icasHSBsasasasBsrasasBsasssai The Garo'sOath: i STRANGE TALE OF THE ASSAM HILLS. SHSHSraSEBHSaSESHSHKHSHSHS mi in W1M t- n) C. E. Oouldsbury, n Lite of the Indian n rollce. UJ asasasHsasas at? Tha author writes: ' Thla remarkable story i basac! on n iuciilent which 1b alwolulaly true. It was NhM to me hjr a brother offlror in vhnao dUtrlrt ttaa affair happened, unit who investigated the facta to hia official . -ity," Of all the curious races or mankind Oy whom the vast Empire of India is peopled there are few more strange or Interesting than the Garos of Assam. Living in the seclusion of their Isolated villages, scattered here and there amid the low, densely wooded hills which bear their name, (his strange, semi-savuge tribe of demon-worshipers have retained to this clay many of their primitive '.raits and superstitions. Amongst their extraordinary traditions, and 9ne that forms the subject of this :ale, is the belief that if a Garo tells i fa'sehood be will meet, with a sud len and violent death. So strictly !lo they adhere to this belief that a Garo, if required to take an oath, will solemnly say, ' May I be killed by a wild eophant it I do not speak the .ruth!" Many years ago there lived In one of the lonely villages above men tioned a Garo maiden remarkable for her beauty and fascination. Mtchnl. for so this village belle was named, was the daughter of a man af no importance, and poor withal, even for a Garo; but this In no way detracted from the number of her ad mirers, which included half the bach elor population of the village. Amongst them was her cousin Pembu, n good-looking, stalwart routh, who had lon"g loved her with all the fervor of his wild and ardent nature. The girl returned his love sr. ungrudgingly au It was bestowed, (or, added to his comely face and raanly bearing, Pembu was possessed of many other virtues calculated to win a savage maiden s heart. He rould shoot an arrow farther and .vlth truer aim than any youth or veteran In the village, and was, more aver, a bold and successful hunter, while in running, jumping, wrestling ind such like feats of strength there ivas none to equal him. But Pembu had a rival, r.nd a very langerous one -no less a person than the headman's son. Klshto, the youth In question, was one of the so-called "enlightened" type of Garo, an edu sated savage, despising his less-cultured brethren and holding in 00 r lempt the ancient traditions of his race. This man hail long cherished a Fe rret affection for the pretty Mlehni. and had once been rash enough to v declare his passion, an Indiscretion 'which cost him many hours of bodily pain and mental torture, for the girl aad complained to her lover, who, tnad with fury, had sought out the offender and administered so severe a castlgation that the wretched youth tvas laid up for a month. Nov Klsh lo, being of poor physique and of a cowardly disposition, dared not re taliate In kind, but none the less re lented the treatment he had received, and swore openly to be avenged. Though lacking physical strength and pluck, he was shrewd and running to a degree, and il was not long before he had devised a scheme which prom ised to give him the revenge he thirsted for, iad also the possession of the girl. Among the few friends he had In the village was a mean spirited creature like himself, a man who was also ill-disposed towards Pembu. Finding this individual ready und willing to aid him in his evil project. Klshto resolved to carry it out at once. A few paces from the hut where Pembu lived was one occupied by a money-lender, an old and feeble man. who lived alone By reason of he extortionate rate of interest he de manded he wat; not a very popular person in the village. One morning, shortly after Kishto and his accommodating friend had arranged their little scheme, a vil lager going to the old usurer's hut to reclaim some jewelry he had pledged, was horrined to iind him lying dead inside. At once he raised au outcry, and soon the whole village had col lected. Amongst the flrst to arrive upon the scene was the headman, who, by virtue of his position, was legally bound to hold an investiga tion. He ascertained that the old man had been stabbed through the heart, the motive for the crime being evidently plunder, for not a single coin or ornament was to be found in aide the hut. The murderer had left no clue of any kind behind him. and but for a suggestion made by the astute Klshto it is unlikely that any great effort .would have been made to trace him. The wily youth, who had evinced the keenest interest iu the proceed ings, now suggested that the huts of all persons living in the immediate vicinity should be searched. This suggestion was no sooner made than it was carried out, and, commencing with the nearest, the searchers rtached Pembu's hut, where, care fully concealed inside the thatching of the roof, was found a blood stained knife and two silver auklets. A deathlike silence greeted this dis covery, for Pembu was beloved by all, and none could believe him guilty of so cruel and dastardly an act as the murder of the old usurer. But appearances were certainly against him. The knife was undoubt edly his, the one he always used, made for him by his friend the vil lage smith; the aukjets, too, were recognised by two women present, who had pledged them with the money-lender a week or two before. It was a terrible position for the unfortunate youth. With such con vincing evidence of his guilt before their eyei, how was it possible for his friends to believe him innocent of the crime? It ta true be bad missed his knife some days bofore, but, unfor tunately, had made no mention of the fact ; and to do so now, he felt, was useless. Still, his was not a nature to be easily east down, and looking at the sea of faces pressing round him, with sorrow and sympathy depicted on them all. he was encouraged to make an effort. "My friends,'' he began. In a voice trembling with emotion, "I am not guilty of this crime. Why should I slay the poor old man. who baa never done me harm? It is true the knife that killed him belongs to me; It la useless to deny the fact, for it is well known to all of you. But how It came here is more than I ran say. It was stolen from me some days ago, and the man who stole it Is the mur derer. The anklets I know nothing of. I will not say more, for how is It possible for me to prove my Innocence to you? But you all know and re spect our ancient Garo oath, and I will repeat It In your presence." Then, In deep, solemu tones, he re peated the well-known words: ' May I be killed by a wild elephant if what I have said Is false!" As Pembu concluded this simple, manly speech a murmur of applause arose from the assembled multitude, and more than one voice was raised on his behalf. In spite of the terrible evidence agajnst him, there was now scarcely a man present who believed him guilty of the crime, more especially amongst the elders, the men on whose verdict his liberty, perhaps his life, depended. With all the traditions of their race still strong within thorn, these Garos of the older school dared not ignore a statement made on such an oath, and were about to pro nounce in favor of the youth when, at this critical moment, there was a sudden movement in the crowd, and u man. forcing his way through, called out that he had some im portant evidence to give. He said that on the previous night, SJ he was passing the old man's hut, he had seen Pembu come quickly out of It carrying something In his hand -a knife, it looked like. Finding himself discovered, he had run into the jungle. Concluding his state ment, the man swore to it on the customary oatli. In a moment the whole altitude of the people changed as If by magic. Here was conclusive evidence of Pembu's guilt, aggravated a hundred fold In their eyes by his sworn deniul of the crime. Some suggested that he should be stoned to death at once; others, that ho be bound nnd cast Into the jungle to be dealt with by the beast whose vengeance he had so audaciously invoked. For a time it seemed as if the last suggestion would be carried out at once; indeed, the headman and his colleagues found some dldicutty iu preventing it. However, the influence of the former finally prevailed, and after promising the Infuriated crowd that justice would lie done he gave orders for Pembu to be arrested. The next morning, with his arms tightly bound behind him, and es corted by a gang of his fellow vil lagers, with the exultant Klshto ut their head, the unhapy Pembu was sent Into Tura, the headquarters of the district, to stand his trial for the murder, The Journey was a long and peril ous one, through dense jungle Infest ed with wild elephants and danger ous beasts of every kind. For these children of nature, however, as wild and savage as the beasts themselves, these animals had no terrors. Fa mlllariiy had bred, if not contempt, at least indifference, and they gave no thought to the dangers that sur rounded i hem. Yet there was one amongst them visibly less callous than the rest. This man, when a herd of elephants had once crossed the path, had quailed and sought the shelter of a tree. His comrades, no ticing this. Jeered at him. but little they guessed the real cause of his alarm. The prisoner had noticed It too, and recognized iu the skulking wretch the man who had sworn false ly on the bacred oath; and a ray of light shot thioush Pembu's clouded brain as he remembered that this was tha friend of Klshto. whom he had so severely chastised, and who had sworn to be avenged' All that iiad seemed a mystery was made clear to him now. The stolen knife and the anklets concealed within his roof all was explained; the whole affair was a vile plot of Kishto's to bring about his ruin! But what availed this discovery to him now? How was he to prove his own innocence, much less place the re sponsibility for the crime on those he now knew wore guilty of It? It was true that he had heard that their white rulers at Tura were both merci ful and Just, but would they believe his unsupported word in the tace of such evidence as would be brought against Mm'.' No; it was impossible that they could! Theti his thoughts turned to Mlchnl, the brave, true hearted girl, who had stood by him throughout. What would be her fate, once In the power of his relentless rival? The very thought of her po sition was agony to him, aud, yielding to despair, he burst into a flood of tears. Traveling all day, the party arrived by nightfall at a small clearing in the forest, and decided to encamp there .for the night. They lost little time In preparations, but, making a hasty meal oft the provisions they had brought, secured their prisoner to a tree and laid theuisilves down to sleep. One of their uuniber, told off to guard the prisoner, watched by the Are awhile, but', tired und sleepy as the rest, he, too, was soon asleep. Pembu would fain have followed his example, but the palu of his bonds, added to the mental torture he en dured, kept him awake. He might easily have escaped; indeed, the Idea occurred to him but where was he to go? Hour after hour dragged wearily on; the Are, uncared for, had burnt slowly down, its dying embeis cast ing a faint and ghost-like light upon the scene. Save for the deep breath lug of the Bleeping men, there wa not a sound to break the silence ? the night, and the lonely prisoner, yielding to the Influence of his sur roundings, at last dropped oft to sleep. It was a curious sight, this group of unarmed, helpless men sleeping peacefully In that dense, trackless forest, all unmindful or the dangers that encompassed them all but one, who, preferring a safer spot, had se lected a small, grass-grown mound some six feet high. The night went by, and the flrst grey light of dawn was showing faint ly through the trees when suddenly a succession of sharp, clear notes, as of a trumpet sounding the alarm, broke the deathlike stillness. The sleepers started to their feet and lis tened. Again that dreaded sound was heard, now much nearer Then, ere the last note of It had ceased, u huge elephant emerged Into the open. With trunk upraised and ears pricked forward he paused awhile, trying to locate the spot when proceeded the scent he had detected. Then with a savage scream of rage h charged down upon the helpless group. But they had anticipated the attack and, before the furious beast could span the distance that divided them, had already gained the shelter of the trees. There was no one left but Pembu and the trembling wretch upon the mound. The former, lying bound and helpless within the shadow of the tree, remained unnoticed. Not so the other, who, paralyzed with fear, made no attempt to escape. Perched on the summit of the mound he was a conspicuous object, even in that uncertain light, and the infuri ated elephant sighted him at once. In a stride or two It had reached the mound, and, seizing the wretched mau with its trunk, dashed him to the ground, placed one huge foot upon his chest, and fairly tore him to pieces, limb by limb! His comrades, watching the awful spectacle from their retreat, were powerless to assist him, and it was not until the savage beast had completed its ghastly work and moved away that they ventured to come out. Tho sight they then beheld was one to fill the stoutest heart with ter ror, for there at their feet lay all that was left of their late comrade a shupeless mass of tlesh und broken bones. They gazed at the terrible spectacle In speechless horror; then one of them pointed to the prisoner, still lying where they had left him, but unharmed! The others read his meaning In the gesture, and won dered, too, why he of all others had been spared the murderer and vio lator of the sacred oath, who had so well merited the vengeance of the dreaded beast. Klshto wondered, too. but for many different reasons reasons which filled hlni with dire alarm, despite his vaunted scepticism and contempt for the traditions of his race. The incident had wrought au extraordinary change in the man. He was no longer mindful of the prisoner, but, starting at ever) rustle of it leaf, looked anxiously around, as it expecting the elephant to return and claim another victim. His com panions could not but notice this sud den change, but attributed it to the tragic death of his friend. Collecting their belongings they unfastened Pembu from the tree and all proceed ed on their way.' By midday they arrived at Tura and took the prisoner to the court. Kishto, who bythistlme had regained his ordinary composure, was now di rected to state his case. Refusing with scorn to take the Garo oath, he was sworn in the ordinary way and proceeded with his tale. He told his story well until he reached the in cident In the clearing, but here he faltered aud seemed unable to pro ceed. Looking helplessly around the court, his eye fell on the prisoner gazing at him accusingly; In an in stant tht expression of his face changed, aud, apparently obeying a sudden Impulse, he threw himself at the magistrate's feet aud begged to be forgiven. Then rising to his knees ho placed his hands together, and iu this humble posture related the true story of the crime. He told how he and his friend had planned the murder, and how the latter had stabbed the old mun, while he slept, with Pembu's kulfc, which they had previously secured. They had concealed it and the anklets In tho roof of Pembu's hut, aud then falsely accused him of the murder. Thoy would have sworn away his life but for tho vengeance of the gods, which had so promptly overtaken his accomplice. Kishto then went on to describe the terrible sceue be had witnessed iu the foreBt. and how the recollection of it had haunted him, and ultimately forced him to confess the share he had taken iu the crime. Trembling, he paused awhile; then, as If impelled by some feeling he was powerless to resist, he repeated the ancient oath he had just so scorn fully rejected, Pembu and his sweetheart were duly wedded, while the villainous Klshto was hanged tor the murder of the old money-lender. And lu that little village amid the forest-clad bills the Garo's oath is held more sacred than ever. -The Wide World Magazine. How Orphans Are Prepared For Farm Homes. Cat's Tail in ( oart. The question whether the tip of a chinchilla Persian cat's tall was Bluged or cut again occupied Mr. Jus tice Kennedy and a special jury all day yesterday. Mrs. lsobel Wilson, owner of the cat, stales that the tall was singed by accident while the animal was romping before the fire. She sues to recover damages for alleged slander aud libel from Mr. T. U. Mason, of Bradford, a judge at cat shows. TJie allegations are la connection with the Bouthern Counties Cat Club 8how at Bath, where Mr. Mason disqualified the cat, und the Northern Counties Cat Club Show at Manchester last January. Tho cat which caused the trouble Is known aa "Evelyn of Arua dale," and the indorsement was at tached to her. "Disqualified cut tall." -London Daily Mail. Pennsylvania Parentless Boys and Girls Made Self Supporting and Sent Into the World Trained to Lives o Usefulness. :-: :-: :-: i, wikslow rtkoubv. Where an average crop of 350 bushels of wheat, 50 bushelt of rye, 300 bushels of oats, 600 bushels of rorn, 500 bushels of potatoes, f0 bushels of grapes, 125 bushels of tur nips, 25 bushels of beets, 100 bush els of string beans, fiO tons of hay. 1000 head of cabbage, 2000 stalks of celery, 2500 bushels of apples, 50 bushels of cherries and lots of other fruits Is raised annually, there Is am ple evidence that orphan children can rttn a farm. At Bethany Orphans' Homo the larger boys and girls of the 135 in mates run a farm of about ninety acres successfully. From the fruits of their toll they live and at the same time receive that physical exer cise which has kept them the health iest boys and girls lu the State. A broad assertion, but for tho last twenty-five years there has been practi rally no Illness at this place, and the slight attacks were such as whoop ing rough or heavy colds. Epidemics are kept away by that watchword "cleanliness" and by theexerclse they get on the farm in the open air. Their farming experience starts early. The little boys begin with gardening when they are blx. when they leArn how to grow flowers in a garden of their own. When thoy get a year older and a little stronger they accompany an elder boy who has charge of one of the farm teams to one of the fields, and they begin to pick stones, learning that to raise good crops the ground on the surface ut least must be free of stones. I Another group at this stage begin I to learn tho ins and outB of the poul try business. Here they are allowed to construct miniature poultry plants of their own, and tho profits they de rive they are allowed to keep. They have poultry houses of evory descrip tion imaginable. Some of them are not larger than n large dry goods box, others are from sk to eight feet iu diameter, with a height of ten feet. Usually two of the boys club together and form a partnership and raise chickens and pigeons. It Is surpilsing what, success they make out of it. They pay close attention to their stock, and by the end of the year they are always on the credit side of the ledger account. This teaches them to bo careful business poultry men, and not a few have gone from Womclsdorf, Pa., and have become practical poultry farmers, and have not been afraid nor ashamed to ac knowledge that they obtained the first principles at Bethany Orphan Home Farm. Where 135 orphans are at home there Is always plenty of work, and the space required for their welfare has to be commodious. Tho trustees af the institution lately decided that It was necessary to erect another building for the welfare of the little folk, from the ages of five to eight years. This meuns work for the little farmer boys. In tho Ilrst place, It gave them a way to clear a largo tract of laud thoy had long contem plated clearing. The land was lately forest land and was full of roots and stumps. They, however, saw tho practical end of tho matter and fig ured If they cleared the land of, the stumps everything removed from the tract would be useful. They wont to work with a vim. One of the elder boys was put In charge of several dozen younger boys with a stump puller. "Yep," he cried, and all hands wore at the stump-puller, carrying It over a big stump. An other command, aud dozens of bauds were outstretched und, with another yell of "Yep!" the levers came down with a mighty pull und the slunip slowly but surely asceuded. In this wanner those industrious farmer boys teared a largo tract of lund. The stumps thoy hauled off and formed a stump fence. They say this fence will last twenty-five velars, and then '.he stumps can still be used for fuel purposes. The stones they dug out if this tract were used for tho foun dation walls of the new cottage to bo 'ised by the little oues. Fiuully the reward was apparent; they would Save a clear piece of land upon which '.hey could raise good crops; und how lellghted those boys were that tboir farm was increased by at least four ar five acres! Iu the same mauner l cut down the giant trees stand ing on the oth,er side of the present buildings upon which the new build ing Is to be erected. Tho larger logs they huuled to the sawmill, or they liade beams out of them to be used in the construction of the new build ing. They are fearless little toilers, aud never seem to get tlrod of their work. They love gardening, and the lar.ge garden they keep in a systematic order, where each one of the boys has a certain duty assigned. One does this and the other something else. Three little boys ure known us chick en minders. They do nothing except watch that none of the chickens got into the gardeu. Another trio are the weeders, and they keep the weeds out of the respective parts of tho gar den assigned to them. Another group does the planting. Another attends to the drainage and watering of the plants. Others do the hoolng. and the girls come In to do the gathering of the vegetables and prepare them ready to be put on the table. The i ..in buildings are complete In every respect. Tho bam is large and commodious, and is equipped with all the Improvemonts. The in terior is handily arranged. The boys know how to care for their cattle, und they keep them nice and clean, iThe horses are always well curried. What does such an army of little busybodies do in winter time? Lots of work, to be sure! They have their own school on the premises, where . V . 1 . - a , iuoj UdID nvuuui It'll IUUliaH UL I lie year. The school day Is divided into two periods. One of those Is granted to them as a recess period, and the smaller boys devote this period to play, while the larger boys devote tho time to work. In summer and fall they do Held work, such as plow ing and harrowing, sowing and corn husking, while In winter this period is devoted to sewing. Boys sewing" Surely, and how grandly they do it, too! Under the charge of an ex perienced teacher, both the boys apd girls learn to sew. They enter the sewing room at the age of seven years, when they begin work at darn ing stockings, which they are able to do within a few weeks. After they have been In tho sowing-room for at least a year they are able to mend all their own clothes, and by the time thoy leave the home, at the ago ol eighteen, thoy are expert little tail ors, able to do oil kinds of sewing The girls are also started on darning stockings, but before they leave the institution thoy are able to do any kind nnd all kinds of needlework. They make their own bedclothes, their own garment and do lots of fancy work, which they dispose of at special sales held on their annivers ary day, which generally comes iu August. The money thoy derive from this work goes to the treasury, and it all will be used for their own wel fare. Tho boys have tholr own carpenter shop on the farm, and when a little accident happens to any farming ma chinery they are able to flt It correct ly without Incurring any expense. The girls not only do the milking on this farm, but they do a great deal of outdoor work. During the vegetable season In summer time they also work In the gardens and in the fields. One little band of girls it known as the "bean pickers," and every other morning, when beans are in season, they go off to the fields with their baskets and pick the beans They come back merrily singlnc church songs and empty the beans sc gathered in tho kitchen, where two or three dozen other girls sit around the bean pile and pull off the strings. They are also trained in tho vari ous household duties that would come to tho lot of a farmer's wife. They are taught to keep their rooms and buildings in perfect cleanliness. One little group of workers is known as the house cleaning party, consisting of about fourteen girls, who art equipped with burkets, brushes, soap pulnt, rugs nnd scrub rags, and then thoy march forth to their respective rooms with stcpladdera and go tc work. They clean tho walls, floor; and ceilings thoroughly, and clear the furniture. Their work is In spected by an overseer, and if sh finds the work satisfactory the clean ers can go on tholr way rejoicing; il not, they have to do the work ovei again. In this way they learn lessons of good housekeeping nnd become trained in the household duties thai are indispensable on tho well-planned farm of to-day. In tho same way those girls clean tho carpets, which they take from the rooms and spread upon the lawn and beat with stick until thoy arc perfectly clean. Before tho average girl loaves the Bethany Farm she has learned to be a first-class cook, and knows how tc bake besides. Every girl has to bo come before she is eighteen years of age au expert in tho line of cooking, which she learns from a woman at tendant who Is constantly iu charge of the cooking-room, and teaches thorn how to do the work right. In this same manner they are taught tc bake good bread und pastry, all es seutial things not to bo despised oo tho average American farm. There is no laziness at this farm, whore boys and girls work togethet so willingly. They begin their day'e work at 5 o'clock in the morning when thoy rise, wash themselves, aud go to the chapel to say their prayers. After breakfast, which soon follows, they go to tholr respective work, and if it is vacation they work uutil 11.30 o'clock. The afternoon period lasts until 5 p. in. If tho work Is all finished that they were expected to do the ovening hours are free to themselves. Should tho jobs have not been completed, they are usually finished after tho supper hour. In the winter a couple of hours are de voted to preparing their lessons. Their schooling is of tho very best, und when those practical young furui ers go away from Bethany they not only know how to cultivate the soil, but they have become proficient in nil the branches required for them to be uble to enter aortnul or trade schools, while others are able to pass successfully examinations which on tltlo them to teach in the public schools of tho State. When they are eighteen years of ago thoy are free to go out into the world and make tholr own liviug. Tho good character they have ob talued while In tho institution, their manual tralniug und the honesty of purpose they have acquired have fitted them so well for the duties of life that the cases are few aud far between whero Bethany boyB and girls make no success of life. One other thing before closing Ibis article about the orphan farmers Is that they are able to leave with a good moral training. Their religiouB llfo has not been neglected while here. They aro fortified against the wicked world by a large number of teachers and by the Kev. Mr. More and his wlte, tho superintendent and matron. They have regular services and Sunday-school on the premises, aud they are taught the Word of Ood while they are still young, as they have to aay their prayers before par taking of their meals and before they lay their weary bodies dowu to rest at night. This training has not been in vain, as some of those who have gone from this place have become good preach ers aud reformers in other work, while others have become leaders in society us well as !n the various pro fessions of life New York Tribune,' A Legend of Ireland. ny bolton ham,. There was a King In Bllligoland In the old days that had three sons, and fine lusty fellows thoy were. Now, one day tho three fell disputing as to which of them should be king when tholr father was dead; and from words they came to blows, till they wero all black and blue. After they had hammorf d tho fight out of one another, thoy agreed to leave tho matter to their father. But the old man bad seen before how referees fare at the baseball games, and he would not decide; so they fell to fighting again till thoy had hammered some sense Into one another, and then agreed that each was to go his way for three years and learn what business he liked, and when they should return the father was to try them, and the best man was to have tho Kingdom After three years they met agaiu. nnd tho father said to the youngest. "What have you learned?" And he said, "I've learned to he a farmer." "Lot's see you raise two crops for your brothers," said the King. So ho raised two crops with half tho la bor aud twice the produce as any man's in Ireland. "Very good!" said the King. "You have the difference for your reward. " "And what havo you learned?" he said to the second. "I've learned to be a carpenter." "Let's see you make two houses for your brothers.'' said the King. So he made two houses half as dear and twice as good ur any man's In Ireland. "Very good," said tho King. "Yon have the difference for your reward; but If your brother Is as good as you two. I can't decide after all." "And what have you learned, " he said to tho oldest. "I've learned t. be a landlord," ho said. "Let's see you make two leases for your broth crs." said tho King. So he made two leases, nnd hr raised the rents twice as much nnd made the plots half as Mg as any man's in Ireland. "Faith." said the old man, "Now I don't have to decide at all. for you're the King already." Puck. The Proper Pilling. T,o the girl who doe not longer care V In loneliness to linger. Why, even a "tilled' gold ring looks fais If filled with her third finger. Nixon Wutrrman, in Nundav Magaxine. j Can t Help It. Patience "Are they close friends?" Patrice "f should say so! They live in the same flat!" Yonkera Statesman. Offered Funeral Expenses. He "I told your father I couldn't live without you?" She "And what did ho say?" He "Offered to pay my funeral expenses "Ally Sloper's. No Handicap. "What are your prospects, young man?" asked the cautious father. "Fine," replied the confident yonth. "I am neither an English duke ror a French count." Cleveland Press. The Only Way. "How do you like your hair cut?" asked the barber, who was anxious" to please. "Off." replied the customer, who was a mau of few words. Cleveland Press. Expected It. I Mrs. Jimmy "Did you see my sun I hurst yesterday?" Mrs. Kidder "No, but I knew he would If ho ate any more of that tur key and mince pie." Cleveland Leuder. boadou'a Ilenltli. During the year 190."., compared with the decennium 1891-1900, then has been a saving of 19,584 lives, rep resenting a gain to the community of 757,010 years of life capital. There has been a continued fall In tho Lon don death rate, which is now nearly thirty per cent, lower than at the coming Inlo operation of tho Public Health (London) act. 1891. Out of a population of 4,081,794 the acluul number of deaths during the year was 70.442, or 15.1 per 1000. In 1841-30 the rate was 24.8, and in 1S91 17.1. Boih marriage and birth rates of London are decreasing, touching the lowest on record in 1905. The death rate from consumption is one-hair that of forty years ago. A agancy census taken on the night of February 17 revculed 1S69 men and 312 women sleeping In the streots. in staircases or under arches. On tho same night. 23,690 persons slept in common lodging houses und shelters. . It Is exceptional to find children who use a tooth brush. Among 1000 children were found two who did. Newsboys are the healthiest of boy workers, barbers" boys the most un healthy. From the Medical Officer's Report. I i -ili Satisfied. "Notoriety Is dearer than anything else to that man." "Yes. He's all puffed up for an hour If ho happens to see his name in the city directory." Philadelphia, Lodger. Incomprehensible. Willie "What does mommer mean by Bernard Shaw and Henry James, pop?" His Father "Hush, my son! You're not old enough to understand such things." Puck. Hustle Wit. S , Pedestrian "Can I get through the gate, my man?" Countrymun "I dare say you could. I saw a load of hay go through this morning." Moonshine. Life History of the pel. The mystery which has so long t'hrouded certain important facts in the life history of tho eel are being gradually cleared up. It is now some time since a group of small-headed transparent and ribbon-shaped fish, named by naturalists Leptocephaliu, wero identified as the young of vari ous species of eel. Among these Ital ian naturalists recoguized the one named Leptocephulus brevirostris as the young of the common cel. It was further determined that eels spawn In the Mediterranean lu comparative ly deep and warm water. The most recent Information as to the spawn iug place of tho eel is to be found lu the journal of the Marine Biological Association. Drs. Schmidt aud Peter sen, of the fntoruutiouul Fisheries In vestigation Association, have found quantities of "Leptocephair." or young eels. In the depths of the At lantic. They conclude that eel? spawn in deep and relatively warm water northwest and west of Scot laud. Spreading Herself. "Bridget, we are to have company for dinner to-morrow, and I do hope you'll spread yourself?" "Never fear, ma'am; and if I can find a hoopsklrt I'll put that on, too!" Yonkers Statesman. Possibilities. "It is a pity they can't equip de tective departments with automo biles." "What good would that do?" "Then they could run people down easily." Baltimore American. No, Indeed. Church "Do you suppose they'll ever have women on the police force?" Gotham "Never; couldn't possibly get 'em to appear as plain-clothe women!" Yonkers Statesman. Ynt Lovelorn. ".Tohnny, do you love your teach er?" "Naw." "Why, I'm astonished." "Aw, what's the use? She's turned down Blx boys." Courier-Journal. Free Alcohol Stimulates Agriculture. Although the t'nlted States Is a i vastly larger country than Germany, I we raised a potato crop In 1905 of only 200,741,294 bushels, as com pared with tho potuto crop of 1,775, 579,073 bushels which Germany raised. These bushels were of sixty pounds each. The explanation of so immense a production of potatoes by Germany is found in the fact that the free distll latiou of alcohol for use In the arts has been u powerful stimulus to farm Industry . Farming in some districts of the empire has been made possible only because of the ability of the peo ple to produce cheap alcohol, and many farms owe their very existence to their distilleries. Not only has free alcohol been a stimulus to ugrlculture, but it has been of iucalculable value in many lines of commercial development, and has added greatly in raising Germany to her present Industrial station. Boston Globe. His Had Memory. Mr. Crlmsonbeak "When I was a boy in Bchool I was always forgetting my letters." Mrs. Crlmsonbeak "And now yon are a married man, you're always for getting mine!" Yonkors Statesman. The Bosnian ltousting Jack. A curious variety of the old-fashioned roasting Jack is used by the1 peasants of Bosnia and Herzegovina when roasting sheep whole, us on the occasion of a wedding ceremony. One often sees, near a running stream; a long pole having one end revolving freely lu a socketed peg, while the .other, overhanging the water, is equipped with miniature paddles. This Is the Bosnian roasting Jack. The sheep to bo cooked is impaled on the log, a fire is lit underneath, and while the current spins the pad dles and the pole mbrrily round the big joint is cooked literally to a turn. -Wide World Magaxlue. His Experience. "After all," said tho philosopher, "the real joy of a thing is in the an ticipation of it." "Well," replied Heupeck, "If there's any joy in matrimony that must be it." Catholic Standard and Times. Football Experience. "Education enables a man to make his way In the world." "Yes," answered the man who al ways sneers; "there Is no doubt that a little football experience helps out on a crowded street car." Washing ton Star. Pleasure by Authority. Hostess "Goodbye, darling. So sorry nurse has come for you. I hope you and Monty hare enjoyed your selves?" Darling "Thank you. Mother saya wo'ye enjoyed ourselves vary much.". Punch. - '' , , MitrMsl PUugs. "I had men kneeling at my feet before I ever met you," she remarked as a aort of climax to their spat "Yes?" be responded, with the suggestion of a sneer. "Hard luck for me all those shoe clerks were married or mere kids, wasn't it?" Of course, this spoiled tha climax, for tho end was not yet Philadel phia Ledger.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers