THE MOST UNHAPPY WOMAN IN THE WORLD By HERMAN "There was a time when-kings vis ited our Czar and were received roy ally in St. Petersburg," said a small, nwarthy, wrinkled peasant woman Btandlng in her field, one day Inst summer when I was in the province of Kaluga. "Now, when the English King and the French President visit us, they are received in the hallway somewhere In Revel. They are not admitted to the parlor into St. Petersburg, because the Czar and Tsarltsa and their children are them selves afraid to enter the parlor. If the Czar is afraid well, he has rea son to be .the people have not yet forgotten Red Sunday. But my heart aches for the Tsarltsa, who has done no harm to any one. My life is mis erable enough, but she, poor soul, cries her eyes out a bird in a golden cage. And even there she is forever in fear that a bomb will destroy the cage and all...." And the little peasant woman, who had left off rtii ing her hay for a while, wiped her eyes with her apron awkwardly. When Princess Alix, daughter of Ludwlg IV., the Grand Duke of Hesse, became Alexandra Feodorovna by marrying NMcholas II., the Em peror of Russia, who was then the Crown Prince, she probably did not know that she was destined to be come one of the most miserable women on the face of the globe. The palaces of emperors and kings have often enough in history harbored heartrending tragedies and domestic dramas, but the tragedy of the woman who is "the first lady" of the Russian land, the mother of the Tsarevlch, is so pathetic that even the peasant women in Cod-forsaken Russian vil lages are touched with pity for her. The marriage between Nicholas and Alexandra was by no means a love match. Neither the successor to the Russian throne, nor the quiet, well-bred young Duchess, reared in Anglo-Saxon environments, a student of Renan, of the German philoso phers and the English poets, desired the match. The young Crown Prince was attached to the beautiful Polish dancer, Ksheshinskaya, and it was for the purpose of putting an end to that love affair that Alexander III. de cided to marry his son to the Duchess Of Hesse. Immediately after her marriage, In 1894 (which took place on the birth day of the Dowager Empress), the young prlncesB learned that the whims of her mother-in-law, Maria Feodorovna, were to be a law to her. At first Bhe made an effort to Intro duce the influence of European cul ture into the life of the Court, but she soon discovered a strong oppo sition in the "real Russian" influence which was forced upon young Nich olas by his mother. To counteract whatever influence the young princess might exert, the Dowager. Empress called the reactionary advisers to her aid, thus dominating the weak will of the Emperor. ' Little by little Alexandra became convinced that her modern ideals and her finer views ot life had to be sup pressed. In fact, she soon lost her in terest in matters that had once stirred her mind; she ceased reading her favorite writers, and devoted her time to the study of the Russian language and even became absorbed in the in terests of the Synod. Still, she at tempted from time to time to reform the Court life, but to no avail. Some time lifter the coronation of Nicholas, Alexandra forbade the ladles-tn-walt-lag at Court to smoke cigarettes. The new edict raised a storm of dis satisfied criticism in the Imperial pal aces which served to make the Tsar ltsa more wretched. The shocking tragedy that marked the coronation of the present Czar ot Russia, on the field ot Kkodinka, which resulted in the death of 4800 people, was a painful blow to the young Queen's sensitive nature; it is believed that the Impression has never been effaced from her mind, especially as she saw her husband and the Dowager Empress remain calm while so many people lost their lives, and that, without paying the -slightest attention to the catastrophe, they ordered the festivities to be re sumed. There were times when the weak willed, dreamy-eyed young Emperor yielded to the Influence of his wife, who intellectually is far his superior, but they were only brief moments which were followed by long lapses of reaction. She was . particularly grieved to see that he was enmeshed In the wiles ot charlatans, fortune tellers, and spiritualists, such as Phil ippe, the hairdresser of Marseilles, Demchlnsky, and Father John ot Kronstadt. But .the tragedy In the life of the Empress grew most acute when she was humiliated by the Dowager Em press because she did not give birth to a successor to the throne. In Rus sia, the first lady of the land is not the Tsarltsa, the wife of the Emperor, but the mother of the Tsarevlch, the heir to the throne. As no son was born to her, her mother-in-law, the Dowager Empress', still remained the foremost woman. In Russia, and she used her position unscrupulously against her daughter-in-law. The young Empress was ignored at the family councils, so that later, when she was consulted, she simply de clined to express her views at all. The Czar's disappointment was also great when one after another four daughters were presented to him. At one time the Court clique, with the Dowager Empress and Pohyedonost sev at their head, who pesuuded the Czar that the birth of an heir to the BEKNSTEIX. throne would pacify the people and would thus save Russia, urged Nich olas to divorce Alexandra. It was then that Nicholas turned to the counsel of the mystlcists and spirit ualists, particularly to Father John of Kronstadt. It is not difficult to understand .the feeling ot an intellec tual, refined woman, whose favorite authors were Renan, Feuerbach, and Spencer, to be forced to obey the whims of people whose superstitltlon was equalled only by their enmity to ward her. When the fifth child was about to be born she was compelled to go, at the behest of Nicholas and his spiritual advisers, to a deserted place In Sarov, where a new saint had been discovered and where Father John of Kronstadt said special mass with most elaborate services. But the most wretched trouble from which the Tsarltsa is suffering is the fear of death. Since the out break of the revolution she has felt that an atmosphere of constant dan ger is hovering over the royal family. The Red Sunday "episode" filled the Tsarltsa with horror, and her nerves, like 'the Czar's, have ever since then been on the verge of collapse. This is the explanation of the numerous cable despatches bringing news of the Empress' Illnesses. Surrounded and protected by cordons of guards, detectives, police, she is all the time tortured with the fear of death, not so much for herself as for her chil dren. Whether she sails with the Czar and her children upon the Im perial yacht in the Finnish archipela go or travels among the Finnish mountains, the constant danger to her children haunts her. Of late her malady has assumed a violent form ot hysteria. The Czar has lost the respect and the love of his people; even those who had worshiped him blindly know now that he is no longer their "Little Father." But there are many people in Russia who feel that there is a sad tragedy of a suffering woman coming to Its close in the palace of the Czar, and whatever little sym pathy there still exists in the Empire for the Romanoff family, it Is solely for the woman who was Princess Alix. Who knows, perhaps the Empress of Russia, In her soul, envies the half starved, hard-working peasant wo man of Kaluga, preferring the hum ble hut to her terror-filled palace? Harper's Weekly. CLEVER AUTOMATA. Ingenious Mechanical Figures Which Closely Counterfeit Life. The newest automata, which not only counterfeit life in their actions, but also speak, will be seen before long in this country imported from Paris, which is the manufacturing centre for all such ingenious con trivances. It is safe to say, remarks the Tech nical World Magazine, that nothing in the world, exhibited in a shop window, attracts attention so quickly as a "show piece" the name by which automata are known in trade. Thus it happens that many of them are used in this country for advertis ing purposes, invariably engaging the eager Interest of crowds which gather to gaze upon them. Counterfeiting life with a cleverness that is often little short of marvelous, and actu ated by mechanism artfully con cealed, they appeal both to curiosity and to the appetite for the myster ious which is latent in every human breast. To lend the automaton a voice, by the help of a phonograph, is a matter simple enough. The real marvel ot these contrivances lies in the In genuity employed to give them such lifelike movement; and the simplicity of the mechanism used does but add to the wonder. They might be re garded as representing an ultimate stage of the development of the me chanical toy, inasmuch as not a few toys nowadays are to all intents and purposes automata as, for example, the walking doll and the plaything which has become seemingly animate is raised to the highest Imaginable power. Johnny CouWn't Help It. The teacher of one of the rooms In a school in the suburbs had been training her pupils in anticipation of a visit from the school Inspector. At last he came, and the classes were called out to show their attainments. The arithmetic class was the first called, and in order to make a good impression the teacher put the first question to Johnny Smith, the star pupil. "Johnny, If coal is selling at 1 a ton, and you pay the coal dealer 4, how many tons ot coal will he bring you?" "Three," was the prompt reply from Johnny. " ' The teacher, much embarrassed, said, "Why, Johnny, that isn't right." "Oh, I know it ain't, but they do it, miBS." Tit-Sits. Revised. "You told me," said the young man, dejectedly, "that you would marry me when Bryan was elected. Did you mean that?" "Yes, I meant it," said the girl, flushing modestly, "but I'd been giv en the wrong tip. I really thought he'd be elected." By mutual consent the terms of the compact were abrogated then and there. Philadelphia Ledger. HOUSEHOLD Fr AIRS TO REMOVE SOOT. If by accident soot should be dropped on the carpet, cover it thick ly with salt, and both may be swept up clean and dry without soiling the carpet. New York World. NEW WEDDING FAVORS. The bride now presents the guests at the bridal table with souvenirs in the shape of small satin slippers. These are filled with rice. They sell oy .the dozen at small prices. Indian apolis News. BATH TUB. v, A ten cent small sized scrubbing brush is the nicest thing to use when washing out a bath tub. It appeals to the men folk of the household as a very sensible way of arranging for a rather dreaded duty. New Haven Register. GOOD MENU FOR SUNDAY. Roast chicken with dressing and gravy, creamed potatoes, squash, tur nips, peas, cranberry Jelly, white bread, pickles, coffee Jelly with whipped cream, tea or coffee. Chick en can be almost cooked Saturday and finished Sunday while vegetables are cooking. Boston Post. IRON RUST REMOVER. Take equal parts of oxalic acid and water; soak the Iron rust spots thoroughly in solution and place at once over steaming teakettle snout, and the Iron rust will disappear with the vapor. Rinse thoroughly in clear, cold water, as the acid would eat the cloth if allowed to dry in the cloth. If the color is very delicate, use less acid. If the first trial does not re move the rust, repeat as before. This will remove iron rust after it has been on a long time, and will not take the color out of the cloth if di rections are followed carefully. Bos ton Post. CLEANING LEATHER. Leather-covered chairs may be cleaned with the following prepara tion: Mix together halt a pound each of French chalk and Fuller's earth, two ounces of powdered starch and one ounce of yellow ochre. Wet with boiling water until It becomes a .thin paste, then add a tablespoon ful of sweet oil. When it is cold Bpread on the leather and allow it to remain until perfectly dry. Brush off then, removing every particle of the mixture, and ive the leather a good palish with melted wax and tur pentine, using four ounces of the wax to a gill of turpentine. Tire leather may be darkened if desired by the ad dition of a little oil to the wax. New York Evening Post. USES FOR COMMON SALERATUS. 1. Soda bound on a Duuion will relieve the soreness. 2. Soda moistened with turpentine and bound on a burn or scald will draw out the fire. " 3. Vinegar heated and mixed with enough soda until It is done foaming and a piece of black silk dipped in it until thoroughly wet and then applied to Inflamed parts, such as the breast or throat, will draw out the soreness. 4. A small pinch of soda added to the water in which lamp wicks are boiled will make them white and give a better light. 6. A teaspoonful ot soda stirred In the dishwater in which glasses and silverware are washed will give them a better polish. 6.' Try adding a teaspoonful of soda to the water in which your kitch en floor is washed and see if grease spots don't disappear like magic.- Boston Post. StocU Tomato Soup Take any sort of meat soup and add halt a can ot stewed and well-seasoned tomatoes; strain, find serve with croutons.- Tomato Toast Stew down a can of tomatoes till thick, with a table spoonful of chopped onion, a table spoonful of chopped parsley, salt and pepper; when the Juice is somewhat absorbed pour over slices of buttered toast and serve at once. - Do not train. Tomato's Au Gratia Take a can of tomatoes, add salt and pepper and a teaspoonful of minced onion; put them Into a deep baking dish in layers with soft liread crumbs, and put bits of butter on these; repeat till the dish is full, with crumbs on top, and bake till brown. Broiled Oysters and Celery Broil oysters until they begin to shrivel, then arrange on slices of daintily toasted buttered bread; cover them with finely chopped celery, dust with Bait, and pour a goodly quantity of cream white sauce over the mixture. Vienna Chocolate Four table epoons grated chocolate mixed with enough water to make a smooth paste. Pour into double boiler and add one pint milk and one pint cream which has reached the boiling point. Sweeten to taste and boll hard for five minutes. Beat vigorously with egg beater for several minutes and erve. VALUABLE FERTILIZER. Wood ashes are hardly appreciated As a valuable fertilizer of all kinds of fruit trees. If a gallon Is placed around the base of each tree It will kill and prevent insects of all kinds and increase the formation and qual ity of the fruit. Farmer's Home Journal. SELF-STERILE APPLES. Apples are often self -sterile and need cross pollination. In order, to secure cross pollination of two vari eties care must be taken to select such as blossom at the, same time. Bees are the chief agents In pollen transfer. . The wind does not trans port pollen to an appreciable extent. Farmer's Home Journal. GRASS IN THE ORCHARD. In our apple orchard we leave a strip of grass six or eight feet wide between the trees so that we can drive over the land In the spring with our heavy sprayers. We get very high color, noticeable particular ly with our Baldwin apples; even the small fruit bears this high color. Wlllard Hopkins, in the American Cultivator. FERTILIZER IS ESSENTIAL. The secret of a successful vegetable garden is to keep the ground occu pied with a crop. As soon as one crop is harvested, start another. Plan successive planting of the vegetables that grow quickly, so that they may be enjoyed fresh throughout the summer. fi Lessons learned this yem- should be treasured fgr next spring. It will often be found that soil must be pre pared in a special manner for the best success with some crops. Stiff clay soils must be plowed or spaded thor oughly and this should be done in the fall In those localities where the ground freezes, as the thaw and freez ing help to break up the soil in fine particles. In places where a rich and sandy soil is found and no freezing takes place, plowing may be done In the spring. The. ground must be thoroughly fertilized each season and the best fertilizer is well rotted barnyard ma nure, which Should not contain shav ings or sawdust. Chicken, pigeon and sheep manure are also good fer tilizers. Too little attention to water Is given by many gardeners. Con siderable expense in providing Irriga tion means is warranted. It will be found wise to start many seeds in doors in the spring. They may be planted In window boxes, sown in rows with each row labeled. Plants started In the house or In hot beds must be hardened off before trans planting to the open ground. Indi anapolis News. GROWING THE DAHLIA. As the first essential for growing the dahlia the ground should be thor oughly cultivated to the depth of eight or ten Inches. If planted in hills the tubers ehould be given a depth of fully six Inches; they should be laid horizontally in the soil in place of vertically, so that the tuber at the Bprout should be not less than six Inches below the surface. The new tubers all form and make their growth at the base of the crown of the old tuber. If planted as advised there will always be moisture enough In the soil to keep the plant contin ually growing. After the tubers are placed it is well to cover the sprout an inch or so with soil before using any fertilizer or dressing. It is not wise to use too much stimulant at first. After the plants get to the stage of throwing out buds It is well then to make another application, either in liquid or raw stata; this should be applied around the plant on top of the soil from six inches to two feet. One great point to bs considered before the plant gets to its flowering state is the cultivation of the soil. In order to obtain the best results from the dahlia, the soil should be kept thoroughly cultivated either with a hand hoe or with a horse cul tivator. After your plants begin to show signs of flowering It is not well to cultivate them, as this is very apt to injure the plant through the cutting of many of the new tubers, thus weakening the growth, and in many cases causing the plant to wilt in the hot sun, something from which it will take a long time to recover. The dahlia will do well on any kind of soil If properly treated. If grown on heavy soil it is well to use some ground bone meal, and nothing but staple fertilizers should be used. On light sandy soil It is well to use some stable dressing, also ground bone meal can be used with good effect, as this is the soil that just suits the dah lia, but good cultivation is the main point in getting first class results, for there is no plant that Is more respon sive to cultivation and good treat ment than the dahlia, and if proper ly cultivated It will produce more flowers than any other plant in. the garden. Indianapolis News. Force of Habit. "I wish, John," said the editor's wife, "that you'd try not to be so absent-minded when we are dining out." "Eh? What have 1 done now?" "Why, when the hostess asked you If you'd have some more pudding you replied that, owing to a tremendous pressure on your space, you were compelled to declins." Tlt-Blts. Weight of Moose and Deer. A moose that weighs a half ton would look as large as a 1,500 or l.COO-pound horse. They are seen very seldom, and less frequently killed. Those weighing 800 pounds are not uncommon. The gunner who suc ceeds In bringing down one of these hns no reason to tell an untruth In regard to the weight. It Is a big animal, and he is entitled to credit for trailing and killing it. One that weighs from COO to 700 pounds la not to bo ashamed of. It looks large, and most of those shot are about, this size. The average buck deer killed weighs less than 200 pounds, although some have been killed that would tip the beam at nearly 300. Still, a 250-pound buck makes a very imposing appear ance, and any person that gets one is entitled to be proud of his prowess. New York Herald. How's This? We offer One Hundred Dollars Reword for nny cane of Cntnrrh Hint cannot be cured by Hall's Cntnrrh Cure. F. J. Cheney & Co., Tolerlo,0. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the Inst 15 years, and believe him perfectly- honorable in all business transaction and finnncinlly nble to carry out any obligations made by his firm. Waldino, Kinnan & Marvin, Whole sale Druggists, Toledo, O. Hall's Cntnrrh Cure is taken internally, act Ingdirectly upon the blood and mucuousur fnces of the system. Testimonials sent free. Price, 75c. per bottle. Rold by all Druggists. Take Hall's Family Pills for constipution. Census for Japan. Hitherto the population of Japanese towns of the empire as a whole has been estimated from the official rec ords of births and deaths and other documents, but It has now been ar ranged to make a municipal house-to-houfct Investigation, commencing at Kobe. Only Ono "Ilromo Quinine" That is Laxative Bromo Quinine. Look for the signature of E. W. drove. Used the World over to Cure a Cold in One Day. 25c. Tactical Advantage. It puzzles a mere man to under stand how an English suffragette figures out the technical advantages of bowling down a cabinet minister who Is trying, to make a speech on her side. New York World. Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup forChildren teething, softens the gums, reduces inflamma tion, allays pain, cures wind colic, 25c a bottle. Red Cotton Bug. One of tho most destructive as well as one of the most offensive pests that afflict the planters of India Is the red cotton bug.. The Insect hns been reported as a cotton pest from every part or the country. lis presence is detected by the offensive odor. Another woman has been elected to the Colorado legislature. About a dozen women have served there be fore her. A species of ant In Australia builds Its nests along a north and south line so accurately that a traveler may di rect his course by their aid. Itch cured in 30 minutes by Woolford'e Kanitary Lotion Never fails. At druggists. It's all right to follow the crowd, provided you are not ambitious to get to the front. ILES Fample treatment Red Cross Pile and Fistula Care end Prole mit hv ms.il 111! IIII-II111HMJ FREE. REACO. DEPT. B. 4 MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. CASMOURFUR no matter where you are. if yon trap or buy fur write to-day lor our new plan to make ex tra $1 on fur. rnnRYuintirtinrn rnruY pi 0 BOX vviiiii mill, i vii wvivumi if i m POSITIVELY BEST Til v VSA TO v. EXTRA BLADES We send Blades BOOK 134 ' I A TEARING TERRIBLE CGUGU beipealu impending peril. Constant coughing iiritatet and inflames the lungt, inviting the ravaging attack of deadly disease. PUo's Cure soothes ana heals the inflamed surfaces, clears the clogged air passages and stops the cough. The first dose will bring surprising relief. Piso't Cure hat held the confidence of people everywhere lor half a century. No matter how serious and obstinate the nature of your cold, ot how many reme dies have failed, you can be convinced by a fair trial that the iueal re. medy foe such coodiaoos it riso'B rranrm rn-rrilt SI I nUCD UIU rtHnruL r-uttnwi iill uitn mm. No Night's Rest for a Year and Llmll ot His Endurance Seemed Near t Owes Recovery to Cutlcura. My ion Clyde was almost complete! eovered with eczema. Phj-sicinns treated him for nearly a year without helping hint any, Ills head, face, and neck were cov ered with large scabs which he would rub Until they fell off. Then blood and mattel would run out and that would be worse. Friends coming to see him said that if he got well he would be disfigured for life. When It seemed as if he could possibly stand it no longer, I used some Cutlcura Poop, Cuticurn Ointment, and Cuticms Resolvent. That was the first night to nearly a year that ha slept. In the mora lng there was a great change for the better, In about six weeks he was perfectly well. Telegraphy In China. The first telegraph' line was opened in China in 1872 and there are now about 15,000 miles of line, the whole under Imperial control. The Chinese language being syllabjc and not alpha' betlc, many may wonder how a mes sage is transmitted. The method Is simple but Ingenious. There are as many characters as words in the Chinese language, and the messages are sent in iiumber cipher. When the numbers are re ceived at the other end a double ended type is used, with numbers at one end: nnd characters at the reverse. A message is set up by the numbers and then printed from the reverse end, which shows the characters. London Globe. - Piles Cared in 0 to 14 Days. I'szo Ointment is guaranteed to cure any caw of Itching, lilind,B!eedingorl'rotruding Piles in 8 to 14 days or money refunded. 80o. Chinook Salmon In Peconlc. Out of a lot of about 19,500 Chinook salmon hatched out at the Aquarium In March 10,000 lively little fishes, now about two inches long, have been turned over to the New York state forest, fish and game commission, which has placed them m tne waters of the Peconlc river, Long Island. The Chinook Is a Pacific salmon, and these are probably the first of their kind to be planted In Atlantic waters. We are told that good deeds never die. Perhaps so, but lots of them seem to go Into a trance. The officeholder feels that one good term desprves another. New Year's Surprise PUZZLE CRAZE 73 Piece Puzzle In Rot dining Framo for 1 f Oiifrt. No. 1. Sensational Imported English 1 10 CTS. lor Inch rosier series. No. ii. Big Stick "TcdJy Boar" Serlea No. 3. Oekha ft Dutch Qlrl Sorloa . SO CT8. for Complete Si't of , HI Any One . No. 4. When Grandma Was Young BerleJ. No. 5. Celebrated Prlxo Dog Serloi No. O. Beautiful Spoti In America serios. m-rie. $2.11 for Complntc Ret of 3(1 Pnrzlei. POST PAID ON RECEIPT OK PHICE. (Sf'tmjM or runnel order.) THE ATWOOD RAVEN CO 403 East 23d St., New Vork. DILL, ARD TABLES POOL TABLES BsrFistsru Bowlim Allen Sapsliss Low Prices. Knsy Payments. Ton ennnnt nfTorrt to experiment with an CATAI.OOLI 8 HIKE. The Brunswick-Balke-Couender Co. so woon ST.. riTTSiumo, PA. uei p Insist on Having "or Dr. MAM EL'S Preparation uaufki The Stnndnrd Keitiedr, VV W lYl I V AT DBU0UIST8. (end lor hook, "Ilollol lor Women." FRENCH DRUG CO, 30 W. 32d St., N. Y. City. P. N. U. 62. 10U8. If nfltlrted SThompsoo'sEyeWatei Willi wen eye., uo ABSOLUTELY CHEAPEST Save Shaving Hoasy Hero'i a revolution In Safety Razor., the marvelous "Shrp-Shavr" 25c Safety Razor which give you better BLADE VALUE than razort costing 20 times the price. The practical value Is In the BLADE. It Is the best because made of the finest steel tempered by a special process and scientifically ground and honed down to the keenest possible edge. You pay 25 cents for the best practical Rnzor ever in troduced, and you save nlneteen-twentiethsof tho fancy prices asked for fancy frames and hold ers. The "SHRP SHA VR" RAZOR Is so set In the frame as to be correctly ''angled" to suit any face. We sell you the whole Razor at 25c so as to create a market for our blades. Extra "SHRP SHA VR" Blndes. 5 for ISc. And satin finish silver-plate d stoppers at 10c. each the Razor complete, extra ;7 or the Stropper, prepaid by mail on receipt of price In stamps or cash. PUBLISHING BOUSE, LEONARD STRICT, W. T. CITY. rHE RAZOR Is s sisnsl Inupao sisnsl Inupse. tlvs of srlcs. ft lunr,