WONDERFUL CLOCK. The Ingenious Timepiece Made by Connecticut Men. It is Sixteen Feet High and Took 12 Years to Finish. One day recently a reception was held in Waterbury, Conn., at which one of the most wonderful, if not tho most wonderful contrivances of mechanical art in this country was exhibited for the first time. Those who were present saw a work repre senting twelve years' skilled labor ex pended iu original design and appli cation upon a clock which is said ts rival that of the famous Strasburg Cathedral, and is said toliavo no equal in America. lu 1881 E. A. Locke, conceived the idea of constructing the clock, and work upon it was immediately begun. It was the original intention to have it finished and placed on exhibition at the Paris Exposition in 1889, but the scope of the undertaking assumed greater proportions as the work pro gressed, and it has been completed on ly a week. The timepiece stands 16 feet in height, with a six-foot base. It is made of black walnut,highly polished, and handsomely carved with scenes representing American history from the landing of Columbus to the pres ent time. At the lower part ol the clock and ou each side is an allegor ical scene representing mechanical progress during the last century, every figure iu each group bciug in motion. The largest scene is in the centre of the clock. It represents the "train room" of the Waterbury Clock Com pany, with all the shafting (and ma chinery in operatiou and twenty-five operatives at work. The figures go through every motion of work iu that department. Four scenes are represented on the sides of the clock. The subjects are, first, a cotton gin in full operation iu a cotton field, with tho negroes carry ing the cotton in from the fields and placing it on the cotton gin, while Eli Whitney, who stands by, is explaining the workings of the machinery to a planler. A second scene shows the o]d method of manufacturing cloth. The operatives are at work beating the llax and preparing it for the looms and spinning wheels. A third scene re presents a coal miue with the cage working and the miners diggiug the banks of coal. In a fourth scene is a representation of the improvement in sewing ma chines. Elias liowe is watching the work of one of his machines, while close by modem machines are plying, and in another adjacent group are a number of women laboriously- sewing by hand. The fifth group indicates *he advance in the electrical world. Electrician Daft is represented operat ing a dynamo. The sixth shows the interior of a telephone and telegraph office with operators at work and mes senger boys running in and out. Scene 7 contrasts the old and the new methods of manufacturing watches, showing the improved fac tories of the present day and a kitchen iu Switzerland where watches were made by hand a century ago. The last is an old-fashioned sawmill with tho saw running, logs moving, and children playing near by. The figures are all operated by an electric motor and are constantly in motion. The centre of the clock is occupied by a beautiful water color of the buildings of the clock company, while just above is the handsome dial of the clock. It is 3 feet in diameter and indicates the days of the week, month and year, the hours, minutes and seconds of the day, and tho moon' B phases and tides. EHCII figure repre sented is an exact likeness and the whole is complete in every respect. At the top of the clock is a handsome carving of tho "Declaration of Inde pendence," with a reproduction of the famous old Liberty bell. The clock will be sent to the Colum bian Exposition. It is valued at $60,- 000. The work on it has been entire ly done in secret by D. A. Buck and F. E. Hubbard. — [New York Times. The 8011-Fight in Madrid. As rivulets and mountain torrents rush to the main stream of some mighty watercourse, the whold popu lation of Madrid flocks to the Alcala, leaning aside, as they settle themselves dowu in the tiers of seats in the circus, the gravity for which the Castilliaus aro noted elsewhere, to give them selves up, as the spectacle beginß, to noisy anil boisterous delight. Above are the gayly decorated private boxes, in which sway to and fro the white cloaks and red tans of the richly dressed occupants, whilst below are the masse* of citizeus, who, though generally sober enough, arc now In toxicated, so to speak, with the smell of blood and the sight of the algunzils, or police, in their old-fashioned cos tumes; the chulos, or foot attendants, in their many-colored capas de duran. cillo, or silk cloaks; the picadorcs, or mounted spearmen; the banderilleros, or dart-throwers; the espadas, or ■lasers, aud the mule-team, or el tiro. The spectators gloat ou the skill with which the picadorcs fling their spears, aud the banderilleros their darts; the agile suretes, or tricks of the chulos and toreros as they goad the bull to madness; anil the excitement and ten sion are immense ki the final act of the drama, when death is dealt by the espada to the bull, who has strewn the arena with the corpses of horses. Then, no doubt, the people of Madrid lose their heads; their self-control is gone, and then reallygsccm cruel aud inhuman. For all this, however, he who con demns them iloes them injustice, for there are no better-hearted folk in the world than these same people of Ma drid. Set against their conduct at the bull-tights their behavior in times of revolution or when some epidemic is raging,aud noouecan help admiring asl admire and loving as 1 love them. Never cau I forget their noble charity during the visitation of cholera in 1865, when I saw poor work-people carrying the stricken in their arms, pressing to thoir hearts those all bot dead, reviving them with their own breath,never thinking that in so doing they were risking their own lives. Truly a people who could act in a manner so heroic, so sublime, must have a grand roserve of vital force, a generous nature which radiates forth goodness as the sun radiates forth heat. [Harper's Weekly. Chickens on the Farm. A generation ago the chickens to bo seen around the average farm-house were of a mixed and haphazard breed. There arc fanners still who keep such poultry; there are also farmers who do not believe that the world is round and revolves ou its axis every 24 hours. But farmers so careless as to thoir poultry are almost as scarce as the latter ignorant class. You may meet a farmer whose ideas are a little mixed about the rotation of crops and the value of silage, but you have to go far indoed to find one who has not his preference as between Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns, Langshans, Cochins and Brahmas. Chickens on a farm are a kind of savings bank, and those which lay tho most eggs and fetch the highest pi ices as broilers are very naturally more highly esteemed. Now the fancy farmers were the first to attempt to breed better chickens in this country, and they continue to 'ead in the experiments looking tow ards the further betterment of domes tic fowls. Ihere is one thing that has been in sts'ed on in vain, so Ifar as ordinary farmers arc concerned. That is the value of cleanliness—cleanliness in the chicken houses and cleanliness in the food and water given to the fowls. Unclean houses are productive of all kinds of disease, aud unclean food and water also. There is an old-fash ioned notion that chickens are good scavengers, and that if allowed the freedom of the barnyard they will for age for themselves. This is true, but it is very unlikely that auy cock or hen from such a range would ever take a prize in a poultry show. The way to get priza chickens is to mote the best with tho best, and rear the broods with care. As the reward, both in profit and satisfaction, is well worth the trouble, it seems strange that any country people should be con tent with any but the best.— [Harper's Weekly. Curing Dogs With Colic. It is nothing unusual for doga to have colic, especially when fed high aud given little exercise. When at tacked they are restless, moan, or suddenly start up with a yelp, and af ter walking about lie down again un til the next spasm comes on. The safest treatment is to give castor oil, half onnce to one ounce, varying the dose according to the size of the ani mal. Dogs, when bitten by rattle snakes, should be given spirits of some kind, and in pretty large doses at first, nntii the poison is overcome. The dog will usually be very stupid, with little life, for some days or weeks after the effects of the first big doses of liquor have passed off; and to prevent a collapse give a teaspoon ful of whiskey every three or four hours, mixed with water or syrnp, to make the dose more palatable. Bathe the wound with carbolic acid aud wa ter, one part of acid to 6ixty or sev enty of water. —fNew York Sun. FOR FA KM AND GARDEN BUT GOOD SHEEP FOR PROFIT. In buying sheep care should be taken to get those not over four years old, and having vigorous constitutions. For any use a poor sheep is nearly tho poorest property that a man can own. It is of no value as a breeder, and more than likely will not eland tho feeding that is needed to fatten it. Unless very carefully fed with roots or other laxative feed a sheep's pelt is more tlion likely to be the only divi dend it ever gives.— [Boston Culti vator. FOOD FOR YOUR PLANTS. Give your plants all the sunshine possible, most of thcin revel iu it, writes Eben E. Ilex ford. It is food for them and quite as necessary as a rich soil. Ferns, some of the begonias, and a few other plants prefer to re main in the shade, but they like a good light, such as comes from diffused sunshine. Put your fuchsias where they will get the sunshine of the fore noon, and give your heliotropes and geraniums a southern exposure. Plants like the Bermuda Jily, azaleas and oleanders should be kept out of strong sunlight if you care to have the flowers last well. Be sure to give them fresh air daily. [Chicago News Record. BEST FOOD FOR HORSES. Oat 6 i6 ttie best grain to feed horses in good health. Barley is next best. For a steady diet corn is not whole some and if fed alone for any length of time is certain to produce ill effects from indigestion. Oats have about the right proportions of nutritious and coarse matter to bo healthful, while corn has a very large per cent of strong food. Old or enfeebled horse* should be fed ground food, a good mixture being four bushel* of oats to one of corn. Twelve quarts per day of this ground mixture will prove a good feed for any horse while plowing or doing other heavy farm work. Whole corn should he soaked in warm water for six hours before feeding. Once a week give horses a feed of wheat bran. An occasional feeding of potatoes, apples or roots will prove beneficial, and the animals will relish the change of diet.—[Chi cago Times. TOMATOES FOR AMATEURS. Almost any soil will grow tomatoes, but how many have tried the effect of enriching the soil? In fact, 110 soil i* too rich for tlictn, writes Louise M. Fuller. If one-fourth part of the soil be well-rotted manure, so much the belter. Thoy will stand forcing bet ter than any other vegetable or fruit, and always find a good early market. Seed should be sown iu hotbed or in the house by March I, or sooner. That sown iu hotbed will be ready for transplanting the Ist of April, and to be set out May 1, if one is willing to watch out for the frosty night*. 1 like to set out a few plauts as early as the ground will allow, and cover them at night as long as necessary. If you wish to secure large, smooth tomatoes, sec that the stigma of every flower is covered with pollen. This secures the development of every ovule in the ovary, and, in consequeuce, a sym metrical form. This will hardly pay on a large scale, but is interesting in early experiments 01- for the amateur gardener. Tomatoes may be made ornamental as well as useful by train ing and pruning to show the fruit, and allow the sun a good chance to ripen them. [New York Tribune. CONCRETE FOOTPATHS. Where the frost does not heave the ground, footpaths of concrete will he found much more durable aud desira* ble in every way than wooden ones. They are made as follows: Take one barrel of good limo and oue of cement, slack the lime in the usual manner and mix in with three parts of good, sharp sand into a thin mor tar. Have ready at hand a quantity of not too coase gravel, and keep il wet. Then mix the cement with the mortar in (mail batches, so that it may be laid in the walk within a few min utes afler it is r .ed ; as toon as it is mixed, add to much of the wet gravel a* will 112 quite covered with this mixed or neut mortar. This will be about as itlch in bulk as the mor tar, equal parts of each. Grade the paths Ind dig them out two inches deep, or make a frame of narrow strip* to lay the cement in, aud with out any loss of time, as *oon a* the mortar is ready, lay it in the frame or in the path and beat it down solidly, and smooth the surface with a smooth piece of board with a handle. The cement will soon harden and continue to uo so until it is like stone. The wooden fi aine may be made iu square* or diamond shape* and each is taken up as one is laid or they may be left in the walk. — [New York Times. ROOTS, POTATOES AND FODDER CORN. It bat* been decided at the Ontario (Canada) Agricultural College Ex periment Station that white-fleshed turnips give better yields than the yellow-fleshed varieties, the long shaped mangles better than the globe v»rietieß; the white carrots better than the yellow varieties and the dent corns better than the flint varieties. Of the root# grown on the slation plots for (wo years the white Swede turnip, the Jersey fall turnip, the Car ter's champion and yellow interme diate mangel give the highest yields in their respective classes. Of these grown for cnc year only the imperial short white carrot and the white Sile sian sugar beet give the highest yields in their respective classes. In the plot experiments at the sta tion for three years with thirty-two varieties of potatoes and also in the co-operntive tests over Ontario during 1892 with six varieties the Empire State and the Summit varieties came first and second in point of yield. Of tho varieties of corn fodder tested the Mammoth AVhite Surprise, Giant Beauty, Thoroughbred White Flint, Mammoutli Cuban, "Wisconsin earliest white Dent and Salzer's South Dakota arc at this station leading va rieties among the late, medium and early maturing classes. [New York World. TO SELECT GOOD LAYERS. llow many poultrymen can pick out a good laying hen from a strange flock? Not many can do it; yet it can easily be done after a short study of makeup and character, says the North west Farmer and Miller. There goes a hen with a thick neck, large head, ill 6haped, walks listlessly about seem iugiy with 110 iutentiou or purpose in view. She doesn't care to scratch, but hangs around the henhouse, evi dently waiting for her next feed. She gets up late iu the morniug and goes to bed early in the evening. That hen may be put down as a very poor layer. Tho eggs of some of the other hens go to help pay her keep. Here comes another hen. She walks briskly and there is an elasticity in her movements that denotes she has some thing in view. She is neat and natty in appearance, small bead, with a slim neck, nicely arched or curved. She forages and scratches all day long, and may be too busy to come to her evening incaL She is at tho door in the morning waiting to be let out. She snatches a few mouthful* of feed and is oil to the meadow, looking for insects. Before she gets out iu the morniug she generally deposits her daily egg in the nest, or returns alter a short forage. She is neat, clean and tidy, with a brightness and freshness pleasant to the eye. That is the hen that pays for her feed and gives a good profit all the year round. The writer has noted these traits since boy hood, and knows that they are infalli ble. By studying these trait* any man may iu a few years, by selec tion, have a fine flock of hens. [The American Poultry Yard. FARM AND GARDEN NOTES. The game is the best table fowl we have. Give your chickens fresh water daily. Give your fowls all the exercise possible. Do uot handle tho eggs in the incu bator too much, it will often spoil the hatch. Stale bread, milk and a few finely chopped onions make a fine food for chicks. Give a good variety of feed to tha poultry regularly and not too much of oue thing. Remember that fat fowls are not the best layers. Keep them iu good flesh, but not fat. For the incubator ••chicks," mix cornmeal and bran well together give it to them in the morning A food may be rich in all of the elements that nature require' but un less the nourishment is extit ted from it it will bo of no value to * t owner. By feeding the gt stock on the farm much of tb haul ing is saved while t| dure is also secured to be appl lack to the farm. The weight at which a.pig must be sold to give the greatest profit is de termined to some exteut by the cost of the pig to the owner when fat tened. During the winter as manure accu mulates haul out and scatter ou the fields where it is wanted; the per cent, of waste from washing will be very sm ail. LADIES' DEPARTMENT. WOMEN'S CLUB IN REAL ESTATE. A club of young women workers in a shoe factory at oue of the New Eng land manufacturing centres are trying a new experiment iu co-operation. The members pool their earnings over aud above what is needed to support them with strict economy and invest in real estate. Their holdings are said to be quite large and profitable. [New York Journal. RADICAL CHANGES IN DRESS. From every point in the fashionable world come rumors of a radical change ia dress next season. They are as yet vague and conflicting, but it seems to be generally acknowledged that skirts are to bo abbreviated. Skirts of traveling dresses have rather 6hort backs, not gored, but well mounted, and with the effect of a very short trained bell-skirt witliont its in conveniences. Attempts are also being made among fashionable mo distes to sliorten the skirts of demi toilets of silk and soft delicate wool. Aud if the sequence of fashious of other days is repeated, double skirts, paniers, pulls, plaitings and loopings are all likely to follow in tho wake of short skirts. [Once A Week. FEMALE UNDERTAKERS. There are, it seems, übout 300 women undertakers in the United States. It is remarkable that there should be one. Women nre peculiarly susceptible to their environment, and that any one of the sex should sur rouud herself with all the grim para phernalia of death for a life occupa tion seems almost incredibie. A Mil waukee woman and her daughter are both proficient in the business, are embalmers as well as undertakers, and both arc said to enjoy their profession. Three brothers and sisters, however, arc quoted as thoroughly dislikiug the calling of their parent and sister. One woman in the profession, Mrs. F. K. AVilson of Baltimore, is an expert etn balmer, and has made eomo important discoveries in embalming in lung troubles. [New York Times. SIMPLE FROCKS FOR DEBUTANTES. It has gone forth that debutantes must wear the simplest sort of even ing frocks, miuus artificial flowers, rich laces aud such frivolousness, which are too complex for young girls. The proper cut is a baby waist, modestly low, balloon sleeves and the merest ghost of a skirl bor der. There was a pretty gown of pink silk that had sleeves, shoulder straps ami belt of blue velvet. The bodice was shirred across the neck with a ribbon run through and tied iu a bow in front. A white tulle has for it* only trimming three ruche* of the same set some inches apart on the skirt. A more elaborate pink silk broched in self cjlor is trimmed with a fringe made of white ribbon, each strand ending in a crystal drop. This bordered the skirt and festooned the bodice from the front round under the arni6 to the back. Above this the bodice was draped with pink crepe caught with white ribbon rosettes, and the sleeves of the crepe, caught with rosettes, fell down the arm like the belt of a flower.— [">urier-Jour nal. TnE REDINGOTE TO DOMINATE. The redingote in varied forms, and with many French and English titles, bids fair to be one of the dominant styles of the present season. Cut and fashioned in a variety of artistic ways, it is adapted alike to visit ing toilets, tailor-made, traveling, and walking gown*, receptions, and elaborate evening dresses. There is seldom uu article of dress that has been found so capable of infinite variety aud universal adaptation and utilization. In every case, however, it represents a garment straight and stately in eflect, that open* on an underskirt that is different, but not so sharply contrasted as to be out of harmony with it. For street uses the fabric* are of tweed, chevolt, checked ladies' cloth, or other figured wool fabric with underskirt of plain cloth, with a braided, gimp-trimmed, or machine-stitched border. For even ing toilet* the redingote i* elegantly decorated, the sleeves extra full, the neck slightly open, the bodice portion finished with iace or velvet rever*. Heavy armure •ilks,failleß,bengaliues, and other rich unpatterned textiles form the very flaring bell skirt, while the redingote is of flowered silk> Pompadour satin, Venetian brocade, or shot and dotted bengaline. [New York Post. INSURING WOMEN IN EUROPE. In England the provisions for in" suring the lives of women is fur iu advance of this country or that of any European nation. A German com pany will not «'take the life" of a woman at aIL In this country women have heretofore been at every disad vantage. What they have secured lias been mainly through their own efforts. In England the considerrtion given to women is comparatively recent, but in England the necessity of making pro vision for the support of daughters not likely to marry, and where laws of primogeniture influence those not bound by them, have aroused men to the propriety of extending the boun ties of life insurance to womeu them selves. Women are now admitted io some companies on exactly the same terms as men. An English woina* explains the workings of a society io which she is insured. By paying SSO a year, at any Kge, without any medical examination or quc6tious as to health and family his tory, a woman can receivo SISOO twenty-one years hence; or by paying SIOO a year, S3OOO at the end of the same time. If she dies before the ex piration of that time, her representa tive receives the entire amount, ex cepting the first premium, witli two per cent, coinpouud interest. Or if ■he does uot care to continue her pay ments during the entire term, she call withdraw her payment in the game way. Or, if a woman of twenty-live wishes, for example, to secure to her self SISOO when she is fifty, she can do so by paying $42 a year during that time. This money she can invest or do with as it pieases her. The English have applied the pleasant phrase ''growing rich in growing old." to this manner of life assurance. [New York Sun. FASHION FOTES. In thin silks, the newest arc satin finished. In Paris changeable woilens are in e pccial favor. The Alsacian bow is one of the fea tures of 6pring millinery. Tartan plaids and color-mixtures appear among new fancy grenadines. Pure white is the prettiest color for evening wear that a young girl can choose. Velvet remains one of the fashioua ble materials, and is likely to continue so during the season. Princesse dresses and redingotes will be favored models for the heavy silks aifU handsome reps. Wool bengaline is a material of richness aud refinement that has be* come very popular this season. New hats have fairly wide brims, and are pinched up, rolled up, twisted up and turued up in every imaginable shape. Polka-dotted Bedford cords are in colors of Venetian brown, tan, olive green. Napoleon blue, heliotrope, and the dahlia shades. It is quite a mistake to suppose that silk employed for the purpose of lin ing mutt necessarily be new, as partly worn silk dresses may bo cut up and used with decided advantage. The latest thing in fans is an outer edge of bats' wings in neutral colors. The stem is of white aud gold. Ttie fun and the lorguette are now often carried with the walking costumes. Very gorgtous table lamps have & base of pale green glass with enameled flowers upon it. The lamp shade car ries out the color of the glass, aud the whole is a symphony iu pale green. A new bounet has an enormously high poke front. The sides couie down well toward the ears, and there is a pronounced cape, which is evidently the forerunner of the old-fashioned gypsy bounet. A decoration which suggests itself for the tray and saucers might be a delicate yellow ground flecked with the reds and browns of the autumn leaf. Another pleasing treatment would be the tender grccus of spring foliage. Very few examples of the new wool dresses have been shown. An attempt to introduce bands of velvot,separated by spaces and extending halfway up the skirt, as they are now worn on la dies' dresses, is uot likely to prove a success. A new dress for & girl is in prin cesse shape, with full sleeves, shirred cuffs and bands of triinmiug from shoulder-seams to the hem of the skirt in frout. This is a one-piece suit, and appropriate for a girl of six to nine years. A pretty and stylish evening dresi has a trimming of a twelvo.incb flounce of lace headed with three puff* of soft silk; another has three ruflics set a little distauce apart, each oiic headed with a narrow ribbon lied io knots at intervals of a couple of inches.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers