While the British lion is waiting to Ave the powers twist its tail, appar leatly just yet that is not the end they are seeking. A Colorado millionaire celebrated his birthday by giving a SSOOO ban iquet to the poor of Denver. He's the sort of man who deserves to be born again. The Anarchist who killed the Aus trian empress says his doctrine is that no one who doesn't work should be allowed to live. This would carry a pretty general death seutence to his tribe. Princeton defeated Yale in football this season by one brilliant play. It was not the kind of defeat college men enjoy; if they must be beaten they would rather be overcome by conventional football. In some quar ters the victory will undoubtedly be called a fluke, but it was not a fluke, it was a chance—a chance in a thou sand—instantly seized and turned to most brilliant account. In general the two teams were evenly matched, Yale being better ground-gainers, Priuceton being better at punting. Poo seized the one opportunity that offered and won the victory. In foot ball as in war, that is genius. Marseilles is the best market in the •world for American cottonseed oil. The demand has jumped from 11,887 barrels in 1888 to 237,897 barrels in 1897, aud will go far over the latter figure in 1898. The failure in the peanut crop in India and elsewhere for several years is responsible iu the first place for the demand for cotton oil, which displaces vast quantities of peanut oil in the soapmaking and other industries. The American oil has dealt a terrible blow to the crushers of oleaginous seeds in France, and they are now trying to secure a re strictive tariff, which the soapmakera, in their turn do not want. The London Lancet says in regard to the work of the society for the Pre vention of Cruelty to Children: "If "we take the record for last August alone we find that it contains 2141 cases of proved cruelty. The great majority of these appear under the heading of 'Neglect aud Starvation,' though nearly 400 are instances of di rect ill-treatment and assault. In other words, vice and poverty are the most fruitful sources of domestic tyranny. The method of treatment adopted by the society is commenda bly judicious. Though armed with the power of a punitive law, a prefer ence is given wherever possible to less heroic measures. Of the 2141 cases referred to 1675 were dismissed with a warning, but it is noteworthy that out of 258 prosecutions there ■were 248 convictions. General Wheeler is old but full of ideas, and his plan for higher educa tion among Cubans is excellent, ob serves the New York Commercial Ad vertiser. He proposes, in brief, that each American college give free tui tion to a few Cuban youth. The col leges are doing well iu agreeing to General Wheeler's plan, and it will be a good thing for Cuba. Wealthy Cubans have sent their sons here to be educated nearly as often as to Eu rope, but now the wealthy class are embarrassed, and the middle class are poor. No doubt many Cuban youth who would otherwise be prevented by poverty from coming here for educa tion will bo able to come under this plan. Anything to spread American ideas, the English language, and ac quaintance with scientific aud me chanical progress among the Cuban people will be salutary, The closer connection there is between Cuba and the United States the better for the Cubans audjfor civilization. The government commission on tu berculosis ia England has issued its report, which is strongly in favor of public slaughter housos in all cities and towns. There is no question that the private slaughter house is a relic of days when sanitation and prevent ive medicine wero unknown factors in life. That in England, as here, cus tom and usage have maintained them so long is discreditable. However, as the facts as to the spread of disease became more clearly apprehended, and as the need of warding off tuberculo sis infection is seen iu its true light, the demand for the abolishment of pri vate slaughter houses will become more insistent. Clean, well-appointed public slaughter houses, where in spection will be more than perfunc tory, are civic necessaries not luxu ries, aud no municipality can consider that it has solved sanitation until it has absolute control of its slaughter .houses. Aud this it cannot have un less the public slaughter house be substituted for the private establish ment. Maine packed about COO, 000 cases of dardines this season. Possibly a few small herring may have got in among them here and there. A new manufacturing company of New Jersey announces that it is going to manufacture a preparation which a man can put on his face and remove his beard without the aid of n razor. The company is capitalized for $200,- 000. A riile has beeu adopted in New York forbidding the employment of married women as teachers in the pub lic schools. The married womeu may be able to stand such a discrimination, but the blow will fall heavily upon some of the married men. A Canadian paper has a cartoon on the "unwonted activity" of England just now. Uncle Sam, smoking a "Manila" cigar, says to John Bull, striding aloug in sailor clothes, with a gun on his shoulder: "Whar you goiu' a gunnin', John?" aud John answers: "Blest if I quite knows yet, Sammy. Maybe h'over to Frawnce. h'eaglo 'uutiug and then h'again may be h'over to Rooslier, bear 'untin' y'know," A student of Spanish annals has added an interesting chapter to the history of prices by revealing from the archives of the Escurial what it cost to discover the New World. The stipends of the discoverers, at all events, did not amount to much. The pay of an able seßUian was only, it seems, §2 a month, while a captain drew only SIG a month. As for Chris topher Columbus himself, his earn ings were at the rate of $320 per an num. Even in Spain salaries have risen since those days. The United States of Central Amer ica—Salvador, Nicaragua and Hon duras—start business as n federated republic with the usual grandiose an ticipations and performances. We wish them well, says the Philadelphia Record. Under the managing haud of a man like President Diaz of Mex co, who is practically a king masquer ading as an elective official, the new states might be glued together by something more substantial than wittten agreements. But there is nothing in the past history of the Central American states to justify hopes for the future of settled govern ment. How much reverence have we ? Some years ago at an auction in Edin burgh two bones announced to have formed a part of Robert Brnce's anat omy, fetched §2O, and one of the ver tebra? of William the Conqueror sold for $22.50. What is called "a most interesting relic" was put under the hammer at London. It was a man's garment made of blue silk and stained with blood. To this gory raiment there was a doeumeut attached, duly certified, which declared that it was worn by Charles I when on the scaf fold, and became the property of Dr. Juxon, who attended the king during his last moments. The li story of this garment is then traced through numerous possesors up to today- The London Times says: "A good story of the 'things one would rather have expressed differently' type is be ing whispered about Gloucester. Some 'crank' has been writing to the local papers complaining that during the festival he is not admitted to the cathedral free, that being a place of worship. The 'crank' turned up at the cathedral the other day and was told he could not be admitted without a ticket. 'Do you mean to tell me,' ho excitedly argued, 'that I shall re quire a ticket to enter the kingdom of heaven?' 'Well, no,' explained the polite steward, 'but you won't hear Mme Albaui in heaven.' And then, when the enormity of his remark dawned upon him,that steward turned and fled." One of the latest inventions is said to be a fog dispeller, an apparatus consisting of a horizontal outlook pipe, some eight feet in length and eight feet in diameter, into which en ters a tube from below, connecting with a blower deep down in a steam ship's interior. This blower sends a powerful stream of air into the tube, the current of nil - , so to speak, bor ing a hole through the fog, and in ducing a cone of clear atmosphero with its apex at the mouth of the tube. By the aid of this apparatus a pilot who stands with his eye at tkj glass at the rear of the tube, can, it is claimed, pick up his buoys and look out foi - other vessels ahead. The in ventor hopes eventually to make the fog-dispeller" effective at a range of a tliousnnd feet. Certainly any appara tus or agoncy capable of dissipating fogs at sea or on land, whether the mists be physical, mental, or spiritual, would be a boon to mankind. DEATH'S FERRYMAN. i lam a forrymaa, old and gray. The weary toller who longs for regl,, And the river Is deep and wide; Brave youth and mnuhood proud; And whoso'er crosses by night or by day The erring one with his sins confessed, Can never return, but forever and aye The sinless babe on the mother's breast Must remain on the other side. And the mother with sorrow bowed. The waters are cold, and the current is Some on their journey set forth alono, swift, With trembliug and anxious fours; And the mists hang heavy and chill; Some amid wailing, with sob and moan, And backward and forward they slowly drift, And prayers that their lives had never With never a break, and they never lift, known. Though they seem to be never still. And heartbreak and bitter tears. The heavens aro dark, and the course is Man brought naught into the world save long, death, But my boat is staunch and true; And naught can he take away; And the waves are rough, but my arm Is Naked was he when he first drew breath, strong. And naked will be when he goes with Death And safely I ferry the ghostly throng On his silent, mysterious way. To the shore mist-hidden from view. So all are equal when Death sets free, All are equal who cross with me, To oross to the distant strand; Beggar and millionaire; The king and vassal and bond and free, Vassal and king and bond and free, Whether of lowly or high degree, Peasant and noble of high degree, Must all cross the river of Death with me The maid and her lady fair. To enter that unknown land. —Dr. John A. Gilbert, in Cleveland X'laln Dealer. j EL CANEY'S ROMANCE. [ | BY FRANCIS KIHBALL. k When the colonel of the —th cavalry summoned Captain Burden to regi mental headquarters, some one at the officers' mess asked who he was, any way, that the "old man" had picked him from among a dozen old campaign ers for a consultation. "Nepl*wv, or something, to a sena tor," growled a grizzled lieutenant, who had seen 20 years of service and was jealous of the —th's reputation. "Fresh from a desk in the war depart ment, but all-fired anxious to smell Dago powder." "Ought to join the rough riders," added another; "they'll be in the fight tomorrow; th —th's too full already, and here's the old man asking him to supper before he's seen a week of ser vice." "Tut!" interposed the regimental snrgeon; "Burden's not a greenhorn, and the colonel knows it. Beckon you don't know what sent him out of Washington into this fever-stricken climate; do you think a doughboy'd join the fighting —th?" "Come," said the adjutant, locking arms with the surgeon, for he saw the latter had something on his mind, and I he, too, was curious about Captain j Burden. "Let's so outside and leave the fellows to their growling;" then, wheu they had passed beyond the confines of the mess tent, "What was it, Johnson? The chap's no coward, and he interests me." "Well," said the surgeon, soberly, "it isn't my business,but I don't mind . telling you; I've a cousin in the war j department, a chum of Burden's, and j he wrote me to keep an eye on him. ' It was hard luck drove him out of Washington." "Humph!" growled the adjutant, sarcastically, "small pay aud " "No, "broke in tlie surgeou." "Bur den lias an income and——" "Then what the deuce? Why didn't he stay in Washington and leave us poor fellows to do the lighting?" "If you'd been in Washington it wouldn't take much guessing," re plied the surgeon, "for if you'd been there you'd have known Miss R , and she played Burden to throw him over l'or a doughboy, so all Washing- ; ton was ou to it and felt sorry for the j captain aud didn't wonder when he threw up a fat position in the depart ment and petitioned the secretary for active service." "Aud the doughboy," grunted the adjutant, "enlisted for a'.l time iu the new captain's behalf. Stayed in Wash ington with the reserves aud " "Not much,and that's what y Tzles the wise-heads up there. He enlisted in the regulars and lit out for Santiago along with Burden, though I reckon they didn't come together." "What's his name?" asked the ad jutant?" The snrgeon fumbled for the letter, glancing over it by the light of a neighboring lantern. "Hardey," said he shortly, "and, by thunder, he's iu the —th! What if he aud Burden come together?" Iu the meantime Captain Burden, nnconscious of the effect the summons from the colonel had upon his brother officers, stood before the commander of the regiment at headquarters. "Captain Burdeu," said the latter, noting with a practised eye the slender figure of the young officer, "you come to the —th highly recommended for coolness and courage. Tomorrow we attack El Cauey; I have been ordered to call for volunteers to do a little scouting. Will you lead the party?" "Tliauk you," said Burden, simply; "it will be an honor, I " The colouel removed his eyeglasses. "Young man," said he, seriously, "the bush is full of Spaniards; yon may bj killed or seriously wounded; every caution will be required." "I will do my best, sir," replied Captain Burden; "is the start to be made at once?" The colonel wheeled around on his camp stool. "Orderly," said he, sharply, 'ttell Captain Clark that I wish a volunteer of two good men from his company to undertake a dangerous er rand near the enemy's lines. You will skirt the base of El Cauey,making a detour to the north. It is unneces sary to say the volunteers will be under orders from you and are to be gov erned by your judgment" Five minutes later the tramp of ap proaching men was heard, and two cav alrymen entered the commander's presence. Captaiu Bnrden, noting them critically,started; the sharp tones of the colonel rang in his ears: "Corporal Joyce and Private Har dey, you are under orders to proceed according to Captain Burdeu's direc tion on a reconnoissance into the enemy's lines. That will do." Burden returned the men's salute mechanically. The presence of John Hardey filled him with conflicting emotions. He had fled from Washing ton hoping to drown in the excitement of an aggressive campaign the sorrow which this man had brought upon him. Had it not been for Hardey he clinched his hands until the nails bit into the flesh. "What now?" an evil spirit whispered. "He is in your power; you may order him whither you will, even to death by Spanish bullets; none will know of it, for the Cuban bush tells no tales." The colonel wondered at the pale ness upon the face of the young offi cer as he passed from the tent into the darkness beyoud. Could he be afraid? He dismissed the thought with a laugh. Captain Burden had come to the th with the highest rec ommendations from the secretary of war. Out beyoud the shelter of the camp, Burden led his men straight into the thick, prickly brush. At times he could almost foel Hardey's breath upon his face and hear the voice whispering in his ear: "To the left, to the left! He will reach ths Spaniards sooner there." Far up the height a dozen tiny lights glimmered in the darkness— the Span ish torches about the blockhouse of El Caney. To the left the faint ring of steel told the three Americans that the enemy's sentinels were wide awake, ready to' fire blindly in the darkness. Captain Burden paused. "Private Hardey," said he,so husk ily he scarce recognized his own voice, "move cautiously to the left, keeping well in the shadow of the bush; the corporal and I will detour to the light, approaching the slope further on." Hardey's hauds came to a quick salute. "Very good, sir!" replied he, steadily, though he must have kuown lie ran against the very muzzles of Spanish riiles. Then,wheeling about, he disappeared iu the tangled thicket. Captain Burden paused irresolutely, white to the very lips. "Come!" said he sharply, "to the right, corporal." A myriad of insects buzzed about their faces, the pests of the Cuban chapparal. The corporal fumed and brushed them off, but his companion scarce noticed them; his ears were strained to catch the shots from the slope of El C'auey, the fusilade which would send him back to Washington. A minute passed—five —ten; it seemed as many hours. The heat and blackness of the brush stilled the Americans,the sharp thorns tore their clothes aud lacerated their bodies. Corporal Joyce lamented the fate which had sent him to Cuba. Captaiu Burden moved forward as one bereft of feeling. He had become a machine, a thing devoid of se lse and feeling, a human sounding board waiting to catch a rifle crack from El Caney. Suddenly the buzz of insects, the crunching of the dry leaves aud twigs under the feet of the moving men, the noise made by the passage of their bodies through the brush were drowned by the echoing report of a Mauser rifle; then another, a third and fourth aud fifth. Corporal Joyce unconsciously clutched his officer's arm. "God!" he whispered, "they've riddled him, an' a braver fellow never wore a sabre." Captain Burden staggered as though the bullets from the Mansers had pierced his body. A cry souuded in the stillness following the echo of the shots; au appeal for help,aud the voice was Hardey's. For an iustant Burden wavered, then,before the corporai could restrain him, dashed through the matted chap paral to the slope of El Cauey, upon whose summit danced a hundred Spanish torches awakened into life by the fire of the sentinels. With Joyce panting at his heels, he pushed forward, drawing his revolver as he ran and shouting aloud to Har dey to auswer him, that he might' gain the private's side in the dark ness. Breaking through the bush,he came upon au open space unsheltered from the Spanish guns above, to stumble over Hardey, who, resting on one el low, was keeping off five white-clothed figures with his revolver. Perhaps the Spaniards feared an attack from the entire American army. At sight of Burden and the corporal they wavered, forgetting the Mausers in their hands, that they were five to three with one of the latter Borely crippled. "Coipcral," said Bnrden, sharply, noting with quick perception the con fusion of the Spaniards, "to the rear with Private Hardey. I will cover you." A flash of adniration filled the cor pond's eyes. "XJod, sir!" he mut tered, "they'll shoot yon like a dog: j •» "To the rear, sir!" shouted Captain Bnrden; "he's light and " Then, as the bulky corporal lifted the wounded cavalryman,slinging him across his shoulder like a bag of meal, Burden faced the astonished Span iards. "No," cried Hardey, struggling in the arms which would bear him in safety; "stop, for God's sake, cor poral!" Then, iu an appeal of agony: "Save yourself, Burden; she will not marry me, it's you " The sharp crack of the captain's re volver cut short the sentence. "Bun!" heshouted; "I'll hold them off." Four timos the revolver cracked ere tlie Spauiards, realizing 'twas but one man who confronted them,raised then riiles. Corporal Joyce, tearing through the chapparal, hoard the whiplike crack of the dreaded Mausers, then once more the sharp report of the captain's revolver. Afterward came silence, save for tlie groaning of Private Har dey and the rustle of the parting branches. On the morning of July 3, after the charge on El Caney,an orderly halted before the quaiters of the fighting —th. "A letter for Cnptain Burden," re plied he to the sentry's query, "franked at the war department, an' from a lady. I reckon lie won't want to wait for it." The colonel pushed aside the tent flap. "Surgeon," said he, "turning to the officer who followed hitn, "tell that fellow Captain Burden's dead, killed in an ambuscade. And, surgeon, you'd better take the letter anil forward it to Washington. "—Washington Star. PEARLS IN MAINE WOODS. Found in an I an Invalid Itliode Inlander Makes Money Out of Them. Henry Spears, an invalid from Paw tucket, R. 1., who passes most of his time iu the Maine forests, going from place to place with guides and c-auoes, has gathered and sold nearlj' $SOl) worth of pearls from fresh water mussels during the past season. He went to Grindstone, states the Sun, in May soon after the lakes opened. When he had fished for trout in Moose heal lake for a time he went across the watershed and floated down the Allegash toward New Brunswick. Wheu beyond Chamberlain lake, and 11)0 miles from the nearest settlement, he had a hemorrhage which compelled the party to lay by for a month. One day wheu the food supply was growing Mr. Spears's guides went up stream to cut some hard wood for fuel. Coming down in the cauoe and towing the wood and limbs be hind them, th?y passed through half a mile of quick water that flowed over a stony bed, and on arriving at camp they found a large number of mussels were attached to the limbs which had rubbed against the be 1 of the stream. At the request of Mr. Spears, some of these niollusks were opeued and prepared for supper. Before tlie guide < had shucked a pint they had discovered three pearls, ouo of which was as big as a seven shot. They found live other pearls in the shells which had come down attache.l to the brush. From that time until Mr. Spew s was able t.) travel the guidc3 devoted their energies to pearl hunting. When Mr. Spears and his men arrived at Cari bou the pearls were sent by express to Boston, and ten days later a check for $:550 was received. They visited the place again in September, and in five days had found a quantity of pearls that sold for The mussels from which tlie pearls were obtained are the long, dark colored species, which the natives call fresh water clams, but whic.. are e!as sifie I iu the books on natural history as Unio vectus. The Allegash river l? said to contain large quantities of them. In some places the bed of the stream is paved with shells for half a mile or more. Those are believed to contain many thousand dollars' worth of pearls. OUAINT AND CURIOU3. Taxes on beards are levied in Jap anese cities. Coins 2000 years old are iu circu lation in China. Fowls are plucked alive in Malta, in the public, markets, and in some parts of England. Hogs aro fattened on oranges iu Paraguay, and orange-led pork is said to be very good. Bamboo pens still retain their hold in India, where they have beeu ia use for more than 1000 years. Iu Hungary there are thousands of villages and hundreds of small towns without a doctor within ten miles. Iu the Franco-German war every third German soldier had a map of the country through which he was trav eling. A medical authority in Berlin, Ger mauy, declares that not one of Ger many's professional bicyclists lias a sound heart. Originally the custom of raising the hat was a sign of submission, imply ing that the person uncovered placed himself at the mercy of his foe. The town clock iu the city hall of Kokomo, Ind., got out of order, re cently, and William Brinkman, a blind man, was called upon to repair it. He climbed to the tower, at a height of 185 feet, and deftly performed the work. It has been calculated that the loss from illness averages 20,000,000 weeks of work in the year, or 2 1-2 per cent, of th«. work done by the whole popu lation between fifteen and Bixty-five years age. WHEN ONE IS YOUNP When one is young what matters cart? For youth hits mirth and joy to spare. The future Is a blazing Are That lights the pathway of desire, And doing's but a name for dare. What smiling masks tho grim fates wear, llow amiable ami debonair! The best seams easy to acquire When one is young. Youth is a multi-millionaire Who fattens on the best of fare: Whom all delights aud naught can tire; Who treats the world as his empire. But old age sets its fatal snare When one is young. —Chicago Record.. HUMOROUS. "Anil why did she choose him among so many?" "Tho others did not propose." Teller—The cashier has skipped. President—l've been afraid that that fellow would get ahead of mo. "What makes you admire Miss Jes eup so much?" "I tried to make lovo to her and she wouldn't let me." Fond Mamma—Bobby, Bobby, what ever makes you so restless? Bubby —Having to keep still so much, I sup pose. "Don't you know me, Willie? I am your father's uncle." "Are you the man pa goes to when he's short of money?" The Sweet Young Thing—But why should not women enter politics? The Savage Bachelor—Too many bosses there now. Armstrong—Shortson claims to be a self-made man. Conklin H'm, looks as if he ran out of material, doesn't he? Tho tramp sat on the farmer's fenco, And made a liappv sigh; His life seemed full of rosy tints, For lie was full of pie. Bill—What kind of whiskers onglit butchers towear,Jack? Jack —Bloweiv if 1 know. Bill—Why, mutton chops, of course. He told her that it was impossible to find words to tell her how much he loved her. The next day he received a present of a dictionary. "She has such liquid tones," said the young man. "How appropriate!" said the young woman. "Her talli drowns every other sound." First Tramp—l hear they are build ing a new jail with all modern im provements. Secoud Tramp—Thai won't do us no good. You'll need 8 pull to get in there. "Since this percale gown supplies me with rations for two days, I sup pose it is what is termed a rational costume," remarked the goat, chuck ling coarsely to himself. "Poor Maud ! She was cruelly de ceived when she married old Ootrox." "Didn't he have any money?" "Pleutj of it; but she has learned that he is ten years younger than he said he was." He's in liis tomb, but that is not The reason why his widow trets; She wedded him for wealth, sho thought, And he left behind a iot of debts- Harry—lt is enough to kill anybody the way you women kiss one another. I saw you kiss Polly Breese last even ing, and I know you hate her. Har riet—Oh, well, what's a kiss? I know where I can get plenty more. First Volunteer—l hear Bill's fell dead in love with that girl that nursed him. Second Volunteer—Bight you are. He got mashed on the beautiful way she always stuck her little fiugei out when she fixed his bandages. Uncle (visiting his student nephew) —Glad to see you so hard at work,mj boy. What are you doing theie'. Nephew Chemical experiments, v.n cle—combining acids with metal. Bj the way, do you happen to huvfe any metal about you? llritieh N»«vai Attach© Under Fire. It was in this fight that a sln apne. shell struck tho road within ten iuchefr of the footof tho British naval attache, Captain Paget, and lifted five Wiscon sin volunteers oil' their feet and knocked them down. For a moment Paget was lost to view in a cloud ol dust and smoke, from which 110 one expected to see him reappear alive,but he strode out of it untouched,remark ing, in a tone of extreme annoyance, "There was a shell in the Soudan once did exactly that same thing to me." His tone seemed to suggest that there was a limit- to any man's patience. A few minutes later a solitary tree be neath which he was sitting was struck by another shell which killed two aud wounded three men. Paget, who had been in a dozen campaigns, took it all as a matter of course and assisted one of tho wounded men out of the range of the bullets from tho side of a steep aud high hill. Tho sight did more to popularize the Anglo-Atnoric.in alliance with the soldiers than could the weightiest argument of ambassadors or statesmen. —Richard Harding Davis in Scribner'a. Tile Hiscovpry of a Ci-annoe. About a mile east of Dumbarton Pock, in the Firth of Clyde, a dwell ing on piles, or crannog, has b >en dis covered below high-water mark, sonni fii'ty yards from tho low-water mark. It is 184 feet in circumference, the outer circle of piles being of oakwood, sharpened with stone axes. The trans* verse beams aud floor are of oak, willow, elder and branches of fir, beech and hazel, with bracken (ferns), moss and chips. In the refuse heaps outside of the crauuogwere found the bones of stags, cows, sheep, signs of fire, many lire stones, and a whetstone or hone. Nenr by was a canoe thirty-seven feet long by four feet ■wide, hollowed from a single trunk of oak. This crannog i« the first vet found in an estuary, and it evidently dates from the Stone Age; therefore," it seams earlier than others yet fouu<l iu the British Isles.—Public Opinion (London).
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers