Nebraska Newspapers

    THAT V/IFE OF MINE.
met me at tbe door la t night ,
All dainty , fresh and smiling ,
And tbrcH" Lcr plump anns round me tight ,
In manner most beguiling.
Then , in ber sweet , impulsive way ,
She bugged me as sbe kissed me ,
And told me bow tbe livc-loug day
Sbe thought of me and missed me.
She belpcd me off witb coat and hat ,
And led me , still close-clinging1 ,
Into tbe dining room , and sat
Down at tbe table feinting.
Tbe meal fresb-cut flow'rs
was perfect ; - ,
The firelight warm and rosv ,
Made all seem bright ; swift llew the hours ,
And we were , oh 1 so cozy !
Then , after dinner , sbe and I
Sang tbe old songs together
We used to sing in davs gone by
'
My heart was like a'fcather !
Our happiness made earth a heaven ,
And now , as I review it ,
I recollect 'twas past eleven
Almost before we knew it.
TY'c sat there on the sofa then ,
Sbe nestling close beside me.
Softly she smoothed my hair , and when
J kissed her did not chide me.
She fondly pinched my cheek , and so ,
Her dimpled hand upon it ,
She whispered : "Darling do vou know
I need a new spiing bonnet t"
k > omervillc Journal.
A STEAJ &E COINCIDENCE.
BY LIZZIE LYONS.
It was a bright , sunshiny morning in
October , one of those delightful days
in the lovely autumn , which brings an
involuntary , checiful smile to the lips
of even the most unapprcciative , who
can scarcely ever see anything to be
commended in this fair"world. . The
fashionable people had mostly returned
to town , after their long vacation spent
among the sands at the fashionable sea
side resorts , and the Fifth avenue man
sions were again resonant with gayety.
In one of the most stately residences
of all , in an elegantly appointed bou
doir , Mrs. Landmere , a lady , one would
judge of about fifty years , paced back
and forth , impatiently. She was reputd
to be very wealthy , owning a mine
worth several millions. Her proud ,
patrician face wore a care-worn expres
sion ; her tall , slender figure , with its
long , clinging dress of some soft , black
material , once so graceful , seemed
bowed with care ; and in her large , dark
eyes there was a look as of great long
ing. Her hands clasped , her whole ab-
titude one of supplication , she breathed
a prayer that she might see her son ,
her boy , but once again.
' Just live years ago he had been with
ier her joy , her pride , the very lion
of elite society. On his entrance to a
ball room dozens of gentle hearts
would beat more quickly , dozens of
bright eyes grow brighter at his com
ing ; anxious mammas with eligible
daughters smile approvingly at the
slightest attention from him. Hand
some to a fault , and courted by all , he
was , as would naturally follow , way
ward and self-willed , but he had
never asserted it to any very Teat
extent until , having imagined that he
had fallen in love with his mother's
seamstress , he vowed ho would marry
her in direct opposition to his moth
er's wishes ; in fact , her most earnest
commands. When he announced the
fact she held up her hands in holy
horror at the idea of such a mesalli
ance. Her son a Landmere to
marry a seamstress. Preposterous !
All her commands , her pleadings ,
were to no avail. His will was as in
domitable as her own. She at last re
sorted lo discharging the poor girl in
his absence , thinking he would soon
overcome his foolish affection. Not so ,
however. On his return a stormy inter
view ensued , in which he vowed he
would search for her in the four cor
ners of the earth but what he would find
her. So saying he had gone from her
without the clasp of the hand , without
a word of parting , without even a single
glance except to throw her a look of de-
liance as he went from the room ; and
five years had passed away on leaden
livings ; to her five years of weary wait
ing and longing , of hoping against hope ,
for just one word from him. Was he
sick and suffering ? Was he carrying
on a miserable existence , or , horrible
thought ! was he dead , occupying some
unknown grave , with nothing to mark
liis last resting place ? were the harrow
ing thoughts that had thrust themselves
constantly upon her. And why did she
think so much of him to-day , when five
years had elapsed ; time , one would
think , to have almost healed the wound.
Her thoughts were suddenly inter
rupted by the entrance of a servant
with the morning mail. It consisted
of the Morning Times and a business
like looking letter. Taking the paper
and glancing at it carelessly , her eye
was arresteclby a long column , head
edTrouble in the Mines. " She read
it through , with a sigh of sympathy for
the poor miners , who were being treat
ed so unjustly and laying it down , she
broke the seai of her letter.
It was just a brief note from the over
seer of her mines , stating there would
be no profit from them that month , ow
ing to the exorbitant demands of the
miners following in a few minor expla
nations. As she read it a dark suspi
cion flashed across her mind. Could it
be that he was defrauding her perhaps
grinding down those poor , unfortunate
men ? Her mind was soon made up ;
she would go to the mines. Here she
had been brooding over her trouble
when she was needed elsewhere. With
her , to decide was to act , and the reso
lution was no sooner formed than she
set about making preparations for her
journey.
; * * * * *
A dull , leaden , threatening sky over
head , cold and disagreeable all around ;
the miners gathered , together in little
knots , talking excitedly and angrily ,
showing plainly by their scowlingTooks
that some evil was pending somebody.
A man known among them as Jack
Lorley , stepped from among the group
and raised his hand as though to speak
to them , and all hushed into silence.
Under ordinary circumstances , one
would turn and look curiously at the
handsome , intelligent face , refincmen'
and good 'breeding written on , even *
lineament of the perfect features , de
spite the miner's garb. There was t
look in his handsome eyes of defiance-
one could almost say of disgust witl
the world , as though it had used bin
roughly ; his nonchalant air sayiin
plainly that he cared not what he did
since he seemed doomed to misfortune
Although but about thirty , he was evi
dently a leader among them , and a fav
orite , for as he startc'd to speak , eacl
one removed his hat and prepared t <
listen in respectful silence.
"My brave men , if such you are , am
such you have heretofore proven your
selves to be , now is the time to asser
your true courage. We are beinj
ground down to starvation. Not onlj
we , but our wives and children , are be
ing unjustly treated , and it is cowardlj
to endure it. Will you thus stand idli
by and see the very bread taken fron
their mouths ? I say down on the wo
man who would thus rob us of oui
rights , almost our very life , that she
may grow richer. Scarcely ever seein'
daylight from one week's end lo an
other , we are paid a mere pittance , anc
sometimes nothing , for unremitting
life-destroying toil. Let us assert oui
manhood , defend our rights , anc
strike. "
Loud shouts rent the air as he finish
ed speaking , and after three hearti
cheers for Jack Lorley , they disperse ! :
toward their various cabins for the
night.
Soon after their departure a woman
contrasting strangely with the stir
rounding scenery , made her appearance
and going to one of ( he cabins tappec
lightly on the door. * It was immediate
ly opened by a poorly dressed woman.
"I am Mrs. Landmere , the owner ol
these mines. Can you give me lodging
for to-night ? " The door was rudelj
shut in her face. " She went to anothei
and still another , meeting with the same
signal failure and scowling , forbidding
countenances. It was commencing t <
rain and night was coming on. Vha :
would she do ?
Tired , weary and travel-stained , she
resolved to try once more. She was
met by a neat , kindly-looking woman
who looked surprised at seeing a s <
finely dressed woman at the mines.
She dreaded disclosing her identify
lest the kindly expression would harder
as the others had done. She venturec
to do so , however , and there was a loot
of sympathy in the woman's face as she
said respectfully , "Madame , it is verj
dangerous and daring for you to conu
here. They have vowed to kill you r
they ever came in contact with you. ]
scarcely dare do it , but you can not staj
in the rain , so come in. "
She entered a poorly furnished btti
cleanly room , and the woman placed i
chair for her , blushing painfully as she
said , "I can not offer 3011 any refresh
ment , for I have nothing to eat. "
"My poor woman , how is that ? " ask
edMrs. Landmere , sympathetically.
"It is the old question of Captita'
against Labor , " said the woman. "Mj ;
husband gets very poor wages , anc
sometimes nothing , and the overseoi
has done his best for us , but it has beet
of no avail ; " and she looked at hei
accusingly.
Mrs. Landmere's vague suspicions
were now confirmed as to the over
seer's duplicity. Holding out her hand
to the woman , she said : "I assure yot
your wrongs shall be righted , and now
will you allow me to retire ; I am verj
weary. "
The woman led the way to a lacldei
leading to a loft in the top of the cabin.
"It will be safer for you here , " she
said apologetically , as she assisted hei
ijuest to ascend.
Mrs. Landmere was soon sleeping
peacefully , oblivious of all danger. The
rain , which had commenced early in
; he evening , was now pouring down in
; orrents ; it increased its fury ; but still
; he sleeper slumbered peacefully on.
A great clap of thnnder made hei
3tir uneasily , and awakening with
start , she felt a consciousness that some
one was in her room. She lay awake
nervously for several minutes. Sud-
lenly a flash of lightning revealed tc
icr startled vision a man bendiug ovei
icr bed , a knife grasped tightly in his.
land ; plainly he intended to kill her
"n him she had recognized her long
ost son ! After that one flash all was
igain dark. !
"My son ! " she fonnd strength to say , ,
breathlessly. .
. "Mother ! " came in a scarcely audi
'
ble tone from the darkness.
Striking a match and lighting the
antern which he carried , and couiinc
nearer to the bed , he sank on his knees
it her bedside and implored her for
giveness saying remorsefully with f
shudder that "he had almost been t
murderer , and his victim his owr
mother. " All the time he had been ai
the mines he had never heard the name j
of the woman who owned them.
She rained tears of thankfulness dowr
upon her restored son , and after their
emotion had somewhat subsided , he
: old her of his wanderings ; how he had
left her ; tried to get work , but in vain ;
lad searched for the girl of his choice ,
aut had almost given up in despair ,
when he found her , sick and alone , he
iad married her and gone out West to
; he mines to try to make a living , for
IB was too proud to appeal to her foi
lelp. "But , mother , " he said "whj
liave you treated the miners so ruth
lessly , so heartlessly. Many of them
liave nothing to eat and we are on th
verge of striking. "
"My son this is the aim of my visit ,
which has terminated so happily for me ,
in the restoration of my son. It is noi
my injustice. I too have been deceiv
ed. It is the overseer who has been
Binding them down and defrauding me.
But I shall let him go and will not pros
ecute him , but let his own conscience
be his punishment. "
Many were the blessings heaped upon
Mrs. Landmere by the miners for her
generosity to them , for she more than
doubled what they had thought ol
striking for ; the old overseer was dis
charged , and his place filled by the hus
band of the woman who had been so
kindly hospitable to her.
The "Fifth avenue residence is _ no long
er somber and dull , but gay with child
ish prattle and laughter , while Mrs.
Landmere , as she looks proudly at hei
son , wife and children , who have re
turned with her , says : "My pravei
was answered , and my last days are in- (
deed blessed. " ' 1
LAFAGAN'S LOGIC.
A fool who can conceal his folly is
at least a philosopher.
It is human nature to commit sin
first and learn its penalty afterward.
Success is a proof of ability. Success
not abused is a greater proof , however.
Success corrupts about as many as it
benefits , unless it appeals to one's bet
ter nature.
Wit that comes natural and sudden ,
like powder out of a gun , is the most
irresistible of all wit.
Man is not born with character. His
ancestors' good name is his only as
long as he honors it.
The very best that many persons
could do that I know of would bo to
forget half they know.
We look into the present or future
for our encouragement when we should
be studying the past for it.
The true logic of living is to enjoy
life if you get a chance , and , if you do
not , not to hinder others who can.
I do not see any object in jealousy ,
for ten to one if those we are jealous of
are not equally jealcfus of some one
else.
else.After
After all , beauty is like a fast horse
it has its da } ' . Take beauty out of
some people and there is little left to
brag of.
I will bet my last dollar on tenacity.
It is a legitimate persecution. It will
even make Canada thistles pino for
death as a release.
It is not creditable for a dog even to
bite the hand that foods it. How to ex
cuse man for the same thing is what
puzzles me just now.
I am not in favor of writing obitu
aries. In my mind they are foolish.
Good people do not mind themand bad
ones do not deserve them.
The pleasing ceremonies of polite
people are liablu to be about two-thirds
show , yet are about as near the golden
gate as mankind ever gets.
All begin at the bottom and work for
the top round of the traditional ladder ,
but I have never seen a person yet who
knew when the top round was reached.
A truth of much embellishment is
necessarily weak. Truth alone and
simple is beauty in the rough. In fact ,
it is all the virtue necessary for any one
person.
When on earth the Creator taught
truth in simple and homely phrasesyet
the simpleness of the language render
ed His words eloquent and more con
vincing.
At sixteen all young inon know more
than their sires. This is natural. But
if the'still claim to wear the medal at
twenty-live they are gone beyond re
demption.
There is not much genuine happiness
in the world , but those who do not
mourn over what they have not got ,
and do not make fools of themselves
over what they have got , give happi
ness a close shave.
Being either way up in the attic of
ecstacy , or way down in the cellar of
despair is bad policy. Any fool can'
become comparatively happy in life if
he will take a position on the fence and
stick to it.
No one ever fully comprehends the
world's nature , but many a man who
has had the bottom of his hopes and
aspirations knocked into oblivion by the
unfeeling world has caught a faint
glimmer of humanity. Chicago Led
ger.
The Boycott in Slavery Times.
The London News in an article on the
boycott idea insists that the principle or
the system was born in America and not
in Great Britain. Ireland gave a name
merely , the News contends , to a prac
tice that was originated in slavery times
in the United States. This is in an
swer to the charge made by papers in
this country that the idea is un-Ameri
can and is of foreign importation.
The News calls attention to practices
in vogue in the United States before
the war when one section attempted to
boycott the other , when one State at
tempted to boycott a section , and when
communities went to extremes in put
ting in force the boycott system against
school teachers and preachers , and
other people from the North who went
Lo the South. The News insists that the
Dbjectionable features of the system were
more prominent in those days and in
this country than they ever were in
Breat Britain.
This may be true , but the Neivs is re
minded that when the American people
had their attention called to this vio
lation of the fundamental principles of
the Constitution they were at some
pains to correct the evil. What is now
known as the boycott system has never
succeeded for any great length of time.
Wherever and whenever it has been
employed public sentiment and some
thing more violent in the shape of pub
lic prejudice has grown up against those
who practice it. This has been the
uniform rule , and the Trades Assembly
was wise to pronounce against the in
discriminate use of what has been so
much abused.
The truth is that the boycott has been
quite as often employed by corporations
and associations against the laborer as
it has by the laborer against corpora
tions. It may be said that the labor
associations are justified in fighting
fire with fire , but as corporations that
resorted to the boycott have lost public
sympathy and have as a rule been driv
en to the wall , is it not probable that
labor associations , following the bad
example of those who have been un
merciful , may excite a public prejudice
against themselves. We suggested
some weeks ago that a test case be
made on which the statutes of the sev
eral States and the National statutes
bearing on this question might be re
viewed and receive authoritative inter
pretation in their application to the cir
cumstances now before the public.
This ought to be done in the interest of
all parties , and without any irritation
and without anything savoring of re
sentment or bitterness. Chicago Inter
Ocean.
Bob lugersoll.
Up to 187C Ingersoll had been simplj
a reasonably successful lawyer of Peoria ,
111. He was one of the republican del
egates to the Cincinnati convention ol
1876. and a strong Blaine man. He ar
rived in Cincinnati with several othei
Illinois delegates several days before
the convention assembled. The citj
was full of people , and they were hav
ing a high old time. The Blaine men
had meetings every day , and did every
thing in their power to "boom" theii
candidate. It was finally decided tc
have the nominating speech made bj
some Illinois man , and the Illinois dele
gation settled upon Ingersoll.
There was present in the city Bob's
favorite'brother , who died a few years
later , and at whose grave the great
atheist delivered his world renowned
oration. He immediately told his
brother of his selection , and that he
had promised to deliver the speech.
The brother , who was somewhat n r-
vous , tried to persuade him not to try
it.
"You are nob famous enough , " he
persuaded. "Yon are getting along and
making a reputation , but this is too big
a thing for you. I fear you will make
a dead failure of it. "
But Bob had promised and would not
back out.
"Well , if you arc determined to do
this , you must do your best. You must
make a success. To do this you must
get at it immediately. Don't wait a
minute. Go into that room and lock
the door , and begin the speech. "
"Oh , to-morrow will do , " urged Bob ,
"and besides , I have promised to go
with the boys to-night. "
And away he went. The next day
passed , and although his brother spoke
about tho speech several times. Ilobert
did not touch it. And so the time
passed till the night before the conven
tion. The brother , meanwhile , had got
nearly frantic , lloberl came in late
that night , and , in answer , to his broth
er's solicitation , said :
"Oh , bother ; let's get a good night's
sleep. "
And so they retired. Ingersoll says
he never slept so soundly in his life as
he did that night. Finally he woke up
suddenly , and fflt perfectly refreshed.
He got up hastily and looked at his
watch. It was three o'clock a. m. He
went to the adjoining room very quietly
and closed the door , so as not to disturb
his brother. He turned the liulit down ,
and , closing his eyes , ima < r'ncd the con
vention hall , and his an Hence before
him. Then he be < ran to Urnk of Blaine.
Finally he began to say hispeech over
to himself. When he'had finished he
took pen and paper and wrote it out
carefully as he had said it. He laid it
away in the drawer to the bureau , and
went back quietly to bud. He very
soon was fast asleep again , and did not
wake up till past eight , when his brother
was standing over him , vigorously
shaking him.
"Rob , get up , get up ! It's 8:30 , and
the convention assemble ? at 10:30 , I
thought you were going to get up early
and get your speech ready. It will be
a dead failure , and we shall be disgrac
ed. Blaine will not be nominated. It
is too bad , too bad. " -
Bob slowly waked up , and rubbing
his eyes , urged that it would be best
firstto get their breakfast. But the
brother insisted that he should not
leave his room until he got down to
business on the speech. By this time
Bob had donned his pantaloons , and re
marked :
"Well , you be the audience and sit
over there , and I will see what I can
do. "
It is , perhaps , needless to say that the
brother was completely captured.
When Bob had finished lie rushed to
him , and putting both arms around ,
him , embraced him in the most en
thusiastic way.
"It is simply sublime , " he cried ,
"but when did you prepare it ? "
"Oh , I scratched it off last night
when you were asleep. Go to the
drawer there and you will find the
manuscript. While I dress please read
it over and see if I delivered it cor
rectly. "
The great point with Ingersoll is
that he is always self possessed. He
never gets rattled. Some of the great-
3st orators in this country have trem
bled before so great an occasion as this.
Bob Ingersoll never said anything that
[ rave him so much reputation as that
liit about the "plumed knight. " It has
been quoted ever since , both by Elaine's
[ riends and enemies. The convention
iveut wild over it. But it could not
make Blaine president. Exchange.
Peers That are Pensioned.
It is stated that relatives of peers have
received $500,000,000 of public money
siuce 1855. Each Duke also has at
present fifty-six relatives in public office.
Ehe 402 hereditary peers own an average
of 35,000 acres each and draw a total
innual rental of § 69,000,000. The Duke
of Richmond has made a specially good
thing out of his ancestors. A perpetual
pension of 19,000 was granted to one
of the dukes. To commute this consols
worth 633,000 were purchased when
jonsols were below par and the bonds
were put aside for the Duke. These
consols rose above par , were sold , and
the proceeds invested in land , which
now gives the duke 50,000 a year in
place of 19,000 a year to which he is
sntitlcd. To reform the present House of
Peers there are some persons who advo
cate the Chinese hereditary system , by
ivhich a duke's son would be a marquis ,
the grandson an earl , and so on until
the family either entirely lost its title
or was re-enobled for fresh services to
the State.
Running a Locomotive.
It ccwts a little more than 20 cents a
mile to run a-locomotive , on an aver-
ige. Nearly 8 cents of this is for fuel ,
7 % cents for pay of engineer and fire
man , a half cent for oil and waste , and
more than 4J cents for repairs. A ton
of coal will run a locomotive 24 miles ,
a pint of oil will run 11 miles , and a
pound of waste 123 miles. The loco
motives of a railway like the North
western run 500,000 miles a month.
Chicago Herald.
PASTEUR'S METHOD.
Cruel Treatment of TtablJlts in tlio
Great Doctor's Laboratory.
M. Pasteur's laboratory , writes a Paris
correspondent of The London Telegraph ,
is a long , narrow , low-roofed building ,
which fringes tho ground stretching
before the entrance portico of the
Ecole Normale. It is divided into
three comtarpracnts. In the center is
the place devoted to trepanning opera
tions , a large space being reserved for
the laboratory properwhere the virous
and tho sterilized bouilon , or beef tea ,
with which it is mingled are prepared.
The rabbits and other animals aru kept
in the cellars of the establishment.
The first proceeding witnessed this
afternoon was the extraction of the
virus from a diseased animal which
had died in a high state of rabies. Tho
carcass was opened from the skull
downward , and the whole of the spinal
cord from the medu a oblongata , or
brain bulb , as the French call it , to the
lower parts was laid bare. Then com
menced the delicate operation of taking
it out whole and entire. This was
neatly performed by the assisiant , who
with pincers placed the long strip of
marrow on a saucer. The bulb was
then separated from the strip , and the
matter contained in 51 , wHch was the
most potential virus that could be ex
tracted , was used for inoculating the
living rabbit. The strip of marrow ,
containing less powerful , but equally
useful virus , was cut with a scissors in
to several parts , each one of which was
tied with thread , and placed in a glass
bottle , where it was suspended over a
bed of caustic potash to undergo the
drying process. The potash , of course ,
does away with the necessity of using
the ordinary and less desirable mode of
heating in ovens or otherwise. The
marrow , after having been dried in this
manner for a certain number of days ,
is pulverized with a pestle and mortar
and then mixed with the bou Ion.
After this it is ready for use on man ,
the dillerent degrees of virulence being
regulated by the condition of the rab
bit from which it is extracted at the
time of the animal's death , and the
longer or shorter period during which
it was dried. The virus is obtainable
from the nerves of the animal's body ,
but is strongest in the spinal cord and
the medulla oblongata. The operation
of trepanning the rabbits and injecting
them with the virus is a painful one to
witness. M. Pasteur's opponents in
England and elsewhere are loud in their
denunciations of the cruelty to animals
which is daily perpetrated in the labora
tory of the Ituo d'Ulm ; but they can
hardly be too often reminded that M.
Pasteur has a lofty and noble object in
view , and that the sufferings inilictcd
on animals will be more than counter
balanced by relief from pain and the
terrible danger which his philanthropic
efforts will bring forth for humanity at
large. It must also be remembered
that the rabbits before undergoing the
" " under chloro
"trepanning" are put
form. This afternoon two fine , fat.
well-conditionedxrabbits were taken out
of the cages in the cellars. The first
animal operated upon had its head
clipped bare to the bone , and was thnn
placed upon the trepanning board , its
forepaws and legs being strapped to
the table. A small , bag-shaped piece
of white blotting paper soaked in chlor
oform was placed over the animal's
head and well against its nose. The
skull was then incised and the virus in
jected near the brain. The animal
struggled slightly and heaved , but the
chloroform soon made it completely in
sensible and dazed. In the meantime
its companion came near the sufferer
and licked its sides pitifully , as if filled
with sympathy. The operation finished
the poor animal presented a hideous
spectacle , with the ugly red gash in its
skull , and its eyes heavy and dull from
the effects of the chloroform. The
other rabbit was then subjected to the
same process. Owing to the many
cases which are now being supervised
by M. Pasteur , it has become necessary
to inoculate fresh rabbits daily. During
the period of the incubation of the virus
the animals remain in a listless and
drowsy state. Then the first symptoms
of rabbies show themselves by a general
paralysis of the limbs , and the animal
dies.
A Alining1 Camp in ' 19-
The mines put all men for once upon
a level. Clothes , money , manners ,
family connections , letters of introduc
tion , never counted for so little. The
whole community was given substan
tially an even start in the race. Gold
was so abundant , and its sources seemed
for a time so inexhaustible , that the ag
grandizing power of wealth was mo
mentarily annihilated. Social and
financial inequalities between man and
man were together swept out of sight
Each stranger was welcomed and told
to take a pan and pick and go to work
for himself. The richest miner in the
camp was seldom able to hire a servant ;
those who had been glad to serve
others were digging in their own
claims. The veriest greenhorn was as
likely to uncover the richest mine in
the gulch as was the wisest of ex-pro
fessors of geology ; and , on the other
hand , the best claim on the river might
suddenly "give out" and never again
yield a dollar. The poorest man in the
camp could have a handful of gold dust
for the asking from a more successful
neighbor , to give him another start and
help him "hunt for better luck. " No
one was ever allowed to suffer ; the
treasure vaults of Sierra were too near
and seemingly too exhaustless. "To a
little camp of 1849" so an old miner
writes me "a lad of 16 came one day ,
footsore , weary , hungry , and penniless.
There were thirty robust and cheerful
miners at work in the ravine , and the
lad sat on the bank watching them a
while in silence , his face telling the sad
story of his fortunes. At last one stal
wart miner spoke to his fellows , say
ing : "Boys , I'll work tor an hour for
that chap , if you will. " At the end of
the hour one hundred dollars' worth
of gold dust was laid in the youth's
handkerchief. The miners made out a
list of tools and necessaries. 'You go , '
they said , 'and buy these and come
back. We'll have a good claim staked
aut for you. Then you've got to pad-
He for yourself. ' " Thus genuine and
unconventional was the hospitaty of i
the miners' camp. Mining Camp. i
STODDARD'S MULE.
A Xovaila Sfory of IToiv It Urolcc
Ferryman. Dnfjuctt's Jtusliioss.
Many years ago down in Idaho , dur
ing a gold excitement , a good many men
Went into the country to make money
outside tho gold-hunting industry.
Their idea was to make the other fel
lows delve for the gold whilethey ap
propriated it afterward. Rollin Dag-
gett , afterward Nevada's Congressman ,
established a ferryboat on a small c ; .
and named the place "Death's Forwi"
at the same timu inventing a musty
legend to the eilect that it was thus
named because so many lives had been
lost in tho attempt to cross it. The
stream was not over a dozen yards
wide , and the water nowhere over two
feet deep ; but he rigged up a llatboat ,
and pulled it back and forth by a rope
contrivance. Whenever the prospect
ors crossed he regaled them with hor
rible tales of the treachery of the
stream , and the remorseless quicksands
which had drawn so many men and
mules to terrible deaths.
In tho night when he ferried people
over he would caution them not to get
too near the edge of the boat , as a fall
'
overboard was 'certain death. By let
ting the dim old lantern go out and
making slow time he frequently im
pressed the passengers with tho idea
that the stream was half a mile wide.
For night trips he charged S3 , but if
the wind was high and the weather bad
he struck sanguine prospectors for
much larger sums. In tho daytime $1
was his modest charge. |
He went along in this way for several
months , the men who rushed to the hills 1
looking upon him as a benefactor to his
race by this conquering of so formida
ble an obstacle to travel as "Death's
Ford. " One day Charlie Stoddard. the
promoter , appeared on the bank with a
mule and boarded the Jlatboat to cross.
In the midst of the stream , just when
the ferryman was telling how danger
ous the place was , the mule grew restive
and fell overboard. One leg caught on
a rope and he got his head under water ,
and , unable to extricate himself , was
drowned. When he was cut loose he
lay there in the middle of "Death's
Ford , " half out of water , so that all
who came along saw what a miserable |
sham the ferry was , and that any four- i '
footed animal could walk across. Dag-
gett tried to get the mule away , but he
was too heavy to budge , and so he lay
there in plain sight for weeks , until
Daggett's business as a ferryman was
ruined. That's the reason old Dag
hardly ever speaks to Charloy Stoddard
when he meets him. Carson ( Nevada )
Appeal.
Editing With the Scissors.
The above remark is frequently made
in connection with newspapers , anel is
too frequently meant as a slur. On the
contrary , under proper circumstances , \
it should be regarded as a compliment \
of a high character. The same paper
may be ably edited with the pen and
miserably edited with the scissors. A , '
mistaken idea prevails that the work of \
the latter is mere child's play , a sort of
hit or miss venture , requiring hardly
any brains and still less judgement ;
that the promiscuous and voluminous
clippings are sent in a batch to the
foreman , and with that the editor's 1
duty enels and that of the foreman "f \
begins. I
Instead of this , the work requires
much care and attention , with a keen
comprehension of the fact that each
day's paper has its own needs. The
exchange editor is a pains-taking , con
scientious , methodical man , always on
the alert , quick in appreciation , reten
tive in memory , shrewd in discernment.
[ Ie reads closely , culls carefully-omits
incl amends , discards and digests , nev-
jr ignoring the fact that variety is a
ijreat essential. There are sentences to
recast , words to soften , redundancies to
prime , errors to correct , headings to be
made , credits to be given , seasons to be
considered , affinities to be preserved ,
consistencies to be respected. He knows
whether the matter is fresh or stale ,
whether it is appropriate , and whether
ic has used it before ; he remembers
; hat he is catering for many tastes ; lie
makes raids in every direction ; he lays
: he whole newspaper field under con
tribution "boils down "
; no persistently ,
ivhich with him , is not a process of re-
ivriting , but a happy faculty of expung
ing , without destroying sense or con
tinuity.
His genius is exhibited in the depart-
iier.ts. the items of which are similar
ind cohesive in the suggestive heads
md sub-heads , in the sparkle that is
risible , in the sense of gratification
vhich the reader derives. No daily
) aper can be exclusively original ; it
vould die of ponderosity. Life is too
; hort and hence an embargo must be
aid upon the genius of its rivals. A
jright clipped article is infinitely better
han a stupid contributed article. The
nost successful paper is the paper that
s intelligently and consistently edited ,
"
n all its departments , whether"by pen
> r scissors. Philadelphia CalL
A Woman's Courage.
"War is a terrible thing. The first
ight I was in was the battle of Shiloh.
i tell you , boys , my heart was in my
aouth when the rebels commenced fir-
ng on us , " said old Tommy Hayfield
o visiting neighbors.
"You were a coward , Tom , " remark-
d Mrs. Hayfield. "It would doubtless
: ave frightened me if I had baen a sol-
ier in that battle , but it wouldn't have /
cared me till my heart jumped into my -
nouth , " A th
"Oh , I don't doubt it , " retorter
Id man. "You are a woman ,
, -oman never lets her heart gei.
aouth. " -Zi
"Humph ! " ejaculated the old lady.
'I suppose you think that the reason
wonijin never gets her heart in her
louth is because she hasn't any heart ? "
"No , my dear , " replied the oldwar
ier , between whiffs of tobacco smoke ;
'it's ' because if her heart were in her
louth she couldn't talk. Tid-Vits.
A Dakota lawyer-editor announces tiiat be
can not live on wind. " OC course not. Xo
lanufacturer can use bis finished product as
iw material. Alb-my Arrjus.