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CT*-«*w>«.p* n*w-. m .nmwmv . <*.i *.wS^1>:It4SH,w ,»«. ,,V. •• - .V-^-^.s "k**»W » „» . : i . ,£" >1* - > -^V <••* "4 " ••': ATHE JTTTJUIIRJ FJLAMDTALTF. J. VAN SLYKE, POBLWHEB. ACOHENBT, ILLINOIS. AUE1CULTCKAL AXD DOMESTIC Aro«nd the Farm. 6 OuLitivRiw.--Glanders is an incurable disease, highly contagious and infectious, and the sooner you have the animal de­ stroyed the better for your own safety, as well as for those who are liable to be exposed to the contaminating influences of this dreadful disease. PAINT FOB OUTBLUJDINOS.--Take three gallons of water and one pint of flax* seed, boil half an hour, take off and add water enough to make four gallons; let it stand and settle; pour off the water in a pail, and put in enough Spanish white to make it thick as common white­ wash; then add half a print of linseed oil, stir well, and apply with a brush. . A GREAT many people have not yet learned that it pays to keep pigs shel­ tered and dry. When the hog cholera begins its rounds they will not wonder whs their pigs go among the first, when the fact is that it is among just such pigs, kept dirty, wet and unsheltered, that disease originates, and the result is loss to their owners and to many others. FEATHER-EATING HENS.--If hens have the detestable habit--for it is that, and nothing more--of feather-eating, you have only to catch them, and with a knife scrape the sharp edge of the inside of their bills, so as to leave them blunt, and you will enjoy the fun of seeing the fowls grab at a feather and have it slip out of their mouth without pulling it from the victim.--Golden Rule. How TO MAKE A SCARECROW.--The best sc&recrow is a suspended looking- glass. Take two small, cheap mirrors, fasten them back to back, attach a cord to one angle, and hang them to an elastic pole. "When the glass swings in the wind the sun's rays are reflected all over the field, even if it be a large one, and even the oldest and bravest of crows will depart precipitately should one of its lightning flashes fall on him. DXSTBMPHR IN COLTS.--As a general rule no treatment is necessary beyond ordinary good nursing. The tumor that forms under the jaws (in the maxillary space) is sometimes tardy in forming an abscess. Warm poultices made of flax­ seed and bran may be frequently ap­ plied over the tumor, which will be found very effectual. When the tumor has a soft, fluctuating feel, no time .abould be lost in opening it freely with a sharp knife. CARE OP YOUNG STOCK.--In this lati­ tude March and April are the hardest months of the year for young stock. They are more subject to cold, wet storms, which are more injurious than .severe oold but dry weather. Besides, having stood the winter, and in most cases lower in flesh, they have not as much vitality to resist bad weather. The range in stalk fields and bright straw stacks is not as good, and in many cases farmers from the prospects begin to economize in feed. But to be saving of hay or stronger food in March and April, is poor economy with stock raisers. One good steeror heifer is worth more than "two poor ones, and, if food be scarce, sell a part to provide amply for the bal­ ance. LOOK at the sales of steers 3 years old, weighing 2,100 and 2,200 pounds each, and selling for seven cents Jer pound, or $154 per head at the farm, t is easier and cheaper to feed one liber­ ally thai) to half feed four to produce the same sum of money at the end of three years. And now is the time to save flesh and make money. How FAR HE TRAVELS.--Farmers who are about putting the plow into the ground for their spring work may be in­ terested to know just how many miles ifchey have to travel in turning over an acre with different-sized plows. The Seicntific Fdrmer figures the matter out as follows: Breadth of JPtovow Slice. Space Traveled. 7 incheo 14,V miles 8 inchoe , 12 % miles 9 inches ' 11 miles 10 inches. 9 9-10 miles llsinchcr . ... 9 miles 12 inches 2........ ... Qh£ miles 30 inches 4 9-10 miles 34 inches.., 4 miles Fron^this table can be seen the gain, in the labor account with a crop, which comes from the use of a broad furrow in plowing. If we call sixteen miles a day the day's work for the horse, we plow but one and one-fourth acres a day, by making a nine-inch furrow; nearly two acres Vy making a twelve-inch furrow, and, when a gang-plow is used, which plows a twen- ty-four-incli furrow, the acreage is in­ creased to nearly four. The use of an improved plow, which turns a broad fur­ row and pulverizes, is therefore an econ­ omy on land suited to its use, and there is a great gain from the use of a gang- plow under circumstances where it is applicable. About the House. BAKED INDIAN MEAL PUDDING.--One quart sweet milk, boil apd stir into it one teacup meal; let it cool, and add four eggs, one-half cup butter, one cup sugar; bake three-quarters of an houreat with sauce ; very nice. DELICIOUS BROWN PUDDING.--One cup Graham, one of meal, one of sugar, one of cream, one of raisins, one-half of sweet milk, one egg, one teaspoonful soda; stir all together and bake one hour; With sauce this is a delicious pudding. ICING THAT WILL NOT BREAK.