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t THE SUNNY SOUTH. ATLANTA GA^ BATPRDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 6, 1890. by a niiltML Thoiriawtiiiy- ■banded by Colonel WMMi if we cin’t get back onr flare, I am fled there 1* no lawto pnnM tbe oM soldiers from returning tM iwordi Mm Arp Hn she wlihto she o old got book her bmtl- fal little work-table that the telegraph opr rat or carried off Ho wrote her once that he woald pay for it, bat wonted to keep it m • trophy, bat he boo nororooat the money or the table either. It le drawing interest, I reckon. Bill Abp. jHE(5l/kTFpf PtflLOSOPH^ I V*PVrtgltied by Me muttor.J 1B7 special arrangement with the author and AM “vJoDstliHtloa, Bill Arp’e letter* will be enhllihed a* heretofore in the Spent Soptb, end will eppeer the one week In each tpaper.j One hundred dollars principal and $200 tnterest*and still a running. A kind lady from Louisiana has sent me a' Con federate note dated August 30, 1862 It. is a promise to pay $100, with Interest at 2 cents a day. These bills were called seven thirties bscause the interest was -$7 30 a year. They were printed on the best of bank note paper and had John C. Calhoun’s likeness on one end and Mis d L’b-rty on the other. Calhoun was dead and Miss Liberty ditd, too, about 1865 The kind lady who sent me the bill wrote that she round it among her father's old papers, and as my came was on the back ot it, she sent it tome. I don’t know whether I endorsed it or not, though it does look like my .denature. I don’t know whether she holds mo responsible or not, though I freely admit that t was one of the fellers who ra'sed the racket. Nevertheless, I will pay tae note accord ing to contract when it fails due, which is to be six months after a treaty of peace has been made between the United States and the Confederate States. It has not been made yet. and the note is not due, but it is drawing interest, and ought to be very valuable for the money kings do say that the Ion ?er a note or a b md has to ran the more valuable it is. This note may ran on forever, and there it no tell ing how much it is worth. This Con federate promise to pay revives many sad and sweet me norles. Tney were sought for with eagerness by those who had a surplus of common currency and wanted to invest It. Our folks dident want any more negroes, nor any more land, and so they bought these interest bearing notes and hid them away. I expect old Major Otll bought this one from me But the smart men, who dident abound in pa triotism, dident want any kind of Co 1- federate money or bonds, and so they in vested in land s at enormous o’li'es A common farm,that was worth $2 500, won I bring $25 000. A big pile ol money will tempt most anybody, whether tne money is g od or not. One of our patriots, who had faith like a grain of mus ard seed, sold his farm and stock and negroes all in a lamp for $150600 In Confederate money and filled a trunk with it, and would take it out and count it oDce a month. Later on he put it in bonds of $1,000 eacti, a d he loved to count them and look at the coupons and figure up the interest and long after the war w is over he believed that those bonds would be good some day, aud be redeemed with the cotton or the gold that he said was over in England. As the months rolled on and the Yankees were closing th> tr anaconda coils around ua, anc falUi was weakened and hope was turning to de spair, our Confederate money would hardlv bay anything. In the spri ig of ’65 it took $100 to buy a load of saucks or a bushel of corn and *250 to buy a pair of cotton cards. I saw a man pay $5 000 for a pound of opium that had run the blockade and ne sold it to the opium eaters on the sly tor $10 in gold and felt rich. The money got so bad that it took a sight of it to carry on the limited com merca of the country, and so the govern ment at Bichmond kept on rolling it oat of the machines and didn’t take time to coant it, and Mr. Memminger couldn’t tell whether he had issued 3)0 millions or 3,000 millions. As the war neared its close the money business was like schoolboys playing tag. Nobody wanted to be the last man caught with it. It was played aronnd fast. Just like young folks play thimble at a party. Aud ail this time the soldiers ~ere paid off in this same currency at $10 a month. The $10 would’t pay for a ti 1 wineglass half lull of red 11 >uor. You see, the glass tumblers were all played out, and the liquor man used tin onss made of scraps. T.-u penny nails were worth $1 a piece. I know a wealthy man who built a nice lencc in front of his house aud pinned the palings on with pegs because he couldn’t get nails. She soldiers saw that Confederate money wasn’t even fit to put up as an ante at a game o’ seven up. A $10 bill didn’t make tne game interest ing. They were ashamed to send their monthly pay home to their families for it wouldn't buy anything aud would just be an aggravation. But the boys kept on fighting all the same, and the home folks kept on suffer ing and dividing until tnere wasn’t any thing left ta divide, for Sherman had been along here and made a war path fifty miles wide, and gobbled up every horse and mole, and cow and sheep, and chicken, and shook his ramrod at the buzzards. When my folks got home from rannageing there wasn’t but one cow in the county, and she was hid out in a cane- brake, and it took $3 090 in money and an old execution for $590 and thirty yards of factory shirting ta ouy her. After the war that ex- cutton was collected with all its interest and so the co w-ssller lost his Confederate money but got about $800 in greenbacks for her and she wasn’t a Jer sey either. Those antebellum debts were awful hard to pay after the war was over. 1 know it by experience. When the war broke ont 1 owed about $3,000 and was mighty good for it. Duriug tne war I wanted to pay It in Confederate money, but my friends wouldn't take it and after the luss was over I couldn t, and it took me tea years to get rid of the load. I al ways thought that Colonel Fort was rignt, for he said we were all ruined and ought to wipe out the slate and burn up the notes and accounts and mor.'gages and let everybody begin anew aud start even with the world. Fori was sorter list- my self—he ow t d about as inauy es he didn’t owe, and had noebiug to pay witn. Just think of a tnousand millions of money wiped out in a mouth. Taluk of 10.000,- 000 of people without a currency! Wnen the collapse came, 1 bad $18 in green backs, ana was next to the nones t man in town. Bob Hargrove had $19 and he strutted ar und like a moated bond-hold er and opened a s tore aud bad half a box of rotten tobacco and six bm.c'ies of fac tory yarn ana four bolts of brown shirt ing and some jug ware for Uls stock, Tne jugs were lor sorghum molassts, I sup- poie. , everybody went work Tne SOlJi^rs Droujnt bac z s >me old worn oat army s ock. The letugees s>oa began to return and brougnta-iongs jmecattie and hogs and cbicaens a*id digs and oar foias in She man s belt got a siarton the up rrade, and ever since then tney have been multiplying *nd replenishing in an industrious manner. Toe memories of the war are fading away, foremost or them Who fought it are dead. Old father Time has smoomed o ?er tne strife and we are making friends and onr old s >ld- iers wi i soon ne drawing pensions aud back pay all thesa neastnelrs. I reckon they will, for time softens the heart and tenders the feelings of tne bitterest fo;s. A federal soldier was In Rome the other day seeking investments, and says he would like to find the lieutenant colonel of the Thirty-third Georgia regiment, who was cep ured, or wounded aud cap tured, at Antletam (S larpsburg), and ynn sent to tne ho»piud and afterwards to prison, and gave ms sword to a federal who was in tae same hospital. The fed eral soidler’e name is Draper. He.wants to return the sword to tne oificer, If living or to hie family, and I win be glad to 1 am the lientenant colonel’s name. The scabbard of the sword had been struck For the Smnrr sooth. THIS LONK OUTOGKNAKIAM- L ’Twas early mom Iii the leafy month of J tine; The sky was bright above- Au old man Bad, forlorn, Sat in his rustic chair, Beside his cottage door. Four score years have blanched his hair, Which long and lank hung o’er His shoulders broad and high. Four score years had dimmed his eye; And 00 his cheek and on r.is brow Were deep traced iu tows oi the plow— The silent, unseen plow of Time. His iaithful staff was in his hand, Wore surfe than charmed wizird wand To guide his'Ottering steps. He hears the gentle morning breeze Salt murmuring through the trees— He felt it cool his brow, so calm; He felt it soothe his cheek, like balm The swallow twittered I11 the cottage caves: Fsch songster poured his throat, Amid the rustling leaves, In joyous bursts of song, And chief among the throng The bird of mimic note. He heard them not or seemed Not to heed the melody; But listless, only dreamed. His look was far away, And memory fond memory, Long lost or gone astray Was gathering up tne past, In pleasing, sad review. His life he lived an w; He lived again his Toyhood days, So full of glee Crowned with "quips and cranks” And jollity— . „ T cn man bo ta s hours and marriage bcllit— ‘ A fair and loved and loving wife. Who faithful cluag to him through life Until she calmly, sweetly died. He thought of all and sadly sighed. II. ’Twas summer’s eve In the leafv month of June; High rode, in azure deeps, the moon; An old man sat in his rustic chair, Beside his cottage door, By the soft sweet evening air His straggling locks were stirred, While ptst the wheeling swallows whirred; I11 chattering Hocks or by the pair; Aud bright-plumed birds did chant Their lays co j jubilant, Or flashed like gleams of light Amid the foliage geen. Now in. now out of siaht, Darting the boughs between. The golden sun w-s sinking low In the far west, and len* a glow To dying day-the er mson sky Blushed roseate, while purpling clouds Like gorgeous drapery. Clouds motionless of changeful hue, Crimson, scarlet, uurple. blue, Each vied with other to display Farewell honors to the king of day. lie heart! the feathered minstrelsy Bat heeded not— He saw the glory of the sky, The grandeur of the setting sun, But heeded not—his dreamy eye Looked far away—looked far beyond The gorgeous scenes of varied hue. Agaiu fond Memory brought to view The long lost wife—“not lost But gone before”—he thought Of ioys forever fled, Of tears together shed— The church yard where she slept, The tears he sorely wept To see her face no more Upon life’s dresry shore. He thought of lovely children gone— James in manhood’s prime and John His darling boy, with sunny brow, Called in the flower of youth to bow His head in death, and Mary. oo, With curls of gold and eyes of blue. All gone! all gone, forever gone! He last all, still left alone. nr. ’Twas dewy eve In the leafy month of June; Climbed o’er the hills the full round moon— The old man sat oace more Bes'de his cottage door With head and body bent, Upon his stafl'he lent, Aud lonely was the look he wore. The swallows nestled in the eaves The warblers nestled ’moiig the leaves; No sound was heard, But all was still, Save the plaintive notes Of the whip-poor-will. “Why left” he said, * Why linger here, “When all are dead, ‘ When all are there?” With trembling hand and weeping eye He pointed upward to the sky. A silent Mess»n>:ar. unseen, - Alighted from (he skies, And gently touched ais heart And softly cl >sed his eyes Long ere morning streaked the east His feet had touched the golden shore. Joyous the welcome—clasped the hands, No* weeping there—no parting evermore. Next morn they found him dead— His chin was resting on his breast, His hand still grasped the stall’, But he had gone to rest. They made his grave Beside his wife And laid him down As he had lain In life! 80 let them sweetly sleep. So let them gently rest, Till Resurrection morn Shall wake them with the b!est. W. S. Fleming. Columbia, Tenn. Famous Prospect Park IT IS THE CHIEF BREATHING SPOT IN THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. It I* Abo Notv /%* the Place When Patriot* and British Fought the Battle of Lon, Island—How t* Looks and How It Is Cared For. ** v ft is trne that the city of Brooklyn has several parks, and that the number is shortly to be increased by one. Yet it is also trne that of tho number only one may justly be called famous. This is the great Prospect park, which more than almost any other pleasure ground in America owes its attractiveness to nat- IT CAN BE INCREASED TO ALMOST ANY PROPORTIONS. smd*pmerons cityhas QQQ]Q AMlID6Dt been so backward in the work of estab-j wiaaai w aaiuiuiilvlll Kdiing and beautifying park lands. The commissioners themselves s.#d in one of their latest reports: “Laying ont of eight the parade ground, which is not available for the general popular use, and the distant Coney Island concourse, we have in all our parks 660 acres, as against more than 6,000 in New York, 8,000 in Philadelphia, 3,000 in Chicago, 2,300 in Boston and 2,200 in St. Louis In other words, onr available park area, as measured against the average of that of these contemporaneous and not re- PARK DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS. are’s own adaptation. It cannot be said that the city—well up in the second rank of American cities—has paid all the attention it should have paid to the question of pleasaunce, but, on the other hand, it would be wrong to say that the matter has been neglected. Large as is the area of Brooklyn—it is spreading rapidly to the east and south —there are only 685 acres of parks to be set down to her credit, and of these 70 acres consist of tho Coney Island con course, in the town of Gravesend. There are a hundred acres in smaller inclosures, of which Fort Greene—now called Washington park—is perhaps the best known, marking as it does a spot of Revolutionary fame. These smaller in closures, however, are scarcely more than “squares,” excepting the Parade Ground and Washington park. The real park system of Brooklyn em braces Prospect park, two boulevards, each more than 200 feet in width, called the Ocean parkway and the Eastern parkway, and the concourse, on the ocean front. To this has been added a plot of forty acres adjoining Prospect park, which has been set aside for a pa rade ground for militia regiments. The parkways are respectively 5J and 2J miles long. To this is to be added, almost imme diately, a new park not yet named, which will probably be called Stranahan park. VALLEY GROVE BRIDGE. in honor of one of Brooklyn’s best known citizens, J. oi. T. Stranahan, tu tvhosa influence and efforts the city is mainly indebted for Prospect park, he liavin been among the foremost of those who advocated ii\s purchase and improve ment. K Prospect park itself is aud will doubt less always be the principal pleasure ground of tho city. As was just said, it owes more of its attractiveness to nature than to art, but nature has been lavish with attractions. The ground was se cured at about the time of the breaking ont of the civil war, before the original forests which stood within its area had been destroyed, and many of the old for est trees still remain within the hundred and odd acres of woodland that form a synonymous with the “rich planters be- THE GEM OF TENNESSEE VALLEY. It is in the Valley of Tennessee, a name j ° qq le original cost of the 510 acres of Prospect park was nearly $ 1.000,000, and . more than $5,000,000 more has been menta in the New South are apparent, j epent in the work of construction and Dayton, a city of 6 000, surrounded by an maintenance. The construction, or lay out, delayed by the war, was not inexhaustible supply of c^al, iron ’and timber, is the ‘‘G=m City of the Valley,” and offers unparalleled opportunities to Northern men, money ana brains. Two lurnaces are now in full blast and “be hind in orders,” Among the other in dustries now in operation are two flour mills, pump worfts, planing mill and fairly begun until 18GG. Once begun it was prosecuted with considerable vigor for some eight years, but since then there has been less activity, attributable, so it is said, to the limitations placed on the brick works, with a cast iron pipe works, 1 annual appropriations, a stove foundry ana a huge rolling mill T ,,„ '.L„ p t]ie ,„ r v most aoTee . underway. A strong Nortuern syndicate ihe surtace ot tne pars it, most agree has been formed to promote the interests ! Amy diversified. In addrncu to the of Dayton December 3, 4 and 5 To hundred acres of woodland there are accommodate those desiring to attend ! 70 acres of meadows and 77 acres of the sale, the Cincinnati, Hamilton and 1 l k n , courses Over 250 Dayton Railroad will sell excursion ; Kes , an 1 ', er , tickets at one fare for the round trip ' here 3 have been laid out m planta tions all points on the line on December ' tions. There are also some twelve 2 and 3 For rates and farther lnforma tion call on or address any C. H. and D. Agent, or E O McCormick, General Passenger and Ticket Agent, CiLCinnati. Send fora handsome album of Dayton views. Ample accommodations at the hotels for all. miles of drives and bridle paths and A week or more ago of a bngnt sunaay morning, while the organ at St. Thomas' was pealing forth the voluntary and ths people had risen to their responses, a J curious and most wonderful thing hap pened. Iu the middle aisles, just a seat or two from the front, is one long pew simply upholstered in dark leather that has for a year been quite empty, but which bears on it a silver plate holding a name well known in Wall street. The pew’s owner we all know has made a pile of money. He has a family consisting of a wife and two daughters, who for the last year or two have lived abroad. Often have we won dered if when they came back to America’ would they gain an entrance to tho upper circles, and much speculation concerning the pew and its holders has been indulged in by inattentive worshipers. Sunday before last curiosity was in one way satisfied and again whetted anew, for, as the services began, the double green in side doors oi* the church flew open, there was a tread of feet and up the way came first his lordship—the most prosperous man in kite street—rigged out in London clothes, a flower in his coat, and followed by madam, radiant in much -rich silk of a Bolter tone, and half leaning on a gold beaded, tortoise shell stick. Behind her came the daughters, types of English maid ens, severely gowned, prim and haughty; but public astonishment stopped not there, for in the footsteps of the daughters moved with stately stride a gigantic footman in full regimentals, his high nose held well up and a bag of books on one stout arm. The family filed into the pew, settled themselves, the footman unbent, opened the silk embroidered bag, doled out the books and noiselessly stepped back and down to another empty pew, where ta humbly said bis prayers. Service over, he collected bis books and charges, marshaled them out to the street and followed them three blocks to Fifth avenue, watched the entire way by an amazed audience of St Thomas’ frequenters.—New York Coe. Chicago News. Not a few of the phrases in use at this dav originated with Lyly, and are found in his “Euphues,” a popular book pub lished in 1580. Among them might be mentioned “caught nappiDg,’ “a crooked stick or none,” “brown study,” “catching birds by putting salt on their tails, ’ eto. VSTLLINK ENTRANCE SHELTER, nearly as many miles of walks in tlie park limits. Two hillg, Lookout and Breeze, so called, are perhaps more at tractive tlian any other features, the views from the summit of the first one especially being remarkably beautiful. There are several features of this park which are of great historic interest. It was on the high, heavily wooded ridge that passes through Prospect park that the battle of Long Island was fought in 177G. It was understood when the park was projected that the historic features of the site of the battle should not bo obliterated, and that the remains of the old redoubt which woro still visible should be carefully preserved. This -T, A MUSIC PAGODA mote cities, is less than one-fifth, while as compared with that of principal Euro pean capitals it is reckoned as being not more than one-ninth.” It is true that Vhere seems to he an awakening from this apathy beginning. An appropriation of $.500,000 was made some two years agf> for the purchase of more parks, and clife fruit of this will soon be seen in the establishment of Stranahan park; but what is needed, and what is being irrjed strenuously by some of the most public spirited citi zens, is a constant and greatly increased expenditure for maintenance and re pairs. To tills a liberal and even gen erous response is expected soon from the municipal authorities. The commissioners themselves, from the time of Mr. Stranahan to the present board, which consists of Messrs. George V. Brower, Marvin Cross and Charles H. Luscomb, have been zealous in ad vancing the work. They have been ably aided by the veteran Anenrin Jones, whose fame as superintendent "of parks has spread all over the countiy. The illustrations show various objects of picturesque interest hi Prospect park. David A. Curtis. Just at Present, However, the United States Is Not Spending Much Money on Explosives and Deadly Weapons. Resources in Case of Emergence Notwithstanding the many Ajmericon t«. ventions relating to ordnance made daring the last quarter of a century, the army of the United States is very poorly equipped with weapons, both larg-t and small. This condition is not in the least due to the in activity or the policy of the ordnance de partment., but exists because of a lack of appropriations. It happens that the economical policy has been a wise one, for the United States has not needed any guns of late with which to defend her dignity, and during the last twenty-five years such improvements have been made in small arms and cannonrthat thosa which might have been made or purchased ten or The Kentucky Convention. The constitutional convention of Ken tucky, which lias been in session at Frankfort, the state’s capital, since Sep tember last, marks an epoch in the his- BJIONSTON S$0UNG. tory of the commonwMilth. The dele gates were chosen by v.ste of the people at the August election, one from each legislative district, a bill providing for such an election having passed tho last general assembly. This bill had been pending for years. Cassius M. Clay, Jr., of Bourbon county, son of Brutus Clay and nephew of the noted diplomat and abolitionist, Cassius M. Clay, was elected president of the convention. A man of affluence, in the prime of life, of marked individu ality and intellectual force, Mr. Clay is a power in tho land. Governor S. B. Buckner represents Hart county. His Mexican war record, his services in the regular army in the Indian country and liis identification with the “lost cause” need no comment. Another member,’ J. Proctor Knott, Buckner’s gubernatorial predecessor, is one of the most brilliant and versatile men in the state. Charles J. Bronston, of Lexington, commonwealth attorney for the second term in his district, lias also made his mark at the convention. The same is likewise true of Col. Bennett H. Young, president of the Louisville Southern road. An adjournment will not be had for some weeks yet. SPRINGFIELD AND SMOOTH BORE GUNS, fifteen years ago would now be obsolete. Tho conntry, therefore, has been saved the expense of experiments, and has had the good luck not to have had its unarmed con dition taken advantage of. When the war closed in 1SC5 the gov ernment had on hand vast supplies of arms and ammunition. During the con flict the Springfield muzzle loading rifle was the chief small weapon in use and proved very effective. Hundreds of invent ors were at work during that period en deavoring to perfect a magazine gun. It was not used much then, and it has not been adopted by the American army yet. Boards of ordnance began discussing guns in 1S68, and in 1870 tlie modified Springfield rifle was adopted as the small arm for the infantry and cavalry. The old mnzzle loading weapon vva3 altered into a breech loader, and that is about all the change made up to date. The government still has thousands of the old “muzzle loaders,” and these are for sale to all who care to buy and will go through the for mality cf writing to tho chief of ordnance at Washington and applying for permit sion to purchase. lit reply the applicant will receive tin order on the nearest ord nance storekeeper to sell at $1 each the number of guns lie may wish. Various Grand Army post3 are equipped in this way, which lias also served many farmers to provide themselves with weapons. The old smooth bore Springfield makes a fine shot gun and carries with great force and accuracy. During the war the field artillery used chiefly the Rodman three inch rifles and the twelve pound bronze Napoleons. These guns are still in use, and the ten batteries— that is, two companies to each of the five artillery regiments in the army—are now supplied with these same guns. The last congress appropriated $20,000 for the pur chase of machine guns, and such an appro priation has lteen made annually for sev eral years past, so that about seventy-five such guns—each one costs about $1,000- FRIENDSHIP OF TWO REPUBLICS. Brazil and tlie United States Give Greet ing to Each Other. The United States of Brazil and tho United States of America have been ex changing unusual compliments, waiving THE GATLING MACHINE GUN. have been bought and issued to these light batteries and to several artillery companies of state militia. Neither the magazine rifle nor the ma chine join has j-ver been thoroun-h’y - ested in actual war, though the Turks at Plevna had several thousand of the former. The mitrailleuse which the French us.d against ] the Germans was of course a machine gun, I but its effectiveness was inconsiderable compared with that of tlie-’weapons of to- 1 day. Some time ago, while on a visit to j Hartford, I went out to the Colts’ armory j on the invitation of Dr. Gatling, the in- | ventor of the arm which bears his name. ! He showed me how rapidly he could fire the gun. IIow fast that was I can’t begin to , say, btft bullet followed bullet so quickly that there seemed no appreciable space be tween the discharges. lie placed a three inch plank of oak against the target and began firing at it, moving the gun so that each bullet struck just next to where the preceding one bad entered. The board, some twelve inches wide, was cut cleanly across, just as though a crosscut saw had been drawn through it. Then to show how accurately the weapon could be used the inventor aimed it at a certain point on the board. He fired sev eral shots, and when we examined the target there was only one little hole just large enough to admit the first bullet fired. The doctor, who, by the way, has the most kindly face I ever looked upon, smiled sweetly aud asked whether I thought a regiment could charge a battery of such guns. “It would kill every mother’s son of them,” he added. This remark sounded very grim and bloodthirsty. But Dr. Gat ling counts himself a philanthropist, for he holds that the more horrible war is made the less war there will be. It is not necessary in the new order of things for the American government to make the same preparations for equipping its forces with small arms and with ma chine guns as in the case of heavy guns to be mounted in forts and used aboard ships. The plants owned by private concerns in the United States are now sufficiently large to enable them to supply vast quantities of material upon short notice. But in tho case of heavy guns the republic has not had until recently plants with facilities for making these monstrous instruments of warfare. Congress has appropriated ample sums for this purpose, and there are now and the absence of smoke are at the ex pense of the pressure on the barrels of the guns. If it turns ont that the smoke less powder, in case of rapid firing, bursts the weapons it is likely to be more danger ous to friends than foes. If the pressure exerted is constant, and if the explosive proves to have the advantages which the Germans claim for it, the guns could of course be strengthened. With the infantry and cavalry armed with magazine guns, the light artillery supplied with machine guns, the forts de fended with great cannon which send missiles accurately from five to ten miles, and all of these using a powder which makes uo smoke to betray the situation of an enemy, the whole tactics of war will have to be changed. Bat in talking with army men I have failed to find a single one who would say that he was looking forward with any interest to the practical test in actual warfare of these recent in ventions in the art of killing. JXo. Gilmer Speed. OUR QUIZ COLUMN. GENIAL “MRS. PARTINGTON.” The Story of His Rife as Quaintly Told by Himself. Among hundreds of similar autographic treasures that have come at various times into my keeping is a letter which was not written for publication, but from which I am impelled to transcribe certain passages. At my earnest solicita tion Mr. Shilla- ber, who died the other day, m tlie summer of 1880 jotted down some b. p. sniLLABER. personal recollections of a life that was full of events. Concerning my request he writes: “Like the charity scholar learn ing the alphabet, I am a little in doubt whether it will pay to go through so much to get so little, bnt your friendly wish mnst not be slighted.” He then and thus blithely continues: “I was torn, as the old family record de clares, July 12, 1S14, in the ancient town of Portsmouth, N. H., and no better or fairer place conld have been selected for the pur pose. My schooling was desultory and im perfect until, at half past 15 years of age, I became an attachment of the press—^The Palladium and Advertiser, printed at Dover, N. H., for which paper I worked upward of two years. It succumtod to disastrous fate, and my regrets went with it.” During the years 1831 and 1S32 Mr. Shil- laber was associated with the local press of his native town. He then went to Boston and finished his trade as a book printer. “In 1835,” he says, “I became free, and all my energies were devoted to sustaining the proud position of a ‘jour.’ “In October, 1836, bleeding at the lungs caused me to voyage to Demarara, in Brit ish Guiana, where I remained until July, 1838, a subject of William IV and of Vio- toria, helping to print the government Gazette. When restored to health I sailed back to New England and got married, the wisest act of my life. Book printing not being remunerative, in 18401 associated myself with The Boston Post, in which of fice I continued uninterruptedly for ten years. The ‘Partington’ papers were com menced (in 1847) for my own amusement. Their success in The Post led me to other efforts, made anonymously. “In 1850 I found myself (like the young partridge which hides its head under a leaf, thinking itself unseen) very widely known. In fact, my name had a celebrity. There were new duties to perform. I had a new position to maintain and new pow ers to exercise.” Mr. Shillaber had contributed to The . nuo, Saturday Evening Gazette and other lit- mother?” THE PRIZE STORY. Hiss E. E. Garnett, Dunnsville, 7a., Carries off the Prize. Among so many bright and interesting stories it was no easy matter to select any particular one for the Prize Story. But tbe author of the weird legend of the Plseatawa has been adjudged the prize by an impartial committee. This story, so often told in rhyme, is brought out by this charming little authoress with bold, swift touches and in soft and glowing language. Wo c mgratnlate onr young friend upon her success and mail her, at ones, the promised book. And now a word to the nnsaccess'nl competitors. Seme of your stories were really oreditable productions, and will appear in other departments of the pa - per. Do not despair on account of this i your first failure, but combine study with painstaking literary effort, and we predict that the next generation will “Hear the world applaud the hollow ghost Which knew not the living woman." GOOD-BY. Ned, Avondale, Ala. Name of author unknown. GOD S ACRE. R P 8., Allendale, S C.: Where can I find verses entitled “God’s Acre?” Will some of our readers please give him the desired information. G0N3 UP SALT RIVER Mary Christian, Tenn.: What does the expression “gone up Salt River” mean? It is generally used to denote political defeat, but is also used to signify ob livion. FEN IANS, j Talbot Wright, Kansas City, Kans: Who are or were the Fenians? In 1865 a company of Irishmen In ths United States nutted aud declared they would free Iretahd. They were called Fenians. COKNCR ACKER S. — COPPERHEAD3, V. T. W., Mo.: Who are called the C irncrackars? also the Copperheads? Comcrackers is a pseudonym of the Kentuckians; Copperheads of N orthern sympathizers with the South in the civil war. ALL QUIET ALONG THE POTOMAC. Mrs. Vaughn, Miss : Wao is the auth or of the beautiful little poem “All quiet along the Potomac? ” This little poem is styled “The Picket Guard” and Its author is E .hoi Lynn Beers. HOBSON’S CHOICE. Jack Windtnan: What is meant by ' Hobson’s Choice?” Take what is offered or go without. Tobias Hobson, an English stable keeper male whatever customer came to hire a horse take the oue nearest the door. A GDOD MOTHER. Willis H., Tona.: Wao is the author of the line, “Hippy is he with such a erary periodicals, and in partnership with Charles G. Halpine (afterward famous as "Private Miies O’Reilly”) he started Th* Carpet Bag, a gloriously short lived satiri cal newspaper. It was in 1S54 that he pub lished “Tlie Life and Sayings of Mrs. Part ington anil Others of the Family.” The initial sr. es of this volume exceeded 30,000 copies! ft* author had returned to The Bos ton Post in 1853, and for three years did local reporting for that daily. In 1856 Col. Lord Tennyson, Xtwa3thu3: Hippy he With such a mither! fnith in womaukind Beats with his blood, and trust in all things high Comes easy to him, and though he trip an! fall He shall not blind his soul with clav ’’ TAMMANY HALL. Reader: I see a great deal about Tam many Hall and its leaders, Etplaln the William v7. Clapp offered him the associate ! term to me for Heaven’s sake? editorship of The Saturday Evening Ga-i Taoimxuy Hill is a section of the zette, which Mr. Shillaber accepted, and : Democratic party in Now York City and another genial comradeship of ten yearn ! ,, ca , la(J fro u th9[r pla33 0 f meeting St. ensued. When, in 1SG6, Col. Clapp sold _ . ., ” , The Gazette Mr. Shillaber’s regular active 71 ^ 18 th3 Pxtco:i of thia connection with the press terminated. I P ar ^y* He waa an Indian chief whosa However, up to the time of his death h* j real name was Tlmanund. did his full share of literary work for many noted journals. Henry Clav Lukens. A Novelty In Lighthouses. "TIannaford electric and automatic lighthouse” is the full title of an inven tion which comes from New Zealand, and is among the first fruits of English civili zation and science in that far off Austral asian land. Consul Connolly at Auckland has sent to the state department at Wash ington a sketch and descript ion of it, with the enthusiastic indorsement of many prac tical engineers and electricians who have examined it. Mr. Hannaford claims that his machinery will send forth electric WELL OF ST. KEYNE. Mrs. Jankins, Vs.: Waersi3 the we’i of Ss. Kiyna and what pewir is ascribed to it? F.e upon you, Mrs. Jsnkiusl Y>u are notsearehlug for the well of S;. Keyne in this day o'“Woman rule,” surely. If so however you will find it in Cornwall aud the Sr3t o’ a married couple to taete of its waters will “wear ths breaches.” E TIQUETTE. M. Atidsrsen, S C.: I3 it etiquette for a gentleman to raise his hat to a lady wnen oisling her iathestrest ifshe does not even loos at him. A salutation andsr such circumstances would le of little usi. Utless you have cause to think that the lady la question desires to ‘‘cut’’ you it would be perfect - lyproper however to rarie the hat, and thereby attract her attention. THE GGRDIAN KNOT. John Wallace, M133: Wnat is the Gor dian K lot? Tuis term is generally used to express dim eulty or obstacle. Tradition tells us that Gordias Ki ng or Phrygia consecrat ed to Jupiter a wagon, the beam aud yoke of which were tied together by snoh an intricate knot that no one could un ravel it. An oracle having foretold that he who could untie this knot would be master of Asia, Alexander out it asunder with his sword. A HEAVY COAST GUN. building and have already been built can- non.of heavy caliber and enormous range. Nearly all of the big guns now mounted upon American fort3 arc long out of date and useless, except for firing salutes and drilling tlie men in tbe handling of artil lery. Many of tlie smooth bores have had rifled tubes shrunk into them, and in that way the range and nenetratine nower have been increased. But even thus improved they would be inadequate in case of war. Not only lias there been a great revolu tion in gun malting, but the explosives used are in many instances much different from the old fashioned kinds. When the war was over the government had a vast quantity of powder on hand. This lasted for twenty-three years and was used up in TITE nANNAFORD INVENTION, flashes plainly discernible for thirty miles. The cupola revolves and the lamp with it, bnt the arc within does not and is always broadside to one desired direc tion, the lens pulley at its back facing the land, so that flashes can be sent in . that direction at will. The flash signals * ets? ! f-r’ - 1 in the center of which was a burning g»s NATURAL GAS. Reader, Wyo.: Waen and by whom was natural gas discovered? Columns of fire issuing from the ground were discovered and reported by ths earliest Jesuit explorers. George Wash ington sought in 1775 to have set apart and reserved to the publio forever sent, which is of great importance in case of shipwreck or war. The arc is automatic and does its own lighting or extinguish ment to tbe minute. But the great novel ty and most valuable feature is the wind mill attachment which generates the elec tricity and the storage of the latter to such ample amount that it would not run short of 15,000 candle power even in a six months' calm. ADMIRAL DA SILVEIRA. the rigid etiquette that rules in naval cir cles and taking extraordinary pains to ex press mutual good will. President Harri son exceeded the usual courtesies by direct ing Rear Admiral Walker to proceed to Rio Janeiro and salute the new republic. The admiral reached there last June with his sqnadron of evolution, and when he pledge, for it was a pledge made to the entered the port the Brazilian forts hoisted public by those who took the initiative the American flag and saluted before the in establishing the park, has not been squadron had time to firet pay its respects Krcm , ucal ... t—— — kept There is nothing now remaining *° the port according to the usual rmo. n military wor k waa employed by the en- discovered by the late Gen. Fremont in 1843. to designate even the location of the re- to the universal custom for the port to gj neep3 for luting. The supply some doubt, and much of the earthwork that J wait t ^ e salute of the me time ago ran so low that salutes and other stood for nearly a century was destroyed Snguu^nsteaS P™ 1 ? ornamental uses of the material in the work of laying out the park. It ofX thirt^n Slf ^cordto toT^r were omitted. It has never been the cue- is true that a bronze tablet was placed admiral tom of tire government to keep very large upon a large granite twwlder near by, but A. soon as possible the new republic Sreto. 10 'Instead"*^ the inscription on it is said to be in, fitted out >ts fl^h^he Aquid* powder it iathe policy of the accurate. This seems especially unfor- tan, and sent it with the corvette Gum- ord nance department to gather great tnnate in view of the fact that on thia F® ^ ew ... « quantities of niter and issue it to contract- bluff occurred the first meeting of the in command and c »8 . ors when necessary. No private powder duty of presentingto President Hamson a „ nbpr nfF nrd hand the time regularly organized Continental army maker could afford to keep on hand tl with the British fore Itw„abloedj .iter iUrel, to„ hr ti. battle and a memorable defeat for the , lies. The Brazilian ships reached their °„ ar ' . , , „ patriots. donation after a stormy passage, and , Experiments have beet.and are constant- The old Litchfield mansiotf, also of were given a glorious welcome by the ' ,,"b "J^nr^rT historic interest, has been refitted, and American squadron and by the fortsin the tho’snrmriield armory this explosive serves now as the headquarters of the wafl'tte^drf’Uth “to^rS has tried°very fully With smalfarms, Park department of the city. courtesST* I and the results are satisfactory as to the In the way of statuary Prospect park I “ cha ” Ke of compllmellU and courtcsi “’ | great velocity produced, but this velocity , The Wonderful Snow riant. The snow plant which grow3 iu the sier ras at an altitude of 8,000 feet above sea level grows under deep banks of snow and flowers as soon as the snow melts. The flower stems consist of partly crystal lized sugar, and are said to taste when cook- r ed sweeter but not unlike asparagus. Tha target practice, the Indian wars, firing flower resembles the hyacinth, but is far salutes etc., while a great deal not suited more beautiful. This wonderful plant was Turkey's Government. Briefly stated, the government of Turkey consists of the sultan, who is supreme and absolute in theory, if not entirely in prao- tiee. The legislative functions are per formed by two bodies, one the council of ministers, which consists of the respective ministers of state, such as the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of the interior, the minister of public instruction, tho minister of war, of the navy, etc., and tte spring that he regarded as one of the greatest of our national wonders. The first U3e of gas for domestic purposes in this country was made iu 1321 In the vill age of Fredoaia, N. Y B nt for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of ysars the gas wells in China ha76 supplied cheao fuel aud light to the dwellers in their vicinity. TO MAKE OILCLOTH. Wuiiatn B., lad.: How is oilcloth made? I have never heard or seen a de scription of its making. The body or the oilcloth is what Is called the burlaps and is made of jute and Imported from 8 ictland. Tais fa bric is limp and is stiffened by passing through a mixture of staroh and gloo and over hot rollers, coming out, It might be said, laundried. The beet grade of oilcloth recalves five or six coats of paint and the thickness of each coat of paint Is governed by a steel knife. Ths opera tion of coating the first quality olloloth occupies a week. Waen dry the cloth is ready- for the printers. Fjr every color in pattern there must be a blook. 8 trne patterns containing many colon require from twenty-five to thirty blocks. The sheik ul Islam, who is head of the religions I printing is done on the top floor so that orders. The counci of ministers is pro- j tho olloloth ean hang for a distance of sided oyer by the grand vizier, the highest flft y l6 et to dry. Coming oat from the official in the empire The council of state _ U varnished. Next It Is consists of some thirty members, compria- . V * a “ ‘ , .. . . ing_the leading men of the empire. Every trimmed and the doth is raady to o law^has to be passed by both these bodies^ and then receive the sanction—styled tl irade—of the sultan.—New York Herald. shipped. This Is an imperfect descrip tion of the various operation* to be un dergone in malting oilcloth.