STORY OF THE EARRING. THE EARTH'S POPULATION SHOWN BY COflPARATIVB FIQURES OP THE RACES, POSSIBLE REVIVAL OF A TIME HONORED FASHION. THE REALM OF FASHION; ,900.000.000. 45IA iSi i rm ! s i an A Km! of Rervlte.de Amnn( the He brew anl Phoenician In Ancient t Rome Earrings Wr Generally Worn, ml Very Hmtr-Onn Worn hf Men. In England tbe Queen' jubilee seems to have created a tendency toward the revival of tbe earring, and writer in the Golden Tenny devote aome space to a history of that relio of barbarism. The custom of studding the person with gems is of extreme antiquity, and the fnnhion of piercing the ear lobe for the purpose of sustaining gem et in gold has been followed by mont races from the earliest time to the present day. Homer describe how .luno placed pendant in tho lobes of her ears. Ear-drops were preeuted by Enrydamas to Penelope, and among the Athenian it wn a mark of nobil ity to have the ears bored. Among tbe Phoenicians, however, the wearing of earring wa the badgo of servitude, and tho samo custom ob tained with the Hebrew. The rabbis assert that Eve's ears were bored when she was exiled from Eden a a sipn vf slavery and submission to the will of her lord and master. Tho Egyptian womeu wore single hoops of gold in their ears, and in Biblical time the custom appears to have been universal. They appear to have been regarded as tbe most cherished possessions of their v oarers, and were only parted with under great stress of necessity. Thus tbe golden calf is supposed to have been made entirely from tbe gold ear rings of the people. Among the Arabs the expression "to have a ring in one's ears" is synonymous with "to be a slave," and to the present day an Arab BTZANTINB (SIXTH CENTUM'). who has been conquered by another places a ring through bis ear as a sign of obedience and servitude. So general was tbe use of errings in Borne and so heavy were they, that there were women whose profession was that of "earhealers" who tended the ears of those ladies who had torn or injured the lobes with the weight of the pendants. These specialists were known as auriouloe ornntirei. At one period tbe Roman man took to wearing earrings, but tbe custom was forbidden by Alexander Heverus, while in Greece the children wore an earring in the right ear only. Coming to more modern times, the fashion of wearing earrings appears to have been general in England from the Conquest. r The early Saxons appear to have worn rings of plain gold in their ears, while in the fourteenth century these appear to have been decorated with mail pearls. In the reign of Eliza- - beth earrings were adopted by men of fashion and, the custom spread until James I s time all the courtiers had .their ears pierced. The earring worn by men took the form of either plain wire rings, or crosses or triangles or gold studded with gems. - There is a very ancient notion which is still held by country folks that tbe piercing of tbe ears is good for the aight. The origin of thisbelief.is lost, bnt it has obtained for oenturies. It is scarcely neoessary to state that the belief is quit without foundation. In the middle ages it was the custom for lovers to present earrings to their mistresses, the persons who were abont to be married used to stick a flower through the ring or over the car, much as a olerk would a pen, as a aign of tbeir being engaged. A curious variety of earring much worn during the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. was the ear string. This lias been alluded to by many writers, CREEK EARRING Thus in the Westminster drolleries we And: Yet for thy sake I will not bore mine earn 1o bang tby dustlees silken sboo ties tbere. I And Marston, in bis satires, pub lished in 1598, has: What maan'st thou, bun that walks all . oien-bnated, . Drawn threw tbe ear with ribands? As to whether she wearing of wires through the ears ia likely to come into general fashion again in this country wo do not offer any opinion,' There ' ' ' " ':! ... i .OCEANIA ETa ft 10.000,000. EUROPE, MOO.OOO.OOO. On tbe Continent of Asia livo 000,000,000 beings, over twice the population of Europe and almost seven times more than the number of North and South American inhabitants. Africa is third in number of people. must, we should imagine, nlways bo a prejudice, against the mortification of tbe flesh necessary, and the custom of having children's ears pierced has ceased to be general for many years, But the. dictates of fashion are tickle, and it is just possible that we may sco leaders of fashion weaving both ear and nose rings before tbe close of the century. Who knows? A MOvfNc FORTRESS. Claimed to lie the Mont Destructive Agentf I.rer I'eed In Warfare. The German Emperor is having a new fighting machine constructed for army use in tho field which, it is claimed, will be the most destructive agent ever used in warfare. It is known as the battle-line destroyer, and it has been chiefly designed by Krupp, the great gunmakcr, at whose works at Essen it is now building. Many features of it, however, have been suggested by the Emperor him self, who will personally take posses sion of tho first one constructed. Tbe battle-line destroyer will have the outward form and size of a Pull man car, with the difference that the wheels are not visible, the walls of the car reaching to the ground. These walls will be of the very strongest steel and fortified on all four sides and on top by many steel prongs sticking out like the bristle of a por cupine. Tbe walls will lie pierced by numerous portholes, that opeu and shut automatically. Behind these portholes will be ma- chine guns to throw shot and explo sives. The crew of each car will con sist of only twelve men. The car will run on very broad wheels resting on immensely strong springs. It will lie on its own rails and will be able to do so in any desired direction. Tbe destroyers are to remain under the eye of the Commanding General until tbe battle is well under way. THB NEW FTOHTraO MACHINE. Then, when great masses of tbe enemy are engaged, the car will be sent against them. Herr Krupp is said to have demon s'rated to the Emperor that the battle- line destroyer will make cavalry at tacks unnecessary. In fact, tbe soldiers will only engage in skirmishing after the destroyers have been introduced, It has been a question whether the cars will be able to withstand heavy artillery nre. Krupp says tbey will, the prongs warding off shot aud the maohine being too heavy to be over t irown. A Gold Leaf Temple. Not in America, not even in the Klondike, but in the far-off East, at Rangoon, the capital of Buruiab, is situated the famous golden pagoda of a Buddist temple, the whole of the exterior of whioh is one mass of shun mering gold. This generous coating of the metal is the result of years and years or onenngs to ltuaaba, lor de votees from all parts of the world come to Rangoon aud bring packets of gold leaf, whioh they place on the pagoda. During the last century the King of Hurmau gave bis (literal) weight in gold to the walls of the pagoda, an offering worth 9000 sterl ing. A Bee-line. The eyes of bees are made to see great distanoes. When absent from their hive they go up in the air till tbey see tbeir borne, and then fly to vard it in a straight line and with great speed. The shortest line be tween two places is sometime, called PL & M TROT, PACE AND RUN. Description of Hie Various Motions of the Horse When Kxtemlmt. When in full motion the runner strides with both front feet, at the same time, following with the hind, and leaving tbe ground first with tbe front, Iu ether words it is a "fore-iwj-njt" a.ctjoRt The pacer moves by liftiugbotb foet of the same side simultaneously, and TItOTTING, TACINO is known a a "side-wbeoler." It is a nntura! gait. In tbe trot, when going slow, there is always one foot on the ground, a part of tbe time two and a part of the time tbreo. When fast, there are two in tervals iu each stride when all of the feet are oil' the ground, the horse leav ing the ground from the hind foet in succession, while in tbe run he leaves tbe ground from a fore foot. The limbs of the trotter move in pairs, di agonally, but not quite simultaneously, even iu the "square trot." The trot is not a natural gait. The fastest marks at the throe wars of going, and the number of feet that the champion runner, pacer and trot ter covered in a minute, are as fol lows: Runner, Salvator, 1.351; 1 minute, 8315 feet. Pacer, Star Pointer, 1.691: 1 minute, 2G00 feet. Trotter, Alix, 2.03; 1 minute, 2559 feet. Unpaid Scavengers. The crustaceans are among the im portant scavengers of the sea and are also valuable as food for fishes. The collection of crabs, shrimps, and lob sters forms largo industries all over the world, contributing direotly to the support of matt. In Delaware the horseshoe crab is used as guano, while the collodion of fossil crabs, as trilo bites, is a peculiar industry. The fresh-water crayfish produces a concre tion used as an antacid, well known to chemists. We owe many of the beau ties of our summer fields to insects, all of which have their special func tions and use. Even the persecuted flea may render man a'service by keep ing the drowsy watch dog awake, while the mosquito in tropical coun tries may aid in preventing the human inhabitants from living a continual Biesta. The flies are among tbe most valua ble insect scavengors. The spiders prey upon flies, holding them in cheok. The silk of the spider is used as a cross line in astronomical instruments, and that of a Bermuda species as sew ing silk. Bridge makers have ob tained valuable suggestions from these silent workers, from whose web one of tbe Kings of France is said to have made a ooat. Grasshoppers and lo custs are enemies of civilized man, but are eaten by the Indians, while in the Malay country the dragon fly is con sidered a delicacy. Appletons' Popu lar Science Monthly. Steel Harder Than Stone. It is easier to crush tbe hardest stone known than steel. Corundum was chosen for the stone in a recent experiment. A weight of six tons suiaahod the corundum, but forty-two tons were required to oruuh the steel. With a loud explosion the steel flew into powder, and sparks are said to have bored minute holes in the crash ing maohine. , ; , . ) N.SAMERICA 14 A AAA AAA J AFRICA 250.000.000 Smallest Ilook In the World. The smallest book in the world is not much larger than a man's thumb nail. It was made in Italy by a firm of Padua publishers, the Salmin Brothers. It is four-tenths of an inch high and about a quarter of an inch wide. The volume contains 208 pages, f nob having nine lines and from ninety-five to 100 letters. The text is an unpublished letter written by the fa- AND ItUNNINO. mous inventor of the pendulum clock to Mine. Christine, of Lorraine, in the year 1015. ' Tbe next smallest book is issued by tbe same firm. It is an edi tion of Dante's "Divine Comedy," be ing a little more than an inch high, a little less than an inch wide, with type so small that it takes a microscope to read the letters. Why Old Clocks Have I II I. Not every one who looks at the dial of a clock knows that the four I'a which are in place of the usual IV. to designate the number 4 are there be cause of the obstinacy of Charles V. of Franoe. When Henry Viok carried to the King tbe first accurate clock the King said to him that the IV. was wrong and should be changed to IIII. Vick said: "Yon are wrong, your Maj esty." Whereat the King thundered out:, "I am never wrong. Take it away and correct the mistake." From that time to this day the four I's have stood as the mark of the fourth hour. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Parrot Hstehes Chickens. J. D. Austin, a merchant at Kansas City, has a large Brazilian parrot that is tbe proud possessor of five little bantam chickens, which the big bird watches over and cares for as if they were her cwn brood. Some time ago the parrot, although nnmated, laid two eggs. These were taken from her and a balf-dozen small chickens eggs were placed in the nest. Polly comes forth regularly with her little chickens peep ing ana scratching about her, and many people stop to view the strange sight. It is a very unusual thing for the parrot to breed away from its native laud even under the most favorable circumstances, and it is more remark able that the parrot should adopt the chickens as her own otlspriug. The returns show that the average cotton spindle in the United States produoea more than twioe as muoh yarn as the average cotton spindle ia ureat Britain. . , , : POLLY AND HER FIVB CHICKS. While, tin Indication nf tha irannina I pTincess gown has yet appeared, says may juauwn, mere is a ueciueu ien- dency toward producing the effect by means of trimming carried from the bodice to the skirt in one continuous line. The costume shown in tbe illus tration embodies tbe idea and is emi nently well suited to such women as aim to appear taller than their actual measurement in feet ! inches. Thejmodeljs made from light-weight Wool material showing a simple plaid design in shades of bleuct and trimmed Willi fnacT blajk braiij, The bodice is simplicity itself and is made over a fitted lining, which TASTEFUL AND closes at tbe centre-front, while the blouse proper is fitted with shoulder and uuder-arm seams ana closes in visibly at the left side. The material is so out as to allow the fulness to droop over the belt, and tbe left-front is slashed to form the two squares in each of which an ornamental button is placed. At tbe edge is a full frill of ribbon, which matches the color of the gown, but both neck and waist band are of black velvet. The sleeves are close-fitting, except for the slight puffs at tbe shoulders, which support the epaulettes. Tbe outer seams are left open for a short distance above the wrists, where bands of trimming and frills of ribbon make a graceful fin ish. The skirt is five-gored. The left side of the front laps over onto the side gore and is cut and finished to harmonize with the blouse. Both front and sides are fitted smoothly and without darts, the back being laid in deep plaits to give the fan effect. The entire costume is eminently stylish and graceful, while the line from the shoulder to the edge of the skirt car ries the eye upward and gives the ef fect of height. Plain materials and those showiug stripes in place of plaid can be trusted to still further enhance the effect; but even cross lines can be worn without the disastrous effect com mon when women of little stature don horizontal deoorations and ignore iestbetio law. To make this bodice for a lady in the medium size will require two and one-half yards of forty-four-inoh ma terial. Ladles' Cape Wrap. However muoh jackets may take precedence as wraps, writes May Man ton, something that partakes of the nature of a cape is alway. needed. The tasteful and stylish wrap shown in the illustration exemplifies the latest style and is sufficiently snug-fitting to avoid ohill at the same time that it allows of wearing an elaborate bodice without danger of rumpling. The backs are COSTCMB IN SIMPLB PLAID DF.8IOX. 1 tl.. l .-.I u ting to the waist line, below whioh tbey are laid In plaits. The loose fronts are laid in double box-plaits, one at each side of the closing, and the ample sleeves, of bell shape, are seamed to the backs and shoulders, but are so constructed as to become part of the fronts, there being no seam below the shoulder joint. Attaohed to the waist at tbe back are black silk ribbons, which pass around and tie at the front. As illustrated, the material is silk velvet, with handsome jet passe menterie as trimming. The collar is Medici style, bnt cut in squares, which not only increases the flare, bnt is universally becoming a well. At the throat i worn an ample bow of chiffon lace, edged, and a toque of velvet and feather completes the costume. The wrap is lined throughout with taffeta silk and has an interlining of split wool wadding, which renders it amply warm without being in the least clumsy. Cloth, with rough or smooth fnced seal plush, and all familiar cloak ing are suitable. To make this wrap for a lady in the medium size will require two and one fourth yard of fifty-four-inch material. Child's Empire Jarket In Tale lllae. Among all tbe styles shown for lit tle girls' outer garments there is no one that is at once more serviceable and generally becoming than the Em pire coat. The model shown in the illustration is made of smooth-finished cloth in tho popular Yale blue, the trimming being a combination of rib bon frills in the same color and black mohair braid. While the whole effect . is stylish in the extreme the pattern is simplicity itself, as the fitting is . effected by shoulder and nnder-arm seams only. Two box-plaits are laid at tbe centre-back from the neck to the edge of the skirt and the front shows one at each side of tbe closing, which is effected in the centre-front with large pearl buttons and button- STYLISH WRAP. holes. The sleeves are two-seamed with the fulness arranged either in gathers or plaits at the shoulders. Over each falls a simple oblong epaul ette trimmed with ribbon and braid, and a deep, seamless turn-over collar . finishes the neck. The entire coat is lined with taffeta showing a bright hued plaid and glimpses of the gay coloring are caught beneath the collar and epaulettes. To make this coat for a girl of eight child's bmpirbv jacket. . . years will require one and three' fourths yards of forty-four-inoh ma terial. ' ' Skamania County, Washington, boasts a railroad four miles long which, cost (3,000,000 to build.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers