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About Nebraska advertiser. (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1881)
A Sagacious Llzanl, "This is tho third one Unit litis boon found in tho Park this spring," H.'iid a man at the Arsenal, holding out a curi ous, spiny-looking object for a reporter to. look at. " No, iL'h not a toad; though tlioy call Ilium honiod toads. It's ti lizard, and tlio people in tlio museum call it the phrynosma." Tlio animal was about four inches long and unpleasant to look al. Its body was Hat, the upper surface cov ered with short dark .spines and the under surface with small plates. Tlio back of the hz-ad was armed with sev eral recurving short spines, with short cr spines here and there. " You wouldn't think such a creature would know anything," continued the owner of the lizard, "but a snake has to wake up early in Hie seii-ion to got the best of it. I call him Samson, 'be cause tlio first day I had him he pushed under the log of a heavy chair that was tipped against the wall and fairly knocked it over. If a man were as strong in proportion to his size he could lift the obelisk. No, that didn't show any cunning, but I'll show you where the cunning came in. I caught a big stripod snake about two wuokH ago. I was standing in my yard when along came a big toad putting in its best hops, and right behind it the snake, so intent on tlio cluuse that it came right up to mo. 1 caught it and kept it for Home lime in a box with a gliuss top, ami one day it struck mo (hat the spines on the lizard must have been intended as u preventive against .snakes. "I thought I would tost it, and I put Samson into the box. Then I discov ered that ho was as wise as Solomon. The snake evidently had not tasted foot! since last summer you know they sleep all winter and, quick as a Hash, ho darted at the lizard, but, as the boys ay, ho got left. Tlio little follow was around tlio box like a shot, but finally the snake cornered him and caught him by the hind claw. Now, a toad or frog will squirm around and face a snake and get demoralized generally, and give it a chance to catch hold of its head, but my lizard knew a guino worth two of that. When the snake touched him ho turned his head directly away. The snake tried every way ho could to edge up and got the little follow by the head, so ho went to work to swallow his tail first. He stretched out his jaw and planted his long teeth into the legs and gradually worked the body into his mouth witli the smaller teeth. " When ho had taken in as much as ho could in this way, the long fangs wore loosened and thrown ahead ami fresh hold taken, each side of the mouth edging ahead in turn. Nothing could stand this pressure long, and in ton minutes half of the patient lizard was out of sight. lie was only waiting for his turn, and it soon came; tho snaWs lips had reached his neck, when opera tions coasod. There wore tour or live .spines as sharp as needles, pointing out every which wav, that put an end to tho swallowing business. I didn't see tlio lizard luugli; ho must have felt like it, for ho wasn't hurt in the least. It took tho snuko half an hour to got rid of him, but it tried two or throe tunes to swal low him. At ovory jump tlio lizard turned his back so that tho spines faced tho snake, and at last L separated them. Yes, it was rather cruel, but I looked at it as a scientific investigation." N. V. Mail. 'Opium Smoking In British Hannah. In a copy of a memorandum by Air. C. U. Aitohison, Chief Commissioner of British lturmah, on the consumption of opium, tlio Chief Commissioner says his attention has been specially direct ed to tho change which was gradually coming over the Hurmoso National char actor, of which the principal cause was Maid to be the growing habit of opium .smoking. When on a visit to Akyab, ho was waited upon by a largo deputa tion of the most influential natives of tho town, who presented a petition de scribing, in very forcible language, tho misery entailed on the population by opium, ami praying that the trallio in opium inigit bo altogether abolished in Arukun. I'lio Chinese population in Burundi consume opium without any apparent bad ollocts, and do not smoko to excess; but the Hurmoso seoin quite incapable of using the drug in moderation, and tho dealers tempt young men to smoko by giving them at first opium to smoke. Among the Hurmoso tho habitual use of the drug saps the physical and mental energies, destroys the nerves, emaeiatos tlio body, predisposes to disease, induces indolent and filthy habits of life, de stroys self-respect, is one of the most fertile sources of misery, destitution and crime, fills tho jail with men of re laxed frame, predisposes to dysentery anil olioloraj prevents tho due extension of cultivation and tho development of tho laud revenue; checks tlio natural growth of tho population, ami enfeebles tho constitution of succeeding genera tions. That opium smoking is spread ing at an alarming rate under our rule does not admit ot doubt. On this point the testimony of all classes of otlicors ami ot tlio population is unanimous. The quantity of opium consumed in 187!) was more than double what it was in 18(19. and the prosperity of the coun try was lean where the consumption of opium was greatest. The Commission er says: "Probably a ariety of causos huvo cmtri buted to the spread of this vice. Hurniah is intellectually in a transition state. Tho people aro becoming emancipated from many restrictions of their old creed. Tho inevitable toinloncy of the education wo give, and of the now soiiho of personal liborty which our Government creates among an Oriental peoplo, is to weaken tho sanction of religious boliof mid break down tho re- Htraints of social customs. Such re sult ought neither to surprise nor alarm us. However much the old fash ioned among the population may regret it, or blame us for it, wo can as easily put back the shadow on the sun dial as nrrest the disintegration of tho old world customs. Hut there are other causes within our control. Of these the principal is the increased and yearly increasing facility with which opium can be obtained. Our professed objects ai'o to supply only so much of the drug as may bo needed to moot a bona fide demand, to discourage extended con sumption, ami to realize from restrict ed consumption as high a revenue as we can without aHbrding inducements to tlie peoplo to obtain supplies by un lawful means. Theoretically those principles are sound enough. Hut there are many drawbacks in their practical application." London Ar. 1'ashlon Notes. Pointed shoos are now tho rage. A yellow-green is called "Dragon." A new rthado of red is called ' 'Lucl fer." "Minod'Or" is a new brown shot with gold. Silver-gray silks and satins aro again the mode. Mitts are still the fashion in black and flesh color. Natural Howors aro worn on bonnets and at the throat. Small Hat reticules hang from tho belt, attached by a chain. Tussore silks and Japanese crape aro among the novelties. Tho fashions of 1820 and 181)0 in bon nets are again revived. "Dawn is the name of a now shade; it is a very pale gold. Priuccs.su gowns and jackets aro trimmed with military braiding. A fancy or green enameled button is the figure of a camel. Satin surah is used for tho foundation of grenadine dresses. Pearl, gilt and steel buckles are all fashionable on dresses and hats. Gold bangles are still the only jewel ry that is much worn in the streets. Pans are made of cretonne to match the dresses and parasols also. Tho fadiion of going on tho street without an outdoor wrap has passod away. Valenciennes lace is much used on white dresses. It is the most suitable. Coaching drosses are now tho rage. They aro trimmed to display tho front breadths. Children wear little shirrod hats and bonnets of cream-white crape, and quaint is the effect. A device made liko a sword hangs at the side and is used to fasten the para sol when not open. The draperies of muslin dressos need not lie hemmed. Thoy can be turned over anil looped. Black sewinjr-silkgronudino. trimmed with crapo and plaitings ot grenadine, is suitable foi mourning. Fancy-colored satin sashes, either striped, shaded or plain, aro worn tied in front with a largo bow. Andrews' Jlazur. A Conductor Steps Oft' n Train. Tho train going east on Saturday night had three Pullman cars on, but between two of them was a baggage car. Ono side of the baggage car is protected by n railing: the wide door on tho other side, which is generally kept shut while the train is in motion, was open and unguarded. While the train was on the bridge .James A. Colo man, the conductor of one of the palace cars, passing through the baggage car, went to the open door, thinking it was the side with the narrow platform and railing. Believing ho was stopping on tlie platform, he fell out, striking heav ily on the iron work of tho bridge. It was near tho center tube, and fortu nately the train was going slowly, lie fell with his arm across tho track, but he had the presence of mind to turn it to one sulo; tlio wheels of the car passod over the sleeve of his coat, cut ting it from near the shoulder to tho wrist. Tho unhappy man's thumb was crushed. Alter lyinjr tor somo time ho managed to get up and walk to St. Lambert's Station. He was not missed from the train until it reached Holoeil. Ho was put on an in-going train and taken to the house of his father. His body is much bruNod, and he will bo confined to the house for somo time. Ilo was not addicted to tho use of liquor. Montreal Witness. A Little .Misprint. Ho walked into tho ofllco this morn ing, looking much liko a man pretty well satisfied with gonoral results, aud said: " Can I sco the editor?" Ho was shown that eminently useful adjunct to a newspaper at once. "Good morning, sir," ho cheerily be gan. "Mornin'," said the editor. "I came in," ho proceeded, " to toll you of a misprint in the paper." " Yes. What is if.1" "Well, you soo, I sent anotico around yestonlay that Air. Smith had been mar ried, and your compositor, I see, has got it Mr. Smith has just boon mar tyred, but I guess it don't hardly make enough dill'oronoo to change it." The editor scratched his bond a min uto and thought of house-cleaning aud other fomuloocoontricitios, and told the visitor, of course it didn't, and ho wont away whistling, "Why should the spirit of mortal bo )VQu?"Strubeni'iUi Herald. No fowor than sovon dillbront lan guages aro spoken on ono sido of Lako Nyassa, which is only JioO miles in longl'.i, and natives from tho southern mill ivillllnf litwlnruf nml tlwict nt flirt I northern. An Intricate Proposition. 'Did it ever occur to you, my dear, that a person going overland wouhj have to mail two letters a day from tho train in order to have one letter a day return to San Francisco-' asked Major Max the other evening sifter tho cloth was removed from the table and his wife was pouring his glass of two-thirds benedict ino and one third curacoa, which the Major contended was the only civilized drink witli which to pre pare for the after-dinner cigar. Mrs. Max passed the Major his cordial and waited a moment before roplying: "Why, no; it seems to me that if a per son traveling east mailctl a letter each day by a westward-bound train, a letter would arrive here each day." Mrs. Max answered cautiously, for while sho know that the Major pro tended to deplore the fact that she was illogical, ho really derived much com fort from his superior comprehension, and w:n somewhat addh ted to studying out intricate propositions with which to puzzle the lady. "You think so, do you?" queried tho Major, as though about to bo convinced by her, while in truth ho only wanted her to commit herself more decidedly that his victory would bo the more signal. " Why, yes," Mrs. Max continued, somewhat assured, "if you mailed a letter on the first day out, it would got here the next day; if you mailed one the day following it would arrive hero a day alter the first, and tho letters being mailed twenty-four hours apart wouhl, of course, continue to arrive here a Jay apart. They couldn't grow further apart on tho road, could thoy, Major?" Mrs. Max wound up this soqiieneo of feminine logic with a triumphant ac cent, and felt sure -ho- had posed the Major, for he did not reply until after lighting a cigar. Then he said, slow lv: " You post a letter the first day out?" "Yes." "That letter arrives here the day aft er jjou leave?" " Certainly. Ono day gone, ono let ter received." "Exactly. Well, the next day a little curacoa, straight. pli'au--tho next day you post another letter from the train, and " "And that arrives hero tho day after tho first, of course, making two days out and two letters received; and so on to Now York. Kh. Major?" If Mrs. Max had not been examining a new pattern of lace she had in. her sleeves sho might havo noticed tho satisfied smile the Major had as he lean ed back in his chair and said: "Tho second day out von would bo at Ogden?" " Yes." "Wouldn't it take as long for a letter to return to San Francisco as it had taken you to go to Ogden?" " I suppose mj. "Then the second letter would ar rive here two days after you arrived at Ogden aud four days after you left hero?" Mrs. Max looked up and said, hesi tatingly: "Well, I don't see how you make that out." "I did not make it out, Mrs. Max, I only asked if 1 was right?" ".No. you aro not; if you post a letter on a returning train each day I say that a letter must arrive hero each day, and I don't caro." "Mrs. Max, how long doos it take to go to New York?" "Seven days, I suppose." "Then a letter a day would bo seven letters. You would post yoursixth loi ter on your sixth day out, and it would tako it six days more to return, being twelve davs after you left here. Now as you had only mailed live letters be fore the ono which arrived on the twelfth day, how could a letter 'a day have arrived:" Mrs. Max thought a moment and then asked with considerable warmth: "Do you mean to say, Major Max, that n a person going id row l ork posts a letter on a San Francisco-bound train each day that it takes two weeks for all those letters to arrive hero. " It certainly would." replied the Major, glowing comfortably behind his cigar, lie know Mrs. Max acknowl edged her defeat by the way sho rang for the tea, but she would not ask for further explanation, so the reader must figure out the proposition without tur tlior assist nice than the Major's hints atlord. Han Frunaism (Jironiclc. .Manners u Century Ago. Tho teonth world has moved. Tho nino contury is more decorous than the eighteenth was, and enjoys more of the comforts of life. Take, as an illus tration of progress, Seottisli society. A hundred years ago, it was as picturesque in its manners, and as rude also, as the wild scenery of the Highlands. Strange contrasts mot the eye of tho foreign visitor. Ho saw tho laird living in an old house with massive walls of red sandstone or gray granite. A square castellated tower showed that it was built in unsottlod times, when an on slaught of enemies had to bo resisted. The farm-buildings, witli their heaps and pools of manure, were within a stone s throw of the laird's door. Tho cottages of his tenants woro hovels, with unplustorod walls, ragged thatch roofs and straw-bound chimneys. Tho laird was usually adeop-drinker aud an ovor-much feeder. His "lcddy" found employment in driving her maids from pillar to post. She had no accomplish ments, and hor education was of tho plainest sort. Neither she nor hor daughters oared to read, nnd thorowore not many books, thou, to interest tho feminine mind. But the laird and his wifo wore aristocratic and know tho prestige of blue-blood. On the laird's death, his unmarried daughters clubbod their little dowries and wont to rosido in some town. Thoy wore poor, but tho town's peoplo at onco acknowledged their right to movo at the head of ao ciety. In Edinburgh, fine ladies in habited Hats on a fifth or sixth story. When they wont out to a party the con dition of the common stairs obliged them to hold h'gh their robes of bro wnie. A couple of porters, called "caddies," carried them in sedan-chairs at a swing-trot while another went be fore with allaniingtorchtoshowtheway through tho filthy and ill-paved alleys. In the smaller towns, a lady going to a party was preceded by a lass bearing a bandbox, and a lantern also, if it wore winter, when darkness came earlv and stayed late. In the retiring-room, tho lady unpacked the bandbox and rear ranged herself. She appeared before the company in a dress which had been handed down as an heirloom from geueiation to generation. Everybody was familiar with all tho dresses, whoso antique fashion was set on" by frills, and falls and tuckers in old fami ly lace. Though they dressed at each other, there were few surprises, and, therefore, fowor heart-burnings than now. Cards entertained them, and tho play was enlivened bV tho usual wran gle, in which their blue-blood did not prevent them from forgetting their manners. During the play they told bits of news, with which their maids and their inferiors, anxious to pay them court, had crammed them. No mod ern reporter was bettor informed of what was going on than these aristo cratic dames. And no storv-writer was more able than they to construct a sensational scandal out of the slightest materials. If there was dancing, it was carried out in a courtly stylo, with an elaborate profusion of bows and formal courtesies. Tho rules of etiquette and precedence wore rigorously observed. Hut neither courtesy nor etiquette for bade the gentlemen from coming into tho dance full of wine, or from ollering tlio broadest of compliments to thoir fair partners. Eon tho enthusiastic eulogist of the olden time must admit that modern manners and wavs, if less picturesque, aro an improvement on those of a hundred years ago. 1'outlCs ( 'ompanion. How the People Live and Raise Cattle on the Hattcras Hanks. A letter in the Raleigh News and Oh. server gives an interesting description of the sandy banks along tho Hattcras coast. Dare County, N C, anil their inhabitants sometimes known to in land eoplo as "sand-lappors:" The people of this region aro of an amphibious nature, and live so much on and in tho water, that most of them, I am sure, are web-footed. Thoy livo mainly on fish, clams, oysters, crabs, terrapins and wild fowl. " When they leavo homo they go in a boat, and whether they goto court or go court ing, or to trade, or to mill, or to a fu neral, they always go by sail. Their corn mills are run" by sails, and some of them pump their water with wind mills. They don't go up stairs, but "go aloft," and when thoy go to bed they "turn in;"' when they aro ill they "aro under the weather," and when in robust health thoy aro "bung up and bilge free. Thoy speak of a trim-built sweetheart as "clipper built." Many of them havo ships' cabin doors in their houses, that slide on grooves, and to thoir buildings thoy give a coating of tar instead of painting thorn. The "old woman" blows a conch-shell when dinner is ready, and thoy measure time by "bolls." Their' babies aro not rocked in cradles, but swung in hammocks. Thoy chew black pig-tail tobacco and drink u wild tea called "Yoopon." They manure their land with sea grass, nnd'burv thoir yam potatoes in the sand hills. When they want a doctor they hang a red Hag against a hillside as a signal of distress. If ho don't come, becauso the "wind ain't fair," thoy tako a dram of whisky and copperas, soak their (web) feet in sea water, turn in" and trust to luck. Jfthovdio j they will bo buried on the top of a sand rulgo; and when vou see several sail boats on the water in procession, with a n ut half-mast, you are looking at a funeral. They ornament thoir houses with whales' ribs and jaws, sharks' teeth, sword-lish snouts, devil-fish arms, saw-fish swords (six feet long), miniature ships, camphor-wood chests, Honduras gourds, spy-glasses, South American lariats, war-clubs from tho Mozambique Islands, Turkish pipes, West India sholls, sandal-wood boxes, Chinese chessmen, Japanese faces, Mad agascar idols. Australian boomerangs and other strange, outrageous things. Thoir hogs aro raised on clams, mus sels, olhu of fish and garbage, and their cattle wade out on the shoals for miles, whore tho water covers thoir backs, to feed on sea grass, and if thoy uro car ried up-country, and foil on corn and foddor, thoy will not livo. Every man is captain of somo kind of a boat, and "she'' is always bettor than any other boat in somo way. "Sho is hard to beat in a gale of wind," or "before the wind," or "boating to windward." or "with tlio wind on tho beam," or "she can sail closer to tho wind," or "will carry sail longest," or is "hard to beat in a light wind." or "totes more stock," or is "stronger," or "dryer,'" or "bigger," or "sho is a big little boat," or "draws tho least water," or "needs less ballast." or "sho is tho newest," or "has the best timbors," or "stoors the best," or "sho is a lucky boat," or "stands up better," or "needs less sail than anv othor boat," or "she is best for lishiug," etc. Per haps "sho comes about bettor than anv othor boat." Sho is bound to have something about hor bolter than any body olso's boat. A fow daring young ladies have up poured on the street of" Now York with tho dainty walking-canes which aro carried abroad by English girls. Fuels About Postage Stamps, Y It is only thirty-four years ago that tho first postage stump was used in this country. Prior to 1817 postage was charged by the mile, and the postman received tho price of the letter on de livering it to the person to whom it was addressed. For instance, in 17U0 a let tor was carried from Savannah to New York for thirty-six and three-fourths conts, and from Boston to New York for about seventeen cents. Between tho two points last mentioned the mails were carried on horseback, and tho time occupied in going from one point to tho other was three da) a in winter, and two days in summer. In King James' time the rates of postage in Great Britain were two pence for a letter, for a distance less than eighty miles, four pence up to MO miles, six pence for any longer distance in En gland and eight pence to any place in Scotlaud. Our stamps wore issued on tho first of July, 1817, in denominations of livo and sixteen cents only. In July 1851 a now series was adopted, con sisting of one, three, live, ten, twelve, twenty-four, thirty, and ninety cents. These continued in use till 18(51, when another series of the same denomina tion as tho foregoing, but of different designs and colors, was adopted. The' two cent stamp was first used on tho first of July 18(51), to accommodate tho local rate of postage. In the month of March, 18G1), the six cent stamp was substituted for the livo cent ono, but the ehango was not considered a wise ono, so that in May, 1870, tho following ono, two, three, live, six, ten, fifteen thirty, and ninety, cents series was adopted. Tho following is a descrip tion of these stamps: Ono cent Franklin; profile bust, after Rubricht; color, imperial ultra marine blue. Two cents Jackson; profile bust, after Powers; color, velvet brown. Three cents Washington; profilo bust, afterlloudon; color, morili green. Five-cent stamp Adopted 1875; pro file bust of Jackson, color, dark blue. Six cents Lincoln; profile bust afto; Volk; color, cochineal red. Ten cents Jell'orson; profilo busi after Powers' statue; color, chocolate Fifteen cents Webster; profile bust, after Clevengor; color, orange. Thirty cents Hamilton; profile bust, after Cerrachi, color, black. Ninety cents Commodore O. II. Perry; profile bust, after Wolcott'i statue; color, carmine. The seven cent slump which con contained tlie bust of Edwin M. Stan ton, tho twelve cent stamp, which had Henry Clay's picture, and tlie twenty four cent stamp, with tho bust of Gen. Winlield Scott, have been discontinued. Tho postage-due stamp is a recent invention. It came into use on the ninth of May, 1R7!. It is used for col lecting short paid postage. These stamps are of the following denomina tions: one, two, three, live, tou thirty, and fifty conts. Their color is a red dish brown, and tho figure representing tho denomination is placed in tho center of the slump, surrounded by an oval of delicate lattice work. On tlio upper border of this oval aro tho wordu " Postage Duo" in whito letters, and on tho lower border is the denominational letter in tho same color. On each sido of tho oval aro tho letters " U. S." in small white shields. Tho highest price paid for a stamp in twenty-four dollars. These stamps aro only used on newspaper bundles; they aro not ofton called for; nor is there much demand for ninety-cent lettoi stumps, only ono huving been sold n the Brooklyn ollice during 18S0. Tho number of postage stamps issued to Postmasters in tho United States for sale to tho publieduringthoyear end'ui" July first 180, was 875,081,1170, valued at S-'i.-ll-I.y; nnd of postuge-duo stamps bV28 1,500 woro issued, valued at .$251,8:1(5. llrooklin Eagle. A Paradise for Householders. Utopia, from the rate-payers' point of view, has at length been discovered. It is a small town, situate in tho very heart of tho rich and fruitful Rhenish Palatin ate, and its brief, unromuntio mime is Schopp. Recently tho municipality of this ideal burg, finding its receipts largely in excess of expenditures, re solved to dispose of tho cash balanco at its command by presenting to ovoryyL householder within the civic reeinnii ! the handy little sum of 2 10s. A sim ilar repartition of surplus income took place a fow years ago, upon which still more propitious occasion each rate-paying citizen received a bonus of jfjl from the town exchequer. Our Gorman con temporaries, the Frankfurt r and Knln isrwr Zi'ilungen, in recording the abovo montionod facts, with justiliablo pride and exultation, point out that the solu tion of life's most ditlicult problem how to eat your cake and havo it, too has obviously boon attained in Sehoop. That is tho place, they observe, in which tlie heart that is humble may hope to achieve perfect contentment. Tho Co logne Gazette concludes its reforenco to this fiscal paradise, "tlio happiest spot upon our earth," with an exhortation to its roadors, couched in terms as 3tirriii" as thoy are torso. It runs as follows: " Up and away to Sohopp!" This irre pressible "m du rivur" will doubtles lind an echo in many a breast through out tho length and breadth of tho Fa thorlnnd. London TeU graph. -- A muro bolonging to Mr. Munev. who resides on tho Touchet, Wnshimr ton I oratory, attracted tho attention of tho family by her strango actions. Sho would run up to thorn, rub them with hor noso, whinny and thon run toward the nvor. Curiosity prompted thorn to follow her. Thoy discovered hor colt entangled ma drift in the river, only iu head being visible k