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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1889)
i PERSONAL "AND LlTERARYr -General Loir Wallace took Mb other as the modol for the noble other of "Hen Hur." Elijah II. Kalford, who Is to In President Harrison's privato secre tary, is a printc by trado and a jour nalist by profession. Mark Twain, who owns nine tenths of tho stock In tha house tbcl published General Grant's memoir, 3ays that Mrs. Grant will shortly re ceive over $250,000 ns tho profits thus far fcora tho salo of her husband's book. Miss Juno Harrison, noted ns a Hcllonio scholar nnd r-s a lecturer on Greek art, is n candidate for tho chair of archaeology in London University, made vacant by tho retirement of Sir Charles Nowton. This is tho first tune any woman over sought a chair in this institution. Miss Whoolock, of Milwaukee, founder of tho first purchasing agency of tho West, is among tho busiest of women. For now her business is such that each day she and her agents buy and ship tons of goods, and in addition she tenches a whist class, and lias hud in two years or loss l'J'J pupils. Mr. Uhnrlos A. Dana began his Journalistic career as editor of a lit erary weoklv. oi which five hundred copies wcro worftfcd oil on. a hand press In tho courso of a day. There Is a contrast between this old-fashioned printing and tho modern presses used in tho Sun ofllco, which run off an cdi tion at tho ralo of "a milo a minute Tho wifo of Talleyrand's privato secretary, Mine. Colmachc, is an En slish woman by birth and author of no mean roputo. Sho has a numbor of Talleyrand's papers and Is per fecHy familiar with the stato sccrots of his time. Sho is said to bo now writ Ig hor memoirs, which will contain a sorios of pen pictures, faithful lilc? nosaos of tho men and women of that day. Hldor Haggard is a hearty lover of field sports. So is that most suc cessful modorn writer of sporting novols, Captain Ilawloy Smart. Tho latter, however, is so weak in hcaltl that ho is unable to take any share in tho sconos ho describes. Ho lives in Cheltenham, and is a great favorite In society, although for months at a tlmo It is impossible for him to leave tho house. Tho fivo houses in which Haw- thorno lived in Salom aro still stand ing and aro said by ono who has re cently visited them to bo in a good stato of preservation. Tho ono which Is of groatost Intoioit to visitors is, of course, tho romancer's birthplace, which Is sought out by hundreds of pooplo ovory year. It is occupied by tho family of a mechanic, who, being a Now England mechanic, Is probably well road in Hawthorne s writings. HUMOROUS. Aunt "Jt scorns you visit, me only when you want nioiioy." Nuphow 'Hut, my dear aunt, 1 surely couldn t call more frequently. "Our rudder Is broken, sir," said the first mato to tho captain. " Non sonso! That's only imagination!" " Reg your pardon, sir, but It's stern 1 reality." , Cleveland's privato socrotary Is !, ntuned Daniel uaJ Harrison's was ft christened Elijah. There appears to J bo more or loss prophet in the privato 5 secretary buslnois. Norristuwn Jlcr 1 aid. I, Whon tho small boy stands in j front of a st iro, mo liliitlvoly gazing i on a sign which roads, "Slippers ti Cheap," his puerile mind instinctively $ grasps the scope and purport of a boy " eott. I'ltck: Hnrtondor "Scoins to mo you aro j! pouring out a protty big drink for that dlino." J ramp "I drink, sir, bo causo tho weather is cold. 1 want to fj got warm, and you know it is a woll- uscortalned scientific fact that onu swallow does not make a summer." If. V. WieUy. In Kentucky "First Citizen 'No, sir; wo can not account for tho ' suddon death of Colonel Gore." Sec ond Citizen "Had ho boon drinking ' nny thlngP" First Cltlzon " Nothing to hurt. Let's boo! I bollovo ho did , tako n glass of milk yostonlay." Soo- iond Cltlzon "That explains it! Tho )l In I trill, wl Ml,, " )...,.'. l,,. i h.ui ... w .. vi ....... -r l . rv v ... tine. j "Well, William," said Mr. Hard i lioad to ills now confidential clerk, I "you aro in a tlrsUclass position now at a good salary, I shall expect you to bo faithful -and diligent; in fact, to :j make all my interests your own. It won't bo necessary, howover, for you (I to inako lovo to tlio typo-writer, I'll j$ attend to hor myself." Terra Haute It' Express. I Policeman "Como, young woin U an, you must not loiter hero aitur the laudlonco has dispersed." Young )( Woman "Plouso, sir, I have business j.lioro." rollcoman "Well, what is itP" Young Woman (blushing) "I (am tlio tho young lady that's en gaged to the automaton chess-player, and I'm waiting for him to take me homo." America. I I'm a traveling man, nnd away from homo a good deal of tho tlmo, Sand I toll you I appreciate the com- fnrU of homo when I strike them on He road," ho said to tho hotel pro prietor. "If you will btop back with mo I'll tako groat ploasuro in Intro Iduclng you to my wlfo and hor mother. 'My wlfo wants a sonl-skln Hacquo, tho houso pitporod, a now sot of furs for her mother and a pug dog," was tho 'response. Ah, thl-i is a country of jhuppy homos," ho replied, ad hu fel low! tho holol tuuu. Judge. PERSfA AND RUSSIA. " Tho Inevitable Fate l the Shah nnd IU Fertile Dominion. Itmnybothat tho tlmo has notyot como for tho absorption or i'ersln by Russia, but thcro is no earthly power that can long postpono it. Unless tho land of Iran goes down beneath tlio sen, it will surely become Russian by tho moro forco of gravitation. oth Ing can long hold back the Increasing weight of tho great omp ro pressing towards the Persian Gujf nnd the Arabian Sea. Since Fetor tlio Great first displayed tho Husslan flag on tho Casnun Sea. In 1722. tho advance hns been incessant around its shores, un til to-day only tho southern coast is IVr-dun, and not a Persian vessel floats on tho sea. Tho nominal independ i .. . j of tho Shah is alternate subjec tio.i to England or to Russlu, according to tho ability or tho incapacity of the Envov from tho ono or tho other of tho two Powers. At tho present time En gland sceun to possess a temporary superiority, hor Envoy, Sir Driimmond Wolff, having succeeded in installing an English commercial agent at Meshed, t. o capital of tho northeastern prov luce, Khorassan, nnd in persuading tho Shah to refine the satno privilege to Russia. Meshed is less than ono hun drcd and fifty miles from Merv, now a Russian fortified city, to which arms and men and munitions of war can be sent in any quantity and in perfect safety over Russian territory. If the Shah calls on England for military suppoit, against Russia, tho advance of tho English must bo mado across tho doubtful and more than half hos tile Afghan country, without any base of supplies nearer than tho Arabian Sea or tho Himalayas. Russia has the game in hor own hands in Persia, nnd nothing but the fear of complications In Europo can restrain her from work ing her will in Asia. in a general European war, wnoro her navy could make itself felt, En gland would fight with equal ehanccs; but some such diversion Is absolutely necessary to save her from Irremedia bio defeat In Porsia; nor could oven a successful coalition against Russia do moro than prolong tho agony of tho Shah. He Is doomed, either himself to bo a vassal of tho Czar, or to leavo tho actual submission to his successor; and England must stand by and seo all hor plans and hor Intrigues como to untight.- J.cslin's Illustrated Widely, FEDERAL CLERKSHIPS. Why No AiJihillout Young .111111 Should Act'iipl Olio. Govorninont clerkships have blasted tho prospects of many a bright young man. I lie man in ollice is tlio creat ure of political caprice. In spite of tho Chil-Servlco law, it is still a fact which no one will dispute that neither independence nor solf-rospoet of tho highest order aro usually found among office-holders. The tenure Is too un certain, too much subject to tho viols situdes of party supremacy. l a young man has fair capabilities. and will bo reasonably energetic and industrious, he is much more likely to have a homo of his own and a neat re- servo in bank by tho tlmo ho Is fifty by sticking to his present employ ment, oven If It Is only moderately re munerative, than by seeking nnd ac cepting a Government clerkship. It not Infrequently happens that men who have hold such clerkships for years are turned out, only to litul themselves without tho fitness or ex porlonco that would qualify thorn for any other business position. Resides, thero Is little chanco for advancement in tho great depart ments, and as a usual thing those who hold such places savo vory llttlo money. All thoso aro roasous why it not prudent for young mon who liavo fair prospects of winning suc cess ty tneir own pinole ami push, to give them up and accept a place un der tho Federal Government, with its uncertainties, unxletles nnd vexatious. An active interest in polities Is one tliinu,-thut is ovory young man's duty Fedoral oflleo-holding is anoth er nnd a much less desirable matter, as those who try it usually discover to their rogrot. Cleveland Leader. A Nlno-Yoar-Old Girl Official. Tho city of Trou ton can claim tho brightest and youngest city olllcor in tlio Mate. Miss llaltlo Uwons, very cute nnd clover for a girl of nine, has boon mado second assistant city clerk, and can now bo seen on duty at cer tain Hours tiling away in tlielr proper order the ofilclal documents of tho city elork's olfieo. When Colonel Owens, tho city olork, took possession of his new quarters tho public docu ments appeared to bo considerably disarranged, umL on complaining, ho found a cheerful volunteer In tho per son of his young daughter, Miss Hattie, wlio Is very small, but sharp ami methodical. Sho was assigned tho work of reasserting, and is doing it well. Sho is rntlior nnnoyed on ac count of being a girl and announces that, as second assistant clerk, sho doslroH to bo called "Harry," and ns such sho Is saluted by all tho city otllcluls. Miss Harry Owens is a pretty girl of pleasant address, and with the manner of one twice her ago. Trenton (Y. J.) Tim&. Mr. Gladstone's omnlvorousnoss as a readur Is indicated by his orders from a well-known denier In Rlrinlnghuin. Tho list Includes works on literature, theology, areluuology, mythology, ed ucation, metaphysics and music, and biographical and autobiographical books. His friends wonder where ho la going to put tho books ho is coitin ually buying, for Hnwardun Cnstlo Is already lluud with thorn from base ment to utile. IMPERSONAL. Mr. Healy, M. P., In 188G called unptain Ubhea a "rotten Whig.' a "pledge-breaker and traitor," a "mon strous impostor," and a "political caterpillar." President Harrison tho First mado his journey to Washington to bo hum gurated drosed In a common gray suit nnd a black slouch lint. His whole outfit could not havo cost moro than $20. I'ho money shark hns his homo everywhere. Cliong Kco is tho richest Lhiuaman in San Jose. Cat. Ho has made a largo fortuno by charging his countrymen fivo per cent, per month on unquestionable collateral. Chief Justice Georgo W. Stone, of tho Supremo Court of Alab.ima, cole brated his birthday a short timo ago, and was surrounded by over soventy children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ho danced a jig with me of h's great-grandsons. The Congrogationnl Church of Washburn Wis., has a pastor who is catcher of tho Washburn Raso-bnll Club, a fine example of "muscular Christianity." His prcsenco on tho bnsc-bnll grounds is said to exercise a great restraining influence, nnd an oatli or profnno word is scarcely over heard. Miss Jennio Dunphy, of San Fran cisco, is considered tlio most fearless horsowoman on the Pacific coast. Sho has been accustomed to rido from childhood, and is perfectly at homo in tho saddle, rising easily and gracoful ly. Her pet horse, Jim, is of blooded Kentucky stock and is valued at 18, 000. Muncinitsu Mutsu, Japancso Min istor at Washington, io a most ab stcmious man as regards stimulants, but being a scholar and philosopher lie has sIiowji an inclination to tasto of American mixed drinks as an ex poiimental process. Ho doos not like our fancy tipples, liowovcr. A few days ago ho tneklod a gin-fizz for tho first time. "Ha !" ho exclaimed, in an Oriental way, "it buzzes like a fly nnd stings liko a wasp." Ho will here after conllno himself to tea drinking Tlio Row James Raiuo, tho archae ologist, who had just been appointed to a stall at York Minster, was engaged ono day in researches in tho Minster library whon two young olllcers of the garriMin. on a sight-seoing expedition, lounged in. Mistaking him and not unreasonably for a vorgor. they no costed him thus: "I say, old follow. what havo you gut to show us?" Thoy felt sorry, however, a inomont later when tlio supposed vorgor reply: "Sir, to gentlemen wo show tho library; to others tho door." Tho Archbishop of Chcrson and Odessa cherishes a moro ardent war spirit than RIshop Clovoland Coxe. Addressing tho Czar at Elisabothgrad on the occasion of tho army maneuvers that took place thoro recently, his Grneo said: "Tho aim of lifo is peaeo but war is tho unavoidable instrument of peaeo, and ono which is blessed by tno Almighty when usoil in the cause of truth. Tho continued preparation for war is a hard but inevitable duty for a sovereign, imposed upon him by Providence. God himself guides tho bund of tho monarch in battle; and inasmuch as thou propnrest thy sub jects for war thou doost a divine work." "A LITTLE NONSENSE.'.' Ono of tho diversions of tho Nia gara Falls people is to gather at the railroad depot and seo the tied come in. ltoehctfcr Post. At tho restaurant " Waiter, I seo hero you havo wine at o0e a bottle and somo at 1. What is tlio dilTeronco botweon thomP" Walter "50o. Boston Transcript. Mrs. Ilockstoln "It was Abol's birthday, Aaron. Vat vo glf hlmP' Mr. Ilockstoln "Wash ohf a vindow pane, unt lot him loogk out unt seo dor boss cars go by!" I'uck. Sontlmental lady "This world is a valo of toars. Even tho beautiful roso has thorns." Prosaic visitor "1 wouldn't mind that so mucL. 'out that shad aro so full of bonn; is an outrngo on tho human race." Texas Sittings. 1 hu young woman who can not sing tlio old songs, should look for n young man who can not toll tho old jokes, and marry him. It might bo rough on thorn, but it would do tlio gonoral public good. Merchant Trav eler. "See hero, Grlpps, I understand you havo a suporlor way of curing hams. I should liko to learn it. Well, yes: I know vory well how to cure thorn; but tho trouble with mo, just now, Is to find a way to iroeuro them." .lust loo "You say that your slstor was bitten by tho horsifetiud you want damages?" Plaintiff "Yes, sir; I havo witnesses to prove that the horso bit her." Defendant "1 can explain, Judge. Tho woman Is a grass widow. Tho horso Is not to blaino." Detroit Free lress. "Wait for mo a moment," said ono traveling man to nnothor. "What forP" "I want to go in hero for a sec ond." "Why you uro not going to fight a duel, aro JouP" "No; certainly noL" "Then what do you want of a second." Tho patrol wagon arrived in just fivo minutes after the call was turned In. Merchant Traveler. Old gentleman "What's tho tnat- tor, CTuuluctor? i ou seem nervous." Conductor (on Southern road)-r-"Woll, yes, I am a llttlo women. win gen- tloniun "Any thing wrong uhoad?" Condu(itoi "No, It's nil right ahead, but there's a 'wUd-cat' behind us, and" Old gentlemen "Why don't you shoot tho varmint und bo dune with It? A. 1'. I,cdjtr. PERSONAL AND A QUEEN'S HOUSEHOLD. DlKiiltnrir nml I'urnft'.trft Who DrnirSat hHp Without Doing Any Work. Queen Victoria's household has neariy a thousand olllcers, subordi nates nnd attendants. The Lord Stow ard is at the head of all with a salary of $10,000 a year. All officers and ser vants, exept thoso connected with tho Queen's chamber, stable and chapel, aro subject to his orders. Tho active duties of this otllcer aro performed by the Master of tho Household, who gets ?.r,790 a year. Tho Lord Treasurer ranks next to tlio Lord Storrnrd nnd nets for him in case ho is absent, while to assist him lie has tho Comptroller of the Household, who likewise does nothing. The Hoard of Green Cloth, composed of tho four above named offi cials, adjudicates on ollenses commit ted in certain parts of tlio palace, and has clerks and secretary. The clerk of tho kitchen und his clerks keep ac counts, cheek goods, and givo orders to tradespeople. Thero is a chef and mnny cooks, a head of tho confectionory department. l tho "owor" or linen department, a chief butler, tablo deckers, men in charge of tho plate, pantry nnd of the coal, nnd lump lighters and dispensers of nlms. Tho Lord Stownrd is judge of tho Court of Marshalsen, with power to dispense justico among the Queen's domestic servants, nnd tho court has a Knight Marshal. Tho Lord Cham- borlain gets $10,000 a year and. ivith tho Vico Chamberlain, superin tends all tlio ollieers and sorvnnts of the Queen's chambers, except tho bed chambers, theso being under the Groom of tho State, as well as tho olll cers of tho wardrobe. Tho Keeper ol Her Majesty's Privy Purse is her finan cial secretary at a salary of .$10,000. Thoro aro tho Mistress of the Robes, tho Groom of tho Robes, Ladies of the Red Chamber, Maids of Honor, bed chamber women. Lords in Waiting, Grooms in Waiting; Gentlemen Ushers of tlio Privy Chamber, Daily Waiters. Quarterly Waiters, Grooms of the Privy Chambers. Grooms of tho Groat Chamber and Gentlomon of tho Privy Chamber. Tho Marshal of Coiemon- ies must havo an absolute knowledge of Court etiquette. 'I'ho ollicial places many of them call for no performance of duty, be causo with tho chango of customs the duties have becomo obsolete. Thr Mustor of the Tennis Court does noth ing. Thoro uroaMaster of tho House, burgomaster, keeper of tho swans, and hundreds of assistants to tlio olllcers mentioned. All this looks liko keep ing house under dillicultics, and Queen Victoria ought to bo well paid for it Good llonsdcecpinq. THE TSIEN-TANG BORE. X Orrut Wuve Thut Hushr Into IIiiiikcIiow lliy Twleo ii Day. Captain W. U. Moore. R. N., of her Majesty's surveying vessel Rambler, has lately boon engaged in observing tho celebrated bore of Tsion-tang river. Captain Mooro regards this as one of tho sights ot tho world, which no resident in or visitor to China should miss Boeing. It occurs twice in ovory twenty-four hours, being most eniarkablo at spring tides. Captain Mooro favored us with tlio following notes: "The best place to seo tho phenom enon is from tho sea-wall at Haining, about two miles cast of tho Rhota pagoda, whoro thoro is a violont re bound of tho Hood stream, and conse quent upraising , of tho water behind tlio front of tho boro. Tho bore can be seen approaching from tho upper gal lery of tho pagoda about ten or twolvo miles distant; and heard on a still night, one hour bofore it strikes, whon it is twelve or thirteen miles distant, it is highest as a whole and most regular In form opposite the pagoda, which it passos at full chango of tho moon at a spood of twolvo to thtrteon knots an hour; preeisoly as the moon crosses tlio meridian of that spot. It lias its origin off Chi-san. a capo about oighteon miles east by south of Haining, nnd travels to six miles nbovo tho city of Hnngehovv, a total distanco of forty- two miles. Under certain combina tions of wind, sprlng-tldo nnd rains up country, it commences as far east as Chapoo, and rotains its distinctive charactor to about thirty miles above tho city, a total distanco of over ninety milos. Tlio gonoral hoight of tho boro. that is tho crown of tho cascade, varies at spring-tldo from sovon to oloven feet. It lias boon seen much higher on tho approach of a typhoon and con sequent banking up of tho water in Chapoo bay. Tho wator raised by the robounds from tho sen-wall, especially thut mentioned in tho foregoing re marks, mounts to a height of twenty foot or moro nbovo tho level of the river in the samo spot fivo minutes boforo. At neap tides tho boro sometimes doos not attain a height of over three feet, but tho spood of its progress still renders it too formidable to bo en countered by tho largest boaL Navi gation for ships in tho Tsiou-tnng Is not practicable, though tho depth ol water is sulllclont If timo or tldo is regarded to reach Haining from the ocean in vessels of tlftoon feet draught nnd to anchor oil tho pagoda." S'orth China ews. First Kontuekian "Say, Colonel, thoro's a Mormon oldor down tho road proaohiu' to a crowd o' women an' singin' 'Would 1 Wore a Hlrd!'" Sec ond Kentucklan "Well, 1 kin furnish tho fouthors. You git somo tar to stick 'om on " Philadelphia llccord. I. Lord Luonii, who recently died in Loudon, was tho man who guvo tho order fur tho famous uhar:o at Haiak lava the ohargo of Urn light brigade. i WHAT IS NEWS? The rnnclful nnit Truo Derivations of th Woril. This word is dorived from tho initial lottcrs of tho four points of tho com pass arranged In a devico in tho form of a cross, nnd nlnced at tho top ol somo of the earlier news-sheets to in dicato that their contents were derived from all ouarters. Rut it is easy to show that this is purely fanciful. Firs tho earliest newspaper dates from 1CG2. nnd wo find tho word news, exnetly in its modern sense, in Shakespeare, who died nearly fifty years earlier, namely in 1C1C. Thus wo havo both" 1. 7), "How ("Mac now? Tale, What news?" ("Winter's 4, Cho.) "Rut lot time's bo brought!" ("King John"). new "Even at that nows ho dies." This list which might bo extended indeli nitely, from Shakespearo and other old writer.-, would ulono bo sufficient to dispose of tho north, east, west, south theory; but a reference to tho equivu lent words in tlio tonguo to which En gland Is most nearly ullied will furthe show its fallacy. In Gorman the ini tiais of tho points of tho compass rca in this order: O., W.. S.." whil the word for new is neuigkeiton. ob vlously Impossible of derivation from these four lottcrs, whilo it is derived from tho word now. Again, in the French tho initials aro N., E., O., S whilo tlio word for news is nouvelles once more simply tlio plural form oi now. J ho truo derivation does not seem difficult to trace. Somo tako it direct ly from tho German "das nciie," which is an abstract noun signifying "the now" and equivalent to our news. The gonitivo is neuco, nnd tho phrase "Was giobts noues?" renders the exact sense of our "What's tlio nows?" More over, the old Gorman spelling is now gonith'o ncwes. Yot this, plausiblo as it looks, is not tho origin of the word When wo find in Anglo-Saxon such phrase as hwrct niwes? (what nows) wo can bo at no loss to dctermino that tlio word is of puro low German or na tivo English origin, although the French nouvelles may have influenced its uso. The fact that tlio word is ofton used in tlio singular confirms this, Thus wo havo in John Florio's "World of Words" (lo98), "Novella, a Tale, i Nowcs." In the "Wit's Recreation,1 published in IG 10, wo havo tho follow ing opigram: When newsiloth coinc, If nny would discuss Tlio loiter ot the word, resolved It thus: N.'ws is conveyed by lettor, word or mouth, And come to us from north, east, west nnd south. mo llttlo corps of tho nowspnpor fraternity wero then beginning work in England, and being tickled bv the nbovo epigram, had it put at tlio head of their paper as above stated. Skeat says that nows is not older than lf00. and cites Heritor's transla tion of rroissart, "Desyrous to hear nowcs," and Surrey's translation of Virgil, "What nows ho brought." Hut at least ono earlier instance is to be found in tho "Siego of Rhodes," trans lated by John Kay and printed by Cax ton about 1190. Hoforo closing wo may stato that some contend thut tho German noues is not a genitive, but t-ho neuter nomi uativo or accusative. o incline to think that it is a genitive, and tho phrase: "Was giobts newes?" un exact equivalent of the Latin "Ecquid Novi?" In dianapo lis Ne ws. JOHN JACOB ASTOR. As lie Appears Among UN I.rst I'ortu n.itn I'olloir-AIortaU. No figuro is more familiar on Uroad way than that of John Jacob Astor Stripped of his wealth, an ordinary factor in affairs, his personality would attract attention. Uo stands tall, com manding in figure, portly-looking, rath cr liko a prosperous English manu facturer than any thing olso. IIo walks with a steady, sturdy, solf-possessed manner, is recognized by hundreds ovory day, interchanges courteous rec ognition with all ho knows in a gni' clous and comrndie mnunor.convorsing freely, pleasantly nnd with an uttor absenco of ceremony or protonso, and Is open in no singlo direction, that I over heard of, to tho charge of purse prido or solf-concoit. Tho story of tho Astors is trito nnd familiar. Thoro aro just so many lots on Man hattan Island, nnd tho man who had pro-scionco sufficient to understand that, sooner or lator, ovory lot would bo occupied, and that a groat physical embarrassniont would confront pooplo thon living, and had pluck and cour age onough to indoxso his conviction by his action, was 'obviously on the high road to unbounded prosperity. That man was John Jacob Astor, Sr. Ho impressed upon his sons tho neces sity, as well as tho desirability, of ad boring to a programmo onco laid down. Holding on with virilo tenacity to property then owned, rarely if over parting with any, constantly adding to its area, tho Astors havo, by nor mal growth of proporty values, be como tlio wealthiest family in the country. As "go tho rentals of tho Astors. of necessity follow tho rentals of every othor landlord in tlio city. A fortunate mnn is tho prosont John Ja cob Astor. Horn to nn inhoritnnco, tho hlthor vorgo of which, his mind, tho mind of nny living man, can not begin to understand, his shoulders oarly laden with vast financial and so cial responsibilities, ho, by a simple honost adherence to tho programme laid down by his grandfather, followed conscientiously by his fathor, seos his enormous properties Increase nnd mul tiply us the years roll on, so that If moro aggi-ogatlon of woaltli is all thoro Is to bedoirod, ho, moro than any liv ing man, has his wish completely tiHirxl. Jwcpi Howard's L.tUr. A SENSIBLE DUCHESS, How Hor Oraco or Sutherland Shocked the London Swell. Tho lato Duchess of Sutherland was, during tho nctivo period of hor lifo, tho causo of no littlo bewilderment and disquietude among thorank-rovor-tng- denizens of that aristocratic sec tion of St Jiimos' whoro Stafford Houso stands in gloomy grandeur. Her common-sense mothods of secur ing convenience, without regard to ceremonious formalities, often startled tho devotees of conventionality and 'thrilled tho observers with anxiety lot Ilor Graco bo led astray by the ?samplo of her husband, whoso "fad" it was to ralnglo with tho populaco on axciting occasions, such as midnight fires and riots liko that of Hydo I'ark, somo jwenty years ago. Ridictilou. as it may seom to republican readers, tho Duchess was soveroly criticised for hor habit of walking forth alono from her somber mansion and calling a cab whon in a flurry, instead of letting a half hour ?o to wasto whilo tho enmborsomo vehicle appropriate to hor station should bo made ready. Tho entiro precinct was onco thrown into a flutter by tho report, doubtless correct, that alio had personally entered the little bakery in St. James1 street, in which a postal agency was established, and had there purchased stamps and affixed them to her letters, precisely as ono of tho untitled multitude might havo ione. In tho winter of 18G9 tho sontinel who mounts guard ov' tho palaco wall of Cleveland Row had tho op portunity of relieving his dreary routine by saving a child from being -un over a radical cab-horso from i'all Mall having so forgotton the pro prieties as to break loose and endanger human lifo, as well as tlio drowsy tran quility of that solemn region. A day or two later tho Duchess was seen to 3top and speak to the guardsman, who was so overcome by agitation that ho 30iild hardly hold hisrillo steady, lie would havo faced the cannon's mouth .villi less trepidation than exchange ton words with tho exalted peeress. I'ho presumption was that Her Graco lesired simply to say a kind word in :omnicndation of tho man's bohavior; but tho proceeding was regarded witli my tiling but approval by the resident spectators. I ho verdict of tho austere middle class, throughout tho neighbor hood, was that tho Duchess had beon roprehensibly unmindful of tho dignity of her position, and that sho would havo dono better to sond tho soldier half i crown by her footman. Fortius and nnilar reasons sho was not admired by the bourgeoisie of London. And cot thero aro people on both sides of tho Atlantic who profess to wondor that the social sensibilities of Amer icans and Englishmen can not at all points bo brought into sympathetic and symmetrical accord. Ar. Y. Tribune. ANCIENT WATER WORKS. ! Groat Knxliirfrliig IVals Priiforined .Manjr C'enturli-K Avo. Tho very first thing dono by every omniunity, savage or civilized, is to provido for a water supply. Savages simplify mattors by placing thoir tene ments within easy reach of a river or lake. Civilized peoplo havo thoir wator brought to them. This is not of easy accomplishment, and somo of tlio greatest feats of enginooring havo been performed in supplying wator to ancient and modorn cities. When tho Hritish captured India, they found, in all parts of tho country, tanks and rosorvoirs on an enormous scale, and somo of thorn a thousand years old. Tho wator works of Pom wcro oven oldor. Tho incas built aqueducts from tho slope of tho Andes, for a distanco of moro than ono hundrod miles, to tho capital. Tho wator was carriod part ly through tunnolscut in tlio rocks and partly on arcades on supporting pillars of mason work to span valleys, tho channols boing composed of cut stono without comont. From theso groat aqueducts a number of branch canals and conduits wore laid laterally for irrigation purposos. Tho ancient wator works at Jerusa lem conslstod first of wolls in the llmo stono ridges on which tho city was built; but as tho population incronsod, tanks and clstorns for rain water woro placed In secure inclosures and within tho walls of the temple. An aquoduct of stono laid in comont was construet- d to bring wntor from tho pools of Hothlohom, about six miles distant. Strabo montions that it was a voryraro occurrence for Jerusalem to sutler from wator famine About tho yonr COO H. C, Polycratcs. King of Samos, built an nquedtict to supply his capital, bringing wnter through a tunnel cut through limestone rock for a distanco of six thousand yards. About the same tlmo, tho poo plo of Lyciu. in Asia Minor, carried wator across tlio valo of Potrea through a stono syphon. Curthago brought wator from the hill ranges on tho south, over sovonty miles distant, and tho ruins of an ancient aqueduct may still bo seen. i ho water works of Athens wero be gun about AGO H. C, and consisted of tono aqueducts lined with baked clav. and carried almost wholly on tho sur face ot the ground. Tho nnctont city of Mexico wns sun- plied with wntor through a wooden aquoduct, built by Montezuma, carried across a cansoway. In Egypt and Chlnn. glgantio works for convovinir water havo been in oxisteuco from ro- moto nntlnuity. Takon all in all. tho olTorts of the modorns aro yot liislgnifl. am compared with thoso of tho undents Goiiten Days.