Demoroatic; atch Bellefonte, P2., Nov. 24, 1905. | me —————————————————————————————————————————————————— GOD BLESS THE HUMAN SUNBEAM. God bless the human sunbeam, The men both strong and true, Who daily sing or whistle At all they have to do. Their eyes are clear and merry, Their step is firm, but light. Their laugh‘s a benediction, And life once more seems bright. God bless the human sunbeams, The women who, though sad, Can still be self-forgetfal And other hearts make glad. Theirs is a blessed mission; Their smile can make night day, Their cheery words of comfort Soon drive all clouds away. God bless the human sunbeams, The children fair and fond, Who come into out presence, Life's hardest lessons conned. Their prattle falls like musie, Just as a tear-drop starts. Their kisses and caresses Can ease soor burdened hearts. God bless the human sunbeams, Men, women, children, too, Who add to life much sweetness, And leave us less to rue. God bless them all! God bless them! ‘They do His work so well. Reward will follow after, And heaven the story tell. By Mrs. FINDLEY BRADEN.—in Leslie's Weekly. S——— A SUMMONS HOME. Mis. Thaddeus Clayton came softly into the room and looked with apprehensive eyes upon the little old man in the rock- ing chair. ‘‘How be ye, dearie ? Yer bain’t wanted fer nothin’, now, have ye ?”’ she asked. “Not a thing. Harriet,’ he returned cheerily. ‘‘I’m feelin’ real pert, too. Was there lots there ? An’ did Parson Drew say a heap o’ fine things 2’ Mrs. Clayton dropped into a chair and pulled listlessly at the black strings of her bonnet. ‘“'T was a beautiful fun’ral, Thaddeus —beautiful fan’ral. I—I 'most wished it was mine.”’ ‘Harriet !"’ She gave a shamefaced laugh. : “Well, I did—then Jehiel and Hannah Jane would ’a’ come, an’ I could ’a’ seen em.”’ The horrified look on the old man’s face gave way to a broad smile. ‘Ob, Harriet—Harriet !’’ he chuckled, ‘‘how could ye seen ’em if you was dead ?”’ ‘‘Huh ? Well, I—Thaddeus,’’—her voice rose sharply in the silent room—‘‘every single one of them Perkins boys was there, and Annabel, too. Only think what poor Mis’ Perkins would ’a’ given ter seen ’em ’fore she went ! But they waited —waited, Thaddeus, jest as everybody does till their folks isdead.”’ ‘“‘But, Harriet,”’ demurred the old man, ‘‘surely you ’d ’a’ had them boys come ter their own mother’s fun’ral !”’ “Come ! I'd ’a’ had ’em come before, while Ella Perkine could ’a’ fested Ler eyes on ’em. Thaddeus,””—Mrs. Clayton rose to her feet and stretched out two gaunt hands longingly,—‘‘Thaddeus, I get so hungry sometimes fer Jehiel and Hannah Jane, seems as though I jest couldn’t stand it! “I know—I know, dearie,”’ quavered the old man, vigorously polishing his glasses. *‘Filty years ago my first baby came,’’ resumed the woman in tremulous tones; ‘then another came, and another, til! I’d bad six. I loved ’em, an’ tended ’em, an’ cared fer ’em,an’ didn’t have a thought but was fer them babies. Four died,”’— her voice broke, then went on with re- newed strength, —‘‘but I’ve got Jehiel and Hannah Jane lef; at least, I’ve got two bits of paper that comes mebbe once a month, an’ one of 'em ’s signed ‘your duti- ful son, Jehiel,’ an, the other, ‘from your loving daughter, Hannah Jane.’ ‘Well, Harriet, they ’re pretty good ter write letters,”” ventured Mr. Clayton. ‘‘Letters I’ wailed his wife. *‘I can’s hug an’ kiss letters, though I try to, some- times. I want warm flesh an’ blood in my arms, Thaddeus; I want ter look down into Jehiel’s blue eyes an’ hear him call me ‘dear old mumsey !” as he used to. I wouldn’t ask ’em ter stay—I ain’t unrea- sonable, Thaddeus. I know they can’t do that.” : ‘Well, well, wife, mebbe they’ll come —mebbe they’ll come this summer; who knows ?”’ She shook her head dismally. ‘“You’ve said that ev’ry year for the last fifteen summers, an’ they bain’t come yet. Jehiel went West more than twenty years ago, an’ he’s never been home since. Why, Thaddeus, we’ve got a grandson ‘most eigh- teen, that we hain’t even seen! Hannah Jane’s been home jest once since she was married, but that was nigh on ter sixteen years ago. She’s always writin’ of her Tommy and Nellie, but—I want ter see ‘em, Thaddeus; I want ter see ’em !”’ ‘Yes, ves; well, we’ll ask ’em, Harriet, again—we’ll ask ’em real urgent-like, an’ mebbe that’ll fetch ’em,’”” comforted the old man. *‘We’ll ask ’em ter be here the Fourth; that’s eight weeks off yet, an’ I shall be real smart by then.” Two letters that were certainly ‘‘nrgens- like’ left the New England farm house the next morning. One was addressed to a thriving Western city, the other to Chat- tanooga, Tennessee. In course of time the answers came. Hannab Jane’s appeared first, and was opened with shaking fingers. “DEAR MOTHER [read Mis. Clayton aloud] : Your letter came two or three days ago, and I have burried round to an- swer it, for youn seemed to be so anxious to hear. I’m real sorry, but I don’t see how we can get away this summer. Nathan is real busy in the store, and, some way, I can’t seem to get up energy enough to even think of fixing up the children to take them so far. Thank you for the in vitation, though, and we should enjoy the visit very much; but I guess we can’t go jest yes. Of course if anything serious should come up that made it necessary—why, that would be different; but I know yon are sensible, and will understand how it is with us. ‘Nathan is well, but business has been pretty brisk, and he 1s in the store early and late. As long as he ’s making money, be don’t mind; but I tell him I think he might rest a little sometimes, and let some one else do the things he does. *‘Tom is a big boy now, smaitin his studies and with a good head for figures. Nellie loves her hooks, too; and, for a little girl of eleven, does pretty well, we think. ‘‘I must close now. We all send love, and hope you are getting along all right. Was glad to hear father was gaining so fass. ; ‘“Your loving daughter, ‘ Hannah Jane.’ The letter dropped from Mrs. Clayton’s fingers and lay unheeded on the floor. The woman covered her face with her bands and rocked her body back and forth. ‘‘There, there, dearie,’”’ soothed the old man, huskily; ‘‘mebbe Jehiel’s will be dif- Prent. I shouldn’t wonder, now, if Jehiel would come. There, there ! don’t take on 80, Harriet ! don’t! I jest know Jehiel ’ll come.’ A week later Mrs. Clayton found anoth- er letter in the rural delivery box. She clutched is nervously, peered at the writ- ing with her dim old eyes,and harried into the house for her glasses. Yes, is was from Jehiel. She drew a long breath. Her eager thumb was almost under the flap of the envelope when she hesitated, eyed the let- ter uncertainly, and thrust it into the pocket of her calico gown. All day it lay there, save at the times—whiob, indeed, were of frequent occarrence—when she took it from its hiding place, pressed it to her cheek, or gloried in every curve of the boldly written address. At nigh, after the lamp was lighted, she said to her husband in tones so low he could scarcely hear : ‘Thaddeus, I—I had a letter from Jehiel today.’’ ‘You did—and never told me? Why, Harriet, what—’’ He paused helplessly. *I—I haven’t read it, Thaddeus,’”’ she stammered. ‘‘I couldn’t bear to, some- way. I don’t know why, but I couldn’. You read it !’” She held out the letter with shaking hands. He took it, giving her asharp glance from anxious eyes. As he began to read aloud she checked him. ‘‘No; ter yerself, Thaddeuns—ter yer- self ! Then—tell me.”’ As he read she watched his face. The light died from her eyes and her chin quiv- ered as she saw the stern lines deepen around hismouth. A minute more,and he had finished the letter and laid it down without a word. ‘‘Thaddeus, yer don’t mean—he didn’t say—"’ ‘Read it—I—I can’t,”’ choked the old man, She reached slowly for the sheet of paper and spread it on the table before her. ‘DEAR MOTHER [Jehiel had written] : Just a word to tell you we are all O. K. and doing finely. Your letter reminded me that it was about time I was writing home to the old folks. I don’t mean to let so many weeks go by without a letter from me, but somehow the time just gets away from me before I know it. *‘Minnie is well and deep in spring sew- ing and house-cleaning. I know—because dressmaker’s bills are beginning to come in, and every time I go home I find a car- pet up in a new place ! “Oar boy Fred is eighteen to-morrow. Youn’d be proud of him, I know, if yon could see him. Businessis rushing. Glad to hear your’ll all right and that father’s rheumatism is on the gain.” ‘*As ever, your affectionate and dutiful son, ““Jehzel. ‘‘Ob, by the way—about the visit East. I reckon we’ll have to call it off this year. Too bad; but can’t seem to see my way clear. ‘‘By-hy, ugh Hartiet Clayton did not cry this time. She stared at the letter Jong minutes with wide-open, tearless eyes, then she slowly folded it and put it back in its envelope. ‘Harriet, mebhe—'’hegan the old man, simidly. “Don’t, Thaddeus—please don’t !’” she interrupted. ‘‘I—I don’t want ter talk.” And she rose unsteadily to her feet and moved toward the kitchen door. For a time Mrs. Clayton went about her work in a silence quite unusual, while her husband watched her with troubled eyes. His heart grieved over the bowed head and drooping shoulders, and over the blurred eyesthat were 80 often surreptitiously wiped on a corner of the gingham apron. But at the end of a week the little woman accosted him with a face full of aggressive yet anx- ious determination. ‘‘Thaddeus, I want ter speak ter you about somethin.’ I’ve been thinkin’ if all out, an’ I’ve decided that I’ve got ter kill one of us off.”’ : ‘Harriet !"’ “Well, I bave. A fun’ral is the only thing that will fetch Jehiel and—’ ‘‘Harriet, are ye crazy? Have ye gone clean mad ?’’ She looked at him appealingly. ‘Now, Thaddeus, don’t try ter hender me, please. You see it’s the only way. A fan’ral-s the—"? ‘A ‘fun’ral’—it’s murder I’ he shud- dered. “Oh, not ter make believe, as I shall,” she protested eagerly. ‘‘It’s—’’ ‘‘Make believe !”’ “Why, yes, of course. You’ll have ter be the one ter do it. ‘cause I’m goin’ ter be the dead one, an’—’’ ‘‘Harriet !”’ “There, there, please, Thaddeus ! I've jest got ter see Jehiel and Hannah Jane fore I die!’ ‘‘But they—they’ll come if—?’ ‘‘No, they won’t come. We've tried it over an’ over again; you know we have. Hannah Jane herself said that if anythin’ ‘serions’ came up it would be diff’rent. Well, I'm goin’ ter have somethin’ ‘seri- ous’ come up !’’ ‘‘But, Harriet—'’ ‘‘Now, Thaddeus,’ begged the woman, almost crying, ‘‘you must help me, dear, I've thought it all ouf, an’ it’s easy as can be. Isha’n’t tell any lies, of course. I cut my finger today, didn’t I?” ‘*Why—yes—~I believe so,” he acknow!- edged dazedly; “but what has that to do—"’ “That ’s the ‘accident,’ Thaddeus. You're ter ecend two telegrams at once— one ter Jehiel, an’ one ter Hannah Jane. The telegrams will say : ‘Accident to your mother. Faneral Saturday afternoon. Come at once.” That’s jest ten words.” The old man gasped. He could not speak. ‘Now, that’s all true, ain’t it?’’ she asked anxiously. ‘‘The ‘accident’ is this cut. The ‘fun’ral is old Mis’ Wentworth’s. I heard ter-day that they couldn’t bave it until Saturday, so that ’ll give us plenty of time ter get the folks here. Ineed’nt say whose fun’ral it is that ’s goin’ ser be on Saturday, Thaddeus ! I want yer ter hitch up an’ drive over ter Hopkinsville ter send the telegrams. The man’s new there, an’ won’t know yer. You couldn’t send ’em from here, of conrse.”’ Thaddeus Clayton never knew just how he allowed himself to be persnaded to take his part in this ‘‘crazy scheme,’’ as he termed it, but persnaded he. certainly was. It was a miserable time for Thaddeus theu. First there was that hurried drive to Hopkinsville. Though the day was warm, he fairly shivered as he handed those two fateful telegrams to the man behind the connter. Then there was the home- ward trip, during which, like the guilty thing he was, he cast furtive glances from side to side. Even home itself came to be a misery, for the sweeping and the dusting and the baking and the brewing which he encoun- tered there left him no place to call his own, so that he lost his patience at last and moaned : “‘Seems ter me, Harriet, you’re a pretty lively corpse !”’ His wife smiled, and flushed a little. ‘“There, there, dear ! don’t fret. Jest think how glad we’ll be ter see ’em !”’ she exclaimed. Harriet was blissfully happy. Both the children had promptly responded to the telegrams, and were now upon their way. Hannah Jane, with ber husband and two children, were expected on Friday evening; but Jehiel and his wife and boy could not possibly get in until early on the following morning. All this brought scant joy to Thaddeus. There was always banging over him the dread horror of what he had done, and the fearful questioning as to how it was all go- ing to end. Friday came, but a telegram at the last moment told of trains delayed and connec- tions missed. Hannah Jane would not reach home nntil nine-forty the next morn- ing. So it was with a fonr-seated carryall that Thaddeus Clayton started for the sta- tion on Saturday morning to meet both of his children and their families. The ride home was a silent one; but once inside the house, Jehiel and Hannah Jane, amid a storm of sobs and cries, hesieged their father with questions. The family were all in the darkened sit- ting room—all, indeed, save Harriet, who sat in solitary state in the chamber above, her face pale and her heart beating almost to suffocation. It had been arranged that she was nos to be seen until some sort of an explanation bad been given. ‘‘Father, what was it ?”’ sobbed Hannah Jane. ‘“How did it happen ?”’ ‘It aust have been so sudden,’’ faltered Jehiel. ‘It cut me up completely.’ ‘I can’t ever forgive myself,”’ moaned Hannah Jane, hysterically. ‘‘She wanted us to come East, and I woaldn’t. ’'T was my selfishness——’t was easier to stay where I was; and now—now—"’ “We 've been brutes, father,”’ cut in Jehiel, with a shake in his voice; ‘‘all of us. I never thought—I never dreamed--- Father, can—can we see—her ?"’ In the chamber above a woman sprang to her feet. Harriet had quite forgotten the stove-pipe hole in the room below, and sob and moan and wailing ory had been woefully distinct to her ears. With stream- ing eyes and quivering lips she hurried down the stairs and threw open the sitting room door. ‘‘Jehiel ! Hannah Jane ! I’m here. right hére—alive !’’ she cried. ‘‘An’ I’ve been a wicked, wicked woman ! I never thought how bad ’t was goin’ ter make you feel. I truly never, never did. 'T was only my- self—I wanted yer so. Oh, children, chil- dren, I’ve been so wicksd—so awful wick- ed 1m Jehiel and Hannah Jane were steady of head and strong of heart,and joy, it is said, never kills; otherwise, the results of that sudden apparition in the sitting room door way might have been disastrous. As it was, a wonderfully happy family party gathered around the table an hour later; and as Jehiel led a tremulous, gray- haired woman to the seat of honor, he looked into her shining eyes and whisper- ed: ‘‘Dear old mumsey, now that we've found the way home again, I reckon we'll be coming every year---don’t you ?’’—By Eleanor H. Porter, in the Century Maga- zine. Gems of Thought. It is love and kindness of human hearts through which the divine reality comes home to men, whether they name it or nos. In going up the ladder of fame you may have to be careful not to be knocked off by the other men who are constantly coming down, A noble cause cannot of itself make man noble. We must despair of growing great, unless we can feel that we are given to the cause to work for it and not it to work for us. In our quest for trath we would not at- tempt to stand alone. We would be quickened by a sense of fellowship with serious and honest lives that have touched our own. I bave looked up every ‘scripture where anything like meditation is mensioned,and I find that we are never once old to medi- tate upon sin. How near to me must a person live to be my neighboi? Every person is near to you whom you can bless. He is the nearest whom yon can bless most. The art of putting men in the right place is the highest in thescience of government, but that of finding places for the discon- tented the most difficult. This little story comes from the South. The first slice of goose had been cut, and the negro minister, who had been invited to dine, looked at it with a keen anticipa- tion as was displayed in the faces around him. Dat’s as fine a goose as I ever saw, Brud- der Williams, he said to his hos. Where did you get such a fine one? : Well, now, Mistab Rawley, said the earver of the goose, with a sudden access of dignity, when you preach a special good sermon I never axes you where you got if. Beene to me dat’s a trivial matter, any- ow. Can you honestly say that youn were never afraid in battle? asked the tactician of the old veteran with a wooden leg. . Well, no, I don’t think I could say that, was the reply. Then you were afraid? Yes, but only once. Have you any objections to giving me the particulars? Not at all. I had lent the captain of my company $10, and when we were rushed into a fight and I saw him taking the lead and exposing himself I was afraid he’d get killed ind I’d lose my money. ——~Giagley tells me he is doing wonder- ful work with his present employer. I didn’t know he was particularly strong in business.” ‘‘He isn’t. He’s merely partionlarly strong in talking about business.” ——The Waiter—‘*What’s for you, sir?’’ The Professor (engrossed in a problem )- ‘In the corelation of forces it is a recogniz- ed property of atomic fragments, whatever their age, to join and —"’ The Waiter—** Ash, one.”’ ——Wher a man gets the notion in his head that the world is against him he is Jory apt to be willing to let it be against im. Massacre of Missionaries. Earl SHAFTESBURY —not the third earl, author of the famous ‘‘Characteristics,’’ bat the seventh earl, who became illus- rious by his efficient interest in enlarged philanthropy, rational morale, and genuine religion—said that ‘‘foreign missions are the most disinterested euterprises in which men can engage.’’ Like many philanthropic movements, foreign missions entail serious hardships upon some,and often have a reflex influence of twofold worth over those persons, churches, and countries which first under- took them under the influence of disinter- ested Christian benevolence. As the members of the General Mission- ary Committee were preparing to assemble in their annual meeting, to review the last missionary year and formulate plans for the next, they—in common with all Chris- tians—were shocked by the heart-breaking intelligence of the murder of five Presbyter- ian missionaries at Lienchou station, China, namely, Mrs. MACHLE, AMY MACHLE, Mr. and Mrs. PEALE, and ELEANOR CHESNUT, M. D. Up to this hour the accounts con- flict in some particulars,and in others are meager. Lienchon is in the Province of Kwang- tung, and is a city of about twenty thous- and. Itis some two hundred and filty miles from Canton, 3nd near the houndary line of the Province of Humon. The most available route from the city to Canton is by a winding and rapid river, vavigable only by small boats, and the journey con- sumes three weeks.Inan emergency by hard riding 1t was once traversed overland in three days and a half. In the neighborhood of Lienchou there are many villages, and the population up- on which these missionaries were expected to bestow their efforts numbers about one million. The nearest white men are some Baptist missionaries three and a half day’s journey westward, and English and Ger- man missionaries four day’s eastward. This mission has been permanently es- tablished in Lienchon since 1886. It was begun by missionaries from Canton who had often visited itin their itinerating tours. At first the people were suspicious, but though threats were occasionally made no open violence was committed. The conduct of the missionaries placated the people; the mission prospered, residences were erected for the missionaries, and schools were opened for both boys and girls; two hospitals were huilt, one for each sex. Last year Dr. Chestnut treated 5,479 women and girls, and Dr. Machle treated 7,577 men and boys. Converts multiplied ; there is now a society with an adult mem- bership of over 300, and a new church seat- ing 700 bad just been erected. Besides there are four other organized churches in the district and groups of be- lievers in many villages. The Boy’s Board- ing School was so fall that many appli- cants had to be turned away. The Girls’ School was prosperous, and many day gchools were kept up in various parts. The cablegrams stated that all the build- ings were destroyed. Daring the whole Boxer outbreak in 1900, such were the amicable relations that neither property mo: person connected with the mission was injured. Any one of several conditions may have caused the massacre and rapine: An out- burst of religions zeal precipitated by an ac- cident which ordinarily would bave amounted to nothing. Of a prearranged attack winked at by heathen priests or local civil officers. Or it may have resulted from the excla- sion laws of the United States, for nearly all of the Chinese in the United States have some from the Province of Kwang tung, in which Lienchou is situated; and “reports of their treatment reaching there have greatly exasperated many of the peo- ple. Dr. BROWN informs us that no hint from the missionaries has ever reached him of any interference or molestation. In facs, the people of Lienchon had come to feel that ‘‘the missionaries were not responsible for the treatment of their countrymen, that they were not there for trade; but to do good.”’ In that case the mob must have consist- ed of persons who did nos know the mis: sionaries or their work. : Mobs wreak their vengeance without re- straint, and those who bave no malice, and even are friendly, catch fire from those who have. The Presbyterian Board ie indignant at the newspaper report that the cause of the massacre was ‘‘the seizure of an idol from a crowd of worshipers by a deaconess and the daughter of a missionary.” There is no deaconess there and the only daughter of a missionary was Amy Machle, only ten years old. One report is that Dr. Machle protested against a noisy street theatre near a hospit- al which was full of sick people. Another dispatch says that a skeleton used in teaching anatomy to students was stolen and exhibited to the populace as a specimen of the treatment which they would give all their countrymen if hey dared. This might easily rouse a mob. It will be some weeks before reliable in- telligence can arrive. The Chinese author- ities have taken action, and two gunboats have started up the river with three Can- ton missionaries on board. China at heart, with increasing excep- tions, is anti-foreign, anti-Christian, and anti-United States, and will be for many years. : The statistics for 1900 and 1901 give the number of American societies at work in China as 33. Of these 22 furnish statistics. The total number of communicants enroll- ed by these American societies is 53,337; of these 47.3 per cent. or 25,228 are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The whole number of Protestant Christians, in- cluding the converts of American and all other missions, is 100,000, of which our own is 22.3 per cent. To us, then, this massacre is serious. What happens to Protestant missions in China is of great importance to us. We sympathize with our spiritual neighbor, the Presbyterian church; and shall read with melancholy yet active interest the ex- planation of this ontbreak.—The Christian Advocate. . — -Knox——‘“Why don’t you cut that out? Tone your talk down a bit.”’ Kandor—*‘Well, it’s all right to call a spade a spad~, isn’t iv?*’ Knox—*‘Instead of calling it you might whisper it occasionally.’ ——Mrs. Hogan—'‘An’ baby git the fall?’ Mrs. Grogan—*‘‘His father wor houlden’ him in his arms whin the whistle blue.” how did the ——Once in a while we meet a man who boasts that he never whips his children, but we reserve judgment until we know the children. ——One of the easy marks is the old- fashioned gentleman who still thinks that it isa lawyer’s business to settle disputes. Preparing for Christmas. It is not too early to begin the work of preparation for the Christmas festivities. The evenings are long and the prospect for many stormy days is good at this time of the year,and there are always leisure spells of longer or shorter duration in which many bits of work may be begun and fin- ished by nimble fingers. If one is good at confriving, a little money will go a long way, and there is much that may be done that calls for no money. The young peo- pleshould be allowed and encouraged to prepare little surprises for each other and for the dear ones, and even the little peo- ple can add to the cheer, if their crude at- tempts have the oversight of some one who can guide them a little. But it is hest to let them think out the most of it them- selves, and thus teach them to use their faculties. Or, perhaps the ‘‘store’’ things may suit them better for bestowal; and in this case, they should be encouraged to earn the pur- chase money themselves, by doing such chores or work as they may find to do. Do not begrudge them the joy of being inde- pendeut, a feeling born of having bought their gitte with their own labor. Let them have their time for the earning or the mak- ing, and when they have earned the money let them spend it as suits themselves. They will learn, in this way, the worth of their labor and the purchasing power of their money. If it is spent on some worth- less thing, they will be more careful the next time. Even grown people do not al- ways spend wisely. It is well enough to counsel them, and point out to them why the cheapest gift will be most expensive in the end, bat leave them to their own will, and when the purchase is once made, *‘for- ever hold your peace.’’ Do not estrange their confidence by an ill-timed ‘I told youso.” In this way they will learn to discriminate. Do not confine yourself, or them, to the usefal present. One wearies, now and then of utilitarianism, and a useful pretty thing may give more lasting pleasure than one which is ‘‘warranted to wash.’’ Some dreams are more lasting in the joy they give than are the more real things; some adults, as well as many children, hold the beautiful above the true all their lives. . Do not deny them their dreams. Thankegiving. It started in 1623. " A good harvest suggested is. Governor Bradford planned if. He sent out men to hunt game. The settlers gathered at this great feast. “They thanked God with all their hearts’’ on that day. At that momentous meeting was set a precedent. For long years this festival was peculiar to New England. Late yearsit has been adopted by the entire country. It was President Lincoln who first pro- claimed the national Thanksgiving. One pictures the scant fare of the Pil- grims, who had been here three yerrs be- fore their crops justified a celebration. Their first winter was not such as war- ranted a celebration, as the wives of Brad- ford and Winslow and the bride of Stan- dish were among the many who perished. The beautiful springtime saw them get their real start. Among other buildings they erected a church, which was a for- tress as well, four cannon being mounted upon it. Indeed, there were long seasons of hard work, often upon less than half rations, before each man started in for himself, be- fore the struggling colonists enjoyed this historic celebration. Famine Near in Russia. The diszsurbances vow in operation in South Russia are closely associated with the serious failure of crops in the region. The official return of crops made at the close of the harvest showed that the pro- duot of Russian grain is about 880,000,000 bushels less this year than last. This in- cludes the shortage on wheat, rye, barley and oats. Rye in Russia furnishes consid- erably over three-quarters of the grain supply, and a nearly equal share of the food, rye taking the place of wheat among the lower classes in Russia and Germany. The annual exports of grain from Russia amount to abont 300,000,000 or 400,000,- 000 bushels. Allowing for this, the supply for home consumption is short about 400,- 000,000 bushels, as compared with last year. The supply of grain in 1904 of all orders was 2,780,000,000 bushels; this year it was 1,900,000,000. Some exports are certain to take place in any case, and the heavy shortage falls chiefly on the interior pro- vinces, those of Little Russia and the re- gion to the north. : Famine will come in more than one part of Russia before the winter is over, adding this to all other disasters which are sweeep- ing the great Empire, with manifold calam- ities. — Fx. Failure. The Great Financier sat in his sump- tuous office and thought earnestly. ‘My life has been a great suocess. I have secured everything that the heart of man could desire, money, fame, power— everything.’ ‘‘But you havenot secured .me,’”’ whis- pered a something from out the surroand- ing silence. ‘What are you?” queried the Great Financier. “I am Love.” ‘‘But I have secured control of the mon- ey of the country. I have secured control of the coal mines of the country. I control the grain markets, the railroads, the mills and the factories.’’ ‘‘Bat you do not control me,’’ said a chilling voice from out of the surrounding silence. “What is it that I do not control ?”’ queried the Great Financier. “I am Death.” And when they found the Great Finauvocier in the morning they found him captive in- stead of captor. ——*‘‘John’s home from college.’’ Yes.” *‘What’s he goin’ to do now?’ ‘‘Well, ’twixt you an’ me, I think he’s jest about decided to loaf around, an’ be one o’ these here incomprehensible gen- iuses.”’ —— What has become of the old fash- ioned woman who always had a few ‘‘pem’- mint lozengers’’ in her retioule ? ——You cannot judge a man wholly by the traits he has, but by those he loves. ——To admire a virtue without seeking to emulate it is to enervate the soul. 600 KILLED AT VLADIVOSTOK Nearly Half the City Was Burned During Rioting. Tokio, Nov. 20.—An eye-witness of the recent riot at Vladivostok, who has arrived at Nagasaki, reports that nearly half the city was burned and that 600 of the garrison were killed, that the jail was thrown open and that General Kappek is missing. The damage is estimated at $25,000,000. Soldiers from Harbin are reported to have joined the rioters. Russian Strike Fails. St. Petersburg, Nov. 20.—The strike demonstration begun by the radical elements against the government, which for the past several days threat. ened the life of the very empire, col- lapsed like a bubble. By a decisive vote the workmen decided against a continuance of the strike, and there is now hope that the Liberal element will rally to the support of Count Witte in putting into operation the re- forms granted by the emperor. In announcing its decision to call off the strike the workmen's council claims a great victory has been won, and that the lives of 1600 Cronstadt mutineers have been saved. This, in fact, is true, the government having backed down from its purpose to exe- cute the bulk of the revolting soldiery. WILL SUE CONTRACTORS Philadelphia to Try to Recover Money Due As Result of Fraud. Philadelphia, Nov. 21. — Strikingly similar to the action taken by the dis- trict attorney last week, John L. Kin- sey, city solicitor of Philadelphia, an- nounced that he was in accord with Mayor Weaver and would carry out to the utmost of his ability the prospec- tive litigation in connection with the building of the filtration system of the city. Mr. Kinsey's appointee is William M. Meredith, and he takes the place of Thomas D. Finletter, an assistant city solicitor, who resigned. The district attorney and the city ag: licitor-are elected by the people, and the mayor has no authority over them. City Solicitor Kinsey in a statemeni said that he would co-operate with the mayor and Judge Gordon in an effort to recover money due the city as a result of frauds alleged to have been committed by certain contractors, and that he would in every way aid in bringing about the reforms instituted by the mayor. He also announced that there would be a ‘complete reorgani- zation of his office, so that in all its parts it will be so constituted as to be in thorough sympathy with the move: ment for municipal regeneration.” HOLOCAUST IN GLASGOW Thirty-nine Dead and Thirty-two Hurt In Fire In Lodging House. Glasgow, Nov. 20.—The most terri ble fire that has occurred in Great Britain for many years broke out here in a cheap lodging house for men in Watson street and resulted in the loss of 39 lives and the severe injury of 32 others. The flames were first noticed on the fourth floor of the building, which was occupied by 330 men. An alarm was raised, and the firemen responded quickly, but flames and smoke were then issuing from most of the windows on the fourth floor. An extraordinary scene was created by a procession of almost naked men rushing out of the entrance to the building, and against their frantic efforts to escape the fire- men had actually to fight for admis. sion. The dead men were mostly workmen in the prime of life. They presented a horrible spectacle, their blackened faces bearing evidence of the terrible struggle to escape. $16,000,000 AT ONCE FOR CANAL Part of Sum Needed as Soon as Con: gress Meets or Work Must Stop. Washington, Nov. 21.—An estimate of $16,000,000 for continuing work on the Panama canal has been sent to the treasury department from the war de- partment to be sent to congress. The estimate is for expenditure up to and including the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907. A part of this money will be necessary at once, and an emergency appropriation will be asked as soon as congress convenes in order that the work may proceed. It is stated at the offices of the commission that unless money is provided as soon as congress convenes all work must cease. MURDERED AND ROBBED Trackwalker’'s Body Found Near Bris- tol, Pa., Riddled With Shot. Bristol, Pa., Nov. 20.—Raphael May- lies, a night track patrolman, was found dead near the tracks of the New York division of the Pennsylvania railroad at Penn Valley, five miles above here. The body had been riddled with buckshot. Maylies was last seen talking to two Italians. He was known to have carried a money belt, and as this is missing, the Bucks county cor- oner believes he was murdered. May- lies has been a trackwalker only a few weeks, his predecessor on the Penn Valley section of the railroad also hav- fng been found dead on the tracks. Accidentally Killed a Boy. Wilmington, Del., Nov. 20.—At the Fairview club, where there were a number of boys, George Kelly in hand- ling a gun accidentally shot and killed William Fisher, a 17-year-old Polish boy. Kelly surrendered to the police. They believe the shooting was acci- dental. Oldest Yale Graduate Dead. Lansing, Mich.,, Nov. 21.—Rev. J. S. Lord, aged 97, said to have been for many years the oldest living alumnus of Yale University, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. J. Tillotson, of Laingsburg. Rev. Mr. Lord gradu- ated from Yale in the class of 1831.