ONCE IN A WHILE. Ones In n while the sun shines out And the nching skies nrn a porfodt blue; On tn a while 'mid alotuls of doubt Faith's I nl rest Minn coma pooping through Our pnths lend down by the meadow fntr, Where tha sweetest blossoms nod Bud smile. And wu liiy aMe our crow of enre, Once in a while. Ones In n while within our own We fool tlio hand of n steadfast friends Onoe tn a whllo wo font the tonn Of lovo, with tlio heart's own voire to blond i And the dearest of nil our dreams come true, And on life's wny Is n golden smile, Kaon thirsting (lower Is kissed with now Once In a while. Once In a while In the dcsnrt sand We fltid a snot of tho fairest groen: On In a while from whnre wu stnnd The hills of Paradise ore won. And a erfeot Joy In our hoarts wo hold, A Joy that the world onnnot dolllot We t'oJe earth's dro'S for the purest gold, Unco In a while. V. It. Hummers. J Found at Last. J Therein dreary little simp in a ty little street. Tn the shop win d.lw a carious medley of things, old nnd new, worthless aud valuable. Into this shop one dull November afternoon Duncan Collis found his way. He had several times picked up curious trifles there, aud now, in a corner of the window was a s id nil black frame that he fancied might be suitable for a print he had lately bought. , As a matter of course, the wizened old man behind the counter asked twice as much as the frame wns worth, thongh he knew his customer by sight, and respected him. After some protestations nn offer was accepted. "Oh, I'll tnko it with me," he continued, experience having taught him that such purchases are safer in one's own keeping. Duncan noticed the old man change color, and, glnncing around to dis cover the reason for such a marvel, he found that an elderly vomnu had en tered the shop. "Then it's sold," she murmured under her breath, as she looked nt the money lying ou the counter. "Was the frame yours '!" Duncan nuked, with a disregard for the eti quette of bnyer and seller. "Yes; at least, it belonged to a a friend. But there was a pictnte in it." "I shouldn't call rt a picture, " in terrupted 8 took s. And he wns not al together pleased when his customer said: "Well, whatever it was, 1 should like to see it." From a drawer was taken a small oil painting the portrait of a fair haired girl, with a bunch of white lilies in her hand. "It isn't much, and it wants a gilt frame." "Xo, it isn't much," repented Dun can, and he smiled. For once Ktooks was mistaken. Duncan Collin had painted that picture, and an apprecia tive public, hod taught him the value of his own work. Duncan bought the picture from the old dealer put it back in its frame and then left the place. Three doors off was a draper's, where a stand of cheap mackintoshes screened him from observation; and he stood there uutil the woman ap peared, her lips compressed, a red spot on either cheek. Ktooks had evi dently driven a hard bargain. "I'm afraid yon did not get a great ileal," said Dnucan, as she reached tha door. , "Only $1.75. And I took the frame there yesterday. He didn't have much trouble." "Now I want you to tell me where you got the picture." "I can't do that, sir." "Why not?" "People don't like their affairs talked about when " "Tiey are in difficulties. Thnt I nuderstand perfectly. Hut when it's a question of refusing help -substantial help don't you thiuk it mnkls a difference? Look' here," and he opened a locket ho wore ou hia watch chain "you know the fnceV" "Yes; it is Miss March, sure enough." As he had suspected, the girl he w as seeking had put aside her own name, together with many othor things that had belonged to her past. "Theu tell me where to llud her. There isn't a truer friend in the world than I would be is she would let mo." And Duncan's tone and manner car ried conviction. 'Well, she's in need of a friend now, and she'll be more in nesd of oue booii. Her brother's dying, though she won't see it; and when he's gone eho'll have no one belonging to her. Of com ne, the won't huve to work so hard." "Do you mean to say sho keeps hiiuV" "She's done that for year aud moro." "Good heavens, woman, can't yon understand that you're torturing me?" Aud possibly she did understand, for she turned and walked on qnickly, till they reached the door of a house iu a neighboring street. Her she aitsod. "It's on the third floor. Will you wait?" To Duncan it seemed as if they were an hour mounting those stairs, aud when at last they came to the third floor and door of the back room was opened, a, wist seemed to dim his eyee. "Dunoan," said au unsteady voice oil with au effort he recovered hint s' ' "Dauoau, you here?" "7et; bat I ought to bare been " J l -"5 ;o. Why didn't yon seid - - . t- :i t-raei LU head & the pillow and looked fixedly at the wall. "lilsa would not henr of it. Hie wanted to keep my secret. Af if Secrets matter when one's dying "Oh, don't he dowuhonrtod, old niiinl Perhaps, if you- toll me all about it " "I fancied you might be looking for us and prayed you would come iu time, but I hadn't the strength to writo. Do you know why we left Lansnle?" "No." "I borrowed some money belong ing to the firm, and it wns found out. F.lsn paid half, and they promised not to prosecute. Then we came up to London, took another iintne, and she wrote to yon to break off the engage ment. Hince thnt time I've learned very little. Nothing for a yenr." "And what has Klsa done?" "Typewriting. It hasn't provided us with many luxuries. It isn't a cheerful story." "No!" assented Duncan, and it cost him an effort to limit his answer to that monosyllable. "I suppose you don't think any the worse of KIhoV" "I think as I have always thought that Una's lovo is a gift beyond the merits of any man on earth." "Thank you. It is pleasant to be so remembered!" And a soft hand was laid on his shoulder. Could it possibly be Klsa his Klsa? This girl in the shnbliy frock end rusty bluuk hat! This girl with the thiu hands, haggard face nnd tired eyes! "Have you forgotten me all this time?" ho asked nt length, "I never forget my friends." "We were something more than friends." "It wns to savo yon pain." "Pain!" And he laughed a little bitterly. "Child, did you suppose there was any pain in this world like thnt of knotting you were in hiding without" and he glanced around the bare room "without necessarios? Do yon believe anything could hurt me us it hurts me to recall what you wore, and see what you are?" "I have told her that n hundred times. Hue should have left me to myself. " "Hush, dear!" And Klsa stooped to kiss her brother's check. "Are you tired?" "Not more so than usual. FUa.you didu't let Mrs. WhIhIi sell the pic ture?" A crimson flush colored the girl's pale face. "You don't want to look nt pictures wheu I'm here." "No, I suppose not," he answered, divining the iiicniiini of her words. "Dnncnu!" Aud there was a glad ring in his voieo ns he saw the little painting replaced iu its frame and hung on h nail opposite his bed, though he was too far on his way to ward the shadowy beyond to feel sur prised that it hnd been brought back. Forgot-Mo-Not. A TREE CROWING UPSIDE DOWN. Old Apple Tree Willi l.linli. In tho iron ml nnd Roots In the Air. John Mcinor's distillery iu Milwau kee has not been in operation for nine years. It is nn old landmark, aud is surrounded with the interest that every old building in Milwaukee awak ens iu the historian. The grounds about it are covered w ith grand old trees and malic benohes, aud form a little by-way nook whose existence oue would uot suspect from the road outside the fence at the south. But tho object of grentest interest in this unique place is an old apple tree that was plnnted 28 years ago, with its limbs in the ground and its roots in the sir, and which still lives to bear fruit and sprout brunches where roots should ba and rooti w here twigs aud loves should ha, a curiosity to be holders. Mr. Meiners was induced to mnke the trial throng! an old (lerman le gend. When Mr. Meiners planted his 25 apple trees they showed no signs of life for a long time. Finally the oue still remaining showed a loaf, softened by summer rains and expanded by the sun, and with u great deal of caro it was nursed to a sturdy life. It grew very slowly, aud has uot grown more than two feet in height since it was planted. It is now about four feet high, with a trunk 15 inches in diam eter. The roots had a tendency to droop, and it was found necessary to prop them up with a trellis. Instead