--The whites of three eggs beaten very, stiff, add one pound white Bugar, with one table-spoonful corn Starch, flour the top of the cake as soon as taken from the oven, put on the icing with a steel knife wet with warm water. MAKING VINEGAR.--Take water, three • gallons ; molasses, one quart; and yeast, •one pint. Warm them to 100 degrees, and place in a clean vinegar or whisky barrel, in a warm place. Leave out the bung for the admission of air, and in about three weeks' time it will be changed to good vinegar. HOMB-MADE INK.--Take half an ounoe of extract of logwood, ten grains of bi­ chromate of potash, and dissolve them in a quart of rain-water, in a bottle kept uncorked. The bottle should be per­ fectly clean and free from any other ink. Running the logwood in solution through a fine strainer will remove all sediment. To CLEAN BLACK CLOTH.--Dissolve one ounce of bicarbonate of ammonia in one quart of warm water. With this liquid wet the cloth, using a piece of flannel or black cloth for the purpose. After the application of this solution clean the cloth well with clear water, dry and iron it, brushing the cloth from time to time in the direction of the fiber. CARE OF HOUSEHOLD PLANTS.--When choice pot-plants look sickly and begin to show yellow or brown leaves, they are probably infested by that very small but exceedingly troublesome inject, the red spider. They cannot bear moisture, and can be killed by the water syringe, or a free use of the water-pot, without wet­ ting the earth too much about the roots. To CLEAN FEATHERS.--White ostrich feathers may be thoroughly cleansed by taking four ounces of white soap, cut small, and dissolved in four pints of rather hot water. Convert the solution into a lather and introduce the feathers. Bub with the hand for about five min­ utes. After this wash in clear water as hot as the hand can' bear. Shake until dry. FACTS ABOUT COLORS.--A spoonful of ox gall to a gallon of water will set the colors of. almost any goods soaked in it previous to washing. A teacupful of lye in a pail of water will improve the color of black goods. Nankin should be steeped in lye before being washed--it sets the color. A strong, clean tea Of common hay will preserve the color of those French linens so much worn in summer. Vinegar in the rinsing water, for pink or green calicos, will brighten them. Soda answers for the same and for ptuple or blue. Good-Humored Russians. Every crowd has a physiognomy and a character of its own, and after experience of an English or an Irish crowd «one is rather pleased with a Russian one. Not that it is particularly clean or savory, but it is so extremely good-natured and well- behaved. There is very little pushing or elbowing. Every one is courteous to his neighbors, and you are sure not to see any acts of brutality or to incur any dan­ ger in mixing in it Smiling, good-na­ tured faces are everywhere, no matter what the rank or position, for good humor is indeed the chief Russian virtue. And then such a curious mixture of people in such a crowd!--merchants with long dark-blue or black caftans, reaching to their heels, and their cravats tied tight around their throats, not showing a shirt collar if they indeed have one; stout old women with silk kerchiefs wound about their heads BO as to conceal their hair; shoemakers' boys and ap­ prentices in what seems a dirty muslin dressing-gown; artisans in their blue working-blouses; the ordinary town peasant in his red shirt and high boots, and the muzhik fresh from the country with coat of undyed homespun, cloths wound round his legs in hen of stock­ ings and sandals made of plaited linden bark; here and there a student with dirty shirt and long hair and most foul finger-nails, evidently of the idea that neatness is incompatible with learning ; there will probably be a priest or two, and a few soldiers.--Scribnerfor April. PREI V •* *• - ̂ 7:-*' The Collapse of Planets. The whole planetary regions seem to be filled with collections of matter--star- dust and meteorites. They are all revolv­ ing about the sun in eccentric orbits, and are doubtless *4owly circling towards it. The zodiacal light is supposed to be only an immense aggregation of this material Thus the thickening stratum as these strange bodies draw near to the sun shows that they are all slowly gathering to that great center of attraction. The evident effect of the fall of any of the planets into the sun would be the diffusion of highly-heated vapors far out into the spaces that surround it--prob­ ably far enough to reach the next outly­ ing planet, and thereby to increase its retardation and hasten its fall into the mighty caldron. So one by one the planets dissolve and their elements fill the .void of space. The expanding gases catch ftp the waves of radiant heat that have long been wandering from planets and suns; and the nebula is again seeth­ ing and surging with its mighty contend­ ing forces. Sun-system reaches out to sun-system, and star-galaxy mingles with star-gfllaxy, till through all the abysmal depths matter is again "without form and void, and darkness is upon the face of the deep." Chaos has returned once more, again to be breathed upon by the Omnipotent Spirit that reforms and re­ creates.--Popular Science Monthly for April. Anecdote of Secretary Thompson. The Washington Star relates the fol­ lowing anecdote about the new Secretary of the Navy, Thompson : "At a dinner­ party given by Secretary Sherman on Saturday evening to the members of the Cabinet and a few friends, the table was graced by a beautiful three-masted ship composed of flowers. On the main-mast was a small United States flag which Sec­ retary Sherman said his little daughter had placed there. Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, said in his dry Yankee way to the Secretary of the Navy, who sat opposite to him, ' Well, Mr. Thomp­ son, will you please tell us if that is the correct position for the American flag to occupy on a ship ?' Everybody awaited the reply with interest, for it is well known that the new Secretary is no sailor, and they thought that he was cor­ nered, but he took advantage of the Cab­ inet custom, and replied in a dignified manner, 4 Ahem! I will refer you, sir, to the Attorney General.' The answer was greeted with peals of laughter." The Turkish Army. The Memorial Diplomatique of Jan. 27, 1877, gives the most explicit state­ ment of the situation of the Turkish army that has yet been made, and prob­ ably the most reliable. From it we learn that the army of the Danube com­ prises 200,000 men, commanded by Ab- dul-Kerim Pasha, Generalissimo of the Turkish army, The corps of Servia and Bosnia, 100,000 strong, is commanded by Ali-Saib Pasha; the corps of Albania.. t>O,GG0 strong, by jDervish Pasha; the corps of observation on the frontier of Greece, 25,000 strong, by Alimed-Chuk- ri Pasha; the corps of Batoum, 40,000, by Hussein-Tahrin Pasha; the corps Erzeroum, 120,000 strong, by Samih- Paaha, and the corps of Bagdad, 55,000 strong, by Hussein-Fevzi Pasha. This would make a total of 590,000 Turkish troops in the field. A veryi read befof Barff, PR Royal Act Truth, to Liberty and Law; serving irn lusion of moisture and air. ents made in this direction to be very satisfactory, and "> mm ends itself to the atten- •rs in the variable climates of States, both on the score of time and labor and the im- y of the hay.---Scribnerfor ivHaTHENRY, ILLINOIS, 1 » AKTSM specimen* HI I H' such as T RAUTY FKALTV. covery v value ar " doubt, a fact that ft great all kinds'lai°"itv of the voteifs Of our Country posed toire strictly partisan, Vttting Invariably or liquicf;ie 8rtnie patty ticket ittespfetitlte ttf ittn mr ^ILNGA About These Little In­ sects. London Letter to the Cincinnati Commercial.] everlasti ts merits of demerits* A 5 ill all por action ofion tl,e?e ar ̂t"'Obrtb)y actuated by ily becoi^Vv« tuefeeiiilry motives, but th6 bail- toxide, once ol them are influenced by iribiives of 56 paivhiclit thmlgh of a less igtiobie oharsU'-- parts ofBr> caused bv either downrigh contiimefc * ~ atmosphe*,loniMW- implicit, faith in the pePfet verted ii.f,J£,'lty P'tfitro/a party, at JtJ? sesquioxidMes ilud under all circumstances, o r . composed > totul subj« ction of reason and de- of iron, at,. weight of oxygen. The ferric oxide, in its turn, gives up some of its oxygen to the as yet unoxidized iron beneath it, and the ferrous oxide thus formed is gradu­ ally converted into ferric oxide by the access of air through the spongy layer of superficial rust which covers it. In this way ttie first formed film of rust exposes to the atmosphere the surface which lies below it; and hence the rust becomes a carrier of oxygen to the deeper parts of the iron, until the latter is completely corroded and worn through. Many at­ tempts have been made to protect iron surfaces by the application of some kind of paint or varnish ; and these attempts have, of course, been to some partial extent successful. Such coatings, how­ ever, have no real adhesion to the metal on which they are placed, and are liable to scale off or to perish in a variety of ways. Even when the coating is gen­ erally sound, the smallest flaw in its con­ tinuity will give entrance to the enemy; for the rust from the exposed spot will spread laterally under uie coating, and may l>e all the more dangerous and de­ structive from being partially concealed from view. It is manifest t}iat the evils incidental to rusting are entirely due to the un­ stable character of the two oxides already mentioned, which are formed spontane­ ously under ordinary climatic conditions. There is, however, a third oxi«le which possesses characteristics of a totally dif­ ferent kind, and which is uninfluenced, not only by moist air, but even by acids and other corrosive substances. This is the magnetic or black oxide, which con­ sists of three times fifty-six parts by weight of iron, and four times sixteen parts by weight of oxygen. Prof. Barff lias discovered that if any iron article is exposed, at a high temperature, to the action of superheated steam, it will be­ come covered by a. film of this black oxide, of a thickness which is determined by the degree of temperature and by the length of exposure. The oxide is harder than the original iron, and adheres to it even more firmly than the particles of iron adhere to each other, so that there is a gain not only in chemical, but also in mechanical resistance. If the operating chamber is heated only to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and the exposure is con­ tinued for only five hours, a surface is obtained which will resist emery-paper for a considerable time, and which will not rust within doors, or after any mod­ erate degree of exposure to moisture. If the oxidizing process is conducted at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, and continued for six or seven hours, the surface will resist a rasp and will bear any amount of exposure to weather. The oxidation does not affect the appearance of the sur­ face in any other way than by turning it black. A rough forging retains its rough­ ness, and a turned or polished surface its smoothness. If there should be any flaw in the coating, or if the black oxide is designedly removed from part of the surface, the common oxidation will occur where the iron is thus left uuprotected. But such oxidation is strictly limited to the unprotected portion, and has not the smallest tendency either to spread later­ ally under the black oxide or tc detach this from the subjacent parts. Among the most valuable and impor­ tant of the probable applications of the invention will be the protection of steam boilers and of the plates of iron ships; and Prof. Barff hopes that by certain arrangements it will be possible to operate upon veiy large manufactured articles without' its being necessary to provide a heating-chamber large enough to contain them. The applications seem almost without number. The process will be conducted at very small cost, and it will probably be employed, at no dis­ tant time, for iron goods of every de­ scription. Not only so, but it will extend the applications of iron itself to several purposes for which its liability to rust hitherto rendered it unsuitable. Copper vessels will no longer possess any advan­ tages for cooking, and iron saucepans will no longer need to be tinned. Leaden pipes for the conveyance of water will in all probability be entirely superseded ; and there can be no doubt that new uses for incorrodible iron will every d&y sug­ gest themselves. Storing Green Hay. The usual method of making hay is expensive and liable to risks, owing to the changeable weather at the haying season. To escape the danger of wet­ ting and spoiling, experiments have been made with grass cut and stored in one day, and after only two hours'exposure to the sun. In these experiments the grass was cut as soon as free from dew, was then turned over once with the tedding- machine, and, after drying for two hours, was hastily gathered and re­ moved to a tight barn. The barn was plastered on the inside, and had a tight floor and roof, and, as soon as the loads entered, the doors were closed and the hay immediately packed into the mows. The barn was then kept as nearly air­ tight as possible, till the hav was con-., sumed in the winter. By this method of quick gathering, and the perfect ex­ clusion of rain, and the nearly perfect exclusion of air, the hay was preserved sweet and in excellent condition, and was found to be more valuable as food for cattle than hay made in the ordinary way. The chief points of interest in this method of curing grass are the quick gathering and the use of tight buildings 4i-.ee which, following Solo- Ipty and Sir John Lubbock's ggv^ent to the Boyal on the 27th A* rthe ways of the ant was vast. i i __ . • 1 iiluou bliai womu, per- •gt J astonished Solomon, or the IfJ*ge Shallish-herta, who told M'be conceited about his social t||, but to " observe the sover- le bee and of the ant in their John Lubbock has been >e devoting his attention to the last three years. He r assistants in his little and her governess, who proceedings in the ant-room during the day, and report progress if he has been absent. Living on a farm adjoining that of Charles Darwin, he has the benefit of consultations with that great man (against whose high name some forger recently aimed a blow in Carlyle's name, which Carlyle has - de­ nounced). Sir John's story last night was moat extraordinary. He declared that though the ape ranks next man in form, the ant ranks next him in intellect, and if the ants should ever be able to make up by numbers for their deficiency of size they might be able to cope with man on no unequal terms. There are 700 known species of ants, of which there are thirty in this country, and Sir John has based his researches on twenty species, which are now sharers of his hospitality. For a liberal and a moral man, Sir Jonn does not . seem to observe rigid principles with these tiny creatures; he sets some as slaves to others, and on one oocasion gave an ant-company of thirty so mucn drink that they were reduced to hopeless intoxication. On this last occasion the sober ants pitched five of the inebriates into the water, and took twenty-five into the nest to recover. But of a similar party of "strangers" (namely, not be­ longing to their nest) the sober ants pitched twenty-five into the water, to6k five into the nest, but presently brought four of these out and pitched them into the water too. The ants know their comrades after long separation. Sir Jolin separated one from his nest fo/ a year, then brought him back, and with liim a " stranger " of the same species, marking them with paint for recognition. The ants treated the stranger nefariously, but welcomed their long-lost brother and wiped the paint off him. There is a little yellow ant in England which regularly raises poultry; it stores up through winter th<v pf aphides, which, being hatcliea in spring, give them a good supply of provisions. , The differentiation of labor among them is remarkable, some being developed into soldiers, others of the same neBt as laborers, and others as commissariat agents. Sir John found that two particular ants were invariably sent out to bring in food placed at the door, and when these were removed by him, two others were appointed who came just as invariably, and so on so often as the special officials were re­ moved. The ants keep, a more various stock of animals for their provisions than En­ glishmen do; and there are two tiny creatures--an aphis and a beetle--al­ ways found in their nests, but never eaten or used, apparently their cat and dog. Slavery prevails, and there is no anti-slavery society. But Sir John re­ marked the evil effects of the system. The most determined slaveholder is called "Polyergus," a queer misnomer, since the bloated creature doesn't work at all. By employing slaves (which are very black) this big red ant has lost all cleverness, all strength, and even his mandibles; he is perhaps the only ani­ mal in nature that cannot even feed him­ self, but will die amid plenty unless Sir John sends in slaves every day to cram the food down his throat. It is the great middle class who hold no slaves who develop the marvelous intelligence and enterprise displayed by ants. Ashtabula. The spccial commission appointed" by the Legislature of Ohio to investigate the late Ashtabula disaster has made its re­ port. The commission, after going into details showing the imperfections in the bridge, report the following as their con­ clusions: 1. yiiere were 80 to 100 lives lost by the failure of the bridge. 2. The bridge went down under an ordinary load by reason of defects in its original construction. 3. The defect in the original con­ struction of the bridge could have been discovered at any time after its erection by a careful and analytical inspection, such as the importance of the structure demanded, and thus the sacrifice of life and property prevented. The truth is, the bridge was liable to go down any time during the last ten or eleven years under a load that might at any time be brought upon it in the ordinary course of the company's business, and it is most remarkable that the disaster did not sooner occur. It would be needless to say that an engineer would be derelict in his duly who did not provide in his con­ struction of a bridge against wind, snow, ice, and the vibration of a rolling load. They are as much to be anticipated and provided against as the law of gravity. This report is accompanied by a bill specifying how bridges of different spans snail be constructed. Use Short Words. Gov. Seymour finds enjoyment in con­ fining himself, as far as possible, in his correspondence, to words of one or two syllables. He recommends this as a nrofitable 8ttd en tertaining practice Jo young writers, saying that in searching for short words the students will learn many new things about common words and their meaning. He also says that he has learned a great deal from the simple forms of speech used by his In­ dian chief friends of the Oneida and Onondaga tribes, and commends their style as a model of simplicity and ex­ pressiveness. ILLINOIS LEttlSLATUREi THTJKSDAY, March 22.--BERATE.--Mr. Herd- man moT«d a lugp^nsion of the rales to take up the resolution to adjourn nine die on the 10th of April After dincumion, the motion watt negatived Mr. Marshall offered a resolution that no more secret Bewions l>e held. Laid over.... The petition of 6,000 graiu-growers of Iowa againut Chicago grain in­ spection was presented by Gov. Shnman... •The joint anb-wmmittee which visit<v| th« Kast St. IJOUIS stock Yards reported that no extortions or irregularities wore discovered in the management of those yards, and that no legislation is necessary in regard , thereto The Senate was occupied the remainder of the day with Dearborn's bill restricting the oonomexicement of BUits against railroad corporations for violations of the law regarding extortion to such as are submitted to the Railroad Commission­ ers, and limiting the time when such suits may be brought to sixty days from the date of the offense. The bill as introduced substantially rendered nugatory all the restrictive railroad legis­ lation of the past seven years. It was amended by ^hinging the sixty day limit to one year, and strik­ ing out the clause requiring complaint to be made by the party aggrieved. After a bitter contest it was finally ordered to a third reading. Messrs. Whiting, Joslyn and Hamilton made speeches against the bill. It was supported by Dearborn, Hunter and several others. HOUSE.--The Appropriation bill for contingent expenses for the General Assembly and the State Government until July 1, appropriating $30,000, was ordered to second reading The litter school bill was called up, and, on mo: ion, indefinitely postponed. .... Billo were passed making silver a iegw tender for any amount; the Funding bill, for- rei tindiag and registering outstanding municipal indebtedness Mr. Kedsie reported two bills providing for change in the rates and maur er of grain inspection Mr, Morris offered a resolution to adjourn April 14, but the House would not entertain it. FHIDAV, March 23.--SENATE.--The joint com­ mittee to investigate the Stock Yards made a double report on the Chicago yards. The majority find no cause of complaint, except that the company are making too much, and, therefore, need regulating as to the price charged for yardage, feed, etc. The minority find no ground for complaint whatever. At East St. Louis they find no fault what­ ever Petitions against the passage of the Fish bill and the Medical bill were re­ ceived ....Crooker's House bill on funding mu­ nicipal indebtodnnMH wan rA*d a first time and referred to the Committee on Corporations. ...Mr. Bash's bill to obtain a division of the school fund of the town of Cicero coming up, Mr. Kobinson de­ nounced it as a bill to steal $100,000 from that town. After much bitter talk between Messrs. Marshall and Robinson, the bill was ordered to a third read­ ing, and so was Mr. Kehoe's bill to regulate the number of convicts to be engaged in any one trade in the penitentiary. HOUSE.--The bill to appropriate $50,000 to com­ plete the Douglas monument at Chicago was taken up. This called forth a vast amount of speech- making, participated in by Messrs. Smith of Cook, Herron, Morrison, Winter and Rowett, In favor of the bill. Mr. Merritt was the only one speaking in opposition. The bill passed by a vote of 81 to 40.... Hills passed: Abolishing the Recorder's Court of El Paso, with an emergency clause ; to supply miss­ ing archives in the State Department; making city officers elective biennially instead of annually; pro- viding that in all suits or actions against a husband and wire jointly, either or both may testify on the trial. SATURDAY, March 24.--SENATE.--The storm drove many members home, leaving barely a quo­ rum. The standing committees reported a large number of bills, petitions and resolutions on every conceivable subject, which had accumulated during the session, and many of them "were laid on the table. Many bills were ordered to a second reading. The Committee on Municipalities reported bill to regulate primary elections, which legalizes such elections and punishes illegal voting Bash's bill for the collection of backwater taxes was ordered to a third reading Mr. May- borne introduoed a bill regulating proceedings to determine insanity. HOUSK.--In the House a number of bills were in­ troduoed bat not read Morrill's bill to abolish he Railroad Commission was called from the table and oraerea 10 a second reading Winter's bill, regulating sleeping-car companies and placing them under control of the Railroad Commissioners, was reported favorably from the Railroad Committee... .Mr. Jack, from the Public OharitieB Committee, introduced a bill for establishing an Eastern Illinois Insane Hospital. He also made a lengthy report showing the number of insane in the various counties unprovided for to be very large, and urging the necessity of an addi­ tional hospital for their accommodation. MONDAY, March 26.--SENATE.--A resolution asking Congress to improve the Mississippi river was adopted The bill amending the law of real property as applied to landlord and tenant was laid on the table... .The bill to compel the attendance ef witnesses before officers authorised to take depositions was placed on a second reading, and, after being amended, was ordered engrossed for a third reading; as was also Mr. Archer's bill in regard to the descent of property. A number of bills were similarly disposed of pre­ vious to adjournment Robinson's Cook County Commissioners' bill was made the spccial order for Friday The bill abolishing the Board of Equaliza­ tion was ordered to third reading. HOUSK.--Mr. Wentworth ealled up Hickey's bill for the reorganisation and election of the Board of Cook County Commissioners, and moved a suspen­ sion of the rules that the bill might be plaoed on its third reading. Considerable objection was made to the summary disposition attempted, and resulted in making the bill the special order for Wednesday morning The remain­ der of the morning session was de­ voted to bills on a second reading In the afternoon the Deficiency Appropriation bill was ordered to a third reading Bower's bill reg­ ulating the sale of liquor in villages was taken up and amended by adding the clause desired by the Women's Temperance tinion, allowing all inhabi­ tants over 18 years to vote whether license shall be granted or not. After this action the House killed the bill by striking out the enacting clause.. . The bill authorizing municipal corporations to license, regulate and tax innkeepers, peddlers, etc., was killed... .Mr. Jack's bill consolidating and re­ vising the law relating to normal universities caused much discussion, wan coniewhat amended, and then decapitated by striking out the enacting clause.... Mr. Gallon's resolution against the introduction of new "business, except by a two-thirda vote, was adopted. The discussion indicated -that no ad­ journed session would be held. TUESDAY, March 27.--SENATE.--Senate bill 18, McClellan'B bill, regulating forfeiture of life-insur­ ance policies, was read a third time, and ordered re- engrossed The following bills were passed: Bill exempting State and county roads from taxation; making appointment of Canada Thistle Commission- em in townships mandatory instead of permissible, as now; providing mode of releasing sureties on bonds of guardians, conservators and trustees; to regulate business of foreign insurance companies in this State; to provide for the collection of water taxes, rates or assessments heretofore levied; to punish persons destroying signal lights or other aids to navigation by penalty or imprisonment; to punish passengers on railroads who carry on gambling, the use of ob­ scene language, or are guilty of disorderly coqduct; appropriating money for the payment of officers and members of the General Assembly and State officers; fixing the fees of the Treasurer of Highway Commissioners ; providing for the distribution of Supreme Court reports; allowing railroad companies to own water craft, to transfer their cars, property or passengers across the rivers at their termini; authorizing cor­ porations to organize for the purpose of purchasing railroads, when the same are to be sold under fore­ closure or other legal procedure--Mr. Whiting's bill, regulating the mode of applying for pardons, was defeated. HOUSE.--The substitute for the Bar Association bill dividing the State of Illinois, exclusive of Cook county, into judicial circuits, came up with the Appellate Court bills as the special order. The bill divides the State into thirteen circuits by join­ ing two present circuits in one. and continues the present Circuit Judges in office during their terms of office, and causes the elec­ tion of one new Judge in each of these circuits in June next. This, therefore, gives three Judges where there are now but two Mr. Matthews offered his amendment providing that the system of minority representation shall be adopted in electing these three Judges, giving every voter three votes, which he may cast all for one, or one for each of three candidates. This amendment caused much discussion, and was finally adopted-- 74 to 42 Little other business was transacted. WEDNESDAY, March 28.--SENATE.--The fol­ lowing bills were passed: Amending the Game laws, making it unlawful to kill grouse or woodcock from Jan. 15 to Sept. 1; or deer, fawn, wild turkey, partridge, from Feb. 1 to Oct. 1; or quail from Feb. 1 to Nov. 1; or wild goose, snipe, duck, brant or other water fowl from May 1 to Aug. 15; amend­ ing the County Court law, so that County Courts ahull have concurrent jurisdiction with Cir­ cuit Courts in cases involving less than $1.000; to appropriate $5,900 to pay Hnnry ilPaq xor iwiin mi OWWD auuiwi b narnuitB in time of the war, taken for military supplies and equipments; for reassessment of capital Btock of railroads by Board of Equalization for the years 1873. 1874, and 1875....The bill to establish a Northern Kormal University was killed Mr. Mo- Dowell introduced a resolution asking Gov. Cul- lom to renominate Graham Lee, who had been re­ jected by the Senate, as a trustee of the Feeble­ minded Institution. HOUSE.--The special order, the bill amending the General Revenue tew, was taken op. Attempts were made to amend several sections, bnt all were voted down except a few, which tended to perfect the bill. There was. however, nothing important. The :, .v , . consideration of the measure occupied UM entire y.\ JJJtf session, and, without action, was made the special , \ Oi'def for Wednesday next. 4 r ' ' ) ,t-A it of ft Conet on Oar So# - ; Supposing there really is, I will not "il " Y-r'r'V say danger, but a possibility, that our;- sun may one day, through the arrival of some very large comet traveling directly towards him, share the fate of the suns whose outbursts I have before described, we might be destroyed unawares, or we might be aware for several weeks of the approach of the destroying comet. Sup­ pose, for example, the oomet, which might arrive from any part of tie heav- , ens, came from out that part of the star- jjjp -'fir! depths which is occupied by the constel­ lation Taurus--then, if the arrival were so timed that the comet, which might reach the sun at any time, fell upon him in May or June, we should know nothing of that comet's approach, for it would approach in that part of the heavens which was occupied by the sun, and his . splendor would hide as with a veil the destroying enemy. On the o&er hand, if the eomet, arriving from the same re­ gion of the heavens, so approached as to fall upon the sun in November or De­ cember, we should see it for several weeks, For it would then approach from the part of the heavens high above the southern horizon at midnight. Astron­ omers would be able in a few days after it was discovered to determine its path and predict its downfall upon the sun, precisely as Newton calculated the path of his comet, and predicted its near ap­ proach to the sun. It would be known for weeks then that the event which Newton contemplated as likely to cause a tremendous outburst of solar heat, competent to destroy all life upon the surface of our earth, was about to take place; and, doubtless, the minds of many students of science would be exer­ cised during that interval in determining whether Newton was right or wrong. For mv own part,I have very little doubt that, though the change in the sun's con­ dition in consequence of the direct down­ fall upon his surface of a very large comet would be but temporary, and in that sense slight--for what are a few weeks in the history of an orb which has already existed during thousands of mill­ ions of years ?--yet the effect upon the inhabitants of the earth would be by no means slight. I do not think, however, that any students of science would re­ main, after the catastrophe, to estimate or record its effects.--Richard Proctor, in Belgravia. Secretary Fish's Expenses. Mr. Evarts will find it a very difficult task to maintain the social side of the State Department with more dignity than Hamilton Fish has done. It seems nec­ essary that the Secretary of State should be both rich and a man of culture. The custom has grown up, and it certainly is a dignified and creditable one, that the Secretary of State must give frequent and elaborate entertainments to the dip­ lomatic corps, and to any visiting stran­ gers of distinction from foreign coun­ tries. The Secretary of State is not only expected to manage all difficult interna­ tional problems, but to be as well the ex­ ponent of national courtliness and hos­ pitality. He is supposed to be a, genial, dignified, international good fellow, who pays all his bills. But it takes money to do it. Mr. Fish, in his private monetary matters, is said to be very close, but he has been lavishly generous in his man­ agement of the courtesies of the Govern­ ment. He has spent every year his en­ tire salary in house-rent. He has main­ tained a good establishment, and has dis­ pensed the hospitalities of the nation in a style of which all of us may be proud. And he has not taxed the people for it, but has paid for it out of his own bank account. From the best sources I know that it has at times cost Mr. Fish $50,000 a year to live in this city and maintain the dignity of the State Department. His salary was $8,000.-- Washington Cor. Troy Times. 0',f1 *>y The Imperturbable Passenger. A train boy on the Illinois road found a rather tough customer in an old gen­ tleman of composed mem, who received all shots as if he were bullet-proof. The boy bombarded him with papers, and pamphlets, and candles and bound books, and nuts, and fruits of one kind and another. But it was no good. Had the elderly party been lined inside with brass he could not have shown greater indifference. The boy fretted under his treatment, as was plain to be seen. He had passed the cigars some thirty times, and without success, when he said, in a tone of desperation : " Try some of these cigars, and if they don't kill you within a month I'll give you the money back." The man was somewhat amused that, but he liad the boy. He said : " If I am dead how can you give me the money ?" " I'll give it to your family, then.'* " But I ain't got no family." "Well, I'll give it to the family next door," persisted the boy. " But there ain't no family next door," said the man, with the smile lengthen­ ing his face. "Oh, there'll be one move in when thev hear you are dead," was the quick reply. The elderly passenger shut up like a borrowed knife.--Danbury New«. Hie Beginning:. Remember that those who are drunk­ ards did not intend to become so; they only thought of drinking just a little ; but the little kept increasing, and the love of drink kept growing stronger, un­ til the eyes grew red, and the face grew bloated, and the step grew unsteady; un­ til the one who might have been a bless­ ing to the world and a help to those around him has become a loathsome ob­ ject and a terror to his friends. It is not safe to take even a little strong drink; because the love for it so soon beoomes a strong and cruel master. ^I i Three-Cent Pieces. , . There is no provision of law for fh# iifcfc dempton. or exoiituigv ox silver «irw-oent piecep; &nd they are a legal tender for not more than thirty cents in anyone payment The coinage of these pieces was first authorized by the act of March 3, 1851, which required them to be com­ posed of three-fourths silver and one- fourth oop*>er, The act of March 3, 1853, changed the fineness to 900 pai|* silver and 100 parts copper. f t , , ili