Daily Greencastle Banner and Times, Greencastle, Putnam County, 7 April 1897 — Page 3

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I once knew all the birds that came And nested In our orchard trees. For every flower I had a name— My friends were woodchucks, toads and bees; I knew what thrived in yonder glen. What plants would soothe a stonebruised toe— Oh. I was very learned then— Uut that was very long ago. I knew the spot upon the hill Where checkerberries could be found— I knew the rushes near tlfe mill Where pickerel lay that weighed a pound! I knew the wood—the very tree— Where lived the poaching, eaucy crow And all the woods and crows knew me— But that was very long ago. And pining for the joys of youth, I tread the old familiar spot Only to learn this solemn truth; I have forgatten, am forgot. Yet here’s this youngster at my knee Knows all the things I used to know; To think I once was as wise as he!—■ But that was very long ago. I know ’tls fully to complain Of whatso’er the fates decree, Yet, were not wishes all in vain, I tell you what my wish would be: I’d wish to be a boy again. Back with the friends I used to know. For I was, oh, so happy then— But that was very long ago! —Eugene Field.

! WEDDING GIFTS. The old married man said to the bridegroom. Pooh! Presents! Don’t think you’ll get what you want. I’ll tell you my experience. As the time for our marriage drew near I used to call at the house every available evening and whisper confidentially to the curly head which exactly fitted my shoulder that I was the luckiest fellow on earth. On one occasion Agnes sighed and murmured dreamily that that was Just what she felt. That was on the fifth. On the twelfth I stopped in a minute at noon to see If she loved me as much as at eleven-fifteen the night before. She replied that she did—that love was unalterable—but that she must hurry upstairs now or the dressmaker would get her skirt flute-shaped instead of organ-piped. On the fourteenth the presents began to arrive—also the relatives. It became an unsettled problem which of the two were more numerous. Aggie had cousins once removed, I had several uncles and aunts. All were well off ; in fact, it was a curious coincidence that we were the only poor branches on our respective family trees. I was in an Insurance office—Are insurance, not life Insurance—and when I had communicated to her the news of my recent promotion she said promptly in the face of her family’s unaccountable preference for Henry Walker (who was not as good a fellow as I by any manner of means) that to be Mrs. Joseph Lounsbury and live in a small house on a very small income and bliss was precisely her ideal of existence. So we were not married as a speculation; nevertheless, since marriage comes so seldom in one’s life, we had hopes that our moneyed relatives would do the handsome thing. They did. First came a complete set of knives, forks and spoons in a polished wood case. They were from the cousin Aggie had been named for. "Such a sensible present,” said her mother; “they will last a lifetime.” ’^es,” said I, “it will take us a good while to wear all those out two at a time.” "Don’t you suppose we’re ever going to entertain any company, Joe?” asked the girl of my affections, tapping me on the cheek with one of the forks. The same night I had a note from her, saying: Dearest Joe:—You ought to see the lovely after-dinner coffee spoons second Cousin Milly has sent—no two alike. Orange plush case. Isn’t it exciting? Don’t tell, dear, but I almost wish they’d been something else, for I think some of the girls are going to give me spoons.” The rest of this letter was not interesting to you. This was the beginning of an nva^ lanehe of spoons—charter oak spoons, nutmeg spoons, soldiers’ monument spoons, witch spoons, bust spoons, portrait spoons (I called these last our picture gallery, and suggested that they should be framed in ribbons and ming up in the parlor). One of our friends sent a pair of salted almond spoons, hoping that we would exchange them if they were duplicated, but. It turned out that those were the only ones we had. The sugar spoons were a ‘l marked. There were five of them. It is a time-honored custom In cur nfllee when one of us is married for the rest to “combine” and buy a picture, and you could generally teil what year a man’s wedding came off by a glance at his parlor wall. Williams, who was married in 1884. had "Far Away;” ttrown’s, a few years later, was “The hree Fates.” Ours was, of course, 'he latest thing out. It had a silver frame. As ’he days went by, and pieces of auver piled up on us. I was more than once reminded of the couple whose courtship was conducted In Browning^se, and who were fitted out by their set m Iuu rrien,,a wlth a Browning tea "Oh th r|uotatlons around the edge. . ,,,’ ^ mtl <* mors, and how much it i Phe Fords had a run on china, ■ flr . 3 B00<1 t,eal of 11 Rot broken the .. s , year. The Smiths’ specialty was l: ^ Ifalf—nm—

room in the house—only they never had a house—they have boarded ever since they were marrid. Finally the climax came when my old Uncle John sent us a solid silver tea set. I hadn’t expected anything from him, unless, perhaps, a Bible or a Webster’s unabtidged, for he didn't enjoy giving anything away. Aggie was getting too tired to be very enthusiastic, but her mother was delighted, and It was no use thinking that I would just as soon have had the money. This makes one hundred and three, dear—nine more than Susie Fish had,” said her sister. ’’One hundred and two,” said Aggie. No, dear, one hundred and three; one hundred and two came this morning.” Oh, I know I never shall get this list right!” exclaimed Aggie, diving for her blank book. Look out, or you'll be handing that book to the parson for a prayer-book,” said I. ‘‘Wouldn’t be a bit surprised,” she answered, smiling. Aggie could smile when she was tired. Well, we were married. A man breathes easier when it’s over with. "But, Aggie,” I said, as the carriage door slammed on us, “if it ever happens to us again, let’s leave out the heathen superstitions.” “I know it,” said Aggie. “I begged them not, but they would smuggle some in. See any in my hair?” “Some in your hat brim.” I brushed her off, and she seized the newspaper I had carefully brought along to look like an old married man, and conjured with it a minute, holding it out by an improvised handle. “Here,” she said, "the very children in kindergarten know how to make paper dustpans; now brush the carriage seat.” When we got out I gave the hackman a dustpanful of rice with a bill on top. “There, burn it,” said I. “Did you see him chortle in his joy?” said Aggie, giggling. "Joe, do you feel like a married couple?” "Lots,” said I. Our ten days in Washington had only one bogie—the blank book. Aggie said she must finish her notes. All I could do was to sit by and fret, and put on the stamps; and she told me I hindered her more than 1 helped, and she was awfully glad to have me around; it made her feel better. We began housekeeping in a cheerful way In a little house on a new street. It was something like to come homo to one’s own dinner table. We had so much silver that it looked funny with our plain china; nobody had given us a lot of ice-cream sets and things. I tell you, marriage is a lottery when it conies to wedding presents. I liked seeing Aggie’s face in the sugar-bowl, though. Every night the little maid (imported, to live up to the spoons), brought them and all the rest upstairs on a tray and we packed them away in the chest we had made—ami a pretty penny it cost, with combination lock— which went into the end of the closet where nobody could get at It. One night we came home at twelve from a reception, and as we stole upstairs, not to wake the sleeping handmaiden, Aggie, so sleepy herself that she tripped on her wedding gown and 1 had to huld her, we came upon the whole array on the floor outside our door. “Isn’t it imposing? So safe!” said I. “I shan't care anything about going out evenings any more if I’ve got to put that silver away after I get home,” said Aggie, desperately. “Let it stay there.” ”Oh, I can’t. Mamma thinks we’re awfully careless. We don’t appreciate things enough. She said if any one had given her such elegant things when she was married she wouldn't have dared to close her eyes." “Take more than that to keep my eyes open.” But I helped Agnes shove the tray under a chair and drape the train of her wedding dress over it. “What on earth are you doing, Aggie?” I asked, on coming in for dinner one day. All I could sec was one foot and a skirt ruffle in the closet. Aggie scrambled up enough to catch me round the knee. “Oh, Joe, I’m so glad you’ve come!” "What is it? You’re ready to cry." “That’s what I like about you; you don’t have to be explained to. Henry Walker wouldn’t have known I felt like crying if I’d screamed it at him!” That made me feel pretty good (though dinner wasn't ready). "But what—” “It’s the silver! I came up to change the forks and spoons so they should get worn alike, and I've shut the paper with the combination in the chest, and I can’t remember what it was!” 1 got down beside her. It was hotter than Mexico in that closet. 1 turned and tried the lock. "Do keep your dresses out of the way. They tickle the back of my neck.” No good. "Well, I guess we ll use the old forks to-day,” said I; “1 don’t believe they’ll fade away yet awhile!" "Oh, 1 am so sorry; but they’re every one shut up in that chest.” So we laughed. What else was there to do? It was funny when Deming came home with me to tea- we d asked him some days before. It wouldn t have been funny with some girls. The table looked principally white china, and the kitchen knives and forks didn’t go round. Ever cut omelet with a pewter spoon? It is great. It wasn’t quite so funny when three hot days had gone by and we had nearly smothered sojourning in the closet, and no news of the combination. "Don't tell mamma,” pleaded my wife. I began to think I should have to call in a locksmith, when one evening Aggie startled me by jumping out of bed. crying: 'Tve got it! I've got It!” “Got what a nightmare?’’

‘Tve got the combination! I’ve been working on it all the time, and it just came to me in my sleep. Get right up, Joe, and hold the light, and mind you don’t set anything on fire.” In anotl-or two minutes the front of the chest :ell down, and behold our household goods! "If anybody wants to steal them between now and daylight, they can, that's all,” said Aggie, "but I’m not going to shut that lock again to-night for anybody!” In the fall there was a burglar scare about town, and Agnes’ mother came over and gave her a lecture upon locking the windows. She said we really ought to have a burglar alarm. To please her, I had one put in. Election night I went down towm, telling Aggie not to sit up for me, for I should wait for the returns. It was 1 o’clock when I opened the front door very softly, not to disturb Agnes. Br-r-r-br-r-ke-plunk! I had forgotten the alarm. Before I had time to say a word or even turn down my coat collar, my wife appeared at the head of the stairs. She pointed a pistol at me. Her hair hung loose, and she vras In her—well, never mind; but she looked distractingly pretty. "If yon come one step farther I fire!” she cried. "It’s Joe, Agnes,” said I, meekly. "I don't believe it! Take off your hat!” I took it off and made her a low bow. "Don’t shoot your husband; he's doing the best he can.” Agnes laughed hysterically. "Oh, Joe, I was so frightened.” I rushed upstairs and caught her. I took away the pistol and wrapped her UP in her dressing-gown. "Do you think you ought to appear before burglars in this costume?" I inquired. T never thought of that,” she replied, blushing. And to think you should point a pistol at your own husband.” ”It wasn’t loaded, Joe.” “Agnes Lounsbury,” said I, “do you mean to say you were so rash as to aim at me with a pistol that wasn't loaded?" "But I shouldn't have fireJ it, anyway; it wasn’t cocked.” “W ell, this ends the walchman burglar alarm business,” said I. “We’ve had about as much of it as we want. To-morrow we'll decide what silver we want to use every day, and the rest shall go down to the bank." We are able to breathe now. The silver stands on the sideboard, and as yet nobody has carried it off; if they do. Agnes’ mother will say she expected it, for we aren’t the careful people they used to be in her generation. Onee in a while Aggie quarrels with me because some dish or other that would make a show for company is at the bank, and I don’t see my way clear to bring it home under my arm. “You can have them all home and trust to luck if you’d rather,” I say. “I’d rather they were at the bank, because then I should have them, you know.” “Don't see it,” said I, “but it's just as you say.” When our anniversary came around wo had a present and a note from one of Agnes’ elderly friends. The note ran this way: "My Dear Mrs. Lounsbury:—We send you our best congratulations on your anniversary. My husband will have his little joke, you know, and as some one told him that the Lounsburys had so much silver given them on their wedding day that it was a positive embarrassment to them, he says you ought to be ashamed of being such plutocrats at your age, while the older generation has not even accumulated souvenir spoons, and sends you this little gift to remind you of the faet.” "O Joe! it’s silver!” for I had punched a hole in the paper. “No, it isn’t; no, it isn’t; it's plated. We can keep it. It’s a pudding dish, or for oysters, you know. How kind! And plated, too. It didn't cost much, Joe, did it?” "A few dollars, I should think.” "How good! Perhaps even less, Joe?” "Isn’t it delightful? We’ll have some oysters in it to-morrow night, and ask them over to tea. I should feel dreadfully to have that taken,” I heard her murmur that evening. "What for?” “Beeause it’s such a comfort to have one thing that you don't care whether it’s stolen or not." “You are getting sleepy, Aggie. But I know one thing that ’goes on, goes on forfever.’ ” ’’Why?” "Our storage rent. I reckon in a few years we’ll have paid for the whole outfit, and then we'll fetch it home and keep open house with the burglars with a clean conscience.” "Don’t be ridiculous, Joe,” said my wife.—Pacific Rural Press.

Salt ax a Medlrin**. Salt is good to check bleeding of the lungs, and as a nervine and tonic for weak, thin blooded invalids. Combined with hot water, it is useful for certain forms of dyspepsia, liver complaint, etc.

An Idea. ‘If history repeats Itself,” He murmured In elation, ‘Hereafter I'll try ditto marks Instead of recitation.” —Atchison Globe.

For Tlun Women.—Women who wish to gain flesh should keep warm. Ono physician puts his whole prescription to such patients in one sentence, “Eat root vegetables and keep warm.” Soft, warm, wadded lounging robeo, deep, downy chairs, and pillows to nestle In should he a part of the belongings of the woman seeking avoirdupo's.

After doing the weekly washing rub a little vinegar and spirits of camphor over the hands; this is also good when the hands are rough.

SCIENTIFIC CORNER.

CURRENT NOTES OF DISCOVERY AND INVENTION. Th« Invention of I.lt ho^raphy Hutton, anil Coml>* Made of Milk- A New Popular Uame for Chlldrrn—About the Penguin.

HE art of lithography was discovered in a very curious way. We owe this invention to tv , Alois Senefelder, who was at one - time employed at the Theater Royal, Munich, and latterly a writer of plays. It occurred to him that etching might be done on stone instead of copper. Tfe had a stone prepared, and was about to carry his idea Into execution when a circumstance happened that placed etching on stone In the background, and brought into existence a new art, that of lithography. Let Senefelder tell the story In his own words: “I had just succeeded iu my little laboratory in polishing a stone plate, which I intended to cover with etching ground, when my mother entered the room and desired me to write her a bill for the washerwoman, who was waiting for the linen. I happened not to have the smallest slip of paper at hand, as my little stock of paper had been exhausted by taking proof impressions from the stones, nor was there a drop of ink In the inkstand. As the matter would not admit of delay, I resolved to write the list with my ink prepared with wax, soap and lamp black, on the stone which I had just polished, and from which I could copy it at leisure. Some time after this I was going to rub the writing from the stone, when the idea all at once struck me to try what would be the effect of such a writing with my prepared ink if I were to bite in the stone with aquafortis; and whether, perhaps, it might not be possible to apply printing ink to it in the same way as to wood engravings, and to take impressions from it.” M. Senefelder surrounded the stone with a border of wax, and applied aquafortis, by which the writing was raised in a few minutes. Printing ink was next applied with a common printer's ball, impressions were taken off. and the practicability of the important art of lithography was established. It may be interesting to add that the Duke of Wellington was the first to apply this art to a useful purpose, when he in the Peninsular war by its means prepared copies of despatches, orders and sketches of positions.

Penguin*. The penguins are strictly marine birds living in the water or upon rocks that Jut out above them. The wings of penguins have no feathers, but are covered with a scaly skin. Of course they are useless as organs of flight, but give effective aid in progressing through the water, ami when the birds are on land are often available as fore limbs. There are many species, which inhabit chiefly high southern latitudes. Cunningham, in his book on the Straits of Magellan, thus refers to those birds as he saw them in that region; “On elimbing to the summit of one of the high hanks, we beheld a company of penguins, which, after standing erect and staring at us in a stupid manner for a few moments, shuffled off; their little wings hanging limp at their sides and their dark gray and white coloring and reeling movements suggesting a drunk and disorderly funeral procession. When hard pressed they abandon the erect position, and crouching down on all fours, if I may be permitted the expression, ran along like rabbits at a very rapid rate, using their wings as fore legs, till they gain their burrows, fairly ensconced in which they faced their pursuers, and slowly

turning about their heads from side to side, bari-ed and brayed in the most riiliciilous manner, offering a stout resistance to being captured by biting most viciously with their strong bills. While contemplating one individual in its den 1 was suddenly startled by a loud ‘Ho lo-ho-ho-ho’ close to me, and turning i mud perceived another bird, which 1 1 boldly walked out of a neighboi ig burrow and was thus addressing me. I succeeded at last, though with much difficulty, in raking an old ’ id out of Rs hole with the crook of i walking-stick, and also obtained t i young ones in their down.” Darwin !ius describes the habits of penguin "Having placed myself between a penguin and the water, I was much ai nised by watching its habits. It was a brave bird, and until reaching the sea it regularly fought and drove me backward. Nothing less than heavy Dows would have stopped him. Every inch lie gained he firmly kept, standin : close before me erect, and determi’’ed. When thus opposed he continually rolled his head from side to side ’u a very odd manner, as if the power of distinct vision lay only in the Ritferb’r and basal part of each eye. This b rd is commonly called the Jackass penguin, from its habit while on

shore of throwing its head backward and making a loud, strange noise, very like the braying of an ass, but while at sea and undisturbed its note is very deep and solemn and is often heard in the night-time. In diving its little wings are used as fins, but on the land as front legs. When crawling, it may be said on four legs, through the tussocks or on the side of a grassy cliff, it moves so very quickly that it might easily be taken for a quadruped. When at sea and fishing it comes to the surface for the purpose of breathing with such a spring and dives again so instantaneously that I defy any oue it first sight to lie sure that it was not a fish leaping for sport.” New Popular (lame for PhUttren. The newest and most popular amusement or game for children is a parlor merry-go-round or carousal, which is operated by the foot like a bicycle. It is a tiny arrangement, made in two sizes, a ten-foot circle or 1'ourteeu-foot circle. The smaller ones have four seats, but can be arranged with four more, thus seating eight little ones at a time. For ordinary use the smaller ones are popular, the additional seats being adjusted when a larger party wishes to ride. It is noiseless, strong and handsome, made of hard wood, steel and iron. The wood is natural oil finish, and the metal parts painted black or bronze. It can be taken apart or put up in five minutes without any tools, and one, two, three, or four can ride it. It runs either forward or backward with equal ease. There is no possible danger of accident, the seat arms being made of strong steel. The little ones may be strapped to the seat arms. Those seats are adjustable in height, so that children of various sizes may have them the proper height to enjoy a healthful exercise without straining themselves. While it is made expressly for the house, it can he taken out of doors or to entertainment halls, and in case of warm weather a canopy can be had of either size to protect the children from the heat of the sun. As children are always attracted by a

merry-go-round, this one. ou a small scale for the home or lawn, will prove exceedingly popular.

IlntloiiH nnil Combs Mode of Milk. For a long time buttons and other articles for which bone is generally used have been made from congealed blood, purchased at the slaughter-houses, and treated with some substance that hardens it to tlie sufficient consistency. The same articles can be made from milk by a process invented by an Englishman. The milk used is the skim milk. The process of turning this liquid into buttons, pool balls, combs, backs of brushes and similar articles consists of mixing it with a substance the ingredients of which are a secret of the inventor, and compressing it. At the end of three days the substance is as solid as celluloid, and is ready to be cut and shaped In any way the manufacturer wishes. At present a factory in Holland is engaged in fashioning the hardened milk into various articles, buttons being the chief. The buttons made in this peculiar way differ very little in appearance from ordinary bone buttons. They are a creamy white in appearance, but can be colored black or red or any other color by simply mixing the coloring matter with tlie milk before the hardening process begins. They are said to possess advantages over the bone and celluloid article in being less brittle and less liable to chip. For combs the milk substance has been found to be especially well adapted, as it is smooth and delicate to the touch, and derives from its creamy origin a glossy surface. In tlie same way it Is a good substitute for ivory in billiard and pool bulls. Artiili-ial Silk. So pronounced is the success of artificial silk that English mills are taking it up, and large amount of machinery now idle is to he put to work weaving it. There has been a good deal of question as to the relative strength of the natural and artifleial product. Experiments have been made which show that the latter has about SO per cent of the former, but the manner of working is finite different. Those who have worked with tlie artificial fiber are surprised at tin* exquisite colors produced. They take dye much more readily than the natural silk. Another peculiarity is the extremely rich and high luster of tlie fabric. Of course, the cloth made from artificial fiber will be less durable than the genuine thread o( the silkworm, but it is promised in much less expensive grades, and when once the factories and mills are fully at work, it is i laimed that prices will be wonderfully reduced, so much so, indeed, that everybody can afford to wear silk.

DEAF-MUTES MARRIED. 4iit<»r««tlng .I**wi«h Ceremony Which M»«lc Two Person* One. An interesting marriage ceremony was celebrated recently in Philadelphia, the contracting parties being Sundel Richmond and Miss Simes Spilkes, both being deaf and dumb, says the Philadelphia Inquirer. The ceremony was performed by Rabbi E. Steinhaus. The hull had been gayly decorated, and the bride, dressed becomingly in white satin, sat with the groom at cne end, receiving their friends and watching the dancing which preceded the ceremony. The most impressive part of the Jewish marriage ceremony is where the bride accepts the husband by the utterance of the sentence ; “You are married to me according to the laws of Moses and the Israelites.” Until she has said this she is not considered as married. Great, then, was the expectant curiosity as to how this part would be bridged over. Promptly at 9 o’clock the happy couple moved to the center of the room, where a velvet canopy held by four young girls was stretched over them. All of the guests crowded around and. lighting small wax candles, held them high above their heads. This expresses a desire to light the couple into a life of happiness and prosperity. The attendants joined hands and formed a ring about the bride and groom, walking around them several times. Rabbi Steinhaus then chanted the marriage ceremony, which he supplanted by an explanation in pantomime. At the end of every sentence both the bride and groom nodded energetically, and so the ceremony proceeded. There was an intermission in the midst to allow the orchestra to play a weird Russian marriage air, after which the rabbi continued his chanting. At the close of this the marriage cup was held to tlie bride, who sipped from it and handed it back. Then the balance of the ceremony was conducted in the sign language, which the rabbi had learned for the occasion. The couple were given the certificate to read and then asked by signs if they accepted it and agreed to everything. This they assented to and both signed their names. At the signing of the last letter every one shouted and the bride was immediately overwhelmed by con- [ gratillations. MOTHER-LOVE in snakes. A Marked Exhibition of It Seen by a Nutiirul-Ht. Even the cold-blooded and clammy snake evinces maternal affection, and I am fortunately able to produce evidence corroborative of this statement that is fresh in my memory, says the Home Magazine. On March 29, while seated on my front porch, I noticed one of my dogs, a yearling puppy, acting in a peculiar way on my lawn. He was circling around a small circumscribed j spot, every now and then thrusting his I nose toward the ground and then quickly jumping back. On approaching the animal 1 discovered that the object of his playful assaults was a bunch or ball of snakes, a 3 or 4 year | old mother and her last year's brood j of young. The day was very warm, the I sun shining clear and blight and these | creatures had emerged from their den j or nest in the ground, a foot or so away j from the spot where they were lying, ’ and were sunning themselves. When they observed me they made an attempt | to regain their nest; I killed two of j them, however, before they could enter, i I had read somewhere that !f a snake’s I young were taken and th-’.'r bodies ! dragged along the ground th * mother snake would follow the trail and, If she found them alive, would conduct th»m l ack to the nest. I took the two which I had killed and, after dragging them along the turf, deposited them on the pavement some fifty fee; from the den. I then resumed my seat on the porcli and waited developments. In a short while the mother snake emerged from the nest and, after crawling about for a second or two. struck the trail and at once followed it to the pavement and her dead young. Fortunately I had a witness in the person of my iceman, who was delivering ice at the time and who was dnmfounded at beholding such high intelligence in a creature so low in the scale of animal life. I killed tlie old snake (for these snakes—garden moccasins—become harmful after the third year, eating young birds, etc.) and ten of her progeny, leaving two pairs to carry on and perpetuate the race.

fig£

AND THISTLES.

l.ouiiHt* ami Their “Frleml*.** it is a well known fact in natural history that certain animals and fishes have "friends" whose company acts as a safeguard against danger, and it is now reported that the locust, advancing in intelligence, has secured similar protection. Of late strenuous efforts have been made iu the Transvaal to save the i rops from devastation, but, to the consternation of the farmers, the new hordes of locusts bring with them scores of black Insects which sting horhibly whenever their patrons are interfered with. What the reward of the “body-guard” is does not appear.

WOMEN USE TOBACCO.

SOCIETY WORKING TO DOWN THE USE OF CIGARETTES,

Em pros* of AtiKtria II a* the Hu hit — Much Rejoicing in Some Circles Over the Attitude of tlie Voting Czarina.

ii

DECROIX, the delightful president of the Society for the Prevention of the Abuse of To[Ij hacco, must have jumped for joy at reading in the papers that the young czarina is so opposed to the use of cigarettes that she

is trying to take some action in her own immediate circle against the habit of smoking, which has become quite prevalent among women in the best society in Russia, says Les Annales. M. Decroix would no doubt like to see the sovereigns of other countries imitate this example, for during the last few years the cigarette habit has been laying hold of women all over the

world.

In F’rance the association of men and women in all kinds of sports has been the cause of a greater degree of intimacy and has brought us to accept the cigarette, whose use is extending among young women of the most exclusive circles. Even the most critical no longer protest when two rosy lips send out a few puffs of smoke between a couple of games of tennis. Besides, our grandmothers loved tobacco. The Duchess of Chartres and the Duchess of Bourbon, under Ixiuis XIV., even went so far as to smoke pipes; yes, pipes, my dears. In all times Spanish women have smoked; and not only cigarettes, but cigars. Marbol, in his "Memoirs,” tells us this without mincing matters. And they smoke in England and in the United States, although in the latter country it is only recently that women have begun to use tobacco. There was a story in Gil Dias not long ago to the effect that three young girls in Louisville, Ky., wore seen smoking by a policeman and were arrested. The judge, although recognizing that the accused were not conforming to the proprieties, felt bound to release them because they were violating no law. To confines one's observations to those in the highest places it may ba said tlat the Empress of Austria smokes trom thirty to forty cigarettes a day; the dowager empress of Russia smokes, but only in her own private apartments, while the Queen of Roumania, the Queen Regent of Spain, aueen Amalie of Portugal—who in this respect is following her mother's extmple—the wife of the Comte de Paris, and, lastly, the Queen of Italy, are all confirmed smokers. And yet M. De--roix is anxious that kings and princes and their august consorts should be the ones to set a good example! At ane time, about two years ago, he had a hopeful moment. It is well known that Queen Victoria is fond of snuff and that her son, the Prince of Wales, smokes cigars from morning until night. One day the newspapers announced that the prince, upon the advice of his physician, was going to give up smoking. There was great rejoicing in the Society for the Prevention of the Abuse of Tobacco, but prudence of the most elementary jort bade them take the precaution of making inquires before indulging iu too much rejoicing. So they wrote to London. Alas! The prince replied that there was no foundation for the report and that he was smoking just is he i iways had. At which M. Decroix nearly fell ill. Another disappointment awaited him a few months after this. It was the judder, retirement of M. Casimir-Perier almost before he was fairly installed in the presidential chair. M. CasimirPerier was the ideal president for M. Decroix, a president who did not smoke, or who smoked so little that it was not worth while mentioning. M. Casimir-Perier resigned his office. And to whom? To M. Felix Fame, who smokes a

pipe!

No Pie for l.otile. A Philadelphia woman has sued her heartless husband for divorce because he has forbidden her to eat pie.

Every selfish Joy dies young. It takes a hdt fire to purify gold. He most lives who lives most for others. It is still as safe to trust in God as I it ever was. Don’t give a tract where bread is needed most Life lias most in it for those who know God best. Woe to that man w ho has the saloon keeper for his friend. When you know what a man believes, you know what he is. Never measure any man's piety by the length of his face. Truth never stays over night in any house built on the sand. What men call failure may often be what angels call success. Every failure carries a guide-book to success in its inside pocket.—From the Ram's Horn

In Plalnville. Conn., recently, the mourners at a funeral accompanied the body to the cemetery on a trolley-car.

Ilrowth of Cltlm. The fact that the big European cities have been growing so much faster than those of the United States is pointed out by Dr. Albert Shaw in his recent book on municipal government in Europe. In 1870 New York had 100,000 more people than Berlin; in 1880 Berlin had outstripped New York, and still maintains its lead. In 1875 Hamburg had 348.000 people and Boston 342,000 in 1890 Hamburg had 569,260 and Boston 448,000, Baltimore was once as big as Hamburg, but it has long been distanced. Breslau used to he smaller than Cincinnati; it has now distanced it. Cleveland and Buffalo and Pittsburg were all in 1880 bigger than Cologne, but Cologne was much the Uiggest in 1890. Dresden is growing n.ore quickly than New Orleans. Hanover, though a sleepy place, is growing as qickly as Louisville or Jersey City. Frince of Wolen’ Ulmloeu, The prince of Wales is ever the most thoughtful and kindly of men. Only a few mornings a go, attending the funeral services of a friend, I found his royal highness among the little congregation. It was as early as 10 o’clock in the morning, and the prince’s dutle* are exceptionally arduous just now. The lady who had died was not among his most intimate friends, but a desire to show kindness and consideration for her sorrowing people drew him toward them at this hour of their grief and distress.—Sketch.