of growing vertically, they have ex tended horizontally in long, slender arms. There are about 20 of these, radiating in nil directions. F.ach year, as they grew longer, additional props were put nuderneath, and they have extended along the trellis flat, straight as a ceiling, with little slender shoots running at right angles and intertwin ing with one another bo closely that they afford some protection from the rain to oue who may stand under neath. The top is circular iu form, and about 50 feet in diameter. . The tree has born fruit for about 20 years. The fruit is of good quality, but the vari ety is not kuowu by Mrs. Adolph Meyer, daughter of Mr. Meiuers, who now occupies the old homestead with her husband and family. Median's Monthly. Fifty-three ray Hays Iu 1H08. It may be interesting to note that in 1898 there will be fifty-three Saturdays, as the year both begius aud euds ou Baturday. Those who are concerned with the payment of weekly inoomes on that day may view the foot with different feeliugs. To recipients the circumstance may be of no conse quence, as they really receive nothing more, but in the case of large firms employing a vast antouut of labor, fifty-three pay days instead of fifty two may not be without importance when aocounta for the whole year come to be made up. London Newa. USEFUL JSASTOR OIL, H tt It la Nnonrnt anil Home of lis Name Olis Virtue. The much maligned castor oil bean, which grows within cultivation in al most nil parts of the world, iu America, particularly In Month America and the southwestern part of the United Htntes, produces an oil which has many other than medicinal uses. The benn contains from 60 to 110 per cent, of oil, 100 pounds of beans yielding about 30 pounds of fine nil nt "the first pressing, 1(1 pounds of a second quality by additional heat in tho press ing, and five to 10 pounds by heating the mass with steam or in au oven and a llnnl pressing. The extract obtained from the last named process is valuable for burning purposes. In the East the beans are obtained from the pods by allowing them to dry in the sun, and then thrashing them out w ith flails. In this ronntry the pods are passed through hard wooden rollers, set about three-sixteenths of nn inch apart, which merely crush the pods without reducing the mass to a pulp. The beans are then placed in heavy canvas bags, which are placed iu a hydraulic press, if the work is conducted on a very large senle, or a hand press if only a small amount is treated. By slow compression the oil is extracted and rnns into receiving tubs. The cold-pressed oil, as it is known in the trade, obtained in this mauuer is nbout one-half of the total oil con tents of the bean. For the balance the cakes are removed, crushed and heated to about the boiling point of water, then re-bagged and again sub jected to the press, or, what is pre ferable, to keep the two qualities of oil separate, use a separate press and grenter pressure. After refining by boiling w ith water iu large retorts the oil is ready for use. As a preservative of leather castor oil has no superior. Mice nnd rats, w hich arc very destruc tive to leather articles, w ill not touch harness or other articles which are occasionally dressed with castor oil, while snch applications render the leather pliable and soft. When applied to ordinary shoes a a polish can easily be got immediately after its use, which is rarely so with other oils. As a preservative for leather belting it hns no eqnal. As a lubricant for heavy hearings it is advo cated by many English manufacturers, many of them going so far ns to have all of their shafting and also their cylinders lubricated with castor oil. A castor oil lubricated bearing rarely, if ever, becomes hot, even under extraordinary circumstances. Phila delphia Hecord. (llguntlu Itow Hani In Clilim tn Kill Tigers. In the Hmithsoninn institution in Washington one of the most interest ing objects is the bow used by the Chinese to kill tigers iu the jungle district. It resembles grently in size and shape a crossbow of the luediaevul period. The whole is cleverly com pounded, tho power being obtained from ten pieces of bamboo, forming nn elliptical spring, and producing au immense power. The barrel part of tho weapon is a block of wood, in which two grooves have been cut, aud in these rest two arrows, about a foot and a half in length, and from a half inch to an inch iu diameter. Iu the end of these is stuck loosely a shaft, three to five inches in length, with a bn-b at the end. The trigger is a compound one, aud is released by the pressure on a thread. Bo strong is the bow that in China it took six men to pull it back, bending the bow, whon it broke, and one of tho men was severely injured. The weapon in pluced sn one of tho paths frequented by the tiger. It rests ou two bamboo sticks driven into the ground, holes being cut in the bottom of the bow for that purpose. The trigger is set, and its presence is con cealed as far as possible. Wheu the tiger puHscs it and brushes against the thread laid out for the purpose the arrows, with their shafts, which have beon dipped iu poiaou pots, are driven into its body. Revolutionary Scholar. Ilev. Oeorge Chnnning wrote nn account of the school of his youth, which he attended just after the revo lution. Girls and boys attendod to gether the primary school nnd sat on seats made of round blocks of wood of varions heights, which were fur nished by the parents. Children bowed end kissed the teacher's hand on leaviug the room. The teaching of spelling was peculiar. It was the last lesson of the day. The master gave out a long word, say multiplication, with a blow of his strap on the desk as a signal for all to start together, aud in' chorus the whole class spelled out the word iu syllables. The teacher's ear was so trained and acnte that he at onoe de tected any misspelling. If this hap pened he demanded the name of the scholar who made the mistake. If there was any hesitancy or refusal in acknowledgment he kept the whole class nutil, by repeated trials of long words, accuracy was obtained. The roar of the many voices of the large school, all pitched in different keys, could be heard, on summer days, for a long distance. The Chautauquan, Willing to Participate. His Lordship I am deeply interest ed in the new gold discoveries. Friend You don't think of going to the Klondike, do you? . His Lordship Oh, not But I thought of advertising that I should be glad to communicate with any successful miner who might happen to have an unmarried daughter. l'tick. , American dynamite ia finding an ex cellent market in Mouth Africa, : AGRICULTURAL TOPICS, Animal-Cleaning llrnsh. In a recently patented animal-dean-lug device, a oirenlnr brush Is mounted on a revolving shaft geared to two friction wheels, mounted on a yoke frame, the brnsh boing rapidly re volved by drawing the friction wheels lightly over the body of the animal. flecse nnd Clover. (ieeso will live on any kind of grass, nnd red clover is considered an excel lent food; In fact it will be a l4xnry for geeso. Tho droppings are very rich, but will not kill the grass nnless there is a large flock on a small lot or yard. The result of overcrowding will be the same with geest as with any other fowl or animal. It is a bet ter policy to give them plenty of pas ture room, or to change tho runs very often. Footling Turnip. All the turnips should be fed in full and enrty winter, ns. despite nil the care that cnu be giveu them, they will turn pithy aud heoonie nearly worth less. The rutabaga is a much better keeper, aud if kept covered with soil so os to protect it from the nir. it mny be kept in good condition nntil spring. The rutabaga, though coarse, is ninch more solid and nutritious than the or dinary flat turnip, The longer season a turnip requires to grow iu, the greater nve npt to bo its nutritive nnd keeping qualities. For hogs, turnips ought always to be cooked. Then with some grain or meal mixed with Iheiu, the hog will thrive, while if tur nout are fed raw to hogs the animals have to be half starved before they will cat them. Drying Oft ('own. There are ninny differences of :piuion ns to what is the proper meth od to be employed in drying off eows, lint as a matter of fact the only safe method can be learned by trying difJ ferent, ones on your own stock aud sticking to the one you find works the best. As a general proposition, with the average general imrposa cow, the following method has been found very lotisfactory: At first milk only once day; at the end of two weeks skip two milkiugs and do not milk clean; i noticeable falling ofl'of the supply will be seen uutil the nuiiual is thoroughly dry. If the now is thin, pare will be needed during the drying process that the udi'er is not injured, and it should he examined frequently. If it begius to burden, 'milk more freqneutly for a few days nt I lie same time applying, tfter each milking, some sweet oil or raseline, well rubbed in, Atlanta Jonriml. The Ci'i-iitii-r-H-pttrMlnr. After -two years' experience in tho use of a i-ivuul-seuiiratnr I am deci ledly of the opinion that thousands of farmers who sell butter or cream are losing cuoiigh money each year to pay for a complete dairy equipment, in cluding not only the separator, but n Rood milk-tcstei', creani-ripening vats, tmltcr-pnckngcs, churn and all com plete. I have tested skimmed milk iftor standing twenty-four hours iu :'aus in cold water, and found one fourth of tho total amount of butter fat remaining: and if such results come from the "gravity process," iu careful liiiuil.-i, what must be the loss when depended upon by 1ms careful per sons! licfore usiii'.; the separator I had a good creamer iu a cool cellar oipplied by well-water at a tempera ture of forty-eight degrees, aud yet I sometimes found the skimmed milk joutained as much ns six-tenths of n pound of butter-fat to every hundred pounds of milk. Now I frequently Hnd no trace of butter-fat iu the ikimmed milk. Farm nnd Fireside. ITI. lilo tho Kurili With n Hoe. The gardener will always find abun dant suocess if he will not neglect this tickling of the soil with a hoe or culti vator. It is wonderful what tillage will bring out of the soil. Most men must till to keep down weeds. They do not realize that the benefits of this work rtVc far above any mere weed killing. By persistent, cultivation we get the soil loose anil mellow, porous and light, so air can enter and roots freely brunch 1 and distribute themselves throughout the entiru mass of earth within their reach. .Furthermore, till age is a breaking-np process, particle of rock nnd organic mutter being re duced in size and made avuilable for the nutrition of crops. Theu there is the immeasurable effect of shallow surface cultivation in forming a mulch upon the surface of tho grouud, u thin luyor of loose, dry earth to cut off the rise of moisture to the surface and its subsequent evapora tion and loss to the use of the growing plants. Water iu a drouth is a price less boou to vegetables, au 1 counerv ing the supplies of moisture is oue of the most vital subjects with which the agriculturist has to deal. Tillage is to a certain degree manure, ns was claimed by Jethro Tull of old. M. Humner Perkins. Defence Meted in Rhyme. In the complaint in a suit for 310, 000 damages for personal injuries in the pursuit of his work for the Armour Packing Company at Kansas City, Kan., one Andy Dupoul, who is a pugilist (4 looal uoto as well as au Armour employe, stated his case iu rhyme, and asserted that he would "suffer his lifelong by reason of de fendant's wrong." The defendant made answer also iu rhyme, setting forth as follows: "Each claim of plulntllT we roslst Because be is a pugllUt, And whether It be wrong or right His duty Is to stand aud Unlit. Not Id the oourt, hut with his nst, Is where the plaintiff should resist, And not let some poor slautfhtnred slieo? Knoek plaintiff out and make him weep. Defendant also bare will state, If plaintiff got a wounded pate. It was by bit own want of eare, For by as he was treated fair. Therefore defendant should go heneo With eotts, for thli Is Its defeno.' J ran suit ns condensed DISCOVERED NATURAL GAS. Death of Sr. E. L Blocnm Who had the Firil Well Drilled. Dr. V). ti. Hlokum, of Lancaster, whd Iihr Just died nt Knoxvllle, Tonn., has alway been Justly styled "the father of natural gn," an It wu through his exertions thnt a well was drilled on tils lot, and a sufficiently strong flow of (rns was found to demonstrate that his theory of a subterraneous cavern filled with oil and gna was correct. The following Pennsylvania pensions were granted Inst week: Frank Rush er, Pittsburg, f 12; John