Semi-weekly Express, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 1 January 1897 — Page 5

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portance

the

and

decomposing

end

decomp

ra?r1-t.f' have

snails

first nlace

ery," the

S S

T7T?rjinn 4fQ\T A TF T?U"V mountain, also infests lupin bushes princlA Oil aiiilill pally. But this little creature Is is small as a pinhead and is therefore not easily seem NOVKIi idea of. a

He is in Enthusiastic Snails—Ho.w*t.He*„ Keeps •-M ... thota. ti»

Collector of

The word "snail" almost invariably calls to mind that Jong, slimy, yellowc gardens and on damp garden paths usually in the cool of the morning, says the San Francisco Chronicle. One is top. likely. tq confuse this unprepossessing slug^withi-thfr little animal that carries on its back its dainty spiral house. But it will be seen that while both belong to the saniei.' f&m|l# there are many and as great differences between them as there are between members of any other family -of animals. The snaM, with its wonderful power to construct a delicate,: e'veni anil .bsautilfiiliy- tinted -shelly seems of .a much higher order than the slug. And so the idea of raising snails is ..not repulsive after all but has an odd flavor of interest about it.

I hajf occasion to^lsit a conjJaologisjtKin his den not long ago and, while showing me drawer after drawer of sea" and land shells, he suddenly led me to an adpoining conservatory, and, pointing to a large boz that stood in the corner, said: "This is my 'sriaiteryt'

W--J£

looked into the Box and-sa-#-

hundreds of shells all shafies of brown and pale yellow fastened to the sides of the box or lying upon the bottom.

How the Snallery Looks.

The cage, if one may call it by that name, was a redwood box 3 by 4 feet and 1 foot deep." It was half filled: with^ ri5h moist earth, a quarter of which was planted with canary seed that had grown to a height of six or seven inches. Looking closely into this miniature grainfleld I could see snails moving about, nibbling" the tender green phoots or roaming among the delicate stalks. Irhere were also lettuce leaves scattered at random and wherever a snail had crawled upon one of these he was eating voraciously. The iiicfesei little animals' were prevented from escaping by a screen covering the

irom escaping uy awwu "«i-—— whole top of the box and a dark colored

found, to his distnay,

that dozens of the shells of

of snails were

e^pt^-

^^eve^then^hey were

thei/habits

that they bfteii consumed their

Qne of the first questions that presents Itself to the visitor to this odd collection of little animals is: How mauy snails are in the box at one time At a rough guess the scientist will tell you that there are COO 'at present representing .twepty species. And these have come from all parts of the world —Cuba, Mexico, Louisiana, New York, Kansas and other places. Of the United States varieties there are *a dozen, from as many different states, and about the same number are natives of San Francisco.

This

.enthusiastic-collector of snails when passing a restaurant one evening observed a live snail in a glass in the window. He went in and asked the proprietor of the restaurant if he would sell it The proprietor answered in the affirmative,-and stated his price at 50 cents. The scientist gladly placed the necessary half dollar on the counter and went off with his prize.

He immediately made o. study of the «nU mal 'and found that it belonged to a Mexican edible variety, helix (pomatia) buffoiana. It was very large measuring nearly three inches when stretched to full length. ,,

When making his daily visit to the "snailery" one morning he discovered dozens of tiny, yellow shells moving about the box very actively. Upon countig them he found that there were sixty-two ill all of this odd Mexican variety. They were not so large as a small pea, and some were even then just making their appearance above the ground Where the parent snail had bored a hole and deposited the minute eggs.

It was then the owner's special care to watch the growth of these little oreatures. He found that they developed faster than any other species in his collection and that while some grew to be quite large, none has yet reached- maturity.' The original snail lived for many months afterward, and may then have been several years of age

•J9 O *"*v" iTi# It was. found and named^fcftJDr, RajglL jf Another1rare shell, of which tfiere are only two living, has a hairy epidermis. It is dark colored, large and flat, and is cat** logued at 60 cents. It may be found in uJMaria

c»unty.

The 6naiia 0f

These

shawl was thrown over half of the screen to preclude the light, for snails thrive only in shady, secluded spots. It will be oliserved, also that in moving they travel away Bel YtU) aisu tuat* *u from the light «nd in the darkest corner of shells served with each can. _m_ i-i —_- the box was the largest number of snails

tne Dox was ine mi uumwi Temperature is another consideration of im- with some risk not

tremes of heat or cold prove detrimental and a case in point occurred in Oakland. About to-produce rapid and successful growth an a .year .ago a .Frenchman, who had a small ,vpn

moderate condition of atmosphere yard in the rear of the cottage which he tenI ^RMitial

log others was the correct medium reached, ,,T

Another difficulty to be overcome was in

trpatment of the snails of cannibalistic

tendencir One morning, after having Fond Lovera. placed some of tbese snails in the "snail-

conchologist

the Helix Armigera variety

attract some attention,

red werc pa

oth^r was

own kind. .. "Hist! What *as that?' Young Snails Ate Active,

once left oft tb« b»x the au»ns will out, and though the species of the United States are less gregarious than those of Europe (and the largest number in this col ec^ tion is from our own country) they still like company well enough to follow their-leader and escape imprisonment. Imagine the coffsternatlon of the snail-raiser to enter his conservatory at evening and find the box almost empty, and snails on the table, flower pots, leaves, windows and curtains. This is what did happen, and always will happen, unless the necessary precautions are taken.

aen nave been several years or age. ... ... .. in ~L filling an engagement*in this city. One of There is one other interesting species, +hese was Miss Olea Poehimann 20 vears of bullimulur pallidior, from lower California Miss uiga roenimann, ai years of aJT Ah- w„

flw

ca emy

1 8 0 8 a

.. ^6S

representfd

sea shell. The animal inactive and has

been in the snailery only a few months.

perhapft'ybeoause

•'.cause theytare a rarity in

are told that they sometimes Save a littll white toothjn the aperture and^erhaps

be-e

thev"snailery

The scientist has not discovered why thfiy do not seem to thrive well. They are found in veryr,moift :|place^, usually.."-11along the banks of'sitefemsi

and*

are very jfiodest cre%

tures,/wl&drawing into their .fhell at tlif slightest touch and not issuihg from it agalh ior "a long time.

Freaks in nature appe«r among snails as they do in other forms of natural life and we have albino forms of the reticulata. These are pale lemon color with no band and are 'fouhd'about one in every thousand specimens. You may see only about £. half dozejn albinos ,in the "Snailery" at present, and many hundreds of' reticulata have been raised to produce thls^ small number Of "freaks."

The scientists wTlt showyou the shells o£ his "cannibals" also, tut he has none living now* Jbe Selenltes Yancouvejensis is liadSn-Colored tfith a WftittSh bodV and may be found on the banks of the stream leading out of Mountain lake, in the vicinity of the Children's hospital. If you place this animal on your hand you will feW its bite, which is like the prick of a pin. ^There are- onl/fwof other 'cafurifcai-varls-ties found in San Francisco and it is a question with conchologists which is a form of the other. Zonites Cellarius was introduced from the east and may be found in gardens. Zonites Liicidusfisia natiye of France, and is found on leaves not In gardens. Both feed -upon 'everything and among, themselves it is a matter of "survival of the fittest," for they will: devour one anpther.

The Demand In Market. "'Vjpt

The demand for snails in the market is slowly increasing, and it would not be an unwise-plan for some one to raise edible snails, for the purpose of supplying the merchants.

In the Chinese markets you may buy at almost any time live snails which have been imported from the, .rice fields of China.

sell for ten cents apiece or ten cents

i« 9 IVa emann a a ITIO' tft tVlA flllfllltltV OH U&Qd a dozen, according to the quantity on hand and. arrival of steamers. But the Italians used principally the French canned snails, which are worth fifty centB a can, .twenty

Snail raising is/" however, accompanied

propagation of snails. Ex- as to the grower's neighbors, if he hasi any.

much to the grower

anted turned the yard lnto a

m,. scientist visits his "snailery" every the culture of edible snails for his own use morninK to sprlnke the earth with water, and for the market. The stock thrived ?nd utiinc a smalT watering 6tfdr the'purpose, multiplied so'rapidly that the small domain in sunnlv fresh lettuce or the more tender provided for them was soon too limited for narta of the cabbage or cauliflower, of the their support and comfort and they clitnbed latter of which they are very fond, and to the fences and invaded the cultivated remove any snails that may have died, for grounds and conservatories .ot neighboring .Lis are more dainty than one supposes residents,, devouring every tender- Jeaf Ind

material kills them very which cadie in their way and leaving desc

snaIlery

for

lution in their wake. The French snall-

reached the present sue- grower has gone out of the business, but rv f»nnHition the "snallery" has un- the pest he unwillingly introduced in the dergone many experiments, and the lives of commendable desire to supply his table with Sv

have been sacrificed. In the

to secure the proper humidity

dainty and his purse with coin was spread

OVer

of prime importance, and only by kill- tory,and defies extermination. ine some from dryness and almost drown- »f

several blocks of neighboring tenv

WAS

HARD FATE.

A''~—

Awfnl Cloud That Came Between Two

Henrletta

Poindex^ir paused. Her ripe,

rted, but the words that she

about to speak' died before they were

cannibals, uttered. At the same moment Algernon

carnivorous in Atherton held up a finger, and In a half-

suppressed

tone said:

aon

Plied.

repeated, And at length the young man whispered: "Ah, darling it must have been the water in the steam -pipes. Let us go on where we left off. Say the word, sweet one, and send me down, down to the'very depths of despair."

She was .about to go ahead with her blarney, when a wild huntedlook came into her eyes, and she cried out: "Hist again a few times. Surely some one is in this room." ..Even as sh^s spoke she felt an icy hand upon her cheek and with a cry of terror she swooned. In an instant the entire boarding house was aroused, and when the lovely woman again opened her ejes a half dozen anxious persons were bendig over her.

With a wave of her jeweled hand she sent them away, and at the same time calling Algernon Atherton to her side. Putting her arms around his neck and drawing his face down to hers, she.whispered: "Alas! my love, we are doomed. I cannot be yours—at least not yet. I have just had a vision. My last husband went to South Dakota four weeks ago, but something has told me he has not yet got his divorce. We must wait!" Ah! it may be for days and it may be for weeks, but you will be irave dearest, won't you?"

Then their lips met in a long lingering kiss and he said: "Yes, darling, I will be brave. We must obey the decree of fate. It is tough, but we've got to bow to the inevitable."

Then they picked out the easiest chair in the room, and -while he sipped some more honey from her ruby lips, they tried to be as philosophical as possible under the cruel circumstances, that made it necessary for them to remain cold, unsympathetic strangers to each other.

Deserti a loans: Wife.

Beloit, Wis., Dec. 29.—Beloit has a romance as wierd as any nickel novel would dare unfold and exposing a case of man's depravity rarely shown. Last Friday, a well-dressed stranger came to this city, took quarters at a hotel and announced his intention of organizing a show company. He engaged several Chicago players who were

age- 1 his was the first meeting of the man

ager and star ,and he married her the next

a a a a a

in the

"snailery. The shell is a pure white spiral

an)j

The most common of the San Frandlsco near Beloit he hired a boy to drive him to ipecies is the lys.noe nickliniana variety

re icu a a. Is a out as large as a me- creating consternation among the friends of um-size on and

m*y

doorsteps or garden walls. It does not In- gin to her home in Chicago. habit gardens.

^be largest of the native San Francisco Borne Doirq With Infirmities, mails, helix (lysinoe) artora, Is found only 'Age finds its sufest JolaCe in the be tn the southern portion near the county line, nignant tonic aid affo'rded by

It is banded with a large chestnut ring and Stomach Bitters, which counteracts rheu(s lined with lavender. The lip of this snail matlsm and malarial tendencies, relieves Is as white as th6 purest china and the site growing inactivity of ffie kidneys, and is of the animal compares with that of a wal- the finest remedy extant-for disorders of nut, although full-grown ones mayTje muih the stomach, liver and bowelsv. |Neryoussnsaller. It Is found under and around lupia ness, too, with which- old people are very bushes

The Pupa Californioa,' found on Lone

THE BOARDING HOUSE

NEWSPAPER -VfOMAN 'BECOMES 'A SENSATION.

Helpful Hints From the Hotel Clerk, th Manicure Artl«t and the Advertising Agent.

The short newspaper woman who went "boarding" became, as her tall friend had prognosticated, the sensation of the boarding house, says the New York World.-

That she went to the horse- show twiee and actually knew a Whitney from a Goelet gave the first impetus to tihe boarders' respect, for it is your boarding- house people 'vyho keep the 400 firmly established, in the esteem of the country. That she went to a pink tea at the Tombs in the afternoon, dinner in Chinatow'9 in the ©veiqlhg and the French ball at night, coming down the following morning.'.witlt .'black. ..rings around her eyes and a genuine air of ennui established her in the opinion of the house as a "bird," while tihe fact that she interviewed Melba and had really been bowed to by Corbett gave her prestige enough to run her board bill up indefinitely.

It wafs decided right through" the house, from the gentleman of leisure to the man who ran the furnace, that she had a "snap." The hotel clerk said her position wSs "such a soft 'thing" It,was quite pulpy. He only wished he was a woman and could play tricka with the English langiiag:e: The landlady herself said

,t know the beautiful girl re-

"Let u^ hist Perhaps we can

And so they began to hist some more, according to the Minneapolis Journal, but the

noise

that'had startled them was not

displayed alleged government bonds to

the people about the hotel Monday the

pointed an inch long and greater ia length iandlord asked for his money and Foster than in breadth. It resembles very closely

hurried

Iy left the city with a livery team,

No one

knows where he is nor has the horse

carriage been found- At a small town

adjacent village, and the boy Is missing,

be found on the family. Friends will assist the unhappy

mm,

:Hostetter's

apt to-be afllicted, is promptly relieved by

wouldn't ask you my dear to get me a position on your paper, though you have admired the literary style of my prospectus and called tlhem romantic and imaginative. But I think it wouldn't hurt you and it 'ud be doing me a good turn if you'd write up a couple, of columns on my finger nail treatment and kinder: give me a send-off. If you'll come Into my room tonight after 7 I'll give you some pointers—I guess, you don't know much about manicure. That ink has been on your middle finger for a fortnight."

It was at this point of the conversation that the newspaper woman excused herself and left her character in the hands of the other boarders.

FARMING IN NORTH DAKOTA.

An Tndlanlan Dlspntes the Pretentions Claims of Agents. N^orth Manchester, Ind., Dec. 30.—For several months Dakota land agents have been circulating in this section of the state, especially where the Dunkard people predominate, and through their glowing accounts of a farmer's life in the Dakotas, they have succeeded in influencing several colonies to leave their Indiana homes and settle In the far West. In several instances special trains have been chartered to carry the colonists and their belongings, and the descriptions which the agents gave Were the cause of much dissatisfaction among the Indiana farmers, whose situation was such that they can not readily remove to the new agricultural Eldorado. Many, however, went from this county, where the conditions are recognized as most favorable for the farming industry, and conflicting rumors have been received relative to their new surroundings in the Dakotas. Among the former residents was Ezra Franz, well known in this county. He was among the earlier colonists from Indiana who settled at Devil's Lake, N. D., and he has written back some things of special interest to those still clinging to the hope of removal to that state. It Is a fair warning of the difficulties under which the colonist will contend for a livelihood, and it. shows that the cohditlons are far better In Indiana than exist in either of the Dakotas.

Mr. Franz says that the soil in his new home is good. No man could find a better if the seasons are all righf. "The soil is very black," says Mr. Franz, "but light and loose, and, therefore, .will not stand drought, as compared with heavy soils. But what does it benefit a man to have good soil and raise a crop, when the freight is more than the crop is worth?" Mr. Franz denies the claim of the agents that fuel is cheap, for he finds that cordwood is selling at $9 per cord, while coal is $9 and $13 a ton. He also finds great difficulty in securing good water. In no instance does it rival the water supply of Indiana. "There is some water here," he wrifes, "that is fairly good, yet the good water here is a very small thing in comparison' to that which can not be used at all." He cites an instance where, accompanied by friends from Indiana, he drove from Devil's Lake to York, a distance of forty-five miles, and on the road going and coming they found but two places where the water was fit to drink, while at York there was nothing to drink but salt water. He also disputes the claim of agents that blizzards are unknown in the Dakotas, the snow having piled up so deep in the streets of Devil's Lake that the people had to tunnel in order to reach the stores.

He further says: "If a man buys a farm on the crop payment plan in North Kakota, he only gets half, while he must pay for thrashing all of the other.man's share, besides furnishing the grain for seed, In or-

.TiMI*

:that

she

lised to write real cute compositions when she was at, school and. there wasn't any money in boarding"'!hod£es 'anyhow. That was the worst of being married *at'15 you got plunged, into domestic Jife before you knew you'd got an intellect, she said. The typewriter began to complain that typewriting was simply starvation, not to speak of the way one's moral character was constantly attacked. "Surely," she said to the newspaper woman, "good looks help one in journalism, just as they do in any otlher business."

She was sitting facing the mirror and had no intention of paying any Indirect sort-of compliment to the newspaper woman.

The newspaper, woman murmured mildly that vocabulary was almost more necessary, at which the advertising agent said, eagerly "Tfaat's l-t! Speaking of vocabularies, I've got a young lady friend who is, though I say it, the smartest talkln*. girl you ever set eyes on.1 Why siie'd back-answer Chauncoy Depew himself ad never get rattled. Brainy —well, I should say! And write. just as good as she talks'. Got a letter from (her this morning. Ain't nothing in the papers to Compare to it. Say, she'ds give you spades and points, miss—if you'll excuse my saying so. I'll drop into your room after lunch if the heat's 011 and read you

few pages of

her writing, and I'd take it as a personal favor if you'd introduce her to your editor. Elegant looking girl she is, too." "Mamie'll be leavin' sohool next term," broke in the landlady, "and I'd like her real well to take up your profession. I don't know as I'd hate her go to the French ball, but I'd love to have her get the literary entree, ain't that right?) the horse show agd Opera. But we could: make arrangements with the head agent at the newspaper office, I guess, and arrange all that satisfactory. You can see for yourself how bright she is. When will you take 'her down town with you?" "Yes," said the bright girl, "I see your piece in the paper, and I guess I could do as good as that."

The newspaper woman was murmuring feebly that she had no influence—no power —no anything—when the manicure lady, who had a singularly penetrating voice and cool style of delivery, remarked: "Well, I haven't the nerve of some people or I'd be riding in my carriage on Fifth avenue, instead of scraping people's paws.

der to farm 160 acres, and lie can not make llvbag on leea, the emigrant must have at Yeast iottr good UttHfres and TiaMtettriMre drill, one gang plow one harrow, one wagjn, one hay rake, one mower and one binder, these alone costing |450, outside of what ,the hordes ard worth, besideS' Which mtifit be added the dost oj living. With #heai:a,t §0- cents- and thrashing 10 cents a bushel, his chances are poori" In his letter Mr. a a a a 1 Vit is a^hame and disgrace the way. people iiave been induced or persuaded into this country. If a,man lias means, lif is all right liere, BO he ls any place else. But it is a pooV Jjlace for a man to begin with nothing. There were people landed here Last spring who dld not,.have a dollar left When they gob here. There were others from the vicinity of North -Manchester who came later In the season, who had but little left when they got here, who told me that never before had they to do with one meal a day until they caiae here."

DECIDES AGAINST A TEACHER.

Trifling Injuries to a Pnpll Cause a.Case In ••-CoorfcIthaca, Mich.,:Deo. 30.—The powers ot a teachert as far as corporal punishment of a child Is concerned have never been definitely decided by the supreme court. The case of Prosper Manchester vs. Elton Haring, a teacher in the.sphools between North §tar and Hamilton, which involved this point, .was recently decided, by a jujy before Judge

Daboll. The plaintiff, was awarded ?6 damages. This decision will be of interest, to school teachers throughout the state. liaring ordered Carrie Manchester to move along in her. seat and stop whispering, and, when, she disobeyed, he emphasized his orderby several pokes in the ribs With a pointer, It was claimed that'this set tip peritonitis, and, althotigh the child was'in bed but one day and absent from school but eight days, and although it appeared that the girl had received no serious injury, the jury der cided in favor of the plaintiff.

Judge Daboll, in his charge, stated the law in the case concisely and briefly. The teacher, according to law, has a. legal right to punish a child, but without malice'or the infliction of permanent injury. The law gives the teacher the power of moderatecorrection and has confined the ..gradation of punishment Within these limits to the discretion of the teacher. The Jury" heid that Mi Hiring had atused, this .discretion. The verdict is generally regarded here as a blow at discipline In the public school syetetii. lt i6ay be carried to the\supreme court.

CALIFORNIA OCCULT TEMPLE.

Theoaophlsts to Breot a Bnildlns at San Frttnclioo Next' fear. San, Francisco, Dec. 29.—A college for the revival of the lost mysteries of antiquity, such as. has not been in existence for, more than 1,000 years, is to be built in California. This state has been chosen by the Theosophists and, in fact, all occultists generally believe that it is the cradle of the coming race. •.*:••

The funds for the erection of the occult temple have already been subscribed. Such an. institution was the cherished wish of Mme. Blavatsky, and it wili be th'e only institution of the kind in the modern world. The college will be open to all without charge. Next Mifrch several leading The osophists who are now touring the world will arrive here and select a site for the college and dedicate it. They are called the crusaders and are leading the Theosophists who started from NeW Yo'rk June 12th to m&k& a tbur of the world, teaching thedsophy and brotherhood.

Thfey are Mrs. TC. A. Tingley, Who Is at present the leader of Theosophists and the successor of Mme. Blavatsky Mr. Judge, E. T. Hargrave, president of the Theoso leal Society In America Mr. and Mrs, Claude Falls Wright, H. Patterson and F. Pierce. These were joined' oll their tour of the world by Mrs. Alice Cleather, wife of Colonel Cleather of the! British army, and the Rev. Mr. Williams of England.

p'\ The International Race. Washington, Dtecl 30.—Half of the international six days, eight hours per day, bicycle contest in progress at Convention Hall Was'completed at 10:14 o'clock tonight, the leaders having made a triflle over 437 miles. Willery the "Flying Dutchman'," continued tcf keep the lead of two laps Which he had when time was called last night. Maddox made a plucky but ineffectual attempt to close the gap between him and the leader Which was caused yesterday by Maddox puncturing his tire. During the day the men kept well together, except that Waller and Maddox made a lap on the bunch. All are keeping up fairly well and do not seem unusually.-wearied by the exertions of the patet three days.

At the close of today's racing the score

stood

as follows: Waller 437 miles, Maddox 437, Aschinger 436, Lawson 435,^Hun: ter 434, Chappie 432, Foster 432.^%i?,'.|fJ

A Lover Knockeil ''s"^

ShelbyVille, Ind., Dec. 30.—Enoch Trimble, of Washington township, has been paylag hi* nrtdresses to Miss Laura Higglns contrary to the wishes of her father, James Higgihs, aiid night before last the girl accompanied Trimble to the Baptist church in that vicinity. Mr." Higglns followed them, and after the benediction he Seized his daughter by the arm and eseorted her to his buggy. Trimble followed and attempted to regain possession Of his sweetheart, whereupon Mr. Higglns struck him with the butt end of his whip felling him to the ground in an unconscious condition. The young man tois badly hurt and his condition is somewhat alarming: Mr. Higglns appeared before a justice Of the peace and entered a plea of guilty to assault

... II I I I 1 .1 .1 $•

Studying H«r Husband's Language. London, Dec. 31.—A Paris dispatch to the Morning Post reports that the Princess %f Caraman-Chimay is occupied chiefly with the study of the Hungarian language. Although she has lived with gypsy lover for six months, they have been unable to understand each other's conversation, as he knows only a few words of French. It is Said that the princess will not allow him to practice on his violin.

A Household Necessity.

Cascarets Candy Cathartic, the most wonderful medical discovery of the age, pleasant and refreshing to the taste, act gently and positively on kidneys liver and bowels, cleansing the entire system,, dispel colds, cure hfjadache, fever, habitual constipation and "biilousness. P'ease buy and try a box of C. C. C. today, 10, 25. 50 cents. Sold and guaranteed to cure by all druggists.

liotnl Atari fi

Gouvnor, N. ,, Dec. 30.—James C. Lee, proprietor of the Edgewool Hotel at Star Lake In the Adirondacks and largely Interested in several other ventures, made an assignment today. The liabilities will be heavy. The season was a failure and he lost heavily. nt?!-

To tte No *wcre*»«.

Chicago, Dec. 30.—The meeting &f' window. glass makers and jobbers terminated today. The rebate agreement reached yesterday was formally ratified and it was definitely announced that there would be no increase In pricef,

To Car* Cold la One Day.

Take laxative Brotao Quinine Tablets. All druggists refund the money if It fails to

TIfiED SHOP .GIRLS.

G1V1 1 DKSOKIPTION Of TBI HOlkDAT SEASON. .*4

Bow Tk«r Bnard tb«! UrwtMt Bhopplng Weeks of the Wh«»l« ^..r.Ymir. .....

"Was you ever so tired in your life?" said the red-haired girl attaching herself, to. a •strap1as'the-door slammed upon the guard's unintelligible gibbish supposed to be a description of the ijpxt station, and the elevated road train tmfabied away to the platform. "If it wasn't for this strap I'd drop."

She "was addressing herself indiscriminately .to* halt dozen other girls, only one of Whom had succeeded in getting a Beat, because the car was crowded

With

home-go

ing shoppers, it being half past 10 o'clock .on the night before Christmas. All the girls were young, tdie oldest being not more than 22 or 23, and all looked half dazed from weariness, says the New York Sun. "I'm Just about dead," said the plump blonde "standin' up behind the counter from 8 o'clock an' "not even, time for lunch. Hdtf much noon did they give you in the silk department, Molly?" 'We got pretty near half an hour," said tihe one addressed, a slight, pretty girl, wit& brown, eyes and hair "Miss Kent's prettier good about that." "Well, we was lucky if we got fifteen ,mlnutes" declared the red-haired girl. "You got a chance to seeh folks "there, aqd its kind of lively.' I don't know what they ever put me sellin' 'blankets for. I'd about as soon do housework." "Tha super's afraid if he put you at the p'fumery counter, you'd flirt with, the gentlemen customers," suggested the plump blonde. "There's nobody buys blankets-but old women." "Yes I'd like to see anybody get any time for flirting at the perfumery counter," Said the red-haired girl. "It's just hustle, hustle, hustle all day, and everybody nagging at you and telling you they are going to report you because you can't do ten folks work at once.". "Jeh hear about May Stiles gettin' fired for fllrtin'?" inquired the girl from the silk department, and as no one replied In the affirmative she continued "It waa Mr. WeinI'ein 'did it. He's floor manager in our department and I guess he's kind of stuck on May himself,' arid that's the reason he did it. She was talkin' to a gent'man when she was matchin' some silk for him, and after the gent'man wept Mr. Weinlein.told May she'd have to be careful about flirtin' they didn't allow it." 'Well, I never flirted with you, did 12" she says, and some of the girls laughed, "May laughed: too, but she didn't laugh Saturday night when she found a dollar taken out of her salary.. She,wasn't flirtin' either, because she knew the gent'man. I've seen him waitin' for her on the corner after the store, was closed lots of times." "They say Miss Carroll is going to be married," said the red-haired girl. "You've seen that gentleman that waits for her on the outside, haven't..you, Daisy?'1' "Yes he come up and spoke to me once by mistake," replied the plump blonde. He's awful good lookln', but I wouldn't talk to him. That Carroll girl makes me tired, always puttin' on airs. All them girls In the cashier's department are'that «way so stuck up they won't hardly speak to you." "And they don't get any, more than us salesladies," said the tall girl from the blanket department. "I heard thie store was going to cui down wages, girls." "Cut down?" cried the,silk department girl "ain't it hard enough as it is? It's all a girl can do to have: a cent to spend, now that the storekeepers open'evenflngs and you have to buy your own dinner. Some of the other stores give dinnners for nothing." "I know a girl who works in a Philadelphia store, and she says that whenr they work overtime they get their dinner, and get paid for the overtime, and get time off in the slack season."

This was the blonde's contribution to ths general fund of intelligence, and it WSB received with general expressions of incredulity. "It's true," she asserted stoutly^ %,'^The store makes money, too." f» "Well, I hope I go to Philadelphia when I die,"' aaid the red-haired girl, pensively. "Who's that sittin' down?" said the pretty brown-haired girl, Indicating a small plain girl who had been luck enough tQ find a. seat. "Is she from our place^ Look,-at her,, girls. She's asleep.". .. ... "So'd you pe if y«u. was as tired as she is," said the blonjl?.."I. know her. She's one of the middle bargain counters in the notions department.!'*.*" !?,. ipr.': fe!"Oh, an extra," said the tall girl. "No wonder she's tired if she ain't used to it. There's about four hundred o( them extras knockin' around the store. Glad there ain't any at Our counter." "There's eight or ten at our's said the red-haired girl "and they'd drive you crazy, always getting mixed up and in everybody's way, and ignorant! Why, a lady asked one of 'em today where the cutglass department Was, but she said she didn't know, but she guessed it was In the basement."

This exhibition of crass Ignorance caused a ripple of laughter. "Sometimes it is awful hard to remember even when you know perfectly well," said the blonde. "I wish they'd give people maps of the store, so they could find their way around." "They'd ask questions Just the same," said the silk department girl with gloomy pessimism. Seems to me the ladies that go shoppin'just fill themselves up with questions to fire at you, an' then get mad if you answer *em short or don't answer 'em guicjr.y "Well, they ain't as bad'as the ones that stay after it's time to close," declared the red-haired'girl. "They're always fussing around when you're tired to death and asking to see stuff they don't want to buy, and keeping you up long after the time to clcse. If I had my way I'd just go out in the ais'e and thump 'em till they ran out."

Three women with some small packages in their laps, who were sitting near by, stirreduneasily at this, and one of them said something to the others In Which thei words "such impertinence" occurred. The

"We didn't do a thing to 6n6

Bay,

it all the time. But what d' you think she did? Got mad an' said ihe was insulted, an' called Mr. Reisbsrger oter an' wanted me flred." "Did, you get laid "off asked half a jSosen eager voices.. "stA "I did not He's a peach, Mr. Relsberger is. He iurtos -to thia woma* an' sayi: ." 'Have you any complaint' to make '.vindeed I have,* says she. Tve been inv suited by this clerk,' she says, 'an'' I'm a credit customer on your books,' she says, 'an' I guess I'm entitled to decent treatment,' shesays. 'So are the employes of this store,' says Mr. Reisberger. 'I've heard the whole conversation,*: he says, 'an' the saleslady was perfectly right. The store is open all day, madam, an' if you would transact your business at the proper time an'in the proper way, an' not stay in here when' the place is closin' UP, an' when these hard workln' people want to be goin' home,' he. says, 'you Wouldn't have any trouble. I think we can get along, without your name on our books,' hesays. "You'd ought to iTave seen that woman. She was wild, an' I—I could Just have hugged him. I thought when I talked back to her 'that rd get iP.red, sure."

During this recital the three women "In the seats were obviously very uneasy and angry. J~

Maybe "they're customers "at" oni*"fetdrte,' said the red-headed girl in a lcW! tone_ i,o the blonde. "I know they are," said tha other In a distinct-, voice. "The one oh the end's the woman I've been, tellin' ahout." ". "Well, I wish all the floor managers were like Risberger," said the girl from the silk department. "When I own a store nobqdy'i goin' to work after 6 o'clock except they get extra pay, an' there's goin* to be plant? of seats to sit on and a chance to sit on 'em, and Vacation.in the summer with pay,

"I hope yu'll get the store." •"In-the sweet by and by." I* "I'll come and work for you.'' "Bet your store'll fail." "Where's it all goin' to be?" "You may all live to see it yet'," said tha girl. "Things are gttin' better all the'time an' some time-— "Flfstree', changefrarlem," shrieked the guard. -y •"Here, Ellf, Cash! Wake up," cried the blonde, shaking the sleeping extra by the shoulders. "Here's where we all get out."

The girl half awake struggled to her feet. "Merry Christmas," she said drowsily. "We don't have to go to work tomorrow, do we? An' I'm goin' to a ball in the evenin'.. My week's wages just paid for my Blippers an' gloves. Oh, but it was hard work." "Allouthere!" yelled the guard, j"Push along."

The gate clanged, and, as the train went on toward Fifty-eighth street, the iittle group of girls in the station dropped wearily to a common centre for support*..,, ...

DOWNED BY A GIRL.

A Fair Amazon's Yawn and Giggle Spoiled the Oration.", -.y* "I see." said the old graduate with afl expressive rubbing pf his hands, relates th« Detroit Free Press, "that some of our Western colleges are arranging for a sort ol battle royal to come off annuajlly In the debating arena. I like that sort of thiftg It teaches young men to reason quickly and accurately while they are on their feet in presence of an audience and to express their ideas intelligibly as well aB impressively. Great thing! I used to be something of a debater myself." "So you ware," laughed an old classmate present. "Ouess I'll have to toll them about the time we went over to Big Ford to clean out.the district. school debaters there." "Never mind, now." "Too good to keep. Old Tom, there, and I roomed together. We thought ourselves mighty strong on the debate for freshmen. When We heard they were going to discuss the good old question of capital punishment at the Ford we thought it a golden opportunity to show our paces as well as get needed practice. In order to annihliiate the rural orators we prepared ourselves on opposite sides of the question. It was a howling winter night, but we drove ten miles and whetted our wits all the way by wrangling over the subject for discussion. After We had warmed up at the big box'atoVe the battle opened. When I had heard one or two of those young country fellows roar forth their arguments, nailing thWr points With gestures that would fell an ox, I revised my former proud estimate of Tom and myself. The flowers of rhetoric were not scattered profusely "out. there was a wonderful amount of meat In what they had to say. I got through my effort all right." "Oh, of course." "But poor Tom! He had soared beautiful*ly to the very zenith. He was making a peroration worthy of immortality. When ha had both hands aloft and was dealing directly with the angel of mercy a fair amazon on the front seat yawned and tt'^n giggled. Tom stopped as though be had been paralysed.

blonde heard it and the light of battle dawned in her eye.

!7-

rao^t^em

women—I won't call 'em ladles—in our department last night," she said.' "She and another womaih was fussln' rOund my counter waitic' to see everything an' not buyin' at all, till finally they came lookin' for some fancy pins at my counter. All the other counters was closin', an' the-floor manager, Mr. Reisjberger, was hangin' around, kind pf uneasy^. The other woman wanted to .go, but the hanger-on wouldn't. She made m« show her a lot of different pins, till she saw a box way up on the top shelf, and said she prantetd to look at that.. 'There ain't anything in that that you baven't seen, ma'am,'. 1 said. 'Of course there is,' she aaysv very short. |I haven't seen anything on that shelf.' I 'Well, there's nothin' In that box ." I was beginnin' to

but she shut me off.

I."'Will you show me that box or won't you?'^ "'Oertatali','i I iays^TH rtowl it'to you kn' I look down an' 'jpeiied it. 'You aiu't poug6t riotfiiri' eiae,' I says, 'an' I guess you won't buy none ot th^s.' "There was nothin* In the box an' I knew

never started up again. The

judges "solemnly decided that Tom's side hkd been knocked galley west, and on tfie way home he stopped on the top of tUa bleakest hill to swear me to secrecy." a

ChlneHe Cheap Labor.

Of late years there has .been a constant cry against "Chinese cheap labor." What' ever may have been the price put upon Chinese labor when the great railways of the West were built by these people, today It is evident to all who have studied the question that there is no such thing as "Chinese cheap labor." Chinese laundries charge higher rates than domestic laundries. Chinese laundrymen command higher prices than laundresses of other nationalities. A Chinaman earns ordinarily from $3 to $15 a Week and his board and lodging. The white or colored laundress make from ?4 to $10 a week without board or lodging. The P1?)" naman works from 8 o'clook in the morning until 1 or 2 o'clock at night. Sometimes he washes, sometimes he starches, .sometimes he Irons, but he is always at it, not tireless but persevering in Spite oT weariness and exhaustion. Other laborers clamor for a working day of eight hours. The Chinaman patiently works seventeen,. takes cace of his relatives in China, looks after his own poor in America and pays his bills as he goes along.

In the Chinese store 510 per. week is the lowest sum paid for a map-of-all-work. In a Chinese restaurant the lowest wages paid to a kitchen boy Is

$20'per

month and board.

Chinese cooks *111 not ga td American families tqr less than $40'peV month and tliey rarely ever stay for that sum. This, then, is Chinese cheap labor—a cheap labor of which ordinary people caxw themselves.—Century.

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