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9 -j, K-i v v ii 9 senmaest rcgLIrtlSU WHIMSY, Proprietor A JmttBtBM'tbo Paorlo- IfmomirrTbt " "- Iaasaiasni In I'd) i ties and Relistea. AI'Tt o all Live Imam, and nonmrti' RaJxal in "t pi-tn and Kxpoalng I Wrong o !it; MfcMes. IFVICH-Ooa-FHONTA WAHHIKOJON5TEE1.TB TERMS, IN ADVANCE: Joe yr K-x nwatbt r ira mouths . too CenrssfoadenU writing over aaanjied sign -lares miuLautke known (blr una) to tli Editor, or no attention will be given To the ronironnlcmioni f . '?whti-,i:mkNTh Inserted ea H warns- VOLTjIE IX. Fan Speech, Fn Press, Fan People. rOT5.TL.VIVX), OREGON, TIZ OTRSX) A.Y, SEI'TEMBEK O, lfce?0. ox.Al A MODELMABTHA." in MRS. L. B. MOIXT. Mrtha Griswold had been, a member filter Uucle Harry Grtswold's family eer since he eould remember. Indeed, sho had been its most happy member, lor, being of a healthy, ebeerful nature, abe did not morbidly brood over de peudeoce, but thankfully took the goods the gods provided, which, in her caso, t . . . . mr nocte oeing wealthy, was measure fall to overflowing. Such a calm, steady ray of light in (ho bouse wan she, that every one counted the hours when she was absent. Her aunt had often re marked to her bnabaml that be hoped Martha would remain single, for she did not know how in the world they could to without her. It looked new as If this would be the result, for Martha bad been engaged to Gerald Allison for seven yearn, and for bis love she had, much to the Ira of her unele, declined many brilliant offers. Gerald Allison was a poor clerk, who had long looked forward to an advance ment In hie salary, Lut each year came round with the old story, bringing with It tbe ever poignant disappointment of being unable to Her a suitable borne to the woman whom he had clioeea from all the world as bis. It came to be an old story tbat Gerald should come and go, though her aunt and unele had little liking for him, as Is often Utecoee of tbe prosperous to those lees eueceseful. To Martha's aunt and uncle tbe idea tbat she and Gerald would ever marry was utterly preposter ous, and her unele bad onee said to her, in tbe beat of argument : "This .tardy lover of yeurs will keep all others away, and at last leave you himself." "I would as soon believe that you, who have been a father to me, .would turn me out of doors In a pitiless storm," ehe answered, In her low, .soft tones; but faith spoke in them. Martha lacked beauty, yet she pos sessed a gracious charm of manner tbat won more enduring aflectton. She had a pure, fair complexion, large blue eyes, clear and true as a child's, and a wealth of blonde hair, which she disposed of in braids that in glossy softness crowned ber head. She was below the medium neigui, anu given 10 emoonpoxnt. lier ald was her entire contract In appear ance and temperament, being tall, dark, and remarkably handsome, given to ex travagant flights of fancy and frequent fits ot depression. Although they were contrasts in this, yet they were one in all noble aud ambitious thoughts, In all generous alms for improvement. It ws CbristniM eve, and tbe snow came down in soft flakes like white doves, as Gerald, covered with a mantle of the same, preaeated himself at the hall door, returning right merrily Martha's Christmas greeting, as light of heart a a boy. But as she stood there, o daintily fine iu beautiful raiment, iier face trustfully louder. It struck blm, and not for the first time, that he was wronging her. How could such as she combat tbe wolf at the door? And when In tbe parlor,, be sighed, drearily contracting Its splendor with the poor comforts be could give ber. Martha, bearing the sigh, said oh eer ily, though the tear drops, those little messengers of sorrow, trembled and glistened at tbe end of ber long lashes: "Is it to wait another year, love?" "Ob, Martha!" be cried, seizing both of her hands, "I have been blindly self ish ; but, my darling, I raut not sacri fice you. You are not made for tbe . drudgery of a poor man's lot," and be dropped his head in bis hands In utter hopelessness. "I cannot ask you to wait for me any longer," he continued, a break In bis voice, which is so touoh ing In a strong man. At first the quick blood of sensitive feeling had- crimsoned Martha's face; but her faith was so strong in him that she eould not doubt, and her heart, so womanly tender, was filled with com passion for him. She put a soothing band upon bis head, which he took and pressed upon his eyelids, aud she felt tears upon It. "Could we set?" she said, and fal tered ; and he, looking up, saw she could sot meet his glaoee. "Could we not what? Can it be, love, tbat you are willing to leave all these gew-gaws, and share a crust with me?" When he read ber candid answer In her sweet faee, be felt bleseed beyond deserving tbat she should thus love him above all earthly things. "You are Just throwing yourself away, Martha," ber uncle said ; "you will al ways be as poor as a cbureb mouse. Gerald has a fine poetical nature, as you bay, but will tbat earn him away in tbe world ? I'd give a good deal more for the old-fashioned word 'spunk.' You are young and romantic, but I tell you that - It will be no play-day with you. You will earn your name of Martha-before you have been married a year; ami when tbe cold winds blow and penury pinches, you will regret tbe warm nest you have left." "No, uncle, I fear nothing. We have temperate wants, and with diligence we will soeceed. Tbe poor are more contented than the rich, aud jtiiiiRi, at least, we can have a rains Df-rlchea." "Contentment never made tbe kettle mflr torahjSed thVitn ea u e . .tl'bfi Wp rare tliibTT'fdt U-. i t.t tweeo Martba and her uncle. Tbe wedding day had been appointed; and, as Gerald owned a little farm about ten miles distant from tbe city, Martha's good sense suggested that It would be better to be comfortable farmers Irian poor city folks, for tbe farm would be a dependence. Sleeping or resting, their crops would be growing. "What a wise little woman," said Gerald, half in earnest, half in Jest. He eould not endure the thought of Martha drudging on a farm; but, in spite of protestations, he at last fell into Martha's plan happily, say tug, "Of all avooations, it Is the one I should choose for myself; but I fear for you." "But lam perfectly healthy, ami have strong heart for auy fate with you ; and then, I have expected to marry a poor man for the last seven years, and I have not been Idle, but have endeavored to render myself a competeut, practical housekeeper. Do not be frightened," she ad Jed, laughing at bis wouderment, but I wish to impress upon you the fact that we shall need no Phillls to break our harmony and therdlshes." Soon after this conversation, Gerald took a ride to the farm and inspected the house. Upon opening tbe door, be wm oppressed by a mouldy smell, and found it little fit to be the habitation of man. However, patience worked its re ward at last, ami, cleaned, papered and painted, it presented an agreeable as pect. But Gerald was troubled In spirit, for he bad expended bis small means, and not a piece of furniture bad be bought; aud Martha, seeing a cloud upon his brow, coaxed from blm bis dilemma. Oh!" she cried, merrily. "Auntie has given me a store of old cast-away furniture. There are plies of it In the attic." He looked forlorn enough. Had he brought her to such extremity as this? "Come aud see our treasures," she eaid, and roguishly tantalized him with the sight of a misshapen mass of furni ture, which she declared triumphantly to oe an uerown. "All I" die said, "you have yet to learn, love, the magic of paint, glue and varnish." Theu, more gravely, she extolled an old kitchen rauge tbat lay there, ami displayed different merits, until lie went away half comforted. But at night he had the nightmare, and dreamed thatj the furniture took human shape and battled with him. I The wedding ceremony was performed at the houee of Martha's uncle, who looked like an astrologer foretelling her doom; and the aunts and all the cousins sighed most lugubriously over tear-wet handkerchiefs. But, as a bit of comfort amidst this general wretchedness, Martha's uncle put three hundred dol lars iuto her hand at parting. "For tdn money, my dear," he had said; but she thought, "It shall be for a rainy day." Gerald aud Martba were glad to es cape into the open ulr, as they started to the farm, "upon their wedding tour," as Martba humorously called It. Tbe winds blew bleak, aud the carriage jolted over a rough road, and Gerald feared for Martha's discomfort ; but one look atthat dear, unru filed face, aud bis faint heart took courage. I "Through storm aud tide, we shall reach a sonny shore at last, love," be whispered ; aud love and hope cast their halo of glory around them. The day before his marriage, Gerald had taken to the farm the furniture which Martha bad selected from the debris as useful to them, which con sisted of a kitchen range, a parlor stove, a drum, two dozen chairs, three old lounges, three arm-chairs, two rocking chairs, a kitchen and a parlor table, three bedsteads, several wash-stand, half-worn mats, and many bright pieces of carpeting. Gerald put up the stove", and with stove polish and hard labor did justiee to them ; for, from rusty, un sightly thing?, they became as bright and fine as new; and in a man fashion be put things to rights as much as jos sible. But how scant and' dilapidated looked the appointments ! He thought sadly tbat It was a forlorn place to usher a bride Into. But what a bright-faced bride entered his door with him, not at all cast down, but blooming with health and hope! A bright fire soon crackled in tbe kitchen rauge, aud Its cheery warmth seemed to say, "Welcome home." Martba, divested of bridal ar ray, set about making preparations for their simple repast. "Oh, my deard" said Gerald, repln- bagly, "it Is a shame for you to do such kind of work." "Why a shame, my husband? In deed, It would be a shamo for me to keep help, when I am so strong and well, wlthont an ache or pain. Be not oast down, for my lot is one I have chosen, and I prophesy tbat It will be a happy one." What premonitions of III could pre vail against such a smiling faced prophetess, strong aud brave at heart as any warrior? What wonder that tbe little mlsly doubt clouds were frightened away, and that they set themselves down to tbelr unostentatious meal like happy-hearted children, for there was a guest'called love at their table who Is often a stranger to more sumptuous re- "Shall 'i'do, or do you miss Phillls ?" inquired Martha, looking demurely tocfoea tbe table si ber husband. spoken, ended a long dleoii Gerald laughed, and yet declared It "Bui, Gerald, I do not Intend that my housework shall .engross my whole time". I shall an plan It that I may have time for thing's just as essential. - Let us not be in such a race after wealth that we curse with care and overwork our present; for wealth I', more often than otherwise, purchased at the price of happiness, health and conscience, and we can III spare these from ourlife. Let us be diligent, and yet not forget the' mental and spiritual needs, nor yet crowd nut those cheerful recreations and diversions that keep the heart young and the physical being healthy." "Yes," replied Gerald, his eyes dreamy and far-seeing, "we will fashion a life of our own, not after anv; prototype. We will seek for a competence; aud with prudence, which is another name for Martha, at the helm, can we not reach it, without being too tired to feel life's beauties and hemdlollons?" Martha, within her heart of hearts, ald Amen. Tbe uext morning, Martha, having ari.-eu early, found her morning duties done while yet the hours were golden, aud she and Gerald took auother Inven tory of the house. Below there were a kitchen, a store-room, a parlor and par lor bed-room, and above two large sleeping apartments. Besides the kitchen range and a large corner cup board, with glass doors, which displayed htr neatly arranged and shining dishes, were a table, six chairs, an ariu-ohair, a rookiug-chair, aud an old-fashioned lounge. "This room," she said to Gerald, "shall be tbe pleasanteat and cheeriest for dally use. Ibe arm-chair aud rocking-chair shall be cushioned with bright ihintz, iu which you and I cau take our afternoon siestas, and the lounge shall be cushioned with the same. This floor and the chamber floors shall be stained a dark walnut, and there shall be in the center a large, bright rug; and I have some tempting fruit pieces, which shall be hung up here, of purple grapes aud luscious peaches; yes, aud some dreamy landscape?, hinting of distant moun tains and green woodland haunts." Martha took Gerald from room to room, gaily enthusiastic, where many would have been disheartened ; andj when she hud furnished in prospective, to her liking, all the other rooms, she came at last to the parlor. "This room," she said, "we only need for hospitality's sake, iu which to enter tain our friends." Here there were half a dozen chairs, a lounge, and a side-table for books. "These old chairs and this lounge will come out by our furbishing Into orna mental pieces of furniture, and we will j cushion them with bright Brussels car peting. The floor shall be carpeted, and the windows shall be hung with cur tains of bright moreen, over which I will festoon white lace, and they shall be tied with scarlet cord and tasels. It shall be a charming little room, into wl.lch our friends, coming once, shall be incited to come often." "It looks as visionary as an Arabian night's dream ; but when such a prsctl; oal little woman holds the rod of en chantment, it Is bound to be realized." But Gerald looked somewhat incredu lously, with a smile of amusement, at the battered furniture, hardly able to bold Itself up; yet as time went on, to bis wonderment, all the transformations that Martha had predicted had taken place; for Martha was not one to idly dream and plan, and not put iuto effect. Books, pictures, and many fanciful de vices tbat she bad made iu tbe leisure hours of her girlhood, gave the last fin ishing touches, aud alt was harmony; and Gerald declared that the cushlous were deep aud soft enough to tempt the drowsy god himself to nap upou them. And, although engrossed In their vari ous duties, they did uot neglect tbe ob servances of their plan of life. They took their restful hours, and their evenings they devoted to improve ment, intermingling their readings and grave discourse with kindly chit-chat; Martha In her daily strolls taking note of Spring bud aud Summer bloom. Re turning from one of these walks, with flowers iu her baud for botanizing, she said: "Tbe women of this age are all dying for want of sunshine and out-door air; sickly and spiritless, they give birth to a still more ailing race; dying for waut of air, which nature freely oilers to all; dying between four walls, and only a closed door between them aud health. But there arc none so bllud as those who will uot see." Yes, my Martha, and we shall have to leave theru to dig their owu sorry graves," added Gerald. Gerald and Martha aroso before the sun. They worked with energy, accom plishltig more in the several hours that they devoted to labor than those who droned lazily the whole leugth of the day; they worked with heait, for there was the well-earned reward of rest awaiting them, and which their con science permitted tbem to take. "We shall not be broken down before our lime, miserable, dlcouteuted gold heapers; but we will gather the honey laden flowers as we pass along, with which to sweeten the bitterness of age," said Gerald and Martha. "But bow much time they waste," said one neighbor to auother, as they at busy over their patchwork. "I am sure that they only have what time there Is," said the other, taking up theme; "and" they have a knack of getting more comfort out of It than most folks, I can tell .you. I have known women to buy yards of calico and tear It to pieces to make qulltB; aud If that Is not an abominable waste of time, I do not know what Is. God has given us eo much time, aud be who spends it the most wisely is tbe best oil, I wot." So Martha made some converts; aud a few seeds dropped by the wayside some times grow delicious fruitage, which may be millered world-wide. Tlie Summer was waning when one day MariIVs atitil mid to her husl and, with toi.p mid droop of mouth most sor rowful, "I-i us go aud see poor Mar tha;" ami tliey set out, fully prepared to onmlo'e with her, Uucle Harry, on gen erous thought inteut, having filled his pur.-e. But w hen they reached the gate, there stood Martha as joyous as any girl, uot the faintest suggestion of loneliness about her; and Gerald was handsomer than ever, for happiness sat well upou him. They had Just bade good-day to a famous Judge, who, with his intelli gent wife, had been spending several days with them; so Martba had uot been languishing In obscurity, as her uncle and aunt had Imagined; but friends had sought them out, aud 'coming once had come again. Uucle Harry and wife passed a most charming day. Martha's aunt declared the house a perfect gem. "Indeed, I did not think to And you so well situated," she said, evincing some surprise. "But thereby hangs a tale" (thinking of the rejuvenated furniture, said Ger ald, laughing heartily. At parting, Martha said: "Do come out aud stay with us awhile and get recruited; you look so worn out ami weary, auuiie." "Come often and bring the children," added Gerald. They gave glad assent, for their hard pride was all swept away; and those who came to pity went away almost pitying themselves. Gerald and Martha sought nut the best and easiest methods for doing their work and systematized it. They never used tip their vitality by long-continued, exhaustive labor; and whereas many of their neighbors arose iu the morning with too little streugth or animation to do a good day's work, they retained the vigor, zest and ready accomplishment of youth. Martha, although she provided nourishing fooil for the family, yet did uot waste ber precious time iu making pafctry or rich dishes to tempt the appe tite beyond Its needs, and thereby she saved to hertelf many priceless hours. Although with ideas far beyond their neighbors, yet they did not obtrude them. Still, if called upou, they were uot afraid to express their opinions against the popular one, which was that all time not spent in work was squan dered, aud that money aud good cheer were the chief end of man. "Life thus spent," said Martha, "Is little higher than that of the brute, and will pass in weary replulngs; whereas, if spent as God Intends that It should be, frum tho midst of labor a prayer of thanksgiving will flow from our hearts unceasingly." Martha was always glad to give ad vice to the Inexperienced housewife, to lift a load from tho weary sister; for many said to her, "I do not see how you manage." Yet this wise and skillful matron did not become egotistical in her superior knowledge, but said that she was blessed by nature with strength and health, aud tbat by temperate hab its and prudence she had preserved the same. "And that," she said, "is the charm that brings happiness." When time filled the bouse with rosy boys and girls, she and Gerald were uot all nerves aud irritability, but even amongst their grandchildren were hale aud hearty, and able to enjoy with fresh hearts their youthful pleasures; aud Martba In her beautiful old age was be loved as iu her youth. Woman's Jour nal. Cloth from the Down of Biiids. An Ingenious Freucbmau, M. Thierry O trees, has devised a method, and in vented machinery, for the manufacture of cloth from the down of birds. The down may be worked either by Itself or In mixture with wool, silk or cotton. The goods produced, whether exclusive ly of down or mixed with fibrous mate rial, present entirely novel features aud characteristics. It Is found that the down, whether of theswau or any other bird, will take any shade of dye, from the most delicate to the deepest color. Tbe cloth Is very warm, more so than woolen, aud may readily be made im pervious to moistore. It has been found best, as a general thing, to mix tbe down with some fibrous material, and for most Ufes wool Is preferable. In Its preparation with wool, In order to make an iutimate mixture, oleic acid is used, in certaiu fixed proportions, during tbe first stages of the manufacture in sort ing aud carding. It Is carded, spun, woven, fulled and teaseled down by special machinery, Invented for the purpose by feireea. xue cioiu is much like velvet; tbe "uap" of the mixed material, after it is finished, con sists mostly of down. Shearing and dyeing is -fleeted In the usual way, and, as already stated, this "down" cloth takes auy shade of color. L'Jngenieur Univertel, of July 2d, gives an illus trated description ol most of tbe ma chinery employed in this new article of manufacture. Shallow men believe iu luck and cir cumstance; strong meu believe In cause and efl wl- THE ABUSE OF BABIES. HT bAHTI rrtATT OAHK. These long hot days bring oat all there Is In us of sympathy aud kindness, as well as of Impatience aud selfishness; and iu no way is sympathy more called for than for the poor little abused ba bles; not the babies of the poor, but those of the well-to-do and the rich. The little bare-legged, dirty-faced tot, whose mother does all the work of a household of six or eight, Is In many ways the most fot lunate of babies. He can sit in one little calico garment, on the hare floor, and kick aud roll with perfect freedom. He can reach the pump handle aud give hlmselfa.com fortable wetting two or three times a day, and he cau laugh or cry unhin dered, just as the notion takes blm. If this independent little fellow could only live in a clean, healthy part of the city, and be fed with judicious care on coarse but nourishing food, his lot would be far better than that of his aristocratic brother on the fashionable street. As it Is, he gets much mure solid comfort out of life, though he may be more in dan ger of sudden death. The trials and troubles of these little bare-footed, in cipient freemen are iu most instances beyond remedy; but it is the children of the better clashes, whoso parents are able to do all that money can buy, who are crying out all tbe time with the touching, Inarticulate voice of childish pain for the correction of a hundred abuses, which ouly requires a little thought aud self sacrifice. These chil dren are overwhelmed with a volume of clothes as useless as they are injurious, too loug by half a yard If they are In fant's dresses, too many and too heavy for hot weather, too light and too thin for cold weather, and too fine for any weather. An iufant is kept iu its nurse's crras, when It should lie kicking in freedom on the bed or floor. A little child is be- ruffled and be-sashed until it can hardly walk, nutl then a nurse Is put at its heels to see tbat none of the ribbons or ruffles are displaced. Every child-like, romp ing movement Is suppressed, every childish scream hushed, till the tyranny of nurses ami clothes becomes absolutely slavery. But these are not the worst troubles. Babies are dressed by order of foud mothers until they are nearly smoth ered In lace and ribbons, and theu tucked iuto dainty carriages aud trun dled oil by thoughtless or over-loving nurses, uo one knows where. If the children are pretty aud Interesting, so much the worse for them ; they are no ticed by every passer, kissed by mouths foul with breath from a disordered stomach or bad teeth, and hugged up to warm bodies from whioh their sensitive little natures will absorb more disease In five mluutes than they would take from any air In au hour. If they hae colored nurses, they are often taken to the filthiest parts of the city aud tosed about from one carelet-s hand to another, uutil the Utile things ache from head to foot with the rough though good-imtred fondling. If they are sick, and consequently fretful, they receive all the twitches and cross words (and perhaps blows) that their nurses nre afraid to give them In presence of the mother. If the nurse Is young, and receives some attention from the meu of her own set, she will make the dally air ing of her small charge a rendezvous, and while she ami her lover are talking comfortably in the shade of some house or awning, the poorllllle helpless child is blluking its eyes against a torturing sun. Oftentimes, fearful risks aro run in crowded streets and op dangerous cross ings, and many a little sufferer from hip disease ora deformed back may have Its trouble traced to some unknown fall on the street. These are sad facts to contemplate; but every business man that walks to and fro from his store, and every prom enader, can testify to their truth. Small children tbat are taken for walks are compelled to go long dis tances, to stand on corners In the sun perhaps, are scolded and jerked, and then frightened Into silence by tbe most dreadful threats. The most awful prac tices are indulged Iu by nurses before chlldron, and oftentimes drugs are given to keep them quiet ; very often the cheapest candy Is given them candy poisonous with all sorts of bad coloring and many oilier, thiugs that are bad. often out of purely ignorant good nature on the part of nurses. Xow, the remedy for all this does not lie In a remorseless tirade agalusl these same nurses; they are only buiuau; they have their troubles and thelrgrievunces; and they seldom have any resource but tbe human though wicked one of vent ing their anger on the helpless children entrusted to tbem. Moat of tbem are naturally kind, and sutler more pa tiently children's tyranny than would the parents, should the places of tbe two classes be changed. Aud much of tbe Injury children eufler comes more from carelessness than from viclousness. Tbe remedy lies with the mothers them selves. They must either take tbe time and the trouble to look after their chil dren constantly, or they must accept the consequences of slikness, death; and, what is worse, moral taint. They must! give up thinking ouly for style and beauty, and study only for comfort and freedom. Wherever a child's dress Id-! ...r .lil. it. r- . . terraico uiuveueiiif, it rs I wrong lo allow such dress; and any mother, knowing 'hisaDd still perft- Inp In all sorts or hampering finery, Isa criminal, and deserves any result. Mothers cannot think too much or watch too closely. Dress, food, BUr rouudings, treatment, all that comes into a child's experience before It Is ten years old, makes or mars the whole life. Then give them clean but plainclothes, good and simple food, sweet words, sweet looks, sweet thoughts, tbe utmost freedom consistent with proper moral training, and constant, untiring watch fulness. Let their plays, thtlr airing, their sleep even, be looked after. Better that the dainty dress and shining car riage never be seen oft tho home square than that only once the liltlemieshnuld get a fall, a slap, or a moral scar. Bet ter a healthy body and a lovely spirit than all the finery In the world. LETTEE FBOM HEW YORK. FI103I OUlt KKdULAlt COKRESI'ONDENT. 2fEv Y'OKK, August 21, 1SS0 To the Editok op the New Northwest: The International Commission on the World's Fair to be held In New York in 1SS3 had a meeting yesterday, but did not do much but talk. The talk, moreover, waa not particularly encour aging. It was stated by Mayor Cooper that all the great International Expo sitions beretuforo held have had Gov ernmental aid. The Ceuleunial re ceived from the city of Philadelphia 51,5000,000, and froul the State of Penn sylvania $1,000,000, and au advauce (af terward repaid) of $1,500,000 from the United States. Under existing laws, the city of New York cannot make n donation or subscribe to stock. If pub lic aid is required, It will he necessary for the Commission to make application to Congress or to the Legislature of New York. Other speakers from different States urged the necessity of speedy action, especially In the States whose Legislatures meet biennially ; and it was added that unles3 New York exert ed itself, It would be useless to go before the people of the other States and ask for their co-operation. The squabble about a kite should also be settled, aud then the people of the country will begin to think the projectors of the fair mean business, and will no doubt give their co-operatiou to make it a success. From now to 1SS3 is a short time in which to get up a World's Fair; but Americans cau do a good deal In two years when they xet about it. Our living celebrities are all out of town. Nothing remains by way of a sensation except the obelisk, aud tbe average New Yorker knows more about faro than Pharoah. But interest is re vived by the rumor that a nephew of Kawliuson, the great philologist, now traveling Iu this country, has discovered an inscription on the "needle" which referr to the New World. It speaks of the might and civilization of Atlantis, the continent of which Plato wrote, and which was supposed to lie west of tbe Andes aud the Rocky Mouutains. Tbe vestiges of Its civilization are supposed to be seen in tbe ruined temples of Guatemala aud Central America. Bur led under thequiet waters of the Pacific, the continent has left but little trace, unless it be found in this lettering on the famous obelisk. It may be ouly a rumor, but it is certainly a very curious one. There Is another sensation. It is not our murderers, of whom we have pro duced a crop of half a dozen since the recent hangings, but our cats. The gentle and melancholy Mr. Bergh has had his slumbers disturbed by feline songs, and Is resolved that the cats shall be exterminated when caught. On the other band, all dealers In provisions, prudent housewives, saloouists and other tender souls aver that everything would be eaten up bodily (including babies of proper age) by the wharf or Norwegian rat, If it. were not for poor pussy. Meanwhile pussy climbs dead walls and trees, slips down dralus and glides up fences, and defies all the machinations of tbe cat-catcher. The midnight cry of the furry quadruped is a3 frequent as ever, and the solemn Mr. Bergh, who finds bis profit in a society which needs money to run it and pays good salaries, is advised on all quarters to turn bis attention to the thousands of human beings who suffer from want and sorrow Iu the great city, which to him seems full of brutes ouly. Charity has its seusatlous, like every thing else, and just now it proposes to build a home for Intemperate women. Some of our best people are enlisted In tbe work, and there will be no lack of money for the purpose, aud yet one hes itates to believe tbat It Is necessary. If there I drunkenness In the social clr- eles of the upper class, it is carefully hidden. None see It, but everybody who goes Iuto society sees the quantity of diiukiug tbat goes on among our young meu sees the eyes and lips and faces brighteued by wlue knows how liking is kindled into love of It and cannot but wonder wbeie it all ends. Dues the orgauizatlnu of this charity tell tbe secret? AUQUST. The movement for tlm hIMipr nlnrs. tlou of women at Oxford University " " " " - . ID IICVCS- sary to enlarge Somervlire- Hall. A meeting conducted by LordAberdare was recently ueiu in JbOuQon for the purpose of providing for lha ealarge-menL STASDJjm TREAT. No American custom eaoao tnar general surprise and amuMaMt aaHiv traveling foreigners than that which In known In our saloons as "treating" " consisting In the entertainment of two or more with refreshments, for which one volunteers to pay. It Is a pure Americanism. All over tbe Republic it is as enmmou as in Europe It is un known. There Is probably no minute of a day In the year when two or three hundred citizens of any large city ar not guzzling something stronger than water at somebody else's expense. The casual meeting of two men who have never exchanged a word together is a signal for both lo exclaim, "Come, let's have something 1" and for both to dive down Into the nearest subterranean cavity below the sidewalk (in tbe large cities, most drinking places are in cel lars). The one who spoke first usually insists upon "paying tbe shot" tho word "shot" being a metaphorical refer ence te the deadly character of tbe con tents usually taken into the stomach. If two old friends meet, tbe regular thing to say first is, "Let's drink to old times," and tbe resident must Inva riably "treat" the stranger. If a man be well acquainted, it Is considered the princely thing to seize upon all bis ac quaintances as often as possible, take them to a saloon, and give tbem a com plicated stand-up drink at tbe bar. If there is anything more absurd than tbe habit of "treatiug," we are nnable to put our finger on it. Men do not always "treat" one another to car fares because they happen to meet on tbe same seat. We never saw a man take out his pocket-book on encountering an acquaintance and say: "Ah, George ! Delighted to see you ! Do take a few stamps ! It's my treat !" Do men have a mania for paying each other's bills? Aud is drinking together more "social" than eating together or sleeping together? A traveler may go all over the conti nent of Europe, of Asia, and of Africa, without seeing auy man except a Yankee offer to "treat." The Frenchmen are quite social enough, but when they turn into a cafe to sip their wine or brandled coffee together, each man pays for his own. 'When two Germans, loug sepa rated, meet, they will be very likely to embrace, aud then to turn iuto an adja cent beer cellar, sit down and drink and eat pretzels and chat; but when they part again, each man settles his own score Independently. The Italians are proverbially merry and generous, but each mau pays for his own wine, mac caroni and cigars. They would as Boon think of transferring to each other tbelr washerwomen's bills as tbelr refresh ment scores. Tbe preposterous fashion of "treating" is responsible for tbe terrible drunken ness in America. There would be as little need of temperance societies and as little work for the Good Templars aa there is In Germany, France and Italy, if this pernicious and Insidious habit were abolished. It is, take it all in all, tbe most unreasonable aud the most pestilent custom tbat ever laid Its tyrannical baud on civilized human beings. Harried Women Teachers. Several years ago, Mrs. Pauline Swalm, editor of the Fort Dodge Mes senger, sent out through her newspaper the following excellent poluls, to be carefully considered by acting School Boards. They fitted the "question" so securely in the common-sense nook tbat it has been preserved, and now, wbeu tbe same question Is agitating tbe pres ent School Boards, we venture to assist their grave deliberations by republish- " ing her suggestions. She says : Tbe New York Board of Education has a very singular discussion on Its hands, concerning tbe advisability of prohibiting married women Jroui teach ing 'in the public schools. Tbe argu ment, of course, is the old one of mater nity, and we would advise the Board to gently drop the subject aud let tbe mat ter remalu where It Is. Most married women know whether they can safely undertake the duties of teaching or any other public pursuit, and this knowl edge Is paramount In controlling their action. A ruling of this kind cannot but work great injustice in many-cases, anil is wholly without excuse in fact. If the New York Board of Education is anxious to tackle the social question in this direction, let them begin with the washerwoman. We apprehend that bending over a wash-tub six days in tbe week for a living, and washlntr her own clothes on Sunday, Is not condu cive to the child-producing qualities of a woman. Tbe simple fact about all sex legislation 1s, tbat it is wrong and utterly at variance wun me fundamen tal principle of all life and science. Tbe natural laws of sex, as of sciouce, will take care of themselves, and they of themselves should be iudce. lurv and decree. Let tbem alone, brethren. No Seckkts fkom Mother. Homo, mothers, when they discover that tholr girls are hiding tilings from them, re- uu&eor scoiu. innocent taulls are al ways pardoned by a kiud parent. You may not know, girls, iust what la rlirht or just what is wrong, yet. You can't ne oiameu lor mating little mistakes, but you will never do anything very wrong if from tbe first von have no Be- orets from your mother. ChureJi Union. Alaskan prulnruN ronort one of tlift largest rivers In tho world, the Yukon, as navigable for steamers two thousand five buudred miles, and five hundred from its mmith It receives a vfery large navigable tributary, ine oaain rearmed by tLe coofJaeD.ee twenty-foigf milea wide. The xukoq. is neany as'iargo aa the Mississippi. 7 - 1 r -