j t Wofflaujlio Dared
By Jclia* Ralph. j
I have a story for the women's rights
Advocates to weave into their argument
•when they goto Albany this winter to
argue for those privileges which the
Bex can have whenever it wants them,
but which it does not possess because
only a few women desire them. This
is the best story I ever heard for a
woman's rights argument, because it
shows how a woman forsook her own
affairs, invaded the man's field of prac
tical affairs, and made him rich against
his will.
The curtain riS33 in Minnesota. The
scene is a view of a small tract of land
■—half farm and half garden—with a
modest frame dwelling in the fore
ground. The principal characters are
a man and his wife; type ordinary,
age 40, means SSOO in bank and the
cotage and grounds; aim in life, to
work a little longer, to save a little
harder and then to rest—to loaf along
to the cemetery.
Unknown (o this couple some expert
prospeciors in tne pay of the men,who
were then about to form the great steel
combine have been Buying out the land
in that section, which is known to
show signs of rich deposits of iron
ore. These experts have all agreed that
the little piece of land owned by this
couple—together with the land on
either side of their plot—promises a
greater yieid in quantity and a richer
yield in quality than any other land
in that part of the state.
But, as I have said, the married pair
are wholly ignorant of all this.
Enter the hired girl. She speaks:
Hired Girl—A letther, sir.
The Man—Ah! What have we here?
The Wife—Why not read it and see?
The Man (keeping up the pretense of
being the superior person and lording
it over the wife yet a little longer be
fore the exposure of his wretched con
ceit)-—How dull you are! How you
would botch everything in your life
were it not for me. A letter is not a
morsel tossed to a hungry cur, to be
flown at and choked down at a gulp.
A letter is in a way the embodiment of
mystery and the chrysans of fate. It
may break to us the chilling news of
death —it may convey the tidings of
a marriage, a birth —"
She—Oh, it may be Thompson's bill
for the fertilizer; but, for heaven's
sake, read it.
He (looking at her scornfully, but
reading the envelope, takes out the let
ter and reads):
"Chicago, Feb. 1900: Dear Sir— ;
Some parties in this city whom I rep- '
resent are desirous of meeting you to
talk over the business outlook in your
section and desire me to invite you to
come to Chicago for that purpose. They
hope that vou will bring your wife and
have placed at your disposal a suite of
rooms in the Auditorium Hotel, which
will be at your disposal from Wednes- |
day morning next
ghe—They want to buy our place and
lamto go with you so as "
He (reading)—"A reply by wire will |
greatly o-iige. Yours truiy,
"T. Jenkinson, Sec'y."
She—l am to"go with you in order
that I may sign the deed."
He (taken off his guard, begins to
reveal his inferiority)—Wuy, I oelieve
you are right. I never should have
thought of it.
The curtain falls, and between the
acts the railroad transports the wedded (
pair to Chicago, which, to their west- j
em minds, is a genuine and magnifi- |
cent metropolis. its loul river, its j
searching winds, its easily avoidable i
flirt and dust and the troops of hag- j
gard, dyspeptic men, rushing along the
streets a n .d talking to themselves, i
seem to theai necessary to and insep
arable from a world's capital. Even
the noise and bustle in the hotel and
the combined efforts of all within its (
w?-ls to destroy all sense of repose and
comfort are, in their eyes proofs of
the perfection of the place. Once shut |
In their splendidly appointed suite of
rooms they feel deserted and lonely,
and both are seized with an irresistible
desire to drop down the elevator shaft,
to squeeze through the crowds in the
office and to fit themselves in the hu
man hurly burly of the street and
chase madly along the pavements.
He—l suppose if we should stay here
a week we would both mutter to our
selves like true Chicagoans, saying
over and over again, "Wabash 9G 1-4.
Consolidated condensed milk 102, Ar
gonaut preferred 77 1-8." Would it not
be glorious! How like being in heaven
It must be to be a Chicagoan, dreaming
Stock quotations, eating stock quota
tions and breathing the air ox the ex
change.
She—And actually seeing the cos
tumes of the ladies, which are bought
with these same quotations—instead of
merely reading about them in the pa
pers.
Again the curtain falls, and when it
rises they are still in Chicago, but now
find themselves in the top of a 30-story
office building, whose windows com
mand an unbroken view of the lake
on one side and of the city on the
other—the latter resembling a squat
body with numberless curving legs
reaching to the horizon from a dozen
directions. The city, or body, per
spires steam and smoke as if it were
a creature infernal, while the speed
ing trains make the legs of the octo
pus quiver as with life and movement.
The room in which He and She find
themselves is furnished in the costli
est manner. The mantelpiece is exqui-
Bltely carved marble, supported upon
columns of onyx. The electroliers are
golden. The furniture is carved mas
sy rosewood, upholstered with rich vel
vet.. Tho 9.i Rnittnons on the floor an
pear to be bowls cut out of solid gold,
and the heavy silk rugs are from the
royal looms of Persia.
She—Ask them $50,000, and do not
'take a cent less, if they want our prop
erty.
He (unconsciously abasing himsell
by surrendering to her shrewd guid
ance) —Would you? Perhaps we might
not get so much. We only paid SII,OOO
you know. But, Martha, I almost fee!
as you do. This is a palace. These
people would not be scared if I asked
$50,000, would they?
She —Fifty, sure; may be more, but
never a tent less.
A door leading into the room opens
and —enter four gentlemen. They are
not especially portly. They wear nc
jewels, and their raiment is not noisy
But they bring with them an atmos
phere of great worldly solidity, of lux
ury and confidence, and peace of mind.
Though their dress is sober, it is made
of the softest cloths, and fits them as
maidenly modesty fits a girl child's
face. They are white-haired, yet rosy
faced. They eat and drink the best
He sees nothing of all this. She sees
and feels it conipletely. He is won
dering whether he dares to ask $50,000
for his SII,OOO place. She feels that foi
the first time in her life she is in the
very presence of some of the fabulous
fortunes of which she had read sc
much.
Remember that though F am writing
this great comedy in dramatic form it
is a true story of what really happened
at the close of last winter. I had the
facts from a very sober man of great
affairs in Wall street—a man who
knows and has accomplished whatevei ;
he wishes. If I told his name nc J
American would question a word ol '
the story. lam sorry I have not per
mission to add to his story the con
vincing hall mark of his identity.
The spokesman of the quartet ol
great millionaires speaks:
The Spokesman—You are Mr. ,
I presume? And I think we have also i
the pleasure of meeting your wife, Mrs j
He—Yes, I am the man you sent foi j
to come here.
The Spokesman—Well, Mr. , 1 I
do not see why we should beat about |
the bush. We have been buying land ;
here and there in the neighborhood ol |
your little place and have taken a
fancy to your piece of ground. We
would like to make you an offer for it.
At this point the wife reaches ovei
and plucks at her husband's coat- j
sleeve. He has been about to reply i
by asking the sum he and she had
agreed upon as their price. But she
pulls his sleeve so hard that he pauses
and leans toward her. She whispers
something in his ear.
He shakes his head as if her remark
was a foolish interruption He pulls
away from her and clears his throat
to speak.
Again she plucks at his sleeve. Her
face is strained with excitement and
anxiety, her eyes shine with eager
ness and earnestness. He pulls himself
farther away anu she says out loud:
She —Yes; yes; I tell you, yes.
He—Oh, you are crazy.
The Spokesman—May we hear from
you. sir, what price you set upon youi '
little place?
She (whispering)—Henry, do as I
say. I tell you lam right.
He (disdaining even to look at her) — J
Well, gentlemen, the truth is I am not j
particularly anxious to sell. We bought !
that little place to end our days in. j
Of course, if money were made an ob- j
ject to me, I would part with it, but
I would not take less than "
She—Gentlemen, will you excuse us
a minute? I want to take my husband
aside. I want togo into another room
and say something to him privately.
The Spokesman—Why, certainly,
madam; you can go into that room
(points to a door). We are in no hur
ry and if wo buy we want all hands
to be satisfied.
He —I do not want to talk the thing
over any more than I have. Martha,
you are acting crazy. Gentlemen, if
we sell our little nest we shall want
fifty thou "
She (rising with great excitement
and speaking sharply and loudly)—We
want one million dollars. We will not
take a cent less. I will not sign that
deed for a cent under a million. We
know you want it and you have got
the money. A million is our first and
last figure.
He, about to disclaim any share in
this wild and senseless dream, is about
to speak, but is interrupted.
The Spokesman—Very well, madam,
we are prepared to give a million. If
that is satisfactory we will have the
deed drawn up and will ask you both
to call again this afternoon or tomor
row and sign it.
(Last curtain.)
What kind of a figure does the
"Woman Who Dared" (in fiction) cut
beside this one—The Woman Who Did?
There are plenty of men who boast
that they never consult their wives
upon matters of business. Some say
they wish to spare their wives all un
necessary care. Others say that their
wives have not brains enough to be
of any assistance in the serious and
practical affairs of trade. Let all such
men ponder this story. This Minneso
ta woman is not unique, is not without
thousands of counterparts among her
sisterhood. It stands to reason, then,
that a great many men are missing the
shrewdest assistance, and are looking
afar for counsel and for wealth while
missing better than they seek, because
it is so close at hand —at their fire
sides.
I am not a woman's rights man. I
know that whatever rights that sex
wants it can have on tne day it de
cides to have them. But, all the same,
this story makes a better woman's
lights argument than any of which the
agitators have yet made use.—Saw
V.wV Mull and R*nr»j»
New York City.—Fancy waists of all
sorts are much in vogue. But no style
Is more popular or more generally
becoming tliau the one which included
WOMAN'S FANCY WAIST.
the yoke eflVc't, with round open collar.
The smart May Manton model shows
one of the very latest styles, and is
adapted alike to the odd waist, and
the entire costume. As shown it is
made of wool crepe de chine, in pastel
pink, with yoke and front of white
Liberty satin, and trimming of black
velvet ribbon, with tiny jewel buttons,
and is worn with a skirt of tlio same;
but all waisting silks and wool ma
terials are equally appropriate.
The fitted lining closes at the centre
front; on it are arranged the tucked
yoke and front, which closes at the
left shoulder, and the portions of the
.waist proper. The back is plain across
the shoulders, and drawn down in
gathers at the waist line, but the fronts
A FAVORITE BLOUSE.
. u c£ea ami open to reveal the full
narrow vest. Finishing the low neck
of the waist is a simple round bertha
collar, and at the neck is the regula
tion stock. The sleeves are in bishop
style, but with the new deep cuffs
that give a novel effect.
To cut this waist for a woman of
medium size, four yards of material
twenty-one inches wide, three yards
twenty-seven inches wide, or two yards
forty-four inches, and two yards of
black velvet ribbon to trim as illus
trated.
A Fancy Illume.
The blouse that closes at the back
Is a favorite of fashion, ami allows
specially effective trimming. The
smart May Manton model illustrated
is adapted to many materials, both
silk and wool, but as shown is made of
white satin Sapho with trimming of
Persian bauds.
The foundation or fitted lining closes
at the centre back, together with the
material. The waist proper is tucked
at the back in groups which extend
from the shoulders to the waist and
produce a tapering effect. The front
Is novel and gives the square effect
now so fashionable. The tucks at
(he centre extend to yoke depth only,
then fall free to form soft folds, but
those at the shoulders are extended
to the waist line, the trimming being
applied between to form the square
neck. The sleeves are in bishop style,
with velvet and Persian banded cuffs,
and at the neck is a regulation stock
of velvet over which the trimming is
applied.
To cut this waist for a woman of
medium size, four yards of material
twenty-one inches wide, three yards
twenty-seven inches wide, or four
yards forty-four inches wide will be
required, with two and one-half yards
of embroidered bands to trim as il
lustrated.
New and StylUh Necklets.
A new and very fashiouablp style of
bracelet and necklet is composed of
pearls aud enamel "bugles"—to use
the old-fashioned word for those long,
narrow-tube beads, which are again
in evidence. The bugles are black,
white or colored. Black studded with
white pearls, and with a black and
white enamel shamrock pendant, are
charming for mourning. White beads,
with the faintest pink pearls, and little
rose pendant, or green bugles punctu
ated. as it were, with smoked pearls
and with ivy-leaf pendants, are one
and all extremely pretty. Turquoises
are well used with white or gray en
amel beads and forget-me-not pend
ants, and any artistic jeweler could
evolve a dozen different and equally
attractive modes of blending the slen
der tubes and round pearls.
The White Fox's Tall.
There are white fox tails which dan
gle in a row from the ends of your
new ermine pelerine or stole. Er
mine tails would be ridieuously in
consequent if attempted, but the snowy
fur of the white fox is conspicuous in
beauty aud softness, and so is appro
priate to be used in connection with
other white furs. A fox tail lias some
thing very handsome in its proportions.
It is especially noticeable this season
in tine neck furs. The tail is not
needed on the muff, but it gives appro
priate finish to a stole, boa or pelerine,
continuing the length of the garment,
and preserving the long lines now so
much admired in winter furs.
Worn Well Forward.
In dressing the liair for an evening,
whether it be spent at home or abroad,
be sure that you pin your pompon or
aigrette very well forward. Even if
you arrange your coiffure low at the
back of the neck. The bowknot does
well in the street, and is gaining slow
ly indoors, but most of us comb the
liair up on the head. The"forward
wave'' is so becoming to a youthful
profile, and It sets off a profusion of
natural tresses.
Splrler Web Trimming.
A cheerful looking blouse of crimson
flannel is ornamented half-way be
tween under arms and the waist line
with a broad, horizontal baud of trim-
ining. This consists of a series of
pastelles of black taffeta silk, cut out
like spider webs, but having all the
lines radiating from a common centre.
The rim of the pastilles is deep enough
to accent the circular shape. This is
a stylish and effective little blouse.
Child's French Dress.
No style of dress suits the childish
figure more perfectly tliau the long
walsted one. The very pretty May
Manton model shown is adapted to
many materials, but in the original is
made of pale blue cashmere, with
collar of blue silk and trimming of
black velvet ribbon.
The waist portion is laid in box
pleats and is arranged over a body
lining. The skirt also is laid in box
pleats, but wider than those of the
waist, and is joined to the lower edge
of the body portion, the seam being
concealed by the sash. At the neck is
a becoming pointed collar that Hares
apart at both front aud back. The
sleeves are short and form full puffs
that are gathered into bands. The
closing Is effected invisibly beneath
the centre box pleat at the back.
When desired the frock can be worn
over a guimpe, thus making the high
ueek with long sleeves.
To cut this dress for child of six
years of age, six yards of material
twenty-one iuches wide, four and one
half yards twenty-seven inches wide.
A PRETTY CHILD'S DRESS.
or two and one-half yards forty-four
inches wide will be required, with one
half yard twenty-one inches wide for
collar.
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
A systematic war is now being
waged on the malarial fever breeding
mosquitoes along the west coast of
Africa. The unsanitary conditions in
the towns are being corrected and
mosquito ponds are being drained.
A dispatch from St. Thomas, D. W.
1., reports that an explosion of refrig
erating chemicals took pla?e on the
royal mail steamer Para, which did
so much damage to the steamer that
she was unable to proceed. The beat
had just been equipped with the Law
ton fruit-preserving process to enable
her to compete in the fruit-carrying
trade, and the inventor was making
the trip personally to observe the
working of the installation. He and
three of his workmen were killed uy
the explosion, and several others were
'"njured.
A patent has recently been filed in
the patent office for a device which
applies power to an automobile mo
tor only when the driver's seat is oc
cupied. The instant the operator rises
from his seat or is thrown therefrom,
the cushion Is raised by means of a
spring, and this carries with it a
plunger which. 6huts off the power,
and the vehicle comes to a standstill.
This invention will prevent runaway
accidents from automobiles. Wh»n
the application for this patent was
filed in the patent office it was found
that there were 25 other applications
covering like ideas.
A new gunpowder is the latest in
vention. It is said to have been made
by a private firm, and the Belgian gov
ernment has just appointed some offi
cers of the army to experiment with
it. According to their statement this
powder is insensible to shocks, even
those of bullets; it remains unchanged
in spite of dampness, frost or heat. It
is even asserted that when in contact
with fire it burns without detonaUon.
The inventor claims that it is invalua
ble for coal mines, as the degree of
heat created by its explosion is infe
rior to the one at which fire-damp
catches fire. Its strengtli is said to
be considerable.
A report recently published in Ger
many refers to mineral deposits which
might be utilized in Palestine. This
report states that the newly discov
ered mineral deposits lie on both sides
of the Jordan and Dead sea. The salt
deposits of the Dead sea could be de
veloped into an industry. The waters
hold magnesium chlorides and bro
mides and some potassium salts. Be
3ides, there are the bituminous springs
of Nebi Musa, which contain from 30
to 40 percent asphalt. The most im
portant of all the deposits is phos
phate. The fields of phosphate to the
east and west of the Jordan need only
better means of traffic and communi
cation in order to insure their devel
opment
Professor Woodward of Columbia
nniversity has recent?/ printed a
mathematical investigation of the ef
fect of the secular cooling (and hence
contraction) of the earth and of the
accumulation of meteoric dust (and
hence expansion of the earth) on the
length of the day.- Prof. Woodward
concludes that the cooling of the earth
in 20 centuries is not sufficient to
change the day so much as one
thousandth of a second of time. So
slowly do the effects of secular cool
ing accumulate that the day will not
change and has not changed by so
much as half a second during 10,000,000
years. But such cooling will finally
affect the length of the day material
ly. Suppose, for example, that, ini
tially, the temperature of the earth
was 3000 degrees Centigrade, and that
its cubical contraction was the same
as iron, it follows that the length of
day will ultimately be shortened on
that account by nearly an hour and a
half from its original value. The
length of time required for cooling is
immense. Three hundred million years
are required tc accomplish the first
95 percent of the progress.
Dynamits a« Cure for Stomachache*
Of all the strange methods invented
by man to separate him from his
•.rouble the strangest is that devised by
me Jose Diaz of the City of Mexico,
lose had a stomach ache. To cure it
le made a bolus of dynamite and in
serted in it a detonating cap, to which
was attached a thread of copp r wire.
He swallowed the bolus, and with the
Hopper wire hanging from his lips went
jut to seek an electrical connection.
He met a policeman first, an I under
juestioning explained (he situation. Af
ter an official consultation Jose was
taken into tiie suburbs. He was made
;o lie down, and a long rope was fast
ened to his feet. Then the copper wire
was made fast to a fence, and three
policemen at me other end of that
long rope drew Jose and the detonator
apart. The dynamite remained in his
interior department, however, and Jose
is now shunned as a dangerous char
acter.
Kninbow in a Clear Sky.
The appearance of a distinct rain
bow in a clear sky, at Richmond, Va..
created a sensation. The bow was
visible for more than an hour. Dr.
Taylor, the state chemist, explains the
picture as the reflection of the sun's
rays upon minute particles of ice crys
tals that have been carried high in the
sky and by the cold snap of several
days' duration. The heat from the sun
is sufficient to drive the light through
the icy bank, and in this penetration
the colors that cause the resemblance
oC the phenomenon to a rainbow are
generated.—Philadelphia Record.
Any butcuer can brenk several ribs
without hurting himself in the leabt
Farm Machinery In Norway*
Comparatively little modern machin
ery is used by the farmers of Nor
way. Here or tiiere upon the larger
farms you liud an American mow
er or reaper or threshing machine,
but the great part of the work upon
the small farms is done by women, and
they use heavy and awkward home
made tools. On account of the neces
sity of practicing economy, the low
price of labor and their isolated situ
ation. farm hands in Norway are ex
j pected to do anything that is necessary
i about the place, and the Norwegian
farmer is a jack of all trades, lie
grinds his own rye and barley, shoes
his own horse, makes his own hoes
and rakes, whittles out the handles
during the long winter evenings, and
is usually able to replace or repair
both household and outdoor utensils.
In this respect the country is a hun
dred years behind the age.
THREE CHISAGO DOCTORS
Failed to Do for Miss Mafeelle L.
LaMonle What Was Accoiu
i plished by Lydia E. Pinkliam's
j Vegetable Compound.
j " DEAR MNS. PIXKIIAM: — I was in
i an awful state for nearly three years
j with a complication of female troubles
I whiph three physicians called by dif
| ferent names, but the pains were all
i the same. I dreaded the time of my
MABELI.E L. LAMONTB.
| monthly periods for it meant a coupls
! of days in bed in awful agony. I final
| ly made up my mind that the good
, doctors were guessing; and hearing
i from different friends such pood re
ports of Lydia E. Pinkliam's Veg
| ctable Compound, 1 tried that. I
| bless the day I did, for it was the
I dawning of a new life for me. I used
! five bottles before I was cured, but
j when they were taken I was a well
) woman once more. Your Compound is
| certainly wonderful. Several of my
, friends have used it since, and nothing
but the best do I ever hear frsm its
i use." Yours, MABEME L. LAMOSTI,
222 E. 31st St., Chicago, 111.— ssooo
! forfeit If aboi'e testimonial Is not genuine.
| If Lydia E. Pinkliam's Vege
' table Compound could cure Miss
i LaMonte —why not you? Try it
j and see for yourself,
i Airs. Pink hi. iy advises sick w©»
I men free. Address, Lynu, Mass.
TOffnflwDEß
| fhe best that and 4R C
txparsencß ca« nroduce.
At all store 3, ot oy mail for the 'irlce.
HAUL <3E RUCKEL, NEW YORK.
Mgiiiflcaut HolliflouA Stutl»ti«i>.
A strong and painful light is thrown
on current conditions by the analysis
of church accessions in the Presby
terian Church during the year ending
March 31, 1901, by the accomplished
stated clerk of the General Assembly,
the Rev. Dr. W. H. Iloberts. He shows
that of the 7516 churches carried on
the denominational roll, 2141 went
through the entire year without a soli
tary addition to their membership by
confession of faith.
Almost if not quite as appalling, is
the fact that of the remaining 5375
churches, 2599, or almost one-lialf,
.•eported live or less additions each. The
2599 embrace the large body or ordi
nary and typical churches, outside of
favorable conditions and of leadership
quality. Of the 2770 churches receiv
ing live or more, 1171 received ten or
less, leaving only 1005 that reported
over ten accessions during a whole
year. No one could claim that this i -
a healthy spiritual condition.—The
Church Economist.
I HERE ™S. ,s
Know by the sign
St
Jacobs Oil
CURES \
Rheumatism, Neuralgia,
Sciatica, Lumbago,
Sprains, Bruises,
Soreness, Stiffness.
CONQUERS PAIN.
1 Thompson's Ey# Wat