North Carolina Newspapers

iic Cijatljam Record. Sl)e Chatljato Rccorb H. A. LOS no , fiDITOR AND PROPBTTOE. BATES Ay ADVERTISING One square, one insertion $1.06 On square, two insertion s. . . . 1.(0 One square, one month. ..... . 2 50 FEUiJS OF SU0S6RIPTI0n9 $1.59 PER YEAR . ' Sf icily in Advance. VOL. XXII. PITT8BORO, CHATHAM COUNTY, N. C, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19. 1899. NO. 8. .-For larger aJvertiaejijii'V llooi contracts will be madeX") t'-f " MUM o OV?c I Beeta-sDofble 8 (9 r u By HELEN tGopyriglit, by Robert Bonner's Sons.) CHAPTEE ILL f A SUBPB1SE. Sauntering along the road that led from the prrk gates, Breta Danton wad oblivious to her surroundings, so ocou pied were her thoughts with another subject .that subject being no less a person than Erio Brentwood. For a month she had enjoyed the luxury of life at Brentwood Park. Mrs. Brentwood treated her kindly lot her dead mother's sake, but while Eric did all in hi3 power to make her teel that she was welcome, she knew that he only did it through pity. And she? Her heart beat rapidly as sha whispered it to herself: "I love hitn!' Ah, heaven, I love him so well that I would do most any-: thins to win him. What does it mat ler about tha past? No one knows rne ia America. Why may I not win Brio Brentwood and Brentwood Park? It is worth a good deal to gain a home like this, and gain it I will, no matter what obstacles may stand in my way!" A determined look entered her dark ayes as she whispered those last words to herself, a look . which boded ill to tnyoae who stood between her and he desires. Unconsciously, ehe had walked : farther than she had intended, and i was about to retrace her steps, when a figure emerged from among the trees that skirted the road, and stood smil ing and insolent before her. She (stood as if stricken dumb, for a few moments, and then, in a voice of terror, she exclaimed: "My Heaven! Carlos!" He made a mocking bow, aid laugaed triumphantly, as ha noted her terror. "Carlos, for Heaven's sake, tell me why you have followed me here! Do you mean to kill me?" moving back a few paces. ' 'That depends on circumstances," he replied, in tones she had heard so often before. "What eirennistances?" she in quire d. "Oh, we'll speak of that later. So you were among those that reached land. When I heard of the wreck of the Sea Foam, I said to myself that you had arrived safely in America. Where is Miss Danton? How., is it that she is not out with you this morning?" "She was drowned. But, I im plore of you, hush! I am Miss Dan Ion." "You? Oh, oh! So that is your game, eh? Well, you are nervy, and no mistake. What have you done with that Danton girl? Was she really drowned, or have you disposed of her in some other manner'" - "She was drowned, I tell you." "As you two wereiogether, how was It that when you got in one of the boats, she didn't, too?" he asked, eying her curiously. "She did," but she got too near the edge, and, despite the warning of one of the men, ehe fell overboard, and never came up." "Ah! I see! You and she were evidently seated side by side at Ui9 time. Quite clever of you, my dear. You are almost worthy to be a mate of Carlos Monteri." "How did you find me out?" she asked, disregarding his las-fc words. Now that she felt that he does not mean any immediate harm to her per eon, she became braver. "Easily enough. Did I not tell you that if you went to the end of the earth that you would not escape my vengeance?" "But, Carlos, you will not betray me, now that you have found me?" "Why not?" he asked, as a gleam not good to see shone forth from his eyes. "Don't you deserve it?" "Ah, Carlos, say that you will not!" "Well, we'll see about that," here turned. "Ivou do as I desire, yon may remain ifiiss Danton for a time. Cross my wishes, and I'll expose you as a" "Hash! And, for Heaven's sake, go! Eric Bentwood is coming down the road, and if he sees you here, he will want to know who you are; for he knows that I have no acquaintances in America,." "If he's anxious to know, I am will ing to introduce myself and you," he replied, laughing insolently. LAh, Carlos, I beg, I implore you togol" "Meet mo here to-night at ten, and fail me a your peril!" he commanded, as he turned and disappeared among the shrubbery. "Heavens! To think that he should) turn up when I thought myself secure!! Bat, beware, Carlos Monteri! Youj spoke well when you called me clever,! and I'll prove the truth of your words! before you are much older. You have been a menace to me ever sinoe I first saw your treacherous face, but I'll free myself from your power, It will be much easier for me to rid myself of you on this side of the Atlantic. Over ihere I was obliged to be more care f ul, as I would surely have been found out by his pals. Ah, Mr. Brentwood," she said, as Erie came up to where she wa3 standing. "Did I not see a man speaking to you a few minutes ago?" asked Erio. "Yes; a tramp, I suppose, for he asked me if I could tell him where he could secure a night's, lodging, and if I would give him a dime," the re plied, tellinc her lie if -ha had - w w w ww w vw w w w-w ww www. ww wwww..w wwufi swua"iuaa5,DUAUUAsjau)uaiuAn - I 1 I . Sag V. GREYSON. Deea well versed in the aboininaDla art. "Yon gave him money?" "Yes; I thought that the easiest way to get rid of him." Eric said no more, but he looked searchingly at the girl, and wondered whether she was adhering strictly to the truth, for he had seen her talking to the man, and the earnest way in which they seemed to be conducting their conversation gave him the im prossion that they were not strangers. And yet, he knew that she was a per fect stranger to America. How, then, couldshe know that man? He chided himself for his unreason able doubts, and turned to his com panion with a smile. "Miss Danton, the bell has rung for dinner, and if we do not hasten our stetis we will be late." "Oh, has it? I had no idea that I had been out so long. But. Mr. Brent wood, I .wish you would drop the for mal 'Miss Danton and call me by my Christian name. My friends all used to call me 'Breta.' " "Why, certainly, if you wish it, "re turned Erie. "And, of course, I shall expect yoa to . call me 'Eric," he adild iI shall be so pleased. I have wanted to ask you to drop allformali'y with me, but I felt timid in approach ing the subject," she said, casting a half-shy look at his handsome face. "Am I such an ogre asthat?" he asked, rather amused. "Oh, it is not that; but I was afraid you would think me forward," erfe re plied, blushing. "Dismiss that idea, Breta. You seo how natural it comes for me to call you that. I like the name very much." "I do not. I despise it!" she said, and then added quickly: "What's in a name: after all? Come! We will keep dear Mrs. Brentwood waiting." Tuckins? her hand under his arm. shff cast a coquettish . glance at him anil said in a low. tone: "Come, Eric, lei me escort you in to dinner." A sadden thrill passed through Eria Brentwood's vein3 at her touch. Bu! was it love or repulsion? He could not explain it. He cer tainly admired her dark beauty.but There was that inevitable "but." N. CHAPTER IV. CONVALESCENT. "The purityof grace, The mind, the music, breathing from hex face." In one of the hospitals of New York, a young girl was lying, suffering from a severe attack of brain fever. Foil day3 she had lingered between lifq and death, and the old, gray-haired doctor, who had evinced such an in terest in the little sufferer, had almost given up hope of saving her. "How is my little patient this morn ing?" he asked of the nurse in charge. "I think sh9 has changed for the better. She seems to sleep peacefully, and her breathing is quite regular," she replied. "Ah! I am glad to hear that. I feared that I could not pull her through. Itha3beena severe case." "It has, indeed, doctor. I wonder," she continued, "if the poor child has any friends." "That would be difficult to tell. She must have been a passenger of the ill-fated Sea Foam, judging from what the fishermen said, who rescued her . from- the water. Perhaps her friends, if she had any, went down with the wreck. If they had been rescued, they surely would have insti tuted a search for their missing one. Was there anything that would serve to identify her?" "Nothing save the initials 'B. D.' stamped on a handkerchief which I found in the pocket of her gown," re turned the nurse. A sigh issued from the lips of the fair-haired girl lying on the little white cot close by, which attracted the attention of both doctor and nurse. Hastening to her side, the doctor was surprised to see that she was con scious of her surroundings, for -she was looking at him with an nnspoken ques tion in her large blue eyes. "Ah, my dear, you are better. Don't talk any just yat awhile. Wait till you are stronger," said the kind hearted old doctor. Bat disregarding his oommands, she asked in a weak, plaiitive voice, scaroely more than a whisper: ' " Where am I?" "Where you will be taken care of until you are well. Now don't talk any more, but take this," as the nurse passed him the medicine to be given at regular intervals. Obediently she swallowed the liquid' and sighed, as she realized that she was indeed too weak too talk . It was several days before she gained; sufficient strength to converse, and then Doctor Montford ascertained that, ahe had been a passenger on the Sea Foanf, but she said nothing about be- ing in one of the small boats, conse quently he took it for granted that she had been one of the unfortunates whJ had been left on the sinking ship. "Well, my dear," he said, in kindly tones, "toll me if yon have any friends. If not, I'll take charge of you, myself." j "You are very good, and I am mora ! than grateful for your attention through ' my illness. I have friends here ia America who will give me a horns un j til I secure employment." , j ' "I am slad, for your sake, that you cons 59 Are they here ia Vqj "Not in the city. My destinatior is Brentwood Park. You know when it is?" she inquired. "Yes, I know where it is situated: but lam not acquainted with tha owner, Mr. Brentwood- Of course, yon will need money to defray you ex penses; and now, my dear, when you are able to go to your friends, you must let me pay your fare." "Oh, sir, how generous you are! I'll accept it gladly as a loan, and as .soon as I find employment I'll return the amount. "Tut, tut! How independent we are! Well, have your way. By the way, you have not told me your name yet," he said, patting her little white hand. "Have I not? My name i9 Breta Danton," ........ ... " 'Danton?' I used to have a friend of that name. Gerald Danton and I were chums at college." " 'Gerald, did you say?" asked Breta, hastily. "Yes. It can't be that he and you are related in any way."; "Papa's father was called Gerald Danton. I have often heard poor mamma mention his name. "What was your papa's name?" "Papa's name was Ronald." "Is it possible? You Ronald Dan ton's daughter! Poor boy! Ho was rather wi'd, and his father turned him adrift. And you say your mother ia dead; too." "Yes, mamma is dead. I have no one," she sobbed. "Gerald Danton is still living. Why don't you go to him?" "No, I oould not do that. He treated papa so badly that I could never quite forgive him. . Mamma never did, and I would feel that I would be disregarding her wishes did I lay aside my pride and go to my grandfather. There has been no com munication between ns, and I am sure that I would be unwelcome, perhaps unacknowledged, did I do so. Doctor Montford, I must respect mamma's wishes and go to Mrs.' Brentwood, the dear friend of her youth." "Well, my dear, you know best; but I think that Gerald Danton is tha proper guardian of his son's child. Although Bonald was wild I never thought Gerald justfied in treating him as he div Severat days later Doctor Montford placed his little charge on the train, and, insisting on her acceptance of a 'loan, bade her Godspeed. The last words he said to her as the train was ready to start were: "Be sure to let me know if you ar rive safely." As the train rounded the curve, she waved her handkerchief to him; and he carried back to his professional duties the remembrance of a bright, smiling face, which he wa3 destined not to see again for many days. ' CHAPTER V. "you abb et mt power." It was just half-past nine when the girl who called herself Breta Danton excused herself from the drawing-room at Brentwood Park on the plea of a severe headache. Instantly repairing to her room, ehe ohanged her gown for one less elaborate. Looking through her effects, she found a black lace scarf, which she threw over her midnight hair, at the same time con sulting the ormolu clock on the .mantel. "It is now twenty minutes of ten,' she murmured, "and it will take me at least five minutes to reach the ap pointed place. I must be cautious, lest I be seen by some of the servants, who may be around with their prying eyes. I wish he had said eleven in stead of ten. They would have re tired by that time, and I would run less chance of discovery. I muat waste no more time here, however, or that man may take it into his head to come here to the house and denounce me to Erio Brentwood. But he shall not do that. I'll find a way to prevent him from betraying me." Hastily descending the staircase, she glided out of a side-door. Looking around to see that the coast was clear, she walked rapidly through the grounds until she found herself outside the gate, when she slackened her speed. Upon arriving at the spot where she had been surprised that morning by Carlos Monteri, she found him await ing her. .; - "Ah, you did well ; to keep the ap pointment, my dear," he said by way of greeting. "There was no reason why I should not keep it," ..she said. "But every reason that you should," he put in, with a short laugh. "Well, as I am here, please say what you have to say as quick as possible. I do not care to have my absence from ihe house found out," "Well, my dear, of course you realize thatyou are still in mypower." "I wish to heaven that I were not!" she replied. And to herself she added: "I'll not be in your power muoh longer, Carlos Monteri, as sure as there is a heaven above ns!" "Wishing, my dear Inez, will not change the faot, however; and, of course, yon will realize also that you must do exactly as I tell you, or be ex posed to these; Brentwoods in your true colors. Now, in the first place, yott know that to live as a gentleman should live, it requires money. As ybn are familiar with nay tastes, you know that I cannot 1 jve off a very small allowance. So, if you are anxious to :do me a favor, yon will furzdsh me with as muoh as is in your possession." "You are mad!" she exclaimed. '"You know that I am penniless and am living here with these people, who, of course, furnish me no money." (To be oontinued.l - have friends. York?" GOOD ROADS NOTES. Good Roads For Farmer. Bad marl ft crmstitnt.A i.be erraafast. drawbaok to rural life, and for tho lack of good roads the farmers, suffer more than any other class. 't is obviously unnecessary, therefore to .3 i il 1 fit.- X t T "I . uiowusa ui ueueuis iu oe aerivea oy them from improved roads. Suffice it to say, that those localities where good roads have been built are be coming richer, more prosperous and more thickly settled, while those which do not possess these advan tages in transportation are either at a standstill or are becoming poorer and more sparsely settled. ; If these con ditions continue, fruitful farms may be abandoned and ich lands go to waste. Life on a farm often becomes, as a result of "bottomless roads," isolated and barren of social enjoy ments' and pleasures, and country people in some communities suffer such great disadvantage that ambition is checked, energy weakened and in dustry paralyzed. Good roads, like good streets, make habitation along them most desirable; they economize time and force in transportation of products, reduce wear and tear on horses, harness aud vehicles, and enhance the market value of real estate. They raise the value of farm lands and farm products and tend to beautify the country through which they pass; they facilitate rural mail delivery and are a potent aid to education, religioa and sooiability. Charles Sumner once said, "The road and the school master are the two most imnnrtank i 1 agents in advancing civilization." lne dittarence between good and bad roads is often equivalent to the difference between profit and loss. Good roads have a mousy value to farmers as well as a political an I social value, and, leaving out con venience, comfort, social and refiaed induenoes which good roads- always enhance, and lookiag at them only from the "almighty dollar" side, they are found to pay handsome dividends each year. People generally are beginning to realize that road building is a publics matter, and that the best interests of American agriculture and the Ameri can people as a whole demand the construction of good roads, and that money wisely expended for this pur pose is sure to return. Maurice O. Eldridge, Assistant Director, OiSca Road Inquiry. What the Movement BTeana. Otto Dorner, Chairman of the L. A. W. Highway Improvement Commit tee, is working hard to bring farmers as well as politicians to a realization of what good roads mean. In hi3 last announcement he quotes at length from ex-Governor W. D. Hoard, Pres ident of the National Dairy Union, who is a strong advocate of good roads, and to his quotations Chairman Dorner himself adds: "In most of the States dairying has only of late become a great industry, but its continued growth calls more loudly than ever for the construction of roads which will enable the cream ery patrons to deliver their milk with out wearing out their horses, when ever the weather takes an unfavorable turn. Wet weather roads are needed, and dairying can never be a complete success without them." Michigan ts Awakening. Michigan intends pushing the good foada movement in that State as it har never before been pushed. A goocl roads bureau of information has been organized, and is now prepared to send able speakers to discuss the question before farmers' institutes, grange societies, wheelmen's meet ings and others interested in this ques tion, gratis. The list oomprises well known good roads advocates from all parts of the State, college professors and practioal engineers, and a cam paign of education will be carried on by this means and through the dis tribution of circulars and printed mat ter preparatory to a systematic politi cal campaign, which will be carried on previous to the next e ection. The Automobile Will Help. The organization " of automobile clubs means the adoption of this vehicle for the purposes of pastime and sport. This in turn should fur nish material aid to the long-standing movement for good roads in which substantial progress has been made with the aotive support of the wheel men, but in which, also, much remains to be done. Poor roads have been shown to constitute a serious handi cap to the automobile, and the com mercial value of the various inven tions will depend largely upon good roads. We are likely, therefore, to hear from the makers and users in the next Legislature. Anti-Rut Agitation in Brief. Agriculture in the United Stite? has developed to a point where tiinr is valuable in this pursuit, and i' should be made possible for farmer to get to town after a rain, when tht land is still too wet for farm work. Twelve district good roads conven tions are to bo held in Illinois and sub sequently a general convention is to held in Springfield, the State capital. They are to be under the direction o the State and Interstate Good Roads and Public Improvement Association. Mention should -be made -of "cor duroy roads," built of poles or logs, laid across the roadway. Like earth roads they shonld never be made where it is possible to secure ani other good material, but it ia fre quently the case in swampy, timbere 1 rogions, that other materia! is unavail able; and a3 the road would otherwise be impassable at certain seasons o tae yvar, ii may be well to construct even a corduroy road. SEA OF FLAME. British Steainer Visited by the Electrical Phenomenon Known a St. Eluao' Fire. From the British steamer Ayr comes a remarkable story of the experience of that vessel with the phenomenon known as St. Elmo's fire, during her passage across the Indian Ocean. The curious spectacle whioh is often af forded to mariners was in the case mentioned one of unprecedented mag- uuuae. In all previous records of experi ences with the wonderful eleotrical disturbance there is no instance in which it was exhibited on suoh a scale of terrifying grandeur as when seen by the crew of the Ayr. - The Ayr sailed from Iloilo on June 10. Her course was that usually fol lowed by homeward bound vessels, a long run of 14,000 miles by way of the Cape of Good Hope,, - On July 8 tho Ayr was in the love liest part of that wide stretch of ocean which separates India from South Africa. An hour after sunset on that day the wonderful electrical spectacle began. It was noticed on the two preceding days that something out of the gen eral run of atmospherio disturbances seemed to be impending. On July 6 there had been a great storm with the accompaniment of an appalling dis play of lightning. - Although the storm subsided the air seemed charged with the fluid. Shortly after 7 o'clock on July 8 a ball of fire, apparently a foot in diam eter, suddenly appeared at the fore mast head. Its advent was ho sudden and so unexpected that the crew were mo mentarily paralized ' with terror. Nevertheless, for a time nothing fol lowed the appearance of the ominous globe. It shone with a ghastly green ish radiance, and although vibrating slightly with the rolliug of the ship never changed its position on the tapering spar. Within an hour two similar balls descended on the Ayr, one at the ex tremity of the bowsplit, and the sec ond on the port bulwarks nearly amidship. Those who saw these mysterious visitors say that no words can dsscribe the amount of light shed by them. The Ayr seemed to be sailing in a veritable sea of fire. In the meantime the globe on the bulwarks developed some curious ec centricities. It rolled along the narrow i ail almost the entire length of the foredeck. It was hoped that it would fall iuto the sea, but never was its remarkable equilibrium destroyed." This scene lasted until 12 o'clock. At that hour the fire ball on the bow split burst like a bomb, and for miles around the sea was overspread with astounding radianoe, which nearly blinded the frightened tars. When things had returned to their normal condition no trace of the St. Elmo's tire remained about the vessel. A strange glow, however, permeated the horizon on all quarters until near ly morning. Children' Playgrounds at Cologne. Cologne provides well for the chil dren in the matter of playgrounds. Iu all the large parks and Cologne is a city of parks spaces are reserved lor children. These spaces are generally in secluded corners and are large enongh to accommodate from 200 to 400 children. Long benches are pro vided for the mothers and maids, who always bring along a lunch basket and a bag of mending or hand work. A well of water stands near by, and there is a small booth where warm and coll milk and mild drinks can be purchased cheaply. Large circular tables not more than ten inches high, with bushels of sand on anctunder them, furnish no end of amusement for the children, who dig to their hearts' content. For the larger children there are swings, nee-saws, merry-go-rounds and games; and they are not strictly confined to the playgrounds, but can race and run unmolested all over the park. The oity provides a keeper, who is not changed with the administration. He has become a piece of park furniture. His word is law, and the children hold him in wholesome awe, for the boyB and girls he finds unruly are banished to their homes for as many days as the offense merits. Besides the large parks there are many smaller ones, and they are always crowded with chil dren, to wbom the streets are forbid den playgrounds. German Corre spondent in Chicago Record. Oh Death, Where is Thy Sting! The boycotting of the luckless Mexican Ambassador by representa tives of the other powers at Washing ton recalls an anecdote of a .recently deceased clubman. He was present one evening at a little musical gather ing when an aspirant for honors as a pianist seated himself at the piano and began playing one of the national airs of Mexico, "La Paloma." His execu tion was deadly, and he banged and thumped the instrument until it was a fit object for the .interference of the humane society. Finally he whirled around on the stool and said, "Did you notice the air I was playing? vVell, when they led Maximilian out to bo shot they asked him what tune ie would like to be shot by and he se eded 'La Paloma.' Do you know why?" "Yes," replied the clubman as he glared at the executioner of the tune. "I suppose it robbed death of half its terrors." Louisville Times- German Jane Bags. . June bugs ar thick iu parts of Germany this year. At Brody school children lately gathered twenty-five nd a half hundred-weight from a eix-eeu-acre field. Some one has figured ut that this means 1,270,000 June Jugs. ; Scotland has without paupers, houses. ' forty-six parishes p' rates or public THE GEMS OF NEW T0EK. I VARIETY OF THE PRECIOUS STONES FOUND IN THE STATE. Gem-Bearing Quartz Underlying Manhat tan lied Oarnets In ibnudanee-X.ake George Diuuiondt Agate as Stained GlassPearls in Fresh Water Brooks. Residents of New York customarily look to the WeBt and South and to foreign countries for precious,, and semi-precious stones in their natural state, but in the Empire State are to be found some of tho most beaulitul known. Underlying New York City are gem-bearing quartz veins, but these vaults ure now locked and in accessible. The seeker after precious stones long ago gave up his place to the real-estate dealer, who- has made more money in building up than the other could havo by digging down. An idea of the variety and beauty of the precious stones found iu New York State may be gathered from a visit to the Tiffany-Morgan collection of gems, belonging to the State Cabinet at'Albany, and to the Miueral ogical Club's collection in the Museum of National History. On Manhattan Isl and are found ,the yellow aquamarine, or beryl, the pale-green beryl, and the small, transparent red garnet, tho quartz veins bearing them traversing the archsean rocks. The same veins occur elsewhere in the State towards the Adirondack region. In Lewis County, however, precious stones are most abundant. Here aro found, in particular, great quantities of purple and red garnets. At Newcomb, in the same - county, beautiful crystals of brown tourmaline are found. Profes sor Beecher, of Yale, made this dis covery some time ago. In Richville, in the township of De Kalb, the finest crystals of pyroxene aro picked up" from time to time. Cut into'gems weighing from three to thirty carats each, they possess a peculiar charm. They are of a rich, oily green, differ ing from the tourmaline, peridot, or green garnet. One of the most valuable of the na tive precious stones is the iitante or ephene, which is fonnd in the "'Tilly Foster" mine, near Brewster's, in Put nam County. This crystal is of a brilliant golden substance, and a great favorite with lapidaries. Cut into gems, it shows a greater play of color than the diamond itself, it is said by Mr. Kunz, the Government expert. It would be one of the most remarkable gems but for its softness; in beauty and coloring it is unmatched. A sin gle stone, in its natnral form,, brings from $100 to $300. Jn excavating for the ship canal on the upper end of New York Island, crystals of smoky quartz were found in blasting the magnesium limestone. So exquisite in their crystallization and natnral polish were they that they had only to be cut into smoky topaz. Gouverneur, in St Lawrence County, seems to be the home of the . tourma line. One of these stones, of the col lection of Elihu Root, Sr., is as thick as a man's neck. Occasionally the crystals are transparent enough to af ford gems of from one to five carats each. In Orange County, near Sus sex, on the ISiew Jersey line, crystals of sapphire are found, but "they are . not sufficiently transparent to be of j much value. Recently they have been referred to in certain scientific articles because their occurrence in a lime stone, such as that in which they are here found, is identical with the oc currence of the true ruby in the valley of tho Mogok, Burma, where, the most highly prized pigeon-blood rubies are found. All the way from Lewis County to Coney Island there are boulders of chatoyant, iridescent feldspar, known as Labrador spar. , Masses have been broken from the original deposit at Keeseville and scattered during the glacial period, until now they lie all the way to the terminal moraine in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. The spar exists in such quanties in one of the rivers in Lewis County, and the colors arc bo beautifully brought out, that the river has been called Opal River. Labradorite shows a play ofred, green, blue, purple, and yellow like a pea cock feather where it is fractured or cut, if the light strikes it in a certain way' . -". Although, strictly speaking, it is not apreoious stone, the pearl has been found in many of the fresh water brooks and rivers in this State. Pearl River in Nyack has produced numbers, as have also several of the rivers in St. Lawrence Couaty. These pearls bring from $1 to $100 each. Gen erally they are not white, but much interest attaches to the tinting pink, violet, purple and brown, the pearl being always the color of the shell in which it is formed. The so-called "Lake George diamonds" are more beautiful than valuable. When found in their natural setting Of calciferous sandstone, they are more beautiful than the diamond of the African mines when it is first brought to light. They are found in great pro fusion in Herkimer County, and they are usually set in pins and charms. Jewelers say, however, that nowhere do they look so well as in - their nat ural state, and mineralogists discover them always with delight. - The cry stals wheu they ore fine, are snowy white, like Carrara marblerand when free from flaws, very beautiful. Some times they are found so minute that, when carefully sorted from the mud. it takes from 70,000 to 400,000 to weigh a single ounce; and each - cry stal is as perfect as the large'et, hav ing eighteen perfect faces. Generally the so-called Lake George diamonds sold in cities are no more crystal or quartz than are rhinestones bought in Pari:i cut from Rhine pebbles. The . name is merely a catch-penny one. : Ross quartz is the mineral Bedford contributes from its coarse granite. It is a shade of pink, " not excelled, if Jib la H B41KUU VI UIUIl, UVt CAWCIIPU, 11 I quailed, by any found elsewhere. A J mineral resembling jade is the moon stone peristerite of Jefferson County. This is a white substance, with a blue play of color. Wollastonite is found at Bonaparte Lake. Through the en tire terminal moraine pebbles of black jasper nearly a foot across can be found. Tl y are an intense black, and are known as basanite or Lydian touchstone. They are used by jewl ers to determine the carat of the gold. 1 1 his report to the United States Geological Survey on "Gem Produc tion in the United States," just is sued, George F. Kunz says concern ing another semi-precious Stone, and its use in tho making of stained glass windows: "Plum Island, one of the broken line of momnal islet? reaching from tho northeastern point of Long Island across tho Sound to Watch Hill, R. I., abounds in peb1 bles of . variously colored quartz, de rived from the disintegrated rocks of tho Connecticut ? ehoro and carried southward to the upper or socond moraine by tho ice-ehect. " Many of these pebbles. aro very richly colored red, yellow, purple, etc. and havo been locally called - agates'," and col lected, both bere aud on the neighbor ing Goose Islaud, by parties from Connecticut. Tho pebbles sire used for tho same purposes as Btained glas3 that is, leaded, together the iron staining showing beautifully by transmitted light. This form of win dow r' effect was introduced by Mr. Louis C. Tiffany. The pebbles are very abundant, and are continually rolled, washed and polished by tho surf, and sometimes piled on tho beach in windrows. One or two per sons make a business of visiting the islands iu a bloop and gathering the best colored and most attractive stones." Now York Post. Brnlu Made Himself at Home. .Bears, which were' unusually nu merous in Pike and adjacent counties in Pennsylvania daring Jast wintev and spring, are again making them selves obnoxious to farmers, and are venturing into the 'clearances, and in one instai oe took possession of a farm house, as is evidenced by the terrify ing experience of Mrs. Pieot, an aged resident, of Dark Swamp. While engaged in her morning duties about the house she was startled by soft footsteps advancing up the walk. Turning, she was confronted by the bear, and before she could close the door Bruin barred the way. Although terribly frightened, she re tained her presence of mind, and be gan to shy various cooking utensils at the beast, which, instead of retreat ing, dodged the missiles and walked into the kitoheu. Mrs. Picot hastily ran to the upper portion of the dwell ing and locked the door. Bruin, evidently thinking . the kitchen a nursery, began to toss the furniture about the room and eat r portion of the v.ctuals remaining iu the pantry. Tiring of the sport, the bear took a short nap on the floor, and then scampered off into the woods. Going For a Lost Treasure. "Treasure Island" is a romance which is not likely in these days to find a counterpart in the world of reality; but an intimation, brought to our notice that an expedition is in course of preparation to endeavor to recover the gold which was lost in the .ship Geneial Grant, under ex traordinary, circumstances", in May, 18S6, seems to promise exciting times for the adventurers who may partici pate in it. The story is that the Gen eral Grant was on her way from Mel bourne to - London with a number of miners returning from the Ballarat diggings when she was becalmed off the. Auckland Islands, and a heavy swell drove her on to the shore, where she entered a rift in the rocks and was gradually driven into a cave. Here she sank, and of more than eighty souls aboard not a dozen were saved. Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to recover the gold. The new expedition of which we shall probably hear more later, has made up its mind to succeed. London Chroni cle. A Queer Wagon. An up-to-date florist from New Jer sey, who has quite a business in both potted plants and cut flowere, has a unique wagon with which he visits his customers on the upper west side of town. It is a miniaturo green house on wheels. The frame, with its peaked roof, is of iron painted white, and the sides and roof are made of email panes of glass. In the rear of the wagon is the door through which plants are removed for delivery. Just inside this door is a toy stove, not much larger than those used in a doll's houee, and leading from it and poking its nose out through the solid rear panel of the houso is a bit of stovepipe, fronrwhich a small cloud of smoke trails away in the rear as the wagon moves along the street. New York Times. Statistics of Business (V. S.. Architects........... 4,803 Hanks and bankers.. 11.676 Bhoestore3 22,606 Carriage makers.....' lo,8S0 Clothing stores 14,109 Drug stores 35,807 Dry goods stores 14,850 General stores. 1C4.426 Grocery ttores 109,133 Hardware stores " 30.S87 Harness etores.... 14,713 Jewelry stores - 14,308 MllhDfry stores ; . - 5,661 Puystclan? . 120,486 Auctioneers.... 3,301 Bar hers 43,352 Meat markets 41,933 Carpenters...... 35,367 Cigar stores 22,453 Dentists..... 13,918 Farmers 1,415,650 Mallet's Half-Dlaao Cyclopedia. A Boy Tilth a Bright salute. One of the tasks set to a boys' class was that of writing a short letter to the master. Qc.9 youngster added a P. S., which ran: "Plese excuse bad vitincr onri enpihlcr ft a lavent b.6U -i- di taut any betor." Tit-Bits. d 'I ft 1 ' A ' ': it: 'V 4 1- ..i - K ft ;1 1 M , I4 . .i'V i. 9' i i: . ,. ! n i 9. f, I" I. ':