Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1891 — Page 5

MILLIONS AT HIS FEET.

MR. SEARLEfS SUCCESSFULLY WOOED THE WIDOW. He Then Proceeded to Lavlih Her Wealth In the Most Romantic and Luxurious Fashion—The Great Will Contest—Timothy. the Adopted Son. Reads Like a Romance. The history behind the great Hop-kins-Searles will case is a romance of itself. The wealthy Widow Hopkins met Searles, a poor frescoer who had been employed to do work in her

MRS. PATICK NOLAN, MOTHER OF TIMOTHY HOPKINS.

portunity thus given to gain sudden and immense riches, and the marriage ties had scarcely been solemnized before he began to display his newly acquired wealth in the most lavish manner. This was entirely satisfactory to Timothy, the adopted eon, until Mrs. Hopkins-Searles in her will at her death bequeathed the whole fortune to Searles. Then Timothy Nolan-Hopkins-Searles arose to enter an objection, and persons to whom thirty millions of dollars is a fairy tale have since watched this grabble for gold with a good deal of interest. Men and women marvel that a woman of so much sense as Mrs. Hopkins could consent to deed away her property so lavishly unless for the very highest of reasons. It is a plot flt for Wilkie Collins to have traced.

Years ago Searles was a poor boy in Methuen, and he wasn't liked by the other boys in the town. He was surly and self-opinionated, so the boys thought, and they made things unpleasant for him. In consequence, Searles. was always despised by the townspeople of Methuen, and has endeavored at every opportunity to show his contempt for the inhabitants. Terry, Nevins and other townspeople gave costly monuments and buildings, but Searles wouldn't mend the town pump if his neighbors were dying of thirst. However, he “showed off," as children say, and erected a gorgeous mansion with fifty acres about it to make the Methuen crowd jealous. Of course he took nride in

TIMOTHY HOPKINS.

dazzling other Massachusetts towns with the fabulous riches of his doting wife; but into the Methuen spite he put an amount of style that shows a spark of genius. High walls were set to gird the place and guards kept out intruders. The main entrance is flanked with Corinthian columns imported from Italy, but it has never been used save on one occasion. This gorgeous marble affair was intended for an entrance to the town, just because Mr. Searles is a decorator and has romantic ideas. His notion was to make an approach to the town through a park -with a grand archway, something like the style in which a mediaeval town would indulge. But Methuen is a plain, every-day Massachusetts community that has hardly lost any of its Puritanical notions. The townspeople decided that they did not want to masquerade in this gaudy archway. Searles, in a huff, put it at the entrance to his own domain. Mrs. Searles drove under it Once on her return from Europe the last time, and since then it has been closed. A description of Searles’ luxury reads like a chapter in the “Arabian Nights.” The Methhen place of fifty acres is a network of paths leading through miniature lakes and everplaying fountains. Trees and shrubs from every clime are arranged in such a manner as to render the landscape a Garden of Eden. The splendid house, built in the style of a French chateau—Searles’ favorite pattern—stands on an elevation, and, strange to say, surrounds the very cottage in which Searles was born. As if to complete the illusion, the man’s aged mother still resides there, surrounded by every attention that wealth can provide. Yet her simplicity of life and carelessness of luxury fills her ancient townspeople with wonder. Searles is fond of surprises, and his endeavors to divert his aged wife were unique. For instance, he planned a grand Fourth of July celebration in her honor, when thousands j

home, became infatuated with him to such an extent that before the end of the year she implored the apparently reluctant suitor to mar- ■ ry her, and, as an inducement, laid her millions at his feet. Searles w a s e v idently awake to the op-

GATE OF THE METHUEN HOUSE.

tion of comparative obscurity to the foremost place in English public life —the leadership of the House of Com-

ARTHUR JAMES BELFOUR.

life until a man is twenty years older. He has been in Parliament since he was 26, entering in 1874. He reached office before he was 40, serving six years ago as President Local Government Board, and as Scottish Secretary before becoming Irish Secretary. Im 1878 he went to Berlin as his uncle’s secretary, and acted for two years at that time in this capacity. At 43, therefore, Mr. Balfour has been seventeen years in the House of Commons. He has been twice in office; he has attended a great European Congress, and been behind the scenes there in home affairs.

Reml Estate Owners Left Without Proof -of Their Title. James C. Lavalle, Samuel Harbin, Bazil Ledgerwood, and Burr Hawes

to wit, the burning of official records. County Auditor J. C. Lavalle was at one time one of the most popular men in his part of the State, not only with his own party but with his political enemies as well. No man had a brighter future than he had a few years ago. Everything which he turned his attention to seemed to succeed, and he had the confidence of every one who knew him. But it seems that this confidence led him into a terrible

trap. The respect which the public had for him enabled him to commit felonies unsuspected, but one crime seemed to give him an appetite for another, and the popular officer worked deeper and deeper into the mire. His extravagant liberality led to crookedness In office, and it was to cover up this crookedness that he and hi* confederate* attempted to destroy the Court House and the records contained therein.

of incandescent electric lights crowded the trees in the park. A huge tower had been erected in the park, and to disguise its object a windmill had been set at the top. An elaborate orchestra had been imported from Boston, consisting of a hundred musicians. On the evening of Independence Day last Mrs. HopkinsSearles stepped out upon a balcony overlooking the park, and then and

TOMB WHERE MRS. SEARLES’ REMAINS NOW LIE.

there the lofty tower turned out to be a magnificent chime of bells that rung out upon the air song after song in honor of the old lady’s presence. Then fireworks shot up into the starlit sky and the electric lights blazed forth. The old lady stood on the platform a few minutes, and then, with a sad smile upon her lips, was assisted back to her sick bed. She never rose from it again.

ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR.

The Man Recently Fleeted to the Leadership In the House of Commons. Mr. Arthur James Balfour has passed in five short years from a posi-

mons, for which he has been selected, with the reversion of the post of Premier when his uncle, Lord Salis.bury, retires. Young, rich, accomplished, Mr. Balfour has reached a post and point rarely gained in English

ARE IN A BAD WAY.

J. C LAVALLE

THE COURT HOUSE.

IT IS NOT PAID BY THE FOREIGNERS. the Lessons Taught by the Duties on Crockery—Complete Refutation of Major McKinley’s Assertion That the Foreigner Fays the Tax—Facts for Fanners to Consider—Tariff Shot. The Tariff Is a Tax. In a recent speech which he delivered In Ohio Major McKinley said: “Don’t you believe those wicked Democrats when they tell you that the tariff is a tax. The foreigner pays it; you don’t ” And then without proving his assertion, he asked, “How, then, can the tariff be a burden to the people of this country?" When Major McKinley was in Congress he was the special representative of the pottery and glass trust, which had many factories located in his district. During the tariff debates he always had a lot of chinawaro upon his desk, to show his fellow Congressmen and the visitors in the galleries that his desk was the stand and he the champion of the pottery combines. It is to be presumed, therefore, thatj when McKinley says the foreign manu- j facturers. and not the consumers in the United States, pay the tariff tax, he has in mind that upon crockery ware, with j which he claims to be thoroughly conversant Such being the case, he cannot dodge the following facts, since they doal with his own particular hobby. The time is past when mere assertions of general principles regarding the tariff, no matter by whom made, will be taken as gospel truth. They must be backed up by facta For over thirty years we have had very light duties upon crockery and earthenware. During this period combines have been formed among the manufacturers on the one hand to keep up prices and on the other to cut down the wages of the workmen employed in their factories. These pottery combines charge for their goods all that the tariff will allow, as is shown in the following table, which gives for first quality white granite ware the net wholesale prices as charged by the East Liverpool and Trenton manufacturers in this country and by the pottery manufacturers in England, from which the greater part of our imports come. The prices given are absolutely correct, being taken in each instance from the price lists and discount sheets. In the table the first column shows the foreign price per dozen, the second the American price, the third the amount which the American price exceeds the foreign price, and the fourth the amount of duties charged on the foreign ware when imported into the United States. English E.Liv- Higher prices erpool in East Articles. per prices Liver- Duties Plates flat— dozen, pr. doss. pool. paid. 4 inch $0,167 *0.28 *0.113 *O.OOIB 6 inch 268 .44 .177 .1446 8 inch .359 .60 .241 .1974 P.ates deep—--6 inoh 263 .56 .297 .1446 8 inch 359 . 54 . 281 .1074 Bakers' 6 inch 479 .70 .221 .2634 8 nch 863 1.40 . 587 . 4746 . 10 inch 1.438 2.35 . 012 .7909 Hnwlfl 36b • .319 .50 .181 .1754 24s 479 .74 .2.11 .2634 Cover Dishes 7 Inch- 2.013 3.2.1 1.187 1.1071 9 lnoh 2.588 4.00 1.412 1.4234 Dishes 6 inch 335 .53 .245 .1842 8 inch 479 . 80 . 321 .2034 10 inch 863 1 44 .677 .4746 12 Inch 1.488 2.52 3.082 .7909 16 inch 3.163 5.',6 2.597 1.7396 T©&B Handled 383 .666 .983 .2106 Unhandled... .319 .466 .247 .1754 (Viffflm— Handled 444 .8 0 .356 .2142 Unhandled... .383 .7-9 .817 .2106 Butters ojvered 5 inch L 725 2.8 W 1.073 .9487 Total 22 doz. assort’d ware *19.122 $32,042 *12.920 *10.5162 Add to the duties as given above on the ware atone, the duties on the packages and charges, and the cost of importation, the above figures show clearly that the pottery combine charges American consumers all that the tariff will allow. What, in view of the above facts, becomes of the assertion of McKinley that “the foreigner pays the tax; you don’t?”

The standing bids for American tinplate are still unanswered, as the entire “output” seems to be required to supply the Republican campaign committees with badges which all sensible people are ashamed to wear. In the meantime the canning business is being very seriously cramped. Before the tax on tinplate was increased, small canning factories were beginning to spring up through the West, relying on neighborhood supply of fruits and vegetables, and making a living profit both for themselves and the farmers. The business, of course, depends wholly on having tin cans plentiful and cheap. Otherwise these small factories cannot preserve the food at a profit, and it is left to rot In the fields. The farmers of Howard county, Indiana, had such a canning factory at Kokomo, as a “home market” for their surplus vegetables, but the ’McKinley bill forced an advance oi over 25 per cent in the price of cans. The result is the demoralization of this new industry, which was one of the few the East could, not take from the West “The farmers of Howard county planted hundred of acres of tomatoes, ” says the Kokomo Dispatch. . “The crop is excellent and every grower stood to realize from 835 to 8100 per acre. There is no chance of this now. To-day the. Kokomo Canning Works refused to receive another bushel of the vegetable for an indefinite time. The reason given is that cans for packing the tomatoes cannot be had. Thousands of bushels are rotting in the yards at the works. Tons upon tons are decaying in the fields. The loss to Howard County farmers cannot be counted in less than five figures. No wonder they are asking for the whereabouts of the ‘infant tin industries ’ * The loss hero is a “dead loss. ” The tinplate combine does not gain it. They get their profit under the tax in other directions. Here this food, which under fair trade would have been marketed to feed the poor of the cities, is lost to them, and the labor required for its production is likewise lost Where plenty is created as a natural result of labor and trade, artificial scarcity is produced by the tax on trade. The result is a dead loss, in this case as in every case of taxation levied to produce artificial scarcity.— St Louis Republic.

have been Indicted for an attempt to burn the Davies County (Ind.) Court House, and the next Grand Jury of thecounty .will indict the defendants on a still mo re serious charge under the laws of Indiana—

“I have the authority of the American Economist (the organ of the Protective Tariff League) that in 1889 the number of people in the United States who owned their own homes had In twentyfive years fallen from five-eighths to three eighths How long will it take them to fall to one eighth or one-thou-sandth? History is not without lessons in thi3 regard, and I quote from the Progress, published in Boston: “ ‘When Egypt went down 2 per cent, of her people owned 97 per cent of her wealth. The people were starved to death. When Babylon went down 2 per cent, of her people owned all of her wealth The people were starved to death. When Persia went down 1 per cent of her population owned all the land. When Rome went down 1,800 men owned all the known world.’ “In 1850 in this country the capitalists owned 37>4 per cent of our wealth. To-day they own more than twice that Amount of oar wealth. Hat* they been

WHO PAYS THE TARIFF?

A Dead Loss.

One Result of Protection.

more honest, more industrious, more enterprising? Have they lived closer? Have they deserved better at the bands of Providence or of their countrymen than the farmers and wage-workers, or oven bf the lawyers, doctors and preachers. ” —Gov. Campbell, at Ada.

COMMERCE AND TARIFFS.

High Tariffs Restrict, Low Tariffs Promote Commerce—Wliat Lessons European Tariffs Teach—Shall the United States Be Classified with Russia and Portugal? No statement is more commonly made by the advocates of high tariffs Wian that our example has been adopted by many of the European countries, such as France, Germany, Sweden, etc. It is asserted that these countries have been influenced by the example of Great Britain to follow in the track of tne United States, and, finally, that their action In this regard affords the best possible reason why the United States should continue in its policy. A comparison of the imposts and customs duties collected by the leading nations of Europe will sufficiently show the falsity of such claims as the followers of McKinley are now making. Such a comparison is given in the following table: Bate Popu- Im- Customs ot. latton. ports, revenue, duty Countries. Mill’s. Mill’s. Mill’s. ct. Belgium. 1888 6. 307.5 5.5 LB2 Switzerland, 1890... 3. 165. 6,1 8.39 Netherlands, 1889.. 4.5 508. 20. 8.93 U. Kingdom, 1889.. .37.3 21C0. 100. 4.7 C Germany, 1890 48. 809. 58. 6.74 Aus-Hungary, 1888..40. 267.5 20. 7.49 Franco, 1890 39. 821. 75. 9.13 Sweden, 1890 4.9 81. 10. 12.37 Norway. 1893 2. 42.7 5.6 12.89 Italy, 1890 30. 235. 53. 22.55 United States, 1889.62. 745. 224 . 30.00 Bussia In Europe, 1889 88. 159. 58. 36.49 Portugal, 1890 6.2 41.5 19.5 47 00 The duties imposed by the McKinley tariff will raise the average rate in the United States to over 40 per cent, thus placing us next to Portugal in this respect. The McKinley tariff is regarded by Its makers to be the lowest tariff consistent with our protective policy. Such being the case, the United States and Portugal are the only truly protective countries; while of all other countries Bussia approaches nearest us in this respect In accordance with the doctrines of McKinley, all other countries have free trade tariffs. If Germany and France, with duties averaging 6.74 percent, and 9.13 per cent., respectively, are to be considered protectionist countries, how can McKinley justify an average rate on both free and dutiable goods of over 40 per cent as but fair protection for the United States? The above figures give a conclusive answer to Mr. McKinley’s statements that a high tariff does not restrict foreign trade. The feebler European countries, as shown in the above table, have a combined population of 308,000,000 and import annually $5,588,000,000 of merchandise. The first four nations having strictly revenue tariffs, their combined duties averaging only 3.90 per cent, have only 16. per cent, of the population and over 55 per cent, of the total commerce, The next three countries, or Austria, France and Germany, with tariffs which are largely for revenue and but slightly protective, their combined duties averaging only 8 per cent, have 41 per cent of the population and 34.8 per cent of the commerce. On the other hand, Italy, Portugal, and Russia are, like the United States, highly protective, their duties averaging over 30 per cent, have over 40 per cent, of the population, and only 7.7 percent of the total Imports. Briefly summarized, the amount of imports per head of population is as follows: Av. duty. Per cap. First group 3.40 per cent. *60.58 Second group 6.00 per cent. 15.34 Third group 90.00 per cent. 3.53 Can any evidence establish more conclusively the destructive influence of high tariffs upon commerce? Leaving out of consideration the effect of high tariffs upon the advancement of nations in civilization, why should we follow the policy of Bussia and Portugal, and restrict and pervert the development of our enormous resources?

TARIFF SHOT.

The Home Market for Wheat of Which Protectionists Boast. In March, 1890, the statlstican of the Department of Agriculture published a report showing the production and distribution of the wheat crop of 1888. In this report he “gave away” the home market, which protectionists boast has been established by high tariffs. The following are his figures, graphically illustrated: Total wheat crop In 1888, 415,868,000 bushels, of which 181,750,078 bushels were consumed by the farmers themselves in the county where grown, and 54,012,702 bushels were used by the farmers for seed. Of the remainder, 88,600,743 bushels were exported, leaving 91,504,437 bushels, a part of which was held in reserve, a part consumed In markets claimed by no one to have been built up by protection, and the remainder consumed in home market provided by protection. In 1888, or sixty-two years after Clay launched his “American System” to provide a “home market” for our surplus farm produce, we find that the boasted home market takes less than 25 per cent of our crop of wheat, exclusive of that reserved for seed, while we continue to export over per cent of it.

For the Farmers to Consider.

In its issue for Oct. 16 the American Economist, the organ of the Protective Tariff League, publishes a, chart showing the price of wheat and flour under the low tariffs, from 1850 to 1860, and under the high tariff since 1860 i which It points to as showing the triumphs of high tariffs. It shows that wheat went ud in price from 2.6 c per pound in 1850 to 3c per pound in iB6O, ot over 15 >4 per cent. Under the high tariffs it fell to 2.3 c per pound in 1887, or a fall of over 23 per cent This fall in price of over 23 per cent is ascribed by the Economist to the high tariff. The back from Europe, over which the Republicans are cackling so, is brought back by Western farm products dug out of the ground by unprotected Western work and sold under free trade The products of the highly protected machines of the McKinley corporations are not bringing It back. Tne Plutocratic machine-owners do not trouble themselves to go abroad after gold They content themselves with taklDg it after it gets here, If the farmer, whose products brought it. demands his share, they call him a “crank” and a “calamity shrieker. * The water of the central basin of the Mediterranean has been found to he wanner, denser and richer in dissolved salts than the western. While a white was only visible at forty-three meters, photographic plates were affected at 500 meters.

PALMER'S GREAT HOBBY.

Where the World’s Felr President Has Lavished His Money. It is a tableaux vivant, a living picture of colonial life in its most attractive phase, this log cabin, the summer home of the Hon. T. W. Palmer, ex-Minister to Spain, and the portly and genial President of the World’s Fair. Next to the Spanish baby, the choicest treasure found on another contineht, this is the most valued of his possessions. Here he forgets for a time the turmoil of public life and becomes—as he loves to call himself—a horny-handed farmer.

The farm and cabin are situated on Woodward avenue, about six miles from the center of the city of Detroit. It is a pleasant drive along the platted but only partially occupied future residence part of the .city, which the associations of early years have made the Mecca of his wanderings. From Woodward avenue the cabin is reached by a maple-lined driveway skirted to the right by tiers of natural woods, the foliage a perfect study of beautiful coloring, while on the left a willow-fringed stream Sparkles out among the fern To blckor down the valley. A rail fence incloses the lawn, a rustic gate opens the way to the wellhouse, where an old-time bucket gives mute invitation to drink, and who could refuse a draught from such a poet-honored source. A soft, sinking carpet-like sward slopes from the house to the river. The house is a veritable log house, built in colonial style, and in all the details carefully carrying out the characteristics of the time when our forefathers loyally cried out, “God bless the good Queen Anne." The large front door, divided across the center and opening with a latch, the diamond-paned windows, the water barrels, the kegs lying near the door and suggesting great bumpers of the juice of the apple, all belong to the past. From the benches of the broad porch, over which the woodbine clambers, you get a pleasant view of prosperous country beauty. Within, the house is filled with mementos of Mr. Palmer’s childhood. The little chair, the trundlebed, the old-fashioned toys occupy the places of power, together with the carefully preserved handiwork of his venerated mother. The floors are covered with rag carpet which time has dulled to a tender gray. . Grandmother’s braided rugs protect the carpets and chintz curtains shade the windows. In the parlor old secretaries and bookcases hold old books and relics, while the antiquated furniture is polished as only our old grandmothers could do it. The straight-backed chairs are adorned

AN ARTISTIC OLD CABIN.

with patch-work cushions, and from cords fastened across the raftered ceiling are hung hanks of yarn such as were spun by the good wife’s busy hand. In the dining-room a venerar ble four-poster, valanced and covered with a patchwork quilt, shares the room with the largedining-table. The dash churn and a spinning-wheel, innocent of ribbons or gilding, stand by the hearth. On a shell rests the well-scoured brass kettle in which were compounded all manner of jams and conserves, while fragrant and pungent herbs droop from the ceiling. Antique furniture fills the upper rooms, where ingeniously constructed trap-doors open to hidingplaces in case of Indian attack. All through the house is carried out the same thought Of the past, and the visitor unconsciously expects to meet some white-capped dame walking with stately digntly through the rooms or greet a rosy-cheeked Ruth or Priscilla hastening backward or forward to the music of the hurrying wheel. But the house, withal so homely, has yet that air of beauty and luxury which only wealth and good taste can give. Near to the house is a wood of some extent, where a great amount of ingenuity has been exercised. It is as nature made it except for drives that have been cleared through it and made to cross and recross in such a labyrinthine style that the puzzled traveler would be lost but for the many signboards nailed to the trees. By their aid he passes from Surprise avenue to Sassafras lane, from Sylvan avenue to the bower where Senator Palmer has entertained many distinguished guests, who, coming expecting little, have had indifference turned to admiration. One of the features of the lawn is the group of trees planted by Senators who have visited the farm. Among the names of those who have performed the task arc some of the most notable of American statesmen. , Jersey avenue leads from the woods U> the barns and offices of the. farm. The farm has 700 acreg, and is in a perfect state of cultivation. If the house is antiquated, all the agricultural operations are carried on with the latest improvements and conveniences. The stables are filled with noble Perchcron horses, about 160 in

all. Even those that are employed in dally work seem to disdain the earth they tread. The animals in the sale stables are types of massive power and beauty, from the snow-white Anchovite, who for thirty years has been the pride of the farm, to the latest Fenelon, whose jetty form seems a fit dwelling-place for some hero of the Valhalla. On the farm there is a large herd of Jersey cows, who graze quietly indifferent to the fact that theirs is a long pedigree, and that to possess them means a small fortune; equally careless, too, that Mrs. Palmer should pass them by to lavish her attentions upon the common iced cow which is her special pet. Speculators cast covetous eyes upon this property, and many inducements arc offered Mr. Palmer to part with it. One syndicate offered a million for it, but was refused. ’ “I almost parted with it a short time ago,” said Mr. Palmer to a friend, “but I am thankful ever since that I did not, for then I would have been left without a hobby.” Not In the Line of Election. We do not hear much of the religious views or denominational predilection of men in political life, but as a matter of fact these views and predilections are often very pronounced, albeit with statesmen who are not pillars of the church nor even sleepers in it. Senator Vance, of* North Carolina, unquestionably the champion story teller of the Senate, has a broad stripe of Calvinism down his back, though he is nota communicant in the church. It is told of him that riding along in Buncombe County one day he overtook a darky, with whom he thought to have “a little fun." “Uncle,” said the Governor, “are you going to church?” “No sah, not edzactly—l’m gwine back from church." “You’re a Baptist, I reckon—now, ain’t you?” “No, sah, I ain’t no Baptist, do most of de brederen and sisters about here has been under de water.” “Methodist, then?” “No, sah, I ain't no Mefodls nudder.” “Campbellite?” “No, sah, I can’t erragate to myself de Camelite way of thinkin’.” "Well, what in the name of goodness are you, then?” rejoined the Governor, remembering the narrow range of choice in religious among the North Carolina negroes. “Well, de fac’ is, sah, my old marster was a Herruld of de Cross in do Presbyterian Church and I was fetch up in dat faith.” “What! You don’t mean it? Why, that is my church." The negro making no comment on this announcement, Governor Vance went at him again: “And do you believe in all of the Presbyterian creed?” “Yes, sah, dat I does.” “Do you believe in the doctrine of predestination?” “I dunno dat I recognize de name, sah.” “Why, do you believe that if a man is elected to be saved he will be saved and that if he is elected to be damned he will be damned?” “Oh, yes, boss, I believe dat. It’s gospel talk, dat is." “Well, now, take my case. Do you believe that I am elected to be saved?” The old man struggled for a minute with his desire to be respectful and polite, und then shook his head dubiously. “Come, now, answer my question,” pressed the Governor. “What do you say?” “Well—l tell you what ’tls, Marse Zcb: Ise been libin’ in dis hyah world nigh on sixty years, and I nebber yit hyard of any man bein’ ’lected ’dout he was a candidate."—-Mercury.

Moek Battles in the Sixteenth Century.

Grand army maneuvers are not a modem institution in central Eorrope. Already in the sixteenth century small German states got their militia Into camp at irregular Intervals and gave them instructions in the work of the battlefield. Such maneuvers were comparatively frequent in Nassau-Dlllenburg and the Pfalz and in many little Protestant states during the Dutch-Spanlsh wars. The greatest maneuvers of the old days, however, were held in France in J 698 In the vicinity of Compiegne under the command of Marshal Bouilers. Saint-Simon described them at length. The army of 00,000 men was assembled that the young Duke of Burgundy ifilght have an object lesson In the art of war. The whole camp was, however, one big carousal. The Com-mander-in-chief, says Saint-Simon, “set the whole world in amazement at hts pomp and the exquisite luxury of his court feasts." The best of food and wines were served in the officers’ quarters to all men of rank who visited the field. A little city of palaces was erected for the maneuvers, and everybody except the privates lived as luxuriously as he could in Paris. As there were then no military attaches of foreign legations the ambassadors themselves were entertained by the Commander-in-chief. On the door of every prince and French cardinal was the inscription, “For—;” .on the door of every other guest, however, only the name of the occupant of the house, without a preceding “for.” This slight was very near to cansing ul war, as the ambassadors protested against the slight involved in the omission of the preposition. Barrels of ink and reams of paper were wasted in the controversy over the door signs, but the King persisted that ordinary persons in camp must do without “for” on their doors. In the presence of the King, who appeared at camp with Mme. de Maintenon, several sham fights were conducted in open field, and there was even a sham attack on Compiegne. Bouflers received from the King eventually 100,000 livres as indemnification for his expenditure at the great carousal during the maneuvers, but this sum covered but a small part of the Marshal’s personal expenses in the Sybaritic encampment.

Stranded in Oklahoma.

A former well-to-do Kansas farmer, who is over six feet high, and weighs nearly 200 pounds, is stranded in Oklahoma, and Is selling bouquets of wild flowers for a living.

CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

A DEPARTMENT FO* LITTL®. BOYS AND GIRLS. Something that Will Interest the Inrtalie Members es Every Household Quaint Actions usd bright Sejhsgs ed Cute Children. Old deck. Old Jack is a great big dog with a soft, curly coat, writes Mrs. C. M. Livingston In Pansy. His eyes are large and soft, and he looks wise ant) i noble. Jack is a good dog. He never barks or snaps at any body unless he thinks they are in mischief. He knows so much he can always tell when a boy or mao is bad. At night he lies at his master’* doorstep and take 3 care of the house. If a man comes to the front door and rings the bell Jack keeps very quiet. He says to himself: “This is one of my master’s friends, I suppose; I shall let him in ol course.” But if Jack is not pleased with the actions of the man he jumps up, sticks up his ears and tail andi opens his mouth in such a great loud “liow-wow” as makes the man run off as fast as his legs cau carry him. Once a boy came Into the yard and tried to steal pears. He looked all about and thought nobody saw him. Jack saw him. Just as the boy threw a stick Into a tree to bring down a pear out jumped Jack. But Jack did not bite the boy, he caught him by the coat and held him fast till his master came. One day Jack went down street with Robert, his master’s son. The walk was covered with ice. Robert slipped and fell. When he tried to get up he could not walk. Some men carried him across the street to Dr. Bond’s. The doctor said he was not hurt much. It was only a bone that had slipped out of place in his ankle. Jack sat in a corner, and hie great wise eyes watched the doctor While he pulled and rubbed the hurt foot. Pretty soon Robert could walk as well as ever. Jqck was glad; he wagged his tail and almost laughed. Another day Jaek was going down, town by himself. He had not gone far when he stopped and held up one foot and cried out with pain. What could be the matter? He stood still and howled, but nobody came to help him. What should he do? At once a bright thought came intoJack’s head. “If the doctor can cure a boy's soots lie eun cure a dog’s foot," said Jack U> himself; so he limped off to Dr., Bond’s office. He scratched at tbW door, and whined till it was opened*’ "Why, Jllck! what do you Want? 1 " said Dr. Bond. i Then Jack held up his foot. The Doctor looked at it and saw a| piece of broken glass In it. "Poor Jack!” said kind Dr. Bond.| “Walk In, old fellow, and we will seq what can be done.” Jack held very still while the doc-; tor took the glass out and tied up hia foot In a soft rag wet wlth arnica. “Good Jack,” said Dr. Bond; “yoi* are all right now; go home.” So Jack thanked the Doctor as well as he could with eyes and tall, and! went off home a happy dog, even If hQ did go on three legs.

The Pleasures of School Life.

School is regarded by many childrens us almost a prison, the teachers as stern Jailers, the books as instrument** of torture, and their companions as-fidloW-prlsoners. How mistaken they are. There are always two sides to a story, as we alb know, and there are two sides toschool life—a bright and a dark, side.; I am going to tell you about the brightt side and leave the dark side as muclp in the background as possible. My first school days were passed Inr my own home. My sister and 1 wen® to a dear young lady who taught in an old, old wooden school-house which had stood there a great many years. There was such a nice play-groumfj so cool and shady. Splendid times we liudl playing merry games with little friends or quietly eating lunch under 1 the big oak trees. There was noO mucin thought of study then. Life was wn* long sunshiny day, full of Inmoccnh thoughts and pleasures. Then came very exciting times. 1 was to go away to school. What dreams I had of wonderful achieveinents and what pleasant anticipations filled my mind. That first year at the new school was, perhaps, thehappiest of ray school life. At leasts 1 never expect another such. The teachers were so kind,, thegirls so friendly, and when friends were made how pfroud I felt. 'lTmi intercourse with other girls, the quiet talks, the hours of study by the river bank, the class meetings, the little socials were all pleasures which are pleasures still, as memory calls them up. Every girl knows how pleasant the first day of a session is, when there is no restraint, only a delightful freedom in which to exchange conff-v dences about the “perfectly grand? summer you’ve had. Can anything bo pleasanter than to pass an examination when there, ba* been a long struggle over one’s books? You come out first, perhaps, and how proud you feel when the teachers look so kind and groups of admiring friends gather round to see how you bear your honors! Then there is the pleasure of a good recitation, of promotion and general advancement. The grand finale of a school year is always the “commencement.” With whal wondering looks we regard the young ladies who are to graduate, llow happy they seem, all in pure white, surrounded by beautiful flowers and smiling friepds. But when I look at them I wonder if they are as happy as I am, after all. For have I not all this in ideas- * ant anticipation? And the pleasures of anticipation are very often as great as those of the reality.—Written by a little girl. Flirting with married women is one way of committing suicide. If you have a friend who is doing it, warn him to stop it Husbands am as quick with their gnus as they are with their tempers, and will sboot *ny man who smiles at their wives, though they may be smiling at other women themselves at the same time.