Daily Greencastle Banner and Times, Greencastle, Putnam County, 14 August 1897 — Page 3

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CHAPTER V.—(Coktihcid.)

■•Summon up your fortitude, my love, r neseech you, for I am deeply Interested in the accomplishment of our purpose. I have an uneasy consciousness of a brewing tempest, and If It be possible I wish to ascertain In what

quarter to mistrust treachery."

"If you remain undaunted I shall be

sure to keep my courage.” "Go then, my love, to prepare a warm mantle, and we will take our dinner upstairs, and the moment the tray Is removed we will slip away unperceived Into the garden, from which It will be easy to steal across the lawn, since none of the servants venture out after Sunset." As they had arranged, the countess and her daughter slipped through an unfrequented corridor and reached the balcony, from which a long flight of steps deecended to the garden, and while the whole household believed them sitting quietly In the little boudoir, as was their custom after dinner, they were speeding along across the park, holding each other by the hand, while the evening shadows gathered quickly around their pathway. "Mamma," whispered Lady Felicle, as soon as she found breath, "M. Pierre may have seen us ae we crossed the terrace.” “No, my love,” answered the countess triumphantly. "From my retreat In the rear I saw him emerge from that long unused door under the portico; he locked it carefully behind him, and stole along through the shrubbery like a guilty creature. He had something under his arm, too; he has half an hour at least the advantage over us, but I hope to discover something concerning his movements before we return.” "And you are not afraid?” queried Lady Felicle In a trembling voice “Ah, my child, does not love for her young make the tigress fight desperately against fearful odds? Will not the gentlest and most timid of the brute creation dare anything to protect their offspring from menacing danger? I have an Instinctive fear that peril Is at hand; for myself I should be little alarmed; for your sake, my Felicle, I am ready to brave anything. Lady Felicle pressed her hand warmly, but she still trembled. "I am not sure that I am more afraid of M. Pierre If he discovers us than of the ghostliest ghost that was ever

seen.”

“He is the more dangerous person certainly; but we will not be seen. You ■aid Jeannot put you Into a place completely screened with vines. Can you find It again?” "Oh, yes; keep hold of my hand, mamma, and I will lead you thither. They passed on the rest of the way In silence, walked very swiftly till they reached the low underbrush, and keep Ing as much as possible In the shade of the trees. Felicle drew her breath more quiver Ingly as they gained the woods, but went on steadily to the same retreat In to which Jeannot had introduced her. They were scarcely settled there before the crackling boughs announced an approach. The two watchers held their breath, and peered forward. The same dark figure with the shovel, the slow pace and weird accompanying light—this time it was passing into the wood. The countess, holding her daughter’s hand firmly, stepped out from her hiding place as soon as It had passed a short distance beyond them. Lady Felicle hung back a moment, obeying the somewhat Impatient command of the countess, who whispered cautiously; "Do not spoil all, Felicle; come with me, or I shall follow alone.” "Oh, mamma, suppose It turns around and sees us?” returned Felicle, in the same suppressed voice. "I cannot help It; I will know who and what It Is; but the shade on this side will prevent our detection If we step cautiously." And the heroic countees trod lightly on the mossy bank, taking care to avoid the drier and more rustling pathway, and left her daughter to follows behind her. The luminous circle In which the dark figure walked was their guide, for as they advanced the gloomy darkness deepened. It paused at length and was stationary dor a few seconds. The countess, holding her pistol with desperate firmness, passed on to the utter horror of I>ady Felicle, who dared not, however, remain behind. Nearer and nearer to the mysterious figure advanced the two ladies. Lady Feltcie’s heart beat suffocatingly, but the countess compe.Hed herself to be sternly calm, when just as they seemed to reach it—lo! light, figure and all had vanished. There was a brad rift In the dark canopy of leaves above them, where a mighty monarch of the wood had been stlrcken from his place by a lightning stroke, and the starlight and pale radiance of the waxing moon shone down, dissipating a little of the darkness. They could see the trunk of the trees, the black shadows cast on the ground by the huge limbs above, and It was very evident there was no longer present the tall figure of the mysterious guide they had followed thus far. The countess stood motionless, petrified with astonished dismay. Her daughter scarcely knew whether to feel relieved, or more deeply terrified. "What can It mean?” whispered the couhtess; "this seems Incredible. I

saw him so plainly just here by this huge tree, and as if by magic he has vanished entirely. He certainly could not have passed on—that is Impossible; and he Is not here—that la equally certain." “Oh, mamma, if It were really a

ghost!”

"I do not believe In ghosts, Felicle."

was the dry response. And still the countess looked around

her anxiously.

Suddenly Felicle, half dead with fear, seised her arm. She turned hastily, and behold! some distance down the path was the same figure retrac-

ing his steps; it seemed like some spec- I a fierce tone.

"We haven’t got a very mean fortune stowed away already,” observed Jaques. “I tell you what, comrade Pierre, you have managed the thing famously. You ought to go to Paris, and take a hand there.” "Perhaps I shall, when the outbreak comee; to tell the truth, the peasanti of the Languedoc lands owe me a little grudge, and I shouldn’t care to remain here when they obtain control. They don’t consider that the count compels me to be harsh with them.” “I shouldn’t like to stand in his shoes In that day,” laughed the other man. I don’t doubt but they will tear him

limb from limb.”

"You will look out for the girl, If I shouldn't be around? she's my prize, you know,” said M. Pierre. “What, the daughter? she’s a comely

wench, they say.”

"Yes, and as haughty as a queen to me. It’s out of revenge that I mean to take possession of her, after her parents are killed,” replied M. Pierre, In

tre watchman on his rounds. Even the stout heart of the countess was appalled. But another Involuntary exclamation from Felicle gave her renewed courage. Behold! from the opposite direction came another figure, dark cloaked, spade equipped, likewise attended by the floating circle of light. What!” thought the countess, "two ghosts, possibly three, and at this early hour? Now am I certain that this has a deeper significance than ever.” "Mamma, mamma!” Implored Felicle, what will become of us?” “We must secrete ourselves somewhere. Don’t tremble so, my precious one, there Is time for us to retreat.” The words died off from her lips as a strange voice suddenly exclaimed: Trust yourselves with me—there Is not a moment to lose.” From whence did It come, the ground or the skies? Poor Felicle was beyond shrieking; her heart stood still, and she felt a cold chill creeping over her whole frame. But the countess, struggling for calmness, though her voice shook, answered: "Who are you—and where?” ”A friend; one whom you need never fear to trust Come!” As if by magic, the great tree trunk against which the countess leaned, yawned, and there stood the dark figure who had so strangely disappeared. "Come in hither qalckly and you are

safe.”

Still, though the other apparitions were rapidly nearing, the countess hes-

itated.

"Who are you?” repeated she again. He reached forward, and whispered a name In her ear, “Come, Felicle!” exclaimed the lady, and the daughter was strangely thrilled by the blended relief and sadness of her

voice.

They stepped, both of them, Into what seemed a circular closet, and the weird, brownie doorway closed after

them.

Their unseen companion pointed out several holes In the gnarled trunk, whispering: “There are convenient windows; you may still watch your friends, if It Is for that you ventured here.”

CHAPTER VI. HE space allowed only close quarters, and Felicle could hear her mother breathing heavily. “Mamma,” whispered she, "you are 111?” and gaining courage herself at the seeming prostration of her mother, she added cheerfully, “I am certain we may trust this gentleman, whoever he Is, and the moment they are gone we can return to the chateau.” 'No, my child, I am not 111, nor In the least frightened. I rest secure and

confident.”

“Is that quite true?” whispered the

stranger.

"Entirely,” was the low response. “Thank you. I hope the darkness does not trouble you, nor the closeness of the air. I might give you light, but it would betray our retreat. But, hush! they are approaching. The rendezvous la at the other tree." The countess bent her eye to the little aperture, and plainly discerned three figures, all alike, so that one might be readily taken for the other. They sat down, not two yards from the tree which sheltered their unsus-

pected watchers.

“Well, Jaques, what news tonight?” said M. Pierre’s dry, rasping voice; “how goes on the cause?” "Gloriously, comrade! Paris Is all In a ferment, and the fever la spreading through the country. What think you—a great company of them went out to that tyrant Louis' palace, and compelled him to consent to some of the Assembly’s requirements. A few more such riots, and the whole thing Is done, so say a host of the leaders. Then hurrah for a republic! We will make our proud masters drink of the cup they would have given to us.” "You are quite sure it Is true?” questioned M. Pierre, cautiously. “There will be no mistake about It?” "Not a bit of it. Jaques came direct from Paris to Frejus. Why, they have killed half a dozen of the aristocratic upholders already; they are expecting a general rise every night; the king himself suspects it, for he attempted to escape, but they brought him back In

triumph."

“Then our plans may safely go on?” “To be sure. Make certain of all the treasure you can; It won’t be long before the whole peasantry will come forward to take their share. What harm In looking out for ours ahead?” The three laughed coarsely.

Felicle reached forward and grasped her mother’s icy cold fingers; their tinseen companion clenched his hand wrath fully. M. Pierre went on: "I’ve brought some more of the plat* tonight The count’s keeping away la a etore of luck for us. They don’t think of using the richest service at all, and no one looks after It. It was a bright Idea, playing the ghost. They are all afraid of their own shadow, and don't think of attending to halt their duty. The moment the sun sets not a soul of them ventures out of the chateau, and I doubt If the peasants leave their cottages. The field Is left clear to us.” “It Is cleverly managed, comrade, I grant you that. I have brought some more pikes. We must bury these, too. But I reckon they won’t lie long in the ground. If the signs don’t fall. It won’t be & month before we are masters here.” Do you know what the signal will

be?”

All whom we dared to trust. But we must wait for the tide to set In from Paris. There are hundreds ready to spread the spirit through the country when the scheme is ripe.” “I have spoken for a fishing smack to wait for me off St Thomas,” said M. Pierre, at length. What U that for?” To take the treasure to safety, and maybe 1 shall go too." That Is queer. I should think you would stay to see the fun out” Maybe; but I shall want to take Lady Felicle away.” She’ll have to leave off the ‘lady* precious soon, I’m thinking. But come. If we are to bury the pikes and the sliver, It’s time to attend to the digging. Jolly ghosts are we! It was rare sport for me to throw my brimstone around when that old demented Jeannot was coming toward me." We must thank him for the idea; I should never have thought of It but for him. I believe you won’t be able to turn the old dotard; he'll stand up for that proud woman and her daughter to the last minute; I can swear to

that"

Then he will get knocked over himself, that’s all,” was the brutal re-

Jolner.

And taking up their shovels the three worthies went forward a little distance, and they In the tree could hoar the rapid shoveling and careless talk for a half hour at least. Then slowly one by one they dispersed, and all was silent In the forest. When the coast was once more clear the countess exclaimed fervently: “Thank Heaven that I was prompted to come. I shall at least know where to look for my enemy. Oh, why does the count linger In Paris?” "Because he could not leave. An edict has gone forth from the Assembly prohibiting any one from leaving Paris. It will not hinder him long, however. 1 left means for their escape, and you may expect them any moment now.” You are so kind,” faltered tbs countess. "It la all I live for, except to see poor France cleared from a weight of tyranny,” was the sad-toned reply. "I learned of this conspiracy through a comrade of Jaques, In Paris, and have cautiously watched their movements. A blessed accident revealed to me the hollow trunk of this huge tree. I went to work cautiously and sawed out the door, fitting It with secret hinges. I have excavated a lateral passage below. See, this board can be lifted. Thera will be a comfortable and safe retreat under ground just below that huge rock. In two days more. I shall store food there. It Is for you and your daughter, If the terrible days come 1 dread—come before you are able to escape from these shores. Innocent and noble hearted as you are, you will ha sacrificed because of your connection with Count Languedoc, unless I save

you.”

