FREELAKD TRIBUNE. FUBU&HED EVERT MONDAY AND THURSDAY. 'rilOS. A. BUCKLEY, Perron AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE: MAIN STBEET ABOVE GENTILE. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. One Year ...FL GO Six Months ..... 73 Four Months 60 Two Months 23 Buljscribere arc requested to observe the date following the name on tho labels of thelrf papers. By referring to this they can tell at a ftlanoo how they stand on the books in this oCQco. For instance: Orover Cleveland 28Junc95 means that Grover is paid up to Juno 28, IHB&. Keep the figures in advance of the present date. Report promptly to this oflice when your paper is not received. All arrearages must bo paid when paper Is discontinued, or collection will be made In tho manner provided by law. Tho Prince of has written a letter expressing disapproval of tho custom of cropping dogs' ears and docking their tails, which has had tho oflfeot of proving a jironouuccd check to the practico in Eugland. Some one who is very near to Bis marck writes that the Princo "has his old, venerable, awe-inspiring appear ance. His eye is just as ilery and spirited, and ho has tho samo interest in the events of tha world. I3ut oth erwise he is liko Eubons, from whom tho paletto was suddenly snatched, and who had to look on while, year after year, his pictures wero smeared over by dilettantes and ruined." It is said that moro than 20,000,000 oorcs of land in tho United States aro held by English landlords, prominent among whom aro Lord Houghton, Lord Dunraven, tho Duko of Marl borough, Lady Churchill, tho Baron ess Burdett-Couts and tord Scully, They havo lately effcotod a sort of al liance for ihe purposo of defending their interests and collecting thoir rents from their American tonants. At an amusing meeting held tho other day by tho London Piscatorinl Society it was docided, after sorao dis cussion, to abandon (ho giving of money prizes to anglers as rewards for cunning in tho catohing of fish. Despito tho fact that ono gcntloman assured tho assembled company that even hor Majesty tho Queen did not object to rocoiving money prizes at horticultural shows tho majority of tho ilshormcn prosont eousidoroil it "derogatory to tho oharacter of a truo angler, fishing in tho W,Etonian spirit for tho love of sport alone, to accept a monoy prizo." Thoroforo in tho fu ture there will only bo oup prizos for tho sensitivomindod fishermen to com pete for. The probablo effect of tho opening of the Chicago Drainage Canal upon the water level of tho great lakes is up ior discussion again, notes tho Now York Tribuno. Tlio Chicago engineers declare that at tho most it will not lower tho lake level more than threo inohos. But Professor G. Frederick Wright, of Oberlin College, an acknowledged authority on tho sub ject, says that tho canal will ultimately divert ten per oont. of tho water that now passes over Niagara; and in tho lato summer and autumn this will seriously intorfero with navigation. As a preventive measure, ho suggests that a dam be constructed across tho lower end of Lake Superior at tho "Soo," which will raise tho level of that lake two feet and store enough water during tho rainy season to supply the lower lakes during tho lato summer and fall. Tho Chinese, in tho view of Lord Wolscley, as printed in tho Cos mopolitan Magazine, possess tho mental and physical qualities required for National greatness. They aro fino men, superior to the Japanese in average stature; they aro industrious nnd thrifty, absolutely indifferent to death, and when well trained nnd well led make first-rate soldiers. This hardy, clever race, ho urges, whoso numbers aro to bo counted by hun dreds of millions, need only the quick ening, guiding hand and mind of a Napoleon to bo converted into tho most powerful Nation that has ever dictated terms to tho world. As a Napoleon is not forthcoming General Wolscley advises China to seek an other Charles Gordon to orgauizo an other ever victorious army. It may this estimate of tho Chineso is correct, comments tho New York Press; but, as tho Tress has often pointed out, and as Wolseley himself admits, tho Chinese are not nnd tho Japanceo aro a warlike race. Tho Chineso will have to change their esti mate of tho military profession boforo they can becomo a soldierly Nation, and it would take more than one generation to mako their armies and navies a terror to tho rest of the world. YOU NEVER CAN TELL. You can never toll when you sond a word- Like an arrow shot from a bow By an archer blind—bo it cruel or kind, Just whoro it will chance to go. ft may piorCo tho breast of your dourest friend, Tippod with its poison or balm; To a stranger's heart in life's great mart It may carry its pain or its calm. You nover enn toll when you do an act Just what tho rosult will be; But with every deed you aro sowing a seod, Though its hnrvest you may not see. kindly act is an acorn dropped In God's productive soil; Though you may not know, yet tho trco shall grow And shelter tho brows that toil. You never can tell what your thoughts will do In bringing you bate or love; For thoughts are things, and their airy wings Aro swifter than earrier doves. They follow tho law of tho universe— Eaoh thing must create its kind; And they speed o'er the track to bring you back Whatever went out from your mind. J—Ella Wheeler Wilcox, in Munsey. li E DREW TEN THOUSAND. j /it T3.45 on tho nf i I ; JrSl ternoon of March /I I jS pay- F f r i ing cnsliior of tho UfaS //,? M bauk, in the IBZL c^v London, —cashed a check for 81 0,00 0, drawn by the v /. highly respected *1 firm of Ployd, —- n , Gow k Co., ol Fenchurch street, merchants. It was presented by tho manager of the firm. At 3.55 tho manager of Ployd, Gow k Co. handod in his books and checks amounting to $20,000. Tno paying cashier looked up as ho heard his voico. He called some ono to take his placo aud disappeared into tho sec retary's room, and within twelve min utes tho police wero at work on the case. - The check presented at 3.45 was a forgery and tho man who presented it some "bummy," who had made himself up liko Mr. Smith of Ployd, Gow & Co. 's. This was not a difficult task. Tho counterfeit man was tho same height as the original and about tho same make. Smith had not spoken 100 words to tho cashier during tho five years his firm had dealt with tho bank. He always wore a bluo sorgo office coat whatever tho weather. Ho al ways wore a silk tup hat, and it invar iably worked its way to tno back of his head beforo ho had worn it throe minutes. No ono ever saw him at the bank Without his gold-rimmed eyeglasses and his tightly rolled umbrella. Smith had u friendly nod for tho patrons ho knew in a business way, but ho seldom spoke n singlo word to any one. Officers were sent to overy railway terminus; they searched tho hotels and very likely placo for a man to try to chango his clothes. If the fellow had not fiomu safo hiding place se lected in ndvaueo tho chances wero more than ten to ono against his mak ing an escape. In room sof Crcmane's private and commercial hotel, which I will admit was not a first-class establishment, but still good enough for a traveler earn ing 820 a week, I read most of the particulars given above in tho even ing paper. Tho ofticinls had done their best to keep tho whole affair dark until somo clue was gained, but tho reporters had boen too many for them. I had come in from my round of calls utterly tired out. Beaching my room, I pulled off my boots, lighted a pipe, sat down with my feet on tho bed, and this bank business was tho first thing which which cuught my eye as I glanced ovor tho papor. I had just finished tho article when the night porter came up. "Heard about tho bank swindle?" ho asked, as ho entered my room, without tho preliminary troublo of tapping. "Just read it." "Cool chap, wasn't ho? And, I say, thoro uro a couple of detectives downstairs now. They say they've shadowed him here, nnd they'ro go ing to search tho whole plaeo. Thoy are on tho lloor bolow now, and will want to como in hero in a minute." Ho had scarcely finished speaking when the mon appeared. I was a head shorter thnn l'loyd's manager. I was thin, whilo ho was stout, and I was young, whilo ho was middlo aged. But those old sleuthhounds came in on tiptoe, looked at mo out of tho cor ners of their oyes, and sat down on tho edgo of my two chnirs to question me, tho bigger of tho two taking tho precaution to placo his soat between mo and tho door. It was fully a quar ter of an hour boforo they had fin ished, and then thoy seemed to talco it as n personal injury that I hadn't com mitted the crime. Boforo my visitors left one of them suggested with a wink to his comrade Vhct I might as woll bo taken along on general principles, as thoro was no telling what I would not own up to af ter/a wook in prison. But tho other was not RO evil minded. In fact, he took a fatherly interest in my wolware nnd put his hand upon my shoulder pleasantly and compas sionately as ho advised mo it would bo hotter to restore tho' money whilo there was yet time. I refusod to dis gorge, and ho wont out sorrowing, saying that I had missed a golden op portunity and that I should liko to re pent and wear a convict's suit. Tho hotel was thoroughly searched. Those men did their duty ; and I think would have carried off every soul within tho placo as a suspicious char acter had not tho manager interfered, and tho detectives finally withdrew, with at least two pockotbooks crammed with notes. At 10 o'clock I was finishing my third pipo and had long beforo ex changed my paper for A novel. I was just getting sloepy when a queor thing happened. My bed was in ono corner of tho room. I sat on a chair on tho left hand side, with my feet across tho middle. I had my book on a lino with my eyes, and all had been quiet for the last half hour, when suddenly a voico exclaimed: "Well, old man, that must be an in teresting yarn." I bounded to my foot and—saw no one. 1 looked around tho room caro fully, peering into every corner—no one. I slipped toward tho door on tiptoe and opened it with a jerk and saw—no one. Then 1 turned, and thero was a man standing on the other side of my bod. Ho wasn't a ghost. He was made of blood, flesh and bones liko myself. To say I was frightened is putting it mildly. I was scared. I sank right into a chair, with my mouth open and my eyes bulging out, until my visitor laughed outright. "Who are you?" I gasped, faintly. "Well, that's a fair question," ho replied. "I supposo you've got a right to ask. For tho last three hours, up to a miuuto ago, I was tho man under tho bed, and now I'm the man on the bed," and suiting tho ac tion to word he lay himself out at full length. He was a cool hand. I knew human naturo well enough to know ho had plenty of nerve behind his cheek. "It wasn't all put on. As ho lay thero I noticed a revolver in his hand. Then I began to understand. The evening paper had given a por trait of Smith, and I saw this was his double. It dawned on mo all of a sudden that ho was the identical chap. "You wero under tho bed when I camo in?" I queried, as we sat looking at each other, and I was wondering how to roach tho bell. "Exactly," ho replied. "And you heard what the porter said and tho detectives?" "Every word." "And, to como to tho point, you're the man thoy want." "I am." "How tho dickens did you get here?" "I didn't choose this abode for its comfort," he said, "nor for its com pany. I had other plans, iu fact. But thoy miscarried. I dodged into this hotel in search of a temporary asylum, and it looks ns I had found a lunatic asylum. Did you ever see 810,000 iu ono pile? It's a refreshing sight. See here." He watched me with pioreing eyes, and though he was toying with his re volver carelessly enough I saw ho had his finger on the trigger all tho timo. Ho bent over from tho bed and picked up u buudlo of notes from tho fioor. "This means a visit to tho tailor's, quail on toast with champagne, a long trip to America or tho Continont," and he fondly patted tho money. "So they've got an account in tho papers, have they? I'd liko to read it. Thanks." Ho skimmed through tho artielo with evident enjoyment, now and then chuckling to himself. The ho said: "Pretty closo shave, that. I'm sorry for tho cashier, but suppose ho will wriggle out of tho responsibility somehow. Excuso my asking tho question, but what do you do for a living?" "I'm a traveler in calicoes." "Married?" "No." "Ever been abroad?" "No." "Look lioro,oldchappie,"ho wont on with easy familiarity, as he strotohod himself on tho bod, "you're giving mo shelter and I'll do you a tuin. Hand in your resignation and como with me. It will do you good nnd, open your eyes. This little pile will do us first class for a year - " "I'll seo you hanged first, you cheeky villain," I shoutod. "I'm not making tours with bunk thiovc3 and jailbirds. Your trip will end in pris on, if it doesn't start thoro." "Too peppery, altogether too pep pery for tho head traveler to a respoc tablo firm," ho quietly obsorvod. "And do you think I'll bo arrostod, as you know so much about it?" "Certainly. I'm going to take you down stairs and hand you over to tho police." "That's a lio," ho said, as ho swung his feet off tho bod oud stood up. "I don't blumo you for refusing a trip to America, but plcaso don't mako an idot of yourself in other ways." "How do you moan?" I asked, also getting up and trying to keep my head. "Just lo<sk ftt things straight and you'll 800. I'm no chicken. Having played for a big etako and won it, I am not likoly to lot myself bo balked by a kid liko you. I'm armod, as you soo. You're not, BO koop your back hair ou. Even without arms I could do for you, being tho larger of thp two." "You cold-blooded scoundrel," I muttored. "No, don't oall names. It's low," ho said, pleasantly. "Lot's consider what is your path of duty. I've got tho best of the bank. And how many people liayo tho bank got the best of boforo? Last year over twenty banks closed their doors in tho faco of de positors. Every failure was brought about by somo kind of frapd. Aud don't flatter yourself that yon owe a duty to tho public. Tho public would I let you starve or froezo anil not movo a finger. You owe a duty to your self. It is to take change of air. And now's your chance. Prcservo the present state of your health, that's ray advice, and very good advice, too." "All of which means," I interposed, "that you will shoot me if I givo the alarm?" "Precisely." "Then I shan't do so.'" "I thought as much." He climbed again onto the bod and continued: "I thought I was right when I sized you up. Wo have now come to an understanding. I've got ono or two favors to ask, but I won't keep you long, and I see you want to go to beit. Ah, there are your scis sors. I must sacrifice my mustache. Please sit over by the window." Ho laid his revolver on tho dressing table and cut off his tino chestnut mustache. I sat watching him and wondered if I had gono out of my mind, or if, perchance, I was dream ing." "You shave yourself, don't you?" ho finally askeil, as he turned round and faced me. I pointed to my razor and strop, and in barely another moment ho stood before mo clean shaven. He had sandy hair, while his eye brows were almost red. There was a bottle of black ink on tho table. He dipped his handkerchief into it and painted his eyebrows. With thesamo fluid ho made as neat a black eye ns any prizo fighter would care to boast, and lib was chuckling as he turned to hie: "Just one thing more, old man—a suit of clothes. I must get off this blue sergo. Perhaps it will fit you. Your oldest suit, please. I will pay cash for it." I handed over a much worn suit. "Rather a tight fit, but it will do," ho said. "Here's $25 for it." "I don't want your dirty money," I said, savagely. "Don't bo finicky, it's silly. Now, then, to wrap up the money in a news paper, and then I'm off. Look here, my boy, take this $500; it will mako up for any little inconveniences I havo caused you." "I'd starve first." "Oh, como now, you're too good for this world. What arc you going to do when I leavo the room?" "Kick myself for an ass and then go to bed most likely." "Go to bed without tho kicking part. You are a very sensible young man, you may take my word for it. If I'm arrested I'll say nothing about what happened here. To, ta." He reached tho doorway and then ho turned. "Here's a present for you," ho sang out and threw his re volver on tho bed. "Its no uso io me, I lost my cartridges getting here. Adieu," and ho was gone. I locked the door and 6at down. After a quarter of an hour I slipped into bed. The next morning I awoko with a fearful headache. 1 went to my dressing table, and there, rolled up in a neat parcel, was tho SSOO. Did tho man get away? Yes; he walked downstairs und out into tho streets, and tho detectives never got a clew of him after that night. About tho money. I returned it to tho bank by post, and that part of tho business is still worrying tho detec tives. I could tell them a thing or two, but I won't.—Boston Post. A Wonderful Stone Saw. A newly devised stone saw that has been put in operation in West Phila delphia is demonstrating extraordinary cutting powers as compared with former processes. It is tho invention of an expert stone mason and carver. By tests made with tho 6aw, using a chilled-iron shot abrader and cutting through tho hardest of all brown stone, known as tho Humniellstown, using a block of stono ten feet by six inches long and two feet two inches in thickness, tho following results were attained: Tho first cut through was made in ono and three-quarters hours, tho second, with increased feed, in ono hour, and tho third cut, with tho full limit of speed, in three-quarters ol an hour, which is equal to cutting thirty-threo inches per hour. Four inches per hour has been considered good work in tho ordinary mills of tho country with other saws. Thin slabs are also cut, leaving no ridges on tho face of tho pieces alter cutting, although tho saw passed through various veins of Hint. In tho improved saw is usod a lineal or horizontal motion, whilo in other saws tho pendulum motion lias been depended on. Further, tho im proved has a thinner blade, with thicker teeth, which allows tho abrad ing material to fall down betwoen tho teeth to tho bottom of tho kerf.— Philadelphia Ledger. Ho Killed Superstition. The Count do Lesseps never seomed to lose sight of the education of his childron, even in the smallest detail. One morning at breakfast a beautiful Dresden teacup was broken. "Ah!" cried tho Countess, "a disaster! Two more of that sot will now bo brokcu. It always happens so." "Are you flo superstitious," asked tho Count, "as really to believe that two more will be broken?" "I know it." "Then lei us got it off our minds." Aud, taking up two of tho cups by tho handles, he dashed thorn together. Tho anger and display of tho Countess proved con clusively that sho had not seriously held to her superstition. It also loosoued any hold tho absurd idea ihay havo had on tho minds of the children.—New York Recorder. Lucky For Her. Concealed in caudlo moulds that had been unused siueo her grand mother's time, Mrs. White, of Middle town, Mass., found a quantity of bank notes a fow days ugo.—New York Journal. CANALS OF HOLLAND. THEY ARE A CONSTANT MENACE TO HEALTH. A Lund of Perpetual Moiuture Where Choleru Finds Kusy Lodgement— CiticH It 11 ill on the Refuse of Light Hundred Years. Discußc-Hrccdinu: Waters. fOLLAND'S city canals are sources of constant peril to health. It is true that great precau tions are taken to insure the purity of the water, but even with precau tions, the water can not be kept \ 9 pure. There are stringent municipal regulations against the throwing of any Kind of offal or refuse matter into the canals, but to Judge from the smell of the small canals, the back alley water ways, many a bucket of kitchen stuff must be surreptitiously emptied out of the back windows as the easiest way of getting rid of it The canals are daily Hushed by the tide, but the tide flows in as well as out, and the refuse that goes out with tho ebb often comes back with the flow. The country canals are free from foreign impurities, but the water they contain is, of necessity, stagnant water, and in the heat of a summer sun often becomes almost un endurable. In the stagnant waters of (lie city and country the germs of chol era or of almost any other disease night exist unsuspected, aud if, as some scientists assert, a cold not greater than that necessary to freeze water does not destroy their vitality, It is possible they may exist for years, until favorable circumstances bring about their development. It is hard, indeed, to tell how long disease germs may lin ger in the earth. In A. I). SO, a frightful plaguo pre vailed at Rome. Over 10,000 persons died daily for three weeks. It was im possible to burn the dead, so large trenches were made in an open space beyond the city gates, and over 200,000 bodies were there interred. The plague spot was forgotten, and in the year 1003, when some improvements became necessary, a street was cut through the aid graveyard, the earth was upturned a considerable depth in the heat of summer, and almost instantly the plague broke out among the laborers employed In the work. For fifteen Centuries the disease germs had re mained alive in the earth aud became active as soon as exposed. Tho population of both Holland nnd Belgium is denser, and always has been. The area of Holland is 12,648 square miles, and the population in 1892 was 4,564.565. Belgium is small er, having 11,373 square miles, but in 1890 had a population of 6,143,041, and thus in the two, with n combined area one-third that of tho State of Missouri, there is a population about one-sixth A COUNTRY CHURCH, that of the United States. The popula tion of Holland is 350 to the square mile, that of Belgium about 530. Such a population in such a place is found nowhere else in the world, and when it Is remembered that these low-lying countries have always been thickly set tled, the statement that the ground on which they live is a mass of putridity can be easily understood. In a soil clogged with the refuse of ages, any sort of may lurk, and in view of the dampness, the canals and the impurities of built-up grounds, the won der is not that cholera stays In such a locality, but that it can ever be forced out. The Netherlands form the western end of the vast plain that crosses Ell rope from the east to west. From 100 to 200 miles In width, it has no eleva tion greater than 1100 feet until the foothills of the Ural Mountains nrc reached. In Holland the plain reaches the sen and really sinks below the sea level, for the greater part of this sin gular country Is lower than the level even of the lowest tides, and is kept from overflow only by constant vigi lance, unremitting exertion and a lib eral outlay of money. The dike system of Holland Is of an antiquity so great tlint history does not mention its be ginning. The Human Invaders of this country in the century before the Christ inn era found a system of arti ficial sea walls in use, perhaps not very extensive, nor very efficient, but nevertheless sufficient to meet ordinary emergencies, and from that time to tills there never lias been a year during which the Hollanders were not looking after their dikes, except one. The world's history records no more des perate expedient than tlint adopted by William the Stadtliolder, who resolved to cut the dikes and let In the sea, ruth er than submit to the French invaders, but the device Mils entirely successful; the French army was literally drowned out of tlie country, and the Hollanders remained victors, though retaining sov ereignty of only watery waste. Every other year the dikes have been wntch ed with scrupulous care. Day and night watchmen patrol their whole length with keen eyes, for tho tiniest leak would, In a few hours, become a crevasse that no earthly power could stop. A break would mean tho Inunda tion of thqusunds of acres, tho blot ting out of thousands of lives. There have been several such breaks. In 1424 there was ono famous as tho Inun dation of Dort. High water In the Itiver Mouse occurred simultaneously with a high tide. The dike gave way, and 100,000 people perished. In 1530 there was another failure of these de fenses against the sea. Heavy rains, high water In tho rivers, high tides, and strong winds came together, and the dikes seemed to melt awuy In a hundred places at once. All the low country was Inundated and the drown ed numbered more than 400,000. There never were more frightful disasters, and that they are remembered in Hol land Is proved by the zeal with which the dikes are kept up and the Interest shown in them not only by tho state, but by every citizen. In such a country tho problem of AN AMSTEBDA M OATB. drainage becomes of the first Impor tance. Lying, us most of It does, ut a lower level than that of the sea, a nat ural drainage Is impossible, and re bourse must be had to artificial means. The exteut to which this system of arti ficially carrying off the rainfall as well as tlie water that insensibly percolntes through tlie giant barriers that have been raised can be appreciated only by an actual Inspection of the huge pumps that are provided for the pur pose of raising and sending off the superfluous water. When the Haar lem Lake was drained nil enormous steam engine was constructed for the purpose of working eleven great pumps, each of sixty-three Inches in diameter and ten-foot stroke, aiid in actual work those pumps discharged sixty-six tons of water at every stroke. For four years the pumping went steadily on, or from May, 1848, to July, 185:1, when the work was finally con cluded, seventy square miles of area having been cleared of twelve feet of water. So gigantic a feat had never been undertaken before, but Its com plete success Inspired the sturdy Hol landers to a still greater enterprise, and it is probable that In the course of time the draining of the Zuyder Zee will add many hundred square miles to the arable land of Holland. Having really more water tlinn tliey know what to do with, the honest Dutchmen have utilized no small por tion of their surplus by ranking canals from one end of the low lands to the other. All the low re gions of Holland are a network of artificial waterways, along which float vessels bearing all sorts of town goods to the country and all varie ties of country produce to the towns. These artificial waterways are of every size, from the huge ship canal that con nects Amsterdam with the ocean to the branch country canal six or eight feet wide, that was constructed because some country town wanted to give It self airs over its neighbors; hut all are alike In one respect, in that all are cov ered with bouts, sometimes drawn by a horse, sometimes by a horse and a con, sometimes by a man, or a man harness ed up with a dog or steer or donkey. Small steamboats are also employed, but only on the larger canals; on tho smaller, some form of nulinal locomotion Is almost universal. The canal, in short, is an acknowledged feature of Hol land, and Amsterdam, Uottcrdum anil other cities on or near the coast are as much brides of the sea as Venice. In Amsterdam, for instance, the gondolier and his song are tho only things lack lug to make the city a Northern Venice, and these are supplied by boatmen, who work and sing not, but get their passengers to the appointed destination just as surely as though every stroke of the oar was accompanied by a rhyme from Tnsso. Amsterdam Is, In fuet, a city of canals. The town Is built on about ninety Islands, which, by the ar tificial waterways, are cut up into all sorts of sizes and shapes, and 011 them are bullded thousands upon thousands of queer old houses, some, perhaps most of them, dating back to the time when the burghers banded themselves together to overthrow the Spnnish rule. 11l the matter of canals, Rotterdam and a dozen other cities of the coast are exactly like Amsterdam, while all over the country dnmpuess and mois ture are the rule. Situated on one of the most inclement coasts In Rurope, a wind from almost any direction comes laden with moisture, which settles on every object, so that during half the year and a large part of the other half the walls of the houses, both within find without, the woodwork, and even the domestic utensils, feel damp and clam my. To people who have been accus tomed to a different climate, such per sistent dampness Is very hard to bear, and even the natives, accustomed as they are to much moisture, suffer from it, for diseases such as rhcumntlsm, consumption and others Induced by the climate, are very common. But the never-ceasing dampness has another unfavorable feature, which, to gether with the tint and depressed country and the Innumerable canals, render Ilollund peculiarly liable to such a disease as cholera. It Is generally understood that Dutch housewives are the neatest people ou the earth. Tha housekeepers or other nations mny bo neat from principle; with the Hutch neatness has become a mania. A IIoIJ land housewife is never so happy as when sho Is scrubbing and washing and polishing. The broom and dust-pan aro never out of her hands. Every thing about the house is as clean as soap und sand and water cau make it; yie floor Is white, the doors and furniture aro stainless; the kitchen utensils might bo Used us mirrors. Most of the rooms of the big Hutch houses aro closed, and entered once or twice a week only that they may bo cleaned; the front door is opened only 90 great occasons, for tho family and family visitors go In and out at the back door in order to savo soiling thu front steps and hull. Tho most fastidious man or woman could take no exception to tho energy and zeal with which every detail of tho house is attended to, for the closest scrutiny fails to reveal a spot that has not been scrubbed and soaped und suuded und polished until it shines. At the sumc time, however, it should be understood that while this craze for cleanliness is obvious and honest, it is nut 111 tho least intelligent. Tbo houses arc built in tho most insanitary manner, without the slightest regard to modern principles of construction or drainage, and from cracks in thu floor there often Issue odors always of fensive, sometimes very dangerous. Amsterdam has been a city ever sinco the year 1100, and how much longer there is no means of knowing. Itotter dam is at least as old, and claims to be older, and the tilth of 800 years forms tile ground on which both are built. When it is remembered that only within tho latter half of the present century have the laws of sanitation been prop erly understood and intelligently ap plied, the condition of such douse cen ters of population as the towns of Ilob land can be better understood. Undeg a tropical sun, contagious and infec tious disease would never lie absent,' and that plague such as cholera mnko only occasional visits, is due apparently to luck, sinco intelligent precautions seem to have nothiug to do with tho matter. ALWAYS IN A HURRY. Mr. Jenkins Proved It by the Ladn the Barber and the Tramp. Mr. Jenkins was always in a hurryj It galled him to have to wait for any thing. A delay of even a few secouds In getting change drove him into tsl passion. He always would walk down town rather than wait for a street car N If the car was not lp sight when ho was ready to go. It gave him nervous prostration if the railroad train ho wanted to take was Ave minutes late. But tho worst trial of his life was tho necessity of having to wait his turn at the barber shop. That he regarded as a clear waste of time. He would try every scheme to get into tho shop at a time when no one else was there. Often in desperation ho would spend an hour hurrying from one shop to another In the hope of finding ono where he could be "next." Unfortu nately, however, his favorite barber was also the favorite of a good many other men, and he often had to bldo his time In patience, or rather Impa tience, though it made a great strain on his nervous system. He started to enter the shop the oth er evening, and as he peered through the door he saw to his delight that tho barber at the eleventh chair had no victim. He hugged himself over his unusual luck, says the Buffalo Ex press. Ills hand was on the door knob, bijt Just at that moment a wom an's scream rang out close at hand. A tramp had accosted her with a plea tof a nickel-for-a-night's-lodging, and when sho attempted to brush past him hqd snatched at her purse. She was clinging to it pluckily and screaming for help. The street was deserted. Mr. Jenkins was the only 1111111 around and he was out of sight in the door way, which probably had emboldened tho tramp to make tho assault. Mr. Jenkins took in the situation at a glance. He was a chivalrous man. His first impulse was to rusli to the rescue of the woman. But as he was starting to do so the thought of the va cant chair came back to him. What was he to do? If he stopped to help \ the woman some one else might slip into the shop and then he, would have to wait for his shave. He took a step toward the struggling couple. Then he turned and stepped back tho other way. He whirled himself around three or four times in sheer desperation of Indecision. Then a bright Idea came to him. Springing into the middle of tjio side walk, he waved bis arms and shouted: "Walt just a mlnuto, madame! Please hold 011 a second or two, Mr. Tramp! I*l be there as quick as I get shaved. I'm next and It won't take ten minutes. Just postpono your af fair till I get through." And with that he bolted Into the bur ber shop, and dropping Into tho va cant chair exclaimed excitedly: "Dou ble tip If you'll let me out quick. I've got to rescue a lady from a highway man as soon as I get through here." Shipbuilding In England. Shipbuilding In the United King- ' dom during 1894 showed an Increase of nearly 200,000 tons over 1803, although It does not attain the average of the years preceding. Steamers were buill aggregating 060,210 tons, and sailing vessels 109,384 tons; this represents 703 vessels In all. Tho proportion of steam ers to sailing vessels, which Is steadily Increasing every year, Is now 00.18 pet cent During the year marine engines were built with a total of 371,010 horse powre. The marked feature of con struction was the effort to obtain enor mous capacity for a limited gross ton nage, with a pine-knot speed on a min imum coal consumption. This economy, Engineering thinks, has been carried beyond tho danger point, as such en glues are unable to hold, a fully laden ship tip to a gale.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers