AMERICAN POSTAGE STAMPS. 1
The Flrit Iuue and It Succeniort Somi
Jtare Sperlmenii.
"Tho issue of postage stamps waa
authorized by Congress in 1845," said
Third Assistant Postmaster General
Ilnzcn, as the correspondent was curi
ously examining the ease containing
specimens of tho different issues and
its contents a few days ago. "Before
that time the postage was paid in cash, j
sometimes by the sender and some
limes by tho receiver of tho letter, and
Uho schedule- of rates varied with the
distances. The chargo for transmitting
a letter thirty miles was six cents, and
the tariff increased in gradual ratic
until a maximum chargo of twonty-Hvn
cents for three hundred miles or more
was reached. This method wa9 it
vogue for two years after the issue a'
stamps was authorized by Congress.
"In 1847 tho first stamps wore issued.
They were of the denominations of five
and ten cents. Tho five-cant stamp
had a picture of Ben Franklin and the
ten-cent tho head of Washington as the
principal figure in tho design. Those
heads have continued to adorn the
postage stamps of our country from
that day to this. The stamps first
Issued was a little larger than those
now in use. In 1851 tho carrier sys
tem was Introduced In all largo cities,
and stamps of a peculiar design, cost-
Ing oue cent each and known as car
riers' stamps, were issued for tho pur
pose of providing prepaid delivery. In
that year the letter postage was re
duced to three cents, and tho old brick
dust red three-cont stamp came In. At
tho snmo time tho issue was enlarged
to eight stamps, tho largest denomina
tion being ninety cents. Tho portrait
of Jefferson was introduced on tho five
cent stamp, but tho other seven bore
tho heads of Washington and Franklin
in different designs. These stamps
were tho most popular over Issued by
tho department. They remained In uso
for ton years.
"Tho new three-cont stamp Issued in
18GI was of a light red. It was almost
as popular as its prodecossor. You
must remember at that tlmo tho threo
cent stamp was tho popular stamp or
the one most In uso, and not the two
cent stamp as now. Tho light rod
threo-c.ont stamp remained in use until
1869, when there was a decided inne
rvation in the designs of tho entire is
,sue. The now stamps wore square In
stead of oblong, and many of them
were printed In two colors, the central
design boing in one tone and tho bor
der in another. Tho principal llguro
in each design was in almost ovory in
stance a representation of some mode
of carrying tho mails instead of the
. : , .... 'pi...
heau oi some ooparieu suutoumu. xnu
throe-cent stamp was printed in blue
and tho principal figure in tho design
was a locomotlvo. That issue of
stamps lasted about ton months. Tho
people clamored so against them that
in 1870 a return was made to tne oiu
designs, which were printed, however,
in different colors. Tho -three-cent
stamp was then made green with tho
head of Washington in tho center of
the design. That stamp is of such re
cent date that Its design is familiar to
i.
evory one. a great, many oi mum
were stored away in old cash boxes
and stamp boxes, and occasionally now
wo fiiri them on lottors received at this
office."
The groon threo-cent stamp which
was adopted in 1870 continued in use
longer than any of its predecessors. It
was used until October 1, 188:1, and it
might have continued in vogue much
longer had not Congress reduced the
rate of letter postage to two cents.
Under the new law a brown two-cont
stamp was Issued. It continued in use
until 1887, when its color was changed
to tho objectionablo green.
Among the rarest Amorican stamps
aro some which wero not issued by tho
Government. Whon Congress, in 1815,
authorized the uso of stamps, it neg
lected to make such provision as
warranted tho postal authorities in
their estimation in tho issuo of stamps.
During tho period of two years pro
ceding tho issue of government stamps
the principal cities of tho United States
issued what wero known as post
masters' stamps. Thoy woro intended
for the convenience of business men
who desired to mail letters aftor tho
closing of tho post-office, for tho post
office did not remain in operation all
night in the prXnltlvo days of tho post
al sorvico. Theso stamps wero issued
by postmasters at Now York, Phila
delphia. Washington, Baltimore, St.
Louis, Providence, Alexandria and a
great many other places, borne of
theso stamps wero merely slips of
paper bearing tho signatures of the '
poetmastors. Collectors value tho
Baltimore stamp which is of this
character at f'-'OO. A stamp which
was issued by tho postmaster of New
Havon is worth on an original-used
onvelopo $300 and more. A postago
stamp issued by tho Mllbury postmas
ter, which was of olaborato design for
those days, and bore tho head of
Washington, brings easily U00 to $500.
.Washington Cor. Pittsburgh Dis
patch. ,
Aftor tho fifth or sixth year on tho
average, rasnberry plantations aro
liable to deteriorate, tho fruit becom
ing small and scanty; and as It takes a
year or two for now plants to get Into
tho best bearing condition now plant
ings ovory third year have been nd
W .vised by some horticulturists. In this
.1 way ono plat is just coming Into fine
bearing as tho other goes out
Biggs "Did you notice. Drlggs,
what tho Howler said ot mylnst speech?"
Uriggs "No. what wus it?" "Why,
that in It I showed myself a Sampson
of dobato." "H-m-m. 1 soo. Sampson
was tho fellow who slow his enemies
with tho JftW-oouo of an ass." Juno.
PERSONAL AND IMPERSONAL.
Tho Queen of Slam wears one and
one-half Inch shoes.
It is related of Jay Gould that ha
was very nitty as a young man and
fond of l'vely conversation.
The Shah of Persia considers tho
Duchess of Marlborough tho handsom
est woman In England.
A Cincinnati couple, named re
spectively John Sweet and ISIlllio
Honey, were married in that city re
cently. Edward Everett Halo says that
whon ho was in college ho and his
chum took tho first daguerreotype
over mado in Boston.
Emperor William, of Germany, is
a very hearty eater and drinker. Ho
consumes an enormous amount of meat,
beer and wine every day, and is never
troubled with indigestion.
A woman who became insane from
religious excitement and was admitted
to tho asylum at Staunton, Va.. in
1S'2S, lately died, having been an In
mate of the institution for sixty years.
She was ninety-two years old.
Stanford, Crookor. Colton and
Hopkins, tho projoctor9 of the Pacific
railroad, had not among them all
money enough to buy a supper when
they started, but by tho succoss of
tholivmn'guificent ontorpriso, they bo
came railroad kings, with a fortuno of
twenty millions apleco.
M. Jules Simon, tho eminent
French statesman, has quiet dignity,
case, a cool head, and tho faculty to
simulate warmth and gonuino emotion.
As a speaker ho steers clear of dec
lamation, and can draw at will on
veins of irony and sarcasm which ho
gently Infuses and as if in a casual way.
Noudiah M. Hill, an old gentleman
who died near Albany. N. Y., recently,
read and understood Hobrew. Arabic,
Mogrebin Arabic, Persian, Armenian,
Turkish, Hindoostan. Orenburg, Tar
tar, Estrangolo, Transeaucasian Tar
tar, Greek. Latin, Gorman, French,
Italian. Spanish. Dutch. Flemish.
Anglo-Saxon and many other tongues.
An old farmer on the coast of
Maine, In the vicinity of Bar Harbor,
watched with deop interest tho pro
jects of a wealthy land ownor, who
had built anoJogant summer cottage
and was buying up real estato right
and left "I declare." exclaimed he,
"I don't bollevo but what he won't be
satisfied till ho buys up all tho land
that jincs him."
A woman accustomed to preparing
food for tho sick found it necessary to
support hersolf. Sho tried sending
cake to tho women's exchange, but
was not successful. Sho then thought
of delicacies and tempting tidbits for
invalids, and sho has boon so success'
ful in this undertaking as to reap a
rich harvest. Tho rich and tho poor
both patronize her, and tho comfort
to hotel and boardinjr-houso rosidents
can hardly bo told.
"A LITTLE NONSENSE."
Many collego boys can scan Latin
verso who can not Scandinavian.
Train robberies aro becoming so
frequent that whon the conductor
shouts "Tickets!" all tho passongerr
hold up their hands. Chicago News.
A lion oft has a way to hatch,
A ship u hatchway has to match. m
But while the hen one ewr enn lay, I
The ship can lay-to every day.
Iowa State Register.
German landlord (to agent for
firm of wine-growers) "How is it yon
sell your red native wino dearer than
the white?" Airont "Do you think
we get the color for nothing?"
Mr. Hvdo (of Hydo & Tallow, Chi
cago) "Waiter, I want a dinner."
Waiter "Will'ze gentlotnan haf table
d'hote, or a la carto?" Mr. Hydo
"Bring mo a little of both, and have
'em put lots of gravy on it" Puck.
A broken pilot wheal stopped a
railway train in Connecticut, but the
Yankee-born conductor replaced the
wheel with a railway restauiant mince
pie, and succeeded in running his trait
into Now York on time. Somorvlllc
Journal.
An old couple woro walking down
the street tho other day reading signs,
when they ran across ono which the
old man read thus: "Johnson's Shirt
Store." "Well, I declare!" exclaimed
tho old ladv. "I wondor how ho tore
it!" Llttlo Hock Mirror.
Wife (looking up from newspaper)
"Astronomy must bo a fascinating
study. Hero's an account of an astron
omor sweeping tho heavens with hit
telescope." Husband "Yes; that's
tho latobt stvlo of telescope, with
tho broom attachment" Rochester
Budget
Lady "Whnt! lft vour situation so-
soon. Maria?" Maria' 1 es. mum, 1
couldn't stay no longer." "Why,
Maria?" "Woll, yo see. mum, my mis
tress wouldn't lot me 'uvo my young
gentlemnn to dinner, an' thoy do say
tluit tho onlv way to a man's 'art U
through his stomach." Pick-Me-Up.
"I heard you kls&cd tho prettiest
girl in tho room at tho party last
ntfrht nh.orved an Austin youth to
his companion. "Woll, I did. for a
fact. What of it?" "Oh, nothing; only
I'd inst like to know how you felt dur-
inn- tho sweet osculation." "Folt like
n beofstenk." "Llko a beefsteak?
Yes. Smothered in onions." Toxtu
Sittings.
Aristocratic but vinegar-faced
caller' He's a churmlng little follow,
Mrs. Grindstone. Only five years old.
you say. You'll glvo mo a kiss, won't
vou. Wllllo?" Willlo "los'm
(Kisses her.) Callor "That's a good
bov. Wllllo. But what aro you holding
In i-nnr hand so tlchtlv?" "It's a had
dollar mamma gave mo. Sho said she
-r.ti vnu'd want to kiss mo, and I
told her I wouldn't do it for less."
SLAVES IN ZANZIBAR.
lerrn-Klclitli of the Kmplrw'i I'opulmt Ion
Owned Ity Aran.
Togivann idea of tho importanco of
the 9lave question to tho people here.
It b only necessary to mention tho fact
that not less than sovon-elghths of tho
population are slaves. Some Arabs
have as many as 1,000. and the number
of those who count them by hundreds
is not small. The less wealthy resi
dents find the best possible employ
ment for their capital Is to buy slave,
whose services thoy let out on hire ti
tho Europeans for high wages. A
small negro boy, whoso average price
would bo $'20 can earn 20 pesas a day.
Europeans, in whoso employment these
negroes are, often have not the least
suspicion that thoy carry tho lion's
share of their wages to their Arab
masters. The blockade has not been
successful In preventing the trade In
which every ono on this const, nt least
every Arab, takes part. Although tho
selling of slaves in the open market
has not been tolerated since 18";t. it
still takes place In closed rooms
(Europeans being excluded there
from), and Is perfectly legal. It may
seem strange- that negro lnborors can
not be transported by sea. which Is
allowed In tho case of women
and domestic slaves. In spite
of the constantly increasing price
of slaves in East Africa, donkeys
are still dearer than men. A strong
workman or porter costs on the aver
age irom iuu to r'u t,Jt,w to jlio;.
Tho Surias tor tho harem are natur
ally the most costly human merchan
dise, each well-to-do Arab having
three, four, five or oven six. Pretty
young negresses aro always in demand
and usually fetch from $50 to $150.
while Abyssinian women bring as
much ns from $200 to $o00. Ihoso
who wish to possess such luxuries as
women from Jeddnh. In Arabia, have
to pay fancy prices. It needs no long
stay in this country to become con
vinced that, however horrible the
hunting of slaves may be, the present
form of slavery in Africa is not so very
much worse than tho political slavery
of some of the working classes tn Eu
rope, indeed, in many respects tho
work exneti'd from the slaves is light-
The slaves In Zanzibar do not
lire in separate villages as in tho
Cameroon, but master and slaves
form ono household. Before most of
tho houses one sees a lazy, laughing
crowd of finely-molded negresses; they
are tho house slaves, whoso lot is not
by anv means very hard. Although
the Arab recognizes in tho European a
superior, tho nejjro very often has
moro respect for the dignified Arab,
who, although ho eats in common with
his slaves perhaps would even play
cards with them still remains always
a born aristocrat Cor. London Daily
News.
FACTS ABOUT LIFE.
Merchant I.lve Loiigtr Than Otlirr nml
Clerk Ar tlui Shorten t-1,1 veil.
The statistics recently published
bv a leading life insurance company
contain many interesting points.
Americans live longer than our for
eign-born citizens.
Among foreigners, next to tho
Americans, stand tho Irish, English
and Germans, in the order named.
Few Germans or Englishmen die of
apoplexy.
Germans furnish tho highest per
centage of suicide.
Native Americans are comparatively
freo from diseases of the liver.
Typhoid fever has the most victims
in the Northwest and tho fewest in
the South, but in tho latter section
there is a lartre mortality from other
zvmotic diseases and more llvor dis-
ease, but less kidney disease.
According to tho facts collected by
this particular insurance company the
conditions in tho South aro loss favor
ablo to llfo than in othor parts of tho
Union.
The report says:
"From a comparison of tho various
statistical tables it appears that tho
occupation most conducive to longevity
is that of morchnnts. Next to those
in expectation of llfo comes farmers,
then follows In succession doctors,
lawyers, clergymen, shopkeepers and
hotelkeepers. It may be mentioned
that among hotel and saloonkeepers,
brewers and wholesale liquor dealers,
tho doaths from consumption, heart
diseaso and zymotic diseases are com
paratively few, while the rnto for norv-
ous diseases and diseases of tho liver
is extremely high. Brokers follow
next to hotelkeepers ns regards aver-
ago length of life, and then mechanics.
while tho very last on tho list, rank
ing oven aftor thoso engaged in occu-
mints classed as "hazardous and un
healthy," aro clerks and porsons en
gaged in similar wholly sedentary oc
cupation. Tho statistics show that
ono of tho chiof causes of short dura
tion of insuranco for this cluss Is tho
prevalence among thorn of consump
tion, which causes tho death of almost
one-third of tho total number."
As theso statistics aro based upon
two thousand cases watched during
the past twenty-six years thoy aro of
considerable value, but thoy aro not by
anv meana conclusive. Atlanta Can-
stltutlon.
An Evidence of Her Age.
"How old do you think Mrs. Grim
ier is?"
"I don't know."
"Has sho over got ovor crying whon
iho wishes to Influenco hor husband?"
"Yes, sho never crios nowadays."
What aro hor methods in bringing
Mm to terms?"
Sho goes for him with tho tongs
.tovo-liook or any thing handy."
..tir f . I. ..I... I j- nn mI i. ..in a "
-ChiciiiM) Globo.
FOOD IN OLD AGE.
Strict Moilsratlon Should In All Catci !!
ttm Oulillnir Mnxlm.
With regard to food, wo find from
Dr. Humphrey's roport that nlnoty per
cent, of tho aged porsons wero olthor
'moderato" or "small" eaters, and
euch moderation Is quite In accord
with tho teachings of physiology. In
old ago tho changes in tho bodily, tis
sues gradually becomo less and less
active, and less food Is requited to
make up for tho dally waste. Tho ap
petite and tho power of digestion aro
corresjondingly diminished, and, al
though for tho attainment of a great
ago a considerable amount of digestive
power is absolutely necessary, its per
fection, when exorcised upon proper
articles of diet, is tho most important
characteristic. Indulgence In tho
pleasures of tho table Is ono of tho
common errors of advanced llfo, and
is not infrequent in persons who, up
to that period, wero moderato or oven
small caters. Luxuries in tho way of
food aro apt to bo regarded as rewards
that have been fully earned by a llfo
of labor, and may, therefore, bo law
fully enjoyed. Hcnco arise many of
the evils and tr uiblos of old age, and
notably indigestion and gouty symp
toms in various forms, besides
mental discomfort No hard and
fast rules can bo laid down, but
strict moderation should bo tho
guiding maxim. Tho diet suitable for
most aged persons Is that which con
tains much nutrltlvo material In a
small bulk, and its quantity should bo
in proportion to tho appetlto and
power of digestion. Animal food,
well cooked, should bo taken sparing
ly and not oftonor than twice a day,
except under special circumstances.
Dr. Parkes advocates rice as a partial
substitute for moat when the latter is
found to disagree with old persons.
"Its starch grains are very digestible.
and it supplies nitrogon in moderato
amount, well fitted to tho worn and
slowly-repaired tissues of tho aged."
Its bulk, however, is sometimes a dis
advantage, in small quantities it is a
valuable addition to milk and to
stowed fruit. Tho amount of food
should bo divided between three or
four meals nt fairly regular intervals.
A sonso of fullnoss or oppression aftor
eating ought not to bo disregarded.
It indicates that the food taken has
boon either too abundant or of im
proper quality. For many oldorly
people the moat suitablo tlmo for tho
principal moal is between ono and two
p. m. As tho day advances' tho dl-
gostlvo poworo become loss, and ovon
a moderately-substantial meal takon
in tho ovoning may seriously overtask
them. Undigested food is a potont
cause of disturbed sloop, an ovil ofton
very troublosomo to old peoplo, and
ono which ought to oo cnromiiy
guarded against Dr. Kobson Rooso,
in fortnightly Hoviow.
SYSTEM IN FARMING.
Why It I'nyn to Make a Sorclalty of Ono
ltruitrh of Agriculture.
In an address upon this subject Mr.
Hiram Smith, of Wisconsin, spoke
substantially as follows:
There is much complnint about com
petition in various branchos of farm
ing, vet fow who aro in tho business
can got out of it safely; they are in to
stay. Tho chief point to considor is
how to make the business pay. I ho
farmor who aims to produce a llttlo In
tho many branches of farming and tho
ono who pursues only tho old mothods
is farminir at cross purposes, and does
not succeed.
Tako an instance: Here is n farmor
with 400 acres of land. Ho sells steer
beef nt $.1. 25 per hundred. This meat
was produced thus: Pastured upon
grass land in summer, fed meadow
hav in wintor and finished off with
corn.
This man farmed at cross purposes,
His neighbor, who farmed at a pur
poso, mado money by feeding steors;
for ho filled his silo, fed thorn this in
wintor and in summer had them upon
pasture while feeding a grain ratio;
then sold in July or August nt tho
best prices. Bosidos making monoy
ho worked much loss hard than his
noighbor.
Anothor case: A farmer, who read
that monov was mado by breeding
trottlng-horsos, wont to raising thorn
Then ho road that there was monoy
In Jorsoy cows; so ho tried thorn. Not
knowing how to make butter, ho sold
his milk at tho choeso factory, and, of
course It wont into tho general pool
A dry summer came; tho cows wont
dry, and, to cap tho climax, a cow
hooked his head trotter, and ho sold
out in tho fall, bankrupt. Ho had no
purpose In his farming.
The ono who studies all advance
ments, keeps stop with all tho host
mothods, devotes his best efforts In
ono direction, to tho production of ono
class of product, and plans wisely, is
farming to a purpose, and succoods.
Tho sooner tho farmers of tho country
concontrato tholr efforts on apodal
lines, tho oarllor will desired succoss
crown their efforts.
Make a specialty of one branch of
farming. Crowd that for all it 's
worth. Bend overy onorgy to bo tho
best in that lino, and you can hardly
fall to succeed. Dairy World.
"That's what you iot for poking
your nose in otuor poi-piott auuirn,
said tho clam to tho tW, which had
just loft a bit of his snout botwoon Its
sholls. "And thut's whut you got for
not kooping your mouMi shut," said
tho rat us ho snupped Mr. Clain out of
his shell und swallowed him.
Tho Amoricun Cultlvutor udvUos
farmers to grow colory. No p.ont is
more healthful, it Bys, and It should
I bo moro generally on farmers' tablo
during full und winter
A Hpotte Which l'orform the I.att Saff
Kite on .Small Animals.
A naturalist gives a very interesting
account of tho industry of this insect
Ho had ofton noticed that dead molc9,
whon laid upon tho ground, especially
if upon looso earth, woro nlmost sure
to disappear In tho courso of two or
three days, often of twelve hours. To
ascortaln tho causo, ho placed tho molo
upon ono of the bods In his garden. 1 1
had vanished by tho third morning;
and on dlirtrlnir where It had been laid
ho found It burled to tho depth of
threo Indies, nml under It four beetles, j
which seemed to have beon tho ngenti
in tho singular Inhumation. Not w I
colvlng any thing particular In the j
molo, ho burled It again; and on ex-1
amlnlng it at tho end of six days ho '
found It swarming with maggots, ap
parently tho Issue of tho beetles, which
ho now naturally concluded had burled
tho carcass for tho food of their future
young.
Todotormlno theso points more clear
ly, ho put four of theso Insocts in a glass
vessel, half filled with earth and prop
orly secured, and, upQn tho surfaco of
tho earth, two frogs. In less than
twolvo hours ono of tho frogs was In
terred by two of tho beetles, tho othor
two ran about tho wholo day, as If
busied in measuring tho dimensions of
tho remaining corpse, which on tho
third day was also found burlod.
Ho then Introduced a dead wron. A
pair of tho beetles woro soon ongngod
upon tho bird. Thoy bogan their oper
ations by pushing out tho earth from
undor tho body, so as to form a civlty
for Its reception; and It was curious to
boo tho offorts which tho beotlo mado.
by dragging at the feathors of tho bird
from below, to pull It into its grave.
Tho mnlo having drlvon tho fomnlo
awav. continued tho work alono for
flvo hours. Ho lifted up tho bird,
changed its placo. turned it and ar
ranged It In tho grave, and from tlmo to
tlmo camo out of tho hole, mountod up
on it, and trod it undor foot, nnd thon
retired bolow, and pullod it down. At
lonrth. apparently woarlod with this
uninterrupted labor, it camo forth, nnd
lonnoirita head upon tho earth bo9ldo
tho bird, without tho smallost motion.
ns if to rost itself, for a full hour, whon
It again crept under the earth.
Tho noxt day, in tho morning, tho
bird was an Inch and a half undor
ground, and tho trench remained opon
tho wholo day, tho corpso gooming as II
laid out upon a blor, surrounded with a
rampart of mold. In tho ovoning U
had sunk half an Inch lowor, and In
anothor dav tho work was complotod
and tho bird covered.
Tho naturalist continued to add othor
small dead animals, which woro all
goonor or later birrlod; and tho result
of his oxporlmont was. that In fifty
days four beetles had intorrod In tho
vory small spaco alottod thorn, twolvo
carcases, viz: four frogs, threo email
birds, two llshos. ono molo and two
grasshoppers. In nnothor oxporlmont
a singlo beotlo burlod a molo forty
times Its own weight In two days. N.
Y. ledger.
STENOGRAPHERS' CHANCES.
Tho Itelutlvn Demand Far Mfin anil
men hlmrt-llanil Wrltorc
Wo-
"Thoro is a popular though misakon
Idea that tho supply of shorthand
writers exceed tho domnnd." said tho
principal of ono of tho lnrgost shorthand
schools in this city, to a roportor tho
othor day. "Thoro is no reason why
a person who can writo ono hundred
words a minute should bo out of em
ployment Wo aro receiving applica
tions from promlnont business firms
nnd bteamship companies ovory day,
and wo aro utmblo to fill all of thorn.
A pupil by dovotlng two or throo hours
a day to tho suujoct lor six moniiis
should bo compotont to do ordinary
work, and should command a salary of
from $10 to $15 a wook."
"Is tho demand greater for woman or
men as stonographor9?"askor the roport
or as ho glancod around tho room, and
noticed that tho majority of tho pupils
woro bright-looking young women.
All woro Intent on tholr work,
bomo receiving thoir dictations,
others busily transcribing tholr notos.
and still others manipulating the typo
wrltors with nlmblo llngors.
".Men aro in much groator domand
than women," replied tho toachor. "You
see, womon aro naturally careless, and
hence mon aro proforrod whoro accur
ato work 19 required. Boys nro In
groat domand in largo ofilcos whoro
thoir sorvicos can bo employed In tho
doublo capacity of amanuonsos and of
flco boys. Thoy can bo employed
In carrying information from
ono houso to another, going to tho
bank and doing tho numorous llttlo of
fico duties that an omployor would
hardly require of a man, and much loss
of a fomalo Htonographor. If boys
would Iook woll to tholr lntorosta thoy
would begin tholr business careers
with shorthand instead of going into
morcuntllo houses at salaries ranging
from $8 to i n month, and thon
waiting several yoars bofftro earn.ng
salarlos equivalent to thoso which boy
stenographers got tho first your of thoir
employment
"Another populnr, though mistaken
idon," continued tho principal, as ho cast
a glnnco of futhorly solicitude in tho
direction of his girl pupils, "Is tho no
tion that pretty stonographors always
mnrrv. 1 havo ousorvou mis nnaso ot
th0 BUbJoct for many yours, nnd I huvo
; roun(i tmt lno majority of our yJUng
women gruduutos most oi whom uro
good-looking, nnd muny ronlly hand
Bomo liuvo remained singlo. Tho fuot
Is that us thoy nro ublo to learn onough
to supply all tholr wants, und to dress
in bottor stylo than If thoy woro mar
ried, thoy prefer to rwinula independ
ent "-N. Y. Sun.
THE POULTRY YARG.
How roSrcurr a Profitable TIHil of Egg l
Cold Wrathtr.
For very early eggs warm, comfort
able houses, proper feed and good cara
are necessary. If tho hens have to
uso all tho feed they get to keep them
selves warm, If they are not supplied
with food containing egg forming
material, and if tho houses aro not
kept clean and woll ventilated, tho
egg basket need not be a largo ono.
Tho roof of tho poultry house should
be tight, the sides well battened and
tho knot holes covered, or the entire
sides covered with tarred paper to pro
vent draughts, and tho lloor made In a
way to take no drainage from tho out
side and be perfectly dry. For ventila
tion, any plan whereby tho fouls can.
be supplied with pure fresh air with
out being subjected to draughts will
answer.
On how many places Is It a pleasure
to visit tho hen house? Although
there has been a great change for tfco
better during the last few years, tho
average hen house Is still shunned by
nil who aro not obliged to visit it.
This is not surprising, as it Is full ot
lloo in summer, and In winter la foul
with tho stonch from a year's drop
pings. This noed not nnd ought not to
bo. Tho poultry on a place, especially
If a pure breed Is kept, should bo a
"joy forever." Thoy nover lose their
interest. Each has Its Individuality,
its likes and dislikes, like all other
stock, and a half hour spent In watch,
ing them is always full of pleasure,
and seldom without profit. Something
now can bo learned at evory visit.
Tho droppings should bo rakod up,
nnd tho lloor cleaned at least twlco a
week; ovory day would bo bottor. No?
ono who has tried dally cleaning would
go back to onco or twice a wook. Tho
former keops tho houso so much nicor
und sweeter, and tho work Is so much
more easily dono that tho llttlo extra
tlmo consumed does not count. Cloan
tho nests so often that tho eggs will
nover bo soiled. Short straw or hay
will answer vory woll in tho nests in.
winter whon tho lloo plague Is not to
bo feared and fought against, but in
Bummer, llttlo of any kind means Ilea,
nnd thon a nest of sawdust orfino sand
with a sprinkling of carbolic powder
or diluted carbolic acid will koop these
pests out With thorugh donning out
of tho droppings, and renewal of tho
sand, or whatever Is used on tho floor
and dropping boards, as an absorbent,
if ventilation has boon proporly
attended to, tho houso will always bo
sweet and oloan, a ploasant placo to
visit, with noting to offond tho Bight
or nostrils of tho most sonsltlvo. -American
Agriculturist.
NEW YORK FASHIONS.
Favorite Garnitures Ntyllali IIead-GeM-
KleRimt Outnlile Wrau.
Tho wide fiat gimps and galloon
which have beon so extensively used,
remain a favorite garniture for winter
costumos, and appear in now elegant
matoltvsso nnd brocho effects on bands
both wldo and narrow. Many of tho
now all-wool suits from Paris aro fin
ished In slmplo tailor stylo, but with, a,
departure In tho shape of thoso rich
gimps nnd passoinontorles us decora
tions for shirt and bodice. Tho En
glish coats which accompany thoso
dresses nro llkowlso adorned. Thoro
is but slight bouffnncy to tho bade
drnpory, but tho manipulation of ouch
fold Is highly urtlstic.
Following tho caprices in gowning,
golden brown copper, red, tornicotta,
ornngo and groon, nro combinod with
black on stylish hoad-gour. Folds,
tufts and aigrettes of tho color of tho
background of tho bonnet fubrio form.
( tho trimmings
The now toques aro
protty and vory bocomlng. Thoy aro
long, brlmlesB, ovul crowns, smooth at
tho buck und much trimmed In front.
This shapo Is a cross botwoon a bon
not und u round hut, and Is In high
voguo just now us a doml-sonsou
model. Tho halo hat, tho "Tosca."
and tho Spanish round lints worn
lust summer reuppour In folt und vol
vet Gruy, suodo, ecru und grny-blno.
folts nro shown, with "uureolo" brims
covered with ostrlch-fonthor bands
nnd trimmed with vory largo ostrich
plumes. Gold nnd silver stars, gal
loons und pins aro hundsomoly used
on expensive bonnets, and huts. Block
ribbons with brllliunt cushmoro bor
dors uro employed with udmlrublo ef
fect, nnd pretty llttlo Quukor bonnota
of bluck or moss-groon volvet uro thia
wook dlsplnyed in tho umplo windows
of un importer on upper Fifth nvonuo.
thoso simply decorated with half
wreaths of brllliunt uutumn follago In
shaded velvet.
Tho vurloty of olognnt outsldo wraps
displayed this season Is murvolous, for
no two modols scorn alike, und tho ex
hibit appears to bo an ondloss ono. In
previous sousons In mode deoroed u cer
tain fixed length und stylo for outsldo
gurmonts. Now ovory stylo scorns to
obtuin, from tho nutty hunting jacket
end short seal cont, to tho long, sump
tuous French gurmonts of houvy bro
cudo nnd Lyons velvet, fur-bundod ami
fur-lined; with countless drossy via
Itos, niilltury coats, nowmarkota.
driving-jackets nnd popium capos and
polorlnes us u huppy medium N. Y.
i'ost.
Mush Grlddlo-Cukos. To ono pint
of warm corn-meal mush udd, gradu
ally, ono pint of cold milk, boating all
tho tlmo. With ono pint of Hour mix
two touspoonfuls of buklng-powdor and
ono toiiBjioonful of suit Sift this mix
ture into tho bowl containing tho
mush nnd milk, nnd, when tho batter
Is smooth, udd two woll-boaton eggs.
Fry in siui.ll cukes on a griddlo. Tha
rauBh muy bo mudo of either white or
yellow lonwuoul. Good JJousek4xvuu