St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 18, Number 16, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 5 November 1892 — Page 2

J; Romans Influence]

* ^~Lqo JhMaggpi CHAPTER XX BRIAN’S PRESCRIPTION. “I believe I am thoroughly tired out, Margaret. I have had a very hard day’s work.” Margaret turne I from her boox as Brian entered ib.e room with these words. “Have you?” she asked. "How nice you will find your well-earned rest. See, your chair is waiting for you.” “It shall not be empty a minute longer. It is wonderfully comfortable. Sit there, won’t you? I like to see your face: it rests me.” “Then I may consider myself useful, as well as ornamental,” she laughed, wondering why the rebellious color should fly to her face in such a disagreeable way. “When did you get my message, Margaret?” he asked. “About ’4 o’clock, I think. I was sorrv you could not come home to dinner. You have had some, of course?” “I had an apology for one,” he returned. “I hadn’t time for any' other; so many important cases brought in today. This hospital practice is worth a great deal to me, I tell you. I was getting rusty, an! it has polished me up considerably. I suppose Miss Hilton loft, as she intended?” “She went early this afternoon.” This answer was given with a faltering voice. “Dear Margaret,” he sa d with feeling, “I know how you will miss her. I wish you would let me comfort you. Don’t go away. “Only for a few minutes,” she answered, hastily. “I am coming back.” True to her promise she returned quickly, with a small tray in her hand. “Only some cake and. coffee,” she said, “to make up for that apology for a dinner. I made the coffee. Do you think you will like it?” “Will I? Its fragrance is sufficiently tempting.” Brian jumped from his chair, and took the tray from Margaret’s hands. “I’m just beginning to realize that lam hungry. You will help me to drink it?” “Os course,” laughed Margaret. “I want to show my appreciation of culinary ability. Norah thinks I will be quite a finished cook in time. This is — n’ee, and if we had Some .EjjttWgQd CTVOttfl ZO »- —»1 HnnirnTr*

flead so decidedly, I see with an ex-| perienced eye. I saw how that ring I slipped about when you were pouring this coffee, and seven months ago, when I put it there, Margaret, it was very tight and snug. I want to see it so again. You need the country breezes. I know that Elmwood is the magical med cine which your case demands, and if I prescribe it, I don’t believe you will find it so bitter to take.” “And your” she asked, after a moment’s silence. “That is to be just as you say, Margaret. ” “Then,” she returned with a radiant face, “w? wid both go home.” When Wilson learned of this decision, “Thefascinat onsof New York have been exercised in va ! n,” he declared. “I think you will find something to regret when you have gone from us. Still I am sure you w 11 realize a much needed benefit, and in view of that I must be glad that you will so soon enjoy the pleasure of the country. I hope you will not quite forget us.” “I will never forget you,” was the impulsive answer. “The service you have r endered Erian I cannot even realize, •much less thank you for. The most I can do is to give you a place among the frlen Is I cherish most highly. Brian

and I will hope to see you quite often. I know jou will like EhnwcoL It is sr beautiful. I never knew how much 1 10. ged to see it until this miucaaWi a Lug nd" on the Madison avenue cars, just for something to do, and when we got out in the nineties there was a real little bit of country before us. I could not stay in the car. The sun really seemed so much brighter; and when I heard the hens and saw the ducks and geese walking along the narrow pavements I wanted to sit down and cry.” Wilson smiled. “Did you think better of the impulse?” he questioned. Oh, yes. Fortunately, I came upon a woman sitting on the grass with rhe whitest, fattest baby I almost ever saw. I adore babies, and I began to admire that one extravagantly. The mother was delighted, and byway of recompense^ I presume, gave me a detailed history of the seven fatter and whiter ones which had preceded this one. By the time she finished I had forgotten that I ever wanted to c y.” “So the baby proved an effective antidote. You were very fortunate in your meeting. Now, I believe I must hurry away. I could only steal a moment just to run in to say good-by.” “I don’t believe you have stayed that moment,” co nplained Margaret, “and I am sure if you were very anxious you i could stretch it just the least bit. Brian 1 will be so sorry not to have seen you. Are you so very busy. Doctor?” “Well, lather,” was the half hesitating reply. “Summer is near at hand, anl that is a time o: wretchedness fori tue unfortuna'c poor. I wish we had a larger corps of free doctors. We certainly need them in those crowded, mis erable districts, where the white crape and tiny hearses tell their own story of suffering and death. 1 have brought a shadow to your face; I w.ll say no more.” “You are merely’ giving me a glimpse of the other side of life,” she said thoughtfully. “I find the contrast, as usual, sad and strong. I wish the world

was different. I wish we lived under Bellamy’s order of things.” Wilson smiled. “I fear such order is too Utopian ever to be realized,” he answered. “Perhaps, though I dare say Are you really going? Well, then I must say good-by. I hope it is not necessary for me to repeat the assurance that Elmwood always holds a welcome for you. I thank you .'or your good wishes, and I wish you to remember that I appreciate more than I have- power to express the —happiness you have helped to give me. ” “No more,” said Wilson, with painful abruptness. “My service is not worth such mention.” Without another word he pressed her hand and was gone, leaving her rather surprised at his unusual manner. CHAfTO XXI. ELMWOOD AGAIN. Margaret had finished her breakfast, and even after Brian had left she still sat over the table, her heart filled with sweet content, and her eyes dim with the happy tears that shut from her vision the familiar ob ects about her. For she was home. Homo in dear old Elmwood. And now, after eating what she declared to Brian to be her biggest breakfast in three months, she wanted to sit still and feast her eyes upon the smooth green lawns where the bright sun sifted itself through a luxuriant network of green branches, and the lilac and the hawthorn were bursting into a breath of fragrant flowers, and say to herself ; it is good to be here. She repeated the same words to Brian ! when he came in at luncheon, and he, looking at her face, almost marveled at the change th it had come over it. “I dare say, you are right, Margaret: it is good for you to be here. I don’t । believe I exaggerate when I declare that there is already some color in your cheeks. What have you becii doing with yourself this morning?” “I don’t believe I can b^gin to tell you. First, there was so i ich to talk about with Mrs. Dav.s. We 1 ave been laying our heads together and evolving some delightful plans. You will see the results after awhile; an I then, this afternoon I must go to The Cedars. I am pin ng for a sight of the Colonel.” “And he, no doubt, is pining for a sight of you. I suppose that will complete your happiness.” “As nearly as it can be completed. Do you remember how we left Elmwood, Brian, under the chill and cold of winter, and we return to it in the joy of a glad resurrection? I accept it as an omen, and I am —very happy.” She left the table with these words and walked to the open window. Brian followed her. “Let me share your happiness,” he said, in a low voice. “Darling, the probation has been very long.” He slipped his hand about her waist, 4. and drew her to the veranla outside. remember our compact? I shall keep it rm -

vit -zu pal a tor Itaehel is not too dear to pay for you. Now, may 1 tell j you what I have been doing to-day?” “Yes; I shall like very’ much to hear.” “Will, I have been taking with Dr. Philips, i wish you would let me see your face, Margaret. It will be more encouraging than your back. There, that is better; thank you. I saw Dr. Philips, as I said, and i told him of my wish to build up a practice here. Just as I expected, he feels his advancing years, and will be very glad es a young assistant. He is delighted to help the son of his old partner, he tells me. to you see I am particularly fortunate. I i can step right into his shoes, and, though I may find them very large ” “You will grow, ’ put in Margaret, glad of^this new turn to the conversation. “And I am very much pleased,” she added, more gravely. "So am I. It is the first step toward whin ng my wife. ” A half hour later Margaret was sitting in the chair of honor in Alice's rooms, half-laughing, half-crying, and try,ng to ask and answer questions in the same breath. “Pm go ng to keep you a few minutes all to myself,” declared Alice, “because I have so much to tell you, Margaret. So mm h I could only hint at it in my letters. I could not express ow-hnlf

a vvuui HUL UJI l - the happiness I longed for voutoshnra ”-4 0 “I am so glad, j' an- i I swered. /dy'"" 11 r v for you and for I led me all about it now.” e It was fuily fifteen minutes before ! Alice sent the message telling her une’e f Margaret was there. It brought tu® LOiOnel in very quick time. r “Oh, Colonel,” she cried, and the next • second she vas folded in his arms. j E®** Margaret. I am so - grau, child. I his time wemean to keep you. Bless your dear heart; it does my 1 eyes good to see you. Even though you have giown so thin and your face is as , white as our own snow-balls.”

‘Colonel, you hurt my vanity. I shall grow wonderfully fat and well in a few weeks. You won’t know me. ■ Brian thinks I have some color already.” “Brian! Let Brian go to the devil! ■ I beg your pardon, my dear. I see I have hoirified you. I am not over- । pieased with Brian, as .you may guess. I I dare say you find excuses for the | scamp, however. I am glad he has I some grace left. You women can j usually manage men. I was gettingready to come and shoot him," but I must acknowledge that your method has been more effectual.” “He is growing tired of doing nothing,” she an?we ed, without meeting the Colonel’s glance, “and he has decided to practice his profession here. । I dare say he will become as highly reI spected as dear uncle Stephen was.” “Highly respected! Fiddlesticks! ihere it is again, Margaret. The outcome of prejudice, most probably. I beg your paidon a second time, and predict that Brian will become all that ■ IT^ "make him. If he doesn’t “Shoot him, I suppose,” put in Margaret, with laughing eyes. “That would be a fatal blow to my hopes. I beg you you wi 1 spare me the humiliation of ' failure. And please give Brian credit on h's own account.” Certainly, my dear, all he deserves’ though I must add that I don’t consider 5 the demand excessive. Alice, isn’t that 1 that your rascally husband bawling < down-stairs? I hope you have no in- i

tention of going to him. Let him tr« his long legs and come up to you.” “He is using them,” obseived Margaret, smiling at the long, heavy strides ascending the steps. “Alice, don’t be jeilous, please, if I say that Bettie is one of the nicest men in this world.” “Thanks for the compliment, which wasn’t intended for my ears. I just । heard from your groom that you had condescended to honor us with a visit. ” And Bertie burst into the room. “It is so natural to find you here,” he added. “Father feels ten years younger from your very presence. And you are i looking better — much better— than , when I saw you last, though you might still be the original of Tennyson’s ‘O rare, pale Margaret.’ ” “Nonsense,” interrupted the Colonel, rather testily. “Don’t be a fool, Bertie. AN hat a long tongue you have.” “You see, Margaret/’ observed Bertie, with laughing eyes, “my appreciative father still allows his admiration of my talents to surprise him into little affectionate speeches. You must not think anything of it. He is very proud of me.” “Humph!” was the contempuous reply, at which Margaret and Alice

laughed. Throughout the visit the cheerful badinage continued, and when she was ready to go Lome, after not a liUle pressure to stay longer, Ber ie declared his intention of rid ng with her. “It was so good of you to come,” she said, after they had left The Cedars and he nad expressed his pleasure in Brian's changed conduct. “You knew I had something to say to you.” “Your eyes tell all your secrets, Margaret. B hat is that something?” “ Can you not guess? It affects Brian and you. You have always been such । gool frienis until very lately, and I am so anxious for thorn ola feelings to be ' renewed. The circums ances of your ; last meeting were not —very pleasant, j He will remember this, and perhaps you ' will remember it too. lam going to ask you to forget it. B’htn I re all all that you have done for me before, I feel perfee ly confident that you will not refuse this favor. You unders and me, I i am sure?” j “Understand! Who can Tul to underi stand su h goodness as youri? When j I think of that, it is all the harder to I forget the suffering he has caused you. ■ Perhaps I cannot promise, Margaret. ’’ “Ch, yes, you can. The suffering you speak of may have been of great advantaan. I mav become the better and

the stronger for it. Besides, Brian has I:se f U l words fell out of use, which is I listening. 'struggled and suffered too. You can very true. i “Well,” said the operator. can 1 never know bow much. Even I can vnwrsnn also thought the diction- I vou tell the audience what lam j never know how mu h. And he is try- , k rea(l though | doing?” 1 „ - ing now. Forthat he deseives credit. - •‘There is no I “You’re singing,” announced the Ith nk yon will have to do as I wish, another reason. I here* to | xou c, Bertie. Indeed, iam sure vou will. can’t in it. no excess of explanatio ~ s j < , r and broke the “There, 1 have nothing more to say. and it is full of suggestmn-the raw ^qierati _ Free You always have your way. I dare say material of possible poems and his-। back off tnin„ to g we don’t realize what Brian had to tor cs Nothing is wanting but a Press. _ • overcome before he won his victory, jj^tle shuttling sorting, ligature, and] e»hhs indicators. an I as far as my words or «re , human of low of dchased ! concerned, he shall Lae eno 1 eminder of W e have a singular illustration of mcntal stan dard the ears are large “Thank vou,” was the grateful an- this proposition in thc practh-e of <>ne : and t | a bby—those o f idiots, cretins, swer. “I never liked you better or ad- () f our most eminent men of letteis. , mired you more than Ido now.” I'liis gentleman atllrms that there is \vi icn there is no lolie, and the ear He smiled his response as they turned n 0 book like a dictionary when an y i widcns froin t he bottom upward, the in at the gates of Elmwood. As they ap- js jn sea:c h o f ncw ideas. It he ( wner is of a se ltlsh, cunning and reproached the door Marg are. saw Brian s j randed whcn preparing a speech, irrelful disposition. W He W eXnS not expected to see he turps over a few pages of any die- > When thc ear js al in form. with noticed a_ slight tionarv, and there finds ample nu the lobe slightly but dioWietlyjnarked

pt wva 'Hypermwr murmureclßß^^ under his breath. “Don’t you think it ; wrong to tell libs?” | The next second he had assisted her I from her horse and turned to Brian, i No word parsed between them, but their hand-ela p held a language and a mean- ■ ing of its own. [TO BE COXTISVEO. | CANDLES FROM PLANTS. ' egetables Which Bear Wax and Tallow — Facts About Camphor. Several very curious substances of an inflammable nature are produced ' by plants, said a naturalist to a Washington Star writer. Many vegetable species bear wax, which in the form of minute scales on the surface of the plum and other stone fruit makes what is called the “bloom.” It exists so abundantly in the fruit of a Virginia mytle that the latter has received the name of “candle berry.” These berries are collected in great quantities for their wax and candles made from them burn with remarkable brightness and freedom from smoke, at the same time giving out a pleasant fragrance. A wax-bearing tree exists in South Africa, the beryield a substance which

i is made into candles by the Dutch. 1 There are seveial species of wax i palms in South America. One of them has its leaves covered with scales of wax, while the trunk of another kind is covered with the wax as with a varnish. A substance very like tallow is yielded by a tree in China, the seed vessels of which are hard, brownish husks. Each of them contains three round white kernels,about the size and shape of hazelnuts. These kernels

have small stones inside them, around which the fatty matter lies. From the pit of the stone an oil for burning in lamps is pressed. Almost all the candles used in the south of China are made from this vegetable tallow. A tree abounds on the Malabar coast of India called the “piney” which bears a pulpy fruit that yields a great quantity of solid tallow approaching wax in firmness and superior to animal fat for the manufacture of candles. Another remarkable inflammable substance secreted by plants is camphor. It is chiefly obtained from a

species of laurel native to the East Indies. In preparing it pieces of the roots are put into an iron vessel tightly covered. When the vessel is heated the camphor rises in the form of vapor and is condensed on the cover. That is the primitive method, at all events, though I believe that it is improved upon by newly invented processes. In old trees the camphor is sometimes found, when the tiunks are split open, in a very pure stat), forming small concretions or “tears.” May—Your last suitor, Mr. Wait, seems very magnetic. Belle—Yes, I gave him both poles. May—What do you mean? Belle — A positive negative.—Truth.

Eminent Men and the Dictionary. t Mr. Andrew Lang remarks some- I where that he believes lie has not a \ single dictionary in his house. There must be many precedents for this strange omission from a literary man’s library; or, if many of our “standard authors'’ ha 1 a dictionary, they never 1 used it, or used it too poor purpose. ’ Pope, and, indeed, nearly all the I poets could not spell, nor could ’ Sheridan, Dickens, Douglas Jerrold, and Charles Lamb; and even Thack1 eray sometimes forgot the rule—- “ Put i before e Except after c.’’ An eminent Shakspearean scholar, too, once showed that he had ne\er made the acquaintance of Johnson’s dictionary. Browning, on thc other hand, when it was definitely decided that he was to adopt literature as his profession, “qualified himself for it,” as Mrs. Sutherland Orr tell us, by reading and digesting the whole of Johnson’s 1 dictionary.” This fact explains his

mastery of all the intricacies of the English language. By the way, a legal luminary has so high an opinion . of that superseded work that he re- I fuses to accept definitions from other sources. Tennyson is said frequently to cons dt that odd aid to posey, a rhyming dictionary, and Wordsworth, li <e Bvron, constantly made use of vocabularies. “I never compose,” he once said to a visitor, “without having a diction- ! ary at hand, ready to turn to when I ' want a word.” In hat case a dictionary must have been his inseparable companion, and it is not a bad one, neither, even for the hypothetical “deserted island. ’ Lord Chatham told one of his friends that he had twice read, from beginning to end, Butler’s dictionary. He was rewarded for his trouble, lox said of his great antagonist that he always used the word, and that each word had its own place and was regulated, not by chance, but by law. In later life Chatham used to have the dictionary read aloud to him once a year. He said so manv noble and

fSTi — >l-0 ; n Ilf I Tl fl W'll 1 J cupula's Creek Tl.eumres s have one oth t recommendation. They are re markable for the sonorous majesty’ of theh prefaces, which have earned Wi ll deserved praise. It was the opinion of a sound scholar and a man of taste that not liing more beautiful was ever written in English than th? introduction to Linwood's Lexicon to .Kschylus. Mr. Tumpkin's Clerks. There are a number of good Jobs op n in certain big dry goods houses in Chicago just at present. It happened this way. Old Tumpkins is an exact employer who insists on accuracy in everything. But he is kind withal, and several years ago he gianted his several clerks a certain amount of grace for arriving in the morning. This liberality, how -ver, was only given upon the distinct understanding that each person should write down the exact tans-of his tardiness on a list provided. For a while this idea was carried out, but after some months old Tumpkins ceased to examine the list and the employes became correspondi mdy careless.

Most of the clerks lived in the ■ suburbs and the first one to arrive u-u illy wrote “cable broke,’’ as the cause of the delay, or “fire engines blocked the track,” or “got bridged,” ami the rest of the clerks would invariably hurry in and write “dito” under it. This formal procedure has become so much a habit that they never took the pains to look at th 1 cause subscribed by the first. Hence the disaster. The other morning the first arrival conscientiously penned the words, “Wife iil—twins.” As it happened this morning old Tumpkins picked up the list lor the first time in months. He read “wife ih —twins, with some astonishment, but when he saw it dittoed down the entire list his eyes stood out like boltheads on a boiler, an l as he saw the small cramped ditto opposite the office boy’s name he uttereu a piercing shriek and fled from the place. The old-time list is now abolished and old Tompkins is having an expert examine his ledgers for three years I a -k.

J till 3 Ld Robert Collyer on Books. You may think it is a matter of 1 sour grapes, but indeed it is true that I w u d not give my library to-day 1 lor some dukedoms I know of, if for the rest of my life I must be deprived ' of their matchless companionship Yi u have the choicest and best o f th se b oks in this library, which is only as when you plant a "slip from i t'ne nursery which will grow into a 1 noble and fruitful tree. My delight and the delight of all readers may and will ne yours. You will take many of ! these volumes to your homes and then [ into your hearts. Some of them you ' will want for your own when you have j road them, and find cut, as I have, i

that to spend your spare pennies for books is one of the best investments we can make. A Mina-Kea<ler from Saginaw. Detroit has a young man who is a feature in his social circle, because of his powers as a vocalist, palmist, mind-reader, and “funny business” generally. He is just a little proud of himself all around, but especially so of his singing. Lately he has been giving some amusing take-offs on mind-reading. Several nights ago he had as a confederate a sharp girl from Saginaw, who loves to prod him now and then in his tenderest places. On this occasion he had posted ber on thc mysteries of mind-reading and she appeared with him before a parlor audience, blind-folded in due lorm and took her place ready for the performance. He leld up a lemon in plain view of the audience. “I have here,” he said with much form, “in my hand a lemon. What is it?”

“A lemon,” promptly replied the 1 sensitive and he bowed and threw it i aside, in the midst ot applause. “Now,” he continued, taking up a I 1 piece of ice, “I hold in my hand a 1 piece of ice. Is it hot or cold?” “Cold,” answered the blind-folded । girl. “Thank,” and he tired it out of 1 sight while the audience applauded. > Next lie took a shoe from the table. “I have here,” he said, “a No. 9 shoe. Can you tell me thc size of it?” “No. 9,” responded the girl, and there were more roars and applause. Then he stepped to one side and returned with a saw and a stick of wood. He put the stick across a , bench and began to saw. “Now,” he said to the fair sensitive, “will you tell the audience what | I am doing,” and he sawed away vigorously. The sensitive held her head to one. ■ side and listened intently. The 1 operator was greatly pleased. i “This, ladies n n d gentlemen,” he ■ said, “is a most diilieult feat.” I The subject waited a minute longer.

.■■nu r. 1.. h , | I.urge round ears with a neat . “hem” around the border, well carved not flat—indicate a strong will and , a bulldog tenacity of purpose. 1 Ears in which the * hem” is flat, as if smoothed down with a flat iron, accompany a vacillating mind and eold, unromantic disposition. The person who has an car with a rounded, ovate top, is almost without excej tion one with a placid dis- ! nosition and a nature that pines to ;love and 1 e loved in return. i Large ears, drooping at the top, belong to persons more animal than huI man. Ventilatio i. i Alexander Dumas, the great French novelist, had in his character much of the natural comicality of the negro race, from which he was in part j sprung. His son, Alexander Dumas । fils, was notably lacking in this quality. and the father was fond of making pleasant little jokes at his expense. Once when the father was visiting the son, Alexander junior invited Alexander senior into his garden, which is said to have been somewhat larger than a good-sized nocket-hand-

~ w.w.v.. vijeiiin3 kerchief. They sat under the one 3 little tree in this garden, and fanned 3 । themselves. s । "1 am su(locating, ” said Alexander > , senior. . i “What shall I do, pere?” said Alex- • ander junior. ; i “Better open your chamber window - and let a little air out into your gar- . den!” said Alexander pere. Catclilii” Rabbits. i Here is the latest hunting story as related by a correspondent: “That I reminds me of the way they catch rabbits in the I’py.er Peninsula of Michigan. The hunter goes out just at dusk and builds a large fire at the i edge of a cedar swamp, then retires. The rabbits seeing the light are attracted in large numbers. Finding the lire warm and agreeable they sit around until the fire burns out. The ■ snow, being warmed and melted, ; fieezes rapidly, and very soon the rabbits find themselves frozen fast. | In the morning the hnnter comes armed with a club and knocks them ' on the head. ”

The Snail. Age at which production begins, live months; frequency of broods, one । in about two and seven-tenth days: i number of each brood,thirty,average: reproductive period, four months, March to July. Assuming that the reproductive seasons extends from . (March to September, and assuming j further that the snail lives but two years, we have the following estimate of the total number of the offspring of a single pair: At the close of first season. I'JCO; 950 pairs at the close of second season, 1,805,000; original pair at dlose of second season, 1900. Total number of offspring in two years 1,808,800.

Pets With Wooden Eegs. About thirty years ago a humane rentleman named Tewksbury to k jity on a small dog of uncertain Kced, one of whose forelegs had been crushed by the wheels of a wagon. Being something of a surgeon, Mr. Tewksbury carefully amputated ths crushed leg, and when the wound was healed, provided the dog with a light and strong wooden leg In the course of time thc dog, which was a very intelligent little animal, became aware that he could rest his weight upon this wooden leg and use it for all ordinary purposes, and that, while not as good as either (f the other three legs, it was better than no leg. In walking or trotting, Mr. Tewksbury’s dog always used his wooden leg. If, however, he had occasion to do any leaping cr fast running,or to show in any way especial nimbleness, with which the stiffness of his artificial litAb would have interfered, he held up the wooden leg gracefully, and

L' v ~ ” *- leaped or ran t n the other three. The dog lived to a good old age, respectea and admired l y all who knew him. His grateful affection for mankind in general, and for Mr. Tewksbury in particular, was the most marked feature in his character. As his fame never spread abroad, it is quite certain that his case did not suggest the similar kindness towards a cat oft the part of a gentleman named McGrath. In thc case of Mr. McGrath’s cat, however, the providing of the wooden leg was not to repair an accident, but to supply a natural deficiency. The cat, it is said, was born with only three legs. Instead of drowning it forthwith, as some men w mid have done, Mr. McGrath carefully nourish- • ed the three-legged kitten, and when j it was weaned, he made and skilfully applied a light but durable wooden leg where thc fourth leg was missing. Little by little the wooden limb adjusted itself to thc cat’s parts, the cat, in its turn, becoming accustomed to the leg: and it is said that the animal uses its artificial leg w ith the same ease and dexterity with which it uses the other three. It is also asserted —and this is the most remarkable pirtof the story, almost too remarkable to be believed —that when this cat catches a mouse, it does uob tear it with its claws and te?th, as other cats do, but strikes it a sharp , blow with its wooden leg, killing its prey on thc spot. Old Me'hods ot Reckoning Time. 1 The early Christians did not use J the method of reckoning time now > generally employed, but such methods as were common at the time when r ! they lived and in the countries of J which they werS natives. Boman - : Christians used the Homan method, Greek Christians the Olympiads, 1 Jewish ChrisJans the Jewish calen-^ Chidstian era,

astory Danube. The use of the Christian*""" era began in Italy about the beginning of the seventh w enturv, about GSO spread into France, and became general there in th? eighth. A document dated Anno Domini 680, and purporting to have been written in England, is extant, but the use of the era was not general on the island till the beginning of the eighth century In 816 the council of Chelsea ordained that bishops and other ecclesiastics should date documents according to the Christian era. In Spain, owing to th? presence and power of the Moors, the Christian era did not pass into ge^e-al use until about 1356, and in Portugal it was not adopted till 1415. In the eastern empire and Greece it was not generally employed till after the full of Constantinople in 1453, when hatred of the Turks impelled all Christians to use their own method in preference to that of the Moslems.—GlobeDemocrat. The Jumbo Game. It will be remembered that when Jumbo was originally taken from the

' London Zoological garden he dis- ■ played great unwillingness to leave his companion, Alice. Tears figured in the episode, and great compassion was excited by the evidence of the elephant’s affection. A Mr. Gaylord, who was with Barnum when Jumbo was bought, says that it was all ar- • ranged; that Scott, the keeper who caine over with jumbo, maneuvered the elephant in away to give the desired effect of feeling. When it was time for him to leave and his bar was ready he got the order to lie down, and d >wn he went, and the populace wept at the thought of the elephant’s unhappiness. When he was told to come away he came. Mill line Govei-iiment Aid. The recent killing of four postal clerks in an accident at Shreve, Ohio, brings again to prominence the project so long mooted of making some provision for the families of such victims. Gen. Bell who has charge of the railway mail service, will in his annual report urge the necessity of legislation authorizing the Post' master General to pay to the families of such clerks as lose f neir lives at least one year’s pay to meet expenses incurred by death and tide them over until they can make preparations for future subsistence. His scheme would cost the Government, taking the last fiscal year as a criterion, over 815.000. T hat year 13 postal clerks were killed. Dangerous. “Do not bite your thread; it is silk;” was the warning a man gave a young woman the other day, who, intent on her fancy work, was snipping off with her teeth the fre iuent ends of silk her work produced. “Serious cases of poisoning have resulted from the practice, as silk thread is soaked iu acetate of leal to increase its weight*