India's area of wheat farms is now About two-tliirdsas largo as tbat of the United States. Tho wheat is stib thrashed by being trodden out by bul locks and buffaloes. Two items in the budget of the bank at Monte Carlo, for the year ending October 31: "Payments to ruined gamblers, one hundred thousand francs; for the prevention of suicides, one hundred thousand francs." Here is a sermon, "writ large," on the ques tion, Does gambling pay? Tho Fremdenblatt, of Vienna, which Is tho organ of the Austrian Foreign Office, approves tho occupation of the Kiao-Chou Bay and Port Arthur, and says that one result of the open lug up of China will be the stoppage ©f the emigration which is so disquiet ing to Australia and the United States- The Japanese do not intend to rest supinely under the classification of the Colonial Government of New South Wales, which recently decided to in clude tho Japauese in the Chinese Restriction act, denoting them "as other colored people." The Japanese Consul at Sydney has protested against ♦he proposed legislation. In South Germany finishing schools, to train young women in presiding over a home, have been recently de veloped. Tho girls admitted must have au ordinary grammar-school edu cation. Not over twenty boarders are fcaken in each school. These girls aro obliged to take care of their rooms, I and every week four are selected who ' must manage the household for the 1 week, buying supplies and attonding | to all the details of cooking and other j 'work, including sowing and making of 1 garments. Under proper supervision j this ought to make girls good house- j keepers, and it certainly ought to ! have a tendency to keep down the 1 divorces in Germany. In tho trial of a case at Newark, N. J., Vice Chancellor Pitney, one of the ; most erudite of New Jersey's judges, ! gave an interesting opinion on the effect of noises ou human life. The j case was a protest against the terrific , hammering in a copper boiler shop. The complainants were property own ers of tho neighborhood. Said the Vice Chancellor: "Noises tend to shorten life. It is a well-settled fact that, all other things being equal, people living in crowded streets and subjected to incessant, often loiul, noises, do not live as long as those ! whose surroundings are comparatively quiet. The rule is that which ren ders life uncomfortable should be stopped. In considering the effect of noise, wc should apply it to ordinary, everyday people, such as the com plainants in this case, not people brought up in a palace, unused to i noise of any kind, or people who live I in a pigsty, caring nothing for noise j of any sort. Tho Court must be judge and jury in this case, aud the Court lias been in a boiler shop and knows j what it is. One man holds a small ! hammer inside tiio boiler, while an ether man hammers on the outside. " Although tho case was continued, the ! Court intimated that people involun tarily subjected to suclr hurt-produc- \ ing noises had redress at the hands of ! the lav/. Says the Boston Journal: "It is cal culated by military students that fully one-half of tho 11)11,000 mou who died in battle on tho Union side from 1801 to 1805 were a bloody sacrifice to the North's fatuous neglect of the science of arms and of the most ordinary mil itary precautions. If that is true, then one-half of (he wounded and dis abled veterans whose names are now borne on tho pension lists owe their disability to tho fact that their coun try, in its long peace, had forgotten the solemn admonition of Washington and had allowed the great mass of its youth to become absolutely ignorant of the use of weapons and of martin exercises. On this basis of reasoning the national folly of the years before the Civil War is now coßting tho Na tional Government about .$70,000,000 a year, or more than twice the cost of its present military establishment. We shall never have a Civil War again. Our only possible conflict is with a foreign enemy, aud in all probability we shall never have that if we main tain an adequate navy and complete our new und admirable system of coast defenses. Seventy million dollars would finish these defenses and arm them. It would build a lleet of fif teen first-class battleships and make our navy the second most powerful on the planet. The men who believe in a policy of reasonable military pre paredness for the United States can justify their position not only by an Appeal to the national honor, but by the broadest considerations of genuine •conomy." WHY AND_WHEREFORE. I know not whence I eame, I know not whither I go, But the fact stands clear That I am here In tills world of pleasure and woo. And out of the mist and murk Another truth shines plain— It is in my power Each day and hour To add to its joy or its pain, I know that the earth exists, It is none of my business why, I cannot llnd out What it's all about— I would but waste time to try My life is a brief, brief thins, I am here for a little space, And while I stay 1 would like, if I may, To brighten and better the p!ac<\ # ® a @© $ 1 STRIKING A MATCH. © © © £LL, Miss nilclo- Sf " > I(j* )Urll I must say ■ D I'm real sorry ft/X \W/ M y° u and Mr. ifriiwiirtffTnliiii \mr Gangster have fallen out." " ou ' MrR - Collins, indeed W&zxfnf'v you are mistakea. '■-* jy There has been no 'falling out' between Mr. Sangster and myself. Indeed, I am not on sufficiently soci able terms with any of your gentle man boarders to have a quarrel." Saying which, Lucy Hilderburn, a slight, delicate-featured girl of eight een, walked out of the room with even more than her wonted dignity of man ner and carriage. , "Nevertheless, notwithstanding," pursued Mrs. Collins, resuming her ironing, which had been interrupted by the young lady's entrance. "I do believe there's been a misunderstand in' between those two, and a real pity it is, for he did admire her amazinTy. He couldn't conceal it. And 'twould a been a good thing for her, poor child! Only they seldom knows what is good for 'em, these young things, and she's a-lettin' her pride stand in tho way of her happiness now." "Pride, indeed!" sneered Miss Jane Humphries, Mrs. Collins nice and as sistant, a tall, red-haired, stylishly dressed damsel of live-and-thirty. "I'd like to know what right a girl who earns her livin' by givin' music lessons at fifty cents an hour has to bo proud; and as for Mr. Sangster. I don't believe ho ever had a serious thought about her. The idea of an intellectual young man like him fancy ing a girl simple enough to be afraid of ghosts. He was only amusin' him self, plnyiu'/ou her vanity, and she's found that out and is just poot'n' on airs now to try and 'pull tho wool over her eyes,' as the sayin' is." "La, Jane, I don't know where you eyes kin' bo, if you didn't see how fairly wrapped up in her he was about two weeks ago; and as to her liavin' no right to bo proud, 'cause she's poor, I b'lieve it's for that very reason she is proud, poor little heart! He's in real good business, Mr. Sangster," Mrs. Collins presently added, in a musing tone, "and is a splendid young man, anyhow—just tho best person to take care of that poor little strugglin* seustive orphan girl. I'll see if I can't mend matters between 'em." "You'd better be mindin' your own business, I think, Aunt Martha," said Miss Jano, with a spiteful laugh and a sidelong glance at her own highly-frizzed and powdered reflection in tho little square of looking-glass that hung against the kitchen wall. "Never you mind, June," persisted warm-hearted Mrs. Collins; "I'll manage it some way. Y'ou say she's afraid of ghosts, poor lamb!" And all that night she lay awake revolving different schemes for the reconcilation of her two favorite boarders. The following evening tho kind liourtcd landlady tapped at tho door of the scantily-furnished fourth-story room occupied ly Lucy Hildebuvn, and from which now proceeded a melancholy strain. "Studying your piano of nights, againV" queried Mrs. Collins, re proachfully, when the girl opened the door. "Yes," replied Lucy, whose voice had a tearful inflection, despite her efforts to conceal it, and whose eyes were suspiciously red. "I am very busy just now, and must put all the time I can to study." "Well, but you mustn't forget what tho doctor told you about overworkin* your bi*ain," said Mrs. Collins. "However," she added, "I won't de tain you longer'n I kin help. I'm ! come to ask a favor. I'm goin' to tho theatre this evonin*. So is Jane. ' Su's everybody in the house, I b'lieve; I and the girl has gone to bod with a | toothache. So I'm goin' to ask you |to give an eye to the furnace. I've I just put on fresh coal and opened the ! lower doors; but will you please go down at about eight o'clock and close tho doors?" "Certainly," assented Lucy, upon which Mrs. Collins produced a lan tern, saying: "Just take this down with you. Tho cellar's all dark you, you know." Lucy took the lantern, closed the room door, and returned to her piano, while Mrs. Collins walked away, chuckling to herself: "That lantern'll go out just five minutes after she sets it down, and she'll find ha" lelf all in the dark. And she's afraid of ghosts, poor lamb! But what if somebody who ain't A ghost should happen to be go- The trouble, I think, with us all) Is tho lack of a high conceit; If each man thought lie was sent to the spot To make it a bit more sweet. How soon we could gladden the world, How easily right all wrong, If nobody shirked And each one worked To holp his fellows along. Cease wondering why you came; stop looking for faults and Haws: Biso up to-day In your pride and say: "I am part of the ilrst great cnuso. However full the world. There is room for an earnest man; It bad need of me Or I would not be— I am here to strengthen the plan." Wilcox, in Form. in' down there about the same time, and bo obliged to strike a match in more'n one sense of the word." And even while indulging in this pleasing reflection, Mrs. Collins tapped at a door on the second floor. Her summons were responded to by a pleasant-looking young man, who just now, however, wore a very de jected countenance. "Ln! Mr. Sangster, I didn't expect to find you at home this evening." •"I didn't feel like going out to night," replied the young man in a weary, listless tone. "Well, since you are going to be at home," said Mrs. Collins, "would you he so kind as to look after the fur nace? I've left the lower doors open, but I'll be very much obliged if you go down at about eight and close 'em. And you needn't take a light. There'll bo one down there." Mr. Sangster readily promised to comply with the request, and Mrs. Collins went away, hoping for what she considered "the right results." Meanwhile, poor Lucy Hildeburn, sitting at her piano, continued to draw forth such melancholy strains that tears rolled down her cheeks. "I must go away from here," she said, half aloud. "I can't bear it much longer, indeed I can't, seeing him day after day, loving him as I do, and knowing that matters can never be ad justed between us. He is as proud as I—but, oh dear! what am I thinking of? It wants just two minutes to eight. And how hot the house is getting! I must go down and close the furnace doors." Thereupon she lighted tho lantern and proceeded down stairs to the cel lar. The house was very quiet, and the lights all burned with a dim, spectral lustre that only served to produce strange shadows throughout the rooms and passages. Every one seemed to have gone out, and poor Lucy glanced nervously about her at every step. At length she reached tho cellar. Ugh! What a chill draught was blowing in through one the gratings! And there were strange noises ull around. Lucy's heart thumped so violently she was tempted to turn and run up stairs again. But goodness! The furnace was dreadfully, dangerously hot. Lucy summoned up all the resolu tion, and, stooping down, closed tho doors. They swung to with a bang, and when she essayed to open them again she found the effort beyond her strength. What was to be done in case of the fire needing more draught? Sho might, after awhile, find it necessary to put on more coal, and then it would be well to put on more draught. But while she was debating with herself concerning this, a much more serious mishap occurred, for tho candle inside the lantern suddenly achieved the most inexplicable somer sault, and she was left in utter dark ness. Moreover, to complicate the miser ies of her situation, she heard stead ily footsteps descending the cellar stairs. Poor Lucy stood quite still, with her hands clasped together over her heart. This was a burglar, undoubtedly, lie had seen all the mule inmates of the house going out and the lights lowered, and had thus chosen his op portunity to come in and conceal him self in tho cellar. He would, of course, murder her. Burglars always did that when they found any one awake. The first idea that suggested itself to her was to creep under the steps and remain there until Mrs. Collins returned. Ere she had time to do this, how-' ever, a man's form became visible in the dim, semi-twilight that was shed from the kitchen door above. The in truder drew nearer until he stood within a few yards of her, and seemed to be fumbling in his vest pocket for something. A dirk, doubtless. Lucy, with a desperate instinct of self-preservation, put up both hands, exclaiming: "Have pity on me! Oh, have pity and spare my life!" Upon this tho burglar drew back, very much surprised. "Miss Hildeburn!" he exclaimed, as he struck a match on the box lie now produced from his pocket. "What are you doing here, and how can I serve you?" Now poor Lucy completely unnerved and dreadfully ashamed of herself sat down on a reversed coal scuttle and burst into a fit of weeping. Then Mr. Sangster knelt down be side her, and a confused interchange of explanations of various kinds en sued. The result was, that at the expira tion of a half-hour, Mr. Sangster took Lucy in his arms and kissing the tear stained face, murmured: "God bless you for this promise, my own darling! And, with His help, I trust these are the last tears I will cause you to shed." When Mrs. Collins came home, two hours later, the house was very quiet, the furnace in good order, and neither Mr. Sangster nor Miss Hildeburn visi ble. But the following day Lucy con fided to her a secret, aud Mr. Sang ster absented himself mysteriously for about three weeks. After that, Miss Hildeburn also disappeared. "Gone to visit her aunt at Swath more," Mrs. Collins explained to tho other boarders. But a fortnight later tho mail car rier brought somo wedding cards to the house. "It was all brought about through Ihe furnace," said Mrs. Collins, with a gleeful chuckle. But Miss Jane was infinitely dis gusted.—Saturday Night. How Stanton Defied Lincoln. The application of a man who want ed to be chaplain in the army during Mr. Lincoln's Administration was re cently found. Attached to it are a number of indorsements which are not only interesting in themselves, but aid in disclosing the characters of the two men whoso influence largely molded the policy of the Government in those turbulent times. The indorsements read as follows: Dear Stanton—Appoint this man chap lain in tho army. A. LINCOLN. Bear Mr.Lincoln—Ho is not a preacher. E. M. STANTON. Tho following indorsements are dated a few months later, but come just below: Dear Stanton—Ho Is now. A. LINCOLN. Bear Mr. Lincoln—But there is no va cancy. E. M. STANTON. Boar Mr. Stanton—Appoint him chaplain ot-large. A. LINCOLN. Dear Mr. Lincoln—There Is no warrant of law for that. E. M. STANTON. Bear Mr. Stanton—Appoint hiin anyhow. A. LINCOLN. Bear Mr. Lincoln—l will not. E. M. STANTON. The ajipointment was not made, but tlio papers were filed in the War De partment, where they remain as evi dence of ,Lincoln's friendship and Stanton's obstinate nerve.—lndian apolis Journal. An of Volcanic Make. The British North Borneo Herald describes tho new island which was recently thrown up by volcanic action 011 the coast between Mempakoi and Lumbidan. The island, which is about forty-five feet high, 250 yards long and 150 yards broad, has a very peculiar npearance. It is chiefly &11 upheaval of the sea bottom, but at the highest point presents entirely differ ent features. Here the surface of tho sea bottom has been broken through from below and a mud crater formed, which had evidently been forcibly squeezed up through a circular hole iu the bedrock further down. Tho mud crater presents tho form of a couo with the top and side in places fallen in; tho portions remain ing intact show plainly, by the smooth striated sides, the effects of squeezing the rock. The cone at its visible base is perhaps twenty yards in diameter, and is surrounded at about thirty yards distance l>y a circular terrace a lew feet high, which suggests that a little pressure from below would have resulted in a far larger cone being thrown up. There is a lot of bubbling going on in various cracks and holes, which flares up wheu a lnatch is ap plied and continues to burn. Tainplne Done by Air. A force of 200,000 men is required to keep the beds of llio railroads in order, and the expense of the work is 870,000,000 a year. But au inventor has come forward who propose to do the work with compressed air, and promises greater expedition and a saving of more than 810,000,000 au nuallj'. The machine consists of a Boot blower driven at the rate of per haps 800 revolutions a minute. It is set on toil ol* one rail, and has two small wheels 011 which it can bo trundled along tho rail like a wheel barrow. When it is to bo used a lever clips it fast to tho rail. Attached to it is a hose twelve feet long, ending in a metal feeder for the broken stone, which has a hopper at the top, where the stone or other suitable ballasting material is shoveled in, and a bent end at tho bottom, which is put under the ties to direct the stream of filling. In using it none of the ballast be tween the ties need be removed. A shovelful is removed at one end of tho raised tie until the bent end of the hopper tube can bo poked under, and then the tilling material is blown iu and packed tight by the machine. •r Holler Voatr. The curious spectacle of a marine craft propelled by enormous air-tight, disc-shaped hollow wheels suggests a radical departure in tho methods of boat-building. That the experiment was a failure was tho natural conse quence of the principles 011 which tho craft was constructed. All of the ma chinery and passenger accommodations rested on a platform supported by these air-tight wheels arranged in rows on either side. Tho general effect was that of a huge wagon, t>je box of which rested on the water. One of the causes of tho failure of this venture was that the wheels took up sufficient water to handicap them seri ously. Au attempt was made to coun teract this by increasiug the power, but this added to the weight of the machinery and did not work success fully. A device to scrape the water from the wheelc was equally futile, and as it stands now the roller boat has scored a most brilliaut failure. Novtl Wedding King. A novel wedding ring has just come j out. Jt is a revival of au ancient idea, and bids fair to be popular j among this season's brides. The ring looks like au ordinary, rather narrow, plain gold ring. On the inside of it is a tiny hole. You have ouly to insert the point of a pin there to see the ap parently solid gold ring spring apart into two linked circlets. The date of the marriage and tho initials of tho bridegroom and bride are engraved on the upper surface of the ring and a motto—"Si vis nmari ama"—on the lower surface of the other. When the links are fitted together the inscrip tions aro concealed and there is no hint of the ring's secret. The bride groom wears a similar ring. The jew eler who is making thom says many couples have bought them, and that uiauy more hat 6 ordered them. *\ Shoe Dont'ft. Don't put away shoes in a dirty con dition; wipe them, dress them and store them in au airy closet. Don't place shoes against a heater after coming in from the rain. Don't wear one pair of shoss steadily. Two pairs worn alternately will do the work of three pairs worn consecutively. Don't shut up an array of shoes in an air-tight closet. Don't wear shoes that will not per mit the great toe to lie in . a straight line. Don't wear a shoe that is tight any where. Don't wear a shoe so large that it slips at the heel. Don't wear a shoe with a sole nar rower than the outline of tho foot traced with a pencil drawn close under the rounding edge. Don't wear the top of a boot tight, as it interferes with tho action of the calf-muscles, makes one walk awk wardly and causes the ankles to swell. Don't fail to wipe shoes with f oft dressing at least once a week. Don't wear a shoe that has com menced to run over. Have tho heel straightened at once and finished on the worn edge with a row of tiny nails. Don't economize on footwear; a good shoo in a cheap shoe.—Demorest's Magazine. IIHIH oT Many Styles. Bonnets aud toques aro in the ns •endant for dressy occasions, and French toques bordered aud trimmed with fur arc especially neat and ap propriate with liandsomo street toi lettes. People grow more and more independent each year, ns regards headgear, however, and those who prefer hats, picture aud other, will have the courage of their convictions. A hat is moro convenient than a bon net, fits better, and is often much more becoming; there being few faces that look their best iu a bonnet. Even among hats, However, there ore found this season somo shapes far from be coming, especially among tho round ones. A woman should exercise much cau tion iu the selection of her head cov veriug; and not bo hurried in her de cision by milliners or impatient shop ping companions. One lady, whose style [of face required a small, neat toque, was persuaded to buy a large hat with fan-shaped stiff wings at each sido, giving tho wearer something of the look of a wind-mill. Among bonnets one finds some very pronounced French styles—ono imi tating an old-fashioned calash just iu front, under which tho hair is to be arranged iu the Merode fashion. This bonnet is round at the sides, very short above the ears and at tha back, having strings of a correspond ing shade of velvet to that composing the bonnet itself. These velvet strings are set 011 at the shortest part, and the bonnet is trimmed with a great profusion of feathers in various shades of red, brown, olive and gold. Cream-gray felt bonnets look well trimmed with sablo bauds aud tails? with green feathers and a colored bird spreading its wings.—The Housewife. Uo.Bip. Buffalo (N. Y\) aldermen have re fused to appropriate any money for the instruction ol public school girls iu cooking. Miss Ada Negri, tho young Italian poet who has been having a consider able vogue in London, is an ardent Socialist. Mrs. Jessie Falmer Weber, of Springfield, 111., a daughter of General John M. Palmer, has been ehosen to succeed the Into Miss Josephine Clevelaud as librarian of the Illinois Historical Library. Women in France have just secured a slight addition to their legal rights. They may henceforth be valid wit nesses to registration of birth, mar riages nr.d deaths, and to the siguaturo iu legal documents. Miss Melvillo B. Wilson, whose statue, "The Minute Man," President MeKinley called "a good summer's work," has made a new departure in modeling small cabinet busts, which Hire reproduces in marble and bronze. Tho first Southern woman to have fier name inscribed on a monument as tho designor is Mies Virginia Mont gomery, who has had her design for a confederate memorial, to be erected in San Antonio, Texas, accepted 1 by the oommittee. Alice M. Beck with, who will soon assume her duties as County Clerk in Weld County, Colorado, is beinggiven considerable advertising in tho State as one of the first women in a coun ty office other than that of Superinten dent of Schools. Miss Alice Marie Clark, of Washing ton, has been elected professor of Ger man in the Centenary Collegiate In stitute at Hackettstown, N. J. She was graduated at the Woman's Col lege in Baltimore in 189G, and went abroad for travel and study. Dr. Marie Louise Benoit, of Lowell, Mass., has been appointed Medical In terne in the New York State Craig col ony for Epileptics at Sonyea, Living ston County. She is the first woman appointed as a Medical Interne in the State hospital service of New York. Miss. M. J. Frodsham lias been ap pointed lecturer at the Training Col lege, Cambridge, England. She won the entrance scholarship at Hoiloway College and tho First Founder's Scholarship for Mathematics, and a second-class Oxford honor moderation iu mathematics. Queen Nathalie has dismissed all her Servian servants as an indication tlmt slio has severed all connections with her husband, ex-King Milan, who is again in Belgrade, aud her sou, King Alexander. The former Queen is a Prussian by birth, very rich and was educated in a school iu Florence attended by several American girls. The Queen of Portugal, who has studied medicine, while walking re cently in a wood near Lisbon with a lady with honor, was startled by the sound of a cry. Proceeding to the spot she found that a woodchopper had been injured by a falling branch. Tho Queen attended to tho man's injuries, and then with her companion assisted him to reach his cabin. There is a larger number of students at Bryn Mawr this term than ever be fore. and statistics recently made out show that tho gymnastic training of girls who have been some years in the college is telling in the general aver age of lung capacity, muscular strength, height, weight, etc. There are forty-two graduates for '9B, eighty nine in the freshman class, and a total number of 322 students. Frenkn and Fancies. rpneil protectors are now made in ; sterling silver. The enamel Walls-of-Troy belt, joined by small jewels, is a novelty, The low, squat shape is the newest thing in large hall and banquet lamps. Flannel petticoats are trimmed with ' flounces of white silk edged with lace. Very long wrinkled sleeves are worn j with tho low or half low waists of full dress. Fancy waists will increase, rather than diminish, in favor during tho coming season. The circular skirt At ill retains its vogue, although many of tho models are greatly narrowed. Amaranth red is a now color added to the winter list. It is between a crimson and a cherry. For dressy occasions, sashes of chif fon, with long ends edged with pleated frilling or lace, are much worn. Ciotli and corded silk aud drap d'ete, or double-faced and moire, will be very fashionably combined next season. Bridesmaids', debutantes' and danc ing costumes are made in primrose aud palo pink crepe de Chine, and trimmed with beautiful laces aud pearl and opal passementeries. Chatelaines in oxide and gilt, Rus sian enamel, cut steel, etc., and in open filigree work, havo all kinds of convenient trifles attached, such as tablets, purses, glove buttoners, pen cils, etc. Flower trimming is in favor for evea ing gowns, rows of shaded pink roses without foliage being much used: also maidenhair fern and sprays of lilac, laid 011 strands of ribbon un inch anil a half wide. Colored silk moreen is a good sub stitute for tho tnffeta silk petticoat aud it comes iu pretty stripes, plaids, and changeable eifect3. It is not cheap, however, but it is said to wonr nearly three times as long as the taffeta. A half-worn light silk waist may bo very satisfactorily refurbished by strip ing it crosswise with black velvet rib bon, putting velvet ribbon around tho plain collar band and adding a new chemisette neck of laco aud a velvet belt. A blouse which combined purple, black and wliite'was mado of cloth to match tho skirt, plaided with broad white stripes. The high collar and the pointed revers aud cuffs were of black aslrakan, tho material used for muff aud toque. Woven trimmings to imitate elabor ate hand embroideries in shaded effects are increasingly popular. These gar nishes, made of silk, jet, cut steel, beads, mock jewels, etc., produce a very Oriental effect when used on special parts of a costume. Handsome little boxes, four inches deep and large enough to hold plate doilies, are lined with silver and pre vided with a sachet mat for perfuming purposes. The tops are covered with any material desired, a quilliug of rib bou or a frill of lace over silk finish ing the sides. They are really useful receptacles for tho dainty doilies that need careful protection. THINGS QUEER IN MEXICO. According to law all books of cor porations must be kept iu the language of tlio country. Mexican men and women carefully refold their handkerchiefs before re turning them to their pockets. Milk is delivered from house tc house from large cans with a flat sidti that are slung over a burro's back. Women doctors are practically un known and the first woman to be ad mitted to the bar recently took her examination. Most doctors havo signs as largo as those of the dry goods stores, reach ing clear across the front of their office buildings. Judges take a more active part in trials than in the States, and, as a rule, question tho prisoner and wit nesses direct from tho bench. In addition to the omnipresent bal pony every window in Mexican houses is fitted with iron rods on which to aang a canvas awning. Tho City of Mexico owns a closed 9treot car without windows that is ased for transporting prisoners from >ne part of the city to another. As a usual rule commercial houses have certain hours for paying just as a bank and many of them only make payment one day in the week. It is sometimes necessary to hold court at least for a short time on Sun clay as under the law jury trials can Qot bo continued for a longer time than twenty-four hours. Mexican butchers have no use for saws. They cut beefsteaks, chops ind everything else with oue big thick knife, weighing several pounds, that they use both as knife and cleaver. To tho lowest classes of Indians and peons knives and forks are unknown. They deftly convey their food to their mouths with a piece of tortilla, the :orn cake that forms the stall of life of tho common people. No obstructions whatever can be placed in the streets without authori ty from the municipal authorities. A painter must even get permission to put up his scaffold from which to paint t sign on a building.—Modern Mexico. A Fifteen-Year-OM Check. Mr. Pleas Chaudoin, living on Ens lell Creek, in Green County, last week received the money on a check which bad been given him nearly fifteen pears ago. The check was given by Mr. Chaudoin by the Farmers' tobacco warehouse of Louisville, in payment for his crop of tobacco, and called for $l7O. In some manner the check was misplaced, ami "Uncle Pleas" forgot ill about it. Besides, ho was a long ways from a bank, and no one iu his neighborhood had enough money to rash the check, and "CJncle Pleas" thought he would not worry about tho loss of the check until ho fgot ready to 50 to town, when ho would havo the missing paper supplied by tho firm. Time went on, and the check was for gotten, until about six months ago, in looking over some papers he found •he long-lost cheek and at ouco took it to tho bank for collection. Some lime was consumed in looking over the books of tho Farmers' warehouse, and in checking up their bank account, but it was found that tho check had never been paid, and last week an other check was sent Mr. Chaudoin by the big combine of which tho Farm ers' house is now a member, and the old check taken up. It goes without Haying that "Uncle Pleas" got the last check cashed immediately.—Glasgow (Ky.) News. Unique Altar Made by Indians. A dispatch from Sioux Falls, Soutb Dakota, says: "Situated at the ex treme limit of tho eastern boundary of South Dakota is the famous red p*pe Htouo quarry, for whoso existence scientists are at a loss for an explana tion. This is the only quarry of the kind known to exist on tho American continent, or, for that matter in the world. It is tho stone from which tho Indians make their pipes and or< naments, and for which the Indian! make annual pilgrimages now, as tliej have done in ages past. "In tho neighborhood of this quarrj a tribe of Indians located years ago and became zealous converts to the Episcopal faith. Bishop Haro visited their community recently, and among other things was called upon to com secrate an altar, perhaps the most unique that was ever erected iu 0 chapel. The material used was al most wholly red pipestone, quarried by tho Indians, and finished and poh ished by them. Tho substance used for polishing was honey, and the worb was slow aud laborious, covering 0 period of several months. Tho altoi is beautiful, tho symbols of tlicchurcb being engraved upon the stone pan els."—Chicago Chronicle. lloorifthuess Explained. A day or two ago I entered a Czech cafe, in a little frequent..! part of Prague, and chanced to forget totakt oft'my liat immediately on entering, s custom which prevails almost every where in German speakiugj countries. This apparently was taken as an insult by the people 111 the cafe, aud to mj surprise i was greeted by a veritabb storm of shouts and hisses. For * few moments, having no knowledge 01 the Czech language, I did not realize my offouse, but seeing that they had mistaken me for a German, and fear ing that they might really attack mo, as several Germans have been at> tacked and maltreated lately, I called out in Germau, "I am English." Tin effect of tho Announcement was in stantaneous, aud the tumult immedi ately subsided. But later on I ques. tioned tho waiter, who told me that "pig" and "dog" were among the po lite epithets the Czechs had shouted at me when they mistook my nation ality.—Westminster Gazette.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers