Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1892 — Page 5

MY IfARQUERITE. I look upon her brow and eeo A. radiant, crystal purity, nd find within her azure eyes lb« loveliness of summer skies; She ie so sweet, My Marguerite, I fain would kneel and kiss her feet! If she bat deign one word to say, I hold a treasure lor the day, Doth she but smile, a halo bright Encircles all my dreams by night’ The dusty street. Pressed by her feet, Becomes a royal palace seat! My life to her dear life has grown, Till all my being is her own, And every thought and hope her du« Though I am forty, she but two; And 0 so sweet Is Marguerite, I kneel and kiss her dainty feet 1 —[Zitella Cocke, in Youth’s Companion.

Christopher and the Fairy.

BY W. C. MORROW.

Centrepole Tom professed to know everything about all the distinguished people of the “profession” in all parts of Christendom, and likely he did know a great deal; for, in his humble capacity he had served many of them in divers’ countries, and, though a boastful man, he had never been detected in an inability to give trustworthy information. Ho, when it was announced with a great show of large type, that “Christopher and the Fairy” had just landed at San Francisco from an Australian steamer, under contract for the remainder of the season, there was much excitement and curiosity among the people of the circus, and Centrepole Tom was at once exploited for knowledge concerning them. “Hain't you ever heard of Christopher and the Fairy?” he tasked, pityingly; “well, that gits me. The Fairy’s the purtiest little trick on wheels, an’ the way she kin do the flying trapeze is something ’stonishing. No, I hain’t never seen her, but I know all about her. Every man-jack under the canvas went dead gone on her, but she never took no notice of any of ’em, and didn’t seem to care for nobody’s society but tho women's and that ornery, meusly old Christopher.” “Is Christopher her husband?” asked a long-legged young groom. “No!” th-ndered Tom, with so great veheni«ice that the young u\nn quailed, and dared-not ask any more questions. “Brother?” inquired one of the ring “supers.” “No!” yelled the veteran master of the centrepole-hoist; “ho ain’t her hu6bun, nor her brother, nor her uncle, nor hpr grandfather, norher cousin.” The head-hostler, as much a veteran as Centrepole Tom, and more modest and less theatrical than he, quietly said: “ No use making a fool of yourself and puttirtg on airs before these hero boys. I don’t know who Christopher is, an’ I ain’t ashamed to say so. Now, who is Christopher?” This was the supremo moment for which Centrepole Tom had waited. He squarod himself around, and, looking stoudily at the hoad-hostlor, said impressively aud with tho utmost deliberation: “Christopher is an elephant.” It was a small speech, but it was sometime after this before the two men became good friends again. There was a commotion all through the small army of circus people when Christopher and the Fairy arrived. They did not come to the tents for two or three days after landing, as it was rumored that Christopher had been seasick on the voyage across the Pacific and needed a little rest. When they did appear, however, they were cordially welcomed. The women of the circus found the Fairy (who in private life was known us Miss Camilla Armijo) to be a delightful girl, more substantial than a genuine fairy, to be sure, but hardly more so; for, although she was full-grown, she was so small and fragile that her professional name sat well upon her. There was a light touch of sadness in all her conduct, and Centrepole Tom explained this by saying that she had recently lost both her parents. How ho discovered this nobody ever could learn. But it was clear, at least, that sho was a very sweet and gentle little body, very young, and with no friend in San Francisco except old Christopher. I say “old Christopher” because it is impossible to associate anything but great ago with his enormous proportions and overwhelming dignity. He was an East Indian elephant of prodigious size. A more solemn and self-satisfied elephant it would have been impossible to hud. It was very pretty to see how solicitous was the Fairy of her immense charge. She saw that he had a sufficient allowance of fresh, sweet hay, and, from a bag which she carried, sho fed him some dainties which she had for that purpose and which he took in his lithe trunk with manifest tokens of gratitude. She patted his great jaWs and said kind things to him, and he took it all as a matter of Dourse, seeming to say, “I see nothing at all strange in tho affection and solicitude which this beautiful little Fuiry lavishes upon me; for am I not a very large and majestic elephant, and does she not know that I love her better than does any one else in all the world?” And it was pretty to see how gently she bade him good-by until the evening performance, which would begin in two hours from that time. There was a far greater crowd than usual at the performance that evening, for the flaming public announcements of Christopher and the Fairy had borne profitable fruit. Not only were the seats packed up all tho way to the eaves, but rows of extra seats had been provided on the level ground fucing the ring. Several acts were done before tho manager announced the new performer, which he did in the following graceful manner: “Ladies and gentlemen; I now have the pleasure to introduce to you the most celebrated performers of Her Majesty's Australian colonies —Christopher and the Fairy. You will see for yourselves that Christopher is the largest and most powerful elephant in captivity, and that the Fairy justly deserves her reputation for being the most graceful and daring fly-ing-trapeze performer in the world. The performances of these two renowned individuals will consist in ground acts in which they both take part, followed by the flying-trapeze net done by the Fairy alone, Christopher meanwhile standing below and looking on, at the same time giving signals to the Fairy and otherwise encouraging her in her daring and perilous performance high in the air.” When he had finished, the elephant came slowly walking out, und theroupon rose a mighty shout of applause and a great clapping of hands. Sitting on the massive shoulders of the enormous brute was Fairy, glittering with spangles She was so small, and fragile, and dainty, and Christopher was so overwhelming, and majestic, and stern, that the strange

picture caught the audience with sweeping force, aud the applause became deafening. Christopher calmly marched into the ring and proceeded deliberately around it, the Fairy meanwhile guiding him -with gentle hand-pressure on one side of his neck or the other, while with the other hand she threw kisses to the audience. Her bare, dimpled arms and smiling, dimpled cheeks, her rosy mouth, her large black eyes, and curling black hair in which diamonds shone, won ovenheart for her in that immense crowd; for so much sweetness and grs?e and daintiness they hud never seen all as once in a circus-ring before. T'-o circuit of the ring completed, tho elephant stopped und listened gravely to the sorry jokes of the cloWn. 110 had heard them before and was not to be amused. The Fairy bounded to her feet on the groat animat’s hack, and there found room for some entertaining tricks of agility. Then sho gavo him a tap with her slippered little f->ot. and, in response, he brought his long trunk around, caught her by the waist, and set her gently on tho ground. This mudo the audience applaud until the Fairy was almost deaf. Other things, some old and some new, were done By the two, such as his walking over her, stepping over so carefully, as she lay on the ground; recovering her handkerchief from the clown, who had stolen it and hidden it in his blouse; throwing her high in the air and stepping forward in time to have her alight nimbly on his back; and things like that. Then came her act on the flying-trapeze. To prepare for this tho clown fetched her a flag, which she gave to Christopher to hold in his trunk. Thou the clown threw a tupe over a trapeze hung high in the air, and, with a few parting caresses and whispered words to Christopher, she sprang to the tape and climbed it like a squirrel. Sho sat a moment on tho trapeze bar and then glanced down at Christopher, who, sitting back on his haunches tho better to look so jiigh, was gravely watching her. The band had stopped playing. A clear, musical voice from above, dropping like pearls on the people below, called out: “How was that, Christophor ? ” The elephant waved tho flag and gravely nodded his approval. Then came the real work of the act—all sorts of agile turnings and graceful leaps from the mum bar to one hung higher still; and after every one of these feats, each more daring than its predecessor, she would call down in her musical, pearlp voice: “Was that all right, Christopher?” And Christopher would wave the flag and solemnly nod his approval, as much ns to say: “Of course it was all right; but we expect that from you, littlo fairy!” Finally came her greatest feat—it was to leap clear across the ring from one trapeze to another. She rested awhile, before undertaking it. and Christopher, knowing what was coming, braced himself, all his massive inusbles cles going on a tension, ns though trying to give her strength and alertness for tho dangerous task. Tho band pluyed a spirited air whße the girl sat still on tho bar; then tho music ceased, and a deep hush fell on the audienco. The fairy caught the bar in her hands and swung underneath it, and her clear voice rang out again: “Keep a sharp eye, old Christopher!” Tho elephant nodded and waved his flag, but with less stateliness than before. The Fairy began to swing backward and forward in the direction of tho distant trapeze, which she was to catch after her flight through the air. Further and further did she swing, higher und higher, back and forth, her glittering spangles looking like a shower of meteors. A ringing voico criod out; “Now we go, Christophor!” and she loosed her hold and wont flying away across the tout, higher and higher, to tho apex of a gracoful parabolic curve, then down towards the trapeze, still so far away, while the people held their breath, and many closod their eyes. Down suilod tho small and graceful figure, corning quickly closer to tho goal; two eager hands wero outstroched to seize tho bar; one hand touched it and clutched it desperately, but tho othor missed its aim. The momentum sent her far beyond, hut sho srtll held the bar with one hand, aud tho ropes which held it creaked as the strain came upon them. A hold with one hand was not enough, und the Fairy had no time to bring tho other to bear w-hen the bar found the end of its tether. The small hand slipped, and the girl went toward the ground. A suppressed cry of horror rose from the audience as the frail little body struck the ground at the entrance to tho wait-ing-room, falling with a heavy, cruel sound that went into every heart in that vast assemblage and that made tho strongest men shudder and groan and cover their faces. She fell near the feet of Centrepole -Tom, who was standing behind the musicians, und ho was the first to approach her. He straightened the body and looked in the blanched face and widestaring eyes, and silently prayed for oven a moan from tho silent, white lips. The audience rose in an uproar, and thousands pressed forward to see the poor, limp body on the ground. But instantly there was a commotion from another cause; Christopher had seen the catastrophe, and ho claimed the first right-of way and tho privileges of u friend. Ho came toward the packed mass of humanity with a roar that sent te/ror abroad, hundreds flying from his path. Others coufe not escape so easily, and of these, some he flung right and left with his trunk, and others were pa’cked closer on either side by the interposition of his enormous bulk. Soon he reached the side of tho Fairy, lying so white and still, and he dropped to his knees beside her and groaned and caressed her with his trunk. Gentle hands were trying to find some life in the frail, crushed body when ho came, but all fell back on his terrible approach—all except Centrepole Tom, who feared not even the wrath of the giant Christopher. Tho elephant accepted his presence, seeing kindness in it. Centrepole’s heart beat violently as he saw a faint movemont of the chest, and he nearly choked with joy when he beheld the lips move and the eyes close nod then open again. Some one brought water, with which he sprinkled her face. This did much good, for she gasped and then sighed. “She is coming to!” cried Centrepole Tom. And surely she was; for, with returning life, came evidence of suffering, and deep lines of pain formed about her mouth and eyes. Christopher noticed it, for he fanned her more vigorously with his great ears. Consciousness came slowly back, and, when it had returned, the first thing tho Fairy saw was her old friend Christopher kneeling beside her. “Poor, old Christopher!” she said, very faintly; and then, with great difficulty, she raised her hand aud gently caressed his rough old face. “Poor Christophor! It will break your old heart to r.ee me die. . . . You have loved me, Christopher. . . . But they’ll be good to

you.” Tears tricklod down her cheeks, the hard lines deepened, the poor face became more pinched aud drawn, the beautiful eyes wandered vacantly and then closed and the Fairy passed into unconsciousness again. A physician now came and knelt beside her, and, after he had examined her as well as he could, lie said; “She is desperately hurt, but she is young and is still alive. You must take her at once to a house, where I may care for her properly.” They gently picked her up, and, as they did so, a moan escaped her. This roused the elephant, already dazed by what had happened. He began clumsily rising to his feet watching them as they bore her away, and was evidently determined to follow. Seeing this, Centrepole Tom, who hold the light body in his arms, hurried away, and almost ran to a small hotel not far distant. He took the Fairy within and laid her on a bed which they showed him in a rear room on the ground floor. But Christopher had not lost sight of him, in spite of the crowd; and those without, seeing Christopher's intention of keeping close to his friend, and knowing it was impossible, sought to stay him. They shouted to him and tried to drive him back, but he noticed them not at all. They threw boxes and chairs in his way, but he tossed them aside. A carriage, which stood in his way, was crushed. Christopher seemed to think that, as his friend was among strangers, she was among enemies, and needed his protection. He would not give her up. The situation was desperate. Men counseled shooting him, but how could a pistol-bullet find a vital spot in his enormous body? Besides, he was already maddened by the opposition he had encountered and further tormenting might lead to dire results. Before anything could be done, before any plan could be matured, he had reached the house. The door was closed and locked before him, and furniture was piled behind it; but with his massive head lowered, he went straight against it, and everything was crushed before his advance. Once in the house, he stopped and listened for the sound of her voice. He heard faint moans, and mistook the direction whence they came, for he started straight for the wide staircase leading to the upper floor. Up the stairs he began a laborious ascent, the helpless crowd standing in motionless dismay. Up he toiled, roaring terribly at intervals. The wooden stairs creaked and groaned under his tremendous weight. The plastering near them began to fall, timbers were sprung aud wrenched from their fastenings, and the whole house quivered. The catastrophe came at last. Just before Christopher reached the top, the whole staircase came down with a frightful crash, and the gigantic animal fell headlong to the floor, which he crushed, and splintered. A mighty groan escaped him, for the fall had done him desperate hurt. He struggled and floundered in the mass I of wrecked timbers, and finally, after a supreme attempt, he staggered to his feet. With a stupendous effort he steadied himself on his tottering legs, and, dazed aud shattered, began anew his search for the Fairy. But he did not have to go any further. Centrepole Tom, followed by the physician, came forward, hearing a small, dainty burden in his arms, which he laid gently on a table close to Christopher; and the tears which trickled down Centropole's grizzly beard told anew the old, old story, as old as human suffering and sympathy, “It will quiet him,” explained Centropole Tom to the few people who had ventured near; “and nothing can hurt her now.” Christopher eagerly regarded his companion, lying so white and quiet and beautiful, and then he caressed her cold face and hands. Perhaps he understood that it was all over with her, and that with her had gone all that the world held of brightness for him; and besides that his fall had grievously hurt him. He gazed at her and his,head sank lowor and lower. The fury had all left him, and, crushed both in spirit and body, he stood a towering, tottering wreck. Not a sound escaped him. His great body heaved painfully with his slow breathing, and swayed from side to side. A little later he sunk to his knees, and then he lay down, and with a groan he died. On the western slope of Laurel Hill Cemetery, facing the grand Pacific and the glories of the setting sun, and standing watch over the Golden Gate,.through which the great white ships sail to the kingdoms far over the seas, stands a granite monument, marking a very large grave and a small one; and it bears only this simple line: “Christopher and the Fairy.” — [San Francisco Argonaut.

Monster Chicken Snake.

Last spring fate scorned to be against Coroner E. 8. Thompson as a chicken raiser. His young chickens began to disappear mysteriously. First he lost four, then eight, and later eight young ducks. The robber of his hen roost would disappear and leave no trace bohind. The faithful dog was unahlo to follow the trail. Ono night, during tho last week of court Mr. Thompson heard a noise among his fowls. He hurried out aud a surprise awaited him. At a certain spot a hen was roosting on the ground, her young brood huddled near her. Near her Mr. Thompson found a monster chicken snake. About tho middle of its body it had a chicken in its deadly folds. Nearer the tail it had a second in the same fatal clasp, while with its mouth it had seized a third. The snake was promptly killed, and the seemingly lifeless chickens were about to he thrown away, but Mrs. Thompson proposed that they should be put under the hen. It was done, and morning found them revived and seemingly nono tho worse for their narrow escape from death. —[Lafayette (Ga.) Messenger.

The United States In Miniature.

One of the most unique novelties at the World’s Fair, Chicago, will be a huge map of the United States exhibited by the Coast Survey. It will be about 400 feet square and be placed horizontally on the’ exposition grounds and a large building erected over it. This building will be provided with galleries nnd pathways on the inside so as to ullow visitors to walk over the whole United States without touching it. The model w ill be made of plaster of paris, and will show the exact height of mountains, tho depth of ri\ers and the curvature of the earth.— [St. Louis Republic.

An Indian Lawyer.

Mr. Hiram Chase has just been admitted to practice at the bar of the Federal Court of Omaha, Neb. Mr. Chase is a full-blooded Indian of tho Omaha tribe. He was educated at the Indian schools in the East and studied law at tho University of Pennsylvania. Ho is said to be very intelligent and thoroughly well equipped. —[New Orleans Picayune.

TRAINS STILL IN STYLE.

WOMEN WILL NOT DISOBEY FASHION’S MANDATE. Despite Mud and Snow the Winter Walking Dress Is Not 'J rainless Heeontlng Russian - Sliaped Felt Hats Winter Wraps and Furs—A Skating Costume. Wliat to Wear.

ANY man or woman can write an epic poem,” said Alexandre l umas, with a sneer, “but it takes a genius to m Invent a new dish. ” M Dumas himsolf w rote a cook book, few and hence spoke ysA feelingly. SornoJ'lm what in tho same all/zD vein as Dumas’ iU quaint quip. lam WjKJr inclined to say that lanyone can paint a |p\ picture or sculp a fY statue, but it - re- \ quires genius to inis vent a new mode. iiA Take, for instance, the prorent popular gored skirt, called Al A the “craze of the w hi season," with its 1 V M ,l uo ' ino °f beauty, ' Aid and small but i y\\ graceful train: Kl; w * lat a Pity we do - [4 not know the name U’of its designer, so j that tho many thousands and tens of thousands ot our

sex who have taken so much real pleasure In seeing their figures beautified by this garment might at least have someone to thank. Contrary to tho prediction that the gored skirt would not keep its train in winter walking drosses, they still rest on tho ground for about three Inches, says the lashlon writer, and with tho coming season of mud and molting snow, will call loudly to be taken up and carried. It is hard on gloves and hard on sleeves and, last but not least, hard on the hands and arms of our not over robust women. Hut what aro wo to ao; surely not disobey Queen Fashion’s mandate, and appear in the street In trainless skirts? Never! As a well-known society woman expressed it: “I must follow tho fashions or tho fashions won’t follow me!” A very wise saying If It old fall from a woman’s lips. A philosopher would have expressed himself In this wise: Tho moment you let tho world see that you can get along without It, It will despise you 1 know there are some women who would rather go cold than woar a long

BIEGE FELT.

wrap, just as there are many men who would rather run the risk of pneumonia than muffle up in an ulster, but for the sake of the reasonable ones I proceed to describe a very handsome long cloak of which you will get a very good general idea by glancing at my initial illustration. This garment which hooks almost its entire length, is made up in a brocaded woolen and is fitted to the figure. Now that France has fallen so violently in love with Russia, of course everything Russian goes in Paris, and we feel the effect of this craze over here. I’m not sorry for it, as the Russian ladies have a style of their own which is often very charming. Being a cold country, their fashions come in most appropriately for our winter season, and one sees extremely becoming Russian shapes in felt hats. One in particular attracted my attention. It was what is called the Russian turban, made in black felt, faced with black velvet and trimmed with wide violet ribbon around the crown; the same ribbon forming a loop in front and fastened on with a Rhinestone buckle. A panache of black ostrich tips is placed at the back. The Cronstadt is another Russian shape, reminding one of the hat worn by the droschki driver, it has a black velvet bow in front, with a steel buckle, and a black panache placed on the side. The trimming of the Cronstadt may be charmingly varied by a folding of white lace on the brim all around. If you don't fancy those Russian turbans, probably you might like an old French form, a Louis XI., such as I set before you in my second illustration, a styltsh bit of headgear in beige felt. At the front is placed a large bow of to-bacco-brown velvet and at the back a bunch of pink, cream and tobacco-

EMBROIDERED BARI, DRES’.

brown ostrich tips springing out of a bow of the velvet. The effect is very dressy and refined anJ altogether unique. , In my third illustration you will find pictured a richly embroidered evening gown, chrysanthemums being the motive. If you don't care for embroidered effects, you may choose a velvet or Iro-

ended atuff and make It up In corselet style, always to produce an effect of length and aristocratic slenderness so much coveted by the lady of fashion. The dancing man is on hand equipped In black beetle vestments, white waistcoat, white gloves hoaxlly etitchod, and boutonniere of onormous dimensions. He has a solemn and earnest look about him, for tliti eyes of the fashionable world are always upon the leader of tho german. Ho feels ids greatness but ho must have a partner. It is a great honor for a young lady to bo choson by tho dancing man to assist him in leading the german. Hence tho ball toi et is now uppermost in many maidens’ minds. The ball toilet is as much a matter of i study, thought and reflection as was his coat of armor to tho ancient knight. In it she xvagos war against her rivals; in It she triumphs or is defeated. Tho bodico of the ball tol et is now absolutely molded to tho figure from neck to hips, every line being accurately fitted. But there is a disposition to niako the ovon-

FANCY WAIST WITH SCAUR

ing corsage higher and closer to tho neck, in order to give length to the figuro, and there is always some species of sleeve, even if only a more draping of tulle or net. The tiny shou tier strap which left tho entire arm bare above the shoulder is not seen any mo o. If you wi-li to cut the bodleo low, there must be a filling of chiffon or some other soft material. Miould you use tu'le, net or gauze for tho skirt, tho same material figures to fid in at the nock and for tho short sleeves. Now and then 1 son one of those exqu.slte wliito cloth evening costumes, trimmed with white hare fur and white chiffon, a fair and fascinating white lady, only not clad to walk the corridors at hours when grave i yawn, but to move with rogul grace across the polished iicor of tho ball room, sometimes these dreams of white, ate varied by go'd lace or gimp, and at others tho white Indy wears tan slices, tan stockings and tan gloves. In my fourth illustration you will find tho sketch of a very original fancy waist ill crepe do chine appropriate for afternoon tea or ovoni.ig reception, with which Is worn a gauze scarf. The distinctive features of this biouso liko garment are its basques of unequal length and Its milled effects at tho neck and at tho sleeves. Tho collar, too, Is tnado up in folds of tlie material cut on tho cross. This picturesque garment must be made up on a lining which closes In front with hooks, and tho gathered effects must be worked out witli hasting threads. Groat patience and no liltlo skill will bo neces-ary to give tills fancy waist, all the graceful folds and pleats whicli appear In tho illustration. .Said a leader In tho world of modes to me the other day: .“I really grow less and less fond of my fms every year. Furs have become so common. Everyone wears

SKATING COSTUME.

them. It is like the gentlemen’s dress suit; the waiter, the va et and the man who answers your bell all wear dress suits.” There is no doubt about it. furs have become dreadfully common of late years. The dainty shop sir s flirt their boas in the wint r broe.e and thrust their hands into muffs once only carried by ladles of upper-tendom. Hut there are furs and furs. A wealthy An erlcan lady who prefers the old world lo the new wears a fur mant'eof blue fox which called for ten thousand skins to fashion it and cost lifteen thousand dollars A famous French actress paid our thousand do lars for her fhr , and the fur robe which the city of Irkoutsr. presented to the Empress of Hussia was valued at twenty thousand dollars, and yet weighed only one pound. It Is not at all likely that such furs will be mu.'h worn this season. Many a maiden mi\nt needs content herself with a plain boa, such ar is worn by the fair skater in my last illustration. The small.muff has hitherto been, a fortunate freak of fashlr-n, so far as the lady of lim’ted means vas concerned, but now wo are threatened with muffs of enormous proportions, such a< used to be carried bv our grandams. who, without any exaggeration, oft-n----tlmes staggered under thefr load. Wher the famous Tom Thumb went to Kinop* he had no difficulty In crawling through C,ueeti Victoria's muff upon his ~re enta tion at court. Hut we shall see whether this age of arti tic tendencies will submit to any such ridiculous docree oi fashion, but in modes »s in manners tho pendulum often swine-from one extreme to the other. In union with tbrt> fur trimming so popular now, I note the use of a new style of velvet, termed mirror velvet, so brilliant, so satin-like is its surface, reflecting the most delicate tints. Tho green especially Is the most modish, a 1 on account of those Russians; but let us not grumble, for it IS - a most elegant and reined trimming, and goes so admirably with fur. It is sadly but frequently the ease tbai the man who hurrahs the loudest has the least idea of what he Is hurrahing about

GIANT BEES OF INDIA.

TO BF. INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNTRY. They Build Combs ns Big as House Doors—Prospects for Introducing them 1o Southern Forests—Bee Lore. The Department of Agriculture is about to scud mi expedition to India for the purpose of procuring certain giant bees xvhioh are xvihl in that eoautrx. Tliev arc the biggest species known i.i the xx'orlil. and tliev build c mibs in the so ests ns large as or liiutrv house doors. Tlioso lingo combs, bunging from the limbs of lofty trees or from projecting ledges of rock at u high altitude, give enormous quantities of wax. Hoe limiting is u profession in India The bee banters wear no clothing save breeclidoths. They have a superstitious four of the insects. Though dreading to encounter them on fair terms they are very skillful in attacking their.nests by stratagem. Their usual method is to climb the tree from a high limb of which the comb depends, sxvinging beloxv the hive a long stick xvitii a bunch of ignited leaves on the end of it, until the bees are driven out. many of them falling with singed xvings to the ground, but tho majority ascending into the air above the comb and hovering in a dead. This opportunity is taken by the seeker after spoil to cut sway the grout comb, xvhioh lie quickly lowers by means of a rope to the ground beloxv. One gets a notion of tiie vast quantities of honey and xvax collected in this manner from the stores of the latter material to bo seen in the warehouses and shops of tlm cities, tons upon tons of it together. It is an article ot extensive export from India. Tho proposition is to fetch those bees to this country and domesticate them here if possible. If they could spread their swarms in tho semi-tropical forests ot tho I nitial Status they might, he niudo to supply considerable crops of tho truest and most valimblo xvax. Curiously enough, the drones of this species are no larger than ordinary bees, and tills fact affords leuson for liopiug that they will mate with the females of stocks already acclimated hero. These wonderful insects from India liavo longer tongues than lire possessed by other bees, and the belief is entertained that they could secure from many' kinds of flowers honey which now goes to waste. Dreadful stories are told in tho country where tlusv belong of their extraordinary ferocity' and ot attacks illicit they have made upon wholo villages of people with fatal results, but the fact bus boon demonstrated that capable bee-keepers can handle thorn easily and safely. Considerable numbers of bumble boos have recently been imported from Europe in to Australia and Now Zealand. Hitherto growers of red clover in those countries have boon obliged to obtain seed for planting eaeh year from England, bee use this crop produced no seed, lor lack of bumble bees to fertilize the blossoms. Humble bees find in red clover their favorite diet, am] xvitliout their aid in distributing pollen this plant would soon perish off tlm face ot tho earth. Finding it very expensive to import tlioir rod clover seed mutually, the fanners of tho countries mentioned decided to procure bumble bees for themselves. Accordingly n lot were taken while in the hibernating stage, during cold weather, packed in moss und carried aver tho ocean in the refrigerator compartment of a ship. They were set loose on arrival and already they lmvo multiplied so numerously in that part of tho world that it is fonred they will become a nuisance by consuming all tho flower juices which the honeybees require for their own purposes. It seems to be the same xvay with every sort of uuiuial that is introduced to Australia, Invariably tho boast, bird or insect proceeds at once to flourish to such un extent us to upset the normal balance of Broutiou.

The bumble bee and the honey-making bee proper are cousins. Scientifically speaking they are families belonging to the same order. Four species of bees are known. Three of them are indigenous to Indin and are found nowhere save in that, part of the world. The fourth, known as the “Mallica,” is distributed all over the globe. It includes a number of varieties, all of which were very likely derived from one stock at the beginning. Bees, like rats, have spread with man, though from a different cause. They have accompanied the human race as servants, not as scavengers. It is well known that the ancients kept bees. They are frequently represented on the monuments of Egypt, and in that country centuries before Cleopatra reigned they were cultivated on a very large scale. Thousands of barges freighted with hives were flouted up and down the Nile in order to afford the insects pasturr on the flowers along the banks. There were no bees in America until the seventeenth century, when the common black variety was brought over from Germany. It is that kind which swarms all over the United States to-day. But within recent years bee-keeping has been reduced to scientific principles, and so it has been sought to procure from abroad finer breeds. Important among these is the Italian, which was fetched to this country first in 1859. Italian bees have many advantages from the industrial point of view. They are docile and easily handled; they are very prolific and they protect their hives better than the black ones do from the ravages of the wax moths. These moths lay their eggs in the combs, and the larva; feed upon the wax and pollen, destroying the cells. In 1881 Mr. Benton, a well-known expert, went abroad and brought hither other choice breeds from Cyprus, Syria and Palestine. These, particularly the Cyprian, are all very handsome and thoroughly business bees, possessing extraordinary energy in honey gathering. They are irritable and for that reason difficult to handle, unless one knows how.

Nowadays boe-keopers select their stock as carefully as farmers do cattle. Hundreds of people all over the country make a profitable business of raising pure-bred Italian or other queens for market. In each hive are engendered from a dozen to 300 queen bees, depending upon the race. If left alone they would nearly all bo killed by being stung to death iu their cells, because a bee household can never have more than on mistress ; but tho breoder removes the portion of the comb which contains these queen cells before their occupants are ready to emerge, and he puts ouo of them, with a bit of comb and honey, into each of a number of ininature hives made for the purpose, with a few handfuls of bees in each. Thus many thousands of queen beos may be produced in a season arid, inasmuch as well bred ones sell for from $3 to $5 each, the business is lucrative. For some so-called Panic queens, of an alleged new stock, os much as fBO apiece has recently been asked. In fact, however, these are merely of the Tunis-

lan variety from Africa, figuring under a fresh name. When tho young queens are ready to mate the breeders shut up the drones in all the hives save those contuin ng l.ho best stock, thus securing the most desirable offspring. A queen, to fetch a good price, must have already produced satisfactory progeny, so that the mating shall have been proved all right.—[Washington Star.

AN AMERICAN DRINK.

Facts About flic Manufacture of Soda Water. Soda water is an American drink. It is as essentially American as porter, Ithi:if wine and claret are distinctively English, tun man and Fronch. The most interesting fact in the manufacture of soda water is that it contains no soda. Tho prominent ingrodionts are inarhlo dust and sulphuric acid, neither of which is regarded us healthful nor palatable when taken separately. Moreover, to render them so in combination requires a pressure of at loast 150 pounds to the square inch a oordithm dangerous to life ami limb excopt under proper safeguards and with the strongest machinery. The generator is, in fnct, made of gunmetai iron tested to 500 pounds to tho square inch. Into this is put the marble dust, to which, from another strong chamber, is led tho sulphuric acid. Then the two are cradled, and the gas generated is passed into steel fountains lined with block-tin, two-thirds full of tho water to be churgod. These fountains are then securely fastened, and, like huge bombs in size and almost as destructive, are carried in wagons through tho streets, to be stored under drug-store counters. Surely in all the history of fairyland there is nothing, more marvellous than tho escape of this sparkling, bubbling, foam-crested liquor, like an enchanted prince from the gloomy death-chamber, to delight and refresh the world. Whiting formerly was used to furnish the carbonate, and whiting and chalk nro still used in England. Tho use of inurblo dust, under the pretty name of “snowflake,” is poculiui to this country. Wo produce our own marble, moreover, and whiting comes under tho provisions of the McKinley bill. The chips of the marble cathedral on Fifth avenue alone supplied twenty-five million gallons of soda-water; thus economically wo drink up unavailable bits of buildings (public and private),tombstone* und monuments. Except in the improvement of machinery and in its method of distribution, the manufacture of soda-water remains much the same, Tho method employed by tho distinguished engineer Hvamah is sfill in use. The man, in fact*, whose name is most prominently identified with the national drink in this country was an apprentice of Hratnah and has developed his method hero. That form of concentration moreover, that all sorts of enterprises now take, was long since a feature of the soda-water industry. Formerly tho actual process took place under tli > drug-store counter. No one has yet estimated the decreased percentage in loss of life since the drug store Imy ceased playing with the vitriol, carbonates uiid force pomp us if ho had a squirt-gun in a hogshead of water under an cave trough. Explosions of soda fountains do now sometimes occur, hut they have ceased to be a national feature, ns on rending old English catalogues of rival manufactures they seem oneo to have linen.- [Harper's Weekly.

Reveled In Sensational Experiences.

In City Hull Park some timo ago I met a man whom I first saw in Scranton, t Penn. I hardly recognized’ him in his ragged clothes, pinched fuconud starved look. His remains now lie in a little plot of ground buck of the Hillsdale poorhouse, near Wilkesburre, Penn. Tho man's name was John Eagan. His fattier located on a farm in the Lackawanna Vulloy some forty years u/'o. There wus coal underneath ids farm, and one day Eagan was ottered $500,000 for tl». land, and this ho accepted. A year afterward lie died, and bis grout wealth reverted to his son. Tho latter made tilings hum for a while. Om summer night about two years ago 1 saw Eugun riding down Lackawanna avenue, Scranton, on horseback. He was going along leisurely playing on-a violin, and he could play with remarkable skill. Finally lie espied the open door of a saloon, and straightway drove Ids horse through tho doorway into the barroom, si ill playing on Ids favorite instrument. He ordered drinks for the crowd, wheeled about and rode out again. < hie day lie rode out into the country and gave a farmer S'2,OOJ to set tiro to his barn, lie said be wanted the excitement which tho burning of the hay und straw would occasion. Another time he gave SIOO to a tramp to let the tramp punch ids oyos until they were black and blue. One Fourth of July tho same inun paid IJililK) for a spooial train to curry him eight miles. When the .Molly Muguiros were condemned to the gallows he went to Harrisburg with a certified check for SIOO,OOO and ottered it to Governor Hurtrunft if ho would pardon the Mollies. He had two locomotives built and shipped to his farm. Ho built a track 300 feet loqg, and after both engines had got up a good head of steam he caused the two throttles to be opened. The two engines came together with a terrific crash. Eagan suid tho sight of seeing them collide was worth what they cost. — [New York News.

One of Nature’s Freaks.

Ezekiel Ends, who died in Greene County, Now York, in the spring of 1885, was surely a fit subject for a dime museum, even though ho never descended to that level. Strictly speaking, Eads was in several respects a most remarkable creature. Ho was born without ears, not even having apertures whore his ears should have been. His deformity, sad us it wus, may he said lo have been; partially alloviated by the curious construction of tho inner portion of his head, which enabled him to hear common conversation through his mouth. When addressed he would instantly open his mouth and readily give uuswers to interrogations put to him in an ordinarytone of voice. But Ezekiel's lack *£ curs wus not his ouly lack of distinction. Ho had a heavy crop of black hair spotted with white, the spots themselves being in the exact shape of human ears, feet, hands, etc. When he was quite a Birtall baby it was noticed that his black hair was interspersed with oddly shaped spots of white, which, however, did no! take on thoir distinctive shapes tratil after he had passod his fifteenth year. When Mr. Eads died fie left one son, aged forty-five, whose hqir was as black as n coal, not a single gray hair being discernible, and another son, thirteen yours of age. whose hair was as gray as that of a man of seventy.—[St. Louis Republic. Bangkok (Bnrnvah) mi ls grim] oat 8,375 on* ofca g i rice daily.