The governor-general of Guam, the Bewly acquired possession of Unolt Bam ont on tha raclflc, in very nicely located. Its ha the island for I l)uilillng spot anil the ocean for en ont look. More than lB.OOO.pilO visits are paid annually to Loudon pawnbrokers, or, to be more exact, 41,000 ln.r on an average. Tho number of plodgos de posited throughout the country in said to amount to ll)i 1, 000, 0(10 every year M. Jules ('Inretto, tho director of LaC'omndie Francnise in Paris, Franco, says there are in all Europe at (he present moment 10(11 theatre wliicli comparison would place in tho first- olnss. Franco loads tho list with !1!I; Italy comes next with MHRj thon (lor many with 204: the 1'nitod Kingdom, 203; Spain, 100; Austria, IH'J; llussia, 00; llclgiuin,r'.); Hwo Ion anil Norway, 40; Holland 42; Switzerland, !1."; Portugal, 14; Denmark, 1:1; Turkey, 0; (Irocco, 8; llouiunnin, 7; and Her tin 4. There isan interesting item in the ro port of tho librarian of llisliopsgate in titnto, London. According to the read ing done in tho free library of that build ing for one day there were 04.') per iods who chose works of llction, M who selected books of travel and his tory, Jl(l biography,'.!') natural sciences, anil so on down the list to philosophy and religion, for which there were 13 readers. There is something vory sig nificant in a comparison betweou the extremes. Scarcely a century ago the order would very likely have been re versed, Secret service men always have an Inclination to emphasize the impor tance of their work, and when they deal with counterfeiters their pub lished reports have a sensational fla vor that sometimes tends to make them excellent literature for "green goods" swindlers. Notwithstanding this tondency, tho capture of a gang of counterfeiters in Pennsylvania, to gether with their materials of mnnu, factnre.must be regarded a a credita ble achievement. The detected con spiracy is remarkable for its elaborate organization, extensive plant ami the youth of its members. When the flying machine finally flies, the world will exclaim at no one's having discovered tho right way be fore as the Hpanish court exclaimed at Columbus's egg. Each mechanical step, so plain, once it is taken, looks beforehand like a leap into the un known. It is a phase of evolution as surely as the natural weeding out method of nature with animals; and were it not for rust and the melting crucible, generations to come would stumble aoross thousands of skeletons of machines that bad to succumb to other more capable machines, just as we stumble across tho bones of the mastodon, who died out before his nimbler opponents. For some reason the south pole has never bad the attraction for people that the north pole has. Yet more remains to be discovered, by far, at the southern than at the northern end of things. Perhaps that is it. The goal has been so nearly reached at the north, and so great a reward will be his, who makes the final step, that all are striving to do it. An Englishman has just given $25,003 toward a Brit ish Antarctic expedition, and that will probably give a powerful impetus to , the interest in the southern axis of the earth. Commercially speaking there is not much to be gained by these expeditions. But they will con tinue while the virility remains in the northern rnoes; and what they do not accomplish in practical value they make ap in picturesqueuess. Some writers of natural history books for youth say that tho" serpent always devours its own kind, whon so inclined, tail foremost. This peculiar ity has been so often repeated that it is generally believed. At dinner time the other day in the reptile house of the London Zoological Garden a live rabbit was fed to a boa. The reptile crushed his prey and then began to devour it in the usual fashion, but be fore t had entirely disappeared down bis maw a hnge python shot forth and eized Uie half engulfed rabbit, and, after swallowing it, began on the boa. The head of the boa and a good por tion of his bofc)y had disappeared be fore the keeper came to the rescue and Attempted to wrihdraw the smaller reptile from his nuVjsual retreat. A this mode of procedure failed to make the python disgorge, he latter wat eeizei and beaten with awhip. This was more to the point, and the boa finally wriggled free and betiok him self to a oorner of the cage, miuna, however, his dinner. This little inci dent goes to show that reptiles, under extraordinary circumstances at least, vjrill swallow heir kind head foremost THE INFALLIBLE MAN. There was a nan h sever made A blunder In his llfi tin Invnd a fir I, but was afraid If she hnnnmn his wlfn That he or aha might run the day That brought them bliss, and so tin put thn happiness sway That wedded lovers know, On day the man who never made Mistakes pnroiilved the wav Tlr.it led to turn. i, but, still afraid, Uri'W back and stoln awavi lift shunni'd lh winding paths that led