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