$ $
& & m
& &
& & &
FUSS AND FEATHERS
By NANCY WHITTAKER.
.tOJ. ID you turn out the cow,
X -y-i X and put the geese in the
S JJ' S 8tnble' Isnnc?" snid the
Widow Havens to her son,
T0f as they sat down to the
breakfast table one fine summer morn
ing. "Yes, mother," wag the reply, "and
I guess I can master that old gander
this time. I'm getting so big. You
know he knocked me down with his
Wings the last time we picked 'em."
i "Yes, 1 remember; and Squire Hoff
man came right in the middle of it,
bout that calf, and I, In my old rag
Red gown, mortified to death, was hin
dered a whole hour, showing him Uie
poultry and the garden. And now,
Hannah," turning to her daughter, a
pretty girl of sixteen, "if anybody
comes to-day, before we get through,
tell them I can't see them; for I
(wouldn't be bothered with company
(when I am In such a plight This old
gown 1s all In slits, but I can't afford
lo spoil a better one. You may wash
bp the dishes, Hannah," she continued,
(when breakfast wag over, "and set the
rooms to rights; and by and by put
on the pot, and get the dinner a-going;
and by that time I hope we shall be
through. Come, Uaac, we will go."
Now, everybody has seen feathers,
but there are some who do not know
inhere they come from, and softly re
pose upon their, downy beds without
one thought about 1lie cruel way in
Which the best ones are obtained. They
(Want live geese feathers when they
buy, without knowing what It means.
iWe wish such a one could have seen
Mrs. Havens and Ike marching to the
barn, with a big basket, a cloth to tie
over It, an old chair, nud one of Ike's
outgrown stockings to put over a
goose's head, to keep her from biting
While she is picked.
To see Ike run the whole flock up into
a corner of the stable, catch one by
the neck and wings, and then with bis
black eyes sparkling with delight, and
pis freckled face and suspiciously red
bead, all aglow, with the triumph of
tapture, as he marched across the floor
to lay it gently, but squawking terribly,
In his mother's lap, wag rather amus
ing. i Boys are cruel! there'g no denying it;
When they so love to catch geese and
pigs, and fish and game, Just for the
fun of it, sometimes letting them go,
and putting the fish back in the water,
because they do not want them, after
the triumph of capture is over. Ike,
Who wag a smart, mischievous boy of
twelve, loved to do all these things,
though he was not particularly ugly,
and had really a very soft place in his
big, generous heart.
But while Hannah in the neat white
Cottage is cooking the dinner, and Mrs.
Havens in the stable is tearing the
feathers In big handfuls from the poor
geese side, back and front, and Isaac
Is climbing haymows hunting eggs, and
cutting up all sorts of pranks between
Whiles, another actor is on his way to
the busy scene.
Thlg wag Squire Hoffman, a rich
farmer, who lived two or three miles
away, whose road to town took him
yery often past the Widow Haven's
cottage. Being an observing man, he
had noticed the neatness, and look of
care and thrift that always surround'
ed it; and more than this, that the
Widow had handsome black eyes and
t trim figure, as she sat up stiffly in her
pew or a Sunday, giving Ike an occa
tonal nudge, or pinch, to keep him In
order, yet all the time looking at the
minister, and no doubt hearing all he
aid.
As the squire had been a widower
everal years, this must bo excused,
Especially when we consider that his
Only daughter, Grace Hoffman, was
about to be married, and go to a home
K her own. As he was a good-looking.
large-framed, big-hearted, benevolent-
looking man, with three large farms
ana money in the bank, we must con
dude that he was considered a pretty
ooa eaten among tie widows and
maidens, if he once made up his mind
lo marry again.
And it was of this very thing he was
winning as, seated on Sellm. his hand-
ome black horse, he rode toward town
upon this particular July morning.
i reany don't know what I had
newer ao," He soliloquized. "There is
Grace going to leave me, and I can't
ay a word against it, she has got such
a noble fellow in the one she loves,
-and the very one I would have chosen
for her. But there's nobody left but
Aunt Dinah in the kitchen, good old
soul, but Just no company at all for
me. And here I am, not fifty years
old, and I may live twenty or thirty
years yet, healthy as I am, and must I
live all that time alone, with nohodv
to care for, and nobody to care'for me?
It's all nonsense. I declare I won't do
it, it l can find anyone to marry me.
nut wno snail it be? There's the
Vl-I .1 e.
opriggins, gooa-looklng, no
children to bother one, smart, tidy and
.with a nice farm of her own; but such
a temper, sharp as steel, and keen as a
tazor, I guess a little too keen for me.
A man wants a little peace in the de-
cline of his life, if ever; and he'd have
none with the Widow Sprlggins. Then
there is Miss Molly Hopkins a nice,
wseiy, pious woman as ever was, but
Tery homely, and I don't fancy her one
bit And thereg that young Widow
Drake, pretty and languishing, and
squinting all the time over at my pew
I do believe. But she isn't the kind for
me. Dolly Weaver is a nice woman
but a little too old, and Tolly Tepper-
corn is too young.
"But there is the Widow Havens,
handsome as a picture, and neat and
mart, and thrifty enough to Fay her
l&l&l&l&l&l
way twice over. There are those two
young ones, to be sure, but they need
not be In the way at nil. Hannah is
just such a girl as one likes to Bee
around, busy as a bee, rosy as the
morning, and cheery as a little canary,
and, indeed, sings about as sweetly. I
can see that Sam Is casting slieep s
eyes at her already, every time he
comes home for a vacation, and I
don't blame him a bit. They're not
as rich as some, but we have enough,
and who cares. I always did like that
boy Ike. If his face Is freckled, and
his head red, he will make a smurt
man yet He is chock full of fun and
smartness, with steam enough to burst
common boiler. I want Just such
boy on the farm all the time, to run
of errands, get up the cows, feed the
poultry, go to mill, drive horse to plow,
and a hundred other things I don't
think of Just now. And that reminds
me that I need Just such a boy dread
fully, Just now, to rake hay and do
chores, while we are mowing. I won
der it the widow couldn't spare him a
few days."
By this time the squire had got Just
opposite Mrs. Havens's barn, and upon
the spur of the moment he rode right
into.the shed beside it, that faced the
highway, intending to hitch Sellm,
and to go into the house to ask the
widow for her boy. But Just as he had
dismounted, and was hanging his bridle
over the hook, he heard a shout of
laughter and the ring of voices close at
hand. There was a window-hole close
by, cnt for ventilation of the stables,
and looking through it he saw a sight
that made him want to Join In the
chorus.
For there sat the widow in her torn
gown, with a goose In her lap, busily
ripping off the feathers in great hand
fuls, and with a handkerchief over her
head to keep them out of her hair,
looking smart, energetic and rosy, and
ready to explode with laughter, while
upon a hen-coop, near at hand, stood
Ike, in the very act of delivering an
oration. Tho fact was, the last time
he went to town with his mother he
went Into the court-house, and listened
to a lawyer's plea in a case In which he
had been interested, and since then
he had been full of it And now be had
just been and marked out a great
image on the stable wall to represent
the judge, and a dozen others, close by,
of smaller dimensions, for the Jury,
while his clients, the flock of geese,
were the plaintiff, and his mother, their
tormentor, the defendant; and Just
then he wag putting in the closing
plea:
"Now, your honor knows that these
poor clients of mine are all the more
to be pitied, and have all the more
need to have Justice done them for
being weak and simple folks, so gentle
and Iamb-like that they would never
harm anything bigger than a fly, or a
pollywog, while that wicked woman,
the defendant" and he pointed fiercely
at his mother "Ig strong and cruel
as the grave. You have Just llstoned,
your honor, and you gentlemen of the
Jury" and he gave his hand a lofty
yet graceful wave toward them "to
the evidence Just brought into court,
and can you doubt that it is abundant
ly proved that she feloniously, and by
force of arms, and with full intent,
seized and overpowered them, every
one of them, and ruthlessly tore the
hair and skin from their backs the
feathers, you know and deliberately
and cruelly shut out the light of heaven
from their eyes with an old blinder
made of wool, and abused them in the
most shocking and shameful way, for
which wicked treatment she has made
herself amenable to that statute en
acted for the prevention of cruelty to
animals. I leave the case in your
hands, gentlemen of the Jury, knowing
that you will be sure to do justice to
the cause of the oppressed, and see
the lows of your country faithfully
executed;" and, with a sweeping bow
to Judge and Jury, the young orator
jumped from his rostrum, or, in reality,
turned a somersault from it, over to
the stable floor, landing on his feet,
amid cheers and bravos of one at least
of his audience, and the squawks of
two at least of his clients.
He rebounded like a shot at the sound
of the applause, and looking up sud
denly, there stood the squire in the
doorway, laughing loudly at the amus
ing performance.
"Well done, my boy!" he exclaimed,
heartily; "you acted it to perfection
and I'm sure you'll be equal to the
best of them one of these days."
Ashamed and crestfallen to be
caught, Ike .slunk away, with his
cheeks blazing and the freckles
brighter than ever, while his mother's
face flushed hotly, and straightened in
an instant, for about the same reasons:
end in her agitation and surprise she
Jumped up, and came near letting go
the half-picked client. She sat down
again, however, with a bow to the
squire, that might be considered a very
stiff and awkward one.
"I hope you don't think we pick
geese here every day, squire," she said,
"though I think you caught us at it
once before."
"Yes, but it's work that must be
done, Mrs. Havens. I hope, however,
that my presence here will not be con
sidered an Intrusion. I had no idea
of playing the eavesdropper when I
rode Into the shed Just now, but, really,
your young lawyer was so amusing
that I couldn't help it That boy will
mako a smart and talented man one of
these days, Mrs. Havens, you see if he
doesn't; and that reminds me that I
called to see If you could spare him a
few days. .We want such a boy JustJ
now very much, and I will give him
good wages."
"Well, that Is just as you and he can
agree. Our little hoeing and mowing
Is done, thank fortune, and he can go
If he likes. He Is a smart boy, if I
do say it; but he hag the queerest no
tions In his head. He and Hannah
both take after their father, and love
their books a lltUe too well. They both
read every spare minute, and Ike hag
a notion that he wants to go to college,
like your Samuel. Now, with our pov
erty, the idea is preposterous; and yet
here I have been like a fool all the
morning trying to encourage and help
him contrive how to do it, Just to
please him."
"And how was that?" said the squire,
smiling, as he helped himself without
asking to a Beat on the mllklng-stool,
in the most familiar and neighborly
way. "
"Well, In the first place, feathers are
dollar a pound, and Ike had a notion
that there might Be great profit In
stocking the little farm with geese.
Then when I rnised some objections,
he concluded that picking and selling
berries, and catching birds and game,
would do a great deal, and that by
keeping school and raising strawberries
we could do the rest, and school Han
nah into the bargain. So we are going
to set the strawberries right away, a
plan I was willing to encourage, as I
knew it might be very profitable.
"There, that goose is done, bnt where
is Isaac, I'd like to know?"
And going to the door, she let out
the goose and called loudly for the boy
to catch another, as she explained to
the squire.
Tray, let him go, Mrs. Havens,"
said the squire, cood-humoredly.
You are almost through, and I would
JuRt as lief catch you one as not," and
suiting the action to the word, he
walked over, and caught the smallest
one, and laid it jn Mrs. Havens' lap.
Then he walked back, and, catching
the old gander, tho father of the flock,
In spite of his loud and animated re
monstrances, be went back, and sitting
down upon the stool, laid him across
Us knee, and in spite of his naked
head, and wrathful demonstrations,
proceeded very leisurely and scientifi
cally, to strip off his coat
"You gee, Mrs. Havens," he said,
"that I am an old hand at the. busi
ness, as my wife never did it, and ao
It always fell to me, or Dfnah, of both
But the house became full of beds.
and I soon tired of it, and sold off
my flock."
As I would mine if we didn't need
tho profits for clothes, and schooling
for the children especially If Ike hag
to go to college. I guess it will take
good many pounds of feathers to
send him there," said she.
Supposing I should tell you of a
better way," said tho squire, earnestly,
and with n slight blush, "nere you
have a snug little place that might
bring a thousand dollars or so; and
off there, I have more land than
well know what to do with. Now, my
daughter Grace is about to leave me;
and my home will be without a mis
tress, ana myself without any con
genial goclety. Now, I like you better
than any other woman I know of, and
If you would become my wife, and the
mistress of my establishment, I think
we could arrange matters nicely. Then
you could sell this little place, and
put tho money in the bank, against
the time Isaac would want to go to
college, and Hannah, who is one of
the sweetest girls I know, could live
with us, go to school to the village
academy, and be well provided for by
us when she marries. Now, what
do you gay to my plan?"
"That I , will consider it seriously,"
said the widow, with flaming cheeks,
eyes east down, and a very nervous
pull at the featherg.
And Ike Just at this Juncture crawled
out slyly from behind an old barrel,
in the manger, crept cautiously out at
the door, without being perceived by
the blushing pair of lovers, and ran to
the house, to toll the news to the
astonished Hannah, with a good many
eloquent additions and explanations,
The squire Anally came in to dinner,
and afterward pursued his Jonrney to
town; and the widow did think of it to
such purpose that she soon after be-
camo his wife.
Her place was sold, as the squire
proposed; Ike went to college, rubbed
off the freckles, and eventually be
came one of the smartest lawyers in
the State; while pretty Hannah mar
ried Samuel the only son and lived
with the old folks at the homestead.
New; York Weekly.
Not Intended For Ve,
There are some things which no man
can ever learn, no matter how intelli
gent and earnest a student he may be.
"My dear, you look perfectly discour
aged," said little Mrs. Nash's most in
timate friend. "What is the matter?"
"I am perfectly discouraged," said
Mrs. Nash, tearfully. "You know that
foot-rest with the handsome embroid
ered top that I gave George for Christ
mas? Well, I've noticed it had begun
to look almost a little shabby, and
couldn't imagine why, for it stands
away from the windows, and I've
taken great care of it. And when
came down earlier than usual from
putting Janey to bed last night, what
do you suppose I saw?"
The friend shook her head hopelessly.
"I found," said Mrs. Nash, with bit
terness, "that George Nash had taken
that footstool out into the centre of the
room, near his Morris chair, and had
put his feet with his boots on, too
right on it!" Youth's Companion.
A Black Bnlflnoh.
Albino freaks In bird life are fre
quently noticed, but Mr. W. nead, of
I'leasant road, Bishops Stortford, has a
curiosity quite iu tbeopposite direction.
A piping bulfinch in his possession
has none of the handsome red and
whle marking of that bird, but Is of
w-use Wains'. London Chronicle.
jjijpw
ART OF WRAPPING BUNDLES.
Wrapping and tying parcels la so
simple that every woman ought to be
able to do it properly, having it look
as though done by an expert. There is
really no excuse for the sloppy, loose
bundles one sees being carried, for even
if the contents cannot be put Into a
box they can be made firm before the
outer covering is put on. One of the
fundamental principles of wrapping Is
firmness, and without it nothing trim
can be done.
Every household should have in it
two balls of twine, one fairly stout for
heavy parcels and the other fine for
light ones. It costs very little to buy
a few sheets of white wrapping paper
that sometimes may be worth more
than one paid in effect gained for a
gift or whatever is to be carried.
Heavy brown paper is also essential,
and in families where there are de
fendants of frugal New Englanders
every bit of wrapping paper that comes
in fsora the shops is carefully folded
and put away to do up other parcels.
This economy sometimes saves ever
buying a piece. String Is saved in
the same way.
White tissue paper is so seldom re
quired that that which conies from the
simps in gowns, etc., is usually suffi
cient, and frequently it is not mussed
at all. That, too, should be folded
lightly, not to crense it, and be put
away by itself.
It is impossible to lay down bard and
fast rules ou nnrcel wrapping, but
there are certain tilings which when
observed will make for a neat outside
unless the wrapper is very clumsy.
It is desirable always when practi
cable to put all things to be done up
in a box first This gives a firm,
square foundation that mokes putting
on the paper eaBy. Even then people
sometimes fall. The proper method
Is to have the edges of the paper neat
smd square, and put the box in the mid
dle. Then lay first one side and then
the other over the box, and if tho
string Is put on them it will aid in the
operation. In that case tie a slip knot,
put the string over the paper that is
folded and draw the cord tight. This
will hold the paper in place while the
ends ore being closed. To do this In
the best way press the paper at the
top down first Then put first one side
and then the other over, turning it so
that the bottom of the end of tho paper
lies in on envelope point Lastly, turn
up this bottom point and put the string
about it You will have a professional
looking parcel if you hove made the
turns at the end nil right.
The same general idea Is followed In
doing up a bundle, though firmness Is
the principal thing to be remembered
there. It is also then the greatest pos
sible help to put the cord around as
soon as the paper is first folded, for it
holds all firm as the rest of the wrap
per proceeds.
Contrary to the general idea, it is
sometimes better to do a very soft
thing in quite stiff paper, for the firm
outside will prevent the contents from
mussing so much. For instance, a wo
man a few days ago was obliged to
carry a little Liberty satin skirt, and
had no box for it Instead of using
White or soft brown paper she got the
tllTest she could find, folded the skirt
and did it up squarely, and the stiff
outside protected it almost as much
as a box would have, and wag easier
to carry than a soft parcel would have
been.
In doing up a heavy porcel the string,
when it is put about, should always be
knotted into every cross strand it
pnsscs; then if the cord should break
there is no danger of the bundle fulling
to pieces, or unwrapping, for the many
knots will hold it, except where in the
one place it gave.
No gift, however trilling, should ever
be sent out without being most at
tractively wrapped. Narrow ribbon Is
better than cord for this and should
end in a flowing bowknot Instead of a
hard knot. The expense of this is
very small and the difference in effect
is enormous.
Sealing a small parcel Is pretty when
the sender's crest or monogram and
white wax ore used. A girl who docs
up parcels most artistically always
uses ribbon, and if the box be a little
longer than wide she does not cross
it in the middle but nearer to one end,
There she ties a thick bowknot and
Just beside it, over the ribbon, she
drops white wax and stamps it with
her signet
THE STORY OF THE CnEST.
Writing on "The Evolution of the
Chest," in the Delineator, N. Hudson
Moore gives a moss of information in
regard- to this useful article of furnl
ture, which is interesting to others
than collectors. "Beginning in Italy,"
she soys, "where elegance and beauty
flourished long before they reached
the ruder peoples of northern Europe,
we find the chest was n necessity in
every honsehold. The earliest bonk of
deposit instituted for the accommoda
tion of private merchants was at Bar
celona in 1401; so it can be readily seen
what on important article a chest was,
Like almost everything els of Italian
origin, these carved chests were ex
tremely beautiful, whether of the
Gothic period or of the more sumptu
ous Renaissance and later. But while
these chests are interesting in every
way, ond to be bought in this country,
since It U known that we are bteoinlng
the collectors of the world, it Is with
homelier and less ornate articles of
this class that our interest .chiefly cen
tres. When the Pilgrim Fathers and
Mothers packed- their scanty belong
ings and stowed them away In the hold
of the Mayflower, their goods were
mostly contained In chests, stout ones,
no doubt, and, I think we con say, en
tirely guiltless of carving. These chests
for use in traveling were colled 'ship
chests' or 'standards,' and were simple,
box-like affairs with locks r.nd no legs,
and often with handles."
The first step In the evolution of the
chest occurred when a drawer wss add
ed, and from this point Mrs. Moore
traces very Interestingly and with the
aid of many illustrations the successive
stages in the development of the chest,
by the addition of drawer upon drawer
and of legs, to Its highest expression In
the chest-on-chest of the eighteenth
century, after which it merged into the
bureau.
LINGERIE HAT LATEST FASHION.
Among the dozens of lovely hats
which the season is offering, the lin
gerie model Is among the most stun
ning and becoming of all. Its simplic
ity and daintiness are exactly what
appeal to women, for It is nothing but
exquisite embroidery or lace, with a
bit of ribbon or some dainty flowers
tucked snugly, nwoy in a place where
it just gives the proper effect. They
are just suited to the dainty frocks
which the modists ore turning out, and
no other hat could possibly give the
effect that these do. They ore made up
In colors to match the gown and some
ore heavily laden with dainty flowers,
Millions olso constitute much of the
decoration which they display.
The Charlotte Corduy hot Is very like
the lingerie model, both having a ten
dency to flop over the face. There are
ninny women who cannot wear these
hats at all and these, of course, cannot
be in the height of ffishion. They are
decidedly childish-looking,' but give a
most piquant appearance to young ana
pretty women. The large bow deftly
tied Is sometimes the sole trimming and
they are placed directly In the middle
of the front. Block velvet Is the pret
tiest, especially on a hat of white lace
or chiffon. A pretty model is shown
of black Chantllly lace and about tho
crown are a spray of dainty rosebuds
of a deep red color. Red ribbon is also
used with these underneath the brim
ond this sort of hat would be extremely
becoming to a brunette of pronounced
type. Newark Advertiser.
RUSSIAN WOMEN. x
It Is difficult for on American to un
derstand that freedom, os we know
it, does urit exist In Russia. There the
legal position of woman is far from
satisfactory. She hardly ever belongs
to herself, but is always under the tu
t el nee of some one.
As a daughter the Russian woman Is
under the entire control of her parents,
Her coming of age docs not niter her
position. She simply chonges the au
thorlty of her parents for the no lesg
riirld authority of her husband. As
the Russian siotute puts it: "One per
son cannot reasonably be expected to
fully satisfy two such unlimited powers
as that of husband and parent."
The unlimited power of the parent is
withdrawn, and that of the husband
substituted. She cannot leave her lord,
even to visit a neighboring town, with
out a "pass" from him. He names the
time she Is permitted to stay, ond at
the end of that time she is bound to
return to get the pass renewed.
A husband may Appear In a court of
law. as a witness against his wife, but
a wife is not allowed to appear against
her husband. A woman's Evidence in
Russia is always regarded as of less
weight than that of a man.
rettyr
I Hi
AS"
toWeafr
The pleated skirt is very appropriate
for walking.
Several of the new shirt waist suits
ore cut on sailor lines.
The morning gowns are of serge,
linen, lightweight tweed, cotton or the
new pongee.
Linens, plain, embroidered and inset
with heavy lace, appear to cover every
possible want.
Fashion is certainly exploiting 'the
popular shirt waist suit in every pos
sible direction.
Lingerie frocks are always appropri
ate for little girls, and this year they
are extremely smart In every detail.
Softer goods ore used for the after
noon gowns. Voile, taffeta silk, eoli
enne, bnndkerchlef linen, and all sheer
materials are correct
The one color arrangement which is
demanding such extensive attention
finds favor iu the eyes of those women
who are sure of their colors.
The most prominent factor In the ad
vancing stylos Is the decided differ
ence shown in the treatment of morn
ing nud of afternoon gowns also.
Scarfs of ostrich feathers In salad
green, or in blue, shaded from dark in
the centre to light at the ends are much
worn in Tarls aud are becoming to
some women.
Used alike for automobile wraps and
for gowns for morning aud afternoon
wear, the wardrobe that bos no linen
garment thlg year will be hopelessly
out of date.
r rvrnm
LAN TO GIVE NITRO
GEN TO THE SOIL.
Dry Cultures Which Produce It
Now Shipped to Farmers by the
Department of Agriculture.
An Interesting ond very instructive
pamphlet has been issued by the De
portment of Agriculture on tbe vniue
to the soils of the country of legumi
nous vegetables, or those which bear
edible beans, it seems, according to
the work to which reference has been
mode, thot they ploy a very important
part In the general scheme of fertility,
although for a long period their value
hos been questioned, and by some sci
entists repudiated.
Nitrogen being the most Important
element in crop production, the primary
object In investigating the conditions
which appertain In plant culture is to
determine the most practical monner
of supplying nitrogen to the growing
plants without detracting from the
other elementary qualities of the soil.
Plants of the leguminous family,
when grown In contact with certain
bacteria, form upon their roots smaii
nodules, known as "nitrogen Knots.
These knots ploy an Important part in
supplying the plants with nitrogen,
which Is cathered from the air.
The experiments of the Department
have been, therefore, directed go os to
ascertain and devise some practical
method of bringing about the artificial
Introduction of the necessary organ
isms into soils which were naturally
devoid of them, and at the same time
attempt to reconcile the vast amount
of conflicting evidence regarding the
exact .nature of the organism, where
the nitrogen is fixed, and similar prob
Innis.
A process was finally discovered by
which dry cultures of the nitrogen
producing bacteria were made and- pre
served, and these are now. pacneu aim
shinned to any part of the world.
The Department of Agriculture is pre
pared to send instructions In their use
to farmers. Washington Mar.
In a London Co art Boom.
The Judge "What did he engage
you to do?"
Witness "The Dart of a Gibson
cirl."
Judge "But what is n Gibson girl?
I do not know what it is." (Langnter.)
Witness "A type of American girl,
Mr. Fowell "I think there is on art
ist named Gibson who stands as M. Du
Mourler used to stand here, and he has
drawn some attractive ladies who are
called Gibson Girls in America."
The Judge "Oh, Is that It?" (Laugh
ter.)
Mr. Powell "I moy be wrong."
The Judge said it might make a lit
tie difference. He did not know
whether people engaged for a piece arc
oil engaged precisely on the same
terms. For instance, whether the
ncrson who plays Hamlet was engaged
on precisely the same terms as the
person who was employed to say "My
lord, the chariot awaits." London
News.
Kraln Work and Iflng-eYlty.
It begins to be understood by stu
dents of vital statistics that mental
activity, instead of being an exhaust
ing process tending to shorten life, Is
in the highest degree conducive to ion
gevlty if not complicated by excesses
or Intensified by the uncompensated
friction of worry. In a cose lately on
trial fn London involving damages for
softening of the brain, attributed to an
accident for which a corporation wa
responsible, this subject was very fully
ventilated, and some of the most ac
complished experts In England gov.
testimony. A consensus of opinion
seemed to show that all alienists on
agreed that the best way to keep th
brain In good condition is to use it to
the safe limit of its capacity. New
York Times.
Conncllinnn'a Htrwricle With a tnrp
A Councilman and carp hod a bottle
rovnl nt a mine hole known as Buz
znrd's Knv. In the outskirts of the I
borough of Freeland, Luzerne County,
recently.
The Councilman was Adam Sachs,
ond the carp weighed 14 7-8 pounds.
When hooked tho carp made a des
perate fight for its life ond the Coun
cilman had several narrow escapes
from being pulled into the water and
drowned.
The big fish got tired out before the
Councilman did, however, and the lat
ter Is now able to tell tho biggest fish
story of any man In Freeland, and ex
hibit the carp to silence the skepti
cal, into the bargain. Freeland Trib
une. BlnU' Reautlfnl Statrcme.
New awl old, BIols is an amazing
achievement of the human brain nnd
the human hand. The great staircase
In the courtyard, an outside one, form
ing an essential part of the elevation,
is, of course, tho masterpiece of wonder
and delight. There Is nothing like it
In tho world, and probably there never
will be. Tho staircase of the r.irls
Opera an interior one, by the way
would have everything to fear in the
comporison. The other is a mass of
tlie richest and of the purest orna
ment, with a beautiful proportion be
tween Its shadows aud Its lights. It
is characteristic of the spirit in which
such work was done that It Is not al
ways easy to give due gratitude to
architect or to stone carver. Century.
A Shipment or Ttirllm.
Passengers alighting at the No. 4
platform at Waterloo Station yester
day afternoon fouud the platform occu
pied by a long line of live West Indian
turtles .waiting for consignment to a
London caterer.
The turtles lay on their backs on
straw, and were afterward dragged
along the platform on their bocks by
porters who held the frout flippers.
London Chronicle.
L, W. Dnllns, an English slntMlclan,
has proved that the birth rutn in India
depends directly on the rainfall. A
drouth mokes bad crops, fcer mar
riages and fewer children; thj se
quence Is luglcul.
Two English Inventor hove devised
n relay for talking machine whereby,
the sounds produced ore Nlrongly rein
forced by compressed air. With tula
Instrument ordinary conversation will
carry a quarter of a mile, and souis
sounds can be lu'urd as fur as two or
three miles. ' 4
The only metals commonly known as
magnetic are Iron, cobult ami nickel.
Dr. Heusler, a German, now proves
that the faculty of being magnetic does
not apply to these particular metals as
such, but eon be developed In special
alloys containing no trace of the nat
ural magnetic metals.
Reports from Spain ay that BenoB
Balsoru, an employe In the Govern
ment telegraph deportment, hag been
making some highly successful expert
mentg with torpedoes whose course is
directed by means of the wlreles tele
graph. The pulsations are made to act
on delicate controlling apparatus with
in the torpedo, no physical connection
being needed.
In a recent communication to the
rarlg Academy of Sciences Professor
Chareau announced that he found ra
dium rays will counteract the poison
of serpent venom. Viper or cobra poi
son, he sold, loses its virulence after
fifty or sixty hours of exposure. Vic
tims of cobra bites, however, usually,
die in a few minutes; hence radium can
hardly be considered an antidote.
The price of radium has Increased
owing to the difficulty of obtaining fur
ther supplies. The consequence is that
research work has almost ceased. Sir
William Ramsay states that (100 a,
milligramme or at the rate of $3,000,
000 an ounce, is now demanded. An
expert ig of the opinion that not more
than a half ounce of radium has been
manufactured since Professor and
Mme. Curie discovered it
The Plea of " Nolo."
The straight and simple lines marked
out for her family by Mrg. Lane were
a source of great satisfaction to her
and of considerable amusement to her
neighbors.
"There is nothing more tiresome and
ill-bred than fruitless argument," an
nounced that determined woman to one
of her friends, whom she counted an
agreeable person, but lacking in spirit,
"and we have made a rule never to
have it in our family."
"I don't see how one can always
avoid it," said the meek-splrlted neigh
bor, "when all the members of a family;
have different opinions."
"It's no harm to have opinions if yon
keep them to yourself," said Mrs. Lane,
indulgently, "but I'll tell you how we
manage. For instance, at the table;
of course if one of the children makes
a statement which I cannot Indorse, I
simply say, 'That is pure foolishness.
Let us hear no more of it' But if one
of the other children attempts to start
an argument, why, then I have to be
more firm, and send him or her from
the table. Of conrse my older son and
daughter have come to years of discre
tion, ond never think of transgressing
the rule."
"But do you and Mr. Lane always
think alike?" ventured her friend.
"Not always," sold Mrs. Lane, frank
ly, "but we pursue the same system
with each other. If I express an opin
ion from which Mr. Lane differs, I say
pleasantly, 'You remember our little
rule, my dear, and naturally he stopg
at once. And if he expresses one from
which I differ, I Just smile across the
table at him and say, 'As I cannot sub
scribe to that, and we must bear In
mind our rule, will yon kindly sny no
more, my dear.' You see. It's a simple
matter, if each one will do his or her
part, and it does so greatlyadd to the
peace of a household!" Youth's Com
panion. No loophole.
A New Hampshire lawyer, for some
years Judge of the police court in Con
cord, was a natural peacemaker, and
always endeavored, says the Green
Bag, to smooth over any slight differ
ences between persons brought before)
him.
On one occasten, when the charge
was for technical assault it came out
in the course of evidence that the par
tics were neighbors, and had formerly;'
been on the best of terms.
"It is a pity," the Judge said, persuas
ively, "that old friends, as you seem to
have been, should appear before me in
such a way. Surely this la a case
which might be settled out of court"
"It can't be done, judge," answered
the plaintiff, seriously. "I thought of
that myself, but the coward won't
fight"
New Zealand Exhibition.
Definite steps have been taken to
Bold a New, Zealand International Ex
hibition in 1900-07. The honor of the'
location falls ton Christchureh, thai
"City of the Plains, where the wide
spread and beautifully situated Hag
l?y 'Turk affords a splendid site fori
the purpose. The New Zealand Gov.
eminent has appointed a special com
missioner for the exhibition In tile per
sou of Mr. T. E. Donne, Secretary of
the Industries and Commerce Depart
ment, who has now arrived in this
country to interest British manufac
turers and others lu the show.' He is
at present quartered at Victoria street:
Westminster, under the same roof as
the New Zealand Government Agency.1