Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE PENNY TE NEATT TO CITE, There’s a fanny tale of a stingy man, Who was none too good, though he might har been worse; Who went to his church on a Sunday night, And carried along his well-filled purse. ■When the sexton came with his lagging plate, The church was but dim with the candle’s light; The stingy man fumbled all through his puree, And chose a coin by touch, and not sight It's sn odd thing now that guineas should b So like unto pennies, in shape and aim. M I’ll give a penny,” the stingy man said; “ The poor must not gifts of pennies despise.” The penny fell down with a clatter and ring; And back in hia sont leaned the stingy man. •* The world i (to full of the poor,” ho thought, “ I can’t help them all—l give what I can.” Ha, ha! how the sexton smiled, to be sure, To see the gold guiuea fall in his plate; Ha, ha I how the stingy man’s heart was wrung, iVrcelving his b.under, but Just too late! ** No matter,” he said, 44 in the Lord’s account Tbit guinea of gold is net down to me. They lend to Him who give to the poor; It will not so bad an investment be.” • 4 Na, na, mon,” the chuckling sexton cries out; 4 ‘ The liOrd Is na cheated—lie kens thoe well; He knew it was only by accident That out of thy fingers the guinea foil. “ He keeps an account na doubt for the pulr; lint in that account He’ll set down to thee Ha rnair o' that golden guinea, my men, Thau the one bare penny 30 meant to gi’o!” There’s a comfort, too, In the little talc— A serious side as well as a Jok©; A comfort for all the generous poor In the comical words the sexton spoke. A comfort to think that the good I/>rd knows Ilow generous we really desire to be, And will give ua credit lii his account For all the pennies wo long to “gi’e.” — li. //., tn Ht. Siclmla*. THE ADVENTURES OF A POET Narcissus Brown was a most estima ble young man of studious habits. His father, ft tradesman, had taken pride in giving him a liberal education. At the ago of 19 years, therefore, Narcissus had linishc'd his education, and had become a philosopher. But youth is fioklo. An ardent imag ination and restless instincts worked their way, and, at tho age of 19 years and 3 months, Narcissus became a poet, “ Father,” said he, one day, “I feel within me the poctio instinct. lam a poet I " “Very well, my son,” said tho pa ternal Brown, “be a poet, if you will. Bo much the bettor, too,” ho added, witlbprond fond ness, “because it will vox Oroen, the grocer. His sou is a writer, but he only writes prose,” Bo Narcissus became a poet. Every day lie wandered off to the village near kin native city, and there communed with nature. The dusty trees which lined the roadside moved him to poetry, ami even tho wind mills stirred his soul. “All,” lie would sentimentally say, “ how romantic they look 1 800 tho white sails glinting like those of a fair galleon gliding over tho waves to some tar offshore.” T 1 o sea! lie had never thought of tho sea before. Tho idea suddenly Hashed across liis brain. “All!" he in lifted, “the neiv ! The bright, blue, boundless oecan ! Tlmt is the pluco for a poet. What 18 there poetic in this huiu-drum life ashore? On the ocean man struggle!) with nature; he combats the elements; he defies the storm. 1 shall go to sea." lie returned to the paternal shop, and declared his intention. But his father only yielded uftor much persuasion. At lust lie consented, and made up a pack age of fancy dry goods which he thought would sell well in the colonies. To this he added a purse, some tears and his Messing, and Narcissus sturtwl for the nearest sea port.. There lie repaired to the house of a cousin, a resident of the place; ho stated his intention, and asked for ad vice. The cousin was well acquainted with the Captain of a hrig which was about to sail for Martinique, and secured him a passage aboard of her. Narcissus experienced a slight shock when lie heard the name of the vessel. “ li it wore only a little more pooti cal 1 ’’ he thought. “The Undine, or the Mermaid, or something liko that. But the Sarah Ann 1 ” And lie asked the Captain's name. When told it was Smith, ho almost fainted. Ho was to sad aboard the brig Sarah Ann—Smith, Master, lie would have willingly given a larger sum if the Captain had a nauti cal name, However, there wan no holp for it— his passage-money whs paid. So tho next day, accompanied by liis cousin, ho took a boat aud went on board the Sarah Ann, to soo what she looked like. On the way out the water was very l'oqgh, the boat was small, aud Narcis sus at once hoped and feared some ac cident-something romautio. But ho only got sea-sick. When he reached tho deck lie east an eager glance around upon the hardy suns of the sen. Most of them were swabbing the dock after getting in car go, and there were several engagisl in w'ssluug and hanging out shirts upon till! t igging to dry. With an exclama tion of disgust, Narcissus turned away, “ They only need flat-iron* to be WHsIK-rwomen,” said lie. However he descended to the Clap tain's cabin. Tlmt individual was talking to a stout, thick-set man, and signed to Narcissus and his cousin to sent them selves. They did so, and Narcissus im ; mediately began to insjiect the cabin. To his disgust ho found it was a prosaic little risim, with a carpot, chairs, table •udpifturuf ou the walla—exactly liko a room on shore. Narcissus sighed, end turned his'eyes upon tlm Captain. His ideal of the man who was to brave the elements and command a turbulent crow was an follows : A mariner of giant frame —at least six feet; a massive head, tierce eyes, a wuieu of awe-inspiring qualities. He looked at Oapt. Smith, and Raw ho was a short, thin man, about forty yenrs of age; he was extremely jshite m his manners ; ho woie a wig and took snuff. It is impossible to describe the revulsion of feeling that swept over Nar cissus when he beheld this insignificant personage. The individual who was talking to the Captain was, as wo have said, stoutlv built; iie was a jolly-looking fellow, autl w as deeply interested in trying to beat down t be rate of passage. “Come, now, Captain," said lie, “can’t you put it a little lower?” “I have ouly one price,” replied the Captain. Narcissus thought of the paternal shop, and shuddered. “Well,” said the stout man, after much debate, “ what must be must be. One condition, however ; my boxes must have air, and dampness ’ will injure them. You know what they contain. Bo I want you to promise mo’that thov shall not be put in the hold.” “All right,” said the Captain ; “they shall be placed on the orlop deck.” “ And I can examine them whenever I like?” "Whenever you like.” “ Weil, here’s your money,” said the stout man, anil he placed the sum upon the table, saluted, and left. “Who’s that fellow?” asked the cousin. “Oh, it’a a poor devil of a showman, He’s going to tho colonies with a lot of wax figures to exhibit them.” “ Wax figures 1 Why, they’ll melt if you leave them on the orlop deck, won’t they?” "Well, that’s his business,” said the worthy Captain, good-naturedly. Then, turning to Narcissus, he said : “ Well, sir, I am pleased to meet yon. I shall make your voyage as agreeable as i Pos sible. You will bo very comfortable— iust exactly tlio same as if you were on land.” Narcissus was in despair. “But, Captain,” said ho, “you never have a voyage without a storm, do you ? ” “Storm 1 storm I Why, my dear air, I’ve followed tho sea, man and boy, for twenty-one years, and, with tho excep tion of a capful of wind now and then, I've always hnd splendid weathor.’-’ “ May the devil strangle you and your splendid weather l ” thought Nar cissus. “If yon wore in winter, now,” con tinued the Captain, “ I don’t say but that it might be a little rough; but in July 1 Why, ray doar sir, you'll scarce ly know that you’re at ses..” “Captain,” said Narcissus suddenly, taking tho bull by the horns, “ can I get back my passage - money ? I want to go on some other ship.” "Some other ship?" tiaid tho aston ished Captain. “Why, you could not ho better satisfied. The brig is a splen did ono. The sailors are all religious ; you never hear an oath or a vulgar word from their lips." At the thought of these nun-like mariners, Narcissus made an involun- tary grimace. “ Let me assure, sir, that you oouldn't be better off. Besides, accord ing to maritime law, after you're paid your passage, the money cannot fie re turned to you.” bo the unhappy Narcissus left the barali Ann, and did not reapponr until tho hour of sailing, such was liis disgust at the unromantio character of vessel, master aud crew’. When ho went to tho pier to engage a boat to take him out to the brig ho met the stout man whom he hnd seen in tlio Captain's cabin. This |individiml prr>- pnsed that they should hire a boat joint ly to transput themselves and baggage to the brig, and Narcissus consented. Ho hade farewell to liis cousiu, and tumbled into the heat. The stout man followed him. “ Hrvo you ever been to sea, sir ?” he asked. “No,” replied Narcissus; “and you?" “ Never, sir ; this is the first time. I am going to tlio colonies to exhibit my wax liiruros.” "What do they represent?" asked Narcissus, mechanically. “That,” said lie, pointing to ono— they were long, narrow boxes, about six by three—“ that contains a magnificent figure of the Emperor Napoleon ; that, a figure of his Holiness tho I’opc ; that., mi Albino,” aud ho wout through tho list. “ Well, what do you bother me with it for ?” demanded Narcissus, glad to find someone to vent lus ill humor upon. “I only told you because you asked me, sir," replied the man. submissively. " Well, shut up, will you?” replied the goiitlo Narcissus. “ You talk too much 1” The stout, man's eyes snapped angrily, hut lie said nothing. They reached tho vessel’s side, and, with unheard-of procuutionn, the show man lmd his boxes pur aboard, He made the sailors almost expire with laughter at the gingerly way in which lie climbed the ladder, and his calling tho masts “ the jioloa” furnished them fresh food for merriment. At 5 o’clock in the evening the Harsh Ann weighed anchor ami Hot out on her voyage. Narcissus remained on (lock, watching the sun set, and thus, as ho expressed it, “relighting the torch of poesy in his soul.” But ho hadn't been there long boforo ho liecnine extremely sea-sick, and two grinning tars took him below. As for the showman, he remained on deck amusing the crow by his ignorance of nautical matters, which was dense. However, as he was about to go below, he noticed that ono of tho sheets waa working loose from its oleat. Glancing carefully around him, anil seeing no ono near, he hauled it taut and belayed it with the cxpertnoßs of an old sailor. Having done this ho wont off to examine his cases. * * * * • * Narcissus did not sleep. As ho tossed restlessly upon his pillow ho invoked tho muses. “ O muses nine,” quoth ho, “pity mo, And send us something romautio—a tempest, a shipwreck—anything. I have quitted realms of pins, needles and tajH', and abandoned myself to tho ca price of the waver, only that my life may become exciting. Pity mo, then, ye gods 1 Blow, old Bores*, blow I Lash thy waves, O Neptune 1” It is doubtful whether either tho muses or tho gods heard him, but it is certain that something very singular took place almost npon the heels of his prayer. The hrig was not provided with state rooms for psssi'ngers, so the apartment occupied by Naroissus consisted only of an old sail draped around the plane ’tween decks where his hammock was swung. This canvas he could soo over, aud this is what took plaoe. The feeble glimmer of a ship’s lantern sorved to illumine the place without, and its rays fell npon the showman's boxes, which wore lashed up sgainst the vessel's side. Emerging from the darkness Narcissus saw the figure of the burly showman. “Tho base hind I” thought lie, “al ways an lions for his business. Here he is examining his figures when he might be watching the stars in you azure vault ” Naroissus paused in his poetioal flight His eyes opened widely: he almost ceased to breathe. For the showman, after carefully glancing around him, had opened one of the boxes, and a man stepped out. The new-oomer exchanged a whispered word with the showman, and begau to shake his numb and rigid limbs. “ This is indeed romantic," muttered Narcissus. But he felt s cold censation creeping up his back. The show man continued his task of opening the boxes. One by ono the wax figures stepped forth, aliook them selves and felt their joints. When the last box was opened, there were six of them, beside the showman. Each man drew out pistols and knives, looked to the locks, and replaced the weapons in convenient positions. “ Well,” thought Naroissus, “that is the most wicked-looking gang of cut throats I ever set eyes on. This is altogether too romantic. I wish I was i home.” But his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the showman’s voice ; “All ready?” said he, in a hoarse whisper. “All ready,” was the whispered reply. “ Then here we go !” With cat-like tread they stole away in the darkness, Narcissus would have called out; his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth. He would have risen ; his head seemed glued to liis pillow. A cold perspira tion broke out upon him. He had real ized the fact that the showman and his comrades were pirates. The minutes passed on. They seemed hours to him. Then he heard an out cry ; the trampling of feet on the deck over his head; the short hark of pistols; muttered curses; groans; then there was a wild yell of triumph; the sound of con versation ; then he heard at intervals tho noise of heavy bodies dropping into the water—" Splash I Splash ! Splash 1” It was altogether too romantic. Nar cissus fainted away. * * * * 4 w When lie camo to liis senses he had experienced a complete revulsion of feel ing. The ocean to him was distasteful. Ho waR enamored of green fields and bab bling brooks. He would have exchanged the Atlantic ocean for the smallest brook that ever ran, His fevered fancy car ried him to the meadows around his native city ; ho thought of the flowers there; of the smiling grain and “ Boom 1” What was that ? It sounded like a cannon shot. Tuero was a crackling sound. The side of the vossel seemed to lie bursting in. The planks and splinters flew, and from the midst there emerged a round shot—a jolly, pudgy round-shot, which came wildly skipping along the deck toward him. As it neared him it made a final bound, and imbedded itself in the wood right over his head. Again Narcissus lost his senses. He liked romance, but he was getting too much of it at one time. * * * * * When Narcissus recovered conscious ness he found himself lying upon the deck of the brig. There were irons upon his hands, irons upon his feet. On either side of him squatted a swarthy sailor, each with a cutlass, and each watching him with tho most flattering attention. Narcissus turned liis head. Behind him lay his friend, tho showman, in the same predicament as himself. Ranged in symmetrical rows lay the comrades of the showman, all ironed and guarded. Lying near the brig was a large man-of war with the Spanish flag flying. “Hir,” said Narcissus, addressing the showman, “can you teU me what all this means ?” “ Hallo 1” was the reply. “ Why, there’s the little land lubber. I’d forgot you completely. Oortainly— I’ll take great pleasure iu telling you all about it. Do you see tho yards of that ship ?" “ What aro the yards ?” said Narcis sus, gravely. “Ha ! ha 1 Well, you see those poles that run across tho masts ?” “Yes.” “Do you seo a man astride of one of them at the end ?" “ Yes.” “ Do you know what he is doing ?” “No/’ “ He’s fixing a rope.” “Aropot What for?” “To hang us.” “To lia to lmug us 1 To hang you, you mean.” “ No—us.” "Why—why—what do you mean? You are a pirate ! I am a poet. My name is Brown—Narcissus Brown ; and 1 live-” “ Oh, well, tell them so, then. There’s an officer. ” Assuming an air of dignity tempered with submission, Narcissus addressed the officer, detail mg the story of how he camo to be aboard the brig. The officer inter rupted him curtly, in Spanish, by giving an order to one of the sailors. "Well,” said the showmau, “do you know what he said?” "No.” "Ho said, ‘ Gag that cur.’ ” "Then ho didn’t understand what I said?” " Not a word. Neither ho nor any of the others speak anything but Spanish.” “ But you can sneak tlioir language ?” "Fluently.” " Well, then, tell him, you, that—” "My dear boy, do you remember when we came out in the boat together ? You told me I talked too much. Now 1 will he silent. Really, you should have been more civil. But tlion you arc go ing to be hanged in ton minutes, anil it will teach you manners. ” Narcissus was about to reply, but at that moment the sailor hail prepared the gag, and bis mouth was stopped. “It’s no more than right,” continued the showman, "that you should know why you’re going to be hanged, so I’ll tell you. I’ve been a pirate for twenty years, and never been unlucky. This is my firet mishap—l’m afraid, though, it’ll l>e mv last. Well, about six months ago I boarded a Spanish merchantman from Peru, anil, of course, I hail to make all tho crew walk the plank. Unfort unately a ring that the Captain had took my fancy, anil I’ve worn it ever since, well, this meddlesome fellow