TO LEARN TO SWIM, An instructor Gives Some Excellent Advice to Beginners, Capuain Allen, swimming in- straotor at the New York public baths, says: matter to learn without a master. some lessons of a structor. If but a suffice for sell-practice. to swim correctly competent in- Hundreds Comparatively few self-taught swim- lifetime. half a pupil is ‘dry lesson’’ method. The what is called a going into the water. taught to make the movements arms and legs according to count. As soon as these points are thorough- of into the water suspended by a belt attached that he occupies a horizontal tion, breast downward, and with the shoulders just covered by the water. In this position he is practiced leg movements combination. Many the stroke in one lesson. pupils master As soon as is tied about the chest, supporting stroke creased at The quantity of air is each lesson, until the pupil has gained the confidence to make an effort without support. In this way any one, however timid, inay learn the art rapidly and cor- rectly. To the person who is anxious to learn to swim, but cannot afford the cury of a master, a few hints may of sarvice. Beware of deep water places where the bottom is un- even, or currents swift and treacher- ous. Choose a quiet spot, where you can wade out gradually until the water reaches the armpits. Remem- ber that but a slight movement is necessary to keep the body afloat— if tho hands are kept under the sur- face of the water. The arm ment is made as follows: Palms of hands arms extended ght in of breast, fingers g. Using the thumbs vots, turn the hands over int nove- together, trai front sural iron Cciosely touchin osition nearly. arms move 3 water till they form a with ear and shoulder, g elbows nearly to side OUSLY pointing hngers rier fins af tincar - gS Lips Of nngers } directly un paims y forward into first po- wwement is not ie hands toward chin. At this moment with heels together and toes pointed out- ward, at an angle of forty-five de grees, the legs are drawn up with apart (frog fashion). Then kicking feet ht and left as far as ght awiftly pushed Care- aimos® er are moving Knees possible 33 together fav tar forward to fu ui hands position. Be to bring the legs swiftly together. important factor in f it is this sud- the water that the impetus y quietly and de- motion. Now ter reaching to the arm- the hands together under face of the water and stoop- the chin touches the sur- gently from the bottom feet, and make stroke with decision, as de- are 14 ag ve but { above. yne can purchase a preserver, ring above directions in ‘breast stroke,”’ yf swimming . nce mastered romparatively easy. Few swimmers breaths This is most important. Learn to inhale by the nostrils, and exhale through the parted lips, and at every 4 1. SLTOA® on wii ¢ properly. It is an exploded frowning go times and then expire, a drowning man ozen ti and theory that down three I have seen down a half imes still *‘bob up serenely.” It all depends upon the manner in which he struggles, and whether succeeds in getting a supply of air each time that he rises to the surface. persons o0 " hie SURE TO GET MARRIED. is Every Girl Who Sits at This Treas- ury Desk. There is in the mail division of the Treasury Department a very popular desk, to which is culiar merit that the occupant is by that occupancy placed on road to matrimony. No sooner is the position made va- ing sure that it will only be a short time before she is advanced to the hymeneal grade. has been occupied by seven clerks, following ench other in quick succession as embryo brides, and the records during that time indicate that they have come from all parts of the country only to finally meet their destiny while occupying the fateful desk. Miss Birdie Walker, of Tennessee, started the pace by marrying a resi- dent of the District, after a fow months’ service. She was succeeded by her sister, from the same State, who readily followed her example and left the enviable position open to a newcomer. She arrived on schedule time from Virginia in the person of Miss Easby Smith, who shed the glory of a famous Virginian namo over the talismanic desk for a short time, and then was led to the altar by a journalist of Washington. Next came from Delaware a relative of Senator Gray—Miss Bue Gray— shoat time by a delegate from Mas- sachusetts—Miss Mercine Dickey. Miss Dickey attracted much at- tention during her stay in the de- Mrs. Cleveland, and later married Mr. Simon Flynn, who Pennsylvania also furnishes a rep. Ella Newton, a granddaughter of the first Commis- gioner of Agriculture. Her marriage to a well known resident of this city is a recent event. The last graduate for this sought-for post is another Southern girl, and was formerly Miss Lindsay, of Alabama, but on Easter Monday she became the wife of Dr. Henry D. Fry, of Washington, and the place is temporarily unoccu- pied. This happy illustration of rotation in office, as exemplified by the femin- ine contingent of wage-earners, is the record where nobody “‘kicks,”’ for each woman thinks she filling the position or leaving it, as the case may be. DEAD LETTER OFFICE. A Falling off in the Amount of Mis. directed Mail. operrations of the Dead Letter Office of the Post Office Department It is known in a general way that misdirected letters are transmitted te the Post Office Department in Washington and there are opened and if possible redirected either to the sender or the addressee. The numbe tters and papers sent to the Dead Letter Office in a year is 6,500,. 000. Of these what called ordinary let- ters, 165,000 foreign mis- directed by in the United States to persons abroad, and about 30,000 letters written to fictitious ad- dresses, while 500,000 letters in year mailed by people ( to incorrect addresses States. of le DO. oO) (IH) are unclaimed ietters are 1 people ure ountries " £ n tod eq the According to the Post Office repor more than 30.000 letters sent to the Dead Letter Office to the contained amount of $50,000; J - money TOSS a yntained drafts, and checks to an amount of more than $1, 500 000, A majority of the and the evi- dences of indebtedness were returned ier ietters © notes, deeds, money and $10 RAR) In cash remained unclaimed and undis- tributed The number of sent to the Dead Letter Office large. More than 85.000 fi ng their way to the Dead le yearly contain photographs. A very large proportion of the mat. ter which reaches the office $0 not because of any defec p watoffice system CARUSO want of care on the part of the pat- rons of the mails It would not be possible to state the proportion in figures, because the technical tinctions of ‘held for postage’ “misdirected ete., include letters which, while properly prepaid dispatched according to the ad- iresses. still fail of successful deliv n checks and notes tilice but be dis directions, confusion arising in different States and other causes. It is a peculiar fact that while many persons are careful their penmanship to persons who their writing, they extremely are are which is to be read by persons un- familiar with the writing, yet the safe delivery of the letter Dead Letter Office, which continued each year until about three years ago, has recently ceased, and there diminition in the volume of mis- directed mail matter. This improve- ment is accounted for in part by the improved management of the Post- office department, but to a greater extent by the general diffusion of ed- ucation among writers. A Find in Harmony. An immense quantity of music, gome which had not been disturbed gince the time of Frederick the Great, was discovered in the royal castle at Berlin about six weeks ago and has been found to comprise al- whole of the music per~ of the work of collection end The the the middle to the eighteenth century. sorting and editing It in- many forgotten operas, a quantity of ballet music, early sym: phonies and chamber works, folk songs and dances, and a splendid collection of military music. This music will be a picnic for any young composer of original music who wants to become suddenly famous, The Barber's Advice. Joachim, the great violinist, once entered a smart London hairliresser's to get his very plentiful locks cut He wenrs those rather long behind, and intimated as much to the barber, whereupon that astute person re- plied: “I would not wear it too long, sir; if you do you'll look Just like one uf them fiddling chaps.’ Many Uses for the Castor Oil Plant. The castor oil plant, from the brown seeds of which this useful oil is extracted, is among the tropical plants that grow readily here during the summer, and its deep, metallic green, muchly pinated leaves, make it an ornamental plant. The writer, in walking by the Ar- genal in Central Park with a was surprised to hear whut useful plant it is, “The plant,’’ many of ita virtues have been known in India for centuries, but it is a fact, wns exported to Europe from West Indies near the end of eighteenth century. In India oil is much used as an illuminant If the oil has been ‘cold drawn’ and has been carefully and properly sep- arated, there is none better. Another thing in its favor is that, owing to its slow combustion, asaving of one- it, ns compared with other oils. It makes an excellent lubricant, and is much used in the dressing of tanned hides and skins. The natives use it largely for preserving their water buckets, and without it the ‘beeste wallah,” or water carrier, would have to renew his leather bag or bucket, in which he carries the water around, much oftener than he does now. ‘“The ‘syce,’ or groom, uses it keep the ‘sahib’'s’ harness in good order, and a valuable attribute of the oil is, especially in such a climate as India, that it repels rats and ver- min. In Assam the plant is widely cultivated as a food for the silk worm. The stalks, which g excellent pulp, are used for thatching pur- poses. The oilcake is largely con- sumed as fuel, and 18 also used as a manure. In Jeypore, the public offices and streets are lighted with gas made from a cheap variety castor oil, grown for the purpose. » natives use the | as f« heir cattle ing that increases the yiel { milk thing they h t India, and that is to produce a marketable, medicinal oil, chiefly made in France England, from the lmpo Bombay doinga large in this industry. give an paiace, wider : t or ave not succeeded doing in Fighting Flies any them their are proved of u We screen to two a ' 08% settee all know i rainy weather, or itchen in irtunity ned a cloth dipped sene is rubbed he ite the wire an frame of th creer he flies will not settle those the K any ther, waiting for an opp ' to slip in as 500n as it is ope in Ker $ i wer the kerosene } usually several f lavender— of already House out congregate upon of disposing enemy 8s nave in entrance the windows to the enjoy sunsiine ‘moths detest Now with an atomizer, window casing with the oil javender, and either the the sill or saturate Ihe and dif- as spray the leave bottle upon a smail cloth with some of it. flies will soon become stupefied, brushed down and posed of. If an atomizer is hot at hand, rub the casing with a satura- ted cloth, Itisalsoa good plan to rub the oil over any place that the flies particularly like to light upon. A hanging lamp has often a great attraction for them, but if the shade and chains are rubbed over with the oil they will not light upon it. light can then be Safer Than Lightning Rods. Each day adds some to the long list credited to the pneumatic The la- test of these is that the wheels of a bicycle being encircled by a band of India rubber and dry air—which is a perfect insulntor—the rider is coms. pletely insulated from the earth, and, consequently, is impervious to the at- tacks of the electric fluid. Thus, day by day it becomes more and more a fact that life without a pneu- matic tire is neither safe nor worth having. Any one who suffers from nervousness duringa thunder shower has not only go into a barn or the cel- iar and seat himsclf upon the saddle of a pneumatic tired bicyele to be perfectly safe from lightning stroke. As the chances of a man on a bicycle being struck by lightning have been carefully calculated to be about one in a billion, the Whee! adds, there will, of course, be some pessimists new virtues of those already much. Relics of an Indian Massacre. In 1856 a band of Sioux Indians raided a little colony of settlers who had built cabins on the shores of Lake Okoboji, in Towa. They mas- sacred sll the unfortunates except three young girls, one of whom, Miss Abbie Gardner, is still alive, the only survivor of the tragedy. She now lins a museum of Indian relics in the identieal cabin that was her home at the time of the massacre. Miss Gardner has secured from ths lows Legislature an appropriation of $7.000 for a monument to mark the spot, and it is to be dedicated with ceremony. Eating up the Birds. To the Italian everything is edible; it is a nation without a palate. It The craze for devour the Alps delicate to Etna; they erunch the odies between morsel for the spit or pastry. The Iarks all over and execrable, England as in once be made Italy. It should at penal by ders, and the eaters, or, ere long, no more will the lark be heard on sarth. It is admitted by all who know any- would be impossible without the aid of birds, as the larvae and developed insects of wll kinds would make a desert of the entire area of cultivated land. This is well known. Yet, all over the world the destruction of birds rages unchecked and no attempt is made to protect them, to interdict their public sale and to enable them to nest and rear their young in peace. A scientific writer has said that de- gtruction of the individual is portant (He was speaking of the des:ruction of the great auk As matters go now, unless some gtringent measures are taken the birds of Europe will, in the next century. be as oxtinct as is now the dinornis The ornithopil societies of France and Switzerland have more than once tected in Italy they must perish hil of races wing their way to the south in winter and there murdered. are ruthiessly Bacteria in Clothes. Carlyle gave us the philosophy ] now Dr. Seitz, of Mu- oives us On examin found 956 their bacteriol- ing a worsted stock- thriving coloni ton sock there these articles had information is o the personal habits Thirty-three col i on a glove, twenty on stuff and nin« aibus had been worn. bacilius found in alent after a year erysipeias iid not be fou hours, ni after three with aey whether in i sweated convey ed Death of a Queer Man, died home miles N. Y , under peculiar He was affected by an extent that beef would restless, wander out and bel- an ox, going down on his is and knees to eat grass. After partook of mutton his act were those of a sheep and he} would bleat like a lamb When chickens he would go out and scratch for worms, which he devoured with apparent relish. Mis father killed some squirrels, of which the son ate heartily. He left the house and was followed by his father, who soon saw his soa jumping from limb to limb of a tree, barking like a squirrel. He called for him to come down, but this only seemed to make the boy want to escape and he attempted to jump from one tree to another. He missed his footing, fell to the ground and expired in less than five minutes. Thomas Foote, 22 years old, recently at from Hancock, circumstances what when he indulged in his seven ie ate Lo such ne become iow like han ons he fie ate Built Himself a Wooden Bike. An employe at the Kentucky Wagon Works, says the Louisville Commercial, who is somewhat of an builders of novel bicycles one better, of wood. The frame is of bent hick- ory, and the wheels, axles, ete., are of wood, but it is a flyer, and few to and from his work, rattles like a attention and creating a great deal of amusement, but the rider gets there just the same. It answers his purpose and saves car fare. Woman's Rights in Russia. In Russia, if aman marries an heiress he gets no chance to own her money. There is no marriage settle. ment; she controls her property throughout her life. This financial independence of the wife has con- duced greatly to happy marriages. It is believed that among the weil to do people in Russia there are more hao- py marriages than in most other countries, The Songrugationaiivie in this country number 583,589, WILD ANIMAL FARM. Breeding a Menagerie in a Florida Jungle. A wild animal stock farm in semi- tropical Florida is the scheme that a circus firm is talking of starting. land, a pilot about six miles next fall and turn the circus animals winter quarters. The circus men claim that not only can they in this way provide themselves with wild animals, instead of being obliged to go to Africa and India for specimens, but in addition they expect to be able to supply animals for the zoo- logical exhibits of the country. The firm claims secured an option on a tract of land in the extreme southern part of Florida about one-half of the thickest, dens- est swamp possible to im- agine. An old sraveler in India and Africa, who was there the ground that it « pares favorably with any the Orient. entire section of land will be to have 11 nol . jungle gant to 100) over 1 BAVS 4 has ever seen in The divided by solid iron fencing hat wi 80 48 to i mais tl i8 propose WAaiis Oi neal nr i not affiliate separate. | to first lay a strong build a low wall or four feet hi this to a hei n str turn the tive inciosures, an their natural inc just ng ir beasts io as nev their animals to be propa- ’ f the carnivor- would in native As the Ai80 be Dre wme from f thirty-two 8 slear They Miss Louella Regal i oie of 1 A girl of 19 a4 peachy and Burton res- 3, aged 18, son of a wealt hy farmer re to get iy, an possiDie marriage cense Sympathy | he young c« woes brought a determination « part of the many someon them er dristol trouble 1 other's arms. {ter being mar i the started acre he country on foot. a s i nome | couple distance of 7: iles, to thei Un arriving coma, in Wise County, they were suddenly sur- rounded by three masked men and the girl's father. The young girl ter a fight and young coma, and is now a fugitive, New Gold Fields. North America is likely to find a powerful rival in South Africa in the According to the most reliable figures the prod- uct in 1808 was about twenty-eight and a half millions, while in 1894 it was nearly thirty-nine millions of dollars. Experts, who have studied the gold fields of South Africa, an- nounce that that country is becom- ing one of the most important factors in monetary matters. The ore is in many places exceedingly rich, and forins pozkets, streaks and veins and Pyrite there are large veins of gold-bearing quartz. Very quietly and without necessary mining parties are being made up, and preparations are in progress by means of which the prod- uct of these rich fields will furnish the bass for important and exten- sive mining operations. ————— i. i -— Ship Was Not Christened. An unusual event occurred at (Genoa during the launching of a new ship called the G. Garibaldi. The ship entered the sea splendidly nmid the enthusiastic cheers of the by~ standers, but having moved three minutes before the fixed time she could not be blessed by the pribst nor be christened with the usual THE JOKER'S BUDGET. JESTS AND YARNS BY FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. Discouraged at the Outset~- Wasn't Feeling Woell-~-A Just Rebuke, Ete., Ete. DISCOURAGED AT THE OUTER The summer girl, accompanied by her mother, descended from the train at the Springs station and looked about her, Then she boackoned to a ing a two seated wagon Miss,” he responde i man driv- for that even the he god. the station bevond sCarce I YEELING A H neer, what chit il Cap'n Bl parlor of the | and began pu the miles mis jate — I can’t understand rt t greater port not greater Cand why my svp the poll Manager—] am told at a great many $ { rs had nothing to wear. — ol the vos : Town Top Ss Parishioner—Do you eve Mr. Thumper ! Pastor — Only matrimon iate in bonas 3 Pewrent.—Judg A SUMMER THOUGHT The poet pent, While the white grace unfarl “Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by tne sum- mer girl sings in glowing rapture 1a & clouds in airy THE FEATURES “And what were the main features of Hannigahan's wake ?"’ “Eyes, to be sure.” “Eyes ¥'’ ‘‘Yis. Blscked wans.''—Indian- apolis Journal APPARENTLY A NOVICE. She-~Don’t you think he is a good dentist ? He~1'm afraid he hasn’t had mach experience. I knew I had two cavi- ties in my teeth, and that's all he could find. —Puck. INNOCENT. Lawyer—It has been proved that the stone thrown by my client did hit the plaintiff. That very fact should acquit her, Judge What ? Lawyer—It shows that she couldn't possibly have aimed at the plaintiff— Philadelphia Record. WRITTEN ON WATER, Dillby~~What have you been doing all the day? Twillby (poetically ineclined)—I have bean down to the beach writing sonnets on the beautiful sea. Dillby-—Gad! What a blessing it would be if all ambitious poets wrote their poems on the sea, and left thom there!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers