Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1892 — Page 4

®lje jhmorroitcSeirtiiid rensselaer; Indiana. J. W. McEWEN, - - - PUBLISHER.

A RICE trust has been formed in this country. The Chinese must go! Were Diogenes alive he would be glad to learn that the man honest enough to return $93,000 to its owner is in the bath-tub business. An Englishman is going to swim the Niagara rapids clad in swimming trunks. It seems a pity to waste a good pair of trunks this way. Kentucky produces nearly all the hemp raised in this country, and. naturally, capital punishment is there administeresl after the old style. i Chicago should hurry up and jug her “boodle” aidermen. They will be an attraction for the World’s Fair if they are not permitted to escape. The story of the existence of a ribbon trust may have been started by an exasperated husband who couldn’t fnd the exact shale his wife wanted, — <- *• - A certain Mr. Twogcou is a can- . didate for office in Leavenworth, Kan. A man that can live up to a name like that should never run for office. - i If you want a f.id. see if you can't talk less. Everyone talks to J much. And when you do talk, talk well. Here are two fads that will do you some good. There is a source of some amuse- ; ment in watching a game of bluff be- i tween two countries that realize ■ more clearly than any other the folly I of going to war. John L. Sullivan —but hush! Why speak of him again? Besides, he has expressed a determination to hold paragraphers who jeer at him personally liable. Navy officers complain that' the \ white paint chosen for war vessels I has only the one good quality of look- . ing pretty. What else are United States war vessels for? There have been charges to the j effect that some of Rev. T. De Witt Talmage’s sermons are not original, but no man has had the hardihood to claim Mr. Talmage’s gestures. That British animal is still carelessly leaving his tail with the tip projecting over the Canadian border. He is earnestly advised to coil it up beneath him and firmly sit on it. It is a pity the plan of campaign of the Parisian anarchists cannot spread to America. Exploding dynamite under government buildings would be regarded as a venial sin in Chicago. Dr. Parkhurst has begun writing about the New York dives for a newspaper syndicate. The early ap pearance of' this much-advertised divine upon the stage may now be looked for.

A new professor at the Chicago University says he has been promised the interest on $500,000 wherewith to iisseminate political science. Lively interest is felt by local politicians as to the ward in which he will spend it. Ben Butler says he wants to see the American flag waving from the north pole. No doubt he does, and horn every other pole, stick, city hall, little red schoolhouse, and fourth-class postoffice. Ben has a monopoly of the bunting business and likes to see trade boom. According to an advertisement a tuiLive East Indian impersonator appeared in a Chicago church “in gorgeous pinless, hookless, and butt nless costumes abounding with humor and pathos.” No one will question the pathos of a costume with all the buttons off, but few men cun see any humor in it. The ancient and erstwhile honorable duello gets its most decided setback when a brave man declines to accept a challenge. The well-known Southern lawyer and orator, Mr. John 8. Wise, of New York, being implicated in a teapot tempest now raging in that city’s Southern colony, says be won’t fight. Mr. Wise, being reckoned a brave man, has thus given the “code” a violent kick, and deserves the applause of all friends of civilization North and South.

The grateful Russians who received the cargo of grain sent by charitable Americans for the relief of the fam.ne have been showing their gratitude oy presenting a splendid antique silver tea service to the captain of the Missouri, who brought them the grain safe and sound. Now it happens that the Missouri is a British ship, and that Captain Finlay, who sails her, is a British captain, and he gets all the eloquent thanks which the Russians meant for their American friends. ________ The New York Sun exults that no bombs are made in that tows, and -avers that it would be a more dangerous business for the makers there (han in Chicago, because la New York “the law has a searching eye and a heavy hand.” It has been five years since a bomb has exploded in Chicago, but the bombardment of Russell Sage and the explosion in the vicinity of the house of the Rev. Lyman Abbott in Brooklyn are recent evidences of a certain myopia in the “se arching eye" of Gotham officers. Since the first of March the price (4 American beef in the English

market has fallen about a penny and a half, or 3 cents, per pound. It is more interesting than agreeable to learn that English consumers are getting American beef cheaper than American consumers can get it, and that this state of things is likely to continue for some time. The meat companies are understood to be losing on their English business, and it is believed that they will seek to make good their losses out of the American public.

I The danger of a Chinese monopoly i of tlie laundry business seems to have , passed. The second exclusion bill is far more exclusive than the first. The celestial “washee washee” takes ! chances on five years’ imprisonment if he dares to cross the frontier. The only exceptions to this sweeping prohibition are those who come on diplomatic, consular or other Government service, and even these are liable to be withdrawn in the steps threatened by the Empire to sever all neighborly relations with this Government. From a moral standpoint, China is not a real first-class country to associate with, - Old Man Harvey, out in Idaho, ought to be immortalized by some author as apt as Bret Harte was in his prime at the description of frontier eccentricities. And so. by the shade of Jack Sheppard! ought the old man Harvey’s six girls! For these adventurous maidens have been holding .up stage coaches with unwearied patience and unfailing skill for the last few weeks. Had it not been for the ambush set for them by an ungallant sheriff these dashing brigandettes—if we ma.v coin a word—would have raised the romance of the road in Idaho to the exciting level of the palmy days of California in ’49.

The bill before Congress which invests the Postmaster General with power to decide what advertisements are “proper” in a newspaper should be killed as dead as Julius Ctesar. The present incumbent of that office has, on at least one occasion, made himself subject for mirth while posing as a censor of the press, and the opportunities for like folly should not ho increased. The freedom of the press must be maintained, and this bill, however guiltless of such intent, directly menaces it. A reputable newspaper rejects voluntarily advertisements which could not “go through the mails.” Other newspapers can be proceeded against under the provisions of existing laws. Au Sable, Mich., has taken on a lurid tinge from causes fully set forth in a series of popular resolutions beginning with the following somewhat tangled note: “Whereas, A newspaper is in existence in our midst by the name of the Lakeside Monitor, edited by one Wesley M. Featherly,” and proceeding through a sucdinct statement of the libelous sins of said paper in their midst by the name of the Monitor to the ringing conclusion that Editor Featherly be tarred and feathered “from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet” unless he gets out of town in ten days. Editor Featherly appears to have been molding public opinion into a large and extremely bitter pill, which he is now offered the happiness of swallowing.

It has become evident that the Sultan of Turkey intended to play a little trick upon the voting Egyptian Khedive. Abbas, and upon the country which is his protector, England. Eyoub Pasha, the Sultan's envoy, was, after long delay, sent with the firman of investiture to the Khedive. Requested to reveal the contents of this firman, Eyoub refused. Pressed by Sir Evelyn Baring, British Minister at Cairo, and forced to it by the Khedive's refusal of investiture until the contents cf the Sultan’s firman became known, he at length admitted that the Sultan had reopened the boundary question, and no longer recognized the Sinai Peninsula as a part of Egyptian domain. Then there was war among diplomats resident at Cairo, the British and Italian Consuls General being on one side, the French and Russian Consuls General on the other. Feeling ran high. The collection of fleets in the Levant did not promise the most peaceful future. The natives of Egypt took the crisis to heart, and entertained grave fears lest their country should be again the scene of battle and desolation. At’his point France and Russia, quite in accord with what has been M. Ribot’s (French Minister of Foreign Affairs) constant policy, interceded with the Sultan, who consented to issue an irade supplementary to the firman, leaving all boundary questions in statu quo.

Good Theatrical Town.

A traveling theatrical manager recently wrote to the owner of a hall in a small town in the State of Washington for a booking. He received the following answer: “Yours to hand. I won’t play on shairs no more. Your cumpany will hav to send me ten Dollars for one night and supply thair own kerrosean and lamps. They will allso hav to build thair own staige, becaus the last cumpany broke it down. Thair ain’t no money in plaing on shairs in this town, vnd I wont a shure thing.”

The All-Pervading Vice.

A Virginia City (Nev.) youth was recently detected in the act of shooting an arrow, with a cigarette attached, through a broken window in the rear of the jail to some boys who were imprisoned within.

Good for the Girl.

Seeing a runaway horse dragging a little boy by the feet along the road, a nervy Hastings (Neb.) girl took a hasty aim with a rifle she had with her and killed the horse, thus saving the bur's life

UNDER THE WATERS.

DEATH AND DESOLATION IN MISSISSIPPI LOWLANDS. The Rivers Rom I’xr Alimre Tticlr Bnnk*. Flooded Farms, and Swept Away Live*. Hoiiies, and Property—l*<»or Whites mid Negroes Starving: atid Soo’hern 1 hM>d«.

" 1 HE Tombigbee and I Looxapolla Rivers I come together a -«• few miles below the city of Colum- * bus, Miss. The city is situated on the

east bank of the Tombigbee River, and is the center of trade for all that section of the Tombigbee Valley. The country is level, and the streams flow sleepily along, winding through the country to the sea. The banks are not high, and its way through the expanse of valley is only marked by the growth of bush and cane on its banks. The cotton plantations along the river have been the scene of great preparations for cotton planting. Every year the streams are up to the full capacity of the banks, and often in low places the water spreads out over a small section of the country; but the heavy and terrific rainfall of a few weeks ago was more than was expected. The rain poured down in sheets and continued for forty-eight hours, deluging everything. The flood rushed down the Looxapolla and was met by the great volume from the Tombigbee. The Tombigbee below the point of confluence could not carry the waters. The floods spread all over the valley. On the bosom of the rush were borne along negro cabins, fences, logs, trees, bodies of cows, mules, horses, and hogs. The flood was so sudden and

enormous that it was impossible to get to a place of safety. The negroes and whites and cattle were to be seen in all directions, running for the high places. Some of the people who could not get away were rescued from the tops of houses or trees. Many were in treetops for tliirty or more hours. The Work of Roller I'artle,. Boats were hastily constructed and relief parties worked hard night and day rescuing the negroes. One family of negroes, seven in number, were got. into the boat and the old negress had a pet pig which she took into the boat with her. The pig jumped out into the water as the boat moved off, and she grabbed for it, overturning the craft. The children were all drowned. The mother, the husband, and the rescuers escaped. On one little mound about forty negroes and several head of cattle were found huddled together. On another there were seventy people and many head of cattle, all hungry and suffering. Many touching incidents are reported of the people fleeing from the floods, and many deeds of heroism have been recorded to the credit of the people of Columbus. The river, or rather the sea, at that place was over seven miles wide. The record made by the flood of 1847 was eleven feet lower than the present one. It is the worst ever known in that section. The merchants of Columbus

AN EXODUS.

lose very heavily, for they had sold the farmers their supply of groceries for the year on credit, and all they now have, in the majority of cases, is the promise to pay of the helpless negroes. Most of them had a cow u®d a mule; a mule anyhow. These are nearly all gone, and those that escaped are almost starved. All railroad and telegraph communications were cut for many days, and the G. P. road, west of Columbus to Greenville, will not be ope® for several days yet. That road between Columbus and West Point, a distance of eighteen miles, has all been washed away—that is, it has been a mile or two here, and a mile or two there, and most of it is still under water. The receding waters leave exposed a sorry scene of devastation and ruin. The farmers have been damaged greatly, just how much cannot be estimated. One says he is damaged 15,000, another $2,000 and so on.

This will serve as a guide to estimate the great loss to the plantations of the Tombigbee Valley. Poverty and desolation are spreaiout in all directions for miles on both sides of the river. Most of the country bridges have been swept away, and it will be weeks before traffic will be regularly resumed. C»v.» arrange freak developed among the negroes who had been rescued and brought in to Columbus. They absolutely Would not go out and help in the work of rescuing others of their race without being paid cash in hand in advance. The care of the 600 or 700 negroes now in Columbus being clothed, doctored, and fed by charity is a serious matter. The relief asked of the Government should

be extended at once. It is needed. Eating places have been erected for the poor, and daily the relief committees go out looking for them. The weather was very severe, and much sickness is reported among them. A Im? ut 250 Lives Stfkl to Have Been Lost* The lowest estimate placed on the I loss of life in the flooded district is 250. almost all of whom are negroes. More than 3,000 families in the counties of Lowndes, Monroe, and Noxubee are reported homeless and suffering for necessaries of life, which are being supplied now by private subscription.

A SCENE IN THE FLOODED DISTRICT.

Representative Allen, of Mississippi, has asked Congress for an immediate appropriation of $50,000.

Manufactures Building Trusses Are Ponderous Mechanical Appliances. The gigantic undertaking of erecting the steel trusses which are to support the roof of the Manufacttures Building in the World’s Fair

THE FIRST TRUSS IN THE MANUFACTURES BUILDING.

grounds was commenced last Friday. When erected the trusses will be the largest in the world. There will be twenty-two trusses, and they will be erected in pairs,. Each truss will cover a span of 386 feet, and from the center of the roof inside to the ground there will be a distance of zO6 feet. Each truss weighs 200 tons, and 6,000 tons of steel will be used in the roof of the building. Above the trusses supporting the roof will be erected other trusses to support the lantern roof. These trusses will be thirty-six feet in height, and each will span a distance of 150 feet. When the Pennsylvania Railroad was building its depot in Jersey City a year ago the New York newspapers devoted several columns each day to describing the work and declared that the erection of the enormous steel trusses was the most gigantic undertaking in the history of mechanical art. Yet, when the trusses of the Manufactures Building are erected the trusses of the Jersey City depot could be placed inside of them and there would be a free space of fifty feet between the top of those trusses and the roof of the Manufactures Building.

SENATOR M’DONALD'S WIDOW.

A. Real Romance in Krery-Day LifeDrain a tic Feature*. Seldom, outside of the pages o.f fiction, does a woman have such ex-

MRS. J. E. M’DONALD.

entire estate to his wife followed Tumors, soon verified, that the will was to be contested pn the ground that the instrument probated was not the will which Senator McDonald had made. Additional interest was aroused by recallings the romance which surrounded and connected the liree of the deceased Senator and his

ON THE BANK OF THE YALABUSHA.

LARGEST ON EARTH.

pertences as the beautiful young widow who is now defending the property left to her by her aged husband, the late Senator McDonald of I n d i a n a. After the fact became public that Senator McDonald had left his

second wife. The amount in con* troversy is about $40,000, and includes a lot on Washington street in Indianapolis. On two occasions during his last illness the Senator told bis friends that he intended tc leave his Washington street property to his children, but when his will was opened it was found that he had left that also to Mrs. McDonald. It : is to set aside this bequest that the | suit is tiled, and in the inquiry Mrs. ' McDonald has been summoned to appearand answer questions under oath. Other phases of the case are both dramatic and supernatural. In the Senator's office was a clerk named Arthur Hutchins, and he copied the will or wrote it at the Senator’s dictation. One day he went home from the office, and as he did not return it was found that he had gone insane. The contestants assert that his mental wreck was due to remorse for having mutilated the will. Then, in confirmation of this theory, a young lady living in Washington dreamed that she saw Mrs. McDonald ana some young man whom she did not know in close consultation together in an office. She afterward came to Indianapolis, and in the asylum where Hutchins is now confined identified him as the young man of her dream.

SAVED FIVE LIVES.

The Hero of the Hotel Royal Fire Receives a Suitable Reward. At the recent Hotel Royal fire in York, in which nineteen persons lost their lives, there was none who did braver service in the work of rescue than Sergeant Vaughan, of Patrol No. 3, and as a testimony of his worth the Board of Fire Underwriters have presented him with a beautiful gold medal—the sixth they have issued to members of the patrol in twelve years. Mr. Vaughan’s bravery is well stated in the inauguration address of President Blagden, from which we quote: “At a window in one of the upper stories was gathered a group with

anxious faces—a father, mother, and child—waiting, perhaps, to die together. At the next window, in an adjoining building, appeared a sergeant of> our patrol. The 1 / distance was toogreat to reach. Without hesitation, he threw himself down.

SERGEANT VAUGHAN.

resting one arm upon the sill and entwining his leg around a telephone wire, fortunately conveniently near. With his other arm, one by one he conducted this group over his prostrate body, as a bridge, to the window of safety. “Ascending to the rorff, he discovered a man standing upon the sill of a window in another portion of the house, doubting whether to meet death by jumping or wait to be overtaken by the fire. Shouting to him to wait and he would save him, he rushed to the street, and, calling upon his comrades to follow’, ascended to the roof of another adjoining building. Hastily throwing off his coat, his companions holding him by the legs, he threw himself head downward over the cornice, and, with their assistance, raised this man of over 200 pounds in weight to the roof.” Mr. Vaughan saved another life, making five in all.

Keep Your Month Shut.

Many disease germs enter through an open mouth. . The mouth was not made for breathing, but for eating and speaking. The nose was made for breathing, and the air, passing through the long and moist nasal passages, is purified, and leaves behind dust, disease germs, and various impurities, while the air js warmed and tempered for the lungs. But when the mouth is left open, dust, dirt, and disease rush down into the lungs, and, fastening there, develop and destroy the whole system.—The Christian.

From Butcher Boy to Millionaire.

Henry Miller, probably the largest land-owner in the San Joaquin (Cal.) valley, was forty years or so ago a butcher boy with scarcely a dollar of his own. He individually controls over a million acres now, and is believed to be worth between $30,000,000 and $40,000,000.

ALL SORTS.

One of the ex-mayors of Gotham has been sued for a barber biil. That last syllable saved him. Bev. Dr. De Witt Talma-ge is charged with the most bare-faced plagiarism. That strikes us as a little rough on the other fellow. If Tom Nast really wants to start an illustrated paper in Chicago now is his time. All his old Tweed cartoons can be used again with local application. Walt Whitman being dead it is doubtful whether America has any poet who peases the cultuied British taste unless.the long silent “sweet singer of Michigan” shall pipe up once more. Moody and Sankey are going to revisit England. It is eighteen years since they were last there, and it must be admitted that the cable dispatches indicate a need for a little more religion in the queen’s snug little island. It is a great pity Jay Gould was impelled to give up his journey to Mexico through fear of being captured by bandits and held for Tansom. If the Mexican brigands knew how tenderly Mr. Gould is beloved by his countrymen they -would never dare to molest him. Two-revolutions and a new lottery make President Diaz, of Mexico, wonder how the venerable veterans, Jubal A. Early and Mr. Beauregard, will behave if they accompany their bunco trappings into bis domain. The President will do well to placate those two old fire-eaters. Our In California the German carp is looked -upon as the John Chinaman of fish. It eats the aquatic plants commonly eaten by wild duck and other game fowl, and the latter in consequence are becoming scarce. Wa make no bones of saying that she German carp is actin? in a very scaly manner if this is true.

UTILE BOYS AND GIRLS.

THIS IS THEIR DEPARTMENT OF THE PAPER. Quaint Spring* and Doing’s of Little Ones Gathered and Printed Mere tor Other Little Folk. to Bead.

Baby. Darling baby! Dimpled fingers Pressed against the window-pane, Make a slznal to the birdies Getting supper in the rain. Little baby! Laughing bright eyeLooking out upon the earth. See no cause for care or sorrow, Only cause for joy and mirth. Sweetest baby! Lips of cherry, Portals to the soul within, Wear a smile we all might envy, ’Tls so bright and free from sin. Precious baby! Clustering ringlets, 'Round the open brow so white. Form a halo, bright and golden, To our wondering, loving sight. Little feet, so small and cunning. Pattering on the broad hall floor, Run to give papa a welcome As he comes up to the door. Little soul, so pure and spotlesss, Image'of the God above, Bas no thought of sin or hatred, Only knowing how to love. Darling baby! Waxen fingers. Crossed above the silent breast, Made a signal to the angels. And they laid her down to rest. Little baby! Closed eyelids Hide the bright eyes from my view, But beside the heavenly portal They will watch till I come, too. Sweetest baby! Cheery portals, Closed and barred forever more. Still are smiling with the sweetness That they smiled in days of yore. Angel baby! Clustering ringlets, Golden halo ’round her brow, Only shadowed forth the glory I Of the crown she weareth now. Little feet so cold and quiet— Strange that they so still should be When I reach the door of heaven, They will tun to welcome me. Little soul, so pure and spotless, Stainless still the Father keeps. Hush! tread softly, lest your footsteps Break her slumber. Baby sleeps. —Cottager and Ready Record.

Good Old Rose. Rose is our old dog. Her hair is as curly as dandelion stems; her tail waves like a great feather duster. When we. say, “Good dog.” it thumps like grandpa's cane when he walks up stairs. Now I will tell you why we call her “good old Rose.” One day papa sent Lily to the store. Lily is 6 years old: the store is just beyond the railroad track. “Rose, take care of Lily,” said papa. Rose wagged her tail for “Yes, sir,” and off they went. She trotted along by Lily's side. Lily felt very grand to go to the store all alone. She didn't know that Rose was taking care of her. All at once Rose caught Lily's dress in her teeth. They were just going to cross the track. “Let me go!” said Lily. But Rose pulled her back hard. Lily looked up and down the track: there was no train in sight. But u ßose heard it shake the ground. “You shall let me go!” cried Lily: “bad Rose!” And she jerked the dress and tore it out of Rose's teeth, ibid ran. Then Rose jumped right at Lily, and threw „her down on the ground, and dragged her buck again. .Just at that instant the train thundered round the curve: but Lily was safe. How the men in the train cheered! How the ladies waved their handkerchiefs! Rose hadn't any handkerchief, blit she waved her tail, and that is all a dog can do. Wouldn’t you pat her big head, too, and call her “good old Rose’*? For she did all she could for Lily.—Little Men and Women.

The Hard Problem. I know a boy who was' preparing to enter the junior class of the New York University. He was studying trigonometiy, and I gave him three examples for his next lesson. The following day he came into my room to demonstrate his problems. Two of them he understood, but the third —a very difficult one—he had not performed; I said to him: “Shall I help you?” “No, sir; I can and will do it if you give me time.” I said: “I will give you all the time you wish.” The next day he came into my room to recite another lesson in the same study. “Well. Simon, have you worked that example?” “No, sir,” he answered; “but I can, dnd will do it, if you give me a little more time.” “Certainly; you shall have all the time you desire.” I always like those boys who are determined to do their own work, for they make our best scholars, and men, too. The third morning you should have seen Simon enter my room. I knew he had it, for his whole face told the story of his success.. Yes, he had it, notwithstanding it had cost him many hours of hard work. Not only had he solved the problem, but, what was of much greater importance to him, he had begun to develop mathematical power, which, under the inspiration of “I can and I will,” he has continued to cultivate, until to-day he is professor of mathematics in one of out largest colleges, and one of the ablest mathematicians of his years in our country. A Brother’s Love. A touching illustration of children’s affection occurred recently in a Paris court, when a pretty girl of 30, poorly but neatly clad, was brought up on a charge of vagrancy. “Does any one claim you?” asked the magistrate. “Ah, my good sir!” said she, “I have no longer friends. My father and mother are dead. I have only my brother James, and he is almost as young as I am. Oh, sir, what can he do for me?” “The court must send you to the House of Correction.” “Here I am, sister, here lam! Do not fear,” cried a childish voice from the other end of the court. And at the same instant a little boy with a lovely countenance started from amid the crowd and stood before the judge. “Who are you?" said he. “James Rome, the brother of this little girl.” ■“Your age?”

“Thirteen." “What do you want?” “I come to claim my sister Lucille.* “But have you the means of. providing for her.” “Yesterday I had not. but now I have. Don't be afraid. Lucille.” “Oh, how good you are, James." “Well, Jet us see, my boy,” said the magistrate. “The court is disposed to do all it can for your sister; but you must give us some explanation.” “About a fortnight ago,” continued the boy, “my poor mother died of a bad cough. We were in great trouble. Then I said to myself. ‘I will be an artisan, and when I know a good trade, I will support my sister.’ I went apprentice to a brushmaker. Every day I used to carry her half my dinner, and at night I took her secretly to my room, and she slept in my bed while I slept on the floor. But it appears that she had not enough to eat. One day she begged on the boulevard and was taken up. When I heard that, I said to myself, ‘Come, my boy, things cannot last so. You must find something better.’ I soon found a place where I am fed, and clothed, and have 20 francs a month. I have also found a good woman, who, for these 20 francs, will take care of Lucille and teach her needlework. e I claim my sister. “My boy,” said the judge, “your conduct is very honorable. However, your sister cannot be set at liberty until to-morrow.” “Never mind, Lucille,” said the boy; “I will come and fetch you early 'to-morrow.” Then turning to the magistrate, he said, “I may kiss her, may I not, sir?” He threw himself into the arms of his sister, and both wept tears of affection.

How Hotels Are Robbed.

The large hotels in all the cities of this country earn’ upon their annual expense account from one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars chargeable to paper, envelopes, matches and toothpicks supplied to guests and strangers. The strangers use more of them than the guests. A square box, in which are kept a dozen necessary things—such as cards, matches, envelopes and toothpicks—stands on the counters of most hotels. This box has to be constantly replenished. The proprietor of a large New York hotel furnishes some interesting information regarding the way in which his hotel is systematically robbed by guests and strangers. Five hundred envelopesand l,«00 sheets of paper are required daily. Strangers appear at the desk, and with the utmost nonchalance ask for writing materials, which are furnished if the person be respectable in appearance. It is a common thing to see strangers enter a hotel writing-room and fill, their fountain-pens from the ink-bottles. Blotting-paper given away costs $lO a month. Every visitor to the hotel believes himself entitled to toothpicks and matches. He takes a handful of the former and tills hfs pocketr matchbox at the counter with the latter. It costs sls a month to supply these trifling articles. Pen and penholders and ink-bottles disappear at the rate of a gozen a day. But, alas! these are not the only losses to which hotel men are compelled to submit. The attendants in the wash-room will tell you that strangers enter and slip cakes of soap into their pockets. The small handtowels that are supplied to guests are carried oil at the rate of hundreds every year. There is a difference in the class of men who merely take what is supposed to be free and those who filch what is known to be the property of the hotel. The latter men are thieves! Tidies are carried away from the chairs, and sheets and pillow-cases from the beds. The hotels on the European plan suffer most from pilferers and dishonest patrons.—Once-a-Week.

Impromptu Definitions.

The young idea is not always encouraged to shoot. At one of Sheridan’s dinner parties, the conversation turned upon the difficulty of satisfactorily defining “wit.” Forgetting that he was expected to see, hear, but say nothing, Master Tom informed the company, “Wit is that which sparkles and cuts. ” “Very good, Tom,” said his father. “Then as you have sparkled you can cut,” and poor Tom had to leave his dinner unfinished. Probably a worse fate awaited the Brooklyn boy, who, called upon to explain the meaning of “Quaker,” wrote: “A Quaker is one of a sect who never quarrel, never get into a fight, never claw/ each other, and never jaw back. Pa’s a Quaker; but ma isn’t!” An Ohio school committee must have been puzzled to decide which of two candidates for a schoolmarmship was the better fitted for the post, the ydung woman who averred that “respiration” was the prespiring of the body, or her rival, who believed “emphasis” was the putting more distress on one word than another—definitions worthy of a place beside those achieved by the English medical student responsible for: “Hypothesis, something that happens to a man after death;” and “Irony, a substance found in mineral wells, which is carefully preserved in bottles, and sold by chemists as tincture of iron.”

The Books Boys Read.

The truth is that jt is not thp boys who read “bad books” who swell the roll of youthful criminality: it is the boys who do not read anything. Let any one look over the police court of a busy morning and he wilt see that the style of youth gathered there have not fallen into evil ways through their depraved literary tendencies. They were not brought there by books, but more probably by ignorance of books, combined with a genuine hatred of books of all kinds. There is not a more perfect picture of innocence in the world than a boy buried in his favorite book, oblivious to all eartbjy sights and sounds, scarcely breathing as he follows the fortunes of the heroes and heroines of the story.—Kansas City-Star.

Delinquent Tax List.

At Cotta, in Saxony, persons who did not pay their taxes last year are published in a list which hangs up in all the restaurants and saloons of the city. Those th;A am on the list can get neither meat nor drink at these places under pehahyof loss of license.