Pennsylvania produce 100,000,000
tons of coiil every your more, than
lml f the output of the entire coun-
A Washington correspondent thinks
that rich people nook ft homo in thnt
city, because there their property will
be protected the guns of the govern
ment. Australian teachers must have varied
accomplishments. In a Sydney paper
recently appeared : "Wanted, a man
able to teach French and tiro piano,
and to look after a stud bull."
A novel way of illustrating a novel
is shown in Scribuer's. A certain
tory hav'ug been written persons
were selected to take the parts of the
characters, and these were photo,
graphed front life in the situation de
scribed in the text.
A late statistician asserts thnt the
wealth of the United Htates averages
at least $1,000 to one inhabitant
"This average business may be all
light," remarks tho New Orleans
' Picayune, " but it doesn't help some
of ns to pay our dobts."
Statistics from the United States
railway service show that one passen
ger is killed for every 2,000,000 pas
engers carriod, or every 44,103,228
miles travelled. One is injured for
every 4,709,771 miles travelled, or
one out of every 204,248 passengers
carried.
The Sultan of Turkey opposes elec
tricity, it is said, chiefly because he
suspects some connection between
"dynamo" and dynamite." Neither
is Queen Victoria a friend of elcotric
ity. She will not even suffer electrie
lights in her apartmeuts. But her
opposition is prompted by the desire
to prevent as much as possible the
use of appliances which are labor-saving,
directly or indirectly.
Nature's prodigality in the Great
Banana Belt is a matter of common
knowlege, aud every one knows how
year after year the crops increase in
in variety, quality and quality. A
few weeks ago there was a hail storm
at Braincrd, Minn., and hailstones
"as large as a baseball" fell in great
profusion. "Human life would have
been a sacrifice before them, for they
-were solid ice," but there wasn't any
linman life outside the cyclone cellars
while the bombardment lasted.
One of the most common forms of
vandalism now rampant is that which
smears sensational advertisements on
the fair faoe of nature, remarks the
Atlanta Journal. In this country, as
in every other, some of the most mag.
nifioent scenery is shamefully defaced.
There is now before the British par
liament a bill to prevent such desecra
tion. In the interest of common de
cency this bill should be passed, and
we hope to see similar legislation in
the Uuited States. Every state should
have a statute to protect scenery from
the advertising agent.
The Builway Age says that six tons
of steel rails are annually required for
renewals per mile of road, which on
the present mileage of the oountry
-would represent about 1,080,000 tons.
"Adding to this estimate," says the
Age, "which is probably within
bounds notwithstanding the increas
ing life gained from increased weight
the requirements for some thou
sands of miles of new construction
yearly, at the low average of one
hundred tons to the mile, it is evident
that the rail mills will continue to find
occupation."
One hundred and seven young men
roported for examinations at Annapo
lis recently, and only 45 were ad
mitted. This large percentage fail
ures is due partly to the fact that a
very high standard of excellence is
maintained at the Naval Aoudemy, but
the method of appointment had much
to do with it While many congress
men have adopted the sensible and
just competitive examinations for
nomination to West Point and An
napolis, many others still praotioe
favoritism in the bestowal of these
honors. They consider these ap
pointments parts of the spoils of
office, and give them to sons of men
who help them in their campaigns.
The ouuutry is entitled to the best
class of young men. in its military and
naval academies, and it would be a
good idea to provide by law for com
petitive examinations in the congres
sional districts. It seems to be im
possible to obtain the full quota at
Annapolis under the present system.
Instead of 850 cadets, including the
two classes at sea, the full battalion
-this term will not exceed 250. The
country is thus losing the opportunity
of educating 100 men for efficient
uval aervioe.
The Sight and the Pay,
The forest fires are blazing now
Bo beautiful are thojr and brlitht I
They tint tho mountain's rock y brow
And give softness to the night.
Bo oft our doubts In darkness seem
To light tho sky with rosy ray,
But waking from the midnight dream
A pall of smoke obsenms the day.
Flavol Seott Mine, In Harper's Weokly.
LETTY'S SURPRISE
tX WILFRED WATHON.
"Tea," said Sirs. Lansing Gibson,
rising and shaking out her silken
skirts, with a gracious smile, "I am
perfectly satisfied, Miss Whittakor.
I was certain that I would be after
Mrs. Halsey's recommendation. I am
sure your playing is charming. Von
will give Genevieve her first lesson on
Monday at 4? You will find her tracta
ble. I hope yon will be mutually
pleased with each other."
And Mrs. Gibson went smiling out
of the musio room, leaving her little
girl's newly engaged music teacher roll
ing up her musio and putting on her
gloves.
It was raining when she pulled on
hor rubbers in the hall ; the drops
were splashing down on the widow.
Letty bit the eud of hor musio roll in
consternation. She had on a new
dress, and new drosses were not a
common occurrence with her.
She was woudoring whether she
might not wait in a corner of the big
hall till the raiu slackened, when
somebody came bounding down the
stairs three steps at a time. It was a
geniul-faced young man, in hat and
overcoat with an umbrella.
Lctty's fair cheek pinked. -was
Raymond Gibson, she had
him often enough in the street,
This
seen
and
at church, where Letty was sometimes
substituted for the organist, who had
a habit of taking a rest when he felt
like it.
She had heard Miss Tnylor.to whom
she gave lessons, talk about him to
her bosom friend, detailing his good
looks, tho amount of his father's for
tune and his general perfections, and
declaring that he was by far the most
desirable "catch" in town. And Letty
had come to have n certain timid con
sciousness concerning him, because ho
always looked at hor so steadily when
be met her, not to Bay stared. She
looked up at him now in tremulous
shyness.
'"Oh, lam so gladl" cried young
Mr. Gibson, breathlessly. "I was
afraid you'd be gone, Miss Whittakor,
You'll let me take you homo, won't
you ? It's raining hard. And you
haven't an umbrella. I've been in
the library listening to your playing
and I cau't say how much I've enjoyed
it, Miss Whittakor. I am sure Gen
ovieve is awfully lucky to got you."
They were going down the fron t
steps. He had her musio roll and had
offerod his arm, and was holding his
umbrella so far over her that his silk
hat was gotting rained on.
"I have enjoyed your playing in
church so much, Miss Whittakor, "
he went on, eagerly. "I wish Peter
son would stay away all the time."
"Oh," Letty protested, with her
eyes on the street, "I'm a poor sub
stitute, Mr. Gibson."
"Indced,you're not, "said tbeyonng
man, earnestly. "I prefer your in
terpretations, your touoh, your ex
pression, your everything. I'm al
ways glad when Peterson's away.
How muddy its getting. Let's cross
tho street, Miss Wuittaker. "
They met Sudie Morritt as they
crossed it. Sadie was in tho Gibson
set, and she gave the little musio
teacher and he escorts stare of amaze
ment. Lotty folt somewhat frightened as
they walked on, but Mr. Gibson
seemed to gain enthusiasm.
"Do you like musio teaching?" he
said, helping her aoross a puddle.
"I suppose it's a bore?"
"1 do get tired sometimes," Letty
admitted, "but I like it" I've a nice
class."
"All ages, I suppose?" said Mr.
Gibson.
"Oh, yes, from six to twenty.
From the first lesson in the instruc
tion book up to Chopin," Letty
rejoined.
"You take beginners, then?"
"Yes."
The Wiloox carriage was approach
ing, and the Wilooxes were particular
mends oi tue unisons. Jietty was
glad the oorner of her street was so
near.
"I have always liked musio," said
Mr. Gibson hesitatingly. "I I sup
pose I'm rather old to learn, but
could you take another pupil?"
"Another pupil I" she echoed.
"I should like awfully to learn, you
know," said Mr. Gibson eagerly.
"And it shan't be any trouble to you.
Fll come to the bouse. You do take
pupils at the house, don't you? I
should like to come immonsely."
Letty was dumb with astonish
ment. A musio pupil? Mr. Gibson? What
an incredible ideal And yet sho was
not in the least displeased at the pros
pect. They had reached hor modest littlo
gate,andshe looked up with a timorous
smile.
"Why, certainly, Mr. Gibson, if you
wish," she murmured.
"I oertainly do wish," he responded
emphatically, and he looked highly
delighted.
And whon he turnod away from the
door, five minutes after, the date and
hour of his first lesson had been ar
ranged, and ho had forocd upon his
teacher his first term's tuition.
Letty gave hor mother a light sketch
of that first term at its close. Sho
had gradually recovered from her
amazement at the acquirement of her
latost pupil, and hail given herself to
his instruction with all her usual in
terest and enorgy.
"He's very bright, really, mamma,"
she declared. "Of course it seemed
funny to have to teach him the very
rudiments. Why, he had to begin
with the staff, and learn the names of
the lines and spaces, just as my young
est scholars do. It was all I could
do to keep from laughing, the first
lesson. But ho loarns so easily. He
really has good technique, audi can see
he's going to have lots of feeling for mu
sio. He's got along really well. I know
he must practice awfully bard. He can
play a littlo piece wih both hands al-
"ready, and he says he'll play it at tho
rehonrsal Thursday afternoon. I told
him he noedn't if he didn't want to.
You know all my class is going to
play, and I'm afraid they'll luug'i, it's
bo funny to see him playing it. But
ho says he'd just as lief as not Of
Course I'll explain he hasn't taken
lessons long."
Mr. Gibson came next day for his
lesson ; he took two a week. He
played his scales through carefully,
and then executed his "piece" with
laborous pains, but with great suc
cess. ctty was delighted.
"If you do as woll as that at the re
heat sail" she said, with pretty en
thusiasm which glued her pupil's eyes
to her face. "Miss Taylor has of
fered their parlor, you know, and I'm
so glad, because if all the parents and
frieuds come thore'il hardly bo room
enough here."
"Miss Taylor?" Mr. Gibson re
peated,somewhat blaukly.it struck his
teacher.
But he went on talking of some
thing else, and talkod on till the
striking of the clock mado him jump
up.
He had fallen into the habit of stay
ing after his lesson was) over to talk ;
so that aftor twonty lessons it was not
strange that they felt tolerably well
acquainted. And Letty had confided
to herself more than once that Mr.
Gibson was "uncommonly" entertain
ing and nioe.
The rohoarsal passed off with all
possible smoothness; but Mr. Gibson
was not there. Letty had reoeived a
note from him at the last minute,
stating his unavoidable dotention.
A bunoh of flowers had accompanied
it, and a white rose shoue in Letty'a
soft hair at the rehearsal.
Little Genevieve camo and played
successfully. Mrs. Gibson came with
her, and she smiled blandly on Letty,
and oomplimentod her on Genevieve's
progress. Sho did not mention her
son, and Letty went homo vaguely
wondering.
She gave Gonevicve a lesson next
day. she didn't understand why it
was but the imposiug hull, with its
stately furnishings, aud the charming
ly appointed musio room, somehow
depressed hor.
She had another rose from Mr. Gib
son's bonqct in a buttonhole of her
jacket, and she looked down at it
rather drearily. She had come to
know him so well, and all this gran
deur seemed to thrust her so hopeless
ly far away from him I Not that she
had that thought distinctly in mind.
She was a sensible girl, and by no
means foolishly impressionable and
romantic. But she was dimly, un
happy. It was due to this mood, doubtless,
that she forgot her muff, and was go
ing on her way home without it She
saw young Mr. Gibson run up the
steps as she turned back, and she
walked slowly in order to avoid him.
His hat was on a peg when she was
admitted to the ball. Letty looked
at it wistfully. It looked wofully dif
ferent, hanging on a mahogany hat
rack with a long mirror, and lying in
formally on her piano-top at home.
The notes of the Gibson piano were
ounding, and Letty listened wonder'
ingly. She reeogalied the "Moon'
light Sonata," brilliantly and charm
ingly executed.
Who was it? Mrs. Gibson pos
sibly ; but Lotly had had the impres
sion that Mrs. Gibson didn't play.
She listened with quickly appreol
ative admiration and with some long
ing, because sho felt certain thnt thnt
was better than she could have done.
She wont on into the music-room in
eager curiosity.
Her muff lay on tho chair whore
she had loft it, but Letty did not take
it.
She stood quite still in the door
way, gazing speechless at the porson
on the piano-stool.
It was Kaymoud Gibson. He was
absorbed iu his companion. His head
was thrown back and his eyes were on
tho ceiling.
He was using the pedals vigorously.
His musio teacher had stood in the
doorway some three minutes before he
became aware of bor presence. Then
thero was a o rashing of the keys,
"Miss Whittakor I" gasped her
pupil.
Letty only gazed at him. She was
quite stunned.
Mr. Gibson sprang to his feet.
"Don't look like thatl"he entreated
rushing toward her. "Don't Miss
Whittaker I"
But Letty shrank back, hor eyes
fixed upon him in solemnity and stern
ness. "What what does this mean, Mr.
Gibson?" she said with an austerity
which was marred by her faltering
voice.
Mr. Gibson pulled her gently inside
and shut the door.
"I know you'll forgivo me," he im
plored. Letty looked at him with redden
ing chucks and then burst into tears.
"What did you do it for?" she
sobbed.
"What for?" her pupil repealed,
standing very close to her aud getting
possession of one of hor hands. "Don't
you know, Miss Whittakor Lotty?
I've wanted to know you so for years
ever since I first saw you. And I'd
begun to think I should never be nblo
to manngo it I used to lie awake
nights worrying over it. And walking
homo with you that day I hadn't' in
tended it, truly, but we were talking
about you pupils, you know, aud tho
idea occurred to mo, and and I
couldn't help it. Don't be angry. I
did accomplish it, you sou. We do
know each other. What's tho odds,
dear?"
"Yon'vo made me perfectly ridicu
lous I" Lotty sobbed.
If sho had heard his last adjective,
she ignored it.
"No, no I've boen careful not to I
Nobody knows it not a soul. That's
why I didn't go to the rehearsal the
Taylors know lean play, you see."
He did bis best to stiflo a laugh, but
his teacher was laughing, too,through
her tears. Tho vision of her tall pu
pil laboring through "Littlo Kuiy's
First Waltz" overcame her.
"You ought to be ashamed of your-
solf I" she cried, laughing aud crying
together.
"I am I am," said . Raymond. I'm
ashamed J but I'm not sorry. Why, I
might not have known you if I
hadu't "
Theu ho paused, palpitatingly.
"What duets we'll have when we're
married dear?" he said softly.
"What will your motbre say?" said
Letty, gasping with bewildered joy.
"Say? She'll say 1'vo got the
sweetest girl in the world. She hasu't
any ridioulous notions, and, besides
she'll never think of douying mo any
thing I want."
And neither did she. New York
Journal.
An Advcnturo With a Windmill.
Near Rtmteuburg, Prussia, a man
attempted to pass between the pon
derous arms of a windmill iu motion.
The size and force of those antique
motors may be judged from. tho faot
that the fool-hardy man, being caught
on one of the arms, was first raised
aloft and then flung over the roof of a
hotel standing at some distance from
the mill, dropping on the oobblo-stono
pavement ou the other side. He died
immediately. The mill is 200 years
old. According to a hoary tradition
it will colapse after the twelfth dis
aster caused by it. This lust is the
twelfth, and now credulous uoighbors
are full of fear of a oatasropho. Now
York World.
A Unique Specialty,
Berlin has a shorthand writer with
a unique specialty. He attoiids funer
als of prominent persons and takes
down verbatim the addressos officiating
clergymen. Then he proparos highly
ornamented copies of the addresses
and sells them to the friends of the
eulogized dead. His business is so
good that be has taken one assistant
and advertised for another.
rUR FARM AXD UARUE5.
WHAT A CHICK KIIOULD WBtOlt,
If rightly cared for a chick should
weigh a pound when six weeks old
and bo ready for market when eight
weeks old. Young birds are market
able at any time, either as broilers or
roasters. The medium-sized birds
are preferred. Restaurouts and small
families doslre a bird weighing four
or five pounds. -New York World.
THB BEST tSH OP DBA.
Bran is much more highly thought
of as feed than it used to me. But it
has its limitations, and should uot be
relied upon entirely when fed alone.
It is an excellent feed to give to ani
mals that have a surfeit of corn, and
should always form a part of the ra
tion of fattening sheep. It is not so
good for hogs, as its coarse texture
makes it unpalatable. Bnt fine wheat
middlings have all of tho excellence of
bran, aud will be eaten in greater
quantities by fattening hogs. The
bran and wheat middlings furnish a
greater proportion of albuminoids
than corn has, and therefore supple
ment its deflciences. Wheat bran is
an exoellont alterative for horses fed
on timothy hay in winter. - It will
keep their digestion good and will be
II the better if a tablespoon of old
process oil meal is added to eaoh
mess.
Wheat middlings are not so laxa
tive as bran, aud are better therefore
for horses that have to work hard,
though both the bran aud middlings
ooutuins much of tho nutriment that
builds up bone and muscle and in
creases strength, Boston Cultivator.
BREED PoR THE FARM.
Evory farmer has his own choice as
to the breed of horso ho wants for his
own use. . lint in view of the faot that
the demand for horses for city and
village uses is still diminishing, a plea
of the Canadian Stock Journal for
heavy draft horses has increased
force. It would seem to bo true, says
the editor, that farm horses nro ofteuer
too light than too heavy. When, for
instance, three horses are roquired to
draw a plough which two heavy
horsos can pull without difficulty, it
would seom to bo the better way to
use the two thau the three. The two
should certainly require less food
than tho three, they wuut loss groom
ing and should be loss expense in
every way.
Add to those practical suggestions
the fact that the surplus colts raised
now have very little or no market, aud
it would seem to be wiso to breed the
horses adapted to farm purposes.
Comparatively light horses for city
horse oar service will probably never
again bo in largo demand. Even the
horses for fuuoy turnouts of the
wealthy, and the avoroge horses of the
less pretentious families ore in loss
demand than ever Lofore. This is ac
counted for in part from the greatly
inoreasod use of electric cars, and
with young people the bicyclo. The
family team is supplanted by those
modern inventions.
CRIMSON AND OTHER CLOVERS.
Crimson clover is a short-lived plant,
writes W. A. Wilson of the Wiscon
sin Experiment Station. Where it
thrives it may be sown in the full to
live through tho wiuter and perfect its
seods.oarly the noxt summer, aftor
which it dies. The growth of the
plaut is about parullol with that of
wiuter wheat Thus sown it thrives
amazingly iu parts of New Jersoy, and
especially iu Delaware aud North Car
olina, wuero tue lurmers have come
to have a vory high appreciation of its
use. It not only produces much hay,
but is especially valuable to plough
under, for enriohiug the ground for
fruit troes, grain crops, etc I
strongly recommend the use of this
plant in Southorn Illinois, parts of
Kentucky, Teunossee and southward,
where the winters are not too severe.
Our brief experience in Wisconsin is
unfavorable to fall seeding, as the
plants kill out in winter. However,
we shall try the plants still further,
hoping for more favorable results, but
hardly expeoting them.
Crimson clover may also be sown in
the spring, when it will ripen its seed
and die the same season. It must bi
sown by itself, however, upon well
prepared land, in which caso it will
giva a fair hay crop. I can seo noth
ing superior in suoh sowing, however,
over the results which oominan red
clover will give us. If our farm
ers will only sow red clover
by itself in the spring or upon
well-prepared land they will seoure
quite a hay crop the same season and
the plauts will generally last over the
fall and winter for a orop the seooud
year. We have become ao used to
sowing clover along with soma other
crop that thus stealing it into the
land that we expect that it will always
live and thrive under suoh conditions.
Not one would think of sowing alfalfa
or crimson clover with a grain crop
and having it succood. They are
willing to give these now candidates
advantages which tboy would not
for a moment accord to their old
friond rod clover. Give rod olover
half a chance with some of those high
priced novelties and it will surprise
us in the returns. Breeders' Gazette,
CORN AND ROaa AS PROFIT MAKERS.
To derive the most profit from tho
corn crop, it must be converted iuto
cattle and hogs, says A. A. Berry.
Cattle, hogs and corn go well to
gether. The larger farmers, with
plenty of grazing land, can profitably
handle cattle, but for the majority,
corn converted into pork gives the .
best returns. For successful corn
raising a rotation of crops moat bs
followed. The hog raiser needs
clover pasture, and as olover is the
best plant to alternate with corn, the
lines of farming go woll together,
One of the greatest hindrances to suc
cessful hog-raising, is the excessive
feeding of corn. Many will give their
animals all the corn they can eat from
the timo they are pigs until they are
ready for market Corn is very heat
ing, and if fed in excess will so affect
the animal's system as to make it easly
susceptible to disease germs. Several
generations of such treatment will so
dwindle and dwarf them as to make
hog-raislug unprofitable.
Breed good hogs those which ma
ture early and have largo frames.
Keep old S'jws mostly for breeding
purposes. Slop the spring pigs from
the time they begin to eat until new
corn is hard on nigh to feed, when
tbey can bo finished on corn. For
slop, I have found a chop made of
equal parts wheat, corn aud oats the
best, although bran instead of oats
docs well. Shorts and corn or shorts
and wheat can also be used, depending
upou which is cheapest. By all means
let them havo the run of a good pas
ture. Do not feed the sowsany grain
fter the pig are a month old. When
two months wenu the pigs and breod
the hows for a fall litter. Let them
run on a good pasture for three months
with nothiug to eat but grass. It will
cool their systems, brace up thoir con
stitutions aud put them in good condi
tion for raising their fall pigs. Clover
makes the best hog pasture. Rye and
bluegrass is good for early and late. I
have found a mixture of peas, barley,
oats and wheat, Bowed early in tho
spring, a splendid forage crop. It
cau be pastured or harvested and
threshed, the mixed grains, after add
ing a littlo corn, making a flrst-olass
ohop.
Full pigs will have to be slopped i
wiuter if they are to be grown
oossfully. It costs more in time
labor, also bettor buildings are neeJ
to successfully raise fall pigs
thoso farrowed in spring. Feed si
warm but not cooked. Turn shil
out early on rye or blue-grass past!
and give all the soaked corn they n
eat up clean. They will then soo4S
ready for market By the time hoV
thus treated are eight or niue monthV
old thoy will weigh 250 to 300 pounds.
inis is not a great or iauoy weigm,
but all good hog-raisers oau accom
plish this much and a good profit can
be realized on the corn crop- Atner'
oan Agriculturist
FARM AND GARDEN NOTES.
Do not let up the fight ou -lica and
uucleanncss.
Gut rid of the surplus oookerels as
soon as possible
The fall is the time for sotting out
that long-deferred asparagus bed.
Tho liquid manure is valuable. It
requires both liquid and solid to make
a oomplote manure.
Don't tio a horse facing a cold wind.
Any unimal, when at liberty, will turn
its back to the wind,
How are the young heifers grow
ing? Keep them in good growing
oondition, but not fat
Farmars must not be afraid of
papers and books on agrionltural
subjeots ; and tbey won't if they are
wise.
Milk is an artiole whose merits
and peculiarities are little understood
or studied on thousands of farms.
The tons of poor butter made prove
this.
Prof. C. V. Riley, the noted ento
mologist who has for the last six years
been oonneoted with the Department
of Agrioulture, died in Washington
from injuries oooasioned by a fall
from his bioyole. The loss of Pro
fessor Riley will be largely felt among
the farmers of thia oountry for whom
he had done a great deal of good.