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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1892-3-18, Page 6YOUNGFOLKS. I door where hex mother sat at the spinning ,a, LJ.LY i #./i.l !J wllefli, ad ine:siteti to her these words, --- I though in ratites 0 trembling voice,_ E PANTHER. " How are you, mother dear? Have you a MAR$ AND TED welcome to give your son?" Phe oltl woman rose, And es she threw her areund ifs neck, cried out,— " Cod he thanked, my Elite, that I see thee attain !" Then after a momentes roll. sideration, she added: "Ilut • —what! whet ! low are yen here, when war is every- where verywhere ! Oh 1" she almost shrieked, "can it be that tuy boy is tt deserter, my only sou? Whet would hisgoud father have staid?" Metier," 8a1(1 the unhappy youth, " it wee all too dreadful ! I --I could not stmid the misery sly longer ! " The old woman groaned. She felt that she hated the deserter ; but, oh, how her mother's heart yearned over the gaunt forth and worn face of ler travel•stained boy t "Did anyone :we you come?" she asked abruptly. The,l as seve'nl shadows darken. ed the door, she added, in a whisper: " (lo, hide —hide there, behind my bed I But, alt, it is too late 1" It was indeed, too late, f: r at that nso- meut the country judge, the schoolmaster and several other village dignitaries enter. ed the cottage, seized the young man by the arm, and proclaimed hint a prisoner in the name of 1118 majesty, the king of Prussia, led bine away to his excellency, the field marshal, General Blucher. It was two days afterward when they reached the encampment:. " Where is the residence of the commie der -in -chief '1 " asked they of the many orderly soldiers, who were galloping, through the streets in every direction. " Why, in the chateau, to be sure," Was the reply. " Bat what do you want of him? He las no time to spare for such as you! But the Silesian villagers were not to bo pnt down ; they were in a fever of loyalty, and demanded speech of the commander-in- chief, After weary hours of waiting, the depu• tation at last stood before Blucher, and in somewhat, pompous languages explained their errand, and delivered up the young deserter. The general looked very grave indeed, his bright eyes roamed for an instant over his rural company with a somewhat strange expression. Then he turned his at- tention to the bent figure of the youth, who with downcast eyes and cure worn face, ap. peared the very image of misery and dejec- tion. And well night he seem cast down ; he knew his case to be a hopeless one. De- serting colors in time of war was a capital mime, and Blucher, with his iron will, was the last man fu the world to trifled with. Suddenly the features of the old hero as- sumed an expression of harshness. Turning toward the principal villager, he exclaimed, in u rough voice. " Mr. Judge, you must really be an idiot 1" The villagers started, as well they might. They had expected a very different reeep- i► Sketch or me Onyx in the J'enrt !{Aver country. The story of Mark Hardy and the panther is true, 1 toll it as 1 had it from my own :grandfather when n boy. In 151.4 my grandfather found himself in ower Mississippi, in the almost uninhabited 'wilderness of the Pearl Diver region, whither he had gone in search of his sister, whose husband had died end left her p01u1i. lese among lawless strangers. He stayed all night at a cabin, where a men std hie -wife and one child were living comfortably, but roughly, by tending a little farm and Minting and trapping in the surrounding iciest. Isaac hardy was a stalwart man of 45, and his wife loo red stronger that he ; but their only child, a son of 17, was strangely deformed, My grandfather found this boy, ,Mark Hardy, to be an uncommonly interesting youth, despite his drawn limbs and scarred race, and when his strange story was told he seemed a genuine hero oven sus that time when heroism on our frontiers nus as its best. One day, two years before, Hark then 15 years old, took his rifle and went into the woods to look for n wild turkey, He had not gone a quarter of a mile from hone when he stet a huge panther face to face. This was ata place where a little stream raft through a deep, narrow ravine in which largo trees grew here and there with dense undergrowth around their but- tressed roots. As Mark stood when the animal appeared, there was no chance for him to retreat, the thicket of underbrush through which he had just crawled was so dense that it was like a wall, and on either hand rose an almost perpendicular jaw of the ravine. The panther was not more than twenty, - five or thirty feet distant, and already it was crouching ; rte eyes glared and its tail writhed line the body of a snake. Mark bad never before seen a panther alive and free, and the stories he had heard of pant- hers had not fortified him against cunt a deadly encountet as was apparently inevit- able within the next minute. But, having been reared to the use of the rifle, Mark's first impulse seas to raise hes _gun and fire. This was as natural to a frontier boy as for you to fling un youe arta to ward off as blow. The panther saw the movement and possibly it knew what it meant from ]laving been shot at some s(mf- 1ar occasion. Quick as lightning, almost, it bounded forward. Mark's aim could not be very steady under such conditions, but his ride rang out keen and clear. He was scared almost to death, yet the instinct, of fight was so strong in him that as the savage animal charged he clubbed its gun sad struck oat as parol as he could. He het, the heavy stock breaking under the force of the blow. Doubtless this caused the panther to swerve ; at all events it rushed past Mark instead of leaping upon and so great was its momentum thatht broke into the bushes beyond to some dia. *awe before it could cheek itself and turn about to renew the attack. The energy, or I might say the ecstasy, of absolute fright now gave Bark the quick- neoe and agility of a cat. Seizing the bough of a tree he swung himself up and climbed like a monkey. Maddened and snarling wickedly, the panther went scrambling up too. The body of the tree, fortunately, was covered with a growth of loose bark, and this slipped under the beast's feet and made its climb. bag difficult; Mark instinctively used the momentary advantage ; lie crawled as far as he could go out on a long, slender, hori- zontal branch, which gradually bent down. ward with his weight. The bullet from the rifle had sped true though Mark was not aware of it, and the beast was suffering terribly. With desper- ate fury it sprang far out on the bough, screaming at the sante time so shrilly that Mr. Hardy, who was malting shingles near the cabin, heard it. The sound made ltim start and shiver. Instantly he thought of Mark. He knew the boy had gone in the direction whence the cry had oome ; it was from that point, too, he had heard the crack -ofa rifle. It was no uncommon thing for a panther to be screaming in the daytime. elingmg down bis tools AIr. Hardy ran to the cabin, snatched his gnu and rushed into the woods. Meanwhile Mark and the panther were having it out together, after a terrible cash. fon. -When the brute, with a bloody foam around its mouth, leaped out on the bough its weight made the wood bend and creek. Mark involuntary slipped further along toward the slender tip -end, and then the panther, finding it could not follow along, made a leap, and struck savagely at him with one of its strong ford paws. The nails barely touched Marks face but cut it badly Down went the heavy beast to the ground ; but immediately it clambered painfully up the body of the tree again, {'aging and spit. ing. This time, as if endowed with reaeoning faculties, it chose a branch a little higher up than the one to which Mark was so des- perately clinging, and crawled out until its weight bent it down near the boy. Luckily this clever trick did not fully mooed ; for the bough in bending so far down swayed to ono side, so that the panther at its utmost reach could barely touch Mark's clothes and skin. There they hung, boy and beast, the panthers nails just reanlhing far enough to scratch now and again the ileslh of Alafk'a body and limbs, tearing his garments into shreds. 11 it had had a way to hold the bough steady it could have drawn Mark to it and killed him. As it was, however, both branohee swayed apart at the least move, But Mark's bodily torture was almost mi. bearable. Pinery moment he felt he muse let go and drop—sure death h for if the fall did not kill hen the pan the- would. Suddenly the grout Least collapsed and /shivered. At the FIRMS moment there wee a sharp, whip•ltke crack•---Islr. Hardy had fired. 1", Hold fest, Mark . r.ricd the father's voice, "hold with all your {night!'' The panther hung thew, gasping, .lust a moment longer, and thou fell to the ground, quite dead. Mr. Hardy helped Mark down and car- ried him )home in his arils, where for months he ley in bed. His face,, limbs and body -wore literally scratched (site shreds. When at, loot the wontels healed the pone little fellow's maculae and tendons were so drawn he could scarcely walk. As he, grew to man. hood, however, he recovered se good deal mid become neanOL d panther hunter. The Young Deserter. it waft in the year 1813, when e mei lee war was ettefies over all the ,tnnritenit es I+:hirope, that it ytfullg Sites.11rt schlep coil• daily made his appearance at the cottage " But—your excellency," began the chief speaker, " Hold your tongue, I say I" roared the general. You are an idiot 1" I know better—in Silesia there are uo runaways 1" And you my son," ho added, in softer tones his iron features relaxing just a little, "you will show them to -morrow, on the battle- field what a Silesian soldier can do for his country, will you not?" The bewildered young man dropped on his knees, and stammered out a few broken words which, however, the general did not hear, for when the lad lose again to his feet with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes Blucher had already left the room. On the following day, a bloody but de. oisive victory was won by Prussia, and as Blucher rode through the sadly thinned ranks of Isis mien, he was addressed by the commanding officer of the Twenty-first Hussars, who reported to him how greatly a certain private soldier had distinguished himself, having taken a standard from the enemy, and made prisoner with his own stands the eommder of the French regiment. Blucher's eye kindled, He stopped ]tis horse, and tasting the iron cross from his own uni- form, he affixed it to the breast oftheyouug hero, saying, in a cheerful voice. " Weil done, my son I I knew I was not mistaken. In Silesia there are no deserters!" Thus by judicious treatment, and kindly sympathy, at ateeriblu crisis in his life, this poor youth was converted from a toward, of whom his own mother was ashamed, into a patriotic young hero, whose name was in every month, and whose deeds were the admiration of all. The Ghost at Miller's Ford. Ghost et ashl'er's ford they soy, `hrkle people down that way• Sheered ' hIp" Hawkins halt to death— Run so herd he lost his breath. :Undo Joe \Vinlple's boss take fright When ou le see his girl one night. Been int lin' capers over'where, Clive the neighborhood est:our. "I,' says to 'on ono day, "Wish t that ghost would come eny way I'lljcs' camp there on the c'rtelc— Snty there, too, through thin mad thick, Iwould b',iur'k I ,' says 1. ' I11 hat "host would toddle by." 01' Ike Morris 'lowed, soya ho, You're as fcaed ghosts ashne— Conldn'thire you nem way ° 'r'o go to the ford and stay 'When its dark and dh iezhn'-roin••- Couldn't tie you with it chain." Ilce's remark riled me seine, So T je8' got. up, be gum 1 And cracked 111V Sets and said h "You tan iso this 'ere of head For a fu,t•ball, 111 tail To mance that ;Meet tuck its tall, '1 " says 1 " 8111'0'0 Ph1 hero says can't:! worm thing 'O I Ghests can't :ewer mo," says I- 1)on't b'I'rve it, el. 'pan try. Make '5111 think 'fore they git through That I've eta ghost or two.' Dark! (tee whist Couldn't son 'Whore the errand erto bo, Thioles I : " Nov, Lids 1151110 time Igo 0111110 flat ghost gi; and ollmb," Nevar elite a single word— Iox' lumbered mit for the ford, Got right, near the waiter gait -- Made up my mind that I'd wait— T111 Ah'. Ghost got on a spree, Sot his poise in go forme. Weekly hb'oa'd 15 funny sound, Quicker than wink, looked around, And theme it Wa, on the gate. .Fen ley nate edge lip pion streigbt And the told r hills nn my Smelt. Turn nod mice Ii, ha•k'ard track— Con ;1111'1. n•^.maga single note, llccu'I ,'heck no in my threat. " 1." thinks 1, " f ronin to stay, :Vow, 111. (lint, come {itis WM.." Sura on nnuh, the Memo thing dict and \CAlked rho g.tLalnlleri L slid, Ne ghost now et hillinr's ford — leader than a rrns•bel. gnnrd, Yrs, feemila I aheghner. is gone, Gee the re' k -I wee bett.in' nn. And, it queerer thing, hot true, liver' word Tin lcllin lkn Morris' of while. slog, ' ' -panne," Ilahh`the0n spun le diose parts shire. Unavoidable, accident TZ°prrrtrn•-- \Yes that ecu nt una55o3r1• i able se ItailrOa l President • "Certainly, sir, cer- t,hily. Nn nluh ter bl+nnec Yon ssn 1.1e1 uwatrlevial 1,11,1 two irnsgtllgr,. to look after, ,c half mile n art. Yeti SEMI'S PR1110E, a man an ca tobein awn plumes et once, n you 1" TE.171 BRUSSELS POST. Railway CoustruGtioo lu tha Wastt THE SPII3:0PND.0514.0510)00V ,t 1113VAAH1. wtr.tT rtes n(ai.1',IC 47n Pb001155D 1V 1891, A review of railway construction in West- ern Cnsuda is always 51 ,halter of plelustire to those interested in the development of the country, for it will shoe a record- um {paralleled in history. We have to go back but a few years la the elate of the opening of the first railway Ln Manitoba, Hallway construction was commenced in Manitoba in 1875, by the hate Mackenzie Government,, on the C.Rnadian l'aalfic rail- way from Winnipeg to Lake Superior, Construction was comtnenccd at molt side of the road about Lha seine time. The Emerson branch of the Canadian d?aoiliu railway was also graded from Winnipeg to the boundary of Minnesota se early ne 1877, but connection was not made with the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railway (now the Groat Northern) until 1880, there having beoo considerable delay, owing to a difficulty regarding the bonds, in extending the railway northward from St. Paul to the boundary. The year 1880, therefore merles the opening of the first railway in Manitoba, The first regular railway travel then began and Winnipeg was connected with the out- side world by the band of steel, A new era has opened upon the city and country. Henceforth progress would be steady and rapid, Praeklaying from Winnipeg eastward to Lake Superior was commenced in 1877. TIIN FIRST LOennsTIVL" and cars were brought down the Red River on boats, with which to prosecute track-ltey- ing from this end of the road. The Claua- dian Pacific railway, however, wee not opened through to Lake einperior until 1583, and the Canadian 'Pacific tall rail route was completed through to Montreal in 1855. The years 1880, 1883 and 1885, therefore, mark important epochs in railway construc- tion in the west, lep to 1881 all railway work in the country had been carried on by the Dominion Government. In this year the Canadian Paciflo Railway Company was formed, took hold of the road and pushed construction rapidly westward from Winni- peg, completing the main lite through to the Pacific coast in 1880. This marks an- other important date in the history of the country. The work on the road eastward was also pushed forward more rapidly and completed on the date as given above. Several branch lines have since been estab- lished in the country by the Canadian Nei, fin and other railways. The Manitoba & Northwestern railway was first chartered in 1850, wider the name of the Westbourn & Northwestern. In )583 the name was changed and active work in constructing the road commenced. RAILWAY MONOPOLY. In order to overcome what was known as the railway monopoly privileges of the Canadian Pacific Company, the local govern- ment of Manitoba began in 1887, the eon- struaion of a retiroai southward to the United States boundary, near West Lynne (Emerson), where i, was proposed to make connection with the Northern Paciflo Com. puny, of the United States. This line was then known as the Red River Valley. After much agitation, litigation and strife, an amicable arrangement was cone to between the Dominion and the Canadian Pacific com- pany, for the abrogation of the monopoly clauses. a'h(s ending was very satisfactory to the people of \Ianicobn, as It brought to a close a long period of turmoil and agita- tion, which must have seriously retarded the development of the country. Just to what extent the agitation and the cause thereof hindered the development of the country will never be known, but certain it is that it created an unfavorable itnpressiou of Manitoba abroad for which the people of the province were not entirely responsible. Happily, those troublesome times have passed, and Manitobans have since rested in comparative peace with the federal gov- ernment. The days of agitation against railway monopoly, however will long be remembered, especially by those who took an motive parts in the events of the period. After the settlement of the monopoly question, the Rad 'Liver Valley railway WAS carried to completion, this being accom- plished in the fall of 1888, The road was acquired from the provincial government by a company oailed the Northern Paoifio and Manitoba, which is practically the Northern Pacific Company of the U,hited States, oper- ating in Manitoba under a Canadian char- ter, This road affords an independent out- let from Winnipeg southward, to correct with the railway system of the United States. The Northern Pacific. las also con- structed two branch lines in Maui tuba, con- necting with its Red River lino, One reaches the Lown of Portage la Prairie, and the other has its hveslern termination at Brandon. We will not attempt to follow the eon. struction of the various branch lines in the country from year to year, but merely mention solve important events. The coup pleliou of the first railway to the North Saskatchewan, at Prince Albert, in the fall of 1890, was an event worthy of special mention, as opening up 15vast and new ter• ritory for settlement. The some year u railway was completed and opened between Lethbridge, Alberta, and Creat halls, Mont., and construction was commenced upon a second railway to the North Sas, katolhewan, at Edmonton, nAILw'Av covsTRUc'rroN Iv 1881. Though the mileage of now railways con- struoted in the west in 1801, has not been as greet Rs in some former years, yet consider- able work has been accomplished, and some important events have transpired. In Mani- tobst the Canadian Pacific railway company has extended its southwestern branch from its- western terminus at Mothven to Nesbit, a (esteem of six miles, Tho Canadian Peclflu Souris branch has also been extended from Heaney to Melilla, ra d(stunue of twenty• seven miles. From Melita westward the surae company has graded eighty miles of road, sixty miles of which is (toned, This 1s the road which will ren from Melita to the Smites coal fields, connecting at Mali with the Souris branch, the latter ,joining the main line at lecinmILy, near 131'ahlrinel. Ox- bow, or this messing or the Moose Mountain week, is t.1.0 present terminus of the anal fields branch, The Canadian Paniicat0nb0' gen the construction of a line from Deloraiue to Napinka, to eenneot the palomino and Semis branches, upon which eine miles only were graded, the work being loft over on execute t, of the scarcely of {non, The nest impfurtael etilwayweekdonoder- ing 1.801 was in On isrr(tnry of Alberta, in the onmplet(m1 of the Calgary 55 Edmonton railway, between the two points maned. This sakes the second railway to be corn I placid North Saektetoliewaplacidl rl the groat N river., The length of the railway is 1113 miles, and it passes( through a splendid country, imitable for farndn and et."clt' raising, w1111di tugln1 IS thereby opened inn ,1051 temente As gnevieuelybesot rerls1.rn::- ,1ni1 Wa0 nnmmenred out this road in 140, aid the thud 94 miles, from Rod Deet' to laluwuton, wen,c(nnldeted in 1si)l, the road having been built foul Calgary to Kell Due' time pro\'lelix year, Another inlporlant undertaking for 181)1, also in Alberta, was alto (minima:comet ofa railway from Calgary eonth\vard to A'Iaclend, This railvety will be known aa the snuthcrn extenxioe of the Calgary and .Schneniof. During 1591, the rests Willi graded mei iron- ed from Calgary to Mosquito ('reek, a (Be- times of 31 influx, mill au additional 30 miles has been graded, which brings tete grade within night miles of Macleod. 'elite toad will run through the centre of the beet ranching district of Alberta, mud will open a fine country. The work done in extending the Port Arthur and Western railway, is included in the above summary as the territory inter - suited is generally eonsidet'od within the uouutlariee of Western Canada. The road opens up a ricin {mineral territory. Some important railway work has been dome in British Calumbin, but this will probably be treaters of in a separate article, by our Brit ish Columbia editor. In addition to the new raiiwayseonstrueted, the completed portion of the Northwest Central railway, in \'Omni• toba, which was couseruetod in 1889, was put in operation during the last month of 1801, htlgation having delayed the operation of the road. The record of railway colslrnetion for 1801 is by no means uneatisfaetory, when compared with other parts of North Amer- ica. Illastern (Jimmie only Mena 150 miles of railway {vete constructed during the year, or Moat, one-half the new mile- age of the west, coned lig only the fully com- pleted portion. In the United States rail. way building was very slack last year, and consisted mainly in a fete short extensions of old lines, Western Canaria has there. fore made the best showing during the past year of any part of the continent, notwith- standing that elle new mileage constructed ens not as great as in 001110 former years. ewe OUTLOOK 1+OR 181)2. Expectations for railway construction in 1892 are favorable. In Manitoba the C.P.R. Southwestern will in all probability bo ex- tended from Nesbit westward to a jnnolion with the Souris branch, a distance of about fifteen miles. The Canadian Pacific link be. tween Deloraine and Napinka will also be built, malting shout 20 miles of new road.. The Canadian Pacific branch to the Souris coal fields will oleo be completed by about June next, of which there remains about ten miles to grade anti. thirty to iron. The southern extension of the Calgary and Edmonton will be completed to Macleod during the prevent year, of which about ten miles remain to lie graded and about 60 to iron. The completion of the Canadian Pacific branch to the coal fields will be a vary important matter, as it will open up another source of fuel supply, and one moll nearer the city of Winnipeg and the most thickly settled portions of the country, than the mines now in operation. As a result of the completion of this railway, the east of coal to the people of Manitoba shonlrl bo re- duced from three to foul' dollars per ton, The roads already mentioned as likely to be constructed during 1892, aro onlysloeit as aro certain to go on. lint it is not 1, hely that railway work will stop with these roads, It has recently been announced that the North- west Central will extend its line ELS fear east as Carberry, from a point near Rapid City, in Manitoba, and the same line may be ex- tended westward from its present terminus at 1Ianiota. Surveys to this end have been made. Tho Manitoba Northwestern com- pany has been carrying out an extensive system of surveys beyond the present west- ern terminus of its line. It has been stated that the road will be pushed through to Prince Albert this year, which would mean the construction of about 175 miles of new road. It has not been definitely announced that the company will make this extension, but it is well-known that the Manitoba Northwestern people are desirous of reaching a point cn the North Saskatohowan. The road would pass through a splendid aowntry for farming and stook -raising. The company may be expected to make at least some ex- tension westward of its main line this yet., even if the road be not completed through to the objective point of the Saskatchewan. In the territory adjoining Manitoba on the east, there is the Port Arthur and Western, work upon which will no doubt be continued this year. A branch of the Canadian Pacific to the Atikokan iron tlistrietisalso menticnedamongg theprobabil itioe, thoughnotdefinitelydeoidod upon yet. In British Columbia there are quite a number of railway enterprises talk- ed cif, but a good many of these are not likely to get beyond the charter stage of existence. Seine, however, may result in something practical during the year. There aro also a number of proposed railway enter- prises for roads in Manitoba and din t.er' abodes, but we have only mentioned inch as have assumed practical shape. Two important railway enterprises which we have yet said nothing about, aro the Winnipeg and Hudson Bay and the Duluth and Winnipeg roads, Some construction work has been done on each of these roads, frmn the Winnipeg end, and the Duluth and Winnipeg road hits been completed for a considerable distance from the Duluth end, rhoreseems, however, to be some doubt about the route which the latter road may take. Au stir lino road from \Vii- nipog to Duluth is only a matter of time, but we can 31550 110 very defieite forecast of what nifty be done this year. As for the Winnipeg and Hmisoe Bay road, it is very risky to hazard an opinion, This road itis already appeared in so many phases, that any reports concerning the resumption of construction on the road, may always be taken es more or less dombeful. Besides building the new mileage spoken of, the Canadian Pacific management has annonuoed that important improvements will be carried out on the main lune. They conducted improvemeuts cu a large scala neon the main line beeweon Winnipeg and Lake Superior during the past year, and it is untended to continue this work, with a view to providing the hest possible facilities for handling traffic, widoh is very heavy over this 'portion of the road. It has been reported (though not confirmed) that the line will be double %melted at once between Winnipeg and Labe Snperinr. Though this worst may not he rmjcrtaken this year, officials of the eompsty'aavo pub. Hely stated, that they recognize the eeoce. see( for double tra'lclsg thin portolh of the road in the very near tntaro. leleece emus ago the first railway wee put 111 operation in Western Canada. Now there are between 4000 and 50110 miles of railway in the weary. This is an i Wrest. Mg root ae showing the progt'ees and de. vei°pmont that hits been going 011. What is 1 or more importance, however, (e (110 fact that rho roads aro having heavy traffic, Some of the brslrili made west of Manitoba hems not yet a very extoesivo traffic, Inst fu Manitoba, reals have this meson i>ee11 teem!. ' utmost ea handle to thou htneo t c spa 'u y U u dim Lha Mud. nose offering. Ten rare or me ego the noun. try managed to got along wit hoot railways. Since that time 1115' trade of the entnttry has grown ao fast, part(etea ly in exports, that, the largo railway bo 11)ities wo luny enjoy, aro barely o(uei lm the demands of upon. mom, LATE BRITISH 6 I 'S. 'Henry 111131tnl a eurwrwnr of the litalaelave Marge, died lel Birmingham from bronchitis nil 'I'l)Osday, hivelisherman were drowned on Monday on' i\"weastle, County Down, Two of the bodies were wnalted astern on Tuesday morning, A syndicate of 'British capitalists is pre• paring to seed all eapudii.iou 1;0 uzplol'u the coast of 1'atagonie fort minerals, It is bo- lieved that sn.sh as exploration would yield good results. A gamekeeper 1t: Cloghtun Castle, King's' County, tired at a elan uluucd Ward, who, it is alleged, was p0a(ilting on the immix early on tinturd.ay l,lorrnhsg, lV-itl'd was shot w Lim leg. 'I.ho keeper assorted that 'Ward ran away when lie culled upon him to surrender, Tromp Sergeant-Alajor Adonok, of the 1st Kinds Dragoon Guards, stationed at Shorn• cline, committed suicide on Monday morn- ing by shooting himself with a rifle. Dieres- es) had been hs the service for 20 yours, and was much respected, The Royal Geographical Society of Lon- don, it is seed, will erect a new building, to be tar larger than any other building occu- pied by a Geographical Society in the world. 1t is the intention to make the new building a headquarters for all explorers dud the geographers of all nations who visit London. At the Richmond Lunatic Asylum, Dub- lin, on Tuesday evening, while it) the exec• ciao ground, one el tine inmates attacked a WOlt1a1 named llryon, and before assistance could be nbtaiecd had kicked her so severe• ly about the head antibody that she died in a few hours afterwards, On Monday night an armed and disguised band of moonlighters attacked soverel hors- es in the neighbourhood of Kanterk. Shots were fired into the houses. but no person Was injured, Firearms wet o demanilei: and obtained from two farmers. Tho Government of New South Wales have announced themeeivos willing to sub. disc a proposed Pacilic cable which will give an alternative route to Enropr. The proposal is that the cable shall start from Gladstone, a little south of Rockhampton, Qmeeneland, go thence to Fiji, Samoa, and Honolulu, and finally touch at 00100 point on the const of North America. A sale of portions of Martin Place, Sydney, the new street which has been opened op. posite the Cenol'al Post Ofilen, and the frontages to which were reserved by special Act of Parliament with a view of reselling them and thus defraying the cost of the im- provement, took place at public mention on Monday. Three Iota were sold for ,e129,000, an average of £1250 per foot frontage. The renaiuing lots were withdrawn. It It was ascertained of Tuesday morning that a young lady named Hewitt, residing at Milton, of cousidorable w'ealth, had eloped with her father's green). A) (ss Hewitt left hone suddenly on Monday evening, and nothing more was heard of her until yesterday morning, when her father re- ceived a letter from her, addressed from Harris's Silver Grill in the Strand, saying she was going abroad with ono she dearly loved, The young lady is only 15 years old. On Saturday, at Bray Potty Sessions, two lads, named James Earls and Patrick Magrath, were charged with attempting 10 wreck a train on the Bray section of the Dublin, Wicklow, and Waterford Railway by placing stones on the rails near New, court and Fiddlers Bridge, on the 4th inst, The train was not thrown off the ratite as the engine crnshod the stones, of which there were two. The prisoners who were seen close to the spot, were committed for trial at Wicklow Assizes. Owing to some incomprehensible blunder at the War 011ioo part of the Woleh Regi- ment, lumbering with women and children aver 500 persons, which was under orders to proceed hast week from Devonport to Portsmouth by tioopship, was ready for de- parture some days before the vessel could have arrived. Lor forty-e(ght ]tours the troops wore without betiding and cooking utensil's, and were confined to barracks, the result being extreme discomfort, especially to the women and children, who spent two nights on the benches. Ti,e Rev. Janos Charles Archer, a well- known and highly -respected Baptist minis- ter, died at Blaslrlmrn on Sunday night under shunter eircnmetancee, He was con- ducting service in the house. of a few Mende, and, having given Out n hymn and Toad a psalm, he prayed very fervently. As lie nus drawing to 0 °lose he suddenly stagger- ed from his tomes, and exclaimed, " There's scmeth(ng stl'attge come over Inc." A doc- tor WILE snmeunled, lent Air. At•e1101` expired almost immediately. The c41418'• of death is supposed to have been apoplexy. General Booth lied a (Meet' experience in Calcutta, A big enmigi) building could not be got for hint. For Beek of better nccon- modation, a circus manager's kindly offer of his large tent was gratefully 100epted. There was sone fear lost the Kone and tigers hmnodietely behind the platform should not appreciate the Army's singing and " volley. firing." Just asthe General begets, reports the liter Cry, the lions sot sup it roar loud enough to drown the sound of many waters; but, it piously adds, " Tho God of Denial was et hand, and in respenso Lo the exaroiee of faith the roaring was stopped." The London crossing sweeper, Dental Ryder, who some bolo ago stopped a runs, - way cab horse, on. '1'nesclay morning again distinguished himself by asomew(Iatsirnilar feat. As a loaded van was descending the Moline in Waterloo Plane at a smart pace, the horse took fright and bolted, the driver losing all control over the animal. Several vehicles narrowly escaped collision, the drivers of which, owing to the state of the ground, experienced great difficulty in pull- ing up. At the junction of Waterloo Plane and Pall Mall, the affrighted animal, whose sped was increased by the shouts of the apeetators and the impetus gained by the vim to desaoncling Waterloo (Place, turned to the right, and proceeded along Pall Mall on the wrong shin of the road. The cross- ing sweeper Nettles, who ehancod to ho com- ing in onningin the opposite direetfot, p(ualcily sprang to the 1101%0'14 head, grasped Lim rums, and imeenedod it pulling iletn tap after a slhort struggle, Things Turned Out Difforont• l:7 tto 1']the1--" And Cowen Mary is hoar- rietl', I did not !chow that she knew any anile S eau.' L'bte"thuya mamma --".Site uutet have known ole,tt least or she wouldn't lievegot married.' Little le c 1)(d yon know papa before Yon woro hnarl'iel to hila, manna?" Little 19.'e {nacos{ (with e _ si gat)• -•-".1 bought I did,"b °There gees a than vim loft flolgrexs poorer than he (interne it1, "Ai; 1 51 geed proof of hie splendid intng., 1" "Gh, 110 --n£ {lis miserable luck cat po;„e M.Ali"Ii .1i(, 1892, PROPERTIES 01' JEWELS, Their Virl acs, 1lydh•Inu9 and litt,erfl'lar, 701 Nel north by tiuperxl(*Ural. Wrote to *miles 33,sgazbm,) Although popularly supposed to 00 itself e seemly poison, the diem nu d las fon' remote ages hope credited with the lower of protest. ill): tin wringer from the evil effects of nther pn(slons, aL rn'nhlal.ioo which it retained uut11eomparatdvnly recentthnee, According to Pliny, it also keeps off insanity. Amber, too, was slppnseu to possess the latter vir- tue. Besides the diamond, several other stones were supposed to possess medicinal virt ties. The nifty was considered good for de. rathgoment oftholiver es well as for bad eyes, The sapphire and emerald woo also credit- ed with properties which rendered them cap- able of influencinfg, ophthalm le dIcord ors and then is a smporstitious belief that 50rp01tee are blinded by looking at the letter stone. The turquoise, although not credited with either remedial or protoolivo properties to e concerned, was neverthe- less regarded as a kind of sympathetie eater, the intensity of iia color Wing sup- posed to fluctuate with the health of the wearer. The latter, moreover, by virtue of the stone the carried, could, it was said, fall from any height with impunity. The Mar- quis of Vilona's fool, however, was some- what nearer the tenth when he noised the popular superstition in his assertion .that the wearer ofa turquoise might fall from the top of a high tower and be dashed to pieces without breaking the stone. The opal nus looked upon as a thunder atone and although many women are now given to a strong superstitious prejudice against wearing one, it was in bygone days held in the highest estimation, for it was supposed to combine the virtues of several other gems. On the other hand, the onxy ---so roasted on account of its resemblance to the finger nails—could soaroely have been a nice stone to wear ; for, according to mediaevaleuperstici015 it rendered eve pat• tioularly susceptible to annoyance from nightmares and demons. Temperance advocates, if they have any regard for the beliefs of the Greeks and Romans, might seriously consider the ad- visability of distributing amethysts among drunkards, for it was supposed that these stones preyentel in toxicatron. Coal was :node use of by the Rnhnans as n protection against the evil eye and popular snperalitntion hes credited the topaz with the power of depriving boiling water of its iota{, Perhaps the most wonderful properties, however, were ascribed to the chimerinal stones which many creatures wore supposed to carry in their heads. Most ofour reudet'e have no doubt heard of the precious jewel which the toad carries in his brain -box, and so-called toad stones, which were formerly worn in finger rings as a protection against potsan0. It was thought that: the best stoles wore those voluntarily ejected by the living toads ; but, as the latter were not addicted to freely giving up their treasures in that way, it wee necessary to procure the csverted article's by other means, and the recognized method was to decapitate the hapless batraeh1,Ln at the instant he swallows his breath. The feat naturally demanded considerable celerity, such as could only be acquired by constant practice; and icisnot reasonable, therefore, to assume that although the endeavors to gain possession of the jewels were perhaps numerous, they must invnriehly have beat unsatisfactory, especially to the toads. The eagle stone was considered an excel• lent thing to wear during pregancy, and the swallow carried in its stomach stones of great medicinal value. The brain of the tortoise was supposed to contain a wonderful steno, which was office. Mous in extingnisl»ng fire, and when planus under the tongue, would produce prophetic inspiration. Another stone possessing the latterprnprioty was to be found in the eye of the hyena. The head of a cat, however, was thought to contain what would undoubtedly have been the most wonderful and most desirable treasure of all, could it have only had a real instead of an imaginary existence, for that man who waseo fortunate as to possess this precious stone would have all his wishes granted. He Wasn't Thirsty, One. hot Sunday morning, as the worslhip- pers from a little country church were slow- ly wending their way toward their homes, a burly old Devonshire farmer might have been seen teeming over his yard gate, nod• ding his stead and wishing a cheerful "good - day” to passers-by. At last his greeting became less frequent, and telling himself that nearly everyone must have passel, he wits abort to turn away when ho dosor'icd the well-known foam of the vicar cooling down the road. " Very warm clay, farmer," commented the clergyman, as he drew nearer. " Mortal 'ot, indeed," was the heartly response. " Be '00 too proud to stopinside a minute, ran' taste a goocl glass o cider, pa'son ?' "T am not too proud, of course," return- ed the vicar amusedly I "but I will not accept yonr kind offer all the same, thank yon, for to toll you the same, it is close upon my for hour, and I must go straight home." Then you boau't thirsty?" 'ill() tanks," " Look 'ea here, parson," exclaimed the farmer, "us don't want to have no hntsnnder• standing for want of afew words o' explana- (ion, and I should like 'es to know that I shouldn't 'eve (Made so bold as to ask '08 to drink if it hadn't bin for what I heard the doctor say to his eon 'bolt you as he wont past my yard a quarter (hour ago. " What was that ?" asked the vicar, with considerable interest, "" Why," s d he, 'the vicar is terrible drythis ig f)' He Obeyed Orders, Private Pat 'i\'TsGinley's first miser vice was at Buil Run, 'a name full of signifi- cance for hint. He ran et the first alto{, moil ihis company saw no more of hint till next slay, when he retuned mud—stained from head to foot, TTo told of hairbreadth escapes Hurl great deeds done at duty's call. It wapiti not go clown with the veterans, Who laughed at 11(111 and said 110 ran away. Pat was tumid to the noncoms), hlWevnr, " Run is lt,' he said, scoi'si ssIly. " Malt and of uddnt', uather, 0i just oltaerved the general's express orders, ontniroly, De told usto'shtrilto fat hone and yorconnlltry,' and of shtrualc for home." A Terrible TalL A Texas colored gentleman wee n pprnaeh ed by a plain white man and asked what ho would take to whil.ewatsh a hnildiug. Boss," amid lie, " 1 o ndds't 511 tinct ftls' rata loss ea hirtdoar," . ''ilub,acthillIhtnpa'npy1'intllnl',s"Itlinlhermoan odors to do it for three and a half." "'Hoag," said t,0 darken. "1 crnlldn't do it a Molt leas than four dollars,"