The United Slates can fnrnlsh ex cellent counsel on the disarmament question and slsoexcellout battleships if Europe Insists ou more war mate- rial. French Canmlinu papers and men re still lamenting the exodus of mem bers of their nice from the Province of Quebec, and they any that unless checked it means death to French Canadian iuflitence in the Dominion. The automobile, with its big pneu matic tires, is a road builder, mid not a road destroyer, like the heavy, nar row steel tired vehicle. The more automobiles there are the better w ill it be for our roads. From every point of view they should be encouraged. A Ilnltimorean who has been a close student of lioiiNchold economics has recutly made a comparison of the weight of paper with the weight of food supplies purchased. In one day's purchase it is said that the paper wrapping amounted to about ton per cent, of tho total. In a list of sup plies costing about $1.90, ho found that the paper which was weighed with the provisions cost I t 3-t cents. He claimed that this was altogether out of proportion. That a toy originally designed for amusement may develop into menus of instruction, is shown by the cinema tograph. Its moving pictures have been employed in Berlin to illusratedillicult surgical operations. It is proved that these vivid and accurate illustrations are a valuable aid to students, being nperior to the most elaborate de scriptions. The sciontiflo uses of photography are many, but this is an innovation that, with characteristic enterprise, will probably be adopted by medical instructors in this conn- try It appears, from figures furnished by the postofflee department, that the average person in Massachusetts, in cluding men, women and children, spends $2.30 on postage per annum. New York conies second, with an ex penditure of 82.27, and the District of Columbia third, with 82.10. Col orado is fourth with 81. 93, aud Con necticut is fifth, with $1.80. The states ranking lowest in this regard are Honth Carolina, with twenty-five cents per capita; Mississippi, with thirty-four cents; Alabama, with thirty-four cents; Arkansas, with thirty-seven cents, and North Carolina with forty-one. The president of a largo telephone system has offered to pny a million dollars for a telophone repeater which would be as efficient in telephony as the tolegroph repeator is in telegra phy. From the earliest days of tho telephone to the prosent time invent ors have sought to make such repeat ers, and as early as 1S78 it was thought that the problom had been solved. Itis probnblo that if such a ? : t4-- "V --f --.- ? plan is luveutcd, the experiments leading up to it will bo along entirely new lines, for already a large number of trainod telephone inventors huve tried their hands at it and have failod. Original measures have been taken in Charleston, S. C, to protoct fire men from the danger of contact with live electric- wires. By the terms of an ordinance on the subject each com pany having the right to string eleo trio wires must connect its station with the fire-alarm system, and on the occasion of eaoh (iro-alarm must send an emergency wagon and one or more competent men, with necessary ap paratus and tools, to the locality oi the fire, where they must act under the direction of the officers of the fire department. In addition, a special signal has been arrauged, in obedi ence to which the electric oompunies must turn off the electrio-enrrent in the district of the fire. Heavy pen alties are provided for neglect to com ply with the ordinance, aud they are cumulative for each day of neglect. Although the park officials of many eitios, observes the New York Times, continue to muke rules and regula tions on the theory that horses have some rights which automobiles are bound to respect, it is recognized al most everywhere that this is a posi tion impossible to maintain for auy length of time, and that in the neai future the new motor will be at least as free of every restriction upon its liberty to wauder where it pleases as is the bicycle. That automobiles frighten horses, or rather some horSes, is doubtless true, and it is not unnat ural that the owners of the horses, be ing a numerous aud therefore influen tial class, have revenged the incon venience to which the 'Wf-inoviug'' carriages subject thein by securing the banishment of those machiues from park roads aud other highways nominally devoted exclusively t th uses of pleasure-seekers. COMMONPLACE. Spreading on a bit of Jam, Tylug "P a shon, Betting straight the many things llnby hands undot Coining- out a backward smile, I'linslnR rmck a tear, Fr!tislni childish courage, milling chlldlsn (enri Picking out a sliver sharp, 1'uttlnR In a stitch, Lotting fall a drop nf lorn Where life's cog-wheels hitch Binding on a breath of prayer, Hmoothlng out a strife These nets oft repeated Make a mother s life. By llnrnle Itabcook. THE JGiantClam. A Story of the Philippines. 1 BY A. F. HOLT. The villain in this true tale is the giaut clam, also known by various other names an enormous bivalve, often weighing twenty pounds, and living in a pair of shells that fre quently measure four feet in length, and weigh four or five hundred pounds. Its succulent flesh would provide chowder for a good-sized boarding-house, and no coiichological collection is considered complete with out at least a pair of those gigantic valves, which are also useful as beni tiers, baptismal fonts, fouutuin-basius, and even infants' bath-tubs. This clam is found only in warm eastern seas; and particularly in tho Philippines, w hore it is known as the taclobo, and eagerly sought by the native fishermen. My second character is Hancho, a sturdy Visay an fisher youth, bright of eye and lithe of limb, who can swim or dive like a fish, and in his primitive pirogue, rudely fashioned from a log, cau easily outpaddle or outsail any man in the fleet. There is uo better fishormanin the Philippines, with line, net, or with the sharp-pronged trident spear. Malay boys in general are about as fond of work as other boys, but San cho was naturally industrious and ambitious; he knew not the taste of the stupefying buyo leaf, and cared nothing for eorkflghting, the favorite Malayan amusemout. Moreover, he was a prodigy of learning, for besides reading and writing a littlo, and mumbling paternosters, he could count to thirty without an error. My third character is an American professor who will be found in a very disagreeable position when introduced Inter and more definitely. Hoavy responsibilities had rested on Hancho, since, at the ae of l(i, he found himself the principal support of his invalid father and bis six little motherless brothers a'id sisters. Every day, iu fair weather, lie sailed alone iu his pirogue with its bamboo out riggers, tripod mast, and curious mat sail, eager to take fish. Kimply clnd iu shirt and trousers, with a huge 1. owl-shaped ealaoot or hat to shield him from tho tropical snu, ho toiled from dawn to dusk, visiting his weirs and traps, capturing small fry with the cumbrous casting-net, or spearing monster turtles as they basked lazily on the surface. The coral reefs yielded abnndnnce of c abs, mollusks anil edible seaweed, and ho carefully searched the el ill's for the nests of the esculent swallow. Little that could be eaten oT jjojd escaped tho sharp eyes of Haiicho. One fine day, just at sunset, not long before Dewey smote Spain in Manila Hay, Sancho was returning from a most successful trip, his little boat lnden with fish, and running be fore a strong breoze. Ordiuarly thia would have been an occasion for great rejoicing, but today there was sorrow in the hoart of Sancho, for misfortune and disgrace had suddenly desceuded upon his household. His beloved father was a criminal. Not a robber not a murderer; no, a thousand times worse, in the eyes of tho Spanish authorities he was a delinquent tax payer I Tue family had beon suffering latoly from a run of bad luck. First, rice birds and weevils wrought liavoo in the paddy-field, while hordes of flying foxes feantcd nightly ou the fruit of the garden. Then came a terrific hurricane, unrooting the little nipa hut, stripping tho banana plants, aud levelling every stalk of sugar-cane. Fish was so abundaut as to be almost unsulable in the market. To cap the climax a ounniug thief had entered the hut at dead at night, and stolon the bamboo joint containing the hoarded silver the tributo saved for the in exorable, the taxcollector. Last week the cabeza, or collector merciless because he himself was held responsible by the Spanish authorities for the taxes on some sixty fanii ies with a squad of cuadrilleros,or bailiffs, had takeu Sancho's father away to prison. On tho morrow the sick man would be terribly flogged in the public square. Theu his property would be confiscated and he would be deported to Zamboanga, there to work out his debt in the miserable chain-gang, or more likely to die of fever in the peslilentiul jungles. From his bitter reflections Sancho was suddeuly aroused by the wild ory of a human being in distress. As he listened, the sound was repeated again and again, coming faintly from the distance, but unmistakably a frautio appeal for help; and now the youth oould discern, far shoreward, a dark, moving object ou the surface of the tea. Toward this he promptly steered. It proved to be a man, standing erect upon a-snbinorged reef, wildly waving his arms uud bawling for help. Drawing nearer,Sunuho recognized iu that white-faced, wild-eyed man the American naturalist who had arrived ou the last steamer from Muuils, The naturalist's headquarters were at the village tribunal, and he spent his time in wandering about the neighboring reefs iu search of rare shells. Now the scientist, up to his shoulders in water, presented a sorry spectacle. "Have mel pave mei" he yelled. "I'm caught by abigtaclobot Hurry, or you'll be too' Intel" His Spanish was faulty, but Bancho caught the word taclobo. He needed no further explanation. The giant clam lies at the bottom of pools, often shallow, with its huge valves ngape to admit food and air, and woe to tho man who unwittingly places hand or foot within the gap, for the shell shuts instantly like a steel trap. Many a Malay flsiierman, caught in that clutch, has perished wretchedly in the rising tide. For more than two hours had the naturalist stood there, alternately shouting and praying as he watched the water steadily mounting higher and higher, but now he saw in brown skinned Sancho a possible preserver, nud despair gave way to hope. "Courage, senorl I will save you!" the boy cheerily called, as he lowered the mast, and paddled his bont cau tiously inshore until the buoyant out rigger was within the American'! grasp. Overboard wont the anchor a curious combination of wood, stone and twisted rattn'i - and then Sancho snatched up a heavy, keen-edged knife. "Hurry, my lad!" cried the natural ist, for the water was now quite np to his neck. "If there is no other waj to save me, chop off my foot." Sancho smiled reassuringly; In knew from experience just what to do. Then he dived ami held himself at the bottom by clutching a spur of corn! with one hand. With the keen blade iu the other hand he vigorously slashed and sawed at the byssus, or' cable, by which the giant clam cements itself to the rocks. It was diflleult work, and lack of air soon forced Sanubn to the surface, hut in n few seconds he was down again, hacking desperately nt the tough cord. A wave broke over the naturalist's head, as ho clung to the outrigger w ith both hands, and theu the byssus yielded. t'p came Sancho with. "Now, senor, climb for your life!" and like a flash the boy dived under the canoe, bob bing np on the opposite side, and clinging to the edge of the craft to counterbalance the weight of the naturalist, who now began a desperate effort to drag himself iuto tho boat. Tho giant clnm still clung obstiunto ly to the American's rubber boot, but he had to lift only the creature's dead weight, and this iu wntor-a heavy load, however, to a man chilled and exhausted from long exposure; but inch by inch the Amorican draggod his weary length along ouo of the beams connecting boat and outrigger, with an immense mollusk clinging to his left foot. Finally, more dead than nlive, he got his arms and shoulders over into the dugout. Then Sancho, no longer fearing a capsi.o, dived again, and bewail n vigorous assault ou tho hinge of the monster shell. Soon the grip of the great clam r Inxcd.aud the American's foot was free. "Save the clam I want it!" he gapped, feebly; mid then.nftor pulling his wholo body aboard, he fell back iu a dead faint upon a tmdodoroua heap of flsh.whcro he lay quite undis turbed, for Sancho was now fully oc cupied in saving his rnnoe. It was rapidly dragging anchor, and drifting dangerously close to the rock-bound coast. Before long tho dexterous youth had worked clear of the porilons reef, and was once more speeding for port, bnt it was not until the twinkling lights of the village showed close at baud that tho naturalist recovered consciousness. "Boy," said he, solemnly, "you have saved my life, What can I do for you?" Sancho's answer came promptly. "O senor, save my poor father! That is nil I ask," and bursting into toars he sobbed out the story of the family misfortune. "Your father shall be freo.my boy," the naturalist declared. "Fear not, tomorrow will witness his release." And so it came to pass, for the American was quite able to pay the sum for which the Filipino was held in prison. His gratitude did not stop with the release of Sancho's father. He did not tell me the rest when he related the history of tho gigantic- pair of taclobo shells that form a part of his matchless collection. A man's wife is, however, privileged to speak ol his good doeds. Sancho, fisher-boy, was sent to school through his bene factor's generosity. llattle Tuns. One of the pluckiest of war corres pondents is James Creelnian, who was wounded at El Caney iu the lust charge. He gives a curious account in tho Cosmopolitan Magazine of how certain tunes haunted him iu each battle. He says: "Iu every battle that I go through I somehow get a melody iu my head, aud hum it to the end of the' action. I suppose it is the romlt of nervous excitement. All through the battle and massacre of Port Arthur, iu the Japanese war, I hummed an air fioin Meudelssohn's 'Springtime,' and dur ing the shell-fire I fouud myself actu ally shrieking it. "Wheu I started in the charge on Fort Caney I benu to hum 'Book of Ages,' and I couldn't get rid of the tune, even when I wn lying among the dying of Chaffoe's brigade in the hospital camp. I remember that wheu (leneral ChatTee beut over me, after 1 had been shot, and asked me how I was, I couldn't answer until I had finished, iu my mind, ouo phrase of 'Bock of Ages.' mm 1 1 NEW YORK Designs For Costumes That Have Be h come Popular in Nrw York Citt (Speolal). Cheeked tweed in brown and beige made this stylish skirt, which may form part ol a cycling or golf suit, or be used for general outing or roiny Uny wear. The skirt comprises four gores aud displays the sheath effect at the top with a pretty flare from the knees to the lower edge. The front gore is of narrow width at the top and joins to wide circular side gores shaped with underlnps, over which the front gore closes with double buttons aud loops, as shown, or with buttons aud buttonholes, if so TOVR GORED BICVCLR SKIRT. preferred. The centre back gore is gathered closely at the top, the ful ness being invisible under the deeply laid plaits that meot closely in back. This arrangement gives necessary saddle room when mounted and a be coming flare wtien off the wheel. A deep underfaoiug of tho material hold in place with rows of stitching about an inch apart finishes tho lower edge of skirt. A smooth interlining of haircloth is recommended to iuaure both safoty and style. To make this skirt will require three aud one-fourth yards of material forty-four inches wide or two and ono- Jilill it mmmm v . r. .Nf ? mm m.mm mm ;?..,., MISSES' half yards of flfty-four-inou material for short longth, and two and three fourth yards of forty-four or two and one-eighth yards of ilfty-four-iuch material for full length. ' A Charming Waist. Mauve (trap d'eto, velvet of a darker shade, whito corded taffeta and irrogu lar insertion are stylishly united in the charming waist illustratod in tho largo engraving. The pretty bodice decoration of velvet is finished separ ately and applied over tho completed waist. It may be used as an acces sory, for other waists inny be worn with low pompadour neck and short sleeves for evening dress. The full fronts are supported by fitted linings that olose iu center back, the square yoke of corded or tuuked taffeta being applied over tho lining. The collar is of taffeta to match the yoke facing. The two-seamed sleeves have becom ing fulness at the top and are ar ranged over fitted linings, the wrists being decorated with bauds of velvet and insertion to match the bretelles. The mode presents opportunity for the introduction of three contrasting ma terials, whioh is ofttiines desirable when remodeling misses' waists. The bretelles may be of some material deo orated with braid, ribbon or passemen terie, the yoke and collar faoing being all-over lace nndorlald with satin in white or some beooming color. To make this waist for a miss four teen years of age will require one and one-half yards of material forty -four inches wide. Th Correct Thing to Wear. Shepherds' plaid woolen materials in black and whito, petunia and white and gendarme blue and white are the very height of fashion just now for making up into skirts, and theoorrect thing is to wear a short jacket or coat made of saUn-faoe amazone oloth to matoli the oolor of the oheok material of wbleh the skirt is made. The fanos shape revere and oollsr are faoed with the shepherds' plaid. White orystal buttons are .used to decorate double- FASHIONS. p k I; k "1 tho Metropolis. breasted and open-fronted coats, and certainly look more stylish than or dinary bone buttons. Lisle Thread flloves. Thread gloves, having for years been the joy of tho simple and sen sible hove recoutly been takeu np with a rush by the fashionable and rather freakish olomeut. This is chiefly because with thoir capital suede lisle gloves the manufacturers have achieved a cotton hand covering that fits exactly aud smartly. Thread gloves in a variety of soft tones are very preferable to silk, and women with pretty, plump hands aud arms wear elbow sleeved muslins in the afternoon with flesh, pink or lilao suede lisle gloves reaching to the crook of the arm aud end of the sleeve. One potent argument in favor of these hnnd covering is that not only are they cool, perfect protec tors against sunburn, but they wash just like lisle thread stockings. Foulard nt I'nmilnr a Krer. The craze for foulards has by no means abated. In fact, as the season advances so are more patterns sprung upon the market. Thoy are all of the very softest, satiny order, very differ ent from the hard combination of silk and surah of yore. The most popular colors are a mixture of blues and white, but pink aud black, and even niauves, have been in great demand. A Tinge In Jewelry. The bnttorfly is becoming the rage for everything, just as the bowknot was a while ago. When enamelled in natural colors it makes a pretty pin for stocks and the hair. As brooches set with precious gems they are be wilderintrlv lovelv. and n:1d tn th fineness aud daintiness of lace. A Novelty In Comlis. Pompadour combs, in real or even imitation sholl, are considered the best taste by many. If set with semi precious stones or genuine jewels they are prettier iu unrK hair than tue plain shell. Snslies ol Chlitun and Hllk. Wide sashes of crepe de Chine, chiffon, hemstitohod tatTota and soft . WAIHT. Liberty silks in evening shados or in bright Komau stripes are toning itoias of dross. They fasten with a rosette aud a socond rosette catches the ends togother a few inohes below tho waist. On the Wearlnc of Veils. White veils are becoming only to brunottes, to women with very large eyes or a brilliant complexion. Blaok veils with big dots should bo worn by women with largo features, A plain mesh is the most gcutool in appear ance. ' Child' Frock. White dimity is here daintily as sociated with fine tucking and lace in sertion which is sold all ready for yok ing. The fashiouablo square yoke forms the npper portion from which depends the full front and back, that hangs in graceful folds from gathers at the top. A doop frill of valenoiennes lace edging outlines the yoke, stand ing out stylishly at the shoulders over the moderately full sleeves. The cmi.D'8) FROCK. sleeves are gatherod on tho upper and lower edges aud completed at the wrists with bands of insertion and frills of narrow laoe edgiug. A nar row frill to match finishes the neok. It is a verv popular stvle. . x w i I My PEARLS OF THOUCHT. Candor with self creates charity to others. A wrong guide is as dangerous as wrong road. Poverty may be necessary to starve onr passions. The light must shine in before it will shine out. The man who stoops to a dowdrop. will often pick np a star. Cursed are the impure Iu heart, for they can only see the evil. It is not the house that is painted brightest that holds the most joy. No man ever gave of his best with- To the good, evil is working for good; to the evil, good is working for evil. He guards well his wealth who un grudgingly uses it for the weal of the world. The man who climbs without lifting, will soon be lost because of his lone liness. It is a good thing to be a man of one idea, providing the idea is big enough. So much of the happiness of life lepends ou whether you will give np your solo for a part in the chorus" The power of onr talent may be V 1 1 l. 41. .1 : .... . . - 1 in un ijj hug iiiBuuiii lOBj ui our lliu ners. (trace should make us graces iu word ana act. itam i Horn. DEVOTION OF A FISH. It Follows lis Ownrr Around After I Manner nfa Ing. . A gentleman walking one evening iir the park at Durham, England, the seat of the Earl of Stamford and Warring ton, came to a pond where fish in tended for the table were temporarily kept. He took particular notice of due pike, of about six pounds weight, which, wheu it observed him, darted hastily away. In so doing it struck its head against a tenter hook in a port (of which there were several in the pond, placed to prevent poaohing) and fractured its skull, thereby turning the optio nerve on one side. The anguish evinced by the fish ap peared most horrible. It rnshed to the bottom, and boring its head into the mud, whirled itself around with such velocity that it was almost lost to sight for a sho, t interval. It then plunged about the pond, and at length threw itself completely out of the water on to the bonk. The doctor caught the fish ana up on examination found that a very small portion of the braiu was pro truding from tho fracture in the skull. He carefully replaced this, and with a small silver toothpick raised the in dented portion of the skull. The fish remained still for a short time, and he theu put it again into tho pond. It appeared at first a good deal re lieved, but in a few minutes it again darted and plunged about until it threw itsell out of the water a second time. A second time the gentleman did what he could to relieve it, and again put it into the water. The pike continued for several times to throw itself out of the pond, and, with the assistance of the keeper, the doctor at length made a kind of trepan for the fish, which was then left iu the pond to its fate. Upon making an appearance nt the pond the following morning, the pike came to the edge of the water and ac tually laid its head upon the physi cian's foot. The doctor thought this most extraordinary, but he examined the fish's skull and found it going on all right. He then walked backward aud forward nloug the edge of the jioud for some time, and the fish con tinued to swim up and down, turning whenever he turned, but being blind on the wounded side of his skull, it always appeared agitated when it had that side toward the bank, as it could not then see its benefactor. Next day the doctor took some young friends down to see the fish, which came to him as before, and at length be actually taught tho pike to come to him at his whistle and feed out of his hands. With other persons it continued as shy as fish usually are. This was a most remarkr.ble case of gratitude iu a fish for a benoilt re ceived. Ilnck to Primitive Win. Sir James Crichton Brown, an emi nent British physician, argues for the abolition of chairs, on the ground that sittiug flat ou the floor and the exer cise of getting np and down from and into that position are in conformity with the original habits of the human race aud more healthful thau those now in vogne. On very much the same ground he might argue for the abolition of head gear in the open air, the wearing of much if any clothing during the greater portiou of the year, the eating of cooked foods aud a thousand other customs the result of the evolution of civilization and invention. To be sure, we have a lot of new diseases which result largely from the abuse of some of our new discoveries in food, clothing and general regimen. But when it is taken into considera tion that, notwithstanding these draw backs, the average of human life is gradually and steadily increasing, it must be admitted thut the ge'tieral result is iu favor of our new habits. and our uew methods of living. Bridgeport (Conn.) Staudard. No Moustaches In Alaska. Men exposed to the rigors of the Alaskau whiter never wear mous taches. They wear full beards to protect the throat aud face, but keep the upper lip oteau shaven. The moisture from the breath congeals so quickly that a moustache becomes embedded in a solid cake of ice and the face is frozen iu a short time.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers