The I'nll Mall dawdle, W.W.Aslor, editor, snys Hint the United States could save Cubit ljr purchase. Tho existence of Germany's army system linn been threatened by tlio outrages committed by nfflccr tip on civilians, states Hie Now York Trib uue. Owing to tbe high prices charged by the gas companies itt England, n number of largo towns, a will ns London suburbs, like Wimbledon, have been compelled to revert to oil lighting for street lamp. The city of Mobile, A lu,, expects to , become the cheapest conl port in the world, by menm of a new transpor tation company which promises to bring (oft conl from the mines (it Tus kaloosn and Rail it at 1.25 per ton. Tbe rhilndolpbia Times tbiuhs Mint on the whole "it ii a good thing that there are boys and chestnuts every year. Tbe boys keep the chestnuts from going to waste and the chestnuts furnish the boys lot of healthy en joyment" An excelleut territory for settle ment, says a writor in the Journal of Military Service, is southeastern Al aska, It has mild climnto, nrnblo land and great quantities of fish and game. This writer recommends it es pecially to Norwegians and Danes. New Orleans boasts of twenty-three eleotrio car lines, costing $13,000, 000. The Companies own 4 "0 cars, employ 1,050 motormeu and conduc tors, oporato 195 miles of track and take in over 90,000 in fares daily. The recupts are at the rate of $2, 800,000 per annum, or about 97, per capita of population. . Count Okhuraa, the new foreign minister of Japan, is said to possets 11 the astuteness of Li Hung Chang without his sense of humor, for which be has substituted jingo seasoning of peculiarly Japanese strength and fla vor, lie forsees n time when Japan and the races of Europe will have to tight for the supremacy of the world, nd fixes the site of tho "norap" as the plains of Siberia and the plateaus of Central Asia. Without any great stretch of imagination, it may be stated that the conut will not be liv ing at that time. i The popularity of bicycling in England is demonstrated in some measure by the faot that since the first of the year $55,000,000 has been in vested in uew limited cycle companies. Up to the end of last year tbe capital of the cyoliug companies was less than $30,000,000. It has thus nearly been doubled sinoe January. This does not include capital invested in the numerous private concorns in different parts of the country. Nearly 2,000 patents for inventions counectod with tbe bioycle or aooussories were ap plied for during 1895. The valuo o( the bicycles mado in a year in Great Britain, at the present rato of produc tion, is estimated at $00,000,000. A simple method of murder and robbery, with small chances of de tection, devised by some Russian pcasniits on the Prussian border, has recently been brought to light, A fever for emigration has existed for ome years in Poland, and people who on Id sot obtain passports to leave Russia after selling all they had, would aeoreto their money npon their per sons and Lire these peasants to smug gle them across the frontier. As their departure bad to be kept seoret, and tbe emigrants were generally illit erate persons of no prominence, it was easy to lead them into out-of-the way plaoes, murder them, and atrip' them, with little probability of their being missed. Tbe New York Herald risos to re mark that no elemeut iu the busy life of that great city has come more rap idly to the front during the last few years than the Italian. Only a short while back the "dago" was chiefly en gaged in selling peanuts or the more baruiouious livelihood of organ grind ing. Today, however, tbe native of sunny Italy iaeugagud iu all the lower rounds of labor. Ha is a monopolist of the fruit trade aud the boothlaok industry, and is even reaehing out into the restaurant business. The fruit stand Italians alone would make a small army in New York. Not alone those who have tbe sidewalks, but those who also run small stores that dot the streets and avenues of the big city. Iu developing this trade they seem to have gravitated to an employ ment Amerioaus evidently considered too slow as a moans of livelihood. He leaves the) sweat-shop to the Pole and tbe Russian Hebrew, the laundry to tbe Chinaman, but in fruits and boots It in the modern king. u '- WLffi WINNING A BRIDE. "Give yon my daughter? You!" A God-fearing man whs this father, lie had firm faith iu a doctriunl insti tution, engineered by tho synod of which he, Oi villo Manor, Esq., was one of the strongest pillars. Was nut this hi an entitled to tbe npecinl benefloence of bis Creator, and the rcspeot of humble humanity Yet hero stands an audacious youth, who 1ms apparently nothing in the wide world to recommend him but the tes timonials which secured hitn the posi tion of entry clerk iu the wholesale house of Manor A Co., and a hand some face lighted up with a pair of dark eyes, glowing with energy and ambition. And this youth had asked him for his daughter. A just auger reddened the usually importurbiihle brow of Manor pere, and a soornfnl curve slmpod his lips nn he adjusted the gold-rimtnod spectacles ou bis uose and repented : "Give you my daughter I You I Truly 'fools enter boldly where angels fear to trend.' lLtve you any other request to make, young mau?'' "No. sir I" Orvillo Mauor,Esq., turned bis back upon the daring young man, aud re lumed his reading; his fnoo was again dispassionate. The other remained itanding, but tho fine face changed color, his breath enmo hard and fast, the exquisitely-curved nostrils of a de cidedly aristocratic nose showed tho ipirit of emotion, not unlike the tem per of a thoroughbred animal under the bit of a trainer. With an effort truly admirable the "rising ire" was controlled, and the lips beneath his oft and luxuriant mustache beoamo firmly set. Ten minutes this silence lasted. The young man stood bis ground as it be had beoorae an automatic statue. The old gentleman began to show restlessness again, and after a vain en deavor to command the emotion rul ing him, be turned abruptly, exclaim ing: "Have you nothing more profitable to employ your mind than staring nt my back, sir? What are you waiting for?" 'Your answer." With slow and mnjestio mien, and a oonntennnoe beaming with patience, this father of a daughter walked to the door, opeued it, and, (jointing to the outer entrance, remarked: "This is my answer. Is it compre hensible?" The young aspirant for a rich man's daughtor bowed, His face was 'ghast ly palo, but bis step was firm, bis bead haughtily erect, and the indig nant parent was somewhat impressed with the nobility characterizing bis humiliation as he turned from tbe door so cruelly olosed npon himself and his hopes. A perfect gem of a room was this apartment. The floor was covered with a Turkish .velvet carpet of deep est crimson, the furniture was of carved walnut and embossed velvet of crimson on gold-colored satin, the windows were draped with softest laoe nnder the luxuriant wealth of red and gold brocure, held to tbe ricbly-fres-coed ceiling by heavy gold-mouuted lambrequins. Mirrors and paintings lined the walls on every side, aud marble busts and statues were reflected everywhere. Tables in rare mosaic were covered with late magazines and books. The air was perfumed as if eaob article exhaled a fragraaoe of its own, and the first sensation on enter was almost a feeling of sensuons lan guor, especially to one unaooustomed to the perfumed warmth of this semi darkened atmosphere. The young lady reoliuing on one of the crimson lounges seemed a part of its natural belongings. Her features were of the Amerioan type, but ber yes, covered by their blue-reined, blaok fringed lids, were Orientally Urge and of a deep violet blue. And this lovely creature, in her white silken and piuk tatin-liued wrapper, reared to breathe iudolenoe and make circumstance subservo to every caprice, this favorite of the gods was the dnnghtor to whom her father's clerk uspirod, A sirrntit in blno livery entered noiatlcsxly with a letter uu a gold lined salver, presented it to the young lady and retired ngnin. With a flush of pleasure aha pressod the little document to ber lips and read : My Beautiful Treasure: The con templated interview is over. I shall Hot distress you with particulars. It wns not at all romantio aud did not end in a tragedy jot partake of the farcical "lilts you, my boy; take her and be happy ;" hut your fntbi-r hinted rather strongly that it was advisable for my presumptuous self to journey the pathway of life without bis daughter. I diff r from him in bis vicna on that subject, and I want your permission to call aud talk the matter over at the earliest possible moment I wish no clandestine meeting. My love is honest, my motives worthy of respectful consideration, and the as surance of your lovn makes me bold. Oil, my beautiful darling I the rapture of this conviction tills ine with joy too blissful to be human, tint it is true, swoet, for I have held you to my throbbing heart I have felt your thrill in answer to my passionato kisses, and my pleading heart has lisieoed to the melody that whispered of the love you have blessed inn with. Give you up, sweet I No ioe, nor metal, nor heaven nor hell shall keep mo from you, if mv lovn aavs comol SIDNEY HAUUISON. There was a tire of determination in the young beauty's eyes as she went to an escritoir of ebony and gold and took therefrom ad iiuty, cream-tinted scented sheet of paper, and wroto thereon one magio word, "Cornel" inclosed and sealed it, rang a tiny sil ver bell, which brought a servant, to whom sho gnvo directions about deliv ering the lottcr to its address without delay. Then slio wont down the ele gantly ftiruishod hall anil stairway into the library, whore hur father was en gaged with his papers, and gliding up to him, in a most childlike, wiuuiug manner, she bent over him and kissed his cheeks and mouth, and then perched herself laughingly upou his knees. "Well, Pearl," said he, tendorly caressing this idol of his heart ;. "does this mean soma iiew-fauglod gow-gaw, or do you really love your old father?" "My old father, indoedl Stop slan dering him, sir, or I'll bite you I No, I do not come on a money-begging expedition. I want to talk souse." "Bless me, child, what new novel have you been reading? Imagine yourself come to the senso-tulking season." "I have not beon reading novels. I am studying Herbert Spencer." A frown darkened the benign court tonauce, and be replied coldly: "More botorodox uousousol Pearl, I do not approve " "I know you dou't, pa, and I'll give it up to oblige you. But there is something you can give me, pn, now I come to think of it, uud you will oblige mo greatly." "I never refuse my pot auvtbiug, do I?" "No, but thisonoe you might, dear ps, just because it is suoh a very ordi nary, every-day affair that I want" "What is it you trifler?" "Only a husband," she roplied meekly. "My dear Pearl, you do not know what you are saying. A husband I" "Yes, sir." "And, if I may ask, have you picked out the unlucky individual?" "Oh, yea. pa, he is already cut and dried, ready for use." "My child, yon are jestiugon a very serious matter." "But, pn, I am not jesting. I do not care about having the husband all in a hurry today or tomorrow, but I want you to promise- him some future day, when you gut tired of my tens ing and extravagance, uud so forth, yon know, pa." Pa began to aot restlessly. His faoe beoame very dark and uupromia ing. In faot great light dawned npon bis mind, and as it broadened bis brow darkened more and more. He looked keenly into ber eyes, uutil her gaze drooped beneath bis hurd scrutiny, aud she whispered appeal ingly J "Pa, do not be so cross with me but but be will be here direotly. " "Who.girl?" was the excited exola mation. "Siduey Harrison." At this instant the library door opened and the gentleman himself en tered. The young lady was at hit tide la a flash, and plnolng ber bnnd on bis arm and liftiug her head proudly.ucflantly, snid : "In life or death, fnthcr, (hit is my heart's choice." There wns sublime adoration in the look given her by the young man as ho advanced to tun thoroughly non plussed aud outragod fnthor and ex claimed : "Give her to met Full well 1 realize my own unwurth " "Silence I 'Tia woll that yon have still enough of manly spirit to ac knowledge your unfitness to iieooma the husband of my daughter. Yon, a clerk in my employ, on a salary scarcely commensurato with the re quirements of a beggar?" "Why hot inorease it, pa? One might be led to imagine it was a dis grace to be in my dear old fnthor's employ, from the way you emphasize tbe fact," Pearl remarked, with a touch of roguish bravery. "Oh, heavens, why am I thus tried?" the old geutleman cried in feeble des perntiou. Then suddenly growing wrathy again, he pointed sternly to the door. "For the second time,young man. I command yon to doprrt and be pleased to take Uotico lot it be tho last time. I have forborne to treat you as you deserve; forbearnnou may cease to be a Christian virtue, remem ber." "Father, do you know might agninst bis character? Ha has beeu in your employ a year. Has be proved ineffi cient or unworthy of the respect due an honorable gentleman?" Tho girl's nobles face wns grand in its pleading yet dignified womanhood. "I have no complaint agninst him." "Then for once my father has fallen short in bis judgment aud bis duty to one of Ood's creatures, like himself, inasmuch as be refines to him an op portunity to atuto his case, before a judgment shnll be spoken." "X'eari, you are insolent. Do you forget whom you are addressing?" "Forgive, forgive mo, but oh, fath er, do not forgot that iu turuiug this man from your door you also close your heart and home against me. We have plighted our troth, and through good aud ill fortuuo I shall cling to bim, so bolp mn God I" Solemnly the closing words were ut tered. A long silence followed. Then the old gentleman said calmly, icily: "Go to your room, ungrateful, thankless child." "Not uutil you have given Sidnoy a bearing. Father, dear father, be just." "Go. I will send for you when yon are wauted. " "Now. Mr. Harris .in, I will bear you. Be brief." "Thank you, Mr. Manor. Two years ago I met your daughter while on a visit 10 a mutuui triunu or ours in St Louis. I was ohnrmod at the first mooting, and fell desperately iu love before she returned homo. Sho had honored me with her confidunco and friendship beforo sho left, and also booaino acquainted with my par ents and sisters, and there seemed to be a geuerul expression of mutual hap piness in this intercourse. We cor responded for several months, and your daughter consented to reoeive my nddressos if I would tntiko your acquaintance in the manner that I have, by accepting a position iu your employ and win your regard from that bumble office. My father is fully cognizant of and approved of the plan from the beginning, and I have his letter to show you that if I succeed, be will not only be bappy to welcome my wifo, but establish me in business of my own, or give me fifty thousand dollars to invest as I may see fit This is my story in brief. Time will develop everything satisfac torily to you. My father retired from active business some time since, and contemplates taking my mother, who is bu invalid, and my sisters, to Eu rope shortly, aud they will be in tbe city the latter part of this week to awuit what my sister are plossed to term the result of my romantio ex ploit iu wiuuiug a wife. I have failed only in winning your constat Will you reconsider your disapproval?" Various ohanges bad passed over tbe listener's face during the recital, leav ing it strangely flushed as ha rang the bell and tol 1 the servant answering it to "request Miss Pearl to come to the library." She stood iu the open door one mo ment, then, with a joyous cry bouuded iuto ber father's arms. The old gentleman led ber to the waiting lover, and with tremulous emotion said: "Here, take ber, and forgive an old blind fool ;" then hastily left the room. The longest pier bridge is that of Victoria, at Montreal, C'uuuda. CRUISINGF0R SEAL Ezoiting Work Which Only tho Hardy Can Endure. The Seals Ambushed ami Then Clubbod to Death. In the latter part of February tho grent herd of about half a million scnls hns oomo south as far as the lati tude of the StrniU of Hello Isle Tho region between these narrows and Notre Dumo Bay is the seals' habitual breeding ground. The seals produce their young upon the ice floes, or "pans," within a fow inilos of tho shore. The parent auimnls swim about in pursuit of fish, and contented ly follow tho ice wherever it drifts. The young grow with surprising rapi dity. At tho age of threo weeks they have attained about the size of a bull dog, and replaced the white fur of in fancy with the dark cont. Seal ships from Newfoundlnnd,Nova Scotia and the neighboring coasts sail early in March. By that time the ico is well on iu tbe prooess of brosking np, or "spawning abroad," and navi gation has become possible. About the middle of March the killing begins. As the ships approach the soaling grounds the final preparations are completed. The long watch is begun, which is not relaxed uotil the active cruise is over. This watch, lasting from dawn till dark of every day, is kept np by one man alone. His importance is recog nized iu bis rank which is next to tbnt of the captain. From the shape of bis station of observation at the masthead, this individual is known as "the barrel mau." He is provided with as fine a telescope as can be pro cured, aud skill in its nse is one of bis most important essentials. Another part of tho preparation is the division of the ship's crew, 200 or S00 in number, into fonr wntcbes. Each is put under command of a mas ter of wutch, and is organized into boats' orews and other small divisions for tho performance of the various ditties aboad ship. When at length seals are sighted the word is passed down from the mast bead as quietly as possible. Old seals may be disturbed by a shout at a dis tance of miles ; further reason for cau tion exists if the observer is within hearing of othor ships. In the latter cnKe the first ship edges around tow ard the seals by a circuitous route, in tended to throw others off the track. Meantime orders are issued forbidding anyone to show bis bead above tho rail. The slightest carelessness will cause the game to disappear into tbe water. Perhaps the "pan" of seals is Righted by a rival ship. In that case h II roundabout taotics are dropped, and a race ensues. Tho fonr watches armed with gaff tipped clubs "stand by" for directions. At tho instant the ship gets among ice too closely packed for her to procoed further all hands aro overboard. Awny they mo, each mnsterof watch picking a path for his command, which hurries after bim in single file. It is a rough chase ; now a climb over a washed-up ledge of broken ice; again a leap across a black strip of water. Occasionally some unfortunate fellow fulls in, and is fished dripping out on the gaff of a companion. His clothes are frozen stiff in a few seconds, but be doesn't atop. The seals by this time are thoroughly alarmed, and it is important to reach them as quickly as possible. A seal's vital point is bis nose. One blow of the "but" usually kills; sometimes, however, an old ani mal offers a hard and dangerous fight The men burry about their work of execution with energy, abated only after the last of the living seals has escaped into tbe water. The victims are then skinned and tbe pelts heaped together in stacks, surmounted by tbe ensigns of their re spective ownerships. These ttaoks,by the way, are another of the objects designated by the useful term "pan." A "pan" of pelts, like a "pan" of seals, is the supporting flat cake of ice. We have tbe same usage in "pan of bacon." It is seldom that a pan marked by a flag is molested; feeling on the subject is prohibitively strong. After stacking up the pelts as describ ed, all bands burry back to the ship to continue the search. At dark the ship returns over her diy's course to oollect the "puns" of pelts, A storm may have arisen. It only becomes tbe more urgent that the prize be brought aboard without delay. At such a day's end one is justified in lookiug forward to a comfortable bed. But to tbe sealer this is denied. The bunks, limited in number, are al lotted to the men who have been with that ship on various cruises. Tbe re mainder of tbe meu are allowed the liberty of the ship, which offers two j Alternatives a berth in one of the boats on deck or a loss frigid bod bur rowed among thc'ct-al in the hold. In the latter part of the season the seals, by that time well-grown, spend most of the time in tho water. It then becomes a necessity to shoot them from boats, and the dnttgor that a small boat undergoes in the midst of a ilold of grinding, broken ico, needs no explanation. Sometimes a storm cuts off a watch from Its ship for dny at a time. Baltimore American. Women Lire liongrr Than Men. There is a prevailing impression that men are not only less subject to ail ments aud illnesses but are longer lived than womon, but an examination of life iusuruuca companies' tables will show that the term of life of womon is slightly longer thnu that of men. Tbe differouco in the mortality rates dur ing the first few years of life is strik ing. During tho first year tbe mor tality among males is deoideclly great er than among females. Though mora boys are born than girls, tho propor tions aro reduced to almost evon terms at the end of the first year by the ex cessive male mortality. Even during tho first four years the mortality among males exceeds that among females, notwithstanding the fact tbnt there are practically no distinc tions made in tho management of tho two sexes. Both are subject to the same conditions, are dressed vir tually alike, and receive the safno food. At about five years the com parative death-rate among girls begins to increase This has been attributed to the fact that boys of this age are more in tho open air. The mortality in both sexes diminishes from this time to the twelfth year, when it attains its lowest point. It then steadily rises, being larger in each successive year. Between tbe twelfth add sixteenth years the -death-rate among girl inoreases more rapidly than among boys, but after the six teenth year, for several years, the rnto os increase is more rnpid on tho male side. The explanations that have been offered for these peculiarities are not in at if wholly sntisfnetory, but one fact clear, that during early years females possess a greater tennoiiy of life than do males. New York Ledgor. Disappearances of Xaval Vessels. In modern times the loss of navat vessels at sea bns been comparatively limited. The United States Navy has been singularly fortunute in this re spect during the last half century, but this may bo attributed to tbe number of snips in commission as to any skill or safeguard. The modorn naSry is built npon snob different lines from tho old class of war vossels that it is difficult to compare the two, but it is snfe to nsnume that tho cruisers of to day could stand the elements much better than their prototypes of fifty years ago. The mysterious disappear ance of a member of the white squad ron would cause more ge neral sorrow and comment than the loss of tbe Wasp, Insurgent or Saratoga did in their days. A navul vessel- of onr modern fleet carries a mnoh larger complement of men, and her cost is soveral times ns great The Navy De partment probably exercises more' precautions than any private eompnny in surrounding the war vessels with every safeguard known to scienoe,and it is because of this discipline the war vessels are so seldom lost. The mys terious loss of only six war vessels duriug a period of one hundred years of aotive national existence is a record that tbe Navy Department of any na tion might well be proud of.and when it is remembered that some of the strange disappearances reoordod were only ordinary merchant vessels fitted np as warships tbe cause for pride is iucreascd. Detroit Free Press. Which Is the Coiled Egg? Boil an egg hard. When quite cold pluce it among a number of other eggs and ask yonr frieuds to tell you which is the boiled one. This tbuy will, of course, be unable to, do from uppearance merely. There is, how ever, a way of doing so without hold ing them to the light, and that is by spinning them. Thoso that are uu boiled and semi-liquid inside will spin with a sort of waddhug motion while) the boiled or solid egg will spin like a top aud even go to sleep. Chicago. Times-Herald. Stall-Eating Crocodiles. Crocodiles swurm in every river and lake of Madagascar. They are man eaters, and the natives have a super stitious dread of them. Their eggs, about as large 4s a turkey's, are used for food to some extout The giant tortoises, formerly numerous on the island have been rendered nearly ex tinct, and are now found only on the small and nuiuhubited Aldubra Isles to the north.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers