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:i VOL. 2«s M'HENRY, ILLINOIS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1894. :fr^frr TW!" >•25. Jf^evy planhtfor. ' Published Evkey Wednesday by r.p£kf T A N SLY . KWTOB *ND PROPBfifcTOlt OFFICE IN THE NICHOLS BLOCK. T*i Doors North of Peri y A Owen's Store, ; TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: .;iO«M-ymr (In advance) $1W If No* Paid within Three Months 1 00 Subscription* receive for three or |1* . months in the same proportion. *** JkDVERTISINQ" - We announce liberal rates for advertising "in the Plaihdkaleb, and endeavor to state »r Jthem so plainly that they will be readily ua \r\tftsxrtood. They are wtoltow^ i-" * 'f5I,,WU* - • - . • • m.gRnn I Inoh one year 'j. ® J" rj, 8 Inches one year * $%•• < 8 Inches one year - • - • 1Rftn kX Column one year J * * ' % Column one year ' X Column one year- Column one year A v^1500 . 30 00 60 00 - 10000 one ncn means the meaiuwaent' ®a® | n f ; • n o h d o w n t h e c o l u m n , s i n g l e c o l u m n w i d t h . W' r Yearly advertisers, at the above rates, have <tbe privilege of changing as often as tney -|Bhoose, without extra oharge. i- - Regular advertisers (meaning those having Standing cards) will be fe',* tof loc a l n o t i c e s a t t h e r a t e o f & J ™ . each week. All others will ^ charged 10 •'«ents per line the first week, and 8 osnts per «'•> :ine tor eaoh subsequent wee*. <' Transient advertisements will be charged |'i ,af the rate of 10 cents l>e lin«' ^nonpareil * type, same as this is set in; »ho a.s., cents per line for subsequent issues. Thus, an inch advertisement will oost il.00/orone week, il.50 for two weeks, |*.00 for three weeks, and so on. The PtAIKDR albh will lD| t JWU1 require a suitable fee from everyl»dy peeking the use of its columns for psouniary i3*ein. BUSINESS CARDS. FRANK L. SHEPARD, COUNSELLOR AT LAW. Salle St., Chicago. Suite 514--80 La | J09. L. ABT. M. D. PHYSICIAN andSURGEON, McHenrv, 111, Office in Nichols Block, over flaiadealer .Offioe. Telephone No. 4. O. H. FBGERS, H, D- DHTSIC --- -- jr jlit office at Residence. HYSIC1AN AND SURGEON, MeHenry > ,» V's gf , S*, v - U J. HOWARD. M. D. ^OHYSICIAN AND SURGEON. Office aj 'i. .Jr the ersioenee of R- A, Howard, West "9" MeHenry, 111 f $ •-------------- ^ v." DR. A. E. AURINOER, •? ' 'DHYSICIaN ASDSURGEON. Office la Dr. y-' jr Ohilrts building. West MeHenry, 111. Residence, house formerly occupied by Dr. V>. >J0aborne, Alt professional ealls promptly at. s^ri. "• • sended to. r . C . C O L B Y , D.D.i*. !.T\BN*I<*T. Woodstock. 111. Special sten- ' I / tiou paid to regulating children's teeth, Parties (Coming from a distancewo d dowel 1 • -to give timely notice by mail. Office, Kendal yofl^er Mam street and PublieSq are ,i .ru'i " ' > -- O. P. BARNES, «iC * ' A TTORNEY, Solicitor, andi Counselor, I- 'J\. Collections a specialty. . WOODSTOCK, lLLIKOIi. % - $0% KNIGHT ft BROWN, A TTORNEYS AT LAW. U. 8. Exprees 0®.*s A Building, 87 and 89 Washington St. CHICAGO, ILL. V, 9. LUMLEY. A TTORNEY AT LAW, *nd Bolioltor In ;;A <"»~«^boMIOOK, 1LL. - Offioe In PaTk House, first floor. H. C. MEAD, Justice oj the Peace and General In- gurance Agent Jncluding Accident and Life Insurance. OiriOl WITH B. GILBKBT, RUB DiWT, Wni MoHikst. III. t W. P. 8T. CLAIR. Jutticeof the Peace and Notary Public ^ ' ' ; 1 heal Estate and Insurance KUNDA, III* O' ,:0T A. IM. CHURCH, Watchmaker and. Jeweler NO.On » HundredTwenty-Five 8tate 8t Ohi-caao, III. Special attention given to re-• pairingF tne watches and Chronometers. ' garAFull Assortment of Goods in his line tZ;H JOHN P. SMITH, WatobLmalcer 4c Jeweler MeHENRY. ILLINOIS. AriNE stock of docks. Watches and Jew­elry always on hand. Special attention given to semiring fine watohes. Qive me • OftlL : JQHS p QUITB. 't & . Westerman & Son, MOUSE, SIGN AND CARRIAGE •7?- PAINTERS, .' JIOHenkt, . . . . . I llibois. We are prepared to do all work in our tlBe on short notice and guar«ntee satisfaction. PAPER HASUING A SPECIALTY Prices reasonable and w>rk promptly done. WE8TERSSAN A SON. ^[cHecry. J muary 30.1804. C.F. BOLKY, S Prosrielor of MeHenry Brewery, MeHENRY, ILL. Always on Band with the '. _s_ ^ 'tx•j> ••'•J mi IOC. IOC- Doee smoke from your cigar arise Like iKoenae in the air ? ^ Or doee it only cause a smudge And make your neighbor swear1 Why will you stick to cabbage leaves And drive your friends afar, When yon can purchase for a dim/ "Onr WonnwrRm" oiafaf? 10c. IOc. BARSIAN BROS. MAKCRS OF| Choice Cigars. We eia asu ityju one ox tJigniSfRd^wwu' or wholesale, u,* "> r • \-,JZ •: f JOHN J. BUCH, RESTAURANT BOARDING KOUSE, Near the iron Bridge, McHeiij, floard by the Day or Week at Reasonable rates, A N«nt Ltkk or.Row boats at mt Laicdhtq. Pare Wines, Liquors and Choice Cigars always on hand./ 4VVresh Lager Beer oonstastly en YOUR MONEY SHOULD OBfAtN FOB YOU The Best Goods ii tie MarleT. That Is what we are sat- listied to make, " The IB es t, » an«i think we can sodemonstr ate to you if you will give us the opportunity. Call In and see the Coods and be convinced. CU8 CARLSON. MeHenry, III., 1894. Wm. BACON DEALER IN Agricultural Machinery I MeHENRY, ILI* We have the m^st complete line of Pumps to be found in the county, and if you are in need of one it will pay you to caU and see us We have THE MYERS FORCE POMP, WffeH WIND HILL BEGULATOB, Buggies & Carriages Our entire stock of Buggies and Carriages will be sold AT COST for the next 30 days, SALOON AND RISTADR&B1 MeHENRY, ILLINOIS. Wholesale and Retail Agent for SCUUTZ IMee Braving Co's Beer. THE BESTMAOC. In any quantity from a Snitz Glass to 1C0 barrels. ^Orders by mail promptly attended to. ALSO ALWAYS ON BAND Fine Kentucky Liquors, French Bitters^ choice Ales, Wines, Cigars, Etc, I b«y none but the best and sel 1 at reaeonab' e prices. Call #nd see me and I will ns use you well. ANTONY ENGELN. Mo Henry, 111 , 1894. I C R A H O O F F E R ! MME. A. RUPPERT'S FACE BLEACH Mmo. A. Rnppert says', "i j i p p r e c i a t e t h e f a c t t n a t there a e many tliou'Minda Of ladles in tlie United States that W'UiId like to try Diy "ivoriu Ilsno^nsd Fn.ce Bleach, but have been hert from doing so on Recount otf price, which is $2.00 per bot­ tle, or 3. bottles. .taKon to- Kether.fj.CO. In order that all nuiy have an opponunity, 1 illselltoevery ca)!cra?am- plebottlefor 25c, and to those --^ ltviiut outside of city, in any far j -r- part of: the world. I will **(•***+* ^ safely packed, plain wrapper.aHebargss prepaid, for 25e, silver or si amps. T»pper,uiGDiiso» ~ la 8v«r«r.c»seoffreckles?pimples,moths sallow, ess. blackheads, acne, eczema, oihness or rougn eM.oPiaTdteciMomtioo or disease <>f tbesuin. ana WriUEICS WUWCU *"•" Bleach remotts absolutely. as cosmetics do, but Is » cure. Addres rnuDicationi or call on luiM.E» A* IS Ij " ^ 1» Hew Y< It d<ios not cover op, '.ddres« all coto- lil PI'EKT, > o. 6 East 14th Htreetf New York City. All my preparations, samples, bottles. &c,, can be aa4 at ngubur prices from my local attent, Mrs. 8. A. ROBBINS, Mc Henry, 111. West Sid© JLIvery, FEED AND SALE STABLES. E. JT. HaNLY, Prop'r. WEST MeHENRY, ILL. First class rigs, with or without drivers, rensMsable rates- Parties tf ken t" an<l from the Lakes In Easy Riife, and prompt connection m;t'le with ali trniss Our Kigs will be kept in first class shnpe. ami we eiiali st>arc no pains to pleaseou? cus tooiers at all times, .Give ns a call, K. J. HAHLY West KcHenry, 111,, Ang. 15, is»t. , ' onsy Agents Wanted VITAL Q VI ST I OSS flp TUP mv Political Revolution of Ur int U«I. vj, Orlr Is of D3ami *94 R*tt!•>« for lirnmi. Cc-XRYISM, !-trik«f<. the Unpmplo\ e t. great i.abor ihsuek or (tie present and the future Tatiff I-CKiilation the-ilver Qii^6tions What Protection does for tL« American Wcikmen. Vi hst Free Trade foes f< r hiin. A bo k tor the hour- Everybody warts H, Pri <* on'y *1 50. !»ells atpijfht Most liberal terms to agents. Send for • irc.ubrs or send ~l» cent* for agent's out fit nt once P. W ZtLULBB AOo,Nt Market Street, bt, Louis, Mo. . V U l i l l i y U l l U j NEAR THE DEPOT, WEST MoHENRY, ILL. Keeps, open Cor the aeoommodatto* of the Public a First-Class Saloon aad Eestaura&i, Where he wilt at All times keep the best brands of Wines; Liquors and Olgars to be found in the market. £>abs^»SI KQwasfeei lAgw Bin At Wholesale and Retail. Beer in Large or Small Kegs or Bottles al frays on hand, cheaper than any other, qnall ty considered. Orders by mall promptly Attended to, OOOD STABLING FOR HOROm •T'Oall and-see ss. Robert Sohiessle. REIDS German w.« COUGH \ C B 0 U ' - A N D l f 0 C K I D N E Y e U r v ^ « <ontaJns no Poison. Reidfs German Pills cure Constipation and Malaria. S y l v a n C i u p I | i < 9 breath. iijiuii^m;uTca.!.tL'i!i||jij: A. HII.L, JEWELER QPTIGI4W. Finest Ltntes, Eje-Glasses SPECTACLES No Charsre for Testing the Eyes. PERFECT FIi GUARANTEED. 1-- Will be at O. T, Daniel's Drug Store, Algon quln, every Wednesday, commencing July 11 Also, at a Severns'e Drug Store, Cary. every Thursday, commencing July 3t>tb. Osmun Block* 36tt N U N D A , I L L . DR. FBDTH'S Next Visit, Friday. Dec. 28. WOODSTOCK* IL.. A t t h e H o t e l Woodsttwk. ffvATE DISPENSARY DR. FRu TH, ftlirr ycSrS Off C A per iCECC b&S perfected tbe most infrillible method of cur­ ing Nervous debility, decay of body and mind, selt-distrust, poor memory, weak eyes, stunted development, lack of memory, im­ poverished blood, low vitality, and all ettoots ot nbutes, excesses, improper life, etc., which renders marriage unhappy and life miserable. SFtciALTiKS-- Catarrh, Skin Diseases, Sores Pi nplea, Scrofula, B»ood Taint, Eczema, Gan- cer, Piir-s, ar.i! Disease1? of Women We Guarantee to Forfeit VuOOfor s raw of SEXUAL DISEASE ^aTd^ jure. Question list FREK. «.ne. personal interview solicited. Cousultation free DR. D. O. FRU CM, 3B32 Lake Ave.« Chicago1: SAVINGS • and snrplns funds ri chived and lonned on carefully se­lected real Wats securities nnd the interest collPctPdT ( \ A "VTQ mid 'emitted withoutX^vyxV 1~ 0» charge. l»ans mads on time and terms to suit borrower. J. W. 21 Lioi'ige street, tilns. Illinois. UNCONSCIOUSLY DIVORCED. FROZEN FISH IN THE ARCTIC. A Kentucky Couple's sin go lit r Experience After Making I p a Quarrel. An attorney who has recently been in eastern Kentucky examining- some land titles tells the Louisville Courier- Journal the following curious story: 44An indictment was returned by the Elliott county grand jury the •ther day that beats anything ever coming- ynder my notice during- my long years of practice. It seems that a couple named Wilson became tired of married life and concluded to g-o it single again. So they employ a lawyer to procure the desired divorce. While waiting the court's decree the couple met and concluded to try in double harness again. Love triumphed over the memory of their past experience, •-u 'wvliw.li 'sllvciiij- .was si-antes! they were getting along like a couple on their bridal tour. They paid no attention to the divorce proceedings, and as their attorney failed to notify them that they were no longer man and wife they were in blissful ignor­ ance of the fact that they had ceased to be as one. Well, the first intima­ tion Mr. Wilson and his wife had of their divorce being granted was whan the sheriff called on them with a bench warrant for their arrest for liv­ ing together in adultery. They gave bail, and when the facts are explained to the judge the couple believe they will not be punished. They went to a preacher and were married again, and are now living together without fear of that Elliott county grand jury." ALUMINIUM WATCHES*/ They Are Now Much In Favor iParislan Fashionable Men. The latest fad of the Parisian swells is the aluminium timepiece, says the Clothier and Furnisher. They are very light in weight, but a trifle more than the works. The cases are in a dull black color--verj effective. Some are open faced, some are open in a small three-quarter-incli disk in the center, with small gilt hands on the black face of the watch, but they are in all sorts of inlaid decoration in colorings, but the best of it is they are very reasonable in price. It is the custom at the gay capital for the gentry to carry this timepiece in the right-hand trousers pocket along with the keys, coin, matchbox, and other paraphernalia of the mascu­ line pocket. It is, however, the wont of the owners to rush the hand down in the pocket with great show of devil-may-care and bring forth the ivatch, of which the material is un- scratchable, from among the other articles, glance at the time, and care­ lessly replace it with an air of certain­ ty in its infallibility. Highest Windmill In the World. A windmill of somewhat remarkable proportions, and placed upon a tower which is said to be the highest ever erected for that purpose, has been put up by A. J. Corcoran upon the property ofl^rescott Hall Butler, at St. James, L. I. Several windmills of equal power had been previously erected by Mr. Corcoran, but upon towers not ex­ ceeding 125 feet high, while the pres­ ent tower is 190 feet high. This was done because the spring from which it was desired to pump water was upon the beach and at times covered by tho tide, the ground rising rapidly from this point, so that it was necessary to raise the, wheel to a very considerable height in order that it might be above all obstructions within 1,000 feet from it. Twenty barrels of concrete, forty barrels of cement, 20,000 bricks, 42,000 feet of Georgia pine and more than six tons of bolts, washers and iron plates were used in its construction. The mill that surmounts this tower is 22% feet in diameter and pumps water through 6,000 feet of pipe to a height of 223 feet. It delivers water to a res­ ervoir of a capacity for 65,000 gallons, whi$h it has filled in two days. WYOMING'S SODA LAKES. A Remarkable Deposit Owned bjr the Union Pacific Railway Company. As described by H. Pemberton, Jr., and George P. Tucker, there exists a deposit of sulphate of soda, locally known as a "lake," about fourteen miles southwest of Laramie, Wyo. The deposit is composed of three of these lakes lying within a stone' throw of one another--the Big lake, the Track lake and the Red lake--having togeth­ er a total area of about sixty-five acres. They are the property of the Union Pacific Railroad company, are connect­ ed by a branch of that road with the main line at Laramie, and are general­ ly known as the Union Pacific lakes. In these lakes, says the Popular Science Monthly, the sulphate of soda occurs in two bodies o'lr layers. The lower part, constituting the great bulk of the deposit, is a mass of crystals of a faint greenish color, mixed with a consider­ able amount of black, slimy mud. It is known as the "solid soda," and is 6aid to have a depth of some twenty or thir­ ty feet. Above this solid soda occurs the superficial layer of pure white crystal­ lized sulphate of soda. This is fortned by solution in water of the upper part of the lower body, the crystals being deposited by evaporation or by cooling, or by the two combined. A little rain in the spring and autumn furnishes this water, besides which innumerable small sluggish-flowing springs are present in all the lakes, but on ac­ count of the dry air of this region the surface is generally dry, or nearly so, and in midsummer the white clouds of efflorescent sulphate that are "Whirled up by the ever-flowing winds of Wyoming can be seen for miles. The layer of white sulphate is from three to twsi?e inches in thickness. . ; ja®r: feibiJSka&uf 1 V'*v$ \ )i - & * ? " FOR SALE CHEAP. Three fine residences, with t large gar­ den lota, located in the center of the vil­ lage. Some of the choicest building lots in MeHenry and West MeHenry, at very low prices. Terms reasonable. Also have farm property and lots of 1 to 5 acres in River Forrest subdivision, south of the village, inquire of O N Owen 23tf At Bank of MeHenry. ^ " y '* ; 7 -«* . v 5 V ; A Task Shoal of Them Kncountered Re­ cently In Bchrlnf; Sea. Some recently returned salmon fish­ ers, whaler's and sealers from the Arc­ tic tell of a strange thing--an occur­ rence without a parallel in the experi­ ence of those who sailed to the far north, says the San Francisco Chron­ icle.. A sea captain who wasa passenger on the salmon schooner Glenn tells the story with much circumstance.' The Glenn left the city in March last, bound for Behring sea, which was reached May 4. In the latter month there is usually a little drift ice, but seldom enough to interfere materially with the progress of the many whalers, eealers and other craft which make for the sea at that time of the year. This season, however, the sea wks literally covered with drift ice, extending from the Alaskan peninsula clcar across northward to the Yukon. The south­ west winds usually blow off shore, and driving the ice further from the land leave a passage between ice and land. The Gtenn intended to make Bristol bay and stood to the eastward, but was unable to reach it on account of the ice, and so had to put back toward tho peninsula tq await the delayed south­ east winds. It was while the Glenn and four others passed up toward Bristol bay that the phenomenon was encountered. The vessel had just emerged from Ounimak puss, about half way between Amoukhta island and Bristol bay, when a vast quantity of dead'fish were encountered. They were in the water as far as the eye could see on each sido of the vessel, and for sixty miles tho Glenn traveled through the shoals of fish. On examination they proved to be silver hake, a kind of codfish, but nar­ rower and smaller, and hkving only two dorsal and one anal fin. They weighed between fotir and fire pounds, and were perfectly fresh, the gills be­ ing still red. Sonfe of the sailors were afraid to eat them, thinking they had perhaps been UiHed by some subterra­ nean upheaval or, possibly, through the overflow from the volcano of Wenyalmnor, which was active last fall. Other sailors, less fastidious, did not hesitate to cut the flesh open, and then a peculiar condition was revealed. Although the fish were fresh and had not stiffened, the gills and intestines were found to be full of ice. This was not the case in one instance, but with every fish which was opened, and apparently accounted for their sudden subterranean upheaval. The anomalous condition of the flesh was the subject of much talk and spec­ ulation. That the fish should be com­ paratively limber and that there should be ice within them seemed to indicate that a shoal of them hpd been sudden­ ly overtaken and frozen to death, and on the thawing out of the ice the car­ casses had been released, but had not risen in temperature sufficiently to thaw out the ice in their bodies. Those of the sailors who cooked the fish said that they tasted as good as ever, and Miat they were not tainted by sulphur, as they might have been in their death being due to a sudden subterranean upheaval. The area Qf the frozen flsh was not less than half a mile wide and sixty miles long. When the Glenn on its homeward-bound journey reached Ounimak pass again, August 29, every sign of the fish had disappeared. Many had doubtless been eaten by the gulls and other birds, and others had sunk in the warm water. THE WEEPING OF HORSjES. Unmistakable Appeals of Injured *-'--"1*1 for Sympathy. Did you ever see a horse cry? Many people believe that horses do not, weep, but those who have had much to do with these faithful creatures know that on several occasions they will shed tears, as well as express sorrow, in the most heartrending manner. In the west, where the hardiness of the ponies causes the riders to almost over­ look the necessity of providing for their needs, it is quite common when the weather is extremely cold to leave an unblanketed pony tied for two or three hours when the temperature is nearly zero and while its owner is transacting business. In this case, says the Practical Farmer, the suffering is evidenced by the cries, which are almost utce sobs, and unmistakable tears freeze onto the cheeks like icicles. When a horse falls in the street and gets injured the shock generally numbs his senses so much that it does not either cry or groan, butv under some conditions an injured horse will solicit sympathy in the most distinct manner. I remem­ ber a favorite horse of my own which trod on a nail long enough to pierce its foot. The poor thing hobbled up to me on three legs and cried as nearly like a child in trouble as anything I can de­ scribe. The sight was a very touching one, as .was also the crippled animal's gratitude when the nail was pulled out and the wound dressed. SUN AND MOON. A Conple of Interesting Folklore Starlee Concerning Those Luminaries. The most touching of all folklore stories may be found in Charles F. Lummis' "Pueblo Folklore." It is one of tho many myths of the moon and beautifully conceived. The sun is the Allfather, the moon the Allmother, and both shine .with equal light in the heavens. Bui^ the Trues, the su­ perior divinities, find that man, the animals, the flowftrs, weary of a con­ stant day. They agree to put out the Allfather's--or sun's--eyes. The All- mother--the moon--offers herself as a sacrifice. "Blind me," she says, "and leave my husband's eyes." The Trues say: "It is good, woman." They ac­ cept the sacrifice, and take away one of Allmother's eyes. Hence the moon is less brilliant than the sun. Then man finds rest at night, and the flowers sleep. In Mrs. Leiber Cohen's trans­ lation of Sacher Masoch's "Jewish Tales" there is a variant of the sun and moon story derived from the Talmud. Briefly told, the sun and moon are equally luminous. It is the moon who wants to be more brilliant than the sun. Diety is angered at her demand. Her light is lessened. "The moon grew pale. * * * Then God pitied her, and gave her the stars for com­ panions." The Men Were Cnrloiis. It is related that the duchessof West­ minster put into her guest chamber a curious Swiss clock to which was at­ tached a printed notice: "Please do not touch!" When M. Joly, the Canadian liberal, visited her grace he ventured to inquire the reason for the prohibi­ tion. "You are the twentieth man who has asked that question," replied the lady, gleefully. "Women, you know, are supposed to be proverbially curious, and I put that placard on the clock to test the same weakness in men, and I am happy to say I find them not a whit less curious than women. I keep a list of all the gentlemen who have asked me the question you have just put, and there has been only one exception among all my guests who have occupied the room; that was Mr. Fawcett, the late postmaster general, and he, poor man, was blind." DO NOT WAIT. If you are troubled with constipation or piles, which are usually a result of tbis disorder, go at once to your druggist and get a 10 cent bottle of Dr. Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin. And for indigestion noth­ ing can equal it. Large sixes 50 cento andfl. At J. A. Story's. 18ml THE ORDER OF THE GARTER. Its Members Men of Great Personal Dis­ tinction. Lord Melbourne used to say that there was only one order in the world worth having, and that was the Gar­ ter, because there was no merit at­ tached to it at aU, and that was what made it the first order in Europe. And therein Lord Melbourne showed his usual shrewdness. The distinction men love best is the distinction which, instead of making a man distinguished, merely singles him out as already be­ ing so distinguished that no reason needs to be given for distinguishing him further. The Garter practically says: "Here is the man whom every­ one will agree to think distinguished. The Garter receives distinction from him, rather than; gives distinction to him." And that is precisely the kind of tes­ timony which men covet most, says the Spectator. What they desire to think of themselves is that they do not need that any external reason should be as­ signed for the honor in which they are held; that that honor is, indeed, in­ evitable, and is a natural consequence of their being what they are. "Merit" is something earned by effort and labor. But what people love most is distinc­ tion which is quite independent of ef­ fort and labor, which is imbedded in their nature, like genius or manner or breeding. To be well bred ia not at a man's own command. EXAMINATIONS IN CHINA. %% 4#i . t..t.&^xL*..A Great Care Exercised In Passing Upon Ap­ plicants for Public Office. China is absolutely governed by a bureaucracy, created by competitive examination, tempered by connections, interest and bribery. The universal ambition is to become a government official, says the London Saturday Re­ view. There is the temptation of al­ most irresponsible power, with great prizes, and of many lucrative places, but, on the other hand, the blanks are innumerable, and the majority of the aspirants must resign themselves to mendicancy. Six or eight thousand competitors may be assembled. Each man is carefully searched in case he should have concealed cribs about his person. Then he is shut up with the examination papers for two d&ys in an unfurnished cell about half the size of a roomy bathing machine. He brings his own food, such as it is, and in these dispiriting conditions he dashes off va­ rious essays, and must throw off verses by the page.,... Should he come out suc­ cessful, it is much to his credit; but even then, unless he has influential friends, he may wait indefinitely for the beginnings of advancement* Ali the officials, from the highest to the lowest, are compelled to be oppressive and corrupt. , . SPIDERS' THREAD^.' Shown by Tests to Be Correspondingly Stronger Than Cast Iron. Some interesting experiments were made last summer on spiders' threads. A thread having been obtained, one end was. carefully fixed with gum to a support, and to the other end small weights were gradually attached till it ! broke. In . order to compare, from | these tests, the strength of the thread with, say, steel thread of the same thickness, it was necessary to deter­ mine its diameter. This was done by means of a powerful microscope, and it ..was found that it would require twen­ ty-five thousand threads to make a ;sheet one inch broad.' When it is remembered, says Cham­ bers' Journal, that each of these threads is composed of some four thou­ sand strands the tenuity is seen to be almost inconceivable, as it would re­ quire one hundred million to make one inch. As a result of these tests it was found, incredible as it may seem, that spiders' thread is, thickness for thickness, actually stronger than cast iron, nearly as strong as copper, gold, platinum, silver, and about one-fifth as strong as steel. It may not be gen­ erally known that spiders' threads are used to support small weights in sev­ eral delicate scientific instruments, and for this purpose they aire orach more suitable thap ax>v other material. Simple Religions Service. Worship in Japan is a very simple affair. In many of the temples the chief feature is a looking-glass emblem­ atic of purity of souL Near it is a font of water in which the worshiper washes on entering. He then prays before the glass, drops a few coppers into a box and rings a bell three times as he goes out. Since the mikado de­ clared himself no longer divine aad in­ fallible Japanese skepticism has grown rapidly. , " O OUR FIRST SEA BATTLE. g It Was with a British Ship and lhN| 'V V In a Victory for America. * v Th* first battle in which a regnlarljf commissioned American war vessel ̂ WllF^ ^ngaged was fought 110 years ago ^ daytNovember 29), says the New Yorft Sun. It was the action between th^ Massachusetts state cruiser Lee anc| the British armed transport Nancy. Ia the war of the revolution some of thai states fitted out cruisers at their own " • ^i5 expense, and, though entirely distinct ' ? from the war vessels commissioned ty ! ? the continental congress, they £nfr» qucntly performed service of great benefit to all the colonies. The Lea * sj had a commission from Gen. Washing* ton permitting her to cruise in the ' f ; cinity of Boston for the purpose of in« 1 tercepting supplies for the British' army. One oi tne greatest. uiiu<;uiut« *, l: that confronted the American army all the outbreak of the revolution was the lack of arms, ammunition and cloth* ing. With a view of securing these despensable supplies Washington com* missioned a number of cruisers audi sent them out for the express purposst of capturing some of the many British transports filled with warlike stare* that were expected to arrive on thar American coast about that time. That Lee, commanded by John Manly, waat. : the first to make one of these captures, m j?; • j November 80, 1775, she captured, afte* a brief struggle, the British transport *.} • ) Nancy and carried her into Cape Boads. The Nancy was laden withi ,"J just the supplies that the American! i, * Mmiy most n©c<icd &t tnat time. Inh». cargo were 2,000 muskets and bayonets*, » V 1 b e s i d e s 8 , 0 0 0 f u s e s , 3 1 t o n s o f m u s k e t ' , S shot, 3,000 round shot for 12-poundersu . 4 ^ a 1 3 - i n c h m o r t a r , t w o 6 - p o u n d e r s » s e w ' * % • era! barrels of powder, uiu ulij casses, or great frames for com' bles, to set buildings on fire. For valuable capture Manly received a tain's commission in tho regular na«7ii and the new 33-ton frigate Hanooela was placed under hiB command. :.;S HISTORY MADE BY LUOK. Many Notable Events Have Occur re J : cause of Trivial Happenings. i Dr. Laffcrty, of New Orleans, raoea£| ly delivered a lecture on "Lee's Lacl^/ V*. (| of Luck," says the Time3-DenK>e»a4lrNi}^J:'?iS! The doctor told how two English snob%i at a restaurant in Paris, by their mtwi . v ^ drove Murat out of service as a and through this accident Mura4 ba»j \ came a marshal of France and ktnf«9 • U Naples. Samples of lucky aceldsadai ' were numerous in ancient and """Wr") history and there were also many ex*' ' ^ _ amples that went to show how many "'V of the ancients believed in good luck op good fortune. Napoleon kNfe ' Waterloo through the mere aooidapt fKk. " f % bringing on an attaek of sick headatilp ">;•/ through eating onion and lamb sgaiupfc ^ the advice of his physician. In 1866 a quarrel between Colli and Blaine decided the presic the United States many ye ward, when Blaine ran against j land. Abraham Lincoln, after beingj ber of congress, desired to Clerkship in Washington, but defeated by Justin Blitterfleld. Hewaa ~ (V disappointed, but had he not been de~ .L ^ feated he would have spent his Ufs ia :;*i} obscurity instead of beooalag ptssi dent of the United States. . Oliver Cromwell was once on board aj '" K ship bound for America, but he was '.' y taken back by a oonstable, and the mh suit was that he became one of thaj greatest men England ever knew. Ulysses Grant would not have been a| ; military man had it not been that hlifc rival for a West Point saH^feihip had. been found to have six toss on each, foot instead of five. The great silver King," was discovered accident of a prospect piece of rode at a Uzj mi HALF-BREED INDIANS. Mew U|kt Upon the Progr-- sf * Amalgamation. The researches of - the United Stats*!^^!;^ department of ethnology have shell a * new light on the prooess of THrftl ^f^ll amalgamation whioh ia going on taa \ V this and other lands-. It fcrmoarn thai . - oontrary to the usual statement aaa^ , :4>f the popular belief, the fertility al thai ha if-breed Indians is not less than tfea% ^ ^3 ot the pure red and whits raoes, Iwti 1 even more, and hence there is no UkaH* '. hood of the Indian race dyfat ««*.! Another singular fact, which taaflpw aw observed in the crossing of strains at ^ - ... inferior animals, is that the breeds are of taller stature pure Indians or the white Kfesiisk from which they have chiefly 1 Stature is not inherited is ner that the size of the hydrid or otf» spring is intermediate between sizes of tbe parent stocks. Theta || % J greater diversity of else ia mixed race than ia the races; and it is farther able that the face of the tends to reproduce that of osta or 1 of tbe parent stocks rather1 termediate type. Moreover, the type has a stronger Influence offspring than the white. u4"] bloods "take after" the red of all. Strange to say, Indian* are, as a rule, taller than children, who come to maturity slowly. It is noted that in ea l|UM termediate types of faoe ax*;_ which happen comparatively they are of a uniform charartjg. Snserican and British Fast Qflteee. The United States has 60,089 offices, while Great Britain i«a yet the latter has 74,810 saploiyH 101,085 lor the frmw. 1$m wwt oeipts of the British postal •82,120,000, and $75,060,479 !&tl»e States. The number of letters.' annually in Great Britain ia 1*1 000 and «,852,220,000 in this Great Britain makes a profit 000,000 by its postal buslaasa' its service is confined to 1 miles. Our 68,085 post oiMf tered over an area of 3, miles, which results in a year of dull business o4 000, whioh is nearly ai the year mmM? ^'ji* .!