Kngland spends twelve million of
ber linrd-cnrucd pounds n yenr uu
hcese.
Greece stands lowest in point of
Wealth of nil tlio countries of Europe,
tho estimates being flxedot $l,0"i5,000
000. Tho Austrian government contem
plate hiking tho tiro insurance busi
ness intu its own lmiicK A special
Commission so advices.
Tho shrinkage of values of homes
last year estimated to lio over 2.",
ODO.OMO, nml tho totnl loss in fulling
ofT of prices will no doubt aggregate
ffiO.OOO.OOO ninco tho commencement
of tliu present depression of values.
Twenty-live yoors ogo it wo dentil
for any ono who mined his head from
the ground to look at tho Emperor of
Japan. Now tho people slnnd np and
cheflr bun. "Civilisation," senten
tionsly comments tho St. Louis Star
Bayings.
Professor Hhnlcr, tho geologist,
stay that wo nro In no danger of suf
fering from treelcssness. He has found
In the Uny Stato some thousands of
acres wliich the forest has won from
the field. And the swamps, thono
nnrnerios of tho forest, nmouut to 115,
000 square miles iu the United States.
The Paris Academy of Medicine tho
Other day held an animated discussion
s to the most humane way of killing
nimals. The conclusion reached was
that nil methoes now in iihu were ob
fcctionoblo, and that tho Hocieties for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
ought to devise and advocate some
more merciful method.
The young Kodive of Egypt believ
es that the American agricultural ma
chinery is tho best in the world. Ho
thinks that tho farmers of Ejypt
ahould no longer depend upon tho tin
ccrsniu moods oftho River Nilo for
irrigation, so ho is studying tho meth
ods of the Mormons who settled in
Utah mid run lo of an arid, unpro
ductive region a perfect flower garden
ly means of Bcientlio irrigation
W. S. Gilbert has recently beou
Iiaving a newspaper controversy in tho
jpondon Times on tho subject of
thymes in tho course of which he said ;
"'A you havo opeuod your columns
to thin question, may I BHk yon to ex
tend your coinplniHanoo to a consider
ation of the words of that preposter
ous doggerel, tho Nathional Anthem.
It is He wdulous that such pitiable
tlrivcl should bo found in association
vith one of tho grandest and most im
pressive themes in tho English langu
age TIuto is a now company being or
ganized in New York with an improve
ment that promises to revolutionize
telegraphy, says tho Washington Star.
It is bnokod by a rather powerful syn
dicate of big names, representing bar
rels of monoy. The system is basod
on ft series of unique perforations,
oach representing a word or sentonoe.
Thcso are arranged on a slip of paper,
which is attached to the telegraph
machiuo. It is porfoctly undecipher
able to the operator, but is transmitted
in tho orthodox style. In an upper
atory of one of the largost buildings
of New York a testing room has been
arranged, with what claims to be one
hundred miles of wire col) webbed
over the ceiling. A littlo slip, about
aix inches long by about 1 1-2 wide,
represented 1,000 words. Tho tests
hare, it is claimed, been porfcotly sat
isfactory. Now York Truth says: "Tho ques
tion of Woman Suffrage seems to have
been solved in New Zealand where a
bill enfranchising women was passed
but autumn. Tho election came two
months after the passage of tho bill
and out of nu enrollment of 129,000
names on the register, 1)0,000 went to
the polls. This moans that a larger
pro oTtion of women than of men on
the electoral roll voted. It was urged
br many that the enfranchisement of
women would revolutionize parties,
but a cure Tul study of the strength of
tho different political fuolions shows
that hardly any change has taken
place. It is not to bo inferred from
this that the women lucked indepen
dence and followed masculine leader
chip blindly, for whenever an inde
pendent candidate was put up, they
Toted for him, irrespective of partisan
affiliations, which speak volumes iu
favor of their good sense and discrim
ination. It is yet too early to jump ut
conclusions or to predict women's fu
ture in politics, but so fur in Now
Zealand's first election under tho now
law cuu bo gauged, nhu sui im to tube
her new. rcHpiiiisibility seriously and
1i huvoa full appreciation of Hsvulue.
The experiment there should beeloso
lr wutchud iu Amciii'u." '
Winds Today.
Winds today urn Inrgo ami fro,
Winds to lay nro winterly
From tho Inn ) thoy seem to Mow
Wlmnen the sup begins to How,
Anil the dimpled Unlit to sincil
From tin) country ol the dead.
Ah, it Is a wild, sweep Innd
Where tho enming May Is planned,
Whom such Inllni'nrps throb
As mir forest can never rob
Of thi'lr triumph when they hound
Through thn tpw) nn 1 from tho ground I
(lnt within mo Is my soul,
Orent to Journey to Its goal,
To the eotmtry of tho dead
For tho cornel tips nro rod,
And a pnsslon rleh in strlto
Drives mo toward tho homo of UK
O, to keep tho spring with thorn
Who hnvo flushed tho cornel stem,
Who Imaglnn at its soitrco
All tho year's delicious ennrw,
Then oxp.ess by wind nnd light
Something of their rupture's height?
MiriiAKk Fields.
Uncle Joseph's Wooing.
One of tho prominent figures in our
meetiug house for many years was
that of Undo Joseph, for thus was he
known by tho young and old who fre
quented our religious gatherings.
He occupied the second scat in tho
men's gallery, nnd it was with liim
that tho older shook hands in Bgn
that Friends should separate, when it
seomed likely that the spirit would
novo no others to utter gentle words
of blessing or stern warning against
tho tempter.
As children we regarded Uncle Jos
eph in the light of a patriarch, al
though I now know that his years at
tho time of which I writo had scarce
reached tho limit of a half century.
Ho was a comely man, straight and
tail, his smooth-shaven faco beaming
with good nature, and his soft bluo
oyo lighted with sympathy, but ho was
not intellectual. Slow of movement
and uncertain in expression, his pear
erswero often troubled to follow his
excellent thought, and it was no un
common thing for my parents to re
fer to his ministrations as being "la
bored." Wo had a consciousness, bas
od perhaps upon accidental knowl
edge, that he was uncommonly well to
do, and nlso that thero was consider
able feeling in tho society that Surah
Sidney, with hur clear insight and
facile speech, would bo a fit lifo com
panion for tho good man. Rut timo
woro on, and there seemed no likeli
hood of a realization of this desiro.
I can remember ono occasion when
tho subject really assumed tho impor
tance that is usually giveu to gossip,
but it was so lovingly and conscien
tiously touched upon that I was great
ly impressed.
My father and mother wcro in tho
way of inviting many friends to diuo
with them on monthly meeting day.
Quarterly meeting brought even more
persons from a distance, and among
tho children littlo unaccustomed
dutios wcro distributed. I was fre
quently desired to romain for a timo
iu tho front chamber and assist our
women visitors iu romoving their
wiaps and adjusting tho cap crowns
that ofton mot with disaster boueath
tho stiff bonnets. It was always a
pleasurable duty, for Friends novor
forget the young, and as each ono
graspod my littlo palm she did not
neglect to speak an encouraging word
to mo.
On the occasion to which I havo
alluded meeting broke up somewhat
lator than usual I hurried home,
warmed my chilled fingers and ran up
stairs, whero a bright flro was burning
on tho hearth. I glanced about to see
that the wood box was full and looked
out of the window, where my cyo
rested upon a short lino of carriages
all bent in tho direction of our home.
First otuno father and mother, grand
father and thrco younger children,
then a vehicle well known to mo as
that of Elias Chase from Derry Quur
tcr, and thus I counted them off us
they drew up beside the horso block."
I missed Surah Sidney, who gener
ally came with Theophilus Baldwin's
family, and, having teen her placid
face iu its usual place on tho scat be
neath tho gallery, fronting the meet
iug, I was at a loss to explain her ab
sence. Sho was tenderly attached to
mother, nnd I oould not boliove any
light mutter would tuko her to an
other's table.
A gentle voioo called mo to my
duties:
"Why, Katheriue dear, thoo must
have been very spry to get homo be
fore us. I was pleased to see thy in
terest in tho meetiug todny,"
Tho good woman kissed me and
thanked ino for tho littlo aid I win
id iln to give in unpinning hor shawl.
Directly afterward, sweet June Spen
cer cumo tripping up the stairs. Sho
wus frequently Hpokcu of as exhibit
ing "overmuch ardor'' iu all her good
woi'Ks, but wo children loved tho uu
tli usiuHtiu littlo woman,
"O Knthcrinn, I am glad to make
tiso of thy quick fingers. My cap
strings are sadly awry. I have been
most uncomfortable In them all
through tho meeting. Our breakfast
was a trifle Into this morning, and we
had fur to drive."
Ono and another arrived, each with
n thought of mo. "How thee grows,
child, or "Thy mother is blessed iu
hor littlo helpers."
The room was well nigh full, when
Rome ono asked tho question that had
boon trembling on my lips.
"Whore is Surah Sidney?"
No one directly replied, but after
moment's reflection nearly all had a
suggestion or a littlo interest iu her
to express.
"Methought her face bore traces of
anxiety this morning. I trust she has
met with no further financial disastor.
Thoo knows, Rhodn, sho is bonovo
lent to a surprising degree in ono
whose pnrso Is not lengthy, and it is
theroforo a serious matter to bo forced
to curtail in her giving."
"Sarah is too true a follower of the
Orent Teacher to bo long afll cted by
the things of this world," replied an
aged friend."
"Ah, Hannah dear," answered tho
first speaker, "thee hns never had tho
bread and butter trouble, and there
fore thee can hardly compass its
misery."
I think we all felt the force of this
argument, for Hannuh was richly
dowered. Presently Jane Spencer
sighod: "I cannot help wishing that
Unclo Joseph would recognize that
the hand of the Lord is pointing him
to Surah Sidney."
"If such bo tho will of onr Heaven
ly Father, I doubt not it will be re
vealed in duo timo," and Hannah
spoke with great deliberation.
"That is quite true, and undoubted
ly it is only those among us who aro a
triflo worldly minded that show a dis
position to hasten theso things." Jane
Spencer was always very meek under
reproof, and I felt gin 1 that others
sustained her dosiro that Uuclo Jos
cph should bo a littlo less deliberate
iu his action."
"I cuu hardly think that he realizes
Snrih's worth," said a Into comer.
"On tho tho contrary," it was Rho-
da Longstrect's voice, "I am some
times inclined to believe that his
doubt rests upon his own merit. If
ho wero of tho world's people I should
say ho was bashful. As it is I call
him slow in perceiving his adoption to
any peculiar calling."
"Thco limy bo right," rosponded
Juno Spencer, nnd I was struck with
the noto of merry-making that ac
companied hor words. "If no, I can
only wish that somebody would give
him a hint, for I really believo that
Surah hns perceived their truo rela
tionship, and that her spirit is troub
led sineo no sign is giveu unto her."
"Ah," interrupted Hannah, "shall
wo never learn that God doos not wish
us to call upon Him for signs?"
Now it had chanced, although none
of those prcscut wero nt that tuna
consoious of it, that Surah Siduoy
had giveu up her scat iu a friend's
cat ringo to a person who was suffering
from a weak limb, and had walked
briskly along tho frozen road toward
our house.
Unclo Josoph, too, had chosen to
loavo his vehicle at home, and, seeing
in tho distanco a familiar, plump little
figure, ho mado hasto to overtake her.
For a few moments thoy talked to
gether of the lessor things of lifo;'
then they fell into a silonco which was
at last broken by Uucle Joseph's
voice.
"My mind has dwelt much today
upon the Rible teaching of tho rela
tion of Ruth and Bonz."
I am sure tho throbbing heart be
neath tho white muslin kerchief of
Surah Sidney must have bounded a
littlo at this. Ho went on :
"Has thee ever thought it over and
appliod tho test to our own lives?"
It was certainly not strango that
the good womnu hesitated before she
answered:
"It thee menus to ask whether it
has bcon shown to mo that I um chos
en of tho Lord to be thy companion,
I will admit that it has, but, Joseph,
thee is not an old man, nor am I a
young hand maiden."
Uuolo Joseph stopped short in his
walk and, catching a frighteued look
upon tho holiest face besido him, ho
gravely said :
"It wus not upon that relation that
my mind run. I thought rather of
tho increased duty in this day and
generation which belongs to the bus'
Im ml m an nnd his gleaners, or in other
words, tho responsibility of him upou
whom tho benefits of this world have
been showered, and the loud cull ever
souinliii'f in my our to extend help to
tliosi) who need ; uud it hus beeu whit
pried to liiu tlr.it thy material goods
huvo been slipiud from thee, uud
and I wished many times that I might
make bold to offer my aid."
Can you mnrvel if a feeling of raini
ness crept over the gentla Snrnh, or
tlmt a beseeching look set the soul up
on tho awful stillness that followed.
Undo Joseph's voice sounded strange
in her enr. Sho feared she should
fall, but as tho tones grow clearer
something clso Impressed her.
"Surah, thco has a more receptive
spirt than my own. I hnvo sometimes
longed to see aright in regard to tho
formation of a closer bond with thee,
and I rejoice that through my ill-chosen
spooch thee has beeu led to point
the woy."
Ho took her trembling hand between
his own, and smiled down upon the
sweet but tearful face; then her lips
opened, the pain went forever out of
her heart, mid sho whispered only:
"Dear Joseph."
Rut her trial was not quito over.
Wo were already summoned to the
dining room when Unclo Joseph nnd
Sarah Sidney entered tho door togeth
er. I glnncod about me, nnd was cor-
tain thnt I saw more than ono look of
satisfaction exchanged by the com
pany present.
The moment of silent blessing was
past My mother moved as If to be
gin serving tho soup, but alio caught
L nolo Joseph's eye, and awaited his
slow words:
"Dear friends," he said with a littlo
tremor iu his voice, "rejoice with me,
for today hns our beloved Sarah Sid
ney revealed to me the message that
the Lord has given into her keeping."
Ho pausod, and with a flush bright
ening her soft cheeks Sarah asked
calmly:
"Joseph, will thee kindly explain
thyself."
I never knew him to do anything so
wall as he now related to us the man
ner in which he had ohtuiuod nu in
sight into tho sccrot knowlodgo of Sa
rah Sidney's heart.
As ho ceased speaking her own
rhythmic tones filled tho room iu ten
dor thanksgiving to tho Lord for his
gift of companionship, nnd this hns
evermore remained in my memory as
ono of tho most beautiful and fervent
supplications I hnvo been privileged
to hear. Surah II. Gardner's "(jun
ker Idvls."
Effects nt Heop-Sea Pressure.
It is not unusual for bottles of
chumpngno to bo dipped nnd trolled
in salt water, when there is no ice ou
shipboard, iu order to get the wino to
a palatable temperature, but never
long enough to canso contact between
tho salt water and tho wiue. Wo can
hardly tell what tho effect upon tho
wino would bo if the bottlo were im
mersed nt a grent depth for any con
siderable time. It is a fnct, however,
thnt if nu ordinary glass bottlo, tight
ly corkod nnd scaled, bo sunk in, soy,
fifty fathoms of salt water and left
thero for about ten minutes, it may,
when brought to the surface, bo found
partly full of water. We sny "may,"
because tho prossuue of the superin
cumbent muss of wntor will oither
forco tho water through tho porous
glass, forco tho cork into tho bottlo,
or break tho bottlo. By a law of
hydrostatics tho pressnro of water is
in proportion to its vortical height
and its aron at tho baso. It is reckon
ed thnt tho pressure of water on any
body plunged into it is about ono
pound to the squnro inch for every
two feet of tho depth. Bottles filled
with frosh water, tightly corked aud
sealed, havo been sunk to great depths
in tho ocean, nnd where tho enormous
pressnro has not burst tho bottles it
litis driven in tho cork uud displaced
tho fresh with salt water. Pieces ol
wood have been weighted and sunk in
tho son, with tho result that tho tissues
huvo becomo so condensed tliut tho
wood has lost its buoyancy and will
never flout again. It could not even
be burned when apparently quite dry,
Brooklyn Eagle.
Calf Thnt Snull ,neil an Adder
A lino culf belonging to Thomas
Sago of Chuwleigh, Devon, wus taken
suddenly ill a day or two ago. It wa
iu great pain and could senroely
breathe. A veteriuary surgeon dosed
it, believiug it to bo suffering from
iulluuimntion. Ou being released il
commenced coughing and vomiting,
uud to thn astonishment of those pre
sent, ejected u largo adder measuring
over a foot iu length. Tho reptile whc
deud, but its expulsion guve instant
relief to tho poor sufferer, which iu a
few minutes recovered. Apparently
a small quantity of grass ho I previous,
ly beeu out fur tho o.ilf and placed iu
a heap, in which thu udder must havt
been concealed before being awullow
ed. Wist minster Gazette.
Tho tallest man in the German
nrmy, a "oiie-your recruit' in the
First Regiment, is seven foet four mid
a halt inc'.iu.j in height.
i'OH FAUN AM) UAKIIEX.
TAM'B OP PAHTI'tm OflAniF.3.
Experiments at tho Utnh Stntion
shows that a mixture of pail nro grasses
is much superior for grazing steers to
each ono of tho grnssos grown singly.
Tho differcnco iu tho pnsturngo vnlue
of tho different varieties is very
mnrkeiL New York Work.
nRxr.FiriAfj to runs. .
In order to secure tho dump atmos
phere so beneficial to ferns, a ino
tray with a layer of snnd may be
placed on the tubloon which tho ferus
aro kept. When tho pots nro put on
this tho snnd should bo covered with
a layer of mosi, which will quito add
to the effect of tho fern stnnd. If
this is dniio tho ferns enn be watered
freely, without removing them even
from a drawing-room, and then by a
natural process of evaporutinn the
damp moss nnd sind will give off suf
ficient moisture to keep tlio ferns in
good condition. The plants should
be showered thoroughly every day.
New York Observer.
CAM! op rotr.Mri Tnp.Fi.
By nil means the most critical pe
riod iu the life of a fruit tree, or simi
lar shrub, Is during tho first year after
it hns been transplanted from the nur
sery. If properly cared for during
this period it will generally be found
in good condition in the following
spring, and annually thoreaftor. On
tho other hand, if it rccoives a check
during tho first few months succeed
ing its removal, it is liable never to re
cover. Tho first caro, of course, must he
for tho roots. These should be pro
tected from excessive dryness, partic
ularly during nny period of drotigh.
For this purpose mulching furnishes
tho best protection. It may bo put on
as soou as the tree is set, but in any
ease should be plncod before the
ground becomes dry mid baked. It
should extend somowdint further from
tho trunk of the treo than the roots
are liable to reach, in order that tho
smaller and tenderer fibres may have
protection. Artificial watering is
helpful in times of drynoss, but the
expedient can novor fully take the
place of natural moisturo of tho soil.
A cureful lookout should be kept
during this timo for insect cnomies,
and if any appear they should bo
promptly nnd effectually removed by
tho most approved means ; but iu any
operations looking to this end core
should be taken not to do tho young
wood any itijury which may possibly
bo avoided, Amateur Gardening.
improving a bus-down farm.
Having lost my health at tho ago of
twenty-four years, whilo engaged in
business, and in consequence having
lost all my savings, I concluded that
an outdoor life was necessary for me,
writes L. D. Stowoll to the American
Agriculturalist. I purchased an tip
laud farm in Western New York,
which had boon let for twenty years,
and was in a bndly run-down condi
tion as to soil buildings and foncos. I
ran in debt for the full amount of the
purohase money of the farm, and also
for tho stock put upon it,
I started in the dairy business, with
the determination to improve my farm
and stock. My rule of practice has
been to raise each year all that I could
of feeding value, and feod out all that
I raised, carefully saving the manure,
both solid and liquid, and applying it
to the lnnd, as made. The man who
occupied this farm for six years before
I took possession told me that it would
support tweuty cows, aud that, possi
bly, I might be able to keep twenty
five cows. Fftecn years from that
time I kept ou my farm, both winter
and summer, seventy-eight cattle aud
four horses. By using a thorough
brod bull for grading my herd, I very
soon increased my annual average
milk yield of the herd from 4,000 to
0,000 pounds.
My farm now consists of 290 acres,
210 of which are cleared of timber,
but only 150 acres are at present
available for cultivation. The soil is
a loamy clay, with bardpnn subsoil. I
hnvo not practiced soiling, except
when pastures havo been poor, neither
havo I used silage, ao that there is still
much chance for improvement. I be
lieve thut any farmer may continuous
ly improve his fnriu by feeding the
crops grown thereon to domestio ani
mals, if ho will carefully snve and ap
ply the manure made from them. 1
do not believo in being confined to a
single hobby, and think thut, as
farmers, wo should ndvuuco nil along
the line, and never be satisfied with
pros nt attainments,
Tho conclusion I draw from my farm
experiuiiod and observation, in that, iu
unuy cftsou, dairy farms, cuu bo pur
chased iu tho Eastern and Middle)
Status for less than tho improvement
cost, nnd, with good management of
both farm and stock, will provo to bo
a safe and profitable investment. It
may bo well to odd that my farm in
now paid for, my health restorod, my
fumily well educated, and otherwise
well provided for.
rrim WATP.n pon tub dairy.
A prominent dairy expert has tnken
tho trouble to writo nn essay on stag
nant water bs good enough for cow.
Ho seeks to strengthen his position by
illustrations c'rawn from the method
of thoso who go down to tho sea in
ships and tho great bodies of water
held in city resorvoirs. Ho contend
that as sailors enrry wider to sea and
tho voyage may Inst for months, they
drink "the snmo old wnter." Thi
man's argument is bottomed on Igno
rsnco of the rcnl conditions. The dis
tance he lives from the sea is Borne
jnstiflcstion for his deficient knowl
edge of the sort of wotor sailors use
for drinking purposes, but is not
available for his lack of information
regarding city resorvoirs. The truth I
tlintall modern constructed ships carry
wnter ooudensers which permit of an
abundance of fresh water being avail
able at all times. The old way on
shipboard of carrying water for long
cruises is obsolete or nearly so, be
cause innsters and crews insist on stop
ping at every opportunity to replenish
their wotor supply. The water in
a city resorvoir is always in mo
tion because of the demand on
it for consumption by the resi
dents of the town, as well as tho ad
dition to its body that is constant, so
aa to maintain thn volume necessary
for tho pressure that renders it ade
quate at the most distant point within
he radius of its service. Sanitarian
regard impure wnter, iu any stage, as
one of tho chief menaces to tho health
of man or boast. It remained for this
sclf-opiuionntod enpert to set his pre
judice against tho teachings of soience
and tho observation of thoughtful
minds. Puro water is more needful
to perfect henlth than is pure food.
Man cuu indulge iu adulterated food
and live, but impute water will spoed
ily kill him. This dictum holds good
with every living organism that re
quires water for its support. There
fore tho importance of pure water in
the dairy and tho necossity of procur
ing it regardless of the difficulty in
securing it. The action of water on
tho milk secretion is fairly woll under
stood, and its infltteuco on the flavor
of butter is too well defined to admit
of the uso of stagnant water by tho
dairy cow, notwithstanding tho la
bored effort of this expert to the con
trary. American Dairyman.
FARM AND OARDK NOTE.
Spinach is a profitable crop.
Keep the strawberry beds well culti
vated and free from weeds.
Cut off asparagus tops before the
seed scatters or you will havo lots of
seedlings on hand.
When farmers produce good heavy
draught horses they will have no cause
to complain of the prices.
Hackneys are strong breeder and
cross well uyon our native and trotting
mares, producing that knoe action and
hackney typo.
The small-fruit plots, such as black
berries, raspberries, currants, etc,
should be thoroughly cleaned out and
fertilized in the fall
If the potato field was injured by
rot or any of tho diseases to which
potatoes are subject, by no m )sns use
it for potatoos uext season.
Have no idle land, but let crops fol
low one another iu quick succession.
Delay in this matter will not only re
sult in woe its, but in lost aud dissatis
faction. Where rains hsva como it will bo
economy to 1 -t the gross get a littlo
start beforo turning tho stock in. It
will bo better for tho pasture next
season too.
Thero is ft disadvantage iu late
planting of strawberries. They aro
liable to bo iujnred by alternate thaw
ing ami freezing, because of not boing
sullicioutly rootod.
An English paper off.-rs a prize of
?2. 50 for tho best reply to. the ques
tion: "What is tho niost suitable
drcs for a dairymaid to wear in pub
lio buttermukiutr competitions?"
Alternately tho drouth, blight and
bugs seem to play hvuo with lute po
tatoes, making them a very uncer
tain crop iu in iny regions. Fertil
izers nro untrustworthy ; stable inuuuro
causes scab.
Tho best way to keep honey from
candying, says, a writer, is to soul it
iu tight jars, the mine us fruit This
is thu way thut the bees do, uud it is
the only sufo way. It should be thor
onvhlv heated before iuttiiu' uu
J