o
o
FAUJl AND UAUDE.V.
Srasonabl'o Uuccestlons to Cultivators and
Tillers of tho Holl.
tVbltfi rlirs lJirpc, Mliltlle and Smnll Breeds.
Notwithstanding tho superiority of
somo of tlio black breeds of pigs, nnd
in jplto of tho fact that tho color, tin
like beauty, is not even "skin-deep,"
the blackest pigs dressing quito as
whito as tho whitest, there is, m this
country, in tho Northern States at
least, a prejudice against black pigs.
In the Southern States, iri localities
where tho pigs riln at Jargo, and tho
Paint-root grows, it is blink pigs or
none at all. White pigs, if they feed
ripon Paint-root (Litctuaiilhis tine
'win), become completely blind, and,
their hoofs drop oil', while tho black
pigs ran oat tho plant without appar
ent injury. This singular fact ac
counts for the prevalence of black pigs
in many Southern localities. There
are counties in England in which there
are projuiees against white animals,
and others in which only black pigs
are tolerated. While in tho Western
States tho prejudice against swine that
arc black, In whole or in part, is rapid
ly disappearing, it remains quito
strong in many of tho older States,
where those wlio keep but few swine,
or who raise tho "family pig," almost
Invariably prefer white animals. Not
withstanding that tho blnak pigs pre
sent sonio of the most striking illus
trations of skillful breeding, and are
the perfection of form, and of swinish
beauty, peoplo are prejudiced against
them by early associations. Thoir
first knowledge of pigs was gained
troiu white ones, and in their minds,
whito is the proper color for pigs.
Tho number of so-called breeds of
whito pigs known in England, was at
one time very large; a slight variation,
such as wo may expect in a strain,
was given a distinctive local name,
nnd called a breed. English breeders
took a long stop in simplifying pig
nomenclature when they grouped pigs
by their colors and sizes, and gavo us
large and smnll breeds of white pigs.
In 1852, it well known English breeder
exhibited nt one of tho important fairs,
'joveral pigs of extraordinary merit,
but too largo to be judged among tho
small whito breed, and not large
enough for tho Largo Whites. The
animals were so remarkably fiuo that
they could not be disqualified. The
judges met tho difficulty by making a
third class, calling it tho Middle White
breed. Since then, while only tho
large ami small black breeds have
been admitted, tho white pigs have
threo breeds, the Largo, Middle and
Small Whito.
flow to (Jot Knrly Garden Crops.
There aro many ways of getting
early crops, or of trj ing to got them,
such as starting the plants in tho house
or hot-bed, and covering them with
glass, etc., after they aro sot out. Hut
when these methods are not adopted,
there it still a chance to liavo early
vegetables and a good garden. It is
simply to select the warmest and dri
rst soil, and sow or plant early. It is
not desirable or wise to sow or plant
Ihnmulu crops before tho soil is in
good working condition. Hut for a
few early crops on a small scale, wo
can well atlord to run a little risk of
7o:u" our seed by to early sowing.
One tiling however should not bo over
looked. Do not depend on this early
sowing, but sow or plant again a lit
tle later when tho soil and weather
aro more favorable. If the first sow
ing succeeds, you are so much ahead;
if H fails, you have lost only tho seed
and your labor. You oan well afford
to run this risk. There aro some crops
which van bo sown tho moment the
frost is out of the soil, wttlt little or no
risk. Among these wo mention peas,
cabbage, oaulillowor, spinach, onions,
htUuco, celery, beet, carrot, parsnip,
etc. It is seldom that these crops are
hurt by early frost. Last year a frost
in May destroyed many cabbage plants
but this is a very unu-ual occurrence.
Among the crops which wo should ro
w without waiting to see if tho tlrst
sowing will escape, aro boots, radish
us, cabbage, oaulillowor, beans and
sweet com.
Farmers' Clubs.
Farmers' clubs aro n groat want.
Wo have State nnd County Agricult
ural Societies, with their annual fairs,
which are good as far as they go, hut
their meetings for discissions aro gen
erally but once a year, anil those dur
tho fair week, when tho attentions is
very niuoh absorbed with Fair mat
ters. Wo have agricultural papers
enough, but their circulation in many
of tho farming towns is very limited.
What we want Is a fanners' olub in
every town or buinoss center, where
farmers come to market, or to get
their supplies, that they may have op
portunity for a conference, for an hour
or two, on some topic previously an
nounced, and occasional exhibitions
of fruits and vegetables, during tho
isummor and fall. In this way, tho best
farmers, with their reading, experi
ments and methods, would tie brought
in close contact with those who are in
the back-ground, and the business of
farming bo made far more attractive
nnd protitahle. Our census statistics
for tho last thirty years show a steady
driflol our population toward tho
cities and villages. These gain at tho
expense of tho agricultural towns. Tho
school house and church in many ot
them aro half emptied. There is no
remedy for this decadence but in the
gospel of husbandry, taught and illus
trated by the Jarmcrs themselves,
who should oxalt their own calling.
American Agriculturist for May.
Timet v Topics
Sunllowor seeds are excellent to mix
with poultry food. Tho mammoth
.Russian sunllower is tho bust to raise
lor this purpose.
OErpry veterinarian in tho country
..takoa strong gi
over check rein.
iwripus sutl useless.
.The Goriuautown Teleonivh thin
U would bo a valuable applicatio
two Mjuasli plii uts to prevent tlio
ages of tho maggot which vor
the root and below tho surface
ground.
Dealers In buttor in No
whim they havo a law bij
Jtibltlug the sale 01 oleoma
ether imitation uuuer, si
honest enforcement of tho law is hav
ing tho effect of inorcnslng tho demand
for genuine dairy butter.
San Joso Timcs'-Mcrcuriln answor
to a subscriber as to when tho codlin
moth nnd phylloxera appear, wo liavo
to suggest: They nppear whoncver
tlicy tuko a notion, and aro apt to
como any dny in tlio year. Horticult
urists must bo on tho lookout all tho
time.
Sandy soil is not good for nn orch
ard, though good orchards sometims
grow on such soils. Clav soil is well
adapted to lruit, especially to plums.
On rocky soils tho npplo tree is at
homo; ifaldwins especially succeed on
such lands. Successful fruit cultiva
tion depends upon feeding the trees
properly.
Pick your market chickens dry.
Nolo this from tlio Ftmn-Jouunnk
"Wo know of no market wl.oro dry
picked poultry does not command two
or three cents more per pound than
scalded stock, and yet farmers in
some sections continuo tho practico of
scalding, when dry picked is just as
easy and expeditious."
Tho removal of drono comb, says
Charles Dadutit in tho Jlee Journal
is worth many dollars to tho beo keep
er, for thirtyrtwo drono colls occupy
as much spaco as lifty worker colls,
and one wholo comb, or 150 square
inches, would produce 6,000 drones in
stead of 7,500 workers. Hence he ar
gues in favor of drono traps.
Putting printers' ink around tho
trees in tlio orchard this month will
do more to keop tho ennkor-worin
moth from ascending thorn than it
will later in tho season. Especially is
it needed where they were plenty last
year, as the ground may bo well" tilled
with them. If there are any eggs of
tho tent caterpillar in tho twigs, they
will bo swollen enough now to be
readily seen, and should bo cut oil
and the twigs burned.
A stono smoko houso a fow foot
squaro and cheaply covered by boards
is very convenient around farm
houses. Hesides its uso for smok
ing meats, it is a convenient recepta
cle for wood ashes, or whon not re
quired as a smoke house may bo stored
witii feed for pigs, to whoso pen it
will naturally bo adjacent. On farms
where stono is abundant tho cost of
such a building, asido from roofing,
will be only lime, sand and labor.
Prof. L. H. Arnold says a dairy farm
costs ten per cent less to oporato than
grain growing or mixed agriculture;
second, tho mean returns average a
little more than other branches; third,
prices aro nearer uniform and more
reliable; fourth, dairying exhausts tho
soil less; fifth, it is more secure against
changes in the season, since the dairy
ing does not su Ifer so much from tho
wot and frost and varying seasons, and
lie can, if prudent, provide against
drought.
An Indiana farmer writes about tho
proper time to sow clovor seed. Ho
says: "For four successive years I
sowed in March, whon tho ground was
freezing and thawing, and failed hi
getting a stand worth leaving. For
throe successive yours 1 liavo waited
until my wheat had grown up to about
eight to twelve inches high. Hy that
time it was firmly rooted in tho ground ;
then I dragged It with a light sharp
tootli harrow or drag; then I sowed
my seed while tho ground was fresh.
Thou 1 sowed about thirty pounds of
plaster per acre, and for those succes
sive years I have bad a good stand of
clover and good orops of wheat."
Orchard grass is a robust grower
and very tenacious of life. It masses
its roots so as to resist tho encroach
ment of other grasses, covering much
of the ground with its largo pendant
leaves that spring out near tho base of
the plant to shade, nourish and
enrich the soil not occupied by tho
plant itself. This, perhaps, accounts
largely for its ability to endure ox
oessivo drought. It will produce two
large crops of good hay on rich soil,
and submit to more abuse than any
othor forage plant, except bluo gnuH,
which is of little value in a very dry
season.
Spring operations will soon com
n?euce, and with thosn a doniand tor
good farm hands. The general rule that
is followed in this country is to put oil'
the hiring of men to the last moment,
and trust to chance for some one com
ing along, and then probably sojno in
ferior workman has to lie taken, or
none at all. Men who know their bus
iness on a farm will not wait, and are
early picked up in tho neighborhood
in w'hioh they may reside. The trust
ing to men coming along just at the
exact moment vou aro crowded is a
bad nollov. There should always b
prolitable employment for a man
tho early spring months before seed
commences, and it will pay anj
mor to secure good farm hands
and pay
OLD BUIMVS BRIDE.
Lot mo see: whero was it that I first
met her? Olt yes, it was under tlio su
pcrb arches of High bridge, boating by
moonlight. A globo of reddish pear
slowly ascended out of tho east tho
shadows of tho great bridgo resting
softly on the mirror-liko surfaco of tho
Hudson river. Tho sound of a fluto
played softly afar off, and all of a sud
den tlio keel of my boat coming sharps
y in contact with somebody clso's
oars.
"Hallo, you I" cried out a clear, incis
Ivo young voico. " Wlicro are you going
to ? Why don't you look which way you
aro steering?"
"Chnrloy Dresden 1" cried out I, little
heeding tlio torrents of obloquy ho was
beginning to heap upon me.
"Old Motfimore," ho responded joy
ously. "Why, who on earth would
havo thought of finding you dreaming
on Harlem river? Hero! Como into
mv boat; hitch on your old craft bo-
hind, and let mo introduco you to Miss
Sophy Adrianco."
I looked as sharply at Miss Sophy all
the moonlight and my own modesty
would let mo, for I know that sho was
tho especial admiration of my friond
Cliarlov Dresden.
Sho was pretty, slight round and
rosy, with china-bluo eyes and a dimplo
in cither cheek, and golden-brown hair
worn in long, loose curls. Tliero was
something flower-like and dolicato in
her prottincss something unconscious
ly imploring in her way of lifting hor
eyes uj) to your face.
Wo rowed homo together or, nt
least, as far on our way homo as tho
Harlem rivor would tako us. Sophy
sang littlo boat ballads. Charloy
roared out tenor barcorolles. I ovon
essayed a Gorman student song whicli.
I had learned m Heidelberg no ono
knows how long ago, and wo parted tho
best of friends.
A weok af forward Dresden and I met
faco to faco on "Wall street.
"Hnllo, Mottimorol" said Charloy,
his honest visago lighting up. "What
do vou think of her?"
"I think sho is a poarl a owel a
princess among women i" J, answered,
with a perfect sincerity.
"Congratulate me, tlienl" cried (Jliar-
loy, boaming all over, "for I am engag
ed to her. Only last night! Lookhere!"
opening a mysterious silver caso which
ho took from his inner vest pocket.
"What do you think of that for an engage
ment ring?"
A fino diamond," said J, putting my
head critically on ono side, "and fanci-
ully set."
Wo'ro to bo married in October, "said
Charley, lowering his voico to tho most
confidential tones. "I might have boon
sooner if I hadn't undertaken that
business in Europo for our firm.
Hut I shall bo imro to bo back
by October, and tho monoy I
shall mako will be acceptable toward
fitting up and furnishing our now homo.
Because, you know, Mottimoro, I'm not
rich."
I spent an ovening with hor afterward
at tho irontcoi hoardinpr-houso when!
sho and hor mother a nico, bright
i Lin- .1. f..ii i ..... (
ejeu milt) wuillllll, mu jmi-iiiumi iv
4n ..nvt.iaiiritw1 Wlfli Sniiliv'fl llllilil'
i .i...u ;.. n. .,;..i f J
lUYIluusn nil ill mu liujusu ui iw
monts, furnished m dnrlc muoVyiy
with n turn up bedstead, .ingornmi
disguised as a high-Dacked- scrwiu-
cananes and goraniums in
dows. said
"It s so lund ot you to 0f ilQ
Sophy, with a gentle prer. nm so
hand when I wont awafiends
glad to welcome Charlrahcorfully B;t
Aim x ioit mat, x coir 0f common
through another ovAgraph albums
plaeooiut-cnat, anut.
f i. - -.i .
ior mi on rowiuu usuon went awav.
w on, uuiirioyyiimriy loavo Sophy
nnd as ho didn't Uhrgo, 1 didn't feel
Adrianco m nycsout mvself at tho
called ui)on houso. I supposed,
geiueoi uuumi, wint nil was going
naturally of day i. rocoivod a noto
right, untfiend Bullion, tlio banker,
iroin mywno woars a wig and spoo
a man.opouuts his income upon tho
taoies.aros.
doubanvroto from Saratoga, whoro
Bwgoiio bocauso lie didn't know
hoifio to do with himself in tlio dull
wx. no asKed mo to bo his crooms-
Hullion was going to bo mar-
as as you've known him a long thus,
I thought perhaps you could explain it
to mo. Oh, I liavo been so wretched.
And indeed, indeed, I didn't deserve
it 1"
Sho gavo mo a tear-blotted letter and
then sat down to cry quietly in tho cor
ner of tho sofa until such timo as I
should havo finished its perusal.
"What does ho mean, Mr. Motti
moro?" asked Sophy, plaintively, "when
iio accuses mo of deceiving him, of sell
ing myself to tho highest bidder? Oh,
it is so dreadful 1"
I folded tho letter and looked severe
ly nt her.
"Miss Adrianco," said I, gravely, "it
strikes mo you aro trying to play a
a double part here. Tho affianced brido
of Benjamin Bullion ought hardly to
iiopo to retain tho allegiance of poor
Clarence Dresden into tho bargain."
"I don't understand you," said Sophy,
looking wistfully at me.
"Aro you not to becomo tlio wife of
Mr. Bullion, thg banker?" I asked,
sioi niv.
"Oil, dear no," said Sophy,
mamma!"
"Eh?" gasped I.
"It's mamma," answered
"She's tolio married next weok I
you know it?"
I stared straicht before mo
had got myself into a pretty picklo by
meddling ofliciously in affairs that didn't
concern mo.
"Look here, Miss Adrianco," said I,
"I will tell you all about it."
So I did. I described old Bullion's
letter, my own fnho deductions thore
from, nnd the rash deed I had com
mitted in sending tlio banker's corres
pondence to Charloy Dresden.
"And now," said I, "do you
that ho is indignant?"
Sophy's fnao grow radiant.
"But there's no harm done," said she.
"No real harm, I mean. Because I've
written him n long letter all about
mamma and Mr. Bullion, which ho
must havo received almost tlio next
mail after ho sent off this cruel, cruel
sheet of reproaches."
Sophy was a truo prophet. There
was no real harm done. Tho next
mail brought a letter full of entreaties
to bo pardoned, nnd a brief, brusque
noto to mo.
T sfnnd nn with old "Run Ttnllinn. tin
that full-blown rose. Sonhv's raaini"
nfinf nil a iwl ii'lirtli fUmi-lnt- TlrHn
(tAtl.. (.1 , (.Hit . t.U.A VMIM.UI ' -
1.. t,, k; i,i;M,v,ciiivo
nt his mm-riajo feast. Piiilfl1l)nla
Call.
TUL' PRESIDENT'S ADVISERS.
"That's
Sophv.
Didii't
Well, I
wonder
Hot "Water In Dyai
From Tlio Youth's Companion
vater in vari
y in dyspopsia,
A 1 .
Tlio internal ujrrof I..
nna iiilmniitn lmt nqtio J
, w , , l..l
i- t "i liiturubt, iiutil
is exciting a good (& , '
.1 , fl among physicians.
Wo aro personry ,
nf Hirrnnl piirts
i i,.i i'B suffered
. , . nls. including tho London
avo nan articles on the sub
r. l. v. onoaritowu crives
acquainted witii cases
f it, whoro tlio individ-
ii i . -ii i .
. ,u Huuurcu wimouc iieip
imedios. Most of our mo
Z1
in
them good wages.
round against the tuo of
It is both bur
It.i.? lfnmtltsi nf Over Headfth'.
Over-reading, ns well as o
is ono of tho ovils of iuod''i'd
tlon. Tho evil has boonJ p:.
cn by educators for mat'1' "mv
but the multiplicity of h tho way
growing cheapness styf ynirsc
of any permanent roiif rt!,u,.,nJ? 111
it goes without saylyP' llt
itself is not only Wo often road
benelloial. HutolUF ,0. ;"lnHito
so much that th"s o-woiso
what thov read JJ Im "
is a dead' lossJ ,0, bm:" Ullt
made of Hhi'h" v" .U0O,k?,!W
ho possessodif roKl!y-a virtue
i ' ono iJHUin realtors do not
vl-iTl.di tiu"wo1 children wore
wiiioii muf, . ,, . . .
is?."'" U urouud.-S. Louis
. . M
U00Ciiur it hunt nn I,M I tnx
lapor in Madrid, called tho
(fenci'ii, is peculiar in its wav.
ho largest circulation of nuv
u tho capital, reaching 200.00U
r,000 a day. It has no editor, but
'.en wldo-awnko reporters, who
ir tho town for every kind of In.
illation. They come to tuu ollleo
ml droi) their mauusorints in a bar.
and there they stay until tho foreman
wants copy. Everything is thon
thrown Into tho forms without regard
to order or anything else, nnd the
paper is read from end to end in spite
of the fact St. Louis Qlobi-lkmocrat.
Of courso, you'll think it a foolish
ng for mo to do," wrote Bullion : "but
ron at sixty a man lias not ontirelv out-
ived tho ago of sentiment: and whon
onco youseo Sophy Adrianco you will
forgive any scorning inconsistoiioy on my
pari.
I went straight to tho genteol boarding-house.
It was possiblo that I
might bo mislod by a similarity of
name, although ovon that was unlike
ly. "Is Miss Adrianco at homo?" I asked
.i ii i.ii i. i .i .
in mu Hiuuoruiy servant gin who an
swered tlio bell.
"Lo', no, sir, Miss Sophy's sponding a
low wooks with a mend at Saratoga,"
Biioansweroii, promptly.
'I hat was enough. I went homo and
molosod Bullion's letter in anothor on
volopo, directing it to poor Chnrloy
jjresuens aaiiress. rosto itostanto,
Vienna, adding a fow lines of my own,
wherein I endeavored to mincrlo con
solation and philosophy as aptly as pos
possiblo. And thon I wroto, curtlv deolining to
"etmi.l no" M-.'M. -O.l H..1I.-1..
.... lll.tl Ulll IJIIIJIUUi
It was but n fow weoks subsoonontlv
that tho waiter showed au elegantly-
urossou. young muy into my room at
tho hotol. I roso in some surprise,
Asido from old Aunt Miriam Piatt and
my lauudross my lady visitors wore fow.
But tho instant sho throw up hor thick
tissue voil I roeognizod tho soft bljo
eyes and tho damask roso cheeks of
Bonhy Adrianco.
''On, Mr. Mottimoro P sho cried pit
ously, "I know you won't mind my
coming to your parlor, because you
Boom .Tiotly like a father to mo." I
winced a littlo at this. "But I havo re
ceived such n letter from Charloy, and
Lane
- . v-v r.i:i t i i.:
n j"" j-wiiv iiicuiuiu iiuxuiUi ins una
lenco wiin it. wo give tho sub-
co of what ho says.
lo.had always enjoyed robust health,
ovor having needed medicine except
once whon ho was a boy. In Audist.
1883, however, ho was prostrated to tlio
yorgo of unconsciousness by sunstroke
With tliis began tr'oublo witii his diges
tion. There was no pain, no acidity, but
an uncomfortablo feeling which ended
in tlio ojection of his food from his stom
ach, nnd yet without nnusoa.
This continued for threo months.
Moanwhilo, ho faithfully tried nearly
all tho approved remedies nnd methods
of treatment.and regulated and restrict
ed his diet. Ho had a ravonows appetito,
and invariably roso from the table hun
gry. Ho could, by tho full exortion of
his will powor, resist for n while tho ten
dency to vomit, but apparently with no
benefit. He lost some fifty pounds in
weight, and becomo very nervous, irres
olute, despondont and weak.
Having seen the nrticlo iu tho Lancet
on tlio uso of hot wnter, ho rosolvod to
try tho troatmont. Beforo risincr in tho
morning lie had his servant bring him a
pint of boiling water. This, so hot that
ho could not touch his lips to it, he
drank, drawing it through a tubo dur
ing tho spaco of twelve minutes.
Jlo Jay in bed ono and a half hours
longer, and thon took his breakfast ami
retained it on his stomach with no un
pleasant fooling. Ho did tho samo ono
and n half hours beforo dinner and
supper, nnd a half hour boforo retiring.
xnis course ho continued until Christ
mas, using no othor fluid whatovor.
Tho vomiting wns whollv arrestod from
tho veryrfirst. For tlio next nine months
ho used tho hot wnter loss regularly,
with occasional return of vomitmc A
subsequent change of climnto hJped to
comploto liis cure and to do without tlio
wnter. Ho has since used it in his own
practico, with excellent results overy
timo tho treatment wns persovercd in.
Where the Best Lobsters are Tak-
en.
Lovrlston Journal's "Hambler."
Tlio best lobstors in tho world aro
taken off Monhogan in tho winter.
They thrivo bolter in tho deep watoi
out to sea than on tho shores of the bays
whero most of tho Maino lobstormensot
their traps. Tlio Monhegan fishermen
aro getting splendid prices for their
lobsters this winter $10 to $10.50 por
hundred. Think of that you peoplo
who think you pay high prices for lob
stors I Tho jobber and tho retailer
have to mako profits on theso fioruros.
But you probably do not get a tastoof
tho big Monhogan lobster, but oat shell
fish which are caught nt Bristol or
Boothbay or somowhero along there,
for which $7.50 per hundred i paid.
Iho Monhegan lobsters ro shinned to
Now York and Boston. I saw 10,000
of them in a car in Portland harbor tho
other day. The lob tors aro kept
alivo in these treat cars, tied to tho
docks, from tho time thoy are taken out
of the smacks till they can bo shipped.
A 1.03k at tbe Cabinet as it Really Appears
Xfhtn in n-sslon.
President Cleveland has changed one
of tho Cabinet days from Friday to
Thursday, nnd now meets his constitu
tional advisors on Tuesday and Thurs
day of each week. Tins is tho only
chnngo that has been mado. The forms
that havo boon observed for half a cen
tury and more on Cabinet days aro still
nndisturbed. CTho hour of meeting is
12 o'clock noon, and the room is the
samo that has been used for tho meet
ings since Lincoln's timo.
It is a plain room with no striking
feature about it. Its two largo win-'
dows. extending from ceiling to lloor,
command a lovely view of tho sweep
ing lawns, themonnment, and tho shin
inc Potomac beyond. Tlio interior is
simplicity itself. Tho walls are painted
in a drab tint, tho ceiling is frescoed
with flowers and cherubs, anil a mantel'
of cinnamon-colored marble surrounds
a capacious fireplaco, wluro hickory
logs aro usually blazing choorily. A
llowcred Brussels carpet vith a black
nnd red backgrouul covers tho floor,
nnd gray silk rep curtains hang at tho
windows.
Tlio tnblo around which tho cabinet
is seated is an octagonnl affair of black
and French walnut in tho fashion of
twenty years ago It has a profusely
carved central leg and legs nt tho cor
ners. It is covend with billiard cloth.
Tho eight armclairs that surround it
ore all alike, of valnat with rep uphol
stering. Very littlo formality attends tho meet
ings. Under Mij Cleveland's Adminis
tration, nt least, ho members aro very
promptly on 'imo. Mr. Gnrland is
usually tho fist to arrive. Ho is al
ways a fow yhnutes ahead of time, and
if tlio pvc!"0.1 not engaged lie fre
quently pes into tho library to soo him.
Sometimes Mr. Bayard is first nnd some
times1"' Lamar. Tho members gen
erally como singly, rarely in pairs.
j?aJ always curies under his arm a
.fnlin ili il ,. .. -.
illy tho Cabinet portfolios aro more
antiquated than Ihoso affected by law
yersas old probably as Senator Evart's
hat. Tlio Cabinet portfolio is a tiling
of calfskin, about 21x20 inches. It has
a single pocket covered by a flap. It
lias no lock, but is fastened by two
straps and buckles, Somo of these
portfolios aro probably a hundred years
old, and tlio grenter number havo "eon
from a quarter to half a century. Tlio
newest is exactly like tlio oldest in pat
tern, nnd each is lettered with a stencil
to indicato to what department it be
longs. Each member of tho cabinet shnkes
hands with nil tho others when ho ar
rives. Tlio president usually comes in
nfter nearly all his counsellors liavo ar
rived. Ho shakes hands with them
nil around and chats with them for a
moment, and then takes his neat at tho
head of tho tablo, his advisers taking
their places in tlio order indicated in
tho diagram. Tlio session begins at 12
o'clock oxactly. whether tho members
havo all arrived or not. Tho president
does not rap tho moetinc to order.nnd
it is wholly informal throughout. Xo
voto is taken on any question. If tho
president wants tho individual opinion
of his advisers on anv subject, ho asks
font, but ho decides tlio questiolwini'is
own way, without regard to whether a
majority of his advisors is for or acainst
his viows. No minutes aro kept of cab
inet meetings, and as no reporters aro
presont, tlio proceedings aro never giv
en in detail. An ox-cabinet official
says tlio public loses littlo by tho ob
servance of secrecy for tlio talk is dis-
cussivo and, fragmentary and would not
bo read if publishod.
sovortlieloss all necessarv precau
tions nro taken to prevent tlio proceed
ings of Cabinet meetings from being
overheard, and a full report of ono has
not been published since tho days whon
Webster wns Secretary of Sta'to. An
enterprising correspondent of that day
in somo way contrived to got into nn ad
joining roOm, whore ho could overhear
overy word. Mr. Webster himself dis
covered tho leak after several meetings
had been reported, and over since the
rooms hnvo been carefnllv watched.
Imagine what eiclit bank directors nr
an equal number of asylum trustees on
pretty good terms with ono anothor
would do if shut up in a back room
ngay from public gazo, and somo no
tion probably can bo formed of what a
Cabinet meeting is like. All tlio pic
i.. ii. i -i- v-. . . 1
nuti.-j nmr. aro mauo oi uaomot groups
nro absurdities. Tho Secretaries do not
stand in tragic nttiludos with i.nds
thrust in tlio breasts of closo-buttoned
coats, nor do they stand with r.n elbow
resting on tlio mantle, nor sit with fold
ed arms and Knitted brows. They just
sit carelessly and easily at a tablo liko
othor folks, toying with penholders,
tearing scraps of paper, or thrumming
on tlioir portfolios.
Abraham Lincoln, it is said, walked
into tho Cabinet meeting that was to
consider tlio emancipation proclamation
with a copy of Artemus Ward's book in
his hand, and read a passage from it
aloud beforo passing to more serious
business. Mlmy a session, too, he enli
vened with quaint stories, if reports bo
truo. In fact, somo of tho best stories
repeated in nfter-dinnor circles during
overy Administration are commonly re
ported to havo been first told at Cabi
net moetings.
There is no set form in which tho
councils begin or continue. Tlio sub
jects discussed suggest therasolves. To
day tho Oklahoma question may bo up
permost, and tho Sccretaiy of tho luto
rior and the Secretary of War naturally
nro tho chiof talkers around tho tnhln.
To-morrow tho Central American news
recent consultations of tho Cabinet, and
tho Central American muddlo and tho
question as to tho political disabilities
of Gen. Lawtou and others have fur
nished topics for other moetings.
Tho political history of the past half
century is full of quarrels and dissen
sions in tho Cabinets of various Presi
dents, but theso outbreaks, as a rule,
liavo not occurred at stated meetings of
tho Cabinet. There havo been instances
whero members becamo so hostile to
ono another that ono or tho oilier would
stay away from Cabinet meetings, and
many cases whore personal relations
were so strained that only icy formali
ties were passed by way of greeting;
out as a wnoio tho sessions of tho Presi
dents with their advisers havo been
pleasant and without remarkable inci
dent. Tlio members of President Clove
laud's Cabinet aro just becinuinc to net
acquainted with ono nuotlior at tho
semi-weekly talks. Tims far they aro
brethren pulling together in unity.
What effect the political strains that aro
to comp will liavo on tho pleasant cir
cle remains to bo found out.
Thought 'Twas Only Preaching.
From tho Buffalo Commercial
An esteemed friond, ono of tho cler
gymen of Buffalo, writes as follows:
"In your issue of Saturday last a
sweet littles tory is perverted into 'Hard
on the Ministers'. Tho occurrenco was
not in llochosler nt all, but in Brooklyn,
and tlio story is not as related. This is
tho truo rendering: Brother J. Hyatt
Smith, then pastor of Leo Avonuo Bap
tist church (formerly pastor of Wash
ington Street Baptist church in this
city), preached a very impressivo ser
mon, ono Sabbath morning nbout twelve
years ago, on 'Tlio Xow Birth,' in which
ho urged that it is an oxperienco not to
bo understood till actually possessed,
and then it is known just as wo
know any fact of experience. Among
many striking illustrations, ho related
in his own iniraitnblo way an occur
renco of his early life. Ho said:
'When I wns a child wo were very poor
and lived in a littlo log house. My
brother James, two years older than
myself, was blind. Wo had no marbles
or playthings, such as other children
have; so wo got somo onions and rolled
them upon tho floor, whilo my mother
smiled and plied hor needle." After a
littlo tlio spray from tho bruised onions
began to irntato my blind brother's
sensitive eyes, and ho instinctively
thrust his littlo fists, all covered with
onion juice, into them, and rubbed
them vigorously. Tlio juico was firo
to his oyes, and in nn agony of pain ho
screamed leaping to his feet, and rush
ing to his mother with nplifted hands
ho cried out, not with pain but with joy,
4I see! I seel' Tho jmcohad cut tho
films which had grown ovor his sight
nnd thoy had dropped upon his chocks
with his tears, and his grief nnd blind
ness were botli changed to joy. So it
wns with this birth from above.'
"On reaching homo his littlo two-year-old
Nanny crept into his arms, and,
turning her largo dark eyes up to hor
iaMiors laco, inquired, with peculiarly
tender tones nnd deep solieitudo : 'Pnpa,
was it a truly story you tolled about
Undo James?' 'Why, yes, my darling,
replied Brother Smith. With a look
of great relief sho responded: 'O, I
thought 'twas only preaching,' and
quietly slipped from his Jap nnd walked
away with an air of supremo composure.
O
Pacts for Ply Time.
Prof. Bicknndel has been lecturing
to tlio public school teachers of Nexr
York on Hies and mosquitoes.
How does a fly fly ? asked tho
fessor. Whilo tho wing was so
paratively narrow, it mado up for
lateral motion. Tlio wings did not beat
back and forth in ono piano, but made,
ns it wore, a flgur 8. Iho wings of a
fly vibrated 330 times a second, which
went to show its muscular power. If
caught fast a fly would keep buzzing
for a long timo beforo it stopped to
rest, with this 3-Hko movemont. Tlio
oyes of a fly had considerable motion,
nnd could seo somo distanco around.
"When magnified, thoy showed a sories
of facets, which wero tlio lenses. Those
facets combined produce sight. A fly of
serious importance wns tho tsoteo fly,
which was, however, confined to a limit
ed urea. To pass through a swarm of
thorn was deadly to horses and oxan,
but not to sucking calves. They did
not effect mankind. Livingston, tho
explorer, spoko of ono occasion when it
wns certain that only twenty or thirty of
theso flies appeared, and yet thoy caused
tho death of a largo number of cattle.
Tho effect of their bites on tho beasts
would bo, first, loss of appetite nnd fur,
and then death from inanition. Tho
Southern and central portions of Africa
would bo quite nccessiblo woro itnofc
for this post. It was a question how
theso insocts could bo destroyed.
Pro-com-
lt m
George Eliot's Grave.
A London lotter records a quaint ex
perience in searching for Goorgo Eliot's
grnvo. Entering tho cemotery tho
searcher cr.mo upon a gravediggor hard
at work and unmindful of tho presence
of a stranger. "Good morning, Mr.
Uravedigger," said the admirer of
Georgo Eliot. Scarcely raising his
oyes, ho mumbled out "raornin'."
"Will you plenso direct us," wo ven
tured, "to Georgo Eliot's gravo."
"Never 'eard of 'im oi didn't," ho lacon
ically responded. "Why" wo hastened
to inform him, "wo mean Georgo Eliot,
To this ho paused ana
tho writor."
leaned on his shovol. nnd nueried : "Did
no live in 'Icrbcato. mum? 'causo there
is interesting, and Secretary Bayard was n printer chnp as died at Michael
nnd Secretary Whitney of courso aro mas as lived up at 'Ighgato way." "My
wio most ueoiiiy concernod. Opinions good man, Georgo liliot was u woman,
nru pusseii an around thu hoard, howev
er, nud nearly evory member has some
thing to add to tho common fund of
information. Tho President has al
ways two or threo vexatious num.
tions on hand to submit to his 'elp yer, but of never 'eard of 'or, a
councillors. Tho encroachments unon more nn that, oi don't think much of
the publio lauds, and tho enforcement
of the laws providing for vacating them,
havo boen discussed at length at two
not a man: she was a great literary
character, and wroto under a mans
name. Why, all tho world knew her,
and she is buried here somewhere
nbout." "Very sorry, mum, oi carnt
and
a
gal atakin' a man's name nohow. Looks
liko sho was shamed of hor own; don't
look honest like."
t
o
t
i