P. Hush (dead), Pittsburg, $6; Ooorgn N. Ptroup, West End, Hod ford, $6: John William Plum, Vonnngo, $(1; Honry E. Douglas, New Brighton, $8: Wllllnm M. Uates, Vic tor, Clearfield. t: Hance II. Ferguson, Taylorstown, Washington, IS; John D. McAfoos. Allegheny, $6; David W. Madra. Bakers Bummlt, Bedford, 16; William K. Klngen. Mill Village. F.rlc, 18 to $10; William J. Mhirley, Altoona, 1( to 117; John Moyor, rieasantvMle, Venango, $12 to 117; Dnnlol P. Foils, Kilmer, Junlnta, 112 to $17; Oeorge W. Thompson, Harrison City, Westmore land, S to 112; David It. nils. Itook wootl, $s to 112; Isabella Wlldman, Pat terson, Junlnta, H; Sophia Reamon, Donlson. Westmoreland, $S; rlusanna F. Burch, Pittsburg, $; Mnry A. Ijarkln, L'hlcora, $8; Jacob H. Weaver, Con fluence, $8; John Cunlngham, New Ha ven, $8; George Lots, Pittsburg, $(i; Samuel doles, Braddock, $6; Samuel Bentman, Attoonn, 112; Joseph Houg hnmer, Munhall, Allegheny, 110; Ttms. F. McKee, Boavor Falls, $8; Jnmoa N. Lewis, Morrill, Bradford. $8; John Shanor, Creek, Weetmorelanrt, $8; Will iam Houndy, Zeno, Butler, $8; Wllllnm Askoy, dead, Pert Matilda, Center, $16 lo $.10; Theodore F. Jones, Klnr.ua, War ren, $8 to $10; Henry J. Porter, Harbor Creek. Erie, $6 to $8; Thomna M. Myers, lohiwtown, $6 to $10; Bsra N. Kmerson, Pnlon City; $H to $8; William Willard, Olrardvllle, $6 to $8: William II. Smith, Fleming. Center, $8; Brldgot Murren, Pittsburg, $R; Sophronla. ft. Mnrkham, Klnsuo, Wnrren. $12; Charloe W. Hyde, Mt. Plensant, $8; Joseph floss, Sabbath Rest, $6; Ferdinand M. Tate. Allegheny, $6; Augustus Metsgar, Hol ildaysburg, $8; Wllllnm Evans. Hrook rllle, $6; Henry F. Hnrriger. Erie. $6; Samuel Kent, Coal Center. $6; Freder Ick Dornhelm, Allegheny, $13. Samuel and Mrs. W. K. Ttunkle, of Center Hall, had spent Saturday In Bellefonte and started home about lark. About one mile above Pleasant 3ap, at n point designated the "water ing trough," Runkle's attention was at tracted by a shifting light in the bush ;s. Hardly hnd he made this discovery when three men jumped Into the road nd called "Halt!" The horse was a fractious animal, and the sudden ap pearance of the men so frightened the beast thnt it wheeled around and ran lown the mountain. A number of shots were fired after the retreating buggy. Mrs. Samuel Edgnr, wife of a young nan recently employed n( OH Cfty, was found dead In her bod the othor day. Mrs. Edger a short time ago had her husband arrested for desertion and non-support. She had Interviewed him t the Jail, where he Is confined. Tho xcltoment in the Interview is supposed :o have brought on heart trouble. Mrs. Edgar leaves four small children. The second death In the alleged pol lening caso at Jamestown occurred Monday, the victim being William Hush of Wllllamsfleld, O. He visited the lilrch family about a week ago and was soon after taken ill, lingering In sreat agony. The suspected poisoning is still a mystery. A Judgement was entered against the Fayette Gas Fuel Company, of I'nlon Uiwn, for $173,1:12 In favor of the South west Natural Gas Company, of Pitts burg, the same to Include all debts ow ing the Southwest Company, while all prior Judgments are to be satislled. David McCloary, a prominent Demo crat of Quincy township, dropped dead at the polls Tuesday morning. He had driven to the voting place, a mile from home. In his carriage, and fell dead while alighting. He wns 60 years old and leaves a large family. James Bascome and Maney Caren ar rived at Greenville one day last week, bound for Jamestown. N. Y., where they are to be married. Upon being told the price of railroad tickets they decided to walk the distance, 60 miles, and save their money. Charles Hall, aged (', a colored em ployee of the wholesale grocery house OT J. M. -Sprlgga & Sons, at Washing Ion, was found dead the othor evening at the bottom of the elevator shaft. He Is supposed to have fallen into the haft. James Hay, of Neshnnnock Falls, who has bw-n receiving a pension from the government, recently had It ad vanced to $76 a month. He refuses, however, to accept more than $'i0 per month, claiming that this Is all his In lurlea entitle him to. Frank Sutton, stoker of the battle ship Maine, who went down with the ship In Havana harbor, wb a former resident of Johnstown, and while there was employed as track foreman for the lohnstown Passenger Company. At Bedford tho election to decide whether tho Indebtedness of the bor ough should be Increased $16X00 for the purpose of building a large reservoir jltH votes were polled for and 19 against While tonipornrlly insane Samuel Me 2une. of Joannette, committed suicide in his father's stable by shooting hlm lelf in the forehead recently. He leaves 1 wife and two small children. John Johnston has been recommend n by Congressman Achoson for the New Haven postofflce. He will be the first negro ever appointed to a poatof flee In Fayette county. Frank Hnldeman. one of tho most prominent business men of Columbia nd a member of the firm of George W. Q. F. Haldeman, fell dead at the din ner table the other day. During the absence of Mrs. Alice Rentzel from home, at Eastmount, York Jaunty the other day, hor children olayed with kerosene and her son, aged I, wae burned to death. The powder house of Drake & Strat ton, contractors, containing 1,000 pounds of dynamite, near Wllmore, blew up recently, futully injuring two laborers. Franklin, a city since 1868, by special act of the legislature. Is moving to abandon Its charter and become either a third-class city or a burough. At last Tuesday's election Wilkes barre decided by a large vote to be come a city of the third class. F. M. Nichols was elected mayor. Gas from a stove caused the death of a child of George Tim tile, Mercer county, and rendered other members of the family unconscious. The safe of the Cnlted States Express Company at Carlisle was blown open, and It Is thought several thousand dol lars were taken lout week. Thomaa Farrel, aged 32. was killed In a mine at Wllliamstown, near Har-rlsburg. Several prisoners In Mercor county Jail who rebelled and refused to break stone In the stockade have been starv ed Into submission, Frank Patterson, the 18-yonr-old son of Assemblyman Patterson, of Vetera, wns killed by a falling tree last week. St. John's Protestant Episcopal church at Norrlstown has boon damag ed by fire to tho extent of $10,noo. Valentine C. Houser, a young minor of Johnstown, was Instantly killed bf a fall of rock last week. CONGRESS. Senate. Washington. Feb. 11. Mr. Turloy, of Tennessee, took the oath of office as successor of tho Into Senator Harris, having been elected by the Tennessee legislature. Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, reported the nmomlment proposed to the diplomatic and consular bill by Mr. Allen, declar ing a state of war to exist In Cuba, and rocognlglng the belligerence of the Cubans, together with a recommenda tion that It He on the table, to come up at the proper time. This was agreed to. Senator Morgan railed up his resolu tion asking the president for corres pondence from Gen. Lee and American consuls regarding affairs In Cuba, es pecially what negotiations or Inter course, If any, had been had with the autonomist government. It Is very Important, Mr. Morgan said, If the United States had recog nised a government thnt had not been recognised by Spain. The resolution wbs agreed to. Washington, Feb. 15. A resolution was adopted In the senate calling on the nresldont for Information (If not incompaiiuie witn tne public service) as to what action has beon taken in regard to the murder of Segundo H. Lopes, a citizen of the United States, on April 1, 18U6, In the distrlcet of San Dlogo del Valla Magucralla, Cuba, by irmed soldiers of Spain commanded by Col. Esteruch. The resolution offered yesterday by Mr. Harris, in relation to the proposed salo of the Kansas Paclflo railroad was taken up and Mr. Harris advocated its passage. Washington, Feb. 16. A discussion on coast defenses was the Interesting feature of the Senate to-duy. Many Senators took the ground that the ap-' proprlntion should be for the full imount of the estimate by the War De partment. Instond of some $4,000,000 less. Senators Perkins and Hale said It is the policy of the Appropriations Committee to mnke an annual expendi ture of $10,000,000 a year for fortifica tions. Washington. Feb. 17. It Is possible that tho families of the victims of thf Maine disaster will be cared for by the Government, as wore the survivors of those who were lost In the Samoan hur ricane several years ago, when 64 American officers and sailors were lost from tho Nlpslc, Vnndnlla and Trenton. P.eiu-esontatlve McClellnn, of New York Introduced a Joint resolution appropri ating (150.000 for this purpose in ithe House. The resolution is as follows: Resolved, By the Senate and HouseSof Representatives that the secretary vf the navy be and la hereby directed lo pay out of any money m the treasury not otherwise provided a sum equal w 12 months' pay to the legal heirs or re preseriatlvea of each of the officers aryn crew of the United States Steamu: Havana February 15, 1898, and the sun: of $lf0,000 or so much thereof as me: be necessary Is appropriated to cam out the provisions of this act. A million and a half dollar Is th nmount of money called for by a bill which Senator M. 8. Quay Introduced by request, for the purpose of buying site for a new residence for the. Presi-. lent of the United States. Washington. D. C, Feb. 18. A de bate, decided in its sensations was un expectedly precipitated In the senate over the consideration of the resolu tion of Mr. Allen (Neb.), directing the committee on naval affairs to Investi gate the disaster to the battleehip Maine. An arVingemcnt had been mndc for the adoption of the resolu tion, with a minor amendment, without debate. Home. Washington. Feb. 15. A bill to amend the act of 1887 relating to the fees of United States officers, to correct some existing abuses, was passed. Mr. Cox, from the Committee on Banking and Currency, called up a bill "to bettor control and to promote th safety of national banks. "The bill provided that no national bank shall make a loan to the President or an otner omcer or emoioyeee or the ban u 1 1 1 Bui 1 u 1 1 .... i i ciiiiinvcn uu iu muted tne proposition for the loan in no case shall the loan exceed t ivi 1 1 vi 1. 1 1 l iirin uicu t.v law. x nn I passed. The bill to make It lawful transmit through the mails private postal cards with a 1-cent stamp at tached was passed. Washington, Feb. 16. The debate on the bankruptcy bill opened In the House to-day, but it attracted little at tention, thft interest of the members being entirely absorbed by the disaster of the Maine. Just befure the House adjourned Mr. Boutelle, Chairman of the Naval Committee, presented a reso lution, which was unanimously adopt ed, expressing regret for the disaster, condolence with the families of those who lost their lives and sympathy with the injured. Washington, Feb. 17. At the open ing of the Senatd the blind chaplain de livered a touching Invocation with re ference to the disaster to the Maine. The only reference thus far made to the disaster to the battleship Maine was In the form of the following reso lution Introduced by Mr. Allen, of Ne braska: "Resolved. That the committee on na val affairs he directed to make an im mediate and thorough investigation I tlcshtp Maine in the harbor of Have on the ljth Instant and report to 8enate." Washington. Feb. 18. One mill two nunureu ana ninety-nve thousa thorize to be expended during the next fiscal year on the Improvements on the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahola riv ers that were authorized by prevloua congresses and placed under continuing contracts. These improvements com prise dams 3, 3, i and 6 on the Ohio riv er, three dams on the Allegheny and six new dams in the upper Monongahe la river. A bill appropriating $4,000,000 to provide a battleship to replace the Maine was Introduced In the house by Mr. Foote of New York- U-...U. m .1 1 w u I ... u 1 1 . 1 1 1VJ 1IIIUBO Villi Ac Ambiguous Uuery. Judge John F. Philips of the Federal bench has a peculiar dignity and sever ity of mien, but for all that he is e great wag. In the Southern Hotel ro tund the other day, relates the St. Loula Post-Dispatch, he met an old Kansas City friend, Colonel John Rich ards, and aald to him: i ... "Hullo, John! What are you doinc uuwn nere i "Well, Judge," replied the Colonel. "I am appointed on this commission to represent Missouri at Omaha. I am Mrving a a patriot Just now." Humph." said ute Judge. Hoe m tt agree with yovit ! ' voce 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers