A Cheap Sleigh -Ride.
BY THE "OLD UN."
Tom Bllvins and Ellas Sharp were
townles;" that Is to say, they were
both born and raised In the town of
GUmanton, New Hampshire, the noble
old Granite state. They came to Bo?'
ton In search of fortune. Tom got a
clerkship In a wholesale house on Cen
tral wharf, and plodded along the road
that leads to success, living on a trllle
and making: a weekly deposit In the
avlnga bank. Ellas Sharp was in the
employ of a Erocer In North Market
street His name belled his character,
for, though he thought himself the
"Smartest fellow in all creation," the
fact Is, that his paternal parent sent
him to Boston, because, as he stated
to his wife. "Ellas was so allflred
green that he was afenred, if the grass
run short, the cattle'd eat him." He
was always getting Into scrapes and
trusting to Bllvins to pull him through,
though whenever he was cornered in
consequence of his own blundering, he
always protested:
"I done It for the best I done It for
the best."
The young man boarded at a cheap
but respectable lodging house In Han
over street.
One winter a genuine old-fashioned
New England snowstorm, lasting for
two days, cleared off, leaving splendid
lelghlng, and, of course, all the Bos
tonians went mad, as they always do
with the first snow. It Is their carnl-
val. Nothing was talked or thought
Df but sleighing. Tom Bllvins was
unaffected by the mania, but Ellas
Sharp caught the Infection, and it
"struck Innards to bis gizzard," as he
phrased It
"Tom," said he, one morning to his
room-mate,. "I can't stand it no longer.
Everybody's on the road. Get a half
holiday, and jlne me In a slelgh-rlde."
"It's too expensive," replied the
Brer-prudent Bllvins.
"You're allers throwlnn" cold water
onto a feller's aspirations," rejoined
Biles. "I tell yer It 'taln't no such
thing. I know a feller In Portland
street Nathan Parker that'll let me
her a horse and sleigh for the arter
Boon to go to Brighton for five dollars
that's only two and a half apiece,
ft's cheaper than stayln' to hum.
Now's your chance. Speak quick or
rou'll lose it Two and a half and a
half and a half quick, or you'll lose
It going going going."
"Yes I'm going," said Bllvins, se
duced by the economy of the project.
"Bully for you, old boy!" said Ellas.
"I've bespoke the team already. You
Eet leave of old Gubblns & Chaff
lean & Mixem say they'll let me off
and Jlne me at Parker's stable, Port
land street at sharp two don't for
ret" "I'll Le there."
At half-past one, such was his Impa
tience, Ellas was on the spot, attired
In a heavy ulster, a foxskin cap, buck
mittens and a flaming necktie, con
vinced that his appearance was not
only stunning, but killing.
"Fetch out your sleigh and your
Uer," he called out with as much dig
nity as Richard No. 3 said: "Saddle
White Surrey for the field tomorrow!"
The Blelgh and robes were passable,
but when Ellas looked on the "fiery, un
tamed steed" his countenance became
longated. We shall have to take a
liberty when we euote Byron:
-Bring forth the horse the horse was
brought
In truth he wasn't a noble steed."
or, at least he was only one of the
"might have beens," which Whlttier
tells us are very sad things in the
lives of men.
"Remove that 'ere animal and fetch
sb another horse," shouted Ellas.
Alas! the cry was as useless as that
Of Richard No. 3 on Bosworth field.
"I can't fetch on no other horse, be
cause," remarked the one-eyed hostler,
logically but ungrammatically, "there
ain't no other horse in the stable.
What's the matter with this un? Look
at his p'ints."
"I see 'em too darned well," an
swered Ellas, ruefully. He didn't
know much, but raised In New Hamp
shire, he couldn't help knowing a
borse, "I can't help setn' his p'ints,
my respectable friend, for they stick
out all over him. He's a mere rack o'
bones. Where I came from they used
that style of animal for crow-bait'
"Oh, sir," said the hostler. "You
dost know what's into him. He's a
rum un to look it that I admit but a
good un to go. Only wake him up."
"Well give me a good, big, long
carver to wake htm up with," said
Ellas, making up his mind to Hobson's
choice.
"Ah, sir," said the hostler, as he was
harnessing the beast, "this 'ere's the
most val'able horse in our stable. Old
as he Is, he's fit to run for a man's life.
If they bad him over in England and
trained him he'd be first favorite for
the Derby and Oaks, carrying weight
tor age."
"Doubted," was Mr. Sharp's laconio
comment
When Bllvins made his appearance,
Ellas had got over his disappointment
aid called out cheerfully:
"All aboard! Jump in, Tom don't
Iceep the horse fretting. Gim'me the
lines, there! Let go his head! All
right now for it"
When they were out of Bight of the
Btable, Ellas took the "carver" out of
the socket and proceeded to "wake
op" the old "plug."
"By Jolly!" he cried, as the veteran
struck a prettygood gait, "there is
ome fire in the 'old flint. He must
nave been a wonder in Glnerel Wash
ington's airly daVs. We'll astonish
the natives, arter all, and take the
Starch outer some of the cracks. I say.
z
t
i
Tom isn't this gay? G'lang there
yer old three-legged crab!" And down
came the whip again. "Jest look at
him, Tom. It's blood that tells, after
all. Go it, old boy! Go it!"
They had now left the narrower
part of Washington street, and were
on the "Neck," the sidewalks lined by
Lthousands of spectators, the track cov
ered with vehicles of all descriptions,
lumbering vehicles on runners, stage
sleighs, forty-pound cutters, "Jumpers"
(dry-goods boxes nailed on hickory
saplings, which served at once for
shafts and runner), butchers' and
countrymen's "pungs."
Ellas was in the highest spirits. He
flapped his arms like wings, and
crowed like a chanticleer; he shouted,
he yelled, he sang. In short, he be
haved like an escaped lunatic from
Somervllle, to the horror of his sedate
companion. But there was no occa
sion for mortification, for everybody
else was as crazy as Ellas Sharp, it
not quite so demonstrative.
"I'm all right, old feller,'' he said, in
a lucid lutervnl. "How are you? By
Jove! this beats Fourth of July as fur
as chain lightnln' bents an ox team.
Look a-there, old boy. There's lots of
flyers on the road. Jerusalem!" he
cried, as a cutter whizzed by hira like
a bullet. "There goes 'Acorn' Jim
Oakes behind Polly Ogden. Might
as well try to chose greased lightnln'
'ez to go fur him."
"Do vou know the road to Brigh
ton?" asked Bllvins.
"Reckon I do, old boss. Vp the hill
past Dr. Porter's meeting house bend
to the left then to the right ag'In,
down the hill into the square and pull
up at the old Cattle Fair hotel. Hie
'way, there old Methusaleh!"
They pulled up at the Cattle Fair
hotel.
"Might as well bait the horse," said
Ellas, as he surrendered the team to a
hostler." He's done nobly and de
serves It. Walk In."
They entered the huge bar room, big
enough for the manoeuvres of a regi
ment, but now choked to repletion.
Ellas was lmmednately surrounded by
group of North Enders, whose ac
quaintance he had made in North Mar
ket street mostly retired sea cap
tains. Bllvins, who was of a shy dis
position, took a chair In an out-of-the
way corner, and watched the buzzing
multitude. After about an hour Ellas
rejoined him.
"Enjoying yourself, old feller?" he
asked. x
"Not particularly. Isn't It time to
be Jogging back to town?"
"Pshaw! what's the use of bein' In
a hurry. 'Taln't often we have a frolic
and the fact is. I've agreed to take
supper here with my friends. Every
man pays his scot. This house is fa
mous for venison suppers."
"How much will it cost?" asked Bllv
ins, anxiously.
"Oh! about two dollars and half
apiece. That ain't nothin' and if
you're short or think you can't afford
it, I'll pay for both."
"I thought this was to be a cheap
excursion to cost five dollars at the
outside."
"Well, you, see, I got roped in for
the supper. But don't fret old fellow;
I'll pay for you."
"No, you won't. Since I'm in for It,
I'll stand my hand, but mind, no fur
ther extravagance."
"Honor bright, old feller. How
much money have you got about your
trousers?"
"Twenty-five dollars."
"I can match you. It's all right, old
boy. And now come upstairs. I'll in
troduce you to my friends Jolly old
fellows from the North End."
"I'd rather not" said Bllvins, hold
ing back.
"Pshaw! you're going to dine with
'em. They won't bite your heard off."
So Bllvins wss dragged up into a
private parlor, and introduced to Capt
Hardcastle, Capt Bower, Capt Brown,
Capt. Jessup, Capt. Jenkins and Capt
Cumpers, and there was much scrap
ing and handshaking.
Capt. Hardcastle counted noses.
"There's eight of us," he said. "Just
make up two tables. We'll have a
game of whist."
"I beg pardon, captain," Bald Bllvins,
timidly, "but I am no card player
scarcely know one card from another."
"D'ye mean to say, young gentle
man," said the captain, fiercely, "that
you're going to make a marplot of
yourself 1- sheer off like a land lub
ber when your mates are going into ac
tion? Shiver my topsails, if I thought
so" and he looked very red and apop
lectic, and the other sea captains be
gan to mutter and growl in a very
ominous manner.
"Well, gentlemen," said Bllvins, "if,
after my avowal of Ignorance, any one
of you is willing to accept me as a
partner, I'll Join you."
"I'll take you," said Capt Bower
but mind you keep your eye peeled,
youngster. I shall watch your game
like a shark watching for a funeral at
sea."
After which ominous warning the
party sat down to cards. Bllvins
thought they were playing for fun, but
be was deceived; a little of the circu
lating medium was involved. "Just to
make the game interesting" as Capt.
Bower remarked.
When supper was announced, poor
Bllvins found he was out five dollars.
Moreover he had been "playing for
money," a thing abhorrent to his prin
ciples. He Sat down with very little
appetite, and bad a wretched time gen
erally. '
After supper he took Ellas aside.
"Lias," said he, "did you lose or
win?" ,
"LoBt, old fellow, lost"
"How much?"
"No matter. But, by Jove! I'll be
even with 'em. If there's any game I
do understand. It's whist I'll show
'em I do, by hookey!"
"You don't mean to say you're going
to risk more money?
"Certain sure, old fellow. Come
along."
"Then you may count me out," said
Bllvins, firmly.
"Come, 'Lias come, Mr. What's
Your Name your friend, there? All
hands on deck! Tumble up; tumble
up!" roared Capt. Hardcastle.
"He won't come," said Ellaa,
"Thunder!" roared Hardcastle.
"Let him alone." said Capt. Bower,
glaring savagely at Bllvins. "I can't
abide a lubber that leads trumps after
my kicking his shins under the table.
I'd rather have an out-and-out dum
my."
"AH right, then," roared the captain.
"All hands on deck except the skulk
er." Bllvins was left alone in the now de
serted bar-room, watching the hands
of the clock drag themselves slowly
over the dial plate. At ten Ellas came
down looking very much flurried.
"My luck's sure to turn, old fellow.
Lend me ten dollars."
Mechanically Bllvins drew out the
required sum, placed It In his friend's
hand, and Ellas darted upstairs again.
At eleven he reappeared with an
other requisition for the same amount.
"Not a cent," said Bllvins, resolute
ly. "Come, old friend," remonstrated
Ellas.
"Nary red," said Bllvins. "Now I've
ordered the horse and sleigh."
"Is that your last word?"
"Final,"
"I never thought you'd go back on
me a towny," said Ellas.
Bllvins made no rejoinder. His
face was set like a marble monument.
The sleigh bells were heard at the
door.
Ellas skulked upstairs. He might
have continued to play with I. O. U.'s,
but reason stepped in and saved him
from further folly.
He took leave of the "Jolly dogs" up
stairs, who were now engaged in sing
ing "We Won't Go Home Till Morn
ing," stepped into the sleigh, handed a
tip" to the hostler, took up the lines,
and drove for a couple of miles in si
lence. Then he said, rather sheepishly: ,
"I done it for the best, old feller I
done it for the best." t
His attention was next directed to
the actions of the horse; that unfor
tunate animal evidently preferred
walking to trotting, though he was
now heading homeward, and the ut
most the "carver" could accomplish
was to rouse him into an intermittent
scuffle. When they were within one
mile of Boston statehouse, the horse
stumbled and fell. All efforts to rouse
him were in vain.
"By Jove!" cried Ellas, after an ex
amination of the prostrate creature;
"the critter's as dead as a doornail."
"Dead!" cried Bllvins, Jumping out
of the sleigh.
"He's lost his chance for the Derby
and Oaks." said Ellas. "He's had his
last sleigh-ride, and, by Jerusalem!
I reckon I've had mine. What's to be
done, now?"
"Foot it to Hanover street an
swered Bllvins.
"And the horse? Leave him here
the most valuable animal In Nat Par
ker's stable? No. slree! That ain't
to be thought of. They'll want to
stuff him and set htm up in a nona
tomtcal museum. Help me to boost
him into the sleigh, and we two'll tote
him into town. Don't think I'm loony
or romantic," said the wretched youth,
grasping his friend's arm. "I simply
go in for Justice and and re
morse!" i
He covered his face with his hands
and wept.
Then the two friends went to work,
and by the aid of some loose rails
managed to get the inanimate animal
Into the sleigh. After that they seized
the shafts and tugged away at their
self-imposed task. The ascent of Bea
con Hill was a trial, but they accom
plished it Down Park street they
went at a run;, it was easy sledding
along Tremont street, down Hanover
street, and so on to the stable. The
one-eyed hostler received the remains.
"Here's a rum go!" said he, gloom
ily, if not sadly. "Mr. Parker's been
dreadful oneasy since he heard how
you druv that 'ere horse ' over the
Neck. He's got a peck of evidence
ag'ln ye."
'I done It for the best I done it for
the best," muttered Ellas, hoarsely.
"Take keer of the remains I'll make
it all right In the morning.
That dreadful night! that horrible
morning! For with the morning came
Nemesis In the shape of Mr. Nathan
Parker. His bill read:
'Ellas Sharp, Esq., to Nathan Par
ker, Dr.:
To hire of horse and sleigh. . . .$ 5.00
To value of horse killed by
overdriving 150.00
Total $155.00"
Immediate settlement or leial ven
geance were the terms offered.
"What shall I do?" cried the wretch
ed Ellas, when the stablekeeper had
withdrawn.
"You'll have to write home to your
folks, who are able to help you, and
will do so if you make a full and frank
confession," said Bllvins. "Parker
will take his pay by installments if he
sees that you mean to. deal fairly by
him. Meanwhile, I will assist you and
advance you money, if you promise to
be steadier in future, if you pledge
yourself never to touch a card again,
and never, under any clrcum&lances,
sk me to Join you in a cheap slelgh
rlde." New York Weekly.
..This..
? Constitutes
blbfkf By Hosmer
BHE whole secret of the Japanese success may be said to lie
In the fact that problem of the present war was studied In
detail, instruments acquired fitted for the end In view, and
lastly, in the war-readiness of the fleet. As soon as the
government of Japan had decided to throw down the gage,
the fleet held on the slenderest leash, was ready to spring
forward and deal that first crushing blow which altered the
whole aspect of the campaign afloat The events of the
past three months have emphasized the fact that a fleet is
not maintained in order to show the flag on foreign coasts, to provide local
defence to distant coast towns, or to cruise ship by ship In a silly Isolation,
but must be concentrated to meet the strategic needs of any probable war.
By the masterly strokes which Admiral Togo dealt at Russian naval
power, and by the subsequent blocking of the Port Arthur channel, he freed
the Yellow Sea and the Gulf of Pe-chl-li to the transports carrying the Jap
anese armies. Ho did more, even, than this. By "sealing up" Port Arthur
be robbed Russia of a base whlcb the much-talked -of re-enforcements from
the Baltic Russia to gain with the assistance of the squadron within, disabled
though It were, and he gave a singularly vivid illustration of the truth that
tbo mere possession of ships with crews inadequate In numbers and unskilled
In warlike dutlesi is not equivalent to naval strength. Behind the fleet, even
If well manned, and under a leader of courage, great strategical and tactical
ability, and personal magnetism, must be a well-thought-out organization, and
dockyards well equipped and with ample supplies of labor for repairs. Japan
has supplied the world with object lessons in warfare and In the influence
of the command of the sea, but, above all else, she has illustrated the effect
of Intelligent careful organization, and the meaning of being ready for war.
She has humbled a power against which even Napoleon could not prevail.
Her manner of treating the war correspondents was a revelation to other
nations. With a gentle firmness she promptly denied us the same free privi
leges that were granted during the Spanish-American and tho Boer war.
Old-time journalists who meet one another only when some great battle is
in progress say that they never before saw such polite severity or such rigid
censorship. It was a complete surprise. The Japanese claim that they can
not afford to let the rest of the world gain even a remote idea of their plans,
that it is a war in which they are fighting against heavy odds, and that they
must fight it as their generals see fit Several newspapers have facetiously
remarked that the war will be fought over again in the magazines. I simply
want to say that my observations have enhanced the belief that there are a
myriad interesting and Important matters connected with this war which' the
world knows little or nothing about and will know little or nothing about
until after peace has been declared. Success.
rr
1 The Evils
Walter JfM.U.y JLJ
Wellman
0
F In our generation the powers cannot be Induced to disarm,
If war cannot be made virtually Impossible by sweeping
agreements to arbitrate, the danger of conflict may be greatly
minimized by these agreements to settle all minor disputes
amicably. With the machinery for such settlement at Band,
it will be employed; there will be a world-opinion which de
mands it; and the tendency will naturally be ever to make
broader and broader the scope of the compacts, rising from
the minor to the major. This Is progress. And there is a
vast work to be done in mitigating the evils of war, if war there must be.
With the true genius of a world-statesman, Mr. Hay took a long step forward
when he made his memorable move toward delimiting the area of the Russo-
Japanese conflict and toward preservation of the Integrity of China.
, It is In dealing with the collateral issues of war, rather than with the
dream of universal peace and disarmament, that The Hague conference, when
It reassembles, promises to be of the highest service to mankind. There is the
important question of the rights and immunity of property in transit in neutral
ships. Mr. Roosevelt renewed to the congress last winter a suggestion which
had already been made by President McKinley. that the executive be author
izd to correspond with the governments of the leading maritime powers with
a view to Incorporating Into the permanent law of civilized nations the princi
ple of exemption of all private property at sea,-not contraband of war, from
capture or destruction by belligerents.
and the state department now awaits a favorable moment which cannot be
regarded as at hand till the struggle between Russia and Japan will be brought
to close for presenting the matter to the attention of the powers. During
the summer, seizures at sea by Russian cruisers brought this prolific cause of
vexatious and hazardous International disputes more acutely before the world,
and It Is obvious that If the next Hague conference achieves nothing else than
settlement In the International law of
it will have Justified Its reassemblage.
recommended such an agrement
Other questions raised at that conference, or In the experience of mankind,
and now pressing for adjustment, may be briefly summarized: A convention
concerning the laws and customs of war on land; adaptation to naval warfare
of the principles of the Geneva convention; the prohibition of throwing pro
jectiles from balloons, of the diffusion of asphyxiating gases, and of the use
of bullets which expand easily in the human body; the use of submarine and
land mines, such as have worked such dreadful havoc in tte present conflict;
the inviolability of all private property on land; the regulation of bombard
ments of ports and towns by naval forces; the rights and duties of neutrals;
the neutralization of certain territories and waters; the protection of weak
states and native races; the condition of the Armenians and other subjects of
the Turkish Empire, and the situation in the valley of the Congo. From "The
United Btates and the World's Peace Movement" American Monthly Review
of Reviews.
Virtue of Cheerfulness J
By Fannie
THINK a great many
and even avoided altogether, by the cultivation of a cheer
ful spirit If one is environed with cares and unpleasant
ness, 'tis wise to meet them as cheerfully as you can. The
more cheerful, the better. There is nothing like cheerful
ness to scatter the mists that constantly arise in this life;
'tis like the genial sun which disperses the clouds and fogs.
There is nothing like It to brace one's self with and strength
en one to meet the trials and vicissitudes of life. Have you
TT TTTTTTT
TTTTTTTi
TTTTTTTTTl
not observed how much easier one glides along life's pathway, who moves
cheerfully? They seem to avoid many cares and actually win success where
others fail. So, cheerfulness and a mild-tempered spirit will prove a bless
ing that will live in other hearts as well as their own. If there is a duty to
perform, do it cheerfully. The real cheerful person has more sunshine In his
heart and will dispel more gloom, than a thousand that are aesclent In this
respect They are a light to others; a light loses none of Its brilliancy by
lighting and aiding others, but continues to shine and grow brighter and bet
ter. I saw a person one time who was very sick; so sick he was not ex
pected to get well; It seemed be would surely die very soon. When I
reached over to him to raise his head to a more upright position my hand trem
bled through excitement He observed It and asked, "Why do you tremble?"
Though he was almost in a dying condition, he seemed cheerful and contented.
These are traits that are more desirable than gold, for gold does not always
bring true happiness. Happlnness must be cultivated and spring from with
in. "Give m," says Carlyle, "the person who sings at his work; he will do
more and with more ease than one who never hums a tune." The plowfroy
is cheerful as he whistles his songs and then sings them while he follows
his plow. The woodman's blows setera to have a clearer ring and are more
frequent when a cheerful person Is behind the ax. The girl who is sweeping
or cleaning the house may do it so much easier if she goes about it cheerfully,
a disposition that all should strive to cultivate, and let it become a part of
our actual being. God bless the cheerfuLperson, man, woman or child. We
like to meet them, grasp their kindly hand, listen to their cheerful words, note
tho pleasant address, pleasant smile. We feel we have been benefited by
meeting such a person, and a shining example Is set before us that is worthy
ur imitation and admiration.
the Secret of
Whitfield tJTtllrb
of War 1
T i r r i n l .
C Z- Z J O Z 1 1 Z SA,
Congress authorized such negotiations,
what Is regarded as contraband of war,
The first Hague conference earnestly
Hawkins
cares and trials might be overcome,
SCIENCE NOTES.
A correspondent of the Scientific
American notes that an ordinary elec
trie light bulb can be made to glow
with a bluish light similar to an
X-ray tube if it Is rubbed briskly with
the hand In a dark room.
In a certain kind of Wyoming coal
It is found that gold is present in quan
tities large enough to pay for ex
tracting It from the ashes. The same
curious occurrence of the yellow
metal has also been noted in a South
African coal vein.
Count Zeppelin, the German aero
naut has nearly completed another
airship, with the aid of a fund of over
$25,000 raised by popular subscription,
and also with the help of the govern
ment This craft will be large enough
to carry 10 persons.
A writer in Paris Co8mos,says that
at the present time hypnotic influence
must be considered almost the only
method of reforming drunkards. In
Russia this treatment is meeting with
startling success; but the Russians are
a tractable race and the system, pro
duces fewer cures in France.
An English concern is constructing
a yacht which Is to be propelled by the
Jet system. That is, water is pump
ed in forward and ejected with force
at the stern, the reaction tending to
drive the boat ahead. This method ot
propulsion has been experimented
with at different times without much
success; but improvements in median
leal details are said to show a high
degree of efficiency for it
The discovery of a means ot
metamorphosing radishes into potatoes
has been made In so solemn a place
as the academy of Sciences, Paris. M,
Molllard takes a very young radish,
"Pasteurizes" it in a certain way, and
It grows up into a fine potato. More
scientifically, the young radish is cm
tivated in a gloss retort, after a pro
cess invented by Pasteur, in a con
centrated solution of glucose. Starch
then develops plentifully in the cells
of the radish, which swells out, loses
Its pepperlness, and acquires practie
ally the consistency, flavor and espeel
ally the nutritive properties of the
potato.
LONDON'S GREAT FOG.
Sir Oliver Lodge's Successful Attack
Upon It.
There was one man in Birmingham
who was profoundly grateful for yes
terday's (Dec. 23) fog. It was Sir
Oliver Lodge, to whom the visitation
presented a fresh opportunity to renew
the steady war, which he commenced
20 years ago, against the fog fiend.
Standing in a secluded courtyard of
Birmingham university, his deerstalk
er cap and long brown overcoat bead
ed with moisture; Sir Oliver was to be
seen absorbed in the contemplation of
mysterious strands of barbed wire,
which vanished a few feet above in
Impenetrable vapors.
From his research laboratory came
the vicious crackle of a powerful elec
tric discharge, and great jagged sparks
vibrated between the sperlcal termin
als of the apparatus with which his
assistants were preparing to launch
the tentative thunderbolts ot science
against the British climate.
Men pulled the terminals apart and
as the discharge was transferred to
the outside 'wires there proceeded from
the hundreds of invisible barbs over
head a fizzling noise, like the sound
of raindrops on a hot plate.
Then a wonderful thing happened.
Through the opaque fog bank the
outline of the tall university buildings
were gradually developed, with the
slow certainty of a photographic plate.
Tho foe became a cloud and the cloud
n mist. deDosItln itself in dank drops
about the walls, writhing and spinning
as though racked by tire violence oi
ia discharge.
Away up at the eaves, 80 feet high,
there were visible the elaborate insu
lators in which the barbed wires ter
minated. Then the current was shut off, the
noise ceased, and the acrid white
fog crept back and enveloped the
courtyard once more.
When it was suggested that a score
of installations similar to this would
afford practical relief to the fog bound
city, Sir Oliver said: "All that I can
do is to erect this model apparatus
for the benefit of engineers who are
interested in such a project." Lon
don Mail.
Scientific Problem.
It occurred while William Jennings
Bryan was on a stumping tour of the
Middle West during the last campaign.
Mr. Bryan had Just closed a peroration
with the phrase, "What, I ask again,
is our country coming to? Echo an
swers what?"
It was not a large audience and the
gentleman evidently of other political
sympathies rose in his seat
"Pardon me," he said, "but what was
it the echo answered?"
"The echo answers 'What?' " replied
Mr. Bryan, good naturedly.
"Well, all I have to say," said the
mild mannered gentleman, "is that
there is something radically wrong
with the acoustics of this building."
A Land of Mystery.
The great American desert once so
called, the wild solitudes of the west
ern mountain ranges, and the snow
wastes of the Yukon, have yielded up
their inmost secrets; but the Ever
glades, In the southermost Interior of
our southern state, are today almost
as little known of white men as when
the earty navigators first charted the
contour of the Cape of the End of
April. Century.
r - Bum H una
Strange Use of Denim.
Denim Is a popular material for
floor coverings. It comes either plain
or figured, the latter being In the form
of plaids and squares. The plaid de
signs are very smart, especially in the
greens, blues, and reds.
The Bedroom Couch.
If possible every bedroom should
contain a couch, if it be only ot
wicker, and one is almost indispensa
ble in the room of a guest who fre
quently longs for a short nap, but re
frains from taking it lest a beautifully-made
or elaborately-decorated bed
be disturbed. The couch, so that It
may be easily moved when necessary,
might be supplied with casters and Bet
at the foot of the bed If the room be
small and there is no other convenient
place.
In Buying Bed Linen.
"Linen," as regards beds, is a com
prehensive term covering cotton as
well. Although the average American
clings to cotton, particularly In cold
weather, they are many who claim that
from a hygienic standpoint linen is a
necessity for beds. In summer, indeed,
there is nothing so delightfully cool.
Sheets for double beds should be three
yards long before hemming. This al
lows for a three-inch hem at the top,
an inch and a half at the bottom and
leaves the sheet two and three-quarters
long even after shrinkage. Three
inches is a good width for pillow case
hems.
Household Emergencies.
A forehanded housekeeper learns to
make provisions for emergencies. . She
carries into other lines of housekeeping
the principle of the old woman who
when she lay dying beckoned her
daughter to her and as the mourner
bent above her for a parting message
whispered her last breath, "Always
keep hot water in the kettle." (I
wonder what she would have done if
she had known a gas stove!) The
housekeeper with ' foresight is not
taken by surprise when emergencies
present themselves. Perhaps she Is
like a clever woman I have heard1 of
who keeps an "emergency cupboard."
she lives at some distance from shops,
and she has a. cupboard stored with
dainties that are never to be used ex
cept in an emergency. Sardines are
here and potted chicken and biscuits of
various sorts and a Jar or two of Jelly
and jam and good preserves and a
small pot of cheese and other things
that will help to make out a meal in
case of unexpected guests. As soon
as one of the articles has been used it
Is Immediately replaced, and the closet
Is never invaded except for a real
emergency. That is a systematic
woman'. Harper's Bazar.
Meat and Fish Garnishes.
Parsley and celery tops are used for
meat, poultry and fish, and for chops,
cutlets, steaks and salads. Parsley is
also used for roasts, and parsley or
curled lettuce for escalloped oysters.
Lemon is almost a universal gar
nish. The same can be said of pars
ley. Slices of jemon are cut very thin
for sardines, raw oysters, boiled fowl,
turkey, fish, roast veal, steaks, salads.
Sheep sorrel may be used In place of
lemon, and Is exceedingly pretty.
Water cresses may be used for
mock duck.
Garden fennel for salmon or mack
erel. Capers for salads.
Currant jelly for game, cold tongue,
etc.
Gherkins or large pickles, cut cross
wise, for cold corned beef sliced.
Cold, hard-boiled eggs, sliced, for
cold boiled ham, cut in thin slices.
Link sausages for roast turkey, put
around the edge of the platter.
Boiled carrot sliced, for cold meat,
boiled beef and salt fish.
Potato croquettes or Saratoga pota
toes may be used with a roast or
sirloin of beef.
Boiled rice may be used on the plat
ter around a boiled leg of mutton, and
boiled rice balls, dotted with bright
Jelly, has a pretty effect around a
plate of cold meat. .
Anchovies may be used as- a gar
nish for cold meats, and anchovies on
toast for a relish. Boston Globe.
Recipes.
Celery Patties Stew some washed
and diced celery in a little salted
water until tender; have pattie shells
ready, make a white sauce and heat
the celery in It; fill the shells and add
a little minced parsley.
Farinose Custard Into one pint ot
boiling milk stir slowly one table-
spoonful farinose, add one and one
half tablespoonfuls sugar and a pinch
of salt; after removing from fire, stir
in two lightly-beaten eggs; turn into
wet moulds. Serve with any sauce
desired.
Peanut Cookies Remove skins from
two cupfuls shelled peanuts and put
them through a meat chopper; cream
together three teaspoonfuls butter and
one cupful Btigar; add three eggs, two
tablespoonfuls milk, one saltspoonful
salt, one teaspoonful baking powder,
nuts and enough flour to make at soft
dough; roll on floured board; cut with
a small cutter; bake in a moderate
oven.