A St. Louis court Ims rnlefl that an engaged girl Ims an insurable interest in tiie life of her fiance. Gladstone said recently that lie was too old to have nil opinion on tlio new woman. His "ideal woman hud not altered in tho last tlireo score ycuisnnd ten." It Ims been recently calculated that during tho eighteen years ending with June 30, 1800, no fewer than 1820 per sons were killed in cyclones in tho United States. Tho Kansas City Journal observes, facetiously : People seldom kill them selves in tho city of Brooklyn. When they get tired of life they simply quit dodging trolley cars. "The craze over roller skates somo years ago is nowhere near so sweeping and widespread in its effects as the present craze over tho bicycle,"main tains the Chicago Record. A society for tho suppression of scandal has just been started at Instcr lair", in East rriiSßia. Every scanda lous ntory spread in tho town will bo traced and the originator prosecuted by the society. I ho Now Orleans Picayune is aston* i-lied bccauso Henry Vv'. Rail, of New A oik, has bee u sentenced to prison fur a year for shooting himself, and the snuio day, in tho same city, a woman, w no had tried to murder her husband, v. ns discharged. Two rensotin given in the New York f-'un for (hu falling off in the receipts at Monte Carlo are tho financial striu pency in the United .States and in Italy—the Nations that spent most money at tlio tables—and the rise of Cairo ns a winter resort. 'ihe bicycle has had a serious effect on rents in Chicago, claims the Now Orleans Picayune. Clerks and pooplo of moderate means find that they can get to their business as early mil us easily from a distant suburb, and can sn\o in the rent more than tho cost of the wheel. An iuternntional monumont to Her mann von llelmboltz is to bo erected in Berlin. It promises, remarks tho Washington 'bar, to be a unique motu or al, fur tho money with which it will bo purchased is being contributed by Germany, l'ruive, England, Italv, llu. sia and the United States. Science knows no nationality. One of tho great blessings which will undoubtedly result from the war iu tho East is that China will he opened to the trade of tho world. Mr. Denby, Unilod States Minister at Re fill, in u late report, predicts that Japan, in making a treaty with China will, to a great extent, endeavor to remove many restrictions now exist ing on foreign trade. Miss Eslello Clayton, au enterpris ing New York actress, is try iug to havo ivi ry one clso enjoiued from actiug tho part of Trilby with bare feet, avers The Pathfinder. She says sho has ii copyright ou bare feet on tha stage. In that easo the law requires her to send tuu specimens to be filed in tho Library of Congress. What's ta bo done? There is no provision for stor ing hare feel in the Congressional Li frury. The growth of cotton mills in the South has increased nearly 10!) per cent, in live years. The total number of Bpiudles in operation in 18)5 was 3,001,3-10, against 1,0)3,081 in 1800, and the number of looms in operation ill 180.5 was 70,871, against 38,805 in I*oo, 1 1 is said that Nu.v England manufacturers, who represent 1,500,- 000 pin-lit ;, havo recently boon inves tigating the advantages of the .South for cotton manufacture. There havo been few deaths of Cab inet officers since tho war, Mr. Orcs liam being ouly the fourth to dio in nil that time. General John A. Raw. liris, who was Secretary of War under President Grant, died wiiilo utiil iu service. ( buries J. l-'olger, who was Secretary of tho Treasury under Ar thur, died in 1331, and William Wiu iloin died in 18)1, after making a 1 p.coh at tho Chamber of Commerce banquet at Delinouico's. At that time be was Secretary of tho Treasury iu Harrison's Cabinet. Mr. Grotham is the fourth Secretary of State to .lie iu service. The others were Hugh S. Legale, who died in 1813 while Acting Secretary of Stato under Tyler; Abel P. Upshur, who followed him in the i nmo Cabinet, and who wax killed by tlio explosion of a gun on board the war vessel Princeton, and Daniel Web ster, who at the time of his death was Secretary of State in I'illmuro's Cabi net. j TIMB BRINGS R0583." Whnu from my m nmtaiu-top of years I gaxo Backward upon UlO scones that I have passed, llow pleasant i.? tho view! and yot how vast j Tho Jesuits whore I thirsted many day.-! , Thoro, whore now luiugs that bluo and shim mering haze, An 1 there, and there, my lot with pain I was cast, . Hoptdoss and dark, but always at tho last HeUveraneo came from unexpected ways. An I now all past grief is but a dream; Yot oven now there loom before my path bhadows whose gloomy portent chocks my breath. Bui shadows arc not always what they soom Go Vs lovo sometimes appears to bo His wrath, And llis li • -t gift, is tho white roso of death. —John H. B >iior, in tho Century. THE Lfisr pid'tSE. % lle. daurel O /|V(7) fT ill front f'ia \ / ivi <>f tUo postoilice. BwAf/••*/? If " riht I'lKl 1 IsW f : . lit'lil 1> her skirts, (j 3 p Sho released theu p 11 sudden 0 —VAX tM E movement an d b ) \fe M thrust her hand fi vi p f : iuto hoc 'nun. fl ** V"J \T r which she held in fciW iiX ><4(4 her right huail. WAt the same moment : ho uttered a cry ot surprise. Iho littlo puree that alio nlwava car ried in her mull was no longer there. il 111011 Diou !" sho cried, looking to the right and to tho left. A fow feet away from there stood a man of about fifty years of age, clean striven, stout, wi It dressed. He was looking at her attentively. Then tie suddenly came toward tier, and with u polite bow and an evil smile ho sai 1: ".Madeinoi : elle, 1 livo nearby in ihe Hue do la Michodiere, No. tit. M. Chouiuot; man of business. If you desire to have news regarding "tlio puree you ls-.ve been so unfortunate as to lose, lean furnish it to you." JI. Chouinot was a line specimen of a rascal, tt niu-t lie confessed life was di Iticult for him. ][ 0 had en deavored to nviko a success of several enterprises, tins every time, just as the longed-for end was in view, au obstacle had ri ■ u up and over whelmed him. That obstacle was Justice. Tho clients whom lie h i 1 attempted to ilupo lu I made complaints to tho police, an 1 the police ha I started in vesti.eatiiuis which had filially brought M. Chouinot face to faco witli tho sup; l'inleiideub of [loliee, the judge on tlio bench an t then tho prison of ?Jau is. Happily, he had so tar been iililo to avoid Ion:* terms of iniprison mont, which was something, but ho had been obliged in every case to disgorge his gain and restore to their rightful owners tho sums of money that had been confided by thorn to his j care. .In short, he lia 1 so fur been suocess- j ful only iu putting to one side his scruples. That day ho was walking behind j Mile. Daurel. Was be looking at her? It is pro'able that ho was, lor Mile. Daurel desorvod it. Rarely lias a lnoro charming woman been seen. '.'.hat she had the appearance of tho smart woman, a supple and graceful figure, beautifully proportioned, could be seen from her buck. In front it was seen that she had a lovely lace 1 , dark ardent eyes, an adorably chiselled nose, a line mouth, and be tides theso an iulinito and subtle charm that was indoiinablo. She wax a woman no niau could help lookiu r ut. So, as has been said already, M. Chouinot was walking behind Mile. Daurel. Sudd only ho saw that sho j hail dropped something on tho pave ment. Ho was about to call her atten tion to the fast when uu idea pre sented itself to his mind. "Never trust a lirst impulse," thought lie. No ono happened to bo passing at the in"',.tut! Why should ho not tuko possession of tho article, pro vided it was v,'orth tho trouble? M. Chouinot opened the purse. For it was a purse that Mile. Daurol had let full, a mignou little purso with her name on it in mat silver letters. It contained u lifty-fruuo hank note, several scrap? of paper an I a letter in an envelope ready to lie posted. M. Chouinot rapidly looked over 1 lie pieces of paper. They were letters that thowed signs of liaviug been read an I re-road many times. They were almost in pieces, and all bore the samo signature, Henri. Tho letter iu the envelope was ad dressed to M. Henri de Prejailles. So the owner of the purse was answering love letters! 44 tin, ha!" exclaimed M. Chouinot to himself. Then he found Home cards bearing Hit? name, "Mile, Dau rel," un l M. Chouinot began to think deeply. Mile. Daurel to a male friend, Henri de Prejailles, who is bitterly opposed by her father. lib: aollent all'air!" Without a tremor ho opened the envelope, an 1 taking out the letter began to rca I. 4, 1t remains to be neon now whether Mile. Daurel is rich," said M. Ulioui not to him-- if. ts ln any case it will be suilicieut if her iriuud is. Henri <1( Prejailles sounds well. I will lind this out as quickly as po-siblo." Talking thus to himself M. Choui not kept following Mile. Daurel. When he saw her stop in front of tho poalofHse lie stopped also. It was the decisive moment. "rilie wants to p-> t her letters now an 1 discovers ih i : li r pocketbook is lost, continue I M. Chouinot in mon ologue. •'! will approach hor very politely and beg her to come to my oliiee for news of the lost article. Th WO I shall toll hor my conditions," M. Chouiiiot'a deductions were per fectly accurate. Ih it necessary to say that when MlJo. Daurel heard M. Chouinot address her sho turued iu surprise, which rapidly chauged to coufusiou and terror, and left her ! without a word of reply ? As soon as sho recovered her self postcHsiou, M. Chouinot, who had turned upon his heel as soon as his littlo speech was concluded, was al teady disappearing down the street. Thus she found herself at the mercy of this man. Doubtless ho had opened the pocketbook, had read her letters, and now would ouly restore them to lu r iu return for a large reward. Mile. Daniel faced the situation. "There is no use hesitating," sho thought ; "I must go to this man." Anil she went. M. Chouinot was waiting for her, and as soon as she had m ade known her name sho was introduced into the private ollico of the man of busi ness. M. Chouinot rose to meet her and bowed. "Hero is your pocketbook," ho said to her, holding out the article ho had picked up shortly before ou the pave ment. Mile. Daurel, a little surprised, was about to thank him warmly, when he began: "I hand you back your pocket baok, but honesty compels mo to state that it does not return to you intact. It still contains, indeed, the note for fifty francs, because money is always sacred. You will also find hero your visiting oaid*t. lhit I thought it was imprudent of you to keep your letter:? there. An indiscretion is so easily committed. Therefore, I will take care of them for you—on, the utmost care, I assure you !" Mile. Daurel understood. The man had laid a trap for her, and sho had tumbled into it. "Mais, monsieur," sho stammered. "The pocketbook you have picked up is my property. You lmve 110 right to keep it, whatever it may contain." "You think so?" "I can go the police, and they will force you to give 1110 back those let ters." "And I can go the police and tell them that I picked up nothing; that I know nothing of any pocketbook, and that J, M. Chouinot, a business man, am above all suspicion of such things." Mile. Daurel did not insist on this point. "Hut," she said, "why do you keep those letters? The}' have no iuterest for you. I assure you— " "Ta! ta! ta! Letters of that sort, t assure you w tiro very nice to keep. M. llonri do Prejailios writes most in terestingly, and your own style, ma damn, is delightful." Mlie. Daurel flushed. Rlio had loo; cued for n brief second her grasp on the pocketbook, and that little mo ment of negligence was going to cost her dearly. 4 You forgot," continued M. Choui not, 4 'that everybody who recovers a !o t articlo is entitled to a reward." "1 titn prepared to give to you, mon sieur." "Agreed. But lliero are reward and rewards. I think the correspond ence of Mile. Daurel and Henri de Prejailles is worth a good price." "Oh! Monsieur—" 44 A very high price I repeat. For 23,000 francs I will return you your letters. Other who I will give them to your father." Mile. Daurel became furious. "Hut it is a swiudle!" she shrieked. "That is a hasty word for such au exquisite mouth." "WroichV" An I Mile. Daurel threw ono of her cards in the face of M. Chouinot. The man of business remained calm and said : "A second card is useless; I have already taken one. Twenty thousand francs, I repeat. M. Daurel is a builder aucl is rich; 20,003 fraucs is nothing to him!" This was said quietly and with calm cynicism. After hor anger a reaction had fol lowed and Mile. Daurel grow quiet. Rlio was frightened now, panting and overwhelmed. M. Chouiuot did not move or say a word. She sank down ou n chair, with her eyes 011 the ground, listening to thi3 man us if sho was being sentenced to death. Then there was a silence, and Mile. Daurel rose and walked towards the door. The unhappy girl went out pale and trembling, with sobs in her throat that suffocate I her. What was she goiug to do? That was what M. Chouinot wanted to know. Several hours later sho would re turn. Probably she £ would try and bargain with hnn for 15,003 or io,ooo fraucos. But lie, M. Chouinot, would remain unalterable—2o,oo3 francs. And then Mile. Daurel would spread out 011 tho table, not without regrets, twenty bank notosof 1000 francsoaeh. At the thought of this M. Chouinot rubbed hish mds. "Oh, la belle operation! Twenty thousand francs for merely picking up a pocketbook." But the hours passed, and Mile, Daurel did not return. Probably sho needed more time to get the money. Meanwhile M. Chouiuot sang to himself while lie waited. Presently au employe of the oilioo came in. "Monsieur, thoro is 6omo ono ask ing for you outside." "The girl, no doubt?" "No, sir; it is a gentleman!" "A gentleman? Show him in." The visitor came into the office. "Monsieur," ho said, looking M. Chouinot in tho eye, "I am M. Henri ■ de Prejailles!" Tho man of business took a step backward. "Ok, do not bo afraid. I hnvo no intention of administering to you tho thrashing you so richly deserve. It gives mo pleasure, however, to say that you aro nu infamous villain. Having said this, I ask you now to fol low me." "Monsieur!" 31. Chouinot movod further and further awny. Henry do Prejailles took a pistol out of his pocket and put tho end ol it under 31. Chouiuot's nose. "Will you follow me?" "I will follow you, wonsier; but re member one thing, that your letters aro in a snfo place, and that you can not force mo to give them up, and—" "Exactly; meanwhile, wills iu front of me, and not a word, or I will shoot you like a dog!" Below a carriage was in attendance, and M. Gliouiuot got in. Henri do Prejailles took lie seat next him. Coachman, drive to line Rembrandt, No. ill, the house of 31. Daurel!" 31. Chouinot trembled, but said nothing. Thero ?>I. do Prejailles said to his companion as ho opened tho door. ".Monsieur, you may get out; tho moment to execute your threat lias arrived. Take my letters to 31. Dan i'el!" 31. Chouinot sprang out. He could scarcely believe his ears. What was going to happen next! At tho door stood a servant dressed in black, with a white tie. 31. Chouint went towards him. ".Monsieur Daurel?" lie asko.l, "What, monsieur!" said tho ser vant, "have you not hoard?" "What!" "Monsieur Daurel died this after noon !" 31. Chouinot was fairly stunned. "Oil!" ho groaned, "I have no luck at all!" Ho was about to walk away, when Henri do Prejailles steppe 1 out of the carriage mi l held him back. "You sec," he said "that good for tune does not always come to villains of your sort. You will now restore to mo the letters you have stolen. Wo will go to your offico to fetch them, and, whatever you do, do not keep us wailing." Pour 31. Chouinot! what could ho do? He went to lm office with Henri de Prejailles at his heels; he took the letters out ola secret safe. 3lr. Henri took them and placed them in lm pocket. "Now, 31. Chouinot," lie said, "I will till you that M. Daurel never felt better in his life. Ho is alive an 1 well. Iho .servant at the door was my own valet. Twenty francs did tho trick. You see the 20,000 francs you spoke of seems a pretty high price compared to that." An I as 31. Chouinot raised his arms to heaven in utter despair, ho added: "For tho rest, there is always a bul let in this plaything ut your pleas ure." And ho showed him his revolver. From tho French. Journeying in .Madagascar. The bulk of my baggage had been left iu Tumatavo, and was to bo sent on by tho next monthly French mail steamer to Zanzibar, my ultimate des tination. 1 expected to meet u like steamer at Nosy Be, a French port and island on tho northwest coast, with which I learned i might connect by mcnusof a small French steamer which periodically served t ho principal porta on the west coast of tho island. By thus crossing Madagascar I hoped to familiarize myself with its three great races. The Eakalavas on the western portion of the island havo always borne a bad name, which they have in part merited, though high-haudod aggressions of foreigners ought often to bo urged iu mitigation thereof. I was warned to keep my revolver in readiness and my escort near at hand, and so determined to take chances of a safe pissago to tho sua. Tho direct distance from tho capital to Mojauga is two hundred and forty miles in u general northwest direction, though tliis distaucc, by many deviations and changes of level, is lengthened by tho traveled route into about three hun dred and eleven miles. Of this latter distance Bouio two hundred miksaro by laud in fluuzaaa and the remainder by water in pirogue and dhow, or small sailboat. The total journey may readily be accomplished iu ten days. The eouutry through which 1 would have to pass was said to divide itself naturally into three sections: the lirst was similar to that eastward of tho cupitul, a treeless region of moors and hills. This was the most inhabited. It consisted of four broad terraces which fell rapidly toward the sea. Tho road, however, leading us it did ob liquely these terraces, prosente I on tho whole easy gradients. Then canio a section of nearly uninhabited wilderness, wooded and undulating. Tho third section contained the cul tivated hills and plains of tho Sakul uvas. Popular Science Monthly. A Fish That Ens Hosts. A fish that cats roses as a steady diet is owned by John liampsberger, a butcher on Grand street. It is a Japanese fantail, and lives in a small aquarium with miscellaneous speci mens of tho liuuy tribe. Tho way this fish liappeucil to begin his diet of roses was quite accidental. Hunipsberger, who is fond of the finny pots ho has, was one day chang ing the water in the aquarium, when a small tea rose fell from tho lappol of his coat into the bowl. Tho fantail was iloaling near tho surface, and darted for tho rose and began eating it. His owner did not interfere, ami tho fish consumed nearly all of tho rose, lie thought the matter odd, and daily put a rose into tho bowl. That was last summer. Ono of tho butch er's daily duties since that time has been to Hocuro a roso for the fish. Last winter, when roses were not plenty, he neglected this duty, an l the iish would not go near the food put inlo tho bowl for several days.- Atlanta Constitution, I THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE I THRILLING INCIDENT'S AND DA?.- j INC* DEED 3ON LAND OR SEA. A Duel In a <2rave—Another Electric Girl—A Shower of Hints on a £liip ON tho Island of Jamaica there was once a meeting between a Scotch captain and r. noted Creole duelist, named Ilonri d'Egville. The captain had gone ashore and was dining at a hotel in Kingston, where, as not infrequently | happened, the company indulged , rather more freely in drinks thau was | wise in those quarrelsome days. All j went well until Captain Stewart was requcste Iby d'Egville to sing a song ,in Gaelic. Now, although a Scotch ' man, Stewart claimed ho knew no i Gaelic, but the Creolo being persist- I out, rather than give oflenso tho cap j tftiu sang "Auld Lung Syne," and sup ! posed tho compromise was satisfac | tory. Tlio company broko up and j Captain Stewart returned to his ship, j j accomp.aiiiod by a friend. On their j way back the friend mentioned d'Eg v.lle's reputation as a bully and cx | pressed liis opinion that lie had delib | erately sought a quarrel for tho pur ; pose of engaging tho captain in a i duel. Captain Stewart then said: | "There is no more horrible prac j l ice of our time. Once and only once j have I fought a duel. That was when | I was a young man, and for the sake ; of a lady for whose hand my dearest | friend and I were suitors. I killed him. Since I saw linn lying dead at my feet I liavo never known a happy | day. I thought to night that fate had overtaken me, and I should bo I challenged to give up my life for an i o(Tense more trivial than that for which I took tho life of my friend." Arrived at the ship the captain stool leaning against tho bulwarks watching the lights fade out as dawn came over tho town, when ho saw a small boat co ning toward his vessel, which was lying at anchor. As it, drew near, ho recognized an officer of j tho Columbian service, a frien I of d'Egville. Ho boarded the vessel and going up to Captain Stewart said ho had como from d'Egviile with a chal lenge for tho insult of substituting nu English song for Gaelics and thus at tempting to mako him a laughing stock for those of the company who know better. Stewart turned to his friend and sail: "My forebodings were right after all." Ifo tried, how ever, to explain to d'Egvillo's messen ger that no ode 11.so had been intended and to point out tho absurdity of a duel for such a cause, and at last flatly refused to accept tho challenge. A few days nftorwarl Captain Stewart met d'Egville and us might have boon foreseen wai insiaully assailed as "coward" and, what was worse, was struck across tho face with a home whip. This was moro thau tho Scotch man could stand, so lie sent tho mes sage d'Egville so much dcsire l and at tho lime appointed took two of his sailors with him to the rendezvous. Tho men carried a pickaxe and a srmdo. Stewart ordered them to dig a grave sulUoieuily deep to reccivo two bodies and to (VEgvillo's astonishment in sisted that they should both stand in this grave holding a pistol in one hand and in the other tho diagonal corners of a handkerchief, which, stretched taut, would regulate the dis tance. Tho Creole thus ordered had no choice but to accept the conditions. The two men stepped down into the grave and Captain Stewart firmly grasped the handkerchief, saying, "The world will lie well rid of a scoun drel and also of a miserable man." Tho seconds drew lots fur iho word of command. Meanwhile d'Egville fum bled with his corner of the handker chief, dropped it au I picked it up again. Ilis face was as white as the piece of liuen an! before tho word "Eire" had passed the lips of the man whose duty it was to give it, he fell forward iu a dead faint. Captain Stewart lookel down 0:1 hiiu for a moment, then with a look of disgust kicked him, scrambled out of the grave and made his way buck to his ship. New York's Klcclric Girl* The southeastern part of Je.Terson Couuty, Now York, that strati go re gion of hermits and recluses, is all agog over another sensational discovery. Miss Mary Lhroh ill,who lives with her parents iu a dilapidate t frame house on tho lake shore, iu that rook-riven scrub pine district of Henderson known as "The Jobs," has become j possessed of u won irons power, j Miss Birobnll is a comely girl of i eighteen, tall and graceful, with an abundance of dark brown hair, regu lar feu lures and a complexion rivaling jLa France roses. She is almost a re | cluse, however, an I is rarely seen j away Irotu the tumble-down structure I she calls her homo. She is also un educated save for the kuow'o Igo she may have gleaned from the birds, the ilowors and tho forest of scrub pines Ufat surrounds the house. Hut she is endowned with a strange electric power that would make her famous iu the museums of the country if she I would consent to exhibit herself. Out) of her methods of utilizing the power is the transmitting of n current of electricity to a sowing machine and a grindstone, causing thorn to run ut any desired rate of speed, and all the family sewing is performed on au old fashioned machine driven by the elec tric current from the girl's linger tips, while the edged tools of the little farm are sharpened on the gundstoue re volved by the same force. Sue can, in a measure, likewise light up a dark room at her wll by her presence. When Farmer Ihrehull wants to inves tigate matters at night in tho barn, Miss Mary accompanies him and illu minates t.ho building and there is not tho danger of firo there would bo by the use of a lantern. When producing the phenomena she seems to be charged with all tho elec tric energy of a livo wire, and it is ex tremely dangerous for a person to touch her. Tho heavily charged atmosphere that surrounds her at such times re pels, aud thus has saved mauy from injury. A largo shepherd dog ownod by tbo family rubbod his noso against Miss Birohali when she was transmit ting force to tho grindstone nud re ceived a shock that stretched him life less. When illuminating tho cow sfcal les ono night a vicious heifer kicked at tho girl, striking her on tho hand. Instantly tho animal experi enced a shock that paralyzed its limbs, and not recovering afterward, it was killed by Mr. Rirchall. A young man named Charles Harris, who lives at Six Town Point, volunteered to inves tigate the mystery. Ho asserted his willingness to undergo the risk of tho girl's powers; took hold of her hands, nud at once began to experience ter rific shocks, and iu a few seconds was unconscious. There are many other strange things told of tho girl, but her extreme difli deuce and shyness havo led her to re fuse to seo many who havo visited the houso. A Shower of Birds on a Ship. While on her last onlwar l bound passage from Baltirnoro to Liverpool tho Johnston lino steamship Ulster more had a most unusual experience 500 miles off tlio Euglish coast. When thus far out at sea, much to the aston uieut of every ono aboard tho vessel, great numbers of strange birds could be seen fluttering about the sea. Curi ously enough, too, 110 sooner did tho birds spy the ship than they flocked toward it. Homo fell helpless and ex hausted on tho dock, while others managed to hang on to the spars and rigging. Tho birds proved to bo a species of bittern and snipe, which aro usually found iu the swampy regions of Great Britain. How they had managed to keep up their winged flight so far out at sea is a mystery. They had hardly come out of their own choice, but they were probably caught iu the off shore hurricanes which swept tho Eng lish coast about that time, an I being unablo to battle against it, wore car ried out to sc.i. Tho instance illustrates that the love oflifo is nlinoit, if not equally as great, in n bird as iu a human being. The poor creatures had been flying over the sea hither aud thither for days, unable to get back to land, and were all the time being swept farther away from shore. For nights and days they had kept up the ceaseless flight. Exhausted an I starved, thoy kept their weary wings in motion un til the Ulster more came in their viciu ity. For a time it seemed to raiu birds over tho ship. They simply hovered over tho vessel and dropped, some bringing up in tho rigging and othoro on deck. Tho whole ship's company turned out to seo thestraugo sight. Starva tion aud fatigue made the usually timid creatures fear nothing. The sailors caught them without tlio least difficulty. The men offered them food, and they fought to get a chance to pick crumbs from the seamen's hands. The birds perched in the rigging came down to pick bits of fool that were thrown over tlio deck, and tho whole flock seemed as tame as pet pigeons. j ft wai ono of the most novel sights I imaginable to see birds of tho air feeding liko a lot of barnyard fowls on the deck of a ship miles and miles out at sea. The sniiors secure 1 a good mauy of tho feathery wanderers and made them prisoners. The La:i I Oct qnis. Naturalists arc familiar with a num ber of carnivorous or flesh-eating or flesh-destroying plants, mi I they are very curious in their operation. Usu ally they are of small dimensions and confine their homicidal tendency to insignificant insects. The most re markable in size an I strength is that described by M. Fabiani Carlo, who tells of a naturalist named Dunstan who, while traveling with his dog oti the shores of Lake Nicaragua, heard the animal give vent to cries of pain. Going to the spot he foilud his dog held I)}' three black, sticky bands, uu< dor which the skin was bleeding from chafing even in the few minutes that had elapsed. These bauds were the branches of a new nn I gigantic cir niverous plaut, which Danstau calls the "hind-octopus,'' anl which appar ently is about us formituble us his twin brother of the sea. Those branches aro flexible, polished, black, without leaves, secreting a viscous fluid aud furnished with a great num ber of suckers by which this "ianil octopus" attaches itself to its victims. Duiiitun, with great difficulty, cut away the branches after having his bauds severely injure I by the tenta cles of tho "land-octopus." Under tho circumstances close investigation of this plant monster was not very convenient or comfortable, but Run stuu proved that the fetid odor ut tr.ictcd the prey, while tho sucker ion tacles secured and destroyed it. Af ter sucking out tho nutritive elements of tho capture ! animal tho land-octo pus cast it away.—Atlanta Constitu tion. Odd Mexican Cnt >m. Tho Mexican who acquires fame and fortune never forgets or ueglects his poor kin; lio treats his more impe cunious relatives in a queer way. He takes them into his household as ser vants, giving them the most menial service, but never denying the relation ship or attempting to conceal it. There are many instances whore a rich Mexi can's mother is bis cook, bis sister his parlor maid aud his father or hi* j brother his butler.—New York Mail I and Express. HOUSEHOLD AFFAIRS. USES OF LIMEWATER. Limcwatci should always be kept in tbo summer. A teacupful added to bread sponge will prevent souring. A little in cream or milk will retard acidity several hours. Milk, which would otherwise "turn" wlieu heated, will not curdle if a little lime water is added beforo it is put over the lire. Limewater and milk used freely cor rect indigestion. Keep it in jugs or colored bottles.—New Efigland Homo stead. TO CLEAN GLOVES AT IIOME. To clean gloves with gasolino first stretch them either on a frame or on your own hand. Have abundance of clean flannel and cotton near by. With a littlo benzine 0:1 a small piece of flauuel go over the entiro glove, fluger by finger. As soon as the flan nel becomes soiled exchaugo it for clean. l)o uot use enough benzine to saturate the leather, but simply euough to clean off tho soiled spots. Hub tho gloves from the fiuger tips, generally downward and upward, and uot in a circular way or across the leather. After using the gasoline 011 a soft spot rub it with clean llanuel until it scorns perfectly dry. Only tho very highest quality of benziue, or, better still, gasolino can ho used. When tho gloves are thor oughly cleaned rub them with clean (lunnei and abundance of talcum pow der. This powder can bo bought at iny first class drug store, and ton seuts' worth is ordinarily enough for a year's supply. Rub the leather thor oughly m every part with this talcum powder. It makes the glove not only pliable nud pleasant to wear, like a uew glove, but it puts a soft bloom on tho leather.—Milwnukeo Journal. CRYSTALIZIXG FRUITS. Few confections ore more delicious than candiod fruit, and, too, few sweetmeats are more expensive, sixty cents a pound being the regulation price, and a pound represents a very small amount. They can be prepared it about half the cost, however, at home, if care is tukeu. Cherries, currants, pinc-applos, apricots, pears and peaches are best experimented upon. The two former cuu bo used in bunch s; tho pine apple is sliced across the fruit, each piece being a good quarter inch thick ; apricots aro cut 011 otio side uiul the stone sliped out, while pears anl peaches uro halved, and, of course, peeled. Make a very thick syrup, pound for pound, adding for each pouud a small cup of water. Roil tho sugar first, then drop in tho fruit, and when they have boiled clear take out and drain from the syrup. If the cherries are stoned (tho rod oxhearts m iko the finest, being not go sweet as tho white and without the rank tartness of the sour red ones), it is nice to string them on a broom spliut as they can bo more cleverly handled. Sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar, lay 011 a eieve, and sot tho fruit in a warm oveu. I used a wire dish, such as our grandmothers kept fruit in, sot within another dish to catch tho syrup. la two hours turn tho fruit, spriuklo with sugar again. Keep this up until tho sugar has all dripped out. Oil no account have the □ven hot, as it will dry the fruit and leave it liko so much leather. #Aud, of course, the fruit must bo laid in single rows when drying. When the juico has evaporated and tho sugar has formed a glazed surface, put away in boxes in a dry place. Waxed paper should bo laid between each layer. A bureau drawer is as good a placo as any to keep them.— Detroit Froo Press. RECIPES. Sauted Sweet Potatoes—Slice cold steamed sweet potatoes into a frying pan with butter iu it, just enough t. cover tho bottom. When lightly browned shako tho pan ami toss the tilces over. Drodgo with salt. Raked Runauas—Peel tho bananas and split them lengthwise. Laythe.se strips closely iu a baking pan, strew sugar over them ami some bits of but ter and grate a littio nutmeg over all. Rake in a moderate oven twenty aiin utes. They should come out glazed, and if there is not sirup enough in the pan a littlo should bo mixed in a cup to baste them with. Servo with Binall cakes and 111 ilk. Raked Muiton Chops—Trim off the bono and fat pour u littlo melted but ter over tho chops, cover and let stand in a cool place ail night. In the momißg roll each piece in beaten egg and cracker crumbs and lay them iu a dripping pun with a very littlo water in tho bottom. Cover this pan with another aud bake half au hour. Then remove tho top pan au 1 lot the meat brown, bastiug frequently. Servo with gravy. Flapjacks—Make a batter of one pint of sour milk, ouo teaspoonful of baking soda and a Jitllo salt, with wheat Hour enough to thickeu sulli cieutly to fry nicely. Fry in cakes the size of au ordinary breakfast plate. Butter each cake and sprinkle it with sugar, pilingthem one ou top of an other. A littlo grated nutmeg im proves them. Havo tho batter as thin as it is possible to turn tho cakes woil. These aro delicious, especially if Eour cream is used. Sponge Gingerbread—Ono teaspoon ful of molasses, thro 3 largo tablespoou fills of sugar, ouo small teacupful of butter, ouo cupful of milk, three eggs, ouo largo teaspoouiul of ginger,°Jiia large teuHpoomul of baking powder" one quart of Hour. Warm tho milil and mix in tho butter, add molasses aud sugar, mix well, add eggs, ginger and powder, and lastly the Hour. Reat thoroughly an 1 spread an inch thick in buttered pans. Rake twenty or thirty miuutea.
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