E:;PSRTS AS TO A BOVS ACE. OHBAOV and Barber Disaiyrep nnd t!ia Court Sides With tlio Barber. A youth clad in the shabbiest gar ments imaginable, but wearing a one karat diamond ring, furnished a prob lem in the criminal court that required the -wit and ingenuity of experts to solve. It was necessary to ascertain the lad's age and before a satisfactory estimate was made several attorneys, a lmrber, a veterinary surgeon and a judge had passed judgment unsuccess fully. The boy is known to the police as ,4 Doe" Silcote. He was before Judge Baker on the charge of having •stolen 284 pounds of bullion from a freight car on a Union Pacific side track near the smelter. When arraigned Silcote entered a plea of not guilty. His attorney in formed the Court that lie desired to withdraw the plea and admit his guilt. If lie were of legal age, as alleged in the complaint, the admission of guilt would send him to the penitentiary; otherwise he would escape with the reform school. "Doctor, come here," commanded the court. "How old are you?" "I never knew?" replied the lad. "It's going to be hard work to tell this hoy's age," observed the Court. "Do any of the complainants know anything about him?" Detective Vizzard, of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, attempted to prove that Silcote lias been stealing so long bo must be more than sixteen, but the Court would not accept deduc tions for evidence. One of the attor neys then jokingly made a remark that was taken seriously. "There's a man skilled in lmrse craft," he said, pointing to a veterin ary surgeon among the spectators. "Bring him up," instructed the Judge, "and let's see if lie can give us a clue." A I'lic veterinary expressed the opinion thai Silcote is more than sixteen, *'.s he had several teeth youngsters do not enumerate among their molars. As a precedent for expert testimony liad been established, an attorney for the defense asked leave to call a bar ber from the crowd to express an •expert's opinion on Sileote's beard. The barber thought he must be young er than sixteen. The Court ruled finally that Silcote is under legal age and cannot be sent to ihe penitentiary. He will lie sen tcured to a term in the reform school. —Omaha Bee. Fun Has a Vuluablo Sltlo. *'Shnw me a man who does not ap preciate humor," said John Kondrlefc Bangs to me, "and I will show you a man who is morbid, cynical, unrespon sive to every call of nature. Such a man is worse than.a pessimist, and more to ho pitied. Take sotne of the greatest and most successful men in the world. Humor has always played an important part in their lives. Of ten a funny incident has marked tiie turning point of a great man's career. Often some ridiculous condition has he en the impetus of a new start in life:" Mr. Bangs is right. Did not Colum bus's apparently hopeless task of standing an egg on end make thinkers of ihe wise men who sat arouml liim? Was not George Washington credited with being a master of the truth bo cause lie once saw a boy punished for trying to Jest with ills father, and dually became, as Mr. Bangs face tiously remarks, so "lie couldn't tell a lie if he saw one?" And didn't Johnnn Gutenberg invent the printing pros by working out a theory which found its origin while he was playing leap-frog with soiuo other hoys on damp ground? The impression made in the soil by the hoys' feet is said to have given Gutenberg his first idea of Die Impression that could he made by types."—Robert Mackay, in Suc cess. Hull Mouse Fight* A Locomotive. The Pacific Express was half an hour late in reaching Brandon, Mani toba, a few days ago, and the delay was caused by oue of the most curious happenings ever known in Manitoba. The train was traveling at a slow rate of speed and had just reached the Brandon mile hoard when the engin eer saw a giant bull moose standing on the track. He tooted the whistle and slowed up his train, hut the king of the forest refused to move. lie was not to lie bluffed by any red-eyed animal with no more horns than a loromotivo. He was bent on light, and tossing his millers in the most defiant manner Bashed toward the engine. The en gineer saw him coming nnd opened up the throttle and went at him. It was only a fight of a minute. The hull's horns became wedged in the pilot and he bellowed nnd kicked, but A to no avail. The train pulled up and the remain, were cleared away. One AVny of Learning:. "Oh, papa, we are studying infini tives," said a little ten-year-old. "So?" said her father. "Yes, and they are awful easy," said the child. "Just 'to' and an 'action word.'" Said the fath er, "Going to school, oh?" "Yep," said 1 lie child. "Whipping two boys?' "That's it," said the child. "Growing too cold?" "That's another," said thr child. "We are going to take up par ticiples next. We understand 'em all." And the little maiden finished iter din ner in blissful iguorance that there is anything difficult iu grammar. Tiie school represented In the above Is a good school, nnd the child will come out all right; hut supposing site depends on what she gets iu the sixtii grade grammar class for her success she will not have any.—School Educa ■ Hon. HORTIC/LTVRAL HINTS* ALIS T Treating: Fear Blight. The only effective method of treat ing pear blight is to cut out and burn all affected branches. Cut off several inches below the diseased part and dis infect the knife or saw with kerosene or carbolic aeid, before cutting an other branch, so as to avoid all dan ger of spreading the disease. llow tlio Bewt Trees Ave Grown* Some fruit growers are of the opin ion that the best trees can be had from seed planted where the trees are to grow, and then top grafting litem with the desired varieties, dis turbing the soil as little as possible, except to keep it clean. They advo cate that the forest tree thrives be cause its roots are never disturbed, nnd protection is afforded by the leaves which cover the ground in win ter. The Benefit of Mulching:* Experienced fruit growers who have tried mulching raspberries, blackber ries and strawberries, in comparison with rows not mulched, report that the rows that were mulched gave double the amount of fruit. They also stood the drought much better and the vines nnd canes were more vigorous. The Increased crops more than paid for the mulching, while one year there woidd have been no crops at all hut for the mulch. Setting n Apple Orchard* In setting an apple orchard wo would place them at distances apart of thirty-five to forty feet one way and thirty-tliroe to forty feet the other way, being governed by the habit of growth of the variety selected. The spreading trees like the Greening and Baldwin will be near enougli together when full grown if tlicy are forty feet apart each way, while those of up right habit of growth would not bo crowded if not. more than tDirty or thirty-tliree feet apart. Yet when holii are set in tlio same orchard It is bettor to have the distance about forty feet oue way and then the upright growers can be placed together iu the row. If It is desired to utilize the ground more Cully, pears, peaches, plums or quinces may be set between the apples trees n the rows, with the expectation of having them cut out when the apple trees had grown so us to need the space. Of the forty foot space be tween the rows about thirty feet cnu be used for growing hoed crops while the trees are young, thus not losing llie use of hut one-fourth of the laud before the trees begin to pay for that which they occupy. The fertilizer and cultivation given these hoed cdops would also he beneficial to the growth of the trees.—American Cultivator. Composition of tln Tomato* Tito extensive use of the tomato for the table lias resulted In many inqui ries concerning its food value. Profes sor Harry Snyder, of the Minnesota experiment station, presents a series of analyses, the-results of which arc shown in the accompanying illustra tion. Of course the greater part is WHAT A TOMATO IS MADE Of. ;i. Solids othor than sugar. 11. Protein.} water. Of the nutrients sugar is by far tlio largest amount, being 3.53 per cent. There is a wide range in the different samples. Some specimens contain less than one per cent, and others as high as four and a half per cent. The protein content is low, and amounts usually to one-half per cent. The fat amounts to about one-half per cent., or practically the same as the protein.—American Agriculturist. The Transportation of Pollen* A matter of importance to fruit growers is an experiment made at the Vermont Experiment Station on the transportation of pollen of fruit blossoms. There is a general belief that pollen is transported from tree to tree by winds or bees. Experiments show that the pollen is carried almost exclusively by insects, and that the wind has but little to do with It. Pre pared glass slips were placed In the plum orchard, so as to be exposed to the wind from all directions. The slips were examined with hand glasses (on April 24 and 25), the wind blowing iive miles an hour. This was at the height of the polinating season, the slips being placed at all points, and iu the midst of the orchard, as well as at various distances from the ground, and also close to the trees, one slip being right under a tree. In twenty four hours it had caught one pollen mass. Some of the slips caught none, while but few were caught on any. The experiment was very carefully conducted and demonstrated that, so far as plum trees were concerned, bees and other insects are necessary for carrying the pollen to the blo&soms. SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. The Russian ministry of communi cations has decided to adopt petroleum for generating power on the locomo tives of all the railways. The French forest inspector at La mur has found away of making wood, by means of dry distillation and high pressure, impervious to water and acids, and a perfect electrical non-con ductor. Large balance wheels for engines and other machines running at high speeds are made in Germany by wind ing steel wire of rectangular section on a steel wheel having a grooved cir cumference. The wire insures the wheel against bursting in case of ab normal speed. Sir Honri Joly, the lieutenant-gov ernor of British Columbia, with the assistance of the Natural History so ciety of that province, is taking steps to import large quantities of song birds from England and eastern Can ada. It is believed that they will be rapidly acclimatized, and will thrive in British Columbia. No century in history has been with out severe earthquakes in southern Italy. Thousands have perished there. Vesuvius adds to the clanger of that land, and tne town of Torre del Greco, which lies under the mountain, may meet the fate of Pompeii and Hercu lanaeum any clay. It has been partially destroyed several times. In the new switch tower in the Grand Central yard, New York City, the windows are of green glass. It is a great protection to the eyes of the employes, and enables them to keep their vision at its normal strength at all times. The switch tower contains 176 levers, which operate the switches and signals by compressed air. The reports of the test of the new 12-inch naval gun at the Indian Head proving-grounds are most en couraging, and claims are advanced that the highest velocity ever attained by a. 12-inch gun was achieved. The projectile for this gun, which is one of 40 recently ordered for new battleships and heavy cruisers, weighs 850 pounds, and is fired with a charge of 300 pounds of smokeless powder. The pressure at the breech developed In these tests was 1G 1-2 tons to the square inch, and the muzzle velocity of the projectile was 2854 feet per second. The previous record* for a gun of this size is stated at from 2500 to 2000 feet per second. INSECTS IN METAL. The Itigenion* Bitvice of a Frenchman for Be producing: Them. Did you ever see a copper caterpillar, a silver centipede, or a nickel gnat? Yet these and many similar objects can bo had, if not for the asking, at least for a reasonable amount f money, at several places in New York. Who dis covered thecuriousart is unknown,but it was introduced into this city by an eccentric Frenchman who said that ho had elaborated the discovery of some chemists in Paris. M. Paul Despotte. for such was the man's name, declared Ills secret to be as follows: He first lampened the luckless insect, leaf or flower and then blew on it with a blowpipe. The object thus dusted was placed in an electrolytic bath, and upon it the metal was precipitated by the galvanic current. The object was then transferred to a second bath, from which ail the organic matter was dissolved by an alkali. The metalic shell which remained was slightly heated, touched with some kind of shellac, and the thing was done. The inventor carried with him quite a col lection of these preparations. Tho most interesting of all were a mosquito in gold and a hairy geranium leaf in copper. The delicacy of the work was extra ordinary. Under a powerful magnify ing glass the little organs which are invisible to the human eye were seen perfectly reproduced in metal. The discovery does not seem to have been utilized to any great extent so far as trade is concerned, but has been taken up by many amateurs. This fall an in genious girl up town first covered the back of her hand with black lead and then plated it with metal. She re moved this, which was a perfect cast, and used it as a matrix, in which she deposited a second coat of metal, which she finally mounted on a piece of satin. Iler hand, a3 may be supposed, was pretty, and when reproduced its copper made a work of art as novel as it was attractive.—New York Evening Post. Why Altitude Help* Cortftuiii|ifivei. The splendid results of high altitude in the treatment of tuberculosis have not been due to any curative constitu ent of the atmosphere or any peculiar ity of temperature, but entirely to de creased barometric pressure upon the external surface, compelling a greater expansion of the chest, opening up a larger surface for the interchange of gases and consequently a greater oxy genation of the blood. It is self-evi dent then that the forced distention of the lungs and bronchi in those who live in high altitudes alone confers immunity against the disease. The ex ercises available to produce better res piration are very numerous and varied, but the underlying principle is simply to bring into more vigorous play the muscles wheh expand the thorax and at the same time excite deep, full and free breathing—to bring the vital force of the lung to its maximum—Parker Murphy, in Albany Medical Annals. Germany holds first place in cannry rearing with 250,000 birds a year. One hundred thousand of these go to Amprica.. A cord of pitch pine under distillation gives the following substances: Char coal. 50 bushels; illuminating gi ; . about 1,000 cubic feet: illuminating oil and tar, 50 gallons; pitch or rosin, ij/. barrels; pyroligneous acid. 100 gallons; spirits of turpentine, JO gallons; tar. 1. barrel; wood spirits, ' gallons. The Beat Prescription for Chllla ' and Fever Is a bottle of GitOVK's TABTILKM CHILL TONIC. It is simply iron and quinine in & tasteless form. No cure—no pay. Price 50c. Launceston in Tasmania has its dec-1 trie lighting system derived front a riv er that forms one of the city's boun daries. Tiie Spirit of the Orug Cures disease. Hoxsie' < Croup Curoeon'uins ! that subtle power rendering it an infallible re medy for Croup, Pneumonia, Diphtheria. 50c, California sends $1,000,000 worth of I canned fruits to Germany a year, and more arc wanted. YOU'RE W I fn&teasS # fi Make Yourself a New Man 1 I' j a\J* T ' , Gr ?T EN ?' 85 West 14th St., New York City, is the most successful specialist in curing nervous and chronic diseases. He has remedies for all forms of disease, and offers to i;ive free consultation and advice, personally r by letter, YOU can tell or write your troubles to Dr. Greene, for all communications are confidential and letter* are answered in plain sealed envelopes. ' *wcrs fjammnmimmmmmma wm ■ MMMMMMFAAATTABMBHBM—— BMBB——— I A LUXURY WITHIN THE REACH OF ALL! npTIE lion does picket duty for you * and prevents adulteration and — frome^in t°y°~- When you buy an unbroken package ll \\ ° f COFFEE you have coffee that ' L—- llLv * s absolutely pure, strong and invigor ating. A single pound makes 40 cups. I V ' (V/ V \ ;£S I? \\ No otlier coffo ° will so far. You \\ /h ;/ vj will never know what it is like till you try h. LION COFFEE is not a glazed watch our noxt advertisement. compound, but c pure coffee and noth ing but coffee. IIV l £ C T y i ackag:c . °\ UON COFFEE YOU Will fine! a {Ily illustrated and descriptive housekeeper, in facs no woman, man, boy or gfirl will fail to find in the list some artief whicn will contribute to 1oe:r happiness, comfort and convenience, and which they may have bv simply cutting: out a certain number o. Lion Heads from the wrappers of our one pound scaled packages (which is the only form rr. which this excellent coffee is sold). WOOLSON SPXE CO., TOl .EDO, O.i'O. Germany has a life insurance associa te w.xecpers which, in seven years has paid over $300,000 to the fam ilies of members. PUTNAM FADELESS DYES are fast to sun light, washing uud rubbing. Sold by all druggists. | Cincinnati is the only municipality in the United States that owns and oper ates a railway system. It is valued at I $33,500,000. ' Dyspepsia is the banc of the human sys tem. Protect yourself against its ravages by the use of Beeman's Pepsin Guin. j An interesting chair in the newly rc , stored church called the Garrison . 1 Church, at Berlin, has been ordered by , I the kaiser to be placed in his pew there. I It is a simple wooden affair, and bears Mtlic following inscription: "King Fred -1 crick William I. once sat on this chair ) during divine service." | The value of all Kansas products for I lyoo, including animals slaughtered, is placed at $187,796,406. Uncle Su'-i Aim* ' to buj-the best of everything which is whr he uses Carter's tuk. He auuws what's good. American apples arc becoming known in France as well as in England and Germany. Piso's Cure is the best medicine we ever used for all uflections of throat and lungs.- WM. ' 0. ENDSLEY. Vanburen, Ind., Feb. 10, 1900. _Thci*e arc no statutory holidays 'n Mississippi. Kansas or Nevada. Dr. Bull's Cough Cures a cough or cold at once, fh Conquers croup, bronchitis. JjVl'lin finppc aud consumption. 25c. J * bl|^ DROP SY,! E t K, o °s
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers