North Carolina Newspapers

1 m m 1 hij (Jjjhalham Record, H. A. LONDON, Jr., EDITOR AS1) I'RomiETOK. EATE8 OF 1 is 8 Ay ADVERTISING. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: One coj-y, on var, fS.00 Mecopy ,lx moiulm j-00 One oopj-, three mouths, - . (g) One square, one Insertion, One square, two Insertions, -One square, one month, - - - fl.00 - 1.80 - 1.60 VOL. I. PITTSBOKO', CHATHAM CO., N. C. JANTJARY 30, 1879. NO. 20. Tor larger advertisements liberal contracts will be roauo. Cut - Jldvqrtisttmnts. LARGEST STORE LARGEST STOCK Cheapest Goods & Best Variety CAN BE FOUND AT LONDON'S CHEAP STORE. ired eyen Weet. You can always Had what you wish at Lon don's. He keeps everything. Dry Goods, Clothing, Carpeting, Hardware, Tin Ware, Drugs, Crockery, Confectionery Shoes, Boots, Caps, Hats, Carriage Materials, Sewing Machlnes.Olls, Fatty, Glass, Paints, Nails, Iron, Plows and Plow Castings, Sole, Upptr and Harness Leathers, Saddles, Trunks, Satchels, Shawls, Blankets, Um brellas, Corsets, Belts, La dles Neck-Tics and Rail, Ham burg Edgings, Laces, Furniture, fcc. Best Shirts in the Country for $1. Best 5-eent Cigar, Chewing and Smoking Tobacco, Snuff, Salt and Molasses. My stock Is always complete in every line, and goods always sold at the lowest prices. Special Inducements to Cash Buyers. My motto, "A nimble Sixpence la better than a slow Shilling." EaT" All kinds of produce taken. W. L. LONDON, Pittcboro'. N. Carolina. H. A. LONDON, Jr., Attorney at Law, PITTSBORO, N. C. Jfc5-Speclal Attention Paid to Collecting. J. J. JACKSON, AT TOR NE Y-AT-L AW, PITTSBOKO', X. C. tSPAU business entrusted to him will re ceive prompt attention. ft. H. COWAN, DEALER IS Staple & Fane? Drj Goods, Cloth ing, Hat, Boots, Shoes, No tions, Hardware, CROCKERT and GROCERIES PITTSBOROMT. C. NORTH CAROLINA STATE LIFE INSURANCE CO., OIF RALEIGH, S. CAR. F. II. CAMERON. PretiAtni. """" W. E. ANDERSON, Viet Trn. W. H. HICKS, Sey. The cnlj Homo Life Insurance Co. In tna State. All 1U fundi loaned out AT HOME, and among oar own people. We do cot send North Carolina money abroad to build cp other States. It Is ooe of the most successful com paalee of Its age In the United States. Its as sets are amply sufficient. All Ions paid promptly. Eight thousand dollars paid In the last two years to families In Chatham. It will cost a man aged thirty years only five cents a day to insure for one thoaand dollars. Apply for further Information to H. A. LONDON, Jr., 6en. Agt PITTSBOKO', N. C. Dr. A. D. MOORE, PITTS B OS 0 V. C, Ofara ala srorMioasl amice to tta cltlsms .1 Caatkkat. With aa pritiM of thirty ysaia as lp Ut gift atir saiUfMtioa. JOHN MANNING, Attorney at Law, HTTSBOSO', N. C, FrMtlee. la th. Coarta of Chatham, Haraatl, M.t aad Oraags, a4 la th. Sapraaaad V Cru. O. G. POE, Daalar la Dry Ooodj, Groceries ft General XerchaadiM, All kiaia of Flows and Castings, Baggy Katerials, Fnrait.re, etc. FITTtfBOIlO', N. CAB. PAPA'S LETTER. I was sitting in my study. Writing letters, when I heard, "Pease, dear mamma, Mary told me Mamma musn't be Msturbed. But I's tired of the kitty ; Want some ozzer ling to do. Writing letters. Is ou mamma r Tan't I write a letter, too V "Not now, darling, mamma's busy ; Run and play with kitty now." "No, no, mamma, me write letterr Tan If 'ou will thow me how. I would paint my darling's portrait. As big sweet eyes searched my face Hair of gold and eyes of azure. Form of childish, witching grace. But the eager face was clouded. As I slowly shook my bead. Till 1 said. "I'll wake a letter Of you, darling boy. Instead." So I parted back the tresses From bis forehead high and white. And a 8tanip In sportflpaated 'Mid Its wavcs.of golden light. Then I said, "Now, little letter, lo away and bear good news And I smiled as dowu the staircase Clattered loud the little shoes. Leaving me, the darling hurried Down to Mary In his glee ; "Mamma's writing lots of letters ; I's a letter, Mary nee I" No one heard the little prattler As ouce more he climbed the stair. Beached hla little cap and tippet, Standing on the entry stair. No one heard the front door opeu, No one saw the golden hair As It floated o'er his shoulders lu the crisp October air. Down the strwet the baby hastened, '1111 he reached the otHce door ; "I's a letter, Mr. I'ostmau ; Is there room for any morj 7 " 'Cause dls letter's dolu' to papa ; Iapa lives with God, 'ou know. Maiunia sent me for a letter ; Does 'ou find 'at I tan gor1 But the clerk In wonder answered ; "Not to-day, my little man." "Den I'll find anozzr office ; 'Cause 1 must go If I tan." Fain the clerk would have detal tied hint, But the pleading face was gone. And the little feet were hastening. By the busy crowd swept on. Suddenly the crowd was parted, People fled from left to right,. Asa pair of maddened hores At that moment dashed in sight. No one aw the baby figure; No one saw the golden hair. Till a voire of frightened aweeineM Kang out on the autumn air. 'Twas too late a moment only Stood the beauteous vision there : Then the little face lay lifelesn. Covered o'er with golden hair. Reverently they raised my darling. Brushed away the curls of gold, Saw the stamp uin the forehead. Growing now so Icy cold. Not a mark the face disfigured, Showing where a foot had trod ; But the little life was ended Papa's letter." was with find. THE ETCHIN DIAMONDS. Arthur Stan gate, attorney-at-law, was my brother, lie had succeeded to my father's business, and no name was mure esteemed and trusted in all Runmngton, and it was a rich and important place. My brother's offices were in the town, two miles distant, but he did almost as much business among the gentry at his own private house. Most of the great folks employed him; but his best client was sir i,tchin Jxkforu, a ci-devant Indian judge, very wealthy. and the possessor of some rare and costly jewels, known in this country as the Etchin diamonds. Their name even makes me shudder now. One evening, as Arthur was prearing to return to his office, where important business would detain him all night, Sir Etchings groom left a parcel, with a note. The latter stated that the former contained the famous Etchin diamonde, which their owner thought safest to entrust to Ar thur's care, as he bad been unexpectedly called to London. I don't care what deeds they leave with me," said my brother; "but I don't like 6uch trusts as these. Still, I suppose I must keep them." Of course he could not send them back; so taking the parcel he at once proceeded to his study to lock it in the iron safe. I went with him, and with a woman's curi osity and love for jewelry, besought a peep at the gems before they were put away. Arthur, the best brother in the world, instantly removed the paper cover discov ering a square morocco box, brass bound, with the key tied to the handle. Opening it, he showed me the gems. They were, indeed, magnificent, set in massive Indian fashion, while many of the diamonds were yet uncut. One by one, bracelets, bangle, necklets, Arthur lifted, and flashed in the lamplight before my dazzled vision. lie was holding a superb emerald and diamond necklace in his hand, for my admiration, when happening to raise my eyes, a cry of alarm burst from my lips, "What is it, Nell?" asked Arthur. The man!" I replied. "See, the window is uncurtained, and I am sure I saw a man looking in from the tree out side." 'Nonsense! ' cried Arthur. Nevertheless, he flung up the window, called, and gazed in every direction. There was nothing not a sigh, not a sound; and assured as I was that I had been mistaken, he fastened the latch, and dropped the curtain. As, however, he was about to put away the diamonds, I said, "Arthur would it not be better to place them in the safe in your bed-room ?" He agreed in the advisability, and locked them up; then, having cautioned me to see well to the house-fastenings, and asked again if I was not really fright ened to remain alone all night with only the servants Jane and Jenkins, he left for town. I saw everything secure and went to bed early, locking Arthur's bed room, and taking the key with me. It was long before I slept. "When I did, I was almost immediately aroused by a slight sound at my door. I asked who was there. Jane's voice answered in a cautious whisper. Seeing something was wrong, rising, I admitted her. No sooner had she entered than, quickly closing the deor, she fastened it and exclaimed, in accents of terror: "Oh, miss! what shall we do? For nfercy's sake make no noise don't get a light. Burglars are; breaking into the house, and I'm sure Jenkins is their accomplice." 4 'Burglars!" I cried. Then the thought of the face flashed across me. "Gracious powers!" I exclaimed; "they are after the Ciicnin diamonds 1 I saw it all. The groom's errand had been divined; my brother's absence was known, and, by Jenkins' treacherous aid, the place was being attacked. I dropped stunned on the bed. Then I started up. At any cost even life the diamonds intrusted to Arthur must be saved. Hur riedly I dressed, and while doing so, I heard the soft sound of persons moving in the house. "Jane," I said, having explained all to the faithful girl, "1 must get Sir Etchin's diamonds." "How, miss? If you go into the passage they'll murder you." " True; therefore I must get out by the window. They will not hear me, for they believe the box is in the study, and it will take them long to discover their mis take." Opening the window, I got out on the veranda. How fearfully it sloped ! Could I do it ? Yes. by pressing my feet against the gutter. Slowly I went, foot by Toot, until I reached Arthur's window. My heart leaped as I found it unfastened. Quickly I entered, opened and relocked the iron safe, and with the diamonds, more slowly and with greater difficulty, returned. Reaching my own room I did not enter; for what could two helplces women do against strong, evil men, bent on plunder? Indeed, 1 ordered Jane toteara sheet into threads, having attached which to the box, 1 bade her to lower it to me. after I had descended by the trellis. bhe aid as 1 directed, then joined me, we carried the box between us as we ran from the house. We had not gone a dozen yards before the dread of pursuit and having the dai- monds wrested from us, possessed me. "Jane,' I said, "this will never do. Let us make for the hollow oak. We can put the box in that; they'll never rind it before help comes. Hastening in the direction together, we managed to raise the box high enough to reach the hole, and I toppled it in. It fell with a heavy thud. I knew it was safe, I then told Jane to run to Hawthorne's, the nearest house, arouse the people, and bring some of the male servants back. She wanted me to go with her, but I dared not leave the neighborhood of the tree, iest any miserable chance should occur of the burglars rinding the treasure. Crouch ing among the bushes soipe yards off. I bade the girl to hasten. Scarcely had she gone than a noise in the house attiacted my attention. My tlight with the j'-wels was discovered. My heart stood still, and the blood in every vein turned cold. With Jenkins there were three of them. Through the darkness, I could see that they were beat ing and searching the bushes. The' had guessed we could not carry the box far, and evidently were in hics of finding it before help came. Twice, thrice, they approached so near to where I was that my hair stood on end. The fourth time it was Jenkins himself I knew him, despite his craje mask that drew aside the branches and discovered me. With a cry I endeavored to fly, but the burglars instantly secured me. Hardly can I descrilx; t!.e scene that followed. It makes mv flesh now creep with terror, They looked around for the lox, and not linding if, with awful oaths and threats bade me say where it was. My only re ply was to shriek aloud, until they checked me by blows, and finally by placing a re volver at my bead. 1 implored mercy; but l remained iirm. 1 leit my senses leaving me; the, too, saw it, and by twist mg.my arms to create exquisite torture aroused me. At last one exclaimed: "It won't do to tire. It'll bring others upon us. Gag her and take her along Jto the lake! To the lake! What were they going to do? Drown me? Mv brain swam; but I resolved to remain firm, and save the dia monds. Reaching the edge of the water, the villians, taking me by the shoulders. laid me back in the lake, pressing my head leneath the wat er. My mouth being gagged I could not cry out, and never shall 1 forget the horrible eensation. Surely I felt dead then! Ever' few seconds they raised me to de mand the whereabouts of the diamonds, I answered by a shake of the head. 1 low long ail this lasted I cannot tell; but ab ruptly a fearful noise sounded in my ears. I felt the water was rolling over me, and I was conscious no more. The immersion caused the most curious sensation I ever felt in my lile before I became unconscious. Mv breath went and came at fitful intervals, and I had a painful sense of smothering or suffocation which paralyzed my brain and deadened all power of volition. I could not sreak for the life of me, neither was I able to offer the slightest resistance to my would be murderers. When I came to, I was in my own room Arthur was near me, and the first words he said were: "My brave Nellie! You have saved the Etchin diamonds. The help Jane brought arrived just when the ruffians flung you into tne lake; but they are all cap tured: It was a considerable time before morongniy recovered trom the nervous fever that awful nieht occasioned. One day Arthur came to me smiling and said: "See, darlinjr!" he said, "thwe villians brought a few threads of silver to your hair, but" and he held up a magnificent bracelet "they have put gold on your wrists. The baronets ask you to accept this for your bravery in preserving the Etchin diamonds' We suppose that ludicrous thing will continue to occur during church time. Everj- body has seen them and smiled at them. The last in stance that has come to our knowledge is that of a clergyman in C , who while preach ing a few Sunday evenings since per ceived a man and woman under the gallery in the act of kissing each other behind a hymn-book. Instead of be coming excited at tbe spectacle or losing temper, he beamed mildly at them over his spectacles, and when the young man had kissed her the fifteenth time, he merely stopped short in the middle of '-thirdly," and offered a fervent prayer in behalf of "the young man in the pink neck-tie and the maiden in the blue bonnet and gray shawl, who were profaning the sanctu ary by kissing one another in pew seventy-eight." (The young woman pulled her veil down, but the young man got angered. Every body else smiled. A GOOD FATHER. Dr. Graham having passed a verv creditable examination before the Army Medical Board, was commis sioned as assistant surgeon in the United States Army in 18, and or dered to report for duty to the com manding officer at Port McKavett, Texas. There were no railroads in the western country at that time, and the usual way ot getting to Texas was by the Mississippi river to New Orleans. and then crossing the Gulf to stage it up through the btate. Dr. Graham was very desirous ot examining the Western country mineralogicallv. so applied and received permission from the War Department to go by way of Arkansas and the Indian Territory to his post. On his arrival at St. Louis he shipped the greater part of his baggage by way of the river, and, taking only what he could carry on horseback, started on his journey. While in St. Louis, at the Planter's Hotel, he formed the C quaintance of a gentleman who, learn ing where he was going, gave him a letter of introduction to his brother. who was a farmer, living on his route in Arkansas. It is not necessary for us to follow him on his road, or tell what discoveries he made in the inter est of science; sufficient it is that one day towards dusk, he reached the house of the gentleman to whom he had the letter, and, dismounting, knocked at the door and presented his letter to the judge (even in those days every one was a juoge in AXKansas), wno would not have needed it to have accorded him an oien-handed welcome; for tra vellers were a God-send, and news was as much sought after then as now. After a short visit, he proposed to go on to tne next town, about tour miles off. where he intended to put uo for the night. The Judge would not listen to his leaving, and was so cordial in his desire for him to stav that he would have been rude not to have done so. The Judge, after directing one of the servants to attend to his horse, invited nun into me dining-room, where ne was introduced to the wife and daugh ter of his host, and also to a substantial western supper, to which he did ample justice. After supper they adjourned to the parlor, and he entertained his new made fiiends with the latest news from the outside world. The Judge brewed some stiff whisky punch, which Gra ham, socially inclined, imbibed quite freely. I he old couple retired, and left their daughter to entertain him; and whether it was the punch or what, at all events he made hot love to her, and tiuany asked her to be his wife and go to Texas with him, to which she con sented. She, being very unsophisti cated and innocent, took everythiag he said in downright earnest, and with her it was a case of -'love at first sight." But I am anticipating. During the night our friend, the doctor, woke up and remembered what he bad said, and it worried him; but he said to himself, after emptying his water pitcher, -'Never mind; I'll make it all right in the morning. I must have made a fool of myself. She's lovely, but what must she think of meV and rolled over and went to sleep again. Morning came, and upon his going down to the parlor, he found the young lady alone, for which he blessed his lucky stars, and was just about to make an apology, when she said: "I told mamma, and she said it was all right,7 at the same time giving him a kiss which nearly took his breath away. "Papa is going to town this morning, dear, and you ride in with him and talk it over; but he won't ols- ject. I know." "But, my dear miss, I was very fool ish,and ;' "No, indeed, you were all right." "Well, I will go to my post and re turn for you, for I must go on at once."' "No; I can go with you." "You won't have time." "Oh yes I will. Papa will fix that. It would be such an expense for you to come back all the way here." "But I have no way of taking you.'' "I have thought of that; that does not make any difference. Father will give us a team." With nearly tears in his eyes he went into breakfast, to which at that mo ment they were both summoned; but. alas! appetite he had none. It was not that she was not pretty and nice; but he thought what a confounded fool she must be not to see that he wanted to get oat ot it. But it was no use. When the Judge started for town, Dr. Graham was sittine beside him. The Judge saved him the trouble of broach ing the subject by starting it him self. "I always, young man, give Nell her own way; so it is all right; you need not say a word." "But I've got to go on to-day." The old Judge turned his eyes to ward him. He had an Arkansas bowie in each, and one of those double-barrel shotgun looks, as he said, "You ain't a trying t get out of it, are yon?" The Doctor, taking in the situation, said, promptly, all hope being gone. "No, sir." That's right. I will fix everything for von. give yon that black team of mine and a light wagon to carry your wife's things" (here the Doctor ahud dered), "and a thousand as a starter. Yon can be married to-night and leave early in the morning. That'll suit, won't it." "Yes, sir," answered Graham faintly; but on the Judge turning to ward him. he said. "Yes. sir, cer tainly." "After you get fixed at your post will comedown and pay you a visit. have been thinking about selling out and moving to Texas for soma time it's getting crowded here, and things are a-moving as slow as 'lasses in win ter time., Things were arranged as the old Judge said. The marriige took place and the armv received an addition to its ladies in the person of the Arkansas Judge's daughter, and Dr. Graham has never regretted the obduracy of his I ' father-in-law or the nnsonhisticfttflrl- ness of his wife. Harper's Magazine, for January. A HOUSE OF RESCUED CHILDREN. About six hundred children of both sexes are taken care of at the House of Refuge, in this city, partly at the ex pense of the State, partly at the cost of me city, ana partly by contributions of arge numbers ot charitable oeonle. many of whom are now dead. They have been placed in the House, in large proportion, through committal by the Courts of this and other counties as juvenile offenders against the laws. and, in many instances, at the solicita tion of parents or other guardians be cause the children were unmanageable outside. They are in course of disci pline to draw them away from evil companionship and evil ways, and of training in habits of order, cleanliness, obedience and industry, ajid they are being instructed in the elements of a common school education, in regular worn at, iraoes or otner useful occupa tions, and in good morals, with the beneficial surroundings of home in fluences. To make an inspection of this insti tution the Board of Managers sent invitations to Senators and members of the Legislature, the Judges f the Courts of that part of the State entitled to commit juvenile offenders to the House, and a number of citizens who have shown earnest interest in tbe welfare of its inmates; and about seventy of these assembled at the House of Refuge yesterday. It was the design of the Managers to show their official and other visitors the nature and objects of the institution; how it is in its essence a reformatory school and not the prison some suppose it to be; how its methods for the reform of its inmates are carried on; and what are its results in the wav of rescuing the children committed to its care from their former surroundings of neglect, vice and crime, and in putting them on the way to becoming well-behaved and useful men and women in their after life. So far as this design could be promoted by explanation and opportu nity tor inspection, it was accomplished yesterday during a most interesting visit and inspection, lasting from four to five nours, through the dormitories, dining-rooms, school-rooms, work shops, chapels and play-grounds, the inmates being all assembled, the boys in their departments and the girls in theirs. The visitors saw some six hundred children, clean in their persons, com fortably, though plainly and inexpen sively clad; obedient, orderly and en tirely manageable in their deportment; bright and happy, if their expression and action may be taken as proof; and advancing in school education and knowledge of useful wotk, so as to pas ses some of the means of which they had been formerly deprived for taking earo of thomsel vea when they ahall an out to the duties and responsibilities of life. The attention of the visitors was then called to what was the condition of these children, and to the evil fate that must inevitably have been theirs, it they bad been left to run the course they had entered. Some of them had parents that neglected them and al lowed them to run wild; some had help less parents that could do nothing for them; some had drunken and debased or criminal parents, who taught them nothing but their own evil example; some had no parents, nor any one to look after them and all of them had been surrounded by some form of demoralizing influence that led them into vicious habits or offences against the law. Very few of 'them had what the rest of the world call "Home." Within the shelter of the Refuge all this had been changed. Those had a home that never knew home before; they were clean, who had never been clean in their lives until they entered the Refuge; they were tidy and comfortable who had never known such a thing as a whole or wholesome garment; they were at work who never understood tne meaning ot useful industry; they were seeing the light of education who had been in the dense darkness of ignorance, and they were surrounded by good influence whose ears had been habituated to coarse, foul and shocking talk of every description. More than this, society had been relieved, not only irom the pests these boys and girls were, but from their future progeny, who, in accordance with known results, must have,mult.iplied the census of vice and crime. Possibly it may not have been strictly necessary for the Managers to make this special exhibit of the nature and the beneficent work of their institution, but itjwas well to do so, as it has not heretofore been as well understood oy the Legislature as it must certainly be hereafter through the Senators and members who made the visit yesterday. These, we believe, saw that tne insti tution needs tne fostering encourage ment of the State for the good of the State, as well as for the individual good of the rescued children within the shelter of its walls. Philadelphia ledger. The Giffard great captive balloon. in Paris, ws disinflated a few days ago without accident. The following sta tistics in connection with the enter prise maybe interesting. The Tuil leries grounds were opened to the public during KXi days, but the balloon was unable to work, owing to the state of the atmosphere, during thirty days. The number of ascents was 1023, the number of passengers 34,000. Tbenum ber of pioneer balloons sent np 25. Du ring this period the sum of 840,000 francs was collected. The expenses of building tbe balloons, of machinery, and working, reached about 500,000 francs, so that the enterprise was a financial success. An Irishman, upon his arrival in the United States, noting tbe great number of military titles, exclaimed, "What a power of a battle has been fought near here where all the privates was kilt'" CONFISCATION OF THE AMERICAN PATENTS. Hitherto one of the special features. and, we believe, special permits, of the American patent system has been the issuing of patents for invention with out restriction or drawback in the wav of after charges or conditions. An in ventor applies for a patent, and, if his claim is good, the patent is granted; and there the matter rests for the allotted term of years. The patentee can sell or transfer his right the same as other property. He is not obliged to develop the invention commercially, nor to pav any more fees. If through disinclina tion or inability the patent is not used, the right to use it is not forfeited. Of course the presumption is that the great mass of patents, if workable, will be worked, and the country will begin to profit thereby without delay. If not, the life of the patent soon expires. and the invention falls into the common slock of knowledge, to be used or ne glected as its value may determine. uur readers are aware that in the proposed amendment of the patent law (Senate Bill 300, section xi.) an attempt is made to abolish this feature of the law. The reasons for so doing are suc cinctly stated in the report of the Patent Committee submitted to the Senate March 8. We quote: One inconvenience of the enormous increase in the number of patents grant ed is that many of them are for things of inconsiderable practical utility. Such patents are not merely useless, they stand in the way of every future inventor who may wish to make an ad vantageous use of some little feature which forms an incidental part of them. There are really obstructive intents; the thing they describe is useless in itself; they do not disclose an invention which will be so valuable when the practical difficulties of applying it have been overcome as to lead any one to spend time and money in the endeavor to overcome them; they lie dead and useless, practically abandoned as worth less by their owners. Such patents have no reason for existence, for they neither constitute nor create any pro gress in the useful arts. Something can be done in instituting a better ex amination when they are granted, but not much, for attempts at the outset to judge of the degree of future useful ness are found by experience to lead to fatal mistakes. The examination must be confined to the question of novelty. "Section 11 undertakes to extinguish these worthless patents, by requiring the payment of a fee of &50 when the patent is about four and one-half years old, and $100 when it is about nine and one-half years old. The sums are large enough to make an owner think twice about paying them for a patent which, after four or nine years' trial, holds out no prospect of usefulness, while at the same time they are not too onerous for patents of any value. The plan is in use in England, and in a modified form on the continent of Europe, and judg- tries will probably extinguish one-half of the patents granted. It will take hold of just those patents which, use less themselves, reappear in the form of reissues, and cause those annoyances for which the worthlessness of the in vention and not the ability to obtain the reissue is really responsible." This reason we hold to be clearly fallacious at several points. Grant that many patents are of in considerable practical utility, shall we therefore rob the inventor of that little because it is small? How can a patent, or the idea which it covers, be justly called worthless and at the same time desirable to another? A.'s patent is undeveloped and worthless. Why J5ecause 15. wants to use it! "It is naught, it is naught." saith the buyer. Shall the government, therefore, agree with him to the detriment ot tne owner t If a patent really lies "dead and use less, practically abandoned as worth less" by its owner, will it be killed any deader by legislative enactment? A patent that is dead through inherent worthlessness is as incompetent of harm as an v other worthless bit of paper. If it has lite enough to be an object of de sire to anybody, there is no reason why the would-be user should not pay for the privilege of owning or using it. There is no danger that he will pay more than he thinks it is really worth to him. lnt, it is argued, itisdesirable to get out of the way patents that are worth less and yet may be reissued and so become troublesome, will tne reissue of a patent on an inherently worthless invention give it force and vitality i It sometimes, indeed quite fre quently, happens that an invention is "practically" worthless lor many years, not through its own demerit, but be cause the inventor foreruns bis time. Financial success implies an immediate demand, which does not always exist for an invention that is radically novel and valuable. The invention, even when unprofitable, may greatly hasten the social or industrial changes which in after years will make it a great pub lic benefit and also a source of profit to the owner. Shall we, therefore, punish the inventor by confiscating his pro perty because be invented too soon i In how many cases is the inventor urged on by the hope of ultimately educating the community np to the use of his invention, though tbe immediate prospect is black enough, and so is en couraged to make and develop his in vention to his own cost through many years? Take away the assurance that his patent once gained will hold his right until the community grows up to the appreciation of it, and you take away one of the strongest inducements to invent. "Even if I die before my reward comes,' the inventor says, "the patent will remain as a legacy to my family." Very often it is all he can hope to leave them. There is another way of looking at this question. Suppose if true that a certain per centage of the patents issued are at once worthless and a hindrance to the progress of the arts. How large is that per centage? There are in force to-day. say, 100,000 patents; we believe that the actual number is even greater than that. How many of them are a source of "annoyance" through patent litigations and the like? To say one per cent, would be a gross exaggeration, and certainly not more than half of these would have fallen under the ex terminating influence of the proposed rule had it been in operation. Accordingly, to get rid of a few patents, alleged to be mischievous, it is proposed to subject the entire class of future patentees to penalties at once uncalled for and unjust. Grant all that is charged against the "worthless" patents, so called; to get rid of them by such mesns would be paying al together too much for the whistle. Scientific American. A Pittsburg justice has decreed that a flag pole in a public highway, even with the glorious stars and stripes flying from it, is a nuisance and must come down. It is believed that the Colorado potato-beetle is abandoning the culti vated potato and returning to what has been discovered was its first love the bull-nettle. Mr. James T. Fields, in his lecture on the poet Byron, says that the late Dr. Lyman Beecher became so inter ested in the author of "Childe Harold," and so eager to help him morally, that he thought at one time of going to Eu rope to convert the poet. The Boston Traveller complains that the streets of that city are not swept, and says that there are men and women, too, in the city who are wear ing old clothes because the streets are not in a suitable condition to allow them to wear better garments. Herr Walther has given his library of Goethe literature to the Goethe So ciety of Vienna. It contains over 400 works, many of which are rare editions of the poet's writings, publications concerning him and translations of his poems into various languages. In Australia the telegraph wires are preserved irom being tampered with by having a device attached which conveys an electric current to any one who touches them. Thousands of miles of wire are thus protected without w atching, the natives being in terror oi tne poies. The San Francisco schools, among many other good things, have a corps of twenty-two substitute teachers. TLey are paid S3 a day for actual service in a primary class, $4 in a gram mar class, and $1.50 for remaining at the office half a day to answer calls. They report regularly every morning at the rooms of the board and are sent out to various schools on the receipt of telegraphic signals. An old gentleman in Key AVest took his son's watch to show him how easily he could be robbed,- and then asked him the time. The yonng man was uisirewseu to flui uia been stolen. "Never mind," said his father, "I took it to show you how easily you could lose it; here -it is."- But as he felt in his pocket to return it, he was surprised to find that some thief more adroit than himself had taken it. An eager and unknown young man called upon a clergyman in Warren, R. I., a day or two ago, and said he wished him to marry him to a young lady later in the day, and had set his heart uiKn o as the fee that he should pay for the important service; but, un fortunately, he had but $3, and wonld like to borrow 92 of the clergyman to put in the envelope with it. The clergy man was worldly wise, and the youth went away without the $2. And he did not come back to be married. The Government of Honduras is making great efforts to develop the agricultural resources of the country. Coffee planting has been vigorously carried on, and the Government makes free grants of land to all persons de sirous of undertaking the cultivation of coffee, of sugar or of cocoa, and gives free transport of the necessary material and labor to the site of the grant. Besides these advantages, planters are exempt from military service, and all implements and ma terials necessary for the use or forma tion of plantations are admitted into the country free of duty. Strangers are admitted to the same privileges as citizens of the republic. Dean Stanley has returned after his active and agreeable visit to the United States, where he met the sort of reception any person who knew the country could have told him was in store. But telling differs from realis ing, and in the realization the Dean appears to nave oeen anite surpnaeu and gratified. There are few who would be greeted more warmly; for the tone of the Dean's mind is somewhat akin to that pervading the United States, while he is the scion of a great family and the dignitary of a Cathedral hallowed in American thought. In that position Dean Stanley had the opportunity of paying many attentions to American ecclesiastics and men of note; and he did so, not to curry favor, but because he liked the people. lie is both respected and admired in the United States. Anyo-Amencm limet, London. Although the late ex-King of Han over had the grievous affliction of blind ness, he ha1 also a great consolation in the ierson of his eldest daughter, Princess Frtderica. This lady was his constant companion, leading him and sketching for him with ber kind voice all interesting persons and things sur rounding them. The king would enter a museum or other public place like a man with good eyes, and, when on hi.- daughter's arm, never failed to return salutes addressed to him, from what evtr direction they might come. It was evident that there was some sys tem of telegraphy known to the two, and from long habit the king had be come so expert that he rarely made a mistake. At a soiree he w as led up to the host or hostess, bowed at the right moment, and went through the cere mony with all the ease of a man who could see. If m m m if m Hi I it: ft 1M