The subsistence department, of the United States Army, has received from the War Department permission to issno a new cook book. It is in teresting to note that an appropria tion lias been made foi printing sev eral thousands of these books for the use of the militia. Brigadier-General Greely is to have charge of distribut ing them to the militia. A recent bulletin of the census bur eau gives information as to the extent of farm mortgages in the various sec tions of the country. It shows, what will surprise most people, that farms in New York, New Jersey, and most of the other Eastern States, are more heavily mortgaged than those in the West and South, the great agricultural regions of the United States. The farms in New York, for instance, are mortgaged to forty-three per cent, of the value, while those of Kausas are mortgaged only thirty-five per cent. The New Jersey farms are mortgaged to fifty per cent, of what they are worth as compared with only thirty two per cent, on the farms of Ne braska. Much opposition is being developed in Pennsylvania to the attempt to tax life insurance policies. It is the opin ion of tbe Auditor-General that a life insurance policy is a form of invest ment within the meaning of the act of the Assembly, and he has directed the eommissioness of the several counties to require policy holders to make a personal return of such policies for the purposes of taxation. The insur ance companies, as well as the policy holders, are interested, as u tax upon policies might tend to diminish their number. Lawyers differ on the ques tion. Some hold that a paid-up policy, payable at death, or a policy payable at the expiratiou of a fixed term of years, is an investment. But the gen eral opinion is that a policy the pre miums on which continue during life is not an investment within the meaning of the tax law. The Attorney- General is to be asked to pass upon the question. The Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution says: The question of good roads is one which has frequently been agitated, but which has failed as yet to receive that deliberate consideration which its real importance demands. In a recent article published in the Metho dist Review, Professor EL If. Stone, of Emory College, who has given the subject careful thought, states that good roads, according to the standard which prevails in other countries, are absolutely unkuown in the Stato of Georgia. Such a condition as even our best roads present would not be tol erated for a moment in Belgium, France or Germany, where the roads are so admirably constructed as to offer in many cases superior advan tages to the railroads. Professor Stone deplores the spirit of indifference which exists in this and other States in regard to the matter of good roads, and bespeaks a revival of interest on the part of those who have ceased to agitate the question. Every one should read Professor Stone's able paper, which contains a number ot pertinent and valuable suggestions and is worthy of thoughtful consideration. Though a submarine cable under neath the Atlantic Ocean has long been in practical operation science has not as yet performed that difficult feat with reference to the wider and deep er waters of the Pacific. But little over a quarter of a century ago the North American continent began to flirt with Europe over the Atlantic ca ble. The messages which thus crossed nnd recrossed between the two hemi spheres buzzed a distance of 11700 miles. Since the achievement of that master stroke of genius was consum mated in 1889 repeated enterprises have been formed for the purpose of spanning the Pacific Ocean. Nothing, however, has yet been accomplished. Nevertheless, within the last two years the hope of realizing this long cher ished dream has commenced to re vive. Last year the Pacific Cable Com pany was organized in Now York City, while the British Colonial Telegraph Company has sprung into existence within the last few months. The form er proposes to lay a cable direct to Yokohama, Japan, l>y way of the Sand wich Islands, the estimated cost of which is somewhere in the neighbor hood of $10,000,000. The British company is figuring on a cable l'rom Vancouver's Island to Melbourne by the way of the Fiji Islands. One rea son why it is more difficult to lav a cable across the Pacific Ocean than aero the Atlantic is due to the much greater depth of the former. The At lantic Ocean ranges in depth to 12,- 000 to 15,000 feet, while that of the Pacific is from 18,000 to 21,000 feet. Some day. however, the difficult feat will be achieved. Mighty indeed are the miracles which science performs. A MODERN SAMSON. CY PHIPPS. TIIE MAINE GIANT, AND IIIS FEATS OF MUSCLE. Lifted and Moved a House. One End at a Time—Bent a 200-Pound Iron Bar to a V and Made All Bangor Stare. VERYBODY in Eastern Maino has beard of Cy Phipps, the giant of Penobscot County and the most inveterate wag of bis age. Cy was born out here at Goodalo's Corner, on tbe side bill over looking Dedham, about fifty years ago, saws tbe Lewiston Journal. Somewhere about tbe time that old John Brown was getting banged down in Virginia, Cy, then r. lad gettiug on toward voting age, bought a dog that was big and good natured enough to allow himself to bo harnessed to carts and sleds, attached to which he ma le long journeys, hauling his master to dances or other places of amusement. Hauling bees were all the rage then, and no man thought of building a new house when ho could find an old one for sale. As soon as the purchase was made the house was placed 011 two stout logs called "shoes," and the farmers would come for miles with their oxen to help at the moving. One afternoon Cy was riding down a long hill behind his dog when he met a house moving. "Get out of the road and let me pass," cried Cy, hauling up. The teamsters laughed at him. "If yon don't put that house out of the way," said Cy, "I'll get oil'and do it myself." At this teamsters smiled so broadly and made su;h sarcastic remarks that Cy grabbed one end of the house, shoved it into the ditch, and served the other end the same way, and, hav ing ottered to tip it over on the roof in case anybody doubted his ability to do so, he whipped up his dog and went on. it was a small house, to be sure, but men are scarce who can lift one or d of a little house, and nobody doubted Cy Phipps's strength after that. Still, ho had rivals whom ho was glad to accommodate in any kind of a contest they saw tit to suggest. One of these was "Sime" Gibson, who worked on Mount Heagan in Prospect. "Sime" had lifted 1200 pounds dead weight and turned over an eight ton granite stone with the aid of the great quarry bar. This bar was used iu the quarry for pulling down stouo that had been loosened by blasting. It was about eight feet long and weighed 200 pounds. After a seam had been opened with powder the bar was forced down into the crevice, a ring was put over the top, and oxen were hitched to the ring to pull the stone away, When Oy had performed all of Gib son's feats easily, ho put the bar into a seam in a ledge and lifted until the great rod of iron looked like a capital V. Another feat of his was to lauuch a loaded scow across mud flats at low water. He also shouldered two bar rels of flour at once—one on each shoulder—and hauled up the anchor of a good-sized schooner by pulling in the cable hand-over-hand without so much as touching the windlass. For the twenty years following 1860 Cy Phipps was probably the strongest man in Maine, and might have made a lot of money had ho chosen to give exhibitions. Instead of that lie mar ried a nice little girl in Orlaud and raised up a respectable family. Instead of getting stuck up and go ing around with a chip on his shoul der or challenging men through the newspapers Cy grew better natured as he got older, and whenever ho em ployed his groat strength at all it was to forward his own work or to help some friend out of trouble. Having gained some little property and feel ing disinclined to work hard every day, he moved to Lynn, Mass. Iu 1880 and for more than ten years ho served as an engineer at good wages. During the time he worked there every man from Eastern Maine who went to Boston always made a trip down to Lynn to see Cy Phipps, so that ho often received as many as twenty callers in a day. In short, he was one of the local attractions, and his prowess soon became so well known in Boston that several sporting | men made him good offers if he would j undertake tours under their manage ; inent. Cy treated them all well, lis | tened to what, they said, and refused i every overture, no matter how much money there was in it. He was get ting along in years, and flesh had ac cumulated on his frame to such an ex tent that he weighed nearly 800 pounds. In view of these facts, he believed it best to let well enough alone. About two years ago, when ho was happy and prosperous and had every chance of reaching a ripe old age iu Lynn he suddenly threw up his job aud went to Danvers, where they put him in the violent ward of tho insane asylum. Ho is there to-day and is glad to see all those who call on hi in. i He is ward master at a salary ol SI2OO a year. How Railroads Originated. The origin of railways, says Can sell's Saturday Journal, his been traced to a coutrivauco l'or simplify ing the transit of coal from the Eng lish mines to the places of shipment. The iuveutiou consisted of a double parallel line of wooden beams oi trams, fixed to the ground and fur nished with llanges to prevent the wheels of the cars from slipping aside. Tho motive power was furnished by horses. The dato at which these roads were first used is set down as between 1602 and 1649. Ju 1700 long Hlips ol iron were placed on tho wooden beams in order to prev6nt the excessivo wear aud tear. CURIOUS FACTS. In Spanish obituary notices the cause of death is always giveD. The railways of the world carry over 40,000,000 passengers weekly. The Soar family, of AmbastoD, Der byshire, England, have a curious heir loom in the shape of a loaf of bread which is over GOO years old. Georgia lia3 an "earthquake well." It suddenly appeared on tho night of the Charleston (S. C.) earthquade, and is said to be unfathomable. The flying frog of Surnira is four teen inches in length and has side membranes like a flying squirrel. He can leap entirely across large rivers. A radish eighteen inches in length lias been grown near Weiden, Ger many, which is said to be in the exact form of a buby, even to the fingers and toes. The Government of Hawaii is in the market in Southern California for 10,000 homed toads, by means of which it is hoped to abate the plague of bugs which are working destruc tion on the islands. John Vince, of Nicholasville, Ivy., has two hungry calves. By accident they became imprisoned in a road cul vert, and stayed sixteen days. When taken out they were alive, but too weak to bawl much. Mrs. Thomas Boy, of Ottawa, Can ada, recently died, leaving a will re quiring her daughter to marry within twenty-four hours or forfeit u consid erable fortune. JThe vouug woman ful filled tho condition and gained tho property. Fisn stories among the French Ca nadians arc not confined to tbe size of the catch. A fisherman on Le Sorei oisßiver reports that he saw floating down on the current when ho was on his way homo a bank of grasshoppers a foot deep. A new record for pigeon flying has been established by a Philadelphia cote. The birds wore liberated from Gainesville, Ga., and flew a distance ot" 614.1G miles. Tho first bird accom plished the distance in thirteen hours and two minutos. A fourteen-year-old boy of Blue Hill, Me., committed suicide by plac ing tho butt of a gun against a tree, surrounding the barrel with a pile of stones, running a cord from the trig ger around a stake and back to the muzzle, lying down, and after blind folding himself pulling the string. They do things somewhat curiously in the courts of the Isle of Man. On the conclusion recently of a day's hearing in a right of-way case, one of the jurors announced that he had pur chased a ticket for America, and would not return for some months. The further hearing of the case was postponed until his return. Are Life Belts Useless J The Saturday Review, in comment- ; ing on the loss of the steamship Drum- ' mond Castle off the coast of France, | says: But the really important point j about the accident has not, so tar as wo know, been dwelt upon anywhere. It is this: All the bodies that have been recovered from the sea up till now have been found equipped with life belts, and life belts of the most modern type. One of the survivors of the catastrophe related the other day to an interviewer that when he first found himself struggling in the water he found spots of light on the sea all around him. lie could not understand it at first, but soon remembered that tho life belts wero of a special kind, which, as soon as they touched tho water, emitted a light—of so modern a type were they. And yet only three men survived the wreck. Tho question naturally arises, Of what use are tho life belts if they do uot help to savo life? A thorough investigation of tbe subject is needed, and if modem life belts are useless they should at once be superseded by a more service able appliance. The Nurse's Banger. People who aro not awuro of the conditions do not realize tho continual risk iucurred by doctors and nurses in hospitale, in the operating room and when dressing sores. In spite of the most stringent precautions, sterilized instruments, antisoptic washes, etc., slight cases of blood poisoning are rot uncommon, and the appearance of a nurse with a bandaged hand excites comparatively little remans. Tho first signs of danger nro so quickly detected aud treated that there aro lew fatai cases. A nurse whoso in fected finger had been lanced to the bono ami scraped, said cheerfully: "I ought to be thankful that I shall not lose the nail. Miss Sawbones is in a far worse stato. Her whole arm is in flamed, and she has lost a thumb nail. She went to bed apparently well, but awoke in au hour or two with shoot ing paius in her hand aud arm. How ever, she's doing well now, and will bo uli right soon."—New York Tribune. Blue Butter in India. "What was the most striking thing you saw in India?" was asked of a woman who has just returned from a tour around tho world. "Butter," she replied. "That seems strange, but it is a fact that in India butter made from tho thin milk oi tbe native cow is blue, instead of yellow. When I came across this azure substance I vowed I would not touch it, but others did so, with evident enjoyment, and, curiosity getting tho upper hand, I tried the butter, aud, to my surprise, l'ouiul it delicious. You who see tho golden pots of fresh butter used in America can hardly reulizo what it is to seo bread painted blue. Tho blue butter of India is preferable to tho stuff they serve ns butter in Norway and Sweden," continued the globe trotter, "for there we had nothing but oleomargarine."—New Orleans Picayune. HOUSEHOLD AFFAIKS. SCIENCE OF BOILING POTATOES. In a bulletin issued by Professor Snyder, of the Minnesota Agricultural College, he makes a point of interest to the housewife. He showH that when potatoes are peeled and started boiling in cold water there is a loss of eighty per cent, of the total albumen, and where they are not peeled and are started in hot water this loss is re duced to two per cent. A bushel of potatoes, weighing sixty pounds, con tain about two pounds of total nitrogenous compounds. When im properly cooked one-half of a pound is lost,'containing six-tenths of a pound of tho most valuable protoids. It re quires all of tho protein from nearly two pounds of round beefsteak to re place the loss of protein from im properly boiling a bushel of potatoes. —New Orleans Picayune. THE CARE OF POLISHED FLOORS. No rollers should be used on furni ture over polished fioors. Each part which touches the wood should be fitted with a piece of thick felt secure ly glued on. This protects the floor and allows easy movemont. These floors require only the sweep ing with a hair brush and the wiping with a dust mop or soft cloth. Wax, alone, gives tho highest pol ish ; but is always slippery. It should be rubbed on evenly. Any little bits remaining will show as blank specks after the polishing. The brush should bo used across the grain at first, after ward with the grain. Wax aud tur pentine furnish a less degree of jioiish, which is, therofore, less slippery, whilo the addition of parailine oil lessens it still more. If it bo desired to keep tho floor very light the oil mixture should not bo used, for oil always darkens wood. Water is tho worst thing that can bo applied to auy waxed surface. A damp cloth may be used. All spatters or drops of any liquid should be wiped up immediately. When spots come— as come thoy will—rub them hurd with a piece of thick felt under tho foot or with a flannel moistened in turpentine. Remember to keep the surface woll polished, then dirt cannot stick and substances spilled cannot roach the wood and make spots. With all these precautions the floors which aro con stantly used will need au entire reno vation occasionally. They should then be rubbed all over with steel wool till every spot is scraped out. If the wood has grown dark it may bo whitened by a wash of oxalic acid. Rub perfectly smooth and clean before applying the wax or other encaustic. A good encaustic which will clean and polish at tho same time may be made from wax, sal soda and any good soap. Tho wax and soap should be shaved and dissolved in boili/ig water. Stir frequently and add tho soda. Put the mixture in something which may be closely covered and stir constantly until cool. This may be applied to floors, furniture, marbles, tiles, bricks, etc. It will remove ink from polished surfaces. The French use white wax on white marbles, but this is not abso lutely necessary. —American Kitchen Magazine. RECIPES. Baked Apple Jelly—-Fill a two quart grauite or earthen dish with alternate layers of sliced tart apples and sugar. Bake three hours, closely covered. This is delicious, and should turn out a solid pink jelly. Cherry Blanc-Mangc—One quart sour cherries; wash iu dold water and seed ; placo in the lira with half a tea cup of cold water and stow until ten der ; add a teaoupful of white BUgar, a teaspoon of butter and two table spoons of cornstarch which have been perfectly dissolved in four teaspoons of cold water. Stir gently until corn starch is cooked (from five to eight minutes), then pour into a dish or mold to cool. Eat with cream. Corn Soup—Take the water chicken was cooked iu aud place on tho fire ; add tho remaining chicken meat and bones to the stock, of which thore should be two quarts* Simmer until the meat leaves tho bones, then strain; flavor with a tcaspoonful of cayenne and celery salt. Add a small eapfal of sweet corn cut from tho ear. place whore it will cook slowly for half ac hour, and just before serving add a cupful of sweet cream or milk. i\ew Potatoes—Scrape and lay in cold water ten minutes; cover with boiling water and let boil lifteen minutes; then add tho salt (to one pint of water half a tablespoouful of salt) and let boil hard fifteen minutes longer. When cooked pour off every drop of water ; take off tho cover of saucepan and shako the potatoes for a moment in a current of cold air, then placo on bapk of stovo and cover with a clean, coarse towel until ready to dish. Sponge Cake—Beat tho yolks of two eggs until thick, add gradually one cup of sugar, one-half teaspoonful each of lemon juice and grated rind aud beat well. And three-eighths of a cup of hot water, tho whites of the eggs beaten to a stiff froth, ono cup of flour sifted with ono saltspoonful of salt, and a lovel teaspoonful of baking pow der. Bake in a buttered eake pan forty-five minutes. When ready to use, breax into pieces. Sponge cake should never bo cut. Jellied Tongue—This is a recipe pre pared by Mrs. S. B. Buckner, and was often on her table when her husband | was Governor of Kentucky. Boil the tongue until tender, so that tho skin will pull off readily. Cut in thin slices aud arrange in mold, having pre viously laid slices of lemon on bottom. Cover with jelly made of ono box of gelatine dissolved in a cup of cold water. Add ono qunrt of boiling water less a cup, juice of four lemons, two cups of sugar. Strain well. Let stand twelve hours before,using. 1 THE BANGLE HAS REAPPEARED. One of the features of this year's fashion in jewelry is that the bapgle has reappeared. But the new bangle is very different from the old. It came into fashion along with the elbow sleevo now so much in vogue, and is a flexible allair, comfortable to the arm and entirely uulike the stiff banglo ot a. few years ago. There are on view a variety of these new bangles. They consist of a narrow flexible gold band, set with jewels, alternating with one another. Six to eight gems are used, and the effect is very beautiful. PRINCESS OF WALES'S DOU3LE DEAD. Mrs. Mnhlon Sands died suddenly a few days ago at her resideuco iu Lon don, England. iSho bore a remarka ble resemblance to tho Princess of Wales, with whom she was upon terms of intimate friendship. On two occa sions at fancy dress balls, at the Prin cess's request, Mrs, Sands and the Princess dressed alike, and it was im possible to decide which was which. Mrs. Sands's husband was thrown from his lior;?o and killed in Hyde Park some years ago. Both Mr. and Mrs. MuhlonSanls wero most popular. GENUINE FOSING AS ARTIFICIAL. Attention has been recently drawn by Sir William Flower to a-despicable fraud perpetrated on the more humane ! of the fair sex. The outcry against , the destruction of tho egret in order ! to supply plumes for ladies' hats was j apparently leading to some decrease j in the demand, a condition of things j which did not suit the trader. La dies, thereforo, who had any conscien tious scruples wero assured that the ! plumes were not real egret's feathers, j but manufactured. Sir William Flow- | er, having examined numbers of these, I has iu every case found them to bo j genuine feathers.—Loudon Chronicle, j FOR WOAIEN PAST THEIR YOUTH. It is now a generally admitted fact that women who have passed their youth cau appropriately and becom ingly wear white on dressy occasions. Blaclc was long and mistakenly be lieved to be tho only really suitable wear for women past forty, but this error has been removed. Dull-black gowns deepen the lines of tho faces, and darken tho cohiplexious of those who are not absolutely fair; indeed, mourning attire is frequently found most unbecoming to blondes, and al though wholly white gowns are not al ways suitable, a relief in white is gen erally possible, and subdued colors should bo chosen in placo of black. The Duchess of Devonshire, though a grandmotiier of long standing, is par ticularly fond of white gowns of many different kinds, and an American lady who recently saw her at a fashionable gathering in London writes that she looked extremely well in a gown of cream-white silk canvas over orchid colorcd taffeta silk. She carried a parasol of white crepo do Chine lined with the same silk, and the small white bonnet on her head was fastened with narrow velvet ribbon and trimmed with pansies and one bcautilul orchid. —New York Post. TROUSSEAU OF A PRINCESS. Among Princess Maud's wedding presents is a tea jacket mado for her by tho members of the dressmaking class at the People's Palace. It is of pure white satiu ot the Louis XV. period, with tight-fitting tailor-made back and vest set in by revers of silver and white brocade. The puff elbow sleeves are finished by a turned-back cuff of tho brocade, and ruffles of em broidered white chiffon match tho frill at tho neck. The whole trousseau is marked by the exquisite taste and elegant sim plicity for which the bride's mother, the Princess of Wales, is eminently distinguished in tho matter of her own and her daughters' clothes. A point noted in tho description of the millinery of tho wardrobe is that in seven hats described six have quills among their trimminge. There are a black straw with bjack quills, cream lace and black satin ribbon; a white straw with lace, white satin ribbon, and white quills; anotherfancy black straw with pink roses, black roses, choux of black tulle, and black quills; a toque of peacock blue velvet bordered with Russian sable, and at one side a bunch of quills shaded to repeat the tones of the velvet and sable ; a Tern o' Shanter of tan leather with black velvet and niftural owls' quills, and a toque of brown straw trimmed with rosettes of brown tulle and old pink velvet roses aud tho inevitable, this time brown, quills. Evidently quills are popular with English royalty.—New York Times. GOSSIP. The Countess of Warwick has parted with over 3000 acres of her landed property, including Newnham iiall and fifteen large farm?. Mrs. Mary Putnam Sharpe, of Pom fret, Conn., now eighty-four years of age, is tho only surviving great-great granddaughter of General Israel Put nam. Tho widdwed Queen of Naplos is tho only female Knight of the Russian Order of St. George, an honor con ferred solely for exceptional gallantry under fire. The first petition for suffrage in England was signed in 1867 by 1499 women. The appeal handed in to Parliament last May was signed by 257,000 women. Tho first woman drummer to visit Lewiston, Me., aroused a good deal of interest among the merchants, as she went about selling gloves in the men's furnishing stores. A miniuture of tho young Duchess of Marlborough has recently been paint3.l by Miss Kussnor. Tho Duko lias ordered two copies of the portrait, the total cost being some SISOO. Mrs. Blaine has agod greatly since 6he left Bar Harbor at tho close of last season. MrH. Damrosch will make her home with her mother at Stan wood, and will soon be joined by Mr. Damrosch. Mrs. Elizabeth Seward is the pro prietor and editor of the Stillwater (Minn.) Mossenger. She is also a bill poster, and is said to be the only woman in the country who follows that occupation. Miss Eliza San ford, daughter of a Revolutionary soldier, has been granted a pension by the Government, At the recent celebration of Buukes Hill day in New Jersey she was a per son of great interest. The young Duchess of Marlborough refuses to adopt the stylo of the very low gowns which are worn at i'aahion ab!o dinners in England, for the rea son that her throat is long and looks much better dressed in white ribbons. Some time ago the Supreme Court of Ohio decided that Miss Nollio G. Robinson, a lawyer of Cincinnati, could not be appointed a notary pub lic. She has now applied to tho Su premo Court of the United States for a decision on the question, and the case will bo considered by Jußtice Harlan. A Boston young woman journeying to Northern Vermont on horseback, v/itb her escort, said in Burlington, where they put up for rest, that she used a bicycle tor short trips near home, but preferred a horse when go ing into a new country, as it gave much better opportunity to enjoy landscape and study nature. Dr. Grace N. Kimball, of Bangor, Me., who is now in charge of tho re lief work in Armenia, aud has guinod the honorary title of "tho heroine of Van," has been chosen assistant physi cian of Vassar College, and will enter upon her duties in Jauuary. The chief physician of Vassar is Dr. Eliz abeth Burr Tholburg, also of Bangor. TASmON NOTES, In fabrics i'or evening wear the cling ing stuffs bid fair to havo this season for their own. Crepe do chine is to be worn not only by "buds" but by women of all uges. Cashmere conios back again with a flourish of trumpets. It is woven with a silk woof, and is exquisitely soft and shimmering. It will be used exten sively lor indoor gowns. Cravenotte grows in favor for cycling and utility costumes generally. It is waterproof and at the same time devoid of the unpleasant rubber odor of most waterproof fabrics. Silk dresses arc trimmed with alter nate rnlfles of chiffon and tho silk. This is very pretty in plain silk, and when the skirt is made this way, the bodice is covered with chiffon and lace. Now, when so many girl 3 at the sea shore are bewailing the fact that their ostrich feathers are straight, it is of valuo to know that whalebone will curl them more successfully than scissors. A new material, which has the shimmering effect most 6ouglit for at present, is moire velours. Goffered oriental satin, crinkled silks und silk crepes, all of them soft and "drapery" like, are to be extensively worn. Green, bottle green, hunter's green and even olive green is to be one of the two favorite colors this year. It shares tho honors with pluin color, which is an evolution from the emi nence and magenta of past years. The wide godet skirt is fast disap pearing, especially for out-door wear, to make way for tho becoming jupe gathered or plaited from tho hips to tho back, but tho principal change for the better is that all skirts are cut of a moro moderate width. White and cream laces and trim mings nr,e used in tho greatest profu sion. There is one advantage iu the employment of these garnitures. Ono can wear almost any shado or color if it i 3 plentifully decorated with either white or cream-colored thin fabrics, especially laco and chiffon. Harder Thau the Diamond. It is reported in Nature that a sub i stanco harder than tho diamond has ! been mado by M. Moissan, the dis- I tinguished French chemist, by heating j horaeic acid and carbon to an extreme- I ly high temperature in the electric ' furnace devised by him. The new compound is not unliko graphite in I appearance, and it may dia- I monds iu boring rocks, cutting glass and other industrial purposes, as it can be produced in pieces of any re quired size. It is said to cut dia monds without difficulty. Los Angeles, Cal., has a Landmarks Club, an organization formed for tho preservation and restoration _of the | old mission buildings and other relics as monuments and landmarks. THE PRIDE OF THE COUNTRY SIDE Oh! Phyllis is surpassing fair, I know a maid that's fairer; Her beauty is beyond compare- No beauty cou'.d bo rarer; She scoroeth fickle fashion's guide. And russet is her gown— Yet sne's the pride of the country aid©, And the envy of the town! She is a queen we all declare, Though no crown she possesses, Beyond a wealth of rich brown hair, That hangs in dainty tresses: Her matchless eyes have long outvied The gems in monarch's crown— And she's the pride of the country side And the envy of the town! Her form is full of fairy grace, Her voice is music mellow, And, oh! the bloom upon her faco Is the red rose's fellow: And! he who wins her for his bride Wins more than wealth, renown— For she's the pride of the country sido And the envy of the town! —F. J. Cox, in Chambers's Journal, HUMOR OF THE DAY. When men are not regretting that life is bo short they are doing some thing to kill time.—Atchison Globe. "Why does Stirason always carry his umbrella olosed when it rams?" "He is afraid the owner may recognize it." —Detroit Free Press. Lord Nocount (proudly)— "I can trace my descent from William the Conqueror." Cynicus—"You have been a long time on the downward path."—Truth. "Does your family sympathize with you when you have insomnia?" "Yes. When I can't sleep I sit up all night and practice on my accordion."— Chicago Record. "Alas! father, I have lost my heart," wailed the heroine. The villain scowled. "Careless girl!" he exclaimed between his clinched teeth, —Philadelphia Record. For Beginners: Invoutor—"l'm working on a cyclometer." Friend-- "What is the special feature?" In ventor— "It registers the number of times you fall."—Puck. "Have you read that article 'How to Tell a Bad Egg?' " "No, I haven't; but my advice would be if you have anything important to tell a bad egg, why, break it gently."—Household Words. "This blackberry pie isn't nearly so good as those motuer used to make." "No; I told your mother this morn ing when she made it that you would be sure to find fault with it."—Chicago Record. Miss Oldfriend—"l declare I begin to feel that I'm growing old. It's really unpleasant." Miss Becky Sharpe "Yes, dear, it must lie especially so for one who has been young so long!" —Standard. At the Camping Party : The Crank "This is the last time I'll ever camp out!" The Enthusiast—"Well, you shouldn't camp out, unless you can en joy yourself without being comfort able."—Puck. "Are you taking swimming lessons, Cadby?" "No, old fellow. It's too much bother. My valet is learning, and as I never go anywhere without him, if I fell in the watah he could rescue me."—Harper's Bazar. A contemporary asks: "How can a bloomer girl climb a tree when she sees a cross bull iu her path?" She can do it "like a little man." That is one of tho advantages of tho homely bloomers.—Morristown Horald. She—"l thought you said tho sea side never drew you to it?" Ho (im pressively)— "It was not the seaside drew mo hero." She—"Of couise— yon camo by train, didn't von? It was the engine drew you !"—lllus trated Bits. Precious Time: Mrs, Wheeler—"My husband and I decided not to go to Europe, because it takes too long to get 1 hero." Mrs. .Tones—"Too long?" Mrs. Wheeler—"Yes; fancy being un able to use one's wheel for six or seven days!"— Puck. Tourist—"So that's tho oldest in habitant? One hundred and four years old ! No wonder you are proud of him." Native— "I duuno ;he ain't done nothin' in this hbre place 'cept grow old, an' it's took a sight o' time to do that!"—Tit-Bits. Lost for Ever: "I was unfortunate enough to leavo my umbrella in a street car yesterday." remarkod Man chester. "Whose umbrella was it?" asked Birmingham. "I don't know. I borrowed it from Snaggs."—Pitts burg Chronicle-Telegraph. - Lost Heirloom: "Thoro is no gout in Sir Percy's family, is there?" "Not now; thoro was, formerly. It was introduced into family by Sir Ro land Highliver, jput they nave been so poor for the last two hundred years that they wouldn't keep it up."— Puck. Helon—"Oh, yes ; ho always thought tho world of me. Before wo were married ho used to say that he was willing to die lor me." Nellie—"But ho didn't." Helen—"Of course not. He was so thoughtful, you know. Ho said that he did not dare do it, lest I should be unable to replace the loss." —Boston Transcript. (jueor English. There is a signboard above the gate way ot the Eye Infirmary, Newcastle upon-Tyne, which tells us that "When this gate is closed urgent cases and accidents must riug the front door bell." About the middle of the conlury a notice appeared on the Tyuemouth sands to tho effect—wo quoto from memory—"Visitors are cautioned against bathing within 100 yards of this spot, several persons having been drowned hero recently by order of the authorities."—Notes aud Queries.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers