Ligonier Banner., Volume 30, Number 25, Ligonier, Noble County, 3 October 1895 — Page 3

o e T : .n_IR oo R ~egs X 6“ QF THE ks * W - ; i - JERR | %Fou R—o N £ o, { CHAPTER VIIL—CONTINUED. “We must take care that he does not now bring us to the place where the creosote barrel came from,” I observed. “I had thought of that. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement, whereas the barrel passed down the roadway. No, we are on the true scent now.” o It tended down towards the riverside, running thyrough Belmont place and Prince’s street. At the end of Broad street it ran right down to the water’s edge, where there was a small wooden wharf. Tobv.led us to the very edge of this, and there stood whining, looking out on the dark current beyond.

“We are out of luck,” said Holmes. “They have taken to a boat here.” Several small punts and skiffs were lying about in. the water and on the edge of the wharf. We took Toby round to each in turn, but, though he sniffed earnestly, he made no sign. Close to the rude landing stage was a small brick house, with a wooden placard swung out through the second window. ‘‘MordecaiSmith” was printed across it in large letters, and, underneath: ‘‘Boats to hire by the hour or day.” A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept—a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round, and his face assumed an ominous expression. :

*“This looks bad,” said he. ‘‘Those fellows are sharper than I expected. They seem to have covered their tracks. There has, I fear, been ‘preconcerted management here.”

He was approaching the door of the house, wheu it opened, and a little curly-headéd lad -of six came running out, followed by a stoutish, red-faced woman with alarge sponge in her hand. “You come back and be washed, Jack,” she shouted. “Come back, youw young imp. For if your father comes home and finds you like that, he’ll let us hear of it.”

“Dear little chap!”: said Holmes, strategically. ‘‘What a rosy-cheeked young rascal! Now, Jack, is there anything you would like?” ' The youth pondered for a moment. “I°'d like a shillin’,” said he.

“Nothing you would like better?”

“I'd like two shillin’ better,” the prodigy answered, after some thought. “Here you!are, then! Catch—A fine child, Mrs. Smith!” ] ““‘Lor’ bless you, &ir, he is that, and forward. He gets a most too much for me to manage, ’specially when my man is away days ata time.” “Away, is he?” said Holmes, in a disappointed voice. ‘I am sorry for that, for I wanted to speak to Mr. Smith.” ‘‘He’s been away since yesterday mornin’, sir, and, truth to tell, I am beginhin’ to feel frightened about him. But if it is about a boat, sir, maybe 1 could serve as well.” ' ~ *] wanted to hire his steam launch.”

“Why, bless you, sir, it is in the steam launch that he has gone. That’s what puzzles me; for I know there zin’t more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. If he'd been fway in the barge I'd ha’ thought nothin’; for many atime a job has taken him as far as Gravesend, and then if there was much doin’ there he might ha’ stayed over. But what good is a steam launch without coals?”

‘‘He might have bought some at a wharf down the river.” , ; ‘“IHHe might, sir, but it weren’t his way. Manya time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. Besides, I don’t like that wooden-legged man, wi’ his ngly face and outlandish talk. What did he want always knockin’ about heré for?” + ‘A wooden-legged man?”’ said Holmes, with bland surprise. ‘“Yes, sir, a brown, monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. It was ‘him that roused him up yesternight, and, what’s more, my man knew he was comin’, for he had steam up in the launch. I tell you straight, sir, I don’'t feel easy in my mind about it.”

‘“But, .my dear Mrs. Smith,” said Holmes, ‘shrugging his shoulders, ‘“‘you are frightening yourself about nothing. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-leeged man who came in the night? Idon’'t quite understand how you can be so sure.” ‘‘His voice, sir. I knew his voice, which is kind o’ thick and foggy. Ile tapped at the winder—about three it would be. ‘Show a leg, matey,’ says he: ‘time to turn out guard.’ My old man woke up Jim—that's my cldest—. and away they went, without so much as a word to me. I could hear the wooden leg clackin’ on the stones.” - “And was this wooden-legged man alone?” - “Couldn’t say, lam sure, sir. I didn’t hear no one else.” . “I am sorry, Mrs. Smith, for I wanted a steam Jannch, and I have heard good reports of the— Let me see, what is her name?” : : “The. Aurora, sir.” : : *“*Ah! She’s not that old green launch with a yellow line, very broad in the beam?” - “No, indeed. She’s as trim a little thing as any on the river. She’s been fresh painted, black with two red streaks.” : g “Thanks. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. Smith. I am going down the river; and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy. A black funnel, you say?” p & “No, sir. Dlack with a white band.” “Ah, of course. It was the sides which were ' black. Good morning, Mrs. Smith. There is o boatman here: with a wherry, Watson. We shall take it and cross the river.” . ““The main thing with people of that sort,” said Ilolmes, as we sat in the ‘sheets of the wherry. “is never to let them think that their informmation ean be ofithe slightest importanee to you. If you do, they will instantly shut up like an oyster. If youlisten to them nn&#«*ﬁ%ﬁééﬁ as it were you are: #/é*y : ’llkeg toget what you Niot? LT 1 “Our eourse now scems protty clear,” éoymmumemgﬂ::ziw:m . “'fg,, | “‘*‘“W lear fellow, it would beww eolosﬁﬂ? iy have touched at ORE e FOE e e i R

take you days and days to exhaust them, if you set about it alone,” J ‘““Employ the police, then.” “No. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment. He is not a bad fellow, and I should not like to do anything which would injuré him professionally. But I have a fancy for working it out myself, now that we have gone so far.” A “Could we advertise, then, asking for information from wharfingers?” “*Worse and worse! Our men would know that the chase was hot at their heels; and they would be off out of the country. As it is, they are likely enough to leave, but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. Jones’ energy will be of use to us there, for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press, and the runaways will think that everyone is off on the wrong scent.” :

“What are we to do, then?” I asked, as we landed near Millbank penitentinry. ¢ *““Take this hansom, .drive home, have some breakfast, and get an hour’s sleep. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot to-night again. Stop at the telegraph office, cabby! We will keep Toby, for he may be of use to us yet.” , , We pulled up- at ‘the Great Peter street post office, and Holmes dispatched his wire. “Whom do you think that is to?”’ he asked, as we resumed our journey. ’

“I am sure I don’t know.” S . “You remember the Baker street division of the detective police force whom I employed in the Jefferson Hope case?” , ’ “Well,” said I, laughing. '

“This is just the case where they might be invaluable. If they fail, I have other resources; but I shall try them first. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant, Wiggins, and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast.” ! It wasbetween eight and nine o’clock now, ‘and I was conscious of a strong ' jrromEE &iimy : Boats To Hing, ‘ ™ 7 & o i 5 HiR ek [T 7 : o BF - Gl / [ &7 »'/'l“!.ﬁ / éﬁ ‘)/‘Ai@..\x& ol / et 77 A /] / . Mh‘,; . /élf /i IR P YA e b DN G A e s NI %/&/47/ \\\\\ ’ I ¢ = b 71 W M b B osmre BTG IR N l} \ " iy ! Il REY ‘ NN e /'/ i il \ m %/"/(/ ,»:f‘l.;: '. L '.'4 é// ‘\}'ﬂ'@ o IE . : : PO ey - HIES 22 S “I'M SORRY, MRS. SMITH, FOR I WANTED ' A STEAM LAUNCH.” reaction after the -successive excitements of the night. I was limp and weary, befogged in mind and fatigued in body. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on, nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. As far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto went, I had heard little good of him, and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. The treasure, however, was a different matter. 'That, or part of it, belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. While there was a chance of recovering it, I was ready to devote my life to the one object. True, if I found it, it would probably’ put her forever beyond my reich. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. If Holmes could work to find the ¢riminals, I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure. A bath at Baker street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Holmes pouring out the coffee. - “Here it is,” said he, laughing and pointing to an open newspaper. ‘‘The energetic Jones and the übiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. But you have had enough of the case. Better have your ham and eggs first.” I took the paper from him and read the short notice, which was headed: ‘‘Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood.” *‘About ‘twelve o’clock last night,” said the Standard, “Mr. Bartholomew Sholto, of Pondicherry lodge, Upper Norwood, was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play. , As far as we can learn, no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. Sholto’s. person, but a valuable collection of Indian gems vvhich the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been ecarried off. The discovery was first made by Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who had called at the house with Mr. Thaddeus Shalto, brother of the deceased. By a singular piece of good fortune Mr. Athelney Jones, the well-known member of the detective police force, happened to be at the Norwood police station, and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals, with the gratifying result that the brother, Thoddeus Sholto, has already been arrested, together with the housekeeper, Mrs. Bernstone, -an Indian butler named Lal Rao, and a porter, o 1 gatekeeper, named MeMurdo. It is quite certain thdt the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house, for Mr. Jones’ well-known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have ‘enabled him to prove conclusively 'that the misereants could not have entered by the door or by the windoswv, but must have made their way aeross the roof of ‘the building, and so throungh a trapdoor into & room which communicated with that in which the body was found. This fact, which has been véry. clearly made out, proves condlusively that /it was no mere haphazard burglary. The prompt and cnergetic action of the offieers of the law shows the great advantage of the presence on such oceasions of a single vigorous and mas;@gfl mind. We cannot but think: the téll‘t supplics an argument to those -who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized. and brought into closer and ‘more effective touch with the, cases which it is their duty to invesgiM e “UiEint 18 gorgeoust” suid Holuiae, grinning over his coffee eup. ‘Whg g 0 yow thinkof 14>, . .ok "L think that we have hada close shave ourselves of being arrested for. fa ) mejrey <1 yalen Askpe Y

