Newspaper Page Text
Sjw ' Mill " f; liiifi 'I
Sep
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Ml I II I
B.V SOHWEIER,
THE OOIi'flTUTIOI TIE UIIOI-1IS TKE HTOXOEKI3T W TBS LAYS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XLI.
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. JUNE 22, 1SS7.
NO. 2G-
1
Lowly Hut Aspirins.
. t . V B'linllii' c)f til f SUU.
w'"V:ti,e pathway o! treat worlds
yoBe B,OOD'9 ful1 :ifibt' When Uy
x- .vet the coT'' lw i''t:ing of a star ;
iVIVV.r.v-o.u.-sfta-l steady lfcl
But ii
vi it sweet content
jteou ia...- - . , th niht
Atl!iv .,. forsonier-coriiilcriui
i.-elB ways Time's saintly feet Lave
i .v'mavliirlitsonieMl to Ileaven and
Gcd!
. i. tiu bpnutv of tlio rose.
Mf" "rant and fresh Uh uioruinc's dewy
v w orange blossoms pure as falling snows,
AdJ ever strain of wedding
,. -t .fn'io'lire my whole Hie tlirou.'h
A lii'y of lLe v3::ey 1 may be
, ;rTOf the valley to a few
juVonie Si-rin0' hour in gladness d
rawn
I 'iii n-aT Lope through God's good will
atii truce
Jo w "'iTe s "uI ,0 SOCk aaJ fi"J ll'9 faCP
La' nod Las made me, and I know
a piaceardtime, a work and way;
1 . i.airt I would bestow
.''uumbier meed of blessings while I
- '"'tA ' n Jj-T to flnJ my rlace,
lio'ur i tu'y work, and mark my way
To l.Ut iod would bave me, by Ilis
i -i.e y'c-iail'iiu to the bills above,
Acd'tii-re at His great blessing, I shall
Crcwced o:;es m to -.heir crowning by my
THE WIDOW F1DES.SA.
"Have you e ver worn a collar spiked
tv t'c a:id the laundress?" asked
r -v Cil us Achates as lie and I
p..:
j"a collar wiucn mue jou
'a charvi i luiiunic iue ueau as a
ju of leading ttie sneer 1 can't say
I Lave evi-r wvra one, exactly. I have
Lad one on occasionally, lor a brief
''What is your opinion," coutinued
Anns, u.th' apparent inconsequence,
of "woman who will ask"
MUestions? Find me cue who
U.ii't iiaJ IT. tell you what I think
"ut u'oi.e questions, Aniylion.
Jkeis, mar. favors kindnesses ser-ces-l-sial!
and great."
'Eeasenal'le and unreasonable, in
season aid out of season, I suppose you
mean,'" r-1 iu to imPallent' t0 wait
bis extlana'.ion; for I had guessed, as
usual, what te w :s aiming at more
qnlckiv than Le, slo v old fellow that
he ir. cou'.J exi'.es it. "I see the
poatof vour comparison, and I think
i; u deuced p:ty we can't dispose of
oe annoyance as readily as of the
other. If'our collar in itates the cuti
cle, e cny tear it oC and chuck it
way. If a felloniaa disturbs our
wjnirJmity, we can curse him and
turJe tlm aside. In either case we
enjoy t blissiui sense of relief, not un
Kagied with self-approval. But let a
woutn t the destroyer of our nerres
or comfort, and no matter now savage
tie mood luto which she compels us.
any eSort we make to put her down,
be' ete never so deserving of a snub,
leaies us with an uncomfortable sus
picion of our own brutality, even more
baraasicz than the original annoyance
to which she subjected us. A man has
no delense against such a woman as
yen mean, Amys. I know whom you
ire thiaklLg of your friend, Fidessa,
the widow. There is but one way for
you to escape the iLfiiction of that
woman's ceaseless demands. Avoid her.
Rut you sees; utterly unable to do that,
my friend. You Lave as good as con
fessed that the irritates you. Yet she
hasn't a more willing s;ave, apparently,
than yourself. Has she been victimizing
youajain, lately? '
"Ah, no; not exactly that- What
she asked me to do wasn't so far out
of the way. It wouldn't have mat
tered, you know, If that infernal parrot
Lad been less vicious, and if those
cursed old women hadn't been ou the
spot to report the affair as even more
ridiculous than it really was."
"This is interesting, Amys. This
latest parrot storvl Let us have it,
Old fellow, without dtlay."
"Well, you see, I dropped m on
Fidessa the other afternoon, at a most
inopportune moment, as it proved. She
wa3 moving. Leaving the Marsden
Bouse and going to housekeeping. She
las a parrot. Thinks the world of it.
Was afraid to trust it"
"To the expressman. I see. So she
asked you tc carry it through the streets
on your ngtr from the Marsden House
to her new place of abode. Ho w many
miles did it prove?"
"Xot en my finger. Amylion," he
said, ignoring my question. "It had a
nice stand to which it was chained.
After a block or two I found it rather
heavy, and it was an awkward thing
w carry, so I got into the passing
auinniy. I put it on the step beside
oe clutched it tight with my left hand
What, the parrot?"
"Hang it, no! How stupid you are.
iiie rtand-the perch with the parrot
opon it. Well, just as the bird began
W nap its wings and scream like mad.
jaw:!!? after us all the boys in crea
uon, who should come around the cor
wrbnt old Mother Lunch and Mother
tm !e t:22e5!- 'd gossips in town,
they see you?"
he'nitai!,21,thefJit'3' How could they
w Pit, thoughr That green devil was
muZ noise enough to rouse the
anrl it 1 1? 10 the 'd Witches,
ir tii t 1.,Wa3 ia tbe act of raisID
arm 1 S,1ttelLlnff my lert upper
me-Kf Clu? a riew5y invented
t the parrot?''
i.. . we PifTou It had buried
if. K,u."
T't11 my arm, and was twistinir
was a SK JVLe flts:'- MFCoat
cIotTr6- T flesh heals, but
C 'h ? not- ars can be re-
lnf if i.. . i . .
Pectable. darn, a
one Tmycoa" v CUld eu(lure' but
Kreet -rd5 ' .;,p'e1 ovinto the
tai. takiSfn e cid women 8t00d
8a'0UD1 11 crushed and
fl ffitT8Uponthe car track.
trowa a, T J f" tbce. WUsel3 sply to
wonaL-.?1 ture- dece,lt
IuS WkaTV101 therails-
day." Mver la so to my dying
"IIow did yon brck the blow to
Madame?"
"I didn't venture to. I went down
town, got a parrot as like tbe dead
devil as one pea to another, and sent it
with a new perch up to the house. It
rot there before Fidessa arrived, and
she would never have discovered tbe
difference If old Mother Bunch hadn't
called upon her to condole. Then she
sent for me. tragically requested me to
remove the alien bird, and wept over
the memory of her lost pet. But I
told you, Amylion. she was good
hearted, with all her faults. When J
described to her the bite "
'Mie wanted to send you a new
coat?"
"She forgave me, consented to keep
ine Dira "
"And borrowed 120 upon the strensrth
or her pardon. Satisfactory finale."
I never told you that, Amylion.
IIow on earth "
"I remember you telling me that you
had lost $20 about that time, as a rea
son for not going out of town for the
rourth. Giving, friend Am vs. is one
of tbe luxuries of like. But Just so
soon as generosity suffers coercion it
ceases to be a gratification to give. No
man would relish an enforced diet of
pate de foie gras, yet it's a luxury fit
for the gods. To be asked for a loan
by one who, on principle, never repays
ii, is perhaps the most trying form of
compulsory gilt. The borrower evades
the stigma of begging, while the lender
wholly misses the credit of giving. I
think, Amys, I wiuli rather avoid a
more intimate acquaintance with your
fair friend."
"I am sorry to hear you say so, for I
promised to call upon her next Sunday.
and 1 relied upon your accompanying
me. Did you know that your little
friend Oriana is down from Virginia
City, and staying with Fidessa."
ow, Oriana is a pet of mine, and I
bad not seen her for an age. I was
anxious, moreover, to keep a brotherly
eye upon Amys; so I determined that
if lie would go to r idessa s tbe follow
ing Sunday, so would I. When the
day came i found that he wast not to
be turned from his purpose. There
fore, we called together upon the widow.
I carried with me into her house my
prejudice against her. In her presence
it seemed to me;t away in defiance of
my will. She was certainly a wonder
fully agreeable woman, and she ap
peared sincerely desirous to put forward
little Oriana, who Is shy, modest and
retiring. She- evinced no feminine
jealousy of her superior advantages of
youth and good looks. Such not being
always tbe habit of widows, I was
pleasantly surprised.
We were asked to remain to diuner.
Fidessa pressed insisted. It was no
kindness to ask us, she said, for she had
forgotten to market yesterday, and she
didn't believe there was anything fit to
eat In tbe house. Then she went out
of tbe room to ransack the pantries,
she told us, and Oriana was left to en
tertain us. The latter was unusually
quiet and silent. There was an embar
rassment in her manner that 1 could
not fathom. Was she distressed at our
remairing to what cha knew would be 1
a shabby dinner? It so, she placed in
sufficient faith in tbe powers ol our
hostess. A more toothsome, inviting
little dinner I never sat down to. The
dishes were few, but dainty enough to
set before royalty. And the'.whole was
exquisitely served. If I formed a bet
ter opinion of Fidessa as I sat at her
table enjoying the delicacies she evi
dently took genuine pleasure in press
ing upon us, than 1 bad thought it
possible I could entertain toward one
of whose Inveterate and inconsiderate
habits of asking favors 1 had heard
much and experienced little. Two
items that told strongly in her favor
with me were her kind manner to
Oriana and her evident ability as a
housekeeper and hostess.
Amys fairly beamed under the influ
ence of the tidbits she slipped on to
bis plate and the smiles she lavished
upon him. The sherry wa3 Incompar
able, and I confess ber solicitude in
keeping my glass in a brimming state
bad a most mellowing effect upon my
humor. I could not understand bow
little Oriana, usually so bright and
gay, could not resist the eflecte of this
genial atmosphere. She had grown
quieter and more silent since we sat
down to dinner, and all my efforts
failed to draw her cut.
We dined early, and the better part
of the evening was still before U3 when
we left Fidessa's house. Amys sug
gested some calls In the neighborhood.
1 acquiesced. Our first visit was to
the browns. They were at tea, and Iq
sisteJ uiwn our each taking a cup. The
six-year -old daughter of the house, who
bad a childish fondness for me. came
and cuddled down in a corner o.' the
sofa beside me. We were somewhat
apart from the others.
"There is no cake for tea to-night, '
she said condolingly. "We always
have lots of cake, and Bridget made
some that was awful good yesterday:
but the lady who lives in the little
house across the street begged it all
away from us to-day. She bad com
pany that came unexpected, and the
mlco had spoiled all her cake. And
we gave her some soup, too. She's a
nice lady and I like her, but I wish her
soup didn't net burned up sometimes,
'cause I like soup, and to-day there was
not enough for dinner to give me any,
'cause her saup all got burned up again
to-day and mamma lent ber some of
ours."
I was deeply interested.
"Does this lady's soup often get
burned?" I asked.
Oh! yes 'most every Sunday! Ana
papa was awrul mad to-day, 'cause it
was gumbo soup we had, and be likes
gumbo soup, and he didn't have but a
bttle wee bit. And he was awful
cross with mamma 'cause he had a
crushed napkin, 'cause mamma lent all
the clean ones to the lady. And you
know, she hasn't brought back the sil
ver butter-knife mamma lent her ever
so long ago. And papa says it won t
do; mamma must stop lending her
things, 'cause she's an Infernal plague,
W1wm SK tbe'deslred definition by
my little friend's mamma, who at this
moment descended upon ber and carried
her off to bed. So one bad beard her
confidences. Amys sat and L sipped I his
tea in blissful ignorauceof the eTldence
I had been gleaning from the child a
prattle of his friend's peculiar and
unique method of getting together
impromptu entertainment for unex
peeteJ L guests. Yesterday I should
haveharshly condemned her conduct.
To-day, still under the Influence o : the
new impression she bad made won
me, I felt annoyed that so cverand
agreeable a woman should be capaDie
of such devices. .
I said nothing to Amys wnen we got
outside of the revelation made to jne.
We next called upon the Robinsons.
Fate urged Amys to Lis uadoing. lie
mentioned where he had dined, and
went into raptures over Fidessa's culi
nary skill, dwelling particularly upon
her ability as a maker of calf's-foot
jelly.
A peculiar smile made itself visible
on the collective family countenance.
"Now, I think it's loo bad," cried
the oldest girl, "that my sister and I
should lose not oniy our jelly, but the
credit of having made it. We devoted
the whole of yesterday to its manufac
ture, and the chief result of all our
trouble was to give that angelic sister
of mine an opportunity to supply an
accidental deficiency in a certain lady's
dessert. That cat of hers must be a
victim of dyspepsia, if it really gets
away with all it is said to. I felt
tempted to ask if it ever had the D.
T.'s when she came around to ask for
a 'drop' of sherry in a gatlon demijohn.
I would bave given ber what was left
from clearing tbe jelly, but papa turned
up, and insisted upon letting her have
the best. With such encouragement,
sue win ass: next lor champagne."
Amy's face was a study. 1 fairly
roared. If it had not been too late to
pay any more visits, I am sure we
should bave traced out in our further
progress through that vicinity, the
origin of the entire menu to which we
had done honor at Fidessa's table.
About a week later I encountered
Oriana one morning early, upon Kearny
street. I did not recognize ber till she
spoke to me, for she was thickly veiled.
"Ah, I am so glad to bave met you,"
she said, excitedly, "I am In such a
dilemma, and I could not bear to speak
of it to anyone. I want so much to
know perhaps you could tell mo. and
I don't mind so much speaking of it to
you what Uncle Harris would be
likely to give me for this?" She opened
her hand wide enough to show me a
climpse'of a tiny, blue-enameled watch.
"I was afraid they would insult me if
I asked for more than I should."
"What do you want money for?"
It was a rude, blunt question, and I
put it haishly; but old bachelor friends
are privileged to be rude and blunt, and
I was annoyed to think that Fidessa's
influence inhjht be telling upon ber.
She hung her bead.
"I want to go home, and I bave
nothing to take me."
"Didn't your father "
"Ah, yes; but you see I spent all be
gave me, and don't want to trouble
him for more, rerbaps he couldn't
spare it very well. I'd much rather
get it this WBy," holding up the watch.
" hat have you spent your money
upon?"
She wa3 silent, A new inspiration
struck me.
"You didn't spend it all. Y'ou lent
it. It was borrowed from you by "
'Ah, bush!" she cried. "I didn't
want you to know that. I'leaso don't
tell it to any one. She really is so
good hearted and she has been so kind
to me. She has given me so many
presents. Still "
"Still, you would rather be out ot
her house and home again. You aru
right. It is no place for you, let ber
be as kind and generous as she may." -
Tbe next day I saw tbe child off
home, without, howevar, calling in the
aid of Uncle Harris.
When Oriana was gone I set abou'.
maturing a scheme I bad formed, it
was Quixotic, perhaps, but I thought
the possible cure of a fault like Fidessa's
In oue whom, despite her idiocyncrasy,
few could help liking, was worth
the trouble of trying to effect. I called
upon a carefully chosen number of her
most intimate friends whom 1 couiJ
trust, I hoped, not to betray me. They
entered with spirit into my plan. S.ni
ultaneously they all began to borrow
from her. And she lent it to them as
unhesitatingly as she had borrowed
from them, showlns no reluctance to
grant all their requests, though thy
ran the gamut from a lace scarf to a
bucket of coal, taking eve i the gas
globes and door keys. Those in the
secret derived no little amusement iu
comparing notes and consulting as to
what out-of-the-way articles they should
ask for next. This thing grew more
aud more exciting as the days went by.
Eich conspirator's house contained a
vast aud miscellaneous collection of
Fidessa's worldly goods. By the end
of a fortnight the discomfiture of a
rifled home would have beeu unendur
able to one less amiable, but with un
diminished good humor she continued
to lend. At last a period came when
those iu the plot began to doubt Its
success. There was no punishment in
it to one who felt not its Inconvenience
aud knew no reluctance in parting with
her belongings. The lnteuded lesson
would prove no lesson at all if she uever
took Jn its meaning. Fidessa continued
amiably and exasperatingly obtuse.
There was nothing for it in the end but
to conflde tbe secret to old Mother
Gary, under a solemn vow of silence.
Before the week was out Fidessa's
eyes bad been opened. First she called
on ber female friends and wept. Then
she begau to toss .her bead when she
met them In the street and looked the
other way. Finally the ludicrous side
of the affair seemed to strike her, good
nature prevailed and she laughed about
it with those who persisted iu speaUug
to her. She confessed herself justly
served, and professed to be wholly
cured. Sever again, so long as she
lived, would she ask anything of any
body. This resolve was openly ex
pressed, and to no one did it prove
more gratifying than to Amys. But
alas! por fellow, bis satisfaction wuh
the result of our schemo was short
lived. One day be came to ma with the
most rueful expression on his gocd
natured face that I have ever eeeu
"We bave banished Fidessa," he
said. "T knew she was no longer happy
among us, though she tried so amiably
to bide ber chagrin. ' She has broken
up housekeeping and gone away.
"So 1 have been told," I said quietly.
"She has gone east ou a pass'
Music Without Charms.
Dr. Johnson being at a eoncert, and
very inattentive while a celebrated vio
linist was performing a solo, a musical
friend, to induce him to take 'greater
notice of what was going on, to d hra
how extremely difficult it was. "sir,"
repTie" the doctor, "I could wish it
were impossible'
aooa weeding Is a letter of credit all
over the world.
A 6-montbs-old child, weighing
only two and oneAaU pounds is a sub
ject of curiosity near Uapac. Mich.
In stock breeding, blood from the
sire, beauty from the dam. should be
Tt'isa mistake to set up your own
standard of right and wrong and judge
people accordingly.
!
At the Tomb of Mother Ere.
ith the exception of those whom
business takes thither, the ports of the
Ked Sea are but seldom visited by
Europeans. Nor Is this to be wondered
at when we consider the evil reputation
in which that part of the world bas
long been held by travelers. And yet
during tbe first three months of tbe
year it would be bard to find a more
pei feet climate, and the country on
either side of the sea is at least as full
of interest, as many of the better known
tourist-tracks. Jeddab is easily reached
from Suez by the steamers of the Kbe
devicu Company, which accomplishes
the journey In from three to four days
During the pilgrim season the steamer:
call at Tor on their way to and from
Jeddah. Here there is a large sano-
torluin aud quarantine station for tbe
use of the Hadjis returning from their
pilgrimage to Mecca, and a govern
ment doctor and a company of soldiers
are stationed here by the Egyptian
Government. Tor is the most con
venient landing place for people desir
ous of visiting Mount Sinai, which is
only thlrty-nve miles distant, soon
after leaving Tor, the Island of Shadu-
sag is sighted, and after passing It, a
straight course is steered for Jeddah,
The city of Jeddah is built in tbe form
of a square, with the south side facing
the sea. On tbe three sides which
looks landward, the city is protected
by a high wall, a gate on each side
forming the only means of entrance
to, or egress from the city. A regi
ment of Turkish soldiers stationed
here mounts guard at these gates.
which are closed about two hours after
sunset. The streets of Jeddah are
narrow, and, as a rule, dirty, but the
fautastic shapes of tbe bouses make up
for t lies j detects. J. he prevailing archi
tecture, which is as picturesque as it
is unique, cannot fail to strike tbe
visitor who will also be impressed with
the vast size of many of the buildings.
Imagine a lofty, five-storied bouse,
built entirely of white coral. Dotted
about its sides, iu all sorts of unex
p?cled places, and of the most varied
shapes aud sizes are numerous bang-
iuz windows. The entrance to tbe
house is usualty guarded by' large
folding doors, elaborately ornamented
with brass work, much of which is
really very fine, aud would do credit
to skilled European workmen. The
ground floor of tbe heose is devoted to
the camels, goats and other live-stock
belonging to the owner, though ia tbe
case of merchants, part of this floor is
also put aside for offices. Each of tbe
upper stories of the house contains, as
a rule, a complete suite of apartmen's.
it being a common custom forseveial
families to dwell under oue roof. The
rooms are large, according to European
ideas, and owing to their huge win
dows are admirably adapted to a hot
climate. The roofs of tho houses are
a 1 fiat and form pleasaut places to sit
In the cool of the evening. From
them fine views are obtained of the
surrounding sea and laud. But if you
would see Jeauanio perieciion, "go
visit It by the pale moon! Ight." Then
the view from the housetop is sT verit
able fairy scene such depth of light
and shade, such fantastic shadows!
Below, in the narrow streets, the heavy
casements seem to defy the pale moon
light to enter, while beyond the white
walls of the city, the dreary desert is
lit up as brightly as tbe noon-day sun.
As in most eastern towns, tbe centre
of life iu Jeddah, is the Baz.iar. Here
beats the pulse of the city. Here, tbe
current news is discussed and com
mented on. Here tbe merchants buy
and sell, and baggie over their bargains.
Throughout the morning there is a per
fect Babel of voices. Owing to the laige
number of pilgrims who pass through
Jeddah, on their way to Mecca, the
bazaar is far larger than the size of
the town would lead you to expect
it consists of one broad thoroughfare
aVmt half a mile in length, lined cn
either side with shops aud cafes, and
covered in with coarse matting, as a
protection from the sun's rays. Out
of tills main thoroughfare lead
numerous small streets, each street.
as a rule, being occupied uy tue
wo.kmen ut some particular trade, or
the venders of similar wares. All
nationalities are represented; but
Turks, Greeks aud Syrians predomi
nate. Every type and variety of the
Arab rac9 is to be met with In tbe ba
zair picture-que Bedouins, armed to
the teeth; grave merchants from euje
and other far-iff towns, true aristo-
its in appearance and mien; swarthy
Nubians and degenerate Egyptians; ail
these, and many others, mingled with
Persians. Turks, Greeks and Banians,
form Indeed a motley crew.
The only industries peculiar to Jed
dah and they are hardly worthy of the
n line are the manufacture of black
coral into brads aud cigarette holders,
and the ornamentation of pearl shell.
The former, which Is peculiar to this
part of the Iced Sea, takes a polish
equal to the finest jet, and is of consid
erable value, excellent artincers in
silver, brass and iron are found in
Jeddah, the brass-work being fully
equal to that for which Benares bas so
loni been famous. The Turkish shops
are perhaps the most brilliant with
their amber anl embroidered robes.
Altogether the bazaar presents a bright
and animated scene, and tbe contrast
Is great as you pass from it into the
deserted streets outside. Travellers
froiu Jeddah to Mecca pass out of tho
city b" the northern or, as it is gener
ally called, the "Mecca Gate." Close
to this gate is a small bazaar, consisting
for the most part ol cooK-snops, where
pilgrims buy their provisions for tne
march to Mecca. During the pilgrim
season a coutinuous stream ot caravans
passes under the frowning archway;
caravans composed or Mussulmans
fioin the most distant parts of the
world; from Afghanistan, from Ceylon,
from Burmah, and the Malay Fenln
sula; from the far-off waters of tbe
Uluo Nile, over desert and sea, as
through fire and water, thousands press
yearly to offer a prayer at the birth-ula-re
of their prophet. No wonder,
then, that the Moslem thinks tbe
prayerless Christian" cold and wani
ng in reugiqus zeau me road to
Mecca passe, for tbe first ten miles.
ovfr level desert, and thence rises grad
ually over a emu range ot bills, aua
again descends to Mecca. Christians
are not allowed to pass into the terri
tory f tue 111311 Gheril without per
mission, aud on no consideration are
th:-y allowed to approach within sight
uf the holy city. A Christian, how
ever, with a good knowledge of Arabic
would ncw-a-days have little difficulty
in voting tbe city in disguise; whether
the Journey is worth the trouble and
risk attending it Is a matter on which
travelers who bave made it differ.
Situated in the desert, abont a quarter
of a mile from the western gate of the
City cf Jeddah, is an object of in,tere$t
to Christian anl Mussulman alike the
grave of Eve, cr, as she is called In
Arabic, "Slttna Hawwa." the mother
of mankind. It Is difficult to trace the
origin of the legend that allots to Eve
this desert tomb as her last resting
place, and it Is doubtful whether it is
of any great antiquity, nowever this
may be, the tomb is regarded with
great veneration br the numerous ml
grims who visit Jeddah. and few fail to
worship at the shrlue. The grave
Itself bears witness to the '.ruth of the
saying, that "there were clauts in tbe
earth in those days," for it is no less
than 370 feet in length. The outline
of the grave is marked by two low par
allel walls, about 3 feet 0 inches in
height, and 8 feet apart. Two date
palms are planted at the foot of tbe
grave which lies toward Mecca. Over
the centre of the grave a small dome
snapea mosque bas beeu erected, in
which pilgrims offer up their prayers.
in tne centre of this mosque is a dark
colored oblong stono, supposed to rest
on the womb of our common ances
tress; this stone, which is worn smooth
by tbe kisses of pilgrims, is bidden
from the vulvar gaze by a covering of
curtains, which are, however, drawn
aside by tbe attendant on tho preseuta
tioc of a small "backsheesh." a nuni
ber of degenerate, an l not very res
pectable specimen's of Eve's sex haunt
the vicinity of the tomb and clamor for
aires.
Tnrce Hundred Years Ago.
What would servants in the present
day say to such a code of rules and
regulations as was adopted three
hundred years ago lu the household of
Sir J. Harrington, tbe translator of
"Ariosto?"
A servant absent from prayers to be
lined two pence.
for uttering an oath; one penny.
For leaving a door open, one pennv,
A fine of two pence, from Lady Day
to Michaelmas, for all who are in bed
after seven, or out after nine.
A fine of one penny for any beds un
maae, a hre unlit, or canuie-box uu-
cleaned after eight.
A fine of four pence for any man
detected teaching the children obscene
words.
A One of a peuny for any man wait
lng without a trencher, or who is ab
sent at a meal.
For any one breaking any of tbe
but'er's glass, twelve pence.
A fine of two pence for any one who
has uot laid the table for dinner by
half past ten. or the supper by six.
A fine of four uence for any one ab
sent a day without leave.
i or any man striking another, a fine
ot one penny.
1 or any follower visiting the cook,
one penny.
A fine of one penny for any man
appearing In a foul shirt, broken hose,
untied shoes, or torn doublet.
A bne or one penny for any stranger's
room left for hours after be be dressed.
v ae ot one penny if the ball be
110 cleansed by eight In winter and
fSKi ui summer. , r -
'iae porter to be fined one penny If
tb. court gate be not shut during
meals.
A Cue ot three pence if the stairs be
not cleaned every Friday after dinner.
All these fines were deducted by the
steward at tl-e quarterly payment of
the men's wages.
An Underground Opera House
What Is called the Graud Cavern
or Caverns Is about one and a half
nubs from Manitou. directly up th
Ute pass a road worn and cut out of
the rock that winds up in the Kockies,
over which tbe Utes were accustomed
to pass in the old times of thirty years
ago. In prospecting among the ledges
about a thousand feet above the pass,
the present owner, Mr. Snider, discov
ered a small opening, and by working
at It soon found himself in the large
ball that is the commeucement of a
series of rooms and tunnels that now
constitutes one of the wonders of the
country. All along the road numerous
stalactites and stalagmites are seen,
covered by wire netting, and safe from
the hands of vandals. On the right are
a lot of bones, also protected by wire,
said to be those of the bear, but they
are really fox and wildcat bones, and
probably those of some other smail
mammal that had crawled Into the cave
to die. From this interesting walk we
enter into Stalactite Hall, where many
strange forms have been moulded by
nature. Here is a deer's bead, seem
ingly in white marble, the antlers al
most perfect; birds, trees, human faces,
and a hundred and one fancfui shapes
worthy of attention. Passing on we
reach the rotunda, where sjme fine
stalactites pass down to the floor, form
ing pillars. Near by Is a large room,
about sixty feet high, called, very ap
propriately, the opera bouse, having a
parquet and two tiers of galleries all
rouDcL Further along is a natural
organ or sot of chimes. This is by
far the best in tho country, and in this
respect the Manitou cavern is ahead of
all others. The chimes are a set of
stalactite formations, connected with
tbe wall, forming a series or thin up
right slabs placed side by side. When
struck with a stick they give out met
allic bell-like notes, and with a little
practice the entire scale can be sounded
and tuneful chimes rung. In the opera
house are many curious shapes resemb
ling statuary, and human forms appear
attached to the walls. From this we
pass to the churn room, where a series
of stalactites and stalagmites forms a
perfect churn, the newly churned butter
being represented in the stone by Its
side.
Her Color Changed,
A young lady who was much worried
about her complexion, asked the advice
of a vegetarian friend as to the best
means of improving ber appearance.
"Take to vegetarianism," said the
friend.
She took wildly; and fed on nothing
but parsnips, washed down with copi
ous draughts of dandelion tea, for one
month. Toward the end of the twenty-
eighth day she was nearly as pretty in
color as butterlne. Yet, somehow or
other, tbe tint didn't please ber, and
after consulting her vegetarian friend
again, the young lady subsisted for two
months on pickieu caDoage ana ra p
berry vinegar neat. Slowly but surel
ber color changed, till she became a
good copy of a red sunset. Still not
satisfied, she varied her nourishment
more, and existed on strawberry ice
and turnips for six; months, when she
assumed a loveiy pins anu wuiie nue.
A very tasty tombstone has just been
erected to her memory by ber vegeta
rian irieno,
A COitGttOUS PAkACK-
Description or the Charming Manga
Gardens of the King of Slam.
The Summer Palace of t'is King, the
Mango Gardens, is considered tbe
handsomest place In .".aro. Tbe main
building is erected in tbe style of a
French chateau, and is surrounded
with grounds laid off with great skill
by a Landscape gardener, paths wiuding
in serpentine sinuosity in every direc.
tion. flowers of all kinds fill the air
with perfume, and to add to the c'.iarms
of the place miniatme lakes, dotted
over with lotus plants in blossom, flash
their sparkling waters in th3 sun
shine. These lakes are fed f torn the river
that flows in front cf the palace, which
together wlti the yard. Is enclosed by
a wall containing a number of bund
some buildings set apart for the various
wives of the King. Through the kind
ness of the gardener in charge I wa3
shown through the palace, the King
being absent, be not staying there
more than a month during the year.
The palace is built of teak and other
costly woods, the walls paneled mo;t
handsomely; the hard wood polished
like a mirror, bringing out the grain;
the ceiling lofty, laid off in handsome
designs and most elaborately gilded;
the floors a mosaic of various woods
also highly polished, each room a dif
ferent design, while the broad flight of
steps that leads to tbe second story
tbe sleepmg apartments is simply
grand, in keeping with the magnificence
of the interior.
The King's chamber, bath-room.,
etc., were worthy of the abode of roy
alty ,and bis couch a'thing of beauty,'
if not "a joy forever." It was made of
rare wood and carved in the most ex
quisite designs, draped with rare lace
fr.vged with gold; a gold embroidered
spread covered the bed; the pillows and
bolsters were also hemmed with lace,
and above It swung a handsome punka
to keep him cool. It seemed more like
a work of art to please the eye than the
resting place of one who courted slum
ber, surcease of business aud troullo
arising from the control of over 7,0V0,
000 people. - 1
In some of the rooms we noticed
some very handsome furniture and
pictures, costly tables, crystal and ala
baster vases, etc., though the place
was dismantled during the absence of
royalty. It is a place that one tired of
power and the world would retire to
for a month and live in elysium or
Oriental ease. In the center of several
of the lakes handsome pavllious are
erected, where the band discourses
music, and on their rippling surface
float barges ready to bear the wives
and children or family of the King,
when he concludes to pass his time
there.
Scattered throughout tbe gardens
are cages containing monkeys, birds,
etc., that add not a little to the plct-
uresqueuess of the scene. For over an
hour our party strolled through the
well-kept gronnds and gardens, fifty
men being constantly employed iu
U-autlfy'ijg and keeping them in order.
Amid a grove of rarest foliage, musical
with birds, is a handsome Italian
monument, erected to the memory ot
the late Oueen, who was drowned by
the sinking of a yacht, erected by the
King, and by his special direction kept
in the neatest order.
As our time was limited we could
see but a portion of tbe beauties of this
lovely place. It would take a column
to speak at length of the various pa
laces that are scattered over the
grounds, the Oriental watch and bell
tower that stands like a giant sentinel
toweling over all, the handsome wat,
built like a Gothic cathedral, stained
glass windows, but tbe shrill whistle of
our steam launch reminds us that
"time is up," and, with a sigh of re
gret, our party left the lovely Mango
Gardens, its world of flowers, its fra
grant atmosphere and paradisical
beauty an elysium where one could
dream lite away, the Nepenthe ot the
poet, where no raven will ever "sit on
pallid bust of Pallas," but eternal sun
shine gilds the velvet curtaius and
casts a glory on the glistening floors.
vA French ScDtincL-.
During one of Napoleon's remarkable
campaigns, a detachment of a corps
commanded by Davoust, occupied the
Isle Itugen, which they were ordered
to evacuate. They embarked with such
precipitation that they forgot one of
their sentinels posted in a retired spot,
and who was so deeply absorbed in the
perusal ot a newspaper as to be totally
unconscious of their departure. After
pacing to and fro for many hours upon
bis post, he lost patience, and returned
to tbe guard room, which be found
empty. On inquiry be learned with
despair what had happened, and cried:
"Alas! alas! I shall be looked upon
as a deserter dishonered, unhappy
wretch that I am!"
His lamentation excited the compas
sion of a worthy tradesman, who took
him to bis house, did all in his power
to console him, taught to make bread,
for he was a baker and, after some
months, gave bim bis only daughter in
marnage.
Five years afterward, a strange sail
was seen to approach tbe Island. Tbe
inhabitants flocked to tbe beach, and
soon discovered in tbe advancing ship
a number of soldiers wearing tbe uni
form of tbe I rench army.
"Iam done for, nowl" cried tbe
dismayed husband. "My bread Is
baked."
An Idea, however, suddenly occurred
to him, and revived his courage. He
ran to the bouse, slipped into his uni
form, and seizing bis faithful firelock,
returned to the beach and posted him
self on sentry at tbe moment tbe French
were landing.
'S bo goes there?" he shouted in a
voice like thunder.
Who goes there, yourself?" shouted
cne in a boat. "Who are you?"
"A sentinel"
"IIow long have you been on
guard?"
"Five year."
Davoust, for it was be, laughed at
the quaint reply, and gave a discharge
in due form to his involuntary de
serter.
Small Measure.
Foote was dining with a thrifty
otch peer, who decanted bis wdne
sparingly, but descanted largely on its
excellence and, its age. "It is very
little of ita age," said Foote.
This pleasantry, attributed In several
quarters to Foote, is also told of the
anonymous "witty countryman," in
seventeenth century jest books, and
probably dates back to remote antiquity
The jest Itself, la open to the reproach
it convejs.
APPLE BI-OSSOMS.
The Fruit a Member ot the Great
Ilose Family.
Nature worked lovingly when she
made apple blossoms. These petals
that come down softly all over me are
the color ot a baby's cheek, and that
is tbe lovingest thing in tbe world. I
do not sea why people should plant
elms, and ash, and maple, for lawn
trees, and pnt apples in a back lot.
There is nothing like an apple tree for
gentleness; and a gentle tree among
trees is like a gentle man among men.
Their outlines are gracefal, but never
formal; and their warm hearts are
either breaking out in smiles or golden
pippins. When you want a perfect
front yard have a few apples; or, if you
want a nne lawn, mix apples with the
'The appie is a member of the great
rose family; so are the pears, pea.hes.
1,,.- ,.nA(a
plums, cherries, apricots and the tcses
and strawberries all cousins. Did it
ever occur to you that there is a sort of
f it'lllv liuik alinnr. thpSA tlilnrc:9 Tr h- !
sure the blossoms are all of a likeness.
but that is n.t ail. they belou to a
class of ro3yf hearty, loving trunks tuat
never seem to bavf but twl thou,hts -
to be as beautiful as imviIiIr a
, , ... .
USOful sis tinsaili'p- I likn thi rml e
simplicity of orchard trees. They d-
not have any fashionable ways.
Now, this special tree uuder which I
have my hammock is a dear old frieud.
It is an Indian rareripe, six feet in
girth, aud when it blossoms It is a vast
boquet, covering several square lods.
Apples it bears by the thousand, but
petals by the million. It stood litre
s;veuty years ago and has a sound
heart yet. It was planted by old -co-uoudoab,
the chieftain, and bus a mem
ory, as trees go, that I should like to
recall.
There ia onehollowlimb that squeaks
in the wind, and a squirrel has a-laruily
iu It. She does not mind me at all,
but runs ipand down the trunk ou ber
domestic duties, carrying a stolen bit
of coin or scolding her lazy spouse.
Some one has written a delightful book
ou the "Population of a Fear Tree."
One cannot begin to tell the curious
rel.uws that live under the bark or in
the body or on tbe fruit or tender twlirs
of this tree of mine. The name is le
gion. Just now a golden woodpecker
3 running up and down, tapping here
aud there, a if to say, Sweet worm.
are you at home? And with his sharp
bill he picks the locks and makes a call.
welcome or not welcome. Curious fel
lows, these woodpeckers! They Know
that we are friends and do not fear us,
but irk up their heads with a jerk,
and chirp as it to say, "these fellows aie
lut, an l you don't k now .how good they
are." Kobtus are specially fond of the
rustic t'pple limbs for their mud cot
tages. Yellowhammers take to hollows in
timber and limbs. The:e holes are
curious p aces. If you wish U know
who is imide tap on the outside. If
yi!owhammers are inside they will rap
m reply. . ..
- Suppose : gather a huge boquet dtf
fieee nesn tinted blooms, and lying
down, place them lbihtly across the
face. Now shut your eyes; lay out your
nanus on the sarin turr, and drink lu
the perfume. You will be pretty sure
t ) go to sltep; so it might be better to
ciimb into the hammock. But I wart
you to observe the soothing power there
is iu this fragrance to lull your senses
to rest. I think that nearly all flowers
have a slight opiate effect. But while
you are awake you will see what a
wonderiui sense is this of smell. We
never quite bring it to its best. We
rather despise it; but even roses and
appie blossoms are not more thau half
revealed to the eye.
The crabs and wild apples have the
Quest flowers and the richest odois.
But when it comes to fruit it is tho
siualler bksscms that show where the
big apples are to be. then it takes
about ten to twenty blossoms to make
a siugle Northern Spy or a Bellellaur;
but one blossom makes a crab. I mean
that nature, when she proposes to exert
herself for quality sacrifices quantity.
She throws away nearly all the bloom
of the Spy and concentrates the energy
of fiuitii.gon a few select specimens.
Hut is the ou'y end of the tree to besr
fruit. No; ncr tbe end of human Ufc.
It is to blossom in sweetness and love:
to cive iov. and poems, and peaa. and i
lifA tf Q.ml Si-, mv h!jQqv1 nritilM to ttiia :
day feedinz me with biesed thoughts I
md sweet memor.es. What else did
tlicerson mean when he sung:
One narvest troai 7 fur fleM,
liomewitfil trjii)i!it jour uiea 'r o.r;
Hut uuolNer crop yur seres yurM,
Wn,c!i 1 gather .n a aung.
Cut an apple through into thin, ,
smooth slices and hold tbeni up to the S-monia, California, and the production
un. All about the core you will se'ofolive3 co'ilideutly expected to be
prtad out the form of the blovuiu. J come one of the most important indus-
t he apple is only the swollen ovary of
the blossom. So a strawberry is an
ularged ovary carrying the seeds out
upon it; but the raspberry, you st e, is a
swelling of the seed enclosure, aud so .
back to the origin of the rose family j
w m a vuw v S.U
and tvi a
11 1 Lie, puuy iuicuuu grow
ing under foot, bow little would he be
able to imagine the elorious future of
the despised weed. Yet that stock bas,
by the slow process of evolution, during
it least 500,000 years, euded in our
glorious apples, pears, peaches and
roses, as well as most delicious berries.
Who can tell what future possibilities
will Le developed out of tbe weeds of
to-day? Tbe evolution of the apple is
now simple, for man has taken charge
jf its improvements; but for ages it
was a hard struggle. The Oner flowers
drew the most infects, to help in cross
fertilization; but the finer flowers pro
duced the poorer apples. On the other
band the better fruits drew tbe eye ot
birds and cattle, and so got planted.
Un tbe whole tbe battle was in favor
jf flowers. Yes there were apples good j
anough to eat as long ago &3 when the
Iberians built lake dwelling In Europe
probably 20,000 years ago and we
dud charred specimens in their kilchcu
waste.
"What do we have a week's vaca
tion in tbe Spring for?" asked one 1;U
lie six-year-old school-girl ot another.
"Oh," answered her mate, "per bars
that is so we can have a week to take
Spring medicine la,"
lUtto Times FKurjp Caxe. Two
ups of dried apples, soaked over
night, chopped rather coarso, three
cups of molasses, oro egg. two-thirds
ot a cup ox butter, one tensuoonf ul of
soda, all kinds of spice, flour as you
would cup cake.
, - , .1
Beekeepers will find profit in Ibo led !
raspberry, both as a honey and a fruit-'
Plant,
NEWS IN BRIEF.
Mexico reports a big business
boom, with a rreat rush of foreign ca
ital.
A law taxing cats at ten cents per
capita is proposed by a legislator in
Georgia.
Augusta, Wisconsin, reports the
fall of a yellowish snow there a day
or two ago.
The last census of Berlin places
the number of Americans residing
there at 979.
A 2--foot saaik is reported to bave
been taken In Monterey, California,
bay a week ago.
Tiie remain3 of a mastodon of the
largest size have been discovered near
Atlanta, Georgia.
Emil M.mcke. a famous German
! n"?! 13 8
i lut " mcllbi l'U-
; 1 rohibition is exp3cted to carry all
' t!;e counties ia Dakota outside of the
i 'ack Hills next Fall.
j "Jubilee" Ju?gln3 is the name by
English turf i
1 ai.uu uo jurseni. -piunger" on the
I nrmw m?v,. i
1 uiS'SU
.i . . Hwpu'S'uu
uuu Ltj iijiiuca vj electricity
ci.uii,iijr.
During the reign of Augustus
Caesar, Home, it is calculated, had a
population of about 2,51)0,000.
Monterey is said to remain more
characteristically Mexican than any
other ciry or town ia California.
A famous deer forest, Applecross,
in West Itosi-shue, is soon to te sold.
It extends to about 7o,0t'O acres.
The Hot Springs, near Carson,
Nevada, have suddenly fallen fifteen
inches, although the flow of water has
not diminished.
A snail's pace, according to the
Terra Haute Express, has been ascer
tained by experiment to ba a mile in
fourteen days.
Sealing off Cpe Flattery 13 im
rroviai.'. Tbe arrivals are reported in
myriad, and coruin closer to the cape
thau eur before.
Niue negro chieftains, with nnnro-
! nounceable names, t ut who are said to
ta:k English well, have been among
mo laic nous - in 1 aris.
A pisciculturist of Vienna, N. J..
is said to have 50,000 carp, the product
of five young German carp received by
him in the spring of IStii
A Pittsburg drummer is testing
the right of Helena, Montana Territory,
to collect a licensa from him under the
recent SupremeCourt decision.
The Colonial Exhibition in Eng
land netted a profit or 35,235. Of this
i'25,000 were presented by the trustee
to the Imperial Institute t'uLd.
Jacob Welch, of Ritchie county.
West Virginia, cut down a hollow
maple tree the other day, from which
r;m twenly-ssven full grown squirrels.
me widow of George A. Conly,
- 1 wcai-JuiowarJWiiija-- wUr
was drowned some five years ago, died '
in New York recently, of ceusump-
iiuu.
The highest spot Inhabited by
Luavan beings is said to be the Budd
hist cloister of Ilanie, Thibet, where
21 piksts live at an altitude of 16.000
feet.
About 70 per cent, of the jurors
drawn in New Y'ork city are of foreign
birth, and many of them bave slight
knowledge of our laws or of the Eng
lish language.
Starvation,
as fouud bv cornnor'n
juries, caused the deaths of fortv per
sons, in London, daring the year l&ki,
as shown by an official report to th j
Uuu?e of Commons.
Mary Q ieen of Scots was 45 years
of age when executed in Fiothermgay
Castle. tueen Elizabeth, who signed
her death warrant, was at that time
(15S7) 54 years old.
A meteor that didn't "shoot," but
which glowed for a quarter of an hour,
according to the statement of a Quebec
correspondent, li-bted up that city and
vicinity vividiy a few nights :igo.
A young girl attacked a sneak
thief in Newark, New Jersey, the other
day, threw him on bis back and heid
hiia there until assistance arrived. Mie
"aa seeu
him steal a hat from a bat
SiOie.
It is reported th it a man in Fenn-
sylvania has a hen which recently laid
an egg lneasunii.r six and a half bv
eight and a half inches. The hen is a
thick Uriilitn.j, aud is old enough to be
on the r?t::ed list.
Olive O.I, said to be of the finest
quat.ty, is bt-imr made this season in
tr.es 01 the place.
A bov nimp.i rrir.? ,t it ,,.,-;h
r. - ir Sa'poi i)ro,., r
effects of :l won,,.! i n. ,..1
caused a few weeks aro iv :l r,,.?
hands of a companion.
1II,LI if 1. ia. 1 1 I i ' 1 1 1 1 1 1 I Dill I
the
Tiie reign of S 'nnr-.cheri'o (751-CSI
B. C.) was the golden aire of Assyrian
art; aud in CJ5 L. C, a little more than
half a century later. As yria fell, never
to rise again, by tho band or Cvaxares,
the Median conqueror.
The Plaiulicld (New Jersey) Elec
tric Light Company offer to contract
with householders lc-r one incandescent
lamp at i3 a year; two, 47 eich; three,
JO; seven, at i-1 each, aud ;2 for each
additional lamp.
A steam omnibus, which is in
tended to run regularly over country
roads, Is said to be running now in
Dresden,- Saxony. It is managed by
two men, and carries forty-six passengers,-
with considerable freight.
Lucinda Easter, a colored res!ent
of Newbery, South Carolina, is said to
I 1&9 years ot age. According to
newspaper accounts her mother died at
the advanced age of U and she, like
uer u.iu-uier, uau Crinuren.
Illustrated Journalism is becoming
quite porr.uar In Western Peunsy wania.
at least it would seem so by the recent
issue of a Pittsburg paper, the supple
ment cf which alone contained thirty
two wood-cuts.
Young chickens, the Microscopical
Society ot Son Francisco fears, are
filled with the seeds of consumption and
may communicate the disease to people
who eat them, but this will hardly bear
the market for broilers to any extent.
Two petrified articles have been
eoin; the rounds of the r.
I oue, a strawberry discovered in Georgia,
and tbe other, a lo?, in Dakota It is
supposed, however, that they are oce
,,i th .am.. thi t
n.w t th ?..
it reached DakorJL ' "
v
