rE,
OT.»
y Life That
ve you on
no ‘‘cateh,”
if you can
ng, it avill
ly, that you
tion abeve
t that nine
ell offhand
are te
on every
ry evening.
\ny persons
vers of ob-
itiply such
ctent. It is
nan, exeept
s not Know
in any par-
house, even
hose stairs
the faculty
That he
hy the feats
daily ih his
ation.
head hun-
a shipping
es, a shep-
idual sheep
1 hundred.
CW persons
1tside their
erhaps mno-
plified than
a man sus-
en by three
1borer, said
ather short
1 mustache,
thes and a
1688, 4 Wo-~
was above
. beard and
, and wore
e was: not
re light in
ler laborer,
was short,
beard and
'n coat and
ly for the
ut that the
rit would
matter to
riptions, to
£ light on
f evidence,
as recently
essor Von
rel in Lis
is students,
tudents to
event was
he quarrel
ous excite-
put a stop
ectured on
meantime
ze who had
rrel.
e well-edu-
nony ot no
fewer than
» named as
in which,
concerned.
tol was ac-
ly all, but
versions of
t which it
Ss way of
s described
s,”” Profes-
lents, after
is inquiry.
see. It is
mpede the
oISOnNsS are
like your-
ed the eye
lige.
nstrueiion
Quebec a
'n compiet-
pan of any
excluding
he Korth
tructure is
consists of
feet each,
t in length,
S00 feet in
the. bridge
n extreme
pare with
which is
th, it has
he longest
y feet, the
‘th Bridge
gth. ‘I'he
ighty feet,
a double
s for vehi-
n a canti-
individual
huge pro-
* instaace,
and each
ic Anmeri-
de
d can see.
eiand,
rice or the
kid.
er, nor. of
ving been
—Chicago
e training
atra from
", the last
from the
nnounced
* Wilhelm
vanadium
“4
.
Tricks of Manner,
« What old-fashioned folk called
¥tricks” of speech or manner are de-
plorably easy to assume and extreme-
ly difficult to break off. Several to
which girls are more or less prone are
these: Repetition of a sentence or
the point of a story, telling it over
again almost in the same breath, the
usage of “you know” or “don’t you
know,” for emphasis and beginning a
Jaugh with such haste that it entangles
itself in the speech and the final words
are delivered in a giggle. All these
and similar mannerisms may be more
readily dropped in youth than later in
life, and every girl would be wise to
watch herself lest she fall into them
or their like.
Ugly High Heels,
are much mistaken in
that high heels make the
foot look smaller. As a matter of
fact, they make it look far larger, as
it is compressad into an ugly, fat mass
that swells out over the top of the
shoe in anything but a graceful man-
mer. To 1 the foot in a well fit-
ting shoe ne size that properly be-
longs to it and to wear low heels .is
the best way to preserve the foot in
perfect health. If you wish the foot
to appear small by perfectly natural
means always wear black kid or satin.
‘A white shoe should never be worn
except where the foot is faultless in
shape and small to look at.—
Bridgeport Telegram.
Women
thinking
very
Your Daily Hour.
Every woman, whatever her work
or whatever her station in life, should
adopt the rest cure, which is indeed
a preventive rather than a remedy.
At least one hour of the day should
be spent absolutely in recreation. .
The manner in which this recreaticn
is obtained must differ according to
the person. What is recreation to one
woman is work to another.
For the woman who is constantly
among people, who is nervous and
overtaxed mentally and physically and
seldom free from the demands of peo-
ple near her one hour a day in the
open air, absolutely by herself, will
prove beneficial. She should spend
that hour alone and at rest.
For the woman who is alone and at
rest, there mu
ment. She should for an hour each
day seek the society of those who in-
terest and entertain her. If every
woman who is much alone and conse-
quently subject to fits of depression
would practice this sixty-minute cure.
there would be little melancholia and
less insanity in the world.
* The woman who is on her feet all
day should lie down for an hour daily.
A self study will convince any woman
of her individual needs during the rest
hour. Each will find something rest-
ful to do. If the day comes when the
rest hour seems absolutely impossible
be especially careful to observe the
hour on that day for it is at such
times most needed.
* The woman who will keep young
and beautiful and happy will adopt
this method of living. She will make
it as much a part of her life as she
makes her religion.—Pittsburg Press.
Disappointment in Stageland.
A friend who had an engagement
with Henry W. Savage, the theatrical
manager, called at his New York of-
fice, one day last summer, to keep the
‘appointment, and was told that Mr.
{Savage was busy and that he would
‘have to wait in the outer office a few
minutes. While this gentleman was
waiting he was astonished to notice
the number of young women who
came in seeking positions, and later
he asked Mr. Savage if he knew about
how many young women called every
day looking for work.
#0, I don’t know,” said Mr. Savage;
“] suppose about a hundred or so.”
«I think it is more than that num-
ber,” said his friend. “Suppose you
have them counted.”
“All right,” replied Mr. Savage, ‘I
should like to know, too, and to-mor-
row, between my office hours,—ten and
three,—I will place a clerk at the out-
er desk and ask him to keep record
on a tally sheet of every young woman
who calls for stage employment.”
On the following afternoon at three
o'clock, Mr. Savage called his clerk.
The tally sheet showed that the num-
ber of applicants was OVer five hun-
dred.
Mr. Savage's
ber of large of
Many of the g
they have come from all
country, and m
ig only one of a num-
Tices in the metropolis.
1s who call state that
yarts of the
for a
chance in the imate” , have
found it over led and seek work
of a lower gra in the burlesque com-
panies. This year, New YC has been
filled: with hundreds of d appointed
stage-struck girls. Theatrical man-
y that they have never known
there were so many
looking for work. A vecent advertise
ment for chorus girls, in a New York
daily newspaper, brought over seven
thousand replies.—Success.
ager
a time
when
|
|
Black and White in Waists.
The woman who has a limited dress
allowance pins her faith on black and
white, and the white waists for wear
with white breadcloth or silk skirts
were-never more effective. Here the
three quarter sleeve is especially popu-
lar. Very girlish are the shirred and
corded waists evolved from chiffon,
net and mull, and while the shirring
in almost every instance runs around
tthe body, a long effect is given to the
garment by bringing each row of shir-
ring to a point back and front.
A very pretty example shows a V-
shaped yoke of fine tucks shirred
length-wise in white chiffon over silk.
The three-quarter puff sleeves are
shirred and tucked on horizontal lines,
ending at the elbow in double ruffles.
The tucking and shirring of the bod-
ice are also horizental, following the
V-shape of the yoke, and a draped
girdle comes to a similar point in the
front and is finished with two rosettes
at the back.
A dainty afternoon waist and one
of the few offered with a full length
sleeve, shows a mass of handiwork.
It is fashioned from Japancse grass
linen of exquisite sheerness, and fast-
ens in the back so that the elaborate
handiwork on the plain front is un-
broken. The yoke, built on irregular,
waving lines, is laid in very fine hand-
run tucks defined top and bottom with
narrow bouilionne bands of the linen
joined with fagoting in very fine
thread. Rows of fine tucking, narrow
bouilonnes and Valenciennes insertion
showing a coin spot are all joined to-
gether with fancy stitches to make
the body portion, while across the
front are sprays of lotus leaves and
blossoms buttonholed on the fine linen
cut out and appliqued upon the blouse.
The sleeve is split up the outside
seam to admit a soft, narrow puff of
the linen on which is set graduated
rues of tucking, edged with lace to
match the insertion.—Newark Adver-
tiser.
Fashicn’s Demands.
Fur-trimmed hats are legion.
Velvet is to be very popular this
season.
Velveteens are most satisfactory for
walking, as well as house dresses.
The stuffs this season are wonder-
fully beautiful in effect and in reality.
Mauve, violet and heliotrope are
stylish shades in evening gowns this
winter.
The brocades, the laces, the velvets
and the silks look to be worth a
king's ransom.
The feathers, the aigrettes, the
birds of paradise and the flowers are
fitting adjuncts.
Many of the new covert coats are
loose and long box garments, some-
times loosely belted, but oftener un-
confined.
Traveling and walking gowns of
covert cloth, short skirt and long jack-
et, are undeniably stylish and should
be very serviceable.
There is no reason why woman
should not be arrayed as sumptuously
as a lily of the field—but she must
have a gold mine to draw from.
The favorite skirt for tailormades
is multigored, flaring wide at the hem
from plaits let in at knee height or
from widening gores. Tall, Juno-like
women are affecting the latter sort
because of their graceful length of
unbroken lines.
A very beautiful mole turban was
seen lately. The fur was fulled in the
crown and put on smoothly over .the
rolling brim. On one side, for sole
trimming, was a bunch of red ostrich
tips, the color shading from a paie
red to very deep wine. :
Cashmere can be had in any num-
ber of shades, all of which are ex-
ceedingly good. Pale rose pink tur-
guoise blue, old rose, red, brown and
mouse color—these are but a few of
the many attractive shades to be had.
The material is exceptionally pretty
in the pale pastel tints so popular
this season.
The three-cornered hat is extremely
smart and is mede in rough felt or
beaver weil as velvet.™ The
width of the brim should be shaped
so as to be becoming to the individu-
al, otherwise the hat is not effective.
The trimming is either the cluster of
ostrich tips or the bunch of moss
roses, or two of the large, full blown
ones. and with folds of satin around
the crown.
as In
Two new street costumes in brown
velveteen were seen. One had a box:
plaited short skirt and a tight-fittin
round jacket with a postillion. T
vas on the shoulde and
opened in the front over a waistcoat
of golden brown cloth. This
plaited
ited
was
tened with brass buttons and ex
The
tended only to the belt.
were shirred below and
he cuff. The second
ited skirt with two cloth
tched above the hem. The
coat was striped with
Suit
TEE PULTPIT:
a SCHOLARLY SURDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. HERBERT H. MOTT.
Subject: Can a Man Do as He Likes?
Boston, Mass. — The following ser-
men was contributed to The Christian
Register by the Rev. Herbert H. Mott.
It is entitled “Can a Man Do as He
Likes?’ and the text is: “Choose you
this day who you will serve,”—Joshua
xxiv.,'15.
Can a man do. as he likes?
Of course not! you say. All sorts of
barriers hedge him round. He would
like to fly as the birds fly, but the
weight of his flesh and bones Keeps
plodding along the ground. He is born
poor or stupid; consequently he can
neither buy a steam yacht nor set the
Thames on fire, though he would like
dearly to do both. The force of public
opinion compels him to don a tall silk
_hat and a frock coat when he would
much prefer to go about in a golf cape
and a shooting jacket. The force of
public law compels him to run his auto
at ten miles an hour when he very
much wishes to spin along joyously at
the rate of thirty. Every man exists
under a set of compulsions. He is
obliged to submit to many limitations,
natural and: artificial, and he is com-
pelled, by pushes and pulls and press-
ures he is unable to resist, to do many
things he doesn’t want to do.
Nevertheless, in spite of a man’s ab-
ject slavery in certain directions, is
there not some small space, some little
area, in wanich, instead of being a
slave, he is actually and truly free? a
department of life and condact in
which he can do as he likes?
The old doctrine—the doctrine be-
lieved by our fathers, and by nearly
the whole of humanity, civilized and
uncivilized, in every part of the world,
from the beginning of recorded time—
vas that there is such a department of
life and conduct; that in all vital mat-
ters, in all matters that have to do
with the moral quality of life, a man
can do as he likes. Our fathers held
that, whenever we stand at a point
where two roads diverge, we are able
to choose, select, determine, which
road to pursue. In such a situation
the casting vote remains with us.
Whenever two or more governments,
leaders, employers, claimour. allegiance,
we can “choose whom we will serve.”
This is true, said our fathers, no mat-
ter how severe the pressure. The
temptation, urgency, force of circum-
stances, may be so great as to resem-
ble compulsion. It appears as if we
were obliged to take one road rather
than the other. This, said our fathers,
is appearance only. In reality, when-
ever two or more alternatives pre-
sent themselves, whenever two roads
open before us, the decision remains
with us. It is with us to say yes or
no. to lift the latch or not to lift it, to
take the left or the right. No matter
how great the pressure brought to
bear on us, in the last resort we can
always choose poverty instead of
riches, captivity instead of freedom,
suffering instead of ease, and instead
of life, rather than yield, if need be,
we can always choose death.
This is the old doctrine, and, al-
though it has stood both the test of
time and the test of experience, there
appears to be, in these days, a widely
spread tendency to ignore it. No one
denies that circumstances exercise a
powerful influence over our lives, but
the tendency nowadays is to ascribe
everything to circumstances.
It is related that the eminent natur-
alist, Professor Boulton, placed the
eggs of caterpillars in differently col-
ored boxes, and left them there to
hateh out, with the remarkable result
that the eggs in the blue box hatched
out into blue caterpillars, those in the
red box into red, and those in the yel-
low box into yellow caterpillars. They
were, you see, the product of their
surroundings, they were what the tint
of their surroundings made them. And
so, it is declared, are you and I; we
are what our surroundings and those
of our ancestors make us. We are the
planes of outside conditions, past and
present,
Here is a man who is an enemy of
society. He preys upon his kind. His
career is divided between debauchery
and other crimes. He is the victim,
the helpless victim, of outward circum-
stances, we are told. His mother was
a drunkard, his father was a thief.
He was reared in the slums. What
can you expect? True, he has been to
a reform school; true, he has been
helped and aided by various phiian-
thropic people whom he has merciless-
ly deceived. But he, poor fellow!
could not help himself. Like Profes-
sor Boulton’s caterpillars, he took on
the tint of his environment. Born in
a black box, he turns out black. His
surroundings were evil, therefore he
is evil.
Or, again, there is the hero who, like
Charles Lamb, gives up all, in order to
support some one dependent on him,
or surrenders life itself in order to
save the lives of others. We are told
the same story about the hero as about
the thief. He is not brave or self-de-
nying of his own accord. He is heroic
simply because the conditions in which
he was brought up were favorable to
heroism, and so heroism grew out of
his soul, just as cabbages grow out of
the soil when the soil contains the
seeds of cabbages.
Goodness and badness, heroism and
criminality, itis declared, do not re-
side in wus, but in our surroundings.
Ve are mere passive lumps of clay, on
which our surroundings stamp what-
‘ever is in them. We are the slaves and
victims of the conditions in the midst
of which we are. When we fancy we
are doing as we like, going our own
way, following our own wills, we are,
in reality, merely obeying the press 0
of circumstance. We are under a rigid
law of necessity all the time. Even
when we stand where two rv 3 di
3 e, and think at’ we 0
to take eft h:
101 reali]
choose, but a number
1 conditions, w
ga us,
that we are creatures
stance and cannot help what
isleading one. It tends to
{0S
se
right hand r
selves who
circumsts
on us and thro
{rine,
ourselves
we do wrong, oir
tempuation to us (
not. my fault. It
of education
2 d this will
doing—to a habit of thinking
of the exceeding sinfulness of
wrong
lightly
sin,
This
cult.to
evil doctrine is the more diffi-
combat because there is an ele-
ment of truth in it. We are moved
and swayed by circumstances. Birth
and education do exercise a powerful
influence over us. These things must
be taken into consideration. Never-
theless, they don’t explain everything.
Make what allowance you will for cir-
cumstances and education, still in
every - transaction we have the last
word. The proof of this is in our
daily conduct. We cannot help blam-
ing men and praising them.
Suppose you are on a Boston street,
and are accosted by an individual in
shabby garments. You are touched by
his tale of woe, and with your usual
generosity - you give him an ample
alms. Five minutes later (this inci-
dent is founded upon fact) in the crush
of a crowded corner, you feel an un-
wonted hand busy at your pocket, and,
turning round, discover in the would-
be thief the very man you have just
helped.
What do you think of this fellow?
Do you feel toward him as if he were
an invalid, a sick soul, a deluded vic-
tim of circumstance?
On the contrary, you regard — and
justly regard—the robust purloiner of
your pocketbook as an ungrateful
scoundrel, and, if you are a good citi-
zeny, you promptly and indignantly
hand him over to the police. Sorrow
and pity you no doubt experience, but,
will be righteous indignation. How-
ever many excuses your kind heart
makes for him, you will still blame
the man: for you will be convinced,
however bad his surroundings and his
bringing up, being a man, he could
have kept straight in spite of all, as
many another has done. You know, in
your soul, that, however great the ob-
stacles, being a man, he was still mas-
ter of himself. He might have chosen
differently. He might have taken the
right road instead of the wrong one, it
only he had tried hard enough. . You
feel, after all is said and done, he was,
in this matter, able to do as he liked.
Consequently, he is responsible. There-
fore, we blame him,
Take the opposite case, that of the
hero. We have all read recently how
the Japanese attempted to block the
entrance to Port Arthur by sinking
steamers in the channel. One of these
vessels had reached the appointed spot.
Her anchor had been let go. The fuse
attached- to the charge which was to
blow a hole in her had been lighted.
The officer in command ordered the
crew into the lifeboat, he himself be-
ing the last to leave the ship. A mo-
ment he stands on the gunwale, ready
to cast loose. He counts his men. One
is missing. Shall they leave him?
The officer has but an instant in which
to make up his mind. There is an in-
ward struggle between the rival im-
pulses of duty and self-regard. Then
he climbs again upon the shot-swept
deck to seek his lost comrade. Alas!
it is in vain. The next moment he is
killed by a Russian shell, and his crew
push off, only just in time to save
themselves.
Why do we regard this man as a
hero? Why was a public funeral held
in his honor by his countrymen? Why
do we praise him? Because we feel
the brave action was due to him, and
to no thing and no one else. Because
we feel that he stood where two ways
diverged—the way of duty and the way
of safety—and that he was master of
the situation. He determined which
road to take. Out of his own brave
will, out of his own courageous soul,
he chose the right way. The decision
lay not with circumstances, conditions,
previous training, or ancestry, but
with himself. We feel that he, and he
alone, was responsible, and that there-
fore to him, and to him alone, belongs
the credit and the praise.
We cannot help blaming the crim-
inal, we cannot help praising the
hero, but, if criminal and hero were
simply the victims of circumstance, to
do so would be meaningless. We have
no right to condemn the criminal if he
cannot help doing what he does. There
is no sense in honoring the hero if the
heroism is due to education or to sur-
rounding conditions; that is, to some-
thing other than the hero. : Yet we do
condemn the one, and we do give our
homage to the other. We cannot help
ourselves. The praise and the blame
we bestow are involuntary acknowl
edgment that, in spite of all the theo-
ries closet philosophers may spin,
there is an ineradicable conviction in
the human heart that sve are able, in
the last resort, to do as we like, and
that as a consequence we are. respon-
sible before God and man both for our
deeds and for our thoughts.
He Gives Grace.
“Bounteous is Jehovah in His na-
ture; to give is His delight. His gifts
are beyond measure precious, and are
as freely given as the light of the sun.
He gives grace to His elect because He
wills it, to His redeemed because of
His covenant, to the called because of
His promise, to believers because
they seek it, to sinners because they
need it. He gives grace abundantly,
seasonably, constantly, readily, sover-
eignly; doubly enhancing the value of
the boon by the manner of His be:
stowal. Reader, how blessed it is, as
the years roll round and the leaves
begin again to fall, to enjoy such an
unfading promise as this: ‘The Lord
will give grace.” "—3purgeon.
How to Win Souls For Christ.
Andrew teaches Christians still the
first lesson in soul-winning: = Go for
vour own brother. That is, try to bring
to Christ those whom you love, those
nearest to you. It makes no difference
whether the nearness of blood or
sympathy. You will succeed where
you love.
is
is to win the world by
alone—neighbor uene-
Lor. friend influencing friend.
leaven. One part of yeast
Christianity
*eSS
ike
{
|
i
|
| permeate two tl nd parts -of
h, but only > the parts
{ next to if, d its way
| tiene the mass
| The Worker's Reward.
An English drunkard said to a Salva-
i Army lassie, who spoke to him
his ] “You must be well
for. this. 1 suppose You expect
for getting
as half a cr
wi
> She replied:
er paid than that. I expect
whole crown, and there'll be
in it beside.
mingled with sorrow and pity there:
‘ing of the new game law, w
THE JUNGLES TERRORS
WILD BEASTS AND SNAKES EX-
ACT A HEAVY ANNUAL TRIB-
UTE.
The Total Loss of Life in India
Tarough the Depredations of the Ti-
ger and the Cobra Is Appauling—
Government Powerless Against Sup-
erstition. 3
It is popularly believed by English
people whose friends have recently
gone to India that the tiger and the
snake play an important and incon-
venient part in the domestic economy
of the Anglo-Indians, and that the per-
ils of life, already sufficiently numer-
ous by reasons of climate and epidem-
ics, are augmented by the aggressive-
ness of wild beasts and the insidiqus
ambushes of reptiles. To allay these
apprehensions the unqualified assur-
ance may be given that the majority
of Englishmen, and certainly most
English women, never see a;tiger dur-
ing their stay in India, and may in all
probability never see a poisonous
snake. In the great cities and the
larger civil and military stations,
where most of our countrymen pass
their lives, the houses are immune
from wild beasts and snakes, and even
in the mcre primitive and out-of-the-
way vlaces, in which British officers
sometimes spend their lonely exist
ence, the house is secure from the
maneater, and the premises, thanks to
the mongoose and the vigilant fox ter-
rier, are fairly free from snakes. If
ever there is an encounter with a
tiger it usually arises from no fault
of the tiger.
But the life of Europeans in India
is one thing; the life of the Iddians
is quite another matter. The aver-
age European, who observes a few ob-
vious precautions and treats the In-
dian sun with respect, will find the
conditions of life quite as healthy, if
not healthier, than those which are
found in Europe. His dress gives him
an immunity from snakes, and, as
some think, from plague, which the
bare-legged, bare-footed Indians do not
enjoy, and his place of residence and
habit of life do not expose him to dan-
gers from wild beasts.
Unhappily, in spite of the rapid
spread of roads and railways and the
enormous increase in cultivation, the
Indians in the villages, and even in the
small towns of © certain provinces,
every year offer a number of victims
to the tiger and the cobra and the
other wild beasts and snakes, which
they at once venerate and dread.
Scarcely a day passes without some
notice in the Indian press of the depre-
dations and loss of life caused by
tigers and leopards, and in spite of the
rewards offered by the government for
the destruction of dangerous animals
and poisonous snakes, the total loss
of human’ life and of cattle is deplor-
able.
Year by year a statement is pub-
lished showing the number of persons
and head of cattle killed by elephants,
tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, hyenas,
and other animals. Last year 24,576
persons and 96,226 cattle were killed.
In the case of human life the snake
is the more deadly, and 21,827 deaths
are attributed to snake bite. In the
case of cattle the destruction is
chiefly caused by wild beasts, which
have killed in one year over 86,000.
Leopards accounted for some 40,000,
tigers coming second with some 30,-
000. These figures only refer to Brit-
ish India, where, owing to the diffi-
culty of obtaining accurate statistics,
the total is probably well under the
mark, while if the figures for the Feu-
datory states—with an area of some
700,000 square miles and a population
of -62,500,000—were included the mor-
tality would be still more appalling
for the states are the natural home
of the tiger, leopard and bear.
In one district alone last year 48
people were killed by a single tigress.
While in another district of the Unit-
ed Provinces 113 deaths are credited
to one or two man-eating wolves..One
can understand the panic of the help-
less peasants and sympathize with
them, but it is very difficult to susg-
gest a remedy. In Bengal the vigor-
ous measures taken for the destruction
of man-eating tigers seem - to have
been attended with some success, but
in their crusade against the wolves
the authorities have been baffled.
Every vear there is a steady in-
crease in the number of wild animals
destroyed, and every year more mon-
ey is spent upon rewards for their de-
struction. Last year 1285 tgers, 4370
leopards, 2000 bears and 2086 wolves
were destroyed, but the loss of human
life does not diminish and. the agri- |
cultural wealth of the country is de-
pleted by the ever-increasing mortality
among the cattle. To the peasant the
loss of cattle is a most serious’ calam-
jty, for his very life depends on his
plough bullocks and milch cows, and
he may rest assured that in the fram-
hich has
lerable
formed the subject of con
discussion of late, the interests ©
the Indians will not be forgotten.
‘Serious as is the loss of human-lif
and agricultural stock, ps haps
a financial point of
caused to the :
tions of wild
equal importance,
consider
agricultu
€
law is
every
the
of promising
3; and moni
and
antelope and
In the
of thr
canal banks
be remembered that
bare
harbor of the destructive and prolifie
pig, and no effort should be spared to
rid these plantations of every animal
that preys upon the crops.
The question of snakes is even more
serious and difficult than the question
of wild animals. The destruction of
snakes shows a falling off, and it is
obvious that the government is help-
less unless the people will co-operate
in their extermination. But unfortu-
nately the Hindus have a great tend-
erness for all life, and among the liv-
ing creatures which they venerate the
deadly cobra is an especial object of
worship and respect. Among the more
ignorant secticns of the people it is be-
lieved that the cobra has supernatural
powers and can influence their for-
tunes. No Indian would kill a cobra if he
could help it, and it is said that, when
a cobra is killed perforce, it is given
all the honors of a regular cremation
and assured with many protestations
that its reluctant destroyers are guilt-
less of its blood and that it was slain
of necessity. This unfortunate atti-
tude of the millions of India toward
the snakes makes it almost hopeless
for government to diminish the loss of
human life. Many an effort has been
made to discover some antidote for
snake poison, but so far without suc-
cess.
One is forced back on the somewhat
helpless conclusion that the snake ter-
ror will never be removed from the’
pecple until real education has freed
them from their superstitious fears of
the serpent. It has RQeen well said
that in India we have to deal with
“creeds that range between the ex-
treme points of the basest animalism
on the one hand and the most exalted
metaphysigs on the other, and with
standards of life that cover the whole
space between barbarism and civiliza-
tion,” and no one who has listened to
the stories of the Indian peasants
about king cobras and tiger incarna-
tions can gainsay the truth of the ut-
terance, It is a melancholy present-
ment of Indian life, this short annual
statement of men and cattle killed by
wild beasts and snakes; but the back-
ground of terror and superstition is
darker still.—London Times.
THE PROVIDENT LOAN.
A Society to Aid Deserving Poor by
Loans on Personal Property.
The Provident Loan society of New
York was incorporated in 1894, “for
the purpose of aiding such persons as
the society shall deem in need of pe-
cuniary assistance by loans of money
at interest, upon the pledge of per-
sonal property.” It was organized by
a number of New York City’s leading
citizens, including James Speyer, Seth
Low, Abram S. Hewitt, Otto T. Ban-
nard and Solomon Loeb. It charges
1 percent interest per month on loans
of less than $250, or at the rate of 10
percent per annum on loans exceeding
that amount; and these rates are ree-
ognized as somewhat philanthropical,
considering the class of securities of-
fered, many of which, such as furs,
being likely to deteriorate in value un-
less cared for at considerable expense.
It is true that the patrons of the
Provident Loan have been mainly of
the better class, the loans averaging
about $30 each, but it is the society’s
plan to “extend its usefulness to less
profitable business in poorer sections
of the city, making more loans on
clothing and less desirable pledges.
We must not forget,” he adds, “that
the purpose of our incorporation is
philanthropical, so far as is consistent
with the full measure of strength and
safety.”
By the treasurer's report it appears
that 168,272 pledges were received in
1903, on which $5,576,091 was tie
amount advanced. The report further
shows that the funds employed at the
end of 1903 amounted to $2,647,121.18,
and it may be said in a ‘general way
that the capital in actual use is equal
to about one-half the annual sum total
of business. The gross earnings aver-
age about 12 percent, out of which in-
terest ‘on the society's bonds, certifi-
cates of contribution and temporary
loans from the banks and trust com-
panies, as well as the general running
expenses of the society, are paid, It
should be said here that the society
is not permitted to pay more than the
legal rate of interest to any investor
in: either its bonds or certificates, or
for the use of any funds whatever, all
surplus at the end of the year becom-
ing a part of the general fund, whieh
has increased $233,621,18 since the in-
stitution was founded, by which it will
be seen that philanthropy is not nee-
essarily administered at a loss. There
are also certain benefits of the Provi-
| gent Loan which cannot be regarded
in the light of philanthropy. Numer.
ous well-to-do persons take advantage
of the fact that no storage charges
are made, and during the early sum-
mer pawn thousands of dellars’ worth
of furs, overcoats and silverware for
ridiculously small sums, thereby ob-
taining for a few cents safe and care.
ful storage, besides the use of the
money borrowed. Thus a fine fur coat
n for $2 in June is stored and
til November for the ab-
1 sum of ten cents,
ior
“unredeemed pledge” sales of
rovident Loan are held at an auc-
1 on upper Fifth avenue, and
eave a balance in favor of the
paratively few of whom
so that there is a con-
resulting from
e sales—From Al-
s “At the Sale of
> in the Century.
for
growing fun
Teco Good to Leave.
Waiter—Shall I give you .the check
now?
Farmer—Oh, no, for heaven’s sake
| don’t stop me yet—Philadelphia Tel
egraph.