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About The Eugene City guard. (Eugene City, Or.) 1870-1899 | View Entire Issue (June 25, 1892)
LONDON ZOO. ...ii norN ENJOY THEM- GflOM SATURDAY. .W.I Ldon' Great . n. TUtlr iy Ii ' . i. iha II I ir HUT. III . . rreature Eat. ,.,M suimstod at the L.on-trL-um than Saturday. lL.nneartn full force. r.oiDM and mammas, who fcjrenough to vi.lt the their own eariy-iaras, uui 1 .. if thev cume only as 'Wdians. The little peo :3liSriniK lnch banket. - i.a fmind not only their P butter but biscuit and rl..i!,n the animals. t .Lira to take their noonday r" ittnont ritmn. hmv. -the tenr , ' , Jnotwu1"-"' I-; T foar footed acquaintances: a bought for a penny, 'j, t abundant on many a ni counter. 'BM the preliminary ramble. ,,skurry back to the fish houso, i lire glass end of the room, and into tcisely t noon nn atton,lttnt . luDttlUI 01 ui' "" yving. Then the side of an i removed, ami down L penguins to seize their prey. be confessed that their tuolo ... ni-tt till A. Thev literally h w "'. " . ... ' t,b after twn, ami men uun -hint in tho water, evidently tith their bath, L Wnl-fl slender, graceful L familiarly called a "darter" U1 lone to the tank, aud his L in eating his hsh dinner are M to see- ue sweeps mrouga iie an arrow, and impaling 1 upon his bill lifts his head, emvsterious and lightning aaet catches the victim and .lit J IIDI OS THE ELEPHANTS. a the afternoon the pelicans are t little yard where thoy strut '. til Ant lone. A small pond iiiB center, and into this bits of . kmirn. in search of which the f-i pell well, covering the water Konfnsion or gigantic waving ii the attendant approaches ii t this Dleasinir ceremony, the Liken from their drowsy calm, Lci"htnotsoontobe forcottcn Lin watch a stately old pelican wings and begin nn awkward is token of his joy. .hir nit. a deep and well lighted a, dwell two bears, who are nn- rith the fatness produced by bans. They have been so por ted by visitors that when one rer the railint; his bcarship calm- k holds out two entreating fore pi sits in pleased anticipation or Ltchesbitaof bun in his mouth L DDerrincr skill riven by long l?,ind will even climb the pole in er of tlie nit. if one will but hold rer it suspended from a stick. bow will be know I want him to aid i little trirl. who had just brided with this plummy bribe. t; hold it near the pole where be it, said an attendant, "anil be 11 at He knows as much as we -ml; and with much panting, ;nrd creature mounts his pole, a ban, and descends to munch it at mwning joy of all perhaps for ion is that of riding the ele rtich, provided with great sad enough for a dozen people, .eir load of shrieking, laughing "and go lumbering off down the "ring their trunks this side and :he hope of receiving a stray tit- m the neighboring crowd. FEEDINO THE LIONS. p in the day comes one great o which even the most serious person must be interested. At ( the lions are fedl Long the time visitors berin to pour I' building where, in largo cages the wall, lions, tigers and leop- pacing restlessly np and down, stores themselves need no to tell them dinner time is near. appointed moment a man en hing a barrow of bleeding meat, ; it past the cages to the very fie room. At the smell and ademonium breaks loose. Oue r foar, made by many voices in "wo, Wis the place. At the ;i the barrow stons. a bar is r1, and two large pieces ef P thrown in. The lion seizes them iwsand lies contentedly down, 'and lick them with the dolib- well fed animal. 'Programme goes on, until one r Mother is silenced aud the "empty. One very interesting to be nlisnrvftd. The not, on receiving thoir first ". retire to devour it: they second and then turn away k kl J . - -cm securely in their paws. lt( evidently learned how much and cau count np to that N 9 delights of the Zoo are wwustible to animal loving 1 There is the monkev house. ;aow grave, wrinklo.1. h.ilf hn- Phires sit picking fleas from L', cre the chimpanzee "Sally," - wuui nve for her keeper by "J0 the mjuisite number of ? ho, at request, will eat T "hliters. as h "nao tn .In ' & fork. An aha ilrva nnw "Mnnn-nl.l .IK' r wy said, and happy children ""e her! Youth's Companion. ! fcf Wht They Might TelL Mown compounder in Cam- u ma goodfl are nrenarea 8 face of old mm vchn npvpr , i To enabl him tn miard a3Crof. t .:- it a t ui urn laooraiones uo meH With cnlat-ioa that aA. The result is that tho oJW Worfanan in hia shops is J man, who may be seen ; around with oatmeal water ""Boston Globe, Irw. . ,, 7"' im uieresxea m ? toresu that are left to os. JAPAN'S FIRE BRIGACS. Th Pirrm,B of Hl Mlkado'i Hrulm 0 TurouB y,tr f.rei co-intry bt no much exposej to nns tw Jajmn. In ono weok 5 000 Uouh wi'ro lumod down inTokio uliiiH'. ninl in tho ni'.vt week. 1J ooc Iiouhch wcro dohtroywl in thut city while Sir Rutherford Alcock states that T.ikio loses an many houses as eonstituto the entire city every ten yeuin. Tho houses, with tho exwp tion of tlw tiles on tho roof, are con btructiHl entirely of wood, mid tho windows ore formed of fino and ofU-n beautiful luce work, covered with puper. Some buildings in Jnimn are thutehed, while tho roofs of others are formed of little slatehko flukes of wm1; biittheao so reiulily take fire if sparks full uion them thnt tho Japanese prefer takimr the risk f injury from falling tik-s dining the POrtlKjuake to Iteing in even greater danger from fires thun they rily must even now lie. It is strango thut in these days, when so many young untives have come to Europe to study the sciences, thnt their ac quired knowledge of chemistry has not caused thorn to adopt some means of rendering the wood of which their houses aro constructed, and even tho paper of the windows, incombustible. They have, however, in the large towns most efficient fire brigades, and have oven the newest and best fire engines of European or American make, but theso are of much less use than might bo imagined, for the sup ply of water is limited, and tho en gino without water is a mere mock ery. Over every house door is placed a sign indicating that there is ono well on the premises, or sometimes wo see two or more signs, indicating that two or more wells will bo found in thut building, and thus the firemen Know the sources of their water sup ply, mid from theso wells alone van water be had. Tho scarcity of water renders it necessary that all buildings surround ing any that may have taken fire bo pulled down, so thut tho burning mass be isolated, for there is no hoie of preventing the spreading of the conflagration by tho water from the engines, and it is this necessity which causes the fireman's drill in Japan to appear so 6trangeand grotesque to tho European. Each fireman is fur nished with a sort of hook, intended for use in pulling down the houses, but the question arises as to where the man is to stand while engaged in his work of destruction. A ladder is held upright by a number of men, who hold it firmly by these hooks; and it is up a ladder thus held that tho firemen go to pull down the houses which are to be destroyed in case of a fire. Tho chief exercises of the men con sist in ascending tho ladder and leaning out from it in a horizontal manner, using the hook whilo hold ing on by tho feet, and in all sorts of acrobatic feats which seem calculated to aid them in their work. Some times a man ascends the ladder and stands in an inverted position on the top round. At other times he grasps one side of tho ladder with his hands and throws his body out horizontally, so that ho may have free use of his feet and it must be remeralxred that the Japs can do much more with their feet than we can witn ours but the chief exercise consists in holding by the feet and using the hook with the hands. The firemen are arranged in corps, each of which is headed by the bearer of a large lantern in tho form of some curious distinctive device, from which cut pnjiors, a religious emblem, depend, and we have seen a corps slowly and solemnly morcn insr to a fire, headed with this in signia, just as though it were taking part in a funeral procession, instead of hurrying as becomes those con cerned in subduing that fearful ele ment, fire. London Graphic. Moon 8upntUloni. nntT nlil Hmo farmer will AUiiUDl Mil J tell you a worm fence built in the light of the moon and ascending nodo finally fall Will VT Ul 11 i ' down. If you plant potatoes during similar phases they will all go to tops ana tne luuers wm uc oiu " Tkia ia timft however. to plant cucumbers, especially when tita aitm in in the arms. bills "-O 1 Tho carpenter of former tunes would not think of putting a shaved i.:nni nn n )uiililin7in the dark of the moon, because the shingles . 11 iLA n!1c Aiif nrwl WOUlU CUn Up, pUU U1W UiUia vuu, lilro a aimrrt NmthW WOllld OWJU Ivurv unu - ho cut timbers for a house, nor would he paint it until the sign was nguu Pittsburg Commercial Gazette. - T ,1. ..I. L a. The little whitewood toothpick pointed i , ... ... n.,antail in Atiipricain ai ooiu euun - ..,.. i iun a oiniill article to low), aim viuum ovi.. create a monopoly in: yet a factory at Bucksfield. Me., used up many thousand cords of wood every year in the manu facture of this small article. The cord of wood consists of a thousand billets or four loads. Two thousand five hundred toothpicks wcro sold for one shilling, and a large profit was made. Now, the patent having run out, many others have eone into the trade, and prices have fallen to fivepence on 2,500 toothpick retail, and even lower wholesale Chambers' Journal. Changed Hl Opinion of the Jury. A gentleman who served on a jury that tried a prisoner defended by General Henry Morgan tells a good one on that counselor. In his sjwech in arguing the case, General Morgan complimented the jurors highly, telling them that he se lected them specially for their intelli gence. The jury was not out five min utes before a verdict of guilty was returned, whereupon General Morgan exclaimed. "They are the worst set of fnoU I eversaw."-Albany(Ga.) News and Advertiser. DIofcnM' Trt Irony. Diogenes indulged in a "tart irony" when, observing over the door or a . ; . .l:. : ;j;. -l.pt no de- schooiroom inia mat ur.v, l - i.o nniotlv asked. ceiver enier unt, - How does the teacher go inT-Aew York Home Journal REAL LIFE IX DIXIE. VIRGINIANS ARE NOT SURPASSED A3 FEARLESS RIDERS. Wlir h Daring t'avitlry Lrmlera of tht 1111 r ltrlrU Their Woiulcrful kill Sinrefnl llomeuieo Why Snulhrrn Woniea Ar Orareful. The bold and dashing horm..manship displaye.1 by the Lees and Ashbys. by J ofkNiii. Stewart, Monbyand others who Were tho leadinif miiriln (if tlin C.,iif...l. erate cavalry service during the late ANXIOUS ABOUT HIS MAIL , . i.v.i inn nuiiui-r nuu ntiuuruiioD there f even of their eueiuies, and developed the gjr fui't that tlin Vif.riiiiu.id uni L., .1,..,. ' . .7. ' . " " - i umu. "WIlO iS 1 .no uiii ui'L-iHiiinihiii-u uun luitruiiui riiinrn An Fn;llihmitn In t litoito Want a Tull, H lie un Send Letter Home. A plain looking Englishman who Is at the l'nhtrr house asked so many questions of the peoplo about tho hotel since his arrival that tho. elerks hide when lie opars in tho olllee. Vestor day morning lio cornered Thoiiuu O Tirii'ii, the room clerk, and nked where the postmaster lived. "I can't t.'ll you, sir," replied the clerk. "Tho (Ktolllce Is at Clark mid Adams streets." "Then the postmaster is opt to be icT i ,.. i :i col. bcx'on. w.. ...... , l,,., uU. ,.!..- I ll .... X Tnr..... i.ki... .... a .i.. t-i- -'ii'o ii'iiinvi ..in,-, iiniiui . Liin iiuntrr ill ill., i r i ...i . , .,1 "Nono better" 0iiun inniiK'in, IIU HIU ITUl UU 1U llie . . . I I ' T ........ . .... ...... . .. i ii n... pnuie or maniiomi, was perlinjw the 1 " " wu... Knnut irtu, ..f ............. .,. .1.. with liliu. nml woiilil nitlinr know n 1. ' ...i..i ,j jv ... iuuiii,v nwi iiiiiiii iuio i m that branch of the Confederate serv- about tho man before going over to his offlec." "You will find him a thorough gen tleman." "I say. won t you kindly lot down a line to him recommending me I Your in- ice, ami nw iiamo today is a synonym for chivalry m the south. As a peoplo the Virginians are inclined to outdoor life, to whom tho graces of physical culture come as easy and are as inherent in them as their own charming and recommendation, with mv letter of warm peartea uiwpiiamy. me youth trodlu.tIon fpom .OI11(.. wlli llU that o the uid ....nionwho cansitasiul- h f w to aC(ommodllt0 die in a fox chase, couch a true lance in n a touniameut and take a five rail fence , ,. .., . . .. .. in a steeple ru.e commands the resnect . 1 don 1 ,,ko to K.tu m mU 16 of his fellows aud holds a nrior lien cl,,rk- but 11 ta nmst tllu nl'1'8 oI u l a l m it. upon the boart of the fairest girl in his UOU!HJ lo any paix-r ior ii naitriiiu.riwwui i iciiL'ris. Mimri.iM in V .mirl. t ''Iliif. T ilnn't UMi ii t flint vnii Irtimr tiuniivio 111 111X7 DUUIU IXJX1UJ K-tlU UVj ....... v( j iwn more spli'timd exhibitions of the Just a lot tor of uitrvxlui'tum will ooiia nue ios mini, ineoni nine lournii- swer my purixwo. ion hop, i wish oient ami cross country ruling than are send home n few lottersnbout my Jaunt given by the inhabitants of a little town m the State, and I'd not like to have called Warrenton. in Piedmont. Va., tho oflleer in charge of tho post refuse situated among the foothills of tho Dluo ti1Pm because I am a stranger, you Kidge range of mountains iu the midst t. " nf a Iw.untlfiil ruiHtiirul rmriiiti u'liii-li 1 - i -- - n chiefly devoted to stm'k raising and largely inlialnteil oy tlie ( . r. V. s oi the old regime and their descendants, who have recovered from the fiuancial and social distresses occasioned by the liuot nf their rIiivps. nml nra rnvtvinif many of those delightful customs and pastimes which formerly prevailed among them and rendered southern life so uuiijue and enjoyable. A HISTOItlC fiKCTIOX. Here it was that Aslilivund Mosbv were reared and had their homes, and the latter made this romantic country of hill aud dale, of stream and wood land, the scenes of those daring raids which so cnppled the northern forces when oH'ratmg in that section of the state, and gamed for him the sobriimet of "guerrilla." The buttles of Manassas and Bull Run were fonglit only twenty miles away, where the gallant boy soldier, (juincy Marr, was the first to lose his life on the Confederate sido. McDowell's Rhlenilid arniv. 100.000 stromr. camped within the limits of the pretty village and were so toucneu oy tne nooiiuy of tlie women, whose homes had been appropriated and turned into hospitals, that tlicy left its qtuei precincts un harmed and its inhabitants unmolested. It is not remarkable then that a people who before the war were fond of the 'huso mid dun m.' the four years and more of that bloody conflict literally lived in the saddle snoniii neinenuers and marksmen that thev are today and have a penchant for the sports of the field. The summer in that country is the season for tournaments, wincu are con ducted with all the nomn and military mock of a joust in the days of "Merrie England." when chivalry had its seat in the hearts of men and inspired them to deeds of romantic valor. Young nnmarried men only are quali fiml to enter the lists of these tourna- meuta for the honor of crowning "the queen of love and beauty." They as anme titles for the occasion which are nifirpstive of kiiiirhtliood and are sup- posed to ride for the woman who reigns nvnr thp r affections anu miu'iii oe re garded as a possible bride. A PK.TURESOL'K SCENE. The picturesque costumes of the con- testanta, their gayiy capansoneo v.-u, the silver tongued orator and his gran rfilniinnnt e.hunre to theknights. tho in- cnimtinn nf tlia fair suectators whose hearts palpitate with expectancy, the bearing off or tne victorious nun tho ni.l f.mlnoned coronation ball that follows at night, which opens with the address of the hero of the day and the crowning of the queen and her maids of honor, the dance of the royal set. and the grand finale in which tne assemoiou company, young and old. unite in that niio iinni nf the olden time the Vir ginia reel form a picture of social life that recalls the manners and amuse ments which were common to the south thirty years ago. but were wiped out and forgotten through the war as well as the men. . ti. amnion nf VirLMiiia are distin A11V ........ .. w. i . guished for their horsemanship, and many of them ride like centaurs before k iut nut nf ahort dresses. In the fall of the year they can be seen riding across the country unaueuuvu. mm -quently participate with their husbands, brothers aud beaux in the excitements of the chase. The Virginia girl is gen erally conceded to be charming under tiff mi wtimt 'PR. but when she as sumes her riding habit and mounts Into uA .... 1,11a cha ia an outdoor Dictureof erace and health that has no replica in WEIGHING AN ELEPHANT. lie nil- know. The elerk would not have been more surprised if an actor had registered at the hotel without asking for cheap rates or some other favor. "You mean to say," asked the clerk, "that vou wnnt to mail some letters. but you aro afraid they won't go unless you have a letter oi introduction to the postmaster? "Quito so. You can dash off a few lines in a minute." "Yes: but it is not necessary. Just put your Initials in the lower left hand Corner of the envoloiw. Tho postmaster knows you aro stopping here. He will recognize tho initials when lie is assort ing tlie London mail, and your letters will receive tho best of enro." "You are kind," said the English man, perfectly satisfied with this as surance. "1 11 do that, tlinnlt you." The clerk siuhed as tho truest walked awav. "There is plenty of cleverness In Endand. ho murmured ; "but that chap is like the man who fell out of a balloon he Isn't in it" Chicago Trib une. Congreiuilonal Twin. There aro two men on tho Republi can sido of tho house who look enough alike to bo twin brothers. They are Louis E. MeComas, of Hagerstown, Md.. and William D. Owen, of Lognns- port, Ind. McCoinas Is a sharp, shrewd lawyer and Owen has been a minister of the Christian church. Tho former is a member of tho committ eoon appropriations and tho latter Is chairman of tlie committee on im- niiirration and naturalization. The District of Columbia appropriation bill was the first appropriation bill passed. McComas drove it tnrougn tne nouse with liir htrims like speed. It Is said that sovornl Washingtonians congratu lated the Kov. Mr. Owen on tuo ability ha had displayed in securing the appro priations for the district and asked liim into tho restaurant to uave some thing. MfiComas' experiences are. however, not aonleasant. The doorkeepers say that he was recently stopped at the cor riilnrhva matronly ladv. weannir OlacK lnftn mitts nnd Bold eye glasses, who threw up both hands on seeing him and said: "La! UrothorOwen, now do vou do! Whv. I haven't seen you In a dog s age I" Cor. Chicago lune. Oaa Borw Communicator That cattle and horses can comraunl cate intelligence to each other, and are endowed with a certain amount of reasoning faculty, the following facts am nnittv ennelllsive DTOof : I Once pur chased a station in Australia on which a large number of cattle and horses had irnna wild To iret the cattle In I fenced tho rmnimnfint water (a distance of twenty miles), leaving traps ai intervals. At first this answered all right, but oon the cattle became exceedingly cau tious about entering the traps, waiting nntiiiilii for two or three niijhta before going in, and if they could smell a man or his tracks, not going in at an. a it come to the trap Kate, and one would go in and drink and come nnt and thnn another wouiu ao tne same, and so on till all bad watered Thov hud nvidontlv arrived at the con elusion that 1 would not catch one and frighten all the others away. To get in the wild horses. 600 of which were running on a large piain nout on mm orpai. I erected a stock yard with . . . . i ill (mu niL v widemnir lane in a nouow (unlit tmiinninir nine iu n grace una neuiw " mw gu"v -----the tfallery of nature!-Cbicago Tribune, where it could not easily be wm, and OJ BUUlUlllUft UUIOC1UDU ..avv. - .l m M tl.nkan r.la.si. 1L. fPullnriMl thfl Willi hofBefl ill. Viniil irifiM i mo iiaiu - 1 tneAwutlnra Intrnntinn IS nil I Mv titut hunt (whifh lasted for some A new anu iiin-n-fiii'B ......... ...o. - . , Z u u .. t : r,m.ti.ni riirf I ifoirii vu successful, the vnia norses recently oceii uniu - j " name.y m.-vcliine ftjr '.',.aking...(!1?th TlVmLlTAt Zo tmm u-nntn class, uesiaes utiuzmg wiu j --- -- - trom wasto gi- " .a,l bv charrinir back at the hundreds of tons oi a oroKe. anu wr --- ;nd , h ways. My less substance tho textile produced I wJI fjnf ,Tat . month ,aJ, WM i have many advantages over an ouier every rf honM m th, fabrics; it is incombustible, can be knQW where the y8rd manufactured In all colors and of any gnd won,d not head tuat way. This . . , . i. fl.w.L-naaa Tlianna , . , . . i. . i . v,. u aesuea Bireiigiii teems to snow mu m uuira w - property of incombustibility will ron- from the first hunt told all the , -i. ,nUa tn thnea wnrkinff near .u th atswl rard was. Cor. aer ll linaiuiiwiu D - giucrs wuu.w j i.i. a it im nlun iiud for ladies' i ...im Hmwtjitnr. or who iii. - - - wuuuu -i' dresses and foroth'-r purposes, in place of silk, nnd it is s ud to be more giosry nH liiKtrous and is more easily washed. It is stated to have all the appearances characterizing silk, being as son aim even more clastic. Its usefulness will of course depend much on its durabil ity. British Warehouseman. Can and Effect. First Theatrical Manager (meeting a brother manager at the entrance to the house of rcpresentativesJ-IIello! what ., .nn ditlnir in there! I second ji aitii-'-r i mu .in"; "-o i m effort in tne way oi a u rracnnx. i next season. -Puck. ght tndon aa a Center. TV,, ritv i,( London is nut down by geographers as the center of the landed hemisobete. In other words, a radius hnnt 6.000 miles on the curved sur face of the earth, with London as a cen ter, would describe a circumference in inainir more land than any 8.000 mile circle that could be drawn from any other city In the world. txchange. Mot Alarmed. Romantic Miss (addicted to poetry) Oh. I'm just in love with Edgar Allan Adomr-Wall. that's tH Ha's dA-Nr York WMy, How an IuKnlou Trlnra Rolred a Dlf ilrull 1'roblrin of Slate. About 2U0 years ago there lived a Prince of .Mahratt.is, iu Uindostan, whoso mime was Uiiuhjcc. Princes are numerous In India, but this particular prince was long remembered on account of his iHMit'llreiii'o and great wisdom, lie seems to have been tho most learned priuce of the tinio, and his advice and help were always sought iu critical mat ters. .Many stories are told of his in genious settlement of difilcultics, aud some of them are certainly curious. Once a very high official in tho court of Princo Shahjeo mado a vow that if he succeeded iu a certain enterprise, he would distribute to the poor of his dis trict "the weight of his own elephant in silver." Elephants were highly prized by theso princes, nnd each kept the larg est and finest for his owu use. The of ficial's vow, if hasty, wan generous, and perhaps tho success of his undertaking was worth tho price. Tho undertaking succeeded; but the official, willing to keep his oath, was met by an unexpected difficulty. There was no Kssiblo way of muling the ele phant's correct weight. No scales in the country were constructed of suffi cient power to weigh such enormous beasts. Elephants were not sold by tho pound, and no need had before arisen for scales to weigh them. All tho learned and clever men of tho court tried in vain to construct a machine of sufficient power to weigh the enormous beast. It did seem probable that the oor of Hin dustan would have to get along without that silver. It is possible that tho offi- ial had thought of this objection when lie mado the vow. Indians are crafty, and this ono might have been cunning enough to leave himself a loophole of escape to prevent parting with bis money. But if nny such notion had occurred to him. ho was dmmicd to disappointment in tho matter. The question was re ferred to .Shahjee. as all such vexatious questions were. And it did not take him long to hnd a very simplo solution. That is al ways the way with true genius, you know, Tho solution it finds is so simple thnt every ono cries out In wonder: Why, of course! Why didn't some body speak of that before?" Shahjee commanded the elephant to bo conducted along a platform into a flat bottomed boat which lay by the water side. When the animal was safely aboard, ho desired tho attendants to mark upon the boat s sido tho exact height to which tlie water reached whor, tho elephant weighed it down. Then the elephant was taken out and stones -substituted, until enough were loaded into the boat to bring it to the same water lino its whou tho elephant was the passenger. Then tho stones were weighed. If the scales could not hold all at once, purl could bo taken at a time, you sec, and so the elephant's weight was correctly iisccrtaincd. It is safe to conclude that tho jKKir of Hindustan finally got the silver. A princo so wiso must have also been just. Whether tho official who paid tho money was quite satisfied, his tory does uot tell us; but we will liopo, for his charity's sake, ho was, and as a full grown elephant weighs several tons, the amount distributed among the poor of the district must have been very largo. Harper's Young People. Origin of tlie I'iano. Tlie pianoforte was invented by Dar- tolommeo Cristofori, a harpsichord maker of Padua, Italy, who exhibited four lustrumouts in 170U. The honor was' formerly claimed by Marius, a French maker, who produced a piano in 1710. while Herman writers maintained that Schrooter, of Dresden, was the in itiator of the instrument. The earliest date ascribed to the hitter's achievotnent, however, is 1711. During the present century, however, an itauun document was discovered, written by uarcnese Scipione Mallet, a Florentine scholar, in 1711, which tostinoa that uartoiommeo Cristofori, of that city, exhibited four pianos in 1709, which statement was originally published in The Oiornale in that year, accompanied by a diagram of Cristofori's action principle, employing hammers, which constituted the chief difference botweon the harpsichord and the piano. In Maffoi s writings crutoton name ia triven as "Cnstofali, but this Is proved to be an error, because inscrip tions upon existing pianofortes give the name as "Cristofori." Father Wood, an English monk, living at Rome, is also said to have made a pianoforte similar to Cristofori's in 1711, which be exhib ited in Enuland. where it attracted much notice. Cristofori did not remain idle after in traducing his first instrument He be came prominently known as a maker, but died in 1731, comparatively poor. Daniel Soillaue iu Popular Science Monthly. Tlie New Tear In Scotland. Every householder knows when Box ing day comes round (because of the neonle who "come round with it), ana also New Year's day. Even the oldost of ns are wished a "happy return" of it. for "there is no one." says Cicero, "who does not think be may live a year, Moreover, if we do not give our family the usual presents on that day they do not scruple to remiud us or it. tiow ever artificial, indeed, may be the divi sion of our year, the first day stands out in it in a iecnliar manner, and really wins to separate the old from tne new though we must have lived in Scotland to know how very much New Year's day may mean. In ttiat country it Is Christmas day and all the saints' days rolled Into one Everybody sits np till 12 o'clock to "see the New Year in." ana in tne more en thusiastic households the house door ii nnbarred with great formality to speed the parting and welcome the coming guest In England the New Year has never been made so mncb of, and such customs as belonged to it are dying out, hut in America it is "kept" with enthu siasm. Illustrated London News. SUNDRY FACT3 A30UT HARP3. V r.i'tnrn in ratnr nf the Instrument r.iM M.iili I 'n im 1 r liv Klnif Dmlil. I.i tli- S. ..v.i--. or '.in.tra iliere Is otio ' "i -.ui un:i!i'.!i. n M!" CiiniM, nnd he I'l.'iy lie li'"V. Tin- liar,) she uses iiLvitly '! Hl.it) nil I w.i made by a lino in llii eit The harp U an ol I f:ii!iiniie. intru tlient nf llio Ntt"eli-l lune lilld Very dilllelllt to play lip.ni correctly. It looks simple enough to any one who lias never examined a harp closely. It seems to consist of a certain imniU'r of strings which are pulled at by tlie player Just iis the strings of a Imnjoare pulled, except that there aro no frets to bother one's lingers. llui in reality the harp is a most per plexing instrument. Those who play it say its mechanism is nioro Involved than that of a piano. Notwithstand ing this fact, it is becoming opulnr again among young women of social standing, who originate and sustain fashions of all sorts nnd in nil direc tion. Of lato there have been more harps ordered for amateurs than for professionals. The cost of sueli a harp ns would bo used by an amateur Is from f 1.10 to if 1,000, as much as would bo paid for a good piano. Seven pedals surround the lias of tho harp. They aro attached to as many rods, which run up through the pillar at tho front of the harp, and aro there hitched to more roils with a hold on the strings a hold thnt can bo re moved or tightened by a pressure of tho foot on tlie pedals. This mechan ism corresponds In its effects to the shortening or lengthening of a violin string or the string of a guitar or banjo by running the finger along tho frets. There are forty four strings to a harp, tuned to C natural. It is a particularly irrueeful nnd cfleetivo Instrument for a woman to play if she has a good arm and wears short sleeves; and this may have something to do with its return to popular favor. It is also a very hand- sonio Instrument, or it may lie mado so with rich carving of the head and deco rations upon the top of the sounding board. Among tho prominent amateur harp ists In this city nro Miss Hewitt, daugh ter of ex-Mayor Hewitt; Miss Drexel, daughter of Joseph W. Drexel, the banker; Mmo. do liarrlos and the Countess Jerxniunouskl. New York Evening Sun. The Talking and f. running Tree. We find tho renting lettor In Clark's Looking tilnss," a collection of curious things published in 1008. Tho letter Is from a Mr. Ralph Bovy, whom Clark says is "a godly minister." Bovy's letter hem's date of July 7, 1000, and Is as follows: "Touching news, you shall understand that Mr. Sherwood hath received a letter from Mr. Arthur Gildcrhnin, which eontaiiieth this sub sequent narrative, viz: That at Bramp ton, In the parish of Toksey, near Gainsborough, in Lincolnshire, an ash treo shaketh his body und boughs, sigh ing and groaning like a man troubled In his sleep, ns If ho felt some sensible torment. Many have ellm1ed to the top of It who claim that they can hear the groans and muttering more plainly when in the branches than they can be heard while on tho ground around the trunk; even there the uncanny noises fill ono with consternation and terror, "Ono inon who climbed to tho top brunches on a recent Sabbath essayed to Bponk to the troubled treo. Whether or not ho received nn answer we will never know, as ho fell down stone dead. Ono who spoko to the treo sev eral days ago lay speechless for three hours thereafter, groveling and moon ing in a most piteous manner. Reviv ing ho said: 'Brampton, Brampton, thou art much bound to pray.' The Earl of Lincoln has caused one of the amis of tho ash to bo lopped off and hole to bo bored through the main part, and then was the hollow voice to be heard more plainly than before, but in a kind of speech which they could not understand." Telllnz Time at Night from the Hipper. The time can be approximately told at night by the position of the dipper. If the position of the "pointers is wscn av anj iriven hour, sav 8 o'clock in the evening in the winter time and as soon as it is dark in the summer, the hour thereafter can be pretty accurately measured oy tha avn duriiia the niabt Frequent ob servations of positions will nave to be made at the given hour, as owing to the constant changing of the earth's position In space, the position of the "pointers" in relation to our point of observation and the star also change.-x nut m Biaaa. SOUTH AFRICA'S BANK ROBBER. Chaaa (be follr Had for film After Ills r.wajie. An interesting account is given by Tlie Johiinnexhiirg Hmr, of South Af rica, of the pollco chaw after McKeon, the bank ro!ler, whoi achievements In the matter of perpetrating roblicrles, escaping from Jail ami eluding tho po llco entitle him to rank with tho notori ous Jack Slieppard, and whoso regard for his clever black horse reminds one of Dick Turpin. In the hurried start lifter McKeon when he escaped from tho Pretoria jail (says tho newspntierln quest ion) the mounted police forgot to tako hniidciilTs with them. Further, McKeon hud friends all along tho route. Ho was lKirn in Basil toland, nnd every lhisuto is his fast friend, even to Mama. Consequently when tho polico Inquired along the road of Basutos If they had seen two men pass on horseback they nvariahly said that they had not. Mc- Keen's love for his famous black horse, now at tho mounted polico barracks, was extraordinary. Tlie polico had to have three remounts before they could run that horso down. Two of the mounted police sighted McKeon and Cooper faraheadof them. They spurred on after them, thinking that they would bring tho fugitives to halt on tho steep banks of tho Rhenoster river. What was their surprise, however, when they saw McKeon leap his horso down tho twenty foot bank Into the river, swim across, and, when ho saw Cooper's horso would not follow, como back, nnd reaching out pull Cooper s horso down by tho bridlo and drag hint through. Ouo of tho policemen hnd a riflo and resolved to tako a long shot When McKeon saw tho smoko of the gun rise ho and his companion drew their horses apart and tho bullet passed between them. Shortly after McKeon drew his horso up, leaped down, re moved the saddle nnd stood patting his horse on tho head. Tho polico ap proached and ho surrendered without a word, giving over his two revolvers with the remark that ho was enriching tho government with revolvers, for this was the sixth they had had from him. Ho said ho gavo himself up bo causo ho did not wish to kill his horse. Cooor handed over his revolver, too, looking rather glum. McKeon said he know he would receive twonty-flve lashes, but lie would only stay in jail for eight months, when ho would onco more say good by to tho authorities. Ho did uot know why they had given him twenty-five years, for ho had not murdered any one or stolen a sheep or ox. nobbing a bniiK or. its surplus money was no crime. Tho polico were entirely taken off their guard, and con sequently at daybreak tho next morn ing the birds hnd flown unobserved by them. McKeon has since been recap tured at Ladybrnnd. A Trifle Too Cuol. "Doctor, Just an Instant, please," ex claimed a caller at tho office of a man of physic as he caught sight of the physician disappearing Into his private office. "I'll see you shortly, sir," was the curt reply. "But a second is all I want," persist ed the caller. "I'll see you directly, sir," with stern ness. The visitor took a scat hi the general reception room, read the afternoon pa per, looked at the pictures and played with the dog. After thirty minutes or more had passed the medicine man came out of his den and, with an ah of condescension, said to the visitor: "Well, now, sir, I am at your serv ice. Your turn has come. Wtutt can I do for you?" "Oh, nothing In particular," was the reply. "I Just dropped In to tell you that Just before I called I saw a couple of men clearing your garden of those flowers you had put In yesterday; that i all."-London Tit Bits. JuTenlle Purohaaer. One of the most striking features tn the pooror regions of the city is tho early age at which children are made useful iu the household. In my rambles about town I have scon children puny, ondorsized children too of four and five years of ago carrying milk, meat, groceries, etc., having just performed that part of the family marketing. Step into any of the Soventh avonue butcher shops, bakeries or groceries and you will almost Invari ably boo children of from four to eight years old purchasing family supplies. 1 have seen children whose eyes were still on a level with the butcher's chop ping block buying five cents' worth of odds and ends of moat for the family stow, and paying for it in pcDLles care fully counted out into the butcher's big brown bands pennies hard earned, no doubt One time the child couldn't talk distinctly enough for the man to under stand. "How much money have yon got?" he asked. The little thinly clad tot opened chubby and very dirty fist and displayed four cents. Whereupon the butcher, his diamond pin t parkling In the rays of his bright cleaver, scooped In the pennios and chopped hiin (or her) off a fragment of bones and gristle and threw in a chunk of fat "Small?" said he, In response to my comment "These children commence running errands as soon as they can walk. At six aud seven the girls do the marketing and keep house, while the boys sell papers and play craps. Por terhouse, sir?" New York Herald. Two Remarkable Aeeldenta. Jefferson Miller, of Jeffersonvlllo, Ind., has good reasons for his strong dislike of both rats and tliresliing ma chines. In 1872 he was feeding a threshing machine in the bam when a rat ran across the floor. Turning to watch it his left hand was pulled off by the machine. Again In 1887, while feeding the same niachlno In the Iden tical barn above mentioned, a rat ran between his feet. He kicked at it, slipped and had Ins only remaining hand ground to a pulp iii the greedy Uiaehine. St Louis Republic. The Cocoanut a a Vermifuge. The cocoanut baa been used a a ver mifuge in India for generations by the beef eaters of the couutry , and is so well known there as a means of expelling the flat worm that we cannot understand why the information of that fact has not reached ns before. When properly ana intelligently administered the cocoanut is equally efficacious with male rem oil, kousao. Domeirraaate root or turpentine, while it is as pleasant to the palate as they are offensive, and in no way lnjun-ous.-4roldthwaiU's lieographioal Magazine. A Doubtful Compliment. A man who was selling nigs stopped at a house on Howard street, at the door of which a woman was sweeping. A great pile of dirt had accumulated nnder her vigorous wielding of the broom. "U'mornin." said the man. "Can I sell you a rug today?" "No. you can't sell me anything," snapped the woman. "Sorry," murmured the man as ba fofded the rugs; "that's a powerful sight of dust you've got there." "1 guess I've swept the whole bouse," retorted the woman; " 'tain t every day 1 kin do the sweepin." "You must be the cleanest woman in the world," continued the silver tongued rug seller. "Dew tell," said the woman, leaning on her broom. "What makes you think soT "That pile of dust My wife could sweep for a month and not get inch a pile of dust as that" She was flattered, and looked at his mgs, with the result that she bought two; and as be went away be chuckled to himself; ' 'Carn't sell me anythin.' No? May be 1 didn't sell her and the rugs both. And sho sever tumbled!" Detroit Free Press. Famou Abduction. Marriage by abduction was by no means uncommon in the early ages. The daughter of the king of Argus was ab ducted by a Phoenician; the Greeks car ried off Europa from Tyre and Medea from Colchis. Next to the abduction of the fair Helot, perhaps the most remarkable in its political consequences was the King of Leinster's taking away of Hie wife of a neighboring petty sovereign. O'Kourke of Breffni - The king of Connanght avenged the insult and drove from the throne bis brother of Leinster, who apiealed to Henry U of England for aid to recover his lust sovereignty. The Norman con quest of Ireland followed, with long centuries of war and devastation. Loa doa Standard,