A SERENADE.
Slumber has stilled the tioto
( In thot'.irush's tender throat;
But "chirp" tho cricket sings
, Ami tbb moth's dark wings
Flutter along the night.
Through the pnto starlight.
Soft may thine eyelids meet,
' S!cep on, O sneetl
Never a ntlr 'mid tho stars
Of t'jo Jasmine at the bars
I Of her easement, looking away
Toward tho un,born day.
' Mount, and an entrance win,
Steal In, my sour, steal In!
Soft may thlno eyelids meet
Sleep on, O sweet I
Bteal In, but breathe not above
The lowest whisper of love;
Hover around her thero
In fiat holy air;
Glide Into her dreams, and
A memory of me.
Soft may thlno eyelids meet;
Sleep on, 0 sweet!
Clinton Scollard In American Magazine.
THE CIRCUS BLACKS.
Tho first tlmo I saw Pussy Black she was
tobogganing In n butler's tray down tho golden
stairs of tho Mansion house at Bmi Francisco.
As tolioggnning wns not nt that time a fash
ionable pastime f n the states, I concluded that
3Iiss Pussy Imd evolved this novel nmusc
nient from the depths of lieroivn niischluvous
consciousness. Doing 11 siul mid promiscuous
lllrt, ceil nt tho nge of 10, she had doubtless
dono the Dollluli net by tho bond waiter in
order to obtain possession of tho butler's tray.
However this may Imvo been, her tobog
ganing was scarcely n success. Sho biniijwl,
Inimped, down half a dozen stairs with a de
lightful grill on lier small countenance. Then
nlasl A ycil and a shriek, a vMon of long
red leg mid living yellow bnlr, a rapidly
descending confusion of youthful imiitoiny;
and another bump. This time it was Pussy's
head that niino in contact with thu hard floor
nt tho foot of the stulrs.
I n-sked the youngster wheru sho was hurt
us sho lay buck in my arms with closed eyes,
and sbelnuehed ono dimpled hand to her foro
liead. Tim chambermaid brought water, and
I bullied the poor rorehead, and then I kissed
tho place to mako It noli. Then I kissed it
nr;aiii, beenuso I somehow thought that Miss
I'lifay liked being kksed by a grown up
mustache. I kissed her n llilrd tlmo liecauso
1 rather enjoyed the ierforiuuiicu myself.
A coquettish stnllo appeared on Pussy's
rosy mouth, and my vanity took alarm. 1
felt that tho llttlo Ilirt was deliberately lead
ing mo on. I turned tho Injured innocent
over to the tender mercies of tho cliumlier
jnald, and saliled forth to keep a business ap
pointment connected with tho milling inter
ests that had brought mo out to California.
A few days later I was nt u party given to
celebrate tlio birthday of n little girl who was
tho only daughter of onoofMio richest mining
men in San Francisco, It was a good old fash
ioned American party, where old and young
mingle In the Virginia reel und round tho fes
tlvobowi of lemonade. I came across a very
ngreenblo woman of handsome middle aged
presence, who know her California like a
liook, nnd told mo who nil the queer peoplo
were, Sure of her own edlgreo, which was
of the iM'st South Carolina brand, sho could
HTord to bo cynical on tho subject of Pacific
Coast ancestry. Sho watched the new arrivals
through an Imposing tortoise shell eyeglass
nnd checked thorn off ono by onofonuy bene
fit in n vein of gentle sarcasm.
"Aha! Hero coino thu Circus Blacks,"
Bald Mrs. Pendorllp, calling my attention to n
group proceeding toward us from the direc
tion of the door. "What suorb diamonds
Mm. Black wenrsl And Just to think that her
mother used to keep astall in the market, with
u pipe In her mouth und her head tied up In a
red handkerchief I Pvo bought many a cauli
flower of her myself,"
"Why do yon call them tho Circus Blacks!"
I nsked.
"Everybody knows them by that nnmo
partly, I suppose, because they act und dress
us ii they belonged to n circus, and I have
beard a legend to tho effect that Mm. Black
ouco traveled with a circus. Black first saw
licr when she was performing her great bare
back feat on a couple of wild steeds at Baern
tneuto, w hero ho kept a tailor's shop, llo got
into mines after ho was married, and that's
bow ho made his inoiiov."
At this moment the Circus Blacks swept by
us in solemn nnd Mutely procession. Thero
really wax. something about, them that sug
gested tho "grand entroo" of a well regulated
circus company ojieniiigtho orfonnanco, the
cinek of the ringmiis er's whip being repre
sented by tho sarcastic click of Mrs. Ponder
llp'.s eyeglass.
Ml'. Black was a short, stout man with a
stubby beard. Ills bald sjiot Just camo tip to
Mrs, Black's magnificent diamond necklace
Mi's. Black was iiiiqucst'ounbly a lino ilguro
of a woman. Plump, black haired, rosy
cheeked, In her yellow satin train almost
fevered with point lace, and with tho upper
IMU'tlou of her vigorous frame dressed cliielly
in diamonds, she looked n very goddess of
bullion,
Behind Mr, and Mrs. Black walked two
little girls, Ono was about 11, dark, plain
nnd scowling, dressed in jieii green silk, with
Iter hair in pigtails, and u horribla red, coral
jtceklaeo reposing on her collar bone, like tho
mark of the hangman', ivpo. Tho younger
Hi 1 was blonde, smiling and coquettish. Tho
real Valenciennes petticoat arrangement,
which tho wore over a light blue silk slip,
stopped Bhort above her knees. Her Infantile
and very buro bosom sustained soveral rows
of costly jieaiis, nnd in her vain tho had largo,
single diamonds, which gleamed against her
yellow locks,
I am only n man, nnd consequently not
posted in details of feinnlo attire; but I
gathered the impression that tho younger
Miss Black wns, to put It mildly, insulllciently
clad. I was pleased for her sake that the
room was wnrin. Apparently, my views wore,
shnred by Mm. Pcndoillp.
"Just look at Pussy Black!" sho exclaimed,
In a horrified tone, "Sho looks llko n ballet
girl or iv circus rider. Tho story about her
mother must Ins true. They Fay blood will
tell. Those long, silk stockings fit like tights."
Mis Puwy Black turned her pretty head at
that moment ami caught my admiring eye.
Bhe smiled, In sweet and not displeased sur
prise, and I recognized tho interesting young
heroine of tho amateur tobogganing episode.
When tho royal progress of tho Circus
Blacks was over, when Pussy's jiapa was tak
ing his whisky straight, In company with
other mining millionaires In a retired corner
of the "jwlatlal mansion," when Pussy's
mamma wus discussing soivntiU' wages with
thu proudest UMtrouago of glorious Califor
nia, 1 looked for Miss Pussy with Intent to
claim bar hand In thu giddy waltz. I found
her silting In a corner with ndozon youthful
dandles, In puiis and frizzes, about her, Bho
vrs queening it with a right good will, and
there was not n female creature within
twenty fet ot her. Bho had learned thus
early to dispense with chaperones.
Mis Puy affected Indifference towanl mo
nt first with n, coquetry that wa quito ma
tutu; but her vanity was presently kindled
by t. io thought of being tho object of grown
up attention, and thu little dancing school.
biy were tent about their business. Wo
Tonccd nnd flirted, nnd pulled thoe snapping
turtle things which do perennial duty nt chil
dren's parties, and exchanged mottoes nnd
even pledged each other In champagne. I
hinted to Ml-s Pussy that I should like to
inhko tho acquaintance of her mother in or
der to" bo nblo to call tqwn herself. Pusy
only ojiened hoi" bluo eyes wide nnd said, de
murely: "Oh", you needn't mind ma. I have plenty
of gentlemen calling on me. Ma's generally
out shopping In tho daytime. If she's in we
can sit in tho hall. Tho chambermaid in the
hotels lets mo do everything I want to be
causo I gnvo her my tiirquolo earrings. 1
was tired of 'em. They weren't fashionable
any more."
When I returned to my hotel I found n
telegram summoning mo to tho cast. 1 left
San Francisco tho next day. Before I went
I Mint Miss Pussy Bhick the llnest l)X of
sugar plums that tho city of the Golden Gate
could supp'y. Following so closely on the
heels of a children's party, this gift would
have been Indeed n fntol ono to most infants
But observation had convinced mo that Miss
Pussy had tho stoinnch of an ostrich, and 1
was certain that she was tho sort of child to
como up Binlllng aftor every round of sweet
stuff.
Eight years paasod before I again saw Miss
Pussy. It was nt Borne. I camo up from
Naples and went to a hotel pension behind
tho Pantheon, which was a famous resort for
genteel widows nnd spinsters who wero send
ing their declining wlnterdays In tho Eternal
City. At my first dinner I counted no let
than twenty women of uncertain nge, sand
wiched in among foreign young girls nnd
sickly men. Tho black looks that wero cast
iiK)ti mo by three lean, British spinsters who
sat opposite mo did not Improvo my appetite.
They nil wore soiled, white, knitted shawls,
and wrnngled among themselves on the sub
ject of church architecture. At my left was
nu American maiden lady who had dyed
yellow hair. I heard later that sho wasgoing
over to tho Church of Home. At my right
sat a portly damn with a Etonian profile and
iron gray" hair. Her ,'itco was singularly
familiar." She raised her rhell eyeglass and
gazed with quiet sarcasm upon the corpse of
a puny llttlo bird winch rested from It joys
and sorrows upon her plate. Her gesturo re
minded mo of certain California!! festivities
in which I imd onco participated, and I recog
nized tho Indv who had told mo tho tulo of tho
"Circus Blacks."
"Is this Mrs. Pendorllp?" I asked, at length.
Bho turned and looked at mo with ready
amiability, aftor tho European table d'lioto
manner.
"I hnvo met you omowhero," sho said pres
ently, "but I cannot recall tlmo and place."
I reminded Mix Penderlipof tho half hour's
chat wo had had eight years before nt the
housoof tho Callfornian mining man, nnd 1
nsked her what had become of tho "Circus
Blacks."
"They nro at Home,'' said Mrs. Penderlp,
"and in high feather. They movo in court
circles, thanks to Pussy's beauty, and her flir
tatious with poverty stricken noblemen. I
see a good deal of them. I nover oven recog
nized them In California. I couldn't, you
know. But over here It Is different Money
Is nil that counts with tho Italians. Thoy
think nil Americans are plebeians. Mrs.
Black is very glad to havo mo vouch for her
pedigree. I never say anything about tho
bareback act or tho market stall or the tai
lor's shop, and it wouldn't make any difference
if I did. I like Mrs. Black's opera box and
her good dinners (the dinners at this house
grow worse every day), and sho thinks mo an
excellent chiqioronu for Pussy. Even girls
like Pussy Black hnvo to bo clinieroneil nt
times in tills scandal loving city. Tho Now
York and Boston women turn up their noses
nt tho Blacks, but thero Isn't a girl in the
American colony us handsome as Pussy, nnd
with her money she ought to marry well.
The other daughter, Ella, is married and
lives at Ban Francisco. Nowadays, tho tops
aro'all getting to bo bottoms, und the bottoms
tops."
Mrs. Pendorllp had evidently mollowod
with age. Bho informed mo, presently, that
sho had met with llnanciol reverses, ami was
practicing social amiability as a profession.
Mrs, Penderiip, a fow days later, offered to
tnko mo to call on the Blacks, assuring mo
that Pussy remembered mo with pleasure,
nnd had expressed herself as delighted to re
new the acquaintance.
"Tho live nt the Hotel d'Aligleterre," said
Mrs. Peuderllp, ns wo crossed tho piazza of the
Pantheon, "l hut sort of peoplo never have
a homo."
Wo had just entered tho vestibule of the
hotel, and wero giving our enrds to a flunky
In red plush mid gold lace, when a tremen
dous rattling nnd nulling was heard, a swish
ing of silk draperies, u clanking of spurs and
swords, and tearing headlong down tho length
of tho wide crimson carpeted stairs, with tho
flowering camellia trees either sldo, came a
lovely, graceful girl, dragging n long, dark
bluo train after her. Buo was covered with
jet oi nanients that made a noiso ns of falling
hailstones. Her beautiful face was shaded by
a cavalier's hat, with long, drooping, dark
bluo plumes. It was Pussy Black. Bho took
her stairs as rapidly ns of old.
Behind her skipied ono of thnso superb
specimens of Italian military inanhood that
decorate the thoroughfares of Homo, and do
so much to mako tho Eternal City attractlvo
to American young women. He was a hand
some youth and, w ith his long, black and yel
low legs, his shining nccoutenneuts and his
neatly corseted Ilguro, ho romlluled mo of a
brilliant dragon lly hovering over an oxquis
ito flower.
Pussy greeted mo cordially, nnd was ex
tremely sorry that an engagement to walk
with Count Castelnuovo, whom sho presented
to me, would prevent her remaining nt homo
that afternoon, but hor mamma sho no lon
ger said "inn" was upstairs, nnd would Iw
charmed to see me. Then sho danced oir Into
tho sunlight, under tho arched doorway, ac
companied by her count, and all tho old gen
tlemen camo out of tho reading room, with
their Gidlgnaul and their Times in their
bauds, to see tho pretty American girl whisk
herself Into tho street
Mrs. Black was very gracious to mo. Sho
had acquired artistic tastes since her arrival
at Home, and was studylngsculpture. I won
her affections by praising n bust of her hus
band which sho had just finished. I ingrati
ated myself with Mr. Black by sympathising
with his desiro to give up nil this foreign non
sense, and go liack to dear old California. Ho
hated nbslntho and vermouth, and hiswtfo
n ouldn't let him drink whisky. Sho had said
that It was "low," Mrs. Black was a perfect
godsend to tho starving artists who Infest
Homo. Thoy regarded her in tho light of a vnl
u.bVi Alderney cow that gave milk freely,
and her rooms were tilled with charity pict
ures. Tho Blacks had been presented at the Qulr
Inal nnd went to all tho court balls. King
Umberto bad pronounced lhissy bolllna, as
Indeed sho was, and Queen Marguerite had
smiled graciously upon tho wholo family.
Pussy had in her train n largo number of
young men belonging to tho Husslan, Itillan
find French nobility, Tho fow American
men who represented "society" nt Homo that
winter rather sneered at her. Some English
men residing lu (ho city considered her "a
very odd girl, you know," although they till
admired her Uvtuty. But they were fright
vued oil at last by her sharp llttlo tongue.
Pu.y had a keen eyo for u fortune huutvr,
and sho did not take kindly to tho Britl'h
variety of that class.
Judgo of my delight, my surprise and my
hopo when Pussy Black singled mo out from
among her circle, of ndorers to bo tho trusted
companion of her dally walks, her favorite
pat titer at tho balls, her general utility man
and her cavalier at tho Campagna hunts.
After soveral weeks of this kind of treatment
I arrived at the conclusion tbnt Miss Black
returned tho love I folt for her.
Thero camo an evening so full of tender
glances, of sweet and subtle smiles, of deli
cato and wonderful witchery, that my wholo
llfo nnd destiny seemed to llo in tho hollow of
a girl's dimpled hand. It was a beautiful
llttlo hand. Cased in a long glove, tho dainty
hand lay lightly, llko a white flower, upon
tho black coats of Pussy's partners. Tho
Quirinal ball room had never seen n lovelier
presence than Puny Black as sho appeared
that evening. Thero wero clouds of white
tulle about her, caught up with white water
lilies, and lily buds peeped lovingly from
under tho golden knot that lay low on her
graceful bend. Not ono of tho principesse,
duchesso nnd contcso who glanced at her
with veiled, well bred contempt from under
their haughty eyelids could compare with her
for bcouty or cbnrm. They wero mortally
Jealous of her. Princess Ghlgl went so far as
to refuso Pussy's hand in tho grand clmin of
tho lancers. On tho'o.her hand, somo of tho
most magnificent male grandees of Homo laid
themselves beneath the little, white slippered
feet of thoCillfornlii girl. Fussy seemed to
say to mo with her eyes, "All this triumph
and mccess and homage, aro for you." Bho
danced tho cotillion with mo. and Count
Castelnuovo. who led It, looked stilettos and
vendetta. Tho supremo moment of my llfo
rnmo when I found myself nlono forn moment
with Pussy in n little," pale bluo satin alcove,
Until with shining mirrors, that gave back
the reflection of her slender white figure. I
had just cloaked her with a marvelous hooded
mantle of white feathers, and her bluo eyes
looked up Into mine, like forget mo nots
springing from under a snowdrift Coquet
as sho was, thero was no coquetry in that
glance.
Just then n loud lnusli in the corridor broko
tho silence. I hurried Pussy out of the alcove,
andf und Mrs. Black waiting with Count
Castelnuovo at the head of the stairs nmong
tho palm trees. Mrs. Black looked brilliantly
handsoino and rather vulgar. Bho wore nil
uncommonly self satisfied expression.
"Mr. Bruce,'' said tho ex-circus rider, im
periously, "will you give mo your arm, nnd
lot Count Castelnuovo escort my daughter?''
Pussy reminded mo of a beautiful, great,
white bird ns sho skimmed down tho stall's
Ix'foro mo in hor feather cloak, with Count
Castelnuovo playing tho part of a hungry,
fortune hunting hawk.
I had barely seated myself at Mrs. Pendcr
Hp's sldo nt tho pension dinner table, on the
following evening, when tbnt good ludy put
up her eyeglass, and looked at mo inquisi
tively. "I suppose you've heard tho nows,"
she said.
"Tho old news? Tho Wall street panic?
That happened two weeks ago."
"No. Pussy Black's engagement to Count
Castelnuovo."
Tho blow fell with cruel force. I kept my
countenance, but I was badly hit
"I thought Mrs. Black was playing for n
t Itle,." said Mrs. Po:ideiiip. "Sho announced
tho engagement to oil her frionds this after
noon. I heard it discussed at Mrs. Do Ha
ven's tea. Mrs. Do Haven is a New York
woman. Sho litis nover been willing to know
Mrs. Black, but, of course, n titled son-in-law
will make n great differenco. I told Mi's. Do
Haven today that thero was no truth what
ever in tho story that Mrs. B. had been a cir
cus rider, or that her mother sold cabbages.
I said that I had known Mrs. B. since she
was a child, and that her mother was a very
lovely woman, and a perfect lady. You see,"
i ursued this worldly old person, "I heard this
morning thnt tho Wall street panic cuts my
ilieomo down one-halt. It would bo quito im
possible for mo to exist in America on my re
duced capital, so that I shall havo to end my
days in EuroH3. I can nuiko nil excellent
living ns a pedigree foucher for nowly en
riched Americans."
lira. Pendorlip's eyeglasses fell on hor plate
with n sardonic crash.
"Between ourselves," sho continued, picking
them up, "this engagement has been tho sav
ing grace of tho illncks. Their social rnco
was almost run, and I havo itongoxl author
ity that their names wero to hnvo been stricken
jIV the court list before tho next ball i f tho
I.nili iiml. Mrs. Black had tho indiscretion to
send an arm chair mode of a piece of a Cali
tornla 'big tree' to his majesty, and she fav
ored tho queen with a floral ottering in tho
shape ot u gooso of white camellias swim
ming in a sea of gore represented by red
ones."
I tluished my dinner in silence, and strolled
down to tho Corso and past the Hotel d'Ali
gleterre, where I left a card for Mrs. Black. I
tried to feel goy and festive, nnd I hummed
to mvself ns I walked a celebrated American
melody, "A Climbiu' up do Golden Stall's."
But tho rollicking tune sounded llko tho fun
eral dlrgo of my directions. For was not my
acquaintance with Pussy Black closely con
nected with stairs? And had not Pussy
climbed to a title on tho golden stairs of her
father's California mlnof I smiled grimly at
tho whimsical bitterness of my thoughts, but
my heart was heavy within me, for tho one
lovo of my life was tho future Countess Cas
telnuovo, the child of tho "Circus Blacks."
C. Adams in Tho Epoch.
An Independent I.lttlo Nowaglrl.
Every morning about S:S0 n little nowsgirl
jumps on tho Broadway oar nt Ninth street,
her arm full of papers and the broken stump
of n cigarette between her littlo ml lips,
Sho is n sturdy llttlo barefooted thing, 8 years
old, perhojis, certainly not more, bluo eyed
and llaxcn haired, with ft brimless boy's hat
on her head. Sho asks no favor of sex, but
jumps on tho train at full speed, slips through
tho conductor's detaining grasp, hides under
tho steps of omnibuses nnd gives back cutfe
nnd gibes with n venom thnt would not dis
grace tho noblest work of tho creator. Tho
peoplo in tho street car tell n number of
stories about her, that sho supports her
drunken mother, is nn orphan with ono llttlo
crippled brother, ho lives down in Bleecker
street In n dark cellar, but it is impossible to
get at tho truth of things where n child is in
tho ensoand oursyinpathy isexcited. A very
benevolent looking gentleman in clerical garb
tried to solve tho problem by stopping her as
sho was leaving tho car last w eek, and saying,
in It must be acknowledged a very Young
Women's Christian association tone; "My
child, what is your namo and who are you
parents?" "My name," replied this young kt
son with tho rusty knees and torn hat, "is Mrs.
Lily Iuugtry, and my jwrents nre attending
to their business and inakiu' their fortlu' nt
it, If you please," New York Cor. Hartford
Cournut
A lVcullur tteiiiiest.
A Tacoma (W. T.) jury failed to agree
upon a case of deadly assault, and eleven
members signed n aper stating that tho
"eluvon ilo not consider the onooUtinato
man a qualified juror; that ho ls essentially
lacking in certain qualifications mvKUay to
mnstituto a good juror. Wo would, there
fore, ask that in making up tho jury list la
future for this county UU namo loloft i.J?.M
Now York Tribune.
WOSDEKS OF ALASKA, j
DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENERY
OF THE INLAND PASSAGE.
Magnificent A ppeurniice of tlie Coast
Line-Visiting tlio Indian Cublns A
I'lnce for l'lonrers Tlie Wonderful
Sliilr Glacier rail or Icebergs.
How shall any one describe the glories of
tho inland passage, wit i snow capped moun
tains on the main and islands on tho opposite
side, rising often to tho snow line, staying
the mighty Pncitlc from rocking one's
steamer; n twelve day trip nnd tho total
course of 2,800 mile from and return to
Tacoma, W, T.I Many n scene is like the
Hudson nt the Highlands,' and many another
liko tho Egean son skirting tho -oast of A-In
Minor; und still others liko Switzerland's
most beautiful mountain bound lakes; while
tho general combination, making a succession
of lcauties and sublimities, Is purely Alaskan.
Thoo who contentedly tuck themselves in
their little beds nloug tho Atlantic can hnvc
no idea of tho republican magnificence of oui
beloved country ns too stretches across thf
continent and reaches her Angel's to Asia.
Bo many are tlio winding in tho archipel
ago and mainland that in Alaska alone our
country has 15,000 miles of sen const. A
largo percentage of the coast lino is precipi
tato from the water's edge, and is clothed
with primeval forests of spruce, llr, pine,
white odorous cedar, and adorned with ar
butlilum or other gaudy hardy flowers. Of
tho inexhaustiblo fur seal, salmon and cod
fisheries I need not speak, for they havo n
world wide fame.
Tho logo of tlio passengers to visit thr
"ranches" or street of Indian cabins in eacl
village where we land, and to purchsso the
wildest cni-ving or picture from tlie most
squalid surroundings, would prognosticnti
the grief of other travelers who should come
hero only after the Alaskans hod entirely
abandoned heathenism, which degrades them,
and been exulted Into American citizenship,
for which so many of them are earnestly hop
ing. Totem poles, Chilcat blankets of Rocky
moimtulu sheep's wool, black slate carvings,
horn and bono spoons, painted dancing lints
and masks, hroidered moccasins, Esquimau
sealhido snow boots, pipes, war clubs, canoes,
puddles, wood tureens, water tight reed bas
kets, sharks' teeth earrings and necklaces,
gold and silver carved bracelets, finger rings,
armlets, anklets, labr.j or lip pins, witho
mill tings, gambling tools and tho like, were
nbsorbed by tho passengers us readily as sun
light harmlessly drinks tho miasma of
swamps.
A PLACE FOR l'lONEEHS.
Wero 50,000 of our ambitious toilers in tho
Empire city to start for Alaska with their
wives, by either the Northern or Union Pa
cific railroad, and keep their eyes and ears
open on tho way", about 10,000 of them would
reach hero and mako fortunes, and tho rest
would find openings en route for their talents
and energies nnd create wealth for themselves
all along or nnywhero along tho lines. But
tho cornerstone of this prosperity would be
their taking their homes with them, a thing
which can invariably bo dono by every man
if ho will. In times past the neglect of this
exeollenco lias turned too many of tho pioneer
settlers of our country into drunkards, brig
ands, idlers and brutes. Men must carry
something beside their cupidity and avarice;
they must carry their dignity, purity and
hopo with them if thoy would bo successful
Immigrants.
At Port Chester, on Annette Island, Alnski
Is in process of receiving n thousand Christian
industrious Indians from Motlnkathla, In
British Columbia, a settlement organized unl
instructed by William Duncan during an ad
ministration of twenty-six years, who now
tlnd themsolves moving nwny from tho un
equal laud laws of tho Dominion and tho rit
ualistic tyranny of tho Anglican church, to
seek religious liberty nnd equnl rights in our
dear country. Wo saw n littlo navy of sis
sail, constructed by nn Indian boat builder,
leave Metlitkathla as tho advanco division of
this movement, full of esprit and sober vir
tues. When'settled thoy will raise tho popu
lation of Alaska to 41,000.
Tho greatest natural wonder of this trip is
Muir glacier, in, Glacier bay. This glacier is
about sixty miles long, and flvo miles from
tho bay it is about twenty-flvo miles wide.
In Its course it is fed by nine principal and
eleven lesser glaciers. This accumulated
mass of ico 'moves by on inexorable law
through a gate of mountains only two miles
wide, piling nnd jamming itself up into tur
rets and pinnacles from three hundred to a
thousand feet high, grinding the mountains
till they havo yielded it a sand beach of
beauty "and smoothness. Tho near mountains
uro from 2,500 to 4,000 feet high; Mount
Grillon, ten miles away, is 10,000 feet, und
Mount Fuir weather, distant twenty-flvo miles,
i, 15,000.
FALL OF THE ICEnEKOS.
At its projection into tho sea tho glacier
travels nt tho rate of forty feet n day, ava
luuchlng icebers into th" bay with tho sounds
of thunder and earthquake. Theso retain
tho splendid bluo tints of tho parent glacier,
when floating around us in great masses,
somo of them 400 feet square and standing
from fifty to 100 feet out of tho water. The
fall of theso icebergs rocks our boat liko n
storm, and we count twenty-six of them at
one time. But tho steamer fearlessly lies
to within 000 feet of tho place of
metamorphosis from glacier to iceberg, her
soundings with her longest lino showing
no bottom nt 105 fathoms. When tho icoberg
U 11 ret weaned from tho breast of tho glacier
it plunges almost out of sight in the sea, then
rises to Its full height, a if seeking to regain
its place, and again sinks to rise again and
again till it finally finds its equilibrium and
is carried nway by tho wind or tldo or both.
This operation is stupendous and strikes uwe
Into tho soul, and yet costs such a weird mag
nificence of magnetism over the spirit that
ono leaves the Muir with regret
What an Improved American way of doing
a glacier is this Hero there is no guide, no
donkey, no carrying your own rations, no
breathless climb, no diminutive Mer do Glace,
no loss of altitude, for everything is seen
from sea lovel; no sleeping over night in a
hospico or refugo at tho half way point; but
to bo carried In ease and elegance to shake
hands with tho mighty glacier, to watch its
operations from tha cushioned saloon ot a
Moating palace; this is tho American way
furnished to every comer by the Pacific Coast
Steamship company. To laud on tho sandy
beach and traverse tho glacier Is an inviting
and easy essay, accomplished in a couple of
hours; und men, women and children did
more or less of it according to fanoy. Tho
Muir is tho largest ot flvo important glaciers,
repaying tho intention of tho curious and
scientific, every ono of which surpasses in In
terest anything that Europe has to offer.
Elliott F. Shopard in Now York Trlbuue.
A l.eiiuii from Japan.
A lesson against tho slaughter of birds
comes from Japan. In that country insect
pets havo liecoiiio so numerous that it is n
custom to pluck the fruit for Hio market lie
fure it is ripe to prevent its destruction by
Insects. Boston Budget
New Orlonus hr.s n brass land of fourteen
niamUrs thul uro all newsboys.
PHYSIOLOGY AND HYGIENE.
Salicylic Acid Condemned m n Fooil l'ro
scjrvatlve Why Men Soon Grow Ilald.
Salicylic acid in various forms, partlcu
laiiy salicylate of soda, has been extensive!
used in tho preservation of food within tin
last tow years. Many recipes for preserving
fiuits and food, which havo been peddleo
through tho country, contain salicylic acid.
Tho impression has prevailed that in thi
small quantities in which tho drug is used il
is quito harmless. Good Health states that
recent investigations show tho contrary to lx
true. This snbstauco has btcu used In
Franco much more extensively than in this
country; and the matter was finally brought
to the attention of tho central committee of
hygiene. A thorough investigation wa
made, which resulted in tho recommendation
that the government should prohibit abso
lutely by law tho uso of salicylic acid or its
compound, even in small amounts, in any
article of food or drink. This would seem to
set tho matter finally nt rest.
Ton Frequent .Shampooing.
It Is tho opinion of tho senior editor of The
Science News that tho practico of frequently
washing tho head in warm or cold water, nt
home, with or without tho adjuncts of soap,
alcohol, ammonia or perfumery, is deleteri
ous, and promotive of early loss of tho hair.
Men are continually washing the head.
Mnliy do tht3 night and morning under the
falso notion that it is necessary to cleanliness
and promotive of a vigorous growth of hair,
and when alarmed nt its rapid disappearance
In early life they nro nt a loss to understand
the reason. Women do not shampoo or wash
the bairns often as the other sex, und conse
quently they are, in a largo degree, exempt
from baldness in middlo lite.
A I'oultlcn for J'olsonous Wounds.
A slice of raw salt jorK is an old fashioned
poultice. An improvement upon it now sug
gested is raw, fat suit park and onions, equal
parts, chopped up together, and applied in a
thick layer to wounds made by rusty nails
or tlio teeth of dogs or other animals. Such
wounds nro not only very painful L. it danger
ous. Tho above poultice is said to extract
tho poison, allay tho pain and inflammation
and heal up tho flesh hi a way superior to
drugs, and in a wonderfully short time.
Tlio Normal Quit of .Hun nnd Woman.
Dr. Giler do la Tourettu finds tho uveragc
normal locomotion in persons whoso guit is
unafrected by nervous disease to be, for men,
twenty-flvo indies length of space; for
women, twenty inches; tho step with the
right foot somowhat longer than that with
the let t ; the lateral distance between tho feet
in walking, about four and a half inches in
moil and about five inches in women.
Antiseptic ."Uouth Wash.
Most of the damago to tho teeth by fermen
tivo and putrefactive processes in tho mouth
takes place at niht during sleep. A physician
recommends that tho mouth bo rinsed well,
before going to bed, witli tho following mix
ture, which completely sterilizes tho mouth,
cavities in carious teeth, etc.: Thymol, 4
grains; benzoic acid, 45 grains; tincture of
eucalyptus, U) fluid drachms; water, 25 fluid
ounces.
A Test lor Sower Gus.
A simple test for sewer ga-s; Saturate un
glazed paper with a solution of ono ounce? of
pure lead acetate in half n pint of rain wnter.
Let it partly dry, then expose in tho apart
ment where sower gas is suspected. If tho
latter is present in any considerable quantity
tho paper darkens or turns black.
A Healing .Substance.
A drop of warm mutton suet applied to
cold sores, at night upon retiring, soon causes
them to disappear. Mutton suet is also an
excellent remedy for parched lips and chapped
hands. For cuts and bruises it is equally
good. Its healing properties mako it useful
in theso littlo accidents ai.d ailments so com
mon to children.
Coral nu Tor Whooping Cough. '
Dr. IMchard, of Hallo, is reported ns having
treated whooping cough with rcmnrkubk
success by penciling tho pharynx threo times
daily with a 5 per cent solution of cocaine.
A Slinplo Nervine.
Cream of tartar water, sweetened, not only
cools tho blood but is a wonderful nervine, as
tho French know, who always sip sweetened
water.
ltuinedy for Hiccoughs.
Tho application of a bit of ice to tho lobe of
tho ear is ono of tho remedies in vogtto for
hiccoughing.
SOCIAL ETIQUETTE.
Manners and Customs I'rnctlcod to
l'ollte Socloty.
When a lady leaves homo for tho season, as
usual, or for a short trip, sho sends p. p. c.
cards to Mich of her friends only ns sho is In
debted to for unacknowledged civilities, ac
companying them with her temporary ad
Jre&, if she sees fit. Upon her return, mere
acquaintances are not supjiosed to show uny
consciousness of her presence until sho is
ready to resume social life, which sho doos by
sending out her visiting caul with her recep
tion day engraved upon its left hand corner.
Such is the convenient etiquette of large
cities.
After a prolonged absence, strict etiquette
requires that tho card bo left by n lady in
person upon all acquaintances and friends
with whom she wishes to resume her former
intimacy. But, instead of this wearisome
round, tho broken threads of social inter
coui'io may bo taken up by tending out invi
tations for an afternoon tea.
About Weddings.
It is tho place of tho brido'a parents to fur
nish tho wedding invitations. The groom is
supX)sed to furnish his ushers with gloves,
ties, nnd sometimes scarf pins. For an after
uoon wedding the groom's dress should bo a
black frock coat, a white four-iu-huud tio nnd
gray trousers. Gray or brown trousers, a
frock coa and dark four-in-hand tio repre
sent th correct dress for a father who escorts
his daughter to tho altar. At a homo wed
Aug, as ut church, the minister faces tho
company, which brings tho bridal couple
with their backs to the guests. Tho groom
generally presents somo souvenir of tho occa
sion to each of the bridesmaids. Fans, rings,
bangles, miniatures, prayer books and lamps
havo served when nothing else could be
thought of. Tho l)ouquets of tho maids and
tho boutonnieres of tho ushers uro tho gift of
tho bride. If sho desires an unusual fashion
or fabric for tho bridesmaids' toilet sho pro
vides theso also.
Hints Here unit There.
It is generally in bad taste to jwint nt per
sons or objects when ut any entertainment.
Persons in heavy mourning rarely go where
evening dress is Herniary.
Palm trees in iots and orango ttees arc
favorite and appropriate house decorations
for weddings.
It is now tho proper thing In serving an
elegant dinner in courses to havo a separate
stylo mid dolU of jilato for uich courso.
HOW TO DIE EASY.
MYSTERIES INTO WHICH THE GERRY
COMMISSION HAS BEEN INQUIRING.
IIow Shall Wo Execute Our Criminals t
Tlio Garroto nnd tlio Guillotine Death
by I'ritssio Acid A Flash of Lightning
Is Ilest-
IIow shall wo execute our criminals!
To n certain degreo a distressing question
to inquire into, but in reality a most humano
investigation. Experts aro divided in their
opinions ujon tho subject, and when experts
ii?agree why, experts disagree. Some hard
shclied experts of a very conservative frarao
of mind nail their colors to tho mast raid hold
that Jack Kotch's hempen noose, also known
as Judgo Lynch's "cravat," is tho proper
thing when in tho projxjr place.
Others of n more advanced framo of mind
suggest tho garroto. Tho guillotine also has
its advocates, especially among tho inhabi
tants of sunny France, and there are those
who favor prussio acid or somo other violent
poison. Gas comes in for a sharo of favor;
water has its disciples; but the enterprising
students of this country seem to bo pooling
their issues in favor of electricity.
Not to bo behind tho times, an American
physician has invented a flash of lightning,
said to bo almost equal to tho natural article.
Id this instance it all camo about through
the inquiries mado a year ago by Commodore
Gerry's commission, npioliited to inquire
into a more humane method of executing tho
death penalty.
At that timo a select number of prominont
physicians wero consulted and asked in tho
interest of scienco to answer a series of ques
tions uin tho subject of capital punishment.
Among tho physicians consulted wero Dr. E.
J. ICnuirmann, a graduate of Berlin, Paris,
Edinburgh, Toronto and Now York, and a
gentleman who has devoted much timo to
tlio study of electricity while pursuing his
medical studies.
Dr. Kauirmnu was much impressed with
the barbarity of executions by hanging, and
before making his report to tho commission
began work upon nn electrical machine,
which was to produce a miniature Hash of
lightning or continuous electric spark twelve
Inches long, and calculated to produeo death
in the twc-liundrodth part of u second.
This may seem to bo quick work, but it is
comparatively slow when we tako into con
sideration that tho genuine article, "real
lightning," produces tlio fatal result in tho
t.'n-thousjmltli part of a second at least that
Is a'.oat r.s near ns it has been accurately
gauged up to t-ds writing.
One of tho first questions asked by tho
commission was in regard to death by prussio
acid or any other strong poison. Taking
prussic ncidasn basis, Dr. KniuTmnnn replied
that there was a case on record in which a
man swallowed nn ounco of prussic acid and
yet only o.tpired twelve minutes later, after
suffering great agony. Dr. Kaulfman thus
concluded that prussio acid was not quick
enough and could not bo relied upon, and in
addition thnt prussic acid and its salts wero
used in commerce, and that it would not bo
advisable to teach tho public a modo of death
which would bo "comparatively painless.
Tho second question referred to tho garroto
and guillotine, and, according to tho doctor's
replies, theso systems aro comparatively an
lient and barbarous, and nations employing
them were seeking for a more humano and
icieutiflc method of Oxecuting criminals.
Tho garroto, says Dr. Kautrmann, is worso
than hanging, as by its use death is only
jausad by strangulation r suffocation. SulTo
atiou, ho nlso chiin v, is tho causo of death
In tho great majority of executions by hang
Irj, and is tho great objection to tho uso of
kiio rox3. In fact, if Dr. ICnuirmann remem
bers rightly, statistics show that over 80 per
;ent. of persons hanged die from suiroca
iion. Ono of tho last questions asked tho physl
;inns by tho commission, said Dr. Kauff
aiann, was:
"'What would you suggest as a bettor way
Df death in criminal cases, and whnt would
fO'J suggest to coinjionsato for the difference
.n effect upon tho criminal cases i' or words
;o that effect."
Death from electricity, replied tho doctor
n substance, either by shock or by n conver
iion of tho animal fluids into gases, causes
very littlo change in tho body. Indeed, tho
rreater tho shock tho less change there is in
;ho body. Therefore death from an intenso
iiiock, which would kill n man in say tho
mo-hundredth part of n second, would mako
10 visible change in tho body. Now, as thero
san insufficiency iu this country of bodies
lor the purjioses of scientific research, Dr.
uuifTniaun suggested that the bodies of all
;.ocuted criminals should bo turned over to
tho proper authorities for tho purpose of sci
entific, pathological and physiological re
loarch. In Dr. Kauffmann's opinion criminals
ivould dread such disposal of their bodies
noro than death itself. Naturally it is ad
mitted that there are so few executions that
;ho bodies thus furnished would not supply
'.ho demand, but it is claimed that bodies of
:rimiiials killed by electricity will bo in such
i good condition for scientific research that
thoy will prove of iucidculablo value to
physicians.
Tho miniaturo flash of lightning outlined
oy Dr. Kauffmann conjd bo applied to tho
iriminals either standing or sitting down,
ind tho baso of tho skull is suggested as the
most suitable spot, though other physicians
favor tlio back of tho neck. It has also been
suggested that tho criminal might bo placed
in a room and that tho air should bo gradu
ally withdrawn, thus glvijig tho condemned
man n painless death. This system is objected
to its being quito ns painful ns hanging, for
death would lie caused by suffocation.
The fumes of charcoal havo also Ixxsn advo
rated, but are opposed on tho plea that they
rauge with chloriuo gas, ono of tho most
pungent gases, and accordingly charcoal
would causo a painful death. Carbonic gas
has nlso lieen talked of as a comparatively
desirable form of inflicting death, but it is
opposed on tho plea that it is not quick
enough.
After reviewing nil tho suggestions mado
there would seem to bo no doubt that elec
tricity will lio tho executioner's weapon in
tho future, nnd that, combined with deliver
ing tho bodies of executed persons to physi
cians for tho purpose of scientific research, it
will strike quite ns much terror into evil
doers' hearts as that well termed "relic of
barbarism," tho hangman's noose. Now
York Herald.
Water Tight Compartments u Snare.
It is well understood by those who nro
familiar with tho construction of foreigu
steamers that wnter tight comiwirtments aro
a snare and n delusion. In many cases thoy
aro hardly tight enough to hold common
shot, and tho braces aro seldom sufficient to
withstand the wnter pressure. Tho recent
loss of a vessel off the English coast, in which
many lives were sacrificed, goes to show that
our marine, as well as locomotive and civil
engineers, havo something to do In tho way
cf strengthening structures. Hallway 1U
vlew. Cordova, or leather color, Is one of tn
favorite fashionable "street" colore.