H. A. LONDON, Jr.,
EDITOR AM l'UOrKIETOR.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
OiuTi'i y, one yreir, ---.. o.00
One copy, six nioiitliK . - . j.gQ
Ouaciipy, Unvt) mouth-,
Molly at the Gate.
I left Molly Owin tins mornia' behind me,
Leania' over the gate there to kiss me good
bye ;
She's the loveliest lass around old Killarney,
And my heart is bo heavy I'm ready to die.
I think of her face now, as fair as a daisy,
Of her beautiful hair and her pretty bare
feet;
And och I I'm afraid they'll be thinkin' me
crazy,
The fiiends that I pass and the strangers I
greet.
Now, don't you be mockin' mv grief wid your
folly,
Aud tryin' to till up my heart wid good
cheer ;
Sure there's no one can half take the place of
my Molly,
And I'm alone always unless she is near.
I'm watchia' the wild birds, and wonder no
longer
That none builds a nest without help of its
mate ;
Ah ! its only half life I live while I wander,
And I'm going right back to my girl at the
gate.
THE MINISTER'S WIFE.
"No good'll ever come of it, now,
mind what I tell you ! The idea of a
sober, respectable man of forty marry
ing a chit of a girl like that! But it
pears to me that the longer I live the
more convinced I am that men are awful
fools when it comes to love. "Whenever
they git 'struck,' as my nephew calls it,
it just 'pears to knock all the sense out
of 'em that they ever did have." And
Mrs. Hezekiah Winters settled her
spectacles firmly on her nose, as though
she meant they should always stay there,
and then: jammed her needle energeti
cally through her sewing.
You see Mrs. Hezekiah Winters was a
prominent member of the sewing so
ciety at L , and was generally first
spokeswoman everywhere.
"I agree with you entirely," said Mrs.
Anthony Evans, a meek-faced woman
who seldom had an opinion of her own,
but always agreed with somebody.
"And he being a minister of the gos
pel, too," put in Miss Sophrona Dobbs.
"I don't know what the wrld is com
ing to, I am sure," said Mrs. Eben Kick
field ; and there was a general sigh of
dissatisfaction from all the members of
the sewing society.
"I know that the duty of every mem
ber of this society is to convice that in
experienced child of her duty as a min
ister's wife ; and I am morally sure that
something dreadful will happen to those
children of his afore six months. To
think of the way she has started out
already got a new croquet set 1" And
Miss Arimintha Wright tossed this re
mark like a bombshell in their midst.
The ladies dropped the precious gar
ments intended for the heathen amid
such ejaculations as "dreadful !" "Atro
cious !" "What could he expect of her?"
"Did you ever?" And again old Mrs.
Richfield tried to imagine what the
world was coming to.
"Now I don't think it looks very well
to see the whole society swoop down on
one little person like Imogene," inter
rupted Mrs. Arthur Wilton, who had
not been a member of the sewing circle
very long.
"We had better wait until she is here
to defend herself," said Mrs. Henry
Parsons, a meek second to Mrs. Wilton.
"I see plainly, Mrs. Wilton, that you
and Mrs. Parsons are taken by her silly,
childish ways. But I formed my opinion
of her that Sunday when she laughed
right out in meeting just because a lit
tle poodle dog barked at the choir."
This awful evidence of the total de
pravity of the minister's new wife was
revealed by Mrs. Hezikiah Winters.
"Almost everybody laughed at that,"
responded Mrs. Parsons. "Anything
seems so much funnier if you hadn't
ought to laugh."
"And just to think of what she said
to me," said the owner of the afore
mentioned poodle. "Why, when I sent
and asked her to join our society she
f aid she had two little heathens at home
to sew for, and that they took the most
of her time ; but if we wanted to sew
for the neglected children
the shadow of our own church spires, )
sue wouia spare time to help us. Just
as if we wanted the lower strata in our
church!" And Miss Sophrona Dobbs
sniffed the air disdainfully.
"Now this is enough for one time,"
interrupted Mrs. Wilton. "Would that
ministers could have two wives, so we
might divide the blame."
The ladies looked bewildered, and
some of them laughed a little; then
they launched into a discussion on the
coming picnic.
It was to be the regulation kind of a
picnic for the ladies and children only,
and they were to have such a nice time,
with ham sandwiches, pressed chicken,
and lemonade made on the grounds, and
bugs and mosquitoes ad infinitum.
When the day of the picnic arrived,
Mrs. Merton, the much talked of minis'
ter's wife, went. People had said that
they "didn't reckon Mrs. Merton would
go, as the church was at the bottom of
it," and when they saw her there they
said it was "just like a frivolous thing
like her to go to every picnic."
Nevertheless, church people at L
ere like church people everywhere;
VOL. IV.
they said a good deal that they didn't
mean, and with a few exceptions, blue
oyed, fair-faced Mrs. Merton was verv
cordially treated, and her friends, when
she made them, were very true to her,
and always defended her when she ran
the gauntlet of society's tongue.
The picnic seemed a success gener
ally; everybody was having "such a
splendid time ;" and the mosquitoes had
voted picnics a beautiful invention, and
were singing anthems of praise at the
prospect of a "good square meal," when
suddenly their was a splash and suffo
cating cries, and two little forms dis
appeared under the gliding surface of
the stream that wound like a huge ser
pent through the woods.
There were shrill screams of genuine
terror, and white faces stared at the
rush of waters in an agnoy as the awful
peril of the children seemed to paralyze
them. Mrs. Evans, whose little, dark
haired boy had loosened the canoe from
its fastening to take Vinnie Merton for
a ride had, while rocking it, rocked too
far and tipped it over ; and now, while
her boy was almost drowning, was lying
in a helpless heap on the bank of the
river. Some were beginning to recover
their self-possession and were calling
for ropes, when Mrs. Merlon, stepping
out of -her slippers, poised herself a
moment on the bank ; then the slender
figure, clad in a wonderful array of
Swiss muslin and pah blue ribbons,
dropped like an arrow into the water,
and struck out with the move of an ex
pert to where little Elmer Evan was
battling with the current, and holding
him so that his head was above water,
swam easily to shore, where many hands
lifted him to the bank ; and then, swim
ming back to her rebellious little step
daughter, she carried her, half suffo
cated with waves, back to terra firma.
Vinnie, by general advice from with
out, had managed to keep an almost
continual warfare at home, although
she was naturally a generous-hearted
child; and when she had recovered
from her fright, and made sure she had
not swallowed all the water in the river,
she looked gravely at her stepmother's
soiled garments and said, slowly,
"If you don't care, Mrs. Merton, Til
call you mamma, now."
After that day Mrs. Merton had many
friends; for you can always reach a
mother's heart through her children,
and every woman seems a mother to any
child in the hour of danger.
"She was brave and self-possessed,
and she saved my Elmer, and I don't
mean to ever say another word against
her if she never goes with the church."
That was what Mrs. Evans said at the
next meeting, and as she seldom ex
pressed an opinion for herself, the la
dies for the most part agreed with her,
except Mrs. Hezekiah Winters, who
said,
"Well, I dunno ; she maybe all right,
but a woman that could entrap a man of
forty, and he a minister, kind of looks
to me as though she was a flirt."
And Miss Sophrona Dobbs nodded
her false frizzes emphatically as she
said,
"I agree with you, Mrs. Winters.
We musn't all be taken in by one good
act."
Well, to tell the truth, folks did, gen
erally speaking, keep an eye on her;
but everything seemed satisfactory.
She did nothing that scandalized their
ideas of propriety, and they had almost
made up their minds that with proper
advice she might do for a minister's
wife after all.
But the town of L was visited one
day by a traveling theatrical troupe, and
everybody was going who wasn't a pil
lar in the church, and "wouldn't en
courage no such institution of Satan."
Mrs. Winters was especially bitter
against them. The theater, a long time
ago, had led her one son from his home,
and the only sweet, sacred spot in Mrs.
Winter's hard, religious life was her
love for her boy, her baby, as she called
him, although he was almost a man
when he went sway.
The day the troop arrived Mrs. Win
ters was at home alone, and the faint
sound of distant music was arousing to
utterance the grief she had kept buried
so long.
"I'll just go to the sewing circle and
forget my sorrow by listening to some
thing or other." And away trudged
Mrs. Winters to Mrs. Richfield's, whose
turn it was to entertain the society.
Everybody was busy and gossipy, and
Mrs. Winters was listening to the re
port of the bad behavior of the girl of
the period when Miss Aiimintha White
came bustling in.
"Law me! ladies have you heard?"
and without waiting for an answer, she
continued, "Oh, the dreadful, awful
actions of Imogene Merton! Sarah
Halcomb, that lives next door, seen it
with her own eyes, and she told me all
about it. And poor, dear Mr. Merton
away on church business !"
"What is it?" "Do tell?" "Goon,
Ariminthar, and explain," were the
words from all sides.
"Well, lo begin with, my feelings is
awfully riled up ; but yon all know that
them theater fellarsc meto-day. Well,
one of 'em I know he was one because
M sT III !
PITTSBOllO', CHATHAM CO., N. C, SEPTEMBER 15, 1881.
he got off the train with them come to
Mrs. Merton's to-day, and she was a
settin' in that room of hei3 with them
windows that swings out ; and he, in
stead of going to the front door or
ringing the bell like a man, why, when
he saw her a-sittin' in that room, with
her back to the window, he just slipped
up sly and sneakin'-like and stepped in
through the window, and then jumped
clear across the room, and such huggin'
an' kissin was never seen in aminfster s
house afore ! Now, ladies, I know this
is so, 'cause Sarah Halcomb told it for
a solemn truth, and that ain't the worst
of it. ' After he had stayed an hour or
so he went to the hotel and got another
fellar, and them two walked straight to
the minister's house, and she opened
the door, fixed up fit to kill. Now J
say it's the duty of every member of
this society to look into this matter.
The minister is gone, and we have got
the respectability of the church to sus
tain. We should go immediately and
hear what that dreadful creature has to
say for herself."
"Law me f Who'd have thought it ?"
"The most scandalous thing I ever
heerd!"
"Maybe there is some mistake," put
in Mrs. Evans, wh: hadn't forgotten
the brave swimmer the day of the pic
nic. It was a solemn-visaged group that
filed into the minister's sitting-room.
Mrs. Hezekiah was to be chief spokes
woman, as she generally was on all
church occasions. Mrs. Merton greeted
them, her face all smiles.
'I had just sent for you, Mrs. Winters ;
I have such a pleasant surprise for you !"
and she actually kissed the old lady's
withered cheek, while Miss Sophrona
Dobbs muttered " Judas !" under her
breath. "Just come right in here, while
I talk to the ladies." And Mrs. Winters
followed, her withered face white with
indignation.
Suddenly there was a strange, glad
cry from the wrathy lady, and in answer
to the words, "Eddie, my boy!" some
one said "Mother!" ind then Mrs. Mer
ton went back to explain matters to the
astonished ladies.
"My brother came to-day, and in his
traveling he came by chance upon.JId
gar Winters. Edgar is traveling with
the theater troupe that is here, and they
being friends, Luke brought Edgar
here, and I sent for Mrs. Winters ; but
she came before my note reached her."
The ladies now began to feel ashamed,
but they were generous. Miss Aramin
tha said :
"If I'm the bearer of scandal again
it shan't be about you, Mrs. Merton."
All hardness seemed melted out of
Mrs. Winters' nature as she returned to
the sitting-room.
"I want you to forgive me if you can,
Mrs. Merton. I came here to-day to
denounce you, and on circumstantial
evidence only; but I'll be your friend in
the future, remember that."
The ladies by turns apologized for
having troubled her so much.
"Oh, I'm getting used to be a minis
ter's wife, and I don't mind such things,
you know."
Perhaps this last remark was ungra
cious ; but it was true to her, and there
after one minister's wife was not made
the subject of ill-natured gossips.
Wacerly Magazine.
American Progress.
The lower strata of the population of
our country, says Charles A. Speer, is
composed almost entirely of a heteroge
neous mass of emigrants, who hail from
almost every country under the sun.
Irish, Germans, Swedes, Norwegians
and Poles compose almost the whole of
our laboring classes. This fact is in
itself significant of the elevation of the
masses of native born Americans. A
prominent manager in one of our largest
Western iron mills informs me that on
his laborers' pay roll there is not a sin
gle native born American, while his
whole quota of civil engineers, machi
nists, mechanics, blacksmiths, and al
most all positions where skill and in
telligence are required, are filled by
Americans.
"In fact," says he, I always engage an
American before a person of any other
nationality, because I find them natu
rally more rapid, skillful and aocureat
in all branches where brain work com
bined with mechanical ingenuity is re
quired. I consider them faster work
men than either the English or Ger
mans." The gentleman was himself an Eng
lishman, born and raised among Eng
lish workingmen, and a man of wide
experience among workmen of all classes
and nationalities. Should we not be
proud of this evidence of growth and
advancement among our countrymen ?
Hardly a man among them who has not
intelligence enough to elevate him above
the level of animals and mere brute
forces, and enables him to live and go
on advancing by tha aid of that mind
which God has given us to rule over
such forces. Barely a century's growth
has sufficed to place us head and should
ers above all other nations in that pop
ular intelligence which gives evidence
of a rapidly advancing civilization. .
V
Ay
5
vv
FASHION SPRITS.
Watered silk parasols are the newest
of the new.
Colored pearl jewelry is fashionable
for full dress.
Venetian lace is worn as trimming
upon bright-colored Surahs. -
The latest breastpins have the initials
or monograms in script.
Sashes are tied around the waist with
an immense bow behind.
Jet trimmings are so fashionable that
the supply will not meet the demand.
Gloves are worn over the tight sleeves
and bracelets and bangles over the
gloves.
White costumes are not worn in the
streets, except in the country or at the
sea-side.
Among the latest vagaries of Parisian
women are velvet ear-rings of the same
color as the dress.
Another novelty has been added to
Saratoga toilets parasols of velvetem
broidered with golden bees.
A very stylish way to trim a navy-blue
flannel is with graduated bands of
striped gros-grain ribbon.
The wardrobe of a woman who adopts
the aesthetic style of dressing is more
valuable the older it grows.
Silk fans have each division cut in
the shape of a feather and embroidered
at the top to represent a flower.
Note paper and calling cards are or
namented with ugly scorpions, reptiles
and quadrupeds in the glossary of zool
ogy. Pompeiian red is to be the new color
for autumn dress. It is a little worse
than garnet, and that was bad enough.
It is the height of elegance to have the
gloves somewhat dark, even with light
dresses, medium tan being the favorite
shade.
Silver bracelets are much worn. They
are cut in delicate designs, hung with
numerous pendants and fit the wrist
loosely.
Stylish sunshades have "Aryma"
handles of woven grass or reed exactly
like the fine weaving which covers the
exterior of Saqui cups.
A clever china decorator of New YdL
will soon - exhibit a dainty chocolate
service which will employ the shape
and color of the pink morning glory.
Hats in the shape of an upset basket,
full of flowers, tightened over the ears
with a wide ribbon, are pretty and
unique for completing toilets of wash
materials.
Some of the new long gloves have
slits cut in them, either at the top or
half way up, into which colored ribbon
or broad gold braid about an inch in
width is inserted.
Watered silk and ribbons will be
largely used the coming season as trim
mings on velvet and satin dresses, man
tles, cashmere dresses and other woolen
materials.
Long shawls superbly embroidered
accompany all hand-worked dresses,
and are carried on the arm for use in
cool evenings at the seashore, or tied
with bunchy ends at the back.
Ihe Llama.
The South American llama will bear
neither beating nor ill treatment. The
animals go in troops, an Indian walking
a long distance ahead as a guide. If
the llamas are tired, they stop, and the
Indian stops also. If the delay be too
great, the Indian, becoming uneasy to
ward sunset, after all due precaution,
resolves on supplicating the beasts to
resume their journey. He stands about
fifty or sixty paces off, in an attitude of
humility, waving his hand coaxingly
toward them, looks at them with tender
ness, and at the same time, in the soft
est tones, reiterates, "Ic, ic, ic !" If
the llamas are disposed to resume their
course, they follow the Indian in good
order and at a regular pace, but very
fast, for their legs are very long ; but
when they are in ill-humor, they do not
even turn toward the speaker but re
main motionless, huddled together,
standing or lying down. The straight
neck and its gentle majesty of bearing,
the long down of their always clean and
glossy skin, their supple and timid mo
tion, all give them an air at once sensi
tive and noble. The llama is the only
creature employed by man which he
dares not strike. If it happens which
is very seldom the case - that an Indian
wishes to obtain! either by iorceor even
by threats what the llama will not will
ingly perform, the instant the animal
finds itself affronted by words or ges
ture, he raises his head with dignity,
and without making any attempt to es
cape ill-treatment by flight, lies down,
turning his looks toward heaven. Large
tears flow freely from his beautiful eyes,
sighs issue from his breast, and in half
or three-quarters of an hour at most he
expires. The respect shown these ani
mals by Peruvian Indians amounts ab
solutely to superstitious reverence.
When the Indians lead them, two ap
proach and caress the animal, hiding
his head that he may not see the load
on his back. It is the same in unload
ing. The Indians of the Cordilleras
alone have sufficient patience and gen
tleness to manage the llama.
AyAyA
MANY MILLIONAIRES.
Men Who Have More Money Than They
Know What to do With.
The wealthiest individual who dab
bles in Wall street of course is William
H. Vanderbilt. He did not appear as a
heavy operator until after the death of
his father, the late Commodore Van
derbilt, who left his favored son $65,
000,000. Since that time he has added
to his vast capital by judicious invest
ments until now he is credited with be
ing worth $120,000,000. This is divided
up in real estate, United States four per
cent, bonds, Lake Shore, New York
Central, Cacada Southern, Michigan
Central, Chicago and Northwestern
stock. He is the heaviest individual
holder of government securities in the
world, his daily interest account from
this source alone amounting to nearly
$2,700. Jay Gould ranks next to Van
derbilt, his wealth being estimated at
$75,000,000, which, with the exception
of $5000,00 in real estate, is all invested
in railroad and telegraph securities.
The honor of being the third largest
possessor of wealth on Wall street is
divided between several gentlemen who
touch their holdings by the millions,
and who are variously estimated to be
worth from $4,000,000 to $10,000,000.
Among these are James R. Keene, D. O.
Mills and Thomas Maitland. When
Mr. Eeene made his debut in Wall
street, a few years ago, he was credited
with transferring from San Francisco to
Wall street $10,000,000. Since then he
has met many severe reverses, but had
added to his store in other directions,
and it is safe to say that he is worth at
least $6,000,000 to-day. Mr. Maitland
is believed to be possessed of $8,000,000.
A good story is told by him, showing
the caution he exercises in making in
vestments. As well as his total indiffer
ence to adding to his vast wealth. Re
cently he was invited to take the initia
tive in improving the Long Island
Railroad property. It was shown clearly
to him that by building the new bridge
from upper New York across Blackwell'b
Island to Long Island, and a judicious
change in the time tables and running
arrangements, the investment of $3,000,-
000 would make a handsome return
Mr. Maitland examined the details ol
the project closely, regarded it with
favor, felt convinced of its assumed
success, when he turned toward hi
friend and said :
"I am getting along well in years
and want to avoid all the annoyance
possible."
"But this will add greatly to youj
possessions," pressed his friend.
"I have all the money that I want,
sir," was the response. "I have troabh
enough witli that and I desire no more.
I have no one leae it to, and any addi
tional treasures would add to my in
conveniences, I am fully content with
what I have, and I shall enter into nc
more speculations."
The Selignians also count their gain
by the millions, so divided up between
the brothers as to leave at least $2,000,-
000 to each. August Belmont is anothei
of the millionaires. He continues tc
manage the affairs in this city of the
famous English banking firm of N. M.
Rothschild & Sons, and is put down a
worth at least $2,000,0001 George I
Seney, President of the Metropolitan
Bank, is another man whose wealth it
unknown, but who is believed to be
worth between three and five millions
Cyrus W. Field has been very successful
in his speculations, his cable, Wabash
and elevated railway stocks and bondi-
having netted him a handsome profit,
Mr. Field is set down as worth about
$2,500,000.
Wall street is full of business men
whose wealth varies from $500,000 to
$1,000,000, most of whom live sumptu
ously and enjoy life to its fullest extent,
but who are daily toiling for more and
more gains. H. Victor Newcomb, Presi
dent of the United States National
Bank, and formerly President of the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Com
pany, is said to be worth $3,000,000.
His successor in the Presidency of the
Louisville and Nashville road, Mr. C. C.
Baldwin, is estimated at between $2,
000,000 and $3,000,000. H. C. Fahne
stock, Vice-President of the First Na
tional Bank, suffered a heavy reverse
when the firm of Jay Cooke & Co., of
which he was a member, failed. Mr.
Fahnestock having met all his liabili
ties, is ranked as worth $1,000,000
Among other millionaires are ex-Surrogate
Jenkins Van Schaick, F. B.Wallace,
D. B. Hatch, Henry Clews, J. D. Ver
milye, Henry D. Willard and Moses
Taylor. Ne York Sun.
Pleas Harper, one of the most suc
cessful colored planters in Georgia, has
just bought 2,100 acres of land in Ogle
thorpe county for $32,000. He does not
confine himself to cotton, but grows of
other crops enough to run his place, so
that the cotton is all clear profit.
Americans are said to have spent over
$8,000,000 in France last year for works
of art, engravings and books.
Five hundred young Englishmen,
nearly all unmarried, have settled near
La Mars, la.
NO. 1.
POPULAR SCIENCE.
Nature reports a remarkable discovers
by Mr. Alexander Adams, of the British
Postoffice Telegraph Department : "It is
tne existence of electric tides in tele
graphic circuits. By long-continued
and careful observations he has deter
mined distinct variations of strength in
those earth currents, which are invari
ably present on all telegraphic wires, fol
lowing the different diurnal positions
of the moon with respect to the earth."
A fuller and more satisfactory exposition
of the matter was to be given by the
autnor.
Some time since the use of sawdust
in mortar was recommended as superior
even to hair for the prevention of crack
ing and subsequent peeling off of rough
casing under the action of storms and
frost. Some one by the name of Siehr
says that his own house, exposed to pro
longed j storms on the seacoast, had
pieces of mortar to be renewed each
spring ; and after trying without effect
a number of substances to prevent it, he
found sawdust perfectly satisfactory.
It was first thoroughly dried and sifted
through an ordinary grain sieve to re
move the larger particles. The mortar
was made by mixing one part of cement,
two of lime, two of sawdust and five of
sharp sand, the sawdust being first well
mixed dry with the cement and sand.
An official publication of the German
postoffice contains a report on the dis
turbances in telegraphic communication
caused last August by a display of the
aurora borealis. It is well known that
both storms and the aurora borealis dis
turb the electric currents passing over
telegraphic cables, but recent experience
seems to prove that the disturbing in
fluences of storms chiefly affects short
lines, while the longer lines are more
liable to be affected by the northern
lights. There was a strong disturbance
of the latter kind from the 11th to the
14th of August, 1880. It seems to have
manifested itself throughout the greater
portion of the northern section of the
eastern hemisphere, sending off, how
ever, a southerly stream in the direction
of Mozambique, which reached to Natal
It does not appear that the western con
tinent was affected. The general f ea
tures of the disturbance consisted in
manifestations of the presence of strange
currents ("eartii currents," as they are
called) of fluctuating intensity, the
duration and fluctuations varying in
different localities and the direction of
recurrents changing frequently.
Wolves and Wild Horses.
It is said that whenever several of the
larger wolves associate together, for
mischief, in the German forests and
their neighborhood, there is always a
numerous train of smaller ones to fol
low in the rear, and act as auxiliaries
in the work of destruction. Two large
wolves are sufficient to destroy the most
powerful horse, and seldom more than
two ever begin the assault, although
there may be a score in the gang. It is
ao less curious than amusing to witness
chis ingenious mode of attack. If there
is no snow, or but little on the ground,
two wolves approach in the most play
ful and caressing manner, lying, rolling
and frisking about, until the too credu
lous and unsuspecting victim is com
pletely put off his guard by curiosity
and familiarity. During this time the
gang, squatted on their hind-quarters,
look on at a distance. After some time
spent in this way, the two assailants
separate, when one approaches the
horse's head, and the other his tail, with
a shyness and cunning peculiar to them
selves. At this stage of attack their
frolicsome approaches become very in
teresting it is right good earnest ; the
former is a mere decoy, the latter is the
real assailant, and keeps his eye stead
ily fixed on the ham-string or flank of
the horse. The critical moment is then
watched, and the attack is simultane
ous ; both wolves spring at their victim
at the same moment one to the throat,
the other to the flank and, if success
ful, which they generally are, the hind
one never lets go his hold till the horse
is completely disabled. Instead of
springing forward or kicking to disen
gage himself, the horse turns round and
round without attempting a defence.
The wolf before th-n springs behind to
assist the other. The sinews are cut,
and in half the ttime I have been de
scribing it the horse is on his side ; his
struggles are fruitless the victory is
won. At this signal ,the lookers-on
close in in a gallop ; but the small fry
of followers keep at a respectful distance
until their superiors are gorged, and
then they take their turn unmolested.
There is great excitement at Long
Branch over the death of Mrs. Kate
Griggs, the wife of C. R. Griggs, the
contractor and lessee of the Wheeling
and Lake Erie Railroad, from blood
poisoning, alleged to have been caused
by using an anti-fat medicine. Shj con
fessed to have taken eighteen bottles of
the anti fat medicine in ten months.
Stout John Hancock's chair, the one
in which he sat when he signed his
name to the Declaration of Independ
ence, now stands in St. Paul's Church
at Norfolk, Va.
fB (fham Jutted.
BATES
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ADVERTISING.
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One square, one month,
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ITEMS OP INTEREST.
The bronze balconies alone in-Wm.
H. Vanderbilfs house will cost $60,000.
The dealh rate of Paris 10 e fifty
per cent, this summer on account of the
heat.
Samuel Ward says it is genteel to eat
game of the small kind 'with your fin
gers.
The Boston Journal believes the Vice
President should be made a cabinet
officer, in older to give him something
to do.
A St. Louis belle is said to have won
$1,100 recently at the Saratoga races.
She will probably buy a pair of shoes
with the money.
Chicago claims to furnish better ac
commodations in her station houses than
Long Branch does in her hotels. Re
sult : All her station houses are full of
lodgers.
Dan Rice has been divorced from his
first wife, and now the second is apply
ing for a similar document. This goes
to show that a man may be able to train
a horse and yet not know how to man
age a woman who is old enough to use
hair pins.
Ben. Blanton, an ex-sheriff of Cook
county, Texas, and a very desperate
man, met James Todd, who had been a
witness agains him in a lawsuit, and
abused and insulted him in a shameful
manner. They separated, each vowing
to meet the other for a final settlement.
They met, and both drew their weapons
and fired. Todd was shot through the
heart and in the breast, and the top of
Blanton's head was blown off. Both
men were lying dead when discovered.
Men aud Animals.
Within certain limits the lower ani
mals are much more skillful in supply
ing their wants than men. Insects,
birds, fishes, reptiles, mammals one
re wily does not know which department
of the natural world exhibits the most
skill in supplying its wants. Let me
instance the case of trap-door spiders.
I refer to their doings, because they are
less familiar than those of ants and
bees and other creatures which I might
mention. The trap-door spider lives in
a burrow which he makes in the ground
where the grass grows, generally in a
sloping bank ; he covers the entrance to
his burrow with a trap-door, which
works upon a hinge, and which so nearly
resembles the surrounding grass that
only a careful observer can detect it.
This, however, is not all : if an enemy
finds the door and opens it, and enters
the spider's castle, he may very easily
fancy that there is no one at home, for
in the sides of the burrow, which is
lined with a soft silky substance, there
are other trap-doors communicating
with branches of the burrow, and cov-r
ering these branches so craftily that
they may be easily passed by unnoticed.
Nay, if the enemy should be clever,
enough to find his way into one of
these branches, he may still find no one
at home, the owner of this castle being
perhaps in a branch of this branch of
the burrow, concealed by another skill
ful trap-door. Architecture of this
kind shuts the mouth of any one who
would say that the inferior members of
creation do not know how to adapt
means to ends. Nor can it be said that
the power of adaptation does not go to
some extent beyond the wonders of in
stinct. The old story of the bees who
destroyed an intruding mouse with their
stings, and then covered it over with
wax because they could not get rid of
the body and feared the results of its
continuance in the hive, is only one of
a number which go to prove that in the
lower world of living things there is
unquestionably a power of adaptation tc
unforseen circumstances, a reasoning
out of results and acting accordingly,
which cannot possibly be set down to
the credit of instinct properly so called.
But the important point to be observed
is this, the infinite superiority of the
animal's operations when it does not
reason and the infinite inferiority of its
operations to those of man when it does.
It has been said that a bird will carry
an oyster into the air and let it drop
upon a rock in order to break the shell
and get at the treasure within ; a simple
operation this, and yet we stand well
nigh aghast at the birds prodigious su
periority above all that we had expect
ed, and we doubt whether such a won
derful feat can be positively substantia
ted. I will not say that there may not
be in insects, birds and mammals the
germ of that faculty which invented
the steam engine ; but certainly it
seems almost impossible to contain in
one description or definition two facul
ties so diverse in the importance of their
results. Adaptation of means to ends is
not in the case of man something sub
sidiary to instinct, and exhibiting itself
now and then in exceptional circum
stances, but it is the very law of his be
ing. The merest savage contrives ma
chines to catch his prey ; he makes his
stone implements till he sees his way to
bronze and iron ; he constructs his boat,
or floats on his log of timber ; he may
be and doubtless is rude and elementa
ry, but he is the genuine ancestor of
James Watt and George Stephenson.
The Bishop qf Carlisle.
"