“Sodo 3. I wouldn’t answer for our safety now, if he should happen-tohave another of his attacks of energy.” : At this moment there was a loud ring at the bell, and I could hear Mrs. Hudson, our landlady, raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. - :

“"By heaven, Holmes,” I said, half rising, “1 believe that they are really after us.” .

“No, it's not quite so bad as that. It is the unofiicial force—the Baker street irregulars.” _ - As he spoke, there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs, a clatter of high voices, and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little streetArabs. There was some show of disecipline among them, despite their tumultuons entry, for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces. One of their number, taller and older than the others, stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. ~ “Got your message, sir,” said he, “and brought’em on sharp. Three bob and a tanner for tickets.”

" “Here you are,” said Holmes, producing some silver.. *ln future they can report to you, Wiggins, and you to me. Icannot have the house invaded in this way. However, it is justas well that you should all hear the instiuctions. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora, owner Mordecai Smith, black with two red streaks, funnel black with a white band. . She is down the river somewhere. - I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith’s landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. You must divide it out among yourselves, and do both banks thoroughly. Let me know the moment you have news. Isthat all clear?”

‘“Yes, guv’'nor,” said Wiggins. “The old scale of pay, and a guinea to the ' boy who finds the boat. Here’s a day in advance. Now off you go!” He handed them a shilling each, and away they buzzed down the stairs, and I saw them a moment later streaming down the street.

“If the launch is above water they will find her,” said Holmes, as he rose from the table and lit his pipe. ‘‘They can go everywhere, see everything, overhear everyone. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted her. In the meanwhile, we can dd nothing but await results. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr. Mordecai Smith. '’ :

“Toby could eat these scraps, 1 dare say. Are you going to bed, Holmes?”

“No; lam not tired. I have a curi< ous constitution. I never remember feeling tired by work, though idleness exhausts me completely. I am going tosmoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair ‘client has introduced us.” If ever man had an easy task, this of ours ought to be. Wooden-legged men are not so common, but the other man must, I should think, be absolutely unique.” “That other man again!” “I haye no wish to make a mystery of him—to you, anyway. - But you must have formed your own opinion. Now, do consider the data. Diminutive footmarks, toes mnever fettered by boots, naked feet, stone-headed wooden mace, great agility, small poisonec darts. What do you make of all this?” ““A savage!” I exclaimed. ‘‘Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small.”

‘‘Hardly that,” said he. ‘““When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my. views. Some of the inhabitants oi the:lndian peninsula are small men, but none could have left such marks as that. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others, because the thong is commonly passed between. ' These little darts, too, could only be shot in One way. They are fréom a blowpipe. - Now, then, where are we to find our savage?”

“South American,” I hazarded.

He stretched his hand up and took down a bulky volume from the shelf. ‘“This is the first volume of a gazetcer which is now being published. It may be looked upon as the very latest

T ‘ | [ ! ’ /‘\\‘H/J =9 JL | e et f' WL e / %‘\ ir .. ; AN g Al M 2 W W gAR :il .N 5o i) AL F T e 7= AN : .&\\ ’@\\' W ¢ ‘l"")' 'H ’ B A f',’\‘ Vo el T (R .‘\ ’ '{7) Wi WA e ‘]‘“ f[ | A S /it g NTN T /r',""’ .B LG \\\\\\\\\\\\h i s 1 R AN T AN 7\ N W ! \\\\\\ \.\\\\ ~W \ 7 U \%( | gmimm ALY NN N AW R (w 277 Wb Vi WY {4 a 7 <L ¥ T L B ([l ..1 m v ‘A GUINEA TO THE BOY TIIAT FINDS THE BOAT.” authority, Ihat have we here? ‘Andaman islands, ' situated three hundred and forty miles to the north .of Sumatra, in the bay of Bengal.’ Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate, coral reefs, sharks, Port Blair, convict barracks, Rutland island, cottonwoods ~—ah, here we are. ‘The aborigines of the Andaman islands may perhaps claim the distinction of - being the smallest race upon this earth, though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa, the Digger Indians of America and the Terra del Fuegians. The average height is rather below four ' feet, although many full-grown adults . may be found . who are very much smaller than this. They are a flerce, morose and intractable people, though capable of forming most devoted friendships when theiwr confidence has once been gained.’ Mark that, Watson. . Now, then, listén to this: *They are naturally hideous, having large, misshapen heads, small, flerce eyes, and distorted features. Their feet and hands, however, are remarkably smoll. o, intractable and flerce nre’ they that all the efforts of the British officials have failed to win’ them over in any degree. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews, braining the ‘survivors with their stone-headed clubs, or shooting them ‘with their poisoned arrows. These massacres are ‘inveriably con¢lided by a canmibal feast™™ Vit oo e _Avrapy had the wrong tooth pulled by & Detroit dentist, an 3:%&#&4:3*@?94

THE NEW TARIFF. ' A Glance at the Workings of a Measure Born Under Great Tribulation. The Journal of Commerce and Commercial Bulletin, of New York, stands gt the head of the commercial papers of this country. It is of course strictly non-partisan in politics. Its review of the history of the first year of lower duties should be read by all croakers. It is as follows:

“The tariff law has just passed its birthday, and we may begin to make some generai estimate of its influence upon the country. It has had a stormy infancy and has proved like many other infants not so good as its parents hoped, and not so bad as the neighbors predicted. As a revenue raiser it has thus far proved something of a disapjpointment, because the supreme court deprived it of its income tax feature and the fall in sugar values cut down the ad valorem -assessment upon that article, and great quantities of raw sugar were rushed into the country free of duty while the obliging senate held the door open and distillers had ample opportunity to take spirits out of bond before the increase of duty went into effect. Portions of the act, also, did not go into effect till some time after the main part of it became a law. That it became a law four weeks after the date named in the act itself, and without the signature of the president, are minor incidents characteristic of the tremendous struggle out of which it. was born. But even this much abused instrument of taxation is now producing revenue at a rate of nearly $lBO,000,000 a year, and so much of the fiscal vear as has passed being midsummer it is more probable that the rate of vield will increase than that it will decrease. If it shall produce $180,000,000 this fiscal year the deficit of the treasury will not be serious enough to cause any one loss of sleep. **The effect of the new tariff upon our producing interests must be concluded ‘to be either good or not harmful. There is a good degree of activity inwoolen mills in spite of large imports, cotton mills are doing a great business, and the iron business. bids fair to break the record for quantity of production and for the rapidity' with which prices have advanced. Prices are still generally low, and profits are, or have been, light. But it is certain that there have been profits, and that they were not wholly unsatisfactory, for the increases of wages made voluntarily, or with little resistance, prove the manufacturers to be in a pretty ‘good condition. Labor is fast getting back the wages of 1893, and the amount of production has in some lines exceeded that of the best previous years. Ifany considerable industry in this country is suffering from the operation of the tariff it has not yet suc- | ceeded in making its voice heard above ‘ the din of wheels and the clang of hammers that is resounding in every part of the country. | ‘This does not prove that the tariff is symmetrical, or in all respects what it should be, but it proves that those who call it destructive are indulging in partisan balderdash; and what is of more importance, that our industries donot depend so entizely upon legislation as many people imagine. Most of our industries exist for good, sound commercial reasons and do not live by permission of congress. Even the tin plate industry, established here under cover of the late tariff law, was not! seriously disturbed by the long pending proposal for the repeal of that law, and with a substantial reduction in ‘ the protective duty it has gone on extending itself till at the present the capitalists in it are disturbed by fears of overproduction. The reduction of the duty does not seem to have checked the growth of the industry for a ‘ moment. On the other hand, experimental shipments of iron and steel from this country prove that the cday ‘ is near when we shall play no unimportant part in the world’s iron l markets.”’ Sl i

WHY IT WAS JOOYOUS.

The Conditions Under Which Last Labor Day Was Celebrated Were More Favorable. 5

The first Monday in September is observed in a large number of states as Labor day, a holiday in honor of the men and women who work in factory, mill, or mine. The conditions under which the day was celebrated this year differ so widely from those of recent years, that it is not surprising that press reports should show that unusually large numbers of workers joined in the parades, games, pienics, ete., with which it is customary to honor labor’s holiday. :

~ There is good reason why the workingmen and women should have_this ! year observed Labor day with sports and merry-making. Only a year ago the country was still in the shadow of the McKinley panie, which under the operation of ’the highest protective tariff ever adopted had spread ruin, bankruptcy and poverty all over the land. For three years the record had been one of clc;;yd—-iactories, idle mills ~and furnaces, shut down coal and iron mines, and of wage reductions and unsuceessful stri]gas. The trade-restrict-ing theories of ‘the republican party had brought lower wages. or idleness to millions of American workers, and filled the country with Coxey armies ‘and tramps. In thiscondition of trade ‘stagnation and industrial despair the Wilson tariff became law. For yearsthe hired servants of protected trusts and monopolies had been warning the people that any reduction in tariff taxation would . injuriously affect all branchesof industry and reduce wages. ‘But the result was exactly the reverse of the protectionist assertions. As soon as the new tariff went into operation business began to revive, the number of failuresdecreaseg as iﬁ by magie, factories, mills and furnaces started: up, and instead of the muttering of Coxeyites the hum of renewed prosperity was heard all over the country. In a few months it became evident that. there was a growing demand for workingmen, and instead of wage reduc4®ns, which were the rule under McKinleyism, there began a series of wage advances. in the leading industries of the country. The influence of réturning good times was first felt in the woolen industry, which free raw’ material had greatly stimulated. Then ‘quickly followed the cotton mills, the ‘great iron’ and steel works, the codl ‘and iron mines, pottery trades, window glass works and various other industries, employing in all &t least 1,500,000 workers, all of whom have had their whges increased from 5 to 15 and in some cases 20 percent. . Nor is there any reason to believe that this unequaled trade revival and ‘advance in wages is a temporary spurt ~whiceh will soon lose its force. On the ! ‘eontriry, euch day Lrings newsof new

factories started, which of course means more employment, and of either voluntary wage advances or successful strikes. The carpet weavers of Philadelphia and the 15,000 clething makers of New York city, who have just won signal victories, are the latest evidence of the continued good results of democratic prosperity. In view of the change in one year from enforced idledess and low wages to abundant work and higher pay, and with the prospect of still greater prosperity in the future, the American workers had abundant reasons for a joyful observance of this annual holiday. Byrox W. HoLt.

AMERICAN BEEF.

Some Interesting Facts for American

Farmers.

American farmers who find that they are not receiving as high prices for their beef as they think they should, will be interested to learn that the McKinley tariff was the cause for the loss of a considerable market for American beef. Previous to 1892 the moderate French tariff on cattle and meat did not prevent the importation of those products of the American farmer. But the passage of the MeKinley bill, with its heavy, almost prohibitory, duties on French manufactures so irritated the people of France that the spirit of retaliation made it possible to greatly increase the tariff en cattle and meat. By the French tariffs adopted in 1892 the expense of importing cattle was raised so high that importations practically ceased. The cost of bringing a single head of beef into Paris from the United States amounted in some instances to more than $2O. The result was the loss of the French market to the American farmer.

This action on the part of France is instructive as showing conclusively that protection is an arbitrary, injurious and mutually destructive policy, and that if its Aliotie principles were carried out by#ll countries the result would be a wdr of tariffs which would be harmful to all the world. Americans who think that protection is a good thing for the United States, but who loudly complain when Germany shuts our pork out of that country, Francerefuses to buyour beef,or Greece prohibits the importation of our oil, are very inconsistent. They ought to know that if we declare that we will not buy of other nations, we may be sure that those countries will refuse to buy from us.. And according to protectionist notions international commerce would cease, for each country would prohibit the purchase of foreign goods. Fortunately the loss and injury caused by such protective tariffs as already exist are so evident that enlightened sentiment everywhere declares in favor of their repeal, and their entire adolition is only a gues< tion of advancing civilization.

SWAPPING IRON ORES.

The Folly of Laying Duties on the Foreign ; Output.

New possibilities in the way of export trade are constantly presenting themselves, making prominent a side of the tariff question that protectionists generally ignore. The latest step reported in this direction is the exportation of Lake Champlain iron ore to Germany. A furnace in that country which had been using a native ore ' made the experiment of substituting ore from Lake Champlain, and found that in spite of the higher cost of the American ore it could be used with so much economy of coke as to decrease the cost of pig iron. It issaid thatthe furnaces on the Rhine can show even better results; owing ‘to cheaper freights. This example demonstrates the folly of the import duties on iron ore which the protectionist senators forced into the tariff bill. There are many varieties of iron -ore, some of which it is evident we can export and some of which we need to import. The manufacture of iron can be prosecuted to the greatest advantage by taking advantage of these diversities, and noswhere is the policy of relieving raw 'materials of taxation more beneficial. —N. Y. Evening Post. i

Foreign Markets for Our Goods.

The absolute necessity for wider markets for our surplus manufactured goods is pointed out in a recent issue of the Engineering and Mining Journal, one of the leading trade papers of America.- The Journal believes that the United States will ere long take an important part in supplying the world with the produects of its mills and faetories, as is now done with farm products, Our great natural resources, labor-saving machinery and business enterprise count for more than rates of wages in the cost of production, and in all these things this country has nothing to fear from its industrial rivals. Urging the increasing of our export trade the Journal says: ‘‘The extension of our foreign markets is of high importance to nearly every manufacturer in this country, for a foreign outlet, at even low prices, not only relieves the home market of the pressure of surplus stock and thus helps to maintain profitable prices here, but by increasing output it lessens the cost of what we sell at home.” .

Tariffs Restrict Trade.

A 5,000-barrel order for corned beef, from the Russian government to the Pacific Meat Co. of Tacoma, is but an indication of what the future has in store for the Pacific northwest.—Aberdeen Herald. ; ;

‘Now we are wondering if the Russian government will charge the importer a heavy tariff before it will let him sell this meat to the hungry people of Russia. If she does not, what will become of the poor butcher over there. If the Russian importer had brought us Russian wares in exchange for their meat he could not have made the trade with the Pacific Meat Co. until he had first paid Uncle Sam a small fortune. The ‘‘future of the Pacificnorthwest’ all depends on whether we are going to be permitted to trade with these foreign countries or not.— Everett Democrat.

Beginning to Hedge.

Already the republican press is showing its fears that the democratic good times will deprive the calamity party of the support of those deluded voters who last year blamed the democrats for the two years of panic. The perI sonal organ of the recent republican candidate for vice president begins the crawling process by saying: ‘lt seems likely that republican majorities this year will be smaller than in 1894" There used to be no question of ‘'seems likely.” It is certain that the republican majority this year will be great-: ly reduced or wiped out altogether. And the fearful protectionists are well aware that each day of prosperity | means more votes for the party of tari veform.—Exphgnge. o .

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

TOMMY'S . ALPHABET.

“» Now this is A,”” mamma would sayi % And this is Q, and this is U, ‘ o And this is L. ; Now say them—try.” ; ' : Oh! Tommy was & youngster yet - To learn to say his alphabet; . But, bless his heart! though he was small, He knew his letters—nearly all So mother pointed, and her son Began to name them, one by one. . * This one?’ “It’s B.” *‘And this?’ “It's Q" “ And this?” *l¢’s L: I know it well.” * Nay: try again!” ; : 8 : * It must be N.” : * And this one?’'—pointing to an I— Wl “ That's YOU!” was Tommy’s quick reply. Mamma, the error to undo, Now pointed to the letter U. : . Small Tommy ponde}x;e\d; then quoth he. His face aglow with sw —Agnes Lee, In St. Nicholas. EGGS WORTH A FORTUNE, That of the Great Auk Is Valued at Fifteen Thousand Dollars. BT How would you like to own an egg valued at $15,000? P That was the price recently paid by a wealthy collector of rare birds’ eggs. This particular egg was that of the great auk, and there are only sixtyeight of this extinct bird’s eggs in existence. Two auks’ eggs are in this country; one is owned by the Academy of Natural Science in Philadelphia, and the other is in the collection of Vassar college. The former collection held for many years among its treasures the rarest of all eggs—an egg of the California condor—but it mysteriously disappeared a few years ago, and it is supposed some scientific sneak thief thought it no sin to transfer the treas-

7 | \ 7 /O 2 yO M \ /] o NN o 0 -~ %\) /,}'Z’.’f‘? oy 2 © @ v N TANN\s=°° . » 2"/ iy ..‘»‘-}.;:;‘;,h_v—‘;’ : k“?\\(? . SRS THIS EGG IS WORTH $15,000. ure to h_is’own collection, where he is holding it for a rise in price. : It is quite a fad nowadays to collect rare and curious eggs and vast sums are paid by wealthy collectors for the delicate little ovals. One of the largest private collections in the werld is that of Mr. J. Parker Norris, a well-known . lawyer of Philadelphia. He has spent more than $20,000 for fine specimens of egg shells. ’ ; One must know many things about birds and their habits in order to make, a valuable collection of eggs. Hundreds of books have been published on the subject of birds’ eggs. Uncle Sam’s government has published a few of. these books, and nearly all of them are costly. , . Mr. C. 'W. Crandall, of Woodside, N. Y., has according to the Philadelphia Press, been quietly adding rare eggs to his big collection for the past seventeen years. This remarkable collection contains curious eggs from all parts of the world. Here are eggs of the cassowary, from Timbuctoo, and the queer yellow eggs of the rhea, or South American ostrich, contrast with greenblack emiu’s eggs and the yellow-ivory of the African ostrich. Then there are 15 species of eagles’ eggs, while the eggs of the Lapp owl rest by the side of those of the little Indian pigmy owl. Many beautiful gyrfalcon’s eggs from Iceland and other rarities adorn the collection, which includes, in all, 20,00 specimens, sets of eggs of 600 specics of North American birds and -380 C foreign. - ek The amount of work which the gathering of so many -eggs represents, - not to speak of the risk of life, is immense. Looking upon a mere set of gyrfalcon’s eggs in a cabinet, one must think of the intrepid collector, who descended a rope on some dizzy height to obtain them, in order to appreciate the spirit of adventure which animates the egg-gatherer. 8

The gathering of eggs of the birds famiilar to everyvone is both eruecl and unprofitable, apd no sensible boy or girl will rob the nest of a robin or a wren. If you can afford it, collect the rarest eggs, but, if you cannot get those that are most cm'iogs, don’t attempt to start a- collection with the common eggs that every one has seen in the country at some time or other.

THE DRUNKARD’S DOG. He Saved lis Master from' Being Sent to B the Prison. . : The New York Times reports that Policeman Logan; of that city, saw’a man lying intoxicated on the pavement, and went toward him, meaning to wake him. As he drew near, however, he sawa brindle bulldog standing beside the sleeper, and as the policeman lecaned forward to shake the man the dog growled and showed his teeth. Logan stepped back for fear of being bitten. The drunkard’s name was Collins. : i ' . “Hey, there!” sald Logan. Collins ‘ wolie up. il “Tecll your dog to let me arrest you.” .~ Collinz struggled to his feet, and said to the dog: ‘‘Ceme on, Bully, we're Yeated,? . - : 5 . The dog ‘““heeled” obediently, and the ‘policeman took them to the Thirtieth streev station-house. There was no reason why the pup should be locked up, but it was plain that he intended to stick to his drunken master as long as he could, 'and he was allowed to occupy the cell in which Collins spent the night. - S 1o . The deg accompanied Collins when Logan took him down to Jefferson Market police court, and was close to him: when Justice Hogan asked: e - “Well. sir, what have you to say for yourself?” , : s 4 “Talk to him, Bully,” whispercd Collins to the pup; and the pup jumped up on the bridge, where the justice could see him, sat up, held up his fore« pawsand svhined. . ... . . Everybody in court was watching _‘tAre we sorry?” Collins asked him. * - The pup whined loudly and more forlornly than before. e looked as if he would ery in another minute, *© 1 ~““Well, young man,” said the justice,, STH let you go this time on account of your dog. Idon’t think you descrve: such faithfulness as he has shown. If I were a dog and had o drunken master, 1 would lcave him, But I guess | dogs are more faithtul than men,” 4 Thanl the judgo, Bully,” safd Gole BN 0 Les iR e e e i fmﬁ 53 ort W " mnlw i&%dﬁt& e ﬂ;:i,» 4R YeiD, an il ounuLpidE el s i’%‘égw&‘% é»&i‘*ﬁ%ﬁg@&m‘

FAITHFUL OLD AMY.

How a Black Woman Showed Her Dsgvo:

, .- tion for Her Mistress. = “~ In North Carolina over a century ago lived Mr. John Payna, a wealthy planter descended from an earl’s danghter. ~ He and Thomas Jefferson, who afterwards became president of the United States, both loved the same beautiful girl, Mary Coles. ' She preferred young Payne, and married him, and became the mother of Dolly, the wife of President James Madison, one of the mosb beloved of women. ever in the white house. = , :

Dolly was an uncommonly beautiful child, and her fond mother, lest the sun should tan her face, used to sew a sunbonnet on her head every morning, and put long gloves on her arms when she went to school.

- Mx! Payne, her father, a Quaker, became convinced that slavery was a sin, and sold his plantation, freed his slaves and moved to Philadelphia, in 1786. This was just after the revolutionary war, and the money of the coiuntry had become depreciated. : . John, his oldest son, was traveling in Europe, and came home to help his father start in business. Neither knew much about close economy, or business methods, or the dishonesty of some of their competitors. After a time Mr.. Payne failed, and the rich family were reduced to poverty. The father sank under his misfortune. ‘

. ‘A wealthy young man by the name of Todd, of éxcellent habits, had befriended Mr. Xaynevin his pecuniary troubles. He wished to marry Dolly, but she did not love hjm well enough. i The father called the young beauty of nincteen to his dying bed and told her his wish, that she should accept John Todd. Dol&v consented, and thus made her father’s'last days happier. . Mr. Todd proved a devoted husband, but died of yellow fever three years after their marriage, leaving Dolly with two little children, one a baby of three weeks, who died §ooﬂ after. Two yearslater she married James Madison, - o ¢ )

Mr. Payne and his beautiful wife, Mary Coles, had always been kind to their slaves, so much so that some refused to leave them, and came to Philadelphia to live in their home. One poor slave, called ‘‘Mother Amy,” when freed, went out to service. She savedrall héer money carcfully; nobody could guess for what purpose. For herself, she could endure poverty and. not mind it.. She did not need or care for fine clothes, but she could not bear that the woman-who was once her lovely owner should be in reduced circumstances. : ‘ _

When dedth came for “Mother Amy” after all the hard ycars of labor, she left $5OO, which ‘she bad struggled all the years to save, to Mrs. Payhe, her widowed mistress.—Boston Glohe. ~

-~ THE FUNNY PLATYPUS. An Egg-Laying Mammal from the Wilds i of Australia. " One of the oddest of the many queer and unique creatures that inhabit the antipodean wilds is an animal about the shape and size of the American ‘ > \\ gi g . T .'? T P ‘\l/ .é{ 4(‘%% ’&', e P A )\y 4 T i D) 7R e Wi X eAR LR S s . o. i 3 §§? ':\:.\\ \§ J\ X'2 ._\ ""‘A\ i L TINY gy NS it 2N z%’f() < GaEr,. S 0 45 Sy 2 ‘ err ol by THE PLATYPUS. iy

raccoon. ‘He is not a curiosity on account of his shape.or size, or because he resembles the coon and lives in Aus‘,t‘r’alim, where all nature is topsy-turvy, but because of a remarkable habit the - female of his species has of laying eggs and hatching them after the manner. of birds. This queer egg-laying animal, the only créature of the kind on ‘earth, so far as the zqologists know, is called a plalypuS. It inhabits the deep forests of the river boffoms of both Australia:and New Zealand, and, it is said, has many of thé characten~ istics which distinguish the beaver tribe. - The platypus is not a common animal éven in its .native haunts, and it is yeafly becoming Tare, because' of the war which has been waged against it on account of the continuous dread of the harmless little creature, because its habits deviate so widely from those generally noted in fur-covered, four‘footed creatures. ’ : A TRIAL OF STRENGTH. { How One Boy Can Easlly Keep Four Men 1 i at Bay. ’ {° Ilercis al good experiment for boys “who would lilke to beat four menin a -trial of strength. Procure two brooms and a long rope. ‘Ask two men to hold “each broom tightly by the handle, AP L keeping them parallel to one another and about a yard distant. Tie firmly to one handle the end of a rope or strong eord, then pass-the cord several times’ round both handles—say five times, as in the picture—taking care not to cross -the rows. Now holding in- both hands the other extremity of the ecord, you may inform the men holding the brooms that you are going to force the . ‘brooms to cqme together, no matter how hard the men may try to keep them apart. To do this, you need only ‘draw the cord, the effort you will thus make being multiplied by the number of turnds to the rope, as in the' ease of a pulley, helping you to obtain the desired result. But just as in the ‘case of a pulley, what is gained in strength is lost in momentum. You will ‘require, todraw:the brooms together th«’i dimncegmyam m;gwgatm aslong, or five yards. If thisexperiment is tried on & f%alﬁ Cihed foor, il diffienity in overcoming tho: resistance pEthoromand u rorp oS hildor s AR A E i e T T S L T .«wx?‘,;;«vf(:‘«. by MJ X e, gﬁ;&”’ 1 DREOSIVEE MAT ANCh) iRt shall eR s conn n“‘ ’\eim‘%"ﬁ%m R ’"-ﬁk‘gxkf—g‘;ﬁ;‘iﬁ“wo?