Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1891 — Page 6

A LOVER’S EVENING PRAYER. BY CHARLES C. HAHN. 0. God.' I love he’’, keep her safe. Although It be Thine all-wise will That I may never see her more— Yet keep her safe I pray Thee still. O, shield her from all evil wiles And keep her pure In heart within; For me she may not keep her love. But keep her from all -harm and sin. Let angels walk with her through day, Nor leave her with the sun’s last gleams; Let angels wateh around her bed And give her peace and angel dreams. Hutchinson, Kan.

IF. BY ABBIE C. M’KEEVER. If I were an artist I would paint A face so fair, a face so true, With a hidden something like a saint— And that faco should picture you. If I were an artist I would know Just where the strongest light should touch To bring out all the wonderful glow In the one face I love so much. If I were an artist I would give A hungry soul a crust to eat, In the long years that I may live In which, my love, we may not meet. 4 If I wcr-e an artist I would place Always above my mantel-tree Thine own sweet face; but It cannot be— Onlj my dreams may picture thee. WILI VMSBURG, Ohio.

Dr Elfenstein's Mission

fl Remarkable Romance.

BY EMILY THORNTON.

CHAPTER XX. SIR REGINALD’S RAGE. The next morning Ethel attempted to /ise, as usual, but found herself so ill with a sick headache that the attempt was vain. Every time she lifted her head front her pillow it throbbed wildly, while a blind dizziness came over her to such an extent that she felt it were better to keep still for a while, until it passed away. She had suffered before in her life from the same cause, and she knew it had been brought about by intense excitement. She knew also that it would take several hours to restore her to her usual vigor. While certain of this, the most anxious feelings were aroused at her unhappy position, as regarded Sir Reginald Glendenning’s sacred trust. That the baronet should be at once informed of his dreadful loss, she well knew, in order that steps might bo taken for the recovery of the missing treasure. But with this dreadful pain, how should she reach him? Finally she decided that tlie only way before her was to lie still until she was able to rise. At nine .o’clock a servant came to her room, and she sent an excuse to the family fob her non-appearance. About "ten a message came from Sir Reginald asking how soon she could come to him. She returned for answer that her head w as still in such pain that she feared not until afternoon.

About five Dr. Elfenstein called to see his patient, and his lordship at once requested him to look after his secretary, saying that she was not able to como to him; while he was most anxious to see her. . r Mrs. rVedon was then dispatched to Miss N'evcfg ail’s 'room to prepare her for a visit from the Doctor. As the young man entered he was real-' ly startled to soe how wan and pale the excitement of the night before and a few hours’ illness had made her. She had made several attempts to rise, and had succeeded in dressing herself, but the exertion had overcome her, and once more she had been obliged ip recline Upon the bed, while her large dark eyes and black dress made her cheeks seem almost like snow. “Oh, Doctor!” she sighed, as ho advanced and took her hand in his. ‘"Can you give me something to stop this headache.' so that" I can go to Sir Reginald? He has wanted me all day, and has sent for me several times, and 1 must sec him, but I cannot seem to get there.” “Are you subject to such headaches?” “1 have had them a number Of times.” “You have done right to keep still. I will give you a remedy that I think will, cause you relief in an hour’s time. Until then you should try to-sleep.” Preparing a liquid, -fie carefully held the tumbler to her lips, saw; her drink it, then throwing a light shawl over her, left, saying as he did so: “if you sleep now, I am almost certain you can visit his lordship in the length of time I mentioned. ” It seemed that the medicine apd his calm, kind words did soothe her, for at once she fell into the restful sleep so much needed. The nap proved quite a long one, and it was seven o’clock in the evening be fore she crept through the hall, and, with a trembling frame but head greatly relieved, entered Sir Reginald’s presence. At once she saw that her illness had discomposed him, and that he was unusually irritable and nervous. “1 am sorry I could not come to you as usual,” she began, but he interrupted her by saying, crossly: “Oh, yes; I dare say. Stop all apologies, and while we are alone tell me if you obeyed my orders last night.” “I did," faltered the poor girl. “Did the thing work Well?” asked he, eagerly. “It did. I had no trouble in the Tower at all; but, oh, Sir Reginald, something terrible has happened!” “What?” exclaimed the sick man, starting up in so sudden a manner that it i aUai.il him to fall back with a groan, althoicjh he kept a firm grip of the arm he had seized in his excitement, regardless at the fact that his tight grasp caused her to turn pale with pain. “I dread telling you; but just as I left the’ Tower to push back the panels a frightful uoise of a heavy fall came, then a large mouster darted out, dashed the candle from my hand, and, with a howl, disappeared.” “ “Mr.. God! Girl, girl!” yelled the infuriated man before her,' his face turning purple with rage,_“what is this you tell me? Gone! Escaped*:’ Speak!” added te, roughly shaking her by the arm.

| “Tell me it is a lie—a lie that you said just now!” “No, Sir Reginald,” returned the pallid Ethel; , “it is the truth. Whatever you had there got out last night, and ran off through the ruins!” “You jade! you hussy! What did you do wrong that made this happen? Answer, or I will tear you to pieces!” “Release my arm, sir. You are cruel in your rage; you hurt me!” “ Speak, then. How did he get out of his ppison?” With a faltering voice, the frightened girl, while writhing in his grasp, murmured: “I dropped the knife on the shelves a few nights before, and forgot it. It whirled around, and I knew by the cry he gave that he had it.” “Idiot! fool!” returned the enraged being before her, as he gave her arm such a fearful wrench that it dislocated the elboty. “Out of my sight! out of my house this instant! Yon have ruined me with your cursed carelessness! Notanother night shall you sleep under this ro«f!” Once aga’n he raised his arm—this time to strike But fortunately, with a moan of pain at the injury she had already sustained, she had darted back, and so the blow descended on empty air. Without another look at the man before her the poor young girl crept from his presence, and dragging herself back to her room, fastened herself in, while she sought to prepare for her departure. With her arm hanging motionless by I her side, and nearly wild with pain, she opened her trunks and thrusting her valuables inside as well as she could, with one hand, she locked them, and dropped the key into her pocket. Fearing, she scarcely know what, she put tho package of papers her aunt had given her, with her purse also, in her pocket, that she might be certain of their safety. Then hastily putting comb, brushes, aud night apparel in a hand-sachel, she paused to rest. Advancing to her window, she found that a heavy rain was still falling, and that darkness was even then over tho earth. Throwing her waterproof over her shoulders, with its hood drawn over her hat, she opened her door and glided through the hall, down the stairs, and out of tho front entrance, fortunately without being seen by any of the family. As she had passed the sick man’s room, she knew by tiie sound of many excited voices within that they had gone to his assistance, and she judged he must have injured his hip by his passionate frenzy. While she pitied tho man, she feared him, and never breathed freely until outside the door. Then with a hurried step she passed down the ramble.

CHAPTER XXI. ETHEL’S FLIGHT. The darkness, as I have said, had come on early, in consequence of tho dense clouds and falling rain. It was after eight when Ethel left tho Hall, and then it was so dark under the shading trees that she could not see a step before her. Unaccustomed to be abroad alone at so late an hour, her heart beat fast and tears coursed over her white cheeks, brought there by her fears as well as the acute pain in her arm. " Once away from tho house and beyond the reach of Sir Reginald’s wrath, she paused to consider whither she should go, and what she should do. As she paused one thing seemed plain. She could do nothing until a physician attended to her wounded arm. In order to have this accomplished it was evident that she must seek Dr. Elfenstcin at his home. She shrank from doing this. Remembrances of their mutual experiences of the evening before caused her heart to flutter at the very thought. He might think it bold and unmaidenly thus to push herself into his presence. Still it could not bo helped. Her arm could not bo raised, and on that arm she depended now for her daily bread. Bitterly she upbraided herself for her strange neglect in reference to that kjiife. / ;;

x j Oh, that she had been more careful, and less easily Unnerved. ( She ought to have expected movements inside the room, Whoro a wild animal was kfcpt, and therefore counted it silly to have been so overcome as to forgot her duty at the first sound she had heard. Regrets, however, were useless; she must lmrry on. How dark it was, and how difficult to keep in the path! The rain bc*.t upon her in torrents, and it seemed a weary way before she passed the porter’s lodge. Once in tho road beyond, she could see j lights in windows of dwelling houses far down the road. The first of them she knew was whero Dr. Elfensteln lived, and liopo revived oucc more, and she pressed on, thinking ’ soon to be there. But the road seemed very rough. Great ruts had been made in tho earth, softened by tho long rain, and these caused her to trip and fall twice. Both times it had jarred her arm, and drawn forth tears of anguish. Wiping them away, she struggled to her feet and persevered. At last the gate was reached and opened with difficulty; then again a dizzy feeling came over her, and just as her feet stepped on the porch she fell forward in a long, death-like swoon. . Dr. Elfenstein had gone out into the country, after his call at the baronet’s, to visit a rather critical case, and did not return until quite late. As he passed the porter’s lodge-one of the servants belonging to the Hall stepped out, and hailing him, bade him to drive there at once, as his master was in terrible distress. Without waiting for a second bidding he turned intd the gfAuUds and had just entered Sir Reginald’s' it>om when Ethel glided past it in her flight from the house. It was with surprise and intense wonder that the physician saw the change a few hours had wifought In his patient. That something of a startling character had produced the effects now manifested was perfectly apparent, and that the good work of the past few weeks had . entirely destroyed in some fit of pgssien Was.tQQ; obvious to be denied. At Once he saw that Sir Reginald wak ia a yorse condition than he had found I him iii the first.fasit he had made after the fall. “What has done this?” he asked of Lady Constance. “What excitement has he’undergone since I left him doing well at 4 this afternoon?” .... “No one knows. Miss Nevergail came' to his room about 7. We then heard j hftn speaking in & furiously angry way, I and after awhile his bell rang a loud peal.

ifor assistance. On reaching him, he Was alone, suffering as you see him now.” “W’here was Miss Nevergaii. “She must have returned to her room. She has been sick all day,* was the reply. “Yes; I know,” returned the Doctor. Not until the clock struck ten could Dr. Elfenstein leave the Hall, and then he was anticipating for the baronet a stepless night. He himself felt tired, and greatly unnerved. The strange events of the night before could hardly yet be thought of calmly. All day he had deeply regretted no following up and learning the cause of their mutual flight; but whenever he had thought of it, Ethel’s pleading tones and shuddering form had pleaded air eloquent excuse. How pleasant was the remembrance of her dependence on him in those terrible moments! Once or twice he found himself longing to bo thus able to protect her all the remainder of his life; but then he had been obliged to thrust the yearning from his heart, and remember that his stern duty lay in a rougher channel, and that love could not be his guide, at least for years to come. So thinking, he had reached his home, given his horso to the man in waiting, and then turned to enter his door, But what was this he saw lying in a heap upon the porch? Stooping to discover if it might not be a large, strange dog, his fingers came in contact with a human hand, and from its small size ho knew it belonged to child or woman. Throwing open the door with his latchkey, the light from the hail revealed Ethel Nevergail’s pale, unconscious face to his astonished gaze. “Ethel here senseless! Oh, my darling, my darling!” he murmured, as he lifted her in his arms and bore her to the parlor sofa. “What can this mean?” Placing her there, he ran to the foot of the stnirs and called Mrs. Clum to his assistance. This person, fortunately, sat reading in her own room, waiting his return, that she might give him some refreshments after his long detention, knowing that he had eaten nothing since noon; therefore she was immediately by his side, and after hearing him state where, ho had found the poor young girl, proceeded to unbutton and remove the wet, waterproof, while Earle brought camphor and other remedies, and then at' once devoted himself to her recovery. With joy, at last, they saw her eyes open; but the cry of pain that followed filled both witfy surprise. “My awn! my arm!” she cried. “You hurt my arm.” Seeing that something more serious was the matter > than a simple faint, Dr. Elfenstein released the hand he held, as it seemed to pain her, asking, as he did,, so, “if she had injured herself any- ; where?” “I cannot stir my hand, or arm, arid fear it is broken,” sho moaned in reply,. “I came here to show it to you. ” t “Then it. was hurt before you left the Hall?” returned the Doctor, passing his', hand over the useless member, in order to seo the nature of the injury. Sho bowed her head, speaking no word, in reply. “Is it broken, Doctor?” finally shri managed to ask. “Not broken, but dislocated at the elbow. In order to replace it, I fear I must cause you pain. It will be impos-. sible for you to go out again in this' storm, therefore Mrs. Cl uni, my housekeeper, must prepare you a room, and you will remain here to-night. After sho has made you comfortable in your bed I must replace the bones, and then you must keep perfectly quiet, or, after all this excitement, you will bo thrown into a fever. ” Giving Mrs. Clum several Instructions, ho saw her leave the room |;o prepare 0:10 for poor Ethel’s reception; then, and not until then, he bent over the sofa where she lay, and asked her In a low voice: “Why did you not tell mo this Instead of coming out in the storm, when I have been at the Hall since eight this evening?” “I did not know you wero there, and could not have seen you if I had known it. Sir Reginald flew into a furious passion as soon as ho saw me to day, and bade me instantly leave his house. As my arm was hurt, I was obliged to come to you. ” “Miss Nevergaii, how was your arm dislocated? And what means the mark of those fingers which I seo upon the surfz.ee?” “Do notask, Doctor, for I cannot tell you. ” “Well, if you cannot tell mo that, why did Sir Reginald bid you leave his house?" “I cannot tell you!” was still her only reply. “Wasdt for any willful fault you had committed?” • “No; oh, no! I had met with an.accident the nature of which I cannot explain. In short, I had, without intending it, neglected a duty he had charged me with on the day of my fright by the railroad. My nervousness then caused me to forgot something. Ho had just discovered it, and flew in a rage.” “Then tho brute seized your arm and gave it this wrench! You need not tell me, child; 1 know it by instinct. It is well I was not there, for one reason.” “Why?” “I should have struck him as he lay helpless in bed.- I could not have helped it. But yod are safe now; he shall never touch you again. ” “No; for I shall never gS’ back. But where shall I go? What shall I do now?” she sighed, in,reply. “Stay here, of eburse,: until,;you are well; then a place will be provided, never fear. Promise me one thing nbw, which is, not to worry about the future. Leave > everything of that nature for time and Providenco to make plain, and try to compose yourself in order to recover the sooner. Will y-oudoAhis? . He took her well h&rid kindly, almost tenderly, as he spoke; and, meeting his anxious, beseeching gaze bent upon her, she blushed faintly and gave the required promise. |ro be t 1

Ready for Business.

Caller (Western . newspaper office) —“I want to see the'editor.” Office Editor's gone off fer six weeks. Leave yer with me, an I’ll give it to him when’he gits back.” “1 haven't go* a bill. I’ve got a club.” . :• “Editor’s up stairs, sir.” In every teaspoonful of human blood there are about' 15,000,000,000 red corpuscles, but drily G 0,000,000 white ones. The blood of clams, lobsters and nearly ill other irfvertebr&tes contains no red, cells, but only the white.

WITH THE WITS.

HUMOROUS SAYINGS FROM MANY SOURCES. In Doubt. Hardup—Miss Laura, have you considered my note— my letter—er—my proposal ? Miss Laura—l really do not know bow to consider it—whether as a proposal or a challenge to a fasting match. ¥ A Return to Sanity. He—But you used to love me, and now you have taken the woman’s privilege and changed your mind, I suppose. She—l haven’t changed my mind at all: sir. I have merely recovered it.—, Chicago Newts. A More Fascinating Pursuit. “Is the Professor, at home?” asked the doctor, addressing the wife of the sage and philosopher. “He is,” was the reply. “I wish to consult him in regard to a new discovery in spectrum analysis. Is he in the library ?” “No; he is in the parlor playing Tiddledy Winks.”—Cape Cod Item. An Expensive Amusement. Kind-hearted lady (stopping seedy pilgrim on the street)—My poor man, is there anything I can do for you? Seedy pilgrim—You mistake me, madam. lam not a mendicant. lam trying to be an amateur photographer on S4O a month.— Chicago Tribune. An Experienced Boarder. “Mrs. Small,” asked a prospective customer, “what is your charyo per week for boarding ?” “Seven dollars, sir.” “Is that with or without ?” “With or without what?” “Prunes.”— Brooklyn Life. Some of Ihem Twice Teacher—Now, Johnny, you may ei plain to me the difference between ( king and a president. Johnny—Kings are born and presi dents get there. — Buffalo Express. ■ A Much-Needed Invention.

Cholly—Yes, deah girl, you see the fashion obliged me to invent this strap to carry the cane on, or I should have been worn to skin and bone. —Texas Siftings. Domestic Economy. Wife—l wish you would buy me one of those patent inkstands that hold the ink in tightly when accidentally upset. Husband—Those inkstands are expensive. I think it would be cheaper to spank the baby.— New York Weekly. Entirely Satisfactory. Spriggins—Last week I heard that you and Wiggins were at swords’ points on account of something he said about you. Now, I see you are good friends again. Has he recanted ? Biggins—N—o, but he invited me into his house, and decanted.— Street & Smith’s Good News. References. Mistress—Have you any references? New Girl—No, mum. Have you?—■ Street & Smith’s Good News. Women in the Case. He—That man yonder was once the wealthiest man in the Mormon Church. She —What broke him ? He—A sudden change in fashions.— Munsey’s Weekly. Charitable. Tramp—l say, ma’am, can’t ye gimme a bite o’ something cold to eat ? Mrs. Pancake—Why, yes, poor fellow ! go and take one of those icicles off the fence.— Judge. Old Husband (who is financially embarrassed, to his young wife, who is not in the least embarrassed)—Don’t look around at that man, Molly; I am afraid he is a deputy sheriff who has an attachment for me. Molly—l don’t think it is you for whom he has got an attachment, so you need not feel uneasy, hubby dear. Texas Siftings. Holding More than His Own. Quester —So our friend Buskin has yrown to be quite a star in his profession, eh? Jester—A star! If you’d seen him at the banquet last night he’d reminded you of a whole collection of stars. Quester —Indeed ? Jester—Yes—the dipper.

She “Escaped.”

The owner of a cottage on National avenue received a call from a female tenant the other day, and was greatly surprised when she led off with: “I think I may have to give up the cottage unless you put on a fire escape.” “A fire escape! Why, ma’am, of what use would such a thing be up there ?” "“To save our lives, of course. Suppose a fire should start in the night when we were asleep ?” “Well?” “There is no fire, escape,” “But couldn’t yoq open the front or side door and walk out?” “The doors?” “Yes; or if cutoff from them there are windows within four feet of the ground.” “I see—l see,” she stammered, '"‘Yes. I think we could, I never thought of it before, bat it looks reasonable amd I’ll risk it. Good day,” —Detroit free Tress.

AREAS OF STATES AND TERRITORIES

A« Shown by th* Government Census Report. The areas In square miles of the States and Territories, exclusive of Alaska, have been carefully revised for the Government«census report of 1890, and now stand as follows: States and Gross Water Land Territories. area. surface, surface. Alabama 32,250 710 51,540 Arizona 113,020 100 112.920 A'kanaaa 53,850 805 53,045 California '.... 158, S6O 2,380 155 980 Colorado..., H 3.925 280 163 645 Connecticut 4,990 145 4 845 Delaware 2,050 90 l’aco Dist. of Columbia. 70 10 60 Florida 58,680 4,440 54,240 Georgia 59,475 495 58,980 {Sf h< V 84,800 510 84,290 pUnoi* 66,650 650 56,000 Indiana ? 36,350 440 85 910 Indian Territory... 31,400 400 at 090 |?wa 56 025 550 55475 F» n f aß , 82,080 380 81/700 Kentucky 40.400 400 40,000 Louisiana 48.720 3,300 45 420 Maine.... „ 33,040 3,145 29 895 Maryland 12,210 2,350 9 86C Massachusetts 8,315 275 8 040 Michigan 58,915 1,485 67.430 Minnesota 83,365 4,160 70 205 Mississippi 46,810 470 46.31 C Missouri 69,415 680 68 735 Montana. 146,080 770 146,310 Nebraska 77,510 670 76 840 Nevada 110 700 960 109V40 New Hampshire.... 9,305 300 9 005 New Jersey 7,815 360 New Mexico 122.580 120 122 46C North CaroHna.... 52,250 3,670 48 587 North Dakota 70,795 600 70 195 Oklahoma (a) 39,030 200 88 83C Oregon 95,030 1,470 94560 Feuusyivania 45,215 230 44,985 Rhode Island 1,250 165 l rißs South Carolina 30,570 400 80 170 South Dakota 77,650 800 76 850 Tennessee 42,050 300 41’750 ?, exas 215,780 3,490 2 2’290 Vermont 9,565 43) 9 135 Virginia. 42,450 2,925 40,125 Washington. 69,180 2,300 66,880 West Virginia 24,780 135 24 645 Wisconsin 55,040 1,590 64 450 Wyoming. 97,890 315 97,575 Delaware Bay 620 620 Raritan Bay and Lower New York : Total.. 3 025,600 55,600 2,970.000 a Including Cherokee country and No Man’s Land.

Tho Soldiers’ Abode in the West.

