LIFE. Com, tvteV with m this little vagrant rill. Wandering iu wild course from the mountain's brcsst. Now with a hrink fantastic, heather-drest, And playing with the stooping flowers at will: Now moving scarce, with noiseless step and till ; AnoUf it seem to weary of its , And hurries on, leaping with sparkling zest Adown the ledge o( the broken hill. 80 let it lire, la not the life well spent Whirh lores the lot that kindly nature weaves Kor all inheriting or adorning earth Which throws light pleasure over true content, Blossoms with fnutngc, flowers as well as leaves, And sweetens wi.nloui with a taste ot mirth. -Thomas Doubleday. S5 A CONTEST WEATHER WITH THE BUREAU. Q 8 Wav ft By F. E. C. The young man in the linen suit, After attending to the slight errand that had brought him to Lufkln's store at Hardback Corner, lingered for a little chat with the proprietor, who looked as if he might be a "char acter. " As the visitor had approached the store ho had soon a letter carrier driving away from It, and this fact suggested a conversational opening that has oomo to be a favorite with the summer visitor. "This rural free delivery Is a great Institution," ho began, graciously. But be perceived at onco that ho had made a mistake. The reply elic ited was In Itself noncommittal. " Mebbo 'tis and mebbe 'tain't." But the scorn that tho old storekeeper continued to throw into his tone left no doubt as to his attitude toward this innovation In country life. For more than thirty years Moses Lufkin had been the postmaster at Hardback Corner. The salary had not been large, but, as he had often been heard to say, tho honor was something. Besides, as "trade fol lows tho flag," so does It come to the store in which the Government post office Is domiciled. Furthermore, in the little gather ings of farmers who came for mall and remained for conversation, Mr. Lufkin had been something of an oracle. But now all this was changed. The postofflce had been abolished, trade bad fallen off somewhat, and worst of all, tho ex-postmaster's authority, even In that special subject which he had made a lifelong study, was no longer unquestioned. No wonder ho could not be rouBed to enthusiasm over tho blessing of rural free deliv ery! Perceiving this, the young man hastened to change the subject, se lecting a topic this time that is sup posed to bo safe on all occasions. "Ah, I Bee that we are likely to have another fine day to-morrow," he said, glancing nt a thin sheet of paper lying on the counter. "Woy, if we do, it won't bo because thai thing says so," returned the old gentleman, as testily as before. "I verily believe there's been more hay sp'ed In this vicinity since that rural carrier began to bring those predic tions than there had been before, for I don't know how long. Why, If I'd made as many mistakes in twenty years as tho Gover'nient has in two, I'd have given up trying altogether!" "Indeed! I Judge then, that you are something of an expert yourself In forecasting the weather." "Well, I ought to be. I've been studying it for going on forty years." "It is certainly quito a study," said the young man. "At any rate, I havo found It so." Then, answering a look of Inquiry, he added, "You see, I'm In the weath er busiuess myself to some extent. I am an assistant observer of the Weather Bureau." "What! You help got up those Gover'ment predictions? "Iu a way, yes." The old man stared for a moment at this embodiment of wha: had been to him hitherto only an impersonal rival. "What may I call your name'.'" he asked. "Dole. Clarence Dole, at your ser vice. Hero 1b my card. I am taking a little vacation, and am staying at Mr. Blake's, on the hill." "How long are you going to stay in theso parts?" demanded Mr. Luf kin, with Interest. "About two weeks, I think." "I want to know! Well, now, I suppose you're laughing in your sleeve at my sotting up to be a better weath er prophet than tho Gover'ment. But I'd like to put tho thing to a test with ye, and I'll tell ye what I'll do. I'll write out ray predictions every day before the Gover'ment's gets along, and I'll stick 'em up side by side on the wall. Then you and I'll keep tally ho-v they come out. Do you dare to tiy It?" Mr. Dole replied good-naturedly that he would be glad to watch the result; and without attempting any new lines of conversation, he quickly took his leave; I "Who is that gentleman going down the road, grandpa?" called a voice a moment later. The old man's stern face lighted up with pleasure at sight of the young lady standing in the doorway, but he answered curtly enough: "Ob, It's a young chap that's boarding at Blako'B Dole, he says his namo is. Claims to bo a weather Observer for the Gover'ment." "Mr. Dole of the Weather Bureau! Why, I know him," said the young lady. "He attends our church In the city. He Is a very pleasant young man." "He Is pleasant-spoken enough," ad mitted her grandfather, "but I know what ho thinks. He thinks an old cedger like mo can't foretell weather, but I'm just going to 3how him his mistake. " For the next two weeks Mr. Lufkin devoted himself to his task with an absorption characteristic Of the spe cialist. Every day the rival forecasts wore placed conspicuously on that wall, and every day Mr. Dole, accord ing to his promise, called to compare them, and to discuss the degree of fulfilment of those of the day be fore, after which it became quite a habit of his to make a social call at the storekeeper's pleasant house near The news of the contest also spread among the neighbors, with the result that visits to he storo became almost aa much a matter of course as In the old days of coming for toe mall. For a week or so the honors were about even. Indeed, the rival fore casts were quite similar in substance, although worded differently, as Mr. Lufkin scorned to imitate the phrase ology of the Weather Bureau. But at li t an Issue was fairly joined. Wednesday afternoon the narrow slip of paper emanating from the Weather Bureau bore In modest type this prediction: "Increasing cloudiness Thursday, with light rain In the afternoon or night," while beside It on the wall might be seen the announcement, scrawled in red chalk, "A little hazy to-morrow morning, but It will burn off, and be a toler'ble warm day." On Thursday morning the sun rose very clear and then within two hours went into a cloud, which was a bad sign. It sprinkled a little by 9 o'clock a "drought Bhower," Mr. Lufkin called It. But an hour later the sun was again shining brightly, and for the rest of the day there was an almost cloudless sky. It was warm, too. There was no room for controversy. The weather prophet of Hardhack Corner had scored a success, and the "Gover'ment" was beaten. Mr. Lufkin was not only gratified, but considerably emboldened by his success. A neighborhood picnic to take place on a small island in Long Pond had been plnnned for Saturday, but on Friday the native prophet shook,hls head ominously. "I rather calculate that picnic will have to be put off," he said. And ear ly In the afternoon he seized his red chalk, and wrote in flaming charac ters: Look out for thunder showers and high wind to-morrow. The report from the Weather Bu reau, arriving a little later, merely said: Fair and warmer Saturday. This left the community somewhat In doubt, although the young people, who were especially Interested in the picnic, were inclined to believe that "Uncle Lufkin was a little off that time." This opinion was strength ened the next morning, for never did dawning day give fairer promise of good behavior. "Do you really believe, Grandpa, that there Is any danger of showers?" asked Fannie, pausing Irresolutely in her task of filling her lunch-basket. "Now, Fannie," broke in her grandmother, impatiently, "don't you mind a word that your grandpa says. It doeB seem as if he had gone clean daft about tho weather.' It's going to be as nice a day as heart could wish. Of course you will go to the picnic. All the folks will. I declare, I'd go myself If I wasn't so lame." The old gentleman, thus discred ited In his own house, started oft in decided 111 humor, and shut himself up in his deserted store, out of sight If not out of hearing of the merry party that soon passed by. "I wish It would rain pitchforks and blow great guns!" he muttered, aB he went outside late In the fore noon and caBt a searching look at the sky. "No, I don't, either!" he de clared the next minute, iu a tone of repentance. "I hopo they will have a first-rate good day, and 1 guess they will, fast enough." In this better mood he seated him self on a much-whittled bench just outside the door, and was soon peace fully engaged In the never-railing oc cupation of the aged living over by gone days. He was Just on the point of falling Into a nap when his grand daughter's voice roused him. "Grandpa! Grandpa!" came the pleasant voice again. "Why, Fannie!" he exclaimed, his eyes blinking In the Bunllght. "I supposed you were at the picnic." "Oh, no, grandpa! I didn't quite like to take the risk against your advice, and so I concluded not to go," said tho young lady, demurely. "What, you here, too, Mr. Dole!" cried the storekeeper, in fresh won der, as ho became conscious of an other figure a little in the back ground. "YeB. I thought I'd better not go. either," returned the young man, in a very respectful tone. This handsome recognition nf hU standing: as a weather tironhet wns decidedly soothing to the old gentle- urn u s priae. -wen, its generally safest to follow my advice," be ad mitted, "but 1 guess I missed my cal culations for once. The fact Is, all signs fall In a dry time. Dinner ready, did you say, Fauule? Well, I'll go right In. And you must come, loo, Mr. Djle, and have a bite with us." Tho invitation was accepted, and tho simple 12 o'clock dinner finally assumed quite tho proportions of a banquet, at least so far as time was concerned. Tho chief topic of conversation was, of course, the weather, and the local prophet listened, at first with tolerance, and finally with keen in terest, while his guost expounded the melhodB of the Weather Bureau. So absorbed did the little company become In the talk that no one no ticed the lapse of time until darkness began to steal upon them. Then Grandmother Lufkin, mindful of household duties, peered anxiously through her spectacles at the face, ot the tall clock In the corner, while her husband sprung up from the table and hastened to the window. "There's a shower coming, true as I live! " he declared, In a yolco pitched to Its highest key. As a matter of fact, the shower, when It arrived, proved to be a rather imiall affair, but it served to justify Mr. Luf kin's (request "I told you tip," and to establish more completely than ever his confidence In his fore casting ability. In that confidence he still Abides. "I've got a grandson," he is wont to say, "or grandson-ln-law, I snppose you'd call him, that's connected with the Govr'ment. He works In the Weather Bureau, helping get up those predictions. Well, It's quite a science; and taking the country, by and large, It's amazing how well they hit It. But when It comes to predict ing for just Hardhack Corner and vi cinity, my grandson has to own up that the Gover'ment can't hold a candle to me." Youth's Companion. CONFIDENCES OF A CONFIDENCE MAN. OUR DISAPPEARING TIMBER. Three Times as Much Used Each Vent as the Forest Grows. Every person In the United Btates Is using over six times as much wood as he would use If he were in Europe. The country, as a whole, consumes every year between three and four times more wood than all of the for ests of the United States grow In the mean time. The average acre of for est lays up a store of only ten cubic feet annually, whereas It ought to be laying up at least thirty cubic feet in order to furnish the products taken out of It. Since 1880 more than 700,000,000,000 feet of timber have been cut for lumber alone, Including 80,000,000,000 feet ot coniferous timber in excess of the total conifer ous stumpage estimate of the census of 1880. Those are some of the remarkable statements made In Circular 97 ot tho Forest Service, which deals with the timber supplyof the United States and reviews the stumpago estimates made by all the Important authori ties. A study of the circular must lead directly to the conclusion that the rate at which forest, products in the United States have been and are being consumed Is far too lavish, and that only one result can follow unless steps are promptly taken to prevent waste In uso and to Increase the growth rato of every acre of forest in the United States. This result la a timber famine. This country la to-day In the same position with re gard to forest resources as was Ger many one hundred and fifty yeara ago. During this period ot one hun dred and fifty years such German States as Saxony and Prussia, partic ularly the latter, have appllod a policy of Government control and regulation which has Immensely increased the productivity of their forests. The same policy will achieve even better results in the United States, because we havo the advantage of all the les sons Europe has learned and paid for in .the course of a century of the ory and practice. Lest It might be assumed that the rapid and gaining depletion of Amer ican forest resources Is sufficiently accounted for by the Increase of pop ulation, it 1b pointed out in the circu lar that the increase in population since 1880 is barely more than halt the increase in lumber cut In the same period. Two areas supplying timber have already reached and passed their maximum production the Northeastern States In 1870 and the Lake States in 1890. To-day the Southern States, which cut yellow pine amounting to one-third the total annual lumber cut of the country, are undoubtedly near their maximum. The Pacific States will soon take the ascendency. The State of Washing ton, within a few years has come to the front, and now ranks first of all individual Slates in volume of cut. At present but one-fifth ot the total forest area of the United States is embraced in National forests. The remaining four-fifths have already passed or are most likely to pass Into private hands. Tho average age of the trees felled for lumber this year is not less than ono hundred and fifty years. In other words, if he is to secure a second crop of trees of tho name size, the lumberman or private forest owner must wait, say, at least one hundred years for the second crop io grow. As a rule, such long time investments as this wait ing would Involve do not commend themselves to business men who arc accustomed to- quick returns. But the States and the Nation can look much further abead. The larger, then, the area of National and State control over woodlands, the greater Is the likelihood that tho forests of tho country will be kopt permanently productive. Names of Days. Our names for each day are de rived from the Saxons, who probably borrowed the week from some East ern people, substituting names of their own divinities for those of the classical gods, as Is easily seen when tho names are tabulated: IyV, Saxon. English. Dies Soils Sun's day Sunday Dies Lunae Moon's day Monday Dies Martis. . . ..Tiw's day Tuesdav Dies Merculi.... Woden's day. ..Wednesday Dies Juvis Thor's day Thursduy Dies Veneris. . . . Friga's day Friday Dies Batumi Baterne's day Saturday Among the ancients the belief in the Influence ot the planets upon the life of men was so strong that many In selecting their dally ornaments would wear only the gem associated with the planet of the day. Thus on Sunday only yellow gems and gold Bhould adorn the fingers. Pearls and white stones, excepting diamonds, be longed to the Moon Day. Tuesday, day of Mars, claimed rubles and all stones of fiery lustre. Thursday, Thor's Day, demanded amethysts and deep colored stones of Bangulne tint, while Friday, dominated by Venus, reigned over the emerald, color of Jealousy, which Is love's shadow. Saturday, dedicated to Saturn, the oldest ot the gods, had for Its distinc tive talisman the most . ili n-" 1 of all gems, tho diamond. Chicago Record-Herald. The Scotchman's Great View. Two smart young men from Lon don once came upon a respectable looking shepherd in Scotland, and ac costed him with: "You have a very" fine view here you can see a great way." "Ay, ay, a ferry great way." "Ah, you can see America here, I suppose?" "Farrar than that." "How is that?" "Yu jist wait tula the mists gang awa' and you'll sea! the muae,'WA,rgona.ut. When T sit down with pencil and p. !, ' and Jot down the amounts I've made during the pasfyear In my pro fession as a confidence man, the total staggers me. What have I done with ItT I have squandered money like a prince and borrowed It a week later like a beggar. I have missed my breakfast In order to "skin" a green horn of $700 and lost It all before I got my lunch. I have helped a stran ger unload $10,000 In a "framed up" poker game . and then gone around the corner and lost the whole roll bucking another poker game. There is one thing I'm sure of I'm smart enough to get another man's money, but I'm not smart enough to keep It. I saw In a paper the other day a list of the salaries they pay to Con gressmen, members of the Cabinet, Supreme Court Justices, Governors and a lot of those big guns. I mako more than any of them, and I haven't a cent when the notice comes up from the office to pay the room rent or move. It's always so with bunko men. While he Is framing up a game that will "skin" other "suckers," somebody else has a game waiting that will "skin" him. Why, back In Chicago, where we used to work the crooked faro dodge on every stranger we caught loitering around a hotel, there was an Oreeon gambler who ran a faro game on Wa bash avenue exclusively for bunko I men. That's a fact. He had a big 1 play, too, and went to Europe on his profits. Every night you'd see the "con" men line up around his fnro j table and go ngnlnst the same game In which they had trimmed the yok- els earlier in the evening. It was a private game and none but "con" men and crooks had the entree. No- body seemed to think It strange, and I we lost our money about as regularly as we made It. Of course, wo didn't j always lose the first night, but It was i only a matter of time. There are no faro games in San I Francisco, but craps, poker and tho races do Just as well, and keep the . gang hunting fresh marks without any let-up. Not very long ago I j made half of $700 and lost it before I had the price of a lunch out of it. j It happened this way: My partner and I picked up a fel low In a place on O'FarrclI street who was anxious to beat tho races. We ! were ready to help him. My pal told I hint he knew a horseman who had something good coming off In a few I days, and introduced mo as the man. I I was offish and didn't want to have anything to do with outsiders, but finally, after the stranger had bought a, dinner for all of us, I warmed a little to him and agreed that I would let him In on the deal. "We'll make no mistakes," said I, when It had been agreed that our host was to be a party to the clean up. "My horse worked the three quarters in thirteen flat this morn ing, and there isn't a thing in the race that ever did better than four teen and a half. But I'm taking no chances." Here I leaned over toward them, looking around cnutlously, as if afraid of being overheard and low ered my voice. "I've got an electric boot," I whis pered, "nnd I'll win that race if I have to turn my nag Into a dynamo to do it." Our Intended was properly Im pressed, and we made a date for the following morning, when I was to have tho electric boot in evidence. I had to borrow $25 from the own er of the poker game where I usually lost my money to buy tho boot the first thing In tho morning. I was up bright and early ond bought the boot and spurs. Inside was as pretty a little battery as you ever saw. It seemed a shame that the boot was not to be used. My man showed up, prompt to the minute, and I proceeded to show him how the contrivance worked. He was delighted. Then I told him that ho would have to give me his money to bet, as I didn't Intend to trust any body with the secret of the horso's name until post time, and he was about to demur. "Look here," said I, "I'll write the name of the horse on a sheet of pa per, put it In an env.-:ipe addressed to you and leave it at a messenger office with instructions for them to deliver it to you at post lime. You are to give me your money now to take over with me. If that doesn't sut you everything is off as far as you are concerned." He hesitated a minute, but wo had assured him that my horse would be as good as fifteen to one, and the thought of the amount he could win overcame his scruples. He handed over $700 In gold to me to bet. I was to keep a third of the amount won to give to the "Jockey." In this sort ot business the money, of course, Is not bet at all. I wrote down the name of a horse that didn't have a chance and put It In an envel ope and pocketed the $700 as a clear profit. The "sucker" came to me for an explanation that night, and I showed him a fake ticket showing him that I had bet the money. Of course he had no redress. But to return to the fate of the $700 after it dropped into my pocket. I had been In such a hurry to get the electric boot in time that I missed my breakfast. When I separated from the "greeny" it was after 12 just time to take the boat for thp race track. I wont from ray room di rectly to our rendezvous, where I met my pal and divided the money with him. Then I Jumped on a car for tho ferry and was off to the races. In my pocket I had $350 of the "sucker's" money and a lonely quar ter of my own. Five cents of the quarter went forcarfare and with the remainder I bought 11 rouud-trlp tlckot acrosB the bay. In conso queuce when 1 boarded the boat 1 had nothing but gold in my pockets. I bad Intended. to get my lunch on the boat, as I was hungry by that time, but on the after deck I met an Assistant trul 111 In one ot the big sta bles at the track. "What's good to-day?" I asked him after we had chatted a while. "Got any money?" was his answer to my question. I jingled my pock et full of gold. . "There Is something coming off In the first race," he hastened to say when he heard the clinking twenties. "You'll do the right thing If I put you wise?" "You know me," I said. Then he went on to tell me about a "Irame-up" In the first race by which a horse called Yellowstone was to win. "It Is all cut and dried." he assured me, "and you will get ten or twelve to one for your money." Before the boat reached tho other side I had agreed to bet $200 on Yellowstone In the first rac. Also I was still without my lunch, but I promised myself that I would get It at the track Immediately after the race. When the odds went up for the opening event I went round the ring betting $20 at a crack on Yellow stone. Others were doing the same, and before post time every book In the Tins was loaded with Yellowstone money. H wan a mile race, and the minute the barrier went up I knew my money was burned up. Yellowstone got off lengths behind tho field might just aB well have been left at tho post. He ran a cracking good raco and fin ished fourth, but that did not save my $200. I still had $150 In my pocket and was standing in the ring gnawing my muBtnche and snapping my fingernails In my disappointment when a man-about town whom I knew came up and told me that Mich igan Smith, tho plunger, had sent $1000 Into the ring to be bet on the favorite, which was then two to one. "It looks like a cinch," my friend said as he drifted away. I didn't hesitate a moment, but elbowed my way to the nearest book and handed over my remaining $15 0. The horse was beaten a nose after a furious drive. Everybody said tho boy tossed tho race away by over confidence. It didn't make any dif ference to me anyway. Tho books had that $350, which was all I cared about. As I turned back toward the bet ting ring cursing myself for a fool, I saw a fellow being served with a nice, thick porterhouse In the res taurant. Then I remembered my lunch. Gee, I was hungry, nnd I didn't hz-i the price of a cup of coffee about me. On the first two races I had lost all my money, even Including the $25 I had borrowed to buy the boot. I hadn't bought even a shave or a shine or a lunch out ot the money. As I "mosled" gloomily rround the ring the rest of the day and saw the horses I would have bet on win right down the lino I tried to figure what was the difference between myself and the "sucker" who had given up the $700. Tho only difference I could see was that I had the privilege of betting my money before losing it, whllo he had not. I had to walk up from the ferry that night for the lack of carfare, but I was comforted somewhat by tho thought that Micky, my pal, would lend $50 or even $100, and I would be on my feet again. The minute I saw him I knew It was all off that his money was gone, too His face was longer than anybody's In town. Before a word was said each knew tho other was "broke." "What did you lose yours on?" he asked. "Good things in the first two races. Where did you drop yours?" "Poker game." he answered. "I went up to where there was a big game going. They had been at it all night. I lamped around for a while and saw that they were playing them high nnd loose. One iellow In partic ular was bluffing on every other hand and standing 'pat' If anybody stayed. Then he'd shove In his whole pile and make 'em lay down. I stood be hind him and ho did that a couple of time without n pair In his hand, as I could see. So I thought that I'd sit In and wait for him to try It again. I bought checks for a hundred and left the rest of the $350 In front of me. The first hand I picked up three aces. 8omebody opened the pot, I Just stayed to draw them on and the bluffer raised us $50. We both saw the raise and drew two cards apiece. He stood pat, Knowing how the fel low had been bluffing on the same kind of a play my three aces looked like a cinch. We both passed and he shoved In all he had in front of him. The other fellow laid down and I called him, putting in all the money I had. "Three aces here," I said, and was reaching for the pot, I was so sure of it, but he showed down a small full house and took the money. I left the game minus my $350 after play ing just one hand." We were silent for a while. "Let's go out and rustle up dinner money," I said at last, and wo went. At the commencement of the pres ent racing meeting at Oakland my pal and I opened a "tipping" bureau. Our Idea was that he would run the "tipping" game and I would pose merely as a customer. In this way I could hang around the office and "freeze" on to any likely looking "suckers" who appoared. His deal ings were to be strictly on the square that la, he would sell a couple ot tips a day and refund the buyer's money, as per agreement, It they did not win. If I landed tiny of the clients for a bunch of money I did it on the outside and my pal sympa thized with them, but told them be only know me as an occasional cus tomer. The business prospered beyond our best hopes. Micky had all kinds of luck In picking tho winners und by advertising we soon had an Income of nearly $200 a day. In addition 1 steered one of our clients into a poker .inn. where he lost $3500, and the next day I caught a boy from San Jose for $5000, which he had just received from his guardlau on his twenty-first birthday. These "killings" set us up In the world, and we lived like millionaires. I also had luck At the track, and In tho middle ot December I had $18, 000 In a safe deposit vault. That was the heyday of our prosperity. It was a common thing for us to have nothing but a tiy for the waiter left out or A $190 bill after we had had dinner. But we didn't care nor evsn think about It. It's to be prodi gal when you have 118,000 In a box waiting to be spent and more coming In every day. But It wasn't long before the tide turned. In the first place we struck a losing streak with our tips and the $200 a day dropped off until we scarcely paid office rent. Meanwhile I was dropping big wads of coin at the track. I couldn't seem to pick them right. One day I lost $4500. On another $2800. My roll couldn't stand that long, and on New Year's Day I took our last thousand over to the track. I Intended to bet on two horses Firestone, which I knew was likely to prove the best two-year-old on the Coast, and Proper, In the New Year's Handicap. A horseman persuaded me to stay off Firestone, which he said wns not ready to race, and at the last moment I switched from Proper to Loglstllla. The lat ter was left at the post and Proper won. On the way bad- that night I felt natural. I was broke. I've been broke ever since, and the way things look now I am likely to stay that way, for the easy marks are staying out of my path, if there are any in town. Now, I am an old hand at all kinds of gambling. I make my living by knowing more about that sort of thing than tho man whose money 1 want, and yet I squander all I make In going against games In which my money Isn't worth ten cents on the dollar the moment I Bit In. Years ago I was talking with John Condon, the blind racetrack magnate of Chicago. Wo were discussing gambling and the chances a man has to win. "Well," said Condon, "there's only ono way to beat a gambling game. Make the other fellow go against your game. With me any time a man didn't want to go against my game thene was no play." Shrewd old John Condon hit the nail on the head. As long as the "suckers" play my game I get the money. Tho moment I begin to gamble In any other game where an other man has the percentage I lose my money the same as any other "sucker." I know this and yet I go right on losing my money. Why? There's a conundrum. If I had $10, 010 I'd give it all to know the an swer. San Francisco Chronicle. WATERING THE ELEI'iAftT. Whenever I think of the farm of my child hood And there let my fancy debghtfnlht dwell, I dn not recall with a bit of affection The old oaken bucket that hung by the well. I never wns stuck by Its moss covered beauty. Its II SSI lug refrain never made my heart glad. And surely there wasn't a throb of ex citement In drawing a bucket for mother or dad. But still do I cherish in fond retrospection. As memories tweet that shall ever be nursed, The pailfuls nf water T patiently carried Fur iiiicnt liing the elephant's marvellous thirst. I'll bet that old Pisyphus. hnrd as the job wns. Would surely have filled the sieve up to the brim If only, ns object anil guerdon of labor, A sent nt the circus wns given to him. McLanillmrgh Wilson, in The Sui 75 J2 11STGS iWORTH KtfOWINGJ Although South America has about twice the area of the United States, it has only half the population Life insurance companies In Japan are paying sixteen per cent, divi dends. In one of them the directors got only $3100 fees for their year's work. Lancaster County, Pa., has twenty one Presbyterian churches, and at least three of tho congregations arc almost 200 years old. Wounded Elk, a full-blooded Sioux missionary, is organizing a revival movement In New York City. He has a wonderful flow of simple oratory, bosldes a majestic proseuce. Tho consensus of opinion among historians is to the effect that the most ancient city Is Damascus. There Is no doubt about the fact that Damascus has the longest continuous history of any city In the world. Lord Breadalbane has more deer on his estates than any landowner la the United Kingdom, and yet, when ho was Lord Steward, among his per quisites was a present of six bucks and six does every year from the royal herd. The Tower of Babel, at Babylon, was composed of eight square tow ers, one upon the other, the pile be ing 600 feet hlerh. Unhvlnn ma n square, fifteen miles on each side, the I walls b:lng olghty-sevcu feet thic and 370 f2ot high. "She let fall a few remarks f "Is that whyshe spoke In such broken tones?" Baltimore American. Yea3t "What kind of men get the most enjoyment out of fishing?" Crlmsonbeak "Why, liars, of courBe!" Yonkers Statesman. "I got my eyes and nose full of dust yesterday, and every muscle in my body aches." "Long auto ride, eh?" "Nope. Beating rugs." Cleve land Plain Dealer. A Persian penman named Aziz, Remarked, "I tliink 1 know my bis. For When 1 write my name as is. It is Aziz ns is Aziz." Carolyn Wells, in Life. "Do you favor any particular school of music?" asked the lady. "Yes, Indeed," replied the young man who lives In a flat. "I favor the pianissimo school." Puck. "When was their engagement made?" "While they were singing in the church choir." "What was the cause of their divorce?" "Singing In the church choir." Milwaukee Sen tinel. Mrs. Newcome "My husband has been a collector of curios and old idles for a number of years." Mrs. Knox "Indeed! I have often won dered why he married you!" Chi cago Dally News. The man wore a badge with the legend, "I am an undesirable citi zen." "Why go to the trouble of an nouncing It?" queried an observer. At this point the trouble began. Philadelphia Public Ledger. The Indies stopped n little boy whose legs were briar-sera' ,-hed, And laughed to see the novel way his littls pants were patched. "Why did they patch with white?" they asked. "Why not with blue or red? ' The small boy scowled and touched the spot. "That uin't 110 patch," he said Dallas News. Tho Scientist "There Is every ren son to believe that tho ancients used illuminating gnB. In fact, I once dug up an article which 1 have no doubt was a primitive form of gas meter." The Householder "Was It still working? " Judge. "I feel," he sold, as he laid the morning newspaper aside, "that my country bus called me!" "Make jo mistake, dear," said the wife. "That's only old Jones' blind mule braying for oats. He'll feed It direct ly!" Atlanta Constitution. " 'Shopping by mail,' " quoted Mrs. Caddie, quoting from the advertise ment in the paper. "How ridicu lous!" "Why so?" inquired her hus band. "Why, how can you 'shop' by mail? You can only buy things by mail." Philadelphia Press. Jigley "Wo were talking about suburban cottages, and Subbubs re marked that the only thing they ever dreamed Qf out his way In Bog hurst was Queen Anne." Cltlman "The Idea! Is that the way he pro nounces it now?" Jigley "Pro nounces what?" Cltiman "Qui nine?" Philadelphia Press. The English occupation of India began with the udmlniBtratlon of Cllve, in 1763. The present popula tion of India 1b 240,000,000. The English residents In India, civil and military, number less than 100,000. Porson wns a great talker and a man of Immense learning, and Car- lyle was not far behind him, but both were handicapped by temperamental difficulties. Perhaps f.he greatest and most admirable all-round conversa tionalist was Lord Macaulay, with Oliver Wendell Holmes as a close sec ond. Horseshoeing Is very ancient. It Is represented on a coin of Tarentum, South Italy, about 300 B. C. Iron and bronzo horseshoes have been found in tumuli in France, Germany, Belgium and England. It is, of course, impossible to designate the first Instance in which a bronzo o iron horseshoe was used. To Encourage Thrift. A New York man has Just patented a device for the encouragement of thrift. It consists of a toy savings bank with a clock attachment. The clock is set in the face of the bank and cannot be wound unless a dime is dropped In the plot. As winding causes the dime to tall into the vault and tho clock will run but twenty four hours without rewinding the contrivance assures an accumulation of seventy cents a week. The theory is that tho necessity of depositing a dime every day will lead to slipping In other coins at odd moments and thus establish a habit of saving. Now York Sun. Evlivnics In Envelopes. "That's the first time I ever sold a single envelope," said a young woman at a big stationer's store In the city's centre. "I'vo always sold them in packages, but that gentleman came in with a letter In his hand and asked for an envelope, and I sold him one for a cent. I (maglno that's the smallest sale that has been made in this establishment since it opened. The biggest I ever made happened to be in the envelope line, too. A rather roughly dressed man came in, asked to see our envelopes and want ed to know the price by the thousand. I told him. Then he asked the price by the million. I got the figures from our manager, who smiled as he gave thom to me. Yet tho man or dered a million envelopos and when we asked for reference ho said he would aa lief pay the bill on tho spot which he did from a roll ot yel lowback notes about the size of n loaf of bread. We delivered the en velopes, but haven't seen the pur chaser since." Philadelphia Record. Automobiles and Coaching. James Martin, at whose North Side stablfcs the "Blue Dog" coach wnli h was uited to mako trips to Highland Park' was kept, says that tbW Arrival ot the automobile has practically killed the sport of roaoh lng In Chicago. There Is now no de mand for drags and brakes, al though they used to be most popu lar. CU1W80 EvuuUik Post. 8auc For the Gander. Tho modern wife is beginning to aetonlsn the modern husband. A man camo home at 3 a. m. He took off bis shoos on the front doorstep. Then he unlocked the door and went cautiously ujistalrs on tiptoe, holding his broalh. But light was streaming through the kejhole of the bedroom door. With a sigh he paused. Then be opened the door and entered Htg wlfo stood by the- bureau, fully drotsed. "I dldu't expect you'd be sitting up for mo. my dear," he uald. "I haven't boon " she said. "I just camo in myself." New Voice. McCurdcU's PiUe Chauffeur. My automobile Is so simple to nan dlo, writes Roy L. McCardell In the New Rochollo Salts, that any little girl can run it A feat that attract much Attention la when my daughter places a large Caddy bear at the wheel and, sitting beside it, operates tho rnacltlso by the low gear pedAl. It looks as If the Toddy bear was running It. During the calendar year J906 exportod $7,000,000 worth of cbaudjie to the Philippines. ,..
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers