FREELMD TRIBUNE.
ESTABLISHED 1888.
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Entered at the Postoffloe at Freeland. Pa„
as becond-Qas? Matter.
Make a'.! money order*, checks, eto. ,pny:blt
lo the. Tribune J'nn ing Company, Limited.
The south produces as much Iron as
France and more than 35 percent of
the iron of either Germany or England.
The Czar of Russia has named his
infant daughter Anastasia. That's a
mean way of getting even with her for
not being a boy.
Coi l Is found over wide areas in
India, and is being rapidly exploited.
Last year there was an increase in
production of 40 percent and exporta
tion has now begun.
A very rich man in New York City
copied his will from an instrument
that had stood the test in court, and
then secured the assurance of eminent
authorities that it would hold. Never
theless the lawyers have hopes.
A large emigration of peasants from
southern Russia to eastern Siberia is
noted as one of the results of tho open
ing of the Transsiberian railway Dur
ing the first three months of the cur
rent year about 3000 emigrants sailed
thence from Odessa.
About a year ago the Hawaiian gov
ernment undertook to burn up some
plague infected buildings, and in so
doing set fire to the local Chinatown,
thus sewing the seed of a crop of
claims now nearly ready for harvest
ing A million and a half wa3 apro
priated to meet them, hut they al
ready exceed $5,000,000 and are still
coming in. It is a new role for John
Chinaman to appear in, but as a de
butant it is not to be denied that he
shows considerable talent.
This is largely, perhaps essentially,
an ultllitarian age, but that is no rea
son why the esthetic and beautiful
should he ignored in government
buildings and parks. Very recently
Mr. Frederic Harrison, one of tho
leading English men of letters,
visited Washington and spoke in
high terms of the beauties of tho cap
ital of its possibilities in the future.
Europeans who come to tiro United
States and visit Washington compare
it most favorably with tho capitals of
the old world. Tho United States is
tho j'oungest of the great powers in
the world, hut it is not too young to
mako its capital city take rank In
architectural beauty with thc3o of
nations which were well advanced in
years before this republic was born.
Invention has done a vast deal to
better the condition of tho farmer,
hut comparatively little for the farm
er's wife. Indeed, the very multipli
cation of the possibilities for employ
ing men in groat numbers on a single
holding, through the development of
improved implements and machinery,
has seemed only to render heavier
the load which the head of tho domes,
tic establishment must carry. A Kan
sas man has at last devised a scheme
tor diminishing th e labor of the farm
er's wife. His plan is to introduce
bakeries and steam laundries in well
populated neighborhoods, so that,
when the harvest season calls for a
great increase in the number of men
employed in the fields, they may he
fed and cared for without the strain
upon the women in the household that
is now involved. The projector be
lieves that those institutions can bo
run successfully by th 0 farmers on
tho co-operative basis, and this should
mako the men all the readier to try an
experiment which the women must
certainly welcome.
The government distributes $1,200.-
000 yf.-arly among agricultural col
leges.
The University of Michigan is to
teach shipbuilding.
TQ.DAY.
The dav is done—this peaceful day -J The past has been that I may stand
Recedes, to merge within the vast Here gazing at the crimson sky
Gray banks ot the mist that stretch away Aslant above the fruitful land
Across the oceans of the past: Whereon the mellow shadows lie;
But though it dies this day has brought The troubled ages that are gone
And given to the world some gains, Had ghastly woes that I might sea
lo grace and glorify somewhat This promise of fair days to dawn
As long, as man remains. For all the world and me.
—S. E. Kiser.
latanycost|
s , 7T T any cost, Agatha, I must
/ \ Unci a husband this year.
I am six and twenty and
it's getting serious."
"My dear Rachel, I will do anything
In my power to help you, but I have
suggested every one I know who is at
all likely to suit you."
"Young men whose prospects are in
the dim future or who have no pros
pecte at all. X am obliged to you. And
some of them were very pleasant, but
I have told you before, that kind of
man simply won't do."
"I don't think you are asking too
much," said Mrs. Challiuor, looking at
her l'rlend reflectively. "You are good
looking, you dress well, have plenty of
go. To tell the truth, I have never
been able to understand why you have
not ninrried long ago."
"I don't know, either," said Rachel,
rather savagely. "I felt very low
down tliis morning nud almost made
up my mind to write to Stead."
"To Stead!" echoed Mrs. Challinor,
rather helplessly.
"Yes; he seems able to do anything
and to help every one. I thought of
sending him my photograph, stating
my case and asking him to try to iind
some one for me. Do you think it was
a very wild idea';" trying to read her
friend's averted face.
"Well, I think It was, rather. It
would be wiser not to do that kind of
thing. When you are married, you
know," she went on, careful to con
sider Rachel's feelings, "you might
meet Stead, or some one else might
see your photograph, and very unpleas
ant results might follow. Your hus
band would he in a rage."
"Oh, I shan't mind that. When he
Is my husband he may lie in as many
rages as lie likes. Y'ou know, Agatha,
It is quite natural for a girl to want to
marry. I don't want a husband just
for tlie name or to show him off to my
friends, but I want to begin to enjoy
myself; to have a better dressmaker
and to go al out and have a good time
generally."
"I see," rejoined Mrs. Challinor,
"and now I come to think of it, I do
know of some one else. Our neigh
bor, Mr. Bonn, is coming home to-mor
row. Frank told inc last night; lie
had a letter from him on business,
lie is middle-aged, a bachelor and rich.
Do you think you would care to try
lor him?"
"Bonn!" repeated Rachel; "I don't
care much for the name 'Rachel Bonn!'
I can't say it sounds attractive. And
middle-aged; but rich and a bachelor,
so that I could train him In my own
ways from the beginning. The pros
and cons seem about equally balanced.
I would not miml just seeing him, if
you would he so kind as to arrange it.
You see, marriage is of such import
ance to a girl."
"Certainly," said Mrs. Chnlllnor; "ho
shall dine with us at the earliest op
portunity."
There were no other guests on the
evening Mr. Benn dined with them.
Mrs. Challinor Intended Rachel lo
shine alone, and shine she did. Her
dress was most becoming, she was
looking her best, and the little feeling
of nervousness silo had gave her more
than her usual brightness of speech
and manner. She talked much to Mr.
Bean, but, though he listened and an
swered politely, ho made no special
effort to talk to her, nor, as Mr. Chal
linor told Ills wife afterward, did he
show any impatience to join her in
the drawing room after dinner. Dur
ing the evening she sang nud played,
but he seemed rather bored than any
thing else and said, a little callously,
that he did not care for any music ex
cept "Home, .Sweet Home," and "God
Save the Queeh," and of those he was
not sure which was which until he
saw if the people stood up or remained
seated. Bachel, who, having under
stood from Mrs. Challinor that lie had
some knowledge of music, had spent
nil the morning practicing "Across the
Far Blue Hills, Marie," "They Played
in a Beautiful Garden," and other
songs of a like nature, felt a little ruf
fled in temper that her work had been
thrown away. "Sengs Without
Words" and melodies of Schubert met
with no better success. He thanked
her civilly at the end of each and at
once relapsed into business or political
talk with Mr. Challinor, evidently
thinking the ladies might he left to
themselves. At the end of the even
ing she felt disappointed and out of
spirits. She had shone her brightest
and her rays had not warmed him in
I the least; ho had stayed no later than
usual and on shaking hands with her
lie had said no more than the conven
tional and meaningless things n'oout
having been pleased to meet her.
They saw one another often after
that; Mrs. Challinor had no difficulty
In bringing them together. Rachel was
paying her a long visit and Mr. Benn
had always been fond of coming to her
house. No other guest was ever there
to dispute the ground; Rachel had
things all her own way and yet very
little progress seemed to be made. Otic
after another she had displayed her
various accomplishments, hut had re-
I celved nothing more appreciati"e than
| the remark that she seemed tu he a
I very clow young lady. Mrs. Challinor
I had even gone so far as to arrange
! an occasion for her friend to show her
t natural sweetness of temper. That had
. certainly seemed to Impress Mr. Bcnn
1 more than anything else; hut when
people are visiting friends and work
ing to make a good impression on an
acquaintance, sweetness of temper is
supposed to be their unavoidable frame
of mind and effective tests cannot be
i arranged every day.
"How do you think you arc getting
on, dear';" asked Mrs. Challinor one
day.
"What do you suppose a perfect
stranger would think who was to see
us together iu your drawing room any
evening!"
"That is rather an unreasonable
question. How can X put myself in
the position of a perfect stranger?"
"You don't want to hurt my feelings.
Both of us know perfectly well that
Mr. Benn and I are not getting on at
aIL We are good friends and that is
the beginning and end of it He is
decidedly heavy, and he thinks I dab
ble in a lot of things and do none well.
I think I shall have to play my final
card and show my greatest accom
plishment of all and I don't believe
you would ever guess what it is."
"For goodness' sake, don't ask me to
guess. I never could guess even the
herring and a half for three half pence
riddle. It's a mystery to me yet. Tell
mo at once."
Rachel told her secret in a whisper.
"What!" shouted Mrs. Challinor,
"why on earth did you not say so at
first? You might have been Rachel
Beun now. He is always in difficul
ties with his servants—he is in difficul
ties now. He was telling me about it
last evening while you were playing
that wedding inarch from Lohengrin.
When did you learn?"
"Last year, when I began to grow
desperate. I did it on purpose nnd
worked very hard. I thought it might
be my most deadly weapon sometime.
I kept it to the last, because when a
man of Mr. Bonn's stamp knows his
wife can coo'.: he generally expects her
to live in the kitchen and to read
nothing but cookery books. So I want
ed to show I could do other things as
well and was not a mere domestic
drudge. 1 hoped to succeed without
bringing it in at all, but I'm afraid I
must."
"My dear, your fortune is made.
How very sensible you are! It is a
pity other girls don't do the same
thing. You must promise now to put
yourself in my bauds. I will see you
don't fail."
She summoned Mr. Benn that even
ing and asked him if his domestic dif
ficulties wcro at ati end."
"Alas, no," he said. "I am in chaos.
The housemaid won't stay and the
housekeeper won't go. She says she
knows a good place when she finds
one nnd eli? is not going to leave me to
myself. In the meantime she cooks
abominably. I have not had a com
fortable meal iu my own house for
nearly a fortnight and her extrava
gance is beyond all hounds. Her
weekly bills simply make my hair
stand on end."
"I think I can help you. I heard of
a housekeeper" the other day who, I be
lieve would just suit you. If you will
get rid of yours or give me authority
to do so I will see If I can get the per
son I spoko of to come."
lie thanked her profusely, agreed to
everything she proposed and left the
matter in her hands.
She was at his house when he came
home on tlio following evening.
"Mrs. .Tones has gone," she said. "I
have persuaded the housemaid to stay
and I have interviewed the house
keeper I told you of. She is willing to
come but cannot do so until to-mor
row. I could not persuade cook to do
anything for you, hut she has very
kindly allowed tlio kitchen maid to
come down and she is getting dinner
for you now. Cook has not much
opinion of her, hut I hope she will bo
able to manage something."
The dinner was uneatable and pcor
Mr. Benn almost criod with disgust
during the evening. lie went up to
the Chaliinors before bedtime and they
sympathised with him. It appeared
the new housekeeper bad promised to
come in plenty of time to cook tlie din
ner the next evening nnd she had the
very highest credentials. Rachel sang
"Home, Sweet Home," and looked very
pretty. If Mr. Benn's mind had cnly
been free from those miserable dom
! estic worries lie could not have failed
to seo bow exceed'ngly charming she
was.
Mrs. Challinor met him at his own
door again tlio following evening. She
snid the housekeeper had comc. but
bad nsked as a favor that she should
not see Mr. Bonn for n week. She was
a lady by birth and bad never before
taken such a position. She felt, there
fore, a little shy at first and was uot
sure if she would stay.
Again Mr. Benn almost slied tears
over his dinner, but this time they
were tears of delight. Never since he
had lost ids first housekeeper, who had
married a butler and set tip a private
hotel, bad lie enjoyed such n dinner,
cither in his own house or any'other.
i It went on for a week. More than
i once he wanted to see Ills new guar
dian angel nnd to thank her personal
ly. hut Mrs. Challinor forbade It. She
said it would be resented as an Intru-
sion and the housekeeper would pnek
up nnd go. Such breakfasts and din
ners, such light, savory suppers he had
hitherto only dreamed about. A rum
or reached him that she intended to
stay only a month, nnd he determined
to seo her nnd hear upon what terms
she would consent to remain. She must
be secured, cost what it might.
Without any warning he penetrated
into the kitchen one day a little before
dinner time, and discovered Rachel In
full activity. An explanation followed
on both sides, nnd the question of the
housekeeper remaining was satisfac
torily settled.
They were married almost at once,
though how they got on afterward I
can't pretend to say. When people nro
determined to have what they want,
cost what It may, they must be pre
pared to run some risks.—Wnverley
Magazine.
LIVE-WIRE FiSHING.
Every Fisli That Ceta Within Ten Feet of
tlio Net Ifl Caught.
It is "positively shocking" the way
they are catching fish at the plant of
the St. Anthony Falls Water Power
Company. This, too, in face of a large
sign on which Is inscribed in plain let
ters: "No Fishing Allowed; Keep Off."
But. then, only tlio Immednte attaches
of tlio power house are privileged.
The electricians have become no
used to working wonders by electric
ity—such a miracle, for Instance, as
running the street railways of two
cities without scarcely having to turn
n hand themselves—thnt they are In
the habit of calling the mysterious
fluid to their assistance whenever it is
convenient to do so.
They started out early in the season,
which did not open until Wednesday,
to fish in the legitimate way, but fall
ing to get any fish to speak of by hook,
they determined to catch them, if pos
sible, by crook—to electrocute them.
Since then fish have responded with
such wonderful nlaerlty to the novel
bait that a few minutes' sport will
give the new fisherman "a nice mess."
The sight would bring tears to the
eyes of Ike Walton, who believed "art
for art's sake," who accounted It a
more creditable performance to catch
one fish nn hour by patient, painstak
ing, philosophic endeavor, than to
slaughter the finny tribe on the whole
sale plan in short order.
At the power house they take a good
live wire, properly insulated, where
tlie angler holds It, and stick the same
Into tlio water. Water is n good con
ductor, as everybody knows, nnd
every time a fish comes within ten or
twelve feet of tlie centre of disturb
ance he is conducted to the surface.
He is not dead—he is simply shocked
into Insensibility by his sensational re
ception, nnd If left to his own re
sources would soon he himself again.
But the cruel man on the ledge of ma
sonry which juts out into tho river
around tho power house, through
which the tail race comes pouring,
reaches deftly into tho water and
scoops up tho unfortunate fish with a
not.
Perch, shiners, bullheads, crapples
nnd an occasional sturgeon are caught
in this way. One of the electricians
who was directing the mighty ma
chinery which generates 10,000 horse
power, said that he had caught a
sturgeon early In tho spring which
weighed twenty pounds. 110 said that
an ordinary current of electricity was
strong enough to bring the most ob
streperous fish to the surface In most
cases. He bad to band tho sturgeon
considerably move than the average
before he could make him "lie still and
be quiet."
Sometimes a simple iron plato with
electrical connections is used. It is
lmng over the side of tho wall into the
river, and does the work as effectu
ally as the wire apparatus. The ! w
does not specifically forbid electric
fishing, but Game Warden Fullerton
is going to see if the power houso j
sport can't ba stopped. Minneapolis
Journal.
What a Hoy Did In Olio TVeell.
Monday—Had to dig bait for dad to
go a-llshin'. He fished all day, and
two men brought liim homo 'bout sup
per time.
Tuesday—Club a tree to get a bird's
nest, nn' fell out o' the tree on to the
back of a mule that wuz grazin' under
it. The mule didn't like that, an'
throwed mo up into the tree again.
Wednesday—Proposed to Jimmlo
Johnson's sister. Asked her to Fly
with Me. Her mother heard me, an'
give rao such a lickln' witli a shingle
that I Hewed by myself, an* don't feel
tired enough to sit down to-day.
Thursday—Fell Into n molasses bar
rel, which wuz only half full. Though
we all have our Troubles nnd Sor
rows, I must say that life is Sweet
to r.ie.
Friday—A barbaeue was given to
tlio Sunday school Children yesterday.
Wo all had more than we could eat
and carry away. It is good to belong
to a Sunday school.
Saturday—Tho new preacher come
to spend Sunday with us. At break
fast lie ate seven biscuits, one beef
steak, nn' a frlsd chicken, an' drlulced
4 cups of coffee. 110 asked mo If I
didn't want to be nn angel? I told
Him that if He stay long, an' bis Ap
petite held out, I'd have to be one.—
Atlanta Constitution.
Food and Force.
The best-nourished individual, ether
things being equal, Is the strongest
and most useful, and the best fed na
tions, other tliigs being equal, are
those which lend the progress of the
world. Au abundance of food Is to be
regarded ns tlie essential foundation
for all individual, social, economic nnd
national aggrandizement.—Dr. Wiley,
in Everybody's Magazine.
A fool may speak In five languages,
but it takes a wise man to remain
silent in one.
HE FORGED A PARDON
HOW SWINDLER DENT CAVE A L ,C E
CONVICT FREEDOM.
Deceived a Prison Warden and Texnn Of
ficial—Detected by a Clerk—Capture of
the Forcer—Sent to the Penitentiary
For Life, While Hie Partner is at Largo
Attorneys for William .T. Dent, who
Is serving a life term in tlie Texas
State Penitentiary, have lost their ap
peal to the Court of Criminal Appeals,
and announce their determination to
take the case to the United States Su
preme Court. His attorneys contend
that he is enduring cruel and unusual
punishment for an act which is cov
ered hy no law in the Texas code.
Dent Is a swindler of national fame,
nc has left a train of forgeries from
the Canadian border to Mexico. But
it is for none of these offenses that he
Is in prison. He forged a pardon 1<
ter for a friend and former partner.
He fooled a Governor, a Secretary of
State, an Attorney-General and the
warden of a penitentiary. He won in
his plot and discounted every move of
the officials. But one trilling detail
was overlooked that led to his capture.
Ho bought a typewriter, without pay
ing for it, to assist him in his forgery,
but did not get a new-style machine
instead of an old style. The letters
were 3llghtly different, and that Is why
Dent's plot was exposed.
Dent's partner, for whose liberty he
plotted, was George Isaacs, a country
store keeper, who killed Sheriff Mc-
Gliee, of Hemphill County, Texas.
Isaacs was sent to the Texas State
Penitentiary for life in IS9S. Isaac's
partner, W. J. Dent, went to the same
penitentiary in 18015 for forgery.
Dent's term was five years, no was
discharged from the penitentiary, in
which he had been an exemplary pris
oner, in August, 1899.
One month later, a man who said
Ills name was Jackson walked into the
Governor's office in Austin, Tex., and
asked for particulars concerning the
application for the pardon of one
Clark, sentenced for horse-stealing.
The clerk told Jackson all pardon pa
pers were kept in the office of the Sec
retary of State. Jackson went there
and was shown the pardon tile. lie
studied them long and earnestly, went
out to luncheon, came back and spent
the afternoon in the office. He was
courteous and thanked the clerks pro
fusely.
Three weeks later he came Into the
office again and recalled the circum
stances of his former visit. lie pro
duced several papers, said he wanted
to send them to the warden of the
penitentiary as bearing on the case of
liorse-stenler Clark, and asked for an
official envelope to forward them in.
The clerk gave him the envelope, and
after more compliments and thanks
Jackson left;
Next morning the warden of the
penitentiary received a full and free
pardon for George Isaacs, sentenced
for life fcr killing Sheriff SlcGhee. The
signature of the Governor and the
other State officials were genuine. The
impress of the great seal was authen
tic. The pardon was in correct form
and of a regular pardon blank. There
was a neatly typewritten summary of
the reasons why Isaacs had been par
doned. Everything was so correct,
apparently, that Isaacs was called to
the warden's office, told of his good
fortune and set free.
The warden sent the usual acknowl
edgement ol' the receipt to the Gov
ernor. In due course the report of the
warden to the Governor was made. In
It the pardon of George Isaacs was
mentioned. The Governor scratched
his head. He could not remember
pardoning Isaacs. Ho called up the
Secretary of State. That official knew
nothing about it. Then he sent for
the warden. lie came and brought
the pardon with him. In his hurry
Isaacs had left it behind. The docu
ment was apparently genuine in every
detail. The State officials examined it
with a microscope, but could find no
tlaws. They were dumbfounded.
"Why did you not send an acknowl
edgement of this?" demanded the Gov
ernor, fiercely.
"I did," replied the warden. "I sent
It on the next morning."
The officials of the State of Texas
sat around in blank amazement. Then
a clerk saw a discrepancy between
two lines of typewriting. A typewrit
ing expert said two different machines
had been used. That made it clear
that the document was a forgery.
Barge rewards were offered for
Dent and Jackson. No clew was ob
tained. Finally, after a year of search,
a letter came from Phoenix, Ariz.,
from a woman who signed herself
Mrs. Gray, asking if Jackson would
be pardoned for his part in the pardon
forgery If Isaacs were surrendered.
The Governor sent an evasive reply
and a detective. The detective called
on Mr. Gray. He made the astound
ing discovery that Gray was Dent,
the former convict.
Dent discussed the pardon forgery
with the detective, said Dent was
working for him and asked what could
be done. The detective said ho would
communicate with the Governor. Next
morning as he was on his way to see
Gray, or Dent, he met that worthy on
the street, valise in hand. Dent was
arrested and brought back to Austin.
Then the story came out.
When Dent was in prison his be
havior was admirable, and he was
made a "trusty." One day a pardon
came for a prisoner named Walker.
Dent then had but a few more days
of his own term to serve. Walker was
so overjoyed at regaining his liberty
that ho ran for the train and left his
pardon lying in his hunk. The warden
found the paper there and told Dent
to run after Walker and hand It to
him. Dent ran out with the pardon
in his hand, but did not give it to
Walker. lie kept it himself. When
he was released he made the visit td
Austin under the name of Jackson,
familiarized himself with pardon
forms, fixed over the Walker pardon,
changed the names and number and
sent it to the penitentiary in the of
ficial envelope the clerk gave him. Be
■ fore he left the prison he bribed the
convict who handled the mail to de
stroy the acknowledgement he knew
the warden would mail, and that is
how he and his friend Isaacs had so
long a start.—New York World.
Not So Very Hard.
An old army surgeon who was fond
of a joke, if not perpetrated at his own
expense, was one day at a mess when
a wag remarked to the doctor, who had
been somewhat severe in his remarks
on the literary delinquencies of some
of the officers appointed from civil
life: "Doctor, are you acquainted
with Captain G?"
"Yes, I know him well," replied
the doctor. "But what, of him?"
"Nothing in particular," replied the
officer, "I have just received a letter
from him, and I wager you that
you cannot tell in five guesses how
he spells cat."
"Done," said the doctor; "It's a
wager." '
"Well, commence guessing," said
the officer.
"K-a-double-t."
"No."
"C-a-t-e."
"No, try again."
"K-a-t-e."
"No, you've missed it again."
"Well,then," returned the doctor,
"c-a--doub!e-t."
"No, that's not the way; try once
more, it's your last guess."
"C-a-g-t."
"No," said the wag, "that's not the
way: you've lost the bet."
"Well," said the doctor, with some
petulance of manner, "how does ho
spell it?"
"Why, he spells it c-a-t," replied the
wag with the utmost gravity, amid
the roars of the mess; and, almost
choking with rage, the doctor sprang
to his feet, exclaiming:
"Gentlemen, I am too old to be
trifled with in this manner."—Chicago
Tribune.
ComfortH of the Stecrnce.
The prevailing idea of the steerage
of an ocean steamer is a mass of un
comfortable people, men, women and
babes, packed in as closely as they can
stand, cooking their own food, sleeping
wherever they can find a place to lie
down on the deck, and living like pigs
or other animals in a foul atmosphere.
That used to be the case, but on the
big, modern Atlantic liners the accom
modations in the steerage are much
more comfortable and cleanly and
healthful than the people who occupy
them are accustomed to at home. Not
only legislation, but competition among
tlie different companies, has accom
plished great reforms in this direc
tion. The sanitary arrangements are
perfect. The methods of artificial ven
tilation, by which foul air Is forced out
and pure air is forced in, keeps them
clean and sweet, and methods of con
struction have been adopted so that
this can be done with a minimum of
labor.
The bunks are made of iron piping,
the mattresses are of woven bands of
iron, which yield to the body like ord
inary bodsprings; each passenger, in
stead of bringing his own bedding, as
was formerly the practice', is given a
sufficient number of clean blanffefs
and a pillow. There are bathrooms
and lavatory accommodations, which
are purified by well-known processes.
The sexes are separated; the men sleep
in one section and the women in an
other, and each sex has its own sep
arate accommodations.—Chicago ltec
ord-Herald.
Locust Porridge.
The every day life of a Bnsuto vil
lage is a very simple affair when com
pared with the life of a British vil
lage. Take, for instance, the food
supply. Porridge Is made of mealies,
autl thickened nud flavored with sour
milk (mafi) or herbs, and it is seldom
that a Mosuto—Bnsuto in the singular
becomes Mosuto—comes to his meal
leaving his appetite behind him. An
other standard dish is locust porridge,
a plentiful supply being kept up by the
constant showers of locusts, which are
veritable godsends to the natives in
a country where food is very scarce.
The Basuto collect tons and tons of
these insects, and carefully' store them,
first pulling off the heads and wings.
As occasion requires, they place quan
tities in large pots and boil them until
soft and pulpy, flavoring the porridge
with fat, and making it savory with
salt. The locust to an unprejudiced
European is not unpalatable, closely
resembling the shrimp in taste, though
scarcely so nice. Greatly as the Mo
suto appreciates stewed locust, he likes
still better the young green maize
stewed and served with melted butter,
and certainly not the most fastidious
could desire a more delicious food.—
Chambers's Journal.
Doys Want War Stories*
The wars and rumors of wars of the
last three years have caused a sharp
revival of the demand for soldiers'
stories in the juvenile departments of
the public libraries. The demaud is
not only for the recent books with
Dewey or Cuba, China or South
America somewhere In the title, but
Oliver Optic is having another inn
ing, and the schoolboys of this gener
ation are just as wild over "Tom Som
crs in the Army" and "Jack Soraers in
the Navy" as were the boys cf thirty
years ago who got the notion that the
Soraers boys really put down the re
bellion and that Grant and the rest of
the generals only helped a little now
and then.—New York Sun.
A woman with humor is as rare as
a man with the color sense.