"Heaven bless you!” ejaculated Lady Felicle. The countess struggled a moment with herself, and then said, firmly: "You must save the count, likewise, or I shall not stir a step from the chateau!" "It It be possible. I will do my best,” was the grave reply. "Now I can exclaim also—Heaven bless you, Emile!” sobbed the countesa "Emile!” exclaimed Lady Felicle, "oh, mamma, Is It Emile? How I wlflli It were not dark!” (TO *■ COXTIXOID.»

A BIKE FOB WATER. BELIEVED IT WILL BEAT ALL

COMERS.

Entirely of Alnmlnum—The Action of the Sprocket C'ntiHes the Hull to Revolve. (itvlng tireiAt Speed — Keel l*reventa Capsizing. EN of an inventive turn of mind have for a long time enjoyed a rare subject for experimentation in the bicycle and many, weird and wondrous have been the creations. Bicycles for the water as well as bicycles for the land have sprung into being, and the end of the list is not yet reached. Accompanying is an illustration of a water bicycle which has been Invented patented and constructed by an English genius, who claims that it is superior In every respect to all water bicycles yet put forth. To look at it you would say that it would rp.ll over at once. So It would, perhaps. If It did md have a deep keel beneath the revolving hull. The whole affair is like a cigar. It is ten feet in length, but in consequence of the material of which it is built It Is very light. Regular bicycle machinery la mounted upon the cyllndrically shaped hull. A large sprocket wheel, a gear case for the chain and a simple driving mechanism all correspond closely with the every day bicycle. The pedals turn the sprocket wheel, which in turn, so to speak, causes the aluminum hull beneath to revolve. It is pretty hard to get started, but once under way scorching is easily possible.

THEIR HUSBANDS' WIVES.

Hood, the poet, had so much confidence In the judgment of his wife that he read, re-read and corrected with her everything that he wrote. Now and then he could not resist playing practical jokes on her. Once, when staying at Brighton, he gave her a few hints on buying fish and concluded with: "Above all things, if the fish

future wife at a ball and determined on the instant to marry her. Not long after he had done so Mrs. Landor eatne to think that "a conversation with her husband was incomplete without a quarrel.” and generally ended with the remark that she should not have married a man so many years older than herself. Even in the honeymoon she wounded the poor man's vanity. Landor was reading some of his own verses to his bride and who read more exquisitely ?—when all at once the lady, releasing herself from his arm. Jumped up, saying: "Oh, do stop, Walter; there's that dear, delightful Punch performing In the street; 1 must look out of the window." The contemplation of nature's calm and orderly working exercises a soothing influence upon her students and perhaps this is why there have been so many good husbands among celebrated scientists. And yet the wives of scientific men have sometimes a good deal to put up with. The wife of the late Prof. Agassiz was one morning putting on her stockings and boots-,. A little scream attracted the professor's attention. Not having risen. he leaned forward anxiously on his elbow and inquired what was the matter. “Why, a little snake has Just crawled out of my boot!" cried she. "Only one, my dear?” interrogated the professor, calmly lying down again. "There should have been three.” He had put them there to keep them

warm.

The idea of the great electrician Edison's marrying was first suggested by an intimate friend, who told him that his large house and numerous servants ought to have a mistress. Although a very shy man, he seemed pleased with the proposition, and timidly inquired whom he should marry. The friend, annoyed at his apparent want of sentiment, somewhat testily replied, "Any one.” But Edison was not without sentiment when the time came. One day, as he stood behind the chair of a Miss Stillwell, a telegraph operator in his employ, he was not a little surprised when she suddenly turned round and said: "Mr. Edison, I can always tell when you are behind me or near me.” It was now Miss Stillwell’s turn to be surprised, for, with characteristic blunt ness and ardor, Ed-

DE LESSEES AT SUEZ.

RUBIES BY HUNDREDS

you are buying is plaice, beware of i ison fronted the young lady, and, lookany with red or orange spots on them, ing her full, said: "I've been thinking

as they are not fresh." When the ttsherwoman came round she had nothing

considerably about you of late, and, if you are willing to marry me, 1 would

A Monument to Him to tiuard the En«

trance to the Waterway*

Ferdinand De Lesseps is to have a memorial. It will take the form of a statue and will guard the entrance of the Suez canal, the one great project which he originated and pushed to a successful conclusion. So inseparably has De Lesseps' name been connected with the Panama canal scheme that most people have forgotten that he first achieved fame by reason of his connection with the Suez canal. The idea of the De Lesseps statue originated with Prince d'Arenberg, an old friend of the late promoter. He has Induced the Suez Canal Company to set aside a liberal sum to defray the expense of the proposed statue and tha erection thereof. A very satisfactory model has been produced by M. Fremiet, the sculptor, who has already begun the enlargement of his work. He hopes to complete his task within tha course of the coming two years. M. Fremiet makes public the statement that as the banks of the Suez canal at Its beginning are the property of Englishmen, who would no doubt be opposed to this glorification of a Frenchman, it has been decided that this monument shall rise from the sea, which is about thirty feet in depth at this spot. There will, therefore, be a firm and solid base of granite, which, as the bed is sandy, must be very broad. This platform of granite, which will be entirely surrounded by water, will be reared to the height of twentytwo feet above its level, and will also be of six square metres at the top. On this will rest the pedestal of the statue. In its turn the pedestal will be twentytwo feet in altitude, and the statue itself within a few inches of the same height, while the pedestal, which will be composed of granite quarried and prepared in Brittany, France, will be conveyed In a sailing vessel to Port Said. The statue will consist of several pieces in bronze, which have been made in France. These on arrival will be all ready to place in position. At the base of the statue will lie an immense medallion containing the portraits of the Khedives who ene mraged the piercing of the Isthmui. Each will be nearly six feet in size, and the medallions will be environed by la’-ge wreaths of laurel each leaf of which will be about one and one-half feet in height. M. De Lesseps will be represented in the garments of modern civilization, but the prosaic appearance of these will be relieved by a sort of burnoose with big sleeves thrown over his shoulders, the folds thereof being so disposed as to present an exceedingly picturesque effect. Looking in the direction of the sea, M. Do Lesseps will be represented as pointing with one hand to the entrance of the canal and holding a plan

thereof with the other.

A FRENCHMAN SOLVES

PROBLEM.

THE

Soon to Ilo Pot on tho Market —Exprpsikous of DUbrllef When tho DUcovery kVa* Announced—Tb* Procea#

of Malting;.

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•til 6 #t

THE LATEST WATER BICYCLE,

BURNED IN MIDAIR.

Awful I>eatl> of Wolfert, the Dlstln-

gulHlictl German Aeronaut.

The Herald recently contained a dispatch from Beilin giving in brief the news of the untimely death of Dr. Wolfert. the distinguished aeronaut. At the moment when the doctor seemed about to realize the dream of his life, death overtook him, and in a few seconds he and his prized balloon were burned to cinders. Dr. Wolfert got into the balloon a few minutes after seven o’cloek in the evening, being accompanied by Robert Knabe, a young mechanician. The crowd, among which were several array officers, wished them good luck and then silently watched the cigar-shaped ship as it slowly mounted skyward. Excellently it seemed to move, and even those who were not experts saw that the screw was working splendidly and that the craft was heading for the northwest. For five minutes the watchers looked up admiringly, and then their admiration was suddenly changed to horror, i Forth from the car of the balloon Hashed a tong te of yellow flame; then a second later was heard a crash like a cannon shot, and at the same moment the entlte balloon was enveloped in a mass of fire. Down the blazing machine fell with amazing swiftness, reaching at last the Rlngbahnstrasse. A horrible sight it was, and, as the

Th« Gaelic Tongue. Tha number of persons In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland wJio use Gaelic as their native language is much larger than Is commonly supposed: it Includes 660,000 In Ireland, 850,000 In Wales and 230,0.00 la Scotland.

but plaice, and Mrs. Hood, observing that they all had red spots, refused them on the ground that they were not fresh. The woman protested they were just out of the water. "My good woman,” said Mrs, Hood, secure in the knowledge that her husband's advice must he sound, "I could not think of buying them with those unpleasant red spots on them!” Hood, hidden behind a door, heard with delight the fisherwoman’s astonished shout, “Lord bless your eyes, mum, who ever seed 'em without 'em?” Referring to the obscurity of much of Brownings poetry, Wordsworth said, when he heard that the poet was going to marry Miss Barrett, the poetess: "I hope they’ll understand one another.” Certainly Mrs. Browning did think that she understood her husband, for she wrote to a friend: "Nobody exactly understands him except me, who am in the inside of him, and hear him breathe.” If it is a risk to marry any poet, it seemed to Miss Barrett’s friends a tempting of Providence and a doubling of this risk for two of this irritable profession to wed. Contrary to expectations, the result was exceptional happiness. Mrs. Kemble. who saw a great deal of the Brownings in Rome, remarked that "Mr, Browning was the only man she had ever known who behaved like a Christian to his wife.” Very different was the married life of Walter Savage Landor and his wife. It was a case of marrying in haste and repenting at leisure. The poet met his

like to marry you.” The young lady said she would consider the matter ami talk it over with her mother. The result was that they were married a month later and the union proved a

very happy one.

The great German general Moltke married Miss Burt, an English girl, and lived most happily with her until her death, which took place on Christmas eve, 1868. Very touching was his devotion to her memory. Upon his estate at Kreisau he built a mausoleum, situated on an eminence, embowered in foliage. In front of the altar of this little chapel was placed the simple oak coffin, always covered with leaves, in which the remains of his wife reposed. Sculptured in the apse was a finely carved figure of our Lord in an attitude of blessing. Above were in-

scribed the words: lillment of the law.

HEY make rubies by the hundreds in France nowadays. This is the latest effort of French genius. It was brought about by means ot bauxite, a French material, and the discovery has set all the savants ot Europe to talking.

For a long time in certain industries heated bauxite has been used to make very hard substances for the fabrication of artificial millstones, to be utilized in manufactories of various sorts. The object of manufacture was to produce a substance to take the place of what is known as the emery of Naxos, manufactured by the Greek government, and about which more braggadocio has been indulged in than about anything else. Naxos emery did not come up to expectations, but so great was the outcry of the Greek manufacturers when this was suggested that the French dealers made up their minds to find a substitute, and in bauxite they discovered it. For a time no one thought of bauxite as other than useful for the purpose for which it was originally intended. But the idea finally occurred to some one that instead of calcining the bauxite It would be a good plan to melt it. This Is exactly what was done, and In this manner was obtained a product harder even than bauxite—diamantite, which is nothing less than alumina melted in the electric furnaces. These were the steps leading up to the grand climax, as it were, which was followed by the birth of the first counterfeit of rare gems the world ever knew, which even experts cannot detect. A savant bearing the suggestive name of Gin happened to have his attention attracted to the matter at this time, and the idea occurred to him that possibly there was an opportunity for development upon which no one had seized. He gave the matter very serious thought, and finally it came to him that the first step in the course cf development was to volatilize the alumina. This action was very easily accomplished in the electric furnace, the operation giving rise to thick reddishbrown clouds which are so inconvenient to those who experiment in matters scientific. By combining certain vapors with those of alumina, M. Gin obtained rubies by the hundred. The amazement, even to the inventor of the process, which this wonderful achievement caused was promptly followed by expressions of disbelief, even from the friends of the very genius who had given birth to the idea. "Make rubies!" they said. "What nonsense. Will this man not tell us next that he can manufacture a fortune in dia-

monds before breakfast?”

M. Gin told them all that they would believe him in time, provided they would have patience, but still they scoffed, and so the Inventor went on, determined to prove to the world that not only was he right, hut that his deductions had been absolutely true from the first. His patience was rewarded at last, and now the most skeptical of the scoffers will not only admit that M. Gin is right, hut that they should have believed him from the first. After the scientist hacl perfected his apparatus, he set about protecting it, and thus it Is that while few have been aware of the existence of the process, M. Gin has been quietly making it Impossible for any one to reap the benefit of his brain by Imitation, and has patented his process both In Europe and the United States. In only one country did he meet with skepticism In so groat a degree that It caused him trouble, and that was Germany. Here the officials scoffed at him. They would not, they said, grant him anything at all unless he gave absolute proof that what he claimed was correct. What nonsense it was, they declared, to talk of vaporizing alumina. M. Gin sent the

hundreds of onlookers rushed toward

it. they found it still smoking and prac. | patent office a large case of his primary

tically destroyed. In the ruins lay the

bodies of Wolfert and Knabe. They were burned so badly it was impossible to recognize them.

AocuHtomml to HU Kxcu»r«. Scene: A solicitor’s office. Enter excited and prespiring caller—"Here, I want to—1 must see Mr. Feeful.” Clerk—“Very sorry, sir; but Mr. Fee-

ful died yesterday.”

Caller (hastily)—"Oh. well, but I won't detain him but a moment."—Tit-

Bits.

Of a I’ractlcal Mind,

"The girl who jilted a poet and married a butcher did an eccentric thing." “Not at all; she recognized the great fact that beefsteak is more filling than b!ank verse.”- Detroit Free Press.

Tho Fire Filed of the Troplcd. One of the fireflies of the West Indies

b s two tubercles situated on its thorax or chest, which give forth a light so powerful as to enable the smallest print to be easily read. A few of these flies put under a glass make a good reading lamp, and the inhabitants use the lamps so made for household purposes. The women use them for decoration on festival days. The brillian. cy of the spectacle presented by myriads of fireflies, glancing or scintillating through the darkness of a tropical I night has but to he once witnessed to

‘Love is the ful- create enthusiasm on the subject of

“living lights." Once seen it can never he forgotten. Flying about in countless myriads, glistening like stars on a clear winter night, flashing and disappearing. glancing and dancing, whirling and gyrating in mazy evolutions, no words are sufficient to describe the scene and its effect on the mind of the fortunate traveler who witnesses it. It Is one of the sights of a lifetime. The inhabitants of the tropic'll world regard these insects from the practical, and not from the poetical or artistic standpoint. By means of a lighted torch they entice them Into (heir houses, where they devour those Intolerable pests, the mosquitoes, of

which they seem passionately fond.

products and a huge box of rubies. The astonishment of the officials may be imagined. The precious patent was at once sent to the inventor. The effect of this discovery upon the market for precious stones cannot at present u D definitely estimated. It is a well-known fact that a first-class ruby is almost as valuable as a diamond, according to present prices. Not only that, hut a fine ruby Is really a rarity, and the demand, therefore, is so great that they are snapped up by dealers as rapidly as their discovery is announced. M. Gin has not yet attempted to market his rubies, but experts have told him that he should have no difficulty In doing so, because they could not tell them from the genuine unless some one else showed them which were the natural and which the manufactured rubles. It Is expected that the first consignment of the artificial gems will be placed upon the market about the first of October, and It is also announced that they will be Introduced simultaneously throughout Europe and the United

States.

Turtle Bit III* Lip. A young man in Utica, N. Y., monkeyed with the business end of a turtle, and as a result of his indiscretion is nursing a sore lip. He was holding the turtle high in the air by its tall, when the familiarity was resented. The turtle seized Its tormentor by his lower lip and the young man very naturally Jet go. The weight of the turtle severely tore the lip.—Ex.