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the mercury.
PUBLISHED EVERT TUESDAY
NOTICE.
tr\\\ communication* Intended for thli
pnpor must be acoompanled with the full
n«me of tlie writer, not necossarlly for publl.
c»tlon, but as a *uaranteo of good faith.
We are In no way responsible for the views
or opinions of correspondent*.
c. C< BROWN) *-
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
Band ertrllie, O*. f!
win practice In the State and United BUtee
Courts. Offloe in Oourt-houa*.
Watches, Clocks
And JEWELRY
repaired bt
JEHXTZCArr.
H. N. HOLLIFIELD.
Physician and Surgeon,
Bandenrllle, Os,
n.Tice next door to Mm Bayne’s aallllnery
■tore on Harris street.
O. W . H- WHITAKER.
DENTIST,
Jjundersvllle, Ga.
minis cash.
nfflca at'tie Rosldenre.on Harris street.
A Ki ll 3d. 1880.
B. D. EVANS,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Sanderavllle, Ga.
April 1,1880. _
Or. H. B. Hollifield,
Fimcus m mmi
Having recently graduated at the Unlvbr
■Ity of Maiylamf nml returned home, now
oners Ills proloKsloniil services to the citizen
<>( Hanilersvllle and vicinity. Oftlco with
I)r. II. N Holllfleld, next door to|Mrs. liayneV
milllucry atora.
BUY YOUlt
SPECTACLES, SPECTACLES,
FROM
JERNICAL,
None genuine without our Trade lfark
On hand and for sale,
SPECTACLE, NOSE GLASSES, ETfl.
/. K. H IKKS.
O. H. Ilona Be
HINES & ROGERS,
Attorneys at Law,
SANDERSVILLE, GA.,
Will practice In the counties of Washington,
Jefferson, Johnson, Kmnnuel and Wilkinson,
ami In the U. H. Court* for the Houthern Dis
trict of Georgia.
Will act hh agents In buying, telling ot
renting Real Estate.
Office on West aide of Public Bquare.
Oct n-tr ^
MUSIC, MUSIC
JEitNIGAN
Bows, Strings,
Rosin Boxes, Etc-
Machine Needles,
Oil and Shuttles,
foil ALL KINDS OP MACHINES, for sal*.
I will also order parts of Machines
that get broken, for which new
pieces are wanted.
A. J. JEHNIGAN,
The Same Kean.
Tn the biographies of Kean, the actor,
one is given of the stylo of tho great actoi
in the character of a robuker. On om
occasion when fulfilling a stirring en
gagement at Portsmouth, lie accepted
an invitation to luncheon at one of the
chief hotels at the place.
The landlord waited on the party in
Ilerson. Kean no sooner oanght sight of
him than his manner altered.
“Stay, is your name —-?”
Tho landlord answered in the affirms-
five.
“Then, sir, I will not eat or drink in
.V°nr house. Eight years ago I went
into your coffee room, and modestly re-
quested a glass of ale. I was then a
alrolling player, ill-clad and poor in
pocket. You surveyed me from top to
loo i and having done so, I heard you
give some directions to your waiter, who
1' oked at mo suspioiousiy, and then pre
sented to me the glass with one hand,
bolding out his other lor tho money. 1
paid and he gave mo the glass. I am
bettor dressed now, I can drink Madeira,
l nm waited on by the landlord in per-
snn; but am I not the same Edmntid
Kenn that I was then, and had hot Ed
mund Kean the same feelings then as he
has now?”
The landlord stammered an apology.
“Apology 1” exclaimed the tragedian,
scornfully. “ Away with you, sir. I
"ill have none of your wine.”
With these wojr|s he hurriedly left the.
house.
THE
MERCURY.
A. J. JERNIGAN, Proprietor.
VOLUME IV
DEVOTED TO LITEEATURE, AGRICULTURE AND OENEIUL INTELLIGENCE.
SANDERSVILLE, GA., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1883.
$1. 50 per Annum.
NUMBER 24
UNI) OF THE LECTVilli SEASON.
Now for all summer
iu c well tho troubled mind! Farewell com
mittee tnau!
Farewell the crowded lmll and the big audl-
dice
That make tho lycetim glorious. Oh farowoll.
Farewell tho express train, and tlio way freight
t hat brings tho man in four hours late,
To find his audience in bed,
And tho bus gone, the hotel
Locked up, the station dark as pilch,
And two big tramp* hanging around
Offering to cany his valise up for him.
Anil oh, yon boys In tho gallery, whoso nide
throats
Tho nocturnal cat's dread clamors counterfeit
Farowoll! Tho Jester's occupation's gone 1
So c»U tho field to roat, and let’s away
To part tho plutfdor of this happy day.
Forover and forevor, farowoll. Cash I has,
tf wo do meet again, why, wo shall smlloj
If not, why then this parting was well made.
Ton all do know this swallow tail. I remem
ber
H o first tlmo o’er tho Joster put It on.
['was on an autumn ovening in his room,
tlio night ho lectured do a n In Wilkcsbarre.
Look, in this place ho sat down on a tack;
Hco where ho spilt a plate of oyster soup;
Here’s where a littl t child climbed In his lap,
Wid usit p'iickcil its sticky claws away
dark how tlio marks of candy followed them
vlnd souls, what, laugh you when you but be
hold
ho .Tester's ancient clawhammer, look you
hero,
lore is hlmse’f, with a view for lurid joke
0 out the dude which he will not got
V clmnee to shoot off.
icing so far away from tho paper,
Tutil the dado is dead.
Wul now, wliat rests hut that wo spend the
time,
Vltli stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows,
Wloli as befit tho pleasure of the court?
b und drums and trumpets! Farewell, boiu
annoy I
'or hero, I hope, begins our lasting Joy.
"A great wlillo ago tho world begun.
Willi heigh ho, tlio wind and tho rain;
But that’s «11 one, our play Is done,
And wo'llstrivo to plcaBc you every day.”
hir revels now arc endod. Thoro our actors,
File fat passenger, tho cross passenger,
flic tall thin passenger, tho woman who talus
bass,
wul the man on tho wood box.
is I foretold wero all spirits, aud
w o melted Into air, luto thin air;
Wul like the baseless fabric of this lecture
I'lie cloinl-eappod towers, the gorgeous Pul-
man cars,
lie solemn head waiter, the great lunch coun
ter itself,
> a, all its indestructible fodder shall dissolvo
ml, like this substantial lecture ended,
rare not a liatrack behind. Wo are such
stuff
,s drcHins are made of, and our littlo hfo
s rounded with tlio nightmare. It. J. B.
Lady Help.
BY ANNIE THOMAS,
Her father, Commander Dundonald
’oppjngcr, had the gunboat Iris when
i is wife presented him with a little black
■rowtsil, diirk-oyed daughter. So, against
ho dictates of her own taste, which
vould have led her to givo some more
■ ppropriate name to the olive-skinned,
lark-eyed stranger, Mrs. Poppingcr
cceded to her husband's request, and
uul the linby baptized ‘ Iris,’ and ns Iris
iho grow up. At this time her father
lied, and her mother was loft to glory
-n his memory and—a pension of seventy
munds a year. Things that wero ap-
mlling to the girl wero said to and of
icr then by rich relatives, who nssamed
ho right to criticise and direct her life,
nit who novel' gave her a shilling to help
'o make that life a respectable one. Iris
vent as unpaid drudge to her mother’s
••ich cousin's wife. Every one who knew
ittle about lier, and heard her speak of
lerself, said this lady was a most cstim-
ible woman, quite n model British mn.
con.
“This is an experiment merely, re
member, about Iris I’oppinger,” she ex
plained to her circle when it was' settled
'liat Iris should come to stay at the
Witheringtons’ liouso in Connaught
Place, as lady help to the wealthy City
merchant’s wifo. “This is an experi
ment merely. I don’t feel myself bound
to keep Miss Poppinger if she proves
useless to me ; if she has a well-regulated
mind, she will be so thankful for the
blessing of a rnneli more comfoitable
koine than she has ever known, that she
will strive to bo liumblo and useful.”
“Oomo, come, now,” her husbnnii
said, half jocularly, but with feeling
nevertheless ; “Iris"isn’t coming here to
be a drudge, you know, my dear ; you
must remember tho girl lias been well
brought up, and you- well; you must be
considerate and make allowances for
her. ”
Mrs. Witlierington had the imputation
of being a Tartar in her household.
Therefore her husband thought it well
to pour a littlo oil upon the troubled
watere, on which poor Iris would shortly
fail.
“I shall do my duty by your cousin's
daughter, Mr. Witheringtcn; have no
fear of that,” she said, with an air ol
overtaxed patience. “I do not bring anj
one from ray side of the house into our
Eden; 1 do not wish the introduction ol
a serpent into our Paradiso.
“Wlw blessmy soul! Ins is but a girl,
with no" more of tho serpent about her
than—than you have, my dear, Mr.
Witherington said warmly. And Mis.
Witlierington smiled co.lly, and said,
“We shall see.” ,. . .
Iris was received very kindly , in 1h ‘>
new home. That is, the Witberingtom
were going out to dinner when she
ariived. cold and hungry, at seven
o clock in the evening, at her new home;
Irut Mrs. Witherington s own maid (who
looked upon Iris as a rival) gave her
some tea and toast. Her bedroom was
iZe healthy, and airily furnished.
SS I could get by a fire” the poor
«rl said pleadingly to Bond, the mnid.
‘‘Well I don’t know what their wishes
i A vmir coin*? down stall's yet,
axe about your b ulAi o ~ ,, . ALu
the maid said, circumspectly, but Mrs.
Witheringtonwouldn’^hearof^ bie^
C'offyoS thing* you plight cowc
into Mrs. Witheringtou’s dressing-room
and have your tea by the fire, and a chat
with me.”
“I think—1 Mn tttt> tired,” tris said,
■ihoking back all semblance of feeling
hurl as well ns she coffin. BtU the tiiak
was a iittle hard lot- lief. Was she to be
tho waiting Woman's companion ?
"I'll lie that, I’ll he any thing; I'll put
my neck ttndet the yoke Iti any ektent
to help mother, to make things easier
for mother 1” tho poor child skid to her
self that night after her prayers liad been
said, and she had Crept dispiritedly into
bed, Alul the next morning it seemed
fis though she were to be immediately re
warded for her brave resolve, for Mrs.
Witlierington came to her quite early
and kindly and said:
" Iris, I hope you have slept Well, and
I hope you have remembered all you
owe to Mr. Witherington ? We do not
ask for any earthly reward for the good
wo do, but still I would not have you un
grateful or careless about tho benefit*
you receive. You are to stay in bod and
nave your breakfast comfortably thi*
morning. I never expected too much of
anyone, aud your journey may linve
fatigued you. When you are dressed
oomo to me In my dressing'room, and I’ll
appoint you some of your duties,"
“I’d rather get upnow," Iris cried :
“I’m not fatigued. I hate breakfast in
bed. I’m ready for my duties."
Mrs. Witherington lifted ap a con
scientiously kept plump hand, and
shook it warmly,
"Yon must subdue that unruly tem
per aud tongue, Iris; you must learn to
be grateful and humble In Your de
meanor toward those who befriend you '
at tho oust of much trouble and anxiety
to themselves; I am afraid you have uot
been taught to keep yourself in subjec
tion, You will hnve your breakfast in
your own room this morning, and after
it, in two hours’ time, you will come to
me."
She sailed out of the room as she said
this, leaving boliind her a general im
pression of fatness nml iloriducss, and of
feline enutioueness. Had she Waited n
minute longer, Iris Would have asked to
bo allowed to go out and take a little
walk in the fresh air in the park. The
thought of breakfast was repugnant to
her. But Mrs. Witherington did not
grant her this minute for action.
Tho fact was, Mrs. Witherington had
planned her arrangements rather too
closely. Bond, her maid, was an expen
sive luxury; therefore, when Mrs. With-
crington agroed to take Iris into her
house ns lady-help she determined at the
samo timo to get rid of Bond, and make
Iris assume Bond’s duties. But she did
not wish Iris to be alarmed by Bond’s
report either of theso duties or of the
one who exacted them. Therefore, she
hod settled that Bond should leave the
house in the afternoon of tho day on
which Iris was to arrive in the evoniug.
But Bond hod fathomed Mrs. Wither-
ington’s motive, and had malignantly
defeated it.
Howevor, Iris hod given the maid no
opportunity of talking of her wrongs and
her mistress’s meannesses on the previ
ous night; and, having ascertained this,
Mrs. Witherington was resolved that
she could not havo tho chance of doing
so this morning. Accordingly she kept
Iris a prisoner in her room until Bond
could bo gently expelled from the
house. This done, Mrs. Witherington
felt that she had it in her to induce Iris
into Bond’s place so cleverly and cau
tiously that tho girl would not realize
thnt she was only a lady’s mnid. Bond,
who was taking away a very much better
character than she deserved by reason of
her mistress’s ardent desire to get rid of
her peaceably, was very perverse about
being sped on horway. She lingered
longer than usual over tho thankless
task of adorning her mistress’s ill-favored
heod with morning lace. Her “hands
tremblod so,” she asserted, pulling Mrs.
Witherington’s looks sharply ns she
spoke, “that she really couldn’t get on;
tho thought of how that inexperienced
young person would fail to set off Mrs.
Witherington to the best advantage, up-
net her horfuL"
To this Mrs. Witherington suavely
replied that sLe “thanked Heaven she
liad not personal vanity, and that if it
wero not pleasing Mr. Witherington,
and helping to keep up their exalted po
sition, she should by preference wear tin
unassuming print instead of tho sump
tuous satin or rich piled velvet.”
“If I could see the young person for
half an hour I could put her in the
way?" Bond suggested, but atlongth
Bond was evicted, and Mrs. Withering-
ton prepared to install Iris in the vacant
place.
Humility and gratitude—these were
the virtues that Mrs. Witherington
prized most highly in those around her;
and she made them her theme during hei
first hour’s intercourse with Iris. At the
cud of her harangue she suddenly as
sumed a pleasantly bustling air, which
was at least a relief to Iris after the por
tentous demeanor of the last hour.
"I like my house to be like a hive-
full of busy bees,” sbo commenced
briskly. “Now, Iris — by-tho-way,
haven't you another name ? Iris is too
absurd.”
“It is my only name; therefore, absurd
as you may think it, you will have to call
me by it, Iris said quietly.”
“I think I shall call you Poppinger.”
“I think you will not,” the girl said
go decidedly that Mrs. Witherington
thought she would surrender that point.
“Well now, Iris, you begin to be one
of my busy bees at once. I have been
very careful in having the duties of a
lady-help laid down for my guidance.
You will assist me at my toilette, keep
my wardrobe in perfect order, and wash
ali my laces and fine things. When you
consider what a home you will havo
here, when you remember what bound
less gratitute you owe to Mr. Withering
ton for maintaining you, your heart will
throb gludly, and you will own that little
enough is expected of yon in return.”
‘‘What wages am I to have?’* Iris
asked, looking Mrs. Witherington in the
face.
“Wages!”
“Yes, wages! Servants always hove
them, and I shall be a servant while I
live here.” .
“No, Iris, no,” Mrs. Witherington in
terrupted plausibly, "you will have noth
ing of the kind; yon will be a ‘lady-
help’—mark the word lady-help. You
will not be required to associate with the
other domestics—I mean with the ser
vants,”
“SaY the ‘other servants,’" Iris put in
“ntf, t fill hoi; you are iny iady-help,
aud yoh’re .going to bo a nice, good,
little, indllstiipus girl; anti .relieve your
ppordeftf tnOtliet Hf a dreadful burden,"
Mrs. Witherington said quite cucourag-
^•fty DoOr deaT toother foffid brent
her hean if she knew fill this.” Iris sni
meditatively) “but she fen’t hfiotv, Mr
Witherington. Where are yoUr laces ?”
the girl continued, jumping tip from her
low chair a* she spoke. “I Shall tear
theto to tftttefBJ still 1 had better bogiu
Washing them nt once-.”
Tho girl Mad a high Spirit and a loving
heart. The fonhet would hnVo, driven
her Into tobellloh Against Mrs. Wither
ington. Tho latter made her bear hard
things for her mother’s sake; Blio fell
into tho Way of doing all that Mrs.
Witherington required of her, and that
lady nourished tho fond delusion that
she had secured a treaslfto for life nt a
olioap rate. But all tho while Iris Wns
hiding her tltoo patiently, In order that
her first strugglo might be an effectual
and last one.
Soon Bond Could not have competed
with her In the deft handling of Mrs.
Withcrington's hair, laces or renovated
costumes. Adroit, light-handed, gifted
with tnsto to a rare degree, - silo "mndo
tho best" of her task-mistress's personal
appearance In a way that caused a spnrk
of gratitndo to ignite at last in that self-
adoring lady’s heart. Whou sho had
dono this, Iris mode her first move.
"Mrs Witherington,” sho began ono
night, when her mistress was Bitting
exultant before tho glass, studying tho
good effect of recently pleated “old
point" and diamonds on her head, “am I
a good ludy’s-maid now ?”
“There can’t bo bettor.” Mrs. Wither
ington said enthusiastically.
“I am glad, for you will givo mo a
oharootor that will get mo what I want.”
"What?”
“A character. I am going to gel into
some place where I can make mouoy
to pay for something I must have."
"And what is that ?”
“Lessons for tho stage,”
Then Mrs. Witherington scolded,
stormed, expostulated, pleaded. But
Iris had learned her own valuo during
this timo of iron servitude, and she stood
out now cither for good wages or a good
character.
“Mr. Witherington will sink uuder
the disgruoo of a relation of his going on
the stage," his wife urged; but Iris only
laughed.
“I shall not proclaim the relationship.
I shall be too much ashamed to acknowl
edge how a ’relation’ has tried to dis
grace and keep me down, if I ever do
get among ladies and gentlemen on the
stage.”
“What lias put the idea into your
hearl ?"
“Seeing that Miss Tremayno is ad
vertising for a maid, and offering forty
pounds a year wages. Miss Tremayne
wouldn't be the grand actress she is il
she hadn’t the heart to feel for such n
poor football of fortune as I have been.”
“Your wicked ambition will bring you
to ruin,” Mrs. Witherington said spite
fully, tears of vexation ooming into hei
eyes at the prospect of losing her “cheap
treasure.” "I wash my hands of you,
but the world shall know that you pre
ferred a life of wicked excitement and
temptation to a safe and happy home
with your own relatives.”
“Your world and mine will never be
the same—luckily for me,” Iris said
coolly, and Mrs. Witherington could have
slapped her for being so indepcmlcnt
though penniless.
Iris went to tho beautiful, popular,
clever Miss Tremayne as maid, and re
mained with her in thnt capacity cue
hour. At the end of that hour tho
warm-hearted woman who wns at tho top
of tho tree had learned tho story of
the poor little nspirnnt nt tho foot of it.
“Yon shall stay with me ns my friend
and pupil, Iris,” she said, with all that
gracious grace that had made her such
a sovereign lady on tho stage, “and ns it
will be impossible for you really to study
while your mind is half absent with your
mother and her troubles, those troubles
must be relieved nt once. I nm nlone in
the world, they shall be my mother and
brothers. ”
For fifteen months Mr. and^ Mrs.
Witherington told all their friends “in
confidence” that they washed their
hands of Iris, whose conduct and career
had crushed out all sympathy and inter
est for her out of their expansivo hearts.
At the end of that timo Iris made a suc
cessful debut. Then for another year
sho studied harder than ever, always
helped by Miss Tremayne. Then sh<
“ground" for six months in small pnrts
in the provinces. Then Miss Tremayne
brought her out nt her (Miss Tremayne V
own theatre without any preliminnr-
puff, and Iris touched the people’s lieu)
and taste at once.
The second night of her performanc
the Witheringtons were there, lettinf
every one near them know that tin
young actress was their cousin. Tit.
next, Mrs. Poppinger received an offei
from her cousin at a moderate income
for life, aud nt the time he reminded
her thnt hnd it uot been for his excellent
wife’s admirable training of Iris, Irir
would never havo been able to approach
Miss Tremayne with a proffer of ser-
rices. “In fact,” he said, “I hope our
dear girl will never forget that this most
gratifying result is entirely due to the
circumstance of her having given Iris
n home and taught- her to be useful.
This is a most pleasing reflection to us,
and I trust you will always keep this
truth before our dear girl."
So, Iris soared higtier and higher, the
Witheringtons eulogized themselves
more »nd more to their own circle, as
the benefactors and guardian angels of
|heir “little pet cousin Iris.”
ROBBING A FARMER.
IRAVELS OF A DIAMOND.
ANBWFftAftinB in thk vonfidbnub
MAN’S (IAMB. I
now “Fir Rlllf” * OhlSMo ’fillet) Palm*
lllinwlroir m the Farmer’* Non nml with
Ah AetiMpIlM Secure* * Pot *f Money.
A letter from Glen City, fenm, *ars:
“Elinet Snydet is a wealthy farmer who
liked d short distance otitsioo of this vil-
DBTAII.N OF THK ORIGIN OP TUB
JKWKI, IN TUB IMPERIAL SUKI'TMU
OF RUSSIA.
How General Mellksr’* Anreetar iDil the
Jewel that Made Him and 111* t)e**^«td-
■mo Immensely Hleb.
(From tbs London Troth,]
I -r v”, '., JL I Tho following details of the origin of
vi 18 & * • S the famous jewel which adorns the im-
wtth his servants m a fine mansion dose HOetyt ^ of Russia wore furnished
to the highway. Ho is a prominent fig- mQ ^ ur j n g a residence In St. Petersbnrg
urdin political rtfid "^'^rcl^.andiH , descendant of the Armenian mor-
a Deacon in tho local Method st church. ^ who brongllt the stone to Husain.
About five years ago his wife died. I ho Th0 diamond in its rough state, formed
oauso of her death was attributed to tho * 1 - - ° * - - -
absence of lier only child, a boy, who
rati fttkajr fl'oMl fabine about 15 years ngo
* rSS*A£? Hero he wandered from town
his folk?. The former Is oho of tho lorg )() |j~q n g to dispose of it for a mod
est land tohieto hi iho district and it ( rftto gtJI ^ b * t only * moeting w tth dis-
was always believed-that he kept a large t ^ nn d suspicion.' At length when
sum of money in tho house. About two (bo 0oWf , ^ t { ]0 theft had spread over
weeks ago he presented a flashily dressed Indlo ftfld ^heM Persia, fearing arrest,
hmidflome young man to his friends and , ie flCOcpte(1 , bo offer of a Hebrew mor-
ucIgHbWe his tong-tost son. Simffi- ob[Ult W j d surrendered tlio diamond for
taneousy with the ttfrikal the.young , #)OQOOi Meantime tho Shall was in-
man ugly rumore began to spread about ^ or ^ 0( i not only of tbo robbery, but also
his pastJdfo in Chicago and other cities thief was residing in his
territory, and had offered tlie stope re-
“Ibavb been married for several weeks,
and my husband and I cannot deoide
whether we should retain our old love-
letters or burn them. What would you
advise ? Mrs. G.”— Put them in e paste
board box in the servant girl’s room. A
supply of old love-letters has been known
to keep a girl contented in one place for
tb?ee months at a tipje,—Exchange,
of the West. It was generally known
thatyotifig Snyder hnd led a fnst life,
nnd for a time the Oottutfy people fonglit
shy of him; bttt tho engngitig toltnliors
nnd plnusiblo talk of tho young tonn
mnde him many friends, and the old
farmer soon beenme pFotiu of his hand
some boy. In a few days another rttmor
started to the effect tlint ho was not Buy
der's soil, but another person who was
trying to impose Upon tho farmer. This
story soon gained credence from tho fuel
thnt whon questioned about his cnrl,v
farm life the young man was always at
fault. Whether these rumors reached
tlie ears of tho old farmer or not is un
known. Tho young man grow in th
old man's favor aud accompanied hin
everywhere. Wednesday a hnndsom>
ind elegantly dressed woman unncconi
pnuied arovo up fo tho villago inn nm
secured accommodations for n few days
mying she was from Philadelphia, nm
lesired a quiet room. Whilo walking oi
ho street sho met the lately fetltrno
farmer’s son. They suddenly beennn
intimate, and until Thurs a/ nigl t h
ivns constantly in her society. He n r>
dneed her to a few ladies as Mrs. I)u kei
son, of Philadelphia, and said sho wn
tho wife of a friend of his. On Friday
morning tho servants in tho Bnydei
household were surprised at tho non-ap
(Mtarnnoe of Mr. Snyder at breakfast
and, as ho was an habitual early riser tin
fact caused much comment. After wait
ing until 10 o'clock they decided to cal
him. Going to his room they found th
<loor locked, another unusual fact. They
rapped loudly, and receiving no onswoi
determined to break open tho door.
First they tried to End young Snyder.
Imt could find no traco of him. Burst
ing open the door, tlioy found tho oh
map lying full length upon tho floo'
liound and gagged. Tho ropes that
bound him wero wrapped around In
arms and legs with a donlilo twist, wliih
the gag was tightly wedged into hi'
mouth. Cutting tho oords and lifting
him to his foot, they administered re
ttoratives. When ho had sufficiently re
covered the old man said: “That youu;
man was uot my son. I havo beei
cruelly deceived aud robbed,” pointing to
a safe which stood in the corner of the
room. The safe lmd been opened nm>
Iho contents were scattered about tin
floor. The farmer went on to toll lion
ho had sat up with his supposed son un
til 11 o’clock and had then gone to bed.
He was roughly awakened by having a
gag forced into his mouih and before Id
could help himself he was bound nml
gagged. In the partial, darkness ho saw
two figures. After they lmd securely
fastened him ono of them went to tin
bureau and coolly lighted tho lamp. A)
soon as tho light was turned ap tho farm
er recognized the face of the young
man he thought his sou and the stylish
woman who had stopped at the tavern.
They tookthe safe-key from his pocket
robbed the safe, putting the money in a
valise which the woman carried. Aftei
they had taken everything tho ypun;
man said: "Good byo, papa, I will pay
your respects to your son whou I g<'i
iiack to Chicago. He wants to lieai
from you." The pair then loft the room,
locking the door behind them. Tho old
man is completely broken down by tin
occurrence. Tho police authorities wen
uotified, and a search was made
for the missing couple. Not tin
slightest trace could be found o
them. This morning a deiectiv,
from Chicago arrived in tho vil
'age looking lor two individuals whos
description tallies exactly with that <>
the farmer's bogus son aud the flashil
dressed woman who put up at tho taver
Upon visiting Mr. Bnyder the detectiv
saw that the yonng man was not his sou,
but an old Chicago thief and confidence
man, and known by his associates in
crime as "Fly Bill,” and wbowentunder
the alias of John Peters, Harry Rut
ledge, etc. The woman, he said, was a
noted courtesan from Chicago, who is
wanted thoro for a number of crimes.
The loss to the farmer is nearly $8,500.
The property consisted of $4,900 in
greenbacks and the balance was in Gov
ernment bonds. The numbers of the
bonds have been furnished to the author
ities, and a large reward will be offered
for the arrest of the thieves.
tua-t oroirn.
peatcdly for sale
At ouoo his Highness gave orders to
arrest the man, dead or alive, and to
soiae the diamond. The Jewish mer
chant naturally became alarmed for the
safety of his new ocqn'sitton. as well as
thnt of his head, and gladly sold the
Btono to an astute Armenian morehant
named Shafrns for 1(50,000. The mag
nificence of Catherine tho Great and her
court was a by-word in Armenia and Per
sia, and Blmfras knew right well that il
ho oonld roach Bt. Petersburg with his
diamond he would bo aide to dispose pt
it ot a handsome profit. The greatest
difficulty was to secreto tho stone se
thoroughly about his person that in cost
of his arrest it should not bo discovered,
[t was too largo for him to swallow,
so he solved the problem by making n
deep incision in tho calf of his left loe,
inserting the stone, and sewing up the
wonnd with silver thread.
When the out had cicatrized sufficient
ly to allow the removal of tho wire,
8'iafras began bia travels toward Russia.
Had ho known on arriving at toe frontier
thnt tho diamond had been traced lo the
Jowisb merchant, and from him to an
Armen lap. he would probably havo tried
to conconl his nationality. But he boldly
proclaimed himself an Armenian mcr
chnnt to tho Shah’s inquisitive officials
wits arrested, and consigned to prisou on
suspicion. Strong emetics were admin
istered, bnt no diamond came to light.
He was stripped naked, plunged into o
hot bath, and then examined from head
to foot, with no bettor sneoess. Even a
little torture was tried, bnt Slinfras was
firm; and in the end he was bundled un
ceremoniously over the frontier—his
petty cash being retained. He reached
Orenburg, and here some compel riots
advanced him somo money to reach the
capital.
Catherine tho Gieat won short of ready
money when Shafrns offered her his
diamond for sale. Ho demanded $200,-
000 for it, but the Empress could not
raise more than $100,000, and though
she offered 40,000 dossiatins (of four
acres each) of ( rown land in addition to
diis sum, Shafras refused. Catherine
ivas greatly chagrined and did not hide
her anoyance; but she was too noble n
oharootor to resort to the coercive meas
ure which a Shah of Persia would hnvo
adopted without a moment's hesitation.
Slinfras was allowed to depart nnmolestcd
and betook himself to Amsterdam to
havo his diamond oat. Here it was that
tho famous Count Orlov first saw the
jewol for whioh his imperial miatress lmd
Kighed, aud he determined to lav it as n
gift at her feet. The bargain with Sha
fras was concluded off-hand, for Count
Orlov never haggled. In exchange foi
the diamond (whioh weighs 185 carats,
and is valued at $1,500,<’00) Count Orlov
promised Shafras, on his return to Rus
sia. $350,000 down, an annuity of $2,000.
and a patent of nobility.
Tho Count kept his word; Shnf as the
merohant became Lazarev tho gentlemen,
cashed his bills at the imperial treasury,
and drew $2,000 a year for tho rest o( his
life, which, as usual with annuitants, was
a very prolonged ono. Before he died
he became ono of tho riohest men in
Russia. With the price of tho diamond
he bought mines in Oural, land in Bes
sarabia, and houses in St. Petersburg.
Tlie “unearned inoroment” fn thirt*
years made him ten times a millionaire
and at the present day his descendants
numbering hundreds, are all immensely
rich. Loris Molikov, former Minister ol
the Interior, and Delianov, at present
Minis terof Pnblio Instruction, nro grand
children of the Armenian Lazerev.
Pickled Green Com.
A good swimmer can’t drown liimseii
on purpose. He may think ho can, and
go to try ; but tlie man doesn’t live who
can help swimming if he is able just ns
soon as he begins to choke. Such is tho
opinion of an old sailor, who adds:
"How many times we hear of folks
changing their minds after they get un
der water, and of course there’s lots that
never let ou what they meant to do.
When you hear about u suicider weight
ing himself with lead or something, and
the paper says it was done to hide the
corpse, don’t you believe it. Such per
sons are good swimmers, who know—
j erhaps from experience—that they’vo
got to have a heft to keep them under.”
While her mother was taking a fly
out of the butter, little Daisy asked: “Is
(hat a butter fly, mamma?”
THE MEKCURY.
Entered a* Moond-slM* matter *t Me ■*•
dwsvlU* PoatolBc*, April D/USA
SMdemiUe, Washington iflft.
mumD bt . ~
A. J. JERNI&JCfc*,
Faoraiaroa and Puausaam
Bnbwrlptlon
..li.BC p*r Tsar
Hints About Canning Fruits.
There are variotis method* practiced
for preserving the fruit* and barriea
whioh are so plenty in many sesthVM at
this senson. Mf». ’George, W.-ilatdd,
Bradford, Mass., gives her method of
canning fruits, for which abe was
awarded first premium at tho last exhibi
tion of the Essex County Agricultural
Society, as follows: “As the season of
ripo fruit advauees, I prepare Buch quan
tities of syrup ns I think I may need, in
this way: Three pounds of granulated
sugar to one gallon of water and boil
twenty minntes; this I put in glosr jars,
when'cool, and set away for future’ use.
Peoolies, pears, apples, plums, pine-ap
ples, rhubnib, crab-apples, and, in.-fact,
all frails of this kind, I peri, quarter
and place In a dish of cold wider (to pre
vent discoloration), untilThAve prepared
enough to fill a jar; I then pack them ns
solid as possible in a jar, and then fill
tho jar with tho syrup previously pre
pared. I then placo a wire stand in the
bottom of my preserving tottlo, on which
to placo tho jar, then fill tlio kettla
with cold wntor until the jar
is two - thirds covered; .. leave
the jar open, just cover the ketUe and
boil until tho fruit is sufficiently soft,
have ready n littlo boiling syrun, if
needed, to fill tho jar full to overflowing.
Then place tlie rubber band around the
neck of the jar aud screw tho cqver on
a-t tightly as possible; then in frqjn three
to five minutes give the coyer another
turn, in order to be sure it is air tight;
aud you will havo no mortal trouble
w tli it. I use jars with metallic porce
lain covers.”
For canning berries nnd smnll fruits
Mrs. Ladd gives tlio following direc
tions: "Plnco tho fruit in a preserving
kettle, and (lien add just water enough
to prevent burning and boil from fivo
to ten miuntes; then place a Wet towel
pround and under tho jar, then All the
jar with tlio boiling fruit and seal imme
diately. I do not use any siigaf until I
open them tor the tnhlo. Tlio presont
rear I havo filled 150 jars and have not
broken a single one. Others vary tlio
above methods somewhat. Tho main
object by all methods is to heat the
fruit sufficiently to drive oit’ the air and
destroy all germs, then seal immediately
and keep in a coni, dark place."
A Bad Indian t ompiered by Soup.
“An Apnclie,in inil warpaint, stalked
do an Indian school at Albuquerque,
V. M., one day. Tho children were mi
ned lately tomfled, and tremblingly told
s be wns a ’bad Indian.’ They said an
i ncle of one of our boys bad killed his
rother, nnd they feared be had come for
avenge.
“As it was dinner-time," the teaeh< i
iys, “I suw not liii g ts-tier to. do tlim
ive ’lie children uiardit'd into the din-
ig-jronin, as usual. We keep ojx'n
ouses to Indians at- all times and treat
hem os distinguished guests, so I mo
urned to our Apache to toko a seat at
ho table.
“He sat down, terrible in his war
paint, and laid two loaded revolvers on
lie table before him. Tho children lie-
uu to tremble. I summoned all my
otirago and said:
“ ‘Put those revolvers on the window.’
L’he Apache never moved. The cook
.loot'd before him a cup of coffee and a
>iowi of soup.
“ ‘Take away that coffee and soap,” I
■ommanded, with my heart in my month,
ulding, to tho Indian: ‘You Bhall not
mve them until you put those revolver*
>u tho window.’
“Trembling for her life, the cook
•beyed. When the Apache saw his
iinner removed ho deliberately arose,
•Icked up his revolvers, and—shall I
ver forget that terrible moment?—
piietly laid them on the window. His
(inner was restored to him; lie ate it in
dloiice, and then picked up his property
and walked out without a word.
“I did not see him again for years.
Rut this last time, on my way home, aa
[ was waiting in the train at Santa Fe,
ny terriblo Apache, in all his feathers and
var-paint, got into the oar and walked
ts whole length, as if looking for some
•ue. My blood ran cold. Ho stopped
-esido me, gave a grunt of satisfaction,
nd broke into smiles. Then nothing
.ou'd do but I must vigorously shako
tuds. He then left the ear, and re
amed with a dozen other braves, as
orrible as himself. He introduced
hem all, and all must shake hands.”
She Turned the Tables.
Select tho young, immature oars of
com, when they are three or four inches
loug; husk the corn and remove all the
iilk; put the cars into glass jars, with a
The public has long conceded that the
power of the hotel clerk is superior to
that of President. A new rival has
sprung up in the railroad tioket agent,
as was demonstrated at an Iowa station,
a few weeks ago.
“I want a ticket to B ,” said ft
well known lady of the town, just before
train time.
“Twenty-four cents,” responded the
agent, working his sausage machine.
She laid down a silver quarter. Being
•rail acquainted and a practical joker, the
gent drew up from his pocket a glitter-
ug pants button, passed it over with the
ickot and scooped up the quarter.
nay-leaf, a rod pepper and three small ^ "I' 1 ”” , ho
onions, to each quart jar; pour in cold I , “ lgl teIiaer ' nBkea tUo
^ ’ ady, quietly.
viuegar, enough to fill the jars, and seal
them air-tight.
Or, after husking the ears, throw them
into salted boiling water, and when the
water boils again drain them; when they
are cold put them into glass jars. Fill
one jar with cold vinegar, then pour it
out again, and allow tbo samo quantity
for each jar. Put the vinegar into u
saucepan with a red pepper, a clovo of
garlic, a bay-leaf and ten cloves for each
jar; scald tlie vinegar, nnd then cool it.
When the vinegar isccld pour it ov< i
the com; put a tablespoonful of mustard
seed in the top of ench jar, and tbei
close the jars and seal them air-tight.—
Julia Couson.
“When are you going to make me
that pair of new boots I ordered ?” asked
Gus DeSmith of his shoemaker. • ‘When
you pay me for the last pair I made
you.’’ “Whew 1 I can’t wait so long aa
that,"
It takes a good deal of courage to
write oat the announcement: “Gone
down into the country to sponge off my
father-in-law, Ho away all summer.”
ndy, quietly.
“Oh, yes," he answered, with mook
ravity, “they are the mainstay of tho
vpublio,"
She pocketod it and got aboard, leav-
lg the agent’s face coruscating with
miles.
A few days after he told it to a brigade
f runners buying tickets for B , and
Fbile he was enjoying the encore, the
Jy appeared with—
“Ticket for , please,”
“Twenty-four cents,” with a sly wink
t the runners. He lidd down the ticket,
ihe scooped it and laid down twenty-
>ur dazzling buttons, exactly like the
irst.
“You said they were legal tender.
They go a long ways supporting the
family, she chirped sweetly, aa she
towed from the presence of more than
presidential prerogative.
Mrs. Charles Dickers had pretty
much the Bame kind of a time Mrs.
Carlyle had. “I suppose," she once
said to a friend, “the world need a few
geniusea to live in it, but it’s a dreadful
fate to have to live with one cithern,”
Will the living geniuses pleaievise ap
and explain? Senator fmIums the flooc,
Si