1 ' i . . .. . , l William Ewort Gladstone baa, he ays, "mastered" tbo bicycle. There Isn't mnoli in tbis world he cannot master. The doalhs in Franco Id 1H05 ft roeilud Ilia birtha by 7000. In ninny of t ho departments tlio population in steadily dwindling, whole districts lining nlmoHt stripped of tboir luhitbi IllUllli The breach between the Hoiith Afri ciin republic nml (treat Britain in rnpully widening, nml only great for bearance on thu part of each can pre vent hostilities between them, declares tbo New York Tribune, A distinguished Frenchman has con tributed In current literature n bold essay which treats of lbs tendency of modern civilization In cowardice. Ha ays very plainly, nod arrays somo pregnant facts to prove it, tbnt moil uro no longer lirnTc. Tim Boston Congregational ist says: It in not" worthy that, whilo bequests to tbo missionary societies in nearly all di'noiniuatioim havo fallen much below those of recent yearn, bequests lo colleges and other benevolent in alituliotia have boon miiiMiinlly largo, , The French government proposes to coiiHtruet forty. tlvo largo warships and 175 torpedo boats at a coat of $100,000,01)0 within tbo next eight year. "If our government would expend one-tliird of thut sum what a grand navy we would have," observes tbu Now York Herald. Tbo Chicago Jnlnr-Ocean soldo iii.oi: What tilings a man can aoe if bu picks tbe right place to see 'cm in I Reiijitnin F.mcrsou, just dead, Chicago's first luilkniuii, who came hero in 181)5, anw Chicago grow from a miidhnlo to n metropolis of Hourly y '2.(HC).0I)0 people. Uuo man Haw all Ibis. A present of some door from Queen Victoria is aiiid to Imvo brought to tbe 'Fieneh colony of New Caledonia pest similar to that of tbo rabbits iu AiiHttntia ii nd tbo mtingtiose in Tn inaica, Tbu deer liavo multiplind with great rapidity, and now invmlo tbo plantations, oausiug groat losa to tbo farmers. ...r 1 - Tbo Now York Advertiser exclaims: Tbo couiliot for .world leadership in regenerating Asia, in largely shaping Africa, in detenuiiiitg tbe bunt of civilization in Europe, lioa today be tweeu tbe Klav and thu Anglo-Saxon. (ircat Itritaiu alone offers to Russia tbo one great barrier aa aba presses southward. A Kiiflsian baptism under tbo ritual of tbo Grock church is n curious cere mony. A large wooden bowl is AMod with water, and tbe priest takes tbe child in bin arms, stuffs wadding iuto his ears and nostrils, andthou plungoe the littlo head under tbu water three times, during wbiob period bo rupouts prayers for tbe imperial family. It is fust becoming conspicuous to walk, maintains tbo New York Tri bune. Everybody, or nearly every body, rides m bicycle, from tbe small boy.Cr girl whose wheel must be lade to order to tbe grandfathers and grsndmotbors. Tbe news that Glad stone is learning to ride, at tbe ago of eighty-seven, surprises no one. This ever-increasing popularity of the wheel is by no means lad. The bioy cle can never go out of fashion, be cause it saves time, saves money and gives health three considerations which will reoommeud it as ' moans of looomotion. Moreover, it has al ready worked radical reforms in so ciety. It has done more to bring Americans out of their indoor, seden tary life than any other form of out door exercise. "The day of retrenchment, or the day of ruin, for this government is waiting tbe people of tbe Uuitod States io the not remote future," pre dicts ex-Secretary of Agriculture J. Sterling Morton, in the Forum. "We ball very soon step from tbe nine teenth into the twentieth century, We shall carry with us either tbe germs of dissolution and deoey or of life and conserved energy. To avoid the former and secure the latter, the American people should begin at onoe in tbe household, in tbe factory it tbe counting-room, in the management of great lines of transportation, ami in all other incorporations of capital to praotiee something of tbe ecouomj nil frugality which characterizes out New England ancestors. The Cost ol local governments must be v1f)sseuud. Administration of county and oty and sffttirs must be made more and aesslike and eeonomioal. Jo charges of American" TUla i v v t.niig There' a fair, enehantnt) vnlley that my homesick fancy flllsA 1 em see each waving grass Made growing there lietwcen the hills, Hear thn -I renin an ehafflni, frettliur h'oiiKh thn rnlil of the glen, While i he mountain hrook lauith loiullv, rtliiKlng echoes luick attain. I'ls a song that, gathering sweetness, through the I it in of the years, Htlll repeat It fnr-olT cadencn In my ever listening ear. t ean the foam bell (toatiiiK on the cur rent of thn stream, And Ihecarcsof life irrow dimmer than the shadow of a dream. Hen (he river fale In silver, redden in re. fleeted glow from thn skies that bend aliove It, as I saw them long ego. 1 am weary with inl-'nklug piercing thorns for priceless flowers, Weary, worn, one moment grant mn vision of the Kaletn towers. Let the splendor pierce the godllght ol the dreamy river's flow Till I seo a lioat Ilia' crossing anchored safely long ago. With that vi-lon clear liefore me, what shall matter storm or tide, rtlin'n I know that In that country every heart I satlHlled 1 havn tried to learn my lesson In thn good Hint I might do, And my doiihts have faded, melted In lite warmth of effort trite, "l is the deathless, changeless lesson Hint wherever I may he. With the Spirit of thn 1'ather. there Is ldessnilnes for inc. ' Answer, ( my listening rivnr, hetid, oh, nvetiing skies, nhovn, H 'Silk the faith that rests tiniloiilitliig cradle I on thn t'nsneti l ove. Hwlng, () years, your perfumed censer o'er the river's dreamy flow, Till my sense taMe the sweetness of the raptured lung ago! - Nelly Hart Woodwurth, In ponton Journal. ff Vf VTtf f ?f f Vf Vf VVf FVVf f VVf r... T JLlOVtJ fclllU Al b. l took an early opportunity of con gratulating t lie in both when 1 heard that MiiiiiI JulYrina was engaged to Jack Meadows, for they were both old friends of mine and charming people especially Maud. Hhot,wns an ar tist and painted very' Knalously in oil colors. Hint was working at an uu- llnishod painting, and so absorbod iu it that at II tst, she did Hot bear mo enter. V lion sho did she turned quickly J "Xo.it is not Meadows; I am so sorry," I aaid sympathetically. "O, but I'm very glad to act) yon," alto answered. "Ami you are just in turn) to help me. Do tell mo what is wroug with this tbiug," and bIiii pointed to tbo oimvns. "That ia Meadows privilege, " I said, I offered her my good wishes, nud told her I was suro abu would bu happy. Hho blushed prettily and said: "We are very happy now." "But how have you satisfied your conscience?" I asked. "I understood you had vowod yourself to thu service of your art." "O, but I shall novor give up my work," she protested earnestly. "Jack knows tbnt. Ho wouldn't waut me to. I think it is so wroug not to uno one's gifts, don't you?" "He is really awfully good about it," he weut on. "lla is going to let me paint his portrait, and then we shall hang it in our diniug room. Look, hero aro a fow sketches for it Don't you think thoy nru like him?" I recognized Meadows in spite of the varying expressions Maud bad given him, and I said so at once. She was blessed, and Just then Meadows came in. "I am just admiring tbe studies for tbo great portrait," I said genially "Ah, yes, tbey are ouly rough sketches. Tbe thing itself will be quite differont, won't it, darling?" he said. with. 1 imagiued. a shade of anxiety. A fortnight or so uussod before saw anything of Meadows' or Muud ; then I mot Meadows. He looked Mor ried.and when I asked him after Miss Jeffries he said shortly: "I believe she is quite well, thanks. "And how is the portrait going on ' "Look here, Ruller," he said, with a burst of confidence, "that wretched portrait is undermining my happiness. It's no more like mo than that poster," and be poiutod to a flaming placard. "I'm not a vuin cbap, yon know.but I do bar belug banded dowu to posterity looking like a criminal luiintic." "But it can't be as bud as that. Maud