Nearly 6000 American Inventors have taken out patents for new de vices iu car couplers. Another employment for women I This time it originates in Denmark, where several of them are making a success us analyzing dairy chemists. A physician declares that it is un wise to allow children to wear finge,. rings, as rings retard the symmetrical growth of the finger and also because "they encourage vaniiy." Correspondents at California resorts dwell long upon the delightfulness of the weather there the past winter, and all seem converts to the claims of the hotel men that it is the "Italy of America." Ohio now comes to the front with a ship-canal project. The purpose is to connect LaKe Erie with the Ohio River, so as to aflord ship transit be tween the great chain of lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. The cost of thi 8 enterprise is estimated at $27,000,000. In the matter of conflagrations Bos ton is one of the most unfortunate cities 111 the world, savs the Now York Tribune. Her fires are nearly nlways attended with 1068 of life. There's something wrong somewhere. Nar row streets and trolley wires make a most dangerous combination. The information is vouchsafed that Prime Minister Gladstone is very fond of rice pudding and of prunes and rice. On either of these culinary delicacies, it is averred, he would mnke his entire dinner if the etiquette of the table permitted. Think of that, ye dwellers iu boarding houses, exclaims the New York World. Says the New York Presi: Eng land's crack locomotive, with its re. pitted speed of ninety miles an hour, which is to be exhibited at Chicago, may bo a wonderful production of human skill in its way; but it will not astonish Americans. Looking at it, they will recall the fact that their own own locomotives have practically driv en the English engines out of the South American and Australian mar kets. Of the Western method of intrust ing large enterprises to young men no more conspicuous example was ever given, maintains the San Francisco Chronicle, than in the selection of the new president of the Atchison Rail road system. The central offices of tills road are in Boston,but the road is Western in its aggressive policy and its enterprise, so that it is no surprise to learn that J. W. Reinhart, a man of 41, will succeed Allen Manvel. The Atchison takes a man who ha 6 proved his capacity in practical rail road work and who is thoroughly fa miliar with the workings of the sys tem which ho is to manage. It is not a very pleasant fact to con template that the losses by fire in the United Stntes last year amounted to $132,704,700 and to $157,71G,150 in 1891. When we consider the labor involved in the creation of $132,704,- 700 of wealth it seems terrible to have its results wiped out by flames. But after all the flames are not much more destructive than time, whose capacious jaws swallow up infinitely more eve y day than fire does in a year. It has been estimated by writers on economic subjects that if human energy ceased to exert itself for a brief space of a half score years hardly anything now esteemed by mankind would survive. So after all there is no special reason for mourning over the ravages of fire when a more potent agent is constant ly at work consuming what mau pro duces. The experiment of introducing the reindeer iuto Alaska seems to be pro gressing satisfactorily, announces the New York Press. The whale, walrus and other animals which formerly supplied the natives with food and clothing have been almost extermin ated in the Territory and waters of Alaska will soon be extinct. The Rev. Sheldon Jackson, general agent of education in Alaska, has devoted himself to the solution of this food problem for a few years pa6t. Un. successful in his efforts to procure an appropriation from Congress, he raised a small sum by private subscrip tion, and after encountering many Obstacles, not the least of which was the superstitious fear of the natives to ■ell their animals, has succeeded in safely landing two small herds of reindeer on Alaskun soil. These, Doctor Jackson hopes, will multiply, and, with further additions from Si beria, whence the animals are pro cured, will in time afford an abundant supply of food mud clothing to the na tive population. Life's Pilgrim. Like those who travel eastward through the day, We journey on along Life's devious way; Behind us each a shadow hastenetb, And suddenly, ere we are quite aware, Lo! at our side a presence route is there To be our fellow to the door of death 1 Darker the path each moment grows and then At last the journey done, Nightfalls again; And with the Shadow we lie down to rest, And slumber peacefully upon Earth's breast. [F. D. Sherman, iu Harper's Weekly. How Jim's Wife Went South. BY H. O. LELAND. It was at the Oglethorpe Club, in Savannah, one evening not long ago* The quartet of men iu the big bay window were three of them old ac quaintances, although meeting that day in the southern city by accident. Pond was ou his way to Palatka to joiu his coast survey parly; Georgeson had been dowu at Key West 011 a collecting trip for the National Mu. scum, and was now 011 his way back to Washington; Middlcbrook, a col lege friend of Pond's, was visiting in Savannah with Judge Borden, who bad introduced the trio at the club and was now, after a perfect little dinner, entertaining them with story after story of southern life before and during the war. The judge was an elderly man, fa mous as a raconteur, and, young in heart himself, was fond of younger men, and never enjoyed himself so well as 011 occasions of this kind; but he finally stopped short after a yarn about the occupation of Savannah by Sherman's Army. "Don't ask me for any more, boys. Those were great days, and you may well regret that you were born so late. I would hardly exchange my experi ence for all your youth and ambition. Lot me 6ec. You're the oldest of the three, Mr. Pond, and yet I' 11 warrant yon remember nothing of the war." Pond, a tall, dark fellow of thirty odd, well known in scientific circles in Washington, smiled broadly: "I was thiuking, judge," he said, "while you were telling that experi ence of your wife's at Nashville of ail experience of another little woman had at the north about the same time, and while, as you suppose, I remem ber nothing of the war myself, 1 have a vivid personal interest in this event." "Let us hear it," said the judge. "It's only fair that the other side should be given a chance." And call ing for cigars the judge settled back in bis easy chair in a comfortable way, as good a listener as be was a talker. "The little woman in my mind," said Pond, "was living in Baltimore in 1862. She was only twenty, but bad been married two years, and a girl baby of nearly a year occupied her time day and night. Six months be fore ber husband bad been sent to North Carolina and was acting as naval storekeeper at an important station of the North Atlantic squad ron, and she had been left in a board ing bouse with a widowed aunt. "It was awfully hard on the poor little thins: to live away from ber hus band, but of course it was no place for her dowu there; so she had to make the best of it on his infrequent letters. She actually used to put the baby up in her high chair and make believe that she was Jim just back from the 6outh> and she'd tell her how much she loved him, and how lonesome she'd been while he was gone, and what a good baby she bad been and how glad he would be to see her, until she was all mixed up in her personal pronouns and broke down and cried over her own poor little game. "In fact, it only took about seven months to make her desperate. In spite of Jim's description of the deso lation of the place, and in fact partly because of it, she made up her mind to join him. Three-quarters of Jim's saluiy had been coming to her every mouth from the paymaster general's office iu Philadelphia, and so she wrote to that official and told him plainly that she must get transporta tion to Wilmington, N. C., and that she would die, or something of the sort, if she didn't. In a few days a reply came, on official paper, sigued <J. C. Smith, assistant,' stating that it was practically impossible to comply with ber request, but that an oppor tunity might come by some possibility at some future day, and asking fur ther particulars as to ber reasous, whether ber husband was sick and whether she was strong euough to stand such a rough journey. "The little woman replied in fall, and thinking 'J. C. Smith' to be a person of great importance, made as strong an appeal to him a* possible- His reply, which came promptly, strengthened her idea of his impoi | tunc*, for he stated that he had been touched by her appeal and that it was fortunate that her original letter had coine to him, for he would be able to do more for her than any one in Phil adelphia. And then more questions were asked and tho correspondence was continued, on her part with the single idea that 'the good Mr. Smith' was doing his best to secure her pas sage to Wilmington, while on hie part it was an attempt to obtain money under false pretences, for the scoun drel was only an impecunious clerk in the office and of bad reputation as was afterwards found. "At last a letter came, written as usual on official paper, stating that the chance had come, that the coal schooner Sarah Jane would sail for the station from pier 8, Richmond, just outside of Philadelphia, 011 the following Wednesday aud that the lit tle woman should come to Philadel phia on the train arriving at 8 o'clock Tuesday evening and should goto Kruger's Hotel 011 Blauk street, where 'Mr. J. C. Smith' would meet her and see that she was made comfortable and put 011 the vessel in the best shape imaginable. "Then she was happy! She told her auut that she and the baby were going to join Jim and iu spite of the strongest protestations proceeded to pack her trunk. "She had never travelled, except from tho native farm down on the eastern shore to Baltimore, and the old lady insisted that in her inexperi ence and with a young baby she would meet with all sorts of trouble and would probably not get their alive. Smith had stated in his letter that there was only, room in the Sarah Jane for oue passenger aud so the aunt could not have gone too. "In spite of everything, however, tho trnnk was packed and with the baby's crib and the pet rocking chair was put on board tho train late Tues day afternoon and the little woman and the baby had a wholo seat to themselves and rattled over to Phila delphia in the bumpety-bump fashion of the sixties. Holding the baby 011 one arm the little mother pulled out Smith's letter aud read it over two or three times aud every time she read it her mind misgavo her more. The most innocent, unsuspecting person in the world herself, some good angel must have put suspicion into her mind, or, if not suspicion, at least the idea that it would be safest togo straight to the schooner, for might it not sail without her if she went to the hotel? "And so, when the train drew into Philadelphia and the passengers were discharged into the mob of howling hackmen her woman's intuition pioked out the only honest one iu the lot, a young Irishman, and sho asked him how much he would charge to take her to pier 8, Richmond. '"Well;" he said, 'Oi cuddcnt do it fur a cint under sivin dollars. It ud take four hours.' "Then she told him that she was going to join her husband in the south, and that she hadn't but ten dollars with her, and she would need most of it for other things, and so he dropped to three, for he was 'jist back from the ar-r-my' himself, and 'wuddent rob a soldier's wife,' and the trunk and crib and rocking chair were piled 011 the old trap, and the mother and baby climbed into the musty interior, aud jolly, gloomy, interminable ride begem. "Richmond and pier 8 were reached at last, aud the Irishman and the little woman, both loaded with baggage, went, as directed, out to the end of the pier and across four vessels in all ■tages of lading, until the Sarah Jane was reached. The captain was on shore and the mate was so taken by surprise that trunk and furniture were deposited 011 the deck and the hack man was paid aud had gone before he recovered enough to ask what under the sun she wanted. " 'Are you the captain of this ves sel?' asked the little woman. And when he said that he was not and that the captain had gone ashore, but was expected back soon, she calmly said she'd wait and seated herself in the little rocking chair, between trunk and cradle, aud rocked to and fro, singing softly to the baby, until after a while big, round-shouldered, down east Captaiu Grimes made his appear ance. " 'How de do, mom?' he said. 'l'm Cappen Grimes and the boys sez you want to see me.' " 'Captain Grimes, weren't you ex pecting me?' And her heart began to sink. "'Wal, 110, mom! I can't say as 1 exactly was.' Then looking at the trunk, 'You don't mean to tell me as you calculate to ship with ns?* " 'Why. I was sent tor to Balti more by Mr. Smith of the pivmaster general's office, and ho wrote me that he iiranged everything aud that I was to sail for Wilmington on tlie Sarah Jane first thing in the morning.' And nearly ready to cry, the poor lit. tie thing stood there in the lantern light with her baby hugged tight to her breast, the picture of distress. "«I never sot eyes on your 'Mr. Smith,' and I never hearu tell of him, and there ain't no possibility for you togo on any such a craft as this here," said the old fellow, "so you'd jest better come ashore with me, mom, and I'll take you to a respectable tavern.'' "The little girl nearly broke down, but with tears in ber eyes and great sobs in her voice, she told the captain ber story and begged him to taKe her. And when he said that ho had no room, no place in which he could put her and nothing to give her to eat, she declared that she could sleep on deck and if they had bard tack and water that would be enough for her, and see ing denial still in his grim old faco she choked down her sobs and sat resolutely down in her chair and said she would stay,they must take her.and that was the end of it. The captain still expostulated, but she said with a lofty air that the letter from the pay muster general of the navy, which she had in her pocket, was authority enough for him, and that he'd be paid for the passage if that was what he wauted, and that (with great empha sis) she was—going—to—stay? '•Then 6ho rocked back and forth with great spirit, and as the baby be gan to whimper, -Yes, mother's dar ling, it is going to see its father, and no cruel-hearted old sailor is going to make Jt stay any longer! There, there, there, go-to-sleep, go-to-sleepl' "It was a hard light, but she won! The old fellow gave in grumbling!? and went below to see about ways and means. He gave her his own buuk aud rigged up screens for her, and she had presence of mind enough to smile and thank him warmly when he showed her the miserable hole, and to praise the greasy bacon and hard tack and wtotchcJ coffee they brought her IU the morning. '•The voyage was a hard one, but she eat on deck in her chair all day long. The few men on board were very respectful, and the captain and mate made much of the baby. There was nasty weather rounding Cape Hatterae, and at one time they were iu great danger, but the little woman could not be made togo below. Advice, entreaties nor commands had any effect. Stationing herself abaft the mainmast, or somewhere on deck, she stuck out the storm, her eyes turned always to the sou'-sou'-west, where Jim was. "And when at last they glided be hind the breakwater aud the harbor master's boat pnt out to meet them, with Jim on board, there she stood, near the bow, her baby in her arms, her eyes brimnfing with tears and ber face transfigured with gladuess." "She was a plucky little girl," said the judge, as Pond concluded, "and luckier, too, than many another poor wife was in those days. But did tliev never learn anything more about that fellow. Smith?" "Yes! Tho husband wrote to a friend in the ofSce aud the matter was investigated. Smith was discharged with a little extremely plain talk from the general which resulted iu his de parture for other scenes." "But where comes in that vivid personal interest which you said yon had iu the story?" asked Middle brook. "Why," said Pond, a* ho relighted his cigar, "I married the baby."— [Washington Star. Thirty Quail at One Shot. "I see that a man who killed twenty-four quail with one shot claims the championship record," siid Frank Notsinger yesterday. "Now I don't want to boast, but this gentleman who killed twenty four quail with one shot must lake a back scat, for I killed no lest than thirty with oue shot, and I can prove it with affidavits. It was soon after one of the early falls of snow last year and I caught Bight of a covey of probably sixty huddled to gether under a hedge. I knelt down and from probably thirty ■ yards drew a bead from the centre of the brown mass. I only fired one shot, but the charge scattered well, and I picked up thirty quail." Frank stopped to see the effect of his story. He evidently read in credulity written on the faces of his hearers, for be added: "It was son ill of Princeton, and I can prove it by the man who was with me. Was it sportsmanlike? Oh, well you know, I knew 1 could break the record and—well, I am a little ashamed of it, but it is done and I have nothing mor« to say."—[Kansas City Times. CHILDREN'S COLUMN. LULLABY. "Rockaby, lullaby, bees in the clover. Crooning so drowsily, crying so low. Rockaby, lullsby, dear little Rover, Down into Wonderland, Down to the Wonderland go. Rockaby, lullaby, rain on the clover. Tears on the eyelids that wave and « eep, Rockaby, lullaby, beudine it over, Down on tbe inotherworkl, Down on the other world sleep. [New York Recorder. KITE-FLYING IN CHINA. Some of the amusements of the children in America and Europe nre iu China the pastimes of grown peo ple, mid there old men may often be seen flying kites while children look on. In the matter of kite-flying, how ever, there is some excuse for the Ciders taking an interest in tho game, as in ibis they excel all other nations. Their kites are generally constructed of a thin, tough kind of paper and strips of split banboo. With these materials they make kites of every conceivablo form, dragons anil birds being the favorites, but some are ill the shape of men aud insects, espe cially dragon flies. The kites are pierced with holes covered with vibrating cords; so, as the kite goes up, the air rushing through them makes a loud humming noise.— [Mew York Mail and Express, BUYING PAGAN BAIiIES. In Egypt, and in many other conn* tries, it is the custom to throw awaj girl-babies. They are cast into the rivers, or are fed to wild animals. Of course, this is very terrible for us to think about, aud, lately, some good people have found a way to prevent the slaughter in a measure. An order has been formed, culled the Order of the lloly Childhood. Each member gives one cent a month, or twelve ccuts a year. With this money, which amounts to a great deal if there are many members, missionaries are sent to Egypt and to all countries where they destroy babies, with instructions to buy all tho little children they can find. A baby-girl rarely costs more than two cents, and the missionaries buy hundreds just in time to save them from a watery grave. The chil dren arc then sent to Christian in stitutions and arc brought up to be civilized women.— [New York Ledger. HOW NED UNLOADED TUE SLEDS. One day last winter, when the snow was hard, the boys in our part of tbo town had a fine time coasting down a long hill. For a change they decided to capture Ned aud make him draw them through the streets. Ned was an old donkey owned by no one. He lived by [licking up what stray bits he could find on the ttreets, and sheltered himself in an old shed. After some hunting they found him taking his lunch from au ash barrel. They let him eat what he wanted so that he might be as good-natured as possible. A boy ran home and hi ought some pieces of old rope. Ttieu they made a rough kind of harness. Ned was kind enough to stand still while they hnrnessed him. Then they fastened their sleds together,with Joo Brown's iu front, lor he was to drive. Joe took up his cord reins, aud gavo the word to Ned to "get up." The donkey only turned and looked back at the dozen or more sleds to which ho was tied. I think he decided that the load was too much fur him. Joe used a switch 011 him, but he hung his head aud stood quite still. After waiting somo time, the boys grew tired and began to untie their sleds. Ned looked back and then made a ■udden start. lie trottad down the road at 6uch a rale that the boys had quite a chase to get on. Ned found It easier than he expect, ed, or else he wanted to make up lost time, for he drew them up one street and down another for a half hour* Then he began to slacken his pace, but Joo urged him ou with his switch. Poor Ned thought there was to be nc end to his task. A't idea seemed to strike him suddenly, for he rushed down the street at a great rate. On one side of this street was a deep ditch. When Ned came to it be leaped across it, dragging the sleds at at angle in such a way that they all tipped over, leaving the boys in tbe ditch. Ned then started on with the empty sleds, making straight for his old shed. The boys fouud him there, eat. ing a wisp of straw. They took bis harness oil aud hung it up in the shed. But that was the first and last time they used it, for Nod would never let them put it on again. To this day, if anyone goes near him with a piece of rope, he will take to his heels. [Our Little Ones. FOB THE HOUSEWIFE. THE SMALL DETAILS OF COOKEKV. It )B in tlie small details of cookery that the secret of success lies; es pecially the deft blending that so com bines all ingredients into the appetia ing whole. You cunuot hurry certain processes without disturbing the per fection of results; and she who pre pares a meal with but the one aim— to get through—generally loses all the value of her time and trouble in crude and disagreeable dishes. [New York World. TO CLEAN PAINT. There is a very simple method to clean paint that has become dirty, and if housewives would adopt it it would save them a great deal of trouble. Provide a plate with somo of the best whiting to be had and have ready some clean warm water and a piece of flannel, which dip in the water and squeeze nearly dry; then take as much whiting as will adhere to it, apply it to the painted surface, when a little rubbing will instantly remove any dirt and grease, after which wash the part with clean wutor rubbing it dry with soft chamois. Paint thus cleaned looks as well as when first laid on, without any injury to the most delicate colors. It is better than using soap, and does not require more than half the time and labor.— [New York Re corder. WHEN HASH BECOMES A DAINTY. That maligned dish, hash, if care fully made and attractively seived, becomes as dainty a dish as any sent to our tables. It may consist of one kind of meat or several, but all must be freed from coarse, stringy fibre and gristle, and cut in very small bits. A cold chop, a bit of beefsteak, or a chicken may be used when there is not corned or roast beef, Chop tho po tato and meat separately, and com-' bine them in equal parts, or in any proportion you choose. Season to taste with suit and pepper, and moisten according to quantity with stock, cold gravy, or milk. Do not add too much liquid, Ileat a sauce pan, putin enough butter to prevent sticking, and spread the hash fiat OD the bottom. Cook over the tire long enough to brown the under side, then cover and set in the oven where it will cook slowly for fifteen minutes. When dishing, roll* the hash like an omelet and garnish with parsley.— [New York Post. RECIPES. Quick Buckwheat Cakes—Sift two cupfula of buckwheat flour with two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one teaspoonful of salt and one tablespoon of sugar. When ready to bake add cold water enough to make a ruther thin batter. Sweet Breads—Scald them in water, slightly salted. Then dry them in a towel, dip in egg and crumbs, pep pered to Beason, and fry to a light brown. Serve hot. Or, if preferred, another way: pour over them a cup of boiling cream thickened with a lit tle flour and seasoned with salt and pepper. A Rice Bonillion —Uso Carolina rice. As with all dry vegetables, rice must be putin cold liquid. Cook il in water aud salt. For 0110 quart of bouillion allow one tablespoonful oi rice. Boil three-quarters of an hour. When cooked drain it carefully, put il hot in the tureen and pour over it tho boiling water. Gluten Crackers—These aro tempt ing, served with a bowl of broth, on the waiter of au invalid. To oue-half cup of cream add a half-teaspoonfaj of salt, and enough gluten flour to make a stiff dough; mix with knife, roll out as thin us possible, cut in bis. cuit shape, prick with fork, and bate in moderate oven. Dried Apricot Pudding—Wash care, fully one-half pound of dried apricots and one-half pound of hominy, put them together in a bowl, add one quart of water and let soak over night. In the morning place in a double boiler, with one-half cupful of sugar and teaspoonful of 6alt; cook four hours. Turn into a buttered dish, sprinkle with sugar and brown in the oven. Serve with sugar, cream or sauce. A Crowded Spot. The manderaggio, which is one of the quarters of Valetta, the capital of the islands of Malta, is one of the most crowded spols on earth. In Valetta itself the proportion is 75,000 to the square mile, but in the Man deraggio 2,544 people dwell on a surface two acres and a half in extent, and this gives no less than 636,000 to the square mile, or 1,017.6 to the acre. In the most crowded town in Britain, Liverpool, tho proportion Is only 11C.4 to tho aero.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers