Greenfield Evening Republican, Greenfield, Hancock County, 14 April 1896 — Page 4

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TRESTLE GAVE WAY.

Five Men Instantly Killed in a Train Wreck.

TWO OTHERS FATALLY WOUNDED

One of the Injured Men HM Since Died. Without a Moment's Warning All Were Hurled Down a Distance of Seventy

Feet Various Other Happening* Within the Hoosier State. BEDFORD, Ind., April 14.—A fright­

ful accident took place yesterday on the Bedford belt railway, which runs between this city and the stone quarries, which is used in transporting a large number of employes to and from their work, and in marketing the product.

A heavy train load of stone was being brought to the city, and while crossing a large trestle about one mile distant, at a point where repairs were being made by the bridge gang,without an instant's warning the structure gave way, and the train dropped through, a fall of 70 feet.

Ed Bivins, John Masterton and Walter Leonard, bridge carpenters, the latter, whose home is at Walton, Ky., being superintendent of the repair force, were instantly killed so also Conductor O. M. Ogden and Fireman John Sherman. Engineer George T. Menzer and Charles Davis were badly injured, the latter dying last night, and the former can not live.

The bridge gang was at work directly under the trestle where the break occurred. The dead men all leave families in this city with the exception of .Leonard. As soon as the alarm was given the rush for the scene was one never to be forgotten. The dead bodies were turned over to the care of relatives as soon as released from the debris. The body of Leonard will be sent to Walton, Ky., for burial.

At the time of the break the locomotive was beyond the trestle, and had it not been pulled from tlie track by the weight of the cars behind it, the men on the engine would have escaped. As it was, the cars went down into a ditch 75 feet deep, and the engine, pulled backward in spite of the momentum of ihe train, rolled over and plunged down an embankment 75 feet high.

MUSICIANS DIVIDED.

A New National League Formed That Will Al'iLiate with the A. F. & L. INDIANAPOLIS, April 14.—Owing to the refusal of the National League of Musicians to affiliate with the American Federation of Labor, those voting affirmatively have decided to form a new national league. A meeting was held at the close of the league convention, and H. D. Reissenhez of Indianapolis was elected president and Jacob Schmalz of Cincinnati secretary. They, in conjunction with Charles F. Hahn of Chicago and Otto Ostendorf of St. Louis, waited upon the officers of the federation and made formal application.

About 40 local unions will go into the new organization which has adopted the name of "Federation of Musicians of the United States."

Before a year elapses it is expected that all the locals of the league will be enrolled, as that organization will be merged into the new. The matter will be submitted to the executive council of the American Federation of Labor for a vote.

Woman Dropped Dead From Fright. CRAWFOKDSVILLE, Ind., April 14.— The horse attached to an ice wagon ran off yesterday and a neighbor of Mrs. John Lofland ran into her house and asked her if her grandchild had been run over. The lady gave a cry and dropped dead without a word. She had recently moved to this city from Romjiey, and belonged to one of the leading families of, Tippecanoe county, her father being J. K. McMillin.

Third Tiiue a Convict.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., April 14.— James Dolgern has been received at the prison south to serve eight years for larceny, this being his third term in prison for the same offense. He was released about three months since, went to Clay county and at once forged an order for $50. In resisting arrest he •was shot by an officer and dangerously •wounded.

Minor Accident.

PERU, Ind., April 14.—Lewis Mergentheim, a manufacturer of this city, had his right leg broken aud his head cut and bruised on Saturday, while trying to rescue a workman, whose services he •was utilizing on an extension ladder at his residence. The workman escaped uninjured.

Drowned in the Kankakee.

LAPORTE, Ind., April 14.—A man named Taylor was drowned in the Kankakee river, near Walkerton. A companion named Quinn heard his cries for help, but before assistance could be summoned Taylor had found a watery frave. The body has not been recovered.

Wounded Four Times.

OHIO FALLS, Ind., April 14.—Daniel ©lass, while fishing at Cementville, was attacked by James Webb, who shot him four times, but failed to kill him. Jealousy is supposed to have been the inciting cause. Webb was concerned tin the killing of John Leathers two years ago.

RESULT OF A FAMILY FIGHT.

«F. Milton Turner, Ex-Minister to Liberia, Has a Fr&ctured Skull. ST. LOUIS, April 14.—J. Milton Turner, ex-minister to Liberia, politician, lawyer and national celebrity, is at the city hospital with a fractured skull. A fight with his stepdaughter, Mrs. William Mason, last night, is the cause.

His wife says that Turner grew quarrelsome over a luncheon which did not suit him, and finally attacked Mrs. Maeon, who struck him with a pitcher in endeavoring to protect herself. The ex-minister tells a different story, •v.-, claiming that Mrs. Mason struck him during the excitement of a quarrel. His wounds may prove fatal.

Postmaster Falls Dead.

MH WEST (JNION, O., April 14.—James few Hazlebaker, postmaster at Blue Creek, this county, dropped dead yesterday of heart disease.

LOVE BETWEEN QIRL8.

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One

Them Kills the Other and Than She Kills Herself. ELOIN, Ills., April 14.—Miss Mary Linnett of Chicago shot and instantly killed Miss Elizabeth Trowbridge,

a

prominent young woman of this city, and then killed herself, shortly after 8 o'clock yesterday evening.

The double tragedy took place in South State street, the principal residence street of the city, and when the polioe reached the spot both girls were found lying dead on the sidewalk in a pool of blood, while in the hand of the murderess was grasped a large revolver.

Miss Linnett some two years ago conceived a singular liking for a young woman in Chicago, a neighbor, and attempted to take her life because she would not live with her. She was sent to the insane hospital here less than a year ago and was discharged from the institution as cured in December, last. Miss Trowbridge was an attendant at the hospital and had charge of Miss Linnett, who became passionately attached to her. Her great regret in leaving Elgin was that she must leave her friend behind. She returned to Chicago, where she remained at her home. Her friends believed her entirely cured of her metal troubles.

AGAINST THE MATABELES.

Captain Brand's Column Being Reinforced by a Strong Force. NEW YORK, April 14.—A dispatch to The World from Cape Town says: Reinforcements are on the way to Mafcabeleland. The defeat of Captain Brand's column on Saturday spurred up the authorities, and they hurried forward a strong force of well-armed troopers, all good marksmen.

Buluwayo advices report that in his defense against attack by a large body of Matabeles Captain Brand lost 21 men, of whom five were killed and 16 wounded. One hundred and fifty natives were killed and 300 were wounded.

Matabeles Killed by an Explosion. BULUWAYO, April 14.—Advices received from Gwelo say that a terrible explosion of dynamite occurred on Friday last at the Eagle Reef, near that place, and that 200 Matabeles were killed.

FIVE MEN FATALLY INJURED. Terrific Explosion of Firedamp Sets a Mine on Fire.

WILKESBARRE, Pa., April 14.—Five men were probably fatally injured by an explosion of firedamp during a fire in the Red Ash vein of the Woodward mine last night. They are: William Powell, fire boss John Evans, mine foreman James Lewis, miner William D. Morgan, miner, and Arthur Golightly, laborer.

There is very little chance of recovery for the men, all of whom inhaled gas. The fire is still burning, but the superintendent said there was no danger of its spreading to any extent. The mine is one of the largest in the Wyoming valley, and is operated by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad company.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER ON A BOOM.

Considerable Damage Done in the Vicinity of St. Cloud, Minn. ST. CLOUD, April 14.—The Mississippi jiver is rising very rapidly. During the night the water went up three feet. An immense dam of logs and ice has formed at this point and the water rose five feet behind it and then forced the mass down the river, tearing up booms and doing much damage.

People living on the small levee north of the city were driven from their homes at midnight, their houses being surrounded by water and floating ice. The jara broke the pipes connecting with the water mains on the east side of the river. The water is still rising and more damage is feared.

Fishing Vessel in Distress.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich., April 14.—The fishing boat Olive E. was blown into the lake by the south gale yesterday. She left port early in the morning before the wind rose to a gale. Her crew consisted of three men. The Olive E. is a sailboat but has a small steam plant. When last seen she was several miles out in the lake and drifting northward, apparently unable to made headway against the gale. Up to this time she has not been heard from.

Farmer Killed by a Freight Train. PORTSMOUTH, O., April 14.—While returning home at 2 in the morning John Philip Noel, a Clay township farmer, was run over and instantly killed by a Norfolk and Western freight train. He spent the day in the city and became boosy and hired a hack to take him part of the way, preferring to walk home. Engineer Herder saw the man, but too late to save him.

Postoffiee Burglarized.

WA^HEN, O., April 14.—Safeblowers robbed the postoffiee at Leavittsburg during the night, taking about $200 worth oi st ard. some money. The safe was r" ieu The job is credited to exper's,

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theft v?as ui covered until morning.

Women VHn.

SPRINGFTKI *), A'ass,, April 14.—At the session of '"he Methodist conference yesterday it wut voud to favor the admission of women lay delegates to the general conference to be held at Cleveland. The motion was hotly debated, but passed with a handsome majority.

(llox Shop Burned.

WORCESTER, Mass., April 14.—The box shop of H. I. Gould at Charleston Depot, was entirely destroyed by fire late last night, involving a loss of $60,000. The Boston and Albany station and other buildings were saved by a fortunate change in the wind.

Strong Will Sue For Damages. KENT, O., April 14.—Anson B. Strong and Attorney M. G. McOastin will begin suit against Summit county for damages for false imprisonment for his arrest on the charge of murdering the Stone family.

Bobbed a Besidence.

FORT RECOVERY, O., April 14.—The house of Peter Porte, postmaster at Macedon, was robbed Saturday night. The burglars got $135 and three watches.

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AMERICANS MOT SAFE

True State of Affairs Now Existing in Cuba.

MAN-OF-WAR NEEDED THERE.

Ramon Are Rife of a Struggle in Whieh the Insurgents Came Out Victorious. Crisis Approchlng When There Will Be

Mighty Clash —Latest Dispatches Relating to the War. NEW ORLEANS, April 14.—The Picayune prints the lollowing from its special correspondent at Havana: "The condition of affairs is continuing to draw to a crisis and soon there will be a clash which will either redound for the benefit of the Spaniards or the Cubans. For the past four days no official news has been given out at the captain general's office and rumors are rife of a struggle in which the insurgents came out victorious. No details can be obtained, but there has been considerable hurrying and scurrying around the palace. "The landing of the expeditions under Collaao. Garcia and Braulio Pena has caused a bad effect here, especially as the coast was supposed to be so well guarded. I am informed of the real details of the Collaso expedition. It seems that .while the expedition was landing its arms and ammunition a cruiser hove in sight and the vessel carrying the expedition put out to sea, being pursued by the cruiser, whose searchlight was used to discover the vessel. In the meantime the force of coast patrol came up and captured a score of rifle boxes and carried them to the nearest town, which was Cardenas, and placed them in a warehouse on the outskirts of the town. During the night the Cuban forces, which were to protect the landing of the expedition and who had been informed of the departure of the arms, overpowered the guards at the warehouse, and before reinforcements arrived recaptured the arms taken from the Cuban expedition and carried them away, while a detail of insurgents protected the retreat and held the Spanish troops in check. "There are two absorbing topics at present. One is the attitude of the United States and the other is the action that President Cleveland will take. One thing is to be regretted and that is that there should be certain United States consuls who are more or less interested in Cuban affairs and whose property depends largely on the protection that the government may give it, and therefore their reports are very partial to the Spaniards. Consul General Williams makes himself more and more obnoxious to the Americans residing here and many newspaper correspondents could tell a tale or two of him which would not reflect much credit. A steamshipman who runs between this port and New York said: 'There ought to be an American man-of-war in the harbor for the lives of the Americans are not safe here.'

DESTITUTION IN CUBA.

Prices of Food Supplies Advancing aud Many People Are In Want. NEW YORK, April 14.—A dispatch to The Herald from Havana says: The price of beef is advancing in all the Havana stores and there is a meat famine in all parts of the island. From Santa Clara The Herald's correspondent writes that the situation is each day becoming worse. Here all who have enough money to leave have gone already.

Hunger is felt on every side, and constant alarm is manifested. Gunshots are heard almost every night, and occasionally houses are burned in the vicinity. The suburbs are entirely abandoned by residents, who have taken refuge in the city. Deserted families are flocking to the city without a penny to support them, and without hope of finding a roof to shelter them.

Working for Dygert's Release. WASHINGTON, April 14.—Representative Hopkins of Illinois, who has been working to secure the release of Walter Dygert, the young man from Illinois, who is held in a Spanish prison in Cuba on suspicion of having been in the insurgents ranks yesterday, received the latest intelligence in the possession of the state department relating to the case. Secretary Olney said that his advices from Havana are that Dygert is in good health that Consul General Williams is doing everything in his power to secure the youth's release and that the governor general of the province has interested himself in the case.

Filibustering Expedition Landed. NEW YORK, April 14.—It was reported in Cuban circles that the steamer George W. Childs has landed another filibustering expedition on the western coast of Cuba. It is said that 8,000 rifles, 800,000 cartridges and a large quantity of dynamite were landed.

NEW IRISH LAND BILL.

It Has Been Introduced in the House of Commons by Mr. Balfour. LONDON, April 14.—Mr. Gerald Balfour, chief secretary for Ireland, introduced the new Irish land bill in the house of commons yesterday. It is of much wider scope than that of Mr. John Morley, who was chief secretary for Ireland in the late Liberal government, and is upon the principle of purchase by the occupying tenant being the ultimate solution of the land question.

In introducing the bill the chief secretary for Ireland said that the government believed that the land question was at the root of the agitation for home rule. The bill provided to facilitate the purchase of holdings and prevented the lessee from having rent levied on his improvements. It embodied the most lioncontentious proposals of the bill of 1895 and modified others. They proposed that the tenant •hould be deemed, on the payment of two years' arrears, to be in just possession of his holding, leaving the landlord to recover the remainder of the arrears in the ordinary way.

Continuing, Mr. Balfour said that the government had decided not to alter the statutory term of 15 years for fixing a fair rent.

Woolen Mills Burned.

ROUBAIX, April 14.—Alfred Mottes' Xvoolen mill was burned yesterday. The loss is estimated at ,000.

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A Wholesale and Bloedy Massacre Has Taken Place in Mexico. CITY OF MEXICO, April 14.—A telegram from Oaxaca City states that the rebel Indians at the town of Juquela killed all the town councillors, school teachers, local priest, chief of pdice and the telegraph operator, in fact, every one holding a government place. The people are in terror, and troops

have been sent to the relief of the town. The military movement made against the rebel, Zimatlans, has resulted in driving the Indians into the mountains. They began their plotting in Holy week, instigated Indian lawyers who informed them that the new state taxes were unconstitutional, but the authorities paid no attention to the excitement among them, considering they were engaged in their usual drunken celebration of the season. But procuring arms and machetes, they made a rush For the town hall and the prefect hastily closed the doors, which they soaked with petroleum and burned, thus effecting an entrance, sacking the place and penetrating the private apartments of the prefect, grossly maltreated the women of his family, and then, turning attention to the officials and armed servants, killed and wounded several.

The scene was a horrible one, as the assault took place in the early evening, and the excitement of the mob was indescribable. The Indians were possessed with fury and it was absolutely impossible for respectable inhabitants to control them, as all were drunk and maddened. The mob, after sacking the town hall, went to the federal stamp offloe and assaulted it, burning down the outside door with petroleum, which also communicated fire to the entire house, placing Collector Graciada, who was on the roof with his clerks, in a condition of the utmost peril, but they managed to escape by the rear, jumping for their lives.

Many shops were burned after being sacked, and the Indians decorated themselves with stolen finery. They all fled on the approach of the soldiers and are now in the hills. The revolt is local and will be suppressed and the instigators of the Indians will be severely punished, as they took advantage of their gross ignorance.

SETTLE ALL DISPUTES.

Plans For an International Court of Arbitration Complete. NEW YORK, April 14.—The World says: The plan for an international court of arbitration for the settlement of all disputes between nations which has so long been under consideration by the New York State Bar association, lias been practically completed so far as the committee having it in charge is concerned. 51213

The State Bar association will meet in Albany on Thursday, when the plan will be submitted to the full body for its consideration. When it is approved it will be sent to President Cleveland. If he approves it he will take the necessary steps to call attention of other nations to it.

The members of the committee are reticent about the details of the plan. In a general way it may be said that the plan provides for a permanent court, organized upon a judicial basis. It is proposed to have it in constant session, so as to ante date any controversy that may arise. The court is to be made up of the foremost judges of the world. Practically this international court of arbitration will bear the same relation to nations that the courts of each country bear to individuals and corporations. The plan has a provision for special and permanent treaties.

It is intended that all disputes of any serious character between nations shall be referred to it, and that its decision shall be final. The advocates of the plan say that if it is adopted it will make war nearly impossible and do away with complications that often drag along for years. It is said that the movement has been endorsed by the leading statesmen of the great nations of the world.

The members of the State Bar association. who have been most active in the matter, say that it is the first time that a practical

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plan for an inter­

national court of arbitration has been envolved, notwithstanding the fact that for years international arbitration

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INDIAN UPRISING.

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been urged, made the topic of innumerable debates and the theme of thousands of sermons.

CULLOM A CANDIDATE.

The Senator From Illinois Has Not Withdrawn From the Presidential Contest. SPRINGFIELD, Ills., April 14.—Hon. John Otis Humphrey, who is a delegate to the national Republican convention from the Seventeenth Illinois district and who is under instructions to vote for McKinley, has received the following telegram from Senator Cullom, from Washington, referring to the senator's presidential candidacy: "I have not withdrawn and do not intend to withdraw."

Mr. Humphrey states that all the stories about Cullom withdrawing from the presidential race are "fakes pure and simple."

The Cullom club of this city has sent out a circular letter to all the delegates elected to the state convention asking them to vote down in the convention any instructions to the delegates to tne national convention, so that if, after the first ballot in the national convention there is no choice, Illinois may be in condition to make favorable terms.

ART OF MUMMIFYING.

Karl Mathias Claims to Have Discovered the Original Egyptian Process. TOLEDO, O., April 14.—Medical men and scientists have been greyly interested in the work of Karl Mathias in mummifying the remains of Albe C. Weeks of Warren, N. H., who died suddenly on the train just as it was pulling into this city a few weeks ago.

Mr. Mathias claims to have discovered the original Egyptaih process of mummification, and on consent of the friends and relatives of Mr. Weeks has prepared his remains in this manner. The skin is as hard and brown as tanner leather. Says Mr. Mathias: "The experiment has proved a success, and the ray of the sun or exposure to the fiercest test of the element would not affect the body." It will be shipped to New Hampshire tomorrow. Many have viewed the remains and medical men from several states have come here to witness the results of Mathias' Secret

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DISCOVERED BY MRS. OLNEY

How Her Correspondence Abroad Wai Much Facilitated. Mrs. Olney, wife of the secretary of

state, recently put her Yankee wits to work and evolved an invention which has been a revelation to the postoffiee department. That institution never understood the full value of the special delivery stamp until its powers were developed by down east wit. Mrs. Olney's discovery may prove of value to other people who find themselves face to face with the situation which roused that lady's shrewdness.

She had a daughter living abroad. Letters from her were always received just too late to be answered by return steamer of the same data After puzzling over it some time Mrs. Olney, who was living in Boston at the time, queried the postoffiee authorities as to whether a special delivery stamp, placed on a letter, mailed in a foreign country, would be delivered any quicker for it on this side. The answer finally came that unless the special delivery stamp was canceled before it landed here it ought to be delivered as any other letter similarly stamped. Accordingly one of the United States special delivery stamps was placed on the next letter mailed in Germany to Mrs. Olney. Under it in German was the direction, "This stamp is not to be canceled in Germany."

The scheme worked perfectly. The letter arrived ahead of the time of previous ones and an answer was sent back by steamer sailing the same day. Many letters have since been sent in the same manner and the special stamp always does its work as desired.—Chioago Chronicle.

A WONDERFUL INVENTION.

Machine Which Measures the Velocity of Cannon Balls. Among the recent inventions in the art of photography is that of the polarizing photochronograph made by Professor Albert Crehore of Dartmouth college and Dr. George O. Squire, first lieutenant of the United States army, now stationed at Fortress Monroe.

The wonderful effects of the photochronograph will probably be demonstrated to the general public upon the completion of this instrument in the spring. John A. Brashear, an astronomical manufacturer of Pittsburg, has been given a contract for one of these wonderful machines. It is to be set up at Fortress Monroe, and will be used the coming summer in testing the velocity of the modern rifle projectile, as it swiftly speeds from the mouth of the great guns made by the United States ordnance department. Mr. Brashear says it is expected that the machine will be completed by the middle of April, as the government officials desire to have it about the 1st of May.

This instrument not only measures the velocity of the swiftest cannon ball in its flight, but measures it inside or outside of the gun and at any part of its course desired, to a degree of accuracy hitherto undreamed of.

BROWN'S GREAT CURES.

The Michigan Healer Much Sought by the Sick and Suffering. The wonderful cures effected by the Owosso healer, Edward T. Brown, seem no less miraculous than the work of the famous Schlatter. Brown was formerly employed as foreman of one of the departments by the Owosso Manufacturing company, but was obliged to give up his position because of the number of applications he received daily from the afflicted.

He is an unassuming young man not yet 30 years of age, and by his mysterious power has already cured numerous cases of neuralgia, rheumatism and sick headache, together with two cases of insanity, one of which had been a case of two years' standing.

Brown attributes all his success to faith, and, like other faith healers,effects all his cures by taking the patients by the hand and assuring them that they will be afflicted no longer. His list of cures is rapidly increasing, and those who have consulted him thus far, mostly people of this city, are loud in their praise of his power to relieve the sick. —Chicago Times-Herald.

A New Rainmaker.

William Hazenflug of Yates Centre, Kan., has patented a rainmaking device which he will test at Great Bend in the arid region whenever the needs of the fields this spring require moisture. His invention, if it is all that he claims for it, makes the farmers independent of. Providence, and a single shower of three to five inches of rain can be produced within 24 hours at the insignificant cost of $6. His apparatus is a specially constructed gun 14 feet long, weighing 400 pounds, which, when loaded with the requisite material,, discharges moisture producing substance to a height of 18 miles.—Chicago Record.

How Whitney Stands.

There does not appear to be the slightest prospect that Mr. Whitney will seek the nomination. There is no ground whatever for believing he would be pleased if it came to him unsought. There are reasons for thinking that if the party accepted his programme and demanded him for its leader he would not refuse.—Walter Wellman in Chicago Times-Herald.

Colonel George W. Gilo, who recently died in Philtulolphia, had an honorable record in the civil war. He commanded tho military display at. the second inauguration of President Lincoln, and also commanded the military cortege at his funeral.

Othniel Gayor of Norwich, Conn., recently deceased, was the oldest town clerk in the United States in point of continuous service and perhaps also in point of ago. He was 96 years old and had held the office continuously for a little more than 50 years.

The Marquis Costa do Beauregard, a now mem bar of tho French Academy, is a busy and broozy military looking man, with immense mustaches, and bears a general rosomblanco in manners and disposition to Victor Emmanuel, but is striking-

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handsome.

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THE ADVANCED WOMAN.

She may stand upon the corner In her btoOH* era if she chooses Bhe can smoke a cigarette in public, too She may think up shocking thoughts and dedicate them to the muses—

In fact, do anything that's truly new. But do not yet repine. Oh, creatures masculine, Nor think creation's altered in its plan,

For she always wants to do

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Things she's not expected to,

And she doesn't care to do them when she can.

A foremost place in politics—she'll have it if she pleases She'll worry over bargains in appropriation billB And decorate the gavel which untutored mux now seizes

With gilt and pretty ribbons till with joy the eye it fills. She may do it all in style

For a very little while,

But the ultimate result we calmly scan, For she always wants to do Things she's not expected to, And she doesn't care to do them when she can. —Washington Star.

THE GOODLY SWORD.

Tho Egyptians Gave It the Name Fifty Centnrles Ago. Half a hundred centuries ago the Egyptians gave to the sword its name. Since those old days the history of the trenchant blade, stained with blood and defaced by the scars of battle though it is, holds much of the glory, the poetry and the chivalry of the cruel game of war.

A friend whose fidelity never wavered

and whose power never failed, it is not surprising that men endowed the sword not only with human attributes, but with the might and majesty of the gods themselves. The old legends abound in tales of its magical powers. How the divine armorers strove continually to excel some rival in the forging of a blade of a temper so delicate that it might cut a thread with the same ease with which it struck a head from the body, or hewed through heavy metal armor, was a favorite subject of the old Teutonio and viking tales.

These legendary blades bore characteristic names, by which they were invariably known: Graysteel, Wader Through Sorrow and Millstone Biter were swords of wide renown, and we all remember how Arthur of the Round Table took "Excalibur, the sword that rose from out the bosom of the lake." Caesar's sword was called Crocca Mors Charlemagne's Joyeuse played no small part in the setting up of the great Prankish empire. Many a bold captain went down before El Tizona, wielded by the relentless hand of the Cid.

The Japanese, whose civilization wasold before ours began, have produced beautiful examples of the swordmaker's art. The Japanese nobleman carried his swords as the insignia of his rank. He wore one on each side, thrust into the folds of his sash.

These swords have been handed down as heirlooms from father to son, and it was not unusual for families of ancient lineage to have as many as 1,500 of them—marvels of costly and artistic workmanship—in their possession. The scabbards are richly lacquered and bound about with a silken cord in a^ curious pattern. The blade is curved, and the round guard is pierced to carry a small dagger. This guard, called a tsuba, is decorated with curious designs, and so great is the ingenuity of the Japanese metal workers that among the thousands of swords they have produced it is impossible to find two guards exactly alike. They are prized so highly by collectors that large sums of money have been paid frequently for an antique sword, only that it might be ruthlessly torn apart to secure the guard.-— Mary Stuart McKinney in St. Nicholas.

AN OPAL CANNOT BE LOST.

Apparent Verification of a Virtue Claimed For the Alleged Unlucky Gem. A wealthy broker of West Philadelphia had a rather singular experience the other day. He and his family have had in their possession for a number of years some very handsome opals, but the superstition which was formerly entertained concerning the stone being unlucky prevented him making use of the gems. Last year he took a trip to Europe. While in London he met at the house of a mutual friend a dealer in precious stones, who had just come from Gracias a Dios, in Honduras, and had brought back some fine gems.

Instead of putting any faith in the popular superstition this gentleman believed in the opal very thoroughly and attributed to it virtues which no other gem possessed. Among the things which he said about it was that the opal was1 attached to its owner by invisible oords and that it was impossible to lose itr though it might be mislaid. The Philadelphia broker on his return to Philadelphia chose the finest opal in his collection, had it set in a ring, surrounded, by small diamonds, and at Christmas presented it to his wife. It was truly a beauty, and she wore it with conscious, pride.

One day on returning from a day's outing she received quite a shock—the opal was gone. Search proved vain. No trace of the stone could she discover. Not only on account of its value, but because she knew how highly her husband prized the stone, she hated to inform biih of her loss. At last she felt obliged to do BO, when, greatly to her astonishment, he drew from his vest pocket a tiny package and presented it to her. Upon opening it what was her delight when she recognized her lost opal.

More astonishing still, her husband affirmed that while he was walking down Chestnut street a day or two before he felt something under the sole of his shoe, which upon investigation proved to be the opal which he had last seen shimmering upon his wife's finger. There was no doubt about it being the lost one, for the jeweler who had set it recognized it also. —Philadelphia Times.

ft nas Deen notlceu in wasmngwm oimo^ since Senator Quay launched his presiden-p' ,. tlal boom he appears in a black frock coat."^ It is said, indeed, that all favorite sons, as a rule, affect the black frock coat during tha nonUtd of their favorite sonship.

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