Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1907 — Page 2

A CROWN OF FAITH

CHAPTER ! v j Nearly all the lights were extinguish v/ In private dwellings in the town of 4boUhold. Tliere had been an ng.- .litoral dinner at the “Black Wolf,” .. picturesque, many-gabled inn, which stood apposite the western entranee of the-an-cient Abbey church. It was a ghostly •Id inn, with its wide window places, high mantelpieces, odd three-cornered rooms, -imf pt—agea. and unsuspected Clipboards. John Clayton, the present landlord, had Inherited it from Sis father, who, in Si a tern, had inherited it from his father, and he again from his. In short, the m ßlk* Wolf had been in possession of the Claytons for two hundred years. It was the most comfortable inn in Abbotshold. The sleeping accommodations, the fires, the cleanliness recommended it far and wide. Tliere was a plump, motherly The guests at the dinner had departed, aaea two. and those two sat each on a low, lounging chair before a brilliant fire. Baskets and plates of choice fruit, hothouse flowers in grent china vases, yet remained on tbe long table. Both of tbe lingering guests were young ; each was singularly handsome. The elder was fair, with golden mustache, light curling hair, a finely cut mouth, a atrsdglit profile, large blue eyes—quite an Adonis of the blond order. Anybody who understood the signs and distinctions" - of the various spheres- of society could ~~ divine «t e gtancp thar this gentleman belonged to the upper classes. Aristocracy was set upon him like a seal, from the crown of his handsome head to the •oles of his well-fitting boots. Xotwith•tanding, there was a daring in his manliar, a look in his bold blue eyes which ■poke eloquently of the life of the man of the world. He smiled at his companion as he said: “Tell me your history, life and adventures, expectations, ambitions, loves and hatreds. Now is your time. I am just In the mood for a good love story. I am the most romantic fellow in the world.” The other young man had deep-set gray eyes, luminous and full of earnest power. His complexion was brown,” his sea-“ tores nobly cast. A black mustache coneealed the short upper lip, but the ldwer one and the chin were molded as by a Greek sculptor. He was tall, an athlete, wiry, muscular. Keen intelligence mingled with romantic fervor. Here was a powerful brain, a fervid imagination, a most passionate heart. He looked down at his boots —rather worn boots, if the truth must be told; for liiionel Leigh was poor; a teacher of foreign languages and classics in the town of Abbotshold and the villages sumrnnd—lag,—The remuneration he received was small, except in one or two instances. He was fonder of art and knowledge than of dress. All his spare cash went for books and engravings. It was understood that he proposed reading fur H degree, and he was looked upon in that country district with a species of wonder, mixed with a half-contemptuous pity. “I do not believe in your capacities for romantic feeling,” said Lionel. "There is ao much of the cynic about you, and you are materialistic, and pleasure lovng, and mosey loving-—are you not?" “If I am,” returned the other, laughing, “1 love what I haven’t got. Look here, my dear friend! not a cent—not the shadow of a copper—not a mite to place in a poor box. with the self-complaisant feeling that I have given up my all!” and tbe aristocratic looking young man turned out his pocket linings. "See ! not even an empty purse; I had one of silver chainwork, and I was absolutely compelled to send it, in the company of a ten-carat, showy guard chain, an old silver snuff box, and a garnet seal ring, to enjoy the society of that useful relative, popularly known by the affectionate title of ‘uncle.’ It’s all my own fault, too. How I shall pay my expenses here at this good inn—where I have boarded and lodged at the expense of the fatherly Clayton for a whole fortnight—goodness alone knows 1” Lionel looked at his companion; his face flushed. "Mr. Barrington,” he said, "you invited me to dine. I thought you a man of property. I might have known that an earl’s cousin would not have made himself equal with a poor professor, unless he had already dropped out of his own sphere;” and he tendered tlfe money. “Ungracious man!” cried Barrington, pocketing the money, notwithstanding, and laughing; “but I will invite you to dinner every night for a week soon, and five yott everything that costs money. I shall be rolling in wealth soon, tumbling head over heels in coin. What do you say to thirty thousand a year?” “If I had the sixth pert of it, I should rejoice with exceeding joy; but explain.” “The fact is,” he said, “I am a sad fellow, one over whose misdeeds all the eld spinsters in a country town would litter a chorus of groans. I was brought np in the magnificent house of an earl. I have a brother older than myaelf, who will, in virtue of seniority. Udte titles and estates some day. This fact, perhaps, to begin with, a little disgusted me wkh things in general, and my brother in particular. Now I will confide in you my troubles, and ask your aid in regard to a fortune of thirty thousand a year. I want to run away with an heiresa. I want to get her off to-morrow night, and I want you to help me.” “Me?” ‘ “Because she is one of your pupils, and you have access to the house.” “What honeer I “St. Martha’s College. Woodmancote. Her name is Jenny Wilkinson —not an aristocratic-name, I admit. She is seventeen. Jenny lived with an odious old aunt in a great grim house at Hamxneramith; there were grounds, and kitchen gardens, and a shrubbery. Miss Tabitha Kettle was the name, or, rather, is the name of the odious individual aforesaid —aa old eoul given to all kinds of pious exercises. Poor Jenny had a terrible time of it. There was an English governeee. ahe-dragon of ugliness and propriety; there whs an elderly lady’s maid, there was a eerioug butler, and a

; footman of the same persuasion. How to get a letter passed, I could not tell. At last I found that a tall, faded Frenchwoman, with flashing eyea. and an air of good taste' pervading her shabby-gen-teel garments, was in the h; bit of giving private lessons every day to Miss Wilkinson. I lodged in the neighborhood, you rmust understand; and by dint of listening to.gossip, I found out all about Jenny, the tall, young heiress. I went to Dr. Commons and had a look at the will, and discovered the heireas-ihip to be genuine. Then T paid court io the French lady. At first she was surprised, then a little flattered, then suspicious; then we came to an understanding, and made terms? She was to carry novels secretly into Hammond House, and Jenny was to read them; then she was to carry a letter. After that, if Jenny proved romantic, we ’wmrr<ntmi In a summer house Rr the shrubbery. All went well! novels, letters, meetings. Bverrtbinr was arranged, when, in an evil hour, the she-dragon of ah. English governess discovered a letter of mine under Jenny’s pillow, wetted with the sentimental tears of the poor little creature. The Frenchwoman was forbidden the housfe I was sent for by Miss Tabitha, but I did not venture to obey the summons. Jenny was sent off somewhere ; I never found out where until a fortnight ago, when I discovered, through the assistance of that indefatigable Mademoiselle Le Blanche, that Bt. Martha's College, in the -western Midlands, n<*ar to the little town of Abbotshold, was tho prison where my distressed -damsel was confined.” “The girl loves you, I suppose, and is deluded into the belief that you love her. Poor child!” “ Well; of course, i t was the nioney first attracted me; and now, even, it’s the most important point. But Ido love little red-haired Jane. —She isn’t ugly, if she isn’t handsome. She has beautiful teeth, and winning ways, and affectionate eyes. I would not harm a hair of her little head for all the world.” “But when you have her money, you will set about spending it, and neglect ~B«r~ Sfie will break her heart. — Not ! ~wTll~he vefTVPlp 'tlsnrnr w ouiau to a mer--cenary match.” “But I tell you I love her, love her Infinitely more than anybody in this wide, cold world. I declare Ido !.I shall, spend her money, of course; but I don’t mean to waste it.” “Did you say thirty thousand a year?” “Every halfpenny of it. I’ve seen Jhe will. The father was a stock broker — fat and vulgar, no doubt; and the child will want training before she Is presented among my friends. They’ll all notice me

again am rich and respectable. I say. you will help me, won’t youj” “How can you ask it?” said Lionel. “I am teacher at that school. What a breach of honor to assist one, of the pupils to elope.” “Mr. Lionel Leigh, sorry I have trusted you. Go to old Miss Pritchard and tell her what I’ve confided to you, will you?” “No.” said Lionel slowly—"No, I don’t think that would be honorable, either.” goon after this the acquaintances separated for the night. CHAPTER 11. Lionel’s chamber at the “Black Wolf” was one of the ghostliest and quaintest in that quaint and ghostly inn. His one wax candle -burned dimly oa the high mantelshelf. Thrown up In strong relief among the shadows was a great four-post bedstead, heavily curtained with red damask ; just the kind of Curtains for a ghost to draw in the middle" of night and wake one up, with thei announcement of softie unsuspected, long-forgotten crime. The rain was pattering against the window, and every now and then the voice of the wind was heard, rising like a lamentation, and dying away in a sigh. Lionel listened to the wind, and then glanced about into the corners of the shadowy room. He was not afraid of ghosts, but there was an imaginative power in him, a love of the mysterious; and this vein was on him strongly tonight while- he sat in the bed chamber of the "Black Wolf.” Mystery stirouded his birth. Educated on the Continent, almost’entirely, he came, he was sure, of English parents. More than that, he was convinced that he was well if not nobly bornp that if he could succeed in discovering the true name of his family, he should probably find himself the heir to wealth and land, and even title. But insuperable difficulty stood between him and this discovery ; nor was he anxious to devote the precious years of his youth to what ml&ht prove but an unsuccessful search, and would probably end in blank disappointment. Lionel was only twenty-four. His lodgings were at Woodmancote, a rural village three milee from Abbotshold, since most of his pupils lived in thst Immediate neighborhood. Lately he had been struggling manfully to throw off the subtle and dangerous fascination which enthralled him: and, since the first step in this wise direction is said to be to seek society and shun seclusion, Lionel no longer spent his evenings in his study with his reading lamp, his books, his manuscripts, his pot of strong coffee, after the fashion of a would-be wakeful student. The liveliest place within access mt a friendly youth—without connections or introductions, in that proud and exclusive little country cowrie, where none were admitted unless they coaid bring fashionable recommendations—was the “Black Wolf." So It happened that lately Lionel had supped st the favorite inn, listened to laughter and song, and striven to forget a certain pair of dark eyes which haunted him continually. “It’s no use,” be muttered. ”1 most leave this neighborhood. I most go abroad.” Ho passed his hand over his forehead, and then he heard distinctly a cough—there could be no mistake—a cough, which the person seemed to etrlve to repreea. but which broke out again more loudly—a dlsttaot humaa eeegh, ao mt ooe

hoarse with cold. Lionel stood np and seized his candle. He held It high above his head, and peered into all the dark corners of the low-ceiled room. “Nothing to be seen. It must be fancy,” he muttered. “I might think that I had heard a neighbor cough in an adjoining room, only it is well known the walls in this old house are of such a thickness thlat no sound conies from one room to another. It must be fancy.” He undressed and put out his candle and crept into bed; but his mind was too active, too busy, too much peopled with fancies and plants and regrets and vague, wild lioipe3, to permit him to sleep. While he lay thinking, against his will,of those haunting eyes, he distinctly heard the cough again.., “No fancy,” said he, aloud. . Then he sprang out, and went to the fire, and contrived to light his candle; and he walked about, cayefully searching. He looked under the bed and felt the walls. At last, while his hand was 04 the waßAhe cough came a third time behind it. He struck the wall. The sound was hollow. ~ “Hello! there is a cupboard here,” said Lionel. And so it proved. The cupboard door •was papered over with the same red velvet paper as the walls. But Lionel found q.kev, turned it. and entered a large, deep closet. ~ He’ fuliyTspected-to eneougier A burglar, but the place was empty. He This closet was not used apparently, for clothes or any other purpose. It wap an empty, dark place. The walls were covered with a dull, yellow paper. "Somebody was here,” said Lionel. "There must be another door, or a staircase, ..or- ” He began to search, but he found nothin, No s tn l rg i nn second door. Then he came into his room and locked the door of the cupboard, and put the key in his pocket. He then went to bed, bewildered and wondering. Soon he fell asleep,, and did not awaken till daylight looked in at his window. He rose and began to dress somewhat carefully; for, after breakfast, he was to proceed at once to that house where the -haunting eyes which had looked at jiim from the embers last night shone and softened in the sweet, warm reality of life. The~sublime ever touches upon the ridiculous. Lionel dropped a cake of soap. It fell at some distance,; just at the door of that suspected cupboard. He crossed the room, stooped to pick -it up. Lo, and behold! the door was ajar. It had been ..forced from the inside. _ _ He rushed to the door of his room, which he distinctly remembered locking and trying the previous night. It wai not only unlocked, but ajar. Somebody, then, had succeeded in escaping while he lay sleeping. His first thought was naturally of robbery, but he found his plain gold watch, his purse, with its scanty supply of silver and gold coins, untouched. Nothing had been taken from his room. Was the house robbed? He looked up at the walls and wondered. There was a large ancient sampler, worked in many colored silks and framed in black, hanging over the washstand. It had been executed by the mother of the. present landlady, when a child. The- oUI.-fashioaed' verses at struck Lionel at the moment like a turning, and a promise, and a threat—all in one. “If thou art wise, Look to thy ways. Do not despise v The blessed days—“Go no{ to deal At Folly’s Fair. Thy love conceal, Thou shalt be heir." “Thy love conceal, thou shalt be heir.” Those two lines were worked in bright scarlet color, unfaded by the lapse of years. “Heir!” he said aloud. “Should I be heir of an estate in fairyland and a palace in the clouds? ‘Thy love Shall I ever dare to speak of it to mortal?” And he began to brush his hair and forget the mysterious cough, and the more mysterious escape of the concealed person. Down in the coffee room he told of his odd adventure, and immediately good Mrs. Clayton began to search her plate basket and money box; but it turned out that nothing had been stolen from the “Black Wolf.” (To be continued.)

Liked the Text.

Speaking of the letter “h,” a writer says; "Curiously enought, the ‘h’ ia not dropped north of Yorkshire, and Scotland, with characteristic thriftluess, takes the utmost care of it. Ireland is prodigal in emphasizing it, and so far as I know the colonies are also sound on this point Only Finland refuses to aspirate. Sometimes her consistent Inaccuracy in this matter is amusing enough. “For example, there is a village in the eastern counties which rejoices In the name of Haw. A parishioner vyas asked what he thought of a strange preacher who bad been holding a service in the village. “ ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I liked the gentleman. ‘ls tex’ was just suited to ug folk.’ “ ‘Why, what was his text?’ “‘lt were a tex’ from the Psalms, "Stand Iu hawe and sin not”—it sounded so ’omely lolke.’"

Always Scraping.

“Ah, fair one," breathed the little count, “my life has been zs one life of adventure. All my life I have known nothing but scrapes.” “Nothing but scrapes?" echoed the sensible heiress. "Well, In that case It should be very eesy for you to procure a position In a 5-cent barber shop. Avaunt!”

That Settled It.

Stern Parent—Mollie tells me that you never smoke, nor drink, nor play tbe races, nor stay oat late. Timid Wooer—Ne-never, sir! Stern Parent—That settles lb No mollycoddle need come aronnd here te coddle Mollie.—Baltimore American. -1

Political Comment.

Drift Toward Protection. It certainly Is curious that at a time when there is more or less discussion of the question of revising the tariff of the United States there should be entirely different propositions abroad in various other countries. Even in England, which free traders are accustomed to regard as the exemplar of economic perfection because if gets along without protection, there is a. well-de-fined tendency toward a different poliey. It is admitted that some Interests in the island are suffering as a result of ruinous foreign .competition, against which the laws interpose no check. Agriculture especially is at a low ebb, although in ai fertile country like England, with enormous manufactures giving employment to millions of workers and circulating great sums of money as wages, there should be not only activity In farm pursuits, but a ready Yet something is the matter in Engilblll'lAUl’ UW CJWIPt" ing economic system is growing louder and louder. In almost every othe"r quarter of the globe inhabited by civilized peoples there is a strong disposition to maintain protection and increase the safeguards of home industries. Germany recently overhauled its schedules and raised the rates on many classes of Imports. France has a maximum and minimum tariff, and does not hesitate to apply the extreme figures when it thinks it 3 own interests will be served thereby. Canada, which has no use for the free trade of the mother country, has long been an ardent' protectionist antrTras although it gives a preferential figure to England. All the other important British colonies have protection, some, of them in the most pronounced form, and several of them have shown an ominous inclination to take both the economic and political bits in their teeth and “go it alone,” as regards their own affairs. The late conference of colonial Premiers in London was a striking ilI lustration of the IffdepefldeHt spiritwhich, wTSffeTaffirinlngTfurdyniegTence” to the imperial government, is becoming more and more intolerant of restraint in any matter of home concern. 111 every Instance here cited it will be seen that the drift is with the protection current —that the advanced and I progressive peoples are determined to safeguard their industries. Possibly rids is selfishness. But it is au enlightened selfishness. He who guards not his - own Is likely to be accused sooner or later of failure to comply with a most important trust. And the question naturally itself: ‘When other nations' are raging special pains to establish economic rules in their own interest, is it a good time to take down the bars behind which American industry is thriving because it is shielded from foreign invasion? —Troy Times. Will It Be Ruuaevelt 1 Will Theodore Roosevelt be the next Republican candidate for the presidency 7 -That he .will be urged to accept the Bominatien is certains will he persist In refusing? Three years ago, on the night of his election by a tremendous popular majority Mr. Roosevelt issued a statement declaring in language in which there was no equivocation, that he would not be a candidate in 1908. Not a word has been uttered by him. since that time incompatible with that declaration. On the contrary he has/reaffirmed his statement. But there is already an emphatic demand on the part of Republicans in all sections of the country that he accept next year’s nomination. And this demand is echoed by thousands of Democrats. It is argued that he is in reality now serving his first term, that he merely filled a vacancy caused by the death of McKinley, and that as he has been elected hut once, he Is entitled to another term. The argument is also made that Mr. Roosevelt has inaugurated certain policies which he alone can carry out, and that in conjunction with these policies are others which dovetail in as a matter of course, and that he must be returned in order that these plans may not be side-tracked. There are also those who insist that while Mr. Roosevelt is in earnest in his intention not to be a candidate, that it is a matter for the party and not the President to decide, and that if tbe convention again makes him the nominee, he canuot, and will not, decline the call to duty. It is plain that the pressure for his renomination, already strong, will become more so during the winder and spring. ' There is no doubt that President Roosevelt means what he says. He is and will not be a candidate next year. Wbat he will do if the convention nominates him in spite of his protests, the future alone can tell —Toledo Blade. Obvioulf. Lieut Gov. Chanler, of New York, Insists that the tariff issue should be taken out of politics. As the Congress makes the tariff, and as the political parties select the members of that body, Mr. Chanler’s first step should be to abolish Congresa—Philadelphia Record.

The Compromise.

“My bride wanted to go on a week’s wedding tour, and I wanted to stay at home. Well, we compromised by golng on a tour around the world!”— Meggeudorfer Blatter.

NO MORE CURRENCY TINKERING.

Danger of Overdoing; Emergency Palliatives. The bankers of New Yore, Boston, Chicago. St. Louis and the .other financial centers are rejoicing over the government’s announcement of an issue or $50,000,000 of Panama canal 2 per cenj bonds and $100,000,000 of 3 pgr cent treasury certificates. Like ’’ Messrs. Roosevelt and Oortelyou, the bankers believe that the government will thus unlock all the hoards of idle Cash, and restore it to trade channels, wh?re it can perform its customary functions. Confidence is gradually reviving, snd that is all there is needed to restore business to its old-time activity. For the psychological effect which it has on the country the action of the President in thus providing for an immediate increase in the currency is justitmble. But there Ts aliC'&y s danger of overdoing these financial palliatives. Emergency measures of relief are often effective for the moment, but they sometimes .do harm after normal conditions are restored. For this reason it is to be hoped that the government will take no further;steps "tTr the' dfrcct i oir of - 'in“ creasing the currency except an ;H-t nf I-liis \vin hisimT intelligent discussion from all points of view. The measures which tne President has announced will accomplish their immediate purpose, which was to coax the hoarded currency out of its hiding places. But when all of it gets hack into trade channels, there will be too much of it. We will have gained S7O.OUQ.OQO in gold bv the time that the metal already ordered gets to New York. —This gold, coupled-witu the new currency which will be created by the measures announced by the government, will put the volume of the circulation far the needs of legitimate trade Our currency was sufficient, until the recent scare and hoarding began, to meet all demands of the exchanges, and trade was more active then than it is likely to he for the next two or three months, until confidence is fully restored. An immediate effect of <1 leduudan-c-y in currency will be that the gold which we have recently imported will all go back to Europe. Gold exportation, .always takes .place when the curnhsorptioa... point in business. The $70,000,000 of currency which will drive out our S7O, 000,000 of gold would be a poor exchange for us in this or any other exigency. When, just after the Jay Cooke failure iu September, 1873, and the general financial convulsion which started at that time, President Grant was appealed to by the New York bankers to reissue the $44,000,000 greenbacks which, -several years earlier, Secretary McCuiloch had retired and canceled, he refused. In carrying.out the purpose of the wartime legislators to retire the greeu--4tueka-m-3aoft--as- PQSsible, se as to re-_ sume gold and silver payments by the treasury, McCulloch abolished as muen of that currency as he could safely do, and Grant refused to reissue it. Contraction was resorted to in order to make resumption of specie payments easier when Congress could be induced to pass a resumption act, and Grant wanted resumption at the earliest possible hour. The panic incited Coiigress to pass a bill in April, 1874, which would have added about $44,000,000 to the currency, but Grant vetoed it because he believed it would delay resumption. The financial scare was far more acute in those days than it is now, and the danger was immeasurably greater. Grant, however, refused to he stampeded by the clamor for more currency. A little of this firmness will be in order for Mr. Roosevelt m this exigency. No harm has been done thus far by anything which’ the President has countenanced. The money is being coaxed out of its hiding places, an<l when it gets back into its old channels it will be abundant enough for all legitimate purposes. The Panama canal bonds, thougih not needed now, will be needed- some time. The treasury certificates will run for a year only, and are not legal tender, so that they will be retired twelve months hence, when interest on them ceases. In the meantime the treasury will send money to the financial centers in the West and Soutn, wherever it is needed. A. permanent requirement is to make our currency more elastic, and this is a task, which Congress can attend to at its leisure tills winter. —St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Do Not Depend op the Tariff. It is time to have it understood that the creation of monopolistic combinations does not depend on the presence of absence of a tariff, but upon the existence of opportunities to engross supplies or coutrol the machinery of transportation or exchange. For instance, there is a protective tariff bn wool; but the business of wool growing cannot be monopolized, even though it is languishing. For a clear understanding of the question it should be plainly recqgnlibfi that wherever, through n£glect> or nlaladministration of the law, there is an opportunity to combine or control either the sources of supply or the means of production, or the channels of transportation or exchange, there the combinations to monopolize the given staple will spring up. This is inevitable If the law does not correct or punish the offense. There may be men too honorable to share in such schemes, but the dynamic fores of tbe tendency is seen in the fact that the people who are willing to share in It can buy out or extinguish those who will not —Clinton (la.) Herald. Not unacquainted with misfortune, I learn to aacoor the wretched. —VlrvlL

THE WEEKLY HISTORIAN

1492—Columbus arrived at Hayti and learned that the colony left there had perished. 1499 —Perkin Warbeck, who styled himself Richard TV., King of England, executed. ' ’ 1518—-Cortez sailed from Cuba to captnre Maxico. . 1540 —De Soto left the coast and began this inland march. 1542—English defeated the Scots at Solway Moss 1578—Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s first expedition sailed to found a colony in America. 1626 —St. Peter’s, Rome, dedicated by Pope Urban VIII. 1633 —Ships Ark and Dove sailed from England, with 200 persons to found a colony in Maryland. 1643—Birth of La Salle, the explorer of the Mississippi valley. 1683—Boundary line agreed upon by New York affa"osHHSt?tlCllt. 1755 —Sevcge earthquake shocks felt along the eastern coast of North America. 1758 —Fort Duquesne renamed Pittsburg by the English. 1775 American force took and fortified Cobble Hill, near Boston 1776 British uafder Cornwallis crossed the Hudson to attack Fort Lee. 1794—Jay’s treaty between the United States and Great Britain signed. 1796—French under Bonaparte defeated the Austirans at Areola.... Much property destroyed by tire in Savannah, Ga. 1801—The Pillory used in Boston for the last'Time. 1816—A Philadelphia theater lighted by gas, first in the country. 1832 —Eruption of Mt. Etna; town of Bronte destroyed. 1837 —Montreal used gas for illuminating purposes for the first time. 1851 — Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover mnd Duke mLCumberiand,-died. 1852 — Napoleon 111. elected Emperor of the French. 1860 —Legislature of Georgia voted sl,000,000 -terarm the State. 1863—Battles before Chattanooga, Tenn., began.... The National Soldiers’ cemetery at Gettysburg dedicated. 1867—Committee on the House reported in favor of the impeachment of President Johnson 1871—The Grand Duke Alexis arrived at New York 1874—British immigrant ship Oosrpalrick burned at sea, with loss of 473 lives. 1877—The Halifax fishery commission, under treaty of Washington, rendered its decision. 1883—Standard time adopted throughout Canada. 1889 —Remarkable cliff dwellings discovered in Colorado. 1889— Alaska first demanded representation in Congress. 1890 — Indian outbreak near Pine Ridge, South Dakota... .Battleship Maine launched ait the Brooklyn navy yard.

The Scientific Immortality.

Sir Oliver Lodge, the noted British scientist, has delivered another pronouncement on the subject of the immortality of the aeul. lie says first that the simple important truth to be kept in sight is the commonplace fact that there is nothing immortal or persistent about the body except the material atoms of which it is composed. He dismisses utterly the notion, still taught by part of the Christian church, that these atoms will some day be gathered and reunited so as to constitute a complete man as he appeared on the earth, and who thereafter will last forever. This he regards as merely a clumsy expedient to make pleasing the idea of the homeless, wandering spirit or ghost of the departed individual. Sir Oliver says that nobody knows what the soul is, but that common sense rebels against its being nothing, and that no genuine science had assumed to-declare it a purely imaginary nonentity. He holds it must be acknowledged by science that no really existing thing perishes, it only changes form. As this has been shown clearly in the case of matter and energy,, it must also be true of mind, consciousness, will, memory, love and other activities which interact with matter and appeal to the bodily senses. These facts of the individual human consciousness, he says, cannot be regarded as nothing, and they will never vanish into nothingness. They did arise with us. They never sprang suddenly into being from previous non-exist-ence. They are as eternal as the Godhead itself, and will in eternal being endure forever.

Atmosphere on Mercury.

The transit of Mercury across the face of the sun. Not. 14, wn the occasion of careful observations by astronomers with more or leas satisfactory results. William R. Brooks, professor of aeteonomy at Hobart college, Geneva, N. Y., discovered a diffused ring surrounding ths planet. This was thought to indicate the , presence of an atmosphere. Near the center of the planet was noticed a white spot, which had been seen a* feeinei transits. Many photqgrapha were taken. •»