WITH CROOKED LEGS.
WHAT MAKES MEN BANDY LEGGED
AND KNOCK KNEED.
Not Morn Tluin On 31 nn In Tliren Who
Is Strnlght Limbed Whnt n Surgeon
Bay About Crooked lgt Correcting
tlin Curvature.
Comp.irntl vely few men liavo really straight
legs. In n walk from Fourteenth street to
tho Battery n reporter mndo n rough estimate
and found that not more than 0110 In three
of tho men who passed him were straight
limbed. Most of them wero bow or bandy
Hogged, nomo of them wero knock kneed, nnd
3n a fow instances loth legs licnt tho same
"way. It was noticed that ns a rulo tho stout,
"heavy men had parenthesis legs, whilu those
-of slighter build In many cases carried their
bodies on a figure resembling" an X.
This rule, however, does not always hold.
.Many men of no inconsidernblo nvolrdupols
strike their knees' together when they walk.
It Is not uncommon to two a long, lanky man
whoso legs nro so licnt that ho is physically
incapacitated from stopping tho traditional
pig in an alley way. Frequently liowlcgged
noss is associated with strength. It Is usually
seen in short, sturdy men. Thoso who aro
Jtnock kneed havo no such rocomjtense unless
tho excuse for renowlng trousors, which nro
-constantly lielng worn out at tho knees by
cknflng ouo against tho other, bo considered
as such.
WHAT A 8UUOEON BAYS.
A well known surgeon who has had long
oxporlcnco in a city hospital was nsked to ex
plain tho provnlpncy of crooked legs. Ho
sold: "It Is n fact that very fow iersons havo
straight legs, My nttention Is often called to
It. It is hard to say jist why it is. Many
Say that it is because children aro inndo to
walk when they aro too young. Mothers like
to havo their llttlo ones on their feet at as
early an ago us possible, and so sometimes
forco them to stand Itoforo their legs aro ablo
to boar tho weight of their bodies. Nurses,
too, when thoy tako children out for an air
ing, often niako them walk without thoir
paronte' knowledge. Undoubtedly this is
sometimes tho cause of tho deformity. Prob
ably many u man owes his curved legs to a
careless nurso, who got tired of carrying him
when ho was a baby and put him down when
-away from his mother. Others say, with
good reason nlso, that it is duo to baby car
riages. Tho child is wheeled about until it is
qulteold. ltd body is thus dovoloped while
itB legs nro doing nothing, and whou dually It
la mado to uso them, they being still soft, bend
under tho wolght of tho body. I bellovo that
this treatment of children is responsible for
more liowleggodiicss, or cuomoscollosls, as
wo call it, than anything olso.
"livery ono knows that tho bones of tho
human body nro mado up of cartilaginous or
sinowy filler and mineral matter, and Unit
when young tho former predominates. Tho
bonos nt that stngo havo, therefore, llttlo
rigidity, and nro vory easily bent. Unfor
tunately they havo llttlo elasticity, either,
and readily tako a set. Tho proportion of
oartilago and mineral matter varies in differ
ent children, so that it is impossible to glvo
any fixed ago nt which they should bo mado
to walk. Many can walk well when 13
months old, while others cannot do so until
thoy nro ii years old.
"In some children there is nu unus.il pro
portion of sinow in tho bono, mid in theso
cases tho legs nro almost certain to become
crooked. In thoso instances braces can lie
used with advantage until tho bones harden.
This simple remedy is rarely used, howuVur,
sometimes from tho ' npathy of tho parents,
but chiefly becnuso tho tendency is not
noticed until it is too late. Tho legs bond ono
way or tho other very gradually, and when
tho curve is perceptlblo it is usually past tho
euro of braces. This condition of tho bonus
is often duo to insullleient food and general
neglect Unless tho blood is kept rich and
healthy tho bones aro apt to bo retarded in"
development, and bo, remaining , soft, aro
readily twisted.
rtiiaiqiitkni.no legs.
"Sometimes bow legged children become
straight when thoy grow ojder. My mother
told mo that when I was n child my legs
formed nn almost perfect ellipse Now, 1
vonturo to assert, thoy aro strnlghtcr than
mast men's. In my own experience I have
seen this occur, but it is impossible to foretell
it tho curve in n child's lug will straighten
out in after years or not."
"Is there any means of straightening legs
when oneo thoy nro set crooked Tasked tho re
porter, "Yes, and by a vory simple process. Tho
curvature in liow logged tersons is usually
just below tho knee. To remove it wo take n
ploco out of tho outside, of tho bono-thnt is,
tho convex side and then break tho bono on
tho other side. This enables us to make tho
leg properly straight by using stilt splints,
and it isn't long before tho legs aro nil right
again and as straight as can bo desired. In
knock kneed persons tho curvature is above
the knee, and tho samo process can bo tried,
It is not so often done, however, ns fow peo
ple enro to have tho thigh bono broken merely
to incruaso their personal beauty."
"Then you often euro bow legged men in
this wyP
"Oh, yes. Of course when tho curve is so
marked that it actually interferes with tho
walking some such ojteratlon is necessary,
but wo frequently aro called upon to do it
limply to Improve a man's nptoarnnci Somo
time ugo n young man wrote to mo from the
west, bogging mo to suggest nomo means of
making his lugs straight. lie could walk well
enough, but ho wasn't satisfied with his ap
pearance. 1 told hiiiuwhat ho would havo to
undergo, and although ho hesitated at first,
ho Anally consented and went through it
manfully. Ho I wry proud of his straight
legs now, although ho never tolls how ho got
thorn. Braces can somotimes be used to
straighten tho legs of young boys, but when
tho bouo has becomo really hardened they
aro not of much use," Now York Buu.
Why They (lu Eat.
Omaha Man Going to Now York to live,
chl in business there!
Kansas Mun No; I've retired from busi.
necM, and havo liought a palace on Fifth
nvenue, Now York.
"Now, I'd like to know why n man who has
made a fortune in Knusos should buy a resi
dence in Now York, instead of settling down
lu hi own statel"
"Well, you see, I had a choico between a
New York brown stoua front and a Doom
City dugout, and I took tho brown stone front
because it was cheaper." Omaha World,
A Good lteasou.
"Say, Tom, that fellow Btuppln seems to
appreciate a story."
"Yes, seems to,"
"Laughs at all your jokes."
"Don't you know whyf
"No."
"Why, I let him have $3 tho other day,"
AxksJMW Traveler.
A Lony Hud.
The longest continuous run on any railway
fat the world U that made by the uew (Saratoga
Kaittwt train on the road from Now York to
Try, vrkkh runs the tatiro distance 118
wlii -without a ktop.
LOVE'S LESSON.
O Lore, which comes to all of us
In many a quaint disgulFo
From childhood up, how rapturous
In every fresh surprise
By which we learn, from day to day,
And till our years aro done,
The tender secret, taught alwny,
That God and good aro one!
Mary B. Doagu.
LANDING AT CASTLE GARDEN.
Tlio Two Jtlvers f Humanity Tho Prob
abilities or Cltleiinlilp.
Jt would bo u pleasant uso of tho jxwer of
clnlrvoynnce, If ono possessed it, to (jo down
to Castlo Garden and pick out tho future
Carnegies and Woods among tho throng of
stecrago passengers when thoy havo just ltecn
transferred from tho steamers to tho garden.
Even without tho exorcise, of divination tho
sight is nu interesting ono. As tho immi
grants laud, chattering in their various
tongues, thoy nro huddled together llko a
great drovo of sheep in a grovo during a
thunder storm. Then tho big doors nro
thrown open nnd tho procession moves into
tho amphitheatre. Generally more than one
steamer at n tlmo empties it.s living freight
from tlio steerage into the garden, mid all tho
types of Knropo aro represented in tlio motley
throng. There aro stout boys from Irclund,
mun, women and children from France anil
tho lower German provinces, (Scandinavians
nnd Italians from Leghorn and Mediterranean
ports.
Ujton entering tho castlo proper tho proces
sion divides, ono lino swinging out to tho loft
and ono to tho right, nnd these two rivers of
humanity are again divided into four smaller
streams, which flow into narrow passageways.
Tho center of tho garden is fenced in, and by
pasMigoway, railing nnd wicket gate tlio immi
grants nro Anally resolved Into their various
nationalities and quickly registered by tho
clerk. Tako tho Italians for example. Thoy
wero lined oir anil brought up to a desk,
where each person vwis asked a fow questions.
First tho niimo Is given, then tho place from
which ho came, his destination, and whether
or not ho hud money. This finished, tho now
arrivnls wero turned loose lu tho rotunda and
permitted to do as they pleased, llrcaklng
up into nationalities, thoy sat down on thoir
baggogo or prepared to camp out on tho
floor. Scandinavians took ouo corner and snt
there without comment, looking li ,o Inhabit
ants of n silent city; Italians had jiosNesslon
of tho noxt, but they wore anything but
silent, keeping up nn endless chatter; Irish
nnd German groups mado themselves as com
fortable as possible while thuy waited for
friends or prepared their beds to remain nil
nlghtlu tiio garden.
Among them railroad agents wero going
about, pasting addresses on tho cajis of tho
men nnd attaching placards to tho children,
and toward night boiita camo up from tho
railroad roiuixiiilos and carried oir loads to
tho stations. Monoy changers also plied their
vocation, and rival telegraph companies
shouted in their bidding for customers. It
was n curious and bewildering beeno; it was
intensely interesting, moreover, to ono who
could sympathize with tho emotions of tho
now arrivals or ponder over tho probabilities
of citizenship. Willis Steele in Chicago
Times.
An Amateur I. loll Tamer's K.ioapo.
Mr. Cross, tho naturalist, was good enough
to recount tlio following incident which took
place in Ids establishment n short time since:
1 received from a young Frenchman of
good family sovernl letter lu which ho re
quested to enter tho lions' den nt ny receiv
ing house in Karlo street. Ho assured mo
that his vocation was that of a Hon tamer,
nnd ono lino day lto paid mo a visit, in com
pany with three of his compatriots, whom ho
had brought with him 'In order that they
might be witnesses of his intrepidity. Ho
nsked mo If 1 could glvo him a situation, and,
(minting to a cage In which there wero three
line African lions, he entreated mo to allow
him to put them through a performance. 1
had just time to tell him that ho might enter
at his own risk when I was called into tho
oillco.
After tho lapse of a quarter of an hour n
man rushed up to tho desk where I was writ
ing and exclaimed excitedly: "Mr. Cross, ono
of tho lions is out!" "Where I" I asked, to
which he replied. "Looso in tho building!''
On hurrying to tho spot I found tho door of
tho don open, and tlio Frenchman fnsido with
his buck against tho wooden partition, nnd
two of tlio lions staring him in tlio face, while
tho escaped lion had mado for the end of tho
narrow passage, whore. It was meditating
mischief to tho other Frenchmen, who had
Liken refuge on tho top of a pilo of boxes,
their faces as white as n sheet,
Tho first thing I did was to close tho door
leading to the yard, and next to get the
amateur lion tmuvr out of the den. It was
well for htm that ono of the Hons had gone
out of tho cage; because tho other two were
so unitized at the fact that thoy remained for
n minute or two perfectly still. Wo had great
difllculty in muking the third lion re-enter the
den, but at last wo succeeded, not, however,
without some danger.
After this had been done I myself went into
tho cage with no weapon and simply smok
ing a cigar. My entrance was tho signal for
tremendous Intituling I 9kwurd mid forward
on tho part of tho boosts, whicJi were evi
dently not a little terrified nt ono of their
comianions having escaped. Ao I stood
calmly within tho den with my eyes Hxed on
the excited animals, 1 said: "You see there
is uonrt in lion taming, but it requires nerve."
I think tho result of that afternoon's ad
venture quite cured tho young Froaehman of
his mania for being a lion tamer. Full Mall
Gazette.
What "l'er Annum" ftletins
"Doss, lto a bit confused 'bout stithin',"
said ono of tho negro whitowushers at the
market to Detective Webb tho other day,
"Well, what is itl"
"What does per annum mean I
"Per year, of course."
"A hull y'arf
"Yea."
"Can't bo no mistaken
"No, sir."
"If I lorry f?3 of Ab.nham Johnson an'
grve to pay twenty jer cent, per annum dat
means twenty cents a y'ar, does it f
"It does."
"Hul Dar's gwino to bo do biggest row in
(Coin tuck to-night you ebcr henru tell of I"
"About what I"
About dut per annum. 1 borryed f 3 of de
pussou mcushunod at twenty per cenL per
annum, an' fur do las' fo'teen months bo's bin
coUecUn1 twenty cents a week as rigular as a
clock. Stuck right to it, he did, dat per an
num meant ebory Saturday night. La will
but when 1 git deso yere paws on him won't
per annum tako a flop I" Detroit Free Press.
A Fuuerul lu ranuuia.
It is the custom among tho poorer closes in
Panama to hire cotllus to transport their dead
to tho grave, after which tho body is detosited
in the earth, and the coiUn brought back with
the mourner. The following U the form of a
Panama undertaker's advertisement:
"From this date hearses will be hired from our
establishment at the following rates: $2, $3, $13
audXX CuftuisMlllbe sold at lowest possible
rate, Oofiins hired out for ONK DOLLAlt, in
cluding bench on hlch to carry the deceased to
the grav."-Fraak Leslie's,
THE BOYS OF LONDON.
LITTLE CHAPS WITH "POT HATS"
AND OTHERS WITH NONE AT ALU
Lnd Who Never Have Any Kent Child
hood Tho Jolly Youngster of Clirlut
Church llnotblnck In Uniform Lon
don Newshuy - Telegraph Messengers.
Next to tho nunilier of uniforms and
liveries soen on tho streets nnd in tho byways
of Loudon life, nothing strikes nn American
visitor more than tlio sight of tall silk hats,
")ot hatH," worn by the small Loudon school
lwys. After n son of parents in any resiiect
ablo grado of life is old enough to attend any
good school ho is mado to dress in as digni
fied n ay as If ho wero a member of parlia
ment. Dress counts for so much in England.
It Ls tho general and correct guido to one's
station in life. Tho poor English boys who
aro condemned to wear pot hats from early
Infancy of courso can nover hnvo any real
childhood. Imagino'a full blooded boy start
ing out for a good tlmo wearing a stiffly
starched shirt collar and a high silk hat.
Theso iot hutted boys early acqulro a stiff
dignity of manner which harmonizes with
their hats. Thoy nover relax oxcept when
thoy nro actually In tho country. Thon tho
poor leute go wild nnd dcclino to wear any
hats at all. They nro liko their grown up
brothers. They pass from ono oxtrcmo to
tho other. Tho Englishman in town is a
model of stiffness and angularity. In tho
country ho Ls ready for nny rough bout of
rollicking that any ono may proiioso.
I havo seen theso rillc halted Ixys every
where In London. A person familiar with
the London schools can tell exactly whero n
boy belongs by his dress. In tho preparing
schools for tho University small roundabout
jackets nits worn until tho boys nro promoted
to 11 certain class, and thon thoy woar swal
low tail coats until thoy graduate. Some
times a tall lanky boy, who is liehlnd in his
studies, will bo seen wearing a roundabout In
company with a llttlo bit of a follow who
wears tlio sign of scholastic superiority in tho
sliniH) of a long tallod coat. Tho other morn
ing I saw nn elderly gentleman wnlklng with
n boy who was nt least 5 feet 10 inches in
height. This boy was ovidontly very much
behind In his studies, liecause he was accom
panied by two small follows sixor soven years
of ogo whoso dress indicated that thoy wero as
far ulong in their studies ns ho.
tiik ciutiST ciiuncn boys.
Tho jolliest looking boys seen about town
nro tlio picturesquely dressed students known
as tho Christ church boys, or as bluo coat
scholars. This is a free London school, es
tablished for the education of orphans or tho
children of parents whoso income does not ox
oeed threo hundred pounds n year. They
woar long, bluo gowns, caught nt the waist
with a leather bolt. At tho nock is n small
stand up collar and an English clergyman's
white tio coming down in a little square piece
in front. Thoy wear kneo breeches under tho
long, bluo skirts, and dark yellow stockings
anil low shoes with buckles. This school is
nearly three hundred years old. Thoy aro not
permitted to wear uny hats summer or win
ter. Thoy near exactly tho same uniform
prescribed for the students of this school when
It wus first established. Tho bust scholars
wear silver badges on their shoulders to indi
cate their rank. These boys aro great favor
ites with tho Loudon peoplo. Thoy aro very
jolly, tough-looking youngsters, who ramble
nil over tho town during their play hours.
Thackeray and not 11 fow other prominent
Englishmen wero Christ church boys.
It is not tho schoolboys nlnno who wear a
uniform or particular dress to mark their
calling. Tho bootblacks wear uniforms nnd
nro regularly licensed. Tlio charge of th-
Btreot bootblacks for shining your shoes is
ono penny. Theso boys wear red coats and a
red cap with a black band about it. They
are also numbered and evidently havo to pay
a license for tho number. Tho newsboys of
London make up tho only class of street boys
engaged lu service of nny kind who do not
wearsome distinguishing dress. Tho news
boys bore wear tho rugced street dress of
Now York newsboys. I think thoy are more
vociferous and noisy perhaps thnn oven their
Now York confreres. They stand about tho
stations nnd nt a fow particular places near
tho nowsaor offices of publication and shout
"special," without attempting to give any
thing concerning the contents of tho paicrs
they havo to sell beyond holding in thoir
hands n huge placard, upon which are bul
lotlned tho principal items of tho tapers thoy
have for sale.
TELKQUAPH MKSSKN'GKIIS.
Tho telegraph lioys wear uniforms not un
llko thoso worn by telegraph boys in tho
United State-. Their eaps nro different.
Their cap resembles the fatigue cap of tho
United States regular army service. They
wear kneo breeches and carry, attached to
thoir lielts, huge leather pouches which thoy
can lock. This insures tho safety of tho de
spatches, which thoy carry back and forth.
Few of them aro on duty after 10 o'clock at
night. They nro solemn little machines ami
are as unlike American boys in simllur osi
tious ns can be imagined. I have Inula num
ber of them como to 1110 every night for de-
spatcues nun 1 nave omul tiieiu all alike.
They do not understand tho slightest remark
which is mado to them outside of their busi
ness. Tho idea that any one could bo inter
ested in them or would want to show them
any kindness is utterly beyond their compre
hension. They are paid on nn average about
Ave shillings a week. They aro strong, hearty
looking little fellows and do not appear to
have any more intellectuality than a good,
faithful house dog.
These Itoys, when they grow up, becomo
porters or messengers. Thoy are to be seen
around tho hotels; strong, sturdy fellows,
graduates of somo outdoor occupation. They
wear a livery with as much prido as an army
officer with us wears his uniform. Tho livery
to them is a mark of a rise in life. Going to
tho English hotels you meet with grave func
tionaries in livery, who are as proud and dig
uiliedn if they erb members of tho diplo
matic, corps. From tho porter nt tho door to
tho buttons who carries in your small lug
gage, tho chief jtorter who handles your bag
gage and the commiisionnalro who runs your
errands, there is but ono feeling that thoy
all occupy very superior (tositious and that
they rnthor regard with pity the wild foreign
ers who come from the distant shorts of tho
United States. T. C. Crawford In New York
World.
ltnltth Waldo l.iucrson's Son.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's son is a man of
many tastes. He was oneo a physician Lu
Concord, but abandoned tho profession of
medicine for that of art. His paintings show
his hereditary love of uature, and his land
scapes aro exceedingly well done. Ho is now
lecturing on anatomy in the art school of the
Boston museum, lie also has a fancy for
military matters, and used to ride resplendent
as an artillery sergeant at the head of ouo of
the platoons of the Coucord battery. Chicago
Tribune,
A Sweet Girl Graduate.
lie (at dinner) May I assist you to the
theese, Miss Vassart
Miss Vassar (just graduated) Thanks, no;
I am very comfortable where I am. Dut you
Ba ay assist the cheeso to qu, if you will I Puck.
INVENTORY CF HIS ' HARNESS."
Funny Story of a Husband and Wife A
Man Silenced.
Thero Lsn very funny story told of a Newark
husband nnd wife. Tho husband thought
lessly said something reflecting on tho feml
nlno dress of tho present day. "A woman Is
all steel springs and wires nnd complicated
harness nowadways," he said, tossing a corset
from tho chair ho wanted to sit down in nnd
flinging n wire bustle into the corner. "Why
don't you get a whole suit of steel armor and
lto dono with Itl"
She said nothing so the story runs bnt
waited until bo went to sleep, nnd then began
nn Inventory or his "harness."
Leaving out his eye glasses nnd chain, sho
began nt his neckwear. Hero sho found two
gold collar buttons to secure tho collar, two
patent spring catches to keep tho necktie from
slipping over tho head and nnother to securo
the end of tho scarf to tho shirt bosom. On the
sleeves of his shirt wero two elastics with
spring clips nt each end, and his cuffs, besides
being held together with link buttons, wero
provided with nickel plated holders, with
which they wero socured to tho shirt sleovra.
Threo spiral studs decorated tho front of tho
shirt and a pin was stuck in his scarf. Sho
mado entries of nil theso things nnd then be
gan on his clothing. HLs patent shoulder
brace, pulley action, snap jointed suspenders
wore noted, nnd her keen eyes observed that
ono of tho suspender buttons was of tho kind
that is attached with a safoty pin nnd Ls
known as a bachelor's button. Sho also found
that ho had SI.75 in his pockot, nnd sho di
vided it as fairly as possible, taking out pay
for hor troublo in making tho inventory.
Examining tho vest, sho found that it had
n metallic compensating back strap composed
of four spiral springs nnd two buckles. In
ono pockot sho found n patent load pencil
guard, in another a combined button hook
glovo buttoncrnnd ring. Tho back of his
coat was provided with a patent chain
hanger, his stockings wero equipped with
supporters of elastic cord with metal snaps
nnd hfs shoes wero secured with buttons
which were put on with patent motal fasten
ings. Sho studied his hat for somo tlmo with
out noticing that tho brim was wired, but sho
did not fail to seo that his gloves wero fas
tened with steel springs, and when sho added
his watch chain and finger rings to tho list of
hardware and harness sho retired to sleep
with considerable satisfaction. Ho rend tho
list in tho morning in silence, nnd when ho
cnino homo to dinner in tho evening ho gave
her a pair of earrings which sho had been
teasing him for. New York Graphic.
ltoiititn Letters for fiei-ninny.
Tlio Society for tho Extension of Roman
Script has recently addressed n petition to
tho Empress Augusta, requesting her to uso
her influence in having tlio Roman (or Latin)
script employed in nil public prints published
by her order in lehnlf of her household or In
mntters relating to her majesty's widespread
charities, etc. Tho petitioners urge flint tho
rising Germnn generation aro at present un
duly burdened with the necessity of perfect
ing themselves both in writing and reading
Roman nnd Germnn script; that prominent
linguists, more estecinlly Jacob Grimm, hnvo
pronounced tho so-called German script to bo
nn unsightly disflurcincnt of tho puro anil
noblo forms of tho Latin script, which may
lto considered tho original nnd national Gor
man script; that tho society has been formed
for the express purpose of abolishing tho two
fold system of characters, and nt present
counts 5,000 members, whoso number is con
stantly increasing; that tho aim of tho society
has tlio sanction of tho ollicial school boards
as well as tho hearty approbating of a wide
circle of prominent scientists; nnd finally thut
tho fact of her majesty having inscribed cer
tain verses in Latin characters in tho album
"In Storm and Stress," lends tho society to
liopo that her majesty will graciously inclino
towards the promotion of tlio object in view.
Berlin Tagblntt.
Horn Growing from 11 II111111111 Head.
An interesting addition has just been made
to the museum of the Hospital St. Louis, in
Paris, in the shape of a strong and solid horn,
which has lteen surgically removed from th
head of a woman residing nt Hyeres, in the
Riviera. This apitoudngo grow from tho
scalp, was twenty-one centimeters (eight
inches) long, nnd in appearance and con
sistence resembles the horn of n goat. This
deformity is raro. but not so much so as is
generally imagined. Cloquet, the eminent
anatomist, records n caso, nnd Demarquay
has collected llfty-niuo cases. Tho Into Sir
Erasmus Wilson gives a very complete ac
count of tho deformity in tlio twenty-seventh
volume of tho "Transactions of tho Royal
Medical nnd Cliirurgicnl Society." Out of
ninety loses mentioned therein, forty-four
wero in females, thirty-nine in males and the
sex of seven Ls unrecorded. In Tho Now'
York Medical Repository of 1S20 is described
tho case of n man from whose forehead grew
a horn which had threo branches, and was
fourteen inches in circumference. These
growths have their origin in a diseased seba
ceous gland, and their treatment is removal.
It is necessary to destroy nil remains of tho
offending sebaceous gland, or recurrence may
happeu. Medical Journal.
I Lingering Superstitions.
I "I mil not superstitious," said n prominent
1 St Paul gentleman tho other day, "but I
always pick up n pin when tho point is to
ward me. It is nn infallible sign of good
luck to mo." It is surprising how many littlo
suterstitious of this kind are prevalent, nnd
how much intelligent peoplo nro influenced
by them. Thero is a lady living on SL An
thony hill who would rather miss her
monthly allowance of pin money than to seo
tho now moon over her left shoulder. It
means four weeks of bad luck for her, and it
never fails.
In somo of tho southern towns it is a super
stition that it means good luck to carry tho
bono of a negro's big toe in tho vest pockeL
During tho recent real estate boom in tho
northern part of this state a young St. Paul
real estate dealer rushed around to the ofllcd
of another real estate dealer who bad come
up from tho sunny south. "Lend mo your
nigger bone, quick," he gasped, as ho entered
tho otllco of his southern friend. "What do
you meant" was tho startled response. "I
mean that I hnvo just taken a fly on some
Ashland real estate, and I want to borrow
tho bono of a nigger's too to braco mo up,"
SL Paul Globe.
A llude Awakening.
They wero on their way to the theatre, and
sho was tremulously happy. She felt that
tho words sho so longed to hear would be
spoken that night, and tho idea made her
almost dizzy with delight.
"Mr. Sampson," she said softly, "why do
you wear that bit of string about your
linger !"
"Oh," replied Mr, Sampson, taking it off,
"that was to remind me ot my engagement
with you to-night."
It wasn't much, but it was enough to tako
away tho delightful dizziness. New York
Sun.
The Captive llalloon.
There is to lie a captive balloon at tho
French centennial exhibition of 1SS0 which
will havo the enormous capacity of 3,119,000
cublofeeL It will ascend 8,360 feet and will
carry 100 passengers at one.
A PHYSICIAN'S FEES.
HOW A FRONTIER DOCTOR RAN
UP $11,000 IN TEN DAYS.
A Strnngo Contagion Out In Montann A
rorm of the 1'lagno Thought to Have
Conic from the Celestials A Dis
covery. "In the frontier town of Eagle, M. T.,
where I live," remarked a traveler from the
west, "wo have just had a strango contagion.
Within a fow days ono-half of tho population
found itself afflicted. Tho disease manifested
itself in tho form of blue blotches on various
parts of tho body, tho hands, fnco and legs
being most marked. Somo sold tho discolora
tion could le washed off, nnd others said It
couldn't. Thero was but ono doctor in town,
and ho soon had almost overybody in tho
placo ulider treatment. You nover in your
life saw a doctor prosper as that man did.
Ho charged enormous fees, which the jtcoplo
wero glad enough to pay, for they wero all
very much frightened. Tho doctor pro
nounced the outbreak bluo mango, or a form
of tho plague, and said that unless it wero
skillfully handled tho most terrible results
wero sure to follow blood jtoisoning, decom
position, putrid sores nnd deuth. There was
no drug store in town, and ho telegraphed to
Helena for a supply of tho only medicine
which, ho said, had been found cfllencious in
such cases. Pending tho arrival of this sup
ply ho applied somo sort of oil to tho bluo
spots, nnd cautioned tho patients against tho
uso of water on tho utlllcted'iKirts.
"Well, such excitement as wo had in our
town for n fow days you never saw. Tho
doctor was tho ono great man in tlio burg.
Everybody wanted him, and tho richest so
curcd his services nt great cost. Ho was up
"ight and day. When tho medicine camo ho
said it was very expensive, and that ho had
lecn ablo to secure but a limited quantity.
Consequently ho doled it out ns sparingly as if
If. wero gold, and charged ut tho rate of $10 a
bottlo.
"Nobody, however, experienced any evil ef
fects from tho scourge. Thoro was no pain,
no itching, no discomfort of any sort. Tho
doctor said that would all como quick enough
if tho peoplo neglected to apply tho proper
treatment; that a peculiarity of tho terrible
scourge was that in its first stages it was seem
ingly harmless. Some did havo u burning
sensation hi tho uillicted parts, but this did
not appear in any case until after they had
been to tho doctor for treatment. And thus
tho days wore by, wid it was only a question
of a week or so mora when tho doctor would
havo bud all the monoy in tho town. Ho had
been a jtoor devil without a patient, and liv
ing from hand to mouth, but now I19 fairly
rolled in weultb.
"Finally one of our citizens became so
nlnrmeci by tho doctor's description of thoter
riblo results of tho scourge that ho posted off
to Helena to seek further medical advice.
During his absence tho jK'bple roo in their
might and drovo all tho Chinamen in town
over tho range, threatening their lives if thoy
over returned. This was done becnuso the.
doctor hud expressed an opinion that tho
plague hud originally como from tho celes
tials, who must havo brought it from China.
TOLD A STKANOK STORY.
"In two or tlireo days the stage camo hi
from Helena and aboard was our citizen who
had gone to get medical advice. Ho imme
diately called a meeting of tho leading citi
zens and told them a strango story. Ho said
the so called scourgo was no scourge at nil;
that wo had all been duped; that tho discol
oration which had alarmed us so greatly was
nothing but tho stains of Prussian blue, nnd
that tho doctors at Helena had told him (hat
our doctor must havo gouo about town se
cretly dropping llttlo bits of tho dyo hero nnd
there 011 the rail of tho ono billiard table in
tho town, on chairs in the saloon, on tho
counters nnd every placo where peoplo would
bo likoiy to get it upon their clothing or per
son. More than this, stains of tho blue had
been found on his coat, and doubtless wo
could all find similar stains on close examina
tion of our clothing. Prussian blue, tho He
lena doctors had said, was a diltusivo sub
stance, nnd it would bo nn easy matter
for any ono starting out systemat
ically to placo bits of it in such manner that
every man in town would soon becomo
marked with it. Again, tho oil which our
doctor has applied to tho discolored parts was
common castor oil, put on probably for tho
purpose of fixing tho color so it could not be
easily washed off, while tho wonderful medi
cine hich ho had procured from Helena at
such great expense proved on analysis to be a
mixture of kerosene oil, wuter anil red pop
per. "With a howl of rago tho meeting broko
up nnd started, every man on tho run nnd
with his revolver drawn, for tho otllco of tho
doctor. But ho could not bo found. During
tho previous night- ho had jumped tho town,
and by this time was probably many a milo
on his way to tho railway. A party of citi
zens mounted their horses and started in pur
suit, but returned tlio noxt day without
catching sight of tho fugitive. For ten days
thut cute doctor, tired of trying to earn his
living by practicing medicine in so healthy a
town us Eagle, had bagged ubout $11,000
protlt on his investment of a dollar in Prus
sian bluo. And ho got nwny with every cent
of it." Chicago Herald.
HernhartU as it Tigress.
As every human being is believed to beur
some outward and characteristic resemblance
to nu animal, it did not astonish mo tho other
uight to hear tho clever analogy between
Sarah Bernhardt and a royal tiger very sen
sibly accounted for by a scientific man who
iws mude the woman a profound study. Ho
says the tragedienne's natural disposition is
indicated ns clear as print by the curve of her
back, tho excessive hollow at the waist lino
and the narrowness of tho supple his. Sho
carries herself with oil the art of her stage
traiuiug, but no Bengal tigress ever stepped
with more sinuous grace than this phenome
nal creature. Her temper and her passions are
as feline as though she traveled in a cage, and
tho peculiar sweep of the jaw where it joins
the ear and tho shape of tho mouth iuggeot
to the closo studont of natural history an ar
dent power that is tnoro curious than pleas
ing. Those aro only a few physical points of re
semblance, but tho brilliant Sarah's history
furnishes many moral ones which aro strik
ingly borne out as tho years go on. It mat
ters little to art that sho can never bo judged
by any ordinary standard of conventionality.
Sho is a woman, she is a mother, and yet ono
of these days who knows but our posterity
will bo frequenting a dimo museum to catch
a glimpse of o new species of tigress, the star
of tho show A lissome beast it is; sleik of
coat, with small, flat bead, from which shine
two splendidly cruel and amorous eyes and
this will be! Sarah 1 Returned to that
native state from which she emerged or
evolved in the nineteenth century to become
a great actress and an embodied caprice
Boston Herald.
'Twas Krer Thus.
When It's dry you dont need your umbr lla,
And It's then always easy to spot it;
But when the rain pours you will seek Q (r Tain
Some intimate friend's always got It
wsshingvca o;ua
AN ENGLISH STAG HUNT.
A Correspondent's Description of What
lInr Ho Considered a Tnmo AfTulr.
Now, for tho Information of such readers
os may not know what a stag hunt, ns carried
on in England, is, let mo endeavor to describo
ono. I assumo that everybody out of England
has an Idea what an actual stag hunt would
be. But unless they saw an English stag
hunt, or heard ono described, it would bo im
possible for tho mind of man to conceivo an.
idea of what an English stag hunt was, for as
a "sport" an English stag hunt is sui generis.
On tho morning named for tho hunt (gener
ally two or threo times a week) tho members
assemble on horseback at tho plnco named
for tho meet There is always a good as
semblage of swells; for stag hunting is a
swell sport,"as well as a national ono, no less
a person than the queen herself owning n pack
of stag hounds, consisting of forty couples, tho
largest pack in England. Tho "master" of
this pack is tho Earl of Coventry, who gots
fifteen hundred n year as well as tho honor.
A covered cart drawn by a stout horso
comes into.tho field where tho gentlemen nnd
women nro assembled and draws up near tho
"master," tho only mnn in "pink," tho other
menders wearing dark cloth coats. In this
cart is the "stag." At tho hour appointed for
the hunt to begin tho master gives tho order to
"uncart." Thereupon tho "whips" proceed to
open tho doors nt tho back of tho cart to let
out tho deer. A novice generally expects to
see n fiery, untamed animal, with flashing oy&
and snorting nostril, spring forth nnd dash
nway at full speed. Ho is disappointed. The
"stag" is either an old hand, who knows from
experienco how much better ho is whero ho is,
or a shy and shrinking animal, naturally
averse to showing himself in tho presence of
a concourso of inimical peoplo and a pack of
dripping jowled dogs. In either caso f orco
has to bo used to eject him. Ho is shouted at,
hustled, poked with sticks, dragged by tho
feet, tail nnd bonis and tho wnlL3 of his so
curo prison hammered on all sides.
At last ho is coaxed or dragged out. Ho
looks about him knowingly and timidly and
tries to fine.il; back; but tho door of tho cart
is quickly closed and ho is favored with a
fow more hoots and shoves. Ho catches n
glimpso of tho hounds nnd sees thero is noth
ing for him but to tako to his heels. Ho is
allowed ten minutes' "law," and then tho
"hunt" start in pursuit. As soon ns he is
found, overtaken nnd "run into" by tho
hounds, tho day's "sport" is over. Tho hounds
nro whipped and beaten off him, but not be
fore ho has had somo rough usago in sundry
rents in his "velvet coat," and ho is then put
back in tho cart nnd kept for another run.
Of courso thero aro times when a stag runs
nwny in grand stylo and shows flght to tho
hounds, but I will leavo it to any ono who
knows to say if tho above is not a fair pict
ure of at least somo of tho stag hunts which
tako placo in England. London Cor. Argo
naut. A l'rcsldentlal Jump.
Cnpt. L. W. Dayton relates tho following
in regard to a presidential jump:
"On tho 18th day of April, 1SG1, tho Fifth
Pennsylvania regiment arrived in Washing
ton. On tho daynftertho Fifth Massachu
setts arrived, and tho two regiments wore im
mediately sent into camp near Four Milo Run,
threo miles from Alexandria, Va.,ono regi
ment on tho north sido of tho run and tho
other on tho south sido. On tho 21st I was
ordered to Liko part of tho company of presi
dent's mounted guards and escort Mr. Lincoln,
Secretary of War Cameron and Salmon P.
Chnso to tho camps of tho two regimenta
The roads were very dry, nnd tho distin
guished party was covered with dust on onr
arrival. Tho Fifth Pennsylvania was tho
first regiment yjsited. After a stay of ono
hour or so we all started on foot to visit tho
Fifth Massachusetts, which was camped on
tho other sido of tho run. Mr.Chasoand Sec
retary Cameron started down tho run to And
a narrow crossing. Mr. Lincoln mado for tho
run, and with a jump crossed it. I undertook
to follow him, but, nlasl I could not leap far
enough und landed in tho mud. Mr. Lincoln
was convulsed with Inugliter. I scrambled
out ns soon as possible, being in tho meantimo
greeted with a hearty jyul genial 'Ha, ha!'
from the president, who udded, 'Captain, you
will have to learn to jump better than that if
you want to jump in the president's steps.' "
Wnshingou Hatchet.
Incident of tho Orr.ngo ltlot.
Every window rained bricks. Through it
all the Seventh's men stood liko rocks blocks
of granite. Tho captains called out: "Now,
men, no firing without orders. Company
ready!" A lieutenant spraug to tlio front of
B company and walked up and down boforo
those loaded and lull cocked pieces, quietly
saying, "Steady, boys," and pressing down
with Ills sword every pieco which showed a
tendency to riso above tho proper alignment.
Then camo tho first and oidy pistol shot
fired at this point It was followed almost
immediately by tho only shot fired by a
Seventh man that day. Only one shot, but
it was so deliberately put where it would do
tho most good that it quieted tho mob as
effectually us a volley would havo done. Tho
pistol bullet whistled by an officer's ear.
Turning to the men behind him, ho asked:
"Did any ono of you see who fired thatT
"Yes, 1 did, captain," said one. "It was
that fellow in tho red shirt getting in the
window there."
"Suro of tho mnnP
"Yes, sir."
"Then shoot him."
The soldier obeyed orders, no took deliber
ate aim und shot his man dead. Every ono
near saw tho shot. Every ouo saw its effect.
It was an execution. Thero was no need of
any more shooting. Tho firing ceased in
front. Tho fighting was over. New York
Commercial Advertiser.
A Subject For ltedectlon.
A rural gentleman who was recently smug
gled for a few minutes into tho Author's club
was surprised to find a general absence of tho
long hair, wild eyes, ancient linen and verdi
gris which havo been handed down by tradi
tion as the belongings of thoso who go down
to deathless ages in books. Ho said: "Why
you scribblin' fellers looks jess like brokers 'n
gentlemen !" Ho was informed that an effete
and iconoclastic .civilization had long sinco
relegated wild eyes to cranks, introduced soap
to poets and discovered that long hair was
not necessary to warm the few brains which
tho averago magazine writer is supposed to
possess. But tho sight staggered him. He
said, "You can't tel me. l'vosaw Dickens
n Thack'ry n Bullyer, n they looked on
uat'ral 'n queer. Look at ther books! Whar's
yours I No, sir. Jeenyus is keerless. Jeenyus
doesn't scratch hisself allers for thought.
Jeenyus doesn't keer a ding fer collars
to blackln'. Jeenyus is a btirnin', poor,
God forsaken' mlsribble, free Iuncher, but he
gits thar. Whar's yer books!" Thero waa
Indeed a deep subject for reflection here
New York World.
Could Not Violate the Rule, ' '
Reporter, interviewing rich man:
'"You began life barefooted and worked
for f I a week, I believeP
"No, sir, I didn'L" .
"Well, that will have to go anyway. They
ir.do It, and if wo should make an exception
in your caso oar readers would complain. "
Ellington Free Pre l
ft