CHRISTENING.
To-day I saw a little calm-eyed child
Where soft l:RhU rippled and tho ghadowi
tarried
Within tho church's sholtor arched and aisled
Peacefully wondering, to the altar carried.
White-robed and swoot, In semblanco of a
flower.
White tho daisies that adornftd the chancel ;
Borne like u Rift tho young wlfo's natural
dower
OttcrpA to God as her most precious hansel.
Then ceased tho mus'c, nnd tho little ono
Wns silent; and tho multitude nsscmblcd,
Ilarkcncil; and when of Futhcr and of Son
He spolcc, tho pastor s aecp voico orono una
trembled. (
Dut she, tho child, knew not tho solomn wo rds ,
And suddenly yielded to a troubled walling ,
As helpless as the cry of frightened birds, j
Whose untried wings for flight aro un--availing.
now like Is this, I thoueht, to older folk I
Tho blessing falls: wo call It tribulation, A
And fancy that we wear a sorrow's yoko
Even at tho moment of our consecration. i
Oiorae 1'artom IMhroy, in Ilarptr'i Maqatlne,
STOKY OF A VASE.
Tho Tragedy with "Whloh It Was !
Connoctod. j
George. S. Goodwin stood with his j
back to tho firo-plno and ono hand in ,
his pocket, thinking. Wlten hi9 two
hands were strong lio usually hadthom
hotli in ills pockets, but on this even
ing ono hung in a sling, brokon. Half
nn hour before his wifo liad departed
for church with Mr. and Mr.. Whittier,
thoir next-door noighbors. and shortly
afterwards llio sorvants had gone,
prosuninblv lo church, too. So for
once tho master of tho liouso was in
complolo possession. And every fow
inonionts ho reached over with his loft
hand and gently slrokod tho ono In
tho sling and muttered: "It's jolly
painful. I know," nnd then fell to
thinking again.
Although Into in tho autumn, no
lire burnnd in iho grate. Uut Good
win felt just a little lonesome, and
second naluro drow him to tho firo
placo for comfort. Whon a man 13
lonosonio a lire, if it does not actually
choor him. at loast is very compan
ionable, and wlieu there is no lire a
person must just put up with tho
plnco whero a lire should be. So
Goodwin In eked up to tho empty
grate, looked at tho coiling, gazod
slowly round tho room for somothing
to interest him, then down at ids toes
and lonnod bnck againsfc tho mantel
piece. Thou thoro was a crash. Bo
hind him stood a haudsomo Dresden
vase, rulluelod in a mirror, and as
Goodwin loaned back tho wonkly stip
j ortcd manlol-sholf partly gavo way
under his weight, and tho vaso an
heirloom and to him priceless
toppled ovor, fell against tho shoulder
of his broken arm, slid an Inch or so
nnd stuck in a wrinkle of
tlio coat ho was wearing, and
there it stuck while numer
ous small ornaments clnttorod and
smashed on the fender bolow. Good
win stood perfectly still and gazed for
a moment ruefully at tho .smashed
articles on the iloor, thou slowly
turned his bond and looked at tho
vnso. There it stuck, a delicato pink
flower caught insecurely on tho
wrinkle of the coat a hold that any
move, however slight, might unlooso
and then for a smash on the mantel
piece and fender. II looked for a mo
ment without breathing, thou said:
"Well, I say," aid looked again.
Cautiously raising his left hand across
Ills breast, until the linger tips were up
to his shoulder, but there stopped, for
without moving ids injured arm ho
could get no far her and to move tho
limb simply meant certain destruc
Hon to the vaso. Ho thought of all
the schomes that would come into his
mind, whether by a quick turn ho
could catch the vase before it hit tho
mantel-piece or could ho catch it by
putting his hand behind his back and
letting it fall into the hand. Hut all
tho schemes ho felt certain would end
in tho breaking of the one ornament
in tho house that he could not atlbrd to
spare.
"No," ho muttered to himsolf,
"There's nothing to do but stand right
hero like a statue till Gracio comes
home. That's all about it. As Gen- i
rrnl Grant said: 'I'll light it out on j
this line if it takes all summer.' When !
Grade comes and relieve mo I'll ,
probably sit down. Stand bravely
with my back to tho foe."
Tlio clock behind him struck seven.
Tho house was now quite dark and a
fog hung low ovor tho ground out
side. As Goorgo Goodwin stood, as still
as a man without a cigar oau bo ex
pected to stand, ho thought he heard
a grating sound in tho kitchen. There
was a rasp and tho back door seemed
to bo opouod quickly and shut softly.
As ho strained ids hearing ho caught
the sound of inullled footstep-!. In
stantly tho thought of burglars tlashod
through his mind. Church burglars
without a doubt. Ho had road repeat
edly of men who watch for those
Louses left tin tended by occupants
nnd servants, all going out of a Sun
day evening. What if tlio fact that
no light buruod nnd every thing was
on quiet In the house, 'had caused soma
of those rulllnus to believe the house
untenanted. It was more than likely.
What to do ho did not know. To move
wns out of tho question. Yes, ovoti
though (hoy stole tho house from over
lilm ho would not break that vase. If
he shouted ho was afraid tho motion
necessary would un lodge it from Its
frail hold. Anyhow, his nearest
neighbor ho knew hud gone to church.
Tho only thing to bo done was Jo koop
as still as ho could, and, If possible,
got a glimpse of "ho burglars so that
lie might make it interesting for them
afterwards. H tlw caught sight of
him donbtloss thay would douamp a
good deal quicker thau they cnnio.
If thoy didn't ho might got cvldonco
. .
si'iiiciont to capluro ami convict mem.
Tno noiso In tlio kllchon incr ased.
Thoro wns now no doubt of tlio char
acter of tho visit.
Into tlio hall llioy came, two men
willi a dark lantern throwing a small
circle of light boforo them. Tlio door
of tho sitting-room where Goodwin
was stood partly open. Hi dimly
snw them peer into tho dluiug-roo u;
then ono of tliom coming toward1 the
sitting-room door, said in a loud
whisper:
"Bill, lot's s art 'etc."
"No," said Uio other, "Micro ain't I
over nothing in asittln'-room. Thai's j
tlio sUtin'-room. Lot's find thoir bed-i
room. Thai's where they keeps thoir
jjwols anil money if they've got
any."
"Well, tlion, up s'airs wo goo.,"
and up I hoy went q i lolly,
Giodwin know I hoy would be ro
warded. His wife's jewelry was sure
to bo exposed. S miio of it was valua
ble and some not. It was all too good
to bo lost, any how.
"Ono thing is certain," thought
Goodwin, "I can tell the height of
thoso nio ii. and ono of thorn is called
Dill. Both ar.i illiterate, and one lies
a peculiar, rasping voice, easy of
Identification. A cood detectivo will
hunt thom nut. Probably thai !
soon
light will fall o.i one of their facos bo
fore they go."
After a short time the stairs agnin
creaked, and the circle of light again
shot past the door, and as tho lantern
swung in the ha ids of Bill:
"Tills here Is a pretty slick haul,"
said ho of tlio raspy vice, "I t-ny
them's real, don't yon?"
"Course them's real all right,
thov'ro big glitters loo. Shall we
look for any silver, or havo wo got all
as wo want?''
"Well, I'm for some of thoir silver
f we can find it."
"If you ask me," said Bill. "I'm
for off with tills as we've got. It's all
wo can handle. I say wo go."
"All right. We've got plonty of
tinio and we'll divide here. Thou
vou'll go your way r.nd I'll go mine.
Wo can't both bo nabbed. ''
"What? Divide 'ero? It's dan
gorous. Tins nin't no place to di
vide. I've got 'em nil safe in my
pockets, and we'll divvy when wo
gets homo. L't'sgi. "
"No, you don't," said tlio raspy
voice, "I'm for a divvy right hore and
I'm goln' to have it. Then wo can go
our own way. Sit down hero. G'vo
nn tho light. 'J hat's it now bundle
(lie tilings out on the lloor. Thoro you
aro."
Tho two nion sat down near tlio
open door with the light botweon
thorn sad Bill slowly began to dis
gorge. There were llio wife's dia
mond rings, ,two of them; Goodwin's
watch, which he had laid aside whon
ids arm wns broken; a lino gold
nocklm-o and locket, a diamond for
llio hair, four gold bracelets, jewolud;
a number of smaller articles and tlion
thoro was a stop. As tho light shono
on Bill's lingers Goodwin noticed ids
index linger on tho right hand was
gone. B it both hud worn a mask.
"Where's tliom gol 1 studs and that
thoro gold brooch I saw you take,"
sal I tho raspy voice.
"Oh. yes, lliom studs, I forgot,"
said B 11 as he put his hand in an in
side packet and took thorn out.
'Where's the brooch?"
"There wasn't no brooch as I got."
"Yis, there was. it's the host
thing of the swag. Out with it."
"1 say 1 haven't got no brooch."
"Y-r tryin' to suoak it. You can't
fool me. O it with it, or by tlio L or'
I'll make ye."
"1 haven't got stand off, Tom.
Don't you lay hands on inc."
"Out with it."
Both men were now on their foot."
"Stand oil', Tom. I warn ye. 1 hain't
got"-
"Glvo it up," saiil Tom, in a low,
savage voice, as ho sprang at tlio
throat of his companion.
There wns a sharp, quiet struggle, a
fow gasps of exertion, a gleam in tlio
air. The sitting-room door flew open.
A man staggered backward Into the
room with his hands lo Ids breast.
"1 warned"
"You've done for me, Bill," gasped
the man as ho sank to his knees.
"1 warned you," half shouted Bill,
with terror in his voice as lie stared at
his companion.
The stricken man shuddered nnd
gasped, stood up, staggered and foil
backward with a heavy crash on tho
lloor. His arms spread out, his head
rolled to one side and ho lay dead.
Tho lantern, now on Its side, streamed
on Iho uncovered face of the murdoror,
and stamped the likeness on Good
win's mind. The murderer clutchod
the door and stood for a second glar
ing in terror at the dead man. Good
will stood traustix'jd with the awful
scone.
"My Godi" muttered tlio man, "I've
killed Tom." Then looked at the knife
hold in his hand. Holding it at arm's
length from him he throw it at tho
) rostrate form. Felt in ids coat, tore
from its lining the fatal brooch nnd
oust it from li'.m. With one last look
he t do out of the room and w as gone.
Then tho strength faded from George
Goodwin. His knees gavo wav, lib
sondes reeled, his head sunk on lib
breast, and as he fell to the lloor tin
heavy vase toppled over, smashed on
Goodwin's head and lay in pieces in
the dark room beside the s-onsoloss
spi'ctntor and the murdered man.
Moull s after tlio time, George Good
win recovered from the terrible fevei
that followed the night when the serv
ants found him lying on the Hour.
Hi lay delirious frtm tho Inji.rl.s u
lit. luted o.iuil by the vaso he had
It i.d so hard to protect- Eury person
i 'supposed that In a dosporato strugglo
.till (11 . i t I ...I.m
lie hnil klllod tho burclar. and when
the spring time camo and ho got
sironger in health, and tho wound had
almost honied his wifo and friends
realiz) 1 that ho was hopolossly insane.
He rapidly gained in strength, but his
fnco bore a troubled look, and for
hours ho sat brooding always refus
ing to enter tlio sitting room and in
sisting Hint all tlio mantle-pieces ho
taken down and that Ids wifo put on
no jiwelry. Nit until Miy was ho
able to take short walks.
Ono bright morning Mrs. Giodwin
put on him a lioavy coat and sonthim
for li I:i usual walk in charge of a serv
ant. Tho path lay over one of tho
many hen! lis that surround tho groat
city of London and past a row of
houses in cours i of erection. As tlio
Invalid ami ids attondant ap
proached ono of liieso houses n
hod carrier came down a ladder and
commenced filling his hod with bricks.
When the Invalid was almost opposilo
him tho man looked up and shouted to
n fellow Jn borer on tho half built wall.
This companion looked over tho sido
and the 1 right suuligh. rellectod from
a piece of tin rooting, fell strongly on
his face. Giodwin stopped short.
Then with a bound ho tvachod the lad-
ler, and before tho servant could stop
almost flew up. In nn Instant ho
had tho man by tlio throat.
"You murdered llio man Tom," ho
shouted.
"Stand off; you l:e; back!" shouted
the man, recoiling aghast.
Tlion springing forward and putting
fori b fill his strength ho hurled tho
weak man lo the ground bolow.
For a niomont the double murderer
stood still. Then, buttoning his coat
over Ids broast and stepping forward
ho said:
"Mm. I killed Tom Britlon." E.
Ill Sabel, in Detroit Free Press
LEMAITRE'S JOKES.
How mi Kmlnmit Frniinti Actor Trlml HI
Itiilu hi 11 ml I.ll'.i.
Whon tho eminent French nc'or Le
maitro had a now role to play ho in
variably tried it on the public in the
aTery-day courso of his lifo before
iic'ing it on tho stage. Ono day he
wns traveling in a crowded stage
loach when iho idja struck liiiu to
rohoarso a scene in which ho was to
rorsonato tho part of a sick man.
Suddenly liis visage became, as it
wore, decomposed; his eyes grow dim;
his arms dropped down motionless; his
body doubled up, and ho sighed and
groaned most hoart-rendingly.
All ids fellow-travelers regarded
him with fear and troinbling; soino
thought ho was seized with black
cholera and on the point of death.
The coacli stoppod and ho was about
to bo romovod to llio nearest doctor,
when L.iinaitro, judging that he had
gone quite far enough, and delighted
with his success, gradually bccaino
himsolf .again, and a fow witty re
uarks disclosed tlio secret of his ill
noss. On nuothor occasion ho indulged in
i Minilnr rehearsal at the Cafo dos
Variotes, but this tinio ho nearly got
into hot water. He entered tho cafo,
swaggering like a bully, and after
gazing at all tho cusloinors with con
tempt, stoppoil at a table where a
voung ollleerand his wifo wore sitting.
Hero Ids bearing beeanio so insolent
hat every body protested, and callo 1
ni llio landlord to turn him out. Tlio
voung o til cor, palo witli rago and
indignation, rushed at him and dc
.unntfod an explanation.
S.uldonly Loinaitio again changed
,iis appearance. Ho was no longer
lie Captain Fracnsse of a fow minutes
noviom, but a confirmed idiot, un
'ouscious of wlia' ho had done. The
Ulcer shrugged his sliouldors in pity
ind resumed Ids .scat, while tho actor,
aking tho next table, sat down liko an
military customer, ordered sonio cof
ee and proceeded to read the papers
is if nothing had happened. 1'all
Mall Gazette.
BARBARA HECK'S WORK.
I'hn I.lfa of a Womuii Known ns tlio
l-'oiiiiilrsits of Aimtrluitii Methodism.
Barbara Hock Is known in church
ilstory ns "tho foundress of American
.Methodism." She was born in Iroland
i Gorman parents, who bolongod to a
.ettleinont of German emigrants from
lie llliino Palatinate to the Emerald
isle. These people soon came under
ilio lullueiice of Wesley and his
preachers, and formed one of the
Wrongest Methodist societies in Ire
laud. In 17G0 Piiilip Embury, aMelh
id is t preacher, with a number of these
G minus, including Paul Hck nnd his
ttifo Barbara, sailed for New York.
Settling there, for sonio reason they
gavo up their Wesleyau ir.ootings,
but In 1766 Mrs. Heck had become
in impressed with the wickedness of
this falling off that she felt called upon
to arouso lior friends from their
lethargy. Her earnest words so im
pressed Embury that he again under
took his work as a preacher. She
rested not until she had gathered a
111 tie congregation to meet at his
house, and by their joint exertions tho
famous "Old John S.roet Chapel," tlio
llrst Methodist Church in America,
was built. When Wesley's preachers
camo to take charge of the John Street
Church, Mrs. IL-ek removed with her
family nnd that of Embury toNoitheru
New York, where they founded
M thodlst societies. They finally set
tled in Upper Cinada, and beer.mo tho
founders tf thoir denomination in that
locality. Barbara Heck died there, at
lie rojddonoH if lior son, Samuel
Hook, near Augusta, in ISO I, at the
ago of suvuiity years. 1immijo Inter'
Octan.
'Suite,
dweller hi
isuito home," sings the
tho family hotel. A". Y.
LEAP-YEAR PRIVILEGES.
Tlme.llonorrit Illclita nnd rrcrocntlTe of
Ihn llrntlrr ffl.
It is probable that man of tho fair
and nt least an equal number of the
unfair sex have scarcely bestowed a
thought upon the fact that 1888 is leap
year, in which tlio ladies' law, as it is
called, may prevail.
In three years out of every four man
has the privilege of "popping the ques
tion." and the annoyance of sometimes
having a plain-spoken "No" for tho re
ply. On tlio fourth year woman may
propose, if it so plcaso her.
A lady his tho privilego in leap year
of suggesting marriage between her
self and a bachelor acquaintance. In
the event of his refusing, the penalty is
that the ungallant gentleman shall pre
sent tho tender damsel with a now silk
dress.
Thoro is a reservation, however, that
the right to claim this penalty depends
on tlio circumstance that when she
proposed the damsel was tho wearer
of a scarlet petticoat, which (or a little
if tlio lower portion of which) she must
exhibit to tho gentleman, the under
stood idea being that tlio silken dress
"hull cover tho petti -oat, and thus as
suage dire feminine indignation at tho
rejection of her offered hand.
If any of the readers catch a glimpse
in 18S3 say in a high wind, or when a
carriage or car is entered, or a muddy
street urosso I of the slightest bit of
scarlet in a lady's most comfortable
tnd usually unexhibitcd garment, they
may imagine that she has quitted the
house with the dire intent of asking
somebody to marry hoi or of getting
the silk dress mentioned.
It is said that in a work entitled
Courtship, Love and Matrimony,'.'
published in 1606, ten years before thei
death of Shakespeare, is this explain
tion regarding ladies' privileges inj
leap-year:
"Albeit, it is now become a part of
the common lawe, in regard to social re-)
lations of life, that as often as every
bissextile year doth return, the ladies
havo the solo privilege, during the time
it continueth, of making love unto the
nion, which they do, either by wordes or
lookes, as to them it seeinoth proper;
and, moreover, no man will bo entitled
to benefit of clergy who dotho in any
way treate lior proposal with slight or
contumely."
This quotation is given by a corres
pondent of Notes and Queries, but there
aro some words in it which were
scarcely in common use in Shakes
peare's time.
"Social relations of lifo" is a com
paratively modern phrase; and though
the word "relations" is used once by
Shakespeare, "social" never was.
Oddly the word "contumely," though
not given in "Ayscough's Concord
ance," occurs in "the proud man's con
tumely," which is put into ono of Hani
let's most thoughtful soliloquies.
Tlio follow ing is tho statute in tho
old Saxon code referring to leap year:
"Albeit, as often as leapo yearre
dotheo occure, the woman holdctli pre
rogative over tlio meiine in matters of
courtships, love and niatrinionie; so
that, when the lady proposeth it shall
not be lawful for the man to say her
nae,' but shall entertain her proposall
in all glide curtcsie."
A Scotch statuto of 1228 reads as fol
lows:
"It is statut and ordaint that during
the reino of her niaist blessit majestic,
ilk forth year, known as leap year, ilk
maiden ladye of baith high and low
estait shall have liberty to bespeak ye
man she likes; albyit, if ho refuses to
take her to be wif, lie shall bo mulcted
in tho sum of ono pound (1) or less,
as his estait mai he. except and awls if
ho can niako it appear that lie is be
trothed to ono woman, and then he
shall be free."
Leap year natural! makes ii3 think
of marriage; and wo hope all tho young
ladies and widows will bo bold enough
to "pop tho question," and do it with
out blushing or stammering. Now is
your opportunity. Troy (X. Y.) Times.
ADOPTED CHILDREN.
How to Mnke Adoptions According to All
tlm I'lirms of Law,
The lovo of children is so much a part
of our natural instincts that it leads
many childless parents to adopt as their
own some child, the lovo of which they
hope shall satisfy tlio needs of their na
ture in this regard. They so often do
this by niero word of mouth and tho
taking home of the little one that It is
well to know that, unless tho adoption
is made formally and by proscribed le
gal steps, they aro only making future
sorrow and vexation for thenisvos in
stead of tlio happiness thoy have airsiei
patod. For at some futuro time, when
it may havo become convenient, or do
sirablc. tho former owners or guardians
of the child may claim it and take it
aw ay, though they should tear out the
new parent's heartstrings with it. It is
titling, then, in order that there shall
bo no trouble by and by, that tho adop
tion of the child, w hen made, shall be
made according to all tho forms of law.
These require the petition to the court
of both tho husband and wife desiring
to adopt, accompanied by tho written
consent of the child's parents or other
guardians, or, in tho absence of such
persons, of some ono appointed by tho
court to represent tliom. When tills
petition has boon granted, and the
adoption has been sanctioned by tlio
court, it can not bo undone, and the
child is, to all the intents ami purposes
of law, the child of its adopting father
and mother, and can inherit from or
through thom every thing that U not
entailed upon dosoondnnvs by blood.
Any appeal from the sanction of thtt
court must lid made within n your, or
otherwise it is usolesa. Harper's Jlttzar.
AN INGENIOUS DEVICE.
Tlie Inrentlun of CHlifnrnln I'liyslclan fnt
ThIcIiict Chloroform.
Ono of the most peculiar cases is thai
of a doctor who was formerly one oi
tlio finest practitioners of tlio West
Coining from an excellent family, pos
sessed of largo wealth, ho received a
liberal education, and, deciding to
become a physician, studied at ono ol
the best Eastern colleges, and gradu
ated with unusual honors. Many year?
ago he camo to San Francisco, and
after having been established here fot
a short time began to acquire a fine
practice. In a few years lie had among
his patients some of the most promi
nent and wealth men of the city. He
had occasion to use a largo quantity ol
chloroform in his treatment, and when
lie began to bo troubled with insomnia,
tho result of repeated attacks of neu
ralgia, he also turned to the anicsthctic
for relief. But tho remedy subse
quently proved to be worse than the
disease, for with repeated applications
he found that ho was unable to discon
tinue its use, and soon became a con
firmed user of the drug. He would
frequently return to bed during tin?
early part of the day for the purpose
of enjoying the drug, and not a night
passed that lie did not avail himself ol
its sleep-producing powers. Tlio cun
ning of an insane mind began to devisi!
means to add to the enjoyment of the
body, and finally evolved an idea which
must bo admitted to bo certainly orig
inal. Obtaining a long rubber tube, which
could bo easily stretched, ho attached
firmly to tho ceiling at a spot which
would be directly over his head when
in bed. To the other end ho fastened
a medium sizeil sponge. After getting
into bed he would pour throe or four
ounces of chloroform over the sponge,
often using half :, pound during the
night, and then pulling it down to his
face would hold it to his nostrils until
unconsciousness ensued. When his
hand fell to ids side, the tension on the
rubber tube being relaxed, the sponge
naturally flew upwards, leaving the
victim to continue Ids sleep without tlm
possibility of receiving an overdose.
If he awoke duVng the night the
operation would be repeated. "It was
a great scheme," to use a slang phrase,
but it is not known if the doctor ever
applied for a patent on tlio invention.
It is possible, however, that the prac
tice continued until ho had been a
user of tho drug for some time, and so
continued until lie had merely patients
enough to cnablo him to preserve a
proper appearance of respectability.
Although practically a slave to tho drug
for years, it is said, but with what
truth can not be readily ascertained,
that of late ho lias begun to see the
handwriting on the wall, and realizing
what the end must be unless tho habit
is abandoned now uses tho drug to but
a small extent. San Francisco Chron
icle. m
TRUTH OF WEATHER-LORE.
The Kovcronco for Tnitlltlon Kutertnlned
by the Average Mortal.
Tho persistent survival of weather
lore in these days of intellectual eman
cipation is not at all remarkable when
wo consider the extent to which tho
vulgar sayings embody real truths. A
,few years ago Messrs. Abercroniby and
Marriott embarked on an extremely
interesting inquiry with a view to de
termine, by actual comparison, how far
the popular proverbs express relations,
or sequences, which the results of me
teorological science show to bo real.
Tho investigation proved that some
thing like a hundred of the moro popu
lar savings are, under ordinary con
ditions, trustworthy. Such being tlio
case, we need not bo surprised that
simple country folk prefor familiar
couplets to all the "isobars," "cy
clones," and "synchronous charts," in
tho world. If "hills clear, rain near,"
means thosamo as "tlio presence of a
wedge-shaped area of high pressure,
accompanied by great atmospheric
visibility, is likely to bo followed by
tho advance of a disturbance with
rain and southerly winds," which
for nil practical purposes it does,
tho preference is justified on tlio niero
ground of breath economy. Tho thir-ty-ono
words demanded by science
stand no ehance against four.
But it is unfortunato that, along
with tlio limited number of folk-sayings
founded on truth, there has sur
vived a very largo number founded on
tho grossest error. These latter havo
borrowed credence and respect from
tho proved credibility of the others,
and apparently they are all destined
to dnk or swim together. Hammer as
wo will at certain favorite proverbs
which wo know to bo based upon error,
it is all in vain. Tlio reverence for
tradition is too much for us. And of
nil the superstitions, pure and simple,
which defy our attempts at destruction,
tho most invulnerable aro those ascrib
ing certain effects to the inlluence of
tho moon. John West wood Oljver, in
Popular Science Monthly.
Senator Bate, of Tennessee, was a
Confederate officer, and one of his
peculiarities is the carrying of an un
lighted cigar in his mouth. It is re
lated of him that he was standing on a
Held of battle in conversation with his
brother, and as ho was in tlio net of
lighting .i cigar Ids bro'hor fell dead at
his feet, picked off by a Federal sharp
shooter. Since that time it is said that
General Bato has never lighted a cigar.
Mrs. Mulligan, pension ngont nt
Chicago, reports 86,609 pensioners on
her rolls, of whloh number two are
widows of soldiers, of the revolution,
thirty-live survivors of the war f 1812
and -to'-' widows of veterans of that war
Last year she dispersed uearly J7.000,-000.
AN AUTOGRAPH MAR I.
Vntue at the Slcimturp if a Numtier of
J'Hinom Mm mid Wiiinen,
One of tlio new fads of tho season is
the collection of autograph letters from
living men and women. Ono day this
week a Broadway shopkeeper showed
me an odd collection and told mo the'
prices that ho hoped to get for oaeli
letter. One from Browning, the poc
is marked $l..r)0. A humorous letter to
President Garfield, signed Mark Twain,
is held at So. Tlio great humorist
says:
'It seems to mo that it is better to
havo a good man's flattering estimate
of my inlluence and keep it than to
fool it away with trying to get him ail
office."
A brief note signed by Wilkio Col
lins, tho novelist, is held at $1.50.
Another from Sir Charles Dilko. tho
English statesman, whoso escapades
caustPl such a sensation a year or more
ago, is valued at $1. Ono from General
John C. Fromont, the pathfinder, and
the first candidate of tlio Republican
party for President, is ticketed $2.75.
An autograph verse and siguaturo bv
Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes is $2.25.
A short letter written by eloquent Bob
Ingeisoll is not valued very highly. It
may be purchased for 75 cents. One
from the Marqui.s of Lor no, ex-Governor-General
of Canada, may bo had
for $l.7o. Justin McCarthy's auto
graph is valued at the same figure.
John Buskin's is more highly prized.
1: is held at $ 1.50. Clark Kussell, the
author of so many weird tales of tlio
sea, has a name of some pecuniary
moment. It is marked $2.50. A scrap
of paper signed by General W. T.
Sherman will bo sold for $5. A letter
of Spurgeon. the famous English di
vine, in which he mentions the Tory
pres is "bullying mo very badly,"
may bo had for $1.2,). A letter from
Charles Algernon Swinburne, tho poet,
apologizing for his illegible handwtit
ing, is valued at$l. One from Sir
Arthur Sullivan, of operatic fame, may
be had for $2.75. Another from Alma
Tadema, the dis iuguisiied English
artist, is held at SI. 75. A badly writ
ten note from Edmund Yates, tho En
glish j nirnalist, is quoted at $1.25.
The signature of Albani, th" sweet sin
ger, may bo had for $4.50. Horatio
Alger, Jr., the writer of boys' books,
is not so high priced His may bo had
for 50 cents. Lawrenco Barrett, tho ac
tor, can get SI for his own signature;
George Bancroft, the historian, SI;
James Gillespie Blaine, $1.25; Benja
min F. Butler, 50 cents: George
William Curtis, 25 cents; Samuel Sun
set Cox, tho witty member of the House,
50 cents; James Freeman Clark, tlio
eminent Boston divine, $1; Simon
Cameron, tlio Nestor of Keystone State
politics, 75 cents; Georgo W. Cliilds,
Editor of the Philadelphia Ledger, 50
cents, and the signature of his old
enemy. Chas. A. Dana. Editor of tho
Now York Sun, at the same figure;
Roso Eytinge, tlio actress, 50 cents;
Edison, tho Menlo Park wizard, 50
cents; Emily Faithful, tlio English
philanthropist and writer, $1.25; Cyrus
W. Field. $1; Mary J. Holmes, the
novelist, 50 cents; ex-President Hayon,
50 cents; Joel Chandler Harris, "Uncle
Renins," 50 cents; James Russell
Lowell, $1.50; Modjeska, tho actress,
50 cents; Levi P. Morten, cx-Ministcr
to France, only 25 cents; Louise
Chandler Moulton, the Boston writ'?
75 conts, Bill Nye, 50 cents, Edward E.
Rice, the theatrical manager, 25 cents,
and Stuart Robson. the comedian 75'
cents; a poem by Stednian, $6: a signa
ture by Carl Scliurz. 50 cents: one by
John Sherman, 75 cents; Richard A.
Proctor, tho astronomer, $1.25; and
Zola, tlio French novelist, S6.50. Three
signatures by people of tho stage may
be had for 50 cents; they aro Fanny
Davenport, Mary Anderson and Wil
son Barrett. Senator Evarts, Roseou
Conkling, ex-Senator Mahono, Senator
Chandler, Fred Douglass, Speaker Car
lilse, Stove Dorsey, Samuel J. Randall
and Senator Vest for 25 cents each.
Tho most costly siguaturo is tliat ol
Ouida, tho novelist. $7.50, and tho
clioapest Boston's only Mike Kelly, the
ball tosor. 10 couts. i.V. Y. Cor. St.
Louis Globe-Democrat.
An Accommodating Climate.
"Pretty cold out your way, winters,
isn't it? Mercury twenty below, and
all that sort of thing?"
"Why, yes," said tho Minneapolis
num. "it is kind o' cold; but then tho
fact is, tlio cold sort o' strikes right in
and takes hold, and stays there; and
you really aren't conscious of it till it
bsgins to thaw out of your system in
the spring. And then llio weather 's
warm, and you can stand it," Puck.
The colored school atHawkinsville,
Ga.. to bo known as tho Dempsey
Clarke Institute, was named . after
Dotnpsev Clarke, who years ago was
sold as a slave on tho block by the
sheriff at Hawkinsville. Ho ran away
from his new master, took to tlio
swamps, and for years lived as a runa
way slave. Ho was at length captured
by dogs, but again ran away. His
owner Bold him while yet in tho'woods.
Dempsjy was pleased with his now
owner, and bccaino ids most trusty
servant. After tlio war ho became a
landowner, prospered, and is now ono
of the most prominent planters of
Houston County, ami his liberal gifts
have resulted in tho new school.
A rubber ball, two inches smaller
than the pipe, was placed in one ond of
a new natural gas main in MoKeosport,
and live pounds pressure suddenly
turned on. The ball turned several
sharp corners, pnsiod through two T
joints up six ftjut u thii top of the regu
Utor mm landed at Iho other end of
uio main, a mile distant, in foriy-livo
seconds, actual time.