A SILENT SOLDIER OF ADVERSITY. How do I know the nteasure of woe How f a device that dispenses with friction when ha rides his sulky plow; it has shoved up the fast records of the turf several notches; it has enabled the housewife to push her heavy furniture from one room to another without hiring two or tlu ee muscular men to do it for her. The old-time castor that used to dig deep furrows into the hard wood floor has given place to the easy running ball bearing castor, which makes u piano as light as a baby cab. And now it has taken hold of the roller skate and threatens to revive a winter pastime that at one time took all the cities and towns by storm. Palatial rinks are being erected all over the country, and old ones are being remodeled and repaired. Wheu the people find how easy it is to glide along 011 a ball bearing roller skate it is believed by enthusiasts that the rinks will not be large enough to hold the skaters. Something is needed in winter to fill the same place that bicycling Joes in summer. Our winters cannot be depended upon for outdoor skating. No one can deny that roller skating, if properly conducted in well managed rinks, is a healthful and invigorating exercise. It would wot be strange if the same mechanic il device which has placed more thun half the human fam ily on wheels in the summer should put them 011 roller skates in the win ter. This is a swift moving age. The ball bearing principle is destroying the friction of life. We are moving along more rapidly each year and with less expenditure of human energy. Perhaps the twentieth century will find the entire human family gliding along 011 ball bearing shoes. UUAINI AND CURIOUS. The nails 011 amputated fingers con tinue to grow. Football is played with bare feet by the natives of India. It is customary in China to con gratulate a fat man, because it is taken for granted that lie must be rich. It is a curious circumstance that some of the most important inven tions have been discovered by luna tics. Unbreakable mirrors are now made by putting a coating of quicksilver on the back of a very thin plate of cellu loid. An ear of corn 12 3-4 inches long was exhibited on 'change in Cincinnati recently. One industrious broker counted the grains on it and found there were over a thousand of them. A huge sun dial made entirely of plants and flowers adorns the South Park, Chicago. The standard which casts the shadows is also decked with flowers and is made to resemble a gigantic ear of corn. A mean rogue in Keutland, Ind., is warned by a farmer, who has inserted this advertisement in the local paper: "I am watching for the man that milks my cow. It' I catch him, I intend to shut my eyes and shoot at the cow.— John Keet'e. A chicken with a comb weighing over a pound is owned by John I>. Rey nolds of Newark, N. J. At night the fowl rests 011 a perch four inches from the ground, with its head bent forward, so that the comb can repose 011 the earth. Otherwise, the weight of the comb would cause the chicken to topple over. When SIOOO Looked Big. Divide anything up into pairs and you magnify it. A certain wise man took this way to give his wife an idea of money. Her purchases were enor mous. It happened one day that liet eye fell upon a magnificent riug and she coveted it. It cost SIOOO, but what was $1001) to lier in comparison to the ring? Of course her husbaud consented to the purchase. What else could a dutiful, affectionate husband do? But he tried this method of edu cating his wife concerning the great price of the ring. He instructed his banker to seud the SIOOO in small pieces —pennies, dimes, quarters. In came the money, bagful after bagful. She never had such an idea of sJool> before. When the money was piled before her it alarmed her; the price of the ring went up a hundredfold, and was considered at once an extrav agancy which she of her own option abandoned. NEW YORK FASHIONS. 1! ' J|| THE LATEST DESIGNS FOR WINTER COSTUMES NEW YORK CITT (Special).—ltseemß to be a foregone conclusion that the model skirt is to tit absolutely glove like about the hips, defining the figure in an astonishing manner, and widen- LADIES' SKIRT WITH POINTED FLOUNCE. ing out at the bottom. The pointed flounce, as shown in the accompanying design, is very popular, but the dress makei s advise flat trimmings that do not destroy the contour of the figure. Embroideries and novel braidings will be much used. The panel skirt will be chosen by those who wish some thing distinctive. The panel is usually the front breadth, narrow at the top aud widening out toward the hem. Among the new methods for achiev ing the flare at the bottom is plaiting the lower fulness separately around the bottom of the upper skirt. The effect of one skirt draped above an other so as to show the under one only in part by raising it an inch or two all round, and at one side raising the drapery after the Greek manner, WOMAN'S BASQUE WAIST. or opening the sides, to show the uniler petticoat, are all charming models, which show oft' two distinct shades of one fabric admirably, the under petticoat always being of the lighter shade. Polonaise motifs will abound in trimmings, and enter into separate j parts of a skirt by the additiou of a ! contrasting material to the polonaise forming the length and fulness of the drapery. There is no good reason why the old style of double skirt should not appear later, since the way has been so well paved by it, unless the slenderness now required for the upper part of the figure remains as fixed as it now is. A Charming Waist. Fancy ribbed poplin in willow green and gray is the material chosen for the charming waist that matches the skirt, shown by May Manton in the large en graving. The full front, yoke, collar and revers are of silver-gray satin, the trimming being of open bands of in sertion, under which willow-green ribbon is placed. Silver passemen terie studded with small mock eme ralds is used to decorate the low-cut neck extending to the revers in front, the wrists and lower edge of basque waists. The waist is arranged over fitted linings that close in centre front. The yoke with full vest attached closes at the left shoulder, or the fulness may be sewed to the left front and close invisibly in centre, while the yoke closes over the gathers at top edge. The fronts, shaped with single bust darts, are laid in small side and box pleats at the shoulders that taper to the lower edge, the prettily pointed revers being joined to the front edges from the yoke down. Single bust darts cause a smooth adjustment at the sides and a very slight pouch ef fect is caused by the fulness in front. The seamless back is arranged over regular back and side back forms, small overlapping pleats in centre ad justing the fulness at the lower edge. Smooth under-arm gores join fronts to back, and the lower edge is finished in gracefully rounded outline. The close fitting sleeves are topped with puffs of fashionable fulness, the wrists be ing finished with chiffon plisse to match that at neck. Separate waists may be made in this style in oharmingcombinations of vel vet and silk, plain and embroidered taffeta or satin, figured and plain satin or silk with lace, net or mousseline over satin for yoke and vest. Plata woolen*, such u cashmere or cloth, may have front and revers of fancy silk or satin, while fancy mixed wool en fabrics are in better taste with solid colors in combination. To make this waist for a woman of medium size will require two yards of material forty-four inches wide. Stylish Skating- Costumes. Pretty skating costumes from Paris are resplendent with fur or fancy braid and gay with silver buttons that are in reality tiny bells, jingling out fairy music at every motion of the wearer. The skirts of such suits are cut close at the hip and somewhat full below the knees, enabling the wearer to move with freedom and adding greatly to the sum of grace. Turbans of astrakhan, broadtail and Persian lamb are what the smart skaters wear. These are round cap shaped things with a tuft of bright feathers like a shaving brush stuck up in front and held by a pin of Russian silver. A Color Scheme For a Wedding. One of the prettiest weddings re cently occurred in the Church of the Heavenly Rest. It was remarkable to the spectators because of the ex quisite color scheme which prevailad. The bride, very naturally, wore white; the maid of honor wore pink, and the seven bridemaids glimmered in silvery green satin. They seemed like living flowers—a white rose aud a pink one with shining green leaves— and the effect was wonderfully beautiful when they passed down the aisle between tall standards filled with sprays of pink and of white roses.—Harper's Bazar. Gems to Match Costume*. Women now spend much thought in arranging their gems to match°their costumes. Amethysts and all shades of violet and purple gtones are fash ionable. Green is a color much worn, and women who do not possess emeralds indulge in the inexpensive olivine. The imitation stones are now manufactured in such perfection and they are arranged in such fine settings that it is often difficult to dis tinguish them from the genuine gems. They can be obtained in every shade to match various frocks. The Girls' Smart Frock*. Many smart frocks for little girls are braided iu straight and zigzag lines around the skirt above the hem. The majority of the bodices end at the waist in a baud, and jacket bodices usually are held in places by a belt. Yokes are frequently elaborate ly braided and supplemented by cape like trimmings on the shoulders, unit ing in the epaulette, with a point fall ing on the fore part of the arm. Military Co»tuine For a Girl. The rage for soldier clothes has spread to the young folks and iorne of the designs are very striking and quaint looking. The accompanying drawing is from a recent costume made GIBL'S MILIABI COAT. for a patriotic little miss in New York City whose father has just returned from the war. A FOOL AND A WOMAN. She never cared for him Until there came a day When he fell in love with her And acted In such a way As to fill his astonished friends With feelings of dismay. Men used honor him For the good sense that he had, Cut he fell in love with her And carried on like mad, And people suw, amazed, And said it was too bad. Then she that had never cared And had turned to other men Would deign to smile sometimes, For, being a woman, when She had made a fool of the man fcshe rather liked him then. —Cleveland Leader. HUMOROUS. Many people want to get in the swim tor divers reasons. School Teacher—Johnny, what is tlie capital of the United (States? Johnny- Money, mum. Ethel—Do you meet many people while wheeling? Tom—Oh, yes; I run across a friend occasionally. Ciaribel—They say he is worth half a million, at the least! Matlea How I should like to be his widow. First Proud Parent—l am a daddy, md it is a peach. Second Proud Par ent — I am a daddy, too, but it is a pair! The Soldier—What were your ad miral's last words? The Sailor—lie didn't have any. His wife was uu board. Manager—l can't use this play. It's ioo long for the stage. Amateur Dramatist—Why not make the stage larger? "Did you enjoy the cathedrals ibroad, Miss Shutter?" "No; the horrid things were too big for my camera." "Wonders will never cease. I just saw a stone walk." "Pooh! That's nothing. I have often seen A brick building." Lady Visitor—What a pretty baby. How old is he? Mamie (aged live; I ain't quite sure, mum. We've had hiiu about a year. "You shall be rich and famous," srid the fortune teller. "Alas!" cried the sitter. "Then lam undone. Fo my dream was to devote my life to art." "How habits cling to a man !" said Mr. Suit!'. "I engaged an old ex-bar ber to trim my lawn the other day, and he asked me if 1 would have it shampooed also." Teacher-—Now, boys, listen. Leath er comes from the cow, and wool is made into cloth and into coats. Now, what is your coat made of —yours. Tommy? Tommy (hesitating)— Out of father's. "William," said the teacher, "can you tell me anything about the shape of the earth?" "Only what my fath er found out in the newspaper." "What is that?" "He says it's in a mighty bad shape just at present." "I don't know that I need any work di n; about the house. What can you d' , .ny good follow?" "Sir, in my duv I've been a carpenter, a barber ami a school teacher. L can shingle your house, your hair or your boy." "Doctor," said a fashionable belle, "what do you think of tight lacing?' The doctor solemnly replied: ".Madam, all I can say is that the more a wom an's waist is shaped like an hourglass the sooner will her sands of life run out." Mosher What are you doing with all those bits of card in your pocket: Wiswell—They are tickets at different theatres. It says on each, ".Retain this portion." It's an awful bore to be obliged to carry so much paste board about; but, then, what's a fel low to do? (irowth of Outlawry. The recent attack 011 a railway train in Texas by a gang of six armed men is one among other signs that Ameri ca, like many an older country, i» capable of producing its own ban ditti. In several of our cities—as a few d:ys ago in London—companies of n; ,Jess youths have given to quiet citizens much alarm, aud have caused the police a de.tl of hard rough, work. Birds of a feather easily discover each other and there is doubtless a ten dency in the criminal clas-> to com radeship and co-operative ente: pru-o. Various causes are at work to pro duce outlawry aud hoodluinism, and not alone among the degraded poor. Not neglected children onlv, but tin mis-educated and ill-disciplined, con tribute results to the army of evil. D is thought that the tolerated lawless ness of a lew college students is emu lated by lads who never enter college halls; that corrupt journalism and rotten literature work like poison or thoughtless minds; that the lax ad ministration of the laws, the misan thropy which broods on social wrongs; and, perhaps more than all else, the widespread disrespect for honest, thorough work; the aversion to it, and the lack of training necessary to success in any form of industry, are creating a class which lives by prey ing upon society. Bandits are not all meu of violence. Many of the.n know that craft is less dangerous, because less offensive, than brutal robbery. Yet all com binations for plunder, whether in de fiance of law, bv evasion of it, or even by the abuse of it, are of the same bad quality. They alike expose property and person to outrage and depreda tion. Civilized society, acting in self defence, while dealing with the evil which shows itself above ground, must also dig up the poisonous root, —Youth's Companion. It is estimated that of the whole population of the globe about 90,00 C die every dav.