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THE TRIALS OP A 4TH-CLASS POSTMASTER. There is no better place to study Character and human nature than in a post-office. All classes and condi tions of people visit there. The high tiiid low tliefrieh and poor, the young and old, the native and foreign born the white and, the intelligent and the ignorant, the nodes and the females, the rough and the polished, and all, n ore or le~s, exhibit the peculiar traits of their character. Some arc refined, civil and polite, while others arc vulgar, coarse and insulting Some are always in a hurrv lor their mail and have not a moment of time to wait. It makes no difference who m,v- be before them, •>• w. U the post* now, r ; expect him lo quo. evrjl ::.: r <1 r. p whal lie l* (Kni; ;i... .v• - .itHy \\\i t upon the m: and if In: dont do /<>. th-v ac cuse him of a want of accommodation Aft-i* •' l fy have had their mail banded to them (if there is any, and it is pro bable there is not) then their great hurry is over, and they lag behind to see what others get from the office. If they have a call-box they rap vig orously upon glass front; or if the mail is in the general delivery, they mix in a meat ungracious (if not insult ing) tone of voire: “1 want mv mail, and I want it quick, too!” “ Here, hand me my mail and don’t kecy me waiting, either!” Such expressions are exceedingly common, aud some times they are much more impolite, sufficient to make the postmaster boil (internally w ith righteous indignation. The poliie and refined approach much more timidly, and with diffidence say “My mail if you please ” aud when ii is handed to them they receive it with a smile ar.d exclaim “Thanks.’ T'tis throws sunshine into the post master's heart and warms him up to renewed exertions to ‘,keep his temper when insulted by a buffoon. Ohters say,“ls there any mail for me?” The postmaster looks carefully and re sponds, ‘No.therre is notbirig!”Then they reply,‘‘Well, there ought to be. and I don't see why there isn’t. 1 received a postol from a friend who said he had written me two or three letters recently, and I don,t see why I don’t get them!” Others will insist that there are packages, registered letters or money-orders in the office for them; that they bad “got word' 1 that they bad heed sent, and know they must be ‘ there.” VVlun the postmaster assures them that there is nothing of the kind, they make very strange of it, and sometimes intimate hat he is holding back their mail. Many ask for stamp, and after get tin it, haod it back and say,“Now put that on this letter and back it fo.i me ( Tlrrowing down a nickel and re ceiving three copper cents iu change they will say,“Givenj a:n>t!i er stamp. The postmaster takes back the two cents and out another two-cent stamp aud then probably turns away to wait on someone else, when the person who has just taken up so much of his ti ne yells out,“Here I don’t want this 1 enny. Give me a postal card or a one cent stamp, for I hate coppers!” Thus k i* that a postmaster’s time J is frequently taken op in doing that which he is not re quired to do, namely, placing stamps on letttrs and am! .1 i Iress ng them, and very often too, without so much as receiving thanks for his polite attention. He is also often asked to“do up’ packages to he sent in the mails, and is not infrequently called upon to rend letters for the ignorant and then reply to them, and sometimes. at his own expense for paper’ envelope and stamp. Of course lie expects pay for the material furnished’ but the party excuse themselves by stating that they •‘have no charge,” and will pay it the next time they come to the office, which may he so long that the post master forgets all about the trans action, and so do they. Ppcrsons sometimas w’ant to send money by' registered letter.sand place the money in it. When told that he cannot do that, they become indignant and declare that they have often had other postmasters do it. The re are many persons who call at a post office for mail for a large family, announcing each name sepa rately. It was often done at my office, and I have no doubt it is of frequent occurrence at every post-office in the Union, and I need not say it is very annoying. Those who receive the least mail are most persistent and reguar callers, and they come several times a day without regard to the arrival of the mails. They come through all kinds oi the weather, hr day and by night early and late, aud seem to grow weary or discouraged because they fail even to get a postal card, a news* paper or a circular. It appears to be a habit which they cannot resist. I was a postmaster for four years and am confident that some of my most frequent callers never received four lettrs in all that time. Some people think they ought to receive letters when they have no one in the world to write to them, and too, when they never write a letter to a living human being. But, as they see other people get mail, they think they ought to have some as tvelj as they—that that is what the post office is for—and they don t think well of a postmaster who will lie all the time giving out letters to neighbors, and none to them ,and, in fact, con aider him “real mean” for so and ung, I had a large colored population for ray patrons, and they esteemed the privilege of calling at the post-office every day a duty winch they were anxious to perform. They’ seldem or never sent a letter but they were al ways “ex|iectin”one. Sometimes | three or four members of the same j family would call, one after another, until my patience would be exhausted. They considered me a public servant and were determined to get all the service cut oi nte possible. There are many persons whose very existence seems to depend on the letters they receive, and when nona come, with what a look of woe and expression of despair they turn away sadly disappointed, ami I need not say that it touches the sympathy of the postmaster, for they generally have a tender feeling for the distressed. It is the ignorant who are the most utireasonahk and the hardest, to please Intelligent people are the easiest to gut along with, and it is a pleasure tc wait upon them. Thep are always civil and courteous, never forgitting to return thanks for the slightest favor. Asa rule, strangers and foreigners are the most polite, and commercial travelers always so. Some newly arrived foreigners would often take off their hats when they approach the delivery window, while others after having been here for some time get to be verv impertinent aud overbearing in their demanor, but it is generally to be attributed to their ignorance, for no one can appreciate true liberty and abuse its privileges. It is a trial of patience to be a fourth-class postmaster. All newly, appointed postmasters of that grade soon show the they' are made of, for there is scarcely a day when their temper is not sorely tired. I think old father Job would have cursed God and died if lie had held such a position in Ins day, for numan nature is the same the world over and lus been so since our great ball waxjset in motion, —An Ex-Postmaster, In the United States Mail. The Earth’s Face is Clean. The Kiutii is Earthy only in name The soil is only skin deep, except in Alluvial Valleys and beneath is the Hone and Sinwe of Geology’, in form of Rocks and Strata—Average depth of the Soil all over the World. A little figuring sometimes brings out startling facts . Here is the latest surprise—for such it will be to most people. Problem—How much soil •s there on the face of the earth? Enough to give our planet a name, j apparently; it is only natural to think j of ihe earth as earthy. And if a beau'.y expert were to venture a cri'- lcism on the face of Mother Earth, he would probably, insinuate tnnt her complexion is rather muddy. But this would be a slanderous falsehood, as will be presently shown, For in re realitv.the amout of earth an the earths surface is relatively less than ihe com plexiou powder which a fine ladydust upon her cheeks. This seems incredible. We call to mini! at once the rich, iuexsmstibie soil of the parades, and the fertile fields all o'*er the world, ample suffi cient to feed uany times its present population if properly cultivated. It appears impossible that the sum total can be insignificant* But let ns see Vs a mattei of fact, the earth’s soil has little depth, Try the experi ment almost anywhere—it will be foud that oed rock is not very far down be low the sureace of the eaith. We will Lake an extreme case. In Egypt the soil is exceptionally deep. For untold ages th: Nile lias been de positing over its surface layers of mud washed down from remote regions Yet even here the depth is not re ally great. In the centre ol the valley it is said to vary from a minni mum of forty to a maximum of about seventy feet. Along the edges the bare bones of 111" earth protrude through the barren sand- But we will be generous in our esti mate. \V e will assume that the aver age depth of soil all over "the world amounts to fifty feet. Wo will include sand and gravel and the dry dust of the desert-everywhere but solid rock; and we will ignore tbe huge bowlders and intrusi/e ledges that form so con spicuous a feature of the landscapes in most couutries. We will assume, too, that the average depth of the soil on the bed of the ocean is no less than that allowed for the dry land- This is more than liberal but even so, the statement made above are fully justified* The grand total is proportionately less than the powder upou a ladies cheek, and very few of the children of good Mother Earth have faces as free from soil as hers. For remember, the diameter of the earth is abort 8,000 miles. Fifty tcet is less than the one hundredth part of a mile. The thickness of the layer of soil on the earth’s is therefore less than one eight hundred ihosandth of the earth’s diameter. Now lei ns make a comparison Eight inches is a very fair allowance for the diameter of the homan head. Regarded as a small terrestrial globe, its scale would lie about one thousand miles to the inch, The layer of soil on the earth’s surface, therefore,would he represented u| on 'he human face by an inappreciable film scarcely the one hundredth part of an tnehin thick ness ! What do these figures really mean? Illustration is necessary to make them intelligible. The one hundreth thousandth part of an inch represents about the degree of accuracy attainable in finishing the finest telescopic lenses—the most exact and perfect work achieved by the hand of man. It approximately represents the thickness of i scap | bubble. It is probably less than tie thickness of the faint print left by the fingers when they are pressed upon a pane of glass. But tins extreme tenuity may lie illustrated in another way, still more striking. The wave length of violet light is about one sixty thousandth of an inch; that cl' the red rays about one forty thousandth of mi inch. The thickness assumed is therefore less than the length of the short st light waves —less than half tho length of the red waves. Such a film, of course, would b” quite imperceptible upon the human countenance. The slightest visible ' stain represents a relative dep h of soil greater than Mother Eeartb ever tolerates upon any portion of her fair face. There is r.nolhar way in which the ! comparison nnty be made, with results j no less unexpected. Imagine all the j soil scraped from the surface of the earth and made into a ball of mud— how large would it be ? Massed in this w’ay the sum total would seent quite impressive consid ered by itself, for we should have n sphere about 144 miles in diameter, with a sui face exceeding 65.000 square miles rather more that twice the area of the state of Maine. But when compared with the earth the size of this formidable mud ball would be found simply insignificant; it would require more than 172,000 of them to equal the volume of our planet. Representing the earth, as before, by an eight-inch globe all the soil that could be gleaned from its surface would be fairlyrepreseuted by a pellet no larger than a pigeon shot. If old Atlas, who, according to mytlimakers, carries the earth upon his shoulders, should endeavor to lighten his load j by thus scraping off the dirt, the whole lesult of efforts would be a lit tle black pill the minuteness of which as it lay in the palm of Ins hand, would fill him w ith dismay. He could never get appreciable relief by such a metnod. On the whole, then, notwithstand ing the pepular impression to the con trary, our Mother Earth is a tidy dame setting a good example to her off spring, and it would be well if they followed it more closely. Indeed, there is little reason to doubt that her face viewed from a proper distance, so that it could be fairly seen, would appear as bright and beautiful as that of her sister Venus. We have no reason to be ashamed of Mother Earth.—Na ional Recorder. IIOW TO FIND OUT. Fill a bottle or common glass with urine and let it stand twenty four hours; a sediment or settling initiates a diseased condition of the kidneys. When urine staines linen it is positive evidence of kidney taouhle. Too frezuent desire to urinate or pain in the back, is also convincing proof that the kidneys and bladder are our of order. WHAT TO DO. There is comfort in the knowledge so often expressed’ that Dr. K ilmer-’s Swamp Root, the great kidney reme dy fulfills every wish in relieving pain in the back, kidnevs, liver, blad der and every part of the urinary passages' It corrects inability’ to hold urine and scalding pain in pass ing it or bad effects following use of liquor, wine or beer, anp overcomes that unpleasant necessity of bein compelled to get up many' times during the night ta urinrte. The mild and the extraordinary effect of Swamp-rout is soon realized. It stands the highest for its wonderful cuics of the most distressing cases. If yon Weed a medicine you should have the. best. Sold by druggists price fifty cents aDd one dollar. Fora sample bottle and pamphlet, both sent free by mail, mention The Journal and send yaur full post-office address to Dr. Kilmer&Co., Bingham ton, N< Y. The proprietors of this paper guarantee the genpineeuess of this offer. (8 —78 —97) The United States Navy. The m j,,,,.. . . vety little, and many of them, abso lutely nothing, about our navy; tie present, its past, or its lutitee. This ignorance U especially noticeable til the inland counties, where many peo ple have never the opportunity <>f seeing a man of war. Nothing cmild lie of more interes. to the | e 'pie who live in imand towns, and have only read of the great vessels, than a v.sil to one them. At most any time some of the gr at warships are stationed at the Brook lyn Navy Yard. To get on board of one of tbe:,; is not always an easy matter. On certain days these vessels are open to insect ion, but, at no othot time are strangers allowed on board, and it is purely a matter of accident or streak of good fortune if they can succeed in doing so. It depends very much on the character of the com manding officer to whom the intro duction is presented. If lie is old and crabbad little chance is therefor the curious stranger, if yonug and over officious, this chance is still lessened. But if the officer is just right, neither j too crabbed or too officious, then there ' is the possibility of receiving :he per-! j mission to mount the long steps lead i ding aboard, and, even sometimes, lo secure the servic s of some gallant young officer as guide over the vessel The first sensation of a visitor as he steps on board one of our great w; r vessels, is that of awe and amnzvmei t; and this feeling still increases as he proceeds over the vessel, and learns more about the power and uses of the I enormous machinery, when be 1-iok* upon guns that can destroy objects at j twelve miles distant, still more does! a feeling of wonderment possess him.! To be on one of great men of xvat, gleaming white in tho sun,, wan liko in its graceful curves, but en dowed with means of devastation thrills our countrymen with the fire of patriotism and his heart heats with national pride. Truly, we Ameiicans can feel proud when we consider that in our navy are battleships that sur pass those of any other nation. In building the “Iowa” and the three prototvoes, the “Massachusetts’’ the “Indiana” and tho “Oregon” the highest mechanical achievement has been attained. These ships, though twenty-five per cent small than the great ships lately finished in England, are more com plete in every detail; they possess powers cf almost inconceivable de struction, and they are acknowled by experts, here and abroad, to be super ior to any engine of war yet con structed. “From beneath the earth, man has torn its steel and dug its fire, anti has constructed a machine that not only defies air and water; but, guided by human intelligence, asserts its mas tery over them with a mocking shrieking power that one can imagine to have b.en borrowed only from lhe the noises and forces ot chaos.'’ These floating foitresses, quietly sleeping, give little idea of the terrible power that is concentrated within them. Awake the warship from its sleep, rouse it to anger, and then it will seem all the fires Prometheus forged from the earth, had been imprisoned and were now set free. Jove, in his mighty wrath, will hurl his thunder bolts for miles, and Mars will raise the cry and clamour of war The power of the.-e battle ships is ap palling. Few people appreciate the rate at which our navy' has been growing. The extrordinary developements that have been made since the Govern ment set out to build anew navy worthy of this country, are such as might have been expected of Ameri can energy and ingenuity. It is not many years since the navy was in a most deplorable condition, and was a subject of concern and a source of humiliation to the country. It was in 1881 that the first decisive step towards building anew navy were taken by William Chandler, Sec. of Navy under President Arthur. A Naval Advisory Board was appointed aud recommended a programme for the next eight years, which, while involving the vast outlay of $30,000, 000, would place in commission the twenty-one iron-clads absolutely needed, seventy unarmored cruisers, five rams, five torpedo gun-boats and twenty torpedo boats. The building of this new navy has continued steadily, and we now rank as one ot the great naval powers of the world. The lowa, Massachusetts, Oregon and Indiana cost over 83,000- 000 apiece. The Brookly, the largest ami most formidable protected cruiser in the navy, cost over $5,000,000, and has a crew of nearly 600 men. Befor the lauching of the “Brook lyn” the “New York” was the pride of the navy. That title bas now been usurped by the “Brooklyn” and the “New York” has been compelled to to take seeond place. The Brooklyn has been dubbed “The greater New York” by some naval wit. I “GREATEST ON EARTH.” i JE>r t f ÜBii 7 Norvisus. Mr. R. T. Caldwell, is book-keeper in the First National Bank of Fulton, Ky. “I was CQmpletfily run tipwn, My nerves ; became so tiiistuUMjr through loss or sleep and worry that 1 felt sure I would he pom? ! polled to Rive up ihy position I would lie ... ... . ... ... 111. ... , hu. ~ .. CALDWKU* to shake me up so that I could not possibly attend to my business as I should. In connection with this I had liver trouble, heaviness about tho stomach, and pains in different parts of my body. I was also much reduced in flesh. I was persuaded to try Dr. Miles’ Restorative Nervine. I first procured a trial bottle from a local druggist and good results quickly followed. I then procured a dollar bottle, and by tho time I had used this up i was a different man. I am now on my third bot tle and am able to sleep soundly and eat regularly, something I could not possibly do before taking your A 'rrvine. I am now fully recovered, and do not hesitate to pronounce Dr. Milos' Restorative Nervine the greatest nervine on earth." Fulton. Ky. R. T. CALDWELL. Dr. Miles' Nervine is sold on a positive guarantee that the first bottle will oenefit All druggists sell it at 11, 6 bottles for $5, or it will be sent, prepaid, on receipt of price by the Dr. Miles Medical Cos., Elkhart, Ind. Dr. Miles’ Nervine R “| th This is the Man I s^ VE g|| {E ?£ o?i e { & IS *\% g? iff % % % > iM *0 Jre> gj! ** How? Jtffjfj]fg§& FREE! j mmm f. C >2 s-s s ffilfßis i _j rt j C) -< a On 1 ” rrT'i —fjxi vTIU ill'U ** jjfj'J lUt , §rHatiW*H <n rM i "1 a >+*•& CQ 11 |2< rt ,c Sa TTrr li In■ •S'*' a S t eo4s*§ <f4-H IHUh £“ o iis # r< •- o ■*■> ® *L llUili uj iNiii fB3 B lollies 36$ Iff IS ;fli*?! !* 1{ Sjs-si ■a-g g Bt# Sgf k§j- * s|s§ js§# H#k 01 ftg'ScS a ,Pa O £a a tfcc Freight .g£ t* n m ia... . ill! ti fjyflliSt 7 fnfr'— ’ . • i r. rv7 cFpf 1 . J 4 i, •■J.'i i ... .... . ■ ' I L, li-O t>Ll I. |^a^> t: : sr-iru.cE ;s r • v r> and is as roiLOWSi X “We Ik,v As A, -:.id Ar. 1 Putto^ r Vv *’ V Vv k\. V' V. i - ;./a 'i i > Of V y id! i<L O i I Owe jf The book co :‘a . I; g ti e sen coce hr.s h-'c" i>-!e,hcp d-S of A'.r. VV. A. Hemphill, President and business Manager <-i ■ ; v .who Stas it in a safety vault. and wlio will give -t sea's i b , '-'a aeo:ember izt, 1897. TlliS COXTi'hT Is tiic i : ;;: * •. : : :S;OHlin;uy Interest, NEARLY h 4,0 j-j ’ 1 >:-cn distributed in the three preceding o.>i l l*.■ sis,-■ i .announced last No vember. In the first G lAd?n, Isi, Mr. M. L. Brittain was the only pnrs si to si-nyL Mv i; "no of t;ie 'sentcn.ee then an nounced and !:c i o<n ; o . : . Lhe next Contest closed March Ist,-and tko A;A : tguossers, among: whom was divided L.R; ’ : Contest brought many correct answers. in . :e.l amor: .; them. This Contest Lists 7, ** • ’ *TvO*D : ->'.J'3d'7-VJ;I I)e Larger# Theri> may bty o.ii. corroci .M7w •- • . .t-/bo rijgro, b it romsmber it costs nothin j to supply a v.c.- Vv’i.oher cr not, you get THE GREATEST OF A!.. AAR CAM W EIzKiX U-. A' FOR ONE YEAR that in mi n:> m.:- r . 'vM a yuis’ssubscsiktion. • • • . 3<J \ •* ( ’ Ten per ccul- ft: e Ci:e::c,s’ :; > • : i 1 be divided. In oilier words# if this-Sabicr.pt or ijg&i: : . • ' •v. -:e mentis, the I und to tor the successful tist wj hsiit ix. > . i:.e conditions of the contest: PjV)nO‘F ho p*jr .-t tf<' . /■ •- ■ t- 'VD the piriy suhscribing enters the . * ' " ‘ ‘ S ••-,! ■ , r • o r...-'ti;4 \h *he who name correctly th in >8 n,; vvortU, t*. 'i: !. • < ..% w’li hr\e a!l ihe money. If m>ie idai; on. i.. ~i • *-u:i •*• u i. . ori.tm..te .-ii.-r?.* of t!e money flic Coi'iit 01 PrCC-'T? O , ; - ' r vne*! did! .*vcr\ pe s must be accom ‘ 11; t H ill! Wii i.v CoNSTITUTIOK; the guess ruu.-t be sent in .! > l c* - ii'iscript.ou ; forgetting ft, or iesvjng ii t>i.. in •• n ..... •- sciih -l. or anv other reason will no' eiiUt'e on to scioi- a in:<-■ ' r . * , : not at alt. Slmu’tl a party send mot*.* ft ;ii oi. r ;m. o, h* <-i - .u .t til u v •* n;t are will be i o capital prise— ever} win ■.. .;r>t pr..* ! *iv -.i—.i •ii . • 1 s:u„o*.y u i.l be cijuaily divided ao4 %J 1 stand exactly on th.- >a:ue loot ng. ¥ i ois :ni. : . iioDS. The Content BY!" J ; UI2I Vs 1 Lil >u '° cri P lions '^ e ‘ v e4 With guesses, snd 09 —Y~ .-r'T A * v. - -it uf the subscribers guessing, and during July and August vre UlJi | trbhdi r.ic v The Contest C oses Sep . 1. ■" Ansv/er Vou not .*• — ' sentence out in full, just or parties the full prize amount that ha - c a • g Word for September iis “ . . . . , i Address all order o . - * , THE C. Atlanta, Ga. <7 _ I Chattanooga Normal I University. Will Sustain tho Folloiviiig Departments, hcncral Com sos. Special Coursers, Penmanship, Tr-.acwrs'fNonnal Telegraphy, Kindergarten! C.ttrsc proper), Commercial, Art, Normal Kindergarten (for SluiiAhatid atr.l 'J'y pcwiitihg, training of teachers). A Com- Elocinwto, Scivnt ific, Special hte Conservatory fif Music. Mathematics,Special I.imgungc, School the entire veal* except Spcial Soicne, Classic. Lite iholitb of AnjitSf FOURTEEN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, EIGHTEEN DIFFERENT TEACHERS* AS SPECIAL FEATURES of our school, pupils may enter at anytime select such work ns they desire, ana pursue their studies a.s rapidly ns their ability w ill permit. In any regular couse we yermit sticn substitutions at will enable one to make a specealtyof any line of work desired. TUITION in tlio ngiilnr Departments is 41.00 pej Wc- lt, liaj’abie if 'erm in advance; in the Special Courses it depend upon the ivork taken, N<> • uitionwill be refunded, hut for n continued illness of more than two weeks, a due lull will be issued for tho time lost, good for any future time. DIPLOMAS. To any one completing any of the courses atiore mentioned, a diploma will be issued indicating the work done HOW THE SCHOOL IS GOVERNED This is not ar< form school; therefore we have no set rules. We des?r e the attendance of ladies and gentlemen, and we expect to treat them as such, \\ e are w illing to advertise in regard to the conduct of students’ and th§ privilege of asking 'lie withdrawel of any one who doss riot confotm to tho usual deportment of a lady or gentlemen. EXPENSES. It is an object of the school to impress practical economy in every department. Good board can be had frira $1.50 to $2.00 per. week; and room rent from fiOc to 75e per week, thus making 'he entire cost with tu ition 00 per week. To meet these low rates it is absolutely necessary that all bills be paid a term in advance. We will refun 1 money paid fur board ctr room rent, but charge 10c per week additional for the time, if less that! otie' term. I ext-books may be rented from the text-book library at 10 per cent of the retail, thus saving a great deal in the expenses of hooks. School be gins September C, 1807 for next school year- For father information addresff DR. H. M. EVANS, Chalanooga, Tenn. ou will notice the advertisement of the Chattanooga Normal University above, read it very rarefully, and if you decide to want to attend <he Uni versity and take a thorough course, and if you have not the necessary money to pay your expenses, you can go to work right at your own home, getting subscribers to the Journal, and xve will give to tile person who sends us the largest number of cash paid up subsciptions to the Journal at 50 cents from now until Sep. Ist and tberafter 81.00 per year to any address until July ,Ist 1808, a scholarship for 48 weeks schooling at the Chattanooga Normal Uni versity- This is well worth your attention- It is a school for both ladies and gentlemen, and if either a lady or gentlemen gets ns tbe largest number of subscribers for the Journal we will give this scholarships free of charge. So think about it just long enough to arrive at the conclusion that it is a chance of your lifetime an 1 fcH tt you hid bitter try td win this 150,00 by just a little work. Cash must accompany all orders for the Banks County Journal. ZA/amwtfwCoKPittlimr/fiavxrwESazi Kwr/n*! OU/* ' 60003 ARE TffM BEST Our Prices the lowest