The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-01-16
High Railway ONT

The altitude of tbs highest point in
the worl1 where railways are now in
operation is at Apizaco, on the Vera
Cruz and Mexico railway, 7,477 feet
above the level of the sea, The next
highest is on the Central Pacific, in the
Nevada range, I'LL feet above the level
OF the sea. The third is at Arequipa,
an important city in Peru, 1000 feet
above the level of the SCI, and, under
the Peruvian railway system, the work
is to be continued, and it is expected to
reach double that altitude. It sets out
upon an ascent, to pass to the west of
the eastern Cordilleras, and puts itself
thus in connection with the famous lake
of Titicaca and the entire Andine Boil
via, also with the great historic realm
of the Incas, the ancient capital of
Cuzco, and must reach a point at the
breath-taking height of 1900 feet
above the level of the sea-less than
1000 feet lower than the crater of Popo-
catepetl, and over 5000 feet higher than
the City of Mexico. The inspirations
of II Peruvian neighbors are shown
by these vast undertakings to be as
grand as the traditional empire of their
Incas, and as lofty as the sublime
heights of their magnificent Cordilleras.
fire there were three unfedged birds in
the nest, and the poor little brides
were in great danger. But the old
storks soon showed their good n
and their love for their young, for by
turns they each few off to some little
fish ponds just outside the walls here
they took a good dip in the water, end
filed their beaks with as much as they
could carry away; then, nothwithstand-
ing the smoke and flames, they few
back to their little ones, poured the
water from their beaks over them and
the nest, and at the same time shaking
it from their feathers. Thus during the
whole day did these faithful birds act
as a winged fire brigade till toward
evening, when all danger for their
young and their nest was over.
milky" Collins in Washington.
Poor Philip was taken considerably
aback by a new member he invited TO
his house to an entertainment he gave
to Wilkie Collins. The Hon. Lvcurgus
Leatherlungs, from the Mill Creek Bot
toms of Pennsylvania, had been to a
dinner-party at Welcker's and was con-
siderably Sprung when he reached
Mr.. Philips palatial residence. A few
glasses of choice old wine there COM
pleted his utter 1uin. When he was
presented to the celebrated English
novelist he seized his hand, and, hold
ing it firmly but affectionately, be gazed
with intense earnestness in the face of
the novelist. At last, finding words, be
said:
Chow are you, Milky"
81 am quite well, sir ; how do you
do?"
go, never mind me, Milky I'm all
right member elect from Mill Greek
bottoms, and damned glad to see YOU"
Here Wilkie made an effort to escape,
but the M. G. held on.
"I say, old Milky, I know you. I've
got all your books and read one every
day. I've got Hard Cash. the Last
of the Barons,' the Lay of the Last
Minstrel, and all of EN-"
At this information Wilkie Collins put
all his strength into a frantic endeavor
to escape. This, however, only re-
suited in the newiy-made member of
congress throwing his arms around the
neck of the novelist and kissing him on
the end of his intellectual nose. The
spectacles disappeared in the struggle,
and the entire force of the festive throng
was brought to bear to throw poor
Milky" into the committee of the
whole.