The average number of novels issued 100 years ago in America and Great Britain was sixteen a year. Now tho average is two or three a day. A scientific contemporary lyis dis covered a "breed of cats in South America which do not know how to mew." Probably, like other cajs, they yowl all the time. El Diario de la Marina of Havana says that in a war between the United States and Spain the latter would no.t get the worst of it. That journal clearly is entitled to another guess. Japan is coming to the front steadily with new railroad projects. The coun try lias about 8000 miles, a little more than half as much mileage as Georgia lias. Applications have been made for charters for 12,351 miles. No one is surprised to hear now adays that this well-known man or that has taken to the bicycle. All the world's a-wheel, both sexes and all conditions. Some ride for their health, others because it is fashionable, and again others from a love of sport. There is nothing like the bicycle as a rejuvenator. The man who finds that age will not be denied, and that, ac cordingly, he must bid a farewell to baseball, rowing, football and tennis for lack of agility and snap, turns to the bicycle as a flattering friend that subtly leads him to believe he is still u boy and one of the "sports." It is then he quotes that old saying, "a man's as young as he feels," while lie pedals swiftly down grade. The next event to be celebrated is the 900 th anniversary of the discov ery of America by the Norsemen, and there is u society in Philadelphia now being organized to take the matter in charge. The exact date 011 which Lief Erickson landed 011 the shores of Vinelaiul has not been fixed to the satisfaction of historians any more than his landfall, but it is very gen erally acknowledged that he landed somewhere near Boston in the latter part of the tenth century, and it is proposed to select a day for the pur pose of commemorating that event. Paul du Chaillu, the author of many works on Scandinavian archaeology; Dr. Daniel G. Brinton and other mem bers of the faculty of the University Df Pennsylvania; Professor Putnam, of Peabody Museum; Professor Thomas Wilson, of the Smithsonian Institution ami other scientists will participate in the arrangements. The deadly bicycle has now affected the travel to Europe, announces the New York Journal. Among its ene mies must be counted the steamship companies, who declare that thousands of Americans will stay home this year and inspect their own country 011 a wheel. If this is true, their country at least will remain their friends. 111 estimating the blessings of the "bike*' no one seems to have considered that it is making our people acquainted with the United States. Hundreds of intelligent girls in New York City have discovered that the Harlem River is aot the Hudson, and there are others who have known Como by heart for years, and have just found out that Lake George beats it two to one when the moon shines. This gradual intro duction of Americans to their native land may be bad for the Riviera and Naples, and rough 011 the Boifl de Boulogne, but it establishes a new bond of sympathy between the people and the land they were born in. Edward A. Moselev, Secretary ol the Interstate Commerce Commission, lias some interesting things to say about the South. Mr. Moseley went with the Commission not long ago to give hearings at points in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. He once lived in the South, and knows its resources and the char acteristics of the people. Mr. Mose ley was greatly impressed by improve ments in the Lone Star State, and par ticularly the harbor of Galveston. "I believe Galveston is destined to be- coino one of the great commercial cities of the country," lie said. "The long-desired boon of deep water has now been obtained, and ships drawing twenty-six feet can enter Galveston Harbor in safety. Why, there is ample sea room for all the shipping in the world. Tributary to this magni ficent harbor is a region of imperial extent and of unsurpassed fertility. Houston and Dallas are also populous and progressive cities, and the people there are thrifty and wide-awake citi zens. From what I saw Jam con vinced that the Lone Star State is about entering on a stage of develop ment and commercial and industrial expansion that will land it in the front rank before years have passed away." A SUMMER SHOWER. Ah, the drops are pouring down Over country, over town. Pelting on the shining leaves, Making music on the eaves, Htreaming down the grassy hill While the rootlets drink their nil— Every little rain-drop glancing Like a fairy dancing—dancing. Busy little elfins tliey, Elittiug through the* air to-day; Moistening the growing wheat* With their cool caresses sweet; Pilling up the little stream Throwing hack its grateful gleam— Watch them—listen! every patter Echoing like fairy chatter. Washing now the pansy faces Waiting in their modest* places. Loses droop with richer glow As the diamonds bend them low. Lilies looking all the while Upward with a beaming smile At the little crystals dripping Liken fairy tripping tripping. —Sydney I)ayre, in Youth's Companion. | A HIGH WATER STORY 1 V jJ Tseems tome, dearie, y°n are behaving ont- Ntejf r 11 geous! .V toward those tw o y ouug "But it is such fan, you know," and the handsome creature % £ ave vent to her high ' spirits in merry peals of laughter. "But the danger of it—have you : thought of that, Ruth?" There was such gravity in the elder ly lady's tones that the buoyant young woman began to look quite serious her self. She came and seated herself by the other's side, and taking the plump, soft hand between her strong Angers began earnestly: "You know, auntie, the up-to-date woman of to-day must do her own thinking; hitherto others have been in the habit of thinking for her, whila she simply acquiesced or was falter ingly negative. The up-to-date wo man leads, instead of follows. It is in affairs of the heart that she asserts her new position. lam like the rest. I am simply endeavoring to do what men have been in the habit of doing. They have overlong been pampered with the fancy that tlicy were strong, women weak. As for the two young men, lam simply sifting them. The one I can best manage, rule, lead, that one shall be my choice." "Humpli! Not much affair of the heart about that, I think; us for man aging or leading a man, that has not been the style of courting if I recol lect." The speaker drew her hand away from the firm grasp, rose and looked down upon the beautiful young Amazon before her. "I fear, Ruth," said she, after a pause, "you are wrong in your ideas of men and women." "As women used to be, perhaps; but it is different now. We live in a new atmosphere, so to speak. How ever, auntie, it is not for us to quarrel because we cannot think alike. I am going out for a ride, you know." Shortly afterward, when Rutli mounted her spirited bay, there was a look of triumph upon her face that told she had solved a question of grave perplexity. "Excepting for her grace of form and rare beauty, the girl is a veritable man, indeed," mentally commented Aunt Hope as she followed with her eyes the dashing figure until it disap peared around the bend of the road. When Ruth drew near the river bank she saw that the waters had risen during the night; what was yes terday a smoothly rolling stream was now a dashing, turbulent, swollen torrent bearing upon its troubled sur face logs, trees torn up by tho roots, parts of timbers and other debris. The little town below was partly in undated, and men were hurrying from house to house with boats, removing women and children from their posi tions of danger. It was a thrilling spectacle, and as Ruth gazed upon it she felt anew that longing to manage, rule, lead. "Why cannot I do something to prove that I am as good as a man on such occasions as this?" came through her lips and she reined back the bay that snorted and quivered as the water rushed by with a roar. Two well-dressed young men were standing side by side gazing upon the wild scene. "Oh! If T could but be one of those men," came from Ruth's lips. She urged her horse near the pair; they both glanced up and lifted their huts ut the same time. "A sad affair, Miss Hope," said the blonde young man with the blue eyes and red lips—lips that seemed to be perpetually smiling. "Yes, a dangerous time, too, I take it," said she, pointing with her riding whip toward the town where the men in boats were engaged in the good work. "The danger there is but slight. The water has not risen so high yet but that all will reach places of safety. The danger is higher up the river. The land is lower there and the peo ple, unless they have removed from their houses, will be placed unfor tunately." Jt was the dark young man who spoke. His was a face of strength. There were lines about his mouth, a gleam in his dark brown eyes that told of a spirit that would bo hard to man age, rule or lead. Ere Ruth could reply a cry came from the lips of the blonde man. "Look! for Heaven's sake. A baby in u crib!" There upon the surface of the troubled stream, tossing about like a bubble, was ajrockerjcrib. In it was u tiny child wildly wailing and looking at the. mad water in babyish fright. "If that crib strikes the floating de bris below it will capzise, and " Ami Ruth covered her eyes with horror. The dark young man ran close fo the bank and looked up and down. It was true, as Rutli had said. The baby would be lost if the crib struck the de bris below. "Mr. Hart or, cannot you do some thing?" "X —T am afraid not. It is an awful thing," and the blonde young man stepped away from the bay's side. "Then 1 will I will show you what a woman can do," cried Tintli as she applied the lash to the bay. The ani mal reared upon its hind legs and pawed the air. Again she used the lash. This time the horse started for the bank. "Out of the way, Mr. Harrison," rang from the girl's lips. The dark young man looked quickly over his shoulder at the horse and rider, approaching with swift hounds, lie comprehended it all in an instant, lie was quick to act, for he dashed toward the bay, grasped the rein and : fairly jerked the animal back upon its haunches. "Are you mad, Miss Hope?" "Let go the bridle, sir? How dare you?" The whip was raised to strike the horse again, but it was jerked from her hand. Thou with, "Pardon me for the liberty," she was lifted from her saddle and deposited upon the bank. Before she could utter a word or move the bay dashed into the flood with the dark young man upon its back. Out into the turbulent stream Har rison urged the horse. Out farther, toward the middle of the Water, the gallant creature swam. Nearer and nearer came the crib, rocking Upon the muddy river's surface, and then, as it parsed, Harrison reached out liis* hand and lifted the baby from the crib. The child grabbed at. him and clung to his neck as lie faeed the grand horse toward shore, which was reached safely. "Pardon me once more, Miss Hope, for such a summary method of obtain ing a horse," said Harrison. The speaker was standing by the side of the dripping, trembling steed as he said this. His head was bared and ho looked less than ever like a man any woman could mauagc, rule or lead, although he did hold in his arms a little baby that clung tightly to him. "Harter, please assist Miss Hope to mount. I must attend to this little charge of mine. Good morning," and Harrison walked away, holding the baby to his breast. "Brave man, that! Permit me to help you," said Hurler. Ruth was again in her saddle and on her way home. Jn the meantime, when Mr. Harri son cauie to call, and after lie had told her, in answer to her inquiries, that no lives had been lost, and the baby hud been restored to its people, Rutli did something very unlike the up-to date woman; she covered her lace with her hands and sobbed. She was easily consoled, for—well, it is not necessary to say what Harri son said. When he left the house his life and future looked more beautiful to him than ever. After they were married Aunt Hope playfully asked of the beautiful young bride: "I suppose ho is quite easy to man age, rule, lead—eh, dear?" "More easy than I dreamed of, auntie," was the answer, with a smile. "How do you manage it? Do you assert your views?—l mean, do you put into practice your notions about up-to-date women?" "I manage, rule and lead him." "Yes —but how?" "By showing my husband that I love him dearly, I am a perfect tyrant over him." "You have come to your senses. I knew you would go back to the old way of thinking when experience had taught you wisdom." "Yes, aud I am pleased that it has come," as she smiled sweetly upon Aunt Hope.—Times-Democrat. A Strange Voyage. After a career unparalleled in the history of maritime affairs, the derelict schooner Wyer G. Sargent, abandoned at sea on March 31, 1831, in lattitude 31.42, longitude 71.40, while bound for Philadelphia with a cargo of lum ber—her crew being rescued by the schooner 11. E. Thompson after bat tling, with the storms of the Atlantic for nearly six years, has drifted ashore on the uninhabited island of Concep tion, one of the most dangerous of t lie Bahamas, and there will end her days. She is shattered and covered with barnacles. Her cargo of lumber long ago has been emptied into tho sea through her capsizing, but her stout Lull is still held together as flrmly as the day on which she was launched at ! Sedgwick, Me., in 1881. This most remarkable career just ended for years past attracted tho at tention of shipping men all over Ihe world, as her erratic courses about the Atlantic were for months most accur ately plotted on the pilot charts issued by the hydrographio department at Washington. Her drift was indeed more'singulav than that of the famous old schooner W. L. White, which al though abandonedinjtho same locality, drifted ashore ten months afterward at the Hebrides islands, off tho northeast coast ol' Scotland. Influenza llacilli. Dr. Lindenthal, in Klinische Woch enschrift, states that bacteriological investigations show that the sputum of persons who have suffered from in fluenza, especially those who are also the subject of pneumonia, has some times been found to contain influenza bacilli several months after the clin | ical symptoms of the disease liad dis- I appeared. Such persons may infect susceptible individuals and the case bo considered as spontaneous. In eight cases of influenza associated with pneumonia, examinations showed that the bronchi were affected. No bacilli were found in the blood. i WISE WORDS. Tlie key to every niau is his thought. Imaginary eminence is actual hu miliation. Don't jeer at everybody's religious belief. The virtues of society are vices of the saint. The great, man is not eonvulsible or iormentable. Don't be rude to your inferioro in social position. Better a servant from love th<in a i ruler from lust. | Don't repeat gossip, even if it docs interest a crowd. Intelligence is largely knowing what we do not know. Happiness is lost by being intemper ate in its pursuit. Persistent industry is the best anti dote for temptation. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Don't underrate any thing because you don't possess it. Men cease, to interest us when we find their limitation. Don't go untidy on the plea that everybody knows you. Be more to go to a friend in adversity than in prosperity. "What we gain by experience is not worth what we lose in illusion. Every man is our neighbor who . needs our compassion and help. A good man is kinder to his enemies than a bad man is to bis friends. History makes liaste to record great deeds, but often neglects good ones. It never occurs to a boy that be will some day know as little us bis father. You needn't puck up any worries. lon can get them anywhere as you go ulong. Would you know bow to give? Put yourself in the place of him who re ceives.—The South-West. Kuklhiml'h Food Supply. An address on "The Food Supply in Case of War," was delivered recently by Stanley Machin, before a meeting of the London Chamber of Commerce, which was held at Botolph House, Eastoheap, says the London Times, in which he stated that "in 185(5 the acre age under cultivation of wheat in the United Kingdom was 1,2111,(551 acres, capable of producing in an average season nearly 16,000,090 quarters, or four-liftlis <il' tlio total consumption of the country at that time. The acreage decreased in 18(5(5 to 0.(IB),581. in J87(5 to .*1,114,555, in 188(5 to 2,850,451, while last year only 1,098,957 acres were under cultivation for wheat, which might be expected to produce between 5,000,000 and (5,000,000 quar ters, or less than a quarter of what was now consumed. "If this country were at war with France and Russia, one of the first acts of the enemy would be to declare coal and wheat contraband of war. Estimating our consumption of wheat to he nearly (500,000 quarters a week, and allowing for existing stocks, we should require 1(5,000,000 quarters to carry us over the time between now and the ingathering of the next bar vest. In the event of the United States and liussia joining hands against this country we should be confronted by the two powers who between them controlled 75 percent, of the total corn supplies required by importing coun tries throughout the civilized world; and in the event of these powers jointly prohibiting the export of wheat, he did not hesitate to say tlnit starvation would compel this country to sue for an unconditional peace within three months without a gun being fired." Uvea Wholly on lOaxn. "Do you like eggs?" was the ques tion that stirred lip a "forty-niner" to make some talk in a Bangor store the other day. He was an old man, and lie straightened up to something like the height of his prime as he answered: "I had a surfeit of them once, 'Twas many years ago, when I was on the way home from California. We left the Isthmus on a good brig hound for New York, hut ran into a coral reef in the Caribbean sea and were wrecked. It was a patch of sand just out of the water, hut you ought to see the Hocks of sea fowl that nested on it! "They had to move out of the way to give us room to stay there, and that was about, all they could do. The nests were everywhere, and there were eggs in abundance. We ate about a barrel of them every day during the twelve days we were there. Some of us got off in a boat and went to San .Tuan, in Nicaragua, where we got a vessel to go after those we left on the reef. That vessel was commanded by William Lawrence, of Bath, who was killed by a man named Wilkinson while he was a policeman there. We tried to get to the reef, but had weather stove us uj) so we had to set in for New Orleans, where we found the rest of the men rescued by another vessel. But eggs—" the old man's face took on a peculiar expression.—Lewiston (Me.) Journal. Kill I way Accidont*. The returns of accidents as rejiorted | by the railway companies of Great Britain and Ireland during the year 189(5 have been published. It is stated that accidents to trains caused the death of eight persons and injury to 540 persons, as compared with 17 deaths and 487 persons injured in 1895. Of the passengers by the trains 5 were killed and 888 injured in 189(5, against 4 killed and 800 injured in the year previous. During the twelve months there were reported 25 col lisions between passenger trains and 42 collisions between passenger trains : and goods trains. The small number of accidents is to be attributed to the j general prevalence of what *s known as the "block system" on English j railways, a term used for a well-known I system of sigual. Woman'* Thrift In Massachusetts. Woman's capacity as a wage earner can be measured by the fact that tlio report of the Massachusetts Savings Bank Commissioners showed that in the year 1894, out of a total of 1,044,- (549 depositors, 480,835 were women, and out of $74,946,570 deposits that year, $88,409,028 had been deposited by women. FemalH Slkh Painters. In the streets of Berlin, Germany, one may nowadays see a sight that at first seems odd—female sign painters, lint tlio women and girls so employed seem to enjoy their work, to he admir ably adapted to it, and to turn out good work. Moreover, they earn more at it than doing clerical or bookkeep ing work in tlio shops or factories.— Chicago Record. nr Hats Cost WlflO. Little Miss Gladys Vanderbilt has an expensive taste in the matter of liats; at least, she had during her re cent six weeks' stay in Washington. Honee her departure from the city was deplored witli many tears and sighs by the modiste who profited by the fas tidiousness for headgear on the part of the youngest member of Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt,'s household. It seems that this fondness for new and numerous hats was gratified by her indulgent parents to such an ex tent that the result in bills amounted to $l5O, sufficient to pay the rent of the modiste for two months.—New York Journal. An Unselflah Woman. Some days ago, writes W. E. Curtis, from Washington, to the Chicago Rec ord, I told the story of a lady clerk in the patent office who asked Commis sioner Butterworth to promote the woman at the next (]esk instead of her self, because her associate had serious sickness in her family and was sadly in need of the money. It. was then that Mr. Butterworth said he was sure ho was looking a true God-fearing woman in the face. But he did not forget her, and the next occurred she was promoted, so that both women are now receiving an ad vance of salary. The name of this un selfish woman is Mrs. Frances B. Erwin, of Louisiana; tlio name of her associate for whom she relinquished her promotion is Miss Hattie Sears, of Virginia. I.arge Earrings Are Revived. Tn spito of continued protests by physicians and lovers of simplicity, the downfall of the earring is not yet ac complished. Not only that, but the newest earrings are far more of an of fense than their immediate predeces sors. One could forgive a pretty pearl or diamond held in the ear liy an in visible gold screw. The immense ear rings of the summer are not excusable on a similar ground. It has recently been announced that the immense jewelled hoops of a quarter of a century ago arc again to lie revived, and the announcement is considerably strengthened by the fact that several leaders of fashion have already appeared wearing these strik ing articles of jewelry. The newest hoops are nearly as largo as a bracelet. They are studded with diamonds or other gems, hut in some cases the chased gold is its own ornamentation. The effect is barbaric but not un becoming. Women who have adopted this fashion prefer antique jewelry, when it is obtainable, to the modern imitations. Old Etruscan hoops, im ported from Italy for a season's wear, are now particularly in demand.—New York World. Tlio Wife In Russia. "This is a curious custom yon Americans have of referring to your wives by their husbands' names," ob served Glanvock Kaplon, an intelligent Russian traveler. "1 suppose the American holds his wife in as high esteem as the Russian holds his, hut if at home I should speak of my better half as Mrs. Kaplon my friends would at once conclude that my domestic relations were not as pleasant as they should he, and that I was thinking of u legal separation. When I first heard an American speak of his wife us Mrs. Jones, for example, I felt almost like presuming on my acquaintance by in truding into his private affairs and asking liim what the trouble was at home. Yet I soon learned that the custom was universal over here, hut still I cannot got used to it. 'My wife', is the plain, blunt way I speak in Russia of the lady who, I suppose, I would have to call Mrs. Kaplon in polite society in America. In some of the more fashionable circles of St. Petersburg this American social custom lias been adopted, though I was told by a prominent Government official not long ago that the Czar disapproved of it."—St. Louis Republic. My l.inly's I'nriiHol*. Parasols have blossomed out into a variety and fresh importance in the realm of fashion which is really dis heartening to all women except the lew who are blessed with unlimited incomes or a mind above the frivolous things of life. Fashion decrees that the up-to-date woman must have from six to a dozen of these expensive trifles to harmonize respectively with her various costumes, but with three well selected she can meet all the re quirements of fashionable dress. One should he of changeable or foulard silk, or ecru batiste, another of bro caded silk, and a third 0110 of chiffon or lacs to carry with thin gowns. The chiffon parasol is a thing of frills and iluff, which is a puzzle to any one except the ingenious designer who fashioned it. In this class of parasols there are various kinds simi larly elaborate, made of net, lace and gauze, and the handles are of gold set with jewels, with rock crystal and enamelled heads of tortoise shell or some choice wood. Elegant brocaded and moire silks are used for covering, but there are all sorts of less expensive silk parasols in plain colors, plaids and stripes, without limit to the variety. Ecru batiste parasols lined with a color and trimmed with narrow ecru lace are ex tremely pretty and useful as well as good style, and a lacquered wood haudle is sure to be a desirable choice. tlosslp. Detroit, Mich., has a lady bank teller. The estate of "Gail Hamilton," ac cording to an inventory tiled, amounts to $111,029. A bill creating tlio office of woman factory inspector was passed by the Connecticut House. More women reach the age of fifty than men, bnt afterward the stronger sex has the best of it. v A class of 104, tho largest in tlio history of the college, was graduated from Vassal* this year. Georgia Cayvau's real name isCava naugli,and she was born at Bath, Me., just thirty-nine years ago. Two maternal aunts of Rudyard Kipling are the wives respectively of Burue-Jones and Poynter, thepainters. Scottish golf women are vigorous. A horse struck by a golf ball during a ladies' tournament nt Burntisland fell as though shot dead. Mrs. Mackay's private car, which she uses in traveling aliout France, cost $30,000. It costs her S2OOO a year to keep it in running order. Johanna Ambrose, tlio new German poet, has won imperial favor. Her expenses for a tour of Italy were re cently paid by the Empress, and her Looks are both popular and profitable. Eady Elspeth Campbell, grand daughter of the Duke of Argyle, is a skilled player on the bagpipe, and through her that instrument has be come fashionable in English drawing rooms, Rosalind Amelia Young, a direct I descendant of oue of Ihe mutineers of the Bounty, is on a visit to San Fran cisco. hlio has been a school teacher on l'itcairn Island since she was thir teen years old. _ A colored woman by the name of Emma Wakefield recently passed suc cessfully nil examination held by tho Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners, and is now licensed to practice medi cine in that State. Miss Julia-Cooper iu her will, it hns been ascertained, not only increased the gift of SIOO,OOO to $200,000 for Cooper Union, New York City, but increased a gift of $25,000 to $50,000 for the Sanitarium. Fow people know that the author of the song, "The Old Red Cradle," made so famous in the "Old Home stead," is a Connecticut girl. She is Miss Anna Granuis, and lives with her widowed mother in Plainville, Their home is a small, neat cottage, and in it ono may see the original old red cradle. It is a fad for women to distill their own perfumes. The work entails lunch labor, thought and research. Such books as "A Treatise on Commo dious Conceits" and "Ye Boke of Dis tyllacion" are much iu request by fair flower distillers. Distillation odors are secured by tho process of macera tion, and also by distilling with waters. Fashion Notes. Red blowaways are the newest aigrettes for evening wear, and red gadflies hover over blue roses. Black trimmings predominate on high-colored dresses, even for the house, to soften and tone down the excess of color. Gray and red make a pretty mix ture, and both are well worn. Watered silk poplin is new, and is certainly a very good wearing material. The fashionable parasols have won derful handles, the latest taking tlio semblance of a 'noise chestnut burst ing from its prickly sheath. Tlio most jeweled belts are worn. Sometimes steel with amethyst, very often turquoise set ill silver or leather with jewels down tho centre. Black cloth jackets are now trimmed with white lace applique, and very smart they look, especially when they open over white watered silk waist coats. Sticks vary according to the beauty and costliness of the parasol, but the handle above all else, indicates the ex clusive purpose of certain parasols, as show affairs for full dress. The Norfolk jacket is very popular for demi-toilettes for street wear. Scotch homespuns, granite cloths and English cheviots are nearly all made up for walking suits, with either tlity Norfolk waist or tlio jacket for the reefer style. The latter have a gener ous amouut of outside pockets, and are usually V shaped at tho neck to I disnla.7 the trim liucu ooliar audjjoarf. WHERE AMBER COMES FROM. The Supply Nearly Ex haunted and the Price Likely to Rise. News comes that the greatest deposit of amber in the world is on the point of exhaustion, so that this substance, so largely used in connection with pipes, is likely to rise greatly in price before long. The deposit in question is on the Samland peninsula, which juts out iuto the Baltic Sea. In that locality, many thousands of years ago, there were great forests of huge cone j bearing trees, long since extinct as n j species. From their bark exuded quantities of gum, which formed ac cumulations about the roots of the | trees. Though the trees themselves I disappeared the gum was preserved in I fossil shape. How extraordinary was the amount of it yielded by the trees, I to he kejjt over through the ages, may J be judged from the fact that the mines I of the Ham laud Peninsula have yielded during many years past an annual | harvest of about four hundred tliou j sand pounds. The diggings are below ; the sea level, and the amber is found j iu small and large lumps, the biggest j ever discovered weighing thirteen pounds. Along the shores of the Bal ! lie nodules of the gum are so thickly . scattered that many vessels are en i gaged in dredging for them by means of chains of buckets dragged along the ' bottom. Much amber is also obtained by divers. When the gum was fresh and soft it ! very sticky, like that of modern j trees of the pine family. Insects were i caught iu it, and thus it comes about that bugs of numerous species are j found inclosed in the lumps of amber. : In the same way fragments of twigs, leaves, buds, flowers and even pollen ! grains of plants are embraced in the substances of the fossil gum. There has been found a piece of amber that contains a catkin of an oak tree as dis i tinct anil perfect as when it grow. I Likewise the hairs of animals and the feathers of birds were caught in the j sticky rosin now and then,and a wood pecker and a squirrel have been ident ified as contributors. | Pieces of amber which contain in l sects or fragments of plants bring fancy prices for mouthpieces of pipes. But the finest specimens do not reach ■ the United States; they go to the East, I where rich Arabs, Turks and Persians are willing to pay extraordinary prices for them. The ruby-colored amber is precious, and the green also is par tie | nlarly valuable. The bluish and per fect yellow are highly appreciated by j amateurs. In the fourteenth century i amber was made into knives and forks with one prong, which were used by j princes and church dignitaries, the i gum fetching more than its weight in j gold. At present it is worth from $2 jto SSO a pound, though exceptionally large and beautiful pieces bring almost I any price. The mouthpieces for pipes I are made with a turning wheel and a | very sharp chisel. The dust and scraps ! are melted and supply the "amberine" of commerce. I Just as the catlinite which furnished | the finest Indian pipes was obtainable ) only from a siugle locality, so the j meerschaum which is recognized as incomparably the choicest of materials for modern pipes is got from one place and is found nowhere else.—Bos ton Transcript. Importing Nuisances. Australia is overrun with rabbits, the descendants of half a dozen im ported from England some years ago. They have become so numerous that the agricultural interests of the coun try are seriously threatened. Devices of all sorts have been employed in the effort to get rid of them, but thus far without avail. Disease germs have been scattered among them, but this is dangerous, as the rabbits die, and do ; mestio animals may devour them. It is a matter of common remark that the English sparrow has become a nui sance. Brought here originally to de stroy caterpillars, it is more annoying anil destructive than the insects it was supposed to prey upon. The danger of importing creatures of this sort is nowhere more aptly shown than in the efforts now being made in Massachus etts to exterminate the gypsy moth. This insect was brought to this coun try by au entomologist. By some ac cident a number of them escaped, and within the past four years half a mill ion dollars have been expended in try ing to get rid of them. It is thought that some millions may he required before the gypsy moth is entirely de stroyed, if this can be done at all, which very many persons are strongly inclined to doubt. Some years ago a hyacinth, brought from some foreign country, took root in Florida anil spread to several of the rivers, which have become so cliokeil by the growth of it that navigation is difficult, and considerable sums of money are re quired to keep the channel opeu. All of which furnishes an excellent reason for the greatest care in bringing for eign plauts and animals into new lo calities. —The Ledger. Last ol' tlio Koyul Stuart*. To Queen Victoria's jubilee tlie Prince Regent of Bavaria sent a per sonage, the choice of whom is deemed, to say the least, a bit peculiar. This young aristocrat is Prince Rupert of Bavaria, who is the last remaining direct descendant of the royal Stuarts, and who is, therefore, regarded by British legitimists as the de jure Prince lit Wales. His mother, by legitimist lights, the reigning Queen of England, is Maria IV., wife of Prince Ludwig of Prussia, the heir apparent to the throne of Bavaria.— Chicago Record. Charles H. Hackley, a millionaire philanthropist of Muskegon, Mich., l-estriots himself to simple living. It is said of him that he has ridden in his family carriage only oncp, and then to attend a funeral, and that although ho uwns a fine summer resideuce ou the lake he has rar ely seen it.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers