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"VOL. XIV. Lots Of New Goods At Thomas N. Lewis, NO. 5, BRICK ROW, THOMSON, GEORGIA. Keeps the best stock of GROCERIES in Thom son. It has been tested and as declared by first-class judges. His stock consists of Flour, Meal, Corn, Meat, Su-gar, Coftee, and all their goods in the Grocery Line. Also Boots, Shoes, Hats Clothing, and Dry Goods o all kinds. Coins', Meat & Floor A Specialty! maw m. cvbtis. Manufacturer and Dealer in all kinds ol ' Furniture and House Furnishing Goods, Buggies, Carriages, Wagons, &c., &c. All Repairing promptly done and at rea sonable rates. Blacksmitliing in all its branches. UNDERTAKING. I have a large and elegant hearse, \ty Pp Which will be sent to any part ot the town or country nt reasonable rates. COFFINS ANI) METALLIC CASES. BURIAL CASES, ISCHIAL lIOKES, Suitable for Males or 'Famales, old or young. .I.M. CIIKTIS, Thomson. CSii.. J. F. SHIELDS -AT Old Stand On llailroad Street. — ♦- ——- - Genuine Cuba Molasses, Magnolia Hams, White and Yellow Com, Fresh Meal, Flour of all Grades. Don’t fail to try our Patent Flour, Finest grade known to the trade. Gives every body satisfaction. Try it, Hannan Sweeps,Grain Cradles, Fine Lines of Hardware, Saddles, Harness, Plows, Bridles, Humes, etc. Wagons, one and two-horse Buggies from $65 to Finest, Live-and-let-livo Prices. TOYES. Full Line—New Price*. Our Prices Drive out Competition. Have sold One Hundred and Seventy-Nine Stoves from Nov. Ist to May Ist. Thanking my friends and the public for a generous patronage, I respectfully ask a continuance of the same, promising my best efforts to,deserve the same, tf. B.— Hides, Rugs and Wax taken in exchange for goods. .J. I \ SIIIIdLDJS, Thomson, Ga., May ff, 1885. THE ADKINS HOUSE, TREET OPPOSITE ODD FELLOWS’ HALL. AUGUSTA, (iA. /v. j. A-Dicnsrs. jr, - - - pbop’k, Newly FurmsM Centrally Located CONVEX IK NT TO DEPOTS, POST OFFICE, AND BUSINESS PORTION OF CITY. Hot and Cold Baths attacliod to Rooms. FIRST-CLASS TABLES, CLEAN ROOMS AND BEDDING. feb7’B36m Terms Moderate. WATCHES! I am selling Waltham Stem Winding Watches from SB.OO up. Full line of Dia monds, Watches and Jewelry, &c. Watches and Jewelry repaired and Warranted. WM. SCHWSIGERT. Under Central Hotel, Augusta, Ga. €bmtiuil Hotel. Augusta Georgia MRS. W. M. THOMAS, Pophjetok mHIS Hotel 80 well known to the citizens of McDuffie and adjoio*ng eoonties.is io- i ' catde lin the centre of hiuinesK portion of Augusta, convenient o Postoffiee Tele graph Office and Depoi, and olfora inducements to the public un.Kindled by a. v othci Hotel in the City, THOMSON, GEORGIA., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1885. The -Esthetes. The wild yourur kitten aroused the cat. As dozing- at ease In the oath she sat. “Oh, mother!" he cried, “i have Just now Re'n A flower that smrpestod nn Orient quoou! •T is yonder by the nnsturtion-vino— llnrbaric and tropic and leonine— (l am not quite clear what these terms may mean. But they’ve soinething: to do with the flower I’ve seenW And the aim in life of a hljrh-tonofl cut Is to gaze forever ou flowers like that!” To the wild you tiff kitten replied the eat. As thinking her eyes In the sun she sat: “I should hope I had known how. sunflowers row, I—could n’t—count—how—many years affo! But they never caused in my well-poised mind Ideas of a dubious, dnnjrcrous kind! Ami your time henceforth—it’s your Mu’s ad vice— Will le spent in maturing your views on Mice!” The wild yountr puppy disturbed the pmr. As she drowsctl in peneo on the Persian ruff. “Oh, mother!” he cried, “l have just now StH'll A plume that stiffpested a rainbow’s sheen 1 With a fforffeous eye of u dye divine— Blu<*-grce. iridescent, and heryline— (lam not quito clear what these terms may mean, But they’ve somethin# to do with the thin# I’ve seen!) And the only joy of a cultured miff. Is to ffnze on such in u (graceful ju#l” To the wild young; puppy replied the pup, Composing herself on the Persian nip: “1 would blush with shame through my dusky tan If I raved at apiece of a peacock fan! *T would never have raised In my sober mind Ideas of u doubtful, delirious kind! 1 will see that henceforth your attention poos To perfecting the snub of your small black nose!" —Helen Gray Cone, in St. Nicholas for June. A LUCKY ACCIDENT. “I say, Charley, you've dono for voursolf this time! 1 ' said pretty Doris Thornton to her adorer, Charley King wood, of the Calkshiro regiment, as they wero sitting together after dinner in tins conservatory attached to the pleasant riverside villa belonging to Doris 1 father, Mr. Thomas Thornton, of the stock exchange. “Why—how, DorisP n asked the young man. “By speaking as you did at dinner against steam launches, and saying that the men who owned them and used them were cads,” replied Doris. “Pa pa’s just bought one, and, next to his fishing, has made it his great hobby.” “By Jove! that’s unlucky,” said Charlie. “Now what’s to be done? It’s uo use my going and telling him 1 was only chuffing, because i spoke so straight.” “1 don’t know, I am sure,” said Doris, seriously. “You could hardly have made a more unfortunate mis take, for pupil considers the leal cads to be those who growl because others like to move fast w ithout any trouble to themselves.” “On a crowded river, washing away banks and kicking up no end of dirt and noise,” continued the young offi cer. “Well, I'm awfully sorry, Doris, for the old boy’s rather touchy, and it miphl influence his ideas with regard to you and me, eh?” When the young people had return ed to the drawing room it was very evident that the “old boy” was dis turbed. in vain Charley satig his best songs; in vain he tried to inveigle the old gentleman into pleasant conversa tion; in vain he exerted every eil'ort to show himself off’to the best possible advantage. The blow' had been dealt, and it rankled the capacious waistcoat of the wealthy old stockbroker. lie answered his guest in curt monosylla bles; he made much rustling with the newspaper, and coughed inordinately during the performance of Charley’s songs, and finally, when it was time for the youug man to return townward, instead of ottering him one of his fam ous Antonio Curnnclios, shaking his hand heartily, and expressing a hope to see him again soon, the old gentle man assumed a severe air, and said: “Aheiir-Mr. liingwood, of course— ahem a gentleman of your relined taste could never- ahem —think of marrying a daughter of a cad who keeps a steam launch! Ahem—good night, sir.” (diaries was staggered and looked pleadingly at Doris, who however, only shook her head slowiy and signilicant- Tberc were probably few more un happy men that night within the met ropolitan radius than Charlie King wood as he turned slowly homewards and pondered that, in the terse lan guage of Doris, he had done for him self. The next morning brought him, in stead of hope, a letter from his sweet heart, which made him absolutely mis erable. It was as follows: My Dearest Chari ie: 1 have snatched a moment to write these few lilies. Papa was in an awful rage last night alter you had gone; called you an insolent puppy, aim all-sorts of things, which 1 should not have minded had he not wound up by for bidding me to have any further communi cation with you, and sayiiig that a man who would be ash lined of his father-in law because he kenfc a steam launch was not a lit husband tor his daughter. What are we to do? Ever your affectionate Don a Thohnton. “Aye!” muttered Charlie, when he had read the letter for the twentieth time. “What are we to do? it’s no use of arguing with this sort of old fel low; once he gets a notion into his head uo power on earth can drive it out. I wish to goodness I’d never said a word about steam launches.” In the evening he went to his club, where he met with an old schoolfellow, Jack Haggles. Now, Jack Haggles, although continually in difficulty him self, was famous for his ingenuity in getting others out of trouble. More than once Charlie had been obliged to have recourse to him for advice, and he had never regretted it. This was a far more serious case than any pro ceding one, but Charlie was simply desperate, anti would have clung to the maddest device suggested, as a drowning man clutches to a straw. So he got Jack Haggles into a quiet cor ner, and there, over a sherry-and-bit ters, he laid the facts of the case be-/ fore him. “Well,” said Jack when Charlie had concluded, “it is certainly an awk ward case, anti it would be deuced hard lines for you to have to chuck up all thoughts of marrying a nice and pretty girl like Miss 'Thornton for such a triffo. But I’ve got fellows out of far worse holes before now, and i dare say 1 shan’t fail this time.” “You’re a good fellow, Jack, upon my word you are,” said Charlie, en thusiastically; “but, by Jove, if you get me out of this you’ll boa genius.” Jack was silent for a few moments and puffed vigorously at his cigar. At length he added: “1 sav, Charlie, isn’t the old man a regular maniac lor fish ing?” “Kathcr!” replied Charlie. “He takes a holiday about three times a week on purpose to fish. lie starts off after breakfast with a big hamper and a jar oi oeer, nuu no mis m a [mu. uuwt evening. Still, now he’s got this wretched steam launch, I expect lie’ll oil* with the old love and ou with the new. But what has fishing to do with the subject in hand?”' “Never you mind just now,” an swered his friend, “but you find out from Miss Thornton when her father next intends to go out in his punt, and where lie's likely to be, and then send me a telegram to Clarges street, and i’ll toll you what to do.” Charlie had such implicit faith in Jack Haggle’s ingenuity that ho went homo that evening in a comparatively happy frame of mind. lie wrote to Doris the first thingnoxt morning, and the eveuing got a reply to the effect that Mr. Thornton was already making preparations fora long day’s fishing upon Iho fol'Ywiug Wed nesday. lie telegraphed immediately to Jack Haggles, and received the fol lowing reply: “Keen close to him, hut out of sight, at (1 o’clock iu the evening.” Charlie wondered what on earth his friend’s scheme could be, but he re solved to obey instructions, lie knew very well that Mr. 'Thornton’s happy hunting ground was a secluded back water, famous for touch and perch, about a couple of huudrod yards above the lawn of his house. Thither ho re paired stealthily, like a man bent upon un evil errand, at about 5 o’clock, and took up a position upon the rough riv erside path, well nigh hidden from sight by bushes and foliage, whence lie could observe the enthusiastic old fish erman without being seen himself. The old gentleman was sitting liko a wax figure in his punt, with a large ci gar iu his mouth and rod iu hand, when Charlie arrived. So completely ab sorbed was Mr. Thornton iu his sport that a regiment could liavo defiled past him without attracting his notice. Charlie watched him until a distant church clock chimed the quarter to 6. lie then saw the old gentleman take out his watch, look at it attentively, and after a few moments’ hesitation slowly and reluctantly begin to pick up his rod and lino and put his para phernalia together. Charlie began to get anxious. What ever plan Haggles had concocted would have to ho carried into execution quick ly or it would be too late. At last Mr. Thornton had arranged his tackle and united his punt poles and was pushing off’ into the stream. Charlie’s heart sank, but he crept swiftly forward to a little promontory to watch the old gentleman faithfully, according to instructions, until 6 o’clock. Mr. Thornton, being old and obese, punted slowly and with difficulty, and as the clock struck fi lie had not yet got out of shallow water. So intent was charlie, however, in looking at him that he did not perceive the dark outline of a steam launch coming di rectly down upon the,puuL ami lie was only made nwano-of the fiwa by seeing the old gentleman wave one arm vig orously and by hearing him shout lust ily at the same time that ho endeavor ed to get his unwieldy punt out of the way. But it was 100 late; the bow of the launch went gently against the punt, though with sufficient foreo to tilt it up, with which movement the poor old stock-broker went llouudor ing into the water, yelling madly as he went. Quick as thought Charlie dashed in. The water was fortunately barely up to his waist, so ho seized Mr. Thorn ton under the arms, and, after much splashing and shouting and fuss, goi him first into the punt and then on board the steam launch. 'The first person Charlie saw on board was Jack H iggles, who, behind the rescued stock-broker’s back, was im pressing silence and non-recognition by energetic gestures. Directly Mr. Thornton felt himself firmly on his foot he burst into a vio lent passion, which was in no way ap peased by the approach of Jack Hag gles, whom he did not know, with llie most admirable expression of contri tion on his face, and the words “I’m sure l’m awfully sorry, sir,” on his lips. “Sorry, sir!” roared the old gentle man, “so you ought to be, sir! 1 con sider it positively iniquitous and abom inable that a man can't go out for a day’s fishing without being run into by a lot of cockneys who have no more idea of handling a steam launch than they have of handling a balloon! And I shall lake the very earliest opportu nity, sir, of laying the matter before tiie authorities, in order that such un warrantable interference with liberty of the subject may be immediately put a stop to. it is abominable, sir, abom inable!” “(Jan 1 put you ashore anywhere?” asked Jack, deferentially. “Yes, sir, you can, as soon as possi ble, and before 1 catch my death of cold,” replied the old gentleman. “You see those steps ahead, sir?” “I do,” replied Jack. “Well, then, if you can see those steps, how the devil was it that you couldn’t see me?” said Mr. Thornton. “But as you can see them, steer to them, that is, if you know how to. They belong to me, sir, Thomas Thorn ton# Esq.” And yet, the irritated stock-broker had given no thought to his rescuer; but as they were floating gently down toward the house ho turned and said: “And to whom am I indebted for mv rescue from a watery grave?” Charles stepped quietly forward ami bowed. The old gentleman started hack and exclaimed: “Good gracious! Mr. Ringwood! Sir, allow me to shake your hand most heartily. You have performed an ac tion to-night which shall not pass with out recognition. You are a noble fel low, sir —a noble fellow!” “I did nothing, Mr. Thornton, but what any other man would have done under similar circumstances,” said Charlie, feeling himself to be a dread ful hypocrite in assuming the depreca tory air of a hero; “but now that we are here together, I should like to express my extreme regret that 1 should have given you offense the other night by expressing my opiuiou about steam launches a little more candidly than perhaps I should have don; but believe me ” Mr. Thornton interrupted him: “Believe me, sir, you did not say enough. lam a complete convert to the opinion you hold. Steam launches are an abomination, sir, and mine is for sale this very moment.” “Which one of Longfellow’s poems does this act remind you ol?” asked an impecunious poet as he pawned his gold lead-pencil. “Give it up,” was the expected answer. “Why, ‘The Hanging of the Crayon,’ of course.”— uV. i. Journ'ik A SMART REPORTER* llow Ho Loarnod tlie Secrets of a Legisla tive Caucus. The Louisville Courier-Journal , in a sketch of Joseph J. Eakins, a young re porter who has been made clerk by the new mayor, relates some illustrations of Bakins’ journalistic enterprise while he was serving at Frankfort as capital correspondent of the Louisville Com mercial: “Ho was only 11) years old then, but lie attracted the attention of Col. Kel ley. When the session of the legisla ture begun in October the colonel re solved to send him to Frankfort as that paper’s correspondent, lie instruct ed him to go tl.'ro at once and make a red-hot partisan tight for “the only re publican daily” in Kentucky. There was never a better show for an active reporter. Col. Kelley told Joe that previous correspondents had always been afraid to attack the state govern ment, and that ho wanted him to make no such mistake. Joe was a Democrat, and all his people wero before him, but he knew what his duty to a Republican paper was, and ho promised to carry out the colonel’s instructions. If ho made any mistake in his vigorous fight, ho did so because he was obeying or ders. lie went to Frankfort with the determination to unearth sensations, and ho succeeded. Many wero the devices to which ho had to resort to obtain the news in spite of the hostility of the members. One of tho cleverest and most amusing was the way in which ho obtained the pro ceedings of tho Democratic caucus. For the purpose of excluding him, it was resolved to admit no nowspaper men. A reporter is not easily daunted, however, and Eakins considered that all tilings were fair in the enemy’s camp. The first evening thereafter he went into the upper gallery of tho house and hid under a row of back seats. When the caucus was assembled, how ever, a search was ordered, and Joe’s feet were discovered sticking out from under the bench by a sergeant-at-arms. Tho official, with a laugh, ordered him to come out, and when he omorgod, covered with dust and humiliation, he was greeted withaq enthusiastic chorus of derisive yells. He walked out, but he did not give up tho light. A pipe from the stove in the house passed back into the cloak-room. Securing a step ladder ho mounted and, placing his ear to the pipe, heard every word that was uttered. The voices of the members were perfectly familiar to him by this time, and his dispatch was unusually full and complete. There was groat wonder the next day, and this was intensified when that evening’s caucus proceedings wore also reported in detail. It was at first thought that ho was iu the confidence of some member, but the next day tho secret leaked out. The door in the cloak-room was locked and the step ladder removed. Still, this did no good. Eakins found means to bo introduced into the house early the next afternoon, ami secreting himself behind a book case, where, at tho cost of somo person al discomfort, he remained during tho caucus session, lie was able to do so only that time, as tho person by whose connivance he had effected it was afraid to longer assist him. Another resource was discovered, and for two more nights the faithful reports of tho proceedings were kept up. Tho third evening, alter tho roll had boon called, the Hon. Lillian 'l'. Moore arose and stated that the secretary had omitted the name of one who had al ways taken a deep interest In their de liberations. He desired to suggest that the secretary call the name of Joseph Eakins,member from tho state-at-large. His words were greeted with cheers, and when tho secretary called out tho name a voice said “Here” from one of lho windows. Looking out they found the indefatigable correspondent seated on the limb of a lingo tree which grew ala distance of forty or fifty loot from the window, lie had climbed tho tree and crawled out on a huge branch, whose extremity almost touched tho shutters. It was not a comiortablo position up there, blit the reporter had a piece of soft paper and was writing up the proceedings as they went on. As fast as a sheet was finished lie dropped it to tho ground, when it was picked up by a messenger and taken to the telegraph office. 'The spirit of opposi tion had not quite died out the next evening, and a guard was placed over the free. The day following, however, it was resolved to hold the session with open doors, and when Eakins came in a little after 8 o’clock he was greeted with a perfect ovation of shouts, yells, and cheers. His plucky fight had won the hearts of all present, and ho had much smoother sailing tho remainder of the term. BEING A WOMAN. Some of tho Trial* ami Tribulation* of the Fair Rex It is a dreadful bother to be a wo man and do tho business up in good shape. In iho first place, you’ve got to look well, or else you’re nobody. A man mav be ever so homely and still be popular. Whiskers cover up most of his face, and if ho has a big mouth nobody mistrusts it, and if he does wrinkle bad on his forehead his friends speak of his many cares and of his thoughtful disposition, and tell each other that his wrinkles are lines of thought. Lines of thought, indeed, when in all probability his forehead is wrinkled by the bad habit ho has got of scowling at his wife when the coffee is not strong enough. A woman must always bo in good order. Her hair must always be frizzed and banged, as fashion de mands, and she must powder if she has a shining skin, atid she must man age to look sweet, no matter how sour she may feel; her dress must hang just so, and her boot buttons always in place, and her linger nails always clean; and then she mustn’t whistle, nor climb fences, nor stone cats, nor scold when she’s mad. She can’t go out alone, because ladles must be protected; she can’t go anywhere when it rains, because iier hair won’t stay frizzed and she’ll get mud on her petticoats and things; she can’t be a Free Mason, because she would tell their secret and everybody would know ali about the goat ami gridiron; she can’t smoke, because that would be unfeminine; she can’t go courting, Ikscruso that would be un womanly. But she must get married before sue is 25, or everybody will feel wronged. People will sigh over her, and wonder why it is that men “don’t seem to take,” and all the old maids and widows smile and keep quiet. Oh, these smiles and these significant looks! They arc ten times more than open slander - ■ j At i* u> lerrioie tmng io oc an oid maid, Everybody knows it is, and tho women who arc married to drunken husbands, and who matiago to quarrel with them six days out of seven, will live in an agonvof spirit over tho single woman and call her the poor old maid. A woman must marry rich, or else she doesn’t marry “well.” And to marry “well” is tho end and aini of a woman’s existence, judging from tho view which people in general take of this matter. It is everybody’s busi ness when a woman marries. The whole neighborhood put their heads to gether and talk over tho pros and cons, and decide whether she is good enough for him. There is nothing said about his being good enough for her. And they criticize the shapo of her nose, ami relate anecdotes how lazy her grandfather was, and how her Aunt Sally used to sell beans aud butter milk. A woman must wear No. 2 boots on No. 13 foot, and she must man age to dross well on 75 cents a week, and sho mustn’t be vain; and she must bo kind to tho poor, and sho must go regularly to the sewing society meet ings, and be ready to dress dolls and make tidies and aprous for church fairs. She must boa good cook, and must bo able to “do up” her husband’s shirts so that the Chinese washerman would groan with envy and gnash his teeth with tho same holy passion at the sight of them. She must always have tho masculino Duttons of tho family sewed on so they will never coiuo oil* while iu use, and sho must keep the family hosiery so that nobody would ever mistrust there wore holes in the stockings whilo they were on. She must hold herself in constant readiness to find everything her husband has lost—aud a man never knows where to find anything. He will put his boots carefully away under the parlor sofa, and when ho has hunt ed for them half an hour he will sud denly appear to his wife with a counte nance like an avenging angel, and de mand “what in thunder she has dono with his boots.” She must shut all tho doors after her lord and master, and likewiso the bureau drawers, for a mar ried man was never known to shut a drawer. It would boas unnatural for a lion to go in swimming for recrea tion. She must go to bod first in cold weather so as to get the bed warm. Her husband, if ho be a wise man, never asks her to do this. Oh, uo! but ho sits to “just finish this piece in the paper,” aud waits until she has got tho sheets to a comfortable temperature. Ah, there aro a great many tricks in the trade of living together. A woman is expected to take care of the baby oven after the first infantile wonder has multiplied into a round half dozon. And if it doubles lip with the colic or trials of cutting teeth or the necessary evils of mumps or measles aud whoop ing-cough and scarlet fever and rash and throat distemper and short sleeves and bare legs and ping sticking into him and 100 much candy and bad tom per, why her husband tells her that ho “does wish she would try and quiet her baby,” and ho says it too as if he thought she alone was responsible for its being in existence, and as if sho was considerably to blame for it too. And when sho has the headache no body thinks of minding it—a woman is always having tho headache. And if she is “nervous enough to fly” nobody shuts tho door any quieter, aud nobody tucks her on tho lounge with a shawl over her or coddles her to death as a man has to bo coddled under such cir cumstances. Wo might go on indefinitely with tho troubles of being a woman, and if there is a man who thinks a woman has an easy time of it, why, just let him pin on a pound of false hair and get inside a pair of corsets, and put on a null back overskirt, and be a woman him self, and see how he likes it. —Devised by a woman for the Lowell Times. A “TIP” IGNORED. How Luko Sharp Attempted to l*roure Information about Burk*. England is often referrod to by Americans as a land of tips. This is as unjust as if an Englishman wero to refer to this country as the land of tho tipsy. 1 know many instances where tips have been refused, and one of these I always have felt a little sore about, and think still my English friend took a mean advantage of tho inno cence of a stranger in a strange land. This is how it came about. Detroit, as all tho world knows, bought an island of about 800 acres with the intention of making a park of it. Being in London at tho time I thought I would gather together a littlo information about the excellent and extensive parks of the metropolis and send it over to the Secretary of tho Detroit Bark Com mittee. 1 was walking through the beautiful Temple Gardens of the Thames em bankment with my friend, the English man, when we naturally drifted to tho subject of parks and I said to him: “1 want to find out what I can about parks to send to Detroit. How had 1 better set about it?” “That defends on what you want to know about them. First try and con centrate what mind you have on the particular class of information you want, then perhaps I can help you.” I want all the information there is on the subject. I was thinking of going up to the British Museum loading room aud asking the attendant to bring mu the books they have on parks.” “ Thai's a good idea; a brilliant idea. When tho assistants pile around you the two or three tons of books they have on that subject, 1 suppose you’ll expect your friends to get up a relief party ami dig you out.” “What would you do?” “Well, I wouldn’t begin witli all the books tho British Museum has. Now hero are the Temple Gardens, one of the loveliest parks in tho world. I’ll introduce you to the chief man, and you can interview him.” “There’s Hyde Park, for instance; that’s a sort of typical London park. How could 1 find out wliat 1 wanted to know about that?” “Write to the Hanger.” “i’ll do that. Say, hadn’t I better offer him a tip of so.uu sort? A half crown or so? Would’t ho answer my letter the more readily?” 'This seemed to striko my English friend as a grand scheme. He looked at me with admiration, and it was so seldom that I advanced any ideas that quite met his approval that 1 could not help feeling gratified. “You’ve got the plan at las!! That would be just the tiling. Do it delicate ly, you know. Use a little diplomacy. Just intimate in an offhand whole souled manner that you don’t mind a half-crown or so, and if that don’t fetch 1 him uothinir will.” 4 ISTO. 35. “I suppose a letter addressed ‘The Hanger of Hyde Park, Loudon,’ would roach him all right.” “Yos, that would do it.” When l got back to the office I Wrote! “Hanger of llyUu Parks “Dkak Mu-1 am de-irons of obtaining wliat iiiLorniation 1 can about llydo Park, its cost annually, cost of Construction, num ber of people employed, etc,, ad 1 thought perhaps you would Le good enough to mail me any pamphlets that you have in ref erence to the matter. 1 shall be glad to pay postage and any other expenses, and ft you would do me the favor to accept half a crown for your own trouble 1 snail bo obi ged to you. “Your obedient servant "LUKE SHARP.” I waited day after day but received no reply. Every time wo met my Eng lish man expressed surprise that the Ranger had not ju uped at my half crown offer. 11c seemed to have told all his friends aud mine about the mat* ter, and when they met me Ihcysoemed grieved that Lho Hanger had not writ ten. They always inquired. 1 never saw people so anxious to help a person ou. At last the mau whom I consider entirely to blame, said to me, as we met ou Lho Strand: “By the way. did it ever occur to you to find out who the Hanger of Hydtf Park is?” “No,” I answerod. “Do you know him?” “Not personally. lie is the Duko of Cambridge, head of tho British ay my and uncle of the Queen. Detroit Free Tress. SECTION HANDS. The Men Who Mend ami Keep Safe th# Iron High way *. Since the death of General Manager S. S. Merrill, of tho Chicago, Milwau kee and St. Paul railroad, and tho pul*- lication of his history, a very hutpble class of railroad employes has been made tho subject of much inquiry. They are those who attend to tho gene ral track repairs of a railroad line. To show their possibilities it is cited that Mr. Merrill, in fifteen years’ timo, rose from tho position of section hand to general manager of one of the most prosperous roads in this country. Oner day ho asked for work nt a railroad olliee, and, when questioned as to what he could do, replied: “I can use a shovel and pick.” 110 was given work with a gang of railway graders, and in 1858 was mudo foreman of the gang. By sheer hard work ho earned promotion after pro motion, in turn becoming conductor, paymaster, assistant superintendent, chief superintendent of a division, as sistant general manager, and then gen eral manager. 'This position was tend ered him in 1865. lie was not a man of liberal or even a common school education, but one of practical idea.% sound common senso and judgment. Ho knew every round of the ladder* and for that reason was an excellent manager of men. No one was over more admired and respected by those under him. His is are mark able case* but still it is only one out of many simi lar instances. The section hand belongs to tho low est stratum of railroad employes! ami yet he is, to a great extent, a skilled laborer. Although his work is of a routine nature, still ho must hare the intelligence to moot any emergency m his path of duty, and be able to over come difficulties. This department of a railroad is one of tho most important, for tho condition of the road depends upon tho work done by tho men in it, from the assistant engineer of a divi sion down to the humble spike-driver. For information concerning these work men Assistant Engineer Alex. T. Gest, of tiie Pennsylvania railroad was inter viewed yesterday afternoon: “Wo have on this division about eight hundred men who have imme diate supervision over tho tracks,” said lie. “There aro four divisions on the road, but 1 could not say how many such men aro employed. In this divi sion there aro live supervisors, eae.h of whom liavo under their charge from twelve to fourteen subdivisions, and each subdivision is in the care of a foreman, who lias a gang of track hands, varying in number from seven to twelve. “A foreman, when picking a gang, takes tho best and most experienced men. If I see ten men carrying a five liundred-ponnd rail l get at tho opinion that it is about time six of them were discharged. I have known four string men t 6 walk right off with a rail thirty feet long. That is tho work the green hands are put at until they get over their awkwardness, learn how to be spry, and quit falling over each other’s hammers, shovels and otiicr tools. “Fastening on the connecting bars between the rails is very particular work and requires care. The expan sion and contraction of nails must bo considered, and they are laid accord ingly for winter and summer tempera tures. Frogs and switches require painstaking and must bo proporly ad justed. Thun besides track-hanus we have watchmen. There are sixty men doing this sort of duty at night between here and Altoona, and quito a number by day, as at Horse-shoe and other spe cial places. Tho watchman goes along the track after every passenger train and examines every bar, bolt, rail, and switch. If there is anything wrong, lie reports it the nearest telegrauh to tho foreman of the subdivision, who always lives along the track, and, if lie has not time to notify anyone, he displays a red light or 11 ag. Red always means danger, and white, all right. “The tunnels are all similarly watch ed, a man going ahead of every train. A good section hand has a chance of being promoted to a gang boss or a foreman at a salary of from SSO to S6O a month. As those foremen generally live in tho country, this is good pay They have few expenses, and a great many of them own their own house aud four or live acres of ground to raise vegetables. Then, an intelligent fore man will be advanced. Many of the best railroad men of this country have started where they are.” —Filtsbury Despatch. W ♦ >1 —■ - "—* “Music hath charms to soothe,” and our latter day homes would indeed bo incomplete without the piano, tho cul ture of the Yoico and all that tcuds to bring the soul on rapport with the har mony of the great master. So it hap pens that tlx* Shuttle family endure the “hum-ti-trum” of practice hours that they may enjoy the completed sonata of the eveniug, when there are callers.” “Job, my dear,” said Mrs, Shuttle, “don’t go down town this evening. Slay and listen to Selina’s new nocturne in G minor. It’s perfectly lovely.” “Which reminds mo,” said the prac tical Job, “I’ve got to go down aud pay Sig. do Potimlhercingero six sona tas in X and a nocturne iu V. That’s what takes the poetry out oi music, iuy dear.” —Hartford Tost. %