Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-30

In 1881 there We're only two Christian en-
deayor societies in existence, having "a
membership Of 50. Now there are $500
societies with q membership of 400 600, and
societies are being organized at the rate
Of 100 a week. The international cOnycn-
ton of the societies, which is 70 be held in
Philadelphia July 9th. 10th, and 1lth,
promises to be the largest and most cnthu-
siastic convention ever h Id. and the
largest delegate convention OF any KIND
ever held in this country
At the brick-yard near Macon, Ga. last
week two mOccasins were seen engaged in
mortal combat Two others, apparently in
terested. stood on either side Of the rep
tiles. The sentries or seconds were IN a
coil with their heads erect \ negro la
borcr watched tho fight for fifteen minutes.
The snakes would wrap about each other
bite and strike at each other, and lash the
ground around with their tails. Finally
the negro killed the duellists, principals
and seconds.
A resident of Newark, n. J.. is in posses
sion Of a letter written by him 10 his wife
at Dresden in 1881, which failed TO reach
her there. owing % her sudden departure,
and Ehich has for the last eight years been
travelling about Western Europe in spite
of the fact that the address of the writer in
gelope. When the pOst-6fhce authorities
at Dresden failed 10 find the party to
whom the letter was addressed II
was sent to PARIS, and from there
10 London, and from there 10 Liver
pool. At each Of these cities 1t had appa-
rently been left at the office of the leading
bankers OF other places az which American
tourists are likely TO stop. Finally II was
sent to the American Exchange at Liver
pool, where 1t has. 80 all appearances. lam
FOR some time aud being recently resur-
rccted, was returned TO the Newark adj
dress. with the envelope stamped and re-
stamped and otherwise marked up with the
names Of places at which IL had been de-
posted.
F.. r. Washburn, of Three Oaks, Mich.
was until the other night the very dirtiesr
human being that could be imagined. His
hair WAS long. snarled, aud unclean; his
whiskers shaggy, his clothes in rags, his
boots were made of rubber. and his general
appearance sucn as 20 disgust any decent
citizen. lie Is a widower. and has two
children about twelve years of age,
whom he refuses 10 allow To attend
school. The other evening the ci,i-
zens Of Three Oaks procured a
large tub, a quantity of soap, brushes.
towels. etc. and after receiving the
donations If hat from one mer-
chant, shirt from another, an over
shirt from another. etc, repaired 10 the
dingy howell Of the old scamp. in the reW
Of an old store building. and proceeded 10
give him a cleaning. He protested VgOr-
ously and even showed fight, but the
crowd was too much for him, and when
they cot through, an hour later, he had
his hair clipped, bis whiskers trimmed,
aud was positively clean tor once.
An extraordinary story of babes in the
woods Is reported from Jealls village. Cou-
necticut. Four miles from the village in
the thckcst of the Salisbury mountain
woods. IS an encampment of charcoal
burners, among them being Andrew Tow
Ter. On Thursday of last week two little
children Of FoWlor's wandered from home.
The older one was readily found, but the
other. a child Of three years, became fright
ened and strayed 80 far away AZ TO be-
come lost. All attempts to discover the
baby were futile, and when the storm of
the following Friday and Saturday set IN IL
was thought sure the little one would die
from exposure. The excitement among
the burners became intense. and a search
inc party was organized. comprising 1875
men. who. with flaming torches and Ian
terms, secured the woods and mountain
sides for miles around. II was not until
o'clock on the afternoon Of the
third day that their arch was re-
warded. The child was found in
secluded nook in a mossv glen, where
it had fallen. The little thing WAS without
stockings, shoes, or hat. aud had been out
in the woods all during IFS absence crawl
ing here aud there. without any protection
from the storm. which ragged iucesaantly.
Strange 20 say the child was apparently
unframed. and did not appear to De much
the worse for its thrilliaS and hazardous
adventure. During the search on the
mountain number of the men themselves
became lost ia the forest, 30 dense IS the
growth of timber.