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Manner*. When, in goucral conversation, cer tain opinion* arc pronounced or projxi aitions advanced at variance with, or in op|H.sition to, your own ideas, do not ruah into an argument. A disputatious peraon is never a favorite. If you do not agree w ith what iH said, it is heat to re main silent. Of course, if you are asked for your own opinion, give it clearly and firmly, and yet in a manner that cannot lio construed as offensive to those holding different views ; and if the matter is onu with which you are only partially or not at all acquaiiited, own the fact rather thim slavishly follow what another has said. No one can know everything, and the candid expres sion that you are not competent to judge in the case will cause your opin ion on other points to have all the. more weight. S iuio people bristle with objections like a porcupine with quills. No matter what is mentioned or proposed, there comes an objection in a moment. Such a habit, may be almost unconsciously ac quired and indulged in, but it is a very vexatious one. If ft person appropriates to himself the best seat in the room, or stands with his buck lathe fire, or yawns while he is spoken to, or, in fact, does anything which shows selfishness, indifference, or disresi*ect, it is needless to say he cre ates an unfavorable impression, and dis plays want of proper training. It is always well to comply with, and defer to, the wishes of others as fur as possible. Should a person of greater age or higher rank than yourself desire you to precede him, either in passing through a door or entering a carriage, the proper thing to do is to obey imme diately. Precedence is always given to ladies— so, in ascending or descending a stair case the lady should go flrsj. The con trary is stated in some books on eti quette, but this is not in accordance with the usages of the best society. At church the gentleman holds open the door, and the lady precedes lum up the aisle, stopping at the pew-door for the gentleman to open it. Many ladies, however, do not wait, hut open the door themselves mid enter at once. Should you moot with a person of this temperament do not attempt to defend your own views. Flo would continue unconvinced ; so drop the subject and turn the conversation into another chan nel. The only occasions when the order of precedence in reversed are on entering a theater or concert-room* or walking along any crowded thoroughfare. The gentleman in these cases goes first to clear the w^y. With regard to other case* of prece dence, he more solicitous about giving •fliers their position than about taking your own. A lady should not ho permitted to de fray the cost of her entrance-fee to any I heater or exhibition, or to pay for re rcfresliments. etc. If slm insists upon reimbursing the amount the gentleman must comply with her wishes. Except in large households, where servants are constantly in attendance in tho hall, it is customary, liefore allow ing any one to leave the room ; to ring for the servant to open tho door. Every one is entitled to tho civility, and its omission may cause resentment. Ex cept, of course, when you accompany your visitor to the door yourself, as you would do if you wished to show especial respect or regard, or when you are on such terms of intimacy with your visitor t hat all formality is dispensed with. When a lady is about to leave a room the gentleman should always rise and hold the door open lor her to pass out Capacity for Sleep. Public men, subjected to severe men tal straiu by exhausting duties, learn to sleep anywhere and at any time. Napo lcan once slept for an hour in the middle of a battle, with the roar of artillery about him. Brougham slept for twenty four hours at the close of an exciting week in the court-room. \ story tohl of William I’itt. when Prime Minister of England, exhibits this facility: A mutiny lmd broken out on a ship of war, and the mutineers had imprisoned \dmiral Colpoioe, aiul threatened him with death unless their grievances wore redressed. It was feared that tho exam ple would become contagious, and the mutiny become general. Several members of the Cabinet, led by Lord Wimlham, went in dismay to Pitt’s house for counsel. He was asleep, but they forced their way to his chamber and roused him. The great statesman sat up in bed, heard then exciting story, and wrote calmly: “ If Admiral Oolpoieo is not given up, lire upon the sliip from the batteries un til she is destroyed. ’’ He then lay down on his pillow, and was snoring’ lx*fore his surprised col leagues had loft tho room. They could not understand how sleep was possible iu such an emergency. Lrrvr.R six-year old was takiug his first lesson in addition, and when tho teacher asked him: "If I were to give you two cats, and another nice young lady gave you two more, how many cats would vou have?” Ho quickly replied: “ Why, pretty soon I wouldn’t have any, for my mamma would break their heads with tho broom. Sho don’t like cats.” One day, Louis Philippe, whose stingi ness was notorious, presented a flag to the Mairc of a small French commune. The flag weighed ponderously, the Maire was old. "Monsieur le Maire,” said Louis Philippe, “do not take the trouble to carry it yourself, you will over fatigue yourself,” "Sire,” replied tlie Maire, “ what your Majesty gives is never heavy 1 ” STRIKE NOW. There’s nothing more thou iwnst command. The past has gone beyond <hy hand, With many a broken row, The coming moment is not thine; l.tfa stands belween, a narrow line. Strike while Iba iron’s hoi—sinks now. Now Is the time to do the deed, Now the lluie to uproot the wted, Act, nor psuae to aak the bow; Ka< h passing moment chills the glow, Cmskl forging twins the thought amt blow, Strike while the Iron's hot—strike now. rian as we will, strike ss we msy, All power, hois', growth {rum day today, To the criisliiiig now must Ikw. K'.suits of reason Its-1 log, tail, All are sonn se, the now but fact, Strike while the Iron’s hot-strike now Greatness the now lies always woo, Well sowed, that this is all'the sum Of flic, who uiu disavow? W ok hi lire now {min tirsl to last, *Tls always with you, never plat. Strike while the Imus hoi— strike now. WHISKY BOB’S CLAIM. Whisky Boh was dead broke, very tired, tuid wanted to sit down ami study his situation and what was best to bo done. “Hero Tbo again, the same domed fool as ever, ruined by whisky after tank in' piles of money; I just deserve it. Whitt a doggoned jackass a human cun make his aeli! with whisky.” Taking up his pack, Bob toiled slowly up the ridge under the trees until he came to the top, where it flattened out in the level places and slight depres sions. Birds were singing and dowers blooming around him; and, as he sat down to rest, ho heard, to lii.s astonish ment, not very far off, the clear sweet voice of a female, singing. Peeping cautiously under the young pine tree, there, in u little open flat, sil ting on a rock, was the singer. It was a pleasant picture to look at for a lonely man—a tall, shapely, buxom young girl, with light, golden hair, blue eyes, ami very regular, pretty features. Bite was dressed in a short calico dress, with moc assins on her feet, and a sun-bonnet thrown lmck on her head. Her hand rested on a long Kentucky rille. Bite was t representative of the better class of Western girls, who w ere continually in those earlier days arriving in the mountains of California from the long trip overland, emigrating in families from Kentucky anil other States. Whisky Bob listened to tho song with delight, and gazed at the singer iu ad miration; and then, with his pack on his shoulder, coolly walked out into her presence, and, putting his pack down not far from her, sat down lnmself. Then she spoko to him: “Well, Mister, who might you be, that walks info a young lady’s drawing room without knocking, even on tho bark of a tree?” "Please, Miss, I’m called Whisky Bob —out prospecting. ” "No ‘miss’ about it, Mr. Bobb, please. My name, for short, is Nell Green to all friends, and toothers—well, I’ve a shoot ing-iron,” said the girl, and continued: "Your name of Whisky is a bad one, young man, and 1 reckon shows yon are being ruined by corn juice. Is that so?” “Well, Nell, that’s a fact—but rattier rough,” said Bob, who saw the girl had a half smile on her face. “Now, Mr. Bob—without the Whisky —it seems to me,” said Nell, “ye’re throwing yerself away, and there might be something better for yer, if ye’d seek it,” and she looked at lum with an ex pression of some interest. "I know it, Nell, if l could oulv do it.” "Got no folks, no family, to kcer for you?" said Noll. "Narry one,” replied Bob; "never had. I toted myself and pack up this ridge to jest seek my luck once more, and quit tho corn juice and reform. I said to my self, ’Bob, if yo could only meet a wo man unywbore in these diggins, and stake out a claim where she stood, it would briug ye fresh luck and ye might turn over anew leaf, aud be somebody once more.’ And here, sure enough, I’ve met you.” "Ye mean right, I’m sure,” said Noll, softly. “But down the trail away yonder I see my folks are coming along, with their fixings aiul plunder, pan, mail and tho rest ov’om. I must put out, stranger, but Mr. Bob, let me say a kind word to yo on parting from a short acquaintance. You sav a woman brings ye luck every time. Now I just hope I’ll bring good fortune to yer, and yon may take your pile out of this ’ere spot, though I can’t see where it is. Mr. Bob,” said tho girl, hesitating, "ef yodo not fltid it, aud act up to yer go<xl intentions about the corn juice—well, then, Mr. Bob, my folks are raising log houses and shed fixings down on tho opening at tho foot of the creek, away there you can see a break in the trees. We mean to locate.” And walk ing up to Boh, she put her band on his shoulder, "and Mr. Bob, if ye raise yer pile yer can bring jest a little piece of cold down for Nell to remember slie brought a better life to ye.” He took his rocker and put it in run ning order down the ridge by a little pool of water, foil by a small stream, where he could briug his dirt and wash out for half an hour, and then pack down more, while the pool was tilling with water again. Next he went and rolled away the rock whore Nell had been sitting and singing by the drv pebbles of the rivulet, and. taking his pick, began digging out a ditch in tho grass, alxmt two feet deep and two feet wide, down stream, and took tho dirt to his rocker. He worked until sunset, only finding about six bits of coarse gold, but in his last bucket, when washed out, he found a good solid pieoe of gold weighing throe ounces. In the morning he arose by daylight, and after his breakfast of fried pork and (x\fToe. ending with the usual smoke of his pipe, he went to work again, deter mined to work the gold out for Nell’s sake, if he did not make a fortune. Ho worked hard and steady through the day, only stopping at noon for some coffee and a smoke beneath the pine tree camp. The sun was very hot, but he didn’t mind it. At night, when he washed out the result of the day’s hard toil, he only had a dollars’ worth of coarse gold, but lie found a little piece of blue riblxm Nell had lost from her hair. This con soled him amply, as lie kissed it and said to himself, “ Bob, better luck to-mor row.” His claim was what miners call “very spotted," for the gold was scat tered in spots hero and there. The next day and the next, his labors brought him the same result—about enough to pay expenses, or as the miners call it, “grub money.” The fourth day, just before he washed out, in Iris last rocker of dirt, at sunset, he found two pieces of gold, one worth $l5O, the other full S2OO. Boh was happy that night, and tied the blue rib bon with a leather string round his neck, ao that it could rest on his heart. The next two days brought no big piece, but the seventh he took pieces of gold from the clay-liko cement weighing about S7OO. It was dark colored gold, pretty solid, and twisted into strange shapes. with holes in it, but not appearing much worn, or, in mining parlance, “washed ” When the miners passed him daily on their way to the divide, they stopped to ask what tie luck was, and when tliev saw a very little coarse gold in his pan, they laughed at him. But Bob kept his lumps of gold in liis pocket, or buried them Iteside the rock in his camp. In this way he worked on, talking sometimes large pieces of gold out, half as large as Nell’s little fist, and then for days very little. He now examined and weighed his gold, and found that he had about SB,OOO, mostly in heavy pieces. This was a pretty good fortune for seven weeks’ digging, and Bob felt an unconquerable longing to go and tell Nell all about it. The next morning by daylight he cleared up, packed up his thiugs and started down the ridge to the nearest trading tents. But in bis blankets, carefully strapped out of sight, was a heavy bag of gold in place of a whisky bottle. It was early in the day yet, and Bob set out to find the ranch of Nelly’s peo ple, leaving his pack, except the blanket containing the gold, which was slung over bis shoulders on his pick handle. In a little over a mile’s walking he found a pretty valley at the mouth of the creek, where some new log houses, fences and clearings indicated Nell's home. In a hack room, with her white, strong, beautiful arms bare to the shoulder, stood pretty Nell at the waslitub, very busy iti a stream of soapsuds and Ken tucky jeans, singing free as a bird. Bob put down bis'paek and walked in, but Nell’s quick ear heard, and she turned and saw him, and her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkled. “What! Bob, is that you come at last? iu store clothes, too?” said she, glancing with blight eyes at the young man, and with poorly disguised pleasure. "Certain, sure, Nell; you said I might eome.” "Yes, Bob! but how about the whisky?” " Nell, I haven’t touched a drop stece you saw me; if I have they may shoot me. And what’s more, I don’t meau to —if you say so,” replied he. "An’ Bob, did I bring luck to yer? Was there gold up thar?” “Nell, thar's six thousand dollars and more, rolled in them blankets thar, I owe to your pretty self, or I’m a nigger. And, Nell, just look here,” and Bob took from the breast of liis shirt a package carefully wrapped in paper, which had rested on the bow of Nell’s blue ribbon he had found, and which she plainly saw. Unwrapping it, there was a piece of gold, in the shape of a spread eagle, almost exact in every part, weighing over six ounces. “Nell, you said I might bring yer a specimen from my pile, and here ’tis.” “Yes, Bob, but what gal’s bit of rib bon is that yer so keerful about?” said Nell, with a loving look, but turning her face from him mischievously, and stirring the soap-siuls. “That ere,” replied he, "broke loose from the har of an angel that met me on the mountains, yonder, aud said some kind words to dead-broke man, that gave him new life, and what's more, brought good luck, the thin" as a charm to lighten his thoughts when he felt downlieartened. ” "Yes, Bob,” said she, “but ain’t that talk kind of any? Angels don’t flit round these diggins, as I ever heerd ov. ’ “Yes, Nell, that’s so; but any woman's an angel to man that’s going wrong, who, iu the loving kindness of her heart, encourages him to do right, and that’s what ye’ve done for me. That ere gold came to me by luck from you, and if ye’d onlv take it with something else” "With what, Bob?” but Nell still kept her face turned away, while he was edging still closer to her. "Well, Nell, if I must make the riffle, just take Bob with the dust and make him a happy man for the rest of his life. He loves yer, and would die for yer auy time,” and Bob stole his arm around her slender waist. Nell at lrst turned her blushing face, and looking roguishly at Rob, said: "Don’t you think, Bob, it would lie bet ter sense to sav you’d live for Nell than to die for her ?” Bob did not speak, but drew Nell to him. and kissed her. Nell, somehow had her hands so entangled in the soapsuds aud clothe® that she couldn’t resist, but she pouted her lips, and Bob took his ki*s back from thuiu. Three yeai*s after the above events hapi>ened, in that same valley, was a very pretty cottage, with a garden and dowers around it. that indicated taste and refinement, and the whole clearing had become extensive, with its buildings and improvements. Here resided Mr. Robert Btintou and his happy wife, the handsomest and happiest couple in the northern counties. Mr. Stiuton was a prosperous cat tle dealer, well-to-do, and few remem bered that there ever was such a man as Whisky Bob. A Chinese Execution. The orintinul is conveyed to the execu tion ground in a basket slung on a bam boo between two coolies. Half stupe fied by fear aud rendered almost insensi ble to the fate about to be suffered from the effect* of samshoo, which is given to the victim in abundance, the procession wends its way between throngs of Celes tials. The road is lined with sedan chairs conveying the officials, both high and low, to witness the sight. Upon arrival at the place of punish ment, a crowd of chattering Chinese may he seen, some engaged smoking their pipes, others discussing their early bowl of congee at the stall of the perambulat ing venders of edibles. Not the least trace oi any feeling of awe or compassion is exhibited at the tragedy about to be enacted. A stolid indifference marks the countenance of the assemblage, and it is only when the cortege files into po sition before the dais, whereon the Viceroy and the provincial Judge have taken their seats, that any observable emotion animates the crowd. The crim inal is made to kneel, while a subordi nate officer reads the edict of the Vice roy. This sets forth tlie crime and the penalty, and exhorts the culprit to con fess fully. All the victim can do is to cry for mercy, of which quality there is apparently a lack. At a given signal from the Judge the two executioners step forward and seize the unfortunate wretch. Divested of every particle of clothing he or she is bound hand aud foot to two upright pieces of wood in the form of a Saint Andrew’s cross. The minions of the law draw from their belts two short, sharp knives. They are now ready for their bloody work. With a devilish skill they commence to slit the skin and flesh at the wrists. Proceed ing up tlio arms until the neck is reached, their attention is then directed to the lower limbs. The ankles upward, the fleshy part of the legs and thighs right up to the chest are under operation. The whole body is now one quivering mass of strips of skin and flesh, from which the blood is pouring in streams, dying the ground aud the executioners’ clothes a vivid red color. By this time the vast crowd are on the tiptoe of ex pectation, straining their bodies to get a glimpse of the gory figure, and eager to watch the least sound of a sigh or groan. After the shriek of pain which attends the first use of 4he knife, frequently nothing but low, agonizing moans es cape the lips. While this horrible scene is being enacted, the peanut hawkers, the beaucurd and candy hucksters ply their trade, oblivious of the fact that a human being is undergoing torture. With head drooping on the breast, closed eyes, and face bearing an unut terable look of pain and agony, the vic tim now stands. The Judge, seemingly tired at the disgusting sight, claps his hands. The chief executioner, at the signal, plunges his knife into the breast, and with one hand tears open the flesh, while with the other he pulls the quiv ering heart out by the roots, holds it up to view, aud then dashes ic to the ground. Thus justice is vindicated. The Glossy Silk Hat. Civilized man considers liis silk hat the highest form of head-gear. It is the chosen article of Sunday wear. But why ? It is iu the way at church. How many men have had their feelings di vided between their worship and the silk hat under the seat, the world will never know. Place it auy where, it is in dan ger. We have known men to carefully put it in the aisle, only to be caught up by the train of a fashionable dress, and thus dozens of hats have been spoiled be.youd repair. Others have placed theirs iu the furthermost cornet, beyond the reach of supposed danger. Alas! their expectations were doomed to dis appointment. The under corner of a seat is the most favorite place of deposit, but so eager have men been to put it there that the first hat placed m that corner lias been crushed out of all recognizable shape. To put it on a seat is even worse folly, because it is sacrificed to the crushing dignity of the first lady who enters the pew. Bhe has no regard for either the hat or its wearer. Some have tried to hang it on a peg under the book rests, and when thought has become at tracted to the service of the hour, some fair one, iu her careless haste to get her hymn-book, upsets the row and down tumble the hats. Each gentleman grabs for his property at the same time, and the result is a knocking of heads, a scat tering of hats—and, we fear, a com mingling of mild invective. For those who wish to maintain a worshipful state of mind, the soft felt hat, however un dignified in appearance, is preferable to its aristocratic brother. How Do You Standi One cannot lay out his work to ad vantage -without knowing precisely how he stands with regard to his business. The beginning of the year is the appro priate time for ascertaining it. Fre quently an account of business is kept for a month or two and then neglected. If it is only to encourage habits of regu larity and perseverance it will be time well spent to keep an account, not only of money affairs, but a record of events for every day. This tends to beget promptness and system in every detail of farm work, and in business" affairs that foresight and economy which are everywhere the prune essentials to suc cess. They talk about "a girl horse thief” in Illinois. The thief finds that stvle of horse very rare. USEFUL SUGGESTIONS. Grease Spots on Paper. —Grease spots may he removed from paper by applying a little powdered pipe clay, on a sheet ol paper, then usoa hot iron. Remove the adhering powder i with a piece of India-rubber. Scorched Linen*. —Peel and slice two onions, extract trie juice by pounding and squeezing; cut up half an ounce of lum white soap ami add to the juice ; two ounces of fuller's earth and a half pint of vinegar; boil all together ; when cool spread over the scorched linen and let it dry ou it.; (lion wash aud boil out the linen and file spots'will disappear, unless burned so badly as to break the threads. When to Cut Timber. —July and August are the best mouths for cutting timber, that it may lie the most durable. The growth of the year is then well-nigli over, and if the trees are allowed to lie until the green foliage dries upon them, the greater portion of the sap is thereby withdrawn from the wood, and the seas oning is rapid and perfect. Cut in mid summer, insects are much less liable to attack the wood, which is an important }>oiut with some kinds of timber, like hickory. Dami* Walls. rr-An exchange says: “ Moisture may be kept from a brick wall by dissolving three-quarters of a pound of mottled soap in one gallon of boiling water and spreading the hot so lution steadily with a large flat brush over the surface of the brick work, tail ing care that it does not lather. This is to be allowed to dry for twenty-focr hours, when a solution formed of a quarter of a pound of alum dissolved in two gallons of water is to be applied in a similar mauncr over the coating of soap. The soap and alum mutually de compose each other and form an insolu ble varnish which rain is unable to pen etrate. The operation should be per formed in dry, settled weather.” Restoring Faded Flowers. — The majority of flowers begin to wither after being kept in water for twenty-four horn’s. A few may be revived by giving them fresh water with a pinch of salt peter in it ; and even quite withered flowers can be restored by placing them in a cup of boiling water deep enough to cover at least one-third of the stems. When the water has cooled the flowers should ho bright and erect again. They may now be inserted in fresh cold water, after having shortened their stems by about an inch. Thin-petaled, white ancl light-Uued flowers, however, do not revive so completely under this treat ment as deep-hued, thick-petaled bios soms. Uninflammable Wood. —Prof. Ked zie, of the Agricultural College of Mich igan, an expert chemist, says that a paint or wash made of skim milk, thor oughly skimmed, and water brine, will render wood uninflammable, and he proved it by experiment. He says this paint or whitewash is durable, very cheap, impervious to water, of agree able color, and, as it will prevent wood from taking fire, he urges its use, par ticularly on roofs, out-buildings, ban etc. This can easily be tried, and, found to answer, the knowledge will o, very useful. There is many a building, as well as wooden fixtures near boilers and fire-places, where the mixture could bo well applied. Putting Up Sardines. The little town of Eastport, Me., situ ated as it is at the most eastern extremi ty of the United States, and frequently called the “jumping off place,” has, within the last few years, become tpe center of quite ah industry—the puttihg up of sardines. Extensive factories have been built on most of the many wharves out into Passamaquoddy bay, and from small beginnings the putting up of these little fish has attained large proportions. The fish used are very small herrings which a few years ago were consider©! almost worthless, being used only foi pomace. They fire very abundant a certain seasons of the year, and ar< caught in large weirs, constructed fo the purpose, along the shore of th neighboring islands. The weirs some what resemble a rustic fence extendin' out into the water. The fish swimmin; in with ihe tide are left as the tide fall below the weir, and are taken by mean of dip-nets, by men who go into th weirs in boats for that purpose. Some times a hundred hogsheads of fish ar taken at one time. On reaching the factory the fish g through a process of drying, and thei when partially fried in olive oil, are up in small tin boxes bearing a brand, and cannot be distinguished f appearance from the imported articl Thousands of these boxes are put up i a day, almost a thousand persons be in employed in the business. These fa' tories are controlled by New York firm There are, too, other ways of prepa ing these fish. One variety resemblii very much the potted herring, and pr pared with mustard, are called marine and find a ready sale in the Weste markets. During the winter great qua tities of herring, which are too large put up in this manner, are frozen, ai are shipped in barrels to all parts of t country. A Boston correspondent of a N Hampshire paper writes: "Do you the Granite State love to sneer at ‘ E ton culture?’ Then your heart will g when I tell you about an irreverent > Yorker condemned by business obli tions to spend a week here. Think' to amuse himself by seeing the city, j stepped on a Beacon street car and .-I to the conductor: ‘Does not this ; pass the new Art Mu- se-um?’ ‘No, ’ j the reply, *b”t it pusses the new Mu-ae-um.’ ” When* letters and papers come in 1 as usual, people wonder how they < did get along without the fast mail.