.1 It. (JKOVE &J. H. ODER,
VOLUME 1.
Oik- Friontl Loss.
by IIA ch kb I’OMKROY.
I wombT how tin* worM hoc. 1 * roumi
For him who ha inn friend :
If ouch h ne there ho above the ground.
Mow must he hate
His empty handed fate.
And curse the meagre good the grudging mo
ments lend!
Who hath such right to he morose and sad.
To mope and pine and fret. —
Seeing sly Time filch all he ever had.
Nor leave behind
The one according mind.
Could make him meaner beggaries forget.
Though maybe that lean life has never known
The undivided rest .
Of him who calls another heart his own,
Who hand to hand
With a twin will can stand.
Or lay his tired head upon a tender breast :
Such lot were less forlorn- for who could miss
A love lie never knew.
Or faint to feel an unfa*!. .iiar kiss,
< >r yearn to meet
His fellow'' hastening feet.
Who guesses not that poll can very death
undo ?
Yet even he shall feebly comprehend
It thwarted Nature’s plan.
When earth gave breath and yet withheld a
friend :
So deep and w ide
Those faithful hungers hide.
No misery could starve since human love
began !
But sadder he -yea, saddest scoff of late !
Of friendship dispossest.
Who finds his spirit widowed of its mate.
Who sees the faith
lie counted lord of death
Pass, a dull dream, the dupe of an unholy jest!
The winds may blow, hut not for him they blow :
The sunlight heals him not:
The stars shine false, and false the waters How :
All Nature stands
With mocking, empty hands:
Befouled are all sweet things, and specked
with evil rot!
How should he trust a promise of the spheres,
When vows more snored' fail ?
How flare take up again his wounded years.
With purpose dead.
And inspiration feed,
To-morrow, doubtful chaos, yesterday, a wail ?
O friend, if this firm thread must really break
That seemed t< bind us fast.
Try to believe it parted for love’s sake.
Lav all the blame
On that immortal name.
And think ’twas love, not I that proved unkind
at last!
So haply on some morning ere shall rise
I n scons yet to be.
And. looking each at each with clearer eyes.
The old. had Past
Shall read aright sit last.
And find it led us both to love’s eternity!
Couragp to Do Kijrlil.
We may have courage, all of us.
To start at honor’s call.
To meet a foe, protect a friend.
Or lace a cannon ball !
To show the world one hero lives
The foremost in the fight—
But do wo always manifest
The courage to do right ?
To answer no ! with steady breath,
J ml otiick, unfaltering tongue.
When fierce temptation, ever near.
Her syren song has sung ?
To care not for the bantering tone.
The jest, or studied slight ;
Content if we can only have
The courage to do right ?
To step aside from fashion’s courso.
Our custom’s favored plan ;
To pluck on outcast from the street,
Or help a fellow man ?
If not, then let us nobly try.
Henceforth, with all our might.
In every case to muster up
The courage to do right!
DR. SPENCER’S GREAT ( RIME.
A STORY TOLD BY A PIIYKK I AN.
I was sitting in my office, half-dozing
over an interminable article on defective
nutrition in the last medical review.
The lire in the grate was low, the
night was stormy, and the clock was on
the stroke of eleven. I was just about
to turn oil’the gas and retire, for, being
a bachelor, I slept in a room connected
with my oilice, when there was a null at
the bell.
I started up suddenly, for this was
something new. Middlebury was a
decorous sort of place, and people usu
ally managed to be taken sick at sea
sonable hours.
Old Mrs. Jerome had been threaten
ing to die for the past years, and at
every visit I paid her she solemnly in
formed me that when the decisive mo
ment did eome she desiied mo to be
present. But as nothing ailed the old
lady beyond now and then an indiges
tion from too much high living, I had
never yet been ealled*upon to he present
at her death.
Now, 1 thought, it must he old Mrs.
.Jerome is going.
I took up my night lamp and went to
the door. A strong gust of damp, sleety
wind nearly extinguished the light, hut
shading it with my hand, 1 dimly dis
earned the form of a woman.
“ Come in,” I said, holding open the
door, but she declined with a gesture of
impatience.
“ Y hi must come out,” she said, in a
sharp decisive voice, “and lie quick
about it!”
- put on mv overcoat with demur,
locked the surgery door, and stepped
out into tlie storm. As i did so tlm
woman laid a linn hand on my arm,
and putting her face close to mine,
said :
“ l>r. Rockwood can you keep a se
cret ?”
“I think, so, madam.”
“ Swear it.”
“ Is this secret of yours of a profes
sional character ? That is, is it anything
you wish to confide to me as a medical
man ?”
“ It is.”
“ Very well, then, 1 swear it. ’
“ That is right.”
A man respect-- an oath, though why
lie should is a mystery, since men’s
mouths are running over with them.
“To Clifton House, to see the mis
tress.”
1 started.
Clifton House was the old mansion
recently taken by Dr. Spencer, a stran
ger to every one in Middlebury. Silen
cer was a tall, dark rather distinguished
looking man, who had hung out his
sign in the village only a few doors
above mine, hut as yet lie had got no
practice.
He was unsocial in the extreme,
avoiding his neighbors persistently, and
when lie did speak it was in such a curt,
half savage way that one was not likely
to attempt to prolong the conversation.
The doctor had a wife, it was said, but
no one ever saw her. She was an invalid,
and Miss Melrose, a friend of the family,
presided over the establishment and sal
at tlie head of the table.
Miss Melrose was yet beautifuf, and
won tlie admiration of all who visited
t’litton House by her grace of manner
and fascinating conversation.
“A8 we walked along,” said my com
panion, “ let me explain to vou just
what is necessary you should know.' My
mi- tress is very ill.”
•• 1 beg your pardon—is it Mrs. Spen
i i i or Miss Melrose?”
She laughed bitterly.
“Miss Mol rose ! I would stab hor to
I tin' heart Conner than own her as a mis
tress. Mv mistress is a lady—noble,
royal, and of gentle birth. It is an
honor to serve my mistress.”
‘’And she is ill? How long since ?’’
“ Ever since she married him—curse
him, she muttered, in a tierce tone;
“but 1 must not get excited. 1 must
tell my story, or rather hers. Two years
ago. through the desire of her /lying
father, Alice Herndon became James
Spencer’s wife. Before that she was a
nealthv blooming girl ; immediately
after this marriage she began to fail.
I>o you see anything strange in that?”
44 Not necessarily.”
bet me enlighten you further. Dr.
Spencer was at one time engaged to
Miss Lucille Melrose, but he broke the
engagement and married my mistress
instead. Miss Melrose was as poor as
Job’s turkey; Miss Herndon was an
heiress, and I>r. Spencer was deeply in
debt and bard pressed by his creditors.
Do you see any tiling singular in that ?”
“ Perhaps, (io on.”
“ When my mistress married Spencer
she was only seventeen, and she had
been taught to obey her father in every
thing. She was a gentle, affectionate
child, and it would have been easy for
Spencer to have won her love. But In*
did not care for that, it was her money
he wanted. It paid his debts and bought
him fast horses ; it set his table with
nice, costly dishes, and put it in his
power to keep Miss Melrose robed like
a queen. And all this time my mistress
had been slowly but surely sinking.
And look you, Dr. Lockwood, I believe
she is not dying of disease, hut of’—
here she lowered her voice to a whisper
as she spoke the word—“ poison.”
“ Impossible ! This is a grave charge.”
” Of poison given her by her husband,
who, at her death, would have sole con
trol of her property and be free to
marry Miss Melrose. There is no time
to explain to you in detail the thou*
sane and one circumstances which have
led me to the belief, for we are almost
at the door. It is never the case that
Miss Melrose and Spencer are out at
the same time, or 1 should have called
another physician before; but to-night
they are called away by the death of
Miss Melrose’s sister, and will not be
back till to-morrow. With the consent
of mv mistress, I come for you, and oh !
Dr. Rock wood, I pray you, save my den*
mistress. I nursed her when her mother
died and left her a helpless infant; all
through her innocent youth sin* was
like an own child to me; and now to
see her fading hour by hour before my
eyes! Good heavens 1 if 1 knew beyond
a doubt that he was guilty, his life
should pay the forfeit.”
I was already beginning to feel a deep
interest in Mrs. Spencer, although I had
never seen her, and like her old nurse,
I was inclined to feel a great animosity
for Dr. Spencer.
Mrs. Spencer received me in her bed
chamber. It was on the second floor,
and was furnished with exquisite ele
gance. Everything in the room bespoke
the taste and delicacy of the occupant.
The warm air was fragrant with a faint
odor of heliotrope; and glancing around
I saw the purple blossoms and green
leaves in an alabaster case on the
ledge of the south window.
She was a woman who, when once
seen, could novel be forgotten. 1 have
met in my life many beautiful women,
but never one so lovely.
She was tall and slight, with a purely
oval face, liquid brown eyes, and a dash
of hectic in her cheeks, which is never
seen in perfect health.
She received me, as I know she did
everybody, gracefully, and though there
was a slight embarrassment in her man
ner when I spoke of her illness, she an
swered my professional inquiries with
out hesitation.
As for myself, 1 laid aside all false
delicacy, and questioned her plainly as
to her symptoms. Mrs. Hurd, her mmo,
remained in the room, and added many
little important items of information.
When she spoke of her husband it
was with a sort of hopless sadness which
distressed me greatly.
Not a breath of suspicion against him
in tier answers to my questions, and I
felt sure that at present she knew noth
ing of what Mrs. Hurd had such serious
apprehensions. I was glad it was to,
for, with her finely strung organization,
it might have produced serious results.
I made my examination of the patient
as closely as 1 could, and drew my own
conclusions. I could have sworn that
Mrs. Spencer daily swallowed arsenic in
small quantities, and the deadly drug
was telling fearfully on a constitution
never very robust.
She said, answering my questions,
that she had no physician except her
husband. He had thought himself
better acquainted with her case, and
therefore better qualified to treat it.
He never left medicine with her to take;
he always brought it fresh f rom hisotficc,
and administered it promptly.
There was little enough I could do in
such a case. Anxious to do everything,
the very circumstances of theatfair lett.
me nearly powerless.
A charge of such a nature, of course,
1 could not make against Dr. Spencer
without the amplest proof. If I hinted
a suspicion every one would at once set
it down to my profession 1 prejudice;
ami if I could not substantiate my state
ment the doctor could make me pay
dearly for such a slander uttered against
him.
The only dependence seemed to he
in Mrs. Hurd. To her I unbosomed
myself freely. I told her without re
serve that I believed Dr. Spencer was
killing his wife by slow poison, and be-*
sought her to be constantly on the watch
to save the victim, and to discover some
proof by which we could fasten the
guilt upon him.
She smiled grimly and promised
obedience. I gave her a powerful anti
dote for the poison 1 suspected, and
went home perturbed and anxious in
mind. I did not sleep that night, and
all the next day 1 was in a high fever
of excitement. A ring at the bell made
me tremble—a step on the gravel out
side my oilice stopped my breath, and
I hardly knew what I expected to hear,
and yet 1 felt sure that before I slept 1
should hear something.
And now I must tell the story as it
was told me.
Dr. Spencer returned home the morn
ing after my visit to the Clifton House.
He looked wretchedly the nurse said—
appeared gloomy and depressed. Miss
Melrose came with him, and was decor
An Independent Paper—Devoted In Literature. Mining, Commercial, Agricultural, General and Local News
FROSTIH RG, ALLEGANY COUNTY, MARYLAND, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1572.
j ously sad over the death of her sister.
Women of her stamp always mourn t<*
j perfection. They neither overdo or
underdo the thing, as women of feeling
j are likely to do.
Dr. Spencer came at once to his wife’s
I chamber. He thought she looked ill,
j prescribed a cordial at once, saying that
he would go and fetch it.
“ Vou are always ordering cordials for
her,” said Mrs. Hurd, musingly. “ Why
not take something yourself. Vou look
like a ghost.”
He eyed her keenly, hut replied com
poscdly:
“ I think I will take some of the cor
I dial myse.f for I do not feel quite well.
Alicia, dear, shall I bring it here and
drink your health ? ”
Mrs. Spencer smiled in assent—she
never disputed her husband—and be
went out. Presently be returned with
two glasses. Both contained liquid,
colorless and inodorous. Mrs. Hurd
was watching him with her heart in her
throat, for, as she told me, she felt that
the decisive moment had come. There
was something in the gray pallor in the
doctor’s rigid face that told her of a
desperate purpose in the man’s soul.
lie lifted the glass on the right of the
tray and gave it to his wife.
“ Drink it, dear”’ lie said ; “it is a
panacea for all evils. I also am going
to take a glass of it! ” and he pointed
to a glass still on the tray.
Mrs. Spencer accepted it, ami was
putting it to her lips, when Mrs. Hurd
interrupted.
“ If you will bring her a tumbler of
water, doctor ; Mrs. Spencer complains
that toe cordial leaves a had taste in
her mouth, and my bones are so full of
rheumatism that it nearly kills mo to
go down stairs.”
The doctor turned and bent on her a
look as if he would read her through.
But sin* kept iier face impassive. If he
had any suspicions, her manner quieted
them, and, putting down the glass, ho
left the room. Then Mrs. Hurd changed
the position of the glasses.
When he came back—and lie was
gone but a moment—the nurse stood
just exactly where he had left her, and
Mrs. Spencer was lying hack in the chair
with her eyes closed.
Again he lifted the glass—this time
it was the one intended for himself—
and placed it to the lips of his wife.
She drank the contents, swallowed a
little of the water he had brought her,
and thanked him in her sad, sweet
way.
44 Now for my own cordial,” said he
with affected gayety. “ I indulge my
self in something a little stronger,” and
as lie spoke he tossed oil’the mixture.
4 ‘ It made me stone cold to my fingers’
ends to see him do it,” said Mrs. Hurd,
relating the circumstance to me ; 44 but
heaven is my witness, 1 felt not a single
twinge of conscience. I argued like
this: If it was a simple cordial, as he
had said, it would do him no harm;
if it was poison, his blood \ould be on
his own head ! ”
He went to bed, half an hour after
ward, complaining of fatigue. In the
morning they found him dead.
1 was called to the post mortem exami
nation, and we discovered in the stom
ach of the deceased a sutlicient quantity
of the deadliest poison known to modern
science to kill half a dozen men.
My brother physicians agreed that
the man was insane, and had probably
taken the dose in one of his unsettled
fits of mind. I did not dispute them,
but even before Mrs. Hurd told her
story I had my own theory in regard to
his death.
There was no public exposure, how
ever. Mrs. Hurd and I agreed that it
would profit no one to make the wretch
ed affair public, and so we kept our own
counsel.
Miss Melrose, in spite of my convic
tion that she had been an active party
in the conspiracy against Mrs. Spencer’s
life, I could not help pitying. Such a
miserable, worn and haggard face as
hers I have never seen; and when they
buried Dr. Spencer she was contined to
her chamber with brain fever.
I attended iier in her illness, but al
though she recovered her health she
never was herself again. She was a
harmless maniac, whoso delight was in
gathering flowers and decorating the
doctor’s grave with them.
She is living still, and she still gathers
flowers and lays them on that grave,
singing to herself meanwhile a sort of
low incantation which no one ever pre
tends to understand.
Not until Mrs. Spencer had been
many years my wife, and the faithful
Mrs. Hurd slept under the violets, did
Alicia ever know the perfidy of her
former husband.
And when l told her, after the first
shock was over, sin* crept into my arms
and whispered:
44 But if it had not been for James’s
crime, I should not have found you,
Herbert. So, good sometimes does
come out of evil.”
llo>v Dwarfs are Made hi C'liina.
Making dwarfs and beggars is a com
mon thing in China. For the first, a
child of tiiree or four years is taken and
a heavy porcelain vase is put over him,
so that the head alone is free. This is
taken off every evening so that lie may
sleep, but is put on again in the morn
ing. The child thus advances in age in
this inflexible mould, until he can no
longer grow. Then the vase is broken.
The horrible sufferings that must he ex
perienced in this process are even ex
ceeded by the practices in certain estab
lishments in Pekin, where beggars vol
untarily sub#iit to having their eyes
taken out and their limbs broken, in
order to excite public commisseration.
At Newberry, England, a gentleman
recently made a wager of $5,000 that at
8 o’clock on a particular evening he
would sit down to dinner in a well-wo
ven, well-dyed, well-made suit of
clothes, the wool of which formed the
tleece on sheep’s backs at 5 o’clock in
same morning. Two sheen were shorn,
the wool was washed, carded, stubbed,
roved, spun, and woven ; the cloth was
scoured, fulled, tented, raised, sheared,
dyed, and dressed ; the garments were
made. At 6:15 he sat down to a dinner
at the head of his guests, in a complete
damson-colored suit— thus winning his
wager, with one hour and three quar
ters to spare.
Providence has a cat that weighs
thirty-seven pounds. The neighbors
j cry foa a dispensation.
National Convention* Where anil
When They Have Been Held.
From lli* I'liilatlflphia Preeg.
Philadelphia is to have the next Re
publican National Convention. The
Executive t’ommittec at Washington
j have leci<iel unanimously in favor of
i calling the convention to meet in this
city i n I Ik* first Wednesday in .lime
next.
It is noteworthy that the first Con
gressional caucus for the nomination of
Presidential candidates of which there
is any record is said to have been held
herein the year 1800. Jefferson and
Burr were then Humiliated. Again, the
first political National Convention in
the country met in this city in 1830. It
was composed of Anti-Masons, but
transacted no business beyond the
adoption of a resolution providing for
the convention of the same complexion
which met in Baltimore, in September,
1831, and nominated William Wirt for
President, and Amos Ellmaker, of Phil
adelphia, for Vic* - * President.
Philadelphia is also famous as the sit
ting place of the first Native American
National Convention, held February 19,
1850, and of the first National Conven
tion of the great Republican party which
was destined utterly to crush the ma
levolent slave power, thereby saving the
Union from destruction and forever
abolishing human slavery within its
boundaries. This convention assembled
on the 17tl of .June, 1846, and nomina
ted John 0. Fremont and William L.
Dayton. The convention called in 1866
to organize a new party in the interests
of Andrew .Johnson, also met in this
city.
The only sucessful Presidential candi
dates of the old Whig party were nomi
nated in Pennsylvania. Harris* n was
nominated at Harrisburg, December 4,
1839, and Taylor in Philadelphia, .June
7, 1848.
Previous to 1831, the two parties—
Federalist and Republican or Demo
cratic—into which the nation was di
vided, left the selection of their candi
dates to Congressional caucuses. In
December of that year a National Re
publican or Federalist Convention as
sembled in Baltimore, and unanimously
nominated Henry (day and .John Ser
geant for President and Vice President,
respectively.
In the May following a Democratic
National Convention met in the same
city, and formally placed in nomination
.Jackson and Van Buren. In May, 1835,
tin* Democrats nominated Van Buren
and .Johnson at Baltimore. The Whigs
held no National Convention that year.
General Harrison, who was named by
several State Conventions, received
their votes in the Electoral College.
The year 1839 was signalized by th
nomination of Harrison and Tyler at
Harrisburg, December 4, by the Whigs,
and of James G. Birney and F. J. Le*
moyne by the Abolitionists, November
13, at Warsaw, N. V. The Democrats
named Van Buren at a National Con
vention held at Baltimore, May 5, 1840.
hut expressed no choice for Vice Presi
dent. In 1844 the Whig; led off by a
convention which met at Baltimore.
May I, and placed in nomination Clay
and Frelinghuysen. The Democrats, by
a convention which assembled in the
same city, May 27, put forward as their
standard bearers Polk and Dallas. In
1843, however, there was a National
Convention of the Liberty Party at Buf
falo, on August 39, which nominated
James G. Birney and Thomas Morris.
The proceedings of the more recent
conventions may be presumed to be fa
miliar to most readers. Jn 1848 the
Whig Convention met at Philadelphia,
June 7 ; the Democratic at Baltimore,
May 22: the Free Soil Democratic Con
vention at Utica, N. Y., June 22, and
again on the Bth of August following at
Hu halo.
In 1852 the Whigs nominated at
Baltimore, June 16; the Democrats, at
the same place, June Land the Free
Soil Democracy at Pittsburgh, Au
gust 11.
In 1856 the first Republican National
Convention met in Philadelphia, June
17 ; the American National Convention
m the same city, February 19; the Dem
ocratic National Convention at Cincin
nati, June 2, and the last Whig Na
tional Convention at Baltimore, Scptem
her 17.
In iB6O the Democrats held a conven
tion at Charleston, April 13, which re
sulted in a split. The Convention reas
sembled at Baltimore. June 18, and
eventually each wing of the party
placed candidates in nomination. The
Republican Convention met at Chicago,
May 16.
In 1864 the Republican Convention
was held in June at Baltimore, and the
Democratic in Chicago in August. In
1868 the Republicans nominated at Chi
cago in May, and the Democrats in New
Vork in July.
German Opinion of American Charac
ter.
Discussing upon the prosecutions in
stituted by the United States Govern
ment against the law-breakers of the
Southern States, a leading paper of Ber
lin, Germany, analyzes the character of
the radicalism of the people of the two
sections, and says that the South is
philosophical and abstract, while the
North is methodical and practical. Jef
ferson and Calhoun arc representatives
of the former; Franklin and Webster
representatives of the hitter. At the
time of the French revolution the
South was radical, revolutionary and
anti-Christian; the North was conserva
tive and orthodox. It was only the
growth of the slave interest which
worked the change in public sentiment
in the two sections, and made the
North progressive ami republican, and
the South reactionary and conserva
tive. J’he fact of the existence of slav
ery in the South did not prevent the
thinking men therefrom foreseeing and
declaring that with the fall of slavery
corresponding changes and modifica
tions in other relations and institutions
must of necessity follow. As soon as the
momentary period ot the Ku-Klux bar
barism of these vicious classes and the
demagogues has passed, bold and logi
cal thinkers will insist upon these cor
responding modifications. The youth
will recall the earlier traditions of free
dom, and ere long we may look to find
many of the most earnest friends of hu
man emancipation and freedom among
the Southern people.
A Western New York restaurant pro
vides “ cooked vitals” cheap.
Telegraphic Ticks An Amusing Epi
sode*
From tho San Francisco Chronic]*'.
Two young men, telegraph operators,
board at one of our leading third-class
hotels, and being of a somewhat hila
rious disposition, find great amusement
in carrying on conversation with each
other at tin* table by ticking on their
plates with knife, fork, or spoon. For
the information of those not acquainted
with telegraphy, it may be well to state
that a combination of sounds or ticks
constitute the telegraphic alphabet, and
persons familiar with these sounds can
converse thereby as intelligently aswilh
spoken words. The young lightning
strikers, as already stated, were in the
habit of indulging in table-talk by
this means whenever they desired to
say anything private to each other. For
instance, No. I would pick up his knife
and tick oil some such remark as this
to No. 2, “ Why is this butter like the
offense of Hamlet's uncle 7” No. 2. “1
give it up.” No. I. “ Because it’s
rank and smells to Heaven.” Of course
the joke is not appreciated by the
landlord, who sits close by, because lie
doesn’t understand telegraphic ticks,
and probably lie wouldn't appreciate it
much if he did ; but the jokers en j* y
it immensely and laugh immoderately,
while the other guests wonder what can
J>e the occasion for this merriment, and
naturally conclude the operators must
he idiots.
A few days ago, while the-e fun-loving
youths were seated at breakfast, a stout
built young man entcied the dining
room with a handsome girl on his arm,
whose blushing countenance showed
her to be a bride. The couple bad, in
fact, been married but a day or two pre
vious and had come to San Francisco
from their home in Oakland or Mud
Sprincs, or some other rural village, for
the purpose of spending tin* honey
moon. The telegraphic tickers com
menced as soon as the husband and wife
had seated themselves.
No. 1 opened the discourse as fol
lows: “ What a lovely little pigeon this
is alongside of me—ain't sJie?”
No. 2. “ Perfectly charming—-looks as
it butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
Just married, I guess; don’t you think
so ?’’
No. 1. u Yes, ! should judge she was.
What luscious lips she’s got! If that
country bumpkin beside her was out ot
the road, I’d give her a hug and a kiss
just for luck.”
No. 2. “Suppose you try it, anyhow.
Give her a little nudge under the table
with your knee.”
There is no telling to what extent the
impudent rascals might have gone hut
for an amazing and entirely unforeseen
event. The bridegroom’s face had
flushed and a dark scowl was on his
brow during the progress of the ticking
conversation; but the operators were
too much occupied with each other to
pay any attention to him. The render
may form some idea of the young men’s
consternation when the partner of the
lady picked up his knife and ticked oil’
tin* following terse but vigorous mes
sage:
“This lady is my wife, and as soon as
she gets through with her breakfast I
propose to wring both your necks—you
insolent whelps.”
The countenances of the operators
fell very suddenly when this message
commenced. ly the time it ended they
had lost all appetite and appreciation
of jokes, and slipped out of the dining
room in a very rapid and unceremo
nious manner. It seems the bride
groom was a telegraph operator, and
“knew how it was himself.”
A Sad Story.
A painful story from one of the western
counties of New York. It is that of an
old lady who had spent almost all her
property in the education of her son ;
she had sent him as a child, as, indeed,
by her husband’s will she felt bound to
do, to England, there to icceive bis
education. At the time of her hus
band’s death the son was only ten years
old, and was her only child. The prop
erty left by the husband was not suffi
cient, as she thought, to permit of the
proper education of the hoy in the way
desired by his father, and at the same
time to allow her either to accompany
her son to England or to live in comfort
during his absence. She took discom
fort and sent ner son first to England
and afterwards to Germany, where he
took a first-rate position at Heidelberg.
Lately he returned, probably with bis
body overflooded with beer, and his
mind swamped hopelessly in the mazes
of German metaphysics. He saluted
the old lady kindly, and then proceeded
to take from her in every possible way
all enjoyment of life. She had, by dili
gent work and strict economy, managed
to lay by something which, with her son,
should soothe her declining years ; hut
this money he succeeded in persuading
her to make over to him, and then, by
bis vicious courses and profligate ways,
he broke his mother’s heart, and a few
days ago the old lady died, anil the son,
having accomplished his purpose of kill
ing her, has just set sail again for Eu
rope, evidently intending there to lead
the life of an adventurer.
Beauties of the Law.
There was an episode during the
Wharton murder trial, a few days since,
that was sadly in keeping with that
melancholy attair. When the court
met on Saturday morning, the presiding
judge announced an adjournment for
two days for an imperative reason. This
was then explained to he that the wife
of one of the jurors had died very sud
denly on the night previous, and this
was the first intimation that the be
reaved husband had of his terrible loss.
The calamity had occurred in Anne
Arundel county, ten miles distant from
Annapolis. An inexorable law would
not permit the jury to disband during
the progress of the trial; so the twelve
were taken by the Sheriff together to
the place where the body lay. They
remained there, at the resilience of the
afflicted juryman, over night, and on
the following day attended the funeral
in a body, after which they returned to
their rooms at Annapolis, the mourner
being obliged to leave behind him his
young and motherless children.
Felatiaii Rogers, an old citizen of
Elmwood, 111., conducted his family
worship as usual, on Sunday morning
last, and had just arisen from his prayer
when he fell dead upon the floor. He
I was 68 years old.
Trichina Spiralis,
The death of a citizen of (.'lcveland,
< >hio, and tin* serious illness of his fatni
ly, caused by the free use of pork infected
with the parasite calhd “ trichina spi
ralis,” has occasioned considerable ex
citement in that e.ty in reference to
diseased meats. An interesting lecture
upon the subject of trichina was re
eently delivered before tin* class of the
Medical College of Cleveland by Pro
fessor \V. .1. Scott, who, after giving a
full history of the discovery of the
existence of these parasites, and of the
diseases generated by tin* eating of
meat affected by them, stated that tii
china* are destroyed by a temperature
of PJ2° Fahrenheit, twenty de/r es be
low tlie boiling point of water, so that
they are killed when tin* meat is prop
erly cooked. Frying, roasting, or broil
ing meats so that I lie temperature of the
mass is raised above the boiling point,
will likewise* destroy the triehime.
Professor Scott said that, considering
the possibility of meat being trichinous,
these facts should be known and re
membered by every one who cooks or
eats pork.
The prominent symptoms of the dis
ease arising from eating pork affected
by trichina' are nausea, vomiting, diar
rtnea, soreness ot the abdomen, fever
and debility, and after a few days,
soreness of the muscles, simulating
rheumatism and typhoid fever, but
diffeiing entirely from either of them.
The treatment for trichime, it is stated,
has as yet, been unsucce-sful, and there
is no known remedy that may be
depended upon. Arsenic has been
given, but it is believed that this poison
would be as fatal to the patient as to the
parasite. Benzine, combined in the
proportion of two drachms with six
ounces of mixture, has also been ad
ministered. Carbolic acid and creosote,
in proper doses, are also recommended.
The best tiling, however, to he done, is
to empty tin- bowels as effectually as
possible of the irritant matter.
Diamonds—False and True.
Very few real diamonds are worn in
this country. The number of false dia
monds in use is immense, and none but
an expert can detect the real from the
imitation article. Artificial diamonds
are made from a peculiar glass called
strass. 'l'his glass has a property of re
flecting light in the same way as the
diamond, and its manufacture has been
carried to such perfection that an ordi
nary observer cannot distinguish the
gems made of it from real diamonds.
After a few years these diamonds tend
to crystalize, so that in ten years they
become turbid and lose all their lustre.
These stones, however, can always he
distinguished by a practical lapidary by
various tests, such as hardness and pe
culiarities in cutting. Diamonds are
also imitated by a system called 44 plock
age,” in which a very thin slab of dia
mond is cemented to some stone, such
as zircon or white topaz. Other real
stones, such as zircon and topaz, when
they are colorless, or only slightly col
ored, are passed off as diamonds. It is
generally supposed that diamonds are
white, but they are of all colors. False
diamonds are made almost entirely in
Paris. Alaska and California diamonds
are only quartz or rock quartz. Prof.
Eggleston, of Columbia College, exam
ined last year a large gem, supposed to
be a ruby, for a leading house here.
He concluded from optical examination
that it was glass. It came ostensibly
from New Granada, and had been sent
to Paris and pronounced real. In Lon
don suspicion was thrown on it. It was
very perfect—even the* Haws were imi
tated.
A Chinese Wedding in Oregon.
La Yueck, the chief Chinese manu
facturer of cigars in Portland, Oregon,
recently imported a wife from his native
country, and wedded her with great
display. Alter the ceremony had been
performed at tlie Joss House, the bride
and her waiting maids were driven to
the r odonee of In r lord and master,
where her husband, who had preceded
her, received the party by tiling a feu dc
joie , composed of a quantity of crackers
ot the largest size. The bride was at
once disrobed by her attendants and put
to bed, while the groom received his
friends and entertained them in a be
coming manner, causing them to smoke
cigars, eat sweetmeats, and drink wines
and sum shuey. In the evening a feast
of roast pig. duck, game, ami all the
delicacies known to tlie Chinese cuisine,
was served in the cli iinbcr of tin* bride,
who, robed in an elaborate robe dc nuit,
and reclining on her couch, received her
guests with a bland, languid smile.
Down in the shop the groom was doing
the agreeable to his guests after they
had been dismissed by the lady of the
house. He wore a happy, don’t care
for-the-expense sort of a smile, and
would every few minutes fire off a
cracker. The festivities were kept up
until a late hour of the night, and then,
with the burning of another bunch of
crackers, the guests were dismissed and
silence reigned.
Fisk’s First Mistake.
Fisk used to often tell about his first
mistake in life. Said the Colonel :
“ When 1 was a little boy on the Ver
mont farm, my father took me up to
the* stable one day, where a row of cows
stood in the stable. Said he 4 James,
the stable window is pretty high for a
boy, but do you think that you could
take this shovel and clean out the sta
ble ?’ 4 I don’t know, Pop,’ said James,
4 I never have done it.’ 4 Well, my boy,
if you will do it this morning, I’ll give
you a bright silver dollar,’ said his
father, patting him on the head, while
he held the silver dollar be lon' his
eyes. ‘Good,’ said James,’ I’ll try,’ and
away he went to work. He tugged, and
pulled, and lifted, and puffed, and,
finally, it was done, and his father gave
him a bright silver dollar, saying,
‘•That’s right, James ; you did it splen
didly, and now I find you can do it so
nicely, I shall have you do it every
morning, all winter I”’
The Broadway Underground Railroad
was reopened for inspection on Monday.
Over one hundred prominent persons
paid a visit to it, and rode in the pneu
matic cars.
Luther Smith, of Biddoford, Me.,con
victed for shooting his two sons in a
quarrel about two quarts of rum, lias
been sentenced to ten years’ imprison
ment.
Editors and Proprietors.
NUMBER 20.
Wise ami Otherwise.
An opponent of the public school sys
tem insists that if you teach a boy to
write, he is much less liable to make his
mark in after life.
“ Thk strongest propensity in a wo
man’s nature,” says a careful student of
the sex, “is to want to know what
is going on, and tin* next is to boss the
job.”
Mu. Greeley thinks that French
J breeds of poultry are not reliable ; be
cause, you see, when a hen of that spo-
I eies has laid one egg she is likely to say
: to herself, u this is un </,” and conse
quently not t> lay any more.
A i>i:.i r.eTF.n looking young man who
askod the editor of the Banbury A T ews
what tv.ii the charge for inserting an
announcement of tin* death of his wife,
being told that it would be clone for
nothing, brightened up considerably for
one in his affliction, and piously observ
ed that “ d* ath has been robbed of half
its terrors.”
A schoolmaster tells the following
good one: I was once teaching in a
quiet country village. The second
morning of the session 1 had time to
survey mv surroundings, and among
the scanty furniture I espied a three
legged stool. “Is this the dunce
block?” I asked a little girl of live.
The dark eyes sparkled, the curls nod
ded assent, and the lips rippled out :
“ I guess so ; the teacher always sits
on it.”
“ Beg yah pardon ! but which are the
coaches tor Montreal?” said a newly-ar
rived Briton to the baggage-master of
one of the Northern railways in Boston.
“ First car forrad,”said the active attache
of the road. “ Baggage checked, sir?”
“Baggage? Haw, you mean my lug
gage ; haven’t any except what I have
on, and that is all cheeked—plaid coat
and trowers, check shirt and cross-bar
scarf,” and he ambled in the car. “A
man as travels on the square,” as the
railway official remarked to a listening
comrade.
A country pedagogue had two pu
pils, to one of which he wiu* partial, and
to the other severe. One morning it
happened that both of these boys were
late, and were called to account, for it.
“ You must have heard the bell, boys ;
why did you not come? ’ “ Please,
sir,” said Ibe favorite, ‘‘l was dreamin’
that I was goin’ to Californy, and I
thought the school hell was the steam
boat bell as I was goin’ in.” 4 * Very
well,” said the master, glad of any pre
text to excuse his favorite. ” And now,
sir,” turning to the other. “ what have
you to say ?” “ Please, sir,” said the
puzzled boy, ik 1— I—was waiting to see
Tom oil'.”
A New Dodge.
Proof-readers who desire lucrative
employment are advised to go to A1
bany, New York. It has just come to
light that printing houses there pay
twenty per cent of their receipts for
this service. The fact has been made
public under these circumstances:
When the federal officers went to the
capital and organized the State Legisla
ture, they elected one Terwilliger clerk
of the Senate. This Terwilliger, it
should ho understood, is a deputy col
lector of the New York custom house,
and was private secretary to Tom Mur
phy while he was in charge of that sa
vory institution. Alter Terwilliger’s
election it was shown by incontestihle
evidence that during former terms as
clerk ol' the Senate he had received
one-fifth of all sums paid to the State
printers on account of work furnished
by him, and that this commission had
amounted to over $6,000. The charge
having assumed such a shape that it
could not be evaded, Mr. Terwilliger
meets it with a robust affidavit, in
which he acknowledges the receipt of
the money, but explains that it was
paid for services rendered as proof
reader. Which is why we remark that
Albany is a hopeful field for that kind
ol' labor.
What If Costs to Die in the (fraud Cen
tral Hotel.
Mr. Comer, Col. Fisk’s private secre
tary, is the administrator ol Fisk’s
estate. <)n Friday he went to the Grand
Central hotel and demanded the per
sonal property taken from the Colonel’s
pocket after the shooting. This prop
erty included the Colonel’s immense
diamond pin, his diamond sleeve but
tons, his diamond ring, and $1,500 in
SIOO bank notes. Instead of giving lip
the property, the proprietor of the
hotel presented a hill of $2,500 for al
lowing Col. Fisk to die in his house.
Mr. Comer repudiated the exorbitant
bill, and again demanded the personal
property. The proprietor refused to
surrender it until his bill was paid.
Mr. Comer will take legal action to re
cover the property. Mr. Comer says
that Fisk’s estate will not net over
SIOO,OOO. The lawyers have eaten up
nearly everything he possessed. Mrs.
Fisk, has determined to sell her horses
and carriages, and has reduced her es
tablishment. Fisk’s life was insured
for a small amount.
Congress and the Dice Planters.
'flie rice-planters of South Carolina
are considerably excited over the report
that Congress has in contemplation a
reduction of the duty on foreign rice.
Most of them profess to be as yet very
heavily in debt, through having been
compelled to accept loans after the war,
in order to enable them to pay in ad
vance for negro labor. In 1861 the duty
was only one cent per pound. It is now
two and a half cents. The Charleston
Chamber of Commerce and Board ol
Trade are against the proposed reduc
tion, while the Charleston News comes
out boldly in favor of free trade. In
matters of this kind, it is the duty of
Congress to consult the interest of the
many rather than the few. At the same
time, wo believe that no change should
ho made without first instituting
an inquiry into the condition of the
planters.— New York Times,
Hamilton’s ambition is to become the
Birmingham of Canada. Several of
the leading citizens have formed a com
pany to establish a tool manufactory on
a large scale. It is expected that 246
hands will he employed when opera
tions are commenced.
An Australian photographer has suc
ceeded in producing photographs enam
elled upon copper.