It is the general opinion of the people that tho soldiers who are on the frontier have strong forts in which they are stationed in times of trouble. But this is not so. They live in adobe houses, in front of which are the parade grounds and back of them are the stables. The interior walls of the house are plastered, but the ceilings are canvas lined, because the heat of the region seems to injure the cohesive properties of mortar, and the sleeper is apt to be awakened at night by a heavy shower of plaster from above. During the month of August the heat is so intense that scarcely any outdoor work is done. Indoors it is impossible to sleep, and one tosses around all night in the feverish heat. The troops are supplied with X beds, across the tops of which canvas is stretched, and on these hot nights a man spreads a wet sheet over his bed and sleeps, with no covering, under the trees in the rear of the barracks. From sunrise until 3 p. m. the thermometer steadily rises and lingers around between 120 degrees and 115 degrees, falling, off slightly between 5 and 6p. m. Were there as much moisture in the air as along tho Atlantic coast the heat would be unbearable, but there is such a dryness in the atmosphere and tho evaporation is so rapid that one scarcely ever feels the skin moist.

Watch Dogs in a Penitentiary.

Each of the keepers in the ’Edinburgh (Scotland) penitentiary is the owner of a huge mastiff. These dogs are hugo creatures, ferocious as lions, muscular as oxen, wide-awake as the traditional weasel. They are let loose at night, when they roam about the penitentiary grounds, and are never spoken to or cared for by any one except their respective keepers So it is impossible for one to make friends with them. They are trained in many ways to attack convicts if the lattor should try to escape, aud perhaps the most horrible method is in the way they are fed. Once a day each dog is given a piece of raw, bloody meat. But the latter is tied up in the striped clothing worn by convicts, and in order to get at tho meat the brute has to tear this clothing to pieces. They are heavily chainod and the parcels are thrown down a hundred feet or so from each konnel. Then the koepers suddenly loose tho dogs and away they go, madly rushing for the prizes. The dogs grasp the striped parcel and tear tho clothing into shreds before they get at the meat.

The Theory of Falling Stars.

Falling stars are nothing more than little bits of stony material which have been leading an independent existence ou the outer realms of space, but, having come within the attractive influence of the earth, they are drawn down upon its surface. As they rush with headlong velocity through tho atmosphere, they are rendered luminous by the heat developed by friction. The interest attaching to them has been greatly increased of late years by the. fact "that some astronomers see in such bodies the raw material, as it were, from which the visible universe is built up. Space is supposed to be full of them, and, in some parts, they gather into clusters, which, by collisions among the individual members, become luminous. By the action of gravity these clusters become more and more condensed, forming nebula?, stars in various stages of formation, apd, finally, suns and worlds like oiw-own. The earth, in its course round the same luminary, occasionally parses through the paths of these stony 'fragments, and If it meets them, draws down upon itself a starry shower whi9h we see.

The Origin of High Heels.

High heels originated in Persia; where they were attached to sandals in the shape of blocks of wood to raise the feet from the burning sands of that country. With men these blocks u ere two inches high, but with the women they were worn as high as two feet. Many years afterward the custom came into vogue in Venice, where such supports of shoos were called “chapineys. *

The Whites and the Blacks.

Any one who thinks that the negroes will ever gain supremacy in this|country is wrong, as the following shows: In 1790 there were 3,172,000 more whites than negroes, in 1880 there were 48,575,000 more, in 1890 nearly 55,000,000 more, and, if the present rates of increase are maintained, there will be in 1990 1,067.000,000 more. The negroes gain nothing from immigration, while the whites gain millions thereby. This 19 not a phase of the negro question that need cause anxiety.

A PROSPEROUS YEAR.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. Our Buying and Selling with Other Nations for the Year 1890 Amounts in Round Numbers to Over a Billion aud a Half of Dollars. The imports and exports of the year just ended have been greater than those of any preceding year in the history of the country. Our buying and selling with other nations of the earth amounted in round numbers to over a billion and a half dollars. To be more accurate, the imports and tho exports of tho year 1890 amounted to $1,680,942,460. These figures relate to the imports and exports of merchandise, and do not include those of gold and silver. There is no year in the history of our country in which its imports and exports have been as great. And what is more gratifying, the balance is on tho right side of tho ledger. Tho exports exceeded tho imports by’ about $35,000,000. The exports for the twelve months in question were $857,623,677; the imports were $823,318,782. There has only been one year In the history of our export trade in which the total exports were as great as tho-e of 1890, and there has been no year in which the importations were as great as those of 1890. Curiously enough the figures just submitted by the Bureau of Statistics in regard to the importations do not show tho marked increase for the last half of tho year that was generally expected. The total Imports for the last six months of the year are practically but 0110-half of the total for tho year. Exports and imports of gold and silver do not show the marked chango compared with former years that had been expected. The total exports of gold for the year were $24,000,000, against $50,000,000 in the preceding year, $34,000,000 in 1888, and $9,000,000 in 1887. The imports of gold were $20,009,000 for 1890, against $12,000,000 in 1889 and $10,000,000 in 1888.

The exports of silver for the year were $26,000,000, and $29,000,000 in 1888. The imports of silver for the year 1890 were $22,000,000, against $19,000,000 in 1889, $16,000,000 in 1888, $16,500,000 in 1887, $17,000,000 in 1886, and $17,500,0)0 in 1885. Cotton, breadstuffs. meats, and kerosene oil continue to be tho chief of the articles exported by tho United States. Cotton is still king. The exportations of cotton for the year were $230,000,000 in value, being a sum greater than that received for cotton in almost any other year of the history of our commerce. Breadstuffs and meat and dairy products ran a close race as to second place. The breadstuffs, including corn and corn-meal, wheat and wheat flour, amount to over $140,000,000 in the year. The provisions, including meat and da'ry products, amounted to nearly $140,000,000. Of coal oil the total exportations amounted in value to about $45,000,000. Beally the provision list should, perhaps, take precedence over that of breadstuffs, for the exportation of live animals, mostly cattle, amounted to $35,000,000 in value and as a large proportion of these are sent abroad to bo s'aughtered, it is proper they should bo added to the proportion which is given to provisions, as against brftadstuffs, thus bringing that line of industry second in the list of exportations in value. Iron and steel exportations are beginning to cut quite a figuro in the total of our sales to other countries. They amounted last year to over $25,000,000 in value. The exportations of tobacco for tho year amounted to something over $20,090,090. In.the importations, sugar stood at tho head of the list in value. The importations of sugar for the year amounted in round numbers to $300,000,000. Coffee stand next in the values of importations, tho total va ue of coffee Imported during tho year being over $85,000,000, an increase of $25,000,000 over last year. Manufactures of Iron ana steel, including tin plates, amounted to $45,000,000, and flax hemp and jute, manufactured and unmanufactured, reached about tho same “total. Manufactures of silk amounted to over $40,000,000 In value. The unmanufactured silk was over $20,000,000 in value. Tea seoms to bo losing its grip as a beverage, the total importations of tea being but $14.000,0C0, as against tho figures on coffee indicated above In spite of tho fact that wo grow most of the cotton of the world, and pride ourselves on having machinery that wiH do almost anything, the importations of manufactured cotton amounted to nearly $30,000,000. There is also tho same remarkable state of affairs with reference to wool. The Importations of manufactured wool for tho year amounted to over $55,000,000 and of .unmanufactured wool to over $14,000,000. Great Britalu continues to be our most important customer abroad. Of our corn Great Britain took $20,000,000 worth, against $!>,000,000 by Germany and $2,500,000 by France. Of our wheat Great Britain and Ireland took $28,000,OCO worth, against $4,000,000 by France and $5,000,000 or $6,000,000 by other European countries. Of flour Great Britain took $30,000,000, against less than $10,000,000 in all European countries. The West Indies took $5,000,000 or $6,000,000 worth, and Brazil about half that quantity. Of our cotton, Great Britain and Ireland took $130,000,000 worth, Germany less than $40,000,000, France a little over $16,000,000, and all other European countries $30,000,000. Of coal oil, Great Britain took about $8,000,000 worth, Germany nearly $10,000,000, Australia about $5,000,000 and the British East Indies over $6,000,000. Of oar bacon, Great Britain took $3,000,000 worth, and all other countries less than $4,000,000 worth. Of lard, Great Britain and Iroland took $10,000,000 worth, Germany $8,000,0)0, France $3,000,000 and other European countries 56,000,000. The private correspondence of th© Prince of Wales is something enormous. He is said to receive four times as many letters a day as does the President of th© United States. Senator Jones has built a magnificent villa at Santa Monica, in southern; California, and Mrs. Jones is so charmed’ by her new residence that she will not return to Washington. Thomas Edison says that although, in Italy he has the title of count, he prefers that of “tho old man,” by which h© Is better known among his employes at Menlo Park. It is claimed for W. H. Dobson of 1 Havre de Grace, Md., that he has a record of 530 ducks killed in one day. Thia feat, it is said, was performed in 182 A.