teen to twenty quarts of milk a day, and bulls that word or two may be suggestive. bear comparison with any in the country.

On such a farm men from the West and the South find what they need when they have a true idea of stocking their places with something that will be a credit to the country around them, as it has already been to that around Mr. Sharpless's farm.

Besides Jerseys, Mr. Sharpless has a large flock of Southdown sheep, many of which are the descendants of imported "Prince Arthur," bred by Lord Walsingham.

The present stock ram imported "Stalwart," bred by Henry Webb, is a fine specimen of this breed. He was awarded the first prize at the last exhibition of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society.

The Southdowns have long been recognized as the leading breed of mutton sheep, and are besides good wool producers.

The town in

itself is a model of neatness and attractive beauty; its people give evidence of unusual culture and general refinement, counting among their men of distinction such names as Dr. William Darlington, Dr. Daniel G. Brinton, Hartman, Jefferis, and Hoopes. The social attractions are such as are to be found in very few towns of the size; and an invigorating air, a lovely situation, excellent sanitary arrangements, and easy access to Philadel phia ought to make West Chester not only one of the most healthful, but altogether one of the most desirable places of residence either in summer or winter. But while the town is so fascinating, the suburbs are, if possible, even more interesting. The river Brandywine that runs westward of the town through land of surpassing richness and beauty, the neighboring farms occupying the sites of ancient possessions with which so much interest of the Revolutionary days is associated, the antique In this neighborhood we were tempted to pay a and historical buildings that still stand as a memovisit to Westtown School, which for well-nigh a rial to the great men who figured in the struggles century has been a celebrated institution for the of 1777-all these must have an inexpressible charm education of Quaker children. There is here as one stands upon the crest of Market Street Hill, every variety of scenery and rural pastime. The and dwells for a moment upon the scene lying building stands on a property of several hundred before him. Meadows, wooded copses, flowering acres, which comprise a part of the richest and fields and gardens, shady paths, stretched over an most charming country in the State. Boys and exquisitely beautiful rolling country, over many a girls, children of rich and poor alike, are here spot on which patriots now sleep who fought so taught the elements of a sound education, and nobly in defence of their country's rights, "mark trained to a sense of the value of moral rectitude, the ground," says a writer, "where one of the and of justifying their special inclinations. In bloodiest battles of the Revolution was fought, recreation hours there is a merry sound of voices, and one of its most disastrous defeats encountered and the scholars are romping about the fields, by our army under Washington. Standing by woods, and streams, or playing some of the nu- the old Birmingham Meeting House, which be merous games provided for their amusement. No came at last the focus of the fight, you look away boy or girl could leave such a spot without taking westward, and mark the rising ground over which away most delightful associations. There is room the American right wing was rapidly driven in; at the school for about three hundred pupils, and you gaze with interest upon the stone wall behind the instruction is so thorough, and the expenses which the patriots threw themselves, and mainof tuition so comparatively light, that very few of tained the stubborn fight until the day was lost the Friends fail to avail themselves of the oppor- elsewhere. The rank grass around you covers the tunity offered. hasty graves of many hundreds of the combatants of that day who sleep side by side."

The train now brings us into historic country, and we shortly find ourselves, after a journey of about twenty-five miles from Philadelphia, in the charming little town of West Chester. It would be as idle to attempt a description of the delightful features of this garden of Pennsylvania, as it would be to recall all the incidents that have made the neighboring soil so memorable. Still, a

Before we left this region of country we had occasion to take a trip over the Baltimore Central, which is under the same able and efficient management as is the other road. Leaving Lenni on the West Chester line, we sped through a splendid country, dotted over with thriving towns and villages. We made a stop at Oxford, where

Arch.

some fifteen or eighteen hundred people pursue ourselves once more in the old Keystone of the the various industries which are rapidly develop. ing the prosperous growth of these neighborhoods. Further on, at Port Deposit, we tapped the noble Susquehanna that leads down from many generous lands, which drift their products to the railroad here. The very name of Susquehanna, poetic in itself, suggests some scenes of fact and fancy that are familiar to us all. The massacre there, romantically depicted in the long-lived lines of Gertrude of Wyoming, are to our sense a better expression of the genius of Thomas Campbell than his much appreciated "Pleasures of Hope." It is pleasant to remember a stanza, while standing on the very shores:

"On Susquehanna's shores, fair Wyoming,
Although the wild flowers on thy ruined wall
And roofless homes, a sad remembrance bring
Of what thy gentle people did befall,

Still thou wert once the loveliest land of all."
If the poet could now see the lovely valleys
that lay along this stream to-day, and the devel-
opment of the last half of the hundred years since
then, some little astonishment would characterize
his expressions at the wonderful genius of railroad
men, as well as the remarkable discoveries that
have called their energies into action.

On our return trip from Port Deposit, we travelled northward past Rock Run, Rowlandville, Liberty Grove, Colona and Rising Sun, which are all in our sister State of Maryland. Then crossing the line again at "State line," we find

Rolling along a few miles further, and we pass Lincoln University, established for the higher education of colored men, and another of those noble institutions of learning, of which there are along these lines of road not a few. Whistling past Elkview, Penn, West Grove, Avondale, Toughkenamon, and Kennett, the birthplace of the lamented Bayard Taylor, where such a traveller perchance would find himself at home, after steaming by Rosedale, Fairville, and some particularly fine stretches of country, we arrived at Chadd's Ford, where Knyphausen amused our army that fatal autumn day with feints of crossing, until his chief had thrown his main body, by detour, upon our right at Birmingham. Here you may still see the outline of our works of defence.

Our journey now lay through pleasing bits of scenery, and soon we were again in view of the celebrated Chester Heights, from which we had before witnessed so interesting a panorama. We were now on the home stretch, and setting out once more at the junction of the Philadelphia and West Chester Road we journeyed eastward, passing a list of little stations that feed the traffic of the road with busy trade, and soon reach Lamokin— the southern station of Chester town. Here we make the junction with the parent road, within whose grasp are firmly held the links that make the union between the North and West and South.

ON THE MEXICAN BORDER.

By R. F. ELLISON.

THE saying, "Cut off your nose to spite your | which, by means of smugglers, would be easily inface," could not find a fitter application than in troduced into the United States, to the great adrelation to that strip of Mexican territory known vantage of Mexico and the detriment of our as the "Free Zone." The history of this little national revenue. At that time the very sparselyfillet of land, which is only five miles in width settled Texan frontier offered smugglers every and about two hundred in length, extending along facility. These opportunities, although attended the Rio Grande, is briefly this: Years ago Mexico by many mixed dangers, were not neglected, and thought to benefit her own commerce and annoy that border-land could furnish the outline of many that of the United States by making all places in a wild romance. Now, although the order of this strip free ports of entry. The idea was that things is somewhat changed, the "Zona Libra" by giving easy entrance without duties to all still exists, and little change is observable in the foreign products there would spring up a lucrative character of its inhabitants. It is rather a curious trade in English, French, and German goods, speculation-that of distinctions of nationalities;

and in this case it is an interesting one, so greatly dissimilar in manners, morals, and customs are these people and their American neighbors.

manner of an archer's long bow, and also held in the teeth; but as this can only be heard by the player or one very close to him—and this is a It is not a description of the scenery of a land position that one is seldom tempted to occupythat gives an insight into the character of a people, there can be little said of its sweetness. Their and therefore I shall say very little of this. Nor costume would but little aid in the web of any does the geographical position more than hint at fabric of fancy, for it is generally dingy, patched, their habits, and this I have already touched upon; and always dirty, consisting of a greasy pair of so that I can now enter into their home life-their breeches, often covered by a pair of overalls made industries, pleasures, and passions. This stretch of either sheepskin, goat's pelt, or that of the wildof territory is generally flat, and only interesting cat or peccary; add to this a soiled shirt, oftener because of its peculiarly rich vegetation, which of calico in large figures than of other material; partakes very much of a tropical character. The round the waist a bright-colored sash of a wooler. season here is almost continual summer, and is fabric, a pair of no, not shoes, but a substituterather divided into the wet and dry periods than something like the antique sandal, a piece of marked by cold and heat, for even the "northers" tough rawhide. forming a sole, tied to the foot by which blow, and which are the only cause of a thongs of leather; a handkerchief, or frequently a lowered temperature, are generally accompanied, bright bordered towel, around the neck; and (by by rain. The "northers" blowing from the cold no means have we forgotten it) a hat-yes, a hat regions of the north make their appearance with--and, notwithstanding the general flimsiness of out any prelude, and convert in five minutes a the balance of our shepherd's costume, his hat dewarm summer-like day into a winter's chill and, mands respect, for on it he lavishes his income shiver, causing others besides the comical, hairless and his pride. Often his hat has cost more than Mexican dogs to seek warm corners and make use all the balance of his dress, for not unfrequently of any available covering. The ranches are lo- he gives his whole month's wages, or even more, cated with a view to easily obtaining water both for this one broad-brimmed fine piece of felt, with for people and stock, as, apart from that in the its gold and silver-thread embroidery and its fanci river, it is not very abundant, and is found not in fully-worked "toquia ;" and the "toquia" is no springs or overflowing creeks, but in water-holes unimportant part of the hat; indeed without, it which frequently during the heated seasons become is like a dervish without a beard. You certainly dry. Then, flocks and herds are moved and taken | want to know what this article is; and, as the to the river to be watered. These flocks and herds chances are in favor of your not knowing, we will are very hardy, thrifty animals, and consist of the describe it as the circular snake-like piece which native sheep, often those of improved breed, goats circles the crown of the hat (as the band or cord. -both the common, and those crossed with the does ours), and is used when necessary to tighten Angora. These latter, by the by, have very fine- the hat on the head. the hat on the head. This shepherd is generally haired, silky pelts, and, when young, are soft, polite, always offers you a cigarette or perhaps asks white, delicate, and beautiful. These goats and you for tobacco. sheep are herded together in flocks of from fifteen hundred or less to two thousand in number, and managed by a single shepherd with his dogs. Now these shepherds are utterly devoid of any romance such as unsophisticated hearts would like to attribute to them. True, they sometimes play the flute, but that is very rare; but the instrument with which they are most familiar is the small accordeon, which is capable of producing the most profoundly doleful music; and there are some whose talent reaches to the jew'sharp or a native musical instrument consisting of a single string stretched on a long, tight rounded withe, after the

He carries a pistol, with a companion butcherknife, and can produce when occasion requires a pack of Spanish playing-cards, which are of better material than ours, and are much differently figured, bearing, instead of a double-headed king, a finely-dressed and golden-crowned individual in sitting posture. No queen have theywomen are unworthy-and instead, a cavalier wellmounted takes the place. The jack is a properlydrawn knave aping the dignities of the king. The spots are clubs, not of an unsightly black, but rather well drawn pictures of real clubs; so, too, the swords, which take the place of our spades; and