A woman may regain at civil suit
the loss sustained by her gambling
husband, according to a recent de
cision of the Indiana supreme court.
New South Wales last year paid out
SIBO,OOO for the destruction of noxiou9
animal pests. Amoug the varieties
slaughtered for bounties were bandi
coots, pandemelons, wombats, wal
labies, kangaroos, emus, native dogs,
flying foxes, kangaroo rats and hares.
Those who are disposed to think
that the determining word in the mat
ter of China will be spoken by Russia,
and that what that unwieldy nation
eays, "will go," should recall, the
New York Observer suggests, the
proverb of the Russians regarding
their own emperor: "The czar's hand
has not more than five fingers." Rus
sia cannot grasp quite everything iD
the Far East.
Is it possible we have been mistaken
as to high civilization in Japan? que
ries the St. Louis Star. It would seem
PO. Only the other day the newly
appointed Japanese consul to Chicago
and an imperial navy constructor
lauded at San Francisco, went to a
hotel, blew out the gas and went to
bed. But for the united efforts of
several doctors the consul would have
passed in his chips and taken passage
for a trip over the river Styx.
Over nineteen dollars for every
man, woman and child in Great Bri
tian is the tremendous liquor bill that
ought to impress even the complacent
Englishman, thinks the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. The consumption of
strong drink increases every year in
England, the figures for last year
being $17,500,000 over those of 1896.
Only a rich country, with wealth flow
ing in from all parts of the world,
could withstand a drain like this.
Mr. Gladstone has lately added the
name of inventor to his other titles.
True to his literary instinct, the grand
old man has designed something of
use to slielvei?. namely, a combination
book-case and screen. On one side of
the screen are arranged shelves adapt
ed to hold many books in small com
pass. The other side is finished off
to serve as a simple screen. Necessity
is the mother of invention, but in this
case Mr. Gladstone could hardly have
felt, in his spacious quarters at Ha
warden, any necessity for economi/
ing space for book shelves.
The projected national university
is becoming less and less of an un
certainty, states the Christian Herald,
Hon. John Wesley Hoyt, chairman of
the national committee that has for its
object the establishment of such an
institution, announces that many of
the ecclesiastical and sectarian inter
ests that were decided in their dis
approval of the project have withdrawn
their opposition. Offers of contribu
tions are coming from many patriotic
societies and individuals. The chief
opposition to the plan, it is said, cen
tres in the Senate committee.
There is no better coal in the world
than the famous Welsh coal, used in
the British navy, which comes from
South Wales and Monmouthshire, with
an output of thirty million tons a
year, employing a hundred thousand
men. In this great tield of labor
strikes have been unknown, owing to
a happy arrangement called the slid
ing scale. This scale of wages has
been arranged since 1875 by a joint
committee of workmen and owners ol
collieries. By formal agreement the
price of labor is periodically fixed bj
the joint committee according to the
price of coal at the port of shipment.
Six months' notice must be given bj
either side to terminate this arrange
ment.
A sailor jumped overboard in tb
bay the other day, relates the New
York Times, because the captain re
fused him a drink of whiskey. When
the soaked and half-frozen son c 1
Neptune was hauled back aboard his
ship, the "old man" poured three
large drinks of gin down his throat.
After that Jack went about his busi
ness perfectly satisfied. The incident
was not at all uncommon. There is
nothing Jack will not do to get a
drink. Once upon 112» ti*ne a sailoi
aboard the Chicago, theu flagship ol
the North Atlantic squadron, was
seized with a jumping toothache.
There was no dentist aboard the ship,
but the doctor, after nearly killing
the poor fellow, got the tooth out.
Then he poured a huge drink of
brandy down the half-fainting sea
man's throat. Next morning at sick
call fourteen seamen reported to the
doctor with toothache. But alas! the
doctor cured them without whiskey by
a generous display of appalling sur
gical instruments.
J. Sterling Morton, formerly sec
retary of agriculture, says in a letter
protesting against the cutting down
of evergreens for Christmas decora
tions that last year more than twenty
million Christmas trees were put on
the market.
Appraiser Wakeman of the port of
New York dealt a blow at bargain
Counters by ruling that dress goods
must be classified for duty on the
basis of the most valuable material
contained in them. This will elicit
protests, predicts the New York Her
ald, because there will have to be an
advance in the retail price of stuffs
containing very little silk, but which
by a subtle invention are made chiefly
of wood pulp and celluloid.
The endowment of Johns Hopkins
university has been dissipated through
the depreciation, or rather by the en
tire loss, of its preferred shares in the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and now
asks the state for aid, which it is to
be hoped will be granted. Maryland
will not maintain her high standard
for education should she fail to come
to the rescue of this sterling institu.
tion, now in trouble through no fault
of its management, observes the St,
Louis Star.
___
A wonderful career that is often
jited as a practical demonstration of
the prayer test has beeu closed at
Bristol, England, by the death of
George Muller, at the age of ninety
three. Depending solely upon prayer
and without asking anybody for six
pence, he raised over $7,000,000 for
five immense orphanages, Bible dis
tribution and mission work. Mr.
Muller was not a religious fanatic,but
had the simplicity of a child, the busi
ness capacity of a great financier and
faith sufficient to remove mountains.
Oriental potentates are not adepts
in diplomatic language, but they are
Dfteu enough shrewd as to the essen
tial points of diplomacy, and have
frequently a vivid pictorial way of ex
pressing themselves which lends a
certain homely force to argument.
Thus the emir of Afghanistan is re
ported to have remarked to some
Englishmen concerning his own buffer
state: "England and Afghanistan are
as one house with one wall. Are your
soldiers going to join mine in defence
of that wall?" That emir is evidently
a knowing man, if ho does live off in
Central Asia.
The government of Venezuela ha 9
recently entered into a contract for
the importationjof 60,000 colonists. By
the terms of the contract the immi
grants are to be established in colo
nies according to nationality, and the
colonists of one nationality must not
predominate in numbers over others.
The immigrants must be agricultur
ists; they must be over ten years of
age and under sixty, and must be
settled on 'lie public lands within the
next seven years. The members of
each colony will have the right to elect
from among themselves their police
authorities. The government makes
liberal laud grants to the promoters
of the scheme of colonization.
Another terrible story of suffering
and death from thirst and hunger
comes from Australia. This time it
was two prospectors in the Mount
Malcolm district of West Australia,
who tramped about in the bush for a
week, and theu tried to maintain life
by sucking each other's blood. Such
stories as this will not be read at the
end of the next century, for the in
genuity already shown in producing
condensed food and drink will have
resulted in light portable articles that
will bid defiance to hunger and thirst.
Then a man may carry in his pocket
food and drink sufficient for a month.
The Klondike demand is sure to
greatly stimulate the production of
these condensed foods and thus to
free Alaska from the terror of famine.
One of the inevitable results of the
present movement in favor of national
defense will be a recognition of the
importance of the proposed Nicaragua
Canal, predicts the New York World.
No system of defense can be con
sidered complete which does not pro
tect the Pacific coast as well as the
Atlantic coast, and a close connection
between the two coasts by way of the
isthmus is as important a part of the
system as the navy or the forts. The
question is an old one. It has beeu
pretty thoroughly discussed. The
country knows as much about it as it
is ever likely to know. The only
obstacle in the way is the difficulty of
a fair agreement as to the terms on
which the canal shall be constructed
and owned. As a part of the military
defense of the country the control and
ownership of the canal naturally be
longs to the government.
LOSS AND CAIN.
There are gains for all our losses Oh. the gladness, oh, the sadness
And a loss for every gain; That combines the mighty whole—
There are crowns for all our crosses. The excessive Joy and madness
And a joy for every pain. Of the unfledged human soul!
Songs and laughter, moans and sighing, Oh, the losses and the crosses,
Heartaches, bitterness and fears Hours of pleasure, years of pain,
Fill the days forever flying As each frail bark onward tosses,
Onward with the passing years. O'er life's tempest-ridden main !
Every soul its share of sorrow Every joy has sorrow in it
Is by fate destined to bear; Every laugh is half a sigh:
We who laugh today tomorrow But let storms rage every mluuf*.
May be stricken with despair. There'll be sunshine by and by.
There are gains, and there are losses, By and by there'll be no crosses;
Days of peace and days of strife, By aud bv there'll be no pain,
And a crown for all our crosses And for alfour bitter losses
At the journey's end of life. There will be eternal gain.
—Sidney \V. Mase, in Little lloek Gazett*.
p " proved, rr ""]
frv»'W*VW»*'vTT»'VWWVWTVVVTV VWk
"Uucle Coleman, I'm going to
marry Lucia Frothingham!"
"Eh? What?"
Uncle Coleman i>ut down his news
paper, pushed his spectacles up on
liis forehead and glared at his neph
ew.
"Going to marry Lucia Frothing
ham?" hi cried, after gasping awhile
in sheer dismay. "You idiot!"
"Thanks," was the cool reply. "I
know you do not admire the lady,
"but where there is a strong mutual
love—"
"Strong mutual fiddlestick!" inter
rupted Unele Coleman, contemptuous
ly. "You may love her; she is pretty
and fascinating, but what she loves is
your bank account, my boy. I knew
it would be so when your Aunt Jeunie
left you a cool hundred thousand. But
boys will be boys. Only, for good
ness sake, wait a year or two before
you saddle yourself with a wife."
"I am 21, sir," (with an immense
air of dignity).
"And I a'u (54! Now, Frank, do
hear reason. Lucia Frothingham is a
fascinating woman, touching the thir
ties, if not already over the line—a
finished flirt and as mercenary as she
is pretty. I know her, and I tell you
her affection is centred upon your
Aunt Jennie's legacy and the half mil
lion in perspective at my banker's."
"Uncle Coleman," cried his neph
ew,hotly. "I never thought of it,much
less spoke of it."
"I don't suppose you ever did.
Having always had an independent in
come, I don't think you ever counted
011 a dead man's shoes. But Miss
Frothiugham was educated in the hard
school of genteel poverty, and a rich
husband is the prize for which she
has studied and toiled, for—well, say
ten years. She was in society before
you were done playing with tops
and marbles."
"Uncle Coleman, you aro speaking
of my betrothed wife, remember."
"Hem!"
"Years are of no consequence where
there is true love."
"Hem!"
"And I love Lucia as she loves
me."
"Not a bit of it."
"Tomorrow she goes to Saratoga,
and if you can spare me 1 will go,
too."
"And the business in Hartford? I
should advise you to attend to all
matters belonging to your aunt's es
tate as soon as possible, Frank."
"It may keep me in Hartford a
mouth," said Frank, disconsolately.
Coleman Burke looked with a pity
ing affection ut his young relative—
such a boy yet in many matters, though
he had reached "man's estate."
"A month that may settle your
whole fortune," he said. "Remember
men do not fall heir to a hundred
thousand dollars more than once ill a
lifetime."
"I suppose I must go."
"It will be best. Besides," added
Uncle Coleman, dryly, "it will be a
good test of your "lady love's con
stancy!"
"I am not afraid of her forgetting
me," said Frank, loftily.
"You are actually engaged?"
"Certainly! I bought a diamond
ring at 's yesterday and put it
on her taper finger last evening."
"Hem! Well, the fool-killer hasn't
been here lately, that's certain. There,
be off and let me finish my paper in
peace. Yon will goto Hartford?"
"Yes."
But after his nephew left hiui,Cole
man Burke let his paper lie idly upon
his lap, while he fell into a fit of mus
ing, often interrupted by impatient
ejaculations. He was a man, as he
had said, past (>O, and he had been a
childless widower for 30 years, while
four little graves beside that of bis
wife recorded the heart history of his
life.
When be had lived lonely and a sin
cere mourner for many long years,his
brother and wife died, leaving Frank,
a curly-headed boy, to the care of his
Uncle Coleman. All the long-sealed
fountains of love in the desolated
heart opened to pour out their affec
tion upon the child. He wa* truly
the very sunlight of tbe old man's ex
istence, and though his manner had
been cynical,his heart had been sorely
wrung by the announcement of his en
gagement, but not from any paltry
jealousy or mercenary motive. Had
Frank loved a true, tender woman,
were she a beggar, his uncle would
have giveu her a father's love and wel
come. But by tbe light of his own
brief married happiness he read the
misery in store for his nephew if he
mnrried Lucia Frothingham.a flirt, ex
travagant and selfish. How to save
him was costing the old man torturing
thought. Active opposition would
only strengthen what was now but a
boyish infatuation, and yet saved he
must be. Suddenly a light broke over
Coleman Burke's face, and he rose
from his chair and went to a long mir
ror in the room. The reflection was
not calculated to waken vauity.yet the
old man smiled, well pleased.
"If I can only carry it out, it will be
proof positive," he thought.
Short, fat, nearly bald, with spec
tacles and a cane, Coleman Burke was
certainly a strong contrast to the tall,
handsome fellow who had won Lucia
for his promised bride, yet he said
aloud:
"I'll cut him out!"
A week later all the fashionables at
the C hotel, Saratoga, knew
that Coleman Burke was intending to
take a wife. What bird first bore the
news upon the scented air 110 one
could have told you, but there was no
lack of information about the elderly
bridegroom in perspective. Every
body (that was anybody) knew that
Coleman Burke had retired from busi
ness years before, worth half a million
of money, aud had made fortunate in
vestments since. That he was decked
in fashion's latest styles, wore dia
mond studs and ring, carried a switch
cane, drove a tine team and occupied
expensive rooms at the hotel,all could
see for themselves.
Very soon after he came, another
fact was patent to all observers—that
he was very attentive to Miss Lucia
Frothingham, the belle of many sea
sous.
Mrs. Frothingham hoped in her
heart that Lucia would n6t be a fool
and would remember how far Mr.
Coleman Burke's pocketbook out
weighed his nephew's; also that, an
old man's darling was far more apt to
have every whim gratified than a
young man's slave. Having delivered
this maternal lecture, the widow di
lated upon the expenses of the Sara
toga trip and was rather marked in
her emphasis upon a speedy subjuga
tion of the elderly adorer.
And Miss Lucia shrugged her fair,
sloping shoulders, threw over them a
cloud of black lace and descended to
the porch, where Mr. Burke waited to
escort her for a drive. His manner of
wooing was certainly more business
like than sentimental. Where Frank
had grown eloquent over the beauty
of the liquid dark eyes, his uncle di
lated upon the suitability of diamonds
for brunette beauty. Where Frank
t tenderly quoted poetry descriptive of
j the slender grace of the willowy fig
ure, his uncle thought velvet was the
most becoming wear for slight fig
ures.
As tliej- drove,the fat old gentleman
asking her opinion of his horses, also
obtained her description of the most
suitable carriage for a lady's exclusive
use. Likewise he expressed a con
tempt for an India shawl folded upon
a seat near the lake as one far below
the quality he would purchase to deck
a lady's shoulders.
Sometimes, indeed, as Lucia in
formed her affectionate parent, "he
was a little spooney,pressing her baud
and rolling up his pale blue eyes over
the riuis of his spectacles, like a fat
old porpoise."
But, as a rule, he was simply de
voted in his constant attentions. A
bouquet of rare flowers iu the morn
ing, followed by a call; a d rfe iu the
afternoon, a walk in the eve JTug or an
offer of escort duty at a ball become
the usual daily routine. But the el
derly wooer was an euergetic and per
sistent one, and even Lucia, vain of
her conquest, was bewildered by the
rapidity of the courting. Only a fort
night ago she had but a bowing ac
quaintance with Mr. Burke, and now
he had positively offered a parure of
expensive catneos for her acceptance.
"A letter from Frank! Coming to
day!" mused Mr. Coleman Burke,
reading an epistle handed iu at his
door. "Surprised to fiud me away
from home. Hopes I have seen his
dear Lucia iu a kinder light than the
one I had previously had. Hem—v-es
—well."
And so Mr. Burke mused and mut
tered as lie donned his most exquisite
suit, his most dazzling necktie and
fastened a bouquet in his buttonhole.
"Bless my soul, Uncle Coleman,
what a swell you are!"
And then Frank was in the room,
and the two exchanged cordial greet
iugs.
"And Lucia?" Frank questioned;
"is she well?"
"She was perfectly well last evening
when I took her for a drive."
"You?"
"Certainly. You do not suppose I
have failed in attention to my future
niece, do you?"
"You are are always kiud!" was the
quick reply.
"You like her better than you did?"
continued Frank, almost pieadiugly.
"See here, Frank," the old man
said, suddenly wheeling round from
the glass to face his nephew. "I have
a bargain to make with you. If.withiu
one hour, 1 prove Lucia false, mer
cenary and a traitor to her promise to
you, will you give her up? Stop! If
she is true, loving and faithful, I with
draw my harsh 4 words and will give
her the love I always hoped to give
your wife."
"But how can you find out?" said
the young man, astonished at his
uncle's energetic proposal.
"It is you who are to Had out. I
am already satisfied. You are togo
to the centre window of the small
drawing room on the porch and listen
to the conversation I am to have by
appointment with Miss Frotliing
lmm!"
' 'Eavesdropping!"
"Never mind that grand air of con
tempt. lam to have my way for just
one hour, and you can take yours
afterward for a lifetime. Will you
go?"
"If you say so."
"Go, then."
Just a little later Miss Frotliing
hani, all smiles and white muslin,
sailed into the east drawing room to
greet her elderly admirer. With an
air of deepest devotion he raised her
hand to his lips and greeted her with
a flowery compliment.
"I presume," he said, in a low,ten
der tone, "you are not at a loss to
guess the reason why I have ventured
to summon you here. You must have
understood the meaning of my atten
tions. Need I tell you how dear
you have become to me? Need I
speak of the love you have inspired?"
"You are so kind," she murmured.
"I am contemplating a speedy re
turn to the city,and I wish to arrange
for the wedding, if I can obtain any
expression of your wishes. Do you
object to an early day?"
"Any day will be supremely blest,"
she said, softly, "that makes me your
wife."
"My wife! Bless my soul, my
nephew told me—"
"Oh, Mr. Burke, you do not imag
ine I have encouraged that boy?" with
an accent of most magnificent scorn.
"He is an amiable young fellow,and I
have been kind to him. But love be
tween myself and a boy of that age is
simply preposterous,"
"I am aware that the disparity of
years—"
"My dear Mr. Burke,do not speak of
that. To me there is a dignity and
nobility about a man who has passed
middle life that can never be attained
without the experience of years. Be
lieve me, your having a slight advan
tage of me in years will but increase
my respect and detract nothing from
my affection."
"i'ou are only too kind. Then I
may tell Frank that you—"
"Why talk of Frank? Surely you
may choose a wife without your neph
ew's interference."
"1 choose a wife! My dear young
lady, what are you talking about? 1'
have no intention of seeking a wife."
"No—intention—of-—seeking a wife!
Have you not just made me an offer of
marriage?"
"Xot at all," was the cool reply. "I
was under the impression that you
were engaged to my nephew. As
Frank is my nearest relative and my
heir, I was anxious to win the affec
tion of his promised wife. But since
there is no engagement between
you—"
"Ob, Mr.Burke.you must have mis
understood me. My only fear was
lest you should not sanction our love.
Dear Frank has often spoken to me
of your fatherly love for him. You
will not repeat to Frank the conversa
tion we have had? I—my confusion
—you will forget my wild words?"
"But I shall not!"
The blinds parted as Frank spoke,
revealing his white face and anger
lighted eyes. Miss Frothingham
screamed, and Uncle Coleman said,
quietly:
"Are you convinced?"
"Fully! The boy, Miss Frothiug
ham, thanks you for showing him the
folly of trusting in the love of a co
quette. You have given me a sharp
lesson. Uncle Coleman; but I thank
you that my life has not been blighted
by a woman's treachery."
The pale face vanished. Uncle
Coleinan, with a ceremonious bow, took
his departure, while Lucia Frothing
ham went into genuine hysterics on
the sofa.
Uncle Coleman joined Frank on the
porch and, linking bis arm in his
nephew's, said kindly:
"Forgive me the pain I cause you
for the love I bear you."
"I thank you," was the reply. "You
have saved me from a life of misery by
showing me a mercenary woman's
treachery. I shall never feel any
emotion but gratitude that you proved
your words."
Six TIIOUAHIHI IVVKOHH in One House.
The biggest house in the world is
at Mecca, Arabia. It was built by the
sultan for the accommodation of "true
believers," who flock to the mosque
containing the sacred relics of the
prophet. The house is capable of
sheltering and accommodating 0000
persons. It is tilled to its utmost
capacity when the sultau makes his
annual visit, in order to touch the
sacred robe of Mahomet. Xo other
hand must profane the garment.
Mecca is a bit out of the beaten
track, and until recently it has been
spared the indignity of kodak fiends
and the memento gathering tourist.
But at last it fell under the ban of
commercialism and now its sacred
relics are purchasable by the ton, and
it is the "dog of an infidel" who fills
the cofl'ers of the relic merchant with
sacrilegious gold.
The second largest house in the
world is at Vienna. In this building,
which is tenanted chiefly by working
men, there are 1500 separate rooms,
thirty-one staircases, thirteen courts
and accommodations for 2112 tenants.
Knclaml'i Lifeboat Service.
The volunteer lifeboat service of
England, established in 1824, has
more than 300 lifeboats on the shores
of the kingdom, and has been instru
mental in saving 30,000 lives.
For a fee of from two to eight cents
a message, one may talk to even the
sinuliest of Swiss towns over a long
distance telephone system to any part
of the country.
VISION.
She said, "Oh. that glorious day I
The deep, deep blue of the sky!
The shadows that drooped and lay—
And the little wind's low sigh!
Said he, "What Is thHtyousayV
There were only you and I."
She said. "Oh. that wonderful night!
The lake and the waterfall!
The moon was so high and white
The elms were so dark by the wall I"
Said he, "Your eyes were so bright
I saw naught else at all!" '
—rost Wheeler, in New York Press.
HUMOROUS.
Gladys—Do you think Charlev
means business? May—l can't tefl
yet; but I'm afraid he only means
poetry.
Hooplar—Do you know anything
about the origin of the American In
dian? Highlow—No; I've never taken
any interest in race tracks.
Reporter Madam Gostwok, the
spiritualist, does an enormous busi
ness. Publisher Thai's because
she's snch a good advertising medi
um.
i Nhe—lt's funny, but all the time
I \e known Mr. Tigg he has never
paid mo a compliment. He—That's
not strange. Tigg never pays any
body.
hhe I don't like the preachers who
i ead their sermons from manuscript.
—I do. If a man writes his ser
mons he is more likely to realize their
length.
khe I know lam not the first girl
you ever loved. He—Well—er—at
least you are the first girl I ever
bought more than sl7 worth of pres
ents for.
All these schemes for taxiug bach
elors with a view to driving them into
matrimony are wrong. More men get
married now than wives cau comfort
ably support.
I firmer—l say, John, what do you
call a pineapple—a fruit or a vegeta
ble? Waiter—A pineapple ain't nei-'
ther, gentlemen. A pineapple is al
ways a hextra.
( "I'm something of a mind reader,"
be said, as they sat on opposite sides
of the room. "I think not," she re-
I plied, as her e\-es ostentatiously meas
ured the distance between them.
! "There ! Didn't I tell you AVednes
| day was my lucky day?" "In what
[ way has fortune favored you?"
i "Why, there goes Cliolly Softly, and
, he has passed us without seeing us."
Jasper—What do you think will be
i the last conflict before the millennium
I comes? Jumpuppe—lt will be tka
| one in which the contest is settled
; what daily paper has the largest cir
culation.
"Is it not a fact that enlightened
laws have had the effect of increasing
the span of life?" "Hardly. Of
course, murderers live longer, but,
on the other hand, there are the mur
dered, you see."
".My grandfather," said the shoe
clerk boarder, "once knew an old man
who insisted that the ghosts came and
milked his cows every night." "Sort
of inilkin' specters, eh?" commented
the Cheerful Idiot.
Adelliert—l cawn't say that I'm
feeling nachuwal this evening; I got
a beashly cold in my head, dontyer
know? Geraldine—Never miud,Addy.
Don't grumble. Even if it's only a
cold, it's something.
Miss Thirtysmith (meaningly)—An
Italian proverb says that "honest men
marry soon," and— Jack Swift (sol
emnly)—l cannot conceal it any long
er; I live in deadly fear of being at
any moment arrested for embezzle
nieut !
She—Our minister will exchange
pulpits next Sunday with the Rev. Mr.
Talkington. He—Yes? An exchange
of pulpits seems to me a great deal
like a horse trade. It is hard to tell
which congregation is goingto get the
worst of it.
Outshone—-"We've got a man in our
town," said the passenger with the
red clay on his boots, "who has voted
at seventeen presidential elections."
"Ho!" was the scornful reply of the
passenger with the faded red muffler.
"We've got a man onr town that's
read all the messages."
"Miss Wiggles worth thinks she's
eligible to the Order of the Crown.
She's sure she can trace her lineage
back to one of the English sover
eigns." "How far has she got?"
"She told me yesterday she had
struck a bar sinster." "That's right.
Her great-grandfather was a bar
tender. "
How tin* Humble Cabbage Will Ite Glori
fied.
Professor L. H. Bailey of Cornel)
university has been asked togo to
Finland to conduct a series of experi
ments in electrical plant-growing, in
conjunction with Professor Lemstrom
of the University of Helsiugfors. The
[ experiments to be carried on have
nothing to do with the electric light
or the running of electric wires
through the soil for the purpose of
forcing the growth of plants by direct
current stimulation. They are to be
based on some pertinent observations
made by Lemstrom, of the effect of
the aurora borealison theplaut growth
of the North.
It is a well known fact that the
plants of the North arrive at maturity
at a much shorter period of time than
those plants which are grown further
south. It is necessary that these
plants should arrive at maturity very
quickly, inasmuch as the summer
season in the North is very brief, and
it has always been looked upon as a
wise provision of Providence that
plants were enabled to accomplish
their business in life in so short a
space of time. Professor Lemstrom,
however, casting aside the providen
tial idea states that the rapid growth
of plants in the far North is due
directly to the light of the aurora
borealis.—New York Journal.