Light-house Keeper's Perus

The Secretary 'of the Treasury has dismissed a eerfcain light-house keeper for forsaking his post during one of tho recent severe storms. The ice threatened to carry away the light-house, and the keeper, becoming frightened, deserted, leaving tho light unlighted for two nights, ani then returned to his station. The Light-House Board considers it the duty of every light-house keeper to stand by his light as long as the light-house stands ; and that for him to desert it when in danger is as eowardly as for a soklier to leave his guns on the advance of an enemy. His failure to keep the light burning, especially in time of danger, may cause the wreek of vessels looking for it, and may result in the loss of many lives and of much property. On the other hand, the board takes good care of those keepers -who prove themselves faithful. In the year 1875aJieeper of a light off the coast of New England kept his post until the liht-house went down and then swam ashore. The board thereupon recomïnt- nded tliat Congress niake an appropriation to reimburse liim for all loss, and it was careful to see to it tliat no item was omitted. There are many dramatic incidents, tragic and liumorous, arising in the liglit-bouse service. Once in a while a light-house goes down in a niglit with a whole family, and every person and j thing is lost. Not a trace is left. The j elementa make a clean sweep. One day i last year a keeper slipped while cleaning his lamp. In bis fall he displaced a great lens, which, falling upon him, killed him. From an economical point of view the loss of the man, as compared with the loss of the lens, was slight, for the keeper could be replaced from hundreds of eager applicants, but to replace the lens involved an importation from