They say that the roal ruler of Rus sia is the Czar's mother, who dictates to her soil in everything. They say that Canada's foreign trade will bo $14,000,000 less this year thun last, and that was accounted a very hard one. A degenerate Frenchman, M. Fure tirees, has attacked the National soup. He asserts that it causes a distention of tho stomach that is fatal to the di gestion of the solids that follow; that it has little or no nourishment in it, nnd that, as it is usually eaten hot, it injures tho enamel of tho teeth. Our friends the Japaneso havo formed three new army corps, with an effective ot 80,000 men in time of peace and 320,000 iu time of war. The navy is to be doubled in strength within the next three years. It looks ominous to tho Now York Sun for Eu ropean supremacy in the far East. "Within the past ten years the cul tivation of mushrooms lias beconio quito an extensive industry iu the United States," said a producer, who raises mushrooms on Stateu Island for the Now York markets. "I have been in tho business for the past six years and during that time havo made a good living. The London Standard says that tho funds used in the efforts to suppress the insurrection in Cuba have hitherto been brawn from the Bank of Spain, but that tho Government has now made arrangements with Russian bank ers to open a credit of $20,000,000 for six months at live per cent, interest. In return for this credit the bankers are to get a prominent part in a Span ish-Cuban loan when the islond r.hall have been pacified. Eadweard Muybridge, whose elec tro-photographic invostigatious, made under tho auspices of tho University of Pennsylvania, havo attracted world wide attontion, is now lecturing in Europe on tho results of his labors. His instantaneous photographs, illus trating the motions of animals and human beings, have commanded tho interest of artists and scientists, and the opportunities ho has made possi ble for the study and analysis of those motions havo been recognized as of th: highest importance and value. Miss Celiua Gray is a young woman of Oklahoma who will probably soon have some unique experiences. She has recently been appointed United States Commissioner for tho Third Ju dicial Uistrict of Oklahoma. This is the first appointment of the kind of a woman in tho Union. The duties of the place call for close application to work and unrelenting activity. Miss Gray is a petite young woman of twenty-four years, who went to Okla homa in "the early days." Up to this time she has beeu "just like other girls." In her new position Commis sioner Gray will he compelled to come in contact with nil manner of men, from the common Indian whisky-seller to tho frontier killor, but since she is f. bright, accomplished young woman of nerve and determination she will probably succeed. Tho United iitatcs Board on Goo graphic Names, a body charged with the duty of prescribing the proper U)ethod of spelling the namosof places throughout the globe, has just com pleted it second report. This com prises a list of 000 names, making tho number of names passed upon by tho Board since its creation iu 1891 aggre gate 5301. The orthography adopted in these lists is binding upon every department of tho United Statos Gov ernment. By fur the largest number of names iu this second list are those of places in tho United Statos, but there is a small number of foreign names included. Probably because of lack of time tho Board has, unfor tunately, not gone deeply into Chinese names, which are, perhaps, more tangled and subject to greater eccen tricities of spelling than any other, but from tho few names given it is noticeable that China's greatest river is to hereafter bo spelled Yangtzo and not Yangtso. Corea is to be spoiled with a K, namely, Korea, and its capi tal is Chemulpho instead of Chemul po, as of old. Russiu's groat penal station is Sakhuliu, instead of Sakhul len. The old name of Blewfiolds, which still llgures on many charts, is is officially modernized into Bluetieids, but perhaps tho change which will njost interest Americans is the adop tion of tho Spnnish spelling of Cuba's capital, which will hereafter be Ha bana. The only official dicta touch ing the District of Columbia is the final abandonment of tho name 'i'en nalytown in favor of Tenley and tho fixing of the came of Twining. EVER A SONG SOMEWHERE. There is ever a song somewhere, my dear, There is ever a something sings alway; There's the song of tho lark when the skies are clear, And the song of tho thrush when tho skies are gray. The sunshine showers across tho grain. And tho bluebird thrills in tho orchard tree, And in and out, whon tho oaves drip rain, The swallows are twittoring ceaselessly. There is over a song somewhero my dear, Bo tho skies above or dark or fair; There is ever a song that our hearts may hear There is ever a song somewhero, my doar There Is over a song somewhere! Thero is over a song somewhere, my dear. In tho midnight black or tho midday bluo; Tho robin pipes when the sun is here, And tho cricket chirrups tho wholo night through. The buds may blow and tho fruit mny grow, And the uutumn loaves drop crisp andsero; But whether the sun, or tho rain, or tho snow. There is ever a song soaiowhere, my doar. Thero is ever a song somewhere, my dear, Bo the skies above or dark or fair; There is ever a song that our hcurts may hear— Thero is ever a song somowhero, my dear. There is over a song somowho.-e ! —James Whitcomb Riloy, AUNT MATILDA. BY VERA r.OCKWOOD. a. Oil can't expect me to support you in idleness any longer," (j I said Mrs. Übsdell. Mrs. Übsdell was R tall, stout woman, ft with level black brows, very red lips a incisive 'i ; 'v voice. Her two young nieces snt by tho window, shrinking buck as if every word had been a blow. They bad been with Mrs. Übsdell for a month now—just long enough for the grass to bocomo green on their father's grave, and the crape trim mings of their frocks to grow a little rusty nnd crumpled. "And now," went on tho portly dame, "it is time for you to try to do something for yourselves. I'm not rich, you know. You must go to work." "Hut wo don't know what to do, Aunt Matilda," said Kate. "Wo are very willing to work," murmured Ginevra, "if auy one would show us how." "General Livingston wants a gover ness for his little granddaughters," said Mrs. Übsdell, "They are six aud seven years old. Music," French and Latin required. You shall tuko the position, Ginevra." The taller of the two girls changed color." "I don't know much music," said she. "Papa taught me Latin; but! am quite ignorant of French." "Hay you know it," said Mrs. Übs dell, sharply; "and do the best you can. General Livingston is at Lome very little. Twenty to one he'll never find it out. At all events, I've told Mrs. Jenks, tho housekeeper, that you will be there to morrow at 9 o'clock to take tho situation." "But, Aunt Matilda," said Giuovra, her voice faltering, "wouldn't that be acting a lie?" "A lie, indeed I" almost screamed Mrs. Übsdell, her portly form seeming to expand, her eyes blaz ing like fire. "How dare you say that word to me, Ginevra Hill? After all the pains I've taken to get you a respectable place! As for you, Kate, you are to go as a companion to Miss liamoua Ray. She's as doaf as a post, and you've got a good clear voice to road aloud to her. She's bad tempered and exacting; but it's the business of you young people to givo way to your elders. And anyhow, you've got your living to earn." Kate and Ginevra looked aghast at oach other when Mrs. Übsdell had bustled out of the room. "What are wo to do?" said Kate. "What can wo do except to obey?" sighed Giuevra. "It is very evident that wo aro unwelcome here. Aunt Übsdell grudges every bite of bread that we put into our mouths. Oh, Kato, Kate, if we eould only havo died and been buried with papal" "Wo must do tho best we can," said Kato, who was tall and dark, with soft, velvety eyos, long-fringed and languid, and a skin as white and fine-grained as the petal of a lily. "Perhajss this Miss Ray will not bo so bad as it would seem. I shall try to bo very patient and obedient." "And I—l am to enter tho family under false pretences?" cried Ginevru. '•But I will endeavor to earn my sal ary at least." Giuevra was as unlike as possiblo to her brunette sister—a rosy, dimpled, childish littles thing, who scarcely looked her seventeen years. Kate looked at her with tender re gret. 'The idoa of your being gover ness!" said she. "Or of your turning lady's com panion!" rotorted Ginevru. "But I do believe, Kate, wo should go as gypsy fortune-teilors, or take situa tions as scullery maids, to get from under Aunt Matilda's eye. Miss ltamona Kay was rather deaf— their could bo no doubt of that. But Kate llall had a clear, distinct enun ciation, and found little trouble in making her hear. And really, her temper was not so very bad, after all. It was necessary to bo very particu lar in the care of her pariot and tho daily bath of her poodle-dog, tho watering of her plants, and the prep aration of tho rose-creams and tho iily-lotions that she used for her ven erable complexion, But she conceived a decided fancy for her new companion, took her out in the carriage for a daily drive, and told her the whole story of the Mexi can officer who had once been en gaged to her, and who went away to Chapultepeo or some of thoso four-syl labeled places, and married a Spanish senora even while Miss Ramona's woddiug-cake was being baked. And when Miss Bamona told this story to any one it was a sign of very high favor, indeed. Miss Ramona had only one relative in the world—u nephew —and ho was a naval officer. And, as it happened, he came home on a visit when Kato Hall had beeu a week with his aunt, bursting into tho room at twilight, like a cheerful tornado. "Well, Aunt Mona," said ho, "hero I am. Got your letter at Norfolk. What sort of a companion have you got now? Regular old maid, eh? Or a widow in dyed bombazine and eye glasses?" "Hush, Geoffrey," said Miss Ray. "Kate, mv dear, bring candles. This young lady is my companion at pres ent. Miss Hall, allow mo to prosent my nephew, Lieutenant Rossmore." "You see," said Kate, laughing, "I am neither an old maid nor a widow." "I'm sure I beg ten thousand par dons," said the lieutenant, blushing mahogany color. | Meanwhilo Giuovra had gone to her situation at Livingston Larches, where two blooming little maidens were sit ting up iu the school room, with clean slates and spotlessly now school books, waiting for their governess. Miss Jcnks was on hand to intro duce the stranger toiler new domains. "You're rather young miss," said she, "and insignificant-looking for the placo. Mrs. Übsdell told me—" "I shall do my best," said Ginevra, with gentle dignity; "and I do not doubt that I shall succeed." But Eva and Ella were both rebels. They had conquered governess after governess, and driver, her forth de feated. They liked tho excitement of it, and they did not like to study ; and tho natural sequence was that in less than an hour Ginevra Hall was in tears. Eva had imitated her French accent with scorn; Ella had mischievously rubbed out the ligures on the slate as often as Miss Hall made them. And when tho hour of noon recreation came, and the little mutineers rushed out to play on tho lawn, poor Ginevra hid herself among tho fpalins in tho conservatory to weep without stint. "Is anything the matter?" asked a voice. \ "Oh, I beg your pardon !" said Gin evra, reddening to the very roots of her hair. "I didn't mean to be in tho wuy, if yon are the gardener. I just brolco oil this one littlo orange blos som. May I keep it?" "Yon may keep it certainly," said a tall, line looking man, who was trim mirg the superfluous branches from a magnilieeut whito blossomed Daphne. "J thought perhaps you had picked your lingers on the great cactus and hurt yourself. You seemed to bo cry ing." "It wasn't tho cactus," fluttered Ginevra. "It was the children." "Tho children?" "They won't mind," explained Gin evra; "they only laugh at me, and I don't know what to do." The stranger opened tho sido door, which, garlanded over with passion flowers, looked on tho lawn, and called out in stern, imperative tones: "Children!" Eva dropped her croquet mallet, Ella left off munohing strawberries. Both obeyod tho newcomer at once. "Have you been disobeying this young lady?" questioned Gincrva's champion. "N—no .'"faltered Ella. "Wo didn't disobey her; wo only didn't do as she told us." "Very well," said he. "Hereafter you will be a good little class, or there shall be no more boating on the river for you or tho cream-colored ponies, and nothing but bread and water for dinner. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir!" murmured Ella, meokly. "Yes, grandpapa!" said Eva, obodi enly. Ginevra looked up in surprise. "You ate not General Livingston ?" said she. "How do you know that I am not?" "I—l thought you were tho gar dener!" "I do garden somotimes." "But General Livingston is an old gentleman, isn't he?" "Five-und-forty— if you call that old. I see how it is," said tho master of tho house, laughing. "You are misled by those little sprites calling mo grandpapa. My late wife was a widow considerably older than myself. Eva and Ella are her grandchildren, not mine. This may explain some of the inconsistencies that puzzlo you, Miss Hall. And now, if you will re sume the charge of the young Turks, I think I can guarantoe that they shall givo you no more trouble." Ho was right. Eva was docile as any kitten. Ella sweeter than an angel. Evidently some miracle had been wrought. "You see," said Eva, "when grand papa says a thing ho means it!" "And wo are so afraid he'll send us to boarding-school!" whispered Ella. General Livingston came in toward evening to sec that the children kept faith, and then Ginerva made her con fession to him. "I liavo decoived you, sir," said she. "I don't know French at all. But my aunt told me I must not let you know it." And then she told him the simple story of her bereavement and depend ence. "And if French is essential," she added, "I must go back to Aunt Ma tilda. But I couldn't keep on de ceiving you, when you have been so kind to me." General Livingston smiled. "You are a good little girl," said bo, "anil wo must try to dispense with French for the present." After this Ginerva had very littlo trouble. The children, wild and way ward though they had been at first, becamo attached to her, and woro quick to learn. At the end of six months Mrs. Übsdell came to Living ston Larches. "Ginerva," said alio, "you must strike for a higher salary. 'Every one else is doing it." "Oh, Aunt Matilda," cried the girl, "Xcau'tl Tho terms are too liberal already. I feel that lam not earning tho money I receive." Mrs. Übsdell, however, insisted. "I will go to General Livingston myself," said she. "These aristocrats can't expect to grind every one down into tho earth 1" Poor Ginerva burst into tears, but Mrs. Übsdell was implacable. She scarcely dared look General Livingston in tho faco when alio met him in the garden two hours later. His face woro an amused expression. "Miss Hall," said he, "your aunt has been kind enough to "pay me a visit." "Please don't think that I had any thing to do with it," said Ginerva, al most inaudibly. "I am too well aware that I am already overpaid." General Livingston looked calmly at her. "Miss Hal]," said he, "I have boeu thinking matters over, and I have eorno to the conclusion to dispense with your services as governess here after." Ginevra involuntarily clasped her hands; she grow pale. "Oh 1" sho cried, "must I go back to Aunt Matilda? And I was so happy hore?" "Ginevra," said General Living ston, "I am fivo-und-forty years old, and yet I havo been sanguine enough to hope that 1 can win the love of a girl of seventeen. It is for you to de cide whether I am right or wrong." "For me?" "I havo fallen in love with you, Ginevra. Toll mo—will you be" my wife instead of tho children's gover ness. " She stole ono timid glanco at him. It was as if some strong, serene arch angel had stoopod from a celestial clime to ask her to nestle under the shadow of his gleaming wings. Hid ho suspect how long sho had seerotly worshiped him? Had ho pen etrated into tho mvsteries of her heart? That glance, howevor, was a 'suffi cient answer. Ho put out his hand and drew her to his heart. "My darling 1 My darling I" was all that ho said. Ginevra Ilall was standing in tho shadow of the tree-ferns in tho con servatory that evening, when tho gardener showed in a young lady. It was Kate. "Ginevra," said she, "Aunt Matilda has been to see mo. Surely she has not succeeded in making you discon tented with your situation?" "Hoarest Kate," said Ginevra, "I am going to tell you a secret. "I am going to bo General Livingston's wife next month. Oh, I am so glad, so thankful that I came hero 1 I don't think there ever was a girl so happy before." "Except me," said Kate. "For I, too, am to bo married—to Lieutenant Geoll'roy Ilossmore. And Miss Kay is so pleased and proud!" And Mrs. Übsdell arrogates to her self all tho credit of having "settled" her nieces so well in life. "Thov ought to be very much ob liged to me," says she, "For if it hadn't been for mo it never would have happened." Advice About the Chase. Hr. S. C. Alexander, of Owingsvillo, Ky., an experienced follower of tho liounde, gives tho following advico about the chase: "My advice is do not ran young foxes. They will soon loarn that they can evade the hounds by going to earth and will not run a long chase. It not run until they have grown strong nnd learned to de pend upon thoir heels for safety they will not be so apt to take a hole. When young their instinct teaches thorn to hido in a holo when fright ened, but after they havo learned to live out of doors and that their heels are sufficient they will depend upon them rather than go to earth, for they havo not learned by experieuoe that by taking to a hole they arc safe. Never run young foxes if yon want them to be long runners. If you go into a locality in which foxes havo never been chased you will find that the majority of foxes will suffer them selves to be caught on tho ground rather than take a hole, for tho rea son they have not learned that thuy could eludo tho dog by holing up." —Louisville Courier-Journal. Whipple's "Little White." In David Whipple's barn at Centre Groton, Conn., is a brisk littlo whito horse, weighing not over 950 pounds, which David Whipple would not sell. That littlo whito horse, worth, per haps, not more than 3125 or 8150, lately took David Whipple, his wife and two daughters all tho way from Selfville, Ala., to Contro Groton, in Connecticut. Tho journey occupied a littlo morn than two months' timo, counting in a visit in a Virginia town. The littlo whito horso bravely en dured tho journey, which lay through Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania nnd Now York State, tho party crossing the Hudson into Tarry town. Tho lit tlo horßO arrived at Contro Groton as sleek and glossy as when it trotted out of tho Alabama town two months bofore. The horse covered, on an nv orage, thirty miles a day. "Tiro littlo white," said David Whipple, "is as kind as a kitten, tho pet of tho whole family. No, sir, I would not sell him."—New York Her ald. THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE, THRILLING INCIDENTS AND DAR ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA. Most Unique Battle of tho War- Eight With a Marino Monster—A Thwarted Crime. Etc. IN tho winter of 1862-3 a part of the Confederate army was in win ter quarters near tho town of Dalton, in tho northern part of Georgia. Tho famous Orphan Brigade of Kentucky, noted for its bravery and daring in battle, was encamped near a brigade of Tennessee troops. Tho Kentuekians were commanded by General Joseph H. Lewis, now on the bench of tho Court of Appeals, and tho gallant Pat Clebourne, who after ward fell fighting bravely at Frank lin, Tenn. The two brigades mingled constant ly, and the tedium of camp life was relieved by many gay pranks and harmless larks among the soldier boys. Ono day tho troops were troated to a genuine snow storm—a sight very rare in that part of tho country, but which recalled their far away homes very vividly to tho soldiers from the Middlo States. A party of Tunnesseo soldiers had been paying a visit to some of their Kentucky comrades, and as they took their departure their late hosts in a spirit of sport throw some snowballs after them ; thoy rospoudod promptly, and a lively contest ensued, each party poltiug the other with tho whito missiles. Tho Tonnesseeans retreated t first, but, being re-cnforcod, rcturnod to tho attack. Some Georgians, who now learned to make snowballs for the first time, also joined their side. They assailed tho Kentuckiaus so fiercely that tho latter, outnumbered nnd blinded by tho feathery balls, wore driven from their position and their barracks and colors were seized by tho enemy. At this juncture General Lewis stopped out of his tent, and was also greeted with a volloy of snowballs and u derisivo cheer. Seeing how matters stood ho sprung upon his horse, or dored out his officers uud men and ad vanced with his entire brigade to re gain thoir lost honors. Tho Tenneeseeans and Georgians called on thoir comrades for aid, and both sides responded with tho same eagerness and promptness which would havo boen "displayed at tho sud den attack of a Federal army. In a fow moments 8000 mou and officers were drawn up in battlo array, their arms full of snowballs, and amid shouts of laughter and loud cheers tho tho fight waged furiously. Tho officers rodo among tho men oncouraging them and bravely expos ing themselves to tho shower of whito balls, which soon mado tho soldiers look like snow men. If an ofiicor was kuocked oil his horse, a private im mediately took his place and rallied his comrades. The battlo waxed lieroer and fiercer ; each aide made determined charges and wero repulsed again and again. Cut slowly, inch by iuob, the valiant Kcntuckians drovo their opponents back and recaptured their quarters and colors. They thou formed in a compact body, with freshly gathered ammunition and charged upon tho spot whero General Clebourne was seated on his horse, gayly cheering his men and giving instructions to his aides. Time after timo tho Kcn tuckians dashed thcmsolvcs against tho wall of Tounesseeans, but wero driven back before the rain of balls and forced to retrent. The two bodies of men swayed back and forth all tho afternoon without either side gaining a victory. Night finally came nnd tho darkness ended tho bloodloss, but one of tho most unusual and fiercest, battles ever fought. Louisvillo Courier-Journal. ; Fight With a Murine Monster, The Italian settlement at tho foot of Franklin street, Oakland, Cal., was agitated tho other morning by tho capturo of a monster of tho deop. An Italian fisherman gave battlo to tho queer fish, and ho says ho will long remember the encounter. The cap ture was made near Goat Island in tho morning. It took several hours to land the fish, and during the con test two boats wero nearly wreoked. The Italians call tho monster a "rat fish," because it has somewhat tho ap pearance of a rat. The fish weighs 215 pounds and measures eleven feet from tho tip of the nose to the end of the tail. Tho tail itself, which was used by tho fish as a moans of defense, measured six feet in length. The fishermen claim that this is tho first "rat fish" ever captured in tho bay of San Francisco. Tlio story of tbo battle was told by James Lagoria. Ho employs tbe fish ermen to go .out every morning and fish for bim. "There is ono old man in my employ," said Lagoria, "who seems to have particularly bad luck in catching fronts. Sovcral days ago bo caught a man-eater while fishing nonr Goat Island and hnd an exciting en counter. This morning the same old fisherman had his lines out near Goat Island when he captured the rat fish. He was alone at the time, and was somewhat cxeitod when the monster camo to tho surface of the water and made straight for his little boat, lash ing his tail in nil directions. Tho fisherman had to devoto his efforts to getting away from his oatcb. He shouted for assistance, and three com panions, who were fishing in tho vicin ity, camo to his rescue. After a long strugglo they succoeded in drowning the monster and towed him shore. A fish that weighß 245 pounds and is even eleven feet long, with a tail al most like a rod of iron can do some fighting when it gets mad. That is what my fishermen found out when they tried to land the monster. TJre man who made the oapturo has giveD Up tho sea for a few days. He is a lit tle superstitious about bis captures and does not want to do any mors fishing for awhile. "Tho Italians call it a 'rat fish,' but that is not the proper name. We have been in the fish business for a great many yoars, but wo bavo never had anything like this bofore. It is nol a shark. The tail is very peculiar and has great strength wheu the monster is alive. That is its weapon of defense. The men who caught the fish tell me that the monster cau work terrible havoo with its tail. Thoy were thor oughly alarmed during the battle with tho creature. Alter we have bad it on exhibition a few days we shall send the hoad to the Oakland High Sohool. We gave this sohool tho head of the man-eating shark." A Thwarted Crime. An Indian paper tells a curious tale. A rich lady, with her two children, both infants, was going, it is said, in her own "ekka" from Ramnagar to a place in the centre of tho Bar traot. The driver was a trustworthy servant of the family, and it was for this rea bou that tho lady had not divested herself of the ornaments sho usually woro. But tho Bight of tho jewels was too much for him, and at an excep tionally lonely spot in that lonely country ho suddenly asked his mis tress to hand him her valuables. On bor suspecting his real designs and hesitating, the miscreant showed him self in his real colors, and made her and her little ones, who could hardly toddlo about, get down. The horrible thought that was working in his brain, that of hiding his crime by means of murder, had given his face a sardonic look, which made tho poor woman tremble. Then the fiend bound her, band and foot, and informod her that ho would first kill hor ohildron and then do her to death. By her earnest ontreatics she provailed over him to begin with her first. He had au axe ill his hand, with which ho aimod a blow at hor, but the bead being loose, it flew away and foil a few paces off, tho handle only remaining in his grasp. Ho stepped into tho grass to look for it and disappeared behind a mound. Sho waited her certain doom with all her nerves on tho Btrain. Sho gradually fell into a swoon, and when sho came round tho first thing she saw was her husband bending over her nnd her ba bies crying and tugging at her clothes. After she had left, a nameless uneas iness seized her 'husband. Ho could not reason away his vague foars, try as he would, and at .last ho mounted his horse and followed the "ekka." He had proceeded but a fow miles when the dreadful sight of his wifo and chil dren lying bound up with cords oa tho ground met his oyes. And tho story that his wife told him congealed his blood with horror. They both then, drawn by au 'irrepressible curi osity, went toward tho (direction that tho miscreant went to pick up his ux, and thiuk of their surprise when they saw his corpso already lying blue, putrid and bloated, tbe fließ buzzing over it in clouds. Retribution bad come iu the shape of a "karundia,"j'of the deadly variety known as "khaki," l-aro even in those suako infested parts, whose bito instantaneously par ulizes tho victim and decomposes the body in an hour. Just an Inch From Death. We were sitting on the veranda ol our biiDgalow one evening iu far-ofl Burmab, B. A., and I, enjoying oui after (.dinner cheroot. Tbe waters ol tbe bay lapped lazily at the sand at our feet, for our house was "buildetl ou the sauds" of tho shore. All the world seemed at peace, only the "plunk ! plunk !". of tho monotonous night bird in tho jungle, and tho oc casional noto of the jackal signalling iu tho distance to his comrades, was heard. The moon had come up from behind n roeliy island just over iu tho bay, and spread a flood of golden yel low light over the silver topped break ers, rolling in over a neighboring coral reef. It was so calm and beautiful that it seemed that all that was wicked and baa bad gone out of the world, aud yet death lurked just at my friond's elbow, as ho puttod uncon sciously at his choroot. Wo had been disoussiugin a leisure ly man uer something that had hap pened in America. To prove some point my friend arose, and, stretcu iug himself lazily, sautered into his bedroom to get a paper bearing on the matter wo hod been discussing. Usu ally lights wero placed in all the bod rooms, but this evening, for somo un accountable reason—probably the moonlight—the servant had not per formed his duties. I could hear my frieud fumbling about on bis dressing table nnd then suddenly ho gave a quick ory of horror and rushed out to the light. "I nuve been struck by a'snake," he gasped, aud his faeo was deadly pale. "Where isit? Quick! Show mo!" I oxclaitnod, as I whipped out a knife. Ho held out his right arm. There was no mark ou tho hand, which I ex amined critically, but ou tho cuff of tbe shirt wero two tiny scratch-like punotures, and two little globules of poison sinking into the starched liueu aud leaving a sickly, greonish-yellow mark. "You've had a cioso call, old man," I exclaimed, with a groat sigh of re lief, "and I think you need a peg to brace up your nerves, but first let us settle the snake." We found him coiled up on a small mirror, which lay on the table, and an ugly looking devil ho was, too, ready to strike again. Ho was a very poisonous snake, known as the Deboae Xtusselli, but after my friend had finished with him it would have been difficult for any naturalist to have placed him in his proper genus.—Detroit Tree Press. THE MYSTERY OF LOVE, Tho million stars that throng the skicS A score of mcons would make; Yet now thoir twinklings just suSloo Tho gloom of night to break. Bo friendship may the offering bo Of scores of royal hearts, Yet fail to give the ecstasy That love nlone imparts. —Joseph W. Quinn, in Womnnkin HUMOR Of TIIE DAY. As a rule, when a story is fuany, it is not true. Atcliison Globe. If nobody considers you a -iranlr, you must have attracted very 1i Q1 e at tention. The family tree would be all very fine if it -were not all tree and no crop. —Life. A dog will always tight another dog quicker if it has a ribbon around its neck.—Atchison Globe. ''l will snatch a kiss!" ho cxclniuiod. "Iverily believe," she faltered, shyly, "you havo the face to try it on." The mau who can compose a song without tho word "Oh" at tho begin ning should be given a medal.—Peck's Sun. Friend—"Was tho season satisfac tory?" Actoi—"Well, we escaped with our lives and sotno of our trunks?" It is linrd to believe that a mau is telling tho truth when you know you would lie were you in his place.—Bos ton Transcript. Cave Gnome—"What's driviug you ashore?" Sea Serpent (shudderingly) —"The mermaids are trying to wear bloomers. "—Chicago Tribune. Here's a fact that's true to the oyuio As to the old gray-bearded saget Tho up-to-date woman is never ltiglit square up to date iu her age. —Puck, "Miss Passe indulged in somewhat withering sarcasm when she was talk ing of you.'" 'lt is her privilege, poor thiug. She is somewhat withering herself."—lndianapolis Journal. "Auyhow," said Dismal Dawson, "they ain't no man can lay his baud on his heart and say truthfully that I took his job of work away from him, and that goos!"—lndianapolis Jour nal. "Better wait awhile," said tho Cum mingsvillo sage. "After you get to bo a few years older you won't wunt any thing to live for. Just living will bo considerable satisfaction." Cincin nati Enquirer. Hortenee—"l supposo tbore is al ways something in life to spoil a man's happiness?" Van Jay—"Yes; if a man is poor be can't be happy, and if if ho is rich the chances are ho will get married." —Brooklyn Eagle. Tho Guest—"Hore ! What do you menu by waking mo up threo times this morning and telling mo it is breakfast time? And here I catch you running away with the sheet." Boy— "Well, you see, sir, wo'vo got to git the tablecloth whether you get up or not."—Tit-Bits. Old Mercator (to littlo Billy Ducks, just loft school, who applies lor situa tion as office boy, and jiroduoes testi monial from clergyman) "Wo don't want you on Sundays, my good littlo boy. Have you a reference from any one who knows you on week days?"— Sydnoy Bulletin. "Why," asked Dismal Dawson, leauing over tho fouoe, "why do you koep on diggin' when tho boss ain't around 1" "Because I really like the job," said tho new farm hand. "Got a real likiu' for work?" "Sure!" "You'd orter tako treatment." —In- dianapolis Journal. Judge B. fell down a flight of stairs, reoording his passage in a bump ou every stair until bo reachod the bot tom. A servant ran to his assistance, and raising him up said; "I hope your Honor is not hurt?" "No," said the Judge, sternly. "My honor is not hurt, but my head is." Tho latest addition to Americaua abroad is the smart saying oi a Now York girl to uu Englishman who took her in to dinner. "I sometimes won der what becomes of nil tho peaches in your country," he said. "Oh, wo eat what wo can, and can what wo can't," answered the ready-tougued maid.—New York Sun. First Office Boy—"Do you like your job?" Second Office Boy- "Now! Tho typewriter is thirty-five, tho book keeper's sore 'cause he can't bo a dude on $8 a week, the instalment compnuy took the bend clerk's bieyele away from him last week 'cause he hadn't paid up ou it, and tho boss won't let mo whistle anywhere."—Somervillo Journal. A Whale Far Above Tidewater. Captain J. H. D. Gray, of Astoria, has the petrified vertebrae of a whale, which was found thirty feet under ground on one of tho hills back of As toria, at an elevation of 185 feet above the sea level. There was also a largo deposit of clam shells around the whale's bone, but tbe rest of the bones of the whale were not visible. Tho faot that a whalo was stranded 185 feet above the present water levol iu Astoria shows conclusively that there has been a flood at Astoria iu days goue by, to whieb the flood iu Port land a year ago last June was not a marker. Portland went through that flood, and is still here, but it is plain that tho Astoria which existed wheu that whalo was stranded was annihi lated.—Portlaud Orogoniau. Ingenious Swindling Device, The French customs authorities on the Swiss frontier have detected a novol and ingenious swindling device. Watches were sent across the border, sealed up in cans of condensed milk. It is estimated that 22,000 watches, valued at 3100,000, have entered France thus in the past six months.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers