VOL. VI.
PLYMOUTH, N, C.; FRIDAY, M. 24, 1895.
NO. 46,
THE BE3T OF LIFE.
Not till life's heat is cooled,
The healongrush slowed to a quiet pace,
And everv nurblind nasslon that has ruled
;. Our noiser years, at last
Bpurs us la rain, and, weary of the race,
VTe care no more who loses or who wins
Ahl jiot till all the best of life soems past
The best cf life begins.
To toll for only fame, '' ' .
Ua adclappings and the fickle gusts of praise,
For plaoe or power or gold to gild a name
. Above the grave whereto
All paths will bring us, were to lose our days,
"We, on whose ears youth's passing bell has
;" tolled,
In blow-in" bubbles, even as children do, '
t . forgetting we grow old. '
. .
jt.
But the world widens when
Buohhppe of trivial gain that ruled us lien
' ' ." then "ir ' v
Ve win to seif-oontrol!
And mail ourselves in manhood, and there
'rise - : :
Upon us from the vast and windless height
Those clearer thoughts that are unto the
v . ' SOUl ' ' ,
- What stars are to the night.
.' ", The Spectator.
A MAN'S CHOICE.
"ANET'S fortune!
' How much is it,
mother?" said
.Ronald Mitchell,
ob he carefully
measured . t h
anchovy for . hit
sulraon.
'Nothing less
thau - the whole
Crons-Me-loof estate and $10,000 good
money, in the Bank of Scotland."
"Too little. 1 could not sell myself
60 cheap.".
"But there is the lassie forbye;
she is not bad looking, and she is a
careful housewife and a good Chris
tian '
"Doubtless, .mother, ahe is better
ii i t . . t t
worthever so much' more than Janet
McDonald."
"That will be Bailie Johnson!
daughter?" ' , ' '
."You do me too much honor; I do
not aspire to a woman six feet high,
especially when her temper is of equal
proportions."
' "Well, Isabelle has a bad temper,
but Janet is different; she has "
"No heart." .
"She has plenty of money.
"And no intellect."
"But she has interest enough to send
: you to Parliament. "
"I don't want to go there, and I dc
want m rr r1inn.ii an1 vin A.1-A t.alcino
away my appetite." And Ronald drew
the moor-cock toward him and helped
himself liberally. ; There was a few
minutes' Bilence, which did not deceive
RonaJd ; he knew it was the lull be
fore the breaking of the storm. His
mother's attitude of indifference and
listlessness was all assumed ; .he was
perfectly familiar with it, and knew
what a spirit it hid. ; .'
She was only hesitating now to open
the subject which lay nearest her
heart.1 -While she wp.s hesitating, a
Servant brought ia a card and gave it
to her. -,
"It is" Wylie Ronald," she said;
"you had better go and see him." :
"Why so, mother? . I know nothing
about the property. You and he have
alwavs managed it. Besides, I have
an engagement at half past seven." ,
'But something . must ' be T done.
Every year the rents are decreasing.
My income will soon be at starvation
point."
Ronald looked lip and smiled in-
creciu.ousiy.
:. "Ob, yes. .., I keep up an appearance
of course, ' and I ' suppose I shall
'always be able to do that, for lam
' not one of the foolish women who
spend a? they go. I have laid a little
by to help the future; but what M to
become of you?" . , ',
"Heigh-hoof I have a good angel,
t suppose." ; -. i
' "A good wife would be more to the
purpose, and if you .would only marry
Janet McDonald, she would bring you
a fine estate t besides, she is a'prudsnt
lassie (and would help you. to keep the
gear well together."
"How do I know that Janet would
'have me?"
"I have already spoken to her."
"It" was . throwing - words away,
mother. If there ia anything elsij
can please yon in, I shall be willing
and obeJientVbut I cannot cast my
life away ntftfer goU, t least."
"Yet you are going to do it for a
pretty face." .
"You, are mistaken. I have mj
price, I suppose, but neither land nor
beauty are able to buy me."
"The conceit of men is wonderful:
ft passes the comprehension of women.
Where are you going this evening?"
"To Mrs. SorieyV
'To see Eva. Well, Ronald, re
member, if you decline to accept Janet
McDonald as your wife, I also decline
to receive Eva Sorley as my daughter.
I suppose the right of rejection is left
tome as well as to you."
"Not equally, mother. You cannot
make Janet my wife ; but I, by marry-
ing Eve, can make 'her your daugh
ter." - v a .' r i
- . . . . .
"I deny it, sir for in such a case
you would be no longer my son.
Good evening, sir."
'Mrs. Mitchell Victrix ft usual,
said Ronald, laughing: softly to him
self. "Here is a turn in affairs. J
must go and" See what Eve says about
it," . - .
On his way there he tried not to
think of the subject ; it annoyed him ;
but Eve had a way of letting sunlight
into everything, and whatever ehe
said, of course he should do. Eve,
watching and" listening in the shadow,
heard the echoes of his swinging steps,
and divined in them something new,
even before she saw him. ; 1
"What is the matter, Ronald? I do
not believe I shall all y6u 'Sans souoi
to-night; you look troubled."
r 'You may call me the Disinherited,
Knight, for I thing my trouble will
amount to that."
"What have you been doing?" said
Mrs. Sorley.
"My sin is one of omission, madam.
You see, '.I am only a part of the estate
to. my mother. She wants ' to invest
me profitably, just as she does the in
terest of her savings. At present sne
allows me five hundred pounds a year ;
but if I refuse to carry ont her plans,
she will withdraw it. What am I to
do?" '
"Ask Eve."
Eve met the questioning face with
one of confidence.
'Go to work, sir, and make flv
hundred pounds a year. I will mar j
you when you can earn tVree hundred
pounds. What do you say to that?"
.'That you are the loveliest ana
bravest little lady in Christendom ;
and he fairly lifted her in his arms
and kissed her.
"Pnt me down, Ronald, and listen
to what I say. You are six feet two
inches high, and strong as Hercules
Yon neve? have a headache, and ate
int twenty-two. 'Disinherited I
Pshaw f . Your inheritance is in yoni
own keeping. The world is given to
the children of men ; go into it, and
take yonr portion."
Nothine strengthens a man , in
trouble Jike the sympathy and help oi
the woman he lovee. ' Ronald went
from Eve's presence' gifted with a
definite purpose. The inward change
had its outward eviden ces. It was per
ceptible in his tread, which had lost
its usual lazy swing, in the mannei
which he ascended the steps, and in
the impetuous way in which he Anna
hat and gloves ou the hail table, " and
entered his" mother's ' presence. Sbt
partly turned her head, and said, in a
sleepy manner :
"Your energy is exhausting audun
necessary, Ronald ; I wish you would
be more centlemanly." ; .
He tried to obey her, aa he had al
ways done, but he was too excited.
Before he cot half across the room he
6tumbled over a small ottoman, and
then kicked it oat of his way.
"What is the matter with'you? What
kind of company have yon been in, to
bring such a riotous influence back
with you?"
"I have been with two of the noblest
women in the world, mother."
' "Indeed ! I am sure I should nevei
have thought so." ,
"I told you I was going to Mrs. Sor
ley's, and I have been."
""Wry well, sir ; that is enough.
am not curious about the family. We
will cbanee the subject, please. .
The habit.of obedience was so strong
that he remained silent.
"The Wilkies were here to-night.
They wish you to join a fishing exeur
sion to the Trosachs. . I told tlem
was sure you would go." -;
"You are mistaken mother
' shall be better employed, 1 hope.';
Mrs. Mitchell raised her eyes in
credulously, but asked j
"HOW?" .. : -V 1
"I am going to try and find somt
work.".'": .V : ' 'v .
"Work J and pray, what can you
do?" ' ,
"Indeed, mother, very little; but 1
can leara. I have been taught noth
ing useful ; my education iss uperficial,
and ho profession has been given me.
am not even fit for a clerkship. I
see nothing before me but manual la
bor, unless yon continue my allow
ance while I study law 'or medicine. "
"You have begun at the wrong end
of your story. o'Now be pleased to.be
crin yonr argument properly. What
led you. to form this' resolution?"
"Yonr remark- this evening. Yon
declared that if I married Miss Sorley
I should no longer be your son." .
"Quite correct." .
"Then,' as I am determined to marry
Miss Sorley, it becomes necessary for
me to consider some way of support
ing her and myself.'
True ; for you can hardly expect
cie to support a young woman I de
test. As for continuing your allow
ance, I shall do no such thing. I will
give you a month to reconsider yoni
coniiuct, and if at , the end of it yoo
still prefer this this " .
"Miss Sorley, mother?"
"This girl, sir. You can take her,
and go your own way. That is all 1
have to say."
But it was easier to determine to
work than to find the work to do, and
if it had not been for the strengthen
ing influence of Eve, Ronald would
perhaps have become discouraged.
The month drew to a close, and stil!
no employment had been found.
"What shall I do, Bright Eyes?'
said Ronald one evening. "It seemi
as if there were no place in the work-a-day
world for me." :
"Ob, yes, there is, only you have
not found it yet; And do you know,
Ronald, mamma and I have been talk
ing of your going to America?" , . -:
The suggestion was not new to the
young man ; his own heart had. been
giving him the same advice, and the
subject, once broached, ,soon assumed
a tangible form. It was thoroughlj
discussed and arranged, and Ronald'i
place taken in a steamer leaving twe
days before his month of graoe ex-'
nirAfl. ;
During, all his trials and prepara
tions Ronald's home never a happv
one had been becoming daily more
wretcned. ; iKs mother wearied hin
with alternate reproaches and en
treaties, and his' friends pitied or.
abused, advised or laughed at him.
Still the last night he was to spend
under his toother's roof he- made
another effort at reconciliation.
"I have a miserable headache to
night," he said. "Kiss me, mother,
for the sake of old times."
"Certainly, Ronald, if the kiss im-
plies that you have recovered your
senses and are willing to follow my
plans for your welfare."
"I cannot give up Eve, mother.
"You are old enough to choose be
tween us. If it is Miss Sorley, her
kisses must suffice you."
"At least, mother, shake hands.
. "You are sentimental to-night a
thine: I have no use in the world for.
Obedience is the test of love."
"Well, good night, mother."
, "Good night, sir."
And thus they parted
Hard as his parting was with Eve it
did not sadden him like the unnatural
"Good night, sir," of his mother.
After Ronald's departure Eve waited
hopefully and happily for the good
news 8he was sure would come. Nor
did. she wait in vain. . In two years
Ronald had completed his study for
the law and opened a small office in a
flourishing town in Western New York.
For some time his practice was small,
but at the end of the fourth year he
was making more than enough to claim
the redemption of Eve's promise. .
Mrs. Sorley accompanied her daugh
ter to America, and Jived many happy
years with the young couple. Ronald
is always a warm defender of that
much abused character a mother-in-law.
,
As years wore on the - little cottage
was added to and enlarged until it be
came the pride of the town, and Judge
Mitchell's house and gardens, his horses
and servants are certainly evidences
of an income vastly above the 500 a
year he refused to accept as equiva
lent for manhood's noblest rights and
privileges.
Ronald is a portly, middle-aged man
now, and Eve, though still beautiful,
has lost the early bloom of youth, but
up and down the long piazzas,', and
through the shady arcades of elm and
chestnut, , beautiful boys and girls
play, walk or read, , uncontrolled by
any element but a wise and patient
love. For Ronald has still a sad ."re
membrance of a home cheerless and
loveless amid all its splendor, of a
childhood unblessed by fairy lore or
mother's kisses and of a youth in which
everything was to have been sacrificed
for interest and ambition. v -
Mrs. Mitchell still lives. If her
heart ever softens toward her son she
never suffers it to make any sign. She
is apparently as indifferent to his later
honors as she was to his early struggles
and trials. It is likely even, that' she
may outlive her busy, - hard working
son, whose brain and heart carry the
cares and sorrows of many besides his
own, for ' -
; "The good die first,
And they whon hearts ore dry as summei
dust
Tlurn to the ?cet." -
A lest for Apparitions.
Union g the curiosities of thought
whioh the physician meets with, tinex
pected perceptions suddenly appearing
before the mind with the same vivid
ness as ordinary perceptions, but with
out any accompanying external ex
-itant, are not uncommon.' A person
may, look at an empty chair and yet
see a familiar form seated in that
chair, and may . even hear remarks
made by this imaginary figure and not
doubt for a moment that the figure is
an actual entity. . '
I have seen persons talking with
such imaginary individuals, and have
had them assure me that they were as
sure of their presence and . of their
voices as they were of my own. 1 have
seen persons - manifest ' the greatest
alarm at the presence of animals about
them, and refuse to believe from as
surance that those animals were not
there. ' i
A young woman, having once been
frightened by the sudden presentation
to her of a white mouse, has been
troubled for years by seeing this
mouse running about her, upon her
clothing, upon anything she is
handling, and even upon her food;
and, as a result, she is in a state of
constant agitation and perplexity.
though at times convinced that this is
the product of her mind. She washes
her hands and her clothing frequent
ly because she is convinced that this
animal has made them dirty; and she
cannot divest herself, of the belief that
i , i
it is real.
I have sometimes been able to con
vince persons that such fanoied figures
were not real by asking them to push
one eyeball up a little with the finger.
This makes all objects about them
seem double, as any one can prove to
himself, but it does not double the
false image the product oMhe mind.
The young woman just mentioned waa
much comforted by this device. Pop
ular Science Monthly.
Swallowed by a Snake.
Charley Hiett, a student of natura
history, last year when on a trip
through the mountains witnessed a
contest between a water snake and a
toad. The snake had oaught the toad
by his hind leg, evidently intending
to make a meal. He seemed to let go
occasionally only to get a better hold,
and at last got the poor toad fairly in
his mouth. After quite a period his
toadship disappeared down the throat
of the snake and could plainly be seen
some inches below the head. :
Charley has an antipathy to snaket
and eprang from the bank three or
four feet high and landed squarely on
the scaly monster's back. He struck
just behind the swelling in the snake
and much to his surprise the toad shot
forth from the mouth of , the reptile
and hopped off as nimbly' as though
he had not just esoaped from death.
Oroville (Cal.) Register.
. He Fined Mark Twain.
Amor.g the recent deaths at San Fran
cisco, CJL, wasthaof Alfred Barstow,
a pioneer lawyer, who, as a justice of
the peace, once had "Malrk Twain"
before him' for "painting the . town
red." "Mark" wa then a newspaper
reporter, and Barstow remitted the
' fino of $10 on the future humorist's
showing that he possessed only a ping
of tobacco and a broken jackknife.
New York Tribune,
LADIES' COLUMN . ,
BnSTOESS women's bestatjbaht. '
Danish women are the latest to start
a business women's restaurant and
reading room. In the heart of the
business centre of Copenhagen such a
place is to be established, which will
afford "women engaged in office and
hop work comfortable quarters for
taking their luncheons. Good, nourish
ing food is to be provided at reason
able prices, and a reading room is
planned. It has been suggested that
a field for such a restaurant in New
York was down town, among the
many big buildings, where scores of
women are' employed. Many women
ow carry their luncheons, and eat
them in the law or business office
where they are serving as typewriter
or stenographer, because they do not
care to go to the restaurants whose
chief patronage is among men, and
which at the noon hour are apt to be
overcrowded.
If one of the women's exchanges
would etart a luncheon room of that
sort at or a little below the City Hall,
it is believed by many that it would
be of great mutual benefit, alike to its
patrons and its management. New
York Times.
CAREER OF A WOMAff LETTER CARRIER,
Mrs. Ann Hawkins, whose death at
Cutskye, near Castlef ord, is announced,
had a remarkable career. She was a
native of Pontefract, and from , the
time of the Queen's coronation, in
1837, till 1869, she fulfilled the office
of town letter carrier, and discharged
the duties, single handed. She was
never known to be absent from her
duties from sickness during the whole
cf her period of service. Through
the interest of .the late Lord Hough
ton and Mr. Childers, who then re
presented Pontefract in Parliament,
Mrs. Hawkins's services to the country
were brought before the notice of the
then Postmaster-General, and for
about twenty-seven years past she has
been in receipt of a well-earned pen
sion. Prior to the introduction of
railways into the district, letters were
delivered in Pontefract , by means of
postboys, meeting the mail coaches
proceeding north and south at Ferry
bridge, and some bags of letters and
newspapers, which contained as many
as fifty or sixty missives daily, were
considered a good average in Mrs.
Hawkins's time. Mrs. Hawkins wore
a singular waterproof garb in wet
weather, and carried the letters in a
small covered basket protected by
waterproof covering. She had. de
livered many writs for Parliamentary
elections in her oapacity as postwo
man. Yorkshire (England) Post.
TOILET ACCESSORIES.
There, are many things necessary
nowadays for , the up-to-date toilet
table. One of the requisites, which,
fortunately, can be procured without
expense or trtmble, is a jar of salt-
common table salt, and it i a panacea
for many ills. A little of it dissolved
in warm water is sure to remove the
alight inflammation from eyelids red
dened by a long drive in the wind. If
ued for a gargle it will allay any
slight irritation of the throat; a little
should occasionally be put in the water
in which one's teeth are brushed, as it
helps to harden the gums.
Tincture of camphor or tincture of
myrrb, dropped into water, is an ex
cellent wash for the mouth and throat
when the breath is not sweet. When
the latter is used the proper propor
tions are ten drops of myrrh to a glass
of water.'
Powdered alum is another important
adjunct ; , a little should be thrown
into the water in which' you bathe
your hands before putting on gloves
for a crowded reception or ball, when
there might be a tendency to perspire
too freely.
It is said that a 'few drops of sul
phuric acid in the bath water is also a
preventive of the too free perspiration
of either hands or feet. .
An equal mixture of lemon juice
and glycerine is another "aid to
beauty," necessary to the toilet table
it whitens as well as softens the
hands. DetroitFree. Press.
TASHIOX ROTES. . ' -'
Bluet, always a cold, unbecoming
color, is no longer fashionable. 5 ,
Ir. the trimming of skirts there
continues to belthe greatest' reserve.
" Made brims $of straw braid and
fancy crowns were prominent at the
flr.it openings. 1
The fashionable thing at present ia ;
to wear white linen collars with the
colored shirt waists. . ; '
The new crepon challies displayed
in the shops are as pretty as silks and
wear infinitely better.
The coat-and-skirt style of tailor- v
made gown is as popular as erer this
Bpring, but in addition there are cloth
gowns with closely, fitting bodices and
elaborately trimmed.
The sale of fine grade but inexpen
sive silks is so great that one house
asserted last week that it, had in less
than six days sold fifty miles of silkr
for gowns, skirts and fancy linings.
. , Hair, 'bonnets, - hats, . sleeves , and
skirts have suddenly widened to an
almost grotesque extent, causing the
tallest woman to look short, while the -
short ones are turned into veritable
tar feature.
All the new skirts are from nine to
ten yards in circumference,' while the
dressmakers assert confidently that
the width will go on increasing, and .
predict that fifteen yards will be th? . '
measurement this summer. .
Very pretty are the lawn waists i
China blue, old rose, red or black
with an all-over pattern in white em- .
broidery. Striped and checked linen
make neat waists ; they cost quite as ,
much as silk, but are more substan
tia' ' ' " '' : T:.::,
'. '
The . Sun Bitltrn -jid the Kaaa.
Very little has been recorded of the
habits of the sqn bittern, it merely
having been stated that it resorts to
the undergrowtb 'found : along - the
muddy banks of ulnggish' streams,
where it feeds upon insects and small
fishes. '- . ,
Newton, who has observed it in cap
tivity, at the gardens of the Zoolog
ical Society or London. Bays:' "Ik
soon becomes tame, and has several
times made its nest r and' xeared its
young." It has a plaintive, piping
note, and "it ordinarily walks with
Blow and precise steps, . keeping its
body in a horizontal position, but at
times, when exoited,it will go through
a series of fantastio -performances, .....
spreading its broad wings and tail so
as to display their beautiful mark- ,
ings." .These Bun bitterns were known
fully three-quarters of) a century or
more to science before anything at all ,
akin to them was found ; but when
the island of New Caledonia became
colonized, a bir4 there discovered, v
and nowhere else, at last furnished an
ally. This was the kagu, now de-
scribed by ornithologists as Rhino-,'.
chetus jubatus. Externally the kagu.
bears but little resemblance to a sun ,
bittern, though its internal structure,
which . has been . carefully examined,
proves the relationship. Considerably
larger than Eurypyga, it has its head
ornamented by a hanging crest of
long and soft feathers. Both its legs, ,
which are rather long; , and its beak
are of a livid red color. Its ample
wings are marked something after the
pattern seen in the sun bittern, while
its chief body color is a pale elate,
shading lighter below. Numerous
transverse bars embellish the tail, and
these markings, though far less dis
tinct, are seen on the wing coverts al-..
so. Ordinarily it is a very passive ,
bird, standing motionless for several '
minutes at a time, when it will Btep
off briskly for a short distance, only
to again assume its attitude of rest;
This is by no means, however, the in,
variable behavior of this extraordinary
bird, for when aroused by excitement
it will even quite outdo a sun bittern
in its extravagant and fantastio ' 'show
off." Holding one of its wings or the
extremity of its tail in the most re
markable manner, it will violently
spin about in giddy dance, the like of
which is never performed by any other
known member of the class Aves. Un
fortunately, "this extremely interest
ing tyP?r it is now said, is becoming
rapidly exterminated. Popular Sci
ence Monthly.
Police Dislike Leather Breeches.
. The park mounted police of Nc ?
STork City are tired of their buck-si is
breeches and have petitioned the
"powers that be" to allow them to
encase their nether limbs in woolen
garments. The leather breeches cr-t
$23 a pair, and each is guaranteed to
last five years. The police cotn"Li !
that in wet weather it is impossible w
takeoff the 'gr.rnents. New Ork -
rjcavune, ,
vf"