Beworraic, Wadpian Bellefonte, Pa., June 24, 1898. WHAT IS DEATH What is death ? Tis only passing through a door That inward swings, and, closing, evermore ‘Shuts from our mortal sight the loved ones who, The narrow, mystic portal, passing through, Have entered into peace and perfect rest; Into the fuliness of a life more blest Than that of earthly potenate or king; Into the joys that from God’s presence spring. Ee: ———— What is death ? ’Tis but the crossing of the line Between mortality and life divine ; That life which changes not while ages go ; Whose moments onward, swift, yet calmly flow Like some great river, sweeping full and free Into the ocean of eternity; That ocean with no falling, ebbing tide ; But ever swelling, growing deep and wide. What is death? ’Tis just the fording of a stream; The joyful walking from a troubled dream ; A step from shore of time, bare, brown, and cold, To shore where none are sick, and none grow old ; To land where summer reigns the whole year through; . Where fadeless roses drink the heavenly dew ; To city golden, without noon or night, Or sun, or moon, for God shall be its light. Who are dead? door, The line, the stream, exalted evermore, In realms of higher, grander thought they live— This inch of time a school hour is to give A starting point to rise to higher plane, Where clothed in immortality, they reign, God’s kings and priests. O bliss, O joy sublime! We, too, shall pass the line in God’s set time. —H. L. Frisbie, in Chicago Inter Ocean. There is no dead! Beyond the THE RIGHT MAN IN THE WRONG PLACE. ‘Who is the pretty girl you just bowed to ?”’ said Captain Bigg to his friend John Arminger. “Well, she’s a girl with whom my ac- quaintance began in rather a remarkable way. You remember the eldest Stack- poole girl 2”? ‘I remember the eldest Miss Stackpoole —Freddy—the one who hunts; but I should never dream of calling hera girl! And what possible connection has she with your charming young friend ?”’ ‘A very close one as you shall soon hear, if only you will keep quiet and give me my head. You have evidently not heard that, to the surprise and delight of her friends, Freddy Stackpoole hecame en- gaged last spring to a fellow called Herford worth a lot of money, but rather ancient. You see, I’ve known the Stackpooles all my life ; we belong to the same county, hunt with the same pack of hounds. I sent Freddy a letter of congratulations and a hunting crop—I heard afterward that she got twenty-three—and accepted an invite to the wedding, which was to take place at St. Paul’s Knightsbridge, yesterday at half past 2 o’clock.”’ “But this is all beside the question,’ protested Captain Bigg. *‘It is not—it’s the main part ; so shut up. Iarrived in good time and entered the church. The church was crammed, and I was a good deal surprised, I must confess, for I had no notion the Stackpooles had so many friends in London. However I had no time to speculate, for an energetic youth caught hold of me and breathlessly asked : ‘Friend of bride or bridegroom ?”’ ‘¢ ‘Bride,’ I answered.” ‘‘ ‘Here you are! Sit this side,’ and he shoved me into a back seat, next to an old gentleman who sat by the door, and whose legs and stick I nearly tumbled over. He was a little chap with a white beard and red face, and wore an old fashioned blue frock coat and a pair of baggy lavender loves. *‘I looked about me, and I give you my solemn word of honor that among all the crowd I did not see a soul I knew. Can you believe it ? *‘I happened to notice the old boy beside me. [ caught him watching me furtively out of the corner of his eye. Our glances met and he said : ‘“ ‘A friend of the brides, sir?’ ‘‘ ‘Bless you, yes,’ I answered, ‘known her since she was in pinafores—’ ‘‘ ‘Since you were in pinafores,’ he re- peated, and he seemed rather taken aback. ‘“ ‘Why, yes,” and I was thinking of ad- ding that she was 10 or 12 years my senior, but, most fortunately, refrained. ‘‘He stared very hard for some time, and then said : ‘I suppose you are acquainted with most of the people? Can you tell me who some of them are—any celebrities, eh?’ ‘You are aware, Bigg, of my fatal pas- sion for a practical joke. Well, here was a temptation I was powerless to resist. I fell —and for positively the last time. So I answered : ‘“ ‘Oh, yes, I think I can point you out two or three well-known characters.’ ‘ ‘Thank you,’ he replied, I'm a coun- try cousin—or rather, country grandfather, as you may see—and I very rarely come to London. Now, who is that stout, very dark woman in yellow, with the gold spikes in her bonnet ?’ ‘¢ ‘Oh, that,’ I promptly returned, is the queen of the Sandwich Islands. She is over here incog at present—just a visit to her dressmaker.’ ‘ ‘Dear me ! Why I always thougkt that Mother Nature was her modiste,’ said the old man, with twinkling eyes. ‘‘ ‘Oh, no, she is quite civilized—wears shoes and stockings, and rarely touches raw meat.’ ‘‘ ‘And, pray, why does she honor this ceremony with her presence ?’ ‘‘ ‘Because one of the bridegroom’s cous - ins is attached to her court as chief pearl diver. He is called the Kingfisher, and I need scarcely add that it is a purely nomi- nal, but well paid post. ‘ ‘Thank you, I see. Now, can you tell me who those two elderly men are who have come in together ?’’ ‘“ ‘With pleasure,” I answered. ‘The short one is Henrik Ibsen, and the other is Lord Salisbury,’ ‘* ‘Dear me, this is most interesting ; and the lady in the wonderful mantle ?’ ‘‘ ‘Is Sarah Bernhardt, and the little man just behind her, in spectacles, is the Spanish ambassador—Don Jose Manolo ; he is a celebrated waltzer, and his fandango is a thing to see.’ “ ‘I'm immensely obliged to you for a great and unexpected treat. Hullo! I think she has come,’ he added, craning his neck. ‘Yes, she undoubtedly had arrived— there was the usual commotion and organ pealing, the usual procession of choir boys. Then the bride, walking very slowly—a lovely bride, though white as her gown—a, girl of 19, splendid as lace and diamonds could make her, leaning on the arm of a boy of 20—not my bride, but an utter and complete stranger. She was followed by ten bridesmaids, in white satin frocks, white feathered hats, and carrying im- mense bouauets of red roses ; and the pro- cession passed, leaving me dumbfounded. I was an uninvited man at the wrong wed- din “My first idea was to make a bolt for it, | but grandpapa’s legs and stick cut off that door of escape, so I determined to sit still and make the best of an exceedingly disa- greeable situation. “The service over, the bridesmaids, armed with baskets of flowers, scattered themselves among the congregation, and the girl you saw just now how to me came down our way, all smiles, white feathers and favors. She seized on my old country grandpapa—as ‘Grandpapa’—and said : ‘ ‘How silly of you to sit so far down, dear ; you couldn’t see.’ *¢ “Too hot up there,’ he said. ‘¢ ‘She behaved like a true British mat- ron, and never shed a tear,’ she continued, as she pinned in his favor. ‘ ‘Now, Gwen, you must decorate my companion,’ he said, indicating me. ‘He has been first-rate company, and pointed out all the lions and lionesses ;’ yet there was a look in the old man’s eyes that I did not precisely understand. ‘‘As Miss Gwen reached across to me her basket of flowers was upset, and over the gathering up of these we became quite hi- larious, not to say intima te. ‘‘When the wedding cortege had filed by there was the usual rush for carriages. Now was my chance. I rose, resolved to slip off, but so did my venerable compan- ion, who pinned me firmly by the arm, say- ing : ‘“You may as well look after me. We are going to the same place. I'ma lame old chap, and want an arm’—I should have said a leg. Before I knew where I was, I was being carried off in a swagger brougham, behind a pair of grand step- pers ; destination, Cadogan square. “The house was smothered in flowers and crammed with guests ; my old man of the sea clung to me like a very limpet, and to my great dismay appeared to know every one. We passed through the packed masses, with a word here, a joke there, and I gathered that his name was Sir Duncan. It was no news to me that he was Scotch. ‘‘In the drawing room he had another word with Gwen, and then he remarked to me, with a malicious grin, ‘Well, I don’t see the queen here yet, nor the playwright, nor even the dancing ambassador. What has become of them ?’’ ‘“What was to become of me was of far more importance, and, finding that my companion was making straight for the happy pair to tender his good wishes, and being an absolute stranger to both, I broke and fled, hoping to lose myself in the crowd, to find some efficacious means of escape, even were it through the kitchen and scullery. But the mob, surging to- ward the presents, carried me along in spite of my struggles, and I found myself figuratively ‘cast up’ in front of a table covered with magnificent diamonds. “‘I counted no less than three tiaras, as many necklaces and of stars, suns, birds, bracelets, bows, a great multitude. The surrounding company appeared to he al- most exclusively Scotch, and either inti- mately acquainted, or of the same clan. Per- sonally, I had never felt such a complete outsider in the whole course of my exist- ence ! There was one other man who stood close to me, and whoalso appeared a stran- ger to all, and this afforded me the only crumb of comfort offered by the entire sit- uation. ‘“As I stood gazing blankly at the dia- monds, he gave me a premonitory nudge, and then addressed me in a low voice, but with elaborate courtesy : ‘“ ‘T beg your pardon, but can you tell me the name of the bride ?’ ‘¢ ‘No, I cannot,’ I answered, shortly. ‘“ “Then perhaps you can oblige me with the name of the bridegroom ?’ “‘I am sorry I am unable to assist you,’ I said, very stifly. I noticed that, as his eyes wandered from me to the diamonds and then back again, they wore a very suspicious expression. ‘‘ ‘But this won’t do, you know,’ he whispered. ‘I’ve had my eye on you this good while—you swell cracksmen are get- ting too fashionable altogether ; too fond of wedding parties! Where’s the diamond bracelet and three stars that was taken last week at Lady Banks’ reception——eh? And the two valuable rings, and the Spanish point flounce from Mrs. Fleming’s in Lan- caster Gates ; and, you know, you are not above a few apostles’ spoons, or even a pair of nuterackers? You see, I’ve caught you; I’ve had your description and photograph.’ ‘“ ‘What the deuce do you mean? I asked, and I felt inclined to pitch him out of the window. ‘* ‘T mean that I’m a detective officer, of No. F division, and that I’m going to hand you over to my men below, who will take great care of you, and escort you in a cab to Bow street, where you will be searched and charged. Oh, we have heen expecting you for some time.’ ‘I made a feeble and utterly futile effort to eecape, but he said : ‘The less trouble you give the better for you, as you know of old. You come away quietly ; don’t go and make a row and spoil the party,” and he gripped my arm as in a vise. “ ‘I say stop! I said. ‘Here's my says and I lugged it out and handed it to im. ‘Mr. R. Arminger, ‘¢ ‘tArminger Park, Wilts, ‘‘ ‘The Apex club, Pall Mall.’ ‘‘ ‘He read aloud, and then calmly re- marked : ‘Oh, yes, of course! these little dodges. take a title.’ ‘ ‘But I am Mr. Arminger, I swear.’ ‘“ ‘Is there any one in the room will swear to you ?’ ‘“ ‘No one. I have come by mistake to the wrong wedding.’ ‘“ ‘So I should suppose,” he sneered. And you’ve made this mistake once too often.’ ‘ ‘Our altercation had been carried on in a window recess, and no doubt if any one noticed us at all they supposed that we were very dear friends enjoying an anima- ted conversation after a long separation. ‘“ ‘You come quietly,” he repeated for the third time, and as I saw no other alter- native, I obeyed. As we crossed the great landing, outside the reception room, I no- ticed my old man of the sea, sitting on a divan. He touched me with his stick and said : ‘‘Hullo, going already? Won't you wait and present me to the queen or Madam Bernhardt?’ But I was too fur- ious to reply. However, my companion stooped down and whispered something, and showed him my card. “The old fellow glanced quickly at it, then at me, and exclaimed : ‘I thought I knew that nose! Why, you must be the son of Teddy Arminger, who was my fag more than fifty years ago—you are Arming- er, of Arminger, eh ?’ ‘ ‘IT bowed profoundly. Apparently I had to thank my father’s nose for my wide- spread celebrity, but it was the first time that its reputation had “een of use to me ! ‘“ ‘Mr. Hook,’ to the detective, ‘you are quite mistaken for once. The gentleman is well known to me. Pray resume your I'm up to all I wonder you did not duty.’ Then tome: ‘Come here and sit by me, and tell me all about yourself.’ ‘“ “You are growing more and more like your father every moment,’ he chuckled ; ‘he always got white when he was angry. You poked fun at me, young sir, and I. paid you out by bringing you here against your will. Now we are quits. Gwen, come here,’ he said ; ‘this gentleman, Mr. Arminger, isthe son of an old friend of mine. I give him into your custody. He wants to escape, but don’t allow him to stir. I hold you responsible.’ “Miss Gwen, delightfully ignorant of my narrow escape from the custody of the policeman, in a surprisingly short time re- stored my good humor, not to speak of my self-respect. She conveyed me into the re- freshment room, commanded me to distrib- ute cake, presented me to the bride (her sister), and in short was so amusing, unaf- fected and light-hearted that I remained her slave for half an hour.”’ ‘Well, that was something like a sur- prise party!” exclaimed Captain Bigg, who had been interested to a point of si- lence. ‘*And the other function ?”’ ‘‘Had taken place at the same church at the same hour on the previous day. I had made a mistake in the date, but about one thing there will be no mistake. I swear— I'll never go to another wedding as long as Ilive,’? “Oh, yes, my dear Jack, you will, to your own. And here they are, grandpapa and Miss Gwen, coming back again, and grandpapa is going to stop and speak to ou ! y This acquaintance promises to extend further than the ladies’ mile, for Mr. Jack will be one of the guns on Sir Duncan’s moor this season.— From the London Tele- graph. The War in Brief. A Succinct Diary of Recent Events Full of Interest. Splendid for Your Scrap book.—Here is a List of things that Many Persons are Constantly Calling Up the Newspaper People and Inquiring About.—Keep it for Future Reference. February 24th, 1898 — The battleship Maine ordered to Havana. January 9th—The De Lome letter pub- lished. February 10th—De Lome resigns and his resignation accepted at Madrid. February 15th— Destruction of the Maine in the harbor of Havana. March 5th—Spain seeks to have Cansul- General Lee recalled. March 8th—Congress votes unanimously and without debate for a defense fund of $50,000,000. March 28th—United States Board of In- quiry reports that the Maine was blown up by an external mine. April 11th—President McKinley sends his Cuban message to Congress. April 20th—The government sends its ultimatum to Spain, and the Queen Regent opens the cortes of Spain with a warlike speech. The Spanish minister at Washing- ton asks for his passports. April 21st—Minister Woodford asks for his passports at Madrid and leaves for Paris. April 22nd—War opens with the Nash- ville’s capture of the Buena Ventura and the New York’s capture of the Pedro. Ha- vana harbor declared in a state of block- ade. April 23rd—President’s call for 125,000 volunteers. April 24th—Capture of the Catalina hy the Detroit, the Canada by the Wilming- ton and the Saturnina by the Winona. April 24th—Spain declares war. April 25th—Congress declares that war began on April 21st by act of Spain. States called upon for their quota of troops. April 26th—Chairman Dingley reports war revenue bill to the house. The Presi- dent adheres to the anti-privateering agreement of the Declaration of Paris. New York’s militia called out. England publishes her neutrality, dated April 23rd, reciting that ‘‘a state of war unhappily ex- ists,” etc. Spain appeals to the powers. April 27th — Matanzas earthworks shelled and silenced by New York, Puri- tan and Cincinnati. Steamer Guido made a prize by monitor Terror. Dewey’s Asia- tic squadron sails from Mirs Bay to Manila, and the Spanish fleet leaves Manila to meet him. April 28.—Congress agrees to a naval ap- propriation bill of nearly $47,000,000. Tampa made the point for massing troops for the invasion of Cuba. April 20—House passes bill for popular bond issue of $500,000,000. Naval bill passes senate. Spanish fleet leaves Cape Verde islands. April 30th—The Paris reaches New York in safety, and the Oregon and Marietta anchor at Rio. May 1st—Spanish fleet demolished by Commodore Dewey in the bay of Manila. Eleven Spanish warships completely des- troyed. May 2nd—Commodore Dewey orders captain general of the Philippines to sur- render all his forts. This was refused. Manila cable cut at 6 p. m., when Dewey was bombarding Manila. May 4th—The fighting ships of Admiral Sampson’s squadron sailed from Key West, after preparing for a long stay at sea. The Oregon and Marietta left Rio Janeiro. May 5—Arms for the Cubans were land- ed by the tug Leyden, the gunboat Wil- mington assisting in repelling the Span- ish. May 7th—Commodore Dewey reported via dispatch boat to Hong Kong that he had taken Cavite fortress in Manila bay, after destroying eleven Spanish vessels. He reported the Asiatic squadron unin- jured, and that, while the Spanish loss was very heavy, no Americans were killed and only a few men were slightly wounded. May 9th—The President asked congress to give Rear Admiral Dewey a vote of thanks and commendation, which was made unanimous. May 10th—The Spanish cortes voted the war credits. May 11th—Major General Meritt was or- dered to the Philippine islands as military governor. May 12th—News was received of the ar- rival of the Spanish Cape Verde squadron at Martinique, West Indies. The gunboat Wilmington, the torpedo boat Winslow and the auxiliary guuboat Hudson, while in Cardenas bay, were attacked by Spanish batteries and gunboats. Ensign Bagley and four of the Winslow’s crew were killed and the town of Cardenas was shelled. An engagement was reported at Cienfuegos. May 13th—Rear Admiral Sampson re- ported that he had bombarded the forts at San Juan, Porto Rico, with a loss of two men killed and six wounded, the American squadron being uninjured. The flying squadron, under Commodore Schley, sailed under secret orders from Hampton Roads. May 14th—The Spanish fleet was report- ed at Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast, | harbor, and Guayaganaco, two miles furth- | and Admiral Sampson was on Puerto Plata, Hayti. The first American report of the er west, hoth of which points lie east of the mountains surrounding Santiago bay. The Cienfuegos affair reached Key West and | launches pushed their noses into a hornet’s told of the killing of Reagan, a marine on the Marblehead, and the wounding of five others, while cutting the cable in Cienfue- gos bay, in small open boats, under hot Spanish fire. The Marblehead, Nashville and Windom took part, razing the Spanish defenses there. May 15th—The flying squadron reached Charleston, S. C. Rear Admiral Dewey reported the capture of the Spanish reve- nue cruiser at Manila, and that he could still hold the bay. May 16—The Spanish fleet left Curacao, and Admiral Sampson’s fleet was reported off Cape Haytien. The Spanish cabinet resigned, and Senor Sagasta was charged with the formation of a new one. May 18—The Oregon was announced as safe by Secretary Long, though her exact location was not revealed. May 19—Spain’s Cape Verde fleet was reported to have reached Santiago de Cuba. Commodore Schley’s fleet, which reached Key West Wednesday, was expected to leave for a secret destination. May 21st—It was announced that the monitor Monterey would be sent from San Francisco to Manila. May 22nd—The cruiser Charleston sailed from San Francisco for Manila, via Honolulu. May 23rd—Troops were embarked on the transport City of Peking at San Fran- cisco for Manila. The British steamer Ardanmhor was brought to Key West as a prize, but afterward released. May 24th—Admiral Cervera’s fleet was reported bottled up in Santiago harbor by the American fleets. The Oregon arrived at Jupiter. Fla. May 25th—The President called for 75,- 000 more volunteers. The transports Aus- tralia, City of Peking and City of Sydney, with 2,500 soldiers, left San Francisco for Manila. May 26—Commodore Schley reported by cable that he was off Santiago and that he believed the Spanish fleet to be in the inner harbor. May 28—The cruiser Columbia jwas damaged off Fire Island by collision with the steamer Foscolia, the latter sinking. May 29th—Commodore Schley reported fighting the Spanish fleet or part of it in Santiago harbor. May 30th—General Shafter was ordered to embark 15,000 or more troops at Tampa. Santiago was thought to be their destina- tion. May 31st—Spanish reports were received of the bombardment of Santiago forts May 31st by Commodore Schley. The steamer Florida reported landing in Cuba on May 26th, 380 armed men with large supplies. June 1st—Details were received of the bombardment of the Santiago forts hy Commodore Schley on May 31st, with the Massachusetts, Iowa and New Orleans. Morro Castle was injured, and the Spanish flagship, Cristobal Colon, which was near the mouth of the harbor, was also dam- aged. No American ship was touched, nor was any American injured. June 2nd—The house of Representatives passed an urgent deficiency bill, carrying nearly $18,000,000 for war expenses. June 4th—Admiral Sampson reported that Naval Constructor R. P. Hobson, with a volunteer crew of seven men, had on June 3rd sunk the collier Merrimac in the Santiago harbor channel, shutting in Cer- vera’s fleet. Hobson and his men sur- rendered and were made prisoners. The senate passed the war revenue bill by a vote of 48 to 28. June 2th—Capt. Charles V. Gridley, of the Olympia, who was on his way home from Manila ill, died at Kobe, Japan. June 6th—Further bombardment of Santiago and the landing of 5,000 American troops near Santiago were reported. The house sent the war revenue hill to confer- ence, non-concurring in senate amend- ments. June 7th—Admiral Sampson reported having silenced on June 6th, the Santiago fortifications without injury to American ships. The cruiser Charleston was report- ed as having reached Honolulu May 29th. The monitor Monterey and collier Brutus left San Francisco for Manila. June 8th—Spanish reports came from the bombardment of Caimanera, Cuba. by five American ships. Captain General Augusti, at Manila, reported to Madrid that the insurrection had assumed enor- mous proportions. June 9th—The house agreed to the con- ference report on the war revenue bill. June 10th—The senate agreed to the conference report on the war revenue bill by a vote of 43 to 22. The house set 5 p. m., June 15th, as the hour for a vote on Hawaiian annexation. Admiral Sampson reported that since June 7th he had held Guantanamo harbor. June 11th—Six hundred marines from the Panther, who had landed at Caimanera, Guantanamo bay, Cuba, June 10th, under protection from the Marblehead, were at- tacked by Spaniards, four Americans being killed and several being wounded or miss- ing. The Spaniards retreated. June I2th—It is reported in Washing- ton that 29 transports, with General Shaft- er’s troops, left Tampa for Santiago de Cuba. June 13th—The president signed the war revenue bill. The Santiago expedition of over 15,000 troops left Key West convoyed by warships. June 14th—Continued fighting at Caima- nera was reported, two Americans and seventeen Spaniards were killed. It was officially stated that the last transports for Santiago left Tampa.-——New York Mail and Express. Hunting a Landing Place. Spaniards Closely Guard the Shores near to Santiago. They Must be Shelled out before the Troops Can Debark.—Admiral Sampson has told them to Wait until he Finishes.—Lleut. Harlow Found places Where a Landing is Practicable. Several attempts to find landing places for the United States troops within a dis- tance of two miles west of Santiago have demonstrated, along with previous inquir- ies to the eastward, that the shore for 15 miles is lined with Spaniards. While this will not prevent a landing close to Santia- go, it will entail considerable delay, as the surrounding country must be thoroughly shelled and cleared before the troops can land in safety. When Rear Admiral Samp- son Saturday received advises that upward of 30 transports were on the way, he sent word that they should stand to the south 10 miles and lie there until a landing place had been secured. At daylight on Friday the launches of the New York and the Massachusetts rec- onnoitered the shore between Cabanas, two miles west of the entrance of Santiago nest. The brush was fairly alive with Spanish infantry and cavalry, and the fire opened upon the launches was so fierce that their retreat had to be covered by the Vixen and the Texas. When the Texas asked permission of Commodore Schley to take a hand, he shouted to Capt. Philip through the megaphone : ‘‘Yes, go in and give ’'em——Jack.”” The Texas landed several four-inch shells on the battery at Cabanas, completely demolishing ir. Lieut. Sharpe, of the Vixen, and Lieut. Harlow, in command of the launches, were complimented by Admiral Sampson for gallantry. It is believed that the insurgents, who are in force under the command of Gen. Garcia, about fifteen miles west, will rend- er effective aid in driving the Spanish skirmishers of the shore. The following is an abstract of Lieut. Harlow’s report to the commander of the Vixen, dated June 18th : ‘The expedition consisted of a steam launch from the Massachusetts in charge of Cadet Hart and a launch from the New York in charge of Cadet Powell, I took passage on the Massachusetts launch, lead- ing the way. Soundings were taken on entering the bay close under the old fort, and we were preparing to circumnavigate the bay at full speed when fire was opened from the fort and rocks on shore. The Massachusetts launch was some distance ahead and about 40 yards off the fort. There was no room to turn and our one- pounder could not be brought to bear. We backed and turned under a heavy fire. Cadet Hart operated the gun as soon as it could be brought to bear, sitting exposed in the bow and working the gun as coolly and carefully as at target practice. Cadet Powell has been firing since the Spaniards opened. He was also perfectly cool. Both launches ran out under a heavy fire of from six to eight minutes. I estimate that there were 28 Spaniards on the parapet of the old fort. The number along shore was larger, but indefinite. The launches, as soon as was practicable, sheered to give the Vixen the range of the fort. The Vixen and the Texas silenced the shore fire promptly. Istrongly commend Cadet Hart and Cadet Powell for their cool management of the launches. One launch was struck seven times. Nobody in either was hurt. A bullet struck a shell at Cadet Hart’s feet between the projectile and the powder, but failed to explode the latter. Coxswain O’Donnel and Seaman Bloom are com- mended, as is also the coolness with which the marines and sailors worked under the Spanish fire. Nothing was learned at Ca- banas bay, but at Guayaganaco it is evi- dent a landing is practicable for ships’ boats. The same is true of Rancho Craz, a small bay to the eastward. Both would be valuable with Cabanas, but useless with- out it. I am informed that to the north and westward of Cabanas bay there is a large clearing with plenty of grass and water. I think a simultaneous landing at the three places named would be practica- ble if the ships shell the adjacent wood. A junction would naturally follow at the clearing.” Quicksilver and the War. Why the Metal Has Risen in Price in the Last Month. Mercury has been rising in price, not rapidly, but steadily, since the outbreak of hostilities between this country and Spain, and its rise is due directly to the war, al- though in a curious way, as explained by the New York Zribune, Spain produces more quicksilver than any other country in the world. Until three or four years ago thousands of pounds were annually imported from that country into the United States. The next largest quicksilver-yielding mines are in California, and have been worked for years, but while the metal could be brought from Spain free of duty, the California proiuct was not able to compete largely with the foreign, Since the Wilson tariff bill of 1894 put a duty of 7 cents a pound upon quicksilver (a rate unchanged by the Dingley tariff), practically all im- portation has ceased, and consumers have bought the California mercury. Hence the apparent strangeness of the fact that, al- though we import no quicksilver from Spain but produce our own, nevertheless the war has sent up the price of the article here just as it has in Europe. The fact is, that the American prices are ruled entirely by foreign prices, and are kept at figures just below the cost of im- portation. The great Spanish quicksilver mines at Almaden are controlled by the Rothschilds, who are said to have taken them some time ago as security for the Spanish bonds which they hold. Since the beginning of the war they have raised the prices, because of the riots in Spain and the generally unsettled conditions among the laboring classes. Now, the California mines are also controlied by one firm, the Cali- fornia Quicksilver Agency—it does not like to be called a ‘‘syndicate !” Immediately on an advance in foreign prices this Califor- nia agency, ruling the American product, raises its figures correspondingly, and con- sumers have no choice but to submit. It is stated by competent authorities that one central control of the California mines was made necessary by the fact that under the old regime the competition among the different mine owners was ruinous, and the business could not be carried on at a pofit to anybody. Quicksilver, which is unique among met- als in being fluid at ordinary temperatures, is put up and shipped in flasks, containing 763 pounds each. The price now is 59 cents a pound. or $43.50 a flash, when in quantities of from twenty-five to a hun- dred flasks. In larger lots, of over a hun- dred flasks, it is $43 a flask. This isabout $3 higher than at the beginning of the war. The respective quantities preiuced in Cali- fornia and in Spain may be ascertained from a comparison of the following figures: Last year California produced 26,079 flasks, and in 1896 29,863 flasks. Since practically all of the Spanish quicksilver goes to Lon- don, the figures of the imports there may be taken as about the same as the output of the Spanish mines. In the year which ended on October 31, 1897, there had been sent to London from Spain 46,577 flasks, and in the corresponding period of 1896 40,999 flasks. It will thus be seen that the Spanish mines produce much more abundantly than those in California. They are apparently inexhaustible, for they are supposed to have been first worked over two thousand five hundred years ago, and still reveal rich masses of untouched ore in their depths. They are situated near the town of Almad- en, Almaden del Azogue (the mines of quicksilver), in the south central part of Spain, fifty-five miles southwest of the city of Cuidad Real, and about one hundred and fifty miles northeast of Cadiz. Accord- ing to Pliny, they were worked in 700 B. C., and in his time sent annually 10,000 pounds of cinnabar (the ore of mercury) to Rome. The mines have now heen excavat- ed toa depth of nearly a thousand feet be- low the surface, and the richness of the ore increases with each lower level. The ten successive floors or levels upon which the mines are worked are nearly a hundred feet apart. Masonry and pillar of the ore itself are u-ed as supports for the roofs of the levels. For many centuries, and, indeed, until within the last twenty- five or thirty years, all the mechanical ap- pliances connected with the mining at Almadan were of the rudest and most primitive kind, but of late more improved methods have been introduced. Havana. The Prevailing Solidity of Its Buildings Makes Old Havana Expensive to Bombard Into Subjection. The approach to the city from the sea displays Havana to imposing advantage. The houses of the old city, as that part which was originally surrounded hy a wall is called, were built almost altogether of limestone and marble. The palaces of the luxurious Spanish merchants and govern- mental officials were erected on the same scale and plan that their builders would have adopted in Spain. The residences, most of them two stories in height, are built around central court yards, which have pools of running water, surrounded by dark foliage, palms, and walls painted in every conceivable combination of bril- liant colors. The Spaniard in Cuba never lacks money—he would not have gone to Cuba with any other purpose than to gather it in. The prevailing solidity of construc- tion and the small extent to which wood has been used in the principal buildings make old Havana to a certain extent an expensive place (so far as expenditure of ammunition is concerned) to bombard into subjection. Shells will batter everything in the neighborhood of the places where they strike, but no conflagration is likely to be started to assist in the demoralization of the besieged. This was the experience of the city when it was bombarded cen- turies ago by the English under Drake. The streets in the old city are narrow and scantily and irregularly paved., but the outsides as well as the insides of many of the houses are painted with a gaudiness of glaring colors and contrast gorgeously with the tropical trees by which the houses and streets are plentifully shad- ed. Perhaps the most characteristeric street in the city is the Prado, a broad boulevard running from the Castillo de la Punta well up into the middle of the city, where, close by the Parque (Park) Central and Parque de Isabella Cattolica, are the main railroad stations, the principal hotels and theatres. It has been the custom in days of peace for a military band to play in the Parque Cen- tral every other night, and it was consid- ered an aristocratic way of spending the evenings to be present in carriages or in nearby cafe balconies. There are five or six theatres, and of course a bullring. In peace times bull- fights took place every Sunday afternoon. At the same time there were cockfights in plenty in the authorized city cockpits. The winter residence of the governor general of the island and the principal administrative buildings are at the inner end of the en- trance to the harbor and command a view of its whole circumference. They are stately marble buildings. The Havana cathedral was built in 1724, famous as the resting place of the bones of Christopher Columbus and his son, Diego. There are many other churches. —New York Sun. Blanco's Refusal to Exchange Hobson. By refusing to exchange Lieutenant Hobson and his seven comrades Captain- General Blanco has set the offial seal of Spain on a cowardly and despicable act. The only reason for the refusal seems to be that the Spaniards desire to retain the American heroes in Morro Castle, Santiago, which makes that place immune from at- tack by the blockading fleet. This in it- self is an unmilitary, inhuman and ungen- tlemanly act. It has always been customary, save in the most barbarous of nations, to place pris- oners at points of safety in times of battle. No one is so defenseless in a hostile camp as a prisoner. Even women and children have no rightsand privileges that are deni- ed him. Under these circumstances, to imprison these eight American heroes in the most dangerous spot they can find, a place where any chance shot may kill them, is a direct violation of every humane law of warfare. This, however, seems to be the Spanish method of conducting hostilities. The March of Progress. The first suspension bridge at Niagara Falls was erected within the memory of many still living, and was regarded as a marvel of engineering skill. Suspension bridges have had their day, and the last of the suspension bridges at Niagara is to be superseded by a steel arch bridge now in course of erection. The main span will he 868 feet in length, being the longest arch in existence. The total length of the bridge is 1,268 feet, the extra 400 feet con- sisting of the two approaches on the Cana- dian and American sides. The center of the arch is 150 feet above the gorge, and the bridge, which is 49 feet wide, includes two footways, a double carriageway and a double track trolley line. The old suspen- sion bridge is being used as a platform from which to construct the new one. The substitution of the steel arch for the sus- pension bridge where long spans without piers are required only serves as a conspic- uous instance of the rapidity with which new inventions supersede old ones, which iu their day were considered marvels of hu- man ingenuity. The steel arch has super- seded the suspension bridge for spanning the Niagara chasm within less than half a century, and it is quite within the bounds of possibility that something else will su- persede the steel arch by the time new bridges are needed.— Philadelphia Times. ——There are few more interesting char- acters in the country, says a Fort Clark, Tex., dispatch in the St. Louis Globe Demo- crat, than the famous old Seminole chief, Dembo Factor, who at the age of 114, is boiling over with patriotism and anxious to go to war. He has enlisted fourteen of his sons, grandsons and great grandsons in the army. Some of them are in the volunteer service and others with the regulars. The aged veteran appeared at Fort Clark a few days before the regiment started for Key West, and went to headquarters, accom- panied by six of his grandsons, who are in the regulararmy, to beg the officers to allow him to go along with them to Cuba. He like nearly all the other Seminoles on the little reservation, looks more like an Afri- can than an Indian, and there must be con- siderable negro blood in the whole race. They, however have all the race character- istics of Indians. They speak the Seminole language, many of them being incapable of understanding a word of English, and nothing arouses their indignation quicker than for one to hint that they look like ne- groes.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers