Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1896 — Page 2

THE FAMILY STORY

( ◄•FIVE * THOU*

Tk yr Y dear girt, you’ll have to, let ’ l\/l me °®’ I’ m aw Fully sorry- out .-*■ , -A. the Governor won’t give way. mtn really fond of j’ou, and I think you ••are of me, but " j **O! why didn't I want to marry a Mecent barrister, a doctor, or even a IjonrWnlist, instead of an Earl’s younger kou?“ said Miss Muriel Mallett, with *a frown on her pretty face, and a tear ier two in her large, limpid eyes—eyes prhlch made all the men think, wrongivy, that she was poetical and sentimenttal. “But, seriously, can you give me I The Hon. Bob Martindale looked at ■ter. She was Just his ideal—tall, wellIbullt. but with a saucy face in which |the big black eyes seemed out of place, tis fascinating. There was in her countenance the strangeness which, acpordgto Bacon, is necessary to great uty. She affected a tailor-made manti was always well groomed; though her dress was a trifle maniaish, in the brusque movements which lahowed that she was fidgety, glimpses ♦f gossamer stocking and fine Valenciennes revealed themselves, and showed that she had a conscience in costume that would have delighted the hero of XJXutier’s novel with the famous pre(face. • . “My dear girl. If it were a question 'of risking my life, or anything like Alia t, I wouldn’t hesitate; if it were even •one of those affairs of fellows who ‘for a few hours of—of— well, you know, iglodly die, I’d be there; but—but I can't %e a cad. They have brought me up •s a swell without any profession, and ‘l’m a bit of a fool, and I couldn't live on your earnings as actress, so there you are.’** ' Miss Muriel sighed. Bob was a handsome fellow and manly, and lie would *ave the title and estates some day if dwo obstacles were to disappear. "I did jike. you. Bob, and do, and you were always straight. I should like to have been your wife. If only we'd •ome money to run a theatrical company with!’’ < “Yes, if I hadn't been such a Juggins •s to blue the live thou, old Uncle Tom left me—l didn’t know you then.” “Yes, if we'd the five thou.!" she started a little. “You will marry me If ever I have £S.O[X)? O, you'd have to work, have to be my manager.” \ He nodded. “It’s a promise for two years?” “Yes.” “Honor bright?" “Yes. of course. If- ” 1 •'lf I run straight? - Well, look here, we’ve been engaged—honorably—and I you want to break it off.” . He lowered his head. 1 “Tpi young, only 24 even at Somor-V set House. I’d like to have married yoti, and I should have been a good wife, too. However, some day I may want to marry some one else.” The man shuddered. ' “A broken engagement isn't a certTdcate of good character; you must give me one. That’s fair.” She got up and wheeled to him a little round table, bn which was a croc-odile-skip writing-pad. with silver edges. She opened it. took out writing paper, and found him pen and ink. t “Now, then, write this—“My Dear Miss Mallett! It is my •pajuful duty to tell you that I have rinade fruitlessly a desperate effort to igxln my father’s consent to our marriage. He utterly refuses, saying that fce is so old-fashioned as to object to fiave an actress as daughter-in-law. ■Therefore, I am compelled to break off my engagement with a woman whom I still love and esteem.” The Hon. Bob signed the letter ly“Now, be off. I’ve to go to rehearsal. No. you mus'n’t drive me down. Once imbre, if within two years I have five l +lwu. as capital, you promise you will >V»rry me?” I “Yes, darling, on my word of honor!” With a swift movement she threw her arms around bis peck and kissed passionately. A minute later ho found himself in the street, sad and 4>ewildered. ! That evening there was rejoicing in the big mansion in Belgrave square, and the Earl of Hexham drank too much in honor of the return to respectability of the prodigal Bob. - “We’ll soou find you a wife, my boy,” Tie said, over the port, which he drank jiff honor of the Affair and in defiance of gout and doctor’s orders-. “None iof your rich American trash, but some oho of decent family and the sort of solid, reasonable dowry that a younger son deserves.”

Next morning at 12 o'clock, when ( ttin Earl was vainly trying to put on 4u> boots without swearing at the pain, tthe Hon. Bob entered the library with M ■ document in bis bsud. “I never thought she'd have done It, sir," he said. , “pone what?" “j/ook; the beastly thing says, 'The plaintiff claims damages for breach of .promise of marriage.” 1 faring me my slippers!" shouted the 'Karl; “damn the horse! send round the Off wwrtt to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, j-fou’d better settle." said Mr. I’oniler, the old family lawyer: “Bet tie I” be shouted, “settle! I’ll rta»w up the baggage, the —7! 11l put ♦very deteei+ve in London on the Job. r» not afraid of court, and when the jury bears what she realty Is " “But the scandal?" “Hon’tltoJk about scandal; enter nn •ppearance. and leave the rest to me." _“Mjr dear Governor," Interrupted IBob, wh« < had accompanied him, “be fair to the girl. I didn't think Muriel nroUld ha Ve* done Itj but she’s perfectly «tralght~l’d stake my life on it." “Nonwnso, Bob! You’re a fool, and you'd better ofay abroad till the affalr'a over, I'll attend to |t I'll show rlMmeZ “We'll’'’teach

cessful lawsuit about right-of-way—a success which added a new mortgage to the family collection. “It’s gll very well,” said Mv.Ponderj “but that was chancery, this Is common law. I’m sure we should make a mess of it. Oue of my articled clerks has set up in business in Bedford Row; he’s a smart fellow, and will fight hard, and just suit you,'”Bob went off to the. Riviera, and lost All the money his father gave him. During his absence the old gentleman employed a detective—a fellow with splendid imagination, but very poor powers .of observation—and the skirmishing was done- under- the Earl’s supervision. Bob was to have staid away till after the trial; however, an urgent letter from a club friend of his father brought him home in a hurry. He arrived in the evening, and, going to the Carlton, learned that the case was in the list for next day. When he reached Belgrave .Square and was shown into the library he found his father with Mr. Hicks, his Bodford Rowsolicitor. There was a row going on at a high pitch. “Pray tell your father he must settle,” said Mr. Hicks. “Settle be damned!” interrupted the did boy. “Settle, I say,” rejoined the solicitor. “You See, Mr. Martindale, Sir Edward says he won’t cross-examine the plaintiff, as to her character. He suggests that the material Is absurd, and he does not believe a word of the detective's story—he says he'd sooner return the brief.” "And the cheek?” gasped the Earl. “Yes, ahd the check. He says there’s no decent defense, and ho won't try to support the detective’s tissue of lies. Moreover, he insists that if he did he’d fail, and the damages and disgrace would be awful.” “What does it matter to me?” shouted the old gentleman. “It’s not my case, it's my son’s.” “That’s a bit. steep,” observed the son. “My retainer is from you, my lord,” urged Mr. Hicks. “O. I'll pay your confounded costs, but where will they get their damages from?” , Bob groaned. , “They’ve told me they’ll make him bankrupt,” replied Mr. Hicks, “and his discharge will be suspended for two years at least.” “What has that to do with me?” said the Earl grimly. Bob interposed: “Lord Salisbury has many claims on his patronage, and in iny bankruptcy he'd find a decent excuse for leaving me out in the, cold.” The Earl had no gout, but he managed without Its help to use very vigorous language'concerning sons, solicitors, advocates, and actresses. -“They will take £5,000 for damages, with a full apology and withdrawal in open court,” said Mr, Hicks, “and £SOO for costs.” "An apology! A withdrawal!" “A withdrawal of all the charges on the record.” Next day, to the Infinite disgust of the reporters and the crowded court. Sir Edward, in a graceful speech, made an. apology of the most ample Character, withdrew all imputations, and announced that £5,000 would be paid as compensation for the injury to the lady, together with her costs. The Morning Post, on the morrow, announced that the Earl of Hexam had gone to Buxton. When the honorable Robert, a day later, received a letter from Muriel, saying she was most anxious to see him, he took a cab to Brompton Crescent, and grew more and more perplexed every inch of the way. Miss Muriel, looking very neat, natty. handsome, and piquant, with a prodigious glow of life in her eyes, shook hands with him warmiy and made him sit down on the sofa by her side. For a quarter of an hour she stimulated his curiosity by talking about nothing in particular. At last his patience broke down. “Look here, Elka,” brusquely, “stow the cackle and. come to cues. I’m delighted to stie 1 you, and don’t bear malice; but what on earth put it into your pretty head to send for me?" She laughed loud, long, and heartily —so loud, long, and heartily that at last he laughed with her. "Well, you are a goose!" sh 6 said. “I know it.” he answered. “I dread Michaelmas.”

"I think your brain is developing; you're growing witty. O, you haven't got there yet!" • "Well, but —-” “Listen to pic. The Hon. Robert Talbot Hicsmes Clarence Martindale made a promise to Miss Muriel Mallett that , if within two years she had £5.000 to finance a theatrical company with he'd marry her." He gazed open-mouthed. She wheeled up the little round table to him. opened the crocodile-skin writing pad with silver edges, aud took-a bundle of crisp “flimsies” from the flap. “One, two, three, four,” she counted but up to fifty;/‘fifty’ brand new Bank of England notes, each for 100 beautiful, shining sovereigns. You I‘v» got the five thou.” He stared, mentally paralyzed. "The damages!" she shouted* hysterical with laughter. “The damages!" “Yes, and your promise.” “Yes. but ” . “There are no buts about it; you've promised, and you love me.” He nodded. “And I love you. iFt'he Earl hadn't played it so low down in the defense I might haveyhucked up the game. As It is, 1 hold you to your word as a man of honor. Will you marry' me?" She looked Into bis eyes. He really loved her. She took hold of his left hand, his right arm wandered round her w*t»t. ..J

“Will yon marry me?” she repeated, her lips an inch from his. He replied affirmatively without a word. There Is now one obstacle the less between the husband of the fascinating Muriel Mallettyind- the earldom of Hexham. for his’ lordship died suddenly from apoplexy on getting a telegram from an old club friend concerning his son’s marriage with the fascinating actress.—The Sketch.

ILLITERACY IN THE NATION.

Percentasre Now Greater in New England than in the West. The report of the Commissioner of Education presents some curious and Interesting facts with regard to Illiteracy in the,United States. This infor.ination is derived mainly from official records and deserves careful attention. It appears that the number of persons over 10 years of age who cannot read and write is 0,324,702, or 13.3 per cent, of the total population, according to the latest statistics. In 1880, the rate of illiteracy was 17 per cent., and a -decrease of 3.7 per cent, since that time is gratifying in the sense that implies gradual improvement, but the situation Is still lamentable, and no good citizen can contemplate it without experiencing a certain degree of humiliation. The government is based upon the idea of popular intelligence as an assurance of political safety and prosperity, and vast sums of money are expended for educational purposes. There is really no excuse for ignorance in a country where free schools abound and instruction is within easy reach of ail classes. Nevertheless, over thirteen out of every 100 of the people are unable to read and write. Tills great army of illiteracy is a standing reproach, as well as a menace, and there is no more important duty than that of reducing it as rapidly as possible. There wash time when New England led all the rest of the country in the general average of popular intelligence, but this is no longer true. It is now in the West, and not in the East, that the best showing is made of the education of the masses. Nebraska stands at thd head of the States in point of literacy, only 3.1 per cent, of its population be--Ing iina.ble to read andorite. No State west of the Mississippi River, with the exception of the four Southern States, ranks as low as Massachusetts in the number of illiterates in its population. This means, of course —and the fact is a very significant one—that a large percentage of the educated element-of the East has rempved to the West, thereby materially modifying its “wild "and -woolly- eonditioncaaid itaneans-further-more that the West has been doing a great deal in the enlargement of its educational facilities. The public schools of such States as Minnesota, lowa, Jiansas, Nebraska, and tlie Dakotas are equal in every respect to tiiose of any of the Eastern States, and their academies and universities are rendering effective service in the sphere of higher learning. So far as the South is concerned, allowance must be made for the presence of the, colored race, tin? illiterate members of which constitute neatlyone-half of the ttiral number.ffMlliterates in the Unifed States, but even with this serious drawback, the Southern Starts are making substantial gains in education, and the conditions promise an acceleration of such progress from yearto year.—Minneapolis Times.

Will Not Submit to Dictation.

The subject of renewing the privileges ot’ tlie Bank of Franutrwill shortly come up for discussion in the .chain-, her. after having been in abeyance since 1892, when tiie senate approved" a bill for the purpose. The bill has not since been modified ■-irid t.be provisions Trretndwt lirtt. Will, it is thought, be adopted without material alteration. One of them, whicli was to empower the bank to increase its note issue from 3.Si)O,tX)O.fNX) frifncsT to 4.090,000.000. was passed as far back as 1893. The charter expires on Dee. 31, 1897, and the proposal Is to extend it for a period of twenty .years from that date, in consideration of the bank making certain concessions to the state. Among these concessions Is one by whicli'the bank is to forego all future interest oh the g.ivernment debt. 140,000,000 francs, and jjot to demand repayment of the capital so long as the charter is in force. The bank is to undertake tiie service of the national debt ami transact other business fpr tire treasury, botli at tlie head office ahd branches, free of charge, and make an annual payment to the latter for 2.000,iIOO francs during the first year of the currency of the new charter and 2.500.-<IOO-francs per annum subsequently. It is to open several new branches and make advances- to tjgricultiiral cooperative societies. It Is not improbable that an effort will be made to convert tiie bank into a state institution, but such a project ’docs not command support either in financial or ministerial circles, and is not in the least degree likely to meet with success.—Edinburgh Scotsman.

A Long Shot.

James Shields was elected to the Senate in 1848, defeating his predecessor. Senator Breese. Slrfflds bad distinguished himself in' the Mexican War, and at the Battle of Gordo he* was shot through the lungs, the ball passing, out at his back. His recovery was one of tire marvels of the day. Shields’ war record is believed to have secured to him his triumph over Breese. When the news of Shields' election was received, a lawyer named Butterfield was speaking of it to a group of friends, wheu one of them remarked: “It was that Mexican bullet that did the business.” “Yes," retorted. Butterfield. “that was a great shot. The ball went clear through Shields without hutting him, and killed Breese one thousand miles away/'

Heard While Waiting.

A passenger, while waiting at a rallwny station for bls train, amused himself by watching the queer looks and antics of a tailless cat as it played about ou the platform. The stationmaster happening to pop out of his office, the intending traveler pointed to the cat and said, "What kind of a cat is that— Manx?” “No," replied the-stationmas-ter. with a sly smile, "Brighton Express.” Lots of people are afraid of a cyclone who a're not afraid of the devil. , It Is not it sin to steal things at a grocery store where you “trade.”

WOMAN HOME

BRAINS AND BALD HEADS. IF dermatoligists are to be believed the twentieth century woman stands a good chance of being compelled to wedr a -wig. . The claim is made that intellectual labor develops lack in the. hair, and that the daughters dnd granddaughters of the brainy, aggressive women of to-day who are pushing themselves into the front rank of the professions and distinguishing themselves in the fields of intellectual endeavor will be ba Id headed In early life. Science foresees this lamentable state of affairs, and sends ia note-of-warning. The "new woman” may be the progenitor of a nobler, a better woman, a brainier woman, but the latter will be a bald woman. .The "netv woman” is herself developing a tendency to baldness. It is an .Accepted scientific fact that excessive mental labor superinduces a weakness of the scalp tissue and the loss of the hair; that soon shows as partial baldness. With succeeding generations this weakness is aggravated, and is often marked by a complete less of hair in early life. Whthrra woman may escape actual baldness hersejf, in her children the germ will be sown, and so transmitted from generation to generation, until our young women will either be bald, bald as the egg of commerce, or at least be forced to wear short erpps of hair, like unto that of the boys of tbe presenU day. A glance over any assemblage of physicians, lawyers, statesmen or scientific men will show a decided majority of bald heads, while of the remainder the supply is light and scant, and the man with a luxuriant growth in such a gathering is conspicuous by reason of the fact. Close observation us rtre~hundreds of women who are taking an active part in public affairs will reveal this tendency: to scanty locks. Wonted nataraUyomakfr-evei'y effort to conceal such a fact; and it is not apparent to the casual observer, but inquiry among specialists who treat loss of hair and scalp diseases is met

WOMAN OF TO-DAY. WOMAN OF THE FUTURE.

With the admission that, while formerly women patrons were rare, they tiow come for treatment in numbers equal to the male customers. Women in the Hotel Business. The Misses Elliot, two prominent young New York society women, have created Veonsiderabte''talk by their recent action in opening a small hotel in that city which they will hereafter conduct. A few years ago such a move on the part of members of tire 400 would have been a nine days’ wonder, but New York society-, ha* lately grown wiser. Ten yeafsTagcTwhenrariheinber of one of the oldest New York families opened a grocery store in Newport soclety was sadly scandalized, Amt4t Ims been found that the effort to create an American aristocracy that would look down on “vulgar trades” was not destined to succeed. Indeed, one of the most popular signs of the times is the action of so many “swell” men and women, in entering trade. It makes Americans feel that democratic institutions are not a failure. Only a Suvrijcstion of Perfume. It-Is a law of modern form that men shall not use perfumes. Women tire permitted to carry about them a delicate odor of flowers or spices, but not 6 too much of it. Time was when the scent of fine‘ladies and dandles was overpowering. But all that is changed now, and the lady is expected to carry with her only a suggestion of perfume, if she has any at all. This. too. ill spite of the dictum from PaMs that the scent shall be strong. Perfume Is put on the handkerchief, essence of orris is used in the hair and other essences are used in my lady's toilet, but each perfume is subtle and delicate. She has her bath perfumed, too. .She puts eau de cologne into it, and naif a pint of benzine goes 'nto it to clear the skin and make it lirm and tight. One of the fads for the bath at present is the use of bags filled dally with almond meal or orris, with Shaved soap anil oil of roses or violets. Is lit “La ly” or “Woman?" A recent issue of the Verbalist has the following to say regarding an old dispute: The use of the word “lady.” whether in the singular or the plural, simply to designate sex Is In the worst possible taste. There Is a kind of pinfeather gentility which seems to have a settled aversion to using the terms “man” and “woman.” Such expressions as “She is a flue lady,” “a clever lady" and the like are studiously avoided by persons of refinement. If a woman of culture and refinement—in short, a lady—ls from any cause soever to work In a store, she Is quite contend to be called a saleswoman; hot so, however, with your young woman, who. being In a store, is in a better position than ever before. She bolls with indignation if she is not denominated a saleslady. Frisco’s Female Bagpipe Player. San Francisco, Cal., not Edinburgh, Scotland. Is the proud possessor of the only woman bagpipe player In the world. She is Miss Elaine Telfor, and she is an American by birth as well as by residence. She comesAof Scottish stock, however, her father being an Ayrshire man, who traces his ancestry back to Hobert Bruce. His daughter wak fond of Scottish legends ahd tales In her yanth. and at an early’age whs Inspired by t’“» • mhl.Hon to become the

mistress of the melodious art of piping. She learned readily and she 14 now sought all'along the coast to give, color to the gatherings of the men from Burns’ land. Miss Telfor is, a slight, dark-haired girl of 18, but she carries herself with the proverbial ’Stateliness of the piper and marches to the tunes she plays. She is fairly ablaze with the medals and decorations which have been bestowed upon her by the admiring Scotch societies of California.

To My Lady Who Playa. See her dainty fingers Tripping o’er the keys; With what grace she does it, -With-what-wondro ua easel Docs her playing mind you Of the robin's song. Piping in the tree tops All the morning long? Doos her touch bring to you Though’s of breaking hearts? Is her playfeg mindful Of'pyor Ctipi,d’s darts? Or does sre —dear maiden M’ith the ivory hand — • Make you think of hours In some dreamy land — Dreamy spot like Venice, With its rippling ways, Dreamy old Seville — Isn’t of these she plays? Nay. no; so this player Of whom now 1 sing, Pretty little maiden. Dainty little thing— Plays not of old romance. No sweet dreams evokes; She's just my typewriter Copying off niy jokes. -Harper's Ijazar. 1

The Rush at a Bargain Connter. One of the most interesting features of-the large shops where women spend much of their time and sonie of their money is the department known as the “waiting-room.” There the shopper is to be seen ih her most disheveled, most

distressed condition. After the bargain counter rushes, the snubs from haughty clerks, the disdain of the cash girls, and a long list of simila” woes, she retreats to the refuge prov *.ed by the proprietor. She sits in a disconsolate heap on velvet-cushioned sofas. She lets down her dignity sometimes her hair. She frequently curls up on one of the hot-looking divans and goes to sleep. She studies her shopping lists and examines those of her purchases which she carries with her.- She uses the firm's statlonerywitli the lavishness which is natural iu dealing-with other person's belongings. She displays sisterly kindness toward fellow shoppers driven by the bargain tempests into th - same haven. And once at least she has been moved to the most remarkable friendliness. One of the storm-tossed sisterhood drifted into the harbor and spied there another, who eydd her coldly. After a few minutes she walked overdo the lady of the.frigid aspect, “I beg your pardon,” she said, “but I know you had intended to buy that last 50-cent fan that I got. Would you like it now'? I find it’s too salmonypink anyway for me.” WhcreTipoll the other dilapidated purchasers who had put in for repairs were treated to the unusual sight of two rival shoppers almost embracing over a 50-ccnt fan. Tfninlr-g of Turkish Girls. Turkish girls of the better class iu the cities, after they are too bld to attend the primary schools, are largely educated at home by governesses, many.of whom come from England and France, but, unfortunately, do not represent the highest culture of these nations, so that real love of study is not, as a rule, developed under their influence. Turkish women have a great aptitude for foreign languages, and those met ou the steamers of the Bosphorus often speak French, and it is not unusual for them to speak German and English also.

An Arctic Christmas.

Christmas came almost before we were aware. Spirts had been arranged for the occasion, and at half-past two we assembled. A double row of ice-columns led away in dim perspective over the Ice-covered bay for more than two hundred yards, reminded one of un alabaster colonnade forming the approach- to an ancient Greek temple. Over these were laid bamboo poles, and at each end of the course a red torch-light was thrust Into the snow. We then Indulged in hurdle-racing and other sports. It was a strange spectacle, with the wild figures of the Innults and the fur-clad members of the party, now in the cold blue light of the moon, now In the bright red light from the torches, grouped about the contestants, and the towering, gloomy mass of Mount Bartlett in the background. The games were hurried through, for 1; was cold sport with tile thermometer 24 degrees below zero^— Century.

Adding Insult to Injury.

A bank cashier who ran away from San Diego with SIOO,OOO has added to his other crimes the slander that the' climate of California is no good. Friends of Fitzhugh Lee, the new consul-general to Cuba, declare that he conipburided the Urst real mint jult*p that President Cleveland ever drunk.

THE OLD CLERK.

His Life After AH Was Not Such ■ Failure. It was noon, but the-desk nearest the window in the great library was still vacant. The clerks whispered together, and the boys who carried books to the alcoves glanced atjt uneasily. “Old Fey’ton," they said, “has been here for twenty years and never missed a day before.” One of the boys watered his flowers, for the deaf old clerk had his window full of growing plants. The chief librarian came out of his office. “Mr. Peyton is dead,” he said abruptly. “Found dead in his bed last night. It is in the morning's paper.” The library was always quiet, but a gi;eat silence filled it during that day. The boys stoped skylarking, and the clerks made no comments to each other, even a,bout the dead man. Mr. Peyton had been very deaf, ami rarely spoke to them. But as they looked at the vacant stool, and remembered the lean, bent'figure in its shabby clothes, and the kindly face, it seemed as If a strong help had suddenly dropped out of their lives. In the office the chief discussed the dead man with a director. , “Never was a life such a failure,’’ he said. . “Peyton was a fine Greek scholar. ’Hegavejhie youth and middle age to Ids book oiforeece. His whole heart wO in his work. He put into it great research and learning. 1 But Schliemann's discoveries suddenly proved all his theoHes false. Thergris his book on the shelves, worthless; covered with dust. Nobody W! sit. .tThen. he lost his hearing. lie could not even teach Greek. He was only lit for clerical work, which barely kept him alive. He had no wife nor child. A wasted life, sir! A wasted life!” "You will go to the funeral?” said his friend, rising to go out. "Most certainly!” said the chief, hotly. “Why, there is no man living for whom I ;feel as I di<i for Peyton! I could tell you things erf the lofty honor of that old fellow, his tenderness, his charity. Oh, you know a man when you live with him ‘twenty years! No clergyman ever made Christianity real to me os be did." Meanwhile the old clerk lay still and cold on his cot iu hlsTittle chamber. It was a bare room, for he had been very poor. On a shelf was his great work, which even he had not opened for years. Was it a failure Had his life failed with it? A miniature picture of his mother, a young, beautiful woman, hung over it. “Perhaps she knows why God let my work go for nothing," Peyton used to think, as he looked at her. "I don’t understand.” His Irish landlady was in the room all day. She told every one who eiune how the old clerk had cared for her and her children for years. How he had kept Mike at work, and stopped Ben from drinking. The neighbors came, hard-working, intelligent folk, and each had a story to toll of advice or help which he had given them in some strait of their Ilves. From the policeman on his round to the crippled newsboy at the corner, ho had been a friend and 'wise father to them all. , Later in the day the clerks came, and the boys from the library. They brought bunches of flowers and with tears laid them on liis br'east, thinking of kind words and deeds which were as natural to the poor clerk as his breath. They did*not notice the great work of his life on‘the shelf overhead, the work that had failed. They only knew that one of God’s helpers had gone out of the world, and mourned for him. Ills mother’s face smiled down, as It had always done, well content upon her son. And upon the dead man's face ill ere was now a strange, listening look, as-of one who was (tilled home and heard his welcome.—Youth's Companion.

“Think.”

To road for instruction is commendable, and to read for amusement is, under certain conditions of mind or body, almost equally so. The reading one finds it hard to defend is tliat which is done with no end in view but to "kill time,” When one is tempted to this form of dissipation, it will be helpful to remember the suggestion ascribed to one of the meFchpnt-prinees of Canada. Late in life, after his fortune had been made. Mr. S. took a young man info partnership. Entering the office on a dull day Jn the dull season, the millionaire found his partner yawning over a book. “Wliat’s tliat you’re doing?" Mr. S. asked.' “There was nothing else to do, so I’m read 1 ng,” was the answer. "Nothing, else to do! Reading!” the groat merchant repeated, in a tone that expressed wonder, amusement ■ and scorn. “When you’ve“‘nothing else to do, don't read. Think!"

Grew on Sunday.

A little girl in Aberdeen brought a basket of strawberries .to the minister very early bn Monday morning. “Thank you, my little girl/’ he said. “They are very beautiful. But I hope you didn’t gather them ytsterday, which was the Sabbath day.” “No, sir,” replied the child, “I pulled them this morning; but they was growin’ al! yesterday.”—“Quaint Sayings of Children,” by the Kev. David Maerae.

Rance of the Voice.

The range of the human voice : .s quite astounding—there being about nine per feet tones, but 17,502,186,044,515 different sounds; .thus fourteen direct muscles, alone or together, produce 16.383, thirty Indirect muscles, ditto, 173,741.823; and all in co-operation produce'ths number we have named, and these Independently of different degrees of Intensity.

Spots.

To “knock the spots out of anything" Is an allusion to the traditional skill of Western cowboys and famous rifle shots, who would shoot the spots of a card hold between the Angers of one of their sporting friends.

Every man is weak In certain directions, and should lose no time Iti acknowledging it.; I k It Is unfortunate that knowledge doesn't show up in a countenance just like dimples. The girl with a steady keeps better track of the moon than an almanac.

HOW TO MAKE LOVE.

New and Very Novel, Though .Not Successful, Method. -A good story Is told of a young man who had gained access to the house of one of the richest and most aristporatie families in the city. He fell iff love with the only daughter of the house, and tried to Ingratiate himself with her in every possible manner, especlallly by bringing her the latest publications. One day the father of the young lady found one of these books lying on the table, and began glancing through IL In one of the chapters he found a number ot words underlined with a deadpencil—not beautiful passages, blit Insignificant words as “I” and “you.” He turned over leaf after leaf, and found everywhere the same thing. He connected up the underlined words, and read as follows: “Dearest Fraeulein: “'Will it insult you if I tell you that I adore you, and—” In short, a love letter of the must gushing description, and closing with the suggestive words: “Answer in the next chapter.” Then he took a lead pencil, underlined some words in the next chapter, wrapped the book in'a piece of paper, and banded It t.o the footman, wbqpi he instructed to take it; back to the young gentleman. The latter opened the volume, his heart throbbing like a sledgehammer, and found the words underlined in the next chapter. He read as follows: “You young scoundrel! If you dare to cross the threshold of my house again. I shall kick you c- . of the window.”—New York Mercury. . .fa— - Too Careful of the Baby. There are few things that cannot be carried to excess, however excellent they ma.v be; in themselves considered. Even a baby may be fussed over, and fidgeted over, and taken care of, and c“oddled, till it is in danger of growing up a weakling, if it grows up at all. On this point the New York Tribune lately had a few sensible paragraphs. “When my first child was born." said Mrs. A„ “I had the usual young mother’s craze for a daintily kept baby. The layette Was ope of those gorgeous gift affairs, tyith frocks which Victoria, I am sure, would have thought much too fine for the royal children—besides every conceivable fantasie in which, she most luxurious-minded infant could by any possibility be attir--ed. I used to gloat over the sachetscented, exquisite little belongings, and the moment I was up and about after baby’s birth I bbgan to play doll witli my small daughter, decking her out in first one thing and then another. “I had one of those fussy French nurses, immaculate as a npw pin; and. between us we scrubbed and polished up that poor baby until it-s a marvel it didn’t fade away before our eyes. After a bath in almond meal-softened water, with plenty of Lubin and sweetsmelling talcum, she did look a darling in her sheer, beribborred draperies, and I, foolish mother, never noticed her languor and .waxen skin. “I did take note that her t hair wouldn't grow; 1 that worried me, for, no matter how becomingly dressed, a child with a billiard-ball style of coiffure does not realize the fondest dreams of the maternal heart. I sewed dolls’ crimps in her bonnets, which was ail very well for outings, but inadequate for home, so finally I called in the doctor. J “He was a grumpy person, very curt and not over-civil at times. ‘Bathed too much,’ he said, briefly. ‘Look at her skin—all the life washed out of it. Too much care given that child. Let her get dirty and stay dirty. Nothing better for children than judicious neglect.’ “It was a new idea and I went to work at it. Very shortly we went to our country place, and I noticed tiia farmers’ babies who ate almost any kind of country food, sat in puddles and went bare-headed whether the rain fell or the sun scorched. They were inevitable victims of future dyspepsia, but the fact remained that, as babies, they were sturdy and rosy, and mine wasnt; and I concluded to try judicious neglect. * “I Invested In gingham pinafores and stout shoes, dumped a load of clean sand at the side door, and inaugurated a perpetual feast of mudpies. Pauline was instructed not to say ‘Don’t,’ save in extreme moments, and baby began to live the life of a young animal left to the beneficent care of sunshine and fresh air, undisturbed save at regular intervals for food and sleep. “I bought a pig that she might hang over the pen and tickle piggy’s back with a stick. It afforded her hours of pure rapture to echo the pig’s grunts with her silvery coo, and in spine mysterious fashion the associate'll" was conducive to health. I never could understand why, only it was. She would always rotiirti • blootning and serene, uud if to a nap; slept better after having spent this pleasant period feed them, got doves and ( btber pets about the place, finding that- animals gave Interest but no 1 overstlmulds to the baby nerves. In short, I never had my wax dolly again; bnf in the autumn I carried home a blooming, sturdy little maid whose splendid spirits nnd perfect health more than compensated for occasional mud stains and torn pinafores.”

Burials.

There is st least one country in the world where it costs nothing to die. In some of the cantons of Switzerland ail the dead, rich as well as poor, ar® buried at the public expense, Coffin® and all other necessary articles aro furnished on application to certain undertakers designated by the government. Everything connected with the Interment is absolutely gratuitous, including the grave and the feltgion* service. All classes avail tliemselve® freely of the law.

The Ruby.

The ruby in the center of the Maltes* cross on the fop ot the British crown is the stone that was given to th® Black Prince, by King Pedro of Caotlle after the battle of Nej2»a. Henry* V., of' England, wore it in his helmet at tha, battle of Agincourt * . ' , When people try to show all the h>va there Is in them, they are tried for la, sanity.-