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TIMELY TOPICS One of ihr mm v rood poii ts of tbe new oonstitutin t f Arkansas, ndop'ed less than a y a- 1 to i* the provision for the payment of the etatr and >ht. This provision i i-owhsing ear riel out under the means provided by the last legist, ture. Jared R. Buell, of Indianapolis, and Susan D. Gilbert, of Athol, Afus., have “married" themselves hr a written con tract, which iN to “he iu foree during our physical lives, provided our mutual love natures ever blend as now—but to terminate without prejudice In the wish of either partv, if love shall ever cease to be mutual," In 1870, New York oit-y had a popula tion of 942,292, and a municipal debt of *122 860,780. In 1871, London had a popnlation of 3,266.987, and a city debt of 825 918,000. These figures are im posing. The city and county debts of the whole union are estimated to Ire to day 815,000,000; bur as this estimate is only for those having one million and over of liabilities, the total may be set down at a thousand million. Add the stale aud national debts and there re s ilta a heavy load for posterity. Latkii advices from France confirm previous reports of the frightful oliarae ter of the inundation along tlio river G.iroun". Many towns have been sub merged aril who's sections of country overflowed. More than a thousand lives were lost, over two hundred dead bodies truing fonud in one village. Twenty thousand people are homeless and suf fering. President MacMahon has de parted for the scene of desolalion to render t-uoh assistance as may he nec essary. The Gironne rises in the Pyrenees, ||a the coufines of Spain, aud is subject to overflow, on account of the genera l flatness of its banks. People see things differently. For instauce, the terrible earthquake that rec utly destroyed Hni ,Tose -V- Cucnta, in Columbia. When the catastrophe most of the inhabitants went Gown upon their knees and prayed for relief and mercy. Yet, in the midst of the scene, when the earth was heaving, buildings falling, and the dying groans and shrieks of men, women and children tilling the air, n wild horde of demon! sCj*i thieves and robbers swarmed iuL tie- towns, f ock'Tir- h-.qses. | hur no bank vaults, and plundering the dead, and even murdering. If an earthquake w.ll not quicken a mai's co. science, there is no telling what will. The New York World makes the establishment of a zoological garden in Philadelphia the occasion tor the pre sentation of some interesting facts con cerning the famous Loudon zoological gardens. The London collection in 18711 included mCWL 1 j r birds and 225 reptiles, and was at that time, as yet, the largest in existence. The first rhinoceros cost £I,OOO ; the four giraffes £7OO, and their carriage an additional £700; the elephahtand a calf, £BOO, anil the hippopotamus, though a gift, who not brought home aud housed for less than £I.OOO. The oost. of maintaining the London gardens is very : sreat, Put the rec ipts are ample to l xCef it. The American riflo team lias achieved a great victory in lit land over the crack shots of that country. A match was shot last wv,k between the two teams. In the first boat, at eight hundred yards, tin 1 Americans weio beaten by one point, but in the *wo succeeding bouts, at nine hundred end a thousand ,’ards respectively, the Americans came out ahead, thus winning the match. The victory of the Americans was to ceivexl with tremendous enthusiasm, and they were the recipients of the most distinguished honors from the populace and their competitors. The contest has been marked by the most fraternal feel ing fin all sides. The American rifle men have been treated wiM. tiie utmost e insideralion by their hosts,’ and even the sting of defeat has not caused any suspension of the friendly intercourse, A private soldier of Prof. .Tenney’s escort, in his geological survey of the Black Hills, writes that he foned gold by means of a pick and a shovel, while the geologists were trying to find it by scientific principles. His advice is that those desirous of going gold hunting should hold themselves in readiness, and the instant the Indian treaty is an nulled to hasten on. The party had encountered three mining camps on French creek. They were panning out about 810 a day, each, and were of the opinion that, when they get their work ing apparatns in good order, they will be able to make 850 a day. The soldier had washed four pans of dirt and got about live cent to the pan of scale gold, some of the pieces being a little larger than a pin’s head. He did not have to dig a foot down for the dirt, and declares that all that Cnstar told concerning the treasures of tire country was strictly true. The statistical reports just published by the agricultural bureau indicate wide-spread disaster to the fruit-grow ing interest., as will be seen from the following notes : Insect depredations are recorded only in Maine, in some counties of which caterpillars were troublesome. In N< w England gene rally the crops were late, and in some parts a tendency to simultaneous blooming excited remark. In the middle, southern and western states generally, the climatic conditions were very unfavorable. The severity of the winter has not only destroyed the fruit germs, but also the trees. The cold SBap in tire spring enlarged the scope of this injury, and heavy late frosts in many places destroyed what had sur vived the winter. lu Hume cases it is noted that the plums stcod the severity of the season better than other sorts of Jlttittmef tifle fafetfe VOLUME 11. fruit. Grapes in many cases escaped on account of late blooming, but the vineyards of several soedons wore greatly depleted by the extreme cold. Small fruits wore less severely affected and are reported as producing very luxuriantly. Capt. Jas. R. Fades has written n letter to President Grant and secretary of war Belknap, advising them of the progress of the jetties at the South Puss. The main point in the letter is that pro visional works, wuo thousand . foet long, arc already constructed on the line of theeast jetty, and being pushed seaward at the ra'e of two hundred feet per day. Two hundred meoliau'cs and laborers and four piledriving machines aro at work and a largo quantity of srone and other material are ready at hand. Ad ditional accommodations aro being pre paid, and iti short the working force will be largely increased, Telegraphic communication has been established be tween New Orleans and the head of the Pass, aud the line is being extended to the works at the month of the Pass. Oapt Eads says the provisional work mentione 1 is wha‘ is known as sbopt piiirg, and while it is ouly preliminary in character, it will temporarily serve the fame purpose and produce the same result as permanent jetties. The cap tain is quits' snre that there will be j twanty feet of water on the bar, at the I South Pass, by the Ist of February. LATE NEWS SUMMARY. WEST The Red Cloud and Spotted Tail Indians have signed an agreement to relin quish their rights in Nebraska. They want if 1,600 in ho re* os, SILOOO in c#wh, #2,100 in ha’neMs, and $2.3(X* in wagon*. All are well pleased. SOUTH A foreign company, with a capital of $20,000,000, haw been organized for the pur pose of lnvohting in Louisiana land, and of pursuing agriculture an a science. Ou the official report )f the New Or lean board of health, a proclamation of ten days' quarantine has been made by Gov. Kol logg. against the port of Key West. A dispatch from J. V. Harris, health ofiicer at Key We*t, reports one death from ve 1 low fe\er. Dr. Harris adds . lam worry lo h*vt, to inform you *>f tin- prevalenc of ti w disease r- an epidemic at ti.i place. g MIOCULL(A^BOTJS. The national pablic debt statement has just been issued, of wbish the following is a recapitulation : bonds at 0 per cent. $1,100,865,550 Bonds at 5 per cant 607,182,750 Total 51,707,91)0,300 of.bt beaiuno interest in lawful money. Lawful money debt .......* 14,678,000 Matured debt 11,425,820 DEBT BEAUIVO JIO INTEREST. Legal tender notes $ 875,841,687 Certificates of deposit 58.415,000 Fractional currency 42,120,424 Coin certificates 21,706,300 Total without interest * 408,182,411 Total debt *2.232,284.531 Total interest 38,647,550 CASH IN THE TBKASUKY. Coin * 70.854.410 Ourrenoy 3.973,050 Special deposit held for redemp tion of certificates of deposit, as provided by law 58,415,000 Total in treasury * 142,243,361 DEBT LESS CASH IN TREASURY Debt less cash in treasury *2,128,638,726 Decrease ot the debt during the past month 1,431.249 BONUS ISSUED TO PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANIES. INTEREST PAYABLE IN LAWFUL MONEY. Bonds issued to Pacific Hailroad Companies, interest payable in lawful money, principal outstanding debt *64,623,512 Interest accrued and not yet paid 1,93m.705 Interest paid by United Stales. 26,2)14 Interest r paid by transporta tion mails, etc.... , f ....... 013^11 jt&laiAe of interest paid by the • UnitedHiat.es.. 0.129.171 FOREIGN The subscriptions pouring in for the French sufferers by the recent Hoods are such as to give assurance of generous assistance for the many thousands left destitute. It is reported that the latest nows from Burmah is not satisfactory. The king, it is said, refuses to allow the passage of Brit ish troops through bjs territory. It is be lieved this condition will be set aside by her majesty’s government, Hpeeial telegrams to the London Times say nine hundred persons perished in the flood at Toulouse alone. 7 here an out break of epidemic is feared. It is believed that 2,000 houses have been swept away ins the town and its environs. The damage there is estimated at from £12,000,000 to £15,000,000. The Daily News’ special tays the loweit esti mate of the flooded districts is two thousand. It‘ is proposed to bombard and destroy the St. Cyprien quarters of Toulouse to prevent danger from the crumbling waUs of houses that yet remain.' The Standard pub lishes re]iotts of fearful inundafioDH in Bo hemia, Moravia, Gorin thin and Bariat, wi h some 'loss of life and great destruction of property. Many bridges have been carried away, thousands of cattle drowned, and crops in several districts totally ruined. A letter from Maracaibo, of May 20, gives an account of the earthquake at. f 'yrcut ta on the 18th. The first shock leveled every wall in .the city, burying iu a single instant 8,000 people out of a population of 10,000. Several were not killed, but subsequently died from fir- injuries, and many were murdered by robbers who plundered in bands. Tiro shocks c rntinued, and the fires burned much property. Thos) saved fled to the neighbor ing country and escaped. When the news reacbod Maracaibo two Bteamers were sent with food and clothing to ihe sufferers by the American consul ar. and people; also a corps of physicians and a committee to disburse aid. The government sent soldiers to pro: e ! the people. Tie ports from H.tu Cave tens, Santi ago, Gramolate, Arbo'eda. Cacutella. aud Han Ciistabel, all aggre, atiug a population of 20,- 000, confirm the previous accounts of the de struction of life arid property at those places. The shock was felt at Baerida and other places, aud iu Maracaibo there have been light quakes every day since. MARGARET. l. Into th* garden I talked ; ne’or had I seen her be fore ; ruder a budding white rose she stood iu the shade of the door; Quiet aud pale was her face, but maidenly bright vero her eye*, Fair an the mnvly-born moon, when lew in the eas! u ’.y skies. There a* I Mood by her side, my spirit grow happy at and free, Would I had said w hat l thought, that none would I marry but thee! The far-off bells were tolling, for ’Ua* some oue’ fumral day, Itid iu the meadows close by the nmwirs were mowing tbe hay. (i. Into the garden I walked ; but once bad I seen her before, Vacant and still wa the home, wide open was (standing the door; Then si eut and listening 1 went up to the curtaiu less bod, Where she lay shrouded in white, all wintory, loue.y, and dead ; There was h look on her face, as if she’d been think in / of me. ‘•Dear Mmgaret," theu whisper and I, “ none will I mari y but thee !” And the far-oft’ bells were ringing, for ‘iwaa some one’s we lding and ry, Ami in the meadows close by the mowers wore mowing the hay. UK silent ami dark was yon lake, as under the desolate hill, Lit 1 v no pleim from the skv, it slumbered there; dreary ami still. Till, with its swallow like wing, the wind in ith warn derm* flight, Touched into tnusie the reeds, and broke in rip p’es of light. Silent aud dirk was tuV heart, till suddenly thrilled by the tone, Truder ami pur . of the voice, wldoh told me I was not alone, Vet how 1 long t> be dead, whene’er, on a calm summer day, The far-off bdt-t arc ringing', and the mower.* are mowing the hav! MARK TWAIN'S BIG FRlGIir. \ Mory of Old Times on the iflissisHippl, >nt in ••* A*lnn*ir Woiithly, W hile sitting in front of the Southern Hotel, talking to a future great citizen ab nit the old steamboat days of St. Lonis, when captains, clerks aud pilots ran the town, and rnn it under a full head of steam, an ancient mariner let up on whittling the arm of the next chair, turned toward us, and remarked : “ You was speaking o f the old river dies?” “We was," I replied, “l’or haps, now, yon liav- been reading some of Sam Clemens’s yams ?" 1 held up a copy of the Allantic, opened at Mark Twain’s article, which had really brought about the conversation. "Yes, I thought so ; well, ho don’t tell all he knows,” said the social riverman, reach ing over for a tobacco-pouch which a gentleman w..s passing to a friend • “ There’s one little affair he ’aint work ed into j rint yet, and it ’aiut likely he will.” The social stranger quit off on his reminiscence at this pout and talked] 1. ** b ■ ; 'll .#> (|i a•% gj4 crops ue.ff ijd niveriAd ji:sadvttnt-| Wa \.r . ■■.t.'Wwgt. gin aud sugar would start iiiiiyiiw #] irjp jv sua led in'o i. . < ntfemervt'b-i. rfom, aud after noistipf iu three fiug ers (held vertically), a handful ol crack ers and several chunks of chef so, he proceeded with his anecdote, is. turnip! ing himself a number of times to re mark to the barkeeper, “The sar- , pard.” “ I was first euylnoor of the Ah Mil der Scott when Sam Clemens (Mark Twain) was a cab in her pilot house. Ho was a chipper young chap, with legs no bigger’u a casting line, and fuller of tricks than a mule colt. He worked off jokes op everybody aboard, from the skipper down to the roosters (darkey deck hands), but they wore all taken in good part, but I lay by two or three to pay back. About the time Ham got the run of the river enough to stand alone at the wheel, the Scott wont into the lower river trade, carrying cotton from Memphis to New Orleans. Perhaps, now, you never see a boat m the Colton trade burn ? Well, you may cover your col ton from stem to stern with tarpau lins, and keep your donkey ngine steamed up, but, if a spark of fire touch es cotton, enough to fill a tooth, your boat’s a corpse. It’s quicker')) gun powder to bung and no pilot cau reach the loWi-r deck from the texas in time to save himself, let alone this Saratoga. So, you see, everybody in that trade is on tiie wa*oh, and an alarm of tiro in a boat loaded with cotton will turn a man’s I,air gray quieker’n an alligator can swallow a niggor. „ “ Sam, being a young pilot, arid new to the cotton trade, was told over and over again Ih>w the profession would lose a promising cub if ever'a fire broke out on the Scott, and the boy got tier-, vous. My striker and me always man aged to Ire in the 1 mooli room when Ham came off watch, and as he came in we would talk about the number of cotton boats that burnt in such a year, and how such a cub would have made a lightning pilot if he hadn’t got burned up in the cotton trade; and we always noticed that Ham’s appetite failed hirn after tliat, and instead of going to bed ho would go prowling around Ilia lower deck and peering about the hatchways, smelling at every opening like a pup that had tost its master. “One day when wo backed out of Memphis with a big cargo of cotton, I complained, in Ham s hearing, tnat the male had loaded the boat too near the engines. The boy followed me into the engine-room, ml, without seeming t > notice him, I told my striker l would do my level best o keep that cotton from caching fire, but that it was a slim chance with bales piled right up before the furnace doors. Ham got wliiter’n a bulkhead, and went up to the texas, where he packed his Haraloga, ready for any business that might come before the meeting. When he went on watch I nested the second clerk to keep an eye on him. He hid behiudasmoke stack and saw Ham alone in the pilot house, bis hair on end, his face like a corpse’s, am. his eyes sticking out so far you could have knocked them oil with a stick. He danced around the pilot-house, turned up bis nose like lie was smelling for a polecat, pulled every bell, turned Hie bout’s nose for the bank, and yelled “Fire!'’ like aOlieio kee ludim on the war pnitb. That yell brought everybody on deck. We had a big cargo of passengers and the women screeched, the men rushed for cork pil lows, and the crew yanked the doors off their bilges and rushed to the guards, ready to go overboard at the first mod eration- qjf weather. The skipper hail hard woik to make the crazy passengers believe that tlce wasn't, anr fire, but he brought them to reason finally. I paid no attention to Ham’s frantic yells, SUMMERVILLE, GEORGIA,. JULY 15, 1875. so the boat didn’t run her nozzle against the bank he aimed for. “Tbe captain and pilot anq a lot of passengers, af or hunting all over the boat, couldn’t find a sign cf fire any where outside the fnmaoesf sod. then they went, for Bam. Ho swore up and down that tic smelt cotton burning; no ir o talking to him —ho know the smell of burning cotton, and, by thunder, he had smelt it. The first pilot said kind of soft and pityingly to 3am, ‘My boy, if you'd told me you was so near the jim jams I’d stood double watch for yo j. Now, yc u go and soak yotdf head in a bucket of water aud take l -good sleep and you’ll be all right Ijv to-morrow. Sam just biled over at thru, and when pretty young woman passenger Baid 10 theskipper, loud enough ntrSwt to lies'. ‘So young and nice looking, too—h w sad it would make hii, poo- mother foul to hear how ho drfjks,’ he fairlv frothed at the mouth. Km a fellow so toned down ns Sam was after that, and though the boys never quit running him, he never 'alked back, but looked kiud of piiazMil—as though he was trying to account for that smell of cotton amok .” “And what was tlio cause pf the tmell?” 1 asked mith Ancient,. He chuckled a full minute and then said: “ You seo there’s a speaking tube run ning from the engine .room to the pilot house. 1 had in mind the tricks Sam had played on me, and having worked him to a nervous state about the fire, I waited till he was alone ,in the pilot house, and tlieu sot fire to a ’ittle wad of cotton, stuffed it into the apeaking tube, and the smell came out right un der liis nose A tittle s gar on it, pard."—At. Louis 'ietter. ....'.'“LUO - - The Great Storm in Paris. Paris was visitcl'yesterday by a wind storm of sucli umrinal violence as to and. serve some espei ial mention. I say “wind storm,” because, wind played do ' c' dly iSpart di (jennt in it, though j ,b" ) s a conppicuougf feature in -tho tout btlian, anil tfrarulep and rain also, the iiit'or, unfortunately, m mnoh too small proportion]; * Ms part in the uni versal hubbub v elements. The appr .ii' hof the hn i, -lie was*ndicated by i. .#ili'Jg heat, which Bent up the them meter to between ninety and pr.v-fy-i/i'e degrees, the highest point it oiminor. This ftas 2*ftlock in Hr afternoon.. Towards 3 /dock, the tiky became black with heavy, iuky,oUuds, and the darkness was almost (wtteutous. A hurricane of dry wind, wiCjull, at first, one drop of rtim irpm tin; Lowering heavens,"th u mmQum tie*:* 1 *? and suddenly upon the MMfiEßbdrpt 'A-impleti -.liirlwiad, be tree "A" nu-.l not. jbo vlicu to l-tlpit and break ns to dunce and spin atfpinidrat though about to bo torn npouß'of the’H il by the roots. The dust rose in elands, which seemed to leave only light enough to make darkness visible ; the air was literally filled with dry brandies, leaves and other objects of much more dangerous character in the shape of chimney-pots, ral'era, or whatever the terrible blast, could tear away in i a course. The seeno was quite awful for some twenty minutes or so, until at lust rain name to lay the dust and calm down the fierce ness of the tempest, But thunder also came with it, and the papers this morn ing arc filled with the accounts of ac cidents produced either by the wind er the lightning which followed. The immense scaffolding raised for the rebuilding of the Hotel de Villi' lias been in a groat pnrt leveled with the ground. Some twenty trees in the Camp Elysees ure more or less injured, and many also on the boulevards, where the ligidnjtjg also strust several objects. A sentinel standing in' the Place Ven domo, before tho headquarters of the military governor of Paris fundi r the e. tie siege), was capsized in his box, in which he had taken refuge, and kept there for a considerable time until re leased. Baths and washerwomen on the Seine suffered, of course, severely, being exposed fo the violence of the wind. But one of the severest catastrophes appears to have been that of the im mense panorama, representing the prin cipal episodes of the two sieges of Puris, aojy in the course o" preparation at the "bonier of the Rue le la Sabliere and tiie Obaussee-du-Maine, aud intended for the exposition a* Ilbiladelpliia. The ciacular erection, entirely of wood, wherein it was being' carried on, and which measure* soßitTtbing lil.eone hun dred and fifty feet iul diameter by sixty feet high, was eomplfelteiy cut in two I\v n c.rjHp ilc.vent, and the fragments cav tcied in ftll directions, like a square of infantry broken by a charge of cavalry. Fortunately, however, no bones were broken nor lives lost, nor any one in jured. The numerous band of decora tors and workmen employed, not think ing their “drum” safe quarters in such a Blast, had early and wisely taken refuge in a more solid and less flatulant construction. The damages in that quarter are said to exceed 50,000 francs. Happily, however, the losses sustained seem to be confined to such incidents as the above, and to the city itself ; and not to have extended to the crops and the country iu the shape of hail, which, at this season of the year, might have proved very fatal. A few hailstones fell, but in small quantities, and of in ferior size. The rain, all insufficient as it was, nas yet sufficed to wash our foliage, and impart at least an air of ex ternal freshness to our gardens and veg etation, which already suffered and be gan to look autumnal from the long con ti tiued drcrath.— [‘arif^Letter, Killino Bugs on Vines)'— Cucumber, squash, watermelon and other vines are attacked by bugs andother posts, and the following mixture is found to be an excellent remedy : To two quarts of gvpsnm (land plaster) put one table spoonful kerosene oil; this sprinkled over tne vines when the dew is on will generally answer for the season. If the bugs return repeat the operation. This is safer and cheaper than Paris green. —A Scotch peeler completely cowed 1 an irascible Wt simian, who linsisted on fighting him rii an Inn kitcbeL by going down on bis Uneesand imploring pardon for having killed “two men ailready, and being about to kill another.”! THE OLD CONTINENTALS. In tbetr rnpwfctl retfimeutals Stood the old continentals, Yielding not; Wliil“ the groaadiors were lungiujr, Ami Uko hail fell the plunging Ouimon-shot; When the files Of the Isles * From Vue smoky night encampment llore Hie banner of the rampant Unicorn, And grumftier, grummer, grammer, Rolled the roll of the drununcr Through the morn! Theu with eyes to the front all, Aud with guns horizontal, Stood our sires; While the bulls whistled deadly, Aud in streamy flashing redly, Blazed the tiros; As the roar Ou tbo shore • Swept the strong battle-breakers O'er the greeu-sedded acres Of the plain; And louder, louder, louder, “ Cracked the black gunpowder, Craektog amain ! Now like the smiths at their forges Worked the red Bt. Goorge’s Oaonoueera; And the “ villainous saltpetre ” Rang, a fierce discordant metre Round our ears. As the swift, Storm-drift, With hot sweeping anger Came the horse-guards clanger On our flanks; Then higher, higher, higher, Burned the oUt-fashioned tire Through the ranks! Tlum the bare-headed colonel Galloped through the white infernal l’owder-cloud; And his broadsword was swinging. And his brazen throat was ringing Trumpet loud, Then the blue Bullets flow; And the trooper-,jackets reddened At the touch of the leaden Rlfle-bi eath; And rot nder, rounder, rounder Roared the iron six-pounder, Hurling death! „ (Jay l/inuphn y Mp Master. THE GREAT STAPLE. Itcport ol the New Orleans Cntfdn Ki climiffe The Crop It (‘ported In Ki eellenf Condition. The Committee on Information and Statistics of the New Orleans Cotton Ex change, to whom hasboen entrusted the dul-y of compiling a national crop re port, made up from rotnrus of various Exchanges appointed therefor by the National Exohango, submit the follow ing for the month of June: New Orleans, Department of Louis .aua We have 83 letters from 37 par ishes, which unite in reporting generally favorable weather. There has been no additional acreage put in ootton sinoe the 15th of May, but there has been some replanting where lands were over flowed and to perfect the stands. The plant has been better cultivated than for many years, and is growing and forming well. Many blooms are re ported. The stands are represented as very good to excellent, aud the present condition of the crop is most flattering, much bettor and abont one week earlier whon compared with last year. Mississippi—lo3 replies received. Average date about the 15th. Weather nearly universally represented as very favorable. Stands fine and the plant forming well, though too early for many blooms. The present condition is stated as very good, and much better wlien compared with last year. No ad ditional acreage put in cotton. Re planting lias been done where the plants wore imperfeot. Labor plenty and ef ficient. Arkansas —SO correspondents send in their answers from 22 counties. Since the first of .Time the weather has been hot, and most enough to promote rapid growth and cause the plant to form aud square well. The stands are vo■ y good, and no replanting has been needed, ex oept in a few exceptional cases. Brad ley oounty reports the first bloom on the 8 b inst., but it is only exceptional, and as a rule blooming bad not begun at the date of our answer and corres pondents are unanimous in represent ing the condition as exceedingly promm-J ing and far suporior to that of last year. Planters are encouraged by the prospect, c:ie of the finest ever known. Considerable attention and care lias been devoted to the cultivation <jf cereals, and owing to the excellent harvest, a feeling of independence Is very noticeable in onr correspondence.' Charleston, Department of South Car olina—!l7 answers received from 24 counties, reporting weather since May 15 as generally favorable. Homo com plaints of cool-nights. Very little ad ditional planting. Stands represented as good. ‘54 answers say forming well ; 39, say few forms, aud 9no forms. All agree in stating, no blooms up to date of answers. Present condition good, though small, being clean of grass and some parts compare favorably with last year. Heavy storms of wind and bail are reported in six counties since Jnne 7, doing much real damage. Lice aro reported iu four counties. Augusta Department, covering that portion of the state of Georgia not in cluded in the Havamiab report -Weather favorable ; no additional planting ; some little replanting ; stands good ; forming well lmt no blooms. General condition good. Crops generally very clean. La bor plentiful and good. Havannah Department -Havannah Cot ton exchange, covering Northern, Mid dle and Southwestern Georgia and the state of Florida—Weather dry and gen erally favorable ; no additional planting of any consequence; stands good ; plant vigorous; ge .erally forming well, but no blooms except in the southern por tion of the state ; condition good ; crop clean and well worked ; plant somewhat smaller and a few days later, but rather better than at the same time last year. Florida— Dry and favorable weather clearing ihe lle’lds of grass; stands good; plant forming well and commencing to bloom; condition good aud compares fa-orably with last year, though small from dry weather and somewhat later than last year, promises to be woll frnited at the bottom, which is the principal part of the crop. Mobile, Department of Alabama— From fifty-two counties, 126 replies : The weather has been generally favor able, rather too dry in some places, but not enough so to injure the plantr There has been very little replanting or additional planting. The stands are good and the plant is forming well; very few blooms ; the condition as oom j nared with last year is reported from as %ood to much better ; there are scarcely any unfavorable circumstances relative to growth or condition of the crop:; only a few reports of lice and grasshoppers, and complaints of cold nights and drouth. The crop is clean, in good NUMBER 28. condition and bettor cultivg od than last year. Missouri—Nineteen counties, 56 re plies. The weather lias bent geer*lly, favorable, needing rain in som-'* boun ties, aud some complaints of cold nights, producing lice. There has been very little replanting or additional planting ; stands aro good and plant forming well; ouly a few blooms ; present condition of crop is better than last year at same period; tlio only unfavorable circum stances are those noted above; the favorable circumstances are, the crop is cleaner, bet or cultivated and more ndvanoed than last year at same time. Norfolk and Portsmouth Department —Fifty five replies from 29 counties in North Carolina, six replies from two counties in Virginia. Forty five replies report weather dry and cold ; 14 say favorable, and only two represent the weather wet and cold. Fifty-four an swers report the stand ns good; some few complaints ou stiff lands ; some forms ; no blooms. Seven replies from seven counties in oastorn Carolina rep resent the stand as below the average ; condition very generally stated as good ; crop well cultivated and free from grass and weods ; plant smaller than at the same time last year, and fr m eight to fifteen days later. Five answers from five counties in eastern Carolina repo t condition bad. Correspondents state that the weather since the 15th of May has been too cool for rapid growth, but with warm and seasonable weather a great improvement is looked for. Memphis Department—l4s answers received. Weather generally repre sented as favorable ; no additional aore ago put in cotton since May 15; stands good aud satisfactory ; plant generally squaring and forming freely ; 12 reports ot blooms dating from 18th to 20th ; condition good; fields free of grass and well cultivated; some complaints of too cold nights, lice, etc., dating from May 15th to June sth, mostly, remedied by subsequent favorable weather. Galveston Department, Texas— We have received 120 reports from 69 ooun ties, embracing the period between May 15th and June 20th ; weather very generally said to have been favorable ; no addition to acreage in ootton sinoe May 15th ; somo little replanting where seed failed to come up ; stands repre sented as good, and in the coast range reported to be forming aud blqpmiug well. ’ • A large majority of our reports agrse in the statement that the season is from one to three weeks later than last year, and that the plant is generally small, but is clear of grass and in good con dition. Rains are needed. The oater pillar is reported in three counties, but so far lias done no material damage. Edible Fungi. Very few specimens of fungi are popu larly recognized as being edible, while prejudice in some cases, aud fear of poison in others, will always prevent additions to the small number now used as food. Great caution in undoubtedly proper in the essay of the untried species; but prejudice and ignorance should not stand in the way and prevent the use of the many esculent species which are allowed to rot in untold thousands. Hoience will no doubt dissi pate these fears and prejudices, and make to our food crop a large and cheap addition. In Great ISritian thousands of people, particularly of the lower classes, wili eat no mushroom exoept that known as field mnshroom, while in Italy and Hungary a strong prejudice exisfls against this same species. This preju dice arises from the fact that other fungi are confounded with it through ignor ance, and fatal accidents sometimes occur which would be prevented by ob serving that the true field mushroom always has jitlrplu spores, gills at first of pink color and afterward of purple, a permanent ripg or collar around the stem, and thfit it is never found in woods, its home always beiDg on the open plaiss or commons. Tire meadow mushroom grows in low land pastures, and has a stronger flavor than that of the fields. In England it is sold in great quantities and is there known aft the “horse mushroom” be cause of the enormoub size it attains, a single specimen sometimes weighing fourteen pounds. In addition to these two there are forty-nine other varieties of mushroom that are known to bot anists as esculent and excellent, some of them attaining a diameter of fourteen inches, others five or six inches, and another, “the nail fuDgus” scarcely ex ceeding one inch in diameter. Hills, plains, valleys, fields and pas tures all over the world are as alive with these nutritious fungi as the soil of Nebraska is with grasshoppers. Mil lions of tons of them are allowed to rot where they spring up, simply because ignorance or fear prevents their utiliza tion as food. It is true that the dis tinctions between the edible mnsliroon and some of its uupleasant cousins can not be easily understood by any but botanists, and yet this diflu'tlUy might bo materially obviated if botanic writers would d> scribe the distinctions in words that could bo popularly understood, or that, at least, may be found in diction aries. The botanical nomenclature may be as good aB it is ingenious, but to non-botanists it is as incomprehensible as the inscription on the Elgin marbles. Let it be preserved for bookworms, if need must, but let it be also translated for common use Among the remarkable esculents of this class may be mentioned the “ beef steak fungus.” It is juioy and fleshy, and its sections resemble beef in ap pearance. Dr. Badharn, a student of fungi, found one of them five feet in circumference aud weighing eight pounds, and another wa; i< ud by a Dr. Graves, uoaily twenty m ■ > cumfert nee and woighing thirty o ’di It grews in parts of Germany win re i. is sliced and oaten with salad, aud it n. highly esteemed as nutritious food. A ’species of puff ball, botauically kuowu as tyWbpr.rdtm gigantnurn, when young is of aneream like consistence and an oxcellCW addition to the breakfast menu. A single one is large enough to fc.d ten or twelve persons, aud some members of the species are a good sub stitute for truffles. A specimen men tioned in the Gardener’s Onroniole weighed ten pounds and was three feet Hour inches in circumference. — Haiti \ more Sun, * FACTS AND FANCIES. —Tho construction of a gun weighing 100 tons lias been begun by Sir William Armstrong in England. This gun is to be a muzz'e-hmder, 17-inoh bore, and, if suooossfnl, will be the most powerful weapon over constructed. —“ Sir,” said a little blustering man to a religions opponent, “to what sect do you supposo I belong?” “Well, I don’t exaotly know,” replied his oppo nent, “ but’ to judge from your size, appearance, and constant bnzzing, I should think you belonged to the olass generally called fuseot. ” < —Ont of 29(1,000 of the last levy of conscripts in France 25,000 havo been deolared exempted from both active and passive duties iu the military line. . It looks bad when so many men ire not even fit to be food for gunpowder, though the fact should bo considered as a good sign in behalf of peace. —A Swiss boatman recently pulled a would-bo-suioide out of Lake Genova. An konr or two after the boatman dis covered tho same man hanging by the neck to a tree, but did not interfere that time. The magistrate summoned him to answer why ho did not prevent tho suicide, but lie replied that he supposed that the gentleman had only hung him self up to dry. —The college orator is now abroad in the land. His volte is heard from the four quarters of tho earth, telling of tho efforts he has made for distinction in the past, and his hones and aspira tions for the future. He is fnr more sanguine, than ho will dra few years hence, when he shall Kftvo encountered and been conquered by some of the stern realitiesof life. <Thus far his education has been only theoret ical; in the future practical. Whether tho former shall tit the sub jects for the latter, the future alone can determine. —King Kalakaua, of tho Sandwich Islands, will send his feather cloak to tlm centennial exposition at Philadel phia. This article will represent more labor than any other nrticle on exhibi tion. Its manufacture was commenced over a hundred years ago, under the auspices of some of the ancestors of Katqehaha. the first king of tho islands.. and upwards of fifty years of time were required for its completion. It is made of the feathers of a peculiar speeies of bird, eaoh bird only furnishing two feathers, one from under each wing. In size the cloak is a little over asqnare yard, and its color is a golden yellow. It used to be worn by the king on state oooasions, but of late years it served only to adorn the reoeption room of tho palace. , —A Brnsseks paper gives a painful account of the ex-Empress Charlotte of Mexico. Her physical condition is good, but her mental condition is hopeless. She lives in constant communication , with imaginary beings, and dislikes the preserce of any living person.- She Bpeaks only when obliged to do so, and gives orders to her attendants in writ ing. She dresses herself without per nfitting assistance, takes a fixed walk in the park every morning when fine, fre quently plays on the piano-forte, and sometimes draws and paints wjth de cided taste. She rcoogmzesmp,visitors, noteveifher brother, Kihg uK'poM or the queen. The latter always accom panied the physician on his monthly visit, when, in reply to his iaqttirios an, to her health, the empress ooWly says,, she is well, and immediately retiree. She (use bcooae•wMrtWk, wvjiliow*. tendency to corpulency, bnt ot present it is stated that this lias ouly increased her beauty, which is now truly striking. —lt has been justly said that tho greatest discovery of our lives is that the world is not so bad as, in the first di appointment of youth’s extravagant expectations, we aro disposed to regard it. The passage from boyhood to man hood is “over tho bridge of sighs ;”and our first exporiences of life as it is, resemble the flavor of the forbidden apple—we are enlightened and misera ble. Gladly would we command the secret of feeling us we once did ; but, alas, every day takes from us some happy error—some charming illusion never to return. Wo are reasoned or ridiculed ont of all our jocund mistaken, till we are just wise enough to be miser able, aud we exclaim with Lady Mary Wortley Montague, “To my extreme mortification l find myself growing wiser and wiser every day.” But a time comes, at length, whon our views are more just. We leave our imaginary Eden with "solemn step and slow,” and begin to appreciate the good qualities of those whose friendship we thought hollow, and the necessity of that labor which we deemed a curse. Wo ex change ecstasy for content, and, “ for getting the four rivers of our ideal heaven, open our eyes to the manifold beauties of earth—its skies islanded stars, and its oceans starred by islands, its sunshines aud calms, and the good ness of its great heart, which sends forth trees and flowers and fruits for our benefit and exultation.”— Professor Mathews. An Oyster’s Heart. Near the hinge of an oyster is a cavity which leads to its stomach. It may bo called, with a little license, its month ; not that it has teeth, or that in any way it masticates food, or that it indicates the place of the head, for the oyster belongs to a division of mollusks known as the accphalaku, or headless ones. Hilt it is functionally a month, and it is like mouths in two important particu lars. It is the entrance of the food to the alimentary oanal, and it has oeitaiu lip-like organs with wh oh to control the i ntering of food. If, then, the oystei’s mouth is thus situated near the hinge that part of the creature should be known as its anterior or forward end. The opening end, tbat which the oyster men call the “ nib,” is therefore really the post* rior extremity. Evoryono knows that in opening an oyster the knife has t > be passed through a stout organ, wrongly called by many the eve; for the oyster is eyeless. Borne call it the hoart. This, also, is incorrect. It is the great abductor muscle, with which the animal draws together its valves. But the oyster has a true heart It is situated near to and forward of the ab ductor muscle, that is, between it and tne mouth. If a linger of a glove wore cut off and inflated with air, being closed up at the end, and then a thread wore tied round so as to constrict it at the middle, we should have something resembling the shape pretty nearly the oyster's heart. This small organ is divided by the constriction into two lesser organs, an auricle and a ventriole; a receiving and distributing reservoir of the pale, opalesoent blood—its true life current, which animates every part of this complex little being. If an oyster be opened with sufficient taot and care, the heart can be seen at work, beating much as our hearts beat—a true rhyth mical pulsation. Indeed, with watoh ip hand, the beats can be counted, as who a physician makes a diagnosis of one’s pulse. As death nears, so slow'the throbs of the oyster's heart.