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A Rnssian Land-Holder of the Old Regime. The following extract from Tourgue neffs story, "The Nobleman of the Steppe," in Scribner, is quite in keeping with recent accounts of the improvidence and bigotry of Russian noblemen of the last generation: Pantalei Jeretneitsch's father had re ceived his estate in a broken-down con dition. In his turn he had lived in a free and ea*y way, and at his death had left to his only son and heir, Pantalei, the mortgaged village of Bessonovo, with thirty-three male and seventy-six female serfs, and fourteen and one-eighth desso tinesof badly located land in the wilder ness of Kolobrod; moreover, no deed of this tract was found among the papers of the deceased. He had, it must be admit ted, succeeded in ruining himself in the most singular manner. According to his views, a nobleman ought to have nothing to do with tradesmen, bourgeois, and "rascals" of that stripe. In his house he established work-shops for mechanics of all kinds. "That is more proper and much cheaper,' 1 he used to say. "Rural economy I" —this destructive notion he did not abandon to the end of his days, and it was really that which wrought his ruin. But then in return he lived in pleasure aud satisfied every one of his whims. Among other things, it occurred to him to have a family carriage built under his own directions, and it was so large that, in spite of the combined efforts of all the horses of the village and their owners, it upset on the first downward slope and fell to pieces. Jeremei Lv kitsch (for that was the name of Pantalei's father) had a monument erected on that spot and gave himself no further trouble about it. He also took it into his head to build a church, alone (of course), and without the aid of an architect. The burning of the tiles consumed a whole forest; he had a mighty foundation laid, as if he intended to erect a state cathedral, built the walls, and began the vault of the cu pola; but the cupola fell down. He made a second attempt; the cupola broke down once more; a third time there was the same result. Then Jeremei Lu kitsch grew thoughtful; "there is some thing wrong about this affair," he thought, "some cursed witchcraft," and he gave an order that all the old women in the vil lage should be flogged. The old women were flogged, but tor all that the cupola would not stand. The peasants were to live on a new principle, all according to his "rural economy." He had their houses built three aud three together, so that they formed a triangle, in the midst of which a pole was raised, with a little house for the starlings and a flag. Every day he inveuted something ne«v; now he made soup out of burs, now he cut otf the tails of tbe horses to adorn the caps of the servants, now he sowed nettles instead of hemp, fed the pigs on mushrooms, etc. One day he read in the Moscow Times an article by the landed proprietor Chriak Chrupiorski on the utility of good morals for the peasantry, and immediate ly he gave command that all his peasants should learn the article by heart. The peasants obeyed. He then asked them if they really understood what they had learned, and the overseer answered for them, "Why shouldn't they understand it?" About the same time, for the sake of order and rural economy, he had all his serfs numbered, and the number of each sewed on his collar. Whenever they met their master, every one cried out, "Number so-and-so passes by," and the master answered, graciously, "Go, iv God's name." Needles. The tirst suggestion of needles is given in the Bible, where it is recorded that Adam and Eve sewed tig leaves together. Yes; but there was scarcely any "sewing" at that time, according to the present general acceptstion of the term. It was "sewing" without needles. The fibers of plants (flax is such a fiber) would supply the thread,and a thorn-spike, or any other email and sharp point, would make holes in the materials, through which the fiber could pass. The first needles used by the Egyptians were eyeless, and made of bronze. Now and then, a regular needle, though coarse, was made. Its length was from three to four inches. It is gen erally believed that needles were first in troduced into England in Henry the VIII's reign. Some years later, in the reign of Queen Mary (wife of Philip 11., King of Spain), they were comparatively plenty. They were imported from Spain, which then had almost a monopoly of the manufacture. These Spanish needles were made of steel. It has been stated, but not on good authority, that the man ufacture of needles was recovered and re sumed in the reign of "good Queen Bess," and tbst the operator, a German, worked with great secresy, in order to keep the trade and profits all to himself. About the year 1(150, during the civil war, and just after tbe decapitation of Charles 1., the art of needle making was revived, by one Christopher Greening, at Long Crendon, a village in Buckinghamshire. Tbe needles there and then made were very coarse, compared with those of the present time. Finally, ltedditch, a small town in Worcestershire, twelve miles from Birmingham, became tbe center of tbe needle-trade. "My dear," said an affectionate wife to her husband, aa she looked out of the window, "do you notice how green snd beautiful the grass looks on tbe neigh boring hillst" "Well," waa the uopoetic response, "what other color would you have it at this time of year?" To owe if human; to pay up, divine. Hans Christian Andersen. The following is from the advance sheets of the new book of European trav el"Abroad Again," by Curtis Guild, au thor of "Over the Ocean" and editor of the Boston Commercial Bulletin: "While our horses were resting at Sam j aden, in the upper Eugadine, we enjoyed , the unexpected pleasure of an interview ! with the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen. The good-natured fairy story j teller, who was then sojourning at the I hotel, on hearing that two Americans fiat had read his books would like to i see him, came to us with extended hands lof welcome, though just returned from a fatiguing excursion to the Murteratsch glacier. He had but recently returned from Italy, where he hud been for his health; and had been staying here for a week's rest, ere returning to Copenhagen. He was tall, thin, even attenuated in fig ure; his head small, but forehead high, which was the only point of beauty in his face; his nose being large and prom inent, cheek-bones very distinct, and his gray eyes small. But they sparkled with a pleasant smile, which wreathed his lips, and his simple manner, pleased as a child to be praised, and his gentle tones, made it easy to see why he was personally so prime a favorite with young people. He was pale and appeared exceedingly fee ble in health. "He was delighted as a child when told that his stories were read and admired by the children in America, and inquired if we had any storks there, and wondered how the children could understand some of his stories if they were not familiar with storks, as the boys and girls of Den mark; but that he had written some stories expressly for the child rev of Amer ica. " 'Ah! said he,with a sigh 'were I not so nearly done with life, 1 should like to see America.' "I assured hini he would meet a cor dial welcome, especially from the Little people. " 'Give ray love to them all,'said he 'and tell them I enjoy telling them fairy stories. And stay! here is a little me mento of our interview, which you may show the children, in Audersens own handwriting.' Aud he wrote in Danish a sentence, beneath which he also wrote its English translation: " 'Life is the most beautiful fairy tale. "'Hans Christian Anoersen.' He then bade us good-bye. Poor Andersen. But I will not say poor, either, for he was rich in the affec tion of all classes in his native land, as well as elsewhere, where his writings have been read. His death took place at Co penhagen soon after I saw him, and at his funeral the affection of all classes was shown by the immense gathering. The royal family were there, and the poor were present, and deputations from all parts of Denmark and other countries; and, as one writer expresses it, many per sons were as much taken by surprise as they would have been if it had been reported that .Esop had died." Monastic Life. I greatly desired to visit the famous Convent of La Trappe, near Antwerp, and, thanks to the courtesy of tbe monks, passed a pleasant day within its walls. Life there must be an intensely solemn thing; fortunately for the monks, how ever, it is varied by labor, the many workshops of the convent embracing every trade. 1 remained to dinner, and hail an opportunity of seeing the members of this little community. Very quietly the dinne- passed. They ate neither meat nor fish. I had, as did all, a large bottle of beer, made on the place, as they brew their own beer. With the beer in ques tion we had vegetables. The meal com menced with a soup of milk and bread, substantial and not exciting to the mem bers of the institution. I made a sub stantial dinner out of the eggs and fresh bread, etc., and went out with two young priests into the garden for a siesta. It was a hot day, and, lying down on the grass iv the shade, a ruuniug conversation was kept up about old walled towns and old convents, and the rest. After ward, an old monk conducted me through the convent. Passing through the dining room or bail, my attention was called at once to tbe two long rows of black and brown napkins arranged upon the two long tables at each side. They seemed like the monks themselves in miniature. Ascending a rickety fiight of stairs, I en tered their large sleeping apartment; each one has his "little crib," where he aleeps, or thinks he does. The bed is a hard piece of mattrass, with a slight cov ering, and a curtain drawn around it, and the name of the happy occupant placed above in black letters on wood. My last visit was to the workshops. I will not describe all the different "metiers," but there were all trades represented, and capuchins workiug at them. All were grave and silent. Indeed, a solemn "Sun day" atmosphere brooded over the entire place, and I was glad to leave it behind me. Traveling on railroads will soon bo as pleasant as steamboating. In addition to their sleeping cars, the Pullman Palace Car Company have recently placed upon several of our leading railways their hotel cars. In these cars one can take his meals as pleasantly as at a hotel. The springs of these cars are so finely ad justed as to entirely obviate all danger trom the overflow of liquids from tbe dishes, even when the train is running at forty miles an hour. "Why, my dear fallow," whispered a friend, "I did not know yon were so bad ly maltreated in the affair." "Nor I nei ther," sobbed the victim, "until I heard my lawyer a tellin' the jury all about it!" Fight with a Heron. A heron is a dangerous bird, even for a man to attack, as will be seen from this story of an encouuter between a man, a dog, and a heron, published in the London Field. The heron had been wounded, its left wing being broken by a shot. I spied him in a large pool, some yards from the river bank; seemingly, as he rested on the water, he was 00hurt. As I shouted out, "There he is, Sam!" the retriever plunged into the eddying pool and swain to seize his prey. Now the tight began. Without swerving an inch, the heron, with his crest erect, aud with a scream, darted his formidable beak straight at tlie dog's eyes. Bam was puzzled. In a mo ment, however, he was at bim again, but the terrible beak of the heron, as tbe at tack was again renewed, held him fairly at bay. Bam now changed his plan. He tried to circumvent his formidable enemy by swimming round to its back, but the heron presented a bold front at all points, and once more Sam rushed in. The light was getting fast and furious, but Sam, though considerably punished, stuck to his post, and though repeatedly recalled, would not return without his bird. There was nothing left to do but to kill the heron, to prevent his blinding the dog, if he had not already done so. Ac cordingly, I raised my gun, when my companion shouted out, "Don't shoot! Don't spoil the bird! I'll save the dog." In an instant he leaped from the bank into the pool, and, swimming, made for the heron. The bird now left tbe dog, and turned on his new assailant; rushing at him with a scream, iv an instant, the heron darted his formidable beak at Mr. Gwynue-Vaughan's eyes; but as he swam, he managed to cover his face, and his hand only was wounded. Again and again tbe heron attacked him, but never succeeded in wounding his face. At last, he grabbed the heron by the legs, drew it under the water, and struck out for the shore. Grasping the bird by the beak, he wai soon ou land, none the worse for his courageous exploit than a wounded hand and a wet skin. Bam, the retriever, whs bleeding from at least five honorable wounds, all within a quarter of an inch of either eye. It was a courageous fight all round. Illuminated Letters.—Several cen turies ago manuscripts used to be written and books printed with what were called illuminated capitals. The first letter of a word at the beginning of a chapter and of a paragraph was orna mented with many flourishes, and painted with different colors, thus giving a very bright appearance to the pages. Thomas Cbatterton, the youthful genius and poet, learned to read from one of these illumi nated manuscripts. He was a very dull boy at school, and had not learned to read when six years and a half old. Then he happened to fall in with one of these old manuscripts, and the odd let ters excited his curiosity. He studied with a new spirit, and in a few days could read with care and pleasure. He searched nut all tbe old manuscripts within reach,and the antiquated symbols, working on his imagination, prepared him for the singular literary life he after wards led. He began to imitate both the style of writing and of thought, and was soon a master of both, and it required a sharp critic tn detect that his forgeries were not the original manuscripts which he claimed to have discovered. Ik you want to enrage a Philadelphia street railroad director, just suggest to him that the fares should bave been re duced from seven to live, instead of to six cents. Its a subject on which he's alto gether two cents-itive. Agricultural Implements. Our readers will bear us witness that in our endeavors to present them with condensed and readable accounts of the various indus tries and leading branches of trade in this city we have uniformly selected, as represent ative of those branches, only houses noted for stability, excellence and variety of stock kept and general and high character. These considerations arc matters of importance to tbe trade and country buyers generally. In this connection we take pleasure in in forming our readers that the Agricultural Implements recently handled by Me****. Linforth, K«llogg A UO- have been turned over to Mr. Geo. A. Davis who has beeu so j long and favorably known in connection with the Fish Bros. A Co.'* Pacific Wagon, i Mr. Davis has opened an otllce at 401 Market ! st., Sau Francisco, Tieadwell's old stand, and, !as manufacturers' agent, will handle the bil lowing well known goods: The Garden City clipper plow; Garden City sulky plow; Gar den City gang plow; Furst at Bradley's sulky rakes, harrows, cultivators, etc., etc , manu factured by the Furst el Bradley Manufactur ing Co. of Chicago; also the Pacific farm, spring, freight and header wagons, manufac tured by Fish Bros. * Co., of Kacine. \\ is.; also the Eagle mower aud reaper, manufac tured by the Eagle Mowing «* Heaping Co., of Albany, N. Y. The Garden City plow has steadily gained in popularity till it ha* be come to be recognised as the leading plow on this coast. It is made of the very best cast steel aud the reputation of the Furst iV Bradley Manufacturing Co. is sufficient ; guarantee fur the quality of tbeir good*. lOf Fish Bros, Co.'* Pacitii Wagon the ! thousands now running on this coast will ; speak for themselves. We will only mention I that Mr. Davis has on hand a line assortment !of both Farm and Spring wagons; of spring, he has a great variety consisting of :tand4 spring, platform spring, half spring. Jack spring, and a new 4 spring delivery wagon, recently imported, all of which will Ims sold at prices to suit tbe times. The Wm. Anson Woods' mower has been tried and for sim plicity and durability has no equal. Io conclusion, we say to our readera re i quiring Wagons and Agricultural Imple ments call and examine them or send for 11 lustratcd catalogues Mr. Geo. A Davis' business relations with this trade In the city and through the country is extensive and be enjoys a reputation of being a thorough busi ness man,obliging aad fair (a all his dealings — Tkt Commerri+T. Usa Burnuaaa* AsaettM for raeussstlsss aad aeuralgia. ARE YOU GOUTG TO PAIITT? Cse none but that which eanerlenc.e has proved to he> the boat. Tho AVRRILI PAINT, MIXKII RK4IIV FOR I'stK, received the hl«heMt award at the Centen nial Kxblbltlon for beauty, durability, and economy. THE AVERILL MIXED PAINT WILL last THUEE times aa long as the BKST lead and otl without CHALKIVU: Is of any desired color. It Is prepared for Immediate application, requiring no Oil. Thinner, or Drier, anil does not spoil liy standing any length of time. It Is equally as good for ins'de as outside work | over old work as well as Dew. in fact, where any paint can be used, the IVKRM.I, HIXKII P\IJIT will he found su|M;nor to any other. Any one can apply It who can use a brush, which truly makes It the FIIt 4 Kit's* Fit I KUD. SWtt la Jnnt l tie Fill ut for the a*.>. It In sold by I In- (sllnii only. One gallon covers &) square yards 2eo tts, or ll yards .1 coats. For further Information scad I'nr sample card and price list to the CAUMBNM PAIVT CO.. SrV *»teven«ou »t.. Sau Fraaclsea. San Francisco, May 30, 1877. We, the undersigned Wholesale Grocers, take pleasure in remarking the increased de mand for Bowen's Premium Yeast Powder, and of testifying to the general satisfaction given by this brand: Wellman, Peck ft Co.. Dillepiane & Co., Root ft Sanderson, Kruse ft Euler, Ledden, Whipple & Co.. Jones ft Co., Haas Bros., M. Ehrman ft Co., Taber, Harker & Co.. Adams, McNeill ft Co. J. M. Pike ft Co., F. Daneri ft Co., J. A. Folger ft Co.. M. ft C. Mangels, Newton Bros, ft Co., Tillmann ft Bendel, Castle Bros., Albert Mau ft Co., Thos. Jennings, W. W. Dodge ft Co. S. Foster ft Co., Mebuis ft Co., Booth ft Co., Milliken Bros., Allen 4 Lewis. Sacramento. Portland. CALVERT'S CARBOLIC SHEEP WASH WX per gallon. T. W. JACKSON, San Fran Cisco, Sole Agent for the Pa cific Coast. C. & P. H. TIBKELL & CO., IMPOKTBKH AND M AN 0 FACTUKKBfI OF BOOTS AND SHOES, !WO. 4IW CLAY MTKKKT, Between Sansotne and Battery. SAN FKANCISCO. Manufacturers of Men's, Boys', youth's, and Chil dren's KINK CALK HOOTS. Orders solicited and promptly (tiled. All slzet and qualities made at the lowest market prices. Please examine the goods and prices. RUPTURE CURED BY the CALIFORNIA ELAS TIC TKI'-S, ihe Kr.-tit.nt modern invent.on of the age.j Latest and liest. at greatly re-i reduced prices. " MONOPOLY BROKEN. A child can adjust and wear it day Mid nigh' with ease and comfort. Satisfaction guaranteed. Ti awns of all kinds for sale cheap. Cain and examine, or send for circular, California sci.a»tif th* nn «-<>.,«*» Clay STRaitr. San Francis o. Water, Water, OS TEE CHEAPEST. TEE BEST. The only common tense Pipe. Easily Laid. Stand any Pressure. Easily tapped with an ordinary auger. tar-send for Cirenl.n* and information to AWKKH A* PIPS CO., •ft California St.. ~»n Francisco. G. A. POTTER, MARBLEIZED IRON MANTELS. I*l4 Market strrbt. San Fra\< is<-o GREAT ENTERPRISE. 'PHE SIERRA FLUME AND LUMBER CO. j * have over 100,000 Acres of SUGAR FINE, ' YELLOW PINE. SPRUCE, FIR and CEDAR i LANDS; 10 Saw Mills. 3 Planing Mills. 1 Saab ! and Door Factory, 149 miles V Flames, 10 ! miles of Tramways, 157 miles of Telegraph ! Line, 13 Telegraph Statioas | and employ 476 men and 550 oxen and horses. The SUGAR PINE is unsurpassed in quail ty, and the whole coast can be supplied. The YELLOW PINE is firm, fine grained aad superior to any other hard pine for floor - j lag, stepping, etc. j The SPRUCE hat great strength, durable I when exposed, aad especially adapted to Bridge I and Ship Building, while the FIR aad CEDAR are aa valuable for a great variety of par ! poses. j Last year thirty millions of feet wsrs eat ' and the astimats for 1877 is fifty millions; flf -1 teen millions are bow oa hand, thoroagly sea \ soned by the hot climate of Red Bluff aad Chico. Large order* can be filled ou a day's notice for all kindi of BUILDING MATERIALS, roach or : dressed dry, by which elegant aad substantia. | work nay be accomplished without dclav at j th* usual cost for frtsa lumber. ! Orders for the interior filled at leas than San , Fraaciseo prices aad freight. DOORS, SASH aad BLINDS always oa aaac la large quantities. Address SIERRA FLUME AND LUMBER CO.. . lUd Bluff, w»«ipaioa*».: a«^ Btoe . f Cor. Fourth tCkiMl sta ajaixe Flour Toilet Soap! -Mode FlourToJlet Soapl -Malio Flour Tollot Soap! A pM Staeovsrr: - * ■*» *a*p eomptm** ' U sautSes. wftMN, aad *MHM tea ehta, tea asatirfal ■ AAOB" * CO.. WkMiMt, HAZELTON PIANOS. GRAND, SQUARE AND UPRIGHT. SSJTBtrlCtiy first-class and fully warranted .jgt PRICES VERY tOW. SOLD OR IN TALIWERTS. Wend for lllUMtrated Catalogue. CHAS. S. EATON. General Agent, 138 Montgomery Street, San Franeisoo. A THE " HEW " fft | mericaN mewing; Machine. Three-quarter* le«« friction than any other .Machine. IT BEATS THEM ALL! Is fast litcooilßK known m tftr BEST IN THE WORLD! SEE IT ' TRY IT. BUT IT I Warranted to Give Entire Satisfaction. American Sewing Machine Co. G. R. WOOD. Manager. KM FIFTH STKKKT. - - SAN FRANCISCO- nr«««4 Acrntu Wnutrd in Mil suo*. raplril Territory. MITCHELL WAGONS, A. W. SANBORN, Agent, 33 Beaie St., S. ». rpn Mitchell Karir, KretKht and Bprma Wagems L are w.-ll known as the best In the market aad will withstand the climate of the Kaetnc Cuta better than any other. Mr. Sanborn also keeps at the same place, imported from his own manufactory at Man chester. S. H., a good assortment of his celebrated THOROUQHBRACE, EXPRESS Bttillß Wngona, Of ml! IVAlso, Smtirimi, Pharloaa aaS Ua>>* «'Mrrlaa<*« " f all Kinds. SAN FRANCISCO Journal of Commerce. THK tL4.K«4K«T. WOMT KKI.IAHLK, Best Commercial Paper IT t'«»*TAINK A Complete List of Jobbers' Prices, And n General Review of all Goods sold in this Market. A MKKCHA.NT WILL SAVE MI'CH MOKE THAN THK PRICK OK THK PAKKR BY SI BK:RIS ING KOR THIS VAI I'ABLK JOI KNAU T«rmi of Subscript icn. - $5.00 par 7tar. <••■>. S S, lo»ir«ai of Commerce Publlthinf Ci.. 414 4'I.AV KTRKBff. CONCORD Carnages, Busbies. Express Wagons■ flartoi ABBOT MWRIN «©.'•». 41S ud 41ft Battery Street, Sea rraaalete. T. ». RAHTIAR. P. N. P. C. ■TV •■LV TBB 4>a.B ABB ■tIUM* Excelsior Force Psmp. s. lf Thrrsd ine Mhwtttu ! *. lf Threnn- Ing I tgliteat It v untax : MtllleMt Kannln«l PHBLISHKIi UN THKI'AITKII COAST PUMPS! 141 111 pleat! Ne>. 184.