Aguiualdu ought to swap his golden whistle for Li Hun} Chang's yellow jacket and peacock feathers. History will doubtless sum it up that four-fifths of the constructive genius of the German Empire passed nway when Bismarck died. The military exhibition which this nation has been giving to the world will not diminish European interests in the peaceful display it will make at Paris two years hence. A steam engine, the oldest in the world, built by Boulton & Watt in 1777 for the Birmingham Canal Navi gations, which had been working regu larly for 120 years at Smithwiek, in the pumping works, has just been put aside for a more powerful engine built for the same company by the same firm. The old engine will bo set up again at another station as a memorial of what can be done with good machin ery by careful management. The coal and iron industries of the United States have now reached a point in their development at which it is possible for us to obtain our raw materials and to carry on constructive work in which these materials plav an important part under better conditions than those which surround these in dustries in Great Britain, says the Boston Herald. What is needed at the present time is a clear realization of this fact and the proper develop ment of the facilities required for its utilization. Iron and steel shipbuild ing on the great lakes has been carried to a point that its annual output now exceeds the shipbuilding on the en tire seaboard of this country. These lake shipbuilders have shown an aptitude which their salt water busi ness associates havenot equalled, and, what is more, the shipbuilders at Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland have o command of cheap iron and steel and cheap coal, under conditions which make it possible for them to do I work at prices below those demanded ! at our seaboard shipyards. First Assistant Postmaster-General Heath has recently compiled some in teresting data showing the number of people in each State who are wholly excluded from the benefits of the de livery systems, both rural and urban; and we quote from the last report of this official the following figures: Ala bama, 1,408,266; Arkansas, 1,069,- 428; California, 658,904; Colorado, 261,155; Connecticut, 362,149; Dela ware, 107,062; Florida, 356,939; Georgia, 1,624,919; Idaho, 250,000; Illinois, 2,348,198; Indiana, 1,711,- 572; lowa, 1,594,204; Kansas, 1,217,- 047; Kentucky, 1,561,128; Louisiana, 854,091; Maine, 508,639; Maryland, 569,307; Massachusetts, 750,875; Michigan, 1,481,120; Minnesota, 902,- 877; Mississippi, 1,242,924; Missouri, 1,942,739; Montana, 28,912; Ne braska, 793,971; New Hampshire, 259,883; New Jersey, 047,504; New York, 2,229,114; North Carolina, 900,- 701; North Dakota, 172,076; Ohio, 2,397,194; Oregon, 261,197; Pennsyl vania, 3,092,030; Bhode Island, 166,- 270; South Carolina, 1,072,234; South Dakota, 207,121; Tennessee, 1,562,- 296; Texas, 1,998,017; Utah, 148,173; Vermont, 273,481; Virginia, 1,416,- 449; Washington, 242,625; West Vir ginia, 713,121; Wisconsin, 1,336,543, and Wyoming, 42,707. According to figures given by the latest number of La Kevue Francaise de l'Etranger, the total population of Europe, by calculations made on the latest census,'is 380,000,000, which is a gain of 37,000,000 over that coui pnted January, 1888. Here are tho figures given in the Bevue Francaise de l'Etranger: European Russia and Finland, 106,200,000; Germany 52,- 300,000; Austro-Huugary, 43,500,000; The United Kingdom, 39,800,000; France, 38,500,000; Italy, 31,300,000; Spain, 18,000,000; Belgium, 6,500,000, Turkey, in Europe, 5,800,000; Ron mania, 5,600,000; Portugal, 5,000,000; Sweden, 5,000,000; Holland, 4,900,- 000; Bulgaria, 3,300,000; Switzerland, 3,000,000; Greece, 2.400,000; Den mark, 2,300,000; Servia, 2,300,000; Norway, 2,000,000. Tho density of the 'population according to each ■qnare kilometer (about 0.388 square miles) is thus reckoned: In Belgium, 220; Italy, 169; Holland, 149; Eng land, 126; Germany, 97; Switzerland, 73; France, 72; Austria, 69; Spain, 36; Russia, 20. While the annual in crease of the population of Russia has been 1.45 fcr every 100 in the last ten years, that of Germany has been 1.15, of Austro-Hungary 0.96, of England 0.35, of Italy 0.45, of France 0.08. At, this rate of augmentation, in 100 years, Russia would have 228,000,000 inhabi tants, Germauy 106,000,000, Austria 79,000,000, England 65,000,000, Italy 44,000,000, and France only 40,000,- 000. t^/PTctioo- A MOTHER OF '9B. My cnllaut love goes out to-ilav, With drums and bugles sounding gay; I smile to cheer hiru on Ills way— Smile back, iny heart, to inel The llags are glittering in the light; Is it their stars that blind my sight? God, hold my tears until to-night- Then set their fountains free! lie takes with him tho light of May; Alus! it seems but yesterday lie was a brlght-hnlred child at plav, With eyes that knew no fear; I Blue eyes—true eyes! I see them shino Far down along tho waving line- Now meet them bravely, eyes of mine! Good cheer, inv love, good cheer! Oh, mother-hearts that daro not break! That feel the stress, the long, long ueho Tho tears that burn, the eves that wuko, For these our cherished ones And ye, true hearts—not called tf boar Such pain and peril for your share— Ob, liit with roe the pleading prayer, God save our gallant sons! —Marion Coutbouy Smith. lIHE DRESSQQQDSGOyHTERI BY JOHX MEUVIH DALE. H - DALE & CO'S jEjWtff Jh dress-goods de partmeut is reached iutheeas vjf iest wny from Dia mond street. The little colored boy with the inuumer tsvA \ n ' ) ' o brass buttons a 0 l )0ns fbe door, you turn to the I r'ght, walk a few steps and there Y \ y°u are -or rather, f v/l ' | there we salesmen ' are, all day long. Some people sujjpose that we are machines, like the cash trolley. But that is incorrect. We have feelings and affections, and live in homes with our families. Our counter is not crowded like the ribbon-counter, or the thirty-uine-cent silk department, but when we come to sum up the sales at night our department i: like Ben Adkem in the poem—it leads all the rost My place is right here in the cor ner, where I have stood for years. I do not suppose that I have sold dress goods enough to "belt the globe," as the newspapers say, hut I have sold thousands of yards. I carry the sales book of our department, which is con sidered quito an honor, and I hand in a neat little report every day. Next to me stands Henry Clark,and this story is to be abont him. It is no exaggeration to say that it seems to me he is the best salesman iu the city of Boston. He sells, on an average, tweuty-fivo per cent, more than any other salesman in our de partment, and we all claim that there are few salesmen who can sell more goods. He is a mind-reader on the subject of dress-goods. Ho can tell as soon as a lady comes to tho counter whothcr she is likely to make a pur chase, and what kind of goods will probably suit her. Along with this ability Clark has a very quick temper, to control which often costs him a great struggle. It was about three years ago 'that this brought him into coullict with "Rule Number Seven," which requires that "Every employe must be perfectly courteous aud polite to customers, 110 matter what the provocation may he to he otherwise. Any infringement of this rule will be deemed sufficient rea son for discharge." There is only one other large store in Boston where a rale like this is en forced so rigidly as it is at Dale's. Of course but little provocation for an employe to break rule number seven is given by many of the cus tomers who trade at Dale's. But there are trying customers, aud one day they all seemed to have an appoint ment to assemble at Clark's part of the counter. . Quite early in the morning came a lady whose life is devoted to the col lection of samples. Clark knew her purpose, and sighed deeply a3 she drew near. "I thought I would come here the first thing," she said, with a cheerful smile, "for you always have such a good assortment. Aren't these lovely? How much are they?" "One dollar, one dollar and a quar ter and one dollar aud a half," said Clark, wearily. "Well, they are cheap. Won't you give me c, sample of this, aud this, aud this, nnd these two?" Clark handed her the samples, not even stopping to give them his special snip, for he well knew that they would never come back. Thero is a belief among salesmen tbat the cbronio sam plers never buy any dress goods. When they can no longer put off hav ing a new gown they buy one ready made, which they cannot sample. Clark's next customer was very de liberate. She spent half an hour in carefully examining four different pieces of goods, which she had Clark take to the door for better light. Meanwhile, I sold one of his regular customers a bill of sixty-five dollars. At length the lady called for a single sample, and said, a3 she slowly moved away. "Well, I must dream over this before deciding." I thought tho scissors sounded wrathful as they cut away tho cloth; but Clark gave the sample his special cut, for such customers often come back. Then come two women to whom Dale's great store was as tho dust of the street. "What a small said' one of them. "Nothing like Green's. What is the price of this?" she asked, after tossing over some of the goods. "One dollar and fifty cents, madam," said Clark. The lady gave her companion n look of horror. "The very same at Bragg's for one dollar and forty-nine cents 1" she said. Then after looking disdain fully around, she asked, "Where else in the store shall we find dress-goods?" Clark gripped his yardstick with both hands. "This is the dress-goods department, madam," he said, quietly. But as the women moved on, the yard stick snapped in two. Then came my time to go to lunch eon. When I came back trade was quiet, but Clark stood in his place, violently kicking a counter-post. "What on earth are you doing, Clark?" I said. "Trying to kick the evil one out of this store!" he said, fiercely. "He's here, fast enough, and he means to have me. I had the worst time yet, while you were gone. A customer just ignored me. While I was doing my best to suit her, she ceased to pay me tho least attention, and deliberately put ou her gloves, while I stood there like a fool." The afternoon opened more pleas antly with Mrs. Hennessey, large, broad and richly robed in silks and jewels. "Have yez the makin's av a driss?" she asked. "What color?" inquired Clark. "Black it is," said Mrs. Hennessey. She selected "tin yards" of elegant drap d' ete, and wanted it "siut to Mrs. Hinnissey, Columbia Street." "What are the initials, please?" said Clark. "The 'uishles?" doubtfully. "To your name, you know." "Oh, I suppose," slowly, "Ilaitch e-n—" "I beg your pardon," said Clark. "Is is Patrick, or—" "Patrick it is," said Mrs. Hennes sey, with a genial smile. "I suppose iverybody understands he do be build in' the railway. Well, good day to yez for a polite young man," and Mrs. Hennessey billowed away. "Which of the two was the lady, Collamore?" asked Clark, as he fin ished doing up the parcel for delivery. Again the tide turned and brought disaster. A customer examined pieco after piece of goods, and made dis paraging remarks about every one of them. At length she decided upon a pattern, but just as Clark began to cut it olf she changed her mind and said she would not take it. "Is this all you have?" she said. "Madam," said Clark, "I have shown you every piece of this goods we have in the store." Tho woman lifted her lorgnon, and leaning over the counter, deliberately peered among the shelves. "You have not!" she said. "Madam," blazed Clark, "we tell the truth here—on this side of tho counter." The woman slowly closed her eye glasses. She really looked pleased. I have sometimes suspected that she ac complished just what she intended to accomplish, She went straight to the office and reported that Clark had ac cused her of lying. Young Mr. Edwin Dale himself came in and notified Clark of his dis charge. I think that was unneces sary, but it was just after Mr. Edwin had taken the management of the business, in old Mr. Dale's time, or now, there would be a more careful inquiry into the circumstances. At the time Clark left us trado was very poor, and it was hard to get a place. He got a few transient jobs, and during the Christmas rush he had a good position a Green's. After that I did not see him for several mouths, and without quite knowing why, I began to grow uneasy when I thought of him. One chilly afternoon iu April, at the close of business, I took a car for Chelrose, determined to find out some thing about my old shopmate. His wife met me at the door of the little cottage. She was pale and worn, and in her eyes was a strange look of fear. Entering tho house, I found Clark, wrapped up iu a chair, u mere ghost of his former self. He had sufierod from a severe attack of the grippe. It had left liim with a severe cough, and what was far worse, a profound melancholy that was verging on in sanity. He hardly gavo mo a word of welcome. I could not arouse his in terest iu anything about the store. He soon made his wife leave tho room, and clinching his thin hands together and looking fiercely at me, said: "Collamore, the quicker I am dead, the better, and it won't be long. Look at my dear wife," and his voice trembled so that ho could hardly speak. "She has nursed me day and night till she is worn out. I haven't worked for three months. I put all of my savings into the furnishing of this cottnge when we were married. I owe tho doctor fifty dollars that I can't pay. We haven't money enough to live on a week. And itall comes from my wretched temper. It is in my mind day and night. All I can do is to die and set my wife free before things are any worse. Wouldn't it be right," to whispered, "to—to " But I wouldn't let him finish. I protested and tried to give him hope fulness tho best I knew how, which wasn't very well, I think, judging by tho expression on my wife's faco when I told her abont it. But as she started out the next morning for Chelrose with a basket that was quite too heavy for her to carry, I imagine that she atoned for my failure. As soon as I reached tho store I passed the word, and before noon the men iu the store had contributed one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Mr. Edwin Dale was in the department several times. I did notthink he could possibly notice what was being done, but ho evidently did. I persuaded the others that I was not the man to take the money to Clark, for I knew that he would be sensitive about it. So we sent All roan. He can talk to anybody like a father. He has a smile that melts the most provoking custcmer. He smiled at his little boy when he was giving him castor oil, and the little fellow thought it was maple syrup — so Murchison says. When AUman came in next morn ing, we nil knew by the way he rolled ] his great eyes at us that something had happened. "What's the matter?" said Murchi son. "Wouldn't he take it?" "Oh, yes," said Allinan, gently, "he took it. After I talked with him a few minutes he laid his head down on my shoulder and cried, and clung to me like a child and said, 'God bless all the boys.' His wife, she thinks we are a band' of angels in here. I hope she will never find out the truth about lis." "Well," sniffed Murchison, "what is it, then?" AUman looked stealthily toward the office. "When I was some distance from the house," he whispered, "I happened to look back, aud I saw Mr. Edwin Hale ringing the bell at Clark's cottage." "Nonsense," said Murchison. "You're getting blind." And they were having a very pretty dispute about it as I left them to attend to a customer. About six weeks afterward my car was delayed by a "blockade," and I was late. As I catered our depart ment I was astonished to see Clark standing in his old place behind the counter. He was just holding up an elegant piece of goods, after his old manner, preparatory to making a sale. AUman caught my attention, and by a few graceful gestures caused me to understand that he had Murchison under his feet, where he was trump ling him to jelly. Before I had a chance to speak to Mr. Clark, Mr. Edwin Dale came into the room and looked eagerly around. He came up to the counter and the two men stood face to face for a mo ment. Then they clasped hands across the counter.—Youth's Compan ion. The Hyacinth. Ilying Out. President Fairhead made the pleas ing announcement at the meeting of the Board of Trade that the hyacinths are dying out in the St. John's River and tributaries, and the statement was confirmed by Captain C. E. Garner. Mr. Fairhoad stated that he had made a special examination of the hyacinths in the river aud cieeks, aud ho found that in many places there were fully seventy-five per cent, less than there were last year at this time. It was stated that in some of the creeks there are no hyacinths at all. Last year it was impossible at times for boats to get through. Captain Garner stated that he agreed with what had been said iu regard to the dying out ol the hyacinths. Some people thought that it wa3 due to salt water, owing to the drought, but he did not think so, as even iu the driest of weather salt water would not find its way up the creeks, and the hya cinths are dying it such places, as well as in the river. The Captain thought that the red spider that was discovered a year or so ago was get ting in its good work. If it proves to be a fact that the hyacinths are really disappearing, it will be good news to navigation interests on the river, as the pests have been a source of great annoyance, and threatened at onetime to put a stop to commerco unless they could bo destroyed.—Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union. More Pacific Aunexation. We are not the only country that is indulging at the present time in the pacific annexation of Pacific islands. Recent despatches from Sydney an nounce that the British cruiser Mo hawk has annexed the Santa Cruz and Duff groups of the Pacific islands. The total number of islands annexed is eighteen. These islauds lie to the east of the Solomon Islands, their po sition being approximately 10 degrees south 107 degrees east. The group is of volcanic formation and on one of the islauds is an active volcano. The northwest monsoons, which prevail from November to April, bring stormy weather and rains. The Santa Cruz group, or Queen Charlotte Islands, as their other name is, were discovered in 1505. There is a tragedy connect ed with this outward part if the New Hebrides. A quarter of a century ago Bishop Patterson was murdered there, aud four years later Commo dore Ooodeuough shared the same fate. The group, which contains seven principal islands, has a total area of 300 square miles. The esti mated population is 5000.—New York Sun. Spnnltili Luck of "Gumption." 31 Closely akin to the Spaniard's me diaeval aud aristocratic attitude toward life is his curious lack of practical senso and mechanical skill. "The good qualities of the Spaniards," writes Mr. Butler, "alike with their defects, have an Old World flavor that renders their possessors unfit to excel in an inartistic, commercial, democratic aud skeptical age." Juan Valera admits this practical awkwardness and ineffi ciency of the Spaniards, but exclaims, "Sublime incapacity!" and sees iu it a proof of his "mystic, ecstatic aud transcendental nature." The Span iard, theu, finds it hard to light a kerosene lamp without breaking the chimney, in much the same way as Emerson made his friends uneasy when ho began to handle a gun. Un fortunately, nature knows how to revenge herself cruelly on those who affect to treat her with seraphic dis dain, or on those who, like the Span iards, soe in a lack of prudeuco and ' economy a proof of aristocratic detach ment. —Atlantic Monthly. China Nest Eggs. It is never n good plan to allow a freshly-laid egg to remain in the nest to induce laying in the same place, A china nest egg can be cheaply pro cured aud will last forever. A hen's egg is liable to break and teach the bad habit of eating eggs. Even if the china egg should be broken, its shells contain no lime and will not be eaten more than so much glass. In the heated season the china nost egg Bhould always be used. All the roos' ters should be killed off before this. The eggs not being fertile, will keep better in hot weather, and may be sat on by the hen without spoiling them. Maintaining Soil Fertility. Soil fertility can best be kept up by keeping enough auimals at all times on the place to eat all products grown thereon and a judicious saving of the manure. In the very fitness of things the farm is a two-fold concern, a farm within a farm if at all large. A farm of forty or fifty acres or more must of necessity be so constituted. The farm within the farm will be the farm build ings, orchards, gardeus aud adjacent lots. The large fields will be the other farm. Necessarily the orchard, garden aud truck patches will get most of the manure made in the stables. Tlieu liow keep up the fer tility of the remainder? A rolation should be planned iu which clover plays a conspicuous part aud should be so arranged as to admit of pastur ing with both cattle aud hogs. Cattle and hogs pastured on clover aud oorn fed are very prolific fertilizers. And the beauty of it is yon have not the manure to handle. Turn off in time for a crop of seed. If there are any poor spots do not cut. Haul a few loads of manure and put on there. The first year there will be a response iu no uucertaiu mauuer, aud as the years go by it will become more aud more emphafie. The response will cause a plethoric state of pooketbook most surely; try it aud be convinced. I know from actual experience that it is so. Cattle, clover, corn and hogs will enrich any farm and consequently any farmer if the proper management is given.—A. N. Springer, iu Agricultural Epitomist. Growing Small Fruits on the Farm. Paper by N. J. Shepherd, read at the meeting of the Missouri State Hor ticultural Society: While it is an item to grow a sup ply of small fruits upon the farm, it is nlso an item to grow them as eco nomically as possible. For this rea son it is advisable to plant in long rows, far enough apart to be able to cultivate the grenter portion with a horse and cultivator. On the average farm sufficient laud can easily be given for this purpose, aud next to the garden and truck patch it can be made the most profitable part of the farm, when the living is taken into consid eration. There is no advantage in crowding; give the plants pleuty of room. Straw berries may be set three and a half feet apart. Currants and gooseber ries five feet. These should be planted near a fence or row of trees where they will bo shaded at lo.sst a part of the time; not too near, or best results will not be gained. Raspberries and blackberries should bo planted five feet apart. Select a loamy soil, measurably rich and well drained. No kind of small fruit usu ally grown on the farm will thrive with wot feet. The second year after setting out a new bed of strawberries, is the time to set out plants to take the place of the old ones and to secure the most aud best fruits with the least trouble. A new bed should be set out every other year. With raspberries a new bed should be set out the fourth year after the fruit and one every five years after that. It will be less trouble than to attempt to keep au old bed in good bearing condition. Currants and gooseberries will last a long time if kept pruned, the old woodcut outand clean cultivation given. Strawberries should not be allowed to bear fruit the first year. If any blossoms appear cut them off. The object is to secure a thrifty, vigorous growth,as this growth largely determines next year's yield of fruit. Mulch strawberries as soon as the ground freezes sufficiently to bear up a wagon. Bagasse from a sorghum mill or wheat straw makes a good mulch. Leave the mulch on until the plants are done fruiting, when it should be removed and thorough cultivation given. Coal ashes make oue of the best mulches for both currants and gooseberries, as they keep down the weeds and keep the soil friable, With raspberries and blackberries a good plan of management is to culti vate during the early part of the grow ing season and then before hot dry weather sets in mulch well. The ob ject is to grow the most and best fruit with the least expenditure of time and labor, and to secure a good supply for the longest season. This can be best done by a careful selection of varieties adapted to the soil and locality in which they are to be grown. Crop. For Soil Fertility. For years it has been thoroughly understood that almost any soil, ex cept that of washed sand, contained all the elements of fertility, except nitrogen, but they are so looked up that where the chemist found plenty of potash and phosphoric acid the farmer found nothing for a crop. The farmer talked and used lime aud gyp sum with success, but in time these failed of results, and the scientist said fertility must be supplied; and so costly fertilizers came into use, aud did the work. So long as the margin of profit was large the farmer could afford to use them, but now profits are too small to use them entirely to grow the staples, and he must use something to unlock the stores that are in the soil and gain for nothing what he needs of nitrogen from the air. At first sight it may seem going against nature to expect any such re sults, but it is only quickening na ture, for nature in a very slow way ground down the rocks for phosphoric acid aud potash, and trapped the ni trogen. Plants of the legume family do this work—how well it sounds like a fairy tale—for now, suffice it to say the whole family has the power by means of what might be called root parasites, to fix the free nitrogen of tho air and make it available for plant food. Tho germ that does the work is absent from some soils, but it is easy to inoculute any soil by scatter ing a small quantity of soil from where the plant has been successful. Then the legumes have leng roots that reach below the subsoil and utilize aud bring to the surface stores of potash aud phosphoric acid that no other plants can reach, and make them available for other crops. Prom inent and well known among the legumes are cow peas aud crimson clover, each occupying a place of its own—cow peas for summer, crimson clover a fall, winter and spring crop— and so makes its growth without in terfering with many other crops. Sowed in corn, it does not hurt the corn and matures in time to turn un der for a crop of corn or anything else. No wonder the plant took a strong hold of American farmers' fancy. It is said that another clover —the Egyptian—looks like crimson, seeds immensely, but will not stand the winter and is in every way worth less in America. Any one, then, who uses Egyptian when he intended to use crimson, forthwith says crimson clover is a fraud. Many report fail ure from seeding in dry weather. Now, all Beeds require moisture to germinate and glow. Clover seed loosely on top or nearly on top of the soil may receive enough moisture to germinate from dew, but when the sun is high it dies. On light soils the soed will find its way up through con siderable depth of earth, but ordin arily it is not safe to plant deep. Sow preferably after a raiu; firm the seed well so as to insure connection with tho damp under-soil in which the lit tle rootlet can find moisture for sup port. We are firm in believing that crimson clover and cow peas will work wonders without the use of any fer tilizer. We have nctuul practice and chemical analysis to confirm it. We also have actual practice aud experi ence of others to show that they can do more with aid of potash uud phos phoric acid applied in some of the cheaper forms.—Agricultural Epito mist. Farm and Gartlvu Nnten* Serious consequences will result from not supplying grit to confined flocks. Care of chickens means a naturally warm house in winter aud plenty of shade in the summer. Clover is rich in nitrogen and lime. No poultrymnn can afford to stint his flocks in this feed, especially in winter. Green bone outters, clover cutters and mills to crash oyster shells are in dispensable to profitable poultry keep ing. By judicious rotation of crops, in which clover enters largely, together with liberal applications of barnyard manures, is the way to give the re quired fertility to the land. F'owls in confinement if not kop' busy with scattered small grains or a yard to scratch in, will soon neglect their food, especially if fed corn, and get into the habit of pulling feathers from one another. The growth of a young animal is the main factor in the increase of its weight, aud when the food is both ni trogenous and carbonaceous there is a greater gain when the food is mostly carbonaceous, as when corn alone is used. The pumpkin contains a largo pro portion of water, but it is an excellent addition to the ration of hogs, accord ing to experiments made, the pump kins being cooked in winter and fed with shorts. The result was that the hogs made greater gain than on uy other food. Cabbages will thrive with frequent cultivation; in fnct, they may be cul tivated every day with advantage. Tho first cultivation should be deep, so as to permit the ground to absorb water from rains, after which the stirring of the top soil for an inch or two will answer. It is reported that in some of the industrial schools classes in home upholstery are formed, where young ] women may learn the rudiments c! this useful art, and then go out by the day to carry on the work. HOW TO GET RID OF FLEES GOVERNMENT EXPERTS TITLL THE WAY TO EXTERMINATE THE PEST. A Tliorju;;!* Investigation 3Ta<le liecently by the Agricultural Department—Tho l'rliicilinl llrceriins l'lace—Spray ed Kerosene the Simplest Keinetly. A thorough investigation has been made recently hv tho Department of Agriculture, Washington, as to the breeding of common house flies and the best means of exterminating them. The conclusions can bo stated very briefly. As the fly is a pest in nearly every portion of tlii3 country, even in the best-regulated household, and at this season ,of the year, the work of tho department is timely and of value. The principal breeding place of th house fly is horse manure. From a small accumulation of this in a stable or an alloy the department experts have found that enough flies will be generated within a few days to make life a burden to all the people living in the vicinity. The eimplest remedies aud the only effective ones have been found to he kerosene sprayed upon the mauuro and washed into the pile with water, 1 and chloride of lime. Tho latter will kill fly maggots, hut is expensive,' costing in large lots about three or four cents a pound. The house fly is something more than a nuisance. It is a source of danger. They are known to ho the carriers of contagion, as has been proved repeatedly since Dr. Leidy, during the last war, found they were the cause of spreading hospital gan grene. The enforcement, therefore, in large aud small citios of cleanliness in stables and the compulsory build ing of receptacles for horse manure would seem to bo worthy the considera tion of municipal hoards of health. The city of Washington some time ago considered this question of im portance, and the authorities do not permit filth to lie upon the principal streets for one day. Along Pennsyl vania aveuue, F street aud all the prin cipal thoroughfares during the day sweepers are at work, with broom add shovel, removing all breeding places for flies. Each gang of three or four sweepers has a large sack, fastened to an axle between two wheels, and when a load is seeurod it is carried away. Fur the benefit of tho street and health authorities in every community some of the suggestions of the Depart ment of Agriculturo arc given. The expert states: As we go farther South, the house fly becomes more numerous aud more troublesome. The number of genera tions annually increases as the season booomes louger, and with tho warm climate tho development of the larva becomes more rapid. A few rearing experiments were made in this office, aud it was unexpectedly found that the house fly is difficult to rear in con finement. Bnzzing about everywhere, aud apparently living with ease under the most adverse conditions, it is, nevertheless, when confined in the warm season of the year to a small re ceptacle, not at all tenacious of life. Breeding experiments in confine ment showed that the house fly will luy its eggs freely on horse inauuro in an undisturbed condition. When the manure is spread out the flies will not lay their eggs on it. They can very rarely he induced to lay their eggs upon anything but horse manure and cow mauuro, and their preference for the former is very marked. The periods of development were found to he abont as follows: Egg from deposition to hatching, one-third of a day; hatching of larva to first molt, one day; first to second molt, one day; second molt to pupation, three days; total life ronnd, approxi mately ten days. There is thus abundanco of time for the develop ment of twelve or thirteen genera tions in the climate of Washington every summer. The number of fggs laid by an in dividual fly is undoubtedly large, averaging about 120, and the enormoas numbers in which the insects occur are thus plainly accounted for, es pecially when we consider the abun dance and universal ooeurrence of appropriate larval food. A single stable in which a horse is kept will supply house flies for an ex tended neighborhood. People living in agricultural communities will prob ably never he rid of the pest, but in cities, with better methods of dis posal of garbage and with the lessen ing of tho number of horses and horse stables consequent npon electric street railways and bicycles, aud probably horseless carriages, the time may come, and before very long,when window screens may he discarded. The prompt gathoriug of horse man ure, which mny be variously treated or kept in a specially prepared recep tacle, would greatly abate tho fly nuisance, and city ordinances com pelling horse owners to follow some such course are desirable. Absolute oleauliness, even under existiug cir cumstances, will always result in a diminution of the numbers of the house fly, and in fact most household insects are less attracted to the premises of what is known as the old fasuioued housekeeper than to those of the other kind. "No Bullet to Kill Hlin." Mr. W. Z. Earned received auother letterfromhis son, William A. Larned, the famons tenuis player, who is a member of the troop of rough riders. In the course of his letter Larned says; "We crossed a small river any way we could, and deployed into a field and charged a hill held by the Spauish. A good many were killed, among them our Captain, whom I heard say just be fore he was shot: 'There is no bullet made that can kill me.' It was abont jive minutes after that he was shot in the mouth and killed."—Summit (N, T. 1 Record.
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