THE RAGING CYCLONE. FACTS FROM PROFESSIONAL DEAL ERS IN lUGU WINDS. What Is a Tornado, Anyway?— Points by Which the Devastating Aerial Monster May lie Distinguished from a Cyclone— Some Extraordinary Effects the Wind May Prodtice. tEOPLE who have never seen a tornado or a cyclone have very little idea what wind can do. It is hard to conceive the amount of force that is ex pended. and the man ner in which it acts is little understood. Thcro jure two vari eties of powerful wind storms, the cyclone and the tornado. The 'former Is a revolving storm, traveling about rr i u center o f low bar ometer, whore there is absolute calm, the greatest force of the wind being found at the edge of this circle o' quiet The of influence may be from one hundred to seven hundred miles in diameter, and as a rule the smaller the diameter the greater the wind's velocity. .. Tho tornado is a local disturbance, often accompanying in the interior tho progress of a cyclone. Sometimes tho track ot the tornado is limited to a few hundred feet, and it rarely has a width of half a mile. • The cyclone can ios with it a velocity of as much us 100 to 110 miles an hour. It sends a certain amount of warning ahead of its track, and the acceleration of the wind's speed at any given point is gradual. The tornado tails almost without notice, or rather tho indications arc often so simi lar to those of an ordinary thunderstorm J that only a skilled and careful obsorvor can detect the difference. "The circular motion of a tornado is be lieved to produce an extremely low pressure ] in the center." said Prof. Beall. of tho United . States Signal Service, in a recent lecture 1 before the Chicago Academy of Sciences. "For instance, where the barometer regis ters thirty inches on the outer edge of a tornado, it Is probably not over twenty 1 inches in tho center. With the barometer TATH OF A TORNADO THROUGH A FOREST. at thirty inches tho pressure is about 2.00 C Eounds to the square foot; whore tho urometer is at twenty inches the pressure is 1.333 pounds to the square foot. The difference between tho atmospherio pres sure in tho center and the outer edge ot a tornado is, therefore. CGG pounds to tho squaro foot, so that when one of these ut mospheric terrors passes over a house there is an offort of the air inside the house to equalize tho pressure. The consequence is that there is a pressure something like six hundred pounds to every squaro foot of the house, and it goes to pieces with a crash." It is on this theory of different pressures that observers account for such phenomena as finding sticks driven through trees, housos turned upside down, and teams lifted into the air. "There have been eases." said Lieut. Ileal], "where a tornado has literally picked evory feather from Chickens, peeled tho wool from sheep, and plucked geese." It is no little satisfaction to learn that Chicjigo is not likely to suflor from torna does The re ison for this is that few coses Sre known where a great tornado has been estructlve to cities situated on the west bank of a largo body of water, as the World's Fair city i 9. Tho phenomena and effects of cyclones in the West Indies have long been subjects of Study and observation! As tno center ap proaches a ship she is assaulted by wind of a terrible force and a sea that is almost in doscriba 10. The water no longer runs in waves of regular onward motion, but leaps up in pyramids and peaks. Thejgind swirls A TORNADO PAUSING THROUGH A TOWN. •nd strikes until wnerevor there is a 011 an 06 for vibration or flatter, even in tightly fnrled Balls, the labile soon gives way. One o. the most remarkable effects of a •yolono was recorded at Matanzas, Cuba, where tho center passed directly over tho tity. As the vortex arrived tho air pres sure outsido was so suddenly diminished that tho air inside tho houses forced tho window pan* s out, and then as soon as tho calm center had passed the violent wind, having an Inflating and 11 ting effect through the open apertures, lifted many of the roofs off. The local tornado that so frequently plavs havoc with property and life in the West is. liko tho cyclone, a revolving iorce. but it carries with it a varimy ot phenomena wholly distinct from those that accompany tho larger storm. Many of tho effects of one tornado are wholly absent in others, and tho indications that in one case have boon followed by at rrhde disaster arc not infrequently found at other times to presage merely a heavy thunder shower. The fieakK of a tornado are wholly unae counta' le. In som • oases not an object in its track will fail to eel its power for long distances; in othe instances it will seem to act like a cannon-ball that ploughs up the earth on striking, then rises and strikes again, leaving the space between untouch ed. bomotimes it will go through a forest leveling the trees as thou ha gang of ax men had plied their tools on lines laid out by surveyors nothing outside tho track being touched; but again in similar wind falls there will he found oca-aalonal pockets score, 1 m the forest arowth jutting off tho right line, like small hwoon. opening into a flowing stream. The,. seem to have boon vanned by a sort of attendant whl lwlnd— baby offspring from tho mam monster which having sprung away from tho ehlel disturbance, scoops a hole In tho woods and then expires or rejoins tho original movement I have seen one of the most violent, and. so to speak, oompressed o these storms, cut a road throu :h thick woods so that at a distance the edgo- stood out as dear and sharp against the sky as would those of a railway cutting th ough earth. Trees standing at the ed o oi tho track had their branches clean-swept on one side, while on tho other there was no percoptiblo disturb ance of tho folia e. Sometimes tho tornado aots liko an enor mous scoop, catching up every movable thing and sweeping it miles away; and again it bocomes'a depositor, as if, tired of carrying so much dead woight. it dumped it upon tho earth prepjiratory to grabbing up a now cargo. These effects aro particu larly noticcablo in the tornado that goes by jumps. When it strikes and absorbs J mass of debris it seems to spring up again like a projectile that grazes the surface. For a space there will be very high wind and some damage, but no such disjister as tho tornado has previously wrought. Out of the clouds will come occasional heavy missiles and deluges of water. Then down goes the tornado again, crashing ana scat tering by its own force and adding to its destructive power by a battery of timbers and other objects brought along from its f>rovious impact. Relieved of these masses, t again gathers up miscellaneous movables and repeats its previous operation. Tho force with which these objects strike is best soon when they fall outside of tno tornado's path, since the work done by the missile is not then disturbed by tho general dsstructive force of the storm. Thus, near Racine. Wis.. I have known an ordinary i fence rail, slightly sharpened on one end, to be driven against a young tree like a spear and pierce it several feet. Tno ve locity of tho rail inusthave been something enormous, or otherwise the rail would have glanced from such a round and elastic object. Many of tho settlers in the tornado dis tricts of Southern Minnesota. lowa. Kan sas, and Nebraska, excavate a doep cellar beneath their houses and cover it with heavy timbers as a place of refuge for their families when a tornado threatens to strike them. While these dugouts are usually effective, thoy aro not always so. There have boon instances whoro families having only time to descend, and not time enough to close the trap-door, have been exposed to the storm's full fury by the tornado get ting into tho opening and lifting off the whole roof, after having first swept away tho house above. Another pathetic case resulted in the death of a whole family by an extrao dinary freak of tho tornado. Tho storm first struck a largo pond and swept up all the w-tter in it. Its next plunge de posited this water on one of these dugouts, the house above which had been destroyed. The family wero drowned like chipmunks iu a liolo. Some of the Western tornadoes are ac companied by olootrical manifestations to an extent that has originated a belief in electricity as their cause. 'I hese disturb ances are very marked in some cases, while in others they have not been noticed. In one tornado in Central Illinois electricity played very peculiar antics, not only in tho tornado's track, but also at somo distance from it. In the ruined houses all the iron work was found to have bee# strongly TREE PIERCED BY A FENCE BAIL. magnetized, so that pokers, flatirons and other metal objects wore found adhering to each other. Just off the tornado's truck the same effects wore notlo-d. and several persons experienced sharp electrical shocks during tho pjissagc of the storm. After ward it was found that the magnetic influ ence was so strong that clocks and watches were stopped anu rendered wholly useless. The scooj lng action of the tornado some times makes considerable changes iu tho topography of tho count y. as when it gathers up tho water of a largo pond oi water course and makes a n'W pond or opens a now chanel. At Wullingrord. Conn., the wator in a pond of very large size was taken bodily from its bed. carried up a hill and dropped nearly in one mass, so that gullies and ravines were out in every direc tion. Many are the stories told of tho way in wjiigh objects arc carried awiiy by tho wind and left in strange places, in ono Illinois tornado two children and an infant were caught up. Tho dead bodies of the two chil iron were found only a uw hun dred feet distant, but trie in'ant wa<* picked up alive m-re than a mil 6 away iroin tho spot where the tornado swept the child up. An accordion that must have come a long distance—for it was never cla mod—was found so entangled in the branches of a tree that it was alternately pulled apart and pressed together by the wind, creating such weird an I uncanny music during a whole night that an already sufficiently •oared settlement of negroes wore kept in a state of frantic dismay until daylight re vouled the cause. In another case a farmer who followed the tornado's track in search of missing cattle was astonished to discover ono of bis cows standing about twenty feet above the ground in tho branches of a half felled maple. M I allers knew that was an active heifer," ho remarked, as he came in sight oi iier. standing erect on the slanting trunk, "but I never allowed she could climb a tree." Whero a tornado passes over a consider able body oi water it takes the familiar I form known as a waterspout. That is. it sweeps up a mass of water that goes whirl ing over tho surface with tremendous writ kings and gyration-. Just nftor tho close of tho war I was lying in the Chesa peake in a sloop-of-war. A boat heavily laden with a swimming i arty ha.l been al lowed to go ashore, and just as it was re turning a terrible cloud came down ono of the small creeks at u hel ht apparently of only a few hundred feet. As it reached tho open bay a leaden-colored, snake-like col umn sprang up to meet tho cloud, and came twisting and squirming straight for tho boat The latter was so crowded that only a few oars oouid bo pulled, and there seemed no escape for tho men unless they could roach tho ship. Unfortunately not a gun in the battery was loaded, and we could not open tho mag zine and load one before tho water spout would be upon us. It was. of course, questionable what would be the fate of tho ship itself If the wuten-pout struck us, but I don't think that ideaooeurred to any one, so engrossed wore we in tho fate of our shipmates in tho bout. Two boats' crews were called away to bo ready to lower thoir boats the instant tho spout should pass, in fir tier to pick up "the" men who we e "not swept on alort. The men at the oars pulled with the energy of despair, but loaded deeply and closely crowded they made slow progress. Just before reaching file boat The water spout made a peculiar whirl outward to ward the ship, as if to mako certain of cutting off their escape, and then thoy were shut out of sight. Instantly down went both cutters into the water, and their crows wero in them and giving way toward the confer of tho stream before tho thick mist had cleared off. Then, to our groat relief and surprise, the boat with tho swimming party emerged from the gloom, evoiy man drenched and exhausted by the nervous Btrain. but otherwise safe. The waterspout, by its sudden gyration toward the ship, ha I just missed tho boat, and though nearly swamped by the agitation in its wako they hud escaped. A somewhat remarkable incident hap pened at the terrible Louisville tornado of last April. A frame building had been de molished by the fierce blast. A party searching for tho dead and wounded, in passing, heard faint sounds coming from the very center of the pile of boards and shingles. As they went to work the sounds became more distinct. Several bodies were quickly recovored. being those of tho owner of tho cabin and his wife—a poor shoemaker. Presently there was a shout of exulta tion. in one corner of the ruin, complete ly sheltered by tho beams and boarding, which had formed an arch above it. sat a chubby 18-mouths-old baby. It was cov ered with dust and hemmed in on every side, but not a hair of its little head was injured. When the searchers uncovered it the pudgy face broke into a merry laugh, and the little hand 9 dropped the chips of timber thoy had boon playing with and wero extended to the rescuers. A meteorologist iu the employ of the United. statos Signal Service was asked re ▲ RACE WITH A TORNADO. cently II a cyclone had over been photo graphed. "Never. I believe," ho replied, "although it possibly could bo done. With a tornado the case is different. The latter is a com paratively limited affair, although it has tremendous power compressed in its nar row unnel. A tornado's track will some times bo not more than a quarter of a mile wide, while a cyclone takes in a much lar ger territory, frequently many miles. Both aro generated by the intermingling of cold and warm air currents, and both have the same rotary motion. The gyrations of the tornado may be distinguished a consider able distance off from the actual scene of disturbance. Tornadoes almost invariably follow in the truck of a severe storm, and go in a northeasterly direction. Their ve locity varies from 50 to possibly as high as 150 miles an hour. Such is tho speed of a tornado that its duration at anv one point is rarely more than a minute or two. Sometimes, how ever, it makes a detou . and returns to wreak tresli havoc. In this country the tendency of all inland storms is northeast or north-northeast. Tho great spiral col umn of the tornado as it rushes along sways backward and forward, and any-ob jects that lie in its path are sucked up in the vortex and whirled through the centrul funnel to be ejected with terrific force at tho top. generally in fragments The premonitions of a cyclone aro a fresh breeze setting in from the with a sultry atmosphere and banking clouds to tho north or northwest. Those indications aro accompanie I bv a gradual fall of the barometer, much moro decided, but loss sudden, than in the case of a tornado. When fairly started tho cyclone will travel RKMARKAHI.E BBCAPK OP AN INPANT. immense distances, sometimes over 1.000 miles. Its rotary motion is similar to that of the tornado, but less concentrated, ow ing to its wider expanse. Its lino of prog ress is marked by curves, showing a sway ing movement where it has encountered conflicting conditions and either overcome or avoided them. A peculiarity of all great cyclonio storms is that, while the storm it "l NKVKfI ALLOWED SUE COULD CLIMB A TREE." self may bo traveling at the slow rate of ten or twelve miles an hour, the wind may bo rusiiiug ahead at a velocity of 100 miles an hour. No cyclone or tornado ever begins earlier than 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The at mospheric conditions are never present be'o e that hour. Nor will a cyclone ever originate later than sundown. one c me aft-r tnat you muv set it down asn visitor that has traveled ever since after noon. and which will keep on traveling un til the supply of material is exhausted. In the Southw* st we can toll bv the aopear anco of tho sky whether there is any likeli hood of a tornado. If, during the after noon. there is a warm, southwest wind and the sky Is lull of clrrhus clouds, and if at the same time there is a bank of dark 3loud* gradually rising in the northwost, these signs mean in'allibly that when the 2old storm from the northwest onoountors tho hot wind, the two. rushing togother, will start a tornado spinning ou its travels. Bv day, the color of tho torpado_§a itjg men upproucnnig is almost tirassy; by light it presents a coppery hue. and can be Illicitly detected by experienced eyes. The only thing to do at such times is to make (or the cellur unless one is confident he is already in a place of safety. Enjoyment at Home. Don't shut up your house, lest the sun should fade your carpets; and your hearts, lest a merry laugh should shako down some of the musty old cobwebs there. If you want to ruin your sons, let them think that all mirth and social enjoyment must be left on the thresh old without when they come home at night. When once a home is regarded as only a place to eat, drink, and sleep 1 in, the work is begun that ends in ' endless degradation. Young people must have fun and relaxation some where ; if they don't have it at theii own hearthstones it will be sought at other and perhaps less profitable places. Therefore, let the fire burn brightly at night, and make the home stead delightful with all those little arts that parents so perfectly under stand. Don't repress the buoyant spirit ot your children; half an hour of merri ment around the lamp and firelight ol a home blots ont many a care and an noyance during the day, and the best safeguard they can take with them in to the world is the unseen influence ol a bright little domestic circle. Put home first and foremost, for there will come a time when the home circle will be broken; when you will "long for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still," and when your greatest pleasure will be in remembering that you did all in your power to put a song under every burden to make each other happy.— Albany Journal. A Fresh Agent. "When much younger than I am now," said an old newspaper man, "I sold sewing machines. You may rest assured I was a trifle fresh, and suf fered therefor, as the following adven ture will show : Near the close of a hot August day I was driving through the little village of G—— to the town where I made my headquarters. Sud denly a big black cloud appeared in the sky. and when my played out horse had covered half a mile the rain came dancing down. I had two machines on and no blanket. To save myself and machines from getting drenched, I drove for the only house within a ra dius of a mile. X was a sorry sight when I reached that old oountry man sion half hidden by tall maples. Jump ing out, I knocked at the door and ex plained that I would like to leave my machines temporarily, in order to save them from the storm. Before I made the request I discovered that the young lady who responded to mv knock was one with whom, much against her will, I had left a machine on trial a month or two before, and had only taken it back after repeated protestations on her part that she did not want it. You understand, wo used to get a machine into a house by representing that we would leave it on trial. But once we got it into the house wo insisted on its being bought, and used every per suasive art to accomplish that result. Frequently this was very embarrass ing to the lady of the house, and she never forgave us for the annoyauce of leaving the machine for weeks, and asking her every other day if she wouldn't buy, when she had emphati cally declared she would not. Now was the turn of the young lady in the old fashioned house to get square. And although the rain had nearly washed the machine out of the wagon, she slamuiod the door in my face, and then sat by the window enjoying my discom fiture to her heart's content. As I prepared to drive away, I turned my head, and beheld her pretty face bub bling over with smiles. When I reached N I was a sight to behold. But the experience cured my freshness."— Boston Globe. A Narrow Escape. Somebody has been trying to prove that war is not so dangerous, on the whole, as somo other agents of destruc tion; however that may be, its perils are not confined to those in action, as the following anecdote demonstrates: There were some narrow escapes among thoso who were off duty in camp. One day a solid shot, with unmannerly rudeness, came bounding into camp, passing through a group of soldiers who had just collected for tlioir w arm rations. At the same instant it pros trated the cook, demolished the mess kettle, and irreverently baptized the best Hng with bean porridge. The cook proved to be only "temporarily killed" by the gravel which the shot had thrown against him, and was soon able to resume his work. About the same time a sick soldier was lying in his tent, with his knapsack for a pillow. Ho was suppose! 1 to be quite out oi harm's way, but a Noliil shot, styled by the boys a "pickle" from its resem bianco in size and shape to a cucum ber, struck the knap Hack and carried il clean away. The onlv inconvenience to the invalid was the loss of the knap sack and the sudden letting down oi his head. As the pillow was scarcely thicker tliau the missile, this might b< jailed litorally a hnir-breadth escape SUOAR-CANK, according to Mr. T). Morris, is nowhere found wild, and il has been supposed to have lost its power of producing seed. In apeci mens received at Kew Gardens, how ever, seeds have been found. This dis covery is important, as it is that cross-fertilization and selections oi seedlings may greatly improve tlu plant. THE CZAR AND FAMILY. A PLEASANT PICTURE OP THEIR HOME LIVE. AUxantlei of KUHHIU. Hi* Wife, AMI Hi* Children—Strange Contradiction in tlio Character of the Emperor Endowed with Plenty of Personal Courage—Ex ample* of His Bravery. fTIE present auto crat of all the Rus sias came to the throne under cir cumstances special ly calculated to im press him with the fact that the most powerful monarch is helpless again-.t the consequences oi serious discontent among even a frac tion of his people. The lesson was not lost, and internal difficulties of vari ous kinds have often given warning reminders of its signifi cance. Alexander 111. undoubtedly endeavors more frequently thnu his predecessors to take iuto account the sentiments and aspirations of his peo ple. Though the word "foreigner" is in the mind of tho Czar equivalent to a term of reproach, he is himself, little as he supposes it, very like a foreigner in his own country. Thauks to the complete suppression of everything approaching an expression of public opinion, he has little means of ascer taining the drift of national feeliug. and from personal experience he knows nothing of any class but the higher officials of the state. It must THE CZARINA. THE CZAROWITZ, ORAND DUCHESS XKNIA. GRAND DDES MICHAEL. THE EMPEROR. GRAND DUCSEBB OLGA, GRAND DUKE GEORGB. not be supposed that his consideration for the wants of his people is due only to selfish motives. Far from it. The ■ present Emperor of Bussia is a man of truly noble character, thoroughly honest in purpose, sincerely religious, kind in heart, and most disinterest edly solicitious for the welfare of his country. There is, however, one strange apparent contradiction in his character which may yet have sinister results. The Czar is not gifted with the extraordinary intelligence which would be desirable in his position ; nn man is more modest as to his personal j merits and ability, but there is 110 j man in this world so impressed with , his own importance, in the peculiar | light in which he views himself, as the 1 divinely appointed head of the only ' true faith and of a specially chosen I people. The most devoted of husbands, he is yet ever conscious that his wife, born a foreigner, of alien faith, remains out- j side the pale, and consequently the Empress has as little influence in his counsels as if she were a stranger to him. The ollice of Czar is, he con- j eiders, a holy office; no other mortal than the holder of that ofiice is on anything approaching the same ex- ! alted level. Any real or supposed slight or injury to the chosen people, the Russians—to their semi-divine head, the Czar —or to the only- true faith, the orthodox Greek faith—will immediately rouse all that is stubborn in the character of Alexander 111., j and will be promptly avenged. I A true lover of pence, he will nevertheless, without a moment's hesitation, plunge I his country into disastrous war, ugainst i any odds, to fulfill what 110 considers his sacred duty. This is the real and great danger - which threatens the world through 1 Alexander lll.'s belief in the sanctity \ of his own pers-in; and this belief has been extraordinarily strengthened, and j PETEnnoFF PALACE. the consequent danger greatly aggra- | vatcd, by the marvelous escape of the imperial family in the Borki accident —an escape which is confidently at-' tributed to the special interposition of the divinity 011 behalf of His chosen and favored servant. Tho Czar was married in 18(>7 to the Princess Dagniar of Denmark, then in her twentieth year, writes William E. Curtis, in his book 011 Russia. They have four children living and have buried one. Tho eldest, the Czarowitz, or Crown Prince, is Nicholas, aged 20; . the second is tlie Grand Duchess I Georgia, aged 15; the third is the Grand Duchess Xenia, aged 12; the fourth is the Grand Duke Michael, aged 0; and the youngest is Uw Grand . Duchess Olga, aged 4. TEH Czar ina is three years younger than her sister, the Princess of Wales. Tho Crown Prince Nicholas is Colonel of a 1 regiment of the Horse Guards, which is always commanded by the Crown . Prince from the minute he is born till | the crown of Russia is placed upon hiH head. Then he. is .anpposed to take command not only of the entire armies and the navy, and become the head of the church as well as the slate, but is Captain of a company of bombardiers and Colonel of the Begiment of the Transfiguration,whose duty is to guard the Winter Palace—the finest body of troops in the service. Alexander earned distinction as a soldier during the last war between ltussia and Turkey, and any one who is familiar with liis military career need not be told that he has plenty of personal courage. I saw him several times; once at a station of the railway where he had driven from the palace to meet the Crown Prince of Greece. He had driven a pair of horses through a public highway four miles or more, sitting on the front seat of a basket phaeton, and he drives about the coun try daily in the same manner. I saw him again at the fete given in the park that surrounds the palace, on the birth day of the Empress. He sat upon the front seat of a high wagon, in full uni form, with the Empress beside him, and the remainder of the imperial fam ily on the back seats, and drove slowly through the illuminated grounds, which were brilliant with flames anil crowded with almost the entire popula tion of Petersburg. Tho imperial party was preceded by a squad of mounted Cossacks who cleared the way, and was followed by a number of carriages containing royal visitors and ladies and gentlemen of the court. There was a roar of cheers from the immense crowds who pushed ' back into the shrubbery to give room . for the horses and wheels, and both the Czar and Czarina were kept busy I lowing to the throng, who shouted and waved their hats and handkerchiefs as they passed. He was a fina mark for a nihilist as he sat upon the high perch, CZAR'S PRIVATE PAI.ACR. and the police were fearful lest a shot should be fired; but the Czar was de termined to show himself to the people, and rode through the park for two hours. Sufficient. "Have you a family?" asked a West ern judge of a man who was making final proof ill a United Statos land office. "Yes, sir," replied the man. "Of what does it consist?" "Well," said the man, evidently con fused, anil looking up toward the ceil ing, as if to refresh his memory, "it consists of my wife, ten children, two hired men, a gang plow, a seeder, a Bain wagon anil a span of mules. I be lieve that's all." "That is enough," replied the judge, with a smile, and the set tler got his papers without further questioning. Where Billiards Originated. "I am satisfied now," spoke the funny man as he awoke, "that the heathen Chinee is the originator of the game of billiards." "How do you make that?" asked one of the party. "Because they handle the queue so well," responded the funny man, as ho dodged the just stroke of the injured party. Why They Are Called Church Widows. "What wonld the churches do if it wasn't for the women?" inquired one citizen of another as the two met in a readiug-room. "They are very successful in church work, that's certain," answered his friend carelessly, adding "Give me a light, Charlie." "I)o you know what they call those excellent women who go to church alone avery Sunday V" asked the first speaker. "No. It must he some saintly title, I'm sure." "They are known as church widows, because their husbands are never seen with them. It w ill he a little hard on some husbands if after all they can't get into heaven, by proxy, won't it ?" Saloon or Mine. Wicks—l don't think I know Sen ator Striker. Where is his saloon situ ated? Ilicks—Oh, he is not an Eastern 3enator. He represents a Western State. Wioks—A Western man. oh? Where iB his silver mine?— Boston Tran script. BETBEOLINE lias antiseptic proper ties, and is said to be valuablo as a food preservative. HOW TOMMY GOT AS EDUCATION. BY HELEN A STEINHAUEB. If el en, anil see Solomon These were the m ened me, a hap /jSttjij WM py, care-free lit- WfW H tie girl in sea- VaJSwt ■ tf' rt ''amaica, my fP my sixth bfrth- Need I say that ' soon was stauil / ' bashed, a tiny,. our colored serv ing-man, eager to see what he could possibly have brought me from the woods on this beautiful, bright birth day of mine. He once had gotten me a big, round eyed owl that winked and blinked cu riously, and gulped down chunks of raw meat and fish, and caught anil ate rats and mice and other small game; but one unhappy day he also caught and killed my wee kitten, which had not got its eyes open yet, and as that was an unforgivable crime he was summarily banished, in dire disgrace, to his native forests, and never heard from more. Another time Solomon had brought me a pet lizard—with lovely glisten ing scales! —which he had tamed for me. He often brought mamma brill iant many-hueil flowers from the cool depths of the thick woods, which white ladies were afraid to venture into be cause of the poisonous snakes and troublesome insects with which they were infested. He hnd also from time to time made valuable additions to Eapa's herbarium of rare plants, which e alone knew where to find. But what could he now have brought to me' "Something for little missv," he said, exposing two rows of even, white teeth as he smiled. And then he held out his right hand, over which a white cloth was loosely wrapped. Something moved underneath it, and I fancied 1 heard a faint chirp or twit ter, so I was not much astonished when, on removing it, he showed me two bright-green parrots. 1 named them Tommy and Lizzie, and they flourished finely and grew apace. Pretty soon papa Haid that we must begin to teach them. But Lizzie wouldn't take an educa tion. She was an incorrigible cross patch, and not only refused to try to talk herself but did all in her power to hinder Tommy. She squawked, and squawked, or else chattered at him, just as if she were scolding him. He was a gentle, affectionate, and very teachable little fellow; but he had a hard time learning to talk, for it made Lizzie so mad to have him try that she would fly at him and tear out his feathers till he was a sorrv-looking sight. We had another large parrot named The Queen, which belonged to our house-keeper, Mrs. Dawson. She had a variety of colors in her plumage and was very accomplished, for she was an old bird and had been accumulating knowledge for many years. She evi dently looked down on the little new comers, and when Lizzie Bquawked would cry: "Hush! hush! you'll wako the baby," although there wasn't any child in the house but me; but when Tommy tried to practice his lesson she always said, fiercely: "Stop that right off!" Which so frightened him that he would cower into a little round, green puff-ball, and not try again for quite a while. So we began to fear that Tommy never would get an education, but just grow up an ignorant, worthless parrot, unable either to talk or to sing. But he was quito a smart little bird, after all, as he proved to us one morn ing. Ho was so tamo and gentle that we lot his wings grow, as there was no danger of his wanting to fly away and leave us; but Lizzie's wings were kept well clipped, for she was of a restless, discontented disposition and a great rover, anil if able to fly might have tempted Tommy away. Well, where do you think we found him one morning when we came out from breakfast? Sitting on the win dow-sill, across a very wide stair-well over the broad stairs that led into the back" yard. There Lizzie could not possible reach him, so there he sat and practiced tho little song we had been trying to teach him. "Tommy Tommy Tommy set- Tommy set —Tommy," eto. The Queen always went to meals with us, consequently she was as muoh surprised to see him thoro as we were. But when she saw that he really meant business, she gracefully yielded and let him alone in his pursuit of knowl edge. So every little while he retreat ed to his study for practice, till, after several days' effort, he mastered the whole, and could sing, clearly, distinct ly, and in very good time: "Tommy, set tho kettle oil, We all want tea." Then ho felt that he had earned a place in society, and went boldly about the house singing his little couplet. To The Queen's credit, be it said, Bhe no longer snubbed him, but ever after let him learn what he pleased and where he pleased. Lizzie sim ply submitted to the inevitable; but I think that beneath her feathers she was rathor proud of having so learned a bird for her mate. BATTLB CRUSH, Mleh. COMPOUND locomotives are to be the railway engines of the future, in the opinion of Mr. T. Urquhart, of the Lon doulustitution of MeahanicalEngineers, In competitive trials a compound loco motive consumod 22 per cent, less fuel than an ordinary locomotive running under exactly tho same conditions. IN fancy work women frequently get worsted. A NEW pnonograpu, sani to uc mucn simpler than any other so far intro duced, has lately appeared in Milan. It can reproduce music and the human voice in a most marvelous manner, and one of its features is its cheapness, the wax cylinders used costing only twenty five centimes. BEFORE people should expose their ignorance they Bhoutd examino their education, and separate what was taught from hooks from what wan taught by themselves. THE old toper always has a gin phiz.
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