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WHO WO THE WAGER?
"Yes, lama confirmed old bachelor.
Queer, you say? You would not
think so if you had seen women in as
many different shapes as I have. I
have been in the company of a society
young lady, when really I would have
left her, with pleasure, and bo boiled
or frozen, or even oaten by cannibals,
rather than remain in her flippant
society. I have heard women mora
than scolding their husbands for the
mere fragile triflo of being late for a
meal, or ior having remained at his
eiub later than the usual ten o'clock
I have been bored by so-called litera
ry women until my ears have- ached
I have sat in silent ecstacy with a
bashful young lady until I have felt
like screaming aloud to exercise my
vocal organs. Have I never had a
mother? Well; I'm not like Topsy,
I ken. 1 suppose that I did have
a mother lone ago but so long ago
that I have censed to remember her.
She died when I was two months old,
so no wonder that I cannot recall lier
features. The aunt who took her
place and acted master to me was a
regular old Tartar raw boned, red
headed, bleary eyed, and cross. Wom
en! 1 hate them. Did I never see a
pretty, piquant plrl face with yellow
hair curling -over her white foiehead,
and big, blue eyes upraised full of
wonder, at a man who would duro to
say that ho hated her ox? No. I
have never seen tmch a paraxon. Have
I never seen a coquette who expects
to have men fall in love with her, as
much as she expects the sun to shine?
Yes, I havo met such ladies, and have
had no trouble to resist their so-called
charms. Have I never met a sen
sible young lady, who cauld talk of
the latest news, and interest one? Oh
yes: but 1 havo failed to be interest
ed. I tell you, man, I hate them
all! I have no ideal. I abhon the
whole set of false, whimpering women!"
Harold Clemens looked at his sin
istrous friend in amazement. Ho sees
a tall, straight, grandly proportioned
man, stretched at full length on tho
grass. His hat shades his dark eyes
from the sun, but Ins brown, hand
some face is fully exposed.
Truly this woman hater is a
tavorite of the gods, if beauty is con
sidered the criterion. Hut the ex
pression is a dibcontented one and
the eyes seem full of longing. Harold
Clemens and ftalphTrue nrespending
their vacation by wandering over
Italy together. Both are lich Ameri
cans and college chums,
"Ralph. I'll make a wager with
you!" and Harry springs to his feet
In his excitement.
"Well?" lazily.
'"1 have a sUter whom I know you
cannot resist. She is a charming
coquette. I will give you just three
weeks from the time you meet her,
tmtil you fall in love with her, or
vice versa its all tho Hnme"
"Fact?"
She is so lovely- No man can re
sist her."
"No man? I will b-j an exception.
1 take your wager. Five hundred dol
lars down tD one hundred that I win."
"Granted. Comedown totIInzcldene
on Christinas nnd I know that you
will leave au engaged man."
Hazeldene on the Hudson a home
ns pretty as its name. Tho winter
snows are falling and the deep waters
of the blue Hudson are irozen, entic
ing skaters to glide on its .smoothness.
Hazeldene sparkles in the wintry sun
shine, a grandly built, modern man
sion of white stone. Tho rooms with
in are bright with roaring fires and the
laughter of a gay party, gathered
around the openfirb-plnceinthenniplo
entrance hull!
One fmure is the center of the croup.
One merry voice is heard above tho
din. One merry piquant face is ever
turning toward tho door, as if In ex
pectation of an arrival.
"So, he is coming to-dny?" Gerald
ene Clemens says, turning htr clorious
dark eyes upon her brother, lounging
upon a rug before tho lire. "Oh. Jean
scarcely wait. The great, overgrown
baby. Thinks no one is so good as
ho. I'll soon tench him that I am of
some importance, too. Oh. what fun
it will bel"
"Bo merciful, Geraldene," cries one
manly voico after another.
"Zounds! I pity tho man!" murmurs
some one.
Geraldene tosses her brown ringlet
ed head.
"Harrv, remember that two hun
dred and fifty dollars of thutwager be
longs to me!"
"Gerry," a srft voico whisprs at
tho beauty's elbow, "don't do it."
Let the ppor man be happy in his
ideas. Don't make his heart ache for
fun, Gerry. Don't do it, sister, its
wicked."
Geraldene laughs.
A small, childish creature it is, who
i i thus pleading. A fair-haired, blue
eyed, delicate girl, as unlike her bril
liant sister, as water is unlike tvine.
Tho face of tho elder sister, softens.
"Daisy, ' she says, "I won't hurt
him. He has boasted so long that he
hates us all, it will do him good to bo
caught once. Don't worry little girl.
We'll hava our fun, and only Mr. True
will be tho wiser. Oh, I long to see
him! The great, boasting, woman
hater of tho period!"
"Whom you can see by using your
pyes," a quiet voico observes at her
elbow.
He has entered bo quietly, that
Geraldene, in her excitement, did not
hear him.
She turns to him now, and her
laughing eyes do not fall beneath his
lackadaisical gaze.
Daisy's blue eyes fill with surprised
tears
"Well, the old adap.e, that listeners
hear no good of themselves, holds
true in your case," Gerry's saucy
voice cries.
Ralph True laugh;.
"Miss Geraldene, how delimited am
I that I could grant your desire at
tho right moment."
"Mr. True is truly kind. Como to
tho fire. You are surely cold."
"No your warm reception has re
freshed mo alrendy."
Is 8ho at a loss what to say? All
listen eagerly. She straightens her
slight figure nnd looks at him soberly.
"Pleased with a rattle and tickled
with a straw. I see that wo will have
no trouble entertaining you, True"
"Why?"
"Show this lad to his room, John,"
to tho servant who has answered
her ring "Como down stairs tonight
with a hundred questions una 1 prom
ise to answer everv one. For tho pres
entadieu." And Ralph True leaves
the room, his face puzzled, his brow
clouded.
"Gerry, I'm afraid it's rtll tip with
you now," Harry observes, dolefully.
"Nonsense, tmml Can't you sec
that ho is interested already?"
Tho next day dawns bright and
clear and cold. Gerry informs them
at breakfast that a skating party is
to bo formed directly after that meal.
All those not prepared with skates
will be supplied, she xays.
Ralph True turns to her. "I do
not skate. Will I btnv at home?"
"No indeed! Poor little boy. I will
teach you how."
Daisy looks pity from ler eyes, and
Ralph thinks how rarely pretty those
same eyes are.
"You do," Gerry says, "come!"
And they all riso from tho tnble. An
hour later a merry group is on tho
river. Ralph is awkwardly trying to
stand on his skates while his eyes fol
low a little figure, skating alone, some
distance beyond the others.
'Watch your feet! Look out!"
Gerry is expostulating, when, with a
cry, her awkward pupil dashes over
tho ice as only an experienced skater
can, to wnere a little figure is strug
gling in the water. Gerry forgets hor
vexation in her fright for hor sister.
"Oh, Daisy, darling! Save her! save
her'" she cries. Ralph Truo has suc
ceeded in catching a long braid of fair
hair, but as willing hands draw
her from the water, ho looses his
hold and disappears in tho dark
water. Some one dives for him and
saves him, but tho merry party of tho
morning return to Hazeldene with
two unconscious burdens. Ralph is
nono tho worse for his ducking tho
next morning, but Daisy does not
come down until evening, when oven
then she looks pale and languid.
Ralph gazes at her a? ho turns Gerald
ine's music, and catching her eyo ho
wonders why she blushes so prettily
and why she always turns away sb
quickly.
"Chess?" Gerry rattles on, "do you
play it, True? FjOt us form a sot.
You and I. and Mr. Knge, and and"
I'Daisy," Ralph supplies. Tho party
is soon formed, but some how. Gurry
can never tell how, Daisy is Ralph's
partner, while her lot is cast with
that of Mr. Sage. Sho looks at Daisy's
drooping face rather angrily, and
when the came ends declaring Ralph
and Daisy victors, sho rises with a
small grimnce and goes over to her
mother at the other side of tho room.
"Poor Gerry." Daisy says, compas
sionately. "1 think that you must
be a wonderful player, Mr. True.
Gerry always wins at' any game sho
ever trie.."
"Does she?" Ralph quizzes, "It will
do her good to cet left sometimes.
Como out, Miss Daisy, and see the
Hudson bv moonlight. Do you feel
able?"
When they return sets are forming
for a dance.
"Come," Gerry's clear voice cries,
I want you, True."
Ralph crosses to her side. "You
dance?"
"No. I do not."
"How am 1 to know but what you
are deceiving mo like you did yester
day?" "Take my word for it."
"Won't you danco this set with
me?"
"I'll walk through it."
"W-e-l-l," doubtfully.
Never was Gerry so provoked. Nev
er was Ralph so delighted. They
munnged to get through, somehow,
nnd when the music ceases, Ralph
pauses with a laugh.
"Do you like to dance with me, Miss
Gerry?"
"No!" she cries. "Go away! I hate
you!"
Ho walks away to a little fmure al
most lost in a great chair by the open
grate.
"Will you danco tho next with me?"
he asked.
"Yes."
"Did you see how very awkwardly
I step?"
"Yes. But I'm not afraid."
Geialdeno looks after them in
amazement as they float past her.
"Sold again," sho murmurs. "What
in the world am I to do with such a
mon?"
Tho dnvs Med by. If a person could
have judged as to the success of the
wager by" tho tiot that Ralph and
Geraldene wet e often together, then. in
deed, Harry is in a fair way to win.
Each excursion planned; each came
played, each tableau; ench theatrical;
these two are partners. The fact that
quiet Daisy is often with them, too,
does not sem to count. Harry is
puzzled. And Gerry, has to confess
that sho has met a man who does not
make love to her after a ono week's
acquaintance. The friends who are
in the secret look on with interest.not
knowing who will win that most un
fortunate waaer. They are planning
a masquerade ball.
Each guest is to keep his own coun
sel and not let a person know what
character ho intends to personate.
Such mystery, such locked doors, such
secretu, ns reign for a week before the
eventful evening arrives, is wonderful
to relate. At last time brings around
the evening. The houso guests have
r.U managed to glide into tho rooms
with an outsider, so that all identity
is lost, and they mingle together as
one unknown whole.
Geraldene's shrill voice would have
betrayed her, even if one long tendril
ol huir had not escaped from its con
finement and hunt; almost to her feet:
Sho is Venus, goidess of love, and
nover has she appeared bo beautiful.
8ho looks in vain for Ralph Truo's tall
figuro to betray him. She cannot de
cide, whether that tall soldier, or yon
der Romeo, or tho cavalier by her
side, is he. She sees Romeo bending
over a small Juliet all in blue, and sho
wonders if Daisy knows who hor Ro
meo is.
"Juliet," Romeo is whispering, "fol
low me. I want yon."
Daisy rises and follows li's lead.
Does Bho know him? Tho httlo lady
keens her own counsel, if sho docs.
They stand on tho terrace Tho
stars sparkle overhead; tho frozen
Hudson gleams in tho distance
"Daisy, I overheard you telling
Gerry of your costume, and I dress
ed to match you. Daisy, do you
know me? I love you. Will you be
my wife?"
And Daisy, without a thought of
hor conquest or of Gerry's anger, looks
up at her tall Romeo answers both
questions with a happy "Yes, Ralph."
How surprised they all wero when
tho announcement is mado at tho
breakfast tablo the next morning.
Silence falls ac first, and then with
ono nccord they all roar with laught
er. "Who has won the wager, old
boy?" Harry asks. "Of course I
meant Gerry. I nover oven thought
of Dot there, as captivating a great
woman-hater liko you were in the old
college days. But she is my Bister
just the sains."
"Granted," Ralph replies, prompt
ly, "but I snid that 1 could resist
your coquette sister's charms, and I
did."
"I'll tell you," Gerry cries, her piqu
ant face all smiles, "put tho five
hundred dollars nnd the ono hundred
dollars in one, and present it to tho
bride on her wedding morn."
And that was the way they decided
who won tho wager. Yankoo Blado.
How One Town Avoids
Strikes
Tho Induatrinl World tells about
tho situation in Olean, N. Y., where
an increaso of twenty-five per cent, in
population has been provided for
within tho last three months by addi
tions to its manufacturing industries,
through tho organized efforts of a
Board of Trade,"tho capitalists havo
inaugurated a novel movement which
not only aids materially in tho
growth of tho place, but gives Biich
advantages to the laboring men that
tho chances for strikes nnd kindred
troubles aro reduced to tho minimum.
Any manufacturer locating in Olean
is guaranteed homes for his employes
built after their own plans, and sup
plied to them at actual value, tho ten
ants paying thereon the rental price
ot irom i?o to !o nor month. 'Amis
is left with the laborer the
option of owing his own
home, or ot paying rent, the
terms in either instance being the
same, save m tho matter of interest
upon the unpaid portion in case of
purchase. This the capitalist takes
as his 2'i'cfit upon the transaction.
In the ono instance the man who
buys has his homo paid for in a few
years; in tho other the tenant payB in
the same time nearly as much and
does not own a shingle.
In Olenn tho labor classes aro not
slow to see tho advantage of buying;
the manufacturer sees the advantage
of steady and reliable labor thus
afforded, and the resident capitalist a
sure prevention of strikes and safe in
vestment of his money.
The example of tho moneyed men of
Olean is worthy tho emulation of
those in other towns whoso growth is
retarded by tho too conservative noh
icy of capital.
.
Hoop Snakes.
Most people have heard of a hoop
snake, but few persons have seen one.
0. T. Mason, of the United States na
tional museum, in writing to the
Washington Star, emphatically and
flatly denies that such a creature ex
ists m the world, in order to open a
controversy on the subject nnd elicit
information. Now Conductor Addy
Kirk of tho Pittsburg division, Penn
sylvania railroad, affirms most posi
tively that he has not only seen but
had an adventure with ono m Warren
county, Illinois, during his residenco
there. Ho says ho was in the woodb
one day, picking blackberries, and
having heard of a hoop snake observ
ed ono rapidly rolling toward him.
Do stepped aside; the snake glided
past him and struck its tail into a
white-oak tree which was two feet in
diameter. The reptile, having secure
ly fastened itself, whipped itself on
either side of the tree until it was
dead. Ho proceeded to the houso of
his employer, and with an axe they
returned and cut out the tail. In five
weeks every leaf on the tree was dead.
Tho tail of tho serpent was armed
with a horn-hko nppendace.about ono
inch and three-quarters in length, hol
low and filled with a poisonous mat
ter, and sharp like a needle at tho
point. Tho creature he describes as
dark-green in color on the back and
sides and the belly as white as snow.
In rolling it grasps this horn append
age in its mouth, turning its belly but.
Ho romembers hearing his father say
ho saw two of them in his time, and
his Illinois employer three. After this
well-authenticated version of tho ex
istence of a hoop snake Mr. Mason
will havo to take to the woods or
modify his sweeping denial. Altoona
(Pa) Tribune.
What looked like the larcest,
strnightcst, soundest, and longest
walnut log ever floated down the
Cumbeiland reached Nashville tho
other day. It belonged to a green
looking countryman who gave good
reasons why ho must sell it imme
diately. It was such a fine log that,
despite the owner's anxiety to sell, it
fetched almost its apparant value.
In duo caurso of time it was taken
out of the water and proved to -a a
oycamorolog with walnut bark tsck
cd all over it in tho most artistic
manner. The green countryman has
not been seen since New York Sun,
Told in a Dream.
"I made a fool of myself," nnld Ju
lian Blair, bitterly. ''Hero I am,' a
young lawyer, without prnctico in a
little country town, and with uo hope
of bettering my condition. Instead
of waiting for something to turn up
I havo had tho audanity to fall Inlovo
with tho wealthiest heiress in the
place, and to-night I lorover disgraced
myself by asking her to marry mo.
To-morrow I am to seo her father.
There can be but ono result. Mr.
Howard is a millionaire Ho will ask
mo about my property and prospects.
Well, I havo about $5 in my pockot,
and I owe $500. Tho old gentleman
will regard mo as a fortune-hunter
and request mo to discontinue my
visits. Yet, tho Lord knows 1 love
Alice, and I would devote my life to
hor."
Blair looked around tho oflko nnd
took a survey of Ins scanty posses
sions. A few articles of furniture, and
perhnpa a hundred law booku this
was all. He sat alono until tho town
clock Btruck tho hour of midnight, nnd
then retired to his chamber adjoining
his office, and made an attempt to
sleep off his trouble.
In the courso of tho night a strange
thing occurred. Just how it happen
ed lie did not understand, but ho had
alato visitor, who introduced him
selt as a lawyer from London.
"Mr. Blair," ho said. "I will not
detain you with any preliminaries.
You are the heir to tho estate of John
Blair, ono of your nnclas who ran
away from home when a more boy
and settled in Liverpool. Your undo
was remarkobly lucky. He found
friends, went into business and in
courso of time mado a fortune Ho
died a month ago and left you $300,
000."
Julian proceeded to ask for further
information, but tho London lawyer
pleasantly remarked that good news
would keep.
"I must loavo in half au hour for
New York," ho said, "but you may
expect me back in a week or so, and
then tho necesnry arrangements will
bo completed for placing you in pos
session of your inheritance"
With this tho strnngo visitor van
ished, nnd Julian Blair, as he raised
himself on his elbow and looked about
the room, asked himself whether ho
was awako or dreaming.
A sudden drowsiness camo over him,
and when ho again opened his eyes It
was morning.
"Was it a dream?" ho cried, as ho
dressed himself. "No, it is impossible
There is the chair tho man Bat In. . I
remember his features distinctly, and
every word ho said, and oven tho
tones of his voice. Thank Godl It
was no vision; it was a reality."
Julian found, after making his toi
let, that ho was still a little feverish,
with a strange fullness in his head,
but a glance at the mirror showed
that he was looking unusally well.
Ono thing startled him not a little
in the course of the morning. After a
brief interview with one of tho bank
ers of the town, he walked out on tho
street with S500 in his pockot.
A sudden doubt Btruck him as ho
reached the sidewalk. Had ho mado
a mistake in telling the banker of his
good fortune? If the wholo thing was
only a dream, as ho sometimes sus
pected, he had dono a very bad thing.
"Pshaw!" he said to himself, "I am
sick and nervous. How can it bo a
dream?"
By degrees his confidence was restor
ed, and later in the day, when ho saw
Mr. Howard, his manner was well calcu
lated to impress tho millionaire. He
told tho story of his legacy, and tho
rich man took him by tho hand and
told him that no man in tho world
would suit him better ns ason-in-iaw.
A week passed away delightfully.
Blair found himself the lion of the
town, but ho spent most of his leisure
time with his affianced.
Ono morning tho young lawyer
arose, cool and clear headed, without
a trnco of fever. He looked back up
on tho events of the past week in
amazement. He no longer had any
belief in a visit of the man from Lon
don. It was a dream'and nothing
else.
"I nm in a disgraceful fix!" he groan-
I ed. I have borrowed money under
inise pretences, corning win ever
convince people that I am not a swin
dler." But' just then a card was placed in
Julian s hand. It bore tho address
of Henry Morley, solicitor, Middle
Temple, London, and as the owner of
tho card was ushered into the office
tho young lawyer looked at him in
blnnk surprise.
"My young friend," said the visitor,
rather pompously, "it is a genuine
pleasure to be the bearer of good tiding-.
I hnve been two weeks in the
country looking you up. Your uncle,
John Blair, died recently in Liver
pool, where he left a large estate, and
there is a cool $500,000 lor you."
"Is it another dream?" whispered
Julian.
"I don't understand," said tho En
glishman, somewhat mystified. "This
is no dream: it is business."
"You have never called on mo be
fore, have you?" asked Julian.
"Certainly not," replied tho visitor.
"I have just found you, and it was
no easy matter, I can tell you."
"All this is very hard for me
to believe," replied Julian, and it will
take time to convince me of its real
ity." "Well, money ought to be tanelblo
enough," snid the lawyer. "If you
feel like drawing tor a few thousand
now I'll arrange it for you."
Julian, warned by tho tricks his im
agination had played him, lost no
time in obtaining his legacy and con
verting it into fcubstujuial invest
ments. When this was dono he led sweet
Alice Howard to tho altar.
There will bo divided among super
annuated prenchers and widows ami
orphans ol preachers, of the Metho
dist Episcopal church next year,
$100,000 out of the profits of the
Methodist Book Concern. The Book
Concern will be n cen'U'T o'd in 1880,
Unique Railroading.
A young lady who had just return
ed from a far southern tour waa nar
rating her oxperlonccs nwny down in
Dixio to an American roporter. The
funniest thing that happened upon
tho wholo trip; sho snid, "was while
traveling through Alabama. Wo had
just passed a littlo town in tho heart
of tho cotton district when my atten
tion wa8 called to ono end ol the
coach, whero I noticed sovernl pnsaon
gerB standing around a boy about 12
yents old. Ho was yelling vociferous
ly, with his hand poked into one eye
A lady whom I took to bo his mother
was doing all inher power to quiet him.
Between yells ho managed to explain
tho cauce of hia mishap. He said that
ho was looking out of tho window
wlion a boy, who wns standing near
tho track in a field, ns tho tram was
passing, picked up a rock and throw
it nt him. The stono struck tho win
dow pane, shattering it, nnd a piece
of class cut a long nnd painful zash
under tho young tourist's eye. In a
few minutes every passenger in the
conch was offering somo suggestion
and interfering with thoso who wore
trying to bind up tho wound. The
conductor camo upon tho scene about
this time Upon learning the situa
tion ho immediately stopped the
train nnd began backing it to the
placo whero tho deed was done. Ar
the train had been going at a rapid
rnto it was several "miles from tho
scene ol tho action. Tho lad who
threw tho stono was standing near
the track with his hands in his
pockuts, doubtless wondering why
the train was coming back, but when
tho cars stopped within a few feet of
him he must havo guessed the
reason, for-he immediately crnsped
his hat in h;s hand and
started like a raco horso across the
muddy fields. In a few minutes all the
malo pussengeis on tho train wero in
hot pursuit, nnd all tho females wero
at tho window. watching tho chase
Over fences and across fields tho little
boy and his pursuers ran. Finally n
hill hid tho race from our view. For
nearly half au hour wo waited in sus
pense the result of tho chase. The
first man to mako his appearance was
a drummer, who explained that after
chasing tho young miscreant about a
mile, they came to a broad, shallow
creek wliich tho boy plunged through
without hesitation, but tho passen
gers, not desirous ot getting wet.decided
to discontinuo thepursuit. It was the
most riduculouB thing 1 over witness
ed. Just imagine about thirty or forty
great big grown men running nfter a 12-year-old
boy just as hard as they
could tear. Another half hour was
spent in waiting for tho scattered pas
sengers to get back to the train, and
finally, we resumed our journoy on
south." Nashvillo American.
Sixteenth Century Mirrors.
From tho Ohio Valloy Miinufacturcr.
It is only sinco tho early part of the
sixteenth century that mirrorshavo be.
como nrticles of household furniture
and decoration. Previous to that
time from the twelfth to tho end of
tho fifteenth century pocket-mirrors
of- small hand-mirrors carried at the
girdle wero indispensable adjuncts to
ladies' toilets. Tho pockot -mirror
consisted of small circular plaqui-s of
polished metal fixed in a shallow cir
cular box, covered with a lid. Mirror
cases were chielly mado of ivory, carv
ed with reliof representations of love
or domestio scenes, hunting nnd
games, and sometimes illustrations of
popular poetry or romance. Gold
and silver enamels, ebony and other
costly materials were likowisoused for
mirror cases, on which were lavished
tho highest decorative offortB of art
workmanship and costly jeweling.
Tho mirrors worn at the girdle had
no cover, but wero furnished with a
short handle
In 025 Popo Bon'fnco IV. sent
Queen Ethelberga, of Northumbnn, a
present of a silver mirror; and there
is ample evidence that in early Anglo
Saxon times mirrors were well known
in England. It is a remarknble fact
that on many of the sculptured
stones of Scotland, belonging proba
bly to tho soventh, eight or ninth cen
tury, representations of mirrors,
mirror-cases, and combs occur.
The Boy's Suggestion.
It was at tho dinner table. The
head of tho houso had a pnsaion for
preserving, filing, and indexing every
letter that comes to him, and has ac.
cumulated an immense mass of cor
respondence His wifo believes that
when a letter has been read the best
thing to do is to destroy it. The
conversation turned on the relative
merits ot tho two systems, and a lady
guest related that she knew of a gen
tleman recently deceased in a neigh
boring city who left instructions that
his correspondenc e should be bur
ied with him. "They actually had to
have a coffin mado on purpose, so as,
to make room for the letters," she
said. "Great Scott, father,' exclaim
ed tho son and heir, "they'd have to
bury you in a freight car." Boston
Herald.
Mark Twain'sAclvice toYoung
Authors.
A young newspaper man of Hart
ford recently wrote to Mark Twain,
with whom he had more than a pass
ing acquaintance, asking him if he
would kindly look over tho manu
script of aserio-humorousskit ho had
written, and would give a candid
opinion as to its worth. Ho received
the following characteristic reply nnd
holds it high in his collection of sou
venirs: Hautkouu. Dear Mr- Certninlj,
Send It tight uloni:. Anil be mire to put it
l)oti'on a couple ol shingli'H, or miwrd oil
board, or n couple ol erin lstonej, or an;
toinij to keep it Hut, Tho innn that rolls a
MS.S. oiuhttogo to the 1ovII-aiw will.
Yours truly. H 8. Cii.ui.nh.
VhtlttUeijtbia Prees
Curious Facts.
Tho glare of tho electric tights In tho
Czar's Winter palaco has proven very
injurious to ornamental plants.
It is said that during Us period of
growth, Indian corn drawn from tho
soil thirty-Eix times its own weight
of water
A lady in Lexington, Ga., has a bait
ol yarn that waB spun and woven
during the Revolutionary War, over
100 years ago, and yet the thread is
seemingly sound and whole
Mi9s Jennio Chamberlain, tho Ohio
beauty who created such a pensation
in Europe, is now living in Cleveland.
Sho seldom uoeB out", receives few
visitors and leads a very quiet life
Somo of the shophcrds in tho mount
ains ot Bulgaria llvo for ten and fif
teen years attending their flocks' and
never knowing what it is to sleep in a
houso or to enjoy any of the comforts
of civilization.
By careful experiments M. Bloc'ihas
determined that it takes 1.72 of a sec
ond longer to hear a sound than to
seo a signt, and 1.21 of a second long
er to feel a touch than to seo a sight.
A Now Bedford man has a cat with
a remnrknblo fondness for sliding on,
on the ice When it finds a hkoly bib,
of ico it runs to got a good start, and,
then, throwing itself bn its belly with
foro nnd hind legs extended forward
nnd backward, slides daily again and
again until surfeited with tho fun.
Edison, the inventor, has sixty men
at work in Iub laboratory. ThDy aro
all preparing something that has first
existed in his brain.
Tho pin consumption of tho United
States is ono pin to ench inhabitant a
day. This necessitates tho daily
manufacture ol 00,000,000 pins.
Scientists assest that the newly dis
covered cities of Arizona aro tho eamo
as sought by Cortex and tho early
Spanish adventurers in their expedi
tions after gold. Tho cities are seven
in number and show evidences of for
mer civilization nnd wealth.
A Naehvillo carpenter arose in his
sleep and went into his shop and bo
gun filing a saw. Tho noise woke him
up and bo was mightily puzzled to
find himself engaged at such work at
2 o'clock in tho "morning in a dark
shop.
By meana ol an air gun, Prol. 0. L,
Mees has found that to drive straws
into pino boards and hickory bark,
as is often dono by tornadoes, a ve
locity ol 150 to 172 miles tin hour is
necessary.
Tho largest cotton mill in tho world
is said to bo located at Kranhblm, in
Russia. Tho establishment contains
340,000 spindles and 2,200 JooniB.
disposes of a forco of G,H00 horse
?ower, and gives employment to
,000 hands.
A correspondent from Omaha want3
to know how it is that the great flocks
ol crows that pass over that placo do
not freeze during the sovere weather.
Ho says hero nnd there one comes up
on a frozen bird, a black tuft in tho
white pnow, in the track of tho bliz
zard, liko a mourning bndgo, but
countless flocks of cawing crows still
como with the day from the east, and
sweep away at night in black columns
ns if Nebraska winters had no terrors
for them. Tho question is, how do
these birds manngo to keep alive, at
all?
What Becomes of Antlers,
It hii9 been observed that in a dis
trict whero several thousand deer aro
kept, and where, consequently, there
must be hundreds of stags who every
year cast off a cotiplo of horns each,
only now and then is a specimen of
theso horns met with. The author of
'Forays Among Salmon and Deer"
accounts for this fact upon tho au
thority of ono familiar with the habits
of tho animal.
They either bury their horns, or
destroy them with their teeth. Hq
says that he has himself seen deer afc
the period of spring, when they cast
their horns, tramping them down in
tho moist soil ot tho pent-bogs which
are so numerous among the hills.
That they wero so employed ho has
abundant proof, for more than once,
after thus disturbing tho deer, he has
gone to the spot and discovered the
remains of horns half-buried and
broken up, tho fragments having tho
marks of teeth upon them.
Though it may be thought that the
horns nre of a substance too hard for
this, yet the jaws of the deor are so
very powerful. Another considera
tion which makes this more probablo
is that scarcely ever are the horns of
a young stag discovered, being, of
course, from their size, moro easy of
destruction than the antlers of a full
grown one
Raffled Hlmselffor anOrphan.
From the Liverpool Courier.
A rich merchant of St, Petersburg Is
a trustee of nn orphan house. Ho
was desirous of concluding a second
marriage and thought he could nob
find any girl better educated than
a pupil ol the asylum under his own
care. Mnny a walk he made through
the rooms of the girls, but there was
none he took a paiticular fancy to.
So he determined nt last to entrust
his future to tho goddess of chance.
All the girl pupils of the asylum, aged
10 and upward received invitations
to an evening party, each of them had
to draw a tot from an urn placed in
the con t re of tho room, one ot the pa
pers having the merchant's name
written on it. Tho girl that drew tho
prize is one of the plainest looking ot
all the inmates of the asylum. Never
theless, the merchant immediately
presented her to her companions as
his intended wife.
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