Only twenty per cent, of tiro mur ders committed yearly iu America and Europe are ever found out. In order to assist in netting fallen horses to their feet from slippery streets, the Department of Public Works, New York City, is placing j boxen filled with sand upon the side- j walks within a few inches of the curb, where they may he opened in an ' emergency and the sand carried to j where it is needed. This is an excel- I lent and humane idea, and will be wel comed by all drivers iu wet weather. , "Some idea of the formidable char, j acter of our pension expenses may be i gathered," notes the New York Inde- j pendent, "from tke fact that the total j payments, including expense of ad- i ministration, etc., amounts to $2,178,- 753,270 in the past tliirty-two years, from and inclusive of 18C6. These enormous expenditures were ou ac count of tho Revolutionary War, the ! War of 1812, the Mexican and Indian I Wars and the Civil War. Tho cost oi j modern wars is truly prohibitory." The falsification of wine, for many j years a growing industry in Germany now is to be made a legalized industry as well, writes Wjlf von Schierbrand, The .product is to be known under the ] name of "Knnstwein." The govern- ; mentis to get a tax of twenty marks | for each hectoliter, and the stuff,prop erlylabeled, is to be sold openly. The j Federation of Husbandmen stands sponsor for this queer attempt to make ! the wholesale defrauding of the public a legal act, The bill already has beeu drawn up. Cattle, when killed in Massachu setts, as a precautionary measure, cost somewhat more than the animals would fetch at the butchers. In the annual report of the State Cattle Com- ! mission, made to the Legislature yes terday, it is shown that the number of cattle paid for as tuberculous during the year was 5275, and the amount paid for them was $179,867.52. Over $5500 was paid for 160 animals in which no lesions of tho disease were ound- Quarantine, killing, and burial expenses and arbitration brought the average amount paid for condemned cattle up to $34.12 per head. The War Department is busy nowa days over tho problem of condensed diet for the starving Kkmdikcrs. Tlie3o investigations have elicited tho information that beef tea and extracts in capsules are of no use for rations for the army or for the Klondike suf ferers. They are palatable and stim ulating, but contain practically no nourishment. A quantity of flour will be sent to Alaska, but not wheat flour. Whole wheat flour and dry rye flour will be preferred, because they are more nourishing. Among the most interesting of the foods selected are concentrated vegetables, especially carrots and onions, which liavo adfli tiomd value as antidotes to the scurvy. There arc carrot chips, cooked and evaporated to absolute dryness, which come from California, while Germany sends onions in compressed tablets, four inches square and one-third of an inch thick., One of these tablets makes six ample portions, expanding in bulk greatly when boiling water is poured over it. The material is used like fresh onions. The New York Journal preaches an editorial sermon on "Tho Danger of Getting Too Big," saying: A boy, ap parently unusually robust and vigor ous, died suddenly in one of New York's suburbs the other day of a curious complaint. He was nineteen years old, six feet two inches high, weighed about 200 pounds and enjoyed unusual muscular strength. But, strangely enough, he grew too big. In proportion as height and weight increased the vitality which animated his enormous frame decreased. He became bigger and weaker. He died of too much size. The instance is a sad one and it teaches its lesson. Other bodies than mere individual human bodies disintegrate when they outgrow the vital spark which gives them force and animation. Tho party which has an overwhelming majority in the National House of Representa tives, for example, seldom holds it be yond one Congress. Tho party which carries a State Legislature on the eve of a Senatorial contest usually is rent in twain by rival ambitions created by its very bigness. The biggest major ity in a city election doesn't neces sarily insure the longest domination of the party winning it. The trust with tho most enormous capital is not infrequently tho one which goes most quickly to the wall. In brief, it is not well to develop a body too big for the soul. One cannot rely upon mere size in politics, pugilism, financiering or auy other phase of human endeavor. DON'T WORRY, DEAR. Don't worry, dear; the bleakest years That eloar the forward view. Each tniiLs to nothing when it nears, And wo may saunter through. The darkest moment neper comes, It only looms before; Tho loss of home is what benumb 0 Not trouble at the door. Don't worry, dear, the clouds are black, But with them comes the ruin. And stilled souls that parch and crao u May thrill with sap again. The burden bear as best wo can, And there'll bo none to bear: Hard work has never killed a man, But worry did its share. Don't worry, dear; don't blanch, don't yield, But dare the years to come; Nor give tho enemy the Held Becaus we bent hla drum. These little woes that hover near Are nothing, though they gall: Wo that life is love, my de.ir, An.l life and love are all. —Samuel Mcrwin, In Youth's Companion. | THE OTHER GIRL | C a Ml HEN I arrived /-£r station, ton, Mollie and chattels an(i stood round the immense heap in attitudes denoting various degrees of impatience. I apologized. "It is of no consequence," said Lady Manuingtou, in a tone signifying it was of the greatest. Mollie shook her head at me and smiled. I looked at the two ladies and the French maid, and then I looked at the miniature mountain. "The brougham is only seated for two," I hmted. "Celeste cau walk, "said Lady Mau nington. "I shall be glad of her company," I responded, politely. Lady Maunington glanced at me doubtfully. "Perhaps she could manage by the coachman," sho sug gested. "His wife is most particular," I in- j terposed quickly. "I should prefer to walk, mamma," said Mollie, with au air of much good nature. "Perhaps that will be best," Lady Manuiugton conceded reluctantly. "I am sure of it," I indorsed hearti ly- "lf only your aunt had sent the omnibus " Lady Maunington began aggrievedly. "It was most caroless of her," I admitted instantly. I caught Mollie's eye. She has a curious way of smil ing at nothing, j So Mollie and I started to walk over the crisp snow. Just outside the statiou I helped her over the stile. "We may as well take the short cut," I observed; "it is not so very much longer, aud I have so much to say to you." " What about?" asked Mollie. I hesitated. "It is about a friend of mine," I replied at length. "Oh!" "He is in tho deueo of a mess," I begau confidentially. "I want your | help." "What can I do?" asked Mollie, opening her eyes. "Y'ou can advise me," I replied, taking courage. "A woman's wit " Mollie was pleased. "Go ou, Mr. Trevor." "I fear you will think my friend particularly foolish," I said sorrow fully. "Very likely," replied Mollie, in differently, j "I assure you he has many good j points. But it happened a girl waut l od to marry him." "What!" exclaimed Mollio. "I can't think what she saw in him," I replied uncomfortably. \ "I hope," said Mollie, "you are not going to tell mo anything that is not ! proper." j "Oh, no," I replied earnestly. "The girl was quite respectable." j "She could not have been quite i nice," said Mollie decisively. ! I stopped to test tie strength of the ! ice over a pool. j "I have seen her look quite nice," I remarked thoughtfully. | "You know her?" asked Mollie j quickly. J "Oh, yes. It wasn't really the girl j who wanted to marry my friend; it ' was her mother. I mean the mother ! wanted the girl to marry my friend, I hope I make myself clear." "I don't think that improvos mat ters," retorted Mollie. ".Sho had a largo family of daugh j ters," I explained. "Go on," said Mollie, with a se i vevely judicial air. | '' My friend was in love with another ! girl—a really nice girl. In fact, a J quite splendid girl. One of the very best," I said, kindling. "You know that girl, too?" asked Mollie, a little coldly. " Y*e-es." "Well?" "My friend was staying at a country house, and so were both the girl and her mother, and she—" "Who?" asked Mollie. "The girl whose mother wanted her to marry him. Ido hope lam clear. She got him into a quiet corner, and somehow or other my friend found out she had hold of his hand. I—l don't know how it happened. It just oo- I curred." "How clever your friend to find it | out," said Mollie sarcastically. I went on hastily—"And then he saw her head coming nearer and near- | er his shoulder, and he didn't know : what to do." "I wonder," said Mollie, "ho did | not call for help." "You see," I went on, "he was j afraid she would propose, or—or —the mother might come. He guessed the mother was pretty near. Then lid thought of the other girl, and he got iuto a dreadful panic. In fact, holusl his head." "It could not have been a great loss," observed Mollie disdainfully. "No-o. But it was the ouly one he had, and he was accustomed to it- He didn't know what to do. So he said he was already engaged." "Did he say already?" "Yes." It was a cold day, but 1 mopped my brow with my handker chief. Mollie uttered a peal of silvery laughter. "I am really almost sorry for that girl, but it served her right." "The girl didn't turn a hair. She J simply straightened herself up and asked to whom he was engaged." "Well?" "He blurted ont the name of the other girl. He couldn't think of any j other name." "To whom, of course, he is not en gaged?" "No. And I don't suppose she would have him. She is far, far too good for him." "Is that your whole story?" "Very nearly. The girl went away and told her mother, who came up gushingly aud congratulated him. She is a true sportswoman. After that she went about telling everybody of the engagement, and my friend has had to receive congratulations ever since." "How awkward!" said Mollie medi tatively. ' 'Has the other girl heard of it?" "Not yet. This all happened yes terday." "Yesterday?" I nodded. "And the worst is the other girl is expected to arrive at the Towers almost immediately." "Dear me," said Mollie. "So your friend is at the Towers now?" "I didn't mean to let it out," I re plied, a little abashed. Mollio began to laugh. "It is most amusing; but why did you tell me about it?" "I want your advice." "Who is the other girl?" asked i Mollie curiously. I "Please dou't ask for names," I j implored. "But my ndviee must depend on tho other girl's disposition." "She is everything that is perfect," I replied fervently. "No doubt," retorted Mollie satiric ally. "You might almost be the other girl yourself," I went ou with careful carelessness. "Keally?" said Mollie. "I believo that must be considered a compliment. Thank you very much." • "What," I asked, with elaborate in difference, "would you do if you were the other girl?" Mollie stopped aud broke off a sprig of red berries. They were not so red as her lips. "Of course," sho said, "I should be very annoyed." "Ah, of course," said I, forlornly. "At any rate, I should pretend to be very aunoyed." "Butreally ," Ibc-gan, delighted. "Oh, that would depend ou tho man." "Supposing, for the sake of illustra tion," said I, surveying tho white ex panse of a neighboring field, "I was tho man?" "This is nonsense," said Mollie. "We cnu't make believo to that ex tent." "Why can't we?" "You would never he so foolish." "But if " "Let us talk about something sensi ble," said Mollie, with decision. "But my poor friend is depending on me for advice." I She thought. "Of course your friend must get away from tho Towers before the other girl arrives." "I'on are quite elea l : he ought to get away?" I asked mournfully. "There cau he no doubt of that- Just fancy everybody rushing to con gratulate tho other girl, and your friend being present at the time. There might he a dreadful scene." "I can picture it," said I, repress ing a groan. We had arrived at tho entrance to the avenue. I stoppod uud held out my hand. "Goodby," I said. ' 'What do you mean ?" she exclaimed. "I—l am going away. I am the man." Ido not thiuk lam mistaken. Tho color faded slightly from her lace. "And tho other girl?" she queriod faintly. "Y'ou arc the other girl." The red replaced the white. She stood quite still, with her eyes bent downward; aud then she began to traoe figures in the snow with the toe of her tiny boot. "Goodby," I repeated. Sbo looked up. "Of course, lam very angry," she said. Aud then she smiled and held out her hand. I took it humbly, and forgot to relinquish it. "Mamma will be getting anxious," she remarked. "We must hurry." But we did not hurry.—Pick-Me-Up. Women ae Clerks. Of the 20,000 Washington Govern ment clerks, nparly one-third are wo men, who receive from 3000 to SIBOO yearly. Frozen Cream. New Zealand farmers now send frozen cream to London, where it is churned for butter. PluntiiiK n Strnwberry Patch. J. M. Ingling, of Illinois, writes: A.uy soil which will grow a crop of 2oru will produce strawberries, but of 20urse a clay sub-soil of roddish color is best. I prefer timothy or clover sod. Plow live inches deep very early in March. Drag or roll, as this as sists in rotting. Work until this i 9 like a garden. With a light marker i Having three runners three feet apart, ' [ lay the laud oil crosswise. Then beginning 011 one side, stretch a No. j 14 plain wire. Insert a brick layer's , ten-inch trowel to its full depth, and I pull slightly toward yourself, pick up j plant with left hand by the leaves and ' with a downward forward sweep drop in at back of trowel with thumb and foretinger, firmly holding the heart of crown. Withdraw the trowel and as you do so press the ground firmly about the plant, pulling it up slightly. This excludes all air and firms the plant. Wheu first row is set move wire forty-two inches and repeat. I set every third plant a fertilizer, or one fertilizer and two female plants. As soon as plants are set, if no rain has fallen, run roller over them and follow with a light harrow. Cultivate crosswise twice before' runners bother, then do all cultivat ing lengthwise, drawing runners in until you make a perfect or solid row. Keep the field clean. I work plants each week until September, when with small Diamond plow and rolling coulter I narrow each row*down to twelve inches. In ten days I work soil back to row. From first to mid dle of October I haul mulch and cover six to eight inches deep, and the field is ready for winter. I have followed this system ten years and have no cause to change my method. Nearly every berry grower has his particular ways. I set plants in row as stated, then all pickers have rows exactly alike. Fertl for Laying; Ducks. From an article on "How to Handle Breeding and Laying Ducks," by James Kaukin, in Farm Poultry, the following is taken: Too often the health of tho young bird is injured by the improper feed ing of.the mother bird during the lay ing season. The food should consist of the I proper ingredients, and quantity just what the bird will eat clean, and no more. Grit is absolutely necessary, and is one of the essentials. We not only keep it, together with cracked ' oyster shells, in boxes constantly by : them, but mix it in ther food. | They must have something during | their confinement duriug inclement weather to enable them to assimilate I their food. One ingredient which we 1 consider of the greatest importance is green food, which should compose • nearly one-fourth of the whole. We have some two acres of rye, eighteen I inches high. This is cut three-eighths of au inch long and mixed with the I food. I When there is prospect of snow we ; •cut large quantities of this in a frozen | state aud pile it up on the north side l of a building. It will not heat in this i condition. Should this be used up, i and the ground still be covered with snow, we have several tons of fine ! clover rowen stored for the purpose, which we cousider next in value to the rye, so that we are never out of that material for feeding. We also grow about a thousand bushels of turnips, which we steam until they are soft, and mix them in ■ the food. This the birds relish ! highly. i The first point is to start in with j good breeding stock. Birds that have been inbred until their constitu tions are completely debilitated are in 1 no condition for reproduction. | Strains that do not begin laying until March or April are more or less ; unprofitable, because when their young are ready for the knife the best of the spring market is gone, and the grower must take a reduced price for I his product. In this, as in many j other cases, "the early bird catches j the worm." | My formula for feeding breeding ! aud laying birds, when fertile eggs are ] desired, is as follows: For breeding . birds (old or young, during the fall), feed three parts of wheat bran, one part of Quaker oat feed, one part corn meal, five per cent, of beef scrap, five I per cent, of grit, and all the green food I they will eat in the shape of corn fodder cut fine, clover or oat fodder. Feed this mixture twice a day, all they will eat. For laying birds, equal parts of I wheat brau aud corn meal, twenty per cent, of Quaker oat feed, ten per cent, j of boiled potatoes or turnips, fifteen j per cent, of clover rowen, green rye or refuse cabbage chopped fine, five j per cent, of grit. Feed twice a day | all they will eat, with a lunch of corn I aud oats at noon. Keep grit and ground oyster shells constantly by them. We never cook the food for our ducks after they are a week old, but mix it up with cold water. Summer Pruning of the Pear. Some years ago I came into posses j sion of a pear orchard of about five eigliths of an acre. It had been badly | neglected, and I took it in hand to i make it produce un income. My [ knowledge of the subject was gained | from books, and I made some blun- ders. Among other things I pruned the trees heavily and manured them, "not wisely, but too well." As a con sequence, they were thrown strongly into wood growth. Several Anjou trees about nine inches in diameter took on a tremendous wood growth, but yielded very few pears, hardly a fraction of a bushel each. Casting about for a remedy, I ran across an account of a Frenchman's method of promoting the growth of bloom buds and adopted it. It con sisted iu breaking off, in early July, about two-thirds of each newly-grown shoot on all trees that were making too much wood growth. The method was very successful. I recollect that two trees which never had yielded more than'a bushel of each of pears, after three years of this treatment produced between six and seven bushels each of pears of the highest quality. Iu 1877 I had between thirty and forty bushels of Anjous, which was an average crop. The quantity stead ily increased till 1884, when I had over a hundred and thirty bushels of first quality Anjous. The Anjoos were the only trees I systematically treated to this summer pruning, and the in crease in their product was very much greater than that of varieties not so treated. There wereßartletts, Clapps, Clairgeaus, Sheldons, Duchess, Law rence nnd Seckels in the orchard. They received the same care as the Anjous, but got very little summer pruning; they made a satisfactory gain in product, but it was not nearly equal to thnt of the Anjous. Not all varieties were equally suited to this treatment, notably the Meckel, Law rence and Sheldon. Some did not need it, as they Eet more pears than they could carry properly, nnd needed to have the crop thinned. I believe that liberal manuring, thorough cultivation of the soil, and the removal of two-thirds of the new growth in early summer will go a long way toward rendering pear trees fruitful. It can be done very rapidly. The shoots can be broken by the hand with great ease. Any man of common intelligence can be taught to do the work. Cutting is no better a method than breaking, if it is as good.—O. F. Rogers, iu Country Qentieman. Sleeps LPM Than an Hour N Day. W. Clemens Christie, of Cincinnati, must hold the world's record as cham pion sleep abstainer, for he does not take more than six hours of sleep a week—less than one hour a day. He is a veteran of the late war, s harness maker by trade. His face is ruddy and entirely free from wrinkles. Although he is fifty-six years old, he does not look or act more than thirty five. He works at his trade day and night, and is never ill or inactive from the brevity of his sleeping periods. "This thing of sleeping is merely o habit," Christie says. "There is noth ing strange about it, and any one can do without much sleep if he cares tc try it. With me it is merely a mattet of business. I generally have suf ficient work on hand to keep me husy nearly all the time, both night and day, and, in consequence of this, I put the greater part of the time that othei people lose by sleeping in working. "No, there is no secret about it, nor do I take any precautions or drugs to keep me awake. My idea lies solely iu eating instead of sleeping. It if my belief that a good meal is just as much a restorative for tired nature as a deep sleep would be. Eat instead of sleep, say I, and you get along just as well. "I venture to say that there is no! another man iu the country who habi tually feels as well and as bright as ] do every morning, though he Bleep all night, and I never close my eyes," Knew Wliat It Meant. "Of course we won't have anyregu lar house cleaning at this time of the year," she said, "but we might us wel straighten things around a bit and change tho arrangements a little. 1 can see how the house could be mad* to look much more attractive. To morrow I'll get a scrubwoman and o man to help move the furniture, aud— Whnt are you doing, John?" "I am merely wrapping up my slip pers, my dressing gown and one 01 two other things to take to tho office,' he replied. "To take to the office?" she ex claimed. "Oh, that's all right; I'll bringtheir back," he hastened to explain. "You see, I don't want to have to hunt foi them after you have put thiugs tc rights."—Chicago Post. Uncle Sam'fi Coaling: Island. Uncle Sam has ever been careful to keep secret the movements of wai vessels in commission so far as possi ble, and with this end in view he has just shipped n cargo of 1400 tons ol bituminous coal froiu this port to Dry Tortugas, one of the most southerly islands of the United States, situated 120 miles from the coast of Florida. There tho ships iu Southern waters can now take on their coal, avoiding the run to Key West, where their movements soon become known to the world. In wnr times the island was well known to privateers and blockade runners, but since then it has only been used as aquarantine station. Ten small islands, all of coral formation comprise the Tortugas.—Philadelphii Record. A FAMOUS OIL WIZARD. JACOB LONC'S UNERRINC FORKED STICK POINTS TO THE FLUID. Recent Discoveries Miulo Hie Reputation National—For a I.onc Time lictore tne Oil Fever llccaine Kpl