By JULIAN A. SELBT. KING JOHN OF ETHIOPIA. (Sketch or an Aft-lean Kins'* Splendor that OatahlneH the- Arablnn NlHht?--A Bur baric Banquet* [From the London Spectator]. King John of Etliiopia is a striking nnd picturesque personage. Ab Kassa, Prince of Tigre, claiming equal descent with Theodoras from King Solomon, he j figured largely in the Bine books which formed an exceedingly interesting but little read history of the events which preceded the Abyssinian expedition; and that impression is deepened by the ac? count gi /en by Mr. de C?sson?who, in company with the late Gen. Kirkham, visited King John at his camp, near Gon dar, the ancient capital of Abyssinia, in 1873?of the king and his surroundings. The country, its people, their wives, and their faith, are not like any of the Afri? can types in other portions of the con? tinent. They remind us of the Scriptures; tho whole picture is like that of the tribes and the fends whicb we find in the book of Genesis and the books of the Kings. Long be? fore the king is reached, the traveler hears tales of him?his strength, his wisdom, and his prowess in war. At Axum, the former capital of Tigre, he is shown the great monolith, seventy feet high, and told how Kassa used to cast his heavy spear over it?a great feat to do with an ordinary lance?and still practises this exercise when he comes to Axum. There is little disposition to "forward" a traveler, the disposition to keep their country free from the stronger being as strong as ever in ihe Abyssians, but tho king promises his help and pro? tection to all who shall be properly recommended to him by the French con? sul at Mussowoh, and the reluctance of intervening personages has to give way. When Hr. de Gosson had taken pos? session oi his tent, near the monarch's enclosure, the king sent him two jars full of a dreadful drinkable called tedge, fifty " breads," an antelope's horn full of salt and pepper, and a live cow,which was killed and out up before his eyes, and the meat piled up inside the tent. He subsequently vialted'tbe house of Mar? cher, one of the king's interpreters, which was, like all the Abyssian nouses, constructed of wood and branches, and there he saw a pretty sight', that of Mar? cher's horse formirfg one of the family circle. The beautiful, intelligent animal was lodged in a little thatched stall open? ing into the house, his neck adorned with a handsome chain, bis food and drink given him at regular intervals in a clean earthen dish, the corn being the same as that of which the household bread was made; he was regarded as a cherished friend and comrade. After the civilities of the king's interpreters, came the good offices of the king s cook, who sent the honored guest four tushes of curry. The.king's cook, who also acts as taster, is a great personage; he must be n priest, must have always led an irre? proachable life, and is never permitted to marry. Next day at dawn came one of the officers " liikanianguas," splendidly dressed in a robe of flowered silk, with an India muslin kuarie, and silver mounted pistols in his sash, to inquire after the traveler's health in his majesty's name. He was oue of those who have the privilege of wearing the same dress as his sovereign, and the dangerous dis? tinction of going into battle similarly armed, so that the royal person may not be distinguished. Early in the after? noon came Maderakal, another interpre? ter, attended by an esquire, bearing the royal sword and shield, to conduct the stranger to the king's banqueting hall. Drums and trumpets sounded; a salute was fired from a battery of brass howit? zers as the guest entered the wooden, rush-roofed building, of oblong form and vast .extent, with a double colonnade of tree trunks leading to the center, where, on a divan, raised high and draped with purple velvet, sat King John of Ethiopia, cross-legged, a pair of English rifles, cocked and loaded, resting on the cush? ions to left and right of him, and his slippers of soli*1, silver filagree on the carpet before him. By his side was a beautiful sword, with a sheath of velvet and enamel; on his head the great triple crown of Etliiopia flashed with gold and jewels; his robe was a cloth of silver, and over his brows hung a long veil of crimson silk, worn under the crown and falling in heavy folds round the face. The barbaric splendor of that scene was perfect in every respect. Here are Mr. de Oosson's' words, which fall, be soys, far short of his impressions: " Oneitheo side of the throne stood two gigantir eunuchs, clnd in shirts of purple and green silk, and holding drawn sabres. A swarthy guard of honor, dressed with equal magnificence, stood also with drawn sabres, behind; while all around crowded the great officers of state and notetL warriors, in long robes of silk and velvet of every color, the scarlet scab? bards of their swords gleaming with gold and silver filagree, and their necks adorned with the skins of the lion and black panther. The air shook with the wild notes of the trumpets and the roll of the drums." When, Mr. de Gosson reached the "LET OUB JUST CENSl COLUMBIA, throne ami bowed, King John shook hands with him, and bnde him welcome. Then the whole compauj seated them? selves on the carpets (Home which our queen had sent to Kassa,Prince of Tigr-?), and the next amval was of special in? terest. It was that of Ras Wareuia.who had ruled over all Amhara as on abso? lute prince until subdued by King John. He presented a most striking figure us he walked up the center of the hall, a riflle in one hand and a richly ornament? ed shield in the other. The conquered Has, tall, stout, very handsome, wore a splendid tippet of black panther skin, enriched with clnaps and bosses of gold filigree, which the king had just given him; a robe of the riebest silk; on his right wrist a silver-gilt gauntlet, studded with gems?un especial mark of the king's favor; a splendid sword, and his carefully plaited hair wus covered with a thin piece of white muslin, attached by a golden pin. His feet, like those of all present, were bare. Among the wild and splendid crowd was a veteran war? rior, the oldest of the king's persouul attendants, whose ninety years hud not dimmed the fire in his dark eyes nor bowed the gannt, tall figure, almost ns straight as the silver matchlock iu his hand, whose gray beard mingled with the tawny mano of the lion's skin thrown over his shoulder, aud?who3c locks were bound with a silver crown. It is diffi? cult to imagine this splendid assemblage sitting about the thvono of the king, who is a great soldier, a just judge, and a powerful ruler; of distinguished and re? fined appearance, a fine horseman, a mastor of all athletic oxerciees; alike leurned and practical in his religion, in? terested in other countries, and unques? tionably the ablest prince who bos been allotted to his own; and after an Arabian Night-like incident?*'. e., the passing of a long line of slaves bearing on their heads baskets covered with red cloth, containing flat cakes called "tef," of of which they deposit one before each of the principal guests?all the effect of the beautiful and poetical scene being dispersed by the following proceedings. Meonwui e ,several qpws ha^l been, slaughtered on the threshold of the hall, and large hunks of the raw and smoking meat were placed on the boskets, the stranger guest being first served. Two j attendants then went round, one dis? tributing knives from a case he curried at his side, and the other offering an antelope's horn full of mixed salt and red pepper, for us to season the meat with. All the company then set to, and began to devour the raw cow's flesh with the greatest avidity." This barbaric banquet, with all its accessories of silken robes, beautiful weapons, delicate fabrics, rich gems, dark, handsome faces with gleaming eyes oud teeth, and braid- i ed hau-, the scene a camp, and the guests j fierce warriors, a conquered chieftoiu, ] and an English officer, is a combination I whereon to exerciee the liveliest fancy. The Latest Things in Fans. There is very little difference in funs;' the latest are straight sticks, instead of curved. In lace funs, the new? est combines lace exquisitely fine paint? ings on silk gauze; the pattern of the luce made with a view to answer oil a framework for the pictures. There are generally one large one in the center, and a smaller in the left-hand corner. One in rocco style was seen with wrought Eearl sticks. The fun itself was kid, eautifully painted. Tins came as high as $200. Sticks of opal pearl are con? sidered quite conimc il faut for lace fans this year. For ladies in lighter mourn ing, smoked pearl sticks, covered with black lace, except hi the center and left side, which contain exquisite paintings on black gauze, are all Ihe rage. Albert, the celebrated French fan pointer, now fmts his name in the lower right or left land corner of the painting, iu imitation of his biother artists on a large scale; of course the penchant for everything a la Japanese finds a ready outlet in funs; the expensive ones in ivory with raised gold or silver lacquer work, are more at? tractive as an object of beauty, though for their usefulness being rather heavy. The tortoise shells in the same styles are very handsome, but expensive?none less than $100.?London Truth. A Successful Farmer's Opinion. Mr. Harris Lewis, a well known dairy? man of Herkimer county, N. Y., at a dairymen's meeting at Ingersoll, Cana? da, remarked us follows: "I hold that every man, woman and child is fitted by nature to perform some act or discharge some one duty in life better than any other. But man in his ignorance often thwart's nature's operations and designs, and turns them to worse than useless purposes. Many parents seem to look upon labor as degrading, and try to find some higher place for their children, rather than encourage engaging in use? ful labor. It is a sod picture, I know, it is the cose with many in the United States. I hope it is not so on this side of the line. Now, to succeed in any business, calling or profession, there must be m >re or less adaptation for that particular business or calling and a love for it." S. C TUESDAY, OC Lost Tor Twenly-oight Years. j It iIocm n?>t often occur that brothers > live twenty-eight yours in ignorance of each other's whereabouts und then are brought together by chance. Dr. Stark, who lives iu Cincinnati, was horn in the city of Turnowitz, Prussia, where his mother and relatives are still residing. Twenty-eight years ago his younger brother, Henry Hermann Stark, for some misdemeanor, was chastised by his father. Henry was eight yenrs of age at that time, aifd boy-like took the imuish mcnt so much to heart that bo run away from home. No one could obtain u~ tracor ixi growing titty harren rom-stalks tmt of every hundred we grow, seems, un? questionably, to he a very poor busi? ness. We hope our readers will give this matter the thought and attention it deserves. There is nothing to lone by adopting tho means of improving pro? posed, and there is a vast gain possible from it.?Ncko York Times. To Clean Paint.?Take one ounce of pulverized borax, one pound of small pieces of best brown soap, and three quarts of water. Let it simmer till the I soap is dissolved, stirring frequently. Do not let it boil. Use a pieco of old flannel, and rinse off as soon as the paint is clean. This mixture is also good for washing clothes. Waterproofing Cloth.?Imbue the cl?)th on tho wrong side with a solution of isinglass, alum and Boap, by means of a brush. When dry, brush on tho wrong sido against the grain, and theu go over with a brush dipped in water. This makes the cloth impervious (for a long time) to water, not asr. Waterproof Boots and Snotcs.? Linseed oil, onepint; suet, eight ounces; beeswax, six ounces; resin, one ounce. Mix together. Calico Made Transparent and Wa? terproof.?Take six pints of pale linseed oil, two ounces of sugar of lead and eight ounces of white resia ; the sugar of lead must be ground with a small quantity of it, and added t< the remain? der ; tho resin should bo iuoorporated with the oil by means of a gentle heat. The composition may then be laid on calico, or auy other Buch material, by means of a brush. A flagrant breach of politeness, nud one which is most annoying to refined and sensitive people, is the very general practice of one's conversation. The im? punity with which this is done has de? graded rational conversation, which ought to be the greatest charm of social inter woman who has' anything to say that is worth saying, desires to say it in his or her own way ; and those who have brains to appreciate it, will be equally desirous of hearing it without interruption.* Yet it is a common thing for u parlor conver? sation to partake more of the babble of Habel, than a conversation among rational beings, who are supposed to know and appreciate what each othes says. One begins to relate an incident, and before he has finished two sentences, some parrot in line clothes chimes in with her sense? less gabble, breaking the thread of die - course, and compelling the narrator to begin again, or abandon the attempt to instruct or entertain. Thin Ik the grossest impoliteness ; it is lut'eommon on occurrence as conversation itself. It is not much to say, that nine out of every ten people who indulge in this habit ore incapable of carrying on a rational conversation on any useful topic, and indulge in these breaches of etiquette by way of covering their retreat and hiding their ignorance. We suggest to young people?and old ones, too, for that matter?that here is a promising field for social reform. Never interrupt a conversation by interjecting remarks, however appropriate and witty they may seem. All sensible people will respecs you, and conclude that you have good sense, and know how to use it to the best advantage. Indian Princes and Rubies. The Indian princes and nobles are greedy of diamonds beyond all people, and there is but one country in tho world in which any product of nature is held more precious than this wonderful combustible gem, whose nature indeed wo know, but whose genesis is still a moot question for science. That country is Burmab, the land of the white'ele? phant, where the finest rabies sheltered in earth's breast ore found, and arc rated far above diamonds. As the King of Sinm prizes his cats, so the King of Bur? undi prizes the rubies of his country, jealously prohibiting the export of them, so that the beautiful aluminous stones? which do but glow with a clearer and richer color when they are exposed to fire in which the diamond would be con? sumed and disappear?can only be pro? cured by stealth or favor by private indi? viduals. No European baa ever been permitted to see the king's wonderful ruby, " the size of a pigeon's egg and of extraordinary quality "; and the aale of the two magnificent rubies which were brought to England iu 1875?the finest ever kuewn iu Europe?caused such ex? citement, that a military guard had to escort the persons conveying the package to the ship. Five days' journey south? east of Ava lies the home of the blood red gems, the jealous earth in which the people believe that they ripen, becoming from their original colorlessness, yellow, green, blue, and, last of all, the match? less ruby red. Next to these rank the rubies which are found in the Tartar wilds of Badakshan, and which the people there believe ore always found in pairs. When one of the seekers has dis? covered one he will frequently l?de ti until its mate is found Household Notar. One Form of ltudeness. course, into a proving faren.