VOTI. XXXI DON'T Want A Wheel? Just as good time now, as any, to think of buying, to compare pri ces and merits. We pin our best faith to the CLEVKLAM) and the PHOENIX. A wheel should be Easy n Running, Fine /p Looking, I 8 I Fully Guaranteed. Ladies Phoenix. We l]ave tl\em i"|ow ar\d will have irj_ th|e Sprir\£s. J. E. FORSYTHE. GBEAT SLAUGHTER SALE OF OVERCOATS, - SUITS, Underwear, Shirts, Hats, Caps, Hosiery, Tics, Gloves, Mittens, Cardigan Jackets, Sweaters, Trunks, V alises, Telescopes, Watches, Chains, Charms, Rings, Pins, Suspenders, Handkerchiefs, Brushes, I'ur.ses, etc. I 'lis is NO CLEARANCIC SALE Of Summer Goods, but our regular stock of FALL AND WINTER GOODS. We show you the lar gest stock in Butler to select from and everything goes. Don't miss this + Opportunity. I **- We are the pioneers of LOW PRICES. We nc\er were, never can and never will be UNDERSOLD. Bear this in mind, and don't make your purchases un til you see us. Wc feel satisfied we can do you good, D. A. HKCR, 121 N. Mairj. St., Duffy's Block, Butler, PH. FALL FOOTWEAR. your eyes in upou the fine din ffjcl p,B y '^ c aD< l roost elegant si t-ty I«*h in Footwear you have ever look ~ iJ fd upon in Butler that we are now of ering to the public I 4 - n M'» ure now prepared to f-erve all ( buy em that want good, suitable Foot. 'k' B ,t,wr >. quality considered. The hIA people of Butler county know our f" f~ll W' rd and guarantee in sufficient on any J- 5 *- —J" j _JL aloe «e offer, an time has proven. \ ~' — II yt u are lookir g for Ladies Hhoea we our 75 and 95c. $1.25 end $l f)o;ftop and look at the $2, $2.50 and $3, aa fine aa t-ilk, tnj B'ucl eretta |and Button, Narrow and Square Toe, all widtha IF YOU WANT MENS' SHOES You hare got to the right pUoe at Int. »ith«r in working aiioei or fine dr«*a nboea Fine lines at 85';, 90c, $1,51.25 aid $1 50; wait a moment and aee the $2 and $2 50 Hh w in London, fJI »l>9, Yale and St. Louis toes Nothing lilt" them in Butler Well if you waot SCHOOL SFIORS for vo ir BOYS AND [GIRLS, ae« the great display at 45c, 50c, 75c, $1 and $1.25. ay's and Youth's Hig!) )r. inn! > 1 )3>. If y m ard I fo* * bun ch it y »ir d >!l i' i4v »■ i 1 00 to everr ran, wom-vi aud child If yoa are lo jkinu for a b )»4d that uirriei in tba hoimj and not in tbe n««npapera. In fact if you want to tridi wi'.h a reliable, lirst claas Sbi e lloose go at once to HUSELIX )!>'«. Where the majority of the beat people of Butler count v do thoro buy ng in footwoir 102 N. Main St, Butler, Pa., opposite Hot:' L of large profits are past. Without question we are giving more for the money than last year. Our stock is larger to select from than last year. '"-ALL AND SKi: US. Colbert & Dale. What You Need 4. Is a Dictionary! '* HERE IT IS! One Webster Int. Dictionary, sheep, with patent thumb index, together with one Xoye's patent ad justable dictionary bolder—all com pletefor J 5(). We are the only firm in tie county able to wholesale i-cbool i-U)» plies in competition with l«rge fir»is from Chicago and other cities \\ e fell for I'JHH than other firms here p»v for things. J. H. DOUGLASS, ( W 241 S. Main Street, Near l'ostollio L. c% w K;K DKALKII IN Rough anil Med tiM"! OK AI.L XINUH Doors, Sash, Blinds. VJ >u!riln : s, Shingles arul l ai rt Always In Stock. LIME, HAIR AND PLASTI K. Oiflcu eppoaite I*. «t W. Depot, BTITLBK * BUTLER LU{fl3EB COMPANY Shippers and dealers in Wuilrli.ll .*. jV'f nteriuls Rough unJ dre d Lumber of uM kinds, Doors and Windows, and Mouldings of all kindc. H. E WICK, Manager. Office and Yards, Kant <'uniilnicbaui miU JlonroiMtreetii. Great Oiscovery. ""Tumor., mid iliiii({urii!(f (nriuviti r«ni ' do it if I asked her. She hates boys. You do it, Grace." "She hates girls as much as she does boys," returned his sister, gloomily, j "It's on Nan's account; it's lierbirth dav. She is the one to ask," suggested Billy. "Well, I do hope you're mean enough; - ' returned Xan, in disgust. "Why not let Lizbeth ask? She likes her a great deal better than she does any of the rest of us." "Oh," said Lizbeth, shrinking back. | "I'd really rather not!" "You sha'n't, then," said Don, scowl* ing at Xan. "Lizbeth is the youngest i of the lot. I'll do it myself; you might i as well all come along with me, though!" he added, a little lews boldly, as he reached the door. As they filed into the room, in a quiet manner strangely different from their usual noisy way. Miss Ann Hop kins looked up from her writing-tabla and frowned. She always frownea when she saw them. "Well, what do you want?" she cow said, inhospitably. "Answer quick, for I am very ousy this morning." This was not a very encouraging be ginning, but Don did not allow him self to be daunted. "Auut Ann," he began, hurriedly, "it's Xan's birthday, you know, and mamma always gives us a little supper on our birthdays, so we thought per haps you might—you would —er" —here he broke down hopelessly, and looked at Grace, who came bravely to his res cue. "Yes, a little supper, and a cake with candies on it, only of course we wouldn't expect that." "And lots of preserves," shouted Billy, loudly, emboldened by the thought of past festivities. "I'm ten years old. Aunt Ann," put in Xan, timidly, from the background. "It's the oldest birthday I've ever had." "Well, and haven't I remembered H sufficiently?" returned her aunt, sharp ly. "Have you forgotten the two nice aprons I gave you last night?" "Aprons! H'm!" muttered Don, con temptuously, to himself. "Much good aprons will do Xan. She never works any." "Work!" exclaimed Miss Ann, who possessed an unfortunate faculty for always overhearing an aside not in tended for her. "Work! Xo, nor you, either. It would be much better if you all had allotted tasks f >r each day, and next week I'll see that you have. In my day—" The children sighed. They were so tired of hearing about Miss Ann's day. Billy was resolved to stop the present reminiscence at all hazards. "Will you do it, Aunt Ann?" he in terrupted, rashly, notwithstanding a warning pinch from Grace. Their last chance vanished. "Xo!" said his aunt, crossly. "I can't be troubled with you to-day. 1 have a great deal to do, and I want you all out of the way. 1 have packed a bas ket with some nice bread-and-butter sandwiches, cookies and apples. You can go on a picnic down in the long meadow. That ought to satisfy you, I'm sure. You needn't come back till late in the afternoon, for I probably shall not be here. William," she called, as, with disappointed faces, the children were moving sadly away, "take this pile of books to the little schooihouse at the end of the lane. You will find the key hanging behind the kitchen door. Don't forget to lock the door when you come away." "What for?" said Billy, idly, more from habit than because he expected to lind out. Miss Ann did not answer. It was not her way to give children a reason. "Why should 1?" she would say. "It ought to be enough for them to know that I desire it." "We didn't make much out of that," said Don, as they pushed their way through the long grass of the meadow. "No." said Billy, who had just joined them. "Nothing but a lot ot tasks." "It was so stupid of you, Billy, to cut in when she began about 'her day,"' said Don. "She loves to tell about herself when she was a little girl. It might have made her good natured, and Xan was beginning to get up quite a grateful look about the aprons when you rushed in and spoiled it all." "Don't care if I did," said Billy, de fiantly. "1 couldn't stand it." "Let's not talk any more about her now," said Lizbeth, wearily. "I'm so tired, and we sha'n't see her again for all day." "All right, Lizbeth," said Billy, gently. The children were always gentle with Lizbeth—poor little Lizbeth, They were all strong and healthy ex ccpting this one little sister. Something was the trouble with her heart, the doctors said. Often for days she would have to stay apart from them in a darkened room, and then they would all be very quiet. Though she could not join in their rough sports, still there was always a certain zest missing when Llzbeth's pale, sweet faco was not there to smile and applaud their feats; and their disputes were always more bitter without Llzbeth's soft voice to make peace. The tall elms were beginning to cast long shadows iu the meadow, when Grace suggested that it was time tore turn home. As they climbed the long hill wearily, Lizbeth dropped a little behind the others and said to Billy: "Did you remember to lock the door of the schooihouse, as Aunt Ann told you to?" "Cracky!" cried Billy, stopping in dismay; "1 forgot all about it. I left the key in the door. I'll go and lock it and catch up with you before you get to the house." "You run on ahead, Xan, and see if supper'sready," suggested Don. "Grace and I will make a lady's chair and carry Lizbeth the rest of the way, she looks so tired." Nan rushed on ahead, and the other three followed so slowly that Billy overtook them by the time they reached the house. "it's lucky you reminded me of it, Lizbeth," lie said, swinging the big key on his llnjfer. "I'll just go and—" "Donald, Grace," cried Nan's voice, excitedly. "Only look! Come here quick." They all rushed eagerly into the house and to the dining-room, where they stood transfixed on the threshold, ffazitig with wide-open, astonished eyes at the sight before them. The table was spread with a snowy cloth, one of Aunt Ann's best damask; iu the center stood a large cut-glass bowl of June roses, whose sweet fra grance filled the whole room. But the | children's hungry eyes did not linger i on such trilling details as flowers or ! fine glass, for before them was laid a ' most bounteous feast. "o&jjjy pyur r g»»p«a Billy «t lull •quince preserve!" "Cold tongrue and chicken," added Grace. c.rawing near the table. "And Washington-pie," cried Don. "What's in this pitcher?" said Xan, bending over it. "Iced tea!" she ex claimed. gazing t.itft awestruck de light at the amber liquid. "And all on account of Xan's birth day," said Lizbeth, with a soft flush on her cheeks, looking with admira tion at her sister. "Wasn't Aunt Ann good?" said Grace. "Where can she be? 1 suppose we'd better wait for her," she added, doubtfully. "The tabic is only set for five peo ple." said Billy, hungrily. "I don't believe she im*ans to be here, so we a - well Though of course it would be pleasanter to have her here," he added, politely. "Ye-es." assented Wrace, faintly; "of course." But notwithstanding the absence of their hostess, they seated themselves with bright faces, and the dainties be- K-an rapidly to disappear. Meanwhile in the little schooihouse at the end of the lane a queer scene was taking place. Four angry, tired women were gathered about a trembling old desk upon which was balanced a three legged stool. On this shaky pedestal stood a fifth woman still angrier and warmer. "4 expect to break my neck," she i said, sharply. "Can't you hold that i stool any steadier? I should think j four of you might manage to keep it j from shaking so." "The fault is with the desk." said the stout Widow Clark, putting a little. "But the worst part is over now," she remarked triumphantly, as Miss Ann drew herself tip laboriously on the narrow window sill. "Glad you think so," said Miss Ann, grimly, from her precarious perch. "But if you had to crawl through a three by four window and drop eight "CAN'T YOU HOLD THAT STOOL ANT BTEADIKR?" feet to the ground, you wouldn't be of the same opinion. Had I better go feet first?" she asked, nervously, glancing down at her anxious friends. "I suppose so," said Miss Webb, 1 doubtfully. "It is a pity the windows were built so high." I "It isn't likely they were built as a means of exit," returned Miss Ann, un gratefully. "Fortunately, every one Is not blessed with nieces and nephews like mine." "I suppose there is no doubt that one of tliein did it?" said the Widow Clark, hesitatingly. "Doubt!" repeated Miss Ann, with scorn. "That's probably the reason William left the key in the door, only I wasn't smart enough to think of It. It isn't strange their mother needed a rest. I'll never undertake the care of them for another summer, though. They were cross about Xan's birthday, and this is their revenge. They didn't think we should be able to get out till they were ready to unlock the door; but I'll show them I'm not to be trifled with." Spurred on by this thought, she made a bold leap. A heavy thud an nounced that she had reached the ground, but not without some damage, as the sound of something tearing told her breathless listeners. "Her best bombazine gown!" said the Widow Clark, in a frightened whisper, ■ gazing at a bit of gray cloth left on the 1 blind fastener. There was silence, and then Miss Ann's voice came sepulclirally through ' the keyhole: • "It's just as I thought; they have gone off with the key. I will hurry straight to the house, for they are capable of anything, even of eatiug our supper." A* she approached the house she grew angrier than ever, for ..he heard loud bursts of laughter and merry voices. "My gracious!" she said to herself, "t.hev are actually in the Jining-room! I'll creep softly to the door and catch them in the very act." As she paußcd in the hall, she heard Donald's clear voice. i "Hulloa, Lizbeth," he cried, stopping suddenly to stare at his sister. "You're not eating anything What's the mat ter?" "O, Don," she answered, in a low voice. "I can't eat; it chokes me." "Chokes you!" cried Billy, in a soared tone. He was devouring his fifth sar dine, and lie quickly put down his fork and looked anxiously at his plate. "Is it the bones, Lizbeth?" "Oh! I don't mean that," responded Lizbeth, with a little sob. "It's only that I've been thinking of what we said about Aunt Ann. We called her names, and we made fu-i of the suffer . kjit as . • \ " HEBE'S TO AUNT ANN AN 11 IIIK OTHER SUFKEKAOEHB. agists, and all the time while we were saj'lng mean things about her, here she was working away getting this supper ready for us!" "That's so," said Grace, regretfully. "It must have taken her an awful long time to bake all these things, and it's been so hot." "That's probably why she wanted to get rid of us to-day. Sho meant to surprise us all along," and Donald looked about him with a remorseful face. "Oh! dear," said tender-hearted Xan, the great tears standing in her blue eyes. "Of course, that was It. We might haveknowu that she wouldn't disappoint us." "I don't see why," said Billy, who, unmoved by the repentant words of his brother and sisters, had continued his supper. "This is the first nice thing she ever did for us, and she wa» cross enough about this." "You ungrateful boy!" said Grace, with indignation. "What if she was ft little cross? We've done enough to ni& itfJ' 4P. I W fcWt!' tried to be nice to her or please her since we came. Guess you've forgot ten the night she sat up with you after you had fallen into the river." "Wish she hadn't," grumbled Hilly. "She scolded me all through." "And she drove away over to Mil ford to get the bag Nan lost." "She was madder than hops 'cause she had to," returned the hardened Billy, helping himself to a large piece of cake. "She's always been good to Lizbeth,'' suggested Nan. "So she has," assented Billy, slowly, touched at last. "But nobody could help being good to Lizbeth." "Before Nan finishes that pitcher of iced tea I say we drink Aunt Ann's health, the way they did at mamma's anniversary," said Donald. "Nan ought to give the toast, because it's her birthday. Fill our glasses and stand up. Nan." Nan rose obediently. "Here's to Aunt Ann and the other sufferagers," she said, after a mo ment's thought "I hope they'll stop suffering and have a good time very soon. We all do." "Hurrah;" said Billy, waving his glass; "so we do." And the toast was drunk joyfully. A very thoughtful and sober-looking woman crept away from tbe house. Although she carried the school house key, yet she did not seem to be in any great haste to release her fellow-pris oners, for when she reached the door she stood looking musingly at the key hole lor some moments, and when she finally threw the door open her friends were surprised at the softened look on her face. "Well?" said Miss Webb, inquiring ly. "Did you find any of them?" "Yes," said Miss Ann, obviously avoiding their eyes. "Yes, they were all there. They were in the dining room." "My patience, Ann!" exclaimed the Widow Clark, anticipating the worst "They weren't eating the supper, were they?" "Yes, they were," returned Miss Ann, defiantly. "And tvhat's more, I didn't stop them. There was a mis take about the supper." "I should think so," retorted Miss Webb, grimly. "A mistake I should not overlook. I'm surprised at you, Ann." "Why didn't yon speak to them, Ann?" said the Widow Clark, curiosity getting the better of her hunger. "I didn't speak to them," she an swered slowly, "because they thought it was a birthday supper I had pre pared for Nan. Tho table was set for five, you know, and I hadn't told them about this meeting we were going to have; so when they got home and found 110 one there, they naturally thought it was a surprise for them." "How do you account for the door being locked?" asked Miss Webb, with asperity. "No matter, Ann," broke la the Widow Clark, hastily. "It's all You can all come over and have tea with me if you don't mind a plain supper." "Thank you, Sophia." said Miss Ann, gratefully.—Marjoric Richardson, in Youth's Companion. WOll.l) MEKT AGAIN. She (sadly, to her fiance) —And now you must go back to the dreadful city and leave me here alone for the rest of the season? He (tenderly)— Yes, dear; but we shall meet here again next summer, you know. —Brooklyn Life. Mhr Knew What She Win lloluf. Louise—You are surely not going to marry Mr. Graball? Maud —I atn. L. —Why, he is a regular miser. M. —That's just the reason. I don't want a man who spends all the money himself. I will attend to that part of the business. —N. Y'. I'ress. Make* a Ill|c DlfT.r«*nre. Mr. Timmidd —How would a girl feel if she received a proposal by let ter? Friend—lf she didn't care for you, she'd feel insulted. "Um well —er —suppose she did care for me?" "She'd say 'yes' by telegraph."—N. Y. Weekly. Not Willi* He Knew It. Doctor—You say your husband has been in this delirious state for the last hour? Why did you not send for me sooner? Patient's Wife —Sure, sor, as long as he wor in his roiglit inoind he suid ho wouldn't hav' wono' tliimdomdocthers In the house! —Puck. Private and Public IttiHlneM. Hoy—Why do you hire that man by the job? Father (a congressman) Hecause if I paid him by the day he'd dawdle along all summer. "Does the government pay you by the job?" "N—o; by the day."—Good News. Puzzled. Mrs. Foracloque—Well, how ure you getting along with your housekeep ing? Mrs. Nuwed —Ob, famously! Hut, I was going to ask you. Is a sugar loaf the same thing as a sweetbread? —N. Y. World. .After Tea. A bright little girl who had success fully spelled the word "that," was asked by her teacher what would re- j main after the "t" had been taken away. "The dirty cups and saucers," was the prompt reply.—Texas Sifting*. She Waa Not Ainbltlou*. Mrs. Newrlclie —I want Ethel to bt) very highly educated. Ethei (imploringly) —Oh, inainma, I don't want to be highly educated. I ! want to be just like you.—Brooklyn | Life. The I'olnt ut View. Van Croke—But, my dear fellow, you can't afford to marry a girl like Ruth j Rlchllng. Von Broke—On the contrary, old man, \ I can't afford to marry any other girl. —Brooklyn Life. «fu*t Like Mont Women. "Miss Streetcr is learning to ride a \ bicycle." "How Is she succeeding?" "Oh, she doesn't get on very well."— Life Aiwa) 4 Ho. Perkins—Say, Dexter, your storle* ; remind me of my bank account. Dexter—How's that? "Always overdrawn." — Arltunsaw Traveler. PORTABLE HEN HOUSE. Iltw Poultry Can Be Made to Ctilize Waste In Gratn Fields. There is always more or less prain lost in harvesting—shelled off tbe heads or broken down out of reach of the reaper. When prain was high in | price farmers could afford to ignore | tbis waste and let it seed the laud with a volunteer crop. The writer has often herded cows on the great ' Colorado wheat fields, that were see led | in this way. In these times, however, "every little counts." and even the j waste in the grain fields must be ; picked up and utilized. But whose la bor is so valueless that it will not cost more than the ((rain is worth? Mr. PORTAKI.K HOUSE FOR POULTBY. and Mrs. lien are the people to do the work properly. We illustrate the ; way this thing is done in England. A little henhouse on wheels, large enough for twenty-five hens, is hauled about from one part of the field to an other. Wherever it stops, the hens clean up all the scattered wheat for many rods in every direction. They come back to the house to sleep and lay. All the farmer has to do is to move the house and gather the eggs— the hens do the rest. There is prog ress for you—a step in advance of "hens by the acre." On many an American wheat farm the hens could make the waste wheat worth a good deal of money. Rural New Yorker. MANY USES OF TAR. To the Poultry Kaiser It May Be Said to Re IndiHpensablo. Poultry raisers seem to have failed to learn the value of tar. It is valua ble in many ways, says C. W. Norris in the Epitomist. I am led to believe that to tar the fence around the poultry house, instead of whitewashing, will be much better. It will contribute largely to the durability of the wood, protecting it from storm and time. It Is in the poultry-house that the value of tar is the greatest, for it conduces greatly toward healthfuluess. When cholera makes its appearance, we would advise, first, a thorough clean ing of the houso, next, an application of tar on all the joints, cracks and crevices of the inside of tbe building, and then plenty of fresh whitewash properly applied. The tar absorbs or drives away the taint of disease, and makes the premises wholesome. The smell is not offensive, in fact many people like it. and it is directly oppo site to unhealthy. To vermin, lice, etc., the smell of tar is very repulsive, and but few will remain after you have tarred the house. A neighbor of ours was once troubled with chicken cholera, and by adopting the above, in connection with removing affected fowls, he soon put a stop to its rav ages. A small lump of tar in the | drinking water supplied to the fowls will bu found beneficial. It is also very beneficial to the human system in case of consumption, bronchitis and severe colds. AMONG THE POULTRY. A SANDY soil is the best location for a poultry yard. THE growing fowls should have a , change in the grain ration every week. GEESE lay three times a year, and as many as a dozen eggs each time. KEEPINO the nests dark will often prevent the hens Troin eating the eggs, i Two WEEKS is long enough to make a fowl fat if highly fed with a fattening ration. : AIR-S[.AKKI> lime freely,used in the poultry quarters will destroy unpleas- j ant odors. THE late-hatched turkeys can nearly ' always be given a fresh range much : younger than those hatched earlier. AFTEH the chickens are six weeks old there is a steady gain on the part 1 of the large breedsoverthe small ones. WIJKRE the poultry are allowed to shift for themselves and are given the j range of the farm they often prove a ( nuisance. I DRY earth is the best deodorizer known. It is also the best absorbent ( to preserve the manure in the least of- | fensive way. ( ONE of the best ways of making the poultry-house comfortable is to make a double wall and line the inside one with paper.—St Louis Republic. ( Milk a* an l-KK I'roilucfr. Hens should have all the milk they ( can readily eat; no kind of food is bet- ( ter adapted to egg production. Soma milk mixed with bran will not fatten f them; but if given freely, tbe vessel in which it Is fed will need frequent cleansing to prevent th em becomint; j offensive. With milk to drink fowl! ; on a range will do well enough on one t ineal a day, as tills will encourage activity and picking up what they can. This feed should be given very early In the morning and should steamed (- clover hay, with a little corn and oal chop and bran mixed with it, and a • a little salt added to make it more pal- J atable. A bird will have a ravenous appetite, aud they can cat all of thil food they want without injury.—Cal £ ifornia tackier. A Poor Illustration. "Don't know how many three times ten Is? Now, Harry," said the teacher, j "if one loaf of bread costs ten cents, wouldn't three cost thirty cents?" j "May be so ut your bakery, but wo deul with u baker that gives three for a quarter."—Tammany Times. Counting Illdn't Help lilui. Mamma —What are you doing, Ned? Ned —You told me that when I felt angry with you 1 must count ten. Mamma —Well? Ned—l've counted seven hundred and thirty-seven and I'ui just as angry as I was before. —N. Y. Recorder. Hobby*. Heat. Nurse —I'lease, ma'am, every time little Hobby can't have his own way he runs at me and pushes me and kicks uie like everything. Fond Mother —Hless his little heart! | He'll be u famous football player some j day.—Good News. A Small IXoy's View. Mother —There goes another one of those dirty trumps. I can't see why they don't keep clean, anyhow. Small Son —Mebby w'en they was lit tle their mothers made them wush so often they got sick of it.—Good News. Ilad tlio Keeping Ijualitlt-.. , Mrs. Dewdrop —This elderberry wine i Is some of my own make, parson. Do j , you think it will keep? I'arson Tester (tasting) —There is no t , question about it, tnu'ani.— Jutljje. OUTDRANK PRINCE BISMARCK. A Frenchman «hm« Head Wal stronger Than the Gfrman lUd Suppoufd. The orators of the trench chamber of deputies are in the habit of sipping as they speak some sort of beverage which varies according to the tempera ment of each one, says llar{>er°s Week ly. M. Floquet used to drink tepid sirup; M. Ribot takes sweetened cof fee; M. Rouvier, seltzer water with lemon; M. de Mun, pure water; M. De roulede, brandy. M. de Freyeinet and M. Constant never drink anything while speaking. M. Poayer-Quertier, who was finance minister at the time of the national assembly and who pre ferred the juice of the grape to every other beverage, drank Bordeaux wine in almost any quantity; he has been known to speak for three hours and to absorb eleven glasses of his favorite wine without the slightest inconven ience. It was M. Pouyer-Quertier who settled with Prince Bismarck the con ditions for the payment of the live bil lion francs which France, after the war, had to pay over to Germany. The story is told that one day while the two plenipotentiaries were discussing at table the details of those conditions Prince Bismarck conceived the idea of trying to make M Pouyer-Quertier drink too much. The latter had scarcely emptied his glass wlien the prince replenished it, and the French plenipotentiary tossed it off immedi ately. Prince Bismarck, however, had to krrp up with -Him iMtvlt ra Km turn, so that after an hour the great chancellor felt his head grow rather heavy. lie gave up the bout and said to M. Pouyer-Quertier: "I see that the wine has no great effect upon you." "Oh," replied the other, who had no ticed Bismarck's attempt to fuddle him: "I can absorb almost any quantity; I can even swallow the glass itself." And suiting the action to the word he ground Prince Bismarck's crystal glass between his teeth without even cutting his lips. LORE OF THE WOODPECKER. BometQualnt Notions Entertained In An cient Time* Regarding the Bird. The beliefs and convictions that con stitute the folklore of the woodpecker, or sapsucker, as it is sometimes er roneously called—for its boisterous op erations occur solely in quest of in sects that lie concealed beneath the bark, and are never injurious to the trees —are, in fact, very many and va ried, and many of them can be traced back to a somewhat more venerable an tiquity than is usual in such matters. Probably, says an English journal, every one remembers having read or heard, at one time or another, the story of the transformation of the pagan god Picus, the son of Saturnus, to the woodpecker by the witch god' tless, Circe, in revenge for hi# coldness and nonrequital of her love. The tale of itself is of little importance, and is but one of the countless fairy legends that compose the lesser and and extremely poetic mythologies ofl the Greeks and Romans. But it hap pily serves the purpose of illustrating the connection that evidently existed in the Roman mind between birds and the supernatural and the unknown in general. And it would seem that the relation in different forms was almost universal in ancient times, for the image of the bird which was used by the Romans to represent the perse cuted deity already mentioned—after whom the family is named incident ally, in ornithology—and by the aug urs and priests of the city as a sort 0# symbol in foretelling coming events, abounds in many of tho marvelous and complicated sculptures and carvings oi Contral America and Peru, and has even been found in some of the South Sea islands and other parts of the world in tho form of wooden charms and fetiches. UAME OF THE DEVIL. It ITallfl Originally from China and l r ied to He Played In Europe. What is called the "Game of the Devil" dates back to China, where it is called Kouen-gen, to a very remote an tiquity, and has been played in France at different epochs of modern times, especially at the beginning of the present century. The "devil" is thrown into the air by means of a string which the player keeps taut by the skillful use of two sticks, and upon which he fs to catch it. "I reinemlK-r having often seen this game in the hands of one of my friends," says a contributor to a French periodical. "According to him, tho game was in great favor in Belgium in his boyhood, about fifteen years ago, especially at colleges, where the young men often got up genuine matches be tween two and even three players. "The devil's form varies a little from that of the 'Kouen-gen." It is made of two tin cones connected by their apioes, and provided with apertures for tho production of a humming sound when the devil revolves very fast. A good strong player can easily throw it to a height of more than forty feet." Something less than a quarter of a century ago this game was much played at Paris. The devil was made of two hollow boxwood balls. The Chinese Hat lor. The Chinese sailor isnot a lover of dis cipline. He prefers perfect freedom, especially when the question of leave is concerned. When Capt. Lang had charge of the Chinese navy he discov ered this weakness, and it gave him a considerable amount of trouble. He found ordinary methods of enforcing regularity utterly useless. Officers aiul men alike showed a total indifference to his orders where leave of absence was concerned. Following the example of the emperor of (Jermany, ho deter mined on a series of surprise visits, and on one of these tensions he found that many of the officers and men were on shore without leave. Determined to enforce discipline at any cost, ho or dered all the delinquents to bo placed under arrest when they returned. This was too much for the easy-goingChimv men. That night every man jumped overboard and went home, utterly dis gusted with the service. A SUttor of Observation. Mike (beating tho carpet)— What's that spot there that's so worn? Mary—Oh, that must have been just in front of tho missis' mirror. Life. Ahub«il. Tho bloomer girl upou tier wheel Confuses one and ull; ' They look uu instant In her faoej Aiul then their gliiuces full. * Punk. KOMETHINU KOK NOTHING. A Mii t of clothes for a dude.—Truth. Too Hharp for Him. Bella (teaslugly) Say something fuijny, Algy. Algernon (promptly) —Certainly. Will you marry me? Bella —O, but marriage is no joke, you know!—N. Y. Ad^'fti^r. No 43 NOT A MERE FIGUREHEAD. r victoria Said to Take an Aetlve and Baa efirent Tart In Fnblie Affair*. A corner of the veil which screeni ' the inner life of royalty from the com mon (faze was raised the other day by Mr. Rentoul, M. P., at a meeting of la ■ dies in support of the women's suffrage I movement, says tho Westminster Ga zette. Mr. Rentoul said his idea had always been that the queen was a merely ornamental sort of personage, who signed sneh documents as wera submitted by her ministers, and was restrained from doing any harm by constitutional safeguards." He had, however, recently made the acquaint ance of two lords in waiting, who have been in attendance on her majesty for many years, and the information he had obtained from this source had com pletely altered his' views as to the in fluence exercised by the queen in mat ters of domestic and foreign policy. He had learned that she is proficient in eleven European languages, and that she has during the last four or five years completely mastered Hindus tanee, in which she converses with great correctness and fluency with any of her Indian subjects who are pre sented at court. Her majesty frequent ly writes to every important sovereign in Europe, and her influence on the side of peace is said to have been very beneficial, her knowledge of foreign af fairs being most intimate and accurate. At several critical stages in the rela tions between European nations the queen's personal influence has been sue cessfullv exerted to prevent war. it is even alleged in court circles that her majesty would have been able to pre vent the Franco-Prussian war If Emperor Louis Napoleon had not pre ; cipitated hostilities on the Rhine be fore any opportunity was afforded for mediation. LONG BEFORE PULLMAN'S DAY. llenjamln Dearborn, In 1819, Thought Out the Sleeping and Dining Car. The recent Pullman troubles impart a special interest to a discovery re cently made by File Clerk Walter H. French, among the archives of the house of representatives, says the Washington Post. The discovery is in the nature of a petition to congress preferred in 1819 clearly foreshadowing the modern system of sleeping cars. The petition is all the more interesting because the power of steam used in the propulsion of railroad trains at that time was still in its infancy and wrapped more or less in vague mystery. The paper is as follows: "The memorial of Benjamin Dear born, of Boston, respectfully repre sents: That he has devised in theory a mode of propelling wheel carriages in a manner probably unknown in any country, and has perfectly satisfied his own mind of the practicability of con veying mails and passengers with such celerity as has never before been ac complished, and in complete security from robbery on the highway. "For obtaining these results he relies on carriages propelled by steam on lev el railroads, and contemplates that they can be furnished with accommo dations for passengers to take their meals and their rest during the pas sage, as in a packet; that the}' be suf ficiently high for persons to walk in them without stooping, and so capa cious as to accommodate twenty, thir ty or more passengers and their bag gnge" GOOD FIGHTERS. Chlnene Holdieri Are FenrlrHi and Infinite In N'uuibern- Our knowledge of the modern China man in battle has been derived from the wars of 1883