The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27

evinced by the fact that the Mississippi State
Library is among the best of its class in the
country. Not only does the Librarian have
charge OF the arrangement and care of books,
and the internal economies of the library, but
she keeps so well informed as to the relative val
ues of books and editions that her advice is in
constant demand by brief making lawyers, who
are the principal patrons of the library.
VIsALIA, CAL. furnishes a pretty bird story.
A small bird, which accidentally discovered its
likeness in a looking glass in a paint shop,
makes daily morning and evening visits to look
at its reflection. While before the mirror it
performs all the coquettish acts by which a bird
could render itself graceful and attractive. The
feathered dandy has become quite tame and is a
~fayorite with the workmen.
THE National Republican newspaper Of Wash
ington estimates that lab Democrats and fifty
TWO Republicans in the House oppose the sus-
pension of silver coinage. while thirty-nine
Democrats and ninety-one Republicans favor it.
The West and South are represented as being
practically a unit for silver coinage, while the
Eastern and Middle States appear to be almost
as solidly in favor of its suspension.
A STARTLING novelty in roses was that intro
duced by Pedro da Costa, a Portuguese rose-grow-
err. under the name of Lusiadas. 1t was a pale
yellow, spotted with red, and was awarded GER
tlhcateS of merit by several French horticultural
societies. and now it is claimed by those who
have investigated that the red spots were painted
upon It, In the meantime Pedro has pocketed
80, 900 francs from the sale of his novelty, while
he stoutly denies the painting.
A BosToN cigar-smoking doctor has established
a good code of cigar etiquet. When other
smokers ask him for a light he offers them a box
of matches. but never his cigar. This he does,
not because his own cigar is not we'll lighted,
but to avoid the risk of contagion from any one
disease out of the dozen or more which may be
transmitted by putting into the mouth an article
infected persons have handled. There is much
common sense in the doctors plan.
THE Galveston News relates an amusing Incl
dent in connection with the disastrous fire the -e.
A little eight-year ola who had been one Of the
sufferers by the FIRE. hearing that he might get re-
lief by applying to the committee, determined to
prepare his claim. After careful consideration
1t was written out and presented the following
unique series of items: "A bicicle, SO; Two GIN
me pigs. 81; one prery dog, 81; half pound shot.
&C.; A ritel. So; cartickets in bank, 65c."
A FRENCH nobleman played a game of ecarte
with a foreign count. The latter won, and the
Frenchman pulled out 10, 900 francs and handed
them to the winner, who quietly secured them
in his pocket-book and went nome. Early next
morning a gentleman of aristocratic bearing and
decorated with the order of the Legion dion
neur was shown into the apartment of the for
elgn count, who was still asleep. Monsieur"
ne sald, III tones trembling with excitement,
you hold in your hands the honor of a whole
family" 'Indeed!' kindly tell me, was it
you who played with M. de H.W "Yes." "You
won 10000 francs, and he paid YOU" "Yes, in
bank notes, and l have them here" "Well, sir,
the notes are false. Last night we heard of the
nefarious practice of our relative, and l came to
ask you, in heavens name, to exchange them for
ten others l have brought. The noble foreigner
at once exchanged the notes. In the evening he
was not a little surprised to meet his opponent
at the club. and to be asked to give revenge.
The foreigner CURLY refused, which led to an
explanation. The count drew from his pocket
the exchanged notes he had received in the
morning. They were false. The gentleman
with the decoration was a notorious French
SWindler.