Richland beacon., 1881-08-13
ALLIGATOR LEATHER.

a large shoe-manufacturing firm IN Bos-
ton the secret of process for the tan
ming of alligator hides. The industry
Immediately became profitable one,
and since then many thousand alligator
hides are annually used by our home !
manufacturers or sent abroad, princi-
pally to London and Hamburg. At first
the skins came from Louisiana, and
New Orleans was the center of the traf-
fc. The wholesale manner in which
the alligators were slaughtered, how
ever, speedily rendered them scarce in
that State. Florida is now the great
source from which our supplies are Oh
tanned, and the trade ccnters in Jackson
vile. The alligators are killed in great
numbers, both by passengers on board
the steamboats, plying on the rivers OF
Florida and by hunters who follow this
pursuit as a means of livelihood. After
being killed they are fayed, and only
those parts which are useful for leather,
such as the belly and TANKS, are pre-
served. They are then packed in cask
containing strong brine and sent
North to he made into leather. Hither-
70 ALLIGATOR leather has been used chiefly
for mems boots and shoes : now, how
ever, it is coming into fashion for ladies'
wear. 1t is also made into slippers,
pockct-books, cigar-cases and various
other kinds of fancy articles. The traf-
hc in this leather, which has hitherto
been of importance only in this conn
try. is now making rapid strides in Eu-
rome. and at a not far distant day will
probably reach no inconsiderable pro-
Dortions.-French paper.
AURORA BORELLIS IN NORWAY.
1t was seldom bright, hut its faintness
was always beautiful. Sometimes only
small piece of it appeared among the
clouds, on dark and gloomy night, so
pure and 80 pale that We might have
imagined it something like mercy and
truth shining on a world of sin. But
on the 18th of November it shOne forth
in full glory. There is kind of light
yellow cloud which is in England known
bv the name Of "horsetails," and is, in
truth, an asscmblage of long flakes, o.:
tresses, thrown about in all directions
Imagine a number of these, Of pale
color, like moonlight, and irrcSuarly
wreathejl together SO as to form q band
across the heavens. like the arch of a
rainbow, with the center of the arch to
the westward of the pole star. Such it
appeared to us when We first came out
The majestic meteor gradually expanded
itself, for, IN spite of a sharp wind
against if, it was steadily approaching
the zenith, and, having gained its point,
rested there a while. The bright cano-
py was awfully near above orr heads,
and We were incloscd in its broad, efful
gent arms. New streaks Of light con.
tinually kindled rs the old ones faded
Sometimes one of the tresses would
whirl as though it were the fold of g
! dragons tail then again it would lose
its waved appearance and showed only {
number Of straight, vertical stripes
like rain Of fire; then a hurried, i'll
distinct motion of thap.ehapes of light
which We compss to a mysterious
dance Of spirits.-M Eterest.
r REMARKABLE THEATRICAL CRIT.
CISM.
9 Hamlet must have been a remarkable
q man not to have gone mad in the mids
=, of such characters as his aimless moth
err, the insipid and discordant Ophelia
, and the noisily empty Laertes, as the,
+, we're presented on this stage. We con
fess to our secret satisfaction at the poi
, soning of the Queen, who in rouging he
a cheeks got double dose on the end o
her nose, and we experienced mali
, cious Joy in the unskillful stabbing o
> Laertes, who deserved death, if for NJ
other reason than for his unaccentate'
lamentations over the demise of q horse
q fiddle sister, whos departure shoul'
!. have been to.him a source of JOY. TIL
{ grave-digger did well, not only in tn
4 professional work, but in cffectuall.
o burying the addressed Ophelia. W
: never attended . funeral with NOR
Q pleasure. -ErchaaQe.
3 VUl0IR IANGHA0E
:, A distinguished author says: II RI
= solved when I was a child never to use
word which I could not pronounce bt
. fore my mother without offending her.
\ His rule and example are worthy {
imitation. Boys readily learn class {
a low, vulgar words and expressions tbs
!, are never heard in respectable circle,
. The utmost care on the part Of the pal
ents will scarcely prevent it. Of course
we cannot think Of girls being expose
r to the peril. We cannot imagine gil
$ using words she would not give uttel
g ance to before her father or mother
q Such vulgarity is thought by some boy