Evening Star Newspaper, January 30, 1892, Page 9

- * THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C. SATURDAY. JANUARY 30, 1892-SIXTEEN PAGES. AT STANDING ROCK. Interesti:g Scenes at the Famous Sioux Indian Agency. THE ISSUE OF RATIONS. The Agency Buildings—Fortnightly Issue of Supplies—Characteristic Sioux Dance—Pe- culiarities of Some of the Leading War- Fers—Distribution of Aunulty Goods. ‘Written for The Evening Star. ORTHERN DAKOTA, he birthright of the Sioux, which he has just sold for what he was so long determined to regard as a mess of pottage, does not strike Ve" tho eastern observer as ® promising material out of which to hewa home. = There is pathos in the thought of a white man compelled to wrest the means of life from these unsympathetic prairies, where the smoky tepee ef the Sioax seems as much a part of the land- scape as the mound of the prairie dog. The tutelary Standing Rock, which is the center of the principal Dakota agency, stands on the high west bank of the Missouri river about sixty miles south of Bismarck. There are sacred traditions concerning this rock, which do not seem to be justified by its per- sonal appearance. It is scarcely more than wo feet in height and about fourteen inches in diameter at the base, sloping upw: some- what in tho shape of a wedge. It is devoutly believed to be the figure of a squaw turned to stone while kneeling in prayer. I have heard various and conflicting tales concerning the circumstances under which this lady was per- forming ner orisons and the reasons why im- mortality should have overtaken her in this manner, but they are not important, and no one who is not possessed of the aboriginal imagination can — dis- cern in the shape any foundation for the legends. I have been told that if it should be accidentally or irreverently bled down the steep river bank by which it stands, it would immediately pick itself up, climb the hill and resume its position. How- ever, to prevent the skeptical from testing its peripatetic acco.oplisi-nents it has been firmly imbedded in moctar and stands on a square pedestal of masin work, where it is af- fectionately daubed from time to time with the red and yellow paint with which the Indian decorate their ow persons. Its neighborhood is a favorite gathering place, and on any ration one may sve solemn-eyed and filthy pa- rgeous in their beaded swadding ing or leaning against it, and patient ponies trying to rub their burdens off om it THE AGENCY BUILDINGS. About this center are grouped the agency buildings, consisting of several long, low wooden structures, used as store houses and offices; a row of cottages, occupied by the agent and other offic and two stores, where arti- | eles of luxury, suchas chewing gum, beads and brass jewelry, are exchanged for hide: the hides of buffalo, but merely the have once inclosed government the agency is the military post | . Karrisoned by fo try and two troops longer to exist, is equivalent to a hurricane elsewhere, fills the and the | and nostrils of those who breathe it with fine, penetrating sand. This is in the summer.’ Inthe winter the pow- snow, almost as dry, takes the of ‘the su and “the blizzard | Several miles’ to the west of the| river lies alow range of Hill and prairie | covered with eurli: buffalo grass. hs ered = trees- unted jong the bank: dery plac 1 buckskin and | It is not an exhil- | rie fires have e tepees of thousands of In- nd the beef, cut by the ntly no t aws int ee) & she : flutters like crimson rags in the wind. dry and INDIAN HOMES. Many of the 5,000 Indians who are fed at this agency live atadistance of from twenty to seventy miles.and among these are most of the chiefs whose names have become femous out- The home of the was probably more widely mber of his tribe, is about asa person fond of Sioux polities and domestic cares. So almost © weather was cold he could be e lor of the trader's store | round the stove. A nded frora one to the 3 it passed. Bull, enough to inter- : . judging | eciative laughter wers received, he twe of gregarious Bot ham: im a cirele of bis intin g clay pipe was hi X WARRIORS. mee in his tribe has Sitting Bali's impo: been very gr >atly exa, the east an | to pose bot’: more spi ns to eloquence. th 1 I once heard him speak the Indian inspector with e began his commencement tions of the res, particular.y oncern- ion. He nd t that the food of @ more delicate quality u the beef and bacon of every day. nies of the uded to the p ‘@ has touched the heart of the white mab and swayed his own people in the midst of many a crisia, Perbaps the interpreter did not do him justice, or poss:blr the subject under discussion did not move him to put forth his but I did not find him impressive. He ed 5 characterizes the of all the Indians whom I have beard discourse. Gail is the real leader of the Sioux nation, and is, I believe, a man of considerable ability He differs from ‘Sitting Ball im uot being in Jove with the sound of his own voice and sel- dom adds it idly toa debate. In appearance be is of about medium height, inclined to be stout, and bears a positively mortifying re- semblance to Kenjamin Franklin, which acci- dent gives his feathers and bianket an air of incongruity. Rain-in-t interest. said to have carried out a threat previously uttered to eat the heart of Capt. Tom Custer Little Big Horn. He is conspicuous because of @ very lame leg, his knee joint baving been sbattered in that same fight. WOLT Guost. There is one garrulous old man noticeable among the loafers about the trader's store by reason of his pointed gray beard, # very un- Usual ornament ou an Indian. His nameis Holy Ghost, and if you ask him how he came by so imposing a tifle ke will tell you that it was bough: for him by his father. “It seems that in the old times when some Sioux brave especially distinguished himself by pre-eminence in mur- der and bis name became a terror to the white man as well as to the Gros Ventres or other In- dians against whom the stronger Sioux wert constaitly arrayed, that nane assumed marke:able value and became a negotiable piece of property. Some ambitious young buck, anxious to excel in his peculiar calling, would buy and assume the warriors name, paying well for the privilege in ponies and skins. Ite original bearer would then give up all ciaims to it and wouli proceed to make another title famous and vaiuable. The person who at pres- ent gravely answers to the name of Holy Ghost Yecelved it as a gift from his father im infancy, it having @en bought from a very distinguished He jare that itever had 4 DRAMATIC SatAGE. Long Dog is a savage with « true eye to dramatic effect. He loves to attract attention. He appears at all gatherings where strangers are to be impressed. and sits. motionless on his peay, abuge war club, in which are icker than | ated by his friends in | himself everywhere. He loved | u0us battle of the | fixed three great knife blades. His body is covered with scars from bullet, arrow and knife, all of which he is charmed to show you in any weather, and, probably on the princi that “The bravest are the ten ‘The loving are the daring,” he bas from time to time taken unto. himeclf ‘24 wives, each and every one of whom he has won by force of arms and without paying the price in ponies or other currency. He also claims that he has never beaten or otherwise chastised any of the fair two dozen. The Sioux, by the way, are naturally polygamous, but are now compelled to take but one wife. However, matrimonial engagements previously con- d, involving a more generous household, are not interfered with. Divorces, also, are easily obtained and there is no social prejudice against the divorced remarry! Never is the dog so truly the friend of man as among the Sioux. The squaws dandle him and decoratehim as they do their papooses. In the summer he trots after his master, fol- lowing the ponies, and if the march be long and the day hot he rides beside him in the wagon. | When winter comes and the diet of govern- | ment beef grows monotonous the friend of man | is converted into soup. This is terribly near being cannibalism. ISSUE OF RATIONS. t the agency | is the occasion of a great deal of gayety, par- icularly in fine weather. The Indians gather | | from far and near,on their ponies,in wagons—for | nearly every head of afamily own the sligl ‘position to take care of hitaself has | ree good wagon—some walking and some | utilizing their ponies, and even their dogs, to | pull travois—a contrivance of two poles with | cross pieces, the forward ends of the poles | fastened to the pony or dog. the other ends dragging on the ground. Most of the house- hold goods,as well as the wardrobe of the ordi- nary Sioux, can be commodiously transported in this manner. The Indian who has a wagon can carry his squaw and papooses, besides his tepee poles and canvas. No member of the family is left behind. One often sees a family of fat puppies pushing their noses out of such awagon. ‘The squaws are always beautifully | painted for the occasion, being especially | gorgeous in the matter of ochre and vermillion on the parting of the hair. They wear their | best blankets and their longest earrings and three days are spent in the most delightful Social intercourse. The women sit about on the turfless ground outside the agency build- ings, compare babies, talk scandai—they are great gossips, I am toli—and incessantly chew gum. This habit is the most conspicuous result of their contact with civilization. THE DANCE. One of the relaxations usually indulged in on the Saturday of issue week isadance. The Sioux as he is generally seen wandering about the agency, or even as a householder, doing the honors of his own shack or tepee, is not a being to inspire one even with the admiration | which we give to the untamed wild. beast. He is in an unnatural state. His nakedness is cov- ered so variously with incongruous odds and ends, all of which originally owed their exist- ence to the white man—a piug hat here, a cav- alry dress coat there—that the savage is robbed of his native dignity. But at adance he is seen as you feel he should be. Generally speaking the young bucks alone take part in these cere- monies. ‘They are always stripped to the waist, and in most cases the legs also are bare. Their slender, muscular bodies are painted in various colors—some a solid red, green, yellow ot black, with legs to mateh, and some in stri or patterns. They wear war bonnets spiked with eagle feathers, after the fashion Jof the red man in the geogra- | phy books, Long feathered tails hang from the bonnet to the ground. The dance itself is a weird performance. It takes place late in the afternoon, usually beside an uninhabited | shack (a log ‘hut, mud-daubed) in an Indian Village @ mile or two from the agency. As the twilight creeps on no more uncanny sight can be imagined. The squaws and the old men sit on the ground in acircle, beating tom-toms and chanting a dismal, monotonous refrain, al- The dancers bend their supple, snaky bodies from side to side and shufile about, grinning and nodding their nd shaking their bangled arms. ‘Their faces then seem diabolical. ‘They carry war clubs—stones smootiied to the shape of an egg and bound with rawhide toa heavy handle. You can imagine tiem exulting ove® some tortured victim. Suddenly the music ceases. The dancers pause instantly, relax from their panter-like attitudes, stroli about and talk with their friends. These dances have no significance, and are now merely social diversions, ‘The sun dance, ot which so much has been written, and in which the bravery of the young’ backs was tested by the length of time they could endure g suspended by a horse hair rope caught through the muscles of the breast, is now for- bidden. BUCKS AND SQUAWS, The squaws, too, have a dance,which is more amusing and not so impressive. It is called | the dance of the mothers of brave sons. The is of the same order, but the exercise is jul. ‘They dance in a circle, amid ach giggling and apparently plentiful chaff from the brave sons. A great deal of lovemaking is enguged in in the neighborhood of the ageucy during the is- | sue. When the young Sioux brave finds him- self possessed by the tender passion Le wraps | himself from head to feet in a piece of white | cotton cloth or canvas, holding it with one | arm over his face, leaving but one amoro | eye exposed. This livery of love is not cal lated to protect the wooer from the blizzard, so that it is only during mild weat that we see these smitten youths flitting about like ghosts. ‘THE ANNUITY Goops. ‘The issue of annuity goods occupies about ten days of every December. These include articles of wearing apparel, with calico and cot- ton cloth of which to maké garments. There are also household utensils, the uses of which must sometimes embarrass the untutored say- and, in eaxes of exper ue and desert, g Chairs and s; ‘The distribu- tion takes place in a large room of the agency store house. The articles to be distributed aze uged in classified heaps about the room, au assistant to preside overeach. The me of exch head of a family is accompanied nu the agency books by a list of what he is to ve. ihe name wscalled and the list read | the ypidly as the words can be articulated. It y reads about like this: ‘Two blankets. ‘Three shawls, pairs shoes, ‘Two bats. Four forks, Four spoons. ‘Three tin plates One frying pan. One case knife. Two pieces calico—and so forth, according to the size and necessities of the family. The blankets are first thrown down in the middle of the floor, and then, as fust as they can be | i 3 come flying through | the air from all sides of the room, and usually light accurately on the blankets. The room is filled with a shower of plates, hats. knives, boots and frying pans. Then a squaw gathers together the corners of the containing blanket jand drags it out to pack and arrange the treasures at her leisure. It is all executed 50 rapidiy that the spectator is left breathless. One article which ix given annually is a pocket handkerchief to each individual Indian, but it | is seldom put to its appointed use. The pa- | pooses are much de¢orated with beads and elk | teeth, and are neatly painted by their mothers, but maternal devotion does not extend to the wiping of their noses. IN THE ScHooLA. The Roman Catholic church has a well- established mission here. There is a church with two priests and a school where about « hundred and fifty Indian children are being educated. Visitors to the school are treated to | quite c remarkable exhibition of proficiency in reading. writing and arithmetic. Among other | feats. the older girls, who are less afflicted by | shyness than the boys, are required to go to the blackboard and write an original sentence of correct moral tone, each one signing her name. Sometimes the combination of the bap- tivmal and family names is very absurd. I re- member one: “L love my teacher, my own stockings. “Macor Tuunper Hawx.” Looking at Maggie, I found some pathos in the idea of her wearing stockings, much more in knitting them. It is melancholy to see these Little savages, born to the freedom of » rabbit or a coyote, cribbed, eabined and con- fined to the limits of a eenool room, constrained by pinafores and hob-nailed shoes. And when they go forth for exercise it is in two serious processions, the boys walking in one direction, the girls in another, each branch under the charze of a couple of Sisters of Charity. Anumber of the young men and women of the tribe are members of the Catholic chi and some of them are enrolled in the Society St. Joseph. On the Sunday of ration week these latter come into the agency church to ‘mass, marching in a solemn "preceesion on their ponies, carrying crosses and banners an dently very much pleased with themselves. ‘The last man in the train bears aloft the United States flag. In church they are devout in their demeanor and punctilious in but as the little cavalcade UNCLE SAM AT SEA. Exploits of Our Navy Which Are Pointed to With Pride, RESPECT FOR THE FLAG. Naval Commanders Who Have Taught Other Governments Their Duty to Our Flag and (Citizens—The Two-thirds Rule in the Dem- ccratic Party—Gen. Ward of Georgia. Written for The Evening Star. HE PRESIDENT’S message was re- ceived with univer- sal approval and the press of New York, while some- what divided, are none of them in direct opposition. The war clond, which seems charged with the thunder of indigna- tion at the treat- tar ment of our sailors ca tue continued exasperating manner in which Chile deals with our officials, has aroused a de- sire to have the government administer such punishment as will compel respect, not only from the insignificant foe, but teach other gov- ernments their duty to our flag and citizens. The spirit of reminiscence is awakened, and it will seen wherever we have asserted our rights and displayed a determina- tion to compel ochedience to our demands the result has alw: ys been the same. As far back as 1831-2, dursag Gen. Jackson's adminis- tration, we had trouble with Italy, or rather with Naples, at that time a separate kingdom. In 1809 and from that until 1812 the Neapolitan government under Joseph Bonaparte, and Murat and Saccopire, kings of Naples, had con- fiseated American ships and cargoes to the amount, as the files of the Department of State exhibited, of nearly two millions of dollars. Demands had been made upon the government of Naples for these claims from time to time, but with no result. A refusal was the only reply made to the demand of the Secretary of State. Gen. Jackson took a determined stand and in- sisted ona settlement of these long-delayed claims. The Hon. John Nelson of Frederick. ‘Md., was appointed minister to Naples and instructed to insist upon a prompt settlement and Commodore Patterson was putin command of the fleet in the Mediterranean and ordered to co-operate with Minister Nelson in enforcing his demands for settlement. Naples persisted in her refusal, when warlike demonstrations were determined on. ‘The squadron, under command of Commodore Put- terson, consisted of three fifty-gun frigates and three twenty-gun corvettes, and they were ordered to concentrate at Naples. Mr. Nelson, who arrived at Naples on board the Brandy wine, repeated his demand and met with a ri fusal. As the ships of the squadron appeared day after day in the harbor until the whole fleet were at chor there, there was some evi- dence of alarm, and King Bomba announced to the American minister that he would make the settlement demanded, the negotiations ending in payment of the principal and interest in full und guarantees were given for the payment in installments. CAPT. INGRAHAM'S BOLD STAND. ‘Tae Sran has recently published, somewhat in detail, the action of Capt. Ingraham in de- manding the release of Koxzta, who had been taken prisoner by the Austrians at Stayrna in July, 1453, and Was imprisoned on board the Austrian ship-of-war the Huzzar, commanded by the brother of the emyeror, the Archduke John, Capt. Ingraham asked permission to see Koszta, claimed to be an American citizen, that he might examine those claims. lis re- west was granted, and being convinced that foazta was entitled to protection he demanded his release of the Austrian commander. The release was refused and he communicated with the American consul (Erown) at Constantino- ple, and while waiting reply six Austrian ships- of-war entered the harbor of Smyrna, and the Huzzar, with Koszta on board, made prepara- tions for sailing. Capt. Ingraham, clearing his gansfor act informed the commander of ‘the Huzzar that he would resist his leaving the ortof Smyrna with an American citizen on t ard. The commander of the Huzzar inti- ated that he should do as he pleased, and in- tended to tuke the prisoner to Austria’ despite demand of the American captain, who returned to his ship and ordered his guns to be cleared for action. The arch duke saw the batterics of the St. Louis turned on his ship, put her about and sailed back to her old anchorage. The reply from the American consul at Constantinople commended the action of Capt. Ingraham and advised him to take any action which would release Koszta. A note from the American captain to the commander of the Huzzar said unless Koszta was delivered to a on board the St. Louis by 4 o'clock the following day he would take him by force. A refusal “was returned and the st. Louis again cleared her decks for action and the seven Austrian war ships put their men at the guns. At 10 o'clock an Austrian offic came to Capt. Ingraham and desired to obtain adelay, but the captain said: “To avoid the worst I wiil agree that the man be delivered to the French consul untii you can communicate with your government, but he must be deli ered there at the time I have stated or I take him.” In an hour's time the French co: sul sent word that Koszta had been delivered to 2. ‘The result is told in Mr. Marcy's letter to the Austrian minister, and the Austrian gov- ernment acknowledged our right and apolo- gized. THE DFSTRUCTION OF GREYTOWS. In 1854 Capt. Hollins of the sloop-of-war Cyane was ordered to proceed to Greytown and redress the repeated wrongs which bi committed against American citizens. No at- tention had been paid to the repeated demands of our government for reparation, and Capt. Hollius was ordered to make a finai demand, and if refused to proceed to earry out his in- structions. On the 13th of July he opened tire on the town of San Juan, and continued until 4 o'clock to pour broadside after broadside until the greater part of the town had been de- stroyed, and then landing a party ot marines he completed its destruction by burning what the bombardment ad saved. Englanil cleimed to exercise a protectorate over the settlement, and a British naval officer protested against the action of Capt. Hollins, but no attention was paid to nis protest, and the English govern- ment concluded to submit. THE PARAGUAY CASE. ‘The Paraguay difficulty in 1859 was our last trouble until now with our South American neighbora, and it forms a resemblance to our resent dificulty with Chile. In 1952 Capt. ‘homas Jefferson Page, in command of a small steamer, the Water Witch, left for South America to explore the river La Piata and its large tributaries in the interest of future com- mercial intercourse. Until the Ist of Febru- ary, 1855, these explorations had gone on with- out interference, but on that day, as she was slowly steaming up the river Parana, a battery opened on her from the Paraguayan shore and one of the sailors was killed. ‘Ihe little steamer, being unfitted for hostile movements, retreated out of range of the battery. Lopez, then pres- ident, was ruling with absolute sway and re- sided’ at the city of Ascencion, a town some miles up the ri He aiso issued a decree forbidding foreign vessels of war from navigat- ing ters of Paraguay. Demand for repa- ration was made, but Lopez paid no attention to the demand and Congress authorized the Pres- ideat to send such naval force to Paraguay as would compel her to give the satisfaction de- manded. Nineteen vessels were fitted out, seven of the steamers especially chartered for the navigation of the rivers of Paraguay. In 1858 the fleet assembled at Montevideo and con- sisted of the frigates Sabine and St. Lawrence, the sloops-of-war the Fulmouth and the Preble, three brigs, the Dolphin, the Perry and the Lainbridge:' six steamers, the Memphis, the Caledonia, the Atlanta, the Southern Star, the Westernport, the M. W. Chapin and the Meta- comb. Tevenue steamer Harriet Lane, the armed store ships the Supply and the Re- lease and the Water Witch, armed for war, ac- companied the fleet. On the 25th of January, 1859, the squadron sailed and came to auchor off Ascension, when the president of the Argen- tine cosfederacy volunteered his services as mediator. otiations were reopened and Mr. Bowlin of Mi i, our minister, made his demand for immediate reparation. ‘ihe fleet, or as many of it as could ascend the river, were in position to open fire if necessary. The force consisted of nearly eighteen hundred men and seventy-eight guns. ‘Then only-did Lopez understand the United States meant and Mr. Bowlin's demands were con- ‘ceded and ‘apologies and reparation were made, inch compensation to the family of ‘the sailor ‘on the Water Witch. OUR SHIPS AT QUALLAH BaTTOO. Nearly sixty years ago under Gen. Jackson's administration severe punishment was! ‘Tho skirt dancer's {nficted oa the Malays ai Quallah Battoo, on quires 150 yards of the Island of Sumatra. These people had com- mitted outrages on the American seamen and others — diate cause of in that region, and the imme- this retributive justice was tho capture of the ship Friendship of Salem and of the late Dr. lantry. beneticial. by G Mr. Buel through the on a fall convention the nomination. up ho the night had not alw: was el T sig time of dated Paris, first publishe: a play calle’ as follows: first perform Henry R. 69 Fleet str “I gave Mr.’ Pi British tourist the house of By arelative, “To us, pears; are the same, presiding officer of the cor to announce his nomination, that he had when the convention adjourned tH before, and that next morning the first announcement of his nomination came from a young telegraph operator, who took it by sound from the wires going to HoW HE LOST THE VICE PRI Gen. Ward was the choice of Penus; the northern states for the vice presidency, and on consultation it was agreed that as Virginia had been such a constant friend of the success- ful nominee for the presid to that state to uame the state of Virginia was divided between Breckin- ridge and Gen. Ward and one of the opponents of Gen. Ward said he opposed bi another forgotten epis. In 1851 the “state right mined to run a ticket on tuat issue. met with resistance from the “Union” men, a8 they were called, I think, and Howell Cobb’r d the Speikerskip to accept the nomiua- tion for governor on that issue. was one of Gen. Cobb's friends and voted for him. There were no political party lines dra but whigs and democrats were merged in the issue upon which the campaign was fought. It wus the first fizhtof the extreme state rights men and the more conservative element in the whig and democratic parties. Gen. Cobb and his friends and supporters opposed all action which .ended toward secession, Tamenabled to throw some 1 mooted question about the authorship and the pearance of the oft-repeated story of the song of “Home, Sweet Home.” Mr. Gabriel Howison printed a life of Howard Payne in large octavo, 250 copies only, and from that volume, full of’ the remarkable curcer of Mr. Payne, i obtain: this authentic history of that world-renowned song. The i, the Maid of Milan,” was written ris, and in a letter to Mr. Heury R. Bishop, ‘bruary 12, 1823, Mr. Payne say: “sent off ‘Clari’ by the diligence on Sunday morning. The hint about the melody of “Home, Sweet Home,’ I sent you is so vague Tecan only give you something approac! ‘lari,’ an 0 ring Brother: agree ‘orney among them, himself, thought he was defeated. ‘The secret of his success was that Alexander H. Stephens, who was a devoted frieud of Judge Donglas, in an interview with Donglas at Washington on tae day above named advised Douglas to with- draw from the convention and let Buchanai take the nomination, and that, as far as one could. the murder of the captain and officers and the robbery and destruction of the Woodbury, then Secretary of the Navy, ordered Commodore Downes to to Quallah Batioo and demand immediate restoration of the stolen property, the deliver derers and ample reparation. commanded by Commodore Downes, on reach- ing the island, did not wait for expla- nations, but at once fired on the town, and, landing @ body of seamen and marines, under Lieut. Irvine Shubrick, demolished the forts, and all the bombardment had Among those mentioned as distin gallantry is Eugene Bo; ship. Mr. of the mur- ‘he Potomac, left. ished for le of our city, brother Cornelius Boyle. resignation from the navy Mr. Eugene Boyle commanded a company of Washingtonians at the attack on Monterey, Mexico, and was men- tioned in the reports for distinguished gale Among the midshipmen honorably mentioned is Charles Hunter. amples to guide the powers that be, and the ad- vantages which resulted from such determina- tion to protect American citizens and sustain the national honor, the result of such treat- ment administered to Chile could not but be ‘After his With these ex- THE TWO-THIRDS RULE. Inan article in last Saturday's Star on the origin of the two-thirds rule in the conventions of the democratic party Isaid the rule had become a law which would never in our day be abolished, and Tum sustained in that opinion . John E. Ward of Georgia, who was & delegate to the convention of 1844 and the sub- sequent ones up to 1856, over the Cincinnati conv. Buchanan was nominated in 1856, and referriag to the biography of Mr. Buchanan by George ‘Tichnor Curtis, says Mr. Curtis is entirely ui ken in ‘the assertion that the nomin an waa n. Ward presided ion at which Mr. ion of upon in advance influence of Slidell and others of the south; that the nomination was made after a very severe and protracted fight .with the friends of Douglas, and the day before the nomination was made the convention adjourned ing ballot for Mr. Buchanan, and his nd Mr. Buchanan pledge another, Dougias should have the succession on this advice, telegraphed his representative in the convention, Richardson of Ilinoi withdraw his name. ing the measure of the ‘Randez Vaches. “Hi Tom Ginn—I wish picture of a dollar note, D’Auber—“Will Tom Ginn (i ‘ou pa nt material Mr. Amos Perr; et, swee like home, Douglas, acting to ‘the nexi morning when the convention met Gen. Ward was usked to recognize Mr. Richardson, and he did so, when the telegraph of withdrawal was read amid a storm of opposition from Douglas, That withdrawal gave Mr. Buchanan He told Gen. Ward who, as the vention waited on him the friends of en ww York. IDENCY. vaniaand jency it should be left Vice President. ‘The n because he 8 voted the democratic ticket. He and Gen, Ward’s advocate waited on the eraland asked if he had voted for Cobb tor governor and he replied yes, he bad, and the gentlemen, without waiting any explanation, Voted with the friends of Breckinridge, and he placed on the ticket with Mz. Buchanan and gen- ” men of Georgia deter- They were Gen. Ward sht on the In 1875 Jobn eee , Sweet Home,’ aga refrain will come in ely. The original song as written had nine lines in each verse and was reduced when sung in the opera to its present length of four lines to each verse and the refrain. who succeeded Mr. Payne as consul to Tuni addressed a letter to Mr. John Miller, who_wi for years United States dispatch agent at Lon- don and who was the original publisher “Home, Sweet Home,” who says in rej ‘Sweet Home’ as an interlude in clari,” the title page of which 1s ra in three acts, as at the Theater Royal, Covent Garden, on Thursday, May 8, 1823, by John Howard Payne, esq. ‘The overture (with the exceptions of the id music national airs) by shop. esq. London: Jobn Miller, 1 ie, who was introduced to me by Washington Irving, £50 for the co} right, and he was to revise the letter is dated London, Septem! Mr. Perry says he wus induced to make this in- quiry when a very gentlemunly and intelligent ned that Howard Payne was the author of “Home,Swect Home,” on reading the inscription ou the marble slib placed over his grave by the United States government. ‘Yhis gentleman said this song was more sun; at British firesides than ‘God Save the Queen,” and had always understood that Barry Corn- wall was the author of it. ie Wrote these additional lin weet Home” on the sheet music of the original and presented them to Mrs. Bates, the wife of Mr. Joshua Bates, the banker, of ‘Mrs. Bates was The additional lines bave never been published, but were furnished for this ad- mirable life of Payne, a despite of the absence of years, How sweet the remembrance of home still ap- roof.” This T 19, 1865. to From allurements abroad, which but flatter the ose, The unsatisfied heart turns and sa: “Howe, home, ‘There's no pi ‘There's no place like home. Your exile is blest with all state can bestow; But mine has been checkered with man; Yet, tho’ different our fortunes, our’ tho ys with asigh, home! 8 woe! ughts And both, as we think of Columbia, exclaim: + “Home, home, sweet, sweot home! There's no place like home ! ‘There's no place like home!" Joux F. Corns. & Model Wanted. ATTRACTIVE HOMES. Difference Between This and Other Cities in Entertainments, ARRANGEMENT OF PICTURES. How Prints and Small Engravings May Be Attractively Arranged in Groups, Effectively Mounted at Home, and Hung soasto Add to the Appearance of a “Den.” Written for The Evening Star. interpreted by the oo- cupations and interests of,womankind; in speak- ters for our city, all the {plans are made for win- {) ter in our rooms and @ ‘o> summer is the time for preparation. But the contrary is the con- dition of things further north, especial!y in towns apart from the largest cities. There the summer is the sea- son for making a specialty of having the homes at their prettiest, for the warm months are the time for festivities, for visitors and gayety. This came to my mind as I took up a Paper today printed in a northera city and read the beginning of an article on house af- fairs. ‘in the winter days.” it begins, “bo provident, like the wise grasshopper, who labors summer for winter's welfare. Begin to think of the fresh, sweet things that are to gar- nish the home in the fragraut summer time;” and so it gocs on with the idea of winter stag- nation in which to prepare for busy summer. As I said, this state of things is quite reversed in Washington. One cannot connect the idea of leisure for any such things during the all too-full days of the “season” here. For those who wish only moderately to keep up with so- ciety there are constant demands on the time quite distinct from really home occupations, and all such matters as relate to making or r nowing the minor attractions in a house must wait for Lent or some other deferred season of leisure. NOVEL SCHEME FOR ARRANGING PICTURES. *Anent this time for restful occupation, some suggestions for its employment will not come amiss to those who like to work with their own hands for their homes. A novel scheme for arranging pictures was thought of last autumn by onc whose collection of pretty prints was quite large, and a beginning was made accor ingly, but the holidays and later pursuits inter- rupted the work, which is awaiting further de- velopment. Several experiments were made, but only the best result will be of interest to the reader, and this may also be capable of bet- terment when more time is avaiJable for further trial. As it is, a little reading room, not im- portant enough to becalled library, ishung with numerous of these pictures in black and white, which for the place or any similar one are quite pleasing andeffective. Allsortsof pictures been collected from all sorts of source: ever a pretty or interesting subject had been well executed by wood engraving, photograph: | ea or any means of reproduction it had een cut from magazine or paper and laid le. Sometimes a number of related subjects, had been xecured—portraits of authors, uiusi- cians, or different illustrations of one artist or views of our own or other cities—so that a set might be arranged together. HOW THEY WERE GROUPED. As many of the prettiest pictures are small ones, too insignificant in size to be hung on the wall above, and yet pretty enough to be so dign’ fied, the idea of grouping them on one back- ground was one of the first ideas in the matter. One day before the work was begun or even definitely planned board was noticed in the store room on which some dress goods had becn sent home from the store. It was the usual thin board used for this purpose, about 36x6 inches, an the edges. This instantly suggested the shape and material for a good background ready to hand. As I said, some experiments were made and improved upon in the course of mounting @ number of pictures, and finally an almost satisfactory process evolved, though something still better may be thought out To tell, then, the manner of doing: First, a piece of water color paper, the thinnest quality, was cut ex- actly the samo size as the board; then a piece of white bleached cotton cloth was cut, which was an inch anda half wider than the board oneach of the four sides; next the pictures were selected, all small ones, which would leave a margin of an inch on the sides, and these were laid on the board so that a margin came between each one also, as a mat borders picture ordinarily when several are framed together. HOW THE PASTING WAS DOXE. ‘The board was intended tobe hung up and down panelwise, and after the right number of pictures was chosen and the arrangements as to situation made the work went on. A cup of flour paste was made, some flatirons heated and int brush an inch wide added to the outtit, which was all carried to the big kitchen table for convenience in putting together. ‘The pictures had been cut close to tie outline and the paste was brushed well over the back of the first one for the top place on the panel, and it as laid in place on the water color mat and lightly smoothed by rubbing a cloth over it. us eectees managed in the same way, and when all were in place the paper was laid’ fuce downward on the ironing board and a hot iron run over it until the paste was dry and tho pletures smooth against the mat. Next the mat itself was brushed over with paste on the back, taking care to do it quickly and thoroughly, eo that all would be damp alike The mat was then laid on the piece of white cotton and the iron put on the back of that, so the mat was firmly tixed to it with an equal margin of the clth on each side. Lastly the edges of the cloth beyond | the mat were wet with the paste and closcly drawn over the edge of the board and pasted down on the back and the board put under a pressure until they dried, as ironing was not easy. Tho drying was not a long process, and then a screw éye was put in the back of the board two inches below the top, ashort string tied in and a small tack put in’ the ‘wall from which to hang it, The narrowspace where the chimney breast came out into the room made just the right nook for the panel anda iow couch where one was apt to sit and read gave the opportunity tostudy the small pictures which composed it DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES. The pictures are of different eizes, though similar in shape, being wider than they sre deep, except the middle one, which is square, larger than the others, so that ulmost no mar- gin is st the sides; this diversity in shape adds to the good effect and the sume difference in subject exists in this particular group. Several of the little sketches have shipping for their subject, while a spring seene of un orchard on ahillside with all the trees in blossom con- stantly suggests in miniature one of Mr. Max Weyl's charming springtime pictures, thouzh it lacks all color. As this board from the dry goods store made such a satisfactory founda- tion for the pictures, inquiries were made and shorter ones also procured, on which double width goods are rolled. "The xext panel was made on one of these, "two of Percy Moran's girl figures,” both in grayish tones, and so suiting exch other, being just right in size to fill the panel with a wide margin, which sets them off -well. ‘These hang also on a narrow wall space under an arch, and below them hangs « smalicr panel with Gainsborongh's ever-charming Duchess of Devonshire as its picture. The background of this last is the top of '& cigar box, und atter it was ouce thought of the idea pi useful, for a great variety in size an: bound with green paper on | a it, lies @ genealogical book the family himtory for centuries back. one of the ancestors ing a bishop o! English church, whose tragic death was caused by the fall of a chim- ney in his palace, during the great gale of 1703, while he was at prayers. Some time ago the cathedral town where this occurred was made the eubject of a magazine article, with namer- lovely illustrations, @ particularly pretty one being of the palace which was the scene of the accident referred to. These pic tures have been collected and arranged for a group of several smaller groups as being of special interest in the family, and are to be mounted and hung soon in. the little room where the other panels have made a beginning in this kind of decoratton. When time permits @ group of authors is projected, and the fine wood engravings from our magazines will some of them be framed with giassand supplemented by smaller but equally interesting ones mounted in the way I have described. Natur- ally any one ean see that such pictures would not be suitable for all rooms or piaces, but for anything coming under the generic term of “den,” any room out of the ordinary, a collec- tion of this kind may be interesting, suitable and decorative. SOM" INPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED. Some improvements may be made with farther work in this line, and if 60, a sequel to the tale may be written. In the cigar box | panels, which are too thin to allow of a screw eye being put in, two slits are cut in the cloth binding at the back anda string for banging tied in these. The cloth bindi: 8 found so much easier than trying to bring the water color paper over the edge that it was adopted and an entire backing was made of the cloth, as the slight unevenness in the surface of the board made it almost impossible to iron the Paper on to the board and have it smooth, th edxe of the cloth showing through also when only a binding was used and it being necessary to conceal the edges of the board. I have re cently read of victures fastened fiat to the wall with mats of Japanese crepe, edged with gilded rope, tacked to the wail also, this idea may’ be suggested likewise, thouch the ability to change the position of the wooden Panels is an advantage, and one to be appre- crepe might be substituted,perhaps, for Water color paper in some instances, though white mats look better with black and white pictures than anything else. There are many pretty colored pictures,how- ever, water cvior reproductions, which could be arranged with colored mats, but they should be really mats of pasteboard, and so not as easily managed as tho others’ may be. ‘The panels of wich Ihave spoken may be bung the long way across and the pictures thus ar- ranged if they better suit the wall space where they are to go, variety in the matter and irreg- ularity adding to the general good effect. ery one all over the country is interested in Washington and all connected with it, and a panel filled with little pictures of the city, either in its public or private aspect. or a group of views from the Core rt Gallery neatly and carefully mounted in this way, may be pleasant litte souvenirs to be sent to far- way friends, tuking the piace of the old-time Christmas card, the ides being to show remem- brance rather than to present a gift INDIANS’ PASSION PLAY. The Annual Celebration Among the Chris- tianized Pueblo Tribes. The annua! celebration of the passion play among the Christianized Pueblo Indians at Rosita, a little town in the mountains west of Chibuahua, Mexico, has just been completed | and the ceremonies were attended with even more fervor than is usual. The religious cere- mo: 8 instituted by the priests years ago when they redeemed the savages from their idolatrous practices. The Indians were of such nature that they could not understand the worship of a God without some external mani- | festation, and in order to meet this demand the Catholic church among them instituted several | innovations in the religions exercises, and thi annual passion play was one of them. It is patterned upon the m play of Oberam- | mergau with the difference that it is attended with scourging of the bodies of the devotees mm order to purify them of sin. All who partici- » exercises come forth free from taint of sin and are absolved of all the wickedness which they have been guilty of during the pust year. _ The exercises are, to a certain extent, revolt- e to vary according to the disposition of the players. Sometimes as many wish to take part it necessary to rearrange the dialogue to suit the number. After the play 18 over, all who desire to be absolved of their sins take their position in line and pass before the priest, who hears their confession and inflicts the penalty according to the magnitude of the offense. ‘this penalty consists principally of the scourging of the naked shoulders and body with the whips of cactus, which are prepared especially for this purpose by the priest. He gives to each a whip and as the penitent passes from the church he strips his body from the waist up and begins a castigation which in many instances brings the blood at every cut. As the priest is pretty wellaware of the short comings of his tlock he so arranges it thnt each one gets the whip which best suits his indi- vidual case, and as the priest at the same time allots the number of blows which are to be given, the penitent is pretty apt to be well Hlaggelated before he gets thronch. It would be supposed that the people would treat them- selves lightly with such a severe whip, but this is novthe case. ‘They go at it with w religious fervor which is worthy of » better purpose. After the stream of confessionists has passed through the streets it is a common sight to see twenty or thirty people on the strects lashing themselves in a most fearful manner, while the blood streams down their backs.’ Men and women are in this throng, for the rite makes n distinction, and in many instances the female: have received the most stinging whips trom the hands of the priest for the various infrac- tions of the moral law. As the play at Kosita is the central one it at- tracts participants from all parts of the state and during the period just passed there were not lows than a thousand Indians who took part in the performance and inflicted upon them- |sclves the punishinent for the sins of the year Just closed. “in addition to the whipping which itis necessary for them to undergo they are compelled to pay a small sum ior the whip, Which sum is part of the revenue of the little church. The priest makes the whips himself, devoting his leisure moments during the whole year to ‘this business, and it nets in the bulk quite a large sum for 2n institution which has few or no expenses.” It is said that in some in- stances the castigation is so severe that the victim has been overcome, and in three in- stances within the past four years death has | habit of MERELY A MATTER OF TENSE. | moment, and then Borden went ont, mounted his horee and started for Woodruff, Borden had lied about the date of Holmes’ demise, but there was afew hours inter, no doubt about the fact i the manner of it, The gambler died that » -of heart foilure, asIknew be would. Borden is a dead shoty Holmes, meeting him at Woodruf, was unluck enough to get into a quarrel with bim; rom | Borden was the quicker with bis gun. Spanish Dick? She didn’teare. Shebad the dead man's money. There was a cloudburst the next morning and several bridges were carried yy. 0 Mee Harmon and ber little girl stayed at Adams- Ville twe weeks. Will Borden must have be- come quite well acquainted with her during that time. for a few weoks later be had pressing business in the east, and not long after that got their wedding cards. snahipeeasseeiaiineiil WITH A PANTHER IN THE HOUSE, A Death From Heart Failure That Was Re- Ported With Only Slight Prematureness. From the Argonaut. It was very quiet in Adamsville that after- hoon. It had been quiet for some time past. Nobody had been shot or knifed, and no lynch- ing bee had occurred for a good many weeks. Nobody bad even been drunk. Adamsville was becoming degenerated, and you could see ennui written on the countenance of every male citizen, in one form or another. There were no female citizons—that is, of the sort subject to ailments of that nature. Those who ‘were there always hada very lively time of it. There was Spanish Dick across the street Row quarreling with one of her male friends in front of the Diamond saloon. Dick was one of the leading citizensof Adamsville, or, rather, ‘one of the most prominent ones. She ‘had an other name, but it was too long for every-day Use, so they called her Dick for short. Dick was a beauty—also a devil in skirts. That she was bad goos without saying. She | In, was not only bad, but she was abi Which we had gone up f Wick-tempered, ready-to-stab of her q mmpered, ready-to-stal to take refuge from the heat. I was alone one kind and calling that ever infested a mining | *° verybody was afraid of her; half the | Bight in the bungalow, my hostess having gone down to the plains for a day town knuckied to her, aud she A little girl, eased. I think very eon sorry to see her leave. b e she had ooting iG ean impart way when |Seeping in my room. Like most Indian bed in onejof her tempers, and of course nobody | Toms there was a dressing room off it, and of that again a bath room. in this bath room we had tied up the most precious of our dogs, twe could shoot back or defend himse Pugs end their lately arrived family, thyee dou One of the Delights of Living in am Indian Tungaiow. From the London Queen Twas staying lk ‘On this particular afternoon she was quite little pups. calm, and we loafers in front of tho hotel ouly heard a word or two from the pair across the Tscemed to have been dreaming for some time of confused noises, when I #udde street; but we could sve and guess was that Dick was ina whi awoke to find the two pugs rushing wildiy zing their chains after that something unpleasant would gentleman with whom she was d was Mr. Frank Beasley, tho By the light aering in the room ¢ that the dogs were dreadfully ex- obliging barkeep” the "Diamond. guessed very closely to the truth, but terrified and must have bro! their | claims to get loose. ‘The cause of their terror worse than we expected. Aiter the discussion bad proceeded for some “snot far to seek, for at that moment the Most terrible growls were heard coming appar- time Frank turued on his heel to re-enter the saloon, but here sn interruption occurred. Phil Holmes, the ler. came out of the barber shop next door and said something | ently from the bathroom,and the noise of theme Which caused Bensley to halt suddenly aud | increased until one was reminded of feeding wheel around. It was all done in a mowent. | time for the lions at the Zoo. By thistime the ayah was awake and the child was crying. to call the men servants, We saw Dick point her finger at Boasley trag- to sleep outside on the veranda, whict ically and heard her voice screeching in Spnn- ish.” We saw Holmes’ lips move in saying something to Frank—the latter's hand flew back to his gun pocket—there was. report, | Partly around the bungalow. But as usual ia an emergency, especially if there ia no sahib On the premises, tacse cutiful servants were not at their post. sharp and quick. We rubbed our eyes and | rushed over. On the steps lay Beasley, shot Meanwhile the growls were getting londer and louder, and the bath room door was bei through the heart—the gambler had had his gun in hand behind him, all ready, and had shaken or ‘pushed so violently that I thought every minute the wild beast, whatever it was, been too quick for the other. It was cold- would walk or rather rush im upon us There blooded murder, but there was no proof that Holmes had been ready, as the first reach seen was no door between my room and the bath Toom—merely curtains about « foot was that made by Frank, so there was nothing ground. This is usual in India to allo to be done. However, Holmes evidently decmed that his presence in Adamsville, for the free circulation of air; one lives in @ draught there. awhile, could be easily dispensed with, 0, in Jess than an hour, he and the woman were on their way to Woodruff, a town about twenty- five miles distant. When I hy that the men were not outside 1 was a good deal of serious talk in | I sent the ayah off to their hute (or “odownn,” Adamsvilie that night Beasley, the dead |®* they are ed) to rouse them up if the man, had been very popular; there was nota|¥ere there. ‘hen followed a termble fi man in the camp who did not feel his loss as | minutes of waiting, which seemed like hours. that of a personal friend, and the purse raised | I had to try and comfort the child, who for his funeral was the largest thing in the | dreadfally frightened; the doge were «till subscription line the oldest inhabitant could | rushing wildly about the room, their coats call to mind. On the other hand,the murderer | quite stiff and erect with fright, and im was beartily ked by nearly every oue. He|the intervals between the hideous growls, ‘Was one of those cold. i, heartless, pale-| the feeble squeaks and whines of the eved, tacitcrn fellows, for whose oft-displayed | Puppies were Leard. The elder pugs seemed nerve there were plenty of admirers, but whose | to be driven wild between a desire to get to real friends might be counted on one’s fingers. | their offspring and the terror of approaching He had been at the camp two years, but had | that dread sound, to escape from which they never, to any one’s kuowledge, done a kind | bad almost broken their necks. Dogs seem to act to man, woman or beast. Although he | know by iustinct the danger they are in. bad been uniformly careful to keep out of | Panthers look upon dogs as their most savory trouble of any kind, and there was no specific | morsel, and can small them afar of. Hence act, except the shooting of Beasley, for which | the visit of our nocturnal friend. to coudemn him, there were rumors, and| Theayah returned, and this time with the plenty of them, concerning a past record of|men. Togetto the’ bath room they had to sufticient malodorousness to make it very dis-/ come through my room. There were three of agreeable for him if said rumors had fouud | them, each armed with @ huge epear, which, verification. ‘Ihe fact was, however, that no- | however, did not scem to lend them much body, heretofore, Lad cared particularly about | Courage. A more sorry spectacle I never saw. his ‘record, especially as Adamsville owned | They were actually trembling (at seeme they had. quite a number of citizens whose escutcheons | fled from the veranda when first they heard the ueeded reuovating and a coat of whitewash. _ | growl), and when I sj Tonight, however, ail these rumors and My beart sank when I realized that this various other matters concerning Holmes were | Wa alll had to depend on in the dragged in for discussion and rediscussion, and | Man and a protector. if Mr. Holmes had happened to be about his | thought the animal was, and they mid some ustial haunts he would have found the social | “burra wild beast,” but they could not atmosphere down near the black ice point. As |@xactly what—most pr iy © tiger or I said there was a good deal of talk, but that | panther. Was about all. ‘Talk is not an expensive com-| I timidly suggested that they should modity,and I bave observed that there are | *€¢, or anyhow make an advance two quite a number of people in the world who | door whence the take advantage of its cheapness, ani of Adamsville were using the American's most cherished prerogative to the fullest extent, and that was all. There was only one plan of action suggested; this was offered by Tootsy McFadden, a young man recently arrived from the “east,” which term, as applied at Adamsville, comprehended Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and other oriental communities more or less distant toward the rising sun. Tootsy’s idea was an original one. Ithad not, it is safe to say, entered the ming of any other citizen. 1t was’ too brilliant and otherwise remarkable—altogether so—and was expressed about as follows: “Why not”—and Tootsy lifted his other boot on to the table and gazed upon it somewhat admiringly, for Tootsy's undersized feet were a never-failing source of joy to their owner— “why not send word to him to stay away?” ‘There were several seconds of pregnant si- lence. Then Col. Bliss, the landiord of the hostelry of that name, laid one finger on the table with some emphasia, “My misguided an’ innercent young tenderfoot,” ‘said he im- ressively. “air you acquainted with th’ sub- Joct of this hyar Conf uve? V"y, yes,” responded Tootsy wonderingly. ‘reckon ye ain't—nothin’ o’ th’ sort, ‘r ye wouldn't perpose nosech fool trick as’ ye done jes’ now. ‘Th’ gent as goes t'make any sech s gestion t’ Mister Holmes had better pro- pare hisself fer th’ worl’ t’ come an’ th’ life verlastin’. W'y, boy. Phil Holmes ‘d send *m cloud chasin’ an’ be back hyar wavin’ th’ red tlag o’ defy plum in our faces b'fore th’ feller hed his talk haf! did. my whiskeriess young friend! Tootsy pondered; he hated to be wanting in nerve, but finally wilted, and re- quested the barkeeper to give the gendemen what they wanted. ‘The next day is a red-letter mark in the his- tary of Adamsville. Several of us were sitti on the steps in front of the Hotei Bliss, sti discussing Phil Holmes, when the mail carrier from Woodruff came along. “Say,” he sang out, “I s'pose ye heerd "bou! th’ weddin’ in high sassiety over t’ Woodruff?” We hadn't, and were curious to learn. “Why, Phil Holmes an’ 5) Dick was hitched las’ night, Jedge Bowker officiatin’. But this was not the end of the matter. When the stage from down the gulch stop) at the Hotel Bliss, at noon, there was an rah, taway, and frighten it they certainly did, for when they got up to the door and listened nothing was beard but # burried the brushwood, which grow almost up to the bath room door and led to the jungle below. The door was found iy ‘open. Luckily, as well as the latch and bolt, @ huge stone or bowlder had been paced fgainst the door, and it was this that had saved us. The enormous strength of the animal had broken the bolt and cracked the panel of the door, but had been powerless to entirely move the bowider. With a little more time aud Perseverance it would undoubtedly have ac- complished this also, and, perhaps, without the timely warning of the dogs, I should have awoke to find a panther at large in wy bed room, For a panther it turned out to be. The brute left its footmarks on the sandy soil round about the door, and on examining these the next morning the ebikaries were all agreed that they were the marks of a panther. hibits Ser oeitessmtinats NECESSITY THE MOTHER OF INVENTION Or the Perils ef Mud-Road Mavigation in the West. followed the whipping. ——or_—____ CORN 200 YEAKS OLD, A Jar Found of the Original Stock From Which Our Corn Sprung. From the Fort Worth Gazette. A. J. Mercer, living near Burden, Kan., has & patch of corn which is the rarest ever grown. The patch is small, but the corn is a kind that has never been seen in this country before. Last spring Mercer opened @ mound on his farm and in it founda lot of corn along with certain prehistoric relics showing that the corn had been put in there agesago. It was in a sealed jar and was about a peck in quantity. He gave away about half of it to his neighbors Ww grains for acuriosity. When planting time came he thought it would be » good idea to plant some of it, and prepared a patch of groufid near his six inches long and the grains ther, star up with sharp points, The Erains’ aro smal, being about ‘one-fourth the sizo of an ordinary grain of corn. ‘Mercer thinks that this must und the original corn of this couatry from the present has sprung thro cultivation. What is re that ‘the mound from which idence every ev ; Pate RI relics { ” said Mr. Ryan, “I noticed you are there.” | ein ‘getting that way yourself, ain't you, "Kes: but “wo Irish ‘Won't grow on top of sensation of high degree. Instead of the usual cargo of seasoned mountaineers there was a woman—not only that, but the woman was of kind we had not gased spon for many « day—a lady! Not only , but @ very pretty and she had a child, « little curly-headed tot of four or five, with her. Will Borden, theman- ager of the Lady Alice mine, was sitting next to me, and I ae ee ee Then—there was nobody bel to house about—he rose, lifted his bat, and ad- vanced to assist her ope we which courtesy was accepted s ever; man Jack of us long to worship the newcomer. ‘They entered the “office,” a lit Jost off AES) and we king, although we could werd ‘Then Borden called in. The lady was standing by a face wore an anxious e: