Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-04

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 for living was advised to go to him for em- ployment as 8 seller of pool tickets. "Where were you last employed?" the gambler asked.
 "In the--bank," i" was the reply. "Bring . certificate of honesty and capacity from the president or cashier of that bank and will give you 8 job" On presentation of the re- quisits document the fellow was engaged to go on a ssasou's round of the race courses' He reported at the end of the summer that he had never been held to 8 more rigidly cir cumspect standard of conduct.
 Manuel Costa de Arguibel, a special com missioner of the Argentine Republic who is in New York, says the people of the United States make A great mistake when they fail to discriminate between the Argentine Re- public and other parts of South America. The Argentine Republic has never defaulted ca any of it's obligations, a fact of which the people, under all the circumstances, feel very proud. It is the only country in South America that is well supplied with railroads, telegraph lines, telephones, street railroads and all the other conveniences of modern civilization. "We should" says the commis- sioner, like to trade much more extensively with the United States, but the facilities for direct communication are wanting, Only tramp steamers ply between the Argentine Republic and the United States while there is an average of 1-2 steamers daily between Buenos Ayres and Europe. In 1882, 6,071 foreign ships. having tonnage of 1,52s, ,054 tons, entered the ports of the Republic, of which only 2 per cent foated the United States flag. If we wish to make quick trip between New York and Buenos Ayres, we are obliged to go by way of Europe. This Is not as it should be. Better and cheaper goods are made in the United States than we buy in Europe, and all that is needed to inc duce our people to buy here is equal accom- modation in the way of transportation, exchange, etc."
 The latest reports from the experimental ostrich farm in California are favorable to the success of the enterprise. The great birds are kept in yards or enclosures, one male and two females occupying a place to- eether. A common board fence, higher than the ordinary, surrounds each corral and dj- vides them. There is a space or open lane between the pens-a driveway for teams and to carry food to the birds. They eat a wagon, load of shells in one day, besides large amount of coarse food, vegetable, alfalfa or clover r-grass, etc. The cost of each is $1 900 and their weight is from 300 to 400 pounds They lay seventy-five eggs each year. each egg valued at $1OO. Their feathers are plucked twice year, they are on the tail and wings of the bird, the body being nearly bare. Each plucking averages $500. The eggs weigh two and one-half pounds. The male is black, the tail and wing feathers be- ing white, and the female 8 greyish white. It requires four strong men to hold one of these pets while plucking their plumes. It seems a cruel process, and no wonder the birds resist SO hard. They are savage and dangerous if attacked, and can only be ham dled after & sack or stocking leg has been drawn over the head. They drive them into a corner, and slip as quietly as possible be- hind them to draw the covering rapidly on; some feathers are pulled out easily, others are cut, and one has to understand his busi- ness to prevent the birds from bleeding to death. They cannot fly or jump, but can keep pace with the feetest horses. When the eggs are to be gathered, Chinaman Is call d into The arena. The ostrich seems to have fierce dislike to the smile of the heather Chinee, and is so taken up with his efforts to attack him that the men slip in unnoticed and take possession of the eggs. The life of an ostrich extends beyond that of human beings, and averages 100 years. The plumes ca,. be purchased singly by visitors, the price depending upon the length and thickness of them. They have to be afterwards cleaned and dyed. No dogs or horses are allowed in- side the inclosuse, as the birds would go wild at the sight of either. The Chinamen carry their food to them.