Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1895 — Page 4

Silence

By Miss Mulock

CHAPTER XIII. “What sort of people were we to meet to-night? Pleasant people, you said.” “And clever people from Edinburgh and London, visitors in the house. Lady Symington brought one or two of them to call here to-day. I liked them." “And I am sure they liked you, my darling,” said Roderick, with a tender pride. “Well, it will be rather nice to go back for an hour or two to the old life, and rest one’s ears from the endless buzz of machinery. Though lam fond of machinery,” added he, hastily and cheerily. “It is like presiding as a temporary providence over a cosmogony of one’s own making; taking care that all the wheels are kept going; doing one's utmost, and waiting calmly for the final result, as one must in all things. Yes, I enjoy my work, and I mean to enjoy my play, if I am not too tired.” He had come in very tired—he often did; but, refreshed with tea and tender words, had now begun dressing for the Symington dinner, putting on his diamond studs, brushing out his curly hair, and his wife could see he rather liked the proceeding. He was a young man still. She was young, too—not at all above the pleasure of “making herself pretty”— he told her she looked in her white ivedding dress, with her wedding veil transmuted into a shawl. He admired her—they mutually admired one another —and took a childish pleasure in the same. “I wish I could give you a carriage,” sighed Roderick, as he muffled her in hood and plaid for the ten minutes’ walk uuder the fir woods, through the clear frosty December night. “I am content with my own two feet, dear. Lady Symington offered the carriage, but I declined.” “Quite right. The poorer we are ths more independent we- will be. Alw,ay» stick to the principle, ‘Owe no man anything.’ ” “Except ‘to love one another,’ ” Silence added, gently. “I can’t help loving 1 her—that sweet old lady—however rich she is. And she is so cheerful, too. How she laughed at my thick boots, and showed them to the two young ladies she had with her—most gentlemanly young ladies, who dress almost like men, and pity themselves for being only women! Now, It may be very conceited of me, dear, but I never wished to be a man in all my life!” “Thank heaven for that,” said Roderick, with such energy that they both burst out laughing, and so started merrily, lantern in hand, through the solemn fir-wood, and across the open, breezy, star-lighted nioor. Silence clung to her husband’s arm. “This feels like the old days—the days when you used to walk home with us nt night.” She paused, and then continued in the low smothered tone which he had learned to understand now. “Did you ever think then that I loved you—that it was heaven to me just to walk beside you for a quarter of an hour? And now’ we walk together always—through life — into eternity. No—l shall not lose you even there.” He pressed her little hand nearer his heart, but said nothing. They walked ou, watching the round, red moon, which was creeping up slowly through a cleft in the hills. Neither said, “How beautiful,” just as neither said, “I am happy.” but they knew it without speaking. So they reached, two humble pedestrians, the Symington hall-door. “Are you afraid?” asked Roderick, as they paused to let a carriage pass them—the Castle Torre carriage, full of very resplendent McAllisters. “Not afraid of my host and hostess, but very much afraid of the butler, the footman, and the groom of the chambers.” ■“Nevertheless, let us face even them,” •said Roderick, gayly, “for I am determined to have a pleasant evening.” It felt like it when, having passed bravely through the ordeal of the entrance hall, they found themselves in the fine old drawing-room, rich with the relics of a dozen generations of Symingtons, where Sir John and his wife received their guests. There was once a popular song, “If I had a thousand a year,” wherein the singer described what he would do with that noble income—counted but a small one nowadays. But ten thousand a year —what could one do w’ith that? I think precisely what Sir John Symington did. A rich man, of cultivated tastes, with •every right to gratify them, knowing ■enough of sorrow to humble his heart toward God and soften it toward his neighbor; gifted with not only the power but the will to do good, and having lived long enough to reap the fruits of an honorable youth in a calm old age; such a man is, spite of his riches, not unlikely to enter the kingdom of heaven. Ay, even in this world, as you could see by his contented look and quiet, stately bearing. They were indeed quite a picture, this old couple; he tall and thin, she round and ares?, with a cheek like a girl, and a smile like a child, as they came forward to meet the young couple, to whom life wms only a.t its beginning. ■“ ‘Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake thou not.’ Mr. Jardine, it is kind of you to come here to-day. I hope it will not be the last time by many that Blackhall honors Symington by entering its doors.” These words, spoken with antique formality, and iu rather loud tone —Sir John was slightly deaf—were heard by everybody. Everybody saw, too, how Lady Symington kissed Mrs. Jardine on both cheeks, foreign fashion in cordial welcome. This might have been chance, or wise and kindly intention* but it had its effect. The MacAlisters, and all the ■other neighbors, came forward nt once, ignoring both the poverty and the millwork, and added their greetings. These “old families,” as well as the clever English guests, were much simpler, Silence found, both in manners and toilets, than the Richerden people. Very soon they made her feel thoroughly “at home.” The more so as she saw her husband was “at home” likewise. There is in ■some houses an unconscious atmosphere •of domestic and social ozone, which brightens everybody. Wealth cars not give it, nor poverty take it away.. As they Went into dinner, Mfs. Jardine leaning on Sir John’s arm, aB the stranger and the bride, she and Roderick smiled at one another, satisfied. It was a recherche rather than a sumptuous meal, not one of those where tile guests are evidently far less important than the food. And it was short—mhmu and a half being, the host said.

quite enough to. spend over eating and I drinking. Also, not long after the ladies i retired the gentlemen followed.them. “You see, having been much abroad, we have adopted the best of foreign customs,” said Lady Symington, smiling to see Mrs. Jardine’s smile, at the unexpected apparition of her husband behind her chair. “Sir John likes a pleasant evening, good talk and good music, quite as well as a good dinner; and I like it much better. Indeed. I am afraid I am very fond of society.” “So are we,” said Roderick, looking down on his wife’s happy face. And just as his host called him to join a group of men, every one of whom was “somebody,” or had done “something,” lie found time to whisper: “You were quite right, Silence; I am glad we came.” After that she watched him, talking, listening and being listened to, holding his own always with his habitual courtesy, but nevertheless with the firmness and self-respect of a man who has cast his lot in life, whose fate is fixed, and heart is at rest, so that he is now ready for the work of the world. He stood a good way from her, scarcely looking toward her—what need? This mingling with others made both feel only the more keenly and securely the sweet inward tie —“my own, my very own!” And she sat in her quiet corner, thnt passionate ambition, not for self, but a dearer self, which in some women’s hearts is as strong even as love, woke up—no, it had already wakened—but it seemed to make itself felt to the very depths of her soul, until there came added to it another feeling, roused by a few chance words she overheard. “Yes, a fine fellow, a very fine fellow, indeed. What a pity he is married.” “Do you think so?” “Just swamped; every man is, unless he can get that rara avis, a wife who is a help and not a hindrance, not only at home but in society.” “Hush! there she is—that quiet little thing in the corner.” “Eh?” Silence had sharp ears; at least, she seemed to hear by instinct every word that was said about her husband. As the two gentlemen passed her they saw only the composed face, the quietly folded hands, but—she had heard. Half an hour afterward Roderick, a little surprised, but glad, saw her ’the center of a circle, talking to all who talked to her, not only in her pretty, precise English, but in French and German —there were several foreigners in this cosmopolite house. Also, when requested by Lady Symington she went at once to the piano and sung. It was a very simple song; their fnvorite, “Oh, Nannie, wilt thou gang wi’ me?” but after it came a hush, and then abirrst of involuntary delight. Tos, that is my wife,” Silence heard her husband answer to some one, very briefly, but she caught both the look and the tone. She went bnck to her seat, all her nervousness gone. She could face the world now. He was not ashamed of her. • Human nature is human nature after all. Many a good man loves with patient tenderness a wife very inferior to himself; many a woman upholds faithfully beforo the world the man slid lias married, whom all the world sees, and wonders sometimes if she sees, is altogether unworthy of her. This is right, noble; but it is also a little sad. The perfect bond, the true marriage, must always be between those who not only love, but are proud of one another —as were these. The evening slipped by fast, so fast that the guests were already leaving; but Lady Symington begged the Jardines to stay a few minutes more. “Well, the moon is full, and our horses will not catch cold by standing,” said Roderick gayly to his wife. lie was so thoroughly enjoying himself that, for the first time, he did not notice the little tired face. But Lady Syminton did, and put Silence in her own arm-chair, secured round by curtains, above which hung the sweet picture of the long-dead boy. Upon it the eyes of both women, the young and the old, met tenderly. “He must have been so pretty,” Silence said. “Yes. Almost like an angel, or it seems so now. He was a Christmas child. This Christmas he would have been thirty-nine—no, forty years old. Howstrange!” The old lady spoke calmly, as old people learn to do. And then, like one habituated to repress herself and think of others only, she added: “Y,our husband is not near forty yet; ho could not be, fur Henry Jardine married late in life. Sir John lost sight of him after that, but he was always very fond of him. We thought him so clever, so sure to make a name for himself one day. Perhaps his sou will.” “I hope he will; yes, he shall.” The words were brief, but there was a sudden flash in the eye, indicating the faith which creates the hope, and the will which brings about both. And then, startled at herself, Silence shrunk back behind the curtains of her pleasant nook, glad to hide for a few minutes after the efforts even of their happy evening. She strained her ears to catch her husband’s voice, but instead she only heard the idle buzz of conversation behind her, little heeded, until her own name struck her ear. “Jardine? Surely I met a Mrs. Jardine at Richerden last week. Could she be a relation, a mother or aunt, to that young fellow? Impossible!” “Why impossible?” “Oh, Mrs. Mac Alister” (the speaker was one of the Symington guests), "if you had seen her! Astonishing in accent, and still more astonishing in dress; clannish, as I suppose you Scotch would call it—always talking of her ‘family,’ and evidently considering it the most important family in nil Scotland. She had three daughters—one married to a man named Thomson—ugh! a nice son-in-law to have! You should have seen him in the draw-ing-room after dinner. But she never spoke of any son.” “You don’t say so! That coarse, ignorant, vulgar woman?” At this talk—heard quicker than it takes to write, and impossible not to hear, for the speakers were behind the curtain —Silence looked at her companion, whose eyes were cast down on the carpet. Making some remark quite foreign to the subj ject, Lady Symington rose; then, seeing I the poor little scarlet face, she let all polite pretenses drop. “My dear, ‘les absens ont toujours tort.’ Let it pass; we will move away.” “How can I let it pass? It is not true. And she is his mother. It can not be true.” “If it were,” said the old lady, quietly, “it could not affect any right-minded people. Your husband is what he is, a Jardine of Blackhall, and the very image of his father.” “Still, a mother is a mother always. I had one once.” In another moment, patting aside Lady Symington’s detaining hand she stood before the two ladies. “1 beg your pardon, but I overheard you. I could not help overhearing. You mistake. lire. Jardine, my mother-in-law, is

| a very good woman. Her children love | her much. Uneducated she may be—her j father was a working man—but ‘coarse.’ [ ‘vulgar,’ it is impossible.” “Whether or no,” said the young Lonj don lady, equally touched and surprised, i “I am sorry I said it. It is a certificate j of merit to any woman that her son’s \ wife should be so fond of her.” The poor little face, pale with pain, flushed visibly. “It is not thati-it is because of the injustice. One should never let an injustice pass if one can help iL” \. The eager voice, pathetic eve* in its indignant pride, the manner so simple and straightforward—Mrs. Mac Alister said next day. that young Mrs. Jardine was the oddest and most “unconventional” young lady she ever knew; but there was no mistaking her meaning. Both ladies felt themselves, as the younger expressed it, “quite shut up,” and made no end of incoherent apologies. Silence acepted them smiling. “It does not matter, since only I heard you—not my husband.” Just then, turning around, she saw Roderick standing beside Lady Symington, and was quite certain, by the expression of his face, that he had heard, or guessed, everything that had passed. He said nothing—what was there to say?—only came forward, bowing with almost more than his usual rather stately courtesy to the two ladies, drew his wife’s arm in his, and making their adieus to their hostess, took her away immediately. Not until they had got out into the dark —the quiet, soothing, solitary night—did he break out in a passion of anger and grief. ‘‘Coarse! Vulgar! How dared she say it? Ignorant she may be. How could she be otherwise with her up-bringing? But she is, as you say, a thoroughly good woman. Thank you for saying it; thank you, my darling, for being so generous to my poor mother.” “Not generous, only just,” whispered the soothing voice. “I could not be unjust to any mother, least of all to yours.’ They did not know her, these people, and they were sorry. You heard them say so.” “I heard all; I was close by; but how' could I speak? Cowavd that I was! It was you who were brave. Again, thank you, my darling.” They walked on awhile in total silence, then Roderick burst out again: “Yes, she is my mother. No unkindness can alter that. And she has done nothing really wrong—nothing that can make me cease to respect her. Her weaknesses—l know every one. It is nonsense to say children should not see their parents’ faults; they must and do. But then there is the love that covers all She loved me, too, once. If I saw her this minute, I believe I should forget everything except that she was my mother —my dear old mother.” And a great sudden sob, like a boy's, betrayed what his wife had loug guessed, the pent-up grief which even she could giot wholly heal.

(To bo continued.)

The Lady, the Corpse and Bow-Wow

The other day a lady shipped her husband’s remains and a dog over the Centra], says an exchange. At Albany she appeared at the door of the baggage car to see how they were getting along. “How does he seem to be doing?” sho asked with a sniff. “Who, the corpse?” inquired the baggage master, kindly. “No, the dog.” “Oh, lie's comfortable,” replied the baggageman. “Anybody been sitting down on him?” “Who, the dog?” “No, the.eorpse.” “Certainly not,” answered the baggageman. “Does it seem cold enougli in here for him?” “For who, the corpse?” “No, the dog.” “I think so,” grinned the baggage master. “Does the jolting appear to affect him any?” “Affect who, the dog?” “No, the corpse.” “I don’t believe it does.” “You’ll keep an eye ou him, won’t you ?” she asked, wiping a tear away. “On who, the corpse?” "No, the dog.” And having secured the baggageman’s promise, she went back to her coach apparently contented.

Max O’Rell Was.

Max O’Rell relates that one day he was lecturing iu Sandhurst, Victoria, on his favorite subject: “John Bull at Home:” In the first row of the orchestra stalls there was a man who evidently had had a schooner or two of colonial beer, and who, for ton minutes, incessantly growled at every statement made by the lecturer. By and by Max O’Rell bad to remind liis audience, to explain a point, that he was a Frenchman. “Ah, you’re a Frenchman,” shouted the man at the top of his voice, “well, if you’re a Frenchman, you please leave John Bull alone and give me a lecture on Waterloo, you beggar!” Max O’Rell declined to give a lecture on Waterloo, as this was not the subject announced. On hearing this the jolly Briton rose again, faced the audience, and said; “This man says he is a Frenchman and he can’t speak on Waterloo. I tell you, the man is no Frenchman.” And as his speech threatened to replace the lecture, two policemen had to come to the rescue of the Frenchman.

Has Four Hundred Dogs.

William Hammond, of ISldred, Sullivan county, across the Delaware from Sholiola, Pa., kegps 400 dogs. To properly support this great canine army he has a bakery and a meat-chopping machine, which in combination use up ten barrels of flour and half a ton of meat a week to make dog biscuits. These dog 3 do not all belong to Mr. Hammond. They are the property of sportsmen in New York, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. Hammond is a professional trainer of hunting dogs, and he is handling and breaking these dogs in the woods and covers of Sullivan county for service in the field and clisjse. Twenty hired men who know something about dogs themselves assist Hammond in the work. Among the Hebrews during the theocracy the taxes were very severe. There was a poll tax of half a shekel, about 30 cents, a tribute of the first fruits and first born of animals, a redemption tax of the first-born son, a tithe for the tabernacle, another for the Levites, and a third, every third year, for the poor. It has been computed that the total taxation exceeded 36 per cent, of the land valuation. The true way to mourn the dead is to take care of the living who belong to them. These are the pictures and statues of departed friends which ws ought to cultivate. I ' '

STORY OF THE WAR.

JAPAN’S BRILLIANT TACTICS iN SUBDUING CHINA. A Succession of Victories--An Offensive and Defensive Alliance by Which Japan Will General China’s Vast Armies Should Either Be Besieged. The full terms of the treaty of peace between China and Japan are finally avowed, and more than justify the wildest estimate that has yet been made of the ambition of the conquering power. The independence of Corea was assured, but such independence as Corea would enjoy under this treaty is a mere sham. The annexation of Formosa, of the conquered strongholds and of the territory east of the Liao River is the dismemberment of China. The indemnity is $142,000,000. The sixth article provides for “an offensive and defensive alliance between China and Japan.’’ This means Japanese generals in command of Chinese armies, Japanese admirals restoring China’s navy, Japanese control of Chinese finances, legislation, commerce and foreign relations. In a word it gives to forty millions of Japanese the power of handling the resources of the four hundred millions of China. What use Japan would make of this power is sufficiently indicated in the words of Count Okuma, an ex-’Minister of Foreign Affairs, who frankly says: “The European powers are already showing symptoms of decay, and the [ next generation will see their con- 1 stitutions shattered and their etn- j pires in ruins. * * * Who is fit | to be their proper successors if not ourselves ” Japan is undoubtedly dreaming of j world conquest. The absorption of China is really ‘the chief article of the .

MARSHAL YAMAGATA ADMIRAL ITO, MARSHAL OYAMA.

Japan, an empire with forty million population, conquered China, an empire with four hundred million population, within a little less than eight months. The war virtually began on the 22d of last June, when 20,0.00 Japanese troops were landed in @orea. It practically ended February 14 of this year when Admiral Ting, the Chinese commander, surrendered Weihaiwei and then committed suicide. The United States tried to prevent war by offering (July 18) to be a sort of mutual friend in settling the quarrel. China seemed willing to consent to mediation, but Japan as much as told the Americans to mind their own business. Nevertheless, on every favorable occasion during the struggle the United States sought to play the part of peacemaker, and eventually peace was brought about through the instrumentality of Minister Dun in Tokio and Minister Denby in Pekin. The first overt act of war was the sinking of the British steamship Kowshing off Asan,Corea, in July by the Japanese crusier Naniwa. The Kowshing was transporting troops to reinforce the Chinese on the peninsula. Two days before the Japanese had in effect seized the king’s palace at Seoul under pretense of protecting the helpless Corean monarch.

LI HUNG CHANG.

July 29 Japan called out her reserves and on Aug. 1 she notified representatives of other countries that war was on and politely informed the rest of the world that things were just what they seemed. There were numerous engagements of minor consequence while the Japanese were driving the Chinese northward out of Corea, but the first great battle was at Pingyang, Sept. 15 and 16, when Field Marshal (now Minister of War) Yamagata’s army captured that stronghold. Sept. 17, the sea fight off the mouth of the Yalu River substantially destroyed the Chinese Navy. Field Marshal Oyama sailed from Hiroshima Sept. 23 with the second Japanese army, but was lo3t to sight until exactly one month later he landed with his forces at Talien on the Shinning Peninsula of China. Marshal Yamagata meanwhile had been leading liis victorious army through Northern Corea. Port Arthur, looked upon as one of the best fortified places in the world, fell Nov. 21. The two Japanese r then marched leisurely on to Peking. There was occasional fighting, but evidently the Japanese did not press the campaign, moving along leisurely and when ready capturing Newchwang on the Leaotong River. The battle of Weihaiwei was the

next and the final ‘.mpcrfan? eagsgt ment of the war. Japan has made a hostile demonatrration about Formosa, but probably in order to lay a foundation for a claim to it in the peace negotiations rather than to seize the island. About the middle of March the talk |of peace negotiations, which had been heard for some weeks, crystali lized in the definite agreement of 1 China to accept the conditions which ! Japan proposed. The correspondence was carried on through the United States ministers j in order to avoid a repetition of the incident of February, when Japan kicked out two emissaries masquer- ! ading as peace ambassadors, but without credentials. After some further delay Li Hung ('bang was duly commissioned to rep- ; sent the Emperor of China and sailed for Shimonoseki, Japan, where he was received by Japan’s peace commissioners, Count Oto and Viscount Mutsu. The peace conference was only fairly under way when a fanatic shot Li Hung Chang, inflicting a slight wound in the face. The Mikado promptly proclaimed an armistice, intended to last until the Chinese Envoy should recover. Before the armistice expired the peace conference had agreed upon a treaty. The provisions of the treaty of most consequence to outside countries are these: China agrees to no longer impose upon foreigners the odious tax known as liken, levied upon goods and sales. v A uniform standard tael is to be adopted by China for her currency. Much confusion is caused in money calculations, because there are the Aaikwan or custom tael (usually meant when government computations are made), worth about 72 cents, and the Shanghai tael, worth about (>9 cents. .All foreigners are to be permitted to introduce into China factories and machinery, and to lease warehouses in the interior. Japan takes Formosa, the Pescadorea Islands and Manchuria from Yingkow, on the Leao river to Anping, on the Yalu including the Leatong peninsula. Jib other part of China is to be oc cupied by Japan even as a temporary guarantee that China shall abide by the provisians of the peace treaty, except possibly Weihaiwei. The important commercial concessions made by China are to bo shared by all nations. Other countries have striven for many years to induce China to abolish the iikin impost, but in vain. The term is composed of the Chinese word “li,” the thousandth part of a tael, and “kin,” meaning money. The tax is imposed in addition to customs duties upon goods transported from one point in China to another, and the rates varies at the different barriers or boundaries throughout the country. Foreign owned goods might be exempted from this and other local exactions by means of transit passes issued by the customs authorities on payment of two and one-half per cent, of the value of the goods. Originally the liken was a tax of one cash (a copper coin varying in value from one-tenth to onefourteenth of an American cent.) per tael on the value of all sales, and was imposed by the people of China upon themselves to make up the deficiency in the land tax during the Taiping rebellion. The money thus raised \va3 to be set apart for military measures only and intended to be merely a tempor’ ary measure. But it is still levied and has been recognized in treaties by foreign nations trading with China.

DOCTORING WILD BEASTS.

A Big Menagerie Has Its Animal Hospital. The thousands of people who gaze with awe at the big elephants, poke sticks at the monkeys and try to play tricks on the inoffensive camels at Barnum & Bailey’s circus probably don't stop to realize that these animals have troubles enough of their own. Coming from many climes, subjected to the hardships of close confinement, the animals are continually falling victims to disease and accident. And therefore it is that fa'very important though comparatively unknown adjunct to the menagerie is the animal hospital, with its skillful staff of attendants. The ordinary family physician would be quite as useless as the layman in treating the ills of a boa constrictor or locating the seat of pain in a leopard. It takes a special training for that sort of practice, and on the skill of the animal hospital staff depends the saving of a small fortune to the circus people. The wild beasts are continually wrenching their muscles and breaking bones by getting their legs through the bars of the cages. In such a case a collar, with a long rope attached, is slipped over the neck of the animal, the rope pressed through a ring in the floor of the cage and the animal held down fast while the limb is stretched or the bone set. The animal is held fast to the floor for several days until recovery begins, and day by day the rope is loosened until he finally regains the liberty of his cage. When animals fall ill their medicine is administered with the food. Elephants are very fond of whisky, and any kind and amount of medicine can be administered to them in that way, for the elephant’s taste is not a discriminating one. The monkey is the one animal that defies the skill of the doctor. Consumption is the curse of the simian family, and from its clutches there is no escape. Dentistry is an important branch of the menagerie hospital. A decayed or even a loosened tooth will cause more uproar in the menagerie than a dozen broken limbs, and the howls of rage from a pain racked lion or tiger will send all the other animals cowering to the corners of their cages. Of course, there is only one remedy —extraction. Fifty-five towns and cities in England now destroy garbage by burning and use the heat to generate electricity for street lighting.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Th* European country where divorces arc most numerous is Switzerland. Since the Federal law of 1874the proportio* has reached 47 to the 1,000. These were but 11 bicycle factories in the United State* in* 1885 and they made but 11,000 wheels. This year there are 120 factories and it is estimated that not less than 500,000 wheels will be turned out. We have received no figures yet showing th» number of bloomer factories or the number of bloomers which will be worn this summer. New Zealand has invented a unique method for the prevention of intemperance. It Droposes to pass a law to the effect that any person convicted of being an habitual drunkard shall be photographed at his own expense and a copy be supplied to every saloon keeper in the district. The dealer supplying liquor to such a person is to be fined.

The divorce statistics of Europe show that marriage is a positive failure in England in one out of every 400 ventures, in France there are 11 divorces to every 400 marriages, in Switzerland one out of every 500. It is surprising to learn that in Germany the average is still higher. In Scandinavia, where a divorce was formerly a rara avis, there are now 200 annually. The Gold Dollar Saloon, of Buffalo, said to be one of the handsomest drinking places in the United States, is to be converted into a temperance saloon. The proprietor is tired of selling liquor and will bo put in charge of tho new enterprise. The floor of the place is laid with S2O gold pieces, the bar is studded with SSO gold pieces, the walls are hung with fine pictures, and it is furnished with 1,200 incandescent lights. Me. Dorsey Mohun, United States commercial agent to the Congo Free State, who has recently returned to Washington after two years in Africa, declares that 20,000,000 people in that region are eaters of human flesh. He tells a horrible story about surprising a village one day when a big cannibal feast was in progress, and also describes how he saw fourteen persons buried alive in a grave with the dead body of a great chief. France’s Chief Magistrate is seriously considering the policy of proclaiming a reward for the discovery of the whereabouts of the sardine. The latter, which constitutes the chief means of existence of most of the seaside population of France, has disappeared in a most mysterious manner, not only from the coasts of that country, but also from those of Spain and Portugal as well, and within a short space of time the entire sardine industry in these three countries will be at a standstill.

Cholera has already appeared this year on the Red Sea. At Camaran, through which 11,000 pilgrims for Mecca have passed so far, 2,000 are quarantined in the lazaretto, and the cases amount to thirty a day, many of them resulting in death. As the bulk of the pilgrims will come during the hext few wpeks and those returning home are likely to spread the plague, the Sultan has been asked to stop the pilgrimage from the Indies, but he does-not wish to interfere on religious grounds. The marine hospital surgeons who are manufacturing anti-toxine at New York say that a young girl who died eight minutes after the first injection of anti-toxine did not die from the medicine, which h*< been analyzed by government chemists and proved to be pure, new remedy for diphtheria is said to be doing Avonders. Among the lives it saved recently in New York was that of a colored child who had been carried about the streets for seven hours because no hospital applied to would admit a diphtheritic patient. The republic of France proposes to tax people who continue to use the titles of the old regime. The rate for a prince is to be S2OO a year, for a duke and for a marquis $l4O. The lowest tax is to be S2O for a man who uses a single prefix with his name. A contemporary facetiously asks: “Why not tax American girls who marry titles? If a heavy export duty on American wealth were levied it might deter the American girls from marrying the foreigners and would give the American bachelors a better chance.”

In spite of the repeated assurances on the part of the semi-official Russian press that the deportation of criminal and political convicts to Siberia had ceased, it appears from municipal returns now published at Moscow that exactly 11,530 convicts passed through that city on their way to the penal settlements of Siberia during the last year. This is in addition to the 2,000 criminals classed as dangerous who were embarked during 1894 at Odessa for the island of Saghalien, which lies to the north of Japan, and is used exclusively for offenders of the most desperate character. Mr. Morton, Secretary of Agriculture, makes a suggestion which ■should stimulate inventive genius. He says one of the great needs of the country is an agricultural implement which will take the place of the plow and do better work. It ought to be something that will break up the land and turn it over as a man does with a spade. Secretary- Morton thinks such an implement could be made. It might be constructed in the form of a rotary spader, or an implement consisting of a number of revolving knives which, in passing over the land, would chop up the soil and subsoil for two feet, so as to render the percolation of the rainfall easy and perfect to the depth to which the ground has been stirred. The advantages of such a machine would, of course, be great. The ordinary plow, by its downward draft, presses the bottom of a furrow into a sort of trough, ajd thus the water is drained off instead of being held for the coming crop. Secretary Morton has given this subject much study and is convinced that such a machine as he recommends can be worked successfully. The man who would invent it would confer a great benefit upon the world and would earn a fortune for himself.

TWO YEARS IN A HOSPITAL.

Hemy Hoffman Lives W.th a Broken Back. Few men are-permitted to celebrate the anniversary es the day they broke their backs-and when they are miraculously spareek the occasion, of course, is- peculiarly sad. Henry Hoffman, a patient? in a Brooklyn, X. Y., hospital, has twice seen that event. Over two years ago he was brought to the bed on- which lie has since laid, with hirback broken. The poor fellow bravely faces t-be terrible fate which few are compelled to experience. His case has baffled the leading physicians of the country. Below his ohest he is as insensible as u dead man. No operation, the physicians who have examined him, declare, could be made which would relieve him. At the time Hoffman received his injuries the case was extensively reported. It Avas considered remarka—- ■ ble that the man should live long enough to reach the hospital, yet he has lingered since then, having been unconscious for three minutes, immediately after the blow which laid him low. Hoffman was a stalwart sailor at time he met with his accident. He was then 30 years old, broad chested, powerful of limb and as strong a sailor as there was in the crew of the Silver Graig, a ship lying at the foot of Noble street, Brooklyn. While working on the forward deck Hoffman was struck across the back by a heavy bar of iron which fell from the mast head,' where it was placed to hold some blocks and tackle. His shipmates picked him up and carried, him to the pier. An ambulance was summoned and he was taken to the hospital. Two of the lumbar vertebrae were found to be fractured! Paralysis below the chest existed then as now.

Hoffman was born in Darmstadt, Germany, and lias no relatives living. At first his hopeful disposition sustained him through his sev.ere trial. He seemed to feel that the doctors would do something to restore the lower half of his body, so that he could be himself again. Lately he has come to believe, howevsr, that there is no hope. Then at times he has said if he could only get to Germany he knew the physicians there could Help him. “Why, I knew a man iD Bavaria,” lie said, “who had two artificial bones put in his back near his neck. The doctors in Germany, I know, could treat my case successfully. They have done nothing for me here but put me on this bed. Doctors from all over have examined me, but none of them has done a thing to help me.” Hoffman lies in bed in a half sitting posture during the day. He reads a great deal and chats pleasantly with the other patients. His legs have shrunken while the upper part or his body has become fleshy. It is one of those remarkable cases that medical science cannot reach. Hoffman may lie there for years in that condition. He is perfectly healthy and His cheerful disposition is invaluable to him now.

Easter Island.

Ear away in the Pacific Ocean lies a lonely volcanic island, which is called Easter Island, from the fact that it was discovered on Easter day, 1722, by a navigator named Roggereen, a Dutch Admiral, Its real name is Rapa-Nui, and its Polynesian inhabitants are fast dying out. Comparatively few explorers have visited it, and, contrary to the joyous spring name it has, is a deserted place. What makes Easter Island of interest are the numbers of curious colossal stone heads and busts, called Moai, which abound there, evidently the work of the natives hundreds of years ago. A few of these are erect, but many have fallen. The legend says that King Tukuihu settled jn Rapa-Nui and retired into a cave where he carved and cut all the gigantic heads, which removed themselves to their present position on the island. When he became old, he did not die, but was turned into a butterfly, which is called in that country by his name. Tukuihu used to search for eggs in the nests of the sea birds, and when he lost his human form the chief, who wished to succeed him, agreed to search for a certain number of eggs, and the first to collect them was appointed King. It seems singular that eggs without any especial significance should-have been so important on Easter Island.

A Remarkable Pulpit.

The Mechlin Cathedral pulpit is regarded as the second finest in the world, the finest having been done by the same artist for the cathedral in Brussels. The writer, who has seen both, while admitting points of superiority in that of Brussels, prefers this, which is in the cathedral at Mechlin. It is made of oak and the figures of Christ and the women are life size. The sounding board is formed by oak leaves twined with those of a grapevine. The stem of the latter rises naturally from the ground atlhe entrance to the pulpit, which is apparently hewn out of a rock. The preacher stands under the shadow of the.leaves, the cross at liis right hand. Below him and in front of the pulpit, forming a part of the base, is a horse which has thrown its rider. It looks as though some impious horseman had approached Calvary heedlessly and had been hurled todestruction over a precipice. The explanation of the design is not given by the guide at the catherdral nor in any book, so visitors and regular worshipers are at liberty to interpret it to please themselves.

Walking Backward.

Walking backward is the latest pedestrian feat for a wager. A young Belgian recently walked from Antwerp, Belgium, to Brussels in two days, going backward the whole tijpe. Practice made him progress as rapidly as by the ordinary mode of walking, but he was obliged to wear special shoes, with a kind of heel underneath the. toe.