i . t . . t ASCENT OP A DRAGON BALLOON. v. jwl BRITISH WAR BALLOONS i WATCH THE EOERS. Remarkable Battlefield Wort: Done by 2 . Mounted i eiegrapneri. $ BfOaeiQiOiema viai'Aiun irom Cape Town states that the British troops have an impor tant auxiliary in the military balloon, and the defcnoe of Lady smith was con siderably facili tated thereby. The balloon was in tolenhonio communication with the camp, and kept a watch on the Boer movements duriug the night. The brilliant work performed by the signaling corps of the United States army daring the war with Spain eansed special attention to be drawn to that branch of the service. An interesting comparison will be afforded by the study of the opera tions of the signalers of the British army in the hostilities in the Trans vaal. The latest information reoeived is to the effeotthata complete balloon ing corps from England is on the ontcrm-LiKi mat in thk mixd. Boene of action. The great Napoleon regarded military balloons as of "uo strategical importance." He was sfooompanied by a ballooning corps daring his second campaign in Egypt, )wt the wagons oontaiuiug the boobs- BALLOONING TRAIN ories (ell into British hands, aud this oaiewity bo doubt! influenced hi - 'uiou, ' However siuoe those days I 'ary balloons haw don good work r -J oooaaiontJ ana it is oon. M fidontly expected that their advent in the Transvaal will afford many lessons in the possibilities of ballooning in warfare. The British balloon division is fully equipped for the work it is to per form. The chief work which it will lie expected to execute may be summed up as follows: First, to discover the whereabouts of the Boers hidden in cover; second, to make observations and to take photographs; third, to TOWEIt CONSTMHTF.E BY ROYATj ENGI KEERH WORKINC WITH THE BALLOON DIVISION. carry dispatches. Invaluable infor mation concerning the enemy's movements will be telephoned from the men in the car to those below. The balloon, too, will re ruler ex cellent service for map-making pur poses. Photographs will be taken vertically downward that will shew every detail of the conntry and the position of the Boer forces. It is only a matter of practice for skilled surveyors to become effioient in judg ing distances and heights from a bal loon car aud iu making accurate aki."rfshes aud maps. The British military balloons now going to the front hold about 10,000 cubic feet of hydrogou. Each balloon will carry two persons one in the car and the other, in the netting. IN THE FIELD. These balloons are made of gold beaters' skin, which is far superior in every Hy to silk. Eaoh balloon will be placed on a wagon and drawn by twelve horses to the scene of opera- . tiont. The gas will be conveyed in wagons drawn by a steam traetion engine or by font horses. This gaa is stowed in steel cylinders, 110 cylinders being reiinirod to fill one balloon of 10,000 cublo feet capacity. Hitherto one canse of great concern in the ballooning operations has been the difficulty of obtaining a balloon sufficiently steady to ensure the mak ing of accurate observations. It lias also been feared that the difficulties attending the manufacture, handling and conveyance of the gas might prove insnrmonntablo. In order that this may not prove a stumbling block in the Transvaal, the British army is being also furnished with equipment for the rapid erection of observation towers. The care of these i entrust ed to the ltoyal Engineer, a section of the British army whose operations have always been distinguished by excellence of work. One of the illus trations shows ono of these towers after it has reached a height of 110 feet. It will be seen that the ob servation posts afford every fncility for rnconnoitering tho movements of the Boer army. The results of the TKLKl'KONIN FROM A WAU BALLOON. observations made by balloon or tower will be communicated to the general staff headquarters by means of tele phone and telogrnph lines, to bo erected by the telegraph battalion of tho Royal Engineers. This battalion has seen long and honorable service. In the erection of temporary lines it has made a record for speed, stability and clllciency. Galloping across a plain, horsemen may bo seen, im paling their specially constructed posts at regular distances. With a speed that is almost incredible, other horsemen follow, unreeling the coil of wire; others, with an agility aud skill hitherto confined to circuses, pursue them, standing on saddle to adjust a wire to the insulator, drop ping into their seat, only to repeat the operation a few yards further on. The illustrations show that this lino is not as primitive in construction as one might suppose. Huleri Money. But speaking of cotton strange how tho subject sticks to one I once asRed a small farmer in Georgia, "Why do you raise ootton year after year? It seems to me it's the hardest thing in the world to raise; it requires more care than anything I know of; has to bo plowed oftener and looked after more oarefully; why don't you raise something to eat?" And the mau with the two-mule farm laughed and said, "I'd know yon was from the North jtiHt by that fool speech. Be cause I owe for my laud. I have to have money every yea.1 to rnn this farm. I can borrow mbney on my next crop of cotton. And the man who lends me the : ;oney cau keep his eye ou my crop from the time the seed is in the ground till it is loaded ou i'.'i cars. His security is all light. But it I go to him in the spring and tell him I ain't going to raise at y cot ton, but only corn and garden truck, , he can't keep track of no such perish able scenrity as that. He won't lend ine a cent. So if I want any money I've got to raise cotton." And I made what haste I could to swim ashore. It is so easy, son, for us to toll people 2000 miles away just what they ought to do. Ho muoh easier than it is to go there ant do it. llobert Burdette, in the Los Angeles Times. Rerret Brawan Designed by s Womau. "Most people seem to think," said a maker of furniture, "that secret drawers and hidden receptacles in furniture only exist iu novels and plays, bat this is by uo means so. I very frequently take orders for snob items, and I employ a clever woman designer, who shows positive genius iu planning plaoes of concealment, which no amount of tapping or meas uring ouuld reveal. In most cases, eveu were the hollow receptacle dis covered, the woodwork around would have to be cut away, so complex are the fastenings. Most of the orders come from women and rich people, of course and I have no doubt that a desire to hide articles from too curi ous aervauta diotatee the orders." "Barker humbly says he is but an instrument iu the bauds ol destiny' "I know he talks that way; but. all the same, he thinks destiuy baa ita nanus full when it is uaiog bun," Indianapolis Journal. NEW YORK I i 1 Designs For Costumes That Have Bo ll como Popular in tho Metropolis. p' cJ' S1 Nkw Youk Citv. (Special). The deepest pitfall in the path of the ama teur milliner is the inessiness of pre vailing' styles. Amateur milliners A IMi'TI Itl'.SvIT. MODEL. tend to mpssiuess, nud when the pro fessionals lean that way also the re sult is something to admire "wonder at" is the original meaning. Iu their search for the picturesque the new lints are piled so high and swathed so deep with superfluous or naments that all tt.e eymmctry of the head and figure is lost in theso monu ments of misdirected industry. While the large toquo with rolling TfUMMED WITH HTITCHISOS. brim of velvet comes nearer than any other to being the prevailing mode, as almost invariably beooming to pret ty hair, the small, close-draped velvet toque, worn over the face, is also a favorite to accompany tailor dress. It is trimmed with stitched bands of cloth or Bilk, and a bird or an airy butterfly is added for garniture. A strikiug piece of headgear is the accompanying example taken from the Dry Goods Economist. It is a hat of brown and blue velvet, with roses merging from ecru to dark-brown sur rounding the brim. The butterfly shows both colorings on a cream ground. The collet is of velvet, mousseline dt soie and renaissance luce with gold buttons and cord. WaUts, Bodices and Blouse. None but flattering comments are to be made of dress waists as they now reveal themselves, aud powerful as has been the effort to coax women to accept more decoration on their skirts, the waists, bodioes and blouses of the majority of costumes continue to steal ill the real glory and color. Stitching is in high favor as a finish for wraps and costumes. A fine ex ample of a waist trimmed with stitoh ings is shown in the large engraving. Several gowns were seen with no other trimming save rows and rows of fanci ful stitching in some contrasting color. Blouses are now exaotly like those of previous years. They are made tighter and over a very close fitting lining. The pleats, whiek nsed to be on the upper part of the bodiee, and were widened at the breast, pulling out and enlarging the waist, are oontinued to the belt, kept fiat, and aewed with lingerie stitoh. These pleats are ar ranged iu every possible way, long wise, horizontally, diagonally, as in sertion, eto. Collar art still mad -tent - 1 . FASHIONS. The XhtmI Form of Cloak. The newest long cloak for theatre: and general evening wear is crepe d Chine. It is lightly stretched around the shoulders to about the elbow, and from this point to the ground all the fullness is set into narrow little rib bons or tucks, doing away with all folds or flutes. This is a reversal of the usual order of things, tucks and straightunss below tho elbow instead of above it, as for a tall, slim woman the innovation is very becoming. The high collar of this cloak is edged with leathers and the edges of the front aud all around thebotton are bordered with netted silk fringe. MTrrt or n Welt-rut Cornet. It is extraordinary what a trans formation a well-cut corset will effect in a woman's appearance, and how, without any perceptil Is pressure, the waist may be lengthened even as much as two inches. This is really a very important consideration at the present time, when princess dresses and eelskin skirts are so popular, and any one who wishes to have an ele gaut and graceful appearance should first of all give consideration to the corset, otherwise the work of the dressmaker is likely to be lost. Sequins Are rsKtilonnble. Sequins are to bo seen ou many things this winter, particularly on thin goods witllace efleots. White gowns of net are covered with them, but they must be sewed on carefully, and home sewing is usually better than that of tho shops. It is better to have no sequins at all than a sequin off here and there. It is a degree worse than a missing boot button. Skirls That Are the Mode. This season's styles fulfil a twofold mission. They make the stout woman look thinner, and the slender woman becomes a dream of loveliness and shapeliness when she dons a princess effect gown, a short jacket and Dircc toire hat. Every skirt is tight fitting about the hips aud very much flared around tho bottom, sleeeves are small, collars high, some basques are shown, and fringe is the acme of novelty. The favorite model in skirts will bo a seamless circular shape, Utting like a glove over the hips and back, and flaring at the bottom to the width ol from four nud a half to five yards. This flare is very perceptible as tba A HOU3E BODICE. BED FLANNEL BLOUSE, skirt is held up, with one hand hold ing the bottom and one the belt. The front breadth, which used to be out perfectly straight in 'order to insure a "good banging skirt," is now percep tibly flared in the skirts, which are made on the gored pattern, whioh will also be very much worn. The shirred A aaiBBID BXIBT. skirt design ber shown is on of tb "r5s,:u's ffivorifri UflHE STATE NEWS CONDENSED SMALL AMOUNT AWARDED. Bcavtr Widow Sues New Brighton lor Ids Lou ol Her Husband and Rtceivtt $800 Had Asked lor $20,000. A vrrdlct for Iri00 was rpmlored at Heaver Inst ivek In the dHmnite sult of Josephine I'resj'-nser against the horouKh of New lliluhtnn. Hhe sued for i),(ino diiniiiifea for the loss of her hushnml, whose ilenlh. It wan atlPRed, was ilue to the neirllKence of the de fendant. The following pensions were Issued lost wet-k: Wllllnm K. ('line. IjpwM Run, Holier! Dalssclt, l'lltshnra. In : John .1. Hnulhwnrth, Worlhlnir !nn. IH to ; Hubert l. Williams, Miii'tlntown. II! lo I4; Wllllnm John ston, Inillnna. (12 io 117; Imvlil HIs Inner. limner City, IM lo 17; Charles Young. Holillcrs nml Bailors Home, Kile. (!; Joseph A. Arthur, Stratton vllle, Imvlil It. Poller. Pittsburg, W: lli'iirge Aukermiin, deail. Irwin, till to ; Aiihllmld HIM, Hharnn, $14 to I7: William F. House. Plennitntvllle, 1 to IX; Augustus Pease, Indiana, $6 tn x: Hnnnnh I.. Mi tcalf, Poller Hrook, IX; Hiuhnel It I. mine, Pitts lung, $S: Ahlgnll It. Fulkerson. Bugar Drove. $8; Klin Auki-rmnn, Irwin, ; Howard Miner, Mt. Pleasant, $12; Thomas t.tmlsny, Pittsburg, $0; Alfred Mllcy. Mount, Alio, Frmiklln, $0: John ilnllngher. Pittsburg, : William K. Illl1 Kelly stntinn, 18; Hiilnucl Hoke. Hcottdnle, $H to $12: ICniiiia fingers'. Knoxvllle (Tlngn c-otinty). $17: Bnmuel M. tllbsiin, ('oi.hrnns Mills, $8; James M. MrCrenry. Deronila, $; flenrge Ferris, dead. Monneu, $t4 to $17; Alhert Irish, ronneiiulvllln, $14; llnsel White. Khby, $H to H; Mary Duffy, llollvar, $: fatvrlne H. Hmlth, Cowaneainie, $8; Mury A. Cotwell, Hlmersburg, $8; Anna C. Hlu-arer, Freeport. $8; Mary 3. Cramer, Clrant. $8; Warren Clifton, Pittsburg, $; Jnmea Petrl, Pittsburg, $12; William Turner, Pittsburg, $: William Atkinson, Hennett, $: Frank Henry, dead. Mendville, $10 to $12; Jonathan Moon, ohlopyle, $8 to $10; Thomns Price, Cln levllle. $8 to $10: Peter Williams. Muhonlngtown, $8 co $12: Peter Herrmann, Krle, $10: I.lniln Henry, Mendville, $8; Alice V. Itelkert, Hi:nsvllle, $8, At New Castle the pollre arrested l.nfuyette (lilies, a ell-known man, for acting suspiciously on the street. He had been under a 'rest but a short time when he confessed that he had robbed a Mlllurd room the night before. stealing billiard balls, cigars and to bacco. He sold he had secreted the Millard balls n mile and a half In the country and the tobacco and cigars he had taken to tho house of John White. The officers secured a warrant, found the cigars ond tobacco and arrested White on a charge of receiving stolen goods. The two men were placed In , Jail. Clntes is an uncle of Fulton riates, who wns sent to the workhouse from Allegheny county some months ugu on a charge of obtaining money under false pretense and fraud. Word has been received at New Cns tlo by Dr. John McKlnley announcing the death of Samuel McKlnley In Cal ifornia a few dnys ago from Injuries he received while attending to his horse. He was formerly a resident of New Cniitle, and was a member of the lower house of the legislature during 1K05-60. He also served one term In the stute senate during 1871-77. He ha only mm son. Hon. Frederick Mc Klnley, a Judge of one of the courts of California. The olliclal returns of the recent slate election, all of which are now on file In the state depnrtmcnt, follows: Ktate trensurer Harnett, 4H8.000; Creasy, $27,ril2; Caldwell, Prohibition ist, 18,072; Watklns. Peoples', 1,988; Chirk, Horlallat Labor, 3,753; Woods. I'nlnn Reform BOO. Bupreme court Judge Brown, 401.889; Meatresat, 2U8, 40.1; lllcketts, 18,2115. Huperlor court Judge Mitchell, 457,810; ltellly, 301.454; Hoblnson, 18.612. William Kcott, a colored tjsan of Wampum, was sent to Jail from Hea ver Falls recently In default of $1,000 ball, to answer the charge of stealing a steam driller from the stone quarries of Charles II. Howman of Pittsburg, tiltuated on the Heaver river a short distance north of here. The driller Is vulued at $400, and required a two horse team to transport. Annie, the 3-year-old dnughteer of M. Zeefe, of Hutler, was burned to death a few days ago. The mother luid gone out on an errand, leaving ' the child aud her R-year-old brother In the house. While playing with matches the little girl set lire to her clothing, and when the mother returned she was lying In the yard, d ead. Thlry years ago John Harmon left the I.igonier valley to go West, leaving a family. A few days ago Hut-gets W. J. Potts of Ligoniur received word from Oakland, Cel., that John Har mon, a very wealthy man, had died and that his estate was awaltinii cluimants. His three sons were found and will receive the fortune. The will of the lute Mury Oregg at Washington, Pa., bequeaths $1,000 to an Anti-Cruelty society, $1,000 to the Audubon society, $500 to W. H. Wlmer. $500 to W. T. Hehell, the remainder of the estate la to be equally divided be tween the PreBbyterlun hospital, Alle gheny, and the Washington hospital. Private Jesse J. U. Wall of the Tenth regiment has been appointed military Inatructnr at the Unlontown Soldiers' Orphans' school. Private Wall Is a son of J. Button Wall, chief draughts man In the internal affairs bureau, and accompanied Col. Harnett In his stumping tour of the state. Matthew Casey, of Tarentum, was reunited at Newark, N. J., last week to a sister for whom he had been vainly searching for 44 years. He was formerly an employe in the Carnegie mills iu Pittsburg and retired with a modest competence to live with his family In Tarentum. Thieves the other night entered the store of Isaac 8. Dlckcl, at Altoona, and stole $100 worth of merchandise. Patrolman Klpcrn discovered the rob bers while they were In the store, and pursued them for almost a mile, but they escaped. Two collisions of trains on the Phil adelphia & Heading railroad at Head ing resulted In the death of F. n. Kramer, conductor, the serious Injury of Henjamln Hurke, engineer, and the probable fatal Injury of Jeremiah Sullivan, brakeman. Cltlsens of Alexander and farmers of adjoining townships are to start a bank, beginning with a capital stock of $25,000. The Pennsylvania engineering works' of New Custle, capital $150,000 was chartered. , Congressman Joseph C. Blhley and Oenorul Charles Miller are at the head of a company which will manufacture pneumatic tools and air compressors In Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hartmitn, of Sharon, who were married at Cleve land, on November 11, luas, announced the fact last week fur the first time. C. H. Blliley. a Bcottdals merchant tailor, bus closed his businers to go lu Manila, where lie will work In the service of the government as a tailor New Castle city council elected John J. Jackson city elerk In place of b' vttpewinr, r-w ,.. , ; J4 e. 'I . ic ' i 'i .. v