hoarded me yesterday, and I would hnvo got off unsuspected had it not been for the cursed ring. The Captain of the inor chantman hail been a frieml of this offi cer, who hail given it to him. His sus picions being excited, he examined the ship’s papers, and thus found out my last little game. That, though, you know all about. So lie’s going to hang us all. I would have lwen sorrier for you, my boy, if you had been a little more civil.” It was morally and physically impos sible for Narcissus to reply; he was, therefore, silent. His eyes wandered over the scene. The sea was smooth as glass, the sky bine and cloudless. The white clothing of the swarthy Spaniards contrasted viv idly with their browu skins. The state ly ships-of-war, with the gorgeous folds of the Spanish standard floating over her, was a pleasing sight to gave upon. But Narcissus heeded not all this. Po etry had tied from him. He could seo but one thiug—the seamau on the yard; ha could tluuk of but one thiug—tho rope which was so soon to encircle his neck. The denmed men were taken aboard of the man-of-war. One by one the pi rates were slowly strangled at tin- yard arm. There remaiuod only Narcissus and the showman, “After you,” said tho la f tor with a fiendish grin. “You are i-onnger than I am." The noose was placed around Narcis sus’ neck. Stalwart arms swung lum up to the yard. As he drew up his writhing limbs in his death agony, the showman turned away hia face. “Well, it was his own fault,” he mut tered ; “ but I am half sorry for him." A few moments passed, and the two men were again together - -but not is this world. A QUEEB HOTEL. Ttom Favorite RcaoHef ff audtn Honstro* I ties In Perl*. lC*rrapondanc Naw York Timaa.J There is no analogy between the Red Windmill and the Grand Hotel Legnay, and yet, m this strange establishment was one of the most curious in pictur esque Paris, I may speak of it before it has become altogether s case of fuit. The buildings itself was an ordinary looking hortsA situated on the Route de la Revolt*, ail of its peculiarity was in the character of its guests, whom the landlady, a Stout, high colored old per son, who wore the largest crinoline ever seen in the Parisian suburbs and cork screw ringlets, used to unite around her festive hoard, which was known as the Table d’hote de-s Monties, and whither came phenomena of every variety to eat their meals during the forensic sea son. I was taken there by a “ dramatic agent so he styled himself on liis card —in search of a subject wherewith to replace a torpedo woman who had lately absconded from the St. Germain fair, in company with a magnetizer, a humble yet highly esteemed precursor of the eminent Donato, and 1 must confess that Ido not regret my Visit. The din ing room of the “Monsters’ ordinary” was like the dining rooms of all third class provincial hotels; aloDg, low ceiled hall, with cheap colored lithographs on the whitewashed walls, and a table cov ered with a cloth of doubtful clealiness, and an array of coarse crockery, set off by a huge bunch of artificial roses in the center. But bell rang and the banqueters began to oome in, I saw that the resemblance was only in the proper ties, as no provincial, nor yet city, hotel over could have furnished such a specta cle. The first to take her seat was the bearded woman, a tremendous Creature who flirted violently with the living skelton, muoh to the disgust of a dim inutive female dwarf, to whom he vainly tried to whisper sweet nothings, a great celebrity of the Foire de St. Cloud, the much appreciated Earnest of Bordeaux, who without the slightest difficulty, could twist his head around into tho middle of his back, which, as my in troducer assured me was extromely con venient whon he wanted to call the waiter. Opposite was another illustration l'Homme ala JYompe, whose nose could be wiggled about in any direction to suit the owner’s will, and likewise executed popular airs. And with him W’ere the dogman, a hairy individual whoso features and voice reminded you of a skye terrier, and the horned lady and the tattooed one of Timbuctoo, and a youthful giantess, described on the bills of her booth as “ only 16, yet weighing 100 pounds.” These above mentioned were "the lions of the hotel, but with them were at least thirty more extraordinary creatures, or rather extra ordinary gifted creatures, of whom some could eat fire and others see into futur ity or distribute shocks after the fashion of votalio batteries. I noticed, however, that nono of this category were treated with much consideration by the hostess, who evidently was sceptical about all whose claims for distinction were based on phychological attributes only. Mme. Legnay had Bmall faith in somnambu lists, aud sneered at torpedoes, since she had found out that ane of the most suc cessful of her electrical boarders carried a small battery in her back hair. There was no incident at table save a little dispute about the Femme a Baibe, who was too exclusive in her notioe of the living skelton to plense a Cul de Jatte, but this was settled by the dramatic agent’s offer of a tournee —a treat all around—and from that moment lmr moDy was not disturbed, but, on the contrary, good humor reigned supreme and was manifested, after coffee, by a lively ball to a piano accompaniment by a clown belonging to M. Corve’s circus, who confided tio me that he had “ once moved in very different society.” Won derfully grotesque was that ball, one of those hideous absurd dances roaenbres, such as tho brain of Callot alone could have conceived. Distance of the Sun and Moon. There are several methods of determ ining the sun’s distance from the earth, some of which it would be difficult to explain satisfactorily to the reader not already familiar with the subject of the terms used. The refined investigations of modern science, says Professor New comb, have brought to light other methods, by at least two of which we may hope, ultimately, to attain a greater degree of accuracy than we can by moasuring parallaxes. Of these two, one depends on the gravitating force of the sun upon the moon, and the other upon the velocity of light. And the same author says, in regard to measur ing tho distance of the sun by the veloc ity of light: “There is an extraordinary beauty in this method of measuring the sun’s distance, arising from the contrast, between the simplicity of the principle and the profoundness of the methods by which alone the principle can be applied. Suppose we had a messenger whom we could send to and fro between the sun and the earth, and who could tell on his return, exactly how long it took him to perform his journey ; suppose also we knew the exact rate of speed at which he traveled. Then, if we multiply his speed by the time it took him to go to the sun, aud wo shall at once have the sun’s distance, just os we could determ ine the distance of two cities, when we knew that a train running thirty miles an hour required seven hours u> pasß between them. Such a messenger is light. It has been found practicable to determine, exnerimentally, about how fast light travels, and to find from astro nomical phenomena how long it takes to come from the sun to the earth. In 1862 Foucault found by experiment that light traveled about 298,000 kilimeters, or 185,200 miles per second. In 1874 Cornu found bv a different series of ex periments a velocity of 300,400 kilome ters per second. In 1879 Ensign A. A. Michelson, U. 8. Navy, found tho veloc ity to be 299,940 kilometers per second. The result of Michelson's is far more reliable than either of the preoeeding ones. Combining them all, Frofessor D. P. Todd, in 1880, concluded the most probable value of the velocity to lie 299,920 kilometers, or 186,360 miles per second. Now, we know from the phe nomena of aberration that light passes from the sun to the earth in about 493 seconds. The product of these two unmbers gives the distance of tho sun in miles. * * These two methods of determining the distance of the sun may fairly be regarded as equal in accuracy to that by tmusits of Venus when they are employed in the best manner. A vror of hot water has been tapped near St. Etienne, France, at a depth of about 1,500 metres. This new geyser sends a volume of hot water and carbonic acid to a height of twenty-six metres. A Frenchman who had an impermea ble stricture of the gullet was saved from starvation by having masticated food introduced into the abdomen by a syringe through an artificial opening in the abdominal wall, fimaU Farms. The Detroit Pont has compiled from Ihe census reports of 1870 and 1880 a comparative table of farms under twenty acres occupied in thirty-three States in the years 1870 and 1880. In parallel columns the increase or decrease in the number ot these farms may also be found. _____ lAIIMS CNKKB .! TWENTY AC. Horthebn _ Far thc'For the Increase Decrease Year Tear tine* since 1870. 1880. *B7O. California/. 8,27 3 2,037 36 Connecticut.. 4,t24 3,642 818 ■- •< - Illinois 13,824 12,607 1,217 Indiana 22,344 12,872 M 7 * lowa 10,37 8 6,619 4,859 Kansas 10,326 2,717 7,608 Maine 10,816 6,206 mo 6,549 Michigan 20,067 7,-319 12,748 Nebraska.... 244 1,108 864 .. k Hampshire 3,450 3,768 212 ... New jersey,. 6,639 6,127 412 New York.... 31,223 92,142 919 Ohio 21,006 25,320 4,314 Oregon 1,113 392 721 Pennsylvania. 26,197 31,241 6,044 fehodd Island. 1,159 1,037 122 Vermont 3,805 3,270'. 645 Wisconsin.l6,B6o 6,814 11,046 SOOTHKEN States Alabama..’... 13,619 16,929 8,310““ Arkansas 17,300 12,947 4(363 Delaware 811 803 8 Florida 8,455 3,826 371 Georgia 10,190 11,905 1,-706 Kentucky.... 23,482 20,800 2,682 Louisiana.... 11,194 8,656 ...... 2,538 Maryland.... 3,078 6,204 3,126 .......... Mississippi... 19,984 14,356 6,628 Missouri 29,235 12,229 16,006 N. Carolina.. 21,2941 25,385 4,094 H. Carolina... 10,620] 19,672 52 Virginia 10,929 16,776 5,847 W. Virginia.. 9,445! 6,324 3,121 From tho foregoing table it will be seen that the only considerable increase iu the number of small farms between 1870 and 1880 was in the States of Ohio and Pennsylvania in the North and Ala bama, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia in the South. There was a fall ing off of over 16,000 in the number of small farms (twenty acres and under) in Missouri and of 12,748 in Michigan. The greatest falling off was in these two States. Wisconsin, Indiana and Kan sas follow in order. The census report is incomplete in this, that it does not indicate clearly whether this is the result of extending clearings or absorption of small hold ings. There is in all new counties a first tendency to increase tlio acreage of each farm, after that follows division and cutting Up into smaller holding. Apparently both processes are now going on simultaneously, but the increased number of land owners in the country indicates the disappearance of small farms in some States is not caused by freezing out the small holders. Tn China. There is one custom in the Celestial Empire that we would like to see turned loose here. Boys in China are riot sup posed to be responsible until they arrive at about the ago of twenty years, and their parents are held accountable for all their crookedness, just the same as the owner of any other dangerous animal is held responsible for damages. Supposing a bad boy walks up and throws a stone through your bay window that shatters a fine calla fluid busts the statue of the sweet singer of Mich igan, you do not go out and chase him four blocks with an iron rake and club him till he gets out of reach, but you just get an old hoe handle that swings easy, and you search out the boys par ents and wear them out with that hoe handle and mix them up with the sand. Then if tlio boy don’t behave himself you can go to other relatives of his, and graduaUy enlarge the circle of your ac quaintance, until you have mauled tho entire relationship, even including the old grand-parents of the boy, and if any of those resist they are subject to impris onment. This law, although apparently string ent, is a good one. It makes parents take more interest in their children and look out for them more accurately. It encourages parents to know where their boys are, and to keep their eyes on them more than they do in Laramie. Weil, if that law were to go in force here, some men we know would have to take an arnica bath twice a day and -wouldn’t have a whole bone in their body. We like to see a bright, active boy with good health and sound lungs, but the thriving blossom that will develop into a Jesse James, we have no use for. If the Chinese law could be enforced here against those parents who are breeding up a squad of hoodlums, we would not weep. It would, be pretty active work for the avenger and his hoe handle, but it would institute a reform at least. As it is now, a building can not be left over night before every pane of glass is broken and the walls smashed in. Now if the owner had the right to climb the male parent of those boys and knock his shoulder-blades through his spleen and tangle his works all up so that hereafter his food wouldn’t be any benefit to him, it might arouse an inter est in his children so that he would make them an ornament to society. You can’t do much with a strange boy anyhow. If you spank him with an old window-shutter, he goes home anil tells his father, aud the olil man tells him to go right back and do the same thing and lie will stand by him. Then the boy returns and repeats, and your start after him with the intention of killing him, but as ho turns the corner a quarter of a mile away and puts his thumb on his nose and waves his fingers in the air, you control your brutal temper aud go home. That’s the reason why in twenty years from now it will be a bitter cold day when the telegraph doesn’t give us the partic ulars of twenty-seven murders and thir teen train robberies. —Laramie Boomer ana. Early United States History. Congress, on June 11,1776, resolved that a committee should be appointed to prepare and digest the form of a confed eration to be entered into between the colonies. On the day following a com mittee composed of members of one from each colony, were appointed to perform that duty. The result of this commit tee’s labors was seen in the Articles of Confederation which were in due time subscribed and ratified by the several States. The second article contained the following; “Each State retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right which is not by this confederation dele gated to the Uuited States, in Congress assembled.” In May, 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommend ing an alteration in the Articles of Con federation, but no action was taken upon it, and it was left to the State Legisla ture to proceed in the matter. This was taken up by Virginie in Janatiry, 1786, and the conclusion was the great convention which gave birth to the Constitution. Tire blacksmith often injures the wood work of a carriage by fitting his irons when too hot. If the wood burns ever so little it weakens it, and if a joint is near the latter is sure to open. A black smith that cannot fit an iron without depending upon its burning its way down should never be allowed to work ' at the forge. EMPEHOB WILLIAM’S GREAT AGE, Ho B©Tcrrl|u Knowh <° Sal ° n " Throne ul fill Ymr*- | [New York Evening Post.] Long reigns are rare in history, long royal lives much rarer still. Princes occupy one of the lowest levels in the whole range of longevity. The r ol courts is destructive of health, nerve and vigor. Lives which early corrup tion, luxurious and effeminate habits, unchecked passions and unceasing ex citement do not undermine, are fre quently shortened by consuming ambi tion or care, warlike ton and peril, or the murderous hand of conspiracy. Among the remarkably long reigns in history are those of Uzziah of Judah (52 years), Mithridates of Pontus (o 7), Sapor 11, of Persia (71), Alfonso I, of Portugal (73), Frederick IU, of Ger many (52), Christian IV, of Denmark (60), Louis XIV, of France (72), George 111, of England (59), Ferdinand IV, of Naples (65), and Pedro H, of Brazil (51 till now). But Uzziah was a youth when placed oil the throne, Mithridates a boy, Sapoy a new-born babe, Alfonso an ni fant, Christian 11 years old, Louis 4, Ferdinand 8, and Pedro 5, and of all the monarchs mentioned only George 111 reached the age of four score. Po land had one King who reached the ago of 88, Stanislas Leszczynski; but he reigned only five years, and survived his throne fifty-six years, living m quiet retirement. We must go back to the davs g£ antiquity to iind William I.’b royal peers in age, and the only ones wo discover are Hiero 11, of Syracuse and Massir.issa of Numidia, both of whom ended their reign at tho age of about 90. The reign of Harnesses 11, Pharaoh of Egypt—tho Sesotris of the Greeks—is believed by some Egyptolo gists to have lasted about 67 years, and his life about 100, but others reduce both his reign and days to normal pro portions, Thus, no Emperor known to history, no reigning King in Christen dom ever reached the age of William I. Our age boasts of this extraordinary royal life, as it does of the only Pontifi cate, that of Piux IX, which exceeded the term of St. Peter. And Berlin, which still often sees it Emperor King on horseback, also saw in 1859 Alexan der Von Humboldt give the last touches to his “ Kosrnos ”in his 90th year; Rau mor, in 1873, officiated as professor in his 92d; Field Marshal Wrangel, in 1877, walk its streets in his 94th, and Ranke, in 1871, issue the first part of a universal history, intended to embrace eighteen volumes, in liis 86th. Moltke, who is not yet 82, must thus appear to the German capital and nation as a man still available for action for many a year to come. TVliat Ailed Dean Swift. When “the Vandal desecration of monuments” hi 1835, exposed Swift’s skull to the phrenologists, the great Dublin fturist might possibly have found in the bones of the ear traces of the cause of his giddiness. When Mr. Whiteway examined the brain lie might have found the cause of Swift’s right sided hemiplegia and his aphasia. It is enough now that we can diagnose his life-long disease as labyrinthine vertigo, and his insanity as dementia with ttphasia; the dementia arising from general decay of the brain from age and disease, the paralysis and aphasia from disease of one particular part of the brain. With all the tortures of the life-long* from which he suffered and its obvious effect upon his temper in his .ater years, it is wonderful that Swift did retain his reason Until, in the seventy fourth year of his ago, he was in all probability struck down by anew disease in the form of a localized left side apoplexy or cerebral softening, which determined the symptoms of his insan ity. "That Swift’s works contain no indica tion of insanity appears to be certain. As well say that Shakespeare was mad because he wrote a good deal which we think nasty. In the fashion of the day, Swift was too prone to make what may called excrementitious jokes and gibes. But that perfect gentleman, Antonio, voided his rheum npon Shylock’s beard; and the same kind of thing runs through our literature, no one objecting, until we rather recently become less natural and more nice. Some of our smaller humor ists and men of letters have criticised this great king of humor as if he were both bad and mad, not perceiving that if he were really insane he must be pitied and not cursed. But it is the weakest of arguments to say. withFestus, for want of argument, “Much learning doth make thee mad. ” There is always weakness in madness, but there is little sign of this in Swift’s works. There is always some inconsequentness or incohe rency in madness, but there is none of this in Swift Down to the last letter to Mrs. Whiteway he is most wretched, but he is still collected and wholly himself, ■Popular Science Monthly. Cash. The word cash is derived from the Italian cassa, the chest in xvhioh Italian merchants kept their money, as do at the present time the Spaniards in their caja, aud the Portuguese in their caxa, and the Frencli in their caisse. The ap plication of the word “ cash ” to money, is altogether English, it not having a corresponding term in any other Euro pean language. Cash haring been so inconsiderately adopted instead of cassa (chest), entries in the cash book (it should be chest book) are made in count ing-houses in this unmeaning way: "Cash Dr.” and “Cash Cr.,” whereas tlio chest, and not the money, is Dr. to what is put into it; and credit for what is taken out. In China cash is the one-thousandth part of a tael, or about one-tenth of an American cent. The earliest public bank in modern Europe was that of Ven ice, founded in 1157. It originated in the financial difficulties of the State, which in order to extricate itself, had recourse to a forced loan from the citi zens, promising them interest at the rate of four pier cent. It is generally be lieved that the Chinese were the invent ors of bank notes, which are said to hav6 originated about 119 years B. C., in the reign of the Emperor Ou-ti, who hap pened to be in want of money at the time, and hit npon this device “ to raise it.” About 800 A. D., the Chinese, in the reign of Haintsoung, of the dynasty of Thang, issued true bank notes. They were called feytsien, or flying money. There was a frequent over-issue of these notes, and it was so easy to create this paper currenoy that the value declined. It took 11,000 min. or 15,000 of our dol lars to buy a cake of rice, and at last the issue ceased. Two centuries later notes were issued in China, under legal re strictions, by joint stock companies, who promised to pay cash for them every three yeax-s. In 1324 Sir John Mandeville. who vis ited India, saw the described money made “of letlier emprented, or of papyre.- Troy lime*. The British House of Lords will not last long in its present form, according to the London Truth, which says that it has only existed np to now because there has never been a democratic House of Commons.. fencing in Madagascar, Just after stfnset, and while I , discussing my dinner, the tum-tum be gan to beat, and soon the clear space in the middle of the town presented an SBl . mated appearance. A sort of illumination was attempted by mean* of cocoa-nut, filled with bullock’s fat, bat they did not give much light and smelied verydisj. greeably. Mats had been placed under the old tamarind tree for the King to! j myself, and on repairing thitLer I found His Majesty already arrived. • The f(ft . pie soon formed up for a dance. It a a very curious sight, aud I never before saw any native dance quite like it. Tfej all formed in a circle, and sang, apt/, ently, a verse of a song. They tun went in turns into the center of tho rim" and danced wildly round, flourishing their spears and singmg, and then they all joined in a sort of chorus. I | a / the solo Binging was extempore, Xha women did not take part in this dance but all sat together and beat time with their hands, and then at the finish thev came forward with calabashes full oi rum and presented them to the men, They danced the same dance three or four times, never omitting i*he mm , t the end. Hia Majesty kept pressing also to drink, and I had to take /armor# of it than I wanted. The wam/;n no, came forward and danced, the dasce consisting of swinging the body back, ward and forward, all the time singing a plaintive Bort of melody. I could not help thinking how pell the words ii on Lcs Cloches de Cornevillc- —“Just loot at that,” Ac. —would frave suited the ac tion. They looked very picturesqae with their’bright-colored lambot mb wild-looking heads. They have woolly hair, which they mvake stick om from the head in little knobs. After the women had been dancing thus for same time (the men sitting down and beating time), a man most grotesquely painted jumped in between them and danced t few times up and down the midd/c; then the women screamed and ran away, and the men, jumping up and brandnhing their spears in the most threatening manner, rushed forward as if to attvk the new-comer. He at once bolted dov the street, I afterward found out tbs’ he represented a 1010 (ghost), come to carry off one pf the women. After he had disappeared there was a genenl dance of rejoicing, in which both mei and women joined, and after that more rum. It was now l/ng past ten, sol asked permission of the King to retire to my hut. He replied, rather huskily, that it was very early, but gAve me leave to go. He also promised me so me guides to take me out in the morning.^-2’cmpli Bar. Fat and Lean Men. Ought a man of genius to he fatoi lean ? The latter, if the proverbs are to be credited, which assert that the blade uses the scabbard, and that the mini breaks the body. A philosopher remarks that men of geztius had a yellowish uni parchment look fbamerly, because they, being underpaid, wem consequently un derfed. That type has dist- appeared effectually as the race of Kir, *? Charles 1 dogs or the dodo. No litterateur of th( nineteenth century wears shoes yvithont soles —none resemble Seudery, who fa vored his crust with a morsel of bad® prigged from a mouse-trap. Balzac was so stout that it was a day’s exercise ° walk around him ; the rid not diverse him, and he was en circled With bandages as if a hogshead. Rossini Was a veritable Jumbo, since for six years he never sa.w his knees ; ordina rily, he was caUed by the small boys hippopotamus in pantaloons. Jules Janin, the prince of critics, broke ever; sofa he sat upon ; his chin and Uis cheeks protruded beyond his beard and lus whiskers. Lablaciie was charged three fares whenever he traveled,, and it was in a horse-box, elegantly fitted up with p the comforts of a home, plus an opening outside, that he voyaged before his death; when he appeared on tho stage the wigs swore the latter had to be propped up, just as in the case wheir elephants don the sock and buskin. Dumas perc never was stouter than a drum-major ; Saint-Beuve regarded his grinning Falstaflian stomach as his great est mysery in life; Eugene Sue, like Byron, dreaded getting fat, and indulged also in vinegar and lemons, as the pre- Bantam cure. Modern men of genms are great trencher men; Hugo muee fish, flesh, vegetable, sweets, etc., upon his plate, and devotes an hour to exca vating his tunnel through the podidra;” Dumas pere ate three null- 1 steaks, but then he said that was fr* foresight, as he could never count up® the next day for a meal; Rossini de voured as much maccaroni as would g |te indigestion to ten lazzarones ; he pre ferred the rattle of a “batterie de cm sine ” to the finest orchestra. The lean men of genius do not count, such as Lamartine, De Musset, etc; their bones pierced their skin, and die not at all flatter the French goddess Glory. Besides, such celebrities belongs the schools of the ‘ ‘ Sorrows of Werther and the “Nouvelle Heloise.” I'j ie . r thought too much and never laughed Story of a Stone. John Gardner, a tanner living >< Navarre, Ohio, has a stone among M collection of curiosities which he says he took from the inside of a horse in Eng land in 1832. It is nearly round, is four teen inches in oircumference, and weigh* forty-four ounces—nearly three pound*- Mr. Gardner says the stone was form ll near tlo animal’s back bone in thjj abdomen, and that it was not attacks to the flesh. He thinks it was formed by the fine dust from mill-stones being in the chop feed which was fed to the horse, as in those times the chop con tained considerable stone dust from tw fact that just after dressing the mm stones the miller ground chaff to clean the burrs. Mr. Gardner thinks tM stone dust was absorbed from the stomach by the tissues of the abdomen, and there collected into this huge ball, and that thil ball striking the heart a the animal caused itß sudden death, ** it was well at night when turned out w pasture but dead next morning. I* l ' stone has decreased in weight six oun<* In fifty years, thus showing that tn substance composing it is volatile to certain extent.— QincinnatiCommerC i* ■ Walter Scott’s Kindness. Sir Walter had then lost his old vivac ity, though not his simple dignity; for one moment during the course of tM evening he rose into animation, and happened thus: There was talk among the party of an excursion which was w be made on the following day, and, dur ing the discussion of the plans, 3r-* Scott mentioned that two elderly maiden ladies living in the neighborhood were to be of the number, and hinted tlia their company would be a bore. The chivalrous kindliness of her fath er’s heart was instantly aroused, cannot call that good breeding,” he saw. in an earnest ana dignified tone —® re j buke which echoed the old-fas hionc teaching on the duties of trne politerw** he had heard from his mother half ‘ century before. —Oooa Words.