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.