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"5';'» MKdKtiiYtt Vbittifalet f*7.f w w gwMwmin'r* J. VMSLYKE, Si lef Hi PMMsher. MoHEHBT, - ILUNOIB. THE parper money of Chili is so de­ preciated in value that a gnest at a liotel ordinarily }>ays $600 a day for his •ooommodations. At one time only a few years ago calioo sold at $2,000 a S .yard in these depreciated l>il!& POPULARITY hath its perils. Sam •Jones, the revivalist, is about to be sued ; , by an Iowa association for breach of contract--in that he had failed to de­ liver two lectures, which they had so well advertised that 5,000 people were on hand to hear them--and have set ±hair damages at $2,000. DB. H. G. TOPE, of Lancaster, Om .still has a little gray mare which was •captured at Resaca in 1863 and went through the remainder of the war, in- deluding the march to the sea. The ani­ mal is 30 years old and in good condi­ tion. She bears on her neck the scar of a wound received at Columbia, S. C. Miss JENNIE WEHLK, now filling the position of type-writer for ex-Postmaster Oeneral James, President of the Lincoln National Bank in New York, is the daughter of a millionaire and a highly accomplished young lady. The only treason she has for her singular freak is that she loves her work and does not •care for society. MRS. LELAND STANFORD'S Jewels are valued at a round million. Her dia­ mond necklace is the finest in the United States and possibly in the world. It cost $74,000 and consists of large "blue tint" solitaires. Besides this she lias several pairs of magnificent solitaire earrings and enough other precious atones to fill a quart measure. • MB. HENRY VIIXARD estimates that •German capitalists now hold about $90,- -000,000 worth of Northern Pacific bonds. If they continue to invest their money in American railway securities perhaps they may see the wisdom of giving .the American hog a chance one of these -days. The American hog, in a humble and unpretentious way, helps to swell the receipts of the railway companies and cuts something of a figure on •dividend days. THE late Prof. Hadley, of Yale, held that the right way to read a novel was to begin at the end, because as the last chapter would probably be the best, An estimate of the entire work could be thus formed. The method will of course be adopted by those feeling ft purely literary and not an emotional interest. However, a New York paper, the Com­ mercial Advertiser, is following the Professor's theory by reprinting the conclusions of various novels. CORNELL UNIVERSITY recently ex­ amined the records of all men who had engaged in inter-collegiate contests since the opening of the institution, to determine the influence of the pursuit •of athletics upon scholarship. It was •concluded that athletics kept within reasonable, limits was not in conflict with the educational purpose of the institution. Crew men average 70 per cent., ball players73, and track athletes 76 in scholarship for the year; 70 per cent, was necessary for graduation. IN Denmark it is becoming customary for friends to send to the relatives of a person who his died what is called a ""Good Works Card," in place of the usual floral tributes. These cards are of white pasteboard, printed in silver, and are issued by various charitable or­ ganizations. On each card is the name of the society which issues it; in the center is an ivy wreath on which the name of the deceased may be written; .and at the foot is a space for the name of the sender. The cards are sold in bookstores for a moderate sum. COL. ETHAN ALLEN has written a long letter in favor of annexing Cuba, the most important statement in which is that this Government can buy it for $100,000,000. This the sum that Presi­ dent Polk, forty years ago, in 1848, au­ thorized the American Minister to Mad­ rid to offer for it. The offer was indig­ nantly spurned almost as an insult to Spanish pride. Spain has come down from her high horse since then, and •$100,000,000 would doubtless seem a good exchange for a colony that has always been more trouble than it is worth. AT Lafayette, Ga., a day or two ago, the road hands, while grading Patton avenue from the square to the depot, ®truck the box in which George Cun­ ningham, who was hanged there in March 1883, was buried. Some thought the body was not there and some thought it was, and to decide the ques­ tion two of the planks of the box were removed and the coffin lid, being de­ cayed, was pushed in. A negro put his mattock into the coffin, which was fulT of water, and, to the consternation of all present, when he drew it up it had on it the skull of the executed criminal. It was viewed by a large crowd, after which it was dropped back and again covered up. A NEW YORK legislative oommittee baa been visiting the Stag's Indian res­ ervations. A band of the Senecas, on the Tonawanda reservation, comprising about seven thousand acres, was visited. One of the chiefs showed his contempt * for the white man and his proceedings by putting his feet on the table. The Indians receive every year from the United States $11.60 a head in iaoney and over $3 in goods. They also receive the interest from the trust fund in the hands of the Government result­ ing from the sale of their land in Kan­ sas. In the testimony it was stated that there were 514 Indians on the reserva­ tion; the greater number of them are pagans, who many without any Chris­ tian or American cdvil ceremonies. There are a great many separations, anc^ the council of chiefs can divorce 9 couple on certain grounds and give per­ mission to the divorced parties to marry other Indians whom they may fancy. About half the land is cultivated and the rest is wooded or unoccupied. It is valued at $40, $60, And $100 an acre. When a man wants land he goes to the council of chiefs and they give what they think proper. They nearly all lease lands to the white men. There are three churches--Baptist, Presbyte­ rian, and Methodist. They have no na­ tive minister. White preachers come from neighboring towns sometimes; otherwise the services axe carried on by members. I AM afraid that the habit of " jumping at conclusions" is sometimes being car­ ried too far, says a Washington corre­ spondent. Two Congressmen--both of them from the South--occupied, in the absence of their families, the same room at Willard's. They were greatly an­ noyed during the first portion of the night by a neighbor who was snoring at a terrific rate. They lay sleepless and silent for a long time, listening with a horrid fascination to the efforts of "the man who snored." Finally the sleeper made one mighty effort, and with an awfully convulsive, gurgling gawp, relapsed into silence, which *was shortly broken by one of the Congressmen, who, in a fer­ vent tone, exclaimed: "Thank God, he's dead." V NEARLY every one has heard the pop­ ular cry, "He's all right," repeated in one form or another the present sum­ mer, says the Baltimore Sun. This cry, like many another that was afterward made popular, is said to have originated as a term of derision for the Prohibi­ tionists and for St. John, the candidate of that party for President in 1884. It had its origin in the West, and in about this way: Gov. St. John had been a Republican party leader, as is well known, and when he accepted the Pro­ hibition nomination for the Presidency he was roundly denounced by the Be- publicans. They started the cry, "What's the matter with St. John?" "Oh! he's all right!" This was ac­ companied with a significant shake of the head, which was meant to imply that the Democratic barrel had been tapped for St. John, and that he was abundantly supplied with lucre and liquid refreshments. The Prohibition­ ists adopted the cry, and used it during the canvass in 1884. When their con­ vention met at Indianapolis in May of this year, with more than 1,000 delegates and three times that many of their party friends in attendance, St. John was one of the strong men, and he was made the permanent chairman. At his first ap­ pearance upon the crowded convention platform a chorus of voices cried out: "What's the matter with St. John?" The answering shout from the multi­ tude came like a tornado, "He's all right!" and that was St. John's welcome by the Prohibitipnists. The Gen. Alger Republicans adopted tliis cry at Chicago several weeks later, and made the most of it in the campaign for the favorite son of Michigan. The Democrats have not learned the part as well as they will hereafter, probably, but it is a sin­ gular thing that a derisive cfmpaign cry of 1884 should have become in 1888 the shout of each political party. «ie Cost of Living in Austria. A single man, or indeed a man of small means, can live here very cheaply and have a great many charming amuse­ ments, equaled nowhere else except in Paris; but he must be satisfied with a light breakfast of coffee and simple bread, say two or three stuche. He must not expect even to taste a soup in which a shin bone has taken a bath-- perhaps there may be a suspicion of a scrap in the pot. But usually, if any­ thing is seen resembling grease on the soup plate it was simply put on for show. He must not expect much variety in his meats. He will do well if several eat together, each one taking a dish and then dividing up. His beer costs nearly as much as in Chicago. Wine is cheap, and I like it. But a generous liver, or a fat liver,on lots of hog and hominy, as our laboring people are, will have to pay more here for his subsistence than in Chicago, and while so living will receive less than one-tliird of the wages. And yet with all of this true, we find that the man who most loudly inveighs against American laws; the man who says that laws are all a curse, and that no gov­ ernment is better than any government, and that in America the poor man is but the rich man's unwilling slave; the man who talks most of this sort of stuff will be found to have come from some part of Austria. It seems as if the op­ pression of the government under which he was born and has grown up has so embittered his soul that he hates the very name of government. I hope this feeiing lies in the heart of only a small few who seek asylum on our shores. It would be a sad day should America have to shut her doors against the op­ pressed of other lands.--Carter H. Harrison's letter from Vienna. Old Customs Dying Ont. The following suggestions, given by a florist, carries a thought for those who ^present flowers: * " It is no longer considered appropriate to put large initials or other marks to identify the giver on a design of flowers. The habit is considered absurd, just as much so as if I, when presenting a hat to a friend, would decorate it with my initials. Then another old custom is losing groimd. Persons detiring to mark a soldier's grave usnallv choose a design to resemble a I word or some other weapon of war. The new idea is to come down to a more peacefnl chs- tom and change to desipns such as a cross, to represent Christianity; a crown or a wreath, to represent immorality.-- Troy Times. A Timely Correction. "There seems to be nothing in the market," said Mrs. Hendricks, despair­ ingly, to the Widow Jenkins, who had "just dropped in" for a moment. "I'm worried to death to know what to get for- " "Why, ma,"' interrupted Bobby, who was laboriously pencilihg his name on the wall, "I heard you sav that Mrs. Jenkins was, m the nmrkgt, --Her- per it Bator.™* «•» BCltt AT COWLICK KOIXOW. n*. r. xmoKBanx. Stev ym hears about tbe dual in Cowlick Holler, Jo»h? They say 'twar quite ezoitin' lik»--that xhootin' fine, t>'go8b! * Ther fracas wnr a "stand-up"" MVMD Dutch galoots; An' all the bova wur slick on hand, n bet yer yalicr boots. , The challenge it war (trad ©' Sunday to the shed v . * • Whar PariKm Binka wax preaohin' an' bobbin' his bald head. Bans Zveimrkawgn Pntni MOM nam* Ilka Sauerkraut; An' Pretsel «&yi: "Gott! Hlmmair an' rrsllr his rival out. At 5 on Monday morning tha boys wutvon the ground. An' fust row seats wux sell in' at prioaa (at an' round. The audience wnr awaitin' for tha circus to begin, An' bets wnx tnek an' offered 'ith odds on who 'ud win. Ola Boggs and CoL Principle wu* alinsin' all tha style, An' pacin' off tha distance with a weird, don't- touoh-me smile. They wur handltn' the shooters and a-rammin' down the wads An' a-kx>kin' high an' mighty Iflte a Mb xst heathen gods. An' Parson Binks wnr stcndln' with a sermon in his hand. All read; fer to preach It when the victim hit the sand. Josh, he bed the look o' angels in the corner o' his eye, An' wan doin' holy horror with an «™m sort o' sigh. At last Jim Oleaaon hollers: "The dewelllst is comol" We looked; an' cuss my peepers at we wusnt all struck dumb! Fer the costume that they sported was the durndest-lookin' thin' This bloom in yairth bei witnessed since fig-leaf suits fer spring. Both men wur fixed with breest-platee ltfc* mattresses o' hair, An' ther neck tfur wound with paddin' so's jest their chin wuz bare; Ther arms wui out, but covered with a quilted chammy skin; An' dsjrk^reen iron goggles shut both ther eye- •The h r m Boggs, "Is this yer thing a Prnttsfon dress parade? Is Dutchmen at a premium? Does Texas choose the blade? Ter won't take shootln'-ironsI Ye're akeerad? Te both say no? Wall, boys, then let 'em carve 'emselves 1 I give up this yer show 1* Then the faces of thet audjence showed •«!*--« with disgust; Gome sot sarcastic silent, an' some got up an' cussed; An' Blinks, our bald-headed parson, he paoed a narrow path, A-quotin' bits o' Scriptur ter smother down his wrath. A1 last he stopped, an' polntln' with his papers in his hand To them two German chromos, he sax in as­ cents grand: "I kem to see a shootln', an' ter order up the hearse, Ter preacli the funl sermon, an'terasing a sol- emu verse; "An', by the great sombrero of the Kexlcan Saint Ann 1 I'm goin' ter do this business el I have ter shoot ther man! Do ye hear me? I'm a buzzard an' my plumes are iled with paint. I'm a carmine hue dispenser, of I am a Chris­ tian saint." Then Ferguson, Jnmpt suddln to his feet and sez: "My friend. You'll remember I'm a-shouttn' an' I'm heeled from ond to end. 1 hev hee.ru thet once the licker here wiu stopped by your du *ned talk, Tou wuz preachin' h<gh o' temperance and draw- in' Unas o' chalk. "An' ever since thet cussedness I've laid ter get yer cold, An' now's the time, my flghtin' saint, when you'll jest loose your hold; Fer I'll help yer on yer journey ter the land o' Holy Writ, Whar I hopes yell find a parish and a halo that'll fit.4 They si»y ther sight wur gplendid, thet both war full o' sand ; Thet Principle said "Fire" in a voice o' deop commud; Thet the boys wur quite excited thar admtria' ole Blinks, An' thet when tbe thing wur ended he ordered ftp the drinks. An' Ferguson wur honored with ten candles at his head; An' the parson preached a sermon an' eulogised the dead; An' he said this wur a case, Josh, o' licker an' profnnitv Whfth hod struck a sort o' saag in muscular Christianity. SAVED FORM THE CALLOWS. Or, Circumstantial Evidence. f l iN. MODBICKKB. One evening late in June, 1885, three friends--Neal Pierce, Harry Turner, and Burt Adams--sat sipping their wine at the village inn of Rhodopos, situated in the northwestern part of Texas on the Pecos River. They were gossiping over different subjects when the door opened and Ward Davis, a tall, muscu­ lar, and handsome young fellow entered. All present knew Davis, anclx all liked him for his honesty, integrity, and in­ dustry. Davis came to Texas in 1883, and was engaged in herding sheep near the up­ per waters of the Pecos, among the foothills of the Gkiadalupes. Not from the love of wild life, but because he could earn hard dollars, and later on because his heart had gone out to Ze- lina Laranado. Tbat he loved the girl was no wonder, for she was a noted beauty even among the many beautiful women who lived in that section, but that he, poor Ward Davis, the American, should have won Zelina's love in return, when a score of the richest rancheros, Mexican and Spanish, were literally at her feet, might have been thought strange. Such however, was the condition of affairs, and despite the objections of her parents and the positive interference of some of her other lovers, the girl had become solemnly engaged to Ward and promised to marry him in the fall. And those who knew her best were satisfied that at this point opposition must cease, for if Ward Davis lived Zelina would be his bride at the time agreed, or in her grave. The match was consequently consid­ ered in the best light possible by Zelina's parents, and Ward Davis al­ lowed the freedom of a future son-in- law. As the old man put it: u Carrambo! ze boy is no Spaniard, an' not as I choose; but, Santa Maria! ze girl is ze Spaniard, an' she choose!" But to return to the time when Ward Davis entered the inn that evening., "Have a glass of wine, Ward?" said Neal Pierce, who, beside being a wealthy farmer, held the office of Jus­ tice of the Peace of Bhodopos. Davis took a seat among the group, drank a portion of the wine poured out for him, and began telling an amusing incident which happened to f>him during the day. He had hardly completed his narrative--when Mexican Claude, a dissolute and worthless character of the village, entered the place and sauntered saucily toward a corner of the room. His entrance was barely noticed by those seated at the table, which fact was not lost sight of by Mexican Claude. This fellow, in addition to being worthless and dissolute, was known to have a vicious disposition, and more than once he was suspected of having a hand in a number of crimes committed in the village. Without raising his eyes from the floor, Mexican Claude insohntly ob- Bcrvod* "My friend Davis, of late, seems to be putting on considerable of aira," Davis paid no attention whatever to the remark. "Since He and Zelina have been en­ gaged he has----" "Dog of infamy!" shouted Davis, as he sprang at the Mexican, "if you dare to mention that lady's name again I will whip you within an inch of vour life, youwhimperiDg cur!" Friends intercepted Davis ftud Mr deavored to calm him. "Oh, if I should tell some things I know concerning Davis, and ? The last words had hardly escaped the Mexican's lips, when Davis broke from his friends, and with a panther­ like leap sprang* upon his tormentor, and would have punished the fellow severely had not his friends dragged him off by main strength. "I will get even with vou, you viper!" exclaimed Davis, while his frame shook with passion, and he was actually pushed into a chair. The Mexican picked himaolf up, H scowling, left the place. The party again resumed their con­ versation, and more wine was drank. Davis had regained his composure, and after drinking a couple of glasses of Wine arose and said that he had business to attend to and must be off. He shook hands cordially with all present, and then quietly took his departure. It was but a short time afterward when Neal Pierce and Burt Adams left the tavern, and walked leisurely to­ ward their homes. They were discuss­ ing the quarrel between Davis and the Mexican, when they were startled by the cry of "Murder! help!" Hastening in the direction of the frightful cry, they came to a cluster of woods. Around and through a path both men hurried, and as they turned the bend they heard the agonizing appeal: "Mercy, Ward! mercy! mercy!" As Pierce and Adams reached a clear­ ing they saw the prostrate form of Mex­ ican Claude lying upon the groimd, and bending over it they saw Davis drawing a knife from the man's bosom. "Davis, my God, what have you done ?" ejaculated Pierce, as he placed his hand upon his friend's arm. "What have I done?" replied Davis, looking in astonishment at both Pierce and Adams. "Why I've done nothing except to aid this unfortunate fellow, whose past sins have been paid for, by this horrible death." "This is indeed a sad ending to that unfortunate quarrel in the tavern, Da­ vis. Would that vSu had never met the fellow." "You don't mean to say that I com­ mitted the deed?" demanded Davis. "The man is undoubtedly dead," re­ plied Pierce. "We heard his cries for help, and both Adams and myself has­ tened to his aid. As we came around the clearing we saw him lvinjr upon the ground, and you were bending over him in the act of drawing a knife out of his Itosom. Truly this is a sad cas£" "My friends," replied Davis, "surely you can't believe me guilty qf such a crime. I was proceeding on my busi­ ness, as both of you were, when I, too, heard the cries for help. I heard him say 'Mercv, Ward! mercy!' and when I reached this spot I found Mexican Claude lying where you now see him, and this knife driven to the hilt in his bosom. I naturally did what either of you would have done--drew the knife out. While in this act you made your appearance and the circumstances led you to believe me guilty of this crime." "Circumstances are indeed agaifist vou, Davis," answered Neal Pierce,"and in my capacity as a Justice I have but one thing to do, and that is to place you under arrest, and may Gdd prove your innocence!" "If this be your determination, I will quietly submit, bnt I swear before my God, whom I one day hope to meet, that I am entirely innocent of the crime charged to me. I am now ready to go with you to the jail." Between the two friends Ward Davis walked back to the village, aud after a preliminary hearing l>efore Neal Pierce, he was securely locked in the County Jail. The news of his arrest and incarcer­ ation soon traveled through the village, and the universal belief was that he was guilty. The first to visit Ward Davis in his cell was Zelina, his affianced, and the meeting was indeed a very painful one. Nothing was to be done, however, until the examination the next day. At this examination the facts related above were simply gone over, and Ward Davis was finally remanded for trial. A shrewd detective was engaged in behalf of Davis, but his investigations were slow and tedious; and when he had exhausted clew upon clew the detective found the case a hopeless one, and finally gave it up. A few days later Ward Davis' trial began. The Prosecuting Attorney told the story of the crime plainly and con­ cisely. The meeting of Davis and Mex­ ican Claude in the tavern, their quarrel, Davis' threat to get even, and the sub­ sequent finding of the body of Mexican Claude by Pierce and Adams, with Davis in the act of drawing a knife from the dead man's bosom. Davis'lawyer made the best of the case that he could, but the only exten­ uating circumstance that he could ad­ duce was the prisoner's unblemished character. The case finally rested and went to the jury. On the jury Harry Edmund, an old-time enemy of the murdered man, chanced to be chosen. Of course every body expected a prompt conviction. But the first ballot stood eleven for conviction and one for acquittal. Harry Edmund positively refused to vote for conviction, and stood firm against the argument and expostulations of the others. They reported to the Court they could not agree and were sent back to the jury-room. On their way back one of the jurors asked: "Why is it you cannot agree with us, Edmund, and find a verdict of guilty ?" "I know that the man is not guilty," was his reply. Being unable to agree, the jury was discharged. The indignation ran high when it became known to the populace that the jury had disagreed, and a mob at once organized to lynch Davis. He was taken from the jail and a rope procured, but as it was being placed about his neck Edmund appeared in the crowd and in a loud voice demanded that they hear a statement from him. Ho told them that they were about to hang an innocent man, for it was he who had murdered Mexican Claude. He had met him in the road where the body was found, the old fend between them had been renewed, and he had killed him. He went on to say that he had thought that if he could get on the jury he might be able to secure Davis' acquittal. It was a dramatic scene. Amid the most profound astonishment he was heard through, and when he had fin­ ished Davis was released, and then Ed- ntand was duly strong^ tiEftBAK SII'DEMT DUEL*. MnliUllwrf Between W' • Crowd of j A Gsry. Combat Csllcglsi* 1 CsairsdM [Letter frotn Heidelberg. Germ any.] j Soon my college friend appeared. A duel was already in progress. We passed from the stairs into a high, spacious chamber, in which at our right was a long plain table, covered with great cotton paddings, meant for the protection of all parts of the body, and a sword or two, with gauntlets as large as boxing-gloves. On the left were two smaller tables running the opposite way, separated by a chair with a head-rest, which had another little table covered with scissors, knives, powders, bottles, and mysterious surgical instruments in general in front of it. The walls were bare, save a few pictures and portraits. Through this room we went up into a great high hall, twice as large as the first. Here the duel was in progress. At the left of our entrance, stretching out to the windows, were four or five tables with benches, at which a few students in their different caps were seated drinking Rhine wine or bouillon, or eating sandwiches. On our right half a hundred fellows were huddled about the narrow circle, in which, over the heads of all, I could see the sword blades flash and descend, rise, flash, and descend again, and hear their ominous clashing. I was led up closer, and, courteously, members of my friend's corps, to whom, with the same ceremony I have alwavs noticed, I was there in­ troduced, fell back, giving me a chance to see everything to the best advantage. Each contestant was supported by two seconds, who straightened his sword, stayed up his arms, or wiped the blood from his face mid head. Another kept a record in a book of the outs received. Two others stood by to give the signals for beginning or ceasing the passes, which were always brought to an end whenever a new fountain of blood was opened or new bits of hair began to fly. Each figure was padded and wadded to the knees, and the eyes of each were protected. Over the breast and stomach and down to the knees hung a great breastplate of the toughest cloth made, at least an inch thick. The whole was streaked and stiff with clotted human blood, and inexpressibly disgusting. It looked as if it had been worn for years in a slaughter-house. When first looked upon the duelists the surface of the breastplate worn by one was flow­ ing with blood which dripped, dripped, dripped, as it was pumped up by the vigorous lungs out from gaping wounds in the cheek and head, down over his bodv, upon his boots, and into a great pool upon the floor. Every little while sand was sprinkled under his feet. His opponent was faring much better. He had simply a slit in his ear. But every time, at the given signal, the poor fel low whom I first saw rose up most pluckily from the arms of the men who supported him and advanced sturdily to the contest. It was no child's play at fighting. Every blow was meant to tell. The vigorous dead earnestness of the thrusts of those sharpened blades was agonizing. At mv side suddenly a student, who, I was told afterward, had seen several duels, collapsed in a faint, at the horror of the scene. In an in­ stant he was raised upon the shoulders of four students and carried back into the other room. Now and then the doctor, a pale, sepulchral-looking figure in shiny black broadcloth, would step up aud examine the wounds to see if there was any danger in letting the duel proceed. I wonder why the better man had no pity. It would seem that now he had done mischief enough. But he went on slashing away at his ill-matched foe in an ugly, brutal manner. I would have cried " 'Rah, 'rah, 'rah!" if I could have seen his cheek slashed to the bone. And I did show a quite unpardonable enthusiasm when, just before the fifteen minutes were up, he received an ugly cut on the top of the head. For the most part the students do not betray themselves by the slightest word or look. They seem to believe in Bishop Butler's philosophy that "things will be as they will be." But the duel was at lrst over, and most of the numl>er be­ took themselves to the tables, and went to writing in the little corps-books or eating their breakfast. I was glad enough to take a glass of wine, for I had dissipated 8 good deal of nervous energy and felt faint. I tried to get away then, but the Guestphaliana were eager for me to stay and see one of their men fight. Against my will, for their sake, I waited, therefore. And, meanwhile, I was taken out into the other room, where the Guestplmlian was preparing for his battle. He was stripped to his trousers, and then the padding began. In a previous duel this man had had his nose seri ously cut, and the doctor thought it best for him to wear a protector of that organ, lest the old wound should be opened. Over on the opposite side, in the chair I have before mentioned, the participant in the former duel was re­ ceiving the doctor's attention. He was a pitiful looking object, nearly fainting in the pain, which he bore without a murmur, and a fellow-student was hold ing his hands. But at last he was patched up, the doctor was free, the new contestants were ready, and the second duel began. About Pigeons. Audubon tells us their great power of flight enables them, when in need, to survey and pass over an astonishing ex­ tent of country in a very short time. Pigeons, for example, have been killed in the neighborhood of New York, with their crops still filled with rice, col­ lected by them in the fields of Georgia and Carolina, the nearest jxrint at which this supply could possibly have been obtained. And as it is well known that owing to their great power of digestion they will decompose food entirely in twelve hours, they must have trav­ eled between 300 and 400 miles in six hours, making their speed at an average about one mile a minute. Susan Fenimore Cooper, in writing upon this, pleasantly says: "It is sup­ posed the birds were only a few hours on the journey, breakfasting on the Santee and dining on the Hudson. At this rate it has been calculated that our passenger pigeon might go to Europe in less than three days; indeed, a straggler is said to have been actually shot in Scotland. So that whatever disputes may arise as to the rival merits of Columbus and the Northman, it is very probable that American pigeons had discovered Europe long before the Euro­ peans had discovered them as birds of this country." Their great power of flight, it is said, is seconded by as great a power of vision, which enables them, while they travel at such a swift rate, to view ob­ jects below, to discover their food with facility, and thus put an immediate end to their journey. This has been proved to be the case by having observed the -- - -- --- -- • . part of the country to keep high in tlwk I air, and in such an extensive front as to enable them to survey hundreds of acres at once. But if, on the contrary, the land was richly covered with food, or the trees with mast, they would fly low in order to discover the j>ortic<. most plentifully supplied, and upon these they alighted progressively. A Wonderfnl llallreei. . !* When the railway was first opened between Moscow and St. Petersburg it was an object of great terror to the superstitions peasantry of Northern Russia, who thought there must cer­ tainly be some witchcraft or magic in an invention which could make a train of heavy cars run along without horses at the rate of twenty miles an hour, when the best of speed of the wagons to which they were accustomed was only three miles an hour, or four at the very out- sidfe. Some of them would not even go within sight of a train, and made the sign of a cross whenever they heard one rattle past. Others peeped timidly over the palisade of the railway station to catch a glimpse of the fearful smoke- breathing creature, which they believed to be a living monster, and when the steam-whistle sounded they cried out, ' Hear him screaming! He's hungry, and wants to eat somebody!" and took to their heels at once. But little by little this terror began to wear away. The village priests were keen to go to and fro by train, and the simple country folk thought that what t It ey did eoulA not be wrong. By degrees the peasants themselves began to try the "smoke-wagons" too, and one day an old man named Ivan Petrovitch Masloff, who had hever^been out of his own village till then, made up his mind to go and have a look at "Mother Moscow," which all Russian peasants reverence as the finest city in the world, and the real capital of Russia. Now it happened that the down ex­ press and the up express met each other at the station of Bologoe (midway be­ tween Moscow and St. Petersburg), where the passengers of both trains stopped for half an hour to have supper. Among the crowd of people that got out of the other train Ivan suddenly recog­ nized an old friend. The two went into the refreshment-room together, had a chat over their Steaming tumblers of tea and lemon juice, and then Ivan, without thinking of what he was doing, got into his friend's train instead of his own, and was soon traveling back toward the spot whence he had started. Their talk went on merrily for a while, for Ivan's friend never thought of asking the old man which way he was going. But presently Ivan began to grow silent and grave, as if ponder­ ing something which puzzled him very much; and at length, after sitting for nearly five minutes without uttering a word, he suddenly broke out: "Ah, Pavel Yurievitch" (Paul, son of George), "what a wonderful thing these railroads are, to be sure! Here I am going to Moscow, and here are you go­ ing to St. Petersburg, and yet we're both traveling in the same car!" David Ker, in Harper's Magazine. OJJN0I8 STATE NEWS. Facts About the Syndicates. A Lincoln man who has just returned from an extended tour of the country recently struck a small town in Mis­ souri where the shanties composing the metropolis were surrounded by nu­ merous acres of land staked off into lots. Before one of the magnificent trade emporiums sat an old man smok­ ing a corn-cob pipe and apparently plunged in meditation. The Lincoln man assumed an air of profound in­ nocence and accosted him, when this dialogue ensued: "What are these stakes here for?" "Town lots, stranger. This hyar town is just er goin' to have a boom. An opera-house will be built thar, ef notliin' happens." "Who owns this property?" "A syndicut. Ye won't see ary flies on this town." "What is a syndicate?" "Why, ye see, a syndicut is er lot of fellers in ther city what has money, and they sorter get together and bny up a farm, and they stake it off, ye see, an' start a boom. That thar land was ther Widder Maguire farm, but ther syndi­ cut bought it, and staked it off." "And how does the syndicate do its booming?" "Wal, one feller in ther syndicut gets control of it all, ye see, and he sells a lot to another feller, an' it goes round an' round, an' every time it goes round the price is ris." "But then it would never be sold out of that body." "It wouldn't eh ? Stranger, yer wrong. Finally er lot is sold to some outside feller, and then it's deddycated, yp see, an' don't go round no more." "Thanks; now I know.all about it."-- Nebraska State Journal. Origin of the "Bloody Shirt." The origin of the expression "bloody shirt" is said by a correspondent to be from a Corsican custom, now nearly obsolete. In the days of the fierce "vendetta" bloodshed was a common occurrence. Before the burial of a mur-> dered*man the "gridata" was celebrated. Gridata," crying around. Let us trans­ late it a "wake." The body of the murdered was laid upon a plank, then his weapons placed near his hand and his blood-stained shirt hung above his head. Around the rade bier a circle of women, wrapped in their black mantles, rocked themselves to and fro, with vociferous wailing. The men, relatives and friends of the murdered man, armed to the teeth, stood around, mad with thirst for re­ venge. One of the women--the wife, or mother, or sister of the murdered man--with a yell would snatch the bloody-shirt, and, waving it aloft, begin the "vocero" (lamentation howl). The rhythmic howling was made up of expressions of love for the dead, and alternate howls of hatred of his ene­ mies, and its startling images and tre­ mendous curses were echoed in the faces and mutterings of the armed mourners. By transition the phrase "bloody-shirt" was applied to the South­ ern rebellion.--Exchange. The Great Climatic Cycle. According to the calculations of M, Adolphe d'Assier, based on the assump­ tion that the coincidence of the earth's perihelion passage with the summer solstice every 21,000 years marks the regular recurrence of a northern glacial period, the last glacial period, culmi­ nated in 9250 B. C., the alternating pericd of greatest northern warmth oc­ curred A. D. 1250, and the ice period now approaching will reach its greatest height A. D. 11,750. Evidence of the slow cooling during the 600 years is seen in the changes recorded in the northern limits of the growth and ripen­ ing of certain fruits.--Arkansaw Trav­ el*-. K' • "*'? An exciting incident occurred r Will County jail, of which Lawyer W. Darcy is the hero. Mr. Darcy had client named John Daily locked up in tte jail* He »»sa(ed Chicago horse-thief. The lawyer wanted to interview his client, aqd the jailer brought tbe man out into the outer office. Daily had no sooner got inty the office where his lawyer was await* ing him than he darted out of the doAr and started up the street, with Lawyer Darcy in hot pursuit. • Darcy has a pair of long legs, and is himself quite a sprinter, and had the horse-thief ran down before be had gone two blocks., He hnstled Daily back to his old quartern in the jail. Darcy was indignant at the action of his client, and promptly with- %. f* drew from the ease, assuring Daily that * ^ he would see him safely landed in tha ,l; penitentiary. - --Nathan E. Lyman, President of tbe People's Bank, died quite suddenly, at * Rockford, of meningitis. He was 54 _ years of age, and a native of Bushford, New York. ---The annual meeting of the old set­ tlors of Macoupin County was held at Carlinville, with about five thousand in attendance. They all appeared more joy­ ous than ever, and it was n glad day of greeting to the many who only meet once in a year to clasp hands in memory of eafly times. The orators of the day were L. F. Stoddard, M. D., of Ramsey, and the Rev. W. P. Harth, of Franklin, both old settlers. W. W. Freeman, ot Caiiia- ville, was elected President. --James McLaughlin was found in a box car of the Rock Island Road at Joliet, dying of diabetes. McLaughlin said he . had been turned out of a Chicago hospital, and when found was trying to make hie way to LaSalle, where he had friends. --In East St. Lonis Conduotor At Kise» of the Indianapolis & St. Lonis Railway, was sitting under a box car checking his train, due to leave there for Mattoon. The 2^ car was backed down over his body and both legs were cut off, causing his death soon afterward. His home was in Indian- apolis. *~A statement has been made by the Auditor -of State, of the pioperty assessed for the year 1888, in the several counties, of the State, as returned to his office. It i6 compiled for the use of the State Board of Equalization. The comparative state­ ment of assessment by looal assessors for the years 13S7 and 1888 for the entire^ , State is as follows; For 1887, $726,078,- 638; for 1888, $709,304,506. Net decrease^ of assessment of 1888 on 1887, $16,774,- 132. The total value of railroad propeitj" is $1,917,354; real estate, town antit city lots, $213,400,542; red estate,^ lands, $34,478,582; total of person-; al property, $140,990,723; une- numerated property, $83,347,979;? State and National Bank stock, $7,793,-* 542; grain of all kinds, $2,739,763; ins' vestments in real estate and improve-' ments thereon, $182,281; household an<£ office property, $10,947,853; saloons an<V eating houses, $312,306; diamonds and>' jewelry, $49,073; gold and silver plated $50,251i agricultural tools and machinery,. $3,272,619; manufacturers' tools, mS-« chinery, etc., $2,531,032; moneys of bank, banker, broker, etc., $2,853,:w>2; credits of bank, banker, broker, etc., $1,050,900. Its shows 607 steamboats, sailing vessels,,etc.. at an average value of $402.47; 310,270? * watches and clocks, average valaei *$2.39; 32,845 pianos, aTerage value $38.46; 8,542 fin and bur-* glar proof safes, average value. $26.50; billiard and other gaming tables, 2,484, average value, $24.27; 391,985 car*V riages and wagons, average value, $10.7t'«,| 7,487 steam engines, including boilers.f - average value, $167.35. In live stock itf* shows--Horses, 938,031, average valuer " $24.88; cattle, 2,423,484, average value' ^ $7.11; mules and asses, 100,613, art rage value, $25.03; sheep, 554,910, average^ '-^*1 value, 96 cents; hogs, 1,966,700, average*.; value, $1.42. There is an increase on the" - assessment of property in the State in , % ten counties, amounting to $3,606,346; 1 and of this amount Cook. County hasi $3,206,444. V --The orop correspondents of the State Department of Agriculture, representing ~ all portions of the State, have made the following report for the week ending Aug. 18, 1888: Corn--The prospeots continue favorable for nearly an average yield of >•, |§ corn per acre. There has been no im- % provement in the condition. The growth1 *:f of the stalk continues, and many of the | S corn-fields have more of the appearance < usual to July than is seen in the middle of " August. Much of the corn would be seri- ^ onsly injured by an early and severe frost, j O More attention will be given this season - J than heretofore to the saving of early, -jj well-matured corn for seed. Oats--The , Jjt storms prior to harvest seriously damaged j the prospects for an unusually large crop, ^ and oats are not thrashing ont as well as f expected. This crop was badly lodged in ' v many localities, and in snch sections the y* quality is poor and the yield per acre1 much below an average. There are com­ plaints in some localities that the late< V >•1 rains have damaged the oats, which are* 4 A molding in the shock. Wheat--This crop has not been marketed as rapidly as usnalA owing in part to the unfavorable weather which has delayed thrashing. The wheelf '•;. crop of the State will be comparatively . J light, and the quality has seldom graded^ as low. Wheat of good quality is the' exception in the counties where the chineht. 'if;~ bugs have been so numerous. 6rass-^*4;|^ lands--The reports indicate an improve- " ment in the condition of meadows ud ̂ pastures in the majority of counties ia| ̂ the State. Pastures have seldom been iaf better condition in August than this sea-| :' son. There are but few complaints ofl \ lack of sufficient tain for tbe seaaonablel growth of pastures. --The prize announced to be given by Zi Riley for tall corn grown in Champaign County by a farmer, Bays the Champaign Gazette--a watch and chain--has been awarded to Charles Duncan, of Somer. Township. Oae of his stalks measured' 15 feet and 9 inches. It was the tallest; stalk of field-grown oora with a good ear upon it. Several splendid specimens of stalks were exhibited. Notable among them was a lot shown by J. C. Ware, of Mahomet, some of the stalks haviag as many as Ave ears of com BP°B thess., Also the stalks by D. S. Moore of Hens- ley, Joseph Kamp of Toloao. and other* iTgf fifteen fast. U ' m m . ' ! »