join the Roseau River. Here the character of our inarch changed, the continuous slope np which we had climbed thus far giving place to a succession of the abruptest gullies that it has ever been my lot to traverse. * • * A little further «m we plunged again into a labyrinth of small trees thickly planted in a deep layer of decaying vegetable matter, intermixed with slender bamboo tufts, where we were hardly able to make ih» rifflit direction of our liath amid the maze of green young trunks, till from in front a light suddenly broke in on us, us though there was nothing but open sky before, and so. in ledtfn wss. All At Once, with hardly a warning, we stepped uut of the continuous forest right upon the edge of a sheer precipice several hundred feet in height; while below us lay a huge valley, or rather gulf, reeking in every part* with thick, white sulphur >vapors that rose from the depths and curled up the bare sides of the abyss. Holding on to each olhc.’s hands, or to the shrubs Chat grew nearest the edge, we leaned over as far as we dared, gazing down into the steamy chasm below, and resembling in a very general wsy the Dantes sod Virgils of Flaxman’s statuesque outline, where they bend over the margin of Male bolge, it may be, or of the awful bridge Chat spans the flaming gulf. The “Black Country” of Wolverhampton notoriety is a weird place, and suggests weird ideas enough, whether traversed by night or by aty; but it Is “ mild domestic” compared to Nature’s own “ White Country,” the sulphur region of Dominica. A world like this abandoned to volcanic agencies, as the moon 4s supposed to have been at some unlucky opoou of her existence, would be a more fitting abode than even the most biblical Babylon for the satyrs, dragons and other doleful creature# of the prophet, a throne for Arimeces himself. We clambered tor an hour or so, first across a knife-like dividing ridge, and then among the broken lioilows of a second crater or tovfiriere, considerably larger in dimensions than the first, but ataaparativety quiescent; a silent, burnt out region of ash and sulphur, surrounded by high bare walls of pumice and volcanic crag. Little steam was here visible, nor were any explosions to be heard from underneath; but the many streams of white, yellow, red or black water that pierced and furrowed the spongy crust in every direction wore all hot, and told of fires yet :moidering at no great distance •below. In front of us rose a bare ridge •of heaped-up pumice and ash, shafting ofi the southerly segment of the great -crater as though with a partition wall; ..and, Irom behind its range, vast columns «*f steam whitened against the dazxling •blue of the cloudless sky. We took the intervening barrier at a run, and checked ouraoives short at the top; a few steps more would have sent us head foremast into the boiling lake.

▲ strange sight to see, and not leas awful than strange. Fenced in by steep, mostly, indeed, perpendicular, banks, varying from sixty to a hundred feet high, cut out in ash and pumice, the lake rages and roan like a wild beast in its cage; the surface, to which such measurements as we coaid make assigned about two hundred yards in length by more than half •the same amount m breadth, is that of a giant seething cauldron, covered with .rapid steam,"through which, when the .veil is for a moment blown apart by the •mountain breeze, appears a confused mass of tossing waves, crossing and clashing in every direction—a chaos of boiling waters. Toward the center, where the ebullition is at its fiercest, geyser-like masses are being constantly thrown up to die height of several feet, not on one exact spot, but shifting from side to side, each fresh burst being preceded by a noise like that of a cannon fired off at some great depth below, while lesser Jets often suddenly make their appearance nearer the sides of the lake. What the .general depth of water may be would be Difficult to ascertain; but a line stretched out over the edge from the ead of a pole indicates a sheer descent of fifty or sixty feet within a couple of yards’ distance from foe shore. The heat of the water, where it beats in seething restlessness on the cliff, is 185 deg. F.; we tied a thermometer to a stick and found the surface temperature at the distance of a few. feet further on to be almost 300 deg. F. The height of the lake above the sea ia a little over 2,400 feet, an elevation which at an average atmosphere temperature of 84 deg. gives the boiling point for water at 907 deg. F., or near it The Take is evidently supplied for the most part from springs within its own circuit; but a little stream, formed by the union of two small mountain rivulets, runs down from the heights to toe nsrto; the water of the brook is cold, and may con. tribute aomewhtt, especially in toe rainy the highest'wider line along the** clifik[ marked partly by erosion, partly by a bright yellow band of sulphur deposit, was it the epoch of oar visit, that is, at toe •conclusion of the dry season in Dominica, only a few Inches above toe actual water level, an additional proof that the lake is almost wholly supplied from below. Is fact, the principal effect of a heavy rain shower or an argumeated inflow is •hhl to ha a sodden increase in toe violence of the surface action, the result doubtless pf the shock produced by the meeting of IklJ torremC by the stones and earth

brought down with it in its descent, has formed a slope which, though sleep, permits of s cautious approach to the water’s edge; everywhere else the cliffs are absolutely perpendicular, bat gradually leaeen In height toward the southern extremity, where a gate-like rest has been formed, through which the waters rush out in a scalding torrent and hear their heat with them far down the mountain sides, as they seek the Eastern Sea at Mulatto Point. No vegetation, except the dreary clusia with a aingy kind of mess, and not more cheerful looking growth of pitcairnia, exists within the immediate range of the heated sulphurous vapors; but on looking round we see the farther background closed in by noble forests. Here we remained, as long as prudence and the mindfiilness of the long and difficult route that lav behind us permitted, in wondering delignt; tried to walk round the lake along the cliffs, but could not manage it; took measurements; tested the heat of the water; irritated the geyserlike action, where not too far from tbe margin, by throwing down stones, which were followed, after nearly a minute’s interval by the usual result of a more violent ebullition than customaiy; and, lastly, attempted sketches from several points of view; but found tbe attempt to be a Eursuit of art under difficulties, amid the finding steam and pungent vapor.—Macmillan't Magazine.

A Mouse Killed by a Music.

The following strange facts I have often related to friends, who, after hearing the story, have asked me to send the facts to some paper. This being Monday—ministers’ play-day —I will divert my mind by giving you the following account of the writer's experience in killing a mouse by music. Thera are five or six living who were eyewitnesses of tho death scene of that poor mouse. It was in the spring of 1872, when I was pursuing my studies at Ceuter College, Danville, Ky. At one time during the fall previous an attempt was made by sobs® tsfiscroasts-to bi'-m JiLc nfiw and splendid college building, which was then advancing toward completion. Tbe dastardly attempt was a failure, through lack of kindling wood, to give it a good start. For the security of the building I was given a small room in it, w here soon I took up my abode. Imaginations of the building burning down over my head some night, while asleep, gave me a few wakeful nights. Furnished with an old carbine by Mr. J , I loaded it two-thirds full of beans, com and fine shot. With that behind the door I sett quite safe, and began to sleep soundly. Being alone, I became interested in a couple of mice which frequented my room. They lived in a small closet adjoining, and when in the evenings I would play on my violin the little creatures would come forth from their hiding-place and sit down in the shadow of the stove, on their haunches, holding up their paws like a squirrel eating. At first I thought they were eating, but soon found to mv sur prise they were not eating, but only listening. To be certain of this, I would occasionally stop playing, and make an attempt to move, when they would scamper away, but return again as soon as I commenced playing. Having chased them in and played them out as often as five or six times in one evening, and they always taking the same position every time, I became thoroughly convinced that it was the music they were after. I began to tell friends of the amusement I was having with the mice. They would all smile an incredulous answer. I played for my little companions some three weeks, and they enjoyed it so much, and so did I. I often noticed two things: 1. That high piercing notes or sounds seemed to give them pain: as evidence of this, they would turn their heads to one side and shrug their shoulders. 2. That having remained afew minutes under the sound or influence of music upon approaching them, they' seemed stupid, slowly running away. During the three weeks’ playing for them, one of them attempted more than once to crawl up my pants leg while I was playing. One evening I invited some gentlemen to my room to plav with me ana witness the capers of the mice. The gentlemen having arrived, and we were all seated round the room, I turned the light of the lamp low, and said: “ Boys, be quiet now through the whole scene, without speaking a word nor laughing out, and I’ll call my mice out, and let you see what they’ll do.” In a moment all was stiil. I began to play softly the Nattali Waltz. Presently the mice came and took their usual posi tion on the floor, holding up their little paws. This performance was so funny, they all laughed right out. It was now proposed that we all play. We had four instruments—two violins, a flute and violoncello. We played one piece, and it seemed to have a new charm for the mice. It was agreed then that we play four pieces through without stopping. This would take about ten minutes or more. The word was given, and we were off. Presently the mice appeared for the last time to perform their tragedy. When the pieces were all played through, all was silence again. After a few momenta of perfect quiet, I made a noise with my foot on the floor. The mice were motionless. I rose and advanced toward them, when one of them crawled stupidity and slowly away; the other I carefully paced on my open hand and carried it to the light*and while we were yet looking at it sitting on my hand, it aropped over dead. Its mate I never saw after that evening.— Ben. 8. V. White, in Interior, Chicago.

A Snake in the Stomach.

Ok Wednesday of last week the wife of a prominent citizen of Jackson discharged a snake, that, for some time previous, had made its abode in her stomach. The reptile was ten inches long and is large around as the third finger of a man’s hand of ordinary size. It was in a decaying condition when expelled, and appeared as if decomposition had been going on for some time. It was unquestionably a genuine snake, well defined as to head, eyes, mouth, in fact a sure-enough snake out and out. -, The lady is fifty-seven years old, and for nearly half that period has been the victim of dyspepsia, the disease fluctuating, at times leaving her comparatively well, then again entirely prostrated. Since Christmas she has been confined to her room, most of the time in hud. For six months previous to the expulsion of the reptile she contended with her physician ana the members of her family that there was a snake in her stomach. She could feet It crawling about, could detect a spiral motion at times, as if coiling and uncoiling itself. The reptile was always more lively In its movements a short time after food had passed into the stomach, at these times changing its position rapidly, and causing the victim the .most unpleasant sensations of both mind and body—producing nausea, heartburn, and a slight distension of the stomach.— Jadoon (Tmn.) (ks. *

The Inventor of Railroads.

B'range as it may now seem, not farther back than 1820, there was not a railroad in existence. Mow they form an iron net-work over this country and Europe, and have almost annihilated apace, in like manner aa the magnetic telegraph has almost annihilated time. Doubtless most people, in these times of universal intelligence and universal travel, are well acquainted with the progress of railroads; but how few there are who can tell us anything of the author or inventor of that wonder of the nineteenth centuty —the railway system. It too, with the author of the great and useful inventions of the age. How little is generally known of Whitney, the inventor of the cottongin, of Watt, of Fulton, and a hundred other ingenious men, whose inventions have made the age what it is; their works live after them, and are likely to live for centuries; but their names, by a seeming ungratefulness of the age, are suffered to sink almost into oblivion. Neither Whitney nor Fulton have even a statue among us to perpetuate their memories; and as to the author of railroads, there may not be twenty persons in the United States who ever heard his name, although he is still living.

About half a century ago, the exact year is not known, there was born at Leeds, in England, a man named Thomas Gray; scarcely anything more than this is known of his early history. He was, we believe, a poor collier; and being very ingenious, he conceived the idea of facilitating the transportation of coal from Middletown Colliery to Leeds, a distance of three miles, by means of a sort of railway which he constructed of wood. Upon this his cars moved along at the rate of three miles and a half an hour, to the great merriment of a wise and diserminating public, who laughed at tbe idea of a railway as something very visionary, and as the mere suggestion of laziness. Poor Gray thought otherwise. Magnificent visions of future railroads, such as are now stupendous realities, loomed up before him, and he began to talk in public of a general system of iron raiirdsds. He was sf goursc taagboUat, and declared a visionary, moon-struck fool. But the more Gray contemplated his little railway for coals, the more firmly did he believe the practicability and immense usefulness of his scheme. He saw in it all that is now realized, and he resolved, in spite of the ridicule, the sneers and rebuffs that were heaped upon him, to prosecute his great undertaking. He petitioned the British Parliament, and sought interviews with all the great men of the Kingdom; but all this had no effect, except to bring down upon him, wherever he went, the loud sneers and ridicule of all classes. Still he persevered, anir at length he engaged the attention of men of intelligence and influence, who finally embraced his views, urged his plans, and the grand results are now before the world. Thomas Gray, the inventor of railroads, who not longer ago than 1820, was laughed at for even mentioning the idea of them, still lives in Exeter, England, in the full realization of all his grand and noble railroad schemes, for which he was declared ini sane. How much has the world been benefited by his insanity! But the world is still that same ungrateful, soulless thing it always was. What has it done for Thomas Gray ? An English writer thus speaks of him: ‘‘Up to 1846 he had been neglected. While thousands had been enriched upon the consummation of his brilliant schemes, he remained forgotten —forced to sell glass on commission for a living.” Howitt, a few years age, gave a somewhat lengthy sketch of bis career, thus bringing him into public notice. We have seen nothing in print in relation to him lately. Elliott wrote a great truth in these words: How many who lived to bless mankind Have died unthanked? , How many of the railway projectors, agitators, stockholders, etc., have ever heard of the subject of this sketch ?rRailimy Age. ■

A Mountain Romance—Singular Family History.

Tne discovery of two former inmates of the Delaware County Poor-House living together ia the woods of Wayne County, Penn., has recalled one of the most singular family histories ever recorded. In 1854, Lucy Ann Lobdell, daughter of an old lumberman living on the Delaware in the vicinity of Long Eddy, was married to a raftanan named Henry Slater. Mrs. Slater was seventeen years old, and was known far and wide for her wonderful skill in shooting the rifle, not only at the target, but at deer and other game, for which the Delaware Valley was then famous. After a year of married life Slater deserted his wife and babe a few weeks old, and has never been heard of since. Mrs.. Slater’s parents were very poor, and objected to her making her home with them. She accordingly placed her child in their charge, and laying aside the habiliments of her sex, donned male apparel, and adopted the life of a hunter. The mountains of Delaware, Sullivan and Ulster Counties, in this State, and the Delaware River counties of Pennsylvania, were at that time almost unbroken wildernesses. For eight years Mrs. Slater made her home in their midst, roaming alone over the vast territory, and finding shelter only in rude cabins which she erected here and these. She made her appearance at the settlements only when in need of ammunition or supplies, exchanging skins and game tor what she required. Her wild life was one of thrilling adventure and privation, and it was not until she was broken down in body and mind by its hardships that she returned to the haunts of civilization. Her narrow escapes from death by wounded bear, panther and deer, and her sufferings from cold, hunger and sickness. during her eight years’ life in the woods, she recorded in a book entitled “ The Life and Adventures of Lucy Ann Lobdell, the Female Hunter of Long Eddy.” She also records in this book that site "killed 168 deer, seventythree bears, one panther and numberless quantities of small game of the glade,” in toe time noted. When she returned to Long Eddy she pnt cm woman's clothing. She had grown prematurely old, and was but a wreck of toe young backswoods favorite of a few years before. Her child had been placed in toe workhouse at this place, and after wandering about toe valley for some months she became an inmate of that institution also. Hot long afterward toe child was adopted into the family of a Wayne County (Pa.) farmer. The mother remained in toe poor-house, and became yearly more miserable and wretched. In the winter of 1888 Marie Louise Perry, daughter of a well-to-do and respectable family living near Boston, eloped with a young man named James Wilaoo. The young lady bad bat recently graduated from one of toe Boston schools, and was about nineteen years old. Wilson

was a rallied employe. The couple went to Jersey City, and were married. In the spring of the same year Wilson deserted his wife, and went to parts unknown in company with a Mins Hall, daughter of his landlady. His wife learned that they had taken the Erie Railway west, and she resolved to follow them, hoping to dia cover their whereabouts. She stopped at towns slong the road, and when she reached Lordville, in this county, her money was exhausted, and she was taken sick with fever, and was removed to tbe poor-house at this place at her own request. The above Wss substantially her story. Having recovered her health at this place, it was supposed that Mrs. Wilson would at once communicate to her relatives and return to her home in Massachusetts ; but she had made the acquaintance of Lucy Ann Slater, and, inexplicable as it may seem, the two formed a mutual aflection so strong that they refused to be separated, notwithstanding the great difference in their character, habits and antecedents. In the spring of 1889 both Lucy Ann and Mrs. Wilson disappeared from the County House, and were not heard of in two years. During that year a couple calling*themselves the Rev. Joseph Israel Lobdell and wife appeared in the mountain villages of the western part of Monroe County, Pa.* For two years they roamed about that region, living in caves in the woods, and subsisting on berries, roots, and the charity of the people, until they became so great a nuisance that they were arrested in Jackson township, and committed to Stroudsburg jail. While in jail the discovery that the Rev. Mr. Lobdell was a woman was made, and soon afterward a raftsman from this section chanced to be in Stroudsburg, and informed the authorities that their prisoners were the missing paupers from Delhi. The Penn sylvania authorities returned them to their old quarters in this place forthwith. They remained here some time, when they again ran away, and have since been roaming about in Pennsylvania, living ini huts ana juxdL iaihi aml county houses. A gentleman from this place being at Aldenville, Wayne County, Pa., a few days since found the pair domiciled in a bark hut near that place, and were known as man and wife. When their identity became known, the straDge fact was developed that a lady who had been particularly charitable to the couple was years ago engaged to be married to Lucy Ann, the latter having spent some months near Bethany dressed as a man. Her sex was discovered accidentally, and she had to fly the place in the night to escape being tarred and feathered. This was a short time before she entered the poor-house at Delhi. There is on record now in the courts of Wayne County a document that was drawn by Mrs. Wilson, the companion of Lucy Ann, it being a petition for the release of her “ husband, Joseph L. Lobdell,” from jail, on account of his” failing health. The pen used by the writer was a stick whittled to a point and split: the ink was pokeberry juice. The writing is faultless, and the language used a model of clear, correct and argumentative English—a really superior piece of composition, showing that the writer, now a voluntary outcast and the associate of an insane woman, is highly educated, and capable of adorning the best circles. Mary Slater, the daughter of the strange being whose history has been briefly given, has not escaped her share of misfortune. Growing to attractive womanhood in the family of the kind farmer who rescued her from the life of a pauper, she incurred the hatred of a young man named Kent, who sought her hand in marriage and was refused for another. In August, 1871, he planned and accomplished ben abduction, one dark, stormy night. She was drugged, grossly maltreated, and thrown into the Delaware River, near Coshocton. She was washed ashore on an island, where she was found in a semiconscious state, by a river man, next day. Taken to his house, she was restored to fife, but not to reason, and, unknown, she wandered into the woods, where she was found a raving maniac, and nearly dead from exposure and hunger, three days afterward, and restored to her friends.. She in time recovered her mental and bodily health, only to learn that the young man she was to marry was her half-broth-er, being the illegitimate son of her father, Heniy Slater, according to the testimony of people who professed to know. Kent, the fieadish abductor, although arrested and lodged in jail, managed to escape the justice he deserved. —Delhi (N. T.) Cop. N. T. Time*.

Anecdote of President Lincoln.

I called upon Mr. Lincoln soon after he was first installed in the White House. In the room where Mr. Lincoln granted interviews, etc., were several persons who were waiting their turn to speak with him. I listened to the requests of several men and women, and I saw that very few were granted what they solicited. I had a seat at or near the end of a long table. Mr. Lincoln sat at the other end. Boon after I was seated, in walked several officers of the Spanish Navy to pay their compliments to Mr. Lincoln. By some means they were directed toward my end of the table, and I saw they took me fox the President. Mr. Lincoln saw the same thing, and hastily signaled me to “-go ahead,” as he expressed it, and receive them. I rose, shook hands with each officer, and exchanged a few words with them, which would have been, I suppose, appropriate had I indeed been President The moment their backs were turned I looked to Mr. Lincoln. He was stalking with laughter. 1 thought now 1 had paved the way to the position I had come to ask. I made up my mind to address the President in a new way, and tons add to the hold I already had upon him. So, when my time came, I stepped up to Mr. Lincoln and said: “ Sir, I have seen, the annoyance to which you are subjected by so many and oftrepeated requests for innumerable positions, etc. Now, if von will permit me to shake hands, 1 will try aim smother my desire for a certain position which I had come to ask from you.” Mr. L. jumped up, and, grasping my hand, said: “ Sir, von are one man in a thousand. I am doubly indebted to,you. You have been the means of conveying to those Spanish officers that toe President of-the United States is a very handsome man, and then you do not even ask an office. But,” he added, ** hurry home. You may repent.” It is sufficient to add that I hurried.— Harper't Magmine. ; From 80,000 to 100,000 horns were weekly need in Aberdeen, Scotland, for comb-making until toe importation of cattle teas prohibited. The stoppage of supply has caused great stagnation. There are 800,000 bar-maids in Great Britain.

The Shortest Deed on Record.

Scrihnkr, for May, contains a paper of " Reminiscences of Washington,” train unpublished family records. Among the anecdotes of Washington there related is the following : In August, 1796, after a few delightful days spent with their distinguished relatives, Capt. Lewis relates that the following conversation took place at the breakfast table the morning fixed for their departure. % Washington was, as all the world knows, a man of few words, aod, while he quietly partook of his frugal meal, tho conversation flowed cheerlully on between the other members of the family (iresent. Suddenly his nephew turned, augbing, to him, and said: “ Uncle, what do you think I dreamed last night 7” The General replied he could not guess, and asked to be told. Oapt. Lewis, continuing to laugh merrily, replied; “ Why, I dreamed you gave me your farm on Deep Run." “Humph!” ejaculated his uncle. “You had better have dreamed I gave you Mount Vernon.” No more was Baid on the subject, and Capt. Lewis had quite forgotten his unmeaning dream as he placed his wife in the carriage, and bade his uncle and aunt good-by. Washington followed him to the carriage, and handed him a folded paper, saying, as lie did so: “You can look at that when you reach home.” Capt. Lewis received the paper in astonishment, but could make no reply, as the carriage now rolled swittly afvay. He might have felt in duty bound to suffer the pangs of curiosity until he reached home; but his wife bad no such conscientious scruples; she had not been forbidden to open it, and so she soon succeeded in gaining possession of tbe mysterious paper, and before Mount Vernon was lost in the distance she discovered the fact that they had left that modest dwelling much richer than they were when they entered it. Whether Washington had intended to bestow the Deep Run farm in his will upon his nephiviid u*ily hofliCiiGd ifet £***} or whether, with the quiet humor in which he rarely indulged, he thus proved the dream of which he had been told a practical reality, was never known. The deed is said to be the shortest on record, and is as follows: “ I do by these presents give, and (if Deed of Conveyance should notliave been made before) hereby oblige my heirs, Executors and Administrators to fulfill, all tbe Lands which I hold on Deep Run, or its branches in the County of Fauquier, unto my Nephew Robert Lewis and to his heirs or assigns forever. “Given under my hand and seal this 13th day of August, 1796. “ Go. Washington.” [szal.]

The Last Melody of Paul Pestal, the Russian Conspirator.

The Emperor Alexander was dead. His eldest brother, the Grand Duke Constantine, was his natural successor to the throne of Russia; bat, by a deed till then kept secret, Constantine, in Alexander’s lifetime, had renounced the crown in favor of his younger brother, Nicholas. The accession of the latter, therefore, exeited general surprise; an unsettled feeling manifested itself among the people and the army. The time appeared favorable for the breaking out of a conspiracy which had been forming for years. An insurrection took place at St. Petersburg on Chriatmay Day, 1825; but the movement of the conspirators was too hasty, and their attempt, not well seconded by the troops, failed through the energy ot the Czar. A hundred and thirty-six leaders of the insurrection were Seized, tried and condemned, and almost all of them were sentenced to perpetual labor or to exile in Siberia. The five principal chiefs were condemned to be broken on the wheel, but diff not undergo that horrible punishment, the gibbet being substituted by a ukase of the Emperor. Among these five chiefs the first and most remarkable was Paul Pestal, Colonel of the infantry regiment of Wiatka. The long and arduous task to whiieh he had d .voted himseli had not wholly engrossed the mind of this brave and persevering conspirator. Alive to the charms of the arts, he cultivated them with success, and, in particular, was an excellent musician. The young and beautiful Catherine W had conceived a devoted attachment to Pestal. Gifted with an exquisite voice, she loved to sing his melodies. The passion with which she inspired him was as fervent as her own, and if ever the deep conspirator could forget his gloomy reveries, it was when seated by Catherine’s side, and dreaming of love and happiness. On the eve of the day when the insurrection was to break out, Pestal, more preoccupied than usual, scarcely answered Catherine, aud at times seemed not to hear her. “What ails, you to-day, Paul?” she said, taking his hand. “ You do not look at me—you do not speak to me. I never saw you so cold, so absent, when you were with me.”

Paul looked at her sadly. “ What would you do. Cathexiae, were you never to see me again?” “ I should dial” cned Catherine, with enthusiasm ; and then added, in a voice of terror—“ Bat why this question, Paul? Can you toink of forsaking me?” Pestal wan silent. " But it cannot be,” said Catherine. " You have sworn to love me till death.” " Yes! While this heart beats it is yours, Catherine, but,” he added. em< bracing her with melancholy tenderness, “ promise me, if I die, tb&t yon will live for the sake of your old father, and that, even when dead, I shall never cease to occupy your thoughts.” “ I promise to live as long as my grief will allow. But of us two, Paul, it is not I who shall have this cruel trial to under go.” • “ There are presentiments that do not deceive,” said Pestal, declining his head on his breast; "an inward voice warns me that I must abandon my two happiest visions—the bliss of living in the enjoyment of yonr love, Catherine, and the glory of assuring the welfare of my countiymen.” "What do you mean?” cried the young girl, whose fear and agitation increased every minute; “what mean these mysterious words, these gloomy predictions? Paul, you are concealing a secret.’* “ Yes, Catherine.” “ A secret from me, who never had one from you 1” " You have had all mine—but this one does not belong to me." “ And, if I may judge from yonr looks, yonr words, your thoughts of death and parting, it must be something vCry terrible!” “Terrible indeed!” " After a moment’s silence, Pestal continned: “Hear me, Catherine, when I shall give yon, this evening, my farewell klm ft may, perhape, be toe lent you will receive from me. Bat whatever may be my

lot, whenever you are told ‘Paul indeed, Come, oml you shall find a remembrance of foe. Tor, I swear to youJMSast thought shall bo of you.” > •’’M Festal’* present!men^-did m deceive him i He saw Catherfoh Bo attire. The day afteyhe cyeoution qt his sentence a young girl, drowned in tears, obtained from the keeper of the pitaou the favor of being admitted to Pestai’scell. After a king search she discovered some fines of music penciled on the wai’. Above them wer* only the two Words, "For her!” Underneath was Paul’sttame. lunatic asylum, a poor maniac, whose madness consisted in singing, every-day and at the same boor, the same little melody. The madwoman was Catherine—the hour, that at which she was admitted to her lover’s dungeon—and the Mr" .was the last melody of Pestal.— Bngluhihan'e Domestic Magazine. ■

"Survival of the Fittest."

The ingenious doctrine propounded by Mr. Darwin, the tireless investigator ot nature and her lairs, is as appllcabteind.-terminlng the fate of medicine# as In tUal.of the animal species. Every yekr ncW,remedies are brought before the public, -and are* soon completely discarded as their sale rapidly decreases. Only those medicines which are best suited to the people’s wants survive the first test If they “are tried, and found wanting” in the merits which they are claimed to possess, no amount of advertising will make them popular. Of all the remedies ever introduced to the public, none are so popular as Dr. Pierce’s Family Medicines. Their sale has steadily increased tub year, aud wholesale druggists assert that the present demand for them is greater thin ever before. If you would patronize medicines scientifically prepared use Dr. Pierce’s Family Medicines. Golden Medical Discovery is alterative, or blood-cleansing, and an unequaled cough remedy; Pleasaut Purgative Pellets, scarcely larger than mustard seeds, constitute an agreeable and reliable physic; Favorite Prescription, a remedy for debilitated females; Extract of Smarts Weed, a magical remedy for pain, bowel complaints, and ah unequaled liniment for both human and horseflesh, while Ills Dr. Sage’s Catarrh Remedy is known the world over as thegrearestUpecitic for Catarrh and “ Cold in ths Head!’ ever given to the public. They arcsoldby'drug-

LUXURY ON THE RAIL.

Tbe Difference, -«i—-■ ,i[ We have been frequently asked: “ What Is the difference between a railroad dining car and a Pullman Hotel car ?” That thefo is » vast difference is well known by those who have had occasion to use either; but the untraveled public are not fully advised as to the points of difference. The old-fashioned railroad eating-house is, alas! too well known: its peculiar, hastily-eaten meals have been partaken of by too inuny thousands to he forgotten. The dining car, then, is this well-known catlng-houße placed on wheels, attached to the train at the usual meal hours, and hauled along for thirty, forty or sixty miles, until the meal has been served, when 1c is set off on a side-track, ar.l i# by the next train hauled back to its starting point, and sb it runs a few miles for each meal. To get meals in this car the passenger has to work his way through the train t chile it is under full motion— pass from car to car, running the risks of falling between the platforms—and finally finding the car at the rear of the train. Then comes the meal, which must be hurried through with to give chance for other hungry passengers to take your place, and you must force yoar way back to your seat, and again run the risks of your platform passage while the train is at full speed. In 6uch cars you pay seventy-five cents for each meal, even if yon take or need only a cup of coffee and a cracker: Bear in mind, lu no case do these dining cars accompany the train from starting point to destination. They are always “ cut off ” and taken on as we have described. With the Pullman Hotel car the case is different in every respect. These cars are sixty to sixty-six feet long, have sixteen wheels under each, are built strong, so as to insure Bteady, quiet •running, without the usual unpleasant side motion. Each Hotel car contains, in the order named, the following compartments: let. A cosy, neat and clean little kitchen, fitted up with a range, an ice and meat box, rows of shelves covered with bright silver and brighter glassware, and all tbe appliances needed for preparing a sumptuous meal. fid. A . compact China and glass closet, in which is kept the table ware and table linen, cutlery, etc. 3d. A passage way, cutting off the kitchen and China closet from the of the car, ahd fonaingan air-cnnmber to prevent the smell of the cookifig victuals from reaching the saloon portion of the car. 4'h. The grand saloon. This Is fitted up with twelve, fourteen or sixteen tections, with space for fables between each, and in these the meals are Served. You, while on this car, own the space you occupy as much as you do your room at home, and no one can hurry ydu while at meals, nor are you forced to give it up to allow any other person to occupy it At night, as if by magic, this saloon is changed into a boudoir, and here your couch is prepared, and hero you rest yourself Isolated, and as separated from your fellow-travelers as you would hdin your own bed-chamber.

sth. An elegant drawing-room, with room for six or elg>.t persons. This is found alone in these magnMJquu cars in It you and your family or party (drfnends may be as secluded as you please, or you can slide open toe end and have toe company of those in the grand saloon. Uij • \ 6th. Charmingly-arranged lavatories are partitioned off, ana arranged in two distinct compartments for the separate use of ladies and gentlemen. These lavatories are supplied with pure water, clean towels, combs, brushes, and, in fact, everything the most dainty may desire for the pei feet performance of an elaborate toilet. 7th. Then to! ow conductors’ and porters* rooms, linen closets, etc., etc. It will thus be seen that this carts, as its name, implies, a perfect modern hotel, with all of its appliances and Cotnfort# complete. This ear ia taken on at the commencement ol the journey, and is part of the train to its destination. In it you get your sleeping compartments and your meal accommodations, While neither eacrotohbptfa the other. Envious dining-car employees, who are paid to decry this form of Hotel car,’ cannot, with anything like truth oa their side, give any valid or conclusive reason for preferring the dining to toe Hotel car, and they only chatter in l&vor of their dining car because they are paid 1 to do so. These hotel o«r« have run front Hew York to San Francisco and back with toe Emperor Dom Pedrt —With Jarrett A Palmer’s petty, that traveled at almost lightning speed—with many a party of California bauauaa kings; and «Q join in pledging their honor that the cars gre incomparaTwo lines of these celcbrated cars run between NeW York 5 and ChifcagU.ond one lino only between Qumh*. It may be needless to Kay that this last-named line runt over ton steel track of the Chicago <k Nobth-Westxbn Railwat. Tbst these cars are attracting a large share of the California £s* l&aff 28l*SM!-£S£t dense by too Chicago A haotW ffmam tn «*. ptek—»•, Trilxme, Ijowaht Kaunv.—Unlike remedies recommended tar this dis ass, Bavfoed’s Radical Curb vor Catahkh does not keep the sufferer long l* suspense as to Its comtive properties. Belief to InttsaUneous, and* cure rapid and permanent If F ‘ —Why la chloroform like Mendelssohn ? Because it is one of toe greet composers of modern times.