se ————— "Belgium exported} last year $5,400.- 000 worth of firearms to every fight- ing nation on the globe. —————— eons Public-spirited citizens of Fon du Lac, Wis., are rallying to the rescue of the old John Jacob Astor trading- post and blockhouse, now threatened with demolition by local Philistines. The wonderful growth of the in- dustry of wool raising is shown from the fact that the Argentine Republic will this year produce 400,000 bales of this article, valued at $40,000,000. ——————————————————————————————— The Japanese government has prom- ised an American diver, Captain Ryan, $1,000,C0) to raise $2,000,000 of gold ballion, which sunk in 266 feet of water in Yokohama harbor some years ago. The Maine forests have been so well taken care of during late years that they are said to contain more timber now than ten years ago. No small trees are cut, and there are fewer fires than formerly. The average primary “expense of railroads in the United States per mile is £53,016; in England $222,210, and it is needless to add, thinks the Atlanta Constitution, that the construction of the English roads is superb. More butter per head is used in England than any other country. There they use thirteen pounds per head per annum; in Germany eight pounds, Holland six pounds, France four pounds, Italy one pound. Walker thinks it thing for $100 a General Francis A. would be about the correct government to levy a tax of head on all immigrants after July 1, and to notify the world that no more would be received for ten years after 1902, The construction of the world’s longest railway is progressing rapidly along the river valleys and across the steppes of Siberia. The western ex- tremity of the road mining town of Miask, the eastern of the Ural range and its eastern ter- minus is at Viadivestok, on the sea of Japan, making a total length of 4785 miles, which is nearly twice the length of the Canadian Pacific. It will $183, Biy,000. A report ‘has been prep ared by the National Union of Teachers giving what the Chicago Post characterizes as some startling facts as to is the on side cost the ex- traneous duties imposed upon teachers in various parts of the country, either as a condition of appointment or un- der pain of dismissal. It is intended te give the document the ble circulation, ing amendments in education acts. widest possi- with a view to secur- the elementary The death of Dr. Junker removes one of the most successful of African travelers, observes the San Francisco Chronicle. Junker differed from all other explorers in his methods. He never took any arms, bul he provided himself with musical instraments, electric toys and other devices for in- teresting savages, who have the in- stincts of children. In this way his presence was sought by chiefs, and be received more favors by entertain. ing the various tribes than Stanley secured by force of arms. His death is a loss to geographical science. Rev. C. Smith tells the Lincoln Journal that the farmers of southeas* tern Nebraska are giving more and more attention to apples. He himself is now planting 100,000 trees and is confident that in a few years these orchards will bring him an indepen- dent income, I know a man,” he says, ‘who has just cleared £4000 on an orchard of twenty acres. Plenty of others have done just as well. The river counties beat the world for ap- ples and this ie one of the seasons that farms are selling at from $50 to $60 an Sere ond Hood investments at that.” There are 1100 steamers travelng the four great ocean routes. The first is that across the Atlantic, another by Suez to India, China and Australia, To go around the world that way takes 80 or 90 days, aud covers 23,000 miles. The passage money fis $1000, and the traveler who wishes to go in comfort and ease should take another $1000 with him. Another sea route is that by which you start from San Francisco and sail around the Americin continent to New York. The journey is 16,500 miles in length. It takes 100 days to cover it, and the fare is sbout the same as that around the world, To go around the Cape of Good Hope to Australian and back around Cape Horn 18 about 25,000 miles and can be ocov- ered iuB81 days. The eost is only 8750. i ————— S———————" 5, ———— ——’ A — It is said that gas bids fair to super. sede all other fuel for making steam, at least in stationary engines. The system has been at work in a large establishment in London, England, and the results obtained are simply astounding. Burning about 500 cubic feet of gas per hour under a thirty foot boiler. steam is said to have been raised to fifty pounds’ in forty minutes. Gas and air plied under pressure to pipes that run parallel with and the boiler, and furnaces and chimneys are dispensed with. pressure are sup- under When the present century was be- gun French was spoken by about 37,- 000,000, German by 30,000,000, Rus- sian by 30,000,000 and English by only 21,000,000. Now, however, 125, 000,000 people speak English and only 41,000,000 speak French. French and German are spoken the world over, but the probability of English being the world’s language scems to be growing stronger every year. An authority writes that with. in a few years English will be spoken by 1,887,000,000 people, and refers to the language as one of such sense and strength of expression that language could be compared with it, English, no other a Revolutionary Conn., the ot Darien, The daughter soldier died at other week in the person of Mrs. Betsey Mather Lockwood. Her father, Deacon Joseph Mather, of the Ti- conderoga and at the siege of Mon- treal. Her Dr. Mather, pastor of the Darien church, was taken from bis pulpit one Sunday same town, was at the taking of grandfather, Moses by British soldiers and carried to New York, where prison he was confined in a ship. Mrs. Lockwood was Congress in view not only of large pecuniary losses which triotism caused him to suffer his pa- seven nine months days. ters of Revolutionary soldiers now re- years The names of main on the pension rolls. In three of the six great military European realms—Germany, and Russia—civilians, compared with those who ‘wear the Emperor's coat,” are at a decided disadvantage, as well as socially. It Las peatedly pointed out how difficult it is, for instance, for a German to be admitted to good society in his own country unless he has a right to wear a uniform. it seems to English and even to French Aus- society a sccond lieutenant of a higher standing than the most learned professor, elo- quent advocate, or skilful physician. unless, haply, those gentlemen should hold military rank outside their re- spective professions, as many of them do. In Prussia the army or navy oiiicer must not sit in the opera stalls, legally been re- recognized apprehensions, in German and trian regulars occupies such whose The for beings as civilians, that, stalls inferior social superior he is in virtue of his silver sword knot, matier to what subordinate station of life his family may belong. are no A naval officer who Las made fre. quent visits to Jamaica, where the mongoose is employed to exterminate snakes, rises up in opposition to the plan of introducing the little animal to the United States for the same pur- pose. He says: <The mongoose came to Jamaica with an amiable character. In India he was a respectable member of society, but in Jamaica he is a nui- sance. He is so destructive in the barn-yard that it is in the country al most impossible to keep poultry of any kind. He has increased to such an extent that he has destroyed all the lizards, toads, and small snakes, harm- less in themselves, but having an im- poriant part to play in the economy of nature. The consequence is that the grassy portions of the island are be. coming almost unhbitable on account of the plague of ticks—small, black fellows, whose bite is more irritating than that of any insect I ever experi- enced, and which commonly ends in an ugly festering sore. Pasture lands are, on account of these little pests, becoming, in some places, useless. The cattle cannot stand the ticks, which once formed the food of the toads, ete., which have gone to fill the voracious maw of the mongoose. Birds that nested on the ground have been in some cases utterly destroyed, their eggs and themselves going for food for this pesky little animal, and in other cases they lave changed their habits eompletely., The mongoose climbs trees and eats the birds, their young and their eggs. It is in fact working a change in the entire fauna of the island.” If Mother Would Listen, If mother would listen to me, dears, Bhe would freshen that faded gown, She would sometimes take an hour's rest, And sometimes a trip to town. And it shouldn't be all for the children, The fun, and the cheer and the play; With the patient droop on the tired mouth, And the “Mother bas had her day!” True, mother has had her day, dears, When you were her babies three, And she stepped about the farm and the house As busy as ever a bee, When she rocked you all to sleep, dears, And sent you all to school, And wore herself out, and did without, And lived by the golden rule. And so your turn has come, Her hair is growing white, And her eyes are gaining the far away look That peers beyond the night. One of these days in the morning, Mother will not be here, She will fade away into silence, The mother so true and dear, dears, Then, what will you do in the daylight, And what in the gloaming dim; And father, tired, lonesome then, Pray, what will you do for him? If you want to keep your mother, You must make her rest today; Must give her a share in the frolic, And draw ber into the play. And, if mother would listen to me, dears, She'd buy ber a gown of silk, With buttons of royal velvet, And ruffles as white as milk, And she'd let you do the trotting, While she sat still in her chair; That mother should have it hard all through, It strikes me, {Margaret Sangster, In the Interior. isn't fair. LETTY'S JOURNEY, BY AMY RANDOLPH. A bitter Marc h day. ant day to travel in, but, then, one of the sort that by any means; Lettice Mainwaring makes the best everything. «It's a long journey over the hills, Miss,” of the of the little one-story tavern said the wife that was perched on the crest of the highway, “and the snow's powerful deep.” the | prettiest said Lettice, cheerily, nas wound her fur boa round and round her neck. “] think a winter landscape is the she thing in world,” is awful added the landlady. stage-riding,” “And old Stokes’s stage ei] Tetly. “You'l «Oh, like asserted not get there till dark. that is sooner than 1 ex- And Letty climbed up into the stage- which stood creaking sand! at the door, having just the next village, a One solitary passenger occupied the corner—a tall, dark man, compexion, dark eyes, who wore an odd | or mantle, Ie Letty’s | olive-green cloak sable fur. return to Oar lit talked with a polar | bear, had a polar bear chanced to be | with briefly in tie hero- her traveling companion. Lettice arranged her furs and ber | basket and her wondered secretly bonunet-strings, and | how far the tall | man was going. “Can I be of any assistance to you ?”’ courteously queried the gentleman, as Letty searched the straw feet for a dropped glove. “Thanks —no,”’ with little in at Ler! said Letty, coming | up again red cheeks and | curls a disheveled. “Are going all the way through?” “As far ns the stage “Oh,” said Miss Mainwaring, am L” The gentleman nodded interroga- tively, and went back to his paper. “Cross thing!” thought Letty, in- voluntarily pouting her cherry lips. “Why can’t he talk and make himself agreeable? And he knows very well that we are to be shut up here for | eight long hours.” But the wild, mountainous land- scape, as it flitted by, white gleaming with snows, and darkly fringed with the waving of hemlock boughs and | solemn crested pines, was, after all, nearly as good a study as the “human face divine;” and Letty soon forgot her temporary annoyance and chagrin in the white, skeleton-like walls of a deserted oid paper-mill Jong since disused and fallen to ruin, «] wonder if it is haunted?” said she, aloud. The stranger smiled, and laid down his paper. “Do you believe in such things? he asked. Lettice Muinwaring laughed and colored. «()f course not; and yet— Are you much acquainted in this region of the country?” “L have lived hercabouis a good deal.” “Oh! Then perhaps you know Easterham Hall?” His face brightened. Oh, yor. You are going there?” very you goes—yes,” “a0 “Yow, little I am to be governess to the children,” said Letty, making haste to enlighten him as to her true position, in order that he should fully comprehend that she was no elegant young lady coming to the Hall make a visit, but a humble little working who was obliged toil steadfastly for the daily bread she ate. to bee, 10 “Indeed!” he said, And Letty was vexed at herself for noticing the polite indifleretice into which his tone subsided. it is a very she went on. “Very—for those who fancy ‘fine old places.’ To my taste they are apt to Le with rate, fall of draughts and picturesquely inconven. “I suppose fine old place,” overrun ient.” “And haunted, perhaps?” mischiev- ously put Lettice, the eparkles coming back fo her eyes. in roguish is free from any supernatural occu- pants.” “1 am sorry for that,” sald Letty. He arched his eyebrows. “You would like room with a ghost or two?” “No to share your beyond the n He did not answer; and talkative “The Easterhams pose? } “Yes “] never heard of them until last said she, musingly ; ~—how strangely 'thiogs are in this world!—1I am going to cast my said the not very “‘How does that happen?” gentleman, He could well that she Madame Mol to select a “They wrote to igny, qualified to teach two little boys; and knew that I wished fot uation, and so here I am. I wonder me?’ like them,” how they will like “I hope you will “That isn't the qu corrected imperatively. gestion," “eM “You are acquainted with him?" “Oh, no; only what I have heard,” ty. «And what may that be?” “You are a neighbor?’ said doubtfally. Perhaps much already.” Ie than Letty, I've said laughed with more animation she bad yet seen in his I shall Easterham. “Depend upon it, Mr. Well, you So to he boar? if I am a to and they tell me they are very nice boys,” “Rut he won't bite me good girl, and do my daly persisted Lettice. believe.” “Oh,” said Lettice, laughing, it is only with teeth and long claws, I am afraid of. full-grown specimen, sive expression round, blooming countenance, and never says a word to any one.” «He must be a savage. indeed,” ob- served the gentieman, “And Miss Electa Easterham, the old.maid sunt who keeps house for every governess have had,” went on Letty, patting her little foot on the rustling straw on the stage floor; bat she shall not quarrel with me. I wont let her. 1 am too good- natured, and too accustomed to humoring people, especially old ones. word pretty Now I'm young, you they me that she disliked young and governesses particularly. not young--not very see.” “No?” ' “] was twenly last week,” sald Letty, solemnly, “and I am not pretty enough to disturb her mind, I am only tolerably decent looking. Now, if madame had selected Olive Dayton, who used to be in the same class with mo--she was & regular beauty, with great, shady eyes, and a complexion ull pearls and roses—there would have been danger then,” The stranger began to look ine terested. «Tell me more about your school,” said he. “I have a sister whom I think of placing in some desirable institu tion, and I should like to judge whether your Madame Moligny's would be a good home for her.” § Lotty’s eyos brightened, her cheeks reddened, and her little tongue a Hor — ———— — or a font 4 ap. Ao pamon was social and chatty, and the time fleeted swiftly away, “You are going?” she cried, ss ata lonely inn, overshadowed with silver. stemmed birches and funereai sprucy woods, a light sleigh, drawn by two milk-white horses, was waiting. “I have reached the end of my jour- ney,” he said, courteously touching “J had intended to keep end of the route, they have sent to meet me here. Lis fur cap. on to the I wish you and every BUCCEHR your bear-taming.” Letty felt herself flushing deeply. “Im afraid I much,” thought Letty; a body to do, shat “hut up all day siage-conch man ?” journey was just a little tedious. It was dusk when they Easterham Hall—a snowy, chill dusk scarlet moreen curtains and the shine of a great wood-fire waved hall, as seen through ’ 4 most delightful and Aunt Electa, old Snowy cap stood a tall, prim in ribbons to walcome her Ix ready sand just behind diy SAW a gentleman, with two clinging about him. “This is my nephew Philip,” the old indy said; and Letty felt as if the turning to as she recognized—her traveling n of th “Do 1 look very Miss Mainwaring ¢ day. mach like a bear, he stood, trembling , before “No, I promise you to allow myself tamable. And either,” as the tears asked, lauch- and don’t ing, as she lie d hi im. color. becc me very must not cry, «There's noth 5 came into Le y'seves. ry for. who in't ni “Why dis were?” you tell me she asked, piteously. you never asked me.” ved herself leave Easterham the 1 But “Because Let that very ty resol within resolution. At the led with had nor end she Aunt El Mr. and the little boys thought year's quarres ecin Easterham, was perfection. “Letty,” said he, “the year for 8 over.” oftly. another year? Letty 27 And so, within the yellow shi of ring, Letty found herself a al Hall which I engaged you “Yes, “Will you stay she responded, s Wij you stay with me always, ne a wedding prisoner forever Easterham — [The Ledger. — - a —_—— co — A Farm-house on the Danube, He welcomed us when reach of the savage waves, and nto his big was like a baronial hall. Here was or have a romp. Substantial the the tables benches were of wood well scrubbed. He offered us beer, and his wife gave wus bowls ceiling; great interest, dwelling-house for cows and horses as well as family and servants. The ante-room ouiside of the main dwell ing “hall” opened on one sud2 to the kitchen, above to the bedrooms, on the right to our “hall” and on the left to the stables. Dut let us hasten to add that cows and horses were cleanliness jtself, that every part of their premises indicated serapulous neatness, from the round little windows (0 the ex- treme recesses of the vaulted ceiling. The roof was supported by stone col umns that would have graced a monas- tery. Their eating and drinking troughs were of stone; their wants were ministered to by two as dainty and graceful maidens as ever figured in a pastoral, and such was the be. havior of taese animals that no well. regulated house-keeper could have ob- jected to them as fellow-lodgers. The veranda that passed the dining-hall continued past the stables, wherein were about a dozen horses and twice as many cows. As we chatted, iwo colts, a few weeks old, walked up and about us, nibbled at our trousers and fingers, rubbed their noses affection ately sgainst each of us in turn, and played with the big watch-dog as hap- pily as if all three were pups of the samo litter. With such evidence of Friendship, Friendship is not like love; it cannot sap “Now is fruition given me and now The crown of me is set on mine own brow, This is the minute, the hour and the day.” It cannot find 8 moment which it may Call that for which it lived; there is no Yow Kor pledge thereof, nor first fruits of its bough, m— Nor harvest, and no myrtle erown nor bay. Love lives for what it may win or has won; But friendship has no guerdon save to be, Itself and in the past Or future can no dearer dreams be done Or} 16 see unchanged © in its own goal, hoped for; save its own dear self The same, and evermore sant, (Edward L. White HUMOROUS. you,’ remarked to the bald-headed man. There is always a hand of welcome ready to be offered to the strange uim- brella. The run sin New York Sun. “I'm onto is what the wig course of true love may never but there just the same, smooth, it generally gels friend vas vort didu's ‘+A goot turn done a more as six turns says Carl Pretzel. val you " done, The Soston pe ople have di sovered that “bons pekukol” Volapuk for baked beans, and they are correspond- is ingly happy. difficult home. Wo yi - He Wool—When it comes to a case Dr. Emdee is always at Van Pelt—How that? is never called. We the is have noticed that the cheaper the ar and trousers a8 young man b fur he of his overcoat, as on more the coll cuffs puts on zo off The “How did the surprise party “Do people and tu inst nigh?” uble-quick tin hought t the surprised were burg! on ars rued Lose them.” It is said that in a man Chicago OWnE an ape master’s ink. We've heard of monkey-shines before, but this beats ail. TRE My heart is light a That 1 for Because my best girl's terrible dad who steals his shoes and blacks them with WOORR'S PONG nd 1 feel joy could shout, 80 glad Is laid up with the ert gout. e—————— | The Twin Phenomena of the Northwest. Just as the Atlantic prised when Chicago distanced all two of them in popula cities were sur- bot tion, and chal- lenged all of them by her enterprise, #0 will they be astonished again and if . refuse are operating the West. will from another quarter, they to study the forces that to build up new capitals in In another ten years there be another claim of a million population, nos w and politan twin and the make counting of heads will nonsense of it. The ne wonderfnl assumption of metro importance will be that of the cities of the wheat region—Minneapo- not be name and govern. lis and St. Paul, They may joined under one ment—opinions differ about that—but of credited population. The last with an! with At the time of the preceding census (1880) the two cities included about 88 000 At that rate of increase they boast 1900 a population of 76,000 and more. But they insisted in the summer of 1891 that they pos- 350,000 joint popu- census Minneapolis 164,700 population, and St. 138.000, or, jointly, 297,000 souls. in i be reached before the next census is taken. — [Harper's Magazine. ————————— A Journey to the San. Stop and think a moment what the sentence “A journey to the sun” ime plies. A cannon ball could hardly complete the trip in fifteen years going at the rate such missiles are known to travel. Take the fastest express train as another illustration of that unthinkable distance. Had one of these trains jeft the earth at the same moment the Mayflower sailed for America, and had is travelled at the rate of a mile a minute day gnd night since that time, it would still be several miles from its celestial destination! The fare, at the customary rate, would be $2, 850,000! Again, it has been found that sensa- tion is mot absolutely instantancous, but that a very minute time elapses as it travels along the nerves. There- fore, if a person put his finger to a heated iron, or in the blaze of a conceivably small space of time, say the one-thousandth part of a second, before the brain knows of the burn. Now, supposs a man with an arm long enough to reach the sun. From he RuOWH tale of dsfieatory Sransmits [Harper's Magueine,
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