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About The Columbian. (St. Helens, Columbia County, Or.) 1880-1886 | View Entire Issue (June 29, 1883)
r' A s lI. i ! . WH-l'l. tMIUHll J.UllMUIISJMLMBMSWSSMSMSWaSSMSMSSWWESM I THE COLUMBIAN. THE COLUMBIAN. PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY AT 8T. HELENS, COLUMBIA CO., OR., PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY AT ST. HELENS, COLUMBIA CO., OR.. BT E. O. ADAMS, Editor and Proprietor Subscription Rates: r H A I BY E. G. ADAMS, Editor and Proprietor. Advertising Batks: One year, in advance. ttx mouth. . Tares months, ' .52 CO - 1 10 . 50 TOL. HI. ST. HELENS, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON: JUNE 29, 1883. NO. 47. One lauare fio lines) lint insertion .13 M . 1 00 Jtaca subsequent insertion.. COLUMBIAN. DEAR GRANDMOTHER. Grandmother pace with stately treal - Forward and back th'Oiga the quaint ol i room Out ol ihe firelight, dancing nd td. Itito the gathering dusk cud gloom: Forward ai.d hack in herMlkeu rtrt-M, With its failiLg ruiliis of frost-like Uce: A look of thejlet-pes; tendern ss la the faded line ol her fine el l face. Warm on her breat la bin red night gown. Like a scarUt Illy, the baby lie . While softly the tired lids droop down Over tbe sleepy little eyes. Grandmother sine to him sweet and hw. And memories coin1! wit i the crlie--uiig Of thediy when hi san it Iour a . Wnen her life wii yunn; ud her hear, was strong. Grandmother' children cava laft her ni-.w; The large o:d coue is a sbaiowed place; Bat sbming ou: iu the sunet low Of her lite, like a star, couie tha baby's lace. Ha lies wber hi olJ fattier lay: Softly fch-j klQ? Qi'a th 84014 set rtraio. Till the yeM intervening are swept away. And the J ysof iif.'s morning are hert again Grandmother's gray head is bending law Over the dear little orowsy one ! The steps of h. pith way ire ft-w t go. The baby's journey hs yi'. begun. Yet the rosy oawn of his cnildfKh love Brightens the evening that cite were dim: And in aitr years, from ber home above. The light of her blessing will rest on him. Christian union. A PLOT DISCOVERED. I am a saddler by trade, but am of a sentimental and contemplative tarn of mind and often saunter by myself into St. James Park, London, and along the Bird Caee "Walk. One evenintr lately. rapt in my meditations, I remained till it was dark, and the path was nearly empty. I had taken my station under a large tree, near which was a bench, on which two rather well-dressed men were seated and apparently in earnest conver sation. - Coming out of my reverie, I be gan to speculate ou the cause which were most liksly to have drawn my new neigh bors to this quiet spot. "Are ihey," thought I, "members of Parliament come here to study what they are to say on some important question? Are they lovers, seeking retirement to discant to each other on the charms of their in tendeds? Are they husbands, afraid to face their wives? Are they" but all my c.onjectures were put to flight by the first .sentence which reached my ear. "Well, Tom," eaid one, "your plot is well laid; but I think you will have noma difficulty in disposing of Berke ley." "Oh, not at all," replied Tom. "I pro pose sending him to one of the "West In dian Islands, and there are too many ways there of stopping a man's breath for me to be at any loss." "Is his death absolutely necessary?" asked the other. "Undoubtedly," answered Tom, "for you know the duke has sworn that Julia shall never marry Villiers so long as Berkeley is alive." "Heavens and earth," thought I, "what atrocious villains are here! What duke are they speaking of? What Berke ley do they allude to?" I had no time for further reflection. "True, true," said the other, "he must certainly be put out of the way; but I think your sendiiig him to the West Indians is a clumsy mode of getting rid of him? Could you not kill him in a UUD1S "Nothing could be more easy, my dear Bob," replied Tom; "but as I dismissed Spencer to the other world, with a bullet for liis passport, I would rather try an other mode. I think I shall have him murdered by a slave driver." ' 'I can not consent to that," answered Bob; "I don't like the expedient." "Like it or not," said Tom, angrily, "I am not aware that it is necessary to ask your consent in the matter." "Did we not agree to do the thing be tween us, and to divide the cash?" asked nis companion. "Yon are inexperienced in these matters, but I have put a good many such jobs through my hands al ready." Imagine the dismay with which I listened to this horrible dialogue. My head swam, my blcod ran cold, I crept close to the tree, even afraid to draw my breath. "Well, well," said Tom, "don't let us fart out about it; Berkeley shall die some way or other. I am glad you think well of my plot. Oar employers will surely be satisfied seeing there are three dukes, seven marquises and nineteen earls en gaged in it. The deuce is in it if that won't content him!" "Thunder and lightning!" said I to myself, "it is plain that some awful con spiracy is hatching. Is the town to be burnt? Is the housa of commons to be blown up?" "When Berkeley is done for," con tinued Bob, "Villitrs will marry Julia. They will be presented, at court, and then comes the grand catastrophe. We then assassinate William." "My brain whirled; I could scarcely credit my senses; and it was only after pinohing my arm that I could believe I was awake. "Is it possible," thought I, "that these ruffians could coolly plot the death of our gracious sovereign under the very nose of the palace? Desper adoes that they are! But the king shall liv3, and Berkeley shall not be mur dered by a slave-driver, if I can help it!" They had by this time left the bench and are walking toward town. Fired with indignation 1 hastened after them, guided by the sound of their footsteps. As there was no creature near to assist me in securing them, I resolved not to attempt it till help was at hand. Step by8tep I followed them till they reached Charing cross, when suddenly springing forward I seized Bob by the collar, and called out "Help! help! they are mur derers!" Acrowd immediately gathered around, and Tom instead of rushing away stood stock still. "I charge you all, in the king's name," said I, "to secure these two ruffians!" Bob, who had remained motionless, now knocked me down. The police interfered, however, and set me on my legs. I was still bold as I could be. "I charge these two men," said I, "Tom and Bob, other names nnknown, with conspiring the death of sundry in dividuals, and I command you," I con tinued, turning to the policeman, "to carry them before a magistrate, where I hall substantiate the charge." At this Bob and Tom affected the most perfect amazement, and treated the accu sation with the greatest scorn. The mob, however, took part with me, the nproar increased, and the policeman carried us all before Sir Richard Birnie. The appearance of Bob and Tom at Bow street seemed to occasion some sur prise, and Sir Richard, who appeared to know them, looked confounded on hear ing the report of the policeman. "Gentlemen, said he, "this is a most extraordinary affair. I scarcely expected to see you before me on such an occa sion . "You could not expect it less ihan we did," answered Bob. "It is not to be borne that gentlemen are to be pelted bv a mob, and dragged here like felons, on the bare assertion of a scurvy, half drunk tailor." 'I am not a tailor, Master Bob," I re plied; "I am au honest maker of sad dle;." "I wish you had learned to put them cn the right horse," answered Bob, as bold as brass, "Sir Jlichard, I presume we may retire?" "If you let them go, it will be at your. own peril," said I. "Gentlemen, said Sir Richard, "have a moment's patience and we will Boon settle this business, lou fellow, state your charge." "By your leave, oir liichard, 1 will first say a few words which will make their conscience fly in their . faces. Hark ye, Master Bob and Master Tom, other names unknown, look at me." "Well!" answered .Bob, "we do look at you and see nothing but a half starved wretch in a 'suit of clothes not worth eighteen pence." "If I took in hand certain jobs, and shared the cash like some people," re plied I, staring him full in the face, "I might have a better coat on my back. You take me, Master Bob" "I take yon foran insolent scoundrel!" said Bob, in a rage. "Jo more of this, said Sir Richard; "but state distinctly your charge." "I charge them with conspiring the death of a gentleman of the name Berke ley, and of his gracious majesty,William the Fourth." At this Bob and Tom stared at each other, and Sir Richard looked con founded, i "Yes," I continued, turning to the culprits, "I overheard your; murderous schemes, and you monster of iniquity ! you swore to assassinate the king! And what harm has Berkeley done that he should be murdered by a slave-driver? You boasted that your plot was well laid; but confers, ruffians, who are the three dukes, the seven marquises and the nineteen earls who are engaged in it?" At this the hardened wretches burst into such a shout of laughter as made the roof ring. Peal after peal, though I plainly saw that this was done to gain time to concoct some story to palm upon Sir Richard. At length Master Bob owned that he and his companion had certainlv been in St. James' Park that night, and that they had sat for some time under a tree; but that the conver sation I had overheard related entirely to the personages in a novel which he and his companion were writing jointly, and that this was the plot they alluded to. Master Tom, taking this hint, chimed in with the story; and they ; so bamboo zled Sir Richard that the good simple man dismissed the charge, adding a few remarks so little complimentary to me that I must stand excused for not setting them down. "Sir Richard," said I, solemnly; "you are imposed upon; these rogues are too much for you; but since you are pleased to let loose Master Bob and Master Tom, other names unknown, I wash my hands." "When your hand is in, you had bet ter wash your face," remarked Master Bob, and this was the last I saw of Mas - terBoband Master Tom, other names unknown. : Old Circuses and New. The circus season is approaching, and pretty soon the bill posters will be around, and then will come the show, and we will live over the old days again," said the good natured old man, as he took a fork and transferred some saur- krant to his mouth from a plate on the lunch counter of the salooa,anJ punched a cross old fellow in the ribs, who is known as the "kicker, and who grum bles at everything. "O, don't talk about it," said the kicker, as he speared some headcheese that was trying to hide under a slice of onion in a plate of vinegar. "Circuses of to-day are no more like what they were iu 4'J and M than they are like a school boy," and the kicker asked for another schooner of beer. "O, I don't know," said the good na tured man, as he clicked glasses with the kicker. "It all seems the same to me, and I am just as anxious to go to the circus as ever." "Yes, but you don't go till the doors are open, lou don t think ol it, and dream and dream of it from the time the bills are put up till a week after the show is gone, the way you used to. I remember, Bill, when you and I used to set up all night, the night before the cir cus came, and watch for a few wagons that came on ahead,, as though we never saw a bay horse with a white spot on the side. We felt as proud as kings to be al lowed to hold the tired team while the circus man went around the buggy to take out the valise, in front of the coun try tavern, and to be allowed to drive the team to the barn, at midnight, and ielp unharness the horses by the light of the hostler's tin lantern, was more bliss than wo get now days, though we are worth fortunes. Egad, I would give more for the feeling of happiness I have had in driving a circus man's horse to the barn the night before a circus, with the landlord's daqghter looking out of her window to see me, than I would give now for a pointer on wheat. And then, Bill, to get out two hours before day light in the morning and . walk out five miles on the road the day the cirous was coming in on, to meet it, was better than a trip to Europe would be now. Bare footed, trudged along in the dewy grass, with eyes straineO for the first sight of the elephant! Trousers rolled up to the knees, so they would be clean when we rolled them down when we got back to town. O, Bill, those are days that will never came back. Let's take another drink." i Bill wiped a drop of something out of his eye with the salmon napkin and said thev could a 't ex oec t the days to come back, because they had gone for keeps, and the old kicker went on: "Bill, didn't an elephant loom up of a foggy morning when we met tue circus out on the road? We could smell the circus half a mile before we got to where it was resting on the road,' and then we could hear the circus men swear, and pretty soon we would be within thirty feet of the elephant, and how surprised he would look, and how still we would keep for fear of waking up the perform ers who were asleep in the wagons, and with what awe we would look into a car riage window and see the sleepy face and frowsy head of one of the female per formers, who looked so mad in a car riage and so smiling when 'she got on a horse in the ring. And when daylight came aud the procession started fox town, how proud we marched along in front of the elephant, and how we ad mired the bravery of the man who punched the elephant with: a sharpstick. And how we prayed to grow up to be a driver of a cage, and hold the ribbons over four horses. Somehow, Bill, when we escorted the circus into town, we al ways felt that a great responsibility rested on us, didn't we? By gracious, a circus traveling with wagons is the only way to inspire the people. This going around on the cars takes all the romance out of it. Bill, how many circus horses do you suppose we have rode to water when we were boys, after the circus had got to the ground where -it was to show? How we would look now, wouldn't we, church members that we are, to go bare footed and straddle a sweany roan circus horse, and -ride him down to the creek to water, and lead three more. 1 'spose we would be "churched" if we did it now. But wasn't it happiness?" And then the putting up of the canvass had to be superintended by us boys, and now many pails of water have we carried to make lemonade, of which we didn't get a taste? Those fakirs who concocted lemo nade along in '50 wouldn't know us now if we should happen to visit the states prison where they ere, would they? If there was happiness in those other ex periences. Bill, how shall w describe feelings if we could embezzle ourselves iDto the dressing room, where the per formers were getting ready for the grand entree. If we should try as hard to go to heaven. Bill, as we have tried to get into the dressing rooms of circuses or to crawl under the canvass of the show, there would be joy in heaven. Bill, and don't you forget it. The old fashioned circus took the cake for making boys happy, and I don't suppose we could spend ten thousand dollars and have as much pleasure as we have had for two shillings on circus days long ago. Why, j we would be so excited we would forget to go home to meals, and our mothers would think we were lost. We have gone twenty-four hours without eating a mor sel, except a yard of ginger bread. Bill did you ever have any spring chicken, or anything lately taste as good as a chunk of ginger bread and a dipper of that red lemonade? Well, if I could be set back thirty years, barefooted, on the road out of town to meet acircus, before daylight, with two shillings in my pocket, and a light heart and an empty stomach, and feel as I used to, you could take all my moner and do what you darned please with i"t. Bill." "Bat I wouldn't take it, Ike. I would give all of mine to be back there with you and not have a care on my mind. But, let's see. There is avestry meeting this afternoon, and we have got to be on hand, and see about raising the minister's salary. Let's drop the circus for the time being, Ike, and be the staid, pious old delegates that we are expected to bo. But, say, when the show comes we will take it in, eh?" "You bet your boots," says Ike, and they go out into the streets looking pretty young and spry for their age. Peck's Sun. Superstition Regarding Whistling. Captain Burton tells us how the Arabs dislike to hear a person whistle, called by them el sifr. Some maintain that the whistler's mouth is not to be purified for forty days, while according to the ex planations of others, Satan touching a man's body causes him to produce au offensive sound. The natives of the Tonga Islands, Polynesia, hold it to be wrong to whistle, as this act is thought to be disrespectful to God. Iu Iceland the villagers have the same objection to whistling, aud so far do they carry their superstitious dread of it that "if one swings about him a stick, whip, wand, or aught that makes a whistling sound, he scares from him the Holy Ghost;" while other Icelanders who consider themselves free from superstitions caut ously give the advice: "Do it not; for who knoweth what is in the air?" However eccentric these phases of superstition may appear to us, yet it mastnot bs for gotten that very similar notions prevail at the present day in this country. A correspondent of "Notes and Queries," for instance, relates how one day, after attempting in vain to get his dog to obey orders to come into the house, his wife tried to coax it by whistling, when she was suddenly intermitted by a servans.a Roman Catholic' who exclaimed in most piteous accents: "It you please, ma'am, don't whistle every time a woman whistle the heart of the Blessed Virgin bleeds!" In some districts of North Germany the villagers say that if one whistles in the evening it makes the angels weep. Popular Science. Herr Wilborg, of Moscow, was invited to render a solo on tbe piano before a highly cultured audience in Berlin re cently. He has a phenomenal memory, and plays altogether without notes. Just when he was in the very act of carrying the audience away, he forgot two meas ures, but caught on with the aid of the orchestra that was assisting. He was so chagrined thst he refused a laurel wreath that was offered him, and when it was thrust in his hand he laid it on the con ductor's stand and started out. The audience called him back and he played another selection, and again refused tbe wreath. Finally he got mad and threat ened the usher with bodily harm if he did not desist in his efforts to make him aooept it. Men Who Fignred in the IteTolntionary Personally, there was not much to ad' mire in Mr. Washington, for, like .Mr. Lincoln, he was tall and thin and not so very pretty. He was a bold and grace ful horseback rider, ana is said to have taken the lead in all athletic sports of his time. He proved his pedestrian skill by conveying Gov. Dinwiddie's message to Canada in midwinter, a distance of over 500 miles. There are probably few ath letes, after four years training at Yale or Harvard, who would be willing to no dertake so long a journey, even with the protection of advanced civilization. The mother of Washington was a woman of strong character, and iio-i her he inher ited his iron will and was by her trained in habits of honesty, industry and fru gality. In controlling his subordinates he dis played rare ability, for he ruled them without their being conscious of ' the fact. It was his duty to protect thd iroatier, ana to ao mis he was given a militia force of drafted, unpaid and un fed men, who deserted him at the first approach of danger. He had also the frauds of contractors-and the contradic tory and preposterous orders of Gov. Dinwiddie to contend with. The mas terly ellbrts which he made and the grand successes which she achieved were not appreciated at the time, and he had long been in his grave when his true worth was known. Only by one man. and that was the conceited Dinwiddie. was his courage and discretion appreciat ed, for he received but a good-natured rebuke from George II and a sneer from Horace Walpole. Soon after the close of the French and Indian war, Wash ington married a rich young widow. His education is said to have been limited. He went once to the West Indies with a sick brother, and this was the only time he ever left the American continent. Whether the brass that adorned his per son in form of buttons, which has been known to insure success with the fair ones where a bag of gold failed, or whether it was his manly presence which made him a favorite, cannot be told, but it must be attributod. to one of them, for what little beauty he - might have pos sessed as a boy was afterwards marred by smallpox. Washington was a most successful farmer and planter, and Mount Vernon, which came to him by the death of a niece (the homestead having been left to aa elder brother at his father's death), was a marvel of thrift and amine of wealth.' He gradually, as the worth of the land became known to him, added to the estate, which at his death contained 8000 acres, the greater part of which was under a high state of cultivation. Tobaoco and wheat were the principal products. Whenever he was away from home, he requested a weekly report of the exact nambar of day's work performed by each laborer, and exacting the condition of the stock, and giving a minute account of every farm detail. While Washington was president re ceptions were held in the capital as fre quently as they have been since. The president then held a reception for men on Tuesday and Mrs. Washington held a reception each Friday afternoon for both sexes, and on Thursday they had a dinner for invited guests. They were both strictly temperate, but they did not, like Mrs. Hayes, inflict their temperance principles on ail who visited the cspi tol. Washington's services during the revolution were appreciate! by some and splendid gifts were tendered to him. He accepted FIFTY SHARES IN THE POTOMAC CANAL, Valued at 10,000, which was appro priated by him to the endowment of a university at the seat of the Federal gov ernment. He also aocepted 100 shares in the James river canal, valued at $50, 000. This was used by him to enddw a college at Lexington, Rockbridge coun ty, Virginia, which afterwards took the nance of Washington college. We all believe and know that he accomplished great and worthy deeds during his life, but one can be forgiven for doubting some of the marvelous tales related of him. His memory is ever dear to us, and we wish to do it honor. There are others who have au interesting history which is closely connected with that of Washington and the revolution. The captors of John Andre Isaac Van Wart, John Paulding and David Williams would, if they were living now, with as little fame and fortune as they possessed before that event, be considered tramps. If they had been loyal citizens they would not on that Summer day have been playing cards in a lonely and densely shaded part of the woods watch ing their chance to plunder the cowboys who might pass that way. An aid-decamp of General Washington, who was present at all the proceedings attendant on the discovery pt Arnold's treason called them "free booters," who lived by the plunder they picked up between the lines, and said they only surrender ed their prisoners to the Americans be cause they thought that their reward would be greater than if they accepted Andre's offers to release him. David Williams was a native ot ocholiarie, a little Dutch town in the interior of the State, thirty-five miles west of Albany and surrounded by a continuation of the Catskills. He belonged to that class known throughout the valley as Slough fcers. This is a class of poor people who live huddled together in miserable huts, sometimes twelve or fourteen in one shanty with only two rooms. They re semble the lily of the field in one re spect. for they toil not, neither do they spin. The only question which interests them during the year is to Know now much will be allowed them for their sup port by the county. Although Williams was born in Schoharie county, the most of his life was spent at Rensselaerville, a small town just within the limits of Albany county, where in the village churohyard he was buried and rested for nearly a century. In 1876 the minds of the inhabitants of Schoharie took a patri otic turn and they (particularly the de scendants of Williams) thought that a more fitting monument to his memory than the plain slab which then marked bis grave would be in order. So, after discussing the matter in all its bearings at several meetings held thonghout the eounty for that purpose, it was decided to appoint a committee to wait ! upon the senate then in session in Albany and ask for an appropriation to erect the monu ment. The senate must have had its patriotism aroused by the stirring speeches ox the old Dutchmen, for the $2000 asked for was granted and the order for the new monument given. The next thing in order was to bring what lew bones still remained of Wilhans to Schoharie. At this point in the proceed ings a dispute arose which promised to be of an interesting character. Rens selaerville wanted the fine- monument when it was found that it could be had with very little expense to the town. Deciding not to let the Schoharie gentle men have tbe bones, they dug np the re mains and stole away with them at night, a la Stewart. When the Schoharie peo- pie reached itensseiaervuid they found the grave empty. They said they found them, however, and came back to Scho harie with a box containing , three hip bones. Probably they thought that three of a kind is better than a pair. The new monument stands in the cemetery surrounding the old stone fort; - Here the sun as it first looks over the hills. coming through the freshest and most health inspiring atmosphere to be found in America, first rests. Von Wart aud Williams were first cousins, so their social standing was equal. It is said that they never considered themselves any thing but marauders. Paulding was re leased from prison four days before the capture of Andre, but he testified under oath that he had no intention of plunder ing Andre. 'lhis must be true, for no in in would swear falsely when his own honor is at stake. Paulding and Von Wart are buried at Tarrytown on the Hudson, and suitable monuments are erected to com memorate their lives and deeds. John Andre was a scholar, a gentleman, an artist and a warrior. It is said that he possessed an almost perfect knowledge of all the modern European languages. and that he was, when quite young, an artist of considerable note. Some of the finest pictures of Andre now in existence were painted by himself while sitting or standing before a mirror. His mind was stored with a knowledge of the finest literature of tbe day, and possessing as he did great personal beauty and the most pleasing manners and excelling in music, drawing and dancing, as well as being one of the finest horsemen in the English army, it is not strange; that his society was so highly prized by all. He was ambitious, but not in a mean way. He considered the wishes of others, and particularly befriended the widows and orphans ; of his acquaintance. The painters, the fiddlers and the poets were all encouraged and aided by him so far as it was in his power to do it. When his time came to die he could truthfully say that it was misfor tune and not guilt that had brought his life to so early a close. England can well reverence his name, for his motive was to unite a divided kingdom and crown himself with the honor due him. But it is not strange that the Imposing monument erected by Cyrus W. Field should not be able to stand long in this country, where the feeling against him is generally so strong. Brooklyn Jbagle. The Otner Sort of Swindler. There were six or eight of us in the smoking car on the train that was run ning down to West I'omt from Atlanta, and everything was lovely until the sev enth man got on at a way station. He had no sooner entered the car than he looked fixedly at the man who had been telling us snake stories, and directly he walked up to him and called out: "Ha! yon infernal swindler.I've found you at last!" "Who's a swindler?" "You are." "I never saw you before." j "You are a liar, and I'm going to 'pound $18 worth of cash out of yon!" It was presently discovered that, he recognized the snake story man as a fruit tree agent who had sold him some sour grape vines which did not show up, and he was spitting on his hands to make ready to do the pounding, when the other remarked: j "My dear fellow, I insist upon it that you are mistaken. I never was in the fruit tree business, and I never swindled you out of $18." "I say you did." "Never! Instead of swindling you out of 13 on grape vine3, 1 am the man who charged you $16 too much for a sewing machine, and here is vour money back." "Well, now, now ccme to look more closely at you. I believe you're right," said the seventh man. ! "Of course I'm right," growled the other, as he counted out the money, "and I warn you to be a little more careful in the future. I have a reputation to sus tain, and grape vine swindles are not in my line. Here's you're $16 and now I think you ought to apologize!" Detroit Free Press. i The Old Melodrama. How well I can recall the j effect pro duced on my boyish imagination by the performance of an old melodrama how breathlessly I watched the assassins with their long daggers and ehort swords and gigantie pistols, creeping about the stage to pizzicato music, in search of the Kood young man of the story, who was concealed behind a tree or i a piece of ruin, but who would so recklessly ex pose himself to indulge in brief commen taries upon their movements; what terrible suspense I endured when the pale wierd woman with the j black hair, who passed all her life in moaning and cursing over some mysterious wrong, was attemping, to the tremulous wait ings of the violin, the escape of the lovely captive from the robber's den; and I could scarcely suppress a cry when the robber himself, all boots, but tons and pistols, suddenly barred their way! Then, the great combat at the end, to the shrieking of the! fiddles, the blare of cornets and the beating of drums, wherein the good ! young man fought two, and sometimes three ruffians and although nearly overpowered once, ultimately succeeded in laying their black wigs low; then, there was the rush on of the lovely captive, red fire, and the hvnothaaifl of virtue tramolincr uoon ice. Very frequently there was a ghost who appeared at opportune moments in lambent flames of blue fire, much to the terror of all villains, and the gratifica tion of all the good people. The old melodrama was strictly conventional. The robbers al ways wore dirty boots of untanned leather, jackets with many short tails and adorned with many but tons, long blaok hair and beards of burnt cork. It would be a curious eth nological inquisition to inquire into the origin of the old dramatic idea that wickedness is confined to black haired people; sinco Lady Andley, however, there has been a run on the red. There was no oausuisty about the old melo drama; no paltering with sin; vice and virtue were divided with passable lines: trimming was impossible: you must be one thing or the other; poetical justice was always rigidly enforced;- the tri umph of wickedness was unknown in that world and how anybody could be wicked when they knew what a terri ble doom would overtake them; or how any body could think of being otherwise than immaculately virtuous when they were so well rewarded for it. was one of thos) problems that could be referred only to the perversity of human nature. Belgr.wia. The Perils of Boy Babies. It is a perplexing fact that while more boys are bora than girls, there is a sur plus of female population. Of the children born in this city during last year. 14.0C8 were males and 13,253 females, and yet it is impossible for 831,857 members of the gentler sex in this country to find hus bands without inveigling an equal num ber of males to commit bigamy. It has commonly been supposed that war and tho hardships and hazards peculiar to their manner of life are the cause of the excess of mortality among males, bnt a writer in an English medical journal presents statistics to show that four per cent, more boys than girls die before reaching the age of five years, and inti mates that an explanation is to be found in the difference in nursing the two sexes receive, lie does not say whether boy babies are hugged too much or pinched to death by their fair attendants, but a reform in the method of their treatment appears to be imperative. The writer to whom reference is here made is ungal lant enough to suggest that the exoess of mortality among male infants may be .due in part to a higher organism than that of girls, but of coarse the explana tion is unworthy of consideration. Our fair friends will perceive .the gravity of this subjsct, for the preservation of boy babies is essential to the supply of the demand for husbands. There are nearly a million less males than females in the United States already, and the stagna tion of the matrimonial market begiDS to excite alarm. New York Mail. EDUCATIONAL NOTES. Nebraska has 7000 more girls of sohool age than boys. A Presbyterian university is to be es tablished at Pierre in Southern Dakota. John Hopkins' university conducts ! five journals devoted to original scientific investigations. Cornell university is to have a pro fessor of physical cnlture. A new name for a. teacher of gymnastics. American colleges, it is said, derive four-tenth and English colleges one- tenth of their incomes from their students. In probably no other place in the world but Strobeck, Germany, does chess form a regular course of study in the schools. The June commencement of Dickinson college, N. Y., was the one hundredth anniversity of that' institution of learn ing. William H. MoKenney, a Choctaw In dian, is soon to graduate from Roanoke college, Virginia, the first Indian to re ceive such an honor in Virginia. The aggregate of gifts to the university of Virginia, since 1867, in connection with the - Leander-McCormick observa tory, amounts to $143,000. Charles F. King, master of the Lewis school, Boston, recently said that in .Boston geography is more poorly taught than any other branch of study, and that spelling comes next to it. The Art of Singing. It must have struck every intelligent frequenter of the concert rooms to what hopeless straits an enthusiastic admirer of any particular singer is put when asked to give his reasons for appreciat ing the merits of his favorite. The an swer, if one is given, is often couched in vague generalities, and in some cases may be said to amount to little or noth ing at all. The artist has a clear voice, one is told, a clear enunciation, has per formed certain "tours de force" with success, and even, for such reasons hare been given ere this, his general appear ance and deportment aro pleasing. Why should this incapacity to give a reason for liking a thing exist? The explana tion is clear enough to those who have given their attention to the phenomenon and lies in the fact that an audience taken collectively knows little or noth ing of the art of singing, and even were the very executant who is tbe object of applause interrogated as to the cause of his or her success, in but few cases would a satisfactory explanation be forthcoming, for although he or she may have received such education does not take into account the fact that ex planation may sometimes be required. A Showkr of Brimstone. The wiseacres are not a little puzzled over a most mysterious fall of "sulphur," which covered the house and yard of Mr. Abram Wilson, a reputable farmer, re siding four miles east of Wei If burg. The substance was discovored on the morn ing of Saturday last. A match applied to it caused a blue flame, from which came the odor emitted by burning sul phur. The same substance was also dis covered at other points. No satisfactory explanation hns yet been given. Wheel ing Intelligencer. A New York tiarber, who had lost his wifo by death, says he felt her oold hand on his face the other night while lying in his bed. He could not cry oat because his tongue was paralysed with terror. SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS. Ninety-thousand acres of land is de voted to the cultivation of the oyster in Connecticut, and thirty steamers an J a fleet of sailing vessels are engaged in the trad s. It is only a few years ago, compara tively speaking, that photographers be gan to use what they call albu-ien paper. Now in the United States three factories consume about three million eggs a year in making papr of that kind. A paper has been read before the Academy of Sciences. Paris, by IX. Ksy reneuff, on the transmission of sound bv various gasaea.' Using a sensitive flame arrangement, he proved. that carbonia oxide has about the same transmitting power as our ordinary atmosphere, but that carbonic acid gas a much greater power. A new invisible ink has been intro duced by Dr. Widemann. It is made by intimately mixing linseed oil 1 part, wa ter of ammonia 20 parts, and water 100 parts. The mixture must be agitated each time the pen is dipped Into it, as a little of the -oil may separate and float on the surface, from which, if taken up by the pen a stain would be left on tbe paper. To make the writing appear, all that is needed is to dip the manuscript in water; when the paper dries, the writing will vanish. - - - There is to be held in Paris this yoar from the 1st to the 22d of July, an in sect exhibition, organized by the Central Society of Agrioultnre and Insectology. Itfinclude (1) useful insects, (2) the pro ducts in the raw slate and in the first transformation; (3) apparatus and in struments used in preparation of those products; (4) injarious insects and the various procestes for either counteract ing their ravages or destroying them, and (5) everything that may be of inter est to the student of insectology. Prolonged anaesthesia seems to have been produced by M. Bert very simply, indeed. A mask and two caoutchouo -bags are all the apparatus necessary. . The new method he has tried on animals ; is to cause ansosthesia, first with the Eure protoxide of nitrogen (when the lood recovers the oxygen necessary to it) and, finally, the administration of the pure protoxide again. In this way he says he kept a dog insensible for half an hour, and both aspyxia and a return to consciousness appear to be obviated while the patient is undergoing the op- . eration. ALL SORTS. Jay Gould is a "total abstainer, and the story is told that while at Hot Springs he was given a glass of "rock and rye" which did him good, and Gould said that the man who owned the spring that produced that water had a fortune in it. Quite too much: On a very rainy even ing a carriage makes its wayalong the boulevard, the steed smoking from the pouring showers. "Poor horse! Poor horse!" asys a member of the S. P. C. A. ; "out in such weather, and hitched to an open carriage, ioo I" The completion of the iron bridge of the Atlantic and Pacific railroad over the Canon Diablo, in Arizona, adds anoLhar to the list of high bridges. It spats a -dark, gloomy gorge. The bridge is 240 feet above the water, and 641 feet long. It weighs 837,130 pounds, and it cost $200,000. No vehicle desired: "And so, nays the narrator, closing his story, "t'aey took him up to the cemetery in a gold mounted hearse with four black horses and all the bands in garrison playing the 'Dead March." "Very grand, I dessay," remarks his listener, "but I da not care for style. Going to the ceme tery on foot is good enough for me." "An Eden of Love" is the name of a communistic society thst is being organ ized in St. Louis. Members are received on the payment of $100 for each person, and their ohildren are admitted free. The object is to unite the members in their labor, and in carrying on their bus iness affairs, to hold their property in oommon for the use of all, and to dwell together in a common home, j In the West ladies they have an infal lible test for negro blood. The ntgro has no division in the gristle or cartila ginous substance of his nose, suoh ss all of pure white blood can feel at its tip with the end of the finger. This is ihe last thing to yield to the white accession. Any negro blood is marked with a nose the gristle of which is undivided. Leonardo de Vinci was not far from the telephone, when, not more than a century ago, he wrote: "When one is upon the lake if he puts the opening of a trumpet into the water and. holds the point of the tube to his ear he can per ceive whether ships are moving at a re mote distance. The same thing occurs if he has, thrust the tube into the ground, for then also he will h6ar what is going on far away." Grand Fourth of July Reunion of Old Celebration Soldiers. and The committee appointed by the Grand Army of the Republic to arrange for a reunion of the old soldiers have completed arrangements for a graxid re union and celebration to be held in Portland, Oregon, July 3d. 4th and Cth. General Morrow, commanding troops at Vancouver Barracks, has aocepted a n in vitation to be present with nis troops and go into camp with the Grand Army boys. Morning guns, guard rrount, dress paiade and sham battles will be indnlged in by the soldiers and old vet erans. There will be a brilliant display of fire works in the evenings of each day, specially prepared for tbe ooc&sion. General Nelson A. Miles, comm t iding department of the Columbia, wild de liver the oration on the Fourth , and other prominent men from different parts of the North Pacific coast will have a part in the exercises. Special rates will be made by all the transportation lines. A. E. Barthwiok, corresponding secre tary, may be addressed or found i.t tha headquarters of the committee. No. 127; First street, and who will give til de sired information relative to the rmnion or celebration.
