VOL. XXXXI. FOOTWEAR^ I I A Grand Display of Fine |1 I I are s ''° w ' n^ ®t I ' § ■ Shoes and Oxfords at m I I r '° eS interest | I I Big Bargains in Misses' I ■ H|| 1 and Children's Shoes. | 9 KMi S Large stock of Men's fjOHIN BICKEL.I ! ' •■. ' ..'4 ' ■" • ■ v \ •«"- ■ X ______ Back of Your Watch K a Guarantee is a very satis factory sort of a thing to find. ______ Every watch we sell is Guaranteed and back of the guarantee you will find us every time, ready to make good any trouble. The price makes no difference. You may pay $4.00 You may pay SIOO.OO — _ Ralston & Smith > * 110 W. Jefferson St. j duiUiUil llfiff TlflfHf 'H "if '¥ vsf y y y -l* y »!.• •!/ +l* wm> oM/ »-y c n!/ ■!/ si/ iL' vi/ «i/ «»> T 1" 1» •!» «*» 1» A* T> «i» »|v «!• »T 1- »r> T> 1* * T V 1» 1* T T' ■" -T- •, j Fire Insurance, j I The Butler County Merchants I Mutual Insurance Company. | Was organized by the merchants of Butler county for the * 1 purpose of affording a cheaper insurance, and does a | * general fire-insurance business. Insures town and coun- | I try property in this and adjourning counties. I For particulars inquire of your nearest director, or | I any officer of the company. .. * F OFFICERS— J. H. Harper, President; T. P. Mifflin, § I Vice President; Harvey Colbert, Secretary; Jacob Boos, | * Treasurer. | | DIRECTORS —Edwin Meeder, Henry Ifft, James Barr, | 1 Horace Bard, R. A. Marks, A. Krause, J. H. Harder, A. f I L. Reiber, Jacob Boos, H. C. Litzinger, T. P. Mifflin, § * Robert Scott, C. A. Eakin. * | i WALTER EVANS & SON, I Bickel Building. General Agents. Butler, Pa. | KEC K | ££ Merchant Tailor, g Spring & Summer Suitings ( ) JUST ARRIVED. (] 142 North Main St. K. E C K I j T g&x&iieivxxwxiiMieiiesie wxy ! 8 Bright Spring Days || X Create a demand for numerous articles for drees and adornment inrv P keeping with the season. This store is fully prepared to supply ailpr yonr needs in our line at a saving to you. 3 The Dress Goods Stock 3 Contains the most fashionable silks, mohairs and woolen dress ma-ls yL teriiiln now in vogue for Kowns, waists, kimonas, etc. P Black and colored taffeta silk, :19c np. 06-inch black Taffeta specialscl at 75c, SI.OO and $ 1.25. Fancy wool suitings, special, 50c. S 5 White Goods S fll Bmutifnl mercerized materials for waists and shirt waist suits^ Brocades, ftripes. cords, openwork, plaiD and fancy white goods of JP V all kind.i are shown in this stock. Prices run from Cic up. im g Ribbons, Collars and Gloves | jK StylUh neck, wait-t and hair ribbons in plaids, fancies, plain taffetu^ JKJ and sat'n taffeta in all colors. Fancy silk, lace and wash stock coiyk lars at moderate prices. Big line at 25c, New kid and fabricVi adft gloves in all spring shades. fc To Complete Your Spring Costume g Yon need many articles demanded by fashion which we can supply^ ■ ~ at money saving prices. We show the veiy latest styles in belts, vx JR buckles, sash pins, waist sets, brooches, fancy buttons, hair orna- W* Uk ment j , etc. J L. Stein & Son J V $ 108 N MAIN STPEET. BUTLER, PA § ' •'" - ' * - THE BUTLER CITIZEN. CORN SYRUP For ?1 \Griddie Cakes / of all J \^^akes^r '""'Nasal Catarrh quickly yields to treat ment by Ely's Cream Balm, which is agree ably aromatic. It is received through tLo nostrils, cleanses and boa's tho whole ev.r face over which it diffuses itself. Druggists sell the 50c. size; Trial size by mail, 10 cents. Test it and you are cure to continue tho treatment Announcement. To accommodate those who are partial to the use of atomizers in applying liquids into the nasal passages for catarrhal trou ble *, the proprietors prepare Cream Balm iu liquid form, which will i'O hnov. n as Ely s Liquid Cream Balm. Price including the spraying tube is 7o cent 3. Druggists or by mail." Tho liquid form embodied the med icinal properties of the solid preparation. A Cold Wave has struck our soda fountain and we are serving the finest pure fruit juice soda in town. Boiled Water only is used in cur fountain so you can drink, with as much pleasure as at your own table. Beef, Iron and Wine The best spring tonic known. We manufacture our own and guarantee its purity. Pale faces, slow steps and tired backs soon leave when this preparation is taken. Full Pint, 50c. Prescription Work Our First Attention. Everything in the drug line at The Crystal Pharmacy R. M. LOGAN, Ph. G,, SUCCESSOR TO Johnston's Crystal Pharmacy, BOTH PHONES. 106 N. Main St. Butler, Pa. |PAINT| 20 ifi jpOIFFERENT ifi * KINDS tit BUT ALL jfc A PAINT # FOR if? ij? EVERY # PURPOSE 4|? Redick & Grohman ts? 109 N. Main St., tg BUTLER, PA. tft W & W S. &E. WICK, OEAI-ERS IN Itoujrh au<l Worked I-amber; of til Kir,tin Doors. Hash and Mouldings Oil Well Rites a ?soc:ialty. Office cud Yard E-iCuttnlagham and Monroe Sts • "ar west, Venn Denot, ' ~tt—• T>, , M. A. BERKIMER, Funeral Director, 245 S. MAIN ST., BUTLER, PA Don't Know That? That Stem's Creamery and Milk depot at the rear of 417 South Main street is.in operation? WELL, IT IS! And if you want good Milk, Cream, Creamery Butter or Butter milk, call and see us or watch for our wagon. People's Pbon'J 435. Bell Phone 208. ASK YOUR GROCER for Steen's Boiled Cider iu quart jars. We guarantee our products pure and free from any adulteration. J H. STEEN'S CREAMERY. ELY MAY J. v. STUAKT AT AY & STUART, Livery, Feed and Sale Stables Best Accommodations in town For Transient Custom. PHONES: People's 125; Bell 58. Rear of Bickel Building. S. Main St., liutler, Pa. P ALICE7OU> I £ By MAURICE THOMPSON •:? 'KS-th si Ccpyritffct. 1900. fcv ihe COWEN.MERRILL COMPANY i& o'L'.?:. ■ ■■ CHAPTEIt XI. A GWOtt) A Nl' A LLOITSE PISTOL. T,IIE captain's adventure with Father Beret cau..' just in time to make it count against that courageous and beiliics? mis sionary in more ways limn one. !■ arns .worth did not tell Hamilton or any other person about what the priest had don:-, but nursed his sore ii'. < and IKS wrath, waiting patiently for the ro ver. s that he meant soon to take. Alice heard from Adr'enne the story of 1 arusworth's conduct nud hi l:u --iniHating discomfiture at tho hands of Father F.eret. She was both indignant cud delighted, sympathizing with Adrieune and glorying in the priest's vigorous pugilistic achievement. ' Well,'' she remarked, with one of her infectious trill? of laughter, "so far the French have the best of It, any way. Papa Koussiilon knocked the governor's cheek nearly off. then Rene cracked the Irish corporal's head, and now Father Beret has taught Captain Farnsworth a lesson in fisticuffs that he'll not soon forget. If the good work cau only go on a little longer we shall see every English soldier in Vincennes wearing the mark of a Frenchman's blow." Then her mood suddenly changed from smiling lightiuss to al most fierce gravity, and she added: "Adrieune Boureier, if Captain Farnsworth ever offers to treat me as he did you, mark my words, I'll kill him—kill him! Indeed I will! You ought to see me!" "But he won't dare touch you," said AdrSonne, looking at her friend with round, admiring eyes. "lie knows very well that you are not little and timid like me. He'd be afraid of you." "I wish he would try it. llow I would Ir.ve to shoot him into pieces, the hateful wretch! I wish he would." The French inhabitants all, or nearly all. felt as Alice did, but at present they ■were helpless and dared not say or do anything against the English. Nor was this feeling eoutined to the Creoles of Vincennes; it had spread to most of the points where trading posts existed. Hamilton found this out too late to mend some of his mistakes, but he set himself on the alert and organ ized scouting bodies of Indians under white officers to keep him informed as to the American movements in Ken tucky and along the Ohio. One of these bands brought in as captive Colonel Francis Vigo of St. Louis, a Spaniard by birth, an American by adoption, a patriot to the core, who had large in fluence over both Indians and Creoles in the Illinois country. Colonel Vigo w;ls not long held a prisoner. Hamilton dared not exas perate the Creoles beyond their endur ance, for 110 know that the savages wouid closely sympathize with their friends of long standing, and this might lead to a revolt and coalition against him—a very dangerous possibility. In deed, at least one of the great In dian chieftains had already frankly in formed him that he and his tribe were loyal to tho Americans. Here was a dilemma requiring consummate di plomacy. Hamilton saw it, but he was not of a diplomatic temper or charac ter. With the Indians he used a de moralizing system of bribery, while toward the whites he was too often gruff, imperious, repellant. Helm un derstood tho whole situation and was quick to take advantage of it. Ilis per sonal relations with Hamilton were easy and familiar, so that he did not hesitate to give advice upon all occa sions. Here his jovial disposition helped him. "You'd better let Vigo return to St. Louis," he said. They had a bowl of something hot steaming between them. "I know him. He's harmless if you don't rub him too hard the wrong way. He'll go back if you treat him well and tell Clark bow strong you are here and how fooiish It would be to think of at tacking you. Clark has but a haudful of men, poorly supplied and tired with Y>ng, hard marches. If you'll think a Inomeut you can't fail to understand that you'd better be friends, with this man Vigo. He and Father Gibault and this old priest here, Beret, carry these Frenchmen in their pockets. I'm not on your side, understand—l'm an American, nnd I'd blow the whole of you to kingdom come in a minute if I could—but common sense is common sense all the same. There's no good to you and no harm to Clark in mis treating or even holding this prisoner. What barm can he do you by going back to Clark and telling him the whole truth? Clark knew everything long before Vigo reached here. Old Jazon, my best scout, left here the day you took possession, and you may bet he got to Kaskaskia in short order. He never fails. But he'll tell Clark to stay where 110 is, and Vigo can do 110 more."' What effect Helm's bold and appar ently artless talk had upon Hamilton's niiiul is not recorded, but the meager historical facts at command show that 'figo was released and permitted to re- Wtrn under promise that he would give iio information to tho enemy on his way to Kaskaskia. Doubtless this bit of careless diplo macy on the governor's part did have a somewhat soothing effect upon a large class of Frenchmen at Vincennes, but Farnsworth quickly neutralized it to a serious extent by a foolish act while slightly under the influence of liquor. He met Father Beret near Uoussillon place, and, feeling his ribs squirm at sight of the priest, lie accosted liim in solently, demanding information as to the whereabouts of the missing flag. A priest may be good and true- Father Beret certainly was—and yet haver the strongest characteristics of a worldly man. This tiling of being bullied day after day, as had recently been the rule, generated nothing to aid in removing a refractory desire from the priest's heart—the worldly desire to repeat with great increment of force the punch against Farnsworth's lower ribs. "I order you, sir, to produce that rebel flag," said Farnsworth. "You will ol>ey forthwith or take the conse quences. I am 110 longer ill the humor to be trifled with. Do you under stand?" "I might be forced to obey you if I could," said the priest, drawing his robe about him; "but, as I have often told you, my son, I do not know where the Has is or who took it. I do not even suspect any person of taking it. All that I know about it is the simple fact that it is gone." "You canting old fool!" cried Farns worth. "Don't lie to me any longer! I BUTLER, PA., THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1904. won't have it. Don't stand there grin ning at me. Get that flag or I'll make you." "What is impossible, my son. is pos sible to God alone. A pud li-jiuines hoe impossibile est. apud Ileum autem omnia possibiliu sunt." "None of your Jesuit Latin or logic to me. lam not here to argue, but to command. Get that flag. Be in a hurry about it, sir." He whipped out his sword, and in his half drunken eyes there gr. l.eivd the dul! Aim of murderous 1 ; u. "i'lii up your weapon, "captain. You will not attack an unarmed priest. You are a soldier and will not dare strike an old. defenseless man." "But I will strike a black rc'.»ed and black hearted French rebel. Get that flag, you grinning fool!" "Strike if you must," he said very gently, very firmly. "I never yet have seen the man that couid make me afraid." His speech was slightly sing song in tone, as it would have been during a prayer or a blessing. "Get the flag, then!" raged Farns worth, in whose veins the heat of liquor was aided by an unreasoning choler. "I cannot." said Father Beret. "Then take the consequences!"* Farnsworth lifted his sword, not to thrust, but to strike with its flat side, and down it flashed with a noisy whack. Father Ik-ret flung out an arm and deftly turned the blow aside. It was done so easily that Farnsworth sprang back glaring and surprised. "You old fool!" he cried, leveling his weapon for a direct lunge. "You dev ilish hypocrite!" It was then that Father Beret turned deadly pale and swiftly crossed him self. His face looked as if he saw something just beyond his adversary. Possibly this sudden change of expres sion caused Farnsworth to hesitate for a mere point of time. Then there was the swish of a woman's skirts; a light step pattered on the frozen ground, and Alice sprang between the men. facing Farnsworth. As she did this something small and yellow—the locket at her throat—fell and roiled under her feet. Nobody saw it. In her hand she held an Immense horse pistol, which she leveled in the captain's face, its flariug, bugle shaped muzzle gaping not a yard from his nose. The heavy tube was as steady as if 111 a vise. "Drop that sword!" That was all she said, but her finger was pressing tho trigger, and the flint in the backward slanting hammer was ready to click against the steel. The leaden slugs were on the point of leap iDg forth. "Drop that sword!" The repetition seemed to close the op pornnmr Torttmr. Farnsworth was on his guard in a twinkling. He set his jaw and uttered an ugly oath; then quick as lightning he struck sidewise at tho pistol with his blade. It was a move which might have taken a less alert person than Alice unawares, but her training In sword play was ready in her wrist and hand. An involuntary turn, the slight est imaginable, set the heavy barrel of her weapon strongly against the blow, partly stopping it, and then the gaping muzzle spat its load of balls and slugs with a bellow that awoke the drowsy old village. Farnsworth staggered backward, let ting fall his sword. There was a rent Jn the clothing of hisjeft shoulder. He reeled, the blood spun out, but he did not fall, although he grew white. Father Beret sprang nimbly to sus tain Farnsworth, snatching up tho pistol as he passed around Alice. "You are hurt, my son," he gently said. "Let me help you." He prfssed his arm firmly under that of Farnsworth, seeing that the captain was unsteady on his feet. "Lean upon me. Co;ae with me, Alice, my child, and I will take him into the house." Alice picked tyi the captain's sword and led the way. It was all done so quickly that Farns worth, in his half dazed condition, scarcely realized what was going 011 until he found himself 011 a couch In the Roussillon home, his wound (a jagged furrow plowed out by slugs that the sword's blade had first Inter cepted) neatly dressed and bandaged, while Alice and the priest hovered over flm, busy with their careful ministra tions. Hamilton and Ileim were, as usual, playing cards at the former's quarters when a guard announced that Ml!e. Roussillon wished an audience with the governor. "Bring the girl in," said Hamilton, throwing down his cards and scowling darkly. "Now you'd belter be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove," remark ed Helm. "There is something up, and that gunshot we heard awhile ago may have a good deal to do with it. At any rate, you'll find kindness your best card to play with Alice Roussillon just at the present stage of the game." Of course they knew nothing of what had happened to Farnsworth, but they had been discussing the strained rela- X "Drop that sword!" tions between the garrison nnd tbo French Inhabitants when the roar of Alice's big mouthed pistol startled them. Ilelm was slyly beating about to make Hamilton lose sight of the danger from Clark's direction. To do this he artfully magnified the insidious work that be done by the French ar.d thoir I I'll fri<-n«ts Av.". :1 y lie driven to lUsiK-raiicu by i ; ; or exasperating action on The i .'.r. o: the English. Hamilton f.'lt the d;:n -iron's i-.-: talnty upon which the situation nsH'd, but. like many another v!^-.:ro»:.!.. s »!f reliant man. be could n >i subordinate his passions to the dictates «.I" i«o"; y. When Alice was conducted into his presence he instantly swelled with anger. It was her father who had struck him and escaped; it was she who had carried off the rebel flag at the moment of victory. "Well, miss, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?" he demanded, with a supercilious air, bending a card between his thumb and finger on the rude table. "I have come, monsieur, to tell you that I have hurt Captain I'arnsworth. He was about to kill Father Iteret. and I shot him. lie Is in our house and well cared for. I don't think his wound is bad. And"—here she hesitated at last and let her gaze fall—"so here I am." Then she lifted her eyes again and made an inimitable French gesture with her shoulders and arms. "You will do as you please, monsieur. I cm at your mercy." Hamilton was astounded. Helm sat staring plilegmatically. Meantime Bev erley entered the room and stopped, hat In hand, behind Alice. He was flushed and evidently excited. In fact, he had heard of the trouble with Farnsworth, and, seeing Alice enter the door of Hamilton's quarters, he followed her in. his heart stirred by 110 slight emo tion. He met the governor's glare and parried it with one of equal haughti ness. The veins 011 his forehead swelled and turned dark. He was in a mood to do whatever desperate act should sug gest itself. Wheu Hamilton fairly comprehended the message so graphically presented by Alice ho rose from his seat by the fire. "What's this you tell uie'r" he blurt ed. "You say you've shot Captain Farnsworth?" "Oui, monsieur.* He stared a moment, then his fea tures beamed with hate. "And I'll have you shot for it, miss, as sure as you stand there in your silly impudence ogling me so brazenly!" He leaned toward her as he *poko and sent with the words a shock of coarse, passionate energy from which she recoiled as if expecting a blow to follow it. An irresistible impulse swept Bever ley to Alice's side, and his attitude was that of a protector. Helm sprang up. A lieutenant came in and respectful ly, with evident overliaste, reported that Captain Farnsworth had been shot and was at Roussillon place in care of the surgeon. "Take thi3 girl into custody. Con fine her and put a strong guard over her." Iu giving the order Hamilton jerked his thumb contemptuously toward Alice and at the same time gave Bev erley a look of supreme defiance and hatred. When Helm began to speak he turned fiercely upon him and stopped him with: "None of your advice, sir. I have had all I want of it. Keep your place or I'll make you." Then to Beverley: "Retire, sir. When I wish to see you I'll send for you. jAt present you are not needed here." The English lieutenant saluted his Wtnm.iiiutrr, bowed respectfully to Alice nnd said: "Come with me, miss, please." Helm and Beverley exchanged a look of helpless nnd inquiring rage. It was as if they had said: "What can we do? Must we bear It?" Certainly they could do nothing. Any interference on their part would be sure to increase Alice's danger and at the same time add to the weight of their own humilia tion. Alice silently followed the officer out of the room. She did not even glance toward Beverley, who moved as if to Interfere aud was promptly motioned back by the guard. Ilis lifter judg ment, returning, held him from a rash and futile act until Hamilton spoke again, saying loudly as Alice passed through the door: "I'll see who's master of this town if I have to shoot every French lioiden in it!" "Women and children may well fear you. Colonel Hamilton," said Beverley. "That young lady is your superior." "You say that to me, sir!" "It is the best I could possibly say of you." "i will send you along with the wench if you do not guard your lan guage. A prisoner on parole has no license to be a blackguard." "I return you my parole, sir. I shall no longer regard it as binding," said Beverley, by a great effort holding back a blow. "I will not keep faith with a scoundrel who does not know how to be decent in the presence of a young girl. You had better have me arrested and confined. I will escape at the first opportunity and bring a force here to reckon with you for your villainy. And if you dare hurt Alice Boussillon I will have you hanged like a dog!" Hamilton looked at him scornfully. "I thought I ordered you to leave this room," he said, with an air and tone of lofty superiority, "and I cer tainly mean to be obeyed. Go, sir, and if you attempt to escape or in any way break your parole I'll have you shot." "I have already broken it. From this moment I shall not regard it. You have heard my statement. I shall not repeat it. Govern yourself accord ingly." With these words Beverley turned and strode out of the house quite be side himself, his whole frame quiver ing. Hamilton laughed derisively, then looked at Helm and said: "Helm, I iifce you, I don't wish to be unkind to you, but positively you must quit breaking in upon my affairs with your ready made advice. I've given you and Lieutenant Beverley too much latitude, perhaps. If that young fool doesn't look sharp he'll get himself into a beastly lot of trouble. You'd better give him a talk. He's in a way to need it just now." "I think so myself," said Helm, glad to get back upon fair footing with the irascible governor. "I'll wait until he cools off somewhat, and then I can manage him. Leave him to me." "Well, come walk with me to see what has really happened to Farns worth. He's probably not much hurt and deserves what lie's got. That girl has turned his head. I think I under stand the whole affair—a little love, a little wine, some foolishness, and the wench shot him." Helm genially assented, but they were delayed for some time by an offi cer who came in to consult with Ham ilton on some pressing Indian affairs. When they reached Itousslllon place they met Beverley coming out. but he did not look at them. He was scarcely aware of them. A little way outside the gate, on going in. ho had picked up Alice's locket and broken chain, which he mechanically put in his pocket. It was all like a dream to him, and y t tie had a clear purpose. He was suing away from Vincennes. or at least he would try to go. and woe be to Hamilton on his coming back. It was so easy for an excited you 11« mind to plan j;r -at things and to expect success under ap parently impossible conditions. Bev erley gave Jean a note for Alice. It w: ; s this that took him to Kousslllon place, and no sooner fell the nijiht than he shouldered a cuu furnished him by Mine. Godere and. guided by the woodsman's fine craft, stole away southward, thinking to swim the icy Wabash some miles below and then strike across the plains of Illinois to Kaskaskia. I TO BE co^Tiirrro.] A VAMPIRE VINE. d'-nili Drallv!; Swamp Plant That Grown lit Nicaraßiia. Mr. l'unstan naturalist, who spent nearly two yea s in Central America in the study of the flora and fauna of the country, relates the finding of a singular growth iu one of the swamps which surround the great lakes of Ni caragua. lie was engaged in hunting for botanical and entomological speci mens when he heard his dog cry out, us if in agony, from a distance. Kuu ning to the spot whence the animal's cries came. Mr. 1 >nn..tan found him enveloped in a perfect network of what seemed to be a tine rope- like tissue of roots and tibers. The plant or vine seemed composed entirely of bare, in terlacing stems resembling more than anything else the branches of the weep iwillow denuded of its foliage, but of a dark, nearly black hue and cov ered with a thick, viscid gum that ex uded from the p^-es. Drawing his knife. Mr. Dnnstan en deavored to cut the animal free, but it was only with the greatest difficulty that he succeeded in severing the lleshy muscular fibers. To his horror and amazement, the naturalist then saw that the dog's body was blood stained, while the skin appeared to have been actually sucked or puckered in spots, and the uniinal staggered as if from exhaustion. 111 cutting the vine tho twiss curled like living, sinu ous finders about Mr. Dunstan's hand, and it required 110 slight force to free the member from its clinging grasp, which left the flesh red and blistered. The gum exuding from the vine was of a grayish dark tinge, remarkably adhesive and of a disagreeable animal odor, powerful and nauseating to in hale. The native servants who accompa nied Mr. Dunstan manifested the greatest horror of the vine, which they call "the devil's snare," and were full of stores of its death dealing powers. He was able to discover very little about the nature of the plant, owing to the difficulty of handling it, for its grasp can only lie torn away with the loss of skin and even of flesh, but as near as Mr. Dunstan could ascertain Its power of suction is contained in a number of infinitesimal mouths or lit tle suckers, which, ordinarily closed, open for the reception of food. If the substance is animal the blood is drawn off and the carcass or refuse then dropped. A hump of raw meat being thrown it. In the short space of five minutes the blood will be thoroughly drunk off and the mass thrown aside. Its voracity is almost beyond belief. In CHH of Fir*. The chief of the Philadelphia fire de- "In case of l ire." They ought to be learned by heart, like the multiplica tion table, so that when needed they will spring automatically to the mind: First sound the alarm. Close the door unci open the win dows. A closed door Is a wonderful protection afrallist flame; an open win dow lets the heat and smoke out. Do not fear thick smoke too much. Go down on your hands and knees. You will find no smoke near the floor. Nine times out of ten you can descend a stairway so. Many have been burn ed to death because they thought a smoke filled stairway meant an impas sable one. There is plenty of pure air to breathe near the floor. Should the fire have gained such headway that all exits are blocked, shut yourself In a front room and lean far out of the window, so that the fire men can see you. Once they see you, it is reasonably sure they will rescue you. Above all, keep cool. The majority of deaths from fire would have been averted if the victims had not lost their heads. The Snowdrop. It seems that snowdrop is nol the oldest Mine by which this familiar and pretty flower was known. Once upon a time it used to be called "fair maid of February" because it bloomed about the date of the Candlemas festi val, when twelve girls dressed in white were woiit to walk in procession. As the rhyuo puts it: The snowdrop In purest white array First rearn her head on Candlemas day It was held as sacred to the memory of the Virgin for that it blossomed in honor of her first visit to the temple with the child Jesus. The helmet flow er was another name for it, in allusion to its supposed resemblance to a hel met. In some countries of north Eu rope it Is styled summer gowk because it appears on the first sunshine of the year under the notion—poor gowk, or fool—that summer has come. In cer tain parts of England it is considered unlucky to take a single snowdrop in to a house at the season of its first blossoming. Three Natural Barometer*. From the earliest days of the war men have found fascination in trying to foretell the weather. There is an old chap in Brooklyn who has three barometers, as he styles them—a cat, a hive of bees and a bundle of corn fodder. As every farmer knows full well, corn fodder is extremely sensitive to hygrometrie changes. When dry and crisp it Indicates fair weather; when damp and limp, look out for rain. A bee was nc-ver caught in a shower; therefore, when his bees l«»ave their hive in search of honey he knows that the weather is going to he good. As for the cat—every one knows about the tricks of pussy and tabby. The act of washing the face—a sort of dry wash with the fore paw—is a sure sign of a change in the weather; if below the eyes only, fair weather; if over the ears, rain. If puss licks her hair against the grain or sits with her tail to the fire, look out for squalls.—Phila delphia Ledger. ••Siitonklnc: Tobncon." The earliest instance known of penal izing smoking in the streets is in the court books of the mayor of Methwold, in England. There is the following en try 011 the record of the court held Oct. 11, 1(105: "We agree that any person that is taken smoaking tobacoa in the street shall forfltt one shillingc for ev ery time so taken, and It shall be law ful for the petty constables to dlstraine for the same, for to be putt to the uses above 6aid. We present Nicholas Bar ber for smoaking in the street and doo amerce him one^biljjkige." WHIMS OF EPICURES DISHES Or FABULOUS COST AMD QUESTIONABLE TASTE. The Vaat S«m» Thai Were lavished I p<»n K«-nNt» by the Lniurlua* Itoiuan—-Soj*r'« tlonilrril (.niu ■* lllah—One Way of Cookln* nn OWte. Whatever criticisni the forms aad expense of modern entertainment may still invite, we have at least escaped from the objectionable feature of cost liness for its own sake which charac terized so many of the banquets of a century ago. As we all very well know, there is cookery and cookery, and the best must need be expensive. But tliere is an obvious distinction between the "regardless of expense" principle and the mere desire to stand sponsor to the costliest dish or dinner, as such, that money can pay for and the perverted ingenuity of cooks can achieve. The first may be the legitimate ambition of a Croesus intent upon social ad vancemeut, but the second is a more vulgar aim and one, indeed, that often defeats its own ends. According to Thackeray's philosophy, "a man can only be hungry and eat and be happy," but there is clearly u great deal more in it than that. Be tween such a primitive canon of gas tronomy and the well founded tastes and preferences of the genuine con noisseur there is a distinction as broad as it is reasonable. Good, better, best, apply as fully and inevitably to mat ters of the table as to any other de partment of life, and It must always be difficult for those who have gradu ated in the higher schools of the culi nary art n«t to accept the very cordial maxim, "The best of everything is good enough for the likes of us." When the Count of Monte-Christo showed his guests how easy It was to spend a thousand pounds on a dinner for ten persons he gave them also an insight into the rationale of the ex penditure. Among the dishes was a sterlet brought alive from the Volga, and the count then replies to the com ments it provoked: "I am like Nero—l wish for the impossible. This fish, which seems so excellent to you, is very likely no better than carp or salm on. but It seemed impossible to procure it, and here it is." There Is not even originality in this, for it is only an adaptation of the old Itoman idea, and the cost of Monte-Christo's dinner has often been exceeded by that of a sin gle dish. History is silent as to the sum ex pended upon the enormous entree call ed by Vitellius the "shield of Minerva," but as It was composed of an incredi ble variety of the rarest and nicest kinds of meat its cost was certainly in proportion to its size. Nor could a dish of nightingales' tongues have been made for a trifle, though it could have been worth very little when It was made. The vast sums lavished upon the feasts of the luxurious Romans must be accepted with some hesita tion, and the £4.000 said to have been the daily amount expended by Vitel lius upon his supper seems almost fab ulous. But then lie, too, was devoured by a desire to attain the "impossible" and employed a far reaching organization in order to realize it. According to Josephus, his food was o t the most rare and exquisite nature, "the deserts of Libya, the shores of Spain, the wa ters of the Carpathian sea, and even the coasts and forests of Britain were diligently searched for dainties to sup ply his table.'' But even this ia eclipsed by the story of a single dish provided for a banquet given by He liogabalus which is said to have cost no less a sum than £4,000 of English money. The waste and utter futility of such lavish expenditure may be said, In some sense, to have been counterbal anced by the idea of splendor and lux urious opulence which it was thought to express. But we find records of dishes of quite inordinate cost much nearer our own times for which no such plea can be urged. In his "City Madam" Masslnger scourges the extravagant method of preparing many dishes then In fashion and ridicules "their pies of carps' tongues and their pheasants drenched with ambergris." And he is especially severe—perhaps such an Incident had actually occurred—upon "the carcasses of three fat wethers bruised for gravy to make sauce for a single turkey." This, of course, is a simple barbarism for which there can be no possible pal liation. And, though it may be regard ed as an exceptional Instance of prince ly magnificence, one instinctively shrinks at the statement that at the banquet given by Louis XIV. at Ver sailles on the occasion of the marriage of Mile, de Blois and the Prince de Contl In 10G8 the ortolans alone cost IC.OOO francs. Napoleon himself Is reported to have said that "more fortunate treaties, more happy arrangements and recon ciliations were due to the cook of his Chancellor Cambaceres than to the crowds of diplomatic nonentities who thronged the antechambers of the Tui leries." That cook could scarcely com plain of his "raw material," for on a certain occasion a large trout arrived from Geneva, consigned to the chan cellor's kitchen, the cost of which was verified by the Cour des Comptes as • mounting to 6.000 francs. • But as an instance of cost for cost's sake no better example can be given than that of Soyer's famous "hundred guinea dish," so much talked of in the fcikldle of the last century. This, of course, was a "made dish," which re quired as a mere preliminary the sum of £34, the cost of five turtles' heads, with a part of the flns and green fat. The next requirement was over 400 birds of every kind known to the poul try yard and game list, with a few uot Included in either, the small "uoix" from each side of the middle of the back of each bird aloue being used; This, no doubt, is a superlatively dainty morsel, but it is almost impos sible to repress a feeling of indigna tion at finding that a hundred snipe were sacrificed for it. The cost of the "garniture" is set down at £l4 10s., and this consisted of coxcombs, trutlles, mushrooms, crayfish, olives, asparagus, sweetbreads, green mangoes and some other ingredients. The one relief felt on reading the account of this dish is that such a vulgar and ridiculous med ley is no longer possible. Almost as foolish, although of a dif ferent character, is the recipe exalted by Brillat-Savarln, which teaches us how to misapply the flesh of two wood cocks, with trutlles and other concomi tants. as the mere stutllng for a single pheasant. We are assured that "the success of this method is guaranteed by the very nature of things," but the Idea seems radically false to begin with, and no amouut of skill can cure the inherent defect. It is some years since a well known connoisseur condemned the use of lob ster sauce with salmon on tlie reason able ground that no fish should be made to serve as the complement of No. 23. ; notLrr. And it Is surely an offense of stiil t riater magnitude to attempt t.> iiK-on r.ite the individual subtleties i f two such delicious birds as the v >;•> '.cix U and pheasant in a single dish. The cost of cooking a single- olive ii;..y turn out a costly proceeding, es peirlally if a bon vivant should adopt the following method: Place a French ciive inside a beecaflco (the fig pecker}, the beecaflco in a golden plover, the plover in a pheasant and the pheasant iii a bustard. The cooking is to pro ceed with special regard to the "bast ing." and when the dish Is presented the master of the feast sends the olive (only) to the guest whom he desires to honor, unless, indeed, he happens to sup alone—Luculltu with Lucullus— when he eats it himself. There is some reason to believe, however, that this recipe was designed as a sarcastic re buke to the extravagant cooks of the period and not less to the wealthy gourmet of overcultivated tastes. London Globe. A VOICE FROM THE TOMB. It Spoke In a Dream and Told a Tale of Ghastly Horror. The Rev. Mr. Partridge was once the vicar of a parish in the suburbs of London. He had the misfortune to lose a favorite son, whose body was interred In a vault in the church. Two nights after the interment Mr. Par tridsfc dreamed that he saw his son. habited in a shroud spotted with blood, the expression of his countenance be ing that of a person enduring some paroxysm of acute pain. "Father, father," he cried, "come and defend me! They will not let me rest quiet in my coffin!" The apparition was so vivid that the dreamer awoke, trembling from excite ment. He argued with himself that it was the result of the grief he felt on account of his son's death and after awhile managed to overcome his agi tation and go to sleep again. But it seemed to him that he scarcely lost consciousness when the vision reap peared, beseeching more piteously than before that his father would come to his aid, as they were "mangling hi* body at that instant." The tortured man slept no more that night and at the break of day repaired to the clerk's house, where the keys of the vault wore kept. Here he was in formed that the key to the main door had been broken and the clerk's son had gone to the smith's to have a new one made. Impelled by the worst mis givings, the vicar procured a crowbar, by means of which the hinges of the door were wrenched off. The sight that greeted him caused the father to fail fainting to the floor. His son's coffin had been lifted from the recess and placed on the brick pavement. The lid lay loose on the top. The body, enveloped in its shroud, on which were several spots of blood below the chin, was exposed to view. The broad ribbon had been removed from below the jaw, which hung down with a most ghastly horror of expres sion, and every tooth in the head had been drawn. The youth while living had possessed a beautiful set of teeth. / The clerk's son, who was both a bar ber and a dentist, had obtained pos session of the vault keys for the pur pose of extracting the teeth for use in his business.—London Mail. Sacred Cat*. goddess Sechet, a creature with a hu man body and a cat's head. Sechet's Ihrine was at the once famous city of Bubastis. Hither an average of 700,- 000 devotees resorted annually, each district delegation taking all the dead cats which had "quitted the sphere of nction" in their respective localities during the year. These dead cats, all of which were carefully wrapped and embalmed, were buried at the celebrat ed "cat cemetery," on the plains of Za kazik, that being the place where the image of Sechet was set up. One of the greatest curiosities of present day Egypt are the catacombs, where the re mains of those countless thousands of cats are to be seen, each wrapped In. linen and sealed up in a red earthen ware jar. The Rilling; Paaalon. A gambler, on his deathbed, having seriously taken leave of his physician, who told him that he could not live beyond 8 o'clock next morning, ex erted the small strength he had left to call the dcr?tor badk, which having ac complished with difficulty, for he could hardly exceed a whisper, "Doctor," said he, "I'll bet you 5 guineas I lire till 9."—London Tit-Bits. TRAVELING IN INDIA." One Alait Hire m. Native Servant or Endure Endleaa Trouble. Every one who goes to India to travel or live at hotels, says the Chicago Kec ord-Uerald, must have a personal serv ant, a native who performs the duties of valet, waiter aud errand boy and whatever else may be required of him. This is a fixed custom of the country, to resist which brings endless trouble to the traveler. Many of the Indian hotels expect the guests to bring all their own servants, both chambermaids aud waiters, and are consequently so short handed that the traveler who comes without them has usually to wait upon himself. On the railways a native servant Is quite indispensable, for travelers are required to carry their own bedding, make their own beds aud furnish their own towels. The company provides a bench to sleep on similar to those in American freight cabooses Each car has also a washroom and sometimes water. But if the traveler wishes to be sure of washing his face In the morning and if he is wise he will send his servant to the station master before the train starts and ask to have the water tank filled. Then a Hindoo with a goatskin full of water will climb to the roof of the car and fill it and, having descended, will stand be fore the door and touch his forehead every time the traveler looks toward him till he receives a penny. At the eating houses along the road the servant will have to raid the ta bles And shelves for food and bring it to the car for his master, since no wait ers are provided. In addition he will hire baggage carriers and will attend to all the details of catching trains and engaging rooms. A good servant can be hired for sl3 a month. Poorer "bearers." as they are called, can be engaged for $2 or $3 a month and expect to "find" them selves, but the traveler must pay rail way fare for them. How Holland Trent* Panpera. There are few üblebodied paupers in Holland. A tract of public land con taining 5.000 acrrs is divided into six model farms, to one of which the per son applying for public relief is sent. Here he is taught agriculture and is iuently permitted to rent a small farm for l±im.s<-if. Holland also has a forced labor colony, to which vagrants are sent to do farm and other work, whether they like it or not.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers