Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1887)
IS. STORY OF TWO HATS. An CTclinncfi "T Hciid-tieur Which Crimed Conclcnllr Mcrrliiiont. A few yours ago nn amusing incident occurred in the House of Commons be tween two well-known members. One, who for many years represented Nortli Warwickshire, was a true specimen of an old English Tory gentlemen, some what solemn of visage and dress, while the other, who is still a member of the House, is a prominent Irish Nationalist They happened on this occasion to bo seated on the same bonch, with their hats placed beside them on the seat The two hats were, though both tall, dissimilar in nearly every other respect; the Tory member's being high ami straight, with a Hat, narrow brim just .such a hat as an old fogy who looks with contempt upon the fashionable hats of the present day would wear; but the other gentleman's copper, if not in the correct Bond street style, was rather fetching in appearance, with its slightly curved cro.wn and neatly-curved brim. An attendant passing a card into the House, with an intimation that a con stituent was waiting in the hall to see the Irish member, he. apparently hav ing his attention fixed upon the name on the card, rose, took a hat from the peat, and walked out of the House, placing the hat upon his head. A general titter of amusement took place among the members and others as sembled in the lobby and hall to see the familiar figure of the Irish member with a hat on Ihat-niight have belonged to his grandfatlior, and his general ap pearance reminded most people that saw him of a celebrated character of Dickens' in the "Old Curiosity Shop." It happened at that moment a division was called, and the members summoned into the chamber in the usual way. when, jut as the question was about to be put, the loud voice of the member for North Warwickshire was heard call ing the attention of Mr. Speaker to a point of order, for the worthy member, heing a rare old stickler for a question being put in its proper order, thought he could improve upon the form in which the present one should be put. Cries of "Order! Order!" rose from all parts of the House, as it is custo mary for a member addressing the IIouso when the doors are closed for a division to remain "seated and cov ered." The member receiving a' re minder from another sitting near, at once seized the hat beside him and placed it upon his head. A loud roar of laughter was heard from the whole House, the Speaker being hardly able to resist joining in, to see the worthy old gentleman in his somber dress with such a hat on as he had never before been seen to wear during the forty years of his parliamentary life. When the merriment had subsided and the point of order was settled, the Irish member, who had discovered his mis take of taking the wrong hat, resumed his seat, and, with that keen sense of humor he is known to possess, delighted the House by putting on the hat he had taken anil assuming a broad grin. The two members sat side by side for a few seconds, one enjoying the amusement the spectacle caused and the other frowning his displeasure at the very un parliamentary proceeding. The hats wero then exchanged amid approving cheers of the members. London Times. THE BLANKET FISH. A Pearl-Direr Tell the Story of Ills Niir row Ksmpc from SulTocntlon. The first time I struck the bottom I couldn't believe I was there. It was as clear as air, and the fishes swimming around might have been taken for birds. 1 landed on a kind of sand hill when they lowered me, and had to walk .about fifty feet down into a valley like before I struck the shells. They were sill in a bunch, stretched along in a ridge, looking like a black mark against the white bottom. I was dragging the hamper and when I got alongside I "began to toss them in. I reckon I had filled half a dozen or so, when all at once I -aw a kind of shadow moving over all. At first I thought it was the schooner and then, perhaps, some of the other divers coming down, and thou it left; but all at once it camo again and grew so dark in a second that 1 turned quick and looked up, and I'm telling you the truth, master, if 1113' hair hadn't been held down by a copper cap it would have riz right on end. There, a-inovin' over me. was what I took to ho a bird about thirty feet across. It was wheeling round and round, Hap ping its big wings, just as you've seen huzzards or eagles do, overhead. Down it came, lower and lower, and I a-orouching asilat as I could get. Tho nearer it got tho bigger it looked, and as I see it was a-settling on mo I took tho pike I always carried and as it wheeled around over me I let drive. Hit it? Well, I reckon I did. Tho next thing I knew I was standing on :y head, rolling over and over, then yanked sideways, half drowned, and then I reckon I lost my senses, and when I came to I was lyin' on deck and all nanus 100KUI" at mo. V You see, the critter had given the water such a swirl that I was knocked . end for end, and my pipo and line twisted around and around, so that 1 couldn't breatho, and of course that pulled the line, and tho men thought 1 had jerked it to come up, so they hauled away for all they wcro worth, and tliat's what saved my life. What was it? "Why, nothin' but ono of those sea bats -blanket fish tho other men calledt and they all said I had a narrow run for it That was the way, accord in' to their say, that tho Jisli goos to work to get away with a man. They first settle Iown on you like a blanket, and there 3011 are. There wHsii't a man that would go down after that for several hijs. t iitcuitiuti Cumuuireial O'azUte. 1 CHARMING COMO. 1 Tim ChnrnrtcrMlr unit S it rrn until tig of Italy'. Mint llvnnlir.il J.uke. More than two-thirds of the beautiful villas on Lake Como are owned by En rlish people, who come down through Switzerland and Prance between the 1st and loth of August, and remain intil the end of October, usually. The nost magnificent, though by no means lie most charming villa on the lake is the property of the Viscountess Mudro l, and w;is formerly the summer home of the Countess Raimondi, the daugh ter of Garibaldi. It is a large wh"'e marble building, with three great doors in front over which hang heavy can vas curtains at present, and before which thu family congregate about live o'clock in the afternoon to take some light refreshments and chat until din tier time. The grounds are extremely beautiful, bring wild and woody in parts, with quaint grottos and curious fountains here and there, and the lawns dotted with immense magnolia and lemon trees. A great gilt crown sur mounts th center pinaele, and on the iron gate is written the word " l'Or man," the name of the place. The lodges, one at each end of the grounds, are also of white marble. The Vis countess entertains a great deal, giving many dinners, lawn parties, fancy balls, etc. Just above, on the mountain side, is the lovely country palace of Monsieur and Mine. Capada, who were both famous singers here in Italy, some ten years ago. . Further up on the lake are the old villas of Taglioni and Vasta, where these celebrities once lived. A little farther on is a beautiful island, former ly fortified, which played an important part in the military annals of the Mid dle Ages. Charming ruins and a few modern houses cover a portion of it now, but the old guide still shows you shadowy looking eaves that the spirits of the thousand witches burned in Co mo in Jo'-'t are said to haunt contin ually, and on the highest promontory of the little isle stands a rickety bell tower among the azalia and camelia bushes, and there, every May day, goes a young peasant lad of tho vicinity to ring the bell and call all the young men and maidens within hearing together, that, from among them he may choose the maid he loves best to be his bride. Tho custom is very old ami very regu larly observed in the lake districts, and no spot could be more fitting assuredly than that on the beautiful IMaud of Comacino. At the upper end of the lake are the two beautiful resorts of ISellagio and Cadenabbie. Charming balconies from hotels, restaurants and villas hang over the water's edge, and the view in every direction is enchant ing. At Rollagia tho tourist may pur chase the silk blankets and scarfs of rich Hoinan colors. or the lace that the little, girls make, sitting in front of tho houses on the narrow streets; also tho tiny wooden shoes of the Italian peasant girls. At Cadenabbie is the famous Villa Cotta, the property of the Duchess of Saxe nieiningen. The terraced gardens are beautiful beyond description, and Hie tiny landing place (steps and break water all of white marble) is one of the prettiest on the lake. In the great hall of the house is Thorwaldson's friiv.e, representing Alexander's triumph. Several works of Canova are there also. First, and always first for beauty and grace among the great works of the sculptor is his "Cupid and Psyche," The combined power and airy lightness of design seem almost to endow the marble with life, and one half expects to seo the two exquisite, figures' move and fly away, or step from their cold, black pedestal into the light and sun shine to rest with the butterflies among the flowers. There are but two or three places of any historic interest on Lake Como, anil of these tho town of Como itself is the chief. On the top of a hill, which forms the background of the town, stands a most picturesque ivy-covered old tower. Not a window, crack or crevice breaks the stretch of stone from top to bottom, and its curious construction almost tells its enud history. Sometime in the fifteenth century a Duke of Como loved a beautiful Vero nese lady, who, however, preferred a young lord of her native city. Tin. Duke, infuriated at the rejection of hit suit, vowed vengeance upon the luckless lover, and added the tower mentioned above to his splendid castle. Then he waited, like all evil spirits in legends, until just before the marriage of tho happy pair, when ho took the young man "prisoner one night, and bearing him to his own domain, lowered him with rones into the dark round tower. There ho left him, and the third night after, so tho story goes, tho peasants in tho neighborhood saw a white dove fly from the tower and bear straight to Heaven a human heart; and to this day the old Castle Haradelia (such it is called) is tho favorite haunt of doves, and no good peasantover kills one with out breathing an Avo Alarm or de voutly crossing himself. At the north ern end of the lake is a ruined castle of the thirteenth century, a few yards from . . , .1 .. .. 1 I !.... .1... WHICH mere is U niciwy pans uuiiiiu; wu peculiar appell ition, "Orange Juice." In 1799, when the Russians were invad ing tho territory, several hundred pushed up to this castle of Ilezzonico and wore surprised and overjiowored by the Italians, who Hung them to tho Inst one down the dreadful gorge. Not a Russian escaped alive. Cor. Omaha Ike. Ex-Ciovornor Cm-tin, of Pennsyl vania, has recently had an operation performed on his right oyo, which had boon sightless for twenty years. Tho sight was instantly restored. Philadel phia Press. Gypsy grandams. Accd retirle Win Constitute, the lte-lly Witching Purt of the ltom:iny People. At nearly every tout-mouth or in nearly every wagon-front you will see one or more of the old spae-wives of the camp. Those are the Gypsy grand ams. They are tall and strong, though wrinkled and giewsome. If away pant fourscore years of age. they havo their own teeth, are wonderful on their legs and in their faculties, and are living lesson of the healthfulness of out-door life. They are not put aside as we do our own old folk. They are the seers, the prophetesses, tho . advisers, the strong, safe reserve influence in all the important affairs of the race. Many and many I know well, though they are hard to know. Hut they will not dis close like the younger growth, and you have to battle your way bravely and with valiant persistency to reach their inner lives. With their shrill, keen voices; their coarse, gray hair, which never becomes fairly white; their Hat. brown, ever-open breasts, liko rugged studies in bronze; their quick, swinging and seemingly fierce gait, suggesting unchanging power; their long, skinny arms and legs, half shown to the knee, and their eyes, undiinmed to their dying day though never know ing shade from the sun other than that of the tree or tent they arc the really witching part of the Romany people; and as you study them by the camp tires there, though you are impressed with the respect and even tenderness wll yield them, you can for the first time rightly understand how "Lanca shire Witches" came to be written, and how true a type Scott's Meg Meruilies may have been. These old spae-wives never labor. They unceasingly putter. They jwko the tires when they need no poking. They fuss with the cooking meals at all sorts of inopportune mo ments. They quarrel with the tinkers, who yelp back tit them till sorts of re spectful badinage. They beat tho dogs unmercifully for no offense, for no human ever saw a Gypsy dog commit an impropriety. They berate sons and grandsons for alleged unsatisfactory dickering, and garrulousy insist that the world shall be made more and more the Gypsy's prey. They awake as from an o'er-long dream and assault the horses and mules, which tremble and crouch as before a tempest They charge upon roistering children, who scatter to cover and solid back mock pleadings or uncanny laughter from their safe retreats. They are ever sleeping, yet never asleep; and the breaking of a twig or the rustling of leaves at night will bring these ghoutly and fearless old souls to their feet in the middle of the cam) before the alert cst of the men have awakened. They are bright, brave relics of a time when life to the Gypsy was one of eternal dread; and they would not quite be happy in the new life that has come to them could they not entertain the belief in their active but utterly useless exist ences that their own owlish alertness each day and night kept tho old bing (devil) himself from utterly annihilat ing every soul in the camp. And indeed would the devil himself lie a valiant fellow wore he bold enough to meddle with any folk thus sentineled by women. Here and there are seen very old men tinkering about wagons, mend ing harness, bringing dry branches, and piling them by the tents, or gather ing (lead limbs from the deeper forests for the common "woodpile" to which all members of the camp sometimes bring bits and pieces and branches, going over anil over the horses liko the skillful veterinarians they are, bringing water from the stream for cooking and washing purposes, and doing innumera ble odd jobs and chores naturally neces sary from camp life; yet still doing every thing in that easy, plenty-of-tinie way which gives all the people of the place an air of content and vagabondism no pen can fully describe. These old men are the silent shadow' presences of the land. You will not hear one of them speak half a dozen times a day. The queer,, halting Oypsy dogs follow silently about at a respectful distance from their heels as dumb and expres sionless as themselves. Hut those old men all help round out the picture, ami while they are far less noisy than tho fussy and querulous old spae-wives of the band, they are nevertheless faithful and constant in whatever falls to their lot to seo done or to do. Kdgar L. Wakcmun, in Chieaqo News. A Neat Apology. There was a brilliant party at the res idence of 0110 of the most prominent State olhcials at Austin, Tex. Of course, there was dancing and music. Hostet ter McGinnisand Miss Esmeralda Ionir- cotlin were also present. Neither of them daneinr. thev were seated on a sofa, talking, when suddenly Hostotter nlaced his arm around the waist of Miss Loiigcoflin and gave it a hearty squeeze. "What do you mean, sir!" exclaimed 'ho indignant maiden. ' There is no harm in it. I can't dance and I don't see why those gentlemen on the floor can hug the ladies and I do not, too." Tho apology was accepted. Texas Biflings. A Holyoke (Mass.) thread manu facturer has received from heeds a largo skein of black silk which has lain in n, pond since the Mill River disaster, which wrecked his mill, with others, in 1871. This souvenir of tho flood was found September 5, and although it has lain in the pond twelve years the silk retains its color, has a good glos, and the thread is strong, which shows the almost indoktructible nature of the ma terial, liotlon Journal THE ARAB'S HORSE. The Orctt Lore Whli'h Kmtern reople Ktitertnln Tor the Noble. Autiniit. In the East the horse is a far more precious possession than it is with us. 1 am not speaking, however, of its money value, but of the love tho Eatern peo ple entertain for the animal. Tho praises which an Arab lavishes on his horse are genuine and from the heart, a contrast in every way to the perfunctory culo giums which a home lover of the. horse r a horse dealer pronounces on his wares. Proof of this will bo found in the "Romance of Auar," with reference to Jirwet, Shedad's mare, a paragon, that could not be matched, a horse that wa priceless even to the bid of Kings. "Seek not to purchase Jirwet." said Shedad, "for Jirwet will never bo sold; ask not to borrow her, for Jirwet can not be lent no, not if I were offered strings of camels in return and on their backs loads of merchandise. Jirwet can fly without wings, and sho tears up the sands of the desert; in her bound along the earth she is a living glory, and she carries me on her back as if I were a growth of her own flesh." Other still more romantic stories and sayings tire extant of the. love of tho Arab for his horse. Some who have sold a favorite steed for a great sum have given even more money to get it back again. A writer of "A Summer Ramble in the Ea'st" 1 think that is the title of the book, but 1 am not quite sure describes tlie fondness of the Arab for his horse in the following words: "A great ruffian was mounted on a white mare of great beaut'. Having asked her price. 1 offered tho sum. The Arab said lie loved his mare better than his own life, that money was of no use to him, but that mounted on her ho felt as a Pasha. Shoes and stockings ho had none, and the net value of the accoutre ments and dress might be calculated at something less thai: seventeen pence .sterling." In the E 1st the horse is oven more btdoved and protected he is, in a sense, an object of worship as well; at all events, in tho African deserts the animal has been even regarded with both political and religious reverence. Mohammed helped, from policy, to make the horse of the East what he has always been up to the present day, an object, of adoration ami love. It was Mohammed who instilled in tho people that love for line women and fast-going horses that still exists. Tho long-her.ded Prophet of Mecca decreed tho future of the horse. As Abd-cl-Kador observes: "The Prophet was so adroit as to con trive that horses and houi'is should be come potent instruments of religion, as well ius of political ambition. In tho days of paganism they loved tho animal from motives of interest but when Mohammed praised it so warmly their instinctive love becamo also a religious duty." The Arabs, as is well known, enter tain extravagant ideas as to tho origin of their horses, tracing their genealo gies back to the days of Solomon, a King of the grand old stamp, who kept a stud of 40,000 horses and employed 12,000 horsemen. That King Solomon's horses would be well looked after is certain, because, among many other fine precepts to which he gave utterance, wo find one which tells us that "a righteous man caret h much for his boast," and Solomon doubtless was one of the few wise persons who practice what they preach. There is no proof, however, of the descent of tho steeds of the desert from any of the horses which had stalls in the stable, of the author of the proverlw and were fed on barloy. It was Abd-el-Kader, I think, who wrote an essay to demonstrate, that horses were created before mankind, anil that Allah first made, the horse and then the mare, "the Divine power always creat ing the noblest first." It was doubtless from Egypt that tho Arabs first of all got their horses; it w;is from Egypt that Solomon filled his stalls: "And they fetched up and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for fiOO shekels of silver anil a horse for 150; and so brought they out horses for all the Kings of the Ilittites and for the Kings of Syria by their means." The Arabs them selves believe their chestnuts to bo the fleetest, tho bay the most enduring, while the black they know to be the mostspirited. A piebald horse no Arab will look at, and an animal with white marks on his legs was denounced by tho Prophet, who ordered it to bo held in abhorrence. liailcts Monthly. FOR EGG-EATERS. nn Fruit Sent tnOlty MurkeU Which Hiivo Ueeii Used 111 Incuhutors. "I want a dozen eggs, but I want eggs as is eggs, and not none o' them as has bin iucurberated." That was the way a litMe old woman made her wants known in a Second avenue grocery store tho other morn ing, luul a reporter wlfo was by, asked her what she meant by "ineurberated eggs," and wits surprised at her an swer. "Well, my boy James lives up to West Schuyler in Herkimer County. He's got quite a smart place up thero and raises chickens. That is ho chucks a lot of eggs into kind of a box, turns on tho gas, puts, a thermometer into the box 'long with the eggs, and then waits for 'em to hatch. The eggs, though, that he puts in the box are all examined first He buys 'em from farmers and puts 'em in the box, which he calls an incurberator. If after boin' in this in curborator awhile them eggs don't show they are fertile ho takes 'em out of the box and sends 'em to market Now, them eggs I don'.t want for I don't be lieve they are good for nothin'." Inquiries dovoJopod the fact that the old woman was right, and that many eggs tout to market have been tested in incubators before tliey arc shipped and been found lacking iu fertility. N. Y. Mail and Jirprcss. DUNDER'S SAYINGS. rentonlo Wlsihnv In u Highly Condensed ami Piihitiihle 1'orm. Maype it Iiiis a lectio i range dot person in poor health vhas an inlidcl. No man vhas so great or good dot he ean kick soniopody's dog and not make an enemy. Gratitude means dot we feel tickled so long as we arc getting soineth'ng for nothing. When it vhas tier odder fel ler's turn wo kick. Much dot tier world readily accepts as wisdom vhas only asMirance mit a sheap coat of plating. If tier world owes anybody a living it vhas dcr man who works tier hard est Might should make right, but it vhn better to loose vour case dan to engajri or in a kicking match mit a mule. While we liko to sec our neighbor get along und prosper, it vhas pretty hardt to forgif dor aunt who dies und leafs him a legacy. If we can pass a punched quarter oil on a street-car conductor dis world vhas full of honest men. If dot conductor sticks us mit a lead nickel we 110 longer haf confidence in anv man's integrity. If some poor man dies tier question vhas: "Vhen shall he be buried?" If some rich man dies eaferybody asks: "Can dey proke his will?" If you like to see how generous a man really vhas, elect him to some place where he can vote avhay oTlder people's money. If you like to keep your friends, keep your money where dey can't get it. Dor man who borrows of you und can't pay feels dot you haf wronged him. 1 like to seo some boy enjoy himself all ho can, but if ho vhas proaking my windows instead of iny neighbor's dot vhas deeferant. Dor man who figures dot dis world vhas created simply to gif him a shance to lif vhas shencrally buried mit a very short funeral procession. Vhen it man vhas at dor bottom of r. well it vhas very kindt in sonicpody to advise him to look oop. It vhas potter dot you doan' sing your own praises. When sonicpody else sings for you it gifs you a shance to blush. Dor man who is loudest in his pity for dor poverty of others gets off dcr shcapest Der market vhas so over stocked mit pity dot der price vhas very low. Detroit Free Press. MONOTONOUS SPELLING. Two Very Cooil Anecdotes In ICeard to lumen ltiiMsoll Lowell. T. W. Higginson is credited with telling a racy anecdote in regard to James Russell Lowell. According to Mr. Higginson, one of the Adirondack guides expresses the opinion that Mr. Lowell is "an ignorant cuss," and backs up the characterization with this bill of particulars: "Well, I was out with him in a canoe, and we were going down stream with the current und making lirst-rato time, and ho didn't know any better than to insist that wo should go over to the ither side of the stream just to get in the shade of the bank out of tho sun; iiul wo didn't get ahead at all. Now I call a man that don't know enough to take advantage of the current iu a canoe a blamed ignoramus." This same critical Adirondack guide, or 0110 of his professional brethren, fig ures iu another story, which is also told at the expense of Mr. Lowell's intel ligence. Said the guide iu question to :i gentleman whom ho met in the woods md who mentioned that he came from Huston: "Do you know Lowell?" "What's his first name?" "Jim." "Do you refer to James Russell Lowell, the poet?" "Yes, that's him." "Oil, yes, I know Mr. Lowell very well, and ndinire him greatly." "Well, I took to him, too, but with regret in his touo lie's got one mighty sing'lar habit" "To what, do you refer?" "Well, he's written mo several let ters, oil' and on, when he's been coniin' ii here, mid he's a monotonous speller." "A what?" "A monotonous speller. I'vo always noticed that in his letters to me Lowell spells his words the .same way ev'ry time I never do." Chicago Tribune. Willie Took the Hint. WillioA ami Maggie H- been busy courting for two -- had years, meeting regularly every Wednesday night iu Hope street, Glasgow. Aliout a fortnight ago Willie, iu parting with his beloved, made the usuar remark: "I'll meet you in Hope street next Wednesday night Mind and bo punctual." -Deed uy, Willio, lad," replied Meg, wi' a merry twinkle in her e'e," wo hue met a lang time 1100 in Hope strcet.and I wis jist that it was nigh time we were shifting our trysting place further alang. What wad you say to Union, street!" Willie has taken the hint ami invitations are out Scottish American. Something to Remember. A mother had reproved her little girl for being so clumsy as to drop a dish, nd tho little girl, after a thoughtful ilenee, said: "Miimma, can you write with your left hand?" "I crtuld if I wore left-handed, but I'm not." "Well," Raid tho little girl, "I guess little children are loft-handud all over." -AJ' Sun. Tho Gorman newspapers toll their readers that Franco is ordering project iles containing a substance which makes blood-poisoning the reaiiltof any wound recti veil ficiu them. 1 The Kffeet of Olil .MhIiU on the Appear mire of the Kngllth People. "Do you know, sir," inquired an American tourist of his companion while doing England, "the reason for tho fresh, healthful appearance of tho English people? Their complexion is far superior to ours, or our countrymen over tlie herring pond." "Well. I know what Prof. 'Uxley says." "And what reason does ho advance?" "Well. 'Uxley says it is all h'owing' to the h'old maids." "Owing to old maids! You surpruo mo!" "Fact 'Uxley figures it out in this way: Now you know tlie H'inglish are very fond of roast beef?" "Hut whu has that to do with old maids?" "Go slow. This genuine II inglish beef is tho best and most nutritious beef iu tho world, and it h'impart3 a beauti ful complexion!" ' "Well, about tho old maids?" "Yes; you see the h'cxcellenco of this H'inglish beef is due h'exelusivcly to rod clover. Do you'see the point?" "All but tlie old maids. They are not in sight as far as I can sec," replied tho American, with a sigh. "Why, don't you sec? This red clover is h'enriched, sweetened and fructified by bumble bees." "Hut where do tho old maids come in?" said tho inquisitive American, wiping his brow wearily. "Why, it is as plain as the nose on your face. The h'only h'enemy of tho bumble bee is tho field mouse, which undermines and robs their nest" "Hut what have roast heef, red clover, bumble boos and field mice got to tlo with old maids?" "Why, you must bo very h'obtuso.' Don't you perceive thatthn bumble bees would soon bo h'exterminatcd by tho field mice if it were not for " , "Old maids!" , "No, if it wero not for cats; and tho h'old maids of h'old H'inglaud keep the country thoroughly stocked up with cats, and so wo can directly trace tho h'elfcct of tho rosy II' inglish com plexions to the benign cause of H'inglish h'old maids; at least, that's what 'Uxley says, and that's just whero tho h'old maids come li'in. Scionco makes clear many mysterious things, my H'ainori cau friend." Texas Siftinqs. i MEXICAN WINDOWS. Tho System of "Honklnc" Practiced by the Petty Thluvoit of .Mexico. Mexicans seem to entertain the idea that windows wero made to look in at ;us well as to look out of, and it is a matter of daily occurrenco for men, women and children of tho gamin order, including peddlers and professional beggars, to congregate outsido tho bars and stand calmly staring in at us by the hour. The first sight of these barred windows strikes the stranger in Mexico rather, unpleasantly, and ho is apt to fancy himself in prison 'behind them with his iron bedstead and brick floor accessories. In time, howovor, ho real izes n'ot only tho convenience but the necessity of them, and by and by feels an uneasy sense of insecurity if by soma rare chance he finds himself not thus protected. Tho greater portion of Mexico is a land of norpotual summer, where windows must lie open both night and day, and these gratings can not Ikj "picked" like locks or noiselessly cut like panes of glass. Hut though ono may sleep hero in perfect Security with out closing a shutter, it is well to movo one's effects from proximity to tho win dowsfor tho ladrones havo a habit of throwing in ropes with hooks attached and dexterously drawing out even your garments from which practico, per haps, originated the Texan slang word "hooking" for stealing. It is only justice to add that thero is far less thieving going on in Mexico, in propor tion to population, than in our own country, especially among the poorer classes. I venture to assort that with all your spring bolts and careful pre cautions to bring in even tho door-mats at nightfall thero is more stealing done in any northern city in a single day than in all Mexico iu a year's time. A GREAT INVENTION. It Successful It Will Revolutionize the Oul-Mliilni; llusliiess. A coal-miner near Pittsburgh, Pa.r has secured a patent on a coal-mining machine which is expected to revolu tionize tho coal-mining business. Tho maehiuo consists in the operation of 0110 or more circular saws, or disks, fitted upon ono on moro shafts. Tho whole is worked by moans of a very small rotary engine, set upon a frame, which is placed on wheels, so that tho minor cm move it whenever ho likes witli ease. Tho machine is put in motion by com pressed air or steam, or'elso it can bo worked by hand-power. As soon as tho power is turned on the siwvs commencu to revolve and will bo forced gradually into and along the wall of the coal-vein. It will mako an undercut of four and half to six feet, as required, saving all the coal which was hitherto lost by tho use of the pick. It weighs less than two hundred pounds, and can bo ma nipulated by ono man. Fifty tons a day can be easily mined. A saving of, twenty per cent will bo realized by tho mine-owner, as there will bo no waste, while tho minor will augment his daily earnings by at least doublo tho amount without half the exertion ho has now. Tho working of the machine does not require any skill or practico in tho handling of it While, by tho use of the pick, tho minors make now a great deal of waste, the saws of the maehiuo by striking straight into the vein of coal will cut solid blocks out of tho vein anil mako every particle of tho vein market ublo coal. Chicago Times. JINGO SCIENCE.