FREELAND TRIBUNE. PUBLISH KD EVEKY MONDAY AND TnUHSDAY. rilOS. A. BUCKLEY, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE: MAIN STREET ABOVE CENTRE. HUINSCRIPTION BATES. One Year $1 fiO Six Months 75 Four Months - 60 Two Months 25 Subscribers are requested to observe the data following the name on the labels of their pupera. Dj referring to this they can toll at a glance how they stand on the books In this office. For instance; ti rover Cleveland 28J uncflS means that Drover is paid up to June 28, IHO6, Keep tbe figures in advance of tho present data. Ib?port promptly to this office when your paper Is not received. All arrearages must bo paid when paper la discontinued, or collection will be made in the manner provided by law. A New York woman has pawned the ashes of her cremated husband for $125. Some New York husbands, it seems, are worth more dead than alive. The $3f>4,000 stolen by Bookkeeper Seeley has evaporated, leaving nothing behind It. For ull bis pains Seeley has nothing left but a penitentiary sen tence. If LI Hung Chang really has $500.- 000,000 It seems strange that he would remain iu Chlua as a punchiug-bag for Japan when he could enjoy himself lu this country for several months on that amount. Patents have been issued at Wash- i ingtou to a Western man for un electri- ! cal device making collision of trains j impossible. The invention Is timely for the Chicago tunnel-using corpora tions. But there is not the slightest likelihood that they will adopt it so long as they can buy up Council mem bers enough to save money on safety devices. North Carolina is tho latest State to agitate for good roads. The people there have J tuft awakened—or been awakened, rather—to the fact that for eight months In the year when their roads are at the best a 2,000-pouiul load Is about an average for two horses, which in the bad season is reduced to 1,000, while oil a good inue udam road the average load for two horses is 4,000 pounds. A few object lessons of this character will teach the people that poor roads are tho poorest kind of economy. Our exchanges tell of the organization of a peculiar society in Detroit called the "Anti-Kissing League." Its sole purpose Is to discourage those emo tional persons who llnd relief from high pressure feelings only in oscula tion. The platform of the league Is "Kissing must go!" and Its members have adopted as a distinctive badge a bright, red ribbon, worn In the button hole or at the throat. This flaming red i challenge Is not Intended to invite to contest, but to warn all would-be tres passers to "keep off the grass," iiguru tively speaking. In view of the fact that thus far the membership includes only unmarried women over 40 years old, perhaps it is just as well to label them plainly in order to prevent waste of time and emotional energy. The complacency of England and Canada toward this country in the mat ter of canal policies would be lovely If It were not for future possibilities. Eng land Is as willing that the United States should construct the Nicaragua canal as It. was that France and Egypt should construct the Suez canal, which It now owns. Canada offers permission to the United States to take control of the en tire system of Canadian canals and keep them in repair. In both cases, that of Nicaragua ami that of Canada, tho canals, after the United States should take control, would be Just as free to British and Canadian commerce re spectively as they would be if England and Canada should be at the cost of construction and repair. They are per fectly willing that the United States should pay all the expense of the canals for the joint use and benefit of all par lies concerned. It Is a remarkably edi fying display of international good na ture. The Cramps get $414,G00 premiums on the new cruiser Minneapolis be cause of making it more speedy than the contract demanded. Why should not tho contracts of the Government fix the speed of the vessel to be built find hold the builders to that speed wllhout bonus or premium. Govern ment offioers design the new men-of war and their designs fix practically the speeding possibilities. It is folly to make a contract for an oightoon-knot vessel with a big premium to the build ers If sho goes twenty knots. Why not make the contract call for twenty knots? The existing system by which the Cramps get $414,(>00 in premiums on one vessel is as unbusiness-like as it would 1k for a builder to say to a contractor: "Here is a plan for a 100- room building. You can bid on It with the understanding that if you con squeeze In 101 rooms you shall have a bonus of 10 per cent, on the amount of your bid." The Mustache. It Is Spain that is credited with the origin of the mustache. At a period af ter the Moorish Invasion, when the Christian and Moslem populations he came so mixed that it was hard to say which were Moors ami which Span iards, the pious Spaniards hit upon the mustache as a means of identification. They permitted the hair on the upper lip to grow, and also a tuft on the under lip, an outline of the cross being thus formed. CURFEW TIDE. 'The long day closes." ! Tho thrushes sln'jf In every tree ; The shndows long an l longer grow; Broad sunbeams Ho athwart tho loa ; Tho oxen low ; Bound roof and tower tho swallows slide ; And slowly, slowly sinks tho sun, At curfew tide, When day Is dono. Sweet sloop, tho nlght-tlmo's fairest child, O'er all tho world her pinions spreads ; Each flower, beneath hor lofluenco mild, Fresh fragranco shed ; The owls, on silent wings and wide, Steal from tho woodlands, ono by ono, At curfow tide, When day is done. Tho more the clanging rookery ring 3 With voico of many a noisy bird ; Tho startled wood-dovo's clattering wings No more are hoard ; With sounds llko whispers faintly sighed, Soft breezes through tho troo-tops run, At curfow tide, When day is dono. Eo may it bo when life is spent, When ne'er another sun can rise, Nor light ono other joy present To dying eyes ; Then softly may the spirit glide To realms of rest, undisturbed by none, At curfew tide, When day is done. —S. Cornish Wutkins, In Ckambors's Journal. A BLUNDER RECTIFIED. J /l liS. MORLEY was a u\ ai w *^° w,it Not, _ If B of course, that sho /vJll a bad over longed for \f a that state, for Mrs. i Morley had a good, I vX) sensible head on her pretty slio u 1- |i \ .if dors and she l//( (At V\'i- 1 know she had taken f 1/1 fill 1 \\\\ k° r late husband II ill fj L |l; not only for better u I but also for worse, 1 N probably. [Then, too, she was a young Tut.... jl- woman of conscience ami she hail tried to bear all the de ceased Mr. Morley's ill points as a' good, true wife should. Iu fact, she had succeeded so well that, whou the poor man finally realized that he had to die, he honestly confessed that he had been most wrong in his past treatment of her and died with a hal f finished, penitent sentence of praise for her on his white lips. However, Mrs. Morley all at once woke up to the fact that there was just a hint of relief in tho realization that there was no longer a crpven minded, coarse-bodied man to scatter discord along her whole pathway of life. She was deeply ashamed of her self when she (iuaily recognized this disloyalty, and cried half the night iu sheer fear anil doubt for her future. Nevertheless, by tbe time that her lawyer had brought order out of the chaos of hor husband's Bmall means anil had graciously informed her that grim starvation stared her iu the face, she had arrived at tho point where she eoulil swallow her last sob, give her pretty, tired eyes a farewell dash of tears anil set her snowy little teeth in firm determination. But what should she do? She didn't know a typewriter half so intimately as she did a sewing-machine, anil she was as completely ignorant of tho latter apparatus as a girl of twelve. Sho could manage a house, it is true, for hadn't she presided at tho head of the late Mr. Morley's stormy household for the last five years? However, af ter she had nustvered tho advertise ment of a gay young bachelor who smiled altogether too fondly, and called to seo a crusty old widower, auil found that sho was supposed to play mother to half dozen irritable, neg lected littlo sons, she gavo up all hopes in that direction. She even contemplated selling tape in a large store, but after she had watched a poor, harassed salesgirl for a few minutes sho gulped dowu a choking sensation in her throat anil forswore that as a possible opening. Her best pair of gloves were out at the tips; she had had to eschew sugar in her toa last night, and, taking it all in all, poor little Mrs. Morley, for the first time since his death, began to feel a rising indignation towards tho man whose unfeeling selfishness had left her so thoroughly helpless. It was raining sharply, anil tho de mure-mouthed young widow had drawn her curtaius close, extravag antly heaped her last coal on her toy like fire, and settled herself for her lonely tea, this timo not only lacking in tho nsual sweetening accessory but flanked by only a half-share of wafers. Suddenly there came a most per emptory knock on her outsido door. Instantly all signsof louliness vanished in the face of this new calamity of a visitor when she was so unprepared. While she flow into her next room and made a frantic toilet before tbe tiny mirror she gavo a sigh of roliet when she realized that it couldn't bo a visi tor on such a stormy evening and just at t! o'clock. So with a bravo front sho threw open tho door, and the look of per plexity on her deur littlo face gave way before a gasp of alarm, as her visitor proved to bo handsome, wealthy James Orr, tho man she had rojeetod years before for tho apparently su perior charms of tho then dazzling Mr. Morley. There was nothing to do but to ask him in, and when ho was seatod boforo hor miserably meagre fire it was hard to tell which face wore tho more puz zled look—hers, why he had come, and his, how this dainty, lovely woman managed to subsist in a rented parlor, where tho carpets didn't reach the north wall by six iuclies and where flie one pitiful lamp was gruesomely pale. _ "It's raining, isn't it?" begun she desperately, as though sho hadn't just helped him to deposit his dripping mackintosh and umbrella in tho hall without. "Yes, pretty hard," he ndmittod. Then it all at once struck him that a call under such circumstances and at this unusual timo of the evening might need explanation, and ho went on: "You see, I happened to be passing on my way to tho club and—and I heard tho other day that you were here— and—and I thought I'd just stop a few minutes to seo how you were." "Thank you," was her only reply. It was a source of deep shame to this woman that sho was at. a great lo3s for something to say, as if she had been a schoolgirl. Finally his eyes lighted upon the tiny table, which she in her haste had forgotten to hide in some way, and ho said, with a great show of case: "Oh, please, Mrs. Morley, make mo soino tea—it's decidedly chilly out, you know." "Who would expect a man of his wealth to know?" asked poor Mrs. Morley to herself, as sho set about her task with trembling fingers. "I'm afraid the alcohol will give out before the water is even warmed, and tho sugar—and tho va'ers—oh, dear!" and two big tears rose so unex pectedly that tho fine, blond-bearded face across from her became all at once blurred. Mr. Orr saw tho tears, noted with quick terror how palely tho little bue flame burned, a hasty glauco at the plate before him revealed only three little wafers, and ho was kind enough to turn his head away so that she could slip tho cover over the low sugar bowl to hide its emptiness. The bachelor showed remarkable grace for one of his kind, for he smil ingly declined her invitation to one of the three thin wafers with the re mark : "I'm not actually hungry, you see. I dined downtown." (She knew ho was prevaricating.) "I just wanted to see you working with your pretty things." Mrs. Morley nodded back at him gratefully, and had half a mind to confess that these bits of china were tho lust relics of her old home, and that she had been wondering a half hour before ho came how much they would go towards paying the rent, which was now two weeks overdue. But, some way, sho couldn't just briug herself to it, and ho heroically sipped at his weak, savorless tea, and didn't blink an eyelash when sho looked him fairly in tho face and told him that sho had finished her evening ineul be fore he had come in. AH conversation lagged, Mr. Orr finally folded his hands over his kube and lixing his eyes on the fast-dying lire, said: "Do you know that I do not like to call you 'Mrs.' ?" The little widow's palo cheeks light ed up with an encouraging glow us she replied: "It is ever so much better than to be 'Miss,' you know. It's vastly bet ter to be 'MM.' thau 'Miss' at twenty six. I prefer to be a widow to an old maid." Mr. Orr's lips sot a moment in fierce elFort to keep back his thoughts, but at last ho answered, bluntly : "Perhaps so if ouo doesn't mourn for tho late departed." A glow, half of shame, half of anger, flew to her very eyes, but his strong, steady gaze conquered her, and her chin began to quiver. "I seo that you know me," was the low reply, "ami I am glad of it. I am not sorry that Mr. Morley is gone. While he lived I was loyal indeed and thought, although 1 knew then that you—that all my friends—pitied me. Still, I was true to him iu spite of all, but uow that there is no further use iu it I will not be hypocrite enough to pretend that I love his memory. I think that you will hate me loss to know that I no longer sham than to think that I am so blind as to love such a failure of a man as he. Life is unbearable iu many ways, but it at least has tho charm of being no longer a farce. Pretense is over. Yes, it is a relief to quit shamming, but I've got to go to work, you know, and that isn't very funny." A sudden light of hope flew into Orr's sympathetic eyes, and ho asked eagerly: "That is an cxcellont idea—a littlo work will take you out of yourself. What cau you do?" "Nothing," was the nervous reply, as sho held out two empty white hands. "I'm absolutely useless. I've tried and tried, and everybody wants typewriters and stenographers, ami I can't see a bit of sense in all tho littlo scratches and clots and things." "That's true," granted the man, ambiguously, as tho vision of tho pretty woman opposite him bending her dainty head nil day over some dull-clicking mashino in a smoko-cir cled downtown oflico rose before him. "You mustn't think of working among men, you know." "But there isn't any demand for china-painting, and I can't lind any old lady who wants a companion." "Butyou embroider?"asked ho, his tonguo faltering a littlo over tho un usual words. He had a picture, a far ofF memory of a brown, girlish head bent over a big strip of somo gay cloth, while her full red lips pouted prettily becatiso the impossible blue flower would insist ou coming out wrong. "A little. I cau't sew, you know ; I never tried it except to my baby's clothes, and they weren't well dono, even when I tried so hard." lie didn't reply to this. In the first place ho know that the greatest joy of her life had been the baby, and her sharpest grief when the little one hud died. Besides, ho didn't like to have her talk of Morley's baby. "You cnu write beautifully," ho be gan, as under a new inspiration. •'But 110 one wantslonir hand now." "Ob, my dear Mrs.—Mrs. Morley, there is just where you're mistaken. I'm in great need of some ono at the office at this present timo to do—to do some special correspondence. A typewriter is so cheerless, cold, don't you know, and if you'll be so kind—" She realized perfectly well that all this was a mere excuse, but a glauco at the empty teacups settled her. "Thank you, if I can do it. When do you need me?" "To-morrow morning," camo the eager answer, as his eyes fairly shone at the success of bis little ruse. "Bright and early—no, not that, for you aren't used to early rising. Any time in tho forenoon will do excellent ly, and you mustn't dreuru of incon veniencin - yourself. The work will be light, I promise you, but as—as it's so important, it will bo a great favor to me." All this time ho had beon getting into liis coat, as though fearing that a delay might ruin all his plans. Ho was now at deceit, and the strain was mak ing him decidedly irresponsible. Be sides, he knew that sho wanted to in dulgo in a good cry, and all the way up to tho club he was lingering at his crookedly-buttoned mackintosh, while his dinner went untastod as ho remem bered the sad plate of wafers off there in tho dingy boarding house. He went to tho office at daybreak next morning to trump up somo plans for this mysterious correspondence, which ho had promised Mrs. Morley awaited her dainty chirography. Sho was early too, howovor, and he ground his teeth in rago as he noted how pale she was and how frequently she lifted her white hands to her temples. "The poor (darling's hungry," he gasped, as ho noticed that her stop was a littlo unsteady. It was only a few minutes past eleven o'clock, but he couldn't endure it any longer, so ho said, with a great show of studied carelessness: "Won't you do mo tho honor to go out to luuch with 1110, Mm. Morley? Yes, I'll grunt it's n littlo early, but I don't like to be rushed, and I'll have to get back before one. You know, Todd, you're going out at one." Todd, otherwise Mr. Orr's partner, looked a trifle quizzled, for thore hadn't been a word said about lunch. Moreover, the two men generally went out together, and Orr hastened to ex plain this away by remarking, as ho thrust his arm into his topcoat: "You know, Todd, that mau Smith may be here at any minute, and one of us must see him." Todd nibbled at his pencil to hido a grin, but fell m immediately at the mention of this fictitious "mau Smith" and bravely kept down his laughter till Orr had tenderly bundled Mrs. Morley up in her scanty wrap and had softly closed the door behind them. Orr insisted that he always lunched at tho ladies' tea room, though Mrs. Morley noticed that ho had to ask a man which was his floor. It was a place where she had often come in her good old days of shopping, and, without a word, led the way to a fur ther coruer and set her teeth to keep back tho tears. Aftewards sho mar veled how even a woman can give her self up to the baser occupation of mere eating, but ho was so glad in watching her that ho couldu't touch u morsel. All at once she noticed what ho was doing and a flush of shame flow to her faeo. An answeriug, reas suring smile mot her glance, aud all barriers of pretence between them finally went down in au ignoble heap. "I was F.O hungry," she faltered, simply. "I know it," was his low roply. All tho reserve, the awkwardness of tho night before had left him, and at last he was master of tho situation. "You were hungry last night, too, Ruth, but you won't bo ever again." Her eyes fell slowly on her foldod bauds, lying helplessly in tho cloth before her, but sho said never a word, lie went on softly: "Thoro is no uso in my tolliug you that I love you. I told you so once, and you know I havo never changed. You wouldn't listen then, but the mistake is all past now," and ho laid his palm over her two littlo trembling hands, while she lifted her tear brimmed eyes to look out on tho gray scene before her—a tall, bleak wall, through tho rain-splashed window. "When will you remedy that mis take, Ruth? Do not make us suffer any longer for a past blunder." She was suddenly conscious of tho fact that lie had slowly drawn off her wedding ring, and a gasp of fear broke from her lips; it hadn't boen removed since Mr. Morley had placed it there, one flower-laden Juno night five years ago. Then the full purport of his words camo to her, and she was frightened that ho had let it go so far. "Don't," she sobbed, trying to re lease her hands. "This is too noon; lie has been dead only six months; why did I not stop you long ago?" "Because," laughed Mr. Orr, hap pily, "because youv heart was prompt ing you until your sense of propriety came in to spoil it all. Other people have been considered too long in our case, and it is to be only you and I iu the future. Come, when will you put asido this long black gown, anil—" The consciousness that 6ho was pow erless beforo his pleadings overcamo her, so she merely smiled up in a tearful roply: "I can't very weR dispenso with this gown, you see, and I haven't been able to afford any moro than this." Orr's joy was becoming ridiculous, for ho leaned nearer towards hor chair and answered: "Then I am suro that you'll not keep me waiting long. A woman's pride may keep her alive on tasteless wafers and insipid ten, but even Mrs. Grundv loses her terror before the fact of only one decent gown." Ami evidently Mrs. Morloy agreed with Uiui. for she nicked uu the old timo ring and slowly dropped it into his open hand, as sho said: "There take it, and keep it, so I shall never see it again. And you may bring another one next week." And tho waiter smiled iu sympathy as he bore down upon them with tho linger bowls. SELECT SITTINGS. It takes a snail exactly fourteen days and live hours to travol a mile. The Russians aro tho most religious persons on the face of tho globe. Single stones in tho walls surround ing Baal bee weigh 3,000,000 pounds each. Tho eggs of tho Bahama cuckoo are held at 8100 per set by dealers in birds' eggs. A 222-ounco gold nugget, in tho shape of a horse shoe, has been discov ered at Hargraves, Australia. Vienna, Austria, is to havo an ele vated railroad with the wheels on top of the cars, which will hang suspended from the rails. Bobbing graves is tho ouly crime under Chinese law for which the thief may be justly killed on tho spot by any one finding him out. There is a miniature Indian corn grown iu Brazil. The oars aro not larger than a littlo finger, aud the grains are the size of mustard seeds. To prevent lamp chimneys from cracking put them into a kettle of cold water, gradually heat it tiil it boils, and then let it us gradually cool. In 931 a drought began in Europe lasting four years. Tho summers were intensely hot and tho famiao prevailed everywhere; 3,000,030 people died of hunger. lii Napoleon's early wars ono out of each twenty-eight was killed, aud in the early British coutlicts as high an average as one death to each ninctoen engaged is rejmrtod. A man in Melbourne, Australia, has a trained kangaroo. Ho makes it jump long distauces by prodding it with a red-hot poker. Its longest jump is thirty-four feet seven inches. Allen W. Wluttington, of Wilkes County, North Carolina, is the oldest magistrate in tho State. He is now over ninety-four years of age, and lately married Miss Mariah Vanuoy, aged forty-one years. A great sensation has boon caused in Austria by tho imprisonment of a fourteen-year-old boy on tho charge of high treason. Ho was tried in secret and condemned to hard labor in prison for two months. In tho year 1803 a perfect shower of stones fell in tho farming country adjacent to L'Aigle, France—upward of 3000 separate stones falling upon a wedge-shaped section of country eight miles long by about four miles wide. The battle of Gettysburg resulted in the greatest loss of life of any bat tle of tho Civil War. There were 3070 Federal troops killed, 14,497 wound ed aud 5150 missing. Tho Confed erate loss was 2392 killed, 12,700 wounded and 5150 missing. The Deer el Scot lan J. Of the four-footed gameiu Scotland the largest are tho deer. Tho roebuck is the only member of tho family iu a truly wild condition. His small size, nimbleuess, aud ungregarious habits enable him to wauder from ouo place to another with a measure of impu nity. In wooded valleys aud within reach of the hills he soems to be well able to look after himself. He abounds in the northern counties—iu Perth shire, the highland districts of Aber deenshire and Forfarshire, and is thinly scattered over thoceutral valley. The red deer, or stag, has by no means tho same claim to bo regarded as a wild animal as in the days when the Common King made his memorable excursion through the Trossaclis. Ho is now cooped up in savage fastnesses, with mountain fcncos 3000 feot high, behind whioli ho ouly wanders in au exceptionally hard winter. The "forests" with which I am acquainted would neither maintain a crofter nor even reimburse a shoop farmer, and are simply incapable of being put to any other URO. In the middle of tho day the deer are seldom to bo seen, except by a practiced eye, as they aro thou at rest aud lying quietly among the rough heath, or it may be in the shadow oj some birch copse. In the early morn ing or on tho approach of evening they feed downward toward the grassy sides of the rivers and burns. Their scent is sharper thau their sight. They detect tho intruding botanist or geolo gist long before they see him, and, by their actions, apprise tho keeper that a tresspasser is at hand. The fallow deer is still further from the true feral condition, and can only bo regarded as an animal, kept to give picturesque ness to the park around tho mansiou. His grass is provided aud his water is sure.—The Gentleman's Magazine. Consume the Smoke an:l Save the Fuel. Homer T. Yaryau, proprietor of tho local hot water and electric plant at Toledo, has demonstrated, says tho Manufacturing Gazette, that not only can smoke be suppressed, but a saving of twenty per cent, on fuel bills can bo effected. This is accomplished by feeding the firo from underneath in stead of from tho top, as lias been tho custom ever since cwal became a fuel. A mechanical stoker introduces a uni form quantity of fuel at regular inter vals under the boiler, and the com bustion thoroughly consumes all the gases and smoke from tho green coal as it passes through the bod of incan deHeout coke above it. The coal with which lie fires his boilers is tho poorest kind of Hocking valley slack, and is obtained for the froight and the nomi nal charge of ten cents per ton for loading at the mines.—Atluutu Con stitution. THE ME lilt ¥ SIDE;OF?LIFE. STORIES THAT ARE TOLD BY THE FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. Liked Tlicm Well Grown—Onto Jack—Saved Again—An All-Suf ficient Reason, Ktc., Etc. Tho Mamma—"At what age do*you consider children most interesting?" Tho Bacholor Friend— "Anyftirno after thirty."—Judge. SAVED AGAIN. Teacher —"JohnDy Greon, point out Africa on tho map." John—"Please, ma'am, it/nin't po lite to point."—Truth. THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF IT. "You havon't read Brown's last ode, have you?" "I think I have. It seems to mo he last owed me $lB." —Detroit Tribune. THE BEST TIME. ' Nodd—"My babyllooks lovely when he is asleep. You ought to see him." Tpdd—"When shall I call?" Nodd—"Anytimo during the day." —Life. RESENTED THE IMPUTATION. Callor—"Wonder if I can seo your mother, littlo boy? Is sho engorged?" Little Boy—"Engaged? Wkntcher givin' us? She's married."—= Boston Transcript. OF PRACTICAL BENEFIT. "What has become of Brown? Tho last timo I saw him ho had water on tho brain." "Ho's the head of a reservoir com pany now." —Judge. ONTO JACK. Dolly Swift—"The price-mark on Jack's birthday gift is quite v>iai*u— sl7.so." Sally Gay—"H'm ! I wonder what it really cost?"— Puck. HIS WIFE COOKED. "Doctor says a little hard work would be just tho thing for mo now." Mr. Nucook—"Come roiuid and take a few meals with ine, old.fellow." —Chicago Inter-Ocean. HAD REASON. "Thero goes a man that really and truly loves tho game of football." "Is ho the Captain of the—" "Great Scott, no! hefs a druggist.'* —Chicago Inter-Ocean. AN ALL-SUFFICIENT REASON. Fond Parent —"Bobby, why will you always persist in pushing in tho eyes of your littlo sister's dolls?" Bobby (conclusively)—" Because I can't pick 'em out."—Truth. THE QUICK AND THE DEAD. Bob's Widow—"Do you dare to sit there and tell me you consider your self a better man than poor, dear Bob?" Her Brother "Of courso I do, for he's dead."—Judge. A REASON. Johnny—"l don't seo how lhat i young chicken can bo so comfort able." Hired Man—"Why not?" Johnny—"Why, because it is sit ting on its pin-feathers."—Puck. INCREDIBLE. Mr. Homcman—"Did you read that j article about a football playor getting shot the other day?" Mrs. Homeman—"No, John; but, goodness me, you don't mean to say the game has ooine to that'.*'—Boston News. SHE COUNTERS, no—"I wonder when you will be able to set as good a ta'olo us my mothor ?" She—"By tho timo are able to provide as good a table as your father does, my dear."—Burlington (IOWM) Gazette. BASHFUL BACHELOR AND HELPFUL MAID. Bashful Bachelor, nervous aud fid gety, trying to remember a speech ho had been rehearsing for an hour pre viously. Helpful Maid, anxious and expec tant. B. B. "My dearest, I—l have long wished to tell you that I am full—L mean my heart is full —my palpitating heart—l—l mean your smiles—dour est, would shed—would shed— H. M. "Perhaps, dear, we could livo in a fiat at first, and then wo should not need a woodshed." (Tho all important date was fixed within five minutes.) —Truth. SHEER FORCE OF HABIT. "Does the razor hurt you?" No reply. "Is the draught too strong?" "No reply. "Shall I shut the door?" No reply. "Awful firo last night 1" No roply. "Shave you pretty close?" No reply. "Getting very chilly nowP No roply. "That was a very heavy thunder storm last night!" Fo reply. "Shampoo?" No reply. "Trim your hair up a little?" No reply. "Brilliantine on the moustache?" No reply. "Bay rum?" No reply. Then the barber, who was alone in his shop, sat down greatly refreshed. He had been shaving himself. —Til- Bits. Ribbon, 83 a yard, goes on whito baskots that cost sl. Light changeable silks have a frost ed eiFect for tho triumphant blouse. Alsatian bow effects in short plumes aro among tho novelty hat trimmings. New artificial flowers for house dec oration will almost deceivo the florist. A generous sign of tho times is in crease in size of wedding cako boxes. "Brownie" toques aro shown for children, and are immensely popular. Chinchilla capes aro among tho most elegant garments of tho winter sea son. Many grotesque stylos raasquorado thoso days as alleged colonial fash ions. Bangles coming back aro a poriod of what can bo callod prolonged neg lect. Purses for women made of tho now highly fashionable chinchilla fur aro oew. New piano covers aro of scarlet plush, beautifully embroidered in gold. Largo round yoko collars of laco have the pattern outlined with a silk cord. Ddnlers say tho pointed shoos have reached tho limit, and will now do cline. Largo, stout women woaring tho Bmall derby inako even tho melancholy smile. Dull bluo and French gray station ery is having a run equal to a through train. Tight lacing, and not dyspepsia, is what makes so many disagreeable "so ciety women." An ininsto of an old ladies' homo in Bath. Me., has put 1 4,905,60.3 stitches into a crazy quit not yet finished. Mrs. Hetty Green, of New York, though possessed of many millions, es capes with an assessment upon SIO,OOO. Lady Carlislo is training a staff of women to take charge of her estato in Yorkshire, England, in place of men. Queen Margaret, of Italy, is to ro ceive a costly gift. Tho Yoloco Club, of Milan, has decided to give her u golden bicycle. Tho wife of Representative Blair, of New Hampshire, is about to publish e novel of New England life. Tho book is to be entitled "Liabeth Wilson." Miss Dr. Jennie Taylor, niece of Bishop Taylor, of Africa, and physi cian in his mission work, recently walked 500 miles inland, and was not sick a minute at any time. Tho Dowager Czarina is Grand Mis tress of tho Ladies' Older of St. Cath arine, founded by Peter tho Great. Tho badge of tho Order is the first fe male decoration in Europe. * There is a society in China callod tho "Heavenly Foot Society," tho members of which are pledged not to marry any woman whoso foot has been cramped of its natural growth. It is strange that wo always think of Anna Katharine Green as a writer of detective stories when, in reality, only Hvo of her fifteen published books belong to that class of fiction. Mrs. Bradley-Martin's titled daugh ter is known in English society as "little Lady Craven," because of her diminutive size, youth and childish manners, which have fascinated tho nobility. Mrs. Langtry, tho professions! beauty, is said to attribute tho per fect health she is now enjoying to her long walks, regardless of weather. A tramp of ten miles is nothing un usual for her. Queen Victoria received throe prizes at tho Smithfleld cattle show and the Prince of Wales captured two. Brit ish royalty either raises lino cattlo or has a strong "pull" with the judges at tho prize exhibitions. Mrs. L. A. Starkwoather, of Kan- * sasCity, Mo., one of the first women solicitors ol life insurance, says she finds no difficulty in inducing women to insure. In one month she wrote $211,000 on tho lives of women. It is said that Lord Boaoonsfield's most successful compliment to tho Queen was: "Authors, mvdame, like your Majesty and myself." She thinks that she is an author, and takes great pride in tho book which she has written. Through tho zealous efforts of Mine. Henri Schmal, editor of tho organ of tho Frouch New Woman, a bill has been approved by a committee of tho French Chamber giving women full control over the product of their per sonal industry. Mile. Louise Nikita, who is an American girl, and n descendant of Daniel Boone, has made tho great op eratic success of tho season in Paris as Mignou. The composer of the opera says that she is the ouly artist that i ever sung and acted it to his entire satisfaction. When tho late Dr. McCosh first enmo to Princeton his daughters some what astonished gallant undergradu ates who took the young ladies out to walk. It was no mere easy jaunt of a inllo or so that tho President's daugh ters wished, but a tramp of a dozen miles at a good round pace that tested tho powers of their escorts. Lady Henry Somerset knows verv little about the luxury of rest. She is an indefatigable worker. In every good cause she is interested, and her interest means practical help. Dur ing the last year slio held 115 meet ings and twenty-seven conferences. She traveled over 8)09 miles and spoke iu twenty counties to about 200,000 people.