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About Hemingford herald. (Hemingford, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1895-190? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1895)
m VANITY OP VANITIES. In days of old, It cnmo to pass That Vanity was born a lass, And lovers wooed her nil In vain, She cared not for their grief or pain. And still she walks the enrth to-day, Disguised In woman's lovely clay, And still men grieve It enrae to pn68 That Vanity was born nlns. -r-Buffnlo Courier. 1 IRIS AND AUNTIK. "But you arc not In earnest?" I said, "Certainly I am," replied Bob, ami his faco corroborated his assertion. "Good heavcnsl" I exclaimed. "Where's the objection!" ho began, In an Injured tone. "Because It's not conventional, because U'a contrary to custom? That's conventionality's fault, not mine. Look here. Reggie, throw precedent and sneaking scntlmen tallsni to the winds, and then look tho thing straight In tho foro and then point out tho harm. Iris Maypol le nn angel, wo will assume. "Agrord." I said, enthusiastically. "Oh, wo nil know you're gone on her," he replied Hiinppfsh'ly. "Go on," 1 said. "Well, if IrlH Is nn angel " "Good heavcnsl" I Interrupted ngnln. "That's just tho point. 'If should not enter Into the nrRument, It never does, In fact, where there's real love. That's tho sure slRiinl of affection. Eliminate tho affection, and In creeps tho "If." "You're yomiR, Reggie," replied Bob, In a tono that made my lip curl. "Wo will return to our hypothesis. If Iris Is nn angel which at present I ntn in clined to allow and If she Is expect ing mo to put the mnrrlnRC question which I feel positive Is n fact where is the harm If I ro to n private de tective to Norton Scrubbs, to wit- and say, 'I want to know the ups and downs of i.Mss Iris Mnypel; hero's my money, report ns soon as posslblo?" Where's the harm? In a few days I know nil about tho lovely Iris' from tho world's standpoint, my owu convic tions conllrmed beyond Question In the future. Sure of the quality of my gninc, I load and lire, and at my feet falls tho yomiR and lovely Iris." "And If tho detective's report Is not to your liking?" "Ah, that's whero tho gain comes lu. I nm saved a lifc-louR disaster. There are fools that aver that mar riage is a lottery. Bosh I Built on a commercial basis, It's as sure n thing ns exists. Start without any bad debts without any misunderstand ings, fallacies, preconceived embellish meuts which never existed but In your Imagination, and there's a life long happiness to draw from as you require. Whore, I repeat, Is tho harm of Inquiry?" I was too disgusted to repiyf so pleaded an engagement nnd left him. Bob Pnllant was my friend, nnd I doubt If I could hnvo swallowed his impertinent suggestion had It referred to a stranger, but when Iris, tho pret ty, soft-voiced, downy-cheeked, Innocent-eyed IrJs was concerned, my stomnch absolutely refused. For I adored Iris Maypol, and that she should be subjected to such an Insult ns Bob proposed made mo simmer. For It was nn Insult this prying Into her spent life, even If Iris wero con scious of thn liberty. Moreover, I had read of how these private Inquiry agents would pry oion around tho do mestic hearth, and could by mlstako or Intent throw such lurid light upon a llttlo error ns to make It appear ghastly nnd terrible. "Her Innocence alone should protect her from such duplicity," I nrgued as I walked. "To attack such guileless rusticity with tho subtleties of urban resource was blackguardly In the ex treme. Even Iris's maternal aunt, who hnd piloted her through her llrst Lon don season with creditable on re and watchfulness, would hardly be alert to Bob's unprincipled suggestion. I wished ns I went my way, that one of Iris's brothers would suddenly present himself, for I felt equal to proving my friendship to Hob by dis closing his Intention ere he could per petrate It. But, Tor 1 knew, Iris was brotherless. I had never Imagined to diet such Information of her people beyond the simple fact, that they liv ed In tho country; certainly that huge, rambling mansion burled In the re cesses of a well-timbered park from which there Issued In tho morning gay squires and fair ladles In full hunting rig, and where, at night, love's soft cooing was echoed by the wood land doves and the roar of n hunting chorus was mocked at by the owls, could uot have been altogether a men Inl aberration, though who put it nil Into my head, If not Iris or her nvntle, 1 couiu uot recall. I purposely avoided Bob's rooms for a week. I knew I should only Insult him If I went, nnd I was loath to do Hint. Besides, upon reflection, n llttlo brightness broke through the mist. If Norton Scrubbs made a mlstnko and either by accident or design--supplied Bob with a report of Iris's character and upbringing, libellous and untrue. Bob would throw up tho spouge, and then All along It had been patent, to me, nt least, that Iris's preference for Bob wnB the result of chance. She hnd met him an hour before I was Introduced, aud Bob hnd rondo the ruuul-ig. lie had had tho start of me, aud I was not quite good enough to , verhnul him. But what opportunities for me were offered by an adverse report from Norwood Scrubbs! I would never unbuilt my darling to such an Indigni ty. I would never In the midst of my reverie In wnlk od Bob. "Congratulate me, Boggle." he smil ed. "Eh? You're you're engaged, do you say?" "As good as. I've got Scrubbs' re port. 1I It Is. 'Iris Maypel, of Mnypel urt. hi the county of Blank shun, oi.ly child and heiress of Alex ander Thomas Maypel, J. P." He looked tip suddenly from the ia per. "I verified name and address In the county register," he said. "Anythiug more?" 1 asked. "Oh, yos, lots. I'll pjvo you pert I uent extracts. .Born, May. 1S75.' Shos youuger, than 1 thought, Reg gie." "Sho doesn't look her age," I re torted. Boh grunted nnd continued. "Family renowned for rectitude of purpose, mornl severity, generosity, nnd mercifulness." "I could hnvo told you that," I In terrupted. "Iris carries nil tint, and more, lu her face. Go on I" "The ladles noted for their enduring beauty, Innocence of mind nnd splen did physique. The Maypcls come over with William of Normandy, nnd nre hence of Norman cxtractlou; their " "That.'s enough," I Interrupted nngrl ly. "Why will you continue to Insult the girl you pretend to loyc?" Bob lnughtcd light-heartedly. "Confound your Impudence nnd your hospltnllty!" he said. "Haven't yon soiuo whisky or something to pledge me with, Boggle?" I found him some liquor ami ho drank but mine stood untasted, though I did, In a feeble way, wish him every thing ho desired. My recent hope, quashed so soon after birth, left me limp. , "By tho by," I remarked, presently, "you take Scrubbs' report for gospel, 1 notice. You don't question his er veracity?" Bob laughed mcrrilv. "Question tho veracity of Norton Scrfihbal Doubt the written word of tho smartest mnn in his profession! No, my boy, only nn Idiot would do that. Why, ovm tho bar acts upon It, sometimes. Besides, look nt his bill of costs. Faro to Maypel Court, llrst return 1 INs. Lodging and board nt hostlory In the vicinity of tho court, together with tips for Information nnd so forth 11 -Is. What do those items menu?" "Oh, I suppose It's nil right," 1 re plied. "I don't doubt that one of tho hounds has followed the scent, hut It's ninazliig to me that you can lie satis fied with the report of any third per son and yet bo Incredulous' of your own eyes.' "Now look here, old mnn," said Bob, with a paternal flourish, "what's mlno can't bo yours where n wlfo Is con cerned nt nil events; nnd so make up your mind to the inevitable, and if you imiBt love Iris" Maypel learn to love her as a sister, though there s greater security both for you nnd me, to say nothing of our friendship, If you drop loving her at all." IIo left mo to ponder over his well meaning hint nnd I was vainly en deavoring to perceive the truth In It when a letter.from Iris was handed In. The llrst few lines led up to this: "Why hnvo you deserted rs so long, Mr. Cllve? Failing to meet you nt any social gathering where you are usual ly to bo found we quite expected you to call. I have, with great dltllcult. dissuaded dear auntie from the belief that I have offended you. Will you not come nnd assert your Innocence? Hear auntie's box for Wednesday' 'first night' is not filled, and if ou will honor us by helping to fill It dear auntie will be really delighted as also yours, etc., "P. S. Kindly drop us n line to-day. If you have the Inclination to bring your answer, tuuttto will be at homo ns also yours, etc.," I read the lines nnd then endeavor ed to read between them. Iris had never npproached me In so Intimate a mood-In fact, I had been shown to comprehension more thnn once that Bob's friend was not necessarily upon tho same family footing as Bob. And as for auntie--certainly her cold civili ty had often Impressed me, but I had never flattered myself that she would have concerned herself If Iris had of. fended, nye, Insulted me n dozen times a week. The fact is, hone, so recentlv ovnn- oratcd, condensed again, nnd 1 drank It with avidity. I fancied there was a smile on the man's face when he opened the door of the pretty flat lu St. .lames', and said "Miss Maypel Is in tho conservatory sir, and expecting you." The man's smirk spoilt what else would have been my record heart leap. Still, It looked hopeful that Iris was waiting for mo In a place I know from observation her aunt did not fre quent. The man left me liurrledly nt the door aud I walked nrouud the cruiser vntory twice and peeped behind every available refuge there were giant palms and no less giant screens In plenty, but Iris was not there. I stood perplexed, wondering If there were nny connection between Iris' absence and that uglv servlng man's smirk. But suddenly I hoard n voice, nt llrst faintly, and then most distinctly. "Don't bo a fool," It said. "You'll get yoim money right enough, :f yon wait. Only let me run ulone. I've got my head screwed on right, I can assure you. If you Interfere you'll suffer for it, that's all." It was Iris' voice! "But my dear " There was the thin, piping aoIco of her aunt. "Don't but nt me!" Interrupted Iris, angrily. "Bob Pallnnt Is off, I tell you, and nil your arguments won't bring him on ngaln. Little Reggie uuve s my man now." I shrank within myself. At the mo ment Trls spoke my name they had entered tho conservatory, and I had arranged myself for a formidable sneeze with which to announce my presence. But the end of Iris's sen tence broke off my sneeze Into a mere sigh, nnd before I could rearrange my self for the effort they were speaking ngaln, nnd I was uncertain whether It was best to boldly face them or to wait behind the screen on tho chance that they would soon clear out. "I suppose I must tell you tho whole tale," Iris continued, peevishly, "though some things nro best kept to oneself. Bob Pallnnt hns made an egregrlous ass of himself." "Good gracious! How ?" broathlpssly exclaimed auntie. "Applied to Cousin Norton for my character and antecedents." "Well!" "Of course Norton' humugifhed him right eiiough, told pretty lies nlont 1M mill ttVnntml mi. mill nn4 fnmllv In TTnVIVIl 1 nillnbK- vnonti'ml inimi nfiinn. t wn.n.i n ,w. il .' ir i He en me straight across to me. a things looked favorable I would pro.n- wK,aS?!S" nMi i r "- " " '" a fairly respectable country position, but-" "Doesn't Hint suit you?" Interrupted auntie. "No, you old fool. Do you think I'm going to marry n mnn who has been humbugged like tlint?" "You nre unusually tender about a little imposition." "Thank you. that will do. I didn't pick up n chaperon nnd pny her hand somely to stand auntie to me for a senson nnd Introduco me to society to bo bullied by her In earnest. There arc no men to hear tut now, remember. I'm not n kid. I've censed to blub ber, and I won't bo whipped. Can't you see Hint If I marry Bob Pallnnt after this, my chanco of pleasure to say nothing of your chanco of your fee wouldn't b worth a week's no tice? He would Jolly soon undeceive himself, nnd then " "You wouldn't be to blame. You didn't deceive him." "No, but Norton Scrubbs did, nnd It would ruin his reputation nnd close his purse to mo forever. Norton hns already given mo to understand ns much and advised me to take on Reg gie Cllve. But there, you haven't nny sense." What nn nwnkcnlitgt How I men ially cursed myself! Now I mentally cursed Bob for not having married his , tnnoceut-llpped, downy-cheeked, dove- ejeo iris rigiu away without mq.ury, and so spared me the agonizing per dlcnmcut I was in. Now I cursed likewise mentally- Norton Scrubbs and all his kith and kin. And all that ipeutal imprecation camo out through my pores until drops of sweat fell soft and silent upon the lorn petals of a dying chrysnnthemum. But I hnd suffered In silence long enough. Scene or no Hccne, scandal, slander, or what not, I cared not I wns callous to them nil. I would re veal my hideous presence. Tho revenllng was done for me. That smirking servnnt appeared and announced In a sepulchral voice that Mr. Cllvo had arrived. "Very well, Adams, show him In." "I have already shown him In, Miss Iris," stammered the man. "Didn't I tell you to show him here to the conservatory?" said Iris se verely. "And so I did, Miss Iris. I brought htm here several minutes ago, and I have been searching for you ever since to tell you so." 1 stepped from behind the screen Just In time to witness the full com edy of the moment. Iris wns a spec tacle to behold! She lmflled all de scription. Amazement mingled with fear, shame, guilt, horror, rage, Indig nation, nnd a number of other symp toms peculiar to such a nervous shock. I wnlked to whero sho still sat, too pnmlyzcd to move. "Miss Maypel," I said, "I have over heard your conversation, nnd I know you will cnll me a cowrtrd and nn eavesdropper, but my conscience Is In nocent. I wns put here by your man, nnd you hnd already committed your self before I could warn you of my presence, so I walled In tho hope that you would leave before discovering me." She made no reply, so 1 gladly walked from the conservatory and the house. I went home nnd tried to see the end of the business. What attitude would Iris adopt when Bob in the Hushing pride of Norton Scrubbs re port, proposed marriage to her? I gave up tho conundrum when, far Into the night, I had failed to solve It. I went down to the club the follow- i Ing day resolved to tell Bob all when j his familiar face wearing anything nut ins familiar expreslon looked In. nil ed his gaze, "How should I know If yon are Ig I nornnt?" I replied. "Isn't she with hr her nuntle?" "Possibly," returned Bob. "In fact probably. But Where's her mint? They're disappeared from their Hat flown, owing six months' rent besides salaries and unpaid bills Innumerable and have left no address." "Well," 1 said reflectively, "I'm not surprised after what I overheard in their conservatory yesterday after noon." "What did you hear?" asked Bob, eagerly. I told him. Poor old Bob! I won't attempt to record bis subsequent remarks anent women In general and Iris nnd auntie in particular, since no self-respecting type would consent to chronicle them. Illustrated Bits. IN THE WItOXCJ ROOM ANIJ I1ED. SliiKuInr Hniiiienliiff I" Xew YorU la Settleil Only by Otttlia. John Donco, n Hungarian, tiS years old, says the Now York Sun, lives with bis wife Bertha on tho second floor of the tenement nt KIT East One Hundred ami Eighteenth street. James Big, n Hungarian carpenter, lives across Hie hall. Big went home at 1 o'clock yesterday morning drunk. Mrs. Donco was In bed with the door unlocked, because her huslinn.l wns out. Big drifted Into the wrong room, and went to bed without awakening Mrs. Donco. Two hours later Donco returned. Then there was a scene. Mr. Big and Mrs. Donco. who were both asleep when Mr. Donco returned, protested their entire Ignorance of each other's presence In the room until awakened by the indignant husband. Flnnlly, In resiionse to his wife's pleading, Donco asked; "Will you swear It?" "Yes," said the wife. "And you?" asked Donco, turning to Big. "Certainly 1 will," Big said. The tlnee, with a 10-year-old girl act as Interpreter went to Ilailen. conn yesterday, and Big nnd Mrs Donco, laying their hands on the court Bible swore that the husband's unto ward discovery was entirely the resul. of nccldent, aud that they were inuo cout of uny wrongdoing. The husband said he was convinced aud the three went home the best o friends. THE INDIAN'S WOOING VAltlOl'S WAYS IN WHICH 1,0 HOES HIS COURTING. The Hlnnkct l'lnr nn Important I'nrt Anionsr the ZiinU the Ctrl Milken the Overture How the .nrnJON Settle the Mnther-lti-l.iiw Problctn. Courtship varies somewhat lu differ ent Indian tribes, but lu every ense Is quite nt variance with civilized ways. Plains Indians do most of their court lug In a standing position. A lover waits near the lodge of his inamorata, or beside the path along which the girls of the village must pass for wa ter. While so waiting he will have his blanket entirely over his head, only a small opening being left for the eye. In this way his Identity Is concenled, nnd ho escapes the guying of his fel lows. When the favored one appears he approaches and throws his blanket over her head, too. If she reciprocates this attention they will stand for hours with the blanket closely wrap ped around their heads and shoulders. If she Is not favorably Inclined to her A Mon.nl llellc. lovers attentions he must at once de sist. Among the Zunls it is the girl who llrst makes overtures. Her parents or relatives Inform those of the young man as to the stnto of things, and If everything goes smoothly she becomes "his to be." After that the betrothed collide may often be seen together. In suminer she will sit combing his hair on the terraces, while In winter he will sit by her fireside sewing on her trousseau. When the later is fin ished, Including the necessary pair of white moccasins made from n whole deerskin, the two nre pronounced man and wife., With some of the Pueblo tribes the young people are given two ears of corn Just before marriage, the young man a blue ear and the maiden a white one. The kernels are very hard, and they must prove their devotion by eating them every one. Then they must run a foot race hi the presence of the head men of the pueblo. If the- giii conies out ahead she is eter after ward "boss." If the man conies out ahead he is boss. If the race is a draw the match Is declared off, for this result Is considered a bad omen. It may safely be Inferred thai such an untoward nccldent seldom happens with time lovers. Mr. Dunbar, in speaking of the Paw nees, gives an interesting account of marriage among them. The girls may4 marry at thliteen, aud the young men at sixteen or eighteen. The qualities most desired lu a wife are that she should be of good family and well skilled in domestic duties. Personal beauty is of secondary importance, though not without weight. The girl? have most regard for personal bravery, rising influence, skill in hunting and a line physique. When a Pawnee brave has chosen a suitable maiden for a wife he puts on his robe with the hair side out, draws it over Ids head so as to entirely con ceal his face, nnd entering the lodn of the fair one. sits down. No one pays him the slightest attention, nor does lie speak himself. His object Is sutllclently understood without words. At the end of a few days the visit Is repeated In precisely the same way. If on this occasion he llmls n roue or other seat of honor prepared for his reception he uses It and uncovers his face, for this Is a sign tliat ills at tentions are acceptable. If no prepar ntlon has been made for him he le tlres, nnd the wooing Is ended. In thedormer case the maiden soon appears and takes a seat beside her lover. Tho father also makes It con venient to be present. Between the An Almoin- Mulilen. two men the matter is fully discussed nnd then referred to the family rela tions. By the laiter the subject Is very thoroughly investigated, the last point to be settled being the price that shall bo paid. This Is a very Import ant Item, and Is never omitted. With the Pawnees n bride Is considered to be worth from one to twenty ponies, according to her qualifications. The marriage ceremony is very sim ple, if there may be considered to be any at all. It consists of the bride elect going to the lodge of her hus band; the event being followed per haps by a feast given by her parents. Among tho Navajos eight iwnies is considered nn average price for a wife mm iHNffl Wfi! trnmmL and twelve Is high. A pony Is worth nlKiut ?10. The wife Is the property of the husband, nnd when ho wants to he sells her. Hindi n transfer makes no breach In the friendly feeling between the two. A traveler relates that on a long ride through the Navajo Reserva tion he hnd as n guide a very Intelli gent Indian, with whom he, convers ed for hours. One night when they could find no water, for which their horses were suffering, the guide said: "If we go a few miles further we will find n Navajo house where we will be comfortable. The man Is my friend, nnd his wife Is n good cook. She wns my wife, last year, but I sold her to him." On arrival nt the "house," which wns simply n rude wall of stones built nrouud a cavern, the family nppcnreC. The man was a villainous-looking, elderly Indian. The womnn was fat and 40, without being fnlr. The meet ing wns cordial all around, and be tween the guide nnd his former wife there wns much pleasant bndlnnge. The new husband placidly smoked ci garettes. ' Another peculiar thing about Nava jo marriages is that after the event the mother-in-law and son-in-law must never look each other In tlio face again. Thus these ignorant savages have solved a problem which bos' bothered civilization for ages. Polygamy Is very common nmong all Indians. It Is only recently that the government has been able to make headway ut all toward breaking It up. Some Indians have been known to have as many as a dozen wives, al though two or three Is far more com mon. When nn Indian marries more than one wife it Is quite customnry for him to take tho younger sisters of the llrst one. They nre given to him ns soon ns they become marriageable, the fa ther receiving n pony or two for each one. The oldest sister is the principal wife, and rules the others; a young wife, however, If n favorite of tho husband, escapes most of the annoy ance from this source. Polygamous marriages of this sort are more apt to be hnrmonlous than where the wives come from different families. Quarrels between wives nre frequent nnd while surveying one daw he was enough under the best circumstances, nnd sisters nre more npt to live to gether peaceably than strangers. Indians are very fond of their child ren and trent them with much kind ness. They very rarely whip them, nnd It Is believed that no youngsters in the world nre hnppier than these dirty and half-naked little specimens of humanity. Indian babies do not cry as much ns white ones, for the reason that when they do cry no at tentiou Is paid to them. Some tribes have regular story tell ers, men who spend a great deal of time In learning the myths and stories of their people, and who pos sess. In addition, n good memory, and vivid imagination, Tiic mother sends for one of these, and having prepared a feast for him, she nnd her flock, who nre curled up near her, lis ten to the fairy stories of the dreamer A I'tichlo lleiiuty. He is the Palmer for the hotn s, tribe. Cox of . Contrary to the general nmong Indians, Pueblo men custom take a large share in cm Ing for their child ren. When uot ircupled in tilling the fields fathers may often be seen each with a tat youngster strapped upon his back. Its big eyes and plump face peering own- his shoulder. Even the white-haired governor of the town is ' not too dignified to tote the family ' baby up and down tho courtyard or j to the tribal gatherings. When a child Is born lu a Pueblo , town the father has a novol duty to perform. For the next eight days night and da, he must keep a lire blazing In the family fiieplacc. It can only be kindled in the manner sanctioned by their religion by the fire-drill, tlint steel, or by a brand from the hearth of the goornor. Should the father let It go out or fall to kindle It in one of the ways mentioned. It is solemnly be lieved that the child would not live out the j car. ui:mi:dv i'oii tu.mibii peet. Knt Trill' I'etlnlN Often the Ciiiini- of hiirem-HM An Excellent Cure .N'uui cil. After n long day's ride n good tunny cyclists complain of sore feet, nnd when touring this Is apt to get worse i each day Instead of belter. One excel lent remedy Is to bathe the feet at night for about ten minutes In warm water, to which a few drops of tinc ture of capsicum and u pinch of Ep som salts hnvo been added. This will tends to harden them somewhat, and mlroly remove the soreness. Rat trap pedals are often the prluclpnt tnuse of the annoyance, nnd It Is n good plan to cover them completely with thick string wrapped round and round over the blades before too much harm Is occasioned. This done In tlin" wil (often render a long ride posslblo which would otherwise be quite out of the question. It will bo found tliat the string will give a very fair hold for Oie foot, and where toe-clips nro used, no disadvantage in this respect will be felt. People who start on foreign trips early Jn the year are now on their way home. The westward tide of steam ship travel has set In with so much strength that the transatlantic liners cnu baldly accommodate tho home coiners. But tho absent ones will nil eveututilly get across the "pond." There is uo ground for anxiety on tliat fecore. XON-S1MCAIII.E MFE-llOAT. Description of an Inferential Craft ConMtrncted by m. Chlcnuo In ventor. The man didn't live In Chicago who complained that there Is udthing new under tho sun, else would his mind hnvo changed at sight of the little model brought to the Iuter-Ocenu of fice yesterday of a new "life-boat" just patented by a. Swedish-American resi dent of the South Side. A. S. Hed berg, of No. 215 One Huudred and Eleventh fetrcet, In the Rosoland ward. Made of galvanized Iron in actual sorvlce different materials can be used the miniature looks like a large tur nip, and Is in two parts, cut apart hor izontally at the Hue of greatest girth. The halves, However, at'e firmly clamp ed together with a water-tight connec tion, when the toy Is dumped Into the water, to which It takes as Jauntily as a rubber feather, nnd the only means of entrance nnd exit then Is via a lit tle upward opening like n melon plug, and very easily made use of, as also readily rendered wntcr-tight in Its turn, At the top are several little holes for ventilation, but which can also bo closed nt will. Furthermore, there nre six windows, round ns port holes in the ordinary ship. Over all this Is a flagstaff which can be lower ed and put up nt pleasure, with water proof connections nnd ventilation de vice, and on the top of the flagstaff Is a lantern. There nro two oar holes also, one on each side, similarly water tight in the play of tho pair of strong serviceable oars. And last, and most Important of nil, the apparatus always rides the wave rlght-slde-up-with-care, because of the abundant bnllast In the bottom. The Interior of the miniature Is fitted up completely, with seats all around the wall, and there arc straps for addition al support In case of storm. For practical use the Inventor pro poses a iife-boat" of this description v. The Xeiv Smi-Siiiknble Ilont. Which shall be either eight feet high bv six feet in diameter, at the widest girth, with a seating capacity of ten persons,-or else one ten feet high mid eight feet wide, seating twenty-five persons. The former stylo of boat, made wholesale, would cost only ?f'.", nnd would carry 1,000 pounds without sinking more than four feet lu the water, riding as buoyantly as a top. In the base would bo plentv of room for supplies and water to last from ton to fifteen persons several weeks, without any danger from water or vitiated air. For the first named slzn of boat the circular entrance would be three feet In diameter, aud the win dows one foot. Chains are attached oil the outside for people out in the water to catch hold and climb up by. The llfebout cannot, possibly lip oer, but simply bobs up and down like a cork. Alreadv on Lake Calumet there Is :i little "lifeboat" of this pattern, and the Inventor expects soon to have one on Lake Michigan. Chicago Inter Ocean. , KMIWINti A RIVER. Wluit a Pilot from PfttNhiirir to Cairo Mimt Curry In HI llentl. At this season of the year, when the river excursion business Is at its height, and hundreds of boats me carrying thousands of people to and fro along the entire length of the Ohio river from Pittsburg to Cairo, many persons who ordinarily never give tho subject u thought nre being Impress ed with the wonderful way In which navigation on our beautiful stream Is carried on. The first thing noticed generally Is the nccuracy with which the pilot handles the boat, avoiding the liars, which are near the surface of the water at this season of the year going from one side of the river to the other, nnd finally, without a Jar, land ing them all safely at their destina tion. When the excursion business Is over these same men will assume simi lar positions on packets and towboats carrying hundreds of tons of freight aud thousands of bushels of coal on every trip with the same accuracy with which they handled the excur sion steamers during the summer. A large number of the pilots run ning out at Cincinnati know tho river from here to New Orleans, others from here to Memphis, nnd others still to points up the river ns far as Pitts burg. "Know the river!" This phrase means much. For Instance, a man running from here to New Orleans must be able to take charge of the wheel of his boat at any hour of tho day or night, at any point of the river, nnd on any stage of water. He must be able to tell nt a glance exactly where the boat Is, at any point on this long stretch of 1518 miles. He must know every bend nnd chute, and by day the different points by which to steer, such as houses, barns, trees, fences, and even haystacks; by night every light placed by tho government In conspicuous places, as well as the hills and their shape; he must know exactly how long to hold the boat to one light or object before changing ( another. When the Mississippi river Is reached a new feature presents It self In the shape of the constantly changing chnnel. To work hero re quires more skill and greater judg ment probably than all the rest of the dltffeulHes combined. Going down, a boat may go on one side of the river; coming back It doesn't go within two miles of that place. Whon these things nre appreciated (and they nro only n small number of the things a pilots must know), thon It Is that the pilot gots credit for what be dorjs. rittsb'jrg Commorclnl-Gazotte. Oft A-., v V
