Ligonier Banner., Volume 42, Number 45, Ligonier, Noble County, 30 January 1908 — Page 6

Miss Hope and Miss Desire |By Frederica Edmunds ‘ ‘

Mr. John Mellin paced his small library, his hands clasped under a frayed smoking jacket—which was almost the only article in the room that did not betray excessive newness. .

- This cosy room, the luxurious. furnishings, the fresh papers:and magazines which justified the name of library, were all his—aye, other equal1y well-appointed rooms and prospective dinners as good as the one just eaten: be who had scarcely owned anything before but his clothes and his tobacco-pouch!

And this good fortune had come to him in his prime—for he was not half through his third score of years, and a man is sti]l young at 50. It had come as a blessed %olt out of a clear sK¥, for who could have foretold that Cousin Tom, who had dug - -his own gold from Californian ‘gullies in the sweat of his back, would have made John Mellin his heir?: - Mr. Mellin soon became interested in his neighbors. The lady in the garden hat who occasionally came from the cottage next door was more than passably fair. A back-yard g,altercation between his dog and her cat one day served as a slight introduction. The acquaintance -thus brought about by Browser and Mouser pmgresséd as naturally as the growing things of that early summer-time. Mr. Mellin good-naturedly repaired the rotting palings through which Browser had made so rude an entrance, and this ti!‘xfi he was prettily thanked by a lady another style of garden-hat and a lavender dress, apparently the sister of his first acquaintance. He began to wonder how he had endured his prosaic life before this interesting episode, -

Next, Mr. Mellin’s good offices were. acknowledged by the presentation—through the lady in green—of a few choice flowers made into a stiff pyramidal bouquet and tied with pink cord. The gentleman was, of course, pleased ‘to return the compliment—to -her. in lavender—by a dish of strawberries from the old bed he had been so glad to find. . Then one day when Mr. Mellin had heard the sisters’ voices in the garARSI L . S m TR Yis r i i D T i e ;g;fig'g o : LA h oy B . 4 ‘ N 1 Lo R | e PR ! %S § il ' .‘v/”!fff'. ‘R\ D d %\ & /! ’s”?};r’;,i.. it -\ \ S ) i L e N Q' | e YRy | Q S ",‘M}“‘ \¥\ | ABy it '@'/-i‘l 18P 00l i (N ; @;’.‘ LR )" & AV YR Sauagl | =y UNN PHHTITN AON G g A ! NN TAN\E N WS s e NG NONCOTNOR A T “Be Seated,” She Said. den deploring a windstorm which had broken down'their Canterbury bells, he way non-plussed to find himself offering his services'to a lady in a neutral tint of gown and with brown, uncovered hair. “I have brought a few stakes, Miss Cummings,” he said—for at least he bhad learned the f_anxily' name. “If you *will just a@' me—oh, no trouble at all. Down, Browser, sir! I think! vour sister has spoiled him a little, madam, with the bones. And neither he nor I always know .which is Miss Cummings.” With this explanation he proceeded to make himself useful. The lady laughed so gayly that he was sure it was the lavender one. “lI am Miss Hope,” she said. “Call my sister Miss Desire if you choose.” And so -throughout that charming summer Mr. Mellin grew daily more interested in his fair neighbors, or rather neighbor, for the two he never saw together, nor ever quite felt he knew them apart. . . At last came an October evening when an almost simmer heat hovered in the air, and large, golden stars peeped through shriveling vines at Mr. John Mellin on his piazza. A wooden screen at the end of his _ balcony cut off the sight of the corresponding excrescence on the other house, but a gentle rustle of feminine skirts had already.-been heard thereon, bringing a wild and daring - thought to the mind of the lonely bachelor. If he only could—if he only might—just make a deighborly call, and for once compare the sisters side by side. -But now there was the sound of ckina and glass adjusted upon a hard - table. The ,Misses Cummings were evidently about to refresh themselves in some dainty feminine way. It was too late, even had he dared to venture. Suddenly the grave voice of Miss - Hope broke the mellow silence. “And, dear, we must have patience to endure this as other trials over which we have been so lovingly guided, but I admit it is hard. Some _retrenchment indeed we could bear without eomplaint, but to think of “leaving this house, this garden where _-we have been so happy this summer. _ Oh, ft—is—hard. You have been such @ dear, good, patient sester, such an ~ angei in all that we have been called _ such trustful exhortation, trembled

(Copyright.)

finally breaking into stifled sobs. Mr. Méellin, an involuntary eavesdropper ‘in the perfect quiet of the night, clinched his hands and gritted hard his teeth, while beads of moisture not directly traceable to the heat stood upon his brow. Could it be that she—they—were going to leave their home? Could it be that next summer there would be no neighboring with Mouser’s sweet mistresses? Impossible! Insufferable! But what was he to them? And which was she, the siren, who had so strongly drawn his heart? Miserable Mr. Mellin! Never had distracted lover a harder problem to solve. The only thing was to go over at once, acknowledge his eavesdropping, and offer help. But with what right? His dilemma might still exist! And what was he to them—her?- Yet might he not serve as a friend? But, no, he would not go now. j And then Mr. Mellin, mortal like, contradicted his own decision by acting quite the contrary. His face grew pale even in the sight of Miss Hope Cummings who admitted him. Manlike, he did not know what explanation to offer and his heart beat likea trip-hammer. Tt was she who had to smooth the awkward meeting. “Be seated,” she said, “and let me thank you for coming. To-night I feel I need a friend.” . And then Mr. Mellin blundered into his confession. ‘ .

“l heard,” he said. “And indeed I want to be a friend. Nothing will make me happier than to be of service to you, and I trust you. will feel that you can open your heart to me.” “I am, in difficulties,” explained Miss Cummings, gently, “in which I have no 02 to advise me,” and then, impulsively. as it seemed, she entered almost eagerly into full details.

Mr. Mellin listened, dazed and divided in mind. At last he asked, hesitatingly: “But your sister, Miss Desire? Surely this affects her?” The light from the candelabrum plainly showed a change -in Miss Hope's face. There was a thrill, too, in her voice, almost of supplication, 'as she said: :

“I still have an explanation to offer, a confession which I owe to you before I can accept the least of your good offices, Mr. Mellin. I have no sister. I live alone and have done so ever since my brother Duncan died, 12 yvears ago. Desire is but a creature of my own imagining, into whom I would gladly have breathed the breath of life. My brother and I were left alone, and he, poor soul, was very deaf. There had never been much in common between us, and with 4is.affliction—ypu understand. Then came his decline 'in health, and my heart smote me. He weuld have no help for his ears, so I knew I must have it for my overweak voicé. I tried every known system for strengthening the vocal organs. Constantly, by myself, I talked to keep in practice. It was a help, and I know the reading and my music helped peor Duncan through those last three years.” Miss Hope paused a moment as though to control a reminiscent agitation, then continued:

“I think I hardly could have endured my' solitude afterwards but for that other self to whom I had talked so long. I have kept up the habit, and Desire has been the greatest comfort to me—sister, friend, and almost mother. :

“And now you have my story, Mr. Mellin,” she concluded. “Forgive me if I have seemed to play a double part. I feel that I have no right to your friendship, you -who are so good and noble, when I have deceived you as I have, but really I had no such intention in the beginuing; "it was merely the carryving out of the happy delusion with which I had consoled myself for so long.” R ;

But Mr. Mellen’s usually ruddy face had paled with something that was not anger. Had he not been admitted into the penetralia of most sacred associations while listening to the unfolding of .the simple domestic mystery? Now he trembled almost visibly as he leaned forward to take the white hand held out. “I thank you, I thank you,” he said, “for the confidence you have given me. Let me be your friend until—” and then he stopped. But it was not long before John Mellip was able to finish that sentence, saying, proudly: “Until now that I have this assurance that my Hope and my Desire are one.” _ For Miss Cummings, too, had found an answer, to a quite undreamed desire.

Dog Com}its Suicide.

Rex, the big Newfoundland dog, whose presence in the pool rooms was always hailed as a harbinger of good luck by those playing the races, deliberately committed suicide recently by drowning himself. <

For several weeks the dog had been ill and was under the care of Jack Barton, to whom the dog was much attached. g

Rex accompaf%ied a number of men to the wharf, and while they stood by he jumped into the water and made no effort to keep above the surface. Barton, fearing for the dog's life, jumped in and began‘ to haul him to safety, but Rex shook him off, and, swimming out of the man’s reach, stuck hs head under the water and soon sank. The body floated ashore a few days later.—Sdn Franclgco Call. It Isn't Silver, “German silver” .is so called not because it contains any silver, but because it was introduced into this country_by the Germans, who obtained it from the Chinese and concealed the fact. ; 2100 THm. .The only honorable debt is a debt of gratitude. And it is one that is seldom acknowledged.—Chicago Ree

DorAr Sid =— . 7 L 1907 | @ T I T it \_ E- .KN Cro" i : G| B N, ‘.:;E‘_,;.;,;. / e ,f‘?,' ‘:' 28 Abl 10 & B k” . . l b NG TR s /Ol |il e N |

There are other things to discover In the frozen regions of the Arctic besides the elusive North- Pole, and Capt. Ejnar Mikkelsen, the intrepid Danish explorer, is content to attain the possible even while perhaps he has the yearning of all Arctic adventurers to win what up to the present time has been the impossible. It is the hope of gaining the northern axis of 'the earth, familiarly known as the North Pole, which has lured Mikkelsen into the frozen desolations of the far north; and while striving for that goal, he has done some remarkable sledging over the Polar sea.

Next to finding the North Pole itself ] the greatest Arctic discovery yet to be made is that of a vast unknown polar continent, or archipelago, which, ‘ from soundings, driftwood, thickness of ice, currents, etc., is thought to exist in the great North Polar sea to the north of the American continent. Here is an immense unexplored area which may contain land and people of great‘; interest of which nothing is now known. The exploration attempted by Capt. Mikkelsen is considered one of the most important geographical undertakings and chief arctic exploration remaining uncompleted. The graphic and interesting -condensed account of Capt. Mikkelsen’s sledge journey, the latest feat in Arctic research, which was sent from: Herschel island, is as follows: ‘“We lost our vessel, the Duchess of Bedford. She sprung a leak at Flaxman fsland on January 27 this year, and from that time, as long as she was afloat, the pumps were going almost incessantly. The leak was probably caused by the-pulling out of the caulking, which the ice around the vessel has permeated. The ice contracted, drawing away from the vessel and leaving cracks along her sides. “Fortunately, with the aid of the Eskimos, we .got our stores ashore without serious loss. From the beginning of the trouble until April 3, when we decided to abandon the vessel, the forecastle floor was flooded many times.. Meanwhile a house was built ashore from lumber broken out of the ship. On April 11 the crew moved ashore and the ship filled rapidly. She cdould not be saved, and on May 17 we began to break up the hull in order to get more building material. - On March 17 we started with food for 65 days and a total weight on the sledges . of 1,226 pounds. In addition, we carried food -enough for men and dogs while traveling on the lagoon ice (between the ‘chain of islands and the Alaskan mainland) and one week’s food to be cached for our return trip. The party consisted of Mr. Leffingwell, Mr. Storkersen and myself. We took three sledges, and our dogs were strong animals, with an average weight of about 73 pounds. As we advanced northward we had stretches of bad ridges, on which we had to work hard with our pickaxes, without which we could not .possibly have made any headway. ; “Traveling became worse as we advanced further from the land, and some days we made only three miles in ten hours. The ice consisted of last year’s heavy floes, with pressure ridges and lanes covered with thin ice. Luckily the temperature was rather low (between 30 and 40 degrees centigrade), so that new lanes froze over véry rapidly. Large rubble with soft snow between caused much trouble and delayed our progress. Our teams were not strong enough to pull the sledges alone, so we_had to pull steadily in soft, deep snow, through which it is very tiresome even merely té walk. The dogs at times sank so far in that they could do no pulling and the crossbars of the sledges- often dragged through the snow. “The further we penetrated north ‘the more floes of old ice we encountered. The ice consists of very old floes with rounded-off hummocks, the whole covéred with snow of a yellowish tint, making the floes dis-

FLAT DWELLER’S SONG.

When the steam plpes start to rattle Sunday mornin’, . Oh, it's then that I begin to rave and ey swear; ; ; :

For on week days with the sun, - - I am up and on the run, But on Sunday I could linger longer there. “ . s

When the steam pipes start to rattle Sunday mornin’, ; Every tenmant in the flat must quickly se; 5 3 For i‘z's useless to remainUnderneath the counterpane, The pounding drives the sleep from weary eyes. : :

When the steam pipes start to rattle , Sunday mornin’, © /. It's no use to linger longer in the bed; And the ceaseless grind and clatter Make me madder than a hatter For the noise ‘l'm sure would almost wake the dead. @

When the steam pipes start to rattle Sunday mornin’, ’ There’s no comfort for the weary and oppressed; e It is useless to remain - . - Underneath " the counterpane = For the Sabbath is no more a day of ' rest. ‘ ¢ ~ . ==Detroit Free Press.

tinguishable for a great distance. The highest hummocks were about 30 feet ‘above water level. 3

“Up to April 3 we made some headway every day, though it was hard going, either deep, soft snow, or heavy pressure ridges, over which we had to hew a road. From the first day out the pickaxes were in constant use. We could not have advanced without them, as our sledges would have broken down, and, even with the greatest care, both in making roads and in driving, we had to strip the underrunners from one of the sledges. - “On April 7, about 64 miles off land and 31 miles north of our last sounding with bottom, we took a sounding with the sounding machine and found 620 meters and no bottom. We had not expected to find such deep water so close to shore, but this deep sounding indicated that we were beyond the edge of the continental shelf.

“On April 10 we began to realize that there could be little doubt now that we had passed the edge of the continental shelf. On April 26 it was, for the first time, above freezing, making the snow still softer than before, and water ran from the blocks of ice. The traveling. was bad, we saw very little of the old floe, and the ice was very. much broken, so that ~ our progress was slow. On this day we used our raft for the first time in ferrying across a lane about 100 yards wide. As we became more expert we could rig up the raft, ferry all our outfit across, load the sledges, and -be ready to start in 65 minutes. The raft was made of two nine-foot sledges lashed together with two heavy poles, the frame thus made being covered with a piece of canvas. The raft could carry an 11-foot sledge with 4 load, a total of 320 pounds, with a man sitting astride, in order to pull it across. There was not much freeboard, to be sure, and we had to move carefully to keep the raft from swamping, but we had no mishap. The total weight carried extra to eonstruct the raft was 22 pounds, of which 14 pounds was the cover. This was useful as a tent cover, and it made the tent warm and comfortable. “The going became worse and worse, and whenever we were not traveling over the old floe (and this ‘was rather scarce now) we had’ ridge after ridge of heavy rubble, with deep, soft snow. ' A still worse hindrance to progress were the numerous lanes, now covered with a thin coating of ice, too thin to walk over and too thick for the raft. From two of our sledges we might expect a complete breakdown of either of them at any time. One lead was lost, so we could not take soundings in deep water, and it was only too evident that we could do no more here, but had better try to reach land, an undertaking which was considerably more difficult than we had expected. R

“The return march began on April 29, latitude 71 degrees 17 minutes north and longitude 147 degrees 44 minutes west. Unluckily we lost our heavy pickaxe the first day. It slipped through thin ice, and our small one was too light to be of much use in the heavy ice. This pick, too, we lost .two days later by the breaking of the sounding wire. "The loss of the pickaxes caused us considerable extra work and many delays. It was plain to us that we could not have done anything whatever without them. On our retreat we had many wide cracks to pass, and by way of variety were often compelled to crawl over pressure ridges so steep that we at times had to unharness the dogs and lift the sledges over bodily.” Next spring Capt. Mikkelsen will make another more extended sledge journey northward, starting from Demarcation Point, about 50 miles west of Herschel island, which is destined to increase our knowledge of the extent and depth of the Great North Polar sea, and will probably solve the existence of unknown lands and continents in this region.

A Weather Prophet. Scientist—So you have followed the sea all your life? I presume you are a. thorough meteorological prognosticator by this time. ; Jack Tarre—A which? “A—l mean you can easily foretell a gale, can't you?” v ’ “Easy ’'mough, sir. When you see the captain dancin’ around an’ yellin’ out 40 orders at onect, you kin jest make up y'r mind thet it’s goin’ ‘ter blow.”—New York Weekly. / Literary Calamity. . Borus (struggling atthor)—You book reviewers were ‘unnecessarily severe on that last novel of mine. - Naggus—Why, you ungrateful hound, with one accord we pronounced it one of the cleanest and most uplifting works of fiction that had appeared this segson. . ‘ : ] Borus--That's what I mean, 1 haven’t sold g single copy.—Chieago Tribune. 3 ~ Women love dress because they enjoy the admiration of men and the chagrin of other Women, ¥

NEW BUREAU CHIEF

Knows All About Bureau of Navigation—Did Effective Work as Commander of Dynamite Cruiser Vesuvius in Spanish War. -

Washington.—The vacancy in the important office of chief of the bureau of navigation, navy department, which was vacated by the resignation of Rear Admiral Willard H. Brownson, has been filled by ‘the appointment to that office of Capt. John Elliott Pillsbury, at present on duty in this city as a member of the general board of the navy, and also as a member of the army and navy joint board. Capt. Pillsbury notified the president that although he did not seek the office he appreciated the honor implied in his selection and would perform its duties to the best of his ability. The selection of Capt. Pillsbury to be chief of the bureau of navigation is at best only a temporary measure of relief for the friction between the line and staff which is now distressing the navy. Capt. Pillsbury s, perhaps, more acceptable than any other line officer (and the vacancy in this case must be filled from the line under the terms of the law) with the officers of the staff, though he is by no means lacking in popularity with his brethren of the line. Yet he can exercise his good offices as a pacifier for a comparatively short time only, unless the president should decide to again have recourse to the doubtful expedient of commissioning a retired officer as chief of a bureau. For Capt. Pillsbury was born in Lowell, Mass.,, December 15, 1846, and will condequently have to retire on account of age December 15 next. ' . Combining in his record long sesservice with much work 'in the naval bureaus, especially that of navigation,

0,-""/ . e R - J:' A ‘/v;/" / \ e f 3 ._:i,t ~’/Y// fi.,-¢‘:f: A\ 7 ! 1\ / AV il T sl \\\‘\ \'~?_. :'4,"l;'- //;‘ P QT- '; \ \ ','."l« . ’,.. AN\ WO AL ~ \ \\L N 3 v AN\ adorth- sy, the new head of the bureau is peculiarly fitted to dispassionately judge upon their merits the various-is-sues between line and staff that are constantly arising in the department. . Capt. Pillsbury occupies an exceptional position in the navy for-a man of his rank in being practically. out of line for promotion to the grade of rear admiral, though in his capacity of chief of the bureau of navigation he will temporarily enjoy that title. The beginning of the Spanish war found Pillsbury a lieutenant commander, and because of his tendency toward high explosives he was placed in command of the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, then regarded,as extr&a hazardous service. That little boat was then an unknown quantity in naval warfare. She was sent down to join Sampson’s. fleet in front of Santiago, and it is believed by military experts contributed largely to bringing about the surrender of that stronghold by the moral effect produced by her creeping under the fortifications in the shadows of night and hurling huge projectiles charged with gun cotton over the hills and into the harbor lines, to the great terror of the besieged Spaniards. e

Since the war Capt. Pillsbury has had service at the Boston navy yard, on the general board at Washington and on the army and navy joint board. He knows the duties of.the chief of the bureau of navigation thoroughly, having served as assistant to Rear Admiral Converse when he was head of that bureau, from November, 1903, %o July, 1904. His last duty beforef

coming to Washington was as chief of staff to Rear Admiral Evans, in command of the Atlantic fleet, in organizing which into its splendid state of efficiency he was aspotent factor. It is known that Capt. Pillsbury did not seek his new duty, but he has the reputation in the navy of refusing to apply for any special duty and always assuming -any’' assignment without protest. It was that. characteristic that led him to undertake the command of the little fleet headed by the cruiser Prairie, which was - agsigned to the duty of endeavoring to successfully run the blockade on the New England coast during recent naval maneuvers. It was a foregone conclusion that the defending fleet would discover the approach of the pseudo hostile fleet in season to defeat the projecied movement, yet Pillsbury accepted the unpopular task of commanding the blockade runners. Talked Through It. v Johnny—What part of speech is nose? : Dottie—'Tain’t any.Johnny—Teacher told me the an: BwWer. . . Dottie—Mebbe yours is, ’cause you talk through it; but the only part of speech I've got is my mouth. ¢ | Born That Way. “Uncle Amos, how did your boss acquire his titlé of colonel?” “Dat goes Wfi‘ plantation, sah. All his antcésters wuz cunnels befo’ him, wuh.”~-Chicago Tribune, -

i:e \ T » @ ',‘?3 N\ £ e * ¢ . D\ o ’% | 7 SR i : ‘ = Y / - \(\ A B <=:ls'l§'->:2s:‘ - ol '\\qj ; F C Y X : o e 77, i RS - _ \ : f§ (<) e 2 2 i \-:'ii'%i‘ P E .~:%;‘&:'.°\2‘¢:-.:’ I N 7 - 0 S AR sy -.~::»Ai‘l‘-‘.-’:fi:ZS‘?:-:-:»‘-',:?:1:1:1: A R /‘ > ; e e R S S e & Lo 3 3 T < o S RVR . [ o o SR L S \ Y Yy oy 4 2 ' e e s Bl RS ; D B M e e o R > - O, C Cow oo el et o BRR O R . ke e B VL ) - PO R eeR s TR () VR N fR U e R TR \ , YR AR . Agl & : oo iE R B Fo ov A e Y Ao i e g@ :’ e Y P QRon B B 0 Un IR ST e Ly L T L N NE LR iET N T (D) P e SR S : TN e RB R y V(@ N\, RN e = e o S\ T 3 s N / oo MR = /7 Gt Tl R, 3 P e BTG > S RS 3 BEE LT R R | 3 bSO B heesgl oe\ — : 3 o> B 0o S =N % g G . s T g s Y va e fig-\g - |Bo e _ s @\ o go e s o I 8 3 >\ J IS ’fif"%x“’;g” 7@ / D Fatib év‘,#)"fi;; ERY O e O P O s o o e G R NNY e B & . @ T B e N T ffi’gm W R ReeS R 3 K M tjw- J‘ W '}:1:21 R :v: i T e e s ol SR /i e R . : g:ie’:’.; ie e B HEoa o e /? EGns ee e e R S . - s v;sv ey 2 R R R G ,fiv e R R R a i AR g : %* ‘éi% _Miss May Sutton of Pasadena, Cal., who .has announced that she will not go to England this year to defend: her title of British champion in women’s singles, has been 'the peer of women tennis players in this country for years, and has had few equals in the world. Last year she regained the British title at the tournament held at Wimbledon, defeating Miss Lambert Chambers in the challenge round, 64, 6-2. Now she says the English challengers must come to this country to regain title. S

BASEBALL TEAM MORE COSTLY THAN STABLE

F. J. Farrell, Owner of Yankees, One of World’s Most Prominent Men in Two Big ‘Sports.

It will surprise many people in the sporting world to learn that it costs more to run a major league baseball team than a fair sized racing stable. But. such is the fact, and Frank J. Farrell, the owner of the Yankees, can vouch for the truth of it. Farrell enjoys the unique distinction of being one of the most prominent men in the two big professional sports. He ifs a power in baseball ‘to-day and every racing man knows of his turf operations. :

On the two sports he spends at a conservative estimate $138,000 a year, and of this close to $98,000 is spent on the team that is managed by Clark Griffith. Farrell is a regular bettor, but, of course, his profits or losses in the ring are not included in the above estimate. The cost of running his ball team is about as follows: Salaries of 25 players, $60,000; traveling expenses, $11,000; hotel bills, $6,375; spring training trip, $5,000; incidentals, clerks and attendants, $15,000, making & total of $97,376. :

Mr. Farrell’s racing stable” cost last year about as follows: Twelve horses at $76 a month and extras, $9,000; entry fees, $5,000; jockey fees (regular price of $lO a mount), $5,000; forfeits in stake races, $10,000; traveling expenses and attendants, $8,000; salaries of three betting commissioners, $3,000, making a total of $40,000. Although Mr. Farrell, like all game men, is as silent about his winnings as he is when he loses, it can safely be said that racing pays him well in the long run. In fact it is several years since his stable has failed to pay expenses. As for the ball team, it has been a financial success from the start. Mr. Farrédll was recently asked which he liked better, racing or baseball. “It’s hard to say which I like the better—racing or baseball,” he answered. “As a steady money maker, baseball is undoubtedly the better, but there is a fascination about the turf which I cannot get over.” Mr. Farrell admitted that as a personal amusement he would choose the ponies, but he thought as a scientific sport baseball had a much deeper hold on the public. The proof of this is that baseball draws enthusiastic crowds year after year without the aid of the attraction of gambling.

SPIT BALL HELPS FIELDING

That the spit ball is most effective #s proved by the tremendous number of assists the men who employed it secured last year. Walsh, who is not remarkable as a fielder in his position, made the unprecedented number of 227 assists.- To be sure, he pitched 56 games, or from 15 to 20 more than the other leading twirlers. ' ~ Howell, another noted twirler of spit \balls, secured 125 assists in 14 games less than Walsh. This disparity in number of assists between these two is not accounted for by the number of games in favor of Walsh. In 14 more games than Howell Walsh had 100 more assists. We do not know that Joss of Cleveland pitched the spit ball. In any event, he'got 163 assists in 42 games, the same number Howell pitched. Pelty of St. Louis, who is one of the great fielding pitchers, pitched seven games less than Howell, but did not secure within 30 as many assists. Pelty is a truly great fielder, probably the best in his position in the world. Bender, who is a fine fielder and a good pitcher, does not, as far as we know, use the spit ball. So his share of assists is very small. It is noticeable that the Philadelphia pitchers, rated very high in their line and the chief stay of thelr team, rank very low in the depa®tment of fielding. Dygert, who, by the way, is a spit ball thrower and reckoned one of the most finished stylists in his line, and also one of the very best pitchers, is one ‘of the lowest in averages. Waddell, too, is at the bottom of the list. To be _sure, Waddell's inability to ield is notodlous -

HISTORY OF SIX-DAY RACING ON BICYCLES

Riders Formerly Rode Alone and Until Physically Exhausted—Two Men Now Comprise Teams.

When the six-day bicycle race was started it was an individual’, contest and the riders were compelled to go it alone for the full.time, resting only when it was absolutely necessary and resuming the long journey after a catnap of an hour or two. =T Their food was handed to them as they swung round and round, and at the end of the time the riders stayed awake only long enough to walk from the track to their temporary quarters in the garden, where they dropped like logs. B LT e

This style of riding was continued through 1898, and then the legislature, considering this form of amusement too wearing for the' human' bedy, passed a law that no competitor in any race of six days could ride more than 12 hours each day. e This law threatened to put long-dis-tance racing out of commission, but the promoters conceived the idea of forming teams of two men, each man to ride 12 hours and rest 12, entering the race whenever it suited him, - By this arrangement there were always the same number of »contes'tants on the track, and the race under this plan proved more interesting than the old style ome-man grind, inasmuch as it partakes now of the nature of a relay race. The fact remains, however, that despite the ideas of the wise lawmakers the men who formerly went into the race alone made fully as good records as have been made since 1899. This first race, held in 1891, ‘was won by -“Plugger” Bill Martin, who rode an old-style ordinary wheel. In the year following Charles Ashinger, on a high wheel, was first past the wire. During the same year safety bicycles were put on the market, and in the race of the following year Albert Shock rode a safety wheel, while many of the other men rode high wheels. The superiority of the safety was plainly demonstrated, as Shock won quite handily. No races were held in 1894, and in 1895 a ladies’ bicycle race was held, and was won by Miss Frankie. Nelson. In the following year Teddy Hale, the champion of Ireland, defeated one of the best fields ever started. He was the only foreigner who ever won the race::

Miller won the race ini 1897-98, and the following -year, when the team races were inaugurated, he doubled up with “Dutch” Waller, and between them they won first prize.. Floyd MecFarland and Harry Elkes, the first representative team of America, young men of the modern.school of riding, carried off first honors in 1900, and in 1901 Bobby Walthour ‘and Archie MeEachern were the victorious. pair. In 1902 George Leander and his partner, Floyd Krebs, had ‘the honor of winning the race. Bobby Walthour and Benny Munroe were first past the tape in 1903. In‘ 1904 the “Little Old New York” team, Eddie Root and Oliver Dorlon, took first prize. Eddie Root and Joe Fogler won the race in 1905 and again in 1906. Root won in the final sprint in 1905, but Fogler went out and captured the prize. ! Capron May Enter West Point. It -is probable that George Capron, Minnesota’s phenomenal drop kicker, will enter West Point Military academy next fall. Coach “Bob” Forbes of the West Point football team was in ‘Minneapolis recently and during his stay sought out Capron and broached the proposition of his going east. Since that time Capron has had several communications from the West Point leader . repeating the proposition and directing Capron toward action which will almost certainly result in his appointment to the academy.. The Axinnesota man is as yet undecided on making the change, but is well enough impressed with the opportunity to give it consideration. ' gy 3 : : An Explanation, = ““Some men,” said Uncle Eben, “has to keep so wide awake all week tradin’ hosses dat dey nach’elly can’t he’p bein’ a little drowsy durin’ de sermor on_ Sunday.”—Washington Star. -

Truth and . . 2 .- . . Quality appeal to the Well-Informed in every walk of life and are essential to permanent success and creditable standing. Accoringly, it is not claimed that Syrup of Fig: and Elixir of Senna is the only remedy of . known value, but one of many reasons why it is the best of personal and family laxatives is the fact that it cleanses, sweetens and relieves the internal organs on which it acts without any debilitating after effects and without-having to increase the quantity from time to time. _ It acts pleasantly and naturally and truly as a laxative, and its component parts are known to and approved -by physicians, as it is free from all objectionable substances. To get its beneficial effects always purchase the genuine—manufactured by the California Fig Syrup Co., only, and for sale by all leading drugsgists. i

. An Ancient Instance. Belshazzar was giving his great feast and the wine flowed like water. _ “Inasmuch as I'm the whole works,” he said, “I don’t think a proclamation by a.chief of police or anybody else is going to stop this affair at ome o’clock a. m. or any other hour!” -No sooner had he nuttered this boast than the handwriting .appeared on the wall i

Catarrh Cannot Be Cured with LOCAL APPLICATIONS, as they cannot reach the seat of the disease. Catarrh is a bloed or comstitutional disease, and in order to cure it you must take internal remedies. Hall's Catarrh Cureis taken finternally, and acts directly on the blood snd mucous surfaces. Hall's Catarrh Cure is not a guack medicine. It was prescribed by one of the best physiciane in this country for years and is a regular prescription. - -1t is composed of the best tonics known, combined with the best blood Tpnrmen‘.actlng difectly on the mucous surfaces. The perfect combinstion of the two ingredients is what produces such wonderfal results in curing catarrh. Send for testimonials. free ; F.J.CHENEY & CO., Props., Toledo, Q. Sold bfi Dmggl-u. price 75¢. 5 Take Hall's Family Pills for constipation.

Ring Watches Popular.

Swiss watchmakers are reported to -be busy filling English and American orders for finger ring watches. The ring watch, though little se€en, is nonovelty. ‘The manager of an old London watch-making firm says that he saw them more than 14 years ago. Queen Victoria had three or four. The simplest ones—a plain gold ring with the watch inserted—cost about $lOO, but with diamonds or other stones, $5,000 to $lO,OOO may be paid.

Sheer white goods, In fact, any fine wash goods when new, owe much of their ‘attrdctiveness. to the way they -are laundered, this being done in a manner to enhance their textile beau- ’ ty. Home laundering would be egually satisfactory if proper attention was given to starching, the first essential being good Starch, which has sufficient, strength to stiffen, without thickening .the goods.. Try Defiance Starch and you will be pleasantly surprised at the improved appearance of your work.

~ . -Went Him a Few Better. : A very dapper looking young mn entered a Chicago hotel a few days ago, followed' by a middle-aged man who seemed to be just a little careless concerning his personal appearance. The affable clerk offered a pen to the carefully dressed young gentleman, who registered -himself as “Williamy Henry Tyler III.” When he had stepped aside the other man reached for the pen and under Mr. Tyler's name wrote: “John Smith MCDCCCLXLIX.” :

A RESOLUTION TO BE KEPT.

m il ' } N =24 v ! ;m ) X | .:' \: o ¢ A ' VLo A <o SR | LY RS : / : [ & : ~Mr. Woodson resolves that he will never again wear a high hat when snowballs are ripe. o BANISHED _ : Coffee Finally Had to Go. : . The way some persons cling to coffee even after they know it is doing them harm, is a puzzler. But it is an easy matter to give it up for good, when Postum Food Coffee. is preperly made and used instead. : A girl writes: ‘“Mother had been suffering with nervous headaches for seven weary years, but kept drinking coffee. : ~ “One day I asked her why she did not give up coffee as a cousin of mine had done who had taken to Postum. But Mother was such a slave to coffee she thought it would be terrible to give it wup. 5 - “Finally, one day, she made the change to Postum, and quickly her eadaches disappeared. One morning %hile' she was drinking Postum so eely and with such relish I asked for a taste. Lo ~ “That started me on Postum and I now drink it more freely than I did coffee, which never' comes into our house now. S _ “A girl friend of mine, one day, saw ‘me drinking Postum and asked if it was coffee. I told her it was Postum and gave her some to take home, but forgot to tell her how to make it. “The next day she said she did not see how I could drink Postum. I found she had made it. like ordinary coffee. ‘So I told her how to make it right and gave her a cupful I made, after boiling it fifteen minutes. She said ‘she never drank any coffee that tasted as good, and now coffee is banished from both mfrw Name given ‘by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Michigan. ~_Read the!little book “The Road to Wellville” in pkgs:“The % \ o O S e eS AR o S R P R S oe R S e