The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-29

tiers who have been longest employed mar
, velously expert and almost intallble, thci
fingers passing from one note to another will
the celebrity and regularity of some wonderful
/, machine. The lady who sits nearest to thu
chief of the room and who has come 10 be
considered sort of assistant to him, having
sometimes performed his duties during hi,
absence, has been engaged in the division
ever since its organization in 1862 and prob
ably has no rival in accuracy and dcXtcrity
in counting. On many occasions she has
counted fifty thousand notes in one dav. A.
the nominal hours of labor are from nine To-
three o'clock, and rs at least half an hour
must be deducted from this for necessary in.
tCwupiions and for lunch, the time tor count
ing these fifty thousand notes was five aad "A
half hours, This is ut the rate of nine thou
sand and ninety notes every hour, one hun.
/ drcd ana MY every minute, and two and "a
half every second! The lady informs us that
it /. no unusual feat for her to "pick up" n
bundle containing four thousand legal tender
mote, in twenty minutes We doubt whether
This can be cXccllcd. If any gentleman
thinks it can, let him try the experiment of
simply tapping his finger on Il table at the
above rate, and we predict that at the end of
half IN hours trial he will change his mind
There are other ladies who are almost as
rapid and accurate. They are sometimes
called upon, with others equally skillful from
| the redemption division (Which we shall visit
presently to visit other cities when the
| Treasury offices i'll those places are to be cx
amined, and to assist i'll counting the govern
mcnt funds there.
! Through this division and under these
skiIltul fingers has passed every note, whcth-
or legal-tcnder or fractional, which has been
issued by the United States since the begin
al rho rnhnllipn ,,.b; ,l,
have ever handled or secn,--as well as all
the gold-nOtes, and many millions of imper-
feet bonds and notes which were never put
in circulation. The total value of the money
which had been counted in this division pre-
viously to the first day of July 1872 was, ac-
'COrding to the 1reaSurCr'S last annual report,
nearly two thousand nine hundred million
dollarS,-morc than two hundred and twenty.
three millions of which consisted of postal
and fractional currency. Just now the coun-
tiers find full employment in counting new
legal.tender and fractional notes
A very readable article on Americas prima
donna, Clara Louise kellogg, in connection
with her recent trumphs at Chicago, is just
now pleasant reading
The great event of her de5ut is thus
skctchcd:
When, in 1861, pale and frightened girl
came before a New York audience at the
Academy of Music, and sang for them the
role of Gilda in Verdis "Rigoletto," she was
met By that most awful of all tOrmalities-
respectful attention. Like so many opera
audiences before and since, it had come to
be astOnished and thrilled; and, disappointed
because it had not been, it was sternly criti-
cal. 1t wanted phenomenon: it had been
given "a fact. The GtIdd, like hundreds of
other first attempts, was just far enough re-
moved from positive failure to be tresOme
to the people who desired a sensation. The
pale and frightened girl struggled with the
passionate duties of the role with very little
human aid, and when the curtain fell upon
the last act she staggered to her dressing
room and fell fainting among her friends.
Nature, at that moment, protested against
the severity of the ordeal, and was kindlier
than her audience. Indeed the applause of
her friends had Il suspicious sympathy in it,
STILL some kind of victory had been gained,
though the world did not know it, The girl
knew it. That was something. In all such
cases, the artists knowledge of herself is
more essential than her knowledge of others.
This girl, coldly received, and tainting at the
of the PROFESSIONALISM her own
md others natures to overcome, dropped
lcI IIISl ltdl illCIc Ill Udll-ClOStll lDOINdN
If success, and announced her determination
o succeed 1t was the last tear that was shed.
There was not strength enough, said the .
rites and, above all, culture was lacking.
t was doubtful if she could succeed at any
ime. The very evidences of the true artist
organization, the keen susceptibility, the
senses, rs well as the trepida-
ion of inexperiencc the blush of youth and
lodesty the maidenly reserve, were upheld
gainst her But they were in part the Gle
lents out of which she was to build her ful-
ire success.
With this ordeal entered Clara Louise kel-
Dgg upon her artistic career. There was not
single prediction made of her ultimate emf
ence. But when we reflect how many aspi-
ants have appeared in the same way, and
fter the same results have disappeared, never
gain to be heard of; when we consider that
/ this time Miss kellogg is in possession of
n assured and honorable position at the head
f American singers, we can be sure of the
bilty and determination that were hidden
ON the wonder-seeking spectators in the
ale and frightened debutante in the role OF
Ida.
But there is too much in Scribner to admit
f even the briefest clippings from its many
ne things Miss Proctor contributes a pro
lsely illustrated article on Moscow and South
m Russia; another illustrated article is AN
mperor's Vacation at Nichy" These are
,llowed by Ancient American Civilization;
.rthur Bonnicastle, by DR.. Holland; The Ell
cr's Wife, by Sake Holme, another serial;
18th Essays, Stories, Editorials, &c, &c.
THE SCIENCE OF HEALTH.
This useful monthly, issued by S. r, Wells,
80 Broadway, y. Y, is rapidly attaining
asst popularity. In the April number is
ne illustrated article on Popular Phrenolo-
y another on Health vs. Fashion; and able
rtcles on Crime-its causes and cure;
Iealth Of Farmers Brain Food; Catarrh;
oss of Hair &c, &c. We make a single
A.. ~. = Al. IA ~