Tiie Czar of Russia wants peace nud the reduction of armaments. Russia keeps 900,000 men under arms. Why does not tho Czar toll half a million soldiers to go home and go to work? Professor Martin, the Swedish sa vant, lias discovered in tho Kremlin at Moscow, Russia, a large portion of the Swe lish war booty captured by Gustavus Adolphus. It appears that the majority of the silver vessels and ornaments kept in tho treasury at the Kremlin are presents made at differ ent times by various kings of Sweden to the czars of Russia. To each of the neaily six hundred public and private schools in Porto Rico an American Hag is to be pre sented by Lafayette post, G. A. It., of New York city. With the stars and stripes floating over the school chil dren, and with their parents constant ly experiencing the contrast between American and Spanish rule, it will not be long before Porto llieo will become one of the most loyal and patriotic possessions of the United States. The scream of the locomotive is to sound in tho mountain fastnesses of Madagascar. A French company has been granted the concession to build n railway which will ran from Tama tave to Tananarive, shortening tho distance between tho places by fifty per cent, and affording facilities for transportation of freight and passen gers to the various distributing points on the south and west coasts of the hnge island. Because of tho chasmed country the road will be very expen sive. Construction is to begin at once. Tho decisive buttlo of Omdiwman in the Soudan shows the perseverance of the English government. Tho ad vance of this expedition has consumed two years, and has been a striking ex ample of sustained and steady effort. The capricos of the Nile had to be waited for, a railway bad to be built, linU-trained Egyptian troops had to be fully trained, and 25,000 men had to be moved hundreds of miles across desert wastes, and every mile of that way well guarded. It was a great un dertaking, and as compared with the disastrous campaign of tho Abyssinia shows most distinctly the difference between the Anglo-Saxon and the Latin races as soldiers. A new phase of philanthropy has appeared in Allegheny, Pa., in a move ment for the cheer of the sick in hos pitals. It is proposed to establish an association for the loaning of pictures to be hung on the walls o( the hos pitals, the pictures to make the tour of the hospitals, and then to be re turned to their owners. One of the first to respond offered sixty of the pictures from his homo. In an ac companying letter he remarked that many persons spend a part of tfie year out of the city, and during that time the pictures would do much good in the hospitals without in the least depriving their owners of the enjoy ment of them. It is a beautiful char ity, akin to that of providing flowers for the hospitals, and may bo widely copied if arrangements can be made for insuring the safety of the pictures while out of their owners' possession. The New York Sun says:—The ca ble cars are not alone responsible for a new ailment which has lately made its appearance. A medical journal which has published an account of the new ailment attributes it chiefly to the trolley, although iu both cases the active participation of the patient is necessary. According to the investi gations of a physician, this now trou ble consists of a fracture of one of the bones of tho spine caused by striking the back of the seat in a street car. lie finds that most persons rise iu their seats before they have leachod their destination or before the car has come to a full stop. In many cases they are thrown back on their seats when this happens or against the back of tho seat, and this violent contact is likely to break one of tho small bones in the spine. Luckily tho result is not nearly so serious as it sounds and is much more likely to bo incon venient than dangerous. As the in vestigations which proved the exist ence of the new ailment were made in a Westcru town where transportation was chiefly by means of the trolleys, tlie same effects might not have been expected here. But the physician found that the trouble was likely to be caused by any quickly moving ve hicle quite independently of what the motor power was. So persons suffer ing from unexplained backaches may discover that they stood up too soon while those who have so far escaped may take warning and keep tlieix scats, in tho words of the conductor, nntil the car stops. THE MOTHER'S KISS. Folks, thoy talk 'bout a mother lovln' her children—well, Ain't got notliin' to say 'bout that—nothin' at all to toll; But I know, wherever a life has known of pleasure and peace and joy, There s nothtn' like that of a mother an' her kiss on her first-born boy. 'Courso, he's the purtlost feller a mortal has even seen, An' never a kiss as sweet as his when his lips to the mother lean; An' you can't never git sich ploasuro, an' you won't never git sich joy As that '.which comes to tho mother with the kiss of her flrst-born boy. —F. L. Stanton. | HER UNCLE'S RUSE. § h:etaei(&®&ae®ieieiex!mteiO®!oieie£ m TT T 'S such a puzzle - _ I —such a strange, / JU strange riddle!" Ov said Estelle Rex vv /Sfesw lord, dreamily. icL asked Uncle Poynsford, elevating his spec tacles half an inch or EO higher on his forehead. "Lifo, unole. I ought to bo so happy, and I am so miserable!" "Fiddlesticks!" said Mr. Poyns ford, uneasily. "You are rich, aren't you?" "l'es, nnole!" "And pretty?—that is, you'll pass in a crowd?" "I suppose so," half smiledEstelle. "And you've plenty of friends, good health and tolerable spirits?" "Yes!" "Then," brusquely demanded Uncle Poynsford, "what's the trouble?" "Uncle," began Estelle, "you'll laugh ,at me, I know, but I sometimes think I should be a great deal happier if I wore poor!" "Stuff—and—nonsense!" said Uncle Poynsford, comprehensively. "Is tho girl crazy?" "No, unole, only tired of seeing people put on hollow smiles and arti ficial sweetness—of hearts that are proffered only because I am rioh—of devices to pass the leaden-winged horn's away—of roses and sunshine altogether! Unole, I have nothing to cry about, and yet I—l must cry!" And Miss Estolle dissolved into tears—forthwith—a modern Niobo. Uncle I'oynsford got up and walked uneasily about the room. •■•r'W, "You'ro hysterical," said ho, "that's all. I'll call the doctor!" "I'm not hysterical and I won't see the doctor—l'm only wretched!" re torted Estelle. "These women—these women!" groaned poor old Poynsford. "I never made a more sensible resolution in my life than when I resolved to live and die an old baohelor—but I might just as well have a daughter of my own as a uieoe left to my guardian ship. Oh, these women I What shall I do with Estello?" There was one good element in Miles Poynsford's charaotor—he never did anything like anybody else—and when he set himself to work to con sider tho question of Estelle's droop ing health and morbid fancies, one might be quite certain that there would he no half-way measures about it. , „ ' "Uncle, is this true?" '■ Miss Bexford was sitting in fall evening dress, diamonds and pink crape, when Uncle Miles oaino in, pale and haggard, and told her tid ings that it blanched her cheek to hear. "It was through no fault of mine, Estolle; you will believe that, I am sure. 1 did my best for you," said Uncle Miles, with his hand ovor his face. "I thought tho bonds would double themselves in a week, and no body could foresee the deoline of Western stocks 1" "And—let me understand it all, uncle—l am a beggar 1" "You are very, very poor, my child, and so am I!" Estello fixod her big, brown eyes on her uncle's face—she was a rosy, bright-oomplexioned girl, with chest nut-black hair and teeth that shone through her rave smiles like glimmer ing rows of pearl—with an expression which was grave and dreamy, rather than troubled. "An hour ngo," sho said, calmly, "I was Wishing to bo poor—now, I have my wishl But I find that fulfil ment docs not always bring ploasuro. Uncle Miles—what are wo going to do?" "I liava been offered a five-hundred dollar clerkship in the firm of Reed, Xtomney & Go." "But that will not support both of us?" "Hardly, Estelle!" he said, smiling sadly at her lack of knowledgo iu financial matters. "Then I must do something for my self!" she pursued, turning tho silver bouquet-holder, with its soonted freight, round and round iu her gloved hands. "It would most certainly be desira ble!" "How strange it is!" said Estelle, the brown eyes dilating, the lips curv ing into a serious smilo. "I looking for a situation for a governess, or companion, or saleswoman in a store!" Yes, to tho iuexperioncod ohild of luxury, it seemed like a pleasant masquerade—a sort of tableau vivant! The reaction came far sooner than she had anticipated—and Estelle Rex ford began to find out that poverty was scarcely so picturesque and ro maulio as she had imagined. Mia. Jennyngs, who had doted on dear Es telle when she was an heiresss, waa seized with sudden near-sightedness, and failed to recognize her aa she passed her in the street. Mrs. Alden, who had scarce a week ago begged darling Estelle to recommend her to a governess for Syljihine jaud Miranda Alden, her two hopeful young daugh ters, turned frigid when Miss Bexford came to the house to request the situ ation for herself. "I dare say you mean well," said Mrs. Alden, toying with a golden stoppered scent bottle. "But I fear your education has been altogether too superficial.' And Mrs. Bayner, who was always putting out dainty embroideries and tine needlework for the numberless little Bayners, shook her head dis couragingly when Estelle hinted at her own proficiency with the needle. "I don't want to hurt your feelings, Estelle," said she; "but I make it a point nover to employ people who have seen better days. They're sure to want more pay, and do the work less well. Yes, I know what you would say," as Estelle endeavored to interpose, "but I really can't alter my rule for any special cases 1" "X am afraid it ruins the temper to be poor," thought Estelle, as she walked down the street, with the scalding drops brimming over her eye lids, "but I could almost murder those cold-blooded, smooth-voiced women! Do they meau to lot mo starve? This i 3 the third day I have roamed about the city, looking vainly for somo respectable mode of support ing myself—how can I go back to poor old Uncle Miles and tell him I am still Unsuccessful?" She was drawing the blue barege veil over her flushed face, as a gentle man who had passed her turned back, as if uncertain whether ho recognized her! "Miss Bexford?" And sho knew the frank, pleasant voice of Willis Davenant at once— Willis Davenant, whom she had tensed and made fun of so many a time! "I am surprised that you took the trouble to speak to me, Mr. Dave nant!" she said, somewhat bitterly. "Why should I not?" he asked, in surprise. "Because I am no longer an heiress!" "That's the very roason," said Willis, frankly. "X heard Mrs. Alden —a venomous old cat she is, too, in my private opinion—say something about your wanting to teach!" "I Bhould be very glad to get a situation," said Estelle, sadly. "There nre Fanny's six boys—my sister—Mrs. Jephson, you know— they are dosperato young rebels, but I think, if you were willing to under take 'em, you might make something out of 'em—and Jephson gave his last governess five hundreds year!" "Five hundred a year!" cried Estelle, with rising spirits. "Why, that is as much as Uncle Miles gets at Reed & Bomney's!" "More shame for Reed & Romney, then!" said Mr. Davenant. "Will you try it at Fanny's, Miss Rex ford?" "Yes, and be thankful for it," said Estelle, eagerly. "Stop, though," said Willis Dave nant, a little awkwardly, "there's —there's one other proposal I had to make!" . "Another situation?" "No, not exaotly! (Hang it)" thought Mr. Davenant in a mental "aside." ("Why can't I say it as it ought to be said?) Miss Rexford, I have always sinoerely admired and re speoted you—and—and—if you would give up the teaching business and marry me, I should be the happiest mortal in the world! Thore, now, it's out—and I mean every word of it!" The tears came into Estolle's eyes, and the roses softly crimsoned her cheeks. "You nre very kind, Mr. Dave nant," said she, "but I couldn't ao cept your offer!" "Why not?" "I must support my own burden," she answered in a low tone. "Ican not drag you down, too, because I am poor." "But I have enough for both of us," ho pleaded. "I am not rioh, I know, but " • "And never will be," sho added, "if you burden yourself with a penniless wife. I have a great many faults, Mr. Davenant, but I am not as selfish as nil that! Goodby! I will call at Mrs. Jephson's early to-morrow morning." And she passed on before Mr. Davenaut could find words to plead his cause further. "I will bo at Mrs. Jepson's, too," he vowed. "X will not be put off so! How pretly sho looked! And how her eyes sparkled. By all the fates that ever arrayed themselves against Cupid, she shall be my wife or I will know the reason why." Meanwhile Estelle Bexford was hastening home as rapidly as her wearied feet could trip ovor the burn ing pavements, her heart throbbing with a certain exultation. "Thank heaven!" she murmured to herself, "there i 3 some good left in world! I believe I could love that man, if—if " And then she abandoned tho trou blesome "if," and recalled, over and over again, tho words which, if not polished, had been so instinot with sincerity and simple faith. Uncle Poynsford was sitting over his inevitable evening paper as Es telle came in. "Well, niece," quoth he, peeping over the top of his spectacles, "what luck?" "I think I've a chance to bo n gov erness, unole," and sho told him about Mrs. Jephson and the six boys. "And you think you'll try it, eh?" "Yes. uncle— but—that isn't the only adventure I have had," went on Estelle, boldly, and she told Uncle Poynsford of Willis Davenant's decla ration of love. "And what did you say?" asked tho old man, with a curious quiver in his voice. "No, of course." •'But why of course?" "Do you think that in my poverty I would consent to chain downthenoble aspirations of a man whom I laughed at in my wealth?" "But you like him, or lam much mistaken?" "Yes," acknowledged Estelle, "I do —love him." The last words were uttered almost inaudibly. "And if you were rich again, you would accept him?" "Uncle Miles—of course I would." "Accept him, then." "But—Uncle Miles!" "You are rich—you have never been poor! Niece, I have been simply try ing an experiment with you. You were wearied of your money. I have proved to you that it is something to be glad and thankful for. My dear, can you forgive an old man's strategy?" "Yes, nucle," whispered Estelle, softly, after the first tumult of surprise, joy and agitation was over, "for I do believe that it has taught me the value of ono heart!" "Ah!" said Uncle Miles, dryly, "you will marry Mr. Davenant now?" "If he asks me—yes?" Willis Davenant did ask Miss Bex ford once again to be his wife, when he met her at Mrs. Jephson's the next morning, and Estelle said "Yes"—and old Uncle Miles Poynsford had the de light of pouncing suddenly out upon them and reproaching Mr. Davenant with marrying an heiress after all. "She was au heiress to me all the time," said Willis, quietly, "though I never should have dared to tell my love to Miss Bexford in the full light of her wealth and station!" "There," said Estelle,with her soft, brown eyes all lambent with hidden meaning. "I am more thankful for Uncle Poynsford's strategem than for nnything that ever happened tome be fore in all my life." SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL. Meteorologists are pretty well agreed that, scientifically considered, there is no such thing as an equinoctial storm. If the earth wore not envoloped with atmosphere the tempernturo on the surface would be about 330 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. A geologist has figured out that the wholo coal supply of this planet, if burnt at once would not give as much heat as the sun does in the tenth of a second. The exhaust from steam engines is silenced hy a now muffler, formed of a series of curved chambers of increas ing capacity, separated by asbestof gauze partitions. The manufacture of camphor in Japan has fallen off considerably and many men have gone out of tho busi ness altogether. This is due to the growing scarcity of camphor trees. Japanese production is now confined almost wholly to Formosa. The parent tree of all the seedless oranges of tho United States may bo seen in the orangery of the Agricul tural Department, Washington. It came from Bahia, Brazil. Buds from the Brazilian tree were grafted upon native plants, and as these became • sturdy the department sent specimens to Florida and California. General Wheeler's lllijut Question. On our side all tho preparations for striking a final triple blow at the doomed city continued. On the other side of the city the fleet lay grimly ready. Our men took their meals, suoh as they were, in tho trenches, while those on relief were ordered to be ready for a general advance within thirty minutes after the flag of truce should go down. In our rear heavy trains of artillery went lumbering up the hillside all the livelong day. During the day General Miles arrived, amid thuunering cheering, and betook himself and staff to auothev conference with the weakening Spaniards. At this conference, so it was reported later on the very best authority. Gen eral Toral admitted that it lay within his authority to agree to a general surrender on behalf of the Spanish forces. "Well, then, why don't you sur render?" asked old Joe Wheeler. The blunt question was translated to Gen eral Toral. He hesitatod a minute, then shrugged his shoulders with a pitiful smile and said in a low voice; "I surrender." What followed is current history.— Collier's Weekly. A True Flying Machine. French military authorities have a high opinion of M. Ador's flying ma chine, recently tried at tho camp of Satory. Tho Avion, as the machine is called, is said to be a true flying machine, with largo wiug3 like thoso of a bat, made of silk on bamboo frames. Thoy are worked by a steam condensing engine of great power for its weight and size. The weight of the motor is about seven pounds per horse-power. The total weight of the Avion is about 1100 pounds. The rest of the machinery is of hollow steel, rigid and light. Now Power In Warfare. It is well knowu that nitrate ol amyl possesses tho power of causing insensibility very quickly in a human being breathing its fumes. The effect is equivalent, temporarily, to a paralytic stroke. It is very cheap and plentiful, and Edward Weston, the electrioinn, proposes to use shells filled with the chemical instead of gun powder. Ho argues that a few gallons of this nitrate dashed on the deck of a war ship would Boon rendar the crew helpless. OUR FUTURE WARSHIPS. CHIEF CONSTRUCTOR HICHBORN CIVES HIS VIEWS ON THE WAR. Bloat Valuable Is the Battleship—Torpedo Jtoiits Not of Jk?.Tlntot'tlimiry Vnlue— Copper Sheathing Should Jse Used on All Our AVar Vessels* Chief Constructor Hichborn of the United States Navy in an interview has the following to say about the re sults of the war with Spain and its ef fect'on naval matters: "The war has taught us what some of us already held, that the torpedo boat is not the formidable engine of war which it has been credited with being. The naval battles of the future, as of the past, will be fought by the most powerful engines of naval war fare that can be constructed. The battleship, in spite of its great cost, will continue to occupy the prominent place. The torpedo boat will have its uses, but they will not be the most im portant uses of a naval engagement. Curing the war just closed, the tor pedo boat was practically of no use at nil. Just before the outbreak of hos tilities, there was a great scare on ac count of the flotilla of torpedo boats and torpedo-boat destroyers which was said to be on its way across the Atlan tic from the Cape Verde Islauds. "When the war actually came, we heard nothing more about them until they were destroyed, In fact, torpedo boats were not used by either combat ant except occasionally for despatch boats, a duty to which other craft might be moro advautageously assigned. The Winslow, it is true, was sent into the harbor of Cardenas to reconnoitre, but this was gunboat service, and not tko work for which a torpedo boat is in tended. As for the Spanish boats, there was really nothing to fear from them. Sigsbeo made quick work of the Terror off San Juan, although the St. Paul, which ho commanded, was exactly the kind of a vessel, unarmored, and presenting a full side, that torpe does might bo expected to inflict dam age on. The Furor and the I'luton were among the very best and most modern of the destroyer class, and yet the Gloucester, which is merely a con verted yacht, defeated them both. "The war has taught us to rely on our great battleships and cruisers with absolute confidence. Hitherto the question has been open to fair discus sion in the absence of any practical illustration of their work in actual warfare. But now we know what they can do. The two vessels which, as ships of war, have given the best ac : •count of themselves on their merits, without regard to the manner in which they were handled—although that, of course, was above criticism with all our ships—are the Oregon and Brook lyn, and these are types of vessels which are likely to come more and more in vogue, not only in the Ameri can Navy, but in the navies of foreign powers. Tho Brooklyn, for iustanc3, with only four isshes of armor on her sides, was far more than a match for the Vizcaya, with a twelve-inch armor belt. This type of vessel combines speed with efficiency to a most desir able degree. "As for the Oregon, she combiues great strength of armament with a reasonable nmount of spctd and coal carrying capacity in a proportion which seems to be eminently desirable. Bat tleships will be built more and more on the Oregon plan,with greater speed, if possible, without interfering with their effectiveness as fighting ma chines. "We can speak from actual experi ence now on a great many questions with regard to whioh we could only theorize three months ago. We know, for instance, that dry docks are needed large enough to receive our biggest ships and numerous enough to prevent tho necessity of their lyiug long with out repair or without having their bottoms cleaned. "The war has shown, too, that the bottoms of all our shops should bo copper sheathed, so that they can be kept at sea without the necessity of too frequent docking for cleaning. At present not one of our important ships is copper sheathed. Tho only sheathed vessels in the navy are the six gun boats of the Annapolis and Marietta classes and the Now Orleans and Al bauy, which wo brought from tho Bra zilian Government at the outbreak of the war. With copper-sheathed bot toms our ships would be at a great ad vantage in long cruises, such as are apt to be frequent now that the war has brought iuto our possession far distant colonies. "Perhaps the most important les son which we have learned is the necessity of making our fighting ships fireproof. At Manila and at Santiago the Spanish ships took fire, and they suffered as much or more from this cause as from the impact of our shells. Now it is not at all necessary that a shell in striking a ship should set fire to it. It is necessary to have a certain amount of woodwork in ovory vessel, although so far as is practicable it is dispensed with. There are some things about even a fighting ship for whioh no satisfactory substitute for wood has evou been found. But it i 3 quite feasible to make such wood ns must bo used fireproof by a chemical process which has been employed in the woodwork of some of our gunboats. The wood is mineralized, if you may use that term, .by being impregnated with phosphate of ammonia, and after this process has boeu undergone it is impossible to burn it. "Tho war has demonstrated also tho value of the rapid-fire guns and tho eight-inch guns as compared with the guns of larger calibre. At Santi ago tho secondary batteries of the Brooklyn and the Oregon are reported to have been more effeotive than any other portion of their nrmament. The Manila and Santiago battles .also have ; shown that smokeless powder is an in valuable part of a ship's equipment. •'lt is rather curious that 110 good demonstration has been given during the war ot' tho value of the experi mental craft which the Government has been interested in. Tho ram Katahdin lias had 110 opportunity to .show its merits, and the subniarino boat has also been ignored. Tho "N esuvius, it is true, had a chance at Santiago, but it does not appear that the results were at all decisivo as to its surpassing value in naval opera tions." KISSED SHELLS FOR LUCK. llrooklyn's Ammunition Passers at Sanll as?o Fight AVero Sentimental. Much lias been written of the action of men in the fleet daring the battle at Santiago. One story of the action of tho Brooklyn's crew was told the other day that illustrates the way the men below decks work during battle. In tho ammunition room of the Brooklyn they wore stripped to the buff. Thero must be nothing in tho magazine that is liable to cause fric tion and a spark. The men could hear the shots of tho Spaniards and knew when the ship was struck. They could hear tho roar of their own guns, but could not see anything. When the six-inch guns v/era working at their hottest and tho men were passing shells to tho hoist there was a slight pause. Then the shells came on deck regularly again. When the engagement was ended and the stark united gang came on deck to see the Christobal Colon's linish somebody asked "What was that wait about?" "Oh, thoso Indians," said Lee, a petty officer. "After they had greased tho noso of tho shell somebody said everybody must kiss it for luok, and wo did. That caused tho wait of half a minute. After that they kissed every shell." After tho first few shots no shell left thnt room in tho fight without the gang hugging it, telling it to go out and do its work. The crowd talked to the shells as if they were human. "It was: "Go up aud do them!" "Get up there, old six-inch, aud plug a liolo in her! Remember the Maine!" The six-inch shells of the Brooklyn did great work. The boys believe it was the send-off they got in the am munition room that helped to do it.— New York Press. Tlio Heaviest Thing In the Worhl. Tho heaviest thing in the world is the metal [osmium, the bluish-whito metal with violet luster, whioh slr. Smithson Tennaut discovered ninety years ago in the residue from dis solved platinum ores. This metal has a specific gravity of 22,477, that of gold being 10,205, lead 11,367, iron 7.70, and lithium, tho lightest, only 0.594, The French chemist, Joly, determined that osmituin is likewise the most infusible of metals. It could never be made to yield to the oxy hydrogen flame which makes platinum and ivridium run like water. But 'Joly has been subjecting osmium to tho exclusively high temperature of the electric are which Moissau has of lata employed successfully in the manufacture of diamonds. Under this fierce heat the rare metal, ruthenium, which used to be deemed all but infusible, readily melts. Bat osmium remains re fractory, there being apparent only the faiutest traces of fusion. On this account osmium caunot be prepared iu sufficient quantity to make it very useful in the arts. But its alloy with irridium, whioh defies the acids, is of some value, nothing better having been found wherewith to tip gold pens. Being non-magnetie, its em ployment for the bearings of tho mariner's compass has been advocated, —Popular Science Monthly. Shortened Lives. "Almost all persons die of disap pointment, personal, mental or bodily toil or accident. The passions kill men sometimes even suddenly. The common expression "choked with rage" has little exaggeration in it, for even though not always suddenly fatal, stong passions shorton life. Strong-bodiod men often die young, and weak men usually live longorthau the strong, for the strong use their strength and the weak have hardly any to use —the latter take care of them selves, tho former do not. As it is with the body, so it is with the mind aud the temper—the strong are apt to break, or, like the candle, run; the weak burn out. Man, of all animals, is one that seldom comes up to the average. He ought to live 100 years according to the physiological law, but instead of that he scarcely reaches an average of four times tho growing period. Tho reason is obvious—man is not only the moat irregular aad most intemper ate, but tho most laborious aud hard working of all animals. He is always the most irritable, and there is reason to bolievo, though we caunot tell what an animal secretly feels, that, more than any other ani mal, man cherishes wrath to keep it warm, and consumes himself with the fire of his own reflections.—Pearson's Weekly. Quininn Manufactured in Java. Java has been always the principal producer of ciuchona bark, but the manufacture of quinine in that coun try is of only recent origin. So fat there have been shipped from Java to this country 48,300 ounces of quinine worth $11,395. Tho single factory upon the island, however, is running steadily, and there is every indication that tho industry will assume large proportions. Human Peculiarity. A German biologist says that thfi two sides of a face are never alike; in two cases out of five the eyes are out of line; one eye is stronger than the other in seven persons out of ten, aud the right ear is generally higher than the left ( THE MERRY SIDE 0E LIFE. STORIES THAT ARE TOLD BY THE FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. TIi City Iluntsmaii—Had a Substitute— A Woman's IJoason-Ins and Outa—llci Early Training—A Friendly Otter—Able to Worry Along, Etc., Etc. Mary had a littlo lamb, It freely ran about Until a city bun tsraan took His gun and sauntered out. saw tho lambkin where It played. And nervously "let go"— He'd shut both eyes, and so of cour39. The poor thing was laid low. And then the hunter hurried back Into tho city, where He still relates the thrilling tale Of how ho killed a bear. —Chicago News. Had a Substitute. Dixon—"ls your friend Smithson a deep thinker?" Hixon—"No, indeed. He's mar tied."—Chicago News. A Woman's Kcnson. "She sent my letter back unopened." "Why?" 'She said the postman who deliv ered it kicked her dog."—Chicago Record. limi and Outs. "He married into one of yotir best families, did he not?" "Not exactly; liis wife married out of one of our best families."—Detroit Journal. Ncr Early Training. ""With wbat a gracefully sweeping motion she handles a fan." "Yes, she used to keep the flies oT the table in her father's Omaha luueh room."—Cleveland Plain Dealer. A Friendly Offer. Lawyer Goodly—"What's wronr, old chap?" Uglimuggo—"l won a kiss from Miss Pnrtie3t. She won't pay up." Lawyer Goodly—"Never mind, oi l man; I'll collect it for you."—Truth. Able to Worry A!eng. "Do you need any help?'' asked llio fzard. "I think not," replied the suake. 'I eau'pull off this event without your assistance. Thanks." Aud presently ho finished shedding ilis skin.—Topeka (Kan.) Capital. His Gentle Little Joke. "Please, sir, can't you help me?" asked the seeming mendicant; "I am sick aud iu need of a few dimes." "If you are sick, why don't you go to the hospital?" answered the sub stantial citizen. "I thought a littlo change would do me good," was the plausible reply.— Kansas City Star. Tommy's Lnat Question. "Papa," said Tommy Tredway. "Now, Tommy," replied Mr. Tred- Ivay, "I shall answer only one more question to-day. So be careiul what you ask." "Yes, papa." "Well, go on." "Why don't they bury the Dead Sea?"— Harper's Bazar. At Lait! ! First Veteran—"l tell you, these modern improvements in long-range guns aud chilled-steel projectiles have made war a good deal riskier than it was in our day." Second Veteran—"Yes; I see that somebody has invented a gun now which, at a thousand yards, will go clear through a small pocket Bible carried over a man's heart."—Judge. A Last ICeqttest. He—"And am I to understand that your refusal is fiuul?" She—"lt is." He—"Then life no longer has a charm for me; I shall hang myself." She—"Will you grant me a favor?" He—"Certainly. Name it." She—"Discontinue your existence elsewhere; papa objects to your haug ing around here."—Chicago News. Trou4f! Ahead. "I regret to observe," said Skill ton, "that there is to be another yacht race for the Amerioa's cap." "Regret? Why it indicates that England aud the United Statos are coming together again!" said Jones. "That's just it," said Skillton. "We are beginning to get along so nicely, and now all the old troubles will be reopened."—Harper's Bazar. Why He Was Troubled. 1 .Tack—"Come, old man, cheer up. What if she did break the engage ment; she's not the only lish in the swim." Tom—"Ob, I don't care anything about her breakiug the engagement, but you see I've got to go right 011 paying installments on the ring for tho next six months. That's where tho icy breeze comes in."—Chicago News. A Plausible liiiiobability. The Boarder (irascibly) "How many more times, Katy, must I tell you that I wautmy toast well browned? This is hardly more than yellowed!" The Maid (innocently)—" Sure, sor, ut was brown whin I tuk ut nff the shtove tin minutes ago. May be a settiu' in the sun uioight have faded ut since. Sure the sun-loight do be dreadful har-r-rd on colors, sor,"— ljuok. Moral Suasion. • Old Gentleman—"Do you mean to say that your teachers never thrash you?" Little Boy—"Never! We have moral suasion at our school." Old Gentleman—"What's that?" Little Boy—"Oh, we get kep* in, and stood up in oorners, and locked out, and looked in, and made to write one word a thousand times, scowled and jawed at, and that's all."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers