A strong evidence of Western pros perity is shown in the fact that the West is furnishing her own money to move her crops this season. Sagasta says that the United States and Spain are simply in a state of "suspension." The theory is true in the case of his country. She is hold ing herself up by her shoe straps. The United States is now furnish ing one-third as much raw cotton to Japan as is furnished by British India. Last year's export of raw cotton from America to Japau was worth nearly #8,000,000. Perhaps the Czar of Russia is just as eager for universal peace as he pre tends to be, but he will probably con tinue to build warships and enlarge his battalions as rapidly as ever. The dream of peace will in no way retard the preparations for war. The latest fignres obtainable show that the Philippine Islands import $9,174,003 worth of goods and export 819,702,819 worth, leaving, in round numbers, a balance in their favor of of $10,500,000. These figures are for 1897, audit is stated that the average value of the trade of those islands is far in excess of the sums given. Busi ness has been much disturbed by the insurrection. The practice among nations of ex acting money from a conquered foe is, in its present form, somewhat modern. In ancient times the victor despoiled the enemy he had overcome, sacked cities, and took whatever of value he could carry away. Now he respects private property,but he usually makes the conqnered nation pay the whole cost of the war. In either case the practice is analogous to that of civil courts, which assess costs upon the defeated party. The Japanese, it appears, have not a little poetry iu their souls, as they give their warships such pretty names as "Daybreak," "Darkening Clouds," "Evening Mist," and "Will o' the Wisp." This is rather more sensible than the English custom of naming their small vessels after insects, while they bestow upon their huge ironclads alarmist names that may be supposed to strike terror into the hearts of theii foes. It is a pity that Americans are not more partial to the line old Indian names that abound in different parts of the country. According to the Post-Express of Rochester, N. Y., that city is felici tating itself over a remarkable de crease in mortality during the last few years, especially among children, and is pluming itself over being the healthiest city in the state. The offi cial figures show a decrease for the mouth of July iu the mortality ol children under five years from 175 in 1887 out of a population of 120,000 to 58 in 1898 out of a population of 180,000. The Post-Express attributes this gratifying exhibit to the liberal appropriations made by the city to maintain the standard quality of milk, and the efforts of the physicians to arrest the havocs of tuberculosis. John E. Kehl, United States consul at Stettin, tells why the German farmer is prosperous despite the fact that ho has poorer laud and less land than his American brother, and no labor-saving machinery worth the mention. Co operation is the secret of his success. He has co-operative credit banks, co operative dairies, co-operative steam plows, and co-operation iu draiuage and irrigation, in both of which he is an export. He is also au iutensive fanner, aud gets out of the ground pretty much everything which it is capable. Farm laborers get thirty live cents a day, with a small house to live in and a half-acre of laud to cul tivate for their own use. iu harvest seasons they get fifty cents a day. In an article written for the Lum herinan by B. F. Seymour attention is called to the almost unlimited variety of uses of which the red cypress is susceptible, principally for house work, inside aud outside. For natural beauty of appearance, the red cypress of Louisiana is especially notable,and is extensively used by manufacturers for all descriptions of cisterns, tanks, tubs, for brewery,creamery, and simi lar applications, and for durability and strength, eaunot be equalled in the case of large railroad tanks. Cur builders and railroad companies have long been partial to this material for siding and roofing on box freight cars. It possesses the advantage of taking and holding paint in a degree equal to white pine, being also free from pitch or gum. When used for outside work, including bevel siding, porch floors and columns, step planks, gut ters, etc., it is more durable than any ether wood in use. English writers seldom find the de mand for new books so heavy as to prevent their coming to this country to lecture. The dependence of the fighting na tions of the world on the United States for tlieir food supply is a guarantee of peaceful relations with us more efilcieut than a standing army. Massachusetts has the best opinion of its own credit, and takes up its bond issues with readiest promptitude Of $3,000,000 just issued Boston bankers took the lot at a handsome premium. One of the critical writers on per sonal deportment says that "perfumes are the essence of vulgarity." This is especially important in view of the fact that most persons have hitherto supposed that perfumes were the es sence of flowers. An influential movement is on foot in London to seize the opportunity offered by the renewal of the church yard behind St. Giles's church, Crip plegate, made necessary by the recent disastrous fire, to add this spot to the list of city gardens. This churchyard is from its situation more restful and peaceful than the majority of the old graveyards, which have of late years been utilized for the benefit of the living, and it is felt that this spot would be au ideal one for the erection of a statue or other memorial of Mil ton, who lived in the parish, and whose body rests in the grand old church wliic-h hits now twice escaped the ravages of fire. Many of the parishioners of St. Giles's are active ly interesting themselves in the pro ject, and there can be 110 doubt that the necessary money for a Milton me morial would be at once forthcoming. One of the first permanent memo rials of the Spanish-American war erected in this country was placed in the chapel of the Naval academy at Annapolis, Md., in memory of Lieut. William Jenkins, who perished in the Maine disaster. The memorial, which takes the form of a mural tablet, was subscribed for by the classmates of the officer, and has been cast in brouze from the design of Charles Rollinson Lamb. A faithful model in high re lief of the ill-fated vessel is shown above the inscription, which reads as follows: "in memory of Friend Wil liam Jenkins, lieutenant, United States Naval Academy, who perished in the explosion of the United States steamship Maine on the night of Feb ruary 15, 1898, in the Harbor of Ha vana, Cuba. 'He spoke evil of no man.' Erected by his classmates." Poor Columbus, dead aud turned to clay these 400 years, is really to blame, it seems, for the succession of disasters that have befallen Spain in the Western Hemisphere, muses the New York Commercial Advertiser. Madrid newspapers assert that ''Co lumbus in discovering the New World was not Spain's benefactor but her evil genius.'' Why these newspapers do not include in the same category Ferdinand aud Isabella, whose bounty sent the Genoese navigator on his evil errand, and the Pope who ceded to Spain the larger part of America, does not appear. Probably it is an oversight. One Jladrid journal goes so far as to oppose the transfer of the remains of Columbus from Havana tc Spain. To this there will be no ob jection in the United States. Colum bus had the elements of a good Ameri can, and as Havana may one day be an American city his ashes will be more at peace in that city than in a country upon which he deliberately brought so much humiliation and shame. The French are delightful. What cotild be more humorous than their lack of humor,says the New York Sun. For instance, there was a teriibli wreck on the Western railroad the other day. At the wholesale funeral of the victims of gross negligence, M. Foulon, the agent of tlie line, placeu all the blame on the forces of nature. He assailed "matter" thus: "Being conquered by science it keeps quiet for weeks, months, and sometimes years. It is under the yoke a seem iugly docile servant, then it revolts and furiously sets at defiance the most careful calculations, the most far sighted precautions. Rebellious mat ter bursts out in firedamp iu collieries, in stupendous shipwrecks like the one now fresh in every memory, in factory disasters, iu railway catastrophes. Heuce the rending of hearts and wrenching of souls, aud the public mournings like the one iu which we all unite today." Could Pascal have done better? How philosopical! How correctly fatalistic! Can we wonder that this nation should desire to honor sailors who escape from a shipwreck, leaving the women behind to perish. A JUVENILE OPTIMIST. My gran'dad says those modern days I wish that pollshln' our lamp Of steam an' 'leutrlo light A genie would arouse Heat anything that ever was; Bo's I could say. "00, slave, an feed An' gran'dad's mostly right. Them pigs*un milk the cows." Bat I can't help some doubtfulness I'd make him wear the overalls When into bed I climb An' face the mud an grime, An' dreaiii about those good old days But this ol' earth ain't what it wa» Of Once Upon a Time. In Onco Upon a Time. I've got to hustle on the farm Yet history repeats ItsPlf, When I get big enough. My grun'daj says, an' so I wish I knew some fairy spell I keep on hoplu' an I watch To do the work that's rough. The seusous come an go I'd like to make the brownies toil That I may livo to see 'em back- By saying some queer rhyme The brownies in their prime. The same as them there wizards did The wizards an them other folks In Once Upon a Time. Of once Upon a Time. , "THE BLUE RAT." j 4 * A. Klondllto Z!piaode. r i b» n BY HAMLIN OAKLAND. P Even iu tlie Klondike life u not al together simple or always free from guile. Were proof of that nature needed it might be found in the his tory of our experience with the Blue Bat. We came to know him through our need of a pony. We had two service able pack horses, but we needed a lit tle pony to run along behind and carry the tent and a few little traps like that. A citizen of Quesnelle possessed such a steed. This citizen was a German and had a hairlip and a most se ductive gentleness of voice. His name was Dippy, and I gladly make him historical. He sold me the Blue Bat and gave me a chance to study a new type of horse. Herr Dippy (Dutch Dippy) was not a Washington Irving sort of Dutch man; he conformed rather to the mod ern New York tradesman. He was small, candid and smooth, very smooth of speech. He said: "Yes, the pony is gentle. He can be rode or packed, but yon better lead him for a day or two till he gets quiet." 1 did not seethe pony till the morn ing we "hit the long trail" on the west side of the Fraser river, but my side partner had reported him to be a "nice little pony, round and fat and gentle." On that I rested. In the meantime Mr. Dippy joined us at the ferry. He held a horse by the rope and waited around to liuisii the trade. I presumed he intended to cross and deliver the pony, which was iu a corral on the west side, but he lisped out a hurried excuse. "The ferry is not coming back today aud so—" Well, I paid him the money on the strength of my side partner's report; besides it was Hobsou's choice. Mr. Dippy took the $:25 eagerly and vanished into obscurity. We passed to the wild side of the Fraser and en tered upon a long aud intimate study of the Blue Bat. He shucked out of the log stable a smooth, round, lithe-bodied little cav use of a blue-gray color. He looked like a child's toy, but seemed sturdy aud of good condition. His foretop was "banged," and he had the air of a mischievous, resolute boy. His eyes were big and black, and he studied us with tranquil but inquiring gaze as we put the pack saddle on him. He was very small. "He's not large, but he's a gentle little chap," said I to ease mv partner of his dismay over the pony's surpris ing smallness. "I believe he shrunk during the | night," replied my partner. "He seemed two sizes bigger yesterday." We packed him with a hundred pounds of our food. We put a small bag of oats on top and lashed it all on with rope, while the pony dozed peacefully. Once or twice I thought I saw his ears cross; one laid back, the other set forward—bad signs —but it was done so quickly 1 could not be sure of it. We packed the other horses whilst the blue pony stood resting one hind leg, his eyes dreaming. I flung the canvas cover over the bay pack horse * « * some thing took place. I heard a bung, a clatter, a rattling of hoofs. I peered around the bay and saw the blue pony performing some of the most iiuished, vigorous and varied bucking it has ever been given me to witness. He all but threw somersets. He stood on his ears. He humped up his back till he looked like a lean cat on a grave yard fence. He stood on his toe calks and spun like a weather vaue on a livery stable, aud when the pack ex ploded aud the saddle slipped under him he kicked it to pieces by using both hind hoofs as gently as a man would stroke his beard. After calming the other horses I faced my partner solemnly. "O, by the way, partner, where did you get that nice, quiet little blue pony of yours?" Partner smiled sheepishly. "The little imp. Bufl'alo Bill ought to have that pony." "Well, now," said I, restraining my laughter, "the thing to do is to put that pack ou so it will stay. That pony will try the same thing again, sure." We packed him again with great care. His big innocent black eyes shining under his bang were a little more alert, but they showed neither fear nor rage. We roped him iu every conceivable way, and at last we dared him to do his prettiest. He did it. All that had gone be fore was merely preparatory, a blood warming, so to say; the real thing now took place. He stood up on his hind legs aud shot into the air, alight ing on his four feet as if to pierce the earth. He whirled like a howling der vish, grunting, snorting.nnseeing and almost unseen in a nimbus of dust, strap ends and pine needles. His whirling undid him. We seized the rope and just as the pack again slid under his feet we set shoulder \o the rope and threw him. He came to earth with a thud, his legs whirling uselessly iu the air. He resembled a beetle in molasses. We sat upon his head and discussed . him. "He is a wonder," said my partner. "He is a fiend," I panted. We packed him again with infinite pains, and when he began bucking we threw him again and tried to kill him. We viere getting irritated. We threw him hard aud drew his hind legs up to his head until he grunted. When he was permitted to rise he looked meek aud small and tired, and we were both a littie remorseful. We rearranged the pack—it was some en couragement to know he had not bucked it entirely ofl'—aud by blind folding him we got him started on the trail behind the train. "I suppose that simple-hearted Dutchman is looking at us from across the river," said I to partner, "but no matter; we are victorious." This singular thing I noticed in the Blue Rat. His eye did not roll nor his ears fall back. He was neither scared nor augrv. He still looked like a roguish, determined boy. He was alert, watchful, but not vicious. He seemed not to take our stern meas ures in bad part. He regarded it as a fair contract, apparently, aud cousid ered that we had won. True, he had lost both hair aud skin by getting tan gled in the rope, but he laid up nothing against us, aud as he followed meek ly along behind, my partner dared to say: "He's all right now. I presume he has been runuiug out all winter and is a little wild. He's satisfied now. We'll have no more trouble with him." Every time I looked back at the poor, humbled little chap, my heart tingled with pity aud remorse. "We were too rough," I said. "We must be more gentle." "Yes, he's nervous and scary. We must be careful not to give him a sud den start." Au hour later, as we were going down a steep aud slippery hill, the IJat saw his chance. He passed into another spasm, opening and shutting like a self-acting jack-knfe. Hebound ed into the midst of the peaceful pack horses, scattering them to right and left in terror. He turned and came up the hill to get auother start. Partner took a turn ou a stump, and all unmindful of it the Rat whirled and made a mighty spring. He reached the end of the rope and his handspring became a vaulting somersault. He lay, unable to rise, spatting the wind, breathing heavily. Such annoying energy I have never seen. We were now mad, muddy aud very resolute. We held him down till he lay quite still. Any well-considered, properly bred animal would have beeu ground to bonedust by such wondrous acrobatic movements. He was skinned in one or two places, his hair was scraped from his nose, his tongue bled, but all these were mere scratches. When we repacked him he walked oft' compara tively unhurt. The two days following he weut along like a faithful dog. Every time I looked behind I could see the sturdy little chap trotting along. His head hung low. and his actions were meek and loyal. For a week he continued thus. Partner became attached to him and begau once more to make ex cuses for him. "He will never make us trouble again," he said. Rain came, transforming the trail iuto a series of bottomless pits and greasy inclines and we were forced to lay in camp two days. The Blue Bat stufl'ed himself on pea-vine and bunch grass, aud on the third day "pitched" with undiminished vigor. This settled his fate. I made up my mind to sell him. Once I had determined upon his mo tives I could not afford to bother with him any more. He delayed us with his morning antics, and made as the amusement of the outfits which over took aud passed us by reason of our interesting sessions with the Blue Rat. He must go and I selected my pur chaser. He was a Missouriau from Butte. He knew all there was to be known about trails, horses, gold, poli tics, and a few other things. He con sidered all the other meu ou the trail merely tenderfeet out for a picnic. Each time lie passed us he had some drawling remark indicating his sur prise that we should be still able to move. Him I selected to become the owner of the Bat. I laid for him. When he had eaten his supper one night I sauntered care lessly over to his tent. I "edged around" by talking of the weather,the trail, and so on, aud at last I said: "We'd leave yon tonight if it weren't for the blue colt. He delays us." "How so?" "O, he pitches." "Pitches, does he?" He smiled. "I'd mighty soon take that out of bim if I had him. " "I suppose an experienced man likt you could do it, but we are unused to these wild horses. I'd like to sell him to some man who knows about such animals. He's a fine pony, strong as but he's a terrible bucker. I never saw his equal." He smiled again indulgently. "Let's take a look at him. The pony had tilled his hay basket and looked as innocent as a worsted kitten. "Nice little feller, shore thing,'• said the Missouriau, as he patted the Bat "He's young and coltish. What'll you take for him?" "Now, see here, stranger. lam a fair man. I don't want to deceive any one. That pony is a wonder. He can outbuck any horse west of Sel- j kirk range." The old man's eyes were very ag gravating. "He needs an old hand, that's all. Why, I could shoulder the little kid whilst he was a-pitchin' his blamedest. What'll you take for him?" "I'd throw oft' $3, and you take the rope; but, stranger, he's the worst—" He refused to listen. He took the pony. As the Bat followed him off he looked so small, so sloepy, so round and gentle you would have said, "There goes a man vith a pony foi his little girls." We laid off a day at Tchincnt lake. We needed rest anyway, and it was safer to let the man from Butte goon. I had made every provision against complaint on the Missourian's part, but at the same time one can't be too careful. , There are no returning footsteps ou the long trail, but a few days later I overtook the man from Indiana, who had been see-sawing back and forth on the trail, now ahead, now behind. He had laid off a half day. He approached me with a enriou# look on his face. "Stranger, what kind of a beast did you put off ou that feller from Butte?" "A mighty strong, capable little horse. Why?" "Well, say, I was just a-passing his camp yesterday morning, when the thing took place. I always was lucky about such." "What happened?" queried T. "I don't wish any man's barn to burn, strangers, nor his horse to take a fall outen him, but wheu anything does goon I like to see it. You see, he had just drawed the last knot on the pack and as I came up he said: 'How's this for a $lO pony?' I said, 'Pretty good. Who'd you get him off ol'?' " 'A couple of tenderfeet,' he says, | 'who couldn't handle him. Why,he's gentle as a dog; then he slaps the pony on the side. The little fiend lit out both hind feet aud took the old man ou both kuees aud kuocked him down over a pack-saddle into the mud. Theu he turned loose, that pony did, stranger. I have saw horses buck a plenty, Mexican bronks, wild cayuses iu Montana, and all kinds o' beasts in California, but I never seen the beats of that blue pony. He shore was a bucker from Battle Creek. The Butte man lay there a groaniu',his two knees in his lists, whilst a trail of flour an' beans an' sacks an' rubber boots led up the hill, an' at the far end of that trail 'bout thirty yards up the blamed cayuse was a-feediu' like a April lamb." "What happened to him?" "Who?" "The pony." "Old Butte, as soon as he could crawl a little, he says: 'Gimme my gun, I've beeu a-packin' on the trails of the Rocky mountains for forty years aud I never was done up before. Gimme that gun.' He sighted her, stranger, most vicious, and pulled trigger. The pony gave one big jump and went a-rollin' aud a-crasliiu' into j the gulch. "You'll never kick again,' i says the feller from Butte." Poor little Blue Bat. He had gone to the mystic meadows where no pack saddle could follow him. Detroit Free Press. UUAINT AND CURIOUS- The strength of two horses equals that of fifteen meu. In Costa Rica canary birds, bull finches and paroquets are special table dainties. It is said that an organized system of charity prevailed among the F.gyp tiaus 2500 years B. C. Pet dog 3 in London, England, weal chamois shoes when in the house, to protect polished floors from scratches. Over a hundred persons disappeat in London, England, every year with out leaving the slightest trace behind. The paper church at Bergen, Nor way, is made waterproof by a coating of quicklime, curdled milk aud white of egg. The ancient custom of putting a coin in the hand of the dead is still occa sionally followed iu the rural districts of France. At the beginning of a recent thun derstorm, electrified drops were ob served that cracked faintyon reaching | the ground and emitted sparks. I While the wedding service is pro j ceeding in Japan the bride kindles a j torch and the bridegroom lights a fire from it and bums the wife's play things. A curious remedy for sleeplessness is used by the inhabitants of the Sa moan islands. They couflne a snake in a hollow bamboo aud the hissing sound emitted by the reptile is said to quickly induce slumber. Wealth Front FUli. The development of the Irish mack erel fisher has proved a boon to the fisher folk of Cork and Kerry. Fort* thousand barrels were cured last year, almost all of which came to America. This industry puts $500,000 a year into circulation amoug the people of these two com; tie*. ENVY. Butterfly, he cry an' sigh. As he met me 'neat de tree, Wbuh de loafln' hours went by; "Wisht I wus a honey bee. He hab comfort in completeness; Got a hive choak tull o' sweetness I.uckier dan de likes o' me. Wisht I wus a honey bee." Says de bee, says he to me, " -Tain' co use foh me to try To be frollickin' an' free. Wisbt I wus a butterfly. 'Nuflin' 'tall to do but dancin' Whah de sunbeam comes a-giancin', I must toll an' sleep an' die. Wisht I wus a butterfly !" —Washington Star. HUMOROUS. "How was your amateur opera per formance?" "It was so poor that it was really rich." Train up a servant girl in the way she should go, aud the first thing you know she's gone. "Obrian got mixed up with a mad bull yesterday." "How did it end?'* "It was a toss up." I Gadding—Why don't you make your wife do the marketing? Gabway—Th» trouble is, she don't let me make her, "You remind me so much of my poor, dear, first husband!" "You re mind me of him altogether too much, my dear." , By the time a man has a few dollars saved up for his old age he is told that his daughter has talents which should be cultivated. "Why, Jim, what did you shoot that man for?" "To avoid trouble. I new we'd be a quarreliu' if we kep' «n, aud I hate a row." The art of sailoring Most women lack. But she who's pretty may Command a smack. Jones—For awhile John was clean out of his mind about that girl. Smith —Aud now? Jones—Oh, now the girl is clean out of her mind. "Oh, Alice! my new dress looks nice euougli to eat." "Well,l wouldn't eat it if I were you. I don't believe it would set so well on the inside." Manager—l hope your Cuban play has lots of local color in it. Drama tist—Oh, yes. In the last act the Spanish villain dies of yellow fever. "Hans, if you are very good and get a high mark in school, I will give you a ham sandwich." "But, mam ma, do you imagine I can be bribed?" "I think I have pretty well your lauguage the master of," said the for eigner, "but tell me how, as I hear a man say, one can cut a lot of ice with his dough?" Governor of the Prison—What is the cause of this unseemly delay? Jailer—That expert headsman you en gaged from the medical school is ster ilizing the axe. Tourist—Can you tell me where Mr. Greencoru's cottage is? Small Native —I can for a nickel. Tourist—Here is the nickel; now where is it? Small Native—lt's burnt down. Judge—You robbed your benefactor iu a most shameful way. Do you feel no compunctious of conscience? Pris oner—Before answering, sir, I would like to consult my counsel. What ever may be said of what The Chinese untors do. One fuult at least they haven't got— They never miss their queue. Boggs How is it that your hair it quite white, while your beard is very dark? Noggs—lt's the most natural thing iu the world. Boggs—lndeed) Noggs—lt's thirty years older. The Dearest Girl-—What makes you old bachelors say such horrid things? Married men do not talk that way. The Savage Bachelor—No, we only say what the married men think. Mrs. Faddle—l thought you war ranted that dog bought of you well bred? Dog Dealer—So it is, mum. Mrs. Faddle—Oh, no, it isn't; it bolts its food in the most vulgar manner! "The Binkses must buy everything on the instalment plan." "What makes you think so?" "I heard Jimmy Binks ask his father whether their new baby would be taken away if they couldn't keep up the payments." Landlady That uew boarder is either married or a widower. Daugh ter—Why, mamma; he says he is a bachelor. Landlady—Don't you be lieve he is. When he opens his pock etbook to pay his board he always turns his back to me. An Acquired Habit. It is a matter of general knowledge that the mountain parrot of New Zea land, the kea, lias acquired the very destructive habit of pierciug the backs of sheep with its sharp beak in order to feed on the kidney fat of the very unfortunate animals attacked. It was at one time believed that the birds hail learned this habit from procuring futty particles from the skins of sheep which had been slaughtered; but now a more likely solution of the problem has been suggested by a correspond ent of the Zoologist. 'This gentleman, who writes from Melbourne, tells us that in the hilly districts of the mid dle island of New Zealand there grows in great quantity a white lichen which bears a strong resemblance to sheep's ! w6ol. Beneath this lichen are to be found small white fatty substances, which some suppose to be the seeds of the plant, and others describe as maggots which infest it; but whatever they be, they form a favorite food of the kea. It is suggested that the bird, misled by the resemblance of the cheep's wool, digs down into the flesh in the hope of finding this white sub stance of which it is so fond, aud that in this way the uew habit has been originated. In the first place, probably the birds are misled by mis taking dead sheep for masses of the licheu under which they had been ac customed to find their favorite food.— Chambers's Journal.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers