employ a smith to make one of the primitive grates of the day.

WHAT THE COAL SULPHUR DID.

These grates had so little draught to them that most of the sulphur from the coal entered the room. Before the advent of coal fires everybody had the cutaneous eruption known as the seven-year itch. In families where coal was used it soon disappeared and the luxury of scratching entirely ceased with the introduction of coal fires. It may astonish many to learn the fact that because this new kind of sulphur cure offered a cheap, quick sovereign remedy for what was then prevalent throughout the country in spite of brimstone rolls and ointments assiduously employed, it more readily was adopted by the wood burners and choppers. No powder or pick was necessary to secure coal. A crowbar or hand spike and a peck basket constituted the entire mining machinery of the valley in 1810.

The Richest Dimple.

The richest dimple in the Appalacian chain of mountains is known as the Lackawanna coal field. No minor vale in any province, territory or State has so widely diffused its name throughout the hemispheres as has this, simply by the wonder of its devolpment and the rigor of its coal literature. The anthracite field of Lackawanna, with that of Wyoming lying in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, in Pennsylvania, within ore hundred and fifty miles of the seaboard, embraces the territory above the Blue Mountains, known in nomenclature as the "Northern Coal District," was purchased of the Indians comprising the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, in the Province of New York, July 11, 1754, by the Connecticut Susquehanna Company, before the wild men knew of the nature or existence of coal or the value of the wide tract they ceded to the whites for a trifle. It was not sought out by the emigrants from New England for its anthracite, because they too were without knowledge of its presence or value.

coal

The consideration given the assembled chiefs was £2,000, New York currency, equal to $10,000 in silver. This sum, unlike annuities promised the savages in the great West for their possessions to-day, was honestly paid them on the spot. Covered with forests whose depths were rarely trodden by warriors and never mapped by the canoelovers who claimed them from their fathers, the purchase was made by the whites for the reason that the mild character of the climate and the fertility of the soil, especially along the Susquehanna and Lackawanna lowlands, where fish and game were abundant, assured the husbandman of plenty from the very

start, without extraordinary labor or exertion.

A century retires before the coal revolution. Men will read these articles whose infant cries were lulled to sleep by a mother's song at eventide beside the wood fire aglow in the old fire place without measuring in their minds the transition from the wood to the coal period. So thoroughly and yet so quie ly has this great, grand revolution been carried on in a spirit of rivalry, if not extravagance, that many in their haste for wealth, have forgotten the hanging of the crane over the hearthstones where they were born.-H. Hollister, M. D., in Scranton Truth.

Death of a Former Wilkes-Barrean,

HAY.-At his residence in Moulton Township. three miles west of Wapakoneta, O., on Feb. 12, 1887, of Bright's disease, Charles Hay, aged 69 years, 6 months and 27 days.

He

We copy the above death notice from the Auglaize Republican of 17th of February, The deceased was born in Wilkes-Barre Township, now Plains, July 15, 1817. was a son of Henry Hay, blacksmith, whose shop and place of residence was the first house this side of the late Esquire James Stark's place on the main road leading to Pittston. He was married in 1849 to Ellen Jackson, of Wilkes-Barre, and removed to Auglaize County, Ohio, in the fall of 1855, where he has since lived. His wife died in July 1888, leaving a family of five girls and a son, all now living. For his second wife he married Martha Young, of Auglaize, in 1870, who died in 1879, leaving four children, all now living. In 1881 he married Miss Mary Larue, of Wilkes-Barre, who still survives him. Mr. Hay was a kind husband and an affectionate father. He has paid several visits to his native town since removing to the West, and was always welcomed kindly by the few of his former neighbors and friends of old Plains who knew him well as boy and man for so many years, and who still survive him; but the old stock of thirty-five years ago are becoming few and far between: a new people, with new pursuits and new objects in life have almost wholly supplanted the original tillers of the soil and driven them to seek new homes, many of them on the rich farm lands towards the region of the setting sun, while the subterranean toilers in the mines now here risk life and limb to gain a scanty subsistence in bringing to the surface our black diamonds of commerce.

A history of the Dean Family is now being published by Dean Dudley, Wakefield, Mass. The work is illustrated. has tabular pedigrees and sells for $5-$1 each for 5 parts. The author invites data from representatives of the Dudley family.

ton, with his brother, Col. John L. Butler,and his brother-in-law, Judge Garrick Mallery. He was a leading man in the M. E. Church. His wife organized a Sanday school in Wilkes Barre as early as 1829.

The subject of this sketch was a niece of the celebrated Frances Slocnm, who was captured by the Indians in 1778 and carried from her Wilkes-Barre home into the wilder ness by a roving band of Delawares, she being at this time five years of age. The story of her captivity and her romantic finding nearly 60 years later, among a tribe of Western Indians, is familiar to every schoolchild. The niece, whose death has just occurred, was the po-sessor of a life-size portrait, in Indian garb, of the "Lost Sister." who could not be persuaded to return to her kindred, but preferred to die among the children of the forest, the only friends of whom she had any knowledge.

An Old Wyoming Poem.

So far as we know the following beautiful lines have never appe red in any newspaper. They are taken from a rare volume, in the possession of the Historical Society, entitled "The Harp of the Beech Woods,' printed

and published at Montrose in 1822 by Adam Waldie, the author being Juliana Frances Turner, who describes her volume as being made up solely from the wild flowers of the forest." It is a collection of extremely meritorious verses and was presented to the society in 1858 by Edward S. Loop:

THE VALE OF WYOMING.

Adien to thee, Wyoming, loveliest vale!

To thy monntains, thy rills and thy groves, To the flowers which in clusters enamel thy dale,

Where the birds tell the tale of their loves. Where the spirits of Albert and Gertrude are

seen

By Cynthia's pale shadowy light, While the dark utalissi and Henry's mil' mien "Look like morning led on by the night." Where the genius of Campbell has loved to repose

His might and his sweetness of verse, Where the bloom of the thistle its wild magic throws

O'er the scene his bright numbers rehearse. Adieu ye sweet shades! from my mind whilst I live

Your rem mbrance never will fade;
Fond fancy in song oft her tribu e shall give
To each hill and each beautiful glade.

Ex-Surgeon General Hammond, the eminent New York physician, has issued another historical novel from the press of D. Appleton & Co., entitled "On the Susquehanna." The scene is laid at Harrisburg and people in Dauphin County claim to see through the thin disguises of many of the characters.

Drunkeness Now and Then,

The letters of "Steele Penne" in the Media American are always entertaining in their style and independent in their sentiments. Not the least so is a recent comparison of the liquor habit a century ago with the liquor habit to-day, which comparison redounds much to the discredit of our sober ancestors.

Steele Penne has taken the pains, he says -and we will accept his word for it to look over some of the old records, and diligent search therein has persuaded him that we have progressed more rapidly in everything else than in drunkenness. Such a bold statement in defiance of the rhetoric and warnings of male and female lecturers on the spirituous degeneracy of the times, savors of a temerity that all will admire. We will append, for the justification of "Steele Penne." a few of the f cts that he claims in support of his conclusion.

First, then, there are not as many public houses where liquor is sold under a license in this country as there were a century ago. In Delaware County, at that anc ent day, there were six time as many liquor places, in proportion to the population, as at present. In Chester County, cited as the present paradise of liquor dealers, the ratio in one hundred years has fallen in a wonderful degree.

It is claimed, and with apparent foundation, by the unterrified "Steele Penne" that illicit liquor selling was carried on to a greater extent in the age of our great-grandfathers than in the present day. Drinking on Sunday is shown to have been a favorite and general custom at the public houses, a popular beverage being "SampPon," so-called doubtless from its strength. Drinking at funerals was a common custom much honored in the observance.

In order to inspire big bids at vendues, liquor was on draught, free to all, and as plenteous as water. In fact, liquor appears to have been a concomitant of every social, political or mixed gathering. Jurors, in capital cases on trial, were invigorated for their deliberations by the rum bottle, and bills for such refreshment for jurors, commissioners, assessors and justices were paid by the county. The custom of drinking on New Year's Day is so recently abandoned as to be readily recalled.

All in all, "Steele Penne" makes out a strong case for his conclusion that drinking and drunkenness are not at present so prevalent as in the days of our sober ancestors. That the liquor habit is still the worst social evil that the world is struggling with "Steele Penne" does not attempt to confute; if he were to make the attempt we are sure he would find it beyond his power.

The New State Librarian.

time

Our telegraphic columns announced several days ago the appointment of Dr. Wm. H. Egle, of Harrisburg, as State Librarian. Although there were other available men among the applicants, notably the venerable editor of the York Dispatch, Mr. Hiram Young, it is safe to say that the appointment of Dr. Egle could not have been improved upon. Dr. Egle is 56 years of age and has always lived in Harrisburg. In his boyhood days he learned the printer's trade and subsequently had charge of the State printing. He also en gaged for a in editorial work in Harrisburg. At the age of 24 he began the study of medicine, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1859. He practiced his profession in Harrisburg until 1862, when after the second Bull Run he was telegraphed for by Adjutant General Russell, of Pennsylvania, to go to Washington to assist in the care of the wounded, which duty he performed. Soon after he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the 96th P. V., and in 1863 surgeon of the 47th P. V. militia. Afterwards President Lincoln appointed him surgeon of volunteers and he was ordered to Kentucky and elsewhere. During the Appomattox campaign he was chief executive medical officer of Birney's Division, 24th Army Corps, and later held the same position in the 25th Corps.

At the close of the war Dr. Egle again located in Harrisburg, but a taste for literary pursuits tempered, perhaps, with the absence of the excitement of field life, made private practice irksome and he did but little of it, engaging meauwhile in the drug trade, which he still follows as closely as his literary work will erant.

Upon the organization of the National Guard of Pennsylvania in 1870 he was appointed surgeon-in-chief of the Fifth Division, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and he is now the senior medical officer in the N. G. P.

He is a member of many historical and learned societies in America and England. He is the author of a "History of Pennsylvania," published in 1876 and was associated with Hon. John Blain Linn, in edit. ing 12 volumes of the second series of "Pennsylvania Archives." Later productions of his pen are histories of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties and the initial volume of "Pennsylvania Genealogies," a superb volume of over 700 pages. Dr. Egle edits the department of Notes and Queries in the Harrisburg Telegraph, a historical feature which finds an imitator in the Historical Column of the weekly RECORD

He will bring to his duties of State Librarian, a mind admirably adapted to the work in hand, an experience in the realm of State

history having no equal in the Commonwealth, and an enthusiasm born of love for books that will revolutionize the State Library. Gov. Beaver is entitled to the thanks of all good citizens for making the appointment.

Death of Silas Alexander,

[Daily Record, March 5.]

At 20 minutes to 7 last evening Silas Alexander, the serious accident to whom was reported in Thursday's RECORD, died at his residence over Bergold's meat market on East Market Street. Since his severe fall on Wednesday afternoon by which a leg was fractured and one hip dislocated he had been steadily sinking, and the effects of his injuries were further aggravated by the manifestations of kidney disease. Since Thursday afternoon he had been partially unconscious and could with difficulty be aroused from his comatose condition. He seemed to suffer considerably, but his last hurs were more calm and he appeared comparatively free from pain.

Mr. Alexander was born in Dover, Sussex County, N. J., April 25, 1799, his parents being of English extraction. He was educated at the Newton Academy in New Jersey, and having completed his course there took charge of the institution for one term. His parents had died when he was quite young and he had been brought up by an uncle. In 1820 he left his native town and moved to Nanticoke where he continuously resided for over 50 years. At first he taught school in that town but after a few years opened a general store which was largely patronized by the boatmen who plied on the canal. was married Oct. 19, 1821, to Elizabeth, daughter of Valentine Smith, of Newport township, by whom he had 13 children, seven of whom survive him. His wife died in September, 1871, and Nov. 26, 1873 he married his second wife, the widow of Samuel Puterbaugh, by whom he is survived though no children resulted from this union.

He

His surviving children are Cyrus, John J., Eugene, Adrian, Phoebe, wife of William Leisenring, who reside in Nanticoke, Duran C., a prosperous merchant of Laporte. Ind; and Washington, who resides in Benton township.

Mr. Alexander moved to this city some eight or ten years ago but still carried on the store at Nanticoke until about two years ago whed he sold out to his son Eugene who now carries on the business. The funeral will probably take place Tuesday afternoon with interment in Hanover Green cemetery. He leaves an estate valued at $300,000.

The Year Without a Summer. The RECORD desires to elicit some details from its readers as to the famous "cold summer" of 1816. Some of our readers can recall that year from their own memories, while others have heard the story as it was told.

On the 18th of August, 1886, Mrs. A drew Raub died in Luzerne Borough at the advanced age of 95 years. In the RECORD'S biographical sketch of this venerable mother appeared the following reference to the famous "cold su umer:""

"Her husband, who came from New Jersey to visit friends in Wyoming Valley was wont to tell his children ever afterwards about that visit, for it was during the cold summer of 1816-a year when every month had its frost. He used to say that in June there was a snow storm which bore heavily upon the wheat, then in bloom; that many of the farmers took clothes lines and scraped the snow from the bending grain; that those who did this lost their crops, while the ones who trusted to nature had no harm come to their grain; and that when the harvest finally came the farm hands went to the fields wearing their great coats."

The following reminiscence of that remarkable year is credited to Mr. Abram Runyon, the venerable father of Chancellor Runyon, which he recently wrote to a friend at Plainfield, N. J.:

"In the year 1816 there was a sharp frost in every month. It was known as the year without a summer.' The farmers used to refer to it as 'eighteen hundred and starve to death.' In May ice formed half an inch thick, buds and flowers were frozen and corn killed. Frost, and ice and snow were common in June; almost every green thing was killed, and the fruit was nearly all destroyed. Snow fell to the depth of three inches in New York and Massachusetts, and ten inches in Maine. July was accompanied with frost and ice. On the 5th ice was formed of the thickness of window glass in New York, New England and Pennsylvania. In Α August ice formed half an inch thick. cold Northern wind prevailed nearly all summer. Corn was so frozen that a great deal of it was cut down and dried for fodder. Very little ripened in New England. and scarcely any in the Middle States, and farmers were obliged to pay $4 and $5 a bushel for corn of 1815, for seed for the next spring's planting."

to purchase provisions or any of the necessaries of life. Wages of the laboring classes were not high in proportion to the cost of living. It was a hard time for the poor. For two months of that summer there were three black spots on the sun, plainly visible to the naked eye; the weather most of the time was so cool that woolen apparel was absolutely necessary for comfort. There were severe frosts several nights during each summer month, and the small amount of corn that got through to the month of September, and was then in the milk state, was entirely frozen and killed, and the ears of corn in the husks became rotton. The stench was 80 offensive that people would

avoid passing a cornfield when the wind was toward them. Cattle would not eat the stalks until the rotten ears were taken off. It was said, and probably truthfully, that not a bushel of sound corn was raised in Luzerne County that season. Nor were there any fruit or garden vegetables raised that frost could kill. But during these privations of the people, they had one comfort, there was the greatest run of shad up the Susquehanna River that Spring that was ever before or since known. The shad fishery was on the west side of the river, opposite the mouth of Mill Creek. The shad seine of the fishery was owned by a company of men from both sides of the river; my father owned a share and I, although a boy of only 13 years, was boss of the Brail Canoe; there were in the upper end of the fishery, about ten rods from the west shore, two large stones or rocks, over which the sinker line had to be raised by lifting the Brail of the sinker line and keeping it up till the rocks were passed. This was my part of the duties of the fishery. Some days not a shad could be caught, some other days a few, or perhaps a few hundred would be taken, but on one day three thousand shad were hauled in at that fishery. I will not attempt to describe the fun and frolic of throwing the shad out of the water on to the beach when they were hauled near the shore in the shallow water by the seine. It was rare sport. DILTON YARINGTON. Carbondale, March 15, 1887.

The Scranton Truth has begun the publication of a series of sketches of Early Days in the Lackawanna Valley, written especially for that paper by the historian and antiquarian, Dr. H. Hollister, who is well and favorably known by RECORD readers.

The Carbondale Leader says that "the Wilkes-Barre RECORD is the historical paper of this region and that it is doing good work in rescuing from oblivion many of the incidents of local history connected with the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valleys."