A NOVELTY IN VOTING.
Deicrlptliin r the Itallnt Milmilttet! to
tlm MnxoMCliimnttK LeiclnliUiire.
Mo.-srs. Kiohard H. Dana and Mor
rill Wynian. Jr., have propurail for tho
Committee on Election Laws of tlio
Mussacl u ictts Legislature n ballot
which, in many rojpoets, U this host
measure of tjio kind wo lmvo fver soon.
Their hill opens with n provision that
nil ballots Hhall bo printed anil dis
tributed at public expense. Upon that
jwint thoro is no longer any division of
opinion, cveryboch conceding tho wis
dom of taking from tho political organi
sations tho dangerous and corrupting
control of tho ballots which have been
so long in their hands.
Each bnllot shall contain tho name,
-rosidenco (witli .street and number in
city elections,) and party or political
appellation of every candidate whose
nomination for any olllco to bo speci
fied in the ballot has been duly made,"
the names to bo arranged in alphabet
ical order, except that presidential
electors are lo bo arrangod in a sepa
rate group. The provision for uistribu
ling the ballots to tho election oiliecrs
at the polls is so specific and so inter
cstiug as an effective means for pre
vent!. ig forgery of tho ollicial ballots
that we give il in full:
"Soc'ion M. The Secrotary of tho
Common wealth shall send the proper
ballots, specimen ballots, and cards of
instruction printed by him, to the sev
eral city and town clerks, so as to be
received, ono sot at least forty-eight
hours before the day of election, tho
other set sent separately so as to be re
ceived at least twenty-four hours before
tho day of election. These ballots,
specimen ballots and cards shall bo
rent in separate scaled packages,
cleiirly marked on the outside for the
pulling place for which they aro in
tended, and tlio number of ballots in
closed. The ballots, specimen ballots,
and cards of instruction printed by the
city clerks shall each set bo packed in
separa'csoaled packages clearly marked
on the outside for the polling precincts
for which they tiro intended. The city
and town clerks shall send to tho sev
eral otlicers of each precinct or to the
selectmen of the town before tho open
ing of tlio polls on election day, in the
manner in which tlio ballot boxes aro
required to bo sent, one full set of tho
packages of ballots, specimen ballots
and cards intended for that polling
place, keeping c. record of the number
of ballots sent to each polling place.
The second set shall bo retained until
they are needed for the purpose of vo
ting. At the opening of the polls in
each pollingplaoo tho seals of the pack
ages '-hall bo publicly broken and the
packages opened, and tho books of bal
lots handed to the ballot o Hirer.-, herein
after provided for by the precinct ollicer
or the selectmen of tho town presiding
nt such polling places. The cards of
iiistructio i shall bo posted in each
place provided for tho marking of the
ballots, hereinafter provided for, and
not less than three such cards, ami also
not less than live specimen ballots,
)Ksted in and about tho polling place
outside the guard rails, before any bal
lot is delivered to any voter."
When the voter receives his ballot,
after ho has shown that ho is entitled
to vote, l:u must go alone into a com
partment and check with a cross in the
margin of the ballot the names of the
candidates for whom he wishes to vote.
Then ho must fold his ballot so that the
ollicial indorsement on the back will
bo visible, and, coining from tho com
partment, deposit i in the ballot-box. No
ballot without the ollle al indorsement
can be received by the ollicer- in charge
of the b illot-ho.Ncs, and if any such
should gel in, it must bo thrown out in
the counting. Any voter who allows
his ballot to be seen by any person with
the apparent intention of letting it be
known how ho has voted or intends lo
vole, r any person who interferes or
attempts to interfere with any voter
while marking his ballot, or who at
tempts to ascertain in any way how he
has voted, shall be punished by a line
of not less than !?o or more than sflOO.
Xatwii.
Odd Facts About Gun-Cotton.
When gun-cotton or other high ex
plosives are freely exposed upon an iron
anvil and detonated, the explosive
leaves a deep and permanent impres
sion upon the surface of tho metal with
which it was in contact. Tho impios
slon produced by the exploding mass
is an almost exact copy of that face of
the explosive which was in contact
with tho metal. This Is best observed
with gun-cotton, for, from the nature
of the material, it can be shaped ac
cording to fancy, and such llgures and
designs as one wishes call be stamped
upon its surface. Thus, if a disk of
gun-cotton, on the face of which the
letters "U. S. N." and tho date "LSSl"
are indented, be detonated, it will bo
found (hat the letters and ligures will
be reproduced in the iron, ami, most
singular of all these phenomena, thoy
will be indented In the Iron just as they
were in tho gun-cotton. Seribner''
Maqasint.
Why Ho Could Think So.
Two men on a railway train began to
discuss a book which tho newsboy luul
left on tho seat.
"I think It Is a vory weak thing,"
paid ono of them. "I examined it awhdo
ago, and I ee that the characters aro
weak and ill drawn."
"l llko it very much," tho other man
replied. "I think ills ono of tho finest
piece of (lotion ever produced in this
country,"
4'1 don't soo liowyou can think that."
'J do, for, you sue, 1 wrote it." lr
Jcamato Traveler.
A blind physician at lVusnnoln,
Flo., has a largo practice, and goo
ubout the streets unaided.
PRINCESS SALM SALM.
fntrrenttnc IlUtory of Itomiuitlc, CLacK
ereil mill Eventful Life.
Several queries havo been made of
Into as to what became of Princess
Nairn Salm, an American lady whoso
venturesome character elevated her
tom tlio common people to the rank
I of Princess. Newspaper stories havo
1 ecu published from time to time about
her, but none contain a full and cor
rect account of her life and final dis
appearance from tlio eyes of tho world.
Tho last days of her career were a
I appy conclusion of a life full of ro
mantic associations. Through tho
kindness of L. E. Hinckley, now resid
ing in this city, but who was born and
raised in the Princess' native village,
the Call is enabled to give some inter
esting particulars of her life.
"Well I remember," lie said to a
reporter, "when yet a child in my na
tive town of Phllipsburg, Province of
Quebec, listening to old Captain Henry
Joy spinning yarns in his little col
bler's shop. Wo called him Captain,
but he was a privateersmau in tiie
American service, and finally settled
down to mending shoes and harness.
His wifo was an Indian squaw a
Cherokee, I believe tlio pet of all the
little children and a female doctor.
They were married many years and
had a family of two sons and four
daughters, but died some years since.
"These wore tlio parents of Princess
Salm Salm, quite illiterate and without
any ambition, and they were nlwiryH
the .same there. Adelaide Joy, the
Princess, was a remarkablo child, and
even then would ride bareback horses
through tho country without any fear.
She eould shoulder a gun, too, and
spent many a day hunting in the woods.
School was ii matter of small impor
tance to her, so at fifteen she went to
work in private families. This monot
onous life was badly suited to her ad
venturous spirit, and at seventeen sho
went to Su Albans. Vt., and thence
South with Charani's circus as a tight
rope walker and equestrienne, under
the assumed name of Agues Sinclair.
"It was rumored that sho was mar
ried to a performer, but she was cer
tainly married to some officer of tho
Federal army after she had left the cir
cus when tho war broke out. She trav
eled to Mexico with this ollicer, anil
there met Prince Salm Salm, who ac
companied Maximilian. Salm Salm
was Prince of a province or princedom
in Germany, and was sentenced to bo
shot with Maximilian, but through her
pleadings the Mexican authorities par
doned him, with the understanding
that he should immediately depart for
Germany. It was never known what
became of the American ollicer, but
the Princess then accompanied Salm
Salm to his native land, and they li.ed
together there in peace till the out
break of the Franco-Prussian war.
Then the Prince fought with tin Prus
sian army and fell before Met.. Sho
died about three years ago in Germany,
i.i.d left two sons, who are young men
now.
"During her lifetime she never for
got her parents. A letter would lie
received regularly every throe months
by the postmaster ot Philipsburg, and
It contained a remittance with another
letter for the old couple. Her picture
ami that of her husband and children
were suspended in the little colliding
shop and would be shown with pride
by the old father. The postmaster was
always instructed not to disclose her
identity to that of the people, lest it
might ruin her social standing in
ICurope. After herdeath she was high
ly spoken of, and her charitable acts
during the Franco-Prussian war are
still remembered.
"When a domestic servant her natu
ral desire for adventure and the stage
induced her to study Shakespeare, and
sho purchased large volumes of his
works. In her palmy days, when Phil
ipsburg had been parted from her for
ever, these same hooks wrapped up old
shoes and the illustrations adorned the
walls of the shop.
"The Princess was a dark brunette,
verythnuikioino ami engaging in milli
ners, still she was not a woman who
depended on natural gifts or graces as
objects to gain her ends. She died at
the ago of lifty-live to sixty years.
"Tlio whole family are now in good
circumstances. One son, Henry Joy,
is now a prominent physician of Chi
cago; the other, George, is a purser of
a Champlaiii steamer. Mrs. Meudall,
a sister, is owner of tlio Mondnll Lith
ographing Company, of Chicago, and,
in her own way. made a success of
life. She married a working-man, who
died quite young, leaving a small busi
ness, which she then managed, with
good results. She now has several
houses on Dearborn avenue ami is
reputed, very wealthy. Another sister
is married to a Philadelphia banker,
and the fourth is the wife of a United
States ollicial in Mexico. George re
sides in Phllipsburg with his daughter
ami guards the old homestead, where
a reunion of tho family is sometimes
held." San Francisco Call.
Tho Ruling Passion.
Life was ebbing fast, and his hours
were few. lie was a Thiinl avenue el
evated brakeuiau, and eating his meals
between stations had sapped his vital
ity. "My dear young friend," said tho
minister at his bedside, "1 trust that
what lias been so graciously vouchsafed
In mo to say will comfort and sustain
you. 1 will leave you now for tho
present."
" ory well, sir, responded tho sick
man, feebly. "Step lively, please."
A'. 1'. Sun.
It isn't every nowsimpor reader
who can toll a typographies! error
from a groat Ainorloau joke, Washing'
ton CVific.
WHY BROWN WAS JILTED.
A Domestic Melodrama and It Harrow
Inc Coiufquencfl.
The other day Miss Jones spent tlio
afternoon with lior friend and former
school-mate, Mrs. Smith, who has been
married several years and has a boauti
f til boy.
"I heard tho other day that you wero
engaged to Mr. Brown. Is there any
truth it?" asked Mrs. Smith of her
friond, who was holding tho baby.
"I am not engaged to Mr. Hrown."
"Hut ain't you going to bo? Ho is
such a nice, steady young man."
"That depends upon circumstances.
Ono thing is sure, if he expects mo to
tako advantage of my leap-year privi
leges ho will wait a good long while,"
replied Mis Jones.
"Hut would you accept him if ho wero
to propose?" queried Mrs. Smith.
"I am not quite sure that I would.
Men aro so unreliable."
"Don't you love him?" asked Mrs.
Smith.
"0, ho is a vory nice gcntloman, but
there aro so many unhappy marriages
that I don't think I care to tako any
risks."
"You should get married by all
means. I used to think and talk just
liko you, but now that I am married I
am twice as happy as I was. I have a
good, kind husband."
"You never quarrel, I suppose. Ho
never says any tiling rude or unkind,
and lie never roes out at night and
comes home late?"
"O, no, of course not."
"Never gruinbhis about the oxponso?"
"What a strange girl you aro? What
makes you ask such foolish, silly ques
tions?" "Well, you know there aro sonio
stieli husbands."
"I'vo read about some such cases of
brutality, and I've heard people talk
about such husbands, but I don't know
any tiling about it,"
"I am so glad for your sake that you
aro happy. How sound tho dear littlo
follow sleeps."
"Yes; I wisli you would take him in
the next room and put him in ids little
cradle," said Mrs. Smith. Her friond
complied with her request.
While Miss Jones was in tho next
room tho door was suddenly opened
and Mr. Smith entered. Ho had just
eoiiio homo and did not know Miss
Jones was in the house. It was plain
to see that he was as mad as a wet hen.
Sh. iking a bill at his wife, he said in a
hoar-e. cynical tone:
Here is anolheroue of 3-011 r infernal
bills. You must think I'm made of
money."
"H-u-s-h!" said Ids wife, putting her
finger to her lips and pointing into tlio
other room.
"Hush.'' he blanked, "I don't give a
continental whether tlio blank brat
squalls or not. 1 want you to under
stand that I don't propose to put up
with any more of your extravagance.
This is is the .second hat you have had
since we wero married. Do 3011 pro
pose to break me up in business with
your senseless extravagance? Hy the
way you buy now hats one would sup
pose you had half a do.ou fool heads 011
your shoulders.
"O, George! Dear George!"
"Just cheese tnal 'ileah George' rack
et fmimiekiuir her.) Oulv last week I
1 paid a grocery bill of one dollar and
thiity-soven cents. You must think I'm
a Utile Jay Gould 011 wheels. Did a man
bring a demijohn of brandy and two
hundred cigars for iner
"Yes, and here is tho bill for fifty
seven dollars."
"For heaven's sake quit looking as
if you were going to blubber! I just
came home to tell you not to sit up for
me. After the lodge is out 1 am going
so attend a littlo oyster supper with
tlio boys and some theatrical people
down at the hotel. I may not get back
before threo o'clock," and oil' lie was.
Of course Miss Jones hoard every
word of this joint discussion, and when,
shortly afterward, Hrown proposed, ho
was jilted and bounced so promptly
that lie left tho house without his hat
and cane. Ho was oven more aston
ished than the lightning was when it
struck a magazine containing 1.7.r(i,8i:l
pounds of giant powder. Mocking llird.
Gum and Peppermint.
Chewing gum lias come to be con
sidered the popular cure for dyspepsia,
at least by those young dames who
have reason to imagine that they sutler
from the ill effects of midnight suppers
and too long a scries of dinner parties.
In Newport last summer peppermint
drops were introduced at a certain
point in tlio meal and partaken of by
every one, and at an entertaiiiinont
which was given recently, when ice
cream was served, Jamaica jjiiitrer was
passed and a few drops recommended
to counteract the ell'octs of tho ice.
When the plates wero chunged for the
last time at a gentleman's dinner, given
a few nights ago, each 0110 hold a ticket
for a Turkish bath, a sad commentary
on the condition that the guests must
have boon in. A". )'. Press.
Printers Exempt from Cholera.
The printers havo been exceptionally
exempt from falling victims to tho
cholera epidemics which have recontly
occurred in the South American con
tinent. When the yellow fever epi
demic iu 1SGS created consternation
hero the Typographical Union had only
to pay tho expensm for two members,
and both of them recovered. Now to
day tiio same incident is recorded in
Chill witli respect to cholera, wjioro we
find that, according to the report of tlio
president of the 'typographical Union
of Valparaiso, up to tlio ditto of hU
last iert. not one of the one huudioiL
members of tho Union had been at
tacked. Thus they enjoyed tho same
good fortune thoy had experienced
during the previous year. J.iiut (Peru)
Praisa.
INSIGNIA OP MERIT.
Knropean Order of Knighthood of Sinre
Until Ordinary Intercut.
Inquiry lias been made as to the sig
nificance of tiio Iron Cross the late
Smperor William was so desirous to
aave buried with him. The Iron Cross
s ttie chief badge of niilitaiy service,
mil was conferred upon William when
ic was a Prince by li is brother, then
King, for great bravoiy and sol
liorly conduct. This was in 1841). when
lie was given supreme command of the
i-oy.-tl forces when Hadeii and tlio Pala
tinate rushed into arms against consti
f u ted authority. Tlio cross was more
prized 1)3 111 111 because he had been re
called from banishment lie was exiled
(13 imperial order in 1848 and the
order pour le meritc, better than his re
call, attested his restoration to favor,
file order of the Iron Cross was
founded in Frederick William in 1813.
I'lie insignia is a cast-iron cross witli
silver mountings and hearing 110 in
scription 011 the reverse ; the upper
part of the (diverse contains the initials
"F. W." surmounted on a crown ; tho
center is adorned with three oak leaves,
below which is the number 18K1. When
tlio cross is conferred for military
merit, the ribbon supporting it is of
black watered silk with white stripes;
for civil merit, the ribbon is white
watered silk with black stripes.
Other European orders 111113' ',0 ru
'erred to with interest. The H03-11I
Prussian order of the Hlack Eagle,
founded iu 1701 by Fiderick, is a blue
enameled cross, each arm of which is
forked witli a center gold monogram
"F. It." (Fredricus Hex) and 11 crowned
black eagle with spread wings. The
motto is "Siiiim Ciquo" (even one his
due). Tho order is never conferred
upon persons below thirty years of
age. Germany lias also the order of tho
Hod Eagle, tho second order of tlio
kingdom, founded 1705; the niyal or
der of the House of Hohenzollern, a
gold cross with white and black en
amel, founded 1811; the order of
Louise, a small black enameled gold
cross, founded iu 1814, exclusively re
served for ladies; the Bavarian order
of St. Hubert, founded 1411, to be ad
mitted to which requires that one
should have been six enrs a member
of tho civil order of merit of the Ba
varian crown.
Austria shares with Spain, since the
time of Chsrle-. V., the right of the or
der of the Golden Fleece, founded iu
14'JU by Philip III., the Good. Duke of
Burgundy and Count of Flanders. The
French Legion of Honor was founded
in 1N02 n a reward of civil merit or
military valor. The highest order of
lvit-sia is that of St. Andrew, founded
Ki'.lS, and is conferred exclusively on
persons of the most exalted rank. It
is represented by a blue enameled
figure of St. Andrew on the cross.
Uiissia lias a military 'order of St.
George, founded in 17(9, which is
never conferred but for a gallantry at
sea or iu the field. The insignia is a
white enameled cross with gold rim, on
the obverse side of which is an image
of St. George and the dragon.
Spain lias numerous orders, the old
est being that of Calatrava, founded iu
HAS, and is now a court distinction
rarely conferred. The order of Alcan
tara was founded iu 1177, and is lim
ited to those who can prove noble
descent through at least four genera
tions. The orders of Great Britain are
more or less famous. The first in dig
nity is that of the Garter, founded in
1:11!). The next that of the Thistle,
founded iu lolO, the motto of which is
"Nemo me inipune laeessit;" that of
St. Patrick. 17KH, "Quis Soparabit?"
that of the Bath. LiM), "Tria juncta iu
11110;" the Star of India, 18(51, motto,
"Heaven's Light Our Guide;" St.
.Michael and St. George, 1818. The
chief order of Brazil is that of Pedro,
founded iu KS',J.
Denmark has ono of the most illus
trious orders of chivaliT, tlio order of
the Elephant, which ranks even with
that of the Gaiter, founded at an un
certain date, hut probably in the
twelfth century, it is limited to thirty
knights. Italy's chief order is tli it of
the Amiunciuda, reorganized iu l,r18.
Sweden has the nobler order of the
Seraph, founded 1:280, and limited to
twenty-three natives and eight foreign
ers. Chicago Inter-Ocean.
South American Mosquitoes.
Some ludicrous stories are told about
aihentures with the mosquitoes, lhavo
been solemnly assured that often when
they have attacked a boat anil driven
its captain and crew below they have
broken tho windows of the cabin by
plunging iu swarms against them, am',
have attempted to burst iu the doors.
Although this may be something of an
exaggeration, it is nevertheless true
that frequently horses and cattle, after
the most frightful sufferings, have died
from mosquito bites on board tho ves
sels. Not long ago a herd of valuable
cattle were being taken from the
United States to a ranch upon the Mag
dalena river, and became so desperate
under the attacks of the mosquitoes that
they broke from their stalls and all
were drowned. Passengers intending
to make the voyage usually provide
themselves with protection in tho shape
of mosquito bars, head nets ami thick
gloves, and when on deck are com
pelled to tie their sleeves around their
wrists and their pantaloons around
their ankles. American Magatine.
9
The latest medical theory pro
scribes only two meals a day one at)
the beginning ami one at tho'eud of the
day. If people adopt this plan and ,
carefully avoid working between meals
lifo would be much easier. It is work,
iug so much between iiiumIs that makes
life so hard. .Xontueh ItulUUin.
Washington Territory now clalm
to luo ovci 200,000 inhabitants.
KNEW HIM WELL.
A FemAle Wltnem Convince t Lawyor
Almost Aealnit 1IU Will.
"You know the defendant in this
case, do you?" asked a Kansas "awyer
of a female native of tho soil.
"Know which?" she asked.
"The defendant, Jake Lynch."
"Do I know Jake Lynch?"
"Yes."
"You want to know if I know Jako
Lynch well, if that ain't a good ouo.
Wiry, mister, tho Lynch family an1"
"Can't 3-ou say 3-es or no?"
"Why, Jake Lynch's mother an' my
step-dad's father was once first cous
ins, an'"
"Then 3011 know him?"
"Who, Jake Lynch? Me know Jako
Lynch. You're a stranger in these
parts, ain't 3-ou?"
"That lias nothing to do with tlio
case. If you know Jako Lyncli, sa3'
so."
"If I know him! Lcmme tell 3-011
that Jake Lynch's hirthilay and 1113
brother Hiram's is 011 the same da3',
an'"
"You know him of course, then?"
"Who Jake Lynch? Ask Jake if I
know him? Ask him if lie was over
introduced to Betty Skelton?"
"I don't care to ask him any-tliing. I
simply want to ask you if Jake Lynch
is known to 3011 personally."
"Pussonly? Well, I don't know
what you mean 1)3 'pussonly,' but if
3-ou want to know if know Jako an'
if he knows wic, I can tell 3011 in
niight3 few words. Jake Lynch's
father an' 1113 fatVer "
"Now, I want 3011 to sav 'ves' or
no.'"
"Thought you wanted me to sa3 if I
knew Jake Lynch."
"That's just what I do want."
"Well, then, leinino . alono an' I'll
tell you all about it. Jake Iyiieh was
born iu Injoeaii3 an' I was born in tho
same count3 an' "
"And of course you know him?"
"Who Jake Lynch? Do I know
Jako L3nch, when tlio very boss lie
rid hero on was ono ho traded 1113
man a span of 3oung steers for?
Wli3, man, Jake's wife was Ann Elizy
Skill', an' her an' mo is tlio same ago
to ada3. an' "
"That will do. 1 see that 3011 do
know him."
"Know him? Know Jako? Wli3,
man "
"That will do."
"Wl3, I was married on a Cliows
l:iy an' Jake was married tlio next
day. an' his oldest 1103 an' 1113 oldest
girl is most the same age. an' "
"That will do" Detroit Free Press.
DIDN'T MIND THE BITE.
A CoiirHKi'oui 31 mi who Couldn't bo
llcul'ii Out of 11 llorxo Triiilc
A Georgia man, while standing in
front of a blacksmith's shop, was bitten
by a dog, "Gracious alive!" ex
claimed the blacksmith, "run home
and pra3 for the salvation of 30111 soul
for your body is lost."
"How so?" the old fellow asked as
ho rubbed the place where the dog had
bitten him.
" Wh. that dog is mad. Look how
he foams at tlio mouth. That's the dog
tho neighbors have boon looking for!"
A putl'of smoke came from the bushes
near by, tho "bang" of a gun was
heard and the dog fell dead in the
road.
"Neighbors boon lookin' fur him,
oil!" said the old fellow who had been
bitten. "Wall, I ain't been lookin' fur
him, but it 'pears sorter liko bo's been
lookin' for me,"
" Huu to a doctor, man."
"No, I kaiu't a lib rd it. I hired 0110
last spring to cure tlio chills on my
daughter Nan, an' I thought it would
break 1110 bodatiotis up agin I got
him paid. Nan, 3011 know, married
Abo Slater shortU afterwards, an' I
says to Abe, s'l, 'Abe, 3011 oughtor
pav a part of that chill bill?' -Whut
chill bill?' says he. 'W'y Nan's,' s'l.
'Oh,' says he, 'I didn't marry tho chills
too. 1 onh married Nan, an' I nach-
tilly expected the chills not to cut no
hgger 111 the transaction. An , sir,
Abe he never would pin a cent on
that chill bill, but jmtty soon 'long
emtio tlio big yaller ager, creepin'
down the big road. Wall, sure, it
hopped a-stradille ttv olo Abo an'
rid him putty nigh tev death."
"But that ain't got nothing to do witli
that mad dog. You'll be a dead man
in less'n nine days."
"Wall, I'll wait an' soo. an'. of whut
you say comes true, w'y I'll own up.
I ain't no ban' tor dispute utter tlio
faeks have dun gone agin me. 'Taint
tliater way with Abo, though. He'll
argy when he knows ho ain't got no
show. I liko tor soo a man stick up
fur whut ho believes, but then whon
a feller finds bo's wrong, w'y ho jest
nachully ought tor cave. Wall, good
inawnin'. I've got a boss trado on
han' over yandor cross tlio branch,
an' I b'l'eve I'll fix it up bofo' the feller
gits oitteu tlio notion." Arkansaw
Traveler.
There is no doubt that tlio light
Hrahnia is tho host fowl for j rotltablo
roaring of market chickens, as it will
make the largest weight from a certain
quantity of food iu tho shortost time.
Spring ohickeus of this breed will easily
weigli two and a half pounds at throo
months old, and eight or nine pounds in
eight months. The oggs of this breed
are more valuable for food anil for pas
try than any other kind, but thoro aro
other fowls that will lay more oggs. It
is not tho number which counts fot
profit always.
Plants most cultivated by working
people In tho cltios arc said by a lloiist
to bo the geranium, tho heliotrope,
fuchsia, daisy, gillyflower, primrose,
pink and ox.tlis.
WHAT IS PESSIMISM V
A Theory In Hie Air b Unulitantll
Mnny Other Silly Theorlen.
We have hoard of commentators
darkening witli many words tho sub
ject thoy set out to illumine I trust
that no' such misfortune is to result
from the labors of tlio Browning
societies in this country and England.
To class the keen-sighted, but large
minded and genial-liearted Hrowning
among the pessimists seems a nirstake
hard to account for to one who ha3
found iu his hopeful philosophy, a
greater encouragement than almost
any other single writer, teacher or
preacher of to-day has lo give. I
confess to being skeptical as to tho gen
uineness of much that calls itself pes
simism, or, rather as to tho existence
of many thorough-going pessimists. I
question tlio propriety of classing
Pascal among pessimists called "re
ligious," for to my mind tlio ideas of
religion and pessimism aro incom
patibleeven religion as Pascal under
stood it. It were truer to say of
him that, in tho struggle of his
intellect between faith and under
mining doubt, his mind at times lost
hold on religion, and then, for him, tlio
universe was darkened, and chaos came
again. If to "recognize that in this
world sorrow outbalances joy" bo pes
simism, then I take it that the major
ity of persons past tlieir3outh, who have
minds to think with and hearts to fool
with, are pessimists. Hut such recog
nition of the fact of life does not settle
tlio question whether it is worth living.
Browning says, in tlio person of
the pagan poet Cleon: "Life's inade
quate to joy, as tlie soul sees it" that
is, in unalloyed fullness of perfection;
yet the pagan could imagine a state of
being above the present in which the
" jo3-hunger" should be satisfied, if
Zeus tlie all-wise wore the all-loving,
too. It seems to me that the true
pessimist, like the true skeptic, is
nothing if not thorough-going, and
that to be one requires a greater hard
ness of head and coldness of heart
than belong, thank Heaven, to 111:1113.
A genuine pessimist should iro out and
drown himself, as the practical out
come of his belief; if lie does not, it is
because, in spite of thcoiw, lie con
trives to find life tolerable and if for
him, why 111113 1101 ,)0 n's follows?
The formula of pessimism is, or ought
to be, that this is tlio worst of all pos
sible worlds, and therefore let us eacii
and all get out of it. Schopenhauer,
the "great apostle of pessimism," so
far as lie was sincere and consistent,
was so in virtue of his coldness of
heart, the "luminous selfishness which
guided him through life." He was
never guilty of real 13 associating with
anybody, we are told. But, granting
the existence of a few convinced and
more or less consequent contemners
of the world ami mankind, 1 think it
remains true that pessimism is mosuy
a theory iu the air, as unsubstantial
and harmless as 111:1113 other theories
that men have manufactured iu all
ages of the world. To return to tlio
point wlionce I started that Browning,
of all men, should be called a pessi
mist seems wonderful, most wonder
ful, and 3et again wonderful. To rec
ognize tlie force of circumstance and
the fatality of chance in tlio life of
man, the irretriovablencss of his mis
takes, his capacity for suffering, tho
possibilit3 of his deepest ji3's trans
forming themselves into his most
poignant griefs, the frustration of hope
and the heartsickness of unfulfilled de
sire, "infinite passion and the pain of
finite hearts that yearn" to seo and
feel all this does not make a man
a pessimist. To put into a word
that diametrically opposite view I take
of Browning, it seems to 1110 that, a
few great names apart, no poet with
so wide and deep a knowledge of hu
man nature and life has so uniformly
maintained a tone of steadfast and
lofty hope. His world is not made up
of saints and heroes, but of struggling,
sinning, sorrowing men and women;
yet in his creed they havo always tho
power to erect themselves above them
selves. Main of them find victory oven
in defeat, joy in the midst of pain, and
honor, faith, and love worth, even iu
this life, more than eas3-going com
fort ami the satisfaction of selfish pas
sion. The confidence of Hrowning's
touecoittrasts with tho uncertain utter
ance of most of his brother poets since
Wordsworth. Even tho latter spoke,
as it were, front tho lonely height of
abstract contemplation, while Brown
ing's voice comes up from amidst tlio
throng of active human life. Ho says
of it
"This world it means Intensely, and means
Rood ;
To find its meaning is ray meat and drink."
And the facts of existence which move
tlio shallower thinker to lamentation
and doubt, nnnioh, tho mutability of
all things and the disappointment oi
hope, stir and stimulate IJrowning, so
that he cries, of this "old woe of tho
world, tune to whoso riso and fall wo
live and die"
"Hio with it, then ! Kejoico that man is hurleo
From ehango to change unceasingly."
AUanttc Monthly.
To teach a young calf to drink,
hack him into a corner of tlio shod and
stand astride his neck so lie can go
noithor backward nor forward, having
tho pail in reach. Put three lingers in
his mouth, letting him hold his head
as high as ho likes; dip up tho milk
witli your free baud and pour It into
tho other; it will run down into his
mouth and he will bogin to suck. Now
lift the pail up to his nose, and as ho
gets interested gently lower it toward
tho ground. He wdl object to this,
but you will come it after a little.
Now bogin gontly to take your linger
out of Ills mouth; you will succeed in
this before long, and tho calf is broken.
9