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J. VAN SlYKC. EMaratf PahUslwr. JpcHENBI, ILLINOIS. \ • *4 %- , VERMQNT farmers still insist on bury- pig their deal friends on the farm. It Ipaves time and expense, and it is gen­ erally land which could Jje put to no "Other use. A swale of half an acre in extent will do lor three wires, and they |ure warranted to keep moist. "*• ;• IK some of the third-class cities the letter carriers hare to travel thirty lb ilea per day to make their routes, and they complain that nine-tenths of the fetters delivered are only dry goods ad­ vertisements and letters from mothers- in-law hinting at an early visit and a Stay of six weeks. ' DANIEL R. WOLFF, of Chambersburg, '3?a., lays claim to being the first com- Jnercial traveler or "drummer" in the Jjnited States. He went "cn the road" In 1844 for the dry-goods and notion fkouse of Dunton, Gemmill & Co., of Philadelphia. Until 1849 he traveled i|bithout samples, securing them from Country merchants, and then filling the Itrders from sampler received from cus­ tomers. THE walls of a ruined Mexican fhurch' at Grand Qaievera, X. M., are three feet thicker at the top than at the base. It is a matter of tradition that ' When the Franciscan friars abandoned ;|he pueblo during the revolution of 1680 they buried the bells and the church treasure, and up to this time they continue concealed from the eye of the treasure-hunter and the archselog- ' |cal fiend. : I SAM JONES recently preached four «ajs in Henry County, Kentucky, with­ out making a single convert At the $lote of his last sermon.he remarked: "The sermon which I have just preached it you was the one which converted gam small. I therefore thought it Ought to make at least one convert here, but I had forgotten that this con­ gregation is composed of citizens of Jffenry County." > THE English people are more Im­ pressed by the magnificent riding at the Wild West show than they are by •ny other feature of the exhibition. Recently an old army officer had a long «ard in the Times showing the superior ;j>oints of the cowboy style of riding, and calling upon the English horsemen to study that style of riding to learn grace, security, and how best to save the strength of the horse. JOHN BROWN'S sons, Owen and Jason, *hose white hairs have seen much Change and trouble, live opposite Passadena, in Lower California, at the foot of the peak in the Sierra Madres named after them. Thirteen of the Brown family live in this spot. The •Id stock still stands by the weak. When the Chinese boycott was declared {h 1886 Owen proposed to hire a China­ man for principle and example's sake. MRS. KENDAL, the British actress, has for some years been making $40,000 a year. "I began my career," she said, *at 3 years of age; now I am 38. I have known bitter poverty and great trouble, but that is in the past; At 20 | was married to the best and hand­ somest man in the world. We have nothing in this world that we have not bought out of our own earnings. I never accepted three-pence worth from Anyone." THE ancient coronation chair at West­ minster Abbey, the shrine of the tradi­ tional fragment of rock upon which Jacob rested his head at Bethel, "the •tone of destiny" of the Irisjti kings, brought by Edward L from Scotland, and ever since used as the throne of succeeding English sovereigns, has been "restored"--the missing portions of the cha'r having been replaced with fiew work, and the new parts smeared Over with brown paint to give them a Spurious semblance of antiquity. THE Sultan of Joliore has a wonder­ ful palace near Singapore. Its wealth and beauty rival the "Arabian Nights" tales' splendor; and he is always will- > ing to show his marvels to the many strangers touching at his shore. He entertains his guests at meals with food Served in golden vessels, which service cost $700,000. The regalia ho wears is Valued at $500,000; a sword Queen Vic­ toria presented cost the neat sum of $50,000, and he delights to dazzle the eyes of his enchanted spectators with these wondrous visions of wealth. I' THERE are 115 women and girls in the ballet corpse of the Paris Grand Opera House. Ten are stars, tan are first subjects, twenty-two second sub­ jects; there are three divisions of coryphees or leaders, divided into four Sections--the "walkers" and the infant class. The pupils receive 40 cents «ach time they appear, the young ladies of the quadrilles from $30 to $40 a month, the oorypheea from $50 to $60, the subjects, or those who dance steps outside the ensemble figures, $60 to $300, and the stars from $5,000 to $9,- <000 per year. Two ENGLISH sparrows were building their nests under the cornice in an angle of the Court House, in Parkers- burg, W. Va., when another bird a pugnacious cock sparrow squatter, un­ dertook to take possession. A noisy fight ensued, which is thus described by the prosecuting attorney, who wit­ nessed it: "The plucky claim-jumper was driven off half a dozen times or more, but t returned to the attack and kept up the fight for half an hour or more, perhaps, when a dozen or more birds collected in the neighborhood of the nest, and when he came back again they seized him and by some means wound a thread or string about his neck and threw him ovr the edge of the nest into space. The bird fell and brought vp at the end of the halter. A* bo could neither release himself' nor find a spot on which to r$at his feet he was perforce compelled to fly back to the neat. But around the edge was a cordon of birds who threw him back, each time until, exhausted, he hung limp and lifeless, strangled to death. After the birds satisfied themselves of the marauder's death the reinforce­ ment retired and the family went on building ita nest. The bird was left hanging by the neck three feet below the nest, and still hangs there as a warning to other ornithological out­ laws." THE Oil City Derrick gives an exhibit of the oil and natural-gas business in Pennsylvania by saying that "statistics show that 53,000 wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania and New York, since the discovery of petroleum, at a cost of $200,000,000. These wells have pro­ duced 310,000,000 barrels of oil, which were sold at the wells for $500,000^030. This represented a profit to the producer of $300,000,000. The amount of oil ex­ ported is placed at 6,231,102.923 gallons. In the pool in Washington County alone $3,200,000 has been ex­ pended in machinery and drilling. This does not inciuda the many mill­ ions that are represented tliero in tha natural-gas industry. Independent of the oil busines3 there is about $50,000,- 000 invested in natural-gas plants in Pennsylvania. These are majestic figures and serve to show the magnitude of the oil and gas business." Indiana has a natural-gai area of about 3,000 square miles. To drill 12,000 wells at a cost say of $2,000 each would repre­ sent an investment of $24,000,000. If these wells should flow an average of 3,000,000 cubic feet a day, the annual product would be 13,140,000,000,000 cubic feet of gas. If this could be sold at 10 cents per 1,000 eubit feet it would net receipts amounting to $1,314,000,- 000 annually. It is not required to bo in a hurry. Gas is cheap fuel. Cheap fuel is a desideratum in manufacturing. Manufacturing enterprises are sure to come where there is cheap fuel, and Indiana in the not distant future will be the great manufacturing center of the oountry and of the continent. THE Russian Administration of Pris­ ons has just issued its report for 1885. January 1, 1885, there were 94,488 per­ sons incarcerated throughout the Em­ pire. In the course of a year 703,254 entered and 697,769 individuals were liberated, leaving a residue of 99,973 still in prison. Women formed about 8 per cent, of the convicted. Notwith­ standing a certain amelioration of sani­ tary appliances in the jails, the rate of mortality remained stationary. Of the 88,002 prisoners who were treated in hospital, there were 2,189 men, 246 women, and 546.children. In this re­ spect the Island of Saghalien stood in the worst poaition, its sick list showing a total of 66 per cent on the year, but the number of deaths there is not given. Diseases arising from humidity, insufficient ventilation, and defective sanitary arrangements are the chief scourges of the state prisons. Among the 4,029 persons who passed through the prisons of St Petersburg, 2,675 were accused of theft, 139 of political offenses, one of bigamy, and one of apostasy. The largest number of offenders belonged to the artisan class; not one is specified as a peasant The expenses of the penitentiary service in the whole empire amountedto 11,798,- 614 rubles, being a diminution of 521,- 239 rubles upon the expenditure of the preceding year. This economy was partially effected by reducing the cost of the equipment of the prisoners. There was a falling off in the receipts derived from the products of the prisoners' industry from 133,750 rubles in 1884 to 103,536 rubles in 1885. More­ over, the coal-miuing company of Saghalien, which is supplied with con­ vict labor, paid to the State 31,456 rubles for the rights conceded to it The Voice of Birds. That starlings and ravens can talk is a well-known fact . The mocking bird is a perfect plagiarist in the feathered world; he imitates almost all song­ sters, even the nightingale. Parrots are able to make a noise like that pro­ duced by a saw, the sound of a cork drawn from a bottle, and other noises still more peculiar. The kingfisher can reproduce most accurately the cackling of hens, the barking of dogs, the quacking of ducks, and the bleat­ ing of sheep. Birds as well as mankind are apt to be vain of their voices and try to excel one another. Especially is this the case with nightingales. In a hedge in­ habited by them one may often observe that their voices increase two, aye, three fold in strength, and sometimes some of these birds are found with their throats torn--they have simply sung themselves to death. The stork in Africa, it is said, is dumb, and his claypering is but the sharpening of scythes. This sound is supposed to be specially pleasing to the stork because on freshly-cut meadows he always finds food in plenty, and therefore it is suggested that he imitates this noise as suggestive of a rich dinner. All of these birds show great fondness for and ara said to be capable of imitating the human voice, if one were only to take suffi­ cient pains in training them. And more than this, they can repeat entire words like the parrot Not only in music have birds been the model followed by man, but also that peculiar and entertaining art, ventriloquism, has been copied from them. Just as many of them sing out boldly and fill the air with their melo­ dies, others form their sounds without opening their bills. The pigeon is a well-known instance of this; its cooing can be distinctly heard, although it 'does not open its bill; the call is formed internally in the throat and chest, and is only rendered audible by resonance. Similar ways may be observed in many birds and other animals. The clear, loud call of the cuckoo, according to Nicolardot, is only the resonance of a note formed in the bird. The whir­ ring of the snipe, which betrays the approach of the bird to the htfnter, is an act of ventriloquism. The frog also is said not to open his mouth in croak­ ing, but to create his far-reaching sounds bj the rolling of air in ,liis in­ testines.--Chicago News. Hoosfer Democratic Editor vTeUa the Truth" About the Ad- The Feature of the recent Indiana Democratic Editorial Association's meeting was the speech of W. S. Ray, of the Shelbyville Democrat, who criticised the administration unreserv­ edly, and showed how weak a card Cleveland would be in 1888. Here are some extracts from his breezy address, which had for its title "Tell the Truth:" "As between Mr. Cleveland and a Democrat contesting for the nomina­ tion, I want, to record my preference for the Democrat Since inaugura­ tion day the great heart of the Demo­ cratic party has throbbed with quick and feverish pulsations. Its restless eye has been turned toward the na­ tion's capital eager to realize the fruition of its grandest ho res. Day after day it has scanned the public prints in search of proofs that a Demo­ cratic President had not forgotten his obligation to those who had elevated him to power, eminence, and fame, but hardly a kind word, a nod of recogni­ tion, a friendly smile, a pleasant howd'ye do, a Democratic idea, a word spoken, a line written, or an act done have they heard or seen to cheer thsm to renewed action in the political con­ tests that are yet to come. But de­ rision and contumely from unexpected lips have met them at every turn as souvenirs for their heroism and remind­ ers of their work. I have yet to learn that a party can long be held together by displaying such ingratitude toward those to whom the party is indebted for its elevation." Mr. Ray was particularly wroth at the administration for permitting thou­ sands of rabid Republicans like Jer­ ome C. Burnett, of Indiana, to remain in office, and "lit into" Gen. Corse, Postmaster of Boston, because in eight months he had only changed nineteen out of 75(5 Republican employes. No wonder the mossbacks of the old Bay State were beginning to send up their complaints, as they had waited long enough for a change. Then Mr. Ray paid his respects to the Cabinet: "No President since our constellation of States first sang together has been more unfortunate in calling to his aid those whose judgment he invokes to guide his administration,and for whose mistakes he is held responsible. They are mostly weak, unknown, and unprac­ tical, and unsatisfactorv to the Democ­ racy of the country. Thomas F. Bay­ ard, Secretary "of State, whose mugwumpery at home and bad diplo­ macy abroad have made parties a derision, treaties a burlesque, and the American Government the laughing­ stock of the world, is worthy of men­ tion. His Antics on the fishery question and his discovery of so many antedilu­ vian fossils to represent us abroad have actually led some to believe the United States, after all, is only a museum where the weird relic and curiosity hunter can revel forever in delight. Ppstmaster General Vilas, with his trained -army of Republican insolents and spies, dis­ carded his Democracy when he went to Washington. Father Endicott--I be­ lieve that is his name--may be a good old soul as Secretary of War, but he lacks ability, judgment training, and > strong, vigorous, wholesome Democrat^ ic thought and action. Attorney Gen­ eral Garland's ability and brilliancy no man ever doubted, but thay are so tat­ tooed by the Pan-Electric scandal that the merits of the man have long since paled and ceased to be objects of ad­ miration. - This strange policy of the President meets with little enthusiasm and approval by the Democrats of In­ diana. They know the genuine article every time as distinguished from the counterfeit whether presented in the shape of coin or masquerading as a Democrat with a false face to hide the hideous features of the mugwump with­ in. Our National Convention should try the experiment of giving us a can­ didate for Democrats to support, for Democrats to rally around, for Demo­ crats to admire and vote for, and his march into the White House will com­ mence with his nomination. The Dem­ ocratic nominee next year should be a man who will poll the full Democratic vote of the whole country, and especially of New York, and whose Labor record will satisfy the Labor vote of that State. With Mr. Cleveland as the party's choice a Labor candidate will be sure to follow; with a Labor candidate in the field Democrats cannot hope to carry New York, without whose electoral vote the party cannot succeed. With Mr. Cleveland Indiana would be lost It is doubtful whether he can carry Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. As New York goes in 188-', so the Presidency will be determined. The Democratic party should ascertain who, of all her statesmen, is the strong­ est in the Empire State, and, having settled that proposition, let that man lead the way and the Democracy will follow. There are now over 150,000 members of the labor organizations in the State of New York, 75 per cent, of whom are Democrats. Thousands of them did not vote for Mr. Cleveland in 1884; he has done nothing since to harmonize or bring that vote back to his support, and, if renominated, that State, in my judgment, will be lost to the Democracy by a frightful majority. The Irish vote of New York, ever loyal and patriotic, if drawn from the Dejnocracy, would, of itself, defeat the party by at least 50,000 nyijority. That Mr. Cleveland did not carry the full Irish vote in 1884 and cannot carry that vote in 1888 is conceded on all sides." In conclusion, the speaker quoted Cleveland's letter of acceptance, main­ tained at length that self-succession to the Presidency is undemocratic and dangerous to our form of government, and insisted that Cleveland should stand by his letter and the logical doc­ trine it contained. Printer Benedict's Petty Tyranny. Despite the solemn pledges he made while the matter of his confirmation was pending in the Senate, and re­ gardless of repeated protests by De­ partment Commander Burke and other members of the Grand Army of the Republic, both Democrats aud Repub­ licans, Public Printer Benedict contin- ues'his crusade against the honorably discharged soldiers and the widows of soldiers employed in the Government Printing Office. Down to date he has discharged nearly 100 persons belong­ ing.to the two classes mentioned and has filled their places with Democratic partisans for partisan reasons only. It is asserted that he makes no secret of his determination not to cease his ef­ forts until the last ex-Unio.i soldier who cannot bring Democratic vouchers and influence to his aid has been dis­ missed. Some time ago an earnest ap* Mai was made to President Cleveland |p behalf»of the soldier employes by Department ConURSlM$er Burke, whs Is a Democrat but.it tlfcd no effect It ia understood thatthe Senate Commit­ tee on Printing vill institute a thor­ ough investigation of Printer Bene­ dict's methods and action in regard to employes. Such an inquujĵ will ex­ pose indignities and cruemes which will be sure to exoite public indigna­ tion, and will reveal * system of petty tyranny as contemptible as ever ex­ isted in any branch of the public serv­ ice. But, in the meantime, Benedict can execute his own will and causo great distress among needy and de­ serving peftons who are in every re­ spect competent to do the work of which he has deprived them.--Wash­ ington dispatch. ASYTHINCT TO WET TOTES. - President Cleveland Training with the Spoilsmen--COMMSIMM to the Maryland "Gang." IWashlngtoa aped*! to Chicago Tribune.] The Democratic spoilsmen are glee­ ful over the way Mr. Cleveland is com­ ing around to Jacksonian notions. They think there is something like a mad* chase after a second term which will not leave much room hereafter for any disappointed interests to indulge in a mad clamor. The time when the Massachusetts Mugwumps sat on the box and drove the administration is past "Seven-Mule" Barnum and Sen­ ator Gorman now hold that place, and when they crack the whip the Presi­ dent strikes a real Jacksonian gate. Several things have lately helped to make the ohanged outlook known. The yearly strugle in Baltimore be­ tween the Gorman henchmen, ballot-box staffers, and bruisers on the one side and the alleged decent Democrats on the other is just over. As usual, the ballot-box stuffers routed the reformers all along the line. Their leaders were Federal officers ap­ pointed under the Cleveland adminis­ tration at the direction of Gorman. They were Appointment Clerk Hig- gins, Indian Inspector Morris Thomas, and Naval Surveyor Raisin. All these sweet-scented persons left their posts of duty under the Government to keep a corrupt political machine in power. They are all for Cleveland for a second term, and claim the right to do what they d d under the doctrines laid down in the Benton-Stone letters. They were upholding the hands of the administra­ tion. It is not likely that they will be called to account. In official circles to­ day it was said that nothing was known about the affair beyond what was in the newspapers, and that did not call for action. The Maryland civil-service re­ formers will hardly try to make out a c ise. They have had a sad experience these last two years, but at last learned that the President is not the kind of a reformer who breaks with a spoilsman like Gorman. Another instance of the spoilsmen's triumph is the appointment of W. R. Frerrett, of Louisiana, to succeed M. E. Bell as Supervising Architect. Bell managed to hold the place so long be­ cause no one could be found to succeed him. There were enough candidates, but the office was so important that it could not be filled by any cross-roads politician who happened to be out of a job. When Democrats complained that a Republican was kept in office they were told he would be turned out just as soon as a competent Democrat could be found to succeed him. Since a change has at last been made the in­ ference might be that the right sort of a man had l>fien picked up. But what puzzles people is to krfOw where Frer­ rett got his fitness. Last October he was brought to Washington to take the place. He was Senator Eustis' candi­ date, but was backed by the whole Louisiana delegation. He had an inter­ view with the President and Secretary Fairchild. He did not get the appoint­ ment earlier because everyone agreed that he was not fit for it A week ago Senator Eustis came out for/Cleveland for a scOnd term, and at once it is found th&t his candidate for Supervis­ ing Architect is the man the President and the Secretary of the Treasury long sought. CLEVELAND'S TETOES. W- iy, ' Cheap WllUobni at the Expense of the Soldiers. The extracts given below from Presi­ dent Cleveland's numerous vetoes of private pension bills will show the real reason why all soldiers turn away with disgust. It is not because he judged the cases to be without merit, for the majority of veterans feel quite as strongly as he can upon the subject of pensions for the undeserving. Had he stated his objections with becoming dignity there would have been no trouble. But it was the spirit evinced by his sneers at humble men who served their country, and who in their age and extremities have ventured to seek aid from Congress, which has roused the indignation of soldiers. The simple fact that they had served in the field might have held the hand and tongue of a President from making sport of them before the nation, even if their cases did not fall within the technicalities of the pension law. But let his witticisms speak for themselves. From veto of pension to John W. Farris: "The ingenuity developed in the con­ stant and persistent attacks upon the public treasury by those claiming pen­ sions, and the increase of those already granted, is exhibited in bold relief by this attempt to include sore eyes among the results of diarrhea." In veto of a pension to Alfred Denny, he shows his own ignorance of a very common cause of injury to cavalry soldiers, as well as his own propensity to make light of soldiers' claims: "The number of instances in which those of our sold era who rode horses during the war were injured by being thrown forward upon their saddles in­ dicate that those saddles were very dangerous contrivances. "I am satisfied there is not a particle of merit in this claim, and no facts are presented to me which entitle it to charitable consideration." From veto of pension to A. J. Wil­ son: "Whatever else may be said of «hls claimant's achievements during his short military career it must be con­ ceded that he accumulated a great deal of disability." From veto of pension to Mary Nor man: "In an attempt to meet this Objection it was claimed as lately as 1885, on be­ half of the widow, that her husband's wound caused deafness to such an ex­ tent th%t at the time he was drowned he was unable to hear the ferry-man, with whom he was crossing the river, call out that the boat was sinking. How he could have saved his life if he had heard the warning is not stated." A President who laughs at old sol­ diers, or the widows who are in need, no matter how weak their claims may be, will have cause for Serious rejec­ tion before the veterans and their f r i ends have forgot ten h i s i . ' Upfet̂ - Schoolboy on a HolMajr--Ceasml Campbell'* Odd Blunder. [New York letter.] J. S. Oak ford, a member of one of the oldest families of Philadelphia, whose ancestor came over with William Penn, was paralyzed May 13 at his lodgings on West Thirty-third street, this city, and recently he was taken to the Roosevelt Hospital, and now he is in a dying condition in a charity ward of that institution. Mr. Oakford has mingled all his Kfe with the best so­ ciety of Europe and America, and now he is dying like a pauper in a charity hospital. "Few men, certainly few Americans, have seen life under so many varied and striking aspects as I have. My reminiscences would fill a volume. I have dined with prinses, supped with prize-fighters, traded with Indians, at­ tended the receptions of kings and em­ perors, entertained presidents, and acted as a squire of damsels in dis­ tress," said Mr. Oakford to mo the other day. "When ex-President Pierce visited England after his retirement I hap­ pened to be living at Sydenham, a few miles out of London. 1 had then a charming villa near the Crystal Palace for a year; in fact, the grounds ad­ joined those of the palace. " "How did the President enjoy his visit to England?" "He was like a schoolboy off on a holiday. He was delighted with everything. I never shall forget the day I gave liijn a dinner at Greenwich. We rode dowh in an open carriage and the ex-President was so effusive on the occasion that the very boys on the streets of London noticed it He threw his arms around my neck and in this strange fashion we drove down Picca­ dilly, and I was really ashamed of the undignified conduct of our distinguished countryman. Gen. Campbell, of Texas, whom Pierce had appointed American Consul to London, was liv­ ing near town, and we went to the Derby together. The General was an old campaigner, had fought in the Texan war of independence, and, although nearly 80 years old at the time he was in England, was as straight as an In­ dian and as game as a Mohawk. When he arrived in England Beverly Tucker, who was at the time our Consul at Liv­ erpool, had very kindly accompanied him up to London after securing rooms for him at Morley's Hotel. They ar­ rived in town about 7 o'clock one even­ ing, and, after stopping in their rooms only long enough to make a hasty toilet, they descended to the dining-room. After dinner Campbell went at once to his rooms, while Tucker remained be­ low to give some instructions about the baggage. Going up stairs in a couple of minutes he found Gen. Campbell in a strange room parleying with a lady. It appears that he had missed his room, and seeing the lady enter one he had followed her, and Tucker heard him say as he came up: 'My good woman, can you tell me where room 65 is?' Tucker drew him out of the room and whispered to him: 'Do you know who that lady is ?' *No, I thought she was one of the chambermaids of the hotel.* 'Yon have made a dreadful mistake. That lady is the Countess of Erroll,' and before Tucker could stop him the old General had rushed back and apol­ ogized for his mistake, saying that he had taken her for a chambermaid. When Tucker met Campbell next morn­ ing he told him that the unfortunate mistake on the previous evening had been communicated to the Earl of Er roll, and that he was terribly angry that his lady had been taken for a chambermaid and was going to chal­ lenge the American who had been guilty of such conduct. 'I will fight,' said the General, 'but I roally had no intention of insulting the lady.' After keeping up the joke for some time. Tucker told Campbell that the duel wa# only a hoax." Ancient Mining Operations.. Thfct mining operations were carried on in this country by tho Romans dur­ ing thair occupation there is abundance of evidence, but nothing in this direc­ tion has equaled the discoveries re­ cently made in connection with the St. Domingo mines of Spain. These were worked by the Romans in what may be termed a scientific manner, considering their appliauces, for in tome of them they actually excavated gaflerie< for draining purposes nearly three miles in length, while in others the water was raised by means of wheels carrying it over rocks. Eight of these have re­ cently been fonnd by the miners who are employed in contiguous workings in these old mines and all in a high state of preservation. They are made of wood, the wheels and axles, where the greatest strain would be, being of oak and the other parts of pine. It is esti mated that the wheels are at least 1,500 years old, although the wcoi is in a perfect state of preservation, owing to the water being discharged with me­ tallic salts, including those of copper and iron. It woul(J appear that the wheels must have been worked by men on the tread-mill priuciple by standing upon one side of it, the water baing raised by one wheel into a large basin, and then lifted another stage by a second one, and then in the same way by the others. Not the least interest ing matter in connection with the di6 covery is the state in which the wood was found. When wood is placed in water, or near to it, the decay is rather rapid, but there are means by which it can be kept for ages in a good state of preservation, as shown in the case of the St. Domingo mines. Some metallic refuse is found even now efficient for the purpose. Kyanising has long been in use for preventing fermentation and decay, which is done by steeping the timbVr in a corrosive sublimate, the perchloride of mercury. Creosote has also been found an excellent preserva­ tive of timber subjected to the action of water. It may also be said that while the Romans knew how to pre­ serve timber underground, the Greeks also knew how to keep it in a good state in their buildings. This they (?) did by charring the timber before plac­ ing it in position, so that we are told "the beams of the theater at Hercu- laneum were converted into charcoal by the burning lava which overflowed the city, and after a lapse of more than 1,900 years were found as entire as if they had been formed but yesterday." The same property was known even be­ fore this, as tho Temple of Ephesus was built on piles charred to prevent them from decay. The history of the past--even in mining it appears after a lapse of 1,000 years--may be of advan­ tage to the miners of the present sgs London Mining Joarnal. The Girl and the Uirdle. A person a little out in mind some­ times hits off a passing fashion rather patly. A man employed in a certain store to roll carpets in the wholesale department stood watching two voting Women reoently loaded down with enormous Theodora girdles, to which was attached the curious assortment of dangles which the girls who affect the chain like to hang to it "Well, well,well," said Non Compos, "who'd ever thought to s6e a Boston girl hire out to advertise a tin-shop?" --Boston Record. A Bard Case. That doctors differ, has become a common proverb; and truly, consider­ ing the peculiar disadvantages under which they labor, their variances are less wonders than matters of course. If any man works in the dark, like a mole, it is the physician. He has continually, as it were, to divine the color of a pig in a poke--or a cat in a bag. He is called in to a suspected trunk without the policeman's privilege of a search. He is expected to pass judgment on a physical tragedy going on in the house of life, without the critic's fiee ad­ mission to the performance. He is tasked to set to rights a disordered economy, without, as the Scotch say, going "ben," and must guess at riddles hard as Sampson's as to an animal with a honey-combed inside. In fact, every malady is an enigma, and when the doctor gives you over, he "gives it up." A few weeks ago one of these puz­ zles, and a very intricate one, was pro­ posed to the faculty at a metropolitan hospital. The disorder was desperate: the patient writhed and groaned in agony--but his lights us usual threw none on the subject. In the meantime the case made a noise, and medical mon of all degrees and descriptions, magne- tizers, homceopathists, hydropatliists, mad doctors, saue doctors, quack doc­ tors, and even horse doctors, flocked to the ward, inspected the symptoms, and then debated and disputed on the na­ ture of the disease. It was in the braiD, the heart, the liver, tho nerves, the mascles, the skin, the blood, the kid' neys, the "globes of the lungs." "the momentum," "the pancreas," the "capilaire* vessels," and the "gutty sereny." Then for its nature: it was chronic, and acute, and intermitting, and non-contagious, and "ketcliing," "inflammable," and hereditary," and "eclectic," and Lord knows what be­ sides. However, the discussion ended in a complete wrangle, and every doc­ tor being mounted on his own theory, never was there such a scene since the Grand Combat of Hobby Horses, at the end of Mr. Baycs' Rehearsal! "It's in his stomach!" finally shouted the House-Surgeon,--after the depart­ ing disputants,--"it's in his stomach!" The poor patient who in the inteivaJ had been listening I etween his groans, no sooner heard th's decision, than hit head seemed twitched by a spasm that also produced a violent wink of the left eye. At the same time he beckoned to the surgeon. "You're all right, doctor--as right as a trivet." "I know I am," said the surgeon, "it's in your stomach." "It is in my stomach, sure enough." "Yes--flying gout"-- "Flying what!" exclaimed the pa tient "No, no sich luck, doctor," and he made a sign for the surgeon to put his ear near his lips, "it's six hogs and a bull, as I've swaller'd."-- Tom Hood. A Scientific Article. "Ah hah!" exolaimed a knowing man, turning to his wife. "I have been tell- you all along that coffee is injurious, and here is a scientific article that bears me out Listen, (reads): 'The use of coffee, asside from being entirely useless, is highly injurious, having e tendency to turn the stomach intc leather.' Now, what do you tliink Ql that?" "Read on, Charles." "Oh, III read enottgh; f&Sln stomach into leather and thereby ruin the digestion.' Ah, hah, what do you think of that? Ruins the digestion] don't you see?" "Read on, Charles." "Oh, I'll read on. Pm only too glad that you are interested. (Reads.) 'Hundreds of people have been ruined for life by the use of coffee, when all injury could have been avoided by the use of J. W. Meckelman's coffee--'" "Read on, Charles." "What, you suppose I want to read an infernal advertisement? Think I haven't got any more sense than a wo­ man? People ought to be fined for putting in such advertisements." "You wouldn't have read it if ybn had known it was an advertisement, would you?" "Of course not. Think I'm a fool?" "Well, it seems that the man knows how to get people to read his scientific articles. You haven't finished it; read on." "No, I won't Do you think I'm a fool ? Think I'm a child to read a lot of stuff like that, "hah? Well, I just ain't, that's alL"--Arkansaw Trau- eler. The lu on the Horse. It is a fact that Gen. William H. Lytle had on when he fell at Chica- mauga a pair of new black kid gloves. One of the Confederate officers who knew him well and saw him within a few minutes after his death related the fact to us. We refer to Capt Williams, son of Dr. Williams, of College Hill. Dr. Williams was a very earnest anti-savery man, but his son had South­ ern associations, and joined the Confed­ erate army. Another incident of the death of Lytle is that he had a cigar in his mouth, one of a handful that had been given him by Major Bond of Rosecran's staff. The gallant Lytle was in the thick of the storm and knew it, and handled his brigade with the greatest intelligence until his death. He had refused to dismount when struck by four fcalls--a whole platoon of Mississippians firing upon "the man on the horse" who was conspicuous above the hazel brush in which the deadly struggle took place.--Cincin­ nati Commercial Gazette. . Ptopoeed of an Ancient SwputHH--. fRttabtirgb Piapatela.}, The popular superstition, according to which stocks, when deprived of their mates, are supposed to spend tits re­ mainder of their lives in solitary gfie ̂ - mourning over the loss of their do* parted one, has just received a rude shock. According to the following ac­ count, of which the truth is vouched for, it would appear that the female stork is just as liable to err from the paths of virtue as the remainder of her sex. For several years past a' couple of storks had been in the habit "of spending the summer months in * com­ fortable ne3t, which thev had labori­ ously constructed on the'gabte end of a barn which formed a part of a farm not far from Buda Festh. They used to arrive in the early spring, hatch tho regular number of eggs, and sitaf spending the hot days of July sand August in educating their young would all fly off to warmer climes on the ap­ proach of winter. Last summer they arrived as usual, and after a time began to devote all their energies to hatching the eggs. When the hen bird was not setting her husband would gravely take her place, carefully spreading himself in such a manner as to cover all the un­ born olive branches of the family. One day, however, just about at the time when the little ones were about to make their entry into the world, a great noise was heaijd on the roof of the barn. Looking upward the farmer perceived that a new male stork of un­ usual size and beauty had made his ar­ rival and was engaged in a warm dis­ cussion with the couple established in the nest Clapper, clapper, clapper went the long bills, feathers began to be ruffled, and at length, aroused by some terribly insulting expression oa the part of the stranger, the male hiid issued forth from his nest and began A pitched battle in defense of his honor and home. The duel lasted for a long time, and the battle waxed fast an«| furious. Curiously enough, the hen bird did not attempt to take the slightest part in the combat She showed some evidences of excitement occasionally stood up in her nest and made some remarks with her bill and wings in stork language, and that aal» down again upon her eggs. When the sun went down the strange stork flew away, both of the combatants covered with blood. The hen bird received her lord and master with all the signa of a most exaggerated affection, and appeared to congratulate him on his gallant conduct. The next mornings however, tho stranger reappeared and recommenced the battle of the dsy be­ fore. Thoroughly exasperated against the intruder, the farmer got out his gun, and, forgetful of the superstition which exists against killing a stork, fired at the strange bird. Sad to re­ late, instead of killing the latter, the husband stork fell lifeless to the gnrand. Curiously enough, the sound of the gun did not appear to create the least impression on the remaining birds. The hen stork did • not make tho slightest attempt to continue the trouble or to take to flight. She re? mained quietly setting in her nest the stranger standing at some distance o£ Gradually he began to edge along tho ridge of the roof toward the nest and when he got quite close thereto the hen likewise arose and stood upright For more than an hour they remained standing next to one another engaged in the most eager discussion. At length they seemed to have come to an under' standing. After a moment's pause they suddenly hopped into the nest, and working like very furies they united their efforts in throwing the whole of the eggs out of it on to thn ground be­ low. As soon as they had completed this work of destruction they both ap­ peared to be slightly overcome, and for about ten minutes remained standing perfectly still each on one leg, their bills resting on each other's shoulders. At length they simultaneously flew up into the air, aud after circling round a few times disappeared out of sight It may be only a coincidence, but within a few weeks of the above flight not only the barn, but a large portion of the farm, was destroyed by fire, entail­ ing a heavy loss on the proprietor. { The United Stales and Mexfcs. •; - The political relations of the United- States with Mexico, whether the peo­ ple of the government of the former Wish it or not, are going to be inti­ mate and complex in the future. The United States is geographically mar­ ried to Mexico, and there can be no divorce between the parties. Inter­ communication between the two coun­ tries, which a few years ago was very difficult, is now comparatively easy, and facilities for the same are rapidly increasing. And with the rapid in­ crease of the population in the United States, and with increased facilities for travel, the number of people--restless, adventurous, speculative, or otherwise minded--who are certain to cross the borders into Mexico for all purposes, ipidly in- Discharged the Prisoners. A constable recently brought a man before a justice of the peace in a Da­ kota "no-license county charged with selling liquor. "Well, Jim," said the justice, ad­ dressing the officer, "where's the licker he was selling?" "They had just finished drinkin' the last of it, your honor." "Hey ?" thundered the court "I say it was all gone 'fore I got there." "All gone before your got there! Great Scott, where was you all the time? Do you think I am goin' on with a case like this without some licker put in as evidence for the court to sample? Let the prisoner go, and mebby helfl bring some more to town. And you see that you get around and make your arrest just before he begins to sell, and not after it's all been swal- lered by a lot o' fellers that ain't half as dry as the court!"--Dakota BelL IT isn't impossible that the man who didn't know where he was going may have been going to see. good and bad, is likely to rapii crease in the near future. An extent sive strip of territory within the Mexi­ can frontier is already dominated, to a great extent, for the purposes of con­ traband trade by a class of men who ackuowledge no allegiance to any {gov­ ernment, and whom the Mexican authorities tacitly admit they cannot restrain. Out of such a condition of things, political complications between the two countries, at no distant day, are almost certain to arise. Again, in asserting the "Monroe doctrine," the United States virtually assumes a pro­ tectorate over Mexico. For, whatever else the Monroe doctrine may embody, it unmistakably says to Mexico, "You shall not change your form of govern­ ment.1'" "You shall net enter into any European alliance." "You shall not make concessions of territory, except as we(the United States) shall approve;" and in return, "We will not allow any foreign power, ourselves excepted, to bully, invade, or subjugate von." It may be, and is, replied that the necessity of repelling from the outset any attempt at further aggrandizement of any European power on the North American continent, with its contin­ gent menance to the maintenance of democratic institutions, sufficiently justifies the assertion of tho Monroe doctrine, and is for the good of Mexico as well as the United States, But at the same time, if there was any power on the American continent which should arrogate to itself the right to dictate to or control the United Statssa as the United States arrogates to itself the right to dictate or control Mexico*, and had sufficiency of power to make its assumptions respectable, could there be any doubt that the people of the federal union would regard such pretensions as a justifiable occasion for hostile protest an.l deflanoe.--Popul&t Science Monthly. WHEN a resolution is once half the difficulty ie ovsc. - * : W mi L'.ri * * _ I '