Newspaper Page Text
/MA-A^y/ct
/
Advertiser
Published every Thursday by D. 1*. FREEMAN.
.: . j
Terns: $1.50 per annum, in advance.
V Q&
- --'f «
OLD SERES -VOL. X**NO 2.
mtnttT. 1 j . . .. -. ...
CEDARTOWN. GA,. M.&iCH 15, 188a
JNEW SERIES-VOL. V -NO. 14.
i \
I
5
misdoing.
“I don't want anv beggarly parsons
hanging around my daughter/’ said the
Captain.
The good lady would look very much
shocked and really tremble in her heart
-at the Captain’s temerity, for she
thought it was almost tempting Provi
dence to cast a contemptuous word
upon the clergy, bat she had that whole
some fear of the Captain that she never
ventured to remonstrate with him. t ho
hed in secret with her daughter when
j Captain managed to transfer the
preacher to the care of a wealthy and
comely widow in the neighborhood.
“ He can poach all he pleases on that
domain,” said the Captain. And-short-
ly afterwards he was delighted to see
the reverend gentleman riding out with
the fair widow and ga’ liering grasses
urea up in crystal grottoes, lit with gems a ?^ > n ff ,e pretty woodland haunts
And paved with emeralds ot price untold. I about Granville.
The pane is etched with wondrous tracery:
Curve Interlaced with curve and line with
SUm, graceful vines and tendrils of snch sort
As never grew save In some fairy world
Wind up from roots of miated silver wrought
Through tulip flowers and lilies half un
furled.
Shag flrs and hemlocks blend 'with plumy
palms,
Spiked cacti spring from feathery ferns and
weeds.
And sea-blooms such as rock in Soutl
And there are flights of birds with Iris wings
That shod In mid-air many a brilliant plume,
And scintillating shoals cf swimming things
That seem to float iu clear green ocean
And there are diamond-crusted diadems.
And orbs of pearl and scepters of pale gold,
Stored up in crystal grottoes, lit with
‘ with em -
And marvelous architecture of no name.
Facades and shafts of loveliest form and hue.
Keen pinnacles and turrets tipped w! h flame,
And fretted domes of purest sapphire blue.
All these the Genii of the Frost last night
Wrought through the still cold hours bj
charm and rune;
And now, *llke dreams dispelled before tltf
Tbeyltoat away in vapor on ibe noon.
—CharitoL*. HUtjrSh^nUari>crj< Jlajuzine.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
Miss Betty Van Dyke had curled her
self up in the comer of the spacious
window-sill in her mother’s kitchen to
watch Fifine flute the flounces of her
India muslin. Miss Betty wa : as pretty
and fro-h as a rose; her eyes were of
heaven’s own blue, her hair like threads
of gold, her chocks “like a Catherine
pear, the side that’s next the sun.”
Fifine was nothing more th:in a handle
of old bones wrapped in a pieceof parch
ment; she was a native of Lorraine and
had lately married an Englishman fa
miliarly fcnoun as “George.” whom
she had loved for many a year.
Miss Petty was romantic, and itso de
lighted her when George at last yielded
to the idolatry of poor F'ifine that she
coaxod her father into leasing a bit of
sembbv woodland, with a tumble-down
house upon it, to George, so that he
cou’d have a <. arden and potato patch
and raise some chickens and take nice
care of poor Fifine: Miss Betty even
condescended to go to them during the
house-finishing and the honevmo n and
assist Filinc in her little domestic fur
nishing and adorning and advise George
in rclntion to his garden, his potato
patch, his chickens and wood-splitting.
But, truth to sav, George had so
studied iho character and attributes of
the noble Indian that he modeled his
life upon it so far as resigning all do
mestic dnt'es to poor Pi line. He gave
over to his spouse the entire supervision
of the garden, potato patch, chicken-
raising and even the wood-splitting. He
was of a dreamy nature aud would sit
for hours on a rude bench he had placed
near tiie water, and there he would
smoke and meditate until Fiflne had
tidied up the house and fed the chickens
and hoed the potatoes and washed a
couple of dozen pieces for one of her
patrons, and split some wood and got
dinner upon the table, and then George
would come in and eat dinner with
Fifine and tell her of all he had been
thinking about while sitting there upon
the bench under the trees.
Fi ne -was very happy. She knew
that George was sn; erior to tier in
m'nd, but lie had told her timo and
aga n that it was right he should be her
superior, and lie loved her all the bet
ter for it
But M : ss Betty had her misgivings,
an.I one day, wl en she was curled up
like a lovely kitten upon the window
sill, she said to l-'iline: “What docs
George do, Fil ne, towards the support
of the household? It seems to me that
von are always slaving and toiling.
What does George do?” °
Then Fifne shrugged her shoulders,
which had become somewhat crooked
and bulgy fiom the heavy burdens the:
had borne ail these years, and elevaled
her eyebrows, which were nil her scrag
gy and g av, and said, with a world of
leeling in her voice: “ What does lie do,
niv angel? Ho gives to me the happi
ness which is my all; he gives to me the
conver.-ation which is beautiful; he tells
me of what is going on in the big, busy
world; he pities, he consoles, ah, my lit
tle one. lie loves me!”
Miss Betty blushed and was silent,
and thonght, foolish child, that after
all this was ever, thing-. She left Fifine
to irou the tucks ana furbelows with
which Mrs. Van 1 yke delighted to adorn
her daughter Betty and went out under
the grape-vine and walked to.and fro
. and thought that if somebody—and
here she trenibled and blushed at I lie
thonght of his name—would read to her
igain, would t»k to her again, would
tell herof the big. beautiful world once
more; if he would love her—ah, what
would she not be glad to give in return!
She wpnld work for him—aye, she would
work her slim fingers to the bone, only
of course he ivouldn’t let her; he was
too noble and generous and thoughtful.
But if t ' e necessity should arise, how
f lad she would be to do even like poor
ifine, if onlv he would love her in re
turn!
But, alas! the superb rity of mank nd
was here also pre-eminent.' He was the
new minister, I he Kev. Iteg nald Hoake.
The consistory had thought it best to
get a young man, so that So oonld hoard
around among the parishioners and thus
save the rent of a parsonage. Captain
Van Dyke, Miss Betty’s father, had
thonght it best to economize in every
way that they could and had even taken
the young man tn board at lirst lie
told nis wife they’d scarcely miss what
the parson ate and the church must bo
helped along as much as was prudent
and possible.
But the Captain, after a few months,
suddenly changed his mind. Theydueg
minister was very fertile in imagination
and quick in thought; and his sermons
were speedily prepared, and the long
summer days had so many sweet, rich
hours to fill! Mias Betty’s duties were
. also light; her mother was still active
and robust and’there were two sturdy
young women in the kitchen, besides-
the occasional artistic work of Fifine.
The Captain’s sight was keen ; nd
strong; when he was oot sailing in the
bay he ooold see a oouple of figures
bending over Home book in the summer
house or wandering among the rocks or
along the sands upon the shore. The
hone bet gad
We c.-in’t keep a parson single,”
chuckled the Captain at his dinner-ta
ble; “the women won’t let hni alone,
do what we may. But the widow Ben
son owns her own house, and that will
save rent for a parsonage.”
The morsel upon Miss Betty’s fork
remained nntasted, and the Captain in
this way spoiled many a meal for his
daughter.'
And-so the summer waned, and Sep
tember was at hand—September with
her soft blue haze and rich warm sun
shine; and though the widow had a
brilliant garden of her own she was
fond of the wanton wild flowers that
grew so luxuriously in the woods of
Granville. She and the young minister
filled the bouse with great clusters of
golden-rods and asters and big purple
polje-berries. One day the pony ph o
ton stopped before the door of t a tain
Van Di ke and the widow was led into
the sitt'ng-room. where she found Miss
Betty almost hidden by a mosquito net
ting which she was busily patching.
“Come, child.” said the widow,
“ put away that rag and run ami get a
pretty dress on. I’ve promised jnyseif
this many a day we should take tli’s
drive together, and I declare to you it
shall lie the rarest one you ever had iu
your life. The day is made richly to
order for it: the balmiest air. the gold-
cnest sunshine—not a cloud in the sky!
Bun away and make yourself look as
p:city as you can.”
“ Yon are very kind,” said Miss Pet
ty. with a little trip of cold jealousy on
licr tongue, “but 1 must mend this net-
t ng for poor Fifine. She is sick with a
fever, and the mosquitoes are dreadful
down there in the wood. Mamma says
I may have this netting if f can make
it do. it is so badly torn,” said poor
Betty, “and fo perplexing! But 1
could not sleep, Mrs. Fenson,” she
added, with an air of gentle dignity, in
which there was also a Blight sniff of
reproach—‘ I could notsleepin mv own
bed of luxury and know that poorFiline
was languishing there a prey to fever and
mosquitoes.”
If the widow had thereupon olered
to drive to town witli Miss Petty and
buy for Uline a brand-new canopy Miss
Betty would have put the old netting
a idc; but she was at heart very glad
that the fine lady ollered no such sacri
fice to charity, for she could not bear to
f.nd her altogether perfect
“ Ten chauees to one, my dear,” said
the widow, “you’ll have your labor for
your pa ne These poor creatures are
very superstitious and queer, and don t
know ivhat is best or them. I've no
doth, in any case, she has pretended to
be sick to get rid of some clear-starch
ing for your good mother. F'itino
term'd rather work at home, so that she
can he with that lubberly lout of a hus
band of hers. She is the finest and best
of laundresses, and sorry should I be
to have anything l.-efa'l her; but you
must not believe all these wily French
women say.”
The tolor mantled high in Miss Pet-
tv’s cheeks as these slanders fell upon
lie: cars, and she stead-ly refused to pat
her work aside.
“You are a little goose.” said the
widow at length. “ Must I tell you,
then, that we shall have some chai min<c
company with us? We are to stop at
mv hou c for Mr. Roake—there, now.
Miss Petty, run'away and dress."
The color fled from Miss Betty's
cheeks and the needle trembled in her
lingers. As she raised her blue eyes to
the fine black ones of the widow a tear
or two trembled ivi.liiu them.
“ You are ivel ome to your charming
company,” she said. “I will go on
wi.h my work for my poor Fifine.”
The widow laughed lightly and went
away, leaving poor Miss Betty to
s niggle on with her troublesome task,
.which was more and more irksome
now that she knew how some
other people were spend ng their after
noon. As rent after rent yawned be
fore her, and her weary little fingers
grew less and less nimble, more than
cnee the question arose ivitli'n her
whether it was better to go on. Since
nobody cared for, why should she care
for anybody? But her generous heart
conquered all these bitter temptations,
and nearly at night-fall she ran up
stairs to slip on the pretty muslin robe,
a'l smoothed and crimped by the art
aud industry of poor Fifine. The net
ting was not a very heavy burden, but
she carried also a kettle of ice with her
and a pot of jelly. She took the road
through the woods, and though it was
growing darker and her heart beat
rapidly and she could not brash the
mosquitoes away because her hinds
were so full, yet she was upheld by the
thonght of rescuing poor Fifine. Since
she could not save her from the stings
of slander and reproach she should at
least he free from those of mosquitoes.
At last through the trees she could see
the chicken-coops of Fifine. and soon
she was at the poor woman’s bedside.
The heart of Miss Betty was fired with
ind-gnation when she remembered the
cruel words of the widow. Fifine lay
upon a rude bed in the corner. Always
thin and brown, dm might now have
been taken for an exhtuned Queen of
Egypt, and Miss Batty oonld not imag
ine now all these mosquitoes oonld find
it in their anatomy to pray upon poor
Fifine whan tbs fat and unctuous sub
stance of Georgs was temptingly at hand
upon the beach mrtdds, where he was
njoying his evening pipe. Mias Betty
toopederer tbs sick woman and said
stooped o
softly: “ I have brought yon some ice,
dear Fifine.”
“ Ah. my angel! my angel of light!”
Ibid “fbeu tout g libbfti lb#
the ice. I am too cold already, my
little one. There is a cold hand at my
heart No, no; I cannot have the
ice. ”
“Very well, Fifine,” said Miss Petty,
patting down the kettle which had been
snch a nuisance to her, “yon shall not
be troubled with the ice, but here is
some jelly.”
“ Ah, my blessed one!” cried Fifine,
“thou art like asaint from Heaven: but
talk not to me of jelly. They have
given me of jelly many years ago, after
some bitter medicine, and I have since
that time no hunger for jelly. Ah, my
rose of the wildwood! It makes me sick
to think of it”
“Then do not think of it Fifine,
said Miss Betty, patting aside the jar
that had grown heavier and heavier at
every step of the journey. “But these
dreadful mosquitoes, they aredevouriug
you.”
“Ah, yes, my adored one, they are
demons without mercy; they* have
drawn all the blood from my body, and
their dreadful song is madness to my
brain. But rest tranquil; death will soon
p t an end to my misery.”
“But see here! my poor F'ifine,” cried
Miss Betty, exultingly unrolling her
precious net; * now you can steep :i
peace We will spread this over you,
George and I, and not one of the mon
sters can reach you. See, my poor Fi
fine, we will draw this over vou—so,”
and suiting the action to the word Miss
Betty pulled the net over the high post
of the bedstead, when suddenly a terri
fied look upon the sick woman’s face
stayed her hands, and she cried out to
Fifine in dismay; “Don’t vou want the
net over you. Fifine?”
“Ah, life of my life!” said POne, “if
is sad, it is terrible! I know not how
to deny thee, after all thorn hast done
for me; but, oh, my little one, 1 can
not have it over me. I have tried, for
thy dear sake, to bear it I told myself
that I would say no word against it—at
least till thou were gone, when George
could pnll it away—but I can not even
for one little moment Ah, my angel,
wait until I am dead, and then they can
draw over me the pal', and put can
dles at my head and feet, and do with
me wliat 'they will; but while I am yet
alive I can not be treated like a dead
body.” •
Miss Betty said no further words of
entreaty or remonstrant e, but let the
miserable, flimsy thing fall out of her
hauds upon the floor; and having
smoothed F'ifine’s pillow and held some
milk to her lips and promise l to come
again n e n >ming. Miss Betty took
the wo- n 1 oad home again.
It sv; n> • quite dark, and big
shadows . i eoie'd to threaten every s ep
of her way. Her neart was heavy wit h-
in her. and her poor little feet seemed
scarcely able to carry even her light
weight along. What a wretched abor
tive attempt had been hers to a’leviate
the misery of poor Fifine? It was as
the beautiful widow had said, she had
hail her labor for her pains—the beauti
ful. mocking widow, who was no doubt
rid ng home through the gloaming witli
the ltev. Reginald Koake.
At that ve v moment Miss Betty heard
the tramping of hoofs behind her, and
stepped asiue to let the light-1 mbed
pony of the widow pass by. i he basket
sides of the phaeton were filled with
wild flowers, and the white hands of the
minister held a bunch of shy, sweet for
get-me-nots as blueasMissBet y’seyes.
The wi tow drew up her pouy and
bade Miss Betty get in hv her side, lest
the hobgoblins of the wood should de
vour her; but the young girl stoutly re
fused. nor would she be coaxed from
her decision.
“I am not afraid of hobgoblins,'
she said, thinking in her heart there
could be none so greedy and rapacious
as the beautiful widow herself.
“Now what is to be done with this
obstinate child?” said the widow. The
m nister had long since leaped from the
wagon and approached Miss Bettv; b t
she turned her back on him, perhaps
to hide the tears of wretchedness which
were falling out ot her ey^s.
‘•Pick her up and put her in here by
me,” said the widow. “ I am myself a
little afraid o’ the satyrs of the wood
Come, child; do not be a goose and get
jealous of your grandmother. It he
gentleman there has gathered a pretty
uosegav of forget-me-nots for i on that
wore left over from spring. We have
been looking for you" far and wide, and
ho has done nothing 1 nt talk to me of
his love for yon till I am sick of the re
frain.”
Betty turned a swift, melting g’anco
behind" her. In a twinkling the minis
ter had lifted her to tho widow s side,
and forgot to take his arm away. It
was quite dark, and the only star that
shone in the sky was that of Venus.
They drove rapidly on. Miss Betty’s
heart thumping in unison with the hoofs
nf the pony.
“I told yon,” said the widow, “you’d
have your la’or for your pains. We
stopped at F'ifine’s. The poor c-realnre
was full of adoration for you. She
ca led upon every saint in the calendar
to shower blessings npon your head.
She said that yon had brought her some
beautiful ice and delicious jelly, an 1 a
net that was most beautiful.”
‘But she refused them all,” said Miss
Betty.
“Ah. yes,” replied the widow; “but
George did not refuse them. He had
chopped up the ice in the milk and had
spread all the jelly npon his bread and
had wrapped himself np in the mosquito
netting and laid upon the lounge as we
iterea, snoring, as Fifine laid! like an
angek Fifine was parched with fever
and devoured with mosquitoes, bnt she
declared to methat she was quite com
fortable and happy. I do not under-
stand It.”
But Miss Betty did. She nestled
closer to the arm about her, and lifted
her Unshed and rad ant face to the one
above her own.
‘Mv sweet little Samaritan!” he
whispered; and although the widow
oorila not understand the happiness of
Fifine, it was clear to the heart of Miss
Bettv.—HarpePn Weekly.
To tfnon velvet: Where velvet
has been crushed, hold the wrong aide
over e basin of quiet boding water, and
the pile will gradually rise. Do not
lose patience, for it takes a considerable
time, bnt the result is marvelous.
Tassgeaf apoRosmsn cannot be told
Tsaageaf
byhismtt*
Cress Fat Religion.
The meeting-house of the LickskBlit
district was crowded. The preacher, old
Noah, with his grizzly beard and head
half white, like a cotton field when the
bolls are just opening, sat in the pulpit
surveying his congregation in that jieenl-
iar way which has ever characterized the
colored preacher. A spontaneous hymn
arose, and when the melody had ceased
the preacher arose and said, “Let ns en-
* gage in prar. ” The congregation kneeled,
even young Ike, the preacher's son, who
had just come from down to the spring,
where he had been trying to swap moles
with one of the deacons.
“Oh, Lord," began the preacher, “we
'semble in dis house ob worship to thnnk
thee fur the many blessin’s ob de post,
an’ ax dat yer would sprinkle our lan’
wid a lee tie moah rain. We must hab a
shower ’twixt dis an’ Saturday night,
’case, Lord, we’se needin’ ob hit Amen. ”
Just as the preacher arose there was a
stir at the rear end of the house. A tall
colored man, followed by several parties
as intensely colored as himself, filed down
the aisle. “Come np ter de stan’,
Brother Robinson,” said the preacher,
for he recognized the preacher of tho
Blacksnort district
“•I doan want ter come np ter yer
stan’,” said Mr. Robinson.
“Whut’s de matter wid yer, sail!” ex
claimed old Noah. “What’s a ailin’ ot
yer?”
“Tnther day I sent yer a note, axiu’
yer ter stop prayin’fur rain,” remarked
Robinson, with emphasis. “ Our cotton
is sufferin' fur sunshine. We’se had
moah rain den we wants, an’ heah yer
goes axin’ fur moah.”
“We hain’t had no rain, shah, an’ I
tens ter pray fur it until hit do come. ”
Is yer tiyin’ ter drown ns out ?”
No, but I wants ’nough rain,”
I understand yor game, Brudder
Noah. You sees dat raiii is puttin’ ns in
de grass. You know dat liit is to de
wori’ly intrust ob dis section fur ter keep
ns dar. Yer wauts de Lord ter drown ns
out, so dat your con’regatiou will git de
heels ob us id de market De Lord at
dis season ob de yeali, lufe got so mnch
business ter teud ter dat he ain’t a noticin’
how mnch rain is a falliu - . You keep
• sendiu’ up yourprars, an’ he keeps a
railin’ de string. I wants yer to stop
lit Does yer heah, Brudder Noah ?”
“ I heah, bnt is mighty loft about
hark'nin. We wants ram; we docs. We
prays, and ef de Lord grabs a bold ob de
wrong string it taint no fault of ours.”
“Well, I came lieah prepared for a let
up or a fight. Sicli foolishness as von
send up is bough ter git de Lord so tan
gled dat he can’t git himself straight for
a yeah. YouTl pnt de sun iu de clips.”
“ Do what wid de sun?”
“Put hit in de clips.”
“ Well, jif datdoan beat any mistake
I ever-heard a nigger nmlfe. No wonder
de Lord won’t pay no ’tentiou to yer.”
“What would you say?”
“ Why, de reclipse. ”
“ Dat’s all right, but de fact I want
settled is dis: Is yer gwine ter stop?”
“No, I isn’t.”
“ Den we mixes wool”
Mr. Robiuson spraug toward the pul
pit- Noah spraug to meet him. Tho
wildest confusion prevailed. The two
men grappled, and the dsitwns gathered
■round.
“Gimmy de plantation grip,” ex
claimed Noah, while Mr. IRitiiusou vo
ciferated “cut yer capers, cut yer capers!”
Finally Robinson fell, N.iali moimted
him, choked him info obedience aud
raising himself up, exclaimed: “Let ns
S y again. Brudder Johnson, git down
. ” The preacnars tame become friends.
—Little Rock Gatctio.
Mrs. Seotehroe’s Grier.
“ Pro had my life insured,” said Mr.
Scotohroe, according to the veracious
historian of the Little Rock Gazette
Now, in case I die, my wife will re-
Knowtng Hew te Swim.
The recent disasters on the waters have
conclusively proved the advantages of
the art of swimming. Those who were
conscious of their ability to swim were
ceive $2,000. In case of my death, how- . cool in more than one sense of the word; millions of these minute waves flow into
ever, I don't know that she would be : for they not only were not panic-stricken, the eye aud dash against the retina in each
benefited, for she has determined to kill - —
herself if anything of a serious nature
happens to me. Let me tell ycra what
she did,” and Mr. Scotchroe took hold
of the two men to whom he was talking.
“ Why, she has prepared a bottle of
stuff deadly enough to kill a mule. She
says that when the money falls dne she
shall fall a victim to the contents of the
bottle."
“It maybe unwarranted incredulity
on my part, Scotchroe,” replied one of
the men, “but I’ll bet you $3 that I
can go to your house, tell your wife
that you are dead, and- ”
“ Just go on. Break the news to her
gently. I’ll stand ontsid9 prepared to
rnsh in when she makes a dive for the
bottle. Come ahead.”
The two men went to Seotehroe’s cot
tage. Scotchroe stood out by the chim
ney while his companion went in.
“ This is Mrs. Scotchroe, I believe ? ”
said the man, when a red-faced woman
opened the door.
“Yes, sir.”
“Rather a fine day.”
“Rather.”
“ Heard any news to-day ? ”
“No, sir.
“Got some for you. Scotchroe is a
capital fellow, a splendid man. Every
body liked him. Pity that snch a ca
lamity should befall him.”
“ What’s the matter?”
“ He went down to the depot to-day
and stood around. A switch engine
came walking along. You know swatch
engines have killed more men than nil
the others.”
“Yes,”said Mrs. Scotchroe, “switch
engines have always borne sanguinary
reputations.”
“ Well, this switch engine took sight at
Scotchroe and floored him ”
“ Did it kill him ?”
“Well, hell be brought home after
a while in a sack.”
“Will they bring him before din
ner?”
“I don’t know. By the way, he had
an insurance policy for $2,000.”
“Yes, and I want the money right
away.”
.“Bather unfortunate, bnt when he
was swept np from the track, among the
rubbish was found a paper showing that
Scotchroe had relinquished his pol
icy ”
“ What, deceive me in that way; leave
me without any support; the miserable
wretch. I
Scotchroe ran in and attempted to
clasp his wife.
— ‘* Wfiar..’s tliat policy?” _ _
“Here it is.”
“ Give it here. It’s just like you to
surrender it and get killed.”
“ Come on Jim,’’said Scotchroe to his
friend; “ I want to get the vilest drink
to be found in a ten-cent saloon.”
they not only were not panic-stricken,
bnt they did not burn. Even thcee who
can bnt float In the water feel that they
have resources which others do not share.
Among the passengers of (he Seawaa-
hakawos Mr. Samuel Barlow, of New
York, who having provided himself with
a life preserver, gave it away to another
passenger and dropped into the water.
He tamed himself upon his back and
floated, managing to keep his nose above
water until he was rescued. All the pas
sengers who oonld swim, or at least who
did swim, reached the shore in safety.
It would reinforce' persons otherwise
liable to be fear-stricken, with assurance,
cnMding them to take measures for sav
ing themselves. If, for example, the
water were not an absolute terror to one-
half or three-fourths of the passengers,
when a collision occurs or a fire breaks
out, they would, with some degree of
carefulness and deliberation, set about
lowering the boats. They oonld exercise
their reason and take precautions, would
look to see if the plugs were all in, and
would lower the boats, perhaps, without
emptying everybody out or filling the
boats with water. On the Narragansett
one of the boats was lowered while the
ping in the bottom, allowing the rain
water to run away, was out, and the boat
filled. The patent ping, which, by the
pressing of the water on the bottom, is
forced home, ought to be rued in all
boats; but it is not, and a little caution
and preservation of the mental balance
on the part of the passengers would avoid
these unnecessary dangers.
It is not merely, therefore that the art
of swimming wul save the lives of voy
agers, bnt the familiarity with the water
and the consciousness that one can, even
when he must take to the water, support
himself in it for a time at least, and un
til help comes, would prevent the dread
SCIENCE AND ART.
From the speed of light, which has
been measured, it is proved that at least
four hundred and fifty-one millions of
second.
White fish less than a week old and
looking like a pair of eyes with a tail, if
placed beneath a microscope are found to
be transparent, and exhibit beautifully
the action of the heart in propelling, the
blood, and ite circulation through the
tail
Ip seeds (barley, com, etc.,) be placed
between moist pieces cf litmus paper, the
roots stick to the paper and color it so in-
tensely red that even on the back of the
paper their course can be traced in red
lines on a bine ground. If tincture of
litmus be repeatedly added, the intensity
of the red color is increased.
Prop. J. Lawrence Smith, of Louis-
villa, Ky., in a paper read before the
French Academy of Sciences, says that
the meteorite winch fell at Estlierville,
Iowa, on May 10, 1879, should be placed
apart for the phenomena of its fall, es
pecially the force of penetration of its
fragments into the ground, and for the
mode of association of its mineral con
stituents.
An Italian Antarctic expedition is pro
posed by Lieut. Bova, who was one of
the officers under Nordenskjold on the
Vega. It is to sail in the spring of 1881,
and touch at Monte. Video, Terra del
Fnego, Falkland, and South Shetland
Islands, and, proceeding in a southwest-
wardly direction, oommence explorations,
expecting to be engaged for two winters
in the Antarctic region, and return by
way of Hobart Town. The expenses are
estimated at 600,000 lire.
An instrument called the statomo
graph, lot recording-toe speed of railway
trains, has been invented by a German
mechanician at Cassel, and works so well
that the Prussian Government is about
to test it on some of the State lines. A
Sheffield Cutlery.
Canaries Trained to Whistles Operas.
• Mr. Jaoob Wiss, trainer of canary
birds in this city, has achieved remark
able success in getting his pupils to
whistles tones. One songster that belongs
to Mrs. Townsend, of Philadelphia, a
daughter of Bon. William L. Scott,
whistles “Der Freisehutz” as well as an
expert whistler. Mr. Wiss says that it
takes two years to train a bird, and de
scribes the treatment as follows: “ The
bird when quite young is isolated from
all other birds and bird sounds but his
own. This little instrument is a music
box specially constructed for this pur
pose. Two or three times a day it is set
playing, bnt always the same air. The
young bird, hearing no other sounds, be
gins to imitate toe air; right short when
he has sung all he knows; he never at
tempts to go through the whole until
evpty note is committed to memory, and
is as perfect or imperfect as the music
from the instrument.” Mr. Wiss states
that he trained one to whistle “God Save
the Queen,” and an Englishman paid
him $65 for it He never gets less than
$50 for a trained bird.—Erie (Pa.) Din-
patch.
An Absent-Minded Farmer.
Wednesday’s Times contained some
singular accounts of absent-minded
ness. which, it is believed, are rivaled
bv the freaks of a farmer living at
Snntt’s Corners, a hamlet two miles
from Coble kill. Last summer he
drove to Cobleskill, accompanied by his
wife, to do some trading. After spend
ing several hoars in the village, he drove
home alone, did his “chores,’’ and.
npon going to the house, was provoked
that his better-half, who was not to be
seen, had made no preparation for sup
per. He failed to find herin the house,
and in a few moments she*arriTed home
in a conveyance Irom the village, where
she had been anxiously awaiting.her
husband’s appearance. At another
time he rode a horse to the village to
have it shod, lie was engaged until
evening, when he walked home, atter
waiting some time for a>»de. His wi r e
recalled to his min<L/tbfcf»ct that he
had left his horse in toe village, and he
returned for it.—TroA(S( Jt i Timet
> -w^s appointed
rill! a little ham-
—Isaac l'rioe, who
Postmaster of Schuylki
let of Chester County. Peunsy lvania,
when General Jackson was i resident,
has just resigned the post he has held
for fifty years. His successor is h’s son.
B. F. Price. The hamlet contains now
bnt one house in addition to those there
when he took the office. Scores of busy
towns have been bnilt up around it, but
Schuylkill remains as it was when the
oenturv opened, because it is out of the
ymi of railroad trovo).
Sheffiel, as is well known, is the
home of the cutlery trade in England,
and by far the most important center of
that industry in the world. a(t was bom
here. Three hundred years ago
Sheffield had gained the reputation for
toe making of good knives. The poet
Chaucer speaks commendably of the
“Shefeld thwytel,” and a writing-
master in 1590, giving directions abont
quills, penknives, etc., says: “First,
therefore, be the choice of your pen
knife—a right Shefeld knife is best. ”
This reputation embraces also razors,
and continues until the present day. If
we inquire as to the secret of the excel
lence of Sheffield cutlery, the steel
maker will tell ns that the superiority of
his steel is at the bottom of it; the
forger at his anvil will say that the fine
grain necessary to produce the best cut
ting edge is given to the steel by the
blows of his hammer, and that no
machine-made blade can equal his; the
temperer will claim to possess some
secret of especial efficacy; and others
will confidently affirm that there is some
peculir; virtue in Ijfceffield water that is
imparted to the steel in the process of
hardening. In proof that this latter
belief exists is the fact that a few years
since, when a company of Sheffield
eutlerr went to the United States to
make razors, they took with them a
cask of Sheffield water, they haying no
faith in the “Yankee” article.
The Sheffield cntler believes he can
hold his own against the world, and the
world’s demand for his justly-celebrated
wares will go far to confirm his belief.
Daring the ten years ending with 1881,
Sheffield has sent cntlery to the United
States alone to the value of $10,755,892,
or more than $1,000,000 annually. The
amount required to supply the home
market is about the same as that taken
by the United States, or $1,000,000 an
nually.
For the protection of this ancient and
important industry, and for the promo
tion of its interests, a cutler’s company
was formed and incorporated as early as
1624. The act of incorporation or
iginally included makers of cntlery only,
but it has in later years been made to
embrace also makers of steel saws and
edge tools. The company owns a fine
building in the center of the town, in
which is the Cutler’s Hal). It is an
elegant room, one hundred feet long by
fifty wide, by fifty high, in which an
annual banquet is given by the master
cntler to the Cutler’s Company and to
distinguished invited guests, including
often members of the Government,
members of Parliament, and foreigners
of note. This is called the Cntler’s
Feast, “The Great Northern Banquet.”
It is second in importance only to the
Lord Mayor’s banquet in London. It is
esteemed a high honor to be elected
master cntler, to preside at the feast,
and to be entitled on occasions to wear
the massive gold chain and badge of
office and to be recorded in the long line
of worthies who have been at the head
ef this ancient and honorable company.
The privilege of the company is the
granting ana protection of trade-marks.
—Cor. N. T. Evening Pont,
It is a lazy fly cannot counteract
the good a minister does by his Sabbath
ful panics to which more than to the dis-L^ lu T 16 "?* e ?* blea
aster itself, the great loss of life is dne. 1 *? ascertam the velomty of the locomotive
Should every man, and every woman, and •* any moment, and the changes of speed
. . . ' . . . . ’ _ are crrorilii/inI Ixr mrirconTitii/i nrtrtn o rn11 nf
every child that’s old enough to learn, bo
aware that as soon as they touch the
water they could support themselves in
it, nearly all of the immediate danger
would disappear. A swimmer, too, can
use even a life-preserver to better advan
tage than one ignorant of the art.
Of course swimmers drown sometimes,
bnt the proportion is very small, and it
happens quite as often that it is the boy
that cannot swim who is drowned while
in bathing The number of swimmers
that are (frowned is very mnch smaller
than the number of non-swimmers who
are drowned while bathing or sailing.
t'MtUKEA’S TEETH.
be IlUaM to aaM
[American Agricnlturiat.)
A mother of several children lately told
ne her experience. A few years ago she
sbonght that her eldest boys teeth in the
front of the lower jaw were decaying
badly. This was a disappointment to the
mother, who had fed her cliildren care
fully on nourishing and wholesome food,
■s a general rule, keeping both pickles and
confectionary from them. Studying the
matter over, she jumped to the conclu
sion that what she had read concerning
the mischief-making properties of the
tomato most be true, especially as her
husband, who was very free in the use of
his tomatoes this season, had a peculiar
titrable with his teeth. Shs had ob
served that her children’s, especially the
boyB 1 , teeth grew white and clean when
there were plenty of ripe tomatoes, and
(he thonght that the acid of the vegeta
ble went too far and acted on the enamel
of the teeth. But when the boy, then
fourteen years old, went to a dentist to
have his teeth filled, lo! there was no
filling to be done. “Your boy has a
splendid set af teeth,” the dentist told
the mother. “There is not a cavity in
them. Unusually good teeth for a boy
of his age.” And the dentist had no
doubt that the teeth were better than
they would have been if the owner had
munched candy and pickles, as children
Usually do. “ They must be cleaned,
and that without delay,” he said. The
tartar which had gathered and crusted
gradually at the crown of the teeth was
removed by the dentist, and with it all
appearances of decayed teeth. Now
the boy has nothing to do bnt keep his
teeth in order to avoid dentistry bills in
the future. The younger children are
warned to avoid the older brother’s
trouble by the daily use of tooth brushes.
From their father's case they learn to
avoid the opposite extreme. His teeth
are hopelessly discolored, and a few are
habitually loose, bnt the flBeful tomato
is no longer suspected as the cause. He
had sn opportunity to read some in a
work an dentistry and came to the con
clusion that hard “scouring” of the
teeth with gritty substances when a
young man had worn away the hard
enamel af his teeth, so that the strong
coffee he drank (during his soldier life
especially) penetrated and permanently
colored his teeth. I dislike to hear of
scouring tiie teeth. When they have
been neglected this may be necessary
to get them once dean. The dentist
has peculiar tools far removing tartar
crust, bnt the yellow deposit on chil
dren’s teeth can be deaned away as the
dentist does it by anyone. Take finely
powdered pumice stone and a little dean,
soft pine stick to rub with. Dip the
’ te stick into water and then in pow-
■ed pumice, and rub the teeth gently.
Afterwards wash them with aoap and
water, using a tooth brush. It is well to
use a little fine, dean soap occasionally
for deanihg teeth, bnt plenty of pure
water (alittie warm in the cold weather)
will usually suffice for cleansing the
teeth of persons of good dietetic habits.
To make good teeth in the first place,
beginning when we can begin, and allow
ing for “aruestry” the mother should
eat plain ana nutritious food, a varied
diet well supplied with bone material, as
the grains are when it is bolted or sifted
oot, and lean meat. For young children
milk should be Indy used, and Graham
are graphically represented upon a roll of
paper, which can be studied at the end
ot the journey.
A few years ago Herr Kolbe suggested
dringing-water used on long voyages
might be preserved from corruption by
means of a little salicylic acid, and this
was supported by laboratory experiments.
Afterward experiments were made on a
large scale on board ships without suc
cess, and when the water was examined
not a particle of the acid could be found.
What became of the add is on open
question. Herr Kolbe considers that the
action of the wood of the cask decom
posed the salicylic add.
^ Somewhat in these words on English
scientific journal introduces the follow
ing suggestion: They propose to light
the whole of London by means of a great
central light-house. Suppose a circular
tower, say 1,000 feet or more, with gal
leries at intervals of one hundred feet,
and each gallery provided with a series
of dectric lamps, with retlectors ar
ranged at suitable angles. The light
could thus be directed and diffused over
the entire metropolis, rendering gas-light
unnecessary except in the suburbs. This
is the suggestion. Who will carry it into
effect?
The Philosophical Society of Glasgow
is to hold an exhibition of gas apparatus
on a large scale next autamn, and it is
intended, also, to make a display at the
same time of the apparatus which will
illustrate the progress made in dectric
lighting, in telephonic communication,
in the manufacture of mineral oils, in
hydraulic engines, in heating and venti
lation, etc. There can be no donbt that
this exhibition, taking np, as it means to
do, some of the most important prob
lems to which man’s attention is given at
present, will prove of great service to
those who have to deal practically with
sanitary appliances.
According to M. Edmond Abont there
are at least 2,000 pictures in the present
French Salon which no dealer would
show in his shop. Within the last twenty
years the number of pictures hong has
doubled, without art reaping mnch ad
vantage. M. Paul Parfait gives ns an
amusing description of some previous
Salons. That of Yeai IX (1801), con
tained only 485 works of all descriptions,
instead of, as to-day, 7,289. M. Callet
exhibited a magnificent canvas symbolical
of the 18th Brnmaire, of which the centre
was occupied by the Vessel of the State,
which was represented as having safely
entered port and as moored with a chain
ef laurel wreaths. The British leopard,
too, was displayed era it vainly lavishing
guineas on expiring monsters, and Dis
cord was flying before the dawning rayB
of a luminary doing duty for a new era.
—We are apt to be kinder to the
brutes that love us than to the women
that love us. Is it because the brutes
$ro dumb?— Qtora* Blto.
Light, Net Noise.
One of the members of the bar in Sara
toga, who thoroughly enjoys a good joke,
relates the following, and applies the
moral to himself: He was counsel in a
ease before Judge Pratt, referee, and
during the progress of the trial became
a little bit noisy, aa he sometimes does,
when the Judge looked up and said to
him: “Mr. , did you ever hear of
the man who was lost in the woods during
a thunder storm ?” On being answered
fo the negative, the Judge continued:
“A man, fo attempting to pass through a
piece of woods, lost his way, and while
he was fo that predicament a fearfnl
thunder storm came np. The woods
grew awfully dark. The roaring of the
wind and foe crashing of the thnnder
were terrific The man was frightened
and started to pray, bnt, not being used
to that business, said: ‘Oli, Lord, give ns
alittie more light, and a little less noise!’
I don’t mean yon, Mr. ,” added
foe Judge, bnt foe audience supposed all
foe time that foe Judge did mean him,
and now that he thinks of it himself he
incline* to that opinion also.
The Bees Sting.
The sting cf foe bee ia said to be •
hollow tube. The male bee ia inoffen
sive, not befog provided with this
weapon or pointed tube ; therefore when
one of these insects alights upon a ban
footed boy foe soliloquy of Hamlet im
mediately forces itself upon that boy’s
mind aa he anxiously awaits foe resuua.
“Tube bee or not tube bee? That's foe
quaattor,”—Tmooot Strmm,