r V Boston haa mora Scotch than live in ny city in Scotland, eave the font largest. Tbe "Are nations of Europe" own 2,310 wnr ships, mounting 88,209 guns all ready (or Immediate "ser tico." Cincinnati is one of the few cities Whose growth has not been propor tionate to the increase of wealth of the state in which it is located. Many good authorities say that to tido a whool in the mornings before partakiug of food is injurious. The bent time is said to be in theaft.r noon or evening, t . - -j Great Britain's corn crop grows each year beautifully less, from the View point of American farmers, at ny ratp. In 1804 abe grew a little over 50,000,000 bushels, and for 18!M It is estimated the crop will be 22, 000,000 bushels less. There is a clause in the constitution f Venezuela which forbids the cession bf any territory, so that the govern latent could not yield its title to any portion of the disputed area until it bad becu formally decided by some competent authority that it belonged to Great Britain. Norway is rapidly pushing its way to boing next to England in the size of her mercantile marine. Ship building has become auoh a favorite form of investment with Norwegians, and with one particular class above others the keepers of the great ho tels who put all the money they make out of foreigners into ship specula tion. The great sucoess of the American xnagszlnea, with their superior illus trations, in England in part atonea lor the success of the English authors in America. Says a little preface to to an English magazine which has just appeared in altogether new and im proved form : "The success of Ameri can magazines in England has shown Very plainly that it is only neocessary to produce a periodical of the highest quality to secure the favor of the feritish pnblic." Then it goes on to appeal to English patriotism to sup port it, as against foreign rivals. And thin same magazine prints aa a frontis piece a part of one of our own Mr. Wenzoll's society pictures, taken from life, which, although a similar atro cious photographic reproduction on cheap paper of the reproduction of Mr. Wuuzell'a original, ia by far the finest illustration in it. And thia same r rnagnziuo, which appeals to English batred of foreignera for support, has out out Mr, Wenzelt's signature. Its best original illustrations are also by an American resident in London. It is common to suppose that fail ure i i business especially during snch conditions as have existed in tho United States sinee 1892, are almost entirely due to ' the commercial depression which has characterized those years. Bnch is hardly the cise, as will bo ecu by tho following figures, com piled by the Chicago Boojrd from Bradstreot's reports. In 1893 the fail ' ores due to auoh diaastor amounted to 23.3 per oont of the whole number ; in 1894 to 25.9 per cent, aud in 1895 to 24. 9 per cent. lu each year the per centage of failures due to lack of oapi- tal is very considerably larger than the number dne to the commercial crisis. Auother peculiarity regarding buMuesa failnrea ia that a far smaller number are due to extravagance than is commonly supposed, and in no year ince 1892 has the number of failures from that cause been 1.2 per oent of the toa) number. Neglect of busi ness, nnder which may be olassed in-' temperance, ia responsible for abont throe per cent of the failures, while inexperience ia credited with is per oent. . 'Outside speculation causes less than two per oent of tbeae troubles, while nine per oent are due -o fraud. - Incompetency ia the cause of abont fifteen per oent. The chief ' causes of businese failnrea, thorefore, are first, lack of capital, or the affort to get rich too fast ; second, eommeroial crisis; third, incom petence, and' fourth, fraud. Inex perience, unwise credits, outside speo- ' ulatiou, negleot of busiueaa, extrava- " ganoe and the failures of others are the least operative of all the causes , that produoe failures in business. . fiiuoe tbeae predominating oausea can be easily prevented it ia not aey to IM why commoroial diaustera cannot bo reduced to a minimum, even ip times of general panic If men who do not understand a buaineaa would - keep out of it, if men ia business would not go beyond their capital, . ri U they would be reasonably . t : KIT per cent of the failnrea . ' j C i country would bo avoided. A Song of Seasons. There's Joy, my dear, In the youth o' the year. When the hearts o' the bright buds break And the skies are blue as the eyes o' you, And thn blooms blow over the lake. Thorn's Joy, my dear, for tho world Is fair, And love Is the sweetest blossom there. There's Joy, my dear, la tho noon o' the year, When the harvest hints o' gold And tho soft sun streams with Its gleams and dreams On your beautiful hair unrolled. There's Joy, my dear, for the world Is fair, And lovo is the blossom that's brightest there. There's Jny, my doar, In thn gray o' the year, When thn snows are drifting white And tho cold winds nry to the starless sky, And the last rose weeps i "(lood-nlght !" There's Joy, my dear, for tho world Is fair, While your lovo like a Illy Is blooming theru. , Frank Ii. Btaiiton. THE WRONG MAN. "Ah," said old Mrs. Prodgitt, "things have changed since my day! When I was a girl, folks used to stay at home aud help their mothers do tho housework, and piece bod-quilts, and embroider lace veils, instead of running about iu all the dirty streets and narrow laucs in creation!" Mrs. Prodgitt did not take kindly to modern civilization. Sho bad conio up from Owl Brook to visit her cousin Mary Ann, who had married Ebcnezor Hardy a quarter of a century ago, and settled down iu New York ; and, aa sho expressed her self, "things seemed to be all turned topsy-turvy." "But, Cousin rrodgy," said saucy Ilattio Hardy, who was equipping her self with basket, bag, parasol and waterproof cloak, "it is a work of mercy and charity that we are engaged in." i. "Nonsense 1" irraiably cried Mr. Prodgitt. "I think you've all gone crazy" together I I'm surprised at you Msry Ann, to let the child go tramping all over tho city by herself. Iu my day it wasn't considered re spectable." "You say, truly, that times have changed ainco then," mildly muttered Mrs Hardy, who was knitting fleecy, white wool by the fire. "Be aure, Hattio, that you come home early. The new minister ia to be here' to night to tea, and Betsey can't be trusted with tho new set of moss-rose cbinu." "I wonder what he ia like?" aaid Hattio, as she tied the deep-blue strings of hor bat into a coqnetixu bow under her round chin. "I do hope he'a young and handsome." "My dear I" remonstrated Mrs. rrodgitt. "Of courae," added Hattie, "we knew that old Mr. Puzzleton waa a perfect saint; but one dou't likesaiuta with red noses and spectacles, and three layers of double chin I" Mrs. Prodgitt looked as if ahe ex peoted that Hattie would be struck by lightuing on the spot for that hereti cal remark. "Harriot!" was all that ahe could utter. While Mr Hardy, more accus tomed to the audaoioiiH speoches of her pretty daughter, went on, in her purring sing aong tones: Don't forget that poor widow in Cob lane, Hattie. And if yon go to Milo Beneau'a, I think it would be well to spoak a word in aeason to that great lazy son of his, who is always buying lottery tickets, and docs noth ing to support the old folks." "Oh, yes. I'm glad you mentioned that" aaid Hattie, penoeling an entry on a little tablet. "'Mem, to give Jonas Beneau a piece of my mind." Dear Mr. Puzzleton always aaid that that young man was a dreadful stum bling block." "And I think,"went on Mrs. Hardy, "that the Gray sisters can find work for Alioe Jennings now, if ahe ia un employed, "The which?" asked Mrs. Prod gitt. "The Gray sisters," explained Mrs. Hardy. "One of our church organize tiona," - ' Mrs. Prodgitt glared. "Ia there any end to the folly' of nonsense of thia generation ?" ahe said. "I suppose," langhed Hattie, "that in your days nobody ever went slum ming?" "Went where?" asked Mrs. Prod gitt. ''Slumming," distinctly repeated Hattie. "She means visiting the poor and seeking ont cases of destitution," ex plained Mrs. Hardy. "Hattie, my child, I do wish you wouldn't talk alangl" Hattie disappeared with a little breeze of laughter, while Mrs. Prod gitt resettled her spectacles and ut tere(a deep groan. "Mark my words, Mary Ann," aaid ahe, "that girl will coma to no good end!" "Hattio does not mean any harm, Cousin Prodgitt, mildly pleaded Mra. Hardy, as she knitted on. While Hattie, on her errand of mercy, went from house to house in the darkling lanea and crowded tene ment districts, leaving an ounce of green tea here and a locturo there, a bottle of beef-wlne-and-iron by a aick bod, a little roso-acented snuff in a poor old womnn'a hand, a picturo book on the pillow of some littlo child, a woodon toy in the dolighted grasp of a skeleton-like infant, a gen tie admonition in the ear of a wilful factory girl, and a word of comfort to encourage a despairing widow, ' She could be gay and flippant enough when "Couslu Trodgy" teased hor, but here she seemed to have as sumed a new personality of diguity and sweetness. Old Milo Rjncau'e was tho last house on her list. She glanced anxi ously at her watch aashe went in. "Past five," ahe said to herself. "I must make hasto or the dear little ninmmy will be fretting." The dusk had already darkened tho little room, whoro lay tho patient old sufferer from rheumatism. It was always neat and clean there, but in lint tie's eyes it soemod more squalid and poverty-stricken than usual to night. As she enrao around tho cor ner of tho door, alio porceivod a young man sitting at an uncovered pine table o figure strougly silhouetted against tho wiudow. "Ah!" H:iit sho, tho spirit of right eons aspiration risiug up in hor heart, "s j I've caught you at last in tho very midst of your evil practices!" The young man rose hurriedly to his feet. "eg your pardon" be begun, but the tide of Hattio's indignation waa not thus easily stemmed. "Don't beg my pardon," aaid ahe. "Beg the pardon of sosioty of pub lio opinion of everything else which you are outraging by this shameful behavior of yours. Apparently you have neither pride nor self-respect left now take my advice ; turn over ii new leaf. Give up your evil prac tices, and aet yoursolf to earn a de cunt living. Look me in the eyes, young man!" she addod severely. "Tell me if you are not 'ashamed of yoursolf I" To all appearances, the culprit waa stricken dumb. Iuvoluntarily he raised a pair of clear, honest gray eyes to Hattio's face according to orders, but he did not speak a word, good, bad or indifferent. "He'a not bad looking," thought Hattie ; "but I must not neglect the chance of making an iraprosaion. I am surprised at you!" ahe addod aloud. "A great, ablo-bodiod follow like you aettling down as a disrep utable incubus on your frieuda and relatives. Don't you know that you are the talk of the neighborhood? Get up go to workt Never let me seo you idling here again I No ; don't answer me. I nover entor into argu ment with the pooplo in my district. Logio ia useless in a oase like this." Sho hurried to old Milo, who, being stone-deaf, looked smilingly ou dur ing this brief but enorgotio monologue, aa if it had been a reoitation from Shakespeare. "Here's soma extraot of beef for you, Mr. R.-neaul" aha shouted in his ear; "and a tumbler bf lemon jelly ! I hope your lumbago ia bettor. I'm aorry I can't stay a little longer to-day, but I'll come again very soon. ' ' And noddiug and amiling good-by to him, aho bustled away. She arrived none too aoon on the domestic-tapis. Betsey had already broken one of tho moss-rose tea-cups, and spilled all the salad dfessing, so that Hattie had to go to work to make more.. Cousin Prodgitt had lost her spec tacles, and Mra. Hardy could not find ber best lace frill. Consequently ahe was only half through arranging ber hair when Mrs, Hardy called up the stair-case : "Harriet! Harriot I Mr. Cray baa come!" . She burriedfy ooiled up the shining bronze locks and fastened them with a ahell-pin, tied the Swiss mnslin bow at her throat, and, catching up her pocket-handkerchief, ran down stairs. Cousin Prodgitt was still adjueting ber cap-strings, in her own room. ' Miss Hardy had gone to aee if the tea was properly steeping; and so our heroine walked directly into the pres ence of the Reverend Cecil Cray, "I am Mist Hardy, aaid she. "I beg your pardon) but" Here ahe stopped, with the syllables of further epoeoh fairly frozen ou her tongue. ',, . A cold flhill crept through all ber veiue, and aha reoogniaed the early, brown hair, the clear, honest eyes, the thick mustache. But the Reverond Ceoil was equal to the eracrgoncy. 'Don't beg my pardon!" said he, gravely, although thero waa a roguish aparkle in hia eyes. Beg the pardon of aocioty of public opinion. "No, Miss Hardy," be criod.suddonly drop- dug his solemn mannerism don't ook so distressed I Of course it waa mistake. Don't I know perfectly well that it waa." "Oh, dear I oh, dear I" gaaped Hat tio. "I thought it was Gilbert Ren can, I never had aoen him, yon know, and it was so dark, and and " 'Aud so you soolded tho wrong man," said Mr. Cray. Well, I'll pass the locturo ou to the genuine offender at tho vory first opportunity, only I'm afraid I cannot emphasize it half ao neatly aa you did." "Oh, don't!" said Hattie, piteonsly if ting her little bauds. "Ploase dou't!" "No, I won't," aaid Mr. Cray, Wo'll forget and forgive." Aud whon Consiu Prodgitt and Mrs. Hardy catuo in, Hattio and tho young clergyman were earnestly discussing the rival merits of tho geraniums on Mrs. Hardy's flower-stand. Mrs. Prodgitt stayed nntil apring, and when she wont back home aho told her daughter that Hattie Hardy was ongagod to a young minister. "Or at least I suspicion she is," she milled. "She won't own nothin' for sni tin ; but things nin't now as they ncd to bo. l'olks as was ongagod to bo marriod used to bo But Hattio's a quoor girl, been brought us as girls np in my day." prou dof it She hasn't - waa brought Tout nTul (ireat Men. It is undeniable that many of the greatest careera have been made by young mon. Washington was but forty-three when he waa oallod to the command of the American Revolu tionary Army. Henry Clay was Speaker of the Houao of Representa tives at thirty-fonr. Stephen A. Douglas waa but thirty-nine when he first became a candidate for the Presi dency, John Jay was Chief Justice1 of the United States at forty-five. James G. Blaine was only thirty-nine whon bo became Speaker of theHonso of Representatives. Aloxandor Ham ilton took obnrgo of tho Treasury at thirty-two yours of ago.' Martin Van Burcn at thirty-aix organized the fa mous Albany regency and was Gov ernor of New York at forty. John C. Calhoun in hia forty-socond year waa Vice-Preaideut of tho United States. John C Breckinridge of Kentucky waa Vice-President at thirty-two and candidate for tho Presidency at thirty-fivo. George B. McClellan was only thirty-eight when nominated for the Preaidency. In military lifo especially young men nave ooou most conspicuous. Gen. Grant waa but forty yesra ol age when he began winning a name for himself iu our civil war, and was only forty throe whon tho wur closed. The great Napoleon waa master oi Franoe and Europe before hia thirtieth birthday, Alexander the Great had conquered the world and left it before he waa thirty-three years old. Fro- mout, the "Pathfinder," had explored tho Rocky Mountains before he wat thirty, and was ruuning for tho Presi dency at forty-throe. Columbus was in the thirties when be explained hia ideaa of the weBtern passage aud enlisted the Spanish sov ereigns iu the projoct that led to the discovery of America. Richard Cob den waa but thirty-four when he founded the Auti-Coru Law League which revolutionized the commercial policy of Great Britain. William Pitt, ranked by aome historiana as the greatcat of modern British premiers, waa practically rnler of England at twenty-four. The liat of youthful great men might eaaily be extended. Baltimore Sun. The Castor UI1 Industry. The manufacture of oaator oil front the boana waa formerly controlled by a few pressors and manufacturers in New York, St, Lonia, Cincinnati and San Francisco. Tbeae manufacturers diatributod the aeeda to farmers, with direotions for oulturo, and made a contract to take the whole orop at a oertain aum. Tbe baana are raiaed on land where Indian oorn thrives, and tbe crop ia cultivated aimilar to oorn. Tho pods are harvested when they turn brown, and are ahelled by tho farmera. After being cleaned by a fauning mill they are aent to the manufacturers of the oil, who press them by heavy maohinery, and clarify the oil before bottling it, Tbe in dustry is a large one in thia country, and thousands of persona are directly orindlrtotly euported by it. New York Independent THE REGULAR ARMY It is Small Numerically, But Tho Highest Grade. of What the Applicant Must Do to Get Into the Ranks. It aoems to be the general belief, perhaps because the United States army is small in nnmbor, that ita file ia made up of rather inferior men. Probably this idea waa always wrong. Certainly it ia today entirely unfound ed, for thp very good reason that the standard by which applicants for en listment are measured ia higher in the United States than in any other coun try in the world, and the boys who wear the blue are aa fine spocitnoua of hoalthy and intelligent manhood as were evor mustered nndor a flag. Only unmarried men botwoen twonty one aud thirty years of age are now acceptod, and most men are nt their boat physically at that period of life. The applicant is allowed to state whether he wishes to go into tho foot or the mounted service, and his de sires are generally respected. For infantry a mau must not be less than five feet four inches in height, and weigh not loss than 128 pounds, nor more than 190 pounds. For cavalry tho height must not be less than five foot four inches, nor more than flvo foct ten inohos, while the weight and chest measurements are as follows: For a man 6 ft. 4 In. tall, weight 128 pounds, chest 32 1-2 Inches. For a man 5 ft. 6 in. tall, weight 130 I pounds, eiiost 83 lucnea. Hi For a man 0 ft 6 In. tall, weight 132 pounds, chest 33 1-2 Inches. For a man 5 ft. Tin. tall, weight pounds, chest 84 Inches. For a man 6 ft. 8 In. tall, weight pounds, chest 84 inches. For a man 5 ft. B In. tall, weight pounds, chest 84 1-2 Inches. For a man B ft. 10 in. tall, weight pounds, chest 85 Inches. If the regulations should 134 141 14S 155 be stretched so aa to let in a taller man than five feet ten, then his aize must inoreaae in aimilar proportion to hia boigbt For inatanoe, a man, six feot one iu height must wolgh 170 pounds and have a chost moaanremout of 80 1-4 inches. Indeed thero ia no prejudice against tal mon, but they aro acrutinized very carefully and must be symmetrical also. When tho applicant goes up for ex amination he ia weighed, moasurod and doscribod by a aergeant, and a blank filled ont which when complete, reveals every possible thing about tho applicant's phyaioalstructuro and con dition. This is scrutinized by the recruitiug officer, and then the appli cant goea before the surgeon and is stripped that tbe medical men may vorify the previous examination. This is done iu the most minute way aud a certificate that ia aa exaot aa may be is given. If he bo accepted the recruit ia sworn to the aervioe by the recruit ing officer, and if tho enlistmeut be iu New York he is sent to David's Island and from there to the command with whiob bo ia to serve. Men are not enlisted especially for tho artillery, but the most intelligent of those who go into tho mounted forces are solocted for this arm of the sorvioe when there are vaoanoios in it The artillery, therefore, ia compoaed of pickod men, and this accounts for the Bplendid bearing of theao soldiers whenever they are seen on parade. Tbe term of aervioe in the army ia now three yeara and tbe number of men about 20,000 ; and therefore it ia necessary to secure each year by en listments and re-enlistments some thing like 7,000 men. About 1,000 of those are re-enlistments of men who become attached to the aervico or who acquire what might be called tbe army habit. Tbe examination of a man who baa served one enlistment or more and haa a good record is naturally lesa overe than that givan to a new re- oruit, for the man of expencuee may have acquired blemishes aa ineidenta of his service aud these, unless debili' tating, are quite properly not counted againat him. The man of experience, too, ia oonsidered a much more valu able soldier than tho novice. Tbe aoheme of tbe atatnte under which reorniting ia done, while it en- eouragea re-euliatment, also provides for the probable foturn of diaoharged loldiora to civil life. now. when a mau ia discharged he ia not re-enlisted nntil three months aftor that time if he oare for auoh a furlough, ao that be jan have a taste of oivil lifo, and thia period ia counted aa a part of hia aer vioe. Provision is made for the retire' ment of soldiers aftor thirty yeara' ser rloe on three-fourths pay and three' fourths commutation for clothing and lubatinenoe, tho allowanoa to be made on tbe basis of the pay that waa re- oetvod whan the retirement occurred. Thus it was seen that the government looka after tbe old aoldiera with much consideration. , A private receives $13 a month for the first two years of enlistment, and 14 a month for tho third year if he haa served faithfully, aud th writer was informed that a careful man could easily save 8300 duriug the three yeara. Thia would seem to be impos sible, but it should be borne la mind that a soldier's clothing, quarters and food are supplied to him. Consider ing these facts, in connection with the advantages of the post schools, libra ries, gymuasiuma and canteen, a term of service in the United. States army cannot bo considored as other then a wholosomn and beneficial experience To those who fret at restraint and who . cannot submit themselves to discipline an nrmy experience is likely to be very valuable unless the lawless soldier be driven to desertion. There are less than forty reorniting stations at present in the United States and these are scattered over the country from Boston to San Franciaoo. Last November about 250 recrnits were secured and Boston supplied more than any other station, New York next, St Louia next, 'then St. Paul, then Albany. For many yeara after the civil war the majority of the enlisted men were of foreign birth and many of them were not even citizens. Now, no mau is eligible who is not a citizen or who baa not made legal declaration to beoome a citizen and can speak, read and write the English language. Indeed, the great majority of the recruits to-day are native born, though manv of them are of foreign pjtrejTtage. Thero are post sohools at which soldiers who' desire it can no- quire, free of cost, a fair English edu cation. Not many enlist for the sake of this advantage, bnt very many young men, once in the aervioe, take advantage of these schools and on ac count of the instruction received re turn to civil life muou better equipped for self-support and tbe exeroisa of intelligent citizenship. Detroit Free Press. Cocaine on tho Race Track. Within a rocent period oocaine baa come into use on tbe race track, aa a stimulant. Horses that are worn and exhausted, or are unoertaiu aa to speed and endurance, are given ten to fifteen grains of cocaine by tho noodle under the akin at the time of starting, or a fow moments before The effects are very promlnont, and a veritable muscular delirium follows, in which the horse displays uuueual apeed, and often unexpectedly wins , the race, Thia agitation continues, and tho driver haa difficulty in "slow ing down" tho horae after the race is over; not nnfrequoutly tbe horse will go half ronnd again before he oan.be stopped. The exhaustion which fol lows is not marked, exoept in the great thirst and loss of appetite. But good grooms give unusual attention to rob bing and bathing the legs iu hot water aud stimulants. The general effeot on tho horae ia dopresaion, from wbloh he aoona recovers, but it ia fonnd ea- aentiul to give cocaine again to make sure of his speed. The action of cocaine grows more transient aa the use increases, and when a long period of scoriug follows before the race be- ' gins, drivers give a second doao se cretly while iu the saddle. Sometimes the horae becomes delirious, and un manageable, and leavea tbe traok in a wild frenzy, often killing tho driver, or he dropa dead on the track from the cocaine, although tbe oauso ia un known to any bnt the owner and driver. Some horses have been given as high as twenty grains at a time, bnt thia iu daugeroua and only given to worn-out animals, who naay by this means win a race. It appeara that cocaine ia only used in running races. and as a temporary stimulant for the time. It ia claimed that the flashing eyes and trembliug exoitement of the , horse is strong evidence of the use ol oocaine. Quarterly Journal of Ine briety. Presidential Coincidence. John Adams waa eight yeara older than hia aucoessor, Thomaa Jefferson ; he eight years older than Jamea Madi son ; be eight yeara older than Jamet . Monroe, aud he eight years older than John Q. Adams. George Waahiugtou ended bia term aa preaident in his sixty-fifth year, ao, too, did John Adams, Thomaa Jeffer ' aon, Jamea Madisou and Jamea Mon roe. Thomaa Jefferson and John Adams both died on the same day July 4, 1826, exaotly fifty yeara after tho aigning of the Declaration of In dependence. One other preaident, Jamea Monroe, died on July 4. Bia death oconrred in 1881. Every president, it is aaid, with the alngle exception ef William H, BarrU -ion, has had blue eyas, V
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers