i
li
i
n
y . WATCHING AND WAITIKO.
V Jfr.CIftra Vcre do Vero
i Xtesnadry comongnin to town,
' SbtUtouxhtto ninke A brilliant ronten
. And win licr dnushUr much renown.
' Jit men ftho untiled, but unbrguNcd
They Baw the unnro nnd tbejr roll red,
TliebclJo of full live nciDionn pant,
81m was not ono to bo ndmircd.
. Rio made big ovrs nnd sweet replies,
She wnndcred pensive bv tho ecu,
' She lingered, hoping, At tho uprings,
But I1 the boys Bald, "not tor in
Kr. Cbim Vero do Vcre,
'. But few rich Bultors nro nbout,
Tour daughter clvo to some poor man
Xcfore herchnrmBaro qulto plnycd out.
Boston Budget.
LOVE AND FATE.
BY MA HI AN ItOMF.nO.
-Northern Budget,
Two people, a lady mul. gentleman,
Rre walking together underneath tho
elms in an old yet beautiful garden.
Tho August Bunnhino lies warm and
"bright abovo them, tho birds aro sing
ing in tho branches over their heads
and at their feet are beds of fragrant,
old-fashioned flowers. Behind them
at some distance off stands a largo
Thrown houso, whoso gabled roof is
lalf over-grown with ivy, and upon
whoBO imposing black oaken door is
inscribed tho name, Elm Lodgo. Far
way to tho wost lio tho purplo Cat
skills, to tho south and east rise gently
sloping hills, upon which peaceful
Hocks aro straying.
"It is a beautiful home, Professor.
Aro you not happy hero?"
Tho lady is watchinghisstrong.enrn
est faco as sho waits his answer. She
m of medium height, slender, and not
pretty. Sho has large, gray eyes. It
lias been noted by.observers that tho
eyes of these two people, Professor
Hettinger nnd his pupil, Madge Kirby.
are exactly alike. Sho is dressed in a
habby,gray gown which has for adorn
ment only a bunch of wild, whito dai
sies at her throat. Tho Profossor
speaks slowly:
"It is a beautiful homo. T lavo been
lappy hero all my lifo until" Ho
stops and is biting his lips whiloa
slightly annoyed expression passes
over his face.
"Until Icamo to disturb your peace?"
Madgo is speaking softly, sadly, and sho
timidly layH her hand Upon his arm as if
to plead for his forgiveness for some
landed wrong.
"Wo havo been much together, pro
fessor," sho nays. "I havo grown to
find my life brighter and more full of
purpose, sinco I knew you, so noble,
bo grand, so wiso. I regret that you
liavo not been equally happy in my
presence."
"I. did not, do not say so" ho is
speaking with somo hidden agitation
and his gaze restsalittloyearningly on
licrface.
"No, but it is so. I can seo it more
clearly of late. You aro nervous,
ill at cose, often sad with mo.
"Why, dear friend, is this? Dq I tire
you with my chatter, or is it some
thing cnticrly apart from ma? Tell
too " bIio is unconscious of tho ear
nest longing in her eyes as thoy meet
liis, "what s it which troubles you?
"Miss Kirby, Mndgo, I must not tell
you of my trouble Dear, you have no
troublo; at least, thank God."
Ho sees her start nnd blush. Ho is
unconscious of that little tender word
liahasBpokcn. It was in his heart,
and ho uttered it unknowingly. There
is long silence between them. Then
sho speaks in a low tone:
"Professor, I am going away to
morrow. I received a letter this
morning from my aunt, stating that
sho will accompany me from Elm
Xiodgo to my futuro home. Soon I
must part with you, with this dear
pleasant summer homo and all its
memories, and forever."
Hois looking sadly down on her
face. Ho thinks of tho long bright
clays of happy companionship winch
thoy havo enjoyed togother, of tho
books they have read and written, of
tho pleasant strolls by tho river, and
it seems to him that a shadow has
iallcn over the beauty of thoafternoon,
a shadow which lies between them and
biota from each their wistful faces for
ever. "Madgo" ho is looking into her
eyes, "Oh, it seems so hard that wo
must part. You will not utterly for
getnot quite banish our happy sum
mer from out your life?"
Sho answers fervently. "I will not
do that, dear friend; I would not if I
could."
It is perhaps well that sho scarce
ly understands her own feelings
in tho matter. Sho speaks at length
of her plans for tho future.
Sho tells him about her betrothed bus
"band, of tho gay life sho expects to
lead abroad. Of her ambitions nnd
hopes. To all ho listened quietly nnd
with a grave almost indifferent nir.
Once ho tells her to be good and true
and earnest in her futuro life, as wife,
mother and a Christian woman. The
tenderness of his faco haunts her long
afterward, oven now it saddens her
strangely.
"Will you sing to me, Professor?"
she asks after thoy havo retraced their
steps and are seated in the vine cover
ed porch, while tho sunset fades over
the hills.
Ho has a deep mellow voice, and
now as ho sings a tender strain
sho is thrilled almost to tears.
Tho Professor has a few pupils,
young ladies of 10 and 20, who now,
on hearing tho well known baritone
-voice, come trooping out from tho
school room, with their lady teacher.
The teacher is a tall, suberb looking
woman, with brilliant black eyes and
ibsy cheeks, Sho is far handsomer
than Madgo Kjrby, and rumor says
ho expects to marry Professor Bet-
'liager.
'It m this which he is singing:
"Falllns leaf and fading tree,
TJaea ol white on a sullen Hen,
Shadows rising on you nnd me,
-r , tffcadowa rials? on you and me.
ITnrkl a voice from tho far awny,
Listen nnd learn," It nccm to ny,
"All the to-morrows shall bo ns to-day,
All tho to-morrows ulinll bo niito-dny."
Tho song is sad and Madame Morlyn
says with scorn, it is absurd that no
should treat them to such a doleful air.
Only Miss Kirby Understands why ho
has chosen it to-night nnd at her re
quest. Hor eyes say mutely to him:
"You aro going out of my lifo forever,
and this is good byo."
When darkness gathers over Elm
Lodgo tho little household separate for
tho night nnd go to their chambers.
Madgo only lingers behind tho others,
and Professor Max gravely remhids
her, as sho stands outside in tho night
nir, that sho must caro for her health
and her roses. It is tho last night bIio
will over stand hero thus with him,
sho tells her heart, and so, putting
out her hands, sho says soft
ly, "Dear friend, I want to say to
you how grateful I am for your kind
ness to mo, how much I esteem you:
nnd and God bless you. Professor."
Sho does not hear his reply, but goes
swiftly up tho stairs and once in her
room sho falls on her knees and bursts
into a passion of weeping, tho bitter
est she has over known. To-morrow
Bho is going away, and in ono week she
is going to bo married to a young man
who has held her troth for years.
Down under tho stars tho grave, king
ly, middle-need man walks up and
down on th'o tcrraco. striving with a
strong man's fierce will to overcome
his sorrow and gain peace and content
for the future.
II.
It is after midnight. Madgo Kirby,
in her whito night robes, sits at
the open window of her sleeping
room, whero after a long, sad
vigil shohas fallen asleep. Abrilliai '
rod light is playing about her faco, am
it shines, into her f oom nnd reddens
tho wall. Thcro is a lire, a heat com
ing from somewhere. Suddenly a wild
shout rises on the nir. It is the cry of
"fire," from some one who stands on
tho lawn. It reaches tho ears of all
but thoso two who havo slept so littlo
during thenighttatid who, at lasthavo
closed their oyoa in a deep perhnps fa
tal slumber Madgo 'sleeps on, and
down in his own room tho master of
tho burning houso lies dreamingof her.
Tho lady teacher, with tho other pu
pils, flock down tho stairs and out in
to, tho grounds. Tho roof is on fire,
nnd no human power can savotho old
wooden mansion from swift destruc
tion. Now somo ono asks for tho pro
fessor. Another says ho is at work
trying to check tho flames. Tho men
servants nro busily employed thus,
nnd after littlo parley thore is no fur
ther question for any body. Suddenly
tho master feels a light touch on his
brow. It' thrills and awakens him. Ho
looks up to find a sledcr figure bend
ing abovo him.
'Max! MaxI awaken, for God sake,
savoyourself, the houso is burning over
us," "Madge Kirby says m a hoarse
strained voice.
In an instant ho is upon his feet,
nnd wrapped asheis in his dressing
gown, he clasps her in his strong arms
and turns to the door, A furious
crackling and roaringgreots their ears.
Tho roof is falling in, nnd ns they
endeavor to pass into tho hall
a black cloud of smoko nnd fall
ing cinders blinds and suffocates
them. She lies ngninst his breast, she
leels his breath heavily on her check,
sho cannot see, can scarcely breathe.
"Oil, my God!" lie gasps, "can I not
savoyou, Madge, mydurling? fhly lit
tle ono must wo die in this accursed
hole away from tho pure air of heav
en?" It is only tho moan of his burst
ing heart as he struggles to find somo
means of exit. Sho has ceased to
renlizo their peri). Insensibility has
wrapped her like tho robo of death.
Tho hallway is a vast sea of flames.
Tho chamber is filling with debris from
nbovo and he, clasping his burden to
hisbrenst, is striving to reach tho
burning window whero, perhaps ho
may make a flying passngo-way from
their perilous position-to terra firma.
Hois thero, tho window is alia mass
of flames, and boldly, bravely, ho
steps with his bare feet upon tho burn
ing sill, nnd out into tho night.
With a feeling of great joy he
finds himself on tho vine covored
roof of the porch Ho had for
gotton his sleeping room was directly
over it. The cool vines to his blister
ed and bleeding feet feel soft and grate
ful. He pauses hero not a moment,
but clumsily lowers himself with his
inanimate burden to tho ground,
" Mndgo, my darling, my own sweet
lovo are you dead?" he moans, as ho
bathes her faco and hands with water,
after he had lain her on a bench in tho
garden.
They aro quito alone for tho others
havo long departed forgetful of all
save themselves.
Alter a long time bIio revives nnd
finds him kneeling thus calling fondly
on her name.
"Thank God that wo are safe,"isall
sho says, wearily closing her eyes onco
more, and in a child-like way
drawing him down to her until
her head can rest on his bo
som. For a moment they re
main thus, both filled with a
now sweet peace, which in spite of the
unpleasantness of the moment, makes
tho night like heaven to them. Then
ho says gently, "Little ono, I must got
you to a placo ot safety. Your gar
ments areourned, nnd tattered as are
mine. Tho morning will soon dawn
and, Madge "
He is growing embarrassed, and she
laughs nervously.
"And this is not exactly proper for
you, my dear. You will get ill and
cold."
"But I cannot walk," she says petu
lantly, "my strength is gone, and my
feet are bare and blistered." Neither
can ho carry her. He is unnblo to walk
far, and thus together they aro fated to
remain until succor arrives. When.it
is lato into tho morning and the first'
rosy flush kindles the sky, she lifts her
face from his shoulder nnd smiling
archly says:
"Dear Professor, the world will nev
er forgive me for this dreadful night.
What, oh what shall I do?"
He bends lower ubove her face.
Scarred and burned as he is, for her
6nke. ho is dearer to her than all the
world.
"Bo my wife, little Madge, and let
mo shield you from all tho world,
lovo you so truly my darling."
Her oyes shone into his.
"My lovo my .preserver, my king'
ho hears her whisper fervently.
"But lam poor, now, dear," he adds
a littlo sadly. My beautiful homo is
in ashes. I havo nothing left but my
self. 'I lovo you Madgo and will work
for you but porhnps it is wrong for
mo to ask you to como to me thus."
"If you were a beggar m tho streets
and Btill be yourself I should love you
nnd como to you, now that I know
you want me, sho says fondly.
After this of course, is n.carriago ar
riving in which they are glad to accept
shelter nnd MJs K"irby's aunt, a fash
ionnblo lady who has como thus early
to boar her away from Elm Lodge, is
shocked to find that very respectable
seminary for young ladies burned to
the ground, and her dear nicco sitting
blackened nnd but thinly clad on a
garden peat with tho master of tho Elm
Lodge, also in tho samo'' predicament.
"We are to bo married as soon as wo
get comfortably dressed," smilingly
observes Miss Kirby to her nUnt.
Thoy nro bowling over tno country
rond and tho professor suggests that
Mrs. Nethorton, Madgo's aunt shall
drivo them to a relative's houso when
they may find somo of the comforts of
life.
"Becauso I am to bo married to
your dear littlo nieco this morning,"
no says gently, but with Bomo amuse
ment. "On tho wholo I am glad of it,"
Bays Mrs. Netherton and wo think sho
is wise to mako tho best of tho mat
ter. So you seo Madge did not marry her
absent lover, but becamo tho wifo of
n man twenty years older than her
self in whoso kingly heart sho found
her earth a heaven of lovo and joy.
MaudS. '8 Fastest Half Mile.
From tho Chicugo Herald.
Although tho telegraph says tTlat
Maud S. mado tho fastest half milo on
record during her trot against time at
Narrngansott Park, thero is a tradi
tion that has been ncccptcd by horse
men hereabouts that a faster half
milo than 1:03 1-2 was trotted at
Chicago five years ago. Strange as it
may appear, Maud S. herself partici
pated in tho event. If sho could bo
consulted about tho matter sho would
probably tell her present admirers
that ono pleasant nfternoon, note
worthy in tho trotting calendar as tho
day when sho first beat 2:11, sho
trotted from tho quarter polo to tho
three-quarter pole in 1:03 flat. That
was Sept. 18, 1880, nnd horsemen nro
fond of telling how the queen of tho
turf crushed all records, and almost
out-stripped time itself, on tho Chica
go track that day. Two days before
sho had tried to boat 2:11 1-4, and
failed by a quarter of a second. But
on that auspicious day sho started on
her journoy at a moderate gait, arriv
ing at the quarter polo in 34 3-4 sec
onds. Then sho Etraightencd out for
tho hnlf, and sped down tho back
stroteh like a chestnut streak. Tho
hnlf-milo polo was reached in 303-4
seconds, nnd tho spectators on tho
grand stand could hardly believe their
stopwatches. On sho went along tho
lower turn at an amazing paco. When
the three-quarter pole was reached all
tho watches showed 1:37 8-4 from tho
stnrt. If the first quarter be subtract
ed from this it will show a faster half
milo than was mado at Narragansett
Park, or has ever been mado anywhere
else tonvit, 1:03, Then sho went on
and completed tho mile in 33 seconds.
Tho Top Kails Only.
From tho Lumpkin (da.) Independent.
Noticing that Captain W. H. Harri
son of tho executivo department ha
been relating somo of his war tales to
a Constitution reporter, wo asked Sam
Everett if ho could not givo us an in
cident of his experience in tho valley
of Virginia. Sam said he wasn't much
on yarns unless ho had somo of tho old
Thirty-first Georgia to laugh at them,
hue ho would venture to givo us one.
Gordon's division were encamped upon
a thrifty farm that was fenced with
pino rails, something unusual in that
section of country. General Gordon
knew that his men were obliged to
havo wood to cook with, so ho issued
an order for them to uso only the top
rails, and under penalty of severe pun
ishment not to disturb any others.
Next morning when the general awokn
not a rail was left to show whero this
fence had been, nnd tho captains wero
ordered to report at onconstothedis-i
obedienco of the order. Among, others,.
Captain Harrison of tho Thirty-first
hnnded in his report. It stated that
he only nllowed ono man at a time to
go for rails, and that each one took a
top rail, acting strictly in accordance
with tho general orders. Ofcoursothe
last men to go found tho top rails at
tno iiottom. ueneral uordon made a
soldierly bow and announced that the
investigation had ended.
Tho Kiss Hnppcncd.
At all the Saratoga hops tho children
are allowed to uso tho hop room from
8to0. Therocanbonomore beautiful
picturo than to seo a hundred little
whito angels flying around the ball
room to the music of the waltz.
Recently Mrs. Astor's littlo gr 1,
Ethel, dnneed with Freddy Living
stone, who, inthe excess of his inno
cent lovo nnd joy, put his arms around
her neck and kissed her. This made
every one in the State's ball-room
laugh.
"Oh, Ethel, I'm ashamed to think
you would let a boy kiss you," said
her mother.
"Well, mnmmn, I couldn't help it,"
said Ethel."
"You couldn't help it?" exclaimed
her mother.
"No, mamma. You Bee, Freddy and
I were dancing tho polka. Freddy
had to stand up close to me, nnd nil
at onco his lip slipped and tho kiss
happened." Correspondence Missouri
Republican.
PfiOZEN RUSSIA.
Hon. Alphonao TAfV nnicrlptlbn of Ufa
IntltoCznr's Country.
Judge Alphonso Taf t, of Ohio, Min
ister to Russia, gives Borne interesting
information about that country to an
interviewer. About his lato post at
St. Petersburg as Minister to Russia.ho
said:
"It is a very pleasant placo for dip
lomatic service. Tho Czar and all
his court aro very civil, polito ami1
cordial with tho representatives of
foreign countries. I was happy to find
in tho diplomatic representatives of
other Governments at St. Petersburg
men of cordinlity and sociability, mak
ing the residence thero very ngreeable.
Tho officials of Russia are wonderfully
pleasnnt. Tho Czar is a man of ex
exceeding amiability nnd kindness.
I met him often at PctershofT, whero
ho expressed the highest admiration
for Amoricnn enterprise, industry and
invention. The Empress is n model
of a wife, dovoted to her family, and
very ueful in court society.
"Did you find the cl'minto-rigorous?"
"The winter Benson, which is by
many considered objectionable, is the
glory of tho year in St. Petersburg. I
did not find tho weather so cold as I
expected, and actually suffered less
from that source last winter than I
havo from tho samo causes in other
countries. Their houses are built air
tight. Tho windows are all double
In winter they nro nil sealed. Provis
ion is mado for fresh nir by ventilation
in the windows. It don't como m un
bidden. The manner of heating con
tributes to comfort. Tho furnace
does not give out a great heat, but a
comfortable one, while stoves are
placed in nil tho rooms to supplement
the furnace, so you can havo tho tem
perature jnst ns you desire it. Thero
is no difiiculity or trouble nbout ven
tilation. They provido wonderfully,
ngninst tho cold in their dress."
lou havo a fur suit and overshoes to
put on when you go out, nnd they nro
so perfect that yon are as comfortable
outdoors as in. You never go out or
come in without nutting on or taking
off your furs. . Thus tho weather hns
no impression on you. The people go
to parties, receptions, balls and din
ners regardless of rain, snow, sleet pr
zero. You would think tho horses
would bo unnblo to stand it in cold
weather, but they do. They have no
blankets for horses. Tho "best ani
mals aro black stallions. They will
stay out in tho cold all night. Tho
drivers stay out, too. The drivers
are all bundled up so the cold can not
touch them. I do not think tho
weather is so much colder than our
winter ns generally supposed. It is
certainly more oven, and gives less
discomfort."
"How about Nihilism?"
"Very littlo appears on tho surfneo
in Russia as regards Nihilism. Mv im
pression is that tho government has
been so persevering, nnd tho police bo
bkiiuui in uuiucimg uiu projects oi
that kind, that they havo pretty much
annihilated Nihilhism. It may turn
out differently, because the Nihilists
aro not likely to ndvertiso publicly
their purposes.if any had been formed.
Tho government has been exceedingly
dilligent in ferreting out all their pro
jects. I havo seen no Nihilists nnd
have had no opportunity for coming
at tho precise objects entertained by
them. Really St. Petersburg is about
tho worst place to go to learn nbout
Nihilism. Thero is not much recogni
tion in Russia of any other liberalism
than Socialism and Nihilism. Ono
hears nothing of Republicanism. It is
not obnoxious to public opinion- ns
Socialism and Nihilism, and the gov
ernment has no occasion to talk
about it. As tho press is con
trolled by thu government there
is no talk about it. This is some
what truo of the entirocontincnt. The
people of Europe nre not generally
hostile to Republicanism. The Govern
ments havo no motive to promote it.
But it does not profit them to discuss
it. They do not caro to censure it,
becauso it is not obnoxious. Their
censure falls on Socialism and Nihil
ism." "What of Russian civilization?"
"It can be spoken of ns improving.
Can not say as to the general intelli
gence among the people, hut materially
thero is improvement and that will
eventually bring tho other. An era
oi material improvement began with
the emancipation of tho serfs.
"Tho greatest attention is naid to
tho army and tho improvements of
the military force much moro than to
popular education. Thoy have in
stitutions for tho education oi the
children of tho better classes, but with
nothing like the advantages that aro
lavished in tho schools of military ed
ucation. They have a tremendous
army. It is nearly as largo as the
armies of both Germnny nnd Austria.
All thff Executivo officers of tho Em
pire aro connected with tho army. Rus
sia is paying moro attention to naval
armament, a significant fact when
considered in tho light of recent events
and her great military force. As to
advancement, I havo heard since I
landed hero that the Czar has decided
to grant nconstitutiontothocountry.
I heard nothing of it before I left. I
havo been surprised that it has been
so long deferred. Tho Constitution
will probably givo tho country a Legis
lature to enact tho laws, subject to
the approval of the Czar. At present
the Cznris absolute for all Russia. It
is tho most absolute despotism in tho
world. Tho Czar has councilors who
endeavor to - mako it a reasonable
government, just as they do in other
rt nfl A ' m t 4 V 4- m t fern litA 11 1 n lt
tU llll 11 lUO. lV.UIlllkllklUII nuiiiuiuu&o
a great chaugo in that country, and a
favorable ono.
"Tell me something of tho country,"
"It is a vast and wonderful country.
It hns fertile as well as wasto lands.
Tho northern part is barren and in
some parts uncultivated. Ftom Wir
ballen to St. Petersburg, a distance
of five hundred miles, tho coun
try is monotonously dreary. In
Central and Southern Russia
the black lands are fertile, and pro
duce a wonderful growth ot grain.
These plains rival an American prai
rie in productiveness. If wo had no.t
an ndvnntngo in so many railroads to
collect and bring our grnin to market
cheaply, I think they would beat us.
Wo havo better transportation and
communication in every way for otir
agriculturists. They havo petroleum
in greater abundance, I think, than wo
have. I think it is just ns good as
ours. But they aro not as skillful yet
in refining it. You can get it for half
the price. Thoy put on a big tariff to
keep ouib out. They burn petroleum
.and. candles in tho pnlnces and houses,
and gas in tho streets. Tho groat light
at tho big balls is furnished by a host
-of candles in Rreat copper and brass
chandeliers, those metals being cheap.
Thoy not only protect petroleum,
but all manufactured products,
nnd are thereby getting a largo
manufacturing interest. Thero is
not much American capital in tho
country how. Formerly thero wns
Borne trndo at St. Petersburg, but now
it is all gone. There is a largo colony
of Englishmen there, who havo grown
wealthy in trade, but the policy of the
Government does not encourage them
and their numbers are lessening, Wi
nans, ot Baltimore, built tho railroad
from St. Petersburg to Moscow, nnd
owned n largo interest in it. But he
sold out some time ngo. Ho mado a
grent deal of money in the transaction.
The Russian Government is inflexibly
set ngainsj) tho JewH. They will not
let them .trnde there, unless they nre
citizens subject to the Czar. The Jews
ennio to the United States and got out
naturalization papers. Then they
went back, began to trade, and sooii
owned wholo towns. When called on
to perform military service, they pio
duced their papers."
A Caso of Mistaken Identity.
I am not sure whether the partic
ulars of a most remnrknblo caso of
doubtful identity have reached you
by telegraph or mail. They aro so
peculiar and so important in their
legal bearing as to deserve mention
even at tho risk of repetition. Adam
W. Smith wns tried at Fitchburg,
tho other day, for having obtain
ed $500 at Worcester by pass
ing a forged note. Ten unimpeachable
citizens testified to his being the man
who passed the note nnd two experts
identified ns his writing the indorse
ment on its back. But now came
twice ten most respectablo citizens of
Dutchess County, N. Y who swore
he wns in that vicinity drivingn herd
of cattle at tho time the noto was
passed. His movements wero nil trac
ed out and his lodging places estab
lished for every night. The alibi was
throughly established nnd ho was ac
quitted. It was clear that he had a
double. It will bo remembered by
some thnt very respectable witnesses
testified on the '.rial of Dr. Webster
for the murder of Pnrkmnn that they
saw the supposed victim inthestreets
of Boston after he was dead, accord
ing to tho theory of tho prosecution.
It was shown in rebuttal that Mr.
George Blis, of Springfield, closely
resembled Dr. Parkman, and that he
was in the city the day. mentioned by
tho witnesses, and so tho defendant
was acquitted without impeachment
of tho veracity of the opposing testi
mony. Tho mistake was one very
like that just made nnd like that which
has afforded Henry Irving one of the
best opportunities for tiis display of
his dramatic powers.
Shooting: Stars niul Meteorites.
From the N'ew York Sun.
Prof. Ball, tho well-known astrono
mer roynl for Ireland, makes a concise
distinction between shooting stars and
meteorites, which are popularly re
garded as the same. In tho enso of
tho former Prof. Ball remarks one
specinl point, namely, that certain
great showers aro periodical, and al
ways come from tho same parts of tho
heavens the inference from theso re
curring periods being thnt the orbit of
the earth then cuts tho orbit in which
a mass of theso is moving. With this
fact of recurrence is another, viz, that
certain comets nro periodical, and,
from a comparison of their supposed
orbits with those of groups of theso
bodies, a connection between them is
supposed, whatever may bo tho origin
of comets, which is not yet known.
Meteorites, on tho contrary, remarks
Dr. Ball, aro never known to come from
tho direction of a comet path, and, if
carefully examined, are seentobefrag
inents of some rock or rocks, closely
analogous, too, to our earth's volcan
ic rocks. The professor thinks that,
examining nil tlio planets in turn, it
seems improbnblo that tho meteorites
originate from nny of them, it being
much moro likely that they wero in
former times of greater volcanic ac
tivity driven up from the onrth itself,
and they again, after tho lapse of ages,
meet tho earth in its orbit.
Where Public Schools Fail.
From tho Brooklyn Mugmine.
It is a curious fact that many city
boys reach the end of thoschoolcourse
without being able to tell what a mon
key wrench is or describe a cross-cut
saw, or define tho uses of a turning
lathe, while a piston, nflteam box or a
throttle valve aro all far beyond their
ken. They can, however, tell tho num
ber of elementary sounds in tho lan
guage and tho significance of the wholo
cluster of diacritical murks, all of
which soon fade out ot their minds.
In the limited timo that the
state has tho privilege of teaching
children in tho Twelfth Ward, it seems
absurd to proceed with thtm with the
circumstnnco that marks the work in
tho schools on tho Hill, where the
children will stay twice as long; yet
this is tho present system. Tochnngo
it means tho risk of ndemagogiecry of
ono school for the rich nnd another
for tho moor. Accordingly, tho poor
Buffer. Some liberty should be allow
ed to a principal to suit tho education
he directs to tho necessity of those
under his care, that the boy who must
bo bread-winning nt twelve, shall not
be despoiled of valuablo time in ascer
taining to a shade tho fourteen sound?
of the vowel "a."
Colonel Inxcrsoll Consoles.
San Francisco Bullet Ii.
-It is-not long since -n lady of this-
city was suddenly overcomo by a
great, crushing affliction, that coming
like a thunderbolt upon her, for a
timo threatened her life. Her Bon and
only child had gone on a short busi
ness journoy, expecting soon to re
turn. Sudden and fatal illnc.'S over
took him, nnd a brief telegram an
nounced the dreadful tidings to hi&
heart-brokpn mother.
A lady friend, who had sympathized
deeply .with-nnd .vninly'Sought-to con
sole her, informed Colonel lngcrsoll,
and begged him, if possible, to write
something which might at least re
lievo in a mcasuro tho terrible appre
hension ns to tho fate of her son, un
der which sho was Buffering. Tho fol
lowing is his letter, which, ns will bo
Been by tho subjoined grateful'- reply,,
was inagood measure effective It was;
only upon the representation that
like Colonel Ingersoll's widely
published remarks at tho funeral
of his brother in Washington,,
somo years ngo, theso words also might
"comfort other hearts which mourn,"
that tho reporter succeeded in obtain
ing a copy for publication, with the
condition that the name of tho recip
ient should not bo mentioned.
INQKUSOIilS LETTER.
My Dear Madam Mrs. C has told'
mo tho sad story of your almost infi
nite sorrow. I am not foolish enough
tOBtipposo that I can say or do any
thing to lessen your great grief, your
anguish for his loss; but maybe I can
say something to drivo from yout
pqor heart tho fiend of fear fear for
Him. If thero is a God, let us believe
that He is good; and if Ho is good, tho
good have nothing to fear. I have-.,
been told that your son was kind and
generous; that ho was filled with chari- '
ty and sympathy. Now, wo know that
in this world like begets like, kindness,
produces kindness nnd all good bears,
tho fruit of joy; belief is nothing deeds,
aro everything; nnd if your son wna
kind, he will naturally find kindness,
wheerevcr he niny be. You would not
niflict endless pain upon your worst
enemy. Is God worse thnn you? Yon.
could not bear to see a vipersuffer for
ever. Is it possiblo that God will
doom a kind nnd generous boy to.
everlasting pain? Nothing can bo
more monstrously absurd and cruel.
Tho truth is that no human being
knows anything of what is beyond the
grave. If nothing is known, then it is
not honest for nny one to pretend .
that ho does know. If nothing ia
known then we can only hope for the
good. If there be a God, your boy is.
no more in his power now than he wns
before his death no moro thnn you
aro at this moment. Why should wo
fear God moro nfter death than be
fore? Does the feeling of God toward
his children change the moment they
die? While we are alive thoy say God
loves us; when will He cense to love
us? True love never changes. I beg
of you to throw nway all tear. Take-
counsel of your own reart. If God ex
ists, your heart is the best revelation
of Him and your heart could never
send your boy to endless, pain. After
all, no one knows. Tho ministers
know nothing. All the churches in the
Vorjd know no more on this subject
than the ants upon the nnt-hills.
Creeds aro good for nothing excopt to
break tho hearts of tho loving. Lotus,
havo courage. Under the bcven-hued
arch of hope let the dead sleep. I do
not pretend to know, but I do know
thnt others do not know. I wish I
couly say somoteing that would put a.
star in your night of grief a little
flower in your lonely path and if na
unbeliever has such a wish, surely nit
infinitely good being hns never mndea.
soul to bo the food of pain through
countless years.
Sincerely yours,
R. GInqeksoll.
Fashions in Artificial Limbs.
"Tho old style leg," says a dealer irt
theso articles, "is a clumsy affair, and
is chiefly worn by thoso who aro not
proud of their personal appearance
and by poor men who nro unable to
pay tho price demanded for finer work.
Westill havo largo orders forthem.nnd
always expect to have. They cost
from $5 to $25, according to work
mnnship. The new stvlo of leg costs;
from $75 to $200. Tho former price
is for a leg from the knee downward,
while the Intter takes in a wholo leg,,
from tho hip joint to tho big too.
Theso legs nre very light. Thoy are
hollow and are made of a great many
layers of wood, as thin as wall pnper,.
cemented together. They aro almost
as tough ns iron. They nro pomfort
nblo to tho stump, nnd tho springs in
them givo their owner an almost
natural gait. Thero is a spring joint
at tho toes, one nt theankle, which en
ables the foot to bend up nnd down,,
nnd also a lateral joint nt the same
plnco thnt allows the foot toturnfroinj
side to side.
"It is in nrms, however, that this
business hns made tho most rapid ad
vancement," continued the dealer
"Tho man who invented the artificial
arm and hand was a practical philan
thropist. When I wns a boy a man
who lost his arm wns obliged to wear
a wooden stump with a screw socket
at the end. Into this ho could screw a.
knife, spoon or fork to help him while
eating, nnd a hook for use at other
times. Now we enn give him a wrist,,
hand nnd fingers which work with
springs, nnd nlniost completely take
the placo of tho missing members. He
can put a knife, spoon nnd fork be
tween his fingers, which will hold them
with a grip of steel, and thus ho may
eat without discomfort. Ho can also
put a pen between his fingers, and
writo almost as well ns he could with
his natural hand. Ten years ago this
would havo been regarded as a miracle
This style of arm sells for SlOO,"
Two human teeth found on tho bat
tlefield of Narebv 200 years ago ere
now in tho cabinet of Mr. 8. C. Tite, oE
Towcester, a well-known local anti
quary. Ho has also a bullet from the
same field. Curds aro attached totlie
relics bearing inscriptions in Carlylo's.
handwriting.
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