Newspaper Page Text
MERCURY.
I. Hns*! tnuttor at the Samlors-
April 27, 1880.
, viiic Washington County, On.
SaiutoJ >'•
rrm.isnF.D nv
j. JENNICAN,
and rmiLisinsR.
A.
nioriurron
soKrir*' 0
.$1.50 por Ye a
tub merc i ry.
A. J. JERNIGAN, Pnorunrron.
VOL. II.
DEVOTED TO LITERATURE, AGRICULTURE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
81.50 TER ANNUM.
SANDERSVILLE, GA., MAY 31, 1881.
NO. 9.
THE MERCURY.
PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY.
NOTICE.
wAll communications intended for this pa
per must bo accompanied with tlio full name of
the writer, not necessarily for publication, bu t
as a guarantee of good faith.
Wo are in no way rosponsiblo for tlio views or
indoions of correspondents.
patches, Clocks
AND JEWELRY
nrr.uunn nv
JERNIGAM
rOSTOFFIOE HOURS.
7 00 to 11:00 A. M.
1:30 to 0:00 v. M.
K. A. Sru.ivAN, P. M.
Subscribe for the MERCURY
Only $1.50 per annum.
runi.isHun iiy
JERNIGAN & SCARBOROUGH
BUY YOUR
Spectacles, Spectacles,
FROM
JERRICAN.
Nona genuine without our Trade Mark.
On hand and for sale,
Thronody.
Oh, sweet are tlio scouts and snugs of spring
Ami bravo are tho summer flowers; •
And chill are the autumn winds that bring
Tlio winter’s lingering hours.
And the world goes round and round,
And tho sun sinks into tho sea;
And whether I’m on nr under the ground,
Tho world cares little for mo.
The hawk sails over the sunny hill;
Tho brook trolls on in tho sliado;
Rut tlio friends I have lost Ho cold and still
Wliovo their stricken forms wore laid.
And tho world goes round and round,
And tho sun slides into tlio sea,
And whether I’m on or under tho ground,
Tlio world cares littlo for me.
Oh, lire, why art thou so bright and boon I
Oil, breath, why art thou so sweet 1
Oil, friends, how can you forget so soon
Tlio lovod ones who lio at your foot I
Cut tlio world goes round and round,
And tlio sun drops into tho sea,
And whether I’m on or under tlio ground,
Tlio world enres littlo for mo.
Tho ways of men are busy and bright;
Tho eye of woman is kind;
It is Bwoct for tlio oyes to behold tlio light,
Cut tlio dying and dead nro blind.
And tho world goes round and round,
And tho sun falls into tho sen,
And whether I’m on or under tlio ground,
Tho world cares littlo for me.
Butif lifo awake, anil will never ecaso
On tho future’s distant shore,
Anil tho rose of love anil tlio lily of pcaco
Hliull bloom there forevermore.
Lot tho world go round and round.
And tlio sun sink into tlio Ben I
For whether I’m on or under tlio ground,
Oli, what will it matter to mo?
—J. (f. Holland, in Scribner.
JERNIGAN
—FOB
BOWS, STRINGS,
ROSIN BOXES, &t
Machine Needles.
Oil and Shuttles
ran AI.L KINDS OF MACHINES, for sale
I will nls.) order purls of Machines that
got broken, for which now
pieces are wanted.
A. .1. .1 ERNK■ A IN’
G. W. H. WHITAKER,
DENTIST,
SANDEHSVILLE, GA
Turks Cash.
CHIre at his Hcsidenco, oii Harris Streot.
April 3, 1880.
Miss Darcy’s Bonnet.
• B. D. EVANS,
Attorney at Law,
SANDEHSVILLE, GA.
April 3,1880.
DR. WM, ItAWLINGS,
Physician & Surgeon,
SANDEHSVILLE, GA.
Oniec at Saudorsvillo Hotel.
April 10, 1880.
E. A. SULLIVAN,
notary public,
SANDEHSVILLE, GA.
t Sp"c*ui attention given to the collection ol
1 lairne,
Ollieo in tho Court-house.
0. H. ROGERS.
Attorney at Law,
Saudorsvillo, Ga.
•’rompt attention given to all business.
j j 1 ^’ 1,1 northwest wing of Court-house.
c. C. BROWN, T
Attorney at Law,
Sandorsville, Ga.
c<nrb! ''on*' 00 ? n State and United Statei
ytyy ilic'e m Gourt-houso.
H. N. H0LLIFIELD,
't.Asician and Surgeon,
Sandcrsvillo, Ga.
' '" 'I door to Mrs. Bayno’s lnillincry
. Harris Street.
OR. J. B. ROBERTS,
"i'dan and Surgeon,
Sandorsville, Ga.
Haynes
from !)
during
■vlion mil !,', 'r residence on Church Stroet,
tssr 10 " yrnK!,s ° (i -
pi
itiv.t in it,'"’Vpbod at Ids office on 1
N m •,, - Masonic Lodge building,
otlni-!’• from 3 to 5 p. m.;
ivlmn 1|IH residenco on Church
M »W. Bend for Illustrated Pamphlet
Ws. J.A.J0NE8,WILMINGT0N, DEL
!iird
• Uie ...
rf -CUiz,
week ago, and I
more wheat whero It was drilled
he had mcnsuml Homo row*, and
length of row agniiiKt/orfj/*
iPolntH
'film, hunt, 1„ I
»«ii.-v.,!’ f ''I'il 1 ""- H. CLAYTON,
five im‘ s i w .n o/Middleton,Del.,aiul Famur.”
r'V'J'our P () i Ilt ; ' ’ t0 the iicro more wheat, where l drilled
•aowlug you uo fuv' 1 tho 0,(1 1 kuvc them a fair
“ JUSmjA CLAYTON, Jn„ Ml, I>laM.Ut, Dtl,
It was it raw, misty evening in early
April. Hugh Merrick buttoned his
overcoat a littlo closer as he canto out
of his otllce and started on his walk up
town. Tho koen wind and sharp sloet
smoto him in tho face; but ho pulled
his soft hat lower over his eyes and
walked on resolutely, deciding not to
take a car, though lio had forgotten his
umbrella. A long day of hard work in
his business, with perplexing cares in
addition, not of a business nature, made
tlio sharp air a relief to him, and the
thought of a study oar was ropellant.
Turning into Fifth avonuo, at length, a
furious blast of wind and sleet nearly
blinded him for a moment, and he
stumbled against a child coining from
tho opposite direction, He was hurrying
past when tlio sound of suppressed
sobs fell on his ear, and behalf stopped,
with au impatient exclamation,
“Did I hurt you?” ho asked,
scarcely giving her a glance.
“Oh I no. Not you,” said the child.
“ Well, what is it ? Cold, aro you ?
Why don’t you run home ? This is no
timo for begging.” And this timo he
looked at her, to see if ho had guessed
correctly. But tho honest ltluo eyes
that looked up at him frankly asked
nothing.
Hugh Merrick had a weaknoss for
blue eyes, and ho felt rebukod when
she answered:
“ I’m not begging, sir; but just see
this.” Slio Hold up to viow a paste
board hoy, crushed and broken and
stained with mud.
“How did it happen?” asked the
gentleman, compassionately.
“ I was crossing the street, aqjl tho
box got knocked out of my hand; and
while I was trying to pick it up a man
grabbed me right up out of the way of
an omnibus, and tho wheels went right
over this. And it’s all spoiled, I know,
and it cost fifteen dollars. And I had
the hill in my hand, and I don’t know
what’s bocomo of it.”
At the end of this talo of woe tho
tears burst forth again. She was a
small, thin child, about ten years old,
with fair hair hanging out of an old
blue hood. Fair hair and blue eyes.
Tho most beautiful combination in tho
world Ilngh Merrick was wont to think,
and tho thought mado him wonderfully
soft-hearted just now.
“ Don’t cry,” he said, compassion
ately. “Whorewere you going to take
the box ?”
“That’s just what I don’t know,”
said the child. “Tho address was on
the bill; but I didn’t want to get it
,vet, so I held it under my shawl and
hadn’t looked at it yet. ’Twas for some
lady on Fifth avenue.”
“ Highly deflnito. A bonnet, I pro-
sumo. Well, como with me. I am
almost home, and we’ll investigate
this smash-up and see what tho dam
age is.”
And then, somehow, though he had
novel’ meant it in the least, her littlo
rt'et. hand was clasped in his warmly
gloved one, and sho was trotting by his
side, looking up into his face with grate
ful confidence. A few more steps
brought them to his comfortahlo bach
elor residence. He opened tho dooi
with his latch-key, and took tho littlo
wayfarer into the],library, whero ho was
soon toasting her feet before the grate.
“And now t let mo see,” handling gingerly
the crushed bandbox. “I niusn’t add to
tlio damage ; so suppose you open it.
She laughed shyly, took it from him,
and managed to extricate the bonnet,
iriving utterance to a ciy of dismay, as
® it _ nnf. ni
my place, and maybe they’ll make mo
pay for it. Oh! what shall I do ?’’
Hugh Merrick's oyes were fixed on tho
bonnet. Blue was his favorite color in
bonnets, ns well as in eyes ; but there
was something in this dainty bit of
millinery that sent a pang through his
heart. It reminded him of somo one.
Ho could imagine just how it would
rest above those waves of gleaming gold ;
just how those strings would nostlo
around a white throat and under a soft,
rounded chin. That feather was in
tended to fall on tho massivo braid at
tho back. Ruined, was it ? To him it
was beautiful and perfect. Ho roused
himself with a start
“ I ddn’t know much nbout such
things,” he said, choorfully; “ but
thoro doesn’t appear to bo much the
matter with it.”
“ Oh I don’t you bog?” sho Baid,
starting up. “ This side is all punched
in and tho lace is torn ; tho feather is
broken, too. No lady would over think
of wearing it. And it cost fifteen dol
lars.”
Tho big tears welled up into tho blue
eyes. It is a pitiful thing to seo a look
of despair in a child’s face. Bo thought
Hugh Merrick, and again said, hastily :
“ Don’t cry. Perhaps I can fix it. If
wo only know tho lady’s name. Couldn't
you go hack to tho store aud ask ?”
“ They’d know then what I had done;
and then I’d loso my pAcc. Besides,
tho lady wouldn’t pay for it. I know
she'd ho awful mad. You see it’s an
Easter bonnot.”
“Oh! on Easter bonnet I” said Mr
Merrick, slowly. “ And it’s worth fif
teen dollars? Well, as long as it is
bought, it doesn’t matter who tho pur
chaser is, I suppose. I’ll take the
bonnet.”
“You!” and tho child’s faco was
radiant with joyful relief. Then she
added, doubtfully: “But yon can’t
wear it, sir.”
“ No, I supposo not, ovon at Easter
But my sister may bo able to fix it up
and make it quite respectable.”
Oh, hypocrite! You know you never
mean to let your Bistor know what a
fool you have made of yourself. Throw
ing away fifteen dollars to gratify
whim! To own a bonnot that might
ltavo adorned tlio bead of a woman yon
do not intend to marry! Tho child’
eager eyes seemed to confront him with
his folly. Ho hastily put tho monoy
into an envelope, soaled it, and handed
it to the littlo errand-girl. “There, tell
your mistress the truth, and don't try
to conceal anything; because, just think
of tlio agony of the unknown lady, i
her bonnet doesn’t arrive in timo for
Easter. Good-bye.”
Ho did not ask her namo, nor giv
her his in anwer to her grateful poti
tion. Ho felt as if she must bo laugh
ing at him inwardly, and ho wished to
got ri l of her and never to see her again
—tho one witness of his lunacy. Tho
littlo girl, Mollie Burke, hastened back
to tho milliner; hint her heart failed
her as sho came in sight of tho fore
woman’s sharp conntenanco, a very Miss
Kwag’s for acidity. Sho handed up tho
envelope without a word.
Where’s the bill, child ?”
Sho didn’t send any,” faltered Mol-
The forewoman uttered an impatient
exclamation. “Some peoplo aro the
earelessest!” Then, turning to the book
keeper: “Miss Green, you’ll have to
rnako out a now bill, and send it, re
ceipted, to Miss Darcy.”
Mollie heard tho name, and wished
she could have told her benefactor,
who, perhaps, might know the lady.
Meanwhile, Mr. Merrick had locked his
library door, placed the bonnot upon
his table and established himself in his
easy-chair directly in front of it. His
eyes were fixed on his purchase, but his
thoughts were a mile away. Yet it was
just about a mile from bis house to the
homo of Agnes; and it was two weeks
since ho had ascended that long flight
of steps or seen Agnes’ face at tho win
dow. Two weeks! Two years rather,
it seemed to him. Why, three months
ago ho had thought himself the happiest
man that ever walked the streets of New
York. The. most beautiful woman in
the world, the only perfect one, belong
ed to him. And now a few hasty, angry
words had parted them forever. What
had they quarreled about ? Ho could
scarcely remember.
“ It all seemed then, in the lapse of timo,
Such a vory littlo thing.”
But lie had been jealous and she had
resented it. She had said she would
never seo him again, and be must abide
by her word. With his steady gray
eyes fixed sternly on tho coquettish
bonnet, ho remained for nearly an hour
lost in reverie, until his sister called
him to supper. Then he camo out of
the library, locking tho door behind
him.
“Whathave you got locked up in
there?” demanded the gay little lady
who presided over his bachelor estab
lishment.
“ Oh! my papers are lying all about,
and I don’t want things disturbed,” re
plied Mr. Merrick.
The next day Mr. Merrick locked up
away suddenly and went out leaving tho
bonnot in full viow on the table. Ho
lmd been in bis oflicc two hours be.foro
ho remembered that tho key of tho li
brary was in tho door, and not iu his
pocket. About an hour after his de
parture his sister Ethel, entering tho
room with a gay song on her lips, stop
ped short in astonishment, and the tuno
died abruptly.
“A lady’s bonnot! Hugh Merrick!
Agnes Darcy was quite right to break
off the engagement. Where did tho
wrotch get it ?”
Approaching tho table bIio lifted the
damaged article and scrutinized it care
fully.
Well, I never! Can it be her bon
net? That is certainly her tnrquoiso
buckle that sho woro all lost winter.
Tho mystery grows! How did Hugh
get possession of this ?”
At tho very timo that Ethel Merrick
was puzzling her brain over Miss Dar
cy’s Easter bonnot, in a daintily-fur
nished boudoir, a littlo further up tho
avenue, a sweot-facod girl was knitting
her brows over another phase of the
same mystery. Robed in a morning
wrapper of palest blue, vastly becoming
to her roseate complexion and soft gold
locks, sho sat before her Davenport,
looking with the most puzzled expres
sion at a slip of paper in her hand.
Aunt Helen! Como hero a minute,
plcaHo.” Then, as* a portly lady in
walking-dross appeared in tho doorway,
She held out tho sheet to her. “ Seo
that receipt from Madam Claro for my
Easter bonnot 1”
“ I did not know that your bonnot
had come, my dear,” said Mrs. Darcy,
as sho glanced at tho receipt .
“ That is tho funniest part of it. Tho
bonnet has not como, and I have cer
tainly novor paid for it; and yot hero is
tho receipt. What can it mean ?”
“ Shall I stop at Clare's and see about
it?” asked Mrs. Darcy, linablo to solvo
tho mystery.
“If you liavo time; but don’t doit
unless it is perfectly convenient. My
old bonnet will do perfectly well for
next Sunday.” And a cloud eamo over
the lovely faco.
“ You don’t seem to earo nbout any
thing, Agnes, since you quarreled with
Hugh Merrick. I thought you had
move pride. Perhaps you will make it
all up again before Sunday, nnd tlieu
you will wish you had your bonnot.”
“Don’t speak of that, please, Aunt
Helen.” And Miss Darcy’s voice was
decided, though sweet. “I do not ex
pect to ronow my engagement with Mr.
Merrick. He has doubted mo.” And
tenas rose to tho blue eyes aud Miss
Darcy had to swallow a lump in her
throat as sho turned away.
“Miss Merrick, to seo you, Miss
Agues,” said a maid at tho door.
Agnes roceivod her visitor with some
secret trepidation, though outwardly
composed.
“I will forgivo you, you nnnghty
girl, for breaking my poor brother’s
heart, on ouo condition,” said Ethel,
vivaciously.
“ Of course, you know, Ethel,” began
Miss Darcy, with dignity.
“ Novel’ mind. Only lot mo see your
spring bonnet, and we’ll bo friends.”
“ I wish I could,” said Agnes, some
what hurt by her friend’s levity; “ but
Madam Clare has just sent mo a re
eeipt for a bonnot I have never soon nor
paid for.”
“How funny!” cried tho volatile
Ethel. “There’s witchcraft iu it
Then come homo with mo and seo mine,
Oh! you needn’t bo afraid. Hugh
never comes home in tho morning. I’m
not plotting against you.”
Somewhat against her judgment Miss
Darcy consented, and was soon walking
along tho avenue with her friend ; but
when they had entered tho house, and
Ethel led the way to the library, Agnes
drew back.
“ No, Ethel, I have no wish to enter
your brother’s rooms,”
“ But you must, my dear, or you can’t
see my bonnet.” And Ethel whirled
her faintly-resisting companion into the,
library, and exclaimed, triumphantly :
< ‘ There ! Isn’t it a beauty ? Some
what crushed, you perceive ; but easily
set to rights. Never saw me in a blue
bonnet before,” rattled on tlio merry
little brunette. But Miss Darcy stood
motionless.
“Ethel Merrick, that is my bonnet!
How cam6 it here ?”
“ You know as much as I do, my«dear.
I discovered it this morning. Has
Hugh stolen it, out of malice, to pre
vent you from shining on Easter morn
ing?”
Agnes laughed, in spite of herself;
and, taking up the bonnet, was soon
trying it on boforo the mirjor iu tho
hall:
“Is it bocoming ?” she asked, turning,
with a mirthful face, to her friend.
A sudden sound of a key turning
in the front door caused Ethel, who
had a keen relish for “ situations,” to
beat a hasty retreat; and Miss Darcy
turned, with a startled face, to meet Mr.
Merrick, who was the image of conster
nation.
“ Agnes!”
“ I came for my bonnet, Mr. Merrick,”
sho replied, enjoying his discomfiture.
“ The bonnet belongs to mo. I paid
“ But tho receipt is mado out in my
namo,” sho said, drawing it from her
pocket. “Yen cannot provo that you
paid for it. Iam at a loss to know how
you camo by it.”
‘ ‘ Never mind how I found it. Agnes, I
must imploro your forgiveness for my
unjust suspicions. I have tormented
myself ever sinco wo parted for—”
“Lot us settle about the bonnet,
first,” interrupted M#s Darcy, tho sea-
shell tints of her check taking a deepor
pink.
“Don’t trifle with mo, Agnes;” but,
seeing the willful mutine look on her
face, he changed his tone. " Yon know
that you did not pay for it. By tho right
of purchase it bolongs to me.”
* But I ordered it, nnd I want it.”
‘ So do I!” deoidedly.
‘ Ono of us must yiold,” said Agnes,
pouting. “I need tho bonnet.”
“ But you cannot wear it.”
“ Oh 1 yos. Thoro is not much harm
done. I can repair the domago easily.”
Well, I thank you for giving mo tho
privilege of paying for your bonnot,”
lio said, with an amused light in his
eyes.
Sho flashed out: “I will pay for it,
Mr. Merrick.”
You forgot that you have tho re
ceipt, providing that you have already
paid for it. I will give yon tho bonnot,
to go with tho receipt.”
1 What magnanimity! ’’ she said, with
a faint laugh and not resisting ns ho
took her two hands in his nnd looked at
her with love-lighted oyos.
* 1 What will yon givo mo in return,
Agnos?”
Sho looked at him then, hor oyos
brimming with suddon tears, and said,
softly:
• Perhaps I will give you tho receipt.”
‘ I doclaro, Agnes,” said Aunt Holon,
coming in from hor shopping expedition
late in tho aftornoon, “ I forgot all about
your bonnet; and to-morrow is Satur
day ! But you said you didn’t cave.”
1 Novor mind, Aunt Helen, the bon
not has como. And—I supposo—Mr.
Merrick will bo lioro to dinner on Sun
day. Perhaps I shall wear it, after all.”
—Independent.
she saw itjwas wofully crushed outoi ^ ch * s0 before go ing to business ;
shape. “I knewiit.was spoi c • ■ ^ following morning he was called for.it,” he retorted,
wailod. “And 111 get tuineu
■ . • . :
The Grand Duke's Tallow Candle.
Among many amusing incidents of
tho Russian imperial family related in
tho late Karl Bender’s Memoirs is tho
tho following highly characteristic
story of tho occoutrio Grand Duke Con
stantino, Czar Alexander’s eldest uncle.
While residing at Warsaw Constantine
gave a splendid banquet to n numbor of
tho great Polish nobles, to each of whom,
at the conclusion of tho feast, an ordi
nary tallow candle was served on a platt^
by tho attendant lackeys. As soon as
all his guests wore supplied with these
peculiarly objects the grand duke, who
hud given orders that an imitation enn-
dle, admirably executed iu marclipano,
should bo placed upon his pinto, rose
from his seat and exclaimed: “Gentle
men, let us cat, to the honor of Russia,
tho favorite national comcstibio of my
country. Look at mo. This is tho way
to do it.”
So saying, ho threw back his head,
opened his mouth wide, and inserted
therein two inches or so of the dainty in
question. As he closed his tooth, how
ever, the expression of his countenance
suffered an extraordinary change. Ono
of the noblemen sitting in his imme
diate vicinity had contrived to substi
tute liis own genuine tallow candle for
tho marchpane imitation set before tho
grand duke, who, not choosing to betray
himself to his guests, found himself
condemned to chew at least one copious
mouthful of good Russian tallow as an
example to all tho victims of his de
testable jest, none of whom, of course,
dared to abstain from doing as the ter
rible Constantine did. It is needless to
say that the dexterous appropriator of
tho marchpane candle while devouring
that toothsome article with a joyful
heart, baffled suspicion by tho most
hideous visual contortions expressive of
loathing and nausea.
In Self-Detense.
According to the Georgetown (Del.)
Inquirer the old salts who live down at
Henlopen are a pitiless, not to say hard,
cro wd. That paper says: Some seamen
wandering along the Rehoboth beach
last winter found a drowned man.
They took the corpse up, carried it to
Captain Tredendick’s barroom, stood
it up at tho corner of tho bar and wont
out and told Tredendick a friend wanted
to treat tko crowd. Tho crowd drank
and left. To Tredendick’s surprise he
could got neither money nor answer
from the corpse, and becoming enraged,
struck him. Ho fell to tho floor with a
thud. Becoming scared ho called on
the man’s friends, and each solemnly
declared the fellow was dead. Treden
dick, white as a sheet and with tremb
ling voice, was at first dumbfounded,
but at last lie exclaimed: “Well, I did
it in self-defense; lie drew a knife on
mo before I struck him.”
The styles in millinery this year are
very unlike last year’s; but the spiteful
remarks which each lady feels it her
duty to make about her neighbor’s bon
net will bo pretty much the same as
usual.—Yonkers Uiuelte.
The City of Mexico.
Mexico is a boautiful city, with houses
chiefly of brick and stucco, built plainly
about a central court wi th a grand car
riage entrance or porte cocliore, and
oharming to tho eyo. The city is ex
tremely compactly built, hardly a vacant
lot being seen. Rents aro about as with
us as to cost, but tenants are far more
permanent. Tho pavements are not
first-class. There are no suburbs, out-
sido the city limits being marshy and
a regular Pontine marsh in tho wet
senson. Hotels nro superb ia appoint
ments nnd comfort, and generally cheap.
Ouo of our friends had a parlor with
throo sleeping rooms adjoining, for two
dollars por day ; and Mr. D., wife, and
daughter ten years of ago, were boarded
nt tlio tablo d'hote, superbly supplied,
nt ono dollar and a half tho three. A
snddle-horso of fine Arabian stock will
cost n gentleman ono dollar for an after
noon.
Tho ladies walk or lido in tho stroets
as freely as here, nnd ovorybody goes to
tho Alomodn daily to ride if they are
ablo to, or sit on tho honchos as at the
Bois do Boulogne, in Paris, and see tho
others if they cannot ride themselves.
It is otiqnetto for gentlemen to admire
nnd exclaim openly, “ What a beautiful
woman I ” or, “Oil, yon lovely croaturo 1'
to any pretty woman ho soes pass, and
tho womon movo on apparently uncon
scious, but store up these “flowers,” ns
tlioy call them, to recount in the even
ing to their friends, and really deem
them vory preoious acquisitions. The
Mexican ladies of tho better class did
not impress our party immediately by
their benuty, but tlio Indians, men and
women, nro generally a handsome race,
inflnitoly ,moro so than our Northorn
aborigines.
Tho favorite roHort of gentlemen is
tho cafe, or what wo should call
saloons; these aro fitted up beautifully,
and men sit hero all the evening and
smoko and chat and drink nguardionto
or gin or pulque. Tho latter is a Hort of
drink having about tho amount of in
toxicating qualities, according to Mr.
Dickson, of tlio ephemeral wine of the
modern Greek, or as Gonornl Burbank
expressed it, of our common beor. It
is mado from tlio well-known agave
plant, or maguey, tbnt is grown exten
sively in tlio wild plateau on which
Mexico is situated, for this purpose.
Tho plant, at a suitable size, say about
ten years of age, lias tlio crown cut,
forming a basin ordisli, into which the
juices of tho plants, roots and remain
ing loaves exude. This is dipped out
and fermented, and looks nnd tastes n
little liko buttermilk, but baa somo in
toxicating or nt least exhilarating qual
ities that make it tho passion of tho
Indian population of that country. Our
soldiers under General Scott took to it
kindly when our army was thoro thirty
odd years ago.
Mexican coffee, that is beginning to
bo largely cultivated, is equal to Java,
and Mexican tobacco and cigars aro
largely bold both hero and in Havana
as the best of Cuban leaf.
Business in the city of Moxico is
largely controlled by English and Ger
man capitalists, and having enormous
means it is likoly to be hard to dispos
sess them, even with Yankee grit.
Taxes are assessed on tho income of
property, so that vacant houses or lands
aro not burdened by imposts. Titles to
property are generally straight, and re
cords so clearly kept as to mako it safe
to make investments.— Cincinnati Times.
First Gold In California.
General Sherman has given this
account of the first discovery of gold in
California: I remember one day that
two men, Americans, came into the
office and inquired for the governor. I
asked their business, and one answered
that they had just come down from
Captain Sutter on special business, and
they wanted to see Governor Mason in
person. 1 took them in to the colonel
and left them together. After some
time the colonel came to his door and
called me. I went in and my attention
was directed to a series of papers un
folded on tho table, in which lay about
half an ounce of placer gold. Mason
said to me: “ What is that?” I touched
it and examined one or two of the
larger pieces, and asked: “Is it gold?”
Mason asked me if I had ever seen na
tive gold. I answered that in 1844 I ’
was in Upper Georgia, and there saw
some native gold, but it was it uch flnor
than this, and that it was in phials or
in transparent quills; but I said t if
this were gold it could easily be tested
—first by its malleability and next by
acids. 1 took a piece in my toetli aud
the metallic luster was perfect. I then
called to tho clerk (Baden) to bring an
ax and hatchet from the backyard.
When they were brought I took the
largest piece and boat it out Hat, and
beyond doubt it was metal and a pure
metal. Still, wo attached littio im
portance to the fact, for gold was known
to exist at San Fernando, at tlio south,
and yet was not considered of much
value.
Steel knives may be saved from rust
ing by being nibbed with mutton tallow,
wrapped in paper, and put into a haizo-
I lined chest.
The Groaning Tree.
The story of tho groaning tree is this:
About forty years ago n cottager who
lived near the center of the village of
Badesley, near Lymington, heard fre
quently a strange noise behind his
house like that of a person in extreme
agony. Soon after it caught the atten
tion of his wife, who was then confined *
to her bed. She was a timorous woman,
and, boing greatly alarmed, her hns-
band endeavored to persnade her that
tho noise she heard was only the bel
lowing of the stags in the forest. By
degrees, however, the neighbors on all
Rides hcaid it, and tho thing began to
be much talked of. It was by this time
plainly discovered that tlio groaning
noise proceeded from an elm which
grow at tho end of the garden. It was
a young, vigorous tree, and%> all ap
pearance perfectly sound. In a few
weeks fame of the groaning tree was
spread far and wide, nnd people from
all parts flocked to hear it. Among
others it attracted tho curiosity of tho
late Prince and Princess of Wales, who
resided at that time, for the advantago
of tlie sea bath, at Filowell, the seat of
Sir James Worsley, which stood within
a quarter of a mile of tho groaning troo.
Though the country people assigned
many superstitions causes for this
strango plionomonom tlio naturalist
could assign no physical one that was
in any degree satisfactory. Somo
thought it was owing to the twisting
and friction of tho roots; others thought
it procoedod from water which had col
lected in tho body of the tree, or per
haps from pent air. But no cause that
was alleged appeared equal to the
offoct. In' tlio moantimo tho tree did
not always groan, sometimes disap
pointing its visitants; yot no cause
could bo assigned for its temporary
cessations, either from seasons or
weather. If any difforonco was ob
served it was thought to groan least
when tlio weather was wot, and most
when it was clear aud frosty; but the
sound at all tirnos soomod to arise from
tho roots. Thus the groaning treo
continued nu object of astonishment
during tlie space of eighteen or twenty
months to all the country afounJ, and,
(or tho information of distant parts, a
pamphlet was drawn up containing a
particular account of all tho circum
stances relating to it. At length the
owner of it, a gentleman of tho name of
Forbes, making too rash an experiment
to discover its cailso, bored a hole in
its trunk. Aftor this it nover groaned.
It was tlion rooted np with u further
viow to mako a discovery, but still
nothing appeared which led to any in
vestigation of tho cause. It was uni
versally, howevor, believed that thoro
was no trick in tho affair, but that somo
natural causo really existed, though
nover understood.—“Forest Scenery.”
Brought Him in Alive.
A party of soldiers “ out West,” not
having much to do, resolved to go bear
hunting. They had beon out about six
teen hours and had not soon a bear,
aud, boing tirod and hungry, returned
to camp. On their arrival at headquar
ters they missed one of their compan
ions, but thought nothing of it, one of
them remarking:
“ He will return all right.”
Tlioy made their camp-fire, and com-,
tnenced preparing for supper. They
had tho coffee over tho tiro ; ono of
them was slicing somo potatoos, and the
remainder sat around the fire waiting,
when they were all startled by a terrible
noiso that seemed to come nearer to
camp. Suddenly tho thickets parted,
and in rushed the missing man, his hair
standing on end, his face deadly white,
his gun gone, and his arms flying in the
air, as if grasping for imaginary objects,
and about two feet behind him came a
great black bear. The bear was
immediately shot by his comrades.
Tho pursued soldier turned when ho
saw tho bear drop, and, looking at one
of them, said, breathlessly:
“ Is lie dead ?”
One of the men asked:
“ Why didn’t j t ou shoot him instead ol
running?”
“ What do you take me for?” replied
the missing one. “ Do you think I was
such a fool as to shoot him, when I
could bring him in alive ?”
A Snake In a Stork’s Stomach.
The Cleveland (Ohio) Leader chroni
cles an interesting case at Mount Ver
non. Lester Williams shot and killed a
stork which was throo aud a half feet
high when erect. The bird being
strauge, it was taken to the office of Dr.
Robinson and examined by ornitholog
ical experts. While being handled,
the head of a snake protruded from the
bird’s mouth. Naturally the spectators
dropped tlie bird’s head and awaited
developments. Tho snake crawled out
from his strango prison in the storks
stomach, and proved to be of as rare a
species among reptiles as the stork is in
North American fauna. The reptile
measured four feet in length and thred
inches in circumference.
Tho amount of hay allowed daily per
head for cattle crossing the Atlantic in
fifteen pounds, or 210 pounds for the
voyage of fourteen days.
i gfeff!
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