The true northerner. [volume], January 19, 1877, Image 3

About The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920

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Northerner.
PAW PAW. MICHIGAN.
cr .T'rrr.
THE LITTLE IOLKS.
My LUtl Treasure.
'Would you know little tinware,
tUrent, jineHeM wyona iueuro i
Uooie with in ;
Look and ef
Kip 11 a briiun:lii oVr with pleasure
Laughter-loving Marjortel
"Littl dariiuff, bright eyea jfipiniing,
kull ef thougat ami tender dreatuuig
Thought for tue I
l.cok and
All the love that thwre in beaniinfl
I Hwettebt, dearoHt Marjorie!
Tittle daughter, full of laughter,
Whom tho nuubearus npple after,
Dear to ine ;
Look aud eo
All tho love that I would waft her
Bmt of treasures, Marjorie !
Harper' Lazar.
Johnny' Acrobata.
" Come, Johnny, it's bed-time," said
mamma.
But Johnny was making a wonderful
figuro, wherein one acrobat, standing
on his head, was " takiug hold of heels"
with two of Lis brethren above, while a
fourth appeared to be dancing on their
head. The faces of tho performors ex
pressed such unqualified enjoyment of
the fun, and the figure was really so
very funny that Johnny laughed loud
and long.
" Look I mamma." ;
" Yes, I see; but it's bed-time."
"I made this without looking at tho
paper at alL"
" Don't make another ono to-night,
Johnny."
Johnny took down tho box with a
sigh, then proceeded to pull his jolly
acrobats to pieces, a process over which
they laughed silently. Tho bodies were
laid carefully in tho box, tho heads
placed beside them in a row, and lastly
the vacant spaces filled up with the dis
membered arms and legs; aud Btill tho
faces smiled on.
" Wouldn't it be funny if we could
take off our arms and legs so ?" said
Johnny as he closed the box.
4 Very funny."
"You m?ght see mo sometimes with
Jimmy Nelson's head on."
"I'd rather tee your own' replied
his mother with a kiss. " Aren't you al
most ready?"
Johnny could find no possible excuse
for delaying, so ho trotted slowly up
stairs with his mother. He had so much
to talk about that it seemed a long time
before he was fairly arrayed in his little
white "nightie," and after that it took
him so :o time to sny his prayers.
"I rnr.st put cousin Annie in," said
he earnestly; "because sho gave me the
acrobats."
Johnny thought ho never should go
to sleep' that night, and just as he was
about entering tho Land of Nod he
heard the strangest little noise, like tho
pattering of tiny feet around him. He
sat np very straight and rubbed his eyes
incredulously, for, wonders of wonders!
there wero his four jolly acrobats turn
ing sunimerpaults, dancing jigs, and cut
ting up all sorts of caperB upon the bed--quilt.
" lie's awake," said one of them at
length. Then they all stopped dancing,
and tho one which Johnny had always
called the clown straightened himself
up and prepared to make a speech.
"Master Johnny Wheeler," said he in
a squeaky little tone, "we've always
done our best to amuso you, haven't
wo?"
" Yes," replied wondering Johnny.
"And it's only fair that we should
have some amusement in our turn?"
" So it is," replied Johnny.
" Well, then, what can you do for us ?"
Johnny's mind ran hastily up and
lown the scale of his accomplishments.
" I can speak a piece for you."
"Let's hear it."
He stood up on the bed (no easy mat
ter, by the way) and commenced :
Trettyl'olly Tansy
Hadn't any hair:
JiiMta rufT of gold down,
Fit for ducks to wear.
Merry"
" I don't think we want any more of
that," said the clown with a wave of
his arm. " Give me something more
sensible.
Johnny thought for ' a moment and
then began again.
" III ! the baby in ettintf up stairs,
One ate t. two step, three steps slow.
Down she comes with a thump, thump, thump."'
," Good enough for her," shouted the
clown.
" Capital t hat ha!" exclaims the
others in concert.
" anma kisses "
"Oh! we don't want to hear any
thine about kisses. Just leave that
fcrhere it is."
"I don't like you a bit," thought
Johnny. "I only know one more piece
and 1 am giaa oi it.
' Creep away, my bairnle.
Creep bof ore you Kn8i
LUteu "
" I should think so," put in the clown
frownintrly. ;
" Creep !" cried the other in scornful
chorus. "That won't do at alL"
" That's ail I know," said Johnny
crossly curling himself up in the bed
clothes again.
" Couldn't you stand on one foot upon
that had board awhile?" asked the
clown .glancing at tho bedstead.
"No, I couldn't."
"Or jump up to tho top of that look
jfog-glaps?"
"No. I wouldn't."
" Or sit astride tho gas fixture for half
an hour ?"
"No."
" Hi. others." said tho clown majestic
ally, " he doesn't know anything. Ho
must be taught."
' "Yes." shouted tho ethers. "He
really must be taught."
Hero one of the jolliest of tho group
seated himself upon Johnuy's breast and
waved a flag over him a moment.
Johnnv legan to feel tho queerest sen
sations in his back and limbs. His lin
ers and toes were gone, and instead of
them were three or four funny little
grooves. Ho knew well enough what
Jiha grooves wero for. He liked them
irf.rv much, indeed upon tho acrobats
but to find them upon himself was a very
AtrrYnut matter.
. "Bnpposo I should grow into ono of
bVm " ho paid though tlully.
" Come !" said the clown, " you're all
4t Sprite
ready. Get up.
"Ishin'tdoit."
"You'd better."
"I shan't."
"It's a' clear caso of disobedience,"
thundered the clown. " What shall we
do?"
" ne must be punished."
"So ho must. Brothers, I have a
headache, caused by a tremendous whack
which he gave mo this very evening. I
demand a fair exchange."
While Johnny was wondering what a
fair exchange was, tho clown came
toward him with a series of jumps, pull
ed his head quickly from his shoulders,
and thruct his own in its place.
"lou let my head alone ! screamed
Johnny.
But he found himself staring at ins
own face, which looked at !him from the
clown's painted shoulders, and which
seemed to take on a leering, mocking
expression as he looked.
"Anybody else want to change ?
"Yes ; my arm's broken."
" O h ! I don't believe it."
"My legs are both black and blue."
" It s tho paint," cried Johnny, wav
ing his arms, and trying to kick with
little wooden legs.
.Hut the acrobats had them off in a
trice, and in the twinkling of an eye the
exchango was mado.
" Hardly any of this is mo, thought
Johnny, ruefully. " Wonder if I shall
ever get myself back again. This hoad
does ache a little, truly.
J J at he couldn t stop to think abou
t, for just then the clown announced
in a loud voice that an entertainment
would commence in five minutes, and
the three others busied themselves in
arranging their poles for the perform
ance.
And what wonderful tnings they did !
Balancing themselves upon each other's
shoulders, jumping from bed to bureau
and back again, turning summersaults
from soap-dish to waterpitcher, waving
a tooth-brush instead of a fiag in short,
indulging in more extravagant feats than
the little boy had ever dreamed of be
fore. " Now," shouted the clown, "we'll
have our song. We'll give you some
thing worth hearing. And, without
stopping this evolution for an instant,
the queer little figures piped out :
jony acroDais are we,
As you see,
Movnting high or stooping low,
Here we go.
Without hands and without feet,
Our gymnastics who can beat 7
O nt
Jolly acrobats are we,
Doing wonders as you see.''
Thoro were a great many verses, but
they all sounded just alike. Johnny
became tired of it at last, and was
thinking that ho might just as well go
to sleep, when the clown cried out :
'Silencer
Instantly the three acrobats jumped
upon their poles and stood there.
Do you want your head back again?
inquired the clown, gravely, of Johnny.
"Of course I do.
"And your arms and legs?"
"Yes."
"Very well, earn them, then. I'll
give you five minutes to climb to the
top of that picture-frame," (pointing to
a photograph which hung just over tho
headboard.) Only five minutes! Come,
now.
"That's my father's picture," said
poor Johnny.
" Can t help it if it s your grandfather.
There's one minute gone."
" I in so heavy.
"Two minutes gone."
Johnny rose slowly on his wooden
legs and commenced the assault. His
limbs wero grooved, to be sure; but the
bedstead was so very smooth that ho
slipped back again.
" Oh I dear me. I
" Three minutes gone."
He tried again, but with the saruo re
sult.
" 'Tisn't fair. These arms and legs
aren't good for anything. You eaid they
wasn't."
" Four minutes gone."
Johnny tried again; but it was such
very hard work that ho began to cry.
Ail at once ne nearu a voice, wmcn uiu
not belong to the clown.
" What is the matter, darling? And
the little fellow looked into his mother':!
astonished eyes.
" I wanted ray head and my arms
and legs."
"Th?y all seem to be here, said
mamma, laughing. " Yliat were you
trjing to do, Johnny ?
" Trying to trying to. Oh I
mother J" And he clasped her tightly
around the neck. "P'r'aps I've been
asleep. But are you sure my acrobats
haven't been out of the box ?"
" I certainly think I should have seen
them if they had, replied mamma.
She laughed again, and Johnny
couldn't help laughing a little, too, he
was so glad to be himself again.
"Its ever bo much better to have
your arms and legs fastened on," he ex
claimed, at length, with a sigh of re
lief.
"I should think so."
" I wouldn't change heads with any
body. Would you, mother ?"
"That would depend upon circum
stances, replied mamma.
" I don t Iwhove I shall ever like that
old clown so very much again, mur
mured Johnny, sleepily.
But he did.
Fixing the Kesponslbllity.
Some important testimonv boarincr
upon the question of the cause of and
the responsibility lor tho brcaning oi
tio Ashtabula rmug-3 was given at tne
Cnrnnrr's iuemest. Mr. Joseph Tom-
linson, now of Ottawa, Canada, formerly
in the employ of the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern Itailroad Company,
testified that ho drafted the original
working plans of tho bridge, aud pro
viding for extra strength to tho main
braces upon which the greatest strain
must come. Theso braces were not con
Rtrnr?td in accordance with the draw
ings, but were made considerably
lio-liter. and the cost therebv materially
lessened at the expense of the strength
and safety ot the bridge, as was suose
mwntlv mode clear with awful distinct
ness. Mr. Tomlinson testifies that ho
protested earnestly against this seiious
dofect. but was overruled bv Mr. Stone,
who at that time had tho management
of the road. Tomlinson again advised
tho strengthen in i? of tho main braces.
and his persistency in the matter led to
the severance of hia connection with tho
road.
VAKDEKHILT.
1IU Personal Habit und l'eriillarltlra f.
tent of Ills Kullway Operations.
Cor. Chicago Tribune.
niS FONDNESS FOn CARDS
Commodoro Vandcrbilt never per
mitted his feelings to get the better of
his opinions or his judgment. No man
was less governed by his feelings in his
stock or pecuniary operations. Ho al
ways said that a man was a fool to allow
himself to fight, or to quarrel, or to call
names, and that no business man ever
did this. He was always very fond of
cards, whist and "point eaehre." Ho
never played poker or . gambled at the
faro- table. I asked him once aa to the
largest amount of money he ever made
at whist, and he said that when the
Southern men wero in their glory he won
$20,000 in one day. He was a member
of tho old Itacket Club years ago when it
was down next to the ' Metropolitan
Hotel twenty-five or thirty years ago.
For many years he was a member of the
Union Club, and was once guilty of an
indiscretion in language at tho table in
tho club-house, and was threatened with
suspension. Ho did not go there for a
very long time after that, but later he
resumed his visits. In the years from
1865 to 1870 ho was a regular attendant
at the Manhattan Club. He was a good
whist player, though not a first-class
one. He was Lot very apt to indulge in
recrimination at a game. No special
persons formed his whist party. In those
days there were many whist-players
Work, Banker, Dean BichmonU, Farmer
Abel, August Belmont and A. W. Clas
son. He did net go to any club after
1872, I believe. Ho changed his habits
materially after his second marriage, and
didn't go out much in tho evening.
HIS POWER.
Ho carried his point many times by
tho sheer weight of his indomitablo will
and money power. A committee of tho
Legislature once asked him why ho did
not appeal to tho power of the law, and
his answer was, " I havogot the power."
HIS STOCK OPERATIONS.
If ho made money by tho rise and fall
of stocks it was only incidentally and as
ho saw safe opportunity. His attention
was devoted to the management of his
railroads. Ho distinctly differenced
himself from such men as Daniel Drew
and Jay Gould, and never lost an oppor
tunity to condemn WTall street specula
tions. " But you buy and sell stock on
the street, do you not, Mr. Vanderbilt ?"
said the writer toliim on one occasion.
Yes," was the reply, "but I pay for
what I buy, and only sell what I have
got, and these fellows (tho speculators)
don't"
nis owNERsnrr of railroad stocks.
The Commodore, according to esti
mate, owned stock in the following
roads :
New Haven and Ilartford $ 500,010
New Yoik and New Haven ACU.OOO
Central Hu.lHon 3D.Coo,(xK)
,ake Shore 5,)iHUil0
Ohio aud Misf-iBsippl 1,U0U,00U
luuroad bonus, aim) shares lu Bleeping
cars 8,ooo,oco
Total $15,000,100
ms rnysiCATj activity.
As an instance of how active ho was
in his 58th year, it ia related that in
18o2 ho was on board tho steamer l'ro
metheus, of the Nicaragua lino, as she
was being moorod to her berth at Tier
No. 4, North river. A single hawser
had been run from the ship to the pier,
but, owing to the strong current, tho
vessel could not bo moored. The Com
modore became impatient at the delay,
and, throwing his cane on tho dock,
swung himself hand over hand, on tne
hawser, from the ship to tho pier.
Then, picking up his cane, he said, " I
was not going to stay there all day,
and walked slowly up the cock.
ms PREJUDICES.
Many stories showing his fitrong
prejudices and peculiarities in those
days, in regard to his busmoss, are told
of him. On ono occasion in 1852, a Mr.
Loper, of Philadelphia, who had built
a number of propellers, and who was
strongly in favor of that class of vessels,
called on the Commodore to try to in
duce him to use propellers instead of
side-wheel steamers on tho Nicaragua
line. He exhibited a model to the Com
modore, and predicted that in ten years
from that time not a single side-wheel
steamer would bo built, as tho profilers
were superior to them, both in speed
and economy. After hearing all that
Mr. Loper had to say, the Commodore
said: "All you say, Loper, may be true.
but 1 11 tell you what 1 11 do. lou build
a propeller, and I'll build ono of my
walking-beam ships, and I'll run you a
race from New York to Liverpool, ship
for ship." Mr. Loper did not accept
the wager, and tho Commodore never
built a propeller.
rrorlslonaofthe Will of the Late Itailroad
Klag.
The will of the late Cornelius Vander
bilt is dated Jan. 9, 1875, and a codicil
is attached bearing date June 30, 1875.
The will directs tho executors to pay to
Mrs. Vanderbilt $500,000, settled on her
at marriage, together with the family
mansion, statuary, furniture, plate, two
carriages, one pair oi carriage horses,
etc.
To the five daughters, Mrs. Jameu M.
Cross, Mrs. William K. Thorn, Mrs.
Horace F. Clark, Mrs. Daniel Torrance,
and Mrs. ,N. B. LaBon, $1,250,000 reg
istered bonds Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern railroad, and $1,250,000 con
solidated mortgage-bonds of the New
York and Harlem Railroad Com pan y, to
be divided in equal shares. To Airs.
Daniel B. Allen, a daughter, $f 00,000
United States 10-40s in trust, upon which
she is to receive the interest. Upon :ier
decease the $100,000 bonds to go to
her children.
To the daughter, Mrs. Eliza Osgo d,
interest on $300,000 same class bonds,
and at her decease the principal goes to
tho residuary legatee.
To the daughter, Mrs. Catherine JLa-
fittee, interest of $500,000 10-40 bond,
and at her death the bonds to be divided
among her children.
To his son, Cornelius J. vanderbilt,
interest on $200,000 10-40 bonds. Upon
deceaso of Cornelius, the $200,000 bond i
are to be given to the residuary legatee
To his sister Fhebe, $1,200 per annum
dining her life.
To his nioco, Fhebe Ann Blake, $300
per annum.
To Rebecca Little and her daughter
Cornelia, $200 each per anaum.
To his brother, Jacob H. Vanderbilt,
850,000 first-mortgage bonds Slaten
Island Bail way Company.
To his niece, Ann C. Root, 820,000
liko bonds.
To his nephew Cornelius V. Deforest,
$10,000 registered Lake Shore bonds.
To his niece, Fhebe Ann Dusten,
$5,000 consolidate'1 New York and Har
lem bonds.
To Mrs. Sophia White, $5,000 like
bonds.
To his niece, Charlotto Haskell, $5,000
such bonds.
To each of tho three daughters of his
niece, Fhebe Ann Dusten, $5,000 such
bonds.
To Charles Simonson, son of his
nephew, Charles M. Simonson, deceased,
$10,000 like bonds.
To the family physician, Dr. Jared
Laialey, $10,000 'like bonds.
To Capt. James Braisted, formerly in
the employ of the Commodere, $1,000
such bonds,
Tp Lambert War Jell, an old and faith
ful clerk, $20,000 such bondJ.
To his grandson, William K. Thorn,
Jr., son of his daughter Emily, $25,000
in registered bonds of the Lake Shore
uiid Michigan Southern Kail way Com
pany. To Samuel Fatten ntnd, son of Oba
diah Hand, brother of tho Commodore's
mother, one such registered bond of
said company, $5,000.
To the Rev. Dr. Charles F. Deems,
pastor of the Church of the Strangers,
$20,000 of such registered bonds.
To Mrs. Maria Lecher, wifo of Gen.
Gordon Granger, $10,000 of such
registered bonds, and to tho wife of his
nephew, S imuel Barton, $25,000 firat
mortgage bonds Staten Island Railway
Company.
All the rest, residue, and remainder
of tho property and estate is bequeathed
to.Williaui H. Vanderbilt, his heirs,
execntors, administrators, and assigns
forever.
The codicil bequeaths to his grand
son, Cornelius Vanderbilt, son of
William H., 22.390 shares of tho capital
stock of the New York and Harlem
Railroad Company, and 31,050 shares
of tho capital stock of tho New York
Central und Hudson River Railroad
Company.
To William K. Vanderbilt, another
son of William II., 20,000 shares of New
York Central and Hudson River Rail
road Company stock.
To Frederick W. Vanderbilt, another
son of William H., 20,000 shares of the
same etock, to be delivered when ho be
comes of age.
To Georg'e Vanderbilt, nn other son
of William H., 20,000 shares of tho
same stock, to bo delivered at the age
of 21.
To his beloved wife, Frank A. Van
derbilt, 2,000 shares of like stock in ad
dition to previous bequests.
Story of an EjeWItuess at Ashtabula.
The following description of tho scene
at Aehtabula, on tho night of tho rail
road disaster, is from an eyo-witness,
who, at tho moment of tho crash, wai at
the railroad station, having come across
the fatal bridge only a short time before
the interrupted passage of "No. 5."
The wind was blowing so at the time
that the noise of tho crush was not heard
at tho station. The first alarm was some
one's shouting, " No. 5's ever the
bridge !" Rushing at onco to tho river,
the narrator was present just as the
wreck was beginning to burn. To bor
row his own words: " As I looked down
I couldn't see more than four or five
cars at first, they were so buriod under
each other. They had just started to
burn. Tho ' Socrates ' had stopped
about 150 feet from the edge, and aa I
came along the engineer said, Great
God, the train is over the bridge all
but us.' I rushed right down, and al
most tho first one I met was the fireman,
ne was walking about, and seemed
stunned and dazed. He said ho was
cold, and wanted somd one to take care
of him. I carried him up the hill to the
switch shanty, and then the cars were
all in a blaze. The sky was all lightod
up, and tho snow was just coming down
from the heavens in waves. You could
look right down in thero and see them
writhing with tho horrible agony, liko
worms, and fighting the fire ; and O,
that moaning 1 I can't describe it it
was like a long Oh o o o in suoh a
fearful wail, tho sound rising and
falling, and every once in a while a
fearful shriek and a desperate cry for
help. Women were swooning, and this
moaning cry kept up for O, 1 can't tell
how long, but it seemed a good while.
It seemed to mo that fifty people musl
have passed mo up the bank, some
climbing, and others being pulled or
carried up. It was burning for a long
time in the night, but nothing could be
done. O, it was awful, and I can't re
member what I did down there on the
ice, or how long it lasted." Cleveland
Ilerald.
Corn and Hogs in Illinois.
Tho Secretary of the Board of Agri
culture of the State of Illinois estimated
the yield of corn in the State for 187G at
208,112,910 bushel, against an average
yield of 339,008,973 bushels. The num
ber of hogs reported in the State on May
1, 187C, was 2,005,935, against 2.809.CC9
at the corresponding time in 1875, and
3, 152,213 at tho same time in 1874. Tho
decrease in the crop in two years is
equal to 23 per cent. It ia estimated that
the farmers of the State have suffered a
los? of 17J per cent, of their hogs froxr
cholera. --Chicago Inter- Ocean.
underbill's Secret of Success.
Mr. Vanderbilt was asked one day
what was tho secret of his success in
businesrt. "Secret? There is no se-
civt about it. All yon have to do is to
attend to vonr business and go ahead."
At unother timo he said : "Tho secret
of my success is this : I never tell what
I am going to do till I have done it."
This was nearer the mark. Ho kept his
own counsel and never betrayed his best
friend himself.
Maj. McFarland, the engineer em
ployed by the Interoccanio Canal Com
mission to report on a route uniting the
Atlantic and the Pacific, saya that the
Nicaragua way ia tho most feasible. The
distance would bo sixty-one miles; there
is no natural harbor at either end, and
the cost would bo about tllO.OOOiOOO.
The difficulty would be greater than in
making the Suez canal. Tho Darien
Toute would be much shorter, but would
fcivolvo tunneling.
Brtwn's Matrimonial Methods.
Brown, I don't know how it is that
your girls all marry off as soon as thoy
jivt old enough, while none of mine can
m&rry."
Oh, that's simple enough. I marry
my girls off on the buckwheat straw
principle."
But what is that principle ? I never
heard of it before."
V Well, I used to raise a good deal of
buc kwheat, and it puzzled me to know
how to get rid of the straw. Nothing
would eat it, and it was a great bother
to me. At last I thought of a plan,
stacked my buckwheat straw nicely ana
built a high rail-fence around it. My
cattle, of course, concluded that it waa
something good, and at once toro down
th' fence and began to eat the sb aw. I
dogged them away and put up the fence
a few times, but the more I drove them
awny the more anxious they became to
eat tho straw, and eat it they did, every
bit of it. As I said, I marry my girls
off on the same principle. When a
young man that I don't like begins call
ing on my girls I encourage him in every
wuy I can. I tell him to come often and
sbt'y as late as he pleases, and I take
pains to hint to the girls that I think
they'd better set their caps for him. It
works first-rato. He don't make many
cuI'h, for the girla treat him as coolly as
thy can. But when a young feliow
tliHt I like comes around, a man that I
thi'ik would suit me for a son-in-law, I
don't let him make many calls before I
give him to understand tint he isn't
wautod around my house. I tell the
girls, too, that they shall not have any
thing to do with him, and givo them
orders never to speak to him again.
Tho plan always works first-rato. The
yt nug folks begin to pitch into each
otht-.r, and the next thing I know they
are engaged to bo married. When I see
tlmt they aro determined to marry, I
always give in and pretend to make the
best of it. That's the way I manage it."
Dubuque Telegraph,
The "What Is It" at Sea.
Au extraordinary report appeared a
few days ago in the papers of an ex
plosion and sudden disappearance of
an unknown vessel off Fortland. A
still more extraordinary explanation of
tho matter is given by a correspondent
of the Dorset County Chronicle who
states that when on the look-out at
Fortland Bill, on the morning when the
alleged explosion occurred, he saw what
at first appeared a long, low, dismastod
ship, with short, stumpy jury-masts,
about one mile south-southwest off Port
land. Sho looked like a vessel broken
backed, as her stem and stern were well
out of water, and something like smoke
or nteam wa3 rising up in midships.
To his surprise, on looking through a
telescope, he saw it was "a monster
fish, with head and tail rising high
above the swell of the eca, and the back
nearly down to the level of tho water,
and what appoared at first to be smoke
or Hteam was large jets of water thrown
up like a big whale blowL?. The
stumpy masts were immense long fins.
AU at once, with a tremendous bound at
least thirty or forty feet high, and down
aguiu almost liko lightning, the huge
mobster disappeared." This statement,
it is said, is confirmed by Capts. Cosens,
Gibbs and Mace, who went out in the
Commodore in search of tho crew or
fragments of the supposed vessel. They
saw " an immense monster of the deep "
throwing np jets of water and making
itself painfully conspicuous by its ec
centric proceedings. This remarkable
creature is evidently not the sea serpent,
but Homcthing far more interesting and
disHgreeable. Indeed, it ia impossible
not to feel sorry for the sea-serpent,
whoso charms are entirely eclipsed by
the Portland monster. Fall Mall Ga
zette.
Yanderbilt's Religion.
Tho Bible has long been the Commo
dore's favorite book, and, during his last
attuek, the religious side of his character
was mere fully displayed than ever be
fore. About August last he manifested
a desire to have hymns sung at his bed
side, and frequently called his fam
ily around him, requesting them to
join in singing religious songs. His
life, during the last eight months imme
diately preceding his death, was exceed
ingly quiet and peaceful. All his vast
interests in the several railroads, in the
affairs of which he had been the ruling
spirit for so many years, were disposed
of to his satisfaction, and, as he repeat
edly said that he was prepared to die,
there wero no disturbing influences sur
rounding him. New York Iribune.
Pretentious Pests of tae Period
Our expenditures must be made more
Eroductive; the dignity of labor must
ave more recognition, and the gentility
of various counterfeits of work rather
less. The country yields enough for all,
and we must learn to make all earn their
share of its abundant wealth. The able
bodied tramp who lives on tho earnings
of honest toil is no more of a social pest
than some more pretentious members of
society, who live by various ingenious
devices for levying toll on capital and
labor. A good many such have found
their natural level of late, in our pro
gress toward sound business methods ;
many more gamblers, speculators, and
Hiiperfluous middlemen must fall by the
way. New York limes.
Sad Statistic.
Thirtv-one of those who non'shAl Vtt
the Brooklyn Theater lira loft
and small children who had been en
tirely dependent on them for support ;
four left widows alone in destitute cir
cumstances ; eight left widowed moth
ers: fix were the solo surmort of rtrt.kin
si-tera and brothers, and forty-fivo of
ino joung men were helping to main
tain acred parenti: eleven of thn V7iliwa
aro about to become mothers. One
hundred and nine of tho families visited
by tho relief committee will require tem
porary assistance, and seventy-five more
will want help through the winter.
F. P. Bliss, the noted singing reviv
alist who was killed in tho Ashtabula
disaster, was 36 years old. Ho wa for
merly in tho employ of a musio-publish-ing
firm. In 1874 ho made the ac
quaintance of Maj. Whittle, the eboj-t-er,
at a Sunday-school convention, and
on that occasion composed the now fa
miliar song, " Hold the Fort." There
after he and Whittlej traveled together
almost constantly. He is the author or
adapter of most of the songs used in
tho Moody and Sankey meeting.
People and Things.
Liszt drinks schnapps.
Admiral Porter ia in poor health.
Boccicault has seven lawsuits on
hand.
Woman is fast being made eligible to
all the olnces without salaries.
Parisian Judges are not permitted to
wear the unprofessional mustache.
The Grand Duchess of Sixe-Weimar
has tho richest collection of rubios in the
world.
A San Francisco woman won a wager
by eating thirty quails in as many con
secutive days.
Thk Sheriff of Tunica county, Ark., is
accused not only of stealing public mon
ey, but of murder.
Over seventy members of tho Ver
mont Legislature attend a prayer meet
ing every morning.
Queen Victoria rejoices in tho birth
of her twenty-fifth grandchild. Sixteen
of tho twenty-five are girls.
OmvER Goldsmith's grand-niece, Jane
Goldsmith, has just died at the Homo
for the Aged, in Halifax, N. S.
A CO-tear-old woman in Leesburg,
O., dressed herself in a man's clothes,
and committed a daring burglary.
Father Bollio, the new custodian of
the Vatican Basilica at Rome, is said to
bo the master of fifty-two languages.
Prof. Huxley, in a lecture at the Lon
don Institute, has declared his opinion
that the horse ia only a bear developed.
The Rev. Edward Everett nale con
ducts a weekly history class in hia
church, after the manner of a Bible
The Dramatic Neios says that a for
mal separation has been arranged be
tween Kate Claxton, the actress, and her
husband.
Herman Michaels suej- his sweet
heart in St. Louis for breach of promise,
and for the return of jewelry that he
has given to her.
TnE City Government of Boston re
fuses to license any more boxers and
wrestlers, and those active scientists
will have to strike out for the tolerant
West. .
Ex-Treasurer Spinner has written
his name in the sands of time, and when
tho next generation comes along and
sees it, what a puzzled look there
will be.
Thb Cherokee nation in Arkansas has
gained its suit to compel the Little Rock
and Fort Smith railroa 1 to take up its
rails and cease running within its bound
aries. Sir Michael Costa, after his two ora
torios, " Eli "and "Naamin," has pro
served a long silence in composilion ;
but it is stated that he ia now engaged
on a third work depicting the career of
Joseph, the son of Jacob.
Henry Bergh has secured the con
viction of 872 inhumans, relieved and
provided medical attention for 1,802
horses and mules, and put 2,2154 animals
out of misery, all in Now York city, dur
ing the year just past.
A Cincinnati woman saw a boy slide
into a sewer opening. She did not faint,
or scream' but sho hastily took off her
shawl, lowered it so that the lad could
catch hold of ono crd, and in that way
kept him afloat until assistance came.
Mmk. Alioa MARcnAFDy formerly a
dancer at the Grand Opera, Paris, died
in that city lately at the age of 108. She
made her first appearance in 1775, at
tho ago of 9. She has left inemolre
which are soon to bo published by her
executor.
Bertha Voy HiLLERN.the pedestrienne,
has in BostoL. awakened interest remark
ably. The Governor, the Mayor, several
clergymen, and a large number of women
go to see her in Music Hall. She has
learned Weston's play of getting men of
public standing to countenance her un
dertaking. frost work.
Th fronts hve coma with noiseless tre&d,
The vanguard of the mow ;
Thfl buuimc wrara thvroboof red,
And all the fort-Ht luvti, though deaJ,
111 gold aud criiaon glow.
The exiled aunimtr bird have flown.
And o'ei each rupty next
The brrathlng im make ccmcIcm uioaa
A half unuttered laosotune,
A nitfh of vagu unrest.
Remains of an ancient Indian village
have been discovered at IiaragonaJi
Utah. Tho houses, now covered with
sage brush were arranged in uniform
rows and were about eight by nine
feet in si2e. They were all, two
story built of adobe, supported by
pillars of sandstone rock. Rude ap
pliances for grinding corn, were also,
found.
Tux DukB of Westminster has. set a
very good esxample to the other propri
etors of London squares. He has. of
fered to the Metropolitan Board of
Works tbe freehold of Ebury Square
Gardens, in order that this space may
be thrown open to tho public. The
Duke offers to give up absolutely to the
public the fee simple unhampered by
any conuiuon.
Mr. Parnell, a member of tho In
ternational Gun and Polo Club, has.
performed at Brighton, .England, the
extraordinary feat of shooting a hundred
penny pieces successively in fifty min
utes, thereby winning a heavy wager
300 to jC15. The axzangeiaKUts wtra
that the "thrower up" should stand
eight yards from the-shooter, and that
he should no throw a coin mere than
three feet abovo hia Lead.
Von Moitkk expressed himself at a
recent military gathering to the 2ect
that Busftia, in making war agaimt Tur
key, was embarking in a preat aad dirli
ciilt enterprise. In !fc'23 the Turks,
with bftrely 1C000 w levk, resisted
for a long time the onslaughUof 120, 00C
well-equipped and disciplined Banians,
who?o numbers were kept up by contin
ual reiuforcenienK lu tho present
emergency tho Bussians would have
still less reu-sou to anticipate an easy and
rapid succeys.
Ir you aro to marry a delicate, pale
and fUkly IkJv, matte lur t&ko Dr. J. II. Mo.
Lean' titrcngthetiing Cordiil ..vl Klcnkl Tori
fier ; it Vital; oe and j:n:lM tLn bloo 1, fctrongth
ens and iiiYifcorataa, cannon H o rich blood to
tbe cheek aaiu. Dr. J. 11. McLcn 3U Ctuwtt.
nut street, bt. Louu, Mo.