Newspaper Page Text
YOL. XVII.
A Gray Bay.
Forth from a sky of windless gray
Pours down the soft, persistent rein,
And she for whom I sigh in rain,
Who makes my bliss, now makes my pain.
Being ftr from me this autumn day
-80 far away.
Upon the waters Toid and gray
No floating sail appeals in sight—
The dull rain and the humid light
No wind has any heart to spite.
This dreary, weary autnmn day,
With lore away.
Whore she is may skies not be gray,
But sunlight fill the vital air—
Ah, were she here, or were 1 there,
Skies might be dull, or might be fair,
And I not hoed, so she this day
Wero not away.
No gull wings out ’twist gray and gray—
All gray, as tar as eye can reach ;
The Ss i fttn li triesj.i seems for speech,
And vaguely frets upStrttu^beaeh,
As knowing she this autumn
Is far away.
Ah, like that sea my life looks gray
like a forgotten land it lies,
With no light on it from her eyes,
Lovely and changeful as those skies
’Neath which she walks this autumn day
Bo far away.
But they shall pass, these skies of gray,
And she for whom 1 sigh in vain,
Who makes my bliss atod makes my pain,
Bhali turn my gray to gold again,
Being not, as now, thst future day,
So far away.
— Philip Bourke Martian.
JJl.'JintJLJlLlLl
The Sabot and Violin.
AS INCIDENT IN TUS LIFE OP PAGANINI.
Toward the last of September, 1833,
the artistic world of Paris was deeply
affected upon learning that Paganini,
the celebrated artist, was very ill. He
was seiaed with a violent fever at the
close of a concert, where he had been
the star and only attraction.
Kind friends aud warm admireis did
all in their power to ameliorate his suf
ferings, but without avail. Bay after
day pas rod, and still the condition of
the much-beloved artist did not im
prove. His physicians became alarmed
and urged upon him the necessity of
taking a rest of several months.
A beautifo* rooming in the month of
October he* fawle adieu to the capital
he had his merited renown.
At there Was a celebrated
which was only .
qnented by distinguished invalids. It
was the Villa Lutetiana, named without
doubt in memory of tbo ancient Lu
teoe. This fine edifice was situated in
the center of a pleasure garden which
overlooked a charming and haavily
ing-roon*- t'SP^eiover^of gamCNfcssi
conversations, and private apartments
for those who preferred the “chez-soi”
in tete-a-tete with the last novel. His
days were spent in promenading np and
down the most retired part of the gar
den, and when evening approached he
hastened to bis room to read and reread
a package of letters, yellow with age,
to which a fresh one was added from
time to time.
Among the inmatos of tho Villa Lu
tetiana theTO were four old ladies who
had become warm friends on account of
their common love for card playing,
and the secluded life which Paganini
persisted tn leading seemed to cause
them much annoyance,
“ Indeed,” said ono of th m, “ he is
not my idea of a great man. Ido not
perceive anything remarkable in him,
in fact, taking him all in aIJ, he is just
like other men.”
“As for me," said tho second lady,
“ when I heard he was to become one
of our unrulier I was in raptures, and
flattered myself with the thought that
he would frequently enliven our prome
nades and soirees with his wonderful
muaio, but behold how we are treated.
He rarely deigns to recognize us, and
whenever he is requested to favor us
with a little music be calmly shakes his
head and retreats at once Ho is a bear
—a real savage.”
“Ah 1” said the third lady, “yon do
not understand his ease jet. Paganini,
my friends, is a simple miser. Do yon
wish the proof ? Does he not always
refuse to assist in charitable concerts’?”
“It is very strange,” said the fourth
lsdy, “ how great men lose prestige
upon acquaintance. Ido not doubt
but that he is of some account on the
stage. But here! Ido not know but, as
far as sociability is concerned, I would
prefer to associate with the gardener.”
“ Ohl do not hesitate, I pray you,”
replied the youngest of these ladies.
• As for my part I would greatly prefer
almost anybody to him. Did you ever
see a man manifest so much indiffer
ence, yes, even contempt for ladies’
society?”
“I am of your opinion; but come,
my ladies, I have a scheme to submit
to you that has just popped into my
head. We must give this sleepv bear
a shaking.”
The celebrated violinist, however,
continued to live in the usual manner,
and slowly regained his strength. But
one would hardly have believed him to
be any better,he looked so very pale and
thin. His physicians rigidly forbade
his doing any mental work, and the
great musician, entirely deprived of his
art, passed the autumnal days in a sort
of intellectual somnolence, which was
most beneficial to his feeble state.
He never became a victim to loneli
ness. Asa wood carver Paganini was
without a rival. Hour after hour be
■at in his oozy little room and skillfully
handled chisels, knives and other sharp
edged instrument.-.
Although he seemed to be surrounded
by enemies instead of friends his
new home, there was one being who
studied his comfort aud exhibited the
most tender regard for him. This de
voted creature was a young chamber
maid, named Lonisette, a charming
young girl, with a frank face and smil
ing countenance, who cordially greeted
the distinguished artist every morning
as she lightly entered his room with the
earlv breakfast.
While the artist partook of the
fragrant coffee, delicious rolls and
honey, Lonisette endeavored to amuse
him by relating some of the inoidents
which transpired at the hospital. From
time to time she succeeded in causing a
faint smile to appear on the wan faoo as
Bhe aptly imitated the four ecoentric
old ladies.
One morning Lonisette entered Paga
nini’s loom at the oustomary hour, but
the greeting was p enounced in a most
doleful tone. Her eyelids were badly
swelled, her oheeks void of color, and a
very sorrowful expression played around
the finely-cut mouth.
“ What is the matter, my poor Lonis
ette ?” asked Paganini.
“Ohl lam so nnhappy I” Then she
hesitated, apparently checked by the
fast-falling tears aud child-like sobs
that came in quick succession.
Paganini allowed her to weep undis
turbed for a few moments, then said, in
a most sympathetic tone: “Tell me
your troubles. Perhaps I can devise a
way to alleviate them.’
“Oh I no, kind sir. No ono in the
wortd can help me.”
“ Tut, tut! lam inclined to believe
some lover is the cause of all yonr
grief.”
Lonisette colored and dropped her
head.
“ The wretoh ! H>'’ broken his
vows?’’ asked Faganim 'smile.
“No! no I” replied Eh. “My
dear Henri loves me too mWa. ’o any
thing so cruel as that.”
She could not continue, aak .row
ing herself upon a ohair, commenced
sobbing as if her heart would break.
Paganini stepped to the window
whtre she was seated, took her hand in
his, and said, very seriously: “ Have yon
confidence in me, Lonisette V”
“ Oh! yes, sir,” she replied.
“Very well, my dear child. Dry
your tears, and we will endeavor to
remedy the evil, however serious it may
chance to be ’’
“Henri has drawn an unfortunate
number,” said Lonisette, speaking very
rapidly. “He Artist join the army end
leave for Lille oh the morning express.”
“ Can he not procure a substitute ? ”
“ A substitute! How could we ever
dream of raising such a sum.”
“ Would it require very much
money ?”
"Fifteen hundred franos are de
manded, on Account of the prospect of
war.”
“ Well, your misfortune is not so
serious, after all. Wipe away those
tears and let, me see your merry
face once more. I will exert my
-tsjf to obtain this formidable sum.
I am sure that my efforts will
be crowned with success."
Louise! to warmly thanked the violin
ist, dried her tears with the comer of
her white apron, and disappeared, with
a face radiant with joy and hope.
W and f'.Lristmas,
with H feathery garb bl 'snow rd
crown of holly was on the thieshhold
once more. It gently rapped at tin
door of every dwe’ ng, and at this sig
nal families as. nbled around tbo
cheerful hearth, their hearts wsrm
with love and good-will to mau. The
little children filled their shoos with
hay and placed them in the fireplace,
that Santa Clans might see them right
away when he jumped down the chim
ney with all /.he presents they had or -
dered; and the li-tle homeless ones
came and offered a prayer at the door
while breathing in their hands, which
were blue and stiff with tho piercing
cold.
At the Villa Lutetiana each one cele
brated Christmas according to his
pleasure. Our four old ladies enjoyed
an animated- game of cards; while
Paganini, seated in a secluded corner of
the room, absorbed in an interesting
book, was wholly unconscious of the
malicious looks that were given him
from time to timo.
Suddenly the door opened and Lonis
ette entered.
“Sir,” said she, betraying much ex
citement, “a large box to yonr address
has arrived. The porter is waiting in
the vestibule.”
“ A box?" said Paganini, much aston
ished. “It must be a mistake. I do
not expect anything.”
“ But, sir, your address is on it.”
“It is true, but that is all the tame.
I cannot conceive—where is tho por
ter ?’’
“ Here he is, sir. He Bays he is in a
hnrry.”
“Whence comes this box?” asked
Paganini, regarding the man with sus
picion.
“ From the office, sir. Ido not know
Anything more about it, except that it
was sent from Lyons or Orleans.”
" Stranger and stranger,” remarked
Paganini. “ I have not an acquaint
anee in either of these cities.”
He paid him, however, thanks to the
interference of Louisette, who had
taken possession of the box.
The porter had hardly turned his
back when Lonisette. glancing at the
box with muoh curiosity, eagerly said:
“ I will assist you to take it up to your
room, sir.”
“No, Louisette,” replied Paganini,
trying to refrain from smiling. “ Leave
it there in the comer. To-morrow will
be time enough to attend to it.”
“ And yon are not going to open it?"
asked Louisette, much disappointed.
“ Yes, indeed, I will, since yon are so
anxious to see its contents. Come, aid
me, and we will have it open in a few
moments.”
They removed two layers of hay,
several bundles of brown paper, cut a
number of strings, and found at the
very bottom of the box an old sabot.
“Well I am not much surprised,”
said Paganini, “it is a very nice inven
tion. They have sent me this sabot as
an allusion to my avarice, and wish it to
say to me that I am like children, who
rather receive than give; but they are
very much deceived if they think they
can wound my feelings by this unkind
act. I will say in tbe presence of all
the inmates of the house that before
the expiration of two weeks this sabot
shall be worth its weight in gold.”
WASHINGTON, GA„ FRIDAY. EEBRUARY 3, 1882.
Thereupon he retreated, with the
wooden shoe, leaving the spectators in
amazement easy to comprehend
The old ladies seemed quite em
barrassed.
It was they who had sent it, and Paga
nini was well aware of the fact, and
secretly rejoiced that it had not af
forded them all the pleasure they had
promised themselves.
From this day Paganini was no more
to be seen in the salon of the Villa
Luteliana. The faith f ul Louisette was
the only person admitted to his pres
ence , The four old ladies tried their
nt it to persuade her to explain
hi:' erious disappeaianoe, but she
pi' ,er finger on her lips and quite
rf ' led the statue of discretion.
/ as truo Louisette knew something
m i plans; but not all. She did not
that by a remarkable ingenuity
ahu exquisite skillfulness the old sabot
was being transformed into a violin,
which for tone and finish might have
challenged an Arnati. Paganini had
given more than an ordinary soul to
this subject, and the world was to be
the judge of it.
Soon large blue posters appeared all
around the Villa Letetiana, and were
freely distributed in Paris.
They announced that New Yearts eve
a grand concert would be given in the
salon of tho Villa Lutetiana, in which
Paganini would reappear upon the
stage.
It is needless to say that a few hours
after the distribution of the posters
every ticket was sold.
The programme oonsisled of ten
pieces—five upon an ordinary violin
and five upon a sabot.
The most capacious theater of Paris
had been too small to accommodate all
the admirers of the great artist; but he
had determined to play in the salon,
consequently had given orders that only
a limited number of tiokets should be
sold.
The anxiously awaited hour arrived,
and soon an nrtistio and aristocratic as
sembly filled the grand salon.
Finally Pagauini appeared, with his
instrument, in the midst of silence so
profonnd that the beating of the hearts
was almost audible.
Tnmnltuons applause burst forth from
all sides of the audience; theu subsided
into one grand shout of welcome, whioh
caused a smile of gratitude and pride
to appear on the pale face of the cele
brated artist.
Paganini gave one stroke with his
bow and quiet was soon ro established.
After a short prelude he suddenly
strikes out into a brilliant fantasie. Ho
is no longer a man. He is transformed
into an angel of harmony. The audi
ence, thrilled with joy, become motion
less. They hardly seem to breathe;
and as the last note dies away there
they sit, still listening intently.
“ He will not bo ablo to surpass that!
He never played betterl” was whispered
.throughout the assembly.
However prepare*) for miraoles from
a man who had accomplished upon the
violin what no humsto hand had over
afebt-wfd ivjforo !;*c, the
waited with feverish excitement. In a
few moments Paganini reappeared,
holding the announced Babot in his
hand.
Suddenly notesf o plaintivoand sweet
fall from the new violin that every one
is moved to tears. The artist seems no
longer to belong to the earth. The
musical drama ho executes could have
only ono significance. Hear the roll
ing of the drum; behold the excite
ment of the military life, the sorrow of
tho soldier who bids farewell to his
companions, tho approach to tho pater
nal roof, the meeting of the betrothed,
the tears of joy.
Tremendous applause shakes the
salon to the very foundation. The ladies
throw bouquets and the gentlemen
kneel before tho illustrious artist. Here
and there one is Been drying the tears
which the magic power of the music
caused to flow.
No one sees a young girl seoleted
behind a curtain aud crying bitterly.
It was Louisette, the poor chamber
maid, upon whom the return of the
conscript had made tho deepest impros
fion,
Paganini calls her to him and says:
“My dear child, we have been fortunate
enongh to collect 500 francs more than
is required to procure a substitute for
your betrothed. Take them. They
will be sufficient to defray the expenses
of the journey. And now, as I am
about to leave this house, I give you a
souvenir. Here is the old sabot. Per
haps it merits the name of violin, now."
Louisette was too much affected to
speak, and grasping his hands she cov
e rod them with tears of joy and grati
tudo.
The violin was a very fine dowry for
tho young girl. She sold it to an ama
teur for 6,000 francs, and it lias be
come, by inheritance, the property of a
great Belgian manufacturer, who nat
urally enough values it at a very high
figure, and loves to relate its history.
Washerwomen on a Strike.
The Paris correspondent of the Bos
ton Journal writes : Paris has been in
distress over the strike of the washer
women of Arcueil-Oachan. This is a
more serious matter than may at first be
thought. Tho women, several hundred
in number, announced their intention
of never wasbing another shirt or
napkin until their duily pay had been
raised from two francs and a quarter
(forty-five cents) to three francs (sixty
cents), and said that all the other mem
bers of their profession would soon fol
low their example. There are no less
than 6,000 washerwomen in the im
mediate neighborhood of Paris. Nearly
all the washing of the great oity falls
into their hands. For the moment a
compromise has been made, but the
women say that they will carry out
their original plan, and are holding
meetings every week. A suspension of
their humble functions for a fortnight
would leave the city in a rather un
pleasant predicament, for there is not
one family in ten that does its own
washing. All the restaurants, hotels,
etc., send their linen into the country,
whence it is returned clean at the end
of eight days.
How They Spend Their Mon*.
Joe Howard writes from New Srk to
the Philadelphia Times: In M con
spicuous window on Broadway sMnds a
table covered with blue satin. Bn its
drawers are candies. Pries, s'>i>A The
wood cost perhaps sl, the satinWs, the
work in time and skill $10; to 16.
Profit, s234—when sold. I dSt be
lieve any idiot in the world eanKual a
New York idiot. Once started Mbeats
the deck. For the fun of theWiino-1
watched the shoppers in a grea*welry
store one evening. I was Magged.
Olooks, with side vases, rawing in
price from SSOO to $5,000, wef!) easily
sold. Pins for scarf or shirt, costing
from $lO to $l5O, were in g cat de
mand, Bnt gold watches carrie off the
honors, and the demand for American
makes was noticeable. The larger es
tablishments have tumbled to the
fashionable craze for Ame.iefaj Watohes.
They import Swiss works, pa: them in
American cases, stamp their *-,m name
on them and sell them at fabfLie* mips.
I wish you could see the fobs and fob
chains of the landy daws. The entire
cigarette size of boys now display the
old-fashioned watered ribbon with
seals, fancy or plain. -Nothing is
prettier, nothing more useful. I wear
one myself. An old pawnbroker told
me to-day that at a recent Baft he dis
posed of over twenty old-time seals,
with crests, initials and coate-of-arms,
at prices that astonished him. Every
thing in that line is eagerly caught up,
put in shape and quickly sold.
What next?
Well, what noxt? If the men keep
pace with tho women it eauit he very
long before knee breeches,sHvor buckles
and bag wigs are in fashion. The
quaintest kind of ornament is now tho
style. Everybody has to have an old
fashioned clock, you know, and there
is already a factory in Connecticut where
they are turned out by the hundreds,
with rusted chains and 'five-pound
weights, and cases cracked as if with
ago. In all the great- depots of treas
ure these clocks abound. Generally
they have high mahogany cases, some
with ornamental flgurings, others per
fectly plain. Some give the dey of the
month and tlio week, signs of the
moon and evening star, aiiiTmytholog
ioal data as well. The works are as
simple as A B C, the regular old style,
wound np by pulling an endless ohain
and hoisting the heavy iron weight,
while the long penduhim slowly ticks
and the ferocious hell fifmliy clangs
out the hour. I told yen I had a fob
chain, ami I’ve one of these clocks,
too. Some of these days I’ll wear knee
lireechrs. That will be fanny.
A Desperate fight Win Convicts.
At Graham, Texas, the three Mc-
Donald boys, tho murderers of a man
namod Martin, mado a<l ..Orate effort
to escape from jail, which resulted in
their death and the death of a deputy
sheriff, besides the Serb ,* wounding of
several other pooplo. ! opt 10 o’dook
in the
ten- |ron* the
calaboose, and with JiTfc JiAone ajr
■Tack Baldwin, the two other prisoner?',
were given their breakfast by two depu
ties. Ono deputy was testing the cage
while it was empty, and the other
deputy, Davis Melton, stood in the
doorway of a wooden ceJL'w.ning from
the calaboose to the k . cage. He
had a pistol lit each tldml, keoping
watch, and presently put both revolvers
in one hand to get a match from his
pocket, when tho McDonalds sprang
upon him suddenly and disarmed him.
In tbe struggle Melton was shot in
the right hand. His cries brought
Murfee, tho other deputy, from the
oage, but on entering the ealabooso ho
was shot and instantly killed by the
prisoners. The prisoners then made a
hole through the fLor t:> tbe room be
low and, taking Mellon with them, be
gan their escape. A bloodhound
watohes the jail, but by a detour they
avoided him ami took their flight in a
non horly direction. Bv this time the
whole city was eicited, -d the citizens
had gathered all together and followed
the fl< eing prisoners. Tee latter placed
their hostage, Melton, behind them,
und threatened to shoot him dead if
they were rirea on. Tims tho ’murder
ers p-oceoded some 300 yards, when
one citizen deliberately took aim and
firing mortally wounded one of the
fugitives, who fell. Deputy Melton
seized the opportunity, broke loose,
and ran. A general fuHilade was now
exchanged between the citterns and the
escaping prisoners. The latte i on
trenched themselves in tho weeds
and stumps, and the battlo ragod for
some timo. When the shooting ceased
the three McDonalds were dead, Mel
ton was shot three times, an old man
named Wood wounded in the thigh,
and a waiter named Joy had a bone of
his leg shattered. Baldwin and Boone
took no part in the shooting and were
recaptured. Graham was a socne of
terrible excitement during the bloody
affray.
lie Pulled .the Tooth.
A Hartfoid (Gann,) dentist discovered
that ono of his patients, a six-footer,
was a mad man. As he approached
with his forceps the lunatic raised np
in the chair, and, with a ferocious glare
iu his savage eyes, looking straight at
tho doctor, said : “Be quick, and if yon
don’t pull it tho first time I’ll throw
you out of the window." The young
dentist qnickly made np his mind to
risk it The tooth must come, and
come the first time. Among tbe stock
of forceps was one big. strong pair
which had been discarded on account
of their clumsy shape. The doctor se
lected this pair, and thinking of tbe
unpleasant nature of a certain promised
fall, he reached for that tooth, and,
with a grip that desperation made sure,
he snaked out that molar in a jiffy.
The lunatic sprang from the chair, and,
with the blood trickling from bis month,
began a musical march up and down
the room, .striking up the cld
familiar song: “Oh, it will be joy
ful. oh, it wjll be joyful, when we meet
to part no more.” He kept up this
march for about five minutes, and then
dashed out of the door and downstairs,
still singing his joyful song.
BESSBROOK.
An Irish Temperance Town and Its Pros
parity.
In my recent transatlantic trip one of
the most interesting localities I visited
was Bessbrook, in tho north of Ireland,
a celebrated linen manufactory. The
product of its looms may be found all
over the World, while every interna
tional exposition of industry has hon
ored its contributions with the highest
prizes and declarations of approval.
Tho founder of this immense business
is George Richardson, one of heaven’s
nobility, an unassuming Quaker or
member of the Sooiety of Friends.
From his youth George Richardson
was brought up iu the linen trade, but
his present colossal establishment was
commenced by him in the year 1854,
and it has kept on growing and improv
ing ever since, until it now gives em
ployment to 6,000 hands, pays out
weekly $35,000 in wages, burns annually
10,000 tons of coal, and weaves into its
exquisite fabrics every year $1,000,000
worth of raw materia). With inexpressi
ble astonishment and delight wo ex
amined some of these beautiful produc
tions, forgeiting as we looked upon
them that they wero artioles of every
day utility, and thinking of them only
as works of art—flowers and ferns as
delicato and graceful as though they
were scattered over the material into
which they wore woven.
On ono set of table linen a buffalo
hunt was depicted with as much vigor
and accuracy as though it wero drawn
on canvas. On another Bet, designed
for the French market, the whole series
of Fontaine’s fables was most delight
fully portrayed. But what most of all
challenged our admiration was a table
cloth of immense proportions into whioh
tho shuttle had deftly wrought a mag
nificent representation of Wm. Penn’s
contract with the American Indians.
Over the heads of the figures appeared,
woven in ornamental letters, this in
scription: “The only treaty never rati
fied by an oath.” Underneath, woven
in a similar manner, appeared tho com
pletion of tho legend: “The only treaty
that was never broken.”
Wo suggested the presentation of this
superb table-cloth to the State of Penn
sylvania. Having been disappointed in
obtaining Penn’s body for enshrinement
in their now oity hall in Philadelphia,
such a gift might soothe the vexation
they felt at tho rotusal of the British
authorities to part with the relics of
tho Quaker statesman. Tbe proposal
was quite cordially entertained. I ex
pect that some day tho Keystone State
will gratefully remember the obligation
she is under to a wandering Methodist
preacher for one of her most beautiful
specimens of household goods.
We wandered through this immense
establishment, marked its lofty walls
of chiseled granite, the complete ar
rangement of its several departments,
the skill and accuracy with which every
detail of this vast business was carried
on, and learned the power and value of
intelligent organization as we never
.before porecivotL.it. We looked into
rite, fccee elf in eon,fa..- of tbe
various section note tho
and rend in their countenances a re
pose of ebaracter, un expression of
sobriety and intelligence which plainly
showed that they brought more to their
business than mere mechanical skill—
that they knew how to serve God as
well as the corporations by whioh they
were employed. The operatives gener
ally looked healthy and o ntented, and
appeared to enjoy their work.
Around this great establishment lies
the beautiful villago of Bessbrook, in
habited mainly by tho workers iu the
mills; its streets well laid out, wide
and clean; fountains of the purest
water gushing up in every sqnare and at
almost every oorner; tasteful cottages
built with brick and stone, of varied
form and color; hardly a house without
its patch of greensward and flower gar
den; every houso occupied, and r:ew
blocks in course of erection, more elab
orate and ornate than any of tho earlier
stmctuies. We saw fine large churches
of the various leading denominations—
Friends, Episcopalians, Presbyterians,
Methodists and Roman Catholics; ele
gant school buildings, and throngs ol
children romping around them; a nice
library building and free reading room,
a well arranged dispensary and savings
bank.
We are informed that the disponsary
was supported by a light tax on the
earnings of every employe, and this tax
not only secured medicine and medical
attendance, but also half pay for every
invalid belonging to the firm so long as
ho was unable to work, The savings
bank was well supported, some opera
tives being depositors to the amount of
from $1,600 to $2,000. We saw ono of
tho largest dairies in the laud, where
milk and butter of the best quality are
furnished to the villagers just at the
dost of production. Some things found
in profuse abundance in almost every
other locality are utterly lacking in
Bessbrook—no idlers, no loafers, no
Eolicemen (while the country at largo is
eld at the point of tho bayonet), no
drunkards. All theao are lacking be
cause there are no rum shops.
No rumseller or rumdrinker can find
any place in Besshrook; they are kept
out of it as strictly as a wolf is kept
from a sheepfold. And in this single
fact we have the most obvious cause of
its marvelous prosperity. Mr. Richard
son is a strict teetotaler, and all his as
sociates in the business are men equally
as zealous for tho cause of total absti
nence; and the law of local option ad
ministered by them excludes every in
toxicant from their premises.
What an amazing- contrast this little
villago presents to almost every other
locality in the nation in which it’is qitu
ated I It is a healthy spot in the body
that is almost wholly covered with gan
grene. Since about the time Bessbrook
came into existence. Ireland has lost
4,000,000 of her inhabitants. Bess
brook is the picture of thrift, beauty,
prosperity and progress. — Letter in
Zion's Herald.
In the ten years ending with 1880 the
total ol nuproductive laud, including
fallow, in Deland, increased more than
360,000 acres—from 4,290,000 to 4.630,-
ooo.;
The Sea Gull.
Birds of the gull family frequent the
shores of the ocean, but often wander
to great distances from the land ; in
fact, a traveler making his first voyage
aoross the ocean is astonished to'find
members of the gull speoies following
in the ship’s wake a thousand or more
miles from land. Gulls are incapable
of diving, but swim buoyantly but
slowly. Their food consists principally
of fish and orustacea. They also prey
on young birds and carrion ; indeed, oft
almost any kind of food except that of
a vegetable nature.
The gull family has sevoral general
characteristics, among which may be
mentioned the curvature at the end of
the bill, the length and pointed form
of the wings, the web between the tees
and the hind toe small and elevated.
The blaek-backed gnll may bo dis
tinguished by the dark slate oolqr Tif
its back and wings, its doep black pri
mary feathers tipped with white’and its
pale yellow logs and feat. The average
length of body is about
wing twenty inches, with a brpedfh bf
five feot; tail nine inches ia length,
with bill nearly three inches.
Tho blaek-backed gull is of frequent
occurrence on oar Now jSngland ooast
in the autnmn aud winder months, and
in winter travels ns far South as Flor
ida. Its favorite breeding plane:* are
on the ooast of Labrador, though a few
breed as far south as the islands in the
Bay of Fundy. Audubon describes its
breeding habits as follows: The nest
is usually placed on the bare rook of
some low island, sometimes beneath a
projecting shelf, sometimos in a wide
fissure. In Labrador it is formed o|
moss and seaweeds, carefully arranged, <
aud has a diameter of about two feet,
being raised on the edges to the height
of five or six inches, but seldom more
than two inches thick in the cen
ter, where feathers, dry grass and
other materials are added. Tho eggs
oab three, and in no instance have I
found more. They are two and seven
eighth inches in length by two and one
eighth inches in breadth, broadly ovate,
rough but not granulated, of a pale,
earthy, greenish-gray color, irregularly
blotched and spotted with brownish
black, dark umber and dull purple.
The sea gull flies high and has a
majestie carriage in the air, encounter
ing the fiercest gales with impunity;
it is tyrannical toward weaker birds, but
it is naturally very cowardly. Its eggs
are considered good eating and tho
young gulls are killed and salted by
tho fishermen of Labrador and New
foundland; hut tho old ones are very
tough and too fishy in taste for food.—
American Omltivator.
Dangerous Encounter With a Whale
Mr. Joseph W. Mead, of Poughkeep
sie, is now on board the bark Heroulos
on a whaling voyage. His ship was off
St. Helena on the 28th of October,
1881, from which place he writes: On
the 6th of Juno last we raised whales
aud got them all in favorable positions,
when wo lowered our boats and in a
short timo bur second mate struck one.
In a low* minute:, efts- *’}-.* whale
caught the boat in the quarter qnd com.
pletely chewed it up. Mr. Luce, the
chief mate, when ho saw our signal
from the ship, sent a boat and had the
crew picked up, took the line and still
had the whale fast. The third mate
also came np and wont on the whale
three times. The fourth time the whale
caught and mashed his boat into fire
wood. Tho steerer was killed, but the
rest of the crew were saved. Iu the
meantime the boats did not dare to go
near the wounded whale, but fired at it
from a distance with guns. About this
time we received help from a ship
called the Milton, which sent two boats
to the rescue, for we woro in a very
weak condition. Before you could
hardly think it possible, however, the
Milton’s boats were both mashed and
their crews swimming in the water.
They wore soon resoued by our boats.
The boats hung about the whole until
dark, when we cut the line and let the
huge monster go. The next morning,
however, we saw him again and took
another hold of him, and about 5
o’clock iu the afternoon we succeeded
in dispatching him. It was the largest
whale taken in this section for many
years, and made us 150 barrels ol oil.
Its length was sixty feet and jaws nine
teen foot.
About Alligators.
Every lake that I saw in South Flor
ida large enough had its family of alli
gators. Near the settlements where
they are frequently shot at they dis
appear at tho approach of man. They
visit each other from lake to lake.
When a man, woman or child over
takes one in the woods the beast runs
to the nearest water. If hemmed, he
stops, swells and blows like a mad
bull. They handle their tails right
lively in resisting an enemy or flipping
a hog or dog into their great mouths.
I remember asking what they eat.
“ Anything from a pine knot down,”
was the answer, as if a pine knot was
their highest food. When their stom
achs are opened they are found to con
tain pine knots and black mud from
the bottoms of the lakes. They eat,
however, many of the best fish and the
largest turtles of tho lakes.
The Floridians do not think the
“gators” dangerons. Boys go into
the lakes swimming where the alligator
lives and are not disturbed. One
twelve foot long is considered grown.
Down in the Kissimee river they grow
to an enormous size, having been seen
eighteen feet long. Those that are not
accustomed to man, I am told, are dan
gerous. I heard of a young man that
was bitten while swimming in the Kis
simee and soon died. Their teeth
occupy a prominent place in Florida
jewelry. Some people eat their tails
Just before a rain they are heard to bel
low somewhat like a young calf. At
night they frequently make a great
splashing in the water. —Nashville
kortd.
The Polar regions are rockoned as
extending over 2,411,876 sqnare miles,
the only inhabitants being 72,000 in
Iceland and 10,000 in Greenland
NO. 5.
Mother Shtpton’s Successor Starts la
Business.
Tlio world'shaU come to an end—’tie true,
In 1682.
The world itself shall no longar bo,
In 1863.
Tho world itself shall be no more,
In 1884,
Tho world itself shall not survive,
In 1885.
The world shall vanish into nix.
In 1880.
The world eludl burn in fires from heaven,
. In 1887.
The world shall end as euro as fate.
In 1888.
The world shall end, if rhyme is a sign,
In ISS9.
Tho world oan’t possibly oome to an end is
1890, for thoro is no rhyme to let it dio on—
But certainly to an oud t’will run,
In 1891. -
HUMOR OF THE DAY.
Always ready to take a hand in con
versation—Deaf and dumb people.
What is that whioh no man wishes to
have and no man wishes to lose ? A
bald head.
There’s only a hare’s difference be
tween the ears of a rabbit and those of
a mule. —Home Sentinel.
A romantic couple out West have
named their first-born daughter “Ma
laria.” She’ll give some fellow the
shake some day.
i It will be advisable for such os have
rasy fears of baldness to quit indulging
in white grub, since a farmer has dis
covered that the white grub eats off the
roots just below the crown.
"When I was an infant,’’said Fogg,“the
women were forever kissing me. And,”
he added, “ I have done what I could to
get square with t hem since I have grown
to years of discretion.”—Boston Tran
script.
A writer on the etiqnctte of gestures
says a smile and an inclination of the
head will often convey more meaning
than volumes. Dan McGary says that
in Austin it means the conveyance of
ten cents out of his poeket every time,
—Texas Siftings.
Smart Aleck met Jones this morning,
and after the usual manner of the
slang Blingers he said: “Hello, Jonesey,
old man, what do you know when you
don’t know anything?" “I know ybu,”
replied Jones, calmly and serenely, aad
Aleck withdrew to a sequestered spot
to ruminate.— Steubenville Herald.
SMTOn AND POET.
“Here ia a sketch," said the poet
Unto tho edito** gray,
“ Which I- toaeeuTno off iu on idle hour,
To paes the time away.’’
“ Hero’s a club," wan tho answer,
In a bland and smiling way,
“ With which I frequently toss me off
Six poots in a day.”
Wives ought really to be mdro care
ful about telling tho truth to their hus
bands; ‘“Why do you start so when
ever 1 cmee into the .room?” asked,
brusque imSli oi his E half,
only only'my nerves, my poor nerves,”
she replied, “ which are so very weak
that I am startled by every stupid thing
I see."
Laws of Digestion.
The Sanitary Record gives the folio w
ng laws relative to digestion:
1. Food for the supply of the daily
wants of the system is mast rapidly and
thoroughly digested when taken early
in the day, ere the nervous and seore
tive forces are exhausted by toil.
2. Rapid digestion in the early part
of the day contributes to the immedi
ate demands of motion and ennerva
tion. t
3. Food for the repair of the contin
uous wear and tear of the tissues is in
less immediate request; the complete
ness of its solntion is of more import
ance than the rapidity, and it is best
taken toward the evening, when an op
portunity is offered for its leisurely ab
sorption during sleep.
4. The duration of digestion bears a
proportion to the quantity of food
eaten.
5. In youth the digestion is quicker,
and the stomach sooner emptied than
in grown-up persons.
6. Rest before meals makes digestion
more complete. Exertion immediately
before meals retards digestion, and ex
ertion immediately afterward deranges
it.
7. Sleep retards digestion, but makes
it more complete.
8. Alcohol retards digestion and ren
ders it also incomplete.
9. Earnest preoccupation of mind
retards digestion, and may even quite
annul it.
10. Water weakens digestion and en
courages the absorption of fatty and
saccharine matters; but its effect on
tho complete solntion of albumen is
doubtful.
In giving his nsme as one of the
presidents of the Church of England
Funeral and Mourning Reform associa
tion, the Archbishop of Canterbury
writes that he shall do all he can to
promote the success of the movement.
The society aims at cheapening, simpli
fying and Christianizing funeral oere
monial to the discouragement of feast
ing and t.eating, aud the entire disuse
of crape, scarfs, plutncs and mourning
coaches ?
The Bishop of Rochester, which in
cludes a part of London, says he has
1,800,000 souls in his diooese. There
are seven parishes with more than
20 OOOsonb, five with more than 15,000,
fourteen with more than 12.000, and
nineteen with more than 10 000. There
are also twenty two parishes with in
comes less than £4OO a year where no
curate was kept. Seventy-three churohes
are needed.
Ambitious Youth : What is a good
preparation for bocoming a poet t
Crawling through n threshing machine.
We may get this young man into trouble
by this advice, but weg'.ve it as a
sacred duty to humanity.—-Beiton Ro (L