would uever do you iujustice, I said. ' , "Not intentionally, but she swears it is a good likeuess, though I c m't see how she can. When I suggested it was bit unflattering she said she must paint what she sar and that she could not tamper with, tbe truth of art." "I should like to see it," 2 said. "Come along, then ; Maud is ont this afternoon her sister told me so we will go to her studio, and you cau give me your nubiased opiniou." Tbe portrsit, still wet, was on tbe easel. Meadows pointed to it in e!o quent silence. I was silent, too. It was so painfully reulistid that it verged on caricature. "WebT' aaid Meadows. "Potild you live in the same house with it if it was your portrait? "Yet, she It fond of you," I aaid. "Surely, if you ask her to suppress it ( personal favor" Ajn. , Does the weltflit of years oppress inn I can throw the tinmen by When again I watch t tin color slowly failing from tlmt sky i I, i t inn lie there, tired anil tlusty, tell my story of ilefest Into you, O Unletting river, as you murmur ' at my feet. , t llest my heart upon thy promise, lot ntn lie ami lilly dream When thn willows are relleeteil on the hor- lers of the stream. Answer with thy soothing shallow, comfort with thy liquid ehlme, In assurance Heaven's successes Brn earth's failure oftentimes, Wlihper unto me, oh, mountains, aurnoleil with the golden glow, In (lie land sll ilreatii-enclinnteil, valley of the long as'o! f VVf f f TVVVf f WWW a A JL. "Shu would only any it was my vanity," he answered, gloomily, "l'licro in nothing lo be done; alio must rhooso between mo and my por trait, unless" "Unless what?" I asked, ns be paused. "You could porsuadu Iter. Tell her it doesn't dn Iter justice, either of us jttsticu. Do, there's a good fellow! She has no end of respect, for you." 1 could not resist bis appeal and promised to do my beat. "And aurtiiy that isslio coming up tho stairs now," said I, us wu hoard footsteps. Ho left mn alonu in thu studio na Muud entered. She greeted mo with weary smile and gliiuced directly at tint portrait. "You Imvo bnoli lookinir at it?" alio naked iiiecliiitiiciilly.liiking up bur pal ette and lirusho. Yes," I said, and abo seemed to ox- ppet mo to any more. It's a good likeness, isn't it?" she remarked, presently. "it is toil flattering," I auswerud, silting down opposite it. ".Took doesn't think so," she said. "But he ia so absurdly vain, " said "Not more than other men, I sup pose," she retorted. 'Yet you sty be is not satisfied with that painting," I said. "What fault can bo find?" 'Xothing doflnito, but he wants mo to niter it." "However painful it may bo you must keep your art pure. It is true that in the uolilo causu of realism you have accentuated bia worst points" 'No, I bnveu't," she said with somo boat. I honor you for it. Very fow girls would bavo bad tho courago to treat tbe portrait of a lover in so bold a way, even to tbe suggestion of a cari cature." 'But yon said I had flatterod him 1" she cried. 'Truth is tbe highest flattery," Inn- swered.eeuteutiounly. "And if Mead ows is not higb-miuded enough to sue it, you will regret his loss," "His loss)- What do you mean?" she exclaimed. "I saw him just now; be does not nppVecinte your noble self-sacrifice; be said if you bad really loved him you would not bavo pointed out his homeliness to tbu world. He seemed to feel it a good dual. " "Homeliness! He is beautiful !" she oried iudigunutly. "R tttlly, my doar young lady, you can t say that with that almost speak iug likeness in front of us," aud I pointed to the portrait. With a- sudden movemout she smudged a brushful of puiut over tbe face ou tbe canvas. I saw Meadows looking round tbe door aud beckoned him'in. . "Your portrait is done for," I said She threw down her palette. "Jack 1 Look at it!" she oried with a lunch that seemed to catob her throat. There is now bauging in the Mead ows ilining room a portrait of tbe master of tbe bonse. It ia not at all a good painting, but Jaok gazes at it with satisfaction. . It is by his wife. sad'wbon her friends suggest that she' has fluttered'her husband she smiles. Once I saw her looking at it rather sadly and I asked her if she was re, gretiiug the oue she bad destroyed. She shook bur head. - "No; sometimes I think I acted hast fry, for it really was good," eh ! said. Mint surely this ono is, oft tbe . i V whole, better?" said I. Vi fl V ' TT ",faok thinks so," alio answcrnd.anJ LYWr y?-J&WkS 10 XmMHlk she sighed. Westminster Budget. V- JI 7i J" ''w ' Ijlf 1 Portland, Me., claims say "papa" and "mamma." Two bite into a apple picked tip in a store cost a resident of l'ortlnnd, Mc, three front teeth. At Hubngo, Me., is a collection of 210 cents, bearing date from 1H00 to 1 Hill), ubicb a resident found buried ou his farm many years ago, 1 An Auburn (Me. ) innti has devised a cook stove on trucks and lias laid a truck on which to move it between the summer nud wittier kitchens. William Moore of Know Hill, Mil., on n wager of live cents, attempted to kiss a 'possum, and ia now mourning Hut loss of a part of his nose. Pennsylvania was thn first stale in the Union to restrict tint sain of pas senger tickets lo llm regularly accred ited agents of railroad companies. M. claiming, Kiirrnv, ha a remarks- bio black and white cat, which, after being taken to Leeds by railroad, re turned to its former homo on font, taking six weeks to miil.u the joitttioy f 2011 miles. In Lexington, Ky. , TTmre isa club the yotingesl meiiilier of wh ell is eighty nine vents old. Ail thu others ore over ninety. Tho Jcl lib meets regit iirly for purposes of mutual improve moot aud social pleasure. To prevent a person from "acciden tally" taking the wrong hat and coat upon leaving a public; place n Nc York man has Invented a coat and hat hook which locks the articles fast, the owner ouly being able toreluase the in, Tho largest sum over ollurcil or nskod for a single diamond was 92,150, 000, wlucli tho liinatn of Hyderabad agreed lo give Mr. Jacobs, tho famous nwelcr of Si in 1 1, for tbe imperial din iiiond, considered tho finest etoii'i iu the world, Of tbo ten gravoa in the cemetery at Forest City, South Dakota, nine uro said to bu occupied by tho remains of men that (lied with tboir boots on, I'l vn were drowned, ono wns murdered, two killed themselves, and ono got iu thu wsv of a bullet intended for some one else. A very largo Ceylon sapphire weigh inu 038 on nts. of a dark milky bluu color, perfectly transparent nud flaw' less, ia on exhibition in London. It ia a slur sapphire, displaying a beautiful opalescent star of six rays, the apex of which varies uccordiug to tbo changes in its position. No disgruco attaches to suicido among tbu Japanese, J be rosult is that an average of 4000 men and ,'00O women kill themselves every year, Hanging ia tbo favorite method, next to that is drowning, with tho use of knives or swords ns a good third. July is tho favorite month for hari-kari Mrs. Lorana 1C Hinkloy of Pea Cove, Me., at the ago of ninety-four ia able to read and write witbont glasses. She is American nil tbe way through. Her grandfather fought in tbe Revolution, tier father and her husband in tbo War of 1812, aud four sons, four sons-in-law, and six nephews iu the rebellion. Tbe exact height of Joan of Aro has been determined. By mere chance ihe famous suit of armor preseuted to tbe Maid of Orleans by Cburics VII, nud which would exactly fit a girl of five feet four inches, has been fonud in tbe galleries-of a chateau in Aisnc, where it was placed many years ago by the celebrated colluctor of tbe late Murtjuia de Conrvnl, Woodchurk Bit Hi U:yTu8. Elias Htuuton, a farmer of Great Bend towusbip.Peuusylvania, recently ran a raoe with a woodahuuk. He raw tho woodobuck nibbling tbe turnips and he sprinted his best to reach the woodohtiok'a hole first and succeeded, He stuck his heel iu tbe hole, with l,i font, tow.rd thnscanineritorsnim. I. There wasu't room for both the heel and the woodobnok, and so the wood- l., .hi.l, hi.' ll, Ihi-onrrh gl.n. Wa boot and iuto his bis toe. ThatTmade Stanton remove his heel from the hole with a great deal of eeleritv. aud the woodchuck then .1 ;.., l ..i .;!, i . twinkling Pig Burs homo Il inklnir. A peasant named Oalibert, living iu thu neighborhood of Milan, iu ,Ge - maify,, raeoutly botiJUV'tt pig. A few days ago he killed thu uuiuuil, uud found in its stomach a stnill metal mntubbox ooutainiu two biukuoles of tbe valuu of euoU. Tbe honest bumpkin at oneu took them to the mayor iu order that tbey might be re turned to their owner if ha could be found. Boston Globe. cat able to KT.i4 Xfc. V A li tien rAKAMot, and mitrai.. Thu red pamsol is a preventive of freckles. The rnya of the ami will bavu no terrors for the summer girl with a supply of red parasols on lined. MK TOtm OW.1 rRHFl'MB. You nun easily make a delicious vio let perfume for yourself by putting half an oiineo of orris root, broken into small pieces, iu a bottle with two ounces of alcohol. Cork the bottle tightly and shako well. After it bas been standing lour or live days, a few drops on tho handkerchief will leave tho scent of fresh violets. OIIKKK WIIMKH'S CONOIIRSS!. Theitt will be a congress of Greek women at Athena at which soma im portant, resolutions regarding the re form of women's education and Irene m Greeco will bu dismissed. 'I'lii ro is a strong agitation on foot to revive Hie alien tit Greek dress iu preference either to Ihe cost nines of Paris or lint Albanian costume uow not u at nil festivals. A l-lilNt-Ksa ISIKFS ASTIIttiR. The Saloii-lllstl, a society paper of Vicuna, ia rusponsiblu for the state ment that the hereditary princess of Saxe-Muiiiingnii lias been seen fre quently bestriding her borsu limn fashion in tint Berlin Thiergarten, which answers to our Central park. Princess Ctiarlotto ia the eldest daughter of thu J mi press Frederick and just 1H months younger than bur brother, tho kaiser. Hho is Din mother of Princess Fedora, who lias readied an nte when she can bu be trothed to her cousin, I'rincu Alfred of S ixo-Cobnrg. New York Press. WOYfP.N a vci,R KKinrs. Skirts th it nru soiled with bicycle grease should bu cleaned in this way: Dip a piece of woolen inateriul into turpentine ami rub tbe spots gently but firmly till tbey disappear. Brush tho skirt nud hang it in tbe air until thu smell of tbu turpeutiue bas disap peared. Tbo nowest cycling skirt from Paris has n double box plait at tbo buck and machine stitahing round tbo bottom. Tho jacket is singlo-breasted, and can, of course, bo worn opon or closed great advantage during tho some. what treacherous spring months, Thu orthodox shirt, high collar aud tin complete tbe dreas, which is to bu seen in light covert coating an 1 dark cloth. The length of tlia cycling skirt is at the option of th i wearer. but for the most part it reaches eouiu two or three inches above the ground, showing ueat oloth gaiters aud well cut shoes. I should ad 1 that tbe coat ii furnished with two and sometimes even throe pockets, and is cat low at the neck, with a wide, turnover col lur. As to cycling bats, it is neediest to say tbat, as nsual, thoy tit closely to tbe head and are in soft felt, with indented crown, or of fine straw, with a crown broader at tbe top than at the base, the trimming being of ribbons and quills.- Womun. TBS LADIK8 OP CONSTANTINOPLE It was amusing to see African women at Constantinople, Tnrkey, with tbe thickest of lips, veiled. All tbe pretty lce wero mor or ,e"" pamted, anil the eyelids and eyebrows penciled, I quality of the paint ' showed the I Quality Of the lady. iMor women daub themselves with horrid pig- menta, . No Turkish gentleman goes I Otlt to Walk With blS Wife; tO UO SO would be counted in tbe highest de 6r absurd. At most she ia followed Uy '. B,, wrapped up in the "8' u ue can) go where she pleases and alone. No man woulil ureani oi lonxiug ai a veueu I lady in a feridje. W ere a Giaour to soan her faee be would run a risk, of J. being i massacred. Shopping, is a feuii nine pastime; another is holding re I eeptious, wbiob, of course, ladies only I atteud. Munching sweetmeats renders I Constantinople belles grossly fat while I still youug, and rather spoils their I teeth. All over the tl teetn aro von, while, aud of medium size, aud mouths well shaped. They are mouths made for laughter and gourtnuudU ing. r.astern wotnpii nre irj"n" looking in yon tit than western Thoso of Slniiibonl are Ihe least yraooful. They are seldom ' neat abiut tho ankle. Their alooklngs ar not well drawn up, their shties are afcorbl too l.ii, nml their its it is beavaiiil sUut- iliug. L mdou Truth. k Russian lacns aros"n " l,rpU tiest and most ser ming wash gowns f little Russian gir who ia introducing Russian peasaits inl number of varieties Kxclia nge. Tbo making of tbi ssiac laen ia interesting, and, as I e case witli an iiiimnnao most luces, it mess amount of labol for on eetvably small Sim of iltnost inooii- money. J ho s pillow lace, Russian product ia th nuido with bobbin, sf 1 thread. A singk deiig jiandspuii linen In of thu pat- tern goes throng! aa entire piece of lnne,and to keop t mn jiing.sometitnos as many aa 1100 o tbe I little bobbins nre in use on onapiecn. To make a yard of lace six i)hes wide of u close pattern will tal a 11 nssian woman four weeks, and tie pi 'Cn will sell in this country for $1. The patterns tiro nil quaint and inter sliii'. They urn deigned and drawuj,y tho peasant ou paper, and theii'j the pattern i pricked around the rUnuil ilrawtii";. The peacock is ajfiivorite design, ami it appears in diHlrent forms ill tho lace, ss well ns in jthcr decorativo effects. A wide point I pied) of luce, pretty pattern, favorite model witli an excoptionall J is taken from another tbe fruity tracery & the windows, dty openwork o and a half ill tako ono A yard of luce of a pattern of insertiou, inches wile, which woman aix days to nLkn, is sold for ol) cents. I here aril colored inser- tions in red, blue an white, favorito ; pink and green colors of the Russian lsco in more delic t shades, ami pretty nnbleached Isl. 0f the color of grass linen. There lfMlo heavv black silk lace ma le on t, cushions like the gnipitre luce. The U issiuii luce. dug handmade) a linen, wears' nars, an I never The end of a has insertion ami ot the naml without n break for changes in nppearai towel iu tho colleeti aud lane upon it wit i is said to bit over 100 years old.- vew York Tunis. FASHION (OTKS. The now tbrue-io skirt has a very ride front breadth. ( Tailor made piqn, costumes will form oue of the vryanart style for afternoon wear this imnier. Pointed epanlcttoj, toreador ' jack et fronts, ana plain and lolded girdles still leni great variety tu spring '.eu tumes aid uouse toilets. C-irnrtious, geraniums, gladioli, tu lips, lolelii blooms, roses, ouua and wild quacej blossom are1 ainou the brilliad rod flowers tbtt are used npon siribg hats aud boftuets. Thee lis somutblug very smart ia a suit ol checked cloth iu, buutstuan's green lid black, lor dork red an I black, jaud tbey are gdgurnily mado with 8 inuiiuj of a plaiu olor. It yi hardly be said that we bavu surviv-d braiding and if I them wero" not swnany oth ;f forms ijf trimming, iu va jte uow, it ironld seem to be quitiw eonspieuims as itKvas u yeur go . I I It quite npxdate ev nisij gowu ia nr- out so low as it wo- ut season, audj. line gowu are tiuis itid with a nari ar tuck of lice or cbi Too inside. ' A & ) fall of Ufa from It a Deck to tbutavlt is a preay finish fir a low-out 84 ! I I cso ouly admire a Lit of ecru with an m broidery'Lu thu skirt tck braid, making a deep, apron- oiuti -TUw jacket badioe is olnh-- ly braidel, aud ahowi'n waistcost aok cloth faatuuud witL mi,ii guij all checks rival tbe wuooth fn,. s and have tbe edvunUge of uov. - reqtiiiiua littlo trituiuiuu' ' se cheek stuifs favorudby t0a uij are eloth.) uot wool, fOP tt Woo, . its looser, softer weaver u not etical for thsir module. -le for trim- I nmer. Ihe V PolakolT, A of the el. I offl likfc til una II 1 1 bo cut down." I t i JJ -k. - , a. - . IVI "i . -
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers