It is said that nations move by cy cles. A great many people move bi cycles nowadays. Go rapid has been the change in the English language that the English to day bears no more resemblance to the English of 1000 years ago than it does to German. Instead of the old sign, "Five Dol lars fine for riding or driving across this bridge faster than a walk," will be one, at each end of the new Milan Bridge at Topeka, Ivan., reading, "No restriction." One of the tests of the bridge was the running of teams across the same at full speed. Only another evidence of the advance of practical ideas in science. For the second time a woman has Won a prize debate nt Cornell Univers ity, the '94 memorial prize being awarded to Miss Abigail Laughlin, 98. Another fair orator won the Woodford medal several years ago. By holding ■their own in these mere conspicuous competitions, as well as by the rank they attain in examinations, the women students at Cornell continue to justify by their works the principle of co-ed ucation of the sexes. It does not speak well for the Paris police that fifty-three murders should have been committed along tho Seine within three months and yet the first arrests are now made. According to Gaboriau and other romance writers, the French police track and overhaul criminals with the instinct of the bloodhound, but in real life their work does not compare with the work of English or Amerieiu detectives, who do not have the help of the admirable French registration system. General Roy Stone, Acting Presi dent of the National League for Good Roads, believes that he has found a way to make postal savings banks and good roads promote each other. His plan, in brief, is that postal savings banks shall be established, and that the Postoffice Department shall invest the deposits in county bonds for the building of good roads. The scheme is favored by the League of American Wheelmen, road improvement associa tions generally, and many educational institutions. C. W. Stone, a member of Congress from Pennsylvania, has embodied it in a proposed amendment to tho Postal Savings Bill, The mineral production of the United States for 1897 is put by the Engineering and Mining Journal at a total valuation of $7(12,001,100, of Which $257,451,172 is for metals and $504,009,934 for non-metallic sub stances. The gold production is esti" mated at $55,498,950 and the silver at 60,117,000 ounces, worth $33,558,900 against 58,488,810 ounces, worth $39,- 245,991, in 1890. The gold product is placed considerably under that of Mint Director Preston, who puts it at 601,500,000. With the exception of the Southern States, whose yield is Inconsiderably, every State and terri tory in the Union that produces gold has increased its output. Mr. Pres ton has shown himself a very con servative statistician, as he under estimated the 1890 production by $lO,- 000,000. The difference between him and the Engineering Journal is quite considerable, but as both show a big gain over previous years and as bigger gains are in sight for 1898 and an in definite term thereafter, the public can afford to rest easy until the full statis tics are obtainable. Whether on account of improved sanitary conditions or on account of the increased skill which physicians have developed in battling with dis ease, there is gratifying evidence of a marked decline in the death rates ol our leading American cities during the past year. As compiled by one ol the leading medical journals of the country, the death rates for the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Boston and St. Louis, as disclosed by the figures for the past year, are as follows: Per L QUO Inhabitants. Chicago 13.5 .Philadelphia IS.S 'New York 19.£ .St. Louis 15.5 Boston 15.1 Baltimore 21.5 Cincinnati 14.: While there is quite a decided dif ference between tho death rates ol some of the cities mentioned iu the foregoing table, the showing which tho record in its entirety evinces is unusually gratifying. Although the exact figures for this immediate sec tion of tho country are not accessible, it may safely bo affirmed that the south will compare favorably with any other section in point of healthfulness. As for Atlanta, there is no city in tin United States which possesses superioi aauitary advantages. THE SONC OF SIGHS. Ther© sits a mai l ihewind9 of the wilderness flngor her hair, And the fair stars mock and steal the lustre and light of her eyes, Where a terrible moan of silence and sadness sickeus the air, Where the shivering earth lies cold 'neath the sheeted mists that rise: Still nt her lattice she sits, and a heart-sad song she slugs (Song of sighs it is, has been, and shall ever bo),— ••Love is the King of all, a tyrant King of Kings, A cruel tyrant of Kings, and my Love he loves not me." —Aaron Mason, in ITarper's Magnzlnt, I LOST! .4 MILLIONNAIRE.' 1 (§0 0 0 OQ&0 000- 0- 0 0. fRS. COLLlNS waiting room and desires to see you immediately, sir," said one of the men entering the room where I was i n conversation with tho Chief nt Scotland Yard. Collins-Cox?" re peated the Chief. "Isn't that the gTeat American millionaire who has recently settled in London?" "Yes, sir." "3how her in at once. Wiseman, you remain for a time." A few seconds later Mrs. Collins- Oox came quickly into the office and the door closed after her. She was a pleasant looking lady of twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Clearly she was greatly excited about something. "Sir," she cried, coming forward suddenly, "I've lost my husband! He has disappeared." "Since when?" asked the Chief, beckoning her to a cheir. . "Since yesterday evening." "Oh!"he|said, smiling, "I should not worry about that, madam. No doubt he will come back safely. Did he not say he was going?" "Oh, it's no! that, sir, that fright ens me. it is this, which I reoeived a little while ago," and she drew from her hand-bag a small cardboard box and dropped it upon the desk. My chief took the box, opened it and abstracted its contents; a letter and a small packet. Leaning over his shoulder I read the words ofj the former: Deaii Madam—Rest assured that your bushund is right and safe so long as you don't attempt to And him. If you do you will regret it. He desired me to send you the enclosed cheek (£10,000), which you nro to cnunge and convey in cash to us after cur instructions. You will go to the bank, cash the check, put tho money in u hundhug. and to-night at ß sharp, when it is dark, you will goto Cross street, tVhitechapel, and put the hag against the railing of No. 17, exactly whore you find a white cross on one of the flags. Yon will go atone, and net secretly all through. It is your husband's wish, for the successful Issue of our plans means his life. If the money falls into wrong hands your husband will write us another chock, which you will cash and bring to us. So you will save yourself trouble by seeing it doesn't, and following our instructions. When we have tho money, your husband will return. Put the bag down on the white cross and walk away quickly. You will be followed; and if you dun't walkaway, or if you look back or there Is anyone spying about, you will bo a widow within two ;hours. lie careful, therefore. To betray us is to be tray yourself and Mr. Collins-Cox. Mean time, we enclose first Installment of your husband to show wo mean business. Charles Kidxafpeii and Co., Ltd. Tho Chief next took the small packet, nudid the paper, and suddenly re coiled from it. It was a human finger, cut from tho socket, and wear ing a plain gold serpent ring. I took up the finger, and examined it very carefully. "Do you recognize this finger and ring to be your husband's?" I asked. "The ring, certainly, but I can't be sure of tho finger. Men's fingers are so mnch alike." "Hum! Do your remember what— er—yes, what finger Mr. Cox wore this ring upon?" "The third finger of his left hand, always." "Then calm your fears, madam; a million chances to one this is not your husband's finger, since it is the sec ond of some hand. Of course, it may be genuine. But I don't think so. Your husban'd has been kidnapped. "Do yon wish me to take up this matter?" I asked, turning to my chief. He nodded, and I turned to Mrs. Cox. "Go to the bank, cash the check, and return home, where you will find me. You must do this, because you are probably being watched. Stop a bit, though, madam! Have you the check?" "Yes, it's hero in my purse." I took it from her, and crossed to the window to examine it. It was made out, payable to Mrs. Cox, on a sheet of ordinary note-paper. The body was written out iu one band with a steel pen, aud the signature was in another. "Are you sure tho signature is all right?" I asked of Mrs. Cox. "As far an I know, it is," she answered. "Bnt I could not say for certain, though I attribute the dis similarity from his usual signatnre to his being nervous when ho wrote it." "It is dissimilar?" "Yes, my husband wrote a very firm hand, and that is rather shaky." "Well, madam, please do what I tell you. Go to the bank, and ■ meet me at yonr bouse. Let me lend you this black handbag. It will suit your purpose." With that I took up my bat and went oil'. I walked down Carlton House terraco to the Coxes' house. To the footman who answered mv summons I said I wished to see Mr. Cox's valet, aud in a few moments this lordly gentleman came to me with a mixed manner of cordiality and con descension. In a short time Mrs. Cox returned. "I guess I shall go mad before the day is out," said she, as she came into the room, followed by a man carrying my handbag. "Oh, no," I said, cheerfully. "I want to see you alone." She dis missed the man, and then sank into a chair. "Yes, I've got the money, after tho greatest difficulty," she said, answer ing my look. "But have you discov ered anything?" "Yes, two things," I replied. "I want these things: A piece of cream note paper—get it from your cook—a steel pen, ink and a specimen of your husband's signature. Please get these things yourself, and let no one know. Now, tell me—who is in this house?" "Myself—you mean usually? Well, Mr. Cox, myself, the secretary, three male and five female servants." "They all live here?" "Except the secretary—yes." "This gentleman, has he been in yonr employ long?" "Three years." "We might get some information from him, perhaps. However for the present, I'll see no one. Will you pleaso get me those things?" Mrs. Cox went out, and returned after a few minutes with what I had asked for. I smiled as I saw the note paper. Though it was not the same make it was very like what had been used for the check for £IO,OOO. "What are you going to do?" Mrs. Cox asked. "I can't do much until 8 o'clock, so I am going to try a little experiment." '' I took from her the specimen of her husband's signature and examined it. From my pocketbook I drew a piece of tracing paper, and this I laid upon Mr. Cox's signature, which I went over carefully some thirty or forty times. Then I took the sheet of note paper and calmly forged tho million aire's name, making a queer little curl at the tail of tlie "x" similar to what I had noticed in the signature of the £IO,OOO check, which was not to be seen in the specimen signature before me. Mrs. Cox watched mo with an air of profound mystification as I put the sheet of paper bearing only the name, "C. Collins-Cox," upon the table and covered it up in such away that no other part of the paper was visible. "Now," I said, "will you be good enough to summon every one in the house, and let them remain in the room until I call them?" She went away and in a few minutes later returned, saying that every one was in the room adjoining the one in which I sat. "Very well, then. I want them to come in here one at a time. Begin with the secretary." "Ask Mr. Stabler to come here," said Mrs. Cox. Mr. Stabler came. He was a tall, gentlemanly man of 30, wearing gold rimmed spectacles. "Of course," I said to Mrs. Cox in au undertone, but loud enough to be' heard, as ho came forward, "if it's genuine you must change it, and do as instructed. It will cost you a cool £IO,OOO, but that can't be helped. "Mr. Stabler," and I turned to him quickly, "can you tell me if this is Mr. Cox's signature?" "Yes, it is." "Be sure, please. It's a highly im portant matter. Look at it closely." He leant over it and examined it like a near-sighted man, for some mo ments. I watched him, noticing his hands trembling and his lips twitch nervously. "Yes," he said, quietly. "I'll swear to that. "But I fancy he was unwell when he wrote it, for it is very shaky for Mr. Cox." All the others were brought in in turn, but no one else was able to iden tify the signature. "I want a cab," I said, smiling. A cab was called and I went out, gave the driver a note, with instruc tions to take it to the Yard and await an answer. Then I returned to the room and drew Mrs. Cox aside. "Don't breathe a word to any one," I snid; "but does it not strike you as strango that the man who best "knows your husband's writing should be the one to say most emphatically that my forgery was written by your hus band?" "Yes," she said, in a whisper. Ten minutes later, the cab returned and lauded one of our men. He was shown in to me; and at my request, all the servants were recalled. When they were assembled, I turned to our man and said: "Chambers, yon will remain in this house until 9 o'clock to-night. Yon will allow no one but Mrs. Cox to leave while you are here, and you will see that nothing whatever is passed out of the house by auy one to any one, and that no communication whatever is held by the inmates with outsiders, not even with tradespeople. You will make it your duty, if anybody—l say anybody—attempts to break these rules to immediately arrest them. You understand?" "Yes." At this Stainer looked the picture of confusion and very pale. "I shall be here at 7 o'clock," I said in a whisper to Mrs. Cox. "Have an old dress, cloak and hat of yours ready for me, and a room at my disposal, if you please." Then to Chambers I said in the same tone, "Pay particular attention to Sir. ytainev. He inter ests me." And then I came away. At about 7.30 the same evening a woman, tall, agile and well but quiet ly dressed, with a rather thick veil that hid her face, which, for the first time in eighteen mouths had been de nuded of a brown silken beard and mustache, left Sir. Cox's house in Carlton House Terrace, and, walking to Waterloo place, got into a cab. She gave the driver an address, with instructions for it to be reached by a roundabout route, and placed beside her on the seat of the cab a black handbag. The cab eventually stopped in Oxford street. The woman sprang out, paid the driver and hurried eastward. Pres ently she encountered four or five cabs plying for hire at the curb. With a quick glance around her she sprang into once of these, gave the driver an address through the roof trap, and the cab rolled off at a quick rate. The cab rattled eastward past New gate, the Exchange, through Fen church street, aud finally pulled up a few yards from a small beer shop in Whitechapel. The woman alighted, paid the cabman, and crossed to the other side of the road, where four la borers were standing talking together. She went up and hold an animated conversation with them for a few min utes. Then the four men moved off in different directions, leaving the woman standing alone in the shadow of a doorway. Here she remained un til a neighboring clock struck 8, when she issued from her hiding place and turned down a by-street. The street in which she now found herself woe narrow, dark and de serted. The light was barely suffi cient to enable the woman to see a white cross upon a flagstone in front of No.. 17, and upon this she put the handbag she carried. The moment she had done so, she started to run down the street, but sbe did not run far, turning sharply into the deep shadow of a projecting wall. From here she could see up and down the street, the mysterious house aud the handbag. The house was apparently empty. Not a light was there in any wtndow. She was attentively watching the windows of No. 17 for an indication of life, when she heard a strange grind ing sound that made her start. No one was to be seen. Everything was exactly as it bad been before, except that the bag had gone! Vanished! "Fool!" she cried, "I might have guessed it!" Running out of hiding she drew a a police whistle and blew it thrice, and then set about to examine the flag stone. Yes; the cement around it was iu loose powder. Some one had shift ed the flag; some one in the cellar be low and the bag was gone and the flag pushed back. There was no area door, so the only way to gain admittance to the house was by the front door. Sbe flung herself against it again and again. But it resisted all her efforts, aud sbe stopped to consider. At that moment a laborer ran up. "It's all right," he said. "We've got him—bag in hand. He had laid his plans for quick escape at the back, lint ran into my arms as we entered. The house is quite empty." "Ob, are you sure?" I asked, for, of course, the agile femalo was myself. "Perfectly certain. The house is absolutely empty of everything and every one." "Ah, then I think I can understand. Get me a cab and take the chap to the station in another." Two cabs were procured. In one we put our prisoner—a well-dressed man of a pronounced American type— between two of my Scotland Yard laborers and sent him to the local sta tion. The second cab I took myself, and in it I drove to Carlton House Terrace. WhenJl arrived at the Coxes' Ijfound the footman just paying off' another cab. "Oh, then Mr. Cox has returned?" I said. "Yes, sir. Just this moment ar rived." "Where's Mr. Stainer?" "Your friend has him looked in the pantry. He arrested him by your in structions half an hour ago." Running up the steps I pounced right upon Sir. und Mrs. Cox locked in each other's arms. He wore an air of mystification, while she was simply bubbling over with delight. "What does ail this mean?" asked Mr. Cox, turning upon me. "It's mystery upon mystery! Who is this woman ?" "This woman," I replied, "is De tective Sergeant Wiseman, of New Scotland Yard, who has just discov ered one of the neatest little plots ever invented. Your secretary is a ge nius " "I don't understand," he said, 1 look ing at me as if he fancied I was play ing a joke at his expense. * "You had a telegram yesterday?" I asked. "Yes, which took mo to Paris on a wild goose qhase. Some one has been mnking a fool of me. The telegram purported to come from un old friend in Paris, and requested me to go to him there without a moment's dolayor a word to any one. I went. His name was not known at tko hotel. I cabled to New York and bad an answer to say my friend was there and well, BO I came back. What does it mean?" "It means this," I answered. "It means that your secretary and two men—one pf whom is now in custody, the other {(robably in Paris—plotted to fleece you of £IO,OOO. Your secre tary forged your name on a sheet of note paper which was made out as a check for £IO,OOO, payable to your wife. This is a large sum, and the chances of getting such a check honored at short call was remote, un less the person offering it could satisfy the bankers it was all right. How to do this set the plotters wondering, un til they hit upou the grand scheme ol getting your wife to change the check." Aud I then -eeounted to him our ad ventures and their result. "The kiduapping idea was intro duced in order to frighten your wife, and the finger, which was that of some one else adornedjwitli one ofjyour rings, which your secretary found in your bedroom,was calculated to further un nerve her. "Madam," I concluded, turning to Mrs. Cox, with a slight evidence of justifiable pride. "I congratulated you upon coming to Scotland Yard. You have provided me with the only really interesting case I have had for years."—Tit-Bits. SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL, A naturalist recently asserted thot man is descended from the angle worm. A German ehemist has discovered that alcohol is among the by-products which can be obtained from coke-oven gases. A physician, who has given much thought to the subject, soys that so long as the cyclist can breathe with the mouth shut he is reasonably safe from heart strain. Last year 1308 persons bitten by mad dogs were, treated at the Pasteur institute in Paris, of whom only four died. Sinco 1880 the number of cases treated is 18,042 aud of deaths one hundred and forty. According to a dispatch from Mel bourne, in Australia, Professor David states that the results of coral borings in the atoll of Funafuti show the sonndnoss of Darwin's theory of the formation of coral reefs. Hats and coats oan be left on a new book without danger of theft, a slid ing bolt being fitted with a lock and key, by which the garment* are clamped tightly, and cannot be re leased until the owner inserts the key to draw the bolt. Checks can be indelibly marked to prevent raising, by a new protector which has number dies to mutilate or break the fiber of the paper, which nt the same time forceß ink into the mutilations so it cannot be erased without destroying the fiber. The Massilon (Ohio) Bridge Com pany has received an order for the construction of a cantilever bridge 5(12 feet long and eighteen feet wide, which is to be built by the New York Dredging Company at Honda, on the Magduleua River, in Colombia, South America. The Borckardt automatio pistol is cited as an exampleof rapidity iu com plicated mechanical movements. As eight shots have been fired in one third of a second, one-twenty-fourth of a second will suffice for advancing the firing bolt, exploding the charge, extracting the cartridge and reloading and cocking for the next shot. An inventor has hit upon a method of putting stone soles on boots and shoes. He mixes u waterproof glue with a suitable quantity of cleau quartz saud, and spreads it over the leather sole used as a foundation. These quartz soles are said to be very flexi ble and proctically indestrnotible, and to give the foot a firm bold even on the most slippery surface. No Patriotism In Clilna. AB for the patriotism of the Chinese, if it ever existed, it is unquestionably a thing of the past. At the time of the war with Japan, China bad two squadrons, the main or northern squad ron, with headquarters at Port Arthur aud Wei-Hai-Wei, aud the southern squadron, composed of fine Armstrong cruisers,of gnnboats aud torpedo boats. As it was clear that the Japanese would carry the war into Manchuria aud to ward the Gulf of Petchili, the southern squadron was ordered to proceed north ward and to reinforce the northern fleet. Far from obeying, the com manding admiral and his officers de cided that, being a great deal safer in the south, they would qnietly remain there, and go up a river, the entrance of which eonld be defended by torpedo mines, which they hurried to lay. Why, in the name of Confucius, should they have exposed themselves for the sake of defending the northern provinces? About the same time, the Chinese government being in need of money to carry on the war, decided that a small tax would be imposed upon the tea plantations, most of whose proprie tors are wealthy, or at least well-to-do people. But these patriotic citizens, in order to avoid paying that small tax, begged the foreign merohants to take the plantations in their names!— Illustrated American. A New Wrinkle For Fountlr.vmen. One of the New York printing ma chine builders, says Engineering, has succeeded iu producing extremely ac curate gear-wheel castings by the simple device of using a machiue-cut metal pattern, and baking the mold in a core oven before the pattern is re moved. Under these conditions the metal mold expands -Me the clay tends to shrink, with result that on cooling, the patter.i . ,ui be with drawn, leaving behind it a perfect mold. Wheels cast in this way show, it is stated, the tool marks on the original pattern, and customers have accepted them as machine-cut wheels. Electric Lump Outpnt. One of the largest domestic manu facturers of incandescent electric lamps has an output of over 6,500,000 a year. Longest Canal. The longest artificial watercourse in the world is the Bengal Canal,' 901 miles, the next is the Erie, 363, I OUSEIXLD AFFAIRS. Cause of Sojjijy rotators. Strange as it may seem, baked pota toes are still occasionally seen on the table in a covered dish. Served this way, they become soggy almost at oace. After pricking them with a fork, as they are being taken from the oven, they should be laid on a folded napkin on a platter, the napkin folded so that one corner will cover tho potatoes, in order to preserve their heat without condensing the steam from them. Nome-Made Flavoring Extracts. A New Hampshire woman who had tjjways made flavoring extracts for use in her own family began some thirteen years ago to manufacture the extracts for sale, using the same process, that of making them directly from the fruits themselves, instead of from oils, that she had used when making the ex tracts on a small scale. The result has been that she had not only re gained vigorous health from the out of-door employment necessary in gath ering aud overseeing her materials, but she is building up a constantly enlarging sale for her extracts through out New England. —Philadelphia Times. Sweeping and Dusting. In the course of a series of papers on "Cookery For Girls," continued in the Woman's Home Companion, Sallie Joy White gives these simple rules for orderly housekeeping: "Begin at one side and sweep to ward one place. Hold the broom close to the floor. Sweep with short strokes, and let the broom take tho dust along the floor instead of tossing it in the air. "I wish every girl would learn the rule for dusting by heart. I dare say you have all seen the aimless way in which the majority of girls—and wo men, too, for that matter—dust a room. They seem to think there is no such thing as a systematic way of doing it. Dust the room thoroughly. Begin at one corner and take each article in turn. Dust from the highest things to the lowest, taking up the dust in the cloth, but not brushing it off on the Hoor. Shake the duster occasionally in a suitable place, and when through, wash and hang it to dry." Put Flowers on Your Tuble. Set flowers on your table—a wholo nosegay if you can get it, or but two or three, or a single flower, arose, a pink, a daisy. Bring a few daisies or but tercups from your last field—work, and keep them alive in a little water. Preserve but a bunch of clover, or a handful of flowering grass—one of the most elegant of nature's productions— and you have something on your table that reminds you of God's creation, and gives you a link with the poets that have done it most honor. Put a rose, a lily, or a violet on your table, and you and Lord Bacon have a cus tom in common; for this great and wise man was in the habit of having flowers in season set upon his table, we be lieve, morning, noon and night—thnt is to say, at all meals, seeing that they were growing all day. Now here ii a fashion that will last you forever, if you please—never change with silks, and velvets, aud silver forks, nor be dependent on caprice, or some fine gentleman or lady, who have nothing but caprice and changes to give them importance and a sensation. Flowers on the morning table are especially suited to all. They look like the happy wakening of the creation; they briug the breath of nature into your room; they seem the very representa tive and embodiment of tho smiles of your home.—Detroit Free Press. Vegetarian lteclpeg. Fried Cucumber—Boil a good-sized cucumber till nearly soft in milk and water flavored slightly with onions. Remove and drain dry, out it up into Blices when cold and brush each slice, Which should be about a third of an inch thick, with egg, and dip in bread crumbs, after which fry in butter till amber brown. To be served in the center of a hot dish with mashed potato round. Fricassoe of Beans—Steep one pint of haricot beans for a night in cold water, then remove them, drain and put on the fire with two quarts of Boft water. When boiling allow the beans to simmer for another two hours. While they are cooking thus put on iD another saucepan two ounces of butter, an ounce of parsley (chopped) and the juice of one lemon, and when the but ter has quite melted throw in the beans and stir them round for a few minutes. To bo served in a casserole of rice. Vegetable Aspic Molds—ln the bot torn of some very small molds lay al ternately small pieces of chill, chervil and hard-boiled white of egg. Covei these well with liquid aspio, then add r further layer of chopped parsley and finely chopped yolk of hard-boiled egg. Having mashed this also in as pic, put in another layer of smali Bquares of cheese and a few capers, and so continue the operation till the molds are quite full. When set on ice turn out of the molds and serve on lettuce leaves with mustard and oress und chopped aspic jelly. Carrots a la Creme—Take a large buuch of very small new carrots, scrape them, tie them loosely in a piece of coarse muslin and put into a saucepan almost full of boiling water, to which has been added a small lump of beef dripping and two ounces ol salt. In about twenty minutes they will be tender, when remove from the hot water aud plunge for a moment in cold. Next melt an ounce of butter in a saucepan and stir into this a des sert spoonful of flour, a small quantity each of pepper, salt and cayenne, also a little nutmeg and hulf a teacupful of cream. Remove the carrots from the muslin, put them into the saucepan with the other ingredients and let them simmer in them for a few min utes, then Berve very quickly while hot. WISH WORDS. Guilt has a bard pillow. Truth wins no easy victories. Zeal is the dynamite of appeal. S Trials are blessings in disguise. ( Fanaticism is Faith turned sour. Spiritual hunger is heart prayer. I Adversity is God's pruning knife. Suspicion is the scent of cunning. You can't bury character in thr grave. Before faith can rest it must stani a test. A shaggy camel may bear a smootJ burden. Pleasure soon pails when it costr nothing. Flattery serves as gas in the balloor of pride. Purity opens the way to a world at gladness. Friendship may soon die, but en mity never. Boasting is blowing off the steam o self-oonoeit. Storm-tried faith is better than fair weather belief. Whispers and runaway teams makt the break-ups. Blaming othors is a poor way tr justify yourself. Reputation is like an col—a slipper; thing to handle. Despondency unnerves a man, hopi invigorates him. Elbow greaee makes the wheels o fortune move easier. Morality is often used as the per fume bottle of society. Truth and facts always agree. Eiroi and lies are associates. Education has been substituted foi consecration in tho modern pulpit. Slander is the moral hydrophobia—- thoso who are bitten generally run mad. An Extraordinary Similarity. An ambitious young lawyer paid his first visit to a country court, not fai from New Orleans, not long since. He went to represent a big railroad in a suit brought by a countryman to re cover tlje value of an ox which de parted this life in a vain attempt tc hold up the limited mail. The ques tion before the court was one of iden tification, and the countryman hao testified that he knew the ox by his color and the flesh-marks. Tho young lawyer rose and with dignity said! | "If your Honor please, thero can be ! no question that this witness has sworn falsely when he testified that an ox can be recognized by its color. I was a stenographer before I became a lawyer, and for two days, your Honor" (drawing out his note-book), "I have taken a detailed description of every ox that passed the hotel, and I am prepared to swear as an expert that all oxen look alike to me." "You are trifling with the dignity of the court, j sir!" sternly said the Judge, "I will I fine—'" j "Hold on, Judge," said the clerk, j "there hain't been but one yoke of I oxen in this town in a week. Old Man j Henley's been a-haulin'wood, and the lawyer's been countin' the same oxen over and over." "Judgment for the filaintiff," said tho Judge, and the awyer took his departure, a saddet j but wiser man.—Argonaut. Thrifty Firemen. ' j The fire engine house, No. 15, af Sixteenth and Bell streets has in addi. tion to two hose reols and trucks and prancing horses the essentials of o dairy and a chicken farm. At No. IE thero are always milch cows in plenty I and chickens in profusion. This en i gine house is on the north side of the I stock yards and abuds on the shedi | where speculators at the yards house their cows that are in milk. This ex plains the dairy end of the story. The firemen have only to step from theii baok|door into the cow shed to obtain all the fresh milk that they and jtheii families need and in tho summer time they indulge in great quanties of ice cream. On the south side of the engine house is a chicken coop and last sum mer the firemen raised 800 chickens by the aid of two incubators. Now they have hens enough in their primi tive coop to furnish two dozen eggs n> day. At night as the firemen sit about the glowing stove drying their clothes after a "run" they prepare a chicken, stew of fowls from their own coop with, milk from the placid bovines of the speculators' sheds.—Kansas City Star. "TO flow Silo Dearribcd It, Dear Hubby: I write this in a great hurry, so thnt you may get it in time to start for home on the first train. Isn't it dread ful! The nasty fire company just ruined all my newest gowns, what were not burned, and to make matters worse I am living with the Rushtons, who, as you know, have the worst children on earth. They just worry the life out of me—as if it were not enough to suffer the loss of my lovely gowns. Isn't it droadful! I suppose we'll have to live in a hotel for a while,, but do come at once. Your distracted wife, EDNA. P. S. —I forgot to mention about our house burning down, but I guess yon could have guessed it from reading my letter. E. —New York Journal. Death of a Scottish Centunarian. The death has taken placo at Ferry den, near Montrose, of Mrs. David Watt, who, during her wholo life of one hundred years and four months, was resident in that small fishing village. Her husband, a fisherman, perished from the effects of exposure to a severe storm about fifty years ago. Mrs. Watt has no fewer than 269 descend ants —12 children (6 sons and 6 daughters), 80 grandchildren, 175 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.—Pall Mall Gazette.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers