The number of the blind in the United Kingdom according to the last census was 32,200, being at the rate of 879 blind persons per million of the general population as compared with 950 in 1871, 904 in 1861, and 1021 in 1851. The decrease in blindness would thus appear to be gradual but steady, even allowing for the fact that many who have very de fective sight and are practically blind object to return themselves as such. The highest statistics which have ever been reached in tho annals of suicide were recorded at Berlin. Fifty-nine persons attempted to quit "this mortal life" in one month, and thirty-eight among them were successful. One boy, twenty women and thirty-eight men made up the number. Twenty-two sought death in the water, fourteen by hanging, twelve through bullets, five by poisoning and two by jumping from windows. The practical extermination of the buffalo in a little over twenty years is one of the most curious results of the rapid developments of the West. A generation ago the buffalo roamed over the Western plains in countless thousands, but the skin hunters soon began their deadly work. From 1868 to 1872 it is estimated they slaughtered three and a half million buf faloes simply for their hides. The result of this warfare was that the animals were driven from their regular feeding grounds and in a few years became very scarce. Now it is estimated that there are not 'over 750 head on the continent, and thesi are all domesticated. "Why don't the English buy our wheat?" read a well-known New York Produce Exchange broker from the World. ' 'The answer is simple enough," said he,"for any child to understand. The output of liussia is supplying Eng land, and if Russia falls short India sup plies the deficiency. Thousands upon thousands of bushels of wheat are shipped by India to England and her colonics every year, and each year the supply grows larger. The cost of trans portation from Russia to England is not so much as from this country, and Eng land is buying where she can get what she wants the cheapest. That accounts for it, and the idea of sending a commit tee of brokers across the water to investi gate and find out why the market for our wheat is so dull Is all bosh. Their own sense should tell them the reason." The debt of Canada has grown to §285,000,000, an increase of 812,000,00(1 within the last year. The public im provements for which much of this large debt was incurred are still public bur dens instead of sources of revenue, as was expected when they were building. The population of the country increases slowly, except among the French settlers in the Province of Quebec, whose increas ing numbers are a source of distress to many iu other provinces. Between 1861 and 1881 more of the foreign-born popu lation of Canada came over to the States than arrived from Europe. There was an actual decrease of foreign-born popu lation within those twenty years of 100,- 000, though 500,000 came from the old countries. Since 1881 there has been a large removal of native-born Canadians tc to the States lying along the border. The Boston Cultivator considers that all' these facts point toward ultimate annex ation with the United States. This coun try is too big and too attractive foi another nation to be successfully organ ized along side of it. Despite Canada's effort to keep trade for us, it inevitably gravitates this way, and she cannot pre vent it. The introduction of leprosy into oui own country is traced by Dr. Morrow tc four separate and distinct sources. It was carried into Louisiana by the Acadians, into the Northwestern States by Scandi navians, along the Pacific coast by China men, and emigrants from the West Indies brought it to the Southern Atlantic coast. Forty-two cases were recently reported at New Orleans and one hundred at Key West, while numerous other concealed cases are suspected as existing in differ ent parts of the Union. Dr. Morrow therefore regards the extensive spread of leprosy in this country as a possibility strong enough to require the adoption of legislative measures for the isolation of every leper, and to prevent the immigra tion from foreign countries of ihose who have in their systems the seeds of the frightful and so far incurable malady. Contrary to the opinion of many foreign physicians of eminence, he maintains, from his personal observation of leprosy in the Sandwich Islands, that there is "the most abundant and conclusive proof of its eminent contagiousness." If that is the case, of course, every leper is dan gerous, observes the New York Sun. Nor is it safe to assume that the suscepti bility to leprosy is extinguished by civili zation. As Dr. Morrow says, the spread of leprosy in the Sandwich Islands has been coincident with an advanced civili zation of the natives. "I am cutting a swell," as the surgeon remarked while lancing a boil. A VALUABLETREE. A COCOA NUT WHOSE I'ItUITISOF AN ENORMOUS fflZiE. Where It is Kountl—How It Grows— Its Stranjco Appearance— Many Uses to Which It is Put. On a map the Seychelles group of islands are represented by a dot not larger than a pin head yet thc:e are thirty of them, and one, Mahe, is eighteen miles long and from three to live miles broad. They lie nearly in the Indian Ocean :ind just south of the equator. These islands abound with interesting subjects to the student in natural science, but among them none is more 'wonderful or striking than that famous tree, the Coco de Mer. Nowhere else in the world can this tree be found except on the islands of this group. At one time C'urieuse and Pras lin were covered with the trees, but trav elers who have recently visited the islands say that the vegetable wonder has van ished from the first, but is plentiful on the second. Ono of these explorers was Colonel Nicholas Pike, for seven years United States consul at the island of Mauritius, which is nine hundred miles distant, and to which colony the Seychelles group be longs. In describing his impressions of the tree, he says:"The first appearance of the curious Coco de Mer is disappoint ing, and at a distance looks quite dis reputable for so famous a tree. Im agine a tall thin stem towering up over a hundred feet, with a great ragged head of green and withered leaves. The im pression is not favorable, a common cocoanut tree is handsomer. These, how ever, are the male treas; the females are rarely over sixty or seventy feet, and not being so high, are less exposed to the winds. When about twenty or twenty five years old, before the stems begin to rise, it is certainly one of the loveliest productions of the vegetable world, and here it is seen in all its beauty." The leaves of the Coco de Mer are winged and palmated, and when the stem is just rising above the ground, in favorable situations, they attain a length of fifteen feet exclusive of the petiole, which is of an equal length and twelve feet wide, but both diminish in size as the trunk increases in height. This is a necessity, as the tall thin stem could not support a head of such large leaves and the heavy fruit which the tree bears. Travelers often give the natives small sums of money, for which they will climb the trees and swing upon the great leaves —a feat attended with much danger, con sidering the great height of the leaves ! from the ground. Before the leaves unfold they are I covered with ;t thick cottony substance, | which is used for mattresses. When ! about thirty-live years old the tree be- ; gins to blossom. After three years from | fecundation, the fruit has attained its ! full size. It can be eut with a knife in this stage. but gradually be- | comes hard and black, but it is seven or eight yeais from time of fecundation be- j fore it is ready to fall. The double nut, ! with the husk around it and when fully developed, is about the size of a bushel basket. The meat of the nut is agree- ; able eating, and tastes lilu' the cream of charlotte russe. The shiTl of the nut is j used by the natives for scoop buckets, and is put to a variety of other uses. These immense nuts used to be found floating in the Indian Ocean, and gave ' rise to any number of fabulous stories in j regard to their origin. It was claimed by many that they grew in the sea, but this claim, of course, was easily refuted; but, nevertheless, this peculiarity is kept in remembrance by the name which the tree bears, Coco de Mer, or cocoanut. of the sea. When the nut falls to the ground, the first act in the future tree's life is perhaps as wonderful as anything in its future his tory. It takes nine months after plant ing before the germ is ready to start, when it shoots out from the nut and creeps along the ground, drawing nutri- I ment from the ground as it goes. When I a distance of some twenty feet has been ! covered, it begins to shoot upward and ' to put forth leaves, each leaf requiring a j year's elaboration in sun and air before the next appears. If the nut does not j fall germ downward and meet the ground j so as to draw substance from it, after an | ineffectual struggle for some few feet on ' the surface all vitality is exhausted, and j the vegetable baby dies from the heat of ! the sun and the lack of moisture. An- j other remarkable faet regarding the Coco i de Mer is that it rests in a perforated bowl which in form resembles a colander. A great number of rootlets radiate from he trunk and run through holes in the i bowl and then extend into tho earth, 1 sometimes for thirty feet. When violent winds blow, as they frequently do in this region, the tree, being tall and slender, with a great bunch of heavy leaves and nuts forming a great bouquet on its top, bends over until it seems as if it must fall, but rights itself again, its long roots seeming to act like elastics, which draw it back into position again. The numerous usesitovwhichtthetleaveg of the Coco ele Mer can be adapted 'has led to the wholesale destruction of ti;ees. The Mahometans use them to weave into praying mats, and they regard th jm as having a special sanctity. These leaves are very beautiful in their'nnfurledlntate, their edges being of - a delicate green and the lamina; of a - clear pale straw color. Beautiful fans, artificial flowers, hats, ladies' work-baskets, and other articles are theou The expanded leaves are- also used foi thatch, and when folded together and pinned with little skowers of bamboo will hold nearly a>bushel of fruit. The petiole is used for palings and often. foi rafters, being strong and durable. The trunks are split and used for palisades and for boards for thoendiof houses, and pieces are hollowed out and used, for gutters.— Scientific American. Twenty Questions Abeut Electricity. Q. How strong a cuirent is used tfi send a message over an Atlanticrcablet A. Thirty cells of battery- only. Equal to thirty volts. Q. What is theilongest distance «ovei which conversation by telephone isjdaily maintained? A. About 750 miles; from Portland, Me., to Buffalo, N. Y. Q. What is the fastest time made by an electric railway? A. A milo»a minute by a small experimental car. Twenty/miles an hour on street railway system.. Q. How many miles of submarine cable are there in operation? A. Over 100,000 miles, or enough to girdle the .earth four times. Q. What is the maximum power gen erated by an electric motor? A. Seventy five horse-power. Experiments indicate that 100 horse-power will soon be reached. Q. How is a break in submarine cable located? A. By measuring the electricity needed to charge the remaining unbroken part. Q. How many miles of telegraph wire in operation in the United States? A. Over a million, or enough to encircle the globe forty times. Q. How many messages can be trans mitted over a wire at one time? A. Pour, by the quadruplex system in daily use. O. How is telegraphing from a moving train accomplished? A. Through n cir cuit from the car roof inducing n current in the wire on poles along the track. Q. What are the most widely separated points between which it is possible to send a telegram? A. British Columbia and New Zealand, via America and Europe. Q. llow many miles of telephone wire in operation in the United States? A. More than 170,000, over which 1,055.000 messages are sent daily. (.J, What is the greatest candle-power of arc light used in a lighthouse? A. Two million, in lighthouse at Iloustholm. Denmark. tj. How many persons in the United States are engaged in business depending solely on electricity i A. Estimated, 250.- 000. l>. How long does it take to transmit a message from San Francisco to llong- Kong? A. About fifteen minutes via New York, Canso, Penzance, Aden, Bombay, Madras, Penang and Singa pore. tj. What is the fastest time made by an operator sending messages by Morse system? A. About forty-two words per minute. (I. How many telephones are in use in the United States? A. About 300,000. Q. What war vessel has the most con; plete electrical plant? A. United States man-of-war Chicago. Q. What is the average cost per mile of a transatlantic submarine cable? A. About SIOOO. Q. How many miles of electric railway are there in operation in the United States? A. About 400 mile c , and much more under construction. Q. What strength of current if danger ous to human life? A. Five hundred volts, but depending largely on physical conditions.— Scribntr's Magazine. Nut-Bearinn Trees. The idea advanced by a prominent horticulturist—never to plant any tree except it produce some nut. or fruit valua ble for the sustenance of man or beast— is eminently practical and worthy of commendation. Wu know of a fruit grower who saves his grapes and straw berries from the depredations of birds by planting rows of ordinary black mulberry contigious to his stravberry patch and figs around his vineyard. It is a good time now to look about and select trees from which you desire to propagate, and make a memorandum of their location, so that when the time for gathering comes they will not be forgot ten. Nuts may be preserved for spring planting by laying tlwm on an elevated piece of ground, covering lightly with earth, and securing them from depredat i urs by placing plank on the top of the ; bed. They should not be bedded too I deeply or in any place where water wiil I stand.— New Orleans Time*-Dat iocrut. CURIOUS FACTS. An ice mine has been discovered on the Pacific coast. Printing was introduced in England, by Caxton, in 1471. Wisconsin pearls have been declared by jewelers to be worthless. London streets were first lighted with oil-lamps in IGBI, and with gas-lamps in 1814. If a Brazilian girl should walk with a gentleman not her relative in the daytime, it would ruin her. The number of insane persons in the care of New York city is close upon 5000 and increasing. An editor has been chosen President of the Mexican Congress, which means Vice- President of the Republic. British soldiers not in possession of swimming certificates are forbidden to enter boats for purposes of recreation. AnElmira (N. Y.) school teacher, aged forty-five, has just, married one of her former pupils, aged twenty-four, whom, in his school days, she many a time soundly whipped. The Corean does not have the trouble of carrying his umbrella in his hand. It is like an ordinary umbrella in general shape,only it is smaller and has no handle. It is made of oiled paper and is worn on the head over the hat. Three school boys of Sompoe, Cal., thought they'd have fun this vacation playing gold-mining. So they began on a worn-out claim on the beach near Point Sal, and in twenty-four days, working not more than eight hours a day, made $240. A business firm in Chicopee, Mass., of fered a prize for the best guess as to the number of marbles in a big boot exhibit ed in their window. A shoemaker ol the town,,anxious to win the prize, made a boot, as he thought, of the same size, and filled it with marbles. Then he counted the marbles, anil gave the num ber as his guess, lie was over 2000 out of the way. In 1810 ititook just one bushel of corn to buy one pound of nails, now one bushel of corn will buy ten pounds ol nails. Then it required sixty-four bushels of barley to buy one yard of broadcloth, now the same amount of barley will pa} twenty yards of broadcloth. It then required the price of one bushel of wheat to pay for one yard of calico, now one bushel of wheat'will buy twenty yards c.per bottle A l)ox wind matches freo to smokers of 'Tansill's Puncli" sc. Cigar. Out of Sorts Is a feeling peculiar to persona of dyspeptic ten dency, or it may be caused by change of climate, season or life. The stoniaeh Is out of order, the head aches or does not feel right, appetite is capri cious, the nerves seem overworked, the mind is confused and irritable. This condition finds an ex cellent corrective in Hood's Sarsaparllla, which, by Its regulating and toning powers, soon restores har mony to the system, and gives that strength of mind, nerves, and body, which makes one feel i>erfeetly well. N. B.—lf you decide to take Hood's Snrsaparllla do not be Induced to buy any other. Hood's Sarsaparilla Sold by all druggists. $1; six for $5. Prepared only by O. I. HOOD & CO., A]>othecarles, Lowell, Mass. IOO Doses One Dollar YOU will SA VK J1 ()X K1 . MT-TiTt-'tart Time, I'nlu, Trouble CATARRH ELY'S CREAM BALM. Apply Palm into each nostril. N F.I/Y Hili>N., r»ft Warren St., MAKE CHICKENS PAY. If you know how to properly caro for them. For £5 cent* in stamps l* 112 you can procures 100-PAGE BOOK i I jry. giving the experience of a practi- / / A.\ •a! Poultry Kaiser not an nun- / / h teur, but a man working f»r dol- / N lii r* and cents —during a period of I *1 Iffi years. It teaches 3011 how to^^. Detect and Cure Diseases; to Feed 1 - ■«* 11 ' for Eggs ami also for J-'jttening; 11' which Fowls to Save for Breeding 11 l'urj»oKrs: and everything, indeed. L4 you should know on this subject to make it profit able. Sent postpaid for ItOOK PI It lIOUHKi 131 Leonard Mint, N, V. City t JONES HE PAY B THJE FREICHT. 5 Ton Wagon >oalef», Iron Levers Steel Hearings, Pra. Ta.ro r.cain ami Beam Bo* fr»r SSS<3O. Everv flzo Brale. For free pr.»-e list mention this paper aiul addreec JONES OF BINGHAMTOK BINGHAIMTON, \. V. PEERLESS nm &&S£SSk /3Sx n ■ amß 'fc m n W. I» DOUOIiAB* name and the price «reitampe 0 Ink A E B Tl»« &?X0 ca the bottom or nil shoes ailv.rtif.eJ by Hint befor L B m B* H fa B BH H fT'teSl ieavlnK his factory; thin protects the wearers agalns. Jrß 'm' B B Q >SO hith price* ami interior good*. Take none nil )ensßo stamped, nor be deceived by others claimed t»» be aa good, on which dealers make more profit—but aetul direct to factory, and re.-five by return mall what you want. State kind, button, congress or lace, wide or narrow toe, slz.e a rut width, and enclose price with order. Prompt delivery aud satisfaction guaranteed. Address W. 1.. DOUWI.AS, Brockton, Jlam. mw. L. DOUGLAS CQ QliryT? FOR tjj.O OXIwJCi gentle MEN. #K <, nm'rt'wl'n"e\"Vl to'atiy person who will prove OufUUU tho above statements to be untrue. N VIA 0E >111!! 11 iiYs I:Ts'Vl\lVs''"('ll(Mll, SHOES All madr in Oougress, Eutton and Lace. W. L. DOUGLAS $3 AND $2 SHOES FOR LADIES. Doth Ladles' Shoos are mado In si res from 1 to 7, Including half size*, and B, C, D, E and EE widths. STYLES OF IJADIES* SUOES. ••The French Opern," "The Spanish Arch Opera," "The American Common Sense. "The Medium Common Sonne." All made In Button iu the Latest Styles. Also French Opera In Front Lare, on S.'l Shoe only. A B W. L. DOI CiLAS' GRAIN SHOE (lacetl) for (Jentlcmen, with heavy 9 b EL If\in ■ tap sole and strictly waterproof, is Just out. \\ . L. PQIIftLAS. Brockton, Mm—* t .. DR. koehlkk'S FAVORITE COLIC MIXTCBI f° r all domestic animals, will cure "Ut «>f every lt>o east sof c«>lk\ whether fIA / Vjs£?s»\ mipnt«\ rather acts as a laxative an«l Is entirely harmless. After years of trial ( in more than BCOO rases, our guarantee is worth toinethinfr. folic must be I treated promptly. Expend a few ceutsand you have* a cure on hand, rendy I close 50 cents for sample bottle, sent prepaid. \®jSgggAddress I>K. KOEIILI- K A ro., Bellilehem, I'll. Mirtvrr" right along with .«n <•<•«•*.•». It i- »»'«.».;«/ not b« X. 1,1 ■MP' ISAAC MOOO, Horse Dealer, j ISAAC MOSKS svllle,Pa. PIMPED »25X» U/IIiuCIUB ALTIO, Holland Medical and Cancer Institute. Uuffalo, X.v.. removes Cancer without pain or usenf knife. seor.-. of patients sneak In mnpuilltlcd terms of praise ... the success of this treatment. Write for circular. IIK 1.1. \Ms WMUCINB I'll.. lo._N._> a— _ rna After ALL otftern a M B 5 8 fall, consult Or. LoiJO, Twenty years' continuous practice in the treat ment and cure of the aMl'til elleclH of early vice, destroying both mind and body. Medicine and treatment for one month. Five Dollar*, sent securely sealed from observation to any address. Hook on Special Pise awes free, I and fully en. specific for the certain cute MEC*I TO 5 Of tills disease. AMfoa'.ranteed cot O.H.INUHAHAM.M. P., oause Stricture. Amsterdam, N. Y_ ESS Hfd only b/ tbe We have sold Big G for O fjk many years, and it has CO. t t ,i t -nn the best of satis -1 :I n. P"dycttfa ro.. 112 Sold by Druggists