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«nu AXX ABOUT rr. ' '<£ ifiS: **Tb« mf ah.aad by the way, • - I staiM wimtam Brown OmkMinNm the »i<it to-day •• In k«r tttw Baiter town; TIm otfly gota waUt U' A* m h tinea of mine; And yet rik» ha* the vulgar taate _To •»* lwt Agnre'n flnef .» The t«M-A, do yon like my hat And (im ootta dress? . Now donl ym din to uneerUke tfca# '• Come, Baxter, tell me yes I g. Xknow you're rick and couldn't go 1, . To church with me to-d*v, But you'd he very prond, I know, • ' It yon bad Men th" way fei I took the other women down . . ^ ~M Wltfc all my EmVw srcur; . ••v?'- And as for that ol 1 Mrs. BroKWK-- ' M _ Sbe> horrid--ain't she dear?" ̂f •Bmwr Tribune. ^gg' SKAT »G AND COHRTyiO. *'C ; * BT WILLIAM TTLK. *#Srwi moonl'aht. and the world «M wMt#; 5_Wc were a merry party: V We skimmed the glassy field that nighty , - • Toons blood and spirits hearty; ,, JfTe aoored the ios in fancy whirls, / ' ^Each did his share of prntting. Warm hearted ni'*n and bonny ' The night we went a-^ka' Ing. ' •on was there, and that was why :• :SMy heart wes like a frather: .-WOTOMrd her oft, bnt she slid .^Weconld not come toge'ber. : iBortune at last was kind rod frMl Js I had for months b en waiting . Mpr just that chance that camc It M ~WCh« nisht we w^nt a-skat:ng. 1 . X<conld not tell yon all !1ie came* Fcr iove had made me s'tt^ii, #nt plump into my arm* she came-- - . living, breathing CnpM. ®ic did not fall, she d?d not scream, JJShe did not start berating, VWe eftnply both slid dowi the stream That nleht we went a skating, v ®noethen we'v* (fon - throneh lire as oafe'. •In every kind of weather-- lb storm or caTm, in r.rin or snn. Still keeping pac? together. th«ngh there's winter on v'SaLove's power is a tilt clinging-* We'll ne'er 'orget the I n ried v<rtla That night we went n-skiting; - : v'1 Kv-? , MESSENT'S DOUBLE. John Raynor, a young solicitor in a very fair practice, had known Rupert Messent rather well for a good many years as a club acquaintance. Intimacy or even sincere friendship between the two yomig men was quite out of the question, owing to the complete dissim­ ilarity of their taste3 and dispositions. Messeiit had run through a tine fortune which he had inherited from his father, and for years had subsided mainly on his debts. At least he had no visible scarce of income, though he gambled recklessly on the turf, stock exchange, and at cards. But he was one of those men who never seemed to barn their ' - fingers or to seriously damage their reputation, though his mode of life was no secret to anyone. The fact was, he was a man of extremely fascinating . manners and appearance, excelling in all bodily exercises, clever, well-read, aoenstomed to move freely in the best society, and not the sort of person to be Ignored or cold-shouldered. Raynor, on the other hand, was steady-going and methodical, not want­ ing in shrewdness and worldly wisdom, but with very narrow interests and sympathies. He devoted himself to his profession with the single-minded purpose of one day becoming an emin­ ent family solicitor. This respectable ambition prompted him to lose no op- portunity of cultivating acquaintances of good social status. He always had an eye to business, and he used his club as a means of quietly increasing his connection. He was probably attracted to Messeut, in the first instance, by observing the deferenoe with which he was treated by older men than himself. "When he got to know him and resized his position, lie still looked upon him as a possible client. With his handsome face and iigure, hia geniality and his accomplishments, he might aspire to marry an heiress. Raynor often sug­ gested tliis to him, with the hope of securing professional employment for himself if Messent should take his advice. The latter, however, seemed little inclined to do so; or, at all events, he professed to laugh at the notion. Bathe contracted the habit of convers­ ing with Raynor about his affairs--his debts and his embarrassments--and they usually had a chat when they met at the club. One evening he strolled into the smoking room and joined Bay nor on the sofa. "Well, Raynor, I've done it, and you're responsible," he remarked, when they had exchanged greetings. "Done what?" inquired Raynor. "I'm engaged to be married to Miss Clay port," said Messent, extracting a miniature cigarette from a da\nty silver ease and lighting it. "What! The daughter of old Clay- port, the contractor?" exclaimed Ray­ nor. "I believe he is a contractor. He is •ery rich, any way," said Messent, puff­ ing serenely. "My dear fellow! He is worth mill­ ions--five or six millions, they say-- and his daughter is the only child," ejaculated Raynor, startled .out of his usual calmness. "He is an old brick!" said Messent, rousing himself to make a faint show of enthusiasm. "I toidhim of my debts and f>o on. He says they are flea bites. I own I never looked at them in that light before." "My dear Messent! Pray allow me to congratulate you," cried Raynor, shaking him warmly by the hand. "Thanks," said Messent, shortly. '"Miss Clayport," he added, after a pause, as though speaking from a strong sense of duty. "Miss Clayport is a very charming girl!" "So I have always understood,'" said Baynor, though as a matter of fact he had never heard of her before in his life, except by name. He proceeded to touch lightly on the subjectof the settlements to be ex­ ecuted upon the marriage, with the ' view of impressing Messent with the necessity of placing himself under his professional care and direction. Mes­ sent answered his questions in an off­ hand manner, which plainly showed that he had not troubled his head, at present, on the subject, and he seemed so distrait and absent-minded that Ray­ nor at length said, almost angrily: "You look as glum as an undertaker, Messent. one would imagine you •; had just been made the happiest of "The fact is," said Messent slowly, as ho lighted another cigarette, "I had rather an upset just before I came here. I saw my ghost." "^?ur ghost," laughed Raynor. 'W ell, I suppose I ought to say my as he v. as certainly flesh and But he was so like me that I . could almost sworn it was myself." Raynor stared at his friend in amaze­ ment. Messent was the last man in the -World whom one would have suspected .'•«f having delicate nerves, yet he was evidently disturbed by what he was re­ lating. "J. don't think anything of that," said a little contemptuously, have been lots of instances of as alike as two peas. What does matter?" suppose it doesn't matter, but it fives a man a queer sensation to come face to face with another the very •J counterpart of himself," said Messent, throwing away the end of his cigarette on the carpet in defianoe of the club rules, and thrusting his hands in his trousers' pockets. "Of course he wasn't dressed like mo, but his features and complexion seemed precisely the same as mine." "Did you meet this inconvenient per­ son in the street? Why didn't you in­ sist on his giving an account of liim? self?" asked Raynor, laughingly. "I'm not sure that it isn't a case of infringe­ ment of copyright." "I met him close here, in Bond street, I was so taken aback that I never thought to speak to him," said Messent, who treated the matter quite seriously, "I wish I had," he added raising to hi* feet and shaking himself. "If I had exchanged half a dozen words with him I should not have come away impressed with an uncomfortable idea of having seen an evil omen." "Evil fiddlesticks!" said Raynor, with great scorn. An intimate friend of Messent's came at that moment and carried him off, thus putting an end to the conversation. Raynor immediately dismissed the in­ cident they had just been discussing from his practical mind, whi -h was a groat deal exercised about his friend's marriage. If Messent married old Clayport's heiress he might become a valuable client, and there was, of course, the possibility that through his friend's introduction he might obtain the busi­ ness of the wealthy contractor himself. The endless vista of six-and-ei.^ht- pence which this wealthy ce^inootion opened up to his imagination caused his interest in Messent to increase a hundred fold, and ho mentally congrat ulated himself upon his foresight in having secured his confidence. In spite of himself, however, he was fated to be reminded of Messents' story of his double, for a few days afterward he was walking down Long Acre, in the direction of his offices in Lincoln's-Inn lields, when he saw, as he thought, Messent walked on the pavement op­ posite. If he had not suddenly recol­ lected Messent's own warning he would have rushed across to him without a moment's hesitation. But with charac­ teristic caution he looked the individual up and down before committing him­ self, and then he saw he had bpen mis­ led by a remarkable likeness. At a second glance he perceived that the stranger looked older than Messent, and judging from his attire he was in a different station of life althogether. There was no room for doubt that this was the man that Messetit had met the other day, but Raynor, though struck by the resemblance, did not think it was anything to rave about. However, he wrote and told Messent he had come across his duplicate. It was his policy to keep himself in evi­ dence at this interesting juncture of his friend's affairs, and therefore he took the trouble to send a few lines. In the course of the following week he re­ ceived a' reply in which Messent said that he had made the acquaintance of the individual in question, and he in­ vited him to come up to his rooms on au evening which he named to meet the stranger. Raynor took no interest •whatever in his friend's double, and thought Messent was making an un­ necessary and foolish fuss about an ac­ cidental likeness. But he deemed it prudent to accept the invitation, and at the appointed time presented himself at his friend's chambers. Messent had an expensive first floor in Bond street, furnished with a good deal of taste and luxury. His man ushered Raynor into the sitting room, which was untenanted, and then hand­ ed him a letter, saying mat his master had been obliged to go out. Inside the envelope was a brief note from Miss Clayport to her fiance, stating that at the last moment a friend had sent her tickets for a much sought after enter- tairrment. and requesting him to accom­ pany her. On the back of this Messent liad scrawled a few lines apologizing to Raynor for his enforced absence, and explaining that Miss Clayport's letter had only just aiyived. He asked Ray­ nor to be good enough to wait and re­ ceive the guest he was to meet, if only for the purpose of accounting for the absence of the host. He added that he would be very pleased to find them both at his rooms on his return. Raynor thought he might as well wait, especially as Messent wished him to. He seated himself comfortably in his friend's best easy chair, selected a choice cigar from the box on the table, and sat keenly scrutinizing the apart­ ment, and especially the invitation cards on the mantel board, until the other guest arrived. The new-comer was an­ nounced as Mr. Fabian, and the man who showed him in stared at him open- mouthed, evidently amazed--as indeed, he could not fail to be---at the visitor's likeness to his master. Raynor introduced himself apologiz- j ing for Messent's absence as requested. He repeated his friend's invitation, and Mr. Fabian, with some hesitation, con­ sented to remain. He did not seem overjoyed at the prospect of a tete-a- tete with l^aynor, though the latter ex­ erted himself to be agr- eable. In fact, Mr. Fabian seemed a little out of tem­ per at the trick his host had played him. But he was apparently as much struck as Messent himself at the re­ semblance between them, and the desire to become acquainted with one another seemed mutual. Raynor was able to satisfy Mr. Fabian's curiosity regarding Me?sent by describing his parentage and antecedents, and their conversation elicited the singular fact that Messent and his double had been born in the same month and year. Ravuor became quite interested in these comparisons, but upon better acquaintance with Mr. Fabian he noticed many little points of difference between the outward appear­ ance of him and Messent. It is true their features were very much alike, and the color of their eyes looked the same. Even their hair and mustaches and whiskers were the same dark tint, though Mr. Fabian's face was more cov­ ered and he was much less carefully combed and trimmed. But for all this Raynor flattered himself he should never himself :have been deceived. Mr, Fabian's features were not so refined as Messent's; hi3 face, too, was lined and careworn ar.d had an expression of habitual dejection. It was quite clear, however, that Mr, Fabian had not led BO pleasant and easy-going a life as Messent. He seem­ ed at very low water, his clothes being old and shabby, and hia linen none of the cleanest. On seeing him in the street, Raynor had concluded, chiefly from his dress, that he was not Mes­ sent's equal in the social scales. He now saw reason to alter his opinion, for though Mr. Fabian's manners were rough and unpolished, he was unmis takably a gentleman. Finding his com panion was inclined to be reticent about himself, Raynor could not refrain from puttiug him a few leading questions, as he thought, adroitly. But he began to suspect he had given offense by hia curiosity.when MrJ'abain abruptly arose from his ohair, threw his half-finished cigar into the grate, and took his de­ parture with scent ceremony. Messent's man made an excuse to come into the room where Baynor -was when Mr. Fabian had gone, and ex pressed his astonishment at the e&tra ordinary likeness. Baynor rather pooh- poohed it, feeling irritated at Mr. Fabi­ an's abrupt exit. He remained until ho had finished his cigar, and then, finding it was stiil early, adjourued to the clnb for the rest of the evening, leaving word for Mosccnt where ho was in «ase he felt inclined to come round. Messent called upon him the next day at his office, chiefly to ask questions about Mr. Fabian, but partly on bus ness also. He wanted to know what form a marriage settlement usually took, and so on--giving Raynor an op­ portunity of impressing him with his professional acumen. Raynor dwelt as much as possible on this part of the in terview; but Messent seemed much more interested about Mr Fabian. He eagerlly listened to what little informa tion Raynor had gathered concerning him, and &emed as keen as ever about following up the acquaintance. He an­ nounced lids intention of calling upon him, and mentioned h:'s address, which Raynor had not previously known. It was in some suburb the other side of the water--Wandsworth er Battersea. After this Raynor saw nothing more of Messent for a few weeks. He kept a lookout for him at the;dub, bnt a newly engaged man can never be depended upon at his old haunts. The next he heard of him was. oddly euough, through this very Mr. Fabian, who called one day with Messent's card. Raynor gathered that a sort of intimacy had sprung up l>etween Messent and Fabian, for they had apparently seen a good deal of each other. Messent had evidently said a good Word for his friend, for Mr. Fabian's manner at his second meeting with Raynor was much more general. "I have called to consult you on a matter of business," said Mr. Fabian, after chatting for a few minutes about Messent. "I did not tell our friend what the subject was, though he knows it is connected with my departure." "Where to?" inquired Raynor. "Venezuela." " What ? For good ?" exclaimed Ray­ nor. "One place is as good as another," said Mr. Fabian, bitterly. "Let me tell you in confidence how I am situated." It was a commonplace story, which need not be repeated in detail.' Suffice it to say that Fabian was not his real name. He was the son of a wealthy Liverpool merchant, who had disinher­ ited him in consequence of his mar­ riage with a woman of doubtful ante­ cedents. Mr. Fabian was not very com­ municative about himself, and Raynor imagined that his relatives had more cause for displeasure than he cared to admit. He confessed that he had been subsisting chiefly on charity for some years past, owing, as he declared, to his inability to earn a living. The present position was that the only relief he oould obtain was a sum of money on condition of his leaving the country for good. "Messent advised me," he said discon­ tentedly, "and he has given me a letter to a man over there, so I may as well try my luck." "What did you want with me?" in­ quired Raynor. "I want you to look after my wife and children," said Fabian. "I mean to pay them an allowance for a month or two, while I am making a home for them." It crossed Baynor's mind that his client contemplated deserting his fam­ ily; but Fabian, apparently divining his suspicion, hastened to say, "This is Messent's idea. I was for taking my wife with me; and I'm not sure if it wouldn't be better." "Of course it is a matter for arrange­ ment," said Raynor, deciding to speak to Messent before undertaking the bus­ iness. Meanwhile Raynor made a point of seeing Messant, who soon succeeded in overcoming his seruple3. Messent seemed eonyincedof Fabian's bona-fid&s and integrity, and showed symptoms of irritation atRaynor's hesitation. The remit was that when next Mr. Fabian called Baynor readily undertook the trust. Raynor had his doubts whether the money would be forthcoming, but rath­ er to his surprise a considerable sum was placed in his hands to distribute in weekly payments. Before he sailed Mr. Fabian authorized Raynor, in case his wife should grow impatient, to take a passage for her and her children by a later steamer. Messent, who seemed completely in­ fatuated with Fabian, went down to Southampton to see liiai off, and wanted Raynor to go too. Bnt the lat­ ter pleaded bis professional engage­ ments. and from that time he com­ menced to make weekly remittances to Mrs. Fabian, fhe lady acknowledged them two or three times without com­ ment, and then, rattier to Ravnor's sur­ prise. requested .to be informed of her husband's address. Raynor wrote to her with a direction to Venezuela, which would find him, and the next morning on reaching his office he was informed that Mrs. Fabian awaited him. She was a vulgar-looking, over-dressed young woman, with golden hair of a very artificial aspect. She appeared in a great state of excitement and accosted Ravnor fiercely. "Where is my husband?" she cried. "Did you get a letter ?" inquired Bay­ nor. "Yes. What is the name of the place ? I can't read it! Where is it? J manded Mrs. Fabian in a breath, ducing a letter. Raynor told her quietly what the place was and where. Oh, then, be has deserted me!" cried Mrs. Fabian, violently. "I sus­ pected what he was up to when he pore- tended he was obliged to keep in hid­ ing from the baliiTs. So he has left the country, has he?" "There is BO question of desertion." said Raynor, anxiously, as the lady showed an inclination to demonstrate her indignation very forcibly. "If you and your children wish to follow him you can. I will engage your passage to-morrow by the next steamer." '*Oh! I'll follow him right enough," said Mrs. Fabian, after a stare of aston­ ishment* "Catcli me letting him get behind my reach. I'll follow him,, and if I don't like it I'll soon bring him back. Why, you've got a letter from him," she added, suddenly pointing to one he had just opened and held in his hand. "It is nothing of the kind," returned Raynor. It happened to be a letter from Mes­ sent, stating that he had arranged to 1 get married at a very early date, which he named, and asked Raynor to put himself into communication at once de- pro- with Mr. Clayport's solicitors about the settlements. "Very good, your saying that,"said Baynor, good numorealy. "It is the1 writing of a friend of your husband's who, strangely enough, bears a most extraordinary resemblance." Baynor stopped short in his sentence and never finished it. Like a revel a tion the suspicion suddenly flashod across his mind that the likeness be­ tween these two men was not accident­ al. A moment's reflection revealed to him the humiliating truth that 'he had been MADE ,THE tool of sn UUHCII' and designing man. The woman seated by his side was Messent's wife, and in order to get hef out of the way and se­ cure himself from future annoyance he had sought by subtertnge to procure Raynor's bona fide testimony to the ex­ istence of a double. The depth and cunning of the conspiracy Raynor could not help admiring, even while ho was tingling with vexation and resentment. "I don't fancy my hnsband's gone to wha^s-its-name, after all," said the wo­ man, who sat watching him. Baynor threw Messent's letter to her across the table with a vioions gesture. •London Truth. THE FAMILY DOCTUS. DIET FOR INVALIDS.--The pure juice may be extracted from beef in two way First by cutting the meat in small pieces, putting them in a tightly corked bottle, immersing it in hot water, and boiling for several hours. Second by taking a thick piece of juicy steak, broiling it on a gridiron over a clear fire for a few moments, then cutting it up in strips and pressing it in a lemon squeezer. The juice thus obtained may be given either cold or hot. It may be frozen, broken into lumps, and given like cracked ice. A little salt should be added before using. An invalid who is tired of hot beef tea will sometimes drink it cold or iced with great relish. Enough isinglass or gelatine may be added to the juice to make a jelly, which can be flavored with sherry, es­ sence of celery, or anything the patient may fancy. Raw meat is very nutri­ tious ; and may be prepared by shred­ ding the beef extremely line,. removing every particle of skin and fat, and mix­ ing it Avith cracker crumbs. A little salt and pepper may be added, and the mixture rolled into tiny balls. In con­ valescence after typhoid fever the greatest care is necessary with regard to the food, and no new article of diet should be given without the express permission of the doctor. Even so slight an imprudence as eating a raw apple has been known to cause death. While roasted, boiled and broiled chick­ en, mutton chop and beefsteak have long held a recognized pesition in the invalid's bill of fare, the merit of a veal sweetbread has been usually over­ looked. When properly cooked it is a delicious dish, and may tempt a capri­ cious appetite that has grown weary ol the other viands. A sweetbread fehould be parboiled for a short time until quite soft, and then fried in a little butter to a delicate brown. It may be served with gravy or white sauce. Port wine jelly may sometimes be given where the wine itself would ex­ cite disgust. Dissolve half ounce of gelatine in three tablespoonfuls of water add a little white sugar, and nutmeg or cinnamon if the taste is liked; let it melt over a very gentle heat, put in five wine-glassfuls of port and stir constant­ ly for ten minutes. Strain it into a mold moistened with cold water. A piece as large as an egg should be eaten two or three times a day. Delicious oat meal gruel may be made by stirring a cupful of oatmeai into a bowl of water, allowing it to stand for a few minutes until the coarsest particles have fallen to the bottom, pouring off the water, an 1 repeating this once or twice. The water must then be boiled, stirring it constantly untii it is sufficiently cooked. Few persons understand properly the art of making lemonade. The lemon should first be rolled between the hands until it is quite soft, the skin removed with a sharp knife, and every pip ex­ tracted, the lemon being held over a tumbler that no juice may be lost in the operation. The pulp should then be divided into small pieces and the sugar thoroughly mixed with it. Last of all the requisite amount of water should be added to it. Orangeade may be made in the same way as lemonade, using less sugar. They both should be iced. Imperial drink is made by add­ ing a small teaspoonful of cream of tartar, dissolved in boiling water, . to each pint ot|lemonade. In some diseases it is impossible to give anything con­ taining acids, and then the ingenuity«of the nurse is tested to provide some beverage at once cooling and palatable. Iced tea and coffee are excellent when they are liked, and may be taken either with or without milk. Barley water is made by boiling two ounces of pearl barley, previously well washed, for twenty minutes in a pint and a half of water. It is then strained amd flavored with lemon peel and sugar to taste. This may be alternated with flaxseed tea. S*eep half an ounce of unbruised flaxseed in a pint of boiling water. Let it stand in a covered jar near a fire for three or four hours; then strain and flavor.--Health and Home. THOUGHT AND OPINION. The Immortals. Theophile Gaut'er used to Say that it was destiny, not literary merit, which conducted men to the honor of admit­ tance to the French Academy. "If you are to belong to the Academy," he said on one occasion to M. Bergerat, "take no trouble about it--an Academician you will be without writing a single book; but if you were not predestined for a fauteml, 390 volumes and ten chefs (Faruvre will not open the doors of the Institute to you. A man is born an Academician, as one is l>orn an Arch­ bishop, a cook, er a policeman. The last time I offered myself I had a form­ al promise of the vote of every o ie of the members. When the day came they all voted like one man. The thirty-nine voting papers all bore my name. Of that there was not a shadow of doubt; and for my own part I am convinced of it to this day. Neverthe­ less, the rival candidate was cl jcted unanimously." The New Walter. "This coffee is so poor I can't drink it." ^ "Just shut your eyes, put it out of sight, and don't say anything about it," was the reply of the now waiter, who was a humorist. The guest did not make any reply, but when he came to pay, he handed over to the proprietor of the establish ment a solitary cent. "Where's the rest,of the money?" '•Just shut your eyes, put it ont o! sight, and don't say anything more about it. That's what your new waiter said when I told him the coffee was weak." The new waiter tendered his resigna­ tion.--Texas Sifting*. \ THOUSAND influences in'our modern life tend to separate, to isolate and alienate.--Living Church. THE ohurbh to-day is like the butt end of a broom--as many diversities as the broom has fingers.--Henry Ward Beecher. THE thing desired is to make men forget they are anything but American. --A Southern Teacher in the Inde­ pendent. A MAN voting when he is drank is as if you should send a wild bull into an orphan asylum to take care of the children.--Henry Ward Beecher. ANY man strong enough to have at­ tained prominence in National affairs, whatever his name, is too strong to per­ mit women to fight his battles.--Even­ ing Wisconsin. WHILE the D. D.'s are quibbling, these bonnetted Amazons are marching on to the conquest of the people for righteousness and God.--Mrs. Gen. Booth, of the Salvation Army. THK theory that the interests of a journal, when it is suddenly robbed of its working head, can best be serucd by the promotion of the next in rank, has found favor with all great Anforican newspapers.-- Utica Observer. ^ IF unreformed Utah applied to Con­ gress for a place in the Union, and is admitted by any time-serving party, God grant she may bang as a mill-stone around the neck of every politicion who favors the oonspiracy to give the Amer­ ican Bluebe«rd a seat iJJ the side of Washington.--Joseph Cook, Boston, Lecture. WE want simplicity of life, frugality, modesty, industry and system. If we could introduce these virtues into our higher society, we should diminish the despair, envy, jealousy, dissipation and suicides of the single, and the bicker­ ings, wretchedness and divorces of the married.--£>r. Howard Crosby, of New York. As LONO as our school system con­ tinues to be a stuffing machine the as­ saults will be made. Reform need not be revolutionary. Too many things are taught; sweep at least one third of the "ologies" off the schedule and teach the others more leisurely and more thoroughly and less mechanically.-- Minneapolis Tribune. IT is scarcely possible to estimate the effect upon the social status of wemen in general which might be exerted by a class of women comparable in many- sided intelligence and power to the class of men who rule the thought and industry of men; but such a class of women can only be created by equal opportunities of education.-- The Na­ tion. WHEN a man has been a part of a great tiling, the greatest in American history, what will he do? All other things are less, and however well he does them, he seems a smaller figure in the doing. The pictures of General Grant will not represent him standing' on Wall street Eing a trade. Appo­ mattox is higher ground, and the con­ ditions of the surrender of Lee and his legions are the words we shall re­ member.--"Rev. Myron Reed. The Flower Garden. Our best florists no longez sow seeds in earthenware, but use shallow boxes, instead. Common soap boxes cut into three or four pieces, making a depth of not more than one or two inches for the soil into which the seeds are to be sown., are convenient. Of course, any size of box will do, but it should not be of greater depth than two inches, otherwise the soil will get too wet, and become sour. Care must be taken that the bottom of the box is left open sufficiently to allow the water to escape when given in excess. Almost any good soil will suit, which, for con­ venience, had better be procured from the nearest florist. After placing the soil in the boxes make the surface perfectly level and smooth, then sow the seed evenly over it, press it into the soil, and cover it. The rule is that all seeds should have a covering of soil equal to the size of the seed. When oovered, water gently with a fine rose watering-pot; this one water­ ing will usually be sufficient until the seeds come up; in any case the soil should not be again watered until, by its light color, it shown indications of being dry. Although seed will germin­ ate in the dark, the moment that they break the surface of the soil they should be placed in the lightest possi­ ble place. The temperature best suited to the germination of nearly all seeds is about 60 degrees at night with 70 degrees during the day. After the seeds have started to make the rough leaves, they should be replanted from the seed ljoxes into similar boxes, at distances of from an inch to an inch and a half apart,where they can remain to be set out in the open ground, from the middle to the end of May. It is very important to get the proper kinds ot flower seeds because there are hundreds of verities offered in the seed- men's lists that it would be useless for the amatern* to attempt to cultivate. For want of discrimination in selection much disappointment ensues. The kinds recommended to give the most general satisfaction are asters in variety Balsams (camellia flowered) candytuft, in variety, cockscombs, chrysanthemum tri-colors, coleus convolvulus, cypress vine, geraniums, marigold (gold-striped), mignonette, pyramidal and spiral, pansy, iu variety, phlox drummondii, petunia, single and double, stocks, ver­ benas, and zinnia. Another plan, very satisfactory with amateur gardeners raising flowers, is to purchase very small plants from the florist about the first week in April, which at that season can be had at about one-third the price they are sold for in May. These plants are shifted in­ to pots a size larger, and can be kept in the sitting-room where there is plenty of light. By the time of plant­ ing out in May they will have grown to be large and lino plants. They will require but little care. The kinds of 7>lants best suited for summer flowering that can be safely grown in the sitting room, are begonias, chrysanthemums, carnations, geraniums of all kinds, fuchsias, heliothrope, and monthly roses. There are many others, of course, but these are the simplest and such as will be most satisfactory.--New York Evening Pont. A Religions Laundry. "Cleanliness is next to godliness.* ?If the prophet had bidden thee to do some great thing, would'st thou not have done it? How much, rather, therefore, when he saith unto thee, 'Wash and bo clean.'" Trinity church, Boston, of which the Rev. Phillips Brooks is pastor, has a laundry depart­ ment. Its earnings last year were about $3,500, of which $2,600 was paid out as wages to the women employed in the laundry. The wash-tub as well as the font, is needed in the churches, if "the great unwashed" are tnhe dsalt with.--Brooklyn Eagle, - - Oriental Snake Charmers. The Oriental has an inexhaustible appetite for entertainment, and pro­ vided it cag be seen for nothing, and sitting, he will squat all day before a puppet-show. That the exhibition in question is a stale one matters nothing, and the same performer is therefore certain ©f a welcome often a? be chooses to come. This partially ex­ plains the extraordinary popularity of the smake charmer's entertainment, for though judged on its own merits, it has little in it either to arrest attention or to evoke admiration, the tubri-wal- lah's performance at all times an in­ terested audience; for, of all the many eastos or tribes which pretend to power over the serpent world, the Sanyis, or tubri-wallahs, constitute the chief In­ dian snake charming guild. He is, as rule, a wild-looking creature--the snake charmer--with his yellow cloths all fluttering about him, and his hair arranged in a strange confusion of coils and wisps, under and among rags of the same color--the professional hue -- as he struts into a village, piping on a reed stuck into a gourd, while his assistant, a small, unkempt morsel of humanity, labors in his wake, with a box of mys­ teries and basketful of wonders. Arrived at the well, the couple seat themselves, and the villagers collect to see the show. But first the performer has to insure some payment--a meal and a night's lodging, at least--and this arranged satisfactorily, the proceedings begin. The same stupid old toothless cobra is hustled out of its basket, picked up and propped a hundred times, as if it was a dangerous thing, and then, with a boisterous ostentation of pluck and dexterity, finally seized by his neck, half throttled and thrust back into his bag. This wonderful feat, enacted over and over again with precisely the same '"business" and pantomime, constitutes the first part of the entertainment, and then the wonder worker proceeds to charm." The old cobra, sick to death of what it has come to consider ill-timed foolery, is once more jierked out from the bag and while the magician plays on his execrable pipe the poor, battered reptile lifts a foot of its length off the ground, and, distending its hood, sways gracefully to and fro in time with the music. The master now requires no stiok to keep his pupil at work, for it is evident that the cobra enjoys the me­ lody, and that its motions are volun­ tarily and naturally sympathetic. But, except as an illustration of the power of music over the dreadful thing, the second part of the entertainment is as dull as the first. There can be no doubt, however, that the terrific power given by nature to venomous snakes invests them, even for the most intelligent, with extraordinary interest; and any performance that re­ quires the handling of them must have a corresponding excitement for others besides native villagers. In his fearless manipulation of the deadliest species, the tubri-wallah has a certain claim to respect--the same claim as have all ex­ hibitors who, for the entertainment of tbeir audience trifle with sudden death. Yet, as regards the supernatural power they profess to have over the creatures which they torment and play with, there is hardly another imposture--even in the East, the home of impostures--so inadequately supported by performance. The parade of fangless worms is absurb enough, and in the never-failing crop of reptiles to be gathered by the pipe- player from among the furniture of a room or the shrubs in a garden, there is only food for laughter.--Phil Robin­ son. How the Docfiy ©f lPnissla came to the Hohenzollerns. The country in question lies along the coast of the Baltic, east of the river Vistula. The natives--the Prussians, or Po-Russians--were Slavs by race, heathen by religion, fishermen and hunters by occupation; and they were ever ready to fight, and fight bravely, for their religion, their homes, and their independence. But the church could not tolerate their religion, and sought to carry them the Gospel of Peace on the point of the sword. With the sword the barbarians resisted; and more than one pious expedition march­ ed into the fatal disaster. At length it was determined to call in the Teutonic Knights--an order of chivalry founded during the Crusades, and in the early part of the thirteenth century settled without employment at Venice. Those zealous adventurers responded with eagerness to the appeal. They receiv­ ed a grant of the country from the Pope and the Emperor, set about the con­ quest with energy and method, and eventually subdued the natives under their authority and that of the Church. For two centuries they governed well. The country was prosperous, and the knights, though a privileged castc, averse to labor, set at least an example of temperance and equity. But luxury and idleness began finally to work their efleets, and by the fifteenth century the knights had lost their habits of sobriety, their sense of justice, their valor and skill in battle. In wars with Poland they were repeatedly un­ successful, and paid for their defeats by the loss of territory. The post of Grand Master of the order went begging all over Europe. It had ceased to be a post either of honor or of power. But early in the sixteenth century the choice fell upon Albert of Hohenzollern, of the Nu­ remberg branch of the family, and he accepted, with the resolution to restore the wasted fortunes of the colony. The task was difficult. The princes of the Empire, to whom Albert applied for help, gave only advice. Martin Luther, whom he consnlted, also gave advice, and on that he acted. He adopted the Reformation, secularized the ordersand created the Duchv of Prussia, he him­ self being Duke, and a vassal ef the republic of Poland. With this revolution begins the chain of circumstancos which led to the ac­ quisition of the duchy by Albert's kins­ men of Brandenburg. It will suffice to nay that in 1569 the right of succession in the duchy, on the failure of direct heirs of Albert, had been secured to the electors of Brandenburg by treaty with Poland, that in 1618 this contin­ gency arrived, and that John Sig?s- mund, who had a further claim based on his marriage with a granddaughter of Albert, became Duke of Prussia.-- Herbert Tuttle. in Harper's Maga­ zine. PITH ANDPOIKt THE Phychological Journal gives the increase of the number of insane persons in the United States at, from 1850 to 1860, 8,432; 1860 to 1870,13,390; 1870 to 1880, 54,565. The whole num­ ber of our insane is given at 91,997; idiots, 76,895. More than one-half are not under hospital treatment. ^THEanosquito'a auger is an approprt- \, A VXSVB is oftetf surprised at cloai 'quarters. r ; WHEN does\a tree feel contentedF When it s sappy. . IT is not right to make game of 4 Bum out of season. THE reason why a woman always adds a postscript to her letter is because she's boiB t̂o have the last word, if she las to write it hsrttelf. T SAID the Colorado man: "No; we never committee suicide-by hanging iQ our State. A man doesn't want to b#i suspected of being lynched." | ^ Two marriage certificates, confront* ing a man at the same time, are as de­ moralizing in their tendencies as a mortgage coming due.--Carl Pretzel's Weekly. A TEXAS man will go four or five miles to get a drink. A Vermont man W^n'Si *?e,11.iU8fc tang around the gin- mill all the time, and never allow him­ self to get four or five miles from it. Only an acre ot leather, o^dwlhal"r,00»°* twine, Bhnfnlng over a crossing •Bearing a figure divine. One after tke other they're lifted _And fall with a horrible thud-- ., The feet of a Syracuse damsel T_ , Splaahing aleng throng a the mnd. «•* Utica Obsercor. "Is IOUR wife acquainted with the dead languages?" asked the professor of a Newman man. "Maybe she is,"" was the reply, "but the language she r uses is entirely too warm to have been, dead very long.--Newman Independ­ ent. FARMER--I don't know what to do with that old plow. Citizen--Real old ?, Farmer--Yes; in fact it's too old for any more use. Citizen--Sell it to the first minstrel show that comes along, i They alwuys use old things.--Break­ fast Table. "So VOTJ'VE got a piano, Mrs. Biten," said one lady to another. "Yes, we've had it for three months." "How did you get it?" "Got it from a man down­ town." "Did you take it for debt, like we did?" "Oh, no; but Biten says it will be taken for debt, if he doesn't pay the second installment pretty Soon."-- Merchant Traveler. BEECHEK says four-fifths of the-peo­ ple in heaven will be women. That is1 all right enough. Nobody ought to' kick about that. Four-fifths of the women are better than men, anyway, and they ought to go to heaven. But according to that story, what a stag, party there is going to be standing around the fire in the other place.-- Peck's Sun. "OH, the road is smooth enough," said the placid conductor to the com­ plaining passenger. "There isn't a smoother i>oad-bed in the United States. It's the cars that jolt. Company took the springs out last week, to oil them, and didn't get them back in time for this trip." And the complaining pas­ senger grumbled no more, for he felt that he was in the presence of the Star Liar.--Haw key e. FBOM Pat in America to his sweet­ heart in Ireland: "O, Bridget, dear. Be coming here, B cht to the arms of Fat; Don't stay away Another day-- Be alter minding that." To which Bridget replies: "O, Pat, my lad-- . Now don't feel bad-- I've married Barney Rne; And we'*« a biy, To give yon Joy, a I've named -the chill*for yon." THE BLOKE, TO HIS CHOWIL "Hey, Jimmie! arey" wici me? »v" I'm on a lay to stag a fake, Plank your boodle, it's a graft, An' l'se sure to give yer rake." "Yee, Jerry lad, I'm wid ye, Bet jer life, troo tick an' tin: % We's te-a-ker V.'okees, we is. An' onr lush bees always gin. "We's been pals for many years, Jim, Since der time we did a six; Dev nabbed «« in der crib, Jim, D'beaka nailed us at onr tdeks. "We didn't stay fnr long, Jim, Ite hard to hold dis crook; I knows ye'll keep em to yeraelf^ Der means by which we snook. "Dey on'y yanked ns once, Jim, Since den we's both got fly. An* dey never more will scoop us, 'Canse we does tings on der sly. "Each night, down to der boozln ken, We'll meet at nine, ol" Jim, An' no matter w'at do game may be Onr lash will \tUl >>e gin." -- Wm. M., Jr., iu Ine Judge, y Experts on Bloed Stains. Referring to some recent expert tes­ timony as to blood stains the Micro­ scope says: "Human blood cannot be told from dog's blood, except under favorable conditions, and not invariably then." Mr. Woodward, of Washing­ ton, says: "The average of all the measurements of human blood I have made is rather larger than the average of all the measurements of dog's blood. But it is not rare to find specimen's of * dog's blood in which the corpuscles range so large that their average size is larger than that of many samples of human blood." When it is remember­ ed that the measurements of human blood by so-called high authorities vary from 1-3050 to 1-4630 of an inch, expert testimony on the subject takes on a se­ rious aspect, and juries should receive it with great caution. A Queer Parrot. Parrots are queer creatures, and, like monkeys, sometimes seem like a very burlesque upon humanity. One South American bird had unfortunately learned on shipboard the habit of pro­ fane language. Tho mate, a little ashamed of the creature's profanity, undertook a cure by dousing it with a bucket of water at each offense. Polly evidently imbibed the reproof, for dur­ ing a gale, when a heavy sea broke over a hen-coop, and deluged hens and cocks pretty thoroughly, she marched up to the dripping fowls and screamed oat, "Betn swearing again, hain't ye?,x-- Editor's Drawer, in Harper's Maga­ zine. " The First Model oT a Human Head. • The first person who became a model is said to have been a lover and lived in the ancient days of Greece. He was about to travel and leave his Sicyon, and after a repetition of vows of con­ stancy on both sides be fell asleep, and from the position of the lamp his pro­ file was thrown strongly on the wall. The maiden in passing through the room observed this, and, taking up a piece of cbarooal, sketched the outline of the shadow. The father, when he saw what had been done, thought it well to preserve it in clay,and taking Rome of the material in which he work­ ed, made the first model of a human head. . MGR. CAPEL says: "My views on the marriage tie are, briefly", that women were made by God Almighty to be either married or become nuns, and that there is no such state as old maid recognizable. My advice to all young women is to accept marriage proposals instead of rejecting them."