krs. johh sherman. Old" i Hoitm la WMkl1(tll Will Pro u sir Not BatcrtBla PbbUb - i TbU WlBtar. WiislJtgion society la seriously r eved i"er the invalidism of Mrs. johu Sherman, which continues, ami bich will probably hold throughout the winter, if. Indeed, that popular ladv ever recovers her full strength again. To go to Washington without meet ing Mrs. John Sherman has been for uars an Impossibility, for she has been Jmown as a great entertainer, adminis trations without end. Though never endowed with the golden spoon of fab ulous wealth, she has always kept open MRS. JOHN SHERMAN. (Tor Tears She Was a Shining Light of Washington Society.) house In a most charming manner, and her gatherings have included all the nublic people of note who have ever be longed to society or politics. As the wife of, many say, the greatest living statesman, Mrs. Sherman has upheld her husband's bands in a very efficient way. Without being at all aggressive or progressive or assertive, ehe has been a comfortable woman, and only a statesman can tell what that jueans. To Washington people she reminds one of Mrs. Gladstone, who has the same beautiful, economical, cheering quali ties without any of the flamboyant no tions of, later days. All newcomers to Washington desire to get into Mrs. John Sherman's set, and the young people never think of starting an affair cf any kind, from a grand ball to a charity bazar, wi thout Mrs. John Sher man. " Her stroke of paralysis of several weeks ago is said to have turned out more favorably than was expected, and she and her aged husband hope to be in fairly good health for some time to come. In token of their great popularity in Washington circles It may be mentioned that they have been invited to no less than five Christmas dinners, and twice as many holiday entertainments. Mrs. Sherman has a table filled with invita tions for holiday week, for the dear old couple will be the greatest drawing card a Washington hostess can have. TEE DEATH HELMET. Freach GuTtrinrit Mar Determine to Hsve It Take tke Place at the Guillotine. Whether or not the stroke of the guillotine causes instant death, it is more than likely that the raisingof the question by Dr. Cinel will banish the machine which owes its origin to the jelgn of terror. For months past the French govern ment has had In Its hands a machine superior to the guillotine in rapidity of Action, which causes no distortion of visage and produces no scar. The machine, which has been named "L'Executioner" by its inventor, M. Francois Esclangon, i well-known, scientist and the editor of tbe Parisian FRENCH DEATH HELMET. (Intended to Take tho Place of the Guillo tine.) Le Monde Scientiflque, is like the hel met worn by a fourteenth century cava lier. From tbe top curves a long, hol low bar of steel, dividing near its end into two portions which approximate closely two holes in he helmet near the upper portion. In the cavity of thl bar are placed two cartridges, run on grooves made in the curved bar and attached to long, curved needles. In the helmet are two ltolca fitted with disks which can be made to revolve until they come into apposition with the eyes of tbe victim. The apparatus is in communication with a battery on a table near by, which causes the cartridges to revolve and at the same time to plunge forward and bury themselves deep in tbe frontal lobes of the brain, destroying instantly a large portion of the white matter of the cerebrum. Death is instantaneous end painless, end only a simple prick at the angle of each eye sbows how the dead man passed. A Valaakle Heirloom. In Nagasaki, Japan, there is a fire works maker who manufactures py rotechnic birds of great size, that, when exploded, sail in a lifelike manner through the air and perform many movements exactly like those of liv ing birds. The secret of making these wonderful fireworks has been in the possession of the eldest child of the faiuily of each generation for more than 400 years. M LIFE OP MODERN GUNS Blight Deterioration in Ordnance Re sulting frora War. Tke Mistakes Idea That the Great Cannon Are Worn Oat After Be ing DUckargtd On Bss ilred Times. Commodore Charles O'Neil, chief of the bureau of ordnance of the navy de partment, who has considered all the reports Of the ordnance officers on board the vessels engaged in the re cent war, spoke freely and iu an in teresting way wheu asked to suy whut is "the life of a gun" as now understood in the uuvy, and what points were in dicated by the practice of the modern guns in the course of the months of tbe Spanish war. "The life of l guu," said he, "is a very uncertain period to determine just now. There never was any groun! for assert ing that u gun's life was limited to 10U discharges from it, for nt any time there would b differences in the weight of powder used in a discharge, and, of course, difference! in the effects of charges of different weights of powder. "From the experience of the last sum mer in the navy, and in the use of our modern guns, it may be said that an inappreciable amount of deterioration has been discovered in the pieces of all calibers. There has been no thought of withdrawing uny gun because it hud been tired a stated number of timesand should therefore bo regarded ns un safe to use. Trilling erosion has been noticed In the rifling nt the breech, but not enough to impair the efficiency of the piece, and no indication of strain to suggest that it would be Unsafe long er to use it. "To show you how mistaken any popular idea is that tbe gun is worn out or dangerous at the one hundredth discharge 1 may say that some of the largest guns, 13-inch, and 12-inch, have j been fired as many as3U() times, in prnc '. tice and in action, yet they are just ai : sound, practically, ns they were when they were brought out of the gun fac- tory. Of course the smaller pieces i many of them have lired two or three 1 times 300 rounds, and they are still Found and free from serious impair i ment from erosion. This erosion is . caused by the effects of gas developed in the powder chamber at the time of the discharge, and is shown in slight scratches at first, then in deeper chan nels about the rifling, and eventually it might so destroy the rifling as to im pair the accuracy of the piece in action without endangering life from burstir g or the piece. That danger is very re mote with all the guns now in use in the navy. "In the British navy, where cordite is used, the destruction of the core of the gun by erosion is much more rapid than it is with the guns in the United States navy, which have been using old pow der until now. The use of smokeless powder may wear the guns more quick ly, but that is to bo ascertained. Dut in the British navy the precaution is taken to make the guns so that tlieii life may be indefinitely prolonged. This is done by building the guns with a core that is to be bored out when the erosion has been so greatas to indicate the necessity for replacing the core, and n new core is put in to secure accuracy and assure the proper resistance. Lieut. Col. Shaler, of the ordnance de partment ofiice of the war department, said that it would be dillicult to say what the life of the modern guns of the army will be, as the army has not had the opportunity to put tbe new guns to business tests to ascertain their long evity. "The old cast-iron guns, it was the tradition, were unlit for further use after about 100 discharges. Then it de pended upon the weight of powdei charges usel whether the life was to be shorter or longer. The guns now pro vided forthcarmy nre much more dura ble nnd capable of resisting destructive influences than the old ordnance. I un derstand that in the Itritish army tbe calculation is that modern gunaof large calibers are only used for about 100 rounds as they are built. The rapid erosion of the piece by the cordite used in that service deprives the gun of its efficiency, without, I should) say, niak- ling it dangerous to those who might t use it. To protect the piece from the ' erosion the core is made with the idea that it shall be bored out when the erosion is so great as to Indicate the need for a renewal of the part, and thus I suppose the 'life of the gun' may be prolonged indefinitely. With the eight inch gun the limit of usefulness is con sidered passed when 250 rounds hnvc been 11 red from It. "There is small danger of accident from the bursting of guns from over use. Tho strains are observed, and when the channels cf erosion become well marked the gun would be with drawn. The probability is that most of the guns now in use or in position to be used will be withdrawn because they have become obsolete or out of the fashion, rather than because they have become worn out by service. At the close of the war of the rebellion we con sidered our ordnance ns good ns any thing in the world. Now it is compara tively harmless, fit. only to adorn grave yards and to be set up here and there to protect positions that can never be reached by ships carrying heavy or iong-range guns." N. Y. Times. fllich Old Times. Tommy Didn't the ancients have pretty high times? His Father Why, my son? "The book says they set their watches on the hilltops." Jewelers' Weekly. Swell. tbe banquet Havers Was to the count swell? Jabbers Swell? Why, I didn't rec- Dgnixe a single thing I ate, except tbe fee water! Puck. THE CHILD Wfr. Little Nettie accompanied her pa ints on a trip across the lake recently, tnd after being out a short distance she began to get seasick. "How do you feel, Nettle?" asked mamma. "Oh," was tbe reply. "1 just feel like I wanted to unswnllow my breakfast." "No, thank you. I don't care for any," said little Marie, as her papa passed the take. "Why, dear," said be. "I thought you were fond of cake ?" "SoInm."she r plied, "but I heard mamma say It wasn't quite perfect, and when she says that it must be something awful." "Now, Tommy." said the teacher, "can you tell me what n propaganda is?" The little fellow looked at tho ceiling und wrinkled bil brow as he bravely WTCCtled with tbe problem, and finally replied: "1 don't know for sure, but I think it must be a proper gui se's brother." "Oh, look what a pretty little moon!" exclaimed four-year-old Kdith to her liltle brother, as she looked from her grandma's window at the (mall crescent in the western sky. "1'sbaw !" replied the nnappreclative brother, "I don't think it's half as pretty as tbe big round moon we bad at home two wei Us ago." Johnny, aged five, had a habit of using in his conversation every big word he happened to bear, regardless of its meaning. One morning be and his older brother were trying to wash from tl l same bnsiit, to Johnny's det riment, and he ran Into tbe kitchen, ex claiming: "Mamma, Charley's metrop olizing the whole laudatory!" Chi cago Daily News. FLASHES OF THOUGHT. Virtuous men alone possess friends. Voltaire. Delay in vengeance gives a heavier blow. John Ford. To be proud of learning is the great est ignorance. Colton. The knowledge of thyself will pre serve thee from vanity. Cervantes. There is small revenge In worths, but words muy be "greatly revenged. Franklin. Friendship Is a plant that loves the sun und thrives ill under clouds. Alcott. Whatever makes men good Christians makes them good citizens. Daniel Webster. Who hath not known ill fortune, never knew himself or his own virtue. Mullet. A wise man neither suffers himself to be governed or attempts to govern others. La Brnyere. Mankind in tho gross is a gaping mon ster that loves to be deceived, and has seldom been disappointed. Mackenzie. You cannot give an instance of a man, who is permitted to lay out his own time, contriving not to have tedi ous hours. Johnson. Were wo as eloquent as angels, yet should we please some men, some worn- The Mifflmburg Steam Laundry . . . Is fitted out with tbe latest and very Lest machinery. Tho pure mountain water from the uew borough plant is now in use. If von were pleased with tho work, better give tbe laundry a. trial now, and nolo how clean and white your shirts and collars have become. All Work Guaranteed To be First-Glass. Will call for laundry and deliver at your door without any extra charges, Give us a trial. VYeslqj Kleckner, Proprietor. G. A. Gutelius, Agt, Middleburph, Pa, A SUMMER SAIL in ladies' shoes is a pleasant voyage afoot, For tbe pleas ure it gives, there's no sail like our sale. Crowds are enjoying it, and securing the prettiest, coolest 'and best tit ting Summer shoes now man ufactured, at prices which buyeis find it a pleasure to pay. Foi houso or street wear, pleasure or every-day practical purposes, walking, riding, or driving, we supply tho ideal shoes demanded by fashion and the dictates of individual taste. Ladies, whoever claims your hands, by all means surrender your feet to these shoes. 6. H. GIBSON, SHUT en and some children much more by listening than by talking. Colton. Try to be happy in this very present moment and put not off being so to a time to come, as though that time should be of another make from this, which is already come, and is ours. Fuller. PRODUCTS OF THE SOUTH. It is only recently that any attention has been paid to the rice crop of Texas, but It is demanding notice. An acre of rice returns about $30 a crop. Capitalists are trying to cl Florida farmers to go into cassava raising. Starch will be manufactured from it. Three tons to an acre at a ton is tbe golden promise held out. From Southern Fines, N. ('., during the past season there were Shipped by express 2,548 crates of blackberries, 1". 2)3 orates of peaches and T.SeScratesof grapes, The pineapple crop in one district alone of Florida is estimated nt $50,000 before January i, Owners of pineries realize as much from the sale of suck ers as from the fruit. Haeh pineapple plant produces from live to six of these a year, and, separated from the parent plant and planted, they grow into new. strong plants. They sell for ten cents apiece. SHOOTING STARS. Ptats are !ij,'ht but not very slry things. The dog star may be said to be a pret ty Stilus affair. Why are not the pointers iu the Dipper known as dog stars'.' There is but one star that adds to the beauty of the sky ut the same time it Mars It The "music of the spheres" grinds on day after day und still no one has been heard to complain, piw-sibly Ihciuso no Wagnerian stars have yet been known to execute it. Our Hibernian friend recently re marked that we didn't need the light of tbe moon or stars in the day time while we have the sunshine, but that is surely all moonshine. RULINGS OF THE COURT. An unrestricted guaranty of Daymen I Indorsed on a negotiable instrument is held, in Commercial bank vs. Cheshire Provident institute (Kan.), 41 L. R, A. ITS, to be negotiable and it is also held that it passes with the title to the in strument. Tho "heirs" who are entitled to a right of action for the death of a er son under 2 Hill's (Wash.) cixle. section 138. are held, in Noble vs. Seattle (Wash.), 40 L. It. A. 822, to Include the widow nnd children only, nnd not 'o include the parents of the deceased. Game killed on an Indian reservation by a tribal Indian nnd transported by wagon to the nearest railway station olT the reservation and there delivered to & carrier to be shipped out of the state is held, in Selkirk vs. Stevens (Minn.), 40 I.. It. A. 750, to be subject to ihe pame laws of the state. The duty of nn operator or ngent of n ronl mine, to employ a competent mine boss bring Imposed by statute is held. In Williams vs. Tliaoker Coal & C. com pany (W. Va.). 40 L. R. A. 812, to be fully performed by the employment of such a mine boss, and for the hitter's ncjrllfrenee tho ocratoT or apent i held not to be liable. An undisclosed gold clause in amort gage subject to which real estate is bought at auction, i held, In Blanckvs, Sodlier (N. Y.). 40 L. 11. A. fififi, notto be n defect for which the purchaser may decline ro complete his contract, wbieli was silent on that subject, where there is no probability that tit policy of tho government to keep all It funds at par will be changed befre the mortgage comes due. CONCERNING ASBESTOS. Mountain paper is blue asbestos. Mountain wood is asbestos which ex tremely resembles wood. Mountain leather Is 11 very light, thin and flexible asbestos. Mountain cork is nn asbestos light enough to float on water. Amanthiis is a kind of a.shestos iu which the libers are so exceedingly long, flexible and elastic that they may have been woven into cloth. Common asbewtos has libers much less flexible than amanthus, it is heav- j ier, a dull green in color, sometimes pearly iu luster und oily to the touch. Asbestos is found in nearly all parts of the globe, but there is probably no product of inorganic nature about which there is so much popular mys tery. The principal cluini for this re markable product is that it cannot be consumed by fire. STARS AND FOOTLIGHTS. Mrs. James Hrown Potter has scored a great success in "The Three Musket eers" in London. E. S. Willanl has left for the south of Franco for the winter and may go as far as Egypt. Mrs. John Drew and Mrs. Henry Mil ler will spend the winter in Dresden, where their children are at school. J. M. Barrie's new play, "Two Kinds of Women," may be setii in New York at special matinees to be given after the holidays. Olga Nethersole will produce a new play by Max O'ltell during her tour in this country. Wilton Lackaye will star again this season in "Charles O'Malley," in which he won exceptional praise when he pro duced it late last season. Johanna Oadski recently accom plished the unusual task of learning three heavy grand-opera roles in Italian a language with which she is not fa miliar in ten weeks' time. She will I alternate with Melba during the grand opera season, beginning in Philadel phia December 1. GRAPE HARVEST IN PORTUGAL. THE PORT GRAPES CARRIED TO THE TREADING VATS. Scene at the Vineyards of Boa Visto, valley of the Douro: Womew cut the bunches of crapes into small baskets, carry them a short dis tance and fill large baskets holding near ioo pounds. Then men with sheepskins thrown over their backs, and plaited straw knots on their heads, shoulder the baskets and move off in single file down the rug ged winding paths and flights of steps to large vats, where the grapes are mashed tor wine. The soil containing a large amount of iron. . . . nSTr' ' " "., , Ipeer't Port Grupc ; arc made from the same grapes grown on an eastern mountain siope , in Passaic valley. New Jersey, the soil also abounding in iron produces the real Blood-making, Life-preserving Wines of the World i the old, original Port wine grape of Portugal. No other wines ! equal these for invalids, weakly persons and the aged. None put in ' market uutil nine years old. For Kai r by Druggists and Grocers. Also the P. J. Sherry, Burgundy, Socialite, Claret vin. I8l, and 1 Climax Brandy vin. 1878, aU used extensively in Hospitals and among,, 'the Medical faculty as the best to bv obtained. The unfcrniented Grape Juice is extensively used iu New York churches for communion service. Urovnd din in.; y will bs Hi bus TWO SSRIA! Forward, March !" IJy KtKK MUNKOE it a storv il a young l 1 " it'i ftnoi vslt 1 Kuu.h Uidait. lUfkMuiw i A SCOUTING oh t;ie plat: Ity " Uvpfalo Bill " WOLVES vs. D1SCIPMKK lly HSNKI W. 1 e ' UBS A DANDV AT IMS BEST lly Jli.ian Kamii II Tlirse Stories nre (ouudod tnct im authors, TIIH RBSCUE CF MIDWAY CBUISIN 1 T.'iTH DXt'.ZY Uy HAMOLO MaSIIM l!y .. '. . STONll A SCARED FIGHTER CILLY OF BATTERY R Dy W. J. IlKNDSMSON Ity I ItOATS Daksu A WAR COr;,.;- POMDENT AFLOAT Hy CAMLTON T. ClIAl'MAN WITH CAPB0N AT CL CAN"'.' lly FlSTCUSM f. K..x i ARTICLES ON SPORT AND TR VVEL n) l yiui c Miami (J 8 ! ! ThtM artiil will be f "' loves RitVCttU .LA?"AV riSHBP.MAH Hy II. t . Ji KOUS ART OF n V-FISKIN0 TREE-TOP CLUB-HOUSES r.j Dan Bsasd ' 1 1 1 7 11 J' FDITOR'S STAMI'3 AND 7 M :'.y I lllol So well t) Look! Look!! Look nt youjiKflf when you buy clotbinc nt my stoic, I keep eou stnntlv in sttck tbe best ami finest line of Hati nnd Gents' Clothing. I Furiiishiiip Goods, Underwear uixl Cups. Call to see my stock. I, B. BOYER'S BROTHERHOOD STOBE SCNUUKY, PSMVA w AHTKD SEVERAL TRUSTWORTHY Im tl,iu ... mmmm . "...n..,." ........ '.' HUT IHIf- 111 low wwii it'iii iicnriiy cuiintit-N. It ih mainly offline work t'onduitt'd at liomr Salary nira ciit two 11 yasr nnd axponsts defltilte, boiuiBda, no mors, do Issa ssktry. Month!) tft. BsfsiiiBBSs Boolose -if ,i,i,, .; alamped J niTelopc, ilrrlirrt K. I Iran. I'rcnt.. Dipt. M, 1 hi fB o. WOT. ft 9-IS-liM. teadfirlw. anil Ntmralaia cured by Dr. MILES- l'AIN PILLS. "Onu cunt a dose." WANTED-BRA1NS Sell fir euhuilMM rio-n of tatUs taEiiini. stitzci t aatamiH of Wshiajtei City. Ifsir. : DM CI r..:? ifllhts. Ii willtt tut to jti for DOthiu. Wn!t t: t: ii;-. Haiyntlukftose'.t!:!M Pat::'. i mtcct ynr '.it::: bay may trrtj yoi vaalu. Bcfno :i'.f-; fcr pitic lnr literal eon nd IiTccUr'i Aadcutt. PaSftttl aalS. I CQf A CO. PM aavwtye TraiVl:. s7 key 'l0 f" ... and Burgundy Wines table! ! -:io-. ' J bur's f. . Ml will Lc Qnvin Hamilton Dy MOLU ELLIOT si AWELL i n ""rvi-f ihe ilnw nf Ki Frukrii k lbs Unas. 80MB SHORT STORIES AM exchange cr -::irs lly GSOHGB ).. WALSII THE QUNSH0T WINS HyCttAKLlcs I. l.rMMis T:;E KING'S TREASUItF-' HIP I ' ttCOIKALO GOUSLAK STORIES OF THE WAR "ii lact, and In 1 1 y 1 rc actual ov'rri- It .11,; energetic boy ttito 1.1 i a:-tj.r v.rt. .?Z 'IC V uYPAQBRS ! . ht'a C Adams TV0-70fTltt) FIC UHB- E K ATI.VG By V G. van T. St ri'uui BICVCLE POLO Uy A.U.U0DI u:v TABLE COINC THE C v MPRA CLl'B PROBLEMS AM) in AllwT.I rtMlvtstttstion sachmosthin Ihd KOUKD T.W1 E l &uH 'i Copy Sutotrtpttotif V 00 a Ye Addres HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York, IV .Y. The World Almanac and Encyclopedia for 1899 iANl Illustrated History of the Spanish American War J- J- J J- J J- St v k J J Jt ,ft READY FOR.SALE -J 2 EVERYWHERE J JANUARY 1st. 1899. t Together with. The Battle Calendar of the Republic. Compiled by EDGAR STANTON MACLAY Hirtoriaa of the U.S. Navy. Aim THE STANDARD AMERICAN ANNUAL. A PRICE 25 CENTS. Poatpaid to any addtta. THE WORLD, Pulitzer BulkHot NEV YORK. h 1 a 1 1 am iMLh .if