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The Osage City Free Press from Osage City, Kansas • Page 6

Location:
Osage City, Kansas
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Page:
6
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Two Somehdt POPULAR SCIENCE. TUB SFEX.I.XNO BEE AT ANGEL'S. lations, accoiun -OVL. fca.l-or.TED BY TUCTHIXT. JAMES.

Walu hi. waltz in ye little kids, and gather round Aad drop 11 I Virl-a anA W1U ...0. tUUleof Jinny's fierce -M vit hold it is unchristian to deceive a sim Ple Ect from school yer driftin' by I thowt ye'd like to near "-y "-r' A MAGAZINE RIFLE. T1'e. fP11 poaw of Ordnance Officers of tbe Ayhimrton Dispatch (0t, 8) N.

Y. Tribune. The board of ordnance officers, which met at the Springfield Armory to examine magazine guns, and to select one for adoption in this army, has adjourned, after adopting a report designating the Hotchkiss magazine gun. The report, which has just been received here, has been favorably indorsed by General Ben-et, the chief of ordnance. Secretary Mc-Crary has armrnvrl tb imtv4 o.wi wi-speuiDuee poor people he did his tiuty as a to the Very letter but he never -gave iitrMvnn i iu nrrmln have ins rent at 1 xl soon as his host sat down, "and don't try to run away from me again I doa't think anv the worse giving Jack Geary his quietus, and since you've taken such care of his daughter I can't see why his ghost should haunt you a3 it seems to uo.

i etiuc ere, oe- come a partner in your concern, and marry vour charming protege. Hand down the'brandy. old one, and let's make a fvhen Alice and Ralph returned from senice, Mike was introduced to them as Mr. Theophilus Broughton, an Irish gentleman, not long in the country. Mr.

Theophilus Broughton soon cut a figure in Pittsburg. He exchanged his shabby clothes for others of fashionable cut ami excellent quality, placed a gold watch in his fob, put on clean linen, and appeared to be a gentleman of forty or something under, well-mannered and well-educated. Henceforth Marblehead's business was advertised as conducted by Marblehead Broughton, and people wondered why the old man took a partner at all. Very soon Ralph Peaton found that everything, save Alice, was changed. Ike Marblehead commenced to drink deeply, neglect his business, and avoid the society of his clerk, who instinctively discovered in Mr.

Theophilus Broughton a bad, bold man and an enemy. That gentleman proved to be an excellent man of business and under his management the store become so profitable that Marblehead, recovering his confidence, and convinced that Broughton for his own sae would not betray him, became reconciled to tbe possessor of his terrible secret, left off drinking, and thought alone of money-making. The vear expired, and Ralph demanded the fulfillment of Marblehead's promise, but he was put off for another six months, and the embarrassed manner 01 the old man made him fear that there was some underhand work going on. Broughton wished to discharge the clerk at once, but Marblehead would not permit him to carrv out his wishes for some time. I "The lad's done 110 harm," he said; "lot him stay." But broughton was not to be thwarted.

One fine morning Ralph found a note on his desk, telling him that the firm of Mar blehead Broughton had no further need of his services, and that any engagement existing between him and Alice was thereby rendered null and void. Angry and wild with despair, as yoiiSmay judge he was, Kalpli taxed Urougnton with malice and treachery, and asked to see old Mar blehead, and was finally tumbled headlong out of the store after spoiling Mr. Broughton face, and breaking things generally. Alice, ignorant of all this, was kept carefully out of the way until nightfall, when, receiving a letter from Marblehead, who stated that he was awaiting her in a town not far from Pittsburg, she got into a sleigh, and was driven off by Theophilus, who showed considerable familiarity with the ribbons. It was a bright, cold night in the commencement of winter, and Alice, warm within and warm without, enjoyed the ride greatly at first.

Just as the sleigh reached the outskirts of Pittsburg, then an insignificant town, and the foot of the old bridge, which, raised on wooden piers, once upon a time spanned the Alleghany River, a man sprang to the side-walk, and called out, in tones of agony, "Alice! Alice!" She knew that voice, and guessing the truth all at once, would have thrown herself from the sleigh, but Broughton's strong arm was round her waist, keeping her down in the seat. He seized the whip with the hand that held the reins, and lashed the trotting horse savagely. A splendid roadster, able to do its thirty miles a day without losing flesh, and therefore altogether unaccustomed to the whip, the animal swerved violently, threw its fore feet into the air. and brought the vehicle to the very edge of the bridge. Broughton jerked out an oath, pulled the nearer rein, and once more brought the lash down on the horse's flanks In a moment the strident cry of fear escaped him.

Once more the horse reared, dragging the vehicle half over the dizzy edge, and then leaped right over. Ralph came up just in time to see the terrible accident, and was breasting the cold waters of the Alleghany in a few minutes, determined to save the woman he loved, or to die in the attempt. Well, to make a long story short, he saved her and married her. In falling, Broughton's head came in contact with the sleigh, and he was picked up, dead as a herring, three days after. When Ike Marblehead died, four years after Alice's marriage, a sealed manuscript, in accordance with his will, was handed to her, and she was horrified to discover that he was the murderer of her father, John Geary, whom he had robbed of a large quantity of gold; and that, unable to part with the ill-gotten wealth, he had sought out Geary's widov, who was just on the point of death, adopted her child, and had hoped to cheat Lis conscience by treating her kindly.

Disco m-ed by a man who was aware of his guilt, Marblehead had" given mm the slip, settling and succeeding in Pittsburg, where, when her education was completed, Alice, whom he had taught to regard him as her uncle, also came to reside. The rest has been told. Repose in the Ocean Depths. It has been ascertained by soundings that the roaring waves and the mightiest billows of the ocean repose, not upon hard and troubled beds, but upon, cushions of still water; that everywhere at the bottom of the deep sea the solid ribs of the earth are protected, as with a garment, from the abrading action of its currents; that the cradle of its restless waves is lined with a stratum of water at rest, that it can neither wear nor move the lightest bit of drift-stuff that once lodges there. The uniform appearance of the microscopic shells, and the almost total absence among them of any sediment from the sea of foreign matter, suggests most forcibly the idea of perfect repose at the bottom of the sea.

Some of the specimens are as pure and as free from sand as the fresh-fallen snowflake is from the dust of the earth. Soundings seem to prove that showers of these beautiful shells are constantly falling down upon the ocean floor, and the wrecks which strew the sea-bottom are, in the lapse of ages, encrusted over with those tiny, fleecy things, until they resent the rounded outlines of bodies uried beneath the snow-fall. The ocean, especially near and within the tropics, smarms with life. The remains of its myriads of moving things are conveyed by currents, and scattered and lodged, in the course of time, all over the bottom. This process, continued for ages, has covered? the depths of the ocean as with a mantle, consisting of organisms as delicate as hoar-frost, and as fight in the water as down in the air.

unn rP.Msonaoie. saiu me visitor, as i-ases of From the Fortnightly Review. There are a great many persons the Jh0f eme under some form or other of nervous disorder, habituallTJe figures or faces, hear threatening or msuft-ing voices even feel blows and taste poisons, which have ro existence outside their own minds, and neither argument nor dS uuu lue impossibility of wha they allege they perceive will gfakeTw h'ake their convictions 111 the least, me, they will sav. "that "lou assure -A- see and hear luu as uistinrTiv- as VO11 nt tli, 1. 1 that they are just as real to me." What Smp" "A 1 have replied sometime, that as you are alone on one side jour opinion, and all the world is on the other side, needs must think either that you are an extraordinary genius, far in advance of the tnat you are a madman a long way behind it; and as I don't think you to be a genius, 1 am bound to conclude that your senses are disordered." Rnf.

th naent does not produce the least effect Let me give an example or wo of the character of those hallucinations, and of their persistence minds that might be thought sane enough tn nnrrt tiim The fiiat shall be that of an old gentleman wno was much distressed because of an extremely offensive smell which he imagined to proceed from all parts of liis body; there was not the least, ground, in tact, for this imagination. He was scrupulously clean in extremely courteous in manner, thoroughly rational" in his conversation on every other subiect. shrmrrl and clever man of business, no one talkiner with him would for a moment have suspected him of entertaining such extraordinary fancies. Nevertheless, his life was made miserable bv them, he would not go into society, but took solitary rambles the country. where he might meet as few persons as possible; his own house he slept for the i 1 fn it nrst pan, 01 ine nignc on xne ground noor.

mounting up higher at a later period of the night; and this he did to prevent the bad odors trom becoming too con centrated in one room. He believed that the people in the next house were irritat ed and offended by the emanations, for he often heard them moving about and coughing; and when he passed a cab stand in the street he noticed that even the horses became restless and fidgeted. He used to hang his clothes out of the window at night that they might get pure, until his house-keeper put a stop to the practice by telling him that the exhibition of them would excite the notice and comment of his neighbors. All the while he was conducting his business with propriety and success; his own partners had no suspicion of his condition. Knowing this, I asked how it was that no one of the many persons whom he met daily in business had ever complained of any bad smell, and the answer he made was that they were all too polite to do so, but he could see they were affected nevertheless, as they sometimes put their handkerchiefs to their noses no doubt for a quite innocent purpose.

Another gentleman was the victim of a very common hallucination; he was much afflicted by voices, which were continually speaking to him, at all times and all places, in the quietude of his room and in the crowded streets, by night and by day. He had come to the conclusion that they must be the voices of evil spirits in the air which tormented him. They knew his thoughts and replied to them before he had himself conceived them; the remarks which they made were always an noying, often threatening and abusive, and sometimes most offensive and distress ing; and they disturbed him so much at night that he got very little sleep. He had been driven to the expedicntjot buj-ing a musical box, which he placed under his pillow when he went to bed. The noise of the music drowned the noise of the tormenting voices, and enabled him to go to sleep; but, as he said, the measure was not entirely satisfactory, because when the box had played out its tunes it stopped, and he was obliged to wind it up again.

It was impossible to pursuade this gentleman, sensible as he seemed in other respects, that the voices had no real existence, and that they were due to the disordered state of his nervous system. A Colored Slau'M Solution. From the Troy Standard. Some months ago we published an article oil the discovery of the true ratio between the circumference and the diameter of a circle. The person whom we mentioned as having solved this intricate problem was Charles T.

Gidiney, an aged colored man residing in this city. The old gentleman claims that his algebraical rule is based upon an immutable principle, and that being based upon such a principle, it is impossible for it to bring anything but the correct result in numbers, just the same as ix7 brings Ad and UxlJ brings 81. The products 01 these numbers are unchangeable. Now, take two ditier-ent circles. Let the letter represent the diameter and the letter the circumter-ence of one circle; and the letter the diameter and letter the circumference ef the second circle.

From this we form the proportion Reducing this we find that ivz-xif, and these products must be always equal. Thus we see that if we take any two different circles, and multiply the diameter of the first by the circumference of the second, and the circumference of the first by the diameter of the second, these products will be exactly equal. In illustration of this Mr. Gidiney takes two circles; the diameter of the first he considers 113 feet, and the diameter of the second 7. By a long series of ingeniously-constructed equations he finds tJiA pTart circumferences of these circles to be 548 5-12 and 21 7-12 respectively, or 113:348 7-12.

Reduce this, and 11-12 in solving this and kindred problems, Mr. Gidiney uses over different equations, all of which prove themselves correct from beginning to end. Another, as 7: 21 7-12: :7 Multiply the means and the extremes together, their products will be exactly equal. Thus, 7 5-37x 21 7-127x22, or 154 equals 154. He desires us to state that among those who have been favorably impressed with the result of his problem are Prof.

Greene and students at the institute, Prof. Beattie, A. G. Johnson, Charles Eddy. Derrick Lane, ex-Mayor Kemp, James Kemp.

Bishop Thompson, Prof. Sausberry, C. D. Packard, ana many others. If Mr.

Gidiney has done what "no other manha3 been able to do. he deserves great praise. We commend his problem to those mathematically The eastern shoe factories are doing a fair business for the season. The western trade i steady, but prices continue very low. The New York and Philadelphia shoe factories are moderately employed.

Trade is fair in Buffalo, Wilmington, and Baltimore. ltaiy is arranging lor an exposition in 1879, which will afford American merchants and manufacturers an opportunity to introduce wares into that country. Til On autopsy, the brain of Nobehng, the would-be assassin of Emperor William, appeared normal, but the skull was somewhat obliquely shaped, as often found in persons of unsound mind. A writer in Land and Wafer tells how an exasperating donkey was kept from braying by a weight appended to his tail. for it seems that a donkey always must lift that aphendage when brajing.

A number of the members of the French Academy of Sciences still declare that a ventriloquist was employed in exhibiting the phonograph before their body, and that the machine is a humbug. Some idea may be formed of the pro gress of China with in' recent years from the A Ui. 11. rvoci rvrw-v 1 i iavi, uiuo ui uie ions 01 ioreign built vessels engaged in the local carrying trade between the treaty pqrts, the-Chinese themselves own 3,955,000 tons. The latest advices received from, the Nev Guinea exploration expedition, the members of which were so enthusiastic, is to the effect that three of the pa-ty were dead," and the others dispirited or fever-stricken.

It seems likely to prove a failure. Sponge paper made by adding finely divided sponge to paper pulp, has been used in I ranee for dressing woftnds. It absorbs water readily, and retains moisture for a long time; it is therefore applicable to many purposes in the arts and manufactures. Collectors of insects and amateurs were warned at a recent meeting of the Entomological society against purchasing specimens from irresponsible dealers, who manufacture new varieties dipping various insects into aniline, and other coloring matters. The Voerinsren expedition in the AivhY regions has been even more successful than the Challenger expedition, and reflects great credit upon Norwegian skill and energy.

A large amount of scientific data has been secured by sounding, dredging, and trawling. A French engineer named Monchot has contrived an apparatus in which a system of mirrors is used to concentrate the rays of the sun in such a manner as to generate steam a boiler to be applied as a motive power, thus doing away with the necessity of fuel. Several portions of the skeleton of a large bird, supposed to be a 1110a, have been found at Queenstown, in New Zealand. Judging trom the skin and feathers, the bird could not have been dead many ears. All those who have seen the exhibit pronounce the bones to be those of a dinornis.

A manufacturer of electric clocks, V. Himmer by name, has proposed a pfan for diminishing tbe noise on the New York Elevated railway. He suggests that a twisted steel-wire rope be laid in a groove 011 the top of the rail. Such a rope has great elasticity, and when struck with a hammer or subjected to the rolling of the wheels, emits scarcely an3r noise. At the annexation of Alsace and Lor- aine the fish propagation establishment at Hunigen passed from French into Ger man hands.

Under the latter direction no cost has been spared to make it as efficient as possible. Since the German control was assumed, over twenty three million ova of trout, salmon, carp, roach, have been sent out. In the Rhine and rivers of upper Alsatia, fish are now so' plentiful that the rents of these waters have materially Fish can now be purchased tor six cmts per pound, and the time of cheap food for tbe people seems to have returned. A new material available for textilr manufactures exists in western It is a species of "vegetable wool," winch grows on the top of the grass in the im mense sheepruns of that country. It is about halt an inch in length, and as sott as silk.

A silk merchant thinks that the "wool," though too short to use alone. would mix well with silk, adding bo the warmth, strength, and beauty of the fabric thus made. A special commissioner is now in Australia examining the material and taking note of the extent of its pro duction. It is likelvsoonto be introduced to the market. The greater part of the files made and used in the United States are machine- made in even- part.

Hand-cutting is still carried on in a small way. The statistics of the file industry of the United States is thus summarized: There an? seven manufacturers making Machine-cut files, operating about 275 machines, and averaging 1,500 dozen files per day. These factories also produce about 200 dozen hand-cut files, making a total of 1,700 dozen per dny as the total product of the several principal companies. Smaller manufacturers make only for home consumption, and not for the trades. The probable total file production of the country is about 2,500 dozen per da'.

M. Duvejrier has just shown to what portions of Africa explorers should, direct their attention. Seven vast regions yet" remain unknown or shrouded in i'stery. These are, in the north, the Sahara and the Libyan desert, in the west, the country between the Joliba and the coast of Guinea; in the centre, the Shari; in the east, the interior of the Cape Guardafui and the chain of mountains the equatorial zone; at the centre, the completion of the basins of the Nile, the Congo, and the Ogono, and finally, in the south, the basin of the Cunure. As the exploration of Africa has gone on at tie rate of 234-285 square kilometers per year, all of that continent should be known in less than fortr-eight years.

Grave of Capt John Smith. A correspondent of the Lancaster (i New Era, now in England has had the curiosity to visit the grave of the celebrated Capt. John Smith, one of the founders of Virginia. He says: "I stepped into the old St. Sepulcre Church, now undergoing repair.

I was in search of tbe grave of Capt John Smith, of Virginia memory, who, it seems, saved from a cruel death by Pocahontas, was buried- peacefully here. I found the sexton. He said Captain Smith was buried in the church, but he thought it a very strange thing that any one should care to see the old grave. Besides, he said that the stone that marked the grave and contained the now illegible epitaph had been taken up and was lying in the yard. I persisted, and he finally consented to show me the Erave and the stone.

He did so, but if is indifference is a reflection of the indifference of the higher authorities of the church, it is to be feared that I will be about the last person to look with certainty upon either. The first lino of the epitaph runs thus 'Here lies one conquered that hath conquered kings. Glass millstones are rased in Germany in grind the finest flour. inn- the oast. In a business point 33 a pwd man.

His checks were ai I W2 ways honored, ana ms wua 4 fi0 n-fA and without children, Ike etr I a cfnrt observance 01 me rhaps esteeming the latter a capital investment of time 1 he owner 01 mauj 7 1 1 XTav. he was once heard fails to meet hi monetary engagement ought to be put 111 Wall if orirfmt that IK Jim UlCiicau. 1 It 1, nlw Was on no account oener iuau Ppnnle in lar" citie3 care little torone an- nihor OTwnt. rnmmprciauv or wuuvoiM, 1 x.i i. 1.

111 fhA HTlfl nTH TTlllCil LOO UUbV -J Uiuuv- amusement ui 0f their neighbors, unless ineir nt-lguuois nmrninpnt, mPTi. and calum- ivv-" 7., i ltino nrnn 1 11 tut corro: nnlitipjill nrontable. or com ecuca uwiwj mercially profitable, purpose merciallv profitable, purpose. In small P'es like Pittsburg ye a DreaK 111 iue muuotvuy ui if it is hitrhlv sriiced vith unfavorable renorts and remarks about this or tnat cr 1 rliViflnal. wnrranted or the en joyment is considerably enhanced.

One hne mornmar nuune, ivenoe sgrog- gerv was full of its usual frequenters, loaf- 4-ravoiprs atrpfvh- ins their legs," tiffin-taking businessmen and grim colliers. Tim cciwl a cofflv- infliv-idnal frt til ft barkeeper, "guess Ike Marblehead's made an unproutame investment tnis ume. "What in?" asked tho busy dispenser of coccuhts indkiiSj tobacco-juice and other poisons. 1 1 1 1 "In a woman, returned ms customer. The companv pricked up their ears, and the seedy chap, assuming an air of great importance, toot up a position Deiore me empty stove, elevated his coat-tails, and proceeded to unbosom himself, "In a woman," he repeated.

"She ain't a woman neither I'm kinder wrong thar she's a gal, and thunder! am she bootifulV" "Who is she?" anxiously inquired all. "I'm in the dark about that thar. Oceans of kerosene and miles of wick ain't no use to throw light on that thar subject." A girl about seventeen, or so, had become an inmate of Ike Marblehead's house, and who she was, and what relationship 1 existed between her and the hard old man, became questions of considerable moment. She was very good-looking, and geriteelness and truth, like diamonds a gold setting, made her beauty doubly attractive. There was a straight-limbed young fellow in Pittsburg, Ralph by name, who neyer saw her witnout feeling a strong desire to do her some romantic service save her life, for instance, at the risk of his own so that he might inspire her bosom feel friendship for him.

Ralph was poor at that time, but industrious and honest, promising fairly enough to live a life as profitable to othera as to himself, and as handsome an American as you'll meet with from Maine to Texas. He was old Marblehead's store and many attempts were made to pump all his knowledge of that mysterious household out of him, but he was wisely silent, and kept his tongue behind his white, eveii teet whenever Ike's private affairs were broac 1, n- ea. Old Marblehead professed to be greatly interested in Ralph, giving him plenty of advice, after the fashion of men generally, who, forgetting the proclivities of their own youth, would have twenty-five think and act like three score and ten. Before long, Alice Marblehead and her uncle's clerk came to an understanding. Ralph feared that his employer would reject his proposal, but, obeying Alice, who was too conscientious to keep an affair of such an importance from the knowledge of her guardian, he told him frankly how matters stood, and was both surprised and delighted to receive his consent to their union.

"In a year's time, if you still like each other well enough," said the grim old man, "you shall marry, and 111 set you up in business." It was a joy to live months after the promise, but misfortune was in store for all, and Ralph Peaton had to go through much suffering before he received the prize. One Sundaj- evening, as old Marblehead, in company with his niece and Ralph, was going to his particular place of worship, an ill -looking stranger, shabbily attired, travel-weary and travel-stained, met him face to face, and claimed his acquaintance, with a mock-demonstration of respect and pleasure. Ike Marblehead, pale as death and shaking as if in an ague-fit, bade his niece and Ralph proceed to the chapel, and turned into his house, followed by the stranger. "You don't look as well as you were, Tom Brady," said the stranger seating himself before the stove. "By the way, what name do you go under now? Turned honest in your old age, The old man glared at him like a wild beast at bav.

"Don't piny with me, Mike," he said hoarsely. "You know me of old. I am dangerous, man." "Cool down," returned Mike, crossing his legs, and looking old Marblehead straight in the eyes. "I'm not here to play with you. You've given mu the slip for six years, and to judge from ap- riarances, you seem to nave prospered, haven't, I'm pretty nearly played out, and must ask you to put me on my legs again.

First of all, give me something to eat." Marblehead placed some meat and bread on the table, and waited silently until bis unwelcome visitor's appetite was satisfied. "That young lady was very much like an old acquaintance" of mine," said Mike at last, throwing himself back in his chair. Old Marblehead shuddered, and hid his face with his hands. "Just like Jack Geary," continued Mike musingly. "As fine a fellow as ever breathed was Jack, but the little too fond of knocking about the world.

I first met him in Mexico, sixteen years ago, when he went gold hunting with a friend of mine, called Tom Brady. Three weeks after, riding from San Antonio de Bexar, I found Jack Geary, dead and doubled up, lying alongside the track, and Tom Brady's knife was up to the hilt in his hearV' Old Marblehead groaned. "I've got that knife now," resumed Mike, drawing it from his pocket, and passing his thumb over the edge. "This 13 the second time I have shown it to Tom Brady." Marblehead jumped up with an oath, but Mike was on his legs as soon as he, and held the murderous weapon Bit eents ez bed their reg'lar growth, and some eugh far two. efLagmoee.

4 T'r x.i.i.iu.xronnl swsian.yoaiu.ue Mus.tuu pretty names, .1 JWMb bad a man oenina u. ana-my ri.i 1 Omitfe of Shooter's Bend, I Frown of Calaverae which 1 wani no oeuer friend. nnw-CiiTOred Jct vee. Dretty dears tnree flnrers you nave nve. CQapp cut off two ii'a eisglar too, that Clapp amt now anve.

7m very wrocr. Indeed, my cuw likewise was Jack, in after years, for shootin' of wn mnch to blame; that same. me eights was kinder lengthenin' out, the rains had eft begun. TThen all the camp came od to Pete's to have thoir nil fun Sot we all eot kinder Bad like around the bar-room stove TSUSm ttgot up, permisiiss-like, and this re murlr hp. hnvp" Thar's a new game down in Frisco, thet ez far ez acd van-toon' theycallathe 1 kin see, 'Spellin' Bee.

Tfcen Urown of Calaveras simply hitched his chair and spake: "Jtoker is pood enough for me," and Lanky Jim 5i "Shake." A4 Bob allowed he warn't proud, but he "must My right thar TTXat the uan who tackled euchre bed hia education sqar." Tis brought tip Lenny school-master, who said. He the game and he would give instructions on that head. lor inf tance, take some simple word," sez he, line Kw fco can spell it" Dog my skin, ef thar was one in eight. mia ei the boys all wild at once. The chairs was put in row.

And tt the head was Lsnky Jim, and at the foot was Joe. Aid high upon the bar itself the school-master wan raised, And the bar-keep put his glasses down, tnd eat and silent gazed. The first word out was "parallel," and seven let it Till Joe waltzed in his double "1" betwixt the ud Fw, since he drilled them Mexicans in San Jacin- tos fight, Thar warn't no prouder man got up than Tistol Jo-j that night, T511 "rhythm" came He i ried to smile, then said, Hhey had him there," Aad Lanky Jim. with one long stride got up and took his chair. little kids my pretty kids, 'twas touchin' to survey Tleae bearded men, with weppings on, like schoolboys at thtir play.

They'd laugh with glee, tod shout to see each other lead he van, Aad Bob sat up as monitor with a cue for a rattan, Till the chair gave out "incinerate," and Brown said he'd darned If any such blamed word as that in school was ever learned. TChcn "phthisis" came they all sprang up, and owed the man who rung Another Warned Greek word on them be taken out and hung. At they eat down again I saw In Bilaon's eye a flash, Aiad Brown of Calaveras was a-twistin' his mustache, Aad when at last Brown slipped on "gneiss" and Bileon took his chair; Be dropped some casual words about some folks who dyed their hair, Aad then the Chair grew very white, and the Chair said he'd adj ourn, Eut Poker Dick remarked that he would wait and get his turn; Then with a tremblin' voice and hand, and with a wanderin' eye, TAo Chair -next offered "eider-duck," and Dick begui with Aad Bilson smiled then Bilson shrieked! Just how tho fight begun 1 sever knowed, for dropped and Dick he moved up one. Then certain gents arose and said "they'd busi ncss aown in camp, Aad '-ez tho road was rather night was damp. dark, and ez the They'd" bcre got up Three-fingered Jack and locked tUxi door and yelled: Ko, not on mother a eon goes out till that thar ward is spelled!" Sat whl he words were on his lips, he groaned and sank in pnin.

And sank with Webster on his chest and 'Worcester on his brain. Below the bar dodged Poker Dick and tried to look ez he Was huntin' up authorities thet no one else could And Brown got down behind the stove allowin' he "was (fold," 1511 it upsot and down his legs the cinders freely rolled. nd Feveral gents called "Order!" till in his sim- pie way Foor Smith began with was dragged away. 'O" "or" and he Httle kids, my pretty kids, down on your knees and pray Ton'vcgot your in a peaceful sort of wiy; And bear In mind thar may be sharps ez slings their spellin' square, Sat likewise eHngs their bowie knives without a thought or care Xon wants to know the rest, my desrs Thet's all In me you see The only gent that lived to te about thet Spellin' Bee! lie ceased and passed, that children went their wnv truthful man; the With downcast-heads and downcast not to sport or Plav. hearts but Tcr when at eve the lamps were lit, and supper-less to bed Xach child was sent, wl'h tasks undone and lessons all unpaid, Wo man might know the awful woe that thrilled their youthful frames, A they dreamed of Anger's Spelling Bee and thought of Truthful James.

2irt Uarte, in Novembtr Scribner. IKE MARBLfiHEAD'S SECRET. Old Ike Marblehead. who lived in Tittsburg many years ago, was a close man every way. keeping his money, bis opinions and his affairs all to himself.

There aras an atmosphere of mystery surrounding kim, like a London fog, and his neighbors, worthy people, were very ana ious to cc through it. His career in Pittsburg as a storekeeper had been profitable and without reproach, but his friends con-cientiouslv microscopic as all friends are in their judgment of one another, discovering no stain on his character, were reasonably angry, and talked vaguely about the cloak of religion biding very shabby under-garments; for Ike Marblehead bowed and venerable with years attended divine service twice on Sundays with the regularity of clockwork. Although his lank figure, long, sharp face, and prolonged vowels stamped him as a Yankee, there were those who said his drawl was affectation, that he was one of those compulsory patriots who leave their country lor their country's pood, and that he was a son of perfidious England. His want of communicativeness was a prolific source of aggravation, ur his antecedents, prior to his settling in the city of cannon and coals, nothing was known, and in the opinion of I I 1 1 in to in a turned the papers to General Benet, with duiuuruy ro expend the $20,000 appropriated at the last session of Congress. Since early in the war of the rebellion strong efforts have been made by many army officers to adopt a magazine gun tor the army.

The conservative element has clung to the old muzzle-loader and the triangular bayonet so strenuously that it was only in I860 that the altered Springfield breech-loading rifle was introduced, and it was only at the last session Of Congress that authoritv waa ftbtainpH to select a mae-azine oiiti. Trip 5it. at Congress specified that $20,000 might be used for the manufacture of "such an arm case one was selected by a board of ordnance officers. The board was ordered December 18, 1877, to meet April 3, 1878, and in the meantime extensive advertisements were published, calling upon inventors to present their jmns before the board. It was decided that only such guns should be considered as conformed to the calibre adopted for small arms for the service, 45-100 of an inch.

Twenty-seven such arms were presented by August 31, the limit of time fixed by the war department for that purpose. Among them were the Franklin gun, the "Ward Benton," the Sharp's rifle, the Hunt, the Lewis Uirp. tbp Rnffincrtnn thp Vinp'np ter, the Burton, the Springfield Miller fle, the Clemmons, the Remington, the Tiesmg gun, the Burgess gun, and the Lee. About a dozen others were present 1 eu, winch did not coniorm to the require ments lor calibre, but which were exam ined as to the system of mechanism. The arm selected is the fourth one of the in the magazine and one in the chamber of the gun.

The eharges are supplied to the chamber from the butt of the stock by a direct acting spring. The gun has a fixed magazine, in which the charges slide in a line with the axis of the barrel. It is worked by concealed locks, and may be used as a magazine gun or a single-loader by the use of a simple cut-off. The mechanism of the arm great! 3 resembles that of the French chassepot external 13, having a turning breech block, which is worked by a round knob sliding back and clear of the loading chamber, and which also contains the firing pin. In the tests for capacit3r, twent3'-nme rounds were fired in two minutes, at a target 100 yards distant.

The cost of the now piece is estimated at ten dollars each, or six dollars less than the Springfield now used. PRACTICAL JOKING. A Canadian Judg-e in the New York Police Court. From the New York Times. Justice Morgan was astonished 3'ester-day morning by a telegram taken to him by a Western Union messenger in the Jefferson Market Police Court.

It was from Senator Muirhead, of Chatham, on the Miramichi river, in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, and inquired as to the truth of a report that Judge James Ferris, of Chatham, while on his first viit to New York City j-esterdaj-, had been arrested and taken te the Tombs on a charge of disorder conduct, Later in the day the justice gave the following explanation of the case: "Senator Muirhead received several telegrams from friends in this city stating that Judge Ferris had been arrested and taken to the Tombs. These telegrams produced the greatest excitement in Chatham, ai.d well thej' might. Judge Ferris is a ver3T wealthy and popular man. He owns a palatial home and many a New Yorker has enjoyed its hospitality. Most of the justices of this city have been his guests at one time or another, and we all know that seldom or ever has on of them been allowed to leave that house in the same state of judicial gravity in which he entered it.

Judge Ferris is a great practical joker. He has got decidedly the best of most of his acquaintances, and never had anyone been able to get even with him. The Judge has often been pressed to come to New York. At last he came, and of course he was put through 4a course- of sprouts.1 He was to have taken a morning train to-day for Canada, and was expected home on that train. He was given a parting dinner at Del-monico's shortly before noon to-day, and was so well treated that h.i missed his train, of course, as was intended.

When the party left the restaurant (hay ordered cabs. The cabby that Judge Ferris took attempted to extort a high fare from him, as he persisted in paying the bill, cabby knowing he was a stranger, and fastening on him for a victim. A wrangle ensued, resulting in Justice Smith calling a policeman and having Judge Ferris arrested and taken in a cab before Justice Kil-breth, at the tombs Police Court. There Justice Smith charged Judge Ferris with having knocked the cabman down, and Alderman Morris was a witness to it. Justice Kilbreth thereupon detained Judge Ferris, who seemed to bo mystified bj the proceedings, for examination, and gave him a seat behind the bar.

During his detention he had quite a number of callers, and was times kindl3' allowed to go out on his own parole, in the custodj- of his friends, to visit interesting places in the neighborhood. Durnig this time telegrams were sent to Chatham. Senator Muirhead sent inquiries to many friends in this citj-, and the result was that when I reached the Tombs Court room, after the morning hearing, I found a large party assembled. Justice Kilbreth was requested to finish the case. The prisoner was asked how he came to be where he was, and he said he had been at a dinner nartv and missed his trWn.

Jus- 1 tice Smith and Alderman MorriWxth admitted that their charge, strictly construed, only meant that Judge Ferris had knocked the hackman down on hi3 fare and the prisoner was discharged on condition that he would 'go home on the next The last I saw of him, was in the company of Justice Smith, behind a fast horse going rapidly up Fifth avenue, and I doubt if he will reach home by the next train, although Senator Muirhead was telegraphed to that through friendly influences Judge Ferris had been able to procure bis discharge from the Tombs, and will reach home on the next train." No Boston policeman is allowed to discuss religion or politics at the.

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About The Osage City Free Press Archive

Pages Available:
29,729
Years Available:
1875-1923