The Oglethorpe echo. (Crawford, Ga.) 1874-current, October 15, 1880, Image 1

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ZJ K Va £ 4> By T, L. GANTT, The Wind-Swept Wheat. Faint, taint and dear— Faint as the music that dreams we hear— Shaking the curtain-fold of sleep That shuts away The world ’ fl hoars ” voice- the sighs and sounds of day, Her sorry joys, her phantoms, false and fleet— So softly, soltly stirs The wind’s low murmur in the rippled wheat. From west to east The warm breath blows, the slender heads droop low. As if in prayer. Again, more ligliily tossed in merry play. They bend and bow and sway, With measured beat, But never rest. Through shadow and through sun Goes on the tender rustle of the wheat. Dreams more than sleep, Falls on the listening heart, and lull its care, Dead years sent back Some treasured, half-forgotten time. Ah, long ago, When sun and sky were sweet, nliappy noon, We stood, breast high, ’mid waves ol ripened Rrata And heard the wind make music in the wheat! Not tor to-day— Not lor this hour alone—the melody, So solt and ceaseless, thrills the dreamer’s ear! 01 all that was and is, ol all that yet shall be, It holds a part— Love sorrow, longing, pain; The resUessness that yearns; The thirst that burns; The bliss that, like a fountain, overflows; The deep repose; Good that we might have known, bnt shall not know; The hope God took, the joy be made complete— Bile's chords all answer from the wind-sweps wheat. — Christian Union. The I ale of the Black Warrior. Y(s, Kiris. I graduated at Rossmore seminary, though my accomplishments may not have Jed you to think so. 1 don’t suppose I reflect much credit on that institution. Most of my time there ing was spent in trying to do as little study¬ and have as much fun as possible, and there were a good many other girls there the who went principle. through I the course on Fame suppose I was one of the worst of the lot, and the dis¬ cipline there didn’t improve any of us a hit. In fact, I believe we would all have behaved better if there hadn’t been quite so much discipline. Romances! Of course ther Were romances. Did you ever hear of a female seminary without romances? Every girl in the school had a lover, and some had two or three. And then seven or eight of the girls all had the same one. These fellows used to hang around the iron gate after dark, and steal brief moments of blissful and sur¬ reptitious with the objects converse of through their adoration the railings in the garden. Old Betty, who answered the gate bell, I have no doubt, turned a missives very pretty penny tile by conveying secret between pupils and the jeunesse doree outside. Mind you, I don’t speak from personal experience of these things. Iam only telling you of what I heard. The funniest affair of that kind, though, was the Killjoy affair. I must tell you about that. Professor Killjoy, you know, was the rofessorot history and philology, and lugubrious-looking for a more sour and man you never saw. lie wasn’t half as bad as he looked, though, but all the girls used to hate him, chiefly on account of the teach horrid and rubbishy stutT he tried to us. The professor had one hobby, and of that was “ antiquities.” in lie had one the large rooms the lower hall fitted up as a museum, and here he had the mustiest old collection of ancient arms and pottery, and tapestry, and bas reliefs and what not, that you ever came across in your life. It was just like an auction room, and he used to take the lecture history class in there the once a week, char¬ and to them on “cuijelorm acter’’and the “ age of Raineses,” as if any of vis cared how old Rameses was, or 'whether he had any character, “cune form ” or otherwise. Down atone end of the room was the professor’s especial pet. armor—helmet, This was a whole suit of rusty steel breastplate, gauntlets and all—and the professor had it mounted on a frame on a pedestal, with a big battle-ax in its hand, just like life. It was an awful affair to look at, and if you were to come upon it unexpect¬ edly on a moonlight night, half it was of just the thing to f righten you said it out your wits. The professor was very valuable, and once belonged to a knight who had fought in the first crusade. “ This, ladies,” he would say, “ is the veritable armor of the famous John of Orleans, better known in history as the Black Warrior, who perished at the siege of Jerusalem. How many of you can give me an outline of the historic event in which he lost his life?” There was generally a dead silence after this, md the professor would close the book with a sigh and dismiss the class. But it was about little Annie Killjoy that I wanted to tell you. Annie was the professor’s niece, She entered the seminary quite unexpectedly in the middle of the term, and it was soon whispered about among the girls that Annie was already provided acquired with what they most of the others after came there—that is, a lover; and that the had been sent to the school by her parents,who lived at a distance, in order so separate her from her betrothed, and to break up the match. Annie herself did not deny it, and, o course, ail our sympathies were enlisted for her understood at once, especially that the as gentleman it was gen¬ in erally the struggling lawyer, case was a young, the sole ground of whose poverty was objection to him. To tell the truth. Annie was a very sweet and lovable little thing, with blue eyes and a peachy complexion and a red mouth—just the kind to make friends and to drive all the young men distracted about her. She had a lonesome time of it, though, for she was not allowed to room with any of the other girls, but was assignee a dormitory next to her uncle’s. The excuse made by the matron was that there were no vacancies elsewhere, but we all knew that it was because the pro¬ fessor wanted to keep her as closely as possible under Lis own eye. For a month after her arrival Annie moped and pined, and looked the very picture of desolation. The roses faded out of her cheeks and she came to the recitations with her eyes all red, as if she had been crying. Suddenly, how¬ ever, she recovered her spirits and be¬ came the blithest and apparently the happiest her girl in school. The change in noticed was it, so and surprising that all the girls other, we knew that, somehow or Annie had heard good news. One day I overheard the professor talking to her in the hall. ' “ My child,” he said, “ it pleases me much to see that you are Becoming con¬ tented with your lot here, and are re agining your good spirits. Shall I write to your parents that you are entirely cured of your foolish infatuation for the young man of whom they wrote to me?” The little minx east down her eyes de¬ murely and said: “ I .think you may, sir, If you wish.” But that very night after the lights were out, when I slipped out of the back door and went to the garden-gate —well, really, I didn’t mean to confess all that, but never mind, I’m not going to tell you whether I went to talk to Yemmecdrn anybody through the bars ox not. so uric me. As* 1 was saying, when I went out to the gate, somebody cii the other side suddenly sprang up to it and reached through the grating. It was so dark that I couldn’t distinguish his features; I only knew that it was nobody that I expected to meet. He stretched his hand out to me in a wild sort of a way, and exclaimed : “Annie!” I drew back and said, in a half-whis¬ per, “ Don’t make so rpuch noise. It is not Annie.” I “ I beg your pardon,” he said. “ I— heaven’s thought it was Miss Killjoy. For sake tell no one that you have seen me.” “ Of course I won’t,” I replied; “ for I don’t know you.” “Isn’t there any way to unfasten this gateP” Not he asked, shaking it impatiently. “ that I know of,” I answered. “ The matron takes the key out every night, and all the doors and windows in toe building are fastened on the inside.” This last piece of information was gratuitous, but 1 thought it might inter¬ est him. “You’re not a burglar, are you?” I asked, trying to get a glimpse of his face as he turned it toward me in the gloom. No; I’m “ Oh!” a I. lawyer.” “ said lie moved away aud put his finger on liis lips. “ Mum’s the word,” he said, and dis¬ appeared m the shadows. The next afternoon the regular semi weekly lecture to the history- class took place in the museum. I think the sub¬ ject was “The Prehistoric Roots of the Phoenician Alphabet,” or something of that kind, and you may be sure that we were all glad enough when it was over. It didn’t seem to me to be a very ex¬ citing subject, but Annie Killjoy, who sat next to me, appeared to be in a per¬ fect She tremor white during the entire lecture. looked was as a sheet, and her eyes so big and bright and excited that I was really anxious about her. I don’t believe she heard a word that the professor was saying, glance and every few moments she would down the room toward that horrid old suit of rusty armor, and then look around the class half in a scared sort of way as though she expected every moment to see John of Or leans rise his battle-ax in dis¬ gust and squelch the professor and the Phoenician alphabet at the same blow. Her eyes took that direction so fre¬ quently that after a while I began look¬ ing that way, and all at once I seen something that made my heart almost leap out Black oi my Warrior body. The was alive! Yes, there was certainly a man in the armor. I saw his eye glittering through the bars of the rusty visor, and I am confident that when it met mine it winked. The shock ol the discovery was so sud¬ den that I suppose I would have screamed had not Annie pinched my arm almost fiercely and whispered; “I know all about it. Don’t say a word, or I am lost.” That tcld night, when the lights Sallie were rung out, I mv room mate, with Hig¬ gins, that I intended to lie down my clothes on. “ There is mystery in the air,” I said, “ and if I am not mistaken, there will b p a sensation in this academy before morn¬ ing. For my part, Isha’n’tgo to bed until I see it out, and I advise you, if you want some fun, to sit up with me.” Sally looked at me wonderingly, and but refrained Irom asking any questions, until we kept watch alternately after midnight, one of us sitting up in the dark, while the other slept on the out¬ side of the bed. At last, about one o’clock in the morning, when the build¬ ing, had become silent as the grave. I heard a door softly open and close, and the rustle of a woman’s diess in the hall. This was followed by a thumping noise on the floor below, like that made by a person walking on stilts. There was a clanking sound, and more thumping, and' then I heard the prolessor’s door open, and I thought it was time to awaken Sally and run into the hall. I met the professor on the stairs. “ There are burglars in the house?” he exclaimed, in an evident quiver of ex¬ citement, at whicli information Sally hand at¬ tempted to shriek, but I put my on her mouth and stopped her. “if there are,” J, said, “there is no need to frighten everybody in the house.” “ There are in the museum.” said the professor, trembling. “I have been listening, ami am positive they are in the museum.” “Let us go and see,” I said, bravely; but at this moment the door of the mu¬ seum opened, which and by the light of the hall-lamp, had been left burning dimly, we saw, on looking over the banisters, the figure of the Black War¬ rior cautiously twenty-pound emerge, lifting his feet as though taehed a each, his weight was at to and rusty armor rat¬ tling at every step. I could no longer restrain Sally’s terror, and she shrieked with all her might. The professor sunk down noon the stairs, pale as ashes. »* Have the dead come to life?” he whispered, Warrior faintly. looked and The up at us, staggered back against the wall. The presence ol mind, however, which he had Jerusalem so signally displayed at the siege of did not long lorsake him now. With a stamp of his mailed foot he struck a ferocious attitude, swung his battle-ax around his head, and yelled a terrific “ Aha-a-a-a a!” LEXINGTON, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1880. Then with a rush he gained the lront quick door, demolished the lock with a few blows of his weapon, and was gone before the terrified piofessor could find his voice. As the knight stamped off into the darkness there was another rush from behind the door, and I saw, though the professor did not, the whisk of a woman’s skirt vanishing in the warrior’s train. Then came the sound of another smash at the garden-gate and the heavy roll of wheels, and I comprehended the meaning of the whole affair, and that was that Annie Killjoy and her precious young Of scamp Sallie’s of a lawyer had eloped. great course commotion, and shrieks the whole produced school a was in an uproar for the rest of the night. In the morning we found the lock to the great garden-gate also broken, and the gate, of course, open. Tiie professor was completely un¬ strung, and wholly unable to attend to any recitations that day, so our class was taken in hand by the principal and a precious mess he made of it. I think • *he professor grieved more for that lot of rubbishy old iron than he did for his niece. ward, However, on the second day after¬ he receiv ed a letter from Annie, nouncmg "her marriage to “Fred,” and begging her uncle’s the^bottom forgiveness. There himself, was a postscript at by Fred Or lean’s to say that, although John of well, he clothing fitted him tolerably found it to be several years out of fashion, besides being rather cum¬ bersome for that season; and he there¬ fore returned the suit by express, with thanks. Overworked Hearts. No organ in the body is so liable to be overworked as the heart. When every other part of the body sleeps, it keeps on its perpetual motion. Every increased effort or action demands from the heart more force. A man runs to catch a train and his heart beats audibly. He drinks wine, and the blood rushes through its resevoir faster than ever was intended by nature. Hi3 pulse rises after each course at dinner. A telegram arrives, and his heart knocks at his side. And when any one of these “excite¬ ments” is over, he is conscious of a cor¬ responding depression—a sinking of emptiness as it is called. The healthy action of all members of our frame de¬ pends upon the supply of blood received from the central fountain. When the heart’s action is arrested, the stomach, which requires from it a large supply of blood, becomes enfeebled. The brain also waiting for the blood, is inactive. The heart is a very willing member, but if it be made to fetch and carry inces¬ santly, seMsh if it be “put upon,” as the un member ol a family often is, it undergoes a disorganization which is equivalent to its rupture. And this dis • in organization begins too often nowadays the hearts of very young children. Parents know that if their sons are to succeed at any of those competitive ex¬ aminations which have now become so exigent, Hence high pressure is employed. young persons are stimulated to overwork by rewards and punishments. The sight of a clever hoy being trained for competition is truly a sad one. The precocious, coached-up children are never well. Their mental excite¬ ment excitement keeps up a flush, which, drink like the caused by strong in older children, looks like nealth but has no relation to it; in a word, the in¬ temperance of education is overstrain¬ ing and breaking their young hearts If in the school room some hearts are broken from mental strain, in the play¬ ground and in the gymnasium others succumb to physical strain. Churning by Goat Power. The most striking feature of the dairy ranch of is F. the S. Clough, in San Mateo canyon, Mr. Clough new dairy house which of $1,500. recently It is eighteen completed at a cost feet in ground dimensions, by thirty-six finished ex¬ ternally in rustic style, and inside is as trim and cleanly as the thrifty house¬ wife’s “ best room.” The butter-room, an apartment ten by fifteen feet in di¬ mensions. is carpeted (!) and as inviting ling as a parlor. The apparatus for hand¬ the milk and making the butter is complete in every detail, and is designed throughout for the saving with of labor. A receiving located vessel, fitted a strainer, is in the milking yard, and com¬ municates by a pipe with the dairy house. The milkers pour their milk in this receiver and that is the end of their duties. The milk passes down through the the pipe to a 200-gallon tank in dairy house, whence it is drawn by the dairymen, undergoing, meanwhile, a second straining process. It is then placed in Water nans to cool aud raise the eream is brought in pipes through the house from a mountain spring lons The churn holds fifty-two gal¬ of cream and turns out from 100 to 120 pounds of butte at each churning. It is worked by goat power, the appli¬ feet ances being a treading wheel eighteen in diameter, which connects with and operates a shaft running into the dairy-house, and this in turn connecting with cog wheels working the dashers. Mr. Gow says that the goats, in operat¬ ing the wheel, indulge their natural themselves propensity for climbing, and they apply to their work with great gusto. The herd consist of some eight or ten animals, ranging from the grand¬ mother down and the old Billy with the whiskers high. to When youngling not over a foot released from their pen bleating they, one and all, great and small, run for’the wheel, and the only trouble to contend with thereafter is the excess of Dower which they are apt to give it in the course of their frolicsome gambols.— Los Angelos (Cal.) Express. Brymiej’s Championship. Samuei Bromley, of Mystic, Conn., better known as “Fat Sam,” announces his ability to live or ten days with his mouth Those aud nose with hermetically Sam sealed. acquainted see no rea sou why he snou;d not be ab;e to accom phsh what is coupled with bis name, for i3 ab.e to breathe for a time wnh ouc the use o. mouth or nostn.s, com mumcation oetween ins iungs am. the outs-de world oeing kept up t,'.rough bis < are. A l;cn >moKingaotgar he open exhales tue smoke through the same ex traordmary channel, to the profound astonishment of those who are uuaware ot this ireak o. nature. Many persons who have seen the jet of cigar smoke creeping out of his ears are willing to sen lori. Though not °/ particularly ‘ Eai. Sam s fond ^ as of notoriety, Sam thinks he can estab lish ms abiaty to live practicaLy her metical,y sealed for tea days. WHERE SNAKES ARE PLENTY. Numerous Stories about the Keptiies (xathered from Many Sources. At Alma, Kansas, a man named Schutz fell dead of heart disease, caused by fright at a snake. The little son of Henry Leals, of Pat tersburg, Kansas, died recently from the bite of a rattlesnake. Willie Archibald, ofBrookfieldTown ship, Ohio, ten years of age, died from the bite of a copperhead snake. A son of Joseph Thompson, of Butler county, Kansas, died a horrible death from the bite of a copperhead snake. Ch4ro Five Italian woodcutters near kee, New Mexico, set a lot of wire nooses to catch squirrels, rattlesnake and found in one trap an immense with sixteen rattles. When Lizzie Haeffer, sixteen years of age, of Fountain City, Mina., was bitten by a rattlesnake, they killed a chicken and bound it upon'the wound, but it did not save her life. In Reading, ‘inches Pa., a copjlerhead snake thirty seven long was found to contain alive, and eighty-eight four young inches snakes, all to six in le ngth,, when it was killed by James F. HinW. whiie Mra. picking Wistmnn. huckleberries, of Wa^oF, Ind, at was. tacked by 4 an enormous blaeksnake, 2&'S5 ^£2g , £r1S2 T ®SL2! was seven feet in length. ZacU Mansfield, of Hart county, Ky„ while mowing m a wheat held came upon a huge yellow and spotted snake some ten feet long and six inches in diameter. The snake chased him, and he had lively work to save himself. There is on exhibition at Dallas, Texas, the photograph of a x'attiesnake recently ville. killed has in a garden at Farmers It the counterfeit present ment in the of hide a child’s face clearly traceable of the snake’s head. A lively fight between a blaeksnake and a labbit, at Blue Ridge, Va., grew ect of the snake’s attempting to dine upon the rabbit’s young. She bit the reptile until it was compelled to release its prey and crawl into its den. II. L. Patty, while riding on horse back in the Santiago canon, came upon a rattlesnake in the road, and had just taken his foot from the stirrup when the snake struck, imbedding its fangs in the stirrup leather. Mr. Patty killed ^i!«Ti C iek 1S ^ 0jJ °£L°t bun„ ^« as thick lar p as st ’ ^ h-.7,f 1 o v^irWui n -PiK‘ . Ce ’ °‘ ’ Lsborough, ^ Gar \ be I N. 11 " mediately ftohf showed V P ° n h J; fight. ft w esr ^ There e ’ w was * ! ° im no ‘ chance of escape for Mr. Drake. Keep iug up an incessant rattling, the snake striiek at Drake repeatedly, but in every instance he managed to avoid its stroke, and in bail an hour killed ths reptile, It measured six feet five and sone-liaif inches in length. picn Bowling Green, Ky., has the cham spotted snake. H. B. Wilkins killed it while cutting grass.. It mea sured nine feet seven inches in length by eighteen inches in circumference, Dissection revealed twenty-three eggs, SE ‘ V’ aTK jab Ml! oils, ht , four chickens skinned and stufiSd Foil- nt j a ,.™ ter bushels of bran were required for the operation John Geer,of Basket Station, rattlesnakes Pa., has , killed hundred over one within the past three months. Hj. ways carries a crotched stick. When he comes upon a snake, he carefully places the crotch over the reptile’s neck, just back of the head. Then, if he de sires the poison to keap the snake alive, he removes made by the aid of instruments lor the purpose. He has a regu lar process for abstracting the oil from the bodies. The oil is very valuable, and sells readily for $1 per ounce. It is saiu to have great curative powers. Life in a German Schloss. The routine of life was quiet, even monotonous,hut to an American woman, fresh from the “fitful fever” of Ameri¬ The can housekeeping, sweet and restful. servants were numerous and well trained, and performed their duties with little noise, and at the right time and in the right manner. It must be said in passing that it took ten men and women to do the work which half that number would be required to perform in an American household. Then, on the have other hand, it must be stated that they net half our conveniences. Their utensils are primitive and cumbrous, and they have much to “fetch and carrybut, only looking at results, one can sigh. indulge The in an envious and useless absence of those pests of American housekeeping, the weekly why washing the and ironing days, is one reason German servants are able to go about their work with so much more regularity and thoroughness. is In Ger¬ many the family wash done no oftener than once a month—in many places not oftener than once in three or six months —and then is done by extra help hired for the occasion. On Monday of the week devoted to this work, according to and my began observations, the women c me preparations. The eio'-es, etc., were sorted under the supervision of wood the lady’s maid or housekeeper, the laid ready for lighting under th great boiler in the wash-house, and every tub, hogshead, etc., filled with water. The water was pumped labori¬ ously, in and brought from some distance cumbrous buckets. The carriers wore upon tbeir shoulders for this purpose heavy wooden yokes, like ox-yokes, with a chain and hook at each end, to which the full buckets were attached. The next morning at three o’clock they were at work, busy as bees, and out Washboards, atoutThfS-touse Llll those instruments of d° struetion, were unknown, all ruh hi n a be ing done between their horny knuckles. The ironing is done in Germanv by means of a mancle, where possible, and the clothes are beautifully smooth and clean. Tiie whole atmosphere of the place j was cooed, peaceful and drowsy. Pigeons swallows twittered, from morn j until ni lit. These and the musical Paying of the hounds, the lowing of dis tant cattle, and the muffled of wagons upon the chaussee, were the sounds to which the ear became attuned. The occasional shriek of a locomotive was the tnly reminder of a world outside this sleepy hollow of a place.— Atlantic Monthly. " r " Red Surah silk is still the favorite material for illuminating dark or sober tinted costumes. FOR THE FAIR SEX. Fashion Notes. Large collars and fichus are much worn. Pelerines of jet beads are worn with black toilets. Large red chenille cords will be used in millinery. Jet and garnet will be used on dresses and bonnets. Bonnets will be trimmed with long piled silk plush, lined Strings of new bonnets are of plush with satin. the Long fall straight directory mantles are wraps. q,-,,- „_____. Very p ^ ain . or muc , ^ ruffled and draped. ™ dresses are ° importations, . = Cord3 and tassels are worn instead of belts with the newest costumes, Very small bonnets and very large round hats are worn this fall, in Mummy-cloths stylish of fine pure wool, and dark colors, are offered for winter. - A suceessipn of small flounces ruflies or teim the skii*& ol rich fall cos tumes. " Woolen goods bordered on one sel I„ a a with stripes are a “ ° P novelties cSS?LaS°arJ\mong T , , ... s attlaetffe ‘ 1 he metal , , ornaments for , hats new and , |?°p ts large and handsomely ae are vei’y nnisnea. Si ^ e comb3 of shell, jet, ivory and co . > . as wea as gold and silver 1 , are a = aia m ase - The crown and brim of the bonnet this fall are smoothly covered with beaded net. dresses Among the most fashionable ball are black tulle toilets embi'oider¬ e d with gold. Plush and furry felt hats and bonnets are among the first fall productions and importations. There is a tendency toward making sleeves much wider at the wrist than those worn at present, Cloth of gold embroidered with pearl, garnet and amber beads, appears among choice fall importations. Bags or reticules carried on the arm or fastened to the waist accompany nearly all new costumes. Long pile silk with plush, in bright, dark colors, tipped white or old gold, will be much used in millinery, J ^~ feathers used m the new . bonnets a f e fastened but once—that is, at the and the tips are left loose, Suits in dark colors are being made for dressy purposes. Surah glaces and changeable fabrics are used for these, Shoes grow more fanciful every sea son, and are now embroidered in colors or slashed open to display the hosiery, Coiffures are not quite so low in the back as they have been, but the ten deney is to plain and flat, not fluffy, hair dressing. It is said that the cinnamon shade Worth has used during the summer will be among the most popular colors next ‘ T Large and . finely , finished „ . . , claps, , re S S " l^nf n = SO h^neti Large black silk collars, .. with flowers P ai oted on them in water colors., like designs on a fan, York have made their ap pearance m New city, A pretty sast to wear with a white costume can be made of white toile re¬ ligieuse, finished shawl at the ends with sec tions of India patterns, Ostrich feathers, long, demi-long and tips, -will be used on winter millinery, quite to the exclusion of flowers. Birds of all kinds will also be worn . The new woolen handkerchiefs are a yard square, which is the whole width of the fabric, aDd are sold in sets with¬ out cutting the square apart. For the street dark shades of cash mere are shown in four of the stylish purple shades ranging from mauve to dahlia, all of which have red tints. A combination of plain goods with woolen Madras plaid will he the leading style this fall, and suits of this descrip¬ tion are already becoming popular. A favorite combination for fall suits is coachman's drab for the principal part of the costume, with borderings of shaded stripes of heliotrope and Ophelia. Fall bonnets plush are principally finished felts small copate shapes of and furry beavers. They are trimmed with plaid velvet and feathers and are to be worn far back on the head. Fine all-wool goods with a border for trimming are among recent all importa¬ tions. They come m the new fall colors, and tbe borders, which are from three to five inches wide, are very hand¬ some. Uncut or Terry velvet is now shown in changeable colors, the ribs of a differ¬ ent tint from tbe body of the goods and will be much used next winter for mil¬ linery as well as for dress trimming, lining and facing. The colors for fall are heliotrope in all shades (which includes mauves and violets), sea-browns and coffee-browns (coffee in tbe bean, roasted and ground), vanilla, a shade of yellow resembling Indian corn, slate-gray, willow-green, steel-blue and porcelain-blue. The princess dress continues to be worn. Certain alterations are made, such as having a basque in front, and the princess cut in the back, or the basque in the back with the princess cut in front. Sometimes it is made in the back with a postillicn or long coat¬ tails. Tiie «* erman countess, But the German countess, according to my observation, is briskly a plain, domestic creature, who trots about during the forenoon hours, attired in a simple short dress, with big apron and snowy cap, a heavy key-basket jingling in her band. Shearrangestothe minutestde tail the meals, of the family, the servants 1 of the house, and the laborers in the court, all of whom receive a separate bill of fare. Every article required in the preparation of these meals, even to the salt, is ca; efully weighed out. Each servant has so much sugar, tea, and coffee per week, which he can consume at pleasure. I hat this alone is a labor i oug task every housekeeper will admit At dinner the countess appears freshly, dinner but still simply, dressed. After she is seen with knitting in hand, or a YOL. YI. NO 18. great basket of mending by her side, working American with housewife, as much assiduity, as any herself much time hardly allowing as for reading or recreation. Each napkin, towel, etc., is held up against the light, and rigidly inspected; coarsest crash each towel thin place, even in the for kitchen use, is carefully darned. I was much amused, at one place where I visited, to see the ing-school, daughter of the house, fresh from board¬ ■vfrith going basket thi’ough this process supervision a great of linen, under the of her mother. I remarked rather in the way of seif-eongratulation, that in America we made ourselves less trouble. “ What!” exclaimed the lady. “ You do nut mend your linen?” “Not the kitchen towels, at all events,” I ventured to answer. “Oh, Frau S-!” exclaimed the young girl, with melodramatic fervor. “Take me to America with you! A land where one need not darn the kitchen towels must be heavenly !”—Atlantic Monthly. Marriage Customs of tUe {Undoes. Ram Chandra Bose’s address at the Emory grove camp meeting, near Balti¬ more, caused intense amusement. He gave an account of the marriage relation among the Hindoos, and maintained that a woman might become a widow before she was born. “ Sometimes,” said he, “ boys of three and girls of two years of age, and very often boys of five and girls of three, are married, and sometimes even before they are born — that is, of course, conditionally; and I have known girls that were ushered into the world as widows. A widow is is not allowed to marry, either, but a widower may, Hindoo and is often compelled to do so. women cannot read they cannot sing, they cannot talk podtics. They have nothing to do; no specific In object in life, Miserable crea¬ tures ! the monotony of their lives a quarrel is about the only healthy thing. You are laughing, but you must remem¬ ber that quarrels must exist, or nations and We politicians would who die of inanition. have women with you are called termagants. They quarrel some¬ times for a week, and I liavc known them to continue for twenty-one days.” OiPDiug. The Countess of Antrim has effected a diversion. The cards for her last after¬ noon “ At Home” in Lowndes square were marked “ Dipping at 4:30 precise¬ ly,” and, as may be imagined, this cre¬ ated a considerable excitement. What could be about to happen? Was the countess bent on a bathing party ? Was it some American surprise? What could it be? It was simply that each visitor receptacle dipped and his or hand into a vast drew forth some small and elegant present. The idea proved a great success, and will, I have no doubt,, be frequently adopted at fashionable re¬ ceptions. It adds considerably to the opportunities for display; it will enable people to show off their wealth in an underiable manner, and that seems the great ambition of society .—London Let¬ ter. The Cat’s Decision.—A Fable. One day a bird of rare plumage and song sat on the limb of a tree overlook¬ ing a pond, and when said: a catfish arose to the surface “ You may be able to fly through the air, but you can’t swim. You are not half so big a gunboat as you pretend to be.” This salutation nettled the bird, and he spunked up and replied: “Iam a better man than you are any day in the week, and if you were up here on this limb I’d prove it or break my wings trying to.” “Pooh! If you were down here in the pond, I’d take the brag out of you in about a York minute!” sneered the cat¬ fish. After some further sass it was agreed that they should go to the cat and have a test to see which excelled. It so hap¬ pened that the cat was out to see if there was any chance to pick up a bone at some one else’s expense, and the bird quickly brought her to the banks of the pond. see,” began the she “You cat as stroked her whiskers and looked wise, “ this bird cannot swim and the catfish cannot fly. Therefore, you must meet on neutral ground. Each thinks that his decide. cause is The right, catfish and will you come to me o swim to the bank and the bird will alight on his back. One will try to pull the other down, and the other will try to pull the one up, and may the best man win.” The programme was carried out, each being certain of victory; but while they were struggling, the cat raked in both for the When benefit of her stomach. “ men can’t agree,” mused the satisfied cat, as she walked homewards, “ they can always go to law, and the law will settle the dispute, if it has to eat the cause of it. “ P. S.—Titles examined and the tit lers devoured with neatness and dis¬ patch.” Moral—In the first place, at In peg away second what you can do best. the place, let other people have the same privilege. Brag is a good dog, but the umpire rakes in all the profits.— Detroit Free Press. Words ot Wisdom. Never be ashamed of employment that earns an honest living. Good health is a blessing that few think of being grateful for. Envy is destroyed by love. true friendship, and coquetry by true Someremnants of good can be found in tbe most depraved characters. When love begins to sicken and decay, it useth an enforced ceremony. Justice consists in giving doing them no injury to man; decency in no of¬ fense. The pungency of pleasure is as tran¬ sient as the foam that mantles round its brimming cup. Against general fears remember how very precarious life is, take what care you will; how short it is, last as long as it ever does. True repentance has a double aspect; it looks upon things past the with a weep¬ ing eye, and upon future with a watchful eye. What a folly it is to dread the thought of throwing away life at once, and yet have no regard to throwing it away by parcels and piecemeal. What would be the state ot the high¬ ways of life if we did r ot drive our thought-sprinklers sometimes. through them, with, valve open, An Old Sicilian Town. It is a very old place, with narrow streets going up and down by means of wide, stone paved stairs, which prevent any carriages. The walls of the houses, which are never more than two stories high, seemed crumbling to dust, and re¬ mind us more of Pompeii as it looks now than any other old town; the inte¬ riors were mere dark holes, crowded by a rural population. There is but one object of antiquity, a church, of which the walls and most of the columns ones belonged to a temple of Vesta. There is an old traditi.on about this temple and the progenitors of the people of this town which is worth relating: During the many centuries of decay of the Roman empire, the strict relig¬ ious laws and customs were so far re¬ laxed that whenever any one of the vestal virgins was discovered faithless to her vows, instead of being buried alive, according to the old law, she was relegated to this temple of Vesta on Mount Eryx, where, at length, she and others like her intermarried with the priests aud people of the place, who were of Trojan origin. From their union This, descended the present tradition, population. yet of course, is a mere it is|supported by a very curious physion logical fact. The natives of this old Roman moun¬ tain town have more of the type of face and person than any of the other two millions of people that in¬ habit Sicily. The women are famous for long their beauty, their fair complexions, superb necks, large black eyes and busts. There are also many blonds with blue eyes among them—a type never seen in the true Sicilian race. We had heard this story, and were anxious to observe the female part of the population; but as w walked, or rather climbed, up and d<mn the steps of the streets, we saw none but men and* very old women sitting in front of their dismal house doors. oil, There were sliop§ where they clay sold contained in just such huge as frying one their sees at Pompeii; the public threshold cooks of meats at their front door; lamps both of clay and bronze, bakers’ of Pompeian shape; bread on the counters of the precise pat¬ tern as that found carbonized at Pom¬ peii ; and many other thing reminded ns of that old Roman town .—Atlantic Monthly. Brides Carrie a off b? Pirates. One of the most interesting features of Venetian life were the festivals which occurred every year, and served to keep in remembrance certain events in the history of the city. Among these was one kept annually for cen¬ turies called “ La Festa della Marie,” and this is the incident it commemo¬ rates : In very old times, it was the custom in Venice to have all the mar¬ riages among the nobles and chief citi¬ zens celebrated on the same day, and in the same church in the eastern part of the city, on a little island called Olivolo, where the bishop lived. On the day of the fete, elegant gondolas were seen on the waters carrying people dressed in holiday attire to the appointed place, and the young couples landed to the sound of sweet and joyou3 music. The jewels and other presents given to the brides were carried in the procession,and a lpng train of friends, relatives and other attendants came after. In A.D. 933, an event happened at this ceremony which came very near The ending pirates tragically Istria, for the happy neighboring lovers. of a country, were in the habit of scouring the Adriatic, and were the terror of all the cities on the coast. Always alert for plunder, they decided that the time for the Venetian wedding feast would be a favorable one to enrich themselves very easily. Near to Olivolo uninhabited was a small island, at that time and here, the day before the fete, the wily Istriotes concealed themselves and their light vessels. The next day, the gay companies passed slowly along to the church, un¬ conscious of danger. The services be San and the espoused couples stood be¬ fore the altar. Then suddenly the Istriote pirates, swift as arrows, rowed their boats into the harbor where the gay procession had just disembarked. In the midst of the solemn service, the doors of the church were thrown open and the dark-bearded pirates rushed in. With their drawn swords in their hands, they made their way to the altar, and, snatching up the terrified forgetting brides, they rushed to their boats, not to secure the caskets with the bridal gifts. Before the horrified bridegrooms and guests could realize what had“happened, the robbers were carrying their strokes prize, with swift and steady toward the shores of Istria. The Doge was assisting at the cere¬ mony; but, rushing from the church, he called on all to follow, till the num¬ ber of citizens soon swelled to hun¬ dreds, as they ran to the wharf, shout¬ ing for vengeance. the harbor, There were several ships in and they hastily embarked. Every sail was unfurled,and they started in pursuit of the pirates and their precious booty. The wind being favorable they over¬ took them in the lagoons, or low water near the shore. It was not to be ex¬ pected the that any quarter would be restored given to robbers. The girls were unhurt to their lovers, and all the jewels were recovered. It is said that every pirate was fettered and thro wn headlong into the sea, not one escaping to tell the story to his countrymen.— St. Nicholas. Cows’ Tails as Barometers. John B. Coyner, a farmer, residing Ind., near Palestine, Hancock county, which relates a singular incident hap¬ pened at his farm a short time since. His hired man was in the act of water¬ ing the cows, nine in nnmber. trough, They were standing around the pump awaiting his action, when all at once, with tails erect, they made a stampede down the lane as fast as their legs this would carry them. The cause of sudden.freak was a mystery to the hired man, but it was not long before he was let into what appears to have been the secret of the stampede. Suddenly, al¬ though the sky was clear and the atmos¬ phere still, a young cyclone, not over twenty feet in breadth, darted down from the sky, and striking the earth near the pump, twisted off live large beech shade-trees, standing near by, as though they had been mere weeds. When the cows made the stampede there were no indications of its approach, of and by what mysterious rule foie sight the cattle “smelt trouble in the air” is one of the things which “ no feller can find out _ A La Crosse minister prayed and tor chfise “who are smitten with iiine?s, those j who have gone a fishing, atid ! those too }."3.Y to dress for ct^rph,”