PHRT THREE , JL FHE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE PRGES 17-20.
TWENTY-JPJllST YEAH. OMAHA , SUNDAY MORNING , NOVEMBEE 35 , 1891-TWENTY PAGES. NUMBEH 150.
THAT EVER OCCURRED WAS CAPTURED BY THE BOSTON STORE , Northwest Corner 16th and Douglas Sts. , Omalia.
Simonson $ Weiss Stock Forty-six The Boston Store
Cloak Manufacturers , Invoices Thousand Buys this entire cloak stock
Sold by the sheriff to the Hard Cash , Dollars.
THIS BEPBESENTS THE EN1IBE STOCK OP from the sheriff at a price
Boston Store.
.
Every Garment made this SIMONSON & WEISS , that will allow any kind
season. 329 Canal Street , New York. of latitude.
Will Sell Them Tomorrow at
One-Fourth Their Valua ,
ALL THESE BARGAINS IN FINE And tlicsc Great
S end in Your Mail Snapping
PLUSH AND PUR-TRIMMED GARMENTS Or clers by mail will be
Bargains
Orders at Once MENTS WILL BE POUND ON OUR Are in the FiL'ecl ' Promptly.
Children's Heavy Clotb
GRIiTCIIIiNS AND
NEWMARKETS ,
In atros from ! to 12.
Buys a Stylish Black For a splendid All Wool ILindsomo Wool Finest Quality 30-inch Long CHILDBEN'S
DIAGONAL Black Heavy Weight Diagonal BROCADED Worombo Beaver Jacket NBWMHRKBTS
Reefer Jacket Jasse Reefer In lirown anil black , vltn real I'anndlan pos In all wool fancy pliilils und us-
.Reefer Jacket , sum fur , silk braided oinuments , half bilk truehan trimmed , f torn 4 to 14 yrs.
. lined ; worth J.iO.
With full tlinwl collar and facings of With light-colored lone mlling fur col
nf-trnclinn , with four asiraclian ornu- , lar and fur facings ; original Now York -200 Ladles' anil Warm-
30 inches doublo-broastcd , with - Long -
irtnts ; worth fully $10. long . - value $10.60. $17.50 AND $25
.
largo collar. Would bo a bargain at
SliJ.50. Black Newmarkets
Wn offer the cntlro lot of
Sel Plush Garments Wllli plush trimming. A Godsend to the shivering.
.50 _ _ _
. Yourcholeoof : 00 Ladles' All Wool 1'lalcl nnd
Sitln lined , raised shoulders , hlrfh collars , all > Striped
London ilyo ; worth up to S3 > . ' " "
Will socur o a Stylish Extra Quality "MADE mmm
DIAGONAL At $7.5O and $10.
Pine All Wool Heavy Cheviot - Reefer Three-quarter length Dlasoual Capes In Worth frrn : S10 to $12 each.
Reefer Jacket black and Tun , with jot null heads and
cmbioidcrud.
Cheviot - Jacket , WIDE MOUFLON COLLARS AND All the Ladles' High Grade Strlotly All Wool
In black or tan color. FULL SHAWL MOUFLON FACINGS. NEWMARKETS
COLLAR , and fancy facings of lotifr nat 30 inches lonp , largo REAL ASTI5A- Half satin lined , tailor pressed pockets Black Coney Capes
ural oppossmn FUiJ ; half satin lined. CIIAN FUR COLLAR , FUR FACIlvG , and nlpcves , four silk cord ornamental , With raised shoulders , braided and embroidered
Is worth at least SL'L'.SO. worth vith $23. fcur orin.ineiital silk fastenings fastenings. in the world. The cheapest line garment Worth $7.50 for $2.50 worth up to iJ5 ; In sl/os from U2 to 42 , to ; at
IT WILL PAY YOU WRITE TO US
Tell us what you want , and we
Mail Orders Filled , To come 500 miles to attend this sale of will fill your order as well , if not better , tlian
Cloaks and Jackets at The Boston Store. 3KT. W. Cor. 16th and Bcmglas Streets , Onialia , ii you selected the garment in person. MiilOrJjn Filled
BEGINNINGS OF POLYGAMY ,
An Argonaut from Iowa Saw Thorn at Salt
Lake Gity ,
HE PRZDICTED f ROUBLE WITH MORMONS
Extract IVoni the Diary of Captain
ItciiHoii , AVlio Saw u Mormon Colc-
brntton Two Yours Alter
Utah's Settlement.
The followlnsr Is mi extract from the dlnry
of Captain John ( I. Benson , \vlio wont ovor-
Iniul to California in ' 49 with a party from
AVnpollo , la. :
"Monday , July "X , 1SW. Onoof Flack's
oxon loft to illo. Had to double toatn in
crossing ever summit. It Is ono mlle heavy
hauling. After passing ever summit It 13
very stoop , having to look both wheels ;
rough roaa , crossing a crook several times.
Head bad. At about noon wo catno Into the
vulloy of the Great Salt lnko In sight of the
city of the Great Salt lake. Passed through
tno city ; crossed _ ever Jordan and camped
ouo mlle west of the city.
'Tuesday , July 21. This was n high day
In the city. Thuy wore celebrating the second
anniversary of the entrance of Brigliam
Young Into the valley. Cunnonadlng com-
inonoodjarjy tn the morning , They hud ono
flagstaff 100 foot high and ono fifty foot high.
The muslo and marching commenced at 7:30 :
o'clock. Tnoro were twonty.four youngtiion
nil dressed in white bearing twenty-four
beautiful banners with inscriptions number
of tholr ward nnd otlwr Inscriptions , ns fol
lows ; 'Ward 1 , United Wo Stand\Viird ;
t ) , Christian Kingdoni , " oto. Next cii'tio
twenty-four young laJlosali dressed in whlto
with seven whllo roses about tholr heads ,
wltU two small bannera. The Jim hud the
Inscription , ' /Mount the Lord1 ; the second ,
Hall to tno Chlotl' Then followed twenty-
four old men ; they called thorn silver greys ,
nnd n considerable company besides In
front was the brnsii band. As they marchoa
arouml the bower , the band playing , catinnn
nnd small arms wore llrod to the tuuo.
All marched under the bower
nt 8:1)0 : ) o'clock. Whllo the baud played
in front of the it ami , the banners berne
by the twenty-four young men were stuck In
thusldoposts of the ulslo , meeting In the
middle. The twenty-four young men \vcro
uoatcd together on the right and the Indies on
the loft ; the silver-grays in front with stall
In band , with ribbon on top. All joined in
plimlng a song , the chorus of wblch r.ui
Wo are the true born sons ot.ion , wo are
Ibo ronl friends of Joseph. ' The bower U , I
think , 150 yards by 50 yards. Program of
the exercised wus us follows : Prayer. Nuxt ,
muslo by the band. Twenty-four j oung men
presented the declaration of Independence of
t'io ' Unlti'd Status to President Young. It
was read by the clerk , Than they jravo three
cheers , 'May It llvo ! ' Music. It was then
announced that Or , was to address the
meeting , but was slcic. The clerk road a
liymn to bo sung by the twenty-four young
litotes. They rose and santr churmlngly.
Hong road by tlia clerk to bo sung by the
twenty-four young men ; chorus , 'Wo uro the
true born sons of.Ion , tbo real friends of
Joseph , the bright and glorious morning
rMr , ' Spcccti was read to tbo twenty-four
tMnv-acadcd fathers , They all rose with
( .IT In Imnd. The speech ua In substuuca
a ! the settlement of this place two years ago.
IV isldent Yirting entered the valley nnd no-
c'riplUhed the greatest acblovemont that
could have been accomplished by ui n.
Wont on to doscrlbo the perilous settling ol
tbo valley. Said , 'Lot us provo to too United
tjatcs ( that wbeu they drgyo us from amouif
.hem , they drove the bravest of their sons
nnd their warmest friends , ' etc. Several
cheers given by President Young and fol-
owed by the company , standing , and saying ,
'Holy Lord I Holy Lord ! ' Music
by the baud. Song road to the
twenty-four silver grays ; chorus ,
'Precious liberty 1' John Youug , in bis
opeoch , said the matitlo had fallen oft Joseph
and fallen on Urighatn's shoulders , as from
Elijah to Ellshn. Ho spolio in strong terms
of liberty , and bald , ' 0 n the man that
should try to rob us of our liberty ! ' After
several had vented out their envious spite by
speaking , President Young was called for.
Ho took the stand and said : 'Two years ago
today , ut 4 o'clock , I entered the valley. ' Ho
spoke ot liberty. Ho is by all ouds the smart
est who spoko. Ho is a man of commanding
presence and impressed uio as being n great
man. If ho should llvo to bo an old man and
this community should grow , I predict that
the government will have trouble with these
people. Dinner was then announced. The
twenty-four Hags of the different wards
marched out , each taking station according
to the number of the ward. They formed in
couples , ladles aim gentlemen , hi the rear
strangers were Invited to Join In the inarch to
the dinner table. All marched in order to the
table of their own ward. The table was
spread with the greatest plenty and in taste
and quttlity was not to bo excelled , They
were kind and free. I bollovo enough was loft
for uoublo the numbor. It was estimated
that fiom 0,000 to 3,000 took dinner. I should
think that " 00 emigrants took dinner
with thom. After dinner the Hug bear
ers nil niarehod out and the ditto runt
comlla ies all formed , the baud In front , and
marched again to the bower , singing tbo
chorus : 'Wo nro the trua born sons ot 7Aon ,
None with us could bo compared. Wo uro
the real friends of Joseph , the bright and
glorious morning star. " As they marched
they were saluted by the cannon. Then they
all marched under the bower and then com
menced with the toasts. I shall only
notice ono. ns It scorned to bo the
general spirit of them nil. It was ns fol
lows : Martin Van Huron. May ho bo
kicked across lots by cripples , winked at by
blind men , nloblcd to death by young ducks
and carried to hell through ft keyhole by a
bumble ueo.1 nftor which there was great
cheering. Whllo the singing and toasting
was going on , I loft. Several balls were
anticipated nt night. I am informed nnd
creditably , too , I think , by William Fairly of
Mont Uose , In. , who has n ftithor-ln-lnw In
the city and put up with him for aoveral days
on hts way to California , that the spiritual
wife scheme Is tolerated and practiced. Ho
told mo his fiuhor-in-liuv and himself wont
to President Young und ho has seven wives.
I.\yas told by another man tbat ho wont to
Prutt's , ono of the twelve , und ho saw six
women ho took to b. ) his wivos. Also ,
Fairly said some young women wished him
to cohoy them away trom the city for fear
the st. mid bo called to bo spiritual wives. "
The writer of the above long slnco joined
the great majority of the "men of' 10 , " Ho ,
however , lived to see the beginning of the
fulfillment of his prophecy : "Tho govern
ment will have trouble with those people. "
, Br..N8OX.
.YKr nut niK i..nnis.
All the skirts nro cut bias and trimmed
with bands of fur.
A few boiig llno gowns have the rufiles
amledRos bound with Inch wldo satin ribbon.
Ombro velvet ribbons trim some very
quaint French gown * Intended for street
wear.
Narrow bands of fur , an Inch In width and
lois.wlll bo worn as u piping on cloth bodices
and skirls.
' Tiger" cloth Is mod ns ft trimming , as
bands of the skin of this animal xvira used
six years ago. _
Tboroaro many now'fanoy striped glnco
silks , nnd those are to ba a great feature in
the season's costumes.
Miss Uocks ( an heiress ) Do you realty and
truly love mo Count ) Count Po [ > ponholraor
Lofoyou schveet creature I I analyze you I
Uutsla leather gloves ere cottaluly excel
lent for every day wear , Their durability li
as great as their odor Is agreeable , and they |
wear admirably.
Chaviots are worn later than usual this
soasoii. but offer no special novelty nt pres
ent. Cushtnoros are much less worn nt pres
ent than other woolens.
Mossy chenille trimmings in novel effects
are just opened to view. They nro as stylish
and as becoming as feather trimmings , and
not nearly so expensive.
Braiding in floral , Grecian , arabesque , or
purely conventional designs , is still very pop
ular , being qulto ns much used as in the lirst
season of its introduction.
Spots of long astrakhan wool are seen on
soft woolens , as also line lines nnd various
effects of wavy patterns nnd crosswlso bars ,
slanting stripes nnd moons.
Rings formed of throe thin hoops of gold
wlro .set with n single precious stone , a ruby ,
diamond , or pearl , nro the Christmas pres
ents the swagger girl I * praying for now.
Thcro is no noteworthy change in bodices.
The tondcnco of nil gowns is to princess ef
fect. The bodice , as n separata part of the
gown , is ofteuer nisponsod with than shown.
Among the drossy fabrics of the season
must bo mentioned Sudan lace , n material
resembling guipure. It comes In very olcimnt
shades , and is generally worn ever a colored
silk Hklrt.
Is oat dresses are made of dahlia , bronzo-
brown , mosgrcoii and other colored cloths ,
finished with braiding In black or matching
the shade of the gown with a narrow roll ot
feather trimming ntnll Iho edges.
There Is no use trying to drlvo unless you
have the InnUfallon driving coat of Irish
Uvcod or Harris plaid with the smell of the
peat In its warp and woof. It Is light and
warm , easily adjusted , and ns English fm a
bad lilting boot.
Shot velvets nro very fashionable this soa-
30M. nnd they will bo worn nil winter , Some
of Iho shades nro oxqulslto and full of har
monious colors , turquolso blue , shot with sil
ver , brown with gold , fawn with Venetian
red , cream or plno green , etc.
The circular skirt which has no seams except -
copt the ono In the baclc , and which is cut
almostexactly as one would snap' ) n verj'
deep cape , is n favorite model for dresses
of heavy Gorman broaocloth nnd similar
wnlghly wool textiles , made without a'fouud-
atlon skirt.
for evening wear the most popular selec
tion is tbc dressed kid four-button glove ,
which comes now tn all the light nnd dcllcuto
snades of jellow , blue , pink nnd lavender.
The sloovcs of now evening gowns are lone ,
which does away with the noouslty of tuo
long wrinkled glove.
For calling ana theatre wear the pearl
whllo glove , with heavy black stitching on
the back , Is the universal choice , no mutter
how sjvorely tailor made the cown muj ho.
These gloves have largo black or gilt buttons
nnd probably moro four button gloves are
bold than any other.
A favorite mcdol In sleeves is tight to the
elbow , the upper part full and bunded arouml
the arm above that joint , though not Infre
quently below It. The band Is usually-.two
or three Inches wldo. The -o'-mutton
style still appears upon some of the hand
somest gowns sent from Paris ,
The deft mingling ot brilliant colors Is scon
to great advantage in some ot thoshaggy
Russian plaids nnd stripes. Sotno have \Vldo
bars in autumn-loaf melange on very dark
grounds , others have mo.llum-wldo stripes In
rather light shades , f ramoo by narrow lines
In green , gold , Russian rod , olive , ulue , 0(0. (
Cow-illp yellow satin makes a very beauti
ful evening tollot , as under cloctrio or gas
light , It turns to u pale , charming , shining
gold. Unlike Bomo of the tints of yollo.v ,
however , this particular shade must bo cato-
fully considered , ns only u brilliant bruneto
or a very fair blonuo could safely yonturo
it.
upon tOne
Ono of the small annoyances of life occa
sionally Is the attempt to draw an obstlnnto
glass cork. Immersion In hot water for some
minutes Is sometimes oftlcacloui , but far
from always. A auro method is to lock a bu
reau drawer , tlo a cord to handle or key ,
holding the other oud llruily and ever thU
taut cord run rapidly the iiock of the obsti
bottle. In less than two minutes the
glass will bo too hot to touch und will have
expanded nil around the refractory stopper ,
which will fairly full out.
What n year it is for scarlet ! You soon bit
of the brillllant color fluttering from insldo
the smart tailor coat or bodice , in the plait-
ings of the silK bodico. You see It In hat ? ,
nnd sometimes on daring maids in Jackets ,
n.id now wo nro to have it in the traditional
Red Riding Hood cupi of scarlet the most
vivid and cloth the finest quality ,
A quaint novoity is a white gown with
a yoke nnd frills of black French lace. The
yoke is joined to the gown beneath black
bondings threaded through with lavender
ribbon. The sleeves are white , and very full
to the elbow , llnishe.il there with a broad full
rufllo ot black lace , from beneath which n
long , close slcovo of black extends to the
hunu , whoio full , narrow rulllcs finish it.
The now wraps are oittior extremely long
coats or mantels that reach to tbo knees.
There are also some long driving coats of
lloecy soft camel's ' hair in molted pattern
richly trimmed with furs in harmonizing col
ors. The coat may bo of black , so that It can
bo worn with any drosss , or It may bo in col
ors like pranlta or tan , to harmonize or con
trast with the gown , ns the wearer fancies.
The newest color this season In coats Is corn
flower Hue -u darker , more becoming shade
than the cadet blue of a few years ago.
* V
[
AltOUl HOMKX.
Kate Field gives rather u clover definition
of plagiarism whan she cr.Ua it n lack of slilll
In effacing coincidents.
Lady Somerset , the English temperance
reformer , remarked in an address in Chicago
the other ovenitm that the name of Frances
10. Willard Is a watchword In many English
homes.
Mr * . Margaret Doland , whoso "John Ward ,
Proacuor , " and "Florida Days" gave her
high rank among Amoi lean literary people ,
dlu not take up authorship until after nor
mavrlugo In ISbO.
It Is announced that Mrs. Potter Palmer
will drive the last nail In the woman',3 build
ing at the World's fair. If she does U she
will refute a popular tradition concerning
her sex's ' ability to "throw a stone , sharpen
a lead pencil , or drlvo u nail. "
Mrs , Frances Hodgson Burnett has founded
an asylum for newsboys In Drury Inno , Lon
don , in memory of her dead son , Lionel , the
original of LUtlo Lord Fauutleroy. It Is
culled Lionel's ' Homo , and Mrs. Burnett will
devote to I ts maltitouucca a generous portion
of her incomo. \
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe presided with
great dignity and simplicity at the meeting
in St , Paul of tno Association for the Ad
vancement of Women , an J at the conclusion
of ono of the soislons she croutod much en
thusiasm by reciting hur [ unions "Bivttle
Hymn of the Republic. " Mrs , Howe Is now
7J years old , her hair Is arny , her broad fore
head wrlnulod and her face marked by the
touch of tlmo ; but for ull tl/ut / her ago rests
lightly upon hor. Her blue eyes nro kocn
nnu bright und her volco softly modulated.
Among the curious dlsupycrios In connec
tion with the ri'ccnt consu * of England , says
the Now York Tribune , U the extraordinary
superiority of the numbonor women to that
of men. The excess of the former ever tha
latter amounts to moro thnn bU9,000 , llvo-
sixths of which Is composed ot widows. On
tno othnr hand the number of widowers Is
romurknblo small. From , this It would np-
pear that women survive jnUrlmony far but
ter than men , a fact wjilch will bo readily
understood and appreciated in Its true light
by all long-suiTonug , patient and enduring
buiioJIeis.
In elaborating the Uloi.tlmt she Is under
.111 direct guidance nnd Inlluonco of the
plrlt of Mury Queen of Scots , Lady Calth-
oss , now high priestess ot theoioptiy , has
ud the oratory of her Ltndsomo homo In
Paris transformed Into fc ( sanctuary for the
queen. A portrait of the unfortunate Mary ,
depleting her In all the nplendor of her fatal
beauty , stands In the canopied niche where
the altar used to bo , and , a bidden lampslieds
a dim light around It. It Is hero that. Lady
Caithness repairs , In her moments of. an nil
Inspiration , to evoke the spirit of the departed -
parted queen.
SOCIABILITY AMONG BIRDS ,
That is Said to Bo the Eeason of Their
Gathering in Rocks.
EVEN THE SOLEMN OWL L'KiS COMP NY.
A Close Observer of the Fontlicrod
World OIVCH HiH KOUHOIIH Cor ThlB
Theory or the FlookniK ol'
Illi-ils.
lc ! > t > > U rtr. C. G.
Not oven the owl Is as much of a hermit ns
ho appears. The little follow that all summer
long lias slept by day In the hollow upplo
tr. o and hootoa by night from the adjacent
tree-tops has a tnsto for company , und when
two meet tholr hooting gives way to a vuriocl
range of lowly murmured c-hattorings very
diffoieut from the conventional cries of all
owldom. Keep a petono ( and they nro easily
tamed ) nnd you will find them not only ns
wise as they look , but not averse to rough and
tumble fun. Hutnfowdaysngoln my wander
ings , I reached the bank of a river , long after
sundown , nnd pitched my llttlo tent by the
fitful light of a green wood camp-lire. Ejac
ulations were not smothered , but explosive ,
and the whole strungo scouo brought not ono
but three llttlo red owls to the front. They
were not afraid , and discussed my com
panion , the dog , nnd myself vigorously.
They enjoyed the novelty , and nil through
the incut their tremulous tones broke the
stillness of the dense , dant woods. I
dreamed of hugo flocks of owls , such as no
man oversaw , nnd was ruusod at dawn by n
great rushing of win ITS that seemed dancer-
ously close at band. It was n llecic of black
birds.
I have already said that birds are social ,
nnd whatever may have been the con
ditions ut lno dawn of bird-llfo , their gather
ings now nro purely pleasuroablo. I do
not think any advantaga to the individual
cau como of it , other than satisfying social
impulses. Lot us go back of the formation
of these hUL-o Hocks nnd glvu n moment's
notlco to another phase of n bird's exist- .
once. This , Irom a locont paper , covers |
the whole ground ! "Most birds , wo nro
told , 'pair once for ull , till either ono or
tbo other dies. ' Dr. Hrohm , the author of
'Bird Life , ' is so filled with admiration for
ihoir exemplary family llfn as to bo led to
declare unthuslastlcally that 'real gonulno
marrlago can onlv do found among birds. ' "
The Initial point of flocking is there , that
of muting ; later the family keep largely
together ; toward the close of the summer
the families of a neighborhood unite , and
urged by the approaching autumn , the birds
of a whoio rlvor vnlloy will merge into some
two or three great Hocks and in such close
companslonshlp migrate ; or wander to und
ire from ono feeding ground to another.
When did birds begin to llocld Tins has
often been asked , but never can bo told. A
close study of this habit , as of many other
blrd-wayc , points to the conclusion that it is
u survival of n much moro llxod ono. There
ii now u vast deal of Irregularity about it.
Certainly Iho rod-winged blackbirds , which
form our largest Hocks , are not all gathered
In , und studio oiioi , nalrs , and half u dozen
together remain nil winter scattered up und
down the rlvor vulloy. It U true of every
other flocking bird. The majority keep up
the old custom , but so many stand aloof in
every instance tnat It might almost bo said
the custom U dying out.
Let it bo berne In mind that I am writing
of a hlnglo locality , the Atlantic- seaboard of
the middle states ; and of this region I am
disposed to make the statement that man has
so modified the land that bird Ufa is rapidly
losing its ono time characteristic features.
It is sad to think that birds hnvo seen their
best days , and what wo now have left us us
the chief charm of our outings Is but 11 lingering -
oring remnant , of the gicnt concourse that
not only filled the valley , but made glad the
uttermost parts and neglected no nooks or
corners of the land. Malting duo allow-
unco for travelers' exaggerations , it Is
still evident that wo hnvo , ex
cept of English sparrows , not one-
halt of the birds of some two centuries ago.
Even though the ( lock 6f red wings may
sometimes reach well Into the thousands , I
have positive knowledge of much larger
Hocks than ever Wilson or Audubon chanced
upon. In 172.J a flock of these biids appeared
ono September afternoon on the Crosswlcks
meadows -'that shut out the sun and caused
great concern among the farmers , who
feared , if they carne to the Holds , ovorv green
growth would bo laid waste. " Blackbirds
then were fcarod und for many years nftor ,
by reason of their numbers , nnd , seemingly ,
when In such flocks they were far moro bold
than ever us IndlvlluaU ,
Why do they congregate In such numbers ?
It has been suggested that in early nutumn
their food was to bo found only In limited
localities , nnd they naturally drifted there ,
moved , ono and nil , by the sumo causa. In
other words , Iho upland Holds , the spring-
holes , the grassy nooks tn old Held , corners ,
whoio they nested , otforcc ) nothing but shel
ter , nnd to stay longer than during summer
meant to starve. The fact that scattered
birds do ftoquent the nesting places contra
dicts this , and the food found In the meadows
is not gioatly different , und often too inuny
gather in ono spot for ull to bo fed. What
ever the bird , there seemi to bo nothing
gained by Hocking , and much is Ion. It ap
pears to bo an Inherited Instinct that once n
safeguard und delight Is now doubtless n
source of pleasure , but directly disadvan
tageous.
Wo nro accustomed to look upon certain
species of birds ns flocking in autumn and
that others never do so. I urn convinced that
all were gregarious , orignnlly , but changes of
environment huvo caused it to bo relin
quished ; but It Is astonishing to Hud that
there nro few birds cun not bo found nt least
"In loose " It U
companies , as commonly
worded. In September the bluebirds oc
casionally lly in pretty compact Hocks
of llfty to 100 Indlvlduuls ; and n
company of twenty or thirty Is u
co nun on occurrence. The common king-bird
Is unothor well-known spades that Hocks to
some extent , und u third Is thu Baltimore
oriolo. I have scon the females and the young
of thoprecodlngsuminorln flocksof cortninly
100 individuals , nnd when on the wing they
Kept so well together as to merit being classed
as u Hock , rather than n soml-indopoudmit
gathering. It is evident that such close asso
ciation us in the case of rod-wings ,
of bob-o-llnks , of rusty graklos ,
and other birds could not occur
If there was no power of communication ,
nnd no predetermination ns to movement , 1
hnvo yet to tsco a largo Hock of birds without
guards perched in commanding outlooks , and
know from experience how dllllcult | t Is to
outwit thoio sentinels. It has often been my
nftornooi.'s amusement to try to plunge Into
the midst ot n thousand feeding blackolnis ,
and 1 never succeeded. I have reversed the
conditions moro than once , and being con
cealed , huvo have thom pa s within an nrm'u
reach , nnd then 1 took notes of thom ns fas tin
poislblo. That they talked faster than they
nlo was evident , and my illsgnUo never was
offcoilvo for long. They always suspected
that something was wrong ; communicated
tholr suspicious nnd now thu mystery
ono and nil rlso from the ground as
ono body. Not always , but so fromioiilly
that u telegraphic signal is evidently
theirs that Informs n thousand , it may bo
at the sumo moment. Without thU power
this possession of rudimentary language ,
n Hock of bii'ds would bo at the mercy of
every enemy , nnd they uro legion.
Flocks of birds so cn.ianca every land
8cai > o that It U u source of regret that they
uro less ana loss n common feature of our
country rambles , They mark the return of
spring moro emphatically than the ohanco
blooming of violets ; ami would that wo
were ko kcon sighted us to mark their
breaking up nnd the scattering of mated
pairs ever the country. This Is doubtless
n gradual process , for 1 find the birds , as
the nesting season draws near , gathering
about their favorite summer homos , often iv
dozen or moro , nnd in some way there is a
drawing of lots , und the particular spots nro
rcoccuplcd , For nine succosslvo summers a
pair ot red-wings built ut the huso of n
button-bush , nnd year nftor year moro nnd
moro nests were made until every-
spot was occupied for many a rod
around. In August the clan gathered , nnd ,
as n llttlo flock that seemed scattered by
day but reassembled nt sunset , these birds-
wore a feature of the meadow for two
weeks or moro ; then they disappeared ,
t never saw them unlto with a passing flock ,
but this is what they did. Suggestive as I *
every Hock ot birds , wo really know but
llttlo about them. No naturalist has-
yet fathomed the mystery of blrdllfo ,
and bird-slaughter has accomplished noth
ing. But no class of animals afford so-
much pleasure whorovqr wo ramble , However -
ever llxcd the determination to observe a
snake , n ll/ard or a fish , lot n bird como near-
mid how quickly wo turn to ill If It Is n
thrush , In early Juno , or a Carolina wren nt
any season , nnd it breaks forth in song , what
power have wo to turn a deaf our ? Though
the problem at our foot may bo almost
solved , the rhythmic rush of n thousand
wings overhead will draw us away ; earth and :
its creeping creatures will pass from our
minds that moment the hoavansuro darkened ,
by u Hock of birds.
KM/CM 7'/O.V.l/y.
The Danish college at Elknorn , la , , reports
an attendance of HO.
Miss Ella Smith bequeathed property val
ued ut $1.1'J,000 ' to the public library nt Port * ,
land , Oro.
The University of Woostor (0n\o ( \ ) will
not hereafter participate In IntorcoUoglato-
nthlello contests.
The Into Chnrlos Pratt loft a farm ot 700
acres In Long Island to bo devoted to the. '
teaching of agriculture ,
Portland ( Oro. ) citizens have subscribed
* VOl)0 ) ) for on endowment fund to the Port
land Library association.
A world's conference on university exten
sion , to meet nt Chicago In 18'.K ) , lias boon
called by the Ameiicun society for the exten
sion of university teaching.
The Educational association of Lonlsvillo ,
ICy. , has appointed a committee to nrrango
for university extension courses , and u largo
mooting will bo hold nt an early date to or-
ganlzo a society for this purpose.
The Chamberlain observatory , near Den
ver , Col. , Is described by Prof. Howe , Its di
rector , in the Ootobor Sldarcul Messenger.
The building has cost $ J.'AOOO. A twenty *
Inch Clark equatorial Is to bo set up.
During the past year the Cambridge Uni
versity extension of lOnglnml has awarded
certificates to more than a thousand woman ,
and ubout too mon ; whllo to ill ) woman and
IS men , the vlao-chancollor's certificate has
boon awarded.
Undo Silas I have often felt the need of
nn education , Marthy. Aunt Marlliy-Ycs ,
Silas , so huvo I. It wasn't so easy togntuu
education In our days as It Is now. Uncle >
Silas That's so , Marlhy. Ef I only had an
education , how easy I could roud the lottery
circulars that them lottery follts send mo ,
Pomona ( Cal.Congrogntional ) colloKo Is.
jubilant nt the otllclal announcement by Pres
ident Summer that three Boston mon , who-
do not want tholr names made public , have
given { 70,000 as an endowment for the now
college , Two more omlowmonis of M0,000-
uro soon ox poet oI. The money Is to bo do-
voiod to now buildings uiid furnishing the
chemical library.
Ono of the unique schools of tha United
Stutos Is the Whnrton school of finance and ,
t'oonomy of thu 1'nlvcrsity of Pennsylvania.
Thu school was established only a few years
slnco , but IU work has so rapidly advanced
und the demand on Its resources so constant.
In growth that it has boon necessary
to moro than double the number of profe * >
aori and Instructors within two yours.
