Three expositions nra booked for next 'year tit Baltimore, Xushvillu and Otnnhn, Tho Bussiuii government linn 10 eontly placed contracts for 12, 000, 000 worth of war material in llio I'll it ml Ftntcs alone, nml tlio Pnrlimncnt of Jupnn in Dow discussing ft plan for tlio Investment of 3 1 ID, 000,000 in fleets end fortresses. If llio cutlioilo rny assists in tho diagnosis of sitsprcled appendicitis,, it will ho a boon to innnkiiil, suggests the Admits Jonrtinl. This trouble has bcun foiiml to be frequent, ami unless a correct diagnosis in mndo in the earliest stage, tho chnnccs of ro to very are far from good. The interinitioiiiil rxhibitiou of agri cultural implements, to bo held nt Vienna, will afford Amerieiui inventor ml liiititu fucttiriTH iiuotlier oppor tunity to show thoir olil-timo superi ority in tlmt branch of industry, suggests tho New York Tribune. Thut ih n good plneo in which to nuiko tuck a showing, too. for tlio eastern part of the Dual empire in ouo of tlio greatest agricultural countries in tlio world. Colonel Cm-roll D." Wright, of tho Niitionnl burenn of statistic, is re ported as estimating tlmt only 1,800, D00 of the 15,000,000 of Americmi wage earners are oignniz.nl in nny sort of trade' unions. Ho therefore ascribes to other causes thnn their no. tivity the grent ndvnnco in the wage f lnbor, which hits tnken place, mounting, in his estimate, to Mxtv nino percent during tho nineteenth Bentury. An luventor proposes to utilize tho ompnns of n ship to warn the navi gator of tho appronch of dutiger, lie has constructed n compass which is regulated by a chemical which will not be uffectod by tho magnetic, force on board the ship, but will bo keenly sensitive to miuute (.yniptouis from any other mnguetio iulluouco exerted t a distance from tho vessel up to possibly two miles. This compass when affected by tho magnetism scillntes about an eighth of an inch, o tho inventor asserts. When it is to n (Tec tod tho metal couneotioua on the rim of the dial pinto will close a circuit, causing the bells to riugiu the engine-room as well as ill the pilot house and on the bridge. . Iu tho Arkansas state ponitentinry ! a young man who ought to be out tide the walla of that institution, do tlarea the Washington Star. He only snterod it the other dny but oven a day of residence therein is too long a period of contlnemeut for such a por lo n as ha seems to be. Convicted of rand larceny in Clny oounty, ho onrneyed aloue from tbo Clay oounty jourt house to Little Bock a distance f more thnn two hundred miles and lolivered to the authoritiea there the affiuial papers which set forth hia trime and his sentence and which of tourae secured for him instant aduiis lion to the penitentiary. Tho precise aature of his off-mse ia not stated but any young man this ouo is about ineteeu years of ago who will keep faith under such oircunistauoes is da torviug of better treatment than a fear's sojourn in a penal institution. If that yonng man bag half a chnuoe he will amount to something. A novel and interesting report bni jnat been issued by the United States geological anrvey on the public luuda now open to entry and settlement, which embrace one-third of the whole axtent of the country, exclusive of Alaska, The relative location and area of this vaat domain of free land are ahown by n large colored map and the distribution i further illustrated in the report by means of diagrams allowing the proportion from each state aud territory. Numerous pho tographs of aoenery in the West- are also given. The character of the laud M desoribed in general terms and ahown by colored map exhibiting ha forests, woodlanda and grazing arena. The main point developed by thia report U that the vain of the hinds of this unoccupied third of the United States ia dependent primarily on the water anpply. Muob of it hae keen reclaimed by irrigation, bnt by lar the greater portion cannot be irri gated, and is Valuable mainly for pas lor age and for forest growth. It is asserted that the great question before 'he American people is bow best to atilifee this vast area to develop its agricultural possibilities, and bow to in that portion which cannot be cul tivated for graaing and for the pro duction of timber. Thia report gives la eonoiae form the results of years of bveetigetion, end brings together is clear and striking man per the most ' f?o:ineot facte concerning the peo Va kerStf A Rons; of Hope. ClilMron of ynntnnlny, Helm of tomorrow, What nro you weaving I.nlmr anil sorrow V L'mk to your looms ngniu Vaster ami faster Vly Din great shuttles I'ropiiri'il dy the Master. Life's in the lo mi, Room for It -room I f'lilMrcn of ycstepluy, Helm of tomorrow, 1 I ;liteu the InlHir Ami sweeten the sorrow. Now while the shuttles II y Vaster ami faster, V mill he nt It At work with the MiMer. He Ftamls lit your loom. Iloniii for lllm -room. ClilMren of yestenlny, Heirs of tomorrow, Look at your fahrle (if Inlior innl sorrow. Heaniy mnl ilnrk With ilesalr ami illsasler, Turn It mi l lo. The ileslKn of the Master 1 The Ltiril's nt the lunm, Ileum for Him room I Youth's Companion. HER LOT WAS TO OBEY. Tall, debonnir and smiling, Jnek P.iltoti looked worthy to woo ami win even so fair a prize ns pretty Nora ('nrew, the belle of Hampden town. iiil ns lie looked tit tho bewitching face once more ho iiiiulo up his mind that tonight ho would put his fnto to tho touch, mid would win or elso loso it nil. "What energetic people you all arc, to bu mro!" smd Mrs.Carow, placidly surveying the two young poople. "Tenuis all day long, and now a dance. Whole is Gladys, Nora?" "Here, mother," answered a culm, suave voice, anil Gladys Hastings, the well-to-do married daughter, surveyed her young Mster critically ns she spoke then as her ryes fell on tho impnssionod face of Jack Dalton, Hho turned has tily nwny. "Conic, Xorn," nho said, "tho car riage 1ms been waiting some time," mid in Mleneu tho yotiug people, fol lowed her. And now at last Jack will put it off uo lonyr. The girl ho loves with nil the streuth of his honest, manly heart is seated by his side. They nro iu the conservatory and not a living being is iu hight. " Xora," he says softly. Tho girl blushes a bright pink, but does not appear to resent his fauiil inritv. "Xora," ho rcpoitts, taking bold of tho little hand in this, "you know al ready what 1 would say, do yon not, ray darling? Xora, I love you. Love you more, I think, than ever man ever loved before, Xoru, will you be mv wile ? " The blue eyes were raised for a second, and in their misty radiuuou Jack Dulton read his answer. "Xora! " broke in a voioe of meas ured severity, which made Nora start like a guilty creature, "I have been looking for you everywhere! Xora, Mr. Pontifex has arrived unexpectedly at home, and apparently, from what I can gather, does not wish to meet you first h. re. So, of coui-so, you will at once leave ami" "I do uot see why, Gladys!" said Norn, but her voice trembled and her fair face was very white, "Then allow others to judge of what is right and fitting uml.-r the circumstances," said Mrs. Hastings, sharply. "I have made your apolo gies to Mrs. Pol ham ; she quite un derstands the' circumstances. Bun quickly aud get your oloak," As the girl goes reluctantly forward Jack Dulton makes a hasty step tow ard her, bat Mrs, Hastings geutly de tains him. "Pardon me," she said in a soft voice, in whioh there was a light ring of pity, "but I cannot but fear you do uot quite know the facts about my little sister. If you have been led to think anything from her manner I am very sorry, but it happens so often. Naughty child ! She is a sad flirt I" Mrs. Hastings gave a gentle, amused laugh, which died suddenly as her eyes fell on Jack's white, stern face. "Excuse met" he said, in a haughty tone, "but I do not understand what you are endeavoring to oouvey to me. Why does the advent of this gentle man appear so important to her, nd" "Ah, it is as I said ; you do not un derstand the fuots!" laughed Mrs. Hastings. . "They are briefly these. Nor is engaged to Mr. Pontifex, has been siuoe the eud of the season, and they are to be married iu the au tumn!" The place seemed to swim round Jack's eyes, but with a firm resolve not to be beaten he set bis teeth bard nil wltt absolute composure surveyed Nor as she returned to her lister's "Is this true?" be domnndnd, and his voico to himself sounded far awny. Is it trite that yon are now going to moot your affianced husband?" Nora looked up sturtlod into his whito stern face. "I I" alio tailored, but her voloo brokn nud sho turned away. "That is an answer sufllciont, ho returned. "I fully Indorso your idsler'H sentiment, Miss Onrow you nro a sad llirtl" With a liarsli Initgh ho In mod nwny ns Norn, whito nud trembling, fol. lowed Mrs. Hastings to the carriage, leaving him standing alone, desolnto amidst tho wealth of flowers nud sweet scouts, a bitter, broken hearted man. "I havo oomo for my nnswcr.Norn?" said Mr, Pontifex in his calm, meas ure.! voico. Something iu his assured cotilldonco iiiiulo tho girl Hush with sudden nnger. "Dy what right do you call mo by my name? " sho auked passionately, and as her eyes dwell on his compla cent, uninteresting face, the girl tells herself she hates him. 'ily what right? My dear Norn, surely your future husband may " He ends abruptly, for Nora's eyes are Hushing with unconcealed rage. "My future husband!" ho ex claimed. "Never! Uy what right havo you followed mo about, tortured mo so tho last few mouths, I nevor liked yon, never said I would marry you. How daro you try to imply that you wero ever treated by mo with more than ordinary civility." "Votir sister" ho says but with more uneasiness in his assured tones. "My sister is not me, Mr. Pontifex. Sho apparently thinks shu can dispose of mo ns sho chooses. I claim the right to choose for myself in the most important, holiest act of a woman's I i Iu. Mr. Pontifex I havo chosen, and may I nsk you to bo generous enough to in future, when wo moot, abstain from remarks savo those of ordiuary civility?" With a bow a young empress might have given, Xora swept from tho room. She felt cbokod, HiilVocating with conflicting emotions. "Oh, for soino air!" sho cried. Ami, catching up her hat, sho ran from tho house, down tho garden to the downs beyond, whore sho paused, exhausted by a largo clump of trues. As sho raised her head lit a sudden rustling, a man camu quickly from within the thiokot, aud Nora con fronted Jack Dalton. Haggard, whito, uiihhaven he looked, ngod by many years from tho handsome Jack Dalton of the uight beforo. Ho raised bis hat mochnnionlly, and was pissing on, but Nora spoko: "Mr. Dultou," sho said, in a trem bling voioe,' which, low as it wnB, reached Jack's ears. Ho raised his eyobrows slightly. "I am ut your sor vice, Miss Carow !" ho said, icily. Nora looked nervously at him. ' Would bo uot help her? No ; ho was gaging before him with a blank, set expression. "I I don't know how to say it," Norn broke out impetuously, "but I heard you were goiug away today, and oh, Jack, don't look away from mo listen to mo first! I I was never engaged to him. I never even liked him, but Gludyz wanted mo to marry him and I cared for no ono else. Aud oue day before we came here when he had wearied me out, I said I would give him an answer three months later. Tho three mouths aren't up yet, Jack, but he came down yester day, aud I told him today that I could nover be his wife. Oh, Jaok, if you goiug away today say goodby to mo kindly, for for I love you, Jack." Thore was au instant's pause, and then Jack's strong arms wero round the little weeping figure, and her wet face was pressed to his- Forgot-Mi-Not. Manuel's and Customs of The Boers. The daily life of a Boer family is a simple one : At daybreak, all the mem bers assemble in the main room the kitchen and eating room, although most of the food is cooked in the open air where the head of tho family reads reverently a ohapter or two from the Bible, generally the Old Testa ment, a simple, manly prayer is then ordered, followed by the observance of an anoient Bible custom. A col ored handmaid euters the room with basin of water and a towel. The guest ia first approsohod and invited to wash his bands and fuoe aud wipe them on the towel. The head of the family is next approached and eo on arouud thu room until all have been included in thu oeromony. This con stitutes the day's ablutious of tho family. The morning meal oousists of a dish of meat deer or mutton, and sometimes beef out into large piocoa. J hey all ait around tho board while the father says a long graoo, and a stranger not familiar with thoir table manners is apt to bo loft in tho lurch. Kach man, for tho women cat nlono, selects thu particular pinco of meat that strikes his fancy, and as soon ns tho "Amen" is spokoti, sticks bis fork into tho pioco selected. It happens sometimes that two anient tho sumo piece ; then, tho quickest man gets tho booty. Dry bread, sometimes butter, and strong black cotToo complete tho bill of fare, which may Aland as a smnplo meal. It tins been urged ngeinnt tho Boor that ho is titiclonnly, nml this cannot bu denied ; but there is nn exeuso for this in tho scarcity of water, Forum. Oldest llnllrnnd In the World. Thu Baltimore & Ohio Is tho oldest chartered railroad in America, nud tho oldest pnsseugcr railroad in tho world. On tho 4th of July, 1828, ground was broken for tho promising enterprise by Charles Carroll of Carroll ton, tho only remaining signer of tho Declara tion of Independence. At the time it was ouly designed for a horso rail road, for steam had not yot been evolvod into a practical motive power. It was tho original intention to extend the road ultimately to tho Ohio river, hence the name which it now boars was given to it nt its beginning. Ou tho 22 I of May, 18:10, tho rond was opened for business from Balti more to Kllicntt's Mills.thirtoon miles. Thu first American passenger car then used was almost 12 feet long ;ono horse was attached, good for ulyht miles an liour.carrying 25 passengers. Tho driver sat iu front, tho conductor stood on tho stein behind. Tho first driver, Mr. Galloway, who was after wards made eiigiueer.livod to see tho road perfected from tho primitive ono horso power to its climax of wonder ful display nt tbo World's fair, whoro ho held forth with prido as the first engineer of tho first passenger railway in America. ..Vviv.;-i5i'" '-' Very soon after tlio rond 6tartod a more ambitious car was usod, known ns tho "doilblu decker." Then a tread car was iiitrodilcod, llio object being for tlio horso to move itn own car and passenger car attached at tho siimu time, n sort of animated four- legged locomotive, which is doubtless moro humorous to read about than it would bu to rido buhiud, particularly pi this day of lightning spued. Momentous events followed quickly ou this new road, nml on August 2H, 1HU0, the first American locomotive evor constructs!, made by Petor Cooper, drew the first pnssongor oar ever propelled by steam upon any railroad iu the world, Mr. Cooper act ing as engineer. Alaska I'nyi Its Way. There are people who ore fond of saying that tho Uuitod States "has spout moro iu trying to dofcud tho right to coutrol the seal fisheries than Alaska has been worth to it." A docu ment just now sont by tho prosidout to Congress shows that tho govern ment has derived, siuoj 1870, from tbo soal fisheries alone, 8(5,351,001, and that there is a claim of nearly a million moro outstanding. Including all the expenditures of polioing Buhr iug a and for tho support of the na tives, and for saluries, thoro has bocn a uot profit to the Uuitod States siuoa 1870 ou tho seals nlono of $1, 058,858. Siuoe the Canadiaus began their at tempts to break up these fisheries the profits have vanished. Aside from the ual fiihories, thore are other fisberios of greit value. In his annual roport seorotary Smith says that "tho salmon alono taken pre pared for tho markot by cauning or otherwise gives an annual return of 83,000,000." Gold miuiug has also beoomo of great and increasing im portance, aud, according to these offi cial doouments, Alaska returns to the poople of the United States in one year now almost as much as the cost of it. The Manufacturer. Oilsoaked Wood That Was Fireproof. The wood used in the hold of a ves sel to keep barrels and hogsheads from rolling out of position, known as "dunnage," is generally good for fuel, but there are exceptions. A Portland man was offered a quantity of this stuff recently, but waa advised not to take it as it would not be worth the trouble. It had been used .as dun nage for barrels of kerosene, and the barrels of leaking oil had completely saturated it, but this, strange as it may appear, reudred the wood almost unfit for use. It would burn so sul lenly or soggily that little heat would be given forth. The reason, as ex plained by the Trauscript, is that the volatile, inflammable priuoiple of the oil evaporates from the wood, aud leaves only a dogging, inoombnstible substance. Lewistoa. Me,, Journal, , WEATHER VANES. Some Unique Designs Upon the Homes of Fublio Men. Adjustment of the Indicator a Very Delicate Operation. Thoro are over 100,000 wenthor vanes sold ovory yenr In this country nud thny are of all shapes, sizes and representations. Personal tnsto in wenther vanes is apparent ovory whore. For instance, so says tho weathor vane manufacturers, the far west loves emblems of its rich agriculture. A sheaf of ripo whoat is tho favorite in its farming districts. In others buffalo, cattle, live stock of nil kinds and life sizo doer nud nutolope are liked Tbo rooster is a bird that is chosen in all parts of tho world for n weather vauo. Kentucky is pm-tinl to tho horso ns nn ornament to Its chimneys and steeples. Alix, with her pneumatic sulky; l'atchon, with wagon ; Flora Tomplo and mate, and nil tho great horses of the South, nro mado in brass weather vanes and sold freely for ornaments to country homes, breeding stables, manufactories and largo buildings. Weather vanes lira made out of solid copper and brass, hammered and hollowod out The term "solid'' means that tho metal is of tho best quality. The iron vane, or tho wood en ono, is considered inferior, or if used nt nil, is soloctod by a man who lias plenty of money, and who can af ford to replace the woodun or othor porisbablu vauo as often as it is worn out. In tho city tho great destroyer of a gilded weathor vauo is tho dust and smoke. Tho gold gots tarnished and tho Cupper discolored. The ingouiiily of weather vnue makers is constantly taxod to overcome this difficulty. On this account many weather vnnosnrj mndo of souio substance dark cuoii(.h not to discolor, aud if not at bcautilu as gold, warranted to last much longer. Glndstono has upon his ountry home, Hiiwardon, a weather vauo iu tho form of a British lion that is of copper so bright that in somo lights it looks ns black as iron. Tho lion has a curly tail, and his bond woars tho joyful expression of being about to spring upou its prey. Tho head of tho lion points to whero tho wiud lies. If tho head is at tho north, the wiud is north. It is n remarkablo fact that, though England put up weathor vanes and had its fuctories beforo Columbus came over here, most of the Euglish weath er vanos nro now mndo in this coun try. Mr. Gladstone obtained bis lion here, and tho man who mado it tells with prido of recoiving a lettor in the handwriting of tho old Premier. Ha wanted "a weather vano bright, light aud registering accurately." Thj weather vaue upou tin Fifth avenuo homo of John Jacob Astor, U a orescent, covered with tine gold leaf. T io cost might havo boon 81,000. To this must be added half tho sum for putting up. Tho adjustment of a woulhor vnue is a very delicate opera tion. Tho levoling is very nice work. Levi P. Morton has a very large Indian foathor upon his oouutry house. It is very ornamental, has the corners of the compass underneath, aud makes a suitable finish to tho finely triinraod cupola of his magnifi cent soak The oast of such a vaue is not over $100 at tbo most, aud from that prioe down you can got a feather or an arrow at all ooBts down to 82.50 whioh is about as cheap as vanes over come. The weathor vane ornament on Blenheim is a rooster. It is au Ameri can rooster aud was purchased and placed there by Mrs, Huraersloy when she beoamo tbo Duohess of Marl borough. It is of bright gold and is very large. Its polo ia 100 foot high, and the bird itself from tail to head meaaures six foot. That is large for a gold rooster. New Yurk Journal Protection for Horses at Country Churches. As a country parson, writes Bev. M.G. Bambo in the American Agri culturist my attention has often been called to thia matter. My ministerial work for the past few years has been in charge of country congregations, and I have been astonished at the laok of provision at the average ohuroh for the accommodation of the teams, while the owners enjoy the oom forts of the house of God. The horses are com pelled to staud out in the burning suushine or in the bleak wintry wind, with soaroely a shadow of protection, It is to me a great souroe of pain to see the animals suffer as they are ofteu compelled to do in the extremes of weather and I often shorten thef servioe in order that the teams may Every congregation should see to it that there are soma arrangements for thu comfort and protection of the teams during tho hour of service. No one would think of driving horses to town nud lotting them stand out iu all sorts of severo woalber as thoy do at chiprch. And yot only a very few con gregations havo given till toast atten tion to tho comfort of tho horses on Hominy. It scorns to mo that a chnroh should nover bo considered ready for dedication tint il thoro has been mndo ninplo provision for tho dumb boasts, fof how can ono's worship bo accepta ble to tho Croalor uulosi ho is consid erate of the needs of his creatures? Sheds can bo easily and cheaply built that will bo a protection both In sum mer and winter. Tho cash outlay for their ooiistruettou need bo small. The lumber necessary to cover thorn an 1 board up tbo windward sido is all that needs to bo bought. ' PolOg in nearly nil casus may be obtained in tbo neighborhood and they will nl wnys bo douatod. Tho Work, too will tisualiy bo donated. A "boo" in soma leisure time of the yenr iniht bo held, when ui -u of tho wholo community would turnout and the entire work could bo ilono in one day. Thus nt tho cost of a little time nud very smntl nmotint of money, the work could bo accomplished. It ia ccrtniuly a cause that demauds atten tion. Cocoa And Cliorulntn. For tho past fifty yours tho mm n- fneturo of chocolate and tho prepara tion of cocoa baa bocn going on in Now York. Thero aro now soma twenty-flvo factories and firms en gaged iu the business, A prominent manufacturer said to a porter iu re- -lation to this : Tho reason why Now York is the canter for tho manufacture of the various forms of chocolate is because both tho ooooa boan aud thu sugar ro-' quired in its manufacture aro grown this sido i f th ) Atlantic, aud aro more easily producod hero than aboard There is also another reason why tho domestic chocolate is bottor than tho imported, and that is hcouiso we nuiko a better quality of good than they do on the othor sido. Tho American inauufaetiircM givo better valn-js and work ou a smaller margin. ' "Ouo of tho reasons why many chocolate manufacturers havo bad ho much success is because New York is a seaport, aud in somo cases I know of cocoa beans being Inn do. I ou tho dock near a manufactory iu the morn ing and turnod out manufactured goods on tho followiug morning. This morely illustrates to bow flo a point tho business has been perfect ed. Tho sami authority estimated that the product of cuoajliite aud cocoa of Now York muuufuotnre was 3,000,000 pouu Is a year, II j made tho predic tion thut it would uot bo loug before this amount would bo doublml. New York Mail aud Express. An Intelligent St. Bernard. An Euglinh traveler iu Switzerland having recently criticised somewhat unfavorably the race of St, Beruard dogs because a certain member of that famous breed took the liberty of de vouring the contents of his lunoheou basket on a recent oooasiou, a German admirer of the maligned animal bus been moved to take up his poo in its defonse. The St. Bernard's aotion.hu maintains, does uot exhibit any lack ' of intelligence. Ou the contrary, itt shows a very keon appreciation of tho iutoresU of the innkeepers iu moun tainous regions. Oa the summit where the offjnoo was committed, ha points out, there is au inn where an. excell a E carrying bolow, he shows a disregard for the prosperity of such establishments whioh the St. Bernard dog to his houor be it suid has no disposition tv encourage. Westminster Budget, Cultivating Extravagance. ; In Oldtowu, Me,, there once livd a unique character who was noted for the particularly poor horses he kept about him. Many a time, aaye the Bangor Commercial, he would be seen upon the rond with an animal whose condition would warrant the, inter vention of the society with long name. Oue day be appeared upon the street with a uag that woaUt hardly serve for the crows, and was) aooosted by a fellow towusman with "That's a pretty good looking horse i you have there. Unole Simeon." "YJs." replied the driven "I've deride. there' money in these fltty-ee have decided to have n with them. I paid f ent luncheon may be obtained at very moderate price. Whan tlier J uglish tourist makes a practice of 1 all nis reiresnmouts up Irom i be relieved of there misery, " ; : ' Y