1 Jc Water f or a Crnu of Corn. About awto toils of water per acre Is Die estimate for a crop of corn. Kuril n weight of water would crush m strong building, find yet more t tin u Hint quantity falls upon nn acre In the course of a year. It In not so dlfhYult to obtain the witter n to prevent IN Ion. It Ia known that If n titlt of wa ter is covered less evnporntlon occurs. If the land I cultivated frequently the loose dirt on flip surface prevents eva poration, nnd the witter I retained In the soli for the tine of the plnnls. I.arel Cultivation Pur Hoed ;rote. Level cultivation for hoed crops Ih winning new advocate every year, especially In corn crop, wheu grown mi well drained land. Level cultiva tion lino many thin to recommend It. It enable you to destroy the weeds close to the plants with Ki'eater facil ity and with less labor. It makes gathering the crop much easier and less strain and Jar on the machinery. The greulesl advantiiKe of nil Is leaving the laud so level for the next plowing. hs It Ih a most disagreeable task to plow corn stubble ground that has been left In ridges. The hilling process will uo doubt still be followed on land that In not prop erly drained, as In that ense a heavy rain would either drown out the plants or leave the foil Immediately about them oolil, sour and not suitable for plant growl h.-Xew England Houie- U'lld. A New Ilevlne to Save Hi Swarm. Every person who bus Kept bees lias bad a varied experience as to saving the escaped or escaping swarms. Some are sure to get away the best one can do. A writer In the (Jeruiautowu Telegraph tells his method as follows: "I have used a device HUe this: Take it piece of board, say ten or twelve Inches srpmre; bore nine or ten Inch holes In it, and In each of the holes tick a corncob. ct n light stick four, teen to eighteen feet long, insert one eud In this board, and when your bees warm, elevate these cobs, and carry II around among the liees where they seem to be thickest, and they are quite sure to 'settle1 on them. Then you have only to empty them down before the already prepared hive. You soe. this saves climbing into trees, cutting off limbs and lowering them dowu, which needs n careful hand, and even then, for one cause or another, they are Jarred off and the work has to be iloue. over. This scheme simplifies matters, Is very practical, is easily done, and there Is no patent on It." I'lantlng First Seed. The first important tiling Is to get good seed. Buy from n reliable socd iiniu. for it docs not pay to wash- time with poor, in limit tiring seed. If we have some of oltr own seed, saved from the year before, so much the better, for we are then sure It Is good anil fresh. Next get from the collar dirt Unit should have been put there in the fall, or If we did lint do that, perhaps we can procure it from s e other place. Put it in a box. pan or anything that is convenient, and set It near the tire, or In an oven for several days, to drive out Hie. frost and get war il through. Occasionally give It a stirring to break up the lumps, shouul there be any. and to have It heat through. When It Is thoroughly warm ed, ami can be easily pulverized, take an old sieve, collamier or some suck thing, ami sift nil your dirt through It into tlic boxes that have lieen pre purcd for your eed. Tack 11 dowu rather closely, sow the seeds, but not too thickly. Theu put a thin, even lay er of the dirt over the seed, ami again pack down with a board or some tint article. Sprinkle lightly with tepid wa ter, 11 ml set iu n warm place to sprout the seed. On cool nights remove from windows, tx any cool place, to the cen ter of the room, or near a stove, where the temperature will not full below sixty degrees. The best result is ob tained by maintaining a normal tem perature until the plants get a good start, giving, lit the moautlme, ylanty of sunshine. After the plants have I heir third or fourth set of leaves, aud seem to be crowded In the box, It will help them to transplant Ju cans, pott or boxes, (live them plenty of room to grow In. After thus transplanting I hey may be set out of doors on warm days that tney may be Invigorated, so that the change,. when they are plauled In the open ground, will not have auy effect oo them. The Agricultural Eplt viulst. Keeping- Animals loo I.ou. It Is a very couimeudnbleund human Il aria n sentiment to keep cattle too long, for It Indicates an attainment for them Ibnt one Is loth to break, and yet a farmer who Is raising animals for his llvlug cannot let sentiment interfere with what he knows to lie good busi ness. Others keep cattle too long sim ply liecauso they happen to be Ignorant of tho best time to dispose of them, aud they keep waiting for a better turn iu the markets to help them get good returns. Sometime this llvlug In the hope of doing better Inter induces u farmer to carry his herd over from month to mouth, and before he knows 11 a year has slipped by. The animals are meantime eating up nil the prof its they ever would have made for their owners, ami tit the same time are pass ing the prime of life, when they sell at the best prices. We cannot afford to keep cm lie one day longer than the time they reach full maturity or prime of life. I'p to this period they have been gaining In weight and flesh, and every pound of feed that has been given to them has made its corresponding n mount of flesh. Liberal feeding of grow tig aid inuls makes glad the oenrt of tho far mer or breeder, but when the food ceases to exert Its magic liillueuce, then something seems to be wrong. The wrong Is very often that the cattln have passed their prime, ami ull future feeding will merely tend to help them bold their weight. There Is uo further gain. i'liiue catttlo sold lu tho market menus something more than fat nnd well-developed carcasses. It. Includes a certain tenderness and Juiciness of meat which can be gained only through rapid growing and laying on of flesh. This result has been obtained by good feeding of good nulmnls. If these ani mals had leased to grow the meat would begin to lose much of Its best virtues. It mny not be an easy iir.t ter always to tell Just wheu It has reached Its full prime, but It Is .nore profitable t sell Just before (lis' period, and thus ;ose the few extra pounds she may lu ve gained, than to hold her n few v ceks beyond full maturity when she gains nothing In weight and loses In quality. Most of us are Inclined to bold our cattle too long, and it may well be of value to some of us to look Into the mailer. Are we hampering ourselves by holding cattle over for higher markets when they should be sold nt once, or are we selling them Just as soon as they have reached their prime and are In the very best condi tion for tlie market. E. 1. Smith, lu American Oultlvntor. A Convenient Ham. Modern haying tools are linn! to on. ernte In the old-rashloned string-girt centerpost style of building, and a frame with an open center like the one shown In Fig. 1 is coming Into use. Aside from the free swing of the horse fork, It lias the advantage of allowing hay or grain to set lie without inter ference from cross girts. Fig. 1 represents n iilaiik frame which Is shown hi detail lu r'lg. L In place of TIO 1. OPKS CENTER FRAME. the usual upright post a nlauk nost Is made by nailing one plank to the edge of another. T-fashlon. Two planks bolted to the foot of this nnd extending to the purlin with the braces, as shown, form a russ. which takes the place of the usual cross-teed frame. Mg. 3 shows the barn lu perspective and Klg. 4 shows the ground plan. The break between the stanchions Is a gate for carrying feed through to the box stalls. The dotted line extending across TIO. 2 DETAIL OP PLANK FIIA1IK. the barn by the side of the drive floor is really the Imaginary boundary of the feeding floor. ' A slight additional oz pense would have provided a partition with rolling doors, similar to that in the rear which separates the stable from the boxes, thus inclosing the stable. Over the stable aud boxes is a loft with n matched floor. The mow floor Is also matched. Nearly under the granary wludow Is a en thole, by which the cats enter the barn through a circuitous alley around the granary. They say this entirely prevents the depredations of rats and mice. For my part, I should have pre ferred lining tlie granary with sheet Iron, which could have lieen done for three cents per square foot. The 'lean-to," which forms the ma- HO. 3 BAB fS PERSPECTIVE. utire pit, was built under separate contract The timber for sills and ground floor, and also the stoues for underpinning, were furnished by the party for whom I he building was erected. The site was that of a former barn that had been destroyed by lightning. and sloped away about four feet lu the rear; sls-by-nlghl-lneh posts, sixteen feet long, were used Instead of the T- plank ones-In thls.partlctUnr building. The dimensions were sixty by thirty feet. The building coinulete. with nurse fork lu working order, and two coats of princess metallic pulut, with I 1 , rfr F 'ot tsz: c :pk i JILlIS FIO, 4 PLAN Of THIS IIAUN. (A. granary; H. motv; (', drive fWor; 1), feeding Hour; K K, stanchions; drop; li, plultorru; II II. ho mUIIh, k K, lounger; 1, iiiumue pit.) white lead trim, was put up a year ago for Probably $l.si would have to be added to that amount tu duplicate It to-day. The fact that the builder was archi tect, contractor, boss carpenter and Journeyman combined probably saved turn, but even with that addition to the expense It Is a cheap barn, consid ering Its capacity, and for those desir ing that combination seems to meet tho requirement lu an effective manner. It I hard II. Mitchell, lu Country (lent Io nian. Physicians ure In great demnnd In Brnall. They are well paid, but their life Is a hard one, as they often have to lido ull day to teach u putleut- WTAtt ON INSECT PESTS. t, WAY OF RENDERINC PLANTS BANEFUL TO THEIR ENEMIES. rha Annihilation or the Farmer's tons Jllraed at ttia Lata Meeting of the Society For the Promotion or Agri cultural Science-. Pea I. lie All Females The Idea advanced by Professor (lallowny nt the Joint meeting of the Society for the Promotion of Agricul tural Science and the Association of Economic Entomologists, that plants may lie so cultivated as to change their chemical constitution, rendering them either agreeable or baneful to Insect pests, yet without Injury to the plants themselves, suggests the large possibilities of scientific agriculture. And this, oue Is told, Is no mere the ory, but. a demonstrated fact. A to bacco grower, whose name was not given, lias already put this In prac tice. He analyzes his plants and finds which are nutritious nnd which are not so to the Insects; and lie cultivates those that will starve out the Insect. Ills method seems to depend largely In the mat ure and experienced Judg ment of the grower, varying according to circumstances. Trofessor Oiillowny suggests the extension of similar methods to starve out those other pests, now so destructive, the Ilesslan fly Iu wheat, and the nplild lu pea plants, which, for lack of a bet ter name has been culled the green pen louse, nnd which bns almost ruined the crop In Maryland for two years the Nectarophorn destructor. One of the most Instructive papers read was that of Professor Johnson ou the rnvages of this Insect nnd the fight against It. A small, weak, harm-leRS-looking creature, It came down ou the pen plants In May, 18IK. a blight ns silent nuil as sudden almost as the destruction of Sennacherib's army. Whole fields turned black nnd per ished, causing the loss of half the crop, or $3,000,000, nnd this year $4,000,000. The Insect Is vlvlporous: some are winged, some wingless, but nil females and parthenogeuetic. Be ginning to breed when eleven days old, they have six to twelve young dally for nearly a month, so that tak ing the minimum number, over 400,000 will be produced from one In six weeks. The young are extruded feet first, "born kickers." aud It Is several minutes before the head appears, dur ing which time they exercise their feet constantly. As soon as born they attach themselves to the leaf, and remain for two days immovable, suck ing the Juice of the plant, which Is converted Into a sort of honey dew, sticky and tarry, ruinous to clothing nnd even to shoes of persons who go through the fields. So numerous are they ns sometimes to cover the leaf entirely. A bushel of them Is shaken down from a row of peas ten rods long. Spraying was at first, practiced to kill them, but this killed also their enemies. Now the system is to plant peas In rows, and to shnke off the In sects and follow with n cultivator, Their most efficient enemy is the larva of the Syrphtis, which devours them at the rate of one a minute, but these in turn have their enemies. Bas mih Is u parasite ou them. Other in sects also prey on the nphlds: and cer tain parasites attack them. A fundus disease, Empusa. has proved very de structive. Their original habitat seems to have been clover, from which last year they emigrated to neighbor ing pea-llelds, with such destructive results. Professor Johnson stated, and others iu discussion confirmed the statement, that this insect has ap peared In destructive numbers this year at many places. Professor Web ster reports their appearance partic ularly In Ohio. It Is feared thnt other regions will share the fate of Mary land. However, the belief was ex pressed by several members that tlie insect may disappear as rapidly as it came. Instances lu point, are not lack ing. Professor Hopkins a few years ago noted the outbreak of a destruct ive insect umong tlie evergreen trees of West Virginia, which has now ut terly disappeared. The question of nomenclature of in sects as regards the common names was brought up by a criticism by Pro fessor Fletcher, of the name of "green pea louse," applied to this insect, ns It is not n louse nt all, but an aphid, and there Is uo such plant as "green pea; simply the peas are used when green; also, the Inject thrives on other plants, and Its usual hnbltat is clover. Many other anomalies exist In the name commonly npnlled to insects, very different names lielug npplled to the same Insect in dlffeient localities. Ou the other band, different Insects are designated by the same name, causing great confusion. Professor Lounsberry iuatanipd the oyster-shell scale. This resembles the oyster shells of this country, but not those of South Africa, so IDs name seems inapplicable to the same scale there. An amusing Instance of multiplication of names was mentioned' in 'the ease of the harlequin cabbage hug, which is also culled iu Maryland'! lie firebug,' because it destroys vegetation ns tf a fire had swepl over the country; also the Cuthollc bug, because It has a cross on Its back, and the Spanish bug because it has the Spanish colors; four uames lu different parts of the same State. A committee wns apjHilnled to have charge of the nam lug of in sects, so as to secure uniformity. The remark wns several times made during the meeting that the entomolo gists are belter organised and coop erate more efficiently lu the I 'tilted States than any other body of scien tists In the world. The proceedings of the Association of Economic En tomologists are regarded as so impor tant I hat they tire annually published by the Secretary of Agriculture ai pub lic expense, so that dues of member ship are almost nominal. The Treas urer reports about eight dollars iu the Treusury, more than enough for an other year's expenses, so no assess ment was levied this year. Professor (illlette, who presided at this meeting In the absence of Profes sor Bruiier, wns elected to preside ugalu next year, and he closed the meeting with the wish thnt he might meet the association next year ut Denver, which Is near his own sta tion. He reports much enthusiasm In Colorado over the prospect thnt Den ver will be selected for next summer's meeting of the allied societies. New York Post. ANTIQUITY OF THE SADDLE. The IIpbtt War Variety In t'ne In A. n. 840. Saddles In some form are of the greatest antiquity. t'nder Tiglnth Plleser III. ithe Asyriinl cavalry were provided with them, and the early Ho muus used a covering of cloth, hide or skin, which was, no doubt, very situ liar. Thtso early examples would probably represent light, saddles. The heavy war saddle seems to be much later, one of the earliest Instance of its use being by it lie Visigoths in A. I. 3-10. Theodoslus the (ireat fifty years later effected great Improvements. ltrldles were also lu use In very dis tant. ngis. Auclcul Thessallail coins often represent a horse with a long rein' touching the ground. The young Kumans were trained to ride and mount unassisted, but. the use of tlie bridle was known from the first. According to LIvy, Aulus Cornelius, In a buttle with the Fldenae, ordered the Roman cavalry to unbridle before charging, probably to give them more weight. At the battle of the Tlcinus 1 1 ii n ii II :i I'm Numldlnu horses hud no bridles and were drawn up on the wings, while the heavy cnvalry, with bridles, were In the centre. Stirrups were about -M) years later than saddles, the flrst men I Ion being by the Emperor Mauritius toward the end of tlie sixth century. In earlier times the Oreeks mounted by means of a cramp iron attached to the lance, while the young Ilomaus leaped, spear iu hand, from either side of the horse. The younger (interims adopted the (ireck method of placing large stones at Intervals nhmg tlie road to assist horsemen to mount. Spurs were probably little enrliei than the first feudal times. The great Importance of the spur in the days of chivalry seems to point to Its having been a late invention. The barbarous goad a single spike, which was the earliest form wns replaced lu the four teenth century by the large rowelled spur. Horseshoes are of uncertain date, and have caused some discussion among military historian. Nulled shoes were not known by the Oreeks, for Xenophou gives minute Instruc tions for hardening the hoof. Nor did the Homatis use them. Nero had mules shod with a phite of silver fasteued by crossed thongs to the hoof. With Pop pnea, his later wife. It Is said these plates were of gold. The earliest posi tive evidence of nailed shoes s fur nished by the skeleton of a horse found In the tomb of Chllderlck I. (4."H-oKl) nt Tournay, In IHT3. Notes and Queries. Of Course lie Knew. "You understaud. of course," pur sued the lawyer, "what is mcuit by a preponderance of. evidence?' " "Yes, sir," tvpli-cd the man whom he was exnink'.lu.!,- with reference to ills qualifications as rt Juror. "Let me have your Ideas of il, if you please?" "I iindcrsland It. I tell you." ' "Well, what is It?" "Why, anybody can understand thai." "Still, I would like to have your dcli 11 1 1 loll of it." "I know what It Is, all right. When I tell you I know what a thing is I know it. That's all there is about that." "Well, what was the question I asked you?" "You ought, to kuow what Hint was. If you've forgot your own questions don't try to get me to remember them for you." "I don't want, to hear any more of hat kind of talk," interposed tlie court. "Answer the questions addressed to you by the counsel." "Judge, I did. He asked me If I knew what it was, and I said I did." "Are you sure you understand what Is meant by the term 'preponderance of evidence?' " "Of course I am, Judge." "Well, let us hear your Idea ol' a." "It's evidence that's been previously pondered." Chicago Tribune. IhIhiiiI of St. Helena. Ail English health Journi l su vs In re gard to St. Helena as a place ol' mili tary (ontiucmeiit, that ivoiu tlie liealtl point of view, probably uo pbice lu the world could bo louud more suitable than St. Helena for the confinement of prisoner.! of war. Thevo is not !n ihe whole island an iusaltiDrlous spot. The teniHrature is remarkably equa ble, aud although tJc Island is so much nearer tiie equator than the cape, it. Is very much cooler. The winters are much warmer than those of England, but the Hummer heat is rarely so gli al. The whole isltud Is much above the level of the sea and always breezy. The water f.upply from JtW w.'Us Is ex cellent, and almost all kibd. of Euro pean fruits and vegetables are nvowu. Should the prisoners desire employ ment, there Is much land needing recla mation aud abundant scope for gar dening. ' 'As the island lies oil the ocean highway there should lie no diffi culty in supplying alniudauce of mut ton, coll'ce and other nocessirles. I.nee Hlrile For Hweethearu. It's the proper thing now for tlie am orous swhIu to send u pnir of love birds to his Inamorata, says a Phila delphia dealer, who has them for sale nt $10 it pair, including the cage. Love birds are charming little things. They come from China aud Java, where they are ns plentiful ns the English sparrow is here, lu fact, they resem ble Ihe sparrow In build, although ihcy arc pure white and have quite, largo Is'iiks of a delicate pink. They are very affectionate, and will sit for hours pressed closely against each other on their perch, billing and cooing iu lino style. The denier, who is a florist, says In confidence, Hint he has them on sale because Mowers are too common lu summer for the youut; men to send tiia girls, and he thought the love birds would Just about fill the bill. To l'rmer.e Old Hattle I'Ihk. Rattle flags, as kept in most rcposit -ill's In this country, are In great daii ger of decay. In the Koyat Museum ut Dresden the flags are supported ut each end by a staff, the stripes of Ihe ting running horizontally. Then the flag Is mounted upon a background of wire netting, with meshes about two inches square. This distributes the support of the ling evenly ull over Its surface. Chicago News. 'STORY of the bayonet. ORIGINALLY IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CUNS. Where It Oct lis Several IN atnet Thrill Ing Storlen or Its lle Flrtt Carried ly Hrltteti Soldiers Under Charlee II One Heronet Aaalnet an Army, It is rather curious thnt the weapon flrst called a bayonet had nothing to do with musket or rifle, but wns slm lily a short, fat dagger. Three hun dred years ago It wns described ns a grent knife to hang at the girdle like a dagger. LIngnrd, the historian, writ ing of a battle fought In Franco In 14.3, says that the English commander "was slain, ns he lay ou the field, with a bayonet" meaning, uo doubt, the kind of weapon we have Just de scribed. British soldiers did not carry a bayonet of the modern kind as part of their equipment till the time of Charles II. That not very warlike monarch ordered by royal warrant that the soldiers were "to have und to carry oue bayonet or grent knife." In those dnys the "grent knife" was it kind of last, resource. The bayonet In Its flrst form could only be used by having Its handle screwed solidly Into the musket barrel, thereby completely blocking the mnar.lc: so it was not tin til the ammunition wns exhausted, or until the enemy were so close that there was not sufficient time for the somewhat lengthy nnd complicated process of recharging the clumsy oli mur.zle-londlng muskets It was not till then thnt the bayonet wns brought Into play. Our friends the enemy, however, be fore long taught us bow to turn the weapon to lietter nccounl. While the bnttle of Ilnmillles was In progress, In May. 1700, some keen-eyed observer on the British side noticed thnt the French Infantry were nble to charge with the bayonet Immediately they had tired their volley, not waiting to screw their "knives" Into the muzzles of their muskets. When . the battle wns over and Marlboro's victorious troops held the field, some of the fire locks abandoned by the foe In their fight were picked up and examined, nnd It wns found that the ba.Vonet wns secured by n circular bund of metal clasping the barrel, a simple arrange ment, which left the muzzle perfectly clear. The wonder Is that such a clumsy process as shifting the solid hnndle of the bayonet Into the mouth of the musket was ever adopted nt all. Our military authorities, however, were not above taking a hint from (lie en emy, and the English bayonets were soon fitted after the French manner. There hns been some discussion ns to the origin of the word "bayonet." The commonly received explanation is that the weapon tukes Its name from the city of Biiyouue, lu Southern France, where the bayonet Is supposed to have been first made or first used. This Is likely enough, although there Is no direct evidence on the polut, but It. is also possible that the word Is de rived, us n. diminutive, from an old French word, "bayou," which meant the arrow or shaft of a crossbow. The transfer of the iiaine, with the ndded diminutive termination of "ette," from the long-pointed arrow to tin- short, stabbing dagger, would be natural and easy, but the matter Is of no great Im portance, and It Is certainly not worth dogmatizing iibotii. It muy be noted, by the way, that the vulgar pronunciation of "bayonet," or "bagnet" "Now, gcuTinen, 'full ou,' as the English said to the French when they fixed bagonets," remarked Mr. Weller at the picnic Is of very long standing, and wns originally of the hlghcs' respectability. A diction ary maker of 1751, Deujamln Martin, after detlniug the word as meaning "u short dagger, having, Instead of n bill, it hollow iron hauillu to fix it to tlie muzzle of ft uiusquct, now used instead of a pike," goes on to say: "We speak the word bngonet." Another lexico grapher of a few ye; ;s later, remarks somewhnt naively, that the bayonet, "when ammunition Is spent, Is uo bad resource." A very early example of the now vulgar pronunciation may be foiind lu the Loudon tiazette of il02. where, iu No. 742, "bagonets aud all other arms," ure mentioned lu un offi cial notice. Aud u little later, In a book published iilsiut 1700, the utithor ship of which has been uttrlbuted to Defoe, some peaceful person plaintive ly pleads: "I came not Into the world to be cannonaded or baguoctted out of It." The weaiwn, however, has pushed a great many peaceful folk, as well :.s Its more legitimate prey, out of the world. No army, of course, can claim a mo nopoly of the use of the bayonet, but It has been peculiarly associated, with the heroic deeds of British Infantry on many a hard-fonght Held, aud lu many a struggle in the imminent, deadly htfuch. At Waterloo.lt wns-the. brist ling Hues of bayonets girdling the In vincible squares of Infantry that the French fjOttudlt.vajn to .attack. Again and again tbo French cavalry surged against those seemingly solid islands of meu and steel, but could make no Impression on them. More recently, at Abu Idea, anil on other Egyptian battlefields, the gallaut dervishes who survived the fire of rifles and Maxims found the Hue of bayonets a last aud Impregnable line of defense. As a weapon of offense, too, as well ns of defense, the bayonet has proved of wonderful effect, in British hands. Other enemies than Boers have found It difficult to face the "cold steel" at close quurters. Sir Henry Havelock, describing a small uction during the mutiny struggle lu Iiidln, when three of the enemy's guns were strongly posted behind a lofty hiiuilel. well In trenched, says that he ordered the Seventy-eighth Highlanders to advance. "Never," ho wrote, "have 1 witnessed conduct more admirable. They were led by Colonel Hamilton, and followed him with surpassing steadiness and gallantry under a heavy fire. As they approached the village they cheered and charged with the bayonet, the pipes sounding- the pibroch. Noed I udd that the enemy fled, the vllluge wua taken und the guns captured?" The combination of buyonels and bug pipes was Irresistible. The glittering steel did similar work on many of the peninsular battlefields. At the Buugulnury struggle of Busaco tho bold of the British on the height Which was the main objectof the French attack was secured by the charge or dered by Crawford wheu. In Nuulur'a graphic phrase, "eighteen hundred British bayonets went sparkling over the brow of the bill." A few days be fore .this battle was fought a singular Incident had occurred, when n single Irish soldier attacked the French army with his bnyonet- It was toward the end of the fighting on the Con, and practically the whole of the British army had retreated across the river. Among the last to come down was a gigantic t'lstermnn named Ktownrl, called the "Boy" becnuse he wns only nineteen years of age, though of grent stature and strength. Throughout the action he had fought bravely, but when he reached the bridge be refused to pass. "Turning found," says the histo rian, "he regarded the French with n grim look and spoke aloud as follows: "So this is the end of our boasting! This Is our flrst battle nnd we retreat! The boy Stewart will not live to hear tha; said." Then, striding forward In his giant might he fell furiously on the nenr'-s'. enemies with the bayonet, refused the quarter they seemed di si rous of granting, nud died fighting lu tho midst of them!" CURIOUS FACTS. . Butter Is now preserved in France by varnishing It. The vnrnlsh Is very strong syrup, which Is applied warm, Tho heat melts the surface of the but ter, which mingles with the syrup The latter sets very rapidly, and cov crs the butter with n crystalline layer A mystery with which every snilot Is familiar Is the formation of dust at sen. Those who are acquainted with sailing ships know thnt. no mnltei how carefully the decks may be washed down In the morning and how little work of uuy kind may be done during the day, nevertheless, if tin: docks are swept ut nightfall an enor mous quantity of dust will be collected The Purk Board of Detroit, Mich., has authorized the construction of a rather novel electrical fountain for one of Its parks. The basin will be forty feet in diameter, and the fountain proper will comprise five cobblestone columns, from the apex of each of which will burst n stream of water all to be lighted by hidden electric bulbs. The fountain will cost $.1000. In South Africa the British sentries gave warning of the tiling of tlie Boer guns by a peculiar whistle. It seems, according to the London Dally Mail. that the mocking birds have learned to whistle In complete mimicry of the sentries. They guve their warning whistles nnd theu greatly enjoyed see lug the soldiers dodge Into cover, to wait tu terrible suspense for the shell that did not come. Among curious trees are the grass trees of Australia, which send out long grnssllke streamers; thr rice paper tree of China: the centre of which is filled with pith, which Is made into a delicate and beautiful paper; the wax palms of New tlranaila which grow to a height of 100 feet, the branchless trunk being coated with :i vegetable wax that Is mixed with tallow and made Into caudles by tho natives. 1 Mifintr a recent thunderstorm In tin F.f;st Durham district, Euglaud, there was a remarkable phenomenon ut Sl.crburu Colliery. The llghtiiing eu- tereii the wire rope hunir nir from the ;iulLy und ;ittnched to the cage, which was at tlie bottom, ar.u bv this menus passed into tlie pit. where it was dls- linctty seen to strike the flat-sheets. The force did not, however, expend It self here, but struck a lump held by a driver further In-by. Fortunately, the lad was not Injured The Touean at ltuuil, The toucan was an amiable and. at first, a silent bird. He lived lu a very large cage, chiefly on fruit, and tubbed constantly. But the curious and minis- lug thing was to see him preparing to roost, and he began quite early, while other birds were still wide awake. Tho fist thing was earefiilly to cock up for it was u slow and cautious proceed ing his absurd little scut of it tail, which was only about three or four luches long. This must iu some way have affected his balance, for he never moved on the perch after the tall had been laid carefully back. Then, later In the evening, he gently turned the huge, unwieldy bill around by degrees, until It, too, wns laid along his back and burled In feathers lu the Jisual bird fashion. By the way, I have alwuys woudered how and why the myth arose that birds sleep with their heads un der their wings? A moment's thought or observation would show that it Is quite as Impossible a feat for a bird as for a human .being.. However, the toucan's sleeping, arrangements result ed lu produclug an oval mass of feath ers, supported, on oue leg, looking as unlike a bird as it Is possible to Im agine. When ho was ruthlessly awak cued by a sudden poke or noise, which I grieve to stste was often done In my absence, ueedless to say I heard that he Invariably 'tumbled down in a sprawliug heap, being unable to ad- Just the balance required by the pon derous bill all iu a moment. The Com bat. A Defence of Ulaoksnakee. The reporter was advised not to kill a blacksnake under any circumstances. An old honest, reliable man explnlued thus: "Duly u few duys ago I saw a black nicer whizzing nrouiul In n circle, iiis flaming eyes distended; his attention secunsl riveted ou something not far awuy. I advanced, and, to my astonishment, I snw a large rattle snake culled up In buttle army. Tho blacksnaku continued his circuits, get ting a little nearer his victim each time. After ten or fifteen minutes the ralllcsnake dropped Ills head ou the ground. Almost luslaiiljiucnusly the blacksnake poll need on his victim. Af ter securely fustenliig his teeth in the back of ithe rattlesnake's hend, he be gan his deadly colling. Within five minutes that rattlesnake wus dead. So don't kill a blacksnake." The color came lu the old gentleman's face as he was relating the ubovo. nud ho said: "Boys, blucksnukcs are game, but they won't hurt you. for I hud one for a pel for our years, uud because my old wouiau woke tip one night uud found the snake In bed she raised an awful fuss and killed It." Lebauou (Ky.) Lu-teruiisu. Oeeoratlns Ihe Thl, Thero ure many conviMiti,,',,.,! for table decorations. bMl keeper should carry out ir ldens. A tnble set without ln,t nmjr in inucil line a llnilm fr I tlV fllk lltllirtlutn..n. IT-.. . 9 , , . ,i,lv0 r()r day use a potted plant, or, if n ors are acceptable, n few cut f, If the tnble is large ,i )mt of fruit or flowers in t,. altt the candelabra or i-ii,iiM,tl(.kH' small dishes of ferns rinir tiw Ribbon and lace have no ,,!,,,, , dlnary table decora Hons. l , should be washable ami iaui r materials ns may be emlly i What Laundreeiee Fall i Com.r.1 ........ n ""suing 11 prof,. first place, because II uii more soup being required tft m-i uituer witn nam water than wlti In the second place. In TllllaUk I.e. " IIII'C ter contains a deposit (,f mf 1 is not good for the cloth, i to rot the fibres. One soon Ictrt) Know tne (iiirerenee in feeling be hard nnd soft water. Th stance so hard that It cimnot 4 solved sooner or late" with i Water dissolves the dirt, nnd I without soap will do thin. rJ soap, however, to soften the R which holds the nurtlcles nf iitr Jl loosen ns the grease Is niniwilj therefore, tbe wnter which ymi compelled to use Is hard, uw 1 to sorten It. oninns Homo pnnlon. Preparing- For Preaerrlns Unl In putting up fruit sot? that alf essentials are on hand before b nlng work. Don't wait until the is in the preserving kettle before! nlng to the corner grocery for a sugar. It Is economy of time toft sugar In twenty-five or Httr- bags this month, for yon will tie rignt nioug. pee ttmt all utennllf in perfect order, that it supply of rubber bands is on IihihI, nwl the cans nnd glasses are ns cleans sweet nnd dear as soap and enn make them. If every time 4 has been emptied It hns been cur,4 washed and dried nnd put awny Its own top screwed on this pm the work will be. greatly almpll Yet, even If cleaned before ptil away, they will need to be wi just before using. Have tvm small, sharp-poluled knife fur p.ij a silver plated fruit knife Kiouil a flue edge and kept expressly fmf purpose Is best. Have n half winf pnrnlllne on hand for covering several long-hauilleii wooilcu p a ladle, a colander, a )iriiit tin -t er. !'. muall skewer or silver nut several large bowls ami platters, a couple of large porcelain er I ite kettles. Never use tin vessel: cooklnir fruit, nor yet iron. M when thoroughly denned. Is pit to use, but Its expense uud Ihe necessary to keep it in Rood tlon nreclude Its nilnnllnu iu th dlunry kitchen. A plentiful upp$ cheese cloth uud towels, und a IB mouthed funnel to use in tlllltu; should also be iu readiness. recipes: Tomato Tonst-Sfew nud olther fresh or canned tniuntoes; t en with a little flour, season with Moisten the toast, and I lieu poutt tomatoes over II. Parsley Fritters - Tour boiling ter ou half . pound of stale 11 Drain well, udd a cup' of I"1' minced tine, four eggs, two suliff fills of salt and one of pepper. ' Into flitters, fry and serve with 14 quarters. Aspuragus Salad Take the from one pound of cold iisparaK" one cucumber Into thin sll'"- stand one hour ill cold Wtr. add to It half a teaspoonful of Mix llahtlv with the tips, cover i i i.... tui-ve 00- laajuuuniMe iirrsniuH o", . tttce. I Almond Dresslnir-SliHll and M twojve sweet aud four bitter un" soak them In cold water an hour, drain and Dound In a mortar " tie lemon luloe: add enough mori on Juice to make It the conili"1"' thin cream. Heap strnwirr.e. Utart leaves of lieud lettui ai ual saucers, and dust with mtgar. ngar; I pour the dressing over. a !.,.,. ...-I..., t.. 1'n'UIU gallon of new milk, nnd pi"' " it .. a tittle niof-r a pan over the fire, and lt u T ti r.uii u until " ij, Ing. With tho pint uinae a v tard llalncr tivn nirirS. UUll tllKl",I1 wn .,,.., nt ...ii-n tlolir. WI""11 mm. .... ,.. i..iniur pouH . . . . . . i. ..lutniitiy ine custuru, BtttTiiiK , It thickens. Set aside to " when l,l rYseen 111 the (irdlUHry ltrWtn'a Polfo lelnL'-Ht'llt tlie ... .. ntltT froth' f III. -B " 1 ..I,lUt gradually one pound of ir" " T sugar, beating ull the tlm'- im f tit the mixture win . . J . .. . . .. r.,ar i roe- nk:i-uii. Him iuvi, . f n.,,1 .,.,1 ,,,111 II l, " a gvnli; or two, of ultra'1111' ' .. t dlgo Mue. Mix this in '" i, ... ... ... i .-....L- AIII'U - lint it win uoi siit;, -.. g cake with a broad, pliable WM nl ., , SCl'lllllllg I"1""! Angel l'arfalt-Boll a"!""' IJ car aud a half cupful ' ,,u .J B - M IB of two eggs beuteti until totm until cold. Flavor with lr spoonful of violet extract ''" , .r ........ . .1 mlllfllltf 01" mo wnip irom mi"1 ,,W1J 'Vrn 1, t mold. I. lll'W"f cover over a sheet of I'l'r' v"" - ... ...urt. In Ico and salt ror e from the mold, gurulHh uu " 1 ludytingcrs.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers