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.