THE POSTAL SERVICE FOURTH CLASS OFFICES AND THEIR MANNER OF OPERATION. The Pay In These Offlcen Is as Small as the Responsibility is Liir^f—One Official Whu Worked oil "liuslness Principles." First, second and third class postmas ters are paid regular salaries, but the fourth class officers must rustle for their own pay. Sometimes that is as low as $1 a month and sometimes us high as SOO a month —that is, some offices send out just that amount of canceled letters each month, but the fourth class postmaster is not allowed to keep the S6O a month; not at all. He keeps just sl6 1-3 as his own clear cash, and every dollar over that he divides up with Uncle Sam, giv ing him 40 out of every 100 cents until his office gets to the importance of can celing over $33 a month; then he must hand over 60 cents out of the dollar in stead of 40. Out of what is left he pays his office rent, his light and fuel bills and his clerk hire when sick or absent. The department furnishes nothing, not even the box, except what stamps, postal cards and other stamped paper he needs. Very few fourth class offices cancel stamps to either the great or small amount I have named. The majority of them range from $8 to S2O a month. When an office averages about $lO a month, then it becomes a money order office, and while its revenue toward the postmaster's pay is not perceptibly in creased by this addition his bond and re sponsibility are. Some years ago a fourth class postmaster was allowed a percent age on all stamps he sold above the can cellation, but it was found that he hus tled around and offered inducements and a share of the proceeds to those who would buy many stumps from him, and the department shut down on this. Now if he sells $2 worth of stamps a day, but only cancels on letters 10 cents' worth, 10 centß is all he gets for that day's work. The remainder of the $2 at the end of the quarter goes to the department. The fourth class postmaster is brought in closer relationship with his patrons than the postmaster of a salaried office, and trials and tribulations are about the extent of his pay for this. He is expect ed to be ready for a social chat with them, to answer all questions, to write many letters for those who cannot write or have left spectacles at home, to ad vise them as to the best papers or maga zines for which to subscribe, and so on and so on. Besides this be is to blame for all the mail lost or delayed. There are always one or more women who ac cuse him of opening their letters, and then there Is the pompous citizen who is ,Tery certain that he is careless with his particular mail. In the majority of these offices strict ness is the rule. The fourth class post master is called to task for neglect of the slightest duty, the same as though the government was paying him a good salary for his work. But in very 6inall offices I have heard of postmasters who have it all their own way. The office is too small for a new postmaster to be easily found if the old one is turned out, Ahe patrons will not allow it to be dis continued, and so the postal authorities turn away nonplused and leave him to kls own devices. 1 heard of one postmas ter of this kind who shut up his office to attend anything he felt was worth while attending. He would go off a dozen miles to a show, a prizefight or the coun ty fair and sometimes stay two or three days, and there was no getting in his office either to get your mail or deposit letters until he came back. Another case was where, time and again, the department had been made aware of gross irregularities in the man agement of one office away in the wilds somewhere. At last an inspector was ordered out to look up the matter. At the wayside station nearest this postoffice the inspector learned that it was kept by an old mountaineer named Saunders, who owned everything in sight around It, and on this account could hold the office against all applicants. CThe inspector was forced to wend his /way afoot to the place. Its general wild neis caused a slight feeling of apprehen sion in his mind, and he approached it with some stealth, taking an inventory of it from behind a tree. The office was a rough pine structure, in front of which sat a man as rough looking as the shanty tilted back In a splint bottomed chair placidly smoking a pipe. Presently he laid his pipe down and, pushing his hat hack from his eyes, peered over In some ihuahes beyond the office, calling out as he peered: "I see you, Jim Larkin. You ceedn't come aneakin aroun' here. I've tole an tole you thet you can't hev no mall as long as you owe me for ttiein taters you bought las' fall. Now git!" From behind the bushes a shaggy head now popped up, and a voice said plead ingly: "Saunders, I've heern there's now two letters here fur me —thet one thet come three months ago an one thet come t'other day. I'd like to hev 'em. I'm Xeered some of my folks Is sick, or they .wouldn't be a-writin so offen." "Nary a letter do yon git till them taters is settled furl" The postmaster's voice was decisive. "I've got pars of the money to pay you. an Mary said fur me to not dar* come home without them letters ef I had to wailup you to get 'em." And now Lar kin advanced, holding out some silver and ,disclosing himself as something akin In build and age to Saunders. The post master took the money and, going into the house, came out with one letter. "There's half your mail, Larkin," he ■aid. "Now, ef you want t'other half you'll hev to do what Mary said fur you to do. Come on." The next moment, without any pre liminary skirmishing, at one another they went. In less than two minutes Larkio was completely knocked out. "TJierel" said the postmaster, brush ing the dust from off his check shirt and overalls. "I lifted jes' a leetle sieh exer cise ev'ry day to keep me in good health. Tell Mary I feel so good over wallupin you thet ef she comes over herself she kin hev thet letter, an I'll scratch the rest of thet tater money off'n the book." The inspector, feeling that in this case discretion was the better part of valor, turned tracks and left without Interview lag Saunders and reported him to Wash ington as "running his office on business principles."—lndianapolis News. A Question. 1 Hewitt—lf you want to succeed, yon Bust have confidence in yourself. Jewitt—But how can a man have con fidence in himself if he enly gets $S a week?— Harper's Baear. PERT PERSONALS. Lieutenant Edle la a bungler when It comes to arranging a marriage settle ment.—Atlanta Constitution. Momingstar, who has been making such phenomenal runs in billiards lately, is a •ort of ahooting luminary.—Kansas City fitar. Mrs. Nation now wants to run a news paper. This may be accepted as proof that her Indifference to trouble Is abso lutely genuine.—Washington Star. An Edinburgh astronomer has discover ed a new star in the constellation Per seus. Before night Mr. Tesla will doubt less announce that he has communicated (With it.—Detroit Free Press. The Duke of Manchester's "welcome tiome" took the form of a summons and complaiut in a suit for breach of promise. Papa Zimmerman may find that even bull pups are comparatively cheap luxuries.— Hew York World. The housekeeper Is becoming m«re and more of n tiiture lu the New York household, and more of them are tak ing positions each year. The houses are becoming larger and more elabo rate and the social life so complex that a woman has not time to give her bouse the proper attention If she Is to any extent a society woman. Eat and Run. There isn't a man who would be seen running through the street munching a piece of pie. Why not? Because it would mean dyspepsia and stomach trouble? Not at all; but because it wouldn't look well. As a matter of fact many a business man snatches a lunch in such a hurry that he might as well take it on the run. That is one reason for the prevailing "stomach trouble" among men of business. There is a certain remedy for diseases of the stomach and other organs of digestion and nutrition. It is Doctor Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery. The worst cases of dyspepsia and catarrh of the stomach have been cured by this medicine. It cures where all other means have failed to cure. " I took two bottles of Or Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery for stomach trouble," writes Clarence Caraes Esq., of Taylorstown, I.oudoun Co., Va. "It did roc so much good that I didn't take any more. I can eat most anything now lam so ui|pL well pleased with it I hardly fSmknow how to thank you for your kind information. I tried ji a whole lot of things Llt l J- MEL.A y° u ' There was a \ gentleman told ra« J ifclA about your medt cine, and how it had cured his wife. T~-wßUd|pr I thought I would \\ Am now glad I did, \\ for don't know what 1 would have \ done if it had not WV. \ been for Dr )\ J Medical Di» wHB Y Doctor Pierce's nBBB\ Pleasant Pellets I jfif cure biliousness. L a W) They stimulate w\ 1 * ** e •* u £8 * 8 h mVI 'i ver i an d cleanse tne sys tem of impurities. They % \ should always be used witn * \ " Golden Medical Discov- JLf/ when there is need of THE ROYAL BOX. Princess Frederick Leopold, sister of the German empress, is an almost tireless skater. Recently the king of the Belgians or dered a motor gypsy van to cost £O,OOO It will contain three rooms —a parlor, a bedroom and a servants' room—and will develop a speed of 45 miles an hour. It is announced that though King Ed ward VII will hold no drawing rooms this year there will he held some courts for which invitations will be issued. The or dinary drawing rooms and levees will be resumed in lliOi Many people Imagine that the Duke of Cornwall and York's children have been royal highnesses frojn their birth. The Idea is erroneous. As a matter of fact, It is only since the death of Queen Vic toria that they are entitled to be so called. Prince Frederick William of Germany, upon whom King Edward recently con ferred the Order of the Garter, is the heir apparent to the German imperial throne and the eldest son of the emperor. He will be 110 years old on May ft and is a manly youth with brusque, soldierly ways mid a sturdy frame. Fie is al ready taller than his father and is the Idol of the German regiment in which he is an officer. BRAKES AND COUPLINGS. The Bukhara branch of the Central Asia railway will be opened for traffic in May. The cost of construction is placed at 600,000 rubles, an expense borne by the ameer of Afghanistan. The new president of the Burlington system was an ofllce boy originally, and eo was the prospective general manager. The Burlington has elevated many office boys to executive positions. A Parisian engineer has recently fin ished a plan according to which the Span ish railroads terminating in Gibraltar will be connected, by means of a tunnel cross ing under the strait of Gibraltar, with the future railroad lines of Morocco. Recently a company has been organ ised to build a railroad from Vancouver eastward through the Kootenai raining district. The government of British Co lumbia will probably give a subsidy of •4,000 per mile for 330 miles. The coun try to be opened by the new road is one of the richest in mineral wealth in Brit ish Colombia. ~ 80ME OLD TIMERS. Dr. Jesse C. Green of West Chester, Pa., 84 years old, is said to be the oldest active wheelman in the country. Daniel Wark, a Dominion senator from Fredericton, N. 8., is said to be the oldest legislator in the world. He was 07 on Feb. 19. Former Governor Boutwell of Massa chusetts is the only living man who was the executive of a state 50 years ago. He was only 31 years old when in 1851 he was inaugurated governor of Massa chusetts. Former Chief Judge Logan E. Bleckley of Ceorgia has matriculated at the State university for a course in mathematics. He is 7t5 years old and engaged on a hook, part of which treats of a brunch of mathematics in which, as he says, he has "grown rusty." Timothy T. Sawyer, the president of the Bunker Hill National bank of Charlestown, Mass., is the oldest bank president in New England. He has been connected with the institution over 50 years and has been its president since 1884. He is now S4, hut attends to ull his duties at the bank. George W. Putnam, a descendant of the fumous Revolutionary general, is said to be the oldest railroad mail clerk in the country. He was appointed by IJncoln in 1801 and has been in the service ever since. His home is in West field. 0., but his "run" is between Ashtabula and Oil City, on a branch of the Lake Shore roatl. During a recent speech in congress Senator Morgan, with a brief intermis sion, was on his feet for six hours, talk ing steadily. lie is 77 years old; but, to quote his own language, he is not as rapid in his action and speech as hi> col league, Senator I'ettus, who is 80 years old. "I cannot keep up as closely with the procession," he said. "I only stagger along." Hrs. Gilbert and Angmtln Daly. "The pleasanteat recollections of thy atage life are those connected with the governor," said Mrs. John Gilbert. "We never called him Mr. Daly—that 18, we older ones, who knew him well. "He never bothered much with Jim Lewis and myself. He had more trou ble with John Drew and Ada Itehan. They were young and needed looking after, you know. "He was very set In his waj'S, and if he took a fancy to a piece of stage fur niture he Invariably Introduced It Into every play. He had a pair of large, dark blue majolica vases which were the bane of my life. They were alwuj B placed near a doorway In such a man ner that you had to have the dreadful things always on your mind or you would run Into them. "I had complained several times to the governor and begged him to put them in the storeroom, but he had tak en a fancy to them, and they remained. "Well, one day I did knock one of them down, and It was smashed to bits. The governor never said a word, but he looked volumes. He was arranging the Interior for a new play a few days later, and In one scene I had to faint on a lounge. " 'Tom,' he said to the stage hand, '■ee that that lounge Is good and strong, for Mrs. Gilbert Is very gawky, and It would ruin the scene If she smashed It when she fainted.' "That was all, but I knew that he knew how that vase was broken."— New York Herald. WORK FOE WOMEN. TRAINING IS NECESSARY IN MOST OCCUPATIONS NOWADAYS. Scekeri Kor Kmploy infill Mu«t Have Special lonn Women'* Work Now luii't What It Wa« In Our Grandraulhcra' Day*. In sccial walks of life one is almost daily confronted with seekers after em ployment. Particularly is the fact notice able by women among women in this time, when so inuuy of the gentler sei are forced to earn their own living. OL the other hand, statements in print, as well as verbal, call attention to the fad that there are not enough capable peopli for the positions ri juiriug capability ol their respective kinds, and that there if "room at the top." In other words, tlu latter assertion points to the fact thai skilled labor, not to say specialism, it every department of work is one of th« most essential qualifications of success ii gainful occupations. Unfortunately women nearing middW age or older who find themselves sudden ly east adrift upon their own resources have not the training which commands a place and a price in this scientific pe riod. The conditions of their early lift in all likelihood did not tend to afford training along any particular line. Twc generations ago, perhaps, there were skilled needlewomen and v omen who could spin yarn and weave fabrics and knit their own stockings, nil of which were feminine accomplishments quite as laudable in their time as a knowledge of stenography and double entry book keeping or the acquisition of a degree of B. S. or A. M., by which one may earn her bread and butter. To account for the chnnges reasons are a-plenty, while cold facts exist. In the first pluce, weaving, spinning and other domestic occupations have gone into fac tories. In the second place, a considera tion to be viewed carefully in looking at the industrial conditions today is this: Parents half a century ago worked hard for that share of this world's goods which they accumulated in America, and they felt that their children should be spared as much or all of the drudgery of life, and should live in ease and luxury If possible. Apropos of the above, the following, taken from the current number of The Queen, is of interest: "Everybody affirms that training is the password to the good places of life; no body quite believes it, because the state ment is made so often. Yet, neverthe less, it is true. Only each of us must rediscover the truth for herself. Re cently, with an extremely open mind and certain materials before me, I set out to Inquire why a particular set of women had had difficulty in obtaining work. They were women who during a certain three months had called at the central bureau for the employment of women Intending to hare their names entered upon the register aB candidates for immediate employment. The secre tary, who from abundant experience of women workers knows almost at once the kind of applicant for whom she is likely to be able to secure an engage ment, fonnd herself obliged to decline the registration fees which these appli cants would have paid, though to each she gave some suggestion or pieee of advice which, if taken, might lead to ultimate registration and an engagement. There were during the three months al luded to 238 of these unregisterable women in all. "The curiosity," says the author, "which I always feel about the human story, mingled with the hope of finding ■ome new variant of it, led me to inquire with some eagerness into the causes which had prevented these particular applicants for work from attaining the object of their desire, or, at least, of their ostensible desire. I brought to this investigation, as I have said, an open mini, though if I permitted myself any wish in the matter it was that I might discover some less hackneyed reason than want of training for the compara tive failures I was about to analyze. Turning to the records of these 238, I found that in several cases there had been more than one reason why an in dividual had been judged ineligible for employment. "In more than a third of the total number of cases under consideration want of training was quite dearly the real hindrance to employment. That the work sought by these untrained women was in many instances extremely indefi nite did not help matters, there being at the present time little demand for vague service. Forty-two of the untrained did not know what they wanted to do or to be. The others stated that they wished to act as secretaries, housekeep ers, companions, matrons, nursery gov ernesses and special teachers, dispensers or to do needlework, charitable, artistic or domestic work. In short, all these, with the exception of the would be cham pions, aspired to do work for which spe cially cultivated qualifications are nuces sary, not having developed their abilities at all in the required directions, for house keepers, matrons, nursery governesses, charitable workers, domestic workers and the rest are wanted, only they must be workers of specific and well defined classes. It may be pointed out that such other difficulties as those arising from family or financial circumstances or from indefinite occupations are only really the training difficulty in another guise, and I should be bound to admit that such is the case. And those who are inefficient relatively to employment selected, though they may not be untrained or unedu cated, have obviously not been prepared in the right way for the occupations which they have wished to follow." There cannot then be much doubt that want of adequate training is a very grave hindrance to a large number of women iu their search for employment, since such figures quoted from the records of a single employment society could cer tainly be matched or surpassed by many other registries and labor bureaus — Brooklyn Eagle. To Wanh Woolens. No part of the laundry work is, as a rule, so unsatisfactory as the washing of the woolen garments. The structure of wool fiber is so different from that of linen and cotton that it should receive different treatment in the laundry. Rub bing and wringing cause the wool fibers to knot, thus giving us a thickened and shrunken fabric; therefore woolen goods should be sopped and squeezed to remove the dirt, and the water should be pressed out, not wrung out. HOUSEHOLD HINTS. When a room has a low ceiling, put the curtain poles as high up as possible and let the curtains hang straight down to the floor. If the poles extend a foot on either side of the window, the curtains will draw right back by day and need no looping. Flimsy silk that has gone into a multi tude of age wrinkles may be smoothed out and restored to something like its original freshness by sponging it with gum arabic water. Sponge the right sidt of the silk and when it is almost dry iron the wrong side. Mahogany furniture which has become slightly clouded may have its polish re stored by the use of a dressing made bj mixing four tablespoonfuls of turpentine with four of sweet oil, adding one tea spoonful of lemon juice and ten drops ol ammonia. Shake thoroughly before ap plying. It Saved His Leg. P. A. Danfortb, of LaHrange, Ha., suffered for six months with a frightful running sore ou his leg; but writes that Buckleu's Arnica Halve wholly cured it in five days. For Ulcers, Wounds, Piles, it's the best salve in the world. Cure guaranteed. Only 25c. Sold by Panics & Co. druggist. All Are CURED with # Dr. David Kennedy's 112 avorite Remedy. yp It is good for Kidney, Bladder and [ Urinary ailments, which it cures quickly. Constipation yields at once. All Blood Diseases are Kidney Disease and Rheuma- tism. She suffered so she could not turn over in bed. VU 1 "^y Four bottles of Dr. David Kennedy's FAVORITE REMEDY completely cured her. That was two years ago and there has been no return of either trouble. H a botth. Peace Prospect* In South Africa. | Negotiations have l>een going on for a Week or more between Great Britain's military and civil representatives in South Africa and representative burgh ers of what were lately the two Dutch republics looking toward the establish ment of peace. Great Britain is apparently anxious to end, upon any terms which do not involve humiliation, a war which has cost her so much of treasure and blood and in which there has been added so little of luster to Anglo-Saxon arms. The cost of the war in money has been enormous, something like a quarter of the total cost to the United States of our civil war, in which more than ten times as many men took part and which lasted more than twice as long. But there has been a still greater cost, and that is in the loss of prestige, which will make it necessary for the British empire hereafter to do by actual force what she could have done be fore by moral influence in so many matters of Imperial import j. The obstinate resistance of the -Boers against overwhelming odds in num bers and equipment, which they defied, should and doubtless will be an im portant factor in the terms of flnal peace, but Just how far Great Britain will go in the direction of conciliation is another niatter. The duration of the peace, if it shall now be finally effect ed, will, however, depend largely upon the spirit with which Great Britain conducts the negotiations and the con ditions which she exacts from her late foes. It must be remembered that the great majority of the whites in South Africa are of the Afrikander race and that those not in war against Great Britain were mainly in hearty sympa thy with the fighting burghers. If the struggle had been between the whites of Dutch descent and those of British and all other descents actually resident in South Africa, it would have speedily ended In a victory for the former. The numerical supremacy of the Dutch seems destined to remain for an indefi nite time. It is therefore necessary for permanent peace that the terms which are understood to be now under nego tiation shall be such as the Boers can live under contentedly. The alterna tive, short of an overwhelming British immigration, which seems out of the question, is another war as soon as the burghers feel strong enough to make it A treaty of peace predicated upon other than the most concllatory lines would soon be broken, and even after a conciliatory treaty is effected it will require the utmost discretion on the part of Great Britain to smooth the bit ter animosities and race prejudices which the war engendered and intensi fied. It is likely to be a long time be fore the Boers will content themselves with the change from citizens of sov ereign states to subjects of an alien empire. SnlMn Women. It Is odd to encounter brisk, business like, energetic young Mexicans talking American college slang. They do this, and they know our social customs and like them. They all speak with pleas ure of the liberty of the American girl and would like to change some cus toms here. Time is a modifier, and already one finds many More-Spanish customs dropping into desuetude*. Young women In this capital go about alone to a much greater extent than was the case a few years ago. There la a perceptible feminine revolt against the old restrictions. Many young wo men are employed In shops and public offices. This is a novelty in a Latin- American country. I met a young woman the other day walking down the street, and she told me she was studying typewriting and shorthand adapted to Spanish, with a view of earning her own living. Her manner was a fine blending of the Latin grace and the American inde pendence. A little girl of 10 said the other day that she was going to learn English and be a "business woman." In a provincial city a fortnight ago a wealthy and enterprising Mexican gen tleman, whose home is a charming reproduction of a great Andaluslan casa, told me of his plans for his eldest daughter. She Is now in a great re ligious school, where government standards of instruction are the rule. "I am," said this busy Mexican, "go ing to have my daughter learn teleg raphy, typewriting and bookkeeping, and she Is going to be in charge of all my accounts. She Is now learning English well and will know French. It Is my belief that we Mexicans must throw off the foolish notions of the dependence of women and teach them how to be independent and able to earn their own living in case of need. My property may vanish, and my girl must be superior to the vicissitude# of fortune."—City of Mexico Letter. BROKEN CHINA. In China it is a case of the Russian soldier following the Russian railroad.— St. l'uul Globe. If Russia has broken faith with the powers, their submission to the injury will aggravate rather than lessen the se riousness of the situation. —Providence Journal. There was a time when a meineuto from China was an honest article of vir tu. Today it carries with it the sugges tion of rapine and spoliation that is a dis grace to civilization.—Chicago Times- Herald. A war between England and Russia would be too serious a matter to be un dertaken lightly. Neither nation wants to fight, and even if they did neither is in a financial condition to do so.—Kansas City Star. Russia counts Manchuria now as not Chinese but Russian territory, and that is what it is, whether the rest of the world likes it or not. Northern Asia is logically within the Russian lines, and Great Britain, Germany, the United States and Japan might as well recognize accomplished facts. The convention with China does not niatter very much. lius . slan occupation is the decisive fact- Buffalo Commercial. AN UNEXPLAINED IMPULSE. Thnt of Some Person* lo I.enp "When l.uoklnK Don n From lliuli I'laccn. "The strange temptation to cast them selves into spaee which assails so man; people when they look down from high places is very hard to account for scien tifically," said a well known neurologist of this city. "It has undoubtedly been the cause of hundreds of cases of selt destruction, yet it certainly cannot be classed as a suicidal impulse, because those who experience it invariably resist with all their strength and hang back in an agony of dread and repulsion. They don't want to kill themselves, but some power stronger than will, stronger even than love of life, draws them irresistibly over the brink. "People with this singular infirmity." continued the doctor, "should never ex pose themselves to danger, because the impulse acts automatically and inay at any moment pass beyond control. On one occasion, when I was considerably younger than I am at present, I under took to cure a patient who couldn't loot from a height, and the experience left an everlasting impression on my mind. lit was a big, strapping fellow of 35 or so, a cabinet maker by trade and the last man apparently to be bothered by nerv ous fancies. I had an idea that by mak ing him look persistently into space for a certain length of time each day I could drive away the dread and the impulse, So I took him to the top of a six storj building that had a flat roof and told him to lie down on his stomach so only the upper part of his face projected over the edge and look at the street. lie was very reluctant to try it. 'l'm afraid to, doc tor,' he said earnestly. 'lf I do, my legs will fly up in the air, and I'll go ovei sure.' " 'Oh, nonsense!' I said, laughing. 'Hotv in the world could your legs fly up in tin air? How can you possibly fall whet your whole body is stretched out flat or the roof?' "'I don't care,' he insisted doggedly. 'I know my legs will fly up in the air il I try to look over the edge.' "After a great deal of persuasion 1 finally induced him to lie down as 1 had directed, telling him to shut his eyes until he became composed. As soon as lit opened them and looked into the street t strong shudder ran through his whole body, and I knew he must be suffering mortal agony, but I was determined to gc through the lesson and urged him strong ly not to draw back. Possibly a minute elapsed, and then a shocking thing oc curred. Suddenly and without the slight est warning he seized the edge of the parapet with both hands, drew his body violently forward, at the same time fling ing up his legs, and would undoubtedly have gone over the edge if 1 had not thrown myself instantly on his back. "The movement was purely convulsive and involuntary, lie could no more hell it than he could help breathing, but it made my blood run cold to think what might have happened. How could I have explained myself had he fallen? 1 might readily have been suspected ol murder. I dragged liim back, and we went down stairs, a pretty badly agitated couple. Since then I have tried no more experiments along that line." New Or leans Times-Democrat. A Legend of the Snlty Sea. There are hundreds of queer mytha and traditions given to account for the fact that the sea is salt. The Arabs Bay that when the first pair sinned tliey were living In a beautiful garden on a tract of land Joined to a mainland by a narrow neck or isthmus. When it be came known to the Holy One that hl.i people had sinne-d, he went to the gar den for the purpose of driving them out and across the narrow neck of land Into the patch of thorns and brambles on the other side. Anticipating what would be the consequence of their hei nous crime, they bad prepared to leave their be-autiful garden and had actually gone so far as to send the children and goats across into the thicket. When the Holy One appeared on the Bcene, the first pair started to run, but the woman looked back. For this the man cursed her and for such a crime was almost immediately turned Into a block of salt. Compare with Genesis xix, 20. The woman, more forgiving than her husband, stooped to pick up the shapeless mass of salt, when imme diately the narrow neck of land began to crack and break. As she touched what had once been her companion she, too, was turned to salt just as the neck of the land sank and the waters rush ed through. From that day to this, the Arabs say, all the waters of the ocean have rushed through that narrow chan nel at least once a year, constantly wearing away the salt of what was once our first parents, yet the bulk of the two salty objects is not diminished in the least. To Woo Sleep. Sip a glass of hot milk slowly just be fore going to bed ami bathe the feet in hot water. Imitate the breathing <>f one who is asleep and drop the head Very slowly from one side to the other as o :> does when falling asleep in a chair, says the Philadelphia Inquirer. Another plan is to close the eyes and then allow them to gently roll toward the nose as though looking cross eyed. I.et the breath out through the nose and imagine it to be vapor; then seem to draw it back again, as though drawing back the vapor. Tliesi> are far better than the ancie>nt device of counting sheep jumping over an imaginary fence. When desirious of serving spinach cold, cook, chop fine, season with a tablespoon ful of lemon juice, half a tablespoonfu! of salt, a quarter of a teaspoonful of pepper; pack at once into e'gg cups and stand away to cool. When ready to serve, turn the*se out on thin slices of cold boiled tongue or slices of cooked turnip. Serve as a salad with I' rene-h dressing. Philanthropy. "Yes, sir," said the well dressed man as he stopped to buy a paper from a ragged newsboy and again turned to his companion, "if 1 had the money, my charities would be boundless." "Well, come oil," said his friend im patiently. "What are you waiting for?" "Why, I'm waiting for the change from my nickel." answered the philanthropic one in injured tones. —Indianapolis Sun. Old Soldier's Experience. M. M. Austin, a civil war veteran, of Winchester. Ind.. writes: "My wife was sick a long time in spite of good doc tor s treatment, but was wholly cured by I)r. King's New Lift? Pills, which worked wonders for her health. They always do- Try them. Only 250 at Parties & Co's drug store. ITEMS OF INTEREST. Of the cities Laving over 100,000 pop illation only 13 liad a postotHee in 1800. The first lectures ever given by a wo man were delivered by Fanny Wright in 1828. The Swiss cabinet consists of seven members, each of whom draws $2,400 per annum. A century ago farmers reaped their grain with sickles, two acres being a good day's work. It is stated that there are 80,000 bar maids in England, whose hours aver age 14 daily for a wage of 10 shillings per week. Many Londoners insist that their ap petite lias improved since electricity was applied to some of the under ground railways. It is believed to gen erate ozone. The door by which the president of the republic, the king of Sweden, the shah and other distinguished visitors were in the habit of entering the Paris exhibition has been sold for SGO. Sardinia is celebrated for the tombs which prove that prehistorically it was Inhabited by great giants. Recently four new tombs have been found which contain skeletons over nine feet long. The skylark that Shelley has immor talized was not, it appears, the Eng lish bird it has always been supposed to be. It has been discovered that the blithe creature in question was heard in the lanes of Leghorn. The circulation of The Congressional Record has now reached the 2t!,000 mark. This includes numbers deliver ed gratuitously to members and sena tors and newspapers and those sent to regular subscribers, of whom there is a small but select list. James Parsons, a Philadelphia law yer who died about a year ago. owned an estate extending for a mile and a quarter along the ocean front of New Hampshire. Following out his death bed, wish, his children have given to the state a strip of this land along the shore 100 yards wide to further the project of a boulevard along the coast line of the state. " THE BLACK VENUS. An r*ly Stone FWtnre Womhlped by PraaantH of Brittany. Even false religions die hard, and there are reminders of all extinct faiths still existing in the world. One of the most curious relics of paganism which are still worshiped in a Chris tian country is the gigantic black stone figure of a woman which is to be found in a forest of the district of Morbihan, in Brittany. It is known as the "Black Venus," but probably dates far back of the time when the Greeks and Romans worshiped that goddess. Antiquarians assert that this ugly idol belongs to the age of the serpent worshipers, one of whose subterranean temples is in the neighborhood. This would make the figure far older than the Christian era. The statue is that of a huge, un couth woman, with a sullen, angry countenance, her form enveloped In a loose mantle. The superstitious Bretons have al ways worshiped the figure, asserting that it has power over the weather and the crops. If the idol is neglected, they declare that the grain dies on the ear, and if the anger of the black woman is further roused a tidal wave sweeps over Morbihan. Twice the stone was cast Into the sea by pious folk who hoped thereby to put an end to this idolatry, and twice the peasants drugged it back and set up an altar before it. About two centuries ago Count Pierre de Lannion, on whose estate the figure stood, in order to save the statue from both friends and enemies, dragged it by 40 yoke of oxen to his own chateau and set it up in the courtyard. He cut an inscription on the base of the pedes tal. declaring the figure to be a Venus carved by Ca;sar's soldiers. The count and his chateau are both gone, but the huge black woman, over grown with moss, still stands in the forest, and the peasants still beseech her to bless their crorts. CATARRH Nothing l.ut it loea BAINIB remedy or cbaniteo J^iyarrCOLuK Hi,,.ate will cure ■ CATARRH The spec! lie* IN Ely's Cream Balm Jt is quickly a b sorbed. Gives K e>« am ppurD lief at one?. Open HAY FEVER and cleanses the Nasal Passages. Allays Inflammation. Heals and Protects the Membrane. Restores the Senses of Taste and Smell. No Mercury. No In jurious drug. Regular Size, 50 cents: Family Size, SI.OO at druggists or by mail. ELY BROTHERS, 56 Warren Street New York. Red I Suppressed NUnstruatlM UrOSS PAINFUL *1" i _^. f Menstruation I anSV And a PREVENTIVE lor ■ I FIMALE -J ■■■ IRREGULARITIES 111 Are Safe and Reliable.' * ■" I f^^PerfecttgJtannleM The Ladies' ?RICESi.oO Sent postpaid on receipt of nF price. Money refunded if not as . * y - Yin de Cinchona Co. Des Moines, lowa. HANDIEST AND BEST WAY TO A PAN IS BY THE BBS 'iw^«— inn 1 Handiest gn? Best Route between PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION and NEW YORK is the IjSSgßj For Information, Rates, etc., address I InM ImAIM 11 11' l 429 BROADWAY, N V. 209 MAIN ST., BUFFALO. 10) ADAMS ST., CHICAGO. ■■PJ'MMHUVVM CIGMTH AOUVt BTS., ST LOUIS 20 EXCHANGE FLACK. N. V. ■fTTI |7|tTFj H[ T. E. CLARKE. T. W. LEE, B. D. CALDWELL. Gen'l Superintendent. Gen'l Passenger Ag't. Traffic Manager. D. L. &W. RAILROAD, TIME TABLE. In Effect September Ist, 1899 . GOING WEST ; : |H I _ NEW YOKK. P M A M (> M Barclay St. Lv. v 1 '0 oo • ••• Cristopher St.. j B gy! ! lu oo • ••• Hobokcn j y Seranton Arj | j i i Idaily PM ; Tyj A i ».M. ' 336£ SORANTOM " 110 00 561 »*V „ if, Bellevue j • » Jo:s S Taylorville 10 l 5 2M; 112 ti K Lackawanna 10 23 *J" 2 6lt Duryea 10 26 *ftJ ~ e u Pitmon jlO 3] j> 7 J ~ ... Susquehanna Ave... 10 36j 112 40«6 3C West Plttston fls *»■*£«» Wyoming 70'10 14 i .V" t> at Forty tort . ... .... Bennett " 10 581 2»> ;%<«'« Kingston 10 66 Kingston 10 irfi 244 ! ti a Plymouth June... . 847 * sa, Plymouth., 1105 2 W •' 7 i Chul&Bky j Cameron 8 38 j NOBTHDMBBBL'D... 826 10 00 160 651 Lv A.M.: A.M. P. M.!*« *• IP.* Connections at Rupert with Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Tor Tamanend, Tamaqua Williamsport, Sunbury, Pottsville, etc. Al Northumberland with F and E. Dlv. F. R. R. foi Harrisburg. Lock Haven, Emporium, Warrer Corry, and Erie. PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD, TIME TABLE In Effect h 18thj 190. IA M |A.M. PM,P. M Seranton(D&H)lv g 8 45| 59 38 218§4 27 Plttston " " | 708f1000 §2 42 452 ~~ A.M. A.M. PTM.'P.M Wilkesbarre,.. lv § 7 30 §lO 35 § 3 08 58 00 Plym'th Ferry " 112 7 37;f 10 42 112 3 18 fe 07 Nanticoke " 7 48' 10 50 328 817 ] Mocanaqua .... "| 804 11 07 348; 837 Wapwallopen.. " 8 13 ! 11 16 3 56; 847 ' Nescopeck ar 824 11 26 407 700 ; A.M. I P.M. P.M. Pottsville lv 8 5 s(ij #l2 01? Haileton " 7 05! 2 00] 550 Tomhicken " 7 22! 218 6 10" Fern Glen " 7 29; 227 618 " Rock U1en:...." 7 35! 234 625 Nescopeck ar 8 00! 3 00j 650 Catawlssa.. .ar A. M A.M P.M. P M Nescopeck lv § 8 24 §ll 2fl K 4 07 27 00 Creasy " 833 11 36 416 709 Espy Ferry.... " 112 8 43| 11 46 112 4 24 7 20 ; E. Bloomsburg, " 8 4"' 11 50 429 725 Catawlssa ar 856 11 57 435 782 Catawlssa lv 856 11 57 435 732 •••••« South Danville '• 9 14, 12 15 4 53. 751 Sunbury 41 935 12 40 5 15| 815 •••••• A. M. P. M. P. MjlvM. Sunbury lv || 9 42 5 1 10 § 5 45 jg 40 Lewlsburg.... ar 10 13 145 818 Milton " 10 08; 139 814 904 Williamsport.. " 11 00 230 7 10 950 Lock Haven... " 11 69 340 807 Renovo " A.M.! 440 900 Kane " | 825 P.M. P.M. Lock Haven..lv gl2 10 3 3 45 Bellefonte ....ar 1 05H 4 44! Tyrone " 215 # 6 00! PhillpHburg " 441 \'i 8 28, Clearfield.... " 637 i 9 09! Pittsburg.... " 655 111130 A.M. P.M. P.M. P M Sunbury lv | 9 60 Si 1 55; J 5 25 B8 31 Harrisburg.... ar |ll 30 § 3 15J 6 55| 10 10 P.M. P. M. P. M. A M Philadelphia., ar } 3 17 1 ;! 823 ||lo 20 F4 25 Baltimore "I§ 3 11 !| 8 00 i 9 45 2 30' Washington ... " § 4 10 j, 7 16 10 55 4 05 IA.M.IP, M.I Sunbury lvi§lo 00 S 2 03j Lewistown Jc. ar; U 40i 3 50j Pittsburg "j 6 55j§1l 30j A.M.iP, M.jP. M. P~M | Harrisburg.... lv 211 46 || 3 46 |[ 7 20 §1025 P.M. 1 A. M. AM! Pittsburg ar;| 6 55|||1130j|| 1 50| 5 30| P. M. P M A M A M Pittsburg lv « 7 10 a 8 30 il 3 00 |8 00 ... A.M A M P M Harrisburg.... ar J 1 55 | 3 40 (| 9 30 1| 3 10 ... AM A M Pittßbuig lv 4* 00 Lewistown J:. " 7 30 \ 3 !0 Sunbury ar i 9 20 \ 6 00 P. M. A M A MAM ~~ Washington... lv jlO 40 II 7 s') ilO 50 Baltimore «' ill 41 | 450 840 11 45 Philadelphia... " |ll 20 j 4 23 8 8 30 Jl2 26 A. M. AM A. M. P M Harrisburg.... lv | 3 35 J 7 55 gll 40 jj 4 00 Sunbury ar