I shall never forget an incident of my childhood, by which I was taught to be careful not to wound the feelings of the unfortunate. A number of us school children were playing by the road-side one Saturday afternoon, when the stage coach drove up to the neighboring tavern and the passengers alighted. As usual, we gathered around to observe them. Among the number was an elderly man with a cane, who got out with much difficulty, and when on the ground he walked with the most curious contortions. His feet turned one way, his knees another, and his whole body looked as though the different members were independent of each other, and every one was making motions to suit itself. I unthinkingly shouted, "Look at old Rattle Bones!" while the poor man turned his head, with an expression of pain which I can never forget. Just then, to my surprise and extreme horror, my father came around the corner, and immediately stepping up to the stranger, shook hands warmly, and assisted him to walk to our house, which was but a short distance. I could enjoy no more play that afternoon, and when tea time came I would gladly have hidden myself; but I knew it would be in vain, and so tremblingly went into the sitting-room. To my great relief, the stranger did not recognize me, but remarked pleasantly to my father, as he introduced me: "Such a fine boy is surely worth the saving! How the words cut me to the quick! My father had often told me the story of a friend who plunged into the river to save me, as I was drowning when an infant, and who, in consequence of a cold then taken, had been made a cripple by inflammatory rheumatism; and this was the man I had made a butt of ridicule, and a laughing-stock for my companions! I tell you, boys and girls, I would give a great deal to have the memory of that event taken away. If ever you are tempted as I was, remember that while no good comes of sport whereby the feelings of others are wounded, you may be laying up for yourselves painful recollections that will not leave you for a lifetime. S. THE closet is the great battle-field of faith. Let the foe be met and conquered there, and then shall we be able to stand firm ourselves, and to comfort and build up others also, in the hour of outward conflict. He who had already slain the lion and the bear in the desert, was the only one unterrified by Goliath, in the valley of Elah. RURAL. VITALITY OF WEED-SEEDS.-In Bulletin No. 10, just issued from the Massachusetts State Agricultural Experiment Station, Prof. S. T. Maynard answers two questions, very often asked, concerning the power of the seeds of various weeds to resist the destructive action of the digestive organs of animals, or of the manure heap. His replies, based upon careful and repeated experiments, may be confidently assumed to be the most correct deductions of the scientific investigation of the subject. We quote questions and answers as follows: 1. How is the vitality of the seeds of our most common weeds, such as dock, sorrel, chickweed, shepherd's purse, white daisy, etc., etc., affected by the action of the digestive organs of animals? Answer. Seeds of the dock, sorrel, daisy and shepherd's purse were fed to a horse and the refuse collected. Upon careful examination it was found that the seeds, unless crushed, were uninjured, and germinated readily when placed in soil under proper conditions of heat and moisture. The experiment was repeated several times with the same result. 2. How is the vitality of the common weed seeds, like the above, affected by the action of the compost-heap? In a Answer. Having settled the point that weed seeds are not destroyed by the action of the digestive organs of animals, it becomes important to know how their vitality may be destroyed; for, while the thorough farmer should never allow weeds to mature their seed on his farm, there are many instances where it becomes necessary to provide some means by which chance seeds may be destroyed. A series of experiments were carried out, the result of which is that seeds are destroyed if exposed to a temperature of 90° to 110° F. for from five to seven days in a moist compost-heap. dry compost heap, where the temperature runs as high as the above, the seeds were found but little injured. The tests were applied only to the abovenamed seeds, but it is probable that the results would be the same upon others, as these are among the seeds of the greatest vitality. The efficiency of this mode of destruction depends upon the maintenance of a continued high temperature and moisture, which will cause the seed to either germinate and then decay, or to decay before germinating. The amount of moisture can be easily regulated; and, by properly working over any pile of compost containing a large amount of organic matter, the required amount of heat may be obtained. From the above experiments it would seem doubtful if the practice of keeping swine upon manure piles, to cause slow decomposition, is the best for manure containing weed seeds. It is also doubtful if the seeds of weeds, often put into the pens where pigs are kept, will be destroyed by the action of the little heat there generated. It would probably be safer in both of the above cases to compost the manure in large piles before using it upon the land. HOW TO GET RID OF Moles.-The ground mole has been for a long time a constant source of an noyance to gardeners and farmers, and the question has often been asked, "is there no way of getting rid of this pest without the tedious process of trapping it?" which, at best, is only a partial relief. To this question I answer, yes. The remedy I have known for many years, and I wish to give the public the benefit of it through the columns of the Gardeners' Monthly. Like everything else that is given gratis, perhaps some will be found to deny or contradict the good effect of this remedy; but I challenge contradiction and demand a fair test from the public. One pint of the seed of the castor oil bean (Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi) is sufficient to clear any garden of an acre or less for the season, if properly dropped in their runs, which is is simply to thrust the forefinger into the mole hill and then drop a bean there, which he will be sure to eat next time he comes along, at the same time covering up the hole made by the finger with a bit of earth, chip, stone, or clod, so as to make the run tight as before and keep out the light. This plan I have found effectual in all gardens where I have tried it. It is not quite so satisfactory in grass lands, because it is often hard to find all their runs in the grass. Also, in planting corn in fields where this pest abounds, if a seed be dropped occasionally in the hill along with the corn, the mole will eat the bean in preference to the corn; and, as sure as he eats it, that is the last of him. If this plan be adopted when the moles first begin to run, which is generally after the garden is made and nicely planted, they are easily got rid of, and no trap of any kind need ever be introduced into the garden. This saves much time, labor and annoyance.— T. Bennett, in Gardeners' Monthly. THE WORLD'S EXPOSITION, AT NEW A special feature of the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, which will give it a value and an interest to the American people above any other ever held, will be that of the Mexican and Central American exhibit. A peculiar, almost a mysterious interest, is felt by our people in the inhabitants of those countries, of whom, though directly bordering our own, yet, owing perhaps to the difference of race, of customs, of civilization, and heretofore to the difficulty of access, less is known than of almost any European country. No one can read the weird and romantic history of that country, of the wonderful civilization of the Aztecs, the dark and mournful story of Montezuma, of the fierce conquests, voracious despoilment and virtual enslavement of the natives and of the ages of revolution since, without feeling an eager, curious interest in her and in her present people. The opportunity has come, the age of progress is producing its fruits, Mexico and Central America have felt the impress of American energy and research. Their people are becoming imbued with the spirit of development. Railroads have scaled many of their loftiest mountains and penetrated almost unknown valleys. Ambition reigns where heretofore lethargy has held sway. A spirit of commercial and industrial activity has been aroused. A desire to make known the inexhaustible resources of their mines, their valleys and their forests, and to attract capital and skilled labor for their development, has become manifest. The opportunity they could most have wished for is presented to them. They have grasped it with the most intense enthusiasm. New Orleans is their natural gateway to the commercial world. In it they find much of the leaven of consanguinity. The Exposition there gives them their first chance of reaching the eyes, the judgment and the interest of the great business world. The Mexican Government (which has appropriated $200,000 for the purpose) and the people have determined on a most extraordinary and exhaustive exhibit. All their unique and peculiar manufactures and handiwork of their Indian and mixed races, the superb productions of their rich soil and richer climate, the priceless gems and treasures of their still virgin mines, the choicest, most incomparable specimens of their grand forests and their wonderful resources of archeological stores and relics of ancient civilization and greatness, will form an exhibit in extent, in attractiveapproachable.-Selected. ness and in absorbing interest, unrivalled and un ITEMS. VICTORY OF THE POPULAR PARTY IN NORWAY.The latest advices from Norway bring tidings of a victory of the popular party so sweeping and complete that it can hardly be called anything less than a revolution. Certainly no political event in the North since 1841 can be compared to this in importance. When the pillars of the old bureaucracy finally began to waver the whole structure was leveled to the ground in the short space of two months. So complete a revolution has rarely been effected without bloodshed. Every one felt that the people would be victorious in the end, but no one expected that the end was so near, or that the triumph would be so complete. The Constitution of Norway is no longer it by his absolute veto. Parliamentary government, a rigid, lifeless corpse, as the King had hoped to make with all that that implies, is the result of this victory. Norway is as free as England, and, besides, is free LONDON contains a fifth of the population of Engfrom the incubus of an old nobility.-Independent. land. The number of its inhabitants exceeds the whole number of the inhabitants of Paris, Berlin, Vispoken in its eastern districts differs from that of some enna, Rome, Dresden, and Turin. The English of its western districts as widely as the English of the time of Queen Victoria differs from the English of the time of Queen Elizabeth.-Nation. PROF. RICHARD LEPSIUS, who has just deceased at Berlin, was considered the most perfect authority in Egyptian history, chronology and literature of our day. He headed the Prussian expedition of 1842, and made a second visit to the Nile after that, with the Crown Prince.. To his efforts is largely due the founding of the great Egyptian Museum of Berlin. DELTA-METAL, a new metal said to be not unlikely to rival steel, under certain conditions, has, according to the Hamburg Correspondent, been lately submitted to the Polytechnic Association in Berlin. Delta-metal contains iron in addition to the ordinary constituents of brass. It takes on an excellent polish, and is much less liable to rust than either steel or iron. When wrought or rolled it is harder than steel, but not when cast only. It can be forged and soldered like iron, but not welded. It melts at about 1,750° F.; and at from 1,300 to 1,500 it is remarkably malleable, and in this condition can admirably well be pressed_or stamped. For founding it is also well suited. The price is somewhat higher than that of the best kinds of brass. It should be found specially serviceable for objects exposed to rust, and requiring great hardness. At present, not to mention other cases, the steamers for the exploration of Central Africa are being made of delta-metal.-Monthly Record. THE Electrical Exposition to be held at Philadelphia, under the auspices of the Franklin Institute, opening September 2d, and closing October 11th, will, there now appears no doubt, excel in brilliancy and wonders either of its European predecessors. A capacious and grand building is in course of erection at a very accessible location (Thirty-third St. and Lancaster Avenue), and the applications from home and abroad are already very numerous. The entrance fee for exhibitors is $5. and applications for space must be made before August 30. The exhibits will be divided into seven classes: Ist. Production of electricity. 2d. Electric conductors. 3d. Measurements of electric fluid. 4th. Applications of electricity. 5th. Terrestrial physics. 6th. Historical apparatus. 7th. Educational and bibliographical.-Industrial News. A LONDON newspaper says: It is probable that 1000 members and associates may cross the Atlantic to attend the Montreal meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in August. From Montreal the Canadian and visiting scientists visit Philadelphia where they will be the guests of the American Association. The total number of scientist guests it is anticipated will be about 2000. They will be present at the International Electrical Exposition. THE printing world of London is much disturbed by the discovery of a new process which enables any number of copies to be taken of any book, even the oldest, without setting a line of type. A compound has been discovered which may be spread upon a page without in the slightest way injuring the paper, and which refuses to rest upon ink. It can easily be removed to a stone, and there becomes the matrix for stereotype, or can be used for printing from at once. Practical printers are experimenting to see whether they cannot save the cost of re-printing old editions, and if certain practical difficulties are removed, there will be a change not only in the production of facsimiles of old books, but in the reproduction of new ones. It will be no longer necessary to keep type standing. A proof will be as good as a stereotype plate.-Industrial News. THE temperature in the mines on the Comstock Vein, Nevada, is exceptionally high. At depths of 1500 to 2000 feet, the thermometer, placed in a fresh drilled hole, will show 1300. Very large bodies of water have run for years at 1550, and smaller bodies at 1700. The temperature of the air is kept down to 110 degrees by forcing in fresh air cooled over ice. It has been estimated that the heat extracted annually ⚫ from the Comstock by means of the water pumped out and cold air forced in is equal to that generated by the combustion of 55,560 tons of anthracite coal. THE PATH OF LIGHT. BY GEORGE W. BUNGAY. O patient Father! hear my prayer, And make me wise this day to know When from the narrow way I strayed; They trod, the cross of Christ their load. Along the path are stains of red, And ashes of the martyr's fires, And crosses where the saints have bled, And the reflected light of spires That point the way And guide the steps, so prone to stray. The hosts that bear His banners white March under sheltering clouds by day And pillared fires that guide by night; Nor rock, nor sea Can block the path that God makes free. Poor wanderers, we have forfeited The favor of a Father's love; Yet He has been our help; He led Us with His light from Heaven above. It cometh down, Where leans a cross, to light a crown, Teach us to shun the ways of vice And loathe the place where scoffers sit; Where appetite, with mad device, Dethrones the conscience, poisons wit, And where the bowl Consumes the life and stains the soul. HUMMING-BIRD. -Selected. When the mild gold stars flower out, If you watch its fluttering poise, Of an elfin spinning-wheel. And then from the shape's vague sheen But fleetly across the gloom This tremulous shape will dart, While searching for some new bloom, To quiver about its heart. And you, with thoughts of it stirred, "Is it a gem, half bird? Or is it a bird, half gem?" -Atlantic. SUMMARY OF NEWS. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.-Advices from Europe are to the 12th inst. GREAT BRITAIN.-A great Reform demonstration took place at Birmingham on the 4th. An immense procession passed through the streets. It was estimated that 200,000 persons were on the grounds, the throng being in nine divisions. Good order was maintained. At a meeting in the evening, attended by 20.000 per sons, John Bright and J. Chamberlain, President of the Board of Trade, made speeches urging a reform of the House of Lords, by a limitation of their veto power. J. Bright proposed that the peers should retain their present powers for the first session in which a bill should be presented to them, but be prohibited from vetoing any bill a second time. A resolution was adopted, denouncing the action of the House of Lords on the Franchise bill. A meeting of advanced Liberals in London on the 6th, resolved to establish a league to labor for the reform of the House of Lords. Their ultimate aim is to abolish the hereditary peerage. In the House of Commons. on the 5th, W. E. Gladstone moved for a credit of £300,000 to provide for an expedition to the Soudan. The purpose, he said, was merely to relieve Gen. Gordon, and not to crush the Mahdi. It would be sufficient to secure good govern. ment in the Soudan. The evacuation of that country is now out of the question. England is bound to protect Gen. Gordon. He intimated that he asked a vote rather on the principle involved than the exact amount required. The credit was agreed to, 174 votes to 14. Gladstone announced that the Earl of Northbrook had been appointed to go to Egypt with instructions to report on the condition of affairs, so as to advise the English Government what counsel to give to that of Egypt. Lord Northbrook will have a direct commission from the Queen, and be styled High Commissioner. It was announced in the House of Commons, on the 11th, that diplomatic relations had been resumed with Mexico, and that an agreement had been signed with that country, placing England on the "most favored nation" footing. Lord Granville, Foreign Secretary, has instructed the British Minister to Rome, to thank the Italian Government for the support given by Italy to the British proposals in the late Egyptian Conference. The Board of Trade returns show that during last months British imports were £117,000 less than in Seventh month 1883, and exports £1,200,000 less. The Marquis Tseng, Chinese Minister, in a conference with Earl Granville on the 5th, asked him to join a European mediation between France and China; but the request was refused. On the 11th inst. the heat in London was the greatest experienced in twenty years, the thermometer rising to 93 F. Work was partially suspended, and several deaths from sunstroke occurred. FRANCE.-The Congress for the revision of the Constitution met on the 6th, 8th, 9th and 11th. The report of the committee to which the subject was referred, was considered. An amendment for the convoking of a Constituent Assembly was rejected by 493 to 286 votes, and two others proclaiming the sovereignty of the Congress, were defeated by large majorities. The first article of the scheme of revision was adopted by a vote of 523 to 139. The second, decreeing the Republican form of government immutable, passed by 602 to 105; and the second paragraph, declaring monarchical pretenders ineligible for the Presidency, was adopted 597 to 153. Some of the sittings were disorderly. On the 12th, proposed amendments abolishing the Presidency; enacting that the President should be elected by universal suffrage; abolishing the Senate; and forbidding princes of former dynas. ties to reside on French territory and confiscating their property, were severally rejected. It was stated on the 6th that official records showed that since the outbreak of cholera in the south of France 2200 of the inhabitants had died of the disease. In Toulon and Marseilles the cholera continued to subside, although the heat had somewhat increased the mortality; but some deaths had occurred in neighboring places both in France and Italy. A dispatch of the 9th inst. from Shanghai, China, stated that the French squadron under Admiral Lespes had bombarded and captured the town of Kelung, on the island of Formosa, Later accounts reported that the town was given up without a blow, the authorities and a majority of the populace fled, and the French destroyed the forts and retired. The French Minister to China, in a subsequent note to the Chinese Government, said that the capture was not an act of war, and the port would be returned to China when an indemnity should be agreed on. Should China resume hostilities along the frontier of Tonquin, he says, war will be declared, and the French squadron will bɔmbard other ports, whether open to international com merce or not. SWITZERLAND.-The Peace Conference was opened at Berne on the 4th. A Federal Councillor presided. A resolution was passed on the 6th, favoring the neutralization of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Roumania; and one on the 7th in favor of a general disarmament, and the establishment of an International Tribunal of Arbitration. A hope was expressed that the projected Congress of the Latin States of America would soon meet and arrange a system of arbitration. The Conference closed on the 8th. adopted a motion favoring the neutralization of interoceanic canals. It BELGIUM.-The Chamber of Deputies on the 8th adopted by a vote of 72 to 44 the bill providing for a renewal of diplomatic relations with the Vatican. DOMESTIC.-An earthquake shock was felt on the 10th inst. about 2 P. M. throughout the region east of the Alleghany Mountains, from Maryland to Maine. In many places buildings were perceptibly shaken, windows and crockery rattled, and in some instances small articles were thrown down and furniture was moved. No damage to buildings is reported except some instances of the falling of chimneys and the cracking of walls. The noise accompanying the shock was likened by most hearers to that caused by the rapid motion of a heavy wagon over hard ground. The duration was probably about 8 seconds. The corner-stone of the pedestal for the Bartholdi statue,"Liberty enlightening the world," to be erected on Bedloe's Island in New York harbor, was laid on the 5th inst. The President has directed the Secretary of War to employ military force in removing intruders from Indian Territory. The commander of the Division of the Missouri has therefore been ordered to remove all persons who may be in the Territory in violation of law and of the President's proclamation of the 1st ult. The notorious "Col." Payne, who has repeatedly led a band of "settlers" into the Territory, has been arrested and expelled, and measures are in progress for the expulsion of his followers and associates. The steamer Amsterdam, from Amsterdam for New York, was wrecked on Sable Island on the 30th ult. going ashore in a fog. The vessel was 35 miles out of its course. Three men and one woman were drowned in attempting to land; the remainder of the crew and passengers, 273 in number, were saved. THE Friends' Review. A RELIGIOUS, LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS JOURNAL. OUR LONDON LETTER. At the Meeting for Sufferings on the first instant, Isaac Sharp gave an interesting epitome of his recent visit to Friends in Norway. Accompanied by Frederic Mackie, of South Australia, he spent six weeks there. As it was his sixth visit, he was already well-known to many of the Friends, who gave him a loving and cordial reception. They are scattered and few in numbers; but there is a tender spirit and a readiness to receive the truth amongst them and some of their neighbors. These latter came to several meetings and often more than filled the rooms in which they were assembled. I. S. lodged at the Friends' School at Stavanger, and testified to the value of this institution in imparting sound principles to the young-so different from the public schools under the control of the Lutheran clergy. Any Friends who may incline to help in this direcmay feel confident that the contributions will be profitably employed. He spoke also of the liberality of a Friend of Stavanger, who bore most of the expenses of the children coming from the country. tion During the winter these children board at the school, but in summer-time they are wanted at home, during which time the school is limited to day-pupils. At Bergen the meeting is very small, but at four or five country places there are more Rural POETRY.-Hymn-A Rising Tide-Dead Arctic Heroes... SUMMARY OF NEWS.... Friends. Some five or six are in the habit of speaking in meetings from time to time. Many emigrate to America; thus their numbers do not increase, but, at the same time, there does not seem to be much diminution. Meetings for worship are held in eight different places, but in three of these the attendance consists of only two or three families. I. S. briefly related the circumstances under which the Friends of Norway arose. Those to whom this remarkable narrative may be already well known will, no doubt, excuse its repetition for the sake of those who may not be familiar with it. In 1808 Enoch Jacobson, the son of a carpenter and himself apprenticed to an apothecary of Stavanger, ran off to sea at the age of eighteen. He joined a privateer, which was almost immediately captured by the English. Thus he found himself and his companions prisoners at Leith, whence, after three years, they were removed to Chatham, where they joined several hundred Danish and Norwegian prisoners of war on board an English vessel. this time of suffering was blessed to E. J.'s spirit, and he was led into deep exercise of soul. other prisoners joined him in weeping and praying and waiting upon the Lord. In spite of the insults and persecution they endured, their patience and sincerity so won upon their companions, that even their persecutors were led to join thern, until ultimately their number amounted to thirty or more. But A few |