WW WW THE WISDOM OF DON JOSE. Don Jose read the missive, which lad come to him In the badly-baked baf, three times with the utmost de Iberatlon. He sighed heavily, picked ip hla prunlng-knlfe and walked out yto the gardens of the old Chateau. Hils evening he tended the flowers with even greater diligence than jsual. As he would be dead before iho twilight of another evening gath ered In the gardens, he rendered these servlcea with the good will of ne who, doparting on a lonely jour ley, seeks kindly remembrance. When Don Jose had concluded these labors he retired once more to the Chateau, where, seated by an pen window, he sipped his wine with treat gravity and re-read the letter. The letter ran as follows: "They have discovered everything. The chateau has been surrounded lnce daybreak, and there Is no pos sibility of escape. Do not look for help. They will probably not strike intll to-night or the late evening. "(Signed) ADRIAN." Don Jose folded the letter, sighed ftgaln heavily, and sipped his wine. "The fellow Adrian has been more faithful than I expected," he mused as he tore the letter leisurely Into little fragments. "It Is strange, be sause he cannot expect money from ft dead man; but perhaps he has a sonsclence! " Don Jose closed his eyes and dis posed of himself for sleep. He ac septed the Inevitable in a manner that was almost magnificent. The '.hought of death did not greatly dis turb him. although he had found life an exciting and profitable pastime. The announcement that he bad re Belved through the medium of the baker was not altogether unexpected, fle had been In Dantzic now nearly nine months, during which time he Bad been instrumental in the deaths Of so many politicians that it was not Itrange the dead men's friends and Telatives should try reprisals. For Mne months he had carried his life in his hands with true Spanish dig nity, and he was sufficient of an art ist not to spoil the pose at the last moment. Expecting a visitor, he slept light iy, and awoke to hear the sound of footsteps stirring amongst the long grass below the window. The sound lent the blood thrilling through his veins. He sprang from his couch and retreated Into the shadows of the Barkened room, with a large horse pistol grasped in either hand. He felt that it would be a useless fight against overwhelming odds, but fam ily tradition, as well as personal bravery, demanded that he should die with his face to the foe. So he erouched in the shadows and waited. Suddenly some one sprang into the ppen window and for an instant a roan's profile was silhouetted against the summer sky. A good angel re strained Don Jose with his horse pistols. In another moment the Uark figure framed In the window scram bled into the room and fell sobbing for breath on Don Jose's favorite touch. "One movement, and I blow your brains out," said the Don quietly. The Intruder gave a cry of anguish and burrowed deeper into the cush ions on the couch. "Mercy, senor; mercy, for love of heaven, mercy!" he Implored. eeee eeee eeee "What Is your name, friend?" said Don Jose, interrupting because he was afraid he would be dead before the conversation had concluded. There was no telling at what moment the hidden Dantzicers would put their scheme Into operation. "Giorgio, with your Excellency's permission. I have been pursued all day. I was nearly dead, senor, when Providence directed me to the gar den below. I saw the open window and determined to enter at all coats. Something told me that I should meet kindness here. The saints befriend ed me, and " "But stop a moment, you arc not safe yet. What of your pursuers, my friend?" "You will not deliver me Into their hands, senor. Yon know me to be innocent." , Giorgio stretched out his hands with an imploring gesture. His eyes scanned every line of Don Jose's face with desperate eagerness. Don Jose offered him some wine. From the moment that his gaze had lighted on the stranger's counte nance an idea had been formulating In his brain. He had been startled from the first by the fact that the man, save for his clothing and coarse ness, was not unlike himself. In height and stature there was little to choose between the two. Don Jose coupled this with the fact that his visitor was a fool, and his heart became rejuvenated with hope. Hli brain was, in a manner, subtle and quick to conceive a ruse and strata gem, and in Giorgio he saw a heaven-sent chance of escape from the Dantzicers. "My friend," he said, charging his wine-glass, "I not only undertake to shield you from your enemies, but if you will be guided by my advice I promise you deliverance. I am even in a more hazardous position than yourself." Giorgio began to open his eyes. "You are In danger, senor! Ii It possible?" "Peace. I will explain. I am In such danger that my life is not worth an hour's purchase." "Oh, horrible!" "Nevertheless, I speak the truth. I may be murdered any moment." "Mother of mercy! Your Excel lency Is then rich?" "Fool, I am so poor that I am a servant of the Emperor." "But, senor, you are a Spaniard." "And not the only one In the Em peror's service. Now, listen; I was sent here nearly a year ago because Dantzic Is seething with sedition and plots against the Emperor's person. The place was honeycombed with secret societies. A great many of these, I flatter myself, no longer ex ist, but there are several still alive. Somehow they have discovered me to be the Emperor's servant. For the last month I have had the utmost difficulty to keep my feet out of the grave, and to-day I learn from a man in my pay that my hiding place has been discovered. Further, I am in full knowledge of the fact that cer tain seditious gentlemen are deter mined upon my death before the morning." "But, senor, why do you remain here?" he exclaimed, furiously ex cited; "why do you not escape?" A nmiln nil.. til . 1 What! a countryman," exclaimed I ,". .: , . uo" . . ,, , , rT' . . Jose s passive countenance. "I see, friend, that you are ignor ant of the ways of Dantzic," he said, quietly; "every mode of egress from this chateau is guarded." "I do not understand." "Very likely. The chateau is sur rounded by unseen foes. You have I seen nobody, and if I were to walk abroad this moment it is unlikely that I should meet a single soul upon the highways. But I should be found dead to-morrow morning with a bul let in the brain." Giorgio gave a gesture of despair. "Then all Is lost, seuor," he cried; "we are both dead men." "Nonsense! . We shall both es cape." 'Senor, you bewilder me! First you tell me that the chateau 1b sur rounded, and then Ah, heaven, i wnnt is (MKT I The sound of horsemen approach ing at the gallop broke the silence 1 of the night. "They are either your pursuers or my murderers," aald Don Jose very calmly. "Quick, go to the window and tell me what you see." "They are soldiers, senor. I can coe their uniforms in the moonlight." "They are your pursuers. Quick, and undress yourself." Giorgio stared at Don Jose as though he were in the presence of a lunatic. The Don had already thrown aside his coat and vest, and Giorgio, still bewildered and dazed by the sudden turn of events, had enough wit left to follow bis example. Don Jose snuffed out the candle. "Quick, give me theso clothes," he whispered, almost tearing Giorgio's rags from his back. "But, senor, what does this mean?" "It Is simple enough, my friend. When the soldiers come I tuall take your place." "They will arrest you, senor!" "Exactly. As their prisoner 1 shall be circled safely through the area of death. You will remain here; when I have gone make your peace with the Dantzicers when they come for me. Do not say you have seen me. Tell them you have been pursued by the Emperor's soldiers. They will help you to safety when they hear that." Before the last words had escaped Don Jose's Hps the soldiers had reached the chateau. One of the horses could be heard whlnnyhvg be low the window, and the next moment thonderous knocks shook the outer doors. "Farewell," said Don Jose, a he slipped from the darkened room. He crept silently down the stairs and flung upon the door with such suddennesa that a couple of troopers nearly fell into his arms. He was seized lu a .moment by a dozen hands and dragged before the officer In charge of the cavalcade. He cursed Don Jose, "and why have you trav eled all the way to Dantzic to take my life, friend?" "Take your life, senor! Mother of Heaven, I am innocent of any such Intention. I cannot see your Excel lency, but, by my soul, I am your most faithful Blave." "You speak pleasantly, friend; nevertheless I feol it would be safer to lodge this bullet in your skull be fore we are further acquainted." The Intruder relapsed into inar ticulate verbosity. He likened the unknown senor to all the saints he could remember, and opined that If the most glorious of men would deign to grant the dog beneath his feet a further lease of Ills miserable life the gratitude of heaven to the most glorious of men would puhs all earth ly comprehension. "I am to understand, my friend, that you did not come here to murder me?" said Don Jose. "O heaven! Is your Excellency mad? Merciful Providence!" "To what, then, do I owe the honor of this visit?" Don Jose had lighted a candle and surveyed his visitor narrowly. He found him of middle age and height, and from his dress evidently of the peasant class. His large earnest eyes had a curious frightened expression. His limbs trembled, aiid eve:: now he drew breath with difficulty. "A fool, who is In fear of his life." thought Don Jose, and aloud repeat ed his former question. The visitor burled his face I.; his great brown hands and sobbed. "I will be frank with you, senor," he groaned. "You are wise, my friend; pro ceed." "I will resign my destiny into your Excellency's koeplng; I place my soul In your hands." "They arS In safe keeplue, but you have not answered my question." "I led here because I am pursued by enemies. I have baen pursued all day." Don Jose was surprised that so In significant a person should possess enemies, but he held his tongue and smiled encouragement. "What Is your offense, friend?" he asked, dryly. "I am accused of theft, your Ex cellency, "but before high heav en " "You are innocent, of course. I Understand that." "You do not believe me guilty, g-enor?" "I know you to be Innocent." "You know, seuor?" "Yes, my heart tells me." The stranger dissolved Into tor rents of gratitude. He praised the lienor's perspicacity and called dowu the blessings of heaven upon the head ot hi dlsoernlng host. bis captors roundly, but offered no other resistance. "Who are you, fellow?" cried the officer; "from your clothes I should know you well." "It Is possible, captain," said Don Jose, in a hoarse voice; "my name is Giorgio, and I see no reason to disguise It." 'So we meet at last, my brave fel low," said the officer, with a mock bow. "Well, on my side the meeting Is a very happy one." Without another word two of l ho troopers at a nod from their leader swung Don Jose on to the nearest horse. His arms were tightly bound and he rode from the chateau in the centre ot the party. At about five miles from the cha teau they were mot by a further re lay of troopers with a large rumbling coach of the most antique pattern. Don Jose now wished to enter Into explanations with the officer, but be fore he had the opportunity he wbr dragged from his horse and bundled on to the floor of te coach, with a brigadier and two troopers. Don Jose was astounded at so much attention being paid to a com mon thief. It was certainly most un usual, and for the moment hla 1 cart misgave him. I "Where do we halt, friend?" he asked the brigadier. "Paris." Don Jose almost leapt out of his bonds. "Paris! Do you know where we are now?" "Perfectly." ' "We are In Dantzic." "Exactly." "And you say we are going to Paris?" "With all possible speed." Don Jose bowed hiB head and groaned. Of all experiences this was the most extraordinary that he -had ever suffered. Had the world turned mad that a common thief was escort ed in a coach and four to Paris? He asked many questions, but the briga dier, who was disposed for sleep, bade him hold his tongue, and re lapsed into silence. Don Jose did not reach Paris. The cavalcade was held up by Marshal De Main and some staff officers near ly ten miles from Napoleon's capital. The Marshal held some conversation with the ufllcer In charge of the party, and then, alighting from his horse, peered ea'gerly into the carriage at the prisoner. "Marshal De Main, you know me, you know me; explain to these fel lows who I am," cried Don Jose fran tically; "they will not listen to me." The Marshal seemed to be in the throes of convulsions. He staggered back from the coach window and clutched at the air with outstretched hands. When he had sufficiently re covered he laughed, and when he ceased laughing he became very an gry. "What foolery have we here?" he cried hoarsely to the bewildered offi cers in charge of Don Jose. "The Emperor will not thank you for tak ing this man from Dantzic. ReleaBe Don Jose at once." "General, this man has confessed himself to be Giorgio." The Marshal for reply turned his back upon the captain. Don Jose stepped out from the coach and related the full history of the adventure. "Since when has it been the cus tom to convey common thieves from Dantzic to Paris?" he asked In con clusion, with an ironical smile. Marshal De Main smiled also. "Your friend Giorgio is so com mon a thief that the Emperor has few more dangerous enemies in Eu rope. Have you ever heard of Don Pepo Avolannas?" Don Jose was silent and bit his lip. "Giorgio and Avolannas are the same man, my friend," continued the Marshal; "about a month ago It was Kuown that he was in Dantzic in the former name." - 'I was not notified." "You had sufficient in your hands." Don Jose and the Marshal looked at each other, shrugged shoulders and sighed. "I thought only of escape," said Don Jose apologetically. "You succeeded, but at a heavy cost. We could have spared two of you for one Giorgio." They parted on this, but It was fully six months later that Don Jose learned the entire truth of hit ad venture. A letter was brought to him from England and loft silently at. his door by an unseen messenger. It ran as follows: "Most Wlie and Excellent of Men: Permit the t'og beneath your feet to thank you for a great service ren dered In the past. I am eternally your debtor, for had it not been for the passports and i.apers in your coat, which you so kindly lent me on a memorable occasion, I should never have escaped from Dantzic alive. On one point I wish to enlighten you. There was no conspiracy against your life. Your hiding place at the cha teau, of which I : hail always have such pleasant memories, was known only to myself and one Adrian, who was in your Illustrious service. I had been hiding in the neighborhood three days when the idea of obtain ing your papers and passports oc curred to me as the best means ot quitting Dantzic. 1 felt assured that under the circumstances your wisdom would dictate the course of action you so timely adopted. Had you not done so, I should have suggested It myself, If necessary with force. But your wisdom forestalled me in this." Here Don Jose broke off abruptly In his reading. "My wisdom!" he repeated to him self, and then, without proceeding further, cast the letter into the Are. London Black and White. Margaret of Austria. Bearded women have beep very numerous. The most noted of the number was Margaret ot Austria, ap pointed by Charles V. to be governor of the Netherlands. She had a long, stiff black beard and, conceiving the idea that It added to the majesty of hor appearance, was very careful of It, and so combed and trained It as to make it seem much greater than It was. .WORTH KNOWING The cost of the recent Torrey-Alex-nml.'r Mission In Philadelphia, which lasted three month, wan $06,365. In the prize contest at Houlton, Me., the largest potato, weighing three pound nnd seven ounce, was shown by J. f. Foster. Tradition say that lock were made In England In the reign or Al fred, but It was not till the fourteenth century that the locksmith craft was recognized a a distinct one. Black Bob, an Australian mar1 which ha appeared over 3000 time In the play of "Dick Turpln." died. re cently In London. Before she went on the Btage she was a steeplechaser The number of patents granted In Cermany since 1HX9 has varied be tween twenty-nine per cent, and forty-five per cent, of the number of ap plication filed. The spotlessly pure marbles of the Island of Paros, Greece, are mined by an English company. Many of the celebrated itr'ue left by the ancient world were sc.!ptured from the mar ble of the Parian mine. There is an enormous number of small landholders in Egypt. 5,000, 000 acre being cultivated by over I 1,000,000 landowners, of whom 6000 I are European, owning on an average I a little over 100 acres. George Washington was the first breeder of fine grade mules In Amer ica the King of Spain and Lafayette, of France, gave him some fine Jacks The great Compromiser of Kentucky was also a lover of mulcflesh as a work animal. He gave a lot In Wash ington city for a fine jack. This lot Is now worth millions of dollars. It is common to think of a camel, the proverbial ship of the desert, as a patient beaBt of burden. Guided by skilful hands, however. It becomes a very formidable war steed. The Somali warriors have ridden camela In many fierce charges for genera tions. Mounted on the ba"k of an active camel with a long spear for a weapon, one of these savages Is an enemy to be feared. FORTIFYING THE BODY AGAINST COLD. nj f. e. mcclure. .... ...... ........ ,.,.4...., American Tea Success. Consul-General William H. Mich nel, of Calcutta, reports that the suc cess of the Pinehurst tea plantation near Summetvllle, S. C, In drying tea by proper exposure to the sun Instead of by the mechanical methods, and thereby preserving the natural flavor of the plant, attracted the attention of tea growers In Ceylon, and has now aroused interest among the tes producers of India. He writes: "Although at the very threshold of tea husbandry, the United Statee la really Instructing the oldest tea producing districts in the beet meth ods of curing that commodity. China has known the 'trick' for a long time, and has been able to furnish a tea of superior flavor by practicing It. but for some reason her example was not followed In India, if, indeed, it was known here, and it remained for the West to furnish the East with this practical and useful knowledge." Dally Consular ReportB. Our Divorce Daw. The Census Taker "Your name, mum?" "I don't know." "Beg pardon, mum?" "I've been divorced. At present my name Is Mrs. JoncB in this State In several States it is Miss Smith, mj maiden name, and In three StateB It is Mrs. Brown, my first husband 'i, name." "This Is your residence, mum?" "I cat and sleep here, but I have a trunk in a neighboring State, where I urn getting a divorce from my pres. ent husband.' "Then you're married at present?' "I'm married in Texas, New York and Massachusets; divorced in Soutt Dakota, Missouri, Alaska, Oklahomt and California; a bigamist in thret other States, and a single woman in eight others." Chicago Tribune. A Graceful Getaway. Mr. Makinbrakes, who had beet urged to stay for luncheon, was try ing to make a graceful getaway. "Awfully sorry," he said, "and over so much obliged, but I couldn't think of It. It's a lot of bother t have people drop in on you unex pectedly and to feel that you've go: to Invito them to stay and cat wit! you er Just to be polite, yov know I mean that It's always a lo' of bother for me, of course, partlcu larly when when It happens to bi somebody that you don't care for anyhow speaking of myself, yot understand or perhaps I should hu I don't mean myself In this particu lar case well, anyhow, I have ai engagement, besldeB, or It would af ford me great pleasure, I assure you to to well, good afternoon, Mr and Mrs. Varney." Chicago Tribune. A Descendant of Holbein. A lady who formed a most inter esting link with a celebrated nam has Just passed away In Vienna. Tbl is the authoress Frau Hermann whose maiden name of Marie vol Holbein at once sets up the associa tion. She was indeed one of the fen descendants In the direct Hue of tin famous artist family of the Holbelns Besides the Austrian branch, thi members ot which are principally U be found lu their country's service ai army officers and civil servants, then Is still the collateral branch descend Ing from Ambroslus Holbein, whtW recent years, says the Pall Mall Ga tette, have brought forward tin names ot two members of this eel brated stock following the protessloi of the brush and palette namely Albert Holbein, who produced his ai" In Schwblsb-Gmund, and the pupl ot the sculptor Begas. Eduard Hoi tela. At this season of the year "cold" nrs prevalent, and the subject of suit able hygienic clothing Is uppermost In masy home. The matter of proper bathing Is also an intergral point of the discussion. One's lia bility to "take cold" depends almont entirely on the condition of the ellm Inatlve organ and, to a very large measure, on the condition of the skin. The skin has five function: Pro tective, excretory, temperature regu lating, absorptive, sensory. Only two, however, the excretory and tem perature regulating, are of impor tance from a strictly hygienic point ot view, the absorptive power being so small, excepting In some diseased conditions, a to be safely Ignored. The excretion of the skin I from two varieties of structure, sebaceous and sweat glands. The purpose of the sebaceous secretion Is to keep the skin and hairs soft and pliable, but the sweat glands are by far the most Important of the two. for upon their activity depends the temperature regulating- function also. Normally, about thirty per cent, of all the mois ture excreted from the body paases through the skin. This varies, how ever, depending upon the climatic conditions, clothing, exercise, etc. Unless during active exercise this is kuown as "Insensible perspiration," and has been estimated by some ob servers to be a high In amount as two quarts dally. Perhaps one quart or one quart and a half is more near ly correct. The proper action of the skin 13 also, to a large extent, under the con trol of the nervous system. Thus the matter of bathing fall naturally un der two heads; bathing for purposes of cleanliness and bathing for the reflx, or "hardening," effect. For purposes of cleanliness, under ordinary conditions during the winter months, for people who are not en gaged In dusty or laborious occupa tions, the hot soap-aud-water bath once a week is usually sufficient to keep the mouths of the sweat glands free from obstructions and function ating properly. The dally ablution for "hardening" effect has popularly been taken to mean "a cold bath every morning." For the average person this is a mis take. Few people can react sufficient ly after a cold morning bath to make the procedure beneficial. In starting the morning bath or spouge (and all baths should be taken In the morn ing with the exception of the hot Cleansing bath, which is taken at bedtime) tepid water should be used, the temperature gradually cooled, day by day, until water can bo used whicli Is quite cold. This bath should be taken very readily, then the entire body should be Immediately and vig orously rubbed with a coarse towel until a complete reaction has set In and the body is in a glow. Bearing in mind -Uiat the real func tion of the sweat is the regulation cf body temperature, the proper form of clothing is more or less self-evident. Oonerally speaking, the undercloth ing should bo light, and the varia tions of temperature met by putting off or putting on outer clothing. Cot ton is an excellent. conductor of heat. Wool is a non-conductor. Individuals differ, too, In. the varying thickness of the layer of fatty tissue lying just beneath the skin, which Is also a non conductor of heut and acts as a blanket, keeping in the natural body warmth. The ideal undergarmeut then, should be a light garment, com posed of from forty per cent, to sixty per cent, of wool mixed with cotton or silk. Perhaps the best form would be to have a light woolen (sixty per cent.) body, faced with cotton or 8iik. A very important hygienic measure too often neglected is the proper ven tilation of sleeping apartments. Each individual should have 1500 square cubic feet of air, changed every hour. This can be obtained only by opening the outside windows. Provided one Is not lying in a direct draft and Is warmly covered, It is impossible to have too much fresh, cold air In the room. A simple way to accomplish this Is raise the windows, and against the inside of the casing fix a wide board in such a manner that the cur rent of air is directed upward, then close the door and, no matter how low the mercury sinks, sleep with no fear of any harm. If possible one should have a warm room In which to dress In the morning, bnt if this I Impossible, more has still been gained by having the windows open all night than is lost by a very rapid dressing In a cold room in the morning. Fresh air Is stlmulatiug, tonic, germicidal, health-giving. A vigorous protest must be made against the wearing of all chest pro tectors and pads, nlso against the wearing of heavy furs unless they are Immediately removed upon coming In from the cold. The prevalent habit of women In retaining their heavy furs when calling or at public gath erings Is most reprehensible. The old saying that "sealskin sacques kill more people thin does smallpox I not far from the truth. Rubbers are another article of wear whose use has been abused. Of course thy should be worn In a heavy rain storm or when the walks are wet and sloppy, and always re moved Immediately upon going In doors; but ordinarily the feet should be kept warm and dry by means of good, stout shoes with felt or cork Insoles, If necessary. Rubber 1b ab solutely Impervious to moisture and so the natural perspiration is ratalned and cold, damp feet, with Inevitable colds, result. For people who "take cold easily" these precautionary measures are of wore Importance than medicine. Those Individuals who suffer from the various hypertrophies, deviations, etc , of thu nasal passages or are the victims ot organic disease should have such pathological condltlom, re moved by surgical or other measures which a qualified physician may rec ommend. From Tb Pilgrim. WORTH, NOT Hill I h, KIMHINU (THTOM. An Aim of learning Augutlnr Bir rell on the End nf Kducntion. As president or the Salt Schools. 8altalre, Mr Blrrell the other Satur day night, gave the annual addrea. He was much delighted, be said, to find himself In the constituency of his friend and parliamentary secre tary, Mr. Percy llllngworth. A bet ter friend and a better parliamentary secretary no man ever had. Apolo gising for not having had time to prepare an address of some literary kind, Mr. Blrrell said that since he entered Whitehall he had not had time to read anything worth reading or write anything worth writing, and he had considerable doubt whether he bad said anything worth hearing. He had been astonished to find the great number of people who seemed honestly to believe that the money spent on education waswasted. There were agriculturists who preferred that It should be spent on manure. Ms once ventured to say In Parlia ment that they preferred muck to mind. But he was also astonished at the great number of people who showed keen Interest In the develop ment of education on sound princi ples. The rate-payers should not grudge that part of the rale which went to the sacred duty of training teachers. A great work was going on In that direction. Training col leges were not what they ought to be, but they were improving steadily Then the devotion of teachers to their work had affected him very much. They worked not only for wages, but for love. He would be seech all teacherB to recognize the fact that they were all one great cor poration engaged in the samp work, although on different sides of it. Not one of them was entitled to look down upon another. All part of education work should be looked upon as one and Indivisible. Speaking to the pupils, Mr. Blrrell advised them to remember that the acquisition of knowledge Is not every thing. In the House of Commons, he said, we have all sorts of people some of the learned, but not many. Some have had great educational ad vantages, others have been educated In the wine or the workshop. I am not going to praise any class at the expense of the other. There are un educated labor members, capitalist and country gentlemen. It Is not a question of what school you went to, but what you are. You may train your mind working down a mine so as to make your mind the envy of those who have had an excellent scholastic education. On the floor of the House ot Com mons It. does not matter one straw whether you aro the son 6f a duke or of a costermonger, you will be list ened to for a short time, and If the House comes to the conclusion you are worth hearing It Is gloriously in different to everything else about you. 1 am quite sure that every one who comes to the House of Commons recognizes at once that the reputation a man gains or loses there Is wholly Independent of what he h the past or to what class he belongs. He Is Judged wholly on what he is. If you can get a well trained and dis ciplined mind, then you need fear no one. It Is upon the success of the ef forts of all these bodies who are en deavoring to train the minds of the nation that the success of the country must ultimately depend. Manches ter Guardian. What Did He Do With It? A Philadelphia clergyman was talking about the late Sam Small. "I once heard him speak," he said, "and his humor and eloquence im pressed me deeply. "He had a happy knack of illustra tion. He wanted, I remember, to Il lustrate the frailty that Is a part ot even the best characters, and he told a story about a brave young soldier. "This aoldler, he said, enlisted in the Spanish-American War, and he fought like a lion for his country. The firm he had worked for, pleased with the record he was making for himself, told his wife that all the time he was away they would pay half his wages to her. "Accordingly, at the end ot the first week the young woman called at the office, and the head ot the firm handed her $9. "She looked at the money, and her face clouded over. " 'Nine dollarB," she said. " 'Yes,' said the head, a little hurt; 'that Is just half. I'm sorry you are not satisfied. " 'It Isn't that I'm not satisfied,' said the youn; woman, 'but all along he's been u li: me his pay was only $14 a week. Walt till he gets home! If them Spaniards don't kill him, I will.' "Washington Star. French Tax on Titles. It Is proposed in France, where In genuity in devising new sources of revenue has been raised to a fine art, to Impose a tax on titles of nobility. In a nation which has taxed win dows and doors the proposal will not seem eitraordlnary. The odd thing Is that the .-public, which ban de clared such titles fictitious, should now recognize them as a means of national Income. A point of Interest for the outer world Is that only genu Ine titles wll be taxed. Their legiti macy will thus be guaranteed by Gov ernment stamp, and fathers of heir esses contemplating an investment may pay down the purchase money with the same assurance of validity that safeguard real estate transac tions. New York World. Uiggest American Flag. A tourist has been looking for thl big flag which Mauch Chunk folk cel. ebrated the Fourth of July with sev eral years ago. "It was," he said, "the biggest American flag ever un turled. Its dimensions being fifty by 160 feet. A wire cable Was stretched from the top ot Flagstaff mountain to the top of Bear mountain, and the , great bit ot bunting was swung about the centre, right over the middle of the valley. The air currents am tempestuous there in the evening, and whenever the sun went down ths flag was rlpp.d from Its fastenings." New York Vim At Tfuiigerfnrf, - antli -on-Tyee Maidenhead and Halmagen. The charming country town est Hungerford, In Berkshire, has an an ntial kissing day each April, when Ml celebrates Its Hocktlde festival. Than certain duly appointed officials hol a court, collect the tithes and claims) kiss from the woman of each honest they have to visit during the cere mony The two fortunate officials thus appointed are known as "tatty; men," or tithe men. and usually there Is ho smalt competition for the honor among the eligible of Hung, ford. The custom Is hundreds of years old, and neither husband nor wife, aa a rule, nhjpct to the adrevi of the tutty men, with th.- inevitable result. Once every five years the good town of Newcastle-on-Tyne has beam In the habit of holding a festival known as "barge-day," on which day the Mayor and corporation go down to the river In a fine State barge ts c!alm the rights of the town to cer tain dues at an appointed spot. The the procession returns up the river te a well known stone, where the Mayor selects any woman he likes from the large crowd generally there kisses her before the assembled pany. and let It be said softly be. fore the good Mayoress herself. Hla worship then gives the favored wom an a sovereign as a present, while the Mayoress, to show that there is no in feeling, adds a gift of her own, such as a sachol, purse or other appropri ate article. Not only Is it the duty of the Mayor to do the kissing In this fash ion, but the appointed sheriff, not willing to be left out in the cold on such occasions, also duly carries out a similar privilege. He chooses an other lady, and after saluting her gravely, or otherwise, he also hands to her a useful present. This curious ceremony, which is supposed to take place qulnquennially, was last per formed, I believe. In the year 1901. But, of course, it alwayB rests with the Mayor, for the time being, wheth er It shall be performed. When the pretty Thames town ot Maidenhead takes it Into its head to have a "beating of the bounds," the steward appointed for that purpose la always accompanied by a large crowd of curious people. These help him. or think they do. when he has to climb over houses which stand In hi path, or to get through windows un der which the bounds pass. Also, when the party meets any man by chance during Its progress, it pro ceeds gravely to "bump" that individ ual, but if the person met should be a lady, she Is given the choice as to whether she will be "bumped" or kissed. Nor is our own country the only one with such compulsory kissing ceremonies. Halmagen, in Austria, has an annual fair on St. Theodore' day, at which every man present ha the right to claim one lady and to kiss her without her having any right to object. This strange custom is the outcome of a raid which was once made on the town by Turkish bri gands, who carried off all the women as captives. But a band of men trav eling In the district chanced to meet the captors and forced them to give up their victims, who were then kind ly escorted to thelrhomcsand friends. In grateful remembrance of the day the maidens of Halmagen annually offer their Hps modestly and freely to the strangers who frequent the town during the fair of St. Theodore. London Answers. How to Attain Old Age. Seven pithy precepts for the attain ing of old age were given recently by General Booth, In explanation of his surprising activity and vigor at the age of seventy-eight. He said: "Eat as little as possible. The av erage man eats too much. Instead ot nourishing his body he overtaxes it, compelling his stomach to digest more food than it has capacity for. "Drink plenty of water in prefer ence to adulterated concoctions. Water Is wholesome nourishment. "Take exercise. It Is Just as fool ish to develop the mind and not the body as It is to develop the body and not the mind. Perform some manual labor; dig, walk, chop wood, or, if you can talk with your whole body, why, then talk; but do It with all your might. "Have a system, but do not be a slave of the system. If my hour tr. rise Is 8 a. m. and at that time I haven t had sufficient rest, I taka longer time. "Do not All your life with a lot ot silly and sordid pleasures, so that when you come to die you will find you have not really lived. "Abstain from Indulgences vhlch overtax the body, and injure not only yourself but the generations that come after you. "Have a purpose in life that pre dominates above all else, that la beneficent to those about you, and not to your own greedy self alpne. If there Is one thing for wlilch I am glad it Is that I have found u purpose which Involves not me alone, but all humanity." Reclaiming Salt Meadow. A tract ot about 10,000 acres ot salt meadow Is being reclaimed near Bridgeport, Connecticut. This work Is of special Interest because land of this kind abounds In large acreage all along the Northeastern Atlantic Coast. At present It produces noth ing but sslt hay, which scarcely more than pays for the labor of- harvesting. The Urge tract mentioned Is being reclaimed by construction of dykes to keep out the sea water. After the aalt water is shut off. the land begins to sweeten by natural process and the washing of rain. It Is thoroughly plowed and dressed with lime to help counteract the salt ami sourness. The engineer lu charge of the work haa reclaimed large tracts In the West and claims that the salt meadow near Bridgeport ean be made to pro duce big crops ot English hay and garden crop such as celery and as paragus. American Cultivator. In Germany It is still customary te plant fruit treeB along the highway. In the province ot Hguover there are 1918 miles of such roads, sloag wUfeh there ur 176,734 fruit tree.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers