.HELEN LAKEMAN;
OR,
The Story of a Young Girl's Strug
gle With Adversity. 1
BY JOHN B. MUSICK.
Aumou of "Tine Hanker of Bedford,"
" WALTKIl BllOWHriEU)," ETC
Copyright, isse, by A. X. Kellogg Xeitipaper Co.
rant, as ii to risk what it all meant.
Melon was silent stunned although
she had been all morning preparing for
the blow. The sheriff carefully folded
the document and thrust it into his side
pocket, and sat in silence, as though
he hardly know what to do next.
Helen at last turned her awfully white
face upon him. Ho shrank like a guilty
person Injforo that stony gaze. Next
she turned her face upon Judge Arnold,
who stood in the doorway. Arnold
struggled with all the power ho pos
sessed to meet her stare, but was com
pelled to cower before the gaze of in
jured innocence. At length her lips
moved, and her voice was so hollow as
to startle Arnold.
"Do you believe that I am guilty of
that charge?" she asked.
Arnold was for a moment confused.
He was afraid to risk his voice to say
he did, lest his tongue might fail to
speak, and yet he dare not say he be
lieved her innocent. He had sworn
out the warrant and must believe what
it stated.
"I have no conversation for you,"
lie said, elevating his chin in the air,
-"you are now in the sheriff's hands,
and vnur ease is beyond my control."
""WHY DON'T YOU TAKU HEK AWAY?"
"Oh, God, that I had only kept boyond
your control !" cried Helen, breaking
down at last and sobbing violently.
"To be robbed by you of our home, and
every thing that would have made
myself and this poor atllicted child
comfortable, and then becanse I asked
shelter for one night under your roof,
to have yourself or your family seek my
ruin in this way oh, God, help me !
ere I get beyond the power of forgiv
ing." With a last wail, Helen threw
herself forward and bowed her head
upon a table near by.
"Don't cry, sister, don't," sobbed the
'little cripple, while the tears rolled
down his cheeks, "they shan't hurt
you. God won't let 'em hurt you."
The sheriff, a frown on Ins brow, for
this was a perplexing case, arose and
began walking the kitchen lloor. Ho
was troubled, but, like a brave official,
resolved to do his duty. Mr. Arnold
stood patiently at the door. Ho had
just caught sight of his wife, who stood
at tho door of the dining room. She
was, perhaps, tho most hard-hearted
of any, and yet weak and unable to
liear with calmness any great display
of feeling, Mrs. Arnold's face was
high in tho air, but greatly agitated.
Mr. Arnold was impatient to have
this "scene," as lie called it, over with.
"I say, Belohor," lie said, "why don't
you take her on and stop that bawling;
J swear I don't want such an uproar in
my house."
"But, Judge," said tho sheriff, re
spectfully, for he seemed aware. of tho
fact that his re-election depended, in a
great measure, upon tho efforts of the
man before him. "what am I to do with
the child? I can't put it in prison."
"Send it to tho poor-house."
"Humph! I can't do that without an
order from tho court," said the sheriff,
with a frown.
"I could."
"Well, I can not," said tho puzzled
sheriff. "Tho court will have to de
clare it a pauper first.
"Well, then leave tho child here with
mo; I can tako it there, and Bill Jones
will keep it for mo until tho court sets.
He owes his position as proprietor of
tho poor-houso to me."
"Yos.you can probably manage it that
way. The child is siok."
"Yes, but not dangerous.
"I kind o'hato to part them."
"O poh ! they'll forget each other in
les than three days. They are more
brute than human, with no feeling save
that of hunger, cold or heat, just as any
other animal."
Was James Arnold speaking his real
opinion ? Certainly not, though tliero
aro many others of Ids like who advanco
tho same argumont. Oh, if it should
only bo carried home, that ho might
feel tho bitter pangs of tearing heart
strings asunder, would ho not turn
missionary for tho causo of tho poor,
depressed, and oft times wronged crim
inals P
"Tako her away, Belcher, tako her
away at once," said Judgo Arnold, his
chin so ldgh that mercy was over
looked. "Well, but Judge, this is a matter I'd
not like to bo hasty in; I can hardly
"bring myself to tear that girl from her
brother. Good Heavens! if she should
Tjo innocent aftor all."
"Do you think I am a fool and a per
jurer?"" oriod Arnold, angrily.
"No, no," answorod tho sheriff, apol
ogotieally, "I did not know but what
thoro might bo a mistake."
"Well, sir, I think thoro is no mistake
about it, unloss you make oue In not
1 uoing your duty. '
I think I will do my duty as an
official, Judge, if I know it," said
j Belcher, hotly.
I "It is very clear; I don't see how you
j can help seeing it."
i The utter heartlessness of Arnold
vexed the sheriff, hut he was forced to
i perform his duty as an officer, painful
j as it might be.
He went up to tho girl, who, know
ing what was coming, had been sehool
. ing herself to recover her self-pos-.es-'
sion, and said:
1 "Come, Miss Helen, get ready; I
must tako you to Newton."
j "Can my little brother go?" she
asked, pleadingly. "Ho is so small, so
I iutirni, and flo fond of me that he can
t hardly live without my care."
"Oh, lie will be treated with the most
i tender care, I assure vou," said the
sheriff, "I can not take him to-day, but
1 hope you may soon return."
"Will you answer me a question or
two?" asked Helen, now almost calm
again.
"Yes."
"What will be done with me?"
"1 will take vou to Newton."
What then?"
"You will be taken before the magis
trate, Squire Bluffers."
"Well, what then? I know little of
law and its processes."
"Well, you will be arraigned and your
! case set for trial. If vou can give bond
you can return here or go wherever
j you please; but if you fail" then the
i sheriff failed, ho found it almost im
possible to inform that poor, proud
spirited girl of the result of a failure.
But she was determined to know the
worst.
What if I fail?" she asked.
Committed," was tho answer.
"Do you mean sent to jail?"
I Tho sheriff nodded.
The prospect of entering a jail for
' ono moment is horrible. To forever
I blight the fair name of which she was
J m proud; that name which neither her
parents or any of her ancestors had al-
towcu a nioi upon, aim now to macKcu
it as a criminal. We can scarcely un
derstand the feelings of Helen at that
moment. She imagined herself in
after years, even if she was proved in
nocent, a blackened, blighted creature,
snunneu by all anil pointed to as a
thief.
Notwithstanding all this, Helen was
gloriously conscious of her own inno
cence. She had done no wrong, and
the certainty of bad consequences to
her little brother, should their parting
l)e violent, made her assume a cheer
fulness she was far from feeling. She
donned her hat and put a light shawl
about her shoulders, then, kissing her
little crippled brother, said :
"Little Amos must be a good boy
until siiter conies back. 1 am going to
Newton and hope to come back soon.
Do not bo afraid, little darling, God
will watch over and care for you while
am gone."
The little fellow was silent, but large
tears rolled down his pale cheeks.
Helen had readied the kitchen door,
vhen a sudden impulsu seized her : she
ran back to the child and clasped him
in her arms for the last time. But sh
did not weep, those great silent tears
of the child told how he was affected,
and she dared not lot him know hei
own feelings.
"That's all for effect," said Arnold,
haughtily, sis she passed out at tho dooi
with tho sheriff at her side.
The farmer sent his hired man,
John, with tho rockaway to take their
to the village of Newton. Helen bore
up until they were on the road, and
then, wringing her hands, sho cried :
"Oh, farewell, farewell, my pool
unfortunate little brother, I know 1
will never see you again."
CHAl'TUK XII.
T.rrri.E amos at thk rooa-nonsE.
Little Amos witnessed tho departure
of his sister in silence. Mrs. Arnold,
with her face convulsed with strange
emotions, came into the kitchen, but
sho dare not speak. The silent griol
dropping in great tears from those blue
eyes was enough to awe her. The child
began to sob timidly. He was afraid
to make any outcry.
Mrs. Arnold and hor daughter wore
now busying themselves with preparing
dinner and grumbling that Maggio had
gone away. The ehild-sat by tho win
dow in his chair, unnoticed. His
faeo was Hushed and palo by turns.
His breathing was short and quick, and
it was evident that tho soaking rain oi
tho day before had brought on a cold,
which might prove dangerous. But
no ono noticed him. Tho dinner was
prepared almost in silence, with an
occasional spell of grumbling on the
part of Mrs. Arnold. When tho meal
was ready the family gathered about
the table, giving no thought to little
Amos. Poor child ho had no appe
tite for dinner, and could have eaten
but little had it been offered to him.
When dinner was over, tiio dogs had
been fed and a few nice tid-bits given
to tho cat, and crumbs gathered up for
the pig, Mrs. Arnold thought it would
bo well to soo if "that child" wanted
any thing. Sho found him gazing ab
stractedly from the window, and hi
littlo face wonderfully white just now.
"Don't you want nothin' to eat?"
asked Mrs. Arnold, standing by the
boy, her head high in tho air.
"If you please, ma'am," said the
child, in a low frightened tone.
She then wheeled hU ohair about to
a kitohon table, and placed a plate be
foro him, on which were some potatoes,
bread, and cold bulled moat. The little
follow took a potato and nibbled the
end of it, then took a bite or two of
broad but Ids appoUte was gone. H.
seamed sluicing, sinking down to
donth.
"I dou't sec why you don't cet rid of
t tu.it brat, said llailie to tier taunt,
whom she met in the sitting-room.
"I will as soon as the hired man
comes back with the rockaway," was
the answ? r.
The hired man oame back about the
middle of the afternoon, and Judge
Arnold went into tho kitchen where
the boy was.
"Come, Amos," he said, in tones
intended to be cheerful, "we must go."
"Where ?" asked the boy, fixing his
large, wondering eyes ujwn the man.
"To Bill Jones', our friend, my boy,
who keeps all such boys as you."
"All such boys as you !" Need Judge
Arnold have insulted the poor atllicted
child? Were not his sufferings great
enough without further wounding his
fcvlings? But the feelings of the boy
were deadened by pain and suffering.
We can be tortured until the nerves
become destroyed and senseless to pain,
and the bewildered child was in that
condition. The boy, complaining of
his back, which had been hurt by his
fall in the morning, got from the chair.
Placing his hands upon his knees, he
hobbled along to his crutches, which
stood against the wall. Taking them
under his arms, he found his little faded
cap and put it on his head.
"There is a shawl they brought,"
said Mrs. Arnold.
"But it around him," commanded
Judge Arnold.
The woman obeyed, trembling vio
lently, she could not tell why.
"Now, father, the carpet bag, take
that along."
Arnold seized the plain old carpet
bag containing a few clothes for the
child, as though it were a contemptible
thing, and then, followed by the little
cripple, left the house.
"Come on, come on!" said the impa
tient man at tho gate, holding it open
for the child, who was slowly and pain
fully coming toward it; "you can go
faster than that, and I know it."
The poor little fellow tried to increase
his speed, and stumbling, fell. He ut
tered a cry of pain, and Mr. Arnold,
with an oath, commanded John to carry
him to the carriage.
The kind-hearted John took up the
little beggar for was he not a beggar
now? and carrying him to the vcliicle
placed him in as comfortably as he
could. The child bore his suffering
with scarcely a murmur.
As James Arnold sat in his easy car
riage, which was whirling away toward
the poor-house, he had no thought for the
little occupant. He did not see tho an
gelic expression of that sweet little
face, or appreciate his great trust in an
Almighty Father. Amos Lakcman was
young, not to exceed six years of age,
and no larger than many children at
four, yet he was educated in misery far
beyond his years. Ho was always a
cripple, possessing that sweet, patient
disposition which God so frequently
.jives the unfortunate. Ho had always
'jren loved by every one who knew him,
hough none took siitliciont interest in
lis welfare to provide a good home for
lim. Charitable Institutions were not
aiuwu on Sandy Fork unless one
meant the poor-housr, and it was no
charity to bo sent there.
The carriage rolled up to tho door of
tho poor-house, which was simply a
row of long, miserable buildings, some
of logs and some of frame, while one
for the hopelessly insane was made of
stone. The proprietor, a larcx. brutal
looking man, with unconibed h'air, com
ing out bare-headed, and in his shirt
sleeves, his hands in his pockets and
yawning lazily, said:
"Hello, Jud'ge, that you? Well, who
in the name o' tarnation ye got there,
anyway?"
"A now charge."
"Why, there's no court."
THK l'OOK-HOUSK KSKl'EIt AND THE
NEW CIIAKOK.
"That makes no difference, Bill:' I'll
make it nil right when court does set."
"Wall, of yo say it's all right, Judgo,
I'll tako hint; ye orter know."
"I know tliis c:ise will bo all right,
Bill. Take this boy and I will have you
fixed up as soon as county court sets."
John, the hired hand, offered to
carry the little cripple in.
"Can't ho walk?" asked Bill Jones.
"Not very well," answered John.
"Ho can walk a great deal better
than he pretends," said Arnold, in his
merciless manner.
"Wall, Til bring him out o' his lazi
ness," chuckled Bill Jones. "I'll find
work for him to do. He kin pick up
chips, or weed tho onion beds."
John, who had more humanity in his
soul than either of h- superiors, took
the child in his arms.
"Oh, yu'as I ye cit tako 1dm to that
second log house an' set 'lrn Sown there
sum'ars."
Littlo Amos was carried In tho strong
arms of tho kind-hearted John to the
house indicated. The room into which
he nick boy was ushered was miserable,
indeed; the floor was unoarpetud, tho
walls of bare logs were bluok with
smoke, tho cracks between the logs had
boon olosud up with filthy rags, and at
the roar of the room wore two uiitjuroblo
cojrrmuiso.J
CHINESE GAMBLERS,
imin or tho OutlanilMli 8npertltloin Kn
tertalneil by Them.
Chinese gamblers aro moro superfl
uous than tho mass of their country-
uhmi. All colors, save white, are care
ully avoided by tho owners in the
wall 4 and decorations of their gani-bling-rooms.
White, tho color of
mourning and of tho robes worn by
the spirits of tho dead, always consid
ered inauspicious, is associated with
the idoa of losing money, and is be
lieved to bring bad fortune to their
patrons, with corresponding gains to
themselves. Even tho inscriptions to
tho tutelary god aro always written
upon whito paper, and whito candles
aro burned before his shrine instead of
tho red ones ordinarily used. Gam
blers on tho way to play fan tan will
turn back if any ono jostles them or they
happen to come in contact with any ob
struction. If a player's h ml encoun
ters another's as ho lays his stako on
tho table lie will not put his money on
tho number toward which ho was
reaching. Gamblers refrain from rend
ing books before pi tying, ami books
are not regarded with favor in gam
bling houses from tho word "Sho"
book sounding like "She" to lose
money. All inauspicious words are
avoided. Thus the almanac. "Hung
she," is always called "(Jut sing."
through unwillingness to utter the om
inous "She." This book is of daily use
among gambler, for in its calendar of
lucky and unlucky days there is special
mention of the days favorable for play
ing, and, besides, it always contains a
dream-book, and they attach much im
portance to the interpretation of
dreams.
Many devices aro rosorted to In or
der to divine tho winning numbers in
tho boo hop b u. Some players dot the
tickets at random, with tho eyes clos
ed; others outline with tho dots an aus
picious charac or, or mark such char
acters as, when read in succession, will
form a happy sentence. A young child
or a stranger is often asked to mark
tickets. At tim.w th. player will visit
some shr.no, or "Kwan to" tho god
of war the divinity generally wor
shiped by the Chinese in America,
ami burn candles and ineonso and mock
money before his pictures, knoel and
throw the divining sticks.a box of which
containing eighty sticks, marked with
the characters of the lottery-ticket, s is
usually kept at tho shrine for tho use of
gamblers. As many sticks aro allowed to
fall as tho gambler desires to play
numbers. Tho gamblers do much to
keep alivo the traditions and religious
ceremonies of their nativo country. The
winner of a largo sum of money fre
quently contributes liberally to tho
support of the local shrino, and sub
scription books for tho erection
and maintenance of tho templos in San
Francisco, and oven in China, may he
seen in the shops connected with the
gambling houses in Eastorn American
cities. Tho shrino in Philadelphia, to
which many of tho rosidont Chinamen
resort at tho season of tho Now Year,
was built by a man who won $500 in
tho boo hop bu, and hoped by it to pro
pitiate the god to whom ho attributed
his good fortune.
Among tho questions askod at the
New Year's pilgrimage to tho toinplo,
is whether the worshiper will bo fortu
nate at play during tho yoar. Tho
worship of "Kwan to" by tho gamblers
is rogarded as presumptuous by tho
moro intelligent, as by them it is not
thought lie looks with favor upon ille
gal practices. One of tho lowor gotls is
believed to bo a moro appropriate ob
ject for their adoration, and in tho fan
tan cellars a tablot is invariably erect
ed to the lord of tho land, tho tutelary
spirit, who is supposed to rulo the
household ghosts, and whoso worship,
no doubt, shares an antiquity as groat
as tho institution of tho game itself.
N. Y. Times.
THE ACTUATING MOTIVE.
Why 1'eoplo IMiikn Ioprut I'flTorts to
Keep Up Appi'uriiiicnu.
Sonio hypocrisy thoro may bo in
keeping up appearances. Tho last sac
rifices may bo made to keep up the par
lor with a show of well-doing, while
tho kitchen may bo a pig-pen. A taste
ful, rather expensive, cloak or gown
may hide unclean nnd tattered cloth
ing beneath. An improvident family
manages to maintain a carriago with
some show before tho community,
while the debts of the family would
moro than oat up its possessions ii
some way woio not dovised to evade
tho sheriff. Grocors and other more-limits
aro laid under contribution to
help maintain families beyond their
actual means, Tho man who piles up
lire-wood will tako pains to place the
sticks with the sawed edges outward,
Hint tho tho front surface of tho pile
may appear wed.
This may all bo hypocrisy, in great
or small degree; hut, after all, it menus
something deeper. People do not lovo
to bo hypocrites, unless wo except the
few Uriah Heops. Thoro is no amuse
ment in deceiving every body but your
self for the sake of deceit alone. Be
neath all this are more ultimato ac
uating motives. Respectability is aim
ed at, because it is n good thing; well
doing is nssumed because it la desira
ble. The handsomest garment it
placed in eight because beauty is one
of the great additions to modern life.
"Assumo a virtue if you havo it not,"
said Hamlet. So, in our age, when
woll-doing is not universal, when
ologanoo and boauty and luxury arc
not common to nil, llioir ownership if
protended; and they will rontiono to bi
assumed until that day when we shall
all give up tho pursuit of ideals, or be
honestly satisfied with our efforts to af
taJjUhuu'. Good UuuMkeeiHnijt
COFFEE AND TEA.
umrtictWo Informtttlnii 1'urnUlioit ty Dr.
Mimrleo I). Chirk.
Tho essential principle of cof
co is tho alkaloid caffeine, but
iliero is nlso developed during
the roasting a volatilo oil oaf
feone. The effects of tho two on tho
Irinker are different in timo and cliar
icter. Caffeone is speedier and moro
transient than caffeine. It reduces tho
irterial tension, and thus allows a freer
tlow of blood and a moro rapid action
jf the heart. Hence it stimulates the
brain, renders tho mind clear and pro
motes wakefulness.
Caffeine, on tho other hand, slows tho
heart, and exponds Its main force on
the spinal cord. To this fact is due tho
diakiug hand of the inveterate eolfee
Irinker to which wo may add tho
marked tremor which, after a few
hours, sometimes follows a copious
lrauirht when the stomach is empty.
Hut thoro is another effect of the caf
feine: it checks the too rapid consump
tion of nitrogenous matter in tho sys
,cm, and thus, while not nutritious in
itself, it possesses an indirect nutritivo
value. This, anil its mildly stiinulat
ng character, have made it the chosen
Irink for breakfast, and a staple sup
nly for the army and navy. Five liiin
Ired million pounds of eolfeo were im
ported into the United States last year.
To tho chemist, entfoo and tea aro
much the same thing. Their two al
kaloids ealfelno and theine aro in
listinguisliablo tho one from the other.
Kach also contains a volatile oil. Tho
litfereneo to our taste is doubtless duo
,o subtle qualities which the chemist is
unable to detect. While, however cof
fee checks waste, and is a virtual food,
die same thing can not bo said of tea,
the specific effect of which is to quickon
esplration and tho vital functions gen
erally. Both these drinks are liablo to dan
gerous abuse, but those who over-in-lnlge
in coffee aro fow compared with
those who drink tea to excess. In both
ases the injurious effect is due as much
to the volatile oil as to alkaloids. "It
is an every-day oxperlonco in tho out
patient departments of tho largo hos
)itals for sufferers to apply for the ro
ief of symptoms reasonably attrib
uted to tho abuse of tea. Either
rnm excess of ton, or from some
tlier reason, sho loses hor appetite,
ind gradually conies to loathe food. In
iliis extremity sho seeks solaco in the
up, and thus increases tho condition
die is alroady bewailing. Sho applies
for medical aid, and, it is needless to
jay. usually scorns the suggestion to
jo without tea.
Nor is tills abuso confined to the
worer elassos. Probably ovory one
lumbers among his friends women who
ire actual slaves to tho tea habit, and
who would find toa as hard to forsake
is men find tobacco. It is not unlikely
hat the functional cardalo disordor.
)fteu spoken of as tho "tobacco heart,"
luo to nervous dorangoniont, and ae
iccompaniod by palpitation and pain
n tho cardaie region, is moro often
luo to toa than tobacco. Popular Sei
ince News.
WINTER WOOD-LORE.
Tho Curlou Itororil of Scent Itovealvil to
tho Intultli;iMit lir.
Of all the foats common to hunting
ife and woodcraft, none sooms to .me
mlf so wonderful as tracking or trail
ng. As practiced by mini, tracking
is wonderful enough; but far more
marvelous is tho power by which a dog
r fox can follow its proy at full speed,
'.iiiiled only by seont, without erring
sr being led astray.
To us, the word scent has but little
meaning; it is tho name of a power
with which man is, comparatively, al
most unendowed. Wo go into tho
woods nnd soo nothing but a loaf
strowon ground, thinly scattorod over
with herbs and thickly planted with
trees; wo soo no quadruped, and find
no sign of any, perhaps, savo the far
away chatter of a squirrel. But our
tlog, merrily careering about, is pos
sessed witii a superior power. At
every moment of his course ho is gath
ering facts, and reading a wonderful
record of tho past, tho present nnd
oven the future "Here," says his un
seen guide, "is whero a door passed
a minute ago," or "an hour ago;"
"this was the course of a fox a wook
ago;" "that wnstho direction in which
a rabbit How by a fow minutes ago, and.
oho! there w. s a weasol aftor him.
Such is the curious record of scent,
revonled to the dog hut hidden from
tho man, and oven inexplicable to him;
for though wo havo a thoprotical
knowledge of tho subject, it is too Im
perfect to mako us fully understand
that not only has every kind of animal,
but each individual animal, its own
peculiar scout. Thus, tho dog can dis
tinguish not only the bucks, does and
fawns of the deer tribe, but can pick
out of a dozen the track of the particu
lar buck ho Is following, and never
leave or loso it. Moreover, lie can tell
by the scout which way tho animal is
going, and ho is never known to run
backward on a trail. Now, whou wo
compare tills wonderful power with
our own feeble souse of smell, we will
be ready to admit that it is a faculty of
which man, comparatively, has little.
Let us suppose Unt you wore to
awake some fine morning and find that,
as in the old fairy talc.s, a mighty ge
nius had conferred on you a now and
wonderful faculty, that enabled you to
go forth and road the running records
with even greater accuracy and ease
than can tho hound what a marvel it
would be, and how Intensely interest
ing Its exorcise to a lover of Nature!
And yet this very miracle is what actu
ally takes place every year in our
northern country. The grout genius
Is old Boreas, and the means by which
ho conform the new power is tho llrt
fall of hiiou'. i'rtcH JS. Thompson, in
SU NicJtolau
A MODERN WONDER.
Fnnntroko CntMcil by Aernclftn l'rodacer
hy hii Klectrlo llMttery. j
A highly intcrestinz and suggestive
iiccountof what may ho called sunstroke
by electricity was recently printed. At.
the Creuzot foundry in Franco an elec
tric furnace is used, in which the light
equals that of 100,000 candles, and the
heat is such that steel molts like butter
in a few seconds. Now people stand
ing about at a distance of a few yards
feel no heat, a thermometer five yard
away doos not indicate much increaso
of temperature. Yet a subtle influence
is at work, and a spectator who re
mains for an hour or two is said to ex
perience "a burning sensation, with
more or less pain in the neck, taeo and
forehead, the skin at the same timo as
suming a coppery red tint. Later
symptoms aro headache and sleepless
ness. Afterwards the skin of tho faca
gradually peals off in broad flakes,
while the complexion is left of a fino
brick color." The symptoms aro thoso
of continued exposure to hot, bright
sunlight. In extreme cases they aro
those of sunstroke, though tho only
apparent agont has been intense light.
As to this it must be remembered
that the quality of radiant heat
is to pass through tho air with
out appreciably risiuc its tcmneraturo.
When it meets a calorific body that
body is heated, as illustrated in a room
warmed by a glowing fire. Tho air may
not bo warmer than fifty degrees, while
tho furniture is warm to the touch, yet
no seno of chilliness is experienced,
because tho body and its clothes have
the property of absorbing the heat
thrown out from the lire. In tho same
way tho intense heat of tho electrio
focus may exert its influence at a dis
tance. The value of tho observation,
if it is correctly reported, lies in its sug
gestion as to tho way in which- sun--troko
of tho indicated type is produced.
It suggests, for instance, that the whole
matter may bo a question of tho rapid
ity of the vibrations originated by the
luminous body, whether thoso that aro
known under the naino of light, or those
slower ones that are described by tho
word heat. Molecular changes in tho
system duo to heat, -w light, or both,
produce in sonio way not yet. definitely
explained, the affection known as sun
stroke. Whatever throws light on the
conditions or nature of the change
helps to clear up a very obscure and
puzzling subject, specially related to
tho functions of the nervous system
and bearing at the same time on tlia
mechanics of etlierial vibrations. Heat,
light and chemical effect aro all con
nected, and very possibly all involved
in this particular problem. It offers
magnificent possibilities for student,
who have courage and patience to at
tack it. Hartford Couranl.
STRANGE FETICHES.
Soiiin or TlniKO t'lirriithnil nml Wornlilpcit
by the C'onco Nrerop.
Every Congo negro carries a M'kissi
upon himself, and thoro may bo thou
sands of kinds of them that escape tho
eyes of the whito man. Tho N'ganga.
or medicine man, is usually the fabri
cant of tho fetich, and whatever he
finds good to impose upon his simple
minded, credulous brethren for a high
price, sewed up in cloth or leather or
inclosed in a goat's horn, is doubly
valuable in the eyes of its now posses
sor because ho believes that his M'kisst
stands in a personal relation to him
self, and ho can not bo induced to give
it up to a whito man for any price.
Among thoso amulets are dried
snakos' and lizards' heads, liltlo piece
of skin, feathers of certain birds and
parts of known poison plants. The oyo
teeth of leopards aro an exceedingly
valuable fetich on the Kroo coasts, and
it is easy to buy with thorn articlos of
vastly more real value, liko ivory rings,
etc.
Tho Kabinda negroes, woar a littlo
brown shell, very much liko our Lin
meus, on their necks., Tho shells aro
sealed with wax, and aro made, per
haps, vessels containing magic medi
cines. The largo snail shells found in.
tho Cassava or manioc fields on tho
Kullu Niadl nro also M'kissi, und
sot In tho Holds by tho women,
who till thom to protect tho planta
tions. Ono of the chiefs in tho Upper
Kullu Niadl, in N'kttangita, has a
M'kissi against tho tornado. It is an.
antclopo horn. On the approach of a,
storm the King calls ids people together;
tho horn is stuck in tho ground and a.
dance is begun around it, which is kept
up, in spite of wind and storm, till tho
tornado is over.
Every houso in tho villago has its
M'kissi; they are frequently put over
tiio door or brought inside, and then,
they protect the house from fire and
robbery. Those ponates of tho nogrooa
nro sometimes figures very artistically
cut in wood or ivory, and show a cer
tain degree of nativo skill and tasto iti
tho people. But it is not tho guardi
ans of ids houso only that tho negro
thus represents in material figiiro3. lie
also gives corporal form to diseases liko
small-pox and fever. Every town has
its war fotioh.
Tho hypmiio palm troo on tho Kuilu
shows how the negro seos a spirit at
work In tho wondors of naturo which
ho can not explain. Tho troo was
M'kissi to tho whole village. Good
medicines, with which the uogroes are
acquainted or of which thoy exporlenco
the salutary effect, are also culled
M'kissi. A nogro called a do3o of cas
tocoil which I gave him M'kissi m'boto,
or gooil medicine. N. 1'. Journal. ,
At a restaurant: irato Customer
Walter, look horo; this Isn't iv lieof
stoak; It's a paving-stoup, I call it."
Waiter hurries up and courteously re
marks: "Old wo thought, we mighi
fcafoly offer it to inoimieur." "How
so?" "Ik'causo monsiuiir has sueh a-,
iploodid sot of tooth." La (iauloLu