Agricultural note by Spaip: "Barb wire will not keep out Yankee pigs." Now that the Congo railroad is com pleted, it is interesting to recall the words of Stanley that "the whole of the Congo is not worth two shillings without a railway." China lias moved its capital from Peking because that city is too near the Russians at Port Arthur. It is a cu rious fact that the most populous na tion on earth is the one most helpless and badgered. One man has'died of homesickness at the front. But, strange to remark, General Shafter has not reported a single case where a chap has died through grief at being separated from '\lie nicest girl in the world." Mexico has 11,512 schools; of which 58"2 arc supported by the states, 3212 by cities, aud 2442 by individuals or societies. The actual attendance at these schools last year was 490,746, and the amount appropriated for the support of public schools was about 63,500,000. When it is again in order for the writers aud not the fighters to speak, it will be interesting to hear Captain Malmn's revised views on the influence of naval power on history. He can secure a number of useful hints from such authorities as Dewey, Schley, Sampson, Evans, Philip, Sigsbee, Clark, Ckadwick, W.iinwright, Taylor, Hob son, etc. The people of Wisconsin are to present a bronze badger to the new battleship Wisconsin, aud some citi zens of the town of Lone Rock say .'hey have a live badger they will give to the ship il'the officers will accept it. Wisconsin is noted for having had a live eagle in one of its regiments dur ing the civil war they say; why should it not have a live badger on its battle •liip now? Notwithstanding the large amount of its Chinese indemnity, Japan finds itself in financial straits, and lacks capital to carry on its largely increas ing volume of business. Business men in all parts of the empire are qaaking urgent appeals to the govern ment for relief. But with the pur chase of new warships aud other ex penditures the imperial treasury finds the demands upou it all and more than it is at present capable bf meet ing, and is considering new schemes of internal taxation to make up the deficiency. Germany found itself in a financial crisis only a few years after the payment of the huge French in demnity, the lesson of both cases be ing that the booty of war does not always pay its cost nor provide an in exhaustible fund for the nation that gets it. It is not so very long ago that Korea was a close corporation, and, of ;ourse, Laving no foreign trade what ever, it is interesting and surprising to know with what rapidity it has in creased since 1893, when it had $3,- 000,000, and in 1897 it had grown to Ji11, 000,000. The Japanese troops, duriug the Japan-China war, spent large sums of money in the country, which furnished the Koreans with a purchasing medium. Later there was a large influx of Chinese merchants, and the government, in 1897, made largrf' expenditures for public works, causing a great increase in trade. Americans are somewhat interested in Korea, in its gold mines and in the construction of electric roads. Those people who think that Amer ica is not as patriotic as it used to be —who think that the vast army of workipgmen are not lovers of their country—should do a little investi gating, comments the Chicago Times- Herald. They would find that some where about the home of nearly every laborer there is displayed the Ameri can flag, and in thousands of instancs right by its side is the Cuban flag with its single star. They would find that in the thousands upon thousands of public schools the children from the homes of the laboring men are fore most among the enthusiastic and pa triotic children of the land. Those who think that this government is in danger of being overthrown by an archists, socialists, or any other class of dissatisfied, restless spirits, are far wide of the mark. This government is founded in the hearts of the people, and they are intelligent enough, to know that up to date a better govern ment has never been organized. They believe in it, they love it, they will Beek to make it stronger and and bet ter, and their hands will always be raised against every effort to destroy it. The United States was never stronger than it is today, and it wan never growing stro"»v*" *••*••• it f/i in these times. Lieutenant Hobsonhas declined the offer of SIO,QOO for ten lectures. An other evidence of the man's inherent bravely. With thermometers in firerooms registering 200 degrees, it must re quire more courage to stay below and keep a ship moving than to stand on deck to be shot at. Remember the firemen. Assuming that the combined circu lations of all the leading newspapers amount to 1,000,000 Cwpie? a day, the increase of one cent in the price all around costs the citizens of the Windy city no less than $3,650,- 000 a year. In view of the assertion recently made by the Spanish newspapers to the effect that "there are no colleges in America"it is interesting to know that we have 430 universities and col» leges, 8472 professors aud teachers therein, and 124,684 students. It was significant of the trend of English feeling that at the Fourth of July celebration at Constantinople the Americaus resident along the Bospo rus were taken to the Princes Islands, where Minister Angell was residing, in the British Embassy dispatchboat. There were present, also, a large num ber of English officials (all wearing American colors), and even Admiral Woods Pasha, of the Turkish navy. It was a graceful courtesy, which we may be sure the Americans appreci ated. The Frankfurter Zeitung, a leading German paper, reviewing the war and the role Germany has played, regrets the attacks of the German press on the United States, aud arrives at the conclusion that Germany lias behaved in a "thoroughly injudicious manner." It says: "Two German vessels at Ma nila would have sufficed amply, and in the future we hope the foreign oflico will take into its own hands the set tling of all incidents in connection with Germany's foieign policy,includ ing those relating to the navy," A Pennsylvania commission,charged with the difficult task of devising some means whereby convict labor can be utilized without interfering with union labor, has found, after two years of inquiry, nothing better, un der existing statute restrictions, than the New York plan of utilizing such labor in the making of supplies for state institutions. The members of tlie commission approve of the Euro pean plan of making army stores and equipments in the prisons. That plan, of course, is not applicable in this country, where ordiuarily thero is no such demand for war material, but Pennsylvania is supporting 30,000 in sane in its various hospitals, audit is believed that the furnishing of sup plies for that indigent army would keep all the prison inmates in the state busy. The authorities of Portland, Ore., believe that they have solved the problem of economical street sprink ling, and the explanation of the way they do it is a revelation of how that far Western city is gridironed with street railways. There are at least thirty miles of track within the city, as the contract for sprinkling covers that amount of highway on which rails are laid. Each mile of the thir ty is to be sprinkled once daily, Sun days excepted, the work to be done by the street railroad company with a motor sprinkling cart. The city fur nishes the water,and the railroad com pany distributes it for S4OO a month. Not counting the cost of the water,the expense is about sl3 per mile per month. That is certainly less than it would cost the city to do the work through its street department. The cost per city lot of fifty feet frontage is about seven cents a month. The New York Tribune says:— Amid all the talk about German in terests at Manila, it is well to bear in mind that there are only four German trading-houses in that city, that there is no direct line of vessels between Germany aud the Philippines, and that no cargoes are ever sent from either country to the other. The amount of German trade must there fore be small. It could not well be large. The chief products of the is lands are sugar, hemp and copra. Ev idently no sugar could be sent to Germany, which is a sugar-exporting country. The hemp goes to all parts of the world, but chiefly by way of Great Britain. The copra is practi cally all takeu by Great Britain and France. The tobacco, now a minor product, goes chiefly to Spaia, or did before Admiral Dewey • interfered with the trade. It is one thing to protect existing interests. It is an other and very different thing to try to establish new interests. A SOLDIER'S HEART. Where Is the heart of a soldier, A little song and J little prayer His thought, his hope and his dream, * And a wonder in the fuce. When the rifles ring and the ballets flint And a "God suve papa and bringhim back And the flashing sabres gleam ? In the goodness of Thy grace! ' Oh ! not on the ileld of battle, But far and far away, Yes. there is the heart of a soldier, His heart is living the old, old hopes, Where wife and baby are. While his sword is red in the fray. Though bis eyes and his will may rollow The light of the battle star; And there is the heart of a soldier— Though his baud may swing the sabre, A little home on the hill, And his bayonet charge the foe, A white-faced woman, a little child, The soldier's heart is away, away, That stand by the window-sill; In the home where they miss him so ! ON SPECIAL DUTY. * An Episode of the Si:ge of Boston. l BY CYRUS It. STOWEI.I.. 112 On the second day of .January,l776, [ was handed a communication to the sffect thiit"Captain Nathaniel Cashing is requested to present himself at Ueadquriters at 2 o'clock tomorrow ifterucon to receive instructions from General Washington in regard to special duty in Boston." To ex plain how I became a captain in the Continental army and the rea lon 1 was selected for special service, it will be necessary togo back several months. Before the war began I was a peace ful resident of Boston. I had been well educated by my father,he having gone to England when a young man to study there. He also, forseeing that there must be war between us »nd the mother country, taught me (he use of arms, so that I became very proficient, especially with the sword. My fencing was improved from another source. At a social gathering in '74 [ met a Frenchmen who had been a prominent iigtire in the French court »nd a famous and almost invincible iwordsmau. His last duel caused so nuch trouble that he left France to leek a fortune in the new world. This aian took a liking to me and taught me the French method of fencing, but, being unwilling to drop the Eng lish style wholly, I combined the two *nd always used a French dagger in my left hand. From this time on, in ali friendly contests up to the begin ning of the war, I was never bested, but what I could do in actual conflict was yet to appear. On the morning of the 19th of A.pril, 1775, I learned that an expedi tion had left Boston to destroy mili tary stores at Concord and was not tnuch surprised to hear later that :here had been a light. I saw some of the returning men the next day, and they were in a bad condition. Many »112 them were wounded, and ail were iijsty and half dead with fatigue. About two weeks after this I packed jp some of my clothing and other property and quietly slipped out of the town, armed with a letter of intro iuction from my father to Colonel William Prescott. At this time 1 was 25 years of age and very strong aud active. To explain directly my service with fJeneral Wt shington, I must come down to that glorious day, June 17, 1775,and the tight on Breed's Hill, now called the battle of Bunker Hill. We wol'ked hard the night before and :ontinued throwing up defences in the morning right under tire of the man-of war Falcon in the stream below. When, at last, almost 4 o'clock in the ifterno.m, the British troops started jp the hill all was tiuished. Colonel Prescott had appointed me a lieuten ant, and I had command of a squad of men in the redoubt. As the attacking party came in Rliot of the works they began to lire, and we had great ditti 3ulty iu preventing our men from doing the same. One or two excited Americano did tire and many more brought their guns down to take aim. Without thinking of the consequences I jumped up on the parapet and ran along kicking up the guns and thus prevented their discharge. I forgot til about the enemy, but they were brought forcibly to my mind as I lumped down, for a bullet struck the silver handle of my sword. My name was engraved on the sword-hilt, and I found that the ball had cut off the last three letters, leaving it "Nathaniel Cush I paid no attention to this then, but it afterwards did me a good turn. This was the act for which Colonel Prescottsaw fit to promote me to the position of captain and later recommended me to General Washing ton. When the latter took command of the army 'he honored me with a place on his staff. The rest of the battle is a matter of familiar history now, so I need speak no further about it. And now, having explained my position, I will goon with my story. When I presented myself at the headquarters of General Washington on the afternoon of January 3 lie greeted mepleasantly and immediately stated what he desired me to do. "There is some danger in the trip I wish you to take, captain," he said, "bnt with your usual careful and in telligent work I think you need have no trouble. Tako a boat tonight, which I will have ready with sufficient tuen at the water's edge, off Potter's Hill, Dorchester Neck, aud go across to Boston. I have you go from there because no enemy will be expected from that side. Go arouud the South Battery, and you will find a quiet place to land jnst beyond. From there make'your way to the house of Samuel Perkins on Treamonnt street almost opposite the King's Chapel. He knows you, a'nd at the door in the rear of the house will be prepared to deliver some paper* relating to the condition of the town. After you have received these find out for yourself as much as possible about the condition of the people and the plans of the British. The best way to do this lat ter is to hear the conversation of the English officers. If you are captured you will be hung without delay, but I rely on you aud shall expect you b«ok safely." In'accordance with these directions I was rowed quietly across the bay about 7 o'clock, making a wide circuit of the Battery. The night was cold and cloudy, and there was not much danger of being seen. Although mid winter there was no snow on the ground. A landing was made without difficulty on the beacti near Milk street, and, leavingorders for the boat to wait, I started quickly up towards the centre of the town. I did not ex })ect any trouble in the lirst part of my duty. Many people were about, the men being dressed just as I was, for, of course, I did not wear my uni form, and the streets were dark in spite of the lamps put up by the se lectmen at long intervals. I was armed only with my sword and dag ger, and these would cause no com ment, because it was a common cus tom to wear ornamental rapiers, al though few of them would be service able in combat. On turning into Marlborough street I came upon the old Province House, the residence of General Gage, the governor. Here, almost two mouths later, an event happened that caused a laugh togo through the entire American army when it became known. The soldiers celebrated Feb. 22,1776, in honor of General Washington, it being his first birthday anniversary while with the army. The men were greatly amused to hear that the Brit ish had unintentionally doue the same. This celebration was in the form of a grand ball, the most impor tant and last of the season iu the Province House, called the Queen's ball. I kept to the right,by the Old South Meeting House, and then crossed over and went up School street to Trea mount. Here I found the Perkins lionse without trouble aud, going cau tiously to the rear, knocked on the door. It was opened by a middle aged man,who said softly before I had time to speak: "Oh, it's you,captain, is it? Come in here. Don't make any noise." I stepped inside the porch, and he left me, but soon came back with a small paper packet. "Here are the papers," he said in a whisper; "now get out of Boston as soon as you can." "But I was told to look around a little," I answered. "If you stay here after 10 you will be captured, for General Gage has issued orders for the arrest of anyone found ui the streets after 10 o'clock without a pass from him," said the man, whom I now know was Samuel Perkins. "All right," I replied, "I'll get away by that time. Good night." "Good night and good luck to you," lie whis pere I back, and then, after putting the papers iu au inside pocket, I left him aud went out on the street. After thinking the matter over I had come to the conclusion that the best place to overhear conversation relating to the condition of the town would be in the riding school the Brit ish officers had established in the Old South Meeting House. So, when I reached this place, I entered boldly with the other spectators aud went upstairs to the balcony. Seeing a vacant seat behind several officers, I sat down ' there without disturbing them. They were watching the riders below, who were then raciug their horses around the floor aud jumping them over a bar fixed just in front of the pulpit aud discussing the merits of various men. This did not interest me, but 1 listened more attentively when one nsked, "Are you going to the performance in Fnneuil hall next Monday, Frank?" "What's that?" "Why, General Burgoyne's play, 'The Blockade of Bostou.' All the officers in the town will be there, and most of those at the works in Charlestowu will come over." This bit of informa tion was of use to the American cause when I made it known. General Sul livan had planned a raid on Charles town several days before I left the camp, but the ice on the river was not hard enough to allow the men to cross on it, aud so the plan was giveu up. Taking advantage of the thick ice aud the absence of the officers in Boston on the night of the play, January 8, he sent over Major Knowltou, who commanded the rail fence on the day of the battle on Breed's Hill, and the major burned several buildings, in cluding a bakehouse, and captured a number of prisoners. This raid caused a general alarm in Boston nud broke up the play iu Faneuil hall. A short time before 10 the specta tors began to leave the church. As the officers iu front of me arose, one of them turned around and gave a surprised start. Without looking straight at him, I could see that he was eyeing me sharply, and I knew at once that he must have seen me somewhere before. To give him the impression that I was an acquaintance whom he had met iuthe town, I looked up and bowed with a "Good evening, lieutenant." He returned my bow, saying, "Pardon me, but will you please tell me who you are?" "I am a citizen of Bostou," I answered. The lieutenuut looked at me, as if trying to remember where we hai met, and | then it flashed across my mind why I his face seemed so familiar to tne. When the British came over the re doubt on the third charge at Bunker Hill I had a personal encounter with an officer whom I afterwards heard was Lieutenant John Barry, who came over on the Cerberus with General Clinton in May, 1775. He had a rep utation of sincerely hating evervtting American, and this was the man who now stood before me. Our duel on the hill was short,but very sharp, and ended in my wounding him. As he fell and I joined the retreat he called out, "I'll kill you on sight for this if we ever meet again!" You may be sure I was not in a comfortable frame of mind at this recollection. I saw that if he remembered me something desperate would have to be doue and so looked around quickly for some chance to escape. Only ten feet away was a heavy door, standing open, which led to the belfry above. I knew this had bolts on the other side and resolved to take chances in that direc tion. When I told the lieutenant I was a citizen, the other officers drew around and asked my name. I was about to give a fictitious nam- when Barry cried out, "Heine that man! He fought against us nt Bunker Hill!" I struck out with both lists to make an opening aud knocked down two of the officers. In an instant I was through the door aud had it locked on the inside. My purpose was to cut off the bell rope aud use that to escape with while the door was being broken open,but when I went upstairs I found a coil of rope, so I took that instead. I opened a belfry window and, after fastening the rope, slid gown on the roof below. Here I cut off the rope with my dagger as high as I could reach aud left the end hanging, run ning along the roof to the rear with the rest. I fastened the rope to a pro jection and, crawling over the edge, slid to the ground without the least trouble. Running up towards the front of the church I dropped one of my gloves, which I had worn up to this time, in Milk street aud the other around the corner on Marlborough street. I did this to give pursuers the idea that I had gone towards the com mon, as that was the most likely place for a man to try to escape to the op posite shore. This ruse, as I subse quently learned from a deserter, worked perfectly. The gloves were of an un usual color and having been noticed by the officers in the church were rec ognized when found. Lieutenant Barry was so anxious to capture me himself that he neglected to have the guards warned to be on the watch, aud this was another thing in my favor. After dropping my gloves Iran through a lane below the church to Water street. I intended to work my way down to the boat from there, but, after eluding several guards, I found myself in King street by the Town House, ciJI id the State House after the war. Here I was startled by a cry of "Halt! Who goes there?" I was just getting ready to run when an answer came from in front of the building, "Citizen, with a pass." "Come here and show it," ordered the guard. As you may know, the Town House is set right in the middle of King street with an open space all around it. I went around in this space to a position where I could see the two men without being seen by them. The guard looked at the pass, said "all right" and then, giving it back, went up Queen street out of tight. I watched the citizen while he stood still, with a bundle on the ground at his feet, carefully folding the paper up, and the idea came into my head that I could use that pass. He was facing uie,so Iran around thebuildiug to the other side. The man was just putting the pass in his pocket as I cauie in sight again. I never liked to hit a man from behind, but this was a case of necessity, aud so 1 struck him hard, just behind the right ear, with my list. He fell with hardly a sound, nud I quickly tied his feet with his belt and his hands behind him with the rope from the bundle he had been carrying. In the bundle I found a piece of cloth, among other things, and tied this over the man's mouth to keep him from making any noise when he recovered. Then I secured the pass and placed him and his bundle in the deep doorway of the Town House. I decided togo at once to the boat, using the pass to get by any guards I should meet. At the first lamp in the street I stopped to read the pass. It ran as follows: Head Quarters, Boston,3rd .Tan. ,1776. The bearer, Nath'l Cushman, citi zen, has His Excellency the Com mander-in-Chief's permission togo about inside the advanced lines at any time between the hours of 10 and 12 touight. Ja: Uuqt-hart, Town Major. To all concerned. I smiled as I thought how near Nathaniel Cushman was to my name aud after putting the paper away started on. At Water street I was challenged by a guard aud showed him the pass, which he took under a light to read. "Are you Nathaniel Cushman?" he asked. I answered "i'es." He didn't seem to be satis fied, but said, "How do I know you are? Can you prove it?" I had a habit of standing with the weight of my body on my right foot and my left hand on the hilt of my sword. As I stood trying to think of some plan of action I assumed this position aud one finger came in contact with the dent made by the bullet at Bunker Hill. "Yes," I replied, "here is my name engraved here,' and I drew my sword, "except that part of it has been rubbed out by a rebel bullet." He read the words on the handle, "Nathan iel Cush " and then thought a mo meut, while I stood with the rapier in my right hand. Then he said, "I suppose you're all right. Go along." He never knew it, but these words saved his life, for I was all ready to mn liim through if he decided to ar rest me or call for help. I proceeded ou my way, while the guard went up Water street, and soon came near where my boat was. I was congratu lating myself on my escape, when I heard the sound of a man running along the street behind me. I sup posed that the guard had changed his mind and was pursuing me, so I started to run. Up to this time the sky had been cloudy, but now, as I was running by a field,the moon came out brightly. I looked back and was astonished to see that my pursuer was none other than Lieutenant Barry. I thought our little affair might as well lie settled now as any time and so turned into the field. I drew my sword and stood on guard waiting for my enemy. He came up panting and seemed to be delighted to find me ready to fight. He came at me savagely, and as soon as our swords met, with a feint and a quick, strong turn of the wrist the Frenchman had taught me, I sent his weapon flying through the air, saying at the name time, "I noticed you were out of breath, lieutenant. We will go on when you are in better condition." He glared at me and went slowly to pick up his sword. We came toirether again, but this time he was mere care ful. We fought for some time and finding he was equal to me in English fencing I tried a little French. I had a dagger in my left hand, but had not used it up to this time. Now I lowered my sword, leaving my "guard wide open. He thrust straight at my heart, as I expected he would, and I turned his weapon out with my dagger. I meant to kill him then, but my action was so unexpected that he lost his bal ance and fell, his sword leaving his hand and falling some distance away. I could see by the expression 011 his face that he expected to die then, Lut I waited for him to rise. When he did so he made no attempt to regain his rapier,but asked, bluntly, "What's your name?" "Captain Nathaniel Gushing," I replied, "aide-de-camp to General George Washington, com mander-in-chief of the Continental army." "Well, captain,you're a gen tlemen, and I'd like to shake hands with you," and he did so. "Now," he continued, "I can't fight with a man who has spared my life twice, so I'll not bother you any more if you are willing to let matters drop." I gladly agreed to this,and the lieuten ant went back the way he had come, while I went to the boat. I never saw Barry again, but heard from a pris oner the next winter that he was killed iu the battle at Brooklyn, Long Island, ou Aug. 27 of the same year. The information furnished by the papers of Samuel Perkins was valu able. In the packet was a map copied from the plan made by Lieutenant Page, un eugineerof the British army, in 1775. This included the town of Boston and all the intrenchments and fortifications of the English army. It showed General Washington so much that he planned an assault 011 the town to be made by crossing over on the ice from Roxbury and Cambridge in the latter part of February. This plan was disapproved by the field offi cers in council of war, and so the gen eral reluctantly abandoned it. In its place he began to make preparations to fortify Dorchester Heights and Noddle's island and successfully car ried his plans out, as is well known to everybody now. QUAINT AND CURIOUS. A white tar has been invented. In Lapland, it is said, dress fashions have not changed for 1000 years. A boxful of earth from the Garden of Gethsemane was sprinkled over Mr. Gladstone's coffin. A chasm thirty miles in length has been excavated by the waters of the Grand Falls of Labrador. Iu Persia a bonfire plays an impor tant part in the marriage ceremony, the ceremony being read over in front of it. A Brighton (England) young man has killed himself because his wife made fun of him for kissing the ser vant girl. Seymour Keyse, postmaster at I«lan lieiin, N. Y., has an apple tree which was brought from Holland in the seven teenth century. It still bears fruit. The dragon-fly can outstrip the swallow. It can fly backwards and sidelong, to right and left, ».s well a» forward, and can alter its course on the iustaut without turning. A strange custom is followed by Mexican farmers. They use oxen of one color in the morning and another color in the afternoon. They do not know why, but they know that it must be the right thing to do because their forefathers did it. At the sunset hour, in Seoul, Korea, a town bell proclaims the fact when the sun has vanished beneath the horizon. No man is allowed iu the street after that hour, under penal'.y of a flogging ; but, strange to say, the women are permitted togo around as usual, visiting their friends, or stroll ing for pleasure. ltemovrd (lie of n Kunawa v Groom. When Bramwell was arrtsted, after a brief honeymoon, he was in Pratt county, near the west line of the state, where he had gone on some business, without the thought that his bride would discover his crime. The sheriff did not wish to humiliate the old mail by putting handcuffs on him, so he removed the prisoner's wooden leg and hid it away under a car seat, thus rendering him incapable of a run.— Kansas City Journal. A Mutter of K»ct. Yeast—Did you say your wife could talk 250 words a minute? Crimsonbeak —No, what I said was that she does. —Yonkers Statesman.