Tho public <Tfebt nf Frnntto la iha largest in tlio world, fthd Amounts about $80,000,000. >.■-* Fifty railways report earnings for the second week of June at the aggre gate rato of more than a million dol lars a day—the income of a mighty empire. In Great Britain 00.0 per cent, of the coal used is from the homo mines; Germany uses 02 per cent, of home produce; the United States uses 00.2 per cent.; Russia, 80 percent.; France, 73 per cent.; Sweden, 10 per cent.; Spain, 50 per cent., and Austria-Hun gary, 01 per cent. Tho recruits who go to camp now will have matters vory considerably smoothed for them. It doos not take long for men to fit themselves to cainp conditions, and those who went to the front at tho start with respect to that may bo considered veterans, and their example to the new men will quickly cause assimilation. Tho Now York Post says: Is there any reason to think that our estab lished types of John Bull and Uncle Bam will in tho course of time be modi fied? Wo doubt it, because, grotesque as they are, there is nothing in onr present circumstances to nfford the groundwork for n new nntional type on either side of tho oconu. Thirty years ago New York and Pennsylvania were the greatest wheat producing States, and nearly all the cereal raisod was grown in the States to tho south of the grent lakes, and it was brought to market by tho rail ways. But tho opening up of the Northwest has changed all that, and to-day the Dnkotas and Minnesota leave all other States far behind in the quantities of wheat they yield. The Spanish Admiral at Manila tries to excuse his defeat by the claim that the Government did not supply him with tho ships and torpedoes that he neoded. As ho had two torpedo launches destroyed in an effort to reach the Olympia it is difficult to un derstand what ho could have done with more torpedoes. He had good Itrupp guns on tho Cavite batteries, but ho had no good men behind them. That was what ailed tho Admiral and ho might as well admit it. Tho nations aro running ovor ono another in their eagerness to testify affection for tho United Statos. The Eagle looks on placidly, not unwilling to respond to sentiments of amity, oven when it knows well enough that they are merely verbal and conven tional, and tho mask of quite another set of feelings. It is not so easy as it may look to pull tho falcon's hood ovor the eyes of out wary and watch ful Nationnl bird, just now in moro need of all its resources of vision than The New York Sun observes: Thers must he a certain curiosity about bach elors. No test is better or more con clusive than the naming of plays. A new drama entitled "A Bachelor's Widow" lias just been produced in London. Then there have been at various times tho "Bachelors' Wives'' of Samuel Beazley; the "Bachelor's Wife" of Frederick Watson; "Bach elors," "The Bachelors," "Our Bach elors," "Bachelor's Hall," "Bachelor's Torments," "Bachelor's Vow," and mnny others. In fact, from tho atten tion that has been paid to this technical ly solitary individual and his doings, it is plain that he occupies an impor tant place in tho economy of society. Prior to the last revolutionary out break the amount of yearly tribute which Cuba was forced to pay into the treasury of Spain fell little short of tho average sum of $25,000,000, observes the Atlanta Constitution. In view of tho comparatively Binall number of peoplo living in Cnha the enormous burden entailed upon them by this exaction becomes at once appar jnt. In 1881 Spain extorted from Cuba in the way of revenues tho outrageous sum of $31,260,410. Sho applied $12,574,185 of tho money thus col lected to tho payment of old military debts incurred in subduing popular outbreaks in Cuba; $5,901,08t to the use of tho AVer Department in carry ing out needed improvements, and $11,595,090 to the payment of sal aries, pensions, etc., to Spnnish offi cers and cletgymen. Out of the im mense revenue collected from Culm in 1884, only $1,195,715 returned to Cuba in tho way of benefits. This fast in itself, without the prolonged effusion of blood which drenched Cuba's soil in consequence of her effort to free horsclf, more than vindi cates tho righteousness of that cause which the United States assumed in undertaking to expel Spain from the western hemisphere. WOMAN'S WEAPON. "What is a woman's weapon?" I asked a churmlnfl She droppod her lushes shyly And stroked a curl; Then consciously alio murmured— Thisrosobud newly out— "I have a strong suspicion Her weapon is a pout." . •'What is a woman's weapon?" I asked a lover true. He turned him to a maiden | With eyes of heavenly blue. • Her velvet lips were parted, All Innocent of gulfo. And o.vgerly ho answered: * "Iler weapon Is a smile." •'What is a womnn's weapon?" I asked a poet then. * With sudden inspiration Ho seized upon his pen. •'Oh! I could namo a thousand," Ho cried In accents clear; "But woman's surest weapon, I grant you, i 9 a tear." - ♦etefefOK^^ofOK>fO!Of^7: IAN AFFAIR I OF THE SEASIDE. I Soteie(©iO!Oi©!oi':>!O(e(eie<oK^ieiefe, u ' i. / T was holiday time ' , J 'if by the sea. A "V i time to drink the I f res } 1| f u ]i l, roezo I C\ H I ' N *° ONO ' B ' UN FFS bS"--- §l 1 A time to dabble the oars lazily ' *|- over the shining fljgS fife ot the water. time to think — — - lightly of love, • nUl ' dwell on lin- Rering glances from eyes which meant nothing. The waves lap in and wet your feet. Laughing, you move further hack, till the dancing waves follow you again and again. There is something mar vellously exhilarating in this battle l-oyal with ;he sea. The same waves wash away the children's sand-eastles; hut, spade in hand, they build others just as quickly. It is nothing to have one's best castles swept away by tho glistening sea. When the merry holiday lmstlo had reached its zenith, two people came to the biggest boarding-house on the sea front. They had not met for years. Face to faeo without warning, it startled them both, and brought back old memories sharp and bitterly. "My poor son," the woman said lowly, "is dead. Ho was drowned— may be you heard. lie was made the soape-goat of some one's evil-doing; but whose? I have often tried to find out." The man smilod condolingly. son, madam," he said, "was a rogue. You know it, as every ono did. He ruined onr time-honored firm, and fled. Don't treasure any further notions of your son's innocence. It is wisest to realize the worst from tho very onset." Then—as though to wipo out tho effeot of his hard words—ho made much ado about cheering her up. It is the business of all peoplo at the seaside to cheer each other. They sat the whole morning through on the shingles, talking of bygone things, and watching tho children. The woman had no one now that her son was dead. The man had his daughter, a morry girl, full of youth and the hope it brings, and with an ovorpowering confidence in the man beside her who was shortly to bo her husband. "Father has just told me how you lost your sou," once sho whispered to the elder woman. "I am very sorry —though life could not have seemed much to him, hunted as he was. Tho sea takes so many of our dear ones. Yes, it's a bright, happy-looking thing, isn't it?" sho broke oil', with a low, sweet laugh. The others smiled also. "On such days as these ono can never be expected to renlizo that tho glorious sea Ims other, darker moods," Elsie Trevors nddod. "How peoplo do enjoy it! That patch of sunlight on those tan sails yondor—isn't it magnificent, Mrs. Fenwick? Do look, Harry!" ■ Her eyes sparkled. Many, as they passed, gazed at her wonderingly, then caught the spirit of her great happi ness. ''Yes, my son was hunted—merci lessly," Mrs. Fenwick said aloud. "Your lather hunted him more than any one—why, Ido not know. Ho was terribly anxious to see him in tho hands of tho law, and 1 have not for given him." "My dear Mrs. Fenwick,let bygones bo bygones," Sir. Trevors muttered pompously. "Your boy was a scoun drel—a scamp of the worst ordor—ex cuse me for speaking my mind—and ho ruined the business his father and I had fought no long to keep together. The disgrace made a widow of you. My duty was to find the hoy, for the sake of those onr failure robbed. But bo was missing—now be is dead. All! ns I thought"—suddenly consulting his watch—"it is the luncheon hour. Come, Elsie." Ahvnys pompous, always irreproach able and highly respectable, Mr. Tre vors was accustomed to much respect. This bothered Mrs. Fenwick, and set hor thinking. Albert Trevors hon ored and looked up toon all sides;her own husband and son dying in dis grace—the. latter bunted down like n low-born criminal! Surely a strange, far reaching differ - ouce! It was just one of those wosterly gales which spring up so suddonly in tho glad summer-time, and change the shining faeo of broad, glistening sea into a wild, angry, pulsing fury. In such a storm Albert Trovors well nigh lost the only boing ho carod for on this wide earth—his laughing, happy Elsie. Sho had gono out sail ing with the man who was to be her linsband. Tho storm gathered quick ly, unwamingly—they could not get back to the shore. A bronzed fisherman came to their help just in the nick of time. He was a Btraugo, restless being—always abroad in his little boat when the sea was running highest. As he held Elsie Trevors in his stout ap/us for the mofnent, his gaze fell on her white face. "Merciful Heavens!" he breathed sharply. "And I have saved her!" He lifted tho slender form into his own boat. ii. t ? ! Next day the storm died. The snn shone more brilliantly than over in the old places. The sea danced and spnrkled joyously, and fishing smacks were hastily made ready for anothor voyage. "That, father, is tlxe fisherman who saved Harry and mo/' Elsie Trovors said, pointing to a .stooping figure sitting on the edge of' a fishing boat. They noared him. "You will do something for him, won't you, fathor?" the girl ques tioned. ; "Ay, ay, child 1 Td bo sure." Albert Trevors looked up into tho stalwart young fisherman's bronzed face. "My good fellow," he began, "yon saved my bonnio wee Elsie, and " He drew up suddenly. The two men stared at each other] for a long while in silence. 3lsie watched. "Thank liim, fathor," she whispered. "Tell him you will reward him. Till him that you will do something for him." ,■ But the7 fisherman ! was walking rapidly av/ny. ' "Why did,yon let him godfather?" sho asked Wonderingly, "Why did yon? We/came here to thanlc.liim— to do something for haminreturn " "Patience, Elsie! pntience, child! Ho saved my.little girl; I am to, do something for hio* in return—in return," liomuttered. f 'Good Heavens, and what!'' When they reached the boarding house on tho sea-frontt, Victor Trevors had an interview witty his daughter's fiance. Tho latter* framed that little Elsie was not ntu heiress, after all. The money, that 'very day, had gone from her forevefq Her fortune, for some reason he refused toiexplain, had suddenly disappeared. The man caught the next train up to town, promising to Kvrito. Victor Trevors smiled grfeilyfrvs he departed. "Poor littlol Elsie!" he snidto Mrs, Fenwick. "It 'twill hurt her badly when knows)the truth. But I've had my Auspicious before that, he only wanted/hor fur tJio.money. He wasn't good (Uiongh'fmr her by a lojig chalk. I've a mncUAintter man iuviciv for my bonnio weelgirlie." "Who?"' "The flahjormanwho saved her life," lie announced complacently, pretend ing not to /notice MYs. Fonwiok's ex pression utter blank i astonishment. "I will flo my best tolhring it nbout —and qnijckly at that, [Ho saved her life, and ho shall .have hor if lie wishes, when lie hasjeome to care for her. It's the only rekvard I can offer him. Do you nigi'oe with me, Mrs. Fenwick?" She not. "But you rrnay," lie answered, "when I've Introduced you to the fisherman." / He was bought froiujtlie fishing village—ho 'oamo reluctantly in his rough fish|erinau's olotVes—to tho mansion on the sea-frono The vis itors whrnmet him. on tho Stairs eyed him curiously, Mrs.jFenwirk was with Elsie Tre vors in) their private sitling-room. Mr. Trovore had asked her to bo present. The fisherman stoodlhefore them he apponred from out of the shadow of the door, slowly just at first. His gazo wnndqfrcd from Elslo to her com panion, ami reiniuned there. Thon oamo recognition, and,) with n wild sob, the/widow threw Iterself into his his arms. Mother anal son had mot once more. For a few odd seconds she hardly reeognizdd liim; it was all so terribly unexpected. The dead had come tollifo! Then sLo was devouring him with her loving oyos, pissing !)is forehead, blessing Albert Trevors\ for having found him ami brought kliifto her. A moment, later she started back, and there wf"" an expression of wild fear in horieyes. "Hat why did you find him?'7tihe domnnded. "To give him up to (the law?" "Madam, he saved my littlo girl!" was the ojily answer. And for once thero was'no pomposity in the man's voice. "Whose guilt were yon hiding, my sou?" his motliar asked ntdast. Ho did not speak. "Tell met" she persisted. Still silonce. "Tell me!" "My father's." He turned away that ho might not, see her pain* Albert T'revorsjlot it stay at that for several minutes. Why not forever? Tho hey had spoken of his innoconco; he suffered to keep clean his dead father's nnme. But he saved Elsio's'life. It was a irnrvolouß argument—il*e ,only one that could ever have appealed to Al bert Trevors. Ho had promised to do something in return; ho must go tl*o whole way with,his rewand. "Madam," he said, and the glory of his old pomposity was full upon him, "yourhusband—as well as your son was innocent. Boy, you wronged your father I" Not waiting for any interruption whatever, he proceeded slowly, grandly: "Yon declared once that you could never forgive mo, madam, for hunting down your son. Maybe you never will, though perhaps it would ho just as woll if you did. However, let that pass. I robbed tho firm. I ruin edit. I did it to make my Elsie o rich wo man. Yes, child, I—your own father, confesses his guilt here—a guilt which was incurred for sour sake. "Ireasonodit all ontwhen I thought you were drowned. Then I realized the impotonco of money, and knew that it was best to bave my bonnie wee girlie with me; yes, even under these circumstnnoes. I make this confes sion willingly, in return. Elsie, to tho man who has restored yon—at risk of his own life—to the one on whoso shoulders rests the guilt he has borne so unselfishly." Who ever would have expected Al bert "Trovors to grasp tho situation with sneh clearness and so quickly? "The money I kept for Elsie—the theft of which has oaused so much misery—shall bo returned to the peo ple I took it from, if Mrs. Trevors deems this the wisest plan"—ranking a splendid bow in her direction. "Of what use is it, chihlio, when that man who went np to town this afternoon would have married you for it nlone? "And now, Mrs. Fenwiok, if you decide to overlook tho past, yon can give me up to the law at once. If you decide to overlook, well " She glanced from her boy to Elsie, from Elsio back to her boy. When her eyes eventually met those of Al bert Trevors, and she nodded, bo rend there nil he desired to know. "Wo'll spend this evening together on tho pier, madam," he conoluded. "But your son in fisherman's clothes —well, I dare say we can manage to knock up a change for him." That night the moon shone wliitely on the sea. Two young people watched it intontly. Who shall interpret their thoughts on the strange events of that oventful day? But there was a look in tho eyes of both—born of gratitude on the one band, and long-standing ad miration on tlio other—suggestive of the fact that ere long tho young peo ple might discover that remedy which their parents had already chosen.— New York Weekly. THE CANARY ISLANDS. Facta About Spain's I'osnesaioiis In tlio North Atlantic. Information about tho Canary Isl ands is in big demand now. The isl ands lie in tho North Atlantic Ocean, near the African coast, between lati tude 27 nnd 20 north nnd longitude 13 and 18 west. There aro sovon princi pal islands in tho group, covering nn area of 8253 square miles, with a population of about 300,000. These seven islands nro Teneriffe, wliieh is the largest; Grand Canary, Palma, Lauzarote, Fnerteventura, Gomera and Hierro. The area of theao range from 877 square miles for Teneriffe down to eighty-two square miles for Hierro. The distance from tho near est of the islands, Fuerteventurn, to the African coast is about Bixty miles. There are numerous other small isl ands, but they are uninhabited nnd un important. In commerco the Canaries nre im portant, and British interests thero are large. The soil is productive, and cereals and potatoes are raised in quantities sufficient to supply the homo demand. In one year it is possible in some p'aees to raise two crops of corn and one potato crop from the same piece of laud. Wine is produced in large quantities in Teneriffe, but its quality is not up to that of Madeira. Canary seed, snmao and some flax nre grown, but the principal product is cochineal. The exports of this pro duct nre very large. Very good olives, oranges, figs, bananas, pineapples nnd other fruits are raised in the Canaries. The silk worm is cultivated exten sively, and there ore some important silk stocking manufactures. Goats nnd sheep are plentiful, but cattle nnd horses are rare. The climate of the Canaries is pecu liar, but by no means unpleasant. The islands are overhung all summer with a dense canopy of clouds. The wind blows steadily from tho northeast in the slimmer, beginning nt 10 a. m. nnd lasting until sp. m. These winds form sea clouds in two layers. Dur ing tho winter the wind blows hot from tho southeast, sometimes bring ing locusts, wliieh, it is Baid, settled in 1812 to the depth of four feet on the fields of Fnerteventura. Tlvc climate is mild and dry, Sport and Manhood. The rules of amateur sport, written nnd understood, are really, though in different phraseology, tho rules for the making of tho highest type of man hood. Certainly it is not book-learn ing, ability to pass examinations, or any rncinl brilliancy of intolleet, which have made the British Successful ool onizors, while the Fronch have failed signally. The ability, the personal independence of a man often obliged to take care of himself away from the artificial resources of civilization, a certain gentleness which belongs to the strong, and confidence which grows rapidly with success; these qualities make the colonizer and the effective ruler, and these qualities are bred in great masses of men only by the drill ing of the army, or the large boys' schools, or well-conducted sport. Tho Frenchmnn, tho Italian, or evon tho Spaniard is a far quicker man men tally than the Englishman, bnt they are all far inferior to the American or the Englishman in the fundamental virtues that make a first-rate man. Steadiness, truthfulness, loyalty, re sourcefulness, endurance nnd gentle ness; these win as over against any other qualities. And they win logic nlly, becnuso oven weaker races see that such virtues nre the more lasting. As a result, in India the natives will lend their hoarded wealth to their' English rulers, while they hide it from their native rulers; and the Anglo-Saxon's word has come to be more valuable in tho markets of the world than other men's bonds, and all because there is a man behind it.— Outing. State Lands in Sweden. Sweden has now 12,056,246 acre; of forest lands owned by the State, nn increase in the State's holdings in thirteen years of 3,360,972 acres. | GOOD ROADS NOTET| An Infallible Test. The readiness of wheelmen to find fault with the oondition of most high ways lias, at times, aroused much un favorable comment, particularly in the sarlior days of good rdads agitation, vhen the subject was for less under itood than nt present. The public tpirited crusade which they inangnr ited was ascribed wholly to ulterior Motives, and it was not until they be jan to demonstrate its universally joneficent effects that the position of JlO cyclist began to bo at all appro bated. For generations, thoflo who used ,lio highways hod been -satisfied to jlod along as best they might, behind iteeds that could voico no intelligible iomplaint, traveling as little as possi olc in tlio bad seasons and nover eon lideriug the many ways in which they .vould bo advantaged if firm roadways in every direction emancipated them 'rorn the reign of King Mud. Hut tho bicycle opened fresh vistas tnd started now lines of thought. The patient beast no longer trudged ilnng through mud, over rocks, ruts tnd stumps, up-hill and down, wliilo iko driver indolently bounced along n tho vehicle behind him. On tho wheel tho rider, driver and motor nre inp, and immediately awakens to a teen and realizing sense of the road aeneatli him. livery chango in grade s registered by human nerves, every lopression, rock or stretch of sand muses a shock to a human backbone, tnd calls for greater energy. With Dad conditions a severe strain is put ipon the attention, pleasure is de itroyed and wearisomo labor takes its place. The bicycle showed conclusively that roads were wrong, and it largely indicated tho extent of their imper fection. It thereby set in motion the forces that have in ten years accom plished much and are working toward tho accomplishment of much more un der the power of tho inevitable logic of events. —L. A. W. Bulletin. Good lloillla I.OHRUO. Without giving the matter an earn est thought it might soom remarkable that such a progressive ideaas that of numbering county houses by the ten block system, which is commended without a serious objection being raised against it, should bo so slow in becoming established. There are some difficulties to be met and overcome, but they are not serious ones. What is everybody's business is nobody's business. There is no money in it dij-ectly and person ally for those who work to establish it. It has to he done but onee in a place, and the saino set of men would have no opportunity to profit by an experience either in getting tho super visors to act or in doing the field work of establishing it. The Good lloads Leagues nil over tho country would he doing n particu larly good thing if they would ndd the ten-block system to the educating work they are doing for good rouds. The two should go hand in baud nnd the organization would ho equally avail able for both lines of work. The work done in one locality would give knowl edge, practice and experience which would help in other places. About all that is nooded is to estab lish it in tho very best way in a_fow prominent counties, and it would then, as a matter of course, go into all other counties. Will they not add this fea ture to tho line of good work that they are now doing? Are Not a Luxury. Tho Bond Commissioner of Now Jersey, Mr. Budd, points out that it costs throe cents a bushel to haul wheat on n levol road a distance of five miles, and at least nine cents to haul it the same distance on n sandy road, which goes to illustrate the praoticnl economic importance of good roads. This is n point whioh deserves tho serious attention of farmers. Bandy and rough roads aro wearing out their horses and vehicles and increasing the cost of their farm supplies and of tho marketing of their produoe. Though little recognized, this is a fact most potent to the careful observer, and most pointedly and truly expressed in Mr. Budd's report. When thii fact penetrates tho minds of farmers more generally they will begin to realizo that money and labor expended on road improvement will save money for them in reducing tho actual cost of hauling and in saving vehicles and horses. It is high time to dispense with the idea that good roads are luxuries, mere fancy frills, nnd to regard well made highways ns among tho necessi ties. —Easton (reun.) Free Press. Hail Hands— Bud HtiglnefM. A lato dispatch from Caspor, Wyom ing, snys that "on account of muddy roads the wool hauling business of this part of the Stato is almost at a standstill, many of the loaded wagons being stalled along the roads leading to this city. Tho wool market is ex tremely dull and fow sales have been made. The clip will be a large one, anil of superior qualtity." Sliots at Bad Road*. The road improvements petitioned for under the new law In New York nre almost entirely in the suburbs of large towns. The city depends on the country; the farmer's welfare is the publio wol fare; money in his pocket makes tho farmer prosperous; good roads aid him to accumulate coin.' The wide-tire law is still being dis cussed in many places despite the fact that whero it lias been tried it has proved successful. The reasons for the long deliberation over the matter aro numerous, but many persons would like to see the law adopted at unco. THE PARROTS OF CUS A. Tli.y Arr Intelligent, Talkative aixl Edible. A company of p.isoners from Cuba recently arrived in Chicago, coming unchallenged through our lino of battleships, passing our const guards unmolested, and reaching tho interior of the country without harm, albeit the sentiments of ecok and all are for war. And these prisoners neither speak our difficult lnngtingo nor under stand it, their native speech being the Spanish vernnculnr. They are tho latost and perhaps tho last importa tion of Cuban parrots,nnd they reached New York under many difficulties, but they are now in the homes of Lake Michigan, released from their dismnl wooden cages nnd potted to their hearts' content, but still moping and melancholy for the loveliest land that ever the sun shone 011. Tbat was what Columbus said of Cubn when he car ried the first consignment of Cuban parrots back to Europe, introducing thorn to the delighted ladies of Soville. In Cuba whon that lovely land Haw Tacon roignlng In his glory. These latest arrivals from the beauti ful and unhappy Cubn will probably bo" the last consignment made for many a long day, and the pretty birds with their red breasts and brilliant green plumage and white-toppod heads are as savage and misanthropic as human prisoners might bo undor tho ban of exile. They bite savagdy nnd hurl Spanish anathemas at all who approach them, and whether they are rebels or patriots eannot bo determined from their actions. But a few words of Spanish spoken by a visitor pro duced a wonderful change, as well as a babel of discordant jargon. They chattered as if in their native forests, and their bright, wicked eyes smirked with satisfaction and they crooned to themselves liko the uncanny folk thoy aro with diabolical effect. These birds recall the fact thnt tho Spanish sailor has an abnormal love for parrots nnd is nearly always ac companied by one of those trick birds when he sails the Spanish main or nd ventures into distant ports, whoro he finds himself compelled to part with his harlequin friend in exchange for gold to pay his score. He is sorry, but not BO sorry as the parrot, whom he had pelted and taught nnd whose homesickness lasts loug aftor tho mas ter she loved has forgotten her. A poet wrote a pathetio ballad of such a case. In a strange country the lonely parrot was adopted by kind people, who made much of it, but the bird could never be induced to speak a single word—during the years of its enforced exile it preserved an un broken silence. As it grew old its molaneholy increased, and loft to it self it brooded over its past life until one day a stranger passing its cage gavo it a glnnce of recognition. The poet tells the climax: lie hnlloil tho bird In Spanish speech, Tho bird In Rpanlsh speech replied, Flow round its cago with joyous screech— Then dropped and diod. Some Americans visiting Cuba a fan years ago were much shocked while dining at a fashionable restaurant tc hear an order given for "two Cubaur on toast." They felt relieved on learn ing that Cuban parrots were the delicacy ordered. It is known now that the birds have boon an article ol diet for some time, the 10,000 parrots that were formerly sent to the United States in the season being now sacri ficed to feed hungry families deprived of other sources of food. The great popularity of the Cuban parrot in this country has been traced to the fact tbat they come to us witb unoccupied brains, the few words th young birds have learned being easilj obliterated to make room for a new vocabulary. Tho Cubans themselves have as much reverence for the bird thnt talks as tho old Romans bad in the days of Nero, when its nncannj utternncos wore regarded as ornolos. fiunrriing A £.l lust Illsk. "I understand that just before Wal ter Brown left for tho war yon prom ised to marry him." "That's true," admitted the beauti ful girl. "And tbat the following day, when Tom Smith was starting with tho naval militin, you also became engaged tc him." "Quito right," admitted tho beauti ful girl. "And that you accepted an engage ment ring from Harry Jones just be fore bo left in answer to the soeond oall for troops." "That is correct." "I'd like to know liow you recon cile such actions with your con science." "My consciencel" exclaimed the beautiful girl. "Why, it was my conscience that drove me to it. Any girl that wouldn't do what Bhe could to make the defenders of her country happy isn't a patriot; and, be sides " "Well?" "Don't yon suppose I want to have enough so as to make sure that some ono of them will come back to marry me?"— Chicago Post. Hum. Flali Saved a Child. Hamilton Fish will long be remem bered in San Antonio, Tex,, as the hero of one of the most thrilling epi sodes thnt took place in the camp ol the rough riders. On tho day before the "terrors" left for Tampa they gave an exhibition drill, which was wit nessed by thousands of persons. Lien tenant-Colonel Roosevelt was in com mand, and ordered tho entire regiment to charge. As the thousand troopere werei dashing upon a bill n ragged lit tle Mexican child scampered out in front of the galloping column of horses. Hamilton Fish was one of the few who saw the danger. He spurred his horse ahead of the column, nnd while galloping at full speed snatched thf child up with n dexterity that would have done credit to an Arizona plains man.—New York Press. THE PORTRAIT. Whon lonoly, late and far from love, X rostloss through my chnmber move. Or brood, with sad surmise, Ono gnzo yet as Its thrnll; My lady's picturo irom tho wall Looks down, In silence noting all. And follows with her eyes. Donr eyes, so tendor, frank and sweet, Aye, smiling when our glnncos meet, As If to bring me oheer, Forgive the thankless humors Mack Whioh sometimes,trlvo your comfort hack, Vcxt thnt horselt I still should lack Whose portrait bldos so nearl Forgive mo that from you I turn To whore, like jewels In their urn, Her letters lie oonconled; That slow I eon them, lino byjtno, Till from each trensured-pa -e doth shine A flame thnt lonpsto tnutn with inino. Her very soul revealed! O, haunting ploturcd eves, I know How constant is the dent I owe Your witchery of art! Yet you're her counterfeit nt best. While here her nbsoluto self oxprest, Tells me from farthest oast to west Bhe follows with her heart. —Rev. A. Capes Tnrbolton, in the Tall Mull Magazine. PITH AND POINT. "That Mr. Hugging has a hard face." Daughter—"lt never felt that way to me."—Standard. "Oh, Bridgot! I told you to notice when the nppliosboiled over." "Sure, I did, mum; it was quarter-past eleven."—Bangor News. lie—"l only pnid fifty oents nn hqur for this boat." Sho—"That's why I like it. It's a regular bargain sail."—Harper's Drnwer. She—-"I liopo you were polite to papa, denr?' He--"lndeed I wns. I gave him a cordial invitation to mnko bis houso my borne."—Tit-Bits. Mrs. Frye—"Toll mo, dear, do yon ever quarrel with your husband?" Mrs. Lamb—"Never. But be often quarrels with me, the hateful thing!" —Standard. "Come, my child, let ns nwny to tho fodderland," said the Gevmnn cow to her offspring, ns they mnde in tho direction of the waving field of corn. —Yonkers Statesman. "Do you sing, Mr. Sims?" nsked the hostess. "Only a little," lio re plied. And yet he wns in the middle of his fifth song when the last guess took a hurried farewell.- -Stnndavd. Muggins—"Do you believe it is un lucky to have thirteen at table?" Buggins (who haß had callers at din ner time)—" Yes! If you'vo only made preparations for two,"—Stand ard. Hicks—"l have only this to say against Charley, that the only enemy ho has is himself." Wicks—"Oh, be wonld hnve other enemies, I suppose, if he was worth it."—Boston Tran script. "How hnve yon taught your baby to talk so young?" Mamma—"lt's jnst as easy as can be; I sit down nt the piano and sing, and sho naturally tries • to say something to her papa."— Standard. "That," said the mnn who was showing a visitor tho sights of Madrid, "is one of our greatest generals." "Ah!" was the interested rejoinder; "long hand or stenographic?"— Was hington Star. "I refuse to gi%-e yon money with which to purohaso a wheel," said tho stern parent. "Yon aro a thorn in my flesh." "And you,"replied the disap pointed youth, "nro a tack in my path."—Chicago News. "Pa," said the youngest of seven, "why don't you go to the war?" "I have all I can do to keep the recon centrodos in this house from starv ing," replied the parent, sadly.— Philadelphia North Ameriuan. Visitor—"What was tho strength of tho regiment you sent to tho front from horo?" Kentnckinn - "Four hundred and eighty-six colouols, fifty generals, one hundred and forty ma jors and six privates,"—Truth. "Don't say good-by forever," sho pleaded. There was reason in her re quest. ne had been nearly half an hour at it already, so her suspicions that tho process might project into the boundless regions of eternity were well founded."—Standard. The Secret of Sarriou's Success. Viotorien Sardou has lately attri buted his success as a dramatist to his handwriting. With some serious ness ho has been telling his friends that after having triod many managers without success, he finally sent "La Tareine dos Etndiants" to the Odeon Theatre in the hope thnt it might make some impression there. It had been placed on a table along with half a dozen mnnnseripts from un known writers that wero to be re turned without boing rend. They were on n table in ttio room in which rehearsals were hold, and by chanco tho glance of Mile. Rerenger, a noted actress of thnt day, fell on the pile of manuscript. Thoughtlessly she turned several of the pages ovor, and her eye fell on the beautifully written pnges of Bardou's work. "What a wonderful handwriting!" ■he said. Some of the actors wi'h her glanced qt the writing. So did the manager, and he decided to read tho work: whioh was so carefully nnd clearly written. The result was thnt the piny was aoceptod nnd the writer saved from the troubles which were impend ing at that time. He is n millionaire to-day, but he was vory near starva tion then.—Now York Sun. A Remedy for Sunstroke. In cases of sunstroke, where the head, face and body are extremely hot, apply cold water to tho head. Cold water can often be gotten from road aide springs. If possible get ice tient into a bath-tub of water about the temperature of the body; then lower the temperature until the pn tieut is cooled off. Such treatment is beneficial in case of sunstroke —Out tog.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers