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.