Evening Star Newspaper, May 8, 1880, Page 7

—_ HOW TO PRESERVE ONE’S EYE SIGHT, A New View of The Sabject—Amplé | Light the Main Requisite. | ¥ 00d, we are convinced. prove a fortune.to the | Inventor, and carry the name of the lucky occu- Ust far and wide. The Greai Star Distances. (London Spectator. | | The method of fin the distance of the Mr. Brudenell Carter, in his Tecent book on fo eonteen rage) gets Jewitt es ee “Eyesight,” pu some opinions on 0 short-sight abd weak sight which-are worth | 04¥5 of old the stars were suj to hold the same position in to each other from age to , and were therefore Called fixed stars, to ais! nga, them from planets. “ils. can be farther from the truth. The telescope shows that the stars are in constanc motion, but that the rate of motion is so slow that thousands of years must elapse before the. eye can perceive the change. Some stars are coming toward us, and some are receding from us. The sun,which is only a star, is moving with all the planets in record, and which, if not new to oculists, will, we believe, be new to many of our readers. No idea about’ eyesight ts so universal or causes $0 much theonventence as the one abont the danger of taxing it by fine work, by strain. as If 13 Hed, and close attention to very small objects. Most men and almost all women, even in the educated classes, think that much reading OF writing, “tries” the eyes, and that flae work,” particularly fine needie: if a dlewor ot | Bis train. Our earth, which is but an atom Rot, Coa indus at at some me } among atoms, ts whirling no one knows whith- In thousands of — households children’ fr, through flim able ‘space. Ewen the s serene are catitioned not to read so much or | Retro Hove us is thls same space pervaded by workso mu lest they should injure thetr Seunn aa ure = enone particles ato €5¢S, and women constantly shriak {rom pay- | Storny “fea. ‘The motion of the starconee ae bh hot believe this terror wed founded, He | bearerto us than others, and very persistent and painstaking have been the efforts to find out which of the shining suns of space are our nearest neighbers. Success has, however, crowned patient labor. Among the fifty million stars that glimmer in the firmament, there are about a dozen stars visible in our latitude that have a parallax rang- ing from a tenth to haifa second. It would be natural to suppose that the brightest stars are the nearest, but this is far from being the case. ‘The nearest star in the northern heavens 1s a double star of the fifth magnitude in the Swan known as 61 Cygni. The briitiant Sirtus ts near- ly twiee as far away. The nearesi. star in the whole heavens is Alpha Centauri, a bright star bear the south pole. This ha® a parallax of -tenths of a second, and is twice as near as any other star. Its distance ts computed as nore than two hundred thousand times our doubts whether eyes in their normal condition, Orraised to their normal condition by proper | Spectacles, ar “| by exercising sight at an. nich control the eve certain- | -is no proof that any other 5 im the contrary, the hers in the Kingdom most singularly and exceptionally . Mr. Carter says: “Re | armlessness Of con- by the aid ofa single convex | glass is furnisied by watcnmakers, amoag whom such work isau unavoldable condition of their appear to m millions of miles. If such be the Inconcetvable distance separating us from the nearest star, what idea can the finite mind form of the im: mensity of space intervening between us and the more remote? Vigorous work is now being done tn stellar parallax by what is called Bessel’s method. A Star with proper motion, or one that has been _ to ff het tl Lpepi col a is se- er eye, but experience len | Land its position {s compared night atter Support tottiat notion. The reason of the ware, | DCMCDy means of the micrometer with other er’s exeinption clearly ts that he takes care | S!all stars in the vielnity having no proper mo- 4ys to werk In a good light, carefaily ar- | UD, and therefore presumed to be farther away, probable, that , With excep- | iil thelr exemption j & strain serves to | work requiring painful ne eye, does the organ no harm, ows that an eye-glass does the SS frequently used no perceptible | pposed popularly to decrease the | vba : 4 , ‘star with proper motion will change its po- ranged and moderated, Tong hours of work by artitelal light of course | Osérscd from different parts of the earth's of- ReStMted OKs Tay eI ne [ence neag | this Kind has been. gaccesstulie completed at predisposition to weakness of the eyes: but | Mr- Seagrave's private observatory by Mr. the evil is not in the exercise of the faculty, | Waldo and Mr. Seagrave. ‘The problem was hut im Mis exercise under ‘nneatny con: | $9, determine the parallax, of a star called ditions. One great cause of the prejudice 1s : sys en the evil produced by stooping the Nead-ag ie | Position and distance from two sinall stars In ‘Writing for long periods sear fat table, the vicinity. was found to be less than one-tenth m people with atendency to shor es of a second. These enthusiastic astronomers Gee ine ee ee ee Worked upon the problem from the tirst of Sep. another is the remarkable habit. of people tember, 1573, to the first of November, 1879, that tendenes. of contenting themselves with | Duting that time they made measurements of Insufficient light. ‘They_ can tead. for tease, | each star on one hundred and twenty nights, Carefully expiained by Mr. Carter, by firelignt | 4 tralued eye, keen perception and mathemati- and in twilight and with insufficient candies, | Cal Precis.o2, as weil as patience and persist and consequs utly they do tt, and then lay the | (HCE, Were Involved In the solution of this deli- cateand intricate problem. These are the means by which astronomy has won its most briliiant triumphs, and those who would become practical astronomers must give their nights to blame on the reading, or on the small print, or on the white paper, all of which are innocent. They are suficring elther from the effect of Strained visuai attention tn bad licht, or from the effect of overwork on the brain, and not | Observation and thelr days to study.—Provi- ing their eyes. We believe this opinion | “¢M* (dk 1.) Jornal, Carter's will giv fort to ds, and can offer tone men ee tue Se Sunlight ts of especial benefit. to valeseing from long and wasting sickness. They should take a dally sun bath of an hour or more, as their strength permits. Tuey may be placed with their backs to the sun if theglare hurts the Mlustration of its exact truth. The writer has Worn spectacles for thirty-three years, and during t tme has prodibiy not sed twenty days without reading or writ- g forat least elght hours. He uses strong glacses anid tskes no precantion whatever, ex. | eY€S, OF Wear a pair of blue or green glasses for rose to avold work, ovens fora few minutes, in | he same purpose. The patient should be wholly Insufticient Hight or in a room too hot for'his | OF Partly bude, allowing the sun to act directly eyes; aud his sight, after that long period, 1sex- | 00 the cutaneous surface. In all these cases a light-colored and light-welghted straw hat, well perforated at the sides, and slightly dampened, Should be worn. It protects the head from the direct rays of the sun, which fs important, as in weakly persons prolonged exposure might pro- duce congestion of the brain or other serious trouble. We have understood that there is a large room on the top floor of the New York hospital, in this city, for this especial purpose. Tt must not be supposed from what has been Said here that the author advocates broiling a Sick person for several hours each day in the sun. Convalescents or chronic cases only should have the sun bath; all patients, however, need sun inthe room for a short time each day, ex- cept in special cases, which will be pointed’ out by the physician. It ts to be borne in mind that air, light and sunshine are Nature's great scav- engers and disinfectants. A few words may not be amisd in regard to the arrangement oi the furniture of the sick room. As a rule, the paper should be light and _ to look at; the carpet should be bright and cheerful, and the furniture strong, actly as good as it was before, with the excep- Uon that, as years advance, exceptionally tne Fint becoies a little tiresome. He would dis- ke to pore for an hour over Mr.Bellows’ French dictionary though he ean read it in all its types. ‘The whiteness of the paper is not painful, nor are the letters indistinct. It is the health, not ihe eyesight, whieh parents with studious chil- dren should protect,though they should be most merefless in iuststing on a suificiency of light, and light which actually reaches the object of attention. You may sit in a room full of light, Dut have all the while only twilight, or even a deep shadow, falling upon the work tn hand. Light, full light, but ight without giare, is the rand preservative of the eyes; The hext preservative, Mr. Carter says, Is the habitual use of proper spectacles. The curious Rotion,once we believe general In all classes and still almost universal among the poor, that glasses wear out the eyes, 18, ie believes, a Inere delus.on. They preserve the eyes. Bad Glasses, oF uusultable Klasses, Of course, pro- luce great fatigue of the eyes, though’ that | OF fatigue is not so injurious a3 is supposed; but | 4c" nade and free from squeak and groan. Glasses of themselves, even when a iittle too | 4° ne, Carpet 18, apt to sol ae ene “strong,” do no permanent harm Whatever. “A | {t.a5 9.8000 Plan to put ‘ally light, popular but entirely unfounded prejudce,which | Che oO that tt canbe dally cheed oat Papers d oe Py oi ae shaken, thus obviating the dust that will arise foun serene: To te tease. errog | fom a Sweeping or “dusting up,” however ight founded upoa a curious eotacidence. ‘There isa | ft May be. Wiien tt can be doae without dis deems OF te era tertaed Glaucoma, which for. | ‘Urbing the patient, or when there {s an oppor- = tunity tor arranging the room before it is occu- Fee De a nteh ecte and irremediablebiind. | oicq the carpet should be taken up. te oui Ree Cercle erty years past, hasbeen | P-rves to deatien the svand of footsteps wich €ured by operation when recognized sumcientiy | E50 fo mush neces aoa hy wee noe carly. One of the ft or ever of the premont | TS wear list olippers ae i Ge eee Boe ae ams Of glaucoma is & rapid failure of | tained, catches all the dirt, and will serve ass the accommodation, and hence a frequent de- | Mediu of contagion te sek ae eres mand for stronger and stronger glasses. At a after the m has left the room. Further- time when this disease was very imperfectly | atten the person has le be thoroughiy cleaned, Hane Ea obticlans saw many examples of | without dust or noise. All “dusting® Should be srery two oF {litee MOEN, Who we ee ea es | done with a damp rag. ‘Too little furniture 15 Geese Othe tee eee eo Dyeany | Better than too much in a sick room, especially blind; and it was not unnatural for them to as- | {the room be small. In contagious disases all sociate the blindness with the use of the strong glasses.” Good pebble spectacles, carefully Suited tothe sighf, may be. worn perpetually, asifthey were partof the anatomy of the . abd will produce no ili effects upon the sight of any sort. They rather Strengthen {t by the immense rellef they afford to the Six muscles which regulate the eye, and which in short-sighted people and people With old sight are apt, without specta- cles, gradually to get stratued tn the effert to enable the owner to see. It 13, of course, im- Portant to obtain the right glasses, so lmpor- tant that it would pay evel winen to filud a guinea for a competent ocullst once or twice in the course of a lifetime, merely to obtain an order for the spectacles exactly suited to their Sight; but, ounce obtained, the glasses may be Worn forever, and indeed are most beneficial when permanently worn. They shonld, as tt part of the face. Mr. Carter, is theory rather far wher ings, books and trinkets that can possibly be pensed with should be removed, and where curtains are needed, cheap paper Cee Uthat may be burned should be put in their place. There are various little things, the doing and leaving undone of which add greatly to the comfort and contentment of the sufferer. This ig especially the case with children. When weil, they go from toy to toy, and play to play, con: stantly seeking something new and fresh. How monotonous gmust {t be, then, for these little butterflies to be shut up, day after day, in a rcom that 1s always the same in furniture, ings and arran: i. Sameness ani the modified light are supposed by some to soothe irritation and induce sleep. It 1s a great mistake. They may force sleep, but it will be fragmentary, and instead of soothing irritation, they often increase it. These remarks are, of Course, subject to some modification in special diseases. There should be pleasant pictures and various little ee care tiene knick-knacks on the wall to attract tae patient's Se es ames ora. attention and keep his mind employed. As he gpation tat cnet mzopie 0 | gets el, newil eat Uno ald they mag be foo soon, not” only because the’ glasses | Paruly or wholly removed and others put in their place while the patient ts asleep. His sur- prise and pleasure on awakening will well re- pay the trouble, and hasten hiscure. A few growing flowers will be pleasant to the sight and smell. Cut flowers should neyer be allowed ina sick room. All plants and flowers should be removed at night, fer then the plants are throwing out carbonic acid gas and absorbing ozygen, while in the day time they exhale oxy- gen and rid the air of the poisonous carbonic acid. Patients rarely care for flowers before the period of convalescence. Everything about the room, and those who enter it, should be scrupulously clean and neat, The tables upon which the medicines are kept should have a clean white cover, and be placed out of the petient’s sight. Glasses and spoons shot be rinsed after each Ume of using, and wih; dry. Water is a good purifier of the alr, and, of course. if the medicine 1s dissolved in water and that fs uncovered, such medicine must absorb a vast amount of filth from the air of the sick rooms; It Is safer when kept in corked bottles. A piece of poisonous fiy-paper should be placed in a saucer of water near each window. If, in spite of this, these pests are troublesome, a large meshed mosquito bar may be put up over the patient. When it can be avoided, however, this should not be done, for the netting ob- structs the person’s ee revents a free cir- culation of air about his and isin the way when a medicine ts to be given. The whole Toom should havea bright, cheerful and tasty appearance. The eyes soon become weary from Testing on the same dull surroun dings after day and week after week. Daily ce how- arrest the development of the malforma- ton—for ft ts a malformation, an elongation of the eyeball—but because they lose ‘such an enormous amount of instruction through the | eye, and grow up, as it were, comparatively in- experienced. A distinguisiied man of science. who fs amyopic in a bigh degree, and who did Tot receive glasses until he was 19 or 20 years Old, has often told me how much he had to do in order to place himself on the same level, With regard to experience of quite common things. With many of bis normal-sighted con- temporaries; and it will be manifest on reflec- tion that the matters which are lost by the short-sighted. as by the partially deat, make up @ very large proportion of the ple «sures of ex- istence. *"* * I once prescribed glasses to correct the myopta of a lady who had for many Years been engaged in teaching, and who had ever previousiy worn them. Her frst exclama- | tion 1 P espeme poor Surprise, as she put on her Spectacles and looked around her, was a curious commentary on the state in which her life had until then’ been pi She sald: ‘Why! I Shall be able to see the faces All this ts very true, and spectacles in child- hood might benetit the eres—and we Suppose do, for we begin to see worn by children with ever-increasing frequency—but Mr. Cal ter’s opinion fs that of aman who, as he met Uons, has very good sight himself. and never Wore spectacies of any sort. Spectacles, he may depend on, if healthy for children’s eyes, are unhealthy for the rest of thetr bodies. They diminish the desire for activity too much. A squirrel in spectacles would never get a dinner. A child cannot jump easliy tn spectacles, and if he wears them restrains himself tod much; while he acquires rapidly that sense of pos- sible danger to the eyes from a fracture of the glass, which no one who wears spectacles 1s ever quite without, which, tn fact, becomes an instinct, like the winking of the eyelid. A blow from a ball or a stick or @ hand, which would hardly injure the face of an ordinary child, may mean for one whe is wearing spectacles death by torture. There is am instinctive sense of ‘THE LONDON CORRESPONDENT Of the Musical Review, writing of ballad concerts in England, says: “More than ninety per centum of the ‘bal- lade’ of the day are, however, a drug on the market; and more than half of them do not pay the prime cost of printing, which is, at the rice in this country, about seven to that in most wearers, which dimin- | ten gollars for ‘ ishes uncousctousiy thelr activity, and which | prst two hundred “and y copleee re uads Would be most injurious to children, who ought by Sullivan and Cowen are Pretty certain to be always in motion, without thought of pos- | to their way, but few of do sible consequences. Of cases | more. The m ir, indeed, the danger of sedateness must ced, Dut in Surprises. Things ticae ang WWSPECt It ts Detter to leave whea set is fairine to spectacles only © are writing ‘spectacles, we may be Permitted to ask a question. Would wholly beneath the ts of sone foo ro the question ot far from pertect now. The bridge is a great deat too Uable to get bent, the most dis- treseing confusion, one eye through the center of the and one not thomas sound reason for of an; Sort, and they are @ positive interru; to t; and the whole en Darbarous. The 5, it every few Minutes, and their joints are perpetuaiiy Ung loose. Spectactes without rims, and tt muoticn contartenee tar the bridge: and se cae uss of rand sung are estimated have pro- Jy Aled 9s to require infrequent adjustment, | is sails propacy ey wousand ‘and it distance from the sun. or twenty millions of f ever slight, are always agreeabie.—Tne Sick ANOTHER FAILURE. [Alden in N. ¥. Times.} Hard ts the fate of the American le. No sooner does its collective bosom sw: wita hope than somet of the most discduraging na- cure happens. A week ago the belief that Mr. Courtney would really rowa racein May had become general, and how we are suddenly con- fronted with the terribie prospect that he will not row at all. There 1s no subject of more transcendent im- portance than the rowing abilities of Mr. Courtney. It needs only a glance at our news- papers to be convinced of this fact. When the prospect that he will row 1s a doubtful one, the country is in a feverish and unsettled State. People sometimes wonder why the United States government has to y 4 per cent. for money, when England can borrow all she wants at 2% percent. Beyond any ques- ton, the real reason is§the uncertainty which capitalists feel as to Mr. Courtney’s intentions. What prudent man cares to buy the bonds ofa country which is Mable at any moment to be , convulsed by the-refusal of Mr. Courtney to row a match which he had promised to row. England ts not exposed to any such contin- gency, and therefore her consols are regarded as a safe investment. Mr. Courtney is an ele- ment of such terrible uncertatuty that it is tm- ossible that the bonds of his country should rded as perfectly safe. For the last two months the prospect that he would row In May WaS $0 good that there was a general revival of commercial expressed the opinion that if the confidence in regard to the approaching race continued, he would be abie to place a3 per cent. loan. And now, just as we were congratulating ourselves | on the apparent stability of our Institutions, the news comes that Mr. Courtney has devised , a new plan for not rowin ‘The reason why Courtney would row exhausted all the known methods of avoldinz a | race. He had on one occasion rowed his sh=ll against a concealed subaquecus wire, which bad ripped a hole in the boat and put a sudden ‘Stop to the match; on another occasion he had fallen suddenly ill; and last fall his boats were Sawn assunder on the morning of his most im- portant match. These seemed to be all the conceivable methods of avciding a race, and it Was manifest that none of these could be tried twice. Concealed wires and sawn boats are misiortunes which wlil not bear repetition, and no oarsman can fall sick on the eve of two different matches without running the risk or having his second attack prove fatal. There was, then, good reason for belleving that Mr. Courtney could not eseape rowing on the Po- tomac next month, and the State Department was fully justified’ in expressing that view to the governments of Europe. Just as the revival of public confidence was enabling people to pay some little attention to such comparatively trifling matters as the next Presidential election, there comes, like light- ning trom a clear sky, the announcement that Mr. Courtney has invented something that he calls a new rowing-rig, which will, as he claims; enable him to row about three times faster than any man has hitherto rowed. This ingenious rig he intends to use in the app:0 .c 1- ing race, and with tt he promises to leave Mr. Hanlan so far behind that the latter will not kLow that a race is in progress. Of course, Mr. Courtney will not do anything of the kind, His new rig is simply a new method of not rowing at all. He expects§that the referee will forbid him to use it, on the ground that it will be an infringement of the conditions of the match, in which case he will refuse to row, and the hopes of the American people will be once more ruined. ‘The ingenuity of the device can- not be denied. It is much more economic il than the pian of having one’s boats sawed in two, and 1s much more convenient than fall- sick. That it will be effective there ts not the least doubt, and we must make up our minds to the awful certainty that Mr. Court- ney will not row. It is intolerable that a great nation should thus be at the mercy of one man, Our com- meroe is prostrated ‘and our credit, weakened by the universal uncertainty as to Mr. Court- ney’s course which, except at brief intervals, constantly prevatis. In view of the enormous importance of the matter, we should regulate it by a constitutional amendment. What we need isa sixteenth amendment, declaring that in no circumstances shall a proposition be made to or accepted by Mr. Courtney to row a race with anybody. Should this become the supreme law of the land, there would be some hope for the future of our country. g¥e should, of course, suffer from our inability to decide whether or not Mr. Courtney is a goof oars- man, but the whole nation would not be stirred to its very centre every six months by a dis- nh of the question, will Mr. Courtney We cannot exile him, for such a remedy row? 1s unknown to our laws, and however desirable it may seem to kill him, his crime is not at present a capital one, and we cannot pass an tx post facio law to punish him for what he has already done. A constitutional amend- ment 1s obviously our best resource, and we should adopt one mecting the exigencies of the case without delay. ‘The sooner Congress takes the matter in hand the better, and it will be sliuply disgraceful if it wastes its time in ordi- nary legislation instead of grappling at once with theone subject of transcendent import- ance. Attempts Aeseerinate Louis Napo- eo! It_was in 1 that w soveretgn’s life was tried forthe first time; and another attempt was made upon it by a Radical shoemaker in i853. This year—1553—was prolific in tcidal outages, fora traitor called Libenyi tried in February to murder the Emperor Francis Joseph at Vienna, while in March a soldier sought to dispose of the reigning Duke of Parma, Charles ill. Three years passed now without any more crimes of this sort; but in 1356 Napoleon III. Was twice put in peril of his lire, both his ag- essors (Planori and Bellamare) belng Italians. fis sald that after the attempt of Bellamare the Emperor took to wearing a shirt of mail under his linen. It was not, however, until after the fearful enterprise of Orsini on January 14, 185s, that he got to be so seriously unnerved as to live in constant dread of assassination. Count Felice Orsini was not amere vulgar fanatic, but a gentleman by bi education and fortune. An ardent nee lot, and a partisan of the unt- fication of Italy, bis grudge ne Napoleon Ill. was that the latter, when a political refugee in Italy, had joined a Free Masonic lodge, and sworn certain oaths which, by and by, as Em- peror, he had neglected to fulfil. Principally as regards Rome, Orsini was furious at seein the temporal power of the Pope maintain by a French garrison of 13," 2en; and two years before attempting Napojeon’s life he wrote anenymously to warn him that the Carbonaro | had decreed his death, and that the senten would —infal- ce ltbly be carried out if the imperial policy to- ward Italy were not altered. Had Count Orsint's accomplices—Pterri, Rudio, and Gomez—been men of his mettle'and determination, the at- tempt against Napoleon on the night of Jan. 14, 1558, must have been crowned with success ; but they were poor, ignorant cravens, who did their work for pay, not from conviction, and their hearts failed them at the critical moment. Each of them had been provided with two ex- plosive shells, which were to be thrown under the Emperor’s carriage as it drove ue to the opera. Orsini threw his two shells, and Plerri one, but the other two men ran off in a fright when they heard the first explo- sion. The damage done by the shells was giastly. Five people were killed outright, and nine wounded; all the soldiers of the mounted escort were bruised or scratched: the Emperor’s coachman fell off his box stunned on to the car- cass of one of his horses, who lay dead; andone of the footmen was blown 20 yards off, with his skull battered in. Meanwhile, hundreds of panes of glass in the street had been smashed, all the gas-lamps were extinguished, and in the darkness there resounded an appalling tumult of lunging horses and shrieking women. Lan- ferns and torches had to be brought out of the opera, and then it was seen that the imperial coach was a complete wreck. How the Emperor and Empress map- aged to escape, with not so much as a singed hair or a cut finger, is nothing short of marvelous. be igen) not daunt in the least by what happened, the Empress sald to the Emperor, ‘We must go into the house toshow them we are not afraid,” and afew minutes later the entry of the imperial ue into their box became the signal for a magnitl- cent ovation, all the spectators rising en masse and Greed to the echo. Neve less, from this time Napoleon III. was an altered man. In the following year he undertook the war against Austria for the liberation of Italy, and ever afterward he went in fearot his life, Nota coward’s fear, for he was a thor- oughly brave map, but a fear which the French Gall crainte raisonnee, He expected be mnurdered. and 9 BAe tons to insure that thé Govéranién! carried on by a regency in case of his demise. He never went out without leaving directions as to where the latest copy of his will was to be found; and at times, when he was in low spirils, he used to that he had dreamed he shduia be assassinated within Such abd such atime. DuricZ the remainder of bis Re Se p.ahee were required to exhibit p: rts; and if nov Per sons of undoul bility. were close1y prosperity, and Mr. Sherman | q | people believed that Mr. | vas the fact that he had | | WILD PIGEONS IN MICHIGAN, The ht of Millions Toward the Forth Sito They Build Their jew \ Correspondence of the Detroit Post.) Livre TRaversg, Micu., April 4.—Something more than four weeks ago Pigions to the woods of north Which the hunters had long watening, commenced. These birds on their journeyings from the south to the far north stop every two years for two or three né in Michigan, usually coming in immense numbers. On the pane daar when beech-nuts are not abundant in State, they take some other course in their northward flight their first nesting was in Allegan or Ottawa. county. Of late they have generally settled frst 1m Shelby, Oceana county, and later in the season in Benzie and Emmet counties. Two years ago they skip) both Oceana and Benzie Pee ae nested first In Emmet, near Petos- key. This year thelr first flight vas to the seme section, but they soon discovered that they had been fooled by the warm weather fur- ther south. The weather about Petoskey was still cold, the bay wag frozen over, the snow was deep in the woods, the prospect for good feeding was bad, and aftera day or twool ap parent irresolution and many erratic filghts the birds, as if by common consent, took their course to the neighborhood of Platte river in | Benzie county. As a local publication stated j at the time, “they came in clouds, millions | Upon millions. It seemed as tf the entire world of pigeons was concentrating at this point. The air was fullof them and the sun shut out of Sight, and still they came, millions upon mil- lions more.” They spread over an area of more than 15 miles in length and 6 to 8 miles wide, and the prospect for a time was that the nest- ing would be the most extensive ever known in | the state. The news speedily reached all 3 | of the state, and it is said that ina fortnight’s Ume 3,c00 hunters—protessionals, amateurs gteenhorns—had invaded the country from ali aneciions, surrounding and penetrating the 1esting-grounds. It was noticed, however, by.old hunters that tLe Lirds did not settle down to domestic life as quickly as usual, The roosting birds—that {s, these who had not yet mated—outnumbered the nesting birds a hundred to one. Some of the more zealous and inconsiderate sportsmen en- lured the nesting woods and commenced pop- ping away at the nests themselves,a snow storm followed, high winds prevailed, and many of the rocsting birds, disgusted, postponed their an- ticipated housekeeping and scattered. The nest- me consequently falls far short in magnitude of w Was at first expected, though still large in ara and containing millions of birds. It Scat- tered along the banks of the Platte river, in the townships of Almira, Zeeland and Homestead. ‘The distance from one end to the other fs over 10 miles, and the width varies from a few rods to tiree or four miles. There are, however, numer- 6us long distances between the two extremes where no nests are to be found, and the birds have occasionally changed their ground, 80 that many of the hunters themselves are very uncer- tain as to the exact whereabouts of the birds at the present time. In the nests first made the y foe f are about ready to fly. and have ben ubandoned by the old birds, and in some places, owing to the winds and the constant shooting the nests have been deserted-before any birus were hatched. One nesi ing is about the same as another, and the first nest you come to like the million others in the county. When these migratory birds have mated, decided where to settle, and have staked off their claim, they proceed at once to construct about the slightest nest that will hold an egg anda bird. ‘Three sticks and a feather” constitute about the material, according toa recent visitor here. The feather ts often want- ing, but a few more sticks are generally added. ‘The nest is placed in the crotch of a tree, on two forked branches, or anywhere else in the tree where suitable support can be found. Cedar trees along the river bottoms seem to be pre- ferred, but whem the nestings are large, beech and other trees are occupied. From halt a dozen to 50 or @) nests are bulit in a tree, and only one egg is laid in each nest. Mark Twain on Blue Jays. Mr. “Mark Twain’s” two volumes of European travel, entitled “The Tramp Abroad,” contain his estimate of thé blue jay. With’ his well- known proclivity for modesty the author pre- sents this estimate in the words of a certain “‘Jim” Baker, a California miner: ‘“There’s more toa blue jay than any other creature. He has gol more moods and ‘more different kinds of feelings than other creature; and mind you, whatever a blue jay feel he can into langui And no mere commonplace language, either, but: rattling, out-and-out book talk—and brist- ling with metaphor, too—just bristling! And as for command of ‘lan; why you never see a blue jay get stuck fora word. No man ever did. They just boll outof him! And an- other thing, I've noticed a good deal,and there's no bird, or cow, or anything that uses as good grammaras a blue jay. You may say a cat uses good grammar. Weil,a cat does—but you let a cat get exelted, once; you let a cat get to pulling fur with another cat on ashed, nights, and you'll hear grammar that will give you the lockjaw. Ignorant people think it’s the noise which fight- ing cats make that 1s so aggravating, but it ain't 80, it’s the sickening grammar they use. Now I’ve never heard a fay use bad grammar but very seldom; and when they do they are as vues as a human; they shut right down and leave. “You may calla jay a bird. Well, so he a measure— use he’s got feathers on 4 and don’t belong to no church, perhaps; but otherwise he 1s just as much a human as you be. And I'll tell you for why. A jay’s gifts and instincts and feelings and interests cover the whole ground. A jay hasn’t got any more rinciple than a Congressman. A jay will lle, a jay Will steal, a jay will deceive, a jay will be- tray; and four times out of five a jay will go back on his solemnest promise. The Sacredness of an obligation Is a thing which you can’t cram into no blue-jay’s head. Now, on top of all this, there's an- other thing. 7..a jay can outswear any gentleman in the mines, You think a cat cen swear. Well, a cat can; but you give a biue Jay a subject that calls for his reserve powers, and where is your cat? Don’t talk to me—I know too much about this thing. And there’s yet another thing: in the one little particular of scolding—just good, clean, out-and-out scold- ing—a blue ‘Jay can lay over anything, human or divine. Yes, sir, a jay Is everything that a man is. A jay cancry,a jay can laugh, a jay can feel shame, a jay can reason and plan and discuss, a jay likes gossip and scandal, a jay has got a sense of humor, a jay knows when he is an ass just as well as you do—maybe better. Ifa jay ain’t human, he'd better take in his sign, that’s all.” A Case of Poetic Justice. . (Detroit Free Press. When you took a second look at him you could see a sort of grimness about him which convinced you that whatever he undertook to do he would accomplish or break his back in Tying. About noon yesterday, when the rain fell fastest, he appeared on Woodward avenue under an old umbrella worth the price of its ribs. At the opera-house he placed the old rain- shedder in a doorway and took position in another not faraway. In about two minutes along came a Citizen with his left eye watching for just such a chance, and he hawked on that umbrella with a chuckle of deepest satisfaction. He didn’t wait around there for the owner to ap , and he didn’t care a copper whether it belonged to a sister of charity or an overgrown bondholder. As he started off the grim man followed. The umbrella-hooker had a walk of half a mile to reach his residence, and the grim man was Close at his heels all the way. As the citizen halted at his gate the other detained him, and quietly remarked:— Want you to do me a favor.” Ah, yes—I never give anything to tramps‘” was the reply. “I want you take that umbrella back to the docrway from which you stole it!” “This umbrella? Why, is this yours?” “Tt is, and you must take it back!” “Well, you see, I couldn’t do that, but I guess it has been worth a quarter to me.” “Will you take it back?” asked the man with the Iron jaw. A Re no. What’s the old thing worth, any- ow?” “One hundred dollars!” “That's a good joke. I'll give you 50 cents and keep it.” “It fou, cont "bout face and take that um- brella to that identical doorway, I'll ee you into every puddle of water between and the corner, and when I let up on you your wife won’t be able to find a button to identify you by!” a ‘hus quietly remarked the grim man as he unbuttoned his overcoat and displayed a chest like He had the strength of an Ox and there was an “‘I-mean-it:” look in each eye. aS say, Idon’t want Observed the citizen. a oe of dollars.” “No, sir!” any quarrel with you,” ots your tumbretia ava “Say five!” pene ri Heretic peep ctel poe un SI lollars, and you must take cia back. If I stand in the rain five , downtown. He was too to Ff _'8, but carried it under his arm, while the ¢rini ina, Kept close him. ” When the “haa Deen the umbrella Sch, Se ae ale 4 PLUG OF TOBACCO, Why an Old Texan Became Dis solate and Made His Will. ,. ort Worth (Texas) Advance.) One day last month when — aioe een clerk a piece je leather @ shoemaker painted it black and laid It aside for future use. Within a few days an old chap from back in the country came-in and In- quired for a plug of chewing tobacco. The piece of sole leather was tied up, for, the purchaser started for home. At the end of the sixth day he returned, looking downcast and dejected, and walking into the store he inquired for the clerk. “*Member that terbacker I got here the other Fs Yes, sir.” wey Was that a new brand?” es. bg plug terbacker was it?” “Well, then, is me. Its right herein my jaws,” sadly replied the old man. ‘I knowed I Was getten purty old, but I was allus handy on biuin’? plug. I never seed a plug afore this one that I couldn't tear to pleces at achaw. I sot my teeth on thisone and bit and pulled and twisted like a dog at a root, and I’ve kept biting and pulling for six days and thar she am now, the same as the day you sold her to me!” “Seems to be a good plug,” remarked the clerk, as he smelt of the counterfeit. “She's all right; it’s me that’s failing!” ex- Claimed the old man. “Pass me out some flue cut and I'll go home and deed the farm to the boys and get ready for the grave myself.” Ar-kan-saw or Ar-kan-sas. ‘The true pronunciation of the name of our state 1s receiving that serious attention which {ts Importance requires. A joint committee from the eclectic and historical socteties have had the matter under consideration, and will report at the May meeting of the latter. While the latter pronunciation, above indicated, ac- centing the middle syllable and sounding’ the final s, has the heap ee of some polite usage, it is understood that the committees are largely and decidedly in favor of the original ciation given by the French, and wil! er the ponneeuon as nearly correct, which {s In use by the mass of old citizens, giving the Ital- jan sound of a in each syllable; the final ssilent witha slight accent on the first and last syl- lables. The only objection to what ts called the vulgar pronunciation is that the final sar is too bread. It should be sa, with the souna of « in father. Itis to be hoped that some settled pronunciation will be established, which lext- cographers may Intelligently adopt—a thin; which has never yet been done.—Little Rod (Ark) Gazeti oo OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. THE EVENING STAR THE WEEKLY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. The EVENING STAR, (on Saturday’s a double sheet or eight page paper of fifty-six columns, the size of the New York dailies), is everywhere recognized as the leading newspaper of Wash- ington. With two exceptions only, i has the largest circulation of any daily paper published south Of New York, AND MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT OF ANY OTHER PAPER IN THE CITY. Every issue of THE STAR 1s carefully read not only by the citizens of Washington ard ai- Jacent cities, but by the throngs of strar ges constantly visiting the Nationai Capital oa business or for pleasure, (and who constit ut», in a very large degree, the purchasing po; wl ton of every State and Territory in the Union), thus making it for most purposes THE BEST ADVERTISING MEDIUM IN THE UNITED STATES. Its influence as an agent of publicity has in- deed practically no limit within the boundaries of the country. The best evidence of this is the number of new advertisewents it printed in the year 1879, which reached 20,636, a1 from 1,700 to 2,000 per month in the busy season!! These figures include only the sub- ject of the advertisement, and not any change of the matter, which, in some instances, is made daily, and, although a new advertisement in fact, 1s not counted but once, instead of 310 puv- lication dates. The advertising books are open to the inspection of advertisers to verify this Statement, or an affidavit of its truthfulness will be submitted. ronun- THE WEEKLY STAR.—This 1s a double or eight-page sheet, containing fifty-six columns of fresh News, Literary and Agricultural matter every week, and is pronounced by competent Judges one of THE CHEAPEST AND BEST WEEKLY PAPERS IN THE UNITED STATES CLUB RATES FOR THE WEEKLY STAR 2 In compliance with repeated requests from various quarters to hold out some induce- ments to those who wish to get up subscribers’ clubs for the WEEKLY STAR, we make the following offer: Single Subscriptions, $2.00. 5 copies one year for $9.00, and one copy to the getter-up of the club. 10 copies one year for $15.00 and one copy to the getter-up of the club. 20 copies one year $20. §27 It is a condition of this offer that the sub- scriptions of each club shall all commence at the same time, and all goto the same post office. Subscriptions in all cases—whether single or in clubs,—to be paid in advance, and no paper sent longer than paid for. Specimen coptes furnished to any address, gratis, THE WEEKLY STAR is sent into every State and Territory in the Union, and is mailed to all the posts of the regular army and the various squadrons of the U. Ss. navy, besides being sent to subscribers in Eng land, France, Austria, Russia, Spain, Italy, Peru Venezuela and Central America. THE STAR FOR 1880. The present year promises to be one of the most interesting and eventful of the century It will witness early in the summer the meet- ing of the National Conventions of the two great political parties, and the nomination of candidates for the contest in the following No- vember. The impending campaign promises, therefore, to be one of the most spirited in our history, and THE STAR, with its increased facil- ities, will print all of the news of the day on which it is issued. It has a direct wire from its news room to the Western Union Telegraph of- fice in New York city, from which wires radiate ‘to all parts of the globe, and ts therefore ena- bled to secure the latest news by its own opera- or from every quarter up to within a few mo- ments of going to press. It is the only evening paper south of Philadelphia which recetves ex- clusively the Associated Press dispatchss, As a newspaper THE STAR being the organ of no man, no clique and no interest, will pre- sent the fullest and the fairest picture it can mek bf each day’s passing history in the city the District, the country and the world. It will aim hereafter, as heretofore, at accuracy firstot all things in all that it publishes, The circula: tion now is larger than at any former period in the twenty-eight years of its existence, exceed- Ing 18,000 copies in its regular, bona fide edi- fon, without any extra effort or spurt in the ews market, SUBSCRIPTION TERMS.—DAILY STAR— Served by carriers in the city, 10 cents a week or 44 cents a month. By mail, 50 centsa month, or $6.00 per year. Paid for. Specimen eopies itpished gratis, ert A SCHEDULE OF ADVERTISING PRICES wil be sent to any address on applica- et eee neat en vee will Call, on application, 10 write ments and explain rate, No canvassers are THE EVENING’ STAR NEWSPAPER. COMPANY : WASHINGTON, D.C, LADIES’ GOODS. AD the Neweat stylcn tn MYILLINEBY AND FANCY DRY GOODS. ~ = ———== ULARD AND STRIPED SILKS. Feautiful wide Foulard Silke at ST¥c.. usual $1.25. Hair-1) etry a Feline of inact ‘Bilke frome. he BS vaneios 811 z's, my3-6t SIL Market Space. bargains. os of Men's and d DOUGLASS, 0 Ninth St. St. Cloud Building. SPECIALTIES FOR THIS WEEE: PARASOLS—New and Elegant Designs. HOSIERY—Spring and Summer Styles. CORSETS—Every Desirable Make. LADIES’ UNDERWEAR in Great Variety. NOVELTIES in Made-up LAGE GOODS. LATEST STYLES in Each Department. MEN'S DEPAR’ Ml ti one TMENT will at al imee contain 2 F street northwest, And leave your order for FINE DRESS SHIRTS. SHIRTS FOR THE CONVENTION A SPE- CIALTY. Half-doren Fine SHIRTS. Balf-dozen &1 or icest Goods at the Lowest Prices Haif-dozen Elorant S14 00 -dozen Elegant SHIRTS, 10.30 DOUGLASS’ Our Rest SHIRT, Pt d Bone 12. myl 9in and F sts. A fine assortment of GENTS FU RNISHINGS an always on hand. D's SHIRTS MADE TO ORDER of the Best material, in the Very Best manner, guaranteed to cive perfect satisfaction both in ity and fit, for only TWO DO second - ME. WASHINGTON, SHIONABLE ud DRESSMARKING AND TRIMMING STORE, 1221 Penna, ave. Dresses, Suits, Costumes, Cloaks, ke., mado in Funerion style at short notice. Ladies! can class goods, but as good as ANYHODY'S BEST, Dresses Cut and and a perfect fit euaran- | only two dollars, at MEGINNISS, 1002 F st. nw. teed. ap24-1m ‘ashington, D.C. ayt0-1m. RS, S. J. MESSER, JHIRTS CHEAPER THAN EVER. TTS eae | Ss Mystery” SHIRT, at 75 finished, These ar ry" at TS cts. wn Ania cy, for, 8. T. Taylor's Patterns, | techeaper than ‘we scldit ‘when rausils, aid tnen Cut ——— of ion for sale. | was wey below prenent prices. Our ‘*Mystery”* 1213 Up : SHIRT, finished, |s the cheapost Shirt in the world, only 80 eta. The’ ‘*Crown Diamond” SHIRT, fin= .PRING ERY. d, 60 cts. Our LINEN COLLARS, latest st ¥ ave now open and ready for saie at@l il dozen, are as xood as is usually sold. the largest and most complete assortment $2.50. Our Silk NECK YEAR beats the world in of W AND OHIP HATS AND BON. ality and price. Our Silk SCARFS at 25 cia. are NETS Ever shown in thiscity, consisting a8 good as any other houre selis at 50 cts. Our 80. SUL THE Larest Panstax, Exouism, Iratiax, | cent 8A ‘a8 ood as is sold for $1.25 by the a trade xenerally. SILK AND FLOWER DEPARTMENTS MEGINNISS*, = soe replete with Rpt paid i and a Ap30 fe have. also ready Tor Luspect. treme! chotee selection of 0 aa 7) QHIRTs! SHIRTS: Personal attention et fot willinery orders. é FINE DRFSS SHIRTS TO ORDER. PATTERN BON! Pe 6 EXCELLENT DRESS SHIRTS to order. 10.50 IMPORT! 6 GOOD. -, 9.00 apl 1107 Fst n.w. FINISHED AND UNFINISHED SHIRTS OF OUR OWN MAKE ALWAYS: RESSMAKING. STOCK. THE MISSES HAMILTON, First-class work, at moderate prices. mal6-8m Qrane. IMPORTATION OF PATTERN BONNETS or FINE MIL- LINERY GOODS. Languedoc, Point de Rose, Du Chantilly, Spanish and Beaded Laces. New effe in ‘Osakr. mere and Beaded apes. An elegant assortment of Drees Trim! ani HIN! "8 Shirt Factory, E. MAUCK, Puornirron. P30 ‘TE ‘CK AND COLORED, PLAIN, STRIPED AND PLAID. Desirable patterns that cannot be duplicated later in the eeason for what we offer them now. BLACK DAMASSE, BLACK PEKIN STRIPES, BLACK GRENADINES, SILKS AND SATINS, PARASOLS AND SUN UMBRELLAS, KID AND LISLE GLOVES, WHITE Goops, FANOY HOSIERY, LAWNS AND PERCALES. CANTON GINGHAMS in new designs. TYLER & CHEWNING, Gate Clerks with Perry & Bro.), 918 7th S ECIAL BARGAINS. 18 Dreparation the hair curl naturally and permanently, and kee) Ane Gratien Saar id © Guo Drngygists, 490 Pa. 3 apl-eo EBMILYA’S LADIES’ SHOES. ‘The best in the world f 3 Be Meese rd for the money. All Winter Boots SBOOUNT OF FIFTEEN PER OENT EB es Bat WOES BASEN ORDER. mar20 DEY GOODS VERY CHEAP, SILKS! SILKS! SILKS! Ms BELLE LUCAS: DBESSMAKING AND PATTERN PARLORS, 801 MARKET SPACR, Corner Sth st., Keep Building. PLAITING, 902 9th st. BEAUTIFUL SPRING DRESS GOODS. Striped 8: S0c. Navy Blue Silk, Dark Green Silk, Gerdiuat hea Suk ana other colors, only 650. ; worth 1. Colored and Biack Cashmeres, pure wool, 250. Excellent Black Silks, 75 and 87c.’ One bun- Gred (100) pieoos Madras Ginzhats, new and cholos Styles, 10, a and ite.” Excellent quality’ Gall wiih, 81 fs ; wide aout . S70. 4 FAMILY SUPPLIES. BUTTER: CHOICE DaIRIES: pure wool, LES! SILKS! SILKS! Our $1, 1.26 and $1.50 Black Silks are SPRoraL RGAINS. Lace for Curtains, 12c. to 81. CABTER’S, 711 Market Space. Figured Lawns, 150. French Lawns. Beautiful Pacific Lawns, 10. Shetland Shawis, all colors, $1. mek cose = wool, wide double-width i togl. Black Tamise. Black Silk Warp Hen- Bunting, 15 to 75c. Lace Black Cashme: Y PRINT, made from pure Alderney Cream, per pound. -350. Beet dairies of N. 'Y. State, per pound ‘300. Wi Creamer are Best Weetern ries, per pound. NISGINIA BUTTS, Ie Bay, sits, Successor to J. Frank & Son, B st. wing, Stalis Nos. 496 and 497 Center Market. Open every day till one o'clock. all Shawis, pure wool, myS-im_| Sai barmain) “Oana. ana Inack Slik Wales ;*eoRsontsrs, Gaerpaeeded Win Bion Sra ae? FISHING PARTIES, CABTEW’S, TRAVELERS AND OTHERS. | api2 71 Market Space. Froth arrival of Imported and Domestic Goods. QPBING AND) SUMMER DRESS BEEF. Roast,” pray. | Bonsless, with Jely. rietta. lors. ‘Westphalia. ‘We have opened a splendia line of Paney and, Black SIEE's Bink and Ooiened wink GRERADINES. Black Silk Heraaai,” Bongos, Buntius Linen Camus adsse cetera tone Mulls and French Nainsooks, ail An inspection of our stock is solicited. HOOE BROTHER & 00., 10 1398 F st. w.w., near Ebbitt House. TURKEY = ROLLED TONG OYSTERS. BAKED % PICKLED LAMB TONG! PICKLED OYS- TERS, Ges es » PICKLED WOODEN PLAT! PAPER NAPKINS. N feet iG Aa es ss eee aircon ests arn my5 “D_ }Benelessin ‘Ten Varieties. HAM SAUSAGE, CURRIED MACCARONL . W. REED’S SONS. 2216 F street n.w. MEDICAL, &c. INVIGORATING CORDIAL Weakueey [supotency and ‘Mental {ibe beet ALACE MARKET, Cor. 14th st. and New York ave. FRANK J. TIBBETS & CO. We have SPRING LAMB and PEAS, STRAW- BERRIES, ASPARAGUS, TOMATOES and CU- CUMBERS, OYSTERS, FISH, GAME, &o. Bos- ton PICKLED PORK. Philadelphia CAPONB, 40 cents pound. may4 — eet om Excourace oe MANUFAC- AND HELP TO BUILD UP THE DISTRICT. Our Flour is made at home. BUY OUR NEW SOUTH. It is as nice as any patent flour in the market; fun, Patent Process Flour. Grocers. the oldest established and 01 reli- ble LADIES’ PHYSICIAN in the city, gan be aapetts aveue from 1 also. our Hi For eale by all the leading ‘Wholesale Depot— R. JOHN TRIPP'S BLOOD PURIFIER 18 A certain cure for 8; Scrofuls, Qvartum ors Diabetes, Brights Diseass, an ‘all Biood pendiocine stamp, and jon 5 cane, ‘bus ave., Boston, No med icine genuine unless in bottles with my name be Ae trade mark. E.SUN TRIPP. 903 Ea arenas by Da. Suxop in 1871. “The best ostablishment south of New York. iG DISCOVERY. \ game MANHOOD RESTORED. gure Sooay, nervous debility lost mani ee Baving tried in vain every kuown remedy, has ais: 001 hi en iil oo ——— rooerererere I a MAYUNE GUNPOWDER TEA, 50 Cents Pex Ls. Best Government Java COFFEE, Roasted, 33 cts. Beet Bio COI 20 cts. per Ib. Swiss Process FLOUR, 82.15 per bbl. NEW YORK TEA OOMPANY, Cor. 7th and H sts, ap26-3m WM, H. SPIGNUL & CO. DB CHERRIES, DRIED APPLES, DEIED PEACHES, AUTHERIZED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF KY AND PAIREST IN THE WORLD. 20TH PorcLaR MONTHLY DRAWING OF TER Commonwealth Distribution Co., AT MACAULEY'S THEATER, In the City of Louisville, om MONDAY, MAY 31, 1880. DRIED WHORTLEBERRIES, PRUNES, PRESERVES AND JELLIES IN BUCKETS. JOHN H. MAGRUDER, FINE GROCERIES AND TABLE LUXURIES. ben 14231 New Yerk ave. PREMIUM Avtided at the National Fair over all other comp The ? handsomest aot Patent Flour in the A very superior Minnesom Patent. STERLING'S 8T. FANOY, A Magnificent Winter Whcet Paseat Process. ast WH, M. GALT & ©O. Sree ss ae ersaeeteberier en Baits vasa! ii 408 for club r_%®8 should be made at rng eat a Zee,