Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1891 — Page 4

”TO CORRESPONDENTS,

. tommirnl—for *■»*» W™ - «hould ba tea* Wm by th. name of »uibor; n«f n»n—irtly ft* 'Mbßaattoa, bat m an eridonoo of good faith on tbs part MtbawrUac. Write onlf on one aide of the paper. Be ■■Maalariy oaroful, in firing namee and dates, to han SsMtan and flgum plain and distinct.

P~lt seems anomalous that Shakers Should be religiously averse to the dice box. I Two reputable citizens of Michigan recently discovered a hairy wild man seven feet tall, who leaped twenty-three feet at a bound. These gentlemen should by all means take the tjourse in mythology at the Keeley Institute. A young lady of Memphis, Tenn., wrote an essay on “The Model Husband.” This brought her a prize of 820 and a better-half in the shape of a rich and handsome young banker, of Minneapolis. The public may now look for more essays on the same subject. In the midst of a political campaign upon which depends his last chance of returning to power Mr. Gladstone has found time to write a theological paper for an English review. The grand old man is indomitable. When Charon finally takes him across the last ferry he will, no doubt, jot down, a few notes with a view to an article upon archaic methods of navigating the river Styx.

The prospects for the speedy opening of the greater part of the Indian lands in the Oklahoma country are good. The Government commissioners are nowon the ground negotiating with the Tonkawas. and there is every reason to believe that a satisfactory settlement will be reached in a short time. Their reservation embraces about 90.000 acres, of which 83,000 will be opened for homesteaders. The commissioners will next negotiate with the Poncas, Otoes and Pawnees, and some time in November they expect to go to Tahlequah to resume negotiations for the Cherokee outlet. A lot of exquisitely told bits of Russian folk lore have been restored to present day people by Tolstoi, the eccentric. They may serve a purpose and a good one, perhaps, in showing to us, who are acquainted with telephones, steam engines and things, that centuries ago property rights and the sin pf buying and selling were as freely’ made use of by Russian story tellers and fable builders as they are at present by men in the same business. On the other hand, when we consider that such conditions were discussed and presented by writers who thought centuries ago and that those conditions are no nearer realitation now then they were then, the Idea has a tendency toward producing fatigue. It is asserted, albeit it is not perfectly easy to receive the statement with that perfect faith which is enjoined by the devotees of the mind cure—that in Kansas so thoroughly are the possibilities of rain-making realized and respected that a contract has been signed between a local organization and Melbourne by which the latter binds himself to keep the country watered next summer at the rate of a dollar an acre. If this contract is carried out, and it should chance that the district surrounding that included in the contract goes dry, would not the inhabitants of the latter district have good grounds for action against Melbourne on the ground that he has feloniously appropriated their rain clouds? We forelee a very pretty opportunity for litigation 'here.

1 Mrs. Potter Palmer has been requested to drive the last nail in the woman's building for the Chicago World’s Fair. The matter is in the hands of a committee of “Lady Managers of the Columbian Exhibition.” although why so exalted beings as “lady managers" should condescend to have anything to do with a mere Woman’s building is not apparent, the scene will be a beautiful one if Mrs. Palmer is really to drive the hail. First she will probably give a How that will leave a dint the size of half the hammer head in the woodwork; then she will bend the nail nearly double; and after that she Will smash her pretty fingers, and throw down the hammer in disgust. However, as the nail is to be of gold and silver and copper, not to mention any precious stones which it may be decided to put into it, there will probably be a neat hole made into which Mrs. Palmer can gently’ push the composite spike with her fingers, and thus avoid the terrific complications which would inevitably follow upon any attempt to really drive the nail home. This is a hopeful year with France. Its harvest has been good, its people have confidence in the Government, there is no hostility between employers and employes, its financial credit Was never better, Boulangism sleeps with Boulanger, and the Government floes not fear a war from any foreign power. Denmark has taken its stand with Russia. It stands guard on the Baltic and over the Gulf of Finland. Belgium takes pains, as it has not lone for many years until now. to Haim its independence of Germany, and its determination in the event of * rapture between France and Ger>iany to maintain its neutrality. £ven the usually modest and retiring M. Freycinet. the chief of the minand Minister of War, says: “I Hiall have something to say mvself about war”—by which he means about keeping the peace. At the late fctea of Marseilles the Bourgmestre flf Brussels said: “Permit me to speak M * friend to friends; that is to say, With that frankness which friendship

authorizes. It has pained us to sea it reported in your press that there was a secret treaty between King Leopold and Germany. The truth is that is a pure invention. I am authorized to say no such treaty ever existed. Our people love France, but we shall never renounce that rule of neutrality which is the sure guarantee of the independence of our country'” There are ugly reports that come from China to the effect that the people of tha’t country are up in arms against the Christ fan missionaries and residents sojourning there. The conduct of the mob is such as to excite the resentment of every civilized and Christianized country on the face of the globe. It is something that will not be tolerated. Unless it is stopped and restitution made gunboats as thick as mosquitoes will be getting around Chinese ports and vengeance swift and terrible will be the result. All this conceded. It might be well here to pause and reflect on the causes which produced the outbreak to the end that a recurrence of the ugly scenes may be avoided. As far as this country is concerned we are at a disadvantage. We have solemnly excluded the Chinese* and with an inhospitality quite unparalleled and strangely at variance with our Fourth of July claim to be the “refuge of the oppressed of all countries.” We have treated the Celestials rather roughly in many instances, not always stopping short of wholesale slaughter. Then we are sending missionaries to convert the so-called heathen—a piece of impudence on our part unexampled—while the heathen within our borders can see that our charity is long-ranged and blind to the wants of the needy’ at home. We go forth to save souls and with a magnificent assumption claim that— By many a rushing river. Through many a palmy plain. They call us to deliver The land from error's chain. While at the same time there are millions undelivered from error’s chain in our own country. With so many conflicting creeds, all entitled to the most profound respect, and with the teachings of the Savior interpreted in so many ways, it would be more seemly for our missionaries to remain at home until their differences were settled, and let the Chinese heathen take care of themselves.

When the social geologist of the future lays bare the stratum iff which we live to-day, and examines it, he will doubtless name it “The Age of Bill Boards.” He will find layer after layer of bill boards, thousands upon thousands of feet of advertising, and very little else; for that is the great tendency of to-day—the tendency to advertise. Not in a commercial way particularly, for the legitimate display advertisement of the regular merchant is the most modest of them all. But take up any paper you may choose, any magazine you may’ find or book you can name, and cast out all that is simply an advertisement of some man or other and how much remains? The magazines and books are worse in this regard than the newspapers,. Pick up your favorite magazine; look at the title page. What do you find? Names, names, names. Names of men and women who are trying to get notoriety. Turn over the pages. What do you read? Is it literature? Is the diction clear and pleasing? Is the thought particularly deep? Is the thought of any consequence save in connection with the man whose name is under it? Isn’t it merely an opinion? An opinion of whorti? Of an advertiser to be sure, and nothing else. Look at your favorite book written to-day. If you did not know of the author, would you read it? If he were not alive toi run his advertising bureau would his book find readers** What great preacher's sermon% would sell under an unknown name, any more than would Jimson’s soap under like circumstances? What great doctor’s remedies would find favor if they came from a more learned but less notorious physician? Half the lawyers who win cases would lose them if their names were changed. In former days the “Great Unknown” was a mascot; to-day he is a Jonah. And this only shows the extent to which advertising has become a part of our existence. But there is this good fortune in it all. There is no divine right to advertising. It is democratic in its favors, and he who possesses the secret of the art of advertising has his hand upon the door which leads to success; but woe is he if he try to open when he is unworthy; for if the world worships her heroes—sooner or later she unmercifully crucifies her quacks.

The Immense Crop of Old Maids.

A big crop of old maids seems imminent, judging from statistics. If the statistics of Great Britain are correct, the excess of women and girls over men and boys in that country is about 900,000. an increase in ten years of about 200,000. In Germany the number of females in excess of males is about 1,000.000. In Sweden and Norway the “weaker sex” is in the majority by about 250,000: in AustroHungary by 600,000: and in Denmark by 60,000. In the United States. Canada, and Australia the males are in the majority. In this country there are about 1,000,000 more men than women.

Domestic Felicity Must Be Earned.

Young people sometimes fancy that they, can get married happiness merely by going through the marriage ceremony. Domestic felicity, however, likjp everything else worth having, must be worked for—must be earned by patient endurance, selfrestraint and loving consideration for the tastes and even for the faults of him or her with whom life is to be lived. “No man e'er Rained a happy life by chan,"e. Or yawned It Into beiuf with a wish.”

RECIPROCITY ON TRIAL.

VERY MEAGER GAINS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS. I Brazil’s Improved Demand Confined Prinpally to Locomotives —Wheat Exports Increase in Spite of Reciprocity and the Tariff-Who Pays the Tariff Tax? How It Works. General figures are furnished by the Bureau of Statistics for the year ending Aug. 31, by which it is ascertained that the total increase in our exports for the twelve months, as compared with the corresponding months for the preceding year, was 835,286,211 But the same report shows that the increase in agricultural products alone, in August, 1891, was $15,999,952, or pretty nearly half of the whole increase for the twelve months. All of this may seem tedious, but to an understanding of what is to follow it is desirable to lay a foundation. Some stress is laid, in the report, upon our increased export of machinery, as Indicating some advantage accruing under “the new tariff” or “reciprocity.” There is some reason for giving credit to reciprocity for whatever advance has been made under it, but it will certainly not be the effort of the friends of the “new tariff” to attribute to the now tariff the figures that show that while in August, 1890, before the new tariff or reciprocity had begun to improve business, the percentage of our exports of machinery was 25.72 in August, 1891, after reciprocity with Brazil had been in operation for five months, the percentage of exports of machinery was only 20.66.

The commercial arrangement with Brazil was proclaimed Feb. 5, and it became operative April 1, 1891. It gave free entry into Brazil of wheat and wheat flour; corn, cornmeal, and'starch, rye and rye flour; buckwheat flour; potatoes, beans, and peas: hay and oats; pork, salted, including pickled pork and bacon; fish, salted, d’ied or pickled; cottonseed oil; coal, anthracite and bituminous; resin, tar, pitch, and turpentine; machinery for manufacturing and industrial purposes, except sewing machines; instruments and books for the arts and sciences; railway construction material and equipment The articles that were to be admitted to Brazil with a reduction of 25 per cent, were lard and substitutes therefor, bacon, hams, butter and cheese, canned and preserved meats, fish, fruit, and vegetables; manufactures of cotton, including cotton clothing; manufactures of iron and steel not included in the free schedule; leather and manufactures thereof, except boots and shoes; lumber and manufactures of wood, including cooperage; furniture of all kinds, wagons, carts, andca riages; manufactures of rubber. If this reciprocity agreement made under the “new tariff” was attractive and of great advantage, it ought to be seen in the figures. This might be assumed to be so if it could bo stated that the lack of reciprocity had discouraged importations of American goods abroad. But if increase of trade be the object of reciprocity, It will, of course, be interesting to show how much our exports were increased to those countries with which we have yet made no commercial agreement on the basis of reciprocity. Chief Brock, in his October pamphlet, issued to show how reciprocity is working, states that during the five months ending Aug. 31 our exports to Brazil increased 81,169,592. He does not say how much our exports increased to other countries with which we have no reciprocal arrangement, in the same per.od, when it would have been perfectly easy to say that the increase of our exportation of wheat to the United Kingdom in August, 1891, alone, was as great as the increase of al) our exports to Brazil, “under reciprocity,” in five months. .1 ust to get at the results systematically, take up the exports by articles in the order in which they are enumerated in the proclamation of the reciprocity agreement. There is wheat. The Bureau of Statistics does not think it worth while to make a line for Brazil, but puts the figures for all of South America in one entry. That entry shows that the exports of wheat in eight months to all South America were §363,553, as compared with 8616,211 in 1890, or a loss of 8252,658, and it seems that the exports in August, 1891. “under reciprocity,” were valued at 81,574, as compared with 867,233 in August, 1890, without reciprocity, a loss of 865,659. But in the eight months ending Aug. 31, our exports of wheat to France were 820,578.241 in excess of those of the corresponding period for the preceding year, and in August. 1891, there was an increase over August, 1890, of more than 89,000,000, and that with a nation not enjoying any advantages “under reciprocity.”

There was, to be sure, an improvement made in our exports of flour to Brazil in the period named. The increase in the value of wheat flour sent to Brazil was $159,598. but the increase to other (South American countr.es, not specified, and none of them attracted by reciprocal arrangements, was about $900,000, wh le the increase in the exportation to the Un ted Kingdom in eight months was valued at more than $2,000,000. We did better with corn, for our exportat'on of corn fell off in every direction except that of South America, and in that entile continent the increase in eignt months was valued at $232,757, while the total export was decreasing more than £31,000,000. As for cornmeal, cornstarch, rye, rye flour, buckwheat flour and barley, the figures were not considered worth presenting. But how about reciprocal potatoes? They do not appear in the statistics of exports by countries at all. but as our export of all vegetables “in their natural state,” which will probably include potatoes, fell off in eight months about SIOO,OOO, it was evidently not worth while to invoke the aid of reciprocity to. explain the decrease. There was also a decrease in our exportation of beans and peas, and there is nothing to show how much of the loss was suffered through the indifference of South America to our peas and beans,even “under reciprocity. ” There was also a failing off, in every direction, of our exports of hay and oats, and the decline in South America is lost sight of in the statistics. But pork ought to show an increase. Does it? Look at the figures. For the eight months of last year ending Aug. 31, the exports were va'ued at to all “other countries in South America, ” including those with which reciprocal agreements have since been made. For the eight months ending Aug. 31, 18.(1, the value of exports of pork, salted and pickled, to “other countries in South America,” was $1’1,046, or a decrease, “under reciprocity,” of $87,283. There was no reciprocity with the United Kingdom during the two periods, yet in the eight months of 1891 the exports of pork, fresh and pickled, to that kingdom were valued at $26 ’,533 more than they were in the corresponding eight months of 1890. As for bacon, Brazil did increase her purchases of it by $113,000 “under reciprocity,” in the same time that Germany, without reciprocal arrangement, and with a prejudice against all American hog products, increased its purchases to the extent of $210,000. There was a general falling off during the period of our hog products. ■ Fish does not appear to have turned out very well. There are no figures to show, except general ones indicating a decline in exports of that character. Of cottonseed oil. South America, all of it, took less, >y $13,000, in the last eight

months, than in the eight months of equal date in last year, but reciprocity may have the credit of an increase of 86,000 in August last over August. 1890, We sent to Bouth America, all of it, In the eight months ending Aug. 31, 1890, when there was no reciprocity, coal valued at 896,107. In the last eight months the value of the coal sent to South America was 854,814. a decrease of 841,293. The value of the coal sent In Augu t, 1890, was 8968, and in August, 1891. “under reciprocity,” the value of the coal sent to South America was 816. Yet in the eight months of 1891 we sent to British North America, with which we have no reciprocal arrangement, 8600.000 worth more of coal than we did in the like period of 1890. But reciprocity provided also for increased trade in resin, tar, pitch, and turpentine. There should have been a marked increase in the demand for those articles in South America, and particularly if reciprocity was to be advantageous to the republic that had been induced to let the articles in free of duty. Well, there was an improvement. In the eight months the exports of resin, tar, turpentine, and pitch to Brazil was 869,704, and the increase in spirits of turpentine was about 85,000. But Germany in the same time increased her purchases of resin, tar, turpentine, and pitch by 8103,184, and ner importations of spirits of turpentine were increased 8282,053, without the advantages of reciprocity. Then there is a good showing for machinery. “Under reciprocity” the importations of steam engines, mostly locomotives, to Brazil, amounted to an increase of 81,423,811 in the eight months, and during the same period our exportations of machinery of all kinds to British possessions in Australia increased 8845,391. And this was regardless of any reciprocal arrangement, and in spite of the long haul to which the machinery was subject. Of the articles upon which Brazil reduced duties 25 per cent, in order to give us an increased chance to do business with the country, there was an increase in exportations of hams of about 83,000, an increase of about 88,000 in exportations of nutter to all South America, an increase of ab. ut $4,00.) In the value of our cheese exportations to all South American countries, and an Increase of about 81'1,000 in canned beef, with a decline of 8100 In the exportations in August. The reciprocal arrangement may have increased the South American demand for our fruit by $7,000, but it certainly did not increase the demand in British North America, which took, without reciprocity. 8103,615 more of fruit than in the eight months ending Aug. 31, 1890. The believers in reciprocity as a way of increasing our trade in South America will undoubtedly “point with pride” to a record that will exhibit us as increasing our exportation of manufactured cotton to that country. They will neglect to see that while we were sending the United Kingdom $21,000,000 more raw cotton than in 1890, the Brazilian demand for manufactured cotton fell 8233,740. but they will see a hopeful sign in the increase of $9,274 in August, 1891.

“During the year ending June 30, 1890,” says the Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, “our exports of domestic products to Brazil amounted to $11,902,496, and in 1891 to 814,048,273. an increase of $2,146,777.” Well, take the reports for the last eight months of our exports to the United Kingdom and see what the Increase was in a few items; IO THE UNITED KINGDOM. Increase in eight months. Agricultural implements.’ ©113,01 > Sheep 69,879 Books, maps, and lithographs 7,751 Wheat 1,206,978 Wheat flour 1,953,360 Coal, anthracite and bituminous 66.731 Copper 2,3)0,942 Cotton 21,483,752 Fruits aud nuts 80,369 Hops 122,549 Iron and steel, manufactures 0f...... 17,180 Leather, sole 51?,346 Leather, other... .■ 651,031 Mineral oil, refined 62’,214 Paraffine and paraffine wax 70\625 Beef, canned 134,922 Beef, fresh 1,8 >2,492 Fork, fresh 262,553 Sugar, refined 1,065,165 Total increaseS 8,321,453 The later figures to show the increase of trade with the West Indies are more encouraging as indicating a willingness on the part of Cuba and Puerto Rico to seize the advantage of reciprocity; but South America has been made much more of than the West Indies, and that country ought to exhibit a more keenly prompt appreciation of the reciprocal arrangement made by Mr. Blaine.—New York Times.

Rusk and Hides.

The disastrous results which would follow from the adoption of Secretary Rusk’s plan to impose a duty on foreign hides, recommended by him apparently to get even with the boot and shoe manufacturers but really to help the rich combination of beef packers, or the “Big Four” of Chicago, are well shown by the following statements of Thomas E Proctor, of the Proctor Leather Company, of Boston: “The only effect it would have.” said Mr. Proctor, “would be to Increase the price of shoes and curtail our foreign trade in hides. There is no surer way, let me tell yOu, to make New England solidly and reliably Democratic than to put a tax on hides as contemplated. Let me show you how it would work. The trade affected would bo that with the Argentine Republic and Brazil. The leather made from American hides is used in the uppers of the shoe. Very little, I may say no sole leather is made from American hides. To put a tax on the hides brought from South America if it had any effect at all on shoes made for our home trade would be to increase their price. On the other hand it would materia’ly hurt the business of our tanners Very muejt of the leather imported from South America is tanned here and shipped to England. Now, if this import is taxed it will make it impossible for our tanners to compete with those of Canada who get their hides from the same source, without tax and with the advantage of unlimited hemlock bark. Canadian tanntrs would derive the benefit, our own tanners would suffer the loss under such a tax. With us hides are an incidental product. If the hide was not sold at all there would be just as many cattle raised as there are now’, as the beef and tallow form the main product We do not, however, export any of our own hides. Of the sole leather tanned in this country fully ono-fourth is sent away, io place a tax on the leather, that trade would be wholly ruined, as Cana ia, where its importation is free, would absorb it all. ” By the imposition of a duty on silverlead ore imported from Mexico by the McKinley tariff our smelting industry was injur d and that of Mexico encouraged. Do we want to repeat this foolish policy in the < ase of our now flourishing tannng industry?

Who Pays the Tariff Tax?

One of the foremost claims of the protectionist is that thx foreign shipper pays the duties. If this is true, isn’t it strange that when famine threatens any country, one of the first means of relief thought of should be a diminution or removal of import duties on food stuffs? Again, the «eport of the Treasury Department for the fiscal year 1890 shows that 6,109 gallons of castor oil were imported, valued at $2,910. The duties were $5,520. Now, if the foreign shipper paid the duty, is It not certain that he not only made us a present of the oil, but gave us, besides, $2,610 to get rid of

it? In 1890 importers brought into the United States 664,653 gallons of spirits distilled from grain, valued at >456,121, the duties on which were >1,329,367. Who paid these duties? If the Importers, they lost not only the liquor, but 8873,. 246 besides. These are, of course, extreme cases, but the truth or fallacy of a proposition IS generally most forcibly shown by taking extreme cases.—Rural New-Yorker.

How Trusts Operate.

Major McKinley was the champion of the glass industries in Congress. By his efforts in their behalf he secured an increase in the duty on glassware from 40 and 45 per cent,, the old rates, to u uniform rate of 60 per cent, and at the same time imposing this duty on the boxes and other coverings as well as on the glass itself. Soon after the passage of the McKinley bill the glass men got together, and last July it was announced that they had formed a trust The history of this trust since its formation is interesting. The ■ following account is from the Boston Commercial Bulletin, an exponent of McKinleyism. “When the United States Glass Company was formed in July, it issued a circular to its customers all over the conn* try, stating its policy and, among other things, announcing that it did not intend to advance the price. Of course the combination was formed for the express purpose of increasing the profit on their goods, but this was to be done by economically operating their factories. This was to be effected by having each factory make a special or several special lines; for instance, one could make goblets and stem ware, and so on. . The sets of molds would also be limited, the saving amounting to considerable, as each set cost from >3,000 to >5,000. “The number of high-salaried officers could be reduced. Again, there would bo no danger of accumulating stocks, as a factory making a certain line could shut down if there was a surplus on the market, and the manufacturers joined in one strong associat on, could be more independent of the union of glass workers, with which they have in the past been unable to cope. Thus, by gaining these advantages, the association proposed to make greater profits than in the past.

“Four months have not passed yet, but prices have already been pushed up on staple lines from 5 to 10 per cent, and on some specialties, such as cologne bottles and similar goods, the advance has been fully 50 per cent Jobbers look for a greater advance than this before the year is out. What its limits will be it is hard even to surmise, but judging from the low basis on which goods sold before the combination was effected the advance was considerable. “The increase in the price of novelties and new patterns has not come yet. What are called new patterns have been on the market now since last January, and no newer ones are expected until the advent of the new year. When they are put on the market the jobbers say they will most likely be obliged to pay comparatively more than in past years. The advance is very likely to be considerable also, as the making of new patterns entails the risk of not having the goods take with the purchasing public, a point which competition in the past did not admit being fully taken into account. “By the way prices have been advanced of late on table glassware, it is natural to suppose that the United States Glass Company has practical control of the market. There are in this country about twenty-six factories in* all that make table glassware, and when the association was first formed it included fourteen of these. Most of the powerful concerns were secured, yet several remained outside Since July two or three more companies have entered, and of the ten or so left but two or three are large concerns that have the power to harass the combination. “These two or three concerns, it is understood, have agreed to be friendly with the new United States Glass Company and follow the policy of the latter in putting prices up or down. There are some who expect to see these outsiders yet immerged in the combination, so friendly has been their attitude in the past. ” Surely the Commercial Bulletin does not agree with the New York Tribune about the “trust-killing” properties of the McKinley tariff.

Tariff Shot.

During the fourteen years from 1847 to 1861 we had revenua tariffs. This Is the period to which the high protectionists refer as our “free trade” period. From 1847 to 1861 the average net wholesale price of standard sheetings in the New York markets was 7.8 cents per yard, or

During the ten year's ending with 1888, after our twenty years of high and prohibitive protection, the same sheeting was sold for 7.71 cents per yard, or During the revenue period above referred to, wheat averaged 81.24 per bushel in New York, or During the ten years of high protection, ending in 1888, wheat averaged only 92 cents per bushel in New York, or Under revenue tariffs a busnel of wheat exchanged for 15.89 yards of standard sheeting, represented by But under the high protective tariff, from 1878 to 1888, a bushel of wheat would buy only 11.93 yards of sheeting, or this amount: In what has the system of high protection on manufactured products benefited the farmer?

A Chicago physician says to the health department: “I have a man under treatment for concoshen of the brain caused by a streek of a stick or club or something liked he is in great dangour.” Mispelling in death certificates is by no means uncommon. A recent certificate of death stated that the patient died from the effects of “information.” But in this case it was not, in all probability, from “information” possessed by his “doctor.” Mr. Slavin, unable to arrange a fight at once with .Mr. Sullivan, will “star” the country for practice, taking good boxers with him. If he seriously' thinks of meeting Boston’s favorite, might it not be well for him to encounter two or three Dakota cyclones and blizzards to get an adequate idea of what he will have to meet in the ring with John L.? Victories Sardou’s wfe met the famous dramatic author for the first time at breakfast one morning at her own home, where he had come to consult her father, Mr. Soulie, director of the palace of Versailles. It was a case of love at first sight, and before Sardou had left the house she had given him her heart « Mamci and Henry IT. collars, after dwindling in size until they lost all character, have been set aside, at least for this summer, in Paris. 1 '

LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS.

THIS IS THEIR DEPARTMENT OF THE PAPER. Quaint Sayings and Doing* or Little Ones Gathered and Printed Hare for Other Little Folks to Head. Cradle-Song. In the garden of dreamland a flower ever grows. In form like a lily, in hue like a rose, With odor like jessamine sprinkled with dew. » And it bourgeons and blossoms, my darling, for you. Then travel, my baby, tg dreamland. Slowly rock, cradle, to carry the baby. Steadily, readily rock, and it may be. Ere she shall know It, the baby will go, Hapily smiling, to dreamland. In the garden of dreamland in summer is heard. Trilling there in the moonlight, a beautiful bird; And It sings, and it sings, all the pleasant night through. And its music, my darling. Is only for you. Then travel, my baby, to dreamland. Slowly rock, cradle, to carry the baby; Steadily, readily rock, and It may be. Ere she shall know it, the baby will go, Happily smiling, to dreamland. Tc-morrow my darling, refreshed by her rest. With the bird In her hand, and the flower on her breast. Shall return to her mother, and frolic and crow. But to-night on her journey to dreamland must go. Then travel, my baby, to dreamland, Slowly rock, cradle, to carry the baby; Steadily, readily rock, and it may be, Ere she shall know it, the baby will go, Happily smiling, to dreamland. —Thomas Dunn English, in zYouth’s Companion.

Reasonable Question.

Facts, taken all by themselves, are often open to a ludicrous interpretation. A young man just home from college, wishing to inspire his little sister with awe for his learning, pointed to a star and said: “Do you see that bright little luminary? It’s bigger than this whole world. ” “No, ’tisn’t,” said she. “Yes it is,” declared the young collegian. “Then why don’t it keep off the rain?” was the triumphant rejoinder. —Spare Moments. Acceptable Boys. Make a note of it, boys; the qualities included in the above title, by the world in general, as well as the business part of it, are only those which any one of you can cultivate under all circumstances. Brilliant talents, comeliness of form or features, wit, smartness, these are not first considerations, or altogether indispensable when there’s a boy wanted. “What kind of a boy does a business man want?” repeated a shrewd, practical man of many concerns, the other day. “Well, I will tell you. In the first place, he wants a boy who does not know too much; business men generally like to run their own business, and prefer some one who will listen to their way, rather than try to teach them new kinds; second, they want a prompt boy—one who understands 7 o’clock as exactly 7, not ten minutes past; third, an industrious boy, who is not afrajd to put in a little extra work in case of need; fourth, an honest boy—honest in his service as well as in dollars and cents; fifth, a goodnatured boy, who will keep his temper, even if his employer does lose his owm, now and then.” “But you haven’t said a word about his being smart,” was suggested. “Well, to tell the truth,” was the rather hesitating answer, “that’s about the last thing we worry over. The fact is, if a boy is modest, prompt, pleasant, industrious and honest, he’s about as smart as we care about generally—and that’s a fact.”

A Great Fight. The first I heard of it was when Fred came rushing into the house after breakfast. “The enemy!” he cried. “The enemy is upon us!” “Where?” cried the others, jumping up. “In the battle-field, of course!” he said; and he seized his flag and rushed out again. '’We all followed as quickly as we could. I put on the helmet, and Max took the drum, and we let Toddles have the bugle this time because he'd just tumbled down, and he had the hearth-broom, too, so he was all right. We ran into the flgid and found that the enemy had taken up a strong position behind the old cannon (oursHs a real battle-field, you know, and has been there ever since the war). So we formed in line and Fred made a flank movement, meaning to take the enemy in the rear; but when he heard Fred coming, he charged on our line, and Toddles ran away, but Max and I retreated in good order, and formed again behind a rock, and began to shell him with green apples. He stopped to eat the apples, and meanwhile Fred completed his flank movement, and falling upon the enemy’s rear, whacked it violently with a stick, waving his flag all the time, and shouting “Yield, caitiff! Yield, craven hound!” (I tell him that nowadays people don’t say those things in war, but he always says that Roland and Bayard did, and that what suited them will suit him.) Well, the enemy turned suddenly on Fred, and drove him back against the cannon; but by that time we had advanced again, and Toddles was blowing the bugle as hard as he could, which seemed to disconcert the enemy. Fred took a flying leap from the cannon right over his back, and putting himself at our head rallied us for a g«and charge. We rushed forward, driving the enemy before us. A panic seized him, and he fled in disorder; we pursued him as far as the fence, and he got through a hole and escaped, but not before we each had a good whack at him. It was a glorious victory. Fred made us a speech afterward from the cannon, and we all waved our—well, whatever we had to wave, and vowed to slay the intruder if he ever dared to show his nose on our side of the fence again. Ah. yes! it was a splendid fight. “Who was the enemy?” Why, didn’t I say? Farmer Thurston’s pig, of course!—St. Nicholas.

A Baby’. MemoryA curious instance of dormant memory in infancy took place in our family, says a-writer in the Irish Times. My mother went on a visit to my grandfather, who lived in Lon-

don. She took with her a littier brother of mine who was eleven months old, and his nurse, who waited on her as a maid. One day this nurse brought the baby into my mother’s room and put him on the floor, which was carpeted all over. There he crept about and amused himself according to hislights. When my mother was dressed a certain ring that she generally wore was not to be found. Great search was made, but it was never produced, and, the visit over, they all went, away and it was almost forgotten. Exactly a year after they again went to visit the grandfather. This baby was now one year and eleven monthsold. The same nurse took him - into thesame room, and my mother saw him, after looking about him, deliberately walk up to a certain corner, turn a bit of carpet back, and produce the ring. He never gave any account of the matter, nor did he, so far as I know, remember it afterward. Itseems most likely that he found the ring on the floor and hid it, as in a safe place, under a corner of the Brussels carpet where it was notnailed. He probably forgot all about it till he saw the place again, and he wasfar too infantile at the time it was missed to understand what the talk that went on was about, or to know what the search, which perhaps he did not notice, was for.

WOOD FOR LOCOMOTIVE FUEL.

What Strikes the Traveler When HeBides Into Southern States. Throughout the border States of the South the fuel for domestic use, as well as for running machinery, is wood. On all the railroads wood isused exclusively for firing the engines. Each tender of the engine is stacked high with short lengths of wood ready for use, which have been gathered from the immense piles that are seen. - at regular intervals along the lines. Pine is plentiful in the coast States, and is the wood principally used. It. kindles easily, as everbody knows, and generates rapidly an intense heat, and still does not consume as quickly as at first appears. Passenger trains are frequently run from 117 to 129 mileswith one cord of this wood. The traveler on these roads is apt to find the thick, black smoke from the rich pine thrown off by the engine equally as annoying and disagreeable as the sulphur fumes from the bituminous coal in common’use on roadsthroughout the coal regions. Back from the smokestack is thrown a continual shower of sparks, making a pretty sight by night. These bits of fire, as a rule, die out quickly and do very little damage. But a spark may occasionally enter through an open door or window and burn its way into your clothing or the cushions of the seat. Another disagreeable feature attending travel on these roads is the dust you encounter at all seasons of the year. Close the windows and door of the coach as you will, the white sand dust will enter the crevices and cover you from head to foot. Before you reach your journey’s end. you will likely think you will either be suffocated with the tar smoke of the pine fuel or strangled with the dust. For this reason travelers once passing over Southern railroads see the necessity of providing themselves well with linen dusters or traveling cloaks as a double protection against sparks from locomotives and dust of the wayside.—Pittsburg Dispatch.

The Bull Killed the Bear.

Altnough two men were at work cutting underbrush within a few rods of the spot, a bear invaded a field on William Barker’s farm on Bull Hill, near Galeton. Pa., his intention plainly being to capture one of the sheep ■ that were pasturing in the field. Barker, who was one of the men cutting brush, saw the bear, and hurried the other man to the house to get Barker’s gun. Barker himself started on a run for the pasture for the purpose of protecting his sheep from the bear, but neither the gun nor the presence of Barker was necessary. Besides the sheep some cows and a two-year-old Jersey bull were pasturing in the field. The bull no sooner saw the bear edging and slouching along toward the sheep than he charged upon him and caught him with his horns square in the side. The bear did not have time to defend himself, the bull’s rush was so quick and sudden, and he was lifted clear off the ground, and thrown several feet, falling heavily to the ground. The bear quickly regained his feet, and not relishing the reception he had met with in the pasture started to run away. But the bull followed him like a tornado, and struck the bear again at full headway, tumbling bruin heels over head. The bear made up his mind to fight, and got on his feet before the bull charged on him again. He received the bull this time standing on his hind feet. Both of the bull’s horns penetrated the bear's breast their full length, and at the same instant the bear sank a claw in each of the bull’s shoulders. The bear ripped the flesh from the bull in long, deep strips on each side, but the bull’s horns were in the bear’s vitals, and bruin fell to the ground and died almost instantly. All ■ this occurred while Barker was running to the scene, and before the hired man had reached the house after the gun. The injuries the bull received were not serious. The bear was a very large one, and is believed to have been one that has been stealing sheep and pigs in the vicinity for several weeks.—New York Sun.

Dainty Farming.

A delightfully dainty kind of farming. more elegantly aesthetic than growing lilies in Bermnda and almost as profitable as raising checks and bank notes, is that of Timothv Hopkins, of Menlo Park. California. In a grove of giant oaks Mr. Hopkins has a five-acre patch of violets of the rarest and most beautiful varieties—double whites, double blues, sky blue and one variety which is blue with a faint dot of red on one of the petals. The violets are planted in rows two feet apart, and under the cool shade and in the leaf mold soil they a Main to perfection. For six months a year the grower ships an average of fifty bunches of violets daily to San Francisco and the returns are not far from the same number of dollars.