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CLIPPINGS FOB THE CURIOUS. Japanese laws compel fish to Le sold alive. According to an eminent Southern authority on barbecues it takes ten hours to roast a whole ox to perfec tion. In Washington Territory there is a kind of cedar tree which grows 300 feet high, and is sometimes fifteen feet in diameter, Ducks have been poisoned by eat ing the leaves of the ailanthns. Death follows in a few hours after feeding on them. In their statues the Greeks repre sent the second toe as longer than the great toe, while in the modern Euro pean foot the great toe is generally the longest. The late Commodore Gorringe cherished among his treasures a frag meat of coal marked distinctly with fern leaves, which had been found in the arctic snows by a Polar ex plorer. In Russia a conscript is rejected if his chest does not measure at least half the length of his stature. To avoid conscription the device is fre quently resorted to of reducing the chest measure by semi-starvation and other tricks. It is a curious fact that wasps nests often take fire a< is supposed, by the chemical action of the wax upon the material of which the nest is com posed. Many of the fires of unknown origin in haystacks and farm build ings may thus be accounted for. To chivalry woman was indebted in the middle ages for a position she had never before enjoyed in history, which gave her a charm almost un known till then, and which spread over a society steeped in barbarism a grace and refinement that have corne down to our day. Five out of the twenty-one Presi dents of the United states were of Scotch-Irish lineage—Jackson. Polk, Uuehanan, Johnson and Arthur; two of Scotch -Grant and Hayes; one of Welsh—Jefferson, and one of Dutch— Van Duren; the remaining twelve being of English descent. Pliny informs us that those who dug up the mandrake paid particular attention to stand so that the wind was at their back, and before they be gan to dig they made three circles round the plant with the point of their sword, and then proceeding to the west, began digging it up. Dr. Delaunay, an eminent French physician says that the most general position in sleep is on the right side. Dreams which come to a sleeper in that position, he says, as a rule are il logical, absurd, full of vivavicity and exaggeration. Those which come to a w sleeper who lies upon his left side, in Delaunay’s opinion, are not only less absurd, but also more intelligent. They are apt to be concerned with recent actual events awl less with re m i n iscenses. Answering a Challenge. Half the bugbears of life are such merely because we fear them, says Youth's Companion. The old advice in regard to grasping a nettle may be applied, in substance, to many another nuisance. Meet a spectre bravely, and it melts into thin air, as the following anecdote will illustrate. Beggar's Bush, a wild common or. the outskirts of Dublin, was once dot ted over with brier-bushes. The story runs that in olden days when police men were unknown, this lonely spot was frequented by a stalwart Irish man, who made himself the terror of the neighborhood. He used to place his hat in the centre of the road, and then, armed with a blunderbuss, crouch down behind a bush. Whenever any one approached his hat, he would jump up from behind the bush, level his weapon, and roar out in stentorian tones, — “But all the money you have into that hat, or— The traveller naturally enough put - his money into the hat, being only too 9 glad to escape with his life. One day, however, a powerful, tire eating fellow-countryman came along, and was received with the usual threatening salute— “ Put all your money into that hat, or’’— The man in the road turned, and, facing the highwayman, brandished his shillelagh in a most warlike man ner, exclaiming —- “Or what?” “Or get you gone out of that?’ was the instant reply. “Arrah, thin, is that-all?” returned Pat, kicking the hat out of his way, and whistling as he went leisurely on j The Cost of the Panama Canal. Engineer Menocal, in his report on ! the Panama Canal construction says: | ‘Taking the most favorable view of the situation, and admitting the River Chagres can be controlled as proposed and for the amount estimat ed, and that the mismanagement, waste and extravagance prevailing from the inception of the scheme to the extent of bringing the whole af fair to the border of a disgraceful bankruptcy be thoroughly corrected, it mav be safely stated that the canal cannot be completed for less than I $275,000,000. exclusive of interest on j capital, commissions, etc., in addition I to what already been spent, • r a total in cash forth- actual . ost of the work of 375,000,000.’’ @ljc Summerville VOL. XII. SUMMERVILLE, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 25. 1885. NO. 45. EMMONS McKEE <fc CO., S7 BILOA.ID STREET, ROME, Q-A.., Are Acknowledged Headquarters in North Georgia For CLOTHING, FURNISHING GOODS, HATS AND MEN S FINE SHOES, r IX7 E have made exten-ive preparations for a rousing business during the coming season, and we have taken every precaution to fortify ourselves against disap- 1 _ J VV poin'.ment. Our new stock is all that could be dedred in style, quality and price, and, if extra inducements are a consideration, our store will be the most V | attractive place in this country for those who want the best for the least money. J FALL TRADE IS WHA r r WE WANT! And no stone has been left Unturned, no opportunity has been Neglected, no pains and expense has been Spared to Secure Tl}c Stodk of ip l\orqe ! REMEMBER: We fell only goods worn by the MALE SEX-Clothing, Furnishing Goods, Hats, and Men’s Fine Shoes—we can fit you out from head to feet, and hope every reader of this paper will give us a call. We are always glad to show goods, and think our attractive display cannot fail to please you. EMMONS McKEE * CO., Men’s and Boys’ Outfitters, WHEN EVENING COMETH ON. When evening cometh on, Slower and statelier in the mellowing eky The sane-like vnrple-ehadowed clouds arise; Cooler and balmier doth the soft wind sigh; Lovelier, lonelier to our wondering eyes The a -ftening landscape seems. The swallows fly Swift through the radiant vault; the fleld-lark cries His thrilling, sweet farewell; and twilight bauds Os misty silence cross the far-off lands When evening cometh on. When evening cometh on, Peeper and dreamier grows the slumbering dell, Darker and drearier spreads the bristling wold, Bluer and heavier roll the hills that swell In moveless waves against the shimmering gold. Out from their haunts the insect hordes, that dwell Unseen by day, come thronging forth to hold Their fleeting hour of revel, and by the pool toft pipings rise up from the grasses cool, When evening cometh on. When evening cometh on, Along their well-known paths with heavier tread The sad-eyed, loitering kine uniirged return; The peaceful sheep, by unseen shepherds led, Wend bleating to the hills, so well they learn Where Nature's hand their wholesome couch hath spread. And through the purpling mist the moon doth yearn; Pale,gentle radiance, dear recurring dream, Soft with the falling dew falls thy faint beam, \\ hen evening cornelh on. When evening cometh on, Loosed from the day’s long toil, the clanking teams With halJng steps pass on their jostling ways, Their gearings glinted by the waning beams; Close by their heels the he dful collie strays; All slowly fading m a land of dreams, J'ransfigured specters of the shrouding haze. Thus from life’s field the heart’s fond hope doth fade, Thus doth the weary spirit seek the shade, When evening cometn on. When evening cometh on, Across the dotted fields of gathered grain The soul of summer breathes a deep repose, Mysterious murmur mgs m ogle on the plain, And from the blurred and biended brane there flows The undulating echoes of some strain Once heard in paradise, perchauce—who knows? But now the whispering memory sadly strays Along the dim rows of the rustling maize When evening cometh on. When evening cometh on, Anon there spreads upon the lingering air The musk of weedy slopes and grasses dank, And odors from far fields, unseen but fair. With scent of flowers from many a shade vy bank. Oh,lost Elysium, art thou hiding there.’ Flows yet that crystal stream whereof I drank, Ah, wild-eyed Memory, fly from night’s despairt Thy strong wings droop w.th lieavf' ,r weight of care When evening cometh on When evening cometh on No sounding phrase can set the heart at rest. Ibe settling glooip that creeps by wood and stream, The bars that lie along the smouldering west, The tall and lonely silent trees that seem To mock the groaning earth, and turn to jest This wavering flame, this agonizing dream, All, all bring sorrow as the cloud< bring rain, And evermore life’s struggle see meth vain When evening cometh on. When evening cometh on, A near doth Life stand by the great unknown. In darkness reaching out her sentient hands; Philosophies and creeds alike are thrown Beneath her feet, and questioning she Svanda Close on the brink, nnfearing and alone, And lists ihe dull wave breaking on the sands, Albeit her thoughtful eyes are filled with tears, Ko lonely and so sad the sound she hea” When evening cometh on- . When evening cometh on, Vain seems the world, and vainer wist man’s thought. All colors vanish when the sun goeth down. Fame’s purple mantle some proud soul hath caught No better seems than doth the earth-stained gown Worn by Content. All names shall be forgot. Death plucks the stars to deck his sable crown. The fair enchantment of the golden day Far through the vale of shadows melt away When evening cometh on. When evening cometh on, Love, only love, can stay the linking soul, And smooth thought ! racking fever from the brow; The wounded heart Love only can console. Whatever brings a oalm for sorrow now, So must it oe while this vexed earth shall rolL Take then the portion which the gods allow. Dear heart, may I at last on thy warm breast Sink to forgetfnine-B and silent rest When evening comcth on ? —Robert Burna Wtteon, in Harper 9. IX A BOTTLE. It was a beautiful day in midsummer, and the half-a-hundred-odd cabin pas sengers on the good steamship Nautic were listlessly lounging about the deck. They were already nine days out from Liverpool, and owing to an unfortunate accident, which hart occurred early on the voyage, only ha'f the distance to their port of destination had been ac complished. The accident had been attended with no danger to the precious human freight, but the monotony of the voyage was"be coming unbearable, and the passengers were beginning to grumble, Every artifice haa been resorted to to relieve the tedium of the slowly moving days, and now they were literally at their wits’ end. Charades, mock trials, skettles, and amateur theatricals, lr 1 iu turn been resorted to, but now, \ h their faces y turned longingly toward home, they I ’ lounged about the deck, and' bemoaned 1 9 their sad fate. A particularly discontented group I leaned against the port-rail, atnidship, ! composed of two young ladies, showily dressed, two young men who looked rather jaunty in their semi-sailor dress, ’ a stout, red faced, coarse looking man, I t and an equally stout, red-faced, and coarse looking woman. The two latter were called “papa” and “mamma’’ by the simpering young ladies, and deferentially addressed as Mr. and Mrs. Gale by the young men in semi- ■ sailor dress. They were venting their indignation | ll against the steamship, and the comirina- | tion of untoward circumstances that had delayed their voyage. h Standing a little apart from the group was a slim, pale faced girl, in a dress of [i quiet-gray, unrelieved save at the throat, where a bit of cherrv-colored ribbon was gathered into a prim bow. This was Elsie Annabel, and she was maid and companion to the Misses Gale, who were named respectively Agnes and g Eunice. She took no part in the conversation, but there was a sad and wistful look in the gray eyes, as she turned her face toward the western horizon. “it's outrageous!'' cried Papa Gale. ‘■Shameful!” echoed his wife. b “It’s killing me!” sighed Miss Eunice. “lam really faint with ennui!” chir ruped Miss Agnes. “It’s doucedly unfortunate!” chorused the young men. “If something would only happen!” continue.. Agnes. “I tell you what?” cried the cider of ; the young men, addressing Miss Eunice, ' in particular. “Well?” interrogated that young lady, with a listless attempt at interest. “l et’s write letters to our friends, en close them in bottles, and throw them overboard. They’re no doubt consider- J ably worried over our long absence, and as it’s impossible to tap the cable and telegraph them a message, we’ll make old ocean's waves our letter Cu ■„ “Pshaw, Rob!” retorted Miss Eunice, shrugging her shoulders. “How senti mental you are! As though a letter put t ■ into a bottle and thrown into the sea t ■ would ever reach anywhere!” “I’ve read somewhere,’’said Rob Car rington. “that ship-wrecked sailors often send messages to their friends that ■ way. “We’re about as bad as ship- j 1 wrecked, why can’t we?” Let’s ask the captain!” said Eunice; I and she walked toward that officer, who was moodily pacing up and down the , bridge. The others followed. “Yes. Miss,” answered the captain, ; when Eunice had asked him about the possibility of the bottles being washed ashore. I’ve no doubt they’ll each land I somewhere. The steward will furnish you with bottles if you desire to make ‘ the experiment.” There was something novel in the idea, and every empty bottie on ship board was soon brought on deck. Everybody, young and old, began to | write letters—everybody except Elsie ; Annabel. No waiting kindred anxiously ex- B pected her return, and the only real friend she had ever had, handsome Guy Cha rners, was lost to her. Two years before she had engaged herself to the young artist, but they had i quarreled, and separated in anger, as lovers will. She was too proud to ask his forgive ness, and he was too stubborn to ask hers. Gradually they had drifted apart, and finally lost all sight of each other. Elsie sighed as these thoughts of the ■ s past surged through her mind, and she sighed—a bitter, quivering sigh. Papa Gale was a rich pork merchant, and. in his rough way, was kind to her. He paid her liberally for the service i she rendered ia polishing up the some what neglected educations of his two daughters, but they were selfish and ca pricious, and her lot was not, by any means, a happy one. The steamship’s deck now rang with joyous laughter and merry jest, as the passengers prepared the messages that they confidently hoped would be wafted shoreward. All sorts of letters were written, read ' I over laughingly, placed in their frail re . . ceptacles. and cast into the sea. ' Even the sailors became interested in ' i the experiment, and sent out messages to . i waiting friends, or anxious sweethearts, , ' in dear America. , ' “Have you written your message yet. j Miss Annabel.'” asked Agnes Gale, had ing for a moment beside her maid,as shi i leaned over the tail and watched Ult tightly-corked bot les, as they bobbed . up and down. i | “My m.ssagef ’ cried Elsie, with a 1 guilty start, for she had just been think- ing of Guy Chalmers. “Ah—est—realty —I have no one to write to I” “No one?’’ persisted Agnes. “No!” was the low answer, and El sie’s eyes dropped. “That’s too bad!” said Agnes, com miseratingly. “Everybody is sending I out a message. If I were you I’d just, I write something and send it off at ran | dmn. You could sign your name and address, and perhaps someone would I find it who’d be anxious to know who you are and would write. That would be rcmautic!” “I’ve no taste for romance!” answered i Elsie, but she nevertheless procured a j bottle, and after a moment’s thought, wrote on a piece of paper. “lx Mid-Ocean, on Steamer Nantic, Aug. 12.—An accident which happened to our propeller has delayed our voyage, and we are nine days out from Liverpool. The j Captain says wo are just half way between I that port and New York. Everybody is I well. “Ensue Annabel, “C ire of John Gale, Esq., “Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio.” She placed this simple message in a bottle, corked and sealed it, and tossed it overboard. The bottle was particularly long necked, bright green in color, and her inexperienced hand had smeared the whole top with red wax. She stood watching it a longtime, but finally it disappeared, and with a weary sigh she turned and went below. The Nautic ultimately reached New York, and Mr. John Gale hurried back to Cincinnati, to attend to his pork. Bob Carrington and his cousin, Arthur Stevens, bade the Misses Gale farewell, and secretly promised to correspond with them. The Gales had been home nearly a month, when one morning a hired hack came slowly up the long carriage road i which wound through the ri h pork j packer's extensive grounds, and, when it ; finally reached the house, the door I opened, and a young man leaped lightly I to the ground. He inquired of the servant who an I swered his ring for Miss Elsie Annabel. ! and the man showed him into the back i parlor. Elsie was considerably surprised when ! told that a gentleman wished to see her below, but she went down, and timidly approached the back parlor. She halted for a moment on the threshold, tin 1 the gentleman, who had been idly drumming on the window, turned. At the sight of his face she reeled, and would have fallen had he not sprang forward and caught her in his arms. “Elsie, my darling!” he said, holding her very tightly. “Have you no word . of welcome for me?” “Oh, Guy!” she murmured, as her ' eyes met his. “Have you really come back to me? i have been so lonely with I out you! Forgive me for my cruelty!” “It is I who have -:ome to ask forgive j ness!” said Guy, leading her to a seat. | “After we parted, two years ago, and I got over my stubbornness, I tried to find you, but you had disappeared, leaving no trace behind you. I was inconsolable, and reproached myself for my harshness, ■ because it was all my fault. Finally, however, I grew moody and cynical, but I could never bring rnvself to think of you with aught but love and tenderness. j Six months after you disappeared mv ; old uncle died, and left me his heir, j Since that time I have hunted for you, far and wide. Last summer 1 took a run along the coast in my yacht, stopping at every port. Two weeks ago we were lying off Cape Breton, in a dead calm. One of the sailors called my attention to a bottle that was drifting by us. 1 fished Jit up with a scoop net. It was sealed, i and all gathered around to see what it | contained. I broke the neck, and found this little note;” and he produced from an inner pocket the identical message : she had written on board the Nantic, in j mid ocean. “You can imagine mv joy ■ at the strange discovery of your hiding place. and, a breeze springing up, 1 or dered the yacht put about, and we ran into Halifax. I have come to you as fast as steam would carry me. to ask your forgiveness, and assure you th it I have never ceased to love you.” What answer she made him can but ibe imagined. Anyway—when Pipa Gale returned to dinner he heard the whole story, and declared in his hearty way that he’d give away the bride. Accordingly, as soon as a suitable trousseau could be prepared, the two, so strangely reunited, were made one. The Misses Gale officiated as brides maids. and Bob Carrington and his cousiu were the groom's best men. Papa Gale, true to his word, gave the bride away, and the great pyramid of flowers which occupied the centre of the banquet table was crowned by the iden tical bottle that was responsible for the happy event. The total number of flowering plants now knewn in British North America may be estimated at about 3,000 species against l»),000 in the United States. The Caroline islands number 500, big j and little. SCIENTIFIC AM) INDUSTRIAL. The flowering plants and ferns of Cey lon. according to Dr. Trimen, embrace 1,072 genera, or 3,241) species. There - are also 408 varieties, of which some may prove to be distinct species. Tn Southern Russia vineyards are freed I from phylloxera by planting hemp near I the infected vines. The parasites are i attracted to the hemp by its strong odor, and.the roots prove to be poisonous to them. I A peculiar black paper of Siam and 1 Burmah, made from the bark of certain i trees, is used very much as are slates in in Europe and America. The writing upon it may be rubbed out by the appli ’ cation of betel leaves, just as slate writ , mg is erased by means of a sponge. i i The Scientific American, states that s I plush goods and articles doed with ani ' line colors,faded from exposure to light, j will look bright as ever after being sponged with chloroform. Thecomincr i cial chloroform will answer the purpose 1 very well, and is less expensive than the purified. A French surgeon has a method ol r dressing wounds by which their healing 3 is hastened and the pain made to disap pear immediately. It consists in the ap t plication of compresses wet with a de f eoction of thirty parts of valerian root in one hundred parts of water. The treat r rnent is of no avail in deep wounds. c A “sound-deadener,” consisting of elastic air cushions to close the external 1 orifices of the ears for the use of me ’ chanics and artillerymen, lias been in -1 vented by Dr. Ward Cousins, of Liver pool, England. Boiler makers and other 1 workmen subject to hearing cons'antly ‘ loud and sharp noises are frequently made deaf thereby. This new invention may render city noises less troublesome to nervous people. r Messrs. McCook and Bell’s observa tions of the action of corro-i-e sitbliin itc on a species of ant iu Nicar igiin are ex ceeuingly interesting. As soon one of the ants touches the white powder, it commences to run about wil.il. an I to 1 attack any other ant it urn ts. In a couple of hours round balls of ants will , be found all biting each other, and nu ' nierous individuals will be found bitten , completely iu two. ] The utility of tears to animals in gen eral, and particularly to those which are exposed much to the dust, such as birds which live amid the wind, is easy to tin , derstand. The eye would soon be dirtied ’ and blocked up had not nature provide I , this frendly, ever-flowing stream to wadi I an I refresh it. A very little fluid is nec essary to keep the eye always clear and r cle m. But here, again, we must admire > the wondrous mechanism which work" the human body; for it is to be observed ’ that, when through some accident ot . I hurt the eyeball has need of more water | than usual to cleanse it, nature at once I turns on a more abundant supply of tears. I j ’ Corks, Straw anil Wooden Ware. , “We beat the old world at cutting , corks, says a Chicago dealer, but it is t rather strange that America should itn f port tons of straw. Yet we do every year buy straw in Germany in the form : of bottle-covers. These covers cost eight dollars per 1,000, and they are hand , made. They cannot be made for one : fourth the sum in this country, until I \ somebody gets up a machine to do it i with. We import something like 100,- ■ [ 000 of these covers every month. Ail i I of these little tinfoil caps for wine and i ' soda bottles come from Paris. A New I York firm has tried to compete, but they , can’t do it. We have 380,000 at the t depot, just arrived from Paris. They I are shipped in hermetically sealed cases, i “But this country leads iu wooden ■ ware. Perhaps you don’t know it, but the best wooden ware maker in the ■ United States carried on business in Chicago for twenty five years. He is . now over in M.chigan, in the timber i country, making faucets, bungs, bung starters, wooden shovels, cork drivers, ■ and vinegar measures and funnels, each out of one piece of wood without jointoi ; seam. As for bungs, Cincinnati might properly be called the bungtown of America, as there are made all : the bungs used in this country. One factory there ships 200 barrels of bungs i every day.’— Chicago Herald. Fruit All the Year Round. Florida is. the land of fruit as well as , of flowers. Apaper.rtf that State says: “Commencing with January, we have strawberries then until late in June. Japan plums from February. Mulberries are ripe in April and last until August. Pineapples ripen in June and last nearly all the year. We have guavas from July until late the next spring. Os the various berries—dewberries, blackberries i and huckleberries—almost any quanitity. Pei ches from May 1 until July. Melons trout June until late in the fall. Oranges the best of the kind—from October until the next Tune, with lemons and ; limes, persimmons, pomegranates, grape : ; fruit and grapes. j IE I WERE YOU. Why did he look so grave! she asked, What might the trouble be! “My little maid,” he sighing said, “Suppose that you were me. And you a weighty secret owned, Pray tall nu wliat you’d do!” “I think I’d tell it somebody,” Said she, “if I were you!” But still he sighed and looked askance, Despite her sympathy. “Oh, tall me little maid,” he said Again, “if you wore me, And it you loved a pretty lass, Oh, then, what would you do?” "I think I’d go and toll her so,” Said she, “if I were you!” “My little inaid, 'Lis you,” he said. “Alone are dear to me,” Ah, then, she turned away her head, And ne'er a word said she, But what he whispered in her ear, And what lie answered too— Ob, no, I cannot tell you this, I’d guess, if I were you! —Chamber's Journal. HUMOR OF THE DAY. An important period—The one between the dollars and cents. Beats the world—The impecunious tramp. — Waterloo Obseroor. A one-legged man will never be troubled with wet feet.— Brooklyn Tines. A “duck ot a girl” must be very close ly watched, or ten to one she’ll go off and marry some quack.— Chicago Sun. Baseball is older than we thought, as a squint at history has made apparent. The Emperor Doininitian occupied his leisure in catching flies. Chicago Ledger. Girls in search of materials for crazy quilts are advised to apply to the rail road companies, because they throw away thousands of old ties every year.— New York Journal. Civilization is making gratifying pro gress in the Congo country. A few years ago the inhabitants ate white per sons raw; now they roast them.—lFnsA ington Republican. The man who has to endure all the agonies of solitary confinement is the clerk who works for a firm that does not advertise. It’s the next thing to being buried alive. — Maple Leaf. Little cricket on the hearth, Little children full of mirth, Little breezes blowing long, Little onions smelling strong, Little level’s in the dark, Little kisses—hear them spark. —Chicago Sun Customer (entering unexpectedly)— “So, sir, I’ve cnucht you putting water in the milk.” Milkm in—“ Yes— er—no —no, that is, sir, I’m only washing it. You don’t s'pose I'm going to serve my customers with dirty milk, do you?”— Chic 'go News. HOBSON’S CHOICE. A thief on his trial re used to be sworn. •OI what use,” queried lie, - will my evidence be! ff I tell the whole truth, I shall get the Old Nick; It I toll what's not true, the old Nick will get me.” —Centuri/. Water-Grabbers. Owing to the system of land piracy, Nevada has been regularly swindled in every real estate transaction in which her inteie ts were concerned. The man who bought foriy acres of land contiguous to a spring, river or lake, had the actual possession and enjoyment of perhaps 10,000 or 20.000 acres adjacent thereto without the latter costing him a nickel. The reason is obvious. So long as the buyer holds a good title to the land bor dering on a stre im h : is monarch of all he can see beyond and around that stream. The owner of forty acres upon which exists a spring thus has a free range, or pasturage, of several square miles, an 1 the State is out of pocket by the operation. In illustration of this evil we can cite one case out of a thou sand. In a certain township there are about twenty five thousand acres of land, but only two springs. At $1.25 an ac e this township ought to realize for the State the sum of $31,350. But the land pirate kn >ws that by buying up the land immediately s irrounding the spring he practically becomes the owner of twenty five thousand. He therefore buys the smallest subdivision which the law per mits, that is. forty acres around spring. For these two small tracts heis allowed twenty years in which to pay the balance. That for which he ought to pay $31,250 he gets for SIOO. In other words, the State has been selling these water grabbers, mainly consisting of a rich and powerful syndicate of cat tlemen, her selected lands at a rate less than half a cent an acre.— Virginia City (Ne .) Enterprise. A citizen of Rochester,Minn., has com pleted a monument made from stones gathered from all parts of the United States. It is about six feet high and four feet in diameter at the base. Jt contains stones fr<n> nea. 1 every Ct4'o I in .he Union and from the highest peals | ia the RocSy mountains, SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS. A prize has been offered by the Anti-Tobacco Society of France for the best essay on the liability or non i liability of smokers to contract chol i era. i M. Aime Girard, after careful ex amination of the composition and ali : mentary value of the different por tions of a grain of wheat, concludes that it is advisable to reject, as far as possible, the outer layers and reservo the farinaceous portions only for hu i man food. Admiral de Jonquieres.of the French navy, has called attention to a remark able phenomenon which may be wit nessed at Papeete, in the Society is. lands. At this point there is but one tide a day instead of the two which occur at other places on the sea. A microscopist, Mr. Spencer Moore, has shown that the bacteria which produce or accompany “sweating of i the feet” are identical with those pro : dueing chemical action in the soil. In I the latter situation they reduce the | sulphates to sulphites, and the phos- I phates to phosphites, and in both situ- I ations are instrumental in setting free ammonia. ; Lyell estimated that the gorge of Niagara river was cut out in about 35,000 years, but surveys to determine the present recession of the falls indi | cate that the work may have been I done in 10,000 years. During forty- I one years the average annual wear of I the rock was 2 3-4 feet. Analyses have shown that the fallen 1 aves of maple contain four per cent. i of valuable matter (soda, potash, lime ’ magnesia, phosphorous and sulphur j compounds), and poplar and willow I five per cent, or more, and that conse j quently the trees constantly manure j the curface soil beneath their -branch ! es. Other leaves examined contained ! about two per cent, of fertilizing sub stances. Lieut. J. P. Finley, of the United i States Signal Service, has found that ■ the West is not, as is popularly sup posed, the peculiar home of the tor nado in the United States, such storms being much more frequent in the South. Os the 180 tornadoes which occurred last year within the bounda ries of the Union, only 59 visited the Western States and Territories, while the Southern States had 105. The Western gales are, however, usually more severe and destructive than those of other localities. Caste in India. i Caste, like a terrible nightmare, is firmly fastened upon the social life of India. It is not easy for a stranger to understand it. During a severe i famine a man with his wife and child applii d to a missionary for help. They had come from a distance and were thin and pinched with hunger. . Food was at once brought, but, hun gry as they were, they could not touch I it. The child was on the ground ’ ' searching for and eating the raw rice that was scattered about the door. . I Rice being given them, they com- ■ menced to cook it, but devoured it be- ■ i fore it was half done. They would not lose caste by eating food prepared ,! by any one not of their grade. There 3 i are four principal castes. The brah - mins, or priests, are the highest. ’ i The consider it beneath them to labor. j To tend cattle or to milk a cow would be pollution. Formerly if a low-caste | person touched them (even by acci dent) they could kill him on the spot I with impunity. The people yield to ! them as superiors as a matter of r course. A high-caste man came into > a meeting, a whole bench was vacated, i the occupants taking seats on the floor. The natives usually travel ’ third-class on the railway. These cars , are so crowded there is no room to sit ’ | apart. This has a tendency to break 1 i down caste. The railway companies l had a difficulty in supplying them water to drink. A high caste man could not drink water brought by a man of lower caste. By employing a high-caste man all can be supplied. ' Those of the lower-caste sit on their , heels while he pours the water into a cup made by their hands, from which they drink without touching the carrier. Sometimes a low-caste man may employ one of a higher-caste. ! The latter does not eat with his em ; ployer, but cooks and eats by himself. I A high-caste man will not drink water i out of a cup or glass belonging to a- ! European. , ' In their villages each caste lives by s i itself. Each has its own shops, or bazaars. Below the regular castes are the outcastes—those who have broken : over some of the various restrictions. '■ They are rejected by their sect, and I become pariahs. There are many sub , divisions among these. Coolies or job • workers are often of this class. Off ! the lines of railway they are employed L to transport passengers.— Watch-man 3 and Reflector. ! , Decorative buckles and clasps are by . no means confined to ladies' belts, but , j find places on wraps, dress bodices and ’ 1 draperies in largo sizes, while smaller s ones are popular on neck ribbons and f gariers. Straight, graduated, raised, sunken, • boitc e, bourrette, broehe, zigzag, waved. 3 and mixed combination, stripes are ail I een on both wool and silk fabrics thia 1 j fail: t— . 3 The numb r ul d’u.isti in the United > Statesis put at ''ho produce 50,- i 000,000 plaa’.a jeaiV-