The Columbian., December 01, 1882, Image 1

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VOL. III.
ST. HELENS, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON, DECEMBER 1, 1882.
NO. 17.
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COLUMBIA
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THK SCHOOLMASTER'S SLKKl.
ben woon nivre,
The schoolmaster was woary,
Was weary, old and grav;
And heaviness came o'er him
Upon that siuny day
The merry days of childhood
Returned: he saw again
The faces of old plavmates.
Who were now white-haired men.
And then he saw his scholars
An air of t-tudy feigu;
He heard the buzz of insects
Against the window pane.
The drowsy schoolroom murmur
He heard, ami, in hi trance.
He saw the urchins watching
His face with stealthy glance.
He saw, and for a moment,
lie roused his dreamy brain
To lo.isethe sluggish letters
Of stupor s leaden chain.
In vain; for with the effort,
His head dropped on his breast.
His breath came faint and fainter,
And soon he sank to re.
And then arose an upioir I
And boundless was the glee
Among those little scholars
The schoolmaster to see.
Their youthful, wa ward spirits
Took many a merry freak;
They boldly rolled their marbles
Or romped at hide-and seek.
The study-hour was over,
And still the master slept;
And greater grew the tumult
... These thoughtless scholars kept,
Until a little maiden,
Who watched the pallid face,
With grave eoueeru and wonder,
Stole softly from her place
Stole softly to the master,
And gently touched his head.
And started back iu terror
The schoolmaster was dead !
A COUXTRT LASH.
"Land fakes! There goes the door
bell, ruth. Who can it be?" exclaimed
good Mrs. Bobbins, as the far away tin
kle reached the precincts of the kitchen.
And Rnth, as the quickest way of solv
ing the question, put down the cake
that she was stirring, and answered the
call.
Two young men in stylish summer
snits, with 'linen dusters and umbrellas
in their hands, each took oft' a dainty
straw hat.
"Does Mrs. Robins live here?" asked
the taller one.
"Yes," said .Ruth. "Will yon walk
in?" ushering them into a low-ceiled
room. An old fashioned, large-flowered
carpet covered the floor, and heavy,
straight-backed furniture stood up
stiffly against the wall. Crisp muslin
curtains draped the windows, through
which branches of honeysuckle tossed,
sending their fragrance through the
room.
"Boarders, I guess," said Mrs. Rob
ins, laconically, when Ruth's message
was delivered. And so they proved to
be.
"Such nice spoken young fellows
New Yorkers," she leported, when she
came back from the interview, produc
ing two cards on which were written
John Bliss and Ralph Ely. "I had to
take 'em, though don't know how we'll
get along, with no dhance? of getting a girl
far nor near. Thw one," indicating the
latter, "wants Jro stay a couple of
months, but thr other only a few days.
"I don't know what father'll say to it."
But Ruth knew that the hard-working
farmer usually left his "wimmen folks"
to exercise their own judgment about
such matters. "Oh, we will manage
some way, auntie, never fear," she ane
ewered brightly, vigorously stirring the
cake by way of emphasis. An hour later
found her shelling pe&s on the wide pi
azza which ran across the side of the
house.
"Rather jolly old place, isn't it,
Ralph?" The words seemed to drift
lazily down through the air to where she
sat. "I wouldn't mind spending a month
or two here myself if it wasn't for the at
traction elsewhere. I'm determined to
see her."
"Julia Palmer you mean? They say
she has deserted Saratoga for the season,
and gone off rusticating somewhere."
"Yes, but snch a girl will not long
waste her beauty on nnappreciative peo
ple." "By the way, the young miss here is
not a bad specimen of a country lass."
"I don't admire your taBte," respond
ed Ralph. "I shall be Satisfied with no
beauty until I have seen Julia Palmer."
Then, without waiting to hear more,
Ruth, with a peculiar smile directed to
ward the windows above her, softly en
tered the house and set the peas cooking
for dinner.
"My niece, Ruth, Mr. Ely and Mr.
Bliss," was Mrs. Robbins' characteristic
mode of introduction at the dinner table,
and the young lady very quietly ac
knowledged it, scarcely lifting her brown
eyes, thereby at once establishing a rep
utation for shyness which was not easily
dispelled.
That evening, as the friends sauntered
slowly home from a walk, subdued
sounds of music greeted them, and, and
a nearer approach proved It to be one of
Beethoven's grand sonatas, executed in a
masterly manner. They looked at each
other in surprise.
"Wonder who that is," said Jack.
"A lady boarder, p rhaps. Probably
an invalid who takes her meals alone.
Hope she will make her appearance af
ter you are gone. I'm afraid I shall be
fearfully ennuied in this dull old place,"
returned Ralph.
"A person who plays like that cer
tainly ought to be worth talking to."
But no glimpse of the pianist was
vouchsafed the young men, either that
evening or until Jack's departure, which
occurred a few days later. 1
"It's goiDg to be duced lonesome,
here," mentally grumbled Ralph, as he
returned from fie depot one stormy
morning, carefully picking his way
along the narrow path with its drooping
fringe of wet grass. "Wonder if there
i i anything interesting in that box of a
parlor?" !
The furniture stood up just as firmly
as on the day of its arrival ; the gor
geous carpet still flaunted jits beauties
before his unaccustomed jeyes. Mrs.
Robins' marriage certificate occupied an
honored place over the high mantel,
while on either side of the ,room hung a
framed funeral scene f ;a tomb, sur
rounded by weeping friends, in memory
of the death of .h3r children, Abijah and
Truelove. Not an ornament of any
kind nor a book was visible, with the ex
ception of an immense bible resting in
solitary state upon a bare mahogany
stand. Rilph sat down upon one of the
slippery chairs and looked disconsolotely
out between the dimity curtains.
No chance for riding or walking, and
no amusement of any kind indoors.
Just as he was meditating a retreat to
his room for a lonely morniug with
cigar and book, Ruth came in. Ralph
turned with a smile, glad of an interrup
tion to his solitude, and noticed for the
tirst time how very pretty she was, al
though scarcely in the toilet in which he
was accustomed to see his young lady
acquaintances. A long linen apron en
veloped her figure, nearly hiding the
blue morning dress, beneath which small
slippers glanced out and in. A coquet
ish sweeping-cap almost covered her
dark hair, leaving a few stray little
waves creeping about her forehead. Her
checks were flushed and her eyes shone
from exercise.
She carried a broom and dust-pan.
"I am sorry to disturb you Mr. Ely,"
she said, "but it is necessary for me to
sweep this room. In the meantime you
may find something to amuse you here,"
throwing open the door of , an adjoining
apartment. "Of course you are at
liberty to return when I have finished."
Ralph gave a surprised j look beyond
the door, then with a comical grimace
and shrng at the parlor replied:
"Thanks, with your permission, I don't
think 1 shall return."
"As you please," she said, smilingly.
"I am glad to have our nookery appre
ciated." j
The contrast between the two rooms
could scarcely have been greater. In
ene was the absence, and in the other the
concentration of that refined taste which,
with a few touches of its magic wand,
beautifies the most humble home.
Ralph's look of turprise deepened as he
became familiar with his surroundings.
A fine piano stood at one end of the
room, and near it a bookcase filled with
works from the most gifted English,
French and German authors. Easy
chairs were scattered about in natural
positions, a few choice pictnres adorned
the walls, and statuettes and bric-a-brac
of many kinds gave the place an added
charm.
That evening as Ruth sat watching
from the piazza the glorious sunset
which was succeeding the day of clouds
and storm, Ralph joined her.
"I wish to tell you how ranch I en
joyed my morning, Misa " ho said,
and then paused inquiringly. 4
"Palmer," she supplemented.
"Pardon me, but have you relatives in
New York?" he asked with sudden in
terest. "A Miss Julia Palmer?"
"I have seen her," she replied.
"And I suppose you agree with the
rest of the world concerning her beantv?"
Ruth blushed a little. "Tastesdiffer.
I have seen much prettier faces," she an
swered, so quietly as to j pique Ralph's
enthusiasm, and then he thought what
an odd thing he was doing to discuss
Julia Palmer's brilliant beauty with this
quiet little country lass, and yet the
belle herself could scarcely have looked
lovelier than did Ruth in her afternoon
dress of sheer white muslin, her rather
short sleeves showing to advantage the
shapely hands and arms, j Her only orna
ments were a bunch of scarlet gerani
ums at her throat, and another among
the dark braids of her hair.
"To return to our first subject," Ralph
said at leng h. "You do not know what
a pleasant morning I passed in that de
lightful room." i
"Aunty and I think it a cosy place,"
she replied. "Please consider yourself
at liberty to use it whenever you wish."
"Thank you," Ralph: said. "I shall
often avail myself of the privilege."
"Perhaps you will wish to be excased
to-night?" she said. 'Tor I usually de
vote my eveaings to music, as house
work interferes with my practice by day.
Auntie does not mind my drumming!"
"And I will promise to bo even a more
patient martyr than (die, if you will let
me," he replied, laughingly.
"Then you must not murmur at your
punishment," she returned.
And when Ruth's "drumming" began,
Ralph, who was a great lover and fair
judge of music, realized that he was in
the presence of an artist, who inter
preted the great composers more finely
than he had ever deemed it possible.
"Do you not sing?" he asked, when at
last Ruth paused.
"Sing! well, I reckon she does,"
proudly interpolated Mrs. Robins, who
had sat quietly knitting through it all.
"Some of her pieces ore too much opery
style to suit me, but there ain't anybody
can sing them good, old-fashioned tunes
sweeter than Ruth."
The girl's face flushed at the old lady's
warm praises.
"I'm afraid you are rather partial,
auntie," she said.
'Will you kindly allow me an oppor
tunity to judge?" suggested Ralph.
"If you will join me," she said, and he
did so in several popular ballads, then
listened .until the old lady begged him to
join in "Home, Sweet Home," and
"Auld Lang Syne." -c
At last as Ralph bade them good-night
he slid to Ruth in a low tone:
"Mrs. Robins was right. This is an
orening which I shall never forget!"
Then as he went to his room ho wond
ered vaguely why he felt so wonderfully
happy, and if Ruth would think him
quite a fool if she knew that he held in
his hand a flower which had fallen from
her hair. Before many days had passed
Ralph solved the problem, and discov
ered that Ruth Palmer was dearer to
him than any other woman ever would
be, and told her so one day out under
th trees of the great orchard.
"But what of my rival?" she aeked,
mischievously.
"Whom?" he returned in surprise.
"Miss Julia Palmer, of course. You
didn't know that the 'country lass was
on the piazza, and unwittingly heard the
conversation between yourself and
friend the day you came here?"
Ralph colored and looked aunoyed,
then laughed.
"Nonsense. She was only an ideal,
for I have never seen her, and don't care
to, now," he added fondly. "But Ruth,
is it yos or no?"
"Whichever you please, sir," she
answered demurely.
Just then, to their annoyance, merry
voices were heard, and several young
ladies came toward them from the di
rection of the house.
"Why, Julia Palmer, what a runaway
yon are!"
"Mrs. Robins told us where to find
you."
"Such a time as we had getting up
from that poky station !" the gay voices
chimed in. .
Ralph started and looked at Ruth
strangely.
"I will explain all at the first oppor
tunity she managed to whisper, "only
wait patiently." Then introduced him
to her city friends. In an hour's time
she found him walking excitedly up and
down the piazza, looking so agitated that
she was frightened. "Ralph, dear," she
said, putting her hand upon his arm,
"don't blame me. It was only a little
harmless deception."
"Then it is true. You are Julia
Palmer?"
"Yes. Julia Ruth Palmer. But you
need not look so dismayed, Ralph. I
will always be Ruth to you. 1 1 was tired
of the fashionable .summer resorts, and
ran anywhere to be quiet, and brighten
up my household accomplisements,
bringing along some of my comforts with
me. Auntie is good, but things are not
just the same here, you know. Yon
said this afternoon that you never wisuea
to see Julia Palmer. Is it so, Ralph?"
And what could he do but take the
tease in his arms, and tell her he would
try to make the best of a bad bargain.
Queei Cdrolln: Wretched Marriage.
The most extraordinary glimpses we
get of the unhappy married life of the
Princess Caroline are to be found in the
diary kept by lady Charlotte Bury, and
published auuoymously in 1838. This
diary has furnished the chief material
for all the works which have been written
upon the times of George IV. "On one
occasion," says the writer, "she dined at
Kensington, when the Princess gave a
detailed account of her marriage and the
circumstances which brought it about.
'I, you know, was the victim of mammon;
the Prince of Wales debts must be paid,
and poor little I's person was the pre
tense. Parliament would vote supplies
for the heir apparent's marriage; the
King would help his little help. A
Protestant Princess must be found;
they fixed upon the Prince's cousin. To
tell you God's truth (a favorite ex
pression), I always" hated it;
but to oblige my father any
thing. But the fir.-tt moment I saw my
"futur" and Lady Jersey together I
knew how it all was, and I said to my
self, 'O very well.' I took my "partie"
and so it would have been if 'But,
Oh, mine God!' she added, throwing up
her head, I could be the slave of a man
I love, but to one whom I loved not, and
who did not love me impossible "o'est
.autre chose." I brought letters from all
the Princes and Princesses to him from
all the petty courts, and I tossed them to
him and said: "There, that's to prove
I'm not an impostor!" On another occa
sion, referring to her wretched marriage
day, the Princes said: 'Judge, what it
was to have a drunken husband on one's
wedding day, and one who passed tho
greatest part of his bridal night under
the grate, where he fell, and where I left
him. If anybody would say to me this
moment, will you pass your life over
again or be killed? I would choose
death for, a little sooner or later we
must all die, but to live a life of wretch
edness twice over Oh, miueGod, no!'"
fBelgravia.
Strike for higher wages are by no
means common among the clergy, al
though, considering the starvation prices
paid in many instances, it is hard to re
sist the conviction that sorae .ainisters
would strike if they could feel strong
enough. There is a clergyman in North
Carolina who has been preaching for
S3 a week, and thinks he ought to have
more, as he has labored at this rate for a
term of eleven years. He does not like
to go on a strike, for be feels kfMly
toward his congregation. But he has cs
courteously as possible not'fled them
that, unless they can raise his salary to
$4 a week, ho will be under the neces
sity of asking them to let him off in
order that he may go into the carpenter
ing business. The increase was granted
although it heavily taxed the ability of
the church members. There are no
millionaires or merchant princes in that
congregation.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
As I surveyed myself in the glass I
felt a conscious blush riaing to my face.
I wanted to look my best to-night, and
I knew that my white dress and pearls
became me well.
"There, that'll do now, Miss Gertie,
you look just lovely."
Poor old nurse! according to her I was
always lovely. Whether arrayed in silks
or cottons, ball-dress or morning
gown, her verdict always remained the
same.
"Give me a kiss, nursie," I cried,
"and then go and get ready while I show
myself to papa. How do I do papa?" I
demanded, bursting upon him in all the
splendor of my attire.
"Eh, my little girl," he said,' looking
up from the book he was reading, "are
yon ready to start so soon?"
"Yes, I promised to be the first ar
rival, you know; and, please, I want
your candid opinion. Nurse thinks I
look lovely."
"I am afraid nurse is a partial critic,"
he returned with a fond smile. "You
look very nice indeed, my darling. You
are growing wonderfully like your
mother."
I knew that this was the highest praise
he could give me, and forgetful alike of
my dignity and my extensive train, I ran
to him and clasped my arms around his
neck.
"You dear old papa! You're sure you
don't mind my. leaving you and you
won't feel lonely without me, will you?"
"No, my child no."
As I drove along with nurse in her
prim black bonnet seated opposite to me,
my heart beat high with nervous antici
pation. I was going to my first party,
for, though I was eighteen, papa and I
had lived such retired lives that till
lately I had known nothing of the gaye
ties usual to girls of my age. Six months
previously, the Mortons, some old friends
of my father's, had settled in the neigh
borhood, and at their house I had begun
to appear in society. Already, on the
strength of a few musical evenings and
a garden-party or two, I felt niyself quite
a dissipated person.
When we reached Holme lodge, the
large, comfortable old country mansion
was ablaze with light, and from the open
door streamed an inviting flood of
warmth and brilliance.
In the hall I was seized upon by Louie
and Lottie Morton, the twin sisters.
"Come up-stairs to our room," cried
Lottie; "we shall have time for a nice
chat before the people arrive."
The sitting-room specially appropri
ated to the girls' use, was a pretty, cosy
apartment. A wood. fire was burning on
the tiled hearth, and near by was a table
was set forth with a dainty repast of
coffee and delicious cakes.
After we had examined and commented
on each other's costumes,' Louie began
filling our cups just as a young lady en
tered. She was a friend staying on a
visit, Isabella Saloni by name, and by
birth half Italian and half English. She
looked remarkably well, in a dress of
heavy, saffron-tinted brocade, and neck
lace, ear-rings and bracelets of dull gold,
and as I gazed at her I comprehended
how lovely she was.
I was engaged to Rupert Morton for
the tirst waltz: but we had only taken a
couples of turns when he whisper-d:
"Do you particularly wish to finish
this dance; if not, will you come into the
conservatory? It is cool and pleasant
there."
I was about to make some laughing
rejoinder, but a look in his gray eyes
stopped me, and I bowed an assent.
"Gertrude," he said softly, as we stood
by a marble basin wherein a toy fountain
sent up a sparkling cascade of silvery
drops, "do you guess why I asked you to
come here?"
I glanced up at him saucily.
"Certainly; because it is so cool and
pleasant," I replied.
"Ah, that was only the pretext, the
excuse. You must guess my real rea
son, darling. You know that I love you,
do you not?"
I strove to cover my cheeks with my
fingers; but he gently removed them and
held them in his own as he bent his head
to the level of my downcast eyes.
"Have you not a word to say to me?
Can you not give me one word of hope?"
I could not at first speak, but he read
his answer in my silence.
"Rupert," I murmured presently,
raising my head from its resting place
on his shoulder; "Rupert, do you know
I I thought I was afraid that you
liked Miss Saloni."
"You were indeed mistaken. No man
could help admiring Miss Saloni; but
believe me, my darliug Gertrude, be
yond admiration I have never given her
a thought."
The rest of the evening sped swiftly
by. If I had been happy before, I was
ten times happier now. I danced every
dance, and at supper Rupert contrived
to secure a secluded corner, where he
detained me ho long that I offended one
partner who sought me in vain.
I was to remain at Holme lodge that
night, and go home the next day, nurse
having brought everything requisite for
my stay, and placed them ready before
he retired.
Having exchanged my ball dress for a
comfortable dressing-gown, and my satin
shoes for fur-lined slippers, I sat by the
fire in my bed-room, dreaming bright
dreams, and weaving fairy fancies. I
loved, and was beloved. Was not that
the height of human bliss! Could any
other joy compare with it? Truly is it
written:
Theru's nothing balf eo ewe t in life
A love's young dream."
It was long before I got into bed, but
once there I fell into a deep slumber,
and no dreams of the future disturbed it.
Suddenly I awoke awoke with a full,
sure consciousness of the presence of
some one or something terrible in the
room. Who or what it was I could not
tell and I dared not attempt to find out.
I lay with my face to the wall, every
limb stiff and jthe chill blood in my
veins curdling with tear.
At last an an j icy finger touched me;
and, as though under some mesmeric in
fluence, I moved my head.
The fire had died out, but a night
lamp was dimly burning, and by its
light I saw a loosely-robed figure, with a
cloud of raven hair falling almost to its
knees; luridly j glowing eyes, set in a
deathly pallid face; and iu one upraised
hand a gleaming stiletto, jeweled han
dled and finely pointed.
I could utter no ry ; I could make no
movement. I remained spell-bound and
dumb, my eyeballs staring and my limbs
blanching, knowing I was at the mercy
of a mad woman, and recognizing in her
Isabella Saloni.!
Again she touched me; and, though I
shuddered, I could not draw away.
"You sleep pouhdly," she said, "but
you have awaked at last. The sleep of
death is the soundest of all sleeps, for
there is no awakening from it. And so
he told you he loved you you, not me!
Oh, what do "you know of love? What
does he know of love? It is I who love, I
I I," and ier voice rose shrill and
high. Then she continued, after a mo
ment's pause, "J am going to kill you to-'
night. He cannot love you then. He
will forget you J and it will be my turn."
But the spell was broken. With a
piercing, echoing cry for help I flung
aside the bed-clothing and sprung out
on to the floor.) There came a sharp,
fierce bow, an agonizing pain and then
darkness and oblivion.
It was twilight when I came to my
senses. The curtains were .drawn, and
a bright
grate.
fire
cracked cheerfully in the
Vaguely wondering as to what had
happened, I attempted to sit up, but the
only effect of the exertion was a low
moan of anguish.
A gentle voice addressed me sooth
ingly, and Mrs. Morton leaned over me,
and slipping hr rm unJei the pillow,
lifted me up, and gave me some cooling
beverage to drink. I fell asleep directly
and when I awoke again gray day's light
was creeping in at the window, and nurse
was sitting by my side.
"Thank heaven !" she ejaculated, fer
vently, as I feebly raised my hand. Ah!
but you're better now, my lamb."
"Have I been ill?', I whispered.
"A little, dearie," she answered ten
derly stroaking my hair.
"But but what was it? Why am I
not at home? ' j
"Hush! my pretty. You mustn't talk
any more now: Lie still, and another
time you shall hear all about it."
Ah, me! What weary days, what
weary weeks those were that I had to lie
still. Waking and sleeping, I was
haunted by half -delirious visions of that
dreadful night. I could not bear to be
left alone for even a few -minutes. A
flitting shadow in the corner, a fold of
drapery, would nearly send me into
hysterics. j
At last, when the birds were blithly
carroling a welcome to the spring, and
trees and hedgerows were bursting into
leaf, I was carried from my bed to a sofa
in the adjoining room, and from that
time recovery! was more rapid.
Harvest was just over when Rupert
and I were quietly married at a village
church. The; winter following we spent
abroad, papa joining us at Nice in Octo
ber and accompanying us on the remain
der of our travels.
Isabella Saloni is in a private asylum
near London,1 Insanity, it appeared on
inquiry, was hereditary in her family,
though the fact had been kept as secret
as possible.' Poor, poor girl! I only
think of her now with intense pity and
compassion.
HOUSEHOLD.
Tapioca cup pudding. This is very
light and delicate for invalids. An even
tablespoonful of best tapioca soaked for
two hours in nearly a cup of new milk;
stir into this the yolk of a fresh egg, a
little sugar, a grain of salt and bake it
in a cup for fifteen minutes. A little jelly
stay be eaten! with it.
Roast Veali Prepare a leg of veal for
the oven by washing, drying and larding
it with strips'of fat, bacon or ham, and
dredging it with flour and seasoning with
salt and better; baste frequently with the
gravy thiokened. A roast fillet of veal
should be prepared by stuffing it with
breadcrumbs', seasoned with chopped
ham, summer savory, pepper and salt.
Dredge lightly with flour, and bake.
Lemon CiIeams. Pare four lemons
very thinly,! and throw the peel into
twelve tablespoon fuls of water. Sqeeze
the juice oyer eight ounces of finely
powdered sugar. Well beat the yolks of
ten eggs, then add the peel, water and
juice gradually, and strain it through
the muslin into a stew-pan. Stir it one
way Over a gentle fire till it becomes
pretty thick, but do not let it boil.
Serve in mustard cups.
Election cake Take three pounds of
sifted flour, leaving out a pint to put in
with fruit, and mix in warm fresh milk
till it is stiff batter; weigh one and a half
pounds sugar, one pound of butter; mix
them to a cream, then mix one-half of
this with the batter of milk and flour,
and one-half pint of good home-made
yeast; beat fvery thoroughly together,
when light, which will take several hours
in winter (better mix at night and stand
in a warm place till morning) .add the
remainder o butter and sugar with six
eggs, and one pound of raisins, one glass
of brandy, cinnamon, mace or nutmeg,
according to taste, and a little soda. It
should rise the second time before put
ting in pans for baking. The more such
a cake is beaten the finer and lighter it
will be.
Forests and IlAlIsfntiPfl.
The utility of forests as a safeguard
against avalanches and a hindrance to
freshets and snowdrifts has- often been
pointed out, butJt has never before been
suggested that forests are a preservation
against hail-storms. Such, however, is
the opinion of Herr Riniker, who is
chief forester of Canton Argau, Switzer
land. He says that where there are
forests there are no hail-storms, and in
support of this theory he adduces a re
markable fact, for the accuracy of which
he and many others can personally vouch.
In the south of j Argau there is a little
chain of mountains known as the Linden
berge. The Lindenberge are about 20
kilometers long, of an average bight
above sea level of some 600 feet, and
completely covered with wood. About
twenty years ago the forest was divided
in two places by wide gaps, with the con
sequence that the valleys at the foot of
the mountain were soon afterward
visited with frequent hail-storms. The
hail -charged clouds were seen to traverse
the gaps. In 18C8 the wider of the two
open spaces was closed by a plantation of
firs, and since 1871 no hail-storm has
crossed the forest. In explanation of
this phenomenon Herr Riniker suggests
that as hail-clouds are featurated with
positive electricity, and trees conduct
from the earth negative electricity, the
meeting of the two currents develops
sufficient heat to prevent the complete
congelation of the clouds and even to
thaw the hailstones contained in them
for the clouds of this description pass
very near the earth and so convert tho
frozen particles into rain. If further
observation should confirm the accuracy
of Herr Riniker's conclusion in this re
gard, the importance of forests in coun
tries where hail-storms are frequent will
be greatly increased.
Codfish Balls or Death.
There was a singular case up for trial
in the justice's court the other day at
Sawtooth. The question to be decided
by the justice was whether a restaurant
keeper is justified in shooting a man for
refusing to eat his codfish balls. The
judge of the law and justice decided yes.
The case was as follows:
The proprietor of a Sawtooth restau
rant placed a plate of codfish balls on the
table of a young man, and a regular
boarder, who bad seated himself for grub.
The boarder was calmly and peacefully
stowing away the victuals, but didn't
take in any of the codfish balls.
The restaurant keeper approached
him, and said in a commanding tone of
voice. "You eat them codfish balls."
"I don't like codfish balls," replied
the boarder.
"You eat them codfish balls, I tell
vou!"
"I tell you I won't; I don't like 'em."
"I tell you once more to eat them cod
fish balls. If you don't I'll shoot you;"
and the restaurant keeper started for his
pistol. The boarder saw that he "had to
do one of three things eat the codfish
balls, refuse again and and be filled with
leaden balls, or skip. He skipped. Just
as his coat tail was vanishing out at the
door, the irate restaurant keeper blazed
away, but missed him. The boarder
had him arrested. The justice, in his
dignity, decided that the proprietor of a
hash house was perfectly justifiable in
shooting at a boarder with intent to kill
for refusing to eat his codfish balls
Idaho World.
The (ireat Comet as Seen Tlirou
a L'C-
Inch Obj ctlre.
Commander Sampson, of the Washing
ton Naval Observatory, observed the
comet on the 25th of October for the first
time through the great equatorial. It
has not before had sufficient altitude to
be visible in this instrument. With a
low-power eve-piece an excellent view
w as had of the nucleus, which presented
an appearance quite different from that
seen in the smaller instrument, and
showing with considerable distinctness
all the appearance which has led to the
opinion that the comet was breaking up.
In the large instrument the nucleus has
a well defined center, which is quite cir
cular and of considerable apparent diam
eter. The elongated appearance of the
nucleus is due to two masses of nebulous
matter,, one of which is between the
nucleus proper and the sun, and the
other is on the side toward the tail. Both
of these masses are somewhat detached
from the nucleus, the one in the direc
tion of the tail being the brighter, but
neither preventing the condensed, sun
like appearanoe of the nucleus. These
luminous portions of tha coma are proba
bly what have been mistaken for separ
ate portions of the comet, and led to the
belief that the comet- had "split." Tho
spectroscope this morning showed that
the character of the light of the comet had
not changed during the past week; it in
dicates that incandescent carbon vapor is
the principal source of light. . A search
for the small comet reported last Satur
day east of the great comet 'as not suc
cessful. '
The old story is revived concerning the
baptismal silver bowl of the Center
church, New Haven. This bowl was
presented to the church a great many
yeara ago by Jeremiah Atwater, and bis
name is engraved thereon. The story is
that Mr. Atwater bought a keg of nails
in Boston. When the keg was opened it
was found that after taking off a top
layer of nails the keg was full of silver
dollars, and it was out of these dollars
that the bowl was made. The late
Leonard Bacon discredited the story ,and
perhaps the truth will never get into
print.
Man proposes, God disposes but it
takes a woman with her hair down to bo
indisposed when anybody calls.
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