Thcro are fewer Roman Catholics,
proportionately, in Sweden than in
any other European country—only
810 out of a population of 4,741,000,
There are about 2000 persons in
France who aro sot down as Anarch
ists, and are under the constant watch
of tho polico of tho various European
countries.
Officers in the Bavarian army hence
forth will not have to fight duels when
challenged if thoy aro opposed to tho
practice. A great reliof, indeed ; but
how in tho world are they to satisfy
their "honor?" marvels tho New Or
leans Ficayuno.
A Spanish matador recently wrnto
to a London paper to protest against
the English habit of denouncing bull
fights as cruel. lie said tho bulls wero
always killed in a hnmano manner,
and as for tho horses, it was a work of
compassion to put an end to their ex
istence !
Tho State of Washington is en
gaged in tho task of reclaiming
1,000,000 acres of desert land within
tho State limits, Iu order to ronder
tho soil fertilo it will bo subjected to
a thorough process of irrigation. For
this purposo a caual 150 miles in
length will bo constructed within tho
next few months. Only a part of this
immense tract will bo irrigated at
onco and if tho plan succeeds, as it no
doubt will, it can bo very easily ex
tended. At present tho land is use
less, but when fertilized it will sup
port something liUo 8500 families.
A curious parallel can be instituted
between the President-elect and his
predecessor, James K. Pollt, notes
Moses P. Handy in the New York
Mail and Express. McKinley and
Polk both sprang from the dominating
Scotch-Irish race; they both served
in their State Legislatures; both en
tered Congress young, Polk at thirty,
McKinley at thirty-four; both served
the same length of time, fourteen
years, and they were both Chairman
of tbo Ways and Means Committee,
and shaped the revenue policy of their
time. Polk became Speaker of the
House, and McKinley barely missed
it. After retiring from Congress,
each became Governor of his State,
and thus they had precisely the samo
legislative and executive experience
before being electod to the Presidency.
Sixteen years have elapsed sinco tho
famous Lord Beaconslield passed from
the sconos of his earthly career, and
yet tho great English statesman is
still without a biography. In view of
the excellent position which Lord Boa
oonsfield occupied for so many years
is Primo Minister of tho greatest
Nation on earth, it is strange that no
3ne has arisen from among the num
ber of his surviving associates to
perform this servico to his memory.
Aside from doing honor to the illus
trious dead, however, it seems that a
lifo of tho great leader should bo
written as a contribution to the his
tory of England. Unless tho volume
makes its appearanco soon many in
teresting incidents which ought
to bo incorporated in tho story
of his lifo will bo overlooked and for
gotten. Had d'lsraeli been an Ameri
can, observes the Atlanta % Constitutiou,
there would doubtless bo in existence
it this time no less than a dozen
biographies of him, and the fact that
England has waited so long to put tho
narrative of his career into tangible
form emphasizes a marked difference
between tho two countries.
The whale has been described ns a
Inrgc ambiguous animal with no hair
all over it; but, according to report,
tho remains of ono havo been discov
crep in tho ico fields of Alaska which
show traces of pubescenco as copious
as thoso displayed by tho rolics of tho
Siberian mammoth sometimes found
inclosed in icebergs, which havo pre
served them from primeval ages. Tho
story lacks confirmation, liko tho ono
recently put about that a North Pa
cific whalo hud swallowed Captain
Warren, of {Southampton, Long Isl
and, promptly rejected in view of tho
registered official measurement of tho
nverago catnceuu gullet, showing that
it was of insufficient calibre to take in
nminblo seninen and barely large
enough to admit bis compass anil
tobacco box. The anatomy of tho ani
mal in Bibical times, according to the
record, gave it an ampler receptivity,
but modern sentiment is opposed to
tho idea of making the case of Jonah
a precedent, as tho testimony ol
science is opposed to giving the whale
a fur overcoat. Both narrations are
probably fanciful, belonging in the
category of ordinary fish stories,which
are intended to amuso rathor than
convince. Only marines believe them,
even when thoy are decked out in al)
the signs of plausibility, us these can
in no wise said to be.
WINTER JOYS.
Whon tho window pane is crustod
With a fairyland of snow,
And tho wizard
Of tho blizzard
Has shut off his biting|blow.
When the morning's gold has bu3tod
Liko a billow on tho swamp,
From my cozy,
Rosy, posy
Nest I fly with Forsian pomp.
Oh, my spirit's bright and sunny.
And joy's echoos in mo wako,
When I pour tho shining honey
On the
buckwheat cako.
Oh, tho frosty air is bitter,
Aud tho poodlo's eyeballs shine,
And tho chicken,
Zero-stricken,
Roosts upon the hotso's spine.
Oh. the snowdrifts gleam and glitter
With a gleaming, glnring glit,
And tho sparrow,
To his marrow,
Ey old Eoreas is hit,
Yet I li&ton to him chirrup
Iu tho bramble and tho brakt*
While I pour tho maple syrup
On the
buckwheat cako.
Oh, I watch tho dumpy po3sum,
As ho wags his tail in gloe,
While he's rooting,
Or n-scooting,
To escape t no fricassoe.
With his nose a frozen blossom
Doth the small boy now appear
At tho gateway,
Aud ho straightway
Moulds of suow tho deadly sphere.
And I seo tho man who passos
Oa his ear that snowball take,
Whtlo I pour tho rich molasses
On tho
buckwhoat cake.
—R. K. Munkittrick, In Now York Journal.
THE BANI("j\IYSTEi{Y.
UDGE, I've come
1 to ask if you'Jl let
m 0 tell you what
• no ono on [earth
don't know but
~ fpa me; 'bout that
oV S3 bank mystery.
"Yes, thank
■>' you, I will Hit
down. A Sue fire
~ feels good on a
night like thi£ Tain't oiten such as
I have a chance at this kind of com
fort and luxury.
"What do 1 know about the bank
mystory? Land sakes, Judge, time
thoy opened the bank that day ten
years ago and found the bank vault
broke into and the safe blowed up aud
not a dollar gone, I could have told it
all. Tho people of Tivorton ain't
done talking and wondering 'bout it
yet, aud there ain't never been no one
livin' as could tell what it all meant
but me.
"I bought sonio papers—horo they
are, Judge—where it's all written
down and I can swear to it if you like.
I don't want them never used, though,
unless I die and something comes up
as would make it best for my family to
know, though thorn's things in it I'd
ruther dio than havo 'em know. If
it's all tho same to you, Judge, I'd
like to tell it to you. Seems I'd got
rid of a load and would bo happier
and dio easier feclin' I'd spoken it all
out to one livin' human.
"You'll bo glad to listen? That's
good of you. 1 kuowod you was a
kind man and a just one; that's why I
como to you. No, thank you, I don't
sraoko; I put all that money away for
mo wife and chiMreu.
"Do you hear that storm? Outside
seems like all the evil powers was let
loose. You can't judge 'bout it here.
It coim s kind of muillod like through
those thick curtains and it don't fahake
this great house as it does some.
"It's this kind of night as makes
men huddle together, Judge, and plan
how to get rich aud havo lino things
such as the likes of you. I'vo been
through it all; 1 know. I've felt as if
I bad as good a right to 'em as any
ouo and 1 was bound to have 'em, too.
I waru't brought up to no trade nor
nothin', an] fair means secmiu' to
fail, I took to the other.
"Yes, Judge, I started out in lifo a
thief and a robber. I prospered
fairly in a small way, and no ono
didn't catch up with mo for some
time. Then I joined a gang in for
anything. Lord, but it was fascinat
ing 1 It was like drink; I couldn't
give it up and I couldn't got enough
of it. I was in prison and out then,
tho old story, till I married and be
gun to have little ones.
"Then, Lord kuows what helpod
me —something did—and for tho sake
of my wifo and children, I broke
looso from everything and came here,
whero no ono didn't kuow rae, to
start oyer agnin. 1 had seme money
and opened tho restaurant just oppo
site tho bank.
"Loug as l didn't rea l tho papers I
got on well; but let mo see them aud
I'd hunt through 'em for tho robberies
and I'd bo crazy for a while, aching
to be in it all again. Seein' 'bout my
old pals pottin' in troublo didn't make
no difference. .
"Time came, though, when I begun
to enjoy life differently, and to feel
myself more respectuble. The love
for the old life begun ter go till I
could read about it without gittiu' all
tired up. I thought then I was all
right.
"Then they camo here, part of the
gang I'd belonged to. First I kuowed
of it was seein' 'em in the restaurant.
I 'spicioned they weren't here for no
good and it most took my breath
away. They knowedjme quick enough,
too, and liothin' wouldn't do but I
must join 'cm. Iw is tho very muu
they wanted, I could help 'uin aud I
was boun to 'em. 'Twas the biggest
thing they'd undertaken yet; the
bauk. They'd como on to examine tbe
situation, knowing that Mr. Durkee,
the new mill owner, would make a
big payment soon and tho money for
it would bo in tho bank here. If
there warn't anything else, that would
be a big haul, a haul worth bavin,'and
mo bein' hero decided 'em.
"I do think tho devil brought all
his friends and relations with him
that night to tempt me. I forgot how
to go to sleep, and just couldn't stay
in bed. I wonder I warn't in tatters
by mornin' with the devil tuggin' at
mo as ho did and tryin' to keep me
out of the room whore my sleopin'
children lay.
"Yer see, them bank people como
over to my plaoo for lunch best part
of tho time, and thoy all knowed my
littlo people, and tho mill people
knowed 'em too, My oldest boy
workod in the mill aud they'd been as
kind as could bo when he's sick. Christ
mas time they's good to him, too, and
thcro warn't a bank officer but had
remembered my littlo people, even
to tho watchman. Seemed like rob
bing my own people, somehow, l's
bound not to inform on the gang, and
thoy's bound ter rob thcr bank; but I
cursed 'em iu my heart for comiu'just
when I was gottin' rid of tho old life
for good aud all. 'Twas awful!
"Well, Judge, you know how them
rooms over the bank was routed to
start a new daily paper. 1 made 'em
swear solemn as my namo warn't to
appear nowhere. I'd plan it ail out
and give 'em points and be on hand
at tho lust, but I hud to be cautious.
"Thoy found out when the money
was to bo paid and 'greed on tho night
boforo for tho robbery. I had it nil
mapped out for 'em where and how
they was to loosen up tho boards of
tho floor in their room above, so we
could break through aud lower our
selves into tho vault wlien tho time
come. Then yer 800 we'd only have
the safe to get into and the great iron
door between us and tho watchman.
"Everything was ready, and we was
pretty sure the money was paid.
"Do you hear that storm now,
Judge? 'Twas liko that ten years ago
to-night, dark as Egypt, with tho rain
and wind a perfect hurricane; a terri
ble night; tho kind of night for any
sort oi' crime. The men chuckled to
themselves. 'Twas a forturo suro this
time, aud they'd all bo on the way to
comfort and Hafety before day. X ain't
never seen 'em so excited. Nothin'
hadn't gone wrong and nothin' could
n't now.
"We had sentinels stntionod round
to givo the alarm, but there warn't
much danger on a night like that.
"Wo had planned so as to have the
doors of tho safe ready to blow open
when tho watchman went down cellar
to see to his tiros. I kuowed tho time
of night ho did so, seein' him often
from my house across tho way through
the window of tho bank; but to inaku
sure wo stationed a man where he
could givo tho signnl at tho proper
time. With the watchman downstairs
and we shui; iu that vault, with solid
masonry below us, 'twaru't in tho
range of possibilities for no human to
hear us.
| 'Xwas planned that when wo broko
tho coiling me and ono of tho others
was to go down first with tho lanterns
and tools and get the door ready for
Jim Groogan, the leador of tho gang,
to como down and uso tho dynamite
and Vo on hand to take out tho money.
"It was just tho night for such a
piece of work, aud after I had exam
ined to see if all was safe, knowiu' tho
dangers better than the others, we
broke through tho lioor aud loworod
the ladder, aud there wo was—right in
tho vault. Twas well for mo I'd hit
it right, for my life waru't worth much
if any o' my plauniu' failed to work.
"i'oiu Doolau in a hurry wont down
first and when I was half way down ho
started back, sayin' in a hoarse kind
of whisper:
" 'Who called mo?'
" 'No one, you fool,' said Jim,
" 'Then,' ho said, and ho ran past
me ou tho ladder, 'some ono is down
there. Twicet I heard soino one say :
"Go back, go back.'"
" 'We'll gag him,' said Jim, and mc
and him wont down and turnod our
iauterus round, lookin' everywhere,
but there warn't uo one there.
" 'What's the muttor with the fool?'
growled Jim, and went back and tried
to sond him down again, but ho just
wouldn't go, so Jim cursed him and
como himself, and ho and mo begun
to get tbo safo door ready to blow up.
"That's a thing ns takes timo and
care, Judge, but wo went at it with a
will and never a word. It was so still
you could almost hear your heart beat,
when all of a sudden come a smothered
cry like a woman's. Wo stopped work
and looked at each other, Jim's face
white and scared.
" 'What was that?' ho said.
"'I often bears 'cm on tho street
liko that,' stid I.
"'That wnru'fc on tho street; it
sounded close by,' said Jim.?' 4 We
couldn't boar nothin' outsido in this
place.'
4 4 4 Nousonse,' said I, 'don't you
mako a fool of yourself, too, aud spoil
all,' and I went to work again.
"I could see how his hand trembled
for a while und theu got steady again.
" 'That must havo como through
the room upstairs,' ho said presently.
'Queer, though; it sounded so close.'
"Then we worked on aud there
warn't nothin' moro to bo heard. Host
of the gang might all havo been dead
men, for all tho sound they made, and
wo didn't say nothin'; and BO tho
night went on.
"At last wo had it all ready, aud
wore only waiting for tho signal to
blow it up and then—money enough
to ranke us all rich. 'Tain't such as
you can realize tho excitement and
tho strain of such a moment. To know
it's nil there, ready, and thon to havo
to wait! It's easier walkiu' over red
hot coals. It's all right to go on aud
work, but to stay still and only
breatho and listen gives a man tho
shivers.
"Presently Jim caught my arm.
" 'Say, I thought I heard voices, did
yon?' he whispered.
" 'Tha men upstnirs,' I said.
" 'Sounded down hero. Have'your
pistol ready.'
"I took my lantern and went round
the vault again carefully, and then
held it up to examine the walls. Than
I shook my head. There warn't no
way wo could hear no one.
" 'lt's the queerest plaoe I ever was
in,' said Jim, 'and, by Jove, I'll bo
glad when wo are out of it. Why
don't that signal come? Snppose
there's any hitch? I swear 1 hoar
voices again.'
"Just then come tho signal and Jim
begun to apply tho dynamite; but his
hands trembled so and his eyes looked
so wild and excited his own wife
wouldn't know him.
" 'The money, the money,'he whis
pered, 'wo must have it now.'
"We got out of tho way just in
time aud then out camo the door.
" **lhe inside door, quick,' said
Jim, but the explosion had made that
fall inside, and we could just lift it
out.
" 'Have the bag ready,' said Jim, as
ho leaned forward to haul out the
great piles of bank notes and silver we
could see by the light of the lanterns.
" 'Hands off, or you aro a dead
man.'
"It was a voico that would most
have waked the dead. I dropped my
bag and Jim drew back his hand,
caught hold of me with a grip like
iron, and wo bogau to go slowly back
to the ladder.
" 'The combination is all right; we
have thorn now, they can't escape us.'
"We were half up the ladder when
wo heard the click, cliok of the lock,
and as we drew the ladder after us we
could hear the rasping of tho hinges ol
the iron door.
" 'Fly, fly, for your lives; we are
disoovored,' said Jim, as he went
round to warn tho men; and in the
darkness and the wind and tho ratn
they went awayjnnd I ain't never seen
one of 'em since. I heard, though, as
when they found there warn't no one
there and the bank people didn't know
notliin' 'bout it till tho next morning,
they just believed as tho Uauk was
haunted, sure.
"Ho I know what it was, Judge?
There ain't no one else as does know,
that's sure. 'Taint much after all.
"Yer see, playin' round with my
little ones, I found as I could make
'cm heer all kinds of noises.anywhere
I wanted, and people cryiu' and laugh
in'. It was fun for them and I often
done it; yentriloquizin' I believe you
call it; but that night's the last time.
Yer see, none of the gang didn't know
'bout that, and I don't keer ever to
have 'em know it now. It saved tho
bank without my informin' and that's
all I care for.
"Oh, no,[Judge, the bank don't owe
me notliin'. You'll take care of the
papers? Thank you. I'm obliged to
you for listening, too. It kind of
makes mo feol easier.
"No, 110, thank yon, I won't Btay
anil take no more of your time. Don't
got up; I can find my way out.
"What's that you say, Judge? You
honor and respect me—mo? And the
bank—Land Judge, twarn't mo; 'twas
my wife and children saved the bank,
and I'm proud of 'em—proud of 'em,
Judge. Good night."—Philadelphia
Times.
mineral Wealth in Siberia.
D. M. Ivan and Peter Kulahoff, mom
bars of tho Russian Geological Survey,
who have been for some time past in
vestigating tho mineral resources of
Siberia along tho route of the groat
Siberian railway, arrived at San Fran
cisco, Cab, recently on thoir way to
St. Petersburg. They traveled a vast
distance of mountain region. Their
duty was to explore tho oountry for
101) miles on tho strip along which tho
road ruus or is surveyed so as to get a
good idea of what tho oountry afforded.
"Wo found it a wonderful oountry,
both in point of scenery and resources
of gold, silver, copper, lead, coal and
other minerals," said one of the gen
tlomen. "It was all we oould have
desired. We collected many speci
mens of different descriptions of ore
which we are taking back with us to
St. Petersburg. Besides tho minerals
there are many acres of magnificent
agricultural ground available chiefly
for growing wheat, oafs, barley and
other cereals and vegetables. The
great rivers of the country afford fine
opportunities for commercial develop
ment. It has a thousand interests
than oan only be alludod to."—New
York Mail and Express.
Black and White Pepper the Same.
"It has always amusod me," re
marked a botaunioal expert, "to hear
peoplo talking of their preference for
black pepper over white, and the
various explanations they give for tho
same. Littlo do they know that both
black and whito pepper grow upon
the same shrub. Gver the popper
seed grows a black covering. Tho
seed itself is white, or nearly so. To
make black pepper the seed and its
oxternal covering arc ground up, while
white popper is tho seed alone ground
up. White popper is milder than
blnck, tho greater part of tho jiuu
goucy being in the covering. A pop
per made of tho coverings alono would
bo such—to uso n slang term—hot
stuff that it would burn tho month.
Tho black covering of the pepper sood
contains most of the oil."—Washing
ton 'Star.
First Use ol Niagara's Power.
The first use of Niagara's power was
made in 1725, a primitive sawmill
being operated. Nothing moro was
done in this line until 1812, when
Augustus I'orter conceived tho plan
of hydraulic canals, and in 1861 one
was completed. The Cataract Con
struction Company, from whose plant
powor has just been delivered in
Buffalo, was incorporated in 1889.
Scientific American.
THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND DAR
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
Frightful Battle With a Wildcat—A
Girl Routs a Bear—Saved From
Indian Raiders by Children.
Bob Sands, boss of the Buzzard
mino at Oakdale, lies in bod at home
suffering Irom wounds and bruisos re
ceived iu a tight with n wildcat. That
ho is alive seems a little short of mi
raculous, for during his tussle with
the beast both fell into a 100-foot air
shaft.
Ho left home Friday morning to
hunt quail, and as ho did not return
hiß wife gave the alarm and a search
ing party was formed. Crowds of
twenty-five each went iu different di
rections, alter agreeing to meet at the
Buzzard airshaft at 2 o'clock. The
men had hunted nil night, when Tom
Wirt said ho thought he heard a noise
iu the shaft aud, going to the opening,
ho peered down into the dark hole.
He heard a low moan coming from tho
bottom of tho shaft, 100 feet below.
The men could not go down into tho
slmlt, as there was no ladder, so they
ran to the mouth of tho mine, one mile
away. When the crowd arrived at the
mino Tom Wirt aud Jack Thomas
burst iu the door by means of a log.
Ten men now volunteered to ontor
tho mine and go to tho foot of the air
shaft. This was a very dangerous
thing to do, as there was not a lamp
in tho crowd. The men stumbled
along through the main oatry in tho
darknoss and had to btop sevoral times
to tight back liugo rats which live in
tho mines.
Alter wading through water up to
their knees they at last camo to tho
loot of tho shaft and found tho mine
boss lying on tho ground. Hundreds
of rats that were waiting their chance
to devour him ran away as the rescu
ing party approached. Tho unfortun
ate man was lifted from the ground
nu 1 laid on a wide board, which was
pulled from a car.
Tho party started toward the open
ing of the mine when Jack Thomas
stumbled over an object on tho
grouud. Thomas stooped dowu, and
to his surprise found what ho thought
to bo a hog, but after n moment's ex
amination the animal was found to bo
a wildcat.
When the party reached tho open
ing (ho miuo bora was fonnd to bo in a
terrible condition. His face was terri
bly cut, hie clothes nearly torn from
his body and he was very woak from
loss of blood.
On the way nonio ho told the raenot
his awful adventure. He said that ho
had hunted all day without much suc
cess, and on his way homo stopped at
tho mine to see if everything was all
right. He then started over the hill
toward tho air shaft, and reached it
about seven o'clock in tho evening.
It was very dark and he was stand
ing clcse to the mouth of the shaft
trying to think of some plnn to cover
up tho hole and still have it sorve its
purpose. All at once a rustling of the
branches overhead aroused him, uud
suddenly a large animal dropped oil
his baok and began to tear at his faoe
and body. He grappled with the in
furiated beast aud a terrible battle on
sued.
As tho miuo boss dropped his gun
at the first attack the animal had tho
best of the fight, and in a short time
man snd beast were on the ground,
and every minute thoy rolled nearer
to tho opening.' At last both fell
over tho bank and were hurled down
ward to tho bottom of the shaft.
They struck tho ground with tho wild
eat underneath, which saved tho man's
life.
The boss will reoovor from his terri
ble wounds, although tho scars will
stay with him for life. —Cleveland
Plaindoaler.
The Bear Fled llofore a Girl.
Lizzie Perkins, twelve years old, has
suddenly acquired local fame, says a
Stillwater (N. Y.) dispatch to tho Now
York Press. Lilto many other chil
dren who were born ami reared in tho
Adirondnoks, Lizzie is not afraid of
bears nnlcss the animals become threat
ening. On more than ouo occasion
Lizzie has come across bears when
playing, but never until tho other day
was she molested by one. It happened
that Lizzie wns on her way from tho
houso of a distant relativo to her own
homo. Lizzio carried a pot of honey
uuder one arm and an umbrella under
tho other.
As is well kuown, boars possess au
almost unconquerable liking for honey.
They love houoy almost as much as
they do life, ami will run risks to got
their paws in tho sweet stuff. Bruin
came ambling awkwardly ntter Lizzie.
The child hail no thought of bears,
and it was not until she heard a snort
at htr elbow that she turned and saw
tho black bear. There was nothing
particularly ferocious looking about
the animal. As Lizzio turned around
the bear stumbled backward much
after the fashion of a clumsy New
foundland dog. Then it sat up on its
hauuehes aud eyed tho child.
It did not tnko Lizzie long to guess
that the bear was after tho honey. She
know well that she could escape tho
bear's olaws by putting down the honey
and running off. But Lizzio wasn'c
that kind of a girl. She meant to keep
tho honey and outwit tho bear.
She carefully placed the pot of honey
on the ground. Then she opened the
umbrella, and with a shrill cry, darted
at the bear, waving licr unique weapon
in the most thriatening manner. The
bear, taken by surprise, tumbled over
backward, and then, scrambling to his
feet, fled ingloriously up tho trail.
Lizzio picked up her pot of honey and
slartod home. Soon she saw the bear
jogging after her. She agnin opened
tho umbrella and resorted to fko same
taotics as before. Again the bear ran
away, this time for good. Lizzie told
tho story of her adventure when she
reached home. She is now being
praised for her presenoe of mind.
Saved by Children.
Robert F. Spearman, attorney for
the Department of Jnstioe, Washing
ton, is at the Albany, says the Denver
Republican. Mr. Spearman has been
engagedjin the taking of testimony, on
behulf of the Government, in Indian
depredation claims.
"In taking testimony in these In
dian cases," said Mr. Spearman, "I
frequently hear some very interesting
stories concerning early frontier life.
I remember one case in particular,
which I thought to be one of the most
remarkable exhibitions of courage in
an eight-year-old boy that 1 have ever
heard of. It oceuired near the town
of Beaver, in Utah. A ranoh in that
vicinity was attacked by the Indians
and one man who was visiting the
ranchman killed, and for a while it
seemed as if tho whole party, wife and
children, would fall prey to the
suvages. Tho house was surrounded
by the Indians and the people within
defended themselveßas host they oould,
but the ranchman, watohing his op
portunity, lowered his little boy and
his daughter, who was but twelve
years old, from the back window and
told thsm to try to make their way to
the canyon and follow it down to
Beaver, whero thoy could obtaiu help.
The two children suoceeded in reaching
tho canyon unobserved, and, with pres
ence of mind and bravery which, I
think, is remarkablo for a child of
that age, tho boy told bis sister to fol
low down one side of the oanyon and
he would follow the other, so that in
case the Indians should find one of
thorn the other might not be observed.
"Tho children succeeded in reach
ing Beuver, whero a relief party was
organized which hastened to the res
cue of the besieged party. At the bo
ginning of the siege tho Indians had
heard the ohildren in tho house, and
missing their voices the alert
savages discovered that they had
gone and endeavored to overtake them,
but being unsuccessful, and knowing
that help would soon arrive, withdrew
before the rescuers oould reach the
ranch."
A Fight In the Transvaal.
Tho stories of lighting between
Boers and English in South Africa
have a strong resemblaneo to those of
Indian lighting in the old days in New
England. Bullets are exchanged be
tween excellent marksmon concealed
behind stones and bashes, and eaoh
bullet has, under suoh oiroumstanoas,
an immense value.
The Cape Mercury says that Mr.
Sampson, one of the Johannesburg
"roformers," still in prison at Pre
toria, is tho hero of a famous combat
with old Botha, a Boer tighter of re
nown. In tho Boer war of 1881
.Snmpson and Bothp found themselves
behind stones on a level plain, shoot
ing at eaoh othor. Sampson presently
made sure that he had hit Botha and
raised his head a little, when a bullet
plowed his neck.
"My man is dead," exclaimed Botha,
and exposed himself. At the samo in
stant a bullet from Sampson's rifle
Btruck him.
"This timo I've got him I" shouted
Sampsou, and raised himself up, but a
bullet grazed his side and he dropped.
Botha now had no doubt that he had
ouded his antagonist, and jumped up
on his feet, only to bo again laid low.
Though the men were now past
fighting, with two bad wounds apiece,
both recovered, and when Sampson
settled in tho Trausvaul they bocame
great friends, and often chaffed each
other about this encounter.
In a Tiger's Jaws.
Of the nquatio capabilities of tho
tiger an Englishman in one of tho
middle districts of India had a thrill
ing experience several years ago. En
sconced in tho top of a large leaning
treo which extended from the bank of
the lako far out over tho water, ho
was watohing for deer whioh two
shikarris, or native tiger hunters,
with a party of natives, were trying to
start from tho junglo. Suddenly a
tiger appeared on the shore olose at
hand and swum out into the lake.
The Englishman, thinking that he had
a sure thing, fired, wounding the tiger
slightly. At once tho tiger turned,
swam to the shore, and began to orawl
out on tho trunk of tho leaning tree
toward the hunter. The Ehglisliman,
whose second shot had missed, re
treated before the advancing beast
until he could go no further, and then
dropped into the lake.
The tiger leaped after him, seized
him by tho shoulder nnd brought him
to the shore. The tiger had carried
his victim to tho top of the bank,when
tho two shikarris, drawn by tho sounds
of tho shooting, appeared from tho
jungle. Immediately they fired upon
the tiger. One of their shots broko
tho bruto's back, and, releasing his
hold on the Englishman's shoulder,
tho tiger rolled down the bank into
the water, whero another bullet
quickly despatched him. Although
his shoulder was painfully bruised and
laeeratod by tho grip of the tiger's
teeth, the Englishman had sustained
110 serious injury from tho oncounter,
which taught him a lesson as to new
possibilities of dangor to the hunter
in tiger shooting.
A Marriage Trust.
Tho Anderson (lnd.) correspondent
of tho St. Louis Globe-Demoorat
wrilos: Justices of the I'enoe in this
county met hero yosterday and
formed an organization for the pur
pose of putting an end to "dead boat"
marriages and also cutting of rates.
During the last six months they have
seldom received over $1 for marriages,
and in most cases fifty eents was all
the groom could spare. One Bquire's
book showed thirteen who had "stood
him up" and another eleven, none of
whom had paid. Ileroafter it will be
$2 straight and monoy in hand.
THANKFULN ESS.
Let us bo thankful. Life is not so long;
Fast fades the day to night;
Half is but heartache; but some flower of
song
Still lifts its loaves in ligh*.
Let us be thankful. AVo shall ouo day gain
The summit crowned and high;
Beneath us leave the lightning and the rain
And faoo the clear, starred sky!
—Chicago Times-Herald,
III!. 11011 OF THE DAY,
On tho Sick-List: Notice in a Swiss
pass: "No echo today."—Fliegendo
Blatter.
She—"Everybody in the choir do
testa the organist." He—"Yes; I un
derstand that ho is despised as a non
combatant."—Puck.
She—"She is doing her best to
fascinate that widower. Of course ho
has considerable means." He—"Per
haps she thinks the means justify tho
end."—Puok.
His View: Brown "Do you believe
in civil-service reform?" Jones (who
has failed to pass an examiuation)-
"I do. The questions should be made
easier."—Puck.
"We must get little Bobby a foot
ball mask." "What for?" "He is
going down town with nurse, and I
don't want him to ruin tho Bhapo of
his noise on tho 6hop windows."—
Chicago Record.
"Young man," said n wealthy oity
man to his spendthrift nephew, "I
laid the first foundation of my fortune
by saving cab-fares." "I didn't know
you ever drovo one, uncle," remarkod
the youth.—Tit-Bits.
"Hero, what doesthismean?"shout
od Whooply, as he found his youngeßt
riding a broomstick over tho top ol
tho piano. "This is all right. Mam
ma said if I'd stay in I could play on
the piano."—Dotroit Free Press.
The Thing for Him: "Don't you
think I ought to take iron?" laughod
the big fat man, who thought he
would be funny with tho doctor.
"Certainly; und I would recommend
hoop iron."—Detroit Freo Press.
On the Veranda: "There goes Mrs.
Chatwicks. What does sho oome to
Florida for?" "She wants to get rid
of her rheumatism." "But why does
she bring her throe daughters along?"
"Oh, Bhe wants to get rid of them,
too." —Truth.
She —"It's no use, Mr. Slimly; in
my present state of mind 1 would not
accept the most nttraotivo man in the
world." He—"No, 1 seo you won't;
but, at any rate, you will havo the
satisfaction of knowing that he has of
fered himself."—Tit-Bits.
He—"You have no idea of tho ex
tent and force of my love. I could
die for you." Sho—"Yes, I suppose
so; but dear me, what a graveyard 1
should have if all tho men who wero
willing to die for me had been taken
at their word." —Boston Transcript.
In tho Museum : Aunt Hetty (look
ing at tho Wild Men of Borneo)
"What a pity wo can't send out rnoro
missionaries to civilize them oritturs."
Unolo'Josh —"Idunnol If them fel
lers was civilized, they |miglitn't be
able to git sech a good job."—Puck.
A Y'acllt as a Monument,
It is reported that tho cabin of tho
old yacht Dauntless, the "ilonting
monumont," was euterod by thieves,
and that many artioles of value were
taken. Boon after tho death, a few
years ago, of the owner of the Daunt
less, Coinmodoro Caldwell 11. Colt, his
mother, Mrs. Bamuol Colt, of Hartford,
had tho yacht taken to Essex, Conn.,
and moored in a cove.
The rigging was stripped from th 6
voßßel, but no changes wore mado in
her interior, and tho big saloon and
staterooms present tho tamo appear
nnoe that they did tho last time Com
modoro Colt trod her deoks. This
was in accordance with tho oxpressed
intention of Mrs. Colt to return the
Dauntless as a Hosting monument to
tho memory of her only child.
Many offers have been made for tho
yacht, but she has refused them all,
and has auuouncod that never again
shall the anehors bo raised or a sail
bent to the spars. Evory summor sinoe
her son's death Mrs. Coit has journeyed
down from her Hartford homo and
spent two weeks aboard, accompaniod
only by her servants and refusing to
entertain any callers.—New York
Press.
Hotv Seeds Are Distributed.
Tho wholo subject of tho methods
by which seeds are distributed is at
tracting considerable attention just
now. It seems almost impossible to
construct any general law by which to
explain tho roasou for thiugs in na
ture. it does seem, for iustunoe, safe
to say that wings are givou to seeds to
enable them to fly far away from tho
parent treo, and thus extcud tho area
ot territory occupied by the species,
but in many of the large seod pines—
tho linden,andothers, the hollow seedi
only are tho ones blown uway. Thf
solid, perfect seeds remain nround th 6
parent treo. Tho objectors to every
thing nrgue that wings aro given to
fan out the light, useless material.
But this surely canuot always be.—
New York Independent.
Ho Fishes With an Axe.
Tho Oheyenno (Wyoming) corre
spondent of the Chicago Tribunt
writes: Colonel W. D. Pickett, t
rancher on Gray Bull Creek, has s
natural refrigerator on liia runoh.
During the recent chinook in the Big
Horn Basin tho ice broke up and
gorged a little valley ou his placo.then
froze over solid, imprisouiug nuJ
freozing thousands of salmon trout.
Now the Colonel, when ho wants s
mess of fish, just walks out with an
axe and hacks them out of the ice. The
gorge gives promiso of remaiuing ic
its present state for a month or more.