Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 5, Number 34, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 20 February 1875 — Page 2

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Wiin

HE (MAIL

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A Paper

fo* the

Peopijs.

COMING.

Two fair ships are sailing, Hailing over the sea— Willie's ship »nd ray ship—

Full as full can be Side by Hide, my Willie saysLike an pin to pin, Oh, the happy, happy days

When our ships come in I While our ships are sailing, Hailing over the »ea— Willie'sship and my ship-

Full as ful' can be, Sailing on the sunny tide, Grieving would be sin BO»H or late und side by side,

Hhall our ships come in.

JOHN ALCOHOL.

John Alcohol, my Joe John, When We were tirst acquaint, I' money in iny pocket, John,

Which now I know there ain t. I upent it all In treating, John, Because I loved you But mark me how you've treated me,

John Alcohol, my Joe. John Alcohol, my Joe John, We've been too long together, Bo you must take one road, John,

And I will take the other, For we must tumble down, John, If hand in hand we go, And I will have the bill to foot,

John Alcohol, my Joe.

The Power of Superstition.

A CALIFORNIA SKETCH.

I was fond ef the science of physiognomy. From my youth up, I was noted for iny proclivity for reading the character of man from his face and I finally became HUCII an adept in the art that I could occasionally guess the very thoughts of the individual whose countenance I was studying.

Soon after the gold fever broke out I came to California and here I must confess, among what olse there was tc Interest me, I had a grand opportunity foi exercising my skill upon all sorts of fa oes, seen nntler all sorts of circumstances, from the highest triumph of success to the deepest despair of failure. I first tried my luck at digging gold myself, but soon tired of that, and believing 1 oould get money faster and with less labor, I opened a kind of grocery and provision store, and went regularly into the business of trade, buying most of my articles at Sacramento, getting them hauled to mv quarters, and disposing of them at a iair advance to the u|inere and others.

My store, as I dignified my place of trade, consisted of a rude skeleton ot polos, with a sufficiency of cheap nnislin drawn over them and pinned down to the earth, and was stocked only with the most salable articles, of which flour, pork and whisky found the most ready market, especially whisky. In the dry season it was very dusty, and everbodv seemed to be dry with a thirst which mere water would not quanch. ^If a man was successful ho wanted whisky to bring liis body up to the altitudo of his spirits if unsuccessful, he wanted whiakv to bring his spirits up to the altitude of his bodv if it chanced to be a littlo cool, he wanted whisky to warm him if it was very hot, he wanted whisky to cool him ho needed whisky in the morning to niako him bright and active he needed whisky at night to rest him, and mako him sleep won ho wanted it when ho bought, and when he •old when ho won, und when ho lost when be stood up, and when he sat down in short, whisky was the great regulator of all human feelings—t lej^onuine elixcr vita, and consequently 1" did an immense business in whisky.

Now this, though so newhat irrelevant, brings mo to iny story. My store being thu headquarters of that locality for whisky and provisions, I was brought in contact with nearly overv specimen ot the genus homo that ventured in that region and such another conglomeration of white, black and rod—such another mixture of gentlemen, laborers, mountaineers, gamblers, thieves and assassins—it would be hard find outside thelimitsof California. Of course I had a chanco to study ail sorts of faces to my heart's content, but having, as I have said, become an adept in tlio art, an ordinary countenance,! or a man govrnred by ordinary passions, whether gentle or brutish, did not interest mo. I wanted to get hold of what is termed a character, or one whoso external wftuld give no indication of hi* internal to any but a connoisseur or ono that would really pu»»le von to tell what to think of him.

Among tho many, such I at length found. At first 1 did not notice him— did not think of him. At a causal

Eim

tunce there was nothing to distinguish from the herd, lie came in quietly, unobtrusively, purchasod a quantity of flour, pork and ten. paid for the same in gold dust, and went out abont his busiuuhh.

SId

lie repeated his visits at different

intervals, perhaps some half a dozen times, before ho attracted my attention to anything peculiar in his appearaneo, and then I should have bpen at a loss to say what I saw more in lum at last than Rtfirst.

He was apparently about twenty-five years of age, ol medium height and slcncler tign re, of a dark complexion, regular features, with dark, straight hair, dark eyes, and a beard that covered the lower part of his face—in all of which there was nothing remarkable—nothing striking. He was quiet—not talkative hul nothing to say except about tlio business he came on, got what ho wanted when I was disengaged, paid for what he got like a gentleman, and generally retired with AH ordinary "Iroodday, or some similar civiHvy. And yet as I have said, ho began to attract my attention at last, and! began, to wonder why. Was it bccause bo was so

uiet, reserved and gentlemanly, and not purchase whisky like the rest and occasionally get oxdtOd and boisterous? At all eveuts, he had begun to interest me in soma way I aud the very fact, perhaps that I cuutl not tell how or why, led roe into closer scrutiny, a doops»r study of the man.

Alter this I prolonged his visits as mu'"h a* I could without causing him to suspact I did. so intentionally. The things he wanted 1 generally had some trouble in getting, and tilled up the interval by remarks alxmt the weather, the country, the mines, the success of aom* and the failure of others—in a word, anything 1 could think of to in* duoe conversation, w.aching him furtively all the while, lie answered easily and readily, and ret with that peculiar kind of reserve that was not suggestive of tending towards fiwrtliarity. His replies, however, evinced a man of mind and education, and I began to give him credit for being a thinker—perhaps a practical and selfish dreamer, if I may ose a paradoxical term that best expresses my idea

One d»v, 1 acaiwly know j. I touched upon (be genera! uper ions ol luaukisdj and. tv W7 surprise, I saw

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that be was interested. His eye ohanged expression, and brightened, and emitted a strange and peculiar gleam and my attention being thus directed to Mb eye, I now bethought me that 1 ipd never seen one exactly like it—o®e cap ble of being so apparently open dow%to the soul trail© ,obnoeHing *o attach. It was off it* guard now the door was real Iv open to tpf soul of tlw man and I looked iQ at the door of that opening and saw that the soul of that man was a dark one. A nameless fear came over mo, like an electric shock I felt aneleotrio shudder of dread. No wonder I had not been able to read Win before the man had been wearing au impenetrable mask.

I had the key of the mystery, and to him, and I used it. He was interested in superstitions-he was superstitious himself. Why? Good men may bo superstitious bad men always aw, because they carry a hell of wild fancies with them. Thus it was with this man, as I could see by his eye, and I made his fancy work upon him. I told him stories of soroery, witchcraft and magic, of ubosts, hobgoblins and devils till be became pale with tear, breathed with compressed lips, and trembled, in spite of his great nerve and skill.

If good men, as I have said, are sometimes superstitious, why, you ask, did I think this maH superstitious also? First, I answer, because I had accidentally thrown him off his guard and read his soul and secondly, because he was not naturally nervous and credulous. Fear could only arise from the self-convicted knowledge of a past wicked deed., The man was even then a criminal.

But let me hasten along to the denouement. It chanced that no other person was present when this conversation occurred about the superstitious fancies of men, and as soon as we were interrupted by the entrance of another customer my dark visitor left somewhat abruptly. After that be did not come so often as he did before, aud never renewed the conversation that had so agitated him, and never, in fact, entered into any other that he could possibly avoid. I kept my thoughts to myself, but made some casual inquiries about him, and learned that he had been so fortunate as to secure a capital "lead," from which, with his partner, another youn£ man, he was taking out gold in quantities that promised to enrich both, aud that both had the good-will and esteem of all who knew them.

One dark night, about three or four weeks alter this, I was startled from my sleep by wild prolonged shrieks, and cries of "Murder! murder 1 help! help!"

I jumped, seized my revolver, and darted out into the open air. The cries and screams still oontinued, coming from a bend of the river about a hundred rods below. In a minute I was joined by five others, all well armed, and together we ran as hard as we could to the place from which the alarm proceeded. When we arrived there at least thirty men were collected in and around the tent of the dark man I have been describing, and he it was who had given! the alarm. His partner and companion had been murdered and robbed, and ho himself had been slightly cut across the face and gashed on the left arm, and he was all excitement lamenting his dearest friend, and vowing vengeance against the assassin. It was some time before we could get at the particulars, and we then learned that both had been sleeping side by side, wheni an unknown robber had crawled under the light canvass, stabbed one to the heart, aud taken a large bag of gold from under his head. With this he was escaping when the present narrator awoke and seized him, and received the woun'ds which had compelled him to relinquish his hold. Lights were brought and there, sure enough, was the bloody confirmation of all that had beon related.

I shall make no attempt to portray the intense excitement, the wild rage and consternation which this daring murder occasioned. Every man felt that, if the assassin escaped without his just punishment, there would no longer be security for any ouo in our hitherto quiet and peaceful valley, and solemn oaths were uiKcn to hang the wretch if found upon tho nearest tree.

A largo reward was offered for his1 detection, and every gambler that had ever been seen abont there was more or less suspected, and I believe that, had any man been arrested on the following day, bo would hive been hung first ana tried afterwards. I said leas than any, for I had my own suspicions, and I contrived my plot in secret, and made a confidant ofno one.

The murdered yonng man was as decently buried as surrounding circumstances woultl permit, and his companion, my superstitious friend, grew more moody with grief, and refused to work his "lead" any more, and proposed selling off his rock and tools, and quitting the country altogether. I think he wonld have gone at onoft, only that I told him it would not look well to leave without an effort to discover the murderer, as some people might be malicious enougb to say be knew something of the matter, and so get him into trouble. He tuned very pale, and declared he would stay a year if he thought by that means he con Id disoover tho assasin of his dear dear friend.

On tho second afternoon following the tragedy, almost every individual in the vicinity, the friendof the murdered man ainoug tuerest, assembled at my store at my particul ir request. I had to.d them I had something to communfeateconcerning the tool deed, and I thought it not unlikely I should give them some clue to the assassin.

When all had collected, and arranged themselves aa I had directed, in a semicircle before my door—eager, expectant, excited—r came forward, holding in my hand an eta. Then I made then a short speech onthe superstitions of mankind, which I contended bad their origin in mysterious facts revealed from the other world by God's good providence for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty, and among other things, I mentioned how the ghosts ol their victims would often haunt the murderers, compelling them to reveal their crimes—bow land and sea had been known to give up their awful secrets— and how it had been asserted that if the guilty wretch should place his bands upon the body of the man he had secretly slain, they "would bleed afresh.

Ana now, gentlemen," I continued, I bold in my hands as sure a test as any have named. This simple egg, so fair to the view, contains the murderers secret. Let him but take it in his band, and the frail shell will crumble to pieces and show to ail that it is filled with the blood of the victim. You will excuse me, gentlemen, for putting yon all to the test. We do not know each other's secrets—the murderer of the yonng man we buried yesterday may be among us but onlv tho guilty need /ear the trial, the itutoeeni will surely peas the ordeal unbanned.'1

As I said this, I fixed my gass upon the «Jark visitor, my suspected man I never saw a more wretched and ghastly countenance, nor a greater struggle in any living being to keep a calm aud un•an^rpd exterior.

Tlio egg began its round. Some took

it oravely, some lightly, *°me turned slightly pale, and some laughed outright. But on it went, and came nearer and nearer to the. man for whom it was intended. I could see that be was trembling—that his very lips were getting white. "It's your turn now!" *1 said at length, in a cold, stern tone. "Miner' he answered, with a ghastly attempt at a smile. Why—why— should I—I take it? Poor Wilson was my—my friond." "Let him prove so now!" I said. "All eyes are upon you. Take the ordeal sent by heaven, and prove your innocence— \f you can."

He glauced hurriedly around. All eyes were indeed upon him, and with a look of awakened suspicion he made one desperate effort to be calm—then seized the fatal egg with trembling bands.

The next moment it was crushed to atoms, and his hands were wet and stained as if with human gore.

A wild yell burst from the crowd. A despairing shriek came froth the lips of tho guilty wretch and failing, rather than sinking down upon his knees, he cried out: "Godof mercy, forgive me! I did kill him! I did kill him! for his gold! his gold! Oh, cursed gold! Oh, God of heaven, forgive me!" "Anil how many before him?" demanded I. "Three! three! Oh, God of mercy forgive me!"

There was another wild yell, or rather howl of fury—a rush like wolves on their prey—and the poor wretch was seized, almost torn limb from limb, and dragged furiously away.

In less than ten minutes from his confession he was dangling from a neighboring tree, swinging by his neck.

So died the murderer, whose name I have suppressed, because he had respectable lriends, who are still living.

I will only add, that believing him guilty, I had previously prepared the egg, putting red coloring matter in it, expecting to see him orush it through his superstitious fears of a supernatural discovery. They promised me a reward for the detection of the murderer—but this I declined. Justice was all I had sought, and this I had obtained.

to the store as soon as he swallows is breakfast, and he is always put in the evening. Now he is with his brother playing dominos,"

Don't you play dominos?" Taw Yes." '.. M,jj I'd keep him at home to play." He would not care to stay. I sujp-

Some,all

ose young married men tire of Aunt Mary?" Not all! But you speak in a bitter tone that pains me, Ella. It is not like you."

I feel bitter! I have no one to talk te but you, and I never complained before, but I am tired of being alone all the time. Baby fills the day, but novels don't fill the evening."

Ella, since you have spoken to me, will yeu let me give you a word of advice

You know you may." "Look in the mirror, dear, then look round the room!"

Ella obeyed. In the mirror she saw a slender figure robed in a morning wrapper, without any collar or cuflb, and not precisely clean a face pretty and expressive, with a wroath of golden hair loosely knotted into a comb, and decidedly untidy. The room, a handsomely furnished sitting room, was begging for a broom as eloquently as a dusty carpet could beg. Harry's cradle in one corner balanced a disordered work-table in another. The centre table was piled with miscellaneous articles, amongst which a bowl of bread and milk and a fire-shovel figured conspicuously.

A crimsoh flush rose on the young wife's cheek. What is tho ttso of having things nice when nobody sees them bui me, or dressing, when Will is never at home

Ho might be at home more if things were nico and you were dressed." Thero was silence for a few moments. Then Ella spoke:

I'll try it, auntie.^ I suppose it is partly my fault. Before Harry was born he was at homo more, but I have been careless since then."

You are not strong, I know," Aunt Mary said very kindly, "and baby is a care, but I would try to be dressed in the evening, and have the room cheerful. Your piano looks as if it was never

I,r

Don't you have time to practise I cant plead want of taipe, auntie. Jane is one of the best of servants, and time hangs upon my hands. I am glMl you came In. I believe I wanted a moral shaking."

Then they talked of other matters, of Harry's first tooth and baby accomplishments, of the winter fashions, of feminine interests of all kinds. Theiunato sweetness of Ella's temper made her take her aunt's gentle reproof in the spirit of lore that dictated it, and when the parting caress was given she whispered

I'll try, auntie, to make home more attractive for Will." ... She was fost asleep with Harry nestled in her arms when Will came Home, but the touch of his lips upon her cheek aroused her.

Did you have a pleasant evening, she asked. "Aunt Mary was here and left her love for yon." "Charley and I played awhile,and then Mire Creighton dropped In and

seems to drop in pretty often.*' She is so Intimate with the girls. I never thought her singing very wonderful."

You sing far better. But when I can't get any better I like hers.' It was not the first time Will had told the same story, and strong in ner new resolutions Ella determined upon a pod hour «f praotioe aarly in the morning.

HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL.

I'

Ella Goodwin's Trjal.

Going out again?" .. 'v Ella Goodwin spoke in a fretful tone, and her pretty face was puckered up into a most dismal frown. "I promised Charley I would step round for an hour or two and have a game of dominos." "Anything to set away from home!"

But Will Goodwin was already out of hearing. His wife, after a fretful remark, addressed to the walls, to the effect that she was a fool for ever getting married, took a novel from under the sofa cushion and was soon reading with an air of absorbed interest. Baby woke and made the fact shrilly known. An impatient toss threw the beok down again, and baby was soothed to sleep with a gentleness strangely at variance with the jerk that had put the book upon the table. ,,

When he slept once more in the cradle Ella yawned and again took up her book. But before she had opened it there was a tap at the door, ana an elderly lady with a sweet, fair face came in. "Alone?" she said, as Ella eagerly welcomed her and took off her wraps.

I am always alone! Will gets his meals here!" was the bitter reply. "He

foes

Jane was rather amazed at the cleaning the sitting-room received at the bands of herself and her mistress. The cradle was banished into the adjoining bedroom, where baby could still be, heard it fee awakened the fire-shovel assumed its legitimate jnaee at the hearth. It rather astonished Ella herself to find how manjr useless articles were "about," and how universally everytliing was in the wrong place. But by nootf the room was bright as hands could make it) and after luncheon a man was sent for to tyine the piano, closed for nearly a year.

The six o'clock dinner brought Will. Ella was in the hall as he entered, and led the way to the dining-room, where a cheery brightness reigned.

Company, Nell queried Will, his eyes resting upon his wife. The golden hair—carefully curled—was gathered into a mass with a comb, and fell in a profusion of natural ringlets upon Ella's shoulders, the waving bands drawn back from her faoe. Her dress, of soft, blue merino, was finished with dainty ruffles at the throat and wriBts, and Will's last Christmas gift, a set of cameos, held collar, cuffs and dropped from the delicate ears. Not a costly dress,but carefully adjusted, fitting exquisitely and certainly most becoming. "Nocompany," said Ella, "but ourselves, unless you count Harry. I have made you some of the bread-sauce you are so fond of, Will."

You're a jewel. Only don't make yourself sick in the hoi kitohen, Nell! You are not very strong, you know."

Nell blushed at that, for it reminded her of many a neglected duty, many a lazy hour, ior whioh the plea had been offered In excuse. "That did not hurt me," she said, "for 1 was in the kitchen making some lemon pies." "Lemon pies! You make my month water. Nobody else can make them to taste like yours!"

So the dinner was a suocess. Ella was a good cook, and Will was never sparing of praise for the dainties she provided. But she bad left the kitchen to Jane so long that her husband had ceased to look for the dainty trifles that bad

Secamebis

raced table before Ella's health bad feeble. Dinner over, Will, in great good.humor, went to the sitting-room. The open grate threw a ruddy glow upon tho bright surroundings, and his face light ed with pleasure. But the large eyes fairly danced as he cried: "The piano open! I began to think it was buried forever J"

Not quite!" said Ella, laughing, and vet blushing brightly "I thought from what you said last night, you would like to hear me sing again

Yon bet I would!" was the emphatic if not very elegant response. Let's play dominos then till I can sing. It is too soon after dinner now. Be merciful, for I am out of practice, remember."

Here Jane came in with Master Harry, ready for bed, and after soft kisses be was taken into the next room and put into his cradle.

You will come up if he cries, Jane," Ella said, and took down the dominobox. "I think Harry Is old enough now to spare me in the evening," she added in explanation. "Little monkey, how he grows!" was the reply. "Come, what is your highest

Cunningly Ella kept up the interest of the game till nearly nine o'clock, when Will certainly would not go 6ut. Then she sang for him. Her voice, clear and sweet, had been highly cultivated, and she was surprised to fihd how much pleasure she felt herself in once more exercising it.

Eleven o'clock chimed from the tftlle mantel clock when Will was pleading for "just one more" song, and klla sang the "Good night" in answer.

By Jove!" cried Will, "I was to meet Charley at the club-room at eight. Where has the evening gone?" "Never mind! Any other evening will do as well," said Ella.

The next day was stormy. Ella appeared at breakfast with neatest of collars and cuffs, hair in a knot like burnished gold, and a face like a sunbeam. Will, who ha*.- eaten in solitary state for more mornings than his wife cared to count, was as attentive as a lover. His parting kiss aooompanied the words:

Take a nap, Nell, this morning. We must keep you well, you know! I haven't enloyed my breakfast so much for a year."

Don't forget the new songs, Will. If you will send them round I will try them over before you come home."

I'll send them then as I go downtown." Wet and dismally muddy Will came in from a February storrn of rain upon melting snow. Ella was waiting for him, and drew him into tho bedroom. Befbre the tire hung a dressinm-gown of bright cashmere faced with blue silk, while under the dry, warm socks a pair of gorgeous slippears were toasting.

Good gracious, Noll, where did those come from?" said Will hastily, drawing off his soaked boots.

It is your birthday. Have you forgotten I bought those to-day for you." Out in all this rain

I did not walk much. Try them on, Will?" Pine as a Turk!" said Will, twisting before a mirror to see how the dressinggown fitted.

Now come have some hot soup, I made it." "See here, Nell, aintyou doing too much

Not a bit. I needed a good toasting over the fire after being out, and I took it over soup and pudding in the kitchen instead of over a novel here. That is all the difference. Jane will ring the tongue out of that boll if we don't hurry. That is tho third time she has summoned us."

Dinner over, the new songs were tried, a few games of checkers preceding the music.

Then there was some animated

chat about a new business interest of which Will spoke, and Ella confessed to having read the paper. It was one of her old custom* resumed, for Will had dearly liked to discuss the day's news with ber in the evening. Hbe had a bright intelligence, and could converse wellon tfce interests of the day, but novels had superseded newspapers while she "was not very strong.'

Again eleven o'clock struck before Will knew the evening was half gone. "Charley will think I have deserted him," ho said, "but slippers and dress-ing-gown are too comfortable to be easily Mtill in ml

Ella softly stroked the hair ot ahead restiag upon the back of the great armchair as Will spoke. A strong arm encircled her, and she was drawn to ber husband's knee. little woman," he said tenderly, "I cannot tell you bow glad I am you are well tpin. It was awfully dismal seeing you always in that direful wrapper. But—" and, man like, he hesitated—"I suppose 1 ought to have stayed at home morel"

You will now she said anxiously. Where can I find so pleasant a place,* ho said, with loving fervor, "or so precious a companion

It was nearly a month later that Aunt Iary, spending an evouisg with Will's

mother, heard Charley grumblingly declare: There's no getting Witt to go anywhere nowadays. Ho sticks at home in the Irventog a%tf he Were glued there. I went round there Saturday. Jane was out^Noff lyjrip cm ihe^oui^e^with a

whil^ffi roekett

vthe

Erisonment,

cradle with one

foot. Can't leave," he told me "Nell requires all my attention, for I can't possibly afford to have her sick again."

And so Aunt Marv knew that Ella had "tried" to make home pleasant and succeeded. $

SHARKEY, THE MUEDEBEJt^

His Mistress Tells the Story of His Escape.

The Now York Sun has the following account ef Sharkey, the murderer, as given by the womsji to whom he owed his escape:

'-i.

The steamer Cresent City, which ar rived here on Thursday, brought Maggie Jordon, who released the murderer, Sharkey, from the Tombs. To a gentleman who saw her on the incoming steamer, she told a sad story of misery and woe. Having released Sharkey from the Tombs she endured along im-

and on her release joined

im at Havana. There for a time life was pleasant and happy. Money was plenty with the ox-convict, and he spent it freely. There were opcasional differences between Maggie and the man she had so greatly served, and she often had personal abuse to bear, but she bore it uncomplainingly. In course of time, however, Sharkey became more and more violent, ana at length Maggie's devoted love gavo way to fear ana terror, and she resolved to flee to New York

She took passage by the Crescent City, studiously concealing her intention from Sharkey. But in spite of her care he discovered her intention,^ and she had scarcely entered the cabin of the vessel before he was alter her. At her request one of the officers of the ship concealed her in a state-room, ana Sharkey's search was thus rendered vain. At length after having thoroughly searched the cabins, the felon wont ashore, convinced, that Maggie had not escaped his clutches.

After tho open sea was reached, Mag gie mingled with the passengers and told the story of hor life in Havana, as well as that of the escape of Sharkey from the Tombs.

Did he escape in woman's clothing?" asked a passenger. Yes, sir, he did. I carried the clothes in which he escaped to the 'lombs piece by piece. It took many days to do it, but at length tho costume was complete, and the plan of escape was fully organ

ized*"

How was the escape managed asked the passensrer. Well, on the day of the escape, myself and a young lady visited Sharker. The clothes for his escape had already been provided, and all was ready. Sharkey and the young lady (Wes'Allen's sweetheart) went out together. She walked up Franklin street to Elm and took the Bleecker street cars, and hei tracks were followed by detectives next day. The funniest thing about the matter was that the detectives took tlfe wo man for a man 1"

How about Sharkey Where did he go?" He went to Leonard street, got into a coach, and was driven uptown."

Maggie Jordan will not tell whither Sharkey was taken or who took him. She says, however, that he remained in this city three months, appearing in the streets in different disguises, and daily recognizing friends and acquaintances, who passed him without recognition. Sharkey, she says, has lived well in Havana, beiag supported by his friends. Soon after she joined him he began a course of abuse which impelled her to flight. She was struck and kicked repeatedly in his momenta of drunken ferocity. ft HOW A WOMAN POSTS A LETTER.

Any day when you have time you can see how she does it by droppirg into tho postoflice. She arrives thero with the letter in her hand. It is a sheet of note inclosed in a white envelope. She halts in front of the stamp window, opens her mouth to ask for a stamp, but suddenly darts away and looks at the letter to see if sbo made any errors in names or dates. It takes her five minutes to make sure of this and then she balances the letter on her finger and the awful query arises in her mind: "Perhaps it is overweight!" She steps to the window and asks tho clerk if be has a three-cent stamp, fearing that he hasn't, and she looks over every compartment of her portemonnale before she finds the change to pay for it.

The fun begins as she gets tho stamp. She sidles around on one side, removes ber gloves, closely inspects tho stamp, and hesitates whether u» "lick" it on or wet ber finger. She finally concludes that it wouldn't bo nice to show her tongue, and sho wets her finger and passes it over the envelope. She Is so long picking up the stamp that the moisture is absorbed, and then slides on the envelope. She tries it twice more with tho samo success, and then, getting desperate, she gives the stamp a "lick ana it sticks. Then comes tho sealing of the letter. She wets her finger again but tho envelope flics open, after five minutes' delay

she

ARAB WOMEN.

Their Jalousie and

In "Alger|r As It ifc'tf GaskeU, occuli this, Inliii n^jiiVliliiiti concerning the pec|j|adties Arab, Wome$: 4''"

The dress of an Arab woman of the lower clara is more 6imple than elegant it consists of a babaya—a kind ef linen chemise with wide sleevos—tied round the waist with a cord like the habit of a capuchin. In the street all this is covered by a hulk, which does not,, however, hide her bare legs adomea With sliver or copper anklets. Sho wears large ear-rings which are almost hidden under the mass of hair twisted about them, while a profusion of necklaces, amulets, coral and glass beads fall over her tatooedneck and bosom. These things belong to the wife personally, being Bettled on her bv a marriage stipulation in case of abandonment or divorce. .Thus she puts them on as often as possible, for the display of such finery is one of the few pleasures she enjoys, so the most is made of it. Sometimes sho dyes her hands, and always her nails, with the orange tint of the henna, and is fond of the scent called souak. She, like her Moorish sisters, also attempts to improve upon nature by blackening the lashes of her large ^yes with kor.eul. The adjar worn in Algiers and other large towns was unknown before the time of Mahomet, who introduced it to serve his own personal jealousy thus the distrustful disposition of one man has condemned all Muslim women to pass through life with a -kerchief over' the face. This law of th« prophet is one of many which has contributed to degrade woman in her social position. Whenever they—the young at least—can remove the jalousie, which not only conoeals their charms, bul prevents them from breathing the air of heaven freely, they take it off thus wo often meet women unvailed in the country, when no Arab is near. If they see one approaching they immediately replace tlie veil, bnt they are not equally particular when they meet a Houmi, so that many opportunities of seeing their faces are ottered, even in the neighborhood of Algiers and Orah. In the Kabylie the acyar is not worn for the Kabyle—who makes a companion of his wife, and treats her as his equal—is not so suspicious as the Arab. Young Arab and Moorish women, we may remark, cover tho face because they are ordered to do so the old find it convenient policy, for, like charity, it hides many delects. Thus old women are in general very striot in wearing the actyar themsolves, and arc as little indulgent to young ones who are caught without it as the jealous husband himself the reason being envy in the one case and mistrust in the other. Some of the sex allow one eye only to be seen. These, instead of the usual adjar, draw their drapery— which oovers them from head to loot— over the faoe, leaving a little hole for the solitary optic to peep through. We have often in our rambles in the country about Algiers, met with women thus muffled up—ana still more frequently In out-of-the-way plaoes ftirther off, wha on notioing our apparent speculation of the couutenance wnioh offered only one blaok eye to guido us in

our

4

1

has to pass her tongue

along the streak of dried mucilage. Hhe holds the letter along time to make sure that the envelope is all right, and finally appears at the window and asks: "Tnree cents is enough, is it?"

Yes, ma'in." And this will go oat to-day? (/6rt4inly«,1f "Will it go to Chicago without tho name of the eountv on?"

Just the same/' What time will it reach there?" To-morrow morning." She sighs, turns the letter over and over, and finally asks:

Shall I drop it into ono of those pierces there?" Yes, ma'm."

She walks up In front of the six orifices through which letters fall upon the table, closely scans each one or them, finally makes a choice, aud drops—no, she doesn't. She stops to see where it will fell, pressing her face against the window until she flattens her nose out of shape, and sho doesn't drop it into tne place she meant to. She, however, releases it at last, looksdown to make sure that It did not fall on the floor,

a

n",t"rI\*

away with a sigh of regret that she didn take one more look at the superscription.—{Detroit Free Press.

NONPLUSSED. [Utica Observer.]

Scene on the cars not many miles from Utica. Enter a lady, who addresses a well known railroad official do you think Mr. Beecher jisgnlltv?"

Guiltv of what, madam •xit la'Jy, suffused with blushes.

conjectures,

suddenly let the curtain full, as thoy laughingly showed us a faca which had no cause to fear of being exposed this was aone with a merry look which seemed to say, "How do you like it: does It please you In the same way we have peen girls in the Arab quarter of Algiers, on arriving at their own homes, take off the Jadjar at the threshold, to allow us a single glance as they elosed the door on us, and on our curiosity. Urtiwr

,,

Now, are you really, after all, hair a fool said a friend of Beecher the other day, in referring to some of his Tilton letters. "I was intended for a first-class fool," replied Beecher, "and have in me the material for that. When the rest of mankind were made up there was a lot of loose material lying around which was thrown together, aud that's me."—[Detroit Tribune.

Ladies at Home

Can earn from $10 to WO a week, canvassing for the Saturday Evening Mail and its charming Chromos. See prospectus in another column, and send for circular of instructions. Or better still, send Two Dollars far outfit and commence work lmmedl-

Workers Wanted

To introduce The Saturday Evening Mall printed at Terre Haute, Ind., into every household. Its lo^T price ($2X0 a year) and the elegance of its Picsentation Cliroinos, "Cherry Time" and "Lily of the Field," makes it perfectly irreslstable! The commission given ngents is liberal, and offers lucrative and agreeable busiwes to those willing to give it proper attention.!

"1 1 Traveling Men Jl

Engaged in any business can make their traveling expenses, by putting in an occasional word for The Saturday Evening Mall, where they may stop. I

WM. P. ARMSTRONG, M. D. pirrpiciASi amd nvnoKom, Takes thin method of informing the public that be has moved to Inoianapolls, and established a Private Hospital for the IreaK ment of ©Iseascs of Women, at the southwest oornor of Pennsylvania and Tinkei' streets. The building and grouudsare largo and pleasant. Ladies can have good rooms, board and inedleal attention in the same building. An experienced reifrale nurse will in attendance at all times. Having had an cxtenMve experience In th« treatment of chronic diseases for fifteen two of which were spent in female hospitals in Kurope. he feels confident In rendering entire Mtlsfactien to all who may favor

treatment, between 0 a. m. and.4 p. m, Pennsylvania street cars pass the door. R^KEKBN^s: Prof. WnTMussey, M. D., fin O'J. O. McPheters, M. D., and J. D. Maxwell, M. D., Bloomington, Ind. Hon. B. H. Bn*kirk, Judge Supreme .fuy: Tlov. Wm. V. Black, city Esra R» ad, M. 1)., and Hon. Tbos DowRng, Terre Haute, Ind.. and Alex. Mann, Paris, 111.

OOKS AND STATIONERY.

L. E. ACKER,

(Successor to Denie Eros.)

0O4 MAIM HTBEFT, TEBBE HAUTE, Has a full stock of KiiecllBsesBH, IchMl and Blank

O O S

great variety.

Toy and Holiday Boobs,

jr old and yonn«,andamil line of Annareasonable prices, a solicited."