si Bemorai ica Bellefonte Pa.. March 5, 1904. THE OLD-FASHIONED WINTER. How dear to our heart is the old-fashioned winter, The kind that we thought had clean melted away. . It brings back the days of the sleds and the snow-balls, Before our Decembers got mixed up with May. The street full of coasting, the park full of skating, The air full of jingling and musical noise— *Tis an old-fashioned winter, a health-giving winter, A brisk, bracing winter, as when we were boys. The breezes are brisk in the unheated trol- ley Where good zero weather is freezing our toes. The children are sliding with glee on the sidewalk, : And elderly citizens slide on their nose. The water pipes bursting, the coal hill as- cending, The gas meter freezing to add to our woes— *Tis an old-fashioned winter as when we were boys. The beautifnl snow rises black by the road- side, . With new-fashioned fever germs filling the breeze. We merrily skate and are down with pneu- monia, We go for a sleigh ride and come back to sneeze; We slip and we slide and we start from the doorstep, We fracture our bones if we lose our poise— ’Tis an old-fashioned winter, a health-giving winter, A brisk, bracing winter, as when we were boys. — Exchange. AT A RUMMAGE SALE. Mother looked up from the bundle of old clothes which had just arrived at the par- sonage. They represented all that my wealthy Aunt Florence and my cousins could do to help us in our rummage sale. “I don’t believe we have $10 worth of things all together,’’ she said. A hopeless - expression crossed her face as she thought of the needed $50. “How hateful all one’s rich relations al- ways are!” I barst out. ‘‘I believe they sell their things to old clothes men.”’ ‘We must do the best we can,’”’ said mother patiently. ‘‘The poor people who get them will he pleased anyway. I won- der if any one will look in and help us at the sale.”’ ‘No one,”’ I answered, with convic- tion. ‘‘Between hockey and’’— ‘“‘Hero worship,” mother interrupted, laughing. ‘‘If we could only get John Gray to come we would not have standing room.’ I did not answer. John Gray was just home from the Philippines. AS an inter- esting convalescent and hero he was in great demand among the girls. Bat, though I had known him from childhood, I refused to add one to the ranks of his adorers, go a coolness had fallen between my old playmate and myself. ‘Mrs. Denzil is in the parlor, ma’am,’”’ said the maid, and we went in to be cheer- ed by the gayest little lady in the town. Mrs. Denzil had a husband in the Philip- pines and appeared to get along very well without him. We would not have will- ingly spared that brilliant face with its wealth of fair hair, audacious blue eyes and wickedly curved red lips from our midst. It was vain to try to look askance at Mrs. Denzil, her absolute frankness was so disarming. ‘‘You looked worried,” she said. ‘‘What is it?” “It is only our rummage sale,” I said sadly. ‘‘The things which Lave been sent in will bring but a song, yet we know of no other way in which to raise the money.’’ ‘‘Are men’s things any use? Why not ask young Gray ?"’ “I hardly liked to,’’ said mother. ‘‘All right, I will. He must have heaps of things hie doesn’t want.” Off went Mrs. Denzil, promising to write to John Gray and send us the results of her appeal. Sare enough, a few days later she brought in her dog-cart a huge bundle which she opened triumphantly. ‘‘There, I told youI would get some- thing out of him. Shoes—lots of them, brown and black; two suits, very little worn; socks, collars, ties.’’ ‘Splendid !”’ we said. ‘Did he send them all the way to vour house ?”’ “No; I told him I would call for the bundle this afternoon. It was to be ready in his own special sanctum. He was ont, but old Jenkins showed me in. I found a note from him asking if this sort of thing would be of any use and saying that if he wanted anything more Jenkins could ges it for me.” . : Pursned by oar grateful thanks, Mrs. Denzil drove off in her usmal whirlwind. She promised to come to our sale next day and especially hegged to be allowed to ace as auctioneer for Gray’s things. Mother and I returned to the examina- tion of the bundle. ‘‘Actually, two of his pipes.” she said. ‘‘How very good of him ?”’ 1 said nothing, for just at that moment I had caught sight of something which gave me a sharp stab of pain. Many years ago, when John Gray first went to college, I had worked its colors on a tobacco pouch. | There had been something more than mere kindliness in our farewell on that occasion. He surely need not bave sent the pouch to a rummage sale. . The sale came off the next day. In the midst of a little argument with a stout woman as to the value of a red flannel dressing sack mother said to me : ‘‘Clare, both of the Whites have come. That is rather nice of them. They have brought another girl with them.”’ ‘I looked up and smiled at the three. Juss then, to my surprise, the daughter of our bank president appeared, followed closely by a fairly representative gather- ing of the yeung ladies of the neighbor- hood. . ‘‘There must be some mistake,” I thought. ‘*‘They must think there is an entertainment to follow.’’ Just then I heard Mrs. Denzil’s voice. ‘‘Here I am,” she said, ‘‘in plenty of time. Hurry up, girls; the auction is go- ing to begin. Can I have a chair put on that table? Thanks. The handle of my riding whip will be the hammer.” And, flinging herself with raptare into the part, she began the auction. The buyers were as wax in her hands. ‘‘Look at these ties,’’ she said in tones of ardent admiration. ‘'College colors, club colors, rainbow colors. Girls, you will never forgive yourselves if you let such a chance as this slip. Six ties, all worn—well worn. Did I hear you say a quarter, Miss Smith? Oh, I hope not. I could not listen to such an offer from you. Fifty cents, Linda. That is better, but not good enough.’”” In the end she ex- tracted an offer of $1.50 from the bank president’s danghter. Never once did she mention the name of the donor of the ef- fects, and the ladies gazed in undisguised amazement at each other’s frantic bids. “This pair of boots,’’ Mrs. Denzil pur- sued, ‘‘was worn in the Philippines.”’ This was entirely untrue, but the spirited bidding ensued, and another girl became their proud possessor at the extravagant price of $2.50. Aft last, to my mingled relief and rage, the little tobacco pouch was held aloft in Mrs. Denzil’s grasp. I had decided to buy back again my despised gift if only for the pleasure of seeing it burned. “A tobacco pouch—look !”’ said the gay voice. ‘‘What memories may sur- round it !"”’ ‘“T'wenty-five,’”’ squeaked Linda White. “Fifty,” I growled. Mis. Denzil nearly dropped the pouch in amazement at my intervention. ‘One dollar,”” from the oldest Miss Smyth. ‘*One twenty-five,”’ I said, my cheeks burning. Through the hush I could hear mother’s surprised voice : ‘‘Clare, my dear !”’ How long that horrible auction lasted I do not know. I only know that at last at the cost of $5 which I could ill spare the horrid little pouch became once more my own property. The rest of the scene isa dream to me. When all the lots were disposed of all the girls quietly withdrew, each eying her neighbor with stern distrust. Mrs. Denzil sat down and laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks. ‘‘Do you know how I did it? she asked. *“‘I told each of them—in the strictest confldence— that some trifles belonging to John Gray were going to besold. They thought they would pick up some little souvenir eheap- ly, but’’—and she carefully weighed a purse in her hands—‘‘I don’t think they did, exactly.’’ I turned toward she big fire place. I would get rid of that pouch at once. The door flew open, and John Gray burst in. ‘Oh, I say, Mrs. Denzil, I came rush- ing down to see whether by mistake one or two little articles had not been put into that bundle of mine.’’ ‘Oh, I hope I did nothing wrong,’’ she said lightly. ‘‘I only added one or two nondescript things.”’ ‘‘Would you tell me whether two of my pipes were among them ?’’ ‘Yes, but they were both quite old ones, I am sare,’ said Mrs. Denzil. “Then if you don’t mind I will buy them back myself. They were favorites of mine.’”? Mrs. Denzil looked very thoughtful. ‘‘Miss Mortimer bought one and Miss Rawson the other, but no doubt they would be delighted for you to have them back.”’ The young man’s face was a study. ‘‘There was one thing more’’—he grew very red and looked across to where I stood rigidly by the fire watching the slow flames struggling with the remnants of their prey —*‘“a little tobacco pouch,’’ he said. ‘‘Very shabby,” said the lady firmly: ‘‘quite a disgrace to you. That is why I took it.” ‘‘But I really want that back again,” he urged. ‘‘Please tell me who has it.” ‘““You had hetter ask Clare,’’ she said. *‘Mrs. Warren and I have to make ous our accounts.”’ She drew mother out into the hall. John Gray strode over to me. I never saw such a slow fire in all my life. ‘Do you know where it is, Clare?’ he began, and then his eyes fell on the grate. One end of a bit of gray fabric still orna- mented with a shield lay among the coal. ‘‘You burned it ?’’ he asked reproach- fully. “Why 2” I could find nothing to say. “Clare, you could not have thought that I meant to give that to any charity under the sun ?”’ Still no answer. He bent over until he could look into my downcast face. ‘‘Clare,’’ he cried, and even in my be- wilderment I heard the note of joy in his voice. Then he took me in his arms, and I straightway forgot that there had ever been such a thing as a rummage sale. Stood Body up in Pulpit.’ Aged Preacher's Remains Placed Upright at Fu- neral. The most unique funeral service ever conducted in Indiana took place Sunday at Folsonville, Warrick county, when the body of ‘‘Uncle James Hart,”’ an old-time Baptist minister, who died Thursday was stood up in the pulpit in a coffin while the funeral discourse was delivered. : Hart’s dying request was that his body should be stood in the pulpit during the funeral services as he had preached in the granted. The undertaker who prepared the body decided that it could not be stood up in the pulpit except hy tying it to the altar, but this plan was noi favored. A platform was then constructed, just back of the pul- pit and on this the coffin was placed in such a manner that its interior could be seen from all parts of the church. The lid was removed and the body of the aged min- ister exposed to the eyes of the congrega- tion. : Hart had heen in the ministry in South- ern Indiana for nearly 60 years, and it is said baptized more than 1,000 persons. Whole Eastern Shore lce Bound. Many Maryland Towns Cut off From Water Com- munication Every county on the Eastern Shore of Maryland is cut off from communication by water by the heavy ice blockade, ex- tending from Baltimore to Snow Hill. Since the fiist of the year a number of counties have been cut off by the ice, but this week the blockade was complete, when all the rivers froze up solid. Steamers and tugs are tied up either at Baltimore or at points on the Eastern Shore. On Thursday conditions were worse than at any time for years. Even large ice tugs were unable to do barbor work. The complete blockade has bad the ten- denoy to severely cripple business in the besieged towns. The Chesapeake & Delaware Canal has been closed for a longer period this year than at any time since the waterway was opened, even the record of 1852, when the canal was closed to navigation for 56 days, being surpassed. ' ——When a woman tells a man just what she thinks of him she really tells him just what she wants him to think she thinks.--Somerville Journal. church for 40 years. His request was America’s Lead in Iorea. The Hermit Kingdom’s Progress Due Largely to Us. Korea is the only foreign country in whose commercial exploitation Americans have taken the leading part, and it was purely by accident that America began to play the important role in the develop- ment of the Hermit Kingdom that she has played during the past generation. It was just twenty years ago, after the revolt of 1884, that an American medical missionary, Dr. Horace Allen, was called apon to preform a serious operation on the mangled body of Prince Min Yung Ik, a Korean nobleman. The operation was successful and attracted the attention of the Korean emperor, who immediately appointed Dr. Allen bis physician. The American missionaries, other than medical, were also achieving the hegin- ning of their successes. At the same time, in order to found a school for the training of Korean noblemen’s “sons for government and diplomatic positions, the Korean government sent to America, asking for three teachers. Thus, in the space of a few years, Americans took the lead in Korea in missionary, medical and educational work. They were looked upon as friends by the natives, and were loved. They did not meddle in politics nor ask for coaling stations or open ports. They came to do good and nothing else. The first chapter of modern Korean history ended with the outbreak of the Japan-China war. Korea had nominally belonged to China up to this time. As the close of the war Korea became free from outsiders and spoil for her own robber princes. Being free, Korea had the right to grant foreign concessions. Various parties sought these vigorously, but unsuccessfully; for in almost every instance, there seemed to be an ulterior political motive in view. Horace Allen had now become American minister to Korea and it was plain that America’s wholesome introduction to Korea through missionary, physician and educator was to lead to commercial successes which would also be unrivalled. In a short time James H. Morse, of the American Trading company, secured two concessions from the Korean govern- ment, one for opening gold mines in the mountains in the north of Korea and an- other for building the first railway in the country from the seaport of Chemulpo to the capital, Seoul, twenty-seven miles in land. The mining consession was leased to Leigh Hunt; a plans costing a quarter of a million dollars is now in operation, J. Sloat Fassett, of New York, being one of the interested parties. The contract for building the railway was given to the American and Oriental Construction com- pany formed by Messrs. Colbron and James of Denver and Chattanooga, respectively. In the building of the road W. C. Carley was first engineer-in-charge, H. R. Bost- wick anditor and S. F. Philips saperin- tendent-in-charge. The principal feat in the construction of the road was throwing an 8 span hridge across the great river Han, three miles from Seoul. This hridge, 1,650 feet long, was sent across the Pacific in pieces on a spe- cial vessel. It made the Koreans open their eyes to see a three-masted schooner come blunder- ing safely into the half charted Korean port under the firm band of the Yankee skipper; but their wonder became amaze- ment when the strange pieces of iron it bore as cargo was carried twenty-five miles inland and swung safely above the mad tides of the chief river of Korea. The total length of the bridge is 2,450 feet, in cluding approaches. Upon completion a Japanese company secared the road. This road had its ter- minus without the West Gate of Seoul. American enterprise now put on foot an electric railway running from the railway terminus into Seoul, through the city and ous to the tomb of the murdered Empress Ming, three miles east of the city, and a mecca for Koreans. The Seoul Electric company was organized; it comprised Kor- eans only, with the governor of the city as president. The franchise came from the department of public works. The company was cap- italized at $300,000; one-half of this sam was immediately paid to the same con- struction company which had built the Seoul-Chemulpo railway. The motormen have been Japanese and the conductors Koreans. Of course, a number of accidents have happened; at one of these a car was demolished and the com- pany’s plant was endangered. The Koreans are a very stately race of men; they move slowly and bave vo wit in avoiding accidents—and the trolley car the world over is no respector of dignity. Other objections bave been raised to ‘’these make-themselves-go machines,” so named by the people who call the bicycle the ‘‘man-make-himself-go machine.’’ The people affirm that a recent drought had been caused by the electric wires which are strung across Seoul, in all six miles in length. They declared that the wires cut off the influence of heaven. Others were not satisfied whether the blame should be laid on the wires or the location of the power house of the electric plant. It was found on examination of the records that the housestood on a sacred spot and desecrated it. The power house remains, however, on the hallowed spot. Daring these years of commercial ex- ploitation the American missionaries have not been backward, The Preshyterian missions in the north number 7,000 con- verts, and the Methodist missions in the centre of the little kingdom count over 5,000. The Methodists have paid special atten- tion to publishing; their first plant, the Trilingual Press, having played an im- portant part in the opening of Korea. The Roman Catholics number 40,000 converts; they entered Korea twocenturies ago, when the Jesuits were leading they way into the heart of the American continent. The Koreans have ‘practically given up Budd- hism and Confacianism,’”’ according to Minister Allen. A few. American . trading houses have sprung up. The Standard Oil company does a large business in Korea; but the fu- tare of American trade, of course, depends, like everything else, upon the political turn which things may take in the future in the land of the Morning Calm. Seventy per cent of the trade of Korea is with Eng- land; Japan and Russia have alittle on the east and north. As Mr. Allen has stated, ‘‘Today Amer- icans are found to be in possession of rights aud privileges of great material value ob- tained by peaceful means from the good will of the people.’ Amid all the excitement of various up- risings of the Japan-China war and of the events of 1698 American interests have not lost ground. On one occasion, at least, the Korean emperor sought to come to the American; legation for protection at a time when several foreign ambassadors would have done anything to obtain possession of his person. but the necessary permission was kindly but firmly refused. The emperor leads au exciting life, sleep- ing in daytime, when all the world’s awake and holding cabinet meetings and doing all his business bv night. He has deserted his old palace, in the native portion of the city and lives in a straw thatched barn of a building in a frog pond in the foreign quar ter—within reach of the legations in case of trouble. From any point of view, Americans must be greatly interested in the future of Korea Twice as many Americans can talk the Ko- rean languags as any other nationality of foreigners in Korea. America has led in commercial exploitation; America has led in disseminating political knowledge. Dr. Philip Jaisohn, a naturalized Ameri- can of Korean parentage, and adviser to the cabinet, founded the first English pa- per in Korea, the native editions of which circulated widely and played an important part in the early work of the Independence club. When filled with fear of assassination, just after the murder of his queen, the em- peror of Korea put not a mouthful of food to his lips that was not prejared by the hands of an American missionary and tak- en secretly to the palace. On the occasion ofa riot on Thanksgiving night, 1896, three Americans lay in the anteroom of his bed chamber at the palace with cocked re- volvers and other weapons in their hands ready to beat back the mob if it came. Japan’s Children. A Few Remarkable Facts About the Little Men and Women. Never Cry or Make a Noise. The Love Of Children a Cult. Life’s Burdens Fall Early on the Young Shoulders. Some Traits. Japanese children must be quite delight- ful, judging from the description given of them by a French writer, who tells us some wonderful . facts about the babies of Japan. He declares that ‘‘they never cry and never make a noise,”’ and that Japan- ese children ‘‘play without quarrels and without tears.” A grave, self-possessed politeness is inate with these little people, and they behave with the most irreproach- able sangfroid in the presence of their elders. The love of children is a veritable calt in Japan, and the little ones are sur- rounded with a care and solicitude that are almost religions. A story 1s told of a burglar who bad broken into a house, and postponed his nefarious purpose to amuse a baby who was playing by itself, and be- came so absorbed in his game that only at the entrance of the parents did he beat a retreat. SOME TRAITS. Japanese children, we are told, are very food of fairy tales, and several of our own familiar figures appear in their favorite stories, sach as “The Ogre” and Tom Thumb’’ and ‘‘Mother, Goose.”’” Many of these tales treat of animals, and among their records of talking beasts there is a dialogue between rabbits and crocodiles. The Japanese raconteur shows a kindly feeling toward animalsand an intense love of nature. Thus it is that children in Japan will display a keen interest in nat- ural objects, especially in flowers and in- sects, of which last they are invariably tender in their treatment. ’ CHILD LABOR. Yet the question, of ‘‘child labor,’’ says the London News, bas assumed a phase in Japan that is fortunately rarely reached in Western countries, and heavy work of all kinds is, strange to say, exacted from children to an extent which would sar- prise our humanitarian ideas. Child actors and dancers, often not more than 6 years old, are habitually employed in the thea- tres and fill the roles that we should allot to grown up performers with a finish and intelligence that are. amazing. The little girl dancers go through an exceptionally severe training in gymnastics to fit them for their profession. In the factories child labor is exploited to a considerable extent, children being employed for long hours at a stretch at a very low wage, while in public offices they are often engaged as porters and lackeys at an absurdly early age, although they fullfill these functions with the utmost skill and propriety, Small wonder is it that the Japanese children are grave with a gravity far beyond their years, and take life seriously, for its burden falls early enough upon their small shoulders. Sneezed to Death. Collapse Ascrlbed to Rupture of a Blood Ves- sel in the Brain. James Curry sneezed himself to death Friday night in the lodge room of Tong- wee Tribe, No. 322, Improved Order of Red Men in Girard avenue,near west How- ard St., Philadelphia. Carry, who lived at 1351 Crease street, was present at the meeting of the organiza- tion, and in his capacity as past sachem of the tribe was assisting in the initiation of several candidates. Without warning he was overcome hy violent paroxysms of sneezing. There was no apparent cause for the fit, and at first Curry was inclined to regard the matter lightly. Sneeze after sneeze followed in rapid succession until the man gave evidence of exhaustion. Dr. B. C. Schraettler, of 117 West Girard avenue, sought to stop the sneezing and applied all the remedies he could think of. Noue had any effect. At the end of half an hour,during which he sneezed with almost every breath, Cur- ry suddenly collapsed. He died within a few minutes. It is supposed that the long continued exertion of sneezing ruptured a blood ves- sel in the man’s brain. No cause ¢ould be assigned by Dr. Schaettler for the sneezing. It is thought that some object may have lodged in Cur- ry’s nose in such a position that it irritat- ed the nerves and provoked the spasmodic action. Curry was 28 years old. His body was removed from the lodge-roomn to his home. Kidnaped Rich Man's Wife. Abductor Demanded $50,000, But Gets Prison Term. : August Leuth, of Tipton, Ia., Tuesday was found guilty of kidnaping, under an indictment brought under the recently- enacted law against that crime. Leuth was charged with forcibly carry- ing Mrs, John Telsrow from her room and holding her for a ransom of $50,000. The woman was enticed from her home with the statement that her son on an adjoin- ing farm was seriously ill. Shortly after starting for her son’s home her abductor forced her at the point of a revolver to accompany him to a vacant farm house, where he locked her in the cellar and held her for ransom. She made ber escape the next day. Leuth was arrested and his conviction followed. Mrs. Telsrow’s hushand is the wealth- iest man in the county. we TCE As Seen from a United States Man of War. Alfred Terry Brisbin Writes Entertainingly of Places He Has Visited While on a Cruise of Three Years in Foreign Waters. [The letters which will appear from time to time in this column are from the pen of Alfred Terry Brishin, a Mid-shipman on the U. 8. 8 Decatur, which is now on a cruise of three years in foreign waters. The writer is a son of the late Gen. James Brishin, U. 8S. A. and it is apparent that he has inherited much of his talent for descriptions from his gallant father, who was a frequent contributor to these columns when he was on Indian campaigns on the frontier. The letters are not really written for publication ; be- ing merely the personal correspondence which be has directed to his uncle, Col. J. L. Spangler, consequently they may be regarded as all the more sincere in their context.— Ed] II Algiers. U. S. 8. DECATUR, Dearest Uncle: ——True to voar prophecy I am daily becoming more and more inter- ested in the people, the history aud cns- toms of these various nations. I look forward to a visit to old Rome. It will be an education in itself just to see the Forum, the Pantheon and the Circus. Iam very enthusiastic over the prospect. Every spare minute I am putting on his- tory and guides. : Algiers, la petite Paris, is a popular win- ter resort of the French. It is situated on the eastern slope of a hill and from the harbor looks like a vast amphitheatre. The houses rise one ahove the other in tiers and on account of their white color glisten 1n the day-time presenting a dazzling appear- ance. On the summit of the hill is the kasbah or citadel. The town is surrounded by a wall dotted here and there with towers and bastions. The population is about 75, 000. Surrounding the town there are a number of suburbs containing a great nom- ber of elegant villas. These are the resi- dences of wealthy Parisians, who now are wintering here. Near the citadel are the ruins of Sultan Kalissi. This is a fort about a quarter of a mile in circumference built in one night by Emperor Charles V, who encamped there about 1540. It com- mands the city and was hastily constructed to repel an attack by the Arabs. Sitoated in the city are several mosques which are extremely interesting to the uninitiated. The principal one was constructed by a Spanish architect who through thoughtless- ness built it in the shape of a Greek cross. Needless to say he never lived tosee its com- pletion for he was killed when the fact was learned by the Mobammedans. Mahomet has a following in this country of nearly four million which represents about 80 pet cent of the entire population. It was my luck to visit one of the mosques, the one I have just spoken about, and see the form of worship they observe. On entering the mosque, you will notice a structure resembling a gallows, which is the seat of their God. The entire room is covered with carpet, and except for the niches is" devoid of any decoration. The followers on entering go to a fountain in the rear end and, removing their shoes, wash their feet. They then walk out on the carpet and standing bow several times. After this they kneel and continually bow their heads touching the floor. This devo- tion ‘goes on for hours, varied only by the follower 1ising and, after resting, commenc- ing it all again. They are no doubt the most religious sect in the world, and no matter what may be their occupation they go regularly to their mosque to worship. You know from articles you have seen that all these sacred buildings face the east and all their devotion is directed in that partic- ular direction. While walking along the street, circumstances continually forced me to think of General Wallace’s Ben Hur. Everywhere you could see the Arahs. Now and then some tall, straight Arab with his flowing beard and strange costume would bring up vivid pictures of the desert and the old sheik and his tribe. The cafes are a place where one is sure to be afforded a splendid opportunity to study the people. As is usual in all French cities the tables are on the pavements and here gather the people of the country every evening. Then too, I was afforded a chance to attend the municipal theatre which is owned and run by the government. Strange to relate the plays put on are not classical, but savor more of the risque than anything else. The consul gave us a box party last evening, and I enjoyed the whole show immensely. The more risque the plot, the better pleased is the audience. Such plays as Toza, Sap- pho and Leslie Carter style are the run. The music is fine and is well worth going to hear. Then I took in the oracle Inter- nationale, otherwise a small Monte Carlo. It is here that the real chance to see the nature of the better classes is offered. Women are equally as devoted to the game as men, and are nearly as frequent. You would add so much pleasure to this cruise if you were here. We must do this coun- try togethersome day, for with your knowl- edge of she history and my natural active- ness we would see it all. Taken all in all I can see where at one time France was a power; but they too have declined and are given over to indo- lence and pleasure, still there is much to be said for them. Their women are far more to be admired than their men and seem to be the stronger in every respect. However, they are a nervous, excitable, people whose language alone makes their conversation enjoyable. I regret very much that I do not speak the language for it is absolutely essential everywhere. Spanish is some help but French is the language of Europe. We leave here about Sunday for Naples and then I am off to Rome. I hate to attempt to describe these several ocities. It is so far beyond ‘my power to do any justice to the wonderful sights to be seen. Then too there have been so many writ- ers with the power to portray clearly and bring the reader almost in touch with the places of interest. Still it is a pleasure to write you these descrip tions aud impressions, and though I may not he able to do Naples and Rome justice, vet I will try to tell you what I see and how Isee it. Good night. Love to all Write me soon. Affectionately, ALFRED. A PROFESSIONAL SECRET. So many lawyers who have to write For the bread they eat and the clothes they wear; So few that ever achieve the height, Or ever, in truth, get anywhere. So many doctors who long to carve, But patiently sit where no patients call, So few that thrive and so many starve, What, oh what, is the cause of it all. that Here is a secret, if cleverly The truth you have not already sur- mised: Lawyers and doctors think it would be A horrible sin if they advertised. — Chicago}Record-Herald. left to tell the tale. The Cossacks. An Important Army. Portion of the Czars Great In the reports of the progress of the war in the far east between Russia and Japan, mention has been made of the Cossacks,and much more will probably be heard of them when the land engagements between the two armies begin in real earnest. Hence, it may be interesting to know something about this important part of the Russian army. The word Cossack has a Turkish deri- viation and originally meant robber. The same word in Tartar is used to designate a light armed soldier.” The name is born by a people in southern Russia who livejunder a peculiar military organization and form an important part of Russian population They may be compared with the Rough Riders in our last war. The Cossack of the Dnieper, Don and Tereck is the trapper, settler and the tireless fur hunter of Sibe- ria. The peasant’s passion for wandering explains the development of Cossack life in the plains of soathern Russia. Some- times whole cantons in Muscovy have been known to migrate at once. marching in a body towards she ‘‘Black Soil,”’the ‘Warm Soil of the south because of its greatest fer- tility. The principal home of the Cossacks is the steppes of the Don and of Ciscaucasia and at the southern end of the Ural mountains on the borders of European Russia and Si. beria. They are a mixed race of Russian, Polish, Tartar and other elements, the Rus sian predominating. The real distinction between them and other Russians is their roving mode of.life, rather than a racial or fundamental one. The Cossacks make their appearance in history about the close of the middle ages as a frontier people. A free, wild people, accustomed to live in the saddle and to con stant warfare. From this mode of life they acquired the qualities of courage,endurance self reliance and good horsemanship. Hence like our Rough Riders, they have acquired high rank among the regular cavalry of the world. By their long freedom from the re- straints of civilized government they have distinguished themselves by: their preda- tory habits of life. The Don Cossacks constitute their prin- cipal body which hecame very powerful about the close of the sixteenth century. In 1773 they joined the pretender Pugat- cheff against Catharine II and were depriv- ed of all their liberties and democratic in- stitutions. In 1581 one of their most fear- less leaders, Yarmak Timofeyeff, entered the service of a wealthy trader and with a few hundred followers crossed the Ural mountains and in a few years conquered all of western Siberia. From this time on the Cossacks are closely connected with Russian progress through Siberia. Their predatory expeditions were not limited to the land, but included naval expeditions against the Turkish towns of Asia Min- or. The Cossacks are regarded by the Russian government as a military division of the population. They are divided into eleven corps. Their military training being in boy hood. Compulsory service begins at the age of 17 at the Cossack posts. Field serv- ice begins at 20 and continnes for five years. This service is divided into three classes—1 active, 2 on forlough with arms and horses, 3 on furlough with arms bus without hoises. Each corps equips and clothes its own soldiers, and receives an al- lowance of land from the crown. The dis- tinctive uniform of the Cossacks is dark green and in addition to their other arms some still carry a long lance. : . The title of ataman, or chief of the} Cos- sacks, is now vested in the imperial family. The Cossacks probably number between 1,- 500,000 and 2,000,000. One corps enrolls six battalions of infantry and fifteen batter- ies of field artillery. Taking into consid- eration their fierce character and their great numbers they will make a very formidable foe for the doughty Japanese.—Altoona Tribune. Burned to Death. Two Children Lose their | Lives at Morrellville, a Suburb of Johnstown, During the Absence of the Mother. Thursday evening’s Johnstown Tribune gives the following account of the burning to death of two children in Morrellville, a suburb of that city : ‘‘In twenty minutes. beginning at 12:30 p. m., the fire fiend snatched two little children from a home in Morrellville on the rear of a lot at tbe corner of Spruce street and Decker avenue. A little later, from the dying embers, all that remained of a one-story, two-roomed house, the charred remains of Elsie, aged 6 years, and Robert, aged 4, children of Mrs. Agnes Shenefelt, a widow, were taken and carried to the house of a neighbor, George A. Rager. The bodies were burned beyond recognition, nothing remaining}ibut the trunks, roasted to a crisp. ‘‘How the fire started will never be known, as there is no one who was present The mother, when the mid-day meal had been finished, went across the street to a neighbor’s on an er- rand. She expected to be gone but a few minutes, and left: the children alone— Elsie, who wasan invalid and could scarce- ly talk or hear, sitting in a rocking chair hefore the kitchen stove, in which a bright fire was burning, and Robert, in his high chair, content with a pocketbook which his mother had left him as a plaything. ‘‘At about 12:30 fire was discovered in the little frame structure by a boy playing outside, and in a moment the neighborhood was aroused and a fire alarm sent in. The Morrellville, Coopersdale and Cambria City fire companies responded promptly, but when they arrived on the scene could do nothing, as there is no fire plug within a quarter of a mile of the place. A bucket brigade had been formed by the neighbors in the nieantime and was devoting its at- tention to three buildings close by, two stables and a workshop, which were blaz- ing. These flames were extinguished and but little damage done to the structures. “Constructed as it was, of rough pine boards, unplastered and lined on the inside with heavy paper, the little house, con- sisting of but a kitchen and bed room, burned like tinder, and its complete con- sumption did not occupy more than thirty minutes. The efforts of the men in the community to save the lives of the little ones were valiant and determined, but the task was heyond human skill.” What Fashion Means. The chief end of fashion is not adorn ment or the cultivation of beauty or any- thing of that sort. = It is the promotion of trade. The design is to make all women who can possibly afford it throw aside, at least once a year, all the clothes they own and buy new ones. It is realized, when this season’s fashions make last season’s raiment look so conspicuously out of date, that no sensitive woman can wear her lass year’s gown without grief—Collier’s Weekly.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers