Year: 1876

val of the vessel at the port Of New York, but
there is still left much material upon which to
reflect with profit and sadness. The authori-
ties In Germany believe they have secured
evidence sufficient to place beyond the perad-
venture of doubt the fact that many Of the
great ocean steamers which have lef port
"neyer to be heard of more +" have been the
victims of similar plots as the one so unfor-
tunately executed by the inhuman Thomas.
Among this fated list they place the ill-starred
City Of Boston.


Balleoning is talked of as one Of the features
OF the Centennial. There could be no more
propitious time for investigating the practics-
bility Of aerial navigation than during the
present year, and should the true eastern cur
rent be discovered it will give impetus to aero
nautical experiments which the close Of an
other century will find of incalculable benefit.


Gallantry to ladies is not diminishing in this
country, as many would have us believe. Every
day we notice unmistakable evidence of the
thrift and prosperity Of this happy feature in
the social life of our males. Yesterday young
man paid all the attention possible to lady
by giving up his seat, pulling up the sash to
shut out the suns rays, requesting a man on
the front platform to cease smoking, and the
woman had a red nose and was very cross-eyed.
He tried to entertain her by informing her that
it was pleasant and warm, but she never said
a word. He would be gallant, and insisted on
it, but when she suddenly turned upon him
and said, "Young man, my spine is up, and
propo.e"-he colored, and slid out of the car
as though he was anxious to get away from
something. 1t is leap year, and he was aware
Of it.


On New Years eve, about mid night, as a
widow lady, somewhat advanced in years, was
retiring, by one of those impulses which govern
human actions, we know not how, instead of
kneeling in her accustomed place Of prayer
she moved to the side of her chamber and had
no more than prostrated herself in the act Of
devotion when a sharp sound with rattling
glass startled her, and on examining the cause
it was found that bullet from a pistol fired
in the street had passed through the front
window Of her room, and, striking on the op.
posite inner wall, bounded back, falling on
the carpet at her feet. A closer examination
showed the line of the ball to have passed ex-
actly through the space which her head would
have occupied had she knelt in prayer where
she usually did. The good lady regards it as
a special Providence that she was so preserved,
and with trembling gratitude shows the deadly
missile she but just escaped.


They are coming back. Those office-seek.
ers, with their carpet-bags and wan looks and
lean purses, are on the wing. They have
added many to their ranks, fresher than them
selves, perhaps, but no more anxious, no more
selfsupposed deserving, no more determined.
One of them came in yesterday and put up at
first-class hotel. He was a pompous man;
more than that, he was fluent talker, and
allowed his pomposity to show itself whenever
he turned around. He handed satchel to
the clerk, and it was a very plump-looking
piece Of travelling furniture-heavy, full of
wrinkles, and tied up with a string. "Young
man. said he, handing the valise to the clerk,
"take extra care of this, for have much
therein that would be valuable to thieves. Put
it where none can break in and steal. Be eau
tious, be e.vigilant. And now, my young friend,
send hither your trusty servants and command
them to forthwith sweep from my garments
the dust which has fallen thereon by the way
side The servant came, and he said " Pie
bian, conduct me to the wash-room and toilet
stand where facilities are ample to assist me
in laying my fevered brow and in assuaging the
pulse which throbs excitedly from my long
and tedious journey" He had come all the
way from Alexandria, and it was not the
Egyptian Alexandria either. When he was
busted he said: :'Child of the waiting room and
serf of man, is the banquet board prepared: If
so,euide me thither and will satiate the yearn-
ings of the inner man, for have tasted long
and feel sore and hungered, !" and when he low
cred himself at the table he jerked his vest
down, smoothed out his mustache and said:
"SIaNr, mum Tie culinary department bring
me rare and delicate food, and from the wine
room that which-wiH tickle and please -tIIv-
palatc.' After slowing away nine courses,
he arose and approaching the clerk said:
"Young man, the elegant appointments of
your establishment are only equaled by the
pleasant personal appearance of its clerk. 1
have desire to step out a moment and secure
a few pieces of wearing apparel, and upon my
return be prepared to conduct me to a suite of
rooms on the second foor," and he passed out
and disappeared in the surging crowd. The
moment passed and the day passed, but the
carpet-bag proprietor was not seen, and from
the long absence suspicion was aroused that
something was wrong, and the satchel was
opened. 1t contained fifteen pounds of gravel
and part of an old boot. Total value o.