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THE LINCOLNTON NEWS VOLUME VII. NUMBER 38. Rents in Scotland are growing loittr and lower. It is estimated that the United States has a doctor for every 600 inhabitants. Pennsylvania has a new law which im¬ poses fine and imprisonment for the de itruction of song-birds. The Canadian Government is growing uneasy over the influx of Mormons into the Northwest provinces. The efforts now being made in China for the construction of their own heavy guns promise to be very successful. Bradlaugh. the infidel English agita¬ tor, strongly urges a seventy-five per cent. cut in “the wages of Queen Victoria.” Russia is said to be farther behindhand than any other country in what are con¬ sidered the requisite tools of the trade of war. Japanese ladies refuse to adopt foreign dress, and the Frenchman who was im¬ ported to spread Paris fashions has gone home. According to a German military journal, no less than 150,000 young men in Alsace-Lorraine have since 1874 evaded military service. The population of school age in the United States is about 20,000,000. The number of children attending Sunday school is estimated at 7,000,000. In Maine the mortgages on the farms of that State have been reduced, figures the New York Telegram, from nineteen in twenty to one in twenty. Foreign powers have lately taken up the discussion as to whether oriu not war correspondents were to be aim 1 "ed to take part in future campaigns. Very good, cheap land is rapidly dis¬ appearing in the United States,announces the Chicago Sun, and speculative hold¬ ings are increasing at an alarming rate. Lumber is reaching market from a much larger number of places than a few years ago, discovers Goodall's Sun , and .hence the influence of lumber centers on the market is dg^ping. • * - To the American fistical Association Mr. Amos G. Warm ias lately furnished a paper in which he argues that poverty is a disease, although he does not con tend that it has its distinguishing mic¬ robe. Queen Victoria, Julia Ward Howe and Walt Whitman have celebrated their seventieth birthdays within the last few weeks. Victoria is in the best health of the three; but, then, she has not had to , work so hard as Julia and Walter. At the rate the population of Norway is now leaving that country for the United States not one will be left there in fifteen years, and the world can use the vacant spaces, suggests the ingenius De¬ troit Free Press, for cold storage pur¬ poses. The fact has just leaked out that Presi¬ dent Garfield died entirely alone, “At the time of Ms death,” records the Atlanta Constitution, “his doctors and attendants had all left the room. When they returned and found the President dead, they hushed the matter up.” As the moon, being nearer to us, seems larger than Jupiter, so the proximity ol the Johnstown disaster makes it appeal greater than more dire calamities far away. The overflow of the Kong-Ho River in China in December, 1887, drowned nearly a million of people and drove many of the survivors to cannibal¬ ism. The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa has been put up for sale by lottery. The municipality of Pisa hflvuiff been crrcafcly straitened for money on account of f ex pensive improvements, offers the tower for sale, in order to prevent the town hall from being seized, and has adopted the method of a lottery J so as to get the high- ° est price possible. The San Francisco Bulletin says the Maltahs arc the only Indian tribe on that coast that have saved their land and ac¬ cumulated money. Neah Bay,the second harbor on the coast, is on their reserva tion. They own three sealing, schooners and run the only store in the whole eouu try. During the sealing season most of bucks hunters, getting . from §3 the go as to $5 for each skin. A scientific publication announces that 1 “cubic centimetre of wholesotho water may contain from 53,000 to 770,000 colonics of bacteria.” It is also claimed, lays the Chicago Herald, without a shud ier, that the air is permeated with rniero ;occi and infinitesimal swarms of life. Phe result is that we drink a slightly di luted mass of bacilli and breath the same slass of insects thinned out so as to pass in and out of the lungs without too much fricton. devoted to tiie interest op Lincoln county. THE HERO OF THE CONEMAUGH. Above the valley of the Conemaugh Black, boding clouds frowned down; The spirit of the tempest shrieked Its voiceless warning to a fated town. “Flee, flee for your lives 1” it cried; ‘ “Escape the surge of the relentless tide!’’ Yet no one heeded—no one understood; No warning reached those oft-warned ears. Fathers but laughed and mothers fond But smiled, and soothed their children’s fears. While still the tempest sobbed and cried: ‘ ‘Flee, flee for lives! Ride! ride!” your Far up the valley one man understood; An unknown hero heard the awful cry, And like a whirlwind rode he down To warn them of death’s horror nigh. “Flee, flee for your lives I” he cried; “Escape the surge of the relentless tide.” “He’s mad,” they thought. Few heeded what he said; Some laughed and scoffed, a handful fled, But nearly aU remained behind Within that Valley of the Dead. Still on he rode and madly cried: “Flee, flee for your lives! Ride! Ride”’ On, on he rode and raced with death, Till, beaten in that unequal strife, The torrent caught him, and his corpse Swept on with those of men for whom he gave his life; And over all the tempest vainly sighed, “Flee, flee for your lives! Ride! Ride!” —New York Press. A JUST RETRIBUTION. BY WILLIAM M. GRAYDON. I was busy among my maps and charts at the cabin table when a dull, heavy sound, twice repeated, came through the open windows. Dropping everything I hurried up on deck. The marines were gathered along the rail, looking off to the right bank of the creek. “Was that firing I heard?” 1 inquired, eagerly. “I think it was the report of a gun, Captain,” said Lieutenant Osborne. “It came from the shore, at a distance of scarcely half a mile.” All listened intently for a moment, and then came a repetition of the sound, and mingled with it we seemed to hear a cry. I hesitated what course to pursue. An investigation ought to be made; and yet to venture off into the forest with a handful of men seemed very risky pro¬ ceeding, for these Arab slave dealers are no ly mean fighters, and this firing evident¬ could portend nothing else than that they were about. I was in command of a gunboat at¬ tached to the man-of-war Racer, which was stationed on the East African coast, ®? lne miles north of Zanzibar, and which en gagecl in the slave blockade. I had been dispatched some fifty miles up Vannas Creek to investigate a rumor that the Arabs had a slave station near the head waters somewhere. Up5to this time I had met with no suc¬ cess. The country seemed to be de¬ serted. Of course we could not recon niter far from the banks, for our force was small, and a sufficient guard must always be left in charge of the gunboat. For these reasons I hesitated to advance into the jungle; but two more shots in rapid succession removed all doubts, and I ordered a boat to be lowered instantly. I landed my little force—a dozen trusty marines—in a small cove, and we plunged at once into the forest. We moved with great caution, and soon struck the rude path that bore traces of travel. We continued along this in a southerly direction, and had marched nearly a mile when the two men whom I had seut forward as an advance guard hurried back at full speed and reported that a number of natives and two white men were only a few rods distant and creating a considerable disturbance. This information staggered me. Wliat white men could be doing hero was more than I could understand. We advanced slowly, with rifles in readiness, Before us was a break in the forest, and without any difficulty we gained the edge of the bush and obtained a clear view of the open. Some fifty or sixty stalwart negroes were dancing about and making strange gestures, while a few yards away, at the base of a small hillock, stood two swarthy men. They were on the defensive, evi¬ dently, for they held rifles in their hands, and three dead negroes lay prostrate on the ground in front of them. Then I saw something else, for in the center of the open lay one great mass of glittering white ivory, tossed carelessly in a heap. It was an ivory caravan from the interior; for these negroes belonged to no coast tribes. What the dispute was about I could not ; evcn g«ess, nor did I have time to do so for of a slldden the ncgroes dashcd ward with a fierce shout. The men must have been overpowered in spite of their incessant and deadly fire; but just at the C “ wc ‘™P t the bushes, and the negroes fell back in amazement. The rescued men came forward with outstretched hands, and I saw on closer view that they were Portuguese. “Schov, you have saved our lives,” said the leader, in tolerably good Eng lish. " He was an intelligent looking man of thirty or thirty-five. “These feoimdrels were determined to kill us. My name is Torres,” he continued, “and this,” pointing to his companion, “is my friend, Castello. We are ivory traders, and have brought these natives from the interior at great cost. We pledged our selves to send them home in safety, but the fools suddenly made up their minds that we proposed selling them to the Arabs, and, mad with rage, they made this sudden attack on us.” I never did put much faith in Portu¬ guese, though this man was of a better type than many I had met. Still he might be speaking the truth. I hesitated, not knowing what course to pursue. The negroes were grouped together at a little distance, sullenly watching our movements, but making no hostile demonstrations. Suddenly one of them came forward, a biff, stalwart fellow, with a leopard skin LINCOLNTON, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, JULY 26. 1889. about bis waist, and stopped in front of me. He began to jabber out a mixture of bad English and native African, and, more from his gestures than from hi3 speech, I comprehended what he said. He declared that the Portuguese intended to sell them into slavery, and affirmed that he had seen Torres lurking behind on the previous day to talk to an Arab that bad come out of the forest. He told me his name was Zuba, that he was a head man in his tribe, and that he had picked up his English at Zanzibar, where he had been on several occasions. He knew that I was English, and that the English hated the Arabs, so he hoped that I would protect his friends from the Portuguese and the slave hunters. Torres’s swarthy face flushed darker as Zuba poured out his appeal. “The hound lies,” he exclaimed, angrily. “When they take the ivory to the coast they will be paid and sent back home. ” “But see here, Torres,” I interrupted, for I was beginning to get an inkling of the state of the case, “You know well that these natives are not safe within a hundred miles of the coast. It looks to me as though you had deceived them, whether you intended to sell them to the Arabs or not. They are certainly igno¬ rant of their real peril.” The Portuguese grew confused, and tried to stammer out some explanation, but I made up my mind at once that it was a clear case of treachery. It was an extremely perilous situation all round, and one that called for prompt action. I at once ordered the arrest of the two Portuguese, and before they could think of resistance, my marines bad dis¬ armed them and pinioned their limbs. The delighted negroes crowded round us with cries of gratitude, but I soon con¬ vinced them that their danger was by no means over. I could not liberate and let them go, for the bands of slave hunters that roamed the country would soon have seized them, so my only course was to take them on board the gunboat and let the authorities of the Racer decide their fate. I now had no doubt at all that Torres and Castello had intended to sell them into slavery, and I felt highly elated at my capture of these Portuguese slave hunters. At my command Zuba and his dusky friends took up their burdens of ivory, and we started back along the rough trail, Torres and Castello marching sul¬ lenly between two marines. I noticed that they turned their heads aside from time to time in a strange man¬ ner, and my suspicions were aroused. Zuba was watchful and uneasy,and crept along some distance ahead of the column closely inspecting the jungle on all sides. We had retraced half the distance back when he hurried toward us, waving his arm frantically, while the leopard skin flapped about his loins. “Arabs, heap Arabs!” he gasped, and his face showed the deadly terror he felt. Ile tried to talk, but could only utter inarticulate sounds and point with his trembling hands. The negroes, with a wail of terror, dashed down their ivory and prepared to flee. “Shoot the first man that runs,” I cried. “Now into the bushes, quick, aii of you!” The jungle was heavy at this point and in a moment our party was hidden be¬ neath its cover, and none too soon, for we could already hear voices in front. My force was small, as I have said, and I preferred, if possible, to escape a con flict with the Arabs, whose number was uncertain, and gain the gunboat with my prisoners. The negroes were unarmed, with the exception of Zuba, who carried a great knife, so I put them in the rear of the marines and left the Portuguese in Zuba's care. We scarcely ventured to breathe, but crouched down to the ground holding our arms in readiness for an attack. The dreaded sounds came nearer, and soon, peering out through the bushes, we saw a formidable body of Arabs passing along the path. Their leader was a powerful fellow with a huge sear across his face, and all of them bore guns, and had pis¬ tols stuck in their belts, while every man carried a bunch of chains that clanked as hurried The party was a large one, comprising forty or fifty men, and their presence here made the guilt of the Portuguese plain as day. They were hastening to an appointed rendezvous. All would probably have gone well, and the negroes would have reached the gun¬ boat in safety, but as the rear guard of the Arabs filed past, suddenly Torres gave a loud shout. Before he could repeat it Zuba felled him to the ground, but it was too late; the mischief was already done. The Arabs grouped together a moment in consternation, and as they hesitated, one of my men, in his excitment, exposed his body. His uniform betrayed our character, and the Arabs, spurred on by their fierce hatred of the English, poured a random fire into the jungle. One of the marines fell, and terrible cries of agony rose from the poor blacks. Then we gave them an answering volley, and with deadly effect. But reckless of danger, they closed up and swept down upon us in a dense mass. Our fire raked down the foremost row, but their onslaught was so fierce that we fell back toward the river and gained the shelter of heavy timber, where, from be¬ hind trees, we picked off the reckless Arabs that exposed themselves to our fire. Encumbered with helpless negroes, our situation was desperate. I concluded to retreat still nearer the creek, for the firing must shortly bring as¬ sistance from the gunboat, The Portu guese were dragged resistingly along, and soon we reached a comparatively open space where already the l'orest began to slope toward the water. But the crafty Arabs had stolen a march on us,for ns we started to cross the open, a straggling fire was poured in on us from all sides, and the poor negroes began to fall thickly. It was more than they could stand, and in frantic terror they scattered and fled directly into the midst of their foes. They were lost, I saw at a glance. Every second was precious, and we were about to make a dash, for the creek when a hearty cheer rose above the din, and up the slope came a file of marines, led by Lieutenant Osborne, and driving the Arabs to right and left. We joined forces and charged the enemy, who fled in confusion, but sad to say bore ofl with them half of the negroes. We found Castello lying dead with a bullet through his head fired by his own friends, but Torres and Zuba were both missing. The Arabs still greatly out numbered us, and their knowledge of the ground gave them a decided advantage. We started to march toward the creek, abandoning the ivory, of course, but tak¬ ing along the bodies of five of our men, and picking up on the way half a dozeD of the terrified natives who had been in hiding. A few straggling shots were fired at us, but we pressed on unheeding. Osborne and I were in advance when suddenly he lifted his hand. “Listen,” he said. “What is that?” Off to our right bushes were crackling, and we could hear voice” raised in anger. I was sure I recognized tnc sound of Tor res’s voice. We broke through the jungle into an open glade, and found Zuba and Torres struggling in deadly combat. Be fore we could reach the spot the enraged negro wrested himself from the grasp of the Portuguese, and drawing his knife, buried it in the unhappy wretch's breast, “See,” he cried, springing to his feet. “It is right he die, when all my people he betray!” We tried to seize him, but with aery he sprang into the forest and disappeared, Torres was stone dead; and leaving him where he lay at the foot of a tree, we hurried on to the creek and reached the boats in safety. The Arabs must have been in close pursuit, for a heavy fire greeted us from shore as we rowed, out to the gunboats. A few rounds from a small cannon, how¬ ever, soon drove the enemy back. Before night we were gliding under full steam down the creek, for my orders were imperative and admitted of no delay, much as I would have liked to punish the Arabs. The Racer at once organized an expe¬ dition to start inland from the coast, for I w T as satisfied that a slave station existed in the vicinity. While the preparations for this was going on, an Arab dhow was captured at the very mouth of Vannas Creek, which, to my surprise, proved to have on board the remnant of Zuba's friends. More than half had either per¬ ished in the fight or still, remained in the hands of the Arabs. Of Zuba I never heard more; but I al¬ ways regarded the death of Torres and oi Castello, who had caused all these mis¬ fortunes by their dastardly treachery, as a just retribution for their crimes .—Tin Argosy. The Census of 1 SCO. The census of 1890 will reveal many wonderful changes. The central line ol population will be much nearer the Mississippi River than it was ten years ago. A series of maps like those con¬ tained in the last census, of gradations in color, to indicate the changes in density of population, wealth, health and other important facts, will present a carious contrast with the maps that we now have for the census of 1880, or that of 1870. Over 16,000,000 acres of land were sold in the last fiscal year under the operation of the homestead and timber-culture law. More than 124,000, 000 of acres have been settled in the last eight years, representing a larger area than the States of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. The greatest changes have been made in the Northwestern group of States and Territories, comprising Dakota, Ne¬ braska, Minnesota, Wyoming and Mon¬ tana, where nearly 60,000,000 of acres have been settled in the last eight years. In the Southwestern group, comprising Kansas, Colorado, Missouri and New Mexico, nearly 30,000,000 of acres have been occupied. On the Pacific Coast 19,000,000 of acres more have been settled, and 13,000,000 of acres must be added to the Southern States on both sides of the Mississippi. Along the Pacific roads 18,000.000 of acres have been opened since the last census. In other words, the Government and the Pacific rail¬ roads have opened for settlement in the last eight years a territory larger than New England, Middle States and South Carolina combined; larger than Ger¬ many or France, and about twice as large as Great Britain and Ireland.—Bos¬ ton Magazine. The Death-Roll of Football Players. Footballers, commencing their practice matches, will do well to study the death roll of the English season now closing. It has been one of the most grusome on record. Scarcely a week has passed but some would-be champion has been laid low by a brutal kick in the stomach, or has been incapacitated having from further vig¬ orous exercise by his leg, thigh, collar-bone or shoulder-bone fractured or receiving serious and life-lasting internal injuries. YVithin two months no fewer than eight young men were killed; while during the season fourteen were injured in a sufficiently serious manner to justify public attention being drawn to the dan¬ gers of the game .—Cape Town ( Africa ) Argus. Introduction of Paper Hangings. The use of paper hangings—those ele¬ gant and inexpensive substitutes for the costly arras and tapestries of formei times—was introduced into France and England early in the seventeenth century, about the same time with leather hang¬ ings, which they soon entirely displaced. The manufacture was carried on in Eng¬ land in 1748, and the first advertisement of paper hangings for sale in tMs country appeared about 1737. Paper bangings ol domestic manufacture are said to have been presented in 1763 to the Society oi Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, insti¬ tuted in New Y’ovk. Lake carriers are opposing a bridge across the Detroit River, and are in favot of a tunnel. BUDGET OF FUN. HUMOROUS SKETCHES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. What the Maiden Said—He Was Up High—Mahomet and Pike's Peak—George Was Prac¬ tical, Etc., Etc. They lingered at her father’s door, The — youth had said good night. But still reluctant to depart, Her tiny hand he pressed. While all the love that filled his heart His ardent looks confessed. At length the maiden blushed and sighed And said in accents low: “ I hope, dear John, you will not try To kiss me ’ere you go.” —Boston Courier. m , WAg vp H1GH „ f*™ (^PP^g . , t( *el *“*?■ , d , °n °<”) e you up, sir. Guest n (drowsily recollecting the num . ber of hls r°om)-“\es, flights.” up ox mahomet afd pikes peak. Patron—“This set of teeth you made ^ or me 1® too big.” Dentist—“Yes, sir. Sit down in the ebair and I will enlarge your mouth a lit de -”—Fork Tribune. george was practical. “How still and calm the moon is,” ex claimed Amy feelingly. “Yes,” replied George; “it is sober now, but it will be full in two weeks. — New York Sun. - THE YOUNG FIEND AGAIN. “There is nothing sentimental about Mary,” said Mrs. Palmer. “Even when her lover is with her they sit far apart.” “Y'es,” spoke up little Harry, ‘ ‘as long as you are in the room.”— Epoch. SOMETHING BOUSB TO GO. “Does the Captain say whether we shall break the record or not?” “Y'es. He says that the record or the boiler must go.’-’ “How lovely!”— Munsey's Meekly. DID HE POP ? He—“Talking about names, I wish I Could get mine changed. I think it is too ugly for anything.” She (enthusiastically)—“Oh, I don’t. t think it just lovely. —Burlington Free Bress. - OIL WELL THAT ENDS WELL. “Have you ever stopped to consider What is the chief end of our existence on this mundane sphere?” asked the solemn old gentleman with the shining garb. “Dividend,” replied the oil specula tor .”—Terre Haute Express. WHY HE HATES ’EM. Miss Pyrtc—“What makes you such a confirmed woman-hater. Mr. Olebach?” Mr. Olebach—“Well, when I was a young man a woman made a fool of me.” Miss Pyrte—“And you never got over it ?”—Terre Haute Express. HE HAD HIGHER ASPIRATIONS. “If you study hard, Tommy,” said a fond father, “you may some da v be Presi " den L” “O,” replied Tommy, “I want some thing better than that. I want to be a iamous shortstop.”_ New York Sun. AN AWFUL LIAR. Smith—“Robinson told me that his tvife had been run over by a coach and seriously injured. ” Jones—“You can't believe what Robin son says, he is such a braggart. I'll bet it was only a delivery wagon. ”— Siftings. A NEW MAKE OF SCALES. Nickleby—“That's a strange pair of scales you have there. I suppose they are of the Ambuscade kind.” Grocer—“Ambuscade? What is that?” Nickleby—“Why, they lie in weight, as it were .”—Lawrence (Mass.) American, j FTVTN-r accpts > 3Ir. De Groot “Everything I ve got j in the world is yours, Alice, if you 'll only say the word!” Little Tommy (from outside)—“They , s one thing you wont get unless your young man hurries. His boss just run away!” ROMANCE OF BOYHOOD. Proser (to newsboy who has picked up a horseshoe)—“Ah, my boy, I see you be¬ lieve in the superstition that hovers over the horseshoe. Are you going to nail it over your back door?” Newsboy—“Naw. Coin' to sell it to the junkman.” PURSUING HIS STUDIES. City Boarder—“So your son is home from pursuing his studies at Yale?” Farmer—“Y’es, he got back yester¬ day. As you say, I guess he has been pursuing ’em, but he is so far behind hand that I don't think he will ever catch ’ip.”— Siftings. SHE GOT THERE. Elsie and Charlie are out walking. Elsie—“Oh! I feel sick; I am going to faint!” Charlie—“Oh, my! What will I do if you do?” Elsie (feebly)—“Carry me into that ice-cream store.” (Faints.)— Epoch. ONE EFFECT. “The introduction of baseball has changed English the meaning of some words in the language.” “Is that so?” “Y’es. For instance, twenty used to be a score, but now a score is anywhere from one to twelve, or even a goose egg.” —New York Sun. IMrROVED CIRCUMSTANCES. Peter-—“You children turn up your noses at everytMnff on the table. YVheu I was a boy I was glad to get enough dry bread to eat.” Tommy—“Say, pa you’re having a much better time of it now you are liv¬ ing with us, ain’t you?”— Crip. A VEGETABLE COW. Mrs. Amateur (accompanying the gar¬ dener over the new farm)—“What is that plant, Davis?” Davis—“Milkweed, ma’am.” Mrs. Amateur (ten minutes later, burst ing excitedly into her husband's den)— “Jack, there's no earthly need of our keeping so many cows; this place is overrun with milkweed, and we may as well economize a little ."—Town Topics. HE didn’t insist. Ella— 1 ‘How do vou like Mr. Mash? I hear he called the o'ther night.” Ethel—“I think he's fearfully horrid. He asked me if I could play on the piano, and I told him that I couldn't play much.” “And what then?” * “That .”—New was all York Sun. AN ERROR CORRECTED. Our Food-Dispenser—“What part ol the chicken do you prefer, Mr. Pipe w rass?” r Mr. Switzer— Chorus of Sir. Chubb I want leg. 3fr. Gowav— a . Our Food-Dispenser—“Gents, Mr. Holder—J this ain't no centipede.”— Judge. a business trax« action Little Schoolboy-Gramma, ’ you said if rdbting “ voua reward of mer it you'd J * • k - f „ . ~ yf amma _..y c , s ’ m T pet 1 ' ” ’ “Here it is.” “But this has Tommy Toodles's name on it.” ‘Yes, 'm; I traded him my old knife for it .”—Harper s Bazar. THE TEEM APPLIED. Tramp (to pedestrian)—“Would you j j be kind enough to give me fifteen cents? I want to buy a clean collar, and have my boots blacked.” .. Pedestrian—“What is your profes¬ sion?” Tramp—“I’m on the railroad.” Pedestrian—“Brake-man?” Tramp—“Well-er—kind of a brake man; I'm nearly always broke.” A COMMON REVENGE. “I bear that young clerk of yours who was tempted to take a few dollars of your money has turned over a new leaf and is leading an honest life,” remarked Jasper. “Is he doing well?” asked Houndem.” “Yes, he said it was very hard to live down such a disgrace, but it was just gettingto be forgotten.” j “In that case,’’gloated Houndem, “1 will have the thing referred to again in the papers .”—The Epoch. A SEW PROFESSION. First Tramp (in the suburbs)—“Say, Bill, I've got a regular job, and it 'tain't work, nuther. It's just like a reg'lai profesh, and I'm gettin’ big fees. See that tener?” Second Tramp—“Jimminy Crickets! Wat does ver do?” “I sdeaks around at night and throws Ie ' lawn out of gear.” P eo P s mowers “But who pays yer fer that? “Next door neighbors wot wants ter s ' ce P -"—York Weekly. - the opinion of a practical man. “3Ir. Swackhammer,” said the repor¬ ter, notebook in hand, “you have seen, of course, many of the suggestions that have been made as to the adoption of a rational flower. 3Iay I ask what your individual opinion is on the subject?” : “I have not considered the matter deeply as yet,” replied the 3Iinnesota Congressman thoughtfully, “but as a practical man I should say it ought to be of the best XXXX brand. Chicago lrioune. HE SAW THE PROPRIETOR. Wife—“John, I wish you'd go into Coffee & Co.’s when you're down town and see wbv they haven't sent up the groceries I ordered by postal card two days ago. It's shameful to neglect my order so. Just give them a real hard scolding, will vou, John?” John—“I shall go there and see 3Ir. Coffee himself about it.” John (an hour later)—“3Ir. Coffee, here’s an order on this postal card that I've carried in my pocket two days. I wish you'd get the goods up to the house early this morning; will you, please?”— Epoch. IT IS ALL RIGHT. “I think I dropped a letter into the mail the other day without stamping it,” said a man at the postoffice as he called for the chief clerk. “If you did it has gone to the Dead Letter office.” “Has, eh? You must have known that it was a mistake.” “Yes.” “And you ought to have held it for in¬ quiry?” “We have our rules.” “And they are mighty independent rules, let me tell you! The Postoffice De¬ partment needs overhauling, and I'll help to see it done!” The next day the man returned, this time with a smile on his face, and said: “You remember I was speaking about an unstamped letter?” “Y'es.” “I was much put out.” “Yes.” “Well, I want to apologize. That let¬ ter was directed to an acquaintance. In it I caliad him a liar and a horse thief. Last night I found out that I was mis¬ taken. He hasn’t got the letter and won’t get it, and so won’t know anything about it. The Postoflice Department is all right. Rules are all right. Clerks are all right. Have a cigar and press on to promotion and increased salary. "—Detroit Free Press. A turpentine well is reported to have been discovered in Laurens CountY. Ga. SoMptioj: $1.25 In idrace. THE CALENDAR OF GEMS. January. By her who in this month is born No gem save Garnets should be worn. They will insure her constancy, True friendship, and fidelity. February. The February born shall find Sincerity and peace of mind. Freedom from passion and from care, Cf they the Amethyst will wear, March. Who on this world of ours their eyes In March first open shall be wise, In days of peril firm and brave, And wear a Bloodstone to their grave. April. ahe who from A P ril ber Fears Diamonds should wear, lest bitter tears vain repentance flow; this stone “ n “ !em mnoc euce, is known, May. Who first beholds the light of day In spring's sweet flowery month of May And wears an Emerald all her life, Shall be a loved and happy wife. June. __ ^ w 'th summer to this earth, And owes to June her hour of birth, With ring of Agate on her hand Can health, wealth and long life command. July. The glowing Ruby shall adorn Those who in warm July are born Then will they be exempt and free From love's doubts and anxiety August. Wear a Sardonyx, or for thee No conjugal felicity; The August bom without this stone.' Tis said, must live unloved and lone. September. A maiden bora when autumn leaves Are rustling in September’s breeze, A Sapphire on her brow should bind, Twill cure diseases of the mind October. October's child is born for woe, And life’s vicissitudes must know. But lay an Opal on her breast And hope will lull those words to rest. November. Who first comes to this world below With drear November’s fog and snov Should prize the Topaz’ amber hue, Emblem of friends and lovers true. December. If cold December gave you birth, The month of snow and ice and. mirth. Place on your hand a Turquoise blue, Success will bless whate'er you do. —Notes and Queries. PITH m POINT. V. A great composer—Chloroform. An old club-house—The station-house. The widow's might is greatly under¬ estimated. The groom is likely to be a more stablt character than his master. The successful farmer has to be sharp as a raiser .—Merchant Traveler. A visit to a grocery is generally the beginning of a new order of things. It is much easier for some men to shir up a tree than to foot up a column oi figures. “Talk is ch«.ip.” Not always. The hunter's -------- talk is often deer .—Boston Courier. 3Iiss Avenoo—“Is that Miss Soulful a musician? Miss De Note “No, iu deed. She calls Vogner ‘Wagner. • r New York Tribune. “Wood you?’’ said the coal dealer, cutely. “I wouldn't, then, ” she answered quite grim; And as he fired up slightly. She gave the coal shoulder to him. —Washington Critic. The statue of Liberty is beginning to look rather seedy. Well, how could if look otherwise when she has had only one “Jersey” to her back ?—New Yorl Herald. An Irishman having been told that th« price of bread had been lowered, ex laimed: “This is the first time I ever rejoiced in the fall of my best friend.”— London Tit-Bits. GONE FOREVER. Where are the roses, sweet, that bloomed But now upon your cheek ? Oh, grief! I see it all: they were assumed, They've rubbed off on your handkerchief. — Bazar. Gathering Horeliound. The Woodland (Cal.) Mail states that r party passed through that town with a large wagon loaded with horehound, which they had gathered in different parts of Yolo County. It grows wild along Cache Creek and in many other places. They were taking the horehound to Sacramento, where they will bale it and ship it to Peoria, Ill. This is not their first trip into Yolo County for the plant. They have stored at Sacramento nine tons, and with the ton gathered dur¬ ing the Jast trip, will have sufficient to load a car. They value the ten $200 tons at 8750, and will have to pay for freight. They gathered the ten tons in •.wo months. Footwear in China. There are a variety of boots and shoes used in China. The common shoe is made of thick, heavy elt, with a still thicker sole made of-woven straw or lay srs of felt. This sole does not come out to the end of the shoe, but rounds up¬ ward at the ball of the foot. This puts the Chinaman on a pair of rockers, as it were, and gives him a rolling gait. Chinese persons of rank wear boots with tMck soles and legs of fine cloth or silk that reach half way up to the knee. Among the peasants rude shoes are woven of straw. Heaven’s Artillery. The immemorial belief in thunder-bolta is probably founded on the circumstance chat falling meteors occasionally explode with a thunder-like detonation. Th ree weeks ago a little highland village, eight miles west of Janina, in the southern Balkans, was startled by the descent of a shower of meteoric iton-stones, accom¬ panied by an explosion that echoed through the mountains exactly like a peal of rolling thunder,— Drake's Magazine.