To ilNliint, nnsenn units, And kept tho Mud that stretched ahead With neither sleeps nor bemla. At last the man who never mado Mistakes Ml by the wayi In garments that were badly frayed, And tiln and starved he layi No weeping friend bent o'er lilin there, Nor servant, child, nr wife) Hut victory was bls-he ne'er II nd blundered In bin life. H. K. Klsnr, In Chicago News. ROMANCE OF A DEPARTMENT STORE. t!T F.nnts Trnri.R 4'irt.n. William French prided himself on the fact that he was not nu ambitious man. lie was wont to say that envy and diseonteut are the twin roots of nil evil, and that to bo satisfied with olio's lot in life is the sum total of nil earthly pniinsopiiy. William did not put it in that war. exactly, for he hadn't much more edu cation than he had ambition. Hut that was what he meant when he would occanioaally announce to his fellow clerks over the bowl of mush and milk that formed his noonday meal at the "quick lunch" counter. "What I can get is good enough for me, and dou't you forget it." And his fellow clerks, mostly un ambitious men like himself, would geuerully reply, with laconic vaguo ness of assent, "That's what." Willium's lot in life was sufllciently humble. He sold tin bath tubs in the poorly lighted basement of a big department store six days in the week. His Sun days he spent in riding a second hand bicycle, if it was line, and reading the pictorial pnpors or sewing refractory buttons and reluctant pntchus on his clothing when tho Wenthor precluded any idea of outdoor amusement. I' or William was n bachelor and looked askance nt the fair sex, as the lovely promotors of much of the dis- content he so sternly deprecated and the gentle inciters of the reckless nnd wicked extrnvngnnce whoso exinlence in tho world he so greatly deplored. So when he caught the f itter of a skirt on any stray bicyc e no chanced to pass on a lonoly r..ad he would scorch sternly ahead and never once glance around to see if the fair trav eler was riding for fun or to reduce her waist measure. From which it mar be seen that Mr. French was vory much of a philos- opuer. Hut, alas, oven philosophers are not exempt from the visitings of the ton dor passion, nnd it chanced one dny thnt Cupid, for want of something better to do, chose to visit the base ment of that particular store nnd plnut his dart deep in tho heart of the young man who sold tin bath tubs. It happoned this way. A young woman came to fill a vacancy in the grauiteware depart ment, next to William's own, and ho so lone indifforent and even cnllous to the charms of womnu, no sooner saw the uew clerk busy over her saucepans and teakettles than he was smitten with a desire to possess her for his own. MiBS Thompson was not beautiful. to be sure, nor was she at all imposing of appearance, that she should thus captivate tho heart of this severe critio at first sight. And she trotted about with a brisk alertness of movement quite incompatible' with grace and elegance of movement. But she suited Willium riaht down to the ground. To begin with, she had soft eves. of no particular color, perhaps, but somehow when their gaze rested on illiam be felt that here, at last, was one who could appreciate his true value almost as keeuly as he did him self. Her brown hair, of a very ordi nary shade, was parted very nently over hor smooth brow in a fashion ex tremely plain and unambitious com pared .to the imposing pompadours worn by the magnilicont young ladies who sold ribbons and neckties at tho counters upstairs, aud whose airs and graces made William so uncomfortablo that he frequently went to a rival es tablishment to purchase the modest "mnile-up" cravat which completed his humble toilet. Moreover, Miss Thompson's Simula black alpaca gown, with its trim y belted waist and spotless cuffs aud collar, betrayed none of the wickedly extravagant ideas William hud long considered the prevalent, weakuess of the sex. It wasn't very long before the two young people became very friendly. Stewpaua and teakettles being more in demaud than bathtubs, William was frequently called upon to assist Miss Thompson in. her department,aud this association with her afforded the yonng man moments of exquisite joy. At other times he would watch her, busy over her cooking utensils, and imagine how she would look in a little kitcueu of her own manipulating simi lar implements in the preparation of his own snpper. I be thought was intoxicating. Here at last he had found a girl who would be willing to share his humble lot, he told himself. A plain little thing like her would- probably regard tiuy three-room flat such as he had in mind as palace of luxury. He himself j would seem to bar a sort of special providence throngh whose benevolent intervention she would realize all those dreams of home and husband most girls Indulge in. This thought he found even more agreeable theu the other, and he found himself assuming a protecting and even patronizing nlr with her at times 1 he ennmoreil young man went so far as to hint to the object of his alloc Hon his hopes of having a modest home of bis own otio day, nnd while hn could not recall afterward thnt she had betrayed liny great Interest in his plans, hn took comfort in thinking that gli Is nre sliv about showing their feelings and that probably it had not occurred to her that ho would notice a littlo clerk in the grauiteware depart ment. So William dreamed his dreams ami oven began to iuqniro around about the rent of flats such as ho would be apt to require. But hn did not toll his love. There was no hurry about that. He would wait tin spring wliou rents were cheaper. And besides she was probably not prepared to hear of the honor ho proposed to pay her. She might faint or something. Girls were apt to do those things when you take tlmui unawares, he had heard. So the winter wore on, and William spent more nnd morn of his time talk ing to his fair neighbor, nnd fell more deeply in love with every interview. To be sure ho did most of tho talk ing. He often confided lo her his views on extravagance and high living, mid took occasion to ridicule those who spent their money on good clothes and theatre tickets instead of laying it up for a raiuy day. And while Miss Thompson never said nnything 1m could construe into an admission that alio thought ho was right, she always listened with grave nttonlion, and w ith her soft eyes fixed on him he remained blissfully certain thnt here was a woman who would thankfully devoto her life to helping him save his income and provide for his old age. At lust tho spring drew near. The flower counter in the main nislo began to glow with golden sun- Hlnno of daffodils and jonouiln. and odors of hvacinth and Easter lilies wore wuftcd down tho stairway to the dim basement w hero the bathtubs and the teakettles had their home. And then one day William had a shock. The cross-eyed girl at tho crockery department told him that Miss Thompson was going to lnavo. He could not bnluivo it. But in quiry at tho glassware department ro vealed the fact that the rumor had spread the day before, and had been continued by tho young lady herself. William was astonmleil. Sun Imil made up her mind to leave without telling him! What did it mean, ho wondered? Then he had nn idea. Perhaps she had grown to caro so much for him that seeing him every day was painful. lie hail read of sucli things in novels. He resolved to toll her that vory dny of the plans he hud miiiln for her ami ask her to bucome Mrs. William French. It was long, however, bofore his op portunity came. It seemed to him that every fut woman in the city had docided to lay in a supply of grauiteware that par ticular duy. At Inst he one inutored Miss Thomp son holund a hiigh nilo of colfoepots. "I I henr you're going away," he began, surprised to find himself feeling decidedly nervous. "Yes," she said ploanantlv, as alio mado an entry in hor little cashbook. I m goiug tomorrow, "Well, I didn't know thnt is, I thought I hope, I mean, thnt I'vo not had anything to do with your going," he went on, beginning to be appalled at the misorable figure he was cutting. "lou, Mr. French how could yon I don't undi stand, I'm afraid," she replied, in evident bewilderment. "Oh, yott see I thought maybe you'd been expectiug,you kuow that is, you might have kuowu thut I was going to ask you to marry mo, you know. I d have asked vou before only " "Pray, dont apologize," she ex- claimed, quickly. "It's much bettor, that you didn't. A man with your ideas would bo making a great mistake to marry. And besides, I'm going to be married next week to Mr. Morgan, up at tho silk counter. He commenced ns a cash boy, and now he's bond of the department. But then, ho waa ambitious." William has seen her but once since then. They were having a big bargain sale of remnants upstairs, aud at tho noou hour he was straggling to make his way through the vast crowd of ladies which surgedabout the counter, when a little woman iu a rustling silk gown turned suddenly aud faced him. it was she! He passed hor with only a formal and hurried bow, but he had time to observe, with pain, that she wore her hair in a pompadour. A Touching Kiting?. Andrew Dixon of Kansas, who died the other day, was thus eulogized by n neighbor: "He was the kindest man I ever see. When a neighbor was sick he was always aroniid. He wo ild do up the chores, split wood, help in side the house or ride like blazes for the doctor. Ho always wanted yon to get well, and yon knew it by look ing at his face. If you would die, Andy would go out there on the hill and dig your grave if it took him for days it had to be jus' so. Jus' so long, io deep and bo wide. He wanted to see 'em put away right." New York Tribune. GO0Q OTHE REALM Nmw Yona City (Special). Dame Fashion has provided most dainty neckwear for llio present season. Slytish stock collars are expeuslva whon bought reedy made, but deft fingers using any reliable patterns can readily fashion them at small ex- innse. It Is necessary to tniikn the (limitation of good stiff canvas or buckram, which will keep tho shape, and to hiako all alterations as to depth of collar required nt tho upper edges. rArv RTOCK roM,Ansj. No. 1 Illustrates a stock collar of shy blue satin arranged in pretty bias folds. Lane over satin lines tho deep points and narrow bluo chilfou rueh ings finishes tho edges. The closing is invisible in contro back. No. 2 is of whito Liberty silk, the scallops of the flaring portions being finished with corded odgns. The foundation is oovorcd with whito India silk. Tho soft wrinkled slock is gathered in tuck shirrings at the cetilro back, where it clones invisibly. No. 8 is of palepiuk A roPULAIt TVFK OP lnoussoliue do anio and narrow satin ribbon in tho same shade Tho foundation collar iscovored with pink satin. The satin ribbon, ouo-hnlf au inch wido, is gathered iu centre and applied on the scalloped edges of the pretty bow and the flaring tabs iu back, three cvonly spaced rows bciuir placod around the oollur. liuy gilt button with cord loans effect the closing in centre back. Auv suitable materials may be substituted to develop attractive stook collars by tho mode, luce, net and edging, sheer lawns and embroideries being exten sively nsod. To make No. 1 will require one-half yard of plain silk and one-fourth yurd of figured. To make No. 2 will require one-half yard of silk twenty-two inches wido. A Stylish Cmtuine. The stylish gown of gray whipcord, shown iu the large illustration by Mary Manton, is trimmed with yellow lace insertion and narrow bias folds of gray satin. The toque is of gray satin laco straw with tulle rosette, jet quills and rhinestone ornaments. The waist is supported by fitted linings that close iu centre, the blouse fronts being arranged at square yoke depth to close invisibly at the left side. The seam less backs fit smoothly in Eton jacket style, and the right front lapping over the left closes at the shoulder seam. A orush belt of gray satin ribbon is olasped iu the back with clasps of gun motal studded with rhiuestoues. The fashiouanlo stook collar closes in centre back, high points being shaped to stand up oloae behind the ears. The fashionable sleeves have epaulettes applied in pointa near the top, and the alight fulness is gathered be tween thepoiuts. The stylish drapery, whioh may be worn over any tkirt, is modelled on lines corresponding with the jacket (routs. It is of full skirt Z 0W OF FASHION. length In back and nut away in front to disclose the skirt, which may be of the same or contrasting material. The drapery may bo cut with or without sldn seams, the width of material used deciding the advisability of cutting this skirt in two or four portions. Attractive gowns of cashmere camel's hair, broad or Venetian cloth, drop d'ote, foulard, erepnline or other soft wool or silk fabrics may be stylishly trimmed with applique, insertion, braid, gimp, meltings, satin folds or ribbon. Tho style also suggests pos sibilities for remodelling that are never despised by tho home dressmaker, A I'retty ;nmhlttntltn. This attractive dress shows a pretty combination of bluet drap d'uto ami cordod tnll'eta silk in the same shadn, the yoke being of cream all-over lace, underlaid with white satin. Tho trimming consists of narrow satin ribbon frills applied in three ovci -hipping rows on the smoothly shaped bertha, flaring culfi and around the foot of skirt. Wider ribbon of tho same shade forms tho crush belt, which is prettily bowed on the left side. Tho waist is smartly adjusted over fitted linings Hint close in contro front. The yoke is applied on the back lining, and the front yoke, being included in the right shoulder seam, closes over on the left. The back fits smoothly nt round yoke depth, the prolty fulness being drawn closely to the centre at waist line. The curvod fronts are gathered at the top and joined to tho lower edges of the bertha, which conforms to its shaping. The bertha extends on tho front edges to the waist, tho right overlapping the left from the seam, tho closing being o!lected invisibly. Tho two-seam sleeves nro gathered at the top, tho wrists being fluishod OVEItHKMT DRAPER?. with flaring cuffs thnt are trimmed to match the bertha. The live-gored skirt has the correct flare at the lower edge, whero it measures a trifle over th roo yards in tho medium sizes. Tho top fits smoothly, the fulness in back being arranged in two deep un derlying pleats that meet over tho placket in centre back. - Either skirt or waist may bo worn separately or both may be of one material. Flat trimming of gimp, passemonterie, ir regular insertion or appliquo chiffon WAI3T AND OOIIHD SKIRT. bands may be eflcetivoly employed as decoration. To make this waist for miss of fourteen years will reqnire one ami one-half yards of materia: forty-tour inobes wide. ANOTHER CASE OF MAUD, Hand Muller went nn a summer day To try the old racket of raking bay. Bho'd heard how It snared a Judge, and Thnrs nilaht be another to bs caught And oft she glnnnad down the lane's lontf To see If he cams on his ilohald horns. flat the Judge earns not, nor a alaek flout nlnrk, Nor a onnatahtn to get In his Work. Nor even a ehronln liirnr enma (I ixi ns nr to share hi oft ealled-nnma. Vet sha raked away with a tireless will, For Maud was a stayer from Htayiirvllla I Ornnt blisters rose on her hands so fair. And hayseeds lodged In bur wiud-totsed hair. Hut nary a .Tndgn earns riding hy, And her swolhm bosom was DIM with algh, One spark of hope In said bosom burned, That iiiebba Ihn court hadn't yet adjourned. r hn mluM hare halted lo feed his face With a lawyer who'd got away with a case. And vet she raked with untlrlnff seal, i'be damp sweat trickling from head to hoeU The spnr-Krnss pricked nt finr rubra hose 'Neath the soul horn bound of her Kiindny olothns. Tho breezes Mow on her bloomlu' cheeks And scattered llio sweat Into crl-i!roMi) streaks, Tim sun antil litsn, . !.. tl... idila ami mo bope-ntiir dittoed Iu Mnildl One Inst Rinnan fired she along the Innn, Hiiim uu mi Buiuiiio wiin moan oi pain I lltlt she rnlfl fw,nln mlth Imn-........ for thn stubble was aharp as a hurnots niiiiK I Then nrled, as to splinters' she stamped inn rnKHl 'This lutyllold racket's a bloomln' fake I 'Thn feller Hint w-l !!... "' .. MII.,J viiifiit lo be taken out au' fatally shot ! "Don't think no irnl ntnr mado a play iu rain up n inner llils-a-Wjy I And shn sold ns she llinpn l to hor home Hor niweniM keyed to a note of palm "Of all darned seekers that ever bit, I'vo a siioaklii' Idee that 1 am It ! " Denver r.renlng rout. HUMOROUS. Old Lady (at insurance office)-! want to tako out a fire insurance policy at once, iiur liouso Is on lire. "('onversatiou is only tho art of talking back." "Not much: con versa tiou is tho art of getting somebody to io iiston to you. "Homo men can tnke new furniture ami make it look ns if it was made century ago," says a journalist. H can some children. "A innn bns to dio to make an. thing out of life insurance," said tl citizen. "Oh, no," replied the iiismi nuoo ogont, blandly; "I never die yet." W ntls They tell me that there ar moro than 50,0110 trumps in this conn try. I'lsmal Dawson l)ou t yod beliove it. More'n half of 'cm is onlj imitations. "Whore are you going my protH innKl J urn going ii-sliopiiiig,sir. alio said. "1 wish you'd go buy me my pretty maid." "1 intend to go by you, sir, slid said. A Irish innu-servaiit was discovered in n lie. On being accused by his mnstcr of stating what was not the truth, ho excused himself by saying. "i'lensc, snr, I lost my pi iseuce of mind." Any man Is nerved for battle, Fearless facing strife aud sours, Who has borne tlm crush and nulla VI tna ueaiiiy trolley cars. i ( "Miches take unto themselves wings (J anil Ny away, sum a board school teacher. "What kind of riches is meant y" And the smart boy at the bottom of the class said, "They must be ostriches. Uncle Hich It seems mighty bird when a man has accumulated a comie- tence to have to die and leave it all. lieu I'oore (his nephew) Oh, I don't know. Don't yon think it depends A good deal npon the point of view? Laughin' Time Jock's sweetheart wrote from town: "My Darling Jock I have no tune to write; be sure and write a longletter." Jock wrote: "Dear Jeun If yon have uo time to write, you can huve no time to read." A clergyman's bright little boy has a remarkuble faculty of quoting .Scrip ture. One morning be spilled htscnp of milk on tho tablecloth, aud, antici pating a reproof, he dropped his head instantly, and murmured, "My tup runneth over. Miss Homewood Oh, Sne, don't you want to join our uew society? It's going to be very exclusive. Jliss l'oint lireezo What society is it? "TheO. W. N. K. H." "What do these letters stand for?" "Girls who never kissed Hobson." Teacher Now, Thomas, the by-. pothenuse of a rigbt-angld triangle ia equal to the sum of the squares of tho other two sides. Do I make myself plain that way? Thomas I guess so ma soys too much eddicuticu is what makes yon so homely. Mont Fragrant Flownra. It is an interesting thiug to know that 4200 species of plants are gathered and used for commercial pur poses in Europe. Of these, 420 have a perfume that is pleasiug aud enter lurgely into the icaunfaciure of scent aud soaps. There are more species of whitd flowers gathered than of any other color 1121 in all. Of these, 117 have au agreeable scent, an ex traordinarily large proportion. Next iu order come yellow blossoms, with 031, seventy-seven of them being per fumed, lted flowers number t23, of which eighty-fnr are scented. The blue flowers are of 5'Jl varieties, thirty-four of which are pet fumed, and the violet blosto-u are pleasantly odoriferous. Tit-tils. 0 A