The Miners of By 6. J. O'Connell and 1 were mates off nnd on for years. Thus It wns thnt we were gold-nilnrrn together at Itondlgo, tried silver mining nt Broke n I lilt, ami at a later (Into worked side ,f aide l the tin mine at Mount Zcclmn. In Tasmania, besides conduct lng several prospecting nips on our. own account. O'Connell wns a man for whom I had wholesome respect. Ho wan a quiet, reserved, good-natured follow, who never drank too much, and who hated nctlilng In thU won- more than a row. l!e wan a man of Immense physical ttrength, an expert boxer, and a mng-iilflc-ent swimmer. Ills plaelet demean or hid an Indomitable spirit, and I would as to in have fought a steam roller as Jim O'Coiinell; the one. would have hern as uncompromising as the cither. It was rn one of our prospecting trips that Jim told me the particulars of his Strang experience on Copper inland, n brief hint of which I hnd al ready ohtnlned from a pollen rourt par agraph some time before In tho Diis lune Conner. It seems that Jim wns in Sydney, out of work, when he saw one day an mivertisemciit in the Sydney Morning He i aid asking for a hnlf-dozen miners to proceed to Copper Island an un inhabited island lying between Prls I hii n and Thursday Island and thero prospect Tor copper. O'Conncll imme diately made application to tho adver tiser, one Captain I) , a mining ex pert D iiad control of the busi ness on behalf of a well-known Sydney firm of shipowners, who held a con cession lor mining on the lslnnd. O'Connell being a practical miner of wide experience, was mnde tho "boss" of the gang, and Ave olher men having been engaged and contracts signed for six montliB, the little phrty were ta ken by Captain D to tho scene of their operations in a schooner char tered for the purpose. Having duly landed tho men on the iflnnd, whose sole Inhabitants they were to be. 1) left them, promising to return nt tho beginning of each month with rations, etc. For a timo ali went well. The men were amply provisioned, und, besides, there was some feathered game to be shot, fish ta be caught, jml a fair supply of eggs of vurlous kinds. The men soon settled tlcwn to work In earnest, meeting with considerable success in their search lor copper. Hut the month expired, und, contrary to their expectations, Captain D 'a schooner came not. There was (till plenty of food on the Island, how ever, and the men kept at their work end were not at first uneasy. But when a second month elapsed and etlll there was no sign of the schooner they lie' gun to pe; seriously alarmed. The stoves became exhausted, and scon al't"r n far greater evil befell. Hitherto a plentiful supply of water had been obtainable, at a tpot where the Islanders fondly imagined a spring olfited, br.t. no tain hail fallen since their lunding, and the lms in hecomliiii ' empty, it. was seen that mere had been merely a rnrface supply, and now not a single .hop was to be found on the whole Island! In this awkward difficulty O'Cim I'.ell's rcsniircefuliios-s toon showed It self. Everybody naturally looked to him; even had he not been their "boss" it would have been Just the same. Digging for water pioved barren of re sult, and, as there was evidently no water on tho Island, O'Connell deter mined to look elsewhere lor it. About mile to the westward lay another small island, and thither O'Connell de termined to make his way. He sug gested that one of his mates should ac company him, and that they should take an empty, cask in tow and bring back a cupply of water if any were found. Four of the men acknowledged themselves to be swimmers, but not one volunteered for the mile swim through the shark-infested sea. As it was more than one man'a work, however, to tow a laden cask, in the event of success, lots were ultimately cast, and a man called Gange set forth with O'Connell. The two reached the island without any misadventure, were fortunate to find an ample supply of water, and brought back their wellfliled cask in safety. They had but one cask, ar.u, as it held only a scanty supply for , one, week. It became necessary to make periodical visits to tho other Island. It was, of course, Impossible for them, to take up their residence there. Not enly was cue of their number a non swimmer, but tney had no means of transferrins their firearms and ammu nition upon which they now largely depended for subsistence their tent, rooking' utensils, tools, etc. Every Falurday, therefore, a visit was paid to "Water Island," as it came to be lenown, and each time the voyage was made lota were cast for who uhould accompany 0 Cornell for the brave "boss" always Insisted upon personally conducting the expedition. There are piobably as many sharks In these wa ters as anywhere on the face of the globe, and the first few trips were made In fear and trembling. But time went on and no mischance oc curred the men gained confidence, al though the sight of the triangular fin occasionally set their hearts beating uneasily. It Is probable that the pres cence or the casn. disconcerted tho harks, but certain It is that they did not venture to molest the swimmers. Tne miners soon settled down to a dull routine of starvation rations, the monotony of tbeir life only broken by the woekiy trip to Water island. Would tbo schooner never comer A flagpole iwu rigged up la tbe hope of communl Copper Island. REA. eating with some pnnslng ship, but, although a sail was sometimes seen on the horizon no vessel ever came near enough to see their signals. In the meantime, a little work, was done more with a view to passing the time than out of regard for the Interest! of thr employers who had apparently so cruelly abandoned them on thla unin habited and seldom visited Isle, Four months thus dragged wearily away, i.ie men maintaining themselves as best they could by shooting birds nnd collecting eggs and shell-fish. One Saturday evening O'Connell ami a man named Peters, having been "fos sicking" about the shores of "Water Island" In quest of shell-flsh. delayed their departure for the larger Island till a much later hour than usual. When about half-way between the two Islands tl.ey encountered the full force of tho outgoing tide, nnd found their progress witn the lull water-cask, to which they were harnessed by ropes, rendered ex tremely difficult. After half nn hour's struggle, iiurlng which very little way was gained, Peters announced his In- tintlou ot cutting himself adrift O'Connell besought his mate to hold on until the tide turned! but rotors, drawing Ms knife, severed the rope which at 'ached him to the cask. Short ly nlterwnids he disappeared in the direction of Copper Inland. O'Connell, left to himself, struggled wildly for n time to hold his own, but the buoyant cask was towing him out to sea at an cvcT-lncrealng into of speed, and at last he was reluctantly obliged to release himself. Ily this time, however, he was an alarming dlstnnce from the shore, nnd he saw that hlH nily chance was In remain ing atloat until tho tide turned, when be might hope, by Its aid, to reach the 1m ml. Tbo night was clear and a bril liant moon was shining. Suddenly, to bis horror, an ominous triangular fin bieke tho surface of tbo water not ti:teo fathoms' length from where he swain. Another and yet another np- pejred, nnd tho unhappy man pres- M'.tiy discovered that he wns In th-i midst of a school of sharks! Utterly exhausted as be was, his position wns a terrible one. In (lescrlmng his feel ings to me, he said that ho should hot have believed It posslblo thut any combination of circumstances could luive reduced him to such a state of ab ject fenr as thnt on which he now found himself. Already ho seemed to feel the cruel teeth rendering bis lin ked flesh, and ho snuddercd with utter t nor. '"he scene was as light as day, and the Hhnrks were plainly visible as they circled round him. He saw one monster suddenly change his direction and make straight for him. Hut O'Con ncll wns like a fiesh In tho water, and drawing the shentho knlfo from tho belt round his naked walht he ..irew hit arms r.liove his head aii'Jsnnk like a stone. As be rose again tome sec ond:! Inter he found himself dlrettiv If iicuth ,'ic shark, and thrust his Unite tin to the hilt in the monster's stomach. The wounded shark ut once mode olY. end fonie ether prey possibly present ing Itself, tiie otlicii lol lowed Its ex ample, to O'Conncll s greut relief. lty tlii-, time the tide was on tho tt'.tn, and fitter a long and exhausting . wlm O'Conncll, thaiieu and weary, landed on Copper island shortly after daylight, having been eight hours In the water. His companions had, of course, given aim up for lost, as ac cording to the account of Peters, who hud gained tho shore In safety, ho was, when Inst seen, drifting rapidly out ti sea. O'Conuell proceeded to the ten: and pulling aside the flap, looked in at tho steeping men. Peters was Blum- luring as eweefly as though he had not a few hours before abandoned his mate. O'Connell picked up a piece of turf and threw It lightly on tho sleeper's fnce. Peters sat up, and seeing the "boss" standing' there, dripping wet, thought he looked upon n ghost, and with a cry of terror fell back In a dead faint, hl.i previous night's adventure having left him in a weak state. The littlj colony was now In a very bad way, Lc-lng without water save for a little which had been reserved In a kerosene tin. ThlB lasted till tho evening .-jf the next day, and then, when O'Connell was seriously contem plating a return to "Water island" with the kerosene tin, rain happily fell, and fcll hands were at once engaged In the important wcrk of collecting It. The tent was pulled down and con verted Into a canvas cistern, and ev ery available vessel was filled. Two days later great excitement wad occasioned In the little community, art strangely marooned on this inhospita ble Islet, by the appearance of a sa.i to the southward, evidently bearing In the direction of the Island. The anxious miners gathered upon 'tho beach and breathlessly watched the rearing errft. They soon discovered that it was none othor tuau D 'a ov- eiduc schooner. Presently a boat was li.wered, bnd I) himself, with a crew of three men, was Been approach ing the Island. Tho miners met him with a storm ot inquiries as to the de lay, but D apparently had no ex planation to make at any' rate, he of fered none. He llstoned to the story of their pri vations nnd the dangers they had passed through with tho moBt Insulting Indifference. "You look all right, any how," was all the comment he offered, and immediately went on to make In quiries as to the success of their min ing operations. The boat was laden with provisions, and presently he gave orders to have these landed. "Stop a minute," cald O'Connell, who bad hitherto spoken, "Do you think for a moment that after the way w have been treated wo are going to re main here at yentr mercy again?" "You will stay here," was the brutal reply, "until your contract has ex- trod." "That I cerlnlnly' shall not," said O'Connell, and, going back to tho camp, he brought his "swag." "I am going ba it to Sydney,: or at any rate to Brisbane, In that schooner," said he; "the other men can do as they like." I'pon thW 11 , who nnd evidently been drinking, called a huge negro, who was one of the boat's crew, and oidered .iltn to prevent O'Connell from entering her. The black sprang ashore, and, as O'Connell threw his bundle on board, laid hold of him. Tint the blood of the mining "boss" wns now fairly up, and big as the negro was he never bad a look In during the scrimmage which ensued. O'Connell gave him the worst Ave minutes he had ever had In his lire, and ultimately left him lying unconscious In the sand. Then the vic torious O'Connell rushed for the boat, to which I) had already returned. The latter, drawing a revolver, fired point-blank at O'Connell's face. Hut Ills hand shook with rage nnd excite ment, unci the bullet fortunately passed through the flap of tho miner's slouch hnt. llefore ho could Are ngnln O'Connell grasped him by the throat nnd batt"red IiIb head ngnlnst the nfter thwart. while the boat's crew vainly endeavored to drng hi in off. When I) recovered coneclousnefss he wai snirly. but sulHlued. Finding that O'Connell was absolutely deter r. lined to board the schooner, he sulki ly gave wny, but he talked the other men Into remaining on the inland. I'pon the nrrlvnl of the schooner at Brisbane, O'Connell was given Into custody oil a charge of assaulting Cap tain I) and threatening to tnke bin lite. I.n'ml proceedings for breac h ot contract was nliio mentioned, but tbo rnidiicticin of the bullet-perforated hnt and the evidence of a .friendly witness who bad been one of the boat's crew put a very different complexion on th matter, xiv O'Conneu was discharged. He got no further satisfaction. It transpired, however, that I ' long continued absence from the Is land of which his employers were em tlrely ignornnt, and which eamo so very nenr having disastrous results was due to his detention In the reeelv Ing'lioiiKo of a lunatic asylum during the continuance of a prolonged attack ol dclliium tremens! The Wide World Magnr.luc. CUAINT AND CURIOUS. If nil the land planted in corn In the T'nltcd States this yenr were massed, tbo area would exceed tho Ilritlsli Isles, Holland and llelglum combin ed, or four-fifths of the area ot France or Germany. Tho remarkable Jiehra hybrid Trom South Africa, lately acquired by tho Prltish Zoological Society, is a pony bred from a crews between a zebra and a pony. It resembles a small pony. Its body Is brown, nnd tbo striping is peculiar, tho marks on tho body being nearly vertical, wbUo those on I lie IIiiiIki are horizontal to the h(,ck.s, below which the color la black. Every head of clover consists of about tin flower tubes, each of which contains nn Infinltctdniul quan tity of sugar, llees will often visit a hundred different hcnils of clover before retiring to the hive, and In order to obtain tho sugar necessary for a load must therefore thrust their tongues Into about tiont) different flow, ers in tho course of a single day' work. Careful tending and nurturing on the pait of the beekeeper has re sulted in Increasing tho bee's tonguo one-hundred of an Inch. Tho natur al length Is about one-t went let h of an Inch, but clever keepers, by hnv lug only bees with unusually long tongues, have produced a variety with the added length, swhleh enables them to extract more honey from thn flowers In a given time than their short-tongued relatives. What is described as an "ancient draught hoard" has been discovered In Crete. It must by all accounts ba a fine piece of work, since It Ib com posed of natural crystal. Ivory, gold and silver, but it la by no means uni que. Chess, draughts, or the gam is from which both are derived, was known to nearly all tho ancient clr ili7atioii8, and Greek and Egyptian boards are by no means uncommesa. Our correspondent at Muang 1-u-.ecram. Buys, the Siam Observtit, writes that he had been to one of He eastern Lao provinces, and there ha was astonished by seeing a curlo. plant, which is called by the native ton kradoto din ("the treo that jitm;,tt from the ground"). The plant, ha soya, is not very tell. It hears few leaves, but plenty of fruit. When the fruit drops from the stem the tree tumps up from the Into the air about three soks high (say about four feet) The fruit is about the size ot a cherry. Since the opening of the shooting season the rabbits In tho environs ot Parla have developed a wonderful in' telligence. Sportsmen shooting on tbe outskirts of the city have been nonplussed at the scarcity of tho bun' nleB, as a short time ago they prom' tsed to be very plentiful. It haa been brought, to light, according to the New York Herald, that the Cem etery of Saint Ouenon the northwest tide ot Paris, swarms with rabbits, which are devouring every blade of trass and shrubs. The grave dig gers are likely to enjoy cheap meals tor a long time to come. lDRENjCOU llnlll. O dollle, dollle, we esn't go Out door In this Imrcl wind and snow, Hut In tho liouss munt plnyi how I k tminhftr will Hike pnrt, , And ymi us sccholsr tmint tie smart. And good your lesson tsy. No, no, I cannot hsvft yon cry, I'll put you in this chnlr so liluh Whuro dngitln cn not rBchi Now yon mum nsy your A. ft, C, And not look hlnnkly so at ni, Or else 1 cannot twacb. Whut, you hnvn fallen down, O myl And put thn pencil In your eye, O dear, whnt nhnll I do? No mora school I toclny. For how ii yon with one play, And that ous swollen, to. Now to the doctor's tou must go Although thn ground I wbitv with snow, And Iit nn ttya put Ini Bo enrnlftct twin ot you to full, And brlnit grrnt troubln to us all, U naughty you barn been. brook lyn Engl. y.nln imlU, The Hide Zulu girl has plenty of lelsine. She has nn clothes to put on, no beds to innke, nn floors to sleep, and very few dishes to wnh. She iloci not attend school and, therefore, has no lessons to learn. Sometimes she Is sent to drive the monkeys nway from the garden paten where they have come to steal the pumpkins, or she brings water from the spring or digs sweet potatoes for dinner. These email duties, however, do not occupy much of her time. And how do you think she spends the bright days In her pleasant summer land? Let me tell yon. She plnys with dolls Just as you do not waxen ones, with real curls nnd eyes that open and close. but clay and cob dolls, which she makes with her own little black fin K rs. She mixes tho day and moulds It Into snip II figures, baking them In the sun. Then she takes a cob, nnd i mis a stick through the upper part for arms. She thus finds herself the owner of two styles of dolls. It is not the fnshion for either tho llttlo mother or her dolls to be dressed, ow ing to the great heat. So there are no clothes to be spoiled by wading in the biook or rolling In the sand. Ilr l.nvn for Cm, Denver has a eat hospital It developed from the lovo of o llttlo school girl for cats and the enre which sbo gave to sick and Injured members of the cat family. She took them In, and learned by practice nnd study how to henl their wounds. She bandaged broken legs, and dressed tern plnces with antiseptic washes. She dosed poisoned ents with laid and fed sick eats with the spoon. After a while It got noised about among tho Denver cats generally, and fiibsequently when any old fighter hail b. en making a night of It. on the alley fence and turned up In the morning worse for wear, or when some helpless kitten had been tossed out of a third r.tory window to fee l: ln.id on Its feet, over many times, th'.v would make hlmliiit for this girl's front door and wait, on thi stoop till she came to take them in. Finally the girl's rnthrr t-ntd If the house was going t;i be turned Into a permanent, cut hospital he might as veil build an aunt x. So he built a littlo hospital out In the back yard, and there tbo girl, now a young wom an of 20, tnKes temperatures and counts pulses, applies llnilment and bandages wounds. New York Trlhtmo, I.nvv Among Hie Itoneii. Eelow Ib a new way eif playing an eid gnmo. Furnish to each player pa per and a pencil. Dictate the flower romance, calling "blank" wiiunover you come to the words here enclosed In ptrerrthefaL-. Each guest writes the Olctation and signs It. Then allow a reasonable time say 10 minutes to All In the blank spaces with the name of a flower. A general exchange of papers Is nade, and the hostess calls for tho retdlng of the papers. Each paper is numbered In the order it is read. The players nolo the relative excel lence, and vote by numbers for tho one considered best. The number receiv ing tho most votes wins, and tho name of the writer is then announced. The Romance. At tho waning of the moon In May Bridal Roie was married to Sweet Wil liKtn. The courtship had been a long cne, und, like the course of many a true love, haj not run smooth, for Willie had plenty of rivals. When the war come ho resolved to enlkit. Bridal Rose was at tae station to see the com pany off, and as she said good-bye she whlspereJ with a tear in her eye (Forget-me-not). This gavo him courage to hope, and he was a brave soldier. Ho was hit but once all through tho war, and that was by a (Snowball). During a walk one afternoon soon af ter Willie returned from tho war he and Bridal Rose chanced to find a pret ty vino-covered bower, with (Mnlden huir) ferns growing all about. It was a romantic spot, and he (Aster). Sho named the day. When the engagement was announced there were not a few (Bleeding hearts) among Willie's rl valB. As the sun rose on the wedding day, he hone In all his (Morning Glory).' The bridesmaid was (Lily of the Val ley), and (Mandrake) was tho best man. Uttlo (Black-eyed Susan) was the flower i,irl. The bride wore a gown r.f delicate (Pink). Precisely at (Four c'Clock) the bridal procession started for the altar. (Phlox) of friends wore present. The (Hare bells) chimed out :he wedding march, hor (Poppy) gave the bride away. (Jack-in-th-Pulplt) Sold the v.xrds. and then Wllllo kissed the bride in her (Twollps). As the party left tho churih rice and (Lady slippers) were thrown after the couple. The wedding luncheon was a slmpin aflalr, tho coffee being appropriately tipped out ot dainty (fluttcri'tips). The bride snld she was bnppy, though she did not (Marigold), nnd added that she was willing to bo ruled by love, but not bv a (Ocilcletiind). Af the dnnee which followed the most distinguished guest was (Marcschal Mel), wearing (l.ark rptirs). The (Johnny Jumpers! danced uproaroiisiy and quite shocked several (Olibfashtimeil Roses) wbo sat In rows along tho wall. The papers next day raid thn bride was nn I American Ileau t). and declared that Sweet William was a (Daisy). Now York Mall and I '.x lit ess. Two nt, l oiim I tiHilron. She had taken her' llttlo girl out to a Irlend's to tea. letter tho hostess gave thn child a pnper bag, with the following explanation: "Thnt is a bag of cukes that I made especially tor yon; but you must not look until you "t nm." nnbln to resist tbe temptation, the child took a siy ........ . .,: ,aw a.i opportunity of fining without being 'elected. When she wns rendy to go home she boldly opened the bng, and fixing iier iioste'ss with her eyes, ex liuimed ns siie drew fortn a cake and threw It on the floor: "I hnto sponge cake." Her mother was nonplussed for n Moment "iid attempted to pniuoth mat ters. "The child In tired and Irritable," Cue suid. "No. I'm not," replied the tot stamping with hi r foot, nnd throwinc another cake nway. "1 Just bate sponge cake." There Is a boy up town. 10 or 11 yiars old, who Is extravagantly fond ol his pet eat. The nnltmtl llv?s In the basement, pnd tbe boy makes dnlly vis. Its thero unless semie accident pre. vents him from doing so. Recently he underwent an operation for the relief ot enlarged tonsils, and as a result he was compelled to remain In bed fot several days. On the second day ol his confinement to Ills room othet members of the family caught glimpse eif the eat making her way ur stairs with something in her mouth r'hc made her way fo her master'f room, and .lumping upon the be 1. gent ly Ini. I a tiny kitten belile the pll low. Aft'v noting the- nstonlphment with wh;:-'i the boy regard id the ad vent of tl'to unexpected visitor, thf motjer cat. made her way to the base, me-nt again nnd re turned with n sec. mid kitten. This was nil he family pussy ha 1 nnd nhe purred with satis. fhctlon nt. the delighted expression ol the sick toy. The boy, who was bo fond of bis cat was also passionately attached to th' lulild who had taken care of him r.l through his earlier year?. lie fre qtsently vowed t.iat he would ninrry het v he;i he grew up, und besought her tc viilt for Mm. One clny he was pud ('. nly tnk"n with the toothac he, and a visit to the dentist become necessary. It was decided to extract the tooth Flirt laughing gas wai administered. "Mamma," stammered the hoy thic k, ly ns he was lapsing Into unconscious, iiess. "wiu you do me a favor?" ' Yes. itnythlng you want." replied the Indulgent moilier. "Then rr.ise Annie's (salary $3 month." After the tooth had been tnUen out tbo boy could reirember einly one thins thut had btppeneu, and that wns that mamma had promised to raise Annle'f pay. As the mother had always wrought up her children In Die way ol truth she was obliged to accede to the request, end Annie was made that jucii richer. St. Louis Star, t'AliritltlieU TliftrinnmMer Sir Samuel Wilks, writing to Knowl edge, gives tho history of the origin ol Fahrenheit's thermometer, which is generally used In this country. It was really Invented by Sir Isaac Newton, and tiie starting point of bis scale was the heat of the human body. Newton'i paper is to bo found In the "Philoso phical Transactions" for the year 1701. Ho describes liio Instrument ns a glass tt'be, filled with linseed oil, and to it hi., attached a scale to measure the de gree of heat of the liquid into which he plung ;d it. His lowest point was that of freezing, as hU highest point was that of boiling water. He chose for the starling point on his scale the heat of the human body, and this he culled by the round number 12, the duodecimal system being then in use that is, he divided the spuce be tveon the freezing point and the tem perature of the body Into 12 pnrta. Ho further stated that the boiling point vouid bo obemt 30, as it was nearly three times that of the humon body. A few years afterward when Fahren heit was wording at the subject ot brat, he look Newton's instrument for his experiments, but, finding the ecalo not minute enough, and so mnde It 21 degrees instead of 12. He also did more, lor, finding he coiid obtain lower temperatures than freezing, and notably that of ice and Bait mixed to fetlher, he took this for hlu starting point. It was from this point he began to count 21 degrees up to body heat, This made, by his measurements, eight the freezing point. Boiling point he mude 63. It then became zero; freez ing eight; body heat 24, ana boiling w liter 63. This was really the same as Newton's, only the icalo started low er and the numbers were doubled. La ter on, finding that he could measure increments of . heat more minutely, Fahrenheit divided each degree iuto four purU. It will now be seen that if the numbers Just mentioned are Mul tiplied by tour we have tbe thermom eter which Is now In use. New Orle ans Times-Democrat I HE PERNICIOUS CARP. Thm Itiinnrtucl l'lh Is lining an Untold Amount r :wll. The Herman carp, against which the hand of every fisherman Is raised be- caiun of his displacing better fish. Is accused of erne more and still worse crime by Alderman O. B. Sheppard, dominion Inspector of fifcherlen for On tario, to wit.: that of driving out our best water fowl by eating their food. Mr. Sheppard, upon his return from nn Inspection trip, stated that the problem of getting rid eif or kwplng tinder the carp Is now facing the fish ery authorities on both sides of the linn. From oil he could learn the eirp wan In Oermany a fine-grained, and delicate fish, but It transplanting to America, with Ita new variety of food, had caused It to slide down the scale until It Is abeuit the least desirable of our food fishes. Ita chief fault In its driving away other fish and gradual ly exterminating them by eating their eggs. latterly, however. It had been no ticed that the carp were destroying tbo beds of wild rice, which forms the chief food of wild ducks, geese and other aquatic birds. lTpen the trip from which he wa Just reitirnlng Alderman Sheppard, bad noticed (bat In Cook's hay. Lake Sim cue, where there were formerly hun dreds of acres of wild rice, there was not to be seen a spear of that plant teiday. The same was true of the Hollnnd river, whore there were at one time 1500 acre eif rice, now the carp have eaten It literally root, branch and seed. These place were eince the very best duck grounds In the province, and now the ducks avoid them. The carp were not Introduced orig inally Into take Simeoe, but were con fined In the mill dam at Newmarket. The dam broke and the carp got Into Lakn Slmcoe through the Holland riv er. How to get tiiem out or destroy them passed any man's knowledge, as they were the most tenacious of life tinder hard conditions, and defied the best laid traps. So far as he knew there was no carp in any of the Musk oka lakes. As to the chances for black bass In the lakes where e-arp abound, he theiught they were better than those of any other fish. The carp was not a fish eater like the pike, his mouth not being so placed that he could enjoy this diversion. He was of tbe sucker variety and destroyed other fish tribes by eating their eggs. The black bass was well armed to fight the carp. Only eight (lays eiapsed between the laying eif bass eggs and the hatching out eif the young fry. and during this critical period an.l while the fry were teio email to get out of the way of the carp the parent bass remained on guard and rushed bull-like at every thing that threatened their progeny. The bass. Mr. Sheppard said, was the eu.ly fish which protected Its young in this way, and it was this pugnacity which made them such an easy prey to tho angler during the spawning sea son. At everything that leioked tin usutil or dangerous the bass rushed pell mell, and eonsequently was im paled on the first hook which came within reach. On this account tne bass were particularly portected by close season during the spawning sea son. The carp needed no protection, Jocu larly remarked Mr. Sheppard. It had got Into International waicrs and be come nn International question fer fl'.hesry experts, and lucky would be them who could device Home means of getting rid of the carp family without destroying the other varieties. Tor onto Mall and Empire. An F.HItor In llllflrnllU-. All pressmen are acquainted with the difficulties of newspaper production, but -the "Mafeklng Mall appe ars to have had an exceptionally bad time. It apologizes for the paucity of news on account of the general breakdown of its itaff. "We are sorry," it says, but we could not help it. One of the staff had rheumatics and partial paralysis of tho shoulder, another has had a few days' colic, and yet another could not come to work because bis child was dangerously ill. One left with out notice and paid 2 for an inter view with the resident magistrate in consequence, and another seized the opportunity to break into teetoatllsm. while more terrible still, one of our best went and got married." Such a chapter of accidents could hardly have been surpassed during the siege London Chronicle. Tim Tnnrrn of Ratnor, The tongue ot rumor la like a sharp Instrument in the hand of tho stealthy asrassln. It inflicts a wound against which the victim has no defense, for it is aimed by a band concealed. Many Innocent ones have suffered, peaceful homes have been rent asunder, count less hearts broKen and friendships de stroyed by It. Shakespeare likens the author ot the rumor to a thief, and this is not bo strong a delineation ot such a character. "He who steals my purse steals trash, but he who robs me of my good name takes that which ne'er enriches him, but leaves ma poor In deed." Too liiiptnoa. Teas Why do you dislike him so? Jess Oh. be says such hateful things. He told me last evening that beauty was only skin deep, and Teas And you immediately proceed ed to show him how thin-skinned you were. Philadelphia Press. nil Art. "Oh, Mr. Growelle," gushed Miss NupBon, "how did you ever learn to paint such beautiful pictures?" " lusked a man once," replied the ar tist, "and he told me how." Indian apolis News. W Villi. thm llrlp Herit, A ftlntfi elrln linnrit Is much ftlnrA sightly and more easily kept clean than a wooden one, yet Is much more apt to nick th.e dlshen. A piece of cor rugated rubber, such as is used for rirwirft. m ft V l,n lifincrhf tnf trltlln sum and will obviate thin difficulty. ('leaning SpongM, Sponges will not bear boiling, and this fact has prejudiced many care ful peoplo against their use. They may, however, be mndo almost antl- septlcally clean by being placed !n boiling wait r to which has been a.fded a little strong ammonia. Cover the vess l and set aside for 15 or 20 min utes. Squeeze the sponge vigorously, and rinse In 'old water. In striking contrast to tho stiff, Inar tistic pnrltr eif otlier days, whe ro ov trythlng which win choicest was re served for "company," Is the little re ception room of today. Dainty and t harming it Is, to be sure, but, never theless, It Is a place chosen for the guest, because It is the corner least necessary to the family use. In the new homes, a space 12 feet by 12 feet nt the le.ft of the staircase in us ually set apnrt for the cellar and fitted with conventional furnishings and dec orations. In the living room, the Individuality of th? family Is apparent, and It is there tiint every ono loves to stay. In It are gathered piano, books, pictures and hempehold treasures. More space If being given to this room tlien ever in new and remodelled houses, where It is being made as large as possible. There is a growing tendency to lose sight of the term "parlor." and to use Interchangeably the terms "drawing roeim" and "living room." New York Sun. A tw Marketing Rules. There tre a few rules to remember in buying beef, mutton or poultry which the Inexperienced housekeeper does well to bear In mind. To test beef, pr3s it down with tbe thumb. If It rises quickly the meat is good. Beef should be fine grained, of a br,gL red color, with streaks of clean, riilte looking fat. The meat wiil be tough unless there Is plenty of fat. Mutton should be dark colored, with the fat a ciear white. Veal should be fat. Soup meat should have as little fat ns possible, and come from tbe rounu; and also meat Intended for beef tea. In buying fish, tbe gills should h jeci. Poultry ihould have smooth legs and fhort spurs-, with the feet bending easi ly nnd the eyes brleht. If the fowl has begun to t'.!rn civ.? It Is not good. Orouse and quail heith have wiite fesh: tne pinnated grouse, however, bus dark flesh. Uirds with white neat lake about 10 minutes longer to cook thtn those with dark meat. ftSCPS Ttmiato Chutney Staid, peel and cut fine one dozen large ripe tomatoes, aid to tiiem six white onions cut fine, one cupful of vlnesar. one cupful of Ettgar, on cupful tf raisins dopped and seeded, salted to taste; add half a teaspoon of white pepper, a little cay ei.ne; boil slowly one and one-half hours, and bottle. Green Pepper Salad Cover the green peppers wlta boiilng water and let stand until you can rub off the skin3 the same as with tomatoes. Then re move the stem end and take out the seeds and coarse veins. Cut into thin strips and mix with a small quantity of fried bacon minced fine, and dress with a sharp French dressing flavored, with a tew drops of onion Juice. Indian Meal Pudding Scald half a cupful of Indian meal with two cup fills of boiling milk; put in a double boiler; add two more cups of milk and cool one hour; then add two table spoonfuls of finely shredded suet or one tablespoonful of butter, half a cup of molasses, half a teaspoon of cin namon, one-quarter teaspoon of ginger, one teaspoon of salt and one quart of cold milk: turn Into a deep, well greased pudding dish and bake one hour and a bulf In a moderate oven. Crabapple Marmalado Wash tbe ap ples well, cut out blossom end and re move stems and all defective parts. Put the fruit in a preserving kettli allowing three quarts of water to eightT quarts of fruit. Cook slowly until soft enough to mash to a pulp. Pryfs through a sieve to remove core, seeds and skins. Return to kettle and allow a pint of granulated sugar to a pint of the pulp. Cook until it will Just Bpread. when a teaspoonful is placed on a saucer. Peach Mold Soak a level tablespoon ful ot gelatine In a little cold water and when soft dissolve It over hot wa ter, add the Juice of half a lemon and stir It Into tbe pulp and Juice of a doz en fine, ripe peaches. Turn into a ba sin and set in ice water to cool. As It begins to stiffen add a pint of whipped cream, folding it in carefully so as to keep the mixture as light and frothy as possible. Pour into a pialn mol(1' ccver closely, binding the overlapping seam with a piece of buttered muslin and pack In Ice and salt. ! A L.