Newspapers / The Blue Ridge Blade … / July 12, 1879, edition 1 / Page 1
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'..! ' - . r i ' . i ;. . . " , " - - ' . . ' ' --..i ' 1 - " ' sMsBiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisaaaa. '" ; THE BLUE BiagB BLADE. YOh. IJ.-NO. 21 GROWING OLD GRiCEfULLT. Softly 0,1 eof ly the jears bare swept by thee. Touching thee lightly with ten lerest cue ; Borrow and cue did they often bring nigh '" ttee ; j Yet they here left thee but beauty to wear Growing old gra -ef ally, Gracef ally fair. '., Far from the storms that ocean, ' we washing the Nearer each day to the pleasant home light j Far from the ware that are big wth commo . tion ; Under full sail and the harbor in eight ! Growing old cbeerf ally, i Cheerful tad bright Past all the winds that were adrerse and chilling j Pant a 1 thcifcmde that red i to re t ( I. rast all the currents that wooed thee unwill- log- Far from the port of the land of the blest. Growing old peacefully 5 1 Peaceful and blest Never a feeling of envy or sorre. Where the bright faces of children are seen, Nverayearftom their youth wouldst. thou : borrow, Thou doet rememtor what 1 eth between. .Growi g old w,llingly ; Gladly, I ween! Rich In wsparieaaw-that angels might covet ; Rich in a faith that hai grown with thy years; Rich in tbe love that grew from aud above it ; Soothing tby sorrows and hushing thy fears. Growing old wealthily ; Lo.ing and dear. Hearts at the sound of thy coining are light ened ; Ready aud willing thy baud to relieve ; Many a faoe at thy kind words bas brightened, It Li more blessed to give than receive !" Growing old happily ; Blest, we be ieve. Those Diamonds. "JS'ow, Jack, be very careful," said my" sister for the fiftieth time, as she stood by my side on the platform of the village de ot, from which the train was about to start for New York ; "remember the diamonds are worth ten thousand dollars. " "Oh, bother, yes!" I exclaimed, impa tiently; "I am not likaly to Ijorget it. I guess you've reminded me of the fact often enough. Don't you suppose I know en ough to take care of them ?" "You're inexperienced, and I'm afraid you'll be imposed upon." "Don't you worry. But here's the train-good-bye !" and I leaped upon the platform and entered a car with a sense of wounded dignity. My sister Alice was to be married two c'ays later at our country seat in the village of B , and I -then a young hianj of about twenty, had been deputed to visit New York city, and withdraw the family diamonds from their place of deposit in the safe of a certain bank. These jewels had been in the-possession of my mother's fam ily for centuries, and were only used on grand occasions. During the greater por tion of the year they remained safely locked up in the bank vaults. They had not been used for nearly a twelvemonth now, but were, on the following Wednesday, to adorn the person of my sister at the wedding. So many cautions had been given me, and so. much doubt expressed of my ability to bring the diamonds safe home to B , that I realized the responsibility of my posi tion fully, and determined to use the utmost care to insure the-safety of "the valuable heirlooms. If, after all that had been said, they should be lost, I should not dare to show my face in B again, 1 thought. I walked almost the entire length of the car in my search for a seat, but every one was occupied either passengers or their bag-, gage. I was about leaving for the forward car, when a soft hand tapped me on my shoulder, and turning, found myself face to faoe with one of the prettiest girls I had ever seen. She was a blonde, with a spark ling, piquant face, a wealth of golden hair, and a lithe, perfectly rounded form. Rais ing her eyes to mine, she said with a bewildering- smile:-.. ' "Here is a seat, sir. See I have removed my valise." She reseated herself, and motioned me to take my place by her side, which I did with the greatest -alacrity, saying to my self : "Jack Bascomb, my boy, you are in luck!" I will confess that at that time my one weakness was a fondness for the society of pretty girls ; therefore I mentally congratu-. lated myself on my good fortune in secur ing thisfair stranger as a traveling compan ion. I was conceited enough to fancy my self almost irresistible, and 1 began to exer cise my imaginary powers of fascination upon the young lady. At first she was very reserved an. i replied to my remarks on the weather and kindred subjects in monosyl lables f but she gradually grew more talka tive, and when we had been on our way. an hour we had been engaged in an animated and interesting conversation. My compan ion was very communicative, and in a short time had informed me that her name was Laura Gardner ; that she lived in Hartford, and that she was now on her way to the home of her aunt in New York city, .where she expected to spend a fortnight She was evidently a person of refinement and culture, and I was quite fascinated by her. When I told herjmy name, a cry of surprise escaped her lipa- "Why, is it possible that you are Alice Bascomb's brother ?" she asked. "I am," I replied ; "you?are acquainted with my sister 1" "Oh, yes, she and f attended the N boardiug school at the same time. You must have heard her mention me." I was certain that I never had, but I men tally resolved that this young lady's ac quaintance should be cultivated by the fam ily in future. "Do vou remain long in New York I - asked my companion. ... "No, I return by eight p. Jt. train this evening. " . i "All ! I'rh sorry ; I was in hopes your " stay would be long enough to permit of your calling at my aunt's house," and she smiled another of those dazzlilg, bewilder ing smiles, as her eyes sought; mine. "I only wish I could, Miss Gardner," I said, "but I trust we shall meet again ere tong." . '"" 'Oh,. I hope so 1" she exclaimed. "Do you, indeed, Miss Laura?" I asked, becoming bolder ; and seizing the little hand which lay in her lap ; "may I then flatter jujseu mat me thought of a future meeting is not altogether an unnleaaant nn? I thought that I was an immensely eld nnont anA f" : 11 - - uu toMuuaung ieuow, ana that she anew 11 ; 1 tmnK now that I was a fool. irawu 10 suppose mat sue was quite aware of the fact. She gently drew her hand from mine, ut- icicu b uau-suppressea sigh, and said 11 is Dy no means an unpleasant thought, "And dare I hope?" I began.. She checked my imDetuositv. (winner "Remember, Mr. Bascomb, we have been acuuaintea dui a lew hours. mi u muugu i naa Known you a lifetime," I said ; "so pardon me if I re peat my question ; may I hope?" "You may hope for much in the future," sue interrupted gently ; "for the present, nowever, u woultf be well to dismiss the subject " Of course, I conld do no less than obey her bidding, but I flattered myself that she was considerably "struck" by me. On our arrival in New York, I asked to ne allowed to escort Miss Gardner to her aunt s house. But she replied that her cousin had promised to meet her in the de pot. I at once conducted her to the ladies' room, where I requested the privilege of re maining with her until her cousin's arrival. But she could not allow even this, and I iciuuiauuy iook. my ueparture. sue was -evidently anxious to get rid of me for some purpose or other, and I concluded that it would be impolite to oppose her wishes. As I entered a car to go down to my hotel, I looked back and saw at the window of. the ladies' waiting room my fair traveling com panion, and by her side a tall, fine looking man. They were both laughing heartily For a moment I imagined that they were laughing at me. But conceit soon came to the rescue' and banished that idea ; what .was there in my appearance to excite merri ment ? The notion was absurd ! That afternoon I got the diamonds from their hiding place in the bank vaults, and deposited theto in a safe corner of my valise and said to myself : "Now, tnefl, ine man doesn't live who is smart enough to getthem jewels away from me!". The valise was not out of my . sight that day, and when I took my seat in the eight o'clock train that evening I placed it by my side, and resting my arm upon it, mentally congratulating myself on my superior saga city and slirewdness. Presently 1 drew the evening paper from my pocket and was preparing to make my self as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, when my eye fell upon the form of a lady in front of me, the contour of which seemed familiar. An instant later I sprang forward, valise in hand, and ex claimed : 1 "Good evening, Miss Gardner !" For the lady was no other than my pretty traveling companion of the morning. She looked up, and I saw that her face Dore rat eviuunces oin-ccui T.T j.;. v "Ah, good evening, Mr. Bascomb," she said, with an attempt at a smile. She removed iier bundles and I seated myself by her side which, I imagined, might have been reserved by her in expectation of my arrival. I placed my valise on the floor at my feet. "You are returning sooner than you ex pected," I remarked. "Yes, Mr. Bascomb," was the tearful re ply. "I received a telegram only an hour ago, stating that my poor papa met with aa accident this afternoon, and is lying in a very dangerous condition. Of course I started for home at once." I expressed great sympathy, offered any and every assistance in my power, ana, in short, did all I could to assure my compan ion of the intense interest I felt in her wel fare. But my solicitude about Miss Gardner was not so great as to banish from my mind the responsibility which weighed upon it. I did not forget that I had in my charge ten thousand dollars worth of diamonds, which, possibly, some clever thief Blight have his eyes on even now. I kept the va lise tightly locked between my feet, :and I did not allow my vigilance to relax even when I was the most assiduous in my at tention to my fair companion. "Will you be so kind as to close the win dow ?" asked the lady presently. Of course I sprang .0 my feet, and exe cuted her bidding with alacrity ; not forget ting the valise, however. When I turned 1 half expected that it would be gone, for 1 was growing nervous as the distance to my home lessened, but there it sat exactly as I had left It. From that time until the train stoDDeD at B . at midnight, I did not lose sight of the bag. "Good-bye, Miss Laura," I said, pressed her little hand and arose to t he car. as I leave "Good-bye, Jack," she responded, with a bewildering glance from those wonderful eyes. I was enchanted ; but already the train had begun to move away from the village station, so I was coaipelled to rush from the presence of my Dulcinea at a tnost undigni ged pace, p"Stponing an expression of my raptures till some future time. "Here ye are, after all, sir,"saidPatrick, the old coachman, who met me as I stepped upon the platform. "Sure, the ladies have been very nervous about ye, the whole day, and they sent me to meet ye wid the car riage." I muttered nomething not very compli mentary about the ladies, as I jumped into the vehicle, j . "Sure, sor," said Patrick, a? he leaped into the bus ard started the horses, "did ye have any throuble in gettin' the diamonds s fe here?" "Certunly not, Patrick," I replied with dignity. "Well, d'ye know, sor, there's been a dale o' worryin' about ye at the house this day. By the way, sor excuse the liberty who was that you tig lady 1 seen ye a talkin' to in the car ?" 1 "A young lady from Hartford. " "Ail' ye made her acquaintance in the car, I'll be bound, sor." "Y ell, Patrick, perhaps you are not iar from being right," 1 replied with a smile. "Misther Jack," burst forth Pat, "the girls will be the ruin of ye j et. I'll bet a month's pay that girl has got tbe diamonds. " "Nonsense !" 1 exclaimed, grasping the bag involuntarily ; "you're crazy, Patrick. They are safely locked in this valise. " "Is that so?" Certainly it is. "Well then, sor, be jabers, I'll not be lieve it till I see them ;" and Patrick reso- lutely turned his back and began hurrying the horses. "Have you got the diamonds ? Has any- MORGANTON. thing happened" demanded my sister and a dozen of her young lady friends, spring ing to my side as 1 entered the drawing room. "Botherl Yes!" I exclaimed. "I've got the diamonds, and nothing has hap pened either to them or me." "Well well !" exclaimed my sister, im patiently, "open the valise ! Quick ! I'm dying to see them " With much dignity I fitted the key into iue iock, ana turned it. At first it resisted in an unusual manner, but suddenly it gave way, ana me Dag opened. I started back. The contents nf th n. lise were certainly not in the condition in wnicn 1 had left them. ny, what's this V exclaimed Alice, who had already bemn an inveatimitinn "Why, Jack Bascomb, -this bag is filled wHn.Qia newspapers and brickj l ,It'i not your vaiise at all i" T 1 ; . , . i sunn, into a cnair, unable to utter a word. "Didn't I tell ye so, sor ?" remarked Pat rick, who had lingered by the door. "And here's an envelope directed to you. " I tore it open, and on the dainty sheet which it enclosed I read these words : "My Deae Jack : was au a put up job. When in the future you travel alone, beware of pretty ouu uupruiCTjieu gins UKe I ours truly, Laura Gakdseb." I will not linger on the scene which fol lowed. The memory of it is still painful. My sister did not spare me, and I could not say a word in self-defense. My sister did not wear the diamond t her wedding, but she did verv soon afrpr for mey were recovered within a week by the detectives who were employed to work nn the case, and to whom I made the humilia ting confession of my folly. I was sum moned to New York one morning, three days after the memorable trip of which I nave told, lor the purpose of identifying a noted thief named Bill Travers. who was in the hands of the police. I found him to be the very man whom I saw at the window of the ladies' room in the depot in coamanv with "Laura Gardner. " "It's just as I thousht. " said the detpe- tive when I fully identified the fellow ; "the preuy gin wno roped you in was Travers's wife. She's an old hand. Well. VOU can go home now. You'll have the diamonds back in a day or two, I give you my word. " Two days later the jewels arrived at B . The story of the affair was in all the Da- pers, and for a lOng time I was the laughing-stock of the whole, neighborhood. Said the Herald : "Mrs. Travers requested Mr. Basconih to close the window. Of course he hastened to obey ; and while he was eneaered in a conflict with the bolts and springs, she skillfully substituted for his valise another which was its ' exact facsim ile. With tliis spurious valise the fascinating and fas cinated youth unsusncctinelv rifinartwl. XPebssePatoraX urS limited amount of confidence in the integri ty and virtue of his fellow-man and woman. Let us hope that this occurrence will be a lesson to him." It was. Couldn't Stand the Pressure. A gentleman just in from a Western trip gives a laughable account of the trials of a newly-wedded couple who boarded the train at a way station. He says as the train drew near the station the whole car was aroused by the unusual din and noisy fare wells, "wish you much joys, and repeated kissings of a jovial crowd of young folks at the depot. 1 he newly-married couple, ar rayed in wedding costumes, and evidently fresh from the final service, took seats iu the center of the car and were at once the attraction. In a very few moments both bride and groom gave evidence that there was some more overpowering agencies than love at work in their systems. The groom turned over a seat in front and elevated his pedals; he put his arm modestly upon the back of the seat, while the air from the window floated the white veil and the fla vor of orange blossoms over his face. But omething was on his mind, and he mo mentarily grew more restless, and twisted and squirmed in all manner oi ways. 1 he bride, too, seemed to have the same symp ton.s. She tried the easiest attitudes, now with head lovingly upon the manly shoul der, then suddenly arousing and looking uneasily from the window as if in expec tancy of a disaster, or that she would meet "the frown of an angry father. " Sudden ly, when all eyes were attracted te the couple, the groom evidently receiving a new and deeper twinge with misery depicted in every feature of his face, lifted his right hg and began tugging at a new boot which some wicked shoemaker had inveigled him iato buying as a peffect tit. Alter pulls and tugs wnich made the viuns stand out on his face and the arteries in his neck throb like a small engiae, he succeeded in releasing his foot, and a sense of happiness stole across bis manly face. 1 he bride sur veyed the smile, but it seemed only to in crease her misery. She wiggled, she fanned, and finally in desperation she at tacked the bottons of her new shoes with as much vigor as her lord did his boots, and one by one they dropped upon the floor. Both sets of feet were placed in prox imity upon the overturned seat, and the bride's shawl hid them from the vulgar gaze. The bonnet was unlimbered from its pedestal, and the blushing bride dropped easily upon the shoulder of her husband, and securely slept as the train whisteled and stopped and started. The passengers, relieved of all anxiety, had settled to cat naps and newspapers, and peanuts, when a long whistle was followed by the brakeman putting his head in at the door and yelling "C'resson." "Great Jerusalem. Julia! wake up! here we are," shouted the bridegroom, "and there's them infernal boo'.a."' He jumped at them and tugged and sweat and swore, but those feet had actual- j ly grown about an inch, and it was no go. The statiot was reached, when only one foot was stuck half way in the leg. The fair Julia had encased her pedals slip-shod, and as "time and tide" and railroau trains "wait for no man," they gathered their traps aQd went out just as they were, "without one pley," to meet a crowd of friends assembled to greet the newly wed ded pair. As the train started, the brake man came into the car, remarking, "I tell - ' you the boys at the depot are having fun over that couple." e are expecting every day to hear of the sudden death of that shoemaker, and to see the jnry bringing in a verdict of "justifiable homicide. fewww..r;. N. C SATURDAY, An escaped Italian artist was industrious- 1 1 - 1 - iy engagea in placing a iresco of white wash unon the fentfe of i nnrKonl I 4CB1- dence, when a man rho had looked so lone . . n . 1 1.1 Ml . . . O ujmu me uiuuui un iw rye - mat ine cheer ful color had been imnartj! tn w; i sauntered ud the street. . Aa t .v 1 . 1 , " 11 ifWV- tug a tour 01 America on loot and had a iew mmuies to spare, ne leaned carelessly over the fence, and watched ?the frescoer's " How gracefully he applies the dazzling uiiAvuic 01 BtiuCTxis uuhi ana ume, said ine man aloud, as to himself.' - : The artist raised Ms ' head,' took in at a glance the seedy clothes and general bank rupt appearenceof .Uiemar.and then re- " There is thejitligeld the piar m t nrrni TTn f rff r HI Thr iTitmfli continued the man in kffprtpH birtinn 1 he artist turned red in the face, but as he was then Striving naint amnnri an iron siauuiiiun, ne uian 1 100K up. 'The genius of a Raphael lights up that countenance, while the enthusiasm of a Murillo flashes from that eagle eye," pur sued the man. One Of the artist's PVPS wan cramp and considering this remark somew hat personal m in uearing, ne growled out : "What are VOU oivpn ma anvhnur vnn beer-jug." "Is not that last effort a reproduction of Turner's great masterpiece, " exelaimed the man, strikW an attitude ; "nr rtn deceive me?" " Tnev'll deceive von. nrnilv orwan xclinn I knock 'em both into onp. " Raid thp art.iaf scowling fiercely at the man. Ana, it im not mistaken," pursued the man, making nn onpra orlaaa nf hia hands, "upon yonder panel I behold an exact reproduction of an exquisite Reubens that I once examined in the Vatican." "In jail, more like," said the artist, the short hair on the hark of hia nppt standing out horizontally with anger".- ."Git off n that fence an' move along, or I'll paint that blossom nose till your own mother wouldn't know it. " "Descendant of the men who imnrovpd nature upon canvas, do not let your passio nate " began the man, when the artist canght him across the face with thp hniah covering him with the whitened mixture. in. ... . . ine man promptly jumped over the fence, and a fierce enzasement took nlace. in which the brush did active service. When the whitewash of battle finally cleared away, the artists head was jammed into the pail as if in search of a portion of his left ear, which was missing, while the man, with the artists coat and hat in his hand, was proceeding swiftlv un the street, his back ornamented with a fac-simile copy of iNapoieon crossing the Alps, while his faery nose looked' out throue-h three lavpra of lime like a flaming messenger of truth. With a Madman. it tv 'mp a, ginning of March, 1860, and 1 was return ing to my school, the best in Ireland, in my humble opinion, viz : Portora Royal School. 1 had come that morning from "the beauti ful city" to Dublin, where I had arrived safe and sound about 2 p. m,, if I remem ber rightly. I remained in Dublin until the last train from that city to Enniskillen, which started about 5 v. m. The short time I had in Dublin I spent first of all in recruiting the inner man, which, by -the-by, schoolboys don't often forget to do, and af terward in making a few purchases, and taking a quiet stroll. At fifteen minutes to five 1 jumped into a cab and drove to the Dublin and Drogheda terminus, where I ar rived just in time to take my ticket. I took a third-class ticket I knew gentlemen don't often travel third-class? and I would not have done so then, but having spent a good deal of money in Dublin on various trifles, 1 had not sufficient cash to. purchase a second-class ticket without encroaching considerably on my pocket money for the half year, which I did not feel at all inclined to do. However I am in the train. "Where for?" says the guard. "Enniskillen." "All right," he replies. The engine gives a fiend-likt shriek, puff, puff, and off we go. The carriage I got into was a rickety old concer j, full of cracks through which the wind came in far too large quantities to be agreeable ; however, 1 determined to make the liest of a bad matter. Fortunately I had two rugs, so I arranged one as a couch, placed my carpet-bag as a pillow, but tied up my overcoat, took a long swig at a flask which I had with me, and which I advise no one who has to travel in winter to be without, stretched myself on my primitive couch, placed mv other rug over me, and was quickly in the arms of Morpheus. A considerable time must have elapsed before I awoke : when I did so, I heard a strange kind of jabbering. I was still but half awake when a loud peal of discordant laughter rang out from the end of the car riage, and effectually aroused me. Aroused me. did I say I It did mora I o use a common extVression.Xt frightened thk wits out of me. I sat up now fully awaael and saw, at the further end of the .carriage, a man of about fifty -five or sixty years of age, of middle height, dressed in at threadbare suit, with a hat to match, and - wearing pair of spectacles. It was now pitcfi dark, and the lamp placed in the roof but " only dimly illuminated the carnage. W hen my first alarm had sAbsided, caused bvthis madman s demoniac laugh (for mad man he truly was), I became-myself again. My friend in the corner evidently now no ticed me for the first time, arid at last rose from his seat, and walked toward me. Now I can assure you, I was in no enviable state of mind ; here I was, late at night, shut up in a third-class carriage with a madman, goodness kno-vs how far from' any station, and without any means of communicating with the guard. However, I thought it best to put a bold face on the matter. I therefore rose from my seat, anil advanced to meet my fellow-passenger, holding, however, firmly in my hand rather a form idable looking claspknife which I had pur chased in Dublin ; but the elderly gentle man before mentioned, when he reached the window of the carriage, appeared to be attracted by something outside, for he stopped, put his head out of the window, and indulged in another of those discordant peals of laughter, with one of which he had so alarmed me when I first awoke. 1 He then began to yell at the top of his voice, "much he cares for that now," and other words, which 1 could not catch, in termingled with peals of unearthly laughter and seemed much delighted with his per- formance. ' Nothing daunted, I went up to him and JULY 12, 1879. : oaaea now ne was : be rlirt nnt Mnn. ueign to repiy 10 my question, but gave an other horrible yell of, "Much he cares for that now." At last he turned toward me, and began jabbering in a tone, at the same time slow ly advancing toward me ; I, however, fix ing my eyes on his. remained nprfprtlv at ill and after a short time, to my great delignt iur ji uu no wisn 10 to make a closer ac quaintaince with him. he retnrnpi f hia old post -the corner of the carriage furthest uuuiuK. j -.I A few minutes after, he haH nVwu mn arrived at a station ; I put my head out of mc wiuuow, ana inea to open the door, but -the door 'wan fast T timi mIIki 'guard," but no euard came. The. whiatie sounded, and off we went again. My friend ui me corner was now asleep, or at least he appeared to be so. and think not do better than follow his example, I txk another pull from my flask, and re composed nyself to sleep. When I awoke, the mailman wnaivrnHinr over me, feeling my pulse, and muttering auuiciuiiig auoui taxing a little blood from me. I remained perfectly ouiet. and fpiimpH to be asleep : he brouVht forth strumenu from his pocket, and took a lan cet out of it : he thpn liptran tr turn iir wtt shirt-sleeve, in order, I suppose, to bleed mo T i ... .) ; 1 t 1 . . urn uui anuw wnat lo do; 1 had no Wi8h tO be bled fnprhana tn float h by this madman, neither did I like to pre vent mm, lest ne snould become dangerous. He had nowfinishedturnin? and was on the point of opening a vein ; and while I was considering whether 1 should submit qiuetly or hit him between the eyes, the train bee-an to alapkpn mvi My friend returned his lancet to the case, ana me case to bis pocket, hastily pulled down my sleeve, and. Rf Tftrliinfr nn thp Boat' began to snore audibly. 1 remained quiet until until we arrived at the station, when I looked out nf thp tiriVi dow. and was hrartilv rlH tn fi,i ,i, T had arrived my destination. 1 got out of the carriage as quickly as possible, and calling a norter. T nsbpi him if he knew the gentleman inside. He told me that he did very well. He was a doctor, who had been mad for many years, but was perfectly harmless. He was allnwpH hr thp railway officials to travel in a third-class carriage wnenever he wished, and was in the habit of taking short Pleasure PTPiirsinna now and then. 1 was very glad to get rid of the gent, as I think anybody in my posi tion would, and am happy to say that 1 never since traveled with a mari mnn in a third-class railway carriage. The Khabar. From all we can learn, the Arabic word khabar signifies news ; and as used in India it means a method of communicating news m some extraordinary manner which, it is alleged, science fails to unravel. The speed with which the news travels is said to be greater than that of the electric telegraph; L-i'.-Kt 1 1 ' ,. . . raie, snouia yon walK through an Jad.an marKet-place to view the silks of Cashmere or stroll into a Turkish bazar in quest of a serviceable saddle, your hospitable native acquaintance will ask, "Have you heard the news of so-and so, or of such-and-such a place?" Your reply being in the negative he may probably proceed to tell you what the khabar says on important affairs trans piring at a distanee. To your astonishment you find, after a few days, or even weeks, tnat your loquacious Hindoo, Turkish, Arab or Persion friend has told you the truth with tolerable correctness The Earl of Carnarvon, in his interesting little volume Recollections of the Druses of Lebanon," makes this observation; "No great moral or religious movement can be confined to the country where it is first born ; and through all ages, sometimes by a subtle and almost mysterious agency, the sparK of in telligence has flashed along the electric chain by which the nations of the East are darkly Dound to each other. " And in proof of the existence of this potent agency, he relates that during the Sikh war (1845-fi) there were cases in which the news of defeat or victory forestalled the arrival of any letters on the subject ; and, further, that in the late Indian mutiny the somewhat exagger ated intelligence of Gen. Windham's re pulse at Cawnpore actually reached the Indians of Honduras, and the Maoris of New Zealand in a manner truly astonishing. A relative of the w-riter of the present no tice states that when in Jerusalem during the Crimean war he often found that the khabar of the bazars anticipated the ordina ry channels of communication by many days, and generally ith but little depar-! ture from accuracy. Various theories has , been adduced to account for the marvellous i rapidity with which news is transmitted or ! intercommunicated among nations who pos sess neither the electric power nor steanv power. Some even allege that a certain mysterious phychic force is brought to bear between man and man, separated by long distances from each other, in a manner somewhat similar to the revelations we sometimes hear of as given by one relative to another at a distance. But be it as it j may, there can be no doulrt that there exists in Eastern countries some means whereby intelligence is conveyed with marvellous celerity, without the aid of either steam or electricity. A Champ Miot. J Away over and up in Douglas County, Oregon, G. W. Smith shouldered his Hen ry rifle and strolled into the waods. There was snow on the ground and tracks bear tracks on the snow. Two miles across a valley and up a hill the hunter followed the trail." All at once a huge cinnamon bear appeared in tbe path, walking leisurely along. Tbe crack of the Henry, a sharp reverleralian among the crags, the thun derous answer of the beast, and the hunter took to his heels. On bounded bruin. Smith turned. In a terrible moment the bear closed and knocked the rifle into the air and its owner upon the ground. As he fell Smith heard the clear report of a rifle. Stunned as he was he thanked his lucky ! stars that some friendly hand had made it j self in the nick of time, for the bear was ' lying by his side dead. Recovering, Smith looked , far and near for his rescuer. He saw no one. Much puzzled, he picked up his rifle and looked into the magazine. He ' found but eight bullets, and the mystery was explained. In starting on the hunt he had put ten bullets in, had fired one shot, ) and so it must have been that the rifle dis charged itself in the fall providentially kil ling the bear. ! We believe in goiuz to the bottom of thiogs and theielore iu deep piougbiug I and enough ol it. All the belter if it be a subsoil plough. 1 I NEW! IV DDtDV Cleanliness is sorely next to godliness. I do not think an individual can be physi cally unclean and morally pure. One of the greatest causes of akin diseases is the lack of the use of water. There is at all times and under all circumstances a ahed ing of the epithelium of the akin. It comes off in scales, which If not removed, will close the pores of the akin and prevent the free respiration that is constantly taking place. One of nature's modes of disposing of her surplus heat and waste matter is by sending them out through the pores of the skin. In fact to essential is this to the physical economy, that if the body be cov ered with a coat of varnish for even a abort time death will occur. From this you will observe how important it is for us to keep every pore open. To do this we must bathe. I wilr not stor to sneak of the benefits to be. derived from the employment of Turkish or other baths, but bathe regu- mriy ana oiien. i-very man, woman and ohild should bathe twice a week at least, and oftener when the employment followed is such as to render it necessary. Now it may be strange, but most people don't bathe once a month on an average, and one half of those who do, do it in such a way that no good comes from it. While spong ing one's self off is better than not bathing at all, yet it is not as beneficial as it should be. It is not necessary that you have a bath room, with all the modern convenienc es. All you need is a warm room and a few gallons of water, some soap aud a sponge. It requires no skill to use them. Use the: bath if you would preset -'e your health. ! I remember of hearing a doctor tell a patient to take a warm bath. The patient afterward said : "That's the fust water that has touched my back in sixteen years." The man that will not wash him self oftener than that is a brute. Physical ly we are a nation of invalids. We can never be aught else as long as we antago nize all the laws of hygiene by our daily lives. The neglect of chanhness is one of the most flagrant causes of desease. Then keep your body clean, and my word for it you will instinctively lothe and abhor all that is vjle and filthy. A physically im pure man or woman is an object of aver sion to everybody. Regard cleanliness as a cardinal virtue. The Name and the Origin or Ca U. One of the most singular proofs ol ihe foreign importation and perhaps ol the late arrival in Europe of the cat is o be found in its various names. It is aid that none of them came from (he old Aryan source from which mostl our language is derived. Most of theib. tike the familiar chat, are connected with the late Latin catu, whuh took the place of the earlier felis, when cats drove out the former oes of rats and mice. It seems to follow that cats came into the Wjm .with the' Romans but and the animal ! M. Pictet traces the name to the Syriac qato, and the Arabic qitt, out of w hich by an eay and natur al process we make kitten. (Jitt and qato, however, are not the primitive na tive forms of the cat's long-descended title, and we must go from Syria to Africa to find gada, kadiska and kadd ska. As for the ancient Egyptian "inab," that is merely the "mew cat" and tbe "pussy mew" of English nurseries'. Here, then, in Egypt is a native ono matopoeic name of the cat, such as anv human being might give it when he first heard the peevish, prolonged note of his voice. The Indian names of the cat are not very old, and they are easily explained. The cat is "the housewolf," the "rat-eater" (though snakes are the ratterg of some district), and the "toe of mice." The endearing title of the cat comes from the land whence the most pleasing specimens of the race are also derived. The Persian cat, wild or tarae, is "puschak," which the Afghans pronounce "pischik," and the Lithu anians, as old an Aryau-?peaking race as any in Europe, "puije." The En glish "puss" is clearly of the same fam ily of words. If "puss" in the long run is derived lrom a Sanscrit word-for a "tail," there is a curious coincidence between the word used by Herodotus for tbe Egyptian cat, "the creature with waving tail," and the terra found in Persian, Lithuanian, and English. An I nrt" '"!, M. Treuvelot, a foreign scientific obser ver, has lieen experimenting with butter flies, in order so solve the disputed question as to the uae of their antenna?. He found that they could fly when deprived of their antenna;, but with some hesitation of move ment. It has been stated by other entomo logists that they fell at once without any power of flight When temporarily blinded by covering the eyes with India ink, they could fly without dashing into object", pro vided the antennae were left on, but if cut off they fell at once. When blinded they did not perceive sugar by the antenna;, but if the stump were touched with it the tiny, proboscis was at once unrolled and searched for it. When the stumps were covered with gum arabic, they were insensible to the seductions of sugar water. M. Treuve lot concludes that the sense located in the antenna? is not merely that of touch, hear ing or taste, nor a combination of all three; but one that differs essentially from any ex perienced by human beings. It is a kind of feeling and smelling at a great distance. Bosa for Food . Most persons would agree that the rose bas enough in its perfume and beauty to 1 sustain its pretentions to be queen of flow i era; but it seems that the rose can be 'made i exquisite also to a third sense. Not long ago a confection of rose petals was served to Emperor William. It was the gift of an English lady, and came from Alexandria, where the rose thus prepared is considered : a strengthening as well as a delicate dish; j but Egyptian cooks are said to be the only : ones who understand the art of preparing it, and the right species of rose for this pur j pose grows only in that region. A Smyrna house, however, exports a jelly of roses. Perhaps research might find a way of con verting other flowers besides Eastern roses into delicate food. In that case, cookery and floriculture would strike np a closer alliance than it now seems possible fur them to have. '71 WHOLE NUMBER 177.- Qne hundred and elghfy-tbres cot ton mills have been built Iu tbe South since tbe war. m A wealthy Phiiadelphian spent $1,400 iu collecting rare china cups. I'bey sold at auctlou lor $259., ( Legislator! in Missouri ars paid only $1 s day on the theory that poor pay wilt shorten sessions A ball was recently given In a mine at Gold Hill, Nevada, at a depth of 1,040 teet uuder ground. ' l- The late l'rince Henry, o( Holland, ea an estate ef at least forty-one mil lion Collars. ft The largest steel rail mil? la the (Jutted States UW be erected M Bald win, near liarrisburg, Pa. r Reuben R. Spriuger, of Cincinnati, is snld to be the wealthiest Catholic in America. .-. The grain recr lpta at New York last year show an increase of 4U,5S,SSS uushels over the previous year. , , An elegant aud palatial residence at Newport, R. I., which cost 400,000 was sold reoeutly tor $201,000. Iowa has 20 saving banks, with depofiti aggregating $2,447,lB6nd S3 general biiiik-, whose tutal assets amount to $3,"!fJ.903. Twelve thousand prli?s remain un claimed, and 1.85J,000 francs still re main 111 the hanus ol the adtuiuUtra 11011 of 1 he Freuch Ljttety. In 1351 Great Britain importer! 7lt 47(5,41 muiiUs ot tea, while iu 1870 uie loial 4111001 is ol tea reached the enor mous aggregate of 13o,6U8,l0 pounds. There are about 1500 articles taxed 111 our tariff, ami the whole product of . domestic in.tuu am u res 111 iti.l couulry .s ove.- $LuOU.O00,000 per annnui. The bycicle ruanU does not seem In 1 he least to have diminished in England and a coiiipiiuy lo niaml'actiire these nisei 1 es tin j'isc bieu organized with a capital ol $175,000 M. rylan.1 ha.-1,989 schools a nd3,071 teachers, instructing 15(1,274 pup. Is. I'lie average attendance' last year was 81,8i9. The expeudlmrs "lor the actiouls amounted to $1,693. 259,66. The payine its tor dunes at t.ie Bos ton Custom House f r the iioulli of Auril amounted to $1,423,353.41, a galu ot $200,307,07 as compared with the y'oneo,o.idui uioiitU ot last year. V Thiri liaa hAfii a gmmmI ftnaaiin fnr the XewioimUland be.il fisiiuiir. It Is roughly estimated that 500.000 seals nave been taken, giving about 10ti,000 cwts. of oil Dr. J. II. Heath, of Boston, dis tinguished sluiienl of American antl juuii 8 and relics, is III Dallas, Texas, with the hkeleioits of 31) tainous Indian wairiors, - - Mr. II. Houghton, the oldest editor iutiliyiiai tlifcul ulImLhiiu ruiwiutv. lie Sandwich islauus in 1809 by Gjueral Grant. Senator Jones owns Santa Mon'ca, which is to be the fashionable seaside resort of California ibis summer. It lias 36,000 acre?, tor which he paid a quarter ol a million dollars five years ao. A peg-leg walking match of fifty hours is the latest novelty of pedestri auisiii. A oue-leKged man In "Elmira has issued achalle'igetoall residents of Pennsylvania who have lost a teg by amputation. , The Rales of tobacco stamps at Rich mond. Va., on May lit, segregated $200,000; at Lynchburg. $181,000; at IJaiiville, $142,207; at Petersburg. $100, 000. From Lynchburg oyer 1,000.000 0011 nils of manufactured tobacco were recently shipped in one day. The area of gold mines In the Rus sian empire occupies about 2,100,000 iquare miles, and now yields yearly about 80,000 lbs. of gold, in value up wards of 3,000,000 sterling. The to tal anion in ol gold produced in Russia since 1752 has been upwards of J.&00, 000 pounds. A curious incident occurred in the course of the recent run 011 the Alders gate street branch of the London and County Bank. An enligbteued butcher came Into the bank otflje w hen t'je run wasathijfh tide and artlessly threw down G,j0 ($300C) ae "something to go 011 with." To judge from the San Francisco papers there wouiuseeiu to beau extra ordinary mining development on the Pacific Coi-st. They abound with an nouncements of new companies wl-h $5.000 000, $10,000,000 or $20,000,000 apital, Uu then. It only cos W about five dollars to start twenty millions capital in Calilorula. Laat year 1,162,525 births were re gistered 111 ihe UiiiujJ KiugJom, or 34 ler 1000 of the estimated population. whii h, In the middle of tbe year, was 33 881 .9155. The deaths registered were 710,lt5, or 21 per ihounud of popula tion, auowiua an exce of births wver death 01 436,460, or 49.242 lets 'hau the xcess In 177. ne report of the America Bible society lor 1874 show receipu.$L02,274. Of ibis amouMi $112,255 wereiiom lea cies. Luring the year, at the Blule bo ise, there were 1.055.761 copies of the Bible maijUfuctureU; printed arro.nl 145, 5J0 copies ; pur- based abroad,65,637( total, l,2u6,958 copies. Issued at home, 949.814; ahroad, 238,040 copies. ' The 26331 anniversary of th foun dation ot Rome was celebrated on the 21st or April with more than a custom ary solemnity by tne Germau Archaeol ogical iustiiu.e, Inasmuch a It was ihe fiftieth anniversary of tbe establishment ot the Institute. A iiuniberof the most UirtihgnUhed German savaus went to Rome lor the occasion. A small boy belonging to a Mrs. Stafford, wbolie nearCvrrydoM, luJ., tell miorell recently. Mrs. Stafford placed he" iwelvf-year-old daughter In Hie well bucket, lowered b-r into the w ell, out of which the girl fUlied tbe child, and, putting it Into the bucket with ber.botii were drawn out by tbe mother. The child was but tlighily hurt. It is no wonder that tbe probable ubiituiiou or electricity for ga as a lighting agent has created much ex- cituieui iu London. Tbe gas Interest there is an enormous one. The total authorized capital of the six VV companies auiounutoneari) $7000,0W. The total groes earuiugs Iu mjs last six mouths 01 last year amounted to nearly $11,000,000. fc..
The Blue Ridge Blade (Morganton, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 12, 1879, edition 1
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