Greatest "Zoo" ' Al Inst New York is to have a ko ological garden in keeping with bet position among llin great cities of the world. It will be the largest nnd most complete in existence. The vaunted garden of the Kurnpenn cap ital will pp'fl into insignificance by comparison. The flnnl plans, any the New York Herald, have beeu sub mitted to the 1'ork Board by Professor Henry P. Osbom, Chairman of the F.xecntive Committee of the New York Zoological Society, and as soon as the necessary preliminary arrangements have been made the active work will begin. After eight months of careful study of the adopted site iu Bronx Fark, and after a systematic examination of the large European zoological gardens, Director William T. llornndy sub mitted to the Zoological Society a pre liminary tlan for the development of the garden, which was reproduced iu the Herald at the time. This plan was approved by the Executive Com mittee, whose Chairman has been one of the most active promoters of the Koological garden scheme, on a broad scale, and the final plan, now matured, is merely a careful elaboration of Air. . Hornady's first scheme The design of the central glade, formed by the sis larger buildings, is the work of limn k La Farge, architects, and for the rest of the plan Director llornady and Charles N. Lowrie, landscape arclii teot, are responsible. NEW YOttRH, ORE AT ZOO LOOICAL GARDEN. (In : uuuuuc an' jjieut times for bison and dorr, forests for monkoys and pomts for beaver In all 2(11 neros, by far the greates "Zoo" in the world.) This vista promises to combine pic turesque natural beauties with every possible device iu establishing the comfort of the captive auiuials. No zoological garden in the world offers such freedom to its inmates. The bnfi'alo will roam at will over a great expanse of natural land, ns untram melled as though grazing npon his native prairie. The monkey will enjoy the freedom of his own jungle. Lions and elephants will not be confined in closed cages. Birds, beasts and fishes of every variety will be made to fool perfectly at borne. And now a fow words about the ex tent of this big auimal park. Aside from the natural beauties of the loca tion, which compare favorably with those of any similar institution in the world; aside from the advancement whioh the plana show in the matter of oaring for the animals, aside from the value of the collection, whioh we oan t present only hopefully anticipate, Bide from all this, the project must exoite univcrsial admiration by roasou of its very size. Washington's Zoological Garden comprises 168 acres, bat all of it is not available. The Berlin gardens have sixty aores,Paris,fifty acres; Hamburg, thirty-five acres, and London and Vienna, thirty acres each. It will readily be seen that on comparison with these New York's monster zoo, with its 261 acres of land, must stand as the monster of the world. The bird house, on an unshaded terrace, with ample air ana light, a one story building of brick and iron is planned to afford both within and withont a great amount of oage room for its occupants. The interior of the aviary, whose ground plan is T shaped, will have 830 lineal feet of oage room, on a large portion of whioh cages will stand in three tiers. There will also be a huge water tank for div ing birds. The exterior of the building will not be less interesting than the interior, for here there will be 833 lineal feet of cages for hawks, owls and suoh like hardy perching birds. Then there will be six large open wire dome cages, and, most attractive of all, a huge wire oage 160 feet long, seventy-five feet wide and fifty feet high, in whioh will be pools of water, gravel, grass, rooks, shrubs, bushes and great trees. In 1 this great oage the birds, hardly real ising their captivity, may dive and swim, ran and fly to their hearts' con tent, and, with food to be obtained without the discomforts of early ris ing, mar have all the enjoyment that ever feu to the fortune or luoxy Diras. As with the birds, so with the mon keys, whose home of pleasing arohi taoturs will be in keeping with the aviary and the others of the six large buildings that will adorn the central glad. The monkeys will nave ample ara room in tne aireoc paw oi sun auu Jr. The most interesting pari oi tne nkT cage will be the great open air closure, whioh is plnud to occupy in the World. a space of fifty by 250 feet in extent, adjoining the house, xuis spare, which will be reached by an overhead bridge, so as to allow nil spectators to freely pass between it and the rage, will be enclosed by ahigh fence ofwironet ting, terminating at the top with an inwardly curved projection of metal, which will prevent the nimble climb ers from getting outside. The monkeys will have practicnlly no restrictions on their natural pro pensities, for this bridge and extend ed tree covered play-grouiid will en able them to graduated from the re stricted kindergarten cage to tho high er branches that will oiler full scope to their greatest possibilities. Here they can bide iu the underbrush, scamper over rocks, ascend tho trees, lenp from limb to limb, sport amid the foliage nnd oven form the monkey span of life by joining clnwa to feet and tail in one long chnin of apish liuks, and so swing from a projecting branch to a tree beyond, over an in tervening stream, as travolcrs snythey do in their native wilds. Nor will tho lnrger beasts be un duly restricted. The elephants will have attached to their imposing home, measuring 78 by 141 feet, eight paved yards, each 100 by 150 feet, and in these yards, besides a swimming tank, will be great trees, iu the shade of which the auimnls can stand ns iu the jungles of Asia nnd Africa. The lion will be in equally great luck. There will be no restless and persistent tramping up and down be hind the bars of a ten foot cage, no snarling and ill tempered howling. They will be housed in a handsome building, 87x2(i!l feet in size, and they will be almost ns greatly favored as the elephant. In outdoor cages, 45 feet wide and 200 feet long, they will have amnio room for muscular development. And here comes a unique suggestion from the director of tho Zoological Park, for while three sides of these cages are open, he proposes that the fonrth side shall be a painted land scape that will in the closest detail present an exact counterpart of the lions' surroundings in their wildest state. Any lion with a well developed imagination will be in a position to sit npon his haunches, gaze fondly at the counterfeit distance of wild jungle and fancy himself oneo more back among the old folks at home. The buffaloes will be highly favored in the matter of liberty, for they will have a range of tweuty acres over whioh they may gallop. Around this range, on higher ground, will be a walk, from which an unobstructed view of the buffalo grounds will bo presented. This is significant in it sol f. The American bison is rapidly becoming extinct, and the few herds of a once noble raoe that are left are being carefully guarded and nurtured. Fire-Tub (Ini a Century Olil. Here is a pioture of the fire-tub that George III. presented to his loyal sub jeots of Hhelburne, N. 8., in 1795. This was in the days whon the town was a populous aud thriving place. Half the royalists who left Boston daring the Revolution built houses in Shelburne, and of course the King "PRESENTED BY OEOBOE in. could not see suoh loyal subjects suffer for lack of proper protection against fire. The tub is still in a fair state of preservation. . Massachusetts oonviots are getting fastidious; Not content with Boston baked beans for breakfast every day they have just sent in w petition for custard pie every Bandar. . CHAMBERMAIDS WITH MUSTACHES, A Remarkable Feature of Hotel Ufa in Cairo, Kgypt. Although the two gentlemen from Cairo here portrayed look like Oriental dignitaries or high priests they are really Egyptian chambermaids. They are a remarkable feature of hotel life In Cairo. TWO QUEER CnAMHEBMAIPS. The first time one needs a chamber maid iu the latter place nnd Cuds the call answered by a coal black man six feet four inches hif;h, in high cap and narrow white gown, one is surprised and sometimes worriod. Sometimes these ebon chambermaids answer a call in pairs, Thoy are model ser vants, and keep the rooms of the hotels where they are employed exquisitely neat. STEEL ROADWAYS A SUCCESS. Tim Iilraor Ilnllrtlng Tracks For Tracks Tukei Practical Hkapa. For the first time there has been car. ried into practical operation a plan for the improvement of publio roads that has heretofore been regardod merely as an interesting theory that wonld never rise to the region of fact. The plan is to lay steol tracks along our roads so that the wheels of wagons fasfiar SECTION OF A STEEL BOADWAT. may run on a smooth surface instead of on the rough and soggy path over which for a great part of the year horses are compelled to flounder drag ging hoavy loads. The results of ex periments by two prominent engineers are here given. One series of experi ments, made by Mr. Abel Bliss, of Now Lenox, 111., is particularly inter esting, as will be seen from the fol lowing statement of Mr. Bliss: "I have laid about ICO feet of steel road in the publio highway near my home at New Lenox, 111. The road was first graded in proper shape. The rails are of steel, one-quarter of an inch thick, eight inches wide, wide downward flange of three inohes on either side and an upward flange of one inch on the outer edge to keep the wheels or. These rails were laid on the crown of the grade and pressed into the soil to thj depth of the flange or until the soil , ' y ported the rail. The downward flang. prevent the soil from being pressed aw y from the rail and hold it there, making a firm founda tion, so that no ties are r'ssary on whioh to rest the rail.;' These rails are made continuous by the fastening of the ends together with fishplates. "A mile of road requires about sixty tons of steel, whioh can be produced in quantities for $1800 or lees. One oubio yard of gruvel is required to the rod." In Texas little Miss Fite, of Moran, wants to pick cotton against little Miss Waid, of Meridan. Both are six years old, and they weigh forty-eight and forv-tbree pounds, respectively, . Joint hS nullity's Three-Inch Smile, Bister measured my grin one day) Took the ruler and m, Counted the Inches nil the way One uihI two nnd three. "Oh you're a (Cheshire cat," said she. Father said, "That's no sin." Then he nodded nnd smiled at me Hmlleil at my three-Inch grin. Brother stiKWMeil 1 ought to begin Trying to trim It down. Mother said, "lienor n three-Inch grin Tbno A little half-Inch frown." lloston Traveler. After the North Pole. If the North l'ole is not discovered in 1H!)8 it will not be because brave explorers hnve censed to be interested in it. Home time ago we told you about Lieutenant Peary's proposed expedition, bow be will establish two or three Kskimo stations in the far north which will be in the nature of stepping atones to the pole. From the Int one be will make a dash with a sledge and dogs and only one or two companions, and be hopes to discover the pole and get safely back to his last station during the summer. Bnt Penry is not the only man who will seek the "fnrthest north." Captain Hverdrnp, who commanded Nansen's famous ship, the Pram, in the recent expedition, will sail nway in 18!8 with sixteen men nnd several hundred sledge dogs. He will get as far north as he can iu the ship and then try to cross the vast stretches of ice on sleds. The Norwegian government has furnished the money for fitting the ship, nnd Cautain Hverdrnp feels sure that he can reach the pole. Chicago llocord. Saved His I.ITe by .lest. Amelia Woflbrd tells of "The Court Jesters of England" in Ht. Nicholas. The author says of one of them: Archee Armstrong was the beloved jester of King James VI of Scotland, afterwards James I of England, and this is the traditional story of their introduction: "One day n shepherd with the car cass of a sheep upon his shoulders was tracked to hi cottage on the moorlands by the ofilcors of justice. In the cottage they found n vacant faced lad, rocking a cradle with more attontion thnn a boy is accustomed to give that duty; this, however, did not arousetheir suspicions. They searched the cottage thoroughly, but failed to discover the sheep. They were about to depart, when one of their number accidentally looked into the cradle, and the stolen sheep lay there! The lad, who was sup posed to be the thief, was brought be fore King James VI of Scotland. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to die. He began to plead with the king. He was a poor.ignorant fellow, he said; he had heard of the Bible and would like to read it through before lie died. Would the king respite him until be did so. The king readily gave bis consent, whereupon tho cul prit immediately said: 'Then hang me if I ever rond a word o't, as lang as my eon are open.' The witty reply captured the king. He pardoned the prisoner, aud took him into his service as jester. In this capacity Archee was soon a prime favorite. Cartmrry's C'hrUtmaa. Last Christmas there was a great surprise iu tue little town oi l ar berry. lor years anl years ever since the boys and girls could remem ber there had been a public celebra tion in the town ball, with a huge Christmas tree lighted from top to bottom with candles and bright with all sorts of presents t for the boys and girls of the village. Usually old nap' tain Conkliu in his big buffalo over coat, which was buckled tight w ith a striug of sleigh bells, acted as Hanta Clans and kept everyone laughing aud expectant as be passed out the gifts, reading off the names one by one iu a big. hearty voice. But last year it was all different, so different, indeed, that Cnrberry is going to try the same kind of cele bration again this winter. And it was quite unique enough to furnish ideas for any of our inventive boys and girls who wish to get up something new and striking for this year's Christmas entertainment. You see old Captain Conklin was taken sick early in the winter and had to go south, and a Christmas tree without Hanta Claus would have been no celebration at all. So the principal of the Carberry sobool and some of the older pupils got together and (lis oussed the situation. As a result they were appointed a committee on ar rangements for the celebration, it beiug understood that they were to have the entire work of decorating the hall and of arranging the presents. From that time oa a dense olond of aeorecy hung over the school. The teacher and his little band of helpers which included about a dozen of the older boys and girls held a meeting early every night at whioh the details of the great plan were discussed. t7 day they all went around with wis glances at one another and frequent mysterious conversations, until- tne younger folk of the town were all but wild with curiosity. It was also the topic of conversation among the older folk, for thpy were not allowed to know anything about it either. Mys terious bundles of all sizes and shapes were carried into the hall. the w indows of which had previously been closely enrtained, so that no prying eyes could peep inside and discover the secret. Two weeks before Christmas six of the prettiest little girls in school, all of about the same size, were chosen for some mysterious pur pose, and they were at once enveloped in the general cloak of secrecy. Christmas eve arrived bright and crisp and cold. At 7 o'clock the doors of the town bnll were opened and a crowd of boys nnd girls, who bad been waiting outside for nn hour or more, surged in nnd filled the front seats. But as yet there was little to be seen for a big curtain covered the entire front of the hull, shutting out all view of the stage. The members of the committee bustled about mysteriously, ran iu with covered bundles, nnd out again, shadows flitted across the cur tain, aud there were occasional smothered bursts of langhter,at which nil of the younger children would stand on their tip-toes and fairly shriek with anticipation. lint there was one sound that was wholly nnex plainnble and which set every one to guessing and wondering. It was a slight squeaking noise which no one had ever heard before in connection with a Christmas celebration. Before 8 o'clock every seat in tha house was filled and a'lnrg number of men and boys were standing around the stove and lined np close to the wall. There was only a moment's delay, nnd then from somewhere be nind the curtain came the voices of the six little girls singing a Christ mas carol. Just as they reached the last verse the curtain began to rise slowly and their voices were drowned out in a wild burst of applause. In deed, theaudience was on its feet with craning necks and eager eyes trying to take in every detail of the brilliant display. "A wheel, a wheel!" cried little Susie Jenkins, her shrill voice sound ing above the roar of applause. And a wheel it was a Ferris wheel which nny one would have recognized in nn instant. It occupied the very centre of tho big stage, and it was slowly turning round and ronnd. The ars were loaded full of gifts with dolls for conductors. There was andy and crockery, toys jack-knives, skates, new red mittens, enps, books, and almost everything else you could think of. Every car was blazing with ight from severs! wax candles, and the rim of tho w heel, the supports nnd the spokes were festooned with strings of popcorn and twined with ribbons and overgreen. Besides that the stage was beautifully decorated. But another surprise was in store. Up from behind the wheel stepped Tuck Frost, Hnnta Clans' son, dressed iu natty knee breeches and coat, and wearing a powdered wig of the stylo of the last century. Every oue re cognized bim at once as Captain Coiikliu's nephew, who was one of the brightest boys in the Carberry school. It was some time before he could speak owing to the cheering, and then he told the audience thnt this new Ferris wheel was invented in Hanta Clans' workshop, and that Hants Clans had placed the gifts iu the cars. After that there were a number ol songs and recitations, during nil of which the wonderful wheel turned round and round, and the doll con ductors leaned out of the windows to see that the machinery was in good working order. Of course the exer cines were very interesting, but I am sorry to say that they were frequently interrupted by "ohs" and "nhs," aud many other whispered exclamations from the front rows. At last .Tack Frost arose aud ordered the wheel to stop. The six little girls bounded forward and the distribution of the presents began, nnd continued until the great wheel was empty, and every one in the hall was happy. Do you wonder that the folks of Carberry are going to have tho same kind of a celebration this year? The Ferris wheel was easily made bv three of the boys of Carberry. Ihey took two old carriage wheels and cut away parts or tue spokes, and fastened them together on a central axis running through the hubs. The cars were made of large pasteboard shoe boxes obtaiued from one of the stores. These boxes were about thirty inches long by ten inches high by fourteen inches wide. Doors and windows were cut in them, and they were sus pended to the wheels so that they would turn easily on their pivots. The wheels were then supported by a light framework of wool and pro vided with a crank at the back side. This completed the framework. It was fun for the committee to meet night after night and decorate the wheel with colored paper pasted on the boxes, and with evergreens and popcorn strings. Candles were fitted everywhere there was room for them, and then the cars were filled up with presents, care being taken to load them so that they would awing easily and without tipping. During the' celebration a boy turned the crank j that kept the wheel going. The whole wheel only cost few dollars, and any of our boys who are clever with, a hammer and saw could make one like it For a Christmas nrprise it cannot be excelled, espe-1 cially if the people who are to attend the oolebration expect an old-fashioned Christmas tree. It may be used either for a home gathering or for a publio celebration. mm state news con MADMAN'S LEAP. i Jompi from a Train and if Cat in Tw Nsar ! Altoona. Adam PfelfTer. CO years old. a Ger man, thought to le Insane, on his way to Hamburg1, Germany, from Minneso ta, caused excitement on the Atlantlo express the other morning and ended by hurling himself from the train. Jilet tiefore entering Pittsburg he wandered Into the Pullman car, and, drawing' a pistol and a knife, threatened the Ufa of one of the passenger. He was put out into the day coach, where he sank Into a corner muttering. Outside or Pittsburg he refused ,i give up his tickets, and the conductor -and brake men had to take them by force. His fatal plunge from a car window wan made at Mineral Point. No one saw him start., but the crash of the glass as he Jumped through startled all. Tha body, when found, was cut In two, showing thnt PfelfTer must hnve been run over after his leap. The body was brought to Altoona. The following Pennsylvania pensions have been granted: John H. Noel, Irr vln, $(!: William II. Klsnman, Adame burg, $6; John C. Frederick, Irwin. $S; John Pnrner, Larimer, $8; William P. Hrlner. Pleasant Unity, $: John F. (lushard, Mlffllntown, $12; Iavld "W. Illlmore, Knon Valley, $G; Iavld It. Mmnme, I.nldlg, Is; Isaac M. John son, Mead, 112; Albert 8. Cobb. Tlogn, $6; Peter Chllson. Kmporttim, $x; Al len I.owe, Itlg Shanty, $: Peter A. iaullc, C'learlleld, $20 to 4; Thomn C. INynolds. Hayfleld. 10 to $17; W. H. 11. C'nrrigan, Orblsonln., $ to $10; Francis Howard, Meadville, $A to $10; Henry C I.ehan, Hyndman, Bedford, Ifi; Kezlah Zimmerman, Tyrone, $8; I. uey M. Adams (mother), Towanda. 12: Kelt M. Johnson. Allegheny. $S; Sarah K. Foreman. Oil City. $8; Wil liam J. Welsh, Knox. $S: Robert M. McCullogh, Canonsburg, $12; Thoman Vose, Hollenbeck, $10; William H. Smith. Kverett. $6: Frank Cahlll, Al legheny, $6; Abram Toms, Allegheny, IS; Edward Inudermilch, Pittsburg, t; Valentine Howser (dead), Blue Knob, 112; Joseph Sprlek. Meadville, $4 to $8; William A. Herrlck, McKean, $10 to 1H; Ira F. Pnvls, Jullnn, $ll to $8; John H. Morse, New Castle, $10; Henry Pierce, Torpedo, $12; minor of Thorna J. Crago, Carmichnels, $10; Sarah K. Bruner, Manns Choice, $S; Catharine Howser, Blue Knob, $8; Belinda M. Fulmer. Belle Vernon. $S; Matilda Trent. Somerset, $8; Isaac M. Ittgester, Pittsburg: Levi Cmstend, Oil City; Solomon Yerdy. Kunbury; John Soles, Inaddock, $6 each: John T. Crlswell, lirllwood, $14 to $17; James C. Weak ley, Urove City, $14 to $17; Catharine fpham, Neath, Bradford, $S; Cathar ine Currle, Irvine, $8; Mary McKee, Alllquippa. $8; Mary C. Depugh, Un- lontown, $12. F. I. Freebie, a prominent citizen of I.atrohe. has discovered an ancient will, through which. It is believed, he ran acquire a vast amount of money. The faded document was found In an old German Bible in his garret. It waa the will of Robert Anderson, dated De member 12, 1802. Anderson bequeathed to Moses Thompson and John Freebie, rtither of F. D. Freebie, the sum of $". fpftO, then held by Anderson, and mort gages against John McParland and wife, which was due and payable In ISOi, with interest. Robert Anderson resided iu Oxford township, but Mr. Freebie is at a loss to know where Ox ford township Is located. It is not powr In this county. He is now endeavoring to locate the township and tho heirs of John McFarland. Michael (ilbhons of Sharon was near ly burned to death In the Muncle. Ind., rolling mill recently. He was employed about the rolla and in catching a long piece of red-hot Iron it wound around his legs and burned the flesh frightful ly. It then colled like a snake to his neck, when it struck the flesh and be gan to slowly cook It. He managed to tear It loose from his body, but not be fore he sustained serious injuries. The Attorney General, at the request of Governor Hastings, gave hearing and rendered an opinion on the objec tions made by the Superintendent of Public Printing to certain items of a bill by the Public Printer. It was charged thtit they were exorbitant aa well aa illegal. The total amount disallowed by the Attorney General la 17,000, some of the Hems being disqual lowed and others cut down. Jacob Steyer nnd his aged wife, of ' Indian Head, near Connellsvllle, were burned to death. A son sleeping on the lower floor of the house was awak ened by smoke In his room. He tried to get up stairs, where his parents were sleeping but the fire had been burning fur some time and access to. them was shut off. Their charred re mains were found in the ruins. An unknown colored man met with a horrible death at the Mt. Braddork coke works, near Dunbar recently. He 1 'ay down on the oven to sleep, and mono Hint; uuiiiib wit, iiihiii i uiicu uvct the tunnel head of the oven, and waa burned to a crisp, nothing but a few charred garments and his shoes re maining. Robert Johnson, aged 24 years, was the other day prospecting for coal on a farm two miles east of Mars, and waa blasting with dynamite. In an explo sion both of hla eyes were blown out. his scalp laid bare and his face filled with small atones and smoke. Patrick Kelix, aged about 45 years and single, went to sleep on the Con nellsvllle, New Haven and LeisenrinR atreet railway track the other morning at Connellsvllle and a car crushed in hla skull, killing him instantly. Maris Mnule, aged 23 years, was In stantly killed by the bursting of the fly wheel of an old-fashioned thresh ing machine on the farm of his father, Nathan Maule, at Hanover, Chester county. His skull was crushed. P. C. Boyle, editor of the Oil City "Derrick," was arrested recently on information by Joseph C. Sibley, charged with publishing libelous arti cles in tho "Derrick" agaiiuit him dur ing the recent campaign. By falling into a bucket of hot wa ter the 3-year-old son of Arthur Plonr of Tayloratown, Washington county, lost his life. At Altoona the 3-yeor-old son of John Knee played with matches, set lire to his clothing, and was burned to death. Jesse Hamaker, 17 years old, of Col umbia, fell from a freight train neap Idllerville a few days ago and waa killed. Hewaa stealing a ride to Phila delphia. A mandamus has been issued to com pel the Schuylkill Haven Town Council to produce their books, illegal expendi tures ot borough tunas being alleged. James Scott, a traveling salesman of the nursery firm of S. D. Willard 4k Co., of Geneva, N. Y., was killed on the Lancaster Quarryvllta railroad. While adjusting the bell rope of a publio school building near Duboia Tuesday, Lewis Oalnette, aged 40, fall from